The makers of Green Book, a feel-good story about a resourceful hustler hired to drive pianist Don Shirley on a concert tour through the Deep South in 1962, were riding high Sunday night, exulting in Golden Globes wins for best picture, comedy/musical, Mahershala Alis supporting turn and motion picture screenplay. If they can find common ground, said director and co-writer Peter Farrelly, referring to his films lead characters, we all can. Three days later, Farrelly found himself on common ground with the films co-writer Nick Vallelonga, both of whom became enmeshed in controversy over past behavior. For Farrelly, it was excerpts from a 1998 Newsweek profile in which he talked about repeatedly pulling out his penis on film sets as a dirty practical joke. Vallelonga was castigated for a 2015 tweet supporting Donald Trumps false claim that Muslims in New Jersey celebrated the destruction of the World Trade Center. Shortly afterward, Vallelonga deleted his Twitter account. Welcome to the Gold Standard, the newsletter from the Los Angeles Times that helps guide you through the ins and outs of the awards season leading up to the Oscars. Advertisement Im Glenn Whipp, The Times awards columnist and your newsletter host. Green Books bumpy ride to Oscar noms morning The latest controversy continues Green Books roller-coaster ride through the awards season. The movie premiered to little advance hype at the Toronto Film Festival in September, becoming an underdog recipient of the events Peoples Choice award, an honor that has gone to past Oscar winners such as Slumdog Millionaire, 12 Years a Slave and The Kings Speech. I detailed the movies ups and downs and admirers and detractors, placing the controversies in context of recent awards season kerfuffles. Well see how academy members feel a week from Tuesday when Oscar nominations will be announced. Roma director Alfonso Cuaron is among this years DGA Awards nominees. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) DGA nominees narrow Oscar best picture field DGA nods are always good news for the movies of the nominated directors going forward at the Oscars. Since the film academy expanded the category in 2009, the only time the best picture category did not include a film by a DGA-nominated director was in 2011, when voters passed over David Finchers The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. This year, the DGA nominated Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born), Alfonso Cuaron (Roma), Peter Farrelly (Green Book), Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) and Adam McKay (Vice). Advertisement Whats all that mean for this years Oscar best picture race? Im glad you asked! I offer some thoughts. Ryan Gosling and director Damien Chazelle teamed up to make First Man. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Moon shots: Gosling and Chazelle talk key First Man moments Can I put in a last plug for First Man, an epic movie thats just as interested in the everyday life of astronaut Neil Armstrong and his family as it is in his singular determination to make it to the moon? Advertisement I have a feeling that 10 years from now when we look at the films nominated this year for best picture, theres going to be some serious head-scratching going on if First Man fails to make the cut. And it still might win a spot. First Man picked up seven nominations from British Film Academy voters earlier this week and has earned some love from the guilds, including the American Cinema Editors, the Art Directors Guild and the American Society of Cinematographers. Its still a long shot, but Im telling you theres a chance. I recently spoke with Ryan Gosling, who plays Armstrong, and director Damien Chazelle. They talked about both the grand and granular elements of First Man, zeroing in on some representative images from the film. Its one of the years best. Feedback? Advertisement Id love to hear from you. Email me at glenn.whipp@latimes.com. Cant get enough about awards season? Follow me at @glennwhippon Twitter. glenn.whipp@latimes.com Twitter: @glennwhipp When Google was revealed to have paid large severance packages to executives accused of sexual misconduct, outrage swelled, criticism piled on and employees stopped working and walked out of their offices. Months later, the company is still dealing with the repercussions. A shareholder on Thursday sued the companys board of directors, alleging they engaged in a multi-year scheme to cover up sexual harassment allegations resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for investors. Plaintiff James Martin claims the board made a conscious and intentional (and bad-faith) decision to conceal the sexual harassment at Google and approved the decision to give severance packages worth millions of dollars to former star executives including Andy Rubin, known as the father of Android, and Amit Singhal, who oversaw Googles search efforts for 15 years. Advertisement The consequences include what attorneys representing Martin estimate to be hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue and market cap as a result of the payouts, the subsequent reputational cost and the loss of productivity during the global walkout employees staged in November after Rubin and Singhal received those severance packages. As confidence in public tech companies and stocks in general waver, shareholders may be eager to assign blame for the companys stock woes. But Google and its parent company Alphabet have been navigating a wide swath of controversies aside from its handling of harassment complaints, including now-canceled plans to build a censored search engine in China and a contract to analyze drone footage for the U.S. Department of Defense, which the company has chosen not to renew after employee backlash. Still, the decision to stake the fiduciary claim on the companys alleged mishandling of sexual misconduct cases points to an increasingly mainstream view that such cases are rampant throughout the industry. Since former Uber employee Susan Fowler told her personal account of harassment and mismanagement at the ride-hailing company, the tech industry has been grappling with the question of sexism. With the growing momentum of the #MeToo movement in Hollywood, sexual misconduct claims are getting the kind of attention they didnt before. Now, shareholders are beginning to act on their frustration. The lawsuit is one of the first instances in which shareholders of a major tech company took action to hold the firm accountable for its handling of sexual misconduct complaints. Other industries are beginning to see the same sea change. CBS was sued by shareholders for its response to allegations of sexual misconduct by former Chairman and Chief Executive Les Moonves. Nikes board was also sued by a group of shareholders for a lack of oversight that they claim led to a toxic boys club culture at the company. CBS has settled its lawsuit and the Nike suit is still underway. The suit comes months after tens of thousands of Google employees from over 40 offices around the world walked out of work to show solidarity and support for employees who have been harassed. The organizers of the walkout called for more transparency around sexual misconduct allegations; a uniform process for anonymously reporting sexual misconduct; and an end to the requirement that workers agree to resolve complaints of misconduct or discrimination through arbitration, among other demands. Advertisement While many of those demands went unanswered, Chief Executive Sundar Pichai made some concessions, including doing away with arbitration in cases of sexual misconduct and making more details about such cases available to employees in internal reports. The damages Martin seeks in the complaint, filed Thursday morning in San Mateo County court, echoed many of those demands. In addition to an elimination of non-disclosure agreements and mandatory arbitration, Martin is asking the court to mandate that Alphabet strengthen its procedures regarding the termination of employees or executives accused of sexual misconduct. He claims company investors are entitled to monetary damages as a result of the boards alleged abuse of control, gross mismanagement and waste of corporate assets. He is also calling for substantial changes to Googles corporate governance, asking that a court direct the company to appoint three new board directors and restructure its voting structure to allow only one vote per share. Advertisement The employee organizers of the Google walkout were not aware that shareholders were preparing to sue the board but said they support the lawsuit, though they say the companys problems go far beyond abdication of fiduciary duty. Its clear that the structure of the company is built to accommodate and even reward sexual harassment and discrimination, and its equally clear that meaningfully addressing these problems will require structural changes at all levels, said Meredith Whittaker, one of the organizers of the Google walkout and a current Google employee. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ellen Winick Stross, an attorney for Rubin, said her client denies any misconduct and that the lawsuit, like much of the recent media coverage, mischaracterizes Andys departure from Google. Advertisement This isnt the first time Google shareholders have sued the company to impose corporate governance changes. In 2013, the company agreed to settle a lawsuit shareholders filed against the company over its plans to issue a new type of non-voting stock. johana.bhuiyan@latimes.com Twitter: @jmbooyah Building a winning business flipping houses with ones ex could be a dicey proposition. One couples gamble has paid off, however: Page Turner and DeRon Jenkins spark passionate deal-making chemistry on HGTVs Flip or Flop Nashville. The second season premiered Jan. 3. The pair met more than a decade ago and dated for about five years. Weve always said we work well together, we just didnt work well together, said Turner, a real estate broker who hunts down homes on the Music City-based show. As a licensed contractor, Jenkins reimagines the dilapidated properties. Flip or Flops most notable exes are the duo who started the franchise in 2013: Tarek and Christina El Moussa, the Orange County-based couple who split in 2016. In a December Newport Beach wedding, Christina El Moussa married Ant Anstead, host of the British series Wheeler Dealers think Flip or Flop for classic cars. Advertisement We caught up with the happily uncoupled Turner and Jenkins as they drove through Manhattan on a press tour. The booming Nashville market has cooled. How are you faring? Page: We got spoiled in Nashville having always had a pretty loose market. Now that its so tight I had to go back to literally calling people to ask their aunts, cousins, mothers anybody in their family who might need to get rid of a house. We had to go old-school and find the pocket listings, use wholesalers, be unconventional. In Los Angeles, building with brick has been problematic given earthquakes, and some view it as an unexceptional choice, visually. How about in Nashville? DeRon: Actually the great thing about a lot of older homes in the Nashville area is that theyre brick. Thats really cool because it gives us an opportunity to go in, tuck-point the brick, paint it and bring it back to life. Brick never goes out of style not in the South. DeRons the one to reimagine the properties that you serve up to him, Page. He seems skilled at vibing them out. Page: I always find properties that are a hot mess. Every single time. He shakes his head like, What in the world is this? And I say, I dont know, you figure it out. I frustrate him to no end. But give him a few minutes and he can envision the house brought back to life. But he always says, It will never work! But then it always works. Design-wise, flipping homes often calls for neutral choices that appeal to a wide market. Do you ever break this rule? Advertisement DeRon: In the half bathroom because the half bath could be anything. It could be funky. It could be crazy. Page: In a 100-year-old house where we included some traditional aspects, we used modern Art Deco wallpaper in the half bath that had gold faucets and light fixtures. Bold wallpaper dark bluish gray with gold accents and it was beautiful. Whats been the most dramatic renovation in Season 2? DeRon: Overall weve had problems with two or three houses that had foundation issues. That can be devastating to a renovation. And sometimes you dont see it until demo day. Advertisement Page: We bought one house they let the dogs live on one side and the humans lived on the other. It was awful in there, a 1950s Craftsman duplex we bought for $190,000. Its going to be a brand-new house when were done with it a real Southern charmer with a big porch. hotproperty@latimes.com Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, has shelled out $20.5 million for an eye-catching estate in Bel-Air, according to sources not authorized to comment on the deal. Spanning 1.31 acres on a promontory lot, the 10,044-square-foot home is entered through a pivoting front door made of paneled wood. Finishes of polished glass, leathered marble and limestone touch up the open-concept floor plan. 1 / 7 Designed to dazzle, the interior is rich with details such as polished glass floors, two-way fireplaces and automated Fleetwood sliding doors. (The Agency) 2 / 7 Windows in the kitchen and dining area take in a living wall made up of succulents. (The Agency) 3 / 7 Inside the tony abode, imaginative features create visual interest throughout the open floor plan. (The Agency) 4 / 7 A 500-foot custom aquarium creates visual interest behind a solid stone bar, which sits off a cigar room and office. (The Agency) 5 / 7 Listed for $20.995 million, the newly built showplace in Bel-Air features five bedrooms and eight bathrooms and includes a 2,200-square-foot master suite, which has a private bar and a terrace overlooking the grounds. (The Agency) 6 / 7 Automated sliding doors let the outdoors come inside. (The Agency) 7 / 7 The 10,004-square-foot house also includes a kitchen with two-marble islands and a wine vault. (The Agency) In addition to five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, the home holds a chandelier-topped dining area, a double-island kitchen and a wet bar with a 500-gallon aquarium. Pocketing doors connect two living rooms to the backyard. Advertisement On the corner of the second story, the 2,200-square-foot master suite takes in city-light views through walls of glass and a wraparound balcony. Amenities such as a wine cellar, movie theater, cigar room, cabana and three-car auto gallery fill out the rest of the space. Out back, a grassy lawn approaches a 62-foot swimming pool with a cantilevered edge. James Harris and Mauricio Umansky of the Agency held the listing. Jonah Wilson of Hilton & Hyland represented Noah. Calls left for Harris were not returned. A native of South Africa, Noah has found success in comedy and television. After joining The Daily Show as a correspondent in 2014, he succeeded Jon Stewart as host the following year and inked a five-year extension in 2017. The property first hit the market last summer for $20.995 million, according to the Multiple Listing Service. jack.flemming@latimes.com | Twitter: @jflem94 Chairman Eddie Lamperts revised plan to save Sears includes more severance for its workers, a move that could head off a debacle like the collapse of Toys R Us that left employees empty-handed and lenders being blamed and shamed. Its still unknown if the plan from Lamperts ESL Investments Inc. will be accepted and whether Sears Holdings Corp. and its hundreds of stores will avoid a shutdown. But Lamperts repeated emphasis on saving jobs and protecting workers could give him an edge in his Bankruptcy Court contest with liquidators who would close the iconic retailer. If youre assessing multiple bids, and one is liquidating and getting rid of 50,000 jobs, and the other is keeping the jobs, youre going to look to the one that saves the jobs, said Matthew Mason, of retail advisory and restructuring firm Conway MacKenzie, who worked as in-house counsel for Kmart prior to its 2005 merger with Sears. In his sweetened offer valued at more than $5 billion, Lampert promised to provide up to $43 million of additional severance and jobs for as many as 50,000 employees. The company also expects to reinstate the pre-petition Sears severance program for the benefit of all eligible employees that accept their employment offer, Lampert wrote in a letter to Lazard, the investment bank representing Sears. Advertisement A future for Sears as a going concern is the only way to preserve tens of thousands of jobs and bring continued economic benefits to the many communities across the United States that are touched by Sears and Kmart stores, Lampert wrote. Bankers are concerned about damage to their reputations if theyre seen as killing those jobs by refusing to lend more money to Sears. Creditors who opted to liquidate Toys R Us Inc. became the target of protests by fired workers, scrutiny from their own investors and criticism from presidential hopefuls Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker. Ultimately, the toy sellers private-equity sponsors created a $20-million hardship fund for employees whose jobs disappeared. Some of the pressure has come from pension funds that are increasingly addressing social issues such as treatment of workers. Activists have said executives and advisors of bankrupt retailers continue to profit from failing companies through bonuses and fees, even if theyre liquidating, while workers who keep the business running get no special consideration. Sears won court approval on Dec. 14 to pay bonuses worth $25.3 million for key employees to keep them in place. Focusing on jobs could tip the scales in Lamperts favor because theres an unwritten preference in bankruptcy courts for keeping companies open and people employed if the bid is close enough to those from liquidators. Judge Robert Drain hinted as much this week. Obviously, this is a large company that affects a lot of people, he said, calling Lamperts new offer a good development that could enable Sears to stay open. There are solid business reasons to focus on rank-and-file job security, Mason said. When a company files for bankruptcy, people immediately start looking for other jobs, making it harder to stage a successful turnaround. If you keep hearing about liquidation and youre living paycheck to paycheck, you dont have the incentive to stick through this process, Mason said. A recent financial report from Sears shows that a comeback remains daunting. The retailer lost $404 million in three weeks after filing for bankruptcy on Oct. 15, followed by a $12-million loss in November. Workers representatives say more has to be done to change the terms of a system that would give Sears executives bonuses after years of losses totaling billions of dollars, while workers get nothing. Advertisement The challenges presented by the broken bankruptcy laws and weak protections for severance pay shouldnt stop ESL Investments from doing right by Sears and Kmart employees, said Carrie Gleason, policy director for Organization United for Respect. Her group urged the creation of the fund for Toys R Us workers who were denied severance after the companys demise. The U.S. political gridlock that has shut down part of the government risks running into a crucial deadline that would limit the Treasurys borrowing ability, if left unresolved, and potentially threaten Americas top-credit standing. While the looming end of a debt-ceiling suspension on March 1 wont trigger credit-rating action, a prolonged standoff over the countrys debt limit well past that date would increase the risk of a technical default and raise the likelihood of a downgrade, according to some ratings analysts. If Washingtons inability to compromise on a budget to reopen the government is mirrored in a failure to suspend or lift the United States debt ceiling before March 1, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will have to use extraordinary measures to pay Americas bills and stay under the statutory cap. Although Wall Street expects these accounting maneuvers to buy Treasury until about August before the hard financing wall is hit, rating firms say any surpassing of that cliff would jeopardize Americas credit stature. William Foster, a senior credit officer at Moodys Investors Service, says its assumption is that Congress and the White House will come to an agreement before then and the U.S. top rating will remain intact. Yet, if that doesnt prove to be the case and a technical default where Treasury even temporarily cant make good on payments occurs, it would raise the specter of a downgrade. The U.S. is top-rated by Moodys and Fitch Ratings, and one rank below by S&P Global Ratings. Advertisement The main risk on the debt ceiling and the rating ... is if there was a technical default, which would happen several months after the March 1 debt-ceiling trigger when the U.S. Treasury runs out of extraordinary measures, Foster said by phone. After that, there are many things that can happen, and have in the past. Passing March 1 just starts the clock for Congress to come to an agreement with the White House to raise the debt ceiling. Talks to end a nearly three-week government shutdown broke down Wednesday after President Donald Trump stormed out of a White House meeting with congressional leaders, saying it was a waste of time. Trump has shown no sign of backing down on his demand for border wall funding, a key campaign promise, while the Democrats have said they wont negotiate until the president agrees to reopen the government. Trump heads to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas on Thursday to rally support for building the wall. What this shutdown and the length of it shows us is that it is no easier today for Congress to make these funding decisions and work together, Charles Seville, a senior director at Fitch, said by phone. He said Fitch wouldnt review the rating until the so-called x-date, when scope for the Treasury to finance itself using extraordinary measures runs out. In a protracted 2013 debt-limit episode, Fitch put the U.S. rating on negative watch given the governments failure then to raise its borrowing limit as the Treasurys hard deadline neared. In 2011, a split House and Senate, similar to the incoming Congress, took the debt-limit debate down to the wire, prompting S&P Global Ratings to cut Americas sovereign credit grade for the first time. Back then, the company cited the Washington gridlock as well as the lack of an agreement to contain the nations growing debt load for its decision. The current argument over funding the federal government generates uncertainty, which hurts the economy via the impact on confidence and investment, Jeff Sexton, director of communications for the Americas at S&P Global, said in an emailed statement. We do not think that the possible negative economic impact would hurt the sovereign rating. He said that uncertainty in policy formulation and timely decision making were some of the factors that led to the 2011 downgrade. Foster at Moodys said that, even in the event of a technical default, the government would eventually pay everyone back in full. But the ratings firm expects an agreement to raise the debt ceiling before that happens. Wed certainly expect that to happen, as they have done in the past. ...That would avoid a technical default. In her writing, novelist Karen Thompson Walker takes ordinary people and puts them in the most unusual even bizarre circumstances. Her first novel, The Age of Miracles, follows the lives of her characters when the Earths rotation suddenly slows, causing days and nights to become longer, gravity to change, and disruptions to affect the natural world. In her new book, The Dreamers, set for release by Penguin Random House in mid-January 2019, a student in an isolated Southern California college town falls asleep in her dorm room, and doesnt wake up. Soon, more people both within and outside of the college are succumbing to the mysterious sleeping malady, setting off panic and chaos. Doctors detect unusual levels of brain activity in the sleepers, indicating heightened dreams. As with her earlier book, said Walker during a recent telephone interview, the new novel allowed her to chronicle ordinary people facing extreme situations, and to examine what happens to the bonds between people when they are tested by highly stressful events. I think a strange premise like this just really captures my imagination, said Walker, who will talk about her book at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 during an appearance at Warwicks bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The Dreamers is set in a fictional college town that Walker said was patterned after Lake Arrowhead. Her first book, The Age of Miracles, was set in an imagined version of Del Mar , where she grew up and where her parents still live. Walker attended elementary school in Del Mar and later graduated from Torrey Pines High School. In the year between her graduation from UCLA and graduate school at Columbia University in New York, she worked as a writer for the Carmel Valley News and Rancho Santa Fe Review. After graduate school, while working as a book editor for a publishing house, she wrote her first novel in the mornings before work, sometimes while riding on the subway, according to her website. While she creates strange situations for her characters to deal with, she considers her fictional scenarios as a way of probing more commonplace themes such as loss and love. The new book, she said, allowed her to ponder the mysteries of human consciousness, sleep and the world of dreams, as well as the intersection between dreams and reality. My hope is that this story reflects and casts back on more ordinary situations, as a lens to look at more ordinary highs and lows in life, she said. As an example, Walker said, she drew on her own experiences of having a baby as she wrote about a father who tries to protect his newborn child when his wife contracts the mysterious sleeping illness. As she awaits the release of The Dreamers in bookstores and online outlets, Walker is also looking forward to the possibility that her book will one day become a television series. Warren Littlefield of Fox 21, who produced two of her favorite shows, The Handmaids Tale and Fargo, has obtained the TV option for her new novel, said Walker. If The Dreamers does make it to the small screen, she said, it wont contain all the sentences she painstakingly crafted while writing the book, but will instead be its own, different art form, which she hopes will capture the essence of her book. Im excited to see how it might turn out, she said. Along with her own writing, Walker also nurtures the writing of undergrads and graduate students at the University of Oregon , where she is an assistant professor of creative writing. She has found that academic life contributes in important ways to her work as a novelist. Questions that her students ask, she said, lead to new insights I didnt have before. The discussions we have enrich my own thinking. Walker lives in Portland with her husband, novelist Casey Walker, and the couples two daughters. For more information, visit karenthompsonwalker.com By Nam Hyun-woo Investors are betting high on companies seeking new low-cost carrier (LCC) licenses, which the government is expected to grant in the first half of the year. Air Premia, which wants a license as a mid-to long-haul route carrier, said Friday it secured a combined 40 billion won ($35.83 million) investment from private equity funds (PEFs) Neoplux and Yuanta Investment. Neoplux, an investment company under Doosan Group, will invest 30 billion won, and Yuanta Investment, 10 billion won. In a previous round of funding, Air Premia secured 125 billion won from other PEFs including SkyLake Investment, IMM Investment, JKL Partners, Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Daishin Private Equity. "Adding paid-in capital and funds secured in other rounds of investment, the company has raised over 200 billion won, and the amount will likely increase in the future," an Air Premia official said. Air Innovation Korea (AIK), which plans to run Cheongju-based Aero K Airlines, also recently received an 11.8 billion won investment from Atinum Investment, as the venture capital firm joined AIK's recapitalization. Fly Gangwon, which seeks to become a Gangwon Province-based LCC, also secured investments from more than 20 groups, including duty free shop operator Shinsegae DF and cosmetics firm Tonymoly. The moves come amid high expectations that the government may open multiple LCC slots in the first half of the year. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is currently reviewing the eligibility of five companies, after scrapping excessive competition from its reviewing criteria. Another factor spurring investment in LCCs is their increasing market share in the aviation industry. Last month, LCC accounted for 60.6 percent of all domestic flights. Minister of Science and ICT You Young-min, fourth from left in the front row, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power CEO Chung Jae-hoon, to You's right, applaud with participants of a New Year meeting of Korea's nuclear energy industry leaders at the Palace Hotel in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of Ministry of Science and ICT WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank on Thursday outlined the selection process for the next president to replace Jim Yong Kim, who suddenly announced an early departure from the multilateral development bank earlier this week. Following a board meeting on Wednesday, the board of executive directors of the World Bank affirmed its commitment to an "open, merit-based and transparent" selection process, the World Bank said in a statement. "The Executive Directors agreed that candidates should be committed to the implementation of the Forward Look and the capital package agreement as articulated in the Sustainable Financing for Sustainable Development Paper," the statement said. Candidates should also meet several important criteria, including a proven track record of leadership, experience of managing large organizations with international exposure, and a firm commitment to and appreciation for multilateral cooperation, according to the World Bank. The bank said nominations for the next president shall be submitted between Feb. 7 and March 14, and the executive directors will decide on a shortlist of up to three candidates. "Formal interviews by the Executive Directors will be conducted for all shortlisted candidates with the expectation of selecting the new President before the Spring Meetings" in April, said the bank. Kim on Monday announced that he would be stepping down from his position at the World Bank effective Feb. 1, more than three years ahead of the scheduled end of his second term as president of the international lending institution in 2022. Kim first became the 12th president of the World Bank on July 1, 2012. Before this post, he served as president of the famous U.S. academic institution Dartmouth College. Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a New York-based global infrastructure investor, confirmed on Tuesday that Kim would become GIP's partner and vice chairman on Feb. 1. "Dr. Kim's broad knowledge base along with his first hand, comprehensive experience of working with governments and institutions around the world will provide very valuable insights," said Adebayo Ogunlesi, chairman and managing partner of GIP. "My previous experiences and recent years working at the World Bank have been rewarding efforts that have demonstrated how vital infrastructure development has become to the world," Kim said Tuesday in a statement. "I truly welcome the opportunity to work with GIP to be a part of furthering this broad and critically important global mission," he said. By Kim Ji-myung During the last several days of December, Cheong Wa Dae staff must have spent grueling hours waiting in anticipation for the news from Pyongyang of Kim Jong-un's decision to visit the South in 2018. The officials seemed to give up their futile hope at last around Dec. 28 or 29. Till the last moment, South Korean media talked about a possible visit on Dec. 30! President Moon Jae-in's office in the final months of 2018 had heightened people's expectations to the maximum with press releases on the detailed preparation for Kim's visit. His itinerary, a possible helicopter landing on the crater of Mount Halla on Jeju Island, where to set up a heliport for this event, etc. However, the wide gap in people's recognition of the situation is alarming. Some of my friends, mostly aged and conservative, maintain two rock hard beliefs (although all welcome the thawing of inter-Korean relations and an ultimate unification). The first is the absolute unfeasibility of Kim's visit to the South, and the second is the fundamental mistrust in Kim's words regarding the denuclearization program. There is not much to gain for Kim even if he comes and meets South Koreans. Another even stronger belief is the absolute necessity for Kim to hang onto his hard-achieved nuclear weapons system no matter what. If not in a Hollywood film, North Korea has no gainful scenario to use the weapons. These are for threats to make big powers listen to Pyongyang. Kim said on Jan.2, "We would neither make nor test nuclear weapons any longer nor use and proliferate them, and we have taken various practical measures." And President Trump replied, "I also look forward to meeting with Chairman Kim who realizes so well that North Korea possesses great economic potential!" To the relief of President Moon and his staff, Kim delivered a New Year speech, well-designed to achieve his purpose. His message does not mention destruction of any existing nuclear weapons. Nonetheless President Moon and the South Korean media interpret this message in a most hopeful and romantic manner. The big photo of Kim delivering his New Year message being published by the print and broadcast media of South Korea was unprecedented and noteworthy in many ways. The photo showcased Kim's enormous room surrounded by gigantic bookshelves filled with decorative collections and series. As a portrait, it was a total failure because Kim is dwarfed by the background furniture and a marble floor, being seated in a big leather sofa in the middle part of the room. But is this what Pyongyang intended? To portray Kim as an intellectual, book-reading and reasonable leader? A recent incident that happened on Dec. 27 suddenly seems quite timely. One of the many newly created groups to bandwagon Kim's visit hung a placard on a street in the heart of Seoul. It read "We welcome Kim Jong-un's visit with our all our hearts, supreme reader of North Korea." "Supreme leader" has been a common moniker used by Western media for Kim. "Reader" was found to be a simple spelling mistake. However, netizens mocked the error, saying, "Maybe Kim is a great book-lover" or "Is the group a reading club?" If it was in North Korea, it could have brought a serious result, according to Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean defector who served in the North Korean military. Even the slightest mistake is unacceptable if it concerns the leader of the country, and a "reader" could be demeaning Kim as a mere "novice student." The person held accountable would be sent to political concentration camp without trial, he said. Inscribing a new image of North Korean leader in the South Koreans' minds may be more easily achieved than making them imagine a life without human rights and freedom. The writer (heritagekorea21@gmail.com) is the chairwoman of the Korea Heritage Education Institute (K*Heritage). The day after Christmas, police officers in Lakeland, Florida, fatally shot a 17-year-old. Police say the young man was driving a stolen car in a crowded parking lot and tried to hit an officer. It was one of 63 fatal police shootings in Florida in 2018, according to the Washington Post's tally of police shooting nationwide. For years, Americans have had to rely on unofficial media counts like the Post's, because the federal government didn't track police shootings. That changed on Jan. 1 when the FBI launched its National Use-of-Force Data Collection Task Force. Finally, an official data set will shed light on officer-involved shootings, and it will include details that will help people understand the nuances of a difficult issue. The lack of reliable information about officer-involved shootings has hampered discussions about use of force and reforming law enforcement. Some communities do an admirable job of reporting police shootings. Orlando, for example, maintains a database on its website. Other locales are content to avoid the uncomfortable conversations that occur around police shootings, especially when white officers shoot black or Hispanic suspects. News media organizations have tried to fill the information gap, but they can do only so much. They don't have access to all the information that law enforcement agencies collect locally, and they lack the reporters on the ground to check in with every jurisdiction. They also don't agree on what to track. The Washington Post tracks when police kill someone, but other organizations track every time a cop fires a weapon or a suspect is wounded. Those third-party efforts also usually leave out crucial context. The headline is how many shootings there were in a month or a year, but there's much more to the story. For example, when an off-duty police officer shoots someone, should that count as a police shooting? Depends which tally you check. Likewise, who initiated the confrontation? Did someone call in a report about a youth with a gun, or did police approach someone on the street for little reason? Without the details that fill out the narrative, public conversations about police department policies and accountability too easily turn into blunt shouting. The FBI's new database aims to enable a better discussion. It will track the specifics of incidents that previous tallies could not, such as details about the officers and the victims. The goal isn't to facilitate investigations into individual incidents but to provide a broad data set for national and comparative analysis. The FBI will release statistics at least twice per year that will help researchers, reporters, community activists and anyone else better understand trends in police shootings. There's a glaring problem though: Participation is optional. Local law enforcement agencies will report shootings only if they choose to. Some will bow out to avoid uncomfortable scrutiny. Others simply won't have the resources to compile the stats needed. In South Florida, the Broward Sheriff's Office not only plans to take part, it has been participating for about three years, helping in the development and trial phase of the FBI program. The Miami-Dade Police Department also plans to submit its statistics. As Director Juan J. Perez told the Editorial Board in an email: "It is critical to law enforcement that this data be maintained at a national level in order to exhibit transparency and provide an accurate depiction of police use-of-force incidents. "Public access to such data will undoubtedly lead to improved relationships with the communities we serve while helping build greater trust of our law enforcement professionals." We urge other South Florida law-enforcement departments to recognize, as does Perez, the value of having a reliable federal database of police shooting incidents and taking part. However, if participation nationwide is spotty, the FBI and Congress should consider upping the pressure. Threatening to withhold federal funds might convince some reluctant departments to embrace this need for transparency. The public entrusts law enforcement with tremendous power. In return, law enforcement must remain accountable to the public, and that requires accurate data about the most challenging circumstances. Such mutual trust is critical. It may save lives. The above editorial appeared in the Miami Herald. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Carl Manlan LOME It has now been more than three years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the money required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the agenda's key targets remains elusive. In fact, less than half of the $6 trillion in annual financing that is needed has even been pledged. But while the dearth of global funding could be viewed as a tragedy for the Global South, for Africa, it actually represents a tremendous opportunity. Foreign aid has long supported Africa's progress. But Africans are increasingly able to invest in their own solutions. By 2025, African household and business spending could hit $5.6 trillion, and Deloitte estimates that by 2030, a half-billion Africans will have disposable income. If every African with the means contributed a dollar a month for a year to pool our own resources, the benefits would be profound. But before we can even begin to dream of legions of homegrown donors, the immediate goal must be to create networks and strategies to maximize the benefits of African giving. The first step is to build philanthropic infrastructure the technological, legal, tax, and accountability systems needed to ensure that donations are secure. While digital financial services have already made fundraising easier, the scale of online giving in Africa remains small. For example, Africa's largest online fundraising platform, M-Changa, launched in 2012, has collected money from more than 340,000 donors for some 29,000 projects. China's Tencent charity platform, by comparison, solicited 28 million donations in just three days last year. Moreover, Africa's civil-society organizations (CSOs) must become more adept at persuading potential African donors that they are worthy aid recipients. According to EPIC-Africa, a Dakar-based nonprofit that tracks CSO effectiveness, there is little credible data on the number of African CSOs, what they do, and how they effect change in the places where they operate. In other words, donors have little way of knowing whether their money is being well spent. If African philanthropy is ever to serve as an effective catalyst of human progress, greater CSO transparency will be needed. Aware of these shortcomings, EPIC-Africa has formed a partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation to create the African CSO Excellence Awards, a program designed to recognize organizational capacity on issues like strategic ability, leadership, governance, financial health, and project monitoring. The ultimate goal is to strengthen philanthropic infrastructure to make charities more effective and more accountable. Finally, Africa's philanthropic push should target economic growth. One of the best ways to shift Africans' focus from poverty reduction to wealth creation is by supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises including female-run farms. That way, when governments build systems that connect intra-African trade to global value chains, well-resourced SMEs can maneuver to take advantage. And when SMEs succeed, jobs are created, helping more people find means of upward mobility. The African diaspora, as well as Africans on the continent with disposable income, can help governments achieve the SDGs by directing resources to organizations that are best positioned to create African wealth. By strategically pooling their financial resources, Africans could end poverty, eradicate diseases, improve health-care systems, and educate the continent's children. All of this would help Africa realize its economic potential including its potential to fuel global prosperity. Since 2015, Africa's household spending growth has averaged 3.5 percent, and by the end of 2019, consumer demand is forecast to add as much as $1.1 trillion to African GDP further evidence that a growing number of Africans have the financial means to help the African continent achieve its human-development objectives. What is needed now are the tools to adequately channel Africans' new philanthropic capacity. The international community should continue to support progress across Africa, and better resourced countries should fulfill their unmet SDG funding commitments. But Africans do not need to wait for the world to come to the rescue; we have the resources we need right here at home. After so many decades of dependence on foreign funding, it is time that wealth and not poverty dictates how the African continent develops. Carl Manlan, a 2016 New Voices fellow at the Aspen Institute, is chief operating officer at the Ecobank Foundation. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Dr. Ahmad Rashid Malik Improving ties between China and Japan are in the interest of both countries. Behind deep mistrust, the relations need a new impetus to be motivated. These biggest economies the second- andthird-largest need to cooperate rather than compete. They must look for a good relationship to significantly uplift Asian prosperity. Both countries faces short- and long-term issues and mutually they could overcome these difficulties no matter how difficult they may be. Recently, both countries signed a $29 billion currency swap agreement aimed at enhancing their financial outlook. Amid trade tensions with Washington, the two signed over 500 business deals at a value of more than $2.6 billion, ranging from infrastructure, energy and car projects to the currency swap pact. Their ties have moved from competition to collaboration. Both nations have proved they need to be friends and avoid any kind of controversy. Wartime history, territorial disputes in the East China Sea, deep-rooted distrust and hostility, regional competition and the U.S.-Japan military alliance are serious threats to their mutual ties and both nations are careful of that. In fact their relations were much deteriorated after 2010 than at any time in the recen past. Relations were improved during 1970 and until 2010 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has seen the ups and downs of this relationship and looks more careful at this time. "China and Japan are neighbors and partners, and we will not be a threat to each other," Abe said. They also signed more than 50 agreements to work together on infrastructure development in Asia, proof of a Japanese commitment to partner on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As U.S. President Donald Trump has waged a trade war against China, Tokyo has become an essential trading partner of Beijing. Japan possesses sophisticated technology to pass on to China in a competing manner under any trade agreement. China is a huge emerging market and Japan can play a significant role in it. To some extent, Japan could replace the dependency on the United States. The United States has been withdrawing from many multilateral arrangements and this could be beneficial for both China and Japan to keep expanding their mutual technological ties. The growing conflict between Washington and Beijing also worries Tokyo. Abe's nationalist tendencies also worry Beijing but now they are above that level and moving toward reconciliation. Much wisdom is needed to overcome their differences, which is prevailing at this time. If the relations remain stable, this will serve the basis of interest for the two countries. In the present international situation, China and Japan have become more important; the two countries could alter the international order and look for peace and stability in East Asia. Beijing would welcome Japan's involvement in China's overseas infrastructure projects. "China welcomes Japan to take part in the Belt and Road Initiative," Abe said, referring to President Xi Jinping's signature push to link economies into a China-centered trading network. The BRI has the capacity to lower down Japan and China's differences and build a common future and tranquility. Both nations would like to avoid a trade war. They are more interested in building mutual prosperity and goodwill. Their common efforts would help promote globalization at a time of U.S.-led trade war and conflict in world politics. With highly complementary economies, China and Japan could be the engine of production for the rest of Asian nations. In the two countries' relations, Japanese-Chinese collaboration could lead them toward success. Trade between China and Japan reached $300 billion in 2017, making China Japan's second-largest trading partner, while Japan is China's third-biggest. For Japanese companies China is the most suitable place for their investment. Around 30,000 Japanese firms currently have investments in China helpingTokyo's investment in Beijing grow to more than $100 billion. This is a highly lucrative business. It is better for Japan to invest in China than to look for competition or rivalry in the South China Sea or any other theater. It is not good for Japan to look toward a dispute with China and ignore the U.S.-led conflict with China. It is a good move to build the economies of East Asia together. Leaders of China and Japan announced they had agreed to boost economic cooperation, not to pose a threat to each other and push for more cooperation on innovation, environmental protection, health and welfare. It is in their mutual interest to maintain a long-term stable China-Japan relationship, which is also beneficial to the stability of the region and the world. They should never commit direct aggression against each other, but rather act like good neighbors. The writer is a consultant at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. He writes on East Asian affairs. Contact him at dr.arm@hotmail.com. Lee Hae-chan, head of ruling Democratic Party of Korea, center, holds hands with new presidential chief of staff Noh Young-min, right, and Kang Gi-jung, presidential secretary for political affairs, during their meeting at the National Assembly, Friday. / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit North Korea in April in an apparent move to play a part in the peace overtures on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea's ruling party head said Friday. "It is likely that Xi will visit the North in April and come to the South in May," Lee Hae-chan, head of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, said in a meeting with new presidential secretaries. "Leaders in Northeast Asia are looking to meet frequently in the first half of this year," he added without citing any sources. The peace momentum in the region will further improve after the second Washington-Pyongyang summit and inter-Korean summit, possibly scheduled in the near future, he said. It is very important for South Korea to take advantage of the rare momentum for peace in a way to vitalize the local economy, Lee said. The remark came at a time when the two Koreas are on track to resume their economic engagements and a series of economic partnerships. The remark was made Friday when new presidential secretaries paid a courtesy visit to leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, asking for cooperation from the National Assembly on state management. Presidential chief of staff Noh Young-min and Kang Gi-jung, presidential secretary for political affairs, met with Lee, minor opposition Bareunmirae Party Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu and a group of ranking officials from opposition parties. This came three days after Noh and Kang were named as the new ranking Cheong Wa Dae secretaries on Tuesday. At the Assembly visit, they particularly focused on ways to partner with lawmakers on revving up the local economy. "President Moon Jae-in urged me to meet as many businesspeople as possible in his first order," Noh said in a meeting with Sohn. Even if the President is widely known as a former human rights lawyer, he also understands how important the economy and business is for state management, Noh said. "The President also underlined the need for me to play a more active role in building an ecosystem where businesspeople can enjoy their corporate management and continue to invest, as this will allow the local economy to grow," the new presidential chief of staff said. Im Jong-seok, former presidential chief of staff, gives a farewell speech at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Cheong Wa Dae replaced top aides including Im. / Yonhap By Park Ji-won Former presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok is emerging as a key factor in Korean politics. He left Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, after working as President Moon Jae-in's top aide for 20 months. But he is already being regarded as a potential contender for president. While in office, the former lawmaker successfully positioned himself as a major liberal figure despite incessant ideological attacks from conservatives. He played a big part in Moon's major achievements, especially in building a reconciliatory mood between the two Koreas. Im also served as chief of the preparatory committee for Moon?s three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last year. However, political pressure increased on him after a former Cheong Wa Dae staffer raised allegations that the presidential office conducted illegal surveillance of citizens. The prosecution is now investigating the case. The political community is wary of what next steps Im will take amid rumors he may contend a National Assembly seat in the general election next year. There are reports that he may run in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The precinct has a symbolic meaning in Korean politics because former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Myung-bak also won there. "I will take several months off for a break, but I will move somewhere in Jongno-gu once I return to prepare for my next step," Im said. Insiders expect former Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, who won in Jongno-gu in the last election, will likely yield to Im, as it is customary not to run for office after serving as parliamentary speaker. However, as Chung didn't openly say he will resign from the post, there is a possibility Im needs to consider another precinct for his career. Some say he may push to take back his old precinct of Seongdong-gu. He debuted there as a lawmaker in 2000 aged 34. Another speculation is that he wants to serve as unification minister because of his expertise in inter-Korean relations. Im was in the pro-democracy movement generation in the 1980s that fought against the military governments. He was among student activists seeking to increase engagement with North Korea. Im was jailed for three-and-a -half years for violating the national security law by helping Lim Soo-kyung, then a student activist, to illegally visit to Pyongyang. Politicians close to him insist he has moved away from his previous radicalism, but there are still some doubts from those who believe he is a sympathizer of North Korea. However, insiders expect he will not take an administration job for a while to allow for rest after his job with Moon. "It will be better for him to expand his footprint by raising his voice on his own by serving as a lawmaker if he wants to become president, which appears to be his goal," one insider said. Some say Im may run for Seoul mayor as he served as vice mayor for the capital between 2014 and 2015 under incumbent Park Won-soon. But it is unlikely as there is a three-year gap until the local elections in 2022. Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit North Korea in April in what could be his first trip to the neighboring country, South Korea's ruling party chief said Friday. Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), made the remark during his meeting with Noh Young-min, President Moon Jae-in's new chief of staff, at the National Assembly. Noh visited there for the first time for a meeting with party chiefs since he took the post three days ago. "Xi's visit to North Korea seems to be scheduled for April, and in May, there appears to be a high possibility of his trip to South Korea," Lee said, without revealing the source of his information. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited China earlier this week and held a summit with Xi ahead of a second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. North Korea's state media said that Xi accepted Kim's invitation to visit North Korea "at a convenient date." "On top of the North-China summit, if a second summit between the United States and North Korea and an inter-Korean summit are held, the peace mood in Northeast Asia will be established considerably," Lee said. (Yonhap) Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo speaks in a media briefing at its headquarters in Seoul, in this file photo taken in November last year. / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung The Ministry of National Defense said Friday it will stop using provocative military terms against North Korea to reflect the ongoing peace momentum on the Korean Peninsula. In a medium-term strategic planning report, the ministry replaced phrases, such as "Kill Chain" and "Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMRP)," with new ones using toned-down rhetoric. Kill Chain refers to a pre-emptive strike system against possible missile threats from North Korea the ministry decided to change this to "strategic target strike." KMRP has also been renamed as "overwhelming response." The decision came against the backdrop of the inter-Korean reconciliation under which Seoul and Pyongyang are taking a series of steps to ease military tension. But the decision has also raised controversy that the phrase change is nothing more than a "play of words" to be in line with the President Moon Jae-in administration's policies on North Korea, even though the primary role of the ministry is to maintain military readiness despite the rare peace overture. Starting last year, President Moon has held three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In their last meeting in September, they agreed to take specific steps for border disarmament, in what they said was a move to foster peace and stability on the peninsula. "We decided to change the names, in an effort to extend the scope of security readiness," a military official said. "The previous phrases have a lot to do with the North's possible military provocations, but the new ones are much broader in concept. The new phrases were adopted for us to maintain the readiness against possible threats from not just North Korea, but any potential threats." In the mid-term report, the ministry allocated 270.7 trillion won ($242 billion) to improve the nation's defense capacity and troop management. Of the budget, the ministry allotted 65.6 trillion won to realize what it calls strategic war deterrence by enhancing the military's anti-missile platforms and radar detection systems, the ministry said. "To brace for any threats from weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the military will continue making efforts to secure overwhelming response capabilities," said the official. The capabilities include the continuing improvement of the domestically developed Cheolmae-2 medium-range air defense missile and the reinforcement of military data communications capacity, the official explained. The ministry also allocated 841 billion won for introducing military technology platforms in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. They include the establishment of smart troop management systems and the introduction of a new lightweight combat uniform, called the "Warrior Platform," which consists of a bulletproof helmet and vest and combat fatigues made from improved fabrics. By Dong Sun-hwa A Seoul Medical Center nurse committed suicide last Saturday at her home after allegedly being bullied at work. The cause of her death was a drug overdose. She left a suicide note that read: "Please do not take me to our hospital when you find me, and I do not want my hospital people to offer me condolences." The bereaved family claimed she had been harassed at work and demanded an investigation. The nurse once sent a message to her family saying she was not able to have a meal during the day. She also was chided for not making coffee well and scolded because of the noise her slippers made, according to the family. "The hospital made a call after the cremation, asking why she has been absent from work," her younger brother said. "I was extremely enraged and hung up after telling them she died." Civic activists and members of the Supreme Court's union call for the arrest of former Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae as he walks past them through the gates of the top court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Judiciary power abuse probe finally reaches chief justice By Lee Suh-yoon For the first time in the nation's history, a former Supreme Court chief justice was summoned for questioning by prosecutors Friday, bringing the seven-month-long investigation into the massive judiciary power abuse scandal into its final stretch. Yang Sung-tae, 70, faces 40 different charges of abuse of power during his time as chief justice from 2011 to 2017. The most serious allegation is his interference in a series of high-profile trials in order to gain political favors from the Park Geun-hye administration as he wanted to establish a de facto "Second Supreme Court." Unlike other high-profile criminal suspects, Yang refused to stop for questions or photos as he presented himself at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office at 9:30 a.m., in a show of defiance toward the investigation. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae holds a press conference in front of the Supreme Court, Friday. Banners behind him call for Yang to stand before the public in front of the prosecutors' office as other criminal suspects do. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul He did, however, hold a brief press conference on his own proclaimed stage the main gates of the Supreme Court, a traditional arena for the wronged to voice their anger at dubious court verdicts, including those Yang allegedly influenced. Civic activists and the court's union called Yang's move "scandalous," saying he was trying to deny the investigation's legitimacy and pressure other members of the judiciary to support him. Yang, on the other hand, claimed he merely wanted to "visit" the court before questioning because he had spent his whole life working there, and pledged to take full responsibility for the situation. "I'm sincerely sorry for causing public concern with the recent situation," Yang said in front of the top court before heading to the prosecutors' office, his voice barely audible above the angry din of activists and union members behind him, chanting "Arrest Yang Sung-tae" and "Go stand in front of the prosecutors' office." Yang Sung-tae stands on a marked spot in front of the Supreme Court, where he chose to give a press conference, instead of at the prosecutors' office. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul He also denied all allegations made against himself and the other judges under investigation. "I would like to ask the public to trust our judges," he said "I believe that our judges did not do anything against their conscience while carrying out their duties. If they are found guilty later on, I will take full responsibility." Yang once again denied having interfered in court rulings or discriminating against those on a "blacklist" of judges with differing political views, when asked by reporters. A smaller crowd of conservatives carrying the national flag, the Taegeukgi, cheered on Yang from one side, calling the protesters "reds" and "commies." Yang silently walks past reporters and cameramen at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul, to present himself for questioning. Yonhap The prosecution's probe into the scandal started in June last year, after a series of internal documents from the National Court Administration (NCA) were made public. These detailed plans to take into account Cheong Wa Dae's political interest in high-profile rulings, most notably forced wartime laborers' damage suits against Japanese firms. Prosecutors believe Yang and other senior NCA officials intentionally delayed the verdict on forced laborers' cases for years to toe the line with the Park administration's soft diplomatic stance with Japan at the time. Other cases subject to suspected NCA meddling include one that outlawed a progressive teachers' union and another delaying the Election Law violation trial of former spy agency chief Won Sei-hoon, which might have undermined the legitimacy of Park's 2012 presidential election victory. A protestor holds up a sign that reads "Out with judiciary corruption and power abuse," in front of the Supreme Court. On the left, protesters rally against Yang Sung-tae, while on the right, conservative groups supportive of Yang hold up the Taegeukgi and the U.S. flag. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Xiaomi Corp CEO Lei Jun at the Redmi product release in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo provided to China Daily] Chinese smartphone vendor Xiaomi Corp said on Thursday that it is aiming to be the No 1 or 2 player of its kind in Europe, as it strives to expand its presence in overseas markets amid mounting competition with rivals such as Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi, said: "At first, we want to become the No 1 or 2 smartphone vendor in one or two European countries. We have selected Spain and France as our primary destinations." Lei said he will personally make a trip to Europe in the first quarter of this year to see how Xiaomi is doing in the highly competitive battlefield. The Beijing-based company's smartphone shipments to Western Europe grew 386 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2018, according to market research company Canalys. Lei's comments came as Xiaomi is stepping up its push to lure foreign consumers as the China market reaches saturation point. From June to September, Xiaomi was ranked as the fourth largest smartphone vendor in terms of smartphone shipments, while its international revenue grew 112.7 percent year-on-year. "Our products and services are now available in more than 80 countries and regions. We also plan to enter Africa and the Middle East in the future," Lei said. Xiaomi on Thursday officially unveiled its new independent brand Redmi, which is seen by analysts as a key way to compete with Honor, one of the two signature brands of Huawei. The Redmi brand is designed to make cost-effective smartphones while the Xiaomi brand will focus on the higher-end segment, Lei said at the launch event. Lu Weibing, former president of local smartphone vendor Gionee, is in charge of Redmi's business. As of September 2018, a total of 278 million Redmi series smartphones had been sold globally. According to him, Xiaomi will ramp up its push to offer quality smartphones with highly competitive prices and quality, and Redmi will also help drive its global expansion. Xiang Ligang, a telecom veteran and CEO of industry website Cctime, said the global smartphone market has declined considerably, with 2019 being a quite challenging year. "Redmi is now already very popular in markets such as India, but more efforts are needed in Europe where consumers prefer more premium devices," Xiang said. Honor said earlier that it achieved 150 percent year-on-year growth in foreign markets in 2018. Park Jong-cheol, a member of the Yecheon County Council in North Gyeongsang Province, answers questions from reporters before heading into Yecheon Police Station, Friday, to be questioned over his alleged assault of a tour guide during the councilors' business trip t Canada last December./ Yonhap By Jung Hae-myoung Police questioned Park Jong-cheol, a member of the Yecheon County Council in North Gyeongsang Province, Friday, over his alleged assault of a tour guide during the councilors' "business trip" to Canada last year. Park, the deputy head of the council, appeared at the Yecheon Police Station at 3 p.m. for questioning, after an activist group filed a complaint with the police Monday. "I'm sorry for causing a stir," Park said before the questioning. "I'm sorry to the guide and to the people of the county." He did not answer questions from reporters, just saying he would talk to the police. He was accused of punching the tour guide several times while on a bus heading for Toronto Dec. 23 during the 10-day business trip with other eight councilors and five staff members. "Park will be booked for inflicting injury, which will not need any settlement with the victim," a police officer said. Earlier police questioned some of the other councilors and the staffers and secured surveillance camera recordings from the bus. They also received a statement and medical records from the victim through email, in which the guide clarified he wants Park to be punished and has no intention to forgive him. The incident was first made public Jan. 2 via media report. At the time the council explained that the tour guide was accidentally scratched when Park waved his hand during a quarrel. But surveillance camera footage inside the bus was disclosed later, which showed Park coming suddenly from the back of the bus and punching the guide who was at the front. The other councilors remained in their seats and only the bus driver tried to stop him. A photo was also revealed showing the tour guide's forehead bleeding. In a radio interview, the guide said the bus driver called 911 and the local police came. The police attempted to take Park in for questioning but the guide refused to make a formal complaint because he did not want to delay the tour schedule. Later the councilors agreed to pay the guide $3,300 in compensation, after which the latter said Park commented, "Now you can hit me, then I can earn some money, too." Following the incident, the councilors decided to repay the trip expenses, about 61 million won ($ 553,686) of taxpayers' money, into the local government coffers. Police will also now look into how the budget for the trip was used, and check whether public funds were used to pay off the guide. After the first media report about the incident, Park made an official apology Jan. 4 and resigned from his vice chairman position, but held on to his seat as councilor. But public anger only grew, and Lee Hyung-sik, the chairman of council, said they decided to expel Park from the council. "Other council members will also pay for their behavior and so will I by stepping down from my post," Lee said. However, angry Yecheon residents are demanding not only Park but also the other eight councilors to step down. Several members of a farmers' group have been staging a sit-in at Lee's office since Wednesday. About 80 residents also held a rally Friday, saying they would seek a recall of the councilors if they refuse to resign. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae speaks to reporters in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, Friday, before heading to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to face questioning, as a criminal suspect, over his alleged involvement in a judiciary power-abuse scandal. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae defended the court system and himself Friday as he was about to be quizzed by prosecutors over a string of allegations in a widening power abuse scandal. Yang appeared outside the top court building in southern Seoul ahead of the interrogation scheduled for 9:30 a.m., amid tight security and loud crowds of protesters calling for his punishment. "I have but myself to blame for all of this. Responsibility rests with me," he told reporters. "I am also deeply sorry to the public for causing concern for the things that happened under my term." But he rejected the mounting claims that the judiciary was involved in the alleged interference of trials, stressing "the majority of court officials are devoted to serving the public in the name of justice." "We have never acted against our own conscious and the rule of law. And I believe in them," Yang said. He also called on the public to trust the judiciary and to watch the probe with "no bias." "If (my officials) had done anything wrong, I would take the blame for it, but I do also want this investigation to be done from an objective point of view, with no bias or prejudice." The 71-year-old stands accused of using or seeking to use trials as political leverage to lobby the office of then President Park Geun-hye to get her approval for the establishment of a separate court of appeals, his long-envisioned plan. He is the first former head of South Korea's Supreme Court to face a prosecution questioning as a criminal suspect. He faces at least 40 counts of charges, including abuse of power and leaking state secrets. Yang is flanked by reporters as protesters standing above the Supreme Court's main entrance hold a placard criticizing him. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul A protester behind a police line holds a placard that reads "Punish Yang Sung-tae." Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Yang, flanked by reporters, walks into the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to face questioning, Friday. Yonhap The former veteran justice led the top court from 2011 to September 2017, when he retired. He allegedly instructed his officials at the National Court Administration (NCA), the top court's governing body, to devise ways to interfere in trials whose rulings potentially held high political significance for Park. He pressured judges in charge of such trials to deliver verdicts in Park's favor and disadvantaged the judges who were opposed to establishing another appeals court, prosecutors said. He is also accused of having orchestrated a delay in the deliberation of a damages suit filed by Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor, to curry favor with the former president who was seeking amicable relations with Tokyo. Prosecutors say they have enough evidence to charge him. They have obtained a testimony from the then lead justice in the forced labor case claiming how Yang warned him of a possible international dispute if the ruling was made in the victims' favor. Yang then allegedly told him to "build up arguments that can reverse" the top court's earlier ruling. The corruption trial of Won Sei-hoon, former spy chief, is also among the trials in question. His election violation charges could potentially undermine the legitimacy of Park's victory in the 2012 presidential race. The mounting scandal has put the entire judiciary under unprecedented intense scrutiny, mingled with mixed reactions within the judicial circle toward the widening probe. While junior-level judges mostly accept the need for the probe and call for self-reflection, many senior judges have expressed displeasure, accusing the prosecution of carrying it too far to discredit the court system. It is widely expected that prosecutors will seek a court warrant to arrest Yang, for which they would need approval from Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il, given the nature of the high profile case. (Yonhap) Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, center, speaks during a lecture hosted by ruling Democratic Party of Korea's panel on denuclearization at the National Assembly, Friday. / Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Friday that holding talks on reopening the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC) in North Korea, should be discussed in conjunction with progress in its denuclearization talks with the United States. Kang said if the government wants to reopen the GIC, which has been closed since February 2016, there first needs to be discussions on on how to operate it without providing cash to the North. Her remarks came after President Moon Jae-in expressed hope for economic cooperation with Pyongyang in his New Year press conference, Thursday. The U.S. has been asking South Korea to continue to observe U.N. Security Council sanctions and keep inter-Korean relations in lockstep with the denuclearization progress. While Moon remains resolute in carrying out the sanctions on North Korea, he apparently has been interested in cross-border economic projects as part of a wider push for reconciliatory efforts. For instance, during the New Year press conference, he said peace with North Korea could "drive economic growth." "Because the U.S. is pessimistic towards the flow of cash into North Korea, whether to resume the GIC should be discussed in conjunction with progress on denuclearization by Pyongyang," Kang said at the National Assembly during a lecture hosted by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's panel on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "We should think of measures to normalize the GIC while ensuring no foreign currency goes into North Korea." Commenting on a planned second summit between leaders of the U.S. and North Korea, Kang said she would not rule out the possibility of a related announcement. She said another summit is "within sight" and that preparatory talks will take place "in the near future." Washington and Pyongyang have been negotiating where U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un should meet following their groundbreaking summit in Singapore last year. "Major U.S. figures have hinted recently that there has been communication between Pyongyang and Washington over the possible second U.S.-North Korea summit," the minister said in a pre-released text. "It should not be ruled out that an announcement on the second U.S.-North Korea summit could be made suddenly." In his New Year address, Kim voiced his desire to meet the American president "anytime." On Jan. 6, Trump said the U.S. and North Korea were "negotiating a location" for the summit. Many speculate it could be held in Vietnam. Kang said maintaining momentum for Washington-Pyongyang dialogue will be important "above all else" for stability on the Korean Peninsula. She referred to the little progress made between the U.S. and North Korea on denuclearization since the first summit. "Being discreet over the situation on the peninsula will be needed, especially considering skepticism in the U.S. toward its dialogue with the North and also growing complaints from U.S. hardliners," minister added. She pointed out that there need to be "close communication and consultations" between the relevant countries ahead of a series of major diplomatic events, including the Trump-Kim summit and the North Korean leader's possible trip to Seoul. Kang assessed that Kim's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week showed the close friendship between the two countries and served to deepen their strategic communication ahead of Kim's summit with Trump. As for Seoul's role in peace efforts, Kang noted the need to strive for "dramatic progress" in inter-Korean relations and efforts to denuclearize the peninsula if Kim makes an unprecedented trip to Seoul. During his third summit with Moon in Pyongyang in September, Kim agreed to visit Seoul to reciprocate the President's trip to the North. Seoul believes that Kim's visit, if realized, will facilitate peace efforts. The Tongyeong Coast Guard rescue passengers of a fishing boat, in the white circle, after it capsized following a collision with an LPG carrier off Yokji Island in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. / Courtesy of Tongyeong Coast Guard By Kim Rahn Three people died and two others are missing after a fishing boat capsized in waters off South Gyeongsang Province, following a collision with a cargo vessel Friday morning, according to Tongyeong Coast Guard. The 9.7-ton Invincible Shark capsized about 80 kilometers off Yokji Island in Tongyeong about 5 a.m. The LPG carrier that hit it reported the incident to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard found 12 among the 14 people on board. But two of them, and the boat's captain, were unconscious and transferred to a hospital by helicopter. They were later pronounced dead. They were not wearing life vests and were found inside the cabin, according to the coast guard. The others were taken to a hospital in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, on a patrol ship. The survivors told the Coast Guard that a large ship crashed into the side of the boat and the boat capsized immediately while they were trying to put on life vests. The coast guard discovered later that the ship was the 3,000-ton LPG carrier that reported the accident. "We are investigating the crew of the carrier for the exact cause of the accident," an official said, adding the Panama-registered ship helped in the rescue operation. Survivors of a fishing boat accident leave a patrol ship at a port in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, Friday. Their boat capsized after it and an LPG carrier collided off Yokji Island in South Gyeongsang Province. Three among 14 onboard died and two are missing. / Yonhap The Invincible Shark left Gukdong Fishing Port in Yeosu at 1:20 p.m. Thursday for hairtail fishing. The captain, surnamed Choi, one crew member and 12 anglers were onboard. Regarding the Yeosu-registered Invincible Shark being found in the sea in South Gyeongsang Province, fishermen in the region say they have to go far to catch hairtail in winter and boats often violate regulations about not crossing provincial boundaries. But the surviving crew member told the coast guard that they fished in the South Jeolla provincial sea and went into the South Gyeongsang area to make a detour due to wind. He said the captain and the passengers did not drink. Authorities mobilized 14 patrol ships, four helicopters and four naval ships for the rescue operation, with five fishing boats helping with the work. They are continuing the search for the missing. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon made an emergency order to the Coast Guard, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to make all efforts to find the missing people and provide adequate medical treatment for survivors. "Lee ordered the authorities to mobilize all possible means, including divers and helicopters, to search every location, such as the seashore and the inside of the ship, to find the missing people," the Prime Minister's Office said. Interior and Safety Minister Kim Boo-kyum also visited the situation room at the National Disaster and Safety Status Control Center in Seoul to monitor the rescue operation. South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Friday that she does not rule out the possibility of a surprise announcement on a much-anticipated summit between the United States and North Korea. Kang made the remarks amid hopes that the possible second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will create fresh momentum for diplomacy on Pyongyang's denuclearization and a lasting peace on the peninsula. "Major U.S. figures have hinted recently that there has been communication between Pyongyang and Washington over the possible second U.S.-North Korea summit," Kang wrote in a pre-released script for a lecture hosted by the ruling Democratic Party's special panel on denuclearization. Trump has recently said that the summit location will probably be announced "in the not-too-distant future." In his New Year's speech, Kim voiced his desire to meet the American president "anytime." Kang pointed out that there need to be "close communication and consultations" between the relevant countries ahead of a series of major diplomatic events, including the Trump-Kim summit and Kim's possible trip to Seoul. Commenting on Kim's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week, Kang said that the two leaders' latest meeting showed the close friendship between the communist allies and that it served to deepen their strategic communication ahead of Kim's summit with Trump. As for Seoul's role in peace efforts, Kang noted the need to strive for "dramatic progress" in inter-Korean relations and efforts to denuclearize the peninsula if Kim makes an unprecedented trip to Seoul. During his third summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang in September, Kim agreed to visit Seoul to reciprocate Moon's trip to the North. Seoul believes that Kim's visit, if realized, will facilitate peace efforts. (Yonhap) gettyimagesbank Companies cutting back as they face hard times By Park Hyong-ki Some credit card companies have begun procedures to cut back on anything they can in preparation for tough times ahead. As they expect inevitable losses stemming from state-enforced reductions in card transaction fees, industry sources say they have no choice but to get "lean and mean." Otherwise, they will have to suffer more pain later on if they do not take "belt-tightening" actions at this very moment. Their cutbacks will have to start with reductions in manpower, whose wages are recorded as costs, or general expenses, in their income statements. Companies such as Hyundai Card and KB Kookmin Card have already started accepting resignation letters from their employees wishing to find and explore new career opportunities, they said. Their so-called voluntary retirement schemes were formed in late 2018 when the financial regulator came out with a lowered range of fees card companies have to charge small and self-employed businesses. Hyundai Card said its main focus will be trying to making its business sustainable through cutbacks. "It's a very concerning time for the industry whose business existence relied on profits from fees," said a Hyundai Card spokesman. "We're going to zero in on developing a sustainable model in the face of challenges." KB Kookmin Card is in the same situation. It has started offering retirement benefit packages to its young managers in their 40s who want to explore other career options. KB Card said it will also reduce some of its marketing costs, and pursue programs more thoroughly and carefully. "We're going to close down some marketing programs and campaigns that have received lukewarm customer responses," said a KB Card spokeswoman. "We will have to rely more on technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analysis to execute only the ones that will have a high chance in grabbing attention in this rapidly changing atmosphere." Other card companies are looking outside the country for possible breakthroughs. For instance, Lotte Card, which is for sale, has established a base in Vietnam as Chief Executive Kim Chang-kwon said it will help the company "diversify and develop new business" amid the uncertainty. BC Card has also made inroads into Vietnam through a strategic partnership in payment systems. It will offer its expertise in QR code settlements in the region and other Southeast Asian markets as BC CEO Lee Mun-hwan said that the "digital area" is where it can have a competitive advantage. Industry sources say local card companies may not be able to enjoy a home-field advantage in Southeast Asia as they did at home. "Their immediate best option would be forging ties and provide their best technology skills in developing digital payment networks and systems," said an industry source. Ballerina Park Sae-un speaks at the CICI Korea Image Awards ceremony at the InterContinental Seoul COEX in southern Seoul, Thursday, after receiving the Korea Image Flower Stone Award for promoting Korea in Paris. Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) president Choi Jung-wha is with her. Courtesy of CICI By Jung Da-min Park Sae-eun, premier danseur at the Paris Opera Ballet, used to be called "a Korean girl" when she joined France's national opera and ballet company. "People called me 'a Korean girl,' not really knowing much about me or Korea when I joined the Paris Opera Ballet in 2011," Park told a press conference Thursday at the InterContinental Seoul COEX in southern Seoul. The meeting was held before the CICI Korea Image Awards ceremony, where Park received the Korea Image Flower Stone Award. The non-profit Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) has been presenting awards each year to those who promote the image of Korea to the world. "As I started to receive promotion every year and play a leading role, people became interested in who I am and what Korea is like," Park said. "For example, people asked me what I think about North Korea, saying they saw news on TV, or asked me if there is a Korean restaurant I go to often in France." Park said her French colleagues had a good impression of Korean people being diligent when she joined the ballet company, thanks to ballerino Kim Yong-geol, who became the company's first Asian soloist in 2005. Kim was Park's professor at the Korea National University of Arts. "As Professor Kim Yong-geol showed his commitment as a dancer, French colleagues had an expectation of Korean dancers to be hard-working when I first joined," Park said. "They told me that they were convinced of the image of Koreans as hard workers seeing me." Park said now there are two more dancers Kang Ho-hyun and Yoon Seo-hoo who joined the ballet company after her and she is proud that they are also working very hard. She said she wanted to encourage other young dancers not to hesitate but challenge themselves, as she did eight years ago. "I also wondered if I could make it at the time when I was making a new step to come to France, as I was already recognized in my own areas, taking leading roles and awarded at concours," she said. "And there were hard times, of course, during the past eight years. But with patience and time, the days of happy dancing had come." Ballerina Park Sae-un. Courtesy of CICI UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday said that China backs the United Nations' necessary financial support for the G5 Sahel joint force. At a UN Security Council meeting, Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, urged the international community to provide strong support to the countries in West Africa and the Sahel region, in fighting cross-border crimes and terrorism. "Overall the situation in West Africa and the Sahel region has been stable, but countries are still facing threats such as violent extremists, terrorist groups, cross-border organized crimes and natural disasters," he said. To address these challenges, Wu said that to tackle the root causes of conflict is important, the international community should focus on the countries' development while assisting them on hotspot issues. The Sahel region stretches across the south-central part of Northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea, touching multiple countries. In 2017, 5 Sahel nations, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad and Mauritania, set up the joint force with the aim to roll back terrorism and lawlessness in the aftermath of a Tuareg separatist uprising in northern Mali in 2012. However, due to inefficient financing, the joint force has met difficulties in attaining full operational capacity. Concluding his statement, the Chinese envoy pledged that China is ready to work with the international community in continuing to play a constructive role in achieving peace and stability on the African continent. Ever since its establishment, the China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund has provided financial support to a number of projects on anti-terrorism in Africa. Strengthening the cooperation with African countries has always been a priority in China's diplomacy, he said. - A popular business executive, Chief Godfred Medicine, has been arraigned before a High Court on charges of fraud - He allegedly took millions of dollars from several clients and went into hiding - His clients included politicians, musicians and pensioners The Executive Chairman of the Shepherd (US) Group of Companies, Chief Godfred Medicine, has been arrested for fraud, YEN.com.gh can report. According to Peacefmonline.com, a civil case was filed at the High Court by some of the plaintiffs to summon him to court. Chief Medicine has been accused of financial misappropriation by his clients, who have since made demands for refund of their investments, after investing in his US Tilapia Farm. Chief Godfried Medicine Source: Citifmonline.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Menzgold saga: Ghanaians go wild as Kumi Guitar 'predicts' NAM1's fate He has allegedly embezzled millions of Ghana cedis invested by customers of the company. The business was intended to provide increased investments to clients but Chief Medicine vanished into thin air after taking monies from clients. Reports suggest that his clients include ministers of state, parliamentarians, businessmen, actors, musicians, farmers and pensioners. He is reported to have vanished and has been on the run until he was picked up by the police. Chief Medicine has been arraigned before the Kumasi High Court and has been tried on civil charges. READ ALSO: Owusu Bempah apologizes to Chief Imam with a cow Ghana News Today: The Aftermath of Owusu Bempahs Prophecy #Yencomgh Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place. Source: Yen.com.gh VILLANOVA, Pa. Barnard b (or GJ 699 b) is a recently discovered Super-Earth planet orbiting Barnards Star, making it the second nearest star system to the Earth. Although likely cold (-170 degrees centigrade), it could still have the potential to harbor primitive life if it has a large, hot iron/nickel core and enhanced geothermal activity. That was a conclusion announced by Villanova University Astrophysicists Edward Guinan and Scott Engle at a January 10 press conference held at the 233rd meeting of the American Astronomy Society (AAS) in Seattle, WA. The announcement was based on findings from a paper titled, X-Ray, UV, Optical Irradiances and Age of Barnards Stars New Super Earth Planet Can Life Find a Way on such a Cold Planet?, co-authored by Guinan, Scott Engle and Ignasi Ribas, Director of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), and Institute of Space Sciences (ICE, CSIC). Geothermal heating could support life zones under its surface, akin to subsurface lakes found in Antarctica, Guinan said. We note that the surface temperature on Jupiters icy moon Europa is similar to Barnard b but, because of tidal heating, Europa probably has liquid oceans under its icy surface. The discovery of Barnards Star b was announced in November 2018 in the academic journal Nature. An international team of researchers led by Ribas of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), and Institute of Space Sciences (ICE, CSIC), which included Guinan and Engle, based its analysis on 18 years of observations combined with newly acquired data. Barnards Star b, with a mass just over three times that of the Earth, orbits Barnards Star, a red dwarf star, every 233 days and at roughly the same distance that Mercury orbits the Sun. It passes near the dim stars snow line. Guinan and Engle have obtained high-precision photometry of Barnards Star (as well as dozens of other stars) for the past 15 years. This data, along with that of other observers, was included in a recent comprehensive study led by Borja Toledo-Padron, a doctoral student at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna. Although very faint, it may be possible for Barnard b to be imaged by future very large telescopes, according to Guinan. Such observations will shed light on the nature of the planets atmosphere, surface, and potential habitability, he added. Barnards Star has been on our radar for a long time, Guinan said. In 2003 it became a founding star member of the Villanova Living with a Red Dwarf program that has been sponsored by the National Science Foundation/National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA). The most significant aspect of the discovery of Barnards star b is that the two nearest star systems to the Sun are now known to host planets. This supports previous studies based on Kepler Mission data, inferring that planets can be very common throughout the galaxy, even numbering in the tens of billions, Engle noted. Also, Barnards Star is about twice as old as the Sun about 9 billion years old compared to 4.6 billion years for the Sun. The universe has been producing Earth-size planets far longer than we, or even the Sun itself, have existed. About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. The Western Australian (WA) housing market is expected to bounce back in the next 12 to 18 months, according to Urban Development Institute of Australias (UDIA) analysis, which was based on three decades of Australian Bureau of Statistics data. UDIA WA Chief Executive Tanya Steinbeck said the institute monitored property market cycles in WA over the past 30 years and found that cycles in the state have spanned between 4.5 and 8.75 years, with an average length of five years during the period. Realestate.com.au also reported that as part of the research, UDIA found an evident relationship between mining exploration expenditure and dwelling commencement figures, specifically since 2007. UDIA examined ABS data on WA dwelling commencements, building approvals and dwelling finance commitments over the past three decades to compare the current market downturn with previous market cycles. According to Steinbeck, there has been a notable two-year gap between a rise in mineral exploration expenditure and a corresponding uplift in dwelling commencement figures in WA. Basing on the current mineral exploration expenditure figures, UDIA estimated that the next market uplift will happen in the next 12 to 18 months. Steinbeck also said that the next peak in dwelling commencements across the state is forecasted to occur between mid-2020 and 2022. While the current downturn has lasted for a longer period than anticipated, it is well within the average time range of historical market cycles. The length of the current downturn is, in part, due to the 2014 peak being the highest on record across the data examined, said Steinbeck. Steinbeck said that the positive signs and timing of a recovery are good news for the property industry, which has a major impact on the health of the broader WA economy. Steinbeck warned, though, that there are several factors that may affect the recovery. These include the banking royal commission, and possible changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax following the May federal election. Adding to this list is the still-unseen impact of the introduction of a foreign buyers surcharge last year. By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] Bessemer Two people were arrested in east central Wisconsin Wednesday in connection with the armed robbery home invasion in Marenisco Township in December. A man, 47, and woman, 41, were arrested in New London Wednesday evening, according to Gogebic County Sheriff Pete Matonich. The owner of the East Shore road residence in the Lake Gogebic area was assaulted and tied up during the early morning hours of Dec. 18 in the home invasion where money and guns were stolen. The property owner was able to free himself and alert police, leading to an unsuccessul search of the area and the execution of a search warrant in the city of Ironwood. Matonich said in December the suspects had been believed to have fled the state and the investigation was continuing. He said Thursday the investigation into the Dec. 18 home invasion led deputies to the suspects in New London, where the department worked with Wisconsin authorities in tracking and surveilling the suspects. Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs issued arrest warrants for the two. GCSD deputies traveled to Waupaca County Wednesday to assist in making the two arrests, according to Matonich. The two are incarcerated in the Waupaca County Jail, pending extradition to Michigan. Matonich said the investigation is continuing. The US military said Friday it has started pulling equipment, but not troops, out of Syria as a first step in meeting President Donald Trump's demand for a complete military withdrawal. The announcement fueled concern about how quickly the US will abandon its Kurdish allies, amid contradictory statements recently by administration officials on an exit timetable. The withdrawal began with shipments of military equipment, US defense officials said. But in coming weeks, the contingent of about 2,000 troops is expected to depart even as the White House vows to keep pressure on the Islamic State group. Once the troops are gone, the US will have ended three years of organizing, arming, advising and providing air cover for Syrian, Kurdish and Arab fighters in an open-ended campaign devised by the Obama administration to deal the IS group a lasting defeat. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized Poland on Friday for jointly hosting a global summit with the United States focused on the Middle East, particularly Iran, calling it a "desperate anti-Iran circus". Earlier on Friday Washington announced that the summit would be held in Warsaw from Feb. 13 to Feb. 14, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the meeting would focus on stability and security in the Middle East, including on the "important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilising influence." Writing on his Twitter account, Zarif said: "Reminder to host/participants of anti-Iran conference: those who attended last US anti-Iran show are either dead, disgraced, or marginalised. And Iran is stronger than ever." He went on to write that "while Iran saved Poles in WWII, it now hosts desperate anti-Iran circus." Relations between Tehran and Washington are once more highly fraught following the decision in May by President Donald Trump to pull the US out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers and to reimpose sanctions. A 43-year-old Palestinian woman was killed on Friday during clashes with IDF forces on the Gaza border fence, the Palestinian health ministry said. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The IDF said that some 13,000 Palestinians are rioting on several locations along the security fence, throwing explosive devices and trying to cross into Israel. Violence has spiraled during this Friday's "March of Return" protests, as scores of Palestinians hurled grenades and stones at IDF forces, as well as burned tires. In addition, an IDF soldier was lightly wounded during the skirmishes after he was struck by rocks. The soldier was evacuated to a hospital for further medical treatment. Gaza border riots, January 11, 2019 (Photo: Reuters) In response, an Israel Air Force aircraft targeted two Hamas military posts, while IDF troops responded with crowd-dispersal means and sniper shooting. Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel, January 11, 2019 X Three suspects have breached the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip, prompting IDF forces to open fire at them. The perpetrators returned to the strip shortly thereafter. Palestinian demonstrators (Photo: Reuters) Earlier, a Palestinian assailant attempted to stab IDF troops stationed at a military post adjacent to the Givat Ha'avot neighborhood. The troops and a civilian who was at the scene neutralized the Palestinian. He was evacuated to receive medical treatment. Scene of attempted stabbing attack in Kiryat Arba X None of the IDF troops were injured. Over the past two weeks, Hamas has toned down its call on demonstrators to show restraint during weekly protests, which led to exacerbated violence in recent riots. On Sunday, Gaza militants used a cluster of balloons to fly a styrofoam airplane carrying an explosive device into southern Israel. The plane landed in a field in Sdot Negev Regional Council, near the Gaza border, and was neutralized by police sappers. The process caused the device to explode, but no damages or injuries were reported. In response, Israel Air Force helicopters struck a position belonging to Hamas in southern Gaza, which led the terror organization to launch a rocket overnight Sunday toward Ashkelon and the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. The rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome system. In retaliation, the IAF attacked several terror targets at a Hamas military base in northern Gaza. There were no injuries reported on either side. Following the incident, Israel decided to halt the third installment of $15 million Qatari cash infusion that was supposed to be paid out this week to Palestinian civil servants in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the Egyptian intelligence delegation left the Gaza strip through the Erez crossing. The delegation arrived at the coastal enclave on Thursday to discuss ways to preserve the relative calm recently achieved between Israel and Hamas. Furthermore, the Egyptian officials tried to resolve the crisis created between the terror organization and the Palestinian authority amid Hamas' renewed control of the Rafah crossing after the authority had announced that its security forces had been withdrawn and would not continue guarding the crossing. A Palestinian woman was killed on Friday during clashes with IDF forces on the Gaza border fence, the Palestinian health ministry said. The IDF said that some 12,000 Palestinians are rioting on several locations along the security fence, throwing explosive devices and trying to cross into Israel. IDF troops are responding with crowd-dispersal means and sniper shooting. A Palestinian suspected of attempting to carry out a stabbing attack in the Kiryat Arba's Givat Ha'avot neighbourhood was neutralized on Friday. Neither injuries nor damage were reported. Egypt deported a German citizen early Friday whom it detained in Cairo airport last month on suspicion of plotting terrorism, authorities said. The 23-year-old Goettingen resident was repatriated on an early morning flight to Frankfurt in coordination with the German Embassy after being questioned by police, Cairo airport officials said. He had been detained on December 27. Security officials say interrogations revealed the German of Egyptian origin believed in the extremist ideology of the Islamic State group. Egyptian authorities did not provide any evidence to support their allegations. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency says the country's foreign minister has asked Beirut's representative at the UN Security Council to file a complaint over Israel's building of a wall along their shared border. The agency quoted on Friday Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil as calling the Israeli move a violation of a UN Security Council resolution that ended the Second LebanonWar in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah terror group. The wall is being built on the edge of the Lebanese border village of Kfar Kela. Israel last month announced the discovery of cross-border terror tunnels, which it says were part of a Hezbollah plot to sneak into Israel and carry out attacks. The Ukrainian foreign minister says Russia "will be doing everything to break up Ukraine, somehow to divide Ukraine further." Pavlo Klimkin says Moscow doesn't want "to have a free and democratic Ukraine as such" and his country needs "military, political and economic support to fight Russia's attempt to 'suffocate' southern Ukraine by blocking access to the Azov Sea." Klimkin spoke Friday to the Baltic News Agency during a visit to Lithuania. The US-led coalition against Islamic State has begun the process of withdrawing from Syria, a spokesman said on Friday, indicating the start of a US pullout that has been clouded by mixed messages from Washington. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter President Donald Trump announcement last month that he had decided to withdraw 2,000 US troops stunned allies that have joined Washington in the battle against Islamic State in Syria. Top US officials were shocked too, among them Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who quit in protest. US forces in Syria (: AFP) Russia, which has deployed forces into Syria in support of the Damascus government, said on Friday it had the impression that the United States wanted to stay despite the announced withdrawal of US troops, RIA news agency reported. The decision has injected new uncertainties into the eight-year long Syrian war and a flurry of contacts over how a resulting security vacuum will be filled across a swathe of northern and eastern Syria where the US forces are stationed. On the one hand, Turkey aims to pursue a campaign against Kurdish forces that have partnered with the United States, and on the other the Russia- and Iran-backed Syrian government sees the chance to recover a huge chunk of territory. US National Security Adviser John Bolton suggested on Tuesday that protecting Washington's Kurdish allies would be a pre-condition of the US withdrawal. That drew a rebuke from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who called his comments "a serious mistake". US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been touring the Middle East this week to reassure allies of Washington's commitment to regional security, said on Thursday the withdrawal would not be scuppered despite the Turkish threats. The Kurdish groups that control the north have turned to Moscow and Damascus in the hope of striking a political deal that will stave off Turkey and shield their autonomy in the north. Turkey views the US-backed YPG Syrian Kurdish militia as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a 34-year insurgency in Turkey for Kurdish political and cultural rights, mostly in southeastern areas near Syria. A top Kurdish politician told Reuters last week the Kurds had presented Moscow with a road-map for a deal with Damascus. Syria's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday he was optimistic about renewed dialogue with the Kurds. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian of France, which is part of the US-led coalition, welcomed what he believed was a slower withdrawal by the US after pressure from its allies. "They have said that the pullout will be done in a slower way ... in all likelihood because of the various pressure that it might have had including from France. President Macron spoke to him (Trump) several times and it seems that there has been a change that I think is positive," he said in a television interview on Thursday. In a rare acknowledgment that French troops were also in Syria, he said they would leave when there is a political solution in the country. "Obviously when there is a political solution, we will withdraw," he said without elaborating. Russia said on Friday it was important for Syrian Kurds and the Syrian government to start talking to each other in light of US plans to withdraw its forces from Syria. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that territory previously controlled by the United States should be transferred to the Syrian government. "In this regard, establishing dialogue between the Kurds and Damascus takes on particular significance. After all, the Kurds are an integral part of Syrian society," said Zakharova. Despite more than a year of international engagement and promises of economic reform by North Korea's leaders, the human rights situation in the isolated country remains dire, a top UN rights official said on Friday. Blocked by the government from visiting North Korea, UN special rapporteur for human rights in North Korea Tomas Quintana visited South Korea this week as part of an investigation that will be provided to the UN Human Rights Council in March. Turkey ordered the arrest of more than 100 soldiers and former cadets over suspected links to the network of the US-based Muslim cleric who is accused of orchestrating a 2016 attempted coup, prosecutors and state media said on Friday. Police operations targeting supporters of cleric Fethullah Gulen have been carried out regularly since the failed coup and have recently gained momentum. Gulen denies involvement in the attempt, in which 250 people were killed. An American military official says the US-led military coalition has begun the process of withdrawing troops from Syria. Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the US-coalition fighting the Islamic State group, says the US started "the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria." In a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Friday, he declined to discuss specific timelines or locations or troops movements out of concern for operational security. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syria's northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. The US has around 2,000 troops in Syria. Russia's foreign ministry said on Friday it had the impression that the United States wanted to stay in Syria despite the announced withdrawal of US troops, RIA news agency reported. US President Donald Trump last month unexpectedly announced a US troop withdrawal from Syria. Two people were killed overnight Thursday when their vehicle overturned on Highway 4 near the Krayot interchange in Haifa. They were pronounced dead at the scene. US lawmakers called on Thursday for Washington to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at one of the country's consulates in Turkey and vowed that Congress would act if the Trump administration did not. More than a dozen senators and members of the House of Representatives, including both Democrats and Republicans, spoke at an event in the US Capitol complex to celebrate a free press and remember Khashoggi and more than 50 other journalists killed around the world last year. Washington residents are used to traffic jams but on Wednesday they rubbed their eyes in disbelief when city's streets were blocked to let the ancient Adas Israel Congregation, the first synagogue built in the capital, pass through the city and move to a new location where it's set to become part of the new Capital Jewish Museum. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The ancient synagogue opened its gates to worshipers in 1876, with then-US president Ulysses S. Grant attending its dedication service. Adas Israel Synagogue According to the Washington Conservation Society, the synagogue's move is the third relocation for the building in the 142 years since it was established. The relocation of Adas Israel Congregation, the oldest synagogue in Washington, January 9, 2019 () X The structure of the ancient synagogue is set to become part of the Capital Jewish Museum, expected to open in 2021, which will explore Jewish life in the American capital. "This is a very exciting day," said Kara Blond, the museums executive director. "For us, this is the beginning of the construction of the new museum which will surround the synagogue." On the face of it, what lies at the heart of the current election campaign is a battle between Israels right and left-wing politics. The question is, what defines the Right and the Left? Apparently, the only substantive issue that helps us differentiate between the two is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ostensibly, the Left is still sticking to the notion of a two-state solution, while the Right sees a one-state solution as the ultimate option. This topic, however, requires a far-broader discourse. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter There are six approaches to this important issue, and its worth reviewing all of them. The first approach is the one-state solution, which implies that Israel must annex the West Bank in its entirety and put an end to Palestinian ambitions to establish an independent state in the future. Those in favor of this option claim the demographic issue doesnt pose a threat, because based on the current birth rate figures, the Jewish majority is guaranteed, provided we dont take the Gaza Strip into consideration. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: AP) The second approach , which also opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, supports the annexation of Area Csome 60% of the territory of the West Bankas well as all areas with already established Israeli settlements. That way, Palestinians living in Areas A and B would enjoy civil autonomy, while Israel would maintain full military control of all areas between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. The problem is Area B comprises 169 enclaves all surrounded by Area C, and every time a Palestinian were to cross between them they would enter sovereign Israeli territory. The third approach , in principle, supports a political solution to the conflict, but argues it cant be achieved in the foreseeable future, making "conflict management" the only viable option at the present time. The fifth approach (I will get to the fourth approach in a minute) is also based on a conviction that reaching a political agreement in the near future is impossible. However, those campaigning for it believe the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories must end no matter what. Israel must withdraw to the separation barrier along the Green Line in the West Bank, while retaining control of the Jordan Valleywhere practically no Palestinians livethus transferring the political burden to the Palestinian Authority. Back in 2006, then-prime minister Ehud Olmert called this approach the Convergence Plan. The sixth approach calls for an immediate return to the negotiating table as a prerequisite to a future two-state solution. There are various tactical sub-approaches as to how the negotiations could be facilitated, but they all hold a common belief that its vital to reach a permanent agreement as soon as possible based on the two-state principle. The fourth approach also emphasizes the importance of reaching a permanent agreement with the Palestinians, but without the added pressure of it being within a framework of the two-state solutionwhich those advocating for this approach believe would be detrimental to both sides. Knesset (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) The principle of having two states is based on four assumptions: the solution must be found between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean sea; Palestinians must establish a sovereign state of their own; the Gaza Strip and the West Bank must merge into one political entity; and the border between Israel and a future Palestinian state must be based on the 1967 lines, with only slight adjustments. Why are these assumptions correct? There are at least two alternative solutions to the conflict. The first is based on an exchange of territory between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia, while the second is based on the establishment of a federation between Jordan and the West Bank. The division between the left-wing that supports a two-state solution and the right-wing that opposes it, doesnt really reflect the full scope of the discussion. Furthermore, it's easy to be against something, it's much harder to definitively state what you actually stand for. Elections are an opportunity to not only engage with people, but also with opinions and ideas. Its not enough to say what youre oppose, its far more critical to say what you support. Yankton, SD (57078) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 103F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. 7 day print subscribers enjoy unlimited access to yakimaherald.com Enter the LAST NAME and the 7 DIGIT phone number on your print subscription account to connect your print subscription to your yakimaherald.com account. Abu Dhabi (AFP) - The United States and Poland will hold an international meeting on the Middle East that will seek to build pressure on Iran next month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday. Pompeo made the announcement on a tour of the Middle East aimed at reassuring US allies after President Donald Trump's shock decision to withdraw all US troops from Syria, which sparked concerns among Arab states and Israel that Iran's influence could grow. The United States and Poland in a joint announcement said that ministers from around the world will be invited to take part in the February 13-14 meeting in Warsaw. "We'll bring together dozens of countries from all around the world," Pompeo told Fox News. They will "focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence," the top US diplomat added. The joint statement, however, did not explicitly mention Iran, saying that the meeting was focused on "creating a more peaceful and stable Middle East." "The ministerial will address a range of critical issues including terrorism and extremism, missile development and proliferation, maritime trade and security, and threats posed by proxy groups across the region," it said. - Iran denounces Poland - Iran poured scorn on the meeting and pointed out that the country, then impoverished after invasion by Britain and the Soviet Union, welcomed more than 100,000 Polish refugees during World War II. "Polish Govt can't wash the shame: while Iran saved Poles in WWII, it now hosts a desperate anti-Iran circus," Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. He also posted a picture of the 1996 "Summit of Peacemakers" in the Egyptian summit of Sharm el-Sheikh involving then US president Bill Clinton, Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres and Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. Story continues Clinton had spearheaded the conference to boost Peres after a wave of suicide attacks in Israel claimed by Hamas, the militant group with ties to Iran. "Reminder to host/participants of anti-Iran conference: those who attended last US anti-Iran show are either dead, disgraced, or marginalized," Zarif wrote. A State Department spokesman acknowledged that Poland, like other European nations, supports the international accord from which Trump exited last year on ending the Iranian nuclear program. The Warsaw meeting "sends an important signal that countries with differing views on the nuclear deal can come together to address other critical issues in the region," the spokesman said. Poland, led by a right-wing populist government, is a longstanding US ally that has better relations with Trump than key European powers Germany and France. Trump has reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran in hopes of changing the course of the clerical regime but has found no support among Western governments, which note that Tehran is abiding by the United Nations-backed nuclear accord. But Trump's hardline stance on Iran has been cheered by regional US allies Saudi Arabia and Israel. By Yimou Lee and Jess Macy Yu TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan on Friday appointed the former chairman of its ruling pro-independence party as premier, after the incumbent resigned along with the entire cabinet, in response to local election defeats. November's election losses presented a major challenge to President Tsai Ing-wen, who faced mounting criticism at home over her reform agenda while facing renewed threats from China, which considers the self-ruled island its own. Tsai appointed Su Tseng-chang, a two-term former chairman of her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), saying Taiwan faced challenges amid rising Chinese threats and trade tension between key backer the United States and China. "Taiwan's democracy and development must face certain challenges," Tsai said, adding that China was looking to force its "one country, two systems" structure on the island. Su vowed to lead the administration amid the challenges and learn from earlier mistakes. "The situation is difficult and the task is tough," he said. Su's appointment followed the widely expected resignation of William Lai, the second premier to quit since Tsai took office in 2016, in line with a practice of leaders quitting when their party loses a major election. "I must resign to take responsibility for the election defeat," Lai told a cabinet meeting earlier on Friday. Taiwan's premier forms the cabinet and runs the government on a day-to-day basis. New ministerial appointments are expected soon. Just a year ahead of the next presidential election, analysts say Tsai and the new premier must shore up public support for the government's policy on China ties and further boost the island's export-reliant economy in a challenging year amid the China-U.S. trade war. Su was appointed premier in 2006 by former president Chen Shui-bian, who infuriated Beijing and strained Taiwan's relationship with the United States during his tenure from 2000 to 2008. Su, nicknamed "light bulb" by his supporters for his bald head, has led Taiwan's most populous New Taipei City for years. He was defeated by a candidate from the China-friendly opposition Kuomintang in November. Tsai has said her administration would reflect on the election defeats but would stand firm to defend Taiwan's democracy in the face of renewed Chinese threats. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since Tsai became president, threatened this month to use force to bring the island under Beijing's rule and urged "reunification". "The new premier not only has to focus on domestic matters but must also pay much more attention to cross-Strait and national security issues," Yao Chia-wen, a senior adviser to the president, told Reuters. He said the new premier must deal with issues such as the prevention of swine fever from China and possible election interference. Some from within the embattled leader's party have urged Tsai not to seek re-election. She has not explicitly said whether she would run for president in 2020 but has warned against Chinese efforts to interfere with elections. (Editing by Paul Tait) A fully-automated production line at Dongguan Sunrise Knitting in South China's Guangdong on Thursday Province Photo: Chen Qingqing/GT Minister for Industry and Information Technology Miao Wei has urged the nation to develop high-quality manufacturing, vowing to cut more taxes and fees in this sector in 2019. Pushing forward quality manufacturing is a major focus of the country's economic work, and improving innovation in supply chains is crucial, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology(MIIT) said in an interview with several State media organizations on Thursday. "We should work on weaknesses and shortcomings in core technologies to prevent research and development (R&D) efforts from failing to achieve anything," he said. In line with the Central Economic Work Conferenceheld in December 2018, developing advanced manufacturing and helping the sector become deeply integrated with services are priorities, the minister noted. China will firmly move forward as a manufacturing powerhouse and accelerate the industry's high-quality growth. The Global Times recently visited some manufacturing plants around Dongguan in South China's Guangdong Province, which is known as a manufacturing hub and the world's factory. The overall economic slowdown and escalating trade frictions between China and the US are weighing on Chinese factories, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Meanwhile, some businesses have rising concerns over tightened social security requirements, which might become a new burden for companies. Others expect more concrete measures in cutting taxes and fees in coming years. Miao said that the MIIT will carry out more tax cuts for the manufacturing sector in 2019 and continue to improve the business environment while expanding market access and reducing transaction fees for administrative procedures. Miao did not specify targets for China's manufacturing sector in the near future, unlike those the government mentioned in its Made in China 2025 initiative. However, he emphasized upgrading traditional manufacturing and developing emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and new-energy vehicles, which are in line with the government's ambitions in its industrial road map. China will also further open up manufacturing by implementing concrete policies in sectors including vehicles, aircraft and the ship industry. Stockholm (AFP) - Sweden's outgoing coalition of Social Democrats and Greens said Friday they would form a minority coalition with centrist backing to end months of post-poll gridlock. In an attempt to end the impasse after last September's inconclusive election the two coalition partners said the Liberals and the Centre Party had agreed to offer support. The four parties indicated they had reached an agreement by publishing a 15-page policy document on their respective websites. "By dint of the accord, the Centre and the Liberals accept that (Social Democrat outgoing Prime Minister) Stefan Lofven be prime minister in a government composed of Social Democrats and the Greens," the text stated. The Liberals and the Centre Party, until now part of a four-party alliance with conservatives, must still obtain the approval of their respective party bases to back the government. The accord comes after tough horse trading with the Centre Party notably demanding the government give ground on labour market reforms and deregulate rental policy. "In this kind of negotiation you have to know how to give and take," Centre Party leader Annie Loof told a news conference. The Greens have meanwhile obtained a key demand, namely replacing a tax on air tickets with one on fuel. With migration a hot social issue, migrants will in future also have to take a test on their knowledge of Swedish language and culture. A revamped coalition would hold 167 seats in the 349-seat single chamber parliament, eight short of a minority. Under Sweden's political system, a government can operate as long as a majority of lawmakers do not vote it down. In Sweden, the speaker has four attempts -- two of which have already passed -- to task a candidate with forming a government that parliament will accept or else new elections must be held. The speaker is due to meet with party leaders on Monday and then propose a candidate for prime minister ahead of a vote set for Wednesday. Story continues The speaker has tasked both Lofven and conservative leader Ulf Kristersson with trying to form a workable coalition team. Neither side will accept support from the far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. With 62 seats, it is now the third-largest party in the Riksdag. The centre-right and far-right together brought down Lofven's previous administration in a no-confidence vote at the end of September, although he has stayed on as caretaker prime minister. Khartoum (AFP) - Sudan's top human rights body on Friday condemned the killing "by bullets" of protesters during a wave of unrest and called on the authorities to bring those responsible to justice. The statement by Sudan's National Human Rights Commission was the first acknowledgement by a state body that live ammunition has been used since protests erupted last month. But the commission, whose members are appointed by President Omar al-Bashir, stopped short of saying who had fired the deadly rounds. "We condemn using bullets against citizens," a statement said, in addition criticising the firing of tear gas at hospitals. "We are also deeply sorry about the killing of citizens by bullets." The commission said it was "calling upon the government to investigate this and bring the criminals to court". Deadly protests have erupted across Sudan since December 19 when the government tripled the price of bread. At least 22 people, including two security personnel, have been killed during the protests and hundreds wounded, officials say. Rights groups have put the death toll much higher, with Human Rights Watch on Monday saying at least 40 people have been killed, including children and medical staff. On Wednesday, a medic at the main hospital in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, said that six protesters were treated for gunshot wounds after riot police broke up a rally. A group of doctors from the hospital said separately that police had fired tear gas at the facility and there was also "shooting inside the hospital". The state rights commission urged fact finding committees set up by Bashir to look into the overall violence and called for a report into the Omdurman incident. "We are calling on all parties to protect hospitals, mosques and churches from any kind of violence or tear gas as these are protected areas," the commission said. The protests that first broke over the price rise have quickly turned into anti-government demonstrations, with angry crowds calling for an end to Bashir's three decades in power. Bangkok (AFP) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family seeking asylum in Australia will fly to Canada late Friday, the head of Thai immigration police said, in a surprise twist to a saga partly played out over Twitter. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun was granted refugee status by the UN days ago after arriving in Bangkok over the weekend and amassing a large Twitter following as she made desperate pleas for help from the airport. Australia was assessing a request to resettle her but hours after the young woman tweeted that she had "some good news and some bad news" earlier Friday Thai authorities said she was set to board a flight to Canada instead. "She will fly at 11:15 pm tonight (1615 GMT)," Thai immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told AFP. The woman's social media-driven fight for freedom was watched closely around the world after she arrived in Bangkok via Kuwait and barricaded herself in a hotel room posting live updates about her status. She quickly amassed tens of thousands of followers with a #SaveRahaf hashtag that went viral and saw her delivered into the hands of the UN refugee agency in lightning speed compared to other asylum cases. Rahaf said she was subjected to physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her family in Saudi Arabia and was once locked in her room for six months for cutting her hair. Rights groups also say she was at risk for renouncing Islam. Her father travelled to Thailand and denied mistreating her but she refused to see him during his trip. Rahaf's quest also prompted online vitriol and death threats that made her deactivate her Twitter account after posting her last update. By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Anna Mehler Paperny BANGKOK/TORONTO (Reuters) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, as Thai officials confirmed the teen was en route to Toronto. Trudeau said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse. "Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women's rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.'s request," he told reporters. The decision is likely to exacerbate Canada's already poor relations with Saudi Arabia, which last year barred the Canadian ambassador to Riyadh after Ottawa criticized Saudi authorities for detaining women's' activists. Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday and was initially denied entry, but she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had "escaped Kuwait" and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia. Following a 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter Thailand and was then processed as a refugee by the UNHCR. The UNHCR welcomed Canada's decision and also acknowledged Thailand had given Qunun temporary refuge. "Ms. al-Qunun's plight has captured the world's attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement. Qunun has accused her family of abuse, and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia. "It was her wish to go to Canada," Thailand's immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters. "She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be traveling back tonight as well ... They are disappointed." Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families. A Korean Air flight carrying Qunun left Bangkok for Seoul on Friday night at 11:37 p.m. local time (1637 GMT), an airport official told Reuters. Qunun will board a connecting flight to Toronto from Seoul's Incheon airport. She is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning. Trudeau brushed off a question as to whether Canada's move might make it harder to repair ties with Saudi Arabia. "Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," he said. Amid increasing domestic political pressure, Trudeau said last month that his Liberal government was looking for a way out of a multibillion-dollar arms deal with Riyadh. Qunun's flight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing unusually intense scrutiny from its Western allies over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen. Canada has repeatedly said Khashoggi's murder was unacceptable and demanded a full explanation. (Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; additional reporting by Juarawee Kittilipsa in Bangkok, David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Julie Gordon in Vancouver and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; editing by William Maclean and Marguerita Choy) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Russia and China led calls at the United Nations Security Council on Friday for world powers to stay out of an election dispute in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Western nations and observers have questioned the outcome of the December 30 poll, in which opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was declared the winner, with Belgium, France and the United States saying they await details from election authorities on the vote count. The council heard competing appeals from the DR Congo's poll chief to accept the result, while the head of the Catholic bishops conference urged the top UN body to demand the release of data from polling stations to allow verification. China and Russia made clear that the top UN body should be concerned by the stability of the DR Congo as it undertakes what is set to be the first peaceful handover of power since its independence from Belgium in 1960. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said "any speculation" about the vote was "unacceptable" and "liable to generate far-reaching repercussions for stability both in the DRC and the entire Great Lakes region." China's envoy Ma Zhaoxu called for "full respect" of the authority of the CENI election commission that organized the vote and announced the outcome. "We believe that the people of the DRC have the ability and wisdom to resolve the relevant issues in their own way," said Ma. - Dispel doubt - There are suspicions that President Joseph Kabila, in power since 2001, has entered into a deal with Tshisekedi to hand him the presidency after his hand-picked candidate came in third place. Opposition rival Martin Fayulu, who came in a close second, has dismissed the result and announced he will challenge the outcome before the Constitutional Court. Bishop Marcel Utembi, who heads the CENCO Catholic bishop conference, renewed his claim that the announced results are not in line with the data collected by its 40,000 observers, suggesting that Fayulu was the winner. Story continues Utembi argued that the release of the records of vote-counting at the polling stations could "dispel doubt among the population as to the outcome and may therefore set minds at rest." Corneille Nangaa, president of the CENI electoral commission, responded that the voting data could only be handed to the Constitutional Court in line with DR Congo legislation. "There are only two options to address this: either to confirm the result of the CENI or to cancel the election," said Nangaa. "Canceling the election would mean that the institutions in place would continue to remain in place because we would not have a president until new elections are organized," he added. South Africa, a non-permanent council member, urged world powers to be supportive, with Ambassador Jerry Matjila stressing that DR Congo had "come a long way in the quest of peace of security." France proposed that the council adopt a statement welcoming the vote and calling on all sides to "build a national consensus in a peaceful and legal manner," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre. Sanaa (AFP) - Huthi rebels on Saturday hailed a ceasefire accord for a vital Yemeni port agreed at UN-brokered peace talks in Sweden, although the deal's implementation remained fragile. The breakthrough agreement at the first round of negotiations since 2016 was a "success", said Daif Allah al-Shami, information minister for the rebels' unrecognised national salvation government. Reached Thursday between the Huthis and a delegation for the internationally recognised government, the accord called for an "immediate" ceasefire in Hodeida city and its lifeline port, a key gateway for aid and food imports in a country where 14 million people stand on the brink of famine. But the fragile truce has already been shaken by sporadic clashes around the Red Sea port city, initially in its eastern and southern neighbourhoods on Friday evening. Although calm returned to Hodeida the next morning, a resident in the eastern part of the city told AFP on Saturday evening they could hear a continuous exchange of fire and artillery. "Did they sign an agreement to end the war or to start it?" he asked. Fighters are to withdraw from the area in the next few days, according to the deal. A prisoner swap involving some 15,000 detainees is also planned and a "mutual understanding" has been struck to facilitate aid deliveries to Yemen's third city Taiz -- under the control of loyalists but besieged by rebels. The two sides agreed to meet again in late January, for more talks to define the framework for negotiations on a comprehensive peace settlement. Quoted by the rebel-run Saba news agency, Shami said the accord highlighted the desire of the Huthis' political leadership to "alleviate humanitarian and economic conditions and the people's suffering". Mehdi Mushat, head of the rebels' supreme political council, called the breakthrough "a positive step towards achieving the aspirations of the Yemeni people", according to Saba. Story continues Impoverished Yemen has been mired in fighting between the Huthi rebels and troops loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi since 2014. But the war escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition stepped in on the government's side. The conflict has since killed nearly 10,000 people, according to the World Health Organization. But rights groups believe the toll to be far higher. Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis will visit Romania for three days from May 31 to June 2, the Vatican announced on Friday. "Welcoming the invitation of the president, state authorities and the Catholic Church in Romania, the Holy Father will make an apostolic journey to the country from May 31 to June 2, 2019," the Vatican statement said. The statement said programme details would be revealed later. The visit will be the second in quick succession the 82-year-old Argentinian makes to the region as he is due in Bulgaria, then Macedonia from May 5 to 7. The leader of the Catholic Church is looking at a full schedule for 2019 having already pencilled in a February trip to Abu Dhabi and Morocco in March. That will follow hard on the heels of World Youth Day, which the pontiff will attend in Panama in January. Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania are home to small Catholic minorities with all three nations overwhelmingly Orthodox. Visiting predominantly Orthodox nations will reinforce the image Francis wishes to project of a church seeking wider dialogue with other branches of Christendom as well as other faiths. Looking further ahead, Francis has said he hopes to visit Japan in 2019 and a trip to Madagascar has also been mentioned. But the Vatican has yet to unveil which invitations from Catholic nations will be taken up over the next 12 months. Manama (AFP) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Bahrain on Friday, the first leg of a tour of Gulf monarchies which Washington says are "critical" to confronting Iran and jihadists. "These Gulf partnerships are critical to achieving shared regional objectives -- defeating ISIS (Islamic State group), countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies and rolling back Iranian aggression," a State Department spokesman said. In Bahrain, Pompeo is due to have a working lunch with King Hamad, Crown Prince Salman and Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, according to his official programme. Bahrain, a key US ally in the Gulf, hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet with around 7,800 US military personnel deployed in the country, as well as a British naval base. It is one of the closest allies of regional power house Saudi Arabia and shares its hostility Iran. "Bahrain is a staunch supporter of countering Iran's malign efforts" in the region, the US spokesman said. "Bahrain continues efforts to investigate and counter Iranian sanctions evasion and combat illicit maritime activity," he added. Pompeo's visit is part of a whistlestop regional tour aimed at reassuring US allies after President Donald Trump's shock decision to withdraw all US troops from Syria. The US top diplomat flew in to Manama from Cairo and has already visited Amman, Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital of Arbil. He will also visit the other five members of the Gulf Cooperation Council -- the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. State Department officials have said Pompeo hopes his trip will strengthen the GCC, which has been weakened by a diplomatic rift that has pitted Saudi Arabia and its allies against Qatar for more than 18 months. They accuse Doha of supporting groups blacklisted as "terrorist" by the GCC and of advocating improved ties with Iran. Story continues Doha, which is home to a huge US air base, has denied the claims. The State Department has said that a "united Gulf Cooperation Council the backbone for regional peace, prosperity, security and stability" and key to countering Iran. It said Pompeo would also work with regional leaders to advance a proposed Middle East Strategic Alliance -- a NATO-style security pact. During his talks in the Gulf, Pompeo is also expected to discuss the conflict in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting Iran-linked rebels since March 2015 despite a growing international outcry over the human cost. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Morocco has accused Polisario Front fighters in Western Sahara of violating a ceasefire agreement, just weeks before an expected new round of talks on ending the decades-old conflict. In a letter seen by AFP on Friday, Morocco's UN Ambassador Omar Hilale cited three incidents from January 6 to 8 in which the Polisario Front staged drills, drove military vehicles in a buffer zone and opened up a new facility. Morocco "strongly condemns these destabilizing actions" that violate a military agreement and "dangerously threaten the ceasefire," wrote Hilale in the letter sent to the UN Security Council on Thursday. He described the movements as "provocations" that could jeopardize UN-brokered talks on ending the Western Sahara conflict, and urged the Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to condemn the Polisario. Last month, Morocco sat down with the Polisario Front, Algeria and Mauritania for the first talks in six years aimed at settling the conflict over Western Sahara, which Rabat claims is an integral part of the kingdom. The Algeria-backed Polisario fought a war with Morocco from 1975 to 1991, when a ceasefire deal was agreed and a UN peace mission deployed to monitor the truce. The Polisario Front is demanding a referendum on independence for the territory, which Morocco has flatly rejected. The conflict has remained frozen for decades, but Morocco and the Polisario agreed during last month's talks brokered by UN envoy and former German president Horst Koehler in Geneva to meet again in early 2019. The Moroccan ambassador said the second round of talks is expected in the coming weeks, but no date has been announced. MADISON, Wis. (AP) A coalition of liberal-leaning groups filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to void laws passed by Wisconsin Republicans that reduced the powers of the newly elected Democratic governor and attorney general. Republicans derided the lawsuit as a frivolous attempt by bitter Democrats to score political points. The legal challenge is the first seeking to undo all of the measures approved during last month's lame-duck legislative session. The lawsuit argues the session was unconstitutional because it amounted to an illegal gathering of lawmakers. Then-Gov. Scott Walker, who was defeated by Democrat Tony Evers in November, quickly signed the legislation before leaving office. The new laws include taking away Evers' ability to withdraw the state from lawsuits without legislative approval, which would prevent Evers from fulfilling his campaign promise to remove Wisconsin from a multi-state lawsuit seeking repeal of the federal health care law. The laws also prevent Evers from rescinding federal Medicaid waivers approved under the Walker administration. Another new law gives the Legislature, rather than newly sworn-in Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, the power to decide how to spend money obtained from lawsuit settlements. The coalition's lawsuit hinges on the procedural move Republicans used to call themselves into what is known as an "extraordinary session." The lawsuit argues that the Wisconsin Constitution only allows for the Legislature to meet "at such time as provided by law" or in a "special" session, which is a session called by the governor. The lawsuit contends the session held in December didn't fit either category. The groups that filed the lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court are the League of Women Voters, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and three Wisconsin voters. Wisconsin Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald called the lawsuit frivolous and said Democrats were "throwing a tantrum." Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Thursday he was "absolutely, positively certain this lawsuit won't have merit." Story continues He circulated a memo from the nonpartisan Legislative Council attorneys who advise lawmakers that said the Legislature has the constitutional authority to determine its own rules. Furthermore, the memo said the Wisconsin Supreme Court has made clear that organizational issues like this are for the legislative branch to deal with "free from interference from the judicial branch." "Courts are unlikely to aggressively interpret the law and inject themselves into the legislative process," said Rick Esenberg, head of the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. Evers spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff said the governor expected such a legal challenge and that he would consult with his attorney about his next move. "This legislation was a hasty and cynical attempt by Republicans to override the will of the people," Baldauff said Thursday. Legislative "extraordinary sessions" are common in Wisconsin, but the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau said the session held in December was the first time it had been used to restrict the powers of an incoming governor and attorney general. The lawsuit comes as state Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, also filed a complaint with the Dane County district attorney seeking to void the lame-duck laws. Anderson is paralyzed from the waist down and in a wheelchair. He contends Republican lawmakers violated the state's open meetings law by not revealing when they would vote on the bills. Anderson, who said he can't be in his chair more than 16 hours a day, missed the early morning vote that came after Republicans negotiated the bills in private all night long. Tom Kamenick, another attorney with the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, said Anderson's allegation was baseless because the state Supreme Court has already ruled courts can't hear open meetings law complaints against the Legislature. "I'm not aware of any cases or interpretations of open meetings law holding that a session can be 'too long' such that it excludes somebody," Kamenick said. ___ Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbauerAP Budapest (AFP) - A Syrian man jailed in Hungary for his role in a border riot in 2015 will be released next week, a court said Friday, ending a controversial case that saw Budapest accused of heavy-handedness. Ahmed Hamed will be conditionally released from prison on January 19 and then expelled from the country, a court spokesman in Nyiregyhaza eastern Hungary told the Hungarian newswire MTI. Hamed was accused of using a megaphone to orchestrate violence and throwing stones at Hungarian police to force them to open the border with Serbia in September 2015. The clashes took place during the peak of Europe's migration crisis, a day after Prime Minister Viktor Orban's hardline anti-immigration government sealed the frontier with a razor wire fence. During the unrest, several dozen migrants tried to cross the fence into Hungary at the Roszke checkpoint while riot police used tear gas and water cannon to force them back onto Serbian territory. Around 15 police and 100-150 migrants were injured, including children, prosecutors said. Hamed admitted throwing stones at police but denied being a terrorist. Hamed, who had lived in EU member Cyprus for around a decade before the clash, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in November 2016 under anti-terrorism laws. His conviction was later annulled over lack of evidence but after a retrial last September he was ordered to serve two-thirds of a five-year jail term - including time already spent in detention - and given an expulsion order from Hungary. Both the US State Department and the European Parliament called the original 10-year verdict too severe, while Hungarian rights groups said it was the product of a "show trial". BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Authorities in Hungary will next week release a Syrian man jailed for his role in a 2015 border riot and expel him from the country, a court spokesman said on Friday. Ahmed Hamed, a Syrian national who holds residency in Cyprus, crossed into Hungary on Sept. 16, 2015 from Serbia when hundreds of migrants forced open the border gate while throwing rocks at police firing water cannon and teargas. Convicted of illegally crossing the border and for being an accomplice in what the court called a "terrorist act", Hamed was handed a five year prison term, a decision that drew criticism from the European Parliament and Amnesty International. Hamed will be released conditionally on January 19, when he fulfils two-thirds of his sentence, the earliest possible date set in his sentence, court spokesman Laszlo Soros told Reuters. Soros said Hamed would be expelled, without giving further details. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's hardline anti-immigration stance has put Hungary at odds with fellow EU members Germany and France. As well as building a steel fence on its southern border to keep out migrants, Hungary toughened its immigration laws and clamped down on non-government organizations working with migrants. Hamed's case featured in a report on the rule of law in Hungary, which culminated last year in an unprecedented decision by the European Parliament to sanction Hungary for flouting EU rules on democracy, civil rights and corruption. Orban said on Thursday that the views of France and Germany on immigration were irreconcilable with his own, and outlined a campaign to change Europe's political makeup along the migration issue. (Reporting by Marton Dunai; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) By Letitia Stein TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday suspended the local sheriff criticized for the police response to last year's mass shooting that left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. DeSantis said Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel showed leadership failures in the shooting that left 14 students and three adults dead at the hands of a lone gunman on Feb. 14, 2018. "The massacre might never have happened had Broward had better leadership in the sheriff's department," DeSantis said during a news conference outside the Broward Sheriff's Office headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. Israel, a Democrat who has served as the elected sheriff of the agency with 5,800 employees since 2013, accused the newly elected Republican governor of a power grab. He said he was suspended only because his outspoken gun control stance angered the National Rifle Association. He vowed to defend his record in court and before the state Senate, which may hear his case. "There was no wrongdoing on my part," Israel told reporters after he was removed from office. "This was about politics, not about Parkland." DeSantis, sworn into office earlier this week, criticized the sheriff during his campaign and had signaled that he would likely remove Israel from office. He was joined on Friday by some parents of slain students at the high school who supported his move. "My daughter would have lived if somebody could have just given her one more second," said Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was among the mass shooting victims. A state-appointed commission has identified multiple failings in Israel's agency's response to the shooting. Some Broward County sheriff's deputies held back too long as shots were fired at the school in the massacre, instead of rushing toward the gunfire, according to a 439-page report released last week by the commission. Broward County Sheriff's Office training on active shooters was inadequate, according to the report, which recommended arming teachers and spending more on school security and mental health to prevent similar mass shootings. (Additional reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Tom Brown) CAIRO (AP) Egypt deported a German citizen early Friday whom it detained in Cairo airport last month on suspicion of plotting terrorism, authorities said. The 23-year-old Goettingen resident was repatriated on an early morning flight to Frankfurt in coordination with the German Embassy after being questioned by police, Cairo airport officials said. He had been detained on Dec. 27. Security officials say interrogations revealed the German of Egyptian origin believed in the extremist ideology of the Islamic State group. Egyptian authorities did not provide any evidence to support their allegations. Another detained German, an 18-year-old from Giessen, is still in custody. He was stopped at Luxor airport on Dec. 17 and authorities also accuse him of supporting IS ideology that advocates terrorism. No evidence was released in his case either. Christofer Burger, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, told reporters in Berlin that Egyptian authorities confirmed the Giessen resident is in their custody, but that the German embassy had not yet been granted consular access to him. "All we have received from the authorities is the confirmation that he is in custody," he said. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren't authorized to brief reporters. The German Embassy in Cairo could not be immediately reached for comment. German media have reported that both young men had been on trips intending to visit their grandparents. Egypt's Supreme State Security Prosecution is now leading an investigation into the men. ___ Associated Press writer David Rising in Berlin contributed. Quito (AFP) - Ecuador on Friday denied media reports that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange had been made to sleep on the floor and denied heating at the country's London embassy. In a statement, the presidency's communication secretary dismissed the claims as "TOTALLY FALSE," and said the embassy's heating system "is working normally." "No furniture has been removed from his room, which is accessed by an electronic key for his exclusive use," the statement added. Assange, 47, has been living in the embassy since seeking refuge there in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced sexual assault charges that have since expired. But he still refuses to leave the embassy to avoid extradition to the United States to face charges over his website publishing huge caches of hacked State Department and Pentagon files in 2010. US prosecutors in November inadvertently revealed the existence of a sealed indictment against Assange, according to WikiLeaks, but it was not known what the actual charges were. The possible indictment suggested that Washington will seek Assange's extradition if he leaves the embassy. Last month, Ecuador said conditions had been met for the embassy's increasingly unwelcome guest to leave, as Britain had guaranteed it wouldn't extradite him to any country where his life would be in danger. That could be an issue in the case of the United States because it has the death penalty. Meanwhile in Britain, he also faces prosecution for failing to meet his bail conditions after fleeing to the embassy. In October, Assange sued Ecuador for violating his "fundamental rights" by limiting his access to the outside world after blocking his internet and mobile phone access back in March. But the Australian's case was thrown out by an Ecuadoran court. The Courage Foundation, a British charity helping whistleblowers around the world on Thursday warned that Assange's position at the embassy was "under increasingly serious threat" and that his expulsion "may be imminent." BEIJING (Reuters) - China will kick off a year of sensitive anniversaries with a major speech on Wednesday by President Xi Jinping on Taiwan, China's most sensitive issue. In 2019 China will celebrate 70 years since Communist China's founding. Anniversaries are always touchy events in China, where maintaining stability is the ruling Communist Party's overwhelming priority. Next year brings at least six that could unsettle the party, from June's 30 years since the bloody Tiananmen crackdown to October's 70 years since Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic at the end of an even bloodier civil war. But it will be self-ruled Taiwan, proudly democratic and claimed by China as its own, that will be the focus of Xi's first important, pre-announced public event of the year. State news agency Xinhua said on Monday that Xi will give a major speech in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on the 40th anniversary of a key policy statement that led to a thaw in relations with Taiwan, the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan". Xinhua gave no other details. On Jan. 1, 1979, China declared an end to what had been routine artillery bombardment of Taiwan-controlled offshore islands close to China and offered to open up communications between the two sides, after decades of hostility. However, the offer was rebuffed by Taiwan's then-president Chiang Ching-kuo, who in April that year came out with a "three noes" policy of no contact, no compromise and no negotiation with China. Chiang only relaxed that in 1987, allowing people in Taiwan to visit China for family reunions. His father, Chiang Kai-shek, fled with defeated Nationalist forces to Taiwan in December of 1949 after loosing a civil war to the Communists. No formal peace treaty or formal end to hostilities has ever been signed. Taiwan is gearing up for presidential elections in January 2020. President Tsai Ing-wen's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party suffered stinging losses to the China-friendly Kuomintang in mayoral and local elections in November. China has heaped pressure on Tsai since she took office in 2016, cutting off dialogue, whittling down Taiwan's few remaining diplomatic allies and forcing foreign airlines to list Taiwan as part of China on their websites. China fears Tsai wishes to push for Taiwan's formal independence, though Tsai says she wants to maintain the status quo. Xi said in March that Taiwan would face the "punishment of history" for any attempt at separatism, offering his strongest warning yet to the island claimed by China as its sacred territory. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Michael Perry) Ouagadougou (AFP) - Burkina Faso's army chief was sacked on Thursday as the armed forces struggle to put a stop to jihadist attacks in the west African nation. Major General Oumarou Sadou was replaced by General Moise Minoungou, according to a presidential decree read on public television. For three years Burkina Faso has faced increasingly frequent and deadly jihadist attacks. The country lies in the heart of the sprawling, impoverished Sahel, on the southern rim of the Sahara. The region became a hotbed of extremism after chaos engulfed Libya in 2011, followed by an Islamist insurgency in north Mali and the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Jihadist attacks began in northern Burkina Faso in 2015 but then spread to the east, near the border with Togo and Benin. Burkina has declared a state of emergency in provinces within seven of the country's 13 administrative regions, after 10 gendarmes were killed near the border with Mali. The capital Ouagadougou has been hit three times, leaving 60 people dead. In March 2018 Twin attacks on the French embassy in Burkina Faso and the country's military headquarters left dozens dead or wounded. Braedence Jones was found Tuesday in the crawl space of his mothers Missouri home five months after he was reported missing. (Photo: Camden County Sheriffs Department) A 6-year-old boy who was missing for five months was discovered safe in an attic crawl space at the home of his mother and her boyfriend. Authorities said Braedence Jones was found Tuesday in the crawl space with his mother, Aubrey Ferguson, at a home in rural Laclede County, in southwest Missouri. Fergusons boyfriend, Woodrow Ziegler, allegedly had nailed the entrance of the crawl space shut, covered it with carpet and pushed furniture against it before officers from the U.S. Marshal Service and Laclede County, who had received a tip, arrived with a search warrant. The boy was reunited with his father, Ryan Jones, who reported Braedence missing Aug. 3, when he didnt return home from a weeklong visit with his mother. He seems to be physically OK, said Camden County Sheriffs Lieutenant Arlyne Page. But since his abduction, the mother hasnt allowed him to go to school and more than likely has not taken him to a doctor if he needed one. We are hoping to help his father find counseling for him. A probable cause statement said no one was at Fergusons house on Aug. 12, when Jones went there to look for Braedence. The house next door, where her parents live, was also empty. Jones said Ferguson told him in text messages that Braedence was safe but would not say where he was, according to the affidavit. He said Ferguson turned off her phone between texts so she could not receive calls. Aubrey Ferguson and her boyfriend, Woodrow Ziegler, were arrested following the discovery. (Photos: Camden County Sheriffs Department) Law enforcement officials had received several tips in the area and from out of state. Surveillance footage from stores confirmed that Braedence was with his mother, and pings from her phone indicated that they were moving around to elude capture, according to officials. The U.S. Marshal Services Violent Fugitive Task Force began assisting in the search several weeks ago and finally received reliable information Tuesday, according to Page. Ferguson and Ziegler were arrested shortly after, and charges are being drawn up. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. In May 2018, the Kilauea Volcano erupted on the island of Hawaii causing severe destruction in the area. According to CNN, the volcano not only caused catastrophic loss to homes and businesses on the island, but also caused the island to lose out on about $480 million in tourism dollars. However, if theres ever a silver lining to this tragedy this is it. As CNN reported, that lava flow also created a brand new black sand beach on the island along with two new surf breaks located at Isaac Kepo?okalani Hale Beach Park. And its something island officials are hoping visitors will flock to in celebration of the islands big comeback. "We hope our community and visitors can make new memories with loved ones at this special place, and always remember the island of Hawaii's unique ability to be ever-evolving," Hawaii Visitors Bureau's executive director Ross Birch told CNN. How did this new beach even come to be? Tina Neal, scientist in charge at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, explained to the Los Angeles Times, Hot molten lava interacting with cold ocean water produces explosions. Part of that is wave action breaking up the new lava. All of that produces a source of sand, and that sand is carried by the ocean current down the coastline to the places where it will naturally accumulate. Travelers are already allowed to visit the new beach, however, Birch noted that all visitors should use the same caution they would while spending time at any recreation area. Swimming isnt advised at the beach, according to the county of Hawaii's Department of Parks and Recreation, as there are extremely strong currents present. There is a lifeguard on duty just in case. One thing the park is missing is drinking water, as the area water lines were damaged during the lava flow. But, as long as you pack water, a blanket, and stay on the sand, youll certainly be in for a day to remember. The woman in a vegetative state, who gave birth to a baby boy on Dec. 29, has been at the Phoenix-based nursing facility since she was a toddler, PEOPLE confirms. Records obtained from Maricopa County Superior Court state the woman has been a resident of the facility run by Hacienda HealthCare for more than 27 years nearly double the length of time that appeared in previous reports. The patient, who has been identified as a 29-year-old Native American, has been under the care of the facility since she was between ages 2-3, according to the documents, which also state that the woman suffers from quadriplegia, recurrent pneumonia and a seizure disorder. She lacks sufficient understanding and mental capacity to make decisions or give consents for her medical, placement or financial estate, the court documents say. The records date back to a 2009 order that transferred guardianship of the woman from her biological father to her mother. RELATED: Hard to Believe No One at Ariz. Nursing Facility Knew Woman in Coma Was Pregnant: Expert Hacienda HealthCare In addition, the records reveal that the patients last doctors examination took place more than eight months prior to the Dec. 29 birth, which according to Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson took everyone [at the facility] by surprise. Thompson told PEOPLE, Its my impression that the staff there had no clue that this lady was having a baby, adding that she was quite a ways along before she had a natural birth. An annual guardians report filed with the court and dated April 30, 2018, says that the womans last court-ordered annual doctors examination took place on April 16, 2018. No changes, says a handwritten note in response to a form question asking whether there have been any major changes in the wards physical and/or mental condition in the last year. PEOPLE was unable to reach the doctor who performed the examination. Thompson confirmed the baby and his mother have been recovering in an area hospital following the birth. Story continues RELATED: Comatose Woman Was Last Examined by Doctor More Than 8 Months Prior to Giving Birth in Facility Were tickled that the babys okay, Thompson said. I think its a miracle. I hate to draw a miracle of such a horrific event, but the baby survived. Words cant describe the thoughts we have, the questions that go through our mind about this. On Tuesday, the womans family attorney, John Micheaels, said in a statement to PEOPLE, The family would like me to convey that the baby boy has been born into a loving family and will be well cared for. Micheaels revealed the womans relatives are outraged, traumatized and in shock by the abuse and neglect of their daughter at Hacienda Healthcare, adding, The family is well aware of the intense news and public interest in their daughters case, but at this time is not emotionally ready to make a public statement. It is not yet known exactly where the baby is being raised or who he is being raised by. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Following news of the birth, Bill Timmons, the longtime chief executive officer of Hacienda Healthcare, resigned. In 2017, the facility was cited by the state for failure to protect residents privacy while they were naked in the shower, according to records from the state Department of Health and Human Services. After being assured by administrators that staffers have been counseled on privacy during showering residents, the state issued a follow-up report in January 2018 which concluded those and other deficiencies uncovered by investigators have been corrected. Phoenix police have confirmed a sexual assault investigation concerning the womans pregnancy. Officials and Hacienda HealthCare both have confirmed the collection of DNA from male staffers in an effort to find a link to the apparent assault of the woman. Investigators are asking the public to help identify a suspect in the sexual assault case. Anyone with information, call 602-534-2121. Or to remain anonymous, call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. Update: Nathan Sutherland, a 36-year-old nurse at the Hacienda HealthCare facility has been arrested and charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of vulnerable adult abuse, according to the Associated Press. The CEO of a Phoenix, Arizona, health facility has resigned amid a police investigation into the rape and subsequent pregnancy of a female patient who has been a vegetative state for more than a decade. Bill Timmons terminated his employment with the Hacienda HealthCare center earlier this week, the facility said in a statement to Huffington Post. According to KPHO-TV, which broke the story, the unidentified 29-year-old patient had been raped several times, and the staff had no idea she was pregnant until she went into labor and gave birth to a healthy baby boy on December 29th. On Tuesday, January 8th, investigators served Hacienda HealthCare with a search warrant for DNA samples from all of its male employees in hopes of finding out who is responsible for the womans rape and pregnancy. In a statement, the facility said this latest step by law enforcement is a welcome development in the investigation. We had consulted attorneys to determine whether it would be legal for our company to compel our employees to undergo DNA testing conducted through Hacienda or for Hacienda to conduct voluntary genetic testing of staffers, the facility said. We were told it would be a violation of federal law in either instance. We will continue to cooperate with Phoenix Police and all other investigative agencies to uncover the facts in this deeply disturbing, but unprecedented situation. The victim has been in a vegetative state for 14 years following a near drowning incident, and is an enrolled member of the local San Carlos Apache Tribe, the tribes spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday. On behalf of the Tribe, I am deeply shocked and horrified at the treatment of one of our members, Terry Rambler said. When you have a loved one committed to palliative care, when they are most vulnerable and dependent upon others, you trust their caretakers. Sadly, one of her caretakers was not to be trusted and took advantage of her. Story continues In an anonymous interview with ABC-15, a former caregiver for the woman expressed disbelief that her pregnancy went unnoticed. I cant believe that somebody would bathe her daily for nine months and never know that she wasnt having a period, that she [was] growing in her midsection, that nurses werent keeping track [of her weight], the former caregiver said. Those things are shocking to me. Comatose pregnancies including those resulting from sexual assault while the person is temporarily or permanently unconscious, or braindead are extremely rare but not without precedent. In 2015, a Spanish-language publication in Argentina reported on a similar case in which a woman in a coma had been sexually assaulted and impregnated, but the family didnt press charges and the case was never investigated by police. Regardless of the legality of the precipitating sex act, comatose pregnancies come with both medical risks and complex ethical issues for the victims family to navigate. Its possible to bring a fetus to term, but it depends on how far you are in the pregnancy, bioethicist Arthur Caplan said in an interview with Vice in 2015. If youre at 28 weeks, you could probably have a C-section. But if you were only two weeks pregnant, I dont think many hospitals would try that, because it could harm the fetus. However, thats exactly what happened in 2001, when doctors in Cincinnati learned a patient named Chastity Cooper was two weeks pregnant when she suffered serious head injuries in a car accident and lapsed into a coma. The pregnancy was carried to term and delivered vaginally, as doctors ruled out a C-section because of the risks of giving anesthesia to comatose patients. In 1995, a woman identified only as Kathy, who had been in a coma for a decade, was raped and impregnated by an aide at a New York nursing home. Kathys pregnancy was discovered when she was four months along, but her Roman Catholic family was against abortion and chose to have her carry the fetus to term. Kathy died shortly before her sons first birthday, and the case resulted in the passing of Kathys Law in 1998, which requires background checks for nursing aides. Family members for the woman in Phoenix have declined to give a public statement for the time being, but their attorney told Huffington Post,The family obviously is outraged, traumatized and in shock by the abuse and neglect of their daughter at Hacienda Healthcare. [They] would like me to convey that the baby boy has been born into a loving family and will be well cared for. On January 18th, Netflix and director Chris Smith (Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond) will take the morbidly curious and sincerely fascinated alike behind the scenes of one of the greatest music event train wrecks of all time, Fyre Festival. The streaming services new in-depth documentary, FYRE, takes a deep look at the boutique festival that never was, with a particular focus on the conman behind it all, co-founder Billy McFarland. In a new trailer for the doc, were given a glimpse at some of the interviews Smith was able to score. Theres the development team behind the festivals website, the Bahamian workers exploited for intense on-site labor, event producers, and even attendees who went into full-on looting mode once they saw how theyd been duped. Everyone had something new and shocking to reveal, including behind-the-scenes discussions between McFarland and his co-founder, Ja Rule. It [started as] an exploration into the story and then it just kept unfolding in a million different directions, Smith told EW. At that point, there was no turning back. Smith also tried to get McFarland to sit down for an interview, but was ultimately unsuccessful. We were set to film with him on two different occasions, Smith explained. We had a camera and a crew and we were ready to go and then it would just get postponed right at the last minute. And then it just never ended up materializing. He later added that McFarland wanted to get paid for his appearance in the doc, something Smith wasnt comfortable with. (McFarland, by the way, is currently serving six years in prison for fraud.) Even without McFarlands involvement, theres still plenty of gripping, mind-blowing stuff to learn in FYRE. Get a taste by checking out the trailer below. Smith said he collected so much material that he and his editors considered making the whole thing a docu-series. As he explained, We actually were going back and forth between the two and I was really interested in exploring it. As we worked on it and kept working with the material, there were a million stories that were all interesting about the build-up to the festival and there was all this footage of the promotional video being made and all these stories that took place on the island. But in terms of moving a narrative forward, a lot of the times they felt similar but different. We actually were cutting a [docu]series and a feature at the same time. We were cutting a parallel edit. In the end, we just felt that the feature was stronger, that the story and this event and the character study all felt very contained. Its probably a good thing the filmmakers went the full-length direction, as a longer format would compete with Hulus own planned docu-series about Fyre Festival. Not much is known yet about the in-the-works series, but The Cinemart (JAY-Zs Spike miniseries TIME: The Kalief Browder Story and his Paramount Networks series Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story) is producing the series with director Jenner Furst (TIME). Opposition leaders have blasted Prime Minister Viktor Orban for lying about Hungarys real situation in an international press conference on Thursday. Laszlo Lorant Keresztes, the co-leader of green party LMP, said Orban had deflected questions on major political issues that would define Hungarys future. He said Orbans characterisation of the fight between pro-migration forces and their opponents ignored the debate over what caused migration and how the issue could be solved effectively. Meanwhile, Keresztes accused Orban of being misleading over the project to expand Hungarys Paks nuclear power plant. Russian contracting partners have failed to obtain the necessary permits and Orban himself has already admitted to delays in the project, he added. Timea Szabo, co-leader of Parbeszed, said the prime minister had been evasive about the true state of Hungarian health care, education and wages. She said it was telling how Orban had refused to answer questions about Lorinc Meszaros, who last year topped Hungarys rich list. Orban at the same time had insisted that corruption was not tolerated in Hungary, Szabo said. In connection with the recent amendment to the labour code extending the number of possible overtime hours, Szabo said Orban had ignored the opinion of Hungarians, insisting that 85% condemned the slave law. Socialist MEP Istvan Ujhelyi told the same journalists that Orbans press conference had signalled the start of his campaign for the upcoming European parliamentary elections. He said Orban had tried hard to conceal how Hungarians were making their demands concerning the slave law on the streets. Ujhelyi insisted that Orban showed he was scared of emerging cooperation between opposition forces. This suggested, he said, that the opposition is on the right track. Gergely Arato, deputy group leader of the Democratic Coalition (DK), accused the prime minister of lacking courage to answer real questions. Orban failed to explain why he had ordered the Hungarian army to purchase luxury private jets for his trips, Arato said. He also slammed Orban for evading questions regarding asylum granted to former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. Meanwhile, Arato said DK will approach EPP leader Manfred Weber for a response to Orbans claim that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro upholds Christian Democratic values. Arato also complained that he and several journalists had been banned from attending Orbans press conference. MTI Photo: Koszticsak Szilard A garbage truck unloads refuse as a mechanical arm prepares to push it into a semi-truck trailer at the city of Cheyenne's Solid Waste Transfer Station off College Drive in this 2015 file image. The Cheyenne City Council is considering a change to the citys trash fee schedule that would result in 8 percent annual fee hikes over the next five years for most residential and commercial customers. Wyoming Tribune Eagle/file Clarksburg, WV (26301) Today Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High around 75F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 46F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Morgantown, WV (26505) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. High 74F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Thank you for Reading. As a community service, our obituaries are always free to view. In order to better know our audience, we ask that you register to continuing viewing. SALEM LAKES Salem School district residents will see a referendum request on their general election ballots in April that seeks authorization to exceed the state-imposed levy limit through the 2020-21 school year. District Business Manager Susan Jarvis said approval of the referendum will not impact taxes. I will not increase the mil rate, Jarvis said, adding the district has been able to achieve this under a similar authorization approved via referendum in 2017. The School Board voted 4-0 to ask the electorate to exceed the levy limit by $1.5 million in support of the 2019-20 budget (in addition to the $1,070,000 already authorized), by $3 million in 2020-21 and by $3.6 million in 2021-22. Jarvis said if the full amount is not needed in any given year to meet operational and program expenses, it will not be used. The district made what administrator Dave Milz called a conservative request in 2017 to ensure it would not result in a tax increase. However, it was not enough to meet all of the districts financial goals. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. The Mountain States TRUSTED news source. Click here to stay informed and subscribe to The Charleston Gazette-Mail. Click #isupportlocal for more information on supporting our local journalists. Learn more about HD Media Heath House, located at 2639 Highway 97 N., inside the former Kelowna Good Night Inn, is a supportive housing project set to open later this month. When the Inn From the Cold emergency shelter in Kelowna closes at the end of January, about a dozen of its residents will move into Heath House, which will contain 42 units and will be operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association. PITTSBORO, Miss. (WTVA) - A judge set a bond for an alleged child molester in Calhoun County. A judge set bond at $150,000 for Jose Rubio. He is charged with following: - 1 count of sexual battery - 1 count of touching a child for lustful purposes Sheriff Greg Pollan says the alleged incident happened in early December 2018. He says multiple children were involved. RELATED: Calhoun County suspect captured in Arizona The sheriff believes Rubio fled to Phoenix, Arizona, within hours of a report being filed. He is said to have relatives there. He was captured there and was returned to Mississippi earlier this week. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a detainer on Rubio because he is an illegal immigrant, Pollan said. Rubio is expected to be back in court on Jan. 23. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted Thursday that there has been no contradiction in the shifting US strategy in Syria or confusion about it -- claims that fly in the face of shocked responses from allies in the Middle East and beyond. As Pompeo and other US officials continue to qualify the terms and timing of a US pullout of troops from Syria -- altering President Donald Trump's December 19 assertion that forces would leave "now" -- the fallout is beginning. CNN learned Thursday that the first US military ground equipment has been withdrawn from Syria in recent days but there's still no clarity on when troops might withdraw with Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton refusing to commit to a withdrawal timetable in recent days. Kurds on the frontlines of the fight against ISIS tell CNN their morale has taken a hit as they seek protection by strengthening other alliances. Arab allies, sensing a loss of US leverage on Syria, are looking to improve relations with Damascus by rekindling warmer diplomatic relations. A basic question Relations with Turkey have become even more deeply strained over US demands that Syrian Kurds be protected. Perhaps most profoundly, some analysts said, as the administration issues conflicting and changing statements, trust in the steadiness of US policies and the authority of its most senior officials has been further eroded. "The most significant implication of the withdrawal decision, first and foremost, is that our allies will now have to question the confidence in which they will hold statements by our secretary of state and national security adviser and secretary of defense," said Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Do these senior officials speak for the President?" "It's so fundamental to the operations of our foreign policy," Satloff continued. "I can't remember a moment, two years into an administration, when this basic question was on the table." 'No contradiction' Pompeo insisted in a Cairo speech Thursday that under the Trump administration, the US is a stalwart presence in the Mideast. He told reporters separately that "there's no contradiction whatsoever" in the US policy on Syria, arguing that "this is a story made up by the media." At the same time, the top US diplomat has denied allies were confused about the US withdrawal from Syria. "I think everyone understands what the United States is doing," Pompeo said as he traveled to the Middle East this week. "At least the senior leaders in their governments do." Yet on the ground and in diplomatic circles, Trump's decision landed with explosive effect. US allies in the region were blindsided. Two diplomatic sources say their countries were not consulted or informed and the news came as a total surprise. 'What is going on?' Even now, as the timeline and US intentions grow less clear, a senior European diplomat told CNN that, "we are just like everyone, trying to find out what is going on. Are the US staying a la Bolton until conditions are right? Or heading off in three or four months time?" In Shaffa, Syria, on the frontlines of the fight against ISIS, a Syrian Defense Forces commander told CNN that "we were all surprised by it," adding that the announcement "impacted us all." "It affected our morale, and some of the soldiers and commanders asked to stop the fighting," the commander said. Trump's abrupt move also influenced ISIS, this commander said. "It encouraged ISIS and provided them hope that they can activate sleeper cells and continue to fight harder," he said, noting that he and his men have been fighting ISIS alongside coalition forces, "especially the US," for four years now. "This decision was not in the right time," he said. The Kurds have become the trigger for deepening US tensions with Turkey. The estimated 2,000 US troops in Syria work closely with a Kurdish group called the People's Protection Units, or YPG, which forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main US partner on the ground. But Turkey believes the YPG, which has controlled a large swathe of northern Syria for the past several years, is a terrorist organization. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been threatening to conduct operations against the Kurds even before Trump agreed, in a phone call, to leave Syria. Bolton's insistence on protection for the Kurds made Erdogan livid, creating yet another irritant in a deeply strained US-Turkish relationship. And facing the prospect that the US might no longer protect them against Turkish attack, Kurds have begun turning to the Assad regime and the Russians for protection. Gulf country shift Just as the Kurds are making adjustments to protect themselves, there is a clear shift underway among Gulf countries, as US leverage on Syria is now seen as waning. In the wake of Trump's December 19 announcement, the US' Gulf allies, including United Arab Emirates, are ramping up their engagement with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Last fall, the Emirates had been considering re-opening their embassy in Syria, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The US asked them to pause, believing that the opening of embassies could be used as a carrot to draw the Assad regime into the UN-led political negotiations. The Emirates agreed. After Trump decided to withdraw from Syria, they changed their mind. In their view, according to the sources, any pressure the US could place on the Syrian regime would be largely blunted without a US troop presence on the ground. Further, Trump's decision to work with Turkey was not welcomed. Gulf countries believe Turkey enabled terrorist groups including ISIS and Iranian proxies to gain a hold in Syria, as their primary focus was the Kurds. In late December, the Emirates opened their embassy in Damascus. At the time, their Foreign Ministry explained that "the step confirms that the UAE government is keen to restore relations between the two brotherly countries back to normal." Bahrain followed the Emirates lead and the belief, among diplomats and experts, is that other countries in the region will soon follow. They say that when the domino effect begins, it will be fast, because countries will be looking to get "brownie points" with Assad for re-engaging. In Cairo Thursday, Pompeo delivered a speech declaring that the Trump administration was correcting mistakes the previous White House made in the Middle East. "We learned that when America retreats, chaos often follows," he said. Throughout his trip, he insisted that the US is maintaining steadfast support of allies, insisting there was no contradiction between Trump and Bolton's comments about the withdrawal, telling the press he believed "they both said the same thing." 'Now' After Trump declared that the US would pull troops from Syria and a US Defense official told CNN that planning was underway for a "full" and "rapid" withdrawal, Bolton began adding conditions that could indefinitely delay a troop departure and has refused to discuss timelines. "They both said we're gonna get out," Pompeo said on Monday. "The President said we're going to do it in an orderly fashion that achieves our objective and that the, our mission set in the region remains unchanged. Those seem pretty consistent to me." In the end, it might not matter what Pompeo or Bolton says, Ege Seckin, a principal analyst at the global risk firm IHS Markit, wrote in an analysis, noting that Trump still appears intent to pull US military personnel out of Syria. "His demonstrated willingness to make unilateral decisions that both disregard the counsel of his advisers and contradict their public proclamations means that a withdrawal could take place regardless," Seckin said. Three months after the Teamsters union imposed a sellout contract on 250,000 United Parcel Service (UPS) workers across the United States, Teamsters Locals 710 and 705 in the Midwest are trying to impose nearly identical concessions contracts on more than 15,000 UPS workers despite immense opposition. The two locals have negotiated separate contracts with UPS since the 1960s, claiming they get better deals for the membership than the national contract. For more than four decades, however, the contracts negotiated in the Midwest area have closely mirrored the concessions imposed at the national level by the Teamsters union. Although local officials aligned with the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) made lots of noise about striking during the peak holiday season, both Midwest locals waited to release their agreements until late in December, nearly six months after the previous contracts expired and well past the most profitable period for UPS every year. The two proposed local agreements are largely indistinguishable from the contract voted down by 54 percent of UPS workers nationally. The Teamsters union imposed the sellout, nonetheless, utilizing an undemocratic loophole in the union constitution. The despotic act provoked an explosion of anger among UPS workers. In response, the TDU-aligned officials in Chicago dangled the possibility of a strike but did nothing to unify UPS workers across the company. Local 705 covers more than 9,000 UPS workers in the Chicago metropolitan area, including warehouse workers and delivery drivers. Thousands of warehouse workers work for low wages and do backbreaking part-time work at the gigantic Chicago Area Consolidation Hub (CACH), which was formerly a shuttered General Motors Truck and Motors manufacturing plant. The Teamsters Local 710 union, which covers more than 6,000 UPS workers across the states of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, is expected to conclude voting by January 11. Teamsters Local 705s votes are due by January 26. The contract proposal at Local 710 covering thousands of workers, including in economically devastated cities like Rockford, Illinois is also very similar to that of Local 705 in Chicago. Local 705s contract proposal with UPS effectively creates a two-tier system of part-time workers. Those workers who have some seniority but are currently earning below $15 will get a raise to $15. But their pay will then be frozen for three years, according to a Letter of Agreement signed by the local. Newly hired UPS part-time workers will be given a poverty wage of $13 an hourless than the wage of a non-union Amazon worker. Workers in the Rockford area have been given a similar Letter of Agreement while the rest of Local 710 workers will continue to only make $13 an hour. Last October, the Local 705 leadership, including Secretary Treasurer Juan Campos, and TDU member and the unions negotiating committee member David Bernt, told the pro-TDU publication Labor Notes that they would not accept this $13 crap. Theres no real protection for us full-time drivers, John, a UPS driver in the Chicago suburbs, told the WSWS UPS Workers Newsletter. Part-timers are also getting screwed. Theres no catch up raises for them, especially with the $15/hr. Theyre upset. [Local 705 Secretary Treasurer] Juan Campos said they wouldnt take the 22.4 [the lower paid hybrid driver/warehouse classification]. What did we get? We got that proposal with the 22.4! We were promised a lot. Now its literally nothing that was talked about the meeting is in the contract. Its the opposite! They told us they would pass a strike vote during peak season. No one ever heard anything about it. The business agents said they would start a committee to see if we should hold a strike and let the workers be heard. If we want to strike, we should strike! A strike is a tool we have to hold the companys feet to the fire. But instead the Teamsters used the word strike to scare us. I personally feel that the Teamsters wont fight for us. Its not a good contract. Following the sellout of the national contract in October, the Teamsters Local 705 claimed to oppose the low wages imposed by UPS as well as the creation of a new hybrid warehouse/delivery driver category. In fact, the new tentative agreements proposed by Local 705 maintain the very same terms the local union leadership said it would not accept. Local 710s contract proposal has the new category of lower-paid hybrid drivers as well. While Labor Notes and the TDU have promoted illusions in Teamster Local 705s willingness to call out a strike during peak season, the local did not even bother to take a strike authorization vote, let alone call a strike. Despite announcing an agreement in November, Local 705 kept the UPS workers in the dark well past late December before sending workers the full details of the tentative contract proposal. Far from mounting any opposition to UPS, they worked behind the backs of thousands of workers to impose concessions that have sparked opposition among UPS workers throughout the Chicago area and beyond. Rob, a young part-time unloader at the CACH warehouse, spoke out against unsafe working conditions. Its simple things, like why cant we get longer extendos? An extendo is the belt that comes out of the truck so we can unload packages from it. The belt carries the package through the system so that it can be processed. Not all of them extend to the back of the truck, so theres a big gap in space that we actually need to cover by picking up and carrying the packages to the extend a distance away. A lot of the packages are heavy and it can be pretty hectic. We have to rush, and it doesnt make sense because its a safety issue. When I got injured with a shoulder strain, I didnt realize it until the next day at work. They took me upstairs and tried to make it seem like, Oh, this could have happened on your way home. I said, No, this didnt happen on my way home, because after work, I got on the bus and went straight home and went to sleep. They try to ask all of these questions so they can say that you did not technically do something properlyso it looks like the injury is on your behalf. Recently, at one facility, John noted that UPS facilities were asking workers to bring their own toilet paper. Workers at the Harvey UPS center found that some of the bathrooms no longer have toilet paper. The company is not allowing management to order any more supplies. This is a right and a sanitary issue. How can they sleep at night? Men and women need these basic things. How can a company making $7 billion not order toilet paper? UPS has made billions in profits by keeping the vast majority of its workforce impoverished, with the aid of the Teamsters. Rob spoke out against the unions part in the exploitation of workers. I had no idea what the union was until about six months after starting here. I had no idea I was paying them either. They take between eight and ten percent of every check. Ive been keeping up with the contract, and I know that the union keeps pushing the $15 per hour wage increase back. The last I heard was that they are now pushing it back to start in 2020. UPS workers seeking to fight for higher wages, improved safety and an end to tiers and concessions can only do so by breaking with the Teamsters and its corrupt, highly-paid union executives that impose the dictates of the company. The experience in Chicago exposes once again that the TDU is nothing but a faction of the same anti-worker conspiracy. The WSWS UPS Worker Newsletter urges UPS workers in Chicago and the Midwest to form rank-and-file committees, independent of the Teamsters and other unions, to link up with UPS workers across the country and other sections of workers, including Amazon, FedEx, auto workers and teachers, to wage a common fight against the corporate dictatorship and for industrial democracy and workers control over production. The authors also recommend: What is the Teamsters for a Democratic Union? [8 September 2018] Politically discredited Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena claimed on Tuesday that he would fulfil all his remaining election promises this year, including to eliminate fraud and corruption. Sirisenas pledge, made at the opening of a new Laggala village and irrigation scheme in Central Province, marked his fourth year as presidenthe was elected on January 8, 2015. His term ends in November, with the next presidential election due in January 2020. Sirisenas comments are in line with his efforts to strengthen an alliance with former President Mahinda Rajapakse, as part of their continuing conflict with the United National Party (UNP)-led government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Sirisena ousted Wickremesinghe as prime minister in a political coup on October 26, replacing him with Rajapakse and then dissolving parliament. Last month, however, Sirisena was forced, following a Supreme Court ruling and under pressure from Washington, to reinstate Wickremesinghe. Washington made clear that it would not allow any undermining of the military and political relations it had built up over the previous four years on the strategically-located Indian Ocean island. The US had previously opposed Rajapakse as president because of his economic and political orientation toward Beijing. Sirisena declared on Tuesday: We have made huge sacrifices to fulfil the aspirations of the people in the country. He ludicrously claimed that his presidency had taken important measures to build a society free from doubts and fears, ensuring peoples democracy and liberty, as well as building a free media, an independent judiciary and an unbiased government service to strengthen the national economy. He admitted that his campaign to eliminate fraud, corruption and malpractices had failed but called on Sri Lankans to join hands to reject corruption and fraud through a strong program. Sirisenas proclamations are laughable. He and Wickremesinghe, who helped bring him to power, together established a unity government in 2015 and have fulfilled none of their election promises. Sirisena was a senior minister in Rajapakses government until he defected in November 2014 to become the presidential candidate of a UNP-led electoral front. Sirisena and his supporters made all manner of promises. These included changing the constitution and abolishing the autocratic executive presidency, strengthening democracy, restoring human rights, ending ethnic discrimination and improving living and social conditions. These promises exploited the anger of workers and the poor against Rajapakses autocratic 10-year rule, the military atrocities committed in the war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and the escalating attacks on democratic and social rights. Sirisenas elevation into the presidency was orchestrated by Washington and its political allies, including Wickremesinghe and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. While the US had backed Rajapakses communalist war, it was hostile to his governments reliance on China for investment and military hardware. Washington, which was stepping up its economic, diplomatic and military offensive against China, was determined to bring Sri Lanka back into its orbit. After taking office, Sirisena and Wickremesinghe reoriented Colombos foreign policy in favour of the US, India and the European powers, and integrated the island and its military forces with US preparations for war against China. While the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration provided limited increases in agricultural subsidies and salary rises to some state employees, it soon began to implement the austerity measures demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The shaky unity governments promise to abolish the executive presidency never eventuated. The only changes were to prune some presidential powers, including the dissolution of parliament. Action on human right violations and war crimes was swept under the carpet to appease extreme-right Sinhala-Buddhist formations and the military. De facto military rule continued in the islands North and East. Colombos austerity policies provoked struggles by broad sections of the working class, as well as by farmers and students. The government responded with threats and repressive measures. The anti-government opposition also manifested itself in landslide defeats for Wickremesinghes UNP and Sirisenas SLFP in last Februarys local council elections. Most of the council seats were won by the newly-formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)a breakaway Rajapakse faction from the SLFP. Sirisena then calculated that the best way to deal with the growing opposition was by aligning himself with Rajapakse. Sirisena said not a word in his Tuesday speech about the October 26 anti-democratic sacking of Wickremesinghe, or the prorogation, and later unconstitutional dissolution of parliament. Since the failure of his political coup Sirisena has sought to undermine the UNP-led government and strengthen his own powers. When a new cabinet was announced late last year, Sirisena retained the law and order ministry and then established a special committee, answerable to himself, to assess the suitability of all individuals chosen as heads of state-owned enterprises and boards. In the 225-seat parliament, Sirisenas faction of the SLFP and the United Peoples Freedom Alliance only has about 20 MPs, with about 75 MPs backing Rajapakse and his SLPP. Sirisena is desperately trying to secure his political future by linking up with the SLPP and Rajapakse. Exploiting this crisis, Rajapakse hinted that he would support an alliance with Sirisena but indicated that it must have the blessing of SLPP. Rajapakse also issued a statement on his ouster in 2015, declaring that his removal as president had created triple dangers for the country. These dangers, Rajapakse claimed, are: the 19th amendment to the constitution, which prevents the president from dissolving the parliament in any circumstances; the collapse of the economy; and the governments alleged attempt to divide the country which, he falsely insisted, would hand over the North and the East to the Tamil elite. Rajapakse is seeking to build an extreme-right movement, appealing to Sinhala chauvinist groups and military in the hope that these forces can suppress the opposition of the working class and rural poor. Sirisena is appealing to the same right-wing elements. He has repeatedly opposed the arrest of any military officer over human rights violations and war crimes. Rajapakse also declared that his party has started discussions with the US and other major powers in order to change their political attitudes toward a future Rajapakse government. For his part, seeking to justify another round of IMF-dictated measures, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has declared that Sirisenas failed coup has had a huge economic impact. Wickremesinghe also has initiated discussions with the pseudo-left Nava Sama Samaja Party and so-called civil society groups to establish a National Democratic Front, another right-wing movement. Under conditions of mounting economic problems, including $US5.9 billion in foreign debt repayments due this year, and developing workers struggles in Sri Lanka and internationally, every faction of the ruling elite is preparing for dictatorial forms of rule. While the internecine political war continues within the ruling elite, the working class must take the political initiative to chart its own coursethat is, to fight for a workers and peasants government on the basis of an international socialist program. The author also recommends: The US hails Wickremesinghes reinstatement as Sri Lankan prime minister [20 December 2018] Fight for a socialist solution to the political crisis in Sri Lanka [31 October 2018] US President Donald Trump visited the southern border of the United States on Thursday, where he continued to peddle his lying claims that the country is in the jaws of a crisis caused by criminals and drugs flowing in from Mexico. As he left for Texas, Trump reiterated his threats to end the ongoing government shutdown by declaring a national emergency to bypass Congress and appropriate funds to build a border wall. I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency, Trump said. Probably I will do it I would almost say definitely. This is a national emergency. In threatening to override Congress with a state of emergency, Trump is making clear that he is prepared to use the presidency to effectively obliterate the separation of powers, marking a milestone in the destruction of American democracy. This threat is the consummation of systematic efforts under the Bush and Obama administrations to expand the powers of the presidency to undermine bedrock principles of democratic rule and fundamental rights protected under the Constitution. Following the stolen election of 2000, the Bush administration used the 9/11 terrorist attacks to rush through the passage of the Patriot Act and implement a series of unconstitutional policies, including indefinite detention, torture and warrantless domestic surveillance. The pseudo-legal rationale was that the president, as commander-in-chief of the military, has virtually unlimited powers. The Obama administration used this precedent to claim the right to assassinate American citizens, including within the borders of the United States, without due process, and to impose martial law in Boston in 2013. Trump, in his unvarnished criminality, is bringing this process to a culmination by using a state of emergency to oppose Congress in a domestic political crisis. Such an action would concentrate in his hands, and in those of his successors, a new mechanism for the exercise of unrestrained presidential power. In this fundamentally new political system, the vast resources that are regularly allocated by Congress to the military could be marshalled by the president to carry out actions not just internationally, but within the United States itself. If there is anything that constitutes high crimes and misdemeanors, justifying the immediate initiation of impeachment procedures, it is such a threat to override Congress through executive fiat. What is striking, however, is the extraordinarily restrained response, including outright support, from Trumps critics in Washington and in the media. The New York Times, which speaks for the Democratic Party and a substantial section of the financial elite, published an article Thursday calling the declaration of a national emergency the only politically realistic way out of the shutdown crisis in the nations capital. While acknowledging that the move would be an extraordinary violation of constitutional norms, the newspapers all but endorsed the action: Trumps threatened move offers both sides a face-saving solution in the budget standoff between the president and congressional Democrats. Notably, it was Trumps Republican allies who raised more serious concerns. Senator Marco Rubio, who opposed the action, said, If today the national emergency is border security, tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change. It does not take a great deal of imagination to recognize that states of emergency will be invoked, one after another, to carry through the most draconian measures. A move by the White House to declare an emergency would clear the way for Trump or his successors to bypass congressional and popular opposition and implement whatever policies the president wantswhether a massive escalation of military operations or sweeping attacks on the social and democratic rights of the population. The conclusion must be drawn that powerful sections of the ruling elite view the granting of such powers to the president as a means of overcoming what has been called political gridlock in Congress. A supposed emergency caused by the national debt and the supposed imminent threat of national bankruptcy could be invoked to slash Social Security and Medicare. Strikes by teachers, transportation workers or any other section of the working class could be crushed through the use of a national emergency to justify mass arrests and the banning of strikes. Once Trump assumes such sweeping powers, there is little reason to believe that the state of emergency will ever end. One or another pretext will be found to continue and expand it. The precedent, once set, will be applied again and again. A political Rubicon is being crossed. The term crossing the Rubicon originates with the decision of Julius Caesar to violate Roman law by crossing into Italy with an army in 49 BC. That action set the stage for civil war, the collapse of the Roman republic and the establishment of empireeffectively an absolute dictatorship. Trumps threat to defy Congress through a state of emergency constitutes just such a historical turning point: one which, once undertaken, cannot be reversed. The same drive to authoritarian methods of rule characterizes country after country around the world. As Trump declared his absolute right to declare a national emergency, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in Egypt praising the rule of President al-Sisi, the military dictator who has killed hundreds of people and jailed thousands under a state of emergency imposed to suppress a popular revolution. Trumps threats come as fundamental democratic rights are under attack with the support of the entire US political establishment. At the instigation of the US intelligence agencies and with the full support of the Democratic Party, Google, Facebook and Twitter are carrying out mass censorship and domestic surveillance. In the background to these sweeping attacks on democracy lies the malignant growth of social inequality. It is notable that every day since Trump threatened to resolve the crisis by means of a state of emergency, stock market prices have risen. There is within ruling circles an unstated understanding that the turn to dictatorial forms of rule will have one ultimate aim: the protection and expansion of the social interests of a financial oligarchy of which Trump is himself a representative. The past year has seen growing expressions of social discontent that are continuing into 2019, with the opposition of government workers who are being either involuntarily furloughed or forced to work without pay as a result of Trumps government shutdown. In their growing opposition, they join thousands of GM auto workers set to imminently lose their jobs and tens of thousands of teachers in Los Angeles preparing to strike in opposition to the dismantling of public education. The defense of democratic rights is bound up with the expansion of the class struggle within the United States and internationally. Opposition to Trump will not come from within the corrupt and decadent political establishment, but from a mass movement by the working class against the entire capitalist system. General Motors plan to shutter five plants in Canada and the United States with the loss of nearly 15,000 jobs is a ruthless attack on all workers that must be stopped. The destruction of over 2,600 jobs in Oshawa and some 12,000 in the United States is part of a global offensive by the auto giants to boost corporate profits by ratcheting up the exploitation of the working class. This was further underscored by Fords announcement yesterday of thousands of job cuts in Europe. Rank-and-file workers at the Oshawa plant, acting independently of the Unifor National and Local 222 leaderships, downed tools on Tuesday and Wednesday in response to GMs confirmation of the plant closure. Such a bold initiative is entirely welcome. Unifor and the UAW have collaborated with the automakers for decades in imposing round after round of concessions in the name of saving jobs. They accept the subordination of workers jobs and livelihoods to investor profit and, therefore, are utterly opposed to any action by workers that calls GMs multi-billion-dollar profits into question. If a struggle is to be waged, it depends upon the independent mobilization of the working class, and, most fundamentally, the mounting of a joint struggle by Canadian, US and Mexican autoworkers in defence of the jobs and living standards of all workers. Unifor cannot be pressured or reformed. Workers must take the struggle into their own hands. A decisive step in this direction was taken last month at a meeting in Detroit convened by the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, where workers from all three Detroit automakers set up a Steering Committee for the building of rank-and-file factory committees independent of the control of Unifor and the UAW. The purpose of these committees is to organize a joint struggle uniting GM and other autoworkers across North America to fight the plant shutdowns and develop a counter-offensive to roll back all concessions, including multi-tier wages. Unifor has organized todays rally in Windsor not to mobilize the class strength of the working class against the auto bosses and their political handmaidens in Ottawa, Toronto and Washington, but as a Canadian nationalist flag-waving stunt. Not a single appeal was made by Unifor ahead of the rally to US autoworkers, even though brothers and sisters at GMs Detroit-Hamtramck facility just a few miles away also face the imminent threat of being thrown out of work. Instead, Unifor President Jerry Dias has been whipping up the most backward nationalist sentiments, denouncing Mexican workers, and declaring at a press conference Tuesday that GM has picked a fight with the Canadian nation. Workers must reject this nationalist poison which only serves to divide workers. The enemies of Canadian autoworkers are not the workers in the US, Mexico, or for that matter China, but the global auto corporations and the giant banks and financial institutions, which are attacking workers all over the world. With signs of the first recession in the global auto industry since 2009, workers in Mexico, China, Korea and every other country are facing the same attack on jobs and living standards. That is why an international strategy is needed to defend all workers. Instead, the unions are colluding with the corporations to impose further concessions on Canadian and US workers. In the seven weeks since GMs closure announcement, Dias and Unifor have spent their time presenting proposals to GMs corporate bosses on how they can help it slash production costs at Oshawa, including by pushing out older workers in favour of low-paid multi-tier workers, if GM agrees to keep the plant open. The union collaborates so intimately with corporate management that the local leadership at the St. Catherines plant issued a statement last week refusing to countenance support for a toothless consumer boycott of GMlet alone any serious struggle in defence of the GM Oshawa workerson the grounds that it might hurt GMs bottom line and put our facility at risk. These anti-worker policies flow directly from the transformation of Unifor and the UAW over the past three decades into appendages of corporate management. Ever since the nationalist split from the UAW in 1985 by the Canadian Auto Workers, the unions on both sides of the border have systematically pitted Canadian, US and Mexican workers against each other, thereby helping the automakers to whip-saw jobs, wages, pensions and benefits back and forth across borders in a never-ending race to the bottom. Dias responded to GMs Nov. 26 closure announcement by rushing to Ottawa. The very same day that Trudeau and his Liberal government criminalized the postal workers strike, Dias stood alongside Trudeau and claimed this big business politician would fight for GM workers jobs. Dias and Unifor have a decades-long history of working closely with big business governments against the interests of autoworkers and all workers. But this has reached a new level under the current Liberal government. Taking Unifors economic nationalist perspective to its reactionary conclusion, Dias served as an advisor to Trudeau and repeatedly met Trumps Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross with the aim of securing changes to NAFTA that would push the burden of auto industry job cuts onto Mexican workers. The predatory attacks by GM against autoworkers and the communities in which they live can and must be fought. But a new strategy is needed to fight. Rank-and-file factory committees, independent of Unifor, must be organized at all GM facilities and auto plants in Canada. As well as coordinating strikes, protests and other actions to oppose plant shutdowns, these committees would appeal for joint action with workers who also face the threats of job cuts and concessionswhether it be postal workers forced to labour in terrible conditions by the Trudeau governments back-to-work order, or Ontario public sector workers confronting the attacks of the Ford government. In response to GMs global strategy to boost corporate profits and shareholder payouts, workers must develop their own global response. A fundamental task of the rank-and-file factory committees will be to unify their struggles with their brothers and sisters in the US, Mexico, and internationally. The traditions of class unity and common struggle that were forged in the bitter strikes of the 1930s, when autoworkers on both sides of the Canada-US border fought for wage increases and improvements in working conditions, should be revived and developed. Autoworkers will also find powerful allies in the Yellow Vest protesters in France who have taken to the streets to oppose austerity and rampant social inequality, among teachers in the US who have repeatedly mounted strikes in defiance of unions aligned with big business and the Democratic Party, and among the tens of millions of workers in India who mounted a two-day general strike this week to oppose their governments socially incendiary pro-investor policies. The unification of these struggles into a working class counter-offensive for secure, decent-paying jobs and an end to corporate-dictated austerity requires a new political perspectivea socialist and internationalist program, which unites workers in struggle against the capitalist profit system. The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter will offer its assistance and unflinching support to workers seeking to break out of the straitjacket imposed by the pro-company Unifor and UAW and to mobilize autoworkers across national borders. Build rank-and file committees! Attend and build the February 9 demonstration the Steering Committee for Rank-and-File Factory Committees is organizing outside GM headquarters in Detroit! Revive and develop the traditions of joint struggle of North American autoworkers against the auto bosses! The announcement yesterday by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe of next weeks launch of a great national debate on the demands of yellow vest protesters was a debacle. Like his previous offer of temporarily increasing the minimum wage via an increase in bonuses, it is a blatant attempt to strangle mounting opposition while continuing reactionary policies of austerity and militarism under cover of a few empty phrases. Even before Philippe spoke to summarize the conclusions of a ministerial meeting at the Elysee presidential palace, the National Commission on Public Debate (CNDP) was discredited. Its president, right-wing politician Chantal Jouanno, had announced that, outraged at the public outcry over her 176,400 yearly salary, she was refusing to organize the debate. Nonetheless, she refused to step down and is still drawing her exorbitant salary, even though she refuses to do the work that she is supposedly being paid to do. This provoked broad anger among yellow vests and workers. As journalist Vincent Jauvert noted on France Info, French Senate investigations have established that leaders of such high administrative authorities are often extremely well paidfor minimal work. This observation on the fictitious character of the work of Jouanno and other top state officials speaks volumes about the character of the great national debate Macron wants her commission to organize. He intends for this debate not to result in a realignment of his policies to reflect popular opposition to austerity, social inequality, and war, but to issue a few propaganda phrases to sell the diktat of the banks Macron is imposing. Philippes speech at the Elysee proved to be so vacuous that even BFMTV journalists were left to complain that much uncertainty remains as to the content of the great national debate. In the current phase in our country, we must be both extremely open to a useful and productive debate, and obviously extremely firm on the functioning of Republican institutions, Philippe declared. While he said that he would only reveal the details on Monday, he proposed to organize it in various forums: local initiative meetings, mobile stands, digital platforms, or regional citizens conferences whose attendees would be selected by the state, supposedly at random. No details emerged on what policies Philippe was proposing. The four themes for debate raised by all the ministers who since have spoken out on the subject are taxes, the effectiveness of state policies, the ecological transition, and citizenship. The last element appears to be the xenophobic debate on national identity and secularismthat is to say, against foreigners and Muslim religious clothingthat Macron mentioned on December 10, as he proposed the great national debate. Since Macron obstinately refuses to go back on his cancellation of the Tax on Wealth, the debate on taxes and state effectiveness will boil down to defending the fortunes of the financial aristocracy by slashing taxes and intensifying austerity policies targeting workers above all. The government is giving itself room to maneuver by trying to ram through these antidemocratic policies under cover of either ecological or frankly xenophobic and neo-fascistic rhetoric. Attempts to give a progressive coloration to the debate are marred by hypocrisy and lies. Urban Minister Julien Denormandie has declared that the abolition of the death penalty and of democratic rights linked to sexuality would be off limits in the national debate. He explained, A great debate is not a great surrender. The right to abortion, the abolition of the death penalty, and gay marriage are social advances. But we all remember the extremely bitter and divisive debates that took place on the issue of gay marriage. So there can be no question of going back on this social progress. This is a cynical maneuver, aiming to reassure the narrow layers of the affluent middle class that emerged from the Green and post-1968 student movement, who are indifferent to workers economic conditions, fear the yellow vests, and are obsessed only with their own lifestyles. The idea that the Macron government is defending democratic rights against the population is a political fraud. The yellow vest protests are not hostile to abortion or gay marriage or demanding the reinstatement of the death penalty. The Macron government is not defending democratic rights but the wealth and power of the financial aristocracy, mobilizing armored vehicles and tens of thousands of riot police. With his declaration of support for fascist dictator Philippe Petain, Macron has made clear that he intends to build a police state. In this context, the main danger to abortion and gay marriage is that the state itself could attack these rights that were written into law by the Socialist Party (PS), a big business party that is now widely hated, as it seeks to cultivate its base in the riot police and other layers close to the far right. As the WSWS and the Parti de legalite socialiste (PES) have insisted throughout the yellow vest protests, workers will get nothing from Macron or his backers in the European Union (EU). The beginning of his great national debate has only confirmed this assessment. As the class struggle rises in France and across the world, the only way forward is the mobilization and organization of the working class, independently of the trade unions, in a political struggle against the EU and the capitalist class. In this struggle, the PES insists that the only viable perspective for workers is to transfer power to the independent organizations created by the working class. All the offers of aid or debate by procapitalist politicians or parties will prove to be traps for the workers. The demands of yellow vests for social equality, wage increases and an end to war and police repression are incompatible with capitalism and require an international struggle of the working class for socialism. Claims that the yellow vests can ally with the various bourgeois populist parties across Europe are political lies. The only way to satisfy the urgent social needs of workers and oppressed sections of the middle class is a determined expropriation of the financial aristocracies on an international scale. This emerges also from the analysis of popular demands presented to the Association of French Rural Mayors (AMRF) in the context of the governments complaint notebooks campaign, made by AMRF President Vanik Berberian. Berberian told Le Point that the top concern is the question of purchasing power. The second is social injustice. Today, the French people do not have common living standards and the gaps between them are ever greater. Augmenting a tax on fuel may not cause problems for a manager who is working, but it is disastrous for a retiree who is on 500 euros a month and who has no other choice but to take his car. The questions of overseas tax optimization are also perceived as an intolerable social injustice. He added, Another source of concern is the observation that there is a broad decline in living standards, including in upper layers of the middle class, who feel dragged towards the bottom. Finally, the disappearance of public services in rural areas feeds a feeling of exclusion. Asked about immigration, he said: The demands indicate that this is not a subject of major concern, in rural areas in any case, as it only arrives in 8th position. This confirms what we have said for years: if the neo fascists sometimes get enormous votes in rural areas where there are few or no foreigners, it is that another problem is in fact involved. I invite you to go see yourself, there are many villages where foreigners are living without it causing any problems, on the contrary. Students, parents and other workers expressed their support for Los Angeles teachers, who are determined to walk out for improved wages and to oppose the drive to dismantle public education. More than 33,000 teachers, librarians and nurses were set to strike Thursday before the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) pushed back the strike deadline, saying teachers would strike on Monday if no agreement was reached. Backed by powerful corporate interests that are pushing for the privatization of public education, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), led by former investment banker Austin Beutner, is refusing to budge on its demands to further erode teachers wages and health benefits, increase class sizes and use standardized testing to scapegoat teachers and replace failing schools with for-profit charter businesses. In the face of this, the UTLA has consistently retreated, dropping the teachers most pressing demands, including opposition to the expansion of charter schools, and repeatedly stalling when it comes to strike action, despite an overwhelming strike mandate by teachers. Educators throughout the state are champing at the bit for a struggle. On Wednesday night, hundreds of parents and students packed a school board meeting in Oakland to oppose plans to close nearly one-third of the districts schools, even as public money is siphoned off for charter schools. Teachers throughout the state have expressed solidarity with LA teachers, with support growing for a statewide strike like the ones that occurred in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona and other states last year. These sentiments have struck fear in the offices of the National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT), whose highly paid executives spent much of last year traveling from state to state trying to smother strikes and prevent them from coalescing into a national strike in defense of public education. Expressing fear that a Los Angeles strike could spark a broader strike, AFT President Randi Weingarten (annual salary $514,000) tweeted, This is not about a strike wavethis is a specific fight for the kids & public schools of LA. The Democratic Party, which controls every lever of political power in Los Angeles and California, is relying on the UTLA to smother opposition to the Democrats austerity measures, which have left California 43rd out of 50 states in per-pupil spending. Rather than provoking teachers by granting the school authorities an injunction to prevent a strike, a Los Angeles county judge has upheld the unions legal right to strike on Monday. This underscores the fact that the Democrats are counting on the UTLA either to cancel the strike altogether or to let it proceed and end it as soon as possible. At a press conference Thursday, UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl announced the unions intentions to come to the bargaining table on Friday with an open mind, even though Beutner has not budged an inch. He again urged teachers to look to the state Democrats, including new governor Gavin Newsom, to defend their interests. We have finally qualified for the 2020 ballot the schools and communities first initiative that would bring $5 billion to public education by closing the corporate loophole and Proposition 13. Theres a movement to address state funding in California and we need Austin Beutner to be a part of it, the UTLA president declared. As Caputo-Pearl was making these claims Thursday, Governor Newsom released his first proposed budget, which included no additional funding for public schools aside from what is already constitutionally mandated. The state, like LAUSD, actually has budget surpluses, but the Democrats are withholding funding to deliberately create a fiscal crisis, which in turn can be used to impose draconian cuts. Although they are sitting on nearly $2 billion in reserves, district officials claim teacher pensions and health care obligations are driving the district into insolvency. On this basis, Beutner has insisted there is no money to meet teachers demands for improved wages and increased hiring to address staff shortages and overcrowded classrooms. To conduct a real fight, Los Angeles teachers must take the conduct of the struggle into their own hands by forming rank-and-file committees at every school and in every community. These committees should appeal to workers throughout Los Angeles to organize mass picketing, including of all charter schools, to stop Beutners strikebreaking plans. Teachers should appeal to all support staff to join the strike in defiance of the orders to scab by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and other unions. Parents and students should be rallied to support this fight. At the same time, appeals should be issued to teachers in Oakland and across the state to prepare a statewide walkout to defend public education. Reporters for the World Socialist Web Site spoke to teachers, students and other workers in Los Angeles about the critical issues in this battle for public education. Of course, I support the teachers! Anna Estes, who retired from LAUSD after 36 years of teaching said. Im taking care of my mom, 96, who was also a teacher. Retired teachers in LAUSD get full medical for life and also a two percent raise for life. We fought for that in the 1979 strike! She spoke angrily about the UTLA dropping the issues of charter schools and over-testing. The issue of charter schools is really important. My aunt went back to teaching at LAUSD after trying a charter school for two years. She ended up with a horrific stroke and never got over it. Theres so much stress there. Testing is another big thing. Normally teachers use testing to help us figure out how we can explain certain concepts that the kids didnt get in other ways. The principals would always tell us, Its not about the scores. And then theyd put a lot of pressure on us when students scores werent going up. Testing is the worst thing for the kids because it makes them always so stressed. We had to test every six weeks. Although retired, Anna expressed strong solidarity with teachers should they strike. If they call me in to sub during the strike, I will join the picket lines. I have too many friends and family who are teachers, she said. Strike, yes! said John Farr, a maintenance worker for the school district, who agreed all school workers were part of a common struggle to defend education and jobs. We need people to go on strike and support this fight for education. Teachers and us too. Janae, a sales associate at Nordstroms, said she supports teachers after seeing how much work they put in when she was a student not long ago. We had some classes of 46 students, and we know they had a lot of difficult issues to manage. They shouldnt have to go through that. And this situation we are in now, with the Trump administration, the government and politicians are really coming down on education, teachers and everything. They have money for the things they want but wont give any of it for the things the rest of us need, like good schools. Several students at Hamilton High School in West Los Angeles also spoke to WSWS reporters in support of their teachers. Teachers work so hard and dont get enough pay to compensate for that, Shawna said. It doesnt make any sense why the politicians, who got educated once, are preventing teachers from educating us. They are concerned more with war and themselves. Jean, a young janitor at Fairfax High School, said, I support LA teachers because its wrong to have classrooms crowded with students. Ive been in classrooms that dont have enough seats for everyone, and that leaves a lot of mess for us because teachers dont have the ability to keep after that with all the other responsibilities they have. We need to be paid fairly too. Its hard to live with our pay. Especially in LA. Denise Dominguez has a daughter in the third grade at La Tijera Elementary School, a charter school in Inglewood, not part of the LAUSD. Last year we had an issue like this in Inglewood. The teachers were fighting to keep their medical benefits, and a lot of them were fired. It affected our kids a lot. Just like at LAUSD, were overcrowded. I thought that because were a charter school, we shouldnt have this problem. I believe there should be a maximum of 20 kids in a class. My daughters third grade class has 28 kids. How can one person handle that many kids and teach? Many teachers are so fed up with these conditions. Im part of a group of La Tijera parents. Im for uniting all of us in charter schools with public schools. I think we all should unite and support the LA teachers. Julio works as a teacher assistant at an LAUSD elementary school, supporting students with disabilities. "There is a lack of health care in this system. We do need a lot more nurses. I worked at Hamilton five years ago, and even then we didn't have a nurse there full time. There are students with diabetes and sometimes we have serious emergencies." Julio agreed that the teachers struggle is far bigger than salaries, books, and classrooms, but also healthcare, immigration and other social issues. After a WSWS reporter raised the perspective that teachers are fighting a political fight against capitalism, he nodded and said, "Definitely. We have all these charter schools. Those are run by business, and the new superintendent, he is a businessman." Another teacher who wished to remain anonymous said, Ive been a teacher for 20 years here and its gotten much worse over that time. The size of class used to be 23-24, now its 47. Over that time, they also cut custodial staff so now the school has gotten very dirty. I walk into my classroom and its dirty, there was even rat feces in the room. I became a teacher because that was my dream, but now working as a teacher has become so hard." Jaime, a math teacher at Hamilton, expressed frustration with the UTLA's strike delay. "I really don't like how the union pushed the strike back to Monday. We were all ready to go today. I'm not even sure if they'll have us strike Monday now. I'm still confused. On Sunday night, they could tell us something happened and that there's no strike, because of a deal behind doors or something." Mushrooms sprouting from carpets, collapsed ceilings, peeling lead paint, tapwater as brown as teathese are a few of the health hazards assailing soldiers families across the US, Reuters investigations show. The private military housing industry, touted by billionaire real estate mogul John Picerne as recession-resistant, brings property developers some $4 billion annually in rent payments paid by the federal government via direct deposit. These fifty-year leases, which the Pentagon deems confidential business transactions, also funnel undisclosed hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars of federal funds in the pockets of contractors through construction, development, and management fees. Picernes Corvias and other companies have their fingers in more than just military housing. Whilst tenants suffer collapsed ceilings, chipping lead paint, mold, brown tapwater, rotted roofing, wasp infestations, and rodent faeces in childrens bedrooms, the contractors ultrarich clienteleand the landlords themselvesenjoy vacation mansions furnished with bespoke gilded chandeliers, crystalware for crimson banquet halls designed to seat dozens, and taxidermied pythons mounted on 20-foot vaulted ceilings. I bet he doesnt have mold growing in those mansions, commented Leigh Tuttle, wife of an Army major, on the multimillion-dollar estates owned by Picerne. The Tuttles moved into a renovated 1980s duplex on Fort Polk, Louisiana that has left their five-year-old son dependent on nebuliser treatments even after moving off-site. Corvias told her that the mold blooms on the floors and the air ducts were just dust. After testing confirmed that the dust was, in fact, mold, Corvias replaced the carpets but didnt clean the air ducts. In Camp Pendleton, California, the family of Marine Corporal Matt Limon took out a $4,000 loan in order to move from the rodent-infested duplex managed by Lincoln Military Housing, which controls most of the 7,900 housing units on base. Matts wife, Sharon, told Reuters that their two-year-old son doesnt say very many words, but mouse poop is one of them. I would pick him up out of bed in the morning and hed have mouse poop stuck to his leg. Hordes of mice left trails of excrement across the carpet and chewed through food containers in the pantry. The traps set by Lincoln were ineffective. Neighbours told the family about the rodent infestations in their own homes. After the Limons left, Lincoln sent the family a $1,084 bill to replace the carpet, blaming a stain on their puppy. Former Marine Corps Sergeant Ethan Andrews, whose family also moved off Camp Pendleton housing, escaped the $3,000 penalty imposed by their leasethrough the arduous process of discharge. The Andrews described their home as smelling like a sewer; mushrooms sprouted from sopping carpets (which a Lincoln employee described as totally normal) which their toddler learned to walk across in rubber boots. When water burst through the ceiling and flooded the living room, Lincoln blamed a floor puddle on the family dog. And as for the black mold under the baseboards: They told us it was glue, recounted Stephanie, Ethans wife. Her husband had planned to serve out the rest of his service term as a Marine, but feared for his sons health, and made the decision to evacuate from the house as soon as possible. His change in military status exempted him from the $3,000 penalty fee which wouldve driven his family into bankruptcy. Philip Rizzo, Lincolns Vice President of Operations, told Reuters that Lincoln had offered the Limons in June to drop the carpet bill if the family signed a non-disclosure agreement. Mrs Limon was still going on Facebook [to disclose housing conditions in Camp Pendleton] And we said, that has to stop. Contractors strive to buy the silence of their tenants, offering clemency and debt forgiveness in exchange for the signing of non-disclosure agreements. The family of Army Colonel J. Cale Brown, whose developmentally disabled eight-year-old son JC was exposed to lead as an infant in Fort Benning, Georgia, ceased all communication with Reuters last January as part of the settlement of their lawsuit against contractor Villages of Benning. His wife Darlena redacted all references to Villages of Benning from a Facebook post and retitled it Darlenas Story (the silenced version). Other soldiers families are, from the beginning, reluctant to come forward to either the public or base command with safety concerns. State tenant protection laws are often impossible to enforce on military bases as civilian inspectors have no authority to go on base, and laws that allow tenants to withhold rent payments for unsafe housing are dead letters as the federal government directly deposits soldiers housing stipends into contractors coffers. Military medical staff cannot order mold or lead testing on property under private management. Many of the agreements drawn up between the property management companies and the military leave all but the highest echelons of base command powerless to intervene. Military housing liaison staff dont have enforcement powers over the business agreement, explained Camp Pendleton spokesman Carl B. Redding Jr. Something became obvious to me as I worked there, retired EPA inspector William Spain told Reuters. You and your family cannot make trouble for base command. Thirty of the over one hundred families interviewed by Reuters expressed the fear that publicly identifying themselves would incur retaliation against soldiers careers. Hidden as they may be, the conditions of filth and disrepair endured by these families are rife throughout bases in the US. Military records obtained by Reuters under the Freedom of Information Act showed more than 1,100 soldiers children throughout the country tested high blood-lead levels; two of the Army bases which sourced the records have violated state law by not reporting the results to their respective states. Lincoln acknowledged that it responded to 3,000 mold complaints in 2017 alone, equivalent to 1 for every 12 homes it runs. One Facebook group for members in unsafe military housing has garnered over 1,700 members at the time of writing. The Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI), signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, was the culmination of decades of bipartisan austerity policies which left so many of the 300,000 on-base homes in disrepair that the Department of Defense (DoD) warned Congress that further neglect would run the risk of collapsing the force. Clinton also signed legislation that same year ending guaranteed federal welfare assistance to the poor, imposing a five-year lifetime limits on benefits through the new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Dilapidated housing persisted through both the Bush and Obama administrations: a 2005 Army environmental study reported that 75 percent of its 90,000 homes failed to meet quality and safety standards. In 2016, the DoD Inspector General found pervasive health and safety deficiencies in military housing, including electrical and fire hazards, lead-based paint, and unmitigated mold growth. The Pentagons official response to that report was that that federal intervention would unnecessarily increase costs and impose more government intrusion into a private business enterprise. These latest revelations, as with the fearfully suppressed report on perfluoroalkyl contamination of military bases, referred to as a public relations nightmare by one White House aide in a leaked email and finally published by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in June, are cause for zero concern within the Trump administration and the American political establishment as a whole. The property developers indicted by Reuterss investigations and the bases themselves have been compelled to exercise a bare minimum of damage control by dismissing tenants complaints. This looks like any sort of housing that you would find in any major city, Fort Bragg spokesman Tom McCollum told WRAL, a local news station in North Carolina. Everyone has their own perception of expectations and perfection, Corvias spokesperson Mary Humphries told the Louisiana newspaper the Leesville Daily Leader. As with the lead poisoning of Flint, Michigan, the mainstream press is eager to ignore this latest exposure of criminal and systematic poisoning by the financial elite for as long as possible. In the two weeks since Reuters released their latest report on the crisis of US military housing on December 27, not one article on the subject has appeared in the major capitalist media outlets: not in CNN, the Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, the Washington Post, ABC News, Fox News. The only exception was the New York Times which reposted the article on their Reuters section on website on December 27. The author also recommends: US Navy punishes family that revealed Flint water poisoning [2 December 2016] Nearly 4,000 US communities have higher rates of lead poisoning than Flint [16 November 2017] Federal government takeover threatens takeover of NYC housing authority [4 January 2019] Homelessness and rough sleeping have reached record levels in the UK. After 10 years of relentless austerity, nearly 600 people died on the streets in 2017. The number of people sleeping rough has grown 169 percent over the decade, and charities warn the death toll is set to rise. London is the capital of rough sleeping, with 136 homeless people dying on the streets last year. Just before Christmas, a homeless man died within yards of Parliament, at the entrance to Westminster tube station. The previous February, another homeless man was found dead, also at Westminster tube. In December, housing charity St. Mungos reported that floating support services for the homeless in Londonincluding those helping with mental health and substance use issueshave been cut by 41 percent since 2013. A toxic mix of social cleansing, gentrification and austerity saw an estimated 4,751 people bed down on London pavements in 2017. Labour controlled councils have been at the forefront of this scorched earth policy, with the largest cuts imposed by Labours Newham Council, which slashed spending by 33 percent between 2010-11 and 2017-18, according to a report issued by the Centre for London in May 2018. WSWS reporters spoke to homeless people, charities and volunteers dealing with the escalating homeless crisis over the holiday period. London Steve is 59, has been homeless since he was 17 and is unable to work due to an injury. Sitting on the pavement against the shop window of a chain of luxury grocers, Steve said, I have survived the way I can, with five pounds a day when I am lucky. I eat once a day and many days I eat nothing at all. I walk around, sit down, beg for food or money for food. I dont use charities. As regards the homeless crisis, it is getting worse. I am upset with the government, for they are doing nothing to deal with the ever increasing crisis. The housing allocation is a shambles. When we spoke to Steve, the next two days were forecast as freezing. Ill have to survive it, he said. Labour Party Mayor of London Sadiq Khan recently announced a scheme to make 700 places available for homeless people to stay, but only during freezing weather. Steve said, Its 700 beds, it is barely nothing. What is the point of having a bed for one night? It does not remove homelessness. You look at the rich, the government takes care of them. Who is looking after us? Mike, 43, is from Manchester and is a former railway worker who was injured at work. He was made homeless three years ago and sleeps rough in London. Mike was lying on a flattened cardboard box, under a railway bridge spanning into Victoria mainline station. Along the line of the wall, three homeless people were sleeping, under their blankets. He said, I was not told anything about the mayors shelter programme, none of us under this bridge know. Where are those places they call shelters? Daniella sells the Big Issue magazine, a publication that homeless people can sell on a commission basis, earning a few pounds. She lost her job three years ago and had a mental breakdown. She is now under the care of the local hospital authority. But housing is a different matter, with her local council providing no housing for the mentally ill. Daniella said, I sell those issues for 25 a day for six hours work. It helps me for food and helps me cope with my mental illness, as I receive no support from carers and dont have a doctors close attention. Sitting between two friends behind the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, near Trafalgar Square was Asmaan, a 27-year-old immigrant worker. She was working in restaurants until her immigration status was categorised as unresolved by the UK authorities. She lost her job and became homeless: We receive food once a day from charities with a rolling canteen or we have to go to the church to receive a little help in food and blankets. Greater Manchester There were 50 deaths on the streets of Greater Manchester last year related to homelessness and rough sleeping. Two thousand Manchester children spent the Christmas in emergency accommodation. Services in Greater Manchester have been decimated since 2008 because of Labour Party council cuts. In 2017, Manchester City Council (MCC) announced cuts of 30 million to be implemented over the following three years. This was on top of 271 million of savings and budget reductions imposed since 2010/11. Greater Manchesters Labour mayor Andy Burnham pledged to eradicate rough sleeping in the region by 2020. For all Burnhams rhetoric, his mayoral team and Manchester council could not maintain even a paltry 15-bed homeless shelter. Set up as part of Burnhams Bed Every Night Scheme, and run by the Riverside housing association for the council, the shelter was shut over Christmas due to a recurring electrical fault. In the town of Eccles, local volunteers occupied an empty doctors surgery before Christmas and provided accommodation to homeless people. For the past month, Angela and three fellow volunteers have supported 15 homeless people, and a dog, who would otherwise have spent the holiday period on the streets. Angela explained that she began helping the homeless in 2011. I found a young lad, a runaway, freezing in the city centre, said. It started from there. I found my calling. Ive been networking with the fire service. I cant have any more people dying on the streets. The building Angelas team occupied belongs to the National Health Service. Its been empty for 13 years, used for storage for NHS equipment, she said, but explained that since the squat began the NHS wants the building back. A few days later, Angela told the WSWS that papers to evict them will be served soon. Her organisation, the Saving People Shelter Project, relies solely on public and charitable donations. The project also helps people register with a doctor and find work. We put a shower in here ourselves, which was donated. I had a meeting with the rough sleepers team. The first ones we brought in were asylum seekers I met in the city centre. Especially this year, homelessness has gone out of control, what with Universal Credit bringing threats of eviction. Theres a lot more young ones on the streets, a lot more females. Yet look at the wealth around us, why cant they share the wealth? Asked what she thought the solution was, she replied, We need new housing like never before. Look what weve achieved with the help of the public. Referring to Burnhams scheme, Angela said, Its not a solution. I sent eight people to the scheme, but its not suitable. She said this was because homeless people with mental health or alcohol problems need single rooms, not shared sleeping arrangements. Theres lots of empty properties, they could open these buildings up, she said. All the empty commercial properties in Britain could be turned into flats. Were all only a payday away from being homeless. Were living in the Dark Ages in Britain. How can there be so much wealth and so much misery? Jay is 42 and has been living in the projects surgery. An electrical engineer by trade, he ended up on the streets for three weeks after splitting up with his partner. Theres no support from the government, he said. I worked on the building at Manchester University that invented graphene [a flexible material used in various medical, chemical and industrial processes]. Manchester holds the patent so why is there homelessness? And why all of a sudden, now youve got homeless people in the building, do the NHS want it back? he asked. The Wellspring Centre is a homelessness charity set up 27 years ago in Stockport, a town of 136,000 people in Greater Manchester. Open 365 days a year, the centre helps people with multiple problems including healthcare, access to welfare benefits, homelessness advice, education and meals. It also has a doctor on site and drugs and alcohol advice, with service provided by 300 volunteers and a small full-time staff. The WSWS spoke to Wellspring Centre CEO Jonathan Billings, who described the growing homeless crisis in the town: In 2017, 356 people presented as homeless, and in 2018 this number had risen to 500. People were presenting at the centre from other parts of the country, not just Stockport. People were coming as far away as Newcastle. Last year, 50 homeless people died on the streets in Greater Manchester. Jonathan said that Wellspring is one of the few organisations keeping a record of the dozens of homeless people who have died. A Wellspring Remembers memorial wall at the centre displays photographs and the names of the dead. Rachel works for the Centrepoint homeless charity in Manchester, which serves as a referral and support service on behalf of the council. Anyone under 25 at risk of becoming homeless is sent to us, and we can refer them to hostels, she explained, adding that numbers needing support are definitely increasing. Services for mental health are so overstretched. Theres not a lot of mental health support available. Someone has to be in a crisis before they can get help. Accident and Emergency departments dont know what to do with them. I had to wait five hours for an ambulance for someone. Before I finished for Christmas, Rachel said, we had 28 young people assigned to us, and they had all suffered physical, sexual or emotional abuse. The families they are coming from are all in poverty. Half of them are put in B&Bs [Bed and Breakfast accommodation], which are shitholes, where they could be targeted by older adults. Everyone who presents here has a mental health or drug issue and things have got worse because of the lack of support. And the support staff who run the hostels havent got mental health training. Sheffield Alan Hutchinson, 39, is a Big Issue North seller in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. He has been homeless for nearly 20 years after being disowned by his family at a young age. Ive been homeless for most of my life, he said. Its all I know, really. Trying to earn enough money each week to pay for a bed at the Salvation Army Hostel on Charter Row is a constant struggle. There is no homeless shelter in Sheffield, and board with the Salvation Army costs around 30.50 a week. The Salvation Army hostel provides board for around 50 peoplea tiny proportion of Sheffields homeless population. The maximum length of stay is six to nine months and you need a referral. Across Yorkshire an estimated 5,000 people are homeless, an increase of 600 in the past year alone. Homeless people have got to come out here working for peanuts, Alan said. Out in the cold, freezing, not being able to afford a hot drink or anything. I dont think its right. They wonder why our healths deteriorating and people are dying out on the streets. It needs to be better. Hutchinson earns money selling Big Issue North seven days a week, but its not enough to pay for accommodation. On a good day he might make 20 or 30, including donations, but most of that, he explained, is needed to buy copies of the next issue. The magazine sells for 2.50, but Alan must fork out 1.25 to buy each magazine up front. If you cant pay, you get nothing. Sheffields Labour-run council has enforced cuts of 430 million since 2010, decimating services across the UKs fifth largest city. According to local homeless charities, there are more than 600 vacant and disused council houses in Sheffield. While these and other properties have been allowed to rot, investors have poured hundreds of millions into expensive student accommodation and gentrification. Alan said, Theres possibly more than 600 [vacant] homes. Theres student accommodation going up all over the place, but how come you never see them building any hostels for the homeless people? It comes down to money. Money talks. The true fact is, whenever youre down on your luck nobody cares, even if youre laying down on the floor dying. I blame the government for it all. Bradford In Bradford, where 30 million in cuts were agreed by the Labour-council in 2018, homelessness has reached its highest level in nine years. Nearly 500 people are registered with Bradford Council as being homeless and in priority need of accommodation. But the official homeless figures do not include rough sleepers or those staying temporarily with various charities such as the Salvation Army, Bradford Cyrenians or InnChurches. The vast majority are made homeless after a relationship breakdown or private tenancy eviction and have nowhere else to turn. Lee, who finds shelter in Bradford city centre, has been homeless for the last three months. He said, I lost my autistic child last year and lost everything through dabbling with drugs, which I do no more. Once I lost my child everything got messed up. I lost my job as an engineer at Keighley Lifts and my house with it. My benefits were messed up with Universal Credit, so this is why I have to sleep out and beg during the day. I managed to get a tent that I sleep in on one of the traffic islands. It was so cold the other night that I had to wrap a sleeping bag over my head to keep warm. Im trying to rebuild my life and trying to get things back on track. This tent is tiny but better than sleeping directly on the street. Diana, a young worker from Latvia, was begging on the street near the railway arches in Forster Square. I have lived and worked in Bradford for six years. Seven days ago, my landlord threw me out of my basement flat saying he needed it for his friends. He had no papers to get me out, like an eviction notice. When I went back the next day all my possessions were on the street, including my laptop smashed up. I went straight to Citizens Advice and explained my situation and have spent the last four days sleeping on the street in the railway arches. The police gave me vouchers for McDonalds. The Salvation Army have really helped me and I have a room for 28 days in the new year at the hostel. Because I have not been sleeping, I have lost my job as a housekeeper. The government of Ali Bongo Ondimba imposed a country-wide blackout of all Internet and television and radio broadcasting services throughout Gabon for more than 24 hours in the wake of an attempted coup Monday morning that saw insurgent soldiers take over the operations of state-owned television and radio broadcaster RadioDiffusion Television Gabonnaise in the capital city Libreville. The groups leader, Lt. Obiang Ondo Kelly, broadcast a call on national television for viewers to overthrow the Bongo government. Several hundred demonstrators responded to the insurgent soldiers call to take control of the streets, and swarmed a downtown section of Libreville, setting a car aflame and burning several tires. Expressing the anger toward the Bongo regime felt within a broad layer of the Gabonese masses, Stephane, a 27-year-old tripe seller, told Agence France-Presse (AFP), What happened (yesterday) was a good thing, it should have worked. We have to get out of this situation. We weren't criminals or looters. We answered the call. We are 120-percent fed up! Another resident told AFP of the internet shutdown, They did the same thing to us in 2016 [referring to the governments blackout of the internet during the 2016 election]. Can you understand how frustrating it is to live in a country where there is such a blackout? Gabonese security forces swiftly put down the coup attempt, killing two and arresting eight. Shortly afterward, the government declared the situation is under control, and proclaimed that it had restored peace and order. In the wake of the government crackdown, the internet was cut, along with electricity in many sections across Libreville. Agence de Press Gabonnaise (AGP) reported on Tuesday that order had been restored and routine had returned to Libreville, with children returning to school and businesses open. By then the government had restored internet access and broadcast services, after being down since the morning of the coup attempt. Internet Without Borders, an organization which monitors internet censorship by governments around the globe, found that beginning Monday morning almost immediately after the coup attempt, internet connection requests from Gabon sharply dropped, indicating the starting point of the blackout. Traffic remained down for the next 28 hours. When the government lifted the blackout, traffic requests in the country began functioning as normal. Internet Without Borders report was corroborated by Netblocks, another like-minded organization tracking censorship of the internet. The cutting off of internet service to the population stands as a stark threat to the Gabonese masses that the Bongo regime is willing to resort to any means necessary to stifle any opposition to its rule. Such anti-democratic methods have been utilized by governments in countries around the world, including nearby Democratic Republic of the Congo, during the recent elections, and in Tunisia and Egypt, during the Arab Spring revolutions that overthrew the dictatorships in those countries. The imposition of a complete blackout of internet and broadcast services has long been utilized as a tool of repression by the Bongo government. Comprising a quasi-dynasty, the Bongo family has been in power in Gabon for more than half a century. During the 2009 and 2016 elections, internet service and broadcasts were shut down in the days preceding the poll, illustrating the thoroughly criminal and anti-democratic character of the regime. Over the decades, the ruling government has arbitrarily shut down newspapers and broadcast media. Security forces in 2012 raided and then shuttered two newspapers critical of the ruling government, Ezombolo and La Une. In a move ominously Orwellian the government body charged with the regulation of media, the National Communications Council, accused the two weeklies of disrespecting public institutions and the personalities that embody them. The underlying motive in carrying out these thoroughly anti-democratic actions is the palpable fear within the ruling elite of the Gabonese masses. The ruling class is acutely aware of their deep unpopularity and seek above all to quell a social explosion which may escape their control. In order to accomplish this the Bongo government is seeking to control the dissemination of information and to regulate what the masses see, hear and read. The development of the internet has revolutionized mass communications and created a vast expansion in the manner by which workers are able to express ideas and their opposition to the ruling class, as evidenced in many protests organized over social media, such as the Arab Spring revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt in 2011, the teachers strikes in the United States last year and recently, the Yellow Vest protests in France. Efforts to censor the internet by governments worldwide are being led by the United States. In the closest collaboration with Google, Facebook, Twitter and other powerful information technology corporations, the American ruling class has implemented severe restrictions on access to socialist, antiwar and progressive websites. The growth of opposition from the working class has struck a chord of terror within the ruling class. In response they are seeking to severely limit workers access to the internet and transform it into a tool of state surveillance, censorship and repression. In the latest stage of the global auto giants intensifying assault on workers, Ford Motor Company announced on Thursday that it will slash thousands of jobs in Europe as part of a continent-wide restructuring. The announcement follows by just over a month General Motors announcement that it plans to close five plants across the United States and Canada, destroying almost 15,000 jobs. The Detroit-based automaker said it would shut another two, yet unspecified, plants located outside of North America. Yesterday, the UK automaker Jaguar confirmed reports from last December that it will slash up to 5,000 jobs, mainly engineering and office positions, as part of a 2.5-billion-pound cost-cutting plan. In its statement released yesterday from Cologne, Germany, Ford said it plans to drive profitability across its product portfolio, and that structural cost improvements will be supported by reduction of surplus labor across all functionssalaried and hourly. In addition to job cuts, the statement pointed to previously announced efficiency actions, including the closure of the Ford Aquitaine Industries plant in Blanquefort, France in August 2019, destroying 800 jobs and another 3,000 indirectly, and a restructuring at the Saarlouis Body and Assembly Plant in Germany. It added that it would be conducting a strategic review of Ford Sollers, a joint venture in Russia, the results of which would be announced in the second quarter. The companys actions are openly aimed at funneling ever greater sums of wealth from workers and their families to Wall Street banks and investment firms and the super-rich shareholders who control them. Ford gives the largest dividend payout of all the auto giants and handed out $2.3 billion last year alone. Yesterdays statement bluntly spells out the integral role to be played by the European trade unionswhich Ford correctly labels its trade union partnersin suppressing opposition from workers to this assault. Ford is starting consultations with its union partners and other key stakeholders to implement a comprehensive transformation strategy, it notes. Elsewhere it declares that it hopes to achieve labor cost reductions, as far as possible [through] voluntary employee separations in Europe, and will be working closely with its social partnersi.e., the auto unionsto achieve this objective. The auto unions have worked hand in glove with the carmakers to impose thousands of layoffs along with plant closures, which have intensified since the global financial crash of 2008. Reuters reported yesterday that when contacted for comment, the German IG Metall union asked for more details before it could comment. The unions attitude toward workers was most succinctly summed up last August by the Ford Cologne Works Council union leader Martin Hennig, when he declared that the company was going well and we make good money with them." He continued, "But nothing remains of the profit. We have to take costs into account. That must be the most important task of management. Hennig complained of the large number of workers over 50. At such an age, workers already have ailments. As Ford specifies the job losses, the unions across the continent will insist that workers ultimately accept sacrifices to be competitive. Above all, they will work to prevent any unified struggle by workers across national lines by pitting workers in different countries against one another and promoting the poison of nationalism. In the US, the United Auto Workers (UAW) has sought to prevent any struggle against General Motors mass layoffs announced last month by blaming workers in Mexico and China. The UAW is already making clear it will welcome layoffs in Europe. Fords restructuring is part of a deepening alliance with Volkswagen, the worlds largest automaker by sales. UAW Vice President Rory Gamble told the Detroit Free Press that the alliance could result in new jobs in the US, and we would wholeheartedly support this. This is in line with the UAWs in-sourcing strategy to slash the wages and conditions of American autoworkers so drastically that it is more profitable for companies to move production to the US and away from low-wage platforms in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The automakers, however, have an international strategy. Worldwide light-vehicle output fell over two consecutive quarters in the past half-year, the first industrywide recession since 2009. The auto giants are determined to place the cost of the crisis on the backs of workers amidst a deepening economic downturn, highlighted by declining sales in China and Europe. Auto sales in Britain have fallen as well, dropping 6 percent in the past year. The companies' strategy includes an accelerated turn toward more energy-efficient vehicles. Profits for the corporate and financial elite are higher than ever, but the major financial institutions are demanding an even greater assault on workers. Yesterday, Morgan Stanley investment analyst Adam Jonas released a note declaring that Ford Europe could require as much as a 20 to 30 percent reduction of capacity and headcountequivalent to 10,000-15,000 jobs. Last December Jonas called for up to 25,000 jobs to be slashed by Ford Europe as the industry transforms. Among autoworkers and every section of the working class in Europe and internationally there is a growing militancy and a determination to fight against the ruling classs drive to reduce workers to penury, reflected in the ongoing mass Yellow Vest demonstrations in France and a growing wave of strikes in 2018. On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, GM workers in Oshawa, Canada downed tools in a wildcat sit-down strikeinitiated independently of the Unifor unionafter GM confirmed the planned closure of the plant at the end of 2019. The first step in waging a struggle is to recognize the role played by the trade unions, which are nothing more than the paid agentsor partnersof the corporations, controlled by highly paid executives who suppress strikes and impose cuts. Workers need new, independent organizationsrank-and-file factory and workplace committeesthat are directly controlled by the workers themselves, to organize a struggle. On December 9, autoworkers from all three US carmakers and other workers and young people attended a meeting in Detroit, Michigan organized by the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter and the Socialist Equality Party and voted unanimously to establish independent rank-and-file committees to organize a fight against General Motors planned layoffs. A demonstration is being held in Detroit on February 9. Autoworkers across Europe should adopt the same strategy. The first task of such committees will be to immediately make contact with workers at the auto plants across Europe, Asia and the United States to organize an internationally coordinated struggle. The axis of any successful struggle by workers must be to unify on an international scale, in opposition to the nationalism promoted by the unions and the subordination of workers to the global capitalist system. The answer to the strategy of the ruling class is to take the automotive giants out of the hands of the billionaire financial shareholders who control them and transform these corporations into public enterprises under the collective ownership and democratic control of the workers themselves, as part of the fight for a socialist workers government. The WSWS Autoworkers Newsletter urges all workers who wish to take forward an international struggle against the corporations assault to contact us today. A number of corporate media outlets have begun the year by publishing scurrilous and derisive attacks against WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange. The coverage has the character of a coordinated political campaign, with the most sinister motives. Its aim is to legitimise the stepped-up persecution of Assange by the US and British governments, which are pursuing the journalist and publisher because of WikiLeaks exposures of their war crimes, diplomatic intrigues and illegal spying on the American and world population. Virtually identical articles were featured this week in some of the most prominent publications around the world, including the London Times, the Washington Post and the Australian. All of them centred on personal smears against Assange and attempts to downplay the immense threat to democratic rights posed by the US-led vendetta against him. The pretext for the venomous outpouring was the publication of a confidential email sent by WikiLeaks to media organisations, rebutting 140 falsehoods about Assange that have appeared in the press. The document demanded that the recipients of the email refrain from presenting the defamatory statements as facts. A version of the email was first published online on January 7 by Emma Best, a self-styled transparency activist. Bests activism has included numerous denunciations of WikiLeaks that echo the talking points of the US government and its intelligence agencies. She came to media prominence by leaking private online discussions between WikiLeaks supporters last year. The tenor of the coverage that followed Bests blog post is summed up by a sampling of media headlines: Julian Assange fails the smell test (Washington Post), WikiLeaks Doesnt Want Reporters Covering Julian Assanges Poor Personal Hygiene (Observer), WikiLeaks wants people to stop saying Julian Assange bleaches his hair, eats with his hands, or has bad hygiene (Business Insider Australia), and WikiLeaks doesnt want you to say Julian Assange lives in a cupboard under the stairs (Mashable). In other words, a raft of publications seized upon the email as the opportunity to trumpet some of the most demeaning lies they have previously circulated about Assange to undermine the mass popular support he enjoys. One would have no idea from the articles that their subject is one of the worlds foremost political prisoners, whose claim for asylum has been upheld by the United Nations. Or that doctors have repeatedly warned that Assanges ongoing involuntary detention in the small Ecuadorian embassy in London poses grave risks to his rapidly deteriorating health. Nor do the individuals who affixed their bylines to slandering Assange care that the US attempts to prosecute him are aimed at doing away with press freedom and creating a legal precedent for locking-up any journalist or whistle-blower who challenges the powers that be. They are representatives of what world-respected journalist and filmmaker John Pilger aptly described as Vichy journalism, after the French regime that collaborated with the Nazi occupation of the country during World War II. Their aim is to suppress the truth, smear those who expose government crimes and defend the status quo. The attitude of the establishment media to WikiLeaks was summed up by the article in the Times, which was prominently republished in the Australian. It denounced Assange for his long career leaking other peoples secrets. The Observer likewise condemned government transparency absolutists. The articles authors, and the organisations who publish their filth, make no attempt to conceal the fact that they identify wholeheartedly with the intelligence agencies, governments and corporations whose corruption and crimes were exposed by WikiLeaks. They are aggrieved that WikiLeaks publications have documented US-led war crimes of an historic magnitude in Iraq and Afghanistan, US imperialist meddling all over the world and CIA spying, to name only some of its most notable revelations. The WikiLeaks email itself pointed to the relationship between government interests and the circulation of smears against Assange. WikiLeaks, the document stated, has published: The largest, most accurate leaks in the history of the CIA, State Department, Pentagon, US politics, and Saudi Arabia, among many others. Predictably, given the nature of some of these entities, numerous falsehoods have been subsequently spread about WikiLeaks and its publisher. The email noted that media lies against Assange have escalated since March last year, when Ecuador cut off his communications, internet access and right to receive most visitors. WikiLeaks observed that the scale of attacks against its founder was perhaps because there is an incorrect view that Mr. Assange has no means to defend his reputation from falsehoods in such grave circumstances. WikiLeaks particularly highlighted a Guardian article last November which claimed that Assange met with American political lobbyist and consultant Paul Manafort at the Ecuadorian embassy in 2013, 2015 and early 2016. The allegation was aimed at tying the WikiLeaks founder to Manafort, who later served as a Trump campaign advisor and has been a central target of a US Special Counsel investigation into purported collusion between Trump and the Russian government. Since November, the article has been utterly discredited. The Guardians editor Kath Viner and the authors of the piecemost notably the anti-WikiLeaks hack Luke Hardinghave evaded all questions about the fraudulent character of their allegations and made no attempt to substantiate them. Despite this, many of the comments on the WikiLeaks email repeated the Guardian lies, only noting in passing that they had been contested. Many of the articles asserted, without any substantiation, a relationship between WikiLeaks and Russia. Business Insider Australia blithely stated: Some view WikiLeaks as a tool of Russian intelligence, given Russias interference in the United States 2016 presidential election and WikiLeaks role in releasing private emails from Hillary Clinton aide John Podesta. In reality, WikiLeaks published leaked documents in 2016 that revealed that the Democratic National Committee sought to rig the partys primaries against Senator Bernie Sanders on behalf of war-monger and big business operative Hillary Clinton. WikiLeaks also published secret speeches delivered by Clinton to Wall Street banks, in which she pledged to do their bidding. None of the slanderous articles against Assange bothered to mention that WikiLeaks has published hundreds of thousands of documents from Russia, many of which exposed the authoritarian regime of Vladimir Putin. That the latest smears against Assange were prominently featured by the Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald only highlights the shameful role of the Australian media in the attacks against the WikiLeaks publisher, who is an Australian citizen. The complicity of the Australian political and media establishment underscores the importance of demonstrations called by the Socialist Equality Party in Sydney and Melbourne in March. The SEP will fight to mobilise the working class around the demand that the Australian government use its diplomatic powers and legal discretion to secure Assanges safe passage to Australia, with an unconditional guarantee against extradition to the US. Happy New Year from your future neighbors at Amazon! Going in to 2019, we want to express how excited we are about becoming your neighbors in Long Island City, Queens, proclaimed a propaganda ad that appeared in local news and social media last weekend. The Amazon conglomerate faces growing popular opposition over its low wages and brutal working conditions, as well as over its ability to unilaterally dictate terms to both political parties. Following a bidding process in which state and local politicians, both Republican and Democrat, competed amongst each other to offer the most favorable terms, Amazon decided to split its second headquarters between Queens in New York City, a short distance from Wall Street, and Crystal City, Virginia, a short distance from the Pentagon. In New York City, where Amazon plans to build a 4 million square foot office complex in a former industrial area on the East River across from midtown Manhattan, Amazon has launched a charm offensive. It has hired former elected official-turned lobbyist Mark Weprin and the public relations firm SKDKnickerbocker, which boasts such high profile clients as former president Barack Obama, New York State governor Andrew Cuomo, and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. As part of its charm offensive, Amazon is claiming that locating one of its two new headquarters in New York City will be a boon to local residents. All of Amazons claims along these lines should be treated with skepticism if not outright contempt. This is, after all, the same corporation that only months ago proclaimed that it was doing workers a favor when it gave many of them a pay cut. With its headquarters project, Amazon is pursuing nothing more than naked business interests, as well as its objectives of further integrating itself into headquarters of finance capital (Wall Street) and the headquarters of the apparatus of military aggression and internal repression (Washington, D.C.). Amazons after-the-fact public relations campaign is aimed at ironing out popular opposition to what Amazon has already decided to do. In addition to its promise to create 25,000 well-paying tech jobs over the next 10 yearsin exchange for which it will reap as much as $1.7 billion in state and local tax breaksAmazon claims that the building of its campus in Anable Basin, a stones throw from the largest public housing complex in the US, will result in tens of thousands more indirect (and mostly lower paying) jobs in construction, building services and hospitality. It also pledges to offer career training for local residents, many of whom are immigrant and minority, with a median income of $58,243 for those ages 2544, and considerably lower for those under 25 or older than 44. This is nothing more than a rehash of the old trope of trickle-down economics. The rich, by virtue of being rich, spend lots of money, for which the population should supposedly be thankful because this behavior creates jobs. Moreover, the number of jobs Amazon is required to create under the terms of the agreement is an ever-shifting and nebulous target. First announced in November 2018 by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill De Blasio to be fifty thousand in ten years, it became clear that it actually will be twenty five thousand jobs since the overall number is to be split between Queens and the other headquarters that will be built in Arlington, Virginia. To obscure matters further, de Blasio has been citing a longer term number of forty thousand over 15 years. Skepticism is widespread. Greg LeRoy of the watchdog organization Good Jobs First believes the actual number of jobs Amazon would create would likely be much lower. I cant identify another corporate headquarters that employs 50,000 people when they already have people elsewhere. Even if Amazon were to create the full number of jobs, there is no guarantee that they would be full-time jobs maintained long-term at the promised $150,000 per year. Moreover, this cynical figure of $150,000 can in no way be accepted at face value, since it appears to involve averaging the pay of the high-paid Amazon executives with the rest of the workforce. Hostility to the Amazon headquarters project in New York City is more far-reaching than questions of the conglomerates misleading and ever-shifting promises. There is a growing mood of combativeness among Amazon workers internationally over conditions in the companys network of fulfillment centers, which is bound up with mounting opposition in other industries and sections of the working class. Moreover, the secretive and quasi-dictatorial way in which Amazon dictates terms to cities like New York City has exposed in stark terms the relationship between conglomerates like Amazon and Americas politicians. In New York City, Amazon demanded (and politicians dutifully agreed) that Amazons development plans would be allowed to circumvent review by the City Council and be exempt from the usual land-use regulations. Bypassed entirely and left with no political cover whatsoever, a number of local elected officials have publicly denounced Amazons behavior, including City Council Speaker Cory Johnson and Councilmember for Queens, Jimmy Van Bramer. Van Bramer, embarrassed by having supported the deal a year ago before the full terms were clear (which among other provisions mandated a helipad for Amazon VIPs), issued a scathing report with State Senator Michael Gianaris in November, in which both politicians said they were not elected to serve as Amazon drones. At a raucous City Council meeting in December, city officials grandstanded and protesters unfurled a banner and heckled from the balcony. For the benefit of those in attendance, Johnson, Van Bramer and others grilled two Amazon executives, who barely deigned to answer their questions. By that point, the deal was already an accomplished fact, having been structured by the governors office to circumvent the councils approval altogether. Having saved face, Van Bramer is now more reconciled to drone status. Were putting a lot of pressure on them to answer for what theyve agreed to in the deal. I think thats a good thing and I do believe that will produce some changes here. Local residents have voiced significant concerns over the impact of the headquarters on housing availability, transportation infrastructure, even sewage management, all of which were already inadequate in the area before the HQ2 deal. These concerns have been seized upon by grassroots activists led in large part by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for their own political ends. In several community meetings in December packed with DSA supporters, tenant organizers and assorted other activist groups, speakers decried gentrification, although the area has been gentrifying over the past 10 years, and denounced Amazons exploitative labor practices. A resident of the public housing complex Queensbridge Houses spoke in Arabic of her fear that the additional 25,000 people would overcrowd the working class neighborhood, and other immigrant residents worried that Amazons close connections with ICE would jeopardize their safety. Keely Mullen, a representative from Socialist Alternative, brought greetings to the meeting from Kshama Sawant, SAs member on the Seattle City Council. Mullen described a tax measure that SA had organized in Seattle that would tax Amazon to guarantee high quality housing. Sawant, she said, doesnt fear going toe-to-toe with billionaires. But then she had to admit that the billionaires mounted a counter ballot measure which nullified the tax because with the shameful City Council under capitalism theres no guarantee. Nevertheless, the meeting concluded with renewed resolve to use everything in their power to take on Wall Street by pressuring our politicians! Under conditions where our politicians are utterly prostrate before Amazon, as demonstrated so clearly by the HQ2 bidding process, the perspective of exerting pressure on these same politicians approaches the comically absurd. City officials for the most part have been enthusiastic about the deal, including particularly the prospect of $27.5 billion of additional tax revenue that will allegedly be generated over the next 25 years by Amazons investment in the neighborhood. In its public relations campaign, Amazon suggested these new tax revenues can be used to help the neighborhood, improve subways and buses, and build more affordable housing. However, there is no mechanism to guarantee that this is how this money will be used. The home of Wall Street, with one of the highest concentration of millionaires and billionaires in the world, routinely claims there is no money for public education, transportation, or to adequately maintain public housing, which is often vermin infested and subject to heat shortages, let alone to build the number of affordable units required by the working population. The citys 421-a tax abatement, through which Amazon will get most of its tax break, has been used in various iterations since it was first enacted in 1971 to incentivize real estate developers to build in areas deemed in need of development. It allows developers to maximize profit on high-end units provided a mere 25 to 30 percent of the total units built are affordable. If these cheaper units are on-site they are tax exempt for 15 years. Or they can be built in an entirely different, less desirable, location in which case they are tax-free for 10 years. As for the dire predictions that the city lacks housing to absorb this influx of newcomers, this is a misleading way of framing the issue. As a preliminary matter, these predictions assume that tens of thousands of jobs are created, and that a significant number of them are not taken by people who currently live in the city, and that these individuals all seek to live in the immediate vicinity of their job, Moreover, the area of Amazons new HQ2 location in eastern Queens has already seen a building boom of sleek glass luxury condo and rental towers over the past ten years, which reached a frenzied pitch last year. According to Localize.city, a building data site, in the first six months of 2018, about 3,000 apartments were completed, representing about a quarter of all the new units in the city, and another 3,300 apartments are expected to come to market there by 2020. This made Long Island City the busiest area for new construction in the city even before Amazons announcement. Nor has this building craze been limited to Queens. The New York Times reported recently that a new interactive map documents that the Department of Buildings issued a whopping 168,233 construction permits in 2018. Though this includes all size projects, examples of megaprojects include the 28-acre Hudson Yards in west midtown Manhattan and Essex Crossing, a 1.65 million-square-foot project including 1,000 luxury apartments that towers over Chinatown, a neighborhood of crowded walk-up brick tenements and public housing that has housed waves of the citys impoverished immigrant population for over a century. Ultimately, the issue is not the availability of housing, but the fact that the new housing is being constructed and earmarked for the wealthy. Moreover, the gyrations of financial markets at the opening of 2019 are an initial sign that the music could soon come to an end, in which case the glut of high-end housing will only aggravate the consequences of a crash. Working class residents of the city confront a situation where they have no effective control over any of these important decisions, which are worked out between politicians, corporations and the wealthy behind their backs. The German government, a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union, Christian Social Union and Social Democratic Party, is continuing its policy of deportations to war-torn Afghanistan. On Monday night, a further 36 refugees were deported to Kabul. This is the 20th such mass deportation from the Franz Josef Strauss airport in Munich. While the identities of all those deported have not yet been published, they included persons from the German states of Bavaria, Hesse, Baden-Wurttemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein. The German interior ministries and the BAMF immigration authority are proceeding with malice and complete contempt for basic human rights. Several refugee initiatives have reported that amongst the deportees were people who had lived and worked for years in Germany and had no idea they were at risk. Politicians have sought to justify the policy by arguing that only convicted criminals would be deported, but this is not the case, at least for Bavaria. Twenty-three people were deported from this state alone, just 12 of whom were considered offenders. The remaining 11 were in part well-integrated young or older men, who had German language skills and jobs, or were just starting their education. The Bavarian Refugee Council reported that physically and mentally ill refugees were also scheduled for deportation. One of them was a construction worker who speaks German and worked in the building trade in Lower Bavaria. After a steel beam fell on his hand, the man was incapacitated and needed medication and social assistance. Nevertheless, the immigration office in Deggendorf had planned to deport him. In Kempten, immigration officials also tried to detain an Afghan who had a contract to train as an electrician. The immigration office was well aware of this fact. Another Afghan national held in detention had worked in a pizzeria in Plattlingen, before his work permit was arbitrarily withdrawn. In order to hide its deportation machinery from the public the Bavarian immigration office set up a detention center in a former Air Berlin hangar at Munich Airport last November. The latest deportation has shocked and frightened many Afghan refugees, according to refugee organisations in Bavaria and Hesse. Stephan Dunnwald, spokesman for the Bavarian Refugee Council, stated, Bavaria indiscriminately targets all male Afghans whose applications for asylum have been rejected. Many Afghans go underground in response to this policy or flee to other EU states, including those who are not at risk. This inhumane practice has also led to many Afghans who had a place in a vocational school or a company to stop turning up at work for fear of arrest. In recent months, the deportation policy of Germanys grand coalition and state governments has become increasingly brutal. The aid organisation Pro Asyl documents numerous cases on its website. One male Afghan from Zwickau was deported to Afghanistan. He had lived and worked in Germany for five years. A young man and a dependable employee who had never done any harm, his employer complained. We lose a wonderful employee with him. People are evidently dragged out of their beds at night, including families with small children. At the beginning of November, the police in the Rhein-Hunsruck district broke open the door of a family from Armenia at 4 a.m. to deport the parents and three children. The youngest was seven months old. Another family was deported from Baden-Wuerttemberg in the morning. The immigration office snatched one child out of kindergarten and another from an elementary school. An Iranian family was due to be deported from Rhineland-Palatinate to Croatia in mid-October although the mother was pregnant. The woman was detained by officials at a hospital and taken to Hannover Airport in an ambulance. The deportation failed only due to the pilots refusal to fly. A similar case occurred in Saalfeld, Thuringia, where eight policemen abducted a man from the hospital where his wife was in labour. The man was dragged out of the maternity ward, despite protests from midwives, and taken to the Rhein-Main airport in Frankfurt. The deportation was only prevented after the man resisted and was supported by other passengers on the flight. These and many other examples demonstrate the ruthlessness of the government in its deportation policy. Since the end of 2016, 475 people have been deported to the dangerous war zones of Afghanistan on charter flights. As recently as Christmas Eve, 43 people died following an hours-long attack on the government district in Kabul. Other countries are also deporting people en masse to Afghanistan. Large-scale deportations to Afghanistan, Tunisia and Nigeria are planned for January in Albania, Serbia, Macedonia and Kosovo. Germanys grand coalition, in cooperation with all the other parties in power in the state governments, are relentlessly implementing the policy of the xenophobic Alternative for Germany: Foreigners out! The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that a man has died after he was hospitalized following his arrest in Wilson County last week. Jacob Ross Nopens was arrested the evening of Jan. 9 on Rutledge Lane in Lebanon, according to Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan. Jacob Nopens Jacob Ross Nopens Multiple residents called police about a man carrying a toddler in only a diaper going door to door. Bryan said a cleaning woman at one of the homes found Nopens in a bedroom at the residence. She called police and Nopens left. Another man called police and described Nopens as "deranged." When officers arrived to the scene, Nopens handed the child to one of the neighbors and took off running. Police pursued on foot and caught Nopens after he fell. Bryan said there was "some type of struggle" while officers tried to put handcuffs on Nopens. During the struggle, Nopens had a "medical episode" and became unresponsive. Officers performed CPR and administered three doses of Narcan, a drug used to treat overdoses in emergency situations. Nopens was transported to TriStar Skyline Medical Center. Bryan said the Department of Children's Services was called in regards to Nopens' child. Nopens' family, however, is saying that police aren't telling the full story. In a Facebook post, the family said the sheriff deputies continually beat Nopens after he dropped to the ground. They said Nopens was in a coma. Bryan said the TBI has dashcam video of the incident. Bryan also added that the sheriff's office is familiar with Nopens and that they have had multiple encounters with him in the past. This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for updates. Residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are allowed to sign up and sit teaching qualification exams for primary and middle school teachers in the Chinese mainland, according to the website of the Ministry of Education (MOE) Thursday. They are also allowed to apply for teaching qualifications of kindergarten or secondary vocational school teachers, said the website, quoting a circular jointly issued by the general office of the MOE as well as two departments under the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. The circular said the applicants should meet the educational background requirements stipulated in the country's Teachers Law, and there are also requirements regarding their standard Mandarin Chinese proficiency. Applicants from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are required to hold residence or travel permits to the mainland. Other conditions, procedures and materials needed for primary and middle school teaching qualifications are the same as those for mainland applicants, it added. Officially known as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Myanmar is a country that is situated in the southeastern region of the Asian continent. More specifically, the country is enclosed within the latitudes 9 N and 29 N and by the longitudes 92 E and 102 E. Unofficially, the country is also known as Burma. The country has an area of about 261,228 square miles and an estimated population of about 54 million people. The capital city of the country is Naypyidaw while Yangon or Rangoon is the largest city. Myanmar is bordered by a total of five countries. The western side of the country is bordered by Bangladesh and India while Laos and Thailand border the eastern side. China forms the border to the north and the northeast of Burma. The south is not bordered by a country but by two water bodies namely the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. With these two water bodies, Myanmar forms an uninterrupted coastline with a length of about 1,200 miles. The whole country has a total perimeter or borderline of about 3,651 miles, including the coastline. Myanmar India Border This border is more of a border barrier that has a length of about 1,009 miles. The border barrier is a project that is underway as per the desires of the Indian government. The construction of the wall has several purposes including the prevention of border crime, drug trafficking, insurgency, and other things. To guard this barrier, there are proposals of an Indo-Myanmar Border Force (IMBF), which will be a sizeable force if implemented. International border crossings between the two countries exist in a number of places such as the Zorinpui International border crossing, which is located in Mizoram. Another crossing exists at Moreh on the Indian side and Tamu in Myanmar. Aside from that, the border has something known as the Free Movement Regime (FMR). The FMR gives the locals along the border the freedom to move about 10 miles across the border without a visa. This freedom is enjoyed by about 300,000 people living in more than 250 villages within 10 miles on either side of the border. Aside from these crossings, there are some international highways between the two countries. An example of such a highway is the IndiaMyanmarThailand Trilateral Highway, which, as the name suggests, also connects Thailand to both India and Myanmar. Another such highway is the Imphal-Moreh-Mandalay national highway, which also provides connectivity with Bangladesh. Myanmar Bangladesh Border This international border has a length of about 170 miles with a huge chunk (about 130 miles) being fenced. According to the government of Myanmar, there are plans to go on ahead and fence the remaining 40 miles. The main reason why the borer was fenced was the high number of refugees from Rohingya, Myanmar into Bangladesh. The Maungdaw District, which is close to the border in Myanmar, has a huge chunk of its population (about 80%) made up of refugees wishing to cross to Bangladesh. As of December 2017, between 655,000 and 700,000 people crossed to Myanmar. The high number of refugees from Rohingya is due to the clashes between the Rohingya people and Myanmar authorities. In 2015, the two countries were involved in the border clash between the Arakan Army (from Myanmar) and Bangladesh, which happened in the Bandarban District. The clashes started when the border guards from Bangladesh rescued two soldiers from Myanmar from the clutches of the Arakan Army. In retaliation, the Arakan Army opened fire on a Bangladeshi patrol, which prompted a retaliatory attack and the following clash. The clash only lasted for one day with no deaths reported on either side. Myanmar China Border The border between China and Myanmar is a mountainous region with the Hengduan Mountains on the Chinese side and the Hkakabo Razi mountains in Myanmar. The Hkakabo Razi Mountains have a height of about 19,295 feet, which is where the border begins. The border then passes through other mountain ranges such as Jigongshan and Jiangaosh (which has a height of about 10,833 feet). The border then continues to other mountainous regions as well as parts of the Mekong River. Eventually, this border ends at the border with Laos. Border crossings between the two countries exist at a number of places including Ruili City (China), Muse (Myanmar), and Diphu Pass. The two countries share a bilateral relationship with the bilateral trade worth more than $1.4 billion. China imports several products such as oil and textiles from Myanmar while Myanmar imports a number of things such as wood and rubber. In addition, they both have links to the Sino-Tibetan (or the Trans-Himalayan) language family. However, the relationship has been strained in recent times due to the conflict between armed forces in Burma and Chinese rebels close to the border. In addition, Burma has been showing a hostile attitude while dealing with China. However, it should be noted that the relationship between the two is not the worst due to the hostile relationship between China and Vietnam. Myanmar Thailand Border The border between these two countries can be crossed at a number of places such as the Mae Sot District, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and the Singkhon Pass. Other crossings include the likes of the Three Pagodas Pass, Mae Sai, Myawaddy, and Ranong. The two countries have good relations with each country having an embassy in the other. Mostly, the relationship between the two is economic although there is the occasional conflict over the location of the border. Myanmar Laos Border This international border between the two countries can be crossed at places like the Wan Pong checkpoint in Shan State. In September 2018, the two countries also opened the Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge in a bid to improve the relations. The bridge acts as a link between Kyainglap in Tachileik district and Laoss Xieng Kok. However, people wishing to cross the border need official documents. The bridge was actually completed back in 2016 although it stayed closed since the two countries could not agree on a few issues to do with the demarcation of the border. Isaiah Gardenhire is accused of stabbing a 13-year-old girl to death and committing other crimes while out on bond. He is in the Isabella County jail on a litany of felony charges and was out on bond in a case in Mason County. Show Low, AZ (85901) Today Sunshine and some clouds. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 96F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Privatisation Commission Islamabad Jobs Financial Advisor Latest Ministry of Privatisation Management Posts Islamabad 2021 Privatisation Commission Islamabad, Ministry of Privatisation, Government of Pakistan are requires applications from experienced candidates to fill the posts of Financial Advisor. Skills Required Finance How to Apply on Ministry of Privatisation Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Company Address: 5-A, ESAC Building Constiotution Avenue Islamabad Telephone: 051-9205146-47 Official Website: http://privatisation.gov.pk/ Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) Tippecanoe County holds a lot of visual pieces of history, but the historical association was always searching for something they just couldn't seem to get their hands on. That is, until Thursday. An original 1810 Flintlock British trade musket was donated by Mike Molter, a local businessman, to The Tippecanoe County Historical Association. It is the exact type used by Native American forces of Prophetstown at the Battle of Tippecanoe in November of 1811. This artifact is especially rare, and very few survived to modern times. The musket was appraised at $12,000. "There are only very few specific ones from the right time period and right regional area," said Craig Hadley, the Executive director of TCHA. "Those are very rare." Once the display case for this artifact has been created, it will make it's permanent home at the Battle of Tippecanoe Museum. The historical association said for them, it is priceless. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Franco Navarrete, 50, is accused of shooting and killing his wife's brother and mother in August of 2017. At this point in the trial, prosecutors are tying up some of the loose ends in the case, including DNA, digital, and ballistic evidence. The Indiana State Police laboratory was able to confirm the blood on Navarrete's white car came from one of the victims. ISP ballistic testing was able to confirm some of the shell casings came from the same gun recovered by some farmers near the Wabash River. That gun matches the serial number of a gun Navarrete bought from a coworker in 2016. The jury also learned it was the same gun Navarrete sent in a photo to his wife a few days before the shooting after she asked him to turn down the music. High Tech Crime Unit Supervisor Sean Leshney was able to track where Navarrete's phone went the day of the shooting. GPS data put his phone at the scene at the time of the crimes. Leshney also read messages sent from Navarrete's phone to his wife's brother moments before prosecutors say he shot him and his mother. In translated messages from Spanish, Navarrete told his wife's brother in part, "You can take your sister over there so that she will feel good. She doesn't feel good here anymore. You got in the middle of my marriage and I don't like it very much." The state plans to rest its case Friday morning unless any last minute evidence is presented. Navarrete's defense attorneys will then have an opportunity to call any witnesses, including Navarrete. At this point, it is unclear whether he will take the stand. The jury could reach a verdict on Friday. We will continue following this case and bring you the latest here and on News 18. MCC China Company Jobs 2019 in Saudi Arabia Latest High Land International Posts Saudi Arabia 2021 Experienced and responsible personnel for the posts of Shuttering Carpenter, Mason, Steel Fitter, Plumber, Electrician, Building Painter, Waterproof Worker, Cook required for MCC China Company in Saudi Arabia. How to Apply on High Land International Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. DETROIT (AP) - Toyota is recalling 1.3 million vehicles in the U.S. to replace potentially deadly Takata front passenger air bag inflators. The move announced Wednesday is part of the largest series of automotive recalls in U.S. history. Takata inflators can explode with too much force and hurl shrapnel into drivers and passengers. At least 23 people have been killed worldwide and hundreds have been injured. The recall includes multiple Toyota, Scion and Lexus vehicles from the 2010 through 2017 model years. Dealers will either replace the inflator or the air bag assembly. Owners will be notified by mail or other means in late January. Toyota's recall is part of a phased-in replacement of Takata inflators. Automakers are scheduled to replace 10 million more starting this month. To see if your vehicle is impacted, head to the Toyota website, or airbagrecall.com. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Finding a cop when you need one is a problem smaller police agencies are running into. Utica Council President Michael Galime tells us the problem goes beyond the hiring process. "Theres a multitude of factors where across the nation theres retention issues with police. You know within my age bracket a lot of that has to do with the fact that overall just people arent going in to hands-on type jobs." Utica Police Chief Mark Williams agrees. He tells us the first obstacle in recruitment is getting the message through to potential candidates. "Job fairs dont cut it anymore when it comes to recruiting police officers. Because of this millennial generation is what we call the electronic generation, they recommend that you create videos and get on all the social medium platforms that there are." If a department is lucky enough to recruit a candidate, the challenge then is keeping them. Many officers are finding the job isnt for them, get better offers in the private sector, and leave for better pay at bigger departments. Losing an officer isnt just a personal issue, Mark Williams says it cost the department thousands of dollars in training and time. "Its a huge loss, and the other thing youre losing when they go out the door, youre losing experience, which doesnt have a cash value to it, but its of equal value if not greater having that experience." Utica also has the challenge of keeping their officers within City limits. All officers must sign a contract that clearly states: During an employees time of service, no such employee shall cease to be a resident of the City. If an officer willingly lives outside the city limits, theyre in violation of the contract and can be terminated. Utica Council President Michael Galime tells us not everyone has a problem with the residency clause. "So theres a lot of different factors. I wouldnt put it just on the residency. I know a lot of people who live within the city limits who work for the Utica Police Department. Theyre happy living here, and theyre proud to live in Utica." The Chief says while residency is sometimes an issue, the biggest factor is pay. "I think from a local police standpoint our guys are well paid. Its just that the State Police salaries.you just cant compete with them." A benefit will be held for an Oneida County correctional officer, who was involved in a motorcycle accident and is unable to work because of his injuries. Co workers are holding a benefit for Jeff Winters, who was involved in a motorcycle accident off-duty in October, will be out of work for 6 to 12 months. The benefit will be held on Jan. 20 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles at 10513 Cosby Manor Road in Deerfield, from noon until 4 p.m. The event will include prizes such as raffle for a 50 inch television set and 50/50 ticket raffle and a basket raffle. All of the proceeds will be used to help Winters and his family. For more information or to make a donation contact Luis by email at Luis.Roman@council82.org. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Federal investigators say they may recall employees furloughed under the government shutdown to start examining a limousine that crashed in upstate New York three months ago, killing 20 people. The National Transportation Safety Board says Thursday it's coordinating investigative efforts with the Schoharie County District Attorney's Office. They had complained last month that prosecutors prevented access while the criminal case proceeded. But with the help of the county court, the federal investigation can now move forward. On Dec. 14, the NTSB sent a letter to District Attorney Susan Mallery saying "safety-critical evidence" has been lost because of its inability to inspect the vehicle. The NTSB said it's having a structure built to house the vehicle at State Police headquarters near Albany. The limo operator was charged with criminally negligent homicide. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. CAMDEN, N.Y. -- A Camden High School teen has been arrested after a fight with another student. On Monday at 11:30 p.m., Oneida County Sheriff's deputies responded after they say a 16-year-old student told the school;s special patrol officer that she was involved in a physical fight during lunch with a 17-year-old girl. Officials say their investigation showed that the students were off school grounds at the McDonald's on Oswego Street during lunch, when the 17-year-old girl choked the other teen. No other students were involved in the fight, but deputies say the 17-year-old was the agressor. Security video was reviewed and is consistent with their investigation, they say. The 17-year-old student was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, criminal obstruction of breathing, and harassment. Authorities believe the fight stemmed from accusations from someone both students are familiar. The Camden Central School District is also conducting an administrative investigation of the incident. Two hundred more people on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas cruise ship have been sickened by a gastrointestinal illness, bringing the total to 475. Royal Caribbean on Thursday said 277 passengers and crew were ill, but the number jumped on Friday. Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Companies Cruises Marine transportation Marine vessels Royal Caribbean International Tourism Transportation and warehousing Travel and tourism Because of the illness, the ship will return to Port Canaveral, Florida, on Saturday, a day earlier than expected. "All of the ship's guests will receive full refunds of their cruise fare paid," said Owen Torres, spokesperson for Royal Caribbean. "We think the right thing to do is to get everyone home early rather than have guests worry about their health." The cruise embarked on a seven-night journey on Sunday. It's itinerary showed stops in Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico. Cody Haddap, a cruise passenger, spoke to CNN affiliate WESH on Wednesday and said he became sick after the ship left Haiti on Tuesday. "We left port there around 4 yesterday, started getting sick last night around 10. We've been pretty much confined to our rooms." He shared a letter he received to his cabin from the cruise line: "During this sailing, there has been a small percentage of guests onboard who have experienced gastrointestinal illness, thought to be norovirus." Officials with Royal Caribbean said they are waiting for lab results to determine whether the illness is norovirus, the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. In 2018, there were 11 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships and five were determined to be norovirus. Royal Caribbean's last outbreak was in 2017 on the Independence of the Seas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Haddap said when they arrived to Jamaica the next day, no one was allowed to leave the ship. The Oasis of the Seas is one of newest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet and holds more than 8,000 people; about 3% of people aboard the ship fell ill. Another passenger, Brenda Torres, talked to CNN affiliate WESH, and said she had seen an increase in staff sanitizing common areas. "From our balcony, we can see the rock climbing wall," she said, "and after every user, they are actually hand cleaning every single knob on the hand climbing wall." Royal Caribbean plans on fully sanitizing the ship in time for the next sailing. "Our guests sail with us to have great vacations, and we are sorry this cruise fell short," Torres said. Labors Jobs 2019 For Saudi Arabia Latest New Gondal Manpower Bureau Labor Posts Saudi Arabia 2021 A well known and reputed oversea company requires the services of experienced, responsible and energetic persons for the posts of Labors in Saudi Arabia 2019. How to Apply on New Gondal Manpower Bureau Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. A small, rapidly expanding Seattle cannabis company is gaining attention from investors. Founded by two cannabis veterans, the company has increased sales 8-fold and is looking to double sales again in the next two years. Now selling for less than $1 per share, this is an opportunity to acquire thousands of shares a potential windfall. Walmart Inc. engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications. The company offers grocery products, including dry grocery, snacks, dairy, meat, produce, deli and bakery, frozen foods, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, as well as consumables, such as health and beauty aids, pet supplies, household chemicals, paper goods, and baby products; and health and wellness products covering pharmacy, over-the-counter drugs and other medical products, and optical and clinical services. It also provides gasoline stations and tobacco; home improvement, outdoor living, gardening, furniture, apparel, and jewelry, as well as tools and power equipment, housewares, toys, seasonal items, mattresses, and tire and battery centers; and consumer electronics and accessories, software, video games, office supplies, appliances, and third-party gift cards. In addition, the company offers fuel and financial services and related products, including money orders, prepaid cards, money transfers, and check cashing and bill payment. It operates approximately 11,400 stores and various e-commerce websites under 54 banners in 26 countries. The company was formerly known as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and changed its name to Walmart Inc. in February 2018. Walmart Inc. was founded in 1945 and is based in Bentonville, Arkansas. 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Acacia LLC, TWE Myrtle Solar Project LLC, The East Ohio Gas Company, Tioga Properties LLC, Tredegar Solar Fund I LLC, VP Property Inc., Virginia Electric And Power Company, Virginia Power Fuel Corporation, Virginia Power Nuclear Services Company, Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc., Virginia Power Services LLC, Virginia Solar 2017 Projects LLC, Wakefield Solar LLC, Wexpro Company, Wexpro Development Company, Wexpro II Company, Wilkinson Solar LLC, Wrangler Retail Gas Holdings LLC, and roquois GP Holding Company LLC. Agriculture Worker & Mali Jobs 2019 in Saudi Arabia Latest Soundlines Recruitment Promotion Labor Posts Saudi Arabia 2021 Experienced and strong personnel for the posts of Agriculture Worker & Mali required for a leading and well known oversea company in Saudi Arabia 2019. How to Apply on Soundlines Recruitment Promotion Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, and markets biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The company offers products in hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, and immunology therapeutic classes. Its products include Revlimid, an oral immunomodulatory drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Eliquis, an oral inhibitor indicated for the reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; and Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis, as well as reducing signs and symptoms in pediatric patients with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The company also provides Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia; Yervoy for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma; Abraxane, a solvent-free protein-bound chemotherapy product; mpliciti for the treatment of multiple myeloma; and Reblozyl for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with beta thalassemia. In addition, it offers Onureg for the continued treatment of adult patients with AML; Zeposia to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; Vidaza for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome subtypes; Baraclude, an oral antiviral agent for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B; and Breyanzi, a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. The company sells products to wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, retailers, hospitals, clinics, and government agencies. It has collaboration agreements with Pfizer, Inc.; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Nektar Therapeutics; AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Huyabio; and DarwinHealth, Inc. The company was formerly known as Bristol-Myers Company. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Read More Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 433,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 98,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,233 megawatts (MW), including 59 MW of solar capacity. The company also sells wholesale electricity to other entities in the western United States; owns gas-fired and hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 65 MW; and distributes natural gas to approximately 1,048,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, it owns and operates the electricity distribution system that serves approximately 572,000 customers in southern and central Alberta; owns 4 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 225 MW; and provides operation, maintenance, and management services to five hydroelectric generating facilities. Further, the company distributes electricity in the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador with an installed generating capacity of 143 MW; and on Prince Edward Island with a generating capacity of 130 MW. Additionally, it provides integrated electric utility service to approximately 67,000 customers in Ontario; approximately 270,000 customers in Newfoundland and Labrador; approximately 31,000 customers on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and approximately 15,000 customers on certain islands in Turks and Caicos. The company also holds long-term contracted generation assets in Belize consisting of 3 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 51 MW; and the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility. It also owns and operates approximately 91,000 circuit Kilometers (km) of distribution lines; and approximately 49,500 km of natural gas pipelines. Fortis Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in St. John's, Canada. Read More As another year ticks by, more of Apples older devices become officially listed as obsolete or vintage, depending on the region. 9to5Mac is reporting on Friday that the late-2012 iMac is going to become listed as another obsolete device on Wednesday, January 30. In California and Turkey the device will be listed as vintage, which means in those areas the device will continue to be supported by the company as dictated by local law. However, as noted in the report, even outside of those regions the late-2012 iMac can still be repaired in some cases, thanks to the Repair Vintage Apple Products Pilot program, which was officially introduced in November of last year. If you have a late-2012 iMac that needs to be repaired, you can still take it to an Apple Store. However, the folks that will repair your hardware need to have the parts on hand to actually go through with the repair and complete it. If the store doesnt have the tools to repair it, then the repair wont be possible. These labels for the older machines are an inevitability, but it can be a bit frustrating if your aging device falls into the category and repairs are suddenly limited. Still, Apples pilot program is a nice addition for those who can actually take advantage of it. If you want to check out the full list of Apple-confirmed devices that are obsolete or vintage, check out the Apple source link below. [via 9to5Mac PROS Holdings, Inc. provides solutions that optimize the processes of selling and shopping in the digital economy worldwide. The company offers PROS Smart CPQ, a tool for sales teams and partners to respond to customer quotes; and PROS Opportunity Detection that increases sales effectiveness and productivity by uncovering sales opportunities in existing accounts for sales teams. It also provides PROS Control, a platform for price management, coordination, and strategy; and PROS Guidance, which leverages AI-powered algorithms to provide market-relevant price guidance across sales channels. In addition, the company offers PROS Airline Revenue Management solution that delivers algorithmic forecasting and network optimization for the travel industry; PROS Airline Real-Time Dynamic Pricing, a solution that offers accurate booking class availability and seat prices; and PROS Airline Group Sales Optimizer, a group revenue optimization solution, which enables airlines and their travel agent partners to create and manage group bookings, contracts, and policies. Further, it provides PROS Airline Shopping for airlines' shopping, pricing, and repricing solutions; PROS Airline Merchandising, which sells ancillary services, including extra baggage, legroom, and other services; and PROS Airline Retail for airlines to optimize the user experience throughout the traveler journey. Additionally, the company offers software-related services, such as implementation, configuration, consulting, training, and maintenance and support services. It sells its software solutions to customers in various industries, including automotive and industrial manufacturing, transportation and logistics, chemicals and energy, food and beverage, healthcare, high tech, and travel. The company markets and sells its software solutions through its sales force, as well as through partners, resellers, and systems integrators. PROS Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Read More Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, renewable sources, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. It also engages in the wholesale of electricity to municipalities, electric cooperative utilities, and load-serving entities. This segment serves approximately 7.9 million retail electric customers in 6 states in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States covering a service territory of approximately 91,000 square miles; and owns approximately 50,807 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation natural gas customers; and owns, operates, and invests in pipeline transmission and natural gas storage facilities. It has approximately 1.6 million customers, including 1.1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as 541,000 customers in southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky. The Commercial Renewables segment acquires, owns, develops, builds, and operates wind and solar renewable generation projects, including nonregulated renewable energy and energy storage services to utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers. It has 21 wind, 150 solar, and 2 battery storage facilities, as well as 11 fuel cell locations with a capacity of 2,282 MW across 19 states. The company was formerly known as Duke Energy Holding Corp. and changed its name to Duke Energy Corporation in April 2005. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Read More A small, rapidly expanding Seattle cannabis company is gaining attention from investors. Founded by two cannabis veterans, the company has increased sales 8-fold and is looking to double sales again in the next two years. Now selling for less than $1 per share, this is an opportunity to acquire thousands of shares a potential windfall. VMware, Inc. provides software in the areas of hybrid and multi-cloud, modern applications, networking, security, and digital workspaces in the United States and internationally. It offers VMware multi-cloud solutions, including VMware vSphere, a data center infrastructure that provides the fundamental compute layer and utilizes its hypervisor software, a layer of software that resides between the operating system and system hardware to enable compute virtualization; vSAN and VxRail, which offers holistic data storage and protection options to all applications running on vSphere; and vRealize Cloud Management solutions that manages hybrid and multi-cloud environments running in virtual machines and containers, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation, a hybrid cloud platform that combines its vSphere, vSAN, and NSX with vRealize Cloud Management into an integrated stack and delivers enterprise-ready cloud infrastructure for private and public clouds. The company also provides networking solutions, such as VMware NSX, VMware Service-defined Firewall, VMware SD-WAN, VMware SASE, VMware vRealize Network Insight, and VMware NSX Advanced Load Balancer; digital workspace solutions that comprise Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management, Access, and Horizon; and application modernization solutions, such as Tanzu Basic, standard, and advanced edition, Tanzu Application Service, and Tanzu Labs. In addition, it offers intrinsic security solutions consisting of VMware Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint and Workload. The company sells its products through distributors, resellers, system vendors, and systems integrators. VMware, Inc. has strategic alliances with Amazon Web Services to build and deliver an integrated hybrid solution. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. VMware, Inc. is a subsidiary of Dell Technologies Inc. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Schneider Electric S.E.: 7-Technologies, AB Crahftere 1, AB Wibe, ABN Braun GmbH, AEM S.A., AMPS, APC (EMEA) Ltd, APC International Corporation B.V., APC International Holdings B.V., AST Modular, AST North America LLC, Accounted for by equity method, Adaptive Instruments Corp., American Power Conversion, American Power Conversion Brasil Ltda, American Power Conversion Corp (A.P.C.) B.V., American Power Conversion Holdings Inc., American Power Conversion Land Holdings Inc., Andromeda Telematics Ltd, Applied Instrument Technologies Inc., Asco Power, Asco Power GP LLC, Asco Power Services Inc., Asco Power Technologies L.P., Aveltys, Avtron Loadbank Worldwide Co. Ltd., BCV Technologies SAS, BEI Technologies, BTR Property Holdings Ltd, Behar securite, Beijing Leader & Harvest Electric Technologies Co. Ltd, Boissiere Finance SNC, C-Schneider Electric, CBS Group Ltd, CP Eletronica Ltda, Citect Corp Ltd, Clipsal Asia Holdings Limited, Clipsal Asia Limited, Clipsal Australia, Clipsal Australia Pty. Ltd, Clipsal Manufacturing (Huizhou) Ltd, Clipsal Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd, Clipsal Philippines, Clipsal Technologies Australia Pty. Limited, Clipsal Vietnam Co. Ltd, Construction Electrique du Vivarais SAS, Control Microsystems Inc., Crouzet Automation, Custom Sensors & Technologies Topco Limited, D5X, DIN Elektro Kraft OOO, Delixi Electric Investment (shanghai) Co. Ltd, Delixi Electric Ltd (sub-group), Delixi Electric Maroc SARL AU, Delta Dore Finance SA (sub-group), Dexson Electric SAS, Digilink, Digital Electronics Corp, Dinel SAS, ELKO A.S., EPS Electrical Power Distribution Boards & Switchgear Ltd, Eberle Controls GmbH, Eckardt, Elda Eltra Elektrotechnika SA (ex Eltra SA), Electronica Reynosa S. de R.L. de C.V., Elektriska AB Delta, Eletronicos Ltda, Eliwell Controls S.r.l., Elko AB, Elso GmbH, Enclosure Solutions, Energy Pool, Ennovation System Control Co. Ltd, Epsys SAS, Eurotherm A.S., Eurotherm AB, Eurotherm Automation SASU, Eurotherm India Private Ltd, Eurotherm Korea Co. Ltd., Eurotherm Ltd (UK), Eurotherm Ltda, Eurotherm S.r.l., Eurotherm-Produkte (Schweiz) AG, FSL China, Fed-Supremetech Limited, Federal Pioneer Ltd, Feller AG Switzerland, Foxboro (alaysia) Sdn Bhd, Foxboro Controles SA, Foxboro-Eckardt GmbH, Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co. Ltd (sub-group), Gunsan Elektrik, Gutor Electronic Asia Pacifi c Sdn Bhd, Gutor Electronic GmbH, Himel Algerie Algeria, Himel Elektric Malzemeleri Ticaret A.S., Huge Eastern Sdn Bhd, IGE+XAO, Imserv Europe Ltd, InStep Software LLC, Industrias Electronicas Pacifi co S.A. de C.V., Industrielle de Reassurance SA Luxembourg, Invensys, Invensys Automation & Controls Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Invensys Development Centre India Private Ltd, Invensys Engineering & Service S.A.E., Invensys Eurotherm Sp. z.o.o., Invensys Group Services, Invensys Holdings Ltd, Invensys LLC, Invensys Middle East FZE, Invensys Operations Management Espana S.L.U., Invensys Process Systems Egypt Co., Invensys Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd, Invensys Systems Algerie EURL Algeria, Invensys Systems GmbH, Invensys Systems NV/SA, Invensys Systems Nigeria, Invensys Systems SASU, Invensys Systems Sp. z.o.o., Invensys Vietnam Ltd, Inversiones Schneider Electric Uno Limitada, KSLA Energy & Power Solutions (M) Sdn Bhd, Kavlico Corp., L&T Electrical & Automation, Lee Technologies, Lee Technologies Puerto Rico LLC, Lexel AB, Lexel Fabrika SIA, Lexel Holding Norge A.S., Luminous Power Technologies, Luminous Power Technologies Private Ltd, M&C Energy Group, M&C Energy Group Ltd, MGE UPS Systems, MWPowerLab, Manufacturas Electricas SA, Marisio SA, MaxEAM, Meher Capacitors Private Ltd, Merlin Gerin Ales SAS, Merlin Gerin Loire SAS, Merten GmbH, Merten GmbH & Co. KG, Muller & Cie SA, More Electric Group A/S Norway, N.J. Froment & Co. Limited, NXT Control GmbH, Newlog SAS, Nu-Lec Industries Pty Ltd, Nu-lec Industries Pty. Ltd, OOO Potential, OOO Schneider Electric Zavod Electromonoblock, Ova G. Bargellini, PT Clipsal Manufacturing, PT Schneider Electric IT Indonesia, PT Schneider Electric Indonesia, PT Schneider Electric Manufacturing Batam, PT Schneider Electric Systems Indonesia, Pelco, Pelco (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Pelco Asia Pacifi c Pte. Ltd, Pelco Australia Pty. Limited, Pelco Europe B.V., Pelco Inc., Power Measurement, Power Measurement Inc., Power Measurement Ltd., Pro-Face HMI B.V. (sub-group), Pro-Face South-East Asia Pacifi c Co. Ltd., Pro-face America LLC, Prodipact SAS, Proface China International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Proface France, RAM Electronic Technology and Control (Wuxi) Co. Ltd, RIB Software, Rectiphase SAS, Renewable Choice Energy, Renewable Choice Energy Inc., SCADAgroup, SCL Elements, SE - CEE Schneider Electric Kozep-Kelet Europai KFT, SNA Holdings Inc., Samos Acquisition Company Ltd, Sarel - Appareillage Electrique SAS, Scadagroup Pty. Ltd, Scanelec SAS, Schneider (Beijing) Medium & Low Voltage Co. Ltd, Schneider (Beijing) Medium Voltage Co. Ltd, Schneider (Shaanxi) Baoguang Electrical Apparatus Co. Ltd, Schneider (Suzhou) Drives Company Ltd, Schneider (Suzhou) Enclosure Systems Co Ltd, Schneider (Suzhou) Transformers Co. Ltd, Schneider (Thailand) Limited, Schneider Automation Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Schneider Busway (Guangzhou) Ltd, Schneider Electric, Schneider Electric S.A. de C.V., Schneider Electric (Australia) Pty. Limited, Schneider Electric (China) Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric (Hong Kong) Limited, Schneider Electric (Malaysia ) Sdn Bhd, Schneider Electric (NZ) Limited, Schneider Electric (Philippines) Inc., Schneider Electric (Schweiz), Schneider Electric (UK) Ltd, Schneider Electric (Xiamen) Switchgear Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric (Xiamen) Switchgear Equipment Co. Ltd., Schneider Electric A.S., Schneider Electric AEBE, Schneider Electric Algerie, Schneider Electric Argentina SA, Schneider Electric Asia Pacifi c Limited, Schneider Electric Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneider Electric Australia Holdings Pty. Ltd, Schneider Electric Austria GmbH, Schneider Electric Automation Deutschland GmbH, Schneider Electric Automation GmbH, Schneider Electric B.V., Schneider Electric Baltic Distribution Center, Schneider Electric Bel, Schneider Electric Brasil Automacao de Processos Ltda, Schneider Electric Brasil Ltda, Schneider Electric Buildings AB, Schneider Electric Buildings Americas Inc., Schneider Electric Buildings Australia Pty. Ltd, Schneider Electric Buildings Critical Systems Inc., Schneider Electric Buildings LLC, Schneider Electric Buildings UK Ltd, Schneider Electric Bulgaria EOOD, Schneider Electric CPCS (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Schneider Electric CZ s.r.o., Schneider Electric Canada Inc., Schneider Electric Centroamerica Ltda, Schneider Electric Chile SA, Schneider Electric Controls UK Ltd, Schneider Electric Conzerv India, Schneider Electric DC MEA FZCO, Schneider Electric DMS NS, Schneider Electric Danmark A/S, Schneider Electric Deutschland GmbH, Schneider Electric Distribution Centre AB, Schneider Electric Distribution Company, Schneider Electric EESTI A.S., Schneider Electric ESS BVBA, Schneider Electric East Mediterranean SAL, Schneider Electric Egypt SAE, Schneider Electric Energy Belgium SA, Schneider Electric Energy France SAS, Schneider Electric Energy Hungary Ltd, Schneider Electric Energy Poland Sp. z.o.o., Schneider Electric Engineering Services LLC, Schneider Electric Equipment an Engineering (Xian) Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric Espana, Schneider Electric Export Services Pte Ltd, Schneider Electric FZE, Schneider Electric Finland Oy, Schneider Electric Fire & Security OY, Schneider Electric France SAS, Schneider Electric GmbH, Schneider Electric Grid Automation Inc., Schneider Electric Holding Amerique du Nord SAS, Schneider Electric Holdings Inc., Schneider Electric Hungaria Villamossagi ZRT, Schneider Electric IT (China) Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric IT (Xiamen) Co. Ltd., Schneider Electric IT America Corp., Schneider Electric IT Australia Pty. Ltd, Schneider Electric IT Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos, Schneider Electric IT Business India Private Ltd, Schneider Electric IT Corporation, Schneider Electric IT Denmark ApS, Schneider Electric IT France, Schneider Electric IT Hong Kong Limited, Schneider Electric IT Logistics Asia Pacifi c Pte. Ltd., Schneider Electric IT Logistics Europe Ltd, Schneider Electric IT Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Schneider Electric IT Mission Critical Services Inc., Schneider Electric IT Philippines Inc., Schneider Electric IT S.A. de C.V., Schneider Electric IT Singapore Pte. Ltd., Schneider Electric IT Spain SL, Schneider Electric IT UK Ltd, Schneider Electric IT USA Inc., Schneider Electric IT Vietnam Ltd, Schneider Electric India Private Ltd, Schneider Electric Industrie Italia SpA, Schneider Electric Industries (M) Sdn Bhd, Schneider Electric Industries Polska Sp. z.o.o., Schneider Electric Industries SAS, Schneider Electric Infrastructure Limited, Schneider Electric International SAS, Schneider Electric Japan Holdings Ltd, Schneider Electric Japan Inc., Schneider Electric Korea Ltd., Schneider Electric Lanka (Private) Limited, Schneider Electric Latvija SIA, Schneider Electric Logistic Centre B.V., Schneider Electric Low Voltage (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric Ltd, Schneider Electric Manufacturing (Chongqing) Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric Manufacturing (Wuhan) Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric Manufacturing Bourguebus SAS, Schneider Electric Manufacturing The Netherlands B.V., Schneider Electric Manufacturing Vietnam Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric Maroc, Schneider Electric Motion USA Inc., Schneider Electric NV/SA, Schneider Electric Nigeria, Schneider Electric Norge A.S., Schneider Electric Oman LLC, Schneider Electric Overseas Asia Pte Ltd, Schneider Electric Pakistan (Private) Limited, Schneider Electric Peru SA, Schneider Electric Polska Sp. z.o.o., Schneider Electric Portugal LDA, Schneider Electric Power Drives GmbH, Schneider Electric President Systems, Schneider Electric President Systems Ltd, Schneider Electric Real Estate GmbH, Schneider Electric Romania SRL Romania, Schneider Electric SE (Societe mere), Schneider Electric Sachsenwerk GmbH, Schneider Electric Service, Schneider Electric Services International SPRL, Schneider Electric Singapore Pte. Ltd., Schneider Electric Slovakia Spol s.r.o., Schneider Electric Software, Schneider Electric Software S.A. de C.V. -, Schneider Electric Software (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric Software Argentina SA, Schneider Electric Software Australia Holdings Pty. Ltd, Schneider Electric Software Australia Pty Ltd, Schneider Electric Software Australia Pty. Ltd, Schneider Electric Software Brasil Ltda., Schneider Electric Software Canada Inc., Schneider Electric Software Chile SpA -, Schneider Electric Software Colombia SAS, Schneider Electric Software France, Schneider Electric Software Germany GmbH, Schneider Electric Software Holdings Netherlands, Schneider Electric Software Holdings Singapore Pte Ltd., Schneider Electric Software Italy, Schneider Electric Software Japan Inc., Schneider Electric Software Korea Ltd. -, Schneider Electric Software LLC, Schneider Electric Software Netherlands, Schneider Electric Software Russia, Schneider Electric Software Saudi Arabia, Schneider Electric Software South Africa Pty. Ltd., Schneider Electric Software Spain, Schneider Electric Software UAE, Schneider Electric Solar Inverters USA Inc., Schneider Electric South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Schneider Electric South East Asia (HQ) Pte. Ltd., Schneider Electric SpA, Schneider Electric Srbija doo Beograd Serbia, Schneider Electric Sverige AB, Schneider Electric Systems (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Schneider Electric Systems (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Schneider Electric Systems Argentina SA, Schneider Electric Systems Australia Pty. Ltd, Schneider Electric Systems Canada Inc., Schneider Electric Systems Chile Limitada, Schneider Electric Systems Colombia Ltda, Schneider Electric Systems Czech Republic s.r.o., Schneider Electric Systems Germany GmbH, Schneider Electric Systems Italia SpA, Schneider Electric Systems Japan Inc., Schneider Electric Systems Korea Limited, Schneider Electric Systems LLC, Schneider Electric Systems New Zealand Limited, Schneider Electric Systems Private Limited, Schneider Electric Systems Pte. Ltd., Schneider Electric Systems SA, Schneider Electric Systems Slovakia s.r.o. Slovakia, Schneider Electric Systems Taiwan Corp., Schneider Electric Systems UK Ltd, Schneider Electric Systems USA Inc., Schneider Electric Systems de Venezuela C.A., Schneider Electric Systems del Peru SA, Schneider Electric Taiwan Co. Ltd., Schneider Electric Telecontrol SAS, Schneider Electric The Netherlands B.V., Schneider Electric URAL LLC, Schneider Electric USA, Schneider Electric USA Inc., Schneider Electric Uganda Ltd, Schneider Electric Ukraine, Schneider Electric Venezuela SA, Schneider Electric Vermont Ltd, Schneider Electric Vietnam Co. Ltd, Schneider Electric d.o.o., Schneider Electric d.o.o. Slovenia, Schneider Electric de Colombia SA, Schneider Elektrik Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., Schneider Enerji Endustrisi Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., Schneider Great Wall Engineering (Beijing) Co. Ltd, Schneider Industrial Tlaxcala S.A. de C.V., Schneider Lucibel Managed Services SAS, Schneider Mexico SA de CV, Schneider Nordic Baltic A/S, Schneider R&D SA de CV, Schneider Shanghai Apparatus Parts Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Schneider Shanghai Industrial Control Co. Ltd, Schneider Shanghai Low Voltage Term. Apparatus Co. Ltd, Schneider Shanghai Power Distribution Electric Apparatus Co. Ltd, Schneider Switchgear (Suzhou) Co Ltd, Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS, Schneider Toshiba Inverter SAS, Schneider Wingoal (Tianjin) Electric Equipment Co. Ltd, Serck Control and Safety Ltd, Serck Controls Pty. Limited, Shanghai Foxboro Co. Ltd, Shanghai Invensys Process System Co. Ltd, Shanghai Schneider Electric Power Automation Co. Ltd, Shanghai Tayee Electric Co. Ltd, Siebe Inc., Siebe Metallwerke GmbH, Societe Electrique dAubenas SAS, Societe Francaise Gardy SA, Societe Francaise de Construction Mecanique et Electrique SA, Societe dAppareillage Electrique Gardy SAS, Societe dApplication et dIngenierie Industrielle et Informatique SAS - SA3I, Spiral Software Ltd, Square D Company Mexico S.A. de C.V., Square D Investment Company, Steck Industria Electrica Ltda, Steck da Amazonia Industria Electrica Ltda, Stewart Warner Corporation, Summit Energy, Summit Energy Services Inc., Sunten Electric Equipment Co. Ltd, Systemes Equipements Tableaux Basse Tension SAS, T.A.C., Telseb Servicos de Engenharia e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos e Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Telvent - BBS High & New Tech (Beijing) Co. Ltd, Telvent Control System ( ) Co. Ltd, Telvent DTN LLC, Telvent Git, Telvent Mexico SA de CV, Telvent Sweden AB, Telvent USA LLC, Thorsman & Co AB, Tianjin Merlin Gerin Co. Ltd, Toshiba Schneider Inverter Corp., Transfo SAS, Transfo Services SAS, Transformateurs SAS, UAB Schneider Electric Lietuva, Unifl air South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Unifl air SpA, Validation technologies (Europe) Ltd, Vamp OY, Veris Industries LLC, Viconics Technologies, Viconics Technologies Inc., Viridity Software, Vizelia, Wonderware Italia SpA, Wonderware Korea Ltd., Wonderware Scandinavia AB, Wuxi Proface Co. Ltd, ZAO Gruppa Kompaniy Electroshield, ZAO Schneider Electric, nxtControl, and rbaekvej 280 A/S. Prominent Apple resellers in China have reduced selected iPhone prices by as much as 20 percent. This price reduction comes hot on the heels of rumors of Apple asking iPhone resellers in China to reduce iPhone prices. The price reduction is applicable for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone XR so far. Popular ecommerce sites in China like JD.com and Suning have already listed these iPhones at their new reduced prices, though Apples online store in China continues to list them at their full price. The price of the iPhone 8 has now been reduced to RMB 3,999 (~$600), down 22 percent from its original price. The iPhone 8 Plus has also seen a similar price cut and is now available for RMB 4,799. The iPhone XR is available for RMB 5,399 instead of its usual price of RMB 6,499 on JD.com and Suning. While theres no word from Apple about an official price cut, these retailers have discounted the iPhones keeping in line with Apples strategy. Earlier this month, Apple revised its revenue estimate for the holiday quarter and reduced it by as much as $7 billion. It blamed the slowdown in iPhone sales for the decline. With the Chinese New Year next month, it is possible that Apple is reducing selected iPhone prices to attract new customers. Before this discount, Apple was aggressively promoting its increased trade-in values on the purchase of an iPhone XS or iPhone XR to its customers in China, the U.S., and other parts of the world. Theres no word from Apple or any other retailer about the iPhones seeing a similar discount in the United States or any other part of the world. [Via Finacial Times 19 hours ago | June 15th | 2021 7:40 AM Does Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) Have What It Takes To Be A Winner In 2021? Though Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) stock was cut in half during the dark days of February and March of last year, Wall Street quickly realized that convenient fast food would probably be towards the bottom of the list of things to be cut by hard-hit consumers who were tightening the proverbial belts. So back the stock roared and since this time last A small, rapidly expanding Seattle cannabis company is gaining attention from investors. Founded by two cannabis veterans, the company has increased sales 8-fold and is looking to double sales again in the next two years. Now selling for less than $1 per share, this is an opportunity to acquire thousands of shares a potential windfall. Juniper Networks, Inc. designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; and NorthStar controllers. It also provides switching products, including EX series Ethernet switches to address the access, aggregation, and core layer switching requirements of micro branch, branch office, and campus environments; QFX series of core, spine, and top-of-rack data center switches; and juniper access points, which provide wireless access and performance. In addition, the company offers security products comprising SRX series services gateways for the data center; Branch SRX family provides an integrated firewall and next-generation firewall; virtual firewall that delivers various features of physical firewalls; and advanced malware protection, a cloud-based service and Juniper ATP. Further, it offers Junos OS, a network operating system; Contrail networking and cloud platform, which provides an open-source and standards-based platform for SDN and NFV; Contrail Insights, an optimization and management software platform for public, private, and hybrid clouds; Mist AI-driven Wired, Wireless, and WAN assurance solutions to set and measure key metrics; Mist AI-driven Marvis Virtual Network Assistant, which identifies the root cause of issues; and Netrounds, a software-based active test and service assurance platform. Additionally, the company provides software-as-a-service, technical support, maintenance, and professional services, as well as education and training programs. It sells its products through direct sales, distributors, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers to end-users in the cloud, service provider, and enterprise markets. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. Read More STROUD, ON (January 11, 2019)- After spending the several years working as a crew member, Chris LeBarron is ready for his chance to get behind the wheel. My first thought is to have fun on and off the track, he said. I work hard all week in the shop, all day at the track and finish things off with a few cold ones. I take racing very serious. Whether its driving or working with a crew, but if we cant have fun, then whats the point? The ACL Motorsports driver will pilot a Honda Civic Mini Stock full-time at Sunset Speedway, while traveling across the province to run events at Flamboro Speedway, Sauble Speedway, Jukasa Motor Speedway, Peterborough Speedway, and Full Throttle Motor Speedway. Being his rookie campaign, he admits that there are no expectations heading into the year, with a focus on having fun and learning while mixing it up with his fellow competitors. I bought an awesome piece built by Will Gibbons, he added. Its a proven winner. With some more seat time, I hope to be running with the front pack each race. Im making some updates and improvements to the car this winter so ACL Motorsports should have a great season. Admittedly, he will have some experience on his side. As previously noted, he has been crewing for guys in motorsports for awhile, including spent time with Cliff Hodgkinson, Shawn McGlynn Racing, and Emms Racing. I learned the most from my time with Roger McGlynn at McGlynn Motorsports, LeBarron said. He took the time to show me and teach me what adjustments had to be made and why we made them. Every time I spoke with Roger, I was like a sponge soaking up more and more info. It also wont be his first time behind the wheel, either, as he got his first chance a few years ago courtesy of Cliff and Dave Hodgkinson. I worked on their cars week in and week out at the shop and at the track, he recalled. They had a dozen or so cars so it was fun. To my surprise, Cliff let me take one of his Pro4 Modifieds for a rip. From there, I was definitely hooked and knew one day I had to get myself a car. I raced on and off for a few years at Sunset Speedway, Flamboro Speedway and Sauble Speedway. What a blast those cars are with the power to weight ratio and 10 wide slicks. I learned so much from Cliff and the entire Hodgkinson family. He already got a chance to drive his Mini Stock, as he took part in Flamboro Speedways year-end Frostoberfest special. What a difference from driving a Pro4 Mod, he noted. It was definitely a huge learning curve and once I figured out I had to drive in second gear and not third, I was turning some good laps. With more seat time in the mini stock, Ill get my line much smoother and improve my time even more. Out of the tracks that he set to make a stop at in 2019, he admits that hes most excited to get on-track at Jukasa Motor Speedway. Its such an awesome track and fast, he commented. Being there for test days and crewing with Emms Racing in the OSCAAR Modified series, and crewing with Shawn McGlynn Racing in the APC Auto Parts United Late Model of Ontario Series, I cant wait to get out there July 25th and turn some fast laps. For LeBarron, his interest in racing started at a young, but not through stock cars, rather instead motorcross. I was hooked on going as fast as possible, he said. In my early 20s, I got the speed bug again and drag raced for a few years. But I was always a stock car fan, going to the track with family and helping whenever I could. Then I met Shawn McGlynn on a job site in Barrie and now Im where I am today getting ready for my rookie season at sunset Speedway this 2019. ACL Motorsports is proud to receive marketing support thus far from Digital Obsession, Essential Cleaning Solutions, Obsessed Details, Auto Trim Design Barrie, Hwy 400 Transmission, and AM Paving & Sealing. The team would like to also give a special shout-out to Elizabeth Rubino, Kenny Racing, and Will Gibbons Racing for their help, as well. ACL Motorsports continues to search for marketing partners, and encourages any interested parties to contact AM Marketing to learn how to become involved. Press Release by Ashley McCubbin / AM Marketing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Touch Me Not (NR) 2 out of 4 stars Winning the top prize at the most recent Berlin Film Festival, Touch Me Not is the second feature film from Romanian writer/director Adina Pintilie and is notable only for its semi-experimental presentation. Due to its borderline-pornographic content, the film will only be of interest to those fond of fringe erotica. Lacking the emotional punch of a Last Tango in Paris, Eyes Wide Shut, Irreversible, 9 1/2 Weeks, Kinsey or Blue is the Warmest Color, Touch Me Not is a clinical, arid, emotionally stilted and largely passionless film dealing with issues of sexual intimacy or, in this case, one womans inability to be intimate or to even be touched by another human. The movie opens with the introduction of Laura (Laura Benson), a statuesque woman in her mid-to-late 40s who appears to be friendless. She hires a male prostitute to visit her home where he showers, and spends some time in her bed by himself. She watches him intensely the entire time, makes some feeble stabs at small talk and dives face first into the bed sheets once he leaves. It is the first in a string of scenes that are graphic and not the least bit sexy or even arousing, which might be Pintilies ultimate point. Laura continues her voyeuristic journey when she peers through a window and watches something akin to touch therapy. Both Laura and Pintilie focus on Tomas (Tomas Lemarquis Snowpiercer, X-Men: Apocalypse, Blade Runner 2049), a towering man who because of Lemarquis own condition of body hair loss due to alopecia and pale skin makes him a dead ringer for the iconic, fictional Mr. Clean. Tomas is clearly uncomfortable with the exercise which may or may not have something to do with the physical condition of his clinical partner Christian (Christian Bayerline), a man afflicted in real life with spinal muscular atrophy. Up to this point barely 15 minutes into the over two-hour-long film Pintilie, who appears as a disembodied talking head is on to something. Blurring the lines between live-action and documentary is indeed a novel concept, and naming the characters after the people playing them only adds to the mystery. Not knowing whats real and whats fiction offers the viewer an interesting quandary. Yet Pintilie kills all of that off by moving from one fetish or obsession to the next with no intention of seeing anything through or providing satisfactory or satisfying conclusions. Before shes done, Pintilie explores the seedier aspects of BDSM, stalking, oddball turn-ons (a therapist who becomes aroused while watching people cry) and a truly bizarre interchange between Laura and Hannah (Hannah Hoffman), another sex worker who may be transgender or merely just a cross-dressing man with a Johannes Brahms obsession. Played out almost as comedy, the introduction of Hannah is the most entertaining (if thats the right word) portion of the film while simultaneously transforming the entire process into a joke or worse, mocking the audience for buying into the premise in the first place. Presented in English and German with English subtitles. (Kino Lorber) Their event is designed for children in preschool through fifth grade who will participate in a dance party, cookie decorating, crafts and games. Participants are encouraged to donate $2 or a childrens book or stuffed animal. I think this is a good way for the community to come together and raise awareness for this organization, said senior Hannah Kollath, membership director for the leaders group. Its possible that some of the kids who come might even need the beds and if they dont, I think it shows the younger generation everything they have to be grateful for. The business leaders group requires student officers to complete a group community service project. The students picked Sleep in Heavenly Peace. After the event, the officer team will write up a report of what they did and how it benefited the community. The project will be submitted to the state business leaders organization for judging. But were getting help from our entire chapter, she said of the local group, which typically holds about 100 members. The need for beds in the community surprised Kollath, too. She and four other business leaders students helped build beds for the charitable organization in November and said they felt lucky, more than anything. China's Chang'e-4 probe has started carrying out a series of scientific research tasks involving multiple countries and organizations since it landed on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Thursday. The probe, comprising a lander and a rover, was launched on Dec. 8, 2018. The Yutu-2 rover left its first trace on the far side of the moon late at night on Jan. 3, after it separated from the lander smoothly. A neutron radiation detector aboard the lander, developed by Germany, and a neutral atom detector on the rover, developed by Sweden, have both switched on for test operations, according to a CNSA statement. Their data will be transmitted to the ground via the relay satellite Queqiao (Magpie Bridge), which was launched in May 2018 to set up the communication link between Earth and the moon's far side, and jointly studied by Chinese and foreign scientists, it said. The Chang'e-4 mission, including the probe, Queqiao and a micro satellite orbiting the moon, is equipped with four payloads developed through international cooperation, providing more opportunities to the world's scientists and combining human expertise in space exploration. Queqiao carries a low-frequency radio astronomical instrument developed by the Netherlands, and the radioisotope heat source, a collaboration between Chinese and Russian scientists, will support the probe through the lunar night, each equivalent to about 14 days on Earth, when the temperature can fall to minus 180 degrees Celsius. The ground station that China built in Argentina has played an important role in the monitoring and control of the mission, and ground stations run by the European Space Agency will also offer support. A micro-imaging camera by Saudi Arabia aboard the micro satellite, which was launched together with Queqiao, is orbiting the moon and has sent back a photo in June 2018, capturing Earth and the moon together. NASA of the United States has also discussed cooperation in lunar and deep space explorations with CNSA. The two sides has collaborated on the study of the landing of the probe. NASA has offered the orbital data of its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Chinese side has provided the landing timing and location, it said. Morgan forwarded a note to Gow from alumnus Andy Ellingson, who wrote: Rest assured your association wont get a dime from me. I could win the Powerball and I wouldnt give (UW-La Crosse) a dime. Another angry alumna, Sharon, whose last name was withheld, wrote that she would stop donating to the university after 27 years of doing so. But the majority of email senders stood behind Gow. A UW-La Crosse student whose name was withheld wrote that she transferred to the campus last spring and Gows invitation reinforced that it was the right decision for her. University library services assistant Liz Bass wrote along those same lines: Porn is pervasive in our society via the Internet, and to not shine a light on it through open, rational discussion means it remains in the dark, secreted away to be manifest in unhealthy and often injurious ways. Thank you for trying to bring this darkness into the light. Alumnus Matthew Dockter acknowledged he personally wouldnt be interested in listening to Hartley speak, but applauded Gow for providing a forum for someone outside the mainstream. Thats the Wisconsin Idea in action, he wrote. Three others asked for Gows resignation. State Supreme Court candidate Lisa Neubauer outraised rival Brian Hagedorn in the last half of 2018, giving her a slight fundraising edge in a competitive race that will help determine control of the court in coming years. The money the candidates raised between July and December topped the levels set during the same period in last years race, highlighting the significant role money will play in determining the courts direction. Neubauer, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals chief judge who is backed by Democrats, took in $325,000 over the sixth-month reporting period and spent $115,000 to end with $573,000 in the bank, according to the campaign, which also took out a $250,000 loan. Meanwhile, Hagedorn, an appellate judge who is supported by Republicans, raised about $311,000 and spent $30,000 to end the period with about $281,000 in cash on hand. The two candidates will vie to replace retiring liberal-backed Justice Shirley Abrahamson for a 10-year term. Candidates for the seven-member court are officially nonpartisan, but political parties and outside groups typically spend money to support their preferred candidate. BARRON A 21-year-old man shot a Wisconsin couple to death at their home in a scheme to kidnap their teenage daughter, then held the girl captive for three months in an isolated North Woods town before she managed to escape, authorities said Friday. Jayme Closs, 13, was skinny, disheveled and wearing shoes too big for her when she approached a stranger and pleaded for help Thursday in the small town of Gordon, where Jake Thomas Patterson lives. Patterson was quickly arrested and jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges. The news that Jayme was safe set off joy and relief 60 miles away in her hometown of Barron, population 3,300, ending an all-out search that gripped the state, with many people fearing the worst the longer she was missing. "My legs started to shake. It was awesome. The stress, the relief it was awesome," Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said, describing the moment when he learned Jayme had been found. Jayme told one of the neighbors in Gordon who took her in that she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held captive. "She said that this person's name was Jake Patterson, 'he killed my parents and took me,'" said another one of the neighbors, Kristin Kasinskas. "She did not talk about why or how. She said she did not know him." The sheriff gave no immediate details on what happened to Jayme during her captivity, why she was seized or how she escaped. He said that he did not know if she had been physically abused but that she was hospitalized overnight for observation and released after an exam. Investigators were still interviewing her. The sheriff said investigators do not believe Patterson and the girl knew each other. However, Patterson worked for one day in 2016 at the same Jennie-O turkey plant in Barron as Jayme's parents, Jennie-O Turkey Store President Steve Lykken said. Patterson quit the next day, saying he was moving from the area, Lykken said. Kasinskas called 911 to report the girl had been found after another neighbor out walking her dog encountered Jayme and brought her to Kasinskas' house. Minutes later, Patterson was pulled over by a sheriff's deputy based on a description of his vehicle Jayme provided, authorities said. He was scheduled for an initial court appearance Monday. It was not immediately known whether the unemployed Patterson had an attorney. Jayme's grandfather, Robert Naiberg, said he had been praying for months for the call he received about his granddaughter. "I thought, 'Good for her she escaped,'" he said. Jayme disappeared without from her home near Barron after someone broke in and killed her parents, James and Denise Closs, on Oct. 15. The sheriff said investigators believe Patterson killed them in order to abduct the girl. Property records show that the cabin in Gordon belonged to Patterson's father at the time of Jayme's disappearance. Patterson had no criminal record, according to the sheriff. He graduated in 2015 from Northwood High School, where he was on the quiz bowl team and was a good student with a "great group of friends," said District Superintendent Jean Serum. Kasinskas said she taught Patterson science in middle school, but added: "I don't really remember a ton about him." "He seemed like a quiet kid," she said. "I don't recall anything that would have explained this, by any means." The woman who first spotted Jayme on Thursday, Jeanne Nutter, said she was walking her dog along a rural road when the girl called out to her, grabbed her and revealed her name. "I was terrified, but I didn't want to show her that," Nutter, a social worker who spent years working in child protection, told The Associated Press. "She just yelled, 'Please help me! I don't know where I am! I'm lost!'" Nutter took her to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinskas. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Peter Kasinskas said. Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon, a town of about 644 people in a heavily forested region where logging in the top industry. From what she told them, they believed she was there for most of her disappearance. After Jayme vanished, detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches. Officials recruited 2,000 volunteers for a huge ground search Oct. 23, but it yielded no clues. Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was 14 when she was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002. Smart was rescued nine months later after witnesses recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode. Smart said in a telephone interview that Jayme's story is "why we can never give up hope on any missing child." "It was only a few months ago that we as a community gathered to pray for Jayme's safe return at Barron High School," Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright said at a news conference. "God has answered those prayers." Associated Press writers Todd Richmond and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Amy Forliti in Gordon also contributed to this report along with AP news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York. Timeline in Closs case A timeline of events in the Jayme Closs disappearance case: Oct. 15, 2018 James Closs, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, are found shot to death in their home in Barron, a town in western Wisconsin. Authorities issue an Amber Alert for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, and the search for her begins. Oct. 16, 2018 Investigators say they don't consider Jayme a suspect in her parents' deaths. Authorities also dismiss a tip placing Jayme's whereabouts in Miami as "not credible," and say they believe the girl is in danger. Oct. 17, 2018 Authorities announce that investigators believe Jayme was in her family's home when her parents were fatally shot. Oct. 18, 2018 About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers. The search turns up nothing useful. The Wisconsin Department of Justice announces it is sending therapists, comfort dogs and school resource officers to help students at the school Jayme attended. Oct. 23, 2018 About 2,000 volunteers from as far as Minneapolis help with another ground search . Several items are found and taken for assessment. Oct. 24, 2018 The FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to Jayme's location. The amount is later doubled to $50,000 by the Jennie-O Turkey Store, where James and Denise Closs worked. Oct. 27, 2018 Funerals are held for James and Denise Closs in Cameron, a village next to Barron. Oct. 29, 2018 Prosecutors announce they have charged a man with burglarizing the Closs home but say he's not a suspect in the case. Dec. 12, 2018 Hundreds of people attend a "tree of hope" lighting ceremony in honor of Jayme in Barron. Jan. 10, 2019 Jayme is found alive in the town of Gordon, a rural community about an hour from her home. A suspect is taken into custody. Jan. 11, 2019 Investigators say the suspect, 21-year-old Jake Thomas Patterson, is jailed on homicide and kidnapping charges. Dutch said Vick was a self-taught, hard-working family man. He became a reliable subcontractor and volunteer for a youth aviation organization. He didnt live a lavish lifestyle and used a private plane to travel to Texas and Oklahoma for his construction business, Dutch wrote the court. Dutch did not recommend a specific punishment for Vick, acknowledging that it could involve some prison time. In a letter to U.S. District Judge James Peterson, Vick did not offer a reason for not paying his taxes for so long only attributed it to, my ignorance or laziness (or) negligence. In the end, I know that it simply comes down to the fact that I knew that a small businessman had obligations and I simply didnt face up to them, he wrote. Although Vicks non-compliance with tax law extended back three decades, he only was charged for the 2011-16 tax years. Dutch said Vick has been current with his state and federal tax obligations since 2016. Graber asked Peterson to impose a prison term of 24-30 months, the calculated advisory federal sentencing guidelines for the amount of loss in the case. I dont see hatred expressed in the prom photo, so where is the hatred we are supposed to reject? A friend said he was chewed out for believing the photo was not a Nazi salute. Thats the division I said would happen at Decembers city council meeting. This campaign paints a picture of Baraboo I havent seen in 24 years of living here, and is responding to a supposed Nazi salute. Only two boys said they thought other students were saluting. Community meetings and reject hate signs tell everyone that Baraboo is intolerant and must reject its hatred. Because Baraboo isnt diverse doesnt mean we are anti-Semitic. Every small town in America could then be accused of this. "Reject the Perception, Embrace the Truth" is a better yard sign, as looking for anti-Semitism to stamp out in Baraboo is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The prom picture will be with us forever as we have turned perception into reality. It opens the door for news media to do follow-up stories for years, linking us to other cities with similar incidents. A lie doesnt become truth simply because its accepted by a majority. -- Booker T. Washington. Michael Plautz, Baraboo What if Obama had founded a fraudulent university and used his charity as a personal checkbook, all of which Trump has done. What would they have said, if under Obama, the national debt increased to more than $21 trillion, the highest ever? How would flag-waving Republicans have reacted if President Obama had constantly attacked the free press and believed Russias Vladimir Putin over our countrys intelligence agencies? Or if he had said, as Trump did at an Oct. 6, 2016, rally in West Virginia, that he and murderous dictator Kim Jong Un of North Korea fell in love? And speaking of North Korea, remember when Sean Hannity attacked Obama for wanting to meet with Un, but then praised Trump for the same thing? Another example of Republican hypocrisy is what they repeatedly said when President Obama bowed to a Saudi official in 2009, but said nothing when President Trump did the same in 2017. What if candidate Obama had promised to release his tax returns and then refused? Fox News talking heads still would be screaming about it and asking what he was trying to hide. Theyd also have laughed hysterically if Obama had said he knows more than the generals, that he was a stable genius and, Im, like, a smart person. What did they say about Trump when he said those ridiculous things and more? Nothing. Jerry Jermier, 70, of Wisconsin Dells, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, at St. Clare Hospice House in Baraboo after a brief but hard-fought battle with cancer. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, at St. Cecilias Catholic Church in Wisconsin Dells, with Father James Murphy celebrating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Wisconsin Dells. Visitation will be from 4:30-7 p.m. Monday at St. Cecilias Catholic Church, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of mass at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials of remembrance will be given to the Wisconsin Dells Parks and Recreation/Jenkins Park Renovation Fund. This is a little, obscure, hidden gem of a park overlooking the Upper Wisconsin River that was special and very dear to Jerry for many years. The Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Wisconsin Dells assisted the family with arrangements. For online condolences and information, visit pichafuneralhome.com, 608-253-7884. Were just going to stay until these people are processed, Lynum said in a phone call that evening, which might be all night. Thats what happened. After 18 hours waiting on U.S. soil, sleeping outside with a member of Congress, the group got in. The unaccompanied minors went in first. The families, including a 3-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old, followed. Lawyers said they dont know what changed. Lynum suspects that because its a busy port of entry for commuters and visitors and because the group was sort of an eyesore, the Border Patrol decided to let it in before the morning rush. Pottratz Acosta said she finds it frustrating that, on the one hand, the Department of Homeland Security says people should apply for asylum the right way, at a port of entry, instead of crossing illegally. But on the other hand, it prevents certain people from doing so. The fact that they were deliberately not following the law and just flagrantly engaging in action that was so obviously illegal in front of a team of lawyers, in front of two members of Congress, she said. Its hard to believe. If it hadnt happened in front of my own eyes, I would have a hard time believing that this actually happened. A 42-year-old Winona man with a lengthy criminal history including a failed jailbreak and a high-speed chase in a stolen semi is now headed to prison. According to court records, Michael Kronebusch pleaded guilty to six felony charges and three lesser charges across eight Winona and Houston county cases when he appeared Thursday morning before Judge Lisa R. Hayne. Kronebusch will serve out eight concurrent sentences at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. The longest of these sentences is 25 months; however, he will receive credit for 254 days already served. Kronebusch has been in custody since March 2018, when he led several departments on a 50-mile chase through Winona County in a stolen semi, ramming two squad cars in the process. According to police reports, the semi reached speeds of up to 68 mph during parts of the chase. However, many parts of the pursuit were through residential areas in Winona, Goodview and Minnesota City. Authorities deployed stop sticks six times, shredding most, but not all, of the semis tires, before eventually bringing the vehicle to a stop on Rolling Hills Road. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} A 10-year-old South African boy, Sibahle Zwane is presently making headlines for being smarter than even a calculator. It has been discovered that the Grade 4 pupil, Zwane is so smart that he can answer complex arithmetic questions faster than a calculator in seconds. Zwane shot into prominence when he was filmed answering complex math questions from a local policeman in South Africa. Interestingly, Zwane now makes money from his gift by charging R2 for every correct answer he provides. His mom, Mbali Zwane, in a BBC interview revealed he makes up to R200 a day. Federal employees received pay stubs with nothing but zeros on them Friday as the effects of the government shutdown hit home, deepening anxieties about mortgage payments and unpaid bills. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Internal Revenue Service worker Diane Zelazny cries during a federal workers protest rally at the Federal Building Thursday, Jan., 10, 2019, in Ogden, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Federal employees received pay stubs with nothing but zeros on them Friday as the effects of the government shutdown hit home, deepening anxieties about mortgage payments and unpaid bills. All told, an estimated 800,000 government workers missed their paychecks for the first time since the shutdown began. Employees posted pictures of the pay statements on Twitter and vented their frustration as the standoff over President Donald Trump's demand for $5.7 billion for a border wall entered its 21st day. This weekend, it will become the longest shutdown in U.S. history. "I saw the zeros in my pay stub today, and it's a combination of reality setting in and just sadness," air traffic controller Josh Maria told The Associated Press after tweeting a screenshot of his paystub. "We're America. We can do better than this." The missed paychecks were just one sign of the mounting toll the shutdown is taking on Americans' daily lives. The Miami airport is closing a terminal this weekend because security screeners have been calling in sick at twice the normal rate. Homebuyers are experiencing delays in getting their loans. Roughly 420,000 federal employees were deemed essential and are working unpaid. An additional 380,000 are staying home without pay. While furloughed federal workers have been given back pay in previous shutdowns, there is no guarantee that will happen this time. Workers are turning to Uber, Lyft and other side gigs to pick up some money in the meantime. Ellen Jackson, a Transportation Security Administration officer based in Las Vegas, is driving full time for a ride-share company to get by. The 59-year-old is planning to retire in April. "I don't want to borrow any money," said Jackson, an Air Force veteran who said she makes about $38,000 a year as a TSA officer. "I don't want to get into a deeper hole." Fellow Las Vegas-based TSA agent Julia Peters applied for food stamps on Thursday and was approved. She said five of the eight other applicants at the benefits office were also TSA workers. In Falls Church, Virginia, outside Washington, a school district held a hiring fair for furloughed federal employees interested in working as substitute teachers. Gerri French, who works for the Department of Agriculture's Food Inspection Service and has been furloughed along with her husband, liked the sound of substitute teaching. "I think it's a really great school system, and this would be a great opportunity," French said. Chris George, 48, of Hemet, California, has picked up work as a handyman, turned to a crowdfunding site to raise cash and started driving at Lyft after being furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Forest Service. But the side gigs aren't making much difference, and he has been trying to work with his mortgage company to avoid missing a payment. "Here we are, Day 21, and all three parties cannot even negotiate like adults," he said, describing government workers like him as "being pawns for an agenda of a wall. You're not going to put a wall across the Rio Grande, I'm sorry." Economists at S&P Global said the shutdown has cost the U.S. economy $3.6 billion so far. The typical federal employee makes $37 an hour, which translates into $1,480 a week, according to Labor Department data. That's nearly $1.2 billion in lost pay each week, when multiplied by 800,000 federal workers. Many workers live paycheque to paycheque, despite the strong economy and the ultra-low unemployment rate. A Federal Reserve survey in May found that 40 per cent of Americans would have to borrow or sell something to make a $400 emergency payment. Government workers are scaling back spending, cancelling trips, applying for unemployment benefits and taking out loans to stay afloat. Maria, based in Washington, was already in a financially precarious situation because of two cross-country moves in 2018 and the birth of a premature son. The shutdown has made matters much worse. "I'm just not paying certain bills. Car payments are being delayed, which is going to put a hit on the credit," he said. "Credit card payments are being delayed." Maria took out a personal loan last week just in case. Now he is pulling his 4-year-old daughter out of day care and telling his 7-year-old son he cannot sign up for extracurricular activities. Most of the government workers received their last paycheque two weeks ago. Around the country, some workers are relying on donations, including launching GoFundMe campaigns. Food pantries have opened up in several locations. First Oklahoma Bank in suburban Tulsa is waiving overdraft fees for customers who are federal employees. In Denver, three-quarters of the people who visited the Food Bank of the Rockies' mobile pantry on Friday were first-time visitors and furloughed federal employees, said Cait Barnett, a marketing specialist for the food bank. In Massachusetts, a private group has stepped up to ensure that those working at local Coast Guard stations have food and clothing. Don Cox, president of the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, said the non-profit group has opened up centres at Coast Guard stations in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island. The group is helping feed 500 to 600 families a day, about double the typical demand, Cox said. "We've been doing this for 10 years. This is my fourth shutdown," he said. "I wish the senators and the congressmen weren't taking their paychecks. I'd feel a lot better then." Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado said she will not take her paycheque as long as federal workers are unpaid. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, another Colorado Democrat, said his staff will offer free breakfasts and lunches to unpaid federal workers at his district office in suburban Denver. Associated Press writers Alina Hartounian in Phoenix; Steve LeBlanc in Boston; Matthew Barakat Falls Church, Virginia; Chris Rugaber in Washington; Michelle L. Price in Las Vegas; Adam Kealoha Causey in Oklahoma City; and P. Solomon Banda and Dan Elliott in Denver contributed to this report. Miami International Airport is closing a terminal this weekend because security screeners have been calling in sick at twice the airport's normal rate as the federal government shutdown stretches toward a fourth week. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Miami International Airport is closing a terminal this weekend because security screeners have been calling in sick at twice the airport's normal rate as the federal government shutdown stretches toward a fourth week. Friday marks the first day screeners will miss a paycheque, and airport spokesman Greg Chin said there's a concern there won't be enough workers to handle all 11 checkpoints during normal hours over the weekend. Chin said Terminal G will close at 1 p.m. Saturday, reopen for flights Sunday morning and close again at 1 p.m. that day. The terminal serves United Airlines along with smaller carriers. Its closure means restaurants and shops that depend on departing flights also will close. "We felt we had to make a decision before the weekend," Chin said. "They're erring on the side of caution." Chin told The Miami Herald that some passengers have complained about longer waits, but there've been no abnormal security delays. The security line outside Terminal G was relatively calm mid-morning Friday where about 20 people waited in line as a single security agent manned the checkpoint. Jorge Enrique stood in line with his family as they waited to board a flight home to Mexico. He felt bad for passengers flying this weekend who could be inconvenienced when the terminal closes. He said he was more concerned about the hassle than potential security risks. "It sucks because if I had a flight arranged for that time ... it's gonna really impact my travel plans," said the 35-year-old who was vacationing in Florida with his wife and son. Terminal G is the slowest concourse at the airport, with about 12 planes a day flying out after 1 p.m. That's about 3 per cent of the roughly 450 flights that depart each day. Terminal G's flights will be diverted to other terminals this weekend. But Chin said that if the shutdown continues and additional screeners don't show up for work, the airport could be forced to close a security checkpoint at terminals that have multiple entry points, such as Concourse J or Concourse D. Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com Citizens require access to public records in order to become properly informed about the activities of their governments and to provide sound feedback on government policies, plans and programs. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Citizens require access to public records in order to become properly informed about the activities of their governments and to provide sound feedback on government policies, plans and programs. However, many Canadian citizens have learned through experience that freedom of information (FOI) legislation is not properly serving citizens. As a result, they lack information and informed interactions with their elected representatives, and are reduced to musing about public affairs with other citizens. As a federal election year dawns, an alternative approach is needed and soon, because the relationship between citizens and governments is under serious challenge. Claims of "fake news" are too often displacing discussions that are based on evidence. An alternative approach is readily available, whereby citizens have access to public records in a manner consistent with living in a free and democratic society, and the principles of transparency and accountability of governments are more than just buzzwords. Failure to provide access Lets focus on access to the records of municipal governments, which are often claimed to be the governments closest to the people, and which have the most direct impact on citizens. The 2018 municipal election campaign in Ontario serves as an excellent case in point. Citizens, journalists and candidates have faulted municipal governments for failing to provide appropriate access to municipal records including budget documents, project contracts, police service reports and development proposals. Unfortunately, freedom-of-information legislation has proven of little value to citizens. Access to records is limited to what governments provide. Making a request and learning its status are often frustrating exercises. The cost can be prohibitively expensive for many citizens. Responses are often sub-standard and useless compared to what citizens could ascertain if given proper access or opportunities to analyze files. To put the failure of FOI legislation in context, and underline the urgent need for a new approach, freedom-of-information discussions began more than 50 years ago. Two major forces behind the movement were the digital technology revolution and activist members of society who insisted upon knowing what governments were up to. The digital revolution began with mainframe computers as the base for electronic data processing, followed by numerous innovations in computers and communications, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), with offshoots such as listening devices and tracking capabilities for surveillance. Freedom-of-information concerns did not initially focus on the technology, but on the rapid increases in the capacity of governments to acquire and use data, information and knowledge about people, entities and events in an increasing variety of ways. The subject of a British comedy Thirty-five years ago, technology and freedom of information received popular attention from the British TV series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister and from the movie Big Brother Is Watching You, based on George Orwells 1949 novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four. "Open Government," the first episode of Yes, Minister, brilliantly dismissed the idea of allowing British citizens to access the central governments records. The phrase, "Big brother is watching you," meantime, summarizes many of the concerns about technology enabling authoritarian and even totalitarian initiatives almost 70 years after Orwells dystopian novel was published. Public activists, on the other hand, put emphasis on questioning how we are being governed, and their advocacy for open government is based on several principles: a duty to know what governments are doing; timely access to government records; and, since government records are bought and paid for by citizens through taxes, fees, tolls, fares, fines, levies, etc., access to records is a right. These beliefs are pillars of citizens open government movements, and point to five conditions that I believe are necessary, and readily achievable, to significantly improve citizens access to government records. Five requirements Free access. Charging fees for access is gouging, because citizens have already paid governments to produce these records. Charging fees for access is gouging, because citizens have already paid governments to produce these records. Easy access. "User-friendly" includes removing bureaucratic hurdles that waste citizens time. Google, for example, demonstrates how to design intuitive access procedures that are easy to use. "User-friendly" includes removing bureaucratic hurdles that waste citizens time. Google, for example, demonstrates how to design intuitive access procedures that are easy to use. Timely access. Efficient searches occur when keywords lead to the links for reports, images and other records, including data and information bases. At the municipal level, timely access involves links to maps and other geographic information because approximately 80 to 85 per cent of municipal data and information holdings are based on location. Efficient searches occur when keywords lead to the links for reports, images and other records, including data and information bases. At the municipal level, timely access involves links to maps and other geographic information because approximately 80 to 85 per cent of municipal data and information holdings are based on location. Direct access. Fifty years ago banking changed significantly due to automated teller machines (ATMs), with mobile devices leading to more changes. Banking shifted from moving paper and metal currency into the information-processing business, and is a highly credible precedent for governments to provide citizens direct access to public records. Fifty years ago banking changed significantly due to automated teller machines (ATMs), with mobile devices leading to more changes. Banking shifted from moving paper and metal currency into the information-processing business, and is a highly credible precedent for governments to provide citizens direct access to public records. Online access. Governments already inform Canadians via websites, and there are many reasons for governments to better serve citizens via online access to public records. The right to free, easy, timely and direct online access to public records is a defining feature of a free and democratic society, and represents an invaluable hallmark of Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Its time that right actually existed. Barry Wellar is professor emeritus in geography and environmental studies and president of the Information Research Board at the University of Ottawa. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. Grocers can no longer afford to wait for money to show up at their stores. They need to go after it. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Grocers can no longer afford to wait for money to show up at their stores. They need to go after it. Grocery e-commerce was barely a thought five years ago retailers didnt want to cannibalize sales and decrease foot traffic. The primary idea has always been to have more people in grocery stores, not less. But with Amazon, Walmart and Costco looking at cyberspace as a potent place to sell food, grocers are looking to keep customers. First was the flawed click-and-collect strategy. Now, grocers are looking at full delivery through partnerships or in-house service. Loblaws recently launched PC Insiders, which offers free delivery of some products to customers for a fixed membership fee. The program is a clear response to Amazon Prime. Primes brilliance is that it builds loyalty and allows the retailer to cover delivery costs. Consumers arent keen to pay for delivery and costs could be exorbitant for grocers. With Prime, Amazon covered last-kilometre costs in delivery service. Thats the most expensive part of selling products online: venturing into smaller streets, looking for addresses and delivering to consumers doors takes time and energy. Loblaws $99 PC Insiders program merely copies Amazon. And why not? Loblaws has a database of 16 million non-paying PC Optimum members, so a loyalty loop exists with Canadas leading food retailer. Converting just 100,000 PC Optimum members would generate enough capital to cover significant costs. This is the first such move in Canada, but expect to see more in the future. Some partnerships also look promising. Sobeys, for example, opted for a partnership with U.K.-based Ocado. In many European countries, online food sales are over five per cent of the market and, in some cases, up to eight per cent. Canadian sales arent even at two per cent, but the potential is real. More than one-third of Canadians are thinking of going online regularly to purchase food. Canadians under the age of 39 consider the internet an integral part of their lives. Their economic influence will only increase over time, and grocers know it. Buying online has perks, especially when the weather is bad, youre ill or just busy. Or perhaps youre shopping for someone who requires care and lives on the other side of town. Click-and-collect, grocers first version of e-commerce, never made sense from a consumers perspective. Ordering online only to pick groceries up on the way home isnt very convenient. The dreaded wait in a store line to pay for groceries is avoided using e-commerce, but click-and-collect only played defence against Amazon. It is, however, more economically palatable for retailers than home delivery, since it moves inventory efficiently without the last-kilometre cost. So some retailers charged consumers for home delivery, which just adds insult to injury. Better-conceived online delivery programs will ultimately make click-and-collect obsolete, particularly because consumers expect more convenience and are willing to pay for it. The emergence of more e-commerce in food retailing also signals the beginning of the end of big-box stores. More retailers are looking at smaller stores, which require less inventory and maintenance. A big store drawing fewer customers is bad for business, so it makes little sense to build more of them. Sobeys acquisition of Farm Boy in Ontario is consistent with this shift. Farm Boy offers a great in-store experience while providing Sobeys with high-quality products to be delivered to consumers homes. In addition, an increasing number of consumers want to go out by staying home. No overpriced wine, no extra tips, no waiting to be seated. Although home delivery by restaurants has been around for decades, there are new options available. Apps such as UberEats and SkipTheDishes give consumers access to more choices. Some restaurants cant afford a driver or a fleet of cars. These apps act as brokers between restaurants and consumers. Some restaurants are even operating without dining rooms, exclusively selling online. And online relationships between consumers and the food industry will get increasingly interesting. For example, drones could allow more farmers to sell directly to consumers. The sky is the limit, literally. An increasing number of consumers spend time in front of screens purchasing Christmas presents instead of struggling for parking, then fighting crowds at the mall. Its all so uncivilized. The same trend increasingly applies to food. Now e-commerce needs to tackle the next frontier: cleaning up after the meal. Sylvain Charlebois is scientific director of the Canadian Agrifood Foresight Institute, a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University and a senior fellow with the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies. Troy Media The U.S. midterm elections held in November resulted in President Donald Trumps Republicans holding indeed, strengthening their grip on the U.S. Senate. The Republicans, however, lost their majority in the House of Representatives to the Democrats. This will have severe repercussions for U.S. politics over the next two years, including the potential for an impeachment vote again Trump. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The U.S. midterm elections held in November resulted in President Donald Trumps Republicans holding indeed, strengthening their grip on the U.S. Senate. The Republicans, however, lost their majority in the House of Representatives to the Democrats. This will have severe repercussions for U.S. politics over the next two years, including the potential for an impeachment vote again Trump. As members were sworn in last week, analysts also took note of the increased diversity of the new Congress. There were all sorts of firsts included among the ranks of the new representatives. The midterms, for example, saw the first two Muslim women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Minnesotas Ilhan Omar arrived in the U.S. 20 years ago as a refugee from Somalia and will therefore also be the first Somali-American member of the House. Michigans Rashida Tlaib, also Muslim, is the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress. Tlaib quickly stirred controversy by promising a roomful of supporters that she and her colleagues would "go in and impeach the m*****f****r," speaking (of course) of Trump. There were other firsts. The midterms saw the election of the first two Native American women to Congress. And Arizona's Kyrsten Sinema was sworn in as the first openly bisexual senator. The midterms also saw a further step toward gender equity in the U.S., as the percentage of female members of Congress jumped to 24 per cent from 19 per cent. The presence of women in the U.S. Congress is clearly related to party. Following the midterms, a stunning 87 per cent of female members of the House of Representatives are Democrats, whereas only 13 per cent are Republicans. The fact that roughly a quarter of all members of the U.S. Congress are women will gall some, given that women are about half the population as a whole. But the Congress is, in fact, on par with the representation of women throughout the democratic world. The Inter-Parliamentary Union, which tracks the proportion of women elected, reports that, as of this writing, 24 per cent of all members in elected legislatures throughout the world are women. Europes Nordic nations have the highest overall proportion of women in their legislatures. Pacific-region states, in contrast, have the lowest. Canadas House of Commons, incidentally, elected 91 women in the 2015 election, 27 per cent of all MPs. Thats enough for Canada to score the 59th rank in the world in terms of the proportion of women elected, which is perhaps quite a bit lower than many Canadians would have thought. But this raises the question: does increased diversity matter for what governments actually do? Do governments tend to act differently when they are staffed by more diverse sets of representatives? There is increasing evidence that the answer is "yes." This is particularly true with respect to the proportion of women elected. In part, this is because women bring different political priorities to elected office than men. This is particularly true with respect to what are thought of as "womens issues," such as abortion, health and child care. However, women are also more likely than men to prioritize other issues such as families, education, substance abuse and the environment. This suggests that electing more women to legislatures will lead to those legislatures pursuing different policy goals. And academic studies demonstrate this to be true. In a wide range of settings, electing more women tends to lead to greater funding for social welfare programs. More women in the legislature also leads to a higher number of bills related to womens concerns being both introduced and passed. Female elected officials also tend to do their jobs differently than men. Academic studies show that female representatives tend to invest greater effort than men into consulting with their constituents. They consult more often and try to maintain connections with more local groups and communities. Women are also more likely than men to both co-operate and collaborate with other elected officials. Electing more women may bring about both policy changes and a change in the style of politics. But it is also important to keep in mind that individual legislators cannot always make a difference. Instead, it is important that both women and members of other groups occupy powerful positions, particularly executive positions, in order to ensure changes can be brought about. So, to return to the U.S. situation, those encouraged by the election of a record number of women and other firsts in the U.S. Congress will also be buoyed by the election of Democrat Nancy Pelosi to the position of Speaker of the House. Royce Koop is an associate professor and head of the political studies department at the University of Manitoba. The man whose wife's tragic death, and the botched investigation and prosecution that came later, sparked the creation of the Manitoba Police Commission hopes its new members aren't just filling seats. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The man whose wife's tragic death, and the botched investigation and prosecution that came later, sparked the creation of the Manitoba Police Commission hopes its new members aren't just filling seats. Justice Minister Cliff Cullen appointed five new members to the commission Thursday, including chairman David Asper. "I hope they can accomplish something, so the people of this province can actually get what they're paying for," Robert Taman said. Taman's wife, Crystal, died in 2005 when a truck driven by an off-duty Winnipeg police officer smashed into the rear of her vehicle while she was stopped at a red light on Lagimodiere Boulevard. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Robert Taman on the five newly-appointed members of the Manitoba Police Commission: "I hope they can accomplish something, so the people of this province can actually get what they're paying for." "With the commission, the IIU (Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba), and the police forces, what it was intended to be in the beginning -- and what they are getting now -- is completely different. The whole process has not been taken seriously by the police, but also our government when it takes years to fill the chairs," he said. "There is no commitment from anyone to make this work. The commitment has to come from the government itself to make things better." Taman was on a member of the commission when it was first created in 2010. He resigned in 2016, citing his belief the IIU should not be using former police officers to investigate police, after an active Winnipeg officer was seconded into the unit. Asper was previously the first civilian leader of the Winnipeg Police Board from April 2017 until November 2018. Coun. Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo) has since been appointed to the position. Asper is also a lawyer, former law professor, and former executive vice-president of CanWest Global Communications Corp. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Justice Minister Cliff Cullen appointed five new members to the Manitoba Police Commission Thursday. Cullen said Asper was asked to be chairman of the commission after his departure from the Winnipeg Police Board. The minister also said Taman resigned from the commission just before his second and final term was up. The commission members will be partly responsible for the government's review of the Police Services Act, which will have its terms of reference completed "very soon," Cullen said, refusing to clarify. "Weve indicated that we will be doing a full review of the police services legislation. That will be a comprehensive review," he said, referring to a pledge made by government in the November throne speech. "The commission will have a role in that particular review, and the commissions current role is to make sure theyre having discussions with police services across Manitoba... We will certainly be asking them to continue in that role." Other new members appointed to the commission are: Winnipegger Jeannette Acheson, a community parole officer with the Correctional Service of Canada; George Wright of Winnipeg, who spent 15 years as a commissioner with the Law Enforcement Review Agency; Rick Kenderdine, who has served as chairman of the Citizens on Patrol Program in Virden; and Ashling Sweeny, a member of the Cross Lake First Nation and a captain with Thompson Fire Emergency Services. The returning members are: Ernie Blais, former president of the Manitoba Metis Federation; Desiree Gillespie of Stonewall, a board member of the Interlake Metis community advisory committee's restorative justice program; and Mamadou Ka, who teaches political science at the Universite de Saint-Boniface. kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA A former Winnipeg cable-access television host who was convicted of trespassing, has lost his bid to have the Supreme Court decide whether colleagues had slandered him after a tense confrontation. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA A former Winnipeg cable-access television host who was convicted of trespassing, has lost his bid to have the Supreme Court decide whether colleagues had slandered him after a tense confrontation. The high court gave notice Thursday it will not hear the case launched by Martin Green, who hosted Math with Marty. It marks the seventh time the court has refused to hear cases filed by Green. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Martin "Marty" Green. Green, who represented himself, could not be reached for comment. He was found guilty in 2014 of trespassing at the University of Winnipeg campus. The university had suspended Green, who in February 2013 disobeyed an order not to go on campus. He was cleared of a mischief charge. Following recent spate of fatalities, Canadian charities are modifying their donation bins in a effort to prevent people from becoming trapped inside the metal receptacles. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Following recent spate of fatalities, Canadian charities are modifying their donation bins in a effort to prevent people from becoming trapped inside the metal receptacles. Diabetes Canada said Thursday it expects to have work on all 4,000 of its distinctive red or blue-and-white bins complete by next week, including those in Manitoba. Such modifications include workers using hacksaws to remove the closure flap that folds in, mailbox-style. It is designed to prevent theft of donations, but can potentially trap a person leaning in too far. A woman was found dead inside a donation bin in Toronto this week. In Vancouver, a man was found dead inside a similar receptacle Dec. 30 the second such death in 2018 in the city, following the body of a woman being found in July. Eight Canadians have become fatally trapped inside metal donation drop-off bins since 2015, including four in Vancouver. "It's an antitheft flap, and those flaps are being removed. The bins are just going to be left open and that creates other problems, but nobody wants anybody to be hurt." Rangeview Fabricating owner John Luison In response to calls the boxes be scrapped, at least one manufacturer has said it plans a move toward a redesign of the product. Meanwhile, Diabetes Canada announced last week it is safety-proofing all of its drop-off boxes. "Diabetes Canada is very saddened to learn of the recent deaths... in clothing donation bins belonging to other charitable organizations... (The) bins are in the process of being retrofitted or modified in an effort to prevent injury or death to those misusing or trying to gain entry to its clothing bins," it announced on Jan. 4. The charity has been collection clothing donations in such unstaffed locations for more than 20 years. "This includes Manitoba. The modifications are well underway and will be completed by Jan. 18," a spokeswoman said by email Thursday. Hamilton-based Ontario Rangeview Fabricating Inc. distributed videos to its clients this week on how to cut through a metal fixture that holds the bin flap in place and remove the part. Detaching the flap will leave the bins more accessible but lower the risks of injury or death. "Its an anti-theft flap, and those flaps are being removed. The bins are just going to be left open and that creates other problems, but nobody wants anybody to be hurt, " Rangeview Fabricating owner John Luison said by phone. The donation drop-off boxes are a staple for charities, providing a valuable source for warm clothing for those who need it most a role that cant easily be replaced. "Every day, we see two, three, four, five design redoes. Were working on coming up with something everybody is comfortable with. This problem will be solved," Luison said. Other Canadian manufacturers are picking on Rangeview's lead, but it's not known if similar receptacles imported from outside the country will be redesigned, too. The death in Vancouver in December involved a Rangeview-made bin. The Union Gospel Mission in Winnipeg reported this week it will be modifying its bins in 40 locations across southern Manitoba. "Its very concerning, very disturbing to think that somebody could be trapped inside," executive director Frank Ulrich told the CBC. "It turns the stomach." alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca Some last-minute adjustments to the proposed Kenaston Boulevard/Route 90 expansion could result in fewer homes being expropriated for the project. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Some last-minute adjustments to the proposed Kenaston Boulevard/Route 90 expansion could result in fewer homes being expropriated for the project. Coun. John Orlikow said hes asked planners alter the route of the widened roadway, shifting a portion south of the Assiniboine River slightly to the west by acquiring a portion of the Manitoba Youth Centre property. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Councillor for River Heights-Fort Garry John Orlikow, would like planners to acquire property from the Manitoba Youth Centre for the proposed widening of Kenaston Blvd. Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) said it would result in fewer homes on the east side of Kenaston being expropriated by the City of Winnipeg, and would allow for more buffering for that section of the River Heights neighbourhood. The move was first raised by Orlikow in September. He said the city planning, property and development department has agreed to consider the request. "Would there be much savings in expropriations? We dont know at this point," Orlikow said, adding the youth detention centre is provincially-owned and thus its land cant be expropriated. The province would have to give up the property, then reach an agreed price for it with the city. Justice Minister Cliff Cullen told the Free Press the provincial government is supportive of minimizing the impact of expropriations on residents by shifting the proposed route, but added there yet has been no such request made. "When the city comes forward with a formal request, we would consider it at that time," Cullen said in an email Thursday. "At this point, it would be premature to comment as there would need to be many steps taken before the province could enter into any agreement on that property." Orlikow said city officials are considering three options for MYC land, one of which would involve some of the cottages on the property. Cullen said any reduction would have to be measured against the impact on the detainment facility. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Aerial view of the Manitoba Youth Centre showing its proximity to Kenaston Blvd. in the foreground. "We respect and value everything that our juvenile counsellors do at the Manitoba Youth Centre to manage the youth custody population and keep Manitobans safe," Cullen said. "As such, we will not consider any proposals that may put public safety at risk, and as any discussions unfold, we will keep our front-line staff informed along the way." The city plans to widen Kenaston to six lanes from four, and widen the St. James bridges. The most recent cost estimate for the project was $450 million, however, city officials said the figure will likely change depending on final designs. The project has not been approved by city council and no funding has been identified. Consulting firm WSP Canada was hired in September 2017 on a $2.6-million contract to design a complete revamp of the roadway, from Taylor to Ness avenues, building on plans it had presented during a series of open houses in 2009 and 2010. Civic reports estimated the project will require the acquisition through purchase or expropriation of 136 properties -- including 94 single-family homes -- the majority of which are owned by the Department of Defence. WSP Canada was required to prepare a final design and a more accurate cost estimate by the end of February. A report with recommendations is expected to go to council in the spring. The citys manager for the widening project had told the Free Press acquiring private property along Kenaston is expected to take 18 to 24 months. Construction, if approved, is expected to last three to four years. aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca The Winners 2019 fasting and prayers (21 days)have started with the Founder, Bishop David Oyedepo, saying it will end on the 27th of January. Bishop Oyedepo said the Winners Chapel 2019 fasting and prayers, members are expected to get to their local assemblies every evening to break with the communion. LIVING FAITH CHURCH WORLDWIDE Inc. 21-DAY PRAYER AND FASTING, 2019. Prophetic Focus: INTERCESSORY PRAYER GUIDELINE Week 1 Day 1: Monday, January 7th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank you for confirming the New Dawn prophetic agenda of 2018 in the Winners family worldwide 1 Kgs 8:15 Prayer 2: Father, by the revelation of your word, hasten the fulfillment of the 2019 prophetic word in the life of every Winner Jer.1:12 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, release new dimensions of revelation from our altar this year, causing abiding multitudes to flow into our churches worldwide, resulting in our established Dominion as a church Eph. 3:1-5/ Is. 2:1-3 Prayer 4: Father, in the name of Jesus, let this church experience Territory-Dominating order of growth this year, thereby retaining her as an ever-growing city without walls Zech. 2:4-5 Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant every Winner grace for unwavering obedience, resulting in the full manifestation of the Dominion verdict of the year in the life of every member of this church Deut. 28:1 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, let every contention of hell against the ongoing revival in this church be visited with divine vengeance, resulting in the continuous influx of record-breaking multitudes into this church this year Is 49:25-26 Prayer 7: Father, we decree that the oil upon your servant, the Apostle over this Commission, remains ever fresh and let him continue to experience ever-increasing anointing Ezk. 47:1-5 Day 2: Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for answers to all our prayers yesterday, both as a Commission and as individuals Psa. 118:23 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, open the eyes of every Winner to the reality of the prophetic provisions available to us this year Eph. 1:18 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, let there be ear-tingling testimonies in all our churches worldwide, resulting in the ingathering of Territory-Dominating and abiding multitudes this year Act. 5:12-15 Prayer 4: Father, by the blood of Jesus, open the seal of your word to our pastors, culminating in unusual revelation that will result in the invasion of abiding multitudes into all our churches worldwide this year- Rev. 5:4-5 Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, continue to send us the rain of your good Word that will engender dominion order of testimonies among your people this year Heb. 6:5 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, plead the cause of this church and fight against them that fight against her continuous growth resulting in the influx of record-breaking and abiding multitudes this year. Ps 35:1 Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, let this church experience Territory-Dominating order of growth this year, thereby retaining her as an ever-growing city without walls Zech. 2:4-5 Day 3: Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for answers to all our prayers yesterday, both as a Commission and as individuals Psa. 118:1 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, baptize every Winner with the Spirit of obedience, to keep the prophetic demands of the year, thereby experiencing the reality of the Dominion era Ezk. 36:27 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, let this Church continue to experience supernatural growth after the order of the Acts of the Apostles, thereby retaining this church as a city without walls all through this year and beyond Acts 13:44 Prayer 4: Father, strengthen your servant, the Apostle over this Commission, to relentlessly pursue the Dominion prophetic agenda with outstanding results Psa. 89:20-21 Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, shed your love abroad in my heart, both towards you and the interest of your kingdom, so that my life will keep springing surprises among men this year 1 Cor. 2:9 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, we decree judgment against the gods of the land and all satanic manipulations targeted at stalling the growth of this church resulting in the invasion of abiding multitudes this year Exo 12:12. Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, let there be supernatural multiplication of churches in this commission this year, as you establish the Dominion of this church across the globe Jer. 30:19 Day 4: Thursday, January 10th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for answers to all our prayers yesterday, both as a Commission and as individuals Ps. 118:23 Prayer 2: Father, continue to unveil divine secrets to every Winner, thereby causing us to ride prosperously all through this year Gen. 41:38-41 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, we invoke the vengeance of the Holy Ghost upon all resistances of the devil against the salvation of souls of the lost across our harvest field, resulting in the invasion of abiding multitudes all through this year Ps 94:1. Prayer 4: Father, in the name of Jesus, set a seal of protection over all our members and their families against all forms of attack all through this year and beyond- Psa. 125:3-5. Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, let the Holy Ghost sweep across our harvest field with strong waves of convictions, thereby drawing record-breaking multitudes into this church this year Jn. 16:7-8. Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus and by the Mystery of the Passover Blood, let every captive ordained for eternal life this year be released and established in this church Acts 13:48 Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, supernaturally meet the needs of everyone that come into our services this year, thereby making them to abide in this Church for life Ps. 23:6 WSF: Saturday, January 11th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank you for answering my prayers since this 21-day prayer and fasting began Jn. 11:41 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, meet the need of every member of this cell this year, thereby attracting others to Christ Zch. 8:23 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, let this cell replicate minimum twice this year to validate the ongoing Wonder Double prophetic agenda Exo. 1:7 WEEK 2 Day 8: Monday, January 13th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for gathering great multitudes into our service(s) yesterday and for granting every worshiper diverse encounters by your word Isa. 9:8 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, continue to send us the rain of your word of grace all through this year that will engender access to the inheritance of every Winner Acts 20:32 Prayer 3: Father, by the blood of Jesus, we destroy all interferences of the devil against the continuous growth of this church all through this year and beyond in the name of Jesus Rev. 12:11 Prayer 4: Father, by the blood of Jesus, open the seal of your word to our pastors, culminating in unusual revelation that will result in the multiplication of disciples in all our churches worldwide Act. 6:7 Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, rain upon all agents of the devil arrayed against this church and our members, snares, fire and brimstone, thereby silencing them forever Ps 11:6 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, let your master reaper angel, cast his sharp sickle into our harvest field, to thoroughly reap every soul ordained for salvation all through this year Rev. 14:14/16 Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, endue our leaders at all levels in this Commission with wisdom from above for effectiveness in discharge of their responsibilities resulting in the growing Dominion of this church Is. 33:6 Day 9: Tuesday, January 16th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for answers to all our prayers yesterday, both as a Commission and as individuals Psa. 118:23 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, anoint every Winner for supernatural dimension of breakthroughs this year, that will turn each one to a living wonder Isa. 45:1-3 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, continue to send us the fire of your word to burn off every chaff in the life of every Winner this year Jer. 23:29 Prayer 4: Father, let your hedge of protection be strong around your servant, the Apostle over this Commission, and his family and let every arrow targeted at them return back to sender Psa. 89:20-22. Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, we decree judgment upon all the evil beasts in the land seeking to scatter the flock of Christ in this church this year Ezk. 34:25 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, cause your acts in this church to be noised abroad as in the day of Pentecost, thereby drafting multitudes into this Church all through this prophetic season Acts 2:6/41 Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, let all who come to our services all through this year have definite encounters with Your Word, thereby causing them to abide in this Church for life Jn. 6:68 Day 10: Wednesday, January 17th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for answers to all our prayers yesterday, both as a Commission and as individuals Isa. 58:9 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, empower every Winner to walk in the light of your word, thereby commanding supernatural abundance this year 2 Cor. 9:7-8 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, we decree the release of fresh and life-transforming Word in all our services, that will gather and retain multitudes in this church all through this year Ps. 23:2 Prayer 4: Father, in the name of Jesus, renew the prophetic grace upon your servant, the Apostle over this Commission, all through this year as you confirm every word of his mouth Isa. 44:26 Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, we decree the destruction of every spell, curse and enchantment against the glorious destiny of every member of this church, including all our new converts this year Col 2:14-15 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, defend all our assemblies worldwide and let there be no evil occurrence anywhere throughout the year Zech. 2:8 Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, let there be supernatural growth and replication of cells in this church this year, thereby Dominating the land before us Ex. 1:7 Day 11: Thursday, January 18th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for answers to all our prayers yesterday, both as a Commission and as individuals Jer. 33:3 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, let every Winner experience higher dimension of spiritual growth this year, resulting in supernatural breakthroughs in all areas of life Gal. 4:1 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, let there be a continuous increase of the word from our altar all through this year, leading to the supernatural growth and multiplication of this church Acts 6:7 Prayer 4: Father, in the name of Jesus, continue to unveil the pattern for the sustenance of this on-going revival to your servant, the Apostle over this Commission, as he leads the flock this year Heb. 8:5 Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant supernatural wisdom to our pastors and leaders at all levels, resulting in the continuous growth and establishment of this church Pro. 24:3-5 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, and by the Holy Ghost, silence every voice seeking to manipulate people from coming to Christ and this church, thereby resulting in supernatural multiplication of this church this year Tit. 1:10-11 Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, let this church experience Territory-Dominating order of growth this year, thereby retaining her as an ever-growing city without walls Zech. 2:4-5 WSF: Saturday, January 20th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank you for answers to all my prayers since this week began Isa. 58:9 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, turn this cell into a solution center where every members need is supernaturally met Zeph. 3:17 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, let our soul winning endeavours in this cell be impactful this year, leading to continuous growth and replication of the cell Jn 6:44. WEEK 3 Day 15: Monday, January 22nd, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for gathering great multitudes into our service(s) yesterday and for granting every worshiper diverse encounter by your word Isa. 9:8 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, and by the power of your word heal every Winner that is a victim of any conception-hindering condition and let them bring forth their miracle children this year Gen. 21: 1-3 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, unveil the right word to your people in every service all through this year, resulting in turnaround testimonies for every worshipper Job 6:25 Prayer 4: Father, in the name of Jesus, let your reaper-angels appear to all the unsaved across our harvest field in visions and dreams of the night, pointing them to this church for their salvation Acts 10:3/34-35 Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, let everything mocking the glorious destiny of every member of this church be judged 2Kg 2:23-24 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, let divine utterance be granted to our pastors, leading to supernatural growth of the church all through this year Acts 6:7 Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, let there be supernatural growth and replication of cells in this church this year, thereby Dominating the land before us Ex. 1:7 Day 16: Tuesday, January 23rd, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for answers to all our prayers yesterday, both as a Commission and as individuals Psa. 118:23 Prayer 2: Father, by the Holy Ghost, break every spell of family unsettlement in the lives of your people, resulting in the restoration and sustenance of harmony in every home Num.23:23 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus and by the Holy Ghost, let your word have a free course and be glorified among us in signs and wonders all through this year 2 Thess. 3:1 Prayer 4: Father, release afresh upon the leadership of this Commission the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to match the demands of the year Eph. 1:17-18 Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, let the Holy Spirit Whistle across our harvest field, thereby compelling the ingathering of abiding multitudes into this church all through this year Isa. 5:26 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, we decree the destruction of every agent of the devil and his cohorts against the full delivery of the Dominion Church Growth Agenda for the year, resulting in an invasion of unprecedented multitudes in all our services this year Job. 22:27 Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, let all who come to our services all through this year have definite encounters with Your Word, thereby causing them to abide in this Church for life Jn. 6:68 Day 17: Wednesday, January 24th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for answers to all our prayers yesterday, both as a Commission and as individuals Psa. 118:1 Prayer 2: Father, cause everyone who desires to be married among us in the Winners family to be supernaturally connected to their marital destinies this year Gen. 24:13-21 Prayer 3: Father, empower all our new converts and new members by the Holy Ghost, so they can live a triumphant Christian life Zech. 4:6 Prayer 4: Father, in the name of Jesus, endue our leaders at all levels in this Commission with wisdom from above for effectiveness in discharge of their responsibilities resulting in the growing Dominion of this church Is. 33:6 Prayer 5: Father, in the name of Jesus, we decree continuous business and career breakthrough for every Winner all through this year Is. 60:1-3 Prayer 6: Father, in the name of Jesus, let the fire of the Holy Ghost consume every agent of the devil seeking to frustrate the full delivery of the Dominion Church Growth Agenda for this year Heb. 12:29 Prayer 7: Father, by the Holy Ghost, quicken the spirit of your servant, the Apostle over this Commission for enhanced sensitivity to every directive of the Holy Spirit Is. 50:4 Day 18: Thursday, January 25th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank you for answers to all our prayers all through the ongoing 21 days of prayer and fasting Isa. 58:9 Prayer 2: Father, thank you for restoring total health to everyone in the Winners family in response to our prayer this year Isa. 58:8 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank you for opening up the glorious destiny of every member of this church though the ongoing 21 days of prayer and fasting Isa. 58:6/8 Prayer 4: Father, thank you for granting your Servant, the Apostle over this Commission, supernatural utterance all through this year in response to our prayer, as he continues to unveil the mystery of the kingdom Eph. 6:19 Prayer 5: Father, thank you for diverse visitations grated us, both as a church and as individuals all through this ongoing prayer and fasting season Gen. 21:1 Prayer 6: Father, thank you for empowering us to go from strength to strength since this 21 days of prayer and fasting began Psa. 84:7 Prayer 7: Father, in the name of Jesus, let there be supernatural multiplication of churches in this commission this year, as you establish the Dominion of this church across the globe Jer. 30:19 WSF: Saturday, January 27th, 2019 Prayer 1: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank you for answers to all our prayers since this year 21-day prayer and fasting began Isa. 58:9 Prayer 2: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for making every member of this cell a living wonder, thereby drafting many into Christ and to this cell Zch. 8:23 Prayer 3: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank you for life-transforming encounters granted every Winner in the course of this 21-day prayer and fasting, thereby establishing the speedy delivery of our Dominion Package Isa. 43:18-19 Jesus is Lord! The former FBI director whose firing by U.S. President Donald Trump sparked the probe by special counsel Robert Mueller, is coming to Winnipeg. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The former FBI director whose firing by U.S. President Donald Trump sparked the probe by special counsel Robert Mueller, is coming to Winnipeg. James Comey is scheduled to speak at the Western Canada Information Security Conference at the RBC Convention Centre, which will be held May 27 and 28. Comey, who has been promoting his memoir A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, is the lunchtime keynote speaker at the two-day conference. His book sharply criticizes Trump, whom he describes as unethical and "untethered to truth." The 6-8 Comey took personal shots at the American president, describing him as shorter than he expected with a "too long" tie and "bright white half-moons" under his eyes that appeared to come from tanning goggles. In his book, Comey said he made a conscious effort to check the presidents hand size, noting it was "smaller than mine but did not seem unusually so." Comey compared Trump to a mafia don and called his leadership of the United States "ego driven and about personal loyalty." Trump has responded by calling Comey a "showboat" and a "liar." Comey has faced enraged criticism on both sides of the political aisle in the U.S. As FBI director, Comey came under fire in July 2016 for announcing the status of the investigation into then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's use of an unsecure email server during her time as secretary of state. Comey announced that that "no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case" against her for mishandling classified information, which enraged Republicans. Four months later just 11 days before the presidential election Comey sent a letter to the U.S. Congress saying he was reopening the Clinton email investigation in light of new information, which had been found but not yet examined, by the FBI. That enraged Democrats. Two days before the election, Comey announced there was nothing new or incriminating about the purportedly new information. In May 17, Trump fired Comey, creating upheaval in the Justice Department that led to the appointment of special counsel Mueller overseeing the Russia investigation. Muellers probe expanded to include whether Trump obstructed justice by firing Comey. For nearly 20 years, the security conference has been a learning and networking opportunity for information security, risk management, IT audit and control professionals from across Western Canada. For more see https://wcisc.ca/ Staff, with files from Associated Press OTTAWA - Three people were killed and 23 injured when a double-decker city bus struck a transit shelter in Ottawa on Friday afternoon, badly damaging the vehicle's upper deck where several people were trapped inside. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Police and first responders work at the scene where a double-decker city bus struck a transit shelter in Ottawa, on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA - Three people were killed and 23 injured when a double-decker city bus struck a transit shelter in Ottawa on Friday afternoon, badly damaging the vehicle's upper deck where several people were trapped inside. The driver of the bus was arrested at the scene, Chief Charles Bordeleau of the Ottawa police told an evening news conference at city hall. He wouldn't say why she was detained rather than submitting to questions voluntarily. "Something led us to having to arrest the individual and take them to the station," Bordeleau said. The crash took place west of downtown at 3:50 p.m., just as dusk was beginning to settle on the coldest day of the winter so far in the capital. The bus was headed to Kanata, a more distant Ottawa suburb. Mayor Jim Watson said two of the dead were riding the bus and one was on the platform at Westboro station, a major stop on the city's busway. The vehicle apparently jumped the curb as it approached the station and plowed along the platform, where the roof of a shelter carved deep into the vehicle's second deck. The first seats on the upper level of the bus were crushed together. During the emergency response, a dozen ambulances lined one side of the transit route, waiting to take injured people away. One woman who could walk was helped off a bus by two first responders, one supporting each of her arms. Another was wheeled on a gurney in obvious distress, wailing loudly enough to be heard on an overpass above. Neither Bordeleau nor Watson would speculate on why the bus had left the road. Despite mid-afternoon temperatures of about minus-15, it hadn't snowed in Ottawa Friday and the busway is the top priority for the city's snowplows, salters and sanders. "We're taking every necessary step to establish all of the facts and will co-operate fully with any investigation," said John Manconi, the general manager of Ottawa's transit service, OC Transpo. Paramedics said a total of 25 people were taken to hospital, suggesting one of the victims could not be revived at the scene and the other two died after arriving. Of those transported, 14 were in critical condition and 11 were in serious condition, paramedic chief Myles Cassidy said in the news conference later. "Most of the serious injuries were on the upper-right side of the bus," Bordeleau said. "I want to express my sorrow and condolences of the Ottawa police service and other emergency services." He said the upper deck of the bus was badly damaged in the crash, trapping several people inside for some time. The investigation will take a long time and likely would mean the closure of the busway and nearby roads for at least many hours, Bordeleau said. Gabe Rivett-Carnac arrived at Westboro station on a double-decker bus himself about an hour before the crash. He was in his apartment across the street from the station when he started hearing sirens just after 4 p.m. He went outside and came across a "chaotic" scene, with at least 30 emergency vehicles, including seven or eight fire trucks, and lots of police and bystanders, he said. "You could see the entire front portion of the bus had been demolished or cut away, and firefighters were on ladders cutting out the top floor windows," he said. "I saw one person being lowered from the top floor in a seated position." He said he could tell there would be deaths given the devastation at the scene. "Based on the way it looked, if there was anybody at the front of the bus at the top I can't see how they would've been able to get away from that," he said. His partner usually gets off the bus at that station when coming home from work but she hadn't gone in on Friday, he said, and they were checking in with family and friends who live in the area to see if they're OK. "You get a knot in the pit of your stomach. I felt like vomiting a couple of times. It's not a comfortable thing to witness and I can't imagine experiencing it." Politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, tweeted messages of support. "To the people of Ottawa, know that the rest of Ontario shares in your sorrow tonight. We grieve with you, and we stand with you," Ford wrote in a longer statement. "Such devastating news. My thoughts and condolences are with the victims, their families and all those affected by this tragedy," wrote Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, who represents the area in Parliament. In 2013, another Ottawa double-decker bus broke through a warning gate and collided with a Via Rail train in suburban Barrhaven, killing six people as the train sheared off the front of the vehicle. In that case, an investigation found that the cause was a combination of excessive speed, a difficult curve before the tracks and driver distraction from video monitors showing the upper deck. With files from David Reevely in Ottawa and Laura Kane in Vancouver. WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers in a classified briefing Thursday that the Trump administration will keep strict U.S. sanctions on Oleg Deripaska and any companies he owns, but Democrats say they still have concerns that the government is being too soft on the Russian oligarch. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks to reporters after giving a classified briefing to members of the House of Representatives, telling them that the Trump administration will keep strict U.S. sanctions on the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers in a classified briefing Thursday that the Trump administration will keep strict U.S. sanctions on Oleg Deripaska and any companies he owns, but Democrats say they still have concerns that the government is being too soft on the Russian oligarch. In one of Democrats' first oversight moves as the new majority in the House, seven committee chairmen wrote to Mnuchin on Tuesday and asked him to explain by the end of the week why the U.S. decided to ease sanctions on three companies linked to Deripaska. Mnuchin promptly came to Capitol Hill to answer questions about the matter, but Democrats leaving the meeting said his answers weren't sufficient. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was "unimpressed" with Mnuchin's briefing, saying that he was not fully forthcoming in the classified setting and was "wasting the time of the members of Congress." Asked if the House may move to block Treasury's actions, Pelosi said "we'll see." The Democrats were asking Mnuchin about a December announcement that the U.S. would lift sanctions on the three companies the aluminum manufacturing giant Rusal, EN+ Group and the Russian power company JSC EuroSibEnergo. EN+ Group is a holding company that owns nearly 50 per cent of Rusal. In the letter, the Democrats said the sanctions deal appears to allow Deripaska to keep "significant ownership" of one of the companies. Congress has 30 days to block the move to terminate the sanctions, but Democrats have asked for an extension. Treasury announced the move just before the December recess and before the start of the government shutdown, the Democrats said, and they haven't had enough time to review it. The Treasury Department maintains that Deripaska will remain blacklisted as part of sanctions that targeted tycoons close to the Kremlin, and that the companies have committed to diminish Deripaska's ownership and sever his control. In a statement released ahead of the briefing, Mnuchin reiterated that Deripaska remains under sanctions, "his property and interests remain blocked, and any companies he controls are also sanctioned." The three companies were originally targeted because they were owned or majority-controlled by Deripaska. "These entities are undergoing significant restructuring and governance changes that sever Deripaska's control and significantly diminish his ownership," Mnuchin said in the statement. "They have committed to provide Treasury with an unprecedented level of transparency into their dealings to ensure that Deripaska does not reassert control. As a result, these entities will no longer be designated for sanctions." He said if the companies fail to comply with the terms, they could face the re-imposition of sanctions. Mnuchin also spoke briefly after the hearing to refute Pelosi's assertion that he was not forthcoming, saying he "answered all their questions." House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said he pressured Mnuchin on concerns he has that Deripaska and other Kremlin allies will continue to exercise influence over the companies. "It will be incumbent upon Congress to maintain pressure on the Treasury to explain its reversal of course and why Deripaska or his companies are suddenly deserving of this relief," Schiff said. Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democratic member of the Ways and Means Committee, said he was also unsatisfied with Mnuchin's answers but saw his attendance as the start of a new era of Democratic oversight of President Donald Trump's administration. "We are saying to the Trump administration, and to the Russians, we are looking carefully at every transaction you are involved with," Doggett said. "We will exercise our oversight." WARSAW, Poland - Poland has arrested a director at the Chinese tech giant Huawei and one of its own former cybersecurity experts and charged them with spying for China, authorities said Friday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Huawei logo displayed at the main office of Chinese tech giant Huawei in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Poland's Internal Security Agency has charged a Chinese manager at Huawei in Poland and one of its own former officers with espionage against Poland on behalf of China. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) WARSAW, Poland - Poland has arrested a director at the Chinese tech giant Huawei and one of its own former cybersecurity experts and charged them with spying for China, authorities said Friday. The development comes as the U.S. is exerting pressure on its allies not to use Huawei, the world's biggest maker of telecommunications network equipment, over data security concerns. The two men one a Chinese citizen who was a former envoy in Poland before moving over to a senior position at Huawei and the other a Pole who held several top government cybersecurity positions were arrested Tuesday, according to Poland's Internal Security Agency. Polish security agents searched the Warsaw offices of Huawei and Orange, Poland's leading communications provider, where the former Polish security expert recently worked, seizing documents and electronic data. The homes of both men, also in Warsaw, were also searched, according to agency spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn. It's the latest setback for Huawei in Europe, where the company has ambitious plans to roll out next-generation "5G" mobile networks, which it is a leader in developing. The arrest is a fresh sign that a U.S. dispute with China over its ban on the company is spilling over to Europe, Huawei's biggest foreign market. Some European governments and telecom companies are following the U.S. lead in questioning whether using Huawei for vital infrastructure for mobile networks could leave them exposed to snooping by the Chinese government. Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Poland's Special Services agency, said the operation that resulted in the arrests of the two suspects had been underway for a long time. He said "both carried out espionage activities against Poland." Zaryn told The Associated Press that prosecutors have charged the two men with espionage, but agents are continuing to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Further indictments are expected, he said. He said no further details would be released about the case because it is classified and the investigation is ongoing. The Huawei logo displayed at the main office of Chinese tech giant Huawei in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Poland's Internal Security Agency has charged a Chinese manager at Huawei in Poland and one of its own former officers with espionage against Poland on behalf of China. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Polish state television TVP reported that the men have proclaimed their innocence, but Zaryn said he could not confirm that. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison each. TVP identified the arrested Chinese man as Weijing W., saying he was a director in Poland at Huawei. It said he also went by the Polish first name of Stanislaw and had previously worked at the Chinese consulate in Gdansk. A LinkedIn profile for a man named Stanislaw Wang appears to match details of the man described by Polish television. Wang's resume said he worked at China's General Consulate in Gdansk from 2006-2011 and at Huawei Enterprise Poland since 2011, where he was first director of public affairs and since 2017 the "sales director of public sector." The resume said he received a bachelor's degree in 2004 from the Beijing University of Foreign Studies. State TV identified the Polish man as Piotr D., and said he was a high-ranking employee at the Internal Security Agency, where he served as deputy director in the department of information security, until 2011. The Polish state news agency, PAP, said the man had also held top cybersecurity positions at the Interior Ministry and the Office of Electronic Communications, a regulatory body that oversees cyber and other telecommunications issues. It said, while at the Internal Security Agency, he was involved in building a mobile communications system for top Polish officials, and he was fired in 2011 amid a major corruption scandal. Geopolitical tensions over Huawei have intensified since Canada arrested a top executive last month at the request of U.S. authorities. The company has been blocked in the U.S. since 2012 over fears that its equipment is a security risk, and last year Australia, New Zealand and Japan instituted their own bans against using Huawei. U.S. officials have reportedly fanned out across Europe recently to make their case with governments and Huawei suppliers for blocking the company. The company and analysts have long maintained that it has never been found guilty of a cybersecurity breach but the latest accusation, if confirmed, will deal a blow to that defence. "One thing is clear: this is another nail in the coffin of Huawei's European ambitions," said Thorsten Benner, director of the Global Public Policy Institute, a think-tank . The arrest might not have a big impact on broader trade tensions between China and the U.S., but it shows that "there will always be competition and acrimony related to Chinese tech companies," Benner said. Huawei, which also makes smartphones and other consumer devices, issued a statement from its Chinese headquarters saying it was aware of the situation in Poland and was looking into it. "We have no comment for the time being. Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based," the statement said. Poland is Huawei's headquarters for Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordic region. An official at the Chinese Embassy in Warsaw said China attaches "great importance to the detention" of the Chinese citizen in Poland and that Chinese envoys had met with Polish Foreign Ministry officials to urge them to arrange a consular visit "as soon as possible." The Chinese Foreign Ministry said late Friday it is "closely following the detention of Huawei employee Wang Weijing" and has asked Poland to "handle the case lawfully, fairly, properly and to effectively guarantee the legitimate rights of the person, his safety and his humanitarian treatment," according to state broadcaster CCTV. Orange Poland told the AP on Friday it was co-operating with Polish security services in the case and had "handed over belongings of one of our employees" in Tuesday's search of its offices. Orange told the AP it did not know if the suspicions against its employee were related to his work at Orange or elsewhere. Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested Dec. 1 in Canada in connection with U.S. accusations that the company violated restrictions on sales of American technology to Iran. The United States wants Meng extradited to face charges that she misled banks about the company's business dealings in Iran. She is out on bail in Canada awaiting extradition proceedings. On Dec. 10, China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor on vague national security allegations in apparent retaliation for Meng's arrest. China's ambassador to Canada accused the country this week of "white supremacy" in calling for the release of the two Canadians, while describing the detentions as an "act of self-defence." Chan reported from London. Associated Press writers Joe McDonald and Christopher Bodeen in Beijing contributed to this report. MONTREAL - As workers marked the one-year anniversary of the lockout at the ABI aluminum smelter in Becancour, Que. Friday, the impact of the lengthy conflict was being felt throughout the region. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A member of a Steelworkers Union holds up a sign during a protest in Montreal on November 28, 2018, where he demonstrated against the lockout of workers at an Alcoa smelter plant in Becancour, Que. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes MONTREAL - As workers marked the one-year anniversary of the lockout at the ABI aluminum smelter in Becancour, Que. Friday, the impact of the lengthy conflict was being felt throughout the region. In addition to upending the lives of the plant's 1,030 workers, the lockout is creating concern in the municipal administration and complicating life for local businesses. The slowdown has also deprived the provincial utility, Hydro-Quebec, of an estimated $215 million in revenues from sales it would have normally made to the smelter. The town of Becancour, hit by the closure of the Gentilly-2 nuclear reactor in 2012, relies heavily on ABI, which accounts for about 20 per cent $4.5 million of its tax base. It would be a "catastrophe for the region" if the smelter closed for good, Mayor Guy Dubois said. "We prefer not even to think about that," Dubois said in a telephone interview. "But like it or not, we always have that at the back of our minds. For the moment, we have built our budget as though ABI was a corporate citizen as was the case in the past." In 2018, despite the fact ABI gradually cut production and is now operating at one-sixth of capacity, Becancour did not see a drop in tax revenues coming from the company. But the plant's unionized workers, whose average annual salary is around $80,000, are big contributors to the region's economy. Currently, they are getting just $600 a week from their union, less than half their usual wages. The situation has had repercussions on local merchants, in particular restaurants, Dubois said, but so far none has been forced to close its doors. "The current context of full employment has helped a lot," he explained. "It would be very different if the unemployment rate was higher." Still, the lockout has had a negative impact in Becancour's industrial park and port. ABI's production cuts have meant a drop of about $1 million in revenues for the port, though this has been partly compensated by the development of new markets. There are no signs that the labour conflict is close to being resolved. The two sides show little sign of budging despite negotiating sessions and a mediation process that ended Dec. 21. The opposing sides are the United Steelworkers and ABI, which is 75 per cent owned by Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Corp. and 25 per cent by Montreal-headquartered Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. The main issues dividing the union and the employer are the pension plan and seniority provisions covering the assignment of workers. "I've joked in the past that the only thing we can do is pray," Dubois said. "We hope that each side will be able to compromise a little. That's the only way out of this." After a year living on a much lower salary than usual, more and more workers are struggling to make ends meet. They say they have no intention of returning to work without a negotiated collective agreement, so many are turning to part-time jobs. Martine Gauthier, who has worked nearly 31 years at ABI, will soon be eligible for retirement, but she refuses to leave before the conflict is resolved. Her 25-year-old daughter is a graduate student at the Universite de Sherbrooke, and to help cover her tuition expenses, Gauthier is taking on a part-time job in addition to her picket duties. "Is Mom going to stop paying for her studies? No. My daughter is a good student. I cannot abandon her," she said by telephone. Clement Masse, president of the union local, said the workers' resolve is not cracking. But he acknowledged that he did not expect the impasse to last so long. "It's been long," Masse said in a telephone interview. "You can't say that people aren't fed up. What they want is a negotiated agreement. Naturally, we are going to meet our members in the coming weeks." Union members planned a demonstration Friday afternoon outside the office of the local member of the provincial legislature, Donald Martel, who represents the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec. Their aim is to remind the government how long the conflict has dragged on. This week, the government announced the creation of a three-member working group drawn from bureaucrats in the Labour Department to examine the situation. But Labour Minister Jean Boulet said the government is not yet prepared to try to force a settlement. "I will not impose a solution," he said in an interview. "I spoke up and expressed my huge disappointment at the way the two sides behaved during the mediation. But I can't do the job on my own." MILAN - To stay on trend, Italian fashion houses are refashioning themselves for future growth. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE- In this Friday, June 15, 2018 file photo, a model wears a creation part of the Ermenegildo Zegna men's Spring-Summer 2019 collection, that was presented in Milan, Italy. Italian fashion houses are refashioning themselves for future growth to stay on trend. The Milan Fashion Week devoted to menswear for next fall and winter opens on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 with Ermenegildo Zegna, which made its first move to expand abroad with the Zegna GroupAos summer acquisition of American brand Thom Browne. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File) MILAN - To stay on trend, Italian fashion houses are refashioning themselves for future growth. Luxury label Ermenegildo Zegna, which opens fall and winter menswear previews at Milan Fashion Week on Friday, made its first move to expand abroad with the Zegna Group's summer acquisition of American brand Thom Browne. The Gianni Versace house's entrance into the group owned by American designer Michael Kors, Capri Holdings Limited, was finalized last week. A taste for mergers and acquisitions offers sources of cash and footholds in new markets to fashion companies that want to gain the scale for an international expansion, especially if their target is the tricky Asian market. Charting a future path is important for Italy's many family-run brands envisioning generational change and as various companies seek control of distribution channels. Missoni and Cavalli recently did deals with private equity investors to get cash infusions. FILE - IN THIS Dec. 2, 2018 file photo, Donatella Versace salutes during the Versace fashion show in New York. Gianni VersaceAos entrance into the fashion group owned by American designer Michael Kors was finalized last week. The Milan Fashion Week devoted to fall and winter menswear opens on Friday. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) While French conglomerates snapped up such powerhouse brands such as Gucci, Valentino, Fendi and Bottega Veneta, the Versace sale to an American label not quite in the luxury tier created a disorientating sense in the Italian fashion world. A recurring question came up yet again: why hasn't a fashion group emerged in Italy. Carlo Capasa, the head of the Italian Fashion Chamber, dismissed concerns that a world centred in Milan was in peril. "Many Italian companies don't have Italian owners. But that doesn't diminish their heritage or their attachment to Italy," Capasa said. "They become much stronger. Bottega Veneta opened more stores and has increased its sales." The main challenge facing brands is distribution and the significant investment required to gain control of it. "Before, only a few brands controlled distribution from the beginning to the end. Now it is common to have control over a good part of retail, which can bring more profits by taking out the middle man," Capasa said. "But more control requires more investments. Retail drains a lot of cash." In the United States, he said, the decline of department stores has meant brands have had to invest in creating their own retail presence. An e-commerce launch also requires a lot of cash to get right. Maurizio Tamagnini, the CEO of the FSI investment group that took a stake in Missoni last year, said the Italian fashion industry remains strong, representing nearly a quarter of top luxury brands and 20 per cent of the fastest growing. But despite the innovation in Italian fashion, Italy's family-run fashion houses "have less inclination" to create a big group, Tamagnini said. "It is easy to do, if you want to do it" by combining "the genius of our entrepreneurs with the boringness and the structure of finance," he said. Milan fashion stalwart Giorgio Armani is from time to time identified as having the necessary liquidity to create an Italian fashion group. But the designer has said he believes that staying small allows for the flexibility necessary to adapt to market changes. "I have always believed that economic independence is a fundamental value to work with full freedom," Armani told the Italian financial publication MF Fashion. "For this, I have never thought of seeking investments that aren't my own." While he acknowledged that the sale of iconic Italian brands to international groups "can touch our national pride," Armani said they had to be squarely acknowledged as signs of changing times. "I remain a supporter of independence, but what works for me doesn't have to be universal law," he said. "These brands have Italian spirit. If they manage to maintain that intact, then welcome to the international groups." BUCHAREST, Romania - European Union officials are working with Britain on ways to help Prime Minister Theresa May avoid a no-deal British departure from the bloc, although an EU leader insisted Friday that his helping hand won't include any renegotiation of the Brexit divorce deal. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker waits for the start of the weekly College of Commissioners meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) BUCHAREST, Romania - European Union officials are working with Britain on ways to help Prime Minister Theresa May avoid a no-deal British departure from the bloc, although an EU leader insisted Friday that his helping hand won't include any renegotiation of the Brexit divorce deal. As speculation grew that Britain might have to delay its exit from the bloc beyond the March 29 deadline, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said "we are checking with Downing Street what the clarifications could amount to" that might help May get her Brexit deal approved by Britain's Parliament next week. But, Juncker added: "They should not be confused with a renegotiation." An EU official said the bloc and the British government "are in contact at all levels ... to make sure that the deal goes through." The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the diplomatic talks. The two sides are discussing possible reassurances to help persuade reluctant British lawmakers to back the deal in a vote Tuesday in Parliament. A pro-European demonstrator protests outside parliament in London, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is struggling to win support for her Brexit deal in Parliament. Lawmakers are due to vote on the agreement Tuesday, and all signs suggest they will reject it, adding uncertainty to Brexit less than three months before Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Britain and the EU reached a hard-won Brexit deal in November, but the agreement has run aground in the British Parliament. May postponed a vote on the deal in December to avoid a resounding defeat, and there are few signs the deal has picked up support since then. May promised to seek further guarantees from Brussels on the most contentious issue, the status of the Ireland-Northern Ireland border. The EU is adamant that the legally binding 585-page withdrawal agreement can't be reopened, but EU officials are looking for diplomatic wording that could sway reluctant U.K. lawmakers. The Brexit agreement aims to guarantee Britain's smooth departure from the bloc, with a long transition period to adapt to the new situation and negotiate a permanent trade agreement. Without a deal, Britain faces an abrupt break from the EU on March 29, and there are fears it could involve chaotic scenes at borders, ports and airports. Businesses and people in Britain would face uncertain weeks and months as they try to find out what the uncharted future would bring. "I don't like the prospect of a 'no deal.' It would be a catastrophe," Juncker said on a visit to Romania, as the nation took over the EU's rotating presidency. Most British lawmakers also oppose the prospect of leaving the EU without a deal. But many also dislike May's agreement, which has displeased both sides of Britain's Brexit divide. Many lawmakers who back leaving the EU say it leaves the U.K. tethered to the bloc's rules and unable to forge an independent trade policy, while pro-Europeans argue it's inferior to the frictionless economic relationship Britain that currently enjoys as an EU member. A defeat in Tuesday's vote will leave Britain staring at an exit without a deal 10 weeks later, unless the country's feuding politicians can quickly agree on another plan. This week, British lawmakers passed an amendment forcing May's government to come back to Parliament with a new proposal within three working days of the deal being rejected. But with no majority in Parliament for any single alternate course, there is a growing chance that Britain may seek to postpone its departure date while politicians work on a new plan. Extending the deadline would require the EU's approval. The EU official who spoke on condition of anonymity said such an extension was permitted by the EU's governing treaty, and that a defeat in the Parliament would put the Brexit ball back in Britain's court. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned Friday that the country would face "Brexit paralysis" if lawmakers rejected the deal next week. "And Brexit paralysis ultimately could lead to no Brexit," he told the BBC. Jill Lawless reported from London. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. "Canadas best smoked meat sandwich" is back. The Sherbrook Street Deli, shuttered three months ago, reopened over the lunch hour Thursday with little fanfare and no advance advertising. Its return is courtesy of restaurateur Noel Bernier, who was a non-operating partner in the deli before it closed, and who bought Winnipeg chain restaurant Salisbury House two years ago and also owns Hermanos Restaurant. Bernier said he tried to sell the Sherbrook deli and had several offers within 24 hours of its closing on Sept. 30, but they all fell through. Meanwhile, people kept rapping their plates and clanging their cutlery on social media. "Over the last three months, the outpouring of people missing our smoked meat sandwich, either over Facebook or from phone calls or letters, was pretty phenomenal," Bernier said. "Weve had many people from across the country tell us this is Canadas best smoked meat sandwich. Because its a tiny little place in Wolseley, maybe it doesnt get the attention it deserves," Bernier said. Sherbrook Street is being reopened as a family venture. It will be operated by Berniers son Riley and his partner Juliana Roberta. "As much as this is a business story, its a family story," Bernier said. "Im a restaurateur, and Ive never seen a restaurant come back to life. So its a fun challenge." Part of what makes the deli unique is all its meat is made in-house and from scratch, with its own flavouring, rather than bought from a supermarket. "The deli was always very popular, but it had a very long menu of something like 60 items, and it wasnt profitable," Bernier said. The new Sherbrook deli will have eight sandwich platters. Previously, the eight sandwiches made up 85 per cent of orders, while the other 50 items comprised the rest and made for extra inventory losses and expenses. "Were going with the Winnipeg Smoked Meat Sandwich as our signature item, and were going with a much shorter menu and much faster service." As well, the new Sherbrook Deli will be set up for online orders via Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats and any other delivery service. That should begin within a couple weeks. Within two hours of announcing its opening on Facebook, the site had thousands of views and hundreds of comments. "Were going to wait to see if that turns into real business," Bernier said. The previous Sherbrook Deli owner, Jon Hochman, took over Gunns Bakery last week. The new Sherbrook deli will be using marble rye and light rye bread from Gunns Bakery, "keeping our connection to Jon," Bernier said. On its Facebook page, it also promises "set-in-stone operating hours" of from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The previous deli kept arbitrarily changing hours during its struggles, much to the chagrin of patrons. "Only time will tell if it will survive a second time, if we can bring a restaurant back to life," Bernier said. Bernier is helping with the launch, and will then let his son and partner take over. He said he needs a break from the rigours of the restaurant business. "Im actually stepping away from restaurant operations for the rest of this year to take a break and spend time with my family," he said. bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca Welcome to Jen Tries, a semi-regular feature in which Free Press columnist Jen Zoratti will try something new and report back. In this instalment, Jen Tries... legally purchasing cannabis. This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Welcome to Jen Tries, a semi-regular feature in which Free Press columnist Jen Zoratti will try something new and report back. In this instalment, Jen Tries... legally purchasing cannabis. I have never purchased weed, legal or otherwise. I dont partake, and I ambivalently observed the furor surrounding legalization last fall from the periphery. But post-legalization, I was curious about the actual mechanics of buying legal cannabis. I mean, its weird, right? Its hard to wrap your mind around walking into one of these sleek stores, buying a product that was once illegal and remains mostly illegal everywhere else in the world with your debit card! and getting a receipt for it. Theres also the intimidation factor, especially if youre new to and/or perhaps feel some residual shame about the subject. So, I thought Id try out the act of actually purchasing cannabis from a licensed retailer, and report back to those who might be curious, nervous, intimidated or all of the above. Jen Zoratti outside Tokyo Smoke in Osborne Village, where she received an informative tour that included descriptions of the varieties of marijuana on offer. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) If youre a newbie like me, you may feel outsized pressure to know exactly what youre looking for. Buying cannabis is not necessarily as straightforward as other consumables. Even if you dont know your flat whites from your long blacks, you can still enter a coffee shop and order coffee. Its not like you can walk into a cannabis retailer and say, "One medium weed, please." But just as you dont need to be a wine snob to buy wine or a coffee snob to buy coffee, you dont need to be an expert to buy weed. In fact, you dont have to have any knowledge whatsoever. In both places I purchased from Tweed and Tokyo Smoke, both in Osborne Village I had pleasant and informative interactions with the knowledgeable, friendly, pressure-free staff who approached me right away. Before you can get into the promised land, however, you have to show your ID. Unlike a liquor store, where you show your ID at the till, cannabis retailers ID you upon entry, which makes you feel less like youre doing something bad and more like youre entering some exclusive club. Walking into both stores, I still felt like I was doing something illicit; leaving, I felt like I had just... run an errand. Its amazing how quickly the novel becomes normal. Hip lifestyle boutique is certainly the vibe at Tweed; they even retail Diane Keatons style book The House That Pinterest Built. My sales associate nodded in agreement. "It reminds people of Sears or something, which helps nervous people feel more comfortable," he said. (Sears is not the first retailer that came to mind for me, but the point stands: its welcoming, and comfortable.) A handful of other people were shopping Tuesday afternoon, mostly middle-aged men. The dissonance between the slickly branded boutique spaces in which cannabis is retailed and the plain, government-mandated packaging in which it is sold is hilariously striking. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files) Physically entering a brick-and-mortar shop and have someone act as your, um, trip adviser is helpful. They will ask you some questions about your habits (whether you smoke, vape, etc.) or, if youre a would-be imbiber, how youd visualize yourself consuming it. They will also ask you what kind of sensation youre after, which for me was "not anxious." It was recommended to me to steer clear of sativas for now and go for the Plain Packaging indica, which is said to be more mellow. I purchased 3.5 grams, as it was not available in single grams due to the patchy availability in Canadian stores. It came to $31.49 after tax; only GST is charged on cannabis in Manitoba. The dissonance between the slickly branded boutique spaces in which cannabis is retailed and the plain, government-mandated packaging in which it is sold is hilariously striking, and underscores just how differently alcohol and cannabis are marketed in this country. Legal cannabis looks like a prescription, emblazoned with a black-on-yellow warning label. The 3.5-gram container, for example, looks like a topical corticosteroid cream, which is probably why the label offers a rather self-conscious assurance that "its more interesting inside" in delicate italic. (I also received Know My Limits pamphlets from Manitobas Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority, as well as a one-page Goverment of Canada info sheet outlining consumption basics and a few general legal rules.) Unlike my pretty bottles of Sauvignon Blanc, which are deliberately designed to look as seductive as possible on the shelf and then are slid into non-descript paper bags, plain-jane cannabis packages are slipped into trendy little totes. Based on her intent to 'pause,' Jen chose Utopia, which pairs well with napping and watching mindless TV. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) As I rounded the corner to Tokyo Smoke, a young man asked me where "the dispensary" was. I wasnt carrying a branded bag, so I suppose it was my "I purchased weed recently" glow. Tokyo Smoke has a highly curated, Instagram-friendly esthetic right down to the potted succulents. Its often likened to the Apple Store, but its got a distinct Davids Tea-meets-wellness shop thing going on as well. Its modern, but organic. Cool, yet warm. The woman who assisted me did so with zero judgment after I confessed my inexperience to her. "Youre my favourite kind of customer," she said, and gave me an informative tour of the shop. For a Tuesday afternoon, it was quite busy, with a wide cross-section of people buying bud. The cannabis here is categorized by "intent": Pause, Ease, Equalize, Rise, and Go. Each product is accompanied by a beautifully designed information card, which tells you how much THC and CBD the product includes, the "terpene notes" which refer to the organic compounds that give individual varietals distinct aromas (think citrus, floral, spice, earth) and a suggested pairing. Based on my intent to "pause," I chose (with help, of course) Utopia, which is indica-leaning and pairs well with "napping in a sweet hammock" or "streaming a mindless show." (Tokyo Smoke also provides artful little journals where one can document their Spark Notes: how you ingested it, how long before you felt it, how long the feeling lasted, and where you felt it the most.) I purchased one gram, which came to $13.65 after tax, according to my receipt. (My receipt!) OK, so maybe the novelty hasnt worn off. jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @JenZoratti Vanguard Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has revealed how he spurned the bribe from the Federal Government to construct a road to his village as a way of holding him in the All Progressives Congress, APC. Thisday Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, in this interview gives an insight into the state of the Nigerian aviation industry. The Sun The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has barred its members from participating in the 2019 general elections processes. Daily Times The National Assembly Abuja Office of Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central Senatorial District has been burgled with some critical items carried away. Leadership The All Progressive Congress (APC) as it is today is only but a safe haven for those with skeleton in their cupboards, Sokoto state govenror. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said. The Nation A new twist emerged yesterday in the violence that disrupted the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Lagos on Tuesday. Tribune Kayode Akinmade was Commissioner for Information in Ondo State during the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko. Winchester, VA (22601) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 76F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 49F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Viewed of Take Five - This is your final free article during this 30 day period.Stay in touch with all of the news from Winchester, Frederick and Clarke. Sign up today for complete digital access to The Winchester Star. Willmar, MN (56201) Today Sunshine and some clouds. High 92F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Yinka Badmus, a 24-year-old photojournalist with Talk Village International, has been arrested and remanded in Ikoyi Prison, over his dreadlocks, which some policemen felt made him look like a cultist. Badmus, who had just bagged a scholarship, was arrested for committing no crime by policemen attached to the Lagos State Police Command Anti-Cultism Unit. His boss, Stephen Oguntoyinbo, said he received disturbing phone calls from prison warders, urging him to ensure Badmus, who is now critically ill, was granted bail and taken to hospital to ensure he did not die. He explained that Badmus was arrested on December 31, 2018, while eating noodles at Pedro Bus Stop, Gbagada, where he lives. It was learnt that after he was detained, the policemen refused to allow him to contact anyone. While he was in detention, trying to convince the policemen that he was not a cultist, friends and family had become frantic with worry, searching for him. Badmus whereabouts was eventually known after a detainee, who was granted bail, contacted one of Badmus relatives. He had already spent three days in police detention, contravening the stipulated instruction that every suspect must be charged within 24 hours. Oguntoyinbo said: After days in detention, Yinka was able to send a message to a close relative on January 3. He was found at the station. The information given by the police was that he was arrested because of his hairstyle. I was asked to come to Gbagada Police Station on January 4, to bail him and see the officer in charge of his case. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Chike Oti, confirmed Badmus arrest. Badmus was arrested along with others for unlawful gathering. They were arrested with a bag of Indian hemp, he said. President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday urged the press to make extra effort to report actual and reliable news. according to President Buhari, journalism is one of the very important aspects of democracy, as such he urged the media in the country to avoid being associated with fake news stories. The president made this known via his Twitter handle, adding that news coming from the media should be credible and based on facts at all times. A 21-year-old man shot a Wisconsin couple to death at their home in a scheme to kidnap their teenage daughter, then held the girl captive for three months in an isolated north woods town before she managed to escape, authorities said Friday. Former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has warned that what happened in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Nigeria. This comes after opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was announced winner of the long-delayed presidential election, of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The electoral commission shocked many with the early Thursday announcement, in what is said to be DRCs first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960. According to Fayose, speaking via a tweet on Friday, those who believed that they can retain power by manipulating the presidential election must be having a rethink now. With what just happened in the Democratic Republic of Congo, those who believed that they can retain power by manipulating the presidential election must be having a rethink now. Despite the machinations by the ruling party in the DRC, the people prevailed. In this June 8, 2018, file photo, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, at a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. With Nigerian rapper Falz, it is more than safe to say that an apple doesnt fall far from the tree.The son of popular human rights lawyer, Femi Falana keeps doing a great job by using his music and creativity to expose the state of the nation. Folarin Falana set the ball rolling with This is Nigeria, a cover of Childish Gambinos This is America, a song which was received both locally and internationally. However, Falz hasnt stopped there, as he just created another bombshell Talk, which analyses in less than 4mins, the lapses of the present administration and the decadence in the country. see video The video which was released on January 11th, has stirred a hot conversation on social media, with many Nigerians hailing the musician for taking off from where Fela Kuti, the late Afrobeat legend stopped e reactions below Among all the Nigerian music artists of our time, @falzthebahdguy is one person I will always respect, for his creativity and conscious over the socio-political issues in Nigeria. He is more than an artiste. We dance to his songs and also learn from them.#Talk by #Falz Bello Shagari (@Belshagy) January 11, 2019 https://twitter.com/DanSholz_/status/1083645543505690625?s=19 Falz the badt guy! The objectivity of this song is amazing! Things like these reminds me of Fela; using music to deal with social and political matters. #Talk Testimony Tobi Segun (@evertestimony) January 11, 2019 Fela dropped the mic, Falz picked the mic #Talk #Nigerian (@DaddyTheBoy) January 11, 2019 Falz at it again!! Mad Jam, bitter truth, this is the kinda artiste we want in this country, straight lyrics that a baby could understand not the third party perspective shii.. MUNRIC, BUHARI, 606 arrest, Saraki, NYSC fireeeee by omo falana. Nah him talk am o!#falz#Talk Learner (@sonoftheVC) January 11, 2019 https://twitter.com/d_problemsolver/status/1083646730556575744?s=19 WESTPORT While the Board of Education moves forward with a plan to keep towns sixth graders in the elementary schools next year, it has also staffed a task force to assess the viability of returning to the currently defunct Coleytown Middle School next fall. The reason for the CMS task force is that while weve looked at the long-term plans for CMS, thereve been a number of people saying it might be possible to reoccupy Coley for the next academic year, Board of Education Chair Mark Mathias said. After the BOE closed Coleytown in September due to concerns about ongoing issues with mold, the board hired Mount Kisco based KG+D Architects to investigate what it would take to remediate the building. In November, KG+D presented the BOE with solutions for Coleytown, with estimated costs ranging from $25 million to $70 million. KG+Ds was a long-term perspective. We did not ask them about whether there were some interim solutions that may get Coleytown back, even on a partial basis. Not only had townspeople said there might be another option, we also had professionals who said there might be other options, Mathias said of the BOEs rationale for forming a CMS task force. The task force has seven members appointed by the BOE, all of whom are residents and many of whom currently serve on the towns Maintenance Study Committee. These people are all engineers, architects, and people that know a lot about buildings, Mathias said, adding the task force will present to the BOE in January on its findings about the possibility of reopening Coleytown in the fall. On Wednesday, the task force met for the first time and elected Vanessa Valadares to chair the group. Valadares works as a project engineer for the city of Norwalk, according to her Linkedin profile. At the same time, elementary school parents parents, notably from Long Lots Elementary School, have spoken out at BOE meetings with concerns the school will be overcrowded when the sixth graders remain on the elementary school campuses later this year. More Information CMS Task Force Members: -Jay Keenan -Vanessa Valadares (Chair) -Joseph Renzulli -Russell Blair -Lois Roberts -Ward French -Sri Puttagunta See More Collapse The BOE is preparing open bidding for a company to add two to three portable classrooms to each elementary school, and all schools will meet fire safety capacities for each building and district maximums for class sizes, Mathias said. The Board of Education will next meet on Jan. 14. Scott Nevins, principal of Bernstein Private Wealth Management, will present Rainmaking through Networking to Mondays @ 7 Networking Group on Jan. 14. Although networking is a critical skill in business, most people are not as effective at networking as they could be because they never received formal training. Learn how to become a black belt networker, by learning how to introduce yourself, set measurable objectives and how to best follow up. Meetings are free and open to the public. The event will take place from 7 to 9:15 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston, 49 Weston Road. M@7 is a premier networking and job search skills organization. Its programs and resources benefit and energize members in their career searches, and pay it forward to each other and the community. Nusbaum family firm names Harold Haldeman partner The Law Offices of Edward Nusbaum in Westport recently announced Harold Rusty Haldeman as partner. A veteran of handling numerous family law cases, Haldeman provides more than 20 years experience in matters involving divorce, property division, child custody issues, premarital and postmarital agreements, and a variety of other issues. Since joining the firm, his principal roles have involved discovery, management, research and preparation of briefs for trial and appellate cases, preparation and analysis of financial documents, preparation for depositions, pre-trial evaluations, mediations, arbitrations and trials. Adept at guiding clients through the complex process of preparing essential documents and responding to financial discovery typical in high-asset cases, Haldeman also manages the intake, cataloguing and analysis of the same documents and discovery from opposing counsel, methodically synthesizing vast amounts of financial information to provide concise, informative data for settlement or trial of the case. He works on all types of family law matters, including divorce, alimony, child support, property distribution and child custody, including preparation of pleadings, separation agreements, parenting plans and proposed orders for pre-trial and trial. In fact, Haldemans pre-trial documentation, unofficially known by Connecticut judges as Rustys Notebook, has been recognized by numerous family law judges as the best resource trial document in the profession, according to Edward Nusbaum, principal of the firm. Prior to joining Nusbaums law firm, Haldeman served in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, and, after attending law school, as a member of the Judge Advocate Generals Corps. Event to focus on Connecticuts African-American heroines In honor of Black History Month the Norwalk Historical Society Museum is hosting a lecture about Connecticuts African American Heroines. The event is at 2 p.m. on Feb. 2 at 141 East Ave. It is free of charge. The 45-minute discussion, led by a speaker from the Connecticut Womens Hall of Fame will explore some of Connecticut's most remarkable African American heroines, from women's rights advocate Maria Miller Stewart to civil rights catalyst Marian Anderson to pioneering artist Laura Wheeler Waring and current State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier. Tony-award winner Anika Noni Rose will also be featured. The group will explore the important contributions of African American women in Connecticut, event organizers said. The lecture will conclude with a question-and-answer session and refreshments. Space is limited and advanced registration is encouraged. To register, visit https://ctafricanamericanheroines.brownpapertickets.com or call 203-846-0525. The Norwalk Historical Society Museum parking is at City Hall, at 125 East Ave. The museum is in the red brick house with blue double front doors next to the Norwalk Health Department. In the case of inclement weather, the lecture will be rescheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 9. For information visit www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org, email info@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org or call 203-846-0525. WESTPORT The elasticity of supply and demand is difficult to predict, but the Parks and Recreation Department did a pretty good job as data from this past summer at Compo Beach shows the revenue increased, despite price hikes. The town was able to improve conditions at Compo Beach and grow revenue at the same time, the advocacy group Friends of Compo Beach wrote in an email to the organizations supporters. Overall revenue increased 3 percent from the 2017 beach season, growing from $1,465,262 in 2017 to $1,509,611 in 2018, according to data provided by the Parks and Recreation Department. Given we had no clue what would actually happen when we raised prices, the fact that we were really close is amazing, said Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Charlie Haberstroh. A year ago, the commission and towns Board of Selectmen voted to increase the price of parking at Compo for out-of-town residents roughly 50 percent, after a slew of complaints from residents about beach conditions during the 2017 summer beach season. Last fall, a group of residents led by Leslie Gallant, Geralyn Breig and Nick Sadler formed Friends of Compo Beach with the goal of lobbying the town to reduce crowd sizes at Compo, enforce rules for public behavior, and ensure parking for residents, among other goals. The price of seasonal beach parking prices for nonresidents increased from $490 in 2017 to $775 in 2018, and the number of seasonal parking passes allowed for nonresidents was capped at 340, down from 600 passes in 2017. Additionally, daily parking passes for residents and nonresidents increased from $30 to $40 on weekdays and $50 to $65 on the weekends and were capped at 100 per day. We believe the residents were heard and Parks and Rec successfully executed a plan that restored the quality of life conditions at Compo Beach. ... A safer, cleaner environment was restored, Friends of Compo Beach wrote in the email. The increase in revenue occurred despite a revenue decrease in sales to out-of-towners. Last year the parks departments sold 537 parking passes, while that number decreased to 335 this year. Daily parking passes decreased significantly from 8,045 passes sold in 2017 to 4,942 passes this past summer, which translated to a decrease of $76,470 in revenue from daily passes from 2017 to 2018. It was a pretty significant drop. We think the drop was because the weather wasnt great on weekends, which is when people come for the day, and also the higher fee may have caused people not to come on a daily basis, Haberstroh said. Seasonal parking passes for residents decreased slightly, from 16,830 passes sold to residents in 2017 to 16,188 passes sold to residents this past summer. Whether the same prices will continue into the upcoming beach season is still to be determined, Haberstroh said, noting his commission will review the impact of last years changes and make a decision for the coming summer prices in February. svaughan@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2638; @SophieCVaughan1 STAMFORD Bridgewater Associates, the worlds largest hedge fund, has announced a partnership with a professional-services firm to improve key operations and establish a center for that work at the companys offices in the citys South End. The new initiative shows the growing use of outside consultants at southwestern Connecticuts largest companies. Employees and clients would benefit from a cohesive suite of services covering parts of Bridgewaters HR, recruiting and finance operations, company officials said. At the same time, a number of Bridgewater staff would become employees of the firm, Genpact. We are constantly searching for ways to improve our business, as well as improve the experience for our clients and employees," Bridgewater co-CEO Eileen Murray said in a statement. I am extremely excited about this partnership with Genpact, as I believe it will allow us to harness the latest in process expertise, digital innovation and design thinking to connect our operations and deliver optimal results. A digital hub, at Bridgeports waterfront offices at 2200 Atlantic St., would house employees from both companies working on the new projects. It would eventually serve additional clients. From Bridgewaters point of view, this initiative will provide cost savings, said John Knopf, an associate professor of finance at the University of Connecticut. Firms like Genpact are getting much more sophisticated at helping the likes of Bridgewater to streamline their operations and analyze their data. Genpact serves clients across the world in industries including financial services, health care, insurance, energy, manufacturing and hospitality. The platform we have developed with Bridgewater, using strategic design and advanced digital technologies, we believe over time will become a model for the broader financial services industry, Tiger Tyagarajan, president and CEO of Genpact, said in a statement. Bridgewaters Stamford offices which opened last year complement the firms Westport headquarters, at 1 Glendinning Place. The company did not disclose how many work in Stamford. Bridgewater employs more than 1,600 in Connecticut, according to a report last year by the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Demand for consulting Officials at Bridgewater which manages more than $160 billion in assets touted the new venture as the latest of several partnerships launched in the past few years that draw on third-party expertise. In 2012, Murray led an overhaul of the firm's middle- and back-office operations, working with Bank of New York Mellon and Northern Trust. The dual back-up approach aimed to bolster the security and accuracy of Bridgewaters asset management. It is interesting that even a firm as big and successful as Bridgewater doesnt have such unlimited resources that they would take in-house and pay for all the non-core functions, Bruce McGuire, president of the Connecticut Hedge Fund Association, wrote in an email. If you don't think they watch and manage every penny, you are wrong. The Bridgewater-Genpact alliance launches during a period of major growth for professional-services firms in Stamford. KPMG plans to move later this year its local offices from 3001 Summer St., to 677 Washington Blvd. Related to the relocation, the company plans to add more than 100 jobs during the next five years. A $3 million state grant is supporting the project. Last May, PricewaterhouseCoopers announced it would add up to 400 jobs in the state during the next five years and create a divisional headquarters in the city. More than 500 employees are now based in the downtown office tower at 300 Atlantic St., which has served as PwCs local center since 2000. Up to $9 million in state grants are financing the PwC expansion. Deloitte and EY the other two members of the Big Four of professional-services firms also have Stamford offices. More than 1,000 work in Deloittes offices in the downtown clock-tower building at 695 E. Main St., where it has operated since late 2014. Deloittes own job deal with the state allotted up to $14.5 million in grants. In July 2017, another major professional-services company, RSM, moved to offices next door to Deloitte, at 200 Elm St., after 15 years in the citys South End. In the decade before the move, its local contingent had grown from approximately 150 to about 200. Nearly 223,000 were working in professional and business services in Connecticut last November, up about 3 percent year-over-year, according to state Department of Labor data. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, is needed to rescue Nigeria from her current leadership challenges. A revered traditional ruler, the Sakaruyi-Karu Abuja, His Royal Highness, Emmanuel Kyauta Yepwi, said this on Thursday, some days after Ezekwesili visited him as well as Nyanya and Gudu markets in Abuja. The monarch expressed confidence that the country would do well under a woman than those who had governed in the past. Yepwi said, I used to watch you when you were active in service and I admired the way you used to do things. Women are leaders right from homes, right from their houses, and no man does anything without a woman. In every successful man,a woman must be by his side. So, if Nigeria wants to be successful, I think a woman should also be considered. I wouldnt say that its by accident to have selected Karu as the place to flag off your campaign. I want you to know that the real meaning of Karu is increase. No one comes to Karu and does not increase and having come to Karu, just wait and see what God will do for you. In fact, it is my opinion that we should allow a woman to rule the country once and lets see how she would govern us. So, coming to save Nigeria now is at the right time. Nigeria needs someone like you now. Moreover, you have been in the affairs of the country, you know our problems and you know how to solve them. On her part, Ezekwesili assured her supporters that she would not disappoint Nigerians if given the mandate to lead the country. She also promised that her administration would make peoples friendly policies, and urged Nigerians to join her in the mission to rescue Nigeria. She said, We are not running to become president, but we are running in order to rescue our county from the past and the present administrations. Unlike the normal campaigns that other political parties do, we are carrying on a campaign where people are actually going to be sitting with us and we will first hear from them the kind of government that they will want to see and the kind of government that would solve their problems before we then show them what we have in solving their problems. She added, We want to see a different country; we want to set a new direction for our country. Nigeria has no business being a country that fails in every aspect of life. Our citizens deserve the best. The major emphasis of our campaign is that we want to lift over 80 million Nigerians out of poverty and if you want to do something like that, you should come direct to the people that know what the issues are and that is why we are here. SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- A grandmother in Springfield is asking for help from the community to help find two missing teenagers - one of them her granddaughter. Police said the two are runaways, who were last seen at Commerce High School on June 1. The British Secretary of State for Business Greg Clark dampens expectations of a second referendum before the historic vote on the Brexit deal. He hopes for last-minute assurances from EU partners. Britains Secretary of State for Business Greg Clark: "With the end of uncertainty we will see a restoration of optimism and confidence in the UK economy." Anzeige I believe that we have a brighter future as a leading part of Europe than out of it. Thats what Greg Clark said in the run-up to the Brexit vote that took place in June 2016. The majority of voters had other ideas and the staunch remainer Clark, who is Secretary of State for Business in the current government, is now fighting to limit the economic damage from Brexit. Calming the nerves of domestic and foreign investors is part of this job description. To this end, Clark traveled to Berlin this week to promote the UK as an investment destination to the CEOs of the largest German companies who had gathered there for the WELT Economic Summit. Talking with WELT he also called upon the governments on the continent: Ahead of the decisive vote on the Brexit deal in the House of Commons next week, he asked European leaders for assurance: I hope that our colleagues in Europe will also reassure skeptics in the UK that the Irish backstop is not intended to be a perpetual arrangement, Clark said. Currently, the Brexit deal provides for a provision of last resort regarding the border on the island of Ireland. It ensures that in case the UK and the EU dont reach an agreement the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the EU member state Ireland will remain open. Under this provision the whole of the UK would remain within the customs union as long as there is no new trade agreement between the UK and the EU. Many Brexiteers fear that the UK will thus be perpetually curtailed in its sovereignty and there intend to reject the deal thats on the table. WELT: Part of your job description is to promote the UK to corporate investors. Why should any company still invest in the United Kingdom? Anzeige Greg Clark: The fundamentals that have made the UK an attractive place for investments are still there. Our culture is very entrepreneurial, we are open to the world, have first class scientists and world leading universities. The debate about Brexit has called attention away from that but only temporarily. There was always going to be a period of uncertainty, that is what happens until you reach an agreement. But we are coming to the end of the period of greatest uncertainty which has followed the referendum. And we are actively trying to offset this uncertainty. Through our Modern Industrial Strategy we have increased publicly funded research and development to its highest ever level in British history, to ensure we are investing in the industries and products of the future that the UK can lead the world in. WELT: The deal that your government is putting forth for a vote in Parliament next week is it a good deal for UK companies? Clark: Absolutely, it has been strongly endorsed by UK and international businesses. Anzeige WELT: How will it improve things for UK companies, then? Clark: Before the referendum I advocated remaining in the EU but when it established the referendum Parliament was clear that the result should be implemented. The challenge we faced after referendum was to be faithful to the democratic mandate while at the same time supporting the continued development and flourishing of our open economy. Given the task the deal we have negotiated is a very good one. We will genuinely leave the European Union but at the same time we will manage to maintain our cordial connections especially in those areas in which we have the deepest trading relationship. WELT: So will the deal improve things for the UK economy or just minimize the damage? Anzeige Clark: It provides a future that is full of optimism. If it wasnt for Brexit, the national conversation would be about how this is probably the most exciting time for commerce and industry since the first industrial revolution. The opportunities in the areas of AI, IT and Green Tech are immense, not just for the UK but also the wider European Union and the global economy. In the UK we have many of the strengths to ride on the global wave of opportunity. Now the difficulties of the past two years and the uncertainty about our relationship with our closest and deepest trading partner which caused anxiety among businesses comes to an end. With the end of uncertainty we will see a restoration of optimism and confidence in the UK economy and among international investors. Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom Greg Clark with the editors Tobias Kaiser (left) and Olaf Gersemann (middle) Quelle: Martin U. K. Lengemann/WELT WELT: But only if you can avoid a hard Brexit. Most observers expect that your Prime Minister wont get a majority for the existing deal. What further concessions do you need from the EU partners to get the deal past Parliament? Clark: Well, we have several days of discussion and it was a deliberate decision to have such a long debate, so that every member of Parliament can participate in that debate not only to make their views known but to hear responses to the anxieties that they might have. The debate is important. WELT: And how could Europe support this debate? Clark: Some of the things that most concern my colleagues are the provisions around the status of the backstop on the island of Ireland. WELT: The backstop is a position of last resort. It ensures that the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, remains open, even if after the end of the implementation period in December 2020 the UK and EU have not reached agreement on an alternative arrangement. Clark: We agreed on that with the EU partners. But some colleagues in Parliament are concerned specifically by the idea that the proposed arrangement could be perpetual, that it would be less clear that it can be limited than full EU membership. I hope that over the next few days the cabinet and the Prime Minister will be able to provide assurance that wont be the case. And I hope that our colleagues in Europe will also reassure skeptics in the UK that the Irish backstop is not intended to be a perpetual arrangement. The vote ahead is a huge decision for every UK parliamentarian and it is probably the biggest decision that they will make during their time in parliament. It is understandable that they will want to have that assurance. Anzeige WELT: Your optimism is laudable but most observers feel that the treaty is very unlikely to pass Parliament even if the EU was to make concessions, which is highly unlikely. Clark: The purpose of Parliament is for discussion. I think the PM is quite right to provide for a substantial period of discussion and then a vote. Parliament will be will be asked to consider the deal that is available against the alternative which is to leave without an agreement. This would be a dreadful failure for all of us. We would tear up the relations to our closest neighbors, not just in the geographical sense but the people, the nations and the community with which we've had the deepest cooperation for over 40 years and historically well before that. Not being able to reach an agreement would be deeply damaging for the UK economy but also for the European economy. I don't think there is a majority in the UK parliament that would want that. The 27 EU partners have made clear, that this agreement is the only possible basis for an orderly Brexit. The MPs have to bear that in mind as well. WELT: One alternative would be a second referendum. Clark: The majority of parliamentarians does not want to leave without a deal, but the majority of parliamentarians also dont want a second referendum. When parliament called the referendum, it was very clear that its results would be enacted. And the great majority of the MPs were elected in a general election in which they made a commitment to negotiate the best deal possible to achieve that. Therefore, parliament needs to take responsibility and move from being critics to being participants in this. WELT: Still, even your cabinet colleague Amber Rudd suggested a second referendum could be a way out. Clark: My view is that there is no majority for that in Parliament. I hope that over the days ahead people will move from being critics on the sidelines to being involved in this and will establish a sense of coming together as a nation. WELT: But if the deal has no majority and the only alternative is a hard Brexit, dont you personally think, another referendum is the second best solution? Clark: Parliamentarians have to respect the mandate on which they were elected. We clearly need to have a deal and we should not be contemplating, as a matter of policy, a situation without a deal. Anzeige WELT: Even if the agreement passes, however, there will still be work to be done. Unfinished but necessary legislation for your withdrawal bill means that time is running out. Will you be forced to ask the EU to extend the transition period? Clark: There's time enough to do it. The uncertainty that has been associated with Brexit has been damaging to confidence and we have the opportunity to bring that to an end. If parliament comes to a resolution, we can move quickly to turn it into law. My strong advice to my parliamentary colleagues is to do just that. Certainly businesses in the UK, whether they are domestic or foreign-owned, are keen to be able to take up the opportunities I mentioned. WELT: What if you fail to get a majority for the deal next week? Have you talked to EU partners about extending the two year transition period? Clark: Every individual member of parliament in years to come will be asked how they made their decision at the time. It's easy to be a critic. This agreement is a compromise between those people who mistakenly felt that we should sever all institutional connections with the EU and those who very much wanted them to continue uninterrupted. Thus, if you approach it from the perspective of a critic any compromise can provide a reason to vote against it. If we do not achieve an agreement the consequences for us and for future generations will be disastrous. Bill Burt and George Bremer discuss the NFL schedule and Tom Brady's return to New England; Elton Hayes and Kevin Brockway reflect on Coach K's retirement; and Clay Horning breaks down the worst defensive play in baseball in recent memory. The Nigerian police has said that all its personnel attached to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, his office and family are intact, including all the statutory security protection on him. This comes after a statement by the senate president, in which he was quoted to have said that the entire world to hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to members of my family and myself. The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that all the allegations in the statement of the Senate President are incorrect, misleading and false and should be disregarded and discountenanced by the general Public. The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a statement in the media credited to the Senate President on the recent political development in Kwara State where he raised allegations that the entire world to hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to members of my family and myself.h The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that all the allegations in the statement of the Senate President are incorrect, misleading and false and should be disregarded and discountenanced by the general Public. The police denounced also reports that it shielded APC thugs, who went inna rampage, destroying properties in the family quarters of Saraki. The Nigeria Police Force did not give any protection to any political thug or shield any APC thug to go to family quarters of the Senate President in Agbaji, Ilorin and vandalize houses, shops and inflict wounds with machete on three (3) people as claimed by the Senate President. The Police did not receive any complaint or report of gunshot and wounding as claimed by the Senate President in other areas he mentioned such as Adewole/Adeta, Ile-otan and ubandawaki/pakata. For avoidance of doubt, there was no complaint reported at any Police division within Ilorin metropolis or any other Police Division on the 10th January, 2019 to today 11th January 2019 of any attack, wounding, shooting and destruction of any property by any individual(s) or any political party on their members. However, Security within Ilorin metropolis and other locations in kwara State has beefed-up to ensure security of all Nigerians living in the State. In a statement signed by Jimoh Moshood, police spokesperson, it was important to set the record straight, to erase any wrong impression the public might have of the police. Reporter I cover a range of stories for WDRB, but really enjoy tracking what's going on at our State Capitol. I grew up on military bases all over the world, but am a Kentuckian at heart. I'm an EKU alum, and have lived in Louisville for 30 years. Home Search ICH Pompeo's Middle East Speech - A Blustering Promise Of Less U.S. Involvement By Moon Of Alabama January 10, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Today Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, visited Egypt. He held a somewhat delusional speech at the American University in Cairo. It is headlined: A Force for Good: America Reinvigorated in the Middle East : There is little in the speech that supports the headline. It starts with blustering: [B]ecause Im a military man by training, Ill be very blunt and direct today: America is a force for good in the Middle East. We need to acknowledge that truth, because if we dont, we make bad choices now and in the future. Pompeo blames Obama for the trouble the "force of good" caused: Remember: It was here, here in this city, that another American stood before you. He told you that radical Islamist terrorism does not stem from an ideology. He told you that 9/11 led my country to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East. He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed, quote, a new beginning, end of quote. The results of these misjudgments have been dire. In falsely seeing ourselves as a force for what ails the Middle East, we were timid in asserting ourselves when the times and our partners demanded it. ... The good news. The good news is this: The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering. Now comes the real new beginning. It follows a list of false claims and fake history: For those who fret about the use of American power, remember this: America has always been, and always will be, a liberating force, not an occupying power. Weve never dreamed of domination in the Middle East. Pompeo ignores the still valid Carter doctrine which demands exclusive U.S. domination of the Middle East: "An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force." Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter When the mission is over, when the job is complete, America leaves. Today in Iraq, at the governments invitation, we have approximately 5,000 troops where there were once 166,000. We once had tens of thousands of U.S. military stationed personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia. Now that number is a tiny fraction. In 2011 the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki rejected to sign a Status of Force agreement that would have given U.S. troops in Iraq special rights. In consequence the U.S. had to retreat from Iraq. A few troops came back to fight the Islamic State which Obama let grow to eject Maliki. Those troops will too have to leave. After the 1991 war against Iraq, Saudi Arabia came under pressure from radical Islamists to kick the many U.S. troops out of the country. Several thousand sill stayed. After the Kohbar tower bombing in 1996 the rest had to go too. In both cases the retreat was not voluntarily. The speech goes on with a long passage of bashing Iran and lauding Israel. Pompeo says that the Trump administration wishes to establish the 'Middle East Strategic Alliance', an Arab NATO that allies with Israel. A pipe dream born out of sheer ignorance that is destined to fail. Were also seeing remarkable change. New bonds are taking root that were unimaginable until very recently. Who couldve believed a few years ago that an Israeli prime minister would visit Muscat? Israel's then Prime Minister Rabin visited Oman in 1994. Two years later then Prime Minister Shimon Peres followed. So yeah, a lot of people could have believed that. None of them though believes that a 'Middle East Strategic Alliance' will ever be more than a talking point. The speech then comes to the core of Trump's thinking and policy: Let me be clear: America will not retreat until the terror fight is over. [...] But as President Trump has said, were looking to our partners to do more, and in this effort we will do so going forward together. For our part, airstrikes in the region will continue as targets arise. ... And as the fighting continues, we will continue to assist our partners in efforts to guard borders, prosecute terrorists, screen travelers, assist refugees, and more. But assist is the key phrase. Those who want to fight Iran down to the last U.S. soldier, i.e. Israel and Saudi Arabia, will not like to hear that. Under Trump the U.S. will not do the bleeding in their fight. On Syria: Let me be clear: America will not retreat until the terror fight is over. [...] President Trump has made the decision to bring our troops home from Syria. We always do and now is the time, but this isnt a change of mission. ... In Syria, the United States will use diplomacy and work with our partners to expel every last Iranian boot, and work through the UN-led process to bring peace and stability to the long-suffering Syrian people. There will be no U.S. reconstruction assistance for areas of Syria held by Assad until Iran and its proxy forces withdraw and until we see irreversible progress towards a political resolution. That is a revocation of John Bolton's plan to stay in Syria to defend the Kurds from a Turkish invasion or for whatever other reason. Indeed the Syrian Kurds are not mentioned at all in Pompeo's speech. They will surely take note of that. There is also no mention of human rights, Khashoggi, freedom, or Palestinian statehood. The speech ends as it started, with praising "Americas innate goodness". Daniel Larison calls the speech Pompeos Exercise in Arrogant Self-Congratulation . That fits well. For the people and the rulers in the Middle East the speech offers nothing. They are told that they are on their own. The U.S. will not longer play the "shinning city upon a hill" and it will no longer do the fighting for other interests. It wants purely transactional relations but with as little physical involvement as possible. There is a lot of support for Israel in the speech and an equal amount of bashing Iran. But there is no promise that the U.S. is willing to do more than verbal grandstanding and to keep up the ineffective 'squeezing' of Iran. Overall Pompeo's speech was directed more at a U.S. audience that to a Middle Eastern public. Iran hawks, evangelicals and President Trump will love it. Liberal interventionists and neo-conservatives will criticize it. While the speech points into a direction that more isolationist forces in the U.S. will support, it does not guarantee that the real policies will follow it. Even if Trump wants to go into a direction of less U.S. involvement, there are other forces in his administration which try to push him into new conflicts. Under these circumstances it is nothing more that one data point that shows what might be. This article was originally published by " Moon Of Alabama " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Pompeo delivers keynote speech in Cairo Note To ICH Community 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. Thank you for your support. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. The trade talks between China and the U.S. will proceed to the next step as scheduled after the latest vice-ministerial level negotiations concluded on Wednesday, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce Gao Feng said at a briefing on Thursday. Both sides had extensive, in-depth and detailed exchanges, and agreed to address issues of common concern, said the spokesperson. Progress was made on structural issues, the main concern of the latest negotiation, laying a foundation for the two to solve problems and boost mutual understanding, continued Gao. The prolonged talks demonstrated the commitment of the two sides in implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, said Gao. The latest round of trade talks was held from Monday to Wednesday in Beijing with Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish leading the U.S. delegation. Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. The Terrible Forthcoming Destruction of the "Caribbean Basin" President Trump has announced the withdrawal of US combat troops from the Greater Middle East , but the Pentagon is still pursuing the implementation of the Rumsfeld-Cebrowski plan. This time the aim is to destroy the States of the "Caribbean Basin ". This is nothing like the overthrow of pro-Soviet regimes, as in the 1970s, but the destruction of all regional State structures, without consideration for friends or political enemies. Thierry Meyssan observes the preparations for this new series of wars. By Thierry Meyssan January 10, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - In a series of previous articles, we presented the SouthCom plan to provoke wars between the Latin-American nations in order to destroy the structures of all the States in the Caribbean Basin [ 1 ]. Preparations for wars of this magnitude, intended to follow on from the conflicts in the Greater Middle East according to the Rumsfeld-Cebrowski strategy, requires a decade [ 2 ]. After the period of economic destabilisation [ 3 ] and that of military preparation, the actual operation should begin in the years to come by an attack on Venezuela by Brazil (supported by Israel), Colombia (an ally of the United States) and Guyana (in other words, the United Kingdom). It will be followed by others, beginning with Cuba and Nicaragua (the troika of tyranny according to John Bolton). However, the original plan may be modified, particularly because of the return of the imperial ambitions of the United Kingdom [ 4 ] which may influence the Pentagon. This is where we are now : The evolution of Venezuela Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had developed relations with the Greater Middle East on an ideological basis. He had in particular grown closer to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Syrian President Bachar el-Assad. Together, they had imagined the possibility of founding an intergovernmental organisation, the Free Allies Movement , on the model of the Non-Aligned Movement , which was paralysed by the alignment with the United States, over time, of certain of its members [ 5 ]. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Although Nicolas Maduro adopted the same language as Hugo Chavez, he chose a very different foreign policy. It is true that he continued the rapprochement with Russia and, in his turn welcomed Russian bombers to Venezuela. He signed a contract to import 600,000 tonnes of wheat in order to deal with starvation in his country. Above all, he prepared to receive six billion dollars of investments, including five in the oil sector. Russian engineers took over the posts which were intended for Venezuelan workers but which they had abandoned. Nicolas Maduro reorganised the alliances of his country on new foundations. He wove close links with Turkey, which is a member of NATO and whose army presently occupies Northern Syria. Maduro went to Istanbul on four occasions and Erdogan went once to Caracas. Switzerland was an ally of Hugo Chavez, and had advised him for the composition of his Constitution. Fearing that he would be unable to refine his countrys gold in Switzerland, Nicolas Maduro looked to Turkey, which transformed the raw material into bullion. In the past, this gold had remained in Swiss banks as a guarantee for oil contracts. From now on, the liquid assets were transferred to Turkey, while the newly treated gold returned to Venezuela. This orientation may be interpreted as being no longer founded on ideology, but on interest. Everything depends on who benefits. Simultaneously, Venezuela became the target of a destabilisation campaign which began with the guarimbas demonstrations, continued with the attempted coup detat on 12 February 2015 ( Operation Jericho ), then by a series of attacks on the national currency, and organised emigration. In this context, Turkey offered Venezuela the possibility of avoiding US sanctions. The exchanges between the two countries multiplied fifteen-fold in 2018. Whatever the evolution of the Venezuelan regime, nothing can justify what is being prepared against its population. Coordination of logistical means From 31 July to 12 August 2017, SouthCom organise a vast exercise with more than 3,000 men from 25 allied states, including France and the United Kingdom. The goal was to prepare a swift landing for troops in Venezuela [ 6 ]. Colombia Colombia is a state, but not a nation. Its population lives geographically separate according to social class, with enormous differences in the quality of life. Almost no Colombian has ever spent time in a neighbourhood attributed to another social class than their own. This strict separation has made possible the multiplication of paramilitary forces and consequently armed interior conflicts which have caused more than 220,000 victims in thirty years. In power since August 2018, President Ivan Duque has challenged the fragile peace concluded with the FARC by his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos but not with the ELN. He has not dismissed the option of a military intervention against Venezuela. According to Nicolas Maduro, the United States are currently training 734 mercenaries in a training camp situated in Tona with a view to carrying out a false flag operation intended to spark a war with Venezuela. Taking into account the sociological particularity of Colombia, it is impossible to determine with certainty whether or not the training camp is controlled by Bogota. Guyana In the 19th century, the colonial powers agreed to a frontier between British Guyana (presently Guyana) and Dutch Guyana (presently Surinam). but no text has ever defined the frontier between the British zone and the Spanish zone (presently Venezuela). Consequently, Guyana administrates 160,000 km2 of forest which is still a source of dispute with its larger neighbour. By virtue of the Geneva agreement of 17 February 1966, the two states deferred to the Secretary General of the UNO (at that time the Burmese U Thant). Nothing has changed since then - Guyana has proposed to bring the case before the UNO Permanent Court of Arbitration, while Venezuela prefers direct negotiations. This territorial dispute does not seem particularly urgent, because the contested area is an uninhabited forest which was believed to be without value however, it is a huge area which represents two thirds of Guyana. The Geneva agreement has been violated 15 times by Guyana, which specifically authorised the exploitation of a gold mine. Above all, the stakes were raised in 2015 with the discovery by ExxonMobil of oil deposits in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the territorial waters of the contested zone. The population of Guyana is composed of 40 % Indians, 30 % Africans, 20 % mixed race and 10 % American Indians. The Indians are a strong presence in the civil services and the Africans in the army. On 21 December, a vote of no confidence was lodged against the government of President David Granger, a pro-British, anti-Venezuelan General, in power since 2015. To everyones surprise, a deputy, Charrandas Persaud, voted against his own party, and in an atmosphere of indescribable chaos, provoked the fall of the government which had only a one-vote majority. Since then, the country is in a state of great instability - we do not know whether President Granger, who is presently undergoing chemotherapy, will be able to handle current affairs, while Charrandas Persaud left Parliament with an escort, via a back door, and has fled to Canada. On 22 December 2018, in the absence of a government, the Ramform Tethys (under the flag of the Bahamas) and the Delta Monarch (Trinidad and Tobago) undertook submarine explorations in the contested zone on behalf of Exxon-Mobil. Considering that this intrusion violated the Geneva agreement, the Venezuelan army chased the two ships away. The Guyanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, working with current affairs, declared it a hostile act. The United Kingdom Minister for Defense, Gavin Williamson, declared to the Sunday Telegraph on 30 December 2018 that the Crown was putting an end to decolonisation, which had been Whitehalls doctrine since the Suez affair in 1956. London is preparing to open a new military base in the Caribbean (for the moment the UK has bases only in Gibraltar, Cyprus, Diego Garcia and on the Falkland islands). The new base could be situated on Montserrat (West Indies), or more probably in Guyana, and should be operational in 2022 [7]. Guyana is a neighbour of Surinam (Dutch Guyana). Its President, Desi Bouterse, is wanted in Europe for drug trafficking an affair which pre-dated his election. But his son, Dino, was arrested in Panama in 2013, despite the fact that he entered that country under a diplomatic passport. He was extradited to the United States where he was sentenced to 16 years of prison for drug trafficking - in reality because he was setting up the Lebanese Hezbollah in Surinam. The baptism of Jair Bolsonaro in the waters of the Jordan (Israel) Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== The United States are preparing a war between Latin-American states: The Pentagon is planning to assassinate an elected head of state, ruin his country, and undermine the unity of Latin-America. Note To ICH Community 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. Thank you for your support. The Silver Bullet to Stop the Corporate State Pillage By Lee Camp January 10, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Every year a certain number of our soldiers decide theyd rather not be involved in shooting people they dont know so that ExxonMobil can have more oil or Lockheed Martin can make more cash or MSNBC / Fox News can give their hosts topics for their upcoming poetry books. Basically, these soldiers do something horrifying, something terrible, something often called treasonous They wait for it think for themselves! (Glass shatters. Woman screams. Baby cries.) Nothing is more frightening for our endless war machine than a military grunt who thinks for him or herself. Theyre supposed to do nothing more than follow orders. Theyre supposed to ask a superior officer for permission to wear a different color pair of socks. Thats right the biggest, toughest gladiators in our society have to get authorization to switch from boxers to briefs. Ill get to what this has to do with our inverted totalitarian corporate pillaging in a moment. One of the more notable soldiers who stood up this year was Spenser Rapone a second lieutenant discharged on June 18, 2018, for disparaging the U.S. war machine online and promoting a socialist revolution. (Clearly our enormous globe-spanning military complex can obliterate any possible enemies except independent thought, which promptly turns it to a mush akin to pea soup.) Apparently reading about the true story of Pat Tillman pushed Rapone toward the realization that he was a pawn in the middle of a massive lie. Pat Tillman showed me I could resist the indoctrination, Rapone said . I did not have to let the military dehumanize me and turn me into something monstrous. When I learned how his death was covered up to sell the war, it was shocking. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter To sell the war. Why is it they would need to sell a war? Oh, I know because its completely unjustifiable. For activities people naturally agree with or enjoy doing, you dont have to advertise them. Like you dont see ads saying, Hey, feed your kids. Dont forget. Or a commercial saying, Try having sex some time. Its fun! That stuff comes pretty naturally. But you do need promotion (read: media propaganda) for our endless war games because it does not come naturally to most of us. War comes naturally to sociopaths, and then its sold to the rest of us, much like a used car or an ill-advised timeshare in Cleveland. But the military is not the only place where conscientious objectors play a role. It might be the only one where walking away can get you locked up in prison spending your days sewing McDonalds uniforms , but there are a lot of moments in our messed-up world when you can turn your back and do the right thing. For example, fewer and fewer people are willing to do the job of killing millions of animals every year. A recent report revealed that staff shortages at slaughterhouses [in the U.K. were] threatening Christmas sales. Some 10,000 positions are unfilled at major abattoirs. The report explains that for most potential applicants, the industrys low pay is not the problem but that people simply do not want to do this work anymore. Oh come on, you fragile snowflakes! Ewww, I cant handle chopping the heads off a thousand pigs a day. It hurts my feelings to end the life of hundreds of sentient beings who havent done anything to me to warrant such treatment. WAAH! I dont like loading buckets of adorable chickadees into the grinding colander so they can be turned into a meat milkshake that will ultimately be served to a labradoodle or a puggle. BOO HOO HOO! (I might have made up the term grinding colander.) In all seriousness, working at the killing fields of a factory farm has life-long impacts that no one talks about. (And by no one, I mean the media and our politicians and most everybody else.) As the Guardian reported , Slaughterhouse work has been linked to a variety of disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder and perpetration-induced traumatic stress. One pig slaughterer said the worst thing about the work is its emotional toll. A worker at a chicken plant said one of his colleagues was hauled off to the mental hospital after he kept having nightmares that chickens were after him. (Its tough to say what the chickens wouldve done with him had they caught him. Professional torture is made difficult by a lack of hands.) These workers who have walked off the killing floors should be honored as conscientious objectors. They should be rewarded for realizing its better to get paid to hand out coffees at the coffeehouse than death sentences at the slaughterhouse. And conscientious objection happens in the big tech world too. This past May, a dozen Google employees quit to protest the companys role in drone-killing technology created for the Pentagon, and another 4,000 signed an internal petition to stop the partnership. While I agree with those who quit, I think if I had worked there, I wouldve stayed. I wouldve stayed just so I could stealthily stick into each drone targeting system one of my beard hairs. I could have quietly fucked up the Pentagons drones for decades to come. There have been many great objectors in our police forces, too. Captain Ray Lewis was in the Philadelphia police force for 23 years. Then he became an outspoken critic of police abuse, militarization, excess force and the inequality that has hollowed out our society like an aggressive virus. He shows up to protests in full uniform and stands on the front lines to help remind the other cops what they should be protecting and its not oil pipelines or Wall Street banks. Perhaps most importantly, he does it all with a mustache that looks like it houses squirrels in the winter. Its quite possible that without the facial hair, not a single police officer would give a shit. However, you can really reach a cop through his stache. (Sorry, his or her stache.) Conscientious objectors even show up in the grand hallways of the famously lockstep mainstream media outlets. Just last week, veteran national security journalist William Arkin left his job at NBC and MSNBC and basically blasted them in an open letter for becoming captive and subservient to the national security state, reflexively pro-war and now the prime propaganda instrument of the War Machines promotion of militarism and imperialism. Of course, anyone who regularly reads independent outlets like Truthdig would probably say Mr. Arkin is roughly 30 years late to this realization. Yet it still takes nerve, gonads and a spine to turn against your employer while calling them out for manufacturing consent for hundreds of thousands of innocent deaths. (Certain types of deep-water fish are made up of only nerves, gonads and a spine, and theyre constantly being insolent to their employers.) The truth is, we the people may not have that much power. We dont control our democracy anymore now that every decision is based on money. We cant instantly change the entire system. But we have one very powerful tool we have the power of our labor. Millions of Americans, and hundreds of millions worldwide, work for corporations or organizations that do evil every single day. This list includes: People at the big banks that fund the destruction of our world Officials sent to steal children from their mothers and fathers People working at big oil companies, pushing papers while knowing we only have 11 years left to completely change our behavior Soldiers told to drone bomb a guy theyve never met before Merchants in charge of selling Kid Rock T-shirts The list is endless, and ALL of these people have the ability to say I object. I will not help with your villainy. If they all objected we would see a different world overnight. Check out Lee Camps new comedy special at . This article was originally published by " Truthdig " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Army struggles to reach Generation Z, tries recruiting at e-Sports events Note To ICH Community 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. Thank you for your support. New Documents Reveal a Covert British Military-Intelligence Smear Machine Meddling In American Politics The Integrity Initiative has mobilized an international disinformation campaign across Europe. Now, with government and right-wing foundation money, this massive political smear unit is infiltrating the US. By Max Blumenthal and Mark Ames January 10, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - A bombshell domestic spy scandal has been unfolding in Britain, after hacked internal communications exposed a covert UK state military-intelligence psychological warfare operation targeting its own citizens and political figures in allied NATO countries under the cover of fighting Russian disinformation. The leaked documents revealed a secret network of spies, prominent journalists and think-tanks colluding under the umbrella of a group called Integrity Initiative to shape domestic opinionand to smear political opponents of the right-wing Tory government, including the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn. Until now, this Integrity Initiative domestic spy scandal has been ignored in the American media, perhaps because it has mostly involved British names. But it is clear that the influence operation has already been activated in the US. Hacked documents reveal that the Integrity Initiative is cultivating powerful allies inside the State Department, top DC think tanks, the FBI and the DHS, where it has gained access to Katharine Gorka and her husband, the fascist-linked cable news pundit Sebastian Gorka . The Integrity Initiative has spelled out plans to expand its network across the US, meddling in American politics and recruiting a new generation of Russia watchers behind the false guise of a non-partisan charity. Moreover, the group has hired one of the most notorious American perception management specialists, John Rendon, to train its clusters of pundits and cultivate relationships with the media. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Back in the UK, Member of Parliament Chris Williamson has clamored for an investigation into the Integrity Initiatives abuse of public money. The Integrity Initiative story is just growing and growing. Many are rightly outraged that this Tory government could fund a political smear unit. Questions need to be answered. Share this video on Facebook to make that happen. https://t.co/MGepaIEfGw Chris Williamson MP #GTTO (@DerbyChrisW) December 14, 2018 In a recent editorial , Williamson drew a direct parallel between the groups collaboration with journalists and surreptitious payments the CIA made to reporters during the Cold War. These tactics resemble those deployed by the CIA in Operation Mockingbird that was launched at the height of the cold war in the early 1950s. Its aims included using the mainstream news media as a propaganda tool, Williamson wrote. They manipulated the news agenda by recruiting leading journalists to write stories with the express purpose of influencing public opinion in a particular way, the Labour parliamentarian continued. Now it seems the British Establishment have dusted off the CIAs old playbook and is intent on giving it another outing on this side of the Atlantic. Unmasking a British military-intelligence smear machine The existence of the Integrity Initiative was virtually unknown until this November, when the email servers of a previously obscure British think tank called the Institute for Statecraft were hacked, prompting allegations of Russian intrusion. When the groups internal documents appeared at a website hosted by Anonymous Europe, the public learned of a covert propaganda network seed-funded to the tune of over $2 million dollars by the Tory-controlled UK Foreign Office, and run largely by military-intelligence officers. Through a series of cash inducements, off the record briefings and all-day conferences, the Integrity Initiative has sought to organize journalists across the West into an international echo chamber hyping up the supposed threat of Russian disinformationand to defame politicians and journalists critical of this new Cold War campaign. A bid for funding submitted by the Integrity Initiative in 2017 to the British Ministry of Defense promised to deliver a tougher stance on Russia by arranging for more information published in the media on the threat of Russian active measures. The Integrity Initiative has also worked through its fronts in the media to smear political figures perceived as a threat to its militaristic agenda. Its targets have included a Spanish Department of Homeland Security appointee, Pedro Banos, whose nomination was scuttled thanks a media blitz it secretly orchestrated; Jeremy Corbyn, whom the outfit and its media cutouts painted as a useful idiot of Russia; and a Scottish member of parliament, Neil Findlay, whom one of its closest media allies accused of adopting Kremlin messaging for daring to protest the official visit of the far-right Ukrainian politician Andriy Parubiy the founder of two neo-Nazi parties and author of a white nationalist memoir, View From The Right. These smear campaigns and many more surreptitiously orchestrated by the Integrity Initiative offer a disturbing preview of the reactionary politics it plans to inject into an already toxic American political environment. Lessons from the man who sold the war A newly released Integrity Initiative document reveals that the outfit plans an aggressive expansion across the US. The Integrity Initiative claims to have already established a simple office in Washington DC, though it does not say where. It also boasts of partnerships with top DC think tanks like the Atlantic Council, the Center for European Policy Analysis, CNA, and close relationships with US officials. A major hub of Integrity Initiative influence is the State Departments Global Engagement Center, a de facto US government propaganda operation that was established by President Barack Obama to battle online ISIS recruitment, but which was rapidly repurposed to counter Russian disinformation following the election of Trump. The Integrity Initiative has also recruited one of the most infamous American PR men to organize its clusters of journalists and political figures. He is John Rendon, best known as The Man Who Sold The War several wars, in fact, but most notoriously the Iraq invasion. Rendon was the self-described information warrior who planted fake news in the major US-UK media about non-existent WMD threats. With deep ties to the CIA and other military-intelligence agencies, his PR firm was paid $100 million to organize and sell Ahmed Chalabis Iraqi National Congress. In 2002, the New York Times exposed a Pentagon program using Rendon to plant disinformation including false stories and the blackest of black PR in media outlets around the world, in order to shape public opinion and sell the Iraq invasion. Journalist James Bamford outlined a catalogue of disinformation feats Rendon performed for the Pentagon, such as identifying the biases of specific journalists and potentially obtain an understanding of their allegiances, including the possibility of specific relationships and sponsorships. Bamford also found proposals and programs Rendon was involved in that aimed to coerce foreign journalists and plant false information overseas [and] find ways to punish those who convey the wrong message. These tactics seem particularly relevant to his work with the Integrity Initiative, especially considering the internal documents that reveal further Rendon-style plans to produce reports and studies to be fed anonymously into local media. (Among the outlets listed as friendly hosts in Integrity Initiative internal memos are Buzzfeed and El Pais, the center-left Spanish daily.) Keeping up with the Gorkas Internal documents also refer to interactions between Integrity Initiative Director Chris Donnelly and top Trump officials like Katharine Gorka , a vehemently anti-Muslim Department of Homeland Security official, as well as her husband, Sebastian, who earned right-wing fame during his brief tenure in Trumps White House. The latter Gorka is an open supporter of the Hungarian Vitezi Rend, a proto-fascist order that collaborated with Nazi Germany during its occupation of Hungary. Following Trumps election victory in 2016, Gorka appeared for televised interviews in a black Vitezi Rend uniform. Gorka was among the first figures listed on an itinerary for Donnelly to Washington this September 18 to 22. The itinerary indicates that the two had breakfast before Donnelly delivered a presentation on Mapping Russian Influence Activities at the federally funded military research center, CNA . According to the itinerary, Donnelly was granted access to Pentagon officials like Mara Karlin , an up-and-coming neoconservative cadre , and John McCain Institute executive director Kurt Volker , another neoconservative operative who also serves as the US Special Representative for Ukraine. Numerous meetings with staffers inside the State Departments Office of Global Engagement were also detailed. A foreign agent in the State Department? Of all the State Department officials named in Integrity Initiative documents, the one who appeared most frequently was Todd Leventhal. Leventhal has been a staffer at the State Departments Global Engagement Center, boasting of 20 years of countering disinformation, misinformation, conspiracy theories, and urban legends. In an April 2018 Integrity Initiative memo, he is listed as a current team member: Funded to the tune of $160 million this year to beat back Russian disinformation with counter-propaganda, the State Departments Global Engagement Center has refused to deny targeting American citizens with information warfare of its own. My old job at the State Department was as chief propagandist, confessed former Global Engagement Center Director Richard Stengel. Im not against propaganda. Every country does it and they have to do it to their own population and I dont necessarily think its that awful. At a Council on Foreign Relations forum about "fake news," former Editor at Time Magazine Richard Stengel directly states that he supports the use of propaganda on American citizens then shuts the session down when challenged about how propaganda is used against the third world pic.twitter.com/ClAT5POv7G William Craddick (@williamcraddick) May 11, 2018 Like so many of the media and political figures involved in the Integrity Initiatives international network, the Global Engagement Centers Leventhal has a penchant for deploying smear tactics against prominent voices that defy the foreign policy consensus. Leventhal appeared in an outtake of a recent NBC documentary on Russian disinformation smugly explaining how he would take down a 15-year-old book critical of American imperialism in the developing world. Rather than challenge the books substance and allegations, Leventhal boasted how he would marshall his resources to wage an ad hominem smear campaign to destroy the authors reputation. His strategic vision was clear: when confronting a critic, ignore the message and destroy the messenger. Integrity Initiative documents reveal that Leventhal has been paid $76,608 dollars (60,000 British pounds) for a 50% contract. While those same documents claim he has retired from the State Department, Leventhals own Linkedin page lists him as a current Senior Disinformation Advisor to the State Department. If that were true, it would mean that the State Department was employing a de facto foreign agent. As a cut-out of the British Foreign Office and Defense Ministry, the Integrity Initiatives work with current and former US officials and members of the media raises certain legal questions. For one, there is no indication that the group has registered under the Justice Departments Foreign Agent Registration Act, as most foreign agents of influence are required to do. Grants from the neocons favorite foundation An Integrity Initiative memo states that the right-wing Smith Richardson Foundation has also committed to ponying up funding for its US network as soon as the group receives 501 c-3 non-profit status. The foundation has already provided it with about $56,000 for covert propaganda activities across Europe. The Smith Richardson Foundation has old ties to the US intelligence community and controversial cold war influence operations. According to reporter Russ Bellant , the foundation was secretly bankrolling radical right-wing indoctrination campaigns for the American public on cold war and foreign policy issues programs that got the attention of Senator William Fulbright, who warned then-President Kennedy of their dangers. At one of these indoctrination seminars, a Smith Richardson Foundation director told attendees that it is within the capacity of the people in this room to literally turn the State of Georgia into a civil war college, in order to overcome their opponents. Smith Richardson has funded a whos who of the neoconservative movement, from hyper-militaristic think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War. To say the [Smith Richardson] foundation was involved at every level in the lobbying for and crafting of the so-called global war on terror after 9/11 would be an understatement, wrote journalist Kelley Vlahos. Besides Smith Richardson, the Integrity Initiative has stated its intention to apply for grants from the State Department to expand the Integrity Initiative activities both within and outside of the USA. This is yet another indicator that the US government is paying for propaganda targeting its own citizens. The Main Event in Seattle An Integrity Initiative internal document argues that because DC is well served by existing US institutions, such as those with which the Institute [for Statecraft] already collaborates, the organization should concentrate on extending the work of the Integrity Initiative into major cities and key State capitals [sic] across the USA. This December 10, the Integrity Initiative organized what it called its main event in the US. It was a conference on disinformation held in Seattle, Washington under the auspices of a data firm called Adventium Labs. Together with the Technical Leadership Institute at the University of Minnesota, the Integrity Initiative listed Adventium Labs as one of its first partners outside DC. Adventium is Minneapolis-based research and development firm that has reaped contracts from the US military, including a recent $5.4 million cyber-security grant from the Pentagons Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. Inside a modest-sized hotel conference room, the Adventium/Integrity event began with a speech by the Integrity Initiatives Simon Bracey-Lane. Two years prior, Bracey-Lane appeared on the American political scene as a field worker for Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential primary run, earning media write-ups as the Brit for Bernie. Now, the young operator was back in the US as the advance man for a military-intelligence cut-out that specialized in smearing left-wing political figures like Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader widely regarded as the British version of Sanders. Bracey-Lane opened his address by explaining that Integrity Initiative director Chris Donnelly had been unable to appear at the event, possibly because he was bogged down in the scandal back home. He proceeded to read remarks prepared by Donnelly that offered a window into the frighteningly militaristic mindset the Integrity Initiative aims to impose on the public through their media and political allies. According to Donnellys comments, the West was no longer in a peace time, rules based environment. From the halls of government to corporate boardrooms to even the UKs National Health System, the conclusion is that we have to look for people who suit a wartime environment rather than peacetime. During Q&A, Bracey-Lane remarked that we have to change the definition of war to encompass everything that war now encompasses, referring vaguely to various forms of hybrid warfare. There is a great deal to be done in communicating that to young people, he continued. When we mean being at war we dont mean sending our boys off to fight. Its right here in our homes. The emphasis on restructuring society along martial lines mirrored the disturbing thinking also on display in notes of a private meeting between Donnelly and Gen. Richard Barrons in 2016. During that chat, the two officers decided that the British military should be removed from democratic supervision and be able to operate as an independent body outside politics. While Bracey-Lanes presentation perfectly captured the military mindset of the Integrity Initiative, the speakers that followed him offered a diverse array of perspectives on the concept of disinformation, some more nuanced than others. But one talk stood out from the rest not because of its quality, but because of its complete lack thereof. Reanimating the red-brown grifter The presentation was delivered by Alexander Reid Ross, a half-baked political researcher who peddles computer-generated spiderweb relationship charts to prove the existence of a vast hidden network of red-brown alliances and syncretic media conspiracies controlled by puppeteers in Moscow. Ross is a lecturer on geography at Portland State University with no scholarly or journalistic credentials on Russia. His students have given him dismal marks at Rate My Professors, complaining about his terrible monotone lectures and his penchant for insert[ing] his own ideologies into our class. But with a book, Against the Fascist Creep, distributed by the well-known anarchist publishing house, AK Press, the middling academic has tried to make his name as a maverick analyst. Before the Integrity Initiative was exposed as a military-intelligence front operation, Ross was among a small coterie of pundits and self-styled disinformation experts that followed the groups Twitter account. The Integrity Initiative even retweeted his smear of War Nerd podcast co-host John Dolan. UK government-funded fake "monitoring group" the Integrity Initiative is retweeting some of the most prominent Syria regime-change trolls, anarcho-neocons, and pro-imperialist pseudo-"socialists," as they attack anti-war journalists These are effectively UK gov-sponsored attacks pic.twitter.com/KqABxFcqLF Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) November 27, 2018 In a series of articles for the Southern Poverty Law Center last year, Ross attempted to bring his warmed-over Cold War theories to the broader public. He wound up trashing everyone from the co-author of this piece, Max Blumenthal, to Nation magazine publisher Katrina Vanden Heuvel to Harvard University professor of international relations Stephen Walt as hidden shadow-fascists secretly controlled by the Kremlin. The articles ultimately generated an embarrassing scandal and a series of public retractions by the editor-in-chief of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Richard Cohen. And then, like some Dr. Frankenstein for discredited and buried journalism careers, the British Ministry of Defense-backed Integrity Initiative moved in to reanimate Ross as a sought-after public intellectual. Before the Integrity Initiative-organized crowd, Ross offered a rambling recitation of his theory of a syncretic fascist alliance puppeteered by Russians: The alt right takes from both this red-brown, its called, or like left-right syncretic highly international national of nationalisms, and from the United States own paleoconservative movement, and its sort of percolated down through college organizing, um, and anti-interventionism meets anti-imperialism. Right? In a strange twist, Ross appeared on stage at the Integrity Initiatives Seattle event alongside Emmi Bevensee , a contributor to the left-libertarian Center for a Stateless Society (C4SS) think tank, whose tagline, a left market anarchist think-tank expresses its core aim of uniting far-left anarchists with free-market right-libertarians. Bevensee , a PhD candidate at the University of Arizona and self-described Borderlands anarcho into tech and crypto, concluded her presentation by asserting a linkage between the alternative news site, Zero Hedge, and the physical militarized presence in the borderlands of anti-immigrant vigilantes. Like Bevensee, Ross has written for C4SS in the past. The irony of contributors to an anarchist group called the Center for a Stateless Society auditioning before The State the most jackbooted element of it, in fact for more opportunities to attack anti-war politicians and journalists, can hardly be overstated. But closer examination of the history of C4SS veers from irony into something much darker and more unsettling. Pedophile co-founder, white nationalist associates C4SS was co-founded in 2006 by a confessed child rapist and libertarian activist, Brad Spangler, who set the group up to promote Market anarchism to replace Marxism on the left. When Spanglers child rape confessions emerged in 2015, the Center for Stateless Society founder was finally drummed out by his colleagues. Theres more: Spanglers understudy and deputy in the C4SS, Kevin Carson currently listed as the groups Karl Hess Chair in Social Theory turned out to be a longtime friend and defender of white nationalist Keith Preston. Prestons name is prominently plastered on the back of Kevin Carsons book, hailing the C4SS man as the Proudhon of our time a loaded compliment, given Proudhons unhinged anti-Semitism . Carson only disowned Preston in 2009, shortly before Preston helped white nationalist leader Richard Spencer launch his alt-right webzine, Alternative Right. The C4SS group currently participates in the annual Koch-backed International Students For Liberty conference in Washington DC, LibertyCon, a whos who of libertarian think-tank hacks and Republican Party semi-celebrities like Steve Forbes, FCC chairman Ajit Pai, and Alan Dershowitz. In 2013, C4SSs Kevin Carson tweeted out his dream fantasy that four Jewish leftists Mark Ames, Yasha Levine, Corey Robin, and Mark Potok would die in a plane crash while struggling over a single parachute. Potok was an executive editor at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which last year retracted every one of the crank articles that Alexander Reid Ross published with them and formally apologized for having run them. For some reason, the super-sleuth Ross conveniently failed to investigate the libertarian group, C4SS, that he has chosen to partner with and publish in. That ability to shamelessly smear and denounce leftists over the most crudely manufactured links to the far-right while cozying up to groups as sleazy as C4SS and authoritarian as the Integrity Initiative is the sort of adaptive trait that MI6 spies and the Rendon Group would find useful in a covert domestic influence operation. Ross did not respond to our request for comment on his involvement with the Integrity Initiative and C4SS. Disinformation for democracy As it spans out across the US, the Integrity Initiative has stated its desire to build a younger generation of Russia watchers. Toward this goal, it is supplementing its coterie of elite journalists, think tank hacks, spooks and State Department info-warriors with certifiable cranks like Ross. Less than 24 hours after Rosss appearance at the Integrity Initiative event in Seattle, he sent a menacing email to the co-author of this article, Ames, announcing his intention to recycle an old and discredited smear against him and publish it in the Daily Beast a publication that appears to enjoy a special relationship with Integrity Initiative personnel. Despite the threat of investigation in the UK, the Integrity Initiatives network of networks appears to be escalating its covert, government-funded influence operation, trashing the political left and assailing anyone that gets in its way all in the name of fighting foreign disinformation. We have to win this one, Integrity Initiative founder Col. Chris Donnelly said , because if we dont, democracy will be undermined. Mark Ames is the co-host of the Radio War Nerd podcast . Subscribe to Radio War Nerd on Patreon . Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community 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. Thank you for your support. Washington: President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen said on Thursday he has agreed to testify publicly before a US House of Representatives committee on February 7. Cohen said in a statement he had accepted an invitation by the panel's Democratic chairman, US Representative Elijah Cummings, to appear publicly before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," Cohen said in the statement. Cohen was sentenced in December to a total of three years in prison for his role in making illegal hush-money payments to women to help Trumps 2016 election campaign and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia. Elhard, who has worked for the National Park Service since 2005, started a Facebook group for people to buy items from furloughed federal workers. But so far it's just been him trying to sell things: copies of his graduate thesis from Columbia University about wolves in Yellowstone, a carbon-fibre backpack he took on hiking trips, a painting of Polychrome Overlook in Denali National Park. US President Donald Trump. Credit:Bloomberg The painting was a window to his years running the roads there as a park ranger. Now he's hoping it'll sell so he can put the money toward his next mortgage payment. Guidance from government offices have provided little comfort so far, some workers said. No one in Washington seems to know how long the partial government shutdown will go on, but there's been little reason to believe the end is close. Meanwhile, the Office of Management and Budget has provided sparse advice other than encouraging workers to reach out to creditors and mortgage companies before debts become due. The Coast Guard published a tip sheet this week suggesting employees hold garage sales or sell things online, walk dogs or babysit or "become a mystery shopper" to get by. Union members and Internal Revenue Service workers rally outside an IRS Service Centre to call for an end to the partial government shutdown. Credit:AP "Bankruptcy is a last option," the tip sheet read. "While it may be uncomfortable to deal with the hard facts, it's best to avoid the 'hide your head in the sand' reaction," the document read. "Stay in charge of the situation by getting a clear understanding of what's happening." The Coast Guard removed the tip sheet from its website late Wednesday morning after The Washington Post inquired about it. The suggestions do not "reflect the Coast Guard's current efforts to support our workforce during this lapse in appropriations," McBride said. "As such, this guidance has been removed," said Lieutenant Commander Scott McBride, a service spokesman. Federal employees rally at the Capitol to protest against the impasse between Congress and President Donald Trump over his demand to fund a US-Mexico border wall. Credit:AP President Donald Trump, when asked about the hardship facing workers, said federal employees "are on my side." "You take a look at social media, so many of those people saying 'it's very hard for me, it's very hard for my family, but Mr. President you're doing the right thing. Get it done.' They're patriots," he said. Anna Cory, a librarian in Morrisville, North Carolina, who works as a contractor for the Environmental Protection Agency, is running a "Government shutdown online yard sale" on Facebook, where she's selling rare books from the 1800s. She held the worn leather volumes in her hands to photograph them, splaying the most beautiful pages to show off sheet music and ornate portraits. "As a librarian, that's what I value, that's what I treasure. It hurts to let this stuff go." Cory said. "I've had a couple friends who've said, "I wish we could buy your things and just give them back to you," which would be fantastic but it's not always feasible." Two weeks into the shutdown, Cory, 39, got engaged. Right now, she wants to be picking a wedding date and searching for a house where she and her fiancee can start their new life together. All that's on hold now. Along with selling things on Facebook, she's looking for temporary jobs or even other full-time positions, although it pains her to think of leaving the EPA. This is the second shutdown Cory's endured in her two years there, but last time the EPA's budget allowed it to stay open. When the current one began, she took comfort in co-workers who had been around for the 2013 shutdown and who were confident the whole thing would be short-lived. "All of us were unprepared for this to go on so long," Cory said. If the shutdown extends into next week, it'll become the longest continuous closer of the government in US history, topping the 21-day shutdown under President Bill Clinton that extended from December 1995 to January 1996. Hungry for signs of resolution, many furloughed workers have been glued to their televisions and news feeds, but there's been little to feel optimistic about. Determined to secure more than $US5 billion in funding for a wall on the U.S. southern border, President Trump has said he's prepared for the shutdown to last "months or years". At a high-level meeting about the shutdown on Wednesday Trump asked Democratic leaders whether they would support his wall if he reopened the government. They said "no." Trump walked out, later calling the meeting "a total waste of time." Democratic leaders chided him for "throwing another temper tantrum." For some workers, the endless catfights and political turbulence have eroded any sense of stability they felt working for the federal government. Joseph Simeone, a safety inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration in Virginia, said he was partially drawn to his position because of the job security. Now he feels like the uncertainty is a "constant threat." "I don't have a lot of faith that this will be resolved, even if they do fund the wall or if the president ends up allowing the funding that has been put forward," Simeone said. "We're probably just going to have to go through this again later. It's starting to make me feel like I have a better shot switching back to the industry." The senator who was rebuked for attending a far-right rally in Melbourne last weekend has exposed himself to a likely legal challenge from the Nationals over his new party's name: the Conservative Nationals. Senator Fraser Anning has weathered a week of condemnation for his far-right sympathies, and reports he used taxpayer funds to attended multiple extremist rallies and stay at his brother's hotel. Queensland independent senator Fraser Anning is registering a new party. Credit:AAP The independent senator, who received 19 first preference votes at the 2016 election when he ran under One Nation's banner, will likely face a challenge from the Nationals over the likeness between its name and that of his new party. Electoral laws say that if one party's title "so nearly resembles the name" of another political party or if a reasonable voter is led to falsely believe there is a connection between two different parties based on their names, it can be struck down by the Australian Electoral Commission. A third of the nation's 76 senators swept into power at the 2016 election have resigned, retired, been kicked out by the High Court or dumped by their own colleagues, as major parties prepare to pick up as many as six seats from crossbenchers at this year's federal election. An analysis of Senate changes ahead of Parliament's return in February shows voters will confront a Senate ballot paper unrecognisable from the one they faced at the 2016 poll. The Senate poses for a photograph during the final sitting fortnight of 2018. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The number of minor parties and independents reached a record high in the current Senate with the Coalition, Labor and Greens only accounting for 66 of the 76 members. But a string of external factors and a high number of retirements have contributed to an extraordinary Senate churn - the largest since the advent of proportional representation at the 1949 election. A man and woman have been charged over a crime rampage on Sunday morning, when they allegedly stole a car and held up several service stations in Perths south. Police claim during the spree, which took place between about 7am and 11am on Sunday, the couple stole a Toyota Echo while robbing a home in Queens Park and stole a bag in Wilson which had keys to a home in Dianella before trespassing at the home. The couple are then alleged to have held up three service stations in the space of 40 minutes in Karawara, Willetton and Langford; the man armed with a knife and wearing a disguise and the woman driving the stolen Toyota Echo. The Toyota Echo was found about 11.45am burnt out in Forrestfield bushland. The 26-year-old Thornlie man was charged with several offences including stealing, armed robbery, aggravated home burglary, stealing a motor vehicle, trespass, and criminal damage by fire. VicRoads deputy chief executive Robyn Seymour said that six similar signs and gantries on the Tullamarine Freeway had been checked and were deemed safe. An independent reviewer has been appointed to oversee the expanded inspections, with similarly sized and constructed gantries and signs on the Monash Freeway, the M80 Ring Road, the Calder Freeway, the Tullamarine Freeway and the West Gate Freeway to be checked. VicRoads has expanded its audit of freeway gantries and signs to cover the entire Melbourne metropolitan network after an enormous Tullamarine Freeway sign suddenly fell and crushed a car travelling underneath it on Tuesday evening. An image from dash cam footage showing the sign after it fell on the Tullamarine freeway. Credit:Nine News There were 11 more on the CityLink section of the Tullamarine Freeway - constructed at the same time as the one that collapsed - to be examined from Thursday evening onwards. Some 43 more would be inspected on the other freeways as part of the widened audit for a total of around 60, a VicRoads spokeswoman said. Ms Seymour said the expanded audit did not mean it was unsafe to drive on those roads. The Melbourne-wide audit is expected to take some days. "If we were at all concerned about community safety we would close the road," Ms Seymour said. "We need to make sure risk doesn't develop in the longer term which is why we need to do the investigation to make sure we understand what is the root cause." The Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Health Promotion Catherine Byrne was in Kilkenny on Thursday to launch South East Community Healthcares Healthy Ireland implementation plan. The South East Community Healthcare organisation delivers primary care (including community services), social care (including services for disabilities and older people), mental health, and health and well-being services in counties Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary and Wexford. The government supported Healthy Ireland Framework 2013-2025 underpins Ireland's response to its changing health and well-being profile. It identifies a healthy population as a major asset for society, setting the improvement in the health and well-being of the nation as a priority. The framework draws on existing policies but also proposes new arrangements to ensure effective co-operation and collaboration to implement evidence based policies at government, sectoral, community and local levels. The aim of our Healthy Ireland plan for the South East Community Healthcare area is to support people living in counties Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary and Wexford to be happy, healthy and well in order to reach their full potential. In setting out the plan, South East Community Healthcare is aware that many factors can influence a persons health, such as where they live and work; their access to education and to job opportunities; their individual lifestyle choices; and their social supports and access to amenities such as clean water and transport. Because health can be influenced by many determinants outside of the health service itself, South East Community Healthcare is linking closely with partners, through joint committees such as the Local Community Development Committees of the five local authorities in the South East and Children and Young Peoples Services Committees in each of the five counties to ensure that agencies are all working together to create a happier, healthier region. Routes and strategies to achieve these goals, in which all people and all parts of society can participate, are set out in the plan. Speaking at the official launch in the Parade Tower at Kilkenny Castle, Minister Byrne said: I am delighted that South East Community Healthcare will compliment that with its own implementation plan, towards the shared aim of a healthy Ireland where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and well-being to their full potential, where well-being is valued and supported at every level of society and is everyones responsibility. "The South East plan sets out how we can increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life, reduce health inequalities, protect the public from threats to health and well-being, and create an environment where every individual and sector of society can play their part in achieving a healthy Ireland. Presentations were also made at the launch on Healthy Ireland initiatives already underway in the South East. In her summary, South East Community Healthcares head of service for health and well-being Dr Derval Howley said: In addition to partnership working, our plan focuses on positively influencing the lifestyle choices that people make in relation to smoking, alcohol, sexual health, healthy eating and physical activity. Our health services protect our population from threats to their health and well-being through the provision of immunisation and vaccination programmes and infectious disease monitoring. "We work with our National Health Services to reduce morbidity by enhancing the up-take of screening programmes such as BreastCheck, CervicalCheck, Bowelscreen and Diabetic RetinaScreen. Our healthcare teams are committed to supporting people at all stages of life, from the very young through to positive ageing for our older population. We adopt a life course approach to promoting health and well-being. There are challenges. We know that the greatest population growth within the South East is among our older adults. The increase will also be reflected in numbers of carers. We have many population groups in our region who have specific health needs. The uptake of our childhood immunisation programme in South East Community Healthcare needs to be above the national target of 95%. The uptake of the staff influenza vaccine, whilst improving, must increase. "There has been an increase in the number of people with self-reported poor health in South East Community Healthcare compared to 2011. It is important that we also ensure that our workforce is happy, healthy and well. We look forward, however, to continuing to work with everyone, to make the South East a happy, healthy place for people to live, work and grow. Fresh from presenting an award at the Golden Globes, Saoirse Ronan leads a star-studded line up on tomorrow nights Late Late Show. The 24-year-old Carlow star has an illustrious career, with three Oscar nominations already under her belt. Saoirse joins host Ryan Tubridy to look back at her journey from The Clinic and Proof to the dizzying heights of Hollywood stardom, and discuss her new movie, Mary Queen of Scots. Actor John C. Reilly and comedian Steve Coogan will be chatting to Ryan about their new biopic, Stan and Ollie, which follows the fame and friendship of comedy icons Laurel and Hardy, as they embark upon their final tour of Ireland and the UK. Earlier this week Padraig Harrington was unveiled as European Captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup having vice-captained the last three. The three-time major winner joins Ryan to discuss his plans for continued European domination of the competition and how recovery is coming along after breaking a bone in his wrist in December. Ryan will be asking four of Irelands most successful young people about life in your twenties in Ireland today. Michael Conlan, the former Irish Olympic boxer who recently won the first title of his professional career; Barry Keoghan, the Irish actor who is one of two Irish people to make the BAFTA Rising Star shortlist; Ellen Coyne, a Senior Journalist at The Times Ireland and Rosie Connolly, one of Irelands leading fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers. Love is in the air as First Dates Ireland swings open its restaurant doors once again to bring singletons from all over the country together in the hope of finding love. Ryan will catch up with some of the new contestants, as well as checking in on previous First Dates couples; including Dubliner Shannon and Monaghan farmer Ciara who bonded over their love of club classic Maniac 2000. Also joining Ryan will be spoken word artist Natalya O'Flaherty, and therell be music from The Academic, and The 2 Johnnies, Irelands favourite comedy podcast duo. Only on The Late Late Show, RTE One, Friday, January 11 at 9.35pm Forgotten France Rises Up By Serge Halimi January 10, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - December 15, place de lOpera, Paris. Three yellow vests read out an address to the French people and the president of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron saying: This movement belongs to no one and to everyone. It gives voice to a people who for 40 years have been dispossessed of everything that enabled them to believe in their future and their greatness. The anger provoked by a fuel tax produced, within a month, a wider diagnosis of what ails society and democracy. Mass movements that bring together people with minimal organisation encourage rapid politicisation, which explains why the people have discovered that they are dispossessed of their future a year after electing as president a man who boasts he swept aside the two parties that alternated in power for 40 years. Macron has come unstuck. As did previous wunderkinder just as young, smiling and modern: Laurent Fabius, Tony Blair, Matteo Renzi. The liberal bourgeoisie are hugely disappointed. His French presidential election win in 2017 whether it was a miracle or a divine surprise had given them hope that France had become a haven of tranquillity in a troubled West. When Macron was crowned (to Beethovens Ode to Joy ), The Economist, that standard-bearer for the views of the international ruling class, put him on its front cover, grinning as he walked on water. But the sea has swallowed up Macron, too sure of his own instincts and too contemptuous of other peoples economic plight. Social distress is generally only a backdrop to an election campaign, used to explain the choice of those who vote the wrong way. But when old angers build and new ones are stirred up without consideration for those enduring them, then, as the new interior minister Christophe Castaner put it ( 1 ), the monster can spring out of its box. And then, anything becomes possible. Frances amnesia about the history of the left explains why there have been so few comparisons between the yellow vest movement and the strikes of 1936, during the Popular Front, which prompted similar elite surprise at the workers living conditions and their demand to be treated with dignity. Philosopher and campaigner Simone Weil wrote: All those who are strangers to this life of slavery are incapable of understanding what has proved decisive in this situation. In this movement it is not about this or that particular demand, however important After always having submitted, endured everything, accepted everything in silence for months and years, it is about daring to straighten up, to stand up. To take your turn to speak ( 2 ). The tables had turned Prime Minister Leon Blum, speaking about the subsequent Matignon agreements of 1936, which granted paid holidays, a 40-hour week and better wages, reported an exchange between the employers negotiators in which one said to another, when he saw the level of some salaries, How is this possible? How did we let this happen? ( 3 ) Was Macron similarly enlightened by hearing yellow vests describe their daily life? Tense, pale, his eyes riveted to the teleprompter, he did admit in his address to the nation that the effort demanded of them was too great and not fair. The tables had turned and he was now the one learning a lesson. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter How did we let this happen? Thanks to the yellow vests, everyone is more aware of the governments injustices: 5 a month less in 2017 for housing benefit while the progressive rates of tax on capital were abolished; the wealth tax eliminated; pensioners purchasing power declining. The costliest measure was the replacement of the tax credit for competitiveness and employment (CICE, a corporate tax credit scheme for businesses) with a reduction in employers social security contributions, which mean that this year the Treasury will effectively pay a double bonus to Bernard Arnault, the richest man in Europe, owner of Carrefour, LVMH, Le Parisien and Les Echos . This policy will cost almost 40bn in 2019, 1.8% of GDP and more than 100 times the saving from housing benefit cuts. In the short, angry video, viewed 6.2m times, that helped launch the yellow vest movement, Jacline Mouraud, 51, a composer and hypnotherapist from Brittany, asked Macron three times, What are you doing with the cash? Now we know. A hefty fuel price rise and a stricter roadworthiness test for cars were enough to bring everything to the surface. Such as banks that grow fat on every loan, yet in the name of cost-saving rationalise, meaning close, their branches, as they do the accounts of customers who write a cheque that bounces to get through to the end of the month. A government that raids pensions, already too low, as if they were a treasure chest. Single mothers who have trouble getting child support from their former partners, equally poor. Couples who want to split up but are forced to stay together because they cannot afford two rents. The Internet, computers and smartphones which are now necessities that have to be paid for, not for leisure purposes but because service rationalisations by the post office, tax authorities and railways, and the disappearance of public phones, make it impossible to live without them. And everywhere there are maternity unit closures and shuttered shops while Amazon opens new warehouses. This universe of anomie, imposed technology, form filling, productivity tracking and loneliness can be seen in other countries too. It has arisen under very different political regimes and predates Macrons election, but he seems in love with this new world and has made its accomplishment his social project another reason why he is hated. But not universally so. People who are doing well graduates, the middle class, those in big cities share Macrons optimistic outlook. As long as the country is calm, or in despair, which amounts to the same thing, the world and the future are theirs. A yellow vest who owns a detached house that in the 1970s would have been a symbol of upward mobility said, When planes fly low overhead, we think: Look, there are the Parisians who can afford a holiday. Dropping their pollution on us too ( 4 ). Last piece on the chessboard Macron can count on supporters beyond the Parisian middle class with money to travel, including journalists. There is the EU. With the UK reverting to insularity, Hungary refractory, Italy disobedient, and US President Donald Trump encouraging all of them, the EU cannot do without France nor punish it like Greece when its books dont balance. However weakened Macron is, he is one of the last strong pieces on neoliberal Europes chessboard. So the EU and Germany want him to remain in place, even if they have to permit France a few deadly sins. On 6 December, four days before Macron acceded to some yellow vest demands (thereby allowing Frances budget deficit to exceed the sacrosanct limit of 3% of GDP), EU economic affairs commissioner Pierre Moscovici did not reprimand or threaten Macron in the hope of averting laxness. Instead, he let it be known that he had no objection: My role, as guardian of the growth and stability pact, is not to say to any country, You must cut such and such a social expenditure, you must alter such and such a tax This 3% rule is not the most important. I heard Gerald Darmanin [Frances public accounts minister] say, 2.9% or 3.1% isnt the difference between heaven and hell. He is not entirely wrong about that, and its up to France to decide what it should do. Im not going to say today, France is threatened with sanctions, its deviated from the deficit procedures. The Spanish, Italians and Greeks should translate this (LMDs national editions will handle it) and future French governments, whose economic sovereignty might be more challenged and budgetary misdemeanours less well received, should keep a transcript. To justify adding around 10bn to the deficit, Macron told his parliamentary majority, In moments of crisis, the cost is secondary. Angela Merkel quickly backed his climbdown; it was intended, she said, to respond to peoples complaints. And Frances rightwing opposition soon called for the demonstrations to end. The middle class, which knows where its interests lie, sticks together when the house is on fire. To save Private Macron, bosses even encouraged businesses to pay their workers a special bonus, in reaction to his call for a higher minimum wage. The press too curbed its criticism when faced with a stumbling government. An economist and a political scientist had warned them: Journalists must remember that they are not mere observers, but are part of the elite whose role is also to preserve the country from chaos. The conservative daily Le Figaro got the message, as an editorial suggested after Macrons speech: For now, the government must be acknowledged as having preserved the essentials Tax policies in favour of investment (the partial abolition of wealth tax, a flat tax on savings) have been maintained, as well as the reduction of charges and taxes on business. Lets hope that this lasts ( 5 ). The immigration question No one can rule out that this wish will be granted. The government has not collapsed; it pulled itself together, protected by the institutions of the Fifth Republic, and by its parliamentary majority, which will be even more loyal since it owes everything to Macron. The government also made it clear that its ostensible liberalism does not stop it deploying armoured vehicles on the streets of Paris and preventatively arresting hundreds of demonstrators (1,723 on 8 December), as it had done in the weeks before. And the executive does not balk at manipulating fear the Elysee palace warned darkly against a hard core of people who had come to Paris to kill or alleging foreign intervention (Russian of course). Moreover, Macron, by choosing to highlight the immigration question, confirmed his instinctive political cynicism. The government can argue that the yellow vests have a weak grasp of how the international system works. Macrons Olympian pretensions and his symbiotic relationship with the financial and cultural world of the rich have encouraged the illusion that his policies are personal whims, so that he is at liberty to change them radically. But France no longer controls its own currency; its public services are subject to EU competition law; German officials scrutinise its budget line by line; Brussels negotiates its trade treaties. Yet the words Europe and European do not appear among the yellow vests 42 demands. The roundabout demonstrators and their supporters seem more concerned to protest at the number of members of parliament and ministerial privileges than to challenge their politicians powerlessness, clear to see when the boss of US multinational Ford did not deign to speak to a French minister on the phone after his company announced a plant closure with 850 layoffs at Blanquefort near Bordeaux ( 6 ). Social miracle of the 1990s Pierre Bourdieu called the unemployment movement of the winter of 1997-98 a social miracle, arguing that its first achievement was its very existence: It wrests the unemployed and with them all precarious workers, whose numbers are growing by the day, out of invisibility, isolation, silence out of non-existence. The sudden emergence of the yellow vests, just as miraculous and much more powerful, demonstrates the gradual impoverishment of an ever-larger section of society. It also demonstrates the feeling of absolute defiance towards almost disgust at the usual channels of representation: the movement has no leaders or spokespeople, rejects political parties, keeps its distance from unions, ignores intellectuals and hates the media. This probably explains its popularity, which it managed to retain even after violence any other government would have capitalised on. There is no predicting the future of a movement so culturally alien to most people who read or write for Le Monde diplomatique . Its political prospects are uncertain and its eclectic character contributes to its appeal but threatens its cohesion and power. It is easier to make agreements between workers and the middle class over rejecting a fuel tax or abolishing the wealth tax than over changing the minimum wage, since small business owners and independent traders fear their costs will go up. Yet, there is a potential unifying bond, since many demands result from transformations of capitalism: inequality, wages, tax, the decline of public services, punitive environmental measures, offshoring, over-representation of middle-class graduates in public institutions and the media. In 2010 journalist Francois Ruffin described two protest marches in Amiens on the same day, which crossed paths but did not join forces; one was workers from the Goodyear plant, the other, anti-globalisation campaigners demonstrating against anti-feminist legislation in Spain. Ruffin wrote: It is as though two worlds, separated by just six kilometres, have turned their backs on each other. With no possibility of the tough guys from the factory joining what one worker called the city-centre middle class out for a walk ( 7 ). Sociologist Rick Fantasia noted around the same in Detroit that there were two lefts separate and distinct, activists without political plans, and realists with no appetite for action ( 8 ). Even if the divisions in Amiens and Detroit are not identical, they show the growing gulf between a working-class universe constantly attacked yet trying to fight back, and a world of contestation inspired by intellectuals whose radicalism on paper is no threat to the social order. The yellow vests remind us of this division, but its not up to them alone to bridge it. Translated by George Miller Serge Halimi is president of Le Monde diplomatique Notes. ( 1 ) Christophe Castaner, Un monstre de coleres anciennes (A monster of old angers), Brut, 8 December 2018. ( 2 ) Simone Weil, La vie et la greve des ouvrieres metallos (The life and strikes of female metal workers), La Revolution proletarienne, Paris, 10 June 1936. ( 3 ) Serge Halimi, Quand la gauche essayait: Les lecons du pouvoir (1924, 1936, 1944, 1981) (When the left tried: The lessons of power), Agone, Marseilles, 2018. ( 4 ) Marie-Amelie Lombard-Latune and Christine Ducros, Derriere les gilets jaunes, cette France des lotissements qui peine (Behind the yellow vests), Le Figaro, Paris, 26 November 2018. ( 5 ) Gaetan de Capele, Lheure des comptes (The time of reckoning), Le Figaro, 11 December 2018. ( 6 ) Pierre Bourdieu, Contre-feux, Raisons dagir, Paris, 1998 ( Firing Back, Verso, London, 2003). ( 7 ) Francois Ruffin, Dans la fabrique du mouvement social (In the factory that built the social movement), Le Monde diplomatique, December 2010. ( 8 ) Rick Fantasia, What happened to the US left? , Le Monde diplomatique, English edition, December 2010. This article was originally published by " Counterpunch " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community 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. Thank you for your support. Up for debate: Live legislation tracker Check out the latest developments on bills pending before state lawmakers in four key topics. Trusted local news has never been more important, but providing the information you need, information that can change sometimes minute-by-minute, requires a partnership with you, our readers. Please consider making a contribution today to support this vital resource that you and countless others depend on. Brian Gregory Robling of Washington, 23, passed away Monday, June 7, 2021. Brian was born July 11, 1997, in Washington, to Amber (Robling) Whiteman and Michael Bernard. He graduated from Washington High School in 2016. Brian is survived by his parents; his son, Zyler Mehrer of Washington; da Brexit Unleashes British Bulldog Snarling at Russia By Finian Cunningham January 10, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Britain is dispatching some 1,000 marines to join NATO war exercises off Norway in a show of strength to Russia. The move is but one of several military muscles being flexed by Britain in a bid to boost its international standing. Russia is designated as the convenient villain to justify Britains renewed militarism. To lend the madness some popular appeal, British media reported that Prince Harry will join one of Britains biggest war exercises against Russia in 20 years, as a warning to Vladimir Putin over his continued aggression. Harry (34), the youngest son of heir to the British crown, Prince Charles, is said to be privy to secret battle plans taking place in Norway over the next 12 weeks as the marines practice drills in a show of strength against potential military strikes by Moscow. Russias embassy in Britain dismissed the exercise involving the young royal as a PR gimmick to fire up public enthusiasm for what is otherwise a hackneyed ploy of provoking tensions with Moscow. Apparently, the authority of politicians and generals is no longer enough to ensure public support for this policy, it said. Indeed, a PR stunt is surely what it is going on. And the British media are showing themselves once again to be the disgraceful pro-war stenographers that they are by churning out official assertions of Russian aggression and potential military strikes. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter But whats also going on here is a wider and more disturbing pattern of Britain increasing its militarism towards Russia. Not that Russia is quaking in its boots over Britains threatening conduct, but the reckless snarling attitude of the British bulldog nevertheless adds to increasing international tensions between NATO powers and Moscow. That implies an increasing risk of a military confrontation. A significant factor here is Britains intensifying Brexit chaos as it splits from the European Union. The deadline for the EU divorce comes on March 29 when Britain is set to leave the bloc after more than four decades of membership. If Britain crashes out of the EU without a trade deal, which looks increasingly likely due to internal British political squabbling, then economic and social chaos is expected. Given the high stakes, it seems that the British establishment is seeking to distract from the Brexit debacle through ramping up tensions with Russia. As a recent Washington Post article put it: Britain clings to imperial nostalgia as Brexit looms. Britains Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson has been a key figure in fingering Russia as a threat to Europe and positioning Britain as a defender of Europe against Russian aggression. There are, it seems, a few calculations in the works. One of those is that Britain has been continually trying to make itself relevant to Europe in a post-Brexit era owing to supposed British security and military assets. Britains Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly talked up how Britain will always remain an important security partner to European allies even after it quits the bloc. When her defense minister Gavin Williamson first announced the new deployment of British forces to the Arctic back in September, he said it was to protect Europes northern flank from increased Russian aggression. Thus, by ingratiating itself as a protector of Europe, the British state is endeavoring to use that purported role as a bargaining chip in order to extract more concessions from the EU on the terms of a future trade arrangement. Premier May this week is pleading with EU leaders to relent on improving divorce terms. It is therefore important for the British to amplify their security role for Europe in order to try to wheedle better divorce terms. The corollary of that cynical calculation is for the British to demonize Russia further as a threat to Europe, thereby giving the British a seemingly valuable purpose of defender. No doubt the recently exposed British government-funded media network, the Orwellian-sounding Integrity Initiative, has been working overtime in propagating the anti-Russia narratives as part of the Brexit strategy. Another calculation is that as Britain leaves the European Union, it is prone to take on a greater role in the US-led NATO military alliance. Post-Brexit Britain will inevitably have much less influence on European capitals. As Americas historical cipher in European affairs, Washington and London will need to boost the role of NATO as a way to exert more influence over European policy. This would explain why Britain has over the past two years since the Brexit referendum in June 2016 taken on a more aggressive attitude towards Russia. Realizing that the bulldog will be outside the European gate, Britain seems to have upped its NATO role, by barking more at Russia. More generally, the Brexit process has unleashed British notions of former imperial glory being revived. Williamson told the rightwing Sunday Telegraph recently: This is our biggest moment as a nation since the end of the Second World War, when we can recast ourselves in a different way. We can actually play the role on the world stage that the world expects us to play. Increased militarism is a crucial part of this British role-play on the world stage. Britain has greatly boosted its sales pitch for weapons exports since the Brexit referendum, wooing the Saudi and other Gulf Arab regimes in particular. It is planning to build, or has recently built, new military bases in former colonial territories in the Persian Gulf, Caribbean and Southeast Asia. Britains launching of two new super aircraft carriers is specifically aimed at working with US naval counterparts and the American F-35 fighter plane. As the BBC reported , the new gunboat diplomacy on steroids is for the British rulers a statement of intent and global ambition as well as a very visible projection of military power. In the economically challenging times for post-Brexit Britain, the British state is resorting to militarism as in the days of its Victorian empire. That militarism is seen as essential by the British state as a way to give itself badly needed relevance and influence over international relations. Especially because post-imperial, post-Brexit Britain is a shadow of its former self. However, from Russias perspective, this desperate British nostalgia is potentially baleful. Britain is evidently using Russia as a pretext to justify its new militarism and to burnish a supposed role of defender. As the Brexit repercussions become ever-more severe for Britain, the danger is that the British bulldog snarling at Russia may become rabid. It needs to be muzzled before someone gets hurt. Or better still, put down. Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. This article was originally published by " SCF " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== BREAKING! The Integrity Initiative, UK Govt Funded Anti-Russia PsyOp, Was Behind The Skripals Case? Note To ICH Community 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. Thank you for your support. There is another major caravan forming right now in Honduras, and so far were trying to break it up, and so far its bigger than anything weve ever seen, and a drone isnt going to stop it, and a sensor isnt going to stop it, but you know whats going to stop it in its tracks? he said. A nice, powerful wall. He said many of the projects funded by the money matter to local communities and also their representatives in Washington. Even with a pot of money $23 billion large, you are going to be hard-pressed to come up with a noncontroversial list of projects that supposedly do not have an impact on readiness and national security if they get cut, Sharp said. Youre talking about cutting over 20 percent of the available funding. Meanwhile, the expulsion of Iran from Syria, Pompeo told Fox News, is part of a larger effort to end what he called Tehrans attempt to destabilize the region. Itll be a broad range of ways in which we do that. Were not going to talk about what those tool sets are precisely. But make no mistake about it, whether that is the support of Lebanese Hezbollah, the support of some of the Shiite militias in Iraq, the funding that goes to Yemen. At home, Huawei is seen as a symbol of Chinas economic transformation, of how far the country has come and of its soaring ambitions to become a hub for tech manufacturing and innovation. But it is not a household name in the United States, largely because U.S. lawmakers have worked to limit its U.S. business and warned consumers against its phones. Specials | Year Enders Expectations from the brand and marketing industry in 2019 The world of marketing is perpetually changing with constant innovative practices in the field of social media and automated ad tech. As broad-brush marketing techniques have dwindled, brands are battling to maintain their originality and meet customer expectations in an ever-evolving technologically advanced world. continue reading... Television | TV Channels English business news genre sees no change in position in BARC week 1 The English business news genre saw no changes for the new week of the new year as compared to the last week of the previous year; everyone's placed on the same positions as they ended the previous year. Aaj Tak continue to groove on the same tracks in the rural, urban and U+R genres as it did the previous year. continue reading... Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, defended their prosecution last year, saying that the two were not jailed because they were journalists and that the ruling came from an open court. The judge, however, wrote in his verdict that the two were in possession of sensitive documents only because they were working as reporters. The Justice Democrats campaign to oust corporate Democrats was restarted after the 2018 elections, with Ocasio-Cortez, one of her partys biggest stars, as its de facto spokeswoman. In a mid-November call with activists, Ocasio-Cortez said that they could save this country by either shaming incumbents out of accepting money from oil and gas companies or by ousting them at the polls. The Democratic-led House held its final votes of the week Friday, including on a measure to ensure that federal workers who are furloughed or working without compensation receive back pay once the government reopens. The bill, which passed the Senate on Thursday, now goes to Trump for his signature. But it would do nothing to direct immediate help to the 800,000 federal employees who are going unpaid, and the thousands of federal contractors who have been impacted by the shutdown may never recoup their losses. DHSs immigration enforcement divisions have been in the political crosshairs since the Bush administration created the massive federal agency in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. ICE, and to a slightly lesser extent CBP, have been the target of intense criticism from some Democrats who have accused their leadership of employing draconian tactics to detain and deport immigrants. The story keeps changing by the day like everything, said Cecilia Munoz, a vice president at New America, a liberal think tank, who served as a White House domestic policy adviser under President Barack Obama. Of Trumps original plan for funding the wall, she added: They had no earthly idea how they would get Mexico to do that, so they came up with an idea to try to pass the laugh test, which they didnt do. Scientists from the University of Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a possible explanation for why African-Americans appear to be more vulnerable to Alzheimers disease than white Americans. They published their findings in JAMA Neurology, a peer-reviewed medical journal. The study of 1,255 people, including 173 African-Americans, found cerebrospinal fluid from African-Americans tended to have lesser amounts of tau protein, which is associated with Alzheimers. In healthy neurons, tau proteins bind to and stabilize microtubules, which help maintain the structure of cells. With Alzheimers, tau detaches from those microtubules and attach to other tau, forming tangles that block communication between neurons. Curiously, though, lower levels of tau dont seem to protect African-Americans from Alzheimers. According to Alzheimers Association, older African-Americans are more likely than white Americans to develop the disease. This leads to a natural question: If tau isnt as prevalent in African-Americans, whats causing Alzheimers? That is the million-dollar question right there, said Dr. Liana Apostolova, a neurologist at IU Health. Most of what scientists know about Alzheimers comes from studies of white Americans, limiting the scope of understanding for minorities. Apostolova said similar studies in the future will have to go further in finding out what causes the diseases prevalence in African-Americans. Even though the study doesnt conclude what exactly is causing more dementia cases in African-Americans, Apostolova said it could still have consequences for how doctors handle diseases like Alzheimers. The approach traditionally involves decreasing the presence of tau, but that may not be as relevant for African-Americans if they already have a decreased level of the protein. It might have a huge impact on how we approach diagnosis in that population and how we treat those individuals, Apostolova said. Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick. But eventual presidential candidates have long used books and tours like hers to stir national attention and establish a narrative which is of particular importance for someone like Harris, whose national profile has grown in recent years but remains blurry. Several people attending Harriss book event at George Washington University on Wednesday night said they knew very little about her until her hard-nosed performance at Justice Brett M. Kavanaughs Supreme Court confirmation hearings seized their attention. Many of them said they came to learn more. And Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), who backed King during the last campaign and appeared with him on the campaign trail, has said she will not endorse him this time, telling an NBC affiliate in Des Moines that the last election was a wake-up call for it to be that close. That means the IRS has been largely shuttered. The tax agency sent home about 90 percent of its workforce without pay. Call centers used by taxpayers across the country are closed. Audits have been halted, according to the agencys shutdown contingency plan. Theres no training for thousands of employees to prepare for this years tax filing season, which is expected to be particularly complicated as the new tax law fully takes effect. Contacted by The Washington Post, each of these organizations said that the IRS complaints were without merit and that they dont violate laws in the United States or Israel. I cannot emphasize enough how incredibly ridiculous and disingenuous these absurd accusations are, said Ben Packer, director and supreme commander of the Jerusalem Heritage House. We are a Jewish outreach organization working with a wide cross section of Jewish youth toward a strengthening of their Jewish identity, similar to many other Jewish outreach organizations. A representative of Yeshivat HaRaayon HaYehudi, Levi Chazen, said that like all other yeshivot, our focus is on education and studying the text of our forefathers, and that some 20 years ago, after the murder of Rabbi Kahane, the IRS and the FBI investigated the American Friends account and found that we have no links whatsoever to any illegal activities. Jay Marcus, of the Central Fund of Israel, said that his group is probably one of the best charities in the world, and theres really nothing to talk about and that we dont give to any place thats connected to Meier Kahane at all. Packer suggested that filing the IRS complaint was reckless and could lead to serious legal ramifications. Although the risk of death or injury by firearm of a child, teacher or other employee while at school can never be zero, it is probably as close to zero as it has ever been. David Ropeik, an instructor at Harvard University and author of How Risky Is It, Really? Why Our Fears Dont Always Match the Facts, says, The chance of a child being shot and killed in a public school is extraordinarily low. Not zero no risk is. But its far lower than many people assume, especially in the glare of heart-wrenching news coverage after an event like Parkland. And its far lower than almost any other mortality risk a kid faces, including traveling to and from school, catching a potentially deadly disease while in school or suffering a life-threatening injury playing . . . sports. My focus was on the degree to which Gulf ruling elites are trying to create more open and globalized societies to gear up for a post-petroleum era. I sat in on palace events, listening to how these ruling elites debate reform possibilities, and I saw firsthand the key role played by well-paid foreign experts from McKinsey & Co., the Rand Corp. and others like them. To better understand their contributions, I interviewed scores of such experts with experience working at high levels on reform projects in education, urban planning and other areas in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. I also interviewed dozens of Gulf ruling elites, including one monarch, to hear their take. Even MBSs strongest supporters in the United States appear concerned by the new social media campaign. Ali Shihabi, the head of the Saudi-backed Arabia Foundation, commented in an email to me Thursday: I have no idea who is behind this new campaign, but it certainly does not seem wise. He argued that despite a concerted campaign funded by Qatar and others . . . the kingdoms media organs had so far exercised great self-control since the Jamal tragedy, and I would hope that continues. We cannot forget that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is responsible for the carnage and lawlessness that resulted in the deaths of more than 500,000 people, including U.S. citizens Marie Colvin, who was allegedly assassinated by Syrian forces in February 2012, and Layla Shweikani, who U.S. sources believe was tortured and executed in an Assad regime jail in 2016. The United States cannot abandon remaining hostages who are unjustly held in the country, such as Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in Syria in August 2012 and is believed to be in the custody of either the Syrian government or one of its allies. Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later. Tourist season is ramping up in Southern Rhode Island but, for local hotels, the news is not all positive as an industry-wide staffing shortage is making keeping up with the increased demand incredibly difficult. Despite a recent move by the state to allow many who return to work to collect the federal unemployment benefits and earn more money before losing some portion of their state benefits, local hotels owners, managers and industry experts said the situation affecting the industry is exceptionally dire right now. South County is the perfect embodiment of this perfect storm, Sarah Bratko of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association told The Independent this week. With that in mind, do you believe Rhode Island should do more to encourage the unemployed to return to the work force? Let us know in this weeks poll question below. You voted: Metro has declined to release data on the impact of the shutdown; officials say they want to gather a fuller picture before issuing the information. But internal data available to agency staff and obtained by The Washington Post show ridership this week was down about 50,000 trips per day on average through Wednesday, with decreases ranging from 6 percent to 11 percent compared to the same week last year. It was unclear how much of the losses could be attributed directly to the shutdown because year-over-year ridership is not an exact comparison. We do it because its the safety of the flying public, Perrone said. The people that fly are doing what they need to do. Nobody is overseeing that. We do not have inspectors looking and making sure that this system continues to be safe. Were not saying that its unsafe at the moment, but every day the government is shut down, safety is going to be compromised. In a testimonial on Lipscombs website, a student identified as Cyntoia says: You dont truly realize how amazing of an opportunity education is until youve experienced LIFE. The power of education to come in and completely overhaul your sense of self and view of the world is incredible. Watching the LIFE program transform my life and the lives of those around me has been a highlight of my life. The Lipscomb Initiative for Education is truly a life-altering experience and you havent experienced education until youve experienced L.I.F.E. When I said heroin was the monster, to me, it explained all the bad decisions my sister had made and all the things she had done to hurt all of us. It wasnt her, it was the drugs, she said. Chris is still responsible for his decisions to shoot up these girls and distribute these drugs. Even if the drugs are a monster, hes equally as much of one for doing what hes done. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president, and his wife, Peng Liyuan, greet Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, in Beijing on Tuesday. Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, visits a Tong Ren Tang Co traditional Chinese medicine plant in Beijing on Wednesday, where he inspected processing and production lines. XIE HUANCHI / XINHUA Kims visit helps to reach solutions for peninsula issue President Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, reached important consensuses after holding talks on Tuesday and Wednesday during Kims fourth trip to China in less than a year. Analysts said that the DPRK leaders frequent visits to China showed that the bilateral ties, based on the common interests of both countries, are being enhanced continuously. The two sides agreed to make joint efforts to push for development of China-DPRK relations in the new era, advance the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue, bring more benefits to people of both sides and contribute to the peace, stability, prosperity and development of the region and the world. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that with the concerted efforts of both nations, China-DPRK relations opened a historic new chapter last year, and they have displayed the resolute determination to jointly advance the political settlement of the peninsula issue. Xi said he is willing to work with Kim to make sound efforts to guide the future development of the China-DPRK relationship. The two nations should maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation and promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of China-DPRK relations, Xi said. Kim said he was grateful to Xi for taking time from a busy schedule at the beginning of the year to receive the DPRK delegation. Under the utmost care of Comrade General Secretary, DPRK-China relations last year were elevated to a new height and a new chapter was written, Kim said On the situation of the Korean Peninsula, Xi spoke highly of the positive measures taken by the DPRK to promote denuclearization on the peninsula. Major progress was made in the process of a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue last year with joint efforts of China, the DPRK and relevant parties, Xi said. Szeliga, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2016, has never authored or supported legislation related to bathroom usage. She initially voted against an equal pay measure that included gender identity as one of the categories of people protected from discrimination. But she changed her vote to support an amended version of the bill, which became law. Three weeks ago, the camp held 2,800 teens. Of these, 300 were transferred to other facilities and the rest were released to sponsors, usually relatives, who had been vetted by the government, according to Evy Ramos, spokeswoman for BCFS, the San Antonio nonprofit that runs the camp. She confirmed the camp was empty Friday but had no additional comment. But then came a black gold rush for caviar, all but wiping out the species. Sturgeon catch along the Atlantic coast fell from as much as 7 million pounds a year to 20,000 pounds by 1905 and just 400 pounds by 1989, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In Maryland, a sturgeon catch of 700,000 pounds in 1890 plummeted to 22,000 pounds by the 1920s and even smaller numbers after that, until a coastwide moratorium on fishing for sturgeon began in 1998. Lissa Costa, also a Montgomery County parent, was astonished at how difficult it was to get her ninth-grade daughter out of an AP U.S. History course that was at that point too tough for her. She put 20 hours into the class, Costa said, but still failed the first weekly test. Working with her, I could clearly tell the textbook was beyond her reading level. Im a former teacher. She requested a class change, but both her counselor and her teacher told her it would get easier if she stuck with it. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Those opposed to stripping Lees name say proponents of the renaming failed to consider the Confederate generals postwar legacy, and they have argued that the renaming was initiated by an overzealous school board. Opponents maintained Thursday that severing ties with Lee would tarnish the schools history. The new bill comes amid growing recognition among public officials of the severity of the Districts opioid crisis. Between 2012 and 2017, the city had the largest increase in fatal drug overdoses of any urban area in the country, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. In 2017, there were 279 victims of fatal opioid overdoses in the District, more than the number of homicide victims. D.C. Council members Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) and Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) chairmen of the judiciary and health committees, respectively said the hearing would give legislators an opportunity to probe the reasons for the failures that were documented by The Post, as well as to seek information about how the administration of Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) plans to more effectively reduce drug fatalities. Around 8:20 a.m., officers went to the 5900 block of Baltic Street in Capitol Heights for the report of an injured person, county police said Thursday. There they found 26-year-old Regis Payne of Northeast Washington with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. From the beach at Qeparo, we strap on backpacks for a hike up into the hills hugging the Ionian coastline. We stop hesitantly at a fork in the road. A trio of elderly gentlemen, seated outside at a cafe, urge us on, crooking thumbs in the uphill direction. Waving our thanks, we start a climb that will lead us into the fragrant wilds of the Mediterraneans sunny scenery, the steady hum of cicadas interrupted only by the singsong calls of a goatherd. A breeze carries the scent of lavender, mint, and verbena; the distant peal of village church bells rings across the valley. And then the old village of Qeparo looms into view: a centuries-old bastion of stone clinging to a hilltop, the sea shimmering far below. To each side of the Henry VII chapel are narrow spaces, narrow because they were intended to be private, that might hold more history per square meter than any others, anywhere. Queen Elizabeth Is bright white marble effigy, well more than life-size, lies at the center of the north chapel under a barrel vaulted arch. She holds the orb and scepter, and a carved ruff covers her chest. A golden crown with stones sits behind her head. The elderly queens face and long fingers were taken from casts made after death in 1603. In the same narrow chapel, visitors pass two memorials to infant daughters of James I, one peeking out at you above blankets in her stone cradle. Close by, a marble sarcophagus designed by the great architect Christopher Wren holds bones discovered in the Tower of London in 1674. Its now debated whether they belong to the young Princes in the Tower, the sons of Edward IV who some believe were killed in 1483 while held prisoner there by order of Edwards brother and rival, Richard III. Caffeine and Cocktails: Sweetleaf, which was founded by a Queens native, has two LIC locations: the original site in a 19th-century building with a vinyl records room in the back and a waterfront store that transforms into a bar (with alcoholic coffee beverages) after 5 p.m. If youve grown immune to multiple espresso shots, Etto Espresso Bar amps up the jolt with the bulletproof latte, an espresso drink mixed with Kerrygold butter and high-octane brain oil. For coffee with a cause, order a cup of COFFEED, which donates a percentage of sales to a local charity. At LIC Landing, which serves the locally roasted beans, the money goes to Hunters Point Parks Conservancy. You wont be the first or last person to walk past Dutch Kills, a speakeasy with discreet signage. Hint: Look for the blinking BAR sign above. Inside the former warehouse, the bar is replete with dark wood and brownout lighting. Order a drink from the menu, which looks as if it were banged out by a frustrated novelist, or drop a few key words like ginger and dont like the taste of alcohol and the bartender will whip up a drink that fits your low (or high) tolerance for booze. The Long Island City Brewery Tour features four stops, including Big ALICE Brewing, which occupies a former Bible storage facility. The brewery has more than a dozen beers on tap and emphasizes local ingredients, such as the cold brew blend from a Queens roaster that appears in Date Night, Bro? (The donuts-and-coffee-flavored beer was inspired by a friendly interaction with a policeman outside a launderette.) We have the cards, dont forget, were like the piggy bank thats being robbed, we have the cards, he said at a campaign rally in Fort Wayne, Ind., in 2016. He was talking about trade with China: How the Chinese were trying to rob our piggy bank full of cards. They rape our country as they do it, he said. Imported by Loosen Bros. USA, distributed by Country Vintner: Available in the District at Cairo Wine & Liquor, Rodmans; on the list at Cafe Berlin, Flight, O-ku Sushi. Available in Maryland at Beers & Cheers Too and Downtown Crown Wine and Beer in Gaithersburg, the Bottle Shop in Potomac, Bradley Food & Beverage and Georgetown Square Wine and Beer in Bethesda, Old Town Market in Kensington, the Tasting Room Wine Bar & Shop at National Harbor, Wells Discount Liquors and Wine Source in Baltimore; on the list at Not Your Average Joes in Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring. Available in Virginia at Arrowine and Cheese in Arlington, Cheesetique and Unwined in Alexandria, Wegmans (various locations); on the list at Not Your Average Joes in Reston, Old House Cosmopolitan Grill in Alexandria. After coming off a momentous 2018, in which it flew a record 21 times, the company hopes to continue its cadence this year. But it started 2019 on a down note, announcing late Friday that it was laying off 10 percent of its more than 6,000 employees, saying it needed to become a leaner company to achieve its many goals. The announcement came a few months after the Air Force awarded lucrative contracts to many of its competitors, but not to SpaceX, which was seen by many in the industry as a blow to the company. Last Friday, the Internal Revenue Service announced it would restart a program that provides income information for companies processing mortgage applications. On Sunday, the National Park Service brought some staff back, still with no pay, so that it could clean up areas at a number of national parks. On Monday, the White House announced the IRS would be allowed to pay tax refunds next month even if the shutdown continued, something that had previously been deemed to violate government rules. On Tuesday, the Agriculture Department said it would be able to pay food stamp benefits in February, even though it initially appeared to lack the funding to do so just a few days ago. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Rome installs new stolpersteine memorials as well as replacing those stolen in December. Rome will install 26 new brass cobblestone memorials to Jewish victims of the Holocaust at various locations throughout the capital, from the historic centre to the suburbs, on 15 and 16 January. The cobblestone-sized memorials are known as stolpersteine in German, or literally translated stumbling stones and are installed outside the last chosen place of residence of victims of the Holocaust. Among those being honoured is Dario Funaro, a 13-year-old boy who joined the partisans in their fight against advancing German troops at Porta S. Paolo on 10 September 1943. Just over one month later, on 16 October 1943, Dario was among the 1,023 Roman Jews rounded up and deported to Auschwitz where he perished alongside his parents and seven-year-old brother. Four memorial stones in honour of Dario and his family will be installed outside their former home on Via Maiella 15 on 16 January. In addition to the 26 new brass cobblestones, Rome will replace the 20 stolpersteine stolen from a street in Rome's central Monti district in December, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Photo Corriere della Sera - LaPresse Italy's deputy premier embroiled in social media spat with Rome mayor. Rome's mayor Virginia Raggi and Italy's deputy premier Matteo Salvini have been involved in a spat on social media following a fatal shooting outside a playschool in the capital on 10 January. The quarrel was triggered when Raggi, of the populist Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S), accused Salvini of not providing Rome with additional police as he promised in his role as interior minister. Salvini, leader of the far-right Lega party, responded to Raggi by saying there would be 250 extra police officers in Rome by the end of this year, underlining his commitment to "concrete results" in comparison to "someone who just does bla bla bla." Tweeting that everyone had their "own job to do", Salvini said Raggi should focus on tackling Rome's rubbish, transport and pothole emergencies, adding that "here in Rome there are seagulls that look like pterodactyls." Swapping Twitter for Facebook, Raggi invited Salvini to city hall to discuss issues facing the capital, and underlined that she had hired 900 new traffic police in a year. Raggi finished with: "For two years it has always been only and exclusively #TuttaColpaDellaRaggi [It's all Raggi's fault]. Welcome to the club''. The public spat is known to have annoyed Salvini's coalition partner and M5S leader Luigi Di Maio who reportedly said: "Why don't they sit around a table instead of tweeting?" Victim died after being shot execution-style outside nursery in Rome suburb. A man shot outside a nursery school in Rome's Magliana district at around 08.50 on 10 January died from his injuries later that day at S. Camillo hospital. The victim had just got into his car after dropping off his children at the playschool on Via Castiglion Fibocchi when he was shot several times in the head by a gunman on a scooter. The 35-year-old victim was known to police and had been under surveillance in relation to previous crimes involving extortion, usury, drugs, robbery, possession of weapons, and assault, according to local media. Rome's mayor Virginia Raggi tweeted: "Outraged by the shots from Magliana's kindergarten, Rome needs more policemen as announced by the minister @matteosalvinimi." Italy's deputy premier and interior minister Matteo Salvini responded to Raggi by saying: "I'm here to bring concrete results, responding to someone who just does bla bla bla." Salvini added that between 2018 and the end of this year Rome will have at least 250 more police officers. Photo Yara Nardi/F3PRESS Ex Dogana in S. Lorenzo hosts artistic protest against impending closure. A group of artists has come together to hold a month of weekend exhibitions in support of Rome's Ex Dogana venue which faces closure after acting as a cultural hub in the city since 2015. Entitled Monotono, the initiative has been organised by Studio Volante with exhibitions taking place over four weekends from 12 January until 1 February in the industrial spaces of Via dello Scalo di S. Lorenzo. Described as an "artistic invasion", the initiative will see the collaboration of artists who have had the opportunity to use the Ex Dogana to create or exhibit art over the last three and a half years. The artists include well-known names such as Andreco, Borondo, Sbagliato and Tellas. For full details see Studio Volante Facebook page. In December the Ex Dogana organisers announced the uncertain future of the venue which faces being demolished to make way for a luxury student hostel. This content is expired! Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again. This Farm Bill is extremely important for conservation, Director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Jim Douglas said. It provides much needed resources and policy improvements for private agricultural producers that are also a good fit with fish, wildlife, soil, and water conservation. We greatly appreciate the many long hours and deep dedication exhibited by our Members of Congress, their staffs, and the conservation organizations that helped make this Farm Bill a reality. Beyond conservation efforts, the Farm Bill made changes to crop insurances that farmers would be able to apply for, mainly the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC). A lot of it is the same, Chairman of the Corn Growers Association Daniel Wesely of Morse Bluff said. He said the PLC is an insurance that allows payments to be issued when the expected price of a covered commodity is less than the average market price. The changes to the PRC include providing all producers with the opportunity to update their payment yields with the 2020 crop year. Wesely said the ARC insurance policy provides revenue loss coverage when the actual price for a covered commodity is less than the price guaranteed by the ARC. In addition to affected landowners and border states (New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, both Democrats, would no doubt lead the charge), Congress may sue to stop Trumps power grab if he declares an emergency. The legal issues include question of standing, but more important of ripeness whether Trumps declaration amounts to a real action or is simply a political outburst (like a tweet). I think the most difficult issue isnt whether the House of Representatives, or a particular member (like Chairman Adam Smith of the [House] Armed Services Committee), would have standing to sue on the ground that the president is nullifying their right to vote on spending measures and usurping their role as holders of the power of the purse (they might well) but something else altogether, says constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe. Its whether any lawsuit, even a suit brought by someone injured in a more conventional sense (the way the ranchers who might eventually be subject to eminent domain along the border would eventually be), would be deemed to present a ripe case or controversy simply because the president, by making an emergency declaration under the 1976 Act, would arguably open up some statutory options e.g., under 10 U.S.C. 2808 not previously open to him. Doris M. Webb Dec. 8, 1929 - Jan. 1, 2019 Our hearts are filled with sadness but our souls are singing praises for God taking Mama to be with our Lord and Savior, and being reunited with her husband of almost 71 years. Doris Webb was born on December 8, 1929 in Hillsboro, Texas. She died on January 1, 2019 exactly the way she wanted: pain free, at home, in her sleep. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 12, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home, 3124 Robinson Drive, Waco, with Darrell Shaw officiating. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service, beginning at 1:00 p.m., at the funeral home. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Doris sacrificed so many things for her daughter, grandkids and great-grandkids. She could make you laugh anytime you were down, cry with you, hold and protect you when needed. We could count on her in any situation. Doris was the manager at Kmart's original store in Waco of the cafeteria and deli for many years. Her favorite job was pharmacy technician, where she worked until her late 70's, with her daughter at Omnicare. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Billy J. Webb; and her brother, "Buddy" Hughes. A Dallas juvenile justice employee was arrested Thursday afternoon after police believe he hit a woman, used a pistol to threaten her, then raped her at her Lacy Lakeview apartment Monday, an arrest affidavit states. Police arrested Reuben Oritz Mays, a Fort Worth resident and employee of the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center in Dallas, on a first-degree felony aggravated sexual assault charge Thursday. He turns 52 Saturday. The woman, 43, reported Mays, an on-again, off-again boyfriend, came to her apartment Monday and assaulted her and forced her into a bedroom, the affidavit states. Left alone briefly in the bedroom, she tried to escape her apartment twice, and Mays forced her back inside both times, according to the affidavit. Police reported they have surveillance video from the apartment showing both escape attempts and Mays' response. He used a pistol to threaten the woman after the second escape attempt and tried to restrain her multiple times before she agreed to comply with him out of fear for her life, the affidavit states. Mays remained in McLennan County Jail on Friday with bond listed at $125,000. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. This week, Rabbi Eckstein and Yael had the privilege of visiting the brave IDF soldiers who patrol Israels tense border with Gaza. While there, they not only saw terror tunnels and received security updates from military officials, but they were able to relay a message from people like you, who stand for Israel YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Shabbat shalom, friends. Baylor University biology professor Joseph White has been studying the ash trees in his backyard a little closer since news that officials confirmed an invasive beetle that decimates the trees was present in Tarrant County, less than 100 miles away. Im really resistant to just dousing them with a bunch of chemicals. I know its going to go into the seeds, White said. Im not really against chemicals per se, but I just want to wait, I guess. I may just let nature take its course and unfortunately I may lose my ash trees and have to start over again. Though the emerald ash borer has not been spotted in McLennan County, its slow spread across the continent means the future looks bleak for the areas ash trees. The beetle was first documented in North America in 2002 near Detroit and, as of last year, had killed millions of ash trees in 35 U.S. states and the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Manitoba, according to the Emerald Ash Borer Information Network. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage, causing little damage. But the larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the trees ability to transport water and nutrients, according to the network. Two Appointed Department Chairs at Berkshire Medical Center PITTSFIELD, Mass. Berkshire Health Systems announces the appointments of Dr. Marcella Bradway as chair of the Department of Surgery and Dr. Jessica Krochmal as chair of the Department of Pathology at Berkshire Medical Center, extending its history of equity in leadership. Dr. Bradway is the first female chair of Surgery and previously served as interim chair of Surgery for half of 2016 and throughout all of 2018, and was vice chair for five years. Dr. Krochmal is the second woman to serve as chair of Pathology, and she previously served as vice chair from 2016 to 2018. "Berkshire Medical Center has a remarkable medical staff, and its foundation is a physician leadership team that is highly diverse and exceptionally skilled, with a deep commitment to continually providing the best care for our community," said David Phelps, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. "Drs. Bradway and Krochmal are widely admired by their colleagues on the medical staff, nursing, those working in the many areas of the hospital they interact with daily, and the many thousands of patients who rely on their expertise and compassionate care. We are proud to have them leading our Surgery and Pathology departments." At BMC, 40 percent of medical staff departments are led by female physicians, with Bradway and Krochmal joining Dr. Lisa Loring, chair of Radiology, in leadership positions. The hospitals medical staff, which includes more than 400 physicians, has a considerable corps of female physicians. Bradway was born and raised in Pittsfield and is board-certified in general and colon and rectal Surgery. She returned to the Berkshires in 2008 following an impressive career in Connecticut, where she had served as chair of the Department of Surgery at Griffin Hospital and with a highly respected surgical practice serving Fairfield County. She was fellowship-trained in colon and rectal Surgery at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, and is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. She received her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and completed her residency training in General Surgery at the University of Connecticut Integrated Surgical Residency program, which included Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, New Britain General Hospital and John Dempsey Hospital. Krochmal came to the Berkshires in 2008 and is board-certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and cytopathology. She received her medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed dual fellowships, in surgical pathology and cytopathology, from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She completed her residency in pathology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She leads the pathology and laboratory services provided at both Berkshire Medical Center and Fairview Hospital. As part of Governor Ivey's inaugural events, she's reading to four classes across Alabama this week, including one right here in Huntsville. She visited Providence Elementary School on Thursday to read to pre-k students. The students listened diligently as Ivey read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," and they even got to take home two free books. Governor Ivey then toured the school's classrooms. She recently awarded $10.6 million in grants to expand pre-k programs in the state. Officials told WAAY 31 most of the pre-k programs in the state started in North Alabama. "Over the past 12 years, Alabama has been ranked as the number one quality pre-k program in the nation, which is something we are incredibly proud of, and that's where we've seen the strongest growth and investment in this pre-k program," said Ada Van Whye with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. Students at Providence Elementary School said they were excited to get the free books and to meet the governor. "My favorite part about meeting her was her reading the book," said a student, Layla Johnson. "Reading is not weird. It makes you smart," said another student, Violet Burke-Whitaker. Huntsville Police have a warning for drivers. If you bypass the Cecil Ashburn Drive barricades, you be get caught. Neighbors impacted by the 10-month closure of Cecil Ashburn said the road needs to be watched carefully for illegal activity, and Huntsville police agree. "It's illegal to go around the barricade. Once officers make contact with somebody, they could also face other criminal charges or fines," said Lt. Michael Johnson with the Huntsville Police Department. A lot of the patrolling will happen at night when construction workers aren't present. Johnson explained when the road was built about two decades ago, officers encountered the same issue. "We had a couple of instances of teenagers being located up here just hanging out and frolicking after hours and that isn't something we are going to tolerate," he said. If you're caught beyond the barricade, you are facing a $180 fine. UPDATE: The victim was 16-year-old Isaac Seeds-Sack, from Huntsville. The crash involved three vehicles in total. Huntsville Police say the driver of the Huntsville Utilities truck was driving westbound on Oakwood Avenue, approaching Grace Street. He pulled into the turn lane and stopped to yield before turning south on Grace Street. Another driver was behind him in a Toyota Tacoma. According to police, the teen on the motorcycle, Seeds-Sack, attempted to pass the Tacoma in the turn lane. That's when police say Seeds-Sack hit the utility truck in the right rear corner. After the collision, the driver of the Toyota Tacoma did not have time to avoid Seeds-Sack and hit him. Seeds-Sack's family has been notified of his death, and a blood sample was taken from him. There were no signs of impairment from the other two drivers. WAAY 31 spoke to a friend of Seeds-Sack's, Kristina Parker, who visited the scene of the crash just hours after it occurred. She said she was looking to find anything that may have belonged her friend. "He was sweet, you know, he would always make somebody laugh," Parker said. Parker said one of the things she'll remember about Seeds-Sack the most, is his love for bikes. She said he recently bought the bike he was riding when the wreck occurred and that she'd helped him put on his gear the day before. Parker said she thinks he was likely on his way to class when the wreck happened. According to Huntsville City Schools, he wasn't a student at any of the district's schools. --- A motorcyclist is dead after a crash involving a Huntsville Utilities vehicle. It happened shortly before 8 a.m. at Oakwood Avenue and Grace Street. The male Huntsville Utilities worker was unharmed, and officials told WAAY 31 he will get as much time off and support as needed to cope with the traumatic experience. He was not a new employee. Thomas Winstanley carries an 'open' sign out to the curb with a roar of cheers from the hundred or so people lined up waiting to get in. The dispensary has nine budtenders on the job for the opening day of recreational sales. PreviousNext Berkshires' First Recreational Marijuana Dispensary Opens to Long Lines Staff had come in well before the opening to prepare for what was expected to be a big day in retail sales. GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. Cheers roared in the parking lot of Theory Wellness at 10 a.m. as staff held a signed reading "recreational cannabis, now open." At that point, there were about 100 people standing in the blistering cold waiting to get through the doors. It's been more than two years since voters approved the legalization of recreational cannabis in Massachusetts and Theory became the Berkshires' first dispensary to sell the products, leading the way for an industry that has been bursting through the doors throughout the state. "It is a huge responsibility. We are part of history. We are part of the repeal of prohibition and we are going to set the tone and example for others to come. We take that very seriously," Chief Executive Officer Brandon Pollock said. The dispensary is the sixth in Massachusetts to sell cannabis products for recreational use. It's a number that Pollock said is just right because they were able to see what the opening weeks were like elsewhere. An hour before the dispensary opened, there were already some 40 people waiting in line outside of the door. Inside, a dozen or so employees were preparing products, loading registers, and standing outside providing snacks and copies of the menu. Heaters were placed by the line to keep people warm and coffee from the Marketplace was provided. "We wanted to make sure we have enough coverage to address the needs of people who are coming. For us, it is really exciting knowing that a lot of these people are going to be coming as a first time to a dispensary. We feel really lucky they can come to us and join us as part of that experience," Director of Marketing Thomas Winstanley said. Dustin Miller was one of those standing in line. He had gotten there at 8:30 in the morning, an hour and a half before opening time, to secure a place in line. But Theory isn't Miller's first visit to a dispensary. He had lived in Colorado and visited other states that had legalized the use before Massachusetts had. "It's a big moment. I was in Colorado when they did this as well. It was a huge movement. I lived there for years and it took them a long time. It is nice to see everyone else move along," Miller said. He welcomes this cultural change for customers, many of whom have used the products illegally for years. "It is widely available otherwise, I think everybody knows that. This makes it just more feel-good about it. You don't have to worry about anything. It is completely legitimate. You don't have to worry about doing something wrong," Miller said. The 35-year-old Miller is particularly supportive of the industry because of the economic development that comes with it. The state is expecting millions in tax revenue, local communities are getting a piece through local taxes and host agreements, and vacant storefronts and buildings throughout the county are being filled with companies looking to open retail, cultivation, or both. In the first week of opening last November, the first two retailers sold $2.2 million worth of products. Theory's opening for recreational sales led to quadrupling the size of the staff. Theory was formed in 2015 and opened the 2,5000 square-foot Great Barrington location in 2017 to serve medical marijuana patients. Pollock said the dispensary saw on average of 40 to 50 people a day and that he could see traffic increasing 10fold. "We expanded our cultivation and manufacturing facility over the summer in anticipation of this so we could increase our inventory to hopefully meet the needs," Pollock said. The products are manufactured in Bridgewater by Theory and shipped to the Great Barrington location. Pollock said the products available through a dispensary are different from how most people think of marijuana. He said the company has spent a lot of time working with the employees to educate them on the products and the best ways to help with the customers. "This is very new. A lot of people have experience with cannabis in one form or another but they really aren't up to speed on the different varieties that we cultivate and the different products we make. The key for us is education for our customers. We want somebody who comes in here and hasn't used cannabis before to learn anything they need to know. It has really been an education process for staff," Pollock said. The company provides an array of job opportunities but there is also high demand. Pollock said he's received thousands of job applications. "We have management positions, we have inventory positions, which is similar to any other inventory position where it is an attention to detail, and we have our budtenders, our customer service folks," Pollock said. "We always want people who are excited about the industry. We look for great personalities, great energy." There were about 40 to 50 people waiting in line an hour before the dispensary was to open and that number grew as the opening time got closer. The staff is also trained in areas of safety, security, and compliance with state laws. The state has highly regulated the industry, which is in part of why it took more than two years since the ballot measure was passed for recreational facilities to open. The state's Cannabis Control Commission is in charge of giving the OK for stores to start selling recreational. "We think they've done a great job, a very streamlined objective process. It was a lot of paperwork, there were a lot of inspections, they want to make sure that everyone does this right. We've had no issues with that," Pollock said. The Cannabis Control Commission wasn't in existence when Theory was given to the approvals to sell medical marijuana, but it has since been given that oversight. Theory had been the Berkshires first medical marijuana dispensary to open and Winstanley said medical patients remain a top priority. Theory had two points of sale units separated from the line for recreational and medical patients are able to skip ahead of the recreational line to get the products. Winstanley said the company has been making a pointed effort to get that information to medical patients who may be worried about waiting. Friday's opening had been a long time coming for the Berkshires. It was nearly seven years ago when voters approved medical marijuana and more than 10 years since voters decriminalized the substance. In 2016, voters approved recreational sales to adults by ballot initiative. Massachusetts is one of 10 states to legalize recreational use though marijuana is still illegal at the federal level. California had been the first state to legalize its use. That's where Pollock entered the industry. "I started working in cannabis almost six years ago consulting for a company in California called Harborside Health Center. At the time Harborside was the leading dispensary in California and was really setting a trend for legal cannabis. I learned a lot from them. I was always living on the East Coast and I wanted to bring some of what I learned in California to the East Coast. I helped launch this company in 2015," Pollock said. Since that 2015 launch, Theory has served the medical marijuana industry solely. But that changed at 10 a.m. on Friday when the doors to the Great Barrington store were opened. "It's the first opening for a dispensary for Theory Wellness so it is a big day for us. We've got some folks from the eastern part of the state who are coming out to join because it is exciting for the company," Winstanley said. Temescal Wellness in Pittsfield will be the next in Berkshire County when it begins recreational sales on Tuesday and a pipeline of future shops is making its way through the permitting and approval process. A new industry took root in the Berkshires on Friday, changing the landscape for years to come, and did so with a line of customers cheering its arrival. Theory Wellness at 394 Stockbridge Road is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. (CNN) -- As federal employees brace themselves for their first missed paychecks on Friday, some members of Congress have decided to join them in a show of solidarity and refuse their paychecks. So far, 71 members of Congress say they will turn down their paychecks during the partial government shutdown, according to social media posts and statements reviewed by CNN. That comprises 13 senators and 58 representatives, with members from both parties making up a similar proportion of those going without pay. Fourteen representatives passing on pay are newly elected and were sworn in this year. While most have asked House Chief Administrative Officer Phil Kiko to withhold their pay, others say they plan to donate it to particular charities or causes. Among them is Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat who tweeted on New Year's Day -- the day after she announced she would explore a 2020 presidential run -- that she would be donating her paycheck to HIAS, a nonprofit that helps refugees. Several members of Congress have also pushed legislation that would penalize members for allowing a shutdown to occur. Rep. Kurt Schrader, an Oregon Democrat, introduced a bill in 2017 that would automatically dock members' pay during government shutdowns, and Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican, introduced a constitutional amendment the day before the government shut down that would ban them from being paid. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, one of seven House Republicans who voted to reopen the federal government, urged all members to join him in declining his paycheck. "Everybody ought to follow the lead that several of us have already set: Don't get paid," he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Monday. "If you're in Congress, don't just delay your pay -- forfeit it, write a check back to the US Treasury. Then you'll feel the pain of these federal workers." Here are the members of Congress who won't receive their paychecks during the shutdown: House of Representatives Senators A Wisconsin teenager who has been missing since mid-October has been found alive, ABC News reported. A woman walking her dog spotted a young woman walking out of the woods and immediately recognized her as 13-year-old Jayme Closs. The woman took the girl to a nearby home where the people inside called 9-1-1. Closs was reunited with her family by Thursday evening, but little is being said about her condition, what transpired, or who kidnapped her. However, there is a suspect in custody. The Duluth News Tribune reported a source with knowledge of the case said Class escaped from the home of her abductor. There will be a media briefing Friday morning hosted by members of various law enforcement agencies to update the media on the case. A Nevada man died when he went into high surf to save his two dogs after they were pulled out into the ocean, KGTV in San Diego reported. The man and his wife were walking along the beach with their dogs when the animals were swept into the water by high surf. The man, a former first responder, raced into the water to save them - which he did accomplish. However, he was then pulled back out to sea before being slammed into some rocks on the shoreline. He was found 20 minutes after the ordeal begun. Despite being given CPR, he died after he arrived at the hospital. A high surf advisory was in place at the time. A Huntsville City Schools board member said she was surprised to learn Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was in town to visit a local school. As part of her inaugural events, Ivey visited Providence Elementary School on Thursday to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to children. (Read about that visit here) Pam Hill, who represents District 5 on the school board, brought up the visit at Thursday nights school board meeting. "Our governor came to our city today. You would think she would honor the elected officials over the schools, she said. I was not invited to Providence Elementary by the governor. So governor, if you're watching, I doubt you'll call. You wouldn't have any debates. But if you do I'd like to speak to you about the next time you enter one of Huntsville City Schools district five." Hill also said Superintendent Christie Finley and Mayor Tommy Battle were not told about the visit. Florence Police arrested Michael Vernon, 32, on Wednesday and charged him with two misdemeanor counts of third degree domestic violence. Police told WAAY 31, it's the department's protocol to not give out information on misdemeanor offenses. WAAY 31 then reached out to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to confirm that Vernon is a state trooper. "ALEA confirms Michael Vernon is a trooper, who currently is on mandatory administrative leave. Contact the State Personnel Department for anything further," said Robyn Bryan, ALEA Public Information officer. It's unclear if Vernon was on mandatory administrative leave prior to his domestic violence charges. Vernon was taken to the Lauderdale County Detention Center and has a $2,000 bond. As of Thursday, he was still in jail. WAAY 31 is working to learn if he has made bond at this time. Troy Ave. Photo: @vicbekiempis/Twitter While Troy Aves appearance in Manhattan court on Friday was brief, the always fashionable rapper took time to speak at length about his love of fur, fishing, and apparently, vintage newsprint. The More Money More Problems performer, whose legal name is Roland Collins, faces charges related to a fatal May 2016 shootout during a T.I. concert at Irving Plaza, which left his best friend and bodyguard, Ronald McPhatter, dead. While the court proceeding was expected to address scheduling, it was pushed back because his lawyer is dealing with health issues. Collins, who routinely wears fur to court, sported a coyote vest and ushanka-esque sable hat, featuring a raccoon tail, to court. (Think fuzzy Russian hat-meets-hipster pioneer, and youve got the right visual.) He enthusiastically discussed his sartorial sensibilities as he was leaving the courthouse. Its in honor of Ed Norton in The Honeymooners, the Raccoon Lodge, Collins said matter-of-factly of his hat, referring to the classic television show. He also donned a black down coat, Balmain jeans, and white Dolce & Gabbana sneakers. The combination, along with a DIY shirt that read GOD IS GREAT PAPER STRAIGHT, made one wonder just how much such a getup would cost. Its just donations to me, Collins said, commenting that they were courtesy of Konstantine Furs in Chelsea. He said the style is from my personality and where I live. I live in a cold place. I like to wear a lot of fur, he also said. I love going fishing. Collins said hes seeking the courts permission to travel to Alaska or Cape Cod, so he can fish for salmon. His friends recently tried to get him to hunt bear, but going after an innocent animal would have been terrible, he said. His pals did catch a bear and despite his unwillingness to hunt one, Collins admitted he would try it. We have a French chef. We dont want to get parasites, Collins said, saying the meal would be prepared at the Russian Samovar Restaurant. When asked if he still wanted to go to trial, Collins said I wanna do what my lawyers advise. Collins has long maintained someone else fired first that night at the East Village venue. He insists that he shot back after wrestling the firearm away from McPhatters murderer, per reports. Collins also visited the press room at the 100 Centre Street courthouse today, which for decades is where court reporters from New York City news agencies have kept their desks. The press room walls are covered with newspaper covers from the New York Daily News and New York Post, many of which mark watershed points in history. He called it nostalgic, saying I think its dope. The dopest part of it what do you call it, [oxidation]? he said, referring to the many clippings that have turned yellow with time. I buy homes and then I renovate them I style them actually, I would do something like this, but I would take a bunch of these and put them in like, a big frame and then I would have a artist put just a dope word over it in paint, he said. And then just frame it like, you gotta have a dope gold frame. That would be crazy. I would pay for some of these newspaper clippings. Collins was especially moved by one headline in particular the Dec. 13 1980 Post cover that read POLICE HIDE LENNON KILLER FROM FANS. That could have been me, Collins said. I could have been a dead celebrity. Ted Danson as Michael, attempting to lead his own form of resistance in The Good Place. Photo: Colleen Hayes/NBC The Good Place is not typically described as a political show. But as a comedy that explores the intricacies of ethical behavior at a time when ethical, considerate behavior is woefully absent in many of our political leaders and our conversations about current events, The Good Place has captured the underlying tensions of the current political moment more effectively than most shows blatantly making the attempt. In this weeks episode, The Book of Dougs, The Good Place does that perhaps more overtly that it ever has, and not just because it includes the brilliant line uttered by Jason (Manny Jacinto) when he realizes he and his friends wont immediately be accepted into the Good Place: Were refugees. What kind of messed-up place would turn away refugees? The episode starts making its political point when Michael (Ted Danson), having arrived in the Good Place correspondence center with his fellow dimension-hoppers, decides to file an important grievance about the way the Good Places point system works. As soon as Michael takes steps to change that system, he isnt stopped by people from the Bad Place who are against what hes trying to do; instead, he is met with resistance from people who understand his concerns, but are so interested in doing the proper thing that they wind up doing nothing. Thats how this episode of The Good Place creates the strongest metaphor yet for what it feels like to be a progressive Democrat living in Trumps America, while demonstrating how well-intentioned liberal attitudes also can stymie progress. After Michael, posing as an accountant, manages to set up a meeting with The Committee, he explains that the demons from the Bad Place have tampered with the evaluation process that determines who gets into the Good Place, preventing anyone from reaping the rewards of exhibiting kindness for more than 500 years. If you will, they gerrymandered the election process. Or to put it another way, they rigged the system against average, moral people, which pretty well describes how most liberal Americans feel about their government. The six committee members immediately vow to do something about this, which gives Michael hope. At no point in the episode, written by Kate Gersten, are we given a sense of what the committees partisan leanings might be. But it seems fair to assume they lean left. For starters, theyre all dressed like they shopped at L.L. Bean while on their way to an NPR convention: Everyone is wearing button-down shirts, jeans, and fleece jackets. The committee is a model of inclusiveness, with members that represent various ethnic backgrounds and a makeup that achieves perfect 50/50 gender parity. (Actually, the same can be said about the six main characters who just landed in this Good Placeadjacent space.) When they start to discuss what steps to tackle first, one of the officials top priorities is to obtain as many pluots as possible from the farmers market. (Id ask why theres a farmers market in the Good Place, but this makes total sense. Heaven is filled with tons of farmers markets, and black raspberries are in season there all the time.) It doesnt seem like a stretch to assume these are blue-state types who, in a more Earthly realm, would donate annually to EMILYs List, PBS, and the World Wildlife Fund. The members of the committee are decent. But, as fired-up-and-ready-to-go progressives and Democrats have often learned, Michael soon realizes they have no capacity to infuse their decency with urgency. After some deliberation and research (and, presumably, pluot consumption), the committee excitedly tells Michael that theyre going to form an elite investigative team to, first, investigate themselves to make sure they have no conflicts of interest, then to actually suss out whether Michael is correct about the point system being a useless trash heap. Chuck, played by Paul Scheer, happily notes that they are fast-tracking this process which means that simply forming the committee will take upward of 400 years. We have rules, procedures, says Meg (Tatiana Carr), one of the committees members. We cant just do stuff. In other words, when everyone else goes low, the Good Place Committee goes high. And it takes freakin forever. Michael is infuriated by this. Just so you know, he reminds them, the whole time youre doing this, the bad guys are continuing to torture everyone who ends up in the bad place. Which is everyone! And that deeply concerns us, Andie (Denise Sanchez), another committee member notes. Have you seen the memorandum we wrote about how concerned we are? Its possible that Gersten and the other Good Place writers crafted this scenario to illustrate, more broadly, that inflexibility and inertia can be more problematic than following protocol. But its hard to imagine that they werent also thinking about our current political climate, one in which the Democrats have long been criticized, even before Trump took office, for discussing semantics and in-fighting while Rome burns. Michaels experience can be read as a critique of Democrats, but also, coming just as the 2020 presidential candidates are beginning to reveal themselves, as a cautionary note. That note says, All of you who are on the same basic side in terms of values and principles can keep arguing about Bernie Sanders vs. Hillary Clinton, or debating whether Beto ORourke is more likable than Elizabeth Warren. But if you do that, the bad guys are going to continue torturing everyone who ends up in the Bad Place. Which is everyone. And also, the Bad Place in this analogy is America. This is a great example of something The Good Place does routinely, and what makes it one of the most important shows of this decade: It makes political points that are smart and powerful because theyre not being made in blatantly political terms. I took more away from this one scene of The Good Place than I would have from multiple episodes of Our Cartoon President and a whole season of Saturday Night Live cold opens. But its not the only scene that works on this level. Later, Michael realizes that perhaps all of the problems of the point system cant be blamed so squarely on Bad Place cheaters. By looking at the point totals for a number of Dougs, aside from the allegedly perfect Doug Forcett (Michael McKean), he realizes that the world has evolved in a way that makes the point system profoundly unfair. Using Doug Ewing of Scaggsville, Maryland, (shout-out to Howard County!) as an example, he notes that one kind gesture Dougs decision to send his mother flowers resulted in negative point totals because he ordered the flowers on a cell phone that was made in a sweatshop, and chose flowers treated with a toxic pesticide as well as picked by exploited workers, and engaged the services of a company overseen by a racist, sexual harasser. Each day, the world gets more complicated and being a good person gets a little harder, Michael says, summing up another fact of life that confounds any leftie whos ever craved a sandwich from the famously conservative Chick-fil-A, then suppressed their appetite by imagining how hard it would be to swallow the liberal guilt that would accompany that delicious breaded chicken. Raising this issue allows The Good Place to have another, gentler laugh at the expense of do-gooder progressives who think so darn hard about doing the right thing. But it also raises another serious philosophical question that many Americans grapple with every day: How can you be alive, seek to do no harm, and actually, genuinely, do no harm? Thats a quandary thats relevant not just to politics, but to basic human existence. While Ive always been curious to see where The Good Place is headed next, Im personally desperate for it to address this in the upcoming last two episodes of its third season. Government cant solve all our problems, especially not when much of it is still shut down. So what the hell? Lets find out if The Good Place can. R. Kelly. Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage/Getty Images R. Kellys estranged daughter, Buku Abi, broke her silence on the allegations against her father following the release of the docuseries Surviving R. Kelly, which detailed Kellys alleged abuse of young black women and girls over the past two decades. In a statement shared to her Instagram Story, she called her father a monster and wrote that she was speaking from the heart. To the people who feel that I should be speaking up / against everything is going on right now, she continued, I just want you all to understand that devastated is an understatement for what I feel currently. I do apologize if my silence to all that is happening comes off as careless. Throughout January, more women have come forward, accusing R. Kelly of inappropriate conduct. Artists like John Legend and Lady Gaga have publicly apologized for working with him and condemned his behavior. On Tuesday, authorities in Georgia announced that Kelly was under criminal investigation for allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. Buku Abi wrote in her statement that she and her mother and her siblings have not seen or spoken to Kelly in years, and that being asked to speak publicly about his behavior has not helped her or her familys healing process. My choice not to speak on him and what he does is for my peace of mind. The same monster you all confronting me about is my father, she continued. I am well aware of who and what he is. I grew up in that house. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films Movies have variously depicted the murderous, imperialist ways of the Brits, the Spanish, the Germans, the Japanese, the U.S. (though not often enough, probably), and other rapacious nation states, but it falls to Indonesia in the moderately entertaining, immoderately splattery spaghetti Western Buffalo Boys to remind us that the Dutch though progressive in the fields of cheese and dikes were no international humanitarians. Why do you think that there are almost as many rijsttafel restaurants in Amsterdam as there are curry houses in London? The movie opens in 1840, when the Dutch trick the Sultan into holding peace talks and then cut him down but not before he sends his brother Arana off in a rowboat with the Sultans two little sons, Jamar and Suwo. (Bring my boys up as your own. They are our only hope!) Two decades later, Arana (Tio Pakusadewo) and the boys, now roguishly handsome fighters (guns, knives, hands, feet), return from America to find that the Dutch have continued to, in the words of the beleaguered woman warrior, Kiona (Pevita Eileen Pearce), kill and rape and pillage without fear of punishment. The chief killer-rapist-pillager is the very man who put the final bullet in the boys father. His name, Van Trach (Reinout Bussemaker), should be pronounced Van Tracccchhhhh with as much fricative phlegm as you can manage. For much of Buffalo Boys, Jamar (Ario Bayu) and the younger Suwo (Yoshi Sudarso) watch Van Trach and his principal henchman, Drost (the Keanu-looking Daniel Adnan), execute various old men, women, and children. They glower at the Dutch from under their Stetsons but are counseled by Arana to do nothing yet. This is one of those vengeance movies in which the elder reminds the heroes that vengeance for vengeances sake is wrong while the audience waits impatiently for the bad guys to get it so it really, really, really hurts. And they do, yippee-ki-yay. How is the violence? Fair to excellent. The director, Mike Wiluan, ruins the first big fight with too much slow motion (or, rather, slo-mo sword swinging followed by fast-mo limb lopping), but theres a splendid blowout in a saloon featuring a lethal cackling prostitute with rotted teeth, and the final showdown is choppy but rousing. The trick is to make the bad guys not just very, very bad (the loathsome Van Tracccchhhh is a sexual sadist), but smugly certain of victory, so that they have to acknowledge with a gasp the heroes superiority while hemorrhaging out. Especially successful at projecting smug certainty are Wiluan himself as a saloonkeeper and Alex Abbad as the slobbering git called Fakar, who makes the Ive got my eyes on you sign while forgetting that he has only one eye, Jamar having put out the other. Trevor Noah on The Daily Show. Photo: Comedy Central Its a shame that Donald Trumps stupid and misguided stunt got in the way of two of Hollywoods best stupid and misguided stunts: The Golden Globes and the cavalcade of thirsty dumb-dumbs that is any Bachelor premiere. What I wouldnt give to be writing up the best tributes to the Fiji Water Girl! (Corden got her for a cameo, so he clearly won.) Busy Philipps started her Wednesday night show by talking about her period, possibly a late-night first. Andy Samberg guested on both NBC shows to plug Brooklyn Nine-Nine and it was fun as hell. But I cant talk about any of that because the media caves to Trumps stunts. And talk shows comment on the media, and I comment on talk shows. So were left with dreck. At least Colbert got real silly with it. Beer puns are exactly what this moment in history deserves. Puns are extremely dumb, and this shutdown is extremely dumb. The country is locked in a stalemate because Trump can never let himself look vulnerable. Have you ever noticed that when he tries to correct his frequent flubs, he does it by saying [wrong word] and [correct word], never just admitting he misspoke? He cant even admit hes wrong in that small of a moment. Truly this is the month of men who refuse to apologize. On a totally unrelated note, Kevin Hart was continued his non-apology tour on Colbert and compared himself to Shrek, I think? Something about apologies being like an onion. Maybe hes allergic to both. Point is, we need to stop giving dudes chance after chance to display growth and just move on to other matters. For example, Kimmel is putting the rhetorical emphasis on how the shutdown affects normal people. Theres a certain amount of dissecting Trumps speech, but every night Kimmel is also giving a different furloughed worker a job. A prison guard played the tambourine in Kimmels band, a firefighter stood in for Guillermo, and so forth. Kimmel often makes the best countermoves on late night. He spins brilliantly, and he could have had quite the career in PR. The Daily Show zeroed in on what could happen if Trump actually declared a state of emergency: deploying the military within our borders, turning off the internet, and freezing bank accounts. As Trevor Noah pointed out, that would really mess up celebs Instagram sponsored posts. Also, the president can declare stuff emergencies whenever, for whatever? Noah said that Trump is like a black light, in that hes showing America where the stains already were. Its always nice when someone acknowledges that Americas problems didnt start with this administration. (For example, how Andy Samberg did at the Golden Globes. But were not dissecting the Globes this week, were regurgitating Trumps talking points and making fun of the way he talks while barely rebutting what he says.) Fallon just dissected the presidents speech. There was no forwarding of the conversation. However, he was the only host I saw go after Trumps very first flub of Tuesdays address. In his first sentence, Trump added an extra syllable to Im speaking to you, so that it either sounded like he said Im misspeaking to you, or as Fallon thought, Im a-speakin to you, a la everyones favorite plumbers Mario Mario and Luigi Mario. Jumping on the minutiae is tired at this point, but that one could have been clocked by more people. Also, it seems like Fallon took time over the break to hone his Trump impression. Its more guttural than it used to be, more in the back of the throat. Hopefully Fallon will continue to hone his impression until Trump inevitably shuts down all communication using his emergency powers. Superintendent James Brosnan, right, is presented with the Richard J. Bradley Endowment Fund Award by NEASC President and CEO Cameron Staples at the 133rd annual meeting and Conference in Boston on Dec. 14, 2018. McCann Superintendent Receives Award NORTH ADAMS, Mass. James Brosnan was recognized late last year for his work with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The nonprofit, independent accreditation organization presented Brosnan, superintendent of the Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational School District, with the Richard J. Bradley Endowment Fund Award. "To be recognized by your peers when you spend an entire lifetime in education being a committee member, a commissioner, and chair fo NEASC over 15 plus years," the superintendent said at Thursday's School Committee meeting at McCann Technical School. "To be recognized by your peers is one of the single most important honors in my life." Brosnan received the award at NEASC's annual conference in December. Brosnan is the immediate past chairman of the organization's board of trustees. "I am obviously an advocate for the accreditation process and the organization will stay something that I am connected to," he said. The award is given in the name of the longtime executive director of NEASC and is presented annually to an active New England educator who has made significant contributions to the work and purpose of NEASC and whose exemplary work maintains and advocates high standards of excellence in education. According to NEASC, Brosnan oversaw the corporate restructuring as its Commission on Higher Education transitioned to a "separate and independent" entity. "The process involved a tremendous amount of time and effort over the past few years, and those who worked with Brosnan have lauded his high level of engagement, attention to detail, and dedication to ensuring that NEASC continue to be effective in its mission to assess, provide support to, and promote high-quality education in schools across the K-16 continuum." Brosnan has been superintendent of McCann for 24 years. Nick Vallelonga. Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images Nick Vallelonga, the Golden Globewinning screenwriter behind Green Book, has deleted his Twitter account after a tweet from 2015 began circulating in which he expressed support for the debunked right-wing conspiracy theory that Muslims were celebrating on 9/11 in New Jersey. The tweet from Vallelongas account was responding to then-candidate Donald Trump and claimed that Muslims in Jersey City cheering when towers went down. I saw it, as you did, possibly on local CBS news. A representative for the screenwriter told IndieWire, The twitter account has been deleted not sure if any comment is actually needed here. Meanwhile, numerous people have pointed out that Green Book star Mahershala Ali is actually a Muslim, and this isnt even the only scandal that emerged about this film today! Nick Vallelonga wrote Green Book. My industry just gave him a Golden Globe for writing. This remains on his timeline. Mahershala Ali is a Muslim, and a beautiful, generous and kind man. This is all just too disgusting. pic.twitter.com/LYVbpFZFUL Jordan Horowitz (@jehorowitz) January 10, 2019 Update, 1/11: Green Book writer Nick Vallelonga has apologized for his 2015 tweet claiming that he saw Muslim Americans cheering during 9/11. In a statement released Friday morning, Vallelonga said hes sorry to the Green Book team, supporting actor Mahershala Ali, and his own father, who took the movies trip with the pianist Dr. Don Shirley. I want to apologize. I spent my life trying to bring this story of overcoming differences and finding common ground to the screen, and I am incredibly sorry to everyone associated with Green Book, Vallelonga said in a statement, according to the New York Post. I especially deeply apologize to the brilliant and kind Mahershala Ali, and all members of the Muslim faith, for the hurt I have caused. I am also sorry to my late father who changed so much from Dr. Shirleys friendship and I promise this lesson is not lost on me. Green Book is a story about love, acceptance and overcoming barriers, and I will do better. What scandal will befall this movie next? The United States withdrawal from Syria is getting underway but, at least for now, it does not involve some 2,000 U.S. troops on the ground, who are aiding in the fight against the Islamic State terror group. Equipment, not troops, a defense official told VOA Friday, describing the initial stages of the pull-out. The Pentagon first gave word of the start of the withdrawal late Thursday.In a statement, it said the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements, the statement added. Witnesses on the ground told the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights they saw 10 armored vehicles, and other equipment, roll out from a U.S. base in the al-Rmelan area of al-Hasaka province and head toward neighboring Iraq. But shortly after, other witnesses on the ground in Syria reported seeing an influx of Western troops and equipment to parts of Aleppo province in northern Syria. As part of the influx, they described seeing "a column of about 150 vehicles carrying armored vehicles, military, and logistical equipment," the observatory said. The reports could not be independently confirmed.But another source close to Kurdish military officials in Syria told VOA it appeared the U.S. military is in the process of relocating equipment and personnel within Syria. The U.S. decision to withdraw its forces from Syria, first announced by President Donald Trump last month, has caused confusion among. U.S. allies and partners in the fight against Islamic State militants. Initial indications from the White House were that U.S. forces would be withdrawn from Syria in 30 days.But that timeframe has since been extended several times. Most recently, both the Pentagon and U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton have said there is no deadline for U.S. troops in Syria to return home. OIR [Operation Inherent Resolve] has an approved framework for the withdrawal of forces from Syria, and is now engaged in executing that withdrawal, Pentagon spokesman Commander Sean Robertson, said earlier this week. That framework is conditions-based and will not subject troop withdrawal to an arbitrary timeline. The framework will be influenced by a number of factors, including weather, he added. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are still fighting the last remnants of the Islamic States self-declared caliphate in Syria, having pushed IS fighters out of their strong-hold of Hajin, in Syrias Middle Euphrates River valley, and liberating a couple of other nearby towns in the past couple of weeks. But even as the SDF advance, there are growing concerns about their safety. Much of the force is made up of Kurdish fighters, who are also part of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units or YPG, which has been linked to the PKK, a Kurdish terror group that has waged a decades-long insurgency in southeastern Turkey. Turkeys Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited Turkish troops along the Syrian border Friday, and vowed to eliminate the Kurdish forces in Syria. "When the time and place comes, the terrorists here will be buried in the ditches they have dug, as was done in previous operations," Akar told the Turkish troops. "Important preparations and planning have been made in connection with this, he added. Our preparations are continuing intensively." But U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said Friday during a radio interview that talks are ongoing between the U.S. military and Turkey regarding the Kurdish forces that have battled IS. "What we're still pursuing in these military to military conversations are assurances and protocols and procedures so that everybody feels comfortable with how this is going to happen, said Bolton. We're hoping those discussions, which will continue next week, will produce results that are acceptable on both sides. Earlier this week, Bolton called security assurances for the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces a necessary condition for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria.The comments angered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who then refused to meet with Bolton during a visit to Turkey.? Three Russian companies have cut ties to a sanctioned oligarch and will no longer be under U.S. sanctions themselves, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday. Mnuchin appeared before the House of Representatives, where a number of Democrats want the Trump administration to postpone lifting sanctions against the three firms. In a statement issued before the meeting, Mnuchin said Oleg Deripaska would remain under U.S. sanctions, but the three companies he controlled aluminum giant Rusal, its parent firm En+ and energy company EuroSIbEnergo would not. "They have committed to provide Treasury with an unprecedented level of transparency into their dealings to ensure that Deripaska does not reassert control," the statement read. Mnuchin assured lawmakers that the Trump administration would keep a close watch on the firms, promising that if they failed to comply with the terms to end the sanctions, they would face "very real and swift consequences, including the reimposition of sanctions." FILE - Oleg Deripaska attends an agreement signing FILE - Oleg Deripaska attends an agreement signing ceremony with the Krasnoyarsk region's government in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 12, 2017. FILE - Oleg Deripaska attends an agreement signing ceremony with the Krasnoyarsk region's government in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 12, 2017. Treasury placed sanctions on Deripaska in April 2018 for what it called Russian "malign activity," including election meddling and crimes by Deripaska himself, which consisted of allegations of bribery, extortion, murder and links to organized crime. Deripaska has denied all the charges. "One of the goals of sanctions is to change behavior, and the proposed delisting of companies that Deripaska will no longer control shows that sanctions can result in positive change," Mnuchin said. The U.S.-led coalition in Syria is beginning to remove troops from the country. The coalition "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," said Colonel Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the U.S. coalition fighting the Islamic State terror group. "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements." There are roughly 2,000 U.S. military personnel in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is reporting that the withdrawal began late Thursday, when about 10 armored vehicles and other equipment pulled out from a U.S. base in Rmeilan in Hassakeh province. The group also is reporting there were coalition reinforcements that arrived at different bases Thursday, which is consistent with what VOA has learned from a source. FILE - A former farmer at a primitive refinery mak FILE - A former farmer at a primitive refinery makes crude oil into diesel and other products in Rmeilan, Hassakeh province, Syria, April 6, 2018. FILE - A former farmer at a primitive refinery makes crude oil into diesel and other products in Rmeilan, Hassakeh province, Syria, April 6, 2018. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Friday in a radio interview that talks between the U.S. military and its Turkish counterparts regarding the Kurds fighting the Islamic State in Syria will continue next week in an effort to reach an agreement both countries accept. Earlier this week, Bolton's calls for the protection of the YPG Syrian Kurdish militia as a pre-condition to a U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria angered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, causing the president to refuse to meet with the U.S. official. The YPG is a crucial ally in Washington's war against Islamic State, but Ankara considers it to be a terrorist group linked to an insurgency inside Turkey. Bolton said in the interview that he, President Donald Trump, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo understood Turkey had committed "not to harm the Kurds who had fought with us against ISIS." "What we're still pursuing in these military-to-military conversations are assurances and protocols and procedures so that everybody feels comfortable with how this is going to happen. And we're hoping those discussions, which will continue next week, will produce results that are acceptable on both sides," Bolton said. Erdogan also warned that preparations were complete for a military operation against the YPG. "We will very soon mobilize to eliminate the terrorist organization in Syria," he said. "If there are other terrorists who would attempt to intervene in our intervention then it is our duty to eliminate them as well," Erdogan added. Turkish forces have been massing for weeks along the Syrian border. Meanwhile, Russia claimed earlier this week it had started doing military patrols in Manbij, tweeting out video, although sources say the Russians likely are not in Manbij proper. An estimated 69,000 to 84,000 Americans were hospitalized due to the flu in the last three months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday. Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can download this video to view it offline. Download File 360p | 7 MB 360p | 9 MB Original | 9 MB Copy The nation saw one of the worst flu outbreaks in nearly a decade during the 2017-2018 season, with more than 900,000 cases of hospitalizations and over 80,000 deaths, the CDC estimates. Between Oct. 1, 2018 and Jan. 5, 2019, about 6 million to 7 million people were reported to have contracted the flu, according to data collected by the health agency. Autopsy: Guatemalan Boy Who Died in US Custody Had Flu An autopsy has revealed that an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy had the flu when he died while in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody in the southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico.The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator said in a statement Thursday that the results of nasal and lung swabs on Felipe Gomez Alonzo tested positive for influenza B. An autopsy has revealed that an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy had the flu when he died while in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody in the southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico.The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator said in a statement Thursday that the results of nasal and lung swabs on Felipe Gomez Alonzo tested positive for influenza B. Health regulators have been trying to combat flu outbreaks in the United States and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first new flu medication in nearly two decades last year. The CDC last month signaled the start of the flu season, saying that 24 states and Guam were reporting widespread cases, with the H1N1 virus being the predominant strain. CDC Official: 80,000 Died of Flu Last Winter in US An estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last winter, the disease's highest death toll in at least four decades.The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, revealed the total in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press.Flu experts knew it was a very bad season, but at least one found the size of the estimate surprising."That's huge," said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert. An estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last winter, the disease's highest death toll in at least four decades.The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, revealed the total in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press.Flu experts knew it was a very bad season, but at least one found the size of the estimate surprising."That's huge," said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert. The dominant flu strain during the last season, H3N2, has been linked with severe disease and death, particularly among children and the elderly. The agency continues to recommend vaccination as the best way to reduce the risk of flu and advised people who are at high risk category to approach hospital for treatment with a flu antiviral drug. Uganda's growing debt is sustainable, and the country is not at risk of losing state assets to China, the country's finance minister, Matia Kasaija, said this week. Uganda's auditor-general warned in a report released this month that public debt from June 2017 to 2018 had increased from $9.1 billion to $11.1 billion. The report without naming China warned that conditions placed on major loans were a threat to Uganda's sovereign assets. It said that in some loans, Uganda had agreed to waive sovereignty over properties if it defaults on the debt a possibility that Kasaija rejected. "China taking over assets? in Uganda, I have told you, as long as some of us are still in charge, unless there is really a catastrophe, and which I don't see at all, that will make this economy going behind. So, ... I'm not worried about China taking assets. They can do it elsewhere, I don't know. But here, I don't think it will come," he said. Vehicles drive on the interchange of the new Chine FILE - Vehicles drive on the interchange of the new Chinese-built 51-kilometer (31-mile) four-lane expressway connecting Uganda's capital Kampala to Entebbe International Airport, in Kampala, Uganda, Jan. 29, 2018. FILE - Vehicles drive on the interchange of the new Chinese-built 51-kilometer (31-mile) four-lane expressway connecting Uganda's capital Kampala to Entebbe International Airport, in Kampala, Uganda, Jan. 29, 2018. China is one of Uganda's biggest country-lenders, with about $3 billion in development projects through state-owned banks. China's Exim Bank has funded about 85 percent of two major Ugandan power projects Karuma and Isimba dams. It also financed and built Kampala's $476 million Entebbe Express Highway to the airport, which cuts driving time by more than half. China's National Offshore Oil Corporation, France's Total, and Britain's Tullow Oil co-own Uganda's western oil fields, set to be tapped by 2021. Economist Fred Muhumuza says China's foot in Uganda's oil could be one way it decides to take back what is owed. "They might determine the price, as part of recovering their loan," he said. "By having a foot in there they will say fine, we are going to pay you for oil. But instead of giving you $60 a barrel, you owe us. We'll give you $55. The $5 you are paying the old debt. But we are reaching a level where you don't see this oil being an answer to the current debt problem." China's reach Uganda's worries about China seizing national assets are not the first in Africa. A leaked December report in Kenya showed China was promised parts of Mombasa Port as collateral for financing a $3 billion railway it built from the port to Nairobi. Both Chinese and Kenyan officials have denied that the port's ownership is at risk. Reports in September that China was taking over Zambia's state power company over unpaid debt rippled across Africa, despite government denials. But the fear of a Chinese takeover of a sovereign state's assets over debt is not completely without merit. Struggling to pay back loans to state-owned Chinese firms, Sri Lanka in 2017 handed over a strategic port. The government shutdown has suspended federal cleanups at Superfund sites around the nation and forced the cancellation of public hearings, deepening the mistrust and resentment of surrounding residents who feel people in power long ago abandoned them to live among the toxic residue of the countrys factories and mines. We are already hurting, and its just adding more fuel to the fire, says 40-year-old Keisha Brown, whose wood-frame home is in a community nestled among coking plants and other factories on Birminghams north side. The mostly African-American community has been forced to cope with high levels of arsenic, lead and other contaminants in the soil that the Environmental Protection Agency has been scraping up and carting away, house by house. Trump's Threat of National Emergency Declaration Explained During a visit to the southern border Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened to use emergency powers to bypass Congress and get billions of dollars to pay for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border as a partial U.S. government shutdown over the issue stretched into its 20th day.Here is a look at what such a declaration means.What is the National Emergencies Act? The bill was introduced because of a perceived need to stop open-ended states of national emergency and formalize the power of During a visit to the southern border Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened to use emergency powers to bypass Congress and get billions of dollars to pay for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border as a partial U.S. government shutdown over the issue stretched into its 20th day.Here is a look at what such a declaration means.What is the National Emergencies Act? The bill was introduced because of a perceived need to stop open-ended states of national emergency and formalize the power of As President Donald Trump and Congress battle over Trumps demand for a wall on the southern U.S. border, the nearly 3-week-old partial government shutdown has stopped federal work on Superfund sites except for cases where the administration deems there is an imminent threat to the safety of human life or to the protection of property. EPAs shutdown plans said the agency would evaluate about 800 Superfund sites to see how many could pose an immediate threat. As an example of that kind of threat, it cited an acid leak from a mine that could threaten the public water supply. Thats the hazard at Northern Californias Iron Mountain mine, where EPA workers help prevent an unending flow of lethally acidic runoff off the Superfund site from spilling into rivers downstream. Practically speaking, said Bonnie Bellow, a former EPA official who worked on Superfund public outreach at the agency, the impact of the stoppage of work at sites across the nation wholly depends on the length of the shutdown. Unless there is immediate risk like a storm, a flood, a week or two of slowdowns is not going to very likely affect the cleanup at the site, Bellow said. In north Birmingham, Brown said its been a couple of weeks since shes spotted any EPA crews at peoples houses. It wasnt clear if state workers or contractors were continuing work. But long before the shutdown began, Brown harbored doubts the cleanup was working anyway. My main concern is the health of the people out here, said Brown, who has asthma. All of us are sick, and weve got to function on medicine every day. In terms of time, the federal government shutdown is a chronological blip in the long history of the site which includes ethics charges in a local bribery scandal to block federal cleanup efforts but adds to the uncertainty in an area where residents feel forgotten and betrayed. Trump EPA Says Limits on Mercury Emissions from Coal Plants Not Necessary The Trump administration on Friday said limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants were no longer necessary as their costs outweighed the benefits, a move environmentalists said was favorable for the coal industry and could increase health hazards. Under the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, or MATS, enacted under former President Barack Obama, coal plants have been forced to install expensive equipment to cut output of mercury, which can harm pregnant women and put infants and children The Trump administration on Friday said limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants were no longer necessary as their costs outweighed the benefits, a move environmentalists said was favorable for the coal industry and could increase health hazards. Under the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, or MATS, enacted under former President Barack Obama, coal plants have been forced to install expensive equipment to cut output of mercury, which can harm pregnant women and put infants and children At the EPA, the shutdown has furloughed the bulk of the agencys roughly 14,000 employees. It also means the EPA isnt getting most of the daily stream of environmental questions and tips from the public. Routine inspections arent happening. State, local and private emails to EPA officials often get automated messages back promising a response when the shutdown ends. In Montana, for instance, state officials this month found themselves fielding calls from a tribal member worried about drinking water with a funny look to it, said Kristi Ponozzo, public-policy director at that states Department of Environmental Quality. The EPA normally provides tribes with technical assistance on water supplies. With most EPA colleagues idled, Ponozzo said, her agency also had to call off an environmental review meeting for a mining project, potentially delaying the project. But its the agencys work at Superfund sites lessening the threat from old nuclear-weapons plants, chemical factories, mines and other entities that gets much of the attention. Absent imminent peril, it would be up to state governments or contractors to continue any cleanup during the shutdown up to the point that additional EPA direction or funding is needed, the EPA said in a statement. Sites where cleanup activities have been stopped or shut down will be secured until cleanup activities are able to commence when the federal government reopens, the agency said. For federal Superfund sites in Michigan, the shutdown means there are no EPA colleagues to consult, said Scott Dean, a spokesman for that states Department of Environmental Quality. At Michigan Superfund sites, day-to-day field operations were continuing since private contractors do most of the on-the-ground work, Dean said. Bellow, the former EPA official, said the cancellation of hearings about Superfund sites posed immediate concerns. In East Chicago, Indiana, for example, the EPA called off a planned public hearing set for last Wednesday to outline how the agency planned to clean up high levels of lead and arsenic in the soil. The EPA has proposed a seven-month, $26.5 million cleanup that includes treating and removing tainted soil from the area, where a lead smelter previously was located. During a public meeting Nov. 29, some residents complained that the EPAs approach would leave too much pollution in place. But others didnt get a chance to speak and were hoping to do so at the meeting this week, said Debbie Chizewer, a Northwestern University environmental attorney who represents community groups in the low-income area. The EPA announced the cancellation in an online notice and gave no indication that it would be rescheduled. Leaders of the East Chicago Calumet Community Advisory Group asked for a new hearing date and an extension of a Jan. 14 public comment deadline in a letter to the EPAs regional Superfund division. Calls by The Associated Press to the agencys regional office in Chicago this week were not answered. Local critics fear the EPA will use the delay caused by the shutdown as justification for pushing ahead with a cleanup strategy they consider flawed, Chizewer said, even though the agency has designated the affected area as an environmental justice community a low-income community of color that has been disproportionately harmed by pollution. The EPA has a special obligation when dealing with such communities, Chizewer said. This would be an example of shutting them out for no good reason. In North Birmingham, former longtime neighborhood resident Charlie Powell said most of people living in and around the Superfund site had already just got tired and fed up. Powell left the area but started a group called PANIC, People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination. He believes money would be better spent helping residents move away from the pollution. Can I say hell? Powell said when asked what residents have been through. Shutdown Could Impact Renters, Landlords Who Rely on Section 8 Vouchers PITTSFIELD, Mass. Local landlords and recipients of Section 8 housing assistance could start feeling the pinch if the shutdown of the federal government continues much longer. That is the assessment of the chief executive officer of Pittsfield-based Berkshire Housing Development Corp., a nonprofit dedicated to helping provide affordable housing throughout the region. Elton Ogden indicated Wednesday afternoon that the shutdown is not having a major impact on Berkshire Housing or its clients for now but he is concerned about "mom and pop" landlords with tenants who rely on the federal subsidies to pay the rent. "It's really the flow of subsidy money where there's a greater potential of people being hurt," Ogden said. "What will happen is the owner of the property won't get the checks. "The blowback is on us and in cases where you have people in the community renting from mom and pop landlords, and all of a sudden, the mom and pop don't have a check from the government. They're not going to be happy with their tenant." And, perhaps more to the point, the landlord won't have the income coming in that he or she is counting on to pay their mortgage, taxes, etc. Ogden said Berkshire Housing has about 600 residents in its properties who receive Section 8 vouchers, which are distributed by municipalities. But that is just one part of the nonprofit's revenue stream. And Berkshire Housing's reserves are adequate to carry the nonprofit through a short-term interruption in rent payments. "If we stop receiving subsidies, we should be able to hold tight for a few months," Ogden said. "But I believe if you took all of the housing authorities in the county, you're probably talking about 2,000 vouchers. I'd say three-quarters of those are going smaller landlords. That's a lot." The shutdown, which began in December, stretched into its 19th day on Wednesday with no end in sight, according to national news reports. At issue is a dispute about $5 billion which President Trump is seeking to build portions of a wall on the border with Mexico. Democratic leaders in Congress including U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee blame the White House for the impasse that led to the partial government shutdown. The U.S. House has passed legislation to open government that the U.S. Senate refuses to take up. While none of its properties or residents are in any immediate danger, Berkshire Housing is not altogether unaffected by the shutdown. "The main effect at this time is no one is home at [the Department of Housing and Urban Development] to answer the phone," Ogden said. "The normal day-to-day business where we might look for a signature or a signoff on a replacement reserve request from a HUD asset manager, that's not happening. "That's not going to have a major effect on us for the time being." And the shutdown will not affect Berkshire Housing's ability to do things like process new applications for affordable housing. "It wouldn't affect that because we do all that internally," Ogden said. "We just have to follow their rules for qualifying someone and processing someone. The underwriting and signing of the lease is done by us or a housing authority." One of the biggest expenses for any landlord like BHDC is the mortgages on its properties, but Ogden said it has a relatively small percentage of properties that have private mortgages. "In the case of [Williamstown's] Proprietor's Field or [North Adams'] Holy Family, those are FHA/HUD insured mortgages," he said. "If HUD stopped funding the subsidies, the money that would go to pay the mortgage off would stop. They'd essentially have to hold us harmless." For now, the message for residents of Berkshire Housing's 2,000 housing units is: Don't worry about near-term impacts of the shutdown. "I haven't gotten any calls from residents, but I'm not on that direct line, so I'd have to talk to our leasing team," Ogden said. "They're the ones who hear from tenants when they're anxious. I'm sure if they do get calls they're telling them it's too early to panic." China sends Zhongxing-2D satellite into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 1:11 a.m., Jan. 11, 2019. The satellite has entered the preset orbit. (Xinhua/Liang Keyan) XICHANG, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China sent Zhongxing-2D satellite into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 1:11 a.m. Friday. The satellite has entered the preset orbit. The Chinese-made communication and broadcasting satellite will provide transmission service for the country's radio, television stations and cable television networks. The Zhongxing-2D satellite and Long March-3B carrier rocket were developed and produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This was the 298th mission of the Long March rocket series. The U.S. Senate on Thursday night unanimously passed a bill guaranteeing federal workers they will be paid everything they are owed when the government shutdown ends. While it sounds like good news, it will not immediately help more than 800,000 workers who this week are missing their first payday since the shutdown began Dec. 22. When the shutdown enters its fourth week Saturday morning, it will set the record for the longest in U.S. history and there are no signs a negotiated settlement is in sight. Democrats are refusing to give President Donald Trump more than $5 billion to build a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico. Without an agreement on funding a border wall, Senate Republicans and the president are refusing to approve funding for eight federal departments, leading to a partial shutdown of the U.S. government. In his continued crusade to convince Congress and the American people that a wall is needed between Mexico and the United States, the White House says Trump will hold a roundtable discussion on border security and safe communities Friday afternoon with state, local and community leaders. Trump says a wall is needed to stop illegal immigration and the drugs and crime he says come with it. U.S. President Donald Trump talks to the media as U.S. President Donald Trump talks to the media as he stands with U.S. Border Patrol agents on the banks of the Rio Grande River during his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Mission, Texas, Jan. 10, 2019. U.S. President Donald Trump talks to the media as he stands with U.S. Border Patrol agents on the banks of the Rio Grande River during his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Mission, Texas, Jan. 10, 2019. ?Trump visits border Trump visited the border town of McAllen, Texas, Thursday, saying he may declare a national emergency. Were either going to have a win, make a compromise, because I think a compromise is a win for everybody, or I will declare a national emergency, he said. A declaration would allow Trump to spend the money without congressional approval. It would likely bring an immediate court challenge from Democrats who say there is no emergency at the border and that the president would be overstepping his constitutional authority. President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with Mexico at the Rio Grande on the southern border in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 10, 2019. President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with Mexico at the Rio Grande on the southern border in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 10, 2019. While in McAllen, Trump visited a Border Patrol station and inspected a table heaped with illegal drugs and weapons. He was told most of the contraband was seized at legal points of entry not the remote border crossings the president says need to be sealed off. The president also met with the families of those killed by illegal immigrants. Trump said a wall works. He made the promise of a wall the centerpiece of his 2016 campaign and insisted Mexico will pay for it. WATCH: Trump Visits Border to Make Case for Wall Who pays for the wall? The president said Thursday, I never meant theyre going to write out a check, I said theyre going to pay for it. They are. Although, this contradicted statements he made during the campaign, Trump has more recently said the benefits from a renegotiated North American trade agreement would lead to Mexico paying for it. Democrats support more security Most Democrats say there is a need for more border security but that a wall is impractical, wasteful and immoral. Even some conservatives are beginning to wonder whether its an issue that makes it worth shutting down the government. Trump is blaming the government shutdown and impasse on wall funding on the Democrats, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. He says they are oblivious to national security and will not compromise. Pelosi and Schumer say the president is obsessed by the wall and has manufactured a crisis, in part, to distract the country from his other problems. They have proposed reopening the government and separating the wall issue for separate negotiations. Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can download this video to view it offline. Pope Francis has gone on a road trip to an ancient monastery in central Italy that houses a community of cloistered nuns. The Poor Clares monastery in the Umbria region town of Spello dates from the 14th century. Its nuns belong to an order founded by St. Clare, a follower of the popes namesake, St. Francis of Assisi. The Vatican said a car took Francis on the two-hour drive to and from the monastery Friday so he could encourage the nuns in their contemplative life. It said Francis celebrated Mass for the nuns and had lunch with them. Francis frequently slips out of the Vatican on Fridays to meet poor or sick people, a tradition he began during his Jubilee of Mercy. However, he usually stays closer to home in Rome. WARSAW - Poland has arrested a Chinese employee of Huawei and a Polish national involved in cyber business on allegations of spying, Polish media reported on Friday, deepening the controversy over Western criticism of the Chinese telecoms equipment maker. U.S. intelligence agencies allege Huawei Technologies Cos Ltd is linked to China's government and that its equipment could contain "backdoors" for use by government spies. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims. But the criticism has led several Western countries and companies to look into whether they should allow Huawei's equipment to be used in their telecoms networks, straining relations with Beijing. Polish public TV channel TVP said security services had searched the local offices of Huawei, as well as the offices of telecoms firm Orange Polska , where it said the Polish national works. China's foreign ministry said it was "greatly concerned" by the reports, and urged Poland to handle the case "justly." "We are aware of the situation, and we are looking into it. We have no comment for the time being," Huawei said in a statement. "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based," it added. Orange Polska said in a statement the security agency had on Tuesday gathered materials related to an employee, whom it did not identify. The company added it did not know if the investigation was linked to the employee's professional work, and that it would continue to cooperate with the authorities. TVP said the security services also searched the offices of Poland's telecoms regulator, the Office of Electronic Communications, but the regulator denied this. Tensions In December, Canadian authorities arrested a top Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, at the behest of U.S. authorities as part of an investigation into alleged violations of U.S. trade sanctions, raising tensions with China at a time when Washington and Beijing are engaged in a broader trade war. The West's security concerns surrounding Huawei, and fellow Chinese telecoms equipment firm ZTE Corp, center around China's National Intelligence Law. Approved in 2017, the law states that Chinese "organizations and citizens shall, in accordance with the law, support, cooperate with, and collaborate in national intelligence work." This has sparked fears Huawei could be asked by the Chinese government to incorporate "backdoors" into their equipment that would allow Beijing access, for spying or sabotage purposes. Some experts also see a risk that Chinese intelligence may develop an ability to subvert Huawei's equipment. Norway said on Wednesday it was considering whether to join other Western nations in excluding Huawei from building part of the country's new 5G telecoms network. "The Chinese national is a businessman working in a major electronics company ... the Pole is a person known in circles associated with cyber business," Maciej Wasik, the deputy head of Poland's special services, told state news agency PAP. The arrested pair will be held for three months, PAP reported, citing the spokesperson for Poland's head of special services. TVP said the Polish national was a former agent of the internal security agency. The agency did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Despite more than a year of international engagement and promises of economic reform by North Koreas leaders, the human rights situation in the isolated country remains dire, a top U.N. rights official said Friday. Blocked by the government from visiting North Korea, U.N. special rapporteur for human rights in North Korea Tomas Quintana visited South Korea this week as part of an investigation that will be provided to the U.N. Human Rights Council in March. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits a factory North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits a factory in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, Aug. 7, 2018. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits a factory in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, Aug. 7, 2018. Noting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has embarked on an effort to improve living conditions by focusing on economic development, Quintana said his preliminary findings showed those efforts had not translated into improvements in the lives of most people. The fact is, that with all the positive developments the world has witnessed in the last year, it is all the more regrettable that the reality for human rights on the ground remains unchanged, and continues to be extremely serious, he told reporters at a briefing in Seoul. In all areas related to the enjoyment of economic and social rights, including health, housing, education, social security, employment, food, water and sanitation, much of the countrys population is being left behind, Quintana added. FILE - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and FILE - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in inside the Peace House at the border village of Panmunjom in Demilitarized Zone, South Korea, April 27, 2018. FILE - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in inside the Peace House at the border village of Panmunjom in Demilitarized Zone, South Korea, April 27, 2018. ?Left out of talks North Korea denies human rights abuses and says the issue is used by the international community as a political ploy to isolate it. Human rights were noticeably absent from talks between Kim and the leaders of South Korea and the United States last year, over North Koreas nuclear weapons program. But in December, the United States imposed sanctions on an additional three North Korean officials, including a top aide to Kim, for serious rights abuses and censorship. North Koreas foreign ministry warned in a statement after the December sanctions were announced, that the measures could lead to a return to exchanges of fire and North Koreas disarming could be blocked forever. Kim acknowledgement While noting he had no specific information on whether international sanctions were hurting ordinary North Koreans, Quintana said the sanctions targeted the economy as a whole and raised questions about the possible impact on the public. He cited a reference by Kim in his new year message to the need to improve living standards, saying it was a rare acknowledgement of the economic and social hardships faced by many North Koreans. Still, the United Nations has confirmed the continued use of political prison camps housing thousands of inmates, Quintana said, quoting one source as saying the whole country is a prison. He said witnesses who recently left North Korea reported facing widespread discrimination, labor exploitation and corruption in daily life. There is also a continuing pattern of ill-treatment and torture of defectors who escaped to China only to be returned to North Korea by Chinese authorities, Quintana said. WASHINGTON - Native Americans, like other Americans, are deeply divided over the proposed border wall that President Donald Trump says will stop the flow of drugs and criminals across the border with Mexico. They also have mixed responses to the partial U.S. government shutdown, which began Dec. 22. Federally recognized tribes depend on federal dollars for food and housing aid, health care, public safety and other services. The shutdown has cut off that funding, forcing tribal administrative offices to close or lay off staff. The National Congress of American Indians said the lapse is a violation of U.S. treaty and trust responsibilities to tribal nations. Amy Juan, a citizen of the Tohono O'odham Nation i Amy Juan, a citizen of the Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona, speaks out against the military's presence at the U.S.-Mexico border in Phoenix, Nov. 8, 2018. Amy Juan, a citizen of the Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona, speaks out against the military's presence at the U.S.-Mexico border in Phoenix, Nov. 8, 2018. Feeling the pinch "Politics aside, there are a lot of families that reside on this reservation who depend on that [federal] income to provide for their families," said Stephanie Brady Fisher, a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe in Montana. "Who cares about a wall?" Other tribes appear to be weathering the shutdown. In a Jan. 9 letter to tribal staff, Fort Peck tribal chairman Floyd Azure said the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes on the Fort Peck Reservation have enough funds to last through the shutdown. Birds are seen on a section of the border fence be Birds are seen on a section of the border fence between United States and Mexico in Tijuana, Mexico Dec. 15, 2018. Birds are seen on a section of the border fence between United States and Mexico in Tijuana, Mexico Dec. 15, 2018. 'Long overdue' or 'archaic thinking' VOA reached out via Facebook to tribes, nations and communities across the U.S. to gauge their views on the proposed wall. Christopher Tall Bull, Northern Cheyenne, currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona, a border state the U.S. Justice Department labels a "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area" into which flow "multiton quantities" of marijuana and methamphetamines. This combination image of evidence photos released This combination image of evidence photos released Aug. 8, 2018, by the United States Attorney's Office shows part of narcotics and other seized materials in a federal investigation into three drug-trafficking organizations. This combination image of evidence photos released Aug. 8, 2018, by the United States Attorney's Office shows part of narcotics and other seized materials in a federal investigation into three drug-trafficking organizations. "It impacts me every day," said Tall Bull. "All my friends and everyone I know who is my age is addicted to the opiates flowing through our unguarded, open border. Cheap fentanyl from cartels is being pressed into other drugs and killing everyone." Fellow Cheyenne citizen Cameron Russell, Jr. cited concern about terrorism. "Terrorists aren't just from the Middle East," he said. "They also include foreign nationals such as Mexican citizens who come to this country illegally and harm U.S. citizens. The president is not spreading fear. He's addressing a long overdue issue." A border patrol office inside his vehicle guards t A border patrol officer inside his vehicle guards the border fence on the U.S. side of San Diego, Calif., as seen from Tijuana, Mexico, Jan. 2, 2019. A border patrol officer inside his vehicle guards the border fence on the U.S. side of San Diego, Calif., as seen from Tijuana, Mexico, Jan. 2, 2019. Rick Cuevas, a Pechanga Indian from Upland, California, who blogs about tribal enrollment issues, sees the wall as an important component of U.S. immigration policy. "My Pechanga tribe in Temecula, California, has armed guards at the gate to protect those on the inside, and nobody disagrees with that," he said. Cuevas said the government should crack down on illegal immigrants already inside the U.S. and take action against people smugglers, so-called "coyotes." "People looking to come in illegally pay a 'coyote' between $4,000 and $8,000 to help them sneak across our borders," Cuevas said. "Why shouldn't we let immigrants pay the U.S. to come in legally? Four-thousand-dollars per person would add up to a lot of money we could use to defray the costs of having them here." Other Native Americans are just as vehement in their opposition to the wall. One South Dakota tribe member answered VOA's call One South Dakota tribe member answered VOA's call for comments with this internet meme, suggesting the border wall with Mexico will do little to solve America's drug problem. One South Dakota tribe member answered VOA's call for comments with this internet meme, suggesting the border wall with Mexico will do little to solve America's drug problem. "Throughout history, indigenous people including those in what is now Mexico and central America moved freely across the land in search of greater opportunities," said Kade Ferris, an anthropologist, blogger and enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in Belcourt, North Dakota. "They knew where they could and couldn't go and where they belonged. Borders were meaningless and were a concept that was imposed by the forces of colonialism they are and always have been a way to try to control people." Sicangu Lakota journalist/writer Evelyn Red Lodge called the wall a "sham" growing out of a manufactured crisis heavily supported by the Christian right. "It speaks of this Christian government's handling of people of color past and present," Red Lodge said. "It is this archaic thinking that leaves all U.S. citizens with unclean hands." File photo shows environmental and immigration pro File photo shows environmental and immigration protesters in Pasadena, Calif., Aug. 7, 2018. File photo shows environmental and immigration protesters in Pasadena, Calif., Aug. 7, 2018. Still, others say they worry that the wall will disrupt wildlife migration and the flow of water. "A domino effect will take place, all the way up the food chain," said Northern Cheyenne citizen Steve Whiteshield. 'Build bridges, not walls' The Tohono O'odham tribe of southern Arizona, whose ancestral lands straddle nearly 100 kilometers of the border with Mexico, challenged the notion of a wall years before Trump came to office. Roughly 5 percent of Tohono O'odham citizens live in the Mexican state of Sonora and fear they will be cut off from friends and family in Arizona. Memes such as this one, showing a Native American Memes such as this one, showing a Native American lamenting the coming of European colonialists, are springing up across social media sites. Memes such as this one, showing a Native American lamenting the coming of European colonialists, are springing up across social media sites. Harold C. Frazier, chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, issued a statement urging an end to the shutdown. "If the president wants to build something that would make America great again, then build bridges between people, cultures, societies or nations, and if that is too hard then at least build bridges in our aging infrastructure of roads." Frazier added, "The president should quit trying to build a wall that would have been better served at Plymouth Rock." He was referring to the first permanent European colony in America, founded in 1620 by a group of English Puritans seeking religious freedom in the New World. Two Reuters journalists in Myanmar lost their appeal Friday against their conviction and seven-year jail sentences. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested in December 2017 for violating Myanmar's Official Secrets Act. The judge who upheld the conviction said the journalists' lawyers did not provide sufficient evidence to prove their innocence. "It was a suitable punishment," High Court Judge Aung Naing said of the sentence. The men say they were arrested in a setup by police intended to inhibit reporting on a massacre of Rohingya, a minority Muslim group. Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler said, in a statement, that the two men "remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth." Adler said,"Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmar's commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt." Activists gather at a rally, calling for the relea Activists gather at a rally, calling for the release of imprisoned Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, one year after they were arrested, in Yangon, Myanmar, Dec.12, 2018. Activists gather at a rally, calling for the release of imprisoned Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, one year after they were arrested, in Yangon, Myanmar, Dec.12, 2018. ?State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino said the United States is "deeply disappointed" that the Yangon High Court upheld the journalists' conviction. "A free and independent press should be protected in any democracy," Palladino said in a Friday statement. "Todays ruling casts doubt not only on freedom of expression in Burma, but also raises questions about Burmas commitment to the rule of law. We will continue to advocate at all levels for the just release of these brave journalists." Jeremy Hunt, Britain's foreign secretary, said the leader of Myanmar should be taking a personal interest in the case and determining whether due process was adhered to. Kristian Schmidt, the European Union ambassador to Myanmar said Friday's ruling was a "miscarriage of justice and it gives us great concern for the independence of the justice system of Myanmar." The United Nations has likened Myanmar's brutal military crackdown on the Rohingya to ethnic cleansing. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine State to camps in neighboring Bangladesh. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were among a group of journalists named in December as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year." The case has raised questions about Myanmar's march to democracy and commitment to press freedom. EL PASO, TEXAS - The U.S. government has moved out all the migrant teens who were living in a tent city in the Texas desert and is set to close it down, according to the organization running the facility. The temporary shelter became a controversial symbol of President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. BCFS, a San Antonio nonprofit running the shelter for the U.S. government, said Friday that "there are no more children in Tornillo," but did not say if they had all been released to sponsors or had been moved to other facilities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had said there were more than 850 migrants being held there as recently as Jan. 6. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the releases. The shelter opened June 14 to handle the ballooning number of unaccompanied children being kept in detention. Immigration advocates raised concerns about how long minors were being held in the makeshift tents, and some protesters had set up camp near the facility. At its peak in December, the sprawling field of beige tents housed 2,800 teenagers, mostly from Central America, who had crossed the border alone. Trump has called the increasing number of children and families crossing into the United States a humanitarian crisis. This and his assertion that immigrants and drugs are streaming across the southern border have fueled his demand for a border wall, despite statistics that show illegal crossings are at a 20-year low and that many drug shipments are likely are smuggled through legal ports of entry. On Thursday, Trump traveled to Texas to press his case for the wall, even as the government remained partly shut down in a dispute with Democrats over funding for it. Lengthy stays for some children The government is legally limited in how long it can detain immigrant minors who cross the border, but a policy to increase vetting of potential sponsors has led to long delays in processing their cases, leaving some children languishing in government care for months. As of Jan. 6 there were still approximately 11,400 unaccompanied children in HHS custody across the country, the government said. Once minors are released, they can pursue their immigration cases while living in the United States, with many seeking to apply for asylum. "Our goal is to close Tornillo as quickly but as safely as possible," Victoria Palmer, an HHS spokeswoman, said earlier this week. Protesters who have been monitoring the camp said they have seen a steady outflow of infrastructure like tents. BCFS confirmed to Reuters it was working to demobilize the facility and removing shelter trailers and tents as more children leave Tornillo. "This tent city should never have stood in the first place but it is welcome news that it will be gone," tweeted U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, a Texas Republican. U.S. President Donald Trump will sign a border security bill, averting a government shutdown on Friday, but plans to formally declare the southern U.S. border a "national emergency," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday. The declaration would clear the way for Trump to authorize new funding for a permanent physical barrier. The move would end contentious negotiations with Congress over funding for the wall, but some legal analysts worry it will set a dangerous precedent for presidents trying to negotiate with Congress. In January, during a 35-day partial government shutdown caused by a dispute over border wall funding, VOA spoke with John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management at The Brooking Institute, about the legal issues around a possible emergency declaration by the president. QUESTION: What powers does a president have to declare a national emergency? Could he simply order government funds to be used to build a border wall? So there are really two questions here. First, under the national emergencies act, the president has a fairly broad power to declare a national emergency. Now the declaration of that emergency is simply that -- a declaration. And according to a pretty firm reading of that law, it's hard to see where there is an exception to the president's ability to do it. The next part of that, though, involves the powers that the president can exercise under that law and there are obvious limitations on that, constitutional limitations and other limitations within the law that the president can't violate. And unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, we haven't experienced serious questions about presidential power in this space. So it's really left as an open question right now, in terms of the extent of presidential power that courts will need to sort out. Q: Could Democrats block this in Congress? Is there any constitutional precedent for presidents simply going around Congress to fund a priority policy item? So there is, within the law, the ability of Congress to stop a national emergency. It requires both houses of Congress to vote to say that the national emergency is over. Now democrats can certainly do that alone, in the House. They cannot, however, do it alone in the Senate, it would require several Republican votes. However, this is the type of exercise of executive power that leaves a lot of Republicans uneasy. And you're already starting to see those conversations among Senate Republicans, saying that if we're all right with President Trump doing this over a border wall, would we also be all right with a Democratic president doing this over climate change or other issues? US House Passes Bill to Reopen Some Agencies Shuttered in Wall Fight The Democratic-controlled U.S. The Democratic-controlled U.S. And so I think it remains to be seen whether Congress will have the votes to stop presidential action in this area, whether they'll have the political will to do it. But they certainly have the power to stop this type of behavior. To the second part of your question, you know, presidents have tried to go around Congress in terms of spending money in the past or even moving money around within or across budget lines or accounts in the past. And frequently presidents are stopped because the spending power in the constitution rests with the Congress and so this creates a real challenge for President Trump if he wants to start moving funds or re-appropriating funds or using funds that are not even appropriated, pushing up against that constitutional protection against that power. So he might have the power to declare a national emergency, but he cannot usurp the Constitution in the exercise of powers during that emergency. The entrance to the Smithsonian's National Gallery The entrance to the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art is padlocked as a partial government shutdown continues, in Washington, U.S., Jan. 7, 2019. The entrance to the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art is padlocked as a partial government shutdown continues, in Washington, U.S., Jan. 7, 2019. Q: On the politics of the current shutdown, is one side or the other winning? Which sides appears to have an advantage at the moment? How does it end? Well it's clear one side is losing and that's the American public, and particularly the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are not being paid or who are not going to work. In terms of the political actors, you know, the polling that we have suggests that most Americans blame President Trump for the shutdown. A smaller percentage of Americans blame congressional Democrats and smaller still blame congressional Republicans. I think a lot of Americans look at this skeptically and say, "What has changed between the beginning of the president's term and now that makes this such a dire emergency?" And I think it leaves a lot of Americans scratching their head. President Trump is playing to his base here, but unfortunately his base is a small percentage of the population. And most of the rest of the population is not with him on this issue of the wall. President Donald Trump on Friday called the situation at the U.S. southern border "an invasion," but he indicated that he would not be declaring a national emergency that could give him the legal authority to begin building his long-promised wall. Trump, according to the Associated Press, said he was not looking to declare an emergency to build a wall "right now," contending that "this is something Congress can do." Democrats have refused to vote on a budget that would include the president's request for more than $5 billion to begin construction of a permanent barrier along the Mexican border. Trump has refused to sign any government budget unless it has the funds. The standoff has led to a partial government shutdown that has now lasted 21 days, tying the record for the longest in U.S. history. The lapse in funding has hit roughly a quarter of the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. An estimated 800,000 federal workers are now going without paychecks. President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with FILE - President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with Mexico at the Rio Grande in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 10, 2019. FILE - President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with Mexico at the Rio Grande in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 10, 2019. ?'A win for everybody' Trump had said Thursday, during a visit to the border town of McAllen, Texas, that he might declare a national emergency. "We're either going to have a win, make a compromise, because I think a compromise is a win for everybody, or I will declare a national emergency," he said. A declaration would allow Trump to spend the money without congressional approval. It would likely bring an immediate court challenge from Democrats who say there is no emergency at the border and that the president would be overstepping his constitutional authority. Trump is blaming the government shutdown and impasse on wall funding on the Democrats, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. He says they are oblivious to national security threats and will not compromise. Pelosi and Schumer say the president is obsessed with the wall and has manufactured a crisis, in part, to distract the country from his other problems. They have proposed reopening the government and negotiating the wall issue separately. WASHINGTONA proposal to give protection status to the woolly mammoth, a species that has been extinct for 10,000 years, is the latest attempt by conservation-minded countries to stop its genetic cousin the African elephant from following in the mammoths giant footsteps by slipping into extinction. The proposal by Israel to afford the prehistoric mammoth Appendix II protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) taking place in Sri Lanka in May, could play a vital role in saving elephants who are being poached at the rate of around 30,000 animals a year. Unlike the demise of the mammoth, it is the global ivory trade that is decimating elephants. Although international trade in elephant ivory has been banned since 1990, traffickers often try to pass off ivory as legal mammoth ivory to circumvent the ban, because of its near identical appearance. Israels proposal is one of 57 announced this week by CITES. Countries from around the world submitted the proposals seeking to increase or decrease protections for 152 wild animal species affected by international commercial trade. These include conflicting proposals on elephants, with nine African countries wanting to up-list the African elephants of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe from Appendix II to I in the face of an insatiable poaching crisis, whilst a proposal by Zambia seeks to down-list its elephants to Appendix II to allow international commercial trade in raw ivory. And Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, whose populations of the species are already on Appendix II, want to weaken existing restrictions on their ability, and that of South Africa whose elephant population is also on Appendix II, to export ivory to consumer countries. Other species on the CITES agenda include the giraffe whose wild populations have declined by up to 40 percent in the last 30 years due to habitat loss and poaching, Mako sharks threatened by the Asian shark fin trade, Sri Lankan lizards imperilled by the exotic pet trade, giant guitarfish and 10 species of wedgefish declining due to over-fishing, and a proposal by Namibia to down-list the Southern white rhino and by Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) to allow trade in rhino horn. Wildlife experts at Humane Society International, who will attend the CITES meeting in Sri Lanka, say that nations need to urgently reboot their approach to wildlife protection in the face of unsustainable trade driving species to the edge of extinction. Kitty Block, president of Humane Society International, said: Every single day, human-induced habitat loss, poaching, commercial trade and climate change are pushing more of our planets precious wild species towards extinction. We can no longer afford any complacency when it comes to saving wild animal species threatened by over-exploitation, and so as we welcome CITES proposals to establish new or increased protections, we urge nations to ensure that species conservation is approached as a necessity not a luxury, with pro-active trade restrictions imposed long before a species is at the extinction precipice. With ivory traffickers exploiting the long-extinct mammoth so that they can further exploit imperilled elephants, the time is now for African and all other nations to unite in the fight to end the poaching epidemic and ensure all ivory markets are closed. Giraffes too need our urgent attention, having already disappeared from seven countries and now quietly slipping into extinction with the wild population at or just under 100,000. The time to act is now, before we lose them forever. CITES offers three levels of protection, and the proposals generally aim to list currently unlisted species, or to increase or decrease protection between Appendix I (which more or less prevents commercial international trade) and II (which allows trade under special conditions). CITES proposals of note include: Giraffe : Central African Republic, Chad, Kenya, Mali, Niger and Senegal have proposed to list the giraffe on CITES Appendix II. The species is currently not CITES-listed; its wild population has declined by between 36 percent and 40 percent over the last 30 years; it is threatened by poaching, and it is internationally traded: nearly 40,000 giraffes and their parts and products were imported to the U.S. from 2006-2015, including bone carvings (21,402), bones (4,789), trophies (3,744), skin pieces (3,008), bone pieces (1,903), skins (855), and jewellery (825).The latest International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species has added the Kordofan and Nubian subspecies of giraffes to the list of critically endangered, with fewer than 4,650 animals left. The reticulated, Thornicrofts and West African giraffe subspecies were also listed as endangered or vulnerable. Giraffes have disappeared completely from Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Guinea, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria and Senegal. African elephant : Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria and Togo have proposed to transfer elephant populations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe from Appendix II to Appendix I in order to offer maximum protection under CITES in the face of the ongoing threat posed by the unsustainable demand from the ivory trade, the uncertainty of the impact of that trade on the species across its range, and the enforcement problems that exist because the level of protection is inconsistent across the continent, with some populations protected under Appendix I and others under Appendix II.In a separate proposal, Zambia seeks to transfer its elephant population from Appendix I to II and to allow international trade in raw ivory for commercial purposes; and Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe have proposed to allow unlimited amounts of registered raw ivory from government-owned stocks to be traded to importing Parties verified by the Secretariat to have certain measures in place to, among other things, prevent re-export. Woolly mammoth : Israel proposes to list the woolly mammoth in Appendix II to tackle the growing trade in mammoth ivory which can be used to launder illegal elephant ivory. To get around the elephant ivory ban, traders sometimes mix the two ivories together, and in the absence of a reliable and cost-effective test to distinguish between the two, the market in mammoth ivory is providing a dangerous cover for poached elephant ivory. Mako sharks, giant guitarfishes and wedgefishes : sharks and rays have again broken the CITES record for numbers of countries proposing listings. Longfin and shortfin Mako sharks, six species of giant guitarfishes, and 10 species of wedgefishes have been proposed for listing on CITES Appendix II. All of these fish species are declining in the wild, mainly as a result of over-fishing, particularly for the lucrative Asian shark fin market. Southern white rhino: Namibia has proposed to transfer its population from Appendix I to II, and Eswatini has proposed a measure that would allow international trade in rhino horns for commercial purposes. There are an estimated 20,000 southern white rhino in Africa, and they remain threatened by poaching for their horn. Poaching in South Africa, which is home to around 90 percent of southern white rhino, has escalated enormously in recent years. Facts: This will be the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, which will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from May 23 to June 3. 183 countries are CITES Parties and 64 of them, plus the European Union representing 28 member states, submitted proposals for consideration at the upcoming meeting. If approved at the meeting, the proposals could affect the protective status under CITES of 574 taxa including 17 mammals, 4 birds, 51 reptiles, 57 amphibians, 18 fish, 20 invertebrates, and 407 plants. CITES offers three levels of protection for species affected by international trade: Editor's note: We want you to know what's happening, and why and how it could impact your life, family or business, so we created a weekly digest of the top original immigration, migration and refugee reporting from across VOA. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com. The wall, the shutdown, and the president Where do we start? This week has been intense, and included President Donald Trump's first televised Oval Office address to the country. Then, with some U.S. federal employees facing their first payday without a paycheck thanks to the government shutdown, Trump traveled to Texas. He says there is a migrant "crisis," sometimes an "invasion." He is considering declaring it a "national emergency." People who live on the border say that is not reality, and the data supports them. Yet the impasse continues. Everyone is salty with everyone, neither side is backing down, and the meetings to find a compromise are not going well. The latest negotiations with Democratic leaders ended abruptly, with the president declaring them a "total waste of time" and the Senate Democratic leader calling Trump's behavior a "temper tantrum." And all the while, the U.S. government admits it's not even sure if walls are worth the investment. Asylum in Bangkok airport Twitter rallied around a Saudi woman who requested asylum in Thailand and barricaded herself in a hotel room so as not to be put on a flight back to her family in Kuwait. Eighteen-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun claims family members are psychologically and physically abusive. Thai police say she is heading to Canada after negotiations with the U.N. In Italy, a humanitarian standoff Local leaders in Italy are clashing with the central government over its policies vis-a-vis refugees and asylum-seekers. ... and in India, a possible path to citizenship A bill that passed the country's lower house of Parliament would allow a path to citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis from several countries who arrived in India before a certain date. Muslims are excluded. The opposition includes people who want the foreigners removed from the country irrespective of religion, and those who believe citizenship laws should be "religion and country-neutral." GAZA CITY - Israeli forces killed a Palestinian woman during mass protests on the Gaza frontier Friday, according to Palestinian medics, and the Israeli military said aircraft struck two Hamas posts in response to the violent demonstrations. The violence at the protests, in which more than two dozen Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were wounded, threatened to complicate efforts by Egyptian mediators, who are trying to shore up a two-month-old cease-fire. Ashraf al-Kidra, a spokesman for Gazas Health Ministry, said Amal al-Taramsi, 43, was shot in the head during the protests. He said another 25 Palestinians were wounded by gunfire. A witness, identifying herself only as Umm Yazan, said al-Taramsi was standing about 150 meters (yards) away from the fence. She took a flag from a youth and before she moved, three gunshots rang out... she fell down, the woman told reporters at Gazas al-Shifa hospital, where relatives of the woman gathered. A relative looks at the body of a woman who was sh A relative looks at the body of a woman who was shot and killed by Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, at the morgue of Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. A relative looks at the body of a woman who was shot and killed by Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, at the morgue of Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The Israeli military said some 13,000 protesters and rioters participated in several demonstrations along the fence, with some hurling rocks and firebombs at troops on the other side. The military said an Israeli soldier was struck by a rock and lightly wounded. The military said protesters briefly crossed the frontier into Israel on three occasions before returning to Gaza. In one of the instances, the military said it fired toward them. It said it struck two Hamas posts in response to the violence. There were no reports of casualties from the airstrikes. Hamas has led mass demonstrations along the frontier every Friday since March, calling for the lifting of an Israeli and Egyptian blockade imposed on Gaza when the Islamic militant group seized power in 2007. The protesters burn tires and hurl rocks and firebombs at Israeli forces dug in behind sand berms on the other side of the fence. Gaza Gaza Gaza More than 185 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed since the protests began. Israel says it only uses live fire to defend against attacks, but the Palestinians and rights groups accuse it of using excessive force. A botched Israeli commando operation ignited hostilities in November, with Hamas firing hundreds of rockets and Israel responding with a wave of airstrikes, in the most intense exchange of fire since the 2014 Gaza war. Egypt brokered a cease-fire and has been trying to restore calm after a rocket attack earlier this month that caused no casualties. Israel responded to the attack by delaying the delivery of $15 million in Qatari aid, which is intended to pay Hamas civil servants and help preserve the calm. In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, the Israeli military said its forces shot and wounded a Palestinian who attempted to stab soldiers near a Jewish settlement outside the city of Hebron. The army said it evacuated the assailant for medical treatment. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the man was in critical condition. No Israeli soldiers were harmed. The former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday that what's happening on the U.S. southern border is no emergency. Craig Fugate, who ran the national disaster agency for nearly eight years under President Barack Obama and was head of Florida's disaster agency under a Republican governor, said the push of refugees seeking asylum on the border with Mexico is not a national emergency. President Donald Trump has called it a crisis and is weighing a national emergency declaration to bypass a reluctant Congress and fund his long-promised border wall. The issue has led to the extended partial government shutdown. The Trump administration appointed Fugate, who ran recovery operations to numerous hurricanes and other disasters, to manage the issue of separated migrant children. President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with Mexico at the Rio Grande on the southern border in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 10, 2019. President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with Mexico at the Rio Grande on the southern border in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 10, 2019. "And that was a crisis," Fugate said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. It was an issue of mass care, he said. More terrorists come into the United States through the northern border than the southern, said Fugate, who was part of the Department of Homeland Security. "I've yet to see anything physically stop illegal immigration," Fugate said. He said it would be cheaper and more effective to spend money to reduce crime and poverty in areas the refugees are fleeing from to stop illegal immigration that way. "This is posturing, blustering," Fugate said. He said Trump is essentially saying, "If I can't get Congress to fund it, I'm going to use my authority to bypass Congress." Fugate said he worries that it continues a trend of presidents being more powerful than the legislative and judicial branches, something he traces back to Abraham Lincoln and, more recently, Franklin Roosevelt. The Supreme Court stopped President Harry Truman from using national emergency powers to nationalize the steel industry, but Fugate said he worries that won't happen if Trump declares a national emergency to bypass Congress. "What happens if they suspend the vote? What happens if they suspend the Congress?" Fugate asked. "That's what happens in countries where the executive branch is greater than the legislative and judiciary." WASHINGTON - With the deceptive use of a video, President Donald Trump on Thursday heartily thanked his White House predecessor for supporting his policy at the Mexican border. Barack Obama has offered no such support; only criticism. Trump also denied that he ever expected Mexico to make a direct payment for his border wall, despite a call in a campaign policy paper for a one-time payment'' from Mexico of $5 billion to $10 billion, with options for Mexico to contribute in alternative ways. Mexico is refusing to contribute at all. A look at Trump's statements Thursday as he traveled to Texas to make his case for what he calls a security and humanitarian crisis, a possible precursor to declaring a national emergency at the border: President Barack Obama answers questions during a President Barack Obama answers questions during a joint news conference with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in the East Room of the White House in Washington, July 22, 2016. President Barack Obama answers questions during a joint news conference with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in the East Room of the White House in Washington, July 22, 2016. Obama video Trump: President Obama, thank you for your great support I have been saying this all along! tweet, accompanied by video of Obama speaking as president in 2014. Trump: Obama used to call it a crisis at the border, too.'' remarks before departing the White House for Texas. The facts: Obama's remarks in the short video clip do not support Trump's proposal for a border wall or endorse the path Trump is considering now: declaring a national emergency that might enable him to circumvent Congress and unilaterally spend money on the wall. Instead, Obama was asking Congress to approve an emergency appropriation to deal with a surge of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children and youth, mostly from Central American, trying to cross the border from Mexico. We now have an actual humanitarian crisis on the border,'' Obama said at the time, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden. He was referring specifically to the surge of minors that year. That crisis eventually eased as the U.S. stepped up border enforcement, surveillance and resources for the waves of unaccompanied children. Now, a sharp increase in the number of families at the border, coupled with the Trump administration's hard-line stance, is overwhelming border resources, worsening a backlog in the asylum system and leaving migrants to live in abysmal conditions on the Mexican side. Trump, however, has been unable to convince Congress that the border poses a national security risk. He has made a series of statements falsely claiming that terrorists are pouring in from Mexico, that a wall would choke off shipments of illicit drugs, which actually come mainly through legal ports of entry, and that people who get in the country illegally commit a disproportionate share of violent crime. Late in his presidency, Obama was repeatedly critical of Trump's immigration stance and the wall specifically. In May 2016, for example, he said: Suggesting that we can build an endless wall along our borders, and blame our challenges on immigrants that doesn't just run counter to our history as the world's melting pot; it contradicts the evidence that our growth and our innovation and our dynamism has always been spurred by our ability to attract strivers from every corner of the globe.'' President Donald Trump reviews border wall prototy President Donald Trump reviews border wall prototypes, March 13, 2018, in San Diego. President Donald Trump reviews border wall prototypes, March 13, 2018, in San Diego. Mexico and the wall Trump. on Mexico paying for the wall: I never meant they're going to write out a check.'' remarks before departure to Texas. Trump: `Mexico is paying for the wall indirectly. And when I said Mexico will pay for the wall, in front of thousands and thousands of people, obviously they're not going to write a check.'' remarks before departure. Trump: They're paying for the wall in a great trade deal.'' remarks in Texas. The facts: Actually, a Trump campaign policy paper envisaged an explicit payment from Mexico: It's an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5-10 billion,'' the paper said. The plan also outlined various ways for Trump to compel Mexico to pay for the wall, such as by Washington cutting off billions of dollars in remittances sent back to Mexico by immigrants living in the U.S., or by recouping the money through trade tariffs or higher visa fees. None of that has happened. Instead, Trump is arguing that the updated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico will pay for the wall because of economic benefits he predicts will come from the deal. Nothing in the trade agreement would cover or refund the construction cost or require a payment from Mexico. Instead, he is assuming a wide variety of economic benefits will come from the agreement that can't be quantified or counted on. For example, he has said the deal will dissuade some U.S. companies from moving operations to Mexico and he credits that possibility as a payment by Mexico. The agreement preserves the existing liberalized environment of low or no tariffs among the U.S., Mexico and Canada, with certain improvements for each country. The deal has yet to be ratified in any member country and there is no assurance it will win legislative approval. Although his campaign left open the possibility that Mexico might somehow contribute to the cost indirectly, Trump roused his crowds with the straight-ahead promise: I will have Mexico pay for that wall.'' Again and again at his rallies, Trump asked his crowds dramatically who would pay for the wall. Mexico,'' they responded. Who?'' he's asked again. Mexico,'' they roared. Now he is saying his words were not meant to be taken literally. TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Taiwan is upgrading a fleet of American-made fighter jets, but may scrap ambitions to acquire the more advanced F-35 models, showing the limits of U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation despite a common interest of resisting China. The Air Force should get its first four upgraded F-16 A/B fighter jets in early 2019. The upgrades are part of a broader overhaul that began a year ago to convert the planes into the equivalent of higher-end F-16Vs, the government-funded Central News Agency said. But the Taiwanese armed forces, ranked as the worlds 24th strongest, probably wont get F-35 planes from the American developer Lockheed Martin despite expressions of interest in the past, defense analysts say. Taiwan would then rely in any war with China, a military rival of some 70 years, on tactical advantages rather than trying to match its firepower. Pentagon: US Approves Possible $330M Military Sale to Taiwan The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale to Taiwan of spare parts for F-16 fighter planes and other military aircraft worth up to $330 million, the Pentagon said on Monday. U.S. The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale to Taiwan of spare parts for F-16 fighter planes and other military aircraft worth up to $330 million, the Pentagon said on Monday. U.S. One main thing I think that Taiwan has sort of come to the realization that the talk of F-35s is more likely to be a long-ranging solution, more so than being able to get them on an immediate basis, so they have been toying around with various other options, said Collin Koh, a maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its own territory. Last week Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated in a speech that his government could use force against the island 160 kilometers away if needed to force unification of the two sides. China maintains the third strongest military after the United States and Russia. President Donald Trump talks with Lockheed Martin President Donald Trump talks with Lockheed Martin president and CEO Marilyn Hewson and director and chief test pilot Alan Norman in front of a F-35 as he participates in a "Made in America Product Showcase" at the White House, July 23, 2018. President Donald Trump talks with Lockheed Martin president and CEO Marilyn Hewson and director and chief test pilot Alan Norman in front of a F-35 as he participates in a "Made in America Product Showcase" at the White House, July 23, 2018. ?F-35 advantage Taiwan needs better aircraft to replace the French-designed Mirage 2000 jets that it has used for about 25 years, said Andrew Yang, former defense minister and secretary-general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies think tank. Taiwans defense ministry technically has not ruled out F-35s, ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi said Thursday. But he said the ministry was also weighing purchases or upgrades of other F-series aircraft that would be in accord with air defense goals. Those are all choices, Chen said. We have a lot of general considerations to factor in. We will do some appraisals and research. F-35s would help Taiwan with peacetime interdiction against China, said David An, senior research fellow with the policy incubator Global Taiwan Institute in Washington. The planes could go out and identify and escort (Chinese) aircraft to make sure they dont veer into Taiwans airspace, he said. China Plans Taiwan Strait Live-Fire Exercises China announced it will hold live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait amid heightened tensions over increased American support for Taiwans government. The announcement coincided with President Xi Jinping speaking on the importance of Chinese naval power while attending a massive fleet review Thursday in the South China Sea off the coast of Hainan province. The mission of building a mighty peoples navy has never been more urgent than it is today, Xi, dressed in army fatigues, said in China announced it will hold live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait amid heightened tensions over increased American support for Taiwans government. The announcement coincided with President Xi Jinping speaking on the importance of Chinese naval power while attending a massive fleet review Thursday in the South China Sea off the coast of Hainan province. The mission of building a mighty peoples navy has never been more urgent than it is today, Xi, dressed in army fatigues, said in China has flown military aircraft just outside Taiwans air defense zone 10 or 15 times since 2015. Leaders in Beijing now resent Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen for rejecting a dialogue condition that each side sees itself as part of a single China. F-35s would play a unique role in improving Taiwans overall military capabilities, An added. The aircraft, used now by Asian neighbors Japan and South Korea, would form a sky-based command and control hub to coordinate the operations of other military platforms, he said. Informal rejection of F-35 sales Taiwan has expressed informal interest in buying F-35s, An said. The U.S. government would need to approve the request before Lockheed Martin could make a sale. The U.S. government has informally rejected the idea, scholars believe. I think that was a political decision, and commercially it would be too late to meet with the timetable for replacement (of Mirage 2000s), Yang said. FILE - A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter FILE - A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet is seen in its hangar at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, in Maryland, Oct. 28, 2015. FILE - A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet is seen in its hangar at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, in Maryland, Oct. 28, 2015. ?U.S. officials may worry that Chinese spies would steal F-35 technology from any aircraft sold to Taiwan, Koh said. They might also wonder whether Taiwan can afford the aircraft given its approximately $10 billion defense budget, compared to $500 billion for military spending in the United States, An said. Officials in Washington may also fear F-35s could not fight off Chinese missiles, he said. The U.S. government recommendations for Taiwan are in favor of asymmetric capabilities such as cheap short-range coastal defense missiles to counter amphibious invasion, rather than symmetric capabilities such as expensive advanced fighter aircraft, he said. Upgrades in the short term For now, Taiwan is spending $3.64 billion on upgrades of its existing 144 F-16 A/B jets. Central News Agency calls the overhaul the largest and most important upgrade ever undertaken by the Air Force. Lockheed Martin has sent engineers to Taiwan for the project. Among their new hardware, the jets will receive advanced radar systems equivalent to those used by F-35 fighters. The upgrades line up with the Taiwan presidents broader modernization of defense systems, including stronger preparations for cyber-warfare and more reliance on domestically developed weaponry. During a visit to the southern border Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened to use emergency powers to bypass Congress and get billions of dollars to pay for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border as a partial U.S. government shutdown over the issue stretched into its 20th day. Here is a look at what such a declaration means. What is the National Emergencies Act? The bill was introduced because of a perceived need to stop open-ended states of national emergency and formalize the power of Congress. The law was enacted in September 1976 to provide certain checks and balances on the emergency powers of the president, including terminating national emergencies two years after enactment. Each House of Congress must also vote on a concurrent resolution to determine whether the emergency should be terminated, no later than six months after a national emergency is declared, and no later than the end of each six-month period thereafter during the emergency. ?Can Trump use emergency powers to build the wall? In short, yes. As president, Trump has the authority to declare a national emergency. However, he may not have the sweeping powers usually associated with the declaration of an emergency. President Donald Trump reviews border wall prototy FILE - President Donald Trump reviews border wall prototypes in San Diego, March 13, 2018. FILE - President Donald Trump reviews border wall prototypes in San Diego, March 13, 2018. Is it really an emergency? Trump has declared the influx of migrants arriving at the southern border as a humanitarian and national emergency. "We have criminals coming in," Trump said Sunday. "We have human traffickers coming in. We have drugs pouring in. We have things happening that you don't want to even know about." The administration has also talked of terrorists crossing into the U.S. from Mexico. But critics have argued that there is no evidence that migrants massed at the border are anything like the administration claims. Where would the money come from? Funding the wall might prove to be tricky. One way to get the money would be the use of the military emergency law that allows the secretary of defense to authorize construction projects without authorization from Congress. Media reports Thursday claim the White House is searching for unused funds in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget. The potential revenue stream would come from projects approved in a bill providing disaster relief for Puerto Rico, Texas, California and Florida, the reports say. What can Congress do? Congress can overturn the declaration of emergency with the approval of both chambers. But that might prove difficult with Republicans holding the majority in the Senate. The declaration could also face myriad court challenges. Has this been done before? Yes. In fact, the United States has been in a continuous state of emergency since 1979. That's when President Jimmy Carter declared an emergency to freeze Iranian assets after the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. It has been renewed every year since, by six other presidents. Other emergencies have also been declared since and remain in effect, including President Bill Clinton's 1996 emergency, which was declared after the Cuban military shot down two civilian airplanes off the Cuban coast, as well as one declared by President George W. Bush on Sept. 14, 2001, giving the president broad powers to mobilize the military in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. As of now, 28 national emergencies remain active. Most of them come under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which grants the president power to impose economic sanctions for foreign policy. Congolese presidential candidate Martin Fayulu plans to demand a recount of election results that showed him losing to fellow opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi. Speaking Friday by phone to Eddy Isango of VOA's French to Africa service, Fayulu said he will go to the Constitutional Court on Saturday and ask judges to order the recount. "We ask for a manual recount, polling station by polling station, before the CENI, before the African Union, before the United Nations, and in front of everyone else ... so that everyone can see what the Congolese people achieved on December 30, 2018," Fayulu said. Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu speaks to the p Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu speaks to the press at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Congo, Jan. 10, 2019. Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu speaks to the press at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Congo, Jan. 10, 2019. The commission said Thursday that Tshisekedi, the son of a longtime opposition leader, won the presidential election by more than 600,000 votes over Fayulu. However, Fayulu's campaign says it has tallies showing he won the election with 61 percent of the vote. FILE - Felix Tshisekedi, leader of the Congolese m Felix Tshisekedi, leader of the Congolese main opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) who was announced as the winner of the presidential elections gestures to his supporters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jan. 10, 2019. Felix Tshisekedi, leader of the Congolese main opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) who was announced as the winner of the presidential elections gestures to his supporters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jan. 10, 2019. The Catholic Church and foreign diplomats have also questioned the outcome of the poll. The church said Thursday that the official figures do not correspond to vote tallies collected by its 40,000 election observers around the country. UN Security Council discusses vote VOA United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer reports the U.N. Security Council held a meeting in New York Friday to discuss the Congolese election. FILE - Corneille Nangaa, the president of the inde FILE - Corneille Nangaa, the president of the independent electoral commission (CENI), leaves a meeting with opposition candidates and African Union observers in Kinshasa, Congo, Jan. 2, 2019. FILE - Corneille Nangaa, the president of the independent electoral commission (CENI), leaves a meeting with opposition candidates and African Union observers in Kinshasa, Congo, Jan. 2, 2019. The head of the election commission, Corneille Nangaa, told the council via satellite that Congo has two options: accept the results or nullify the election. He said if the vote is nullified, the country would not have a new president until new elections are organized. Current President Joseph Kabila has already remained in office two years past the end of his mandate. He was set to step down this month after 18 years in power, once a new president was elected. In the election, Kabila backed his former interior minister, Emmanuel Shadary, who finished a distant third. Supporters of Fayulu a businessman backed by a coalition of opposition parties have accused Kabila of making a deal with the electoral commission to deny their candidate the presidency, and in order to retain influence in the next administration. The U.S. State Department said Thursday that it is important that President Kabila sticks to his decision to abide by term limits and transfer power to a successor. The statement from deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said the U.S. is awaiting "clarification of questions which have been raised regarding the electoral count." The Democratic Republic of Congo has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since winning independence from Belgium in 1960. Eddy Isango of VOA's French to Africa Service and VOA correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this story. A man and a teenager captured in separate incidents this past week by Kurdish forces in Syria and identified as U.S. citizens fighting for the Islamic State (IS) terror group are likely not Americans. A U.S. official, speaking to VOA on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, said Thursday that Soulay Noah Su, 16, was not a U.S. citizen. Fighters with the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) announced Su's capture Wednesday. A YPG news release said Su was one of eight IS foreign fighters taken into custody during a special operations mission earlier in the week. YPG officials said the fighters were part of a group planning attacks to slow down the advance of Kurdish forces against the remnants of the terror group's self-proclaimed caliphate. Second fighter The U.S. official said another IS fighter captured by Kurdish forces and initially identified as an American was also likely not a U.S. person, despite his alias. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the capture Zaid Abed al-Hamid, 35, also known as Abu Zaid al-Ameriki, on Sunday. An SDF spokesman told VOA that Hamid, along with American Warren Christopher Clark and three other foreign fighters, was captured Dec. 30 during an operation in eastern Deir el-Zour province. The spokesman said the group had been planning an attack against civilians fleeing the area. Both Kurdish and U.S. military officials have been bracing for more encounters with foreign fighters as U.S.-backed forces continue to advance into the last 1 percent of IS-held territory in Syria. FILE - The remains of buildings line a street that FILE - The remains of buildings line a street that was damaged the previous summer during fighting between U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighters and Islamic State militants, in Raqqa, Syria, April 5, 2018. FILE - The remains of buildings line a street that was damaged the previous summer during fighting between U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighters and Islamic State militants, in Raqqa, Syria, April 5, 2018. U.S. and coalition officials have said about 2,000 IS fighters have been making a last stand for the caliphate since October, many of them foreign fighters who have been described as the terror group's most hardened and loyal followers. Already, U.S.-backed Syrian forces are holding in excess of 700 foreign fighters, as well as their families. But identifying them is often difficult. "These people are trained, if they are captured or if they do surrender, to volunteer information that's likely to throw authorities off," said Colin Clarke, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, a global security research group in New York. U.S. counterterrorism officials estimate more than 45,000 fighters from 110 countries, including almost 8,000 Westerners, have flocked to Syria since the start of the conflict, the majority of them ultimately aligning themselves with IS. 250 from U.S. U.S. officials have also said approximately 250 Americans have traveled or attempted to travel to Syria or Iraq "to fight or otherwise support the conflict." A study published last year by the George Washington University Program on Extremism identified 73 U.S. persons who had traveled to Syria or Iraq, at least 45 of whom were U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Twenty-four U.S. persons are believed to have died in Syria, while the whereabouts of another 29 are unknown. Among those identified in the report was American Clark, who before traveling from the U.S. to Syria sent IS a resume and a cover letter asking to teach English for the group. Rikar Hussein and Zana Omer contributed to this report. The partial shutdown of the US government nears its fourth week as the political fight over a border wall continues, why 2018 may have been a no-good, very bad year for Xi Jinping, and Myanmar's long-necked women fall from fashion. A villager in Kampong Speu province was questioned on Thursday at the provincial court and later detained over his part in a long-running land dispute. Y Sovann, 45, was accused of intentionally causing criminal damage, which is punishable by up to five years in prison. Sovanns unexpected detention caused anger among his fellow villagers, who traveled to Phnom Penh to seek intervention from Prime Minister Hun Sen. Thy Sokha, Sovanns wife, said she had lived on the site since 1999. The Khmer Rouge regime ended private ownership of land in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. When the regime fell in 1979, most Cambodians were living in rural communities and did not immediately worry about gaining formal land titles. But as time passed, the need for a formal land tenure system became increasingly urgent. Land disputes have been one of the most contentious social problems in Cambodia over the past two decades. Widespread dispossession has made a serious dent in support for Hun Sens government, which became known in the mid-2000s for its policy of generating income by awarding large tracts of land to wealthy and well-connected investors. In an interview in September 2015 with American filmmaker Robert H. Lieberman, Hun Sen spoke candidly about his mistakes in handling land reform, which he called the biggest regret of his career. He said his government had not done a good enough job of issuing land titles in a timely manner, and that this work should have begun in the 1980s. Sokha said the land dispute began in 2005 after a violent eviction was attempted. Villagers vacated the land before returning in 2012. It was a bit silent, Sokha said of the authoritys response to their return until the court recently summonsed the couple. I thought the case was finished already, she said. Sokha will be questioned on January 24. Sokhas husband was a policeman in the district and has just retired, she said. She currently depends on her husbands pension, which is about $300 per month. Nine people, including Sovann, were summonsed and now they are afraid of being arrested, according to villagers. The court is unfair, said another villager, Mok Pros, 39, who claims ownership of about 7,000 square meters of land. We want Samdech Hun Sen to help us, he added. The root causes of the dispute are unclear, but another villager, Mak Chem, who will be questioned by the court on January 23, said that the case is related to a powerful person who works in the military. Dont let the powerful and the rich violate people whose land has houses and crops already, said 67-year-old Chem, whose foot remains injured since the 2005 eviction, in which officials shot at the residents. They will arrest me if there is no immediate intervention from Samdech Hun Sen, he added. Local authorities tried to negotiate with villagers for some compensation, but villagers rejected their approaches, according to Chem. Villagers claimed the disputed land is owned by Bou Sokim, the deputy secretary general at the Ministry of National Defense, who could not be reached for comment. The claim was confirmed by the provincial governor. But the villagers said the complainants in the court case are three unknown people: Deung Minh, Rean Samreth and Meng Khun. I dont know the people who sued me, said Chem. Kampong Speu Provincial Court spokesmen Ou Phat could not be reached for comment. Vy Samang, Kampong Speu governor, said the villagers had been living illegally on Sokims land for a long time. [You] want me to shoot them to death? We need the judicial system, he said. The governor said the land belonged to Sokim, but said the official may have sold the land to other people. He bought the land from other soldiers who were given the land, he said. However, villagers said they cant trust provincial authorities anymore. They have their own networks. Only they benefit from that, said Chem. Khan Lai, a resident in Poipet commune, a boom town on the Cambodia-Thailand border, celebrated a housewarming party in early January. There were some 200 guests including his neighbors and former members of the local, now-dissolved opposition party. But the party was cut short when police spotted the festivities and intervened. Lai, 44, an opposition activist, and other opposition officials were questioned by the police. Police came to my house and asked me about the party and posts on Facebook, he said, adding that some opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) officials took pictures and videos showing their support for exiled CNRP leader Sam Rainsy, the partys former president. More than 100 local opposition officials lost their posts after the CNRP was dissolved in November 2017. They questioned who are the organizers of the videos and gatherings, he said, adding that police questioned him at the police station. I told them that I didnt know about filming videos since I was busy inside the house, said Lai, who joined the CNRP in 2012. Lai said that in the afternoon of the day following the party, the provincial police chief, Ath Khem, lead some 10 police in a raid on his house. The video of the raid went viral on Cambodian social media. I thought they would have arrested me since big police came, he said. He asked me about the party but didnt say anything serious. In December last year, at a conference conducted in the United States, Rainsy who previously resigned from the party, was supported by attendees to be the acting president of the party while Kem Sokha, its president, remains under house arrest. Fear has gripped local opposition officials since the CNRP was dissolved by the Supreme Court in November 2017. For former members of the CNRP, even organizing a private party comes with surveillance and questions from the authorities. The ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, bristles with paranoia over the alleged threat of a color revolution, even as it has stifled almost all dissenting voices and claimed every seat in parliament in last years general election. The CNRP was the countrys largest political party and the only party to win seats in parliament in the 2013 election. Its president, Sokha, was jailed on treason charges shortly before the party was disbanded. He was later placed under house arrest and is still awaiting trial. The CPP claims that Sokha conspired with the United States to overthrow Hun Sen. At least five people were called by police for questioning, but no one has been detained or charged, according to Lai. But fear has stifled their political discussions and plans for further gatherings. I am always hiding. I know I am the main target as well, said Chham Sophan, 41, who was a former opposition councilor in Poipet and also attended the housewarming party. I cant stay home like before, he added. There is no justice [for the opposition party], only for the ruling side, he said. They are afraid the CNRP will come back, so they try to destroy local officials. Former opposition officials like Sophan are now wary of using the telephone to communicate, fearing surveillance. I dont dare to stay home and now we are even afraid of picking up phone calls, he said. Mean Sarith, the owner of the house where the party was held and a former opposition party official in that city, said there is no freedom anymore. Freedom of expression and political rights have been seriously restricted, he said. My lower officials cant do anything. We can only whisper now, he said. If they see many people, they will come, he said. In Poipet, the opposition CNRP won a majority of more than 9,000 at the last election where they were allowed to stand. But immediately following the partys dissolution, the CPP oversaw a purge of CNRP officials, with more than 5,000 local CNRP representatives losing their positions. The opposition had controlled about 30 percent of local authorities and increased its minority share to 43 percent in local elections in summer 2017. In other districts, two officials who joined the party were issued with a summons to appear at local police stations. Tuon Veasna, a former opposition district chief who received a summons, said he was questioned for about three hours. Police forced him to sign a contract, he said. They asked me not to hold any gatherings and support for Sam Rainsy and they do not allow us to talk about the CNRP, he said. It was a pressure on me to sign the contract, he said. I thought they will ask me about the housewarming party gathering, but they asked me about a [social media] post on December 17, in which we showed our support to Sam Rainsy, he said. Police now drive around my house day and night, he added. Ath Khem, Banteay Meanchey provincial police chief, could not be reached for comment. Local opposition now largely keep silent when it comes to political activities. Public support for the CNRP has become risky and, in some cases, illegal, despite the constitution guaranteeing the right to free assembly and association. Even those with no affiliation with the CNRP say they are wary of openly discussing political ideas under the new regime. In Kampong Chhnang province, Chou Sam On, the former Kampong Leang district chief, said early this month that local officials wanted to have a meeting together, but they were told: police threatened and started noting names. The planned meeting was canceled. We want to gather and express ideas about supporting Sam Rainsy to lead the party, but we cant do it, he said. In Battambang province, several former opposition officials were questioned over a meeting held to support Rainsy. Seng Rathmony, 46, a former commune chief of Chrey in Morng Russei district, was questioned on December 16 when she gathered at her home with over 20 activists to eat noodles and drink soft drinks. We havent met for a long time and we missed each other, said Mony during a recent interview at her home. We dont have anything to hide, she said. They have their own network nearby. If four or five motorbikes enter my house, police officials will call and ask me about it, she added. They always watch us. We dont have any freedom of expression, she said. They are afraid of losing power, so from the top to low level, they are cautious like that. In response, Lay Chham, Chrey, the commune police chief, said local authorities have to know about any gatherings taking place in the commune. Let me ask you whether it is right or not to do that, he told VOA Khmer in a telephone interview. What happens in this commune, I have to know as the local authority, he added. I dont allege that they are in the wrong, but the court dissolved [the opposition] already; how come they can be the opposition party now. It is for the courts to decide, he said. For Lai in Poipet, concerns remain that the police will return or call him in for further questioning. But he said he still wants to be involved with the opposition party. I dont aim for any position. I dont know how to write. But I joined the opposition because I love the party and their officials, he said. I also want to change [the ruling party] since theyve taken power for a long time and I want to know what would happen if the CNRP leads. The partial closure of the US federal government has caused frustration among American citizens and some Cambodian-Americans living in the United States. They see the impact of temporary unemployment due to furlough for some government employees, and that other government employees are required to continue working though their pay will be delayed by weeks and perhaps months, and general concerns about livelihoods, rent payments, and other expenses. Some Cambodian-American groups do not support for the government's shutdown, prolonged by a standoff between US President Donald Trump, a Republican, and Democrats over the lack of funding for a wall along the US-Mexico border. Janet Seng, a resident of Pennsylvania, said the United States should not build a wall, and she supports the Democratic Party's stance. "First, they want to spend the national budget that does not have to be spent, Janet Seng told VOA Khmer by phone. Second, we just like to imprison ourselves. So I do not support it," adding that Trump could use different methods to strengthen border security, such as increasing border patrols and placing more security cameras at the border. She added that Trump effectively is holding citizens hostage, leading Cambodian-Americans to face hardships. "If it lasts longer, the impact on the lives of people in the United States will be even greater, she said, because of what he as an individual, and as the president wants to do, what he wants to push forward. So he holds us as hostages. So I'm not satisfied. Kuch Schanley, a Cambodian-American in Maryland, said he did not support the government closure and construction of the wall at a cost of more than $5 billion. "The demand for the money to build the fence, and the Democrats do not agree, and President Donald Trump closes the government; that's a sign of the president's childishness, not taking into account the American lives who work for the federal government, Kuch Schanley said by phone. I do not support it. Also, building a wall along the American-Mexican border, I do not support, because there are so many ways to be more effective than building this wall if we do not want people to run to the United States illegally along the border. "The shutdown now is [aimed] to defeat the Democrats who do not want to use government money to build a wall or fence, so I think this shutdown makes no sense and its a serious danger for those who work in federal government agencies," he said. Yap Kim Tung, a Cambodian-American in Virginia, said Americans and Cambodian-Americans could feel the consequences because they could not get services from the federal government. "But when there is no paycheck, sometimes some people do not have the money to pay the bills and pay the other expenses they need, Yap Kim Tung said. So it might be a problem to make money back. He said he did not want to see the government shut down. But despite the problems, he said that if one looks at the core of the system of checks and balances in the state, it demonstrates the democratic process. "As we know, the president cannot have authoritarian powers... And when the president cannot achieve that, he can divide power with the parliament and the Senate, which is a good thing. Yap Kim Tung said the two parties need to work together and negotiate in the days and weeks ahead to reach a solution. More than 800,000 federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay. This is one of the longest U.S. federal government shutdowns partial or full -- in the past 40 years. The president has said he is willing to continue the shutdown "for years" until Congress provides funding for the wall that he promised Mexico would pay for during his presidential campaign. In the U.S. system of government, Congress votes on and decides and provides financial appropriations for federal government spending. The shutdown has affected government services around the country and if it continues, experts warn there could be dire consequences. For example, money for the food stamp program, which helps millions of low-income Americans buy food, will expire in March. Trump and congressional leaders met on Wednesday, but there were no signs they were ready to compromise over the presidents demand for border wall funding. Trump recently told reporters: "We have to do what's right at our border." He has said he may declare a national emergency to build the wall without congressional approval, adding, "My threshold will be if I can't make a deal with unreasonable people." Democrats have offered Trump $1.3 billion in new funding for border security, although none for a wall. But Trump has demanded more than $5 billion for a barrier, which he now says could be steel slats rather than solid concrete. During his successful run for the White House in 2016, Trump's most fervent supporters cheered his call for a wall that he said Mexico would pay for. In a rebuttal of Trumps comments, leading Democrats House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York derided Trumps campaign assertion that Mexico would pay for the wall, instead of U.S. taxpayers. "The president of the United States having failed to get Mexico to pay for his ineffective, unnecessary border wall, and unable to convince the Congress or the American people to foot the bill has shut down the government," Schumer said. "American democracy doesn't work that way. We don't govern by temper tantrum." The Cambodian and Vietnamese governments held colorful ceremonies this week to mark the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime 40 years ago. But the event continues to divide opinion among Cambodians. The Cambodian ceremony was organized by the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen at Olympic Stadium on Monday. Speeches made and parades were held to entertain the thousands of CPP supporters who attended the event. The January 7 victory saved millions of Cambodians who were already at the brink of death, Hun Sen told the crowd. It restored the spiritual and physical value of the Cambodian people, who have built their history over thousands of years, but were almost wiped out completely during Pol Pots genocidal regime. Hun Sen praised his so-called Win-Win policy that is credited with ending the civil war in 1998 by allowing the remaining Khmer Rouge fighters to integrate into the formal state forces. He also criticized the former opposition, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which the CPP-dominated Supreme Court banned last year ahead of a crucial national election in July. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia in late December 1978 and overthrew the Chinese-backed Khmer Rouge regime on 7 January 1979. Vietnam installed a pro-Hanoi government, which would become the CPP. The Khmer Rouge regime is blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million Cambodians. Several of the Khmer Rouges surviving leaders were tried by UN-backed tribunal and are now serving sentences. But for some Cambodians, who have fled the country, the day marked an invasion by its neighbor and the beginning of a decade of occupation before peace was declared. More than 100 Cambodians held a demonstration in Long Beach, California, on Sunday to protest the anniversary celebrations. "What we all fear the most is that the continued gratitude towards January 7 Day would mean the ultimate control by the Vietnamese in Cambodia, just like what happened in Kampuchea Krom," said Veasna Chan, a protest organizer, referring to the southern part of Vietnam, which is home to a sizeable population of ethnic Khmers. In Australia, over 100 protesters rallied in front of a restaurant in Melbourne, where CPP supporters celebrated the day. Despite the protests overseas, there were no protests against the celebration in Cambodia as there have been in the past. The expression of any view contrary to the ruling partys doctrine is now seen as too risky. "Once he gained power, Hun Sen was corrupt, Um Sam An, a former opposition lawmaker, told VOA Khmer. His family lives on a pile of wealth, but most Cambodians have migrated to work abroad and live in poverty because wherever there is development in Cambodia, there are people suffering, often due to land grabbing by private companies and authorities in Cambodia." The celebration for the CPP began in late December with the inauguration of the Win-Win Monument, dedicated to Hun Sens role in ending the civil war. In the last 40 years, Cambodians have nothing to be proud of, said Eng Chhai Eang, vice president of the banned CNRP. There is so-called peace, but peace in Cambodia has been put inside a grave now because people dont have freedom. People dont have justice. They are victims. Nowadays, development has victimized more people because its unjust development. Click here to log in and see all of our other subscription options for the Mesabi Tribune, including online only & auto-renewal subscriptions. Aulac Fortune oil tanker caught fire in Hong Kong's southern waters on January 8. The sides included local competent authorities, representatives of the tank owner and sailors, and insurance agencies. The Hong Kong side said the tank is still at risk of catching fire again. The local search and rescue team is looking for two missing sailors and finding ways to get inside the vessel, it added. The Vietnamese Consulate General said it has supplied necessities for injured sailors, while the ship owner suggested the arrangement of accommodation for the group. The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry has directed the consulate general to continue working closely with the sides to address the case and carry out necessary citizen protection measures. The fire occurred when the 17,500-tonne tanker was preparing to be refueled by an oil barge. At that time, there were 27 crew members on board, including 25 Vietnamese and two Hongkongers. Before the accident on January 8, the Aulac Fortune docked in Dongguan port in Guangdong, China. The Hong Kong Marine Police is in charge of finding the cause of the incident. Several fireboats, one helicopter and one police boat are circling the scene. Police mentioned the possibility that the two missing are still stranded aboard. Currently, accommodation is arranged for the Aulac Fortunes 21 crew members at Panda Hotel in Tsuen Wan district while Vu Tien Anh, who suffered burns, is still hospitalised. Technological innovations have boosted both e-commerce and trade, Photo: Le Toan Having a break at noon, Le Thi Phuong, a 35-year-old officer, had a little time to shop for clothes for her children. Without crossing crowded streets to get to the shops, she swipes away by a single finger on her mobile phone to online shopping sites. I prefer to shop online now. It can help save time while buying products that fit my requirements. With on-demand delivery service, customers receive notifications of when the shipment will arrive and can even communicate when and where they want it to be delivered, Phuong said. Not only me, my friends also prefer to shop online. In the digital age, online shopping is far cheaper and more convenient. Technology a new focus By investing heavily in technology, logistics businesses have been contributing to the development of e-commerce and trade, and serving individual customers like Phuong. Unlike in the past, when physical investment was the main focus of investments, logistics businesses now also pay due attention to innovation. Lazada E-logistics Vietnam (LEL), one of the biggest players in the local logistics market, wrapped up 2018 after heavy investment in infrastructure and technology, showing a clear new focus in its development strategy. We have invested into auto-sorting systems in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, opened a great number of new last mile hubs in key cities and economic zones, and set up more fulfilment centres, including the one in Danang, Vu Duc Thinh, country manager of LEL, told VIR. LEL operates dozens of e-bicycles for delivery and are planning to expand the use of this kind of vehicle. It is also studying investment in electrically-run three- and four-wheeler vehicles for distribution centres. Our fleets include thousands of motorbikes and we would like to replace them by electric tricycles. Tricycles are used in developed countries and focus on green technology and safety. We are currently seeking the governments approval to pilot these vehicles, Thinh elaborated. Like LEL, DHL and other logistics giants, as well as domestic players are jumping on the innovation train. DHL, a global leader in the logistics industry, is trying to go green and electric by looking into machine learning, Big Data, and automation. We have highly-automated processes and use a lot of IT and technologies in our systems. We produce electric vehicles and we are looking at setting up an Asia-Pacific manufacturing plant, said Raymond Yee, vice president of Customs & Regulatory Affairs Asia-Pacific of DHL Express (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. We now also have innovation centres: one in Europe and one in Singapore to serve the region. We are constantly trying to enhance our system in order to be in the forefront of these changes. Spearheading the application of technology among Vietnamese players, Bee Logistics and state-owned ship giant Vinalines are also trying to digitalise their operations. We are applying technologies to increase labour productivity and force down operation costs, while utilising equipment featuring new technologies to save energy and protect the environment, said Dinh Huu Thanh, CEO of Bee Logistics, which is one of the biggest Vietnamese providers of international logistics services. With technology innovations, our representative offices abroad all reported double-digit growth last year, contributing to increasing our consolidated revenues from $65 million in 2017 to around $80 million in 2018," Thanh said. Industry insiders said that the newfound focus on technology innovations is aimed to increase operational efficiency in anticipation of growing trade from the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The EVFTA and CPTPP are a very good opportunity for Vietnam to lift up both exports and imports, particularly in traditional trade and logistics. The domestic market itself is already a very big opportunity for e-commerce and logistics to grow. We invest into our core business, but of course if an opportunity arises, we will try to seize it, Thinh of LEL said. In a similar move, Bee Logistics has been preparing for the new period by forging new partnerships, drawing up plans to open more representative offices in the EU and some member countries of the CPTPP, and investing more in people and technology. We are planning to focus on the member markets of the CPTPP and the EVFTA to tap into the growing demand among domestic and foreign-invested enterprises, said Thanh. DHL and UPS Vietnam also forecast that the various FTAs bode well for the countrys economy. With an increase in trade, the logistics industry will benefit from an increased need to move goods into and out of Vietnam, including customs brokerage services. They have also been making preparations for these rising needs. Our focus will be on maximising the increased bandwidth with signatory countries that are already close trading partners of Vietnam, such as Japan, while helping businesses to identify prospects in less explored markets such as New Zealand or Chile, said Daryl Tay, managing director of UPS Vietnam. New plans new opportunities At present, Vietnam has many incentive policies to elicit foreign investment in the logistics industry, which grows at 16-20 per cent per annum on average. These policies include financial and land incentives, among others. Recent government decisions and plans to develop logistics would bring in business and investment opportunities for investors. They include Decision No.1012/QD-TTg on the development of logistics centres nationwide by 2020 with a vision to 2030, Decision No.200/QD-TTg on action plans to increase the competitiveness of logistics and the development of logistics services in Vietnam by 2025, and Decision No.2072/QD-TTg on the adjustment of the development planning on national inland container depots (ICDs) by 2020 with a vision to 2030. Specifically, based on Decision 2072, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) is working on the detailed development planning for ICDs nationwide, with a focus on forecasting goods transportation demand and the location, scale, and capacity of ICDs in each region and economic corridor, as well as solutions to connect ICDs with the national transport network. What is more, in March 2018, the MoT signed Decision No.465/QD-BGTVT, announcing plans on logistics development in the Mekong Delta region. Also, the country will develop roads linking seaports, economic corridors, and belts, while developing railway routes connecting the national seaport network, in particular to seaports in the northerrn city of Haiphong and the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Enhancing international co-operation is also important to strengthen the connectivity of logistics infrastructure in Vietnam with Southeast Asia, North-Eastern Asia, and other regions across the world particularly corridors to connect Vietnamese seaports with Laos, Cambodia, China, and Thailand, said Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Cong. M&A remains hot Vietnam is home to around 1,600 logistics service providers. There are around 30 trans-national logistics companies, such as Damco, DHL, and DB Schenker. Although they make up only 4-5 per cent of the number, foreign players hold 75 per cent of the market. Seeing the huge growth potential, international logistics players are seeking to expand to and in Vietnam, with mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and the establishment of joint ventures (JVs) as attractive channels. Foreign logistics businesses choose JVs and M&A because it helps lower costs as local partners have already developed extensive business networks and have experience in the market while giving foreign owners an opportunity to own 100 per cent of the venture at a future date. Logistics investors from Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore are the most interested in such deals, said Nguyen Tuong, former deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association. The rapid growth of the export-oriented manufacturing sector has also boosted the demand for logistics services, thus making Vietnam an appealing spot for international logistics businesses. In late December 2018, Airport Service Group and ALS Thai Nguyen joined hands with South Korean partner ULP to establish ASGU Vietnam JV, with the former holding a 49 per cent of the charter capital. ULP is one of the biggest logistics companies in South Korea, with a wide network of customers, including Samsung, Hyundai, LG, Sony, Canon, Foxconn, Lotte, and others. Tuong forecast that Vietnam will witness more logistics M&A deals and JVs in the coming months. In this way, M&A is an opportunity for businesses to further apply high technology to benefit themselves, the whole economy, and dozens of millions of customers like officier Phuong from Hanoi, Tuong said. British Prime Minister Theresa May (R) and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) hold a joint press conference at 10 Downing Street in central London on Jan 10, 2019 following talks. (Photo: AFP/Stefan Rousseau) Flanked by British Prime Minister Theresa May during a visit to London, Abe said Japanese businesses "very much welcomed" her draft divorce deal, which a majority of British lawmakers look set to reject in parliament next Tuesday amid fierce opposition. "We truly hope that a no-deal Brexit will be avoided and in fact that is the ... wish of the whole world," the Japanese leader told a Downing Street press conference. "This draft agreement for transition and legal stability for Japanese businesses is very much welcomed," he added. The endorsement came as pressure grew on May to rule out a no-deal Brexit if her agreement is rejected by MPs next week. Business minister Greg Clark broke ranks earlier Thursday to warn that leaving the European Union on Mar 29 with no agreement in place would be a calamity. It would be "a disastrous situation in which we move to the most rudimentary terms of trade with our closest partners," he told BBC radio. However, May reiterated the only way for Britain to avoid leaving without an agreement was to back her plan. "There is a good deal on the table," she said. "I want to see this deal getting through parliament." TRIPLE BLOW Brexit-supporting Conservative MPs are opposed to the deal, arguing it leaves the country too closely tied to Europe, and May has already pulled the vote once with defeat looming. Most MPs supported staying in the EU in the 2016 referendum, and many have vowed to do everything within their power to prevent a no-deal scenario. But unless Britain actively decides to delay or revoke the legal process, it will leave the bloc at the end of March regardless. In such a scenario, it would be forced to trade with the EU on World Trade Organization terms, which could mean much higher tariffs for some products such as cars. Japanese firms have invested billions of pounds in Britain, and are especially crucial in the car industry, using the country as a business-friendly home from which to trade across the continent. "Even post-Brexit Japan intends to maintain this very good relationship," Abe said when asked if Britain was jeopardising this. "We truly hope that more investment will be done by Japanese businesses in the United Kingdom." However the British car sector suffered a triple blow on Thursday when three of its biggest manufacturers, including Japanese firm Honda and US maker Ford, announced job and production cuts. Indian-owned carmaker Jaguar Land Rover announced the largest redundancies, with plans to reduce its 44,000 workforce by 4,500 under plans to make 2.5 billion of cost savings. May and Abe pledged new cooperation on robotics and artificial intelligence, while Japan also announced an end to a 13-year ban on British beef and lamb. GENERAL ELECTION THREAT May faces daunting odds in getting her deal passed, and was dealt a stinging defeat on Wednesday when MPs voted for an amendment demanding she produce new plans within three days if the agreement is voted down. Aiming to capitalise on her weakness, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Thursday made a Brexit speech in Wakefield, northern England, in which he called for a general election to resolve the deadlock. "If the government cannot pass its most important legislation, then there must be a general election at the earliest opportunity," he said. Corbyn has said he will seek a vote of no confidence in the government if it loses next week's Brexit vote, which could force fresh elections. Many in his party hope that he will call for a second referendum, but the veteran leftist, a long-time critic of the European Union, has so far resisted. Further planning and a completed regulatory framework are required to encourage private investment in railways Despite several months passing, state-owned railway giant Vietnam Railways (VNR), the operator of all train lines in the country, is still waiting for the Ministry of Transports (MoT) approval regarding the investment plans on two new projects: upgrading the Vinh-Nha Trang route and the Nha Trang-Saigon route. Receiving such late approval may delay the ground-breaking until the end of 2019 at the earliest, instead of the June 2019 date as previously planned. Thus far, the MoT is said to have approved the investment plan of only the Hanoi-Vinh section, which is to be one of two carried out by the Project Management Unit (PMU-Rail). This section is to be one of the four projects funded by the VND7 trillion ($304.35 million) G-bond bundle. At present, PMU-Rail is planning ahead for the Hanoi-Vinh project. The building, appraisal and approval of the feasibility study, construction designs, and then selection of the contractor are to follow. New opportunities taking time A senior MoT official blamed the delay on the approval to appraise related works in the projects. He, however, declined to give further details. Regardless of the reasons, potential businesses will have to wait an additional six months. These four projects are expected to bring about fresh business opportunities for domestic and international groups who are seeking to venture further into the industry. However, they might have to hold their plans until the end of 2019 or early 2020 to know more about the possibilities. For the new projects, international railway businesses can join by joining tenders to supply materials and equipment for us, VNR chairman Vu Anh Minh told VIR. More fresh opportunities are expected to become evident in the coming months, as the country puts the finishing touches on preparations to kick off some sections of the North-South high-speed railway project under the public-private partnership (PPP). VNR will also continue to upgrade stations and logistics facilities, while studying the possibilities of developing stations that enjoy commercial advantages. According to the Vietnamese railway development strategy, the industry is estimated to require VND110 trillion ($4.78 billion) by 2030 to revamp the existing network, of which VND48 trillion ($2.08 billion) will be needed by 2020. It is therefore willing to work with international partners to carry out and to supply equipment and spare parts for future projects. In spite of the huge business potential, private investors will have to wait for the completion of some regulatory frameworks which are currently in the pipeline. The governments Decree No.46/2018/ND-CP governing the management and use of railway infrastructure assets are considered groundbreaking rules for the railway sector and VNR, which has for years been the only manager and operator of state-owned national railway assets. Accordingly, under Decree 46, national railway infrastructure assets are divided into two categories. The assets directly used for train operation (railways, bridges, tunnels, and rails) and the assets indirectly used for train operation (the station square, warehouses, inland container depots (ICDs), and service and training facilities at railway stations. The assets indirectly used for train operation will be handed over to VNR to own, use, and develop the equivalent state capital. The move will enable the giant to take the initiative with its investment plans and call for private investment. For example, as VNR owns a land lot, it could reach agreements with credit organisations to develop infrastructure more easily. For the assets indirectly used for train operation, the railway operator plans to cooperate with other investors to invest in developing ICDs and warehouses along the railway network from Song Than station in the southern province of Binh Duong to Dong Anh station in Hanoi and then to Lao Cai and Dong Dang to increase transportation capacity, Minh said. However, to realise this, a master plan on how to use and develop the railway assets in line with Decree 46 should be completed by April 2019 on schedule. Only when it is released, will a sufficient legal mechanism be available for VNR and its private partners to make the next steps. Foreign investors and private businesses are also looking towards 2020 when VNR will dump its monopoly in cargo transport by merging with Hanoi Railway Transport JSC and Saigon Railway Transport JSC into one joint stock company (JSC). This JSC would then be separated into two, with one part specialising in passengers, in which VNR would hold a controlling stake, and another part focusing on cargo transport with VNR possibly divesting the entire stake. New approach The Vietnamese railway industry, which performed better in 2018, with revenues estimated to have risen by 8-10 per cent on-year, has been attracting growing interest among international businesses. Many are seeking business opportunities in anticipation of huge future demands to upgrade and develop the system. As a universal rule, attracting foreign investment into the railway industry is a challenge, with the same proving true for Vietnam with no foreign investment being made so far. For years, with projects that upgraded railway lines and tunnels, VNR seemed to have no plans to contract foreign investors, preferring instead to work with local contractors. Therefore, there has been no investment opportunities for foreign businesses to get involved in. Industry insiders said that despite recently initiated unique preferential mechanisms for the railway industry, including an exemption from import duties, corporate income tax, loans, and land use rent, they have not been enough to attract foreign investors. There is still a lack of incentives and risk-sharing mechanisms between the government and investors. International businesses are heading to co-operate with VNR to provide equipment and spare partners to serve its revamp. Recent moves from the French National Railway Company, a world leader in high-speed rail, Tractebel Engineering, and other French firms show the business trend in the local railway industry. They are looking to supply equipment and spare parts for railway projects. Earlier the likes of Siemens, Lotte Group and others from Russia also noted their strong interest in the nations railway industry. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim is stepping down in February after six years at the helm of the global development lender (Photo: AFP/Nicolas ASFOURI) Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank, has announced that he will retire. This is far earlier than expected. Kim was first appointed in 2011 and was re-elected in 2016 for a five-year term, due to end in 2022. It was widely assumed that Kim would serve out his full term. Instead, he has abruptly declared that he will retire on Feb 1 and take up a job with a private investment infrastructure firm. Whats going on? The president of the World Bank is, in effect, the Pope of the official international development community. He is the ambassador-at-large of The Bank. As such, he (the president has always been a he) constantly travels the world, giving keynote speeches at major conferences, meeting heads of governments, and holding hundreds of meetings with ministers and officials to discuss development issues. The World Bank president aims both to shape and to reflect thinking about global development in official circles. In the past, World Bank presidents such as Robert McNamara and Jim Wolfensohn have left their mark on both the work of the Bank itself, and on global thinking about development. The current practice is that the World Bank president is, in effect, appointed by the President of the United States. Jim Kim was appointed by Barack Obama. It was widely assumed that he had Democratic sympathies. His resignation seems to be an unexpected gift to Donald Trump. DID JIM KIM LEFT OF HIS OWN ACCORD? Trump is suddenly in a position to appoint the next president of the World Bank. If he chooses, Trump now has the opportunity to push the Bank towards a more conservative global agenda. It is very surprising that Kim would create this opportunity for Trump. A range of questions immediately arise. Did Kim jump, or was he pushed? What happens now? How will a new World Bank president be selected? And what are the likely implications of a change in the Bank? Press reports of friends of Kim say that he has left of his own accord and that he was not pushed out by the Trump administration. But it is hard to know. The World Bank president always maintains close links with senior figures in the US Treasury. The US Treasury is, after all, only a few hundred metres down the road from the Bank headquarters. Its hard to imagine that Kim was not hearing messages from the Trump administration. THE NEXT WORLD BANK PRESIDENT What about a new president? There will immediately be a row in Washington about Kims replacement. On one hand, there will be a clamour for radical change. For decades, there have been voices in Washington and elsewhere in the world, who have argued that the traditional processes of selecting the heads of international agencies be changed. On the other hand, traditional processes are well-known and suit most of the major players. Trump may well have talked about draining the swamp but on this occasion he will probably find that the swamp suits him very well. The noisy voices from think-tanks in Washington and elsewhere want the leaders of international agencies such as the World Bank to be selected on merit. This idea is easy to agree with, but it runs into major problems. First, there is no agreement on what merit is, exactly. And second, the reality is that current arrangements for the selection of heads of international agencies reflect a global balance that few governments wish to change. There are complications, notably around the growing global influence of China, but the status quo suits most governments. The chances are, therefore, that Trump will be able to go ahead and appoint the next president of the World Bank without much opposition. CONSERVATIVE AGENDA What can we expect? Recent experience with Trumps appointments to international posts is hardly encouraging. He does not seem to think it important that the people he appoints have strong international experience. The first thing to expect is that the new president would aim to introduce a more conservative agenda across the Bank. It is hard to know exactly what this might mean but, presumably, the new president would want the World Bank to scale back programs to tackle climate change. On the positive side, a new president might give support to the World Banks traditional efforts to help expand infrastructure in developing countries. This would be a sensible change to introduce to the Banks work. But the major risk to the World Bank from a Trump-appointed presidency would be a loss of credibility. Across the world, the Bank is currently seen as a credible institution. If a new president, appointed by Donald Trump, were to try to introduce a strong conservative agenda into the work of the World Bank, the institution would soon lose credibility. Kims sudden resignation is thus a shock to the multilateral system. Next move: Donald Trump. Peter McCawley is a visiting fellow in the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics at the Australian National University. Peter has been an Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank, led various Australian Defence Force replenishment round negotiations, and is a former dean of the Asian Development Bank Institute (2003-2007). This commentary first appeared on Lowy Institute's blog The Interpreter. Read it here. In May 2018, the government issued Decree No. 81/2018/ND-CP (Decree 81) relaxing regulations on sales promotion activities. Decree 81 replaced Decree No. 37/2006/ND-CP, and will be in effect from 15 July 2018. Firms that carry out commercial promotion activities, such as direct promotions, or promotions through distributors and companies fall under the scope of Decree 81. Changes in regulations Discount Cap The maximum discount rate for promoted goods and services, during concentrated promotions, has been increased from 50 percent to 100 percent. Concentrated promotions are promotions during the holiday period or occasions as prescribed by the government during which sale promotions are organized by central and provincial authorities. Holidays include nine Vietnamese public holidays as well as the 30 days leading up to the Tet New Year holiday. Value restriction is not applicable for sales promotions on: Goods and services that are implementing the price stabilization policy of the State; Fresh and raw products; and Items and services sold in case of bankruptcy, dissolution, or change of production or business location. Duration of promotion The total period during which discounts can be offered has been increased from 90 days to 120 days, excluding the sales promotion activities during concentrated promotions. Administrative procedures Firms conducting sales promotion activities in Vietnam are required to register and notify the Department of Industry and Trade. Once they receive the approval, they are allowed to conduct the sale promotion activity. This is a major administrative hurdle, as firms are required to reach out to all the provinces and cities for conducting nationwide sales promotions. In Decree 81, the government has reduced the number of days a firm had to notify the authorities in advance about a sales promotion activity from seven to three working days. In addition, the deadline for the authorities to review and respond has been reduced from seven to five working days. Under Decree 81, the notification requirement is removed in case: The total value of the promotional goods/services is less than VND 100 million; and Businesses are conducting sales promotions through e-commerce platforms and online promotional websites. Ending promotions Under Decree 81, businesses can end promotions before the registered period in case: Force majeure; Goods and services are not available or completely sold; and A winner is announced and verified by authorities, in case of providing services along with lucky draw schemes. Promotion by contest forms and games of chance The time limit for announcing the prizes has been increased from 20 to 45 days from the end of the promotional duration. Online platforms Promotions being conducted through online platforms have to follow the same rules on promotions. Owners of the online platforms need to ensure that the information provided on their platforms is in accordance with the advertisements, promotions, and e-commerce regulations. Consumers and traders According to Decree 81, sale promotion activities need to be conducted in a lawful and transparent manner and should not harm the consumers, traders, or firms interests and rights. Traders involved in promotions which include prizes need to ensure favorable conditions for customers and settle any complaints with respect to their programs. Traders are also required to guarantee the quality of their promoted goods and services. In addition, traders are not allowed to compare their goods and services with other traders, nor ask consumers to exchange, reject, or give up goods or services of other traders to avail their promotion schemes. Restrictions Businesses that have not registered for multi-level marketing activities are not allowed to conduct multi-level sales promotion activities. They can conduct programs in accordance with the legal regulations on the management of multi-level marketing activities. Sale promotions cannot be conducted for products such as alcohol, lotteries, cigarettes, milk products replacing breast milk, and medications. However, in the case of medications, sales promotions granted to pharmaceutical distributors are exempted. Traders can also use money in promotions, in place of goods or services, under certain conditions. The increase in discount cap and the promotion period will allow businesses to increase their sales promotion offers, allowing them to sell their excess inventory and recover their costs. In addition, consumers will also benefit from the increase in competition between traders, and see an increase in product choices. In 2018, the Vietnamese government passed several new and amended laws which are going to come into effect in 2019. The laws primarily focus on wages, environmental projects, food industry, rural development, cybersecurity, and administrative procedures. Labor Minimum Wage According to Decree No. 157/2018/ND-CP, the regional minimum wage in Vietnam as of January 1, 2019, will be increased by VND160,000 to VND200,000. Region 1 VND4.18 million (US$180); Region 2 VND3.71 million (US$160); Region 3 VND3.25 million (US$140); and Region 4 VND2.92 million (US$125). Workplace democracy In effect since January 1, 2019, Decree No.149/2018/ND-CP, prescribes the contents and forms of application of workplace democracy at companies, cooperatives, households, and individuals hiring and having employees under labor contracts. Laws related to industries Law on cybersecurity The law on cybersecurity, which is in effect since January 1, 2019, focuses on regulating cyberspace activities and maintaining social order and security. It also covers the responsibilities of government agencies, individuals, and internet companies and requires companies to store data locally, open representative offices in Vietnam, and hand over any user information as requested by the government. Tertiary education The revised Law on Tertiary Education which will come into effect on July 1, 2019, focuses on increasing university autonomy, expanding the education system, and developing a system for different universities to share resources. In addition, it also focuses on the development of private universities along with public universities and introduces news changes in university administration and council in areas such as hiring, development strategy, and investments. Dredging operations Decree No. 159/2018/ND-CP, which will come into effect from January 11, 2019, focuses on the management of dredging activities in seaport water and inland water areas. It stipulates that dredging projects need to be evaluated for environmental impact in accordance with the environmental protection law. In the case of maintenance dredging projects with regular annual work volume, the environmental impact assessment is carried out annually or cyclical basis up to five years. Civil aviation violations Decree No. 162/2018/ND-CP will come into effect on January 15, 2019, recommends penalties for administrative violations in the civil aviation sector. Violations of regulations in areas such as aircraft operations and maintenance, airport management, environmental protection, aviation personnel, flight activities, and passenger behavior will attract fines and sanctions from the government. Food safety According to Decision No. 47/2018/QD-TTg, pilot food safety investigations will be carried out at nine provinces and cities including Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong City, Da Nang City, Can Tho City, Thanh Hoa Province, Ha Tinh Province, Dong Nai Province and Gia Lai Province from 2019. In addition, Circular No. 117/2018/TT-BTC which will come into effect on January 15, 2019, reduces some fees for food safety and hygiene inspections for testing establishments, conformity certification organizations, and state inspection agencies on imported foods. For the first assessment, the fees have been reduced from VND32 million to VND28.5 million per application and establishment. Re-evaluation fees have been reduced from VND22.5 million to VND20.5 million. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries Agriculture and rural development Issued by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Circular No. 04/2018/TT-BKHDT comes into effect from January 21, 2019. It guides the implementation of Decree No. 57/2018/ND-CP, which covers policies for encouraging enterprises to invest in the agriculture and rural sector. Forestry Law The Forestry Law includes forestry activities, prohibited acts, government policies, forest classifications, planning, forest management, protection, and use of forests. It is already in effect since January 1, 2019. Fisheries Law Already in effect since January 1, 2019, the Fisheries Law covers fishing activities, rights and obligations of enterprises and individuals engaged in fishing activities, and state management of the sector. Business activities Single window In effect from January 6, 2019, Circular No. 01/2018/TT-VPCP guides the implementation of several provisions in Decree No. 61/2018/ND-CP, which focuses on the implementation of a single window mechanism for handling administrative procedures. Competition Law In June 2018, the government passed a new Competition Law, replacing the 2004 version of the law. The new law which focuses on competition restraining agreements, market dominance, economic concentration, and unfair practices, will be in effect from 1 July 2019. The new law has expanded its scope and now includes both Vietnamese and foreign companies and individuals in case their actions have or potentially have a competition restriction impact on the domestic market. Competition restriction impact is the impact which will exclude, reduce, or hinder competition in the market. The Vietnamese government will also have authority over offshore activities if there is an impact on the domestic market. The law will apply to foreign entities part of competition-restricting agreements, economic concentration, or other unfair activities even if they do not have a subsidiary in Vietnam. Anti-Corruption The government revised the anti-corruption law in November 2018, to deal with corruption in the private sector. In addition to the private sector, the revised law also includes the duties of the agencies and organizations involved in controlling corruption. The law will be in effect from July 1, 2019. Environmental Environmental protection tax The government has introduced a resolution, raising the environmental protection tax for petroleum products, coal and plastic bags from January 1, 2019. New taxes for various products are: Anthracite coal Increased from VND20,000 to VND30,000 per ton; Other types of coal Increased from VND10,000 to VND15,000 per ton; HCFC, ozone-depleting substances, greenhouse gases Increased from VND4,000 to VND5,000 per kilogram; Plastic bags Increased from VND40,000 to VND50,000 per kilogram; Gasoline Increased from VND 3,000 to VND4,000 per liter; Kerosene Increased from VND300 to VND1,000 per liter; and Lubricants and Heavy fuel oil Increased from VND900 to VND2,000 per liter. Other laws which are in effect since January 1, 2019, include the Law on Denunciation, Law on Measurement and Map, Law on Physical Training and Sports, Law on Amending and Supplementing to 11 laws related to planning, Law on Defence, Law on Planning, and regulations related to natural disaster prevention and control. Last year, Vietnam and the EU signed the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT). The agreement focuses on improving forest governance, reducing illegal logging, and promoting trade in verified legal timber from Vietnam to the EU. Once ratified by both parties, the VPA will further boost timber exports to the EU. VPA The VPA is a legally binding agreement between the EU and a country exporting timber products to the EU. The agreement ensures that all timber and timber products exported to the EU are in compliance with the exporting countrys laws. In addition, the agreement also focuses on the issues of illegal logging and forest governance. Vietnam is one of the 15 tropical nations that are currently negotiating or implementing such agreements with the EU. FLEGT Once the VPA commitments are implemented by a country, they can issue verified legal timber products with FLEGT licenses. A VPA partner country can issue FLEGT licenses only through a timber legality assurance system, set up by the partner country and the EU. Established in 2003, the EUs FLEGT Action Plan aims to reduce illegal timber trade, improve supply chain, and strengthen forest management. Products with FLEGT licenses automatically meet the conditions of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which prohibits the placing of illegally harvested timber on the EU market. According to the EUTR, which came into effect in 2013, operators need to conduct due diligence to ensure that the products are legal. Vietnam EU VPA Vietnam and the EU began negotiations in November 2010 and signed the agreement in October 2018. Once ratified, VPA commitments will be legally binding. Vietnam needs to build a timber legality assurance system (VNTLAS), which will verify that the timber products are legal and in accordance with the VPA commitments. Once the system is ready, Vietnam will be able to issue FLEGT licenses for timber products exported to the EU. Need to do more Certain VPA commitments are already part of the recently adopted Forestry Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2019. Vietnam has made tremendous progress in the implementation of the VPA and strengthening import regulations and forest management. However, more needs to be done. The crucial commitment Vietnam must focus on is the legality of timber imports into the country. There have been several cases of illegal imports from Laos and Cambodia. Vietnam needs to strengthen control of imports, ensuring that imported timber is legally harvested and traded in accordance with the exporting countrys relevant laws. Going forward According to some estimates, the VPA/FLEGT agreement will increase the price of the timber products by 20 to 25 percent, leading to a growth in trade value. A joint committee will continue to oversee how the VPA commitments are implemented, and once all of them are fulfilled, Vietnam will be able to issue FLEGT licenses. Until then, Vietnam timber exports will be subjected to the EUTR. Demonstrators hold a vigil outside the Constitutional Court of Guatemala against the decision of President Morales to end the mandate of the U.N.-backed anti-graft commission A Guatemalan Court has blocked an attempt by the Country`s President Jimmy Morales to expel a United Nations anti corruption team, after it turned its spotlight on his campaign finances. By James Blears Initially, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales welcomed the investigations of the United Nations` Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala. But then it together with the State Prosecutor`s Office applied to remove his Presidential immunity from prosecution concerning alleged campaign irregularities of his FCN-Nation Party. President Morales says the Commission has violated the Country`s sovereignty as well as the rights of suspects. Last week Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel announced that The Commision had twenty four hours to pack its bags and leave. But then Guatemala`s Constitutional Court overruled this. The latest development is a petition from a group of lawyers to remove the immunity of the Constitutional Court Judges. The Commission has already left the Country, because the Government refuses to guarantee its security. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in Greece for a two day visit. Its her first since 2014 and comes four months after Greece emerged from the final bailout package. By John Carr German Chancellor Angela Merkel flew into Athens Thursday for a short visit that appears designed to pressure the Greek political establishment into approving a tension-reducing deal with neighbouring Macedonia. There has been no official announcement about why Mrs Merkel is visiting, but the unanimous view here in Athens is that shes concerned about the fate of last summers agreement between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Macedonian Premier Zoran Zaev, and wants to see it ratified by the Greek Parliament as a step towards easing chronic Balkan tensions. If the agreement is ratified in both Athens and Skopje, then the way is clear for Macedonia to join the EU and Nato, a key aim of Mrs Merkels policy. But the road to ratification here in Athens is a rocky one. Tsiprass junior coalition partner, the right-wing Independent Greeks, has vowed to walk out of the government if the deal is ratified. That would most likely trigger an early election. The opposition conservative New Democracy party also opposes the deal, with about 70 percent of Greek public opinion concurring. El Buki Mayor y sus companeros de siempre se convierten en los primeros artistas latinos en debutar en uno de los estadios mas modernos y nuevos del pais. BUENOS AIRES/MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th January, 2019) Chile does not recognize the new presidential term of Venezuela's incumbent leader Nicolas Maduro, who took the oath of office on Thursday, Chile's Foreign Ministry said. On Thursday, Maduro was sworn in for his second presidential term that will last through 2025. "We do not recognize this government which came to power today because it is the continuation of the rule of Nicolas Maduro, whom we all know," Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero said in a statement. On Thursday, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo condemned Maduro's "illegitimate usurpation of power" and "unfair elections" held on May 20, 2018, which saw Maduro securing the new term in office. At a meeting in Lima last week, the Lima Group of Latin American countries plus Canada urged Maduro to refrain from taking the presidential oath. Similarly, the Organization of American States (OAS) said in a statement that it did not recognize the legitimacy of Maduro's new term and reiterated its "deep concern" about the deteriorating political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The group argued that this situation in Venezuela resulted from "the breakdown of democratic order and serious human rights violations in that state, and the government of Venezuela's negligence to meet the fundamental Inter-American standards of human rights and democracy." (@ChaudhryMAli88) The Russian mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will continue bringing the organization's attention to the issue of Ukraine holding RIA Novosti Ukraine portal chief Kirill Vyshinsky in custody, the head of the mission, Alexander Lukashevich, told Sputnik on Friday VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th January, 2019) The Russian mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will continue bringing the organization's attention to the issue of Ukraine holding RIA Novosti Ukraine portal chief Kirill Vyshinsky in custody, the head of the mission, Alexander Lukashevich, told Sputnik on Friday. On December 27, the Kherson city court extended Vyshinsky's arrest by another month. "Regarding Vyshinsky, there are no fundamental changes, neither in the reaction of the Ukrainian side, nor from OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media [Harlem] Desir. However, we raise this issue, which is a blatant violation of our citizen's journalistic rights, every time at every opportunity. We will continue doing this," the envoy said. Vyshinsky was detained in Kiev on May 15 on suspicion of treason and support for the breakaway eastern Ukrainian regions. He faces up to 15 years in prison. His detention has prompted widespread condemnation by journalists' rights groups, who called it undemocratic. OSCE's Harlem Desir called for the journalist's release. He said that all OSCE member states had pledged to create conditions for journalists to work freely. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Vyshinsky's arrest was politically motivated and unacceptably targeted journalists for doing their job. The Russian Foreign Ministry has demanded that Ukrainian authorities stop its crackdown on press freedom. The Russian mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will continue bringing the organization's attention to the issue of Ukraine holding RIA Novosti Ukraine portal chief Kirill Vyshinsky in custody, the head of the mission, Alexander Lukashevich, told Sputnik on Friday VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th January, 2019) The Russian mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will continue bringing the organization's attention to the issue of Ukraine holding RIA Novosti Ukraine portal chief Kirill Vyshinsky in custody, the head of the mission, Alexander Lukashevich, told Sputnik on Friday. On December 27, the Kherson city court extended Vyshinsky's arrest for another month. "Regarding Vyshinsky, there are no fundamental changes, neither in the reaction of the Ukrainian side, nor from OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media [Harlem] Desir. However, we raise this issue, which is a blatant violation of our citizen's journalistic rights, every time at every opportunity. We will continue doing this," the envoy said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th January, 2019) Russia expects that Slovakia as a chair in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will contribute to the settlement of the situation in Eastern Ukraine, Russian Permanent Representative to OSCE Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday. "We expect that the OSCE will continue to contribute to the settlement of the internal Ukrainian crisis. This is especially important amid the aggravation of the political situation in Ukraine ahead of the presidential election. We call on the chairmanship to focus the work of the OSCE representatives in the contact group on promoting the full implementation of the Minsk 'package of measures' by the parties to the conflict - Kiev, Donetsk and Lugansk," Lukashevich said at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council. Lukashevich added that urgent attention was needed to achieve a sustainable ceasefire as well as to separate forces in the pilot areas, noting the importance to achieve Kiev's written confirmation of a compromise agreement of the two Normandy summits under the "formula of Frank-Walter Steinmeier". "We expect that the Slovak chairmanship will ensure the impartial and effective work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine," he stressed. The conflict in Donbas started in 2014, when Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation against the self-proclaimed republics that refused to recognize the new government in Kiev, which came to power after what they considered to be a coup. In 2015, a ceasefire deal was signed between conflicting sides in Minsk after talks brokered by the leaders of the so-called Normandy Format (Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine). Despite the ceasefire agreement, sporadic fighting has continued in Donbas. To date, the situation remains tense, with both parties accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Paraguayan authorities have decided to break off diplomatic relations with Venezuela following the sworn in of Venezuela's incumbent President Nicolas Maduro for second term in office, President Mario Abdo Benitez said Thursday MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th January, 2019) Paraguayan authorities have decided to break off diplomatic relations with Venezuela following the sworn in of Venezuela 's incumbent President Nicolas Maduro for second term in office, President Mario Abdo Benitez said Thursday. "The Government of the Republic of Paraguay, in fulfillment of its constitutional powers and national sovereignty, has decided to sever diplomatic relations with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, to close our embassy there and to immediately recall Paraguayan diplomatic personnel accredited in that country," the president announced in a televised address to the nation. (@rukhshanmir) Kyrgyzstan will declare 2019 the Year of Regional Development and Digitalization of the Country, the president's press service said on Wednesday BISHKEK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jan, 2019 ) : Kyrgyzstan will declare 2019 the Year of Regional Development and Digitalization of the Country, the president's press service said on Wednesday. President Sooronbai Jeenbekov will sign the related decree within the week, the press service said in a statement. "2019 has been declared the 'Year of Regional Development and Digitalization of the Country' with a view to further developing the regions and introducing new technologies into the daily life of society," the president was quoted as saying. Kyrgyzstan had previously declared the year 2018 the year of regional development in the country to promote regional development, job creation, and entrepreneurship in rural areas. The president said such efforts will be carried on and strengthened this year. Jeenbekov said it is going to be part of the state policy to promote the adoption of new technologies. "Digital technologies will permeate all walks of life. Digital infrastructure will significantly reduce the direct contact of citizens with officials, which is the main tool for the eradication of corruption," he said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2019 ) :A delegation of Overseas Pakistanis belonging to UK, Denmark, Norway and Spain visited the offices of Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) Punjab and held talks with Vice Chairperson Waseem Akhtar. Waseem Akhtar while taking to the members of visiting delegation said that Overseas Pakistanis were valuable asset of the country and making great contribution in the economy by their receipts. He said that in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the OPC was being transformed on modern lines to settle the issues of expatriates in minimum possible time. DG Usman Anwar apprised the delegation about the complaint redressal mechanism and told that official web complaint portal was being further upgraded. Members of delegation while lauding the efforts of OPC said that this institution had exhibited exceptional performance to provide relief to expatriates. A special question answer session was also held on this occasion. Members of the delegation included Coordinator Malik Usman, Asif Bashir, Babar Khan, Sabir Sikandar, Shuja Mumtaz, Najaf Ali, Malik Imran Khalil and Tayyab Chaudhry. Director General Usman Anwar, Director Administration Asad Naeem and other officers were also present on this occasion. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ABUDHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 11th Jan, 2019) Prospects of propelling trade cooperation between the UAE and Turkmenistan were the crux of a meeting Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Saleh, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade, had today with Rahimberdy Jepbarov, Minister of State and Chairman of the board of State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs. The Turkmen minister hailed the Emirati business presence in his country, saying that UAE companies are among the largest investors in the oil and gas industry in Turkmenistan. He expressed his country's willingness to expand Emirati investments in various developmental domains, highlighting Turkmenistan's desire to diversify its economic base and wean its economy off oil. "The non-oil trade between the two countries reached around $299 million by the end of 2017," said Al Saleh, commending the privileged relations between the two nations. However, he added, the current foreign trade exchanges don't reflect the true potential existing in the two countries and "more efforts are needed to accelerate cooperation, specially by the private sector to advance bilateral relations to higher levels." The meeting occasioned a review of current partnership opportunities up for grabs for the two sides in a number of sectors, including energy, financial services and food security, with the two officials underlining the importance of diversifying income streams in both countries. Georgia House Speaker David Ralston holds his annual pre-session press conference Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in Atlanta. He threw cold water on the idea - promoted by leaders in the House and Senate - that Georgia should raise cigarette taxes during the upcoming General Assembly session. Ralston also said it may not be feasible for Gov.-elect Brian Kemp to get his $5,000 teacher pay raise this year, but some hike is likely. (Bob AndresAtlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) A celebration of the life for John Robert "Bobby" Brown, 72, will be held at his residence on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at 10 a.m. Bobby was born in Dublin, but his home was Baldwin County. He was predeceased by his parents, John Preston "Pete" Brown and Virginia Watson Brown. He was retired The punishment (and attendant reeducation) of two Bedford police officers may have been a bit harsh for their offense but thats difficult to determine. In fact, Chief John Bryfonski has not shed much light on laffaire TikTok, in which two of his men using the video social platform apparent Beyond the Stigma, a series exploring solutions to the states addiction and mental health challenges, is sponsored by the New Hampshire Solutions Journalism Lab at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and funded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, NAMI New Hampshire, and private individuals. Contact reporter Shawne K. Wickham at swickham@unionleader.com. To read previous stories in this series, visit: unionleader.com/stigma. A Derry man who was allegedly driving the wrong way on Route 101 when a retired police sergeant and his wife were struck and killed has been released from the hospital. Democratic state Sen. Cindy Rosenwald of Nashua has filed a bill that significantly rewrites the work requirement both parties agreed to last year for people in the states expanded Medicaid program, prompting a leading Republican senator to warn of a donnybrook if Democrats try to incorporate the changes in the new state budget. A school board meeting turned into an anti-administration rally Monday night in Exeter, with calls for the superintendent to resign over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the controversial decision to write numbers on the hands of unvaccinated students to track them at Exeter For full access, please log in, register your subscription or subscribe. Try for 99 a month for two months, cancel or pause anytime. The name change will help resolve a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece opening the way for Skopje to join NATO and the European Union. Macedonia's parliament has approved a constitutional amendment that renames the country the Republic of North Macedonia. Eighty-one deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted in favor, securing the required two-thirds majority, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported. Representatives of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE boycotted the vote that took place on January 11. The name change will help resolve a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece opening the way for Skopje to join NATO and the European Union. Read alsoUkraine has every chance of joining NATO after Macedonia head of Ukraine's mission to NATO At the start of the parliamentary session, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told lawmakers the name change would "open the doors to the future, Macedonia's European future." Several hundred people have protested against the deal in front of parliament over the past three days. The vote came after three days of negotiations between Zaev and lawmakers that opposed the change. Zaev's governing coalition needed opposition backing to get the required number of votes and had said on January 10 that it was struggling to achieve that after a small ethnic Albanian party raised last-minute objections. Talks between government and opposition lawmakers continued for a second day on January 11 following repeated delays in the vote. The governments of Macedonia and Greece both struggled to secure the political support required to ratify the agreement reached last June. Opponents to the proposal say they are defending Macedonia's name, identity, and history, as well as the traditions of the Macedonian people, against what they call "the greatest national treachery." Athens argues that use of the term "Macedonia" implies territorial claims on Greece's northern province of the same name and on its ancient heritage. For the deal to come into effect, Greece's parliament must now convene in coming weeks to ratify it. Borovoi says a spontaneous social fallout could start from trivial things. Russian opposition's Konstantin Borovoi says there are several dozens of factors that could lead to an explosion of public anger in Russia and cause a chain reaction. "Now there are several processes ongoing in Russia that could spark a chain reaction, which in turn could lead to an explosion of public contempt: this is the truckers' strike, as well as the latest events in Dagestan and Ingushetia [territorial disputes between Federation subjects]. That is, almost any event in Russia could cause such reaction," the politician told the Fakty newspaper. According to the politician, the Kremlin is very concerned about this, while remaining unable to predict what exactly could trigger major social unrest. Borovoi says a spontaneous social fallout could start from trivial things. Read alsoRFE/RL: Putin endorses law establishing jail time for luring minors into protests "The Kremlin is now making all possible efforts to prevent this from happening, or at least to retain control over the process. However, not everything depends on them. Of course, they are pro-active, constantly increasing the number of security agencies. In this way, they're trying to protect themselves," he said. "But at the same time, by such actions, the Kremlin is creating additional provoking factors. For example, tomorrow some failed suppression of protests could entail serious repercussion which would only aggravate the situation. And this could happen at any time," the politician added. Russia is trying throughout all the Western countries to undermine the public's trust in liberal democracy, and there is no doubt they will try to do in Israel what they have done in other countries, a tech expert said. Israel's Shin Bet security service has assured the public it is well prepared to thwart any foreign intervention in the country's upcoming elections after its director warned such efforts were being made by a world power. The unusual Shin Bet statement followed a TV report that Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman recently told a closed audience a foreign country was trying to intervene in the April elections and that operatives were trying to meddle via hackers and cyber technology, according to ABC.net. "The Shin Bet would like to make clear that the state of Israel and the intelligence community have the tools and capabilities to identify, monitor and thwart foreign influence efforts, should there be any," it said. Mr Argaman did not elaborate, for whose benefit the alleged meddling was being done. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has grown closer to Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years. However, Mr Netanyahu is far ahead in the polls at the moment, and does not appear to need any outside help. Initial reports about Mr Argaman's comments were placed under a military gag order that was later lifted, though the naming of the country in question is still prohibited. Even so, fingers were quickly pointed toward Russia, which is accused of trying to influence the 2016 American election in favor of Donald Trump, the Brexit campaign in the United Kingdom and other recent European elections. Read alsoAnother meddling victim: Russia accused of interfering in Moldova elections "We demand that the security forces make sure Putin doesn't steal the election for his friend, the dictator Bibi," said Tamar Zandberg, head of the dovish Meretz party, referring to Mr Netanyahu by his nickname. Russia denied the accusations. "There is no such thing and no such thing is possible. Russia has not interfered and has no intentions to interfere in any elections in any country in the world," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday. Israel is a cyber superpower with a governmental cyber defense body. It still uses paper ballots on election day rather than digital systems, so it would seem better prepared for a potential offensive than others. Read alsoHundreds of German politicians hacked, excluding those from far-right AfD media But it could still be vulnerable to other types of pre-election intervention, like hacking into party databases, spreading disinformation through social media and leaking personal and embarrassing material on the candidates, said Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, an expert on technology policy at the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute. "Russia is trying throughout all the Western countries to undermine the public's trust in liberal democracy," she said. "There is no doubt they will try to do here what they have done in other countries." U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before leaving the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 10, 2019. Donald Trump said Thursday he "would almost say definitely" that he would declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, a controversial option he has been publicly contemplating since last week. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled his planned trip later this month to the Swiss ski resort of Davos for the annual World Economic Forum (WEF), due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. "Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," the president tweeted. Trump has locked himself in a stalemate with congressional Democrats in the dispute over his demand for more than 5 billion U.S. dollars for funding a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters before setting out for a trip to the U.S. southern border that he "won't go" to Davos if the shutdown continues. "Well, I intended to go and speak in front of the world financial community in Davos. That's still on, but if the shutdown continues, which is in a while from now, if the shutdown continues, I won't go," Trump told reporters outside the White House. On Dec. 18, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced the presidential trip to Davos, adding that the president will be accompanied by an entourage led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. According to Sanders, the U.S. delegation comprises Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, among others. Trump, whose presence at the 2018 WEF was the first by a U.S. head of state since former President Bill Clinton, said Washington has "a great story to tell" at the international gathering this year, which runs on Jan. 22-25. Trump on Thursday headed for McAllen, a city in the southern U.S. state of Texas that borders Mexico, to continue pitching his demand for the wall-funding money. The president said during the press gaggle before his departure that he "would almost say definitely" that he would declare a national emergency at the border, a controversial option he has been publicly contemplating since last week. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone is accompanying Trump during the border visit, as the White House Counsel's Office has been assessing the legal process involved in a national emergency declaration over the wall. While claiming that he has "the absolute right" to make a national emergency declaration, Trump said "it makes sense" to get the wall-funding money from the Congress, but using his executive power to get it done is "the easy route." A U.S. president does have the authority to declare a national emergency, which, in the case of the current deadlock, will enable Trump to bypass congressional approval and build the wall using the Department of Defense money that has already been allocated. However, Democratic lawmakers and legal experts have said Trump's adoption of this method constitutes an abuse of power and will invite immediate court challenges. In a nationally televised speech from the Oval Office on Tuesday night, Trump painted a picture of "growing humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border," justifying his argument with a number of unchecked examples. He at that time refrained from mentioning his decision on national emergency declaration. The partial government shutdown, which now stretched into its 20th day and is set to surpass the 21-day historical record, has paralyzed a quarter of federal agencies and left 800,000 federal employees furloughed or working without pay. Witness accounts, call records, and other evidence point at the Russian trace in the elaborately orchestrated killings. Mikhail Khodorkovskys investigative project Dossier Center has reportedly completed a five-month study of the circumstances surrounding the murder of three Russian journalists in the Central African Republic, concluding that a local gendarme, who is likely to be involved in the triple homicide, remained in constant contact with their driver and with someone who works at one of Yevgeny Prigozhins companies. As reported earlier, journalist Orkhan Dzhemal, documentary filmmaker Alexander Rastorguyev, and cameraman Kirill Radchenko were murdered in the Central African Republic on July 30, 2018, while collecting footage of mercenaries from the Russian private military company Wagner, Meduza recalls. Witness accounts and call records obtained by the investigators show that the murder suspect, gendarme Emanuel Touaguende Kotofio, had been following his victims and remained in constant contact with the group's driver. Moreover, ahead of the ambush attack, the two men switched to new phone lines which suggests they plotted a special operation, as does the fact that the cell towers around the crime scene suddenly went offline, terminating the call records immediately before the killings. Dossier Center also used phone records to tie Kotofio to multiple Russians working in the Central African Republic. Between July and August 2018, he made 98 calls to Alexander Sotov, who is believed to work for a business tied to Evgeny Prigozhin. In CAR, Sotov is officially employed as an instructor in surveillance, recruitment, and covert intelligence work for the company M-Finance, based on the companys internal documents. Dossier Center says this business is connected to Prigozhin through its former CEO, Evgeny Khodotov, who owned Lobaye Invest, which the French media says is a subsidiary that represents the interests of Prigozhins company M-Invest. Read alsoCAR rebels demand Russian mercenaries be pulled out - media According to Dossier Centers investigation, Sotovs official supervisor is Valery Zakharov, a national security adviser to CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera. The website Fontanka previously reported that Zakharov has cooperated with security services working for Prigozhin. Call records show that Sotov and Zakharov spoke more than 100 times between July and August last year. Dossier Center says Sotov also used a phony American passport (issued to someone named Barret Travis Hammond) to register his local cell phone. In M-Finances payroll records, Sotovs personal identification number is listed in the same format that journalists have repeatedly attributed to mercenaries working with the Wagner private military company. Read alsoRussian journalists killed in Africa had footage about Russia's PMC Wagner bases media Dossier Center argues that the evidence leads back to Moscow, specifically to a man named Kirill Romanovsky, who works as a special correspondent for Prigozhins Federal News Agency. Shortly after the murders, Meduza learned that Romanovsky was the one who found the three journalists fixer in CAR: a man named Martin with supposed ties to the United Nations. It was Martin who recommended the driver who was apparently working with the local gendarmes. UN officials say they were never in contact with the three killed journalists, and Dossier Center speculates that Martin is actually an alias. For example, his jeeps license plate was registered to Erika Mustermann (the German equivalent of Jane Doe). His role as a fixer is also in doubt, given that he spent all of July telling the three journalists that he was in Bambari organizing an expedition to film CARs gold mines, while phone records show that he was actually 235 miles southwest in Bangui. There were at least a dozen Ukrainian political and business figures who made their way to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration, several of whom attended the Liberty Ball. United States Special Counsel Robert Mueller is currently examining Ukrainians who attended U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2017, as part of his Russia probe. "Evidence of the Ukrainians' presence eventually prompted interest from the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, as he investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election, and has spawned a number of related inquiries by federal prosecutors," The New York Times said in its article titled "Prosecutors Examining Ukrainians Who Flocked to Trump Inaugural," which was published on January 10. "The investigations are playing out against growing indications that some of the Ukrainians who came to Washington for the inaugural, or their allies, were promoting grand bargains, or 'peace' plans, that aligned with Russia's interests, including by lifting sanctions." Such a deal would not just have given the new administration additional flexibility to bring Moscow into American diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, but could also have eased the way for a cast of characters with ties to Mr. Trump some of whom in turn had ties to the Ukrainians who came to Washington to move ahead on business deals that had been complicated by the sanctions. According to The New York Times, there were at least a dozen Ukrainian political and business figures who made their way to Washington for the inauguration, several of whom attended the Liberty Ball. "Most had more on their dance cards than just parties," it said. They attended meetings and orchestrated encounters at Trump International Hotel with influential Republican members of Congress and close allies of President Trump. Representing a range of views, including a contingent seen as sympathetic to Moscow, they positioned themselves as brokers who could help solve one of the thorniest foreign policy problems facing the new administration the ugly military stalemate between Russia and Ukraine and the tough sanctions imposed on Moscow following its seizure of Crimea. Federal prosecutors have asked witnesses about how some of the Ukrainians gained access to inauguration events, whom they met with while they were in the United States, and what they discussed including questions about various peace plan proposals according to people with direct knowledge of the questions and others who were briefed on the interviews. As recently as last month, prosecutors were asking witnesses about illegal foreign lobbying related to Ukraine. Another subject of questions has been whether foreigners from Ukraine and other countries used straw donors to disguise donations to the inaugural committee. Federal law prohibits foreigners from contributing to an inaugural committee, although they can attend events if Americans buy the tickets. Elements of the investigations have gotten new visibility in recent weeks. Read alsoManafort discussed "Russia-Ukraine peace plan" with Kilimnik believed to be linked to Russia intel Lawyers for Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman who was paid tens of millions of dollars over the last dozen years by Russia-aligned Ukrainian interests, inadvertently revealed on Tuesday that he had communicated about a Ukraine-Russia peace plan with a business associate believed to have ties to Russian intelligence. The associate, Konstantin V. Kilimnik, is a Russian citizen who has been charged by Mr. Mueller with obstruction of justice for trying to shape the testimony of witnesses to the events that led to charges of illegal foreign lobbying against Mr. Manafort. Mr. Kilimnik was said in the inadvertently disclosed portions of the court filing to have received political polling data from Mr. Manafort in 2016. Mr. Manafort relayed a request to have Mr. Kilimnik pass the polling data to two Ukrainian oligarchs who had arranged or provided financing for Russia-aligned Ukrainian political parties for which Mr. Manafort had worked. One of the oligarchs, Serhiy Lyovochkin, attended the Liberty Ball, according to one person familiar with the guest list and another who saw him there. Last month, prosecutors made a move that was seen as signaling the continuing cooperation of Sam Patten, an American consultant who had worked with Mr. Kilimnik and Russia-aligned Ukrainians looking to build ties to the Trump administration. Mr. Patten had pleaded guilty in late August to charges including funneling $50,000 in money from an unnamed foreigner who matched the description of Mr. Lyovochkin but was described in court papers only as "a prominent Ukraine oligarch" to buy tickets to exclusive Trump inauguration events for the oligarch, Mr. Kilimnik and someone described only as "another Ukrainian." Other Ukrainians who came to Washington during the inauguration said prosecutors had been asking wide-ranging questions. "I have been interrogated twice by the F.B.I. and Mr. Mueller," said Andrii V. Artemenko, who came to the inauguration as a Ukrainian member of Parliament bearing a peace proposal that was later criticized as pro-Russian. Mr. Artemenko said he had testified before Mr. Mueller's grand jury last summer and had answered questions from the Mueller team "about what is my purpose of this trip, how I can get there, and what I did, how I got invitations and tickets and stuff." Serhiy Kivalov, a Ukrainian lawmaker known for pro-Russian initiatives, also attended the inaugural: he took photos as President Trump danced with his wife, Melania, during inaugural festivities in January 2017. He also took photos of his coveted tickets and passes to the soiree where it took place, the Liberty Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, posting them on Facebook and declaring that "it was an honor" to attend. Oleh Bielokolos Recently, the ex-leader of the "DPR" Igor Strikov (aka Girkin) spoke against the possible transfer to Japan of the group of the Southern Kuril Islands and announced his intention to set up mass protests in Moscow on January 19-20. I don't believe that his words in this context have any independent significance, because his very figure as a factor of politics is nonsense and commenting on its statements is not worthwhile. In fact, the problem in the context of Russian-Japanese relations is much wider. Since World War 2, Japan has been trying to return under its jurisdiction the four islands of the Kuril ridge: Ithurup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai, which the USSR grabbed back in the day. And because of this fact, a peace treaty between Japan and Russia was never signed. In November last year, reports emerged stating that Japanese Prime Minister Sinzo Abe seems to be trying to accelerate talks with Russia on a pair of islands of the Kuril Archipelago Habomai and Shikotan. At the same time, he allegedly promised Russian President Vladimir Putin that, in case of the transfer of these islands to Japan, no U.S. military bases will be set up there. I don't believe that his words in this context have any independent significance, because his very figure as a factor of politics is nonsense and commenting on its statements is not worthwhile In particular, it is the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia literally summoned Japanese Ambassador Toyohisa Kodzuki that deserves attention. Russia complained that, in his statements, he distorts the arrangements reached between the two countries at the highest level concerning the Kuril Islands. Nevertheless, any hopes for some kind of warming in relations between the two states, as well as on the solution of Russia's territorial issues, seem unlikely. After all, Japan today, at least in terms of security, almost completely relies on the United States a strong military alliance exists between Tokyo and Washington. And because of this, most of Japan's establishment is equally skeptical about any possible arrangements between Russia and Japan. Besides, in recent years, Russia's attention to the Arctic and the Far East has only increased, which is why the military bases, forgotten in Soviet times, are being restored there, and Russia is spending huge amounts on them. Nevertheless, the hopes for some kind of warming in relations between the two countries, as well as on the solution of Russia's territorial issues, seem unlikely. After all, Japan today, at least in terms of security, almost completely relies on the United States But in general, given the results of Russia's last year's foreign policy, we can say that Moscow has lost its initiative. First of all, it was the scandal with former Colonel GRU Sergei Skripal who was poisoned with "Novichok" nerve agent in British Salisbury that contributed to this. After Russia's involvement was established, it actually blocked any efforts by the Kremlin to reset dialogue with the West. Russia's policy, first and foremost, is about sowing chaos in U.S. foreign policy in the Far East. And Russia is pumping up its efforts at this very moment, when the U.S. sees the region as truly important, because the second possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which doesn't make Putin happy, has recently been discussed quite actively. Against the background of the fact that Russian euphoria over the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea has long gone, Vladimir Putin, as the orchestrator of the aggressor state's foreign policy, has obviously tasked his subordinates with seeking new opportunities in the international arena, including, aimed at weakening the United States and changing positions in the Far East. Oleh Bielokolos is a head of Department for International Bilateral Relations at the Maidan of Foreign Affairs Foundation The Ukrainian army continues adhering to the ceasefire. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action amid the war in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, on Friday, January 11. "A member of the Joint Forces was wounded as a result of illicit shelling by Russian-led forces," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an evening update as of 18:00 Kyiv time on January 11. Read alsoThursday "shelling of utility truck" in Donbas Russia's staged provocation OSINT group Russia's hybrid military forces mounted five attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas over the period under review between 00:00 and 18:00 on Friday. "The enemy opened fire from grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns to attack the Ukrainian military's positions near the village of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk sector. Grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns and small arms were used in the vicinity of the villages of Vodiane, Lebedynske and Hnutove (twice) in the Mariupol sector," the update said. The Ukrainian army continues adhering to the ceasefire. "The situation in the JFO zone is under control of the Ukrainian military," it said. Russian propaganda operatives are tasked with convincing the public that the attack allegedly came from the Ukrainian side. Ukrainian Member of Parliament, coordinator of the Information Resistance OSINT group Dmytro Tymchuk says the Jan 10 incident where a shell allegedly hit a service truck of the Voda Donbasa water supply utility company near the village of Kruta Balka (area of Donetsk region controlled by Russian proxies), injuring three employees, is being exploited by Russian media to discredit the Ukrainian Army. Russia is trying to convince the public that the attack was allegedly committed by Ukraine's Joint Forces, rather than Russian-backed militants, Information Resistance wrote on Jan 11. However, the real picture of the provocation is as follows, according to the OSINT experts. Russian occupation forces claim that rocket-propelled grenade launchers (RPG), mounted anti-tank grenade launchers (SPG), guns of BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), etc. were employed in the attack. However, the distance from the Joint Forces' advanced positions in the area to the incident site (2.5 km), local topography (namely, elevation difference of about 30 m), and obstacles, that is forest belts along the road, would make it impossible to hit a vehicle by such types of weapons from Ukraine's positions, the publication said. Read alsoOne step short of causing another "Chornobyl" disaster in Donbas, Russia prepares to blame Ukraine media Analyzing the photos and videos from the scene that have been posted suggests that the damage to the truck's hull does not correspond to the typical damage caused by ammunition types militants claim was used. The damage to the vehicle and marks on the ground as a result of the car burning down indicate that the attack was, in fact, staged. The purpose of the provocation is obviously to accuse the Ukrainian side of a targeted shelling of a utility vehicle, to further highlight the fact as "another attack by the Ukrainian Army against Donbas civilians." "There are no other explanations for this provocation by Russian invaders," the OSINT group concludes. The enemy employed mortars and grenade launchers. Over the past day, January 10, Russian occupation forces violated the ceasefire three times, opening fire at the Ukrainian military. At the same time, on one occasion, Russian proxies used weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation Staff reported on Facebook Friday morning. "The enemy opened fire from 82mm mortars and large-caliber machine guns at positions of the Ukrainian military near the village of Zhovte on the Luhansk line, from grenade launchers of various types, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms in the area of Vodiane and Pavlopil in the Mariupol direction," the report says. Read alsoOne step short of causing another "Chornobyl" disaster in Donbas, Russia prepares to blame Ukraine media As a result of the shelling by Russian occupation forces, in the past 24 hours no Ukrainian military were injured. In response to enemy provocations, JF units returned fire. "According to intelligence data, on January 10, one invader was killed and another two were wounded," the JFO Staff added. It is also noted that, since day-start, Russian proxies have not opened fire. Recall that on January 9, pro-Russian militants twice violated the ceasefire in Donbas. The top diplomat said Russia had been carrying out a "creeping occupation" in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov. By stepping up control in the Azov Sea, Russia is trying to "suffocate" the Donbas region controlled by Moscow's proxy forces and also southern Ukraine, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin warned in Vilnius on Thursday. Following his meeting with Lithuanian counterpart Linas Linkevicius, Klimkin said Russia had been carrying out a "creeping occupation" in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov, the Baltic Times reports. "The whole idea of this occupation is to suffocate Ukraine's Donbas and Ukraine's south," the Ukrainian minister told journalists. Also, the Ukrainian foreign minister said the meeting would be a great opportunity to convince politicians and experts on the need to support Ukraine, especially as Russia is trying to meddle in the upcoming presidential and general elections in Ukraine. Read alsoMoscow says Ukrainian sailors could be exchanged once sentences voiced, elections held Russian media "If we stand, we stand together. And because of that, we are very grateful to our Lithuanian friends," Klimkin said. Russia has been subject to EU and U.S. sanctions from the annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea since 2014. On November 25, Russia blocked the passage to the Kerch Strait for the Ukrainian tugboat "Yany Kapu" and two armored naval boats "Berdyansk" and "Nikopol," which were on a scheduled re-deployment from the Black Sea port of Odesa to the Azov Sea port of Mariupol. Read alsoEx-envoy names weapons U.S. should give Ukraine to bolster Azov defenses As the Ukrainian boats were heading back in the Odesa direction after being rejected passage via the Kerch Strait, Russian coast guards opened aimed fire on them. All 24 crew members on board were captured and later remanded in custody for two months, being charged with "illegal border crossing." Three crewmen were wounded in the attack. All detained sailors have declared themselves prisoners of war. Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan said two seaports in the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Berdyansk (the Sea of Azov) are forced to cut their working hours after Russia blocked the passage of vessels through the Kerch Strait connecting the Black and Azov seas. According to the minister, the two Ukrainian ports have lost more than half of their cargo traffic and are forced to switch to a four-day working week and start layoffs. "As we expected, Moscow is now manually handling the access of merchant ships to the Ukrainian seaports in the Sea of Azov," Omelyan wrote on Facebook. It's not the armed forces but the state which has to join the Alliance. Former deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General (Reserve) Ihor Romanenko said Ukraine could be ready for NATO membership within 5-10 years. Commenting on a Thursday statement by the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, that the Armed Forces will be able by 2020 to operate fully in line with NATO standards, Romanenko said that given what is being done now, I can say that this is quite realistic. However, the general adds, it's not the armed forces but the state which has to join the Alliance. In this regard, we have statements by our officials, who said, by 2020, only 1300 public requirements of NATO standards would be met, but there are also classified requirements, he said. Read alsoUkraine hopes for NATO, U.S. support in boosting defense capabilities Romanenko noted that for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, there is a corresponding reform plan that has been developed until 2020. The principal step in the process is that Ukraine is moving away from the Russian-type control system, where the General Staff was part of the Ministry of Defense, as it was in Tsarist Russia, in the Soviet armed forces, and now remains in the modern Russian Federation. We proceed to the so-called Anglo-Saxon system, where the defense ministry performs purely military-political functions, comprehensively providing for the operations of the armed forces, the former defense official said. A lot of work has already been done on reforming the defense sector to meet NATO standards, General Romanenko notes. The momentum was gained, and I think that everything concerning Ukraine's Armed Forces should be completed by 2020, while in terms of the state, a lot of work is still ahead, the expert is convinced. However, he noted that today, even some NATO Allies have not yet met all standard requirements set before them. Answering the question on how long it will take Ukraine to join NATO, Gen. Romanenko said: I think, no earlier than 5-10 years. As UNIAN reported earlier, on January 10, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko declared that by 2020, the Ukrainian army will have been organized and able to act fully in line with NATO standards. The Ukrainian foreign minister earlier warned Moscow would play the issue of sailors' release in the context of Ukraine's elections. In 2019, Russia could go for an exchange of Ukrainian sailors detained in the act of Russian aggression in the Black Sea for Russians for Russian national imprisoned in Ukraine. Much depends on the Ukrainian side and to what extent Kyiv will be ready to reach concrete agreements, a Russian high-ranking diplomatic source told Izvestia. Now its impossible to swap Ukrainian sailors. We must wait for the courts ruling, after which we can talk about the exchange, the Izvestia's interlocutor said. For Kyiv, the return of captured sailors is one of the main foreign policy priorities. Before the presidential election, such exchange is unlikely to take place, according to the publication. Also, the newspaper says its sources in Ukrainian government and parliament circles echoed the idea that the exchange is likely to take place after the presidential elections. Read alsoEU urges Russia to immediately release Ukrainian sailors, Pavlo Hryb, Edem Bekirov, other political prisoners State Duma CIS committee chief Leonid Kalashnikov assured that the swap process will begin only after the sentence is handed down to the Ukrainian sailors. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said Russia would exploit the issue of the release of Ukrainian sailors and political prisoners captured by Moscow in the context of the upcoming Ukraine elections. "In fact, it's perfectly clear to everyone that there will be a trial first. Russia will play that way. Russia will play in the context of elections. And all our friends and partners who talked with the Russian president and all his team say they have a very clear feeling that they [the Kremlin] will play in the context of elections," the minister said. On November 25, Russia blocked the passage to the Kerch Strait for the Ukrainian tugboat "Yany Kapu" and two armored naval boats "Berdyansk" and "Nikopol," which were on a scheduled re-deployment from the Black Sea port of Odesa to the Azov Sea port of Mariupol. The Ukraine Navy Command noted that the Russian side had been informed of the plans to re-deploy the vessels in advance in accordance with international standards to ensure the safety of navigation. As the Ukrainian boats were heading back in the Odesa direction after being rejected passage via the Kerch Strait, Russian coast guards opened aimed fire on them. All 24 crew members on board were captured and later remanded in custody for two months, being charged with "illegal border crossing" (the sailors are facing up to six years in prison). Three crewmen were wounded in the attack. All detained sailors have declared themselves prisoners of war. The public broadcasting company reported yesterday that support for the populist, right-wing opposition party surged by 2.1 percentage points to 10.2 per cent between December and January, representing the first time it climbed above the 10 per cent-mark since mid-2018. POPULAR SUPPORT for the Finns Party has increased considerably, according to the latest opinion poll commissioned by YLE. Tuomo Turja, the research director at Taloustutkimus, points out that the spike in popularity coincided with the emergence of reports that 10 men of immigrant backgrounds are suspected of numerous sex crimes against children in Oulu, North Ostrobothnia. Theres a clear connection. The Finns Partys popularity spiked clearly the following week, he commented to YLE. A similar spike in support for the opposition party was witnessed around Christmas, when it was reported that a man born in 1982 is suspected of stabbing to death a school-aged boy in Arabianranta, Helsinki, according to Turja. The poll was conducted by Taloustutkimus between 10 December and 8 January. Alma Media reported late last month that 9.7 per cent of the public would cast their vote for the Finns Party. YLE on Thursday said the Social Democrats remains the most popular political party in the country even though its popularity dropped by 0.3 percentage points to 21.2 per cent. The National Coalition, by contrast, saw its popularity creep up by 0.5 percentage points to 19.6 per cent between December and January. The Centre Party fell further behind the two most well supported parties as its popularity dwindled by 0.9 percentage points to 16.1 per cent its lowest level since the second half of 2017, according to the public broadcaster. Its increasingly clear that its a two-horse race for the largest party, analysed Turja. The poll also confirms the end of the recent resurgence of the Green League, with popular support for the opposition party dropping by 0.3 percentage points to 13.6 per cent. Turja said he expects the party to poll around 13.5 to 14.0 per cent, which despite the modest drop would represent a major improvement from the latest municipal elections and, especially, the latest parliamentary elections. Elsewhere, the Left Alliance saw its popularity jump by one percentage point to 9.5 per cent, while the Christian Democrats overtook the Swedish Peoples Party as the seventh most supported party as support for the latter fell by 1.5 percentage points to 2.5 per cent. The fall, however, is likely a consequence of a statistical anomaly caused by a disproportionately low number of respondents in certain regions, said Turja. Taloustutkimus also published its first projection for the distribution of seats in the Finnish Parliament, naming the Social Democrats and Green League as the biggest winners with projected gains of 13 and 10 seats respectively. The Finns Party, on the other hand, is projected to win a total of 15 seats, a haul that would represent a decline of two seats from the current situation and one of 23 seats from the previous elections. Aleksi Teivainen HT Source: Uusi Suomi The lawyer says the trial will be purely pro forma. Lawyer Ilya Novikov says "court" hearings on 24 captive Ukrainian sailors in Russia will unlikely start earlier than next year. "If there is a trial process, it won't happen earlier than in a year. The earliest possible date is in six months, but it is unrealistic. Therefore, it's very important not to let the case come to trial," the lawyer said on TV Channel Pryamiy. Read alsoEU urges Russia to immediately release Ukrainian sailors, Pavlo Hryb, Edem Bekirov, other political prisoners The lawyer says such "courts" have a ready verdict and the trial is purely pro forma. "These hearings should not be perceived as the 'trial' of the sailors," Novikov added. In November 2018, Russian special forces attacked and seized three Ukrainian navy boats with 24 Ukrainian sailors on board. The boats were heading from the Ukrainian port of Odesa on the Black Sea to the Ukrainian port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait. The sailors, who were taken from Russian-occupied Crimea to detention centers in Moscow, are now facing trial. They hold themselves not guilty and consider themselves to be prisoners of war. Syrian refugee Juriya Ramadan wades through the murky, ankle-deep water that inundated her shelter in Lebanons Bekaa Valley three nights ago, carrying her barefooted son across the freezing deluge. She puts him down on a plywood platform balanced above the water line, before wrapping him in a blanket and surveying the damage. People are sick. Everywhere there is water. We cannot sleep at night. It has been three days like this. All night we sit and watch the kids and we cannot do anything for them. Their situation is very bad, the 34-year-old from Deir Ez-Zor explained. A wood-burning stove cold and useless with no dry fuel to be found protrudes like an island from the brown sea of water in the shelters main room. Juriya splashes around picking up floating bits of waterlogged wood and piles them on the stove, seemingly for want of anything better to do. People are sick. Everywhere there is water. We cannot sleep at night." Several days of high winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Norma have led to flooding in towns and villages across Lebanon, which is host to nearly 950,000 Syrian refugees. More than 360 sites hosting 11,300 refugees have been affected, with a number of settlements including in Dalhamiya where Juriya lives becoming completely flooded, forcing hundreds of Syrians from their homes. At least 600 Syrian refugees in the Bekaa had to relocate because of heavy floods or damage to their shelters. Tragically, the body of a young Syrian girl who drowned after falling into a flooded stream in the north of the country was recovered on Wednesday, after she was reported missing the previous day. In coordination with Lebanese authorities, UNHCR the UN Refugee Agency and NGO partners have sent teams out to assess the damage and distribute emergency relief items including new mattresses and blankets to the worst-affected. Juriya Ramadan holds one of her children as she inspects her flooded house at Dalhamiya informal settlement camp in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez Syrian refugees walk through the flooded streets of Dalhamiya informal settlement in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, January 2019. UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez One of Juriya Ramadan's sons sits inside his flooded tent. The tent collapsed as a consequence of Storm Norma's violence. UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez Across Lebanon, UNHCR is assisting 166,000 vulnerable Syrian refugee families and more than two thousand non-Syrian refugee families mainly Iraqi as part of its US$180 million regional winter assistance programme. Support includes distributions of plastic sheeting and wooden poles to help refugees protect their shelters from the elements, as well as a monthly payment of US$75 per family for five months, totaling US$375, to help families cover additional expenses during winter such as fuel for heating, medicine, and clothes. Across the region, UNHCR has been working for months to help those in need prepare for the harsh winter conditions. Almost 2.5 million vulnerable Syrian and Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people have so far received assistance, chiefly in the form of winter cash payments, shelter materials and thermal blankets and other core relief items. In total, the response plan aims to reach 3.5 million people across the region with assistance, and also includes measures to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. Ahead of the recent storms in Lebanon, for example, UNHCR pre-positioned stocks of emergency items and sent out SMS messages to refugees living in the Bekaa Valley, warning them of the potential for flooding and advising them what to do if their shelters sustained damage. The intensity of the storm and the makeshift nature of refugee settlements in Lebanon which are not capable of sustaining extreme weather conditions for long meant that many refugees were still hit hard, triggering UNHCRs pre-positioned emergency capacity. There is no doubt that the situation is very difficult, said UNHCR External Relations Associate Hiba Fares. Weve been going around checking on families and trying to help as much as we can. Weve been going around checking on families and trying to help as much as we can. Some people had their tents torn or broken. Other people had their tents flooded. So we are also trying to provide alternative shelters with the help of our partners for families whose tents have been destroyed, she added. Throughout Dalhamiya settlement, residents worked to unblock drains and shift the sewage-tainted water that has formed canals in the narrow alleyways between the rows of tent-like structures. But makeshift drainage and the settlements location below the level of surrounding roads have made the task next to impossible. Looking bereft and exhausted, 60-year-old refugee Amina Al Darak slumps down onto a damp mattress perched just centimetres above the standing water that has filled every corner of her home. Weve never experienced such a situation before, she said. The mattresses and the duvets got wet, we didnt sleep all night. I had to put blankets on wooden boards and lie there. I cant even make myself a cup of tea because of the flooding. Rahaf Mohammed Al-qunun at the UN building in Bangkok, before departing to the airport. UNHCR/Khaled Ibrahim UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the expected arrival in Canada of Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun and the decision of the Canadian Government to provide international protection and a long-term solution for her there as a resettled refugee. The quick actions over the past week of the Government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the Government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms. al-Qunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case. Ms al-Qunun left Thailand en route to Canada today. Ms. al-Qununs plight has captured the worlds attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide, said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. Refugee protection today is often under threat and cannot always be assured, but in this instance international refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed. With political sentiment and public attitudes towards refugees having hardened in some countries in recent years, resettlement the mechanism by which Ms. al-Qunun has been accepted by Canada is available only to a fraction of the worlds 25.4 million refugees, typically those at greatest risk, such as women at risk. Ms. al-Qununs case was dealt with on a fast-track emergency basis in light of the urgency of her situation. For more information on this topic, please contact: Syrian families wait to receive shelter and relief items at the Al Hol camp in Hassakeh. UNHCR/Hisham Arafat UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply concerned by reports of mounting civilian casualties including many women and children and large-scale civilian displacement amid renewed fighting in the Hajin enclave in Deir-ez-Zor governorate in the east of Syria. Over the past six months, clashes and airstrikes in southeast part of the governorate forced about 25,000 people to flee. As well as the women and children, many elderly people are at risk. Its estimated that 2,000 people remain in the conflict-affected area of Hajin. Those fleeing report increasingly desperate conditions, with diminishing services and extremely high prices for basic foods. We are worried for civilians who continue to be trapped in ISIS-held areas. Displaced families reaching the Al Hol camp in northeastern Syria tell our staff that civilians attempting to flee face difficulties and obstacles in leaving the conflict zone. UNHCR calls on all parties, and those with influence over them, to ensure freedom of movement and safe passage. The majority of the recently displaced have sought shelter at Al Hol camp. There, more than 8,500 individuals have arrived over the past five weeks. Some of the displaced are also staying at the Abu Khashab informal settlement or among local communities. Many are exhausted, having fled on foot, and are clearly suffering. Some have spent four nights or more in the open desert, in heavy rain and in cold weather with barely any belongings, food or water. The dangerous and difficult journey and the conditions inside the enclave are reported to have led to the deaths of six children all under 12 months. Tragically, most have died after arriving at Al Hol, too weakened to survive. Emergency health teams in Al Hol are conducting immediate screening and referrals on the spot. Dealing with wounds, amputated limbs, injuries and frostbites is the priority. Acute respiratory infections, cold and flu are also concerns. People are confused, exhausted and distressed, not least because of having left family members behind. UNHCR and partners are on the ground every day to identify needs and provide protection assistance, especially to unaccompanied or separated children and those who require medical assistance. Our teams distribute tents, core relief items and winter assistance to all newly arrivals. We are preparing new tent plots and scaling up communal facilities in Al Hol for an expected increase of arrivals from Hajin. We reiterate our calls for unhindered humanitarian access to be able to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance during this harsh winter period. In Hassakeh governorate, Al-Areesha makeshift settlement, work on sheltering more than 9,600 displaced people, has been affected by the rapidly rising water in the nearby reservoir. More than two thirds of the camp is under water. Residents are relocating to higher areas of the camp. Humanitarian workers and volunteers have relocated more than 1,200 tents to higher and safer grounds and assembled large communal tents in case the water level increases and more families need to move. Families are frustrated as many have had to move more than once in the last month as the water level continues to rise. UNHCR and other humanitarian actors are preparing the ground in other camps for possible safe relocation, in case families decide to move. Meanwhile in Lebanon, Storm Norma has wreaked havoc among Lebanese and refugee communities this week. Several days of strong winds, heavy rain and snow have led to flooding and damage in towns and villages across Lebanon, which is host to nearly one million Syrian refugees. More than 360 sites hosting 11,300 refugees have been affected across the country. In Minieh, northern Lebanon, the storm took the life of Fatima, an eight-year-old Syrian refugee girl who was swept away by floods. We are supporting her parents and siblings in this very difficult time. Most of the destruction was caused by heavy rain and floods in makeshift sites. In the Bekaa valley alone, at least 600 Syrian refugees have had to relocate due to floods or severe damage to their shelters. Across Lebanon, UNHCR is assisting 166,000 vulnerable families as part of its winter assistance programme to help them keep warm and dry. Support includes plastic sheeting and wood to help refugees protect their shelters from the elements, as well as a monthly cash assistance of US$75 per family during five cold months, to help families cover additional expenses during winter, including fuel for heating, medicine, and clothes. This winter, UNHCR aims to provide winterization assistance to 3.5 million vulnerable Syrian and Iraqi internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. More than two million Syrian and Iraqi IDPs and refugees have been reached with winterization assistance. UNHCRs winterization strategy includes provision of seasonal cash assistance for vulnerable families and core relief items specific to cold season as well as preparation of shelters for winter such as weather-proofing and repairs, and improvements to drainage systems and other infrastructure in camps and informal settlements. The total budget for the Regional Winterization Plan is USD180 million and covers the period from September 2018 to March 2019. For more information on this topic, please contact: facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published January 11, 2019 The University of Louisiana Monroe is now offering a dual degree program for a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master of Business Administration. Because of the growing need for pharmacy professionals to be knowledgeable in the business of operating a pharmacy, the ULM College of Pharmacy and the ULM College of Business and Social Sciences have developed a program for the professional pharmacy student to graduate with both a PharmD and MBA. "Health care is a business and a system of healing the sick. PharmD and MBA as a dual program is very progressive. It demonstrates ULM's foresight to plan for the future needs of Northeast Louisiana, and have the ability to deliver the workforce with the expertise to meet those needs," said ULM President Nick J. Bruno. Graduates with both the PharmD and MBA are in high demand for leadership positions in retail and hospital pharmacy operations, federal and state health care agencies and pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution. In addition to completing the curriculum of the PharmD program, the dual degree student will also complete the curriculum of the Pharmacy concentration of the MBA degree. Some courses within the PharmD curriculum also satisfy the MBA degree requirements and this decreases the length of time to obtain both degrees. Students may complete both degrees together or finish the PharmD and then complete the MBA online after graduation with the PharmD. There are several pre-requisite courses required prior to beginning the MBA program. More information is available at the College of Pharmacy ulm.edu/pharmacy/pharmdmba or by contacting Dr. Laurel Sampognaro, Director of Student Success, 318-342-1721, sampognaro@ulm.edu or Dr. Michael Cockerham, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, 318-342-3171, cockerham@ulm.edu. AN IRAQI MAN has been handed a suspended prison sentence of one year and six months for war crime by the District Court of Helsinki. Helsingin Sanomat reveals that the middle-aged man decapitated a dead member of the so-called Islamic State (IS) while serving in the Iraqi Ground Forces in Al-Karmah, Iraq, in March 2015. His actions were captured on video and the video later published, with the consent of the man, on Facebook, according to the newspaper. The Finance Minister says that while construction workers are to be included in the Covid relief grant system, he needs to get a proper estimate of how many persons are in that sector. But with the editorial board eliminated, there is no mechanism in place to prevent that from happening in the future, which is troubling. We urge Floyd to come up with a reorganization plan to solve the problems he outlines but restores independence to the media outlets. If Mvskoke Media is going to be a trusted source of information about the tribe and its government, the readers and viewers have to feel certain that it is not operating under the direction of those in power. The editorial board mechanism effectively did that, but it isnt the only way to accomplish the goal. Ron Durbin, Peixottos attorney, took issue Thursday with the fee requirements in the ordinance, as well as the code enforcement letter Peixotto received because State Question 788 doesnt grant express authority for municipalities to charge additional fees. He said it appears the city is simply refusing to make a decision on whether to approve his clients application for his sign and that Peixotto gave the city at least three months notice of his plans to set up a dispensary. Theyre required to fulfill their governmental duties of issuing permits, Durbin said. If Collinsville wants to try to shut them down, then well seek emergency relief from the courts. Like weve done with other cities, wed like to work with them. But if they show up with this cease-and-desist Dont open letter, if you can call it a letter, then this is what were left with. Collinsville commissioners also met Dec. 17 and had their first public reading of a proposed ordinance that would address zoning for medical marijuana businesses. A copy of the meeting minutes shows the group passed the item for future discussion, but Underwood said Peixottos business location would be in compliance with the proposed zoning code upon approval and inspection of his shop. He lived in a small structure nestled on the banks of the Rio Grande. Each morning he would sit on the patio of the house, drink coffee and watch the animals and landscape come alive for another day. Id see the coyotes pass by the house along the banks of the river, said Wallis. I would always tell them to leave the lambs alone. Honestly, those several months I spent at Los Luceros were amazing. It was so important for the book. I was researching and writing the book. But, most importantly, it was quiet time. I understood why this place was such a magical place for storytellers and artists. I talked to so many people that went back many generations on that land. It has been a magical spot going all the way back to pre-pueblo times. Wallis and his wife, Suzanne, have lived in Tulsa for 37 years. Suzanne Wallis was a translator for the International Institute of Iberian Colonial Art at Los Luceros in the 1970s. His office in the Sophian Plaza is littered with the heirlooms collected during a lifetime researching and writing significant tales about roads, individuals and places. An Oklahoma bank is poised to put money where the White House and Congress arent the pockets of federal employees who are furloughed in the protracted partial government shutdown. First Oklahoma Bank is pledging to treat its customers who have depository accounts and rely on regular checks from the federal government as if those funds were deposited on schedule. So if a qualifying customer overdraws his or her account, the bank will cover that negative balance and subsequent withdrawals up to the amount of their regular federal checks. The Jenks-based bank also implemented that policy at no charge to its customers during the 2013 federal government shutdown. Tom Bennett Jr., chairman and co-CEO, said the idea was born of the business core value of treating others the way you want to be treated. We just think its the right thing to do, Bennett said. These folks didnt do anything wrong. Its not their fault, and ultimately we think they will get their money. Were just trying to be helpful. So far the shutdown is the second-longest in U.S. history, with hundreds of thousands of federal employees not to receive paychecks Friday. By this weekend the shutdown will be the longest in history. Investigators are returning to one of the first FBI leads in the case of two missing Craig County teens and are looking for people who helped search for the girls in a mining area in 2000. An FBI lead sheet shows they received an anonymous tip the girls were in a mine shaft in the Douthat area, just south of Picher, said Gary Stansill, District 12 District Attorneys Office investigator and a retired Tulsa police detective. The charred remains of Ashley Freemans parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were found in the ruble of their burned mobile home on Dec. 30, 1999, but Ashley and her friend Lauria Bible, both 16, were missing. Both parents had been shot. An affidavit filed when quadruple murder suspect Ronnie Busick was arrested and charged in Craig County District Court last spring says the girls bodies were believed to be in a pit in Picher. Both Douthat and Picher are now ghost towns in the Picher mining field area, an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site known as Tar Creek. Now, 19 years after the slayings, investigators dont know whether the tip that led to the search in 2000 was credible, Stansill said. Steven Michael Burger, 58, is asking the legal system to determine when a person becomes an Indian as he joins the hundreds of criminal defendants who have challenged their state convictions based on the U.S. Supreme Courts McGirt decision. The recently released Gallup-Tulsa Citivoice Index includes compelling data that should lead the state to reconsider Medicaid expansion. The survey is a fascinating look at how well Tulsans are doing in their day-to-day lives. It gauges everything from how we feel the Police Department treats us to whether we would recommend that a friend live here. Some 22,500 surveys were sent out, and the Gallup people parsed up the results along racial, geographic and income lines. Heres a number that jumped off the page at me: 36 percent of the people of Tulsa have experienced a time in the past year when they didnt have enough money to pay for health care or medicine for themselves or a member of their family. Among people who earn less than $27,000 a year, the number was 61 percent. If youre poor in Tulsa, watch out. Its a crisis invisible to a lot of the comfortably insured middle class people of Tulsa. We go about our lives secure in the knowledge that if we get sick or injured, well have the resources to be made whole. We pull out the insurance card at the doctors office, handle the copay and, from there, concentrate on getting well. We dont believe this is something that should happen in Tulsa, said Solomon-Simmons. We believe our city government should be accountable to its citizens. My family and I are deeply hurt that we had to hire an attorney to speak out just to get records from the Tulsa Police Department that my daughter and I are entitled to have, Ziegler said through tears. I want Chief (Chuck) Jordan to know how painful it is the man who sexually assaulted my daughter has not been charged or why my daughter has not been treated with the compassion a sexual assault victim like her needs and deserves. Charges have not been filed in the case, according to Solomon-Simmons. As a result of TPDs refusal to provide a copy of the police report, the identity of the man who sexually assaulted (the victim) is unknown, the lawsuit states. Solomon-Simmons said the family should have access to documents under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, and cited the Police Departments own website that explains crime victims are entitled to a free copy of filed reports. These are hardworking citizens of Tulsa, he said. All they wanted is information about what happened to their daughter. Kendrick Marshall 918-581-8378 kendrick.marshall@tulsaworld.com Twitter: @KD_Marshall Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. We warmed up for the main items with a bowl of edamame ($4), a bowl of egg drop soup ($3) and a crunchy pork and veggie egg roll ($2) with a sweet-and-sour sauce. The soup, dotted with peas and carrots, looked the part, but the flavor wasnt as eggy as most we have tried. We were looking at another dish that included spicy mayo. We ended up not ordering it, but our server, Sang, brought a sample of the mayo while we were deciding. I loved the flavor and a bit of zing from the spicy mayo and wound up dipping a bit of my bulgogi into it. I learned during an interview the next day that Sang was on his second day and was supposed to be in training but had to fill in for a regular server. He did a commendable job under the circumstances. We also learned the manager, Di Harvell, has been with Kirin only a month, and it is her first restaurant job. It didnt show. She was a gracious hostess and obviously zeroed in on customer service. Kirin has full bar service with a workable selection of wine, imported beers, sake and specialty cocktails. Kirin also offers live music from 6:30-8:30 p.m. the first Friday of each month. The Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain is currently accepting online applications and scheduling auditions for the states premier arts academy for high school students. Auditions for chorus and orchestra will be held at Owasso High School on Thursday, Feb. 7. Auditions for other disciplines will be held at locations across the state from Jan. 19-Feb. 11. Students can choose from eight artistic disciplines: acting, chorus, creative writing, dance, drawing & painting, film & video, orchestra and photography. Every accepted student receives a full scholarship to attend the program. Accepted students will study with nationally renowned faculty artists from June 8-23 at Quartz Mountain. Former OSAI faculty members have included winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony awards. This years faculty includes Guggenheim Fellow and National Book Critics Circle Award nominee Jane Shore, renowned fashion and portrait photographer Kurt Markus and New York City-based actor, playwright and director Grace Kiley. - NCIC has asked Kenyan to participate in political debates with decorum - The Commission has warned anybody engaging in utterances that spread hate will be dealt with in accordance to the law - Already they are pursing two Kenyans who have been accused of spreading hate speech The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has sounded a stern warning to Kenyans against utterances that are likely to fuel hate among tribes. The Commission has reminded Kenyans to preserve decorum while participating in the ongoing political debates that have elicited a lot of reactions from members of the public. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Mudavadi allies back Uhuru as divisions rock Jubilee Party over Ruto's 2022 bid National Cohesion and Integration Commission Francis Ole Kaparo. Photo: UGC Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Cameroonian journalist reminds Kenyans why they must take pride in Uhuru-Raila handshake In a Friday, January 11, Twitter post the agency said already they were investigating two cases of utterances that have been considered as incitement. "We want to send a strong warning to people and especially those who want to provide input to the political debates currently ongoing. It should be noted that freedom of expression has limitations as provided for under Article 33 of our Constitution and there are severe consequences for crossing the red line," said NCIC. The warning came after one Dennis Kiptoo, who is presumably a die-hard supporter of Deputy President William Ruto, warned of dire consequences to the Kikuyu community if it fails to support Ruto in 2022. READ ALSO: Treasury CS Henry Rotichs baggy trouser steals show as Uhuru announces new maize price In a reaction to Kiptoo, former Njoro MP Joseph Kiuna also warned the Kalenjin community saying they had not forgotten post election violence that happened in 2007/2008 and they could not bow to threats to support Ruto. The current debate on the 2022 politics kicked off after former Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe asked Ruto to retire alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta saying the Mt Kenya region had not committed themselves to support him. 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 Kikuyu Council of the Elders message to the nation | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Tshisekedi was declared winner of presidential election having garnered less than 40% of the votes cast - The France administration has dismissed the results insisting the second runner won the election - The Catholic church observer mission noted the announced results were different from what they collected from polling stations Barely hours after Congo's electoral commission announced Felix Tshisekedi as the president elect, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and the Catholic church has dismissed the elections outcome saying they were not consistent with the results. According to the minister, Martin Fayulu who came second in the race was the right candidate who won the presidency as by the observers. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Treasury CS Henry Rotichs baggy trouser steals show as Uhuru announces new maize price Felix Tshisekedi was leader of the main opposition party Union for Democracy and Social Progress which was founded by his father. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Nyandarua woman found dead 3 days after stepping out of house to collect basin In a report by Aljazeera, Drian who spoke to France's CNews channel said the results that were announced were different from what the observers had collected. "It really seems that the declared results ... are not consistent with the true results. On the face of it, Mr Fayulu was the leader coming out of these elections," he said. The Catholic Church which runs over 50 % of salvation centers in the country, through the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo had deployed over 40,000 faithfuls to observe the elections. READ ALSO: Martha Karua says she cannot support William Ruto because of scandals hes faced "The results of the presidential election published by (the electoral commission) do not match those collected by our observer mission," said the church in a statement issued after the announcement. Already, the African Union has called for any dispute over the Democratic Republic of Congo's election results to be resolved in a peaceful manner, through dialogue. Up until the time of elections, polls in the country showed Fayulu was the most preferred candidate to succeed Joseph Kabila who has served the country for over 18 years. Kabila had handpicked Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary to succeed him but he was one of the candidates who drew the least number of votes among those perceived to be strong candidates given the support of the current president. 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 Chinese Nationals arrested with ivory, leopard skins, and suspected dog meat | Tuko TV Source: Tuko There are various ideologies guiding the function of countries around the world. Countries in the western world, in general, enjoy large measures of freedom, originally based on a Judeo-Christian worldview. The foundational tenets in such societies derived from the Ten Commandments, and honouring parents, the elderly in society, was sacrosanct. Even if token, state pension provisions were indicative of that regard. FILE - In this Saturday, March 31, 2018 file photo, a convoy of U.S. troops drive along a road leading to the front line with Turkish-backed fighters, in Manbij, north Syria. An American military official said Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 that the U.S.-led military coalition has begun the process of withdrawing troops from Syria. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File) The Senate unanimously passed a bill yesterday which gives the public the right to access a sex offender website providing names, photographs and date of birth of convicted sex offenders. All present in the chamber supported the Sexual Offences Amendment which was passed 28 for, none against. National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds says theres no secrecy surrounding a small gift of Pfizer vaccines given to the National Security Ministry by the United States government. In a telephone interview with the Express yesterday, the minister said the small vaccine gift of 80 vials of Pfizer amounted to about 400 doses of the vaccine. However, the arrival of these vaccines generated curiosity in the country as to exactly how the batch came to Trinidad and the handover process as well as who exactly will benefit from the shots. Do you have a news tip? Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you. More here monicakchauhan@gmail.com January 11 A 13-year-old Wisconsin girl, missing since her parents were discovered shot dead in their home three months ago, was found on Thursday, malnourished and dirty but alive, after apparently fleeing her captor in a remote community, police and media said. One man, who has not been identified by police, was in custody, authorities said, in connection with the case of James Closs, 56, and his wife Denise, 46, whose bodies were found on October 15 while their daughter, Jayme, was missing. The child's disappearance made national news, sparking massive searches, with 1,500 volunteers scouring woods and fields in suburban Minneapolis, and the offer of a $25,000 reward for her safe return. Jayme was found by a resident of the town of Gordon, about an hour's drive from the Closs home, after the child, described as skinny and dirty with matted hair and wearing shoes that did not fit, knocked on her door, the Minneapolis Star Tribune said. "This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!" said a neighbour who recognised the child, the paper added. Neighbours in the small northern community called police, who said they took a suspect into custody. The exact details of the child's escape were not released. Late on Thursday, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald announced that Jayme had been found in Gordon, but he had few other details. "We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfill that promise," Fitzgerald said in a statement, thanking the community. "A suspect was taken into custody," he added. "We do not have any other details at this time as this is a very fluid and active investigation." Jayme was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but her condition was not immediately clear, with the sheriff asking the media and public to respect the family's privacy. Reuters pardeepdhull@gmail.com Baghdad, January 11 After days of back and forth over US President Donald Trumps decision to pullout American troops from Syria, a US military official said Friday the process of withdrawal has begun, declining to comment on specific timetables or movements. Col Sean Ryan, spokesman for the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, said the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria has started. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements, the Baghdad-based official said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. There were no other details, and it was not immediately clear how many vehicles or whether any troop units had withdrawn. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syrias northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. Confirmation of the first withdrawals comes amid confusion over plans to implement Trumps pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurds, who have been Americas partners on the ground in the war against the Islamic State group in Syria. There are 2,000 American troops in Syria. Trumps abrupt decision in December to pull them, declaring in a tweet the defeat of IS, sent shockwaves across the region and a flurry of criticism from some of his generals and national security advisers, and led to the resignation of US Defense Minister James Mattis and the top US envoy to the anti-IS coalition. It also led to major criticism that the US was abandoning its local Kurdish allies amid Turkish threats of an imminent attack. On Sunday, US national security adviser John Bolton said American troops will not leave northeastern Syria until IS is defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, signaling a slow-down in Trumps initial order for a rapid withdrawal. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on a tour of the region, has also sought to reassure the Kurds that they will be safe after U.S. troops withdraw from the country. These have been folks that have fought with us and its important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected, Pompeo said of the Kurds while visiting Irbil, the capital of Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, after talks in Baghdad. After initially tweeting about the decision to bring back US troops now, Trump this week said we will be leaving at a proper pace while at the same time continuing to fight ISIS and doing all else that is prudent and necessary! Kurdish officials, meanwhile, have demanded clarifications from the US over its intentions. A US troop pullout leaves the Kurds exposed to Turkish attacks from one side, and Syrian government troops on the other. The withdrawal benefits Syrian President Bashar Assad and his international backers, Russia and Iran, who are primed to move into the region to fill a vacuum left behind by the Americans. US troops have been involved in Syrias war since 2014 when the first elite force arrived in the country to advise Kurdish-led fighters who were involved in battles against the Islamic State group. AP Charles Leclerc's arrival at Ferrari will be one of the most fascinating aspects of the 2019 season. That is the view of 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, referring to the fact that Sebastian Vettel will be joined at Ferrari next year by the 21-year-old youngster. Many think that with his friend Kimi Raikkonen leaving, Vettel will be hard pressed to fend off Leclerc's challenge in 2019. "I'll switch on the TV just to see the fight between the two Ferrari guys," German Rosberg told Italy's Autosprint. "Leclerc is so strong. And Vettel is coming out of a difficult year. He will have to remain very focused and give his all if he wants to remain the Ferrari leader. "Leclerc is not Raikkonen," Rosberg added. "It puts a lot of pressure on him." In fact, Rosberg thinks Vettel-Leclerc reminds him of the explosive Alonso-Hamilton combination of 2007 at McLaren. "In some ways it's like the revival of that but with some differences. Vettel is not as difficult as Alonso while Leclerc is not a warrior like Lewis," he said. But Rosberg thinks the biggest problem for Vettel could be his inability to change his approach in order to fend off the Leclerc challenge. "If you have too much confidence in your abilities, as he does sometimes, you're not ready to change that attitude," he said. "That's what I suspect of him. That he is not capable of modifying his approach." (GMM) rchopra@tribunemail.com Washington, January 11 US President Donald Trump appears to be inching closer to imposing a national emergency that would empower him to build a wall along the US-Mexico border to prevent flow of illegal immigrants into the country. During his visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for the controversial US-Mexico border wall plan, Trump was asked if he is closer to declaring an emergency. To this he replied, We are. I would like to look it broader. I think we could do this quickly, because this is common sense and its not expensive. We will save the cost of the wall every year but much more than that. Trump had on Wednesday said that imposing a national emergency is the last option and threatened to use it if the Democrats did not allocate USD 5.7 billion funding for his controversial US-Mexico border wall plan. The Presidents inclination towards declaring a national emergency has gained momentum after he walked out of a meeting with top Democratic leaders, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer, on Wednesday following their refusal to allocate a whopping USD 5.7 billion funding for the border wall plan. During an interaction with media personnel in Texas on Thursday, Trump said, I would like to do a much broader form of immigration, and we can do immigration reform. Itll take longer. Its been complex. Its been going on for 30-35 years, theyve been talking about immigration reform. But before we do that, we have to create a barrier. That we could do very quickly. Contending strongly for construction of a barrier, concrete or steel, along the southern border with Mexico, the President has been claiming that illegal immigrants cause USD 250 billion drain on the American economy. The opposition Democrats, who are now in majority in the House of Representatives, have refused to support such a move arguing that building the wall is a waste of taxpayers money. The sharp differences between the Trump administration and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday. We can declare a national emergency. We shouldnt have to because this is just common sense, Trump said. Referring to his meeting with Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil Singh killed in California recently allegedly by an illegal immigrant, during a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, he said, Reggie, I got to know him today a little bit. This shouldnt be happening in our country. This shouldn't be happening. And what you see of the border, thats not as much of a problem as they (illegal immigrants) come through the border and they go out throughout our nation, Trump said. As hard as we work, and as well as were doing nationwide on crime, a lot of it is caused by people that come in through the southern border. So, and you know, if we had the barrier, it wouldnt happen, he told reporters. But the Democrats appeared to be unconvinced by Trumps argument of national emergency. If and when the President does that, youll find out how we will react, but Im not going to that place now. But I think the President will have problems on his own side of the aisle for exploiting the situation in a way that enhances his power. But not to go there. Lets see what he does, Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol Hill. Democratic Congresswoman Grace Meng from New York on Thursday announced to introduce a legislation in the House of Representatives on Friday to prevent Trump from using a national emergency declaration to fund a wall along the southern border. Some others said that they would file a lawsuit against national emergency. Trump said he is ready for the lawsuit and asserted that he would win it. I am prepared for anything. The lawyers tell me, like, 100 per cent, he told reporters. PTI shalender@tribune.com TAIPEI, January 10 Taiwan premier William Lai said on Thursday he was resigning along with the self-ruled islands entire cabinet, nearly two months after the defeat of his ruling pro-independence party in local poll. The election losses present a major challenge to President Tsai Ing-wen who has come under mounting domestic criticism over her reform agenda while facing renewed threats from China, which considers the island its own. Lais departure was widely expected. It is standard practice in Taiwan for leaders to go when their party loses a major election. The DPP suffered a significant defeat in November to the China-friendly opposition Kuomintang. It is also customary for the cabinet to step down when the premier resigns. The time is up. I will call a special cabinet meeting tomorrow and resign along with the entire cabinet, Lai said, adding that Tsai had approved his resignation. Tsai, who is also from the DPP, was expected to announce a new premier and ministerial appointments would follow. Taiwans elected president appoints the premier, who forms the cabinet and runs the government on a day-to-day basis. Reuters shalender@tribune.com Wakefield, January 10 Britains main Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn on Thursday called for a General Election to resolve the current deadlock in Parliament over Brexit, arguing that he would renegotiate the agreement with Brussels if he came to power. If the government cannot pass its most important legislation, then there must be a General Election at the earliest opportunity, he said. To break the deadlock, an election is not only the most practical option, it is also the most democratic option. It would give the winning party a renewed mandate to negotiate a better deal for Britain and secure support for it in parliament and across the country, he said. The EU has ruled out any renegotiation of the deal. The Labour leader has said he will seek a vote of no confidence in the government if parliament, as expected, next week votes against the Brexit deal that Prime Minister Theresa May has negotiated with EU leaders. If the government lose a no confidence motion, there will be a period of 14 days in which parties can seek to find an alternative working majority in parliament and a general election would be called if they fail to do so. PTI editorial@tribune.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, January 10 Shiromani Akali Dal leaders held a dharna in protest against the arrest of Harvinder Singh Harpalpur, nephew of MP Prem Singh Chandumajra. Harpalpur is accused of raping and cheating a widow, who has also alleged threat to her life. Harpalpur, who had been booked in November 2018, was absconding. He was arrested this morning from his house after we received information that he was hiding there, said the police. Meanwhile, SAD workers, led by Prem Singh Chandumajra, held a protest, alleging that the entire case was politically fabricated. A widow from Ghanaur had in November alleged threat to her life and children after she pressed charges of rape and cheating against Harpalpur. The police on November 2 registered an FIR pertaining to rape, cheating and conspiracy against Harpalpur. As per the FIR, the 40-year-old victim, who is uneducated and got 13 bighas of land in Ghanaur village after the death of her husband, wanted to get the land transferred in her name. Former sarpanch of Baghora village Jasvir Singh and Harpalpur took my thumb impression on some documents on the pretext of getting my work done, she had alleged. Once I gave them the documents with my thumb impression, they asked for sexual favours to get the work done. When I denied their offer, they refused to return my documents, following which I accepted the demand, the victim alleged. editorial@tribune.com Vishav Bharti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 10 Rs 11 crore in a day! That was the average of profit of the private insurance companies from Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in the past two financial years. There were 18 companies that got contracts under the crop insurance scheme. Out of them just five are in public and 13 in the private sector. So far in the two years of the scheme, all 18 companies earned profit of Rs 15,795 crore. However, a big share of the profit has gone to the private companies as they earned Rs 8,147 crore. In year-wise break-up, in the 2016-17 financial year, the profit of 13 private companies was Rs 3,283 crore and in 2017-18, their profit was Rs 4,863 crore. Among private insurance companies, 80 per cent of the profit went to just five companies. Among them, HDFC topped the chart with Rs 1,816 crore profit, followed by Reliance at 1,361 crore, Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Rs 1,195 crore, ICICI Rs 1,193 crore and SBI General Insurance Rs 1,059. Besides, other major private beneficiaries were Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company at Rs 815 crore, followed by Bharti-AXA Insurance Company Rs 302 crore, Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Rs 182 crore, Future General India Insurance Company Rs 111 crore and Shriram General Insurance Company Rs 107 crore. Ropar-based activist Dinesh Chadha, who procured the information under the RTI Act, said the Central government should make its position clear on the scheme. The big corporate houses have been given bailouts in the name of poor farmers. The government owes answer to the people whether the scheme was started for the benefit of farmers or for big corporates? he asked. Earlier, rural affairs journalist P Sainath has already termed the scheme as one of the biggest scams in the history of independent India. He said the finance capital in alliance with the government had waged a war on poor farmers of the country. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was started in 2016, aiming to provide financial support to farmers suffering from crop failure. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Our Correspondent Fazilka, January 10 Activists of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Sidhupura) blocked the national highway on the Fazilka-Abohar road for three hours here today to protest registration of cases against combine owners in the Bhikhiwind area of Mansa district for not carrying out desired alterations in combines. District president of the union Uday Singh Ghuriana said the cases were illegal and uncalled for and should be withdrawn immediately. He warned that if the cases were not withdrawn they would intensify the stir. He called upon the farmers fraternity to join the national-level agitation to be started from January 30 in favour of the demand for implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan report. Ghuriana said the employees had been getting salaries as per the Seventh Pay Commission, but the government failed to implement the recommendations of any commission for the farmers. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 10 The matter pertaining to issue of notice to a nun from Franciscan Clarist Congregation for offences like buying a car, having a driving licence, having an account on Facebook, not returning her salary drawn as schoolteacher and donning civil dress when out of church has stirred a debate across the country. Many supporting Sister Lucy Kalapura allege that she is being victimised because she had participated in the protest against former Bishop of Jalandhar Diocese Franco Mulakkal over an alleged rape case. They are also asking that while she is being penalised and singled out for using a private car, even Bishop Franco Mulakkal used a private car when he was to appear before the Kerala police. Sister Lucys sympathisers say when some parishes, churches and diocese were present on social media and had been using Facebook, there is no reason why a nun could not. The pontifical congregation, of which Sister Lucy is a part, has a provincial house at Kartarpur in Jalandhar too. Siding with Superior General Sister Ann Joseph, who issued notice to Sister Lucy, Jalandhar Diocese spokesperson Father Peter Kuvampuram said: Though the diocese does not have anything to do with the notice, we clearly justify it. In fact it was so important for the superior general to issue her notice that Sister Ann Joseph could have lost her own job for not taking action against the violator of Canon Law. Father Peter says all her actions, including going public on her views regarding the alleged rape case lodged by the nun, were wrong. Even if she was to express her opinion, she should have used an appropriate forum. She should also have taken permission to lodge the protest. gspannu7@gmail.com New Delhi, January 11 Those who seek votes in the name of cows should also provide fodder to them, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday after he was told during his visit to Bawana that the BJP-led MCD has not released funds to a gaushala for two years in the area. The chief minister, accompanied by Development Minister Gopal Rai, visited Shree Krishna Gaushala funded by the Delhi Government and municipal corporation in Bawana town in North West district. Talking to reporters after his visit, Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party does not seek votes in the name of cows. Representatives of gaushala told the chief minister that MCD, ruled by the BJP, has not released its share of funds for two years due to which they have to face problems. Kejriwal claimed that the Delhi Government has released its share of funds to gaushala, but MCD has not given its share yet. Those who seek votes in the name of cows should also give fodder to cows. They get votes in the name of cows, but they refuse to give fodder to cows, which is not right. There should not be politics over cows, he told reporters without taking name of anyone. In response to a question from reporters, Kejriwal said he will visit gaushalas in Haryana next week. The AAP is gearing up to contest Lok Sabha polls in the neighbouring state. Minister Rai said the AAP government recently introduced a policy for birds and animals. A gaushala in Ghuman Hera area will be modernised, he added. Shree Krishna Gaushala is spread over 36 acres. It has 7,552 cattle against the capacity of 7,740. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com New Delhi, January 10 A 37-year-old man, who allegedly killed his nephew suspecting him of having an affair with his girlfriend, was arrested by the Delhi Police from Hyderabad after three years of the incident, officials said Thursday. Bijay Kumar Maharana, a resident of Odisha's Ganjam, moved to Delhi in 2012 after his girlfriend shifted to the national capital. In 2015, Bijay's nephew Jai Prakash also moved to Delhi from Hyderabad and they started living together at a flat in Delhi's Dwarka area, officials said. While Bijay used to work in an IT firm in Noida Sector 144, Jai Prakash was an employee of a Gurgaon-based company. Over time, Jai Prakash became close to Bijay's girlfriend, which he didn't like. Upset over this, Bijay planned to kill his nephew, Rajender Singh Sagar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), said. On the night of February 6, 2016, when Jai Prakash was asleep, he smashed his head with the motor of a ceiling fan, which was lying in his flat for repair, the officer said. He dragged the body to his balcony and buried it in soil, which he had already arranged. He even planted saplings to alleviate any suspicion, the officer said. After a week, he filed a missing complaint with police saying his nephew didn't return after he went out with some friends. He stayed in the flat for about two months and then shifted to Nangloi in western fringes of the city. In 2017, he moved to Hyderabad, the officer said. In October last year, Jai Prakash's skeleton was found when the building was being renovated. The skeleton was wrapped in a blue-colour jacket, a shirt, a bed sheet, a blanket and a mattress. From the owner of the flat, police found about Bijay. The owner, Vikram Singh, also told police that two other tenants also lived in the flat after Bijay vacated it. During investigation, Bijay was found missing and no one in his family or his group of friends knew about his whereabouts. He had changed his mobile number and stopped using his bank accounts after withdrawing all his money, the officer said. With the help of technical surveillance, police located him after weeks of hunt. A team of the Delhi Police first went to Vishakhapatnam on December 26 and later travelled to Hyderabad on January 1 in search of Bijay. Bijay was nabbed on Sunday from Hyderabad and was brought to Delhi, he said. PTI shalender@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 10 The Congress today named party veteran Sheila Dikshit the president of its Delhi unit, officially relieving 54-year-old former unit chief Ajay Maken, who had been ailing for months. Dikshit, 80, will head a team of three working presidents, all young leaders of Delhi Congress. She had asked party president Rahul Gandhi for a back-up team for assistance, considering she was not in the best of health these days and recently underwent a surgery in France. Former three-term Delhi Chief Minister (1998 to 2013), she returns as the Delhi Congress chief after 20 years amid clear evidence of the old guard still ruling the roost in the party. Dikshit was the Delhi Congress chief until 1998 after which she went on to lead a Congress government in Delhi for 15 years. The three working presidents of Delhi Congress will be two-time MLAs Rajesh Lilothia and Devendra Yadav and former Congress Legislature Party leader in Delhi Haroon Yusuf. Dikshits appointment comes in the wake of Congress weak political base in Delhi on the eve of a crucial General Election. Although the AICC in-charge of Delhi PC Chacko today officially denied being in talks with the Aam Aadmi Party for a potential LS alliance in the state, party insiders said an engagement with AAP was underway, though AAP was playing hard to get. As of now, there is no talk of any alliance in Delhi with anyone and the Congress is strong enough to contest all seven LS seats in Delhi on its own, Chacko said. Congress insiders, however, privately said both the Congress and AAP were talking and the pressure game was underway to reach the best electoral understanding. Dikshit has put the ball in Gandhis court displaying more flexibility than Maken on an alliance issue. Thats one reason why Dikshit was brought back to lead Delhi Congress after the party was decimated in 2013 and again in 2015 state polls and also in the municipal elections. Back in action, Dikshit said she would do her best in the new role like always. Dikshit had happily agreed to be Congress chief ministerial face in the last UP elections before Gandhi abruptly abandoned her for a last-minute alliance with the SP, which proved disastrous. In between, she also served as the Kerala Governor. Kejri wants seats in punjab, haryana, goa The Tribune has learnt that AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has thrown a spanner in alliance talks by demanding vacation of seats from the Congress in Punjab, Haryana and Goa in return for seats in Delhi. This condition has got the Congress rethinking. IT and innovation training. The proposed budget says all state supervisors, managers and executives will be required to attend training through a new innovation academy that will highlight change management and continuous process improvements. Project managers and state IT staffers will receive training that prioritizes iterative methodology and agile development, focusing on using modular procurement instead of single-vendor delivery. Focus on the customer and service delivery. Implementing user-centered design and feedback loops will assist the office in creating "a culture of continuous program improvement and 21st-century delivery methods," the budget statement says. (Techwire) One day after proposing a major shift in California tech procurement, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced plans to transform digital innovation in state government.In releasing his proposed $209 billion 2019-2020 budget, Newsom announced a plan for a new Office of Digital Innovation and an innovation academy. The office would reside under the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), with an initial startup budget of $36.2 million. The office would employ 50 people and have an annual budget of $14.6 million.Newsom's budget announcement does not mention the California Department of Technology (CDT), which initiated its own Digital Services Innovation Academy last May, headed by state Chief Innovation Officer Scott Gregory. DSIA is one of four CDT academies , the others being the flagship Information Technology Leadership Academy, the Project Management Leadership Academy and the Information Services Leadership Academy.The Innovation Office "will have the authority to develop and enforce requirements for departments to assess their service delivery models and underlying business processes from an end-user perspective," Newsom's budget statement says. That places the Innovation Office over other departments when it comes to service delivery.Government Operations Agency and the Department of Technology will be working together with the governors office on the proposed Office of Digital Innovation," GovOps Deputy Secretary for Communications Lynda Gledhill explained toin an email Thursday afternoon."Details will be worked out as we go through the budget process, Gledhill said.contacted CDT for clarification about any changes in the department's role or functions; the department referred inquiries to GovOps.According to the plan in Newsom's proposed budget, the Innovation Office will prioritize:Newsom's budget proposal also directs the Innovation Office to coordinate similar services with departments and stakeholders across the state. In order to do that, an additional $20 million has been set aside for the office to demonstrate transformational service delivery, especially with high-priority needs, across all departments."The transformation of state operations and programs is essential to bringing government closer to the people and building user-friendly service delivery models," the section concludes. "This state investment focuses on modernizing service delivery at all levels where Californians engage with government programs."Newsom was sworn in Monday and, one day later, he issued an executive order stretching the role of the state Department of General Services (DGS) and CDT to "develop a new iterative procurement approach called an Innovation Procurement Sprint." His four-page order promotes a new tool RFI2, for "Request for Innovative Ideas" that allows for solution development and collaboration on the front end of the process, instead of requiring payment before service delivery.And on Wednesday, Newsom again addressed one of California's tech-related problems management of the Department of Motor Vehicles by naming GovOps Secretary Marybel Batjer to head a strike force that will spend the next six months addressing challenges within the beleaguered agency.The next step for Newsom's budget is the May revision, released by the Department of Finance on May 14, and then final approval by June 15 by the Legislature.Techwire.netGovernment Technology. vermaajay1968@gmail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 10 Two days after the Supreme Court ordered reinstatement of Alok Verma as the CBI Director, he has been unceremoniously removed. The decision by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Supreme Court Judge AK Sikri as the CJIs nominee and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has surprised many. But those who read the January 8 verdict meticulously had kept their fingers crossed as Verma had not been given a clean chit. His fate had already been sealed by the top court, which had also perused confidential documents submitted by the Centre which were not shared with Vermas counsel. The reinstatement order was rather based on legal technicalities. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had held that neither the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) nor the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had powers to remove or transfer the CBI Director. It had given a broader meaning to the expression transfer and accordingly set aside the October 23, 2018, orders divesting Verma of his powers. The Bench had also ruled that the power to take such a decision under the amended Delhi Special Police Establishment Act vested only in the selection panel. Whats important is that in its interim report submitted to the top court of its probe against Verma conducted under the supervision of former top court judge AK Patnaik, the CVC had recorded certain adverse findings against him and the CJI had talked about it in the open court. Its an irony of sorts that Kharge who had opposed Vermas appointment as CBI Director in January 2017 gave a dissent note against the decision to remove him from the coveted post. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 11 The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the names of Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Delhi High Court judge Sanjiv Khanna for elevation as judges of the top court which is functioning with only 26 judges against a sanctioned strength of 31 judges. The decision was taken at a meeting of the five-member Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Thursday. It was announced on top courts website on Friday. Other members of the Collegium are Justice AK Sikri, Justice SA Bobde, Justice NV Ramana and Justice Arun Mishra. While recommending the names of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna, the Collegium has taken into consideration combined seniority on all-India basis of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of High Courts, apart from their merit and integrity. The Collegium has also kept in mind the desirability of giving due representation on the Bench of the Supreme Court, as far as possible, to all the High Courts, a resolution adopted by the Collegium said. The Collegium has discussed names of Chief Justices as well as senior puisne Judges of all High Courts, eligible for elevation to the Supreme Court. The Collegium is of the considered view that at present the following persons are more deserving and suitable in all respects than other Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of High Courts, for being appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court of India, the resolution read. The two appointments would take the strength of the Supreme Court to 28 against its sanctioned strength of 31. vermaajay1968@gmail.com New Delhi, January 10 Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today made a fine distinction between India joining the group of nations that would talk to the Taliban and demands to hold talks with separatists in Kashmir, saying talks could not be conducted if there was violence. Addressing a press conference here ahead of Army Day (January 15), he said the suggestion of talks with the Taliban did not fit into the Jammu and Kashmir scenario. On Kashmir, he said, Come to the negotiating table, we can talk. But you have to shun the gun. But the number of conditions laid down for talks makes it difficult to hold talks. He said some nations had moved to speak to the Taliban. If India thinks it has a stake in Afghanistan, we must step in, he added. I am not saying take the lead. But at least go and listen to what is being discussed in Afghanistan. The government sent somebody to listen at the meeting. The same does not apply to J&K as its a bilateral issue with the western neighbour. People are saying lets tone down operations, can anyone give a guarantee that no convoy will be attacked in Kashmir? he questioned. As regards the border, he said, The situation is well on our western and northern fronts. There is no cause for concern. About changes in the strategy in tackling China after the Wuhan summit, he said, We are maintaining peace and tranquility of the kind that we wish. He said the proposed restructuring of the Army headquarters would commence in mid-2019. The setting up of the Integrated Battle Group (IBG) would be tested on ground in May and then the Army would move to implement it. The IBG would not be a mini Strike Corps, he said. He said he had involved Army commanders in discussions on restructuring. We cannot take a decision on 100 per cent consensus, its about leadership. There are some issues which go beyond consensus, but yes, majority view has to be taken, he said. He said addressing the disparity in disability pension to soldiers was his top priority. On the misuse of social media, he said those flouting guidelines would face punishment. TNS pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, January 11 Nepal Army Chief General Purna Chandra Thapa will be conferred with the honorary rank of General of Indian Army by President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday. The Nepal Army Chief begins his four-day India visit on Saturday during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with top brass of the Indian Army with an aim to further expand bilateral military cooperation. The honorary rank of General of Indian Army is being conferred on the Nepal Army Chief following an age-old tradition which is existed between the armies of both countries, defence ministry officials said. Indian Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat was conferred with the title of honorary General of the Nepal Army by Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari during his visit to the country in 2017. Commander-in-Chief Gen Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was the first Indian Army Chief to be decorated with the title in 1950. On Gen. Thapas visit, the Indian Army said, The visit symbolises the deep-rooted military-to-military ties and shall be a platform to further strengthen the defence cooperation between the two armies. General Thapa will also be visiting Indian Army formations based in Jaipur and Lucknow. PTI shalender@tribune.com New Delhi, January 10 The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday issued a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his extremely misogynistic, offensive and unethical remarks against Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a rally in Jaipur. In the notice, the womens panel said it has taken suo motu cognisance of news reports which appeared in various print and electronic media dated January 9, wherein it is reported that you have allegedly made remarks insulting against a woman minister. What is @rahulgandhi trying to imply with his misogynistic statement- ... ek mahila say kaha meri raksha kiijiye? Does he think women are weak? The irony- calling an accomplished defence minister of the largest democracy a weak person. @nsitharaman @narendramodi @ncwindia, NCW chief Rekha Sharma tweeted. The Congress chief at the farmers rally on Wednesday had said, The watchman with a 56-inch chest ran away and told a woman, Sitharaman ji, defend me. I wont be able to defend myself, defend me. The NCW in the notice said, It has been reported that you allegedly said ..... the PM ran away and asked a mahila- a veiled reference to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman - to defend him. The remarks are extremely misogynistic, offensive, unethical and shows an extreme disrespect towards the dignity and honour of women in general, the commission said. It also said the NCW strongly condemns such irresponsible and disparaging views of persons holding responsible positions. PTI/TNS Respect for women begins at home Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday countered PM Narendra Modi's barbs on the former's alleged insult of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying, With all due respect Modiji, in our culture respect for women begins at home. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 11 Nepal has sought an assurance from India that if in future another round of demonetisation happens, the Indian currency in circulation in the Himalayan nation will not be stopped from exchanges. This is a key apprehension stemming from recent reports that India would stop printing the new 2,000-rupee notes. Nepal stopped use of the new Indian 200, 500- and 2000-rupee notes in December 2018. Nepalese foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali raised the issue in his meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday. We are saying to Indian banks that in future there should be no problems. We want an assurance from the Indian side, said Gyawali on Friday. Nepal faced a crisis with demonetisation announced in 2016, as 7 crore Indian old rupee notes in its banking system and an unaccounted sum in individual possession are yet to be exchanged. The Oli government is pressing for a resolution The Nepal Rastra Bank has sent a communication to the Reserve Bank of India. The matter is being examined by authorities in the RBI, said Raveesh Kumar, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) spokesperson, on Friday. Speaking to media, Gyawali also batted strongly for revival of the SAARC summit to be hosted by Islamabad, which was derailed following the India led boycott in 2016 in wake of the Uri terror strikes. Nepal is the current Chair of the SAARC and has been advocating regional dialogue. There are problems for which the summit was postponed. But there is no alternative but to sit together and mitigate the differences, seek alternatives for mutual cooperation. Problems we are facing now cannot be addressed alone even if they are big countries. Terrorism cannot be fought alone. Poverty cannot be tackled single handedly. Collective efforts are needed, said Gyawali. He further cited US reach out to North Korea to make a case for SAARC resumption. We need broader regional cooperation.We are requesting all members to sit together and talk. If Trump and Kim can sit together in Singapore to resolve differences, then why not us? In every forum we talk about it, the minister added. However Indian official position remains the same that the situation has not improved sufficiently and cross border terrorism continues. Asked about ties with Beijing, Gyawali welcomed the Wuhan informal summit and stressed that Nepal has wonderful relations with both India and China which must not be compared as they have their own characteristics, features and backgrounds. Nepal also hopes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon find time to accept a finalised report of the Eminent Persons Group on bilateral ties, which has been pending since July 2018 .The delay has led to speculation of the report being a sticking point in ties with Gyawali insisting that it was finalised with unanimity. shalender@tribune.com New Delhi, January 10 Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge today gave a dissent note during a meeting of the high-powered panel chaired by PM Narendra Modi against its decision to shunt out CBI Director Alok Verma and instead asked the panel to compensate him by granting him 77 more days in office as the agencys chief. According to sources, Kharge said during the meeting that Verma should not be penalised and be given an extension of 77 days for which he was not allowed to attend the office. This is the second time Kharge has objected to Vermas removal. Incidentally, he had earlier objected to his appointment too. Kharge told other panel members that in his opinion, Verma should be allowed to explain himself before the committee, along with the charges made against him, prior to any decision being taken. It would be grossly unfair not to restore Alok Verma to the full extent of the authority enjoyed by the office of the Director CBI and compensate him by extending his term appropriately to accommodate for the loss of 77 days caused by the illegal orders of the CVC and DoPT on October 23, 2018, he said in his dissent note. shalender@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 10 India and Nepal reviewed bilateral ties spread across many sectors, especially progress on three transformative initiatives in agriculture, railways and inland waterways, besides ongoing bilateral development and connectivity projects. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the significant progress made in different sectors of cooperation as a result of intensified bilateral exchanges at all levels, a Ministry of External Affairs release said at the conclusion of talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, who was here to attend the Raisina Dialogue. The two Ministers reiterated their commitment to maintain the new momentum and further strengthen the traditionally close friendly ties. Foreign Minister Gyawali extended an invitation to Swaraj to visit Nepal to co-chair the next meeting of the joint commission, to be held at an early date. In his address at the Raisina Dialogue, organised by the MEA and Observer Research Foundation, Gyawali said Nepal cherished Indias prosperity and appreciated New Delhis decision to allow cross-border trade in electricity that would help his country, which was rich in hydro-power. Nepal and India, he said, have reinvigorated bilateral mechanism and hoped the relations would strengthen further. Gyawali also said his country would work together with India to strengthen SAARC, BIMSTEC and also BBIN. Underscoring his countrys foreign policy as independent and dictated by what is good for the people, Nepal, he said, is a country of peace-loving people who do not bear ill-will towards any country. In an apparent reference to China, he said one countrys rise should not be seen as a threat to others and that rise of China and India would benefit all nations in the region as well as the world. Criticising the protectionist policies pursued by the United States now, he said a country that once was a proponent of globalisation is now raising barriers. He said Nepal is a small country with less resources and it believes in multilateralism and rule-based order, essential for its survival. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 11 India has given green signal to Pakistan to visit the Indus Basin, including Ratle, Lower Kalnai and Pakaldul hydro projects, on the Chenab river. Sources told The Tribune that Commissioners on both sides agreed to undertake the tour during the 115th meeting of the Permanent Indus Waters Commission (PIC) in Lahore in August 2018. Pakistan objects to designs of Pakal Dul (1000MW) dam and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) project under construction in Jammu and Kashmir in Chenab, calling it violative of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) while India dismisses the objection as baseless. Pakistan and India have been into the Indus water treaty dispute for ages. Due to our continued efforts, theres a major breakthrough that India has finally agreed to our request for inspection of Indian projects in Chenab basin, wrote Faisal Vawda, Pakistani Federal Minister for Water Resources on Twitter. However, an Indian official source clarified that this tour was originally scheduled for October 2018 but was postponed because of the elections of local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. The PIC is an established mechanism under IWT to promote cooperation in development of Indus Water Systems. The IWT signed with World Bank mediation after nine years of negotiations mandates the PIC to meet at least once a year alternately in India and Pakistan. Under Article VII of the Treaty, both the Commissioners are mandated to undertake, once in every five years, a general tour to ascertain facts connected with various developments and works on both sides of the rivers. Pakistani official team is expected to inspect the basin from 27th January to 1st February. Its indeed a feather in Ministry for water resources cap. We welcome this gesture from India and we expect the same spirit for resolution of other outstanding issues. The delegation will be headed by the Commissioner for Indus Waters and this is the result of his continued efforts, tweeted Vawda. IWT allows control of water flowing in the eastern rivers of Beas, Sutlej and Ravi to India. While Pakistan has control over the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. Since signing of IWT in 1960, India has arranged 70 tours for the Pakistani side, while the Indian team has been hosted 48 times by Islamabad. No tour so far has been held in the current five years block ending in March 2020. (TNS) Alaska officials are working to keep in place a statewide seismic network that's scheduled to be decommissioned next year but is vital for understanding earthquake and tsunami risks in the nation's most seismically active state.The National Science Foundation next year plans to remove more than 150 seismic sensors it installed in Alaska in recent years, closing out a $50 million project that vastly improved the state's limited seismic network, said Mike West, state seismologist.But West and others, with Anchorage's magnitude 7.0 earthquake still fresh in mind, are pushing to keep at least 80 sensors."This has been a huge boon to our operation," West said. "Four of every five big earthquakes in the U.S. happen in Alaska, but compared to other places, we are poorly instrumented."Sen. Lisa Murkowski "strongly supports" the idea and is taking steps to ensure many of the stations remain in Alaska, said Karina Borger, a spokeswoman for the senator.The temporary stations, largely installed in 2016 and 2017, are part of the USArray project that traveled across the Lower 48, creating CAT scan-like images deep beneath the continent.Alaska was the last stop."Their real goal is imaging the deep continent of North America," West said, mapping tectonic plates hundreds of miles underground.The seismic stations were a "game-changer" in Alaska, said West, head of the Alaska Earthquake Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. They created a quake-monitoring web, filling in "Montana-sized" gaps that had existed in much of the state.The federal sensors supplemented the state system consisting of about 150 sensors limited to Southcentral Alaska and the Railbelt and allowed scientists to pinpoint the depth, orientation and footprints of the most remote quakes.The system has proven vital in tracking unusual events, such as a 6.4 quake in northeast Alaska and a 7.9 quake off the coast of Kodiak, both striking in 2018."Without the USArray, some of those far-flung earthquakes would be like listening to thunder over the horizon," West said. "You know it's over there, but you don't really know what happened."Keeping the stations will help improve the accuracy of tsunami warnings, West said.They also can be a precursor to a statewide earthquake warning system such as the one being rolled out in California, he said. That could one day give Alaskans several seconds of warning before a quake strikes."It's fair to say that Alaska is conspicuously absent from the earthquake early warning system discussions in this country in large part because we don't have the infrastructure to support it," West said.Sterling Strait, chair of the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission, said the USArray project added a few dozen sensors north of the Brooks Range, home to the state's North Slope oil fields, where previously just one sensor had operated.The stations, housed in small huts with sensors placed in the ground, provide valuable data for engineers building earthquake-resistant facilities like village schools and oil pipelines, said Strait."It helps us better understand where faults are, and forecast the size of earthquakes and where they might be, so we can better provide for the safety of infrastructure and people in the regions," Strait said.West said the University of Alaska seeks $5 million in state funding to keep many of the USArray sensors in Alaska. It's the university's lone capital budget request for research, a sign of its value, he said.The state money could attract another $19 million in federal funding, helping cover operations and maintenance costs for five years, he said.The National Science Foundation appears open to the idea, as long as it receives appropriate compensation, said Bob Woodward, with Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, the organization that installed the USArray sensors."Most of us in the science community would be delighted to see as many of them as possible continue to run (in Alaska)," he said.Strait, with the seismic hazards commission, said the group supports the university's request. This year, the commission will also target improvements to school safety and boosting training for post-quake structural inspections.West said Alaska's congressional delegation has helped lay the groundwork for keeping part of the system in Alaska. Murkowski helped secure funding that allowed the earthquake center to incorporate data from the USArray stations.Multiple federal agencies are interested in the idea, West said. The sensors' additional benefits include detecting nuclear tests in foreign countries, and meteorological instruments on some stations improve weather forecasting."We have good reason to be optimistic there will be a significant federal contribution to this effort," West said.___(c)2019 the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska)Visit the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska) at www.adn.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. rchopra@tribunemail.com Jitendra K Shrivastava Tribune News Service Patna, January 11 A 45-year-old man of Gaya district of Bihar was on Friday arrested for killing his minor daughter after her beheaded body was recovered. The man in connivance with his friend had killed his 16-year-old daughter, who had eloped with her friend on December 28, but returned to her parents after three days. The man confessed to the police that he had killed his daughter. He had also lodged the missing complaint about her daughter on January 4. The beheaded body of the girl was found in the fields after which a protest march was held in Gaya demanding the arrest of the killers. Gaya SSP Rajiv Mishra said: The police arrested her father and his friend as they had committed the cold-blooded murder. It is case of honour killing. Mishra said, Prima facie, it appeared that she was abducted and raped before being killed. Later, the postmortem report revealed that she was not raped. Her younger sister also said that she had been last seen with their fathers friend that helped in unravelling the mystery. shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Ludhiana/Kolkata/Indore, January 11 The screening of the Bollywood film "The Accidental Prime Minister" was stopped in several multiplexes in Kolkata and Ludhiana on Friday following protests by Congress party activists. In Ludhiana, the activists held a protest outside the Pavilion Mall following which the multiplex management did not start the show to prevent untoward incidents. Local police and administration officials were present when the Congress protest took place. The film was, however, screened in multiplexes in Chandigarh, around 130 km from here. In Madhya Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists created a ruckus outside a multiplex where they had arrived to watch the first show of the film. Hundreds of BJYM workers reached the Malhar Mega Mall here, which houses the multiplex, with a band. Before entering the cinema hall, they shouted slogans against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, and got into fracas with the police who were present there anticipating trouble. BJYM's local unit's president Manasvi Patidar said that NSUI had warned cinema halls against screening the film, so "in order to give a befitting reply, we watched the film in this manner". And mainly, due to security reasons the screening of the film in Kolkata was also cancelled. According to the viewers at the Hind Cinema near central Kolkata's Chandni Chowk area, the show was cancelled after screening for just 10 minutes on its opening day. "The afternoon screening of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' has been cancelled due to security reasons. There was an agitation by a certain group outside the hall," a senior officer of Kolkata Police said told IANS. However, he could not confirm whether the next shows of the film will be screened as scheduled. It is based on a book with the same title written by Sanjaya Baru, former Prime Minister Singh's media advisor. Baru's book was published on April 20, 2014. Actor Anupam Kher plays the role of Manmohan Singh, Suzanne Bernert that of Sonia Gandhi and Arjun Mathur of Rahul Gandhi. The role of Baru is being played by Akshaye Khanna. Agencies gspannu7@gmail.com Johnson Thomas First time director Vijay Guttes attempt to adapt Sanjaya Barus The Accidental Prime Minister appears far more malicious than informative. Baru (played here by Akshaye Khanna), as we read from his memoir, had issues with the Advisory Council led by Sonia Gandhi, and the members of the PMO and his angst appears to be a by-product of that disgruntlement. Guttes film goes one step further and lampoons the Gandhi family in unfair caricature while making out politicos like Ahmed Patel (Vipin Sharma) and Prithviraj Chouhan (Ramesh Bhatkar) look like sneaky players. Neither Baru nor Gutte manage to substantiate their impressions with fact. They merely pander to gossip and idle chatter while connecting dots that dont exactly add up to what is being suggested. The allegation that Manmohan Singh was merely warming the throne for PM in waiting, Rahul Gandhi, for 10 years on-the-trot, is so fallacious that it puts into question the entire electoral system, intelligence of the Indian people, as well as conjures up a Congress party as a behemoth with all-pervasive power over the masses. That obviously cant be true given the turn of events. The film also lays the blame for corruption on Sonia and Rahuls doorstep when it was in fact the UPA allies who were actually caught in the crosshairs of notional loss-making by CAG. It was a faux narrative carried forward by the Anna gang, Kejriwal, IAC and the BJP in opposition and resulted in Narendra Modi getting elevated to power. The truth as we know it today is way different from what we were persuaded to believe then. Guttes film basically panders to an anti-Gandhi family narrative while portraying Sonia (Suzanne Bernett), Rahul (Arjun Mathur) and Manmohan Singh (Anupam Kher) in derogatory light. The performances by the actors resembling the three main characters is so undermining that it seems intentional and therefore unpardonable. Anupam Kher is unforgivably toonish, Suzanne Bernett struggles with her Sonia Gandhi impersonation while Arjun Mathur doesnt even manage a favourable look. None of the cast makes an impression here. The writing is perverse while the narrative fails to find cohesive entreaty. Guttes selective use of stock TV footage to buttress the negative implications here makes for a terribly biased perspective. This is certainly not cinema, its propaganda of the worst kind! editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Rajouri, January 10 An Army officerand a Border Security Force constable were injured on Thursday when Pakistan violated ceasefire inRajouri district. The truce has been violated in the Jammu region for the third consecutive day. The Pakistani troops targeted a forward post in the Tarkundi area of Manjakot tehsil in Rajouri district about 1 pm. The injured have been identified as Major Yadaendra of J&K Light Infantry and Constable Mumtaz Ali of 59 Battalion of the BSF. The Major received bullet injuries in his leg while the constable, a resident of Rajouri, was hit in the abdomen. Both were evacuated and airlifted to the military hospital in Jammu. Their condition is stated to be stable, sources said. The Pakistan army initiated unprovoked firing this afternoon in the Balakot sector which was effectively and strongly retaliated, resulting in injuries to our personnel, said Lt Col Devender Anand, Defence PRO. About 8.15 pm, Pakistani troops again resorted to firing in the Malti and Degwar areas of the Gulpur sector in Poonch district. On Wednesday, Pakistan had initiated unprovoked firing with small arms and resorted to shelling with heavy-calibre weapons in the Gulpur sector of Poonch district. Thursdays violation was the eighth such incident in the past week. editorial@tribune.com Srinagar, January 10 The Army on Thursday said that in addition to the surgical strikes, it had a range of options available to take on Pakistan in case of any misadventure. Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, who had announced the September 2016 surgical strikes in Pakistan, said the Pakistan army had been violating the ceasefire to help the infiltrators to cross the Line of Control. It is to the credit of all troops deployed on the LoC that we have been able to keep the enemy under tremendous pressure. While they might initiate a small action to support the infiltrators, they are given deterrent punishment so that they avoid such misadventure in future. However it has carried on, Lt General Singh said on the sidelines of a winter youth festival at Gulmarg in north Kashmir. When asked about the need for another surgical strike as the ceasefire violations were continuing, the Northern Command chief said they had a range of options available. Depending on the situation and depending on what is the effect that we desire, we decide whatever option has to be exercised, he said. TNS pardeepdhull@gmail.com Jammu, January 11 Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Friday said the administration was ready for the Assembly elections in the state and a call in this direction should be taken by the Election Commission and New Delhi. Whenever, they (EC) tell us, we are ready for the polls (to Assembly), he told reporters here after the oath-taking ceremony of sarpanch of Jammu region. On IAS officer Shah Faesals resignation, Malik said he himself was a government employee and did not wish to comment on the matter. The Election Commission (EC) had in November last said fresh elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be held within the next six months, even as the body did not rule out the possibility of holding the state polls before the Lok Sabha polls due this year. The Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls must be held on the first occasion before May. It could be held before the parliamentary elections also, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat had said. He said as per the Supreme Court, the outer limit for holding fresh polls after the dissolution of the House was six months, that is May, 2019. It may be recalled that the central government on December 28 told the Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir Governor had no option but to recommend Presidents Rule in the state as no party or alliance staked claim to form the government. On Tuesday, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the assembly polls should be held as soon as possible. The National Conference (NC) vice-president also took a dig at some politicians and bureaucrats for creating hurdles in holding of Assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha polls in the state. PTI editorial@tribune.com lit Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, January 10 Race for Congress ticket from Kangra and Hamirpur parliamentary constituencies has begun. This week the Nagrota Bagwan bloc Congress passed a resolution seeking nomination of former minister and senior Congress leader GS Bali from Kangra parliamentary constituency for the forthcoming elections. Bali, when contacted, however, said that these were just the sentiments of the party workers from Nagrota Bagwan and it was for the party high command to decide the party candidate. From Kangra parliamentary constituency supporters of both GS Bali and former minister Sudhir Sharma have been raising the name of their respective leader for Congress ticket. Both Sudhir Sharma and Bali are Brahmin leaders. Earlier, the Congress candidate from Kangra was an OBC leader Chander Kumar. In BJP also certain leaders were pressing for their candidature. Trilok Kapoor, national vice president of the ST Morcha of the BJP, has been openly lobbying for the BJP ticket from Kangra. His posters dot various parts of Kangra district. His supporters have organized press conferences and demanded that the BJP ticket from Kangra parliamentary should be given to the Gaddi leader. However, a majority of party leaders believe that veteran party leader Shanta Kumar, who is sitting BJP MP from Kangra, would be the best bet despite his age. Shanta Kumar is an octogenarian and many feel that the party might relax age criteria in his case keeping in view the winning ability criteria. From Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, Abhishek Rana, son of Rajinder Rana, sitting Congress MLA from Sujjanpur Assembly constituency, is staking his claim for Congress ticket. Rajinder Rana shot into fame in the last Assembly elections defeating BJP CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal. Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had endorsed the candidature of Abhishek Rana from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency at a rally organized in Sujjanpur. Abhishek has already started touring the Hamirpur constituency. This week Abhishek visited the Haroli and Gagret Assembly constituencies in Una district where he was accorded warm welcome. In Haroli he was welcomed by none other than the CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri. Apart from Abhishek, none of the Congress leaders was openly lobbying for party ticket from Hamirpur. In case fielded by Congress, Abhishek, a greenhorn, would most likely be pitted against the three-time BJP MP Anurag Thakur. Greenhorn enjoys senior leaders support editorial@tribune.com ibune News Service Shimla, January 10 Over 350 resident doctors of the IGMC here are up in arms against the state government and medical college management, demanding immediate release of their monthly stipend, provisions for accommodation and food in the college canteen. We have raised the issue with the health authorities, despite that we have not received the monthly stipend ranging from Rs 35,000 for the first year, Rs 40,000 for the second year and Rs 45,000 for the third year, rued members of the Resident Doctors Association (RDA), Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla. The doctors held their emergency meeting here today, expressing unhappiness over the indifferent attitude of the state government. They said they work non-stop for 36 hours taking care of patients. Most of the residents have come from distant places to the IGMC. The government does not provide them hostel or residential facility, they rued. The government was not bothered to pay them their monthly stipend even after 10 days of the due date, said Dr Ajay Jaryal, president, RDA. When all employees are paid salaries on the first, why the residents are made to wait for their stipend every month, he said. The residents were not getting proper food in the IGMC canteen. We have raised the issues with the government and college management, but to no avail, RDA claimed. IGMC Principal Dr Ravi Sharma, who was out of station, said they had brought it to the notice of the government which was finalising the issue of bank guarantee to be submitted by the residents. Many had not submitted their affidavits. The payment of stipend might be delayed due to this, he added. Dr Jaryal said the government might have issues with the first or second year students, but even third year residents had not received their stipend. editorial@tribune.com kuldeep chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, January 10 A five-member inquiry team of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has unearthed a scam worth Rs 1.12 crore in connection with missing 53 copper stator bars in the Parbati stage-III project. The inquiry report completed on December 15, 2018 has been submitted to the CMD, NHPC for action, sources revealed. The NHPC conducted the inquiry as it was for the second time that the stator copper bars were found missing from the Parbati-III project. A nexus between certain managers and private contractors cant be ruled out, revealed NHPC insiders. According to the five-member inquiry report, which is in the possession of The Tribune, there was no concrete evidence that 53 stator copper bars ever reached the store of the Parbati-III power house as claimed by the Parbati-III project managers. The NHPC had commissioned the 520 MW Parbati-III project in 2016. Earlier also, as many as 66 stator copper bars worth Rs 1.5 crore were found missing in the same project in a similar fashion and insurance was claimed for the same, revealed NHPC managers. The NHPC constituted an inquiry on October 29 after senior manager (technical) Suraj Dhiman lodged an FIR with police post, Sainj, under Banjar police station on October 28, 2018 stating that 53 stator copper bars worth Rs 1.12 crore were found missing from the power house store. The inquiry report, however, found that the copper bars were shown to have entered the power house without checking and verification from the Central store. There was no demand for these bars from the power house at that time, the report said. It is mandatory that all material and goods procured for the projects from any outside agency have to be kept under the charge of the central store of the project. After this, it is entered into stock ledger, but this procedure was not followed in the case of 53 stator copper bars, the report said. The inquiry found that the 53 stators copper bars were shown to be procured from BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd), Bhopal, on August 22, 2016. But it was ironical that the verification order of the bars was issued one year in advance on September 3, 2015, the report revealed. Moreover, nobody verified and checked the stator bars which were claimed to be kept in the GIS store between August 22, 2016 and 27 October, 2018, inquiry found. Three CCTV cameras are installed in this store, but both DGM (M) power house, and DGM (E &C) - IT could not show us the footage, the signed inquiry report stated in its findings. The inquiry team headed by J R Meena, DGM (NHPC), recorded statements of 16 staff members of the Parbati-stage-III project. SP, Kullu, Shalini Agnihotri said they had sought records of the movement of stator bars from the BHEL inventory, Bhopal. We are checking all documents, entry register and all previous records to investigate the case, she added. (TNS) Training has been halted for thousands of western firefighters. The U.S. Forest Service can't let contracts for needed equipment. In forests across the West, no federal employees are doing work to reduce dry "fuel" that feeds catastrophic blazes.These are some of the effects of the federal shutdown on federal firefighters, and experts say the situation could quickly worsen. If the shutdown drags out for several more weeks, federal fire crews won't be ready for the months ahead, following a 2018 fire season that killed scores of people and destroyed thousands of homes in California and other states."This is the second year in a row we've had a shutdown right in the middle of the (firefighter) training season," said Jim Whittington, a former U.S. Bureau of Land Management employee who runs an Oregon-based crisis management consulting company, Whittington & Associates. "The last thing we want is for fires to break out, and not have the kind of crews we need to field."As Whittington notes, federal and state firefighting agencies have long used the winter months to prepare for the upcoming fire season. This includes hiring of firefighters, contracting for aircraft, helicopters and food service and training of existing personnel.Now, much of that is in limbo.Earlier this month, the Tennessee-Kentucky Wildland Fire Academy announced it was canceling its Jan. 7-19 training courses "because of the partial federal government shutdown." If the shutdown continues into next week, it could affect firefighter training academies in Washington, Oregon, Colorado and other states, Whittington said.Each year, all wildland firefighters are required to undergo a refresher course, to keep them current on hazards, equipment and communications methods. But because federal employees are unable to travel to attend the wildfire academies either as students or instructors some of the courses are being cancelled.Altogether, more than 30,000 employees are involved with wildland fire suppression at the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior. A Forest Service contingency plan for the shutdown exempts actual firefighters from furloughs, but thousands more staff in support positions are no longer on the job.Because of inadequate staffing, the U.S. Forest Service has suspended the "pile burns" it conducts seasonally in the Sierra Nevada, Cascades and other mountain ranges, according to community forestry organizations. Such burns are conducted during the winter months, even with snow on the ground, to safely burn off piles of dead timber that crews collect during the warmer months.Nick Goulette, executive director of the Watershed Center, a community forestry group in Hayfork, Cal., said he knows of pile burning projects suspended in the Tahoe Basin, outside of Dolores, Colorado, and possibly many other places. Overall, he said, an extended shutdown could leave the Forest Service much less prepared to prevent fires as spring approaches."There is no question about that," Goulette said. "The Forest Service works through all their hiring processes during the winter, and initiates its training regime during these months. ... There is no question this jeopardizes readiness as it drags on."Responding to the deadly Camp Fire in Northern California last year, Trump blamed California officials for letting their forests become overgrown. During a Nov. 17 visit to the fire zone, Trump called for more "raking and cleaning" of the forests, presumably a call to thin them of excessive undergrowth.But because of the shutdown, some California groups have put a hold on prospective projects to reduce wildfire threats. In Toulumne County, one local organization Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions was planning to apply for a state forest management grant to reduce fire hazards in the Stanislaus National Forest. Unable to obtain needed maps and other information from the U.S. Forest Service, the group has sidelined its work, said John Buckley, executive director of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center."This is just one small example of how not having federal employees working can lead to the potential loss of outside funding" to reduce wildfire threats, Buckley said in an email.Not all firefighting agencies have been affected by the federal shutdown. In California, much of the defense against wildfires is led by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire. The agency draws on more than 7,000 permanent and seasonal employees, and has responsibility for 31 million acres statewide.According to Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean, the federal shutdown "has had no real effect on CAL FIRE whether it be for firefighters or forest management or fuel reduction projects on state land."At the federal level, it was not immediately known how many Forest Service employees have been furloughed. Because of the shutdown, no one was manning the agency's DC news office on Wednesday.Even without the shutdown, firefighters were facing an increasingly compressed "window" to prepare for the upcoming fire season, Whittington said. Because of climate change, the fire season has become lengthened, with big fires breaking out late in the fall and starting up again as early as March. "That gives us much less time to prepare," he said.___(McClatchy's Kate Irby contributed to this report.)___(c)2019 McClatchy Washington BureauVisit the McClatchy Washington Bureau at www.mcclatchydc.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC._____PHOTO (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194):SHUTDOWN-WILDFIRES editorial@tribune.com Parveen Arora Tribune News Service Karnal, January 10 With the sowing of wheat almost over, the state is running behind the target of cultivating the crop over 25.23 lakh hectares. The area under wheat cultivation has shrunk to around 40,000 hectares in Haryana, a key wheat growing state. As per the report released by the Directorate of Wheat Development, Ghaziabad, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, wheat sowing was completed on 24.61 lakh hectare till January 1, covering 97.56 per cent of the targeted area. Last year, wheat was sown on 25.03 lakh hectares. The authorities are hopeful Haryana will cover its target by January-end as sowing is still going on in some areas of the state. We are hopeful that we will achieve the target yield. Farmers have sown most effective varieties, including HD-2967, HD-3086, WH-1105 and others, which will contribute to high yield, said Dr GP Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR). Sowing is running late by 20 days as compared to 2015-16 and 13 days in comparison to 2016-17. Cultivation is still going on in some areas, so we will achieve the target, he maintained. He said the country had fixed a target of wheat sowing over 318.75 lakh hectares, of which 288.36 lakh hectares had been covered. We will achieve the production target of 100 MT this year, he said. Dr Singh denied occurrence of yellow rust in North India so far and said climatic conditions were against the disease. He, however, said farmers should remain vigilant. If the same climatic conditions prevail, there is no need to worry about yellow rust, he said. We have issued an advisory on yellow rust in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Western Uttar Pradesh. Last year, yellow rust was first noticed in Punjab on January 9. The impact of the disease will be minimum this year due to dry weather, the Director said. 24.61 lakh hectares covered editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Hisar, January 10 A freedom fighter, Bhale Ram Kuhar, who was a gunman of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the Indian National Army (INA), died at his native village Hasangarh of the district today. He was 99. He is and survived by his wife and six children four sons and two daughters. Kuldeep Kuhar, a nephew of the freedom fighter, said: Bhale Ram had taken part in the Battle of Pegu in Burma as an INA soldier. He was a gunman of Netaji. He last met Netaji during the battle in 1945, he said, adding Bhale Ram remained missing for about eight years during the freedom struggle. On his return home after Independence, my uncle had disclosed that he was arrested and sent to Rangoon jail where he remained for about one-and-a-half years, Kuldeep said. editorial@tribune.com Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service Hisar, January 10 A nephew of a freedom fighter, Ramdhan, who was associated with the Indian National Army (INA), was among six persons arrested on the charge of fraudulently selling about 12.5 acres allotted to the freedom fighters mother in Hisars Beed village, the Bhiwani police have said. Ramdhan was a native of Chang village in Bhiwani district. The arrested accused are freedom fighters nephew Rambabu; property dealers Rajkumar, Manbir and Mukesh; Ramrati; and nambardar Bhanwar Singh. They have been booked under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC. Rambabu is the son of Ramdhans brother Shivdhan. The interesting thing is the case has been registered on Rambabus complaint, accusing others of fraudulently selling off the land. But the investigation brought out that he was the mastermind of the fraud, the police said. The land, located in the vicinity of the airport in Hisar, is worth about Rs30 crore. But the accused had sold the land at throwaway prices for about Rs90 lakh to two Hisar residents in 2014. Investigating officer (IO) Rajbir Siwach, a Sub-Inspector in the economic cell of the police, said: Ramdhan was unmarried and he had died in action before Independence. The government had allotted the land to his mother Harbai in the 1960s. After her demise about four decades ago, her four sons Shivdhan, Banarasi, Pyare Lal and Maujiram and two daughters Daya and Samundri became the legal heirs to the land. Of the six children, only the sisters are alive. Daya lives in Rewari, while Samundri resides in Odisha. There are about 30 legal heirs to the land, but it seemed that only Rambabu was aware of the land, the IO said. He, along with the property dealers, forged the ownership deeds of the land in the name of his aunts Daya and Samundri. Then, the accused struck a deal with two women, who impersonated as Daya and Samundri in the Bhiwani tehsil office, and sold off the land to two Hisar residents for Rs90 lakh, Siwach said, adding more persons were likely to be arrested. But Rambabus plans went awry as he did not get sufficient amount of money from the deal. So, he disclosed to his family about the fraudulent sale of the land. On September 21, 2018, he had lodged a police complaint against the property dealers and others. The police said the forged ownership deeds stood cancelled. Question of 12.5 acres editorial@tribune.com Vishal Joshi Tribune News Service Jind, January 10 Candidates of four key political parties filed their nominations for the Jind byelection on Thursday. BJPs Krishan Middha, INLDs Umed Redhu, JJPs Digvijay Chautala and Congresss Randeep Surjewala filed papers on the last day. INLDs nominee Redhu had on Tuesday filed papers as an Independent. But the party showed faith in Redhu, vice chairperson of Zila Parishad and now fielded as an INLD candidate. Randeep Surjewala, AICC national media in-charge, submitted his papers in the presence of state Congress president Ashok Tanwar, former CM BS Hooda and CLP Kiran Chaudhry. However, Surjewalas political bete noire-turned-friend Jai Prakash aka JP was not present. JP, a former Union Minister and Independent MLA from Kalayat in Kaithal district, and Surjewala had, in September last year, publicly announced to sink their differences and work for the development of the area. Veteran Congress leader Capt Ajay Yadav told The Tribune here that till Wednesday, there was a proposal to field JPs son Vikas Sarahan from Jind. However, the state leadership resented the proposal as the bypoll is crucial for the Congress and the party cannot bank on a novice. We may have supported if JP was willing to contest. But Surjewala is the best bet, said Yadav, who was also present for Surjewalas nomination. Hooda and Bishnoi also expressed confidence in the Congress nominee. Kaithal MLA Surjewala said: Jind cries for development and I will become a voice for the local population. The BJP is anti-people and their policies have caused resentment among all sections of society. State BJP president Subhash Barala and Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma accompanied the party nominee for filing nomination. Both leaders said Middha would win due to the developmental initiatives taken up in the segment by the ruling party. Hisar MP Dushyant Chautalas younger brother Digvijay said Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) would prove its electoral popularity in the bypoll. Braving the charge of being an outsider, Digvijay said he enjoyed the support of party activists. editorial@tribune.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 10 The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday ruled that former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda could not establish that the governments action of setting up Commission of Inquiry was mala fide. All that we need to say is that the charge of mala fide has not been brought home against the government or the Haryana Chief Minister, the Bench asserted. Referring to the petitioners contention that inquiry could be ordered only where matter of public importance had arisen but no such conclusion was drawn, the Bench asserted a Chief Minister held public office. His acts were necessarily public acts. If they were grave enough, they would be definite matters of public importance. Where there are allegations regarding allotment of land and grant of change of land use during his tenure, there cannot be any issue that it is not a definite matter of public importance The only question is: Do those allegations, if honestly believed, constitute a definite matter of public importance? We are unable to say that they do not, the Bench held. The Bench added the Commission of Inquiries Act indicated that the appropriate government could appoint a Commission of Inquiry only for inquiring into definite matter of public importance. It was a fact-finding body meant only to instruct the government without producing document of a judicial nature. Its findings were not definite like a judgment. Whether the subject matter of inquiry is relating to definite matter of public importance varies from case to case depending upon factual matrix in individual case. No strait jacket formula could be evolved to adjudge whether there is definite matter of public importance in constituting a Commission of Inquiry, the Bench added. The Bench also held that formation of opinion by the government to constitute a Commission of Inquiry was subjective and ultimate conclusion reached by the state was not justiciable. The Bench also ruled that Council of Ministers nod was not a must before appointing a commission. The CM, Minister-in-Charge of the General Administration Department and Administration of Justice Department, appointed Justice SN Dhingra as the Commission of Inquiry vide order dated May 13, 2015, for probing allotment of land and grant of change of land use in Sector 83, Gurgaon, during the tenure of the previous government. Challenge could not be mounted on the exercise of power on the ground that permission from the Council of Ministers was not taken prior to referring of matter to the commission since the procedure is not contemplated under Business Rules. gspannu7@gmail.com New Delhi, January 11 A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to former Haryana Chief Minister OP Chautala in an over Rs 6 crore money laundering case, noting that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not arrest him during investigation. Special judge Kamini Lau granted the relief on an application moved by Chautala after he appeared before the court, which had summoned him as accused on a charge sheet filed by the ED. The court directed him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and two sureties of like amount. However, the court put various conditions on the accused, including surrendering his passport before it. In his application, Chautala said he was not required for custodial interrogation and that the agency itself did not chose to arrest him. The bail application was opposed by EDs special public prosecutor N K Matta who said that further examination of the accused was required for identifying the money trail and other suspected beneficiaries in the case. Chautala is currently serving a 10-year jail term in a separate case related to teachers recruitment scam. The final report has sought Chautalas prosecution under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED informed the court that disproportionate assets worth Rs 6.09 crore were illegally generated by Chautala between May 1993 and May 2006, through corruption and were projected as untainted property by utilising them in the construction and in acquiring movable assets. Chautala is serving imprisonment for illegally recruiting 3,206 Junior Basic Trained (JBT) teachers in Haryana in 2000. The CBI had on March 26, 2010, named Chautala in a charge sheet, indicting him for allegedly possessing assets worth Rs 6.09 crore. The ED had filed a separate case based on the CBIs FIR. PTI harinder@tribunemail.com Haryanas drive to make it mandatory for cultivators of wheat and mustard to enrol themselves in order to sell their produce in mandis should sound familiar. It was only last October that this very Meri Fasal, Mera Byora scheme was rolled out for bajra (millet) farmers of Haryana. The objectives were exactly the same: to prevent huge stocks from other states from elbowing out local producers in the state grain markets and ensuring that such non-water guzzling crops became part of a regular cropping pattern. Even this was lifted from Madhya Pradeshs Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana (BBY) that proved to be an electoral wet blanket in the recent Assembly elections. As was the case with millet in Haryana or seven major kharif crops under BBY, cultivators were left unsatisfied. There was confusion in both states over model rates vs the minimum support price (MSP) and the farmers inevitably got the short end of the stick. A specified time window for procurement had led to a supply avalanche and consequent distress selling so that in the end only the traders benefited from a crash in prices during the BBY procurement window. Having copied the scheme from MP, the Haryana Government would do well to avoid its pitfalls that have an attached political cost. Haryana needs to signal sincerity behind the purpose to avoid MPs fate where only 20 per cent of farmers registered for BBY. Its ability to ensure direct payments in farmers accounts and stalling sales from neighbouring states hinges on the complete digitalisation of records. For this, the government would need to remove apprehensions that this is a move to fix limits on procurement from individual farmers. At the same time, the past failures and partial-successes suggest improvements in the basics, beginning with the handling in the crop arrival stage itself to enthuse farmers. This also means nudging the remaining 40 per cent of the states 54 mandis into online trade and smoothening officialdoms verification of claims. Haryana must ensure that the scheme is not restricted to helping only the paddy trade but becomes a tool for crop diversification. rchopra@tribunemail.com Washington, January 11 Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil Ron Singh killed in California and described a national hero by Donald Trump, has said he supported the US Presidents efforts on border security so that others did not experience what his family had been going through since the incident. Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, of the Newman Police Department was shot and killed during a traffic stop on December 26 allegedly by an illegal immigrant. During a visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for his controversial US-Mexico border wall plan, Trump attended a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, where Reggie Singh was seated next to the President. There the US President said, I watched a family right around Christmas time...suffer and Id like to ask Reggie, maybe you could say a few words about your incredible brother, the job he was doing. He was so beloved by the people of the department and beyond the department. To this, Reggie Singh told the President, The way he (Ronil Singh) was killed, what my family is going through right now, I do not want any other family, law enforcement person to go through that. Whatever it takes to minimise...put a stop to it, my family fully supports it, Reggie Singh said. In the last few days, Trump has made it a point to mention the killing of Ronil Singh by an illegal immigrant to build a strong case in favour of a stronger border security to prevent entry of illegal immigrants. We are deeply moved to have with us Reggie Singh, whose brother, Ronil Singh, incredible guy. I mean, I watched, and Ive rarely felt worse and watching news of our nation than watching your family and the love that you have for your brother, Trump said. During the roundtable meeting, Reggie Singh said he and his brother are originally from Fiji. He (Ronil) always wanted to be in law enforcement. So legally we migrated to America to fulfil his dream of joining the law enforcement, he said. English is our second language. He worked on that, got his education, applied for law enforcement agency and he was asked to get his citizenship. He worked towards that and he became a cop, K-9, Corporal K-9, Reggie Singh said. At 33, Ronil Singh was cremated and I had to pick up his remains. It breaks my heart and no one should ever go through that. Seeing a five-month-old baby looking for his dad, no one should ever go through that on Christmas Day, he told Trump. The President replied, We are with you. You know that, right. That was a tough one, too. That was a tough one for a lot of people, not only the family, for a lot of people in this country. That was a tough thing to watch, Trump said. I can see that, the way it came through. It came through loud and clear. And there are so many other people who have the same--nobody covers them..., nobody talks about how unfair it is to the victims of these brutal killings, he said. On Tuesday, Trump spoke with the family members and law enforcement colleagues of Singh, a native of Fiji who joined the force in July 2011 and said Americas heart broke the day the young officer was savagely murdered in cold blood by an illegal alien. Trump has asked for USD 5.6 billion from the Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers money. The sharp differences between the Trump administration and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday, making it the second-longest in history after the 21-day shutdown in 1995-96. PTI Rajesh Ramachandran Rajesh Ramachandran Politically, the so-called upper-caste quota is a masterstroke. The upper castes, and particularly the vocal trading classes who had traditionally supported the BJP, were angry with PM Narendra Modi for most of what he had done these four years: demonetisation and GST. In one stroke, by making even taxpayers among them eligible for a quota, the PM has made them feel less angry. There have been some brilliant analyses of how absurd this quota means. A taxpayer being termed poor, and then, being offered a dole meant for the poor, obviously makes the entire effort seem dubious. But Modis attempt is not a poverty alleviation programme, nor is it an effort to lift the poorest of the poor from dire misery, but to convey a political message to the masses that rooted for him. The captive audience is huge, much bigger than the Brahmin-Bania-Thakur core constituency of the Sangh Parivar in the cow belt. From Jats, Khatris and Jat Sikhs, Patels and Marathas, Lingayats, Kammas and Reddys to Nairs, Patnaiks and Kayasths, there is not a single rural or urban influential caste that is not pleased with this new initiative. Most farmers can, for some time, forget the farm distress and savour the idea of some government jobs for their children. Even those among minorities like Christians, who consider themselves upper castes, are potential beneficiaries. If all along Modis policies were aimed at targeting the well-off groups to tackle black money or to enforce stricter tax rules, here is a policy aimed at appeasing them. In that narrow, opportunistic, political sense, the upper-caste quota is an effortless measure to make the beneficiaries feel better. Is this Modis closing gambit before the campaigning begins or does he have a few more of such aces up his sleeve is the question. Modi the politician and Modi the administrator are two different personalities. While the implementation of demonetisation and GST left the economy hanging, the promise of a better life for the upper castes is a sentiment-driver and pure politics. Sure, astute administrators would point out the inherent deficiencies in the Bill: does it alter the basic structure of the Constitution? After the Indra Sawhney judgment will this Bill stand judicial scrutiny? Well, the political answer to all these informed, constitutional conundrums is that anyone who goes to court against this Bill will be doing a great favour to Modi. Probably, he might even want to play the victim card and tell the upper-caste voters that he tried hard but was not allowed to do something good for them. Then again, the more informed critique of the NDA government's failure in creating jobs would get drowned in the hopeful buzz about the slice of the available government job pie. Such is the great desire for a government job among the poor and not-so-poor that even an election-time jumla could sound like a divine prophecy. Yadav parties like the Samajwadi Party and the RJD of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had initially tried to bring in and sharpen an upper-versus-backward caste contradiction to put Modi in the dock. Well, this could have worked well had Modi been from a beneficiary caste. Since, Modi positioned himself in the last election itself as a backward caste chaiwala, it will not be difficult for him to shrug off the allegation of upper-caste bias. After all, the new quota doesnt in any way tinker with the existing ones. A 10 per cent quota for the taxpayer is merely a slice off the existing 50 per cent for those who have no reservation. But the cynical political aspect of this new Bill is that it will not really help the poor among the upper castes. Quotas are all about competition. It is a crutch or a social prosthetic for a disadvantaged person to compete with inherently well-equipped people. We had turned the concept of quota upside down, when in Tamil Nadu, those who claim to be descendents of the mighty Cholas sought and got backward and most backward-caste status. Children of village feudal lords have thus become backward. The Marathas who have ruled the length and breadth of the nation, not so long ago, have no qualms in seeking quota. Despite a Prime Minister, a Deputy Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff and much else, Jats have got themselves termed backward. All for quota; all for the crumbs of sarkari doles. So, it was not surprising to see a consummate politician turning all these demands to his advantage just three months ahead of the General Election. Of course, it doesn't really matter whether it works. What brings in votes is what works in politics. The flipside of this promise is that a housemaids daughter or a tenant farmers son will lose out to a five-acre farmers or a clerks child. Sure, such anomalies exist within the Dalit and backward-caste quotas, too. The creamy layer of the Dalit quota badly needs to be skimmed because it only perpetuates a class of empowered families who rob the opportunities of the children of cobblers and cleaners. Instead of continuously slicing the shrinking job pie, the government has to bring in free, compulsory, quality and equal education for all. As long as money can buy better education, there will be inequality and inherently disadvantaged groups. We have fought caste discrimination to a large extent and brought in empowerment through quota and identity politics. The next step is not to create more quota, but to have common schooling and an education system wherein all students have access to the same syllabus, same quality of education and same opportunities of self-realisation. Until then, ours will remain an unequal society, willing to be carved up by our masters. Call out all coastal states for allowing new construction near the ocean. Florida especially should get extraordinarily humiliating tweets Washington state for totally ignoring their No. 2 state status for seismic risk. "If you have an earthquake we are not coming to help!" New York City for allowing development like they have in Manhattan "If Trump Tower floods, I'm suing you!" North Carolina for allowing development on barrier islands Tennessee for not having statewide building codes some areas with no building codes Anyone else for the list? President Trump has once again threatened to withhold disaster funds for California due to his perceived mismanagement of forest lands in the state. As the story below points out, 60% of forests in California are under federal management. ReadAs noted, this is not the first time he has made the threat to not pay for damages in California. Is it because it is by-and-large a Democratic/Blue state? I've been blogging on disasters for a very long time and I recall studies being done about how presidential declarations are handed out and how the frequency and threshold seems to become more often and lower around election time. So, playing politics with disaster funding is not totally new.Yet, I don't remember any president calling out a state like Trump is doing with California.I think to be consistent, he should do the following:Claire Rubin, The Recovery Diva, who knows more about disaster recovery than President Trump will ever know about much shared the link above. GS Bajpai GS Bajpai Professor, National Law University, New Delhi ITS surprising, if not alarming, that we dont know the exact number of laws that criminalise actions and provide for punishment in India. Rough estimates range from 12,000 to 1.5 lakh. But, for sure, we have more laws than we require. Many laws mean many crimes; it also means overcriminalisation. The R Ramanujam Committee (2014) observed the existence of 2,781 laws in the central statute book. This Committee and the Law Commission have been recommending the repealing of many laws which have become redundant. Reportedly, more than 350 statutes in India prescribe punishment of varying nature. There are also many civil laws which stipulate criminal sanctions. These matters relate to family, allowances, land, consumers, housing environment, marriage, maintenance etc. Several laws have outlived their purpose. Repealing of the obsolete laws and review of the existing ones has become crucial as these have the scope for misuse. The past few months have seen an influx of decisions that involved a question of criminalisation or decriminalisation of various forms of human behaviour. The major debate has arisen out of acts which are purportedly immoral, and the criminal law has been consistently invoked to penalise the same. This has led to unprincipled criminalisation. Criminal sanctions are known to emasculate the rights of people; therefore, invoking these sanctions has to be done with great caution. But recent examples state otherwise. Right from criminalisation of triple talaq to the furore after decriminalisation of adultery, its almost as if society seeks the protection of criminal law to enforce morality. Criminal law ought to be the last resort in a constitutional democracy. It should not be invoked unless there are compelling reasons to do so. The opposite is happening in this country. Criminal law is routinely exercised. Arrests are not only increasing, but are also found to be illegal in a huge number of cases. Repressive criminal law and the penchant to criminalise is also visible from the unusually high instances of arrests in drug offences under the NDPS Act (about 2,600 in 2016) and 2,700 arrests under a stringent law such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was responsible for the killing of about 3,000 persons in the past 25 years. Several laws or their provisions are perceived to be considerably misused as these often result in unprincipled criminalisation. AFSPA, UAPA, Sections 498-A, 144 and 34 of the IPC, provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities Act, Dowry Act, NDPS Act etc. have contributed a big share of illegal or excessive arrests. Rape will now attract a jail term of seven to 20 years; rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act will attract death penalty. Key examples of the mindless application of harsh criminal laws and resultant wrongful arrests, prosecution and even conviction have been recently authenticated in Report No. 277 of the Law Commission of India. The number of undertrials (2.8 lakh, two-third of the total prison population) in the country is the perfect example of criminalisation without any outcome. The intrusion of the State into the lives of people through criminal law has drastic implications for the constitutional rights. The State does have the authority to label some acts as criminal. But, as was held in the Naz Foundation and Navtej Johar cases, the policy of criminalisation must follow constitutional morality and the values enshrined in it. Ignorance about the accepted principles of criminalisation or decriminalisation is appalling. Nor do we find any serious debate on this issue in the policy or public domains. Criminal sanction is the most drastic of the States institutional tools for regulating the conduct of individuals. As such, it should be employed only where supported by convincing justifications. These justifications have been devised in the form of certain principles that are universally recognised and accepted in the criminal justice system. Important aspects of criminalisation include autonomy and the harm principle. While the former rests on the idea that a person is autonomous and exercises free will and hence any act by him would create a liability on his part, the latter makes sure that the State is justified in intervening coercively to regulate conduct only when that conduct causes or risks harm to others. According to the harm principle, proponents of a given criminal prohibition cannot simply allege that the relevant conduct is immoral. Rather, they must identify the particular effects of that conduct: the way in which it damages the lives of other persons. Only those acts that produce the risk of harm to the public at large need to be censured. This was the guiding principle behind decriminalisation of adultery and Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the IPC. The act of criminalising any conduct must first address the historical roots of society and the roots of criminal system in that society. This is precisely what was done by the Supreme Court while adjudicating on the constitutionality of the adultery law, stating that the law had specific historical discrimination linked to it, and it failed the present mores of society. However, even if it is established that a certain moral wrong is a public wrong, the process of criminalisation shall only be undertaken when other civil measures and legal regulations have considerably failed to bring deterrence with regard to the wrong. This is the principle of legal moralism which is being debated upon with regard to the criminalisation of triple talaq. At all times, we must be aware of these principles, which are definitely not exhaustive, while shaping our opinion upon any decision to criminalise or decriminalise a particular act. These decisions cannot be taken on the basis of the morality of a few, especially at a time when we are moving towards transformative constitutionalism. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 10 Successive mayors have been spending the discretionary annual fund of Rs 2 crore in the wards of a select few favourite councillors. According to data pertaining to the terms of some of the previous mayors, in 2017, Asha Jaswal spent Rs 80.15 lakh of the total approved Rs 190.87 lakh in the ward of a single councillor, Arun Sood, her close BJP colleague. Another whopping Rs 43.2 lakh went to Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla, who is considered to be on good terms with Jaswal and Sood. The two councillors walked away with about 65 per cent of her total fund even as there are 26 councillors in the House, at present ruled by the BJP. In Soods ward, the funds were spent on various works in the community centres in Sector 37 and 38 (West). While in Bablas ward, the funds were spent on open air gyms in green belts in Sector 30 and 27, and children play equipment and huts along with benches in Sector 28. After assuming charge, whichever councillor sends us his/her application, the request is considered. Those who sent applications had their words done, reasoned councillor Jaswal, who remained the Mayor in 2017. Similarly, in 2016, then BJP Mayor Arun Sood had a large part of his total approved Rs 199.96 lakh funds going to certain councillors only. While the then councillor, Satinder Singh, got Rs 28.08 lakh, Jaswal, who had sanctioned the lions share to Sood during her tenure, too, got Rs 26 lakh for her ward. Denying the charge of favouritism, Sood told Chandigarh Tribune, This is done on the first-come-first- served basis. When we receive applications from councillors, we process the request. Those who gave their applications early, their work got approved. The funds cannot be spent equally in all wards. In that case, it will not be a discretionary fund. Present BJP Mayor Davesh Moudgil tried to spend funds by covering different areas. Still, three councillors walked away with the lions share. Leader of the Opposition in the House Babla once again got a handsome amount of Rs 27.57 lakh from the Mayors kitty. BJP councillor Sidhu got Rs 27.57 lakh again. Heera Negi, who is close to Moudgil, got Rs 15.54 lakh. However, he has given funds to various wards. According to Moudgil, he has got Rs 199.54 lakh approved of his total amount of Rs 2 crore. Cutting across party lines, I have sanctioned funds to all councillors, be it the BJP, the Congress, the SAD or independent councillor, for a balanced development of the city. The discretionary fund should be spent wisely. It should be spent in such a way that every section of society gets an advantage and the entire city is covered, said the Mayor. Same was the case with the Congress. Former Congress Mayor Poonam Sharma gave Rs 45 lakh for then city Congress chief and councillor Pardeep Chhabras ward in 2015. She also sanctioned Rs 33 lakh for party councillor Gurbax Rawats ward. Before her, her party Mayor HC Kalyan, in 2014, gave Rs 26.31 lakh to Raj Bala Maliks ward. An amount of Rs 34.09 lakh was issued to Chhabra again for his ward. The Mayor has to spend money from the Rs 2 crore discretionary grant on areas other than his ward. In 2017, 2 councillors got 65% funds According to data pertaining to the terms of some of the previous mayors, in 2017, Asha Jaswal spent Rs 80.15 lakh of the total approved Rs 190.87 lakh in the ward of a single councillor, Arun Sood, her close BJP colleague. Another whopping Rs 43.2 lakh went to Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla, who is considered to be on good terms with Jaswal and Sood. The two councillors walked away with about 65 per cent of her total fund even as there are 26 councillors in the House, at present ruled by the BJP. Mark Bennett has reported and analyzed news from the Wabash Valley and beyond since Larry Bird wore Sycamore blue. That role with the Tribune-Star has taken him from Rome to Alaska and many points in between, but Terre Haute suits him best. Follow Mark Bennett Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today MCKINNEY, Texas - Velma Lynn Yettman passed away on June 4th, 2021 in Mckinney, Texas. She was born on October 25th, 1951 in Terre Haute, Indiana. She was predeceased by her sister Valeta May in 2018, and her parents Lloyd and Frances Zenor. Velma is survived by her brother Steve (Becky) Zen Presented community member Tony Johnson was recognized during the meeting, honoring him with the city's Kindness Award. Abercrombie said that during a traffic fatality that involved a family member of Johnson, his kindness and compassion was noticed by our police officer on the scene. Inked a five-year permit renewal with a contract with CP&Y, Inc., for professional engineering services for the Bullard Wastewater Treatment Plant. Approved the Bullard Police Department's 2018 annual report on racial profiling, as well as approved minutes from Dec. 11 regular meeting and Dec. 11 joint meeting with BEDCO. (TNS) A security upgrade featuring new technology will help to create an even safer Bullard City Hall, following local leaders' vote Tuesday approving a $11,566.46 Verkada security camera system.City Manager Jay Abercrombie said it is a complete upgrade, featuring a total of 13 cameras with a three-year-license/10-year warranty on each unit.The camera and new technology allows for a cloud-based system that can be accessed when needed by a simple login process, Abercrombie said.Founded in 2016 by a trio of computer scientists and security experts who studied together at Stanford University, Verkada's goal was to bring the ease of use that homeowners have enjoyed for years from their security cameras to the levels of scale and protection that businesses require, according to a www.medium.com blog by founder Filip Kaliszan.Funding for the new system at Bullard City Hall will be from the city's Court Security fund, Abercrombie noted.In other action, the Bullard Council:The council dropped from their agenda an item to discuss improvements to Third Street by Gated Eight at the Viewpoint Addition, and will address it during a future meeting, Abercrombie said.Improvements are for a new residential development, and will include streets, water, sewer and storm water drainage. Just a few things need to be completed before the council can accept the infrastructure, he noted.An executive session item to consider the annual review, evaluation and compensation package of the city manager also was dropped from the agenda and will be brought back in a future meeting, he said. Xi Jinping (R), general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese president, holds a welcoming ceremony for Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 8, 2019. Xi Jinping on Tuesday held talks with Kim Jong Un, who arrived in Beijing on the same day for a visit to China. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese president, on Tuesday held talks with Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), who arrived in Beijing on the same day for a visit to China. In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, the two leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on China-DPRK relations and issues of common concern, and reached important consensus. The two sides agreed to make joint efforts to push for continuous new development of China-DPRK relations in the new era, constantly advance the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue, bring more benefits to people of the two countries, and make positive contribution to peace, stability, prosperity and development of the region and the world. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com. featured Public health Trenton Water Works customers to receive more violation notices in the mail @IsaacAvilucea on Twitter Isaac Avilucea is The Trentonians main municipal scribe. A two-time prior restraint winner and testicular cancer survivor, he relishes his reputation as the "Mean Girls" reporter that followed his 18-day stay at the now-defunct North Adams Transcript. Latest Heritage Cruises trip takes guests around Cat Ba Archipelago off the coast of Vietnam's north. (TRAVPR.COM) VIETNAM - January 11th, 2019 - Heritage Cruises four-day Heritage Expedition (www.heritagecruises.com) is especially designed for those who love exploring and immersing themselves in local life, nature, culture, and adventure in discovering the authenticity of the Gulf of Tonkin. Travelers will have the chance to venture off the beaten track, go kayaking, visit floating fish farms and villages, discover secluded beaches, lagoons, coves and caves, explore Cat Ba Island and Trung Trang Cave, and visit the local market, a fisheries plant, Beo Seaport, Lan Ha floating village, and Lan Ha Bay. Already operating in Nha Trang Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay under the five-star Emperor Cruises brand, Heritage Cruises is set to launch its first boutique cruise in the Cat Ba Archipelago, in May, offering a great experience to 40 guests aboard a boutique cruiser in the Gulf of Tonkin. Amenities include a luxury spa, movies under the stars, two restaurants, indoor and outdoor lounges, a pool bar and a four-season swimming pool, and 20 suites with picture windows offering ocean views. On the three-deck ship are 20 suites ranging from 33 sq m to 79 sq m, while food and beverage options include Le Tonkin and Indochine restaurants serving gourmet Vietnamese cuisine. The ship also features an outdoor deck, complete with Vietnams first infinity swimming pool on a cruise ship, private cabanas, the Bach Thai Buoi Library, for reading and relaxation. The White Lotus Spa, offering massages and essential oil treatments, a dry sauna, a fitness center, and a games room, as well as its art gallery and auction center. There will also be a floating exhibition, LArt de lAnnam, with the first designer art gallery from renowned artist Pham Luc along with the works of other famous Vietnamese artists. The cruises concierge service is a specialty on the vessel, with a one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio ensuring every need is attended to. Apart from daily limousine transfers between Hanoi and Cat Ba Archipelago upon request, the Heritage Cruises team can also arrange for private charter airplanes, helicopters, or seaplanes. Travel is all about places, experiences, and memories. We will first sail this brand through the karst seascape of the Cat Ba Archipelago, linking to Van Don, then we will cruise upstream and downstream from the highlands to the capital, Hanoi, and the Gulf of Tonkin over 8 days, following the old river trading waterway, Hanoi-Pho Hien-Van Don. My goal is to gradually build maritime connections from north to south, staying two or three nights in each destination, as part of a 10-14-day expedition. said Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Heritage Cruises. Heritage Cruises derives inspiration for its boutique concept and design from the heritage ships of the patriotic entrepreneur Bach Thai Buoi, who transformed transportation on the waterways of Tonkin in the north of Vietnam in the early 20th century. The first two cruise ships have been named after the Phi Long and Phi Phuong, the very first vessels among 30 owned by Bach Thai Buoi, who has been referred to as the King of Ocean and River Cruises in Vietnam over the last century. ### Sicily is one of the most popular tropical getaways in Italy and well famous tourist attraction point in Italy, (TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - January 9th, 2019 - United States: Sicily is one of the most popular tropical getaways in Italy and well famous tourist attraction point in Italy, according to the popularity, Italy Luxury Tours is now offering the complete luxurious tour to Sicily to start your amazing new year. Sicily, the largest of Italys many Islands, is a popular tropical destination that is home to some of the worlds most legendary cuisine, a rich history and colorful culture, and pristine beaches. All these special qualities make this region more amazing and that is one of the main reasons to celebrate your New Year vacation in Sicily. Italy Luxury Tours feel proud to offer a precious chance to spend your new year in Sicily through their exciting Sicily tour package. Italy Luxury Tours give you many ways to get around this beautiful island using various private tours in Sicily available for booking either from their online sources or via offline that have physical offices around Italy. Their tours to Sicily include the superior accommodations in beach tours, holidays villas, as well as historical tours to Palermo and Catania. Italy Luxury Tours includes some of the best private tours to historic and archeological parks in Sicily. Their luxurious private tours to Sicily will never fail to satisfy the needs of every tourist with the amazing topography. Also, the island of Sicily is considered as gastronomic heaven, offering plenty of food and wine tours and amazing food experiences that you can feel in this New Year with Italy Luxury Tours. So, if you are ready for this amazing tour to Sicily offered by Italy Luxury Tours, contact them today! About the Author: Italy Luxury Tours is a full-service touring company that offers private tours to all areas of Italy. Their experienced staff provides excellent service and all special touring plans, many of which are custom designed for each traveler or group. All tours are private, making them the ideal way to tour Italy. Company: Italy Luxury Tours Telephone: 1-888-959-7108 Email address: tours@italyluxurytours.com ### Louisville, Ky., Maps Available Scooter and Bike Locations A New Book Looks at Shining Examples of Municipal Fiber Infrastructure Code for Baltimore to Host Human-Centered Design Lunch & Learn Portland, Maine, Seeks a Director of IT and a Director of Innovation and Performance Management One of the first things new California Gov. Gavin Newsom did upon taking office was sign an executive order aimed at facilitating more efficient modern tech procurement and the civic tech community was stoked.Tech procurement in the public sector is a notoriously difficult process , one that is often heavy on the bureaucracy and not conducive to startups or even established tech companies selling products liable to change before many state or local government procurement processes can even run their course.A new process created by Newsoms order aims to change that. Newsoms executive order calls for a new approach dubbed an "Innovation Procurement Sprint."Its a complex and nuanced order, but, to put it simply, what it does is modernize Californias procurement processes by giving them a more agile and efficient route, perhaps most notably creating an alternative to a traditional system in which the state has a specific service or product in mind when it issues a request. The new system is closer to procurement methods that involve listing a governmental challenge and inviting technologists to submit products and solutions. This method has been used to great success by the Startup in Residence Program which has chief among its goals an intention to break down barriers between startups and government as well as by Code for America, the nonprofit and nonpartisan group that works with tech to help government function better for the people.Jay Nath, who is co-executive director of the City Innovate Foundation that manages Startup in Residence (STiR), praised the move by California Thursday morning during a conference call announcing STiRs chosen startup companies for 2019. Meanwhile, Jennifer Pahlka, who is the founder and executive director of San Francisco-based Code for America, wrote a medium post voicing her own support and noting that having Gov. Newsom start his service as the leader of our state this way bodes well.In addition to the praise from leaders in civic tech, theres a lot of budgetary gain to be had by states who embrace more modernized procurement practices. In fact, a recent audit found that embracing efficient e-procurement practices could potentially save Oregon more than $1 billion, or rather that it would have saved the state that amount had it been in use as of late.They seemed to appear overnight, popping up in high foot traffic areas covered in bright colors, just waiting to give pedestrians a faster ride to whatever destination they were seeking. They are rented bikes and scooters, and they can now be found in ample supply in most American cities.Now a map of the locations of available bikes and scooters that are part of the Bird and Lime company programs is available online. That map is available via the free and open-sourced application Multicycles.Org , which launched early last year. Meanwhile, some cities have launched their own official bike-share programs, and they are now mapping them with their transit apps. Louisville, Ky., is one such city . This isnt the first time Louisville has worked to assemble and release data related to these programs.In fact, on the citys open data portal, visitors can find data about individual scooter trips separated by month. Municipal efforts to map, corral and encourage the use of programs like shared bike and scooter rentals seem likely to only become more prevalent. In fact, a recent study from DePaul University , which was partially funded by Bird, found that the availability of these scooters and bikes can help close transit gaps between public vehicles such as buses and trains, thereby improving quality of life for residents who do not own cars.A new book looks at and praises some of the best examples of municipal fiber infrastructure networks in the country, which are of an increasingly great interest to those involved in local government as well as in civic tech.The book is called. Its author is Susan Crawford, a Harvard Law School professor who served as a technology adviser to President Barack Obama.In the book, Crawford specifically praises Santa Monica, Calif. where she went to public high school as a shining example, noting that the city is now a tech hub, and that it is no coincidence that during the past 20 years, Santa Monicas local government has undertaken careful planning to build an affordable fiber network that businesses can use to quickly and efficiently transfer large volumes of data.Such networks have become a major priority among those in economic development, as their presence can greatly affect a local governments ability to attract business to a jurisdiction. In the book, Crawford writes extensively about what other cities can learn from Santa Monicas sterling example.There is also potentially a lesson to be learned from the book for state governments as well. In a piece previewing the book, a local publication noted that while 20 states have made it challenging for cities to intervene in facilitating better fiber access for businesses, California is not one of those states. That lack of interference is part of what enabled Santa Monica to form a telecommunications master plan in 1998 that helped them create their enviable fiber infrastructure.The localized civic tech group Code for Baltimore is partnering with the city there to host a discussion about a subject that is of increasing concern to those involved with civic tech human-centered design Human-centered design, in this context, essentially means creating platforms and services that are built with users in mind often with extensive research about what a users experience using them is like. This commonly manifests in new municipal websites as having search bars and the most popular pages up front while also streamlining government information all throughout an easy-to-navigate layout. This concept has been used in the private sector for many years to enable ease of purchase, driving mega companies like Amazon and Apple to nigh-unprecedented success. In the public sector, however, the vast majority of governmental institutions are just now struggling to embrace the discipline.Events like the one being hosted in Baltimore, however, aim to change this. That event is slated for 12 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 28 in the 11th Floor Inner Harbor Conference Room at Baltimore City Hall. It has been dubbed Lunch & Learn: Intro to Human Centered Design, and the official hosts are Code for Baltimore and the citys Department of General Services. The event is free to attend and participants are invited to bring their own lunch.During the event, experts will host an introductory session that focuses on related methodology and how it can be applied to everyday civic tech or local government work.Portland, Maine, has a pair of openings for technologists . The city is currently looking to hire a director of innovation and performance management, as well as a director of information technology.These jobs are, essentially, leadership positions that make up two sides of the municipal tech and innovation ecosystem coin, as it were. The director of information technology is charged with managing IT, implementing new technologies and basically ensuring that the local government's IT needs are met on a daily basis.The director of innovation and performance management, meanwhile, is responsible for leading innovation work in Portland, work aimed at overcoming longtime obstacles, increasing governmental efficiency and embracing modern ideas.It is not at all uncommon for these to be separate roles in cities. More information about each position can be found on the job postings section of Portland, Maines website We dont have to speak about the crossover and SUV boom; you know all about it. BUt not a lot of them are electrified yet. However, Auto Express has reported that Volkswagen is planning to introduce an entry-level crossover under its upcoming I.D lineup. The SUV will be roughly the size of the T-Cross and will slot beneath the I.D. Crozz. We dont know what it will be named, but we sincerely hope it does not have zz in it! Volkswagen Is Taking Big Strides Volkswagen has been vocal about its electrification plans. The versatile MEB platform is another hot topic that the German has spoken about a lot. Volkswagen has said that it aims to sell one million cars based on the MEB architecture that is specially designed for electric vehicles, by 2025, and this baby crossover will help the company achieve it. Well, not much is known yet, but top-heads are planning to introduce a crossover that measures a little over four meters in length. Even though it is expected to have similar dimensions to the T-Cross, this new crossover could have more interior room, thanks to the MEB architecture. Another Automaker To Go After Tesla Like I mentioned earlier, Volkswagen is very serious about the I.D. lineup. Recently, Herbert Diess, Volkswagen boss, suggested that the company could be in a position to offer such a vehicle early next decade. He said that Tesla is the benchmark and Volkswagen has set its eyes on Musks company. In 2020, we will have vehicles that can do everything that Tesla can, yet cost half as much, Diess said. The I.D. Line-Up Includes... Talking about the I.D. range, Volkswagen currently has four cars under it I.D., I.D. Crozz, I.D. Vizzion, and I.D. Buzz. Other than the corny monikers, the EVs are actually quite exciting. I.D is a concept car that grabbed a lot of attention for its retractable steering wheel. Volkswagen says the car can be driven in full auto mode in the very near future. It will feature a futuristic cockpit and an anticipated range of 370 miles on a single charge. I.D. Crozz will be any tech-heads dream car. It has features like infotainment tablet, augmented reality heads-up display, autonomous driving, etc. It can charge from 0 to 80-percent in just 30 minutes and will most likely have a top speed of 110 miles per hour. The I.D. Crozz is expected to hit the roads in 2020. Speaking of the I.D. Vizzion, this is not a drivers car quite literally. It is similar to the Audi Aicon and comes with an acclaimed range of 400 miles in a single charge and without a steering wheel! No pedals, no steering wheel, no driver. With cars like this ready to take us over, will the DMV also shut down? After all, who will need a license?!? The I.D. Buzz is perhaps the cutest of the lot. This little retro-shaped electric bus will come with a mile-range of 369 miles and will reach showrooms in 2022. Herbert Diess, Volkswagen Chief, said, The iconic car of the electric age must be a Volkswagen. Seeing this, we have no doubts it will. Speculations About The Baby SUV The MEB has been designed with three sizes of battery pack in mind, the smallest being a 48 kWh battery pack. The crossover will surely be getting this battery pack. This battery size is significantly smaller than even the likes of Chevrolet Bolt, which comes with a 60 kWh battery pack. However, it should be good enough for a range of 205 miles, according to the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure). It goes unsaid that Volkswagens electric crossover would only be two-wheel drive. But whats interesting is that the single electric motor present here would power the rear wheels instead of the front ones due to the MEB architecture. I would say this is a blessing in disguise because this would become a strong selling point for the crossover. As far as the launch is concerned, this idea is still a seed that is about to germinate. So, expect it to take at least 2-3 years to hit the roads. It would reportedly be built at Volkswagen plant at Emden, Germany, where the Passat and Estate are being manufactured currently. Our Take From what its worth, the idea of an electric baby SUV is exactly what Volkswagen did not do with its traditional range. A couple of years back when pseudo-SUVs were taking over the market, Volkswagen was nowhere to be seen. It finally took the plunge with the T-Cross SUV that is yet to be released. Fortunately, they are not making the same mistake with the electric range. Although a far-fetched thought, but do you think this baby SUV will become the cash-cow for the I.D. line up? I would say yes because this is the safest option when compared to the unorthodox cars within the I.D. brand. Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Further Reading Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen I.D. Crozz Source: Auto Express A production version of this concept would be exhilarating in many different ways. You would see its dynamic lines as you approach, hear its engine when you started it up and feel everything around you once on the road. It would engage the senses in a way that is unique and exciting every time you got behind the wheel, said Tadao Mori, Chief Designer of the LC Convertible concept. The transformation of the LC coupe into a convertible seems like a no brainer. While we did hear rumors on the matter, now we have a confirmation (sort of). This is the Lexus LC Convertible Concept - a roofless concept car scheduled to debut at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday (14th, January). As it is based on top of the Lexus LC Coupe, the LC Convertible Concept looks gorgeous. Well, at least I think it does. As Lexus prioritized the development of the convertible version of the F branded LC, I believe we will see the production version sometime in 2020. Interestingly enough, Lexus did not confirm the production version of the LC Convertible Concept, but I guess it is likely to happen. LC Convertible Concept Is A Bit Rouchy Based around the Lexus LC Coupe, the LC Convertible Concept comes without a roof. I mean, like for real. The car you see in the photos and that will make a debut in Detroit does not have a roof at all. Not a folding hardtop or a soft top. "Its just an open top concept at this point, so theres no roof yet," Lexus Spokesperson Ed Hellwig told journalists. It looks basically identical to its coupe brother, but I must say that the slant front windshield and front pillars look amazing. Its a sexy car for sure. The major change compared with the coupe is the rear deck. It is a bit redesigned so it accepts a folding roof (I would guess it will get a soft top because thats the trend right now). Honestly, the car looks production ready. Like Lexus is just waiting for the right moment to release it into the wilderness. I actually like this car a lot. Think about it. Clean lines, only shattered with unique 22-inch wheels and exposed interior give the LC a somewhat playful and raspy character. Imagine the burble of the 5.0-liter, V-8 with all this sexiness and I think you will be more than enchanted by this one. Possible Weight and Performance Issues Now, the Lexus LC Coupe is a heavy car at 4,266 pounds. The LC Convertible will add at least 100 to 150 pounds on that. Heck, it could be a 2-ton convertible. This will make it a bit slower to 60 mph and slash a few mph of its top speed. I will show you how fast the LC 500 and the LC 500h actually are. 2018 Lexus LC 500 2018 Lexus LC 500h 0-60 MPH 4.8 5.3 Quarter Mile 13.2 sec @ 110.2 mph 14.0 sec @ 101.3 mph Braking 60-0 MPH 114 ft 112 ft Not exactly supercar (or Aston Martin DB11) numbers, are they? Well, the convertible will be even slower. This, obviously, can be a problem among average Joe gearheads, but not exactly within the customer base that Lexus will target with the possible LC Convertible Concept. This is, after all, a luxury cruiser and the expression of ultimate luxury, as Lexus would say. So, insane performance numbers arent the most important here. Generous dimensions show that as well. This is how big the Lexus LC Convertible Concept is: mm inches Length 4770 187.8 Width 1920 75.6 Height 1340 52.8 Wheelbase 2870 113 Final thoughts The Lexus LC Convertible Concept shows how the Japanese plan to attack the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-class Convertible, or the BMW 8 Series Convertible. Optimistic folks would even compare it with the DB11 Volante. I would not go that far though. Further reading Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Lexus LC Convertible. Read our full review on the 2018 Lexus LC 500. Read our full driven review on the 2018 Lexus LC 500. Hold on to whatever it is youre holding to, folks, because an Audi executive has reportedly confirmed the German automakers plan to produce the all-electric PB18 e-tron supercar that we first laid our eyes on at the 2018 Monterey Car Week last August. The mind-blowing electric supercar concept took Monterey by storm, and if reports are true, Audi will build 50 units of the 671-horsepower model. No timetable was mentioned on when well see the production model, but thats a concern for another time. The important thing is that theres some momentum within Audi calling for the PB18 e-tron Concept to spawn a production model. Thats more than enough for us to start salivating over what we can expect out of the supercar when that day actually comes. The 2018 Audi PB18 Shifts Into Production Hows this for a bombshell, right? When Audi presented the PB18 e-tron Concept at the 2018 Monterey Car Week, it didnt say whether it had plans to make a production version out of it. Naturally, that left a lot of people, us included, to speculate on Audis plans for the concept. Was it nothing more than a prototype to showcase the companys plans for its e-tron lineup of electric cars, or does Audi have something up its sleeve that it wasnt telling us? Well, it didnt take long for Audi Holland CEO Bram Schot to give us an insight into what Audis decision makers are thinking. According to Autoweek Netherlands, Schot revealed that the PB18 e-tron Concept car is not only headed for production, but it will come with a production cap of just 50 cars, turning what was already a desirable model into a future electric supercar that can reshape Audis hierarchy in the future. Schots revelation opens up a lot of questions about the supposed production model. Is it going to look like the concept? Is it going to have the same powertrain as the concept? How much is it going to cost? Obviously, most of these questions have no answer yet, but we can speculate on what we think is happening within the confines of one one of those boardrooms in Ingolstadt, Germany. First, lets look at the design of the concept. We know that Audi has a history of building concept-based production cars that had design similarities with the concept from which they were based on. Most people have probably forgotten this, but the R8 supercar, which Audi introduced in 2006, was based on the Audi Le Mans Quattro Concept that it unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show three years earlier. Its entirely possible that Audi could follow a similar path with the PB18 e-tron Concept. Were definitely rooting for that to happen given how dramatic the concepts design looks, especially in the context of Audis current design language. The PB18 is a hot piece of concept. If the production model looks anything close to it, you can be sure that its going to break the Internet when it arrives. The PB18 E-Trons powertrain is another story entirely. When Audi revealed the concept, it featured a solid-state, 95 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery and three different electric motors one in the front axle and another two in the rear axle that produce 201 horsepower each. Combined, they deliver 604 horsepower, which increases to 671 ponies and 612 pound-feet of torque. Even better, the concept came with a temporary boost that raised the output to a staggering 764 horsepower, enough to propel the concept from 0 to 62 mph in a little over two seconds. The aforementioned battery could cover 310 miles on a single charge while an 800-volt charging system helps top up the juice in as little as 15 minutes. Drivetrain 3 Electric Motors Battery 95 kWh Static Horsepower 604 HP Static Torque TBA Driving Horsepower 671 HP Driving Torque 612 LB-FT Under Temp Boost 764 Horsepower 0-to-62 MPH 2 Seconds Electric Range 300 Miles Charging System 800 Volts The numbers are impressive beyond impressive, actually but this is where we might need to pump the brakes on the hype a bit. The electric motors are available these days so theres no reason to question Audis claims about the kind of power the PB18 e-tron Concept had. Its the solid-state battery thats giving us cause to pause, largely because the technology, as far as electric vehicles are concerned, is still years away from becoming a real thing. Panasonic made that point last year when Panasonic North America CEO told The Drive that solid-state batteries and its corresponding applications on EVs are still at least ten years away from happening. Thats not to say that its not happening, but its going to take some time before we get there. Were still pretty bullish on lithium-ion but clearly understand that solid state is something that we all want to get to at some point in the future," Gebhardt added. Regardless, were not expecting to see the production version of the PB18 e-tron Concept anytime soon, anyway. Audi has time to piece together the technologies that it could use on the production model if it does make it as far as we hope it will. Further reading Read our full review on the 2018 Audi PB18 e-tron Concept. Source: Autoweek Kansas City Rescue Today KCFD rescues woman, dog from structure fire at St. John and Denver Northeast News KANSAS CITY - Kansas City Fire Department responded to a structure fire at an apartment building this morning on the northeast corner of St. John Avenue and Denver Avenue. One woman was rescued from inside the building. The streets were promptly closed as crews lined the street to work the scene. TEXTHERE Show-Me Phone Crackdown Missouri considers full texting while driving ban KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With Missouri still one of only three states without a full texting while driving ban, state leaders will consider a proposal this year that could possibly save more lives. Jacque Tierce learned of the tragic consequences last year when her daughter, Danielle Delgado Garcia, was involved in a fatal crash. Rock Chalk Health Scare Hillsboro Hospital Avoids Power Shutoff but Financial Woes Continue Friday, January 11th, 2019, by Kansas News Service An eleventh-hour payment of more than $16,000 for delinquent utility bills averted a threatened cutoff of electricity at tiny Hillsboro Community Hospital in central Kansas. But the hospital is facing other woes. Dan Margolies reports for the Kansas News Service. Kansas City Job Search Kansas City Classic Remix This Producer Of Great Kansas City Jazz Records Is Not Messing Around Justin Wilson is engaged in a consequential fight against irrelevance. As the owner and operator of Sound 81 Productions, a recording studio in Riverside, Missouri, his life's work is imperiled by a pair of existential threats. Not only do laptops and smartphones contain recording equipment that threaten to make conventional studios irrelevant, the low-fidelity sound of many current hitmakers is part of their appeal. Kansas City Legend Tribute Man who helped discover steamboat Arabia leaves legacy in KC Bob Hawley, who helped discover the steamboat Arabia, died this week in Kansas City. Quick roundup of little progress this week. Take a look at this Red Friday roundup:Closer to home, we're watching these news links right now . . .car crimeAnd this is thefor right now . . . 1 in critical condition after crash through fence, into pond KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Emergency crews pulled an unresponsive woman from a car after it crashed through a fence into an Olathe pond Thursday morning. Before 10:30 a.m., crews were sent to the intersection of College Boulevard and Lone Elm Road on a crash and water rescue. A quick look at an injury accident scene as a local lady breaks through barrier and her car dives into the drink. Take a look: OLATHE, KS (KCTV) - The police in Olathe are investigating after someone was shot in the neck and ended up near a Pizza Hut. The shooting happened just before 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. The man who was shot was found near the restaurant location on S. Parker Street just north of W. Lansing escapee nabbed in Independence An escapee from the Lansing, Kansas, Correctional Facility is back in custody. Authorities said Cal Henry Green III, 36, was taken into custody at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Independence. Green left the Lansing Correctional Facility grounds Monday in a green "army" dump truck, which was later found near 92nd Street and Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas. He busted out of the joint in a garbage truck but now he has been captured after days spent in the metro. Read more: Democrats or abortion-friendly moderates appointed six of the seven justices on the Kansas Supreme Court. As is perhaps even more true than in the case of school finance, on the issue of abortion the Supreme Court is seen as largely indifferent to the will of the citizens, including those who drafted the state constitution. ATF releases pictures of gun theft suspects The ATF has released photos of three men suspected of stealing guns from Bass Pro Shop in Olathe. Authorities still looking for clues after a brazen gun shop robbery that kinda proves suburban shopping developments throughout the metro are still vulnerable to rampant metro crime. Checkit: Description GIS - 11 January, 2019 : Mauritius has evolved into a key player in the Post 2020 Cotonou Agreement and is now a member of the steering committee of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The above statement was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, during a working session, held yesterday at the Le Labourdonnais Hotel in Port-Louis, to discuss a number of important matters with the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Mauritius, Mrs Marjaana Sall. Minister Lutchmeenaraidoo underlined that Mauritius also forms part of the Central Negotiating Group which comprises 12 countries and is responsible for carrying out negotiations with regard to the Post 2020 Cotonou Agreement with the EU. Moreover, he highlighted that a unique platform will be provided to the EU, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros for negotiations with international suppliers of raw materials in the fisheries sector. He also recalled that a Fisheries Agreement was signed with Curacao Island so as to ensure a sufficient supply of raw tuna to the fish canning industry in Mauritius. He seized the opportunity to express his gratitude to the EU while adding that combined efforts of the latter and Mauritius have brought significant progress in various fields. For her part, Ambassador Sall , spoke of the longstanding relationship and strong partnership between the EU and Mauritius and reiterated that the EU will continue to work hand in hand with the Government to support the economic development of the country. She expressed satisfaction with regard to discussions held on issues relating to commerce, fisheries and regional cooperation. Road blocks common for airport projects like KCI terminal | The Kansas City Star It's been a long road for Kansas City International Airport's proposed new single terminal, but that appears common for large airport projects. Cities like Seattle, San Diego and New Orleans have seen similar delays. Throughout the airport discussion most of the "journalism" from the daily newspaper has been a negative influence local voters and Democracy in general.The fading institution has outrightabout stories that originatedand claimed them as their own simply because they added unnecessary verbiage and bland writing.Even worse, they've worked to protect political connections rather than offering any real insight in airport negotiations that are FALLING APART. For the recordwhilst the daily rag is trying to explain away. . .Latest example . . . In a case between France's Data Protection Authority and Google, the advocate general for the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) published his initial opinion this week, stating that the right to be forgotten is enforceable only within the EU. Back in 2014, the CJEU ruled that EU users have a right to be forgotten, enforced by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. However, what the court didnt make clear is whether or not Google and other companies have to delete users data upon request only within the EU or globally. A written opinion by the courts advocate general, Maciej Szpunar, has now said that the right to be forgotten is only enforceable within the EU, and not worldwide. This opinion is of note,because the final CJEU ruling tends to agree to the advocate generals initial opinion. Civil Liberties Organizations Get a Win Civil liberties organizations have previously said that extending the right to be forgotten globally could encourage more oppressive regimes from China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and other countries to follow suit and demand from companies that their censorship becomes global. The advocate general also said that the right to be forgotten should be balanced against other rights, such as the legitimate public interest to accessing information, data protection and privacy. Critics of the right to be forgotten have always said that data erasure requests should be balanced with the publics right to know about certain crimes or events, otherwise it could be used for censorship. France CNIL Loses the Case The new opinion from the advocate general is for a case in which CNIL, Frances Data Protection Authority, fined Google 100,000 euro for failing to remove an individuals name from all of its domains across the internet. Google only blocked the name from appearing in the EU region. It then appealed to the CJEU to have the fine annulled. Since 2014, when the CJEU established the right to be forgotten within the EU, Google has been flooded with millions of data erasure requests. The right to be forgotten has also been codified into the GDPR in the first half of last year. Although this opinion states that the right to be forgotten will not be applied outside of the EU, it should continue to be applied within the EU. Sony is looking to reinvent its mobile division after some recent troubles getting its handsets to catch on. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Speaking to Digital Trends in a recent interview, Sony Mobile vice president of marketing Don Mesa said that his company's division has been "undergoing a lot of change." He added that Sony Mobile is looking to take its smartphone unit in a different direction and plans to showcase what that direction is at Mobile World Congress. We are going to be announcing products at MWC, Mesa said. What we present there will be a first step showing the direction we are going. Mesa's comments come as Apple, Samsung, Huawei, and just a handful of others continue to dominate the smartphone market. Sony has long been a major player in the technology industry, but in mobile, the company has failed to adequately catch on. Even at CES 2019, Sony was largely kept out of the conversation of big players and overshadowed by LG and Samsung. MORE: Sony Xperia XZ3 Review: Too Little, Too Soon Mobile World Congress, which kicks off from Barcelona next month, presents a new opportunity for Sony Mobile. Each year, Mobile World Congress plays host to some of the biggest mobile announcements. And while Sony is hoping to make a splash at the show with whatever it has cooking, Samsung is also planning to unveil its Galaxy S10 lineup there. Of course, Sony's Mesa didn't say for sure what his company has planned. It's believed, however, that Sony will unveil the Xperia XZ4 at the show. According to reports, the Xperia XZ4 will be a taller OLED with a 21:9 aspect ratio and could ship with a dual-lens camera. Mesa also hinted about the possibility of Sony somehow combining content with the device, saying that's "what consumers can expect from us." Interestingly, Mesa also indicated that while a large phone or two might be coming to Mobile World Congress, Sony has ditched the idea of a Compact version. He said that people would rather have a larger screen to view their content on. Samsung has seemingly decided to keep its Galaxy S10 branding. (Image credit: Samsung) In a teaser video Samsung published on Thursday alongside its announcement of plans to unveil the new handsets on Feb. 20, the company displayed the number 10 over a gradient that runs from blue to purple. That gradient could have something to do with reports that the handset could come with a gradient finish to add some additional design flair. But it's the 10 that perhaps matters most in that video. Samsung appears committed to keeping the same naming convention as previous years and simply delivering a device that comes with improved features and a better-looking case. MORE: Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumors: Release Date, Specs, and More Over the last several months, there had been rumors and even some debate over whether Samsung would keep the Galaxy S name in this year's major update. Some had said that Samsung would try to get away from numbers altogether and try to go with something that wouldn't lock it into counting each year. However, it appears Samsung has decided to stick it out. Samsung will hold its press conference for the Galaxy S10 lineup on Feb. 20. And as always, Tom's Guide will be there to cover every last detail. Do you have a Windows PC? Then you need to run one of the best antivirus programs. Don't want to spend anything on it? We've got a list of the best free antivirus programs. Windows 10 has a built-in antivirus program called Windows Defender, and it more than holds its own against other free rivals. But it can't quite match the features and convenience of the best paid antivirus protection. The best antivirus paid suites also offer features that go far beyond basic malware protection. You can get dedicated defenses against ransomware and webcam hijacking, extra functions such as file shredding or system optimization, and features that compete with stand-alone services like password managers, cloud-backup solutions, VPNs or identity-theft protection. The best antivirus makers normally offer multiple paid Windows products that have identical malware protection but more extra features as the prices go up. For example, there's the basic Kaspersky Anti-Virus, the midrange Kaspersky Internet Security and the top-line Kaspersky Total Security. Their different feature sets are aimed at different customers, and we'll explain this further at the end of this buying guide. Don't forget to check out our list of the best free antivirus software halfway down this page. The top 3 best antivirus brands 2. Bitdefender offers the best value in antivirus software Bitdefender Antivirus Plus combines great malware protection with an assortment of useful features and an easy-to-use interface, all at a great price. View Deal 3. Norton packs in everything but the kitchen sink Norton's antivirus products offer a password manager, unlimited VPN data, identity theft protection, parental controls and even online storage -- almost every kind of digital security you could ever need.View Deal What is the best antivirus software? Our top pick for best antivirus software is Kaspersky Total Security, which gives you excellent malware protection, a full complement of extra features and an easy-to-use interface. Right behind that are Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, an entry-level paid program that is perhaps the best bargain in antivirus software, and Norton 360 Deluxe, which offers excellent protection with unlimited VPN service and a ton of extra features, including the option to add LifeLock identity protection. Any one of these three would serve you well, but the ideal choice would depend on what best fits your circumstances. For more, see our section on how to choose the best antivirus software below, or our stand-alone antivirus buying guide. For the best free antivirus protection, we liked Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, which sailed past Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition for the top spot. Both offered excellent protection against malware without slowing down your system, but Kaspersky's free program lets you schedule scans, has a quick-scan option, adds a ton of useful extra features and had the smallest impact on system performance we've ever seen. Our free rankings immediately follow our paid rankings below. The best antivirus software you can buy today (Image credit: Kaspersky) 1. Kaspersky Total Security The best antivirus protection overall. Specifications Anti-theft: Yes Backup software: Yes Firewall: Yes Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: Yes Parental controls: Yes Password manager: Yes Ransomware rollback: Yes Webcam protection: Yes Virtual keyboard: Yes VPN: Limited upsell Wi-Fi scanner: Yes Reasons to buy + Excellent malware protection + New stalkerware protection + Password manager, parental controls Reasons to avoid - Limited VPN usage - Microphone protection hard to enable Kaspersky's Windows products have excellent malware-detection scores and a light-to-moderate system-performance impact, the two most important criteria in our rankings. The entry-level program, Kaspersky Anti-Virus (starting at 12.49 UK/$29.99 US), has dedicated ransomware protection, a virtual keyboard and a convenient online account portal. But it's beaten by Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, which has even more features. Kaspersky Internet Security (17.49 UK/$39.99 US) is our top choice among midrange packages. It has a secure browser, anti-theft protection for laptops, webcam protection and a limited-use VPN client that kicks in when you connect to an open Wi-Fi network. It also includes software for macOS, Android and iOS. The premium antivirus suite, Kaspersky Total Security (19.99 UK/$44.99 US), adds backup software, parental controls, file encryption, a file shredder and an unlimited password manager. We think it's the best antivirus software you can buy today. Read our full Kaspersky Total Security review. The best antivirus software you can buy Kaspersky offers excellent malware protection, lots of useful extra features and a light system impact with an easy-to-use interface. Click here if you're in the U.S. Click here if you're in the U.K. (or anywhere else) (Image credit: Bitdefender) 2. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus The best value antivirus software currently available. Specifications Anti-theft: No Backup software: No Firewall: No Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: Yes Parental controls: No Password manager: Yes Ransomware rollback: Yes Webcam protection: No Virtual keyboard: Yes VPN: Limited upsell Wi-Fi scanner: Yes TODAY'S BEST DEALS Bitdefender Antivirus Plus $19.99 Visit Siteat Bitdefender Reasons to buy + Very good malware protection + Lots of useful extra features + Light system impact with active scans Reasons to avoid - Heavy background system impact Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is our top choice among entry-level antivirus products. It has very good, if not perfect, malware-detection scores. Its active scans don't add much to the background system impact, but that background load is a bit heavy. It also offers the most value, with an unlimited password manager, a secure browser with a virtual keyboard, a Wi-Fi network scanner, a file shredder, protection against encrypting ransomware and Bitdefender's new web-privacy software -- features often found only with pricier antivirus packages. The midrange Bitdefender Internet Security adds parental controls, webcam protection and a two-way firewall, while Bitdefender Total Security tops off the lineup with an anti-theft feature for laptops, a system optimizer and licenses for Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android. A fourth product, Bitdefender Premium Security, is basically Total Security with unlimited VPN usage and priority tech support. (The other programs limit you to 200MB of Bitdefender VPN usage per day.) But the best deal is the Bitdefender Family Pack, which puts Total Security on up to 15 devices for (a frequently discounted) $120 per year. Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus Plus review. (Image credit: Norton) 3. Norton 360 Deluxe Almost everything you could ever need. Specifications Anti-theft: No Backup software: Yes Firewall: Yes Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: No Parental controls: Yes Password manager: Yes Ransomware rollback: No Webcam protection: Yes VPN: Unlimited TODAY'S BEST DEALS 1st year Norton 360 Deluxe $49.99 /year Visit Siteat Norton Reasons to buy + Excellent malware protection + Parental controls, backup software, online storage, password manager, webcam protection, unlimited VPN + LifeLock identity protection with top tiers Reasons to avoid - Heavy slowdown during full scans - Pricey All nine of Norton's antivirus products offer excellent malware protection, and the once-heavy system-performance load is much lighter. The number of extra features each program has varies according to price, but the sweet spot in the lineup is Norton 360 Deluxe. It includes a password manager, unlimited VPN service, dark-web personal-data monitoring, parental controls and up to 50GB of online storage space. Two retail-only offerings, Norton 360 Premium and Norton 360 Platinum, give you more online storage and expand the antivirus and VPN coverage to 10 and 20 devices, respectively. If you want full-on identity protection, Norton offers three bundles with varying degrees of LifeLock service and even more online storage space. Their annual subscription prices run well into the triple digits, but still cost less than if you were to buy the identity protection, password manager, cloud-backup storage and antivirus software separately. Unlike some of the other best antivirus software makers, Norton doesn't offer a file shredder, file encryption or secure web browser with any of its products. Yet every other digital-protection service you could possibly ask for is included with at least some of its bundles. Read our full Norton 360 Deluxe review. (Image credit: McAfee) McAfee's malware detection has improved greatly in the past couple of years, but it's still not quite top-of-the-line. Despite that, the entry-level McAfee AntiVirus Plus is a bargain: $60 per year buys software for up to 10 (in practice, unlimited) devices, whether they run Windows, macOS, iOS or Android, and the software comes with a file shredder and a two-way firewall. McAfee Internet Security adds one of the best password managers in the business, but to get parental controls, you'll have to spring for McAfee Total Protection or its sibling McAfee LiveSafe, which comes pre-installed on many new PCs. The multi-device licenses of those two security suites also come with an identity-protection service. But none of the McAfee products have a secure browser or webcam protection, which you often get with other premium antivirus programs. At the top is McAfee Total Protection Ultimate, which adds unlimited VPN service with no strings attached. Hardcore PC gamers may consider McAfee Gamer Security, which for $60 per year offers low-overhead protection for a single rig. Read our full McAfee Internet Security review. (Image credit: Trend Micro) 5. Trend Micro Maximum Security Solid protection, but scan slowdowns Specifications Backup software: No Firewall: No Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: Yes Parental controls: Yes Password manager: Yes Webcam protection: No Virtual keyboard: No VPN: Yes TODAY'S BEST DEALS Trend Micro Maximum Security $39.95 /year Visit Siteat Trend Micro Reasons to buy + Very good malware protection + Secure browser, password manager + Dark Web scans Reasons to avoid - Heavy performance hit during scans - Many false positives on some tests Trend Micro offers very good protection, but its malware-detection engine creates a heavy system load during scans and returns a fair number of false-positive results. The brand's entry-level program, Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security, has basic tools but does have a secure web browser. Parental controls, a system optimizer and a file shredder are bundled into the mid-range Trend Micro Internet Security. Trend Micro Maximum Security adds a password manager, a secure browser and file encryption, while the new Trend Micro Premium Security adds a VPN and dark-web monitoring of personal data. However, none of Trend Micro's programs include a two-way firewall or webcam protection, standard with other brands' midrange offerings. Nor does the premium product have the cloud storage or backup software that some of the best antivirus brands add as enticements to their flagship packages. Read our full Trend Micro Maximum Security review. (Image credit: ESET) 6. ESET Smart Security Premium Very good protection with a very light touch. Specifications Anti-theft: Yes Backup software: No Firewall: Yes Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: Yes Parental controls: Yes Password manager: Yes Ransomware rollback: No Webcam protection: Yes Virtual keyboard: No VPN: No TODAY'S BEST DEALS ESET Smart Security Premium $59.99 /year Visit Siteat ESET Reasons to buy + Very good protection + Remarkably little system-performance impact + File encryption, hardened browser, webcam protection Reasons to avoid - Lacks file shredder or VPN - Can get expensive ESET is one of the biggest antivirus names in Europe, with a very small system-performance load and fast scans. Its malware-detection rate used to be kind of meh, but has improved markedly in recent lab tests. The entry-level ESET NOD32 Antivirus is easy to use, but has few useful extra tools. ESET Internet Security adds webcam protection, parental controls and a browser-hardening extension, as well as ESET security-software licenses for Mac, Android and Linux devices. The top-billed ESET Smart Security Premium tosses in file encryption and a password manager. However, there's no VPN client, backup software or file shredder. ESET's pricing is per device, which is optimal for users who might have more than a few devices to protect. But if your device count gets into double digits, ESET's costs can add up. Read our full ESET Smart Security Premium review. (Image credit: Sophos) 7. Sophos Home Premium Efficient and inexpensive Specifications Anti-theft: No Backup software: No Game mode: No Hardened browser: No Parental controls: Yes Password manager: No Ransomware rollback: Yes Webcam protection: Yes Virtual keyboard: No VPN: No Wi-Fi scanner: No TODAY'S BEST DEALS Sophos Home Free Sophos Home Premium $45 /year Visit Siteat Sophos Reasons to buy + Inexpensive + Encrypts keyboard data Reasons to avoid - So-so malware protection - Moderate performance penalty during scans - Lacks VPN, password manager, file shredder Sophos Home Premium does its job economically, offering reasonable protection from malware at an affordable price. Because it's spun off from Sophos' enterprise software for business clients, Sophos Home Premium lacks many of the bells and whistles other security suites offer, such as a password manager, identity theft protection service or VPN service. What Sophos Home Premium does have is the essentials: ransomware rollbacks, webcam defenses and protection against keyloggers, malicious websites and boot-sector and fileless malware. It also has a web-filter system for parents and an online management console from which you can tweak most of the settings. Some people might demand more from an antivirus suite, but anyone who would rather buy only what they need will appreciate Sophos Home Premium's just-the-basics approach. Read our full Sophos Home Premium review. A new twist on malware infection involves a fake streaming site that wants to charge you $40 a month. The latest version of Chrome brings fixes for 32 security flaws, so update your browser now. A new malware strain steals passwords while pretending to be ransomware. The best free antivirus software The best paid antivirus suites can do all sorts of things: shield your children from online unpleasantness, protect your personal details from identity thieves, optimize your system performance, manage your passwords and mobile devices, back up your files to the cloud and monitor your computer's firewall. But many PC users don't want, or can't afford, to pay for all those extra features. They just want to have their computers protected from malware and other threats without having to pay for it. Free antivirus protection used to be a trade-off. You'd either have to tolerate a lot of ads or allow your personal data to be collected to get malware defenses that nonetheless fell short of the best paid programs. That's changed as of the past few years. Two of the best paid antivirus makers, Bitdefender and Kaspersky, now offer free programs. The two leading free-antivirus makers, Avast and AVG, have merged, and their now-combined malware-detection engine does a better job than either of its predecessors. And the rapid improvement of Windows Defender Antivirus has been astonishing. The upshot is that it's now possible to get free malware protection that's just as good as anything you can pay for. So here are what we think the best free antivirus programs based on their malware protection, system impact, ease of use and useful extra features. What are the best free antivirus programs? There's no question: Kaspersky Security Cloud Free Antivirus may be the best free antivirus program we've ever seen. It has excellent malware protection, a good number of extra functions and features, and a system-performance impact so small that our computer actually got a bit faster. It also lets you schedule scans and has a quick-scan option. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition, once our favorite, is still the best "set it and forget it" free antivirus option. It takes care of itself and doesnt need user intervention. If you need to put antivirus software on your grandparents' PC, or you'd rather not have to think about antivirus software at all, this is the perfect solution. The sleeper here is Windows Defender, aka Windows Defender Antivirus, which is built into Windows 8.1 and 10. It used to be a joke, but has rapidly improved to become one of the best antivirus programs out there. Defender is still fairly short on features compared to paid antivirus programs, or even a few free ones, but its malware-detection rates beat those of many paid brands. If you want features such as an unlimited password manager or a hardened web browser, then Avast Free Antivirus might be for you. But its malware protection isn't as good as the previous three, and its performance impact is heavier. Its stepsister AVG has the same malware-detection engine, but lacks Avast's full slate of useful extra features. All AVG really has going for it is a file shredder and system optimizer. We have to mention one thing that's not even an antivirus program, but which we recommend anyway: Malwarebytes Free. While antivirus programs try to stop your machine from becoming infected by malware, Malwarebytes is the cleanup crew, brushing out any adware or potentially unwanted programs. It works well alongside any antivirus program. The best free antivirus software you can get today (Image credit: Kaspersky) 1. Kaspersky Security Cloud Free The best free antivirus software, hands-down Specifications Email scans: Yes Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: No Password manager: Limited Ransomware reversal: Yes Scan scheduler: Yes Support options: FAQs, forums Upsell nag factor: Moderate TODAY'S BEST DEALS Visit Site Reasons to buy + Top-notch malware protection + Tiny performance impact + Tons of useful extra features Reasons to avoid - Password manager, VPN service are just teases - Lacks phone support Kaspersky doesn't talk much about its free antivirus product, and you might have a hard time finding the free Kaspersky software download page on the company's website. That's too bad, because Kaspersky Security Cloud Free is the best free antivirus product we've ever tested. We've never seen such a combination of excellent protection and extra features in a free antivirus program. It's got a bright, comprehensible interface, a lot of customization potential and Kaspersky's unbeatable malware protection. The program also lets you schedule scans, and its performance impact was so small that it actually sped up our test machine a bit. Kaspersky's useful extra features include a file shredder, an on-screen keyboard and an email scanner. The password manager and VPN service are fairly limited, however, unless you pay. Read our full Kaspersky Security Cloud Free review. (Image credit: Bitdefender) 2. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition The best set-it-and-forget-it antivirus option Specifications Email scans: No Game mode: No Hardened browser: No Password manager: No Ransomware reversal: No Scan scheduler: No Support options: FAQs, forums Upsell nag factor: Minimal TODAY'S BEST DEALS Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition Visit Siteat Bitdefender Reasons to buy + Very good malware protection + Completely automatic interface + Truly no muss, no fuss Reasons to avoid - No extra features whatsoever - No quick scans or scan scheduling Compared to premium paid antivirus programs that are big, heavy and loaded with extra bells and whistles, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is like a mid-'60's sports car, stripped to the essentials but still providing plenty of power. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition offers nothing but the basics. There's no password manager, no gaming mode, no quick scans and no scan scheduling. You can manage the software from the program's System Tray icon, but you don't really need to interact with Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition after installation. Yet Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition has the excellent Bitdefender malware-detection engine, which sits just below Kaspersky and Norton in the lab-test rankings. It's the best free antivirus software if you want a security solution that you can set up and then forget about. It's also perfect if you need to protect the computer of an elderly relative but don't have time to manage antivirus software from afar. Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition review. (Image credit: Microsoft) 3. Windows Defender Antivirus More than good enough to leave in place Specifications Email scans: No Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: Edge & IE only Password manager: No Ransomware reversal: Yes Scan scheduler: Yes Support options: 24/7 phone, email support Upsell nag factor: Nonexistent TODAY'S BEST DEALS Windows Defender Visit Siteat Microsoft US Reasons to buy + Very good malware protection + Built right into Windows 8.1 and 10 + You'll barely know it's there Reasons to avoid - Some features work only on Microsoft products - Hard to schedule scans Microsoft's built-in antivirus software is now a heavy hitter. While Windows Defender doesn't quite beat Bitdefender or Kaspersky in malware-protection lab tests, it comes out ahead of Avast, AVG and most other free antivirus products while operating almost entirely behind the scenes. You won't be getting many extra features with Windows Defender itself, yet Windows 10 does have parental controls, a gaming mode and protections for its own Edge and Internet Explorer browsers. There's no built-in password manager or VPN, but you also won't be bothered by pop-ups trying to upsell you to paid antivirus software. We still recommend going for Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, which has even less of a system impact, better malware protection and more useful extras, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with using Windows Defender as your primary antivirus solution. Read our full Windows Defender review. (Image credit: Avast) 4. Avast Free Antivirus Tons of features, less-than-perfect protection Specifications Email scans: Separate tool Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: Separate tool Password manager: Yes Ransomware reversal: Shield only Scan scheduler: Yes Support options: : FAQs, forums Upsell nag factor: Omnipresent TODAY'S BEST DEALS Avast Free Antivirus Visit Siteat AVAST Software Reasons to buy + Wi-Fi scanner, password manager + Very customizable Reasons to avoid - Slow scans - Mediocre malware protection - Heavy system hit during scans Avast Free Antivirus has the best assortment of extra goodies of any free antivirus program, including an unlimited password manager, a hardened browser, a gaming mode, a Wi-Fi network scanner and a recently added ransomware shield. The program is also very customizable, letting you tweak its appearance and functions to suit your style. It even offers limited access to Avast's VPN service. However, Avast Free Antivirus caused a pretty heavy system load in our testing and its scans took a long time. It also kept nagging us to upgrade to Avast's paid antivirus protection, and played bait-and-switch with features that looked like they were free but weren't. Most significant of all, the malware protection in Avast Free Antivirus is a peg down from Kaspersky's or Bitdefender's, whose free programs also bothered us less about paid upgrades and had lighter system loads. Read our full Avast Free Antivirus review. (Image credit: AVG) 5. AVG AntiVirus Free Avast's neglected stepsister Specifications Email scans: Yes Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: No Password manager: No Ransomware reversal: No Scan scheduler: Yes Support options: FAQs, forums Upsell nag factor: Inescapable TODAY'S BEST DEALS AVG AntiVirus Free Visit Siteat AVG Technologies Reasons to buy + File shredder + Lots of customization options Reasons to avoid - Middling malware protection - Slow full-system scans - Almost no extra features AVG shares a decent, if unspectacular, malware-detection engine with its corporate sibling Avast while having a much lighter system-performance impact. But AVG AntiVirus Free also has far fewer useful extra features than Avast Free Antivirus. While the latter is almost a free security suite with lots of bells and whistles, AVG AntiVirus Free is the quiet, neglected child that gets the hand-me-downs. The good news is that AVG's wide range of customization options and its file shredder and system optimizer are still available, and its interface is open and easy to use. The bad news is that like Avast Free Antivirus, AVG AntiVirus Free constantly bugs you to upgrade to paid antivirus software. Worst of all, given its middling malware detection and dearth of extra features, there's no convincing reason to choose AVG AntiVirus Free over the built-in and overall better Microsoft Defender. Read our full AVG AntiVirus Free review. Honorable Mention (Image credit: Malwarebytes) Malwarebytes Free Essential side piece TODAY'S BEST DEALS Malwarebytes Free Edition Visit Siteat Malwarebytes Reasons to buy + Complements antivirus software + Removes adware, other unwanted software + Absolutely no downside to having it Reasons to avoid - Installs trialware of paid version - Manual definition updates Malwarebytes Free, formerly called Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, is not antivirus software. Instead, it's a very useful malware-removal tool. What's the difference? Unlike antivirus software, Malwarebytes Free can't prevent a PC from being infected. But it does an excellent job of cleaning out malware that's already on your system, as well as removing (legal) adware and potentially unwanted programs that antivirus software often ignores. Malwarebytes Free doesn't interfere with any antivirus software that's already installed, so it's perfectly safe to install it alongside one of our recommended brands. (Just don't upgrade to the paid Malwarebytes Premium, true antivirus software that does poorly in lab tests and which will conflict with other AV programs.) We recommend Malwarebytes Free as a complement to any of the best antivirus programs, free or paid. Read our full Malwarebytes Free review. How to choose the best antivirus software for you Before you buy antivirus protection, figure out what you need it for. If you have young children, then consider midrange antivirus products, most of which include parental controls. Do you want an all-encompassing security solution? Many of the top-priced premium products include identity-theft protection, password managers, backup software and VPN service. Are you a techie who understands the risks of using the internet? A low-priced basic program might be all you need. MORE: How to buy antivirus software Then determine how many machines you'll need to protect. Most vendors offer single-device licenses for Windows PCs. But multi-device, multi-platform licenses for five, 10 or more desktops, laptops and mobile devices, whether they run Windows, macOS, Android, iOS or sometimes even Linux, are available in midrange and premium antivirus packages. Some vendors offer plans that cover an unlimited number of devices. Gone are the days when you could walk into a store and pay a one-time fee for an antivirus product that came in a box off a shelf. All the vendors now sell their software licenses as yearly (or multiyear) subscriptions. The upside is that you'll always get the latest software, which you can download and install straight from the internet. Antivirus pricing and features Many antivirus products are sold online for much less than their list prices. But each brand offers basic, midrange and premium configurations of features and pricing, with every step up adding more features. Think of autos at a dealership. You can get a base-model car that will get you from place to place just fine. For a few grand more, you can buy a car with satellite radio, but no heated side-view mirrors, alloy wheels or in-car Wi-Fi hotspot. Or you can spend a lot more to get a loaded car with all the fixin's. Antivirus makers also hope you'll spring for extra options, whether you need them or not. The one thing you can't trade up to is a bigger engine: All the Windows antivirus products in a given brand's lineup will use the same malware-detection engine and provide the same level of essential protection. Basic paid antivirus software is usually just called "Antivirus" or similar, and yearly subscriptions start at $40-$60. The software will have essential malware protection and maybe a password manager or a two-way firewall. Midrange antivirus software packages are frequently nameplated as "Internet Security" and start at $60-$80 yearly. They generally add parental controls, some of which are very good, plus a few other features such as webcam protection. They often include multi-device licenses and antivirus software for Mac and Android devices. At the top are the premium "security suites," which toss in all the extra security tools an antivirus brand can offer, such as password managers, VPN client software, backup software, online storage and even identity-protection services. List prices start at $80-$100 per year, but make sure you really need those extra tools you're paying for. The password managers are often quite good, but the online storage can be paltry and the VPN services often don't give you unlimited data. We've collected the best premium antivirus packages on this list of the best internet security suites. How we test the best antivirus software Our evaluations were based on an antivirus product's interface, performance, protection and extra features. Was the interface intuitive and user-friendly? How badly did malware scans slow performance? How well did the program detect and remove malware? Does the program have any useful additional tools? Most of our tests were performed on the same Asus X555LA laptop running 64-bit Windows 8.1 (later upgraded to Windows 10), with an Intel Core i3-4005U processor, 6GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive containing 36GB of files. Some of our newer performance tests were done on a Lenovo ThinkPad T470 with a 2.5GHz Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage containing 43.3GB of files. To assess a program's impact on system speed on both Windows and macOS, we used our own custom tests, which measure how long a CPU takes to match 20,000 names and addresses on an OpenOffice or Excel spreadsheet. The longer it took the laptop to finish either test, the heavier the performance impact. For malware-detection scores, we use the results of three independent testing labs: AV-TEST in Germany, AV-Comparatives in Austria and SE Labs in England. Each lab subjects the major antivirus brands' products to stress tests involving thousands of pieces of malware, including hundreds of previously unseen samples. Editors' note: Why we still recommend Kaspersky Kaspersky antivirus products have been banned from U.S. government agencies and U.S. defense contractors. Because the company is Russian and antivirus software can peer deep into a PC, using Kaspersky software would create an unacceptable risk for persons and organizations involved in national security and critical infrastructure. However, we think Kaspersky software is perfectly safe for home users. We've seen no evidence to convince us otherwise. Kaspersky researchers are well respected throughout the antivirus industry, and the company has publicly exposed Russian cyberespionage campaigns as well as American ones. [January 11, 2019] Hagens Berman: Class-Action Lawsuit Spotlights Unlawful Hotel 'Taxes' Siphoned from Consumers through Reservations.com Bookings A Washington state consumer is suing Expedia (News - Alert) and its subsidiaries for operating what attorneys say amounts to "highway robbery" according to consumer-rights law firm Hagens Berman. The sneaky scheme detailed in the lawsuit filed Jan. 11, 2019 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington centers on what Reservations.com calls "Tax Recovery Charges and Fees," that actually have nothing to do with taxes, according to the filing. According to the lawsuit, these additional fees are tacked on by Expedia, who pockets the excess charge. Consumers are told the "tax recovery charges and fees" are "monies that the hotels must pay to the government." However, the "taxes and fees" are not actual taxes and exceed the real amount of taxes and fees owed on the hotel room. If you booked and paid for a hotel room via Reservations.com - not Expedia.com - since 2014, find out your rights to potential compensation. "Simply put, this kind of fleecing is illegal," said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman representing consumers in the class action. "Consumers are being told that these excessive fees are related somehow to taxes, but when we ran the number, Expedia's math was full of holes. These amounts are higher than local hotel taxes, and Expedia is profiting from its falsehoods." Escalated Fraud Attorneys say Expedia and its subsidiaries have actually escalated their fraud since they filed the first lawsuit about the "tax" overcharges in December: "Defendants have continued their unlawful scheme, even after the filing of a related case challenging this practice. For example, if one got online today and booked a room for the Grand Hyatt in Seattle for January 14-15, the following charges are listed" The suit shows a screenshot of online "Tax Recovery Charges & Fees" listed as $140.09. But as the complaint shows, under local hotel taxes, the correct "Tax Recovery Charges & Fees" should have been a total of $72.28, meaning this particular booking would have defrauded a consumer by $67.81. "These are brazen lies," Berman said. "And the fact that defendants in this case have only increased their underhanded scheme since we filed our original case is shameful." The lawsuit goes on to list other examples: Reservations.com showed a room rate of $159 and "Tax Recovery Charges & Fees" of $50.88 for a reservation at the W Hotel in Seattle for Nov. 22-24, 2018. The real total state and local Seattle tax for a Seattle hotel room is 15.6 percent, plus $2 per night. Therefore, the total "Taxes & Fees" on this room should have been $27 - not $50.88 as listed. According to the lawsuit, Expedia then keeps the "tax" overcharge of $23.88. Reservations.com states that 4 million rooms have been booked through its website. If one takes the overcharge of $23.88 on the room at the W hotel and multiplies it by 4 million, Defendants have collected over $95 million dollars in unlawful "tax" charges. "We consider this attempting to get away with highway robbery to the tune of potentially $95 million," Berman added. The lawsuit states that testing based on information on the Reservations.com website reveals that the tax overcharge practice is widespread and violates the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Expedia, Inc. and its subsidiaries, together with Reservations.com, "operated an association-in-fact enterprise engaged in interstate and foreign commerce, which was formed for the purpose of obtaining money from consumers for inflated 'Taxes & Fees' payments, through which they conducted a pattern of racketeering activity" in violation of RICO, the suit states. The lawsuit seeks to collect and return to consumers the secret overpayment of taxes made by unwitting consumers, nationwide. In addition to federal RICO allegations, the suit alleges violations of state laws against conversion and unjust enrichment. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights class-action law firm with 10 offices across the country. The firm's tenacious drive for plaintiffs' rights has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of "Most Feared Plaintiff's Firm," and MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. The firm also achieved a $184 million summary judgment against Expedia in a previous consumer scheme. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005495/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] United Way Worldwide Launches 'United for U.S.' Coalition to Help Those Impacted by Government Shutdown United Way Worldwide (Unitedway.org) today announced that it will lead the formation of the United for U.S. coalition, a joint effort by corporate partners, organized labor and the United Way network and nonprofits to assist furloughed federal workers and others impacted by the ongoing government shutdown. United Way and its community partners are preparing for an expected uptick in calls to 2-1-1 from those seeking assistance with rent and mortgage payments, utility bills and groceries. United for U.S. will address these needs by bringing together United Way's deep community knowledge with organized labor and our corporate partners who want to help those in need during the extended shutdown. "No organization is better positioned than United Way to bring critical resources together for those who need help. Our reach into every U.S. community and our deep relationships with all sectors allow us to create the safety net that will assist our neighbors and maintain the fabric of our communities," said Mary Sellers, U.S. President, United Way Worldwide. "We are thankful for the support of our corporate partners, organized labor and local United Ways, who stand ready to provide vital services to those in need." The 2-1-1 non-emergency service will anchor United Way's community support by providing information about local social services, including the availability of public benefits and corporate assistance programs. The 2-1-1 network, 211.org, connects callers to resources and aid for monthly living expenses. Wells Fargo (News - Alert) and Bank of America are two of United Way's closest corporate partners offering support to those affected. Wells Fargo will waive fees for customers who have direct deposit from the federal government, or at the customer's request; and will offer short and long-term assistance for those who need extra time to make payments. Bank of Americ is offering personalized financial assistance through its Client Assistance Program. United Way is inviting other corporate partners to join the coalition effort. As part of its long-standing association with the labor movement, United Way is working with a number of organizations, including the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), to distribute information on resources available to assist with needs and living expenses. Local United Ways are also providing a host of services in areas with federal workers, including financial services and counseling, and where available, Emergency Housing and Assistance Funds for food, rent and other assistance. Some of the examples of how local United Ways are assisting those in their communities include: United Way of the National Capital Area (Washington D.C.) has provided $50,000 through its Emergency Assistance Fund to area nonprofits to meet people's basic needs. United Way of Genesee County (Flint, Mich.) launched a fund to help federal workers with emergency needs, specifically food, transportation and current utility payments. Mile High United Way (Denver, Colo.) has a variety of resources for federal workers through 2-1-1 to connect people to health care services, food pantries, mental health resources, childcare, and utility and eviction prevention assistance. United Way for Southeastern Michigan (Detroit, Mich.) is directing federal employees who call 2-1-1 to available resources, and coordinating food box distribution with local food pantries. United Way of Bay County (Bay City, Mich.) established a Community Services Emergency Fund to provide cash payments to furloughed government workers for household bills, groceries and other basics. United Way of King County (Seattle, Wash.) is participating in local resource fairs for federal workers organized by the Port of Seattle. United Way urges those seeking information or assistance to call 2-1-1 or go to 211.org. About United Way Worldwide United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. Supported by 2.9 million volunteers, 9 million donors worldwide and $4.7 billion raised every year, United Way is the world's largest privately-funded nonprofit. We're engaged in 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our communities. United Way partners include global, national and local businesses, nonprofits, government, civic and faith-based organizations, along with educators, labor leaders, health providers, senior citizens, students and more. For more information about United Way, please visit UnitedWay.org. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) : @UnitedWay and #LiveUnited. About 2-1-1 2-1-1 is a free, confidential service that connects individuals to resources and services in their local communities by phone, text and on the web. Individuals in need or who are looking for information for someone else can call 2-1-1 from a cell phone or landline. United Way supports and provides 2-1-1 services in most communities across the U.S. For more information about 2-1-1, visit 211.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005486/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Announces New Information Regarding Securities Class Action Filed Against Aphria, Inc. (APHA) Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), a national securities and consumer rights litigation firm, announces new information regarding its securities class action lawsuit against Aphria, Inc. ("Aphria" or the "Company") and certain of the Company's officers and directors for violating federal securities laws (the "Action"). Earlier today Aphria issued a statement announcing that Chief Executive Officer, Vic Neufeld, a defendant in the Action, and co-founder, Cole Cacciavillani, are stepping down from their executive roles at the Company. This news follows allgations that certain of the Company's assets were acquired at inflated prices from insiders and that the quality of the Company's cannabis was inferior to its competitors-allegations which the Action directly addresses. The Action, currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, asserts claims related to these allegations under 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. 78j(b) and 78t(a), and SEC (News - Alert) Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, 17 C.F.R. 240.10b-5. If you purchased Aphria stock between July 17, 2018 and December 4, 2018, or you have questions about your legal rights, please contact attorney Joe Pettigrew at (844) 818-6982, or at jpettigrew@scott-scott.com. Aphria investors have until February 4, 2019 to move for lead plaintiff. About Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Scott+Scott has significant experience in prosecuting major securities, antitrust, and employee retirement plan actions throughout the United States. The firm represents pension funds, foundations, individuals, and other entities worldwide with offices in New York, London, Connecticut, California, and Ohio. Attorney Advertising View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005482/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] Postmedia Network Announces Election of Directors Postmedia Network Canada Corp. ("Postmedia" or the "Company") is pleased to report that at its annual meeting of shareholders, held in Toronto on January 10, 2019, each of the directors listed as nominees in the management proxy circular dated November 27, 2018 were elected as directors of the Corporation. Directors have been appointed to serve until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders. Election of Directors - Elected Nominee Outcome Votes For* Votes Withheld* Broker Non-Votes Paul Godfrey Approved 13,942 2 74 John Bode Approved 13,942 2 74 Janet Ecker Approved 13,942 2 74 Wendy Henkelman Approved 13,942 2 74 Mary Junck Approved 13,942 2 74 Daniel Rotstein Approved 13,942 2 74 Graham Savage Approved 13,942 2 74 Peter Sharpe Approved 13,942 2 74 *The vote for this motion was taken by a show of hands so the number of votes disclosed reflects only those proxies received by management in advance of the meeting. About Postmedia Network Canada Corp. Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSX: PNC (News - Alert) .A, PNC.B) is the holding company that owns Postmedia Network Inc., a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 140 brands across multiple print, online, and mobile platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences. For more information, visit www.postmedia.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005472/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] Bank of America Contacts Clients Affected by Government Shutdown Bank of America today reached out to clients who may be impacted by the partial federal government shutdown to make them aware of the bank's Client Assistance Program. "We know the partial federal government shutdown is affecting many of our clients, and we want them to know that we are here to help," said Aron Levine, head of Consumer Banking. "Our Client Assistance Program is available to individuals affected by the shutdown for personalized financial assistance, tailored to their specific situation and financial needs." The bank has set up a priority assistance phone line that clients can contact at 844.219.0690. For personalized assistance, they also can schedule an appointment to meet with a specialist. Earlier this week, Bank of America pledged $10,000 to the United Way National Capital Area Emergency Assistance Fund. The funds will be directed to organizations in the region that will help residents impacted by the furlough, providing vital food, rent and utility assistance programs. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full rane of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,400 retail financial centers, approximately 16,100 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with more than 36 million active users, including nearly 26 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom. Click here to register for news email alerts. www.bankofamerica.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005465/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Former state Rep. Nick Sauer has been charged with 12 felonies for allegedly posting private sexual photos of two people online without their permission, according to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.A Lake County grand jury handed down the indictment Wednesday morning, according to a news release. Sauer's attorney has told prosecutors that Sauer will turn himself in Thursday morning, according to the release.The first-term Republican from Lake Barrington resigned in August as a result of the allegations made by a former girlfriend, which had been reported that day by Politico.The woman accused Sauer of posting nude photos of her on an Instagram account he opened under a false name, according to Politico's story. The accusations reportedly were detailed in complaints filed with the Chicago Police Department and the state legislative inspector general.A spokeswoman for the Lake County State's Attorney's Office said she could neither confirm nor deny whether the woman was one of the two people whose photos underlie Wednesday's indictment.News of the indictment broke as the Illinois House was in Springfield swearing in a new class of lawmakers, a group Sauer could have been in if not for his resignation after the allegations first surfaced.The Lake County State's Attorney's Office began its investigation in late July after being contacted by Illinois Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter, according to its statement.Multiple attempts to reach Sauer Wednesday were unsuccessful. [January 11, 2019] Motorola Solutions Press Release During a recent appearance on the Fox Business Network, which was broadcast on December 11 and 14, 2018, Motorola Solutions' Chief Executive Officer, Greg Brown (News - Alert) , made certain comments regarding prior trade secret litigations between Motorola Solutions and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Motorola Solutions and Huawei (News - Alert) amicably resolved their dispute through a Settlement Agreement executed in April 2011. The parties then agreed to and issued a Joint Public Statement on April 13, 2011, which is reproduced below in its entirety. In light of the Joint Public Statement made on April 13, 2011, upon reflection, the comments on Fox Business Network should not have been made and Motorola (News - Alert) Solutions retracts these comments. The Joint Public Statement of April 13, 2011 is attached below. About Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions is a global leader in mission-critical communications. Our technology platforms in communications, software, video and services make cities safer and help communities and businesses thrive. At Motorola Solutions, we are ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at http://www.motorolasolutions.com. Media Contact Brittany Kelly Motorola Solutions +1 224-246-3914 Brittany.Kelly@mtorolasolutions.com Media Contact Andrew Siegel / Aura Reinhard / Aiden Woglom Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher +1-212-355-4449 Investor Contact Chris Kutsor Motorola Solutions +1 847-576-4995 chris.kutsor@motorolasolutions.com Motorola Solutions and Huawei Issue Joint Statement CHICAGO, Ill. - April 13, 2011 Motorola Solutions and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. announced today that they have entered into an agreement to settle all pending litigation between the two parties pending the satisfaction of certain conditions. For its part, after further review of the matter, Motorola Solutions has agreed to withdraw its claims and dismiss, with prejudice, Huawei as a defendant in the Motorola v. Lemko (News - Alert) , et al. litigation pending in the Chicago federal district court. For its part, Huawei has agreed to withdraw its claims and dismiss, with prejudice, its lawsuit against Motorola Solutions and Nokia Siemens (News - Alert) Networks (NSN) in the Chicago federal district court and to resolve its claims against Motorola Solutions and NSN by entering into an agreement that allows Motorola Solutions to transfer its commercial agreements with Huawei to NSN for a fee, and allows NSN to receive and use Huawei confidential information to service the networks Motorola deployed worldwide using Huawei's products and technologies. In 2000, Motorola and Huawei entered into an important, successful commercial relationship during which Motorola resold certain Huawei products under the Motorola name. Over the next ten years, Motorola purchased $880 million in technology from Huawei that covered core networks and radio access networks. "We regret that these disputes have occurred between our two companies. Motorola Solutions values the long-standing relationship we have had with Huawei. After reviewing the facts, we decided to resolve these matters and return to our traditional relationship of confidence and trust. I am pleased that we can again focus on having a cooperative and productive relationship," said Greg Brown, President & CEO of Motorola Solutions. "Throughout our decade long relationship with Motorola Solutions, Huawei has contributed cutting edge technology to Motorola Solutions for use around the globe. Huawei provided Motorola's experts and counsel with source code and millions of documents. Huawei acted properly and above board at all times and developed its products independently and without the use of any Motorola trade secrets. With the resolution of these cases, and the misunderstandings put to rest, Huawei is pleased to move forward with its efforts to provide innovative solutions to its customers," said Guo Ping, Vice Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President of Huawei. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005457/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] StoryCloud Announces Susan Imperial as Director of Digital Reporting SAN DIEGO, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StoryCloud recently expanded its team with the addition of Susan Imperial as Director of Digital Reporting. Susan Imperial is a California Certified Shorthand Reporter who brings over 22 years of stenographic court reporting experience in depositions, hearings, arbitrations, and examinations under oath in and around the Bay Area to StoryCloud. Recognizing that her industry was beset by stagnance for many years and lacked innovation, Susan looks forward to applying her skills, experience, and knowledge to StoryClouds innovative business model and development of the pioneering role of digital reporting in the deposition setting. usans depth of experience in the reporting world is a great asset to StoryCloud as we bridge 20th century reporting expertise with 21st century technology, said Ken Kalb, CEO of StoryCloud. In addition to her California CSR certification, Ms. Imperial also holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. To be part of Ken's team at StoryCloud is such an amazing opportunity in legal innovation. I am very proud of my role as a reporter, and I am very excited to offer my contribution to the industry as we move further into the 21st century, said Susan Imperial. About StoryCloud StoryCloud is the leading provider of nationwide low-cost deposition reporting and legal video services. Our new deposition reporting service uses powerful AI software and highly skilled reporters to create a consistent and accurate transcript for every deposition. The StoryCloud platform offers litigators a 30% lower price point and a radically simple, all-inclusive billing model. For more information, visit www.storycloud.co Contact Information info@storycloud.co (866) 787-6774 [January 11, 2019] Smart Home Brand iHaper Made Its Debut at CES, Kicking Off Its Off-Line Journey in US LAS VEGAS, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, smart home brand iHaper showcased in CES 2019, the annual mega-conference, with a series of smart home products ready for American market. Compatible with Apple Homekit, Google Assistant and Alexa, iHaper is regarded as a smart home ecosystem brand with competitive compatibility. With more than 180,000 industry insiders from over 155 countries, iHaper realized its new breakthrough in consumer tech in 2019. iHaper's smart home ecosystem i stands for intelligence and Haper takes the Norwegian word meaning "hope" and "trust". Norway was rated as the world's happiest country by United Nations in 2017. iHaper aims to bring happiness with intelligent technology and serve as a valuable life helper. This is the first time that iHaper appeared in CES to reach its potential customers and cooperative partners while at the same time present its brand image in front of the world. iHaper's industrial design follows the style from North Europe and applies minimalism throughout the brand concept. One of the featured products is a detachable dek lamp designed with smart Wi-Fi LED and flashlight, which attracted major attention from the visitors. The model style matches all modern interior design with convenient flexibility in shapes. CES 2019 will be a milestone for iHaper to officially kick off its off-line sales and marketing worldwide. According to the founder of iHaper, the product catalog will be continuously expanded into all household appliances, even including, potentially, the first ever coffee machine that can be controlled by an iPad. The trend in Smart Homes One of the biggest trends for CES 2019 will be new applications for the Internet of Things. Consumers and brands already use the IoT every day with connected devices. The technology will continue to expand in new areas for both enterprise and personal use. iHaper is one of the players that keep pushing the edges and seek innovation in both technology and brand philosophy. The growth of smart homes puts power back in consumers' hands and allows them to run a seamless home while still going about their normal lives. This year, iHaper will not be just lip service -- it really means something in a more intelligent future. About iHaper Founded in 2017, iHaper is an Apple Homekit developer brand that mainly covers smart home products. Devoted to building up an intelligent household eco-system and lifestyle, iHaper boasts its competitive compatibility and outstanding development team with rich and practical experience. In 2019, iHaper showcased its smart home product line in CES and gained considerable attention from the industry. Contact Kurt Zhu T: +86-185-6666-0672 E: pr@ihaper.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smart-home-brand-ihaper-made-its-debut-at-ces-kicking-off-its-off-line-journey-in-us-300777044.html SOURCE iHaper [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] Mystore-E Launches AI-Based Personal Assistant Platform for Retail Store Managers Mystore-E today announced the US launch of Tore-E, an AI-based personal assistant platform that empowers retail store managers to merchandise in real time using data analytics and insights. Retailers James Allen and Value City Furniture are already using Tore-E to create more relevant in-store experiences-collecting, analyzing and delivering data-driven insights to improve store performance. Mystore-E, an AI-based retail intelligence solution operating in top retailers in Israel, recently secured seed funding of $2.2 million, led by Signet Jewelers, the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry and owner of JamesAllen.com. To give brick-and-mortar stores the same analytical data advantages as their e-commerce sites, the Tore-E app is an invaluable communications tool that continually monitors and aggregates data from multiple digital channels to provide real-time merchandising recommendations from headquarters to the stores. The platform's data analytics can pinpoint the items most likely to sell in-store based on the current top sellers on a company's website, customer engagement on social media sites, in-store planograms, and local and regional factors. "Tore-E gives store managers immediate access to insights that many consumers already have a their fingertips, including products trending on Instagram and current online best-sellers," said Mystore-E Founder and CEO Asaf Shapira. "This wisdom gives sales personnel up-to-the-minute merchandising insights on the most in-demand products-not only boosting store performance but delivering a more engaging and relevant customer experience." Diamond bridal jewelry retailer James Allen, which recently opened its first brick-and-mortar store, in Washington, DC, and Ohio-based retailer Value City Furniture are using Tore-E to personalize and elevate the customer shopping experience. Store associates rely on the Tore-E app to translate real-time customer insights into product recommendations most likely to appeal to shoppers. "Retailers have been in need to make their brick-and-mortar stores function more like websites; connecting touchpoints across channels by gathering, interpreting and translating omnichannel analytics into real-world solutions on the sales floor," said Oded Edelman (News - Alert) , Chief Digital Innovation Advisor at Signet Jewelers and President of JamesAllen.com. "We quickly recognized how Mystore-E can help close this gap and we are excited to partner with them." Mystore-E Founder and CEO Asaf Shapira will be speaking at NRF 2019: Retail's Big Show in New York on Sunday, January 13th from 11:00 - 11:30 AM. Mystore-E was recently the recipient of Shop.org's 2018 Top Exhibitor Award. About Mystore-E Mystore-E's Tore-E platform helps stores function more like websites by using big data to deliver a more personalized shopping experience through recommendations and dynamic visual displays. The AI-based platform uses a combination of computer vision and data analytics to deliver actionable insights and predictions regarding retail product performance, enabling brands to maximize the value of every product and update and improve in-store displays in real time. The platform's algorithm creates prediction models that pinpoint the items most likely to sell, improving sales and operational productivity and elevating the customer experience. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005352/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Clean Sweep: Impossible Burger 2.0 Wins Top Prizes at World's Most Important Tech Show Impossible Foods launched its first major product upgrade this week at the International Consumer Electronics Show -- and Impossible Burger 2.0 took home the show's highest honors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005345/en/ The Impossible Burger (Photo: Business Wire) Impossible Foods' next-generation, plant-based meat -- which rivals ground beef from cows for taste, nutrition and versatility -- won awards including the "Most Unexpected Product," "Most Impactful Product" and "Best of the Best." More than 4,400 companies exhibit new products at CES (News - Alert) , considered world's most important tech show and home to the industry's most groundbreaking product debuts. Editors from the technology blog network Engadget selected the winners, based on world-changing significance, product quality and market demand. In addition, Impossible Burger 2.0 received the "Best Food Tech Award" from Tom's Guide and the "Top Tech of CES Award" from Digital Trends, which called it a "triumph of food engineering." The Impossible Burger 2.0 was singled out as the "Best Tech of CES" by Mashable; "The Coolest Stuff From CES" by Digg; and "The Most Exciting New Product at CES" by BRG. The New York Post said Impossible Burger "stole the show," while Gizmodo called it "stupid delicious." The future of food -- right now The accolades are unprecedented for a startup in a new category. Impossible Burger 2.0 was the first food ever showcased at CES, which features breakthrough technologies from connected homes to self-driving electric vehicles. Impossible Foods' scientists are already hard at work on additional improvements. CEO and Founder Dr. Patrick O. Brown said the food tech startup plans to scale up faster than its tech neighbors in California's Silicon Valley. "Our cycle of innovation can be much faster than that of the electronics industry," said Brown, a former pediatrician, co-founder of the Public Library of Science and Professor Emeritus at Stanford University. "As soon as we determine we've got something decisively better, something that will accelerate our mission to eliminate the need for animal agriculture, we can launch it. We don't have to worry about legacy system upgrades -- and our biggest competition, the cow, isn't iterating at all." Read this blog post by Chief Science Officer Dr. David Lipman to learn more about how Impossible Foods improves the Impossible Burger. Delicious, nutritious, versatile, sustainable Impossible Burger 2.0 contains no gluten, no animal hormones and no antibiotics. It's kosher- and halal-certified. It's delicious in any ground meat dish, including stews, chili, sauces, braises, minces, meatballs, meat pies or any other beefy menu item. It's easy to cook on the BBQ, charbroiler, flat top grill, high speed oven, steamer or saute pan. Chefs can use the Impossible Burger in recipes from lasagne to lo mein. The new Impossible Burger has as much bioavailable iron and protein as a comparable serving of ground beef from cows. In addition, the new Impossible Burger has 0 mg cholesterol, 14 grams of total fat and 240 calories in a quarter-pound patty. (A quarter-pound, conventional "80/20" patty from cows has 80 mg cholesterol, 23 grams of total fat and 290 calories.) Impossible Burger 2.0 debuted Jan. 7 at Border Grill, the award-winning restaurant from Chefs Mary Sue Milliken (News - Alert) and Susan Feniger. It's now available at about 20 of America's most respected restaurants. (The full list is here.) Next week, about 200 of America's most beloved "better burger" chains will upgrade to Impossible Burger 2.0. Within several weeks, the next-generation Impossible Burger will be available at more than 5,000 restaurants. Starting Feb. 4, the next-generation Impossible Burger will be available to all restaurants in the United States through major food distributors. At that point, restaurants will automatically get the new 2.0 recipe when they place their next order; by mid-March nearly all Impossible Foods' restaurant customers will likely be serving the new recipe. Impossible Burger is also available in more than 100 restaurants in Hong Kong and Macau. The company plans to launch the new recipe in Singapore later this year, with additional markets to come. Watch this video news release about the next-generation Impossible Burger. Big Taste, Small Footprint Based in Redwood City, Calif., Impossible Foods uses modern science and technology to create wholesome and nutritious food, restore natural ecosystems and feed a growing population sustainably. The company makes meat directly from plants -- with a much smaller environmental footprint than meat from animals. To satisfy the global demand for meat at a fraction of the environmental impact, Impossible Foods developed a far more sustainable, scalable and affordable way to make meat, without the catastrophic environmental impact of livestock. Shortly after its founding in 2011, Impossible Foods' scientists discovered that one molecule - "heme" - is uniquely responsible for the explosion of flavors that result when meat is cooked. Impossible Foods' scientists genetically engineer and ferment yeast to produce a heme protein naturally found in plants, called soy leghemoglobin. The heme in Impossible Burger is identical to the essential heme humans have been consuming for hundreds of thousands of years in meat - and while the Impossible Burger delivers all the craveable depth of beef, it uses far fewer resources because it's made from plants, not animals. About Impossible Foods: Based in California's Silicon Valley, Impossible Foods makes delicious, nutritious meat and dairy products directly from plants - with a much smaller environmental footprint than meat from animals. The privately held company was founded in 2011 by Patrick O. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry at Stanford University and a former Howard Hughes (News - Alert) Medical Institute investigator. Investors include Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, Google Ventures, Horizons Ventures, UBS, Viking Global Investors, Temasek, Sailing Capital, and Open Philanthropy Project. More information: impossiblefoods.com www.twitter.com/impossiblefoods www.facebook.com/impossiblefoods www.instagram.com/impossible_foods https://www.linkedin.com/company/impossible-foods-inc. Press kit: https://impossiblefoods.app.box.com/v/presskit View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005345/en/ [January 11, 2019] NHS England Digital Chief to Join Europe's Largest Video GP provider LIVI STOCKHOLM, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NHS Chief Digital Officer, Juliet Bauer, to join LIVI, Europe's largest video GP provider in April 2019. Bauer's global role with LIVI will focus on working in partnership with the NHS and other health systems around the world. LIVI is committed to delivering the digital ambitions set out in the NHS Long-Term Plan published this week, including offering video GP appointments to all patients by 2023. NHS England CEO, Simon Stevens, claims video GP appointments could save NHS 1 billion through 30 million avoided trips to the doctor. Since launching in the UK, LIVI has delivered thousands of appointments to patients with 95% of consultations directly replacing a physical appointment Chief Digital Officer at NHS England, Juliet Bauer, is joining LIVI in April 2019 to take up a global product role, working with health services across the world to support them in their transformation to a digital first approach to primary care. LIVI, Europe's largest online provider of video GP consultations, launched in the UK last October, partnering with NHS primary care providers to offer LIVI to their patients for free at the point of use. Since launch three months ago, LIVI has already delivered thousands of appointments to patients with 95% of consultations directly replacing a physical appointment. Over the last two and a half years, Juliet Bauer has been a key element in the digital transformation of the NHS. Throughout this period, Juliet has encouraged the use of digital solutions to improve health outcomes and patient experience, and to deliver efficiencies for the NHS. The announcement of Juliet's move comes days after the NHS published its Long-Term Plan, with a major focus on digital transformation. The NHS plan sets out a goal to offer every patient across the country the ability to see a GP via video consultation in the next five years in a move to ease growing pressures on GPs and improve waiting times. NHS Chief Executive, Simon Stevens, estimates that such a move could avoid up to 30 million physical trips to primary care and save the NHS 1 billion per year. LIVI is committed to supporting the ambitions within the Long-Term Plan and is already partnering with the NHS to help its transformation to become a truly digital first health service. Since launching in the UK in October 2018, LIVI's partnership in the North West of Surrey with the NHS NICS GP Federation has generated exciting results, with over 13,000 patients signing up to use the service. 95% of GP appointments delivered via LIVI's UK video consultation service have directly replaced a physical appointment. This new way of delivering healthcare therefore has the potential to deliver on the ambitions for digital GP appointments Simon Stevens set out in the Long Term Plan. Since launch, LIVI has been used by a wide range of demographics, with nearly 30% of the 1000s of patients it has helped aged over 50; demonstrating that digital healthcare has the power to improve the lives of everyone no matter where you live or your individual circumstances. Patients also rate the service 5 stars on the App Store, and, across Europe, where LIVI has delivered over half a million consultations already, average patient ratings are 4.8 out of 5. Juliet Bauer, Chief Digital Officer at NHS England, said: "I am delighted to be joining LIVI at such an exciting time for digital health. Technology has the power to deliver a step-change in clinical care and patient experience. I am looking forward to helping LIVI expand their outstanding service to deliver on the NHS' long term plan, as well as supporting their growth globally". Luke Buhl-Nielsen, Country Director of LIVI UK said: "We are incredibly excited to have Juliet join the LIVI team. Her unrivalled experience within NHS England and the wider Health and Social Care Digital Transformation program during a period of unprecedented change is invaluable as we work alongside the health service to deliver a digital vision for primary care and transform outcomes for patients everywhere". Johannes Schildt, CEO and co-founder of LIVI said: "Juliet is a fantastic addition to the expanding LIVI team. Her passion and energy for the potential of digital is evident both from her previous role with the NHS and her career to date. We are very excited that Juliet shares our vision to improve access and equality of care for every patient, whilst helping reduce pressures on health care systems. We are excited to work with her to deliver our service to patients everywhere." CONTACT: Press Manager KRY +46-70-591-89-25 linda.bengsson@kry.se This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/16551/2716339/a233e1414acf5021_org.jpg Juliet Bauer photo 1 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] Our culture, our democracy: Canada in the digital world - CBC/Radio-Canada submits its recommendations for modernizing Canada's culture legislation OTTAWA, Jan. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Today CBC/Radio-Canada provided its proposal for strengthening Canadian culture and democracy to the Government of Canada's panel reviewing the Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Radiocommunication Acts. In its submission, CBC/Radio-Canada presents its case for modernizing Canada's cultural legislation, which includes ensuring a strong public broadcaster to support Canadian culture and democracy in the digital world. Given the growing dominance of global digital companies that threaten to drown out the country's stories as well as its news and information, CBC/Radio-Canada is concerned about the health of the Canadian broadcasting system and its ability to continue to serve the needs of citizens. "CBC/Radio-Canada remains a cornerstone of Canada's cultural and creative sector," said Catherine Tait, CBC/Radio-Canada's President & CEO. "We want to ensure it can help strengthen homegrown culture. Like public broadcasters around the world, we have a crucial role to play in reflecting diversity; in providing more trusted news and stronger links with local communities; in being a destination for future generations of children; and in providing a powerful platform to share culture globally." In its submission, CBC/Radio-Canada is proposing support for three key initiatives: Strengthen public broadcasting as a cornerstone of Canadian culture; Strengthen the quality an access to trusted news and information for all Canadians; and Strengthen Canadian culture by ensuring that all companies who benefit from our market contribute to the sustainability of Canadian culture. In addition, the public broadcaster recommends that digital companiesboth foreign and domesticwhich are profiting from Canadians' love of content, contribute to the creation of Canadian culture, as traditional broadcasting companies already do. The current inequality is not sustainable and undermines the creation of great Canadian stories. Countries around the world are grappling with the same issue. Ms. Tait added: "CBC/Radio-Canada is excited about the future. Canadians are embracing our new digital services, and younger Canadians are returning to their public broadcaster through mobile services and podcasts. While there are significant challenges in the digital world, CBC/Radio-Canada believes there are tremendous opportunities for Canada to use the power of digital to build a strong cultural system for Canadians." About the review of Canada's communications legislative framework As committed to in Budget 2017, the Government of Canada is reviewing the Broadcasting Act , the Telecommunications Act and the Radiocommunication Act . In June 2018, the Government of Canada announced a review of broadcasting legislation by a panel of external experts chaired by Janet Yale. CBC/Radio-Canada submitted its recommendations as part of the panel's call for comments from interested individuals and organizations. For Canada's public broadcaster, this legislative review is important and timely. In particular, the Broadcasting Act is the public broadcaster's governing legislation and sets out the scope of its mandate to serve the public. As such, modernization of this legislation will determine the future of Canadian culture, how the country sees itself and how others view Canada. For more details, visit here . About CBC/Radio-Canada CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada's trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world. SOURCE CBC/Radio-Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] First Insight Announces 2018 as Year of Growth Led by Innovation and Expansion First Insight, Inc., a technology company transforming how leading retailers, brands and wholesalers make product investment, pricing and marketing decisions, today announced significant milestones achieved during 2018. Throughout the year, First Insight forged partnerships with new customers and expanded existing relationships, unveiled market insights for a deeper understanding across the retail industry, continued innovating predictive analytics for customer-based product, pricing and planning decisions, and was recognized by global research and advisory firm Gartner (News - Alert) for the sixth consecutive year. "The retail industry remains dynamic and in a state of rapid change as new innovations, strategies, and technologies continue to shape not only the industry, but consumer expectations for the products they buy," said Greg Petro, CEO of First Insight. "Understanding the consumer requires that retailers and brands remain in synch with their expectations to maintain and grow sales and margins. We've had an exceptional year and continue to successfully deliver solutions that enable the industry to offer consumers the right product at the right price, and target them with the right offers. As we head into 2019, these solutions will only become more important as the changing regulatory landscape could impact everything from supply chain to pricing. Interest in First Insight is accelerating as we look toward another year of high growth." Highlights from 2018 include: Expansion of Retail Partnerships: In 2018, First Insight expanded its partnerships with many customers and extended the solution to more products and categories. Some examples include BJ's Wholesale Club, Chico's FAS, Marks & Spencer and Dick's Sporting Goods. "We are excited to expand our use of the First Insight Platform to new categories and continue to offer value to our members with the right products, features and prices," said Chris Desantis, Senior Vice President of General Merchandise at BJ's Wholesale Club. "Our robust customer data, combined with the First Insight platform, enables us to make better product, pricing and targeted marketing decisions," said Ann Joyce, Chief Customer Officer and EVP, Technology, Supply Chain and Store Operations at Chico's FAS, Inc. "First Insight supports our voice of the customer strategy and over the last two years, we have confirmed the ROI of their platform through increased sales and margins of the select Chico's brand products processed through the solution. We are excited to expand our partnership with First Insight to the White House Black Market brand and to additional apparel categories within the Chico's brand." Additional Retail Partnerships and Expansions: During 2018, First Insight experienced massive growth in new retail and brand partnerships, bringing its total customer count to over 100. Retailers such as Justice, part of Ascena Retail Group, became part of the First Insight customer roster: "The tween segment is fast-moving, and historical data often does not provide an accurate view as to the products our customers will want, or the prices they will pay next season," said Jason Judd, senior vice president, finance and CFO of Justice. "By working with First Insight, we're not only picking our products better, but we're pricing them rightfrom the outset, and we're already seeing great benefits to our bottom line." During 2018, First Insight experienced massive growth in new retail and brand partnerships, bringing its total customer count to over 100. Retailers such as Justice, part of Ascena Retail Group, became part of the First Insight customer roster: "The tween segment is fast-moving, and historical data often does not provide an accurate view as to the products our customers will want, or the prices they will pay next season," said Jason Judd, senior vice president, finance and CFO of Justice. "By working with First Insight, we're not only picking our products better, but we're pricing them rightfrom the outset, and we're already seeing great benefits to our bottom line." Introduction of New Innovative Products and Services: First Insight launched the industry's first Customer-Centric Merchandising Platform, a suite of expanded solutions which builds on First Insight's pre-season product testing platform to bring deeper analysis, increased predictive capabilities, precise price forecasting, targeted customer segmentation data and accurate buy quantity recommendations on new products. First Insight more than doubled its product development and data science resources during 2018, constantly pushing the envelope in introducing new functionality. Major 2018 product launches include updated data models based on the latest AI & machine learning technologies, assortment planning capabilities including buy quantity analysis, price elasticity forecasting, mobile app functionality, additional international language/currency capabilities, and much more. Market Insights and Proprietary Research: First Insight also undertook ground-breaking research to uncover the changing mindset of consumers, enabling retailers and brands to more quickly align products and prices with their expectations. In March, First Insight unveiled the report Mind the Gap: The Gender Effect on Shopping Habits and Technology Disruptors, discovering significant discrepancies between men and women in shopping, including the observation that men are not embracing online shopping as much as women and are more likely to shop at full-price retailers. In June, the company issued the report Quality More Important to Consumers than Price as Influence of Discounts on Purchase Decisions Declines, which discovered through consumer surveys that 53 percent of consumers rate quality as the most important factor when making a purchase, compared to price at 38 percent. In October, First Insight issued a report The Pricing Disconnect Between Senior Retail Executives & Consumers, which found that only 20 percent of senior retail executives thought consumers found low pricing to be important in purchasing decisions, while in actuality 40 percent of consumers found this to be the most important factor. This was among many other significant discrepancies between executives and consumers. The company was also recognized by Gartner by being named a Representative Vendor in the firm's 2018 "Market Guide for Unified Price, Promotion and Markdown Optimization (UPPMO) Applications," as well as its "Hype Cycle for Retail Technologies, 2018" for a sixth consecutive year. First Insight invites retailers, brands, wholesalers and media to meet with the company at the NRF 2019 Big Show at the Javits Center in New York City, January 13-15, 2019, in Booth # 3973. To schedule a meeting with First Insight at the show, click here or contact info@firstinsight.com Also, an NRF feature-stage session, "Product paradigm shift: Customer-centric merchandising in the age of data and decision agility" will feature Michael Gilbert (EVP of Product Development at Kohl's), Mark Chrystal (Chief Analytics Officer at rue21), and Ann Joyce (CCO and CTO at Chico's FAS Inc.) and will be moderated by Greg Petro (CEO of First Insight). The session is on Monday Jan 14 at 2:15pm on the Feature Stage. About First Insight, Inc. First Insight is the world's leading provider of solutions that empower retailers and brands to incorporate the voice of the consumer into the design and merchandising of new products. Through the use of online consumer engagement, the First Insight solution gathers real-time consumer data and applies predictive analytic models to create actionable insights, which drive measurable value. Retailers, manufacturers and brands use the First Insight solution to design, select, price, plan and market the most profitable new products for reduced markdown rates and improved sales, margins and inventory turnover. Customers include some of the world's leading vertically integrated brands, sporting goods companies, department stores, mass merchant retailers and wholesalers. For further information, please visit www.firstinsight.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005200/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] Lone Wolf Seizes Momentum of Growth, Announces Two Leadership Changes CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, Jan. 11, 2019 /CNW/ -- Lone Wolf Technologies ("Lone Wolf"), the North American leader in residential real estate software, today announced that it has named Jack Blaha as its new Chief Executive Officer and Patrick Arkeveld as Executive Chairman. These leadership changes come as Lone Wolf seizes momentum of recent successes and seeks to propel the company to the next level of growth. Under Arkeveld's leadership, Lone Wolf, backed by Vista Equity Partners, has grown into one of the most trusted technology providers in the real estate industry. Arkeveld spearheaded several transformative initiatives since joining the company in 2015, including the acquisition of Instanet Solutions, which significantly expanded the company's product portfolio to become the largest brokerage software platform in North America. This platform includes industry-leading solutions for both back office and transaction management and helps over 20,000 offices and 500,000 agents generate more revenue, reduce costs, and be more profitable in their real estate businesses. "It's been my honor to lead Lone Wolf and I am incredibly proud of our accomplishments," Arkeveld said. "I am thrilled to welcome Jack to the team. Jack brings the skill set and experience to drive Lone Wolf forward on this tremendous upward trajectory, and I am confident he will serve our clients well in the years ahead. I look forward to supporting Jack and Lone Wolf, as we continue to grow the company and our influence in the real estate industry." Blaha was the former CEO of PeopleAdmin, a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company, where he led the market-leading organization through a similar period of significant growth. Prior to this rol, Blaha served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Aptean, Inc., where he led their global Product, Development, Corporate Development, Professional Services and Support teams. With a 20-year track record of technology leadership and client-focused innovation, Blaha will ensure both Lone Wolf and its clients thrive in this period of rapid growth. "This is an exciting time for Lone Wolf and I am thrilled to be working with such a passionate and talented team," said Blaha. "Lone Wolf has a fantastic reputation in the residential real estate software industry and Patrick has built a great foundation, company culture, and product portfolio. I look forward to learning more about the real estate industry and how we can continue to meet the needs of real estate professionals with innovative technology and a fantastic user experience." Rob Rogers, Principal at Vista Equity Partners and Lone Wolf board member, added: "Jack has a track record of successful leadership within several Vista companies and other technology firms. He joins Lone Wolf with a wealth of experience in driving innovation and improving the client experience. Jack's experience and strong history of leading high performing teams will support Lone Wolf's growth and deliver unrivalled value to our customers." About Lone Wolf Technologies Lone Wolf Technologies, a Vista company, is the North American leader in residential real estate software, with products in over 20,000 offices across Canada and the U.S. The company offers an ecosystem of technology products, including software for back office, transaction management, front office, and web, as well as professional services and 3rd party integrations. Each element of this ecosystem enables brokerages and agents to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and increase opportunities for profitability. Lone Wolf's head office is located in Cambridge, ON, with additional offices in Dallas, TX, London, ON. For more information, please visit lwolf.com. About Vista Equity Partners Vista Equity Partners is a U.S.-based investment firm with offices in Austin, Chicago, New York City, Oakland, and San Francisco with more than $46 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Vista exclusively invests in software, data, and technology-enabled organizations led by world-class management teams. As a value-added investor with a long-term perspective, Vista contributes professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies to realize their full potential. Vista's investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions, and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com. MEDIA CONTACT Kate Annis VP, Marketing kannis@lwolf.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lone-wolf-seizes-momentum-of-growth-announces-two-leadership-changes-300776711.html SOURCE Lone Wolf Technologies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] Citi and ValueAct Capital Enter into Information Sharing and Engagement Agreement Citigroup Inc. and ValueAct Capital announced today that they have entered into an Information Sharing and Engagement Agreement which will formalize and expand on the constructive dialogue between Citi and ValueAct that began in early 2018. The Agreement provides for a deeper level of engagement and collaboration between Citi and ValueAct. It enables ValueAct to have access to confidential information about the company and engage with members of Citi's management team and Board of Directors on areas such as strategy, governance and operational planning matters. The Agreement also provides for ValueAct's support for management and the Board through the term of the Agreement, which lasts through December of 2019. A representative of ValueAct currently sits on the board of Alliance Data Systems, a competitor of Citi's in certain business lines. Due to issues around board interlocks of competitors, ValueAct is not pursuing a board seat at Citi at this time. Citi and ValueAct have discussed that when this situation changes, it is likely that ValueAct will propose a candidate for a board seat and Citi would consider the request, following its usual process for director candidates. Citi CEO Michael Corbat said, "We have had a very constructive dialogue with ValueAct over the past year. This Agreement will enable Citi to work closely with one of its largest shareholders and one with unique insights and a strong track record of adding value to global organizations. We see ValueAct's expertise and shareholder perspective as important strengths and are looking forward to working together to benefit all of Citi's stakeholders." ValueAct President and Chief Investment Officer G. Mason Morfit said, "We have had a very open and constructive dialogue with Mike Corbat and his team over the past year. We have consistently bee impressed with Citi's franchises, its strategies and its people. We are excited to take our engagement to the next level and work with management and the board to help deliver excellent and sustainable results for all stakeholders." ValueAct currently owns approximately 32 million of the issued and outstanding shares of Citigroup common stock and is one of its largest shareholders. About Citi Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter (News - Alert) : @Citi | YouTube (News - Alert) : www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook (News - Alert) : www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn (News - Alert) : www.linkedin.com/company/citi About ValueAct Capital ValueAct Capital, based in San Francisco, California, implements a global investment strategy that combines intensive due diligence, a concentrated number of investments, and active, constructive involvement in the value creation at those investments. ValueAct Capital tends to be the largest, or one of the largest shareholders in each of its core portfolio company investments, and often joins the board of directors of those companies, where it works alongside of management and the board to help companies achieve long-term sustainable business results. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005184/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Shahid Shafi will retain his role as vice-chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party despite a push from a small faction of precinct chairs to remove him from his post because he's Muslim.Shafi, a trauma surgeon and Southlake City Council member, said after the vote that the last several months had been hard on him and his family. But he said he holds no animosity toward people who backed the failed motion to recall him and that he was proud to be an American and a Republican."As an immigrant to this great country, I am honored and privileged to receive the support of my fellow Republicans," Shafi told members of the press late Thursday. "We need to learn to trust each other so we can create a more perfect union everyday."Shafi came to the U.S. in 1990 and became a naturalized citizen in 2009. The attacks on his religion, however, came shortly after Easton appointed him to a leadership role within the county party in July. The formal motion to oust him failed in a 49-139 vote, said county party spokesman Mike Snyder.Those who were in favor of Shafi's removal said he's unequipped to be vice-chairman because he doesnt represent all Tarrant County Republicans due to his religion. They've also said Islamic ideologies run counter to the U.S. Constitution an assertion many Texas GOP officials have called bigoted and Shafi himself has vehemently denied.Following news that Shafi would retain his vice-chairman role, Snyder read a prepared statement from Tarrant County GOP Chair Darl Easton which said the vote reaffirmed Tarrant Republicans' commitment to the state party platform and the U.S. Constitution."While tonight's vote brings an end to this unfortunate episode, it also demonstrates we are a Party that respects the right of those who disagree on an issue to have a seat at the table and their voices heard," Easton, one of Shafi's defenders, wrote. "Religious liberty won tonight, and while that makes a great day for the Republican Party of Tarrant County, that victory also serves notice that we have much work to do unifying our party."Former Tarrant County precinct chair Sara Legvold did not vote on the motion to recall Shafi, but sat outside Thursdays closed-door meeting wearing a burqa to represent the Islamization of our county, our state and our country.You already see it in the workplace where Muslims demand theyre able to wear their hijab and demand they get a prayer room, she said. When was the last time a Christian was allowed to have a separate place to say their prayers?"Dorrie O'Brien, one of the precinct chairs leading the charge against Shafi, previously said her support for ousting him stems not from his religion, but whether he is connected to Islamic terror groups, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.The failed attempt to oust Shafi drew national attention as well as condemnation from some of the state's top Republicans, including Gov. Greg Abbott. Republican Land Commissioner George P. Bush saluted the vote in a tweet late Thursday. And in a prepared statement after the measure failed, Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey said the state party platform clearly supports religious freedom and non-discrimination."We look forward to working with all Republicans to fight for lower taxes, quality education, and to continue our booming economy through Republican leadership," Dickey said.Though the movement to reconsider Shafis appointment was afoot well ahead of last years midterm elections, Thursdays vote comes just months after Tarrant County considered the most conservative urban county in the country narrowly flipped in favor of Texas Democrats star senatorial candidate, Beto ORourke. In Tarrant County and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth region, several Texas Senate and House seats went to Democrats, including the district previously held by conservative state Sen. Konni Burton of Colleyville.Tripp Bryant, a State Republican Executive Committee representative from Senate District 22 that includes part of Tarrant, said it was appalling members of the Tarrant County party were being divisive over someone's religion months after Republicans in the area made nail-biters of races that had once been safe wins. He noted that Republicans U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Ron Wright lost in the county.In my personal opinion, they need to pull their heads out of their fourth point of contact and they need to focus on winning elections and stop pointing the finger at Muslims," Bryant said.Another precinct chair called Thursday's motion "bullshit.""I'm a Jewish precinct chair," John Seidenstein said, "does this mean I'm next?"Legvold, meanwhile, complained that Shafi's opponents had been vilified."Theyve said nothing but horrible things about us that were bigots and Islamophobes and white supremacists when were just patriots who care for our country," she said. [January 11, 2019] AbelsonTaylor Launches ICONS.HEALTH, a Content Channel Exploring Innovation at the Intersection of Healthcare and Technology What do Microsoft, Aetna, Twitter, IBM, Ogilvy (News - Alert) Consulting, Biogen and dozens of healthcare startups have in common? All appear in discussions about issues at the nexus of healthcare and technology in Icons.Health, a new video series produced by AbelsonTaylor, the world's largest independent healthcare advertising agency. Developed to capture compelling ideas that often arise during casual conversations at conferences, Icons.Health features unstructured discussions among entrepreneurs and innovators from divergent organizations about new and exciting trends in technology and their application to healthcare. Unlike other content channels, Icons.Health is nonscripted, nonpartisan and nonpromotional. The conversations are extemporaneous, without a moderator and with no preconceived points to make. "We like to capture conversations among people from different company sizes and industries," said Mitch Apley, vice president and director of broadcast/print production at AbelsonTaylor. "We'll have at least one senior exec from a scrappy startup versus a traditionalist, established professional at a big company. We can get unexpected dialog between someone who's starting an innovative idea and someone at a big pharma company." The idea for Icons.Health originated in 2014, when AbelsonTaylor began engaging with the healthcare startup community through a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Hacking Medicine group. After participating in a Grand Hackathon at MIT (News - Alert) and co-creating healthcare content several years in a row for the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, Apley and his colleagues noticed an interesting pattern - while official content was compelling, the most thought-provoking conversations seemed to happen in the hallways afterward. The concept for a pilot program documenting these conversations took shap during a spontaneous brainstorming between Apley and Joel Witmer, an AbelsonTaylor cinematographer and editor. Looping in creative director Noah Lowenthal, the trio presented the concept for Icons.Health to the agency's executive leadership and got approval to pursue the project. The first opportunity to capture conversations came at SXSW (News - Alert) in March 2018, where, between official sessions, the agency caught dozens of speakers on camera. "We discovered that small startups have the audacity to try to change healthcare and large tech companies have the obligation to try to change healthcare," said Lowenthal. "That juxtaposition creates some fascinating content." Encouraged by their success, Apley and Lowenthal traveled to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June 2018 to capture additional extemporaneous conversations. From a custom-built studio on the main conference floor, they filmed exchanges between thought leaders from a wide range of organizations, including Microsoft, Adobe (News - Alert) and Aetna. The raw footage from both festivals was edited into more than 40 videos that, according to Apley, document exchanges between "the emerging community of health-tech startups and the monoliths of healthcare that court them." Among the topics and speakers in the current Icons.Health lineup: Discovering somebody who cares, 280 characters at a time Mary Ann Belliveau, national director of health and wellness at Twitter (News - Alert) , and Terrie Livingston, senior director of U.S. medical at Biogen, discuss using Twitter to create virtual support groups that improve the patient experience. Using augmented reality to change reality Ritesh Patel, chief digital officer for health and wellness at Ogilvy Consulting, and Doug Gould, partner executive at Microsoft, discuss how AI and gaming can help engage patients and change behavior. Your Zip Code may matter more than your genetic code Eric Gertler, chairman of U.S. News & World Report and CEO of Ulysses Ventures, talks with Garth Graham, president of Aetna Foundation and vice president of community Health for Aetna, and Angela Radcliffe, general manager of clinical trial solutions at PulsePoint, about using data to improve patient health. What if fair balance is actually unfair to patients? Jeffrey Castellano, global executive creative director at IBM, and Anthony Reeves, managing partner of ReevesJones, discuss ways of making fair balance more user-friendly. Can technology be empathetic? Chris Duffey, strategic development manager at Adobe, and Lexi Kaplin, chief product officer at conversationHEALTH, talk about how AI can lead to more personalized medicine. The entire library of videos can be found at Icons.Health. Additional conversations will be filmed at upcoming major conferences. Industry leaders who would be interested in participating can contact Mitch.Apley@abelsontaylor.com. About AbelsonTaylor Chicago-based AbelsonTaylor is the world's largest independent, full-service medical advertising agency, offering strategic, creative, interactive, media and client service expertise. We're passionate about science and equally passionate about telling the human story hidden within the data. To learn more, visit abelsontaylor.com and follow the company on Twitter and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005042/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] Progressive Care Executes New Capital Funding Facility MIAMI, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Progressive Care Inc. ( OTCQB: RXMD ), a personalized healthcare services and technology company, today announced that it has entered into a new securities purchase agreement. Progressive Care has agreed to a secured promissory note providing $2.5 million in capital facility to the company, $1 million of which was funded on January 7, 2019 and $1.5 million will be available in tranches thereafter. The note supersedes the terms of the securities purchase agreement entered into in July 2016 which is no longer in force and effect. Due to the companys performance and growth trajectory, terms were negotiated to be significantly more favorable than were previously available. The Company has secured this capital in advance of an ambitious 2019 agenda which includes logistical implementation of the companys unique service offerings (DischargeRx, TelePharmacy, Full Service 340B Program), development of new product lines and digital technologies, expanded sales efforts of the core business, build-out of the recently acquired property, and acquisition support. We have a long-standing relationship with Chicago Venture Partners. They have played an instrumental role in allowing Progressive Care to move forward with its goals in improving the healthcare system, said S. Parikh Mars, CEO of Progressive Care. Today, we are endeavoring to make big dreams a reality and this capital is the fuel we need for what will be a fast-paced and exciting year. The Benchmark Company, LLC advised Progressive Care on the transaction. Progressive Care recently announced its plan to relocate pharmacy operations, administrative offices, tele pharmacy and long-term care services from North Miami Beach to the recently purchased facility in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The Company also plans to provide an update on the companys recent progress and upcoming product developments. 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: Kathleen Gonzales, CMW Media kathleen@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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2019] SafeStop Completes SOC 2 Data Security Compliance for its Safe, Secure School Bus Tracking System CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SafeStop, Inc., the creator of the SafeStop school bus tracking app for parents and analytics tool for school administrators, has completed the rigorous data security standards necessary to achieve System and Organization Controls 2 Type 2 compliance. The demanding examinations were administered via the third-party staff at 360 Advanced , a respected national Qualified Security Assessor, HITRUST CSF Assessor and Certified Public Accounting Firm based in St. Petersburg, FL. The SOC 2 Type 2, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, provides service organizations a uniform method for disclosing independently assessed information about the design and operation of internal controls as they relate to one or more of the AICPA's Trust Services Principles of Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality or Privacy. SafeStop has been designated SOC 2 Type 2 compliant not just at the data center and server level but at the entity leel where their team works and day to day functionality of the school bus tracking and communications app occurs. We evaluated what the industry standard was, and it was a very low bar, said Chief Technology Officer Keith Engelbert. We even had some school districts asking for HIPAA compliance, and we felt that SOC 2 Type 2 struck a very good balance between the minimum industry standard and HIPAA, especially given the sensitivity of our data regarding some of the students special and medical needs. This type of designation serves to highlight SafeStop's ability to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of information that we both receive and store. SafeStop first became compliant in 2013 upon creating a powerful and secure mobile application that connects parents and school administrators with the vehicles transporting their students. Also included under SafeStops domain and meeting the high security standards is D360, a digital employee compliance and credentialing system that helps move existing employee paper records into the digital age while maintaining new files and credentials in a secure, cloud-based environment. ABOUT SAFESTOP The SafeStop app provides a secure registration process, real-time map feature, estimated times of arrival, student scanning, SafeStop Analytics and an alerts and messaging center for its users. The app brings timely, accurate and valuable information to parents and school officials across North America. For more information, visit www.SafeStopApp.com. ABOUT 360 ADVANCED 360 Advanced is a national Cybersecurity Compliance Audit firm based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Services provided include GDPR, SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, SOC for Cybersecurity, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA/HITECH, HITRUST CSF, Microsoft Vendor Policy, Penetration Testing and more. For an initial consultation, please contact Eric Ratcliffe at eratcliffe@360advanced.com. News release services provided by Clearview Communications and PR, Inc. Media Contact: Jordanne LePre jlepre@360advanced.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 10, 2019] LifeMap Sciences Announces Incorporation of GeneHancer Data in UCSC Genome Browser LifeMap Sciences announced today that its GeneHancer database was recently incorporated into the UCSC Genome Browser as a native track. GeneHancer, a part of the GeneCards Suite Knowledgebase (www.genecards.org), is a comprehensive database of human regulatory elements (enhancers and promoters) and their inferred target genes. GeneHancer was created by integrating >1 million regulatory elements from multiple genome-wide databases. Associations between regulatory elements and target genes were generated by combining multiple bioinformatics methods. The GeneCards Suite and the GeneHancer database were developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. GeneHancer is used today by both industry and academia for the interpretation of whole genome sequencing data. LifeMap offers this capability in its NGS Analysis & Interpretation platform, TGex (https://tgex-app.genecards.org). TGex combines the GeneHancer database with VarElect, the variant prioritization tool based on the GeneCards Suite Knowledgebase, to identify, score, and provide evidence for relationships between variants in non-coding regions and patient phenotypes. This capability is used today by the largest pediatric research center in Europe as well as in the top Maternal and Children's hospitals in greater China for diagnosis of children with rare disorders. The UCSC Genome Browser project's relevant announceent (http://genome.ucsc.edu/goldenPath/newsarch.html#110718) notes that GeneHancer is the first native track presenting a comprehensive view of enhancers, promoters and their gene targets, using the novel interact track format (available on the GRCh37/hg19 and GRCh38/hg38 assemblies). This allows users to easily explore GeneHancer's elements and element-gene interactions within the world's leading genome browser. "I am delighted to see the success of our GeneHancer compendium in becoming a method of choice for exploring regulatory elements and their gene targets at the widely used UCSC Genome Browser," said Prof. Doron Lancet, Principal Investigator of the GeneCards Suite project at the Weizmann Institute of Science. "As labs start moving from analyzing exomes to genomes," said Yaron Guan-Golan, CEO of LifeMap Sciences, "they will require high quality tools and databases that will allow them to interpret mutations in non-coding regions as they relate to patient phenotypes. Not surprisingly, this is evidenced by growing interest in GeneHancer data from both industry and academia. We are therefore happy to see GeneHancer's implementation in UCSC's Genome Browser, which will make this data more accessible to the larger research community." About LifeMap Sciences LifeMap Sciences is a life sciences technology company that offers integrated, streamlined solutions that empower life scientists worldwide to conduct cutting-edge basic, clinical and applied biomedical research. LifeMap's products are used in more than 3,000 institutions including academia, research hospitals, patent offices, and leading biopharma and diagnostic companies. Operations worldwide are carried out from our offices in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Tel Aviv, and Hong Kong. LifeMap is a subsidiary of AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. For more information, please visit http://www.lifemapsc.com/. About the Weizmann Institute of Science and GeneCards The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the world's top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions. Noted for its wide-ranging exploration of the natural and exact sciences, the Institute is home to scientists, postdoctoral fellows, Ph.D. and M.Sc. students, and scientific, technical and administrative staff. In addition, visiting scientists and their families - over 500 from 35 countries are regularly hosted at the Institute. Particular excellence in bioinformatics and systems biology is manifested, among others, in the GeneCards project, initiated in 1996, under the leadership of Prof. Doron Lancet of the Dept. of Molecular Genetics, until recently Head of the Crown Human Genome Center. The team, led by Marilyn Safran, continuously innovates to maintain GeneCards as the leading integrated human gene compendium. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190110005805/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 10, 2019] Cosmin Nicolaescu Joins Brex as VP of Engineering Brex, the first corporate card for startups, today announced the addition of Cosmin Nicolaescu as Vice President of Engineering. In his new role, Nicolaescu will bring his expertise in scaling global engineering organizations, like those he led at Stripe and Microsoft (News - Alert) , to Brex, as it continues to establish itself as a leader in the fintech marketplace. He will report to Pedro Franceschi, Brex's co-Founder and COO. "Cosmin has a track record of driving tremendous growth and we greatly admire his impact at a standout company such as Stripe," said Franceschi. "His leadership will allow us to provide more value to our customers as we move up market and expand both our products and our team." Prior to joining Brex, Nicolaescu led Stripe's Global engineering and prduct teams, helping to scale the company from 100 to over 1,400 employees worldwide. He led the expansion of engineering teams outside of San Francisco to Seattle, Dublin and Singapore and built the Stripe Terminal engineering and product teams. Prior to Stripe, Nicolaescu was a Senior Software Design Engineer at Microsoft, where he found his interest in payments while working on Azure, Office 365 and the Microsoft Commerce Platform. "Henrique and Pedro are tackling a side of fintech that hasn't yet been tackled-the intersection of software and issuing, and applying it to the corporate world," said Nicolaescu. "Brex has the trajectory and team to build a strong and important business, and I am excited to bring my experience to lead the engineering organization through a period of massive growth and innovation." About Brex For startups, Brex delivers corporate cards quickly, easily, and with higher limits than traditional corporate cards, instantly and with no personal guarantee. Founded in 2017 by the founders of Brazilian payments processor Pagar.me, Brex is backed by Y Combinator Continuity, Ribbit (News - Alert) Capital, Greenoaks, DST Global, Peter Thiel and Max Levchin and has raised a total of $215M in funding. Brex participated in the Y Combinator Winter '17 batch. The company's headquarters are in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.brex.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190110005793/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Farmington, WV (26555) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 74F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear skies. Low 46F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Three former state employees are suing Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his chief of staff, alleging wrongful termination when Dunleavy took office.The Alaska Civil Liberties Union of Alaska has filed a lawsuit on behalf of former state attorney Elizabeth Bakalar and one on behalf of psychiatrists Anthony Blanford and John Bellville.After Dunleavy's election, chief of staff Tuckerman Babcock asked at-will state employees to submit their resignations. In a statement, Babcock said it was appropriate to ask if they wanted to work for the administration. TROY The Troy City School District is considering joining what has been a growing list of school districts that offer school property tax breaks to veterans. The School Board has set a public hearing on the possible exemption for 6 p.m. on Jan. 16 at School 18. Board members then plan to decide on the exemption during their next meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 at Troy Middle School. The number of districts that grant the breaks has grown steadily since the option was expanded from municipal to school taxes in 2013. From 2016 to 2018, for example, the number rose from 254 to 288, according to state records. And more districts are looking at the potential exemptions. My understanding, based on anecdotal evidence is that it has been gaining momentum, said Matt Tully, an Albany lawyer who was involved in a recent successful effort to pass an exemption in Niskayuna. While popular with veterans, the exemptions arent offset by state money, which is the case with other tax breaks such as the STAR, or School Tax Relief program. That means that districts offering the exemptions have to find additional budget savings or spread the higher cost to other taxpayers. Like other exemptions, Troys program would work by reducing the assessed value, or value of a home that is used to calculate its tax burden. The reductions could vary based on a number of factors. Those could include whether a veteran served in an actual combat zone or suffered a disability. The exemptions could range from $6,000 to $40,000. District officials estimate that, if enacted, the exemption could reduce most veterans annual tax bill by up to approximately $845.84, based on a property with an assessed value of $100,000. That would increase other residents annual tax bill by up to $23.44. The need for other taxpayers to bear the burden of a veterans exemption has prompted lawmakers in the last few years to offer bills that would have the state pay for the tax breaks. But those proposals havent gained traction in the Legislature. And in some communities, efforts to get exemptions have been turned down since board members didnt want to increase taxes for others. Complicating factors in some locations is the new $10,000 limit on deductibility of local taxes including school property taxes, remarked Frank Pagani, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Air Force and is an American Legion member. He was involved in a push two years ago to get an exemption in Ardsley, Westchester County. Many of the exemptions are downstate in places like the lower Hudson Valley and Long Island. Because of the high home prices and taxes in those locales, many residents pay more than $10,000 and the limit on deductibility has acted as a de facto tax hike for some. Pagani added that some school boards have discussed putting the exemptions up for a referendum by voters. In the Capital Region, school districts offering veterans' exemptions include: Albany, Bethlehem, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Green Island, Guilderland, North and South Colonie, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Voorheesville, Averill Park, East Greenbush, Hoosick Falls, Schodack, Ballston Spa, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Saratoga Springs, Shenendehowa, Stillwater, Scotia-Glenville, Mohonasen and Niskayuna. Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly quoted Frank Pagani as saying some school boards considered putting the tax breaks up for referendums. Pagani did state that his American Legion post in Ardsley had considered taking the idea of a referendum to his local school board, but ultimately decided not to. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU TROY A Hoosick Falls man sobbed and shook when he pleaded guilty to a sex crime against a child Thursday under a deal reached after a State Police investigator admitted Wednesday during cross-examination in Rensselaer County Court that he had lied while testifying in the trial. Christopher Downey, 32, will serve 15 years in prison and 10 years of post-release supervision under the deal in which he pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual course of action with a 6-year-old girl between July 2017 and May 2018. Downey faced a prison term of 25 years for the violent felony if the county court jury had convicted him. The revelation that the State Police investigator admitted to testifying falsely during the trial played a large role in the DA deciding to offer a more favorable plea agreement, Joseph Ahearn, the county assistant conflict defender assigned to represent Downey, said after the plea, which came on the fourth day of the trial. Ahearn said he wants to see the district attorneys office and the State Police examine Investigator Thomas Judges courtroom appearance. We should all expect more from the State Police, Ahearn said. A spokeswoman for District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly declined to comment on the impact of Judges testimony. Ahearn aggressively questioned Judge Wednesday morning about his May interrogation of Downey and his testimony during the trial. So, you testified falsely in this courtroom, Ahearn asked the investigator Wednesday, to which Judge responded, Yes. Ahearns questioning led Assistant District Attorney Cheryl McDermott to argue Wednesday that Judge had misspoke while testifying. McDermott said, It doesnt rise to perjury. By Wednesday afternoon, several State Police investigators had come to the second-floor courtroom for Judges return to the stand. County Court Judge Debra Young asked the investigator Wednesday afternoon if he wanted an attorney present to advise him after he was accused of lying during his testimony. Judge declined Youngs suggestion. Attorney George E. LaMarche III arrived to advise Judge. Joe Ahearn is a crafty cross-examiner who can confuse an officer during cross-examination. Do I think the officer lied during cross-examination? Absolutely not, LaMarche of Dreyer, Boyajian, LaMarche, Safranko of Albany said Wednesday after court concluded for the day. "Tom was looking forward to clarifying some of the statements he made yesterday and clarifying some of the accusations Joe was making. He was not testifying falsely," LaMarche said Thursday after the trial. Young met with Ahearn, LaMarche and McDermott about the case Wednesday in her chambers. Young, Ahearn and McDermott met again Thursday before the plea deal was announced. We have conferenced this matter extensively, Young said Thursday afternoon before the plea deal was offered on the record by McDermott. Downey sat slumped over while entering his guilty plea. At times, Downey cried and his body shook. Ahearn had to give him a handful of tissues at one point. Downeys guilty plea means the 6-year-old victim will not have to testify. She was scheduled to appear as a prosecution witness. Downey was indicted for felony predatory sexual assault against a child, felony first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, felony second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child. Young ordered Downey be taken to the Rensselaer County Jail. He will be sentenced Feb. 1. TROY The parents of a man whose body had been decomposing for 38 days inside a Troy supportive living facility are suing the nonprofit owner, its former director and several employees for negligence and improper handling of a body. Yvonne Ketter-Walls said she felt compelled to file the suit on behalf of her late son, 27 year-old Raolik Walls, after a state investigation into Hudson Mohawk Recovery Center and its staff concluded that neglect had occurred, but held no one accountable in a meaningful way. It was filed this week in Rensselaer County Supreme Court. "I have some closure because people and the facility were found neglectful," she said. "But I don't have full closure because they have not yet been penalized or held accountable. They're getting a free pass." Raolik Walls first checked into the recovery center's residential program for men in November 2017 after completing a treatment program for drug addiction. On Dec. 3, he spoke with his family. But when no one had heard from him six days later, his aunt visited the facility. A staff member told her Raolik had left several days earlier. The family became worried, and filed a missing person's report with Troy police. They began searching for Raolik around the Capital Region to no avail. On Jan. 11, 2018, more than a month later, they learned the truth: Raolik had never left the facility. A pest control worker entered his room and found his body on the bed. The condition of the body made it difficult for medical examiners to determine a cause of death. Toxicology tests found no traces of illicit drugs in his system. It's believed that his heart stopped during the early morning hours of Dec. 4, 2017. To this day, Ketter-Walls says she doesn't know how her son's body could have gone undetected for so long. "Staff told my sister that Raolik left and left his key in the door," she said. "Now, it turns out after the fact, they really just checked the wrong room. But shouldn't you know where people are assigned, and how do you not check this other room for so long?" The New York State Justice Center, a state agency tasked with investigating allegations of abuse and neglect at state-run or licensed facilities, concluded an investigation into the case late last year. A spokeswoman for the agency said she could not release details about its findings. However, a determination letter sent to the family in mid-December says investigators confirmed allegations of neglect against at least two employees, who are identified in the lawsuit as former executive director Thomas Bendon and current residential director Aubree Graves. Neither could be reached for comment Thursday, and leaders at the Hudson Mohawk Recovery Center did not respond to requests for comment. The Justice Center also identified "substantial systemic problems" at the nonprofit recovery center, including inadequate management, training and supervision it says may have exposed Walls to harm or potential harm. While it recommended corrective actions to address these problems, Ketter-Walls says she remains unsatisfied by the lack of action taken against Bendon and Graves. Bendon left the organization in 2018 for unknown reasons. Graves, meanwhile, is still employed there, according to the Walls' lawsuit and a directory maintained by the state. Substantiated reports of abuse or neglect are categorized in one of four ways by the Justice Center. A Category 1 finding is the most serious, and results in the accused being placed on a list that bars them from any future employment involving vulnerable citizens in the state of New York. The neglect allegations against the two employees were substantiated as Category 2, according to the determination letter. This is defined as abuse or neglect that seriously endangers the health, safety or welfare of a service recipient. It does not mandate any disciplinary action unless the person is found guilty of Category 2 neglect or abuse within the next three years. After five years, the finding is sealed under state law. "How do I know this didn't happen before?" Ketter-Walls said, referring to the process. The Walls' lawsuit also names John and Jane Does 1-4, identified only as case managers and RAs at the center. Ketter-Walls said these are people who were cleared of wrongdoing and neglect by the state because they were "simply following bad rules and orders." The family is seeking unspecified damages. It is also in the process of requesting complete investigation files and records in their son's case, which are not immediately provided and must be requested under a special state law known as Jonathan's Law. GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. Thomas Winstanley stepped out of a side door, a large A-frame sign hoisted over his head, to immediate cheers. "NOW OPEN," it read in big block letters. It was almost 10 a.m., and the crowd of 75 people who lined a path and parking lot outside of the Theory Wellness store would be entering the marijuana dispensary any minute now. It was the first day of recreational marijuana sales in Great Barrington, and many had been waiting in the biting cold for over an hour. The first person in line got there just before 8. Winstanley, the company's marketing director, planted the sign near the roadside and posed for pictures with his fellow employees, grins plastered across their faces. "There's excitement in the air, and we're feeding off that right now," said Nick Friedman, the company's chief financial officer. Massachusetts voters elected to legalize marijuana for recreational use in 2016, but the first pot shops didn't open until this past November in the city of Northampton and town of Leicester. Theory Wellness, which operates two medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, was authorized to begin selling recreational products at its Great Barrington dispensary on Friday, making it the state's sixth store to open in under two months. It's also just 10 miles from the New York border, and the closest dispensary yet to the Capital Region (until Tuesday, that is, when a dispensary is slated to open in Pittsfield). "It was mostly curiosity for me," said a Chatham man who lined up early Friday, and asked not to be identified for fear of losing his job. "I'm more than happy to pay taxes on this and contribute to society. I think it's ridiculous that New York spends so much money trying to fight it when we could be making money off it instead." New York lawmakers are debating whether to legalize recreational marijuana this year after Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who previously referred to marijuana as a gateway drug, changed course and called for legalization in a year-end address last month. Many believe the wave of legalization initiatives in neighboring states like Massachusetts made it impossible for New York not to consider. "My guess is you're gonna find a lot of people crossing the state line a lot more now," said Dale, who drove an hour from his home in Saugerties to the Great Barrington dispensary Friday. Agreeing to give his first name only, Dale said he got a medical marijuana card when New York first legalized medicinal use in 2014. He has a seizure condition, and marijuana eliminated his seizures to the point where he was able to drive again. "But it's so expensive," he said. "So I started growing my own." Dale also uses marijuana to get high, and said he always hated the process of buying the product on the black market. "There's a shady, hush hush aspect to it that I just don't want to deal with," he said. "Now I can walk into a store, buy three different kinds, and walk out? It's great." Inside of Theory Wellness, customers were offered product menus while they waited in line. At the counter, they could talk to cannabis consultants who answered questions and opened glass canisters full of bud for customers to smell. Available products included the flower buds, as well as pre-rolled joints, edibles, extracts and infusions. Customers had to show a government ID to confirm they were over 21, and could only purchase up to an ounce of flower or 5 grams of concentrate a day. Theory Wellness is vertically integrated, meaning it controls every stage of production from seed to sale. As the industry grows and the market becomes more crowded, Friedman said he hopes customers keep coming back for what he says are a unique, diverse array of products compared to others on the market. "We focus on small-batch harvests, and pay close attention to terpenes," he said. "THC is what gives marijuana potency, but terpenes are what give them all their flavor and aromatic qualities. It's like wine. You wouldn't just drink the strongest wine, you'd look for certain flavors or boldness or subtle notes, and that's exactly what we pay attention to when growing cannabis." Campaign representatives for Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand signed a lease for a 5,000 square foot space in downtown Troy, according to a local Democratic operative a sign the recently re-elected Albany native could be basing a presidential campaign in the Capital Region. It was unclear which building the space is located in, and Gillibrand, who lives in the Troy suburb of Brunswick, has not officially announced she would run in the 2020 presidential race. Washington President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before a House committee next month in a hearing that could serve as the opening salvo of a promised Democratic effort to scrutinize Trump, his conflicts of interest and his ties to Russia. The House Oversight and Reform Committee announced Thursday that Cohen will appear before that panel Feb. 7. The hearing marks the latest step in Cohen's transformation from a trusted legal adviser to the president to a public antagonist who has cooperated extensively against him. Although Democrats say the questioning will be limited to avoid interfering with open investigations, the hearing is still likely to pull back the curtain on key episodes involving Trump's personal life and business dealings. Cohen is a pivotal figure in investigations by special counsel Robert Mueller into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign and by federal prosecutors in New York into campaign finance violations related to payments to buy the silence of a porn actress and a former Playboy Playmate who say they had sex with Trump. Federal prosecutors have said Trump directed those payments during the campaign. Trump has denied having the affairs. Cohen has pleaded guilty in both investigations and was sentenced last month to three years in prison. An adviser to Cohen, Lanny Davis, said shortly after he was sentenced that the former political fixer wanted to testify and "state publicly all he knows." In a statement released Thursday, Cohen said he had accepted the invitation "in furtherance of my commitment to cooperate and provide the American people with answers." Cohen added: "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired." Trump has denied wrongdoing and sought to minimize Cohen's statements by painting him as a liar. Asked by reporters in Texas on Thursday about Cohen's appearance, Trump said he's "not worried about it at all." Cohen acknowledged in the Mueller investigation that he lied to Congress by saying negotiations over a Trump Tower in Moscow had ended in January 2016 when he actually pursued the project into that June, well into Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. In New York, he acknowledged his involvement in payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The chairman of the oversight panel, Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, said the committee is consulting with Mueller's office about the testimony. He told reporters on Thursday that "there will be limitations" on the topics covered in Cohen's testimony. BAGHDAD (AP) After days of back and forth over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull out American troops from Syria, a U.S. military official said Friday the process of withdrawal has begun, declining to comment on specific timetables or movements. Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, said "the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria" has started. "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements," the Baghdad-based official said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. There were no other details, and it was not immediately clear how many vehicles or whether any troop units had withdrawn. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syria's northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. Confirmation of the first withdrawals comes amid confusion over plans to implement Trump's pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurds, who have been America's partners on the ground in the war against the Islamic State group in Syria. There are 2,000 American troops in Syria. Trump's abrupt decision in December to pull them, declaring in a tweet the defeat of IS, sent shockwaves across the region and a flurry of criticism from some of his generals and national security advisers, and led to the resignation of U.S. Defense Minister James Mattis and the top U.S. envoy to the anti-IS coalition. It also led to major criticism that the U.S. was abandoning its local Kurdish allies amid Turkish threats of an imminent attack. On Sunday, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said American troops will not leave northeastern Syria until IS is defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, signaling a slow-down in Trump's initial order for a rapid withdrawal. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on a tour of the region, has also sought to reassure the Kurds that they will be safe after U.S. troops withdraw from the country. "These have been folks that have fought with us and it's important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected," Pompeo said of the Kurds while visiting Irbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, after talks in Baghdad. After initially tweeting about the decision to bring back U.S. troops "now," Trump this week said "we will be leaving at a proper pace while at the same time continuing to fight ISIS and doing all else that is prudent and necessary!" Kurdish officials, meanwhile, have demanded clarifications from the U.S. over its intentions. A U.S. troop pullout leaves the Kurds exposed to Turkish attacks from one side, and Syrian government troops on the other. The withdrawal benefits Syrian President Bashar Assad and his international backers, Russia and Iran, who are primed to move into the region to fill a vacuum left behind by the Americans. U.S. troops have been involved in Syria's war since 2014 when the first elite force arrived in the country to advise Kurdish-led fighters who were involved in battles against the Islamic State group. ___ Karam reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed. SPEED READ: The United Teachers Los Angeles union is set to strike on Monday in the nation's second-largest school district. The strike could influence how an increasingly progressive Democratic Party will handle workforce and education issues across the country. Charter schools, which L.A. has more of than any other school district, are at the heart of the dispute. Charter Schools in L.A. For the first time in nearly three decades, public school teachers in Los Angeles are set to go on strike Monday, continuing the nationwide trend of teacher uprisings that began in West Virginia last spring.Similar to those protesting in places like Arizona and Oklahoma, the 35,000-member United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union is demanding a 6.5 percent pay increase and moreclassroom funding. But the strike in L.A. -- the nation's second-largest school district -- is different in two significant respects.First, teachers aren't just asking for higher payand funding. They are outlining changes they want to see in education policy.We are demanding lower class sizes for our students, less testing and more teaching, charter school accountability, a full-time nurse and librarian in every school along with more counselors, psychologists, and social workers, and we want [Los Angeles Unified School District] to support the Community Schools Model , which has been proven to work all over the USA, wrote more than a dozen of the citys teachers in an open letter published in The Washington Post on Wednesday.Second, the battle is being fought in a liberal, union-friendly city and state. Mostof last year's strikes and walkouts took place in red states with weak labor protection laws Considering both of those factors, the strike could influence how an increasingly progressive Democratic Party handles workforce and education issues in states and cities across the country. In the Obama era, many centrist Democrats embraced charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run and typically not unionized. Supporters say these schools allow for creativity and innovation, but a growing chorus of critics -- including the teachers union -- see charters as a force for the privatization of public education, diverting resources away from the traditional school system.Furthermore, some labor experts believe that -- unlike last year's strikes -- this one could have repercussions for how federal Democrats govern if they regain power following the 2020 elections.It's fought among Democrats," says Nelson Lichtenstein, a labor historian at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Part of the sense is that "the tremendous amount of money that has been generated [by the city and the state] has to be redistributed in a social democratic way.The current conflict centers on L.A.s embrace of charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run and typically not unionized. Supporters say these schools allow for creativity and innovation, but a growing chorus of critics -- including the teachers union -- see charters as a force for the privatization of public education, diverting resources away from the traditional school system.Los Angeles is now home to 277 charters -- more than any other school district in America -- and the strikes outcome could determine whether this sector continues to grow. Alex Caputo-Pearl, the president of UTLA, said at a recent press conference that district officials want to starve our schools in order to justify cuts and justify handing more schools over to privately run charter schools, and we will not stand for that.Superintendent Austin Beutner -- a former businessman who has ties to pro-charter advocates and has sat on the board of a charter school operator-- agrees that L.A. needs smaller classes and more support staff, but he says acquiescing to the unions demands would damage the districts finances. The union claims the district is withholding reserves of $1.8 billion, but the district counters that this money is already allocated, including for pay raises.We are working hard to avert a strike, Beutner says in a statement. We are building support at the state level to find more resources to help our students and better support all who work in our schools." (Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was sworn in on Monday, proposed a record $80.7 billion investment in education in his first budget, according to The San Francisco Chronicle .)The strike is already having ripple effects in national politics.Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who ran as a Democratic candidate for president in 2016 and may seek the White House again in 2020, tweeted that he stands in solidarity with the teachers. Journalists in Washington, D.C., and New York are speculating about how the strike might affect L.A. Mayor Eric Garcettis own 2020 prospects . The mayor has been working with both sides behind the scenes throughout their negotiations.The strike is expected to affect 900 schools and more than 600,000 students. The district has secured roughly 400 substitute teachers for next week, but that's just 8 percent of its typical staffing levels. How Does Your Newspaper Get to You? Dorothy Eleanor Mercer passed away on June 9, 2021 at Archbold Memorial Hospital. She was born on December 18, 1932, in Pavo to the late Early Byrd Wood and to the late Nellie Deen Wood. She was married to Eugene Mercer who precedes her in death. Survivors include her children, Leon David Mc Lots of big American cities have a skid row, an impoverished part of town where the homeless and drug addicted often gather. San Franciscos Tenderloin and the original Skid Row in Los Angeles are two of the best-known examples, but Philadelphias Kensington neighborhood is just as bad -- and its getting worse.Kensington, which is just north along the El train from the gentrified Fishtown neighborhood, has long been a rough part of town. It began, writescolumnist Alfred Lubrano, as an industrial neighborhood full of factories making Stetson hats and Disston saws. Since the 1960s, when the factories shut down and the jobs left, the area has become known as a place to score heroin.Things have gotten worse there as the opioid epidemic has morphed into a broader crisis. In the past year, Kensingtons homeless population, which has been linked to the epidemic, has more than doubled, from 271 to 700 people. In 2017, the area saw a 23 percent spike in homicides -- a trend that appeared to continue last year.To address the growing problem, the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) has been targeting the dealers, especially the middle managers who drive into the area with large drug quantities and distribute them to so-called corner boys. PPD has recently conducted several large-scale drug ring busts, arresting dozens of people at a time and seizing millions in cash or drug quantities. In a 12-month period, there were over 700 arrests in a four-block radius within Kensington.Yet it doesnt seem to be enough. With the homeless population and homicide rate rising, residents have complained that drug dealing and prostitution in the neighborhood seem to go unchecked by the police. On a recent visit to Kensington, I saw cop cars parked on side streets, even as dealers whispered out to passersby on the sidewalks. Similar complaints have been made about other skid rows -- that they function like contained areas where the police tolerate crime.Ray Convery, a PPD inspector who has spent years on the Kensington beat, takes issue with that characterization. He argues that its difficult for officers to bust dealers, since they sell drugs out of sight. Convery adds that PPD frequently goes undercover and makes lots of arrests, but that the department still struggles to tackle the problem. Theres an endless supply of people willing to sell, says Convery. I can lock you up, taking two police officers off the street to go process the paperwork, and before they hit the building here, theres someone else on that corner dealing.Convery says policing alone wont clean up skid rows. There needs to be an understanding that the users themselves are addicts -- often mentally ill -- rather than hardcore criminals. Locking them up en masse, he says, is neither humane nor effective. They instead need help from beyond the PPDs domain, such as drug counseling.Whether or not thats true, the problems associated with skid rows are starting to affect cities at large. Worsening conditions in San Francisco, for instance, have led to an increase in complaints from tourists, according to S.F. Travel, the citys visitors bureau, and the Hotel Council of San Francisco, which represents 110 hotels. The streets are filthy, Joe DAlessandro, president of S.F. Travel, told. Ive never seen any other city like this -- the homelessness, dirty streets, drug use on the streets, smash-and-grabs.Police and city officials need to find some way to clean up skid rows before their problems are no longer largely contained to a single neighborhood. This subscription will allow current subscribers of The Tillamook Headlight Herald to access all of our online Subscriber-Only content, including the E Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please call us at 1-(503) 842-7535 or email admin@countrymedia.net. One of the big stories on AIM this week was North Sea oiler Faroe Petroleum, which is due to be taken out of the market after a hostile takeover bid from DNO succeeded on Wednesday. The win for the Norwegian firm came as it raised its takeover offer to 160p per share from 152p on Tuesday, securing acceptances representing 52.44%. On Friday, DNO said it had secured more acceptances taking the total to 76.49% and above the threshold to de-list Faroe from AIM. DNO succeeded in its hostile takeover bid of North Sea oiler Faroe Petroleum on Wednesday The result ends a bitter battle over the future of the firm, which began nine months ago when DNO bought a stake but was resisted when it requested seats on Faroe's board, prompting the takeover challenge. A prominent faller was shoe retailer Footasylum, which dropped 14 per cent to 28p after saying its gross margins for 2019 were now expected to be 'lower than previously anticipated'. Despite 14 per cent revenue growth over Christmas, the company said 'challenging trading conditions' had continued throughout the festive period, with promotional activity and discounting across the retail sector being 'higher than anticipated' meaning its own promotions and clearances had increased. More gloom was felt by clothing retailer Quiz as its shares plunged 32 per cent to 25p after slashing profit guidance following slow Christmas trading. Group revenue in the six weeks to 5 January rose 8.4 per cent, but that was still below what the company itself had been expecting and resulted in lowered guidance of 133mln from 138mln. The sluggish sales performance meant the retailer had to trim some of its prices to entice customers, a move which hit margins and profitability. Seeing better luck was gambling services provider Nektan as its shares surged 7 per cent to 15.5p over the week after reporting 'another record quarter' as revenues in the second three months of its fiscal year jumped 83 per cent. The record-breaking growth was driven by what Nektan said was 'a significant increase' in the number of unique players on its B2B platform, helped by 4 new partners going live. The AIM All-Share was up around 2.7 per cent in the week at 911.4 points while the FTSE 100 was up around 2.3 per cent at 6,966 points. Another healthy riser was hormonal disease specialist Diurnal Group, which shot up 102 per cent to 44p after it was granted a second US patent for Chronocort, a cortisol replacement product for the treatment of adrenal insufficiency. Diurnal said the patent provides in-market protection until 2033 and is in addition to an already granted pharmaceutical composition of matter patent which provides in-market protection until 2034. Heading for the bottom was toilet roll maker Accrol as its shares tumbled 38 per cent to 13p after continuing weakness in the pound, brought on largely by Brexit uncertainty, put a dent in its business. Rising input costs and weaker sterling caused a 5mln negative impact to profitability in its first half, Accrol said, adding that the 'macroeconomic headwinds' could potentially contribute to 8.5mln of additional costs. Meanwhile, shares in video game developer Codemasters jumped 9.6 per cent to 177.5p after it upgraded earnings forecasts on the back of a mobile game development deal with Chinese internet and online gaming firm NetEase. The AIM 100 firm said it would receive a minimum of US$8mln in revenue over the next three years as part of the agreement, with US$4mln to be received in the current financial year and adjusted underlying earnings for the full year now expected to be 'ahead of expectations'. Elsewhere, shares in airline FlyBe went into a nosedive, falling 82 per cent to 3p after it was acquired in a cut-price takeover deal by Stobart Group, Virgin Atlantic, and a New York-based hedge fund. On Friday, the troubled airline accepted the deal of 1p per share, valuing the firm at just 2.2mln. At last close before the deal was announced, FlyBe shares were trading at 16.4p. The economic forecasters heralded 2019 as the year when recovery in the eurozone would finally be established. It hasn't quite worked out like that. The two locomotive economies, Germany and France, stalled badly in the last months of 2018. The European Central Bank's timing has once again been proved wrong. It has signalled an end to its 2.5 trillion (2.3 trillion) quantitative easing just when the boost may be most needed to stop the region plunging into recession. French President Macron, left, is under siege from 'yellow vest' protests while German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces a recession after the country's industrial production collapsed As recently as last October the International Monetary Fund put Britain into the slow lane as it grappled with Brexit. The euro area looked set to outpace the UK with 2 per cent growth in 2018 and 1.9 per cent this year. Against the odds the UK's third quarter was stronger than anyone predicted. Research consultancy Pantheon Economics suggests that a 'jump in retail sales and a partial recovery in manufacturing output' will drive a pick-up in Britain in the final quarter. Irrespective of how Britain is doing, the worrying data coming out of the eurozone demonstrates why being part of the much-vaunted European market of 500m consumers continues to be useful but is not going to drive future expansion for the UK. It makes it all the more essential for the UK to broaden its horizons. All three of the core nations in the eurozone and the wider European Union Germany, France and Italy are, for assorted reasons, struggling. This is partly a response to deteriorating global conditions. China is slowing, the Trump battle over fairer trade has dented confidence and the tightening of policy by the US Federal Reserve has slowed capital flows from the US to emerging markets. But many of the factors holding up investment, output and jobs in the eurozone are home made. In France a combination of frustration with the zig-zags of President Macron and the very direct impact of the 'yellow vest' protests are looking calamitous. It is no coincidence that the weakened French leader together with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel have decided this is the right moment to try and prop each other up politically. The latest data from Paris shows French industrial output fell by 1.3 per cent in November driven by a plunge in manufacturing by 1.4 per cent. Over the last quarter manufacturing has fallen by 1 per cent, fuelled by big falls in transport equipment and even food. The driving force of the German economy has long been its engineering skills and particularly the output of its car giants. The reputation of the German motor industry has been stained by the emissions cheating scandal which has cost VW an estimated 23.6billion. The industry's struggles contributed to the 0.2 per cent decline in German gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2018, and continued to hurt in the final quarter. German industrial production tumbled 1.9 per cent in November leading to speculation that when the first estimate of GDP for the final months of the year is released shortly it may be in negative territory. If that is the case then Europe's locomotive economy would be heading into 2019 in a technical recession: defined as two consecutive quarters of negative output. Among the reasons for the eurozone's current bout of weakness are its failure to fully recover from the financial crisis of a decade ago and its rotten banking systems. It is often forgotten that the supply of credit by banks to businesses and consumers alike is the lifeblood of any economy and when credit is cut off so is output and jobs. Durable banking systems are more significant in the eurozone than in the Anglo-Saxon nations because it lacks the sophisticated capital markets of London and New York. In spite of being the birthplace of modern banking Italy has the most damaged banking system with up to 200billion (157billion) of bad loans still held by the banks. The survival of many of the Italian banks is dependent on short-term funding from the ECB. The German banks are far from robust. Deutsche Bank, the nation's largest, has been involved in an existential crisis. The regional landesbanken are also struggling with Nord LB in the state of Saxony, one of the largest commercial banks, looking for a bailout. Against a difficult global background, and the halt of easy money from the European Central Bank, the IMF and EU, cheery growth predictions for the eurozone in 2019 look increasingly tenuous. The case for Britain freeing itself from the uncomfortable stays of the European Union and a struggling eurozone looks as robust as ever. Henley-in-Arden, near Birmingham, has taken the unwanted crown as the town that makes the most burglary claims, according to a new report. The B95 postcode has soared to the top of the rankings, with a rate of 50.46 claims per 1,000 quotes, findings from price comparison website MoneySuperMarket show. It analysed more than 2.5million home insurance quotes from January 2017 to December 2018 to identify Britain's burglary hotspots. Henley-in-Arden, near Birmingham, has had the most amount of contents claims on insurance It revealed burglaries are up a staggering 16 per cent in the past year alone, with an average of 15.57 claims per 1,000 quotes in 2018, up from 13.42 in 2017. Ingatestone, the CM4 postcode district that is located just south of Chelmsford, has the second highest number of contents claims, with 49.76 claims per 1,000 quotes. Although the Essex village has seen a substantial climb up the list, just three per cent of Chelmsford residents said they feel unsafe in their home. The IG5 postcode district of Ilford came a close third with 47.56 claims per 1,000 quotes. Thankfully for its residents, last year's burglary hotspot, the Guildford postcode district GU3, has slipped out of this year's top 20 and right down to 171st place. However, its neighbouring Woking postcode district GU23 has now risen up to take seventh place a new entry in the top 20. POSTCODE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE MADE THE MOST AMOUNT OF CONTENTS CLAIMS ON HOME INSURANCE POLICIES Rank Postcode district Post town Contents theft rate (per 1000) * 1 B95 Henley-in-Arden 50.46 2 CM4 Ingatestone 49.76 3 IG5 Ilford 47.56 4 EH4 Edinburgh 46.43 5 LS8 Leeds 46.3 6 B94 Solihull 45.8 7 GU23 Woking 45.3 8 SK8 Cheadle 45.29 9 EH15 Edinburgh 43.99 10 M21 Manchester 43.98 11 CB5 Cambridge 43.48 12 M20 Manchester 42.92 13 BS7 Bristol 42.79 14 RH8 Oxted 42.65 15 SK4 Stockport 42.08 16 L16 Liverpool 42.04 17 LS17 Leeds 41.81 18 BS9 Bristol 41.78 19 TW11 Teddington 41.32 20 IG9 Buckhurst Hill 41.28 Source: MoneySuperMarket A MoneySuperMarket survey, that interviewed 2,000 people in December, revealed 20 per cent of Britons believe they live in an area where properties are burgled more than the national average. Despite this, 44 per cent also said they haven't taken any precautionary measures to help protect their home, including installing window locks, burglar alarms or even security cameras. Emma Garland, data scientist at MoneySuperMarket, said: 'Over the past 12 months, burglars have mostly been targeting suburbs and urban areas, with the safest areas dominated by smaller towns and villages. 'Anyone that has ever been burgled will tell you that the cost goes beyond the value of the items stolen, from the psychological impact of your home being violated to the difficulty of replacing things with sentimental value. 'That's why it's surprising to see that almost half of people haven't put any additional protection in place for their home, despite one in five believing they live in a burglary hotspot.' When MoneySuperMarket asked residents about how high they believed the burglary rate was in their areas, Leeds and London residents thought they were the most likely to be living in a burglary hotspot, at 31 and 28 per cent, respectively. Perhaps surprisingly, Ilford was the only area of London that made the top 20 list. Although 24 per cent of Belfast residents said they thought they lived in an area targeted by thieves, the contents theft rate is just 7.2 per 1,000 quotes, which is less than half the national average of 14.8. POSTCODE DISTRICTS THAT HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CONTENTS CLAIMS ON HOME INSURANCE POLICIES Rank Postcode district Post town Contents theft rate (per 1000) * 1 CA28 Whitehaven (near the Lake District) 0.76 2 TR11 Falmouth 0.92 3 CA13 Cockermouth (near the Lake District) 1.08 4 SY23 Aberystwyth 1.08 5 CA1 Carlisle 1.1 6 PL19 Tavistock 1.23 7 DD10 Montrose (East coast of Scotland) 1.24 8 NR10 Norwich 1.29 9 KY4 Cowdenbeath (near Dunfermline) 1.32 10 KY5 Lochgelly (near Dunfermline) 1.35 11 NR11 Aylsham (Norfolk) 1.36 12 DL8 Aysgarth (Yorkshire Dales) 1.39 13 PA8 Erskine (near Glasgow) 1.46 14 SW3 Chelsea 1.48 15 CA15 Mayport (near the Lake District) 1.48 16 AB25 Aberdeen 1.54 17 SA14 Llanelli 1.56 18 TD15 Berwick-upon-Tweed 1.57 19 TQ7 Kingsbridge (near Plymouth) 1.59 20 EX17 Crediton (near Exeter) 1.62 Source: MoneySuperMarket On the other end of the spectrum, the CA28 postcode district of Whitehaven near Carlisle had the lowest rate of burglaries with just 0.76 claims per 1,000 quotes. The region around Carlisle has proven to be quite safe, with Cockermouth (CA13) and Mayport (CA15) coming in third and 15th place on the list of postcode districts with the least claims. Falmouth in Cornwall (TR11) is another area that has been successful at keeping burglars at bay, with a rate of just 0.92 per 1,000 quotes. Aberystwyth (SY23) also came low down the list, with a rate of 1.08 per 1,000. Amazingly, there are 98 postcode districts that had no recorded claims. Garland added: 'For thieves, it's all about risk versus reward if the reward looks likely to exceed the risk, they are going to target that home. 'Homeowners must do as much as possible to tip the balance in their favour and make things harder for burglars. 'People who have been targeted by thieves previously pay an average of 16.8 per cent more for contents insurance, so it pays to ensure your home is as protected as possible. 'If you take precautions - such as fitting new door and window locks, installing bar windows where necessary and using security cameras you can reduce both your contents insurance and your anxiety about getting burgled.' To check how your area compares to neighbouring postal districts and other locations in the UK, visit MoneySuperMarket's interactive Burglary Claims Tool, which displays the rate of burglary claims made in every postal area in the UK. Caption: John OConnell (left) takes part in community management. (Photo/Courtesy of Tongzilin Community) Deeply attracted to Chengdu, capital of southwest Chinas Sichuan Province, 71-year-old American John OConnell decided to settle in the city. Since then, he has become a community director assistant, offering help to foreigners in Tongzilin Community, Wuhou District of Chengdu, Chinanews.com reported on Jan. 10. Public-spirited OConnell was named a community director assistant of Tongzilin Community about three months after he settled in the community, where he now lives alongside 4,300 foreigners from over 30 countries and regions including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. As a community director assistant, OConnells primary role is to help foreigners solve problems they come up against in everyday life, like how to take a bus or use apps such as WeChat and Alipay. Furthermore, OConnell also explains Chinese law to foreigners in the community, to help them adapt to life in China as quickly as possible. People can call him anytime, whether they need to find a new apartment, find a school for their children, or figure out legal issues, said OConnell. Keen on causes for the public good, OConnell voluntarily donates blood every month, picks up litter, and actively takes part in various public benefit activities in his spare time. He explained that as this city has given him so much, he wants to repay it in his own way. We often see him taking part in public benefit activities, said Zhang Jiarong, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Tongzilin Community Committee, noting that warm-hearted OConnell has deeply impressed people in the community, and that his interest in volunteering was an important factor in naming him a community director assistant. Since OConnell currently doesn't know Chinese, he asks his Chinese friends to translate for him. Now, he says that he is trying hard to learn the language, and hopes to master it as soon as possible. According to Chengdu Economic Daily, OConnell and his wife came to Chengdu in August 2016, at which point Chengdu was meant to be their first stop on a tour of the whole country. However, the couple fell in love with the city, and quickly decided to settle in Tongzilin Community. OConnell found a part-time job not long after they settled in Chengdu, teaching English at an international school, while his wife became a physics teacher in another international school. Chengdu is as modern as New York, and it is a pleasant city to live in just like where I'm from in California. More importantly, the people here are very friendly and generous, said OConnell, adding that instead of seeing the city as tourists, they wanted to enjoy real Chengdu life. S Railway takes steps for enhanced security of passengers Chennai, Jan 11 (PTI) The Chennai division of the Southern Railway Friday said it has taken initiatives to ensure the safety and security of passengers on station premises in the wake of a complaint of alleged harassment of a woman here on January 5. The railway has sought details of all contract workers in railway stations and instructed the contractors to initiate police verification on the workers, a press release from the railway said. Also, the contractors have been asked to strictly ensure that the staff displayed their identity cards at all times, the statement said, adding that a compliance report has been sought by the railway from the contractors. On January 5, the woman was robbed and harassed in a MRTS station allegedly by two lift operators working on contract and a commercial clerk. An FIR has been registered against the lift operators involved in the incident and they would not be hired under any contract in future, while the commercial clerk has been placed under suspension, the statement said. Moreover, legal action was being taken by the government railway police against all the three accused and the railway would ensure that the offenders were punished, it added. PTI CPB NVG NVG Ghaziabad, Jan 11 (PTI) A group of farmers are protesting outside a sugar mill in Modinagar area in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh, demanding that their arrears be cleared. The protest led by Kisan Sewa Samiti will continue till the arrears of farmers are not cleared by the mill owners, the organisation's chief Ram Asrey Sharma said. District Magistrate Ritu Maheshwari said one of the mill owners is outside the country and his passport will be impounded when he returns. His properties had been attached by the district administration, but he got relief from the Allahabad High Court before they could be auctioned, Maheshwari said. The court has ordered the mill owner to pay arrears to cane growers in installments, Maheshwari added. PTI CORR ABH ABH Bengaluru, Jan 11 (PTI) The launch of India's second Moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, is planned for the middle of April this year, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K Sivan announced Friday. ISRO had earlier said Chandrayaan-2 will be launched in a window between January-February 16 this year. The mission, costing nearly Rs 800 crore, is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission about 10 years ago. "Regarding Chandrayaan-2 schedule, right now Chandrayaan is scheduled from March 25 to April end. Most probably, the normal targeted date is April middle," Sivan told reporters here. He said the space agency had earlier planned to launch the spacecraft sometime between January and February but it could not materialise because certain tests could not be conducted. "Once we missed the February target, next available target is April. Right now it is planned for April," the ISRO chief added. PTI GMS KSU RA VS AAR New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) The Justice H S Bedi committee, which investigated several cases of alleged fake encounter in Gujarat from 2002 to 2006, has recommended prosecution of police officials in three out of the 17 cases probed by it. In its final report filed in the apex court, Justice Bedi has said three persons -- Sameer Khan, Kasam Jafar and Haji Haji Ismail -- were prime facie killed in fake encounters by the Gujarat Police officials. The committee has indicted a total of nine police officials, including three inspector rank officer. It has however not recommended prosecution of any IPS officer in these cases. The court had appointed Justice Bedi, ex-Supreme Court judge, as chairman of the monitoring committee probing 17 encounter cases from 2002 to 2006 in Gujarat and the panel had submitted its report to the top court in a sealed cover in February last year. On January 9, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had rejected the Gujarat government's plea to maintain confidentiality of the final report of committee and ordered that it be given to petitioners, including poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar. Dealing with the case of Sameer Khan, the committee has recommended prosecution of two inspectors K M Vaghela and T A Barot for the offence of murder and other relevant offences. According to the police, Sameer along with his cousin had stabbed a police constable, who had died on the spot in May 1996. While his cousin was arrested, he had fled from spot. The police had alleged that later he went to Pakistan and took training from terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and re-entered India via Nepal. The report noted that as per police, after the 2002 Akshardham Mandir attack, Sameer was directed by a Pakistan-based JeM operative to go to Ahmedabad and kill the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. It noted that Sameer was arrested by the Crime Branch in a case related to waging war against the country and when he was taken at the spot where the constable was stabbed in 1996, he snatched the loaded revolver of inspector Vaghela and fired at him and ran away. As per police, the other two inspectors -- Tarun Barot and A A Chauhan (since dead) -- fired at him and he was later taken to a hospital but was declared dead. However, the panel has found that he was killed in a fake encounter by the police. Referring to the medical and other reports, the committee has said, "It is, therefore, obvious that the police officers were close and towering over the deceased and he was probably sitting on the ground and perhaps cringing for his life." "I am, therefore, of the opinion that inspector K M Vaghela and inspector T A Barot at the first instance be prosecuted for murder and other relevant offences and if it is found during the trial that there is evidence against others as well, they too should be brought in as per law," the panel has said. It said since inspector Chauhan has passed away, no proceeding against him was possible. Besides, the panel has also granted Rs 10 lakh compensation to Sameer's family. In Kasam Jafar's case, the police had alleged that he was picked alongwith 17 other persons from a hotel in Ahmedabad on April 13, 2006. According to police, Jafar was being taken to a police station and during the transit, he escaped from custody and a day later, his body was recovered underneath a bridge. "The effort of the police officers to dub the deceased and his companions as criminals has also not been successful as no evidence whatsover has been produced to show that they had been involved in any crime. The very detention on the April 13, 2006, from Royal Hotel was thus not justified," Justice Bedi said in his report. He concluded that sub-inspector J M Bharwad and constable Ganeshbhai were prima facie involved in the killing and they were needed to be prosecuted for the offence of murder. The committee, by its order on November 21, 2013, had also awarded Rs 14 lakhs as compensation to the widow and children of the deceased. Similarly, the committee noted in its report that as per police, on October 9, 2005, they had received an information that notorious smuggler Haji Haji Ismail would be going to a place in his Maruti Zen car. Ismail came out of his car and opened fire at the police party which retaliated in self defence and fired 20 shots at him leading to his death at a government hospital. The panel took note of the post-mortem report and said that out of the six wounds of entry, five had blackening round them and it meant that these shots were fired from a close range. The panel belied the claim that the fire exchanges between Ismail and police party had taken place from a distance of 15-20 feet. "It is, therefore, crystal clear that firing on the deceased was from a distance of two feet or less completely falsifying the police version and being suggestive of a custodial killing," the panel concluded. The panel recommended prosecution of five policemen in this case -- inspector K G Erda and sub-inspectors L B Monpara, J M Yadav, S K Shah and Prag P Vyas. The panel also dealt with 14 other cases which relates to alleged fake encounter killings of -- Mithu Umar Dafer, Anil Bipin Misra, Mahesh, Rajeshwar, Kashyap Harpalsingh Dhaka, Salim Gagji Miyana, Jala Popat Devipujak, Rafiksha, Bheema Maanda Mer, Jogindrasinh Khatansing, Ganesh Khunte, Mahendra Jadav, Subhash Bhaskar Nayyar and Sanjay. PTI ABA MNL SJK RKS SA New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh High Court has told the Supreme Court that a woman judicial officer, who is seeking reinstatement after having resigned following inquiry into her allegations of sexual harassment against a sitting high court judge, cannot be reinstated. The high court judge was given a clean chit in December 2017 by a Rajya Sabha-appointed panel which had probed the allegations. The woman has moved the apex court seeking that the administrative order of January 11, 2017 passed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, dismissing her application for reinstatement into the Madhya Pradesh Higher Judicial Services, should be set aside. In its reply filed in the top court, the high court has said that her petition was not maintainable as the allegations levelled there has already been rejected by two separate inquiry committees. The registrar general of the high court also said that high court had not compelled her to tender resignation and now, she cannot be allowed to withdraw it. During the hearing on Friday before a bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer, senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the petitioner, said that response of the high court was on record now. However, the counsel appearing for state of Madhya Pradesh said they needed a week time to file their response. "You should have filed your reply by now," the bench told the state's counsel. Later, the court asked the state to file their response and posted the matter for final disposal after two weeks. In her plea, the petitioner has said that her fundamental rights granted under the Constitution for employment, to work and to carry on her profession needs to be secured. She has said that high court had ignored the categorical finding in the report of the Judges Inquiry Committee dated December 15, 2017 terming the petitioner's resignation dated July 15, 2014 from her post of Additional District Judge as "unbearable circumstances having no other option". The plea has said that Madhya Pradesh High Court had dismissed her application "without assigning any valid reasons for the rejection and in utter disregard of the findings of fact arrived by the Judges Inquiry Committee in its report". It added that motion for removal under Article 217 read with Article 124 of the Constitution was instituted against the respondent judge in the Rajya Sabha on allegations of sexual harassment and consequent victimisation levelled by the Petitioner. "After the inquiry proceedings conducted against the Respondent Judge on three charges relating to sexual harassment, consequent victimisation and transfer of the Petitioner, the Judges Inquiry Committee held that the charges were not proved and hence cleared him of all charges," the petition has said. It, however, said the Judges Inquiry Committee took note of the arbitrary and sudden transfer of the petitioner from Gwalior to Sidhi which was done "in complete violation of the transfer policy, not on administrative exigencies and concluded that the transfer of the petitioner was in violation of the transfer Policy - punitive, irregular, unjustified, arbitrary and hurried". The woman in her plea has added that the judges inquiry committee had opined that "the petitioner be reinstated in service since her resignation was tendered under coercion". A motion of impeachment was admitted against the high court judge after 58 members of the Rajya Sabha supported the woman's case. The report of the panel comprising Supreme Court judge R Bhanumathi, Justice Manjula Chellur (then Bombay High Court judge) and jurist K K Venugopal (now Attorney General for India) had given a clean chit to the high court judge was tabled before the Rajya Sabha on December 15, 2017. The panel was set up in April 2015 by then Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari after admitting a motion supported by 58 members to impeach the judge. The woman, in her plea, has claimed that she had practised as an advocate in various courts including the Supreme Court, the High Court, Tribunals for 15 years before she qualified in the Madhya Pradesh Higher Judicial Services on March 23, 2011, and thereafter was selected as the 2nd Additional Judge to 1st Additional District and Sessions Judge, Gwalior on August 1, 2011. She said, after completing her training under the 1st Additional District & Sessions Judge, Gwalior, she was appointed as the VIIIth Additional District and Sessions Judge Gwalior on October 1, 2012. On July 7, 2014, she was transferred to Sidhi from Gwalior which she termed as "illegal", "unjust" and "punitive transfer" as their was no vacancy in Sidhi nor any administrative exigencies. PTI ABA RKS RCJ New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) The Centre told the Supreme Court Friday that it has to "believe in miracles" and see if the 15 miners, who have been trapped for almost a month inside an illegal rat-hole coal mine filled with water in Meghalaya, come out alive. It said the authorities were making all efforts to save the lives of these persons and the Indian Navy and planes and helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been deployed in the rescue operation. "We have to believe in miracles," Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer, which observed that it was not known if they were still alive. "There is no dispute that you are making efforts. Whether they (miners) are alive today, we do not know. May be somebody is alive there. You have to take them out," the bench told Mehta, adding, "You have to continue making efforts". The apex court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Aditya N Prasad, who sought urgent steps to rescue the 15 miners. The Centre and the Meghalaya government apprised the bench about the steps taken in the operation to rescue the 15 miners who are trapped there since December 13 last year. The bench sought to know from the state government as to whether any action has been taken against those indulging in illegal mining activities in Meghalaya. The state's counsel said the person running the illegal mine where the incident took place has been arrested. He apprised the bench that the Indian Navy has deployed five remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) in the operation and one crore litres of water had been pumped out from the illegal mine, but seepage from nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. Senior lawyer Anand Grover, appearing for the petitioner, said they were happy with the steps taken by the authorities but there was problem of co-ordination among the agencies. He said there was no mapping of the mine as it was illegal but equipment was available in India which can go deep inside the water and help in ascertaining the topography of the site. He gave some suggestions to assist in rescue operation and said the main hurdles were the remote location and difficult terrain, no blue print of mines, water seeping into the mines from unknown source and no knowledge of connection with nearby mines. Grover said the petitioner was in touch with Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Roorkee-based National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and some other private research institutes including Planys Technology, Chennai, which can assist in the rescue operation. He said these institutes are capable of mapping the mines and though under water rovers were available, the equipment has to be airlifted and the Air Force can do the needful. Mehta said the government has already contacted these institutes and requested them for help. He assured the top court that suggestions given by Grover would be taken into consideration and would be acted upon in whatever manner possible. The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on January 18. During the hearing, Grover told the court that the Navy has deployed ROVs in the rescue operation but desired result was not coming out as smaller equipments were required there. He said smaller ROVs were available in India which can go deep inside the mine and take pictures even in muddy waters. Regarding Grover's submission that there was a problem of co-ordination among the authorities, Mehta said additional chief secretary of Meghalaya was co-ordinating with every agency involved in the rescue operation. "No stone is left unturned to rescue these persons," Mehta said. The state's counsel said that though one crore litres of water has been pumped out from the mine, the decrease of water level was only about eight inches as seepage from the nearby river has increased. Mehta had earlier told the apex court that 71 members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 20 from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 16 Navy personnel and others, including those from Odisha fire service and Coal India Ltd., were working in the rescue operation. The Meghalaya government had filed a status report on the rescue operation and said there were problems like difficult terrain and lack of proper infrastructure at the site which were creating hurdles. It had said that the site was located at Ksan near the river Letein. It was about 3.7 kilometres deep inside a jungle and can be accessed after crossing three streams. The rat-hole mine, atop a hillock fully covered with trees in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, was flooded when water from the nearby Letein river gushed into it, trapping 15 miners. Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually three-four-foot high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat holes" as each just about fits one person. The apex court had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the Meghalaya government to rescue the miners trapped in the illegal coal mine and had said "prompt, immediate and effective" operation was needed to rescue them as it was a matter of life and death. PTI ABA RKS SA New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) The Delhi High Court Friday refused to quash the FIR lodged against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana on bribery allegations. Justice Najmi Waziri also refused to quash the FIR lodged against CBI Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad. The high court directed the CBI to complete investigation in case against Asthana and others within 10 weeks. The high court further said that the allegation of "mala fide" raised against then CBI Director Alok Verma is not made out. It also vacated its interim order granting protection to Asthana against criminal proceedings. Justice Waziri said that permission for prior sanction to prosecute Asthana and Kumar was not required considering the facts of the case. The high court dismissed the petitions filed by Asthana, Kumar and Prasad challenging the FIR lodged against them. Asthana was booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct under sections of Prevention of Corruption Act. Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, had alleged having paid bribe to get relief in a case. Sana had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractice against Asthana. Justice Waziri had reserved the judgement on December 20, 2018 on various petitions after hearing submissions of the counsel for CBI, the Centre, Asthana, Kumar, Verma and Joint Director A K Sharma. PTI SKV PKS RKS URD SA SA Mumbai, Jan 11 (PTI) Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, had asked not to allow anyone, especially Rahul Mukerjea, to enter her flat for two-three days in April 2012, the manager of the housing society where she lived told the trial court here on Friday. M Kilje, the manager of the Marlow Cooperative Society at Worli in south Mumbai, deposed before special CBI judge J C Jagdale on Friday. Former media baron Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani own two flats in the Marlow Cooperative Society. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Indrani was opposed to the relationship between Sheena, her daughter from an earlier relationship, and Rahul, Peter's son from an earlier marriage. "On April 23, 2012, when I was approaching the (society) office, I came across Indrani. She instructed me not to send anybody, especially Rahul Mukerjea (to her flat), for the next two-three days," Kilje told the court. Sheena (24) was allegedly killed by Indrani with the help of others inside a car on April 24, 2012. The prosecution has claimed that her body was kept in Indrani's Worli flat, before it was disposed of in a forest in Raigad district. Kilje added that when Rahul sought to visit the flat on April 25 and 26, he was not allowed, in accordance with Indrani's instructions. Sheena's killing had come to light when the Mukerjeas' driver, Shyamvar Rai, was arrested by the police in another case in August, 2015. Subsequently, the police arrested Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and Rai for allegedly killing Sheena. Later, the CBI arrested Peter for allegedly being part of the conspiracy. The central probe agency has claimed that a financial dispute was the reason for Sheena's killing. PTI AVI KRK RC New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) Senior Indian Information Service officer Nitin Wakankar will be the new Chief Information Officer and spokesperson of the CBI, replacing Abhishek Dayal who has been transferred to the Publications Division, officials said Friday. The change in the agency comes close on the heels of removal of Alok Verma as the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation by a high powered selection committee, they said. ADG (M and C) in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Wakankar has served in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Defence Ministry, headed Mumbai region in various capacities during his career. Dayal, also an IIS officer, who waded the information wing of the CBI through the most severe crisis of the agency during the last four months to the Publications Division, they said. He was transferred to the CBI for a period of three years in 2017. He had earlier served in the Prime Minister's Office, Home Ministry, as AIR correspondent in Colombo before being deputed to the CBI. During his tenure, he tried hard in maintaining careful balance in dissemination of information for the organisation as the then CBI director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana fought bitter battle with each other and leaks from each camp becoming a regular feature in the media. The interim CBI Director Nageshwar Rao has also ordered transfer of about four officials at the Joint Director level. Joint Director Lucknow G K Goswami has been given charge of Anti Corruption-I, while Joint Director Banking Securities and Frauds cell (BSF and C) Sharad Agarwal has been sent to Lucknow. Agarwal will continue to monitor SIT (Manipur fake encounter cases), they said. Joint Director Chennai, Praveen Sinha has been brought to Delhi with additional charge of the Border Security Force and C unit, they said. Joint Director Mumbai Amrit Mohan Prasad has been given additional charge of Joint Director Chennai, they said. PTI ABS KJ KJ New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) The BJP wants the Ram temple in Ayodhya to be constructed at the earliest, its president Amit Shah asserted at the party's national convention on Friday and accused the Congress of putting "hurdles" in resolution of the issue. Shah's reiteration of the party's stand on the issue in his inaugural address drew the most enthusiastic response from thousands of its members at Ramlila Maidan, underscoring its resonance with the saffron party's rank and file. "The Bharatiya Janata Party wants the Ram temple constructed at the earliest at the same site. Let there be no doubt," Shah said. He asserted that the party is making all efforts to ensure that the matter is resolved in the Supreme Court as soon as possible. The court is adjudicating on the Ram temple title case and has fixed January 29 as the next date of hearing. Accusing the Congress of creating hurdles in early resolution of the matter in the court, Shah asked the opposition party to make its stand clear on the matter. In presence of top party leaders at the convention including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah said the BJP wants the issue to be resolved constitutionally. Hindutva organisations, including the RSS, have repeatedly expressed their frustration at the "delay" in the case and have demanded that the Modi government bring a law to pave the way for the temple's construction at the site in Ayodhya, considered to be the birth place of Lord Ram. PTI JTR KR KR BJ BJ New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) Nepal Army Chief General Purna Chandra Thapa will be conferred with the honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army' by President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday. The Nepal Army Chief begins his four-day India visit on Saturday during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with top brass of the Indian Army with an aim to further expand bilateral military cooperation. The honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army' is being conferred on the Nepal Army Chief following an age-old tradition which is existed between the armies of both countries, defence ministry officials said. Indian Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat was conferred with the title of honourary general of the Nepal Army by Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari during his visit to the country in 2017. Commander-in-Chief Gen Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was the first Indian Army chief to be decorated with the title in 1950. On Gen. Thapa's visit, the Indian Army said, "The visit symbolises the deep-rooted military to military ties and shall be a platform to further strengthen the defence cooperation between the two armies." General Thapa will also be visiting Indian Army formations formations based at Jaipur and Lucknow. PTI MPB ZMN New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) A day after Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat stated India cannot be left out of the "bandwagon" when a number of countries are reaching out to the Taliban, the External Affairs Ministry Friday said there is no change in the position on Afghanistan and New Delhi supports the process which is "inclusive" towards achieving peace. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also said that India has made it "very clear" to the US that the peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan should be Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled. He said this was conveyed during the meetings US President Donald Trump's special Afghan envoy Zalmay Khalilzad had with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. Responding to a volley of questions on Afghanistan ranging from Khalilzad's visit to the Army chief's comments, Kumar said: "Essentially, both sides, we share perspectives on peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Mr Khalilzad briefed EAM and FS on their aspect as to how the US is trying to achieve peace and reconciliation in the country." On the question whether Pakistan's role in Afghanistan was discussed during the meetings, the MEA spokesperson said this is something which India has articulated time and again -- the destabilising role that Pakistan plays. The situation in Afghanistan was discussed, the Indian side did reiterate its policy on Afghanistan, Kumar said. "This is connected to the comments made by the Army chief. Our position on Afghanistan has been very clear and very consistent. We have said in the past and we continue to do so that India supports the peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan," he said. "We support the process which is inclusive towards achieving this goal and there has been no change in that position," he said. His remarks come just a day after Army chief Gen Rawat, during his annual press conference, said: "A number of countries are talking to the Taliban. The issue we should address is -- do we have an interest in Afghanistan. If the answer is yes, then you cannot be out of the bandwagon." A day earlier, he had also that there should be talks with the Taliban but without "any preconditions". Trump's special Afghan envoy Khalilzad is leading an inter-agency delegation to India, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan from January 8 to January 21. PTI ASK KJ New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) India slammed Pakistan on Friday for its statement that New Delhi was not responding to its peace overtures, saying there was "no seriousness" in Islamabad's offer for talks as it continued to extend "explicit support" to terror organisations and was now trying to mainstream them. India's sharp reaction comes days after Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan accused it of not responding to his peace overtures. Responding to Khan's comments, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "I don't understand these statements. Even before Imran Khan became Prime Minister, our Prime Minister had called and congratulated him on his election win." Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also wrote to their counterparts and congratulated them after they assumed office, he said at a media briefing. Kumar also posed questions to Pakistan to hit out at the country for supporting terrorism and allowing terrorists to use its soil for targeting other nations. "When they say they are ready for talks, then why do their ministers share platform with internationally designated terrorists. There have been many instances in the past few months when their ministers have shared a platform with such people," Kumar said. He cited some instances such as Pakistan's religious affairs minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri sharing a public platform with Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed on September 30 where both of them made "vitriolic" anti-India statements and the terror organisation opening centres in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In December, Pakistan's interior minister met representatives of the JuD terrorist organisation and openly pledged support to them, Kumar said. "If Pakistan is ready for talks then why no action has been taken against terrorists involved in the Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks. Always the matter is brushed aside after talks," he said. JuD and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) are no longer on the list of proscribed organisations after an ordinance banning them lapsed, he said. "It is clear that the explicit support that banned organisations used to get from Pakistan is still continuing. There has been no change in that," he asserted. The more serious thing is that they are trying to mainstream terror organisations, Kumar said. Islamabad wants to deflect attention from its own financial problems and it is doing that by giving statements about other countries, he said. "So this statement that they want to have talks, there is no seriousness in it and this should be backed up by some action," the MEA spokesperson said. On Khan's statement on treatment of minorities in India, Kumar said, "Pakistan should be the last country in the world to lecture us on the topic of plurality and inclusive society. We and the world are fully aware how the minorities are treated in their country." PTI ASK SMN Presi students stop programme on Vivekananda over 'objectionable comments' Kolkata, Jan 11 (PTI) A section of students of the Presidency University Friday stopped a programme to mark Saturday's birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in the university campus objecting to certain comments made by the speakers and forced them to leave the campus. Organised by some teachers and students of the university, the unofficial programme held in open air and some speakers were invited from other colleges of the city. Some of the assembled students raised objections to certain comments made by a speaker on the Jadavpur University, the Jawaharlal Nehru Unversity, Marxism, Maoism and the relevance of Swami Vivekananda among today's youth, one of the invited guests Prof Debashis Chowdhury told PTI. "While we urged them to listen to the entire speech, these students virtually gheraoed the guests who were also from other colleges," Chowdhury said. He said some teachers and students of Bengali department, who were involved in organising the programme, tried to bring the situation under control and helped the guests leave the spot. Countering Chowdhury's claims, Sayan Chakraborty of Independent Consolidation (IC) union of Presidency said, "Some casteist and communal comments, objectionable views were made by some outsiders in the campus. Presidency students cannot be mere witness to such comments." He denied that they gheraoed or heckled anyone. "These are false charges. We merely asked them to stop the programme," he said. Chakraborty said Presidency students were opposed to any effort to play politics in the name of Swami Vivekananda "as Presidency always stands for free thinking and liberal views." Members of the IC and the Students' Federation of India (SFI) later took out a rally to protest the "effort of Hindutva forces and the ruling Trinamool Congress to meddle into affairs of liberal Presidency and stifle the voice of dissent," Chakraborty said. A university spokesman said there was no official intimation from either side about any such programme or incident. PTI SUS NN NN Don't pay heed to instigation, Mamata asks Gangasagar pilgrims Kolkata, Jan 11 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday asked pilgrims going to visit the Gangasagar Mela at Sagar island not to pay heed to any instigation and perform the rituals in a free mind. She also advised them to contact the police and inform the administration in case of need rather than giving attention to instigation. "Do not pay heed to any instigation. Contact the administration and the police in case you need any help. Safely go there and return. We have taken all sort of precautions," she said at Babughat here where thousands of pilgrims gather on the way to reach Sagar Island. "We have constructed new roads, new guest houses, new hotels. We want a peaceful mela. Several measures have been taken to keep it peaceful. Visits of several VVIPs would be restricted to facilitate visits of the pilgrims," the chief minister said. Gangasagar mela is an annual congregation of Hindu pilgrims at the Sagar island where they take holy dips at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal during the Makar Sankranti. This year Makar Sankranti date is January 14. Lambasting the Centre, she said it was taking a long time to build a bridge over the Muriganga, which her government has proposed and the Centre accepted. She said the state government would build the bridge on its own and directed the chief secretary for a detailed project report for the proposed bridge. "We have decided not to accept alms. We will build the bridge over the Muriganga on our own," she said. The West Bengal government had earlier said it will share 74 per cent cost to build a new major port in Tajpur as it will build a bridge over the Muriganga river to help pilgrims visiting Sagar Island. The triangular Island, situated around 130 km from the city, is separated from the mainland by rivers Ganga and Muriganga on two sides and faces the Bay of Bengal on the third side. PTI SCH NN NN Akhil Gogoi to hold hunger strike on coming Bihu festival Guwahati, Jan 11 (PTI) Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Adviser Akhil Gogoi Friday announced that he will hold a 24-hour hunger strike on the coming Magh Bihu festival, of which community feast is an integral part, to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. "I will not celebrate Magh Bihu this time and will not eat anything on 'Uruka'. I will observe a 24-hour hunger strike with other representatives of 70 organisations from afternoon of January 14 to protest against the Bill," he told a press conference. On 'Uruka' night, the first day of the three-day Magh Bihu, people enjoy community feast with new harvest and it is one of the main attractions of the festival. Magh Bihu is one of the three Bihu festivals of the state. The KMSS chief said till the controversial Bill is scrapped, protest will continue as BJP has plans to pass it in Rajya Sabha during the Budget session scheduled to commence on January 31. The KMSS is one the major organisations that was holding protests across Assam against the controversial bill. "The danger of the Bill getting passed is not over yet. We cannot relax. So we will continue our agitation till January 31, when the Parliament will meet again for the Budget Session," Gogoi said. The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. PTI TR NN NN Barasat (WB), Jan 11 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday questioned the timing of the release of the film, "The Accidental Prime Minister", ahead of the general election and wryly commented that all prime ministers were accidental. She also claimed that such films were made by twisting facts. "All are accidental prime ministers", Banerjee said, without naming anybody. "The Accidental Prime Minister" is based on a book of the same name written by Sanjaya Baru on Manmohan Singh's term as prime minister from 2004 to 2014. Baru was Singh's media adviser when the latter was the prime minister. The film hit the screens on Friday. In an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee said if people were making such films, then there would also be films like "The Disastrous PM". "I have come to know that some people are staging political plays. Just before the (Lok Sabha) election, they have released a film titled 'The Accidental Prime Minister'. That way, all are accidental prime ministers. I did not get the meaning of this (accidental PM)," the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said after inaugurating the 23rd Jatra Utsav here. She said though she had ideological differences with the Congress, she believed that making such films was "unethical". "I do not do politics with the Congress and we have (ideological) differences. I have come out of the Congress and formed the Trinamool Congress with your blessings. But I believe that what is being done by twisting facts is unethical. "That is why those who are making films like 'The Accidental PM' must also watch another film titled 'The Disastrous PM'. If we can have 'The Accidental Prime Minister', then we must have a film on 'The Disastrous Prime Minister'," she said. Known to be a theatre-lover, Banerjee asked stage artistes to choose more plots based on politics and showcase realistic subjects depicting social causes. "I am not asking to stage any political drama. Choose plots which are realistic, highlighting social causes and showing the youth, girls and women of the state," she said. Without naming Modi, the TMC chief compared him with Sholay's "Gabbar Singh" and said people would soon teach him a lesson. She said the common people were scared of him because of his attitude. "The common people will not let you (Modi) go scot-free. Always remember that you (Modi) will see what you will show. "Look in the mirror and see your own image. You do not know how to smile and how to talk politely. People are scared seeing you and they think of you as Gabbar Singh," Banerjee said. PTI SCH SNS RC Kolkata, Jan 11 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for political gains. "The CBI has been repeatedly misused by the BJP, which is trying to use the probe agency for political gains and turn it into 'His Master's Voice'," she said, referring to the fiasco surrounding Alok Verma, the former director of the agency who was removed from his position by a high-powered committee on Thursday. "The BJP is destroying institutions like the CBI and the RBI," the Trinamool Congress supremo added. Refusing to take on his new assignment as the Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, Verma on Friday asked the government to treat him as "deemed superannuated" with immediate effect. PTI PNT RBT RC Patna, Jan 11 (PTI) BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha Friday came down heavily on the Modi-led central government over the 10 per cent quota, the CBI imbroglio and the "vendetta politics" against opposition leaders, especially jailed RJD president Lalu Prasad. The actor-turned-politician, who represents Patna Sahib in Lok Sabha, took to Twitter in his trademark style. Without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sinha, using the honorific 'Sir', gave a piece of his mind on the social media platform. "Congrats sir. Your intentions need to be highly applauded and even the entire opposition will agree but with fingers crossed and bated breath. Matter has gone to the H'onble Supreme Court. Hope wish and pray that it goes through the different assemblies and the judicial scrutiny too," he tweeted. "You sure have mastered the art of Mann ki Baat. But let us not forget dil ki baat. Stop this jumle-baazi," he remarked in a veiled dig at Modi's weekly radio broadcast. "The nation wants to know plain and simple answers on CBI (which seems to be very messy today), ED and especially Rafale etc. in an honest and transparent manner. Great haste in taking decisions is not the right approach," Sinha said on Twitter. He was referring to the removal of CBI director Alok Verma in a late-night exercise which was later struck down by the court, allegations of use of the Enforcement Directorate for settling political scores and discrepancies in the fighter aircraft deal. Verma was transferred to another department a day after the Supreme Court order, notwithstanding a dissenting note by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who was a member of the Selection Committee. Verma submitted his resignation Friday. "Sir, with due respect, people may not take these gimmicks kindly. Time and again I have said yeh public hain sab janti hai. Satyamev Jayate. Jai Hind," Sinha remarked in another tweet with the hashtag #QuotaforEconomicallyBackwards. "Sir, no more vendetta politics that we have been seeing with P Chidambaram, Shashi Tharoor, Rahul Gandhi, Robert Vadra and especially in the case of the man of the masses Lalu Prasad Yadav. He is gaining tremendous sympathy and has the ability and capability to bounce back," the former Union minister warned. Notably, in the past one year during which Prasad has been serving sentence in fodder scam cases, Sinha has paid at least three visits to the ailing RJD supremo, two of these at a hospital in Ranchi where he has been admitted on account of his failing health. "The treatment meted out to him is not desirable nor acceptable. Lets not forget that this attitude of condemnation speaks volume about leadership. With an attitude of gratitude, I humbly suggest stop this political vendetta, things could be different in coming times with us on the other side of the fence. Jai Hind," the BJP leader said in his final tweet. Speculations have been rife that Sinha may fail to get a BJP ticket in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and that he may be fielded by the opposition RJD-Congress combine. The actor-turned-politician has been responding to such speculations with the cryptic remark 'location will be the same even if the situation is otherwise'. PTI NAC SNS SRY Protest against Puneri pagadi at Pune university convocation Pune, Jan 11 (PTI) Student activists shouted slogans against the use of 'Puneri pagadi', a traditional headgear associated with the city, during the 114th convocation ceremony of Savitribai Phule Pune University here Friday. Police detained at least five students following the protest. Some student organisations had opposed the varsity's decision to replace the cap-and-gown worn during convocation with the traditional kurta-pyjama and Puneri pagadi. They allege that by introducing Puneri pagadi, the varsity is toeing RSS' and Hindu right-wing's agenda. Some leaders have alleged that Puneri pagadi is mainly associated with Brahmins. One of the students who was detained said the varsity has first mandated kurta-pyjama and Puneri pagadi for all the students attending the convocation. "After we objected, they revoked the notification and said only guests at the ceremony will wear Puneri pagadi. But we had warned that if even guests were seen donning the pagadi, a donkey wearing Puneri pagadi will be paraded on the campus," said Akash Zambare Patil of the Nationalist Student Congress, NCP's student wing. "After seeing guests wearing Puneri pagadi, students brought a donkey on the campus and put Puneri pagadi on its head," he said. Asked why they were opposed to Puneri pagadi, Patil said the varsity is named after social reformer Savitribai Phule, who along with her husband Jyotirao Phule opened the doors of education to the marginalised masses. "Our demand was if you want to replace the convocation cap, replace it with Phule pagadi (the kind of pagadi Jyotirao Phule wore), otherwise continue with the old dress," he said. Senior police inspector Dayanand Dhome of Chatushringi police station said five or six students were detained for raising slogans. They were released later, he added. A senior varsity official said Puneri pagadi was worn only by the guests on the dais. "The varsity decided to go ahead with kurta and pyjama for students instead of the gown, however, the cap was not replaced. Only guests wore Puneri pagadi," he said. PTI SPK KRK KRK Ottawa, Jan 11 (AFP) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada was taking in an 18-year-old Saudi asylum seeker who fled her family and harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation from Thailand. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun was already en route to Toronto late Friday when the prime minister made the surprise announcement, after officials had previously given heavy hints she was bound for Australia. "Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," Trudeau said. "When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted." The move is sure to further strain Canadian relations with the kingdom that went sideways last August over Ottawa's rights criticism of Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador and sever all trade and investment ties in protest. Canada also sparked fury in Riyadh by demanding the "immediate release" of jailed rights campaigners, including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, whose family lives in Quebec. Qunun's attempt to flee the ultra-conservative kingdom was embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression. Thai authorities initially threatened to deport her after she arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait last weekend. But armed with a smartphone and hastily opened Twitter account, she forced a U-turn from Thai immigration police who handed her into the care of the UN's refugee agency as the #SaveRahaf hashtag bounced across the world. Qunun alleged that she was abused by her family -- who deny the allegations -- and rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia. Rahaf first said she was aiming for Australia where officials had suggested they would give serious consideration to her claim for asylum, which was endorsed as legitimate by the UNHCR on Wednesday. But late Friday Thailand's immigration police chief said a smiling and cheerful Rahaf was bound for Toronto and had left on a flight after 11:00 pm (local time). "She chose Canada... Canada said it will accept her," Thai immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters at Bangkok's main airport. "She is safe now and has good physical and mental health. She is happy." Rahaf left from the same airport where her quest for asylum began less than a week ago in a swift-moving process that defied most norms. On Friday afternoon Rahaf posted a final cryptic tweet on her profile saying "I have some good news and some bad news" -- shortly after her account was deactivated in response to death threats she had faced, her friends said. "Rahaf received death threats and for this reason she closed her Twitter account, please save Rahaf life," tweeted supporter @nourahfa313, who has flanked Rahaf's social media campaign with her own updates on Twitter. Rahaf's swift use of Twitter saw her amass more than 100,000 followers within a week, highlighting her plight at a time when Saudi Arabia's human rights record is under heavy scrutiny following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. Her deployment of social media allowed her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or languish in Bangkok detention centres. She refused to see her father who travelled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement. Surachate said her father and brother were due to return home on a flight in the early hours of Saturday. Although her asylum case moved fast the final manoeuvres that led to her flight to Canada remain a mystery. Australia had dropped strong hints it would accept her after the UN urged the country to do so and it remains unclear why the resettlement location changed. On Thursday its foreign minister said Canberra was still assessing the request. Thailand's immigration chief Surachate had earlier told reporters Friday that "two or three" countries were ready to offer her asylum. The Southeast Asian country is not a signatory to a convention on refugees and asylum seekers must be referred to a third country. (AFP) PMS PMS Washington, Jan 11 (AFP) The US military has begun moving non-essential gear out of Syria but is not withdrawing troops for now, defence officials said Friday as uncertainty grew over America's planned pullout from the battered nation. President Donald Trump last month claimed the Islamic State group had been defeated in Syria and said all US troops were "coming back now." But in the weeks since he gave the order, and the Pentagon began to implement it, Trump himself and members of his administration have delivered mixed messages about when the withdrawal may actually occur. Trump's national security advisor John Bolton on Sunday announced conditions for a withdrawal that appeared to delay it indefinitely. Adding to the confusion, a military spokesman said Friday the US had already begun "the process of our deliberate withdrawal" from Syria. US defence officials quickly sought to clarify the remark, stressing that the withdrawal was only of certain types of gear, and not troops. "We are not withdrawing troops at this stage," one US defense official said. A second US defence official told AFP the military had conducted a number of preparations for a deliberate withdrawal. "That includes planning for the moving of people and equipment, preparation of facilities to accept retrograde equipment," the official said, noting that no troops had been withdrawn. The Pentagon stressed it would not telegraph its troop movements or give timelines for when they may leave Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported earlier that the US-led coalition in Syria had started scaling down its presence at Rmeilan airfield in the Hasakeh province of northeastern Syria. But the first defense official said this was merely part of a regular troop movement. The US-led coalition has several other bases across northeastern Syria, as well as in neighboring Iraq, where Trump has said American forces will remain. The coalition, which also includes countries such as France and Britain, was formed in mid-2014 to counter IS, which had seized swathes of Iraq and Syria and proclaimed a "caliphate." Fighter jets and special forces have played key roles in efforts to claw back the territory lost to IS. A Kurdish-led group, the Syrian Democratic Forces, is currently flushing the jihadists from the very last pockets of land they control in the Euphrates River Valley. The battle against die-hard jihadists in remote areas along the Iraqi-Syrian border and the hunt for IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the world's most wanted man, could last indefinitely. The start of the drawdown coincided with a Middle East tour by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who insisted in Cairo on Thursday that the withdrawal would go ahead despite widespread criticism. On the same day however, Pompeo said in a speech that "when America retreats, chaos often follows." Bolton's conditions for a pullout included the defeat of IS in Syria and guarantees for the safety of Washington's Kurdish allies, who have been threatened with an imminent offensive by Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labeled Bolton's comments unacceptable and a "grave mistake". The People's Protection Units (YPG), which have spearheaded ground operations against IS, are a Syrian offshoot of the Kurdish PKK which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist movement and has repeatedly threatened to move into Syria to create a buffer zone along the border. The group has already started reaching out to Damascus and its Russian sponsor. Critics of Trump's decision, including within his own Republican party, have said a precipitous withdrawal would shatter US policy in Syria and allow IS to rebuild. They have also argued that it would further allow regime ally Iran to extend its influence across Syria and potentially threaten Israel. Since his surprise announcement last month, Trump has stressed any withdrawal would be coordinated, gradual and "prudent." But observers have stressed that the announcement was having the same impact as the withdrawal itself. "The damage is done," said Fabrice Balanche, a geographer and Syria expert. "On the ground, the announcement of the pullout is as if they were already gone." (AFP) PMS PMS Ottawa, Jan 11 (AFP) An 18-year-old Saudi asylum seeker who fled her family and armed only with Twitter staved off deportation from Thailand has been accepted as a refugee by Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday. "Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," Trudeau said. "When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant miss (Rahaf Mohammed) al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted." (AFP) PMS PMS Dubai, Jan 11 (PTI) Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday told Indian workers here that he wants to listen to their problems instead of telling his "Mann Ki Baat". Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a maiden visit, was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian diaspora at the Dubai airport on Thursday. He lauded the Indian workers here for making the country proud by their hard work in the UAE. "You have illuminated the names of every religion, every state and every caste," he said. He said his party is aware of the difficulties faced by the labourers and wants to help them. "We want to talk to you," he said. "Main yahan apne mann ki baat kahne nahi aaya hun..main yayan aapke mann ki baat sunane aaya hun (I have not come here to speak my mind, I have come to listen to your heart)," he said in his address at the Jabel Ali labour colony. He was referring to Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat where he address the nation on various issues. Earlier Gandhi met with the business leaders in the country. A construction worker from Jabel Ali labour colony said he wants to see Gandhi leading India with compassion and care for all Indians. Gandhi is also set to meet some UAE ministers during his two-day visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. PTI NSA AKJ NSA Karachi/New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) Pakistani police on Friday accused Indian spy agency RAW of being involved in the November terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, a charge rejected by India as "fabricated and scurrilous". Karachi police said they have arrested five suspects from a separatist Baloch group for the November 23 attack on the Chinese consulate that killed four people, which they claimed was carried out to "sabotage" the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). At a press conference, Karachi police chief Amir Sheikh said the men arrested confessed to their role in facilitating the three attackers, who were also killed during the attack on the consulate. Shaikh claimed that the attack was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Reacting to the Pakistani claim, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said, "We have seen statements in the Pakistani media attributed to the police chief of Karachi making false allegations against India for the terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi in November, 2018. We completely reject these fabricated and scurrilous attempts to levy accusations on India. Instead of maliciously pointing fingers at others for such terrorist incidents, Pakistan needs to look inwards and undertake credible action against support to terrorism and terror infrastructure in its territories". Sheikh said the detainees were linked to the Baloch Liberation Army, a Balochistan-based group which had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time. Three militants tried to storm the consulate in the city's posh Clifton area but security forces foiled their attempt by killing all of them in a gunbattle. The attack also killed two police officials and two visa applicants. "The aim was to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and create the impression in China that Karachi is not safe," he said. India has opposed the CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The ambitious USD 60 billion CPEC project connects China's northwestern Xinjiang region to Pakistan's Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. India had strongly condemned the terror attack on the Chinese consulate and said such strikes only strengthen the resolve of the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "There can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. The perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement last November. Shaikh said that police arrested five facilitators and claimed that a probe based on their interrogation and other evidence proved the involvement of India. He said the terrorists spent four to five months in observing the consulate and its working. "They (terrorists) used to sit in the visa section of the consulate to observe when the gates open and other details," he said. He said that the weapons were transported from Quetta to Karachi through train and were hidden in the engine of a boat. Shaikh said the mastermind of the attack, Aslam alias Acho, was reportedly killed in a suicide blast in Afghanistan. However, he said he was not ready to believe it until there was proof of Aslam's death. He said it was an old tactic of militants to show a wanted rebel killed in order to divert the attention of security agencies. PTI SH MPB KUN AKJ KUN KUN Baghdad, Jan 11 (AP) After days of back and forth over US President Donald Trump's decision to pullout American troops from Syria, a US military official said Friday the process of withdrawal has begun, declining to comment on specific timetables or movements. Col Sean Ryan, spokesman for the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, said "the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria" has started. "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements," the Baghdad-based official said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. There were no other details, and it was not immediately clear how many vehicles or whether any troop units had withdrawn. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syria's northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. Confirmation of the first withdrawals comes amid confusion over plans to implement Trump's pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurds, who have been America's partners on the ground in the war against the Islamic State group in Syria. There are 2,000 American troops in Syria. Trump's abrupt decision in December to pull them, declaring in a tweet the defeat of IS, sent shockwaves across the region and a flurry of criticism from some of his generals and national security advisers, and led to the resignation of US Defense Minister James Mattis and the top US envoy to the anti-IS coalition. It also led to major criticism that the US was abandoning its local Kurdish allies amid Turkish threats of an imminent attack. On Sunday, US national security adviser John Bolton said American troops will not leave northeastern Syria until IS is defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, signaling a slow-down in Trump's initial order for a rapid withdrawal. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on a tour of the region, has also sought to reassure the Kurds that they will be safe after U.S. troops withdraw from the country. "These have been folks that have fought with us and it's important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected," Pompeo said of the Kurds while visiting Irbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, after talks in Baghdad. After initially tweeting about the decision to bring back US troops "now," Trump this week said "we will be leaving at a proper pace while at the same time continuing to fight ISIS and doing all else that is prudent and necessary!" Kurdish officials, meanwhile, have demanded clarifications from the US over its intentions. A US troop pullout leaves the Kurds exposed to Turkish attacks from one side, and Syrian government troops on the other. The withdrawal benefits Syrian President Bashar Assad and his international backers, Russia and Iran, who are primed to move into the region to fill a vacuum left behind by the Americans. US troops have been involved in Syria's war since 2014 when the first elite force arrived in the country to advise Kurdish-led fighters who were involved in battles against the Islamic State group. (AP) MRJ MRJ Cairo, Jan 11 (AP) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brought the Trump administration's anti-Iran message to Gulf Arab states on Friday, arriving in Bahrain to continue a nine-nation tour of the Middle East aimed at reassuring America's partners that withdrawing troops from Syria does not mean Washington is abandoning the region. Pompeo was travelling to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates where he will call for increasing pressure on Iran and push for unity among Gulf neighbors still embroiled in a festering dispute with Qatar. He'll also be promoting a U.S.-backed initiative to form what some have termed an "Arab NATO" that would bring the region together in a military alliance to counter threats from Iran. In Bahrain, the UAE and later Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, Pompeo will also be making the case as he did on previous stops in Jordan, Iraq and Egypt that President Donald Trump's decision to pull US troops from Syria is not a sign Washington is retreating from the fight against the Islamic State group. US partnerships with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council "are critical to achieving shared regional objectives: defeating ISIS, countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies, and rolling back Iranian aggression," the State Department said in a statement released as Pompeo departed Egypt for Bahrain, which is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet. But the now 2-year-old crisis between GCC members Saudi Arabia and UAE and Qatar has hampered US attempts to forge a unified front against Iran. Washington's efforts to ease the dispute, begun by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have thus far failed and took another hit this week when the former general tasked to broker a solution stepped down. "A united GCC is the backbone for regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability, and is essential to countering the single greatest threat to regional stability: the Iranian regime," the State Department said. At each of his stops in the Gulf, Pompeo will be urging progress on creating the Middle East Strategic Alliance, which would join GCC militaries with those of Egypt and Jordan to serve as a counter-balance to Iran, which they all accuse of fomenting unrest and rebellion throughout the region. Pompeo told Fox News before departing from Cairo that there would be an international conference on Iran and the Middle East in Poland on February 13-14. Pompeo during his trip will also call for boosting efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling Iranian-backed rebels in what the UN says is now the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the department said. UN-led peace efforts in Yemen, along with attempts to broker a political solution to the war in Syria that "expels every last Iranian boot from the country" and promoting reconciliation in Afghanistan will also be high on Pompeo's agenda, the State Department said. Pompeo kicked off the Gulf portion of his tour after a stop in Cairo, where he delivered a scathing rebuke of former President Barack Obama's Middle East policies that Obama had outlined in a 2009 address to the Arab and broader Muslim world. In a speech entitled "A Force for Good: America's Reinvigorated Role in the Middle East," Pompeo accused the former president of "misguided" thinking that diminished America's role in the region while harming its longtime friends and emboldening Iran. He unloaded on the Obama administration for being naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the Middle East, including Egypt, beginning in 2011. And, he said the Trump administration was taking action to repair the damage. "The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering," Pompeo said in the speech, which was itself denounced by former Obama administration officials for pandering to autocrats, ignoring human rights concerns. "That this administration feels the need, nearly a decade later, to take potshots at an effort to identify common ground between the Arab world and the West speaks not only to the Trump administration's pettiness but also to its lack of a strategic vision for America's role in the region and its abdication of America's values," National Security Action group, a group of former officials, said in a statement. Pompeo blamed the previous administration's approach to the Mideast for the ills that consume it now, particularly the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and Iran's increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, since rescinded by the Trump administration, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal. He said Obama ignored the growth of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon to the detriment of Israel's security and not doing enough to push back on Iran-supported rebels in Yemen. Since withdrawing from the nuclear deal last year, the administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Tehran and routinely accuses the nation of being the most destabilising influence in the region. It has vowed to increase the pressure until Iran halts what US officials describe as its "malign activities" throughout the Mideast and elsewhere, including support for rebels in Yemen, anti-Israel groups, and Syrian President Bashar Assad. (AP) MRJ MRJ Dubai, Jan 11 (PTI) Congress President Rahul Gandhi said here Friday that his party will grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh if voted to power in the upcoming general elections. Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a two-day visit, addressed a gathering of Indian workers at the Labour Colony in Dubai. "As soon as our government comes to power, we will give special status to Andhra Pradesh," Gandhi said. Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh State on June 2, 2014. "You helped India, Indian states and the poor people and you worked to make this city of Dubai, which is great in the whole world. I want to say thank you heartily," he said. Hailing the development of the UAE, Gandhi said all the "massive developments you see here, tall buildings, large airports and metro, wouldn't have been built without your contribution". "You have given your sweat, blood and time for the development of this city and you have made Indians of all backgrounds proud," he said. Gandhi reiterated what he told a group of party workers protesting at Jantar Mantar in March last year for Andhra Pradesh's special status. "We will give special category status to Andhra Pradesh. It's the first thing we will do after coming to power in 2019," he had told the workers. "I am confident that if we stand together we will convince the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that what is due to the people of Andhra Pradesh should be given to them," he said. The general elections are due to be held between April and May this year. PTI MRJ AKJ MRJ Chennai, Jan 11 (PTI) Tamil superstar Rajinikanth has expressed "happiness" that "Petta" is being received warmly by the fans and has credited the director for getting the best out of him. The superstar, who arrived here Thursday after a brief stay in the United States, was addressing reporters at his residence. "First, I express my new year and Pongal wishes to one and all. I came to know that the movie is liked by everyone. Very happy for that. The credits should go to Sun Pictures (film producer), Karthik Subbaraj (director) and his unit," Rajinikanth said. The superstar said as an actor, his utmost priority is that his films should deliver on the expectations of his fans. "My job is to make them happy. That is very important. I am happy that they are happy. As I said earlier, the credits should go to Karthik Subbaraj. He made sure that he got the best from me in every shot, every scene." "Petta" hit screens worldwide amid much fanfare Thursday with two couples choosing the occasion to tie the knot. Elated fans danced to drumbeats and poured milk on huge cuts-out of the 69-year-old actor outside theatres across the state, which has become something of a tradition with all Rajinikanth releases. Produced by Sun Pictures, the music is scored by Anirudh. The film's cast also includes Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vijay Sethupathy, Simran, Trisha and actor-director Sasikumar. "Petta", roughly translating into one's local stronghold in Tamil, released along with Ajith Nayanthara-starrer "Viswasam". PTI VIJ RB BK BK (Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) New Delhi, Delhi, India Business Wire India For someone who is devoted to working hard and determined to be a successful entrepreneur, it all started with a humble beginning. Mr. Mahmood Ahmadu- the Founder and Executive Chairman of Online Integrated Solution Ltd, was born on the 9th of September 1966 in Nigeria. He earned his MBA from Nassarawa University and is UK accredited. Besides that, his additional education came in the form of numerous management, IT and communication industry courses where he used these skills to start small businesses which traded numerous products and services. Through his passion and hardworking traits, he invested his first successful company in the early 80s. After a successful start, it made him a superstar among the earlier pioneers in the field of trading in GSM in northern Nigeria, and further expanded his businesses import /export to neighbouring regions. Subsequently, he became well-known as a sincere, hardworking and striving businessman in the northern states of Nigeria. Driven with the passion to build a better community and nation he wishes to work on his capabilities and skills to give back to society. Over the next several years he leveraged this success to expand his business locally and internationally. Ultimately, his reputations among the Nigerian and International community saw his companies expand to command a multinational presence in over 30 international locations across 10 different time zones. Mr. Ahmadu is also a proud recipient of many awards, including the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) a national honour bestowed on him by the President of Nigeria. He was once falsely accused of the NIS recruitment scam, to which the Chairman of the Association of Online Media Practitioners (AMPON) Wole Arisekola described the report as malicious with the intent of damaging the businessmans hard-earned reputation. Mr. Ahmadu is a man with the passion to support various charities, he is known for his generosity who funded many communities in around the world. His vision is to deliver solutions that will empower institutions and people to achieve their full potentials and achieve their goals. This drive the entrepreneurial journey to build an African multi-business conglomerate built on Information Technology which continues to Advance the Technology Infrastructure for governments in many African Countries to achieve cost-effective services for the people and their governments. With his constant effort and passion-driven personality, Mr. Ahmadu is recognized for his technological driven solutions in the United Kingdom and across more than seventeen nations. Mahmood Ahmadu strongly believes Corporate Social Responsibility is embedded in our faith and culture for the betterment of the community. To view the image click the link below: Mr. Mahmood Ahmadu along with the President of Liberia, His Excellency, Mr. George Weah PWR PWR (Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with PR Newswire. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) SURAT, India, January 11, 2019/PRNewswire/ -- Professor (Dr.) Partha Dasgupta, Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics and Senior Faculty of Economics at Cambridge University while delivering the 3rd lecture in IIMA-SRK Annual Lecture Series, 'Human Well-Being and Economic Accounting', on 10th January 2019 at Ravi J. Mathai Auditorium, IIM, Ahmedabad explored ways to measure the quality of life, a problem pervading a number of academic disciplines, but not confined to the academic realm. Indices of human well-being in current use are insensitive to human dependence on the natural environment, both at a moment in time and across generations. He further narrated, "International discussions on economic development in poor regions frequently ignore the natural resource base." In developing quality-of-life measures, he paid particular attention to the natural environment, illustrating how it can be incorporated, generally, into economic reasoning. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/807136/SirParthaDasguptadeliveringlecture.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/807137/SirParthaDasguptaMrJayantiNarolaProfErrolDSouza.jpg ) He also touched upon how inclusive growth is influencing Social Well-Being within the community. His concept included the material sources of well-being and the ability of a person to exercise various kinds of freedom. He argued that social well-being is an aggregate of individual well-beings and if undertaken with care, the aggregation exercise doesn't blunt human rights. He showed, "By economic growth we should mean growth in wealth - which is the social worth of an economy's entire set of capital assets - not growth in gross domestic product nor the many ad hoc indicators of human development that have been proposed in recent years. The concept of wealth invites us to extend the notion of capital assets and the idea of investment well beyond conventional usage." He said, "By sustainable development we should mean development in which wealth per head adjusted for its distribution does not decline. This has radical implications for the way national accounts are prepared and interpreted." Earlier Prof. (Dr.) Errol D'Souza, Director IIMA welcomed all the guests present and said that Prof. Dasgupta pursued undergraduate studies in Physics at the Hans Raj College, New Delhi, graduating in 1962 and in Mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1965. He obtained a Ph.D. in Economics at Cambridge in 1968 with thesis titled 'Population, growth and non-transferable capital'. Besides teaching at Cambridge University, Dr. Dasgupta taught at the London School of Economics and Stanford University. Since year 1992 he has remained in Cambridge. His research interests have covered welfare and development economics; the economics of technological change; population, environmental, and resource economics; social capital; the theory of games; the economics of global warming and the economics of malnutrition. In the beginning of lecture, Mr. Jayanti Narola, Managing Director of Shree Ramkrishna Exports while welcoming Prof. Dasgupta expressed the purpose of instituting IIMA-SRK lecture series. He expressed gratitude for IIMA for providing an opportunity to SRK for presenting luminaries of the world to share their views on varied subjects. Lecture ended with questions and answers sessions. This third lecture of the series followed earlier the lectures of Prof. Raghuram Rajan, Former RBI Governor and Prof. Eric Maskin, Nobel Laureate 2007, Senior Faculty at Harvard University. About Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation: Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF) is a culmination of the evolution journey embarked upon, more than half a century ago, by our Founder Chairman, Shree Govind Dholakia in 1964. His focused, resilient, visionary, passionate and innovative approach along with his belief of 'Giving back to the Society' has inspired to setup SRKKF. Our aim includes extensive contribution in the areas of health, education, agriculture and community welfare. For more information, please visit: http://www.srk.foundation Source: Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF) PWR PWR (Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) New Delhi, Delhi, India & Goodwood, United Kingdom Business Wire India Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has decided to cease its business relationship with Navnit Motors PVT Ltd. Accordingly, the Rolls-Royce dealership in Mumbai operated by Navnit Motors will close with immediate effect. Rolls-Royce is taking all necessary measures to ensure that existing customers are fully serviced by the companys two other dealerships in India. An announcement with regards to future operations for Rolls-Royce in Mumbai will be made in due course. Editors notes Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is represented in India by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars New Delhi and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Hyderabad. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BMW Group and is a completely separate company from Rolls-Royce plc, the manufacturer of aircraft engines and propulsion systems. Over 2,000 skilled men and women are employed at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars head office and manufacturing plant at Goodwood, West Sussex, the only place in the world where the companys super-luxury motor cars are hand-built. Further information You can find all our press releases and press kits, as well as a wide selection of high resolution, downloadable photographs and video footage at our media website, PressClub. You can also find the communications team at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars on Twitter and Instagram PWR PWR Chandigarh, Jan 11 (PTI) Union Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan Friday held a meeting with senior Punjab government officials here to discuss issues being faced by state exporters. State Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan represented the Punjab government in the meeting, an official release said. Issues pertaining to goods and services tax, infrastructure and export-import were discussed in the meeting, it said. Prior to the consultation with the state officials, a meeting was held with the exporters of the state. The meeting was arranged by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and the Department of Industries and Commerce, the release said. Among the others accompanying the Union Commerce Secretary were Sanjay Chadha, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce; B S Bhalla, Joint Secretary, Commerce; Sunil Singh Katiyar, Commissioner, GST and Customs. PTI RVK MKJ Bengaluru, Jan 11 (PTI) India's maiden manned space mission 'Gaganyaan' is set for December 2021 launch and is likely to include a woman astronaut, Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Sivan said Friday. Gearing up for the mission, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ISRO has set up a new centre to facilitate the manned voyage involving a three-member crew, he said. "We have put everything in place. Gaganyaan has highest priority for 2019. We are planning to have first unmanned mission in December 2020 and second for July 2021. Once we complete this the manned mission will happen in December 2021. The entire team is geared up to achieve this target," Sivan said. The Union Cabinet gave its nod for the Rs 9,023 crore programme recently, he said, briefing reporters about the achievements of the city-headquartered ISRO in the previous year and the future programmes. In his Independence Day address last year, Modi had announced that the mission would be undertaken by 2022 using ISRO's own capabilities. "We have resolved that by 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of Independence or maybe even before that, certainly some of our young boys and girls will unfurl the Tricolour in space," he had said in his speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort To a question, the ISRO chief said, "We want women astronauts also should be there. That is our aim. In my opinion, we have to train both men and women. The PM has told brother and sister (boys and girls). We will be happy to do that... but it involves training and other things." He said a major expansion was in the offing with the launch of Gaganyaan. "There are two aspects to Gaganyaan -- engineering and human. This is a major expansion because it is not only launching human into the space but a space station. Human programme is a major turning point," Sivan said. He said the objective of the mission is to carry a three-member crew to low earth orbit and return them safely to a predefined destination on earth. Sivan said ISRO had launched the Human Space Flight Centre to take care of all the things related to the manned space programme. The centre will have senior scientist Unnikrishnan Nair as its director while the project director would be Dr R Hutton, the ISRO chief said. He said the crew members for Gaganyaan would be from India and include one from the Indian Air Force. Gaganyaan initial training will be in the country but advanced training might be abroad, maybe in Russia, Sivan said. On successful completion of the mission, India would become the fourth nation in the world to achieve the feat, he said. PTI GMS KSU RA VS AQS AQS New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) Former chief statistician T C A Anant has been named as a member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts the prestigious civil services examination to select the country's bureaucrats, diplomats and police officers among others, officials said Friday. Anant was appointed Chief Statistician of India-cum-Secretary, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, in June 2010 for five years. In 2015, he was given extension till January 31, 2018, the date of his superannuation on completion of 60 years of age. Anant, who worked as a Professor in Delhi School of Economics, was also a member of the task force on employment data creation set up by the Prime Minister's Office. He will be administered the oath of office on Monday, the officials said. As per rules, a member of the UPSC can have a maximum of six-year tenure or till an incumbent attains the age of 65. The commission has a strength of 10 members, besides a chairperson. After Anant's appointment, the commission will have one more vacancy of member. At present, Arvind Saxena is the chairman of the UPSC. Saxena worked as the Director, Aviation Research Centre. Former Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi, Prof. Pradeep Kumar Joshi, Air Marshal A S Bhonsle (retired), Sujata Mehta, Manoj Soni, Smita Nagaraj, M Sathiyavathy and Bharat Bhushan Vyas are members of the UPSC. The commission conducts civil services examination annually in three stages -- preliminary, main and interview -- to select officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. PTI AKV SMN New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) Snapping a four-day rally, gold on Friday declined marginally by Rs 40 to Rs 33,030 per 10 gram at the bullion market here on subdued demand from local jewellers, according to All India Sarafa Association. Silver too slumped by Rs 60 to Rs 40,450 per kg on weak demand from industrial units and coin makers. Traders said lacklustre demand from local jewellers and weak global cues put pressure on prices of the yellow metal. Globally, gold held steady at USD 1,294.06 an ounce and silver stood at USD 15.74 an ounce in New York. The precious metal had risen by Rs 570 in the previous four days. In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purities declined by Rs 40 each to Rs 33,030 and Rs 32,880 per 10 gram, respectively. However, sovereign gold held steady at Rs 25,300 per piece of eight gram. Silver-ready reduced by Rs 60 to Rs 40,450 per kg, while weekly-based delivery gained Rs 66 to Rs 39,766 per kg. Silver coins traded lower by Rs 1,000 at Rs 77,000 for buying and Rs 78,000 for selling of 100 pieces, respectively. PTI VHP ANU Dehradun, Jan 11 (PTI) The Centre Friday gave its in-principle nod to the Uttarakhand government's proposal seeking Rs 3,340 crore for implementing an integrated co-operative development project in the state. The in-principle approval was given by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh when Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and the state's Co-operative Minister Dhan Singh Rawat met him in New Delhi, an official release here said. Rawat said implementing the project in the state will improve the agricultural economy and will help prevent migrations from remote hilly areas by promoting farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and related activities. PTI ALM RUJ HRS Williamson Magor seeks strategic partner for Eveready Kolkata, Jan 11 (PTI) The B M Khaitan-led Williamson Magor Group has mandated Kotak Mahindra Bank to find a strategic partner for its flagship Eveready Industries India Ltd (EIIL), a dry cell batteries and flashlights major, and is seeking a company valuation of Rs 3,000-4,000 crore, industry sources said Friday. The group, however has "no plans" to completely exit from the company which had a topline of about Rs 1,450 crore last fiscal, and is expecting revenues of Rs 1,600 crore this year. "We have mandated Kotak Mahindra for a strategic partner in Eveready for flashlights and battery business," sources close to the development told PTI declining to be identified. The Williamson Magor Group, however, is yet to decide if it will retain a controlling or a minority stake after Eveready's restructuring, sources said. It would depend on final negotiations, they added. The Khaitans presently hold 45 per cent stake in the company. Of late, the management of Eveready Industries has been trying to convert itself into an FMCG company by diversifying into new areas such as electrical products, small appliances and lighting by following an "asset-light" model. The Williamson Magor Group consists of the worlds largest bulk tea producer McLeod Russel, Kilburn Engineering and McNally Bharat. McLeod Russel has also been divesting many of its tea estates in India. The Khaitans acquired Eveready brand from Nusli Wadia group for about Rs 300 crore in early 1990s. PTI BSM JM JM The US-led military coalition in Syria has begun pulling out troops, a spokesman said on Friday without elaborating on locations or timetables. "CJTF-OIR has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan said in a statement, referring to the US-led anti-jihadist force. "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements," he said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the coalition had started scaling down its presence at Rmeilan airfield in the notheastern province of Hasakeh. "On Thursday, some American forces withdrew from the Rmeilan military base in Hasakeh province," Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based monitoring organisation, said. "This is the first such pullout of American forces since the US president's announcement" of a full troop withdrawal from Syria last month, he said. On December 19, Trump said he had ordered the withdrawal of all US forces in Syria, which are believed to number around 2,000. His announcement, which came after a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was criticised even within his own camp and is already having major repercussions on the nearly eight-year-old conflict. For much of the last week, the press in Israel and Croatia have given frenzied coverage to US objections to Israeli plans to sell the small Eastern European nation 12 used F-16 fighters. On Thursday, the Croatian government announced the deal was officially shelved as Israel had not received approval from Washington to sell the fighters, which were built in the US. The US decision to 'veto' the Israeli sale of the F-16s draws attention to the complicated nature of export controls in arms sales involving multiple nations. The Croatian F-16 saga also bears some similarities to the now-forgotten story of a Swedish fighter offered for a much larger Indian Air Force tender a decade ago. In August 2007, after the Indian Air Force issued requests for proposals to six companies to supply 126 fighter aircraft, Sweden's Saab was one of the vendors to respond, offering its Gripen fighter. The Gripen variant originally offered to the Indian Air Force contract was to have featured a significant amount of technology from Israeli companies like IAI. In 2009, the Jerusalem Post reported the US government had leaned on Israeli officials to pressure IAI to back out of the partnership with Saab. The Jerusalem Post reported IAI was to have provided the radar and electronic warfare equipment to the proposed Gripen variant for the Indian Air Force. Israeli officials told the publication the US was concerned about its technology in Israeli hands reaching India, even though two US fightersthe F-16 and F/A-18 Super Hornethad been competing for the same Indian Air Force deal for 126 jets, which had an estimated value of around $12 billion. It was speculated that the US objection stemmed from the disadvantage caused to its companies by the presence of the Israeli technology on the Gripen. Despite IAI dropping out of the partnership, Saab did continue to offer the Gripen, with alternate systems, to the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force selected the French-built Rafale in 2012 after a long and comprehensive trial process, only to see the Narendra Modi government cancel negotiations for the 126 aircraft in 2015. India had a similar experience with the Indian Navy's now-retired fleet of Sea Harrier fighters that were bought from the UK. During the tenure of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, the serviceability of the Sea Harrier fleet was adversely affected after the US delayed supply of critical parts for the aircraft. Croatia's plan to buy the used F-16 from Israel was announced in late 2017. Croatia had also considered bids for used F-16s from Greece and the US Air Force. The main dispute between the US and Israel over the deal was the presence of upgraded Israeli-origin systems on the fighters, which were first sold by Washington in the 1980s to Tel Aviv. Croatian media reports claim the presence of Israeli systems would reduce profits for US manufacturers from the deal. The deal, which was worth around $500 million, would have been the country's single biggest arms purchase since it split from erstwhile Yugoslavia. The Gripen, now featuring a European radar, is still competing for a new Indian Air Force tender for 114 new fightersalong with the F-16, F/A-18, Rafale and other fighters. While it would be overly speculative, it is tempting to think what could have transpired if the Swedish-Israeli venture for the Gripen for India was not cut short. Perhaps, the Indian Air Force would have got new fighters by now and there would have been no Rafale deal controversy! Drawing imagery of war, BJP chief Amit Shah said the 2019 general elections will be a decisive battle, whose repercussions will be felt for ages to come. Marathas won 131 battles but lost the most decisive one, the third battle of Panipat, which led to 200 years of colonial slavery, Shah said as he exhorted the party faithful to bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi back to power again. Shah, who has a task of marshalling party cadre for Modi's campaign, went on to explain whom the contest was between. It's an ideological battle between two. On one side is those who believe in cultural nationalism. There are 35 parties in the NDA. On the other side is an alliance of opportunism. Unke paas na neta hai, na niti. (They neither have a leader nor any policy), Shah said during his presidential address at the start of BJP's two-day national council meeting at historic Ram Leela Maidan in Delhi. The BJP chose the same venue to formally launch its Lok Sabha campaign for 2019, as they had done in January 2014 during the open house national council meeting. Modi will speak on Saturday laying out the contour lines of his campaign. BJP's aim is to galvanise its cadre. Over 12,000 people gathered for the national council from across the country, which includes elected representative from parliament to panchayat level, and office bearers right up to the district level. The saffron party had made massive arrangements for the plenary as delegates also battled Delhi's chill. Shah had inducted three former chief ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh into the organisation as national vice presidents a day earlier. So, they were also seated on the dais along with all the present CMs of the BJP ruled states. For the saffron party, it's a show of strength before the big battle. We have gathered here to resolve that Modi returns in 2019, Shah said as he assured the audience that a grand Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya. The loudest cheers from the partymen were reserved for Shah's temple assurance. Modi is always star of BJP's gatherings. As Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath entered the stage, the rousing welcome for him from the crowd also stood out. This is the first national council meeting in the absence of party founder Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His large picture, along with that of Swami Vivekanada, flanked Modi and Shah's portraits on the stage. Shah listed Modi government's achievements as he rattled off a number of beneficiaries of various government schemes like Jandhan, free LPG connections, toilet construction and One rank One pension scheme. But the biggest takeaways from Shah's speech was his attack on the opposition, and pitching Modi's image as an unassailable leader. Shah, in his speech, targeted the opposition alliance, Rahul Gandhi, Congress and former prime minister Manmohan Singh. The Samajwadi Party and the Congress had an alliance during UP elections. But we won 325 seats. This time we will win over 73 seats in Lok Sabha, Shah said and claimed that the alliance was formed as they know they alone cannot defeat Modi. Earlier it used to be Congress versus all, this time it is Modi versus all. BJP has become the nucleus of Indian polity, the BJP chief added. The BJP president said when there was Mauni baba ki sarkar (government of a silent PM), there used to be a delay in Army action. But Modi ordered Army to go for a surgical strike. Now India ranks along with the USA and Israel who are known for similar action, he added. Shah reminded the audience that his government brought the National Register for Citizens (NRC) through which 40 lakh illegal infiltrators were identified. Rahul baba and company tried to bat for infiltrators, as if they were their mausare bhai (maternal cousins). But we will not let them stay. The BJP chief said the biggest achievement of Modi government was a corruption-free regime. When Rahul Gandhi could not produce documents regarding Rafale deal, he kept talking about the court. His B-team (former BJP members Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and lawyer Prashant Bhushan) filed a case. But court rejected their petition. Responding to Congress' jibes on escape of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallaya, Shah said they escaped because chowkidar had come to power. Now the chowkidar will bring them back, Shah said referring to PM Modi. Shah laid the ground work for BJP's campaign. Modi, during his speech on Saturday, is likely to give a direction to the party's campaign. The 2019 elections are expected to be bloody. What works against him are the below average dialogues and a sloppy script It was a distinctly subtle event when Miley Cyrus and long time (on and off) love Liam Hemsworth delighted fans by finally tying the knot just before Christmas. And while the very intimate celebration seemed to go off without a hitch in the living room of the Cyrus' family home in Nashville, Tennessee, there was one thing that, once the confetti had settled left fans a little confused - if it was such a private, no-phone zone, how on earth did the news get out? Well, Miley's little sister has cleared up the investigation into how the world's media got word of the couple's nuptials, and it was all down to lack of communication. "Whenever theyve talked about getting married, theyve always wanted to keep it very small, and it just be the family and just be at the house," Brandi Cyrus explained on her podcast, as per US Weekly. Even with family and close friends, they still made a point to say, Hey guys, this is a private thing for a reason. We love you all, but please dont take photos, Brandi explained. However, the night of the wedding, several photos appeared on the groom's close friend's Instagram account, showing the family gathered around the couple, with MR and MRS balloons in the background. Apparently, the pal behind the photo leak wasn't aware the wedding was of the unplugged variety, and now 'feels really bad' about his slip up. "I didnt really ask what happened, but I think from what he said, no one told him not to post about it, so he didnt know," she explained. Three days later of course the couple confirmed the wedding with their own sweet snaps on social media. But how does Miley feel about the leak? She doesnt really care", according to her sister. Must be all that wedding bliss! Timothy Seth Bryant Pennington was born on January 30, 1988 in Corbin, Ky. He departed this life on June 3, 2021 to be with his Lord and Savior, whom he accepted as a young boy at his church, West Corbin Baptist. Seth was assured of his salvation and knew where he would spend his eternity. S The best journalists are the ones who ask tough but fair questions. Ethically challenged politicians dont like those journalists and often try to silence them because they dont like the questions being asked. Greg Bishop is one of those journalists. Michael Madigan, elected Illinois House Speaker for the 18th time Wednesday, is one of those politicians. Bishop has covered state government in Springfield for Illinois News Network and Illinois Radio Network for more than four years now. In that time, hes written almost 2,000 stories. As long as the state Capitol is open and somethings happening, Bishop is likely there, doing his job keeping his eye on how government spends your tax dollars. Like workers everywhere, he has a right to do his job without others attempting to harass or bully him. Sadly under the dome in Springfield, that right hasnt existed for far too many workers for, well, decades. Since about June 2017, Madigan has done his best to try and bully Bishop. It doesnt work. But that doesnt stop Madigan from trying. This week marked the latest episode. At a media gathering Monday inside the Capitol, a number of reporters huddled waiting for Madigan, expecting him to emerge to discuss the end of one session of the General Assembly and the beginning of another. Bishop was among them. When Madigan joined the group of reporters, he began as he has all too often in the past year-and-a-half, by singling out Bishop. Which one is from the Policy Institute? he asked snidely, referring to the Illinois Policy Institute, a nonprofit free market think tank that has been critical of Madigans policies and leadership. The institute launched INN as an independent project in 2012. INN was acquired from the institute by the Franklin Center for Government and Public Accountability last year, but has had independent editorial leadership since its launch. In response, the speakers longtime spokesperson, Steve Brown, pointed at Bishop and said, Right here. Illinois News Network, Bishop politely and professionally corrected. Madigan, House speaker for all but two years since 1983, immediately pointed to a television reporter to Bishops left in the collection of reporters and stated the apartment complex where he lives. And you live in Lincoln Tower, Madigan said. Wondering why Madigan would be telling a fellow journalist that he knows where he lives, Bishop asked if the questions were a form of intimidation. Yeah, right, Madigan responded. Only if you want them to be, Brown added. Only if you want them to be. On its own, the exchange could be shrugged off as a couple of entitled political bullies acting unprofessionally in the workplace. But this was not an isolated incident. This was yet another example of a long pattern of harassment and intimidation that has been part of the culture of the state Capitol for decades, all while Madigan ruled the House. Bishop himself, by his count, has had close to a dozen similar experiences with Madigan and Brown. Many of them have been captured on video. But the harassment neither starts nor ends with him. As the #MeToo sexual harassment movement spread nationally in 2017, more than 300 Illinois women with ties to state government signed a letter demanding a change in culture in Springfield that allowed rampant harassment sexual and otherwise to occur under a veil of secrecy. The accusers, afraid to speak out publicly for fear of retribution, remained mostly anonymous. As some did eventually speak out, many of the accused had close ties to Madigan. A short and incomplete list of those connected to the speaker: His longtime former chief of staff Tim Mapes, fired after a state employee publicly accused him of what she said was years of sexual harassment that went unaddressed. Two Madigan campaign staffers, fired after being accused of inappropriate behavior involving subordinates that dated to 2016. Longtime Madigan lieutenant and House Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Lou Lang stepped down from his leadership position in 2018 after being publicly accused him of sexual harassment. Lang resigned his House seat this week. Lawmakers accusing Madigan of intimidating them after they either wouldnt vote for him for speaker (see Democratic Reps. Scott Drury and Anne Stava-Murray) or criticized him for allowing decades of harassment go unchecked at the capitol (see Democratic state Rep. Kelly Cassidy). Thats just the short list. There are plenty more. If there werent such a toxic culture in Springfield, in an ideal world would I have spent more than a few years as a state rep? Absolutely, freshman lawmaker Stava-Murray told INN when announcing she planned to seek a U.S. Senate seat after her one and only state House term is done. I dont feel like I should have to go to an unsafe workplace for more than two years. Madigan is the boss. He sets an example thats plain to see, and for those in his clique to emulate. He creates the boundaries for acceptable behavior, and then has a hand in determining the repercussions. The Illinois State Capitol will remain an unsafe workplace for too many people as long as Madigan remains speaker. Dan McCaleb is editor of Illinois News Network and the digital hub ILNews.org. He welcomes your comments. Contact Dan at dmccaleb@ilnews.org. 3 1 of 3 For the Intelligencer Show More Show Less 2 of 3 For the Intelligencer Show More Show Less 3 of 3 GLEN CARBON Two men have been charged with multiple felony counts in a Thursday incident involving a stolen vehicle and a subsequent foot pursuit. Lamont C. Johnson III, 26, of the 3600 block of Bamberger Ave., St. Louis, and Christopher V. Johnson, 26, of the 1200 block N. 15th St., St. Louis, were both charged with unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal damage to government supported property, unlawful possession of a stolen license plate, and offenses relating to motor vehicle. Both men also had outstanding warrants from outside of Illinois which resulted in the fugitive from justice charges. SPRINGFIELD The mother of a Worden woman murdered in 1992 said Thursday she is baffled and feeling betrayed after a prosecutor and his wife testified this week in an effort to reduce the sentence of the man who killed her daughter. It just blows my mind, Clara Awalt, mother of murder victim Donnell Awalt. Nobody understands why they are doing it. There is no reason for it. Im just so tired of her, and I feel betrayed by him. She was talking about former Madison County Assistant States Attorney Rich Rybak and his wife, Brenda Ryback, who, for the second time, testified at a hearing to reduce the sentence of Michael Strader, who was sentenced to 90 years in prison after being convicted of killing Donnell Awalt and attempting to kill her friend, Matthew Pike. He was sentenced in 1994 to 60 years in prison for the 1992 murder the 30 years for the attempted murder, but the case was tried before the Illinois Truth in Sentencing law was passed, so he would only have to serve half the sentence, and he would now be eligible for release. Brenda Ryback said she was an intern at the Madison County States Attorneys Office during the trial in 1994. She said she secretly developed a relationship with Strader while she was working at the states attorneys office. She said she visited him in prison and developed sympathy for him. The Rybaks appeared Tuesday before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, as they did in 2014. The 2014 effort was not successful, and Assistant States Attorney Kathleen Nolan said Thursday she sees no reason for reducing the sentence. In what world does this man deserve a reduced sentence? she said. This has already been before the board one time. Nothing has changed since then. The sentence is appropriate in light of the heinousness of the crime, she said. Nolan said the board will make a recommendation to the governor, who may ignore it, reduce the sentence or refuse to reduce it. Strader confessed to murdering Donnell Awalt and and shooting Pike. The prosecution played a videotape of Straders confession for the jury without objection from defendant. Although Strader admitted the murder and the shooting, he alleged the intoxication defense. His lawyer, Bill Lucco, argued for second-degree murder. There was testimony that Strader had been drinking all day, but others testified that he did not seem intoxicated in the period before the double-shooting. The murder On Aug. 1, 1992, after Straders sister drove him home for fear he was too drunk to drive, he loaded a .22-caliber rifle with a clip of seven shells and loaded one of the shells into the chamber of the gun, and called Awalt. According to Pikes testimony, Strader said over the phone he was going to come over to Awalts house to take care of business. Donnell Awalt called a relative and told him that Strader was at her house with a gun, and she also told the relative, he is going to kill us all. Strader then appeared at the home, irate over the love triangle, and apparently then started shooting the rifle. Awalt was hit once in the neck and once in the back. Pike was hit once in the neck, once in the shoulder and once in the groin. Awalt died as a result of the bullet in her back. Pike was treated and released from the hospital the next day but came back a few weeks later for outpatient surgery to remove a bullet, which just missed an artery. After the defendant left Awalts house, Strader drove back to his house, got a .12-gauge shotgun, and reloaded the rifle. One witness testified that after Strader was arrested, he stated that the purpose of getting the shotgun and reloading the rifle was to return to finish the job on Pike. Rich Rybak argued at the time that he offered Strader a 50-year sentence in exchange for his guilty plea, but Strader did not take it. ST. CHARLES, MO. A jury Thursday took five hours to convict Larry E. Northcutt, of Godfrey, of first-degree murder in the, July 23, 2016, stabbing death of Christopher A. Gernigin, 29, of Roxana. Authorities said Northcutt was hiding in the trunk of a Ford Fiesta with a knife when he and two accomplices went to pick up Gernigin from Roxana. They first drove to Alton, then south on Highway 67 across the Clark Bridge into Missouri, where the driver, Natasha Smith, formerly of the 400 block of North Elm Street, Bethalto, pulled her car over pretending to have a flat tire. Thats when Northcutt got out of the trunk, pulled Gernigin from the back seat and stabbed him with a knife. Gernigin ran across the highway, but collapsed on the shoulder of the road, where police found his body, just south of the Clark Bridge. Smith pleaded guilty in November 2017 to second-degree murder and received a 23-year sentence. Brent A. Jones, formerly of rural Alton, who was in the Fiesta, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Alton police had been working with the Missouri officials since the discovery of Gernigins body. Chief Jason Jake Simmons, of the Alton Police Department, said in 2016 that authorities located Northcutt based on tips from the public and from intelligence gained during the investigation. Detectives from the Alton Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers formed a perimeter and converged upon a house in the 1100 block of West Ninth St. in Alton. They took Northcutt into custody a few days after the murder. GLEN CARBON Following a foot pursuit, officers from the Glen Carbon Police Department arrested two male subjects who had been allegedly driving a stolen vehicle shortly before noon Thursday. The investigation began with a radio broadcast that alerted Glen Carbon police of a stolen vehicle being driven on Interstate 270 in Glen Carbon jurisdiction. Responding officers were able to stop the stolen vehicle near the Interstate 270 and Interstate 55 exit in Troy, Illinois. EDWARDSVILLE Former U.S. attorney and assistant Madison County states attorney Stephen R. Wigginton, 55, of Troy, is facing his second charge of driving under the influence. A citation claims Wigginton was driving a car at Plummer Driver and Commerce Drive New Years Eve when an officer allegedly spotted the car swerving across traffic lanes. Subject had a strong breath odor of alcohol and provided inconsistent answers to questions, a law enforcement sworn statement alleges. The document claims Wigginton failed a filed sobriety test and refused to take a breath-analysis test. His driving privileges will be suspended for at least 12 months. Wigginton pleaded guilty in July 2017 to driving under the influence, and was fined and also placed on court supervision. In the previous case, a special prosecutor was assigned to the case because Wigginton is a former Madison County assistant states attorney. There is no information available about a special prosecutor in the most recent case. In the 2017 case, he allegedly was driving under the influence of alcohol at 9:23 p.m. May 23 when he was arrested by a Troy police officer. The officer said in a sworn statement that Wigginton left the scene of a property damage accident in which his 2009 Cadillac left the roadway. The driver smelled strongly of alcoholic beverage, and his eyes were red and glassy, the officer stated. The driver admitted to drinking an alcoholic beverage. The driver was unable to complete the field sobriety testing, the sworn statement alleges. The original charges of driving under the influence and improper lighting were filed on May 24. An improper lighting charge claims he had only one working headlight. The state amended the charges May 30 to include failure to reduce speed and leaving the scene. He was released on a notice to appear on June 14. The report states Wigginton refused to complete testing, and his drivers license was suspended. As U.S. Attorney, he was the chief law enforcement officer for southern Illinois. Before being appointed U.S. Attorney, he was a part-time Assistant States Attorney for Madison County. VANCOUVER A volunteer shines a beam of blue light toward a pitch-black Burnaby South residential street, signalling Jagmeet Singh to hustle over to the door of a home tucked behind tall trees. The federal New Democratic Party leader jogs over, armed with his own LED flashlight, while New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian moves quickly uphill to knock on a next-door neighbours door to see if anybody is home. A popular thoroughfare, this strip of road has few street lights and no sidewalks, so the group walks on the pavement, sometimes stepping into puddles of mud. Its a typical January evening in Metro Vancouver. As the rain begins to fall, they embrace the drops. I love the rain, says Singhs wife Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu. Is that weird? Singh laughs and touches her hand. Their perspective on rain is a little different. In Punjabi culture, rain is considered romantic Rain is love, Singh explains. My parents would always welcome rain and theyd be so excited. I think its part of the farming background. The couple moved from Ontario to Burnaby South in November, where they now rent an apartment. They both say door-knocking in Burnaby is much different than Ontario. For one, the houses are further apart. Read more: Jagmeet Singh and the NDP look to change the narrative in 2019 Trudeau calls byelections for Burnaby South, YorkSimcoe and Outremont for Feb. 25 Opinion | Political cheers and jeers for 2018 For three hours, the crew works the street. Several climb hills to knock on doors and use flashlights to signal to Singh when residents answer. His spirits seem light. His energy is high, although he mentions it wasnt the best day to break in new shoes. Earlier that day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the highly-anticipated byelection in the riding for Feb. 25. The group made up of three volunteers, Julian, Singh, Sidhu, and press secretary James Smith have their work cut out for them as they canvas neighbourhoods to introduce the leader of the NDP. The stakes are high. Singh is vying for a seat in the House of Commons just months before the next federal election in October. A party leader who cannot win a seat is conventionally expected to step aside, however, it hasnt happened since the 1940s. But his usual confidence remains unfazed when asked what he will do if he loses. The party is rallied behind me, he says. I will be the leader that leads the New Democratic Party to the 2019 election. I am confident that we will do well in Burnaby South ... Youve got New Democrats in your corner unafraid to fight for whats right for the people. And thats his stance: The Conservatives dont care about peoples issues and despite the Liberals progressive platform promises, Singh says Burnaby residents have seen timid action. Since launching the campaign, his messaging has been consistent: create affordable housing, universal pharmacare and protect the environment. And that doesnt change on the doorsteps. This government hasnt made people a priority and thats something I want to call out in the House, he says. Still, his absence from the House of Commons the former Ontario MPP has never held a federal seat has been repeatedly highlighted by his critics as the NDP leader has undergone a series of challenges over the past 15 months since he took the helm. Fundraising returns for the beleaguered party have plummeted over the last three years, so much so that Singh has forgone a salary since winning the leadership. And several prominent NDP members have decided to bow out of this years election, including veteran MPs from both Quebec and Ontario. The partys standing in national polls has stalled in third place, well behind the Liberals and Conservatives and not that far ahead of Elizabeth May and the Green party. But Singh says hes not worried about his personal future. What Im worried about is the future of this country and the future for people and what theyre going through, he says. The biggest challenge is making sure we connect with as many people as possible. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Critics have questioned whether Singhs superstar-like status in Ontario could or would translate to the west coast. Meanwhile, Trudeau faced questions about pipelines and reconciliation with Indigenous people at a town hall in Kamloops on Wednesday. While canvassing Wednesday night, all but one resident recognized Singh. But there were several people who made it clear they dont plan on voting for him. Some of them just smiled and waved him away before closing the door, while others engaged in conversation, questioning NDP spending and policies. While dragging her compost bin down a paved driveway, one woman told Singh shes voted Liberal for almost a decade and she didnt see that changing anytime soon. By the end of a brief but friendly conversation on several issues, she hadnt changed her mind but was chuckling as she rolled the bin away. Then there were those who flung open their doors with almost reverence as Singh approached. One elderly Punjabi woman clasped his hands tightly in her hands, and tears filled her eyes when she told him he was like a god. Singhs wife says this is often the norm at South Asian homes. Its such a big responsibility, she said, explaining that Punjabi families are elated to see a politician sharing their culture. Burnaby has four distinct town centres, a long working-class history and a population density triple that of the region. Its demographics are increasingly young and non-white, according to the 2016 Census, and the average age is several years below B.C.s average while 64 per cent of its population identifies as a visible minority. And though the riding is often seen as an NDP stronghold, former MP Kennedy Stewart squeaked by with roughly 550 votes over his Liberal counterpart in the 2015 federal election. Residents expressed similar issues from door-to-door: affordable housing, rising costs of drugs, access to child care, a strong economy and more jobs, along with environmental concerns. On housing, one resident questioned whether Singh would provide nonmarket housing, as the municipality of Whistler has done. The NDP leader promises to push the federal government to curb speculation by directly investing in building units in co-operative and nonmarket housing, and roll out those funds immediately. I would like to see federal supports for co-operative housing and for nonmarket housing, so that its not subject to the ever-astronomically increasing costs of market housing, he explains. The feds created the National Housing Strategy with a promise of more than $15 billion toward affordable housing. But Singh slams the plan, saying they are making constituents wait until after the October election. Singh will face Liberal nominee Karen Wang a local daycare business owner, who has already criticized him for a lack of community ties and Conservative Jay Shin a lawyer in the coming byelection. Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson, a Christian blogger, author and former co-host of The 700 Club Canada was recently added to the list. Thompson, an outspoken critic of abortion and gender identity, will be running under Maxime Berniers Peoples Party of Canada. On Wednesday evening, Singh was busy asking residents to put up bright orange NDP signs on lawns. His were the only ones visible in that small portion of the riding. Were going to win, he says. And well do well. With files from Alex Ballingall and David Ball Read more about: VANCOUVERAmid an ongoing dispute between Coastal GasLink company and Wetsuweten hereditary leaders, LNG Canada supporters warn that B.C. is losing its competitive edge and the small group who are opposed to the pipeline dont reflect the unanimous support for the liquefied natural gas project. Chris Gardner, president of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, is frustrated that work is stalled on the $6.2-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline near Houston, B.C. The group has more than 2,000 members and is part of an informal network of businesses that support the $40-billion LNG Canada project in Kitimat. The 670-kilometre pipeline will carry natural gas extracted from the Dawson Creek area to the Kitimat LNG processing facility. A barricade set up recently on a bridge on the Morice West Forest Service Road near Houston, B.C., by Wetsuweten nation members was the latest act of defiance in a grassroots uprising against the elected Wetsuweten First Nation band council leadership and its decision to support the pipeline. RCMP officers went through the Gitimten barricade on Monday, arresting 14 people as they enforced a B.C. Supreme Court injunction against the work site blockages. Coastal GasLink, a subsidiary of TransCanada Corp., argued the checkpoints had effectively halted preconstruction work. Read more: RCMP and Wetsuweten chiefs strike tentative deal Heres what you need to know about the Wetsuweten protests Workers caught in Wetsuweten territorial dispute ready to start on gas pipeline Gardner warned if the project doesnt proceed, thousands of jobs are at stake in construction, engineering, trades and companies in the supply chain. This would send negative signals about B.C.s competitiveness. Coastal GasLink says it has inked project agreements with 20 elected band councils on reserves along the pipeline route. This includes an agreement with the Wetsuweten First Nation band council. But Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs opposed to the pipeline say the elected band council has limited jurisdiction over the 22,000 square kilometres of traditional Wetsuweten territory. Gardner said the opposition is the viewpoint of a minority and it is distracting from what is a good news story for Canada and British Columbia. If you go along the pipeline route, every single First Nation except for this small group [disagrees], he said, adding that consultations for these kinds of projects now take so long that other countries can move faster and build infrastructure more quickly. It does send a signal to investors in Canada and investors outside of Canada that you can follow all the rules, you can do all the consultations and you still cant get your project to move forward. According to TransCanada, the Coastal GasLink project is expected to generate 2,000 to 2,500 jobs during construction, and will employ 950 people full-time at the Kitimat facility once it is completed. The fallout has meant that LNG project supporters like the Haisla Nation are bearing the brunt of social media outcry, said chief councillor Crystal Smith in an interview from Kitimat where the LNG export facility is being planned. Earlier this week, she addressed the online criticism from LNG opponents who called them sellouts. In an article posted on the Haisla Nation website, she wrote that the opportunity for collaboration is something they didnt have in the 1950s when industries began to arrive and build in their territory. We have lived through not having a say in development, she wrote. We do now, and were working to make sure everything happens to our standard. Our territory is our home, our culture, our identity, and we care for it as such. Coastal GasLink, she added, has conditionally awarded $620-million to Indigenous businesses along the pipeline route, with an additional $400-million in contracts and employment opportunities for local and Indigenous communities during construction, figures verified by TransCanada on its website. On Tuesday, Coastal GasLink president Rick Gateman wrote an open letter saying that the impasse at the Morice Bridge River crossing is not one we wanted. Its unfortunate that RCMP were forced to take this action to ensure the re-establishment of lawful access to this public bridge and road that leads to our pipeline right of way. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... He acknowledged the support the project has had from local communities and all 20 elected band councils along the route. LNG Canada said in a statement Tuesday it will continue to advance the project and is maintaining the construction schedule to deliver high paying jobs to First Nations and British Columbians. Any delays will delay benefits to them and jeopardize the overall project not to mention confidence in the province and the country. With files from Alex McKeen Read more about: It often takes a death of some sorts to get political rivals speaking civilly to each other in this era of deep political polarization. Karl Rove and David Axelrod are a case in point. Rove, master Republican strategist behind the George W. Bush administration in the 2000s, lost his mother to suicide when he was 30. Axelrod, chief strategist to Democratic president Barack Obama, lost his father to suicide when he was 19. On the basis of that tragic connection, the two men forged a friendship a while back and now, somewhat unexpectedly, an online class in political strategy. Their five-hour-long contribution to the Master Class series, online education from celebrity teachers, may reveal another way to get political competitors talking respectfully to one another these days ask them to discuss the nuts and bolts of modern campaigning. You dont get a degree or a title for taking the class, just a chance to learn from the campaign masters in 24 downloadable classes, in lessons ranging from about eight minutes to 20 minutes long. The mere idea of seeing these two old hands in the same classroom was enough for me to sign up. Im not sure how much I learned, and will admit some of it was an endurance test. (The importance of budgeting and writing up a campaign plan were not exactly stirring, for example.) Still, Im glad I did it. People who are already working in politics or political strategy are probably well-versed in most of the wisdom imparted by Rove and Axelrod and Canadian politicos are likely in the midst of some serious refresher courses right now as the October federal election looms. But for citizens less familiar with the workings of a political machine, or even political reporters like me, the class is a useful immersion into the three As of campaign strategy: art, advertising and anthropology. When it comes to art, for instance, Rove and Axelrod talk about how much thought goes into slogans and logos. Axelrod tells the story behind Obamas yes we can slogan, which the then president-to-be worried was too corny until his wife, Michelle Obama, pronounced in favour of it. Rove talks about how direct mail, with the right attention to details, can be as important to modern fundraising as it was back in the days when he designed postal-outreach efforts to pay his own salary as a young staffer on an early campaign. Multiple classes are devoted to the message and all the channels, intentional and accidental, in which politicians communicate with the voters. Axelrod is fond of medical metaphors. He talks of campaigns as MRIs of the soul for candidates and negative ads as radiation therapy in that a little bit of targeted toxin can be life-saving for a campaign, but too much can be fatal. Whats missing from the master class, however, is any real foray into those toxic practices of campaigning, except for glancing, cautionary references. Rove, whose name is virtually synonymous with dark, political arts of the Bush era, does a brief class on how to do research into rivals, but warns that the methods used to gather that information have to be public and transparent. You dont want to be impersonating anyone to dig up dirt on your competitors, Rove warns. (Perhaps from experience, since he did admit later in life to a youthful prank against a Democrat using fake ID. That story isnt included in the class.) Rove is also the lead teacher in the class devoted to microtargeting the practice of dividing up the electorate according to various demographic traits and values to deliver customized appeals to selected segments of the electorate. Everyone does it, he says (which is correct I did a lot of research on this myself for a book on Canadian political marketing a few years ago. If youre not aware of how deeply the political parties are tracking your online footprint, this part alone is worth a glance, though Canada does have stricter privacy laws in the consumer sector, making transfer to political databases more difficult. Rove calls this the gee-whiz-wow component of modern campaigning, in which political analysts now sift through massive amounts of data, including consumer information, to find their would-be voters. He talks of how Republicans knew that pickup-truck owners were more likely to vote for them and National Public Radio listeners were more likely to vote for Obama. These parts of the master class were the most interesting to me, even as someone aware of how much political campaigners dabble in cultural anthropology. Rove and Axelrod are equally dismissive of top-line polling research the type that simply asks about voting intention and delivers horse-race results. But they say polls are crucial if these instruments (Rove likes that word) get at underlying attitudes and values among the voters. Axelrod, illustratively, tells how the Obama campaign made significant use of ethnographic diaries that they commissioned among some online focus-group participants. Those diaries gave granular details on the plight of middle-class voters in America back when Obama was trying to figure out what these citizens needed from their president. For all their genial, cross-partisan agreement, an interesting divide emerges when Rove and Axelrod are talking about social media and its growing, unpredictable place in the modern election campaign. Axelrod talks of how Obama probably wouldnt have emerged as a serious contender without the help of social media and the 50-plus people who worked on the digital analytics of the campaign most of whom functioned on a very loose leash. Rove, by contrast, keeps driving home the importance of trying to co-ordinate the chaos of social media, and keeping strict lines of discipline over the message as it circulates in cyberspace. By that command-and-control standard, one gets the sense that Rove wouldnt function all that well in Donald Trumps White House. Maybe its no surprise that neither of these political gentlemen darkens those halls these days. The best parts of this master class are when the two are talking together, exchanging war stories or shared lessons, and they do discuss Trump though not as often as some might wish. But this is a class in conventional political wisdom and Trump is, by both strategists estimation, an unconventional politician, who has broken a lot of the rules theyve accumulated over the years. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Here again is something that unites Rove and Axelrod. In the next-to-last class, they do a kind of summary of all the lessons learned and talk about the current, polarized state of American politics. If youve been paying attention at all to Trumps United States, most of the observations wont be new to you. The two men banter back and forth about the medias role in contributing to the polarization (Fox News versus MSNBC) and how politics of anger fires up a small, but activated fringe to dominate conversation the tyranny of the minority, Axelrod calls it. Even Rove, the Republican, voices some concern about Trumps play-to-the-base approach to politics. Nobody wins in American politics by focusing on their base and their base alone, he says, noting, too, that most successful politicians keep their eyes on the math of addition, not subtraction to their support. Its probably overly melodramatic to talk about Trump in terms of the death of democracy, but certainly the decline of it and what that means to the future of political campaigns appears to have brought Rove and Axelrod to some form of agreement. Just another example, maybe, of how death or even the hint of it can bring veteran partisans to some middle ground. Susan Delacourt is the Star's Ottawa bureau chief and a columnist covering national politics. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt Read more about: Marie Kondo is tidying the world one enclosed space at a time: drawers, dividers in drawers, shelves, closets, boxes and bins, boxes in boxes in bins. Her advice about this did not initially grab mainstream American interest until Spark joy became a slogan, like Make America Great Again, Just Do It and Lean In, and look how those worked out. Kondo, as a fine Taffy Brodesser-Akner profile has revealed, is sincere. Though her books and her Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, are turning her into an exquisitely courteous Japanese version of Martha Stewart tidiness instead of moneyed amplitude she is in no way an evangelist. She does not speak English, finds promotional work tiring and is dwarfed by the American hustlers who surround her. She simply wants people to have more pleasure in their life, to pare things down, to give more thought to objects. Working people in Canada and the U.S. were bribed by the 1 per cent with loads of cheap stuff from China to help them accept their painful lot. Awash in trinkets, they feel cheated and overwhelmed. Kondo takes the same approach to objects that Margaret Thatcher did to juvenile delinquents in her short sharp shock prisons of the 1980s. Kondo tells acolytes to empty the closet and hold each item to see if it sparks joy in your body. Lately, objects have been more likely to spark rage in me. They all serve different purposes: symbolism; aspiration; deterioration; and, most Kondo of all, containment. Symbolic objects like my vintage wooden Humpty Dumpty were charming until Trump started talking about his stupid wall, and now I want to smash the smug, curvy creature but its solid wood and wont even dent. As for aspirational purchases, I once asked my writing class if they had blankets or a duvet on the bed. Duvets won 15-1 so I bought a duvet, several of them, just to stay seasonal. Now that weighted glass-bead blankets are in fashion, I bought a 15-pounder only to realize that it feels just like my old heavy wool blankets so I have paid $250 to replace something that once brought me happy entombment with something that slithers off the bed in a maddening way that I dont have the physical strength to manage at 3 a.m. How I have come to detest my weighted blanket. A bathmat sparked joy in my body but the aftermath was painful. I have been unsuccessfully trying to replicate the thing, a Fieldcrest Luxury Bathmat bought in Targets brief Canadian incarnation. Target left along with the mat, and I have relentlessly sought one as good in Zara Home, Amazon and Ikea, all a shadow of my original wild fling with perfection. I will spare you the same boring story about a handtowel bought at Yves Delorme in 2012. Youre welcome. And then there is the container, a class of object that brings genuine joy. KonMari, as the Kondo Method is known, is not actually about things. Its about containing things because unlike the graceful and fastidious Japanese, we cannot delete our detritus or stop buying more. I love purses. So does Kondo. I see actual delight on her face when she explains how to store them. Put each purse inside another purse, with the handles sticking out on both purses so that you dont forget that inside a treasure, you have another treasure. If I could consult her about anything, it would be this. Ms. Kondo, how do you store clutch purses? They dont have handles. I store purses like dominoes on an open shelf but classifying them by colour works best. And that means chaos. Yes, I have black, brown and blue shelves but whither the purple evening bag? Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Kondo has annoyed people by advising them to cull their books. She is blank to books because she sees them en masse, not individually with some sparking joy, some sparking awe or intellect. It is a KonMari hiccup. At this point, we see that Kondo is not a brand-builder, an esthetic campaigner, or an excellent housekeeper. She is a psychotherapist, a good one. When we clutch our stuff and check for a reiki-like heat emanating from them, we are asking about the only thing humans truly want, to give love and receive love. There, I said it. Read more about: I dont recall when exactly I dissolved into despair over the corrosive impact of carding, or street checks, or driving while black or racial profiling. They are all fruits of the same tree where I live. But I know that, by 2015, my sons had made it clear they expect police to treat them differently than the neighbours. Such were their lived experiences, as productive members of society who dutifully followed the rules, didnt run with gangsters or sleep with criminals. A Black member of the Toronto police services board once described how many in the Black community see patrolling cops as an occupying army. The harsh characterization caused a massive firestorm. But he knew what he was talking about. Read more: Stops must be based on more than a hunch or Spidey sense, says judge in charge of report on street checks How Doug Ford keeps playing the carding game with cops Premier Ford can support the people by ending police carding It was during the carding controversy at the police services board, when Chief Bill Blair refused to write regulations taming the more offensive aspects of carding, clauses the board had passed, that the sheer awfulness of institutionalized anti-Black racism closed in on my brain. I remember thinking, My very presence is considered a threat. I am deemed less than human. And worse, my sons and their Black friends were more pessimistic than I was about their status in this city and this world. When some prominent Torontonians descended on city hall and called out Mayor John Tory, demanding he put an end to this odious practice, I felt some relief. Yes, it took unprecedented intervention on a matter of basic human rights, but, at least, there was intervention. My city was not beyond reclamation. It took provincial legislation to force police to stop carding the most outrageous policing practice of, namely, random and arbitrary stopping and questioning and harassment of citizens to collect their personal information and storing it in a data base for no other reason than to feed the data beast. The Star had published reports showing that in some areas of the city Black citizens were 17 times more likely to be carded; that police do racially profile black citizens, at a rate four times greater than they do white citizens. The Toronto Police Associations response was to bring a lawsuit against the Star and question the papers math and science. So its been pretty wrenching to watch the same association this past week claiming never to have supported random street checks, mouths brimming with dissembling and misstatements. Peel police, whose chief, now retired, refused to yield to demands from Mayors Bonnie Crombie and Lynda Jeffery to end the practice, were out again this week claiming blithely never to have practiced random street checks. About the same time, Donald Trump was claiming he didnt say Mexico would pay for the wall. Call it what you will, hairsplitting: all across the GTA, Black, brown, Indigenous, people of the lower economic classes are victims of discriminatory policing. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... On the matter of how police interact with citizens to get information that might help them keep us safe, we have one last chance to get it right. Justice Michael Tulloch has prepared a comprehensive, cogent, heartfelt, optimistic report on how to move ahead and maybe show the world that, as Canadians, we are different. My reaction is best described as one of anxiety; angst bordering on despair. The best I can muster today is: Thanks for the baby steps. Now watch the Ford government strategize where they will erode the tiny gains, using veiled legislative language concealed as safety measures protecting the people. I hope Im wrong. Justice Tulloch is obviously hopeful. He has explained all the issues, cleared up the confusion between street checks and bad street checks and carding, and shown a clear path forward. To even suggest a return of the destructive heavy-handed and discriminatory police tactics such as the hated TAVIS, is to prove we have learned nothing. To claim that unchecked street checks are what police need to stop gun crimes in Toronto is to be wilfully ignorant and deaf. Justice Tulloch explodes that myth. Carding, itself, may have done more to increase crime than the ending of carding, his report says. To ignore the report and suggest that it should be shelved because it was the damnable Wynne Liberals who brought in the regulations that they asked Tulloch to review would be a historic failure. The messenger is as credible as they come; Tulloch was appointed to the Superior Court in 2003. Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper named him to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2012. He is the highest ranking Black judge the only one on an appellate court in the country. Hes highly respected. Hes telling us we can show the world how to do community policing in a way that fosters respect and co-operation between police and the Black community. Premier Doug Ford, who claims to have done more for Black Ontarians that any other politician, and says he is a man of the people, would be wise to surprise his detractors and implement Tullochs recommendations. My bet for 2019 is that Premier Doug Ford is going to define the next federal election. But it wont be by smoking the carbon tax. Rather, his government is likely to gut the Ontario Drug Benefit seniors program. How the federal Liberals and NDP respond to this challenge will define their parties visions for the country and determine the election results. The Ontario Drug Benefit plan includes a variety of programs for different recipients and for certain drugs. But seniors use more than half the ODBs $6 billion budget. Low income seniors and residents of long-term care institutions pay nothing for their drugs except $2 or less per prescription. The other 90 per cent of seniors pay as little as their deductible of $100 per year and a few dollars for each prescription. The ODB seniors program isnt perfect but its universal and cheap to run. Canadian public drug programs overhead costs are one-tenth of what they are for private plans. And the ODB has an ability to negotiate lower prices for drugs than we can as individuals. Some other provinces used to have generous drug programs, but they have been eviscerated by decades of cutbacks. Now provinces make people use private plans, if they have them. Otherwise coverage is income dependent. Quebecs drug plan nominally covers the whole population through mandatory public insurance for those without private insurance. But even seniors with $25,000 incomes have to pay more than $1,000 per year in premiums. The ODB seniors program is vulnerable. Ford inherited a $6-plus billion deficit and hes blown that up with tax reductions and lost law suits. He has made hurtful cuts changing the ODSP disability definition, axing the universal basic income pilot and the new ODB program for children, etc. But none of these amount to serious money. Cutting the ODB seniors program and implementing a Quebec or Manitoba-style plan could save $2 billion in one fell swoop. Seniors would complain. They lobbied to death a 2016 Liberal proposal to increase the deductible and co-pay rates. And a lot of poor and working-class seniors voted for Ford. But the government will overwhelm vulnerable Ontarians with cuts in many areas. If the Ford government opts to slash the ODB, it will be done in a massive omnibus budget bill that they will ram through this spring. Then things get interesting. Up to two million Ontario seniors would face less accessible drugs at the same time that Dr. Eric Hoskinss federal pharmacare task force reports. Will the task force recommend a public universal pharmacare program like the ODB or Quebec-style privatization? What will the Liberals decide to do? They could take the ODB cuts as a gift, tack left, and support a universal pharmacare program. Running against Doug Fords Blue Meanies and wrapping themselves in the medicare flag could be the winning play for Ontarios 121 seats and many ridings outside the province. But business Liberals have always hated medicare. In 1966, finance minister Mitchell Sharpe tried to sabotage medicare while Prime Minister Pearson was out of the country. Twenty-four hours after Hoskin was appointed, current finance minister Bill Morneau claimed that Canadas pharmaceutical coverage only needed minor tweaks code for a Quebec-style program. If the Liberals waffle, pharmacare could resuscitate the comatose NDP. The New Democrats are the Party of Medicare and have consistently supported a universal pharmacare plan. It would differentiate them from the Liberals and strike an attractive left-wing populist note. Fords ODB cuts would be toxic to the federal Conservatives. They would be caught between Canadians desire for better drug coverage, their own anti-deficit rhetoric, and Mad Maxs faux libertarianism. But Doug Ford doesnt seem to much care what happens to his federal cousins and he enjoys stirring the pot. Will he define the next federal election by slashing the Ontario Drug Benefit plan? Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Dr. Michael Rachlis is a public health physician and an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health Read more about: WASHINGTON - The U.S. military said Friday it has started pulling equipment, but not troops, out of Syria as a first step in meeting President Donald Trumps demand for a complete military withdrawal. The announcement fueled concern about how quickly the U.S. will abandon its Kurdish allies, amid contradictory statements recently by administration officials on an exit timetable. The withdrawal began with shipments of military equipment, U.S. defence officials said. But in coming weeks, the contingent of about 2,000 troops is expected to depart even as the White House vows to keep pressure on the Islamic State group. Once the troops are gone, the U.S. will have ended three years of organizing, arming, advising and providing air cover for Syrian, Kurdish and Arab fighters in an open-ended campaign devised by the Obama administration to deal the IS group a lasting defeat. Uncertainty over the timing and terms of the Syria pullout have raised questions about the Trump administrations broader strategy for fighting Islamic extremism, including Trumps stated intention to reduce U.S. forces in Afghanistan this summer. U.S. airstrikes against IS in Syria began in September 2014, and ground troops moved in the following year in small numbers. The U.S. military has a limited network of bases inside Syria. Troops work mostly out of small camps in remote parts of the countrys northeast. Also, U.S. troops are among 200 to 300 coalition troops at a garrison in southern Syria known as al-Tanf, where they train and accompany local Syrian opposition forces on patrols to counter the IS group. Al-Tanf is on a vital road linking Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon and Israels doorstep. Trumps decision to leave Syria, which he initially said would be rapid but later slowed down, shocked U.S. allies and angered the Kurds in Syria, who are vulnerable to attack by Turkey. It also prompted the resignation of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and drew criticism in Congress. Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, called the decision a betrayal of our Kurdish partners. The U.S. military command in Baghdad, which is managing the counter-IS campaign in Iraq and Syria, said Friday that it has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria, adding that, for security reasons, it would not reveal timetables, locations or troop movements. Other U.S. officials later made clear that the pullout did not yet include troops. The withdrawal plan, whose details are classified, includes bringing additional troops into Syria temporarily to facilitate the pullout. These include troops to provide extra security for those who are preparing to leave. U.S. troops are still working with a partner known as the Syrian Democratic Forces to stamp out the last IS holdouts in the Middle Euphrates River Valley near the Iraqi border. Trump has asserted that the IS group in Syria is defeated, but others have said a continued U.S. military presence is necessary to prevent a resurgence of the group. Two weeks before Trump announced he was ordering a pullout, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. still had a long way to go in training local Syrian forces to stabilize areas ridden of the IS group. He said it would take 35,000 to 40,000 local forces in northeastern Syria to maintain security, but only about 20 per cent had been trained. Another complication is the fate of hundreds of foreign IS fighters being held in Syria. The U.S. doesnt want these prisoners to be released once U.S. forces are gone, since they could rejoin the militant cause in Syria or elsewhere. There has been confusion over plans to implement Trumps pullout order amid threats from Turkey to attack the Kurdish fighters, who are seen by Ankara as terrorists because of their ties to insurgents within Turkey. On a visit to Turkish troops stationed near the Syrian border Friday, Turkeys defence minister, Hulusi Akar, reiterated that Ankara is determined to fight Kurdish militias it considers terrorists and said military preparations were ongoing. When the time and place comes, the terrorists here will also be buried in the ditches and trenches they have dug, he said. Earlier this week, Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, said American troops will not leave northeastern Syria until the IS group is defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, signalling a slowdown in Trumps initial order for a rapid withdrawal. In Cairo on Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that although Trump has decided to bring troops home, he will keep up the fight against the IS group more broadly. Let me be clear: America will not retreat until the terror fight is over, Pompeo said. The distinctive feature of the U.S. military campaign in Syria is its partnership with the Kurds and Arabs who were willing to act as American proxies by fighting the Islamic State group without U.S. troops having to take the lead combat role. U.S. forces took a similar approach in neighbouring Iraq, starting in 2014, but in that case, they had a willing partner in the Iraqi government, whereas in Syria, the U.S. is present without the blessing of President Bashar Assad. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Syria also is complicated by the presence of Russian troops who are, in effect, propping up the Assad government, and by Iranian support for Assad. American and Russian warplanes have shared the skies over Syria, carrying out separate and in some cases, conflicting missions against the IS group and other targets. The U.S. has about 5,200 troops in Iraq to assist its security forces, and Trump has given no indication he intends to withdraw them any time soon. He has, however, asserted that the U.S. must bring an end to the Mideast wars that began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. He has questioned the wisdom of continuing the 17-year war in Afghanistan and recently demanded that about half of the 14,000 U.S. troops there be sent home. WELLINGTON, Fla. - The Florida Board of Medicine says a West Palm Beach surgeon has agreed to pay a $3,000 fine for removing a womans healthy kidney that he thought was a tumour. The Palm Beach Post reports Ramon Vazquez was responsible for cutting Maureen Pacheco open in 2016 so two other surgeons could perform a back operation. Pacheco had a kidney that never ascended into her abdomen, and Vazquez believed it was a cancerous tumour near her pelvis and removed it without her consent. Vazquez has said that he didnt review her medical records before the surgery. Pacheco later sued the two primary doctors, who each settled for $250,000. Vazquez was also sued for malpractice and settled the case for a nominal amount. Vazquez must also attend training on preoperative patient evaluation. ___ Information from: The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post, http://www.pbpost.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The government shutdown has suspended federal cleanups at Superfund sites around the nation and forced the cancellation of public hearings, deepening the mistrust and resentment of surrounding residents who feel people in power long ago abandoned them to live among the toxic residue of the countrys factories and mines. We are already hurting, and its just adding more fuel to the fire, says 40-year-old Keisha Brown. Her home is in a community nestled among plants that turn coal into carbon-rich fuel and other factories on Birminghams north side. The mostly African-American community has been forced to cope with high levels of arsenic, lead and other contaminants in the soil that the Environmental Protection Agency has been scraping up and carting away, house by house. As President Donald Trump and Congress battle over Trumps demand for a wall on the southern U.S. border, the 3-week-old partial government shutdown has stopped federal work on Superfund sites except for cases where the administration deems there is an imminent threat to the safety of human life or to the protection of property. EPAs shutdown plans said the agency would evaluate about 800 Superfund sites to see how many could pose an immediate threat. As an example of that kind of threat, it cited an acid leak from a mine that could threaten the public water supply. Thats the hazard at Northern Californias Iron Mountain mine, where EPA workers help prevent an unending flow of lethally acidic runoff off the Superfund site from spilling into rivers downstream. Practically speaking, said Bonnie Bellow, a former EPA official who worked on Superfund public outreach at the agency, the impact of the stoppage of work at sites across the nation wholly depends on the length of the shutdown. Unless there is immediate risk like a storm, a flood, a week or two of slowdowns is not going to very likely affect the cleanup at the site, Bellow said. In north Birmingham, Brown said its been a couple of weeks since shes spotted any EPA crews at peoples houses. It was unclear if state workers or contractors were continuing work. But long before the shutdown began, Brown harboured doubts the cleanup was working anyway. My main concern is the health of the people out here, said Brown, who has asthma. All of us are sick, and weve got to function on medicine every day. In terms of time, the federal government shutdown is a chronological blip in the long history of the site which includes ethics charges in a local bribery scandal to block federal cleanup efforts but adds to the uncertainty in an area where residents feel forgotten and betrayed. At the EPA, the shutdown has furloughed the bulk of the agencys roughly 14,000 employees. It also means the EPA isnt getting most of the daily stream of environmental questions and tips from the public. Routine inspections arent happening. State, local and private emails to EPA officials often get automated messages back promising a response when the shutdown ends. In Montana, for instance, state officials this month found themselves fielding calls from a tribal member worried about drinking water with a funny look to it, said Kristi Ponozzo, public-policy director at that states Department of Environmental Quality. The EPA normally provides tribes with technical assistance on water supplies. With most EPA colleagues idled, Ponozzo said, her agency also had to call off an environmental review meeting for a mining project, potentially delaying the project. But its the agencys work at Superfund sites lessening the threat from old nuclear-weapons plants, chemical factories, mines and other entities that gets much of the attention. Absent imminent peril, it would be up to state governments or contractors to continue any cleanup during the shutdown up to the point that additional EPA direction or funding is needed, the EPA said in a statement. Sites where cleanup activities have been stopped or shut down will be secured until cleanup activities are able to commence when the federal government reopens, the agency said. For federal Superfund sites in Michigan, the shutdown means there are no EPA colleagues to consult, said Scott Dean, a spokesman for that states Department of Environmental Quality. At Michigan Superfund sites, day-to-day field operations were continuing since private contractors do most of the on-the-ground work, Dean said. Bellow, the former EPA official, said the cancellation of hearings about Superfund sites posed immediate concerns. In East Chicago, Indiana, for example, the EPA called off a planned public hearing set for last Wednesday to outline how the agency planned to clean up high levels of lead and arsenic in the soil. The EPA has proposed a seven-month, $26.5 million cleanup that includes treating and removing tainted soil from the area, where a lead smelter was located. During a public meeting Nov. 29, some residents complained that the EPAs approach would leave too much pollution in place. But others didnt get a chance to speak and were hoping to do so at the meeting this week, said Debbie Chizewer, a Northwestern University environmental attorney who represents community groups in the low-income area. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The EPA announced the cancellation in an online notice and gave no indication that it would be rescheduled. Leaders of the East Chicago Calumet Community Advisory Group asked for a new hearing date and an extension of a Jan. 14 public comment deadline in a letter to the EPAs regional Superfund division. Calls by The Associated Press to the agencys regional office in Chicago this week were not answered. Local critics fear the EPA will use the delay caused by the shutdown as justification for pushing ahead with a cleanup strategy they consider flawed, Chizewer said, even though the agency has designated the affected area as an environmental justice community, a low-income community of colour that has been disproportionately harmed by pollution. The EPA has a special obligation when dealing with such communities, Chizewer said. This would be an example of shutting them out for no good reason. In North Birmingham, former longtime neighbourhood resident Charlie Powell said most of the people living in and around the Superfund site had already just got tired and fed up. Powell left the area but started a group called PANIC, People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination. He said he believes money would be better spent helping residents move away from the pollution. Can I say hell? Powell said when asked what residents have been through. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that Keisha Browns home is not a wood-frame home. ___ Knickmeyer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, and Matthew Brown in Helena, Montana, contributed to this report. ___ For APs complete coverage of the U.S. government shutdown: https://apnews.com/GovernmentShutdown ALBANY, N.Y. - The campaign of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been fined $1,500 for not having the required workers compensation for a month last year. A spokeswoman for the New York state Workers Compensation Board, Melissa Stewart, said Friday that Ocasio-Cortezs Democratic campaign lacked coverage from March 31 to April 30. She says the fine, first reported by the New York Daily News, has been paid. Stewart says the coverage is vital to ensuring workers are protected for on-the-job injuries. The 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist, made bettering the lives of working people and the poor in her Queens-Bronx district a key component of her successful campaign to upset longtime incumbent Joseph Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary. A message left with her Washington office wasnt returned. LAS VEGAS - A woman sought for almost two weeks by authorities in Las Vegas after allegedly skipping out on a $35 manicure and using a stolen car to run over and kill a salon worker who tried to stop her has been arrested in Arizona, police said Friday. Krystal Whipple, 21, was taken into custody by a team of Phoenix-area fugitive hunters involving local police, county investigators and FBI agents, Las Vegas police said. The arrest occurred in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale. Las Vegas police Officer Jacinto Rivera said he did not immediately have details of the arrest. He said prosecutors will seek Whipples extradition from Arizona to Las Vegas where she is wanted on a warrant issued Jan. 4 on murder and robbery charges in the killing of Ngoc Q. Nguyen, 51, of Garden Grove, California. The case sparked intense national interest after police released an internet plea for help identifying Whipple and showing parking lot security video of a woman leaving the nail salon Dec. 29. Homicide Lt. Ray Spencer said Whipple tried to pay for her manicure with a fraudulent credit card before telling Nguyen that she was going to her car to get cash, then drove away. Nguyen went to the front of the car and a man who Spencer identified as Nguyens husband was seen in the security footage holding onto the vehicle from behind as the car accelerates out of a parking lot. Police say the car was a rental that had been stolen. It was later found abandoned at an apartment complex. Whipple has a criminal record in Las Vegas including a conviction in 2017 for attempted possession of a stolen vehicle. Clark County District Court records said she was sentenced to four months in jail for violating probation in that case. An attorney who represented Whipple at that time said he doesnt represent her now. SALT LAKE CITY - Police say a Utah teenager crashed into another car when she covered her eyes as part of the so-called Bird Box Challenge. Layton police Lt. Travis Lyman said Friday that the 17-year-old drifted into oncoming traffic and hit another car after she pulled a hat over her eyes to emulate Bird Box, a Sandra Bullock movie on Netflix where characters must be constantly blindfolded to avoid visions that urge them to die. Videos of people trying to do things while blindfolded have attracted widespread attention online, and Netflix tweeted a warning about the challenge last week. No one was hurt in the Monday crash north of Salt Lake City. Lyman says it should serve as a warning he never thought hed have to give: Dont drive while blindfolded. SALISBURY, N.C. - The years-long fight over a North Carolina county commissions practice of opening meetings with Christian prayers and inviting audience members to join is over, with commissioners agreeing to pay $285,000 in legal fees. The Salisbury Post reports that Rowan County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved the payment to the American Civil Liberties Union, in conjunction with a December court order. The ACLU represented three county residents who sued over the prayer practice, which began in 2007. Commissioners Chair Greg Edds called the ACLU bullies for its role in the lawsuit. The North Carolina ACLU said in a statement that it was happy courts ruled in their clients favour. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the commissions appeal last summer. ___ Information from: Salisbury Post, http://www.salisburypost.com ALBANY, N.Y. - The Episcopal Church on Friday cleared the way for same-sex marriages in an upstate New York diocese where they were barred by a bishop who claimed the church had been hijacked by the Gay Rights Agenda. The Rev. William Love now faces possible disciplinary action for his November directive barring same-sex marriages in the Albany-based diocese. Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry wrote Friday that Loves action may constitute a canonical offence and referred his case for disciplinary review. While the case is pending, Curry placed restrictions on Love that forbid him from penalizing clergy, laity or worshippers in the diocese for arranging or participating in same-sex marriages. Church leaders in July overwhelmingly passed a same-sex marriage resolution that gives bishops with theological objections to same-sex marriages the option to have another bishop oversee services. Activists said Love is the only U.S. bishop entirely refusing to comply with that updated resolution, which went into effect Dec. 2. (A)s Presiding Bishop I am called upon to take steps to ensure that same-sex marriage in The Episcopal Church is available to all persons to the same extent and under the same conditions in all Dioceses of the Church where same-sex marriage is civilly legal, Curry wrote in his letter. The diocese said Love was out and not immediately available for comment. Love wrote in his eight-page letter in November that: The Episcopal Church and Western Society have been hijacked by the Gay Rights Agenda, which is very well organized, very strategic, very well financed, and very powerful. He added: Satan is having a heyday bringing division into the Church over these issues. Curry said that while he believed in Loves sincerity and good will, the policy was mandatory for all dioceses. Love can appeal and the process does not guarantee that he will be disciplined, but Currys action immediately takes away Loves ability to discipline clergy who take part in same-sex ceremonies, said Christopher Hayes, a deputy to the general convention that adopted the resolution and chancellor of the Diocese of California. The presiding bishops action should take that fear away, Hayes said. Eight dioceses had previously refused to comply with an earlier 2015 resolution allowing same-sex marriage in the church. TOPEKA, Kan. - A district attorney says a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper was justified in fatally shooting a man whose vehicle was dragging the trooper and a Topeka police officer through the snow. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay says the trooper wont be charged in the death of 35-year-old Jarmane Logan in November. The trooper and police officer were trying to take Chelsee Retana into custody when she and another woman got into Logans vehicle in Topeka. Investigators say Logan was driving away with the women while dragging the officer and trooper. Investigators say the trooper shot Logan when he refused to stop the vehicle . Retana is charged with interference with law enforcement and possession of methamphetamine and two misdemeanours. The other woman hasnt been charged. ___ Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com EUREKA, Calif. - California authorities are searching for a possibly injured Canadian hiker on the rugged Lost Coast Trail. The Humboldt County Sheriffs Office says 32-year-old Rick Raymond Eastep of Ontario, Canada, was reported missing on Wednesday. The person who made the report said Eastep sent a text message indicating he had been injured, possibly near the Miller Flat area. The text appeared to have been sent on Monday, but was not received until late Wednesday. The Lost Coast Trail runs along coastal mountains that descend to the ocean along Californias far northern shoreline. Much of the trail is on the beach and disappears at high tide. Local, state and federal teams, including the Coast Guard, are conducting the search. AUSTIN, Texas - Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that if he runs for president, hell pay for it himself, defending candidates who use personal riches to bankroll campaigns. Bloombergs comments to reporters in Texas on Friday follow a jab from another top 2020 contender. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren recently decried the Democratic presidential nomination becoming one more plaything that billionaires can buy. But Bloomberg says his riches insulate him from having to curry favour with special interests. I ran three times. I used only my own money so I didnt have to ask anybody what they wanted in return for a contribution, Bloomberg said. And, if I ran again, I would do the same thing. I think not having to adjust what you say and what you work on based on who financed your campaign is one of the things that the public really likes. He added: I understand not everybody can be self-funded but those that can, I think, should. Bloomberg was in Austin to announce that the city had won funding to help combat climate change from his philanthropic foundation. He told reporters he wont make a decision on a possible presidential bid for another month or so. Warren has already formed a presidential exploratory committee and generated excitement with a visit to Iowa last week. She asked recently: Is this going to be a Democratic primary that truly is a grassroots movement that is funded by the grassroots and its done with grassroots volunteers, or is this going to be something thats one more plaything that billionaires can buy? Warren said on MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Show that Democrats should link arms and take grassroots funding. No to the billionaires, she said. Bloomberg didnt mention Warren by name on Friday, but shortly after his comments, spokeswoman Paige Hill said, Mike has met Warren and was impressed by her. She also offered a statement from Bloomberg senior adviser Howard Wolfson that said Mike is somebody who did not grow up with privilege. He made all of his money on his own. ___ Associated Press Writer Steve Peoples in New York contributed to this report. BEIRUT - Americas four-year involvement in Syrias civil war may soon be coming to an end, after U.S. officials announced Friday that the process of withdrawal from the country has begun. A defence official in Washington said some military cargo has been pulled out, part of what the military calls the start of a deliberate withdrawal from Syria, where about 2,000 troops have been working with a coalition of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters to defeat the remnants of the Islamic State group. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the plans for the withdrawal abruptly last month. The U.S. involvement in the war-torn country has shifted from working quietly behind the scenes to support rebels to overt displays of U.S. force and a gradually widening footprint in an attempt to shape the fight. The following is a timeline of the U.S.s involvement in Syrias conflict that erupted in March 2011. ___ March 2011: Protests erupt in the southern Syrian city of Daraa over security forces detention of a group of boys accused of painting anti-government graffiti on the walls of their school. Demonstrations spread, as does the crackdown by President Bashar Assads forces. August 2011: President Barack Obama calls on Assad to resign and orders Syrian government assets frozen. June 2013: U.S. officials conclude that Assads forces had used chemical weapons against the opposition. Obama authorizes direct support for the rebels. Aug. 20, 2012: Obama famously describes the use by Assads government of chemical weapons a red line that would draw U.S. retaliation. Aug. 21, 2013: Hundreds of people suffocate in rebel-held suburbs of the Syrian capital. U.N. investigators visit the sites and determine that ground-to-ground missiles loaded with sarin were fired on civilian areas while residents slept. The U.S. and others blame the Syrian government. Aug. 31, 2013: Obama says he will go to Congress for authorization to carry out punitive strikes against the Syrian government, but appears to lack the necessary support in the legislature. He is widely criticized for not committing to his red line comment. Summer of 2014: The U.S. administration reveals that several dozen special operations troops had been on the ground in Syria briefly in an effort to rescue foreign hostages taken by the Islamic State group, but did not find them. Sept. 22, 2014: Obama launches a U.S. air campaign against the Islamic State in Syria, one month after launching airstrikes in neighbouring Iraq. To date, the U.S.-led coalition has launched airstrikes on at least 17,000 locations in Syria since the start of the operation. Late 2015: The first American ground troops enter Syria initially 50, growing to the current official total of about 2,000. They recruit, organize and advise thousands of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters, dubbed the Syrian Democratic Forces, and push IS out of most of its strongholds. November 24, 2016: Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Cooper Dayton, 42, of Woodbridge, Virginia, is killed in an improvised explosive device blast near the northern Syrian town of Ayn Issa, becoming the first American casualty in combat in the fight against IS in Syria. April 4, 2017: More than 90 people are killed in a suspected nerve gas attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in the rebel-held Idlib province. Moscow and Damascus deny responsibility. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... April 5, 2017: Trump says Assads government has crossed a lot of lines with the suspected chemical attack in Syria and a day later, the U.S. fires 59 cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation the first direct American assault on the Syrian government. March 30, 2018: U.S. Master Sgt. Jonathan J. Dunbar is killed by a roadside bomb attack in Syria alongside a British serviceman. April 7, 2018: Syrian activists, rescuers and medics say a poison gas attack on the rebel-held town of Douma near the capital has killed at least 40 people. The Syrian government and Russia reject the allegations, saying the purported evidence of the chemical weapons attack was fabricated. April 8, 2018: Trump calls Assad an animal and says there would be a big price to pay for resorting to outlawed weapons of mass destruction. April 15, 2018: The United State, Britain and France launch missile attacks on the Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs in retaliation for the Douma attack. Syria says its air defences intercepted most of the missiles fired. December 19, 2018: Trump announces on Twitter his intention to withdraw troops from Syria, adding in a video posted to Twitter, now its time for our troops to come back home. The withdrawal is initially expected to be carried out within weeks. Dec. 21, 2018: Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Brett McGurk, the administrations special envoy to the global anti-IS coalition, resign in protest. Jan. 6, 2019: U.S. national security adviser John Bolton says during a visit to Israel that U.S. troops will not leave northeastern Syria until IS militants are defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected. The comments appear to put the brakes on the withdrawal abruptly announced by Trump. Jan. 8, 2019: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses the U.S. national security adviser of making a very serious mistake by demanding that Ankara guarantee the safety of Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria before the U.S. withdraws its troops. Jan. 11, 2019: A U.S. defence official in Washington says some military cargo has been pulled out of Syria, marking the beginning of the withdrawal process. FORT WORTH, Texas - The Latest on an effort to oust a Muslim surgeon from a top position in a local Texas Republican Party (all times local): 9:30 p.m. Republicans in one of the most populous counties in Texas have voted to support a Muslim doctor as a party vice chairman following infighting over some members claims about his beliefs. The executive committee of the Tarrant County Republican Party voted late Thursday to keep Shahid Shafi in office. Shafi is a surgeon and City Council member in suburban Fort Worth. A party precinct chairwoman had led the call to oust Shafi on claims that he may be more loyal to Islamic law or connected to a terrorist group. Shafi denied both claims and other Republicans have called them bigoted. Former county GOP leader William Busby earlier told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that some large corporate donors dont want to be associated with a party thats going in the direction of excluding people based upon their religious beliefs. ___ 1:15 p.m. Republicans in one of Texas most populous counties are scheduled to decide whether to remove a Muslim doctor as a party vice chairman amid infighting over some members claims about his beliefs. A precinct chairman in Tarrant County has led the call to oust Shahid Shafi, a surgeon and City Council member in suburban Fort Worth. Top Republicans have condemned the effort, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Land Commissioner George P. Bush. A meeting is set for Thursday night. Some party members claim Shafi may be more loyal to Islamic law or connected to a terrorist group. Shafi denies both claims. Former county GOP leader William Busby says the issue is affecting fundraising. He tells the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that some large corporate donors dont want to be associated with a party thats going in the direction of excluding people based upon their religious beliefs. FORT WORTH, Texas - A federal jury has found a suburban North Texas couple guilty of enslaving a Guinean woman for 16 years. Jurors found Mohamed Toure (TOHR-eh) and his wife, Denise Cros-Toure, guilty Thursday of forced labour. They face up to 20 years in prison, but no sentencing date was immediately set. Toure is the son of a former president of the West African country of Guinea. The Southlake, Texas, pair was accused of bringing the 5-year-old girl from her rural Guinean village in 2000 and forcing her to work without pay in their home for years. Authorities began investigating after the victim fled the couples home in 2016. The defence attorneys said they would appeal the verdict. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Floridas new governor has scheduled a news conference in the county where the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High massacre occurred and where some victims parents are pushing for the removal of the local sheriff. Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to speak at Broward Countys public safety complex Friday afternoon. A news release says hell make a statement on holding government officials accountable. His spokesman wouldnt specify whod be held accountable. The Miami Herald and South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported recently that Sheriff Scott Israel has told his staff he expects to be removed. Following the Feb. 14 shooting that left 17 dead, then-candidate DeSantis told supporters hed suspend Israel but retreated in later appearances. Under Florida law, the governor can suspend elected officials for criminal activity, misfeasance, incompetence or neglect of duty. UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - A gunman sentenced to 195 years in prison for an attack on a police station apologized Thursday to the parents of an undercover narcotics detective who was mistakenly shot and killed by a fellow officer during the ambush. Before a judge sentenced him, Michael Ford said he didnt intend to harm anybody but himself when he opened fire on a Prince Georges County police station in March 2016. In November, a jury convicted Ford, 25, of second-degree murder in the killing of Detective Jacai Colson even though he didnt fire the shot that killed the four-year veteran of the countys police department. That man does not deserve to be dead. I should be dead, Ford told Colsons parents. Before hearing Fords apology, James and Sheila Colson criticized authorities for not seeking criminal charges against the officer who killed their son. Jacai Colson exchanged gunfire with Ford before Officer Taylor Krauss fatally shot the 28-year-old plainclothes detective with a rifle, mistaking him for a threat. Sheila Colson described Krauss as careless and reckless and said she believes her son was killed because he was black. Ford also is black. Krauss is white. Not once did I get an, Im sorry, from Taylor Krauss. Not once, she said. She and her husband also accused police officials of lying to them about the circumstances of their sons death, misleading them to believe he was caught in a crossfire. To this day, no one can give me an explanation for why my son was shot, she said, fighting back tears. Fords two younger brothers, Malik and Elijah Ford, drove him to the police station and recorded video of the shooting with their cellphones. Though not accused of firing any shots, they pleaded guilty to related charges and were sentenced Thursday to 20 and 12 years in prison, respectively. Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Hill Jr. told Malik and Elijah that they sold their brother down the river out of greed for the car he promised to leave them. The judge told Michael Ford he has no doubt he tried to kill officers and civilians even if he intended to die himself. You are responsible for the death of Jacai Colson, he said. Ford testified he was trying to get himself killed by police when he fired his handgun nearly two dozen times outside the station. He said he didnt intend for anyone else to be harmed. County prosecutor Joseph Ruddy argued Fords actions created a combat zone and caused Colsons death even though he didnt fire the fatal shot. Ford didnt hit anybody when he fired 23 shots from a handgun, but bullets he fired struck two passing vehicles and an ambulance, according to Ruddy. That was no suicide mission. That was a mission to kill cops, the prosecutor had said in the trials closing arguments. Krauss testified that he never saw Colson hold up a badge or heard him identify himself as a police officer before shooting him once in the chest. A grand jury declined to indict Krauss on any charges related to Colsons shooting. Colsons parents sued Krauss and Prince Georges County. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who was the countys top prosecutor when Michael Ford was charged and tried, said she spent many hours walking the Colsons through every piece of evidence, walking the crime scene with them, and we answered every question they had. Ultimately a grand jury of 23 Prince Georgians reviewed that evidence and declined to indict Officer Krauss, Alsobrooks said in a statement. I can never begin to understand what they feel as grieving parents, and my thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Colson family. Fords brothers recorded cellphone videos of the ambush after dropping him off at the station in Landover, a suburb of Washington, D.C. They agreed to film the shooting so the video could be sent to a website known for posting users violent videos, a police detective testified in 2016. One of the videos shows Ford screaming obscenities and shouting, Do something! in between shots. Ford, then 22, also dictated his last will and testament on video minutes earlier. Ford said he was hearing voices in his head the day of the shooting. Hill ruled before the trial that Ford couldnt present an insanity defence despite his serious mental health issues. Antoini Jones, Fords attorney, told jurors that Colson didnt match the gunmans description apart from his race. At the start of the trial, Jones said the evidence would show the detective was shot because he was black. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Colson was a Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, native. He and Krauss worked in the narcotics unit together, seated at connecting desks. Prince Georgias County Police Chief Hank Stawinski issued a statement afterward that the sentences as rendered today can never assuage the pain, loss and the years of healing that remain before us all. He didnt address accusations by Colsons parents that police officials had lied to them but directed words to the family and others, saying, I wish peace upon the Colson family, this institution, and our community. SENLIS, France - The roundabout outside Senlis in the northern Oise region close to the busiest of Frances highways is more than just asphalt with cars and trucks circling around it. With its makeshift grocery, camp beds and community spirit, the large central island about 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of Paris has been transformed over the past two months into an encampment where dozens of yellow vest protesters gather day in, day out to organize their long-standing fight against the French government. Like the reflective fluorescent safety vests, occupied roundabouts have become a trademark of the protest movement shaking up France that was initially triggered by the rising cost of fuel but has since morphed into a broader anti-government revolt. Despite a call last month from French authorities to free the traffic circles, and the 10 killed in road accidents since the protests started, yellow vest activists have continued to occupy roundabouts. Before a ninth straight weekend of planned protests in Paris and across France, demonstrators in Senlis are adamant they are digging in for the long haul. Weve got all we need to hold a siege, said Nicole, a 64-year-old retiree in charge of running the grocery. Most of the people interviewed by The Associated Press this week in Senlis declined to give their full names for fear of being identified by police. At least two of them have been arrested and detained during previous demonstrations in Paris that have often turned violent. Fearing more incidents, France authorities are preparing to deploy around 80,000 officers across the country on Saturday. Nicknamed Mini Little Mouse by other protesters, Nicole cooks the fresh vegetables donated by yellow vest supporters, makes coffee for all and ensures that the pasta and rice are properly stored in the wooden shelves in the makeshift building. For her and many protesters, money is the biggest problem. They (the government) took 30 euros from my pension, this is not normal, she said, her voice drowned out by the noise of the truck drivers driving around the roundabout and honking in support of the protest. Ive worked for 41 years. Im not robbing anyone. Im demanding my due. Nicole says her income is about 800 euros a month. Its a frosty morning across much of France but the vibes are warm on the roundabout. Nicole and her companions have set up a fire pit where they can stand around and enjoy the warmth of the flames. After hanging on through the festive season, they say they wont leave the roundabout unless President Emmanuel Macrons government gives in to their demands. Have a look, weve got a petanque court, said Michel, a 69-year-old retiree, referring to the boules sports very popular in the country. It feels good here. We call this place the yellow vest camping. Come back in July, well have a swimming pool! On a more serious note, 29-year-old Tristan says he would be more than happy to return home. He has been involved in protests since Nov. 17 and has been banned from travelling to Paris during weekends to attend demonstrations in the French capital after he was arrested in possession of a gas mask. Employed in the construction industry, Tristan works weekends, does frequent nights shifts and earns extra money through overtime. He said he was pleased by Macrons decision to abolish taxes on overtime pay, but wants to continue his protest for others. Im fighting for my grandmother who is struggling to make ends meet, for my sister who has three children and cant get back to work because she is being told she will make less money than what she makes today, for my mother who is being forced to leave her apartment, and for my friend who is on the minimum wage and cant make it, he said. Facing a plethora of demands ranging from the re-introduction of Frances wealth tax, called the ISF, on the countrys richest people to the implementation of popular votes that allow citizens to propose new laws, Macron has so far struggled to find a solution to the crisis. Hes doing nothing in the short term, complained Claude, who is currently unemployed after being fired by a major European transport company. In December when he spoke on TV, if he had announced the re-introduction of the ISF, it would have been a strong signal. Macrons latest idea of a three-month national debate as a way for the government to hear and to respond to the movements central complaints is being mocked on the roundabout. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... I dont believe in this big debate, said Michel, a 61-year-old wearing a hat with the acronym RIC, for Citizens Initiative Referendum, the popular vote he wants to be introduced. Getting the RIC would be wonderful. Many of those protesting in Senlis said they feel neglected and abandoned by politicians. Over the years, they have voted across the political spectrum, from Marine Le Pens extreme right party to the far left. And every time, they have been disappointed. The RIC could be a solution, Tristan said. I dont want Macron to leave. It would not change anything. What we want is to be listened to, not just every five years when the presidential election takes place. Irans Foreign Ministry declared that Tehran would respond adequately to the EUs decision to sanction an Iranian intelligence unit and two of its staff. These individuals have been put on the list of terrorists and have had their assets frozen by the EU. This is a tough reaction from the EU side after several European countries announced their detection and destruction of some attacks allegedly plotted by Iran. At the end of October 2018, the Danish intelligence agency revealed that Danish police discovered a plot suspected to be designed by Irans intelligence forces aiming to assassinate the leader of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz (ASMLA) in Denmark. Danish police arrested a suspect in the case, who is a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent. ASMLA was accused by Tehran to stand behind the terrorist attack aimed at a military parade in the Iranian city of Ahvaz on September 22, 2018, that killed at least 25 people. The Iranian government has repeatedly rejected the EUs accusation, claiming it as part of a hostile plan seeking to negatively affect relations between the Islamic country and the EU. Iran has summoned the Danish ambassador in Tehran to express its strong opposition to Denmarks allegations in the case which is considered hasty, indecent and politically motivated. The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the EU sanctions, stating that they would not help the EU to shirk its responsibility in harboring terrorists. Amid quarrels between the two sides, the new sanctions against Iran are the first sign of change in the EU after a period of internal division over how to punish Iran. Tehran could lose the necessary support of the EU, while facing pressure from US sanctions. Although the EU has committed to maintaining the 2015 nuclear agreement signed between Iran and the great powers after the US withdrawal, the EUs efforts have yet to be enough to limit the negative effects of the US imposition of sanctions against Iran. Tehran criticised the EU countries for their unwillingness to take action to save business opportunities in Iran because of stagnation and passivity in front of the US, and warned that the EU nations would have regret about this. In fact, Iran is heavily dependent on the EU support after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal, as well as on the EUs commitments to secure Irans interests under the agreement. The EU once stated that it would create a legal entity to facilitate legal financial transactions with Iran without fear of US sanctions. However, facing the EUs delay for many reasons, including interest calculations, Iran has proactively taken its own steps. Tehran not only focuses on relations with the EU but also extends its relations with other countries, including Russia, China, Turkey and some South Asian countries. Iran claimed that they would not succumb to the threats of the US and its Western allies, and that Tehran is willing to use its trump card which is to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, an important international shipping and oil transportation route. Also, the Islamic nation has continuously published its scientific achievements on its missile development programme as a tough answer to Western sanctions. The US sanctions and hostile moves against Iran have moved the relationship between the two sides into a constant state of full tensions. And the EUs imposition of new sanctions on Tehran has further complicated the situation in the Middle East, especially when the region with significant geo-political position is desperately in need of tension reduction through negotiations. LONDON - A British computer hacker has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for a cyberattack that knocked out telecommunications services in Liberia. Daniel Kaye was paid by an employee of a rival firm to launch a distributed denial of service attack on Liberian phone and internet provider Lonestar. Britains National Crime Agency says the attack overwhelmed Lonestars computer network, disabled internet access across the West African country and cost the company tens of millions of dollars. The 30-year-old Kaye pleaded guilty last month to two offences under the Computer Misuse Act and one charge of possessing criminal property. Mike Hulett of the crime agencys National Cyber Crime Unit called Kaye a highly skilled and capable hacker-for-hire. Judge Alexander Milne handed down a prison sentence Friday at Londons Blackfriars Crown Court. BAGHDAD - The Latest on Syria and U.S. military pullout (all times local): 6:15 p.m. A U.S. defence official says no American troops have withdrawn yet from Syria, but some military cargo has been pulled out. The official said the movement of equipment is part of what the military calls the start of a deliberate withdrawal from Syria, where about 2,000 troops have been working with a coalition of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters to defeat the remnants of the Islamic State group. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been publicly announced. The official provided no numbers, but said the equipment withdrawal is underway and that an unspecified number of additional U.S. troops have been brought into Syria to assist with the withdrawal process. These include troops to provide additional security. Robert Burns in Washington. ___ 4:55 p.m. A senior Kurdish politician says the Kurds are aware of the U.S. beginning to withdraw from Syria, describing it as Americas decision. Ilham Ahmed, who co-chairs the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Council in northeast Syria, said the Americans have a right to make decisions that are in their countrys security and national interests. However, she adds that safeguarding the peace and stability of the areas they withdraw from must be guaranteed. This includes putting an end to Turkish threats and fully eradicating the Islamic State group and its sleeper cells, she said. Ahmed spoke to The Associated Press Friday hours after an American official said the process of withdrawing American equipment from Syria has begun. ___ 1:25 p.m. Russias Foreign Ministry says the Americans are not serious about withdrawing from Syria. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on Friday that it appears to Moscow that the U.S. is looking for a reason to stay. Zakharova said Moscow has not seen public statements laying out the U.S. strategy in Syria and so cannot be sure that the U.S. is serious about leaving. Zakharovas remarks appeared shortly after an American official said that the U.S.-led military coalition has begun the process of withdrawing equipment from Syria. ___ 12:30 p.m. An American military official says the U.S.-led military coalition has begun the process of withdrawing from Syria. Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-coalition fighting the Islamic State group, says the U.S. started the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... In a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Friday, he declined to discuss specific timelines or locations or troops movements out of concern for operational security. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armoured vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syrias northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. The U.S. has around 2,000 troops in Syria. WARSAW, Poland - The Latest on the espionage-related arrests in Poland (all times local): 6 p.m. The Polish state news agency says a Polish man who has been charged with spying for China had held top cybersecurity positions at different state agencies and had been involved in projects co-financed by the European Union. PAP reported Friday that the suspect had worked at three key agencies in Poland. Those included the Interior Ministry, the Office of Electronic Communications, a regulatory body that oversees cyber and other telecommunications issues, and the International Security Agency, Polands counterespionage agency. He and a Chinese citizen who is a manager for the Chinese tech firm Huawei in Poland were arrested Tuesday and have been charged with spying for China. PAP reported that, when the Polish suspect was at the Internal Security Agency, he was involved in building a mobile communications system for top Polish officials. He was fired in 2011 amid a major corruption scandal. __ 3:40 p.m. Orange, a leading telecommunications company in Poland, says its co-operating with the Polish security services who say a Polish employee at the company and a Chinese manager for tech giant Huawei have been accused of spying on Poland for China. Orange Poland told The Associated Press on Friday that officials from Polands Internal Security Agency searched the companys headquarters in Warsaw on Tuesday and that as part of operation we handed over belongings of one of our employees. The Polish spy agency and Polands state television, which is closely tied to the Polish government, reported the arrests and the searches at both Huawei and Orange. Orange told the AP it did not know if the suspicions against its employee were related to his professional duties and that it was working with the countrys security agency. ___ 1:25 p.m. An official at the Chinese Embassy in Warsaw says China attaches great importance to the detention of a Chinese citizen in Poland who has been detained and charged with espionage and that a representative of the embassy has met with officials at Polands Foreign Ministry to discuss the case. Polish state television reported Friday that the countrys Internal Security Agency has charged a Chinese manager at tech company Huawei in Poland and a Polish man who is one of its own former officers with spying for China. The arrests happened on Tuesday. A spokeswoman at the Chinese Embassy told The Associated Press that embassy representatives have met with officials at Polands Foreign Ministry and that China urges Poland to inform China about the situation of this case and arrange a consular visit as soon as possible. The spokeswoman added: We require the Polish side to handle this case legally, fairly and properly and ensure the legal rights, interests, security and the humanitarian treatment of the Chinese citizen. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, saying it was the official position of the Chinese government and that it doesnt matter who conveyed the comment. The official wouldnt comment on whether the suspect is guilty, saying the Chinese side opposes any speculations and defaming in the absence of concrete facts. --By Vanessa Gera Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... ___ 12:15 p.m. Chinese telecom company Huawei is being tightlipped on reports one of its employees has been arrested by Polish authorities on suspicion of espionage. The company, which makes telecom equipment and consumer electronics, said in a statement that it is aware of the situation, and we are looking into it. Polish state TV said that one of two people arrested was a Chinese man identified as Weijing W., who was a Huawei director in Poland. Huawei said it complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based. ___ 10:25 a.m. An official says Polands Internal Security Agency has arrested a Chinese businessman and a Pole on suspicion of espionage. Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Polands special services, said Friday that the operation that resulted in the arrest of the two suspects had been underway for a long time and was planned with care. Wasik said that the Chinese suspect was a businessman working for a major electronics corporation and that the Pole was known in circles associated with cyber-business affairs. He said both carried out espionage activities against Poland. Polish state TV reported that the Chinese man is a director at Huawei in Poland and that the Pole has worked at the Internal Security Agency, the agency that investigates spying and terrorism If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison. STAVANGER, Norway - Tom Hagen and his wife expected to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 2019. Today, one of Norways wealthiest men just wants to know that Anne-Elizabeth Falkevik Hagen, the childhood sweetheart he married at age 19, is alive. Her disappearance and suspected abduction from the couples home on Halloween has gripped a small, wealthy Scandinavian country with the fourth-lowest homicide rate of 36 European countries. Some argue that violent crime happens infrequently enough among the 5.3 million Norwegians that police are unprepared when it does occur. The family and local police investigators kept the case secret for more than a month. But with leads drying up in the discreet probe, no suspects and the risk of witnesses forgetting vital information as more days passed, the family gave police the greenlight to go public with the case on Jan. 8. The following day, word was out. It has been a topic for some time, Svein Holden, the Hagen familys lawyer, told The Associated Press. When the police came to us saying this is the next necessary step in the investigation, the family trusted the police. The revelation turbo-charged the investigation. Police released security videos of men walking back and forth outside Tom Hagens workplace. More than 200 tips poured in. Officers and police dogs were seen scouring the grounds around the couples home. A ransom for the missing womans release was demanded with serious threats, police said. They declined to give the amount, but Norwegian newspaper VG said it was for 9 million euros ($10.3 million) to be paid in Monero, a cryptocurrency considered popular among cyber-criminals. Tom Hagen, the second-oldest in a farming family of 12 children, struck it rich in the real estate business he started in 1978. Last year, financial magazine Kapital estimated his fortune to be worth nearly 1.7 billion kroner ($200 million), wealthy but not uber-rich in Norway. The magazine put Hagen 172nd on its list of the countrys wealthiest people. Known for being a modest and private man, Hagen has had to cope with the glare from public interest in his wifes whereabouts as well as the trauma of not knowing himself if she is safe or suffering. He and the couples three children are dealing with the fact that this is the main topic in all of Norway, and that is what they are feeling, said Holden, the lawyer. It is an extra burden but they rely on the police. They have to put their own feelings in the background. Police have informed international police agency Interpol, which on January 10 put Anne-Elizabeth on the list of missing persons, raising fear she might have been taken out of Norway. Four years ago, Reidar Osen, a wealthy Norwegian art dealer, was kidnapped in Bergen, southwestern Norway. He was beaten and partially buried. The gun jammed down his throat smashed his teeth and broke his jaw. But Osen managed to flee before his abductors received the 2 million kroner ($200,000) ransom they demanded. The three suspects also escaped. Osen says his kidnappers spoke through their ski masks with accents that sounded eastern European. He felt badly let down when police failed to catch them and feared the image of law enforcement inaction or ineffectiveness would embolden potential copycats. I was worried that similar things could happen again, Olsen told the AP. I knew it would. The same had been said after a right-wing extremist killed 77 people in 2011, eight with a car bomb he set off in Oslo and another 69 when he opened fire at the nearby island summer camp run by the left-wing Labor Partys youth wing. Anders Behring Breivik is serving a 21-year prison sentence for carrying out a terror attack. Two days before she vanished, Anne-Elizabeth Falkevik Hagen was serving a friend coffee at her and her husbands home in Loerenskog, east of Oslo and some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the Swedish border. She is a very nice, charming, decent and beautiful woman, and they had a good relationship in their marriage, where she encouraged him in his life and his work, Glenn Hartmann-Hansen, a former colleague of Tom Hagens who has known the couple for half of their marriage. Nestled between a secluded forest and more densely built housing blocks, the house they have lived in since 1982 is modest by multimillionaire standards. Tom Hagen isnt one to flash his fortune, Hartmann-Hansen said. He is a normal guy with a normal house ... who walks to his work and brings his packed lunch in his pocket, he said. The property seemed to escape notice even though the people who lived there were rich. Many Norwegians would recognize it now from news coverage about the woman of the house who went missing on Halloween. Holden said his client now hopes the extra attention might persuade the people believed to be holding her to make contact. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Their aim is to get a proof of life, and if they get proof that she is alive then they are prepared to start a process to get her back safely, Holden said. ___ This story has been corrected to show kidnap victim Osens first name is Reidar, not Raider. MILAN - To stay on trend, Italian fashion houses are refashioning themselves for future growth. Luxury label Ermenegildo Zegna, which opens fall and winter menswear previews at Milan Fashion Week on Friday, made its first move to expand abroad with the Zegna Groups summer acquisition of American brand Thom Browne. The Gianni Versace houses entrance into the group owned by American designer Michael Kors, Capri Holdings Limited, was finalized last week. A taste for mergers and acquisitions offers sources of cash and footholds in new markets to fashion companies that want to gain the scale for an international expansion, especially if their target is the tricky Asian market. Charting a future path is important for Italys many family-run brands envisioning generational change and as various companies seek control of distribution channels. Missoni and Cavalli recently did deals with private equity investors to get cash infusions. While French conglomerates snapped up such powerhouse brands such as Gucci, Valentino, Fendi and Bottega Veneta, the Versace sale to an American label not quite in the luxury tier created a disorientating sense in the Italian fashion world. A recurring question came up yet again: why hasnt a fashion group emerged in Italy. Carlo Capasa, the head of the Italian Fashion Chamber, dismissed concerns that a world centred in Milan was in peril. Many Italian companies dont have Italian owners. But that doesnt diminish their heritage or their attachment to Italy, Capasa said. They become much stronger. Bottega Veneta opened more stores and has increased its sales. The main challenge facing brands is distribution and the significant investment required to gain control of it. Before, only a few brands controlled distribution from the beginning to the end. Now it is common to have control over a good part of retail, which can bring more profits by taking out the middle man, Capasa said. But more control requires more investments. Retail drains a lot of cash. In the United States, he said, the decline of department stores has meant brands have had to invest in creating their own retail presence. An e-commerce launch also requires a lot of cash to get right. Maurizio Tamagnini, the CEO of the FSI investment group that took a stake in Missoni last year, said the Italian fashion industry remains strong, representing nearly a quarter of top luxury brands and 20 per cent of the fastest growing. But despite the innovation in Italian fashion, Italys family-run fashion houses have less inclination to create a big group, Tamagnini said. It is easy to do, if you want to do it by combining the genius of our entrepreneurs with the boringness and the structure of finance, he said. Milan fashion stalwart Giorgio Armani is from time to time identified as having the necessary liquidity to create an Italian fashion group. But the designer has said he believes that staying small allows for the flexibility necessary to adapt to market changes. I have always believed that economic independence is a fundamental value to work with full freedom, Armani told the Italian financial publication MF Fashion. For this, I have never thought of seeking investments that arent my own. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... While he acknowledged that the sale of iconic Italian brands to international groups can touch our national pride, Armani said they had to be squarely acknowledged as signs of changing times. I remain a supporter of independence, but what works for me doesnt have to be universal law, he said. These brands have Italian spirit. If they manage to maintain that intact, then welcome to the international groups. SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - A U.N. rights investigator said Friday that negotiations on North Koreas denuclearization must also include its abysmal human rights situation. Tomas Ojea Quintana told reporters that he wants North Korea to accept his call for a dialogue on its rights conditions. He said North Korea has not allowed him to visit despite his requests over the past three years for co-operation. Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korean human rights situation, said the issue was sidelined in diplomatic efforts last year on stripping North Korea of its nuclear weapons. The fact is that with all the positive developments the world has witnessed in the past year, it is all the more regrettable that the reality for human rights on the ground remains unchanged, and continues to be extremely serious, he said. The international community has an historical responsibility not to neglect but continue to promote improvement of the human rights situation in North Korea, he said. A U.N. Commission of Inquiry concluded in 2014 that North Korea has committed crimes against humanity, including extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions, persecution, deliberate starvation and disappearances. Nuclear diplomacy has made little progress since a U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore last June. Prospects for a second summit increased after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China this week in what experts say was a trip aimed at co-ordinating positions ahead of talks with President Donald Trump. NEW DELHI - A popular and flamboyant spiritual guru in India, who is serving 20 years in prison for raping two female followers, was convicted Friday of murdering a journalist 16 years ago in another case. Judge Jagdeep Singh convicted the guru, who calls himself Dr. Saint Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim Insan, and three other people and will sentence them on Jan. 17. All four could face death sentences in the killing of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati after he published a letter in his newspaper alleging sexual exploitation of women by the guru. The guru was named as the main conspirator in the murder case. He is currently being held in a prison in the northern India town of Rohtak after he was sentenced in August in the rape case. He was also fined 3 million rupees ($47,000). His conviction last year sparked violent protests by his followers that left at least 38 people dead and hundreds injured in the northern town of Panchkula. He played himself in hagiographic biopics and courted Indias powerful politicians. He lived with tens of thousands of his followers on a sprawling 400-hectare (1,000-acre) ashram in Haryana state until he was sentenced last year. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois incoming billionaire governor has announced plans to use his own money to double the salaries of several key staffers, a move aimed at helping retain top talent. Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker created East Jackson Street LLC to personally compensate staffers in addition to their government salaries. Lawmakers approved legislation earlier this week aimed at helping the incoming governor to increase salaries . The governor-elect is committed to recruiting top talent to state government to best address the challenges Illinois faces, said Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh, comparing the move to that of former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Pritzkers chief of staff, three deputy governors and their special assistants, deputy chiefs of staff and other high-level employees will receive the double salaries. Overall it will apply to 20 positions, including some that have not been filled. With the extra pay, Pritzker chief of staff Anne Caprara would receive $148,000 from the state and $150,000 from Pritzkers company for a total salary of $298,000. Staffers who received the additional pay must report it along with other public disclosures. The pay raise information comes as Pritzker has filled more Cabinet positions ahead of his Monday inauguration, and his choices include several women and show a bipartisan approach. Before the Legislature wrapped up its two-year session, the House and the Senate endorsed a measure to allow Pritzker to raise salaries by 15 per cent for those in his Cabinet, including the director of prisons, the transportation secretary and the directors of other agencies governing human services, health care, the environment and more. Pritzker said Illinois salaries for agency directors and assistant directors arent competitive. Critics complained that nonunion middle managers have dealt with salary freezes for 15 or more years. They said the state cant afford higher pay when theres a $130 billion hole in what the state owes to its pension systems. WASHINGTON - Somehow, some day, the nasty deadlock between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats thats shuttered federal agencies for a record-tying 21 days will end. The only real questions are when, how and who will be crowned the winner in public opinion polls and ultimately by voters. Things got bleaker this week when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told Trump at a fiery White House meeting that Democrats would not bow to his demand for $5.7 billion to start building a wall along the border with Mexico. Trump slammed his hand on the negotiating table and stormed out, Democrats said. Trump said he calmly left the room, saying, Bye-bye. A look at how the impasse might be resolved: Q: Whats the easiest solution? A: None is easy. Trumps conservative base strongly backs his fight for wall money, even if it has meant a partial government shutdown. Democrats liberal stalwarts just as ardently oppose giving in. Trump and Democratic leaders have been so insistent on not surrendering that each would risk rebellion by supporters if they agreed to something viewed as a capitulation. Q: Whats the likeliest way out? A: Increasingly some people think that could be for Trump to declare a national emergency. By law, that could give him authority to use some money in the militarys budget for construction projects for the wall. Its a tactic that could let each side claim a partial victory and move on. Trump could argue he did secure money for the wall, his most memorable campaign pledge, and overcame Democratic objections. Democrats could say they didnt give in and they could file suits to block the move, claiming Trump had exceeded his authority by stretching the meaning of emergency. Trump could decide to finally sign bills reopening the government. Leaving the White House Thursday to visit the southwestern border, Trump strongly suggested he would take that route. I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency, he told reporters. He added: If I have to, I will. I have no doubt about it. Q: Why not just do it? A: Plenty of people on both sides hate the idea, and its legality in this instance is questionable. Some Republicans, including Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, say strengthening border infrastructure is not the militarys job and they oppose siphoning defence dollars for that purpose. Many Republicans worry that by stretching the definition of emergency, Trump opens the door to a future Democratic president circumventing lawmakers in ways the GOP would oppose. Democrats would consider the move a fresh example of Trump abusing his authority as president. They say it would be a ploy to bypass Congress and that theres no emergency on the border, where the number of illegal crossings has fallen in recent years. While the law doesnt clearly define a national emergency, some experts say a declaration here would be unwarranted. The idea was that the executive would have these powers on a limited basis for true emergencies, said Andrew Boyle, who studies presidential emergency powers at the Brennan Center for Justice, which is affiliated with New York University. He said declaring a national emergency at the border would be clearly in bad faith. Q: Polls show the public blames Trump more than Democrats for the shutdown. Will Republicans fold? A: Some GOP lawmakers have had enough, especially in the Senate. Reflecting that, a group of GOP senators has talked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and White House officials about forging a compromise, though that seems an uphill battle. Ultimately McConnell, a tough partisan also renowned for ending previous battles by cutting bipartisan deals, will decide the GOPs path. It will take more than a few Republican defections for McConnell to abandon Trump. Ever since Trump reversed himself and turned down an agreement to avoid the shutdown before Christmas, McConnell has stepped aside, saying Trump and Democrats should bargain. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Democrats have been trying to pressure McConnell, quoting his past ridicule of shutdowns and citing the damage the current one is inflicting on voters. With hundreds of thousands of federal workers due to miss their first paychecks Friday and constituents complaining about losing government services, pressure will only intensify. I think public sentiment weighing in on his members will change his mind, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a brief interview. Hes a legislator. Hes watching, hes waiting, said retired Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss. Q: What about Democrats? A: Theyve shown no outward signs of divisions. If anything, Trumps recent actions leaving Wednesdays negotiating session, seeming to blame Democrats for the recent deaths of two Guatemalan children in U.S. custody have united them more. Democrats reaction ranges from angry to enraged, said Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va. Q: Is there a deal to be had? A: That seems increasingly unlikely. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and other Republicans have explored a compromise that might include border security money plus helping hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children stay in this country. But Vice-President Mike Pence and Graham reported no progress after a meeting Thursday. Democrats know a deal with Trump could alienate liberals, and are loath to show Trump that they would fold during future confrontations. They also dont trust him. Pelosi said Trump has moved the goalposts so often that pretty soon these goal posts wont even be in the stadium. ___ For APs complete coverage of the U.S. government shutdown: https://apnews.com/GovernmentShutdown KINSHASA, Congo - The Latest on Congos presidential election results. All times local: 7:35 p.m. As night falls in Congo, scores of police with automatic rifles and tear gas launchers are positioned along a road in the capital leading to Limete, a stronghold of opposition candidate Martin Fayulu. Fayulu has alleged presidential election fraud in the surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi. He has urged the Congolese people to protest. Election results compiled by the powerful Catholic Church and its observers at all polling stations show Fayulu easily won, diplomats say. An Associated Press witness saw a vehicle filled with military personnel in full combat gear. One soldier carried a rocket launcher. Congo has been largely calm since results were announced early Thursday but observers have warned that a court challenge could lead to unrest. ___ 6:30 p.m. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says he is very concerned about discrepancies in Congos presidential election results and says the United Nations Security Council will discuss the matter on Friday. Official results showed a surprise winner in opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi but the powerful Catholic church says its findings from observers at all polling stations showed a different result. Diplomats briefed on the findings say opposition leader Martin Fayulu won in a landslide. Fayulu has accused President Joseph Kabila of making a secret deal with the largely untested Tshisekedi. ___ 6 p.m. A police spokesman says three people have been killed amid demonstrations protesting Congos presidential election results. Pierrot Mwanamputu tells The Associated Press that youth in the city of Kikwit who objected to the victory of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi caused violence that led to the deaths of two civilians and the wife of a police officer. The spokesman says 17 police officers were wounded and some shops were vandalized. Police reinforcements have been deployed. The vast country of some 80 million people is largely calm after the results, though opposition leader Martin Fayulu alleges they were rigged and has urged people to protest. Police also confirm agitations in Congos third-largest city, Kisangani, but say they were quickly brought under control. ___ 5:05 p.m. A Congolese election observer mission says the official results of the presidential vote have been largely received with calm across the country. The Symocel mission in a statement says that despite reported irregularities, the results are a key step on the way to a historic peaceful transfer of power in the troubled country. The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by opposition figure Martin Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila. The Symocel statement notes reports of unrest in the cities of Kikwit and Kisangani, which could not immediately be verified. ___ 2:50 p.m. The head of the African Union Commission says he takes note of the official results of Congos disputed presidential election but like others is not issuing congratulations to the winner. Moussa Faki Mahamat in a statement urges that Congo find a genuine national consensus whatever the results, based on democratic principles, human rights and the need for stability. The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by opposition figure Martin Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila. Mahamat notes that the vote took place in conditions judged satisfactory by the AUs election observer mission. Western observer missions were not invited as Congo rejected what it considered meddling after pressure to hold the long-delayed vote. ___ 2:10 p.m. Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders says his country plans to raise concerns over Congos contested election at the U.N. Security Council, where Belgium has just taken a two-year seat. Reynders told Belgian state broadcaster RTBF on Thursday that what were waiting for now is to see the reaction of the Congolese themselves as well as the observers who were able to monitor vote counting. He said the election process was chaotic and I can understand the concerns already being expressed in several places. The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by opposition figure Martin Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila. Reynders said: Were going to find out whats going on, of course, and then decide what action to take, and notably around the table at the Security Council. ___ 1:55 p.m. Congos Catholic church says official presidential election results do not agree with the outcome that its 40,000 observers compiled in recording the results posted at all polling stations. The church had the largest election observer mission. Its secretary general, the Rev. Donatien Nshole, refuses to say who won the election according to its findings. But diplomats briefed on the results say they indicated opposition leader Martin Fayulu won easily. The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila. Nshole urges all Congolese to remain peaceful and says those who challenge the official results should do so within the legal framework and without violence. ___ 1:15 p.m. South Africa is urging Congos electoral commission to finalize the election results to ensure the credibility of the election and also maintain peace and stability. President Cyril Ramaphosa is congratulating Congo for its election, urging the region and wider international community to refrain from speculation and allow Congolese election officials to finish their work. The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by opposition leader Martin Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila. South Africas government is influential as Congo has rejected what it considers Western meddling. South Africa, however, has been under pressure to be more outspoken on Congo amid tensions over the long-delayed vote. ___ Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... 12:50 p.m. The European Union says it is waiting for the assessment of observer missions sent to monitor Congos election before commenting on the poll results, and it calls for calm until things are clearer. European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic says the EU notes that parts of the opposition are contesting the polls. The EU is waiting for the reaction of the observation missions on the ground and from our African partners. She says that we call on all political actors in (Congo) to abstain from any kind of act of violence and allow for the democratic process to continue. Congo expelled the EUs ambassador shortly before the election over human rights-related sanctions the bloc has in place against President Joseph Kabilas preferred successor. Officials vote results show he finished third. Despite this, Kocijancic says the EU mission in Congo continues to work normally. ___ 11:10 a.m. The advocacy group The Enough Project warns that Felix Tshisekedis victory in Congos presidential election, as announced by the electoral commission, may be challenged. Sasha Lezhnev, deputy director of Enough Project, which focuses on Africa, said the official results should be compared to the tallies compiled by the Catholic Church which deployed 40,000 observers across Congo and independently added up the voting results posted outside each polling station. Lezhnev said the international community must watch the process closely. If it looks like the vote was indeed rigged and that Kabila is actually staying in power via a backroom deal, then sanctions and other financial pressure should ensue, said Lezhnev. Its critical for the U.S., European Union to do much more to hold officials and businesses involved in high-level corruption accountable through anti-money laundering measures, network sanctions, and prosecutions. ___ 10:15 a.m. Frances foreign minister is casting doubt on Congos presidential election results proclaiming opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi the surprise winner. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday on CNews television that the results do not conform with the results that we have noticed. He cited the Catholic Bishops Conference of Congo, saying the group made verifications and announced results that are totally different. Le Drian didnt elaborate. Tshisekedi had not been considered the leading candidate, and rival opposition candidate Martin Fayulu denounced the victory as fraud. The French foreign minister urged calm and called on African leaders and organizations to ensure that the proclaimed results are the real election results. The international community has been closely watching the Congo election. ___ 7:50 a.m. Supporters of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi took to the streets of Congos capital, Kinshasa, Thursday morning to celebrate his win in the presidential election, that was announced by the electoral commission. ___ 7:30 .am. The candidate of Congos ruling party, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who came third in the official results, has through his spokeswoman congratulated the winner, Felix Tshisekedi. Me Aime Kilolo, spokeswoman for Shadary, said the electoral commissions announcement of Tshisekedi as the winner was the will of the people. She said Shadary would make a statement on the results in a few hours. ___ 6:55 a.m. Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu denounced the Congo election results as an electoral hold up that were rigged, fabricated and invented and do not reflect the truth of the ballots. He called on the Congolese people to rise as one man to protect victory. Fayulu also called on the Catholic Church to release the results it got from its team of 40,000 observers who recorded voting tallies posted at each of the polling centres. Last week, the Catholic Church said their observations showed a clear winner. Several diplomats briefed on the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that the figures compiled by the Catholic Church showed that Fayulu won an absolute majority of the votes. Two diplomats also said that all major observation missions, including from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, showed similar results with Fayulu the winner. How long are we going to negotiate results? asked Fayulu, of what he said was a deal made to declare Tshisekedi the winner. In 2006, Jean-Pierre Bembas victory was stolen, in 2011 Etienne Tshisekedis victory was stolen. In 2018 victory wont be stolen from Martin Fayulu. ___ 6:50 a.m. Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has been declared winner of the long-delayed, disorganized and controversial presidential election, in an announcement by the electoral commission early Thursday that surprised many, as the vast country braced for possible protests over alleged rigging. Tshisekedi, who received more than 7 million votes, or 38 per cent, according to the official results, had not been widely considered the leading candidate and is relatively untested. The son of late opposition leader Etienne, who pursued Congos presidency for many years, he startled Congolese shortly before the election by breaking away from an opposition effort to unite behind a single candidate. Tshisekedis victory was quickly denounced by opposition leader Martin Fayulu, who claimed the results were rigged. Fayulu denounced the results as an electoral hold up and urged protests. BEIRUT, LEBANONWhenever her father beat her, or bound her wrists and ankles to punish her for perceived disobedience, the Saudi teenager dreamed of escape, she said. As desperate as she was to leave, however, the same question always stopped her short: How would she get out? If she ran away anywhere within the country, Saudi police would just send her home, she feared. Saudi law barred her from travelling abroad without her fathers permission. But during a family vacation in Turkey when she was 17, Shahad al-Muhaimeed saw her chance, and bolted. While her family slept, she took a taxi across the border to Georgia and declared herself a refugee, leaving Saudi Arabia behind to start a new life. I now live the way I want to, said Muhaimeed, 19, by phone from her new home in Sweden. I live in a good place that has womens rights. World attention was drawn to the status of Saudi women after another teenager, Rahaf Alqunun, was stopped in Thailand last week while trying to make it to Australia to seek refuge there. After an international social media campaign, the United Nations declared her a refugee Wednesday. She left Thailand on Friday and was flying to Canada, where officials said she had been granted asylum. The phenomenon of women trying to flee Saudi Arabia is not new, coming to the worlds attention as early as the 1970s, when a Saudi princess was caught trying to flee the kingdom with her lover. The couple were tried for adultery and executed. But the number of young women considering and taking the enormous risk to flee Saudi Arabia appears to have grown in recent years, rights groups say, as women frustrated by social and legal constraints at home turn to social media to help plan, and sometimes document, their efforts to escape. Read More: Trudeau says Canada will grant asylum to Saudi woman Australia praises Thai action on Saudi woman seeking asylum Canada should welcome Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun All these women who 15 years ago would have never been heard from can now find a way to reach out, said Adam Coogle, who monitors Saudi Arabia for Human Rights Watch. Some who dare to leave slip out quietly, travelling to the United States or elsewhere before applying for asylum which is never a sure thing. Since being stopped in Turkey in 2017, two sisters, Ashwaq and Areej Hamoud, 31 and 29 respectively, have been fighting a deportation order in court, saying they fear for their lives if they return to Saudi Arabia. For other women, like Alqunun, publicity played a key role in their successful escapes, but even global attention does not guarantee that a woman will not be repatriated. In 2017, Dina Ali Lasloom, 24, begged for help in a widely viewed online video after she was stopped while transiting in the Philippines. She was held at the airport until family members arrived and took her back to Saudi Arabia, where it is unclear what happened to her. The women who make it out must contend not only with their families efforts to force them home, but also with the Saudi governments extensive and well-financed efforts to do so, often involving local diplomats pressing for repatriation. Women who are repatriated can face criminal charges of parental disobedience or harming the kingdoms reputation. As Saudi women, we are still treated as property that belongs to the state, said Moudi Aljohani, who moved to the United States as a student and has applied for asylum. It doesnt matter if the woman has any political views or not. They are going to go after her and forcibly return her. The ways women choose to flee vary, but interviews with five who succeeded showed common themes. Many had discussed their plans in private chat groups with other women who had already fled or were also considering it. A few months before Alqunun left her family during a trip to Kuwait, for instance, a friend of hers had fled and reached Australia as a refugee and was giving her advice about escaping. Many fled from Turkey, a popular Saudi vacation spot, to Georgia, which Saudis can enter without a visa. And many aimed for Australia because they could apply for visas online, the only option for women who could not get to a foreign embassy. Some said they had fled because of abuse by male relatives and because they felt that the kingdom offered nowhere to turn for protection or justice. Others wanted out of the kingdoms strict, Islamic social codes, which limit what women can wear, which jobs they can pursue and with whom they can socialize. And all spoke of wanting to escape the kingdoms male guardianship laws, which give men great power over the lives of female relatives. It is male guardianship that made us flee from Saudi Arabia, said Muhaimeed, in Sweden. That is the biggest reason that the girls flee. In Saudi Arabia, all women are required to have a male guardian, whose permission they need to get married, travel and undergo some medical procedures. The guardian is often a father or husband, but can be a brother or even a son. The kingdoms day-to-day ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has vowed to make life better for Saudi women. He defanged the once-feared religious police, who harassed women deemed inappropriately dressed, and last year he lifted the ban on women driving. Saudi women can now attend mixed concerts and pursue careers off limits to their mothers. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... When asked about guardianship laws last year, the prince said that Saudi Arabia had to figure out a way to treat this that doesnt harm families and doesnt harm the culture. Those moves have increased his popularity among Saudi women, many of whom say guardianship is not a burden because their male relatives take good care of them. Others escape the rules by seeking jobs in neighbouring countries like the United Arab Emirates, where social rules are more lax. But the systems critics say it gives no recourse to women with controlling or abusive guardians. Thats what sent Nourah, 20, fleeing for Australia. Her father had divorced her mother before Nourah was born, and she was raised mostly by her uncles, she said. Her father sometimes abused her, but her efforts to get help fell on deaf ears. Last year, her boyfriend wanted to marry her, but her family refused because they perceived him as coming from a lower social class, said Nourah, who spoke on the condition that only her first name be used for her safety. Her father began to arrange her marriage to a man she did not know and who wanted to bar her from working. In October, a day before her prospective groom arrived, she ran away. Saudi men use a government website to manage the women they have guardianship over, granting or denying them the right to travel, for example, and even setting up notifications so that they receive a text message when their wife or daughter boards a plane. To flee, Nourah used her fathers phone to give herself permission to travel, disabled his notifications and flew to Turkey. From there she travelled to Georgia, then bought a ticket to Australia via the United Arab Emirates, although she feared that the Emirati government would catch her in transit and return her to Saudi Arabia. To me that was like a suicide mission, but I had no other option, she said. But she made her connection and safely landed in Sydney, where she applied for asylum. Once abroad, the women often face barrages of insults and death threats from family members and other Saudis who think they have shamed the country. While human rights groups understand why women would want to flee bad situations, they worry that doing so could put them in grave danger. For the few who succeed, there are many who fail, and to be sent back after this puts the women in a really dangerous situation, said Coogle of Human Rights Watch. He said it is hard to know how many women have fled the kingdom because some who leave never seek help from aid groups, and those who do reach out sometimes fall out of contact before it is clear if they actually made an attempt to leave or, if they did, where they ended up. He said he had been contacted by many women inside Saudi Arabia who wanted help getting out. His organization did not help them do so, he said, although it would help them seek legal protection if they were outside Saudi Arabia. Speaking from a hotel room in Bangkok where she was waiting under guard to learn if another nation would grant her asylum, Alqunun was already thinking about her new life. She wanted to go to college to improve her English and study architecture, she said. She did not expect the transition to life in a country she had never visited to be easy, but she had no regrets. There is no escape other than fleeing, she said. There is no other way. Read more about: Flu has sickened between 6 and 7 million people in the United States so far this season, sending about half of them to the doctor for fever, chills and other influenza symptoms, according to new estimates released Friday by federal health officials. Of those who sought medical care, 69,000 to 84,000 people have been hospitalized, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Agency officials are providing the estimates for the first time during flu season as a way to underscore the risks of serious complications of the respiratory virus and to encourage people to vaccinated. In the past, CDC provided these estimates at the end of each flu season. We decided that this year, we would try to release these preliminary numbers of illnesses each week so that we could give people a better picture, said Alicia Fry, who heads CDCs epidemiology and prevention branch in the influenza division. CDC releases a report each week on seasonal influenza in the United States, with detailed graphs and charts. But until Friday, the reports did not provide data on how many people have gotten sick, gone to the doctor, been hospitalized or died. The agency released that information at the end of each season after analyzing the data. The preliminary figures released Friday dont include estimates of flu-related deaths, which officials said will be provided at a later time, when there is sufficient data to support a more precise estimate. CDC officials hope these estimates, which they plan to update weekly, will help get out their public health message. Flu season is not over, and its not too late to get vaccinated, Fry said. A flu shot can prevent infections and also reduce the severity of complications, including death, from the disease. Even if someone gets sick with flu, antiviral drugs may be an option, she said, especially for people who are at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Antiviral drugs can lessen symptoms and shorten the time someone is sick by a day or two, clinicians say. They can also prevent complications like pneumonia. Were well into the flu season, Fry said. Flu is widespread in 30 states, according to the latest data, and the season is expected to last for several more weeks. Its too early to know how bad the 2018-2019 flu season will be. But it does not look anywhere as severe as last year, she said. Still, people should not assume that they dont need a flu shot, because influenza can cause serious illness each season, she said. During the previous flu season, the virus killed and hospitalized more people in the United States than any seasonal influenza in decades. CDC estimated that it killed about 80,000 people. The previous high for a regular flu season, based on analyses dating back more than three decades, was 56,000. It also killed 185 children last season, a record for seasonal influenza. So far this season, a total of 16 pediatric deaths have been reported to CDC. The figure doesnt include the immigrant boy from Guatemala who tested positive for influenza and died on the southern border with Mexico while in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security. A final report on that case is pending. CDC doesnt know the exact number of people who have been sick and affected by influenza because in most parts of the country, it is not on the list of diseases that must be reported to health authorities. Agency officials use a mathematical model based on rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Read more about: WASHINGTONThe House broke for the weekend Friday, all but ensuring that the partial government shutdown would become the longest in U.S. history, while President Trump continued his efforts to sway public opinion on the need for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. The Democratic-led House held its final votes of the week Friday, including on a measure to ensure that federal workers who are furloughed receive back pay once the government reopens. The measure, which passed the Senate on Thursday, now goes to Trump for his signature. The House also passed another bill that would reopen more shuttered government departments but it was already declared dead-on-arrival in the GOP-controlled Senate because of a veto threat from Trump. About 800,000 workers missed a paycheck Friday as the impasse between Trump and Democrats stretched into its 21st day. Without a dramatic turn of events, the shutdown would become one for the record books at midnight. As of late Friday morning, there were no signs of serious negotiations underway. Trump took to Twitter to tout his high-profile trip to the border on Thursday, writing that I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion! The Democrats, Cryin Chuck and Nancy dont know how bad and dangerous it is for our ENTIRE COUNTRY, Trump wrote, referencing Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Trump asserted that without a wall or steel barrier Our Country cannot be safe. Pelosi said Friday that Democrats have not felt any political pressure to give in on Trumps wall demands. No, except to stay firm, she said. She dismissed Trumps negotiating style as one destined to fail. His version of a negotiation is do everything I want, she said. Other Democrats pushed back in television appearances and speeches on the floor. One person is responsible for shutting down government: Donald Trump, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) told his colleagues. He argued that Democrats are open to tightening border security but were not going to waste money on what he characterized as an antiquated approach advocated by Trump. Hoyer referred to comments last month by Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) in which he described Trumps call for a border wall as a metaphor. If it is a metaphor for security, were in, Hoyer said. House Republicans criticized Democrats for going through the motions of passing the latest in bills to reopen parts of the government unrelated to border security. A bill taken up Friday would reopen the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service and several other agencies. The bill passed 240-179, with 10 Republicans joining all Democrats in the chamber supporting it. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) called the exercise a charade because Senate leaders have already indicated they dont plan to vote on the bill, and Trump has said he wont sign it. If anybody thinks this is accomplishing anything, its not, Cole said. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Weve wasted the week because our friends cant sit down and split the difference, he added. I dont think anyone looks particularly good in this ... This will end another sad week in this chamber. The bill to ensure workers receive back pay passed 411-7. All those who opposed it were Republicans. As part of an effort to continue to build a public case for the wall, Vice President Pence spoke Friday with U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees, assuring them, Were going to build that wall. Let me assure you, that in a challenging time ... Im here to say we are with you and we are going to continue to stand with you until you have the resources and reforms to do your jobs, Pence said. Later Friday afternoon, Trump was scheduled to hold what was billed as a roundtable discussion on border security at the White House with state, local and community leaders. Amid the stalemate, the White House has begun laying the groundwork for a declaration of national emergency to build Trumps border wall. The administration is eyeing unused money in the Army Corps of Engineers budget, specifically a disaster spending bill passed by Congress last year that includes $13.9 billion allocated but not spent for civil works projects, The Post reported Thursday. The list includes dozens of flood-control projects in areas affected by recent natural disasters, including the Texas coastline inundated by Hurricane Harvey and parts of Puerto Rico battered by Hurricane Maria. The military construction budget is also being looked at as a potential source for unspent funds, with billions more potentially available there. The notion of declaring a national emergency to bypass Congress has divided Republicans, some of whom see it as an encroachment on congressional authority. On Friday, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello strongly objected to the idea of diverting money intended for hurricane mitigation. No wall should be funded by the pain and suffering of citizens of the United States who have suffered a tragedy and loss through a natural disaster, he said in a statement. Read more about: A repentant Michigan gun smuggler who was responsible for putting dozens of handguns into the hands of GTA-area criminals has been sentenced to eight years in prison. The judge accepted a joint submission from the prosecution and defence. Reading from his decision Friday, Ontario Justice Riun Shandler said Randy Jackson, 35, bears some responsibility for contributing to the gun shootings and resultant tragedies that are seemingly a daily occurrence in this city now. Any sentence must clearly denounce this type of behaviour and send a message to those who might engage in similar activity that they will face a significant jail sentence. On Monday, Jackson pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking connected to four smuggled guns three discovered in his pants as he crossed the U.S.-Canada border in the NEXUS lane. But as part of a plea agreement, Jackson admitted that over a nine-month period in 2017, he bought a total of 67 guns in Michigan and brought them to Canada to be sold on the black market. Fifteen of the firearms have been recovered at crime scenes in the GTA area. Two of them have been used in shootings. He could be under no illusion that these guns were being acquired for lawful or innocent purposes, Shandler said. He would have been well aware of the lethality associated with firearms as a specialist with the National Guard who had experienced active duty overseas. Court heard Jackson was a member of the Michigan National Guard and at the time of his arrest was working as a patient attendant at a hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. Jackson, who has two children with a woman in London, Ont., went to gun stores on 40 separate occasions to purchase firearms in order to bring them to Canada, even renting a storage locker to store them south of the border. His actions were premeditated and repeated over and over again, bringing 67 firearms into Canada, using his status as NEXUS cardholder to avoid detection, and 52 of those firearms are still in the hands of criminals, Shandler noted. Det.-Sgt. Rob Didanieli, head of the Toronto police firearms enforcement unit, said he assumes Jackson, who had never been in trouble with the police before, was likely motivated by the lucrative payoff. Guns purchased in the United States for between $200 and $500 (U.S.) can sell in Canada for as much as $4,000. Didanieli said he appreciates Jackson is remorseful, but now the Toronto Police Service, and the guns and gangs unit, has to turn its mind to how we recover these 52 guns and well be getting them for years to come. On Monday, the American told court hes troubled by the role his guns played in last years spike in gun violence. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The judge gave Jackson two years and 3.5 months credit for time served in pretrial custody, including four months for the harsh conditions he experienced during lockdowns in jail. Once hes released, Jackson will be deported and never allowed to return to Canada. Twenty-six-year-old Ian Sinclair has found the perfect basement apartment in the west end. Its close to transit, with its own entrance. He even gets along well with his landlords, who happen to be his parents. Essentially Im their basement tenant but not paying rent, says Sinclair, who works full-time in the public sector. He moved back into the house he grew up in near Runnymede Station after graduating university in 2017. I definitely feel fortunate and privileged, he says of his situation. I have many friends from school whose parents arent from the city so they didnt have a choice. As Torontos housing crisis continues, experts are seeing a new divide taking hold among the younger generation: those who can live with their parents and save for a down payment and those who cant. Read More: Parents of millennials providing more than financial assistance on home buying Millennials rank affordable housing among top concerns for upcoming provincial election, real estate study says Toronto-area millennials want their own backyards, report says Across the city almost 35 per cent of Sinclairs peers aged 20 to 34 live at home, according to 2016 census data. But those rates are higher in wealthier neighbourhoods, such as Runnymede-Bloor West Village (almost 40 per cent). Other affluent areas with lots of larger single family homes also have higher rates of millennials living at home, such as Centennial Scarborough (69 per cent), and Kingsway South in Etobicoke (61 per cent). The highest percentage is found in one of the citys wealthiest communities, Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills, where a whopping 75 per cent of young adults are sticking with mom and dad. I see living with parents as a form of privilege, says University of Waterloo assistant professor Nancy Worth, who studied the issue in a 2017 report called GenY at Home. Worth said living at home is also increasingly being seen as a smart financial move that sets younger people up for success, rather than the old stereotype of the lazy millennial trapped in their parents basement delaying adulthood. Its sort of introducing a kind of inequality within a generation, rather than just across a generation. The trend is not only about money, Worth says, as many boomer parents and millennial kids have a closer relationship than previous generations. Precarious work also pushes people back home, as its hard to lock into a 30-year mortgage or even a yearlong lease on a six month contract. But without affordable housing options for younger people, its the family who steps up, and that impacts who is able to then save and buy future real estate, she says. If you cant give your kids $50,000 but you can give them their room back, especially in your large single family home, youre essentially giving them a savings of rent which can be quite significant in a place like Toronto. In the Bridle Path, notoriously one of Torontos toniest addresses, adult children living with their parents just makes sense in terms of pure square footage, says Barry Cohen, owner of ReMax Barry Cohen Homes Inc., who sells homes in the area. Its quite common through the Bridle Path because the homes are so large and extravagant, he said, noting there are even a few multi-generational homes in the neighbourhood, with features such as separate entrances, designed for grandma and grandpa as well as mom and dad and adult kids, Cohen notes. Why not live in the lap of luxury? The lowest rates of young adults living at home are in neighbourhoods along the waterfront and financial district, like Niagara (4 per cent), and the Bay Street corridor (7 per cent), where smaller, newer, condo units make multi-generational living crowded. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Youre in 450, 500 square feet, you dont have room for parents, you dont have room for a cat, says Nora Spinks, chief executive officer at the Vanier Institute of the Family, with a laugh. In a city where the average detached home costs about $1.3 million, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board, and the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is now more than $2,000, say figures from market research firm Urbanation, cost is the biggest factor for many. It certainly was for Sinclair, whos saving the tens of thousands of dollars a year on rent, at least, for a future down payment, by living with his parents in the west end. But there are other reasons for living with mom and dad, such as taking care of a sick parent, or coming from a culture where its more accepted, says Spinks. Amani Tarud, 24, who grew up in Chile and has Middle Eastern heritage, says its normal and even encouraged for young single people to live with their parents there. Its a very North American ideal that you have to leave once you turn 18, she says. Tarud lives in a two-bedroom apartment near Yonge and Eglinton with her mom, twin teenage sisters and the family dog. She graduated from the University of Toronto last June but is sticking around as long as she can to save a nest egg for rent and work on paying off her student loan. Even though it means sharing a bedroom with her mom. Does it get in the way of social and romantic life a little bit? Yeah sure, but its not terrible by any means at all. Tarud, who is working in child and respite care, says a place of her own would be way out of reach financially. And there are perks such as being able to take care of each other when they get sick. If I have to live with a roommate it might as well be here, because at least its someone that I get along with, she says. Urban planner Cheryll Case lived with her parents in the Etobicoke neighbourhood of Kingsview Village The Westway (where 49 per cent of single adults aged 20 to 34 do the same) for a year after graduating from Ryerson University. She too feels lucky she was able to save up a good cushion for rent before moving into a townhouse with her boyfriend and a roommate. But, she notes, there are many neighbourhoods where if you want to remain in the area the only real choice is to stay in the house you grew up in, because of a lack of affordable housing. Building more missing middle units across the city, lowrise apartments and townhomes that are a more affordable alternative to the two extremes of highrises and single detached homes, would help with supply issues, she says. Its a great privilege to live with your parents and you save money, but its a great privilege to be able to live on your own if you so choose, she says. When first arriving in Santa Monica, the city seems like a vision of the future depicted in Sci-Fi films, with people zipping about on electric scooters in the California sun. One of the companies behind the scooters, Bird, has recently begun lobbying Toronto city councillors and the mayors office, so this future may be on its way to Toronto and other Canadian cities. Recently I rode a scooter in Santa Monica, a city dubbed The E-Scooter Capital of the World as there are multiple start-up companies populating the oceanside citys sidewalks. City administrators there have been willing to pilot them while other jurisdictions have not. I downloaded the app for Lime, one brand of scooters, but I could have also used my Uber or Lyft apps as those ride-hailing companies have also started providing e-scooters. Once registered, the app provides a map showing the nearest scooters and how much farther they can go before running out of power. When first stepping on one it doesnt start by simply squeezing the throttle: it requires a little push with your leg before the motor starts. Its like a reminder that able-bodied people can get around on their own power, as weve done forever. When the motor does kick in it really zips. Since riders stand upright on scooters the closest equivalent might be standing on an escalator or moving sidewalk, but those move much slower. With top speeds of around 23 kilometres per hour, the speed is substantial so theres volatility to riding them, though that feeling probably fades with more experience. The scooter wheels are quite small though and I felt all the bumps even though Santa Monica streets, free of salt and snowploughs, are quite smooth. As any cyclist knows, Toronto streets are often jarring, with potholes that can sprain wrists and streetcar tracks that can catch even a conscientious rider at the wrong angle, so the experience here will be quite different. Toronto skateboarders seem to manage all right but theyre a hearty bunch and, most importantly, self-propelled. With e-scooters a lot of casual riders will be on these motorized devices. Predictably, in some places scooters are being piloted, injuries are way up. As a mobility device, I cant envision many older folks using them, or anybody even a little nervous about moving around quickly while standing upright. Admittedly I did feel a little old riding one as theres something infantilizing about these scooters, perhaps because they look so much like the kind kids ride. This is a subjective feeling of course, perhaps as wrong as opponents of bicycles who say they are just for kids. Santa Monica has some rules for scooters that include no sidewalk riding and a requirement for helmets, though there was much flaunting of them. Even when theyre not moving, you see the scooters everywhere. Sometimes theyre lined up orderly on the sidewalk inside painted boxes the city has reserved for them. More often than not though theyre haphazardly parked on sidewalks, sometimes lying on their sides in a pile with others. Occasionally, theyre in bushes and on lawns. At one point I saw a man leave his battery-depleted scooter on the wheelchair ramp that led down to the beach in a place that would prove troublesome for anybody trying to use the ramp for its intended purpose. Any random person can also easily move a locked scooter, so keeping them corralled will be difficult. This is where the futuristic feeling of the scooters gives way to annoyance at all the clutter. With a few exceptions, Toronto has notoriously narrow sidewalks so its easy to envision e-scooters immediately blocking them here. Theres also the unseen issue of how the scooters are charged up. Like with Uber or food delivery companies, theres an army of contract workers who collect depleted scooters in their car, take them home, charge them up and return them to designated spots. Though there are reports of it being a lucrative part-time job for high school students, its yet another aspect of the precarious gig economy that is marketed as urban infrastructure. Riding the scooters was undeniably fun and a single 30-minute, 3.7-km ride around Santa Monica cost me US $6.39, but is it a mobility solution to some of Torontos problems? Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Our streets and sidewalks here are already so crowded that another mode of transportation vying for the scarce real estate seems destined for problems. Walking is community and built-in exercise, but human nature will usually pick the easier way to get around. Those who do walk also face the prospect of people moving much faster than them sharing the same or nearby space. Finding a balance for e-scooters in the city will be a challenge. Three years after the suicide of a Toronto police officer prompted the provinces police watchdog to promise a systemic review of officer mental health, the review still hasnt begun. The problem, according to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), is a lack of resources and the fact that two other systemic reviews are already underway. Back in 2016, director Gerry McNeilly said that a growing number of complaints he was hearing about police mental health issues signalled a pressing need to tackle the problem, province-wide. So one week after the suicide of a Toronto officer, McNeilly said he would employ a special tool of his office to launch a systemic review of officer mental health and suicides, examining police services across Ontario and making recommendations for change. I think were setting up officers to fail, McNeilly said in an interview in February 2016, saying he hoped his office would officially announce and launch the systemic review mid-year. In the years since, police officer suicides have continued, with a spike in 2018 prompting Ontarios chief coroner Dirk Huyer to launch a review of nine deaths. Critics say that while they welcome that review, it has long been apparent that a detailed, provincial examination such as the one committed to by the OIPRD was warranted. Read more: Ontario police watchdog to check on mental-illness help for cops Ontarios chief coroner launching panel to review suicides of nine police officers Retired Peel police officer countering mental health stigma among first responders with new peer-to-peer program Its a little too late for us, and its a little sad that it took this number of deaths for them to spring into action, said Heidi Rogers, whose husband, Toronto police Sgt. Richard Rogers, died by suicide in 2014. When she complained to the OIPRD about the circumstances surrounding her husbands death, which she says included severe anxiety and bullying, she says she was assured the forthcoming systemic review into officer mental health would tackle the issues. The delay, Rogers said, has sent a message that you dont warrant our attention. Spokesperson Rosemary Parker stressed that the OIPRD director continues to be very concerned about suicides, mental health and operational stress among police officers. But the review has not been launched due to resourcing issues and two other ongoing reviews. It has always been the intention of the Director to address a range of issues regarding officer mental health and operational stress in a systemic review, should he be in a position to launch one, she said. She noted that McNeilly has, in the mean time, spoken with current and former police officers affected by mental health challenges, and families of officers who have died by suicide, and the majority support a systemic review. Parker added that such a review would help in addressing issues police services face with the number of staff off due to operational stress. The Star asked Ontarios Ministry of the Attorney General if it would consider providing additional resources to the OIPRD in order to help facilitate a review of police officer mental health in the wake of the suicides. The Office of the Independent Police Review Director is an independent agency and conducts reviews independent of government, a spokesperson wrote in an email Thursday in response. Last week Huyer announced that his office would review the 2018 suicides of nine active, or recently retired, police officers. The number is far greater than we have seen in many years, he said, noting that in that last few years there have generally been fewer than five. The coroners office has not released the identities of the officers, but one was a Waterloo Regional officer. None of the 2018 suicides were Toronto police officers. Huyer hopes the review will have an impact across the province, saying his panel will look for systemic approaches to police wellness and identify reasons why distressed officers arent getting the help they need. But the coroners review is limiting its examination to the affected police services of the nine officers who died, unlike a broader review that would be undertaken by the OIPRD. Huyer notes, however, that he may ask other police services for their wellness programs for officers. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Former Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin said a province-wide, independent probe is needed. Marins 2012 report, In the Line of Duty, concluded the OPP and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services were reluctant to support officers suffering from mental health challenges connected to workplace stress. In an interview, Marin said he believes little has changed since the release of his report, which made recommendations ranging from counteracting stigma to collecting information about police services mental health supports. He noted that three OPP officers died by suicide within a three week-span this past summer, prompting the provincial police force to launch an internal review. Its hard to say whether or not, had this been addressed more seriously, these suicides would have been preventable, Marin said. But there are many that feel they have been given the short shrift. I dont think this is a problem thats going away any time soon, he said. The ability to perform a broad examination of a policing issue in Ontario is among the OIPRDs greatest powers, and the work undertaken through systemic reviews has the most potential impact on policing in Ontario, the agency said in its 2017-2018 annual report. The 10-year-old agency has completed three systemic reviews to date, including a comprehensive and scathing report on Thunder Bay Police death investigations, released last month. The watchdog is in the midst of two others, examining policies around strip searches and police use of force against people in mental health crisis. In his recent review of police oversight in Ontario, Court of Appeal Justice Michael Tulloch specifically highlighted the importance of OIPRD systemic reviews, saying inquiries into policing issues should not be wholly left to the whim of the government of the day. The OIPRD should be properly resourced and funded to study and report on systemic issues in policing, Tulloch wrote in his report. Among Tullochs recommendations was that the agency receive funding and resources to bolster its investigations. When the previous Liberal government passed its Safer Ontario Act omnibus policing legislation which acted in part on Tullochs report the OIPRD began implementing plans that included hiring more staff. But additional resources for the agency are now in limbo, due to a hiring freeze across the public service in June, and then the decision by Doug Fords Tory government this summer to halt and review the Safer Ontario Act. Parker, the OIPRD spokesperson, said the agency is not in a position to spend the entirety its 2019 budget of $11.8 million, partly due to the expenditure freeze, but also because the agency is awaiting the governments review of the Safer Ontario Act, she said. Rogers stresses that she is pleased Huyer has launched his review, saying it will at least garner more attention to the issue of police mental health. Although she feels nothing has changed in the years since her husbands death, she is buoyed by the belief that the younger generation of police officers are more willing to speak out if they are facing a mental health challenge stemming from the job. Whereas the older guys, who have been around for a while, their idea of handling (mental health issues) was to go out drinking after a shift, she said. With Star files The Special Investigations Unit has determined that no criminal charges should be laid against a Toronto police officer who shot and seriously injured a 25-year-old man during an attempted robbery a year ago. The man was shot on Dec. 1, 2017 while trying to flee from police following a home invasion in Scarborough, the SIU said in a news release Thursday. He suffered a gunshot wound to his right arm. The agencys director, Tony Loparco, has determined that the police officer was warranted in firing his weapon and used no more force than was necessary to effect his lawful purpose. On all of the information the (subject officer) had in his possession at the time he shot and injured the complainant, I find that the (shooting officer), subjectively, had reasonable grounds to believe that his life was at risk from the complainant, Loparco wrote in the release Thursday. The SIU acts as Ontarios police watchdog and investigates when there is a serious injury, death or allegation of sexual assault involving police officers. Police received a call that December night at around 11:15 p.m. about a home robbery. In footage obtained from a security camera at the front door of the home, three men in hooded sweatshirts can be seen at the entrance, the SIU said. Two of the officers dispatched to the residence located the men and followed them toward Bendale Junior Public School, near McCowan Rd. and Lawrence Ave. E. Two of the men ran into the schoolyard, and the officers got out of their cruiser and chased them. One officer was pursuing the 25-year-old man beside a group of portable classrooms when the man sprayed the officer with bear mace, the SIU said. He later turned toward the second officer pointing an object in a similar manner to that of shooting a firearm, according to the SIU. The officer shot at the man multiple times, and the man fled. He later raised his arm for a second time and the officer shot at him again. The man continued to run and hid behind some garbage bins, where he was arrested by the two officers. The man told the SIU that he wasnt in possession of a firearm and he had not pointed anything at the officers. He said the canister of bear mace had discharged accidentally because of a flimsy trigger, and that he had dropped the canister behind the portable classrooms, where it accidentally discharged a second time. Physical evidence found in the investigation contradicts the mans version of events, the SIU ruled. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... An expert medical opinion concluded that due to the positioning of the bullet in the mans arm he had to be facing the officer when he was shot not running away as he said. There were five SIU investigators and three SIU forensic investigators assigned to this case. There was one subject officer, and three witness officers. Claire Floody is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @claire_floody Rhianna Jackson-Kelso is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @RhiannaJK Read more about: Anywhere from 6,000 to 8,000 entrants, experts believe, are drawing straws on Friday for the chance to open a cannabis store in Ontario. Only 25 of them will get a shot at opening for business on April 1. The provinces lottery system is designed to keep bud mostly in the hands of the private market without overburdening Canadas thinly stretched supply of legal weed. Its a break from other parts of the country, where cannabis sales are largely controlled by the government. Each province and territory has experimented with its own system of regulating, selling and supplying weed to its residents. Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have also decided to leave cannabis retail mostly in the hands of the private sector. For that reason, prospective budtenders in Ontario should look west for advice on how to survive what has become an intensely competitive industry with tight profit margins. Have your say If I was an Ontario operator, Id be looking at my counterparts in Alberta, said Mitchell Osak, managing director of business consulting and technology services at Grant Thornton LLP. Alberta is the next largest market using private retailers, though there are some key differences. Ontario intends from the start to restrict the number of licences itll issue; Alberta didnt initially do so. Read more: Ontarios cannabis retail lottery will have just 25 winners. But is it a smart approach, or a golden ticket to nowhere? N.B. cannabis retailer lays off staffers as operational needs become clear Toronto council opts in on pot shops just as Ontario limits number to 25 because of supply shortage Osak said Ontarios decision to restrict the number of cannabis stores itll authorize isnt necessarily a disadvantage, given the ongoing supply shortages across the country. Going slow and steady can offer a stability less restrained retail models lack. Theres no point in opening 500 stores if you dont have enough product for 500 stores, Osak said. Allowing an unlimited number of stores to open in Ontario, which accounts for between 40 to 45 per cent of Canadas demand, would further strain Canadas cannabis supply, Osak added, potentially affecting other provinces. The 25 winners of Fridays lottery will be spread out across the province, according to population density: Toronto has five spots, while all of northern Ontario will have just two. The lucky entrants will still have to apply through the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario to open a brick-and-mortar storefront. Going the private sale route has been touted as the best option for cannabis retail by officials in both Alberta and Ontario. Osak said it might be a better bet for the long run, but keeping cannabis stores under public ownership has its advantages, too. From an execution standpoint, it seems to have gone much better initially in public models, he said. But ultimately, itll grow much faster and be much better for the consumer in private-sector markets like Ontario and Alberta. However, theres one major outlier: British Columbia. The entrenchment of black- and grey-market cannabis operations in B.C., as well as the sluggish rate of legal cannabis store openings, means the province has a chimera of private and public sale systems thats been difficult to leverage. They have a quasi-legal illegal market, Osak said. They have a couple of publicly owned stores and now, recently, a couple of private (ones). So they have a mixed bag of everything. A lot of questions about Ontarios cannabis licensing system remain unanswered, Osak said, especially when it comes to late penalties. Retailers are required to submit a $50,000 letter of credit as part of their application. If they arent open by April 1, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario can take $12,500 of that. Retailers who still arent open by April 15 will lose another $12,500. What isnt clear is whether stores that have passed all of the necessary inspections and trained their staff appropriately could suffer these penalties if theyre faced with an unreliable supply of weed and are forced to close. This whole process is clouded in uncertainty, Osak said. Heres a look at how the rest of Canada has handled brick-and-mortar cannabis stores and how theyve fared since legalization: British Columbia The process: While B.C. isnt limiting the number of private cannabis retailers, applicants must go through several steps in order to officially obtain a licence, including paying an application fee of $7,500 and receiving approval from their local government or Indigenous nation. What worked: In B.C., most cannabis users who couldnt go to the only provincially owned store in Kamloops had to buy from the provincially operated online store in the first two weeks of legalization. It proved immensely popular, with reports that the province was low on stock just 24 hours after launch. Private retailers came a few weeks later, with Tamarack Cannabis Boutique in Kimberley being the first out of the gate. What didnt: Regulations have limited stores to selling products exclusively from the provincial wholesaler. As a result, stores cannot carry cannabis-based creams and edibles; Tamarack owner Tamara Duggan said those were some of the most popular items at her Kimberley store. The roll-out of stores in other municipalities has been much slower, with businesses complaining that the licensing process is overly complex. In Vancouver, a hub of cannabis use where several illegal stores are still in operation, three months passed before the first two private retailers opened their doors to long lineups from enthusiastic customers. Jaclynn Pehota, a regulatory consultant for Evergreen Cannabis, said the process for private licensing is not particularly intuitive or user-friendly, and many small businesses may not have had the resources to get through. Alberta The process: Alberta has taken a relatively hands-off approach to selling weed, similar to their privatized system for liquor stores. Applicants looking to open a storefront must secure approval from municipal authorities and submit to an application process (which includes background checks) from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). There is no cap on the number of stores allowed within the province, although the AGLC expected to see around 250 store applications within the first year of legalization. However, privatization doesnt extend to the internet: The only legal website to buy weed in Alberta is the AGLC-run albertacannabis.org. What worked: Alberta had 17 storefronts open on Oct. 17. The Edmonton area alone had a dozen ready to go on legalization day, while Calgary had two. There are several possible reasons why the provincial capital outpaced Cowtown so quickly, including an existing medical cannabis industry (Auroras headquarters are based in Edmonton) and relaxed public consumption laws. Albertans also have a healthy appetite for bud: Nova Cannabis, a chain with stores across the province, pulled in $1.3 million in sales within the first five days of legalization. What didnt work: As with other provinces, Albertas brick-and-mortar stores and albertacannabis.org found themselves starved of weed just a month after legalization. In late November, the AGLC announced a moratorium on granting new store licences until supply issues could be resolved, saying it had only received 20 per cent of the cannabis it had ordered from licensed producers. Several stores, including Numo Cannabis in northern Edmonton, had to close for weeks due to a lack of weed, while Urban Canna, a small chain in Calgary, found itself unable to open at all during the first month of legalization. Some Alberta municipalities have also vetoed pot stores, and Calgary has found itself bogged down with appeals against cannabis stores within city limits. Atlantic Canada The process: In Nova Scotia, the government-run Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) is the only authorized pot seller. On legalization day, the crown corporation opened 11 cannabis boutiques inside existing liquor stores, one stand-alone cannabis shop in Halifax and online sales. What worked: When the shops opened in cities and towns around the province on Oct. 17, there were long lines as clerks handled almost 13,000 transactions and sold more than $660,000 in products. Those lines persisted at some locations for several days. NSLC spokesperson Beverly Ware said in an email that the corporation was very pleased with the implementation and that it answered the publics demand for local producers shortly after legalization. There werent any local licensed producers in the province on Oct. 17, but two have since received the green light from Health Canada. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... What didnt work: Several NSLC cannabis stores closed early because of shortages. As in Nova Scotia, the rest of Atlantic Canada opted for government-run cannabis retailers. New Brunswicks retailer, Cannabis NB, faced similar supply challenges to the NSLC and recently laid off more than 60 employees from its 20 stores. Cannabis NB spokesperson Marie-Andree Bolduc told The Canadian Press that it was difficult to say whether the supply problems were linked to the layoffs. The decision is representative of normal new retail industry operations and long-term fiscal responsibility, Bolduc said in an email. Quebec The process: The Societe quebecoise du cannabis (SQDC) runs 12 stores across the province, including three in Montreal and two in Quebec City. Customers can also purchase cannabis from its website. What worked: The 12 stores were open by legalization day, and the website was live. The provinces website reported 53,300 online transactions and 84,850 in-store transactions in the first week of operation. What didnt work: Plagued by supply shortages, the stores are now only open Thursdays to Sundays. In addition, some customers reported receiving products with a unit weight lower than what was indicated on the packaging, according to the SQDCs website. Saskatchewan The process: Operators for 51 retail cannabis stores were selected through a two-step process that combined an open request for proposals and a lottery. Applicants that made it through the first screening phase, which looked at financial and inventory systems, were entered into the lottery to be eligible for a permit. Independent consulting firm KPMG monitored the process, according to the provinces website. What worked: The advance planning meant a few stores were open on legalization day, The Canadian Press reported at the time. What didnt work: Not all of the 51 stores were open by then. Currently, only 17 are in operation; the rest are working through the permit process, and more should be issued in the coming weeks, according to a government spokesperson. Manitoba The process: A request for proposals went out in November 2017, looking for four initial companies. The province announced the successful retailers in February 2018. The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA) regulates, licenses, inspects and audits the industry, while the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MBLL) is in charge of processing and distribution, according to the provinces website. The private sector operates all 16 retail locations across the province, including two in First Nations communities and 10 in Winnipeg, according to the governments website. What worked: In December, the province announced the private retailers were largely playing by the rules so far and none had been fined since legalization, The Canadian Press reported. What didnt work: MBLL said in October it expected supply shortages to last at least six months, as the province, along with others, is not receiving as much cannabis as it needs. In December, the RCMP seized all cannabis from the Winnipeg-based company Bonify, saying they believed illegal cannabis had entered the market. Nunavut The only way to buy is to order online from private retailer Tweed, which doesnt have any stores in Nunavut. The government did not immediately respond to a request for more detail. Yukon The government operates one cannabis shop in Whitehorse, as well as an online store. The government did not immediately respond to a request for more detail. Northwest territories The Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission regulates the distribution of alcohol and cannabis through mail order, an online store and five brick-and-mortar locations. The government did not immediately respond to a request for more detail. With files from Joseph Hall, Kevin Maimann, Omar Mosleh, Taryn Grant, Cherise Seucharan and May Warren Read more about: A recently repealed law that barred Canadians living abroad for more than five years from voting in federal elections was an unjustified violation of the Constitution, Canadas top court ruled on Friday. In a long-awaited decision that solidifies voting rights, the Supreme Court of Canada rejected government arguments that the law, enacted in 1993, promoted electoral fairness. Writing for the 5-2 majority, Chief Justice Richard Wagner called the right to vote a core tenet of Canadian democracy. Any limit, he said, would have to have compelling justification something the government had failed to offer. The vague and unsubstantiated electoral fairness objective that is purportedly served by denying voting rights to non-resident citizens simply because they have crossed an arbitrary five-year threshold does not withstand scrutiny, Wagner said. There is little to justify the choice of five years as a threshold, or to show how it is tailored to respond to a specific problem. The impugned provisions of the Canada Elections Act had been on the book for decades but it was only under the Conservatives of then-prime minister Stephen Harper that Elections Canada began active enforcement. After being denied the right to vote in the 2011 election, two long-time expats living and working in the United States, Gill Frank and Jamie Duong, launched the charter challenge. Essentially, Frank and Duong argued that nothing warranted the abridgement of their constitutionally-guaranteed right to vote. They insisted they maintain deep ties to Canada, and taxes and other laws passed by Parliament still affect them. For its part, the federal government conceded the five-year limit violated the Constitution. However, it argued the measure was democratically justified on fairness grounds because resident Canadians are directly affected by Parliamentary decisions, unlike those abroad. The Supreme Court disagreed, saying the harms caused by the law outweighed any speculative benefits it might have. The measure improperly applies to many individuals with deep and abiding connections to Canada and to Canadian laws (and) does so in a manner that is far broader than necessary to achieve the electoral fairness objective, Wagner wrote. The disenfranchisement of these citizens not only denies them a fundamental democratic right, but also comes at the expense of their sense of self-worth and their dignity. The expat voting issue took on prominence in the 2015 election and the campaigning Liberals promised a review. After winning office, the government under Justin Trudeau, which faces an election in October, passed electoral-reform legislation last month that did away with the five-year provision. In an interview from Richmond, Va., Frank expressed delight with a ruling he said had practical implications even though the offending law was recently repealed. He no longer has to worry, he said, that a future government might again strip him of his vote. This is now made permanent, said Frank, 40, who is with the University of Virginia. I feel secure in my democratic rights, and that hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of other Canadians who have left Canada for various reasons will never again feel that their right to access their government will be compromised. Duong, 35, of Ithaca, N.Y., echoed similar sentiments. We are thrilled that (the Liberals) changed the law but weve really been looking forward to this Supreme Court decision to make sure that those rights are protected going forward, said Duong, who works in IT at Cornell University. Toronto-based lawyer Andrew Bernstein, who was not involved in the case, said the Supreme Court has historically been deferential to Parliament when it comes to election laws. This decision, he said, signals a shift. In deciding who gets to participate in elections, the court came out strongly in favour of voting rights and set a pretty high bar for depriving any citizen of the right to vote, Bernstein said. The case, which garnered attention from civil liberties groups, initially went in favour of Duong and Frank when an Ontario Superior Court justice sided with them in 2014. However, the federal government appealed and, in a split decision in 2015, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the earlier ruling. While the Appeal Court agreed the law infringed on the rights of citizens, the majority found the infringement justified in a democracy because the rules preserved the social contract between voters and lawmakers. The Supreme Court flatly set aside that notion, saying the government had failed to offer evidence in support of its social contract theory. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The world has changed, Wagner wrote. Canadians are both able and encouraged to live abroad but they maintain close connections with Canada in doing so. Citizenship, not residence, defines our political community and underpins the right to vote. In a dissenting minority opinion, justices Suzanne Cote and Russell Brown called the five-year restriction reasonable. They note not all Canadians such as those who have never lived in Canada are allowed to vote. This decision will change that, they said. We see this development as regressive, undermining the long-standing and entirely salutary practice in Westminster parliamentary democracies of privileging local connections in deciding who may elect local representatives, Cote and Brown said. The looting of Torontos vulnerable LCBO outlets has spiralled to epidemic proportions undergoing more than a threefold increase over the past five years and the latest figures show it accounts for nearly half of all shoplifting incidents at the most frequently hit retail outlets in the city. The issue of brazen, broad-daylight liquor theft, quantified for the first time two weeks ago in a Toronto Star investigation showing the citys LCBO shops have been targeted more than 9,000 times since 2014, was sobering enough. But a deeper dive into raw shoplifting data obtained from the Toronto Police Service, isolating the year-over-year increases together with corroborating accounts from more than 20 LCBO whistleblowers who have approached the Star since the first story was published now provides a far more detailed understanding of the scope and acceleration of the problem. Among the revelations: In 2014, police data shows, LCBO outlets accounted for just over a tenth of the shoplifting incidents at the top 100 most frequently targeted addresses of shoplifting incidents in Toronto. By 2017, it was a third. And halfway through 2018, the most recent data in the Stars possession shows LCBOs accounted for nearly half of shoplifting incidents, with liquor heists happening more than three times as often as they did in 2014. The summer of 2018, where the police data ends, saw a rash of a new and ever more brazen heists at several Toronto LCBOs, involving groups of thieves bypassing the display shelves altogether and instead plundering employee-only warehouse areas, where they helped themselves to entire sealed cases of premium liquors. The repeated raids on LCBO backrooms came as a shock to many anxiety-ridden frontline workers, five of whom told the Star they now fear what they may encounter as they go about what once was the simple, safe task of restocking shelves. As those heists unfolded, in July 2018, an outraged downtown Toronto school principal sounded alarms with LCBO management and the newly elected Ford government, relaying information that children as young as 13 were stealing liquor with impunity and calling for an increase in store security. Mark Lasso, principal of Church Street Junior Public School, told the Star he received no response from Finance Minister Vic Fedeli, whose writ includes the LCBO. The initial response from LCBO management to Lasso came via email from spokesperson Ryan McCann, who said, Theft, and in this case, underage theft, is extremely concerning, especially since we make every effort to ensure alcohol stays out of the hands of minors. But despite a follow-up discussion with a senior Toronto-area retail manager, Lasso told the Star he has seen no evidence of enhanced security at the LCBO locations that concern him most. Its disappointing, sad and greatly concerning that this is continuing when measures could be put into place to prevent it, said Lasso. The cost of extra security seems to be the only hurdle a cost that the LCBO could easily afford. As a public trust, I believe they can and need to do better. I think our kids are worth the cost. Though the police data obtained by the Star speaks strictly to theft at LCBOs in Toronto, a score of frontline LCBO workers from cities throughout Ontario contacted us in response to the initial investigation to say that theft often goes unreported when stores are busy, despite LCBO rules requiring staff to report every incident, both internally and to local police. Its both frightening and depressing, said one. But in the absence of security and with long lineups at the till, you have to tend to customers before you can get to the paperwork. And sometimes it just doesnt get done. (The Star analyzed data supplied by the Toronto police through a freedom-of-information request for the 100 addresses with the most shoplifting occurrences from 2014 to 2018 by year. An initial request for the top 500 per year was denied because the police service said it couldnt weed out private residences from an address list that long.) Read more: LCBO thefts surge in Toronto Readers share accounts: Discouraging. Dumbfounded. Leaked memo says LCBO ramping up anti-theft efforts While LCBO management, in its initial response to the Star, acknowledged a general rise in shop theft at liquor stores in urban areas of Ontario, it did not address questions relating to the high-volume thefts described in the story. The Star went back to the LCBO for this follow-up, but the company said it had no comment. Other frontline LCBO workers describe a morale-crushing reality in which many dread reporting for work. Several told of being threatened with thieves brandishing syringes as they filled loot bags. Another described a thief who threw human feces during a heist. One broad theme among LCBO workers in contact with the Star: fear that the crisis is escalating toward the likelihood that someone, whether staff or even a customer, will pay a fatal price in the absence of more robust security or police response. I have been witness to multiple incidents where brave, if foolhardy, customers have chased thieves out of the store and come back to us with large bags full of product, one frontliner said. By policy, and not exactly unjustly, we have our hands tied. And some of us arent necessarily into the idea of playing vigilante. Yet we feel the heat from customers for our perceived apathy and inaction. We are grateful for public support. I dont think I need remind anybody that when a shoplifter walks out with something like $800 worth of 12-year-old Glenfiddich stuffed into a bag slung over his back like some miscreant Santa Claus, that is taxpayer money walking out the door with him. If the police wont respond to these incidents and with the LCBO so seldom wont to prevent them, a store-level employee cant do a lot. Indeed, a no touch/no chase policy on shoplifters is the prevailing norm not just at the LCBO but throughout modern-day retail and few can reasonably expect otherwise from regular shop-floor workers, who never signed up as security. Without exception, every LCBO worker in contact with the Star points to more and better security as the primary solution. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The problem in Toronto also coincides with a police directive early in 2018 that informed LCBO management police would no longer respond in person to liquor theft unless the perpetrators were still inside the store. The theft data the Star is revealing today indicates LCBO theft in the city was at an all-time high as that decision was made. Police officials in the city have emphasized the need to prioritize violent crime. And, as detailed in the Stars Dec. 29 investigation, the service is rebounding with a new pilot program at 14 Division dedicated to solving LCBO theft. Though still in its early days, the team at 14 Division landed a major bust just before Christmas, arresting two individuals allegedly involved in a liquor theft ring of as many as 12 people. Yet within LCBO circles, in the wake of the Stars first report, insiders have sent distressing signals suggesting LCBO management are currently preoccupied with locating the author of an anonymous plea for help mailed to the Star, which triggered our initial investigation. Please keep me anonymous as they already have started a witch hunt in our district looking for your first source, wrote one Toronto-area frontline worker. This story is so deep and again thanks for your reporting. We are all stressed and anxious every damn shift. All current LCBO workers providing information to the Star are running the risk of instant dismissal. But the gag does not extend to former LCBO employees, some of whom have reached out to say on the record what active staff cannot. One thing I want to say is I really want to commend the person who sent that letter because whoever it was, they had a lot of courage, said Karen Pound, who retired three years ago after a 35-year career with the LCBO, first as a cashier and later as an assistant manager. He or she put their job in jeopardy. Because thats how bad it is. Everybody is afraid. Pound, who worked at several Hamilton-area LCBOs, said that theft was brutal as much as a decade ago but largely confined to small-time thefts of one or two bottles. But the modern-day reality is that such minor theft is increasingly interspersed with brazen, big-bag heists that can involve duffel bags filled with premium liquors. The problem is all stores are kind of set up the same, said Pound. So when you come through that turnstile, you have all that high-end stuff all on one wall easy access. The people come in, they know when theres a shift change, they know peak times and when not to come in. They watch, they scan. And if theres nobody on the floor, they know exactly when to come in. They have that whole wall that they can scoop and go. And the way stores are laid out, she said, leaves cashiers, and customer service staff, with their backs to the door. As an assistant manager, I would be in the office, where there is one-way glass, said Pound. So I could see everything. She said she witnessed many people stealing even when her colleagues could not. I could see the cashier couldnt see it, because they had their back to it. Stores often have a single security guard, who Pound said is just a deterrence. If a store has enough reported incidents of theft, as well as video evidence, the LCBO will send in plainclothes security guards to catch thieves, according to another longtime LCBO employee. Much of the LCBOs guard work falls to an outside company G4S Canada which commands one of the countrys largest security services. But frontline LCBO workers, many of whom are employed as casual part-timers, tell the Star the security help routinely shifts from store to store, almost like putting fingers in a dike that has too many holes and too few fingers, in the words of one LCBO source. A few months ago, an LCBO employee witnessed seven people filling shopping carts full of liquor and bolting out the door in single file. Staff who went outside to record licence plate information were verbally reprimanded, according to an email sent by the employee. Workers who try to stop thefts at the stores can be subject to suspensions, said another veteran. The employees care too much. People who try and stop it get disciplined, he said. Videos of the thefts are used to punish the employees who interfere. The wrong people are getting punished, said the employee. We shouldnt go too easy on the police they have a role in this, another frontline Toronto-area LCBO told the Star. But its important to understand that the theft is becoming more sophisticated. In one recent theft, the cashier could see that a kind of bait-and-switch operation was underway. The G4 security went for the bait going after the one guy and as soon as they did, three big thieves hit us hard. They went for the bait and they missed the freaking muskellunge. Drug trafficking kingpin Joaquin (El Chapo) Guzman enjoyed a feature of Canadian-made BlackBerry cellphones that allowed him to secretly keep tabs on his wife, mistresses and business associates, according to evidence at an ongoing trial in Brooklyn. That was some of the testimony this week from Christian Rodriguez, 34, Guzmans Colombian in-house internet guru, who is now a co-operating witness at the trial. Guzman, 61, has pleaded not guilty to charges of smuggling more than 155 tonnes of cocaine into the U.S. over 25 years, as well as conspiracy to murder rivals. He faces a possible sentence of life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors said an intercepted message showed Guzman advising cartel associates to use just black for communications, referring to BlackBerry phones and their reputation for security. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation was able to monitor more than 800 calls on the BlackBerry encrypted system used by Guzmans organization, court heard. Rodriguez said Guzman wanted his own communications network to send encrypted communication via cellphones. Read more: Mexican drug-lord El Chapo ran his crime empire using Canadian servers, prosecutors say at trial El Chapo gets emotional when daughters show up at his trial At El Chapos trial, a son betrays his father, and the cartel He didnt like to write on the computer, Rodriguez testified. He preferred to talk. Rodriguez testified that Guzman later had him install software that allowed him to spy on roughly 100 members of Guzman's organization and family. That included giving him access to their call histories and locations. In some cases, Rodriguez said, he doctored cellphones so Guzman could activate microphones and eavesdrop on his associates. Rodriguez told jurors this week that Guzman kept upgrading spying applications so that he could keep tabs on associates, family and lovers. It was like his toy, Rodriguez testified through a Spanish-language interpreter. Rodriguez also testified that he installed four servers in Canada to allow Guzman to run his billion-dollar empire through encrypted messages. Once he began secretly working for the FBI, Rodriguez tricked Guzman into moving the internet servers out of Canada and into the Netherlands on the guise of a routine security upgrade, court heard. The Volkskrant newspaper in the Netherlands reported this week that the servers were moved out of Canada and into the Netherlands in 2010 in order to give the FBI a better opportunity to obtain wiretap authorizations. Dutch privacy laws were not as strict as those in the United States or Canada, the newspaper reported. The Volkskrant reported that sources said another reason the U.S. was not an option was because the operation might be noticed. Because the U.S. and the Netherlands work closely together and the Netherlands is relaxed about requests for tapping, the FBI placed the server in a data centre operated by Leaseweb, just outside Haarlem, the Volkskrant reported. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Even after the Dutch wiretapping began, authorities in the Netherlands didnt know that Guzman was their target until 2013. The operation lasted for 18 months, the newspaper reported. The Dutch newspapers sources say the Netherlands and American authorities continue to work closely together in crime investigations. Rodriguez specialized in cybersecurity while studying electronics engineering at a college in Colombia but dropped out before completing his diploma. The Star has examined some of the evidence from the ongoing case online. One secretly recorded message introduced by FBI Special Agent Stephen Marston was from 2012, when Guzman spoke proudly of one of his then-six-month-old twin daughters and how she might one day use an automatic rifle. Our Kiki is fearless, Guzman texted his wife, Emma Coronel Espino, according to the prosecution team. Im going to give her an AK47 so she can hang with me. Rodriguez testified he first worked for the Cifuentes family of cocaine smugglers in Colombia, installing a private server that allowed members of their organization to communicate via encrypted instant messages. A member of the Colombian organization introduced him to Guzman, which involved flying to a remote camp with a private landing strip in the mountains near the city of Culiacan in Mexico. The central role of communications in Guzmans empire didnt surprise a Toronto-based journalist who covered organized crime on the Mexican-U. S. border in the early 2000s, before he was forced to seek asylum in Canada over cartel death threats. In a global landscape, encrypted communications are vital for any criminal organization, Luis Horacio Najera said in an interview. From social apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal to custom networks as the Sinaloa cartel established, modern drug cartels rely in those virtual channels of communications, which can be as elaborated as dedicated servers, or as simple as the use of PGP messaging such as BlackBerry Messenger. Najera said he also wasnt surprised about the Canadian role in Guzmans communications network. Canada plays a significant role in transnational organized crime because of its location next to the United States, English language, and access to Asian and European markets, Najera said. Also, it is a hub that facilitates peaceful interactions and business between diverse groups that operate across the world. In particular ports such as Montreal and Vancouver, or a major region such as the GTA, are places where meetings and agreements are made between the Italian or Russian Mafia, Mexican drug cartels or Asian gangs. Read more about: Benjamin Wadsworth is only 19, but he already has firm ideas about what he doesnt want to do as an actor. I really just dislike playing the boy-next-door character, he says in a phone interview. I find it mundane and boring. Lucky for him the character he plays in the new TV series Deadly Class is anything but. Debuting Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Space, the show is based on the comic-book series of the same name, about a teenager recruited into a private school in which the students are training to be assassins. Teen angst takes on a whole new meaning when the bullies specialize in mortal combat. The part of Marcus Lopez, a homeless orphan until he joins Kings Dominion, sees Wadsworth in a new position for him: the lead. This is my biggest role, says the Houston, Texas-born actor, who played Iggy in the comedy web series Dad vs. Lad and appeared in Teen Wolf. The pressure of being the star was a bit overwhelming at first but also very exciting, and when we got to it I could handle it, and the excitement stayed. When Wadsworth first auditioned for Deadly Class he tried out for the role of Billy, a fellow outcast at the school with a green Mohawk, but I didnt think that role was very fitting for me. When the producers learned Wadsworth is Hispanic they let him try out for Marcus. I guess they liked me, because I got the part, he says. He began reading the comics, created by Rick Remender, Wesley Craig and Lee Loughridge, before the second audition and I loved it. Yep, Im ready to do this. Im ready to be this kid. Im ready to go to Vegas although in reality he went to Vancouver, where the series was shot. Marcus is described in the comics as a troubled youth, having lost both his parents after moving to the U.S. from Nicaragua and then ended up in a home where he was abused. Hes this teen who wants so badly to be in the family and have friends, but hes put in this place where its testing his moral compass, and its really hard to be virtuous in a place where everyones learning how to become assassins, Wadsworth says. I describe him as this damaged puppy, this cute little thing; whenever you try to go down and pet him he may bite you, he adds. The series can be quite dark (blood is spilled in the first episode), but Wadsworth says being on set is so much fun. The cast and I, were all one big family. He acknowledges just about every actor says that about their co-workers, but its just true. We all love getting together and going out. Every Sunday, the guys and I play Dungeons & Dragons in my apartment. The guys are Michel Duval (Queen of the South), Sean Depner (Biff Cosmos), Canadian Liam James (The Killing) and Luke Tennie (Shock and Awe). The cast also includes veteran actor Benedict Wong (Avengers: Infinity War), Lana Condor (To All the Boys Ive Loved Before) and Venezuelan actress Maria Gabriela de Faria. Speaking of Dungeons & Dragons, Deadly Class is set like Netflix hit Stranger Things, in whose first season that game figured in the 1980s: 1987, to be precise. Wadsworth, the youngest cast member, already liked John Hughes movies and some 80s music, especially Electric Light Orchestra, but hes been learning more, particularly from the comics writer, Remender, whos also a co-creator of the series. I feel like the comics give a nice vibe to the 80s, deep in the punk culture, Wadsworth says. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Asked if he drew on any of his own experiences to play Marcus, Wadsworth says they share a feeling of isolation since he was home-schooled for high school. Marcus inspired me to start journaling, which I find to be very helpful, he adds. I want to be a virtuous guy like Marcus Hes not right all the time; hes a very flawed individual. But whenever it comes to topics about mental health or social cues, wearing masks, I think he has a lot of important things to say. CALGARYSome of Albertas driving examiners are threatening to walk off the job on Thursday if the provincial government doesnt address their demands to be compensated for the loss of their businesses in the months before repatriation, as well as higher salaries. The Alberta government announced in October that it would be taking over the provinces driver examination system, privatized under former premier Ralph Klein in 1993, following a 2016 review by Tantus Solutions Group made public last July that painted it as a system rife with opportunities for exploitation. The review noted stories about sexual assault, bribery, and the issuing of fake documents. Changes to the driver model will improve safety on Alberta roads while providing improved services for people at a reduced cost, said Minister of Transportation Brian Mason in a statement on Wednesday. The upcoming changes have received widespread public support. But the Certified Driver Examiners Association (CDEA), which represents most of Albertas driver examiners, described the possibility of a provincial takeover of the system as an unexpected, unprecedented impact on driver examiners and the industry in whole, in a statement last August. Alberta is the only province in Canada with a fully privatized driver examination system. Pete Llewellyn, the CDEAs executive director, said as much as 80 per cent of his membership will refuse to work on Thursday unless the government addresses their concerns. These include the fact members arent receiving any sort of compensation for the loss of their business, despite the fact incorporated driver examiners pay both provincial and federal corporate taxes. Read more: Review of Albertas driving-test system finds reports of bribery, sexual assault Back to the future: Alberta ends 25-year program of privatized driver road tests Alberta looks again at mandatory training for truck drivers, tougher rules for longer vehicles I find it hard to believe that we shouldnt be compensated for the time and work and effort we put into our businesses, because theyre being shut down effectively as of March, Llewellyn said in an interview on Wednesday. The CDEA has sent a letter threatening to sue the provincial government over the lack of compensation, Llewellyn said. Lawyers with the provincial government are reviewing a letter from the association, according to Masons statement. And Alberta Transportation said it has analyzed the potential for work stoppages by CDEA members. I want to assure the public that should any job action take place, any disruptions in service will be minimal, Masons statement said. What do you think? The repatriation of Albertas driver examination system in March will also mean some of Albertas private driving examiners are left out of the new regime or, in Llewellyns case, choose to leave. (Hes retiring after 39 and a half years as a driving instructor.) Of the 146 driver examiners currently active in the province, the province has hired 66 and extended offers to another 23, according to Masons statement. The CDEA is also concerned driver examiners will be paid much lower by the province. Llewellyn said they were originally promised a starting salary of $70,000 to $80,000. But job listings on Indeed for a driver examiner position show a $53,000 to $69,000 range. Despite their dissatisfaction with the offer, some examiners with the CDEA have signed on. That doesnt mean theyre happy with it, Llewellyn said. The vast majority of these people took a job because things are tough out there, to find work, and a low-paying jobs better than no job, right? he said. Alberta Transportation claims that its driver examiners will be paid at higher rates than those in any other province. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The president of the Association of Alberta Registry Agents, Craig Couillard, said last July that the majority of Albertas road-test examiners are highly professional and ethical, and registry agents support the provinces efforts to overhaul the system. Llewellyn acknowledged that bad eggs exist among Albertas driver examiners, but pointed to the provinces responsibility to regulate the profession. What industry doesnt have a bad egg? he said. But thats their job to weed those out. The push to take over Albertas driver examination system is part of a series of driver oversight reforms in the province enacted last year, such as mandatory training for commercial truckers and an end to the practice of allowing companies to operate on Alberta roads for 60 days before they meet safety standards. With files from Emma McIntosh Read more about: This is not going to be a column about the manufactured consumption of diamonds. But it is going to be a column about the manufacture the cutting and polishing of diamonds. The news from Tiffany & Co. of a diamond provenance initiative is welcome. Steps the company has taken as of this week providing geographic sourcing information for individual diamonds will be ramped up in 2020 when the New York jewelry house begins sharing the craftsmanship journey, as in, where those stones were turned into princess-cut bedazzlers. Do you want your diamond to be ethically sourced? Of course you do. Some may think, brightly: Tiffany-blue ring boxes, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn. Others may think, insightfully: conflict diamonds, blood diamonds, child labour. I think, simply: Northwest Territories, squandered economic opportunity, a sprinkling of fraud. Theyre all connected. Human rights abuses abroad bleed as deeply through the mining of diamonds as those kimberlite pipes that plunge beneath the Arctic surface. When Human Rights Watch launched its #BehindTheBling campaign last year, just in time for Valentines Day, it was to push, again, for the responsible sourcing of gems through highly complex supply chains. U.S. Department of Labor data documented ongoing child and forced labour in the extraction of diamonds in Liberia, Angola, Guinea, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The bling campaign lauded points of progress (responsible gold sourcing, for example), and broad deficiencies in the diamond trade, and challenged a group of 13 jewelry companies, including Tiffany, Cartier and Chopard, to ensure that their supply chains are abuse free. It is to this that Tiffany has stepped up. Some may recall the creation of the Kimberley Process (KP), a certification scheme aimed at staunching the flow of conflict diamonds, defined by the global organization as rough diamonds financing armed conflicts. Canada is one of 81 countries participating in the KP, which has had a bumpy ride since its inception in 2003 and on its website currently warns against fake certificates from the DRC, Angola and elsewhere. In December 2017, IMPACT, a Canadian NGO focused on the global resources sector, announced its withdrawal from KP, complaining that consumers had been given false confidence about the provenance of their diamonds and that by not broadening the scope of the certification process to include illicit trade, human rights violations, money laundering and other concerns, the system had been rendered obsolete. Two months ago, IMPACT, along with Amnesty International, the Enough Project, Global Witness and Human Rights Watch, called on the World Diamond Council to require its participating members to operate in accordance with international standards on human rights. Thats a lot of back story. But it sets the scene for a squandered opportunity in our own frozen north, where operators pushed past broad initial scepticism that there could be any such thing as a Canadian diamond to the production of more than 23 million carats in 2017, placing Canada in third place globally, just ahead of Botswana. Could there be a more ethically sourced solution to the diamond dilemma? And what better assurance of provenance than a laser-etched polar bear, invisible to the naked eye, as confirmation of a diamonds conflict-free status? A secondary, manufacturing industry was to help harvest the natural bounty. In the fall of 2003, Tiffany opened its 12,000-square-foot Laurelton Diamonds cutting and polishing centre in Yellowknife, establishing a direct supply route from the Diavik mine. That facility lasted about five years before Tiffany, citing high costs, closed the centre and shipped the work overseas. Theres a long list of manufacturing failures and chaos. Sirius Diamonds Ltd. found itself in a court battle with the Government of the Northwest Territories over the use of the laser-cut image of the polar bear. Sirius went bust. Arslanian Cutting Works went into receivership, was bought out in 2004, only to have successor companies Polar Ice Diamonds and Polar Bear Diamonds, which were licensed to use the lasered polar bear, both end up in receivership in 2010. As 2013 dawned, David Ramsay, then the minister of industry, tourism and investment, announced a rebirth of the manufacturing industry by granting Deepak International Ltd. manufacturing status as well as an exclusive polar bear licensing agreement. How the Government of the Northwest Territories came to be assured that Deepak Kumars company was the right company for the job I cant say. But a subsequent proceeding before the Territories Supreme Court tells the bizarre tale of $18-million worth of mythic polishing and cutting equipment sitting in Yellowknife storage containers adjacent to the soon-to-be-restarted diamond manufacturing facilities. This same diamond equipment was pledged as collateral for more than $15 million in loan commitments. Deepak had an awfully good reason for not wanting the lender to ever lay eyes on that collateral. Those containers were full of junk completely unrelated to the business of polishing diamonds, the court found. A receiver was appointed. A warrant was issued for Kumars arrest. And there the trail goes cold. In December 2016, the government tried again, signing an agreement with Almod Diamonds Ltd., a subsidiary of Diamonds International. The initial agreement stipulated that the polishing and cutting of all Northwest Territories-mined rough diamonds sourced by Almod would occur in the NWT, with Almod taking over the former Tiffany manufacturing facility. Production was expected to begin in 2017. That hasnt happened. Diamonds International did not respond to questions about time-line delays. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Last month, however, the Government of the Northwest Territories amended its diamond policy framework, allowing manufacturers to export a portion of their rough diamonds. This flexible framework relies on the looser language that the diamonds should be manufactured in a manner that maximizes benefits to the people of the region. Those benefits could come in the form of tourism, or jewelry retail, in place of cutting and polishing. An investment matrix will determine a manufacturers overall contribution to the region. That assessment will allow for the export of as much as 90 per cent of the manufacturers rough diamonds to lower cost production centres. Two years from now when a Tiffany diamond shopper purchases a Canadian diamond she will share in the gems cutting and polishing journey through perhaps Vietnam, or Cambodia. The laser etched T&Co will be invisible to the naked eye. All of this is an essential leap forward in bringing transparency to the diamond industry. And a reminder that Canada has yet to fulfil its diamond promise, and with these latest developments, likely never will. Read more about: Ann Potratz is an associate editor with J. J. Keller & Associates, a nationally recognized compliance resource firm. Potratz specializes in business topics such as discrimination and harassment, background checks, and security. She is the editor of J. J. Kellers Employment Law Today newsletter and Essentials of Employment Law manual. For more information, visit www.jjkeller.com/hr and www.jjkellerlibrary.com. Shannon Marvel Dakota Media Group Marshall County Sheriff Dale Elsen is appealing the states decision to repeal his law enforcement certification and will continue to serve as sheriff until the appeal hearing, according to a statement by Elsen published in the Britton Journal newspaper. I sincerely apologize and am deeply sorry, Elsen wrote in the statement. He began as sheriff in January 1983. He appeared before the South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission in December in Pierre. The commission unanimously decided to revoke Elsens certification for conduct unbecoming of a law enforcement officer. He admitted to seven claims of sexual harassment made by other Marshall County employees. Elsen has also filed a stay request, which would prevent the state boards decision to revoke his certification from going into effect until a decision is made on his appeal. The stay request hearing has been slated for Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m. at the Marshall County Courthouse in Britton. I am grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement from everyone telling me to fight this unprecedented decision and to not give up, his statement read. Elsen is not charged with any crimes. Members of the Marshall County Commission went to his hearing in Pierre in a show of support. He will continue to act as the Marshall County sheriff while Brian Bard oversees the supervision of employees in the sheriffs department, according to information in the Britton Journal. Staff reports Watertown Public Opinion WEST DES MOINES, Iowa Watertown native Dan Gubbins was named to the Hy-Vee Hall of Fame in December. Gubbins, group vice president of IT operations at Hy-Vee, was inducted as the 2018 Officer of the Year, Administration, at the companys annual stockholders meeting. Gubbins was nominated by his peers, who spoke of his organization and methodical leadership style that allows him to juggle multiple large projects at any given time. Hy-Vee Chairman, CEO and President Randy Edeker commended Gubbins professional demeanor and being a leader in IT operations. Dans leadership and great attitude is infectious, Edeker said. He is dedicated, hard-working and will do anything to help Hy-Vee succeed. Gubbins started his Hy-Vee career in Watertown, holding a variety of positions including assistant shift manager and shift manager for seven years. Gubbins transferred to Brookings in 1998 and moved to inventory manager and then manager of store operations. Gubbins joined the West Des Moines offices IT department in 2000, and by 2002 he was promoted to director of retail inventory systems. He took the role of director of merchandising, center store, in 2011. Two years later, he was promoted to assistant vice president of merchandising. He moved back to IT as assistant vice president of supply chain technology in 2016 and took on the role of assistant vice president of IT operations in 2017. He was promoted to his current position in early 2018. He is a graduate of Watertown High School and received a bachelors degree in business economics at South Dakota State University. Articles: remaining of Thank you for reading eight articles this month! We appreciate your support. If you want unlimited digital access, please consider a subscription. You can sign up online or call us at 925-634-1441. Security personnel slain inside Pattani school during classes PATTANI: Four armed defence volunteers were shot dead inside a school in Yarang district shortly before noon on Thursday (Jan 10), as the violence shows no sign of easing in the far South. violencemurdermilitarycrimedeathpolitics By Bangkok Post Friday 11 January 2019, 09:15AM Explosive ordinance disposal officers inspect the murder scene under a building at Bukoh School in Yarang district, Pattani, where four defence volunteers were shot dead while children were studying in classrooms above. Metal spikes scattered over the road leading to Bukoh School in Pattanis Yarang district. Police and bomb disposal officers inspect the scene of the lethal attack at Bukoh School in Pattani. They were slain at Bukoh school in tambon Prachan about 11.45 am, said Pol Lt Wicha Noopaennoi, deputy investigation chief at Yarang police station. The four defence volunteers were assigned to provide protection for teachers and students. They were sitting under a raised school building when armed men dressed like soldiers arrived on motorcycles. They pretended to inspect the school, greeted the security detail, and then opened fire on them. The gunmen then fled with the slain men's four AK rifles, Pol Lt Wicha said. They scattered metal spikes over the road behind them as they left. The four dead volunteers were Sulaiman Wae-useng, 36, Muhammad Taeteng, 33, Abdulloh Salae, 35, and Bueraheng Ji, 32. Explosive ordnance disposal officers were dispatched to scour the school grounds and surrounding areas for bombs. Police investigators reported there were at least eight attackers. There was evidence the two sides had exchanged fire. Some of the gunmen might have been hit. A massive hunt was launched for the assailants. A teacher said students were studying in class on the floor above. Kindergarten pupils were having lunch in rooms on the first floor near the scene of the attack. The shooting frightened students and teachers, whose morale was severely shaken, the teacher said. All students were quickly picked up by their parents after the attack. Col Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4's Forward Command said the gunmen were dressed like paramilitary rangers. He expressed his condolences to the families of the slain volunteers, who had performed their duty well, protecting people until their lives were ended. Their families would receive welfare benefits. The attack showed the assailants were willing to violently attack people without choosing specific targets, he said. Earlier, a string of bomb blasts wreaked havoc in Songkhla province. Two bombs damaged two high-voltage power poles in Khuan Niang district and four more explosives, attached to another four power poles in nearby Bang Klam district, were found on Dec 26, following the bomb blasts on Samila beach in Muang district of Songkhla. On Jan 8, a car bomb went off in Thepa district of the southern province, destroying a power transformer and injuring two policemen. The explosive was packed in two 15kg gas cylinders in the back of a pickup truck stolen from a retired teacher, Amata Samonthanthawee, 62. Amata was hanged by insurgents at his home in Saba Yoi district before the truck was used for the car bomb. Read full story here. Phukets fishing industry praises lifting of EU yellow card PHUKET: As the EU this week removed the yellow card against the import of seafood produce from Thailand following international concerns for conditions and human trafficking in the industry, local fisheries officials conducted random inspections of trawlers operating out of Phuket. economicscrimemarine By The Phuket News Friday 11 January 2019, 09:53AM Key figures in Phukets fishing industry have praised the EUs removal of the yellow card against Thailand. Photo: PR Dept Key figures in Phukets fishing industry have praised the EUs removal of the yellow card against Thailand. Photo: PR Dept Key figures in Phukets fishing industry have praised the EUs removal of the yellow card against Thailand. Photo: PR Dept Paisarn Sukpunwan, the administration chief at the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office, led a team of officers to inspect fishing boats at Rassada Pier for any illegal irregularities of fishery activities and human trafficking on Tuesday (Jan 8). Joining Mr Paisarn were officials from the Phuket Labour Protection and Welfare Office, the Phuket Social Development and Human Security Office, Phuket Immigration, the Phuket Marine Office, the Phuket Public Health Office, Region 8 Police and the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO or OrBorJor). These inspections are carried out randomly each month, as part of the integrated effort to prevent illegal employment and working conditions, and human trafficking, Mr Paisarn said. The campaign against illegal fishing practices has seen the introduction of many new regulations, including that all boats over 30 gross tons must have a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) installed and operating; all boats must use only licensed fishing equipment; and all crew must keep an up-to-date log of their working hours, pay and conditions. All of these regulations must be adhered to in order to reduce irregularities on fishing boats, Mr Paisarn explained. Inspections were carried out on three boats, with no irregularities found on any of them. The first boat inspected, the Sor Pornchainavee, captained by Sawat Saela, was found to have 36 workers on board: five Thais and 31 Myanmar nationals. The second vessel inspected, the Pronprasert 111, captained by Mokrala Sailaiet, was found to have 36 workers on board; three Thais and 33 Cambodians. The third boat inspected, the Chokkanjana 29, captained by Prayot Buttarat, was found to have 29 workers on board; four This and 25 Myanmar nationals. Every vessel had all the required licences and accurately kept log books showing every time they departed and arrived back at port, Mr Paisarn noted. Every foreign worker was healthy, had social insurance cards and had correctly updated sea logs, he said. We conducted random questioning of the workers and all of them said that they were not forced labour and none them had been brought here by traffickers, Mr Paisarn added. WELCOME MOVE Somsrit Jaidee, a representative of one of the key local fishery organisations, praised the lifting of the yellow card by the EU. This is an important opportunity for fishermen to work on the sea without any concerns, he said. Our fishery organisations are willing to conduct fishing lawfully and follow fishing regulations in order to develop the fishery industries of Thaialnd, he added. Mr Paisarn of the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office noted, I am very glad that the yellow card has been removed. As government officials, we have been working to eliminate IUU [illegal, unreported and unregulated] fishing issues for three years [since the yellow card was instituted]. What to do next is ensure that fishermen continue to conduct their fishing lawfully and be able to control fishing at standards that will bring great reform to Thailand's fishery industry, he added. Korakot Paereepart, head of Phuket Fishing Pier Office, the main port for fishing boats in and out of Phuket, also praised the removal of the yellow card. This is very good news. Today, many of local fishery organizations are very happy. The seafood industry in Phuket is very busy, he said. Every local fisheries organisation is ready to cooperate with the government in order to keep the local fisheries in order. he assured. DISSENT AFOOT Mr Korakots full espoused acceptance the new regulations imposed on the Thai fishing industry in order to comply with EU requirements has not been echoed by other fishing operators elsewhere in Thailand Even though the European Union has delisted Thailand from its yellow-card status on Tuesday (see story here), much needs to be done to reverse the plight of the fishing sector affected by overly stringent' regulations issued to fight illegal fishing, says the president of the Pattani Fishery Association. Phubet Chantanimi said fishing operators are still affected by about 400 laws and regulations related to the tackling of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), the Bangkok Post reported. (See story here.) They have had an adverse impact on the livelihood of fishermen and caused damages worth hundreds of billions of baht in the sector, Mr Phubet said. In fact, the removal of the yellow-card status does not improve things for fishermen, he said. Mr Phubet called on the government to amend or relax some of the more stringent rules that adversely affect fishermen. For example, trawlers in some provinces are required by law not to put to sea until 9am. Any that have opted to leave just 10 minutes early have been fined B100,000 per trawler, he said. This was too heavy-handed as they didn't cause any damage, he said. He said operators and fishermen should get a say in amending the rules and regulations, particularly two royal decrees issued in 2015 and 2017 to stamp out IUU activities and improve regulation of the Thai fisheries industry. Lae Dilokvidhyarat, an economics lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said the country has much to work to do before it can win back the confidence of consumers abroad, particularly in the EU. After the yellow card was issued three years ago, Thai seafood exports were cast in a bad light and exporters suffered huge losses, Mr Lae said. Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said the de-listing would also be a boon for spin-off industries like seafood processing. WHATS AT STAKE The EU de-listed Thailand from yellow-card status on Tuesday in recognition of its progress in tackling IUU activities. Thailand is the worlds third-largest exporter of fish products a status that rights groups say is achieved through illegal overfishing and reliance on low-paid trafficked workers from neighbouring countries. The EU imposed the yellow card in April 2015 as a warning that Thailand at the time was not sufficiently tackling IUU fishing. The decision on Tuesday reversed the first step of a process that could have led to a complete import ban of marine fisheries products into the EU. Failure to resolve the IUU problem, and an ensuing trade ban, could have led to losses of US$300 million a year, the Bangkok Post reported. (See story here.) Since the warning was issued, the EU and Thailand have engaged in a constructive process of cooperation and dialogue. The Thai government has amended 138 of its fisheries regulations to align with international laws and standards, the Bangkok Post noted. One Michelin Starred Chef Massimiliano Celeste Start From: Monday 28 January 2019, 06:30PM to Tuesday 29 January 2019, 09:30PM Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun. This is a once in a lifetime experience that diners should not miss. Chef Celeste proudly presents a delectable 5-course set menu inspired by seasonal cooking that reflects his philosophy with a passion for precision and beauty. His signature dishes are very distinctive as he takes influences from different parts of Italy and the world to come up with creations that surprise the palate. January 28th - 29th, from 6.30: A lavish 5-course gala dinner. Price is THB 2,990++ per person food only and THB 5,790++with selected beverages pairing. And January 29th, from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm: Chef Celeste will hold a live cooking demonstration at Ginja Cook followed by a 3-course signature Italian set menu. THB 2,600++ per person food only. Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield, right, and Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel speak in support of newly introduced legislation that would curtail law enforcement's ability to take ownership of seized property in criminal cases, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in the House chamber in Lansing, Mich. The Legislature's two-year session opened Wednesday. (AP Photo/David Eggert) The biennial group photo was shot and the new look Oakland County Board of Commissioners were sworn-in for the 2019-2020 session. Howell $250K Powerball ticket still unclaimed, about to expire $250K Powerball ticket unclaimed, expires A teenage girl was found passed out in the home of South Lyon Police Chief Lloyd Collins during a New Year's Eve party on Dec. 31, 2018. Collins said he did not observe any drinking being consumed during the party and added he did not condone or authorize it. The growing mines are on the East. In the economic and consumption downturn in developed markets, East Europe courtiers keep escalating positions and leading an increase in consumption in the European Union. Even though, in absolute values, they are still far away from Western Europe, the strong growth in expenditure and purchase power in Rumania, Lithuania and Czech Republic opens up a new opportunity for a business so linked to consumption fluctuation as fashion. The Actual Individual Consumption (AIC), prepared by the European Statistics Agency Eurostat, collects all the goods and services consumed by households. The indicator works in relation to the European average, which equals 100 base of the index. Eurostat points out that, even though the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is widely used to measure the economic welfare of a country, the consumption per capita is more useful to compare the relative level of economic welfare between countries. With all, both are related, is AIC is, in practice, the largest component of GDP. During the last three years, the AIC per capita is relation to the European average has maintained relatively stable in the majority of the member states. However, three countries registered great advancements: Rumania, Lithuania and Czechia . In Rumania, the AIC went from 42% below the European average to only 32% inferior. The country, belonging to the European Union since 2007, is on a recurring basis the market where sales grow the most in Europe, according to figures provided by Eurostat. As the report European Retail in 2018, developed by GFK consulting group, states, retail trade in Rumania is the one that most evolved last year across the continent, with a peak of 7.5%. Bulgaria is the country with the lowest AIC, in contrast with the European average Lithuania, member of the European Union since 2004, gets increasingly closer to the community average, from which it is barely 12% below, in comparison with 17% from three years ago. The country is usually among the engines for growth in fashion, with double-digit peaks every month. In Czechia, the private expenditure per capita is 18% lower that the European Union average, facing 225 from three years ago. On the other hand, mature markets led the expenditure fall during the last triennium. At the head of the descent is Luxemburg, number one in the ranking, which went from 40% above the average in 2015 to 32% in 2017. Austria and the Netherlands, which complete the top 3 of countries where the expenditure was reduced the most in relation to the European average. Ten member states have an AIC per capita superior to the community average. After Luxemburg, the second country with the greatest difference regarding the average is Germany with a 22% above. Following them, we find Austria, Denmark and the United Kingdom, with figures between 15% and 20% above the average, and Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and France, with rates around 10% above the average. Furthermore, in thirteen countries the AIC is below the community average. In Italy, Ireland and Cyprus, the difference was 10%, whereas in Spain, Lithuania, Czechia and Portugal it is between 10% and 20% below. The lowest rate is registered in Bulgaria, where the AIC is 48% inferior to the average. Zalando faces Privalia in its home. The German e-commerce group, one of the biggest pure players of fashion in Europe, has just released in Spain Zalando Prive, its platform for stocks sale exhibition. Equally to Vente Privee, promotor of this model in Europe, Showroomprive or Privalia, the web will offer discounts for a few days only of brands such as Adidas and Pepe Jeans, according to what the German group has told to Modaes.es Zalandos line of business took its first steps in 2010 under the name Zalando Lounge. It was the year in which the model exploded in Spain, with the arrival of players such as Showroomprive (VentePrivee had been operating ever since 200/) and Amazons acquisition of BuyVIP. After a year operating in Germany and Austria, Zalandos online outlet reached France, the cradle of this model around Europe, with the name Zalando Prive. Today, the platform is present in the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland. Zalando Prive took its first steps in 2010 and is now present in thirteen countries Why Spain? Martin Rost, vice-president of Zalando Lounge and Zalando Prive, explains that the huge sensitivity of Spanish people regarding fashion and the penetration of mobile phones in the country, one of the channels in which the platform is dedicating itself the most to, are two of the reasons why the group has decided to introduce the model in the country. In total, Zalando Prive and Zalando Lounge have more than fifteen million registered users, and subscribing is not mandatory. The platform, which operates through the web as a mobile app, distributes 2,500 brands with discounts up to 75% and includes in its offer firms such as Adidas, Pepe Jeans or Desigual. The company is nurtured both from the stock of Zalando as from the brands themselves, and works with consignment stocking and buying firm, depending on the campaign. Sales and promotions last from three to five days, and deliveries take from one to two weeks and cost 3.9 euros. Returns, on the other hand, have a fourteen days term. The company irrupts into this segment in Spain at a time in which the model is undergoing a transformation Thats the price to pay for having bigger discounts than those you find, on average, in the street, claims Rost. They are different proportions of business; we offer a bigger discount but for a cost, says the executive. Orders are carried out from several platforms. Zalando Prive has its own warehouse outside the city of Berlin but leans on other logistics structures owned by its parent company, which has platforms all around the continent. The closest one to Spain is the one located in Stradella (Italy). Zalando Prive enters Spain at a time in which the model of online outlets is under the spotlight, precisely because some of these differences in comparison to full price pure players (Zalando, for instance, became popular due to its policy of returns in one hundred days). Many players have reoriented their model, changing it or launching their own marketplaces. The model is definitely not dead; perhaps the model of purchasing clubs is more challenging for companies that operate by themselves, but we can lean on the resources of Zalando and that gives us a great advantage. In Spain, the sector has been concentrated due to the disappearance of platforms such as BuyVIP and the acquisitions of huge groups like Ofertix, which was joined by three of its rivals: LetsBonus, Groupalia and Offerum. Although the sectors top M&A was that of the French group Vente Privee, acquiring in 2016 the Spanish Privalia for 444.1 million euros, the equivalent of 24 times its gross operating product (EBITDA). Today, the Vente Privee-Privalia group reigns in the so-called flash sales sector around the Spanish market, followed closely by the also French Showroomprive. Rost states that competitivity does not scare him, because they, as Zalando Prive, consider themselves as fashion specialists. We are not afraid of other players -states the executive-; we operate differently: we are committed and focused on the fashion business: sizes, delivery experience, everything. It is all thought for fashion. Spain, under Zalandos spotlight Zalando has a close relationship with the Spanish market. The company, which has several Spanish executives in its team, operates in an office in Elche (Valencia, Spain) destined for sourcing of its directly operated brands, grouped together in the zLabels division. The groups e-commerce platform landed in the country in 2012, piloted by a team of Spanish people, and became the second e-commerce to revenue the most in the country, according to a research carried out by the sectorial fair Eshow titled 300 Ecommerce en Espana. Zalando Prive operates both with the stock of full price platforms as with the stock of brands The report, standing El Corte Ingles out as the main online commerce in base to its revenue, claims that Zalandos sales in the Spanish market ascended up to 202.1 million euros. Zalando ended the first nine months of the fiscal year with a revenue of 3.72 billion euros, 18% more than in the same period last year. The groups net profit grew to 1.55 billion euros, going up by 14.5%. The following companies are subsidiares of MetLife: 1001 PROPERTIES LLC, 10700 WILSHIRE LLC, 1075 PEACHTREE LLC, 1201 TAB MANAGER LLC, 1320 GP LLC, 1320 OWNER LP, 1320 VENTURE LLC, 1900 MCKINNEY PROPERTIES LP, 1925 WJC OWNER LLC, 23RD STREET INVESTMENTS INC., 334 MADISON EURO INVESTMENTS INC., 500 GRANT STREET ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, 500 GRANT STREET GP LLC, 6104 HOLLYWOOD LLC, 85 BROAD STREET MEZZANINE LLC, AFP GENESIS ADMINISTRADORA DE FONDOS Y FIDECOMISOS S.A., AGENVITA S.R.L., ALICO EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LIMITED, ALICO HELLAS SINGLE MEMBER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ALICO OPERATIONS LLC, ALPHA PROPERTIES INC., ALTERNATIVE FUELS I LLC, AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, ASHTON JUDICIARY SQUARE LLC, American Life Insurance Company, BEST MARKET S.A., BETA PROPERTIES INC., BORDERLAND INVESTMENTS LIMITED, BOULEVARD RESIDENTIAL LLC, BRIGHTHOUSE HOLDINGS LLC, BRIGHTHOUSE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF DELAWARE, BRIGHTHOUSE SECURITIES LLC, BRIGHTHOUSE SERVICES LLC, BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER LLC, Brighthouse Financial, CC HOLDCO MANAGER LLC, CHESTNUT FLATS WIND LLC, CITYPOINT HOLDINGS II LIMITED, COMMUNICATION ONE KABUSHIKI KAISHA, COMPANIA INVERSORA METLIFE S.A., CONVENT STATION EURO INVESTMENTS FOUR COMPANY, CORPORATE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC, COVA LIFE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DANIEL/METLIFE MIDTOWN ATLANTA MASTER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, DELAWARE AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, DELTA PROPERTIES JAPAN INC., ECONOMY FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY, ECONOMY PREFERRED INSURANCE COMPANY, ECONOMY PREMIER ASSURANCE COMPANY, EL CONQUISTADOR MAH II LLC, ENTERPRISE GENERAL INSURANCE AGENCY INC., ENTRECAP REAL ESTATE II LLC, EPSILON PROPERTIES JAPAN INC., EURO CL INVESTMENTS LLC, EURO TI INVESTMENTS LLC, EURO TL INVESTMENTS LLC, EXCELENCIA OPERATIVA Y TECNOLOGICA S.A de C.V., FEDERAL FLOOD CERTIFICATION LLC, FIRST AMERICAN HUNGARIAN INSURANCE AGENCY LIMITED, FIRST METLIFE INVESTORS INSURANCE COMPANY, FUNDACION METLIFE MEXICO A.C., GALIC HOLDINGS LLC, GENERAL AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, GLOBAL PROPERTIES INC., GREATER SANDHILL I LLC, General American Life Insurance Company, Grand Bank N.A., HASKELL EAST VILLAGE LLC, HEADLAND PROPERTIES ASSOCIATES, HEADLAND-PACIFIC PALISADES LLC, HOUSING FUND MANAGER LLC, HPZ ASSETS LLC, HYATT LEGAL PLANS INC., HYATT LEGAL PLANS OF FLORIDA INC., INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO DOS LIMITADA, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO TRES LIMITADA, IRIS PROPERTIES INC., JOINT STOCK COMPANY METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, KAPPA PROPERTIES JAPAN INC., LAR VIVIENDA XVII S. DE R.L. DE C.V., LEGAGROUP S.A., LEGAL CHILE S.A., LHC HOLDINGS (US) LLC, LHCW HOLDINGS (US) LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING (2002) LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING LLC, LHCW HOTEL OPERATING COMPANY (2002) LLC, LONG ISLAND SOLAR FARM LLC, Logan Circle Partners, MANSELL OFFICE LLC, MANSELL RETAIL LLC, MARKETPLACE RESIDENCES LLC, MCP VOA HOLDINGS LLC, MCP VOA I & III LLC, MCP VOA II LLC, MCPP OWNERS LLC, MET CANADA SOLAR ULC, MET0 SIEFORE S.A. de C.V., MET1 SIEFORE S.A. de C.V., MET2 SIEFORE S.A. de C.V., MET3 SIEFORE BASICA S.A. de C.V., MET4 SIEFORE S.A. de C.V., META SIEFORE ADICIONAL S.A. de C.V., METLIFE 1007 STEWART LLC, METLIFE 1201 TAB MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 555 12TH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ADMINISTRADORA DE FUNDOS MULTIPATROCINADOS LTDA., METLIFE ADVISERS LLC, METLIFE AFORE S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE ALTERNATIVES GP LLC, METLIFE ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., METLIFE ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP., METLIFE AUTO & HOME INSURANCE AGENCY INC., METLIFE CABO HILTON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMINO RAMON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CANADIAN PROPERTY VENTURES LLC, METLIFE CAPITAL CREDIT L.P., METLIFE CAPITAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, METLIFE CAPITAL TRUST IV, METLIFE CAPITAL TRUST X, METLIFE CB W/A LLC, METLIFE CC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CHILE ADMINISTRADORA DE MUTUOS HIPOTECARIOS S.A., METLIFE CHILE INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS DE VIDA S.A., METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS GENERALES S.A., METLIFE COLOMBIA SEGUROS de VIDA S.A., METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE INCOME FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CONSQUARE MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CONSUMER SERVICES INC., METLIFE CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CREDIT CORP., METLIFE EMEKLILIK VE HAYAT A.S., METLIFE EU HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE INSURANCE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPE SERVICES LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LLC., METLIFE FINANCIAL SERVICES CO. LTD, METLIFE FM HOTEL MEMBER LLC, METLIFE FUNDING INC, METLIFE GENERAL INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE GLOBAL BENEFITS LTD., METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY I GmbH (SWISS I), METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY II GmbH (SWISS II), METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION S.A. De C.V., METLIFE GLOBAL INC., METLIFE GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE GROUP INC., METLIFE HCMJV 1 GP LLC, METLIFE HEALTH PLANS INC., METLIFE HOLDINGS INC., METLIFE HOME LOANS LLC, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE LIMITED, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE PTE. LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE AND INVESTMENT TRUST, METLIFE INSURANCE BROKERAGE INC., METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY USA, METLIFE INSURANCE K.K., METLIFE INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HF PARTNERS LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND I LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND II LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND III LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND IV LP, METLIFE INVESTMENT ADVISORS LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS (IRELAND) LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS SECURITIES LLC, METLIFE INVESTORS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, METLIFE INVESTORS GROUP LLC, METLIFE IRELAND HOLDINGS ONE LIMITED, METLIFE IRELAND TREASURY D.A.C., METLIFE LATIN AMERICA ASESORIAS E INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE LHH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE S.A., METLIFE LIMITED, METLIFE LOAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE MALL VENTURES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, METLIFE MAS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO HOLDINGS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO S.A., METLIFE MEXICO SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE OBSMEMBER LLC, METLIFE OFC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ONTARIO STREET MEMBR LLC, METLIFE PARK TOWER MEMBER LLC, METLIFE PENSION TRUSTEES LIMITED, METLIFE PENSIONES MEXICO S.A., METLIFE PLANOS ODONTOLOGICOS LTDA., METLIFE POWSZECHNE TOWARTZYSTWO EMERYTALNE S.A., METLIFE PRIVATE EQUITY HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE PROPERTIES VENTURES LLC, METLIFE PROPERTY VENTURES CANADA ULC, METLIFE RC SF MEMBER LLC, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF BERMUDA LTD., METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF CHARLESTON, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF DELAWARE, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF VERMONT, METLIFE RENEWABLES HOLDING LLC, METLIFE RETIREMENT SERVICES LLC, METLIFE SAENGMYOUNG INSURANCE COMPANY LTD., METLIFE SEGUROS DE RETIRO S.A., METLIFE SEGUROS S.A., METLIFE SEGUROS S.A., METLIFE SEGUROS S.A. (ARGENTINA), METLIFE SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE SERVICES CYPRUS LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EAST PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EEIG, METLIFE SERVICES EOOD, METLIFE SERVICES SOCIEDAD LIMITADA, METLIFE SERVICES SP Z.O.O, METLIFE SERVICIOS S.A., METLIFE SK S.R.O., METLIFE SLOVAKIA S.R.O., METLIFE SOLUTIONS PTE. LTD., METLIFE SOLUTIONS S.A.S., METLIFE SP HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE STANDBY I LLC, METLIFE THR INVESTOR LLC, METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO FUNDUSZY INWESTYCYJNYCH S.A., METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO UBEZPIECZEN NA ZYCIE I REASEKURACJI S.A., METLIFE TOWER RESOURCES GROUP INC., METLIFE TREAT TOWERS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE USA ASSIGNMENT COMPANY, METLIFE WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, METROPOLITAN CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN CONNECTICUT PROPERTIES VENTURES LLC, METROPOLITAN DIRECT PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC., METROPOLITAN GROUP PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF HONG KONG LIMITED, METROPOLITAN LIFE SEGUROS E PREVIDENCIA PRIVADA S.A., METROPOLITAN LIFE SOCIETATE de ADMINISTRARE a UNUI FOND de PENSII ADMINISTRAT PRIVAT S.A., METROPOLITAN LLOYDS INC., METROPOLITAN PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN TOWER LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN TOWER REALTY COMPANY INC., MEX DF PROPERTIES LLC, MIDTOWN HEIGHTS LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, MISSOURI REINSURANCE INC., ML 1065 HOTEL LLC, ML BRIDGESIDE APARTMENTS LLC, ML CAPACITACION COMERCIAL S.A. DE C.V., ML DOLPHIN GP LLC, ML DOLPHIN MEZZ LLC, ML MILILANI MEMBER LLC, ML NEW RIVER VILLAGE III LLC, ML NORTH BRAND MEMBER LLC, ML SOUTHMORE LLC, ML SWAN GP LLC, ML SWAN MEZZ LLC, ML TERRACES LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 1 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 2 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 3 LLC, MLA COMERCIAL S.A. DE C.V., MLA SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS II LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS LLC, MLIC CB HOLDINGS LLC, MM GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER S.A. DE C.V., MSV IRVINE PROPERTY LLC, MTC FUND I LLC, MTC FUND II LLC, MTC FUND III LLC, MTL LEASING LLC, NATILOPORTEM HOLDINGS LLC, NEW ENGLAND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, NEWBURY INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, OCONEE GOLF COMPANY LLC, OCONEE HOTEL COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LLC, OCONEE MARINA COMPANY LLC, OMI MLIC INVESTMENTS LIMITED, ONE FINANCIAL PLACE CORPORATION, PARA-MET PLAZA ASSOCIATES, PARK TOWER JV MEMBER LLC, PARK TOWER REIT INC., PARK TWENTY THREE INVESTMENTS COMPANY, PJSC METLIFE, PLAZA DRIVE PROPERTIES LLC, PREFCO DIX-HUIT LLC, PREFCO FOURTEEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, PREFCO IX REALTY LLC, PREFCO TEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, PREFCO TWENTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, PREFCO VINGT LLC, PREFCO X HOLDINGS LLC, PREFCO XIV HOLDINGS LLC, PROVIDA INTERNACIONAL S.A., RIVERWAY RESIDENTIAL LP, SAFEGUARD HEALTH ENTERPRISES INC., SAFEGUARD HEALTH PLANS INC., SAFEGUARD HEALTH PLANS INC., SAFEHEALTH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, SANDPIPER COVE ASSOCIATES II LLC, SANDPIPER COVE ASSOCIATES LLC, ST. JAMES FLEET INVESTMENTS TWO LIMITED, Safeguard Health Enterprises, Security First Group Inc., THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH AVENUE MEZZANINE LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL HOLDING LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL OWNER, THE DIRECT CALL CENTRE PTY LIMITED, THE PROSPECT COMPANY, TIC EUROPEAN REAL ESTATE LP LLC, TLA HOLDINGS II LLC, TLA HOLDINGS III LLC, TLA HOLDINGS LLC, TRANSMOUNTAIN LAND & LIVESTOCK COMPANY, VIRIDIAN MIRACLE MILE LLC, Versant Health, WFP 1000 HOLDING COMPANY GP LLC, WHITE OAK ROYALTY COMPANY, and ZAO MASTER D. The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, 2nd Road Pty Ltd., ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Ltd, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Innovation Singapore Holdings Pte, ?What If! Limited, ?What If! Shanghai Co. Ltd, ?What If! USA LLC, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD Dialeto Agencia de Publicidade SA, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Beijing) Mobile Technology Co Ltd, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co Ltd, Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (South Africa) Pty Limited, Accenture (UK) Ltd, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Azerbaijan Ltd, Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BV, Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A, Accenture CAS GmbH, Accenture Canada Holdings Inc., Accenture Capital DAC, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd., Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SAS, Accenture Customer Services Limited, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Delivery Poland sp. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital France Holdings SA, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance (Gibraltar) III Ltd, Accenture Finance GmbH, Accenture Finance GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II GmbH, Accenture Finance II GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II Ltd, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services Srl, Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Ghana Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Ltd., Accenture Global Services Ltd, Accenture Global Solutions Ltd, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services Ltd, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc., Accenture Holding GmbH, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holding GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SAS, Accenture Holdings plc, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazylym Cozumleri Limited irketi), Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazlm Cozumleri Limited Sirketi), Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture Insurance Services SAS, Accenture Insurance Services SpA, Accenture International BV, Accenture International Capital SCA, Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture International Sarl, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea BV, Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Managed Services SpA, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Middle East B.V, Accenture Middle East BV, Accenture Minority I BV, Accenture Minority III Ltd, Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi (Pty) Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Newco LLC, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations Sp. z o.o., Accenture Outsourcing SRL, Accenture Outsourcing Services, Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations BV, Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru S.R.L, Accenture Peru S.R.L., Accenture Post Trade Processing SAS, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process Ltd, Accenture Product Lifecycle Services, Accenture Properties, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture S.A., Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture SAS, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sendirian Berhad, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Ltd, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.r.l., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services Sp. z o.o., Accenture Services Sp. z.o.o., Accenture Services and Technology Srl, Accenture Services fur Kreditinstitute GmbH, Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Servicos Administrativos Ltda, Accenture Servicos de Suporte de Negocios Ltda, Accenture Solutions Co Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Sp. z o.o., Accenture Sp. z.o.o., Accenture SpA, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc., Accenture Sub Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag KFT, Accenture Technologia, Accenture Technologia Consultoria e Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Technology Infrastructure Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions SAS, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd., Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures BV, Accenture Technology Ventures S.P.R.L., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co., Accenture Vietnam Co. LTD, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Limitada, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Customer Insight Limited, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Agave Consultants Limited, Agilex Technologies Inc., Allen International, Allen International Consulting Group Ltd, Alnova Technologies Corporation S.L., AlphaBeta Advisors, Altima, Altima Asia Ltd., Altima SAS, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Appaloosa Technology SAS, Arca, Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Avanade, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade (Thailand) Co Ltd, Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Denmark ApS, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Ltd, Avanade Europe Services Ltd, Avanade Federal Services LLC, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SAS, Avanade GZ Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd. (SH), Avanade Guangzhou, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy SRL, Avanade KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Netherlands BV, Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland Sp. z o.o., Avanade Poland Sp. z.o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain SL, Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Ltd, Avanade do Brasil Limitada, Avanade Osterreich GmbH, AvantBiz Consulting Limited, Avenai, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Boomerang Pharmaceuticals Communications Ireland Limited, Bow & Arrow, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brand Learning LLC, Brand Learning Ltd, Brand Learning Partners Limited, Brand Learning Pte Limited, Bridge Energy Group LLC, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CadenceQuest Inc., Capable Marketer Limited, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc., Certus Solutions Consulting Services Ltd, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cimation UK Limited, Cirruseo, Cirruseo SAS, Clarity Insights, Clearhead, Clearhead Group, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas (SN) (PTE.) Limited, Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Ltd., Cloud Talent Limited, Cloudsherpas, Cloudsherpas Inc., Codagenic Pty. Ltd., Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda., Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda., Context Information Security, Coritel S.A., Corliant Inc., CreativeDrive, CustomerWorks Europe SL, Cutting Edge Solutions Ltd, D5 Global Holdings LLC, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., DMA Solutions Limited, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (Australia) PTY LTD, DayNine Consulting (Deutschland) GmbH, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting France SAS, DayNine Consulting Japan K.K., DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings, Declarative Holdings LLC, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digiplug SAS, Digital Consulting & Software Services LLC, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Ltd., Duck Creek Technologies, Duck Creek Technologies LLC, Deja Vu Security LLC, ESR Labs, Elcurator SAS, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting L.P., End-to-End Analytics, Energuia Web, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Ltd., Energy Quote Private Ltd., EnergyQuote JHA, EnergyQuote JHA Ltd., EnergyQuote Trading Ltd., Enimbos, Enkitec, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V. , Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enterprise System Partners PR LLC, Enterprise System Partners S.A.S., Epylon, Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Fairway Technologies Inc, Fairway Technologies LLC, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, First Annapolis International, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Focus Group Europe Limited, Formicary, Formicary Holdings Limited, Formicary Limited, FusionX, FutureMove Automotive, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, Genfour Limited, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gestion Altima Canada Inc., Global Public Firm S.L., GlobalView SAS, GoodFilm GmbH Filmproduktion Stuttgart, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., Hagberg Consulting Group, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Hytracc Consulting UK Limited, Hytracc Holding AS, I-Faber S.p.A., IBB Consulting, IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INCAD, INSITUM, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Imagine Broadband (USA) Ltd, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Industrie&Co, Infoman AG, Infoman Schweiz AG, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Infusion Development Inc., Infusion Development UK Limited, InfusionDev LLC, Innoveer Solutions India Pvt Ltd, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria Brasil LTDA, Insitum Consultoria Colombia SAS, Insitum Consultoria Europa SL, Insitum Consultoria Peru SAC, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., Intrepid, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Advertisement (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inventor Technology Limited, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, Javelin Group (Bulgaria) EOOD, Javelin Group Limited (UK), Javelin Group SASU, K Comms Group Limited, KCS.net AG, KCS.net AG West, KCS.net Deutschland GmbH, KCS.net Holding AG, KCS.net Osterreich GmbH, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Ltd, Kogentix Singapore Pte. Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kunstmaan NV, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon UKI, Kurt Salmon UKI Ltd., Kurt Salmon US LLC, LINKBYNET, LabAnswer, LabAnswer Government, LemonXL Limited, Logistics Market Place Limited (UK), Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Corporation, Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte. Ltd., Mackevision UK Ltd, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd., Maihiro, Matter, Matter Llc, Maud Corp Pty Limited, Maxamine International, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Corporation, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mindtribe Product Engineering LLC, MobGen, MobGen Technology S.L, Moonrise NV, Mortgage Cadence, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, N3 LLC, NBS Marketing Inc., NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile, Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Chile SpA, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda., New Energy Aborda, New Energy Associates Ltd, New Energy Group, New Energy S.r.l., NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage China Ltd., NewsPage Pte Ltd, Nice Agency Limited, Northstream, Northstream AB, Northstream Holding AB, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology LTDA, Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Octo Technology SPRL, Octoman SAS, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium Consulting Ltd, Orbium GmbH, Orbium Holding AG, Orbium Inc., Orbium International AG, Orbium International sp. z o.o., Orbium Licences AG, Orbium Limited, Orbium Pte. 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Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, and solid-serVision.com GmbH. 18 hours ago | June 15th | 2021 7:40 AM Does Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) Have What It Takes To Be A Winner In 2021? Though Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) stock was cut in half during the dark days of February and March of last year, Wall Street quickly realized that convenient fast food would probably be towards the bottom of the list of things to be cut by hard-hit consumers who were tightening the proverbial belts. So back the stock roared and since this time last Deutsche Lufthansa AG has overtaken Air France-KLM Group to become Europes biggest airline, grabbing the top spot held by the Paris-based company since a merger of the French and Dutch flag-carriers in 2004. Having closed in on its rival in 2017, the German carrier finally cruised past last year after boosting passenger traffic 9 percent, almost three times the pace of growth at its rival. Air France-KLM is also being reeled in by British Airways owner IAG SA, which expanded twice as fast in 2018. The changing hierarchy marks the culmination of mostly organic growth at Lufthansa, aided by the purchase of smaller brands Swiss, Austrian and Brussels and the expansion of discount unit Eurowings, which grew by almost one-quarter last year. Lufthansa also secured a key deal with pilots in 2017 and last year benefited from unexpectedly high demand in first class. Air France-KLM, by contrast, has suffered years of strife as workers resist overhaul plans, leading to successive management shakeups as its French state shareholder balked at sometimes violent labor unrest. The French arm was also affected by air-traffic control strikes last year, as well as the nationwide Yellow Vests anti-government protests. Read also: Lufthansa cancels 800 flights Tuesday in German airport strikes Lufthansa is now 0.2 percent bigger than Air France-KLM when measured by traffic or revenue passenger kilometers, the industry benchmark calculated by multiplying the number of passengers carried with the distance flown. IAG was founded through a merger of BA and Spains Iberia, a carrier significantly smaller than KLM, and has also absorbed discount specialist Vueling and Aer Lingus of Ireland. Indonesia has just received a Reisgraag Award for best tourism destination at the ongoing 2019 Vakantiebeurs tourism exhibition, held from Jan. 9 to 13 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The exhibition committee launched the award comprising several categories in 2011 and this was the first time that Indonesia has received an award there. The Indonesian Tourism Ministry has set up an Indonesian pavilion featuring 21 tourism players comprising travel agents and operators, hotels and accommodation providers, tourism business associations as well as the Garuda Indonesia airline. Indonesias participation in the exhibition is a great method to promote the countrys various tourist destinations, as the Vakantiebeurs is known to be the biggest tourism exhibition in the Benelux, which comprises Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The event is attended by hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, as well as covered by around 100 journalists and travel bloggers from across the globe. The pavilion also enables guests to take part in various Indonesian cultural activities and sample various kinds of Indonesian food and beverages. According to Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, the Indonesian pavilion at the exhibition seeks to introduce all the supporting facilities that tourists will enjoy when they visit Indonesias many tourist attractions, available from the westernmost province of Aceh to the easternmost province of Papua. Indonesian Tourism Ministry marketing for European region assistant deputy officer Agustini Rahayu said during the exhibition, Indonesian pavilion participants also informed visitors on the actions that the country had taken to recover its primary tourism destinations that had been impacted by natural disasters recently, such as Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara. According to the Foreign Ministrys press release, Indonesias participation in the exhibition is expected to boost the numbers of Dutch tourists visiting Indonesia, which from 2012 to 2017 recorded 7.57 percent growth per annum. The release continued that in 2019, the Tourism Ministry targets to attract 230,000 foreign tourists from the Netherlands to Indonesia. This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Jan. 11, 2019, with the title "Talk of the week: Indonesia wins Reisgraag Award for best tourism destination". The year-end holiday season may be over but some netizens are still complaining about the significantly high price of airline tickets, especially for domestic routes. "Airline tickets for Jakarta-Surabaya that are usually priced at Rp 450,000 [US$32] to Rp 500,000 during low season, have now increased to Rp 990,000 as the lowest fare. Maybe not a problem for those who travel for leisure, but a very difficult situation for me and my husband who live far away from each other," shared @sifanisa on Twitter on Friday using hashtags #tiketpesawatmahal (expensive airline tickets) and #TurunkanHargaTiketPesawat (bring down flight ticket fares). Tiket pesawat jkt - sby yg biasanya di low season 450-500rb skrg naik jd 990rb paling murah. Utk yg naik pesawatnya kl lg liburan doang mungkin ga masalah ya.. tp utk gue dan suami yg LDM-an beratttt bgtt ini pak #tiketpesawatmahal #TurunkanHargaTiketPesawat sifanisa ardiansyah (@sifanisa) January 11, 2019 "It's an absurd situation that tickets for Surabaya-Jakarta are more expensive than Surabaya-Kuala Lumpur on the same date," said @justandsam, also on Friday. He included screenshots showing low-cost carrier Indonesia AirAsia's fares for Surabaya-Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 11, which were priced at Rp 775,000 per person, and Surabaya-Jakarta at Rp 909,220. Kan absurd ditanggal yang sama, Surabaya-Jakarta lebih mahal daripada Surabaya-Kuala Lumpur #tiketpesawatmahal Apa sengaja lebih butuh wisatawan asing dengan paket2 yg disubsidi travelnya hingga bisa 1jt PP menginap 2hari3malam pic.twitter.com/eJLRf60ZmH andisam (@justandsam) January 11, 2019 Meanwhile @GilangForbid linked to the Transportation Ministry's official account @kemenhub151 when complaining how the fare for a Batam-Jakarta flight that is usually around Rp 500,000 had now almost doubled, "but why is the fare to Singapore so cheap? Can you come up with a solution for this?" @kemenhub151 Kok bisa mahal gini rute domestik,biasa batam jakarta 500rban ini hampir 2x lipat naik nya..tapi kok ke singapore murah?? gmna nih solusi nya?? kecekik rakyat jelata..#tiketpesawatmahal pic.twitter.com/BbHbqXLKPp Gilang R (@GilangForbid) January 11, 2019 Since late December, a petition regarding the matter has circulated online, collecting more than 85,000 signatures by Friday afternoon out of a target of 150,000. Created by Iskandar Zulkarnain from Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, it calls on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and the CEOs of Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air to reduce the fares of domestic flights. "Since the crash of Lion Air flight JT 610 that was mourned by all Indonesian citizens, the fares for domestic flight tickets have increased up to the top limit," reads the petition. "Domestic flights that are usually priced below Rp 1 million for a return trip, are now over Rp 1 million on average, even up to Rp 2 million to Rp 4 million per person. The high fares are monitored for stability starting from January until several months ahead." Read also: Indonesian domestic carriers among world's cheapest "The unusual increase in domestic airfares is in contrast to the rise of ticket promos abroad offered by foreign airlines, hence Indonesians prefer to vacation abroad rather than inside the country." Responding to the buzz, the Indonesian National Air Carriers Association (INACA) stated on Thursday that the current price range of airline tickets was in accordance with the Transportation Ministry's regulation relating to maximum airfares. "Airfares adjust to demand, which is still high since the Christmas and New Year holidays, especially to several big cities in Indonesia. Airlines also price their tickets according to the rise of supporting costs such as navigation, airport, avtur [aviation fuel] and the rupiah's fluctuating exchange rate against the United States dollar. However [the fares] are still below the ceiling stipulated by the Transportation Ministry," read the statement signed by the association's secretary general Tengku Burhanuddin. Kontan.co.id reported in September that the ministry had proposed plans for a 5 percent increase in minimum airfares (TBB), from the previous 30 percent to 35 percent, to Maritime Affairs Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as a result of the rupiah's weakening against the US dollar. "As additional information, airline fares consist of several components other than basic fares that are regulated by the Transportation Ministry, namely insurance, PPN [value-added taxes] and PSC [passenger service charges], which are quite substantial," the statement continued, adding that it estimated the peak period to continue until Jan. 14. Similar to INACA's response, Garuda Indonesia public relations senior manager Ikhsan Rosan told tribunnews.com on Thursday that the national flag carrier's ticket price range was in line with the ministry's regulation. "In terms of fares, we always follow the regulation; never surpass the maximum airfare. This post-holiday, the demand to big cities is indeed still high," said Ikhsan. Lion Air's corporate communications spokesman, Danang Mandala Prihantoro, voiced a similar response, "The ticket fares this January are in accordance with the regulation; they haven't surpassed the maximum limit." Meanwhile, both Sriwijaya Air and AirAsia told tribunnews.com that no increase had been applied to their ticket fares. "There is no increase in fares at Sriwijaya Air," stated the airline's district manager Brema P. Limbeng. "AirAsia has not yet applied any increase to our airline tickets until now," said AirAsia Indonesia's communications head Baskoro Adiwiyono, adding that the carrier was currently offering a new-year promo of 1.9 million promo seats starting from Rp 19,000 for international routes. (kes) On Thursday, national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia announced that it would be bringing music to the skies with a series of live acoustic concerts on domestic flights. The airline said the program was aimed at wooing millennials who want a different flight experience, and that sets would last 10 to 15 minutes on select flights. The first in-flight concert was held on Wednesday by two musicians on a JakartaDenpasar flight. Hadirkan pengalaman penerbangan berbeda, Garuda Indonesia tampilkan live music akustik #GIACOUSTIC di pesawat. Berita selengkapnya di https://t.co/EoAB5ldiDA #GAnews pic.twitter.com/MNEvGhD8Y6 Garuda Indonesia (@IndonesiaGaruda) January 9, 2019 Indonesian netizens were quick to respond to the news with varying emotions, including irritation, anger and annoyance. Twitter user @Dian Onno said, I just want to have quiet personal time on the plane. And if I want to listen to music, that should be my choice. Nobody likes to get forced to listen to music they dont like. The one who suggested this idea obviously dont have a frequent flyer membership. I just want to have a quiet personal time on the plane. And if I want to listen to music, that should be my choice. Nobody likes to get forced to listen to music they dont like. https://t.co/XmBxMXw3zq Dian Onno (@DianOnno) January 11, 2019 User @Sullyellow said, No Garuda, I prefer a headset, music and sleep. Putting acoustic music on a plane is not something revolutionary, imo. No offense to the musicians tho. No Garuda, I prefer headset, music and sleep Putting acoustic music on a plane is not something revolutionary, imo No offense to the musician tho Sully (@Sullyellow) January 11, 2019 User @catuaries posted a tweet that showed how instead of providing good headphones and more in-flight movies, Garuda opted to feature buskers on board. Garuda Indonesia | | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ | good headphone | more in flight movie | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _| | | | Pengamen onboard Hoream (@catuaries) January 11, 2019 Read also: Garuda Indonesia brings live music to the skies As can be expected, netizens also offered humorous responses to the situation. Twitter user @fschiko replied with the oft repeated words of buskers prior to performing in Jakarta public minivans, Pardon us, ladies and gentlemen, for were merely singing. Instead of pickpocketing, we choose the halal way. One or two thousand wont make you poor, ladies and gentlemen. Those in the back, please dont pretend to be asleep. "yaa permisi ya bapak ibu ya kami numpang nyanyi di sini ya daripada kami rampok atau jambret lebih baik kami cari uang halal ya pak bu, seribu dua ribu ga akan bikin miskin ya pak bu, bapak ibu yang di sana gausa pura pura tidur" Chiko (@fschiko_) January 11, 2019 Another user, @irvanalam, proposed a suggestion to Garuda that its flight attendants could act as conductors making the rounds for passengers flight fees, not unlike a regular public bus or minibus conductor. Untuk inovasi selanjutnya mungkin bisa semacam bayar tiket langsung di pesawat min. Jadi 1 orang flight attendant keliling buat mintain uang tiket ke penumpang (@irvanalam) January 11, 2019 Apex.aero reported that live in-flight concerts gained popularity in 2007 when British funk band Jamiroquai launched its album, High Times, by performing a live concert in flight between Munich and Athens at 35,000 feet and earning them several Guinness World Records. The record was set anew by James Blunt in 2010 when he performed at 42,000 feet. In 2012, Southwest Airlines launched Live At 35 live music series and is currently still ongoing. The airline then collaborated with Warner Music Nashville in 2017 for a program of live pop-country music on select flights. Dallas Observer reported that surprisingly they found positive responses from passengers. Anthony Dumat, who flew from Nashville to Memphis in early 2016, said, It kind of throws a kink into the mundane act of flying. There was a lot of excitement with it, and I thought it was pretty neat. Garuda Indonesia could not be reached for additional comment. (wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Manila, Philippines Fri, January 11, 2019 17:36 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e671fcf 2 SE Asia #Philippines,#facebook,Facebook,ban,Philippines,Fake,account Free Facebook says it has banned a Philippine digital marketing group which runs hundreds of pages across the social network with 43 million followers, accusing it of "inauthentic behaviour" and using fake accounts. Facebook has stepped up efforts to root out fake accounts after being criticised for failing to tackle hate speech and misinformation on its platforms. Filipinos are among the world's heaviest users of social media, and the country has been a key battleground for fake news. The online giant said that on Thursday it removed 220 Facebook pages, 73 Facebook accounts and 29 Instagram accounts run by Twinmark Media Enterprises, whose pages were followed by about 43 million accounts. "Our decision to remove this organisation, and the pages and accounts it controls, is based on the behaviour of these actors who repeatedly violated our misrepresentation and spam policies, rather than on the type of content they were posting," it added. It accused Twinmark of "coordinated inauthentic behaviour, the use of fake accounts, leading people to ad farms, and selling access to Facebook pages to artificially increase distribution and generate profit". A Twinmark employee told AFP by telephone Friday the Manila-based firm's officials were not available for comment. The average Filipino spends nearly four hours per day on social media -- the most in the world -- according to Britain-based media consultancy We Are Social. German database firm Statista estimates there were 73 million Facebook users in the Philippines as of October 2018, the sixth-largest country group. In October last year Facebook said it had removed a network of 95 pages and 39 accounts in the Philippines, including one with 4.8 million followers, for violating the social media outfit's spam and authenticity policies. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 12 2019 Indonesia through The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have agreed to cooperate in Central Sulawesis post-disaster reconstruction, which will take place for three years starting this month. Under a project called Development of Regional Disaster Risk Resilience in Central Sulawesi, Japan is assisting Indonesia in designing a master plan and implementing best practices to redevelop Central Sulawesi with disaster resilience and sustainable development as the core principles. Bappenas deputy of the regional development division, Rudy Prawiradinata, said the technical cooperation would see Japan directly take part in disaster risk assessment and analysis, planning for disaster preparedness and mitigation, and community rehabilitation. Thus far, Japan has helped us in establishin... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Tangerang Fri, January 11 2019 Flower girl: Visitors pose next to a sunflower field in full bloom. Some of the plants on the edge of the field have been trampled on or picked by previous visitors.(JP/Sausan Atika) Who can resist taking pictures in a blooming sunflower field? For people with an active social media presence it would surely garner likes from their followers. But if the sunflower field is swarmed by an uncontrollable crowd striking their best poses while trampling the flowers, will all the likes be worth it? A 2,000-square meter sunflower field in Makam alley in Pinang subdistrict, Tangerang, Banten, has become the latest victim of selfie seekers. After catching the attention of Tangerang residents, the field was now almost shorn of sunflowers after visitors ventured between the narrow rows and plucked sunflower heads to take home, said a farmer. Masyari lamented the fact tha... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11, 2019 15:55 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e6696d5 1 National #Surabaya,#SmartCity,surabaya,Get,smart-city,award,Kompas,Tri-Rismaharini Free Surabaya, the provincial capital of East Java, has been ranked first on the 2018 Indonesias Smart City Index by Kompas Research and Development Center, adding to the list of honors bestowed on the city, and its mayor Tri Risma Rismaharini, in the past few years. I am still confused as to where to put [the award]. I have moved my paintings, but there is still no space, Risma, who was first elected in 2010, said upon receiving the award in Jakarta on Wednesday. In the 2018 smart city index, Surabaya secured the first position in the category of metropolitan city, scoring 67.03, followed by Central Java capital Semarang with a score of 63.69 and South Tangerang, Banten, with a score of 61.68, kompas.com has reported. Twelve experts on the jury used six indicators of a smart city in assessing the countrys cities for the index, namely the condition of the people, quality of life, economy, mobility, governance and the environment. Last year, Surabaya received at least four awards, including winning the category of Special Mention in the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2018 in Singapore as well as winning the Online Popular City of Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation. Surabaya was also ranked first in Kompas Indonesias Smart City Index in 2015. (afr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11 2019 More than 20 leaders of different faiths expressed deep concern over the publics ability to have constructive, positive debates about the coming presidential election amid post-truth politics in Indonesia during a discussion in Jakarta on Thursday. Post-truth politics is not a new phenomenon, but observers say there has been greater strides toward it in the modern era. In Indonesia, both presidential candidates contesting the 2019 race share a common interest in giving no room to hoaxes, they said. But some politicians have used it to enhance their potential and gain leverage. Recent hoaxes have ranged from the misinformation about seven containers of cast ballots from China for presidential candidate pair Joko Widodo-Maruf Amin that caused uproar on the internet, to the laughable political fiasco surrounding actress-cum-activist Ratna Sarumpaet in October,... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Francesco Fontemaggi and Menna Zaki (Agence France-Presse) Cairo, Egypt Fri, January 11, 2019 09:09 887 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e6574fc 2 World #USA,#Iran,Pompeo,Iran,soldiers,expulsion,Syria Free US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Thursday the United States and its allies would work diplomatically to expel all Iranian troops from Syria, urging Middle East nations to forge a common stand against Tehran. "It's time for old rivalries to end, for the sake of the greater good of the region," said Pompeo at a keynote address in Cairo. America "will use diplomacy and work with our partners to expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria and bolster efforts "to bring peace and stability to the long-suffering Syrian people," he added. Washington's top diplomat was in Egypt on the latest leg of a whistle-stop regional tour aimed at reassuring US allies after President Donald Trump's shock decision to withdraw 2,000 US troops from Syria. In his speech at the American University in Cairo, Pompeo said the US was creating an anti-Iran front -- the Middle East Strategic Alliance -- bringing together Gulf countries as well as Egypt and Jordan. Pompeo said the US would ensure Israel has the military capacity to "defend itself against the Iranian regime's aggressive adventurism." He stressed the troop pullout from Syria would go ahead, despite recent comments appearing to walk back on Trump's decision, but said Washington would remain engaged. "We will withdraw our forces, our uniformed forces, from Syria and continue America's crushing campaign," Pompeo said at a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukry. He also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after arriving in Cairo late Wednesday on his longest trip since taking office last year. He has also visited Jordan, Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital Arbil. - 'Parallel universe' - In his speech at the American University in Cairo, Pompeo vowed a real "new beginning" in ties between the US and the Middle East, echoing former president Barack Obama's landmark 2009 address to the Muslim world, also delivered from Cairo. Pompeo's tour aims to urge US allies to continue to confront the "significant threats" posed by Iran and Islamic State group (IS) jihadists. Multiple operations including American-backed assaults have ousted IS from most of the swathes of Syria and Iraq it captured in 2014. Pompeo said Obama had "grossly underestimated the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islamism". But International Crisis Group chief Robert Malley, a Obama advisor on the Middle East, said hearing Pompeo's speech was like "listening to someone from a parallel universe." It was as if the "war in Iraq..., US indifference to its allies' human rights violations, or Washington's own complicity in the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen never occurred," he said. "Back on planet earth," Arabs will see Pompeo's speech for what it is, Malley said: "a self-congratulatory, delusional depiction of the Trump administration's Middle East policy." Washington-based Human Rights First slammed the speech, saying it "doubled-down on blanket US support for the authoritarian regimes that have driven decades of instability in the Middle East." Brian Dooley, the group's senior advisor, said Pompeo failed to mention that Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen "repeatedly violated international law" and brushed aside "how torture in jails is driving prisoners into the arms of ISIS." As Pompeo arrived in Egypt, the State Department described the country as a "steadfast partner in the anti-terror fight, and a courageous voice in denouncing the radical Islamist ideology that fuels it". Pompeo will also visit Gulf countries including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The tour comes amid rising concerns that US policy in the region has stagnated. A long-promised Trump plan for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians has so far failed to materialise. Many of the Trump administration's decisions have stoked confusion and angered regional allies. - 'Even messier' - "By most accounts, Trump's Middle East policy has made a messy Middle East even messier," Aaron David Miller, a former US diplomat and now an analyst at the Wilson Center, said on Twitter. He said Trump "makes new policy by tweet or phone call" and is "surrounded by risk-ready advisers who run cleanup, don't respect deliberation and have objectives that aren't clear or attainable". One thorny issue is Washington's dispute with its longtime ally and Syria's neighbour, Turkey. The two are at loggerheads over the post-withdrawal fate of Syrian Kurdish forces, considered by Ankara as "terrorists". Turkish officials had a tense meeting this week with Trump's national security adviser John Bolton in Ankara aimed at coordinating the pullout process after Bolton set conditions that appeared to postpone it indefinitely. The terms included total defeat of IS -- still active in some parts of Syria -- and ensuring that Kurdish fighters who fought alongside the Americans against the jihadists would be protected. On Thursday, Turkey renewed its threat to launch an offensive against Kurdish forces. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told NTV television: "if the (pullout) is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this decision." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta Fri, January 11 2019 Observers and activists have questioned the Yogyakarta Polices move to summon a student reporter as a witness in an alleged rape case involving two Gadjah Mada University (UGM) students. The director of the Yogyakarta Indonesian Islamic Universitys Center for Human Rights Studies, Eko Riyadi, said the reporter was not at the scene when the alleged rape happened so cannot be questioned as a witness. The police can seek information or clues from the reporter but cannot use it in the dossier, Eko told The Jakarta Post. On Monday, the Yogyakarta Police summoned Citra Maudy Mahanani, 20, of UGM student press Balairung and questioned her for about two hours. Balairung was the first media outlet to publish the story about the alleged rape against Agni (not her real name) by her fellow student HS during a compulsory community work program in a... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Michel Viatteau (Agence France-Presse) Warsaw, Poland Fri, January 11, 2019 20:51 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e6766e8 2 Business #China,#Poland,police,arrest,Chinese,businessman,espionage Free Poland said Friday it had arrested a Chinese telecoms executive suspected of spying for China, with local media identifying him as a Huawei director. The arrest comes on the back of a difficult year for Huawei, which has seen the arrest of the daughter of the firm's founder in Canada and US efforts to blacklist the company internationally over security concerns. The Chinese foreign ministry told AFP it was "highly concerned" by the arrest of its citizen. Huawei said in a terse statement that it was "aware of the situation" and "looking into it" and had no further comment for now. The Polish announcement comes weeks after Canada arrested Huawei vice president Meng Wanzhou, who is accused of violating Iran sanctions. The Chinese telecommunications giant -- which was founded by a former engineer for China's army -- is also facing increased scrutiny over its alleged links to Chinese intelligence services. Countries like the United States, Australia and Japan have blocked Huawei from building their next-generation, super-fast 5G internet networks. In December, a Czech cyber-security agency warned against using the software and hardware of Huawei and fellow Chinese company ZTE, saying they posed a threat to state security. A Polish man "known in the IT sector" was also arrested for alleged espionage along with the Chinese citizen "who is a businessman working for an important telecommunications firm," said Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Poland's special services, quoted by the PAP news agency. He added that the investigation "had been going on for a while, and had been handled with great care." -Cyber-security expert The two men were arrested on Tuesday and are suspected of having "worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland," said Polish special services spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn. According to local media, the Chinese businessman is believed to be one of the directors of the Polish branch of Huawei. Zaryn identified the Chinese businessman as Weijing W and the Polish suspect as Piotr D. He said their apartments and workplaces were searched, adding that the Polish suspect had worked "for several state institutions". Polish media outlets said Piotr D is thought to be a former agent for Poland's ABW counter-intelligence service who is now working as a cyber-security consultant for the Polish branch of French mobile phone provider Orange. Orange Polska spokesman Wojciech Jabczynski said "ABW officials carried out items belonging to one of our employees on Tuesday." "We have no information as to whether this is at all related to his work duties," Jabczynski told AFP. Security risk The arrest comes just over a month after Canada detained Meng on a US extradition request. Meng's December 1 arrest infuriated China, which warned Canada of "serious consequences". Chinese authorities then detained two Canadians - a former diplomat and a business consultant - on suspicion of endangering national security. Britain's largest mobile provider BT said last month that it would remove Huawei equipment from its cellular network after the foreign intelligence service called the company a security risk. Australia and New Zealand have also enacted similar bans, leaving Canada the only country in the "Five Eyes" intelligence network not to take steps against the Chinese firm. Meng is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei. Her arrest has sparked a surge of patriotism in China with companies encouraging staff to buy Huawei smartphones, with several companies offering employee subsidies to buy phones from the home-grown company. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11, 2019 14:19 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e6679c1 4 Business Go-Jek,the-philippines,rejection Free The Philippine Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has rejected the request from Indonesian ride-hailing company Go-Jek to operate in the country because of a local regulation on corporate ownership. The LTFRB pre-accreditation committee's Resolution No. 096, dated Dec. 20, 2018, rejects Go-Jek's application through local transport network company (TNC) Velox Technology Philippines, kompas.com reported on recently. The board rejected the application on the grounds that it violated the regulation requiring Philippine individuals or entities to own 60 percent of a TNC. Velox Technology Philippines is reportedly 99.99 percent owned by Singaporean investors. LTFRB pre-accreditation committee head Samuel Jardin confirmed the rejection, but added that Velox could still appeal the decision. The decision has halted the Indonesian ride-hailing company's plans to enter its fifth ASEAN country after expanding its operations to Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. Go-Jek stressed that it had not given up on its plan to enter the Philippine market. We continue to engage positively with the LTFRB and other government agencies, as we seek to provide a much-needed transport solution for the people of the Philippines, a Go-Jek representative said in a statement, as quoted by techcrunch.com. Separately, a spokesperson for rival company Grab, which is allowed to operate in the Philippines, said it was compliant with the regulation, as the majority of its Philippine business was locally owned. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11, 2019 14:55 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e6685c0 1 City KJP,cash,consumer-goods Free The Jakarta Smart Card Plus (KJP Plus) has reportedly deviated from its initial purpose as an education scheme to providing cash for various expenses, due to poor monitoring, activists and residents have said. It can [now] be used to buy many things, not only school needs, Jakarta Residents Forum activist Azas Tigor Nainggolan said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com on Thursday during a discussion on Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedans one-year performance in Central Jakarta. Sumiati, an East Jakarta resident, who also attended the event, said the parents of card holders in her area had used the education subsidy for various purposes, such as to buy cosmetics or clothing. Many stores accept payment using the KJP, including clothing shops, she said, adding that several stores provided fast-cash using the scheme. Moreover, Sumiati said, parents of the KJP holders can conspire with stores to use their KJP by pretending to buy school uniforms to get cash. [For example] we debited Rp 500,000 [US$35] from the card. Then the store will give us Rp 400,000 cash, while the rest is [taken by the store as] the stores fee. She also said some holders used their KJP to obtain credit. A debtor can get a loan of Rp 500,000 from a creditor. The debtor gives their KJP to the creditor, who will hold the card for five months. [Another option] is that the debtor can get the returned sooner after paying Rp 1.25 million, Sumiati said. The KPJ Plus was originally given to Jakarta students as a subsidy. The amount varies according to education level. (gis) According to the airlines press release, the promotional tickets will be applied during the golden hours from 12:00 to 14:00 for all international routes to Seoul, Busan, Daegu (the Republic of Korea)/ Hong Kong/ Kaohsiung, Taipei, Taichung, Tainan/ Singapore/ Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai (Thailand)/ Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)/ Yangon (Myanmar)/ Siem Reap (Cambodia). Particularly, flights connecting Vietnam and Japan will be on promotion at all times within the three golden days, including Hanoi - Osaka (Kansai - Japan) / Ho Chi Minh City - Osaka (Kansai - Japan) / Hanoi - Tokyo (Narita - Japan). The international flight period is from February 14 to December 31, 2019. Last week, the airline said it would offer special services which enable passengers to carry peach and ochna flowers on separate domestic routes to and from Hanoi, HCM City, Da Lat, and Da Nang, at a cost of VND 450,000 (US$ 20) per bunch. This service, which will be available from January 15 until February 20, aims to meet passengers demand for carrying these flowers in checked-in luggage during the Tet holiday, Vietjet stated. Accordingly, each passenger is allowed to carry one bunch of either flowers. The maximum dimensions are 150cm x 40cm x 40cm. Every flight is scheduled to carry up to 30 bunches. Notably, the peach and ochna flowers should be wrapped with firm covers. Vietjet is the first airline in Vietnam to operate as a new-age airline offering flexibly-saving ticket fares and diversified services to meet customers demands. It provides not only transport services but also uses the latest e-commerce technologies to offer various products and services for consumers. Vietjet is a fully-fledged member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate. Vietjet was named Best Ultra Low-Cost Airline 2018 - 2019 and awarded the highest ranking for safety with 7-stars in 2018 by the worlds only safety and product rating website AirlineRatings.com. The airline was also listed in the world's 50 best airlines for healthy financing and operations by Airfinance Journal in 2018. Currently, Vietjet operates 60 A320, A321 aircraft with more than 385 flights daily, carrying more than 65 million passengers to date, with 105 routes covering destinations across Vietnam and international destinations such as Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), mainland China, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia and Cambodia. The airline has plans to expand its flight network across the Asia-Pacific region and has signed contracts to buy new-generation aircraft from prestigious global plane manufacturers. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11 2019 The chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, rallied the partys rank-and-file behind the presidential bid of incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo during a celebration for the partys 46th anniversary in Central Jakarta on Thursday. In a rousing speech in front of Jokowi, his running mate Maruf Amin and hundreds of the partys national and regional executives, Megawati called on party members to work hard to deliver results in the 2019 general election, have the PDI-P win the most seats in the House of Representatives and secure Jokowis reelection. Very confident that Pak Jokowi will be reelected, Megawati said in her speech. The partys matriarch also pledged that her side would adhere to the Constitution in campaigning for Jokowi. As leader of the party, I maintain that the... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11, 2019 07:59 887 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e654acd 1 Business Bulog,Jokowi,rice-stock Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo on Thursday assured that rice stocks stored at state logistics company Bulog warehouses were adequate to meet demand in the coming months. The President stressed the importance of adequate rice stocks to prevent speculators from playing with the price. Compared to the stocks in previous years, this year stock is higher, said Jokowi after visiting one of Bulogs storage facilities located in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. Usually, by the end of December, Bulog has between 700,000 and 800,000 tons of rice in its warehouses, but in December, the figure stood at 2.1 million tons, the President said. Bulog president director Budi Waseso said 1.7 million tons of imported rice arrived in 2018 while the other stock came from the farmers that Bulog bought from last year. Jokowi added adequate stocks would give confidence to the public because Bulog would be ready to intervene in the market when prices are too high. Usually if the stock is low, speculators start playing the market to increase prices. We have to show that our stock is enormous, said Jokowi, adding that it was important to balance price stability and farmers' profits. Its easy if we just want the price to go low drastically. Just distribute Bulog's rice to the market. But then it would have a detrimental effect on farmers. This balance between production and market price should be maintained by Bulog, said Jokowi. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11, 2019 16:55 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e66c8cf 1 Politics Indonesia,maritime-axis-program,presidential-candidate,Jokowi-administration,Prabowo-Sandiaga,fishermen,#2019PresidentialElection Free The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Union is urging the General Elections Commission to raise maritime topics during the upcoming presidential candidate debate. The proposal has been filed through an online petition initiated on Jan. 9 at change.org. The union's secretary-general, Iing Rohimin, said marine resources play a significant role in the economy, society, culture, geopolitics, defense and security of the country. Saying that Indonesia has long coastlines because of a large number of islands coupled with a vast area of water compared to land, Iing said he believes that any future development should focus on maritime issues. "This is important because the community should be able to assess the direction of development," he said in a statement on Friday. In the past four years, he said, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration has been carrying out Indonesia's main vision as a global maritime fulcrum (GMF), so he believes that it would be important for the incumbent presidential candidate to explain his achievements and reiterate his maritime agenda. Jokowi unveiled his ambitious maritime aspirations of the GMF during an East Asia Summit in Myanmar in 2014, pledging to capitalize on Indonesias geographic advantages. On the other hand, Rohimin said, Jokowi's rivals, Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno, could evaluate the incumbent's performance while introducing a new mission and maritime program that they consider better. "We want to have a debate about Indonesian maritime affairs, which could lead to a great direction for the nation and the archipelago," he said. Read also: Outlook: 2019 offers chance for healthier Jokowi-Prabowo rivalry Meanwhile, Riefqi Muna of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences said he believed there was still so much to do to realize Jokowis lofty maritime ambitions. Riefqi said there had to be more robust and well-formulated strategic thinking across government agencies when it came to maritime diplomacy. With a tagline as big as global maritime fulcrum theres a lot more to be expected from Indonesias diplomatic efforts, he said. (ggq/dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11 2019 The Jakarta administration is set to issue a regulation on the use of hard detergents to prevent the cleaning product from polluting the citys rivers, such as what happened to the Sentiong River in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, which recently became covered in foam. Nicknamed Kali Item (Black River), the Sentiong River is notorious for its foul stench, but its most recent condition prompted city officials to start working on a solution to clean up the waterway. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the use of hard detergents was responsible for the Sentiong Rivers current state. This is a problem that exists all over Indonesia, which is the use of detergents with high pollutants that nature cannot process, he said. The best solution, he said, was to push for the use of soft detergent. He also urged the central government to issue better re... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Surakarta Fri, January 11, 2019 11:40 887 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e662696 1 National prison-riot,surakarta Free Twelve prisoners were moved from a class I prison in Surakarta, Central Java, on Thursday, following a riot involving visitors and inmates. The riot began on Thursday morning after 20 people visited an inmate named Ikhsan, a member of a mass organization convicted for owning bladed weapons. Prison officials said Ikhsan had been involved in a dispute with other inmates over playing cards. While they were leaving the prison, the visitors shouted out "Allahu Akbar" in an apparent taunt at the inmates Ikhsan had a dispute with in Block C1, who responded by making animal-like noises. The visitors then told other members of the mass organization that Ikhsan had been insulted by his fellow inmates, which prompted hundreds of people to gather at the prison doors in an attempt to get in. At the same time, a group of inmates went to Block C1, and the two groups of inmates started throwing rocks at each other. Hundreds of police and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel were deployed to quell the riot until the crowds eventually dispersed. "As of this afternoon, the atmosphere is calm and conducive. The incident was just because of a misunderstanding between prisoners," Surakarta Class I prison warden Muhammad Ulin Nuha said. "To prevent further tensions, we evacuated and moved the inmates who were involved in the riot to Sragen and Kedung Pane Semarang," he continued. "In total, we moved 12 inmates." Surakarta Police deputy chief Andi Rifai confirmed that a riot had occurred, adding that the situation had been brought under control. "Everything has been suppressed, the situation is now normal and conducive," Andi said. "Residents should not panic. Surakarta is safe." (kmt) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11, 2019 07:02 887 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e653106 1 City rain,weather,school,damage,East-Jakarta Free Heavy rain that poured early morning on Thursday knocked down a wall at SD 05 Pagi state elementary school in Penggilingan, East Jakarta. It was an old wall. The rain was so strong. The wall toppled at 6:30 a.m., said the school's principal, Jintar Pakpahan, as quoted by kompas.com. Jintar said the wall was poorly maintained due to budget constraints and that he had submitted proposals yearly to the district and subdistrict administrations about an increased budget but to no avail. He also said he reported the incident to the administrations. The wall debris, which had been cleared up, was replaced with temporary bamboo fencing, he added. We plan to rebuild the wall over a total area of 250 square meters, he said. (vla) Pollution levels on Londons underground rail system are so high that an hours travel is the same as spending a whole day in traffic, new research has found. In some Tube stations the air can be up to 50 times dirtier than on the street, with pollution particularly bad on lines that run a long way under the city, found the study, commissioned by Transport for London (TfL). Mass concentrations of PM at the platforms on London Underground lines are typically much higher than in ambient air, said the report, referring to the concentration of tiny poisonous particulate matter in the air. Nearly 9,500 London residents die prematurely every year as a result of long-term exposure to air pollution, a 2015 study by researchers at Kings College London showed. Londons subway is the worlds oldest and some of its 11 lines and 270 stations date back to 1863 - a likely cause of high pollution as deep, poorly ventilated tunnels make up part of the system, the report said. Air drawn into the tunnel network becomes contaminated by the wear and tear of railway components, such as train wheels and brake blocks, it said. At the deepest station, Hampstead, the concentration of PM 2.5 - the smallest particulates that do the most damage because they penetrate into the bloodstream - averaged 492 over a 10-day period in 2018. That compares with an average of just three in rural Scotland, and 16 on a busy London road. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines advise levels should not exceed a daily mean of 25. Globally air pollution kills about 7 million people every year, according to the WHO. Long-term exposure can affect human respiratory and inflammatory systems and lead to heart disease and cancer. The report, published on Wednesday, said there was not enough information to assess the effects of exposure to underground pollution on commuters but health risks could not be ruled out. Given that there is strong evidence that both long and short term exposure to particle pollutants in ambient air are harmful to health, it is likely that there is some health risk associated with exposure to underground PM, it said. However, the authors said they did not believe traveling posed a serious risk. Read also: London retains tech start-up crown: Study Peter McNaught, TfLs director of asset operations, said the company was committed to maintaining the cleanest air possible. We closely monitor dust levels on the Tube and, through a wide range of measures, ensure that particle levels are well within Health & Safety Executive guidelines, he said in a statement. We have already enhanced our sampling regime by including tests for additional metals and we will continue to investigate ways we can keep dust and particles to an absolute minimum. Alphabet Inc.s board of directors was sued by a shareholder for quietly approving a $90 million exit payment to Andy Rubin, the creator of the Android mobile software, and protecting other executives accused of sexual harassment. The investor claims the Google parents board failed in its duties by allowing the harassment to occur and covering up Rubins behavior, as did the companys top executives and committee members, including co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, venture capitalist John Doerr, investor Ram Shriram and Alphabet Chief Legal Officer David Drummond, among others. Rubin was allowed to quietly resign by defendants Larry Page and Sergey Brin after an internal investigation found the allegations of sexual harassment by Rubin to be credible, according to the complaint filed Thursday in California state court. While at Google, Rubin is also alleged to have engaged in human sex trafficking -- paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to women to be, in Rubins own words, owned by him. Rubin created Android, now the worlds most popular operating system, and ran the powerful mobile division at Google for years before leaving the company in 2014. In October, The New York Times reported that Google executives approved a four-year, $90 million pay package for Rubin after an employee accused the executive of sexual harassment. Read also: Google says fired 48 for sexual harassment over two years Employee walkout The findings about Rubin reverberated inside the technology giant. In November, thousands of Google employees staged a work walkout to protest the companys approach to workplace sexual misconduct, prompting management to change its policies to make arbitration optional for harassment and sexual assault claims, and giving the workers the option to instead seek redress through the courts. The shareholder suit is the first critique aimed directly at the Alphabet board. The New York Times reported that members of Googles board approved Rubins stock grant in 2014 after an inquiry into the allegations against him began. Google is also accused of handling the resignation of executive Amit Singhal in a similar fashion, allowing him to quietly resign in 2016 amid sexual harassment claims. Google never disclosed the reason for his departure, according to the complaint, though he was also paid millions in severance. Singhal was fired from Uber Technologies Inc. in 2017 for failing to disclose the allegations he faced at the Mountain View, California-based company, where he was the longtime head of the powerful search division. Read also: Google workers walk out in global protest over harassment Credible allegations The boards audit and compensation committees, comprising nine members, along with Page, Brin and Schmidt, reviewed the findings of an investigation into allegations against Rubin in 2014. All nine directors were informed that the allegations were credible, according to the complaint. The conduct of Rubin and other executives was disgusting, illegal, immoral, degrading to women, and contrary to every principle that Google claims it abides by, according to the complaint. A representative for Rubin, who has disputed the harassment claims, didnt respond to a request for comment. Singhal didnt respond to a request for comment. Google told staff in October that it dismissed 48 people for sexual harassment in the past two years without exit packages. Representatives of Google and John Doerr declined to comment. John Hennessy, the board chairman, and board members Ann Mather, Roger Ferguson and Diane Greene didnt respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit was filed Louise Renne, a one-time San Francisco City Attorney and former member of the city and countys Board of Supervisors whos now in private practice. Her co-counsel, Ann Ravel, was a commissioner for the Federal Election Commission under the Obama administration. The complaint is a derivative case filed on behalf of the company against its board of directors, which means any damages recovered by the plaintiff would go back to Google. The goal of the suit is to improve corporate governance, according to Renne. Calvin Klein is closing its Madison Avenue flagship store in New York this spring as the fashion label shakes up its strategy. The apparel maker owned by PVH Corp. said it would begin using a digital-first approach and reorganize its North American division, combining operations in sportswear and jeans. Its higher-end Calvin Klein 205W39NYC business will get a makeover as well, relaunching with a new name and creative direction. Designer Raf Simons left in December. Our industry is witnessing a historic transformation in consumer behavior, Chief Executive Officer Steve Shiffman said in a statement. Its especially important now to meet customers desires for culturally relevant products and experiences. The Calvin Klein brand has struggled to draw shoppers with its new initiatives. Emanuel Chirico, CEO of parent company PVH, expressed disappointment in the brands 205 collection and jeans business on a conference call with analysts last quarter. Read also: Fashion designer Raf Simons to leave Calvin Klein The flagship is at 645 Madison Avenue, at East 60th Street. Shiffman said Calvin Klein is currently evaluating options for new retail locations, though he did not specify where. Management wants to grow Calvin Klein to $12 billion in global retail sales over the next few years, Shiffman said. PVH shares rose about 5 percent after the close of regular trading Thursday, after the company said fourth-quarter profit likely beat its earlier projections. Adjusted earnings will be at least $1.75 a share, ahead of the $1.61 average estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. An exhibition opening this weekend at the National Museum of Singapore will juxtapose artworks by the actress Lucy Liu in her first museum show with others by the Indian-born, Singapore-dwelling artist and writer Shubigi Rao. Called Unhomed Belongings, the exhibition will be presented as a dialogue between the two artists, who, although theyd never met in person, became visual penfriends through an exploration of their respective works. According to the non-profit, Singapore-based Ryan Foundation, which is co-presenting the show, Liu and Rao share an interest in examining and dissecting cultures, histories, identities and relationships, and both frequently repurpose found objects in their art parallels that will be highlighted throughout the show. Liu works in mediums including painting, sculpture, collage, silkscreen, video and found objects, addressing themes of security, salvation and the long-term effects of personal relationships on our physical and emotional selves, according to the Ryan Foundation. Read also: Singapore hosts first minimalist art exhibit in Southeast Asia A key artwork will be Lius installation Lost and Found, which consists of discarded objects Liu picks up on her travels, hidden in around 200 handmade books. Visitors can pick up the books, open them, and replace them anywhere within the installation, contributing to a cycle of rediscovery. In the show, a parallel will be drawn between Lost and Found and Raos Stabbing at Immortality: Building a Better Jellyfish, as both works invite viewers to examine ordinary-seeming objects that appear more peculiar when observed close-up. Lucy Liu and Shubigi Rao: Unhomed Belongings will be open, free to the public, from January 12 to February 24 at the Stamford Gallery in the National Museum of Singapore. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Asmiati Malik (The Jakarta Post) Birmingham Fri, January 11, 2019 13:39 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e665b8a 3 Opinion Papua,research,researchers,academics,academic-freedom,The-Conversation Free Most people, including me, often perceive that Papua, Indonesias eastern most region, is one of the most underdeveloped and dangerous islands in the archipelago. This is the result of a development policy during the New Order regime that neglected the eastern part of Indonesia for decades and only focused on building the island of Java, where more than half of Indonesias 260 million population live. Such a policy has created economic inequality between the eastern and the western parts of Indonesia, and have caused a number of problems. These include poverty, lack of infrastructures development, poor bureaucratic performance, corruption, and separation movements. But when I visited Papua for my PhD research on socioeconomic impacts of energy subsidies on fishermen communities in 2016, things have been changing. During my visit, I discovered interesting facts that are not found on latest research and publications on Papua. This article aims to share some insights on Papua from my personal experience doing research there. I hope this article can encourage more research on Papua and can contribute to solve part of the problems in Papua. Not as underdeveloped as we thought Before flying there, scary perceptions of Papuan people holding machetes and arrows, surrounded by poverty, haunted me. But once I touched down in Sorong, West Papua, I saw a city thats very well-developed. And people there just lived their life as normal as people in other provinces. In the morning, children go to school, while sellers and buyers crowd local market. At night, many people hang out and sing in Tembok Berlin beach. In fact, several capitals in West Papua and Papua, the two provinces in the island, resemble those in Sulawesi, considered as the most advanced Island in the eastern part of Indonesia. Cities like Jayapura, Papua are more developed than Ternate, the former capital of North Maluku. Statistics also show annual economic growths of two provinces in Papua are higher than the average national economic growth at 5.27 percent in the third quarter of 2018. In that period, Papua grew by 6.76 percent, while West Papua grew by 6.89 percent. After Soehartos administration collapsed in 1998, violence and issues of disintegration emerged. The Indonesian government then offered special autonomy to several provinces, including Papua in 2001. The special autonomy funds for Papua and West Papua have been increasing by 505 percent from Rp1.38 trillion (US$95.5 million) to Rp8.3 trillion since 2002. Human development index to measure achievement in key dimensions of development including life expectancy, education and standard of living, also increased by 7.8 percent from 2012 to 2017. The figure is above the national average at 4.6 percent. Despite such progress, poverty still lurks. In Papua, 27.62 percent of total population or around 917,681 people is poor. Meanwhile, 25 percent of the population in West Papua or around 214,000 still live in poverty. Despite discouraging figures, the government has reduced poverty rate by 3.4 percent for Papua, and 1.94 percent for West Papua from 2012-2017. Meanwhile, during the same period, the national poverty rate went up by 1.84 percent. The poverty issues are mostly due to an inefficiency of budget management and allocation. However, based on my interview with an expert on philology Willem Burung from Cendrawasih University said that it is important to note that Papuans do not like to indicate themselves as poor as they believe that they have abundant natural resources. Not as seditious as we thought During my fieldwork, I found Papuans very friendly, kind, and love to make jokes. I did not find any conflicts among the societies neither experienced rejection from them. I found it easy to mingle with them as I came from South Sulawesi and shared similar accent. This very welcoming gesture makes me hard to believe that they love to initiate conflicts. However, the sample of my research only covers people who are living in the seashore. People living in coastal areas have better access to economy and information than Papuans living in remote mountains where most of the islands separatist movements are based. These groups are partly motivated by socioeconomic disparity. Different from the separatists, almost all my respondents said they embraced themselves as Indonesians and they do not demand an independence from Indonesia. Some of them question the future of Papua should they separate from Indonesia as no one can guarantee that their lives will be better under the power of new regime. So what? it will just create more problems. Corruption problems The media often reported that the central government have failed to stop the Papuan separatist movement despite governments financial support due to historical and political reasons. However, apart from those reasons, I believe that the Papuan separatist movement still persists due to the central governments failures to address socioeconomic issues in Papua. These issues derive from abuse of power by Papuan bureaucrats. Local administrations have gained their autonomy to govern their own business and economy since 2001. But corruption is rampant among local bureaucrats. I believe these people are the cause why inequality continues to persists in Papua and continue to provoke separation movements. My interviewees claimed that officials in West Papua and Papua had misused special autonomy funds and distributed them to their own relatives or political sympathisers instead of being distributed to the people. The majority of special autonomy fund did not touch the needs of the grass roots. I often hear my respondents say: Papuans are manipulated by Papuans or Papuans are colonised by Papuans. President Joko Jokowi Widodos efforts to woo Papuan people by building infrastructures might have never fully worked as he ignores to address corruption problems and poor bureaucracy in local governments. The governments lack of monitoring mechanism has also worsened the situation. However, the central government does not have many choices. Investigating corruption cases within the higher elites of Papua can potentially trigger new conflicts as these elites may provoke their supporters to go against the government. What can be done? There is no simple way to understand and solve conflicts in Papua. There is a missing link between whats real and whats perceived about Papua, caused by the lack of updated researches on Papua. I believe that only by providing objective information by involving scholars and researcher to conduct more research on Papua can solve part of issues in Papua. Most recent research publications on Papua show recycled data from 20 or 30 years ago. These research also lack data originality, meaning that they only quote old resources without conducting any fieldwork. The lack of research on Papua is mostly due to the governments tight control over the province. Even though Jokowi has revoked the ban for foreign press to cover issue in Papua, the reality is far different, rising safety concerns. From my personal experience, the lack of information on the procedures to conduct research in Papua has also been a problem. But it is clear that lack of objective research potentially leads to the government solving problems of Papua with old solutions. Therefore, the government should support and encourage more scholars to research Papua so better solutions for Papua can be found. *** Asmiati Malik, Doctoral Researcher in Political Economy, University of Birmingham This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article here. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Azis Anwar Fachrudin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, January 11, 2019 11:13 887 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e65e237 3 Opinion Maruf-Amin,election,politics,Jokowi,MUI Free Maruf Amins vice presidential candidacy will undoubtedly be a test for the so-called inclusion-moderation theory. The theory says that accommodating extreme or conservative figures or parties in democratic institutions and electoral races will compel them to eschew exclusive platforms and pursue moderation. Now, six months after Maruf was chosen as the running mate of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, the theory appears to hold water. His rhetoric has indeed softened and he seems to be trying to avoid contentious issues that may turn away potential voters. However, a closer look suggests that this is not really the case. Lets examine three examples. First, in late December 2018, the non-active chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and former supreme leader of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) delivered an unprecedented Christmas and New Years greeting to his Christian brothers and sisters. This move surprised many (and, not surprisingly, was condemned by some Muslim groups from rival Prabowo Subiantos camp), as the MUI was widely presumed to have issued a fatwa declaring Christmas greetings haram for Muslims. Yet, contrary to this presumption, the MUI hasnt issued any fatwa that forbids Muslims from saying Merry Christmas. The MUI has indeed issued two fatwas on Christmas, but neither specifically concerns greetings. The first fatwa in 1981 only prohibits Muslims from taking part in Christmas ceremonies and services. The second fatwa in 2016 forbids Muslims from wearing what MUI views as non-Muslim religious attributes, which include Santa outfits. (I wrote a commentary on the 2016 fatwa titled Politics of Muslim identity over Santa outfits that was published in The Jakarta Post on Dec. 20, 2016.) In fact, Maruf has himself remarked on several occasions that the MUIs official position on Christmas greetings remains neutral and as such, allows Muslims to hold any view they feel to be right. So, Marufs Christmas greeting shouldnt have been surprising except for the fact that he, in recognizing his position as a vice presidential candidate, for the first time issued a public Christmas greeting for Christians. This cannot be seen as a substantial move toward moderation, as it doesnt go against the MUIs position. Second, in a recent interview on YouTube, Maruf said he personally felt sorry that Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama was imprisoned for blasphemy. He said he was forced to be a court witness against Ahok, as he had signed the MUIs religious stance declaring that Ahoks remarks constituted religious defamation, which legitimized the Dec. 2, 2016 rally against the then-Jakarta governor. Maruf had to do so because, in his words, the context at that time was primarily about law enforcement. Many have interpreted his statements in this interview as displaying regret. In my view, this regret happens only at a personal level. He does indeed seem to be a forgiving person. When Ahok rebuked him after he testified in court and later called on him and the NU community to apologize, Maruf forgave him, although that didnt stop the prosecution. This was also the case when Sukmawati Soekarnoputri apologized for her poetry, which some Muslim groups had deemed blasphemous: Maruf accepted her apology and urged the Muslim community to forgive her. However, Marufs expression of regret still doesnt imply a change in his view that Ahoks remarks were blasphemous. His logic against Ahoks statement that dont believe the lies of people using al-Maidah verse 51, implying that the Quran could be used as a tool for lying, was adopted by the court and used as evidence to prove Ahoks defamation of Islam. If Maruf changes his stance or, at the very least, says that the Ahok issue should not have been resolved through legal means, then we can view it as a move toward moderation. Lastly, in a recent interview with Kompas TV, when asked about intolerance and discrimination of religious minorities, Maruf expressed strong commitment to Indonesias founding ideology of Pancasila. He regarded Pancasila as a national consensus across Indonesias religious and ethnic backgrounds and he, as he had done on various occasions, referred to this nation as dar al-mithaq (abode of consensus). On this premise, he said, discrimination against minorities should not be permitted. However, with regard to acts of intolerance and discrimination, he remarked that some acts could not been seen as such, but rather as acts of law enforcement according to said consensus, especially on the place of religion with regard to the state. In his words, Islam allowed differing opinions, but deviation is intolerable. He appears to hold to an uncritical stance toward state laws that regulate religion, in particular the Blasphemy Law and the regulation on building houses of worship. Maruf indeed has a particular view of Pancasila. His past writings on Pancasila often emphasize Pancasilas first principle (Belief in God) as necessitating the states accommodation of religious values, meaning that aspirations that contradict them should not be allowed, let alone embraced, in state policies. In 2017, he expressed disapproval over two Constitutional Court rulings to allow followers of indigenous religions to list their kepercayaan (traditional belief) in the religion section of the personal identity card and over its rejection of the petition to outlaw premarital sex. Except for softening his tone and being more careful in choosing his words, no changes have been seen in Marufs views. Only when he speaks more precisely about his views on those religious groups he has declared heretical and deviant will we be able to tell whether he has undertaken a significant change toward moderation. The answer may become clear during the upcoming presidential debate. Though the latest surveys suggest President Jokowi still holds the upper hand, Maruf hasnt contributed significantly to the incumbents electability, particularly in regions where the President is susceptible to Islamist attacks like West Java and Marufs home province of Banten, while the challengers camp is sneaking up on Jokowis voter base in other parts of Java. *** The writer is a researcher at Gadjah Mada Universitys Center for Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies, Yogyakarta, and a New Mandala Indonesian fellow. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. EDWARDSVILLE Former U.S. attorney and assistant Madison County states attorney Stephen R. Wigginton, 55, of Troy, is facing his second charge of driving under the influence. A citation claims Wigginton was driving a car at Plummer Drive and Commerce Drive New Years Eve when an officer allegedly spotted the car swerving across traffic lanes. Subject had a strong breath odor of alcohol and provided inconsistent answers to questions, a law enforcement sworn statement alleges. The document claims Wigginton failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a breath-analysis test. His driving privileges will be suspended for at least 12 months. Wigginton pleaded guilty in July 2017 to driving under the influence and was fined and also placed on court supervision. In the previous case, a special prosecutor was assigned to the case because Wigginton is a former Madison County assistant states attorney. There is no information available about a special prosecutor in the most recent case. In the 2017 case, he allegedly was driving under the influence of alcohol at 9:23 p.m. May 23 when he was arrested by a Troy police officer. The officer said in a sworn statement that Wigginton left the scene of a property damage accident in which his 2009 Cadillac left the roadway. The driver smelled strongly of alcoholic beverage, and his eyes were red and glassy, the officer stated. The driver admitted to drinking an alcoholic beverage. The driver was unable to complete the field sobriety testing, the sworn statement alleges. The original charges of driving under the influence and improper lighting were filed on May 24. An improper lighting charge claims he had only one working headlight. The state amended the charges May 30 to include failure to reduce speed and leaving the scene. He was released on a notice to appear on June 14. The report states Wigginton refused to complete testing, and his drivers license was suspended. As U.S. Attorney, he was the chief law enforcement officer for southern Illinois. Before being appointed U.S. Attorney, he was a part-time Assistant States Attorney for Madison County. On Wednesday Nebraskas Legislature opened for business, and sessions are scheduled to continue into early June. Among the issues that will be considered is the persistent problem of how to lower property taxes, which are especially burdensome on agricultural interests. Just about everyone agrees that Nebraskas property taxes are high. So far, however, agreement on major tax changes that would significantly lower them has proven impossible. The reason is that tax changes involve money. And this isnt just money from some impersonal state budget. It is money directly from taxpayer pockets, and that makes any proposed changes highly controversial. A further complication is that the state enacts property tax law, but local governments actually collect and use property tax revenues. If the state lowers property taxes, where do local governments get the money to meet the needs of their communities? For some, the easy answer is cut spending. But meaningful property tax reductions without replacement would require massive local spending cuts, and citizens would be unlikely to tolerate them. Good schools, public safety and other necessary services are vital to towns all across Nebraska especially in rural areas. Let schools go downhill, for example, and communities are sure to quickly follow. U.S. taxpayers will buy about $5 million in pork products from a Brazilian-owned meatpacking firm under President Donald Trumps bailout program, which was designed to help American farmers hurt by the administrations trade war, according to documents released this week. JBS, one of the biggest meatpacking companies in the world, will sell 1.8 million pounds of pork products through a Trump bailout program that buys surplus commodities from farmers and ranchers, say records published by the Agricultural Marketing Service, a branch of the Agriculture Department. The administration has pitched its $12 billion bailout program as necessary to help farmers weather the long-running trade war with China, but critics have questioned whether funding will also enrich large and foreign-owned firms. The bulk of the program consists of direct cash payments to farmers hurt by the downturn, although those payments have stalled amid the partial government shutdown. Agriculture Department officials announced Tuesday that they are extending the deadline for applying for aid under this program by several weeks at a minimum. As part of the bailout, the administration is also buying $1.2 billion in surplus products from farmers, including more than $500 million from pork producers, for distribution to food banks across the country. ASHWAUBENON, Wis. (AP) A pharmaceutical drug supplier to Shopko says the Wisconsin-based retail chain is expected to file for bankruptcy next week. McKesson Corp. says it supplied Shopko with $67 million in drugs since Nov. 11 but has not been paid since early December. McKesson this week asked a judge for a restraining order to keep Shopko from selling the medications it has supplied. McKesson attorney Jeff Garfinkle said during a court hearing that Shopko is expected to file for bankruptcy protection Jan. 15. Press-Gazette Media reported that Shopko attorney Stephen Hackney said a restraining order would require the retailer to close its pharmacies and would harm patients who need the medications. Brown County Circuit Judge William Atkinson rejected McKessons request. According to the Green Bay newspaper, a Shopko spokesperson didnt return messages. Sun Capital Partners, Shopkos parent company, declined to comment, the newspaper said. In Central Nebraska, there are Shopko stores in Grand Island, Broken Bow and Ord. HASTINGS Academy Award winning and highly sought cinematographer Mauro Fiore will present a moderated interview and public discussion at 7 p.m. Thursday, in Scott Studio Theatre, 806 N. Turner, on the Hastings College campus. The event is free, but limited seating requires an RSVP in advance via hastings.edu/mauro. During Fiores presentation, Writing with the Light, hell share the significance of his work, special insights into the artistry of cinematography and respond to audience questions. Fiore is most noted for his work on the 2009 film Avatar, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. He is currently working on X-Men: Dark Phoenix, which is scheduled for release this summer. His filmography is extensive and includes Training Day, Tears of the Sun, The A-Team, Real Steel, The Equalizer, Southpaw, The Magnificent Seven and others. His first feature film was Automation in 1986. He has worked with directors James Cameron, Antoine Fuqua, Michael Bay and others. Fiore was born in Marzi, Calabria, and moved to the United States with his family in 1971. He attended Palatine High School in Palatine, Ill., and graduated in 1982. He went on to receive his B.A. from Columbia College in Chicago. He now lives in Omaha. Until the later part of his life, when he became legally blind, Cornwell ate frequently at the Salvation Army. Wanda Kincheloe, who is in charge of the Salvation Armys meals, said Cornwell was a very nice man, who was appreciative of everything. Nothing negative ever came out of his mouth, she said. He was kind to everybody. I enjoyed him. I was sad to hear that hed left us. But I know hes in a better place. Hes flying high with them angels. In her talk, Johnson described Cornwell as a caring and gentle man. He loved coffee and having meaningful conversation, she said. He enjoyed cooking, fishing and hunting. Walter was a very giving man. He would give his shirt off his back if he needed to. Walter had a daughter and three grandchildren whom he loved very much. He will be missed by many friends and family. Two radio personalities from 107.7 The Island were at the memorial service. Over the last couple of years, Steve Franzman talked to Cornwell three times a week. Cornwell, who identified himself as Walter from the motel, told Franzman he listened to the station all the time. Because he knew Cornwell was always listening, That totally upped my game every day. ASHTON The most recent Polish Heritage Center board meeting in Ashton was held coincidentally on the date of the Epiphany. The Rev. Dave Rykwalder was on hand to give a blessing to the center for the occasion: Wise men came from the east, to pay homage to the Lord, and opening their treasures, they offered precious gifts: gold for his kingship, incense to proclaim him God, and murder for the day of his burial. Father, you revealed your son to the nations by the guidance of a star. The Magi came and offered their gifts of love to the long-awaited Messiah. At this point, Rykwalder placed an inscription above the doorway: K + M+ B 2019. The letters represent the names of the wise men (Kasper, Melchoir and Belthesar). Each cross marks a point of the compass or All Nations. The year represents our timeless God. His blessing continued with: May God continue to bless us as we gather here throughout this new year. Maybe inscription above the doorway serve as a reminder of the blessings he offers all those who passed through these doors. And may they serve as a reminder of the love and hospitality of the wise men and our responsibility to offer hospitality and friendship to all who come through these doors. The corpse flower also known as titan arum is native to the rain forests of Sumatra. Its regular bloom cycle can take anywhere between five-to-10 years, but only lasts around 24 hours. But with proper care, the blooms... Welcome to Green Entrepreneur's video recap of the cannabis news you might have missed this week, hosted by our cannabis correspondent, Conrad Martin. At the end of 2018, Canada legalized Cannabis, and contrary to early predictions - the black market is still thriving. According to an Ipsos poll, 35% of Canadians are still buying from their dealers. And for $3 dollars less per gram according to statistics Canada. Related: 11 Facts Cannabis Entrepreneurs Should Know About the Black Market Weed costs less, but edibles remain the same price Dispensary sales tracker BDS analytics is reporting that while the cost of weed has gone down, the cost of edibles has remained the same. Why? Some experts cite the complexity of creating infused products, while others cite the steady cost of hash oil. Related: 5 Things You Need to Know About Edibles A new cannabis bill is introduced by the Congressional Cannabis Caucus Congressman Earl Bluemenauer introduced bill HR.420 this week. The aptly named, Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol act aims to do just that - legalize cannabis federally while maintaining regulatory standards. Related: Congressional Cannabis Caucus Unites to Protect Marijuana Industry Be sure to keep up with all things cannabiz by checking out the newly launched GreenEntrepreneur.com If you missed the last episode, check it out here: The Dallas Cannabis Club?? Related: This Week in Weed: Can The Black Market Be Stopped? This Week in Weed: The Dallas Cannabis Club?? Cannabis Legalization on the Rise, CBD gets Federal Approval, and We're the Plug! Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Tickets are still available for Norwalks 2019 Mayors Ball, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at Serafina at the Italian Center in Stamford. Norwalk Mayor Harry W. Rilling has chosen Literacy Volunteers and the Norwalk Domestic Violence Crisis Center as recipients of proceeds from the the ball, whcih started under Mayor Frank J. Esposito and now a nonprofit charitable institution. The benefit event is held each January. Literacy Volunteers, a member of ProLiteracy America, serves approximately 400 students from more than 30 countries each month. Volunteer tutors and students work together in small groups at least two hours a week. The roughly 60 tutors teach classes in English as a Foreign Language, Basic Literacy and Citizenship Training, free or charge and regardless of a students immigration status. The Domestic Violence Crisis Center, a nonprofit organization with offices and separate safe houses in Stamford and Norwalk, provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and counseling in both English and Spanish to persons experiencing domestic abuse. The center helps all people with the goal of rebuilding self-esteem and moving them toward a more independent existence. The Norwalk office, located on River Street, offers counseling, legal services, English as a Second Language classes, and even toys for children. The crisis center helps people in Norwalk, Stamford, New Canaan, Darien, Westport, Weston and Wilton. In 2017, the center saw more than 3,700 victims of domestic violence in those seven towns. Reservations with payment for the 2019 Mayors Ball will be accepted until Jan. 18, 2019, or until the venue sells out. Tickets are $150 per person. Tables of 10 can also be reserved. Checks should be made payable to the Norwalk Community Benefit Fund. To reserve a seat, call Maritza Alvarado at 203-854-7950. To donate a silent auction item, call Sally Johnson, executive assistant to the mayor, at 203-854-7707. The major portion of ball proceeds come from silent auction donations. Tax-deductible contributions to the ball can be made at any time. Norwalk Hour staff photographer Erik Trautmann will present 2018 Norwalk in Photos, at the Norwalk Public Library at 3 p.m. Sunday. Trautmann is an award-winning photojournalist who has been working in Fairfield County for 30 years. He trained at the Center For Media Arts in New York City in commercial photography and spent time assisting some of the industry's leading fashion and portrait photographers. He began his photography career as an intern with Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist E. Ross Baumann in New York City. He has freelanced for Connecticut magazines and newspapers. His photographs were also featured in other publications, including outlets such as the Boston Globe and Vanity Fair. His photos appear regularly in The Norwalk Hour, as well as the other Hearst newspapers. For more information, contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, director of library information services, at 203-899-2780 ext. 15133, or clahey@norwalkpl.org. The Green The City of Norwalk has tried to continue its call-in bulky waste collection pilot program through 2019 after a successful first year. Instead of waiting the entire year for a spring collection, this program provides an efficient and convenient way to dispose of bulky items more frequently, said Mayor Harry Rilling. This has been a successful program and is a tremendous asset for our residents. I encourage more members of the public to take advantage of the service in the coming year. In 2018, the city began offering the service, which allows any resident who receives city garbage collection to schedule up to three curbside pickups of bulky waste per year. According to the mayors office, the city made over 1,000 stops and collected more than 120 tons from residences around the city. Prior to the programs start, residents were required to bring bulky waste to the Transfer Station. Mattresses, box springs, couches and carpets can be picked up, but other items like construction materials, hazardous waste, freon appliances, tires and motor vehicle parts are not permitted. Collections can be scheduled throughout the year, except in November. To schedule a pickup, or for more details, call Customer Service at 203-854-3200, Ext. 4. East Norwalk The Norwalk Historical Society, in partnership with the Love All Project, will host a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service project from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Norwalk Historical Society Museum, 141 East Ave. The free family-friendly service day project supports the nonprofit organization, Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants. Volunteers will create welcome bags for immigrants and refugees who have recently settled, or will soon settle, in Connecticut. Participating families are encouraged to bring individually packaged non-perishable snacks to include in the welcome bags. Children will also create cards, decorate the bags and create peace doves, heart origami and learn more about Dr. Kings mission. To RSVP, visit norwalkhistoricalsociety.org. Citywide Norwalk residents will have two opportunities in the coming weeks to weigh in on the Plan of Conservation and Development, which is currently being reviewed and updated. The hearings will be held Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 in the City Hall Community Room at 7 p.m. According to the Planning and Zoning Department, the POCD is a state mandated planning document that guides growth and spending over the next decade. The city uses this plan for future planning and to direct capital expenditures. Comments can also be submitted digitally using the CiviComment platform or by emailing Planning and Zoning Director Steve Kleppin at skleppin@norwalkct.org. To view the draft POCD, visit stantec.civicomment.org/norwalk-citywide-plan. Let us know whats going on in your neighborhood. Contact staff writer Justin Papp at justin.papp@scni.com or 203-842-2586. NORWALK Parents pressed and dragged their fingers across book pages as their children read aloud. Some students stopped at words they couldnt pronounce, looking to their parents for assistance. Other youngsters refused to read at all and let their parents do the work for them. Tonight, were going to do this really cool activity, said Kimberly Ozga, a parent facilitator with Connecticut K-3 Literacy Initiative, or CK3LI. Ozgas colleague, Steven Hernandez, chimed in as students awaited directions. He asked students to read along with their parents and occasionally jot down juicy words. Theyre words that are super, super, super long or super, super, super tiny, Hernandez said. Juicy words are words that are interesting and fun and silly. More than 200 people filled the gymnasium at Jefferson Elementary School Thursday night for a family reading event led by and funded by CK3LI. The group organizes trainings at schools to ensure parents and educators have the necessary skills to teach children to read at their highest potential. CK3LI claims it has improved reading scores in high poverty, multilingual and multicultural schools and districts by 20 to 40 percent, according to its website. It was the first event of its kind at Jefferson Elementary, said third-grade teacher Shonna Mitchell. Students read Dinosaur Detective, The Gator Girls and A Hairy Question. They used pencils to scribble juicy words such as fantastical, ridiculous, economy and courageous. As the exercise concluded, Hernandez asked the kindergarten through fifth-graders to line up in the middle of the gym and share their words with the crowd. Hog house, one student said. Hog house means a dirty place or a house for a hog. Hernandez applauded her for sharing in front of the large audience. Hog house can mean a dirty place, he added. Like when we dont clean our rooms, we can call them a hog house, or it could literally mean a house for a hog. Teachers and CK3LI staff said community events, like the one at Jefferson Elementary that encouraged the children to work with their parents, show students their parents are interested and involved in their school lives. The more you read, the more you understand when you read, and the goal is to grow (the students) love for reading, Mitchell said. Parents, too, can benefit, the third-grade teacher said. If youre not trained to do this, this gives you the confidence and understanding to help (children) without giving the answers, she said. The CK3LI initiative, started eight years ago, brings three different courses to each school, starting with a vocabulary-centered one like Thursdays gathering. Next comes a a reading comprehension lesson Jan. 24 at Jefferson Elementary and finally Feb. 7 a civic canopies affair, which is held somewhere in the community to encourage parents to use it in the future as a resource, such as Stepping Stones Museum or the Norwalk Public Library. Both upcoming events start at 5:30 p.m. Heather Gilbertie was at the event Thursday night with her daughter Sophia Freeman and will likely be at the following two as well. She gets very excited about school events. She wants to go to all of them, Gilbertie said of her daughter. Sophia said she felt nervous while standing in line to share the meaning of their juicy word. But, sharing the definition fantastical, the 9-year-old said, brought her one step closer to ridding her of her fear of public speaking. Getty Images NORWALK A 27-year-old man known as the Bandana Bandit in other states is facing charges for a string of strong-armed robberies in October, police said. Following an extensive investigation involving authorities from multiple states, police said Andres Cuero-Merroquin, of Brooklyn, New York, has been pinpointed as the man behind two separate robberies targeting money couriers that cater to the Hispanic community. Theres a couple of horrific events memorialized in Yale Philharmonias featured piece of classical music on Jan. 18 in Woolsey Hall. Dmitri Shostakovichs Symphony No. 11 in G minor, Op. 103 tips off its story in the subtitle: The Year 1905. That was the year of Bloody Sunday, when unarmed Russian demonstrators were massacred by the czars soldiers, leading eventually to the Russian revolution. The 1957 symphony is also a musical comment on the 1956 massacre in Budapest, Hungary. We asked principal conductor Peter Oundjian how such a dramatic story can be told without lyrics and how a casual listener would know what the symphony is really about. I usually set it up with about a two-minute speech, he said, noting there may be a lighting variation employed to set the scene at the onset. Generally, said Oundjian, symphonies do tell a story (as do the nebulous tone poems). Gustav Mahler once notated narrative elements in programs, but stopped that in some ways a big mistake because hes assuming a good deal of sophistication on the part of listeners. Not that you should talk down to patrons, but Oundjian is for clarity. He said he remembers going to the Whitney Museum years ago and looking at contemporary art. And it was like, Wow, I have no idea what Im looking at. And then I saw a group that had a lecturer (and I) listened to every word she said. And it was fascinating! Few explain a classical work quite like the accomplished and enthusiastic Oundjian. We confessed we couldnt recognize when one movement in the Shostakovich symphony ended and another began. Its a very intense narrative that never lets up, Oundjian said. Its one of the most dramatic pieces of music that I think has ever been created... so moving and so exciting, as well. The pieces four movements represent different elements of an historic event: the slow, ominous start signaling the thousands of desperate, starving folks arriving in St. Petersburg to plead and protest. There are all sorts of folk songs you hear ... softly but you also hear the distant fanfares, which are very eerie and threatening one for the trumpet and one for the horn. The second movement is basically the massacre itself, when they open fire ... on this crowd, the maestro said. When this massacre scene ends, it ends with complete abruptness. And then you hear the music from the very beginning that represented the people, but now it is very eerie because it has trills on it. So he (Shostakovich) has transformed it ... and hes also changed any optimistic note that existed ... flattened to be a tragic, pessimistic note. The third movement is in memoriam, using low pizzicato on the cellos and double basses to create an eerie atmosphere, said Oundjian. The final movement, an alarm bell, is powerful and affirmative. Its about defiance and vigilance, said Oundjian. Just before the end, theres a really tragic solo on the English horn, that, oh my God, is so moving. It ends with a reprise of themes, which gives phenomenal strength and power to the majesty of the people themselves. So, its incredible. And yet, this varied piece is seldom performed. Is that because its not smooth and comfy? I dont know. I think people from all generations have been fans of pretty intense music, whether you go back to Deep Purple (he chuckles) or... You know, Pink Floyd wasnt exactly good-time music either. Oundjian said he doesnt understand why No. 11 is not played more live. (For) a first-time concert-goer to an orchestra, I think this would be among the very best choices. Its like a phenomenal film score, and you see everything in your own imagination. Canadian-born Oundjian previously played with the Tokyo String Quartet and conducted the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for 14 years, enjoying a touching send-off in June 2018. While he conducts classical pieces, hes not a strict traditionalist. Of course were playing for the people who love classical music, but the people we also really care about are the people who arent so sure, he said in reference to including a lighting effect or other theatrical touch in a performance. The first half of the concert will be another historic piece, Beethovens Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21. Its something of a coming-out party for young Beethoven, showing influences of the great Haydn and Mozart but signaling there was a new superstar composer. The work is more a narrative of feelings, of human experiences, which we can all relate to. ... Theres a tremendous amount of playfulness in the first symphony; its one of the more optimistic pieces as a counterpoint to the heavy Shostakovich work. Beethoven starts it unconventionally, with a quizzical chord. Hes already saying, in his very first symphony, Im Beethoven; I have some new ideas here. ... The 1st Symphony is an absolute masterpiece; its a joy to play and to listen to. As for seeing and hearing the uber-talented Yale grad students play in the Philharmonia, Oundjian said, I think theres nothing quite as thrilling in a very different way from hearing an established, world-class, famous orchestra but in some ways its more thrilling because they play so exceptionally well. Theyre so sophisticated now. Woolsey Hall, 500 College St., New Haven. Friday, Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m. $5-$17. 203-432-4158. music-tickets.yale.edu We have to make up $400,000 we anticipated having but dont, explained Church, so we get into things we have control over. Teachers are contracted. We have bought things. The only thing left is field trips, substitutes, and remediation money for tutors. Its like your family saving to go to Disney World but all of a sudden the transmission goes out on the car, Church continued. With enrollment down an estimated 88 students, the school system budget was $436,790 less than expected. Each year, all school divisions estimate enrollment as best they can in March of the previous academic year. Church shared with the board that statewide, enrollment is down overall for the first time in 10 years. Only densely populated pockets such as Northern Virginia, Tidewater and Richmond have seen an increase. There are a lot of reasons why, Church said. Enrollment numbers are down for kindergarten. People are having fewer children, and moving out of state in southwestern and southern Virginia, a lot of people are leaving our area. At the same time, Church told board members, Franklin County Schools grapples with the additional expense of sending more students to specialized schools in Roanoke and Danville, and adding mental-health support staff. ACE MADDOX' Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China 50% OFF on the Xbox Store in celebration of one-year anniversary [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.] Sweden, January 11th, 2019 -- To celebrate the Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China (FTSOC) launch on the Xbox Store one year ago (January 12th in 2018), ACE MADDOX is pleased to announce that effective immediately, FTSOC is half the price for two weeks -- starting today! In other news, aspiring FTSOC pilots have clocked up an impressive 78,750 flight hours (on Xbox One) since release, which translates to 9 years in the skies! Unfortunately we don't know how many barrel rounds have been fired during online and offline dogfights in the same period, but it's likely in the tens of millions! FTSOC is normally priced at $18.99 USD in North America (save $9.50), 14.99 in the UK (save 7.60), and 18.99 EUR in mainland Europe (save 9.50). On a bit of a side-note, we'd also like to share that Xbox One players have been playing rather fairly, using both the arcade-style combat aided controls as well as the more advanced simcade pitch & roll input method (the latter often with Thrustmaster's T.Flight Hotas One flight-stick hardware). LINKS & DOWNLOADS: Xbox Store URL: http://bit.ly/2AErnZN Stream the FTSOC Official Soundtrack: https://smarturl.it/acemaddox ACE MADDOX' YouTube Channel (redirect): AirCombatAction.TV GAME FEATURES: RARELY DEPICTED AIR-BATTLES OF WORLD WAR 2 Action-packed single-player campaign recreates the clandestine operations of the American Volunteer Group in fighter, bomber, gunner, reconnaissance, torpedo, and night missions. APPROACHABLE TAKE ON AIR-COMBAT Features TrazerTime slow-motion firing, arcade-like combat maneuvers, sim-style pitch & roll controls, moody weathers (including thunderous monsoons, beautiful sunsets, and misty dawns), 20+ Allied and Japanese planes, and more! MULTIPLAYER FOR 2-16 PLAYERS Xbox One leaderboards eternalize players online rankings across five battle modes! Coordinate devastating air-attacks in TEAM DOGFIGHT while providing cover for your comrades, outdo all enemies using powerful rocket weaponry in ROCKET BATTLE VS, or take to the skies and Capture the Flag in the FLAGBUSTERS mode. FLY IN COCKPIT OR THIRD-PERSON MODE Soar through the skies of Southeast Asia in third-person or cockpit view in a variety of American, British, Russian/Chinese, and Japanese aircraft. STRIKING RENDITION OF THE FAR EAST Faithful environments, beautiful graphics, booming sound effects and an epic-orchestral soundtrack create a lasting impression of the China-Burma-India theatre. FTSOC is available on the Xbox Store in 11 languages: English, Spanish, French, Polish, German, Portuguese-Brazil, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Russian, Italian, Turkish, and Japanese. About FTSOC Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China (FTSOC) is an air-combat action game based on the historical events of Americas volunteer squadrons that defended Southeast Asia in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre of World War 2 (aka the Second Sino-Japanese War). Secretly recruited under President Roosevelts administration before the US entered WW2 following the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Flying Tigers were officially known as the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) and consisted of three pursuit squadrons with only 99 P-40 fighters. Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China is rated M for Mature by the ESRB (Violence, Blood, Strong Language), PEGI 16 in Europe, MA15+ (Strong coarse language) in Australia, and CERO B (12+) in Japan. About ACE MADDOX Specializing in action games based on true stories and real heroes, Sweden-born ACE MADDOX is an international game company operating remotely with a staff of specialized contractors in more than 10 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Australia. Visit ACEMADDOX.com for more info or follow @AirCombatAction on Twitter. Please use our hashtag #FTSOC on social media. Reagan Hunley, Miss Franklin County Agricultural Fair 2018, was one of 24 contestants in the Miss Virginia Association of Fairs pageant, held January 3-5 at the Homestead Resort. Hunley, 19, and a graduate of Franklin County High School, is the daughter of Todd and Julie Hunley of Boones Mill. Last September, Hunley was crowned Miss Franklin County Agricultural Fair at the local pageant, staged at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School auditorium. Previously, Hunley held the titles of 2016 Senior Miss Franklin County and Senior Miss Eastern America. Hunley attends Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke and majors in social science. She plans to transfer to the College of Charleston (South Carolina) and has career goals of earning her master's and becoming a child life specialist. Reagan represented Franklin County with such poise and grace. She serves as a great role model to youth across Franklin County and surrounding areas, said Danielle Ridgeway, Miss Franklin County Agricultural Fair pageant director. We are so proud of her and look forward to all she will continue to do for the remainder of her reign as Miss Franklin County Agricultural Fair. Building 2 has been renovated to include new concrete columns, steel girders and steel columns. The upper-level is certified for business, residential and light assembly use. Council discussed using a building corner for government offices, and saving the main entrance for tenants. If its going to $150,000 to fix issues in this building, it makes a lot more sense to me to invest money and kick-start renovation in that building, Fitzpatrick said. That shows momentum to people who want to lease the space. Councilor Sarah Eames asked what should be done with the current Town Hall if the move occurs. If we do that, do we leave this sitting here as an eyesore? How are we going to afford to tear it down? Fitzpatrick said hed look into the cost of tear-down, but doesnt believe it will be too expensive. Hell also talk to Franklin County officials about the value of the current Town Hall, and bring this information back to council. Its a tough issue, Fitzpatrick said. We dont have to make a decision tonight. Just think of options and if you come up with something different, throw them out. Wisconsin Residents Describe the Moment They Found Missing Teen Jayme Closs The Wisconsin residents who found missing teenager Jayme Closs, who was discovered alive on Jan. 10 after going missing in October 2018, have spoken out about what happened. Jayme, 13, was taken from her house in Barron and where her parents were found killed. A nationwide search turned up few clues and was eventually scaled back. The break in the case turned out to be Jayme escaping from her captor and seeking help from residents in Gordon in Douglas County. Police officers arrested the kidnapping suspect in the same town, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office said. The suspect is reportedly a 21-year-old. A woman was walking her dog about 9 miles of east of Gordon, in an area thats mostly woods and cabins and has few year-round residents, when Jayme came up to her and asked for help. The dog-walker was identified by her husband Forrest Nutter, a retired police officer, as Joanne Nutter, a social worker. Nutter told the Daily Beast that his wife was walking the dog near the cabin the couple owns and the girl just came out of the woods. Joanne Nutter told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that she thought she knew the girl and her belief was confirmed when Jayme said her name. Kristin Kasinskas, a teacher, was at home around 4 p.m. when Nutter frantically knocked at her door. Kasinskas saw the woman standing with a skinny, dirty girl. This is Jayme Closs! Call 911! the neighbor said. Kasinskas did. Her husband, Peter Kasinskas, said that Jayme was quiet, her emotions pretty flat, while the family waited with her for about 20 minutes inside their home as police officers rushed to the scene. Kristin Kasinskas said that the couple offered her water and food but she declined both. They introduced her to their new puppy. Jayme told them she didnt know where she was. I honestly still think Im dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost, Peter Kasinskas said. It was scary and awesome at the same time. My jaw just went to the floor. Jayme also told the trio that she was abducted from her house. She didnt express any fear fear, Kristin Kasinskas told KARE 11. She didnt say that she was afraid this person was coming after her. But she did say that somebody had killed her parents. We kind of just talked with her, nothing too specific about what was happening, Kasinskas said. Family members said even they hadnt received much information about what exactly happened. Officials said they planned to give details at a Friday morning press conference. Jennifer Smith, Jaymes aunt and godmother, told ABC early Jan. 11 that the family would be reunited with the missing girl after Jayme was released from the hospital. The release was scheduled for Friday afternoon. I hear shes doing great and getting rest right now, she said. All I know is that she escaped from where she was being held, saw a lady walking a dog, and ran to the lady asking for help. From NTD News George Buschmann (L) was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Robert Gooch, an army veteran and father of three. (Chesterfield County Police) War Hero and Father of 3 Gunned Down in Apparent Random Act of Violence An Army officer was killed at a convenience store in Virginia in front of his teenage daughter, in what police said was a random act of violence. Robert Gooch IV and his 13-year-old daughter were at a Wawa store in Chesterfield County on Jan. 8, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. They had stopped off at the store to get some popcorn, with plans to see a movie. Then, out of nowhere, gunfire rang out. Police said Gooch was shot several times by 34-year-old George Buschmann, who then fled the scene. The father-of-three was hit by multiple rounds and was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. No motive has yet been provided for the shooting. No Verbal Back and Forth Chesterfield police Capt. Jay Thornton was cited by the Times-Dispatch as saying that it appears that Gooch did not know the gunman, nor did they even interact. From what we can tell there was no argument, Thornton said. There was no verbal back and forth at all. The gunmans vehicle, a stolen 2007 Toyota, was spotted the following day and an attempt was made to stop it. Buschmann did not heed demands to pull over, and led police on a chase. He was finally stopped after officers deployed spike strips. The alleged gunman was taken into custody and has been charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, felony eluding, possession of a firearm after being involuntarily committed, and transporting a firearm while being subject to a protective order. Buschmann had a criminal record that included violating a restraining order by a former spouse. Calm and In Charge The victims father, Robert Gooch III, told the Times-Dispatch that his son was walking to his car when the gunman began firing. He said his son ordered his daughter to get down and call her grandfather. Hes an Army officer and he understands how to give orders and get things done, Gooch III told the news outlet. Hes not somebody who would ever panic, he added. He was calm and in charge. Gooch had served multiple tours in Afghanistan, WTVR reported, where he worked logistics in the medical field as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Neighbor Faizan Habib remembers the slain Gooch as a helpful man and a loving dad. He was the first one to say Hey, let me help you out. What do you need?' Habib said, according to WTVR. Robert was a fantastic guy. Very helpful, very loving to his kids. Habib added Gooch was a decorated veteran. Hes a war hero, Habib said. He had a few deployments overseas. Gooch served multiple tours in Afghanistan where he worked logistics in the medical field as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Members of his unit cited by WTVR called Gooch highly dedicated to his job. Gooch leaves behind a wife and three children. He was always about making sure everyone was safe, Habib added about his deceased neighbor. He always had a smile on his face. Were praying for his family. US-Led Coalition Says It Has Started Syria Withdrawal The U.S.-led coalition against the ISIS terrorist group has begun to withdraw forces from Syria, a Department of Defense spokesman confirmed on Jan. 11. President Donald Trumps announced the withdrawal in December, citing the defeat of ISIS in Syria. The spokesmans confirmation signals that the military has completed the planning stage and is taking concrete steps to pull troops out of the region. The coalition has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements, Col. Sean Ryan, the spokesman for the Combined Joint Task Force, said. Trump has said that the withdrawal will be strong, deliberate, and orderly over a period of time. According to residents at border crossings, there has been no large-scale movement of troops in areas frequently used by U.S. forces. The withdrawal of American troops from the region introduced a new dynamic among the nations and groups stationed in the region. National Security Adviser John Bolton said that the pullout is conditional on protections for the Kurdish fighters allied with the United States. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was touring the Middle East this week, said that the United States will continue to conduct airstrikes in Syria as target arise. The secretary of state added that the pullout from Syria is not indicative of a change of Americas mission to defeat radical Islamic terrorism in the region and around the world. We remain committed to the complete dismantling of ISISthe ISIS threatand the ongoing fight against radical Islamism in all of its forms, Pompeo said. But as President Trump has said, were looking to our partners to do more, and in this effort, we will do so going forward together. In a rare acknowledgment that French troops were also in Syria, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian of France said they would leave when there is a political solution in the country. France is part of the U.S.-led coalition. The Kurdish groups that control the north have turned to Moscow and Damascus hoping to strike a political deal that will stave off Turkey and shield their autonomy in the north. Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said it was important for Syrian Kurds and the Syrian government to start talking to each other in light of U.S. withdrawal plans. She also said the territory, previously controlled by the United States, should be transferred to the Syrian government. In this regard, establishing dialogue between the Kurds and Damascus takes on particular significance. After all, the Kurds are an integral part of Syrian society, Zakharova said. Turkey views the U.S.-backed YPG Syrian Kurdish militia as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a 34-year insurgency in Turkey for Kurdish political and cultural rights, mostly in southeastern areas near Syria. A Kurdish politician told Reuters last week the Kurds had presented Moscow with a road map for a deal with Damascus. Syrias deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday he was optimistic about renewed dialogue with the Kurds. Trump to Democrats: Either Compromise or National Emergency on Border Security President Donald Trump is open to compromising on his demand for border security funding, but if attempts at negotiation fail, he will likely declare a national emergency and redirect other federal funding to border wall construction, the president said Jan. 10. Were either going to have a win, make a compromise, because I think a compromise is a win for everybody, or I will declare a national emergency, Trump said while speaking with media in front of the White House before departing for a visit to the border in Texas. No Progress on Talks Trumps disagreement with congressional Democrats on the border security funding prevented the passage of a funding bill for about quarter of the federal government, which ran out of money Dec 22. Trump walked away from a Jan. 9 border security meeting with congressional leaders at the White House after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she wouldnt give Trump money for the wall, even if he agreed to quickly end the shutdown. I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier? Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, Trump wrote on Twitter after the meeting. Crisis Over the past week, Trump has floated the idea of declaring a national emergency over the situation at the border. This is a crisis, he said Jan. 10. You have human trafficking, you have drugs, you have criminals coming in, you have gangs. Border Patrol apprehensions were up by about 30 percent in October and November combined, compared to the total apprehensions in August and September. Yet Trump said the border security has been in a state of crisis for years, pointing to his predecessor, Barack Obama, who called it a humanitarian crisis when the southern border was flooded with unaccompanied minors and families from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala in 2014. That fiscal year, some 69,000 minors and 68,000 families were apprehended at the border. In fiscal 2018, the Border Patrol apprehended more than 50,000 unaccompanied minors and more than 107,000 families. One in three female migrants were sexually assaulted on the journey north through Mexico to the U.S. border, according to a congressional briefing by the administration. Other estimates, such as those by Amnesty International, have put the percentage of female migrants who were raped on the journey as high as 80 percent. Wall Argument The only way to dissuade people from making the dangerous trip to the border and trying to cross illegally is a wall, or a steel fence, Trump has argued. Theres nothing that cant be penetrated, he said, adding that the steel slat fence is very, very hard to penetrate. Democrat leaders have stated their reason for opposing the wall project is because it is ineffective and expensive. However, in the past, many of them supported multiple bills that proposed border barriers similar to what Trump is asking for. Border security authorities back Trump on the effectiveness of border walls. The National Emergency Option A national emergency declaration would expand Trumps powers to use federal funds for pressing issues. Specifically, it allows him to redirect certain Defense Department funding and resources for use in civil works and military construction projects. If we declare a national emergency, we have a tremendous amount of funds, he said. Trump would need to keep the wall construction within those bounds. I would like to do the deal through Congress, Trump said, later adding, I would be nice if we can make a deal, but dealing with these people is ridiculous. I dont know if they know how to make a deal. If the negotiations with Democrats fall through, however, Trump appeared nearly certain to use his executive powers as a last resort. If we dont make a deal, I would say it would be very surprising to me that I would not declare a national emergency and just fund it through the various mechanisms, he said. Trump acknowledged that such executive action may get challenged in courts, but said hes prepared for anything. We would win that suit I believe very quickly, he told reporters in Texas after his border visit. They Have Gone Crazy Trump blamed the rocky wall negotiations on the Democratic Partys getting hijacked by its far-left wing, which doesnt employ even the brand of border security rhetoric brandished in the past by old-guard Democrats. They could stop this problem in 15 minutes if they wanted to. I really believe, now, that they dont want to. I really believe that. I really believe that they dont care about crime. I really believe this, Trump said. The Democrats dont care about crime. Theyve been taken over by a group of young people, who frankly, in some casesIve been watchingI actually think theyre crazy. But theyve been taken over by a group thats so far left, I really dont think they care about crime. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and other Democrats on the progressive far-left have gone as far as calling for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agency is not only responsible for deportations but also investigates gangs, cartels, and other transnational criminal enterprises. ICE removed nearly 6,000 known or suspected gang members in fiscal 2018. Pelosis office didnt respond to a request for comment. Trump Renews Push for Wall Funding During Visit to Texas Border In a renewed push for border-wall funding, President Donald Trump headed to the Southern border in McAllen, Texas, to make his case again amid what he described as a crisis of the heart and a crisis of the soul in his national address just days ago. Arriving at the Border Patrols McAllen Station on Jan. 10, Trump participated in a roundtable discussion on immigration and border security with Texas officials. Among those making the trip with the president were White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and other officials. Props figured prominently at the event, including an AR-15 rifle, Colt handguns, a plastic bag full of cash, and black-taped bricks of heroin and methamphetamine. All are examples of items that Border Patrol agents have seized. In his opening remarks, Trump praised Border Patrol officers, as Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen sat to his right and Reggie Singh to his left. Singh is the brother of slain California police Corporal Ronil Singh, who was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant the day after Christmas. Im honored to be in McAllen, Texas, with the heroes of Border Patrol, Trump said. And they are heroesyou take so much heat, so much abuse, from people who dont know what theyre talking about. I want to say you have a friend with this administration and you have a friend with me. First-Hand Stories After his remarks, Trump invited Singh to speak about his brothers life. He said his brother always wanted to be in law enforcement. He migrated to the U.S. from Fiji legally, asked for his citizenship and worked toward it, on the way to becoming a K-9 officer. The way he was killed, what my family is going through right now, I do not want any other family, or law enforcement person, to go through that, he said, voice wavering and his eyes welling with tears. At 33 years old, Ronil Singh was cremated and I had to pick up his remains. It breaks my heart. Trump embraced Reggie, telling him, We are with you. You know that, right? Gustavo Perez Arriaga, 32, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Singhs murder after a two-day manhunt. Trump then asked Marie Vega to speak about her lost son, Javier Vega, who became a Marine and then a border patrol agent. It was supposed to be a peaceful, fun fishing afternoon, but it didnt happen that way because we had a criminal illegal alien that killed him, she said. A parent should not have to bury a child. We need the wall. Trump said Democrats dont understand what is truly happening along the border. On Jan. 9, he walked out of another round of failed talks with Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Pelosi and Schumer have repeatedly argued that a border wall would be expensive and ineffective. Democrats havent offered any deal aside from their $1.3 billion offer for border-security purposes, which includes no funding for a wall. Meanwhile, the partial government shutdown continued into its 20th day, with no resolution between the two camps in sight. Politicians in Washingtontheyve never been here, Trump said. They dont know the first thing about what were talking about. A Real Crisis In their roundtable remarks, Sens. Cornyn and Cruz criticized Democrats for saying there is no crisis. When people like Ted and I hear our colleagues in Washington say this is a manufactured crisis, we kind of wonder what planet theyve been living on, Cornyn said, as he pointed to the piles of seized drugs and the sizeable bag of cash amounting to $362,062. Cruz said politicians who claim the border is secure are ignoring reality. Trump reacted to the props in the room, describing them as brutal. A CBP port director showed one display that included 117 kilograms (258 pounds) of meth, and four kilograms, or almost 9 pounds, of heroin that were seized at a port of entry by K-9 units. A Border Patrol agent in charge exhibited photos on poster boards of suspects smuggled in the trunk of a car; marijuana and firearms stashed inside a house; a vehicle that failed to yield to border agents; and a juvenile who died in the vehicle, among others. Trump later traveled to the banks of the Rio Grande, where he was greeted by border agents in Mission, Texas, the site where another section of the wall has been proposed. Workers are photographed during construction of approximately 20 miles of the border wall by order of President Donald Trump on the border between Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico and Santa Teresa, New Mexico state, on April 17, 2018. (Herica Martinez/AFP/Getty Images) Triple-Amputee Veteran Says He Will Refund GoFundMe Wall Donations A GoFundMe campaign to fund the southern border wall will refund all money to donors because it didnt meet its $1 billion goal, said Bobby Whithorne, director of North America Communications for GoFundMe, CBS News reported. Donors will get their money back on April 11, unless they choose to donate their contribution to campaign creator Brian Kolfages new venture. Kolfage, a triple-amputee Air Force veteran, raised more than $20 million via the crowd-funding website to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. When I created this fundraiser, I said if we did not reach our goal we will refund donors. I am honoring that commitment today. We will promptly refund your donation unless you tell us you approve our new plan for action, he said via GoFundMe in a Jan. 11 update. He said he would only collect the fund if it hit its goal of $1 billion, which is about one-fifth of what President Donald Trump has asked of Congress to build the wall. However, that did not happen. This means all donors will receive a refund, Whithorne told CBS of the GoFundMe. Kolfage gave the option of giving their GoFundMe contribution to himself and a team that he assembled to privately construct the wall. The group, a 501(c)(4), is called We Build the Wall, Inc. Our highly experienced team is highly confident that we can complete significant segments of the wall in less time, and for far less money, than the federal government, while meeting or exceeding all required regulatory, engineering, and environmental specifications, Kolfage wrote in an update on GoFundMe. Donors will have to proactively choose to hand over the donation to Kolfages group. The money will be automatically returned if they do not, said Whithorne. In a statement on Jan. 11, Kolfage explained the choice to create a 501(c)(4). He also said hes grateful for Trumps commitment to border security. He added in a Business Wire interview: Rather than subsidizing the federal government, which has betrayed the American people by obstructing President Donald Trumps agenda, We Build the Wall is taking the Presidents signature campaign promise into our own hands. I personally will not take a penny of compensation from these donations incurred in the furtherance of this mission. Kolfage explained the need for a private firm to build the wall. Better equipped than our own federal government, we have made significant progress in less than a month, having begun extensive due diligence and commenced feasibility studies, Kolfage said. We are already taking action on identifying the most densely crossed areas of the border, soliciting affected landowners along the Southern border, and ascertaining the willingness of border landowners to provide no or low-cost easements on their property for wall construction. Who wants to bet the liberal media runs FAKE LIBELOUS articles on me tomorrow since we are announcing our plan?! Get ready for the ATTACKS! We wont let it stop us! We are building that wall!! #GoFundTheWall @DeplorableChoir @RyanAFournier @CLewandowski_ @gehrig38 Brian Kolfage (@BrianKolfage) January 11, 2019 GoFundMe Update Kolfage also issued an update via the GoFundMe page, using bullet points, and it stated that the federal government wont be able to accept their donations in the near future. Meanwhile, a private company is better suited than the government to use donated money to build a wall. U.S President Donald Trumps border wall prototypes stand near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, Calif., on July 16, 2018. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)Our highly experienced team is highly confident that we can complete significant segments of the wall in less time, and for far less money, than the federal government, while meeting or exceeding all required regulatory, engineering, and environmental specifications, said the GoFundMe. The team also believes it can complete our segments of the border wall in half the time. Alexander, in blue, is considered one of greatest military commanders of all time. His ideal self was the great warrior Achilles. Alexander and Porus, 1665, by Charles le Brun. Louvre. (Public Domain) The New Year and Our Ideal Self The New Year has come, and I am sure most of us are considering or have written those New Years resolutions through which we attempt to start again and achieve more than we did last year. A good idea, though fundamentally the whole concept is probably flawed, if well-intentioned. The thing is: by setting New Years resolutions or goals, we are usually defining what we are going to do. But what we really need is to think more on what we intend to be. After all, as people often observe, we are human beings, not human doings. Unless we fix the being, the doing is superficial and largely superfluous, since nothing will have changed at the root. People generally prefer to consider what they are going to do (run three times a week, only eat healthily, restrict their alcohol intake to only one glass of wine per day, set up a new business that will bring down Facebook) because it is relatively straightforward or easy. But changing who we arewho we are going to beis considerably more difficult, not only to effect, but also to imagine how to effect. The key to changing our being is what psychologists call our self-concept, and more specifically the part of the self-concept known as our ideal self. Basically, the self-concept is made up of three parts: our self-esteem, which is how we feel about ourselves, and links us to our past; our self-image, which is how we see ourselves, as in the now, the present; and then the ideal self, which is what we want to really be, or what we could become in our future. So, of the three time orientations, what we could be is in the future and is our ideal selves. Our Ideals Selves, Our Role Models In order to first imagine that ideal someone else, we need role modelsreal, or even fictionalideal selves to whom we can aspire. I remember when my youngest son was growing up and The Lord of the Rings films had been recently released, how he wanted to be Aragorn and his best friend wanted to be Legolas, and they played games as these characters. Of course, more importantly, for the welfare of our children and our civilization itself, children need their parents as their primary role models, so they can aspire to resemble them; and then they need teachers and role models in society, who enable them to grow. The increasing failure of so many young men in our society today may be in part attributed to the lack of credible or even present male role models for them to emulate. Some readers may be thinking that this is all rather academic or unimportant, but the fact is that the ideal self has consequences for society all out of proportion to our awareness of its existence. Indeed, whole civilizations depend on it, or fall because of it. How Alexander Became Great Alexander the Great was arguably the greatest military commander and conqueror in Western history. According to Robin Lane Fox in his magisterial book Alexander the Great, some 750,000 people died in Asia alone as a result of Alexanders progress. For, of course, this is not to discount the fact that Alexander not only conquered and killed his enemies, but he could do so with savage ferocity. After the siege of Tyre, Alexander, to teach his enemies a lesson, had 2,000 men crucified. But consider how he achieved what he did. Alexander was widely educated: Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers of all time, was his tutor; Alexander loved poetry, and indeed, he not only loved poetry but he also lived poetry. My all-time favorite story about Alexander was when a messenger, breathless and excited with some good news he was anxious to relay to Alexander, doubtless with the expectation of reward, was cut short. What can you tell me that deserves such excitement, mocked Alexander, except perhaps that Homer has come back to life? Except that Homer had come back to life. The hairs go up on the back of my neckto value the poet and his work so highly and in such a way that it seemed even more significant than news of his empire. Alexander slept every night with two things under his pillow: a dagger and a copy of Homer. Michael Wood in his epic TV documentary In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great commented on how lucky Alexander was. Time and again the ruler put himself in the very front line of the military action or of the danger. He should have died long before he did at the age of 32, but luck again and again was with him. But was it luck? And so we come to the really interesting aspect of his story, the bit that all of us can take something from. He believed in himself, way beyond any measure of modern-day personal development where people talk about believing in themselves and nudge themselves into some false psyched-up state. No, Alexander believed really in himself: He believed he was descended from Heracles, the great son of Zeus; ultimately, he came to believe he was the son of Zeus-Ammona god. As such, and with such a belief, what would be impossible? For, more amazingly still, Alexander had an ideal self that the poetry bequeathed him: Of all things that Alexander aspired to be, first and foremost, his ideal self was Achilles: the horse-tamer, the man-slayer, the fleet of foot, the one who knew no fear, ferocious, implacable, invulnerable until the gods decreed his fate to be otherwise. And all that he knew most about Achilles was contained in Homers Iliad. That was his measure; that was his ideal self to which he aspired and by which he judged himself, and really did judge himself. What is breathtaking is how deeply the belief he was the son of a god and how profoundly the ideal self of Achilles permeated his consciousness and his whole being. With that ideal as his core, he becamehe achievedwhat the world can still scarcely believe: dominion and conquest of a kind not seen before and probably not equaled since. He was never beaten in battle, and he faced and defeated overwhelming odds time and time again. And the luck? Ah, the luck. Was it luck? There was another corollary that went with the power of such extraordinary belief: Namely, if you were a son of a god, then gods exist. Call it superstition if you will, but I wont: He sacrificed to the gods at all times, prayed to them at all times, and invoked their power and support. For him they were real, and as Christ once said: Wisdom is vindicated by her children. Was Alexander lucky, or did the universe itself respond to his devotion, his belief in the divine ultimate reality? Who do we believe we are: accidents, random collocations of molecules, or sons and daughters of the divine spark? And who is our ideal self? To what height are we aspiring, or what is our default mediocrity? On such questions and on such answers hangs our own capacity for greatness, whoever we are and whatever we do. Finding Our Ideal Selves in Modern Times It may be thought that such an ideal self couldnt be emulated in the modern world, that such strength coming from a role model is a thing of the past, but one would be wrong to assume so. Why, the great American general George S. Patton, who achieved so much militarily in World War II, had as his ideal self, who? Why, Alexander the Great! How, hed ask himself, would Alexander the Great deal with his situation? What would Alexander do? And from that model, he drew inspiration and strength. This, of course, is all focusing on great military heroes, and I am doing so because they are so prominent in our history and understanding of the world. But even more significant than great military conquerors are the truly staggering human beings who really have turned the world upside down. These are the great religious leaders: Lao Tzu, Buddha, Moses, Jesus Christ, and others too. Indeed, within most religions there are saints who are nearest to the founder. In Christianity, we have the Apostles, but centuries later we have many more, including St. Francis of Assisi, and down to our own recent time, we have Mother Teresa. The point is that these people have become their ideal selves, those few whom we admire, whom we really want to emulate, and who can help us become who we can be if we focus on them. In the 1990s (although it could arguably trace its origin back to Thomas a Kempiss The Imitation of Christ in the 15th century), in the United States, the WWJD movement gained traction. The WWJD movement? Yes, the What Would Jesus Do question that could determine the morality of any action that one decided to undertake. This question is exactly analogous to what Alexander the Great and George S. Patton were doing as they developed their ideal selves. And the question is tremendously powerful because it bypasses the human will and instead helps us conform to a new reality through the inspiration of our own imaginations. As the great poet W.B. Yeats once wrote: The imagination has some way of lighting on the truth which reason has not, and that its commandments are the most binding we can ever know. Thus, the great question for all of us as we face the new year is: Who are we are going to be? Who is our ideal self? In this series, Myths: Mapping Our Way Home, James Sale revisits why mythsall but discounted todayremain crucial to understanding our place in the universe, if not to our very survival. James Sale is an English businessman and the creator of Motivational Maps, which operates in 14 countries. He has authored over 40 books from major international publishers, including Macmillan, Pearson, and Routledge, on management, education, and poetry. As a poet, he won first prize in The Society of Classical Poets 2017 competition. Ericka Hall's car is parked next to the family's single-wide trailer outside of Magnolia, Miss on Jan. 8, 2019. (Matt Williamson/The Enterprise-Journal via AP) Teen Daughters Allegedly Killed Their Mother, After Trying to Run Her Over Just days before her death, a Mississippi woman called deputies to her home for help with two daughters now accused of fatally shooting and stabbing their mother, officials said. Pike County Sheriffs Office Chief Investigator Chris Bell said deputies went to Ericka Halls residence last week when she reported having trouble with her 14-year-old daughter. Bell said deputies were told that daughter and a 12-year-old tried to run over Hall with a vehicle, but she didnt press charges. Hall was found dead outside her home early Saturday and both daughters are charged with murder. The 14-year-old is charged as an adult and remained jailed Wednesday in Pike County pending $150,000 bail. Lawyer John McNeil, who represents her, declined to comment. Under Mississippi law, children 13 and older accused of certain crimes are automatically charged as adults. Judges can later transfer cases to youth court. The 12-year-old remains in juvenile detention. The Associated Press doesnt normally identify juveniles accused of crimes. Neighbor Jeremy Lenoir told The Enterprise-Journal that the girls tapped on his car window and asked for a ride as Hall lay wounded across the street. Lenoirs mother came outside and noticed the lights were on in Halls Nissan Altima. She thought that was odd and tried calling Hall but got no answer, so she contacted Halls relatives. We rushed down the street to her daddy and her sisters house, and when they came and drove down here, we found her on the other side of the car laid out, Lenoir said. Lenoir said Hall had a knife in her back. When I went over there, she was laying on her back with both of her fists balled up, eyes open, so you could tell she was trying to fight them back, Lenoir said. That was a terrible sight. That messed me up, and to think that her kids did that. At the familys mobile home on a half-acre of land east of Magnolia, remnants of the struggle remained Tuesday. Arrows drawn with orange spray paint followed a trail of blood from the front door to the passenger side of Halls car. From there, the blood trail circles back to the drivers side, where Hall was found, shielded from the view of the rural road. Lenoir said the girls acted calm but something seemed unusual. They seemed weird, he said. The girls, they came over here straight-faced, like nothing had ever happened. Sheriff Kenny Cotton said both of the girls will undergo a mental evaluation. They were like children having problems, said Robin Coney, Halls aunt. She was trying to get them help and stuff, and was going to send them off because they didnt go to school. Hall, a single mother who worked nights in a chicken processing plant, also had 1-year-old and 16-year-old daughters. [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.] Seoul a Jan. 11, 2019 a Fans of turn-based galactic combat gameplay can download today the latest content update for Master of Eternity (M.O.E.), the acclaimed strategy role-playing game (SRPG) from NEXON Korea Corporation, subsidiary of NEXON Co., Ltd. (aNexona) (3659.TO), a worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile games. This highly-anticipated update delivers an overhaul of fresh content, including exclusive costumes and events. The Cheerleader Costume Event goes live today for a limited time and available for download worldwide on iOS and Android. A Master of Eternity explores a vast war-torn universe plagued by interstellar war. Players command loveable yet fierce Pixies armed to the teeth in rugged and formidable mecha suits to fight rivals, foes and even friends on the battlefield. New and veteran players will employ in-game strategies and tactics that engage combatants in intense real-time battle for control of the galaxy. The Cheerleader Costume Event boasts several new features, including: Exclusive Costumes a Unlock two new cheerleader costumes through gems and a special mission event to customize M.O.E.as Pixies; a Unlock two new cheerleader costumes through gems and a special mission event to customize M.O.E.as Pixies; Festive Sales a Take advantage of rare sale prices of suits, generic seeds and parts for the limited-time New Yearas sale; a Take advantage of rare sale prices of suits, generic seeds and parts for the limited-time New Yearas sale; Weekly Special Events a Play the Galactic Pension Expedition during weekdays and Ancient Relic Loot Battles during weekends to acquire modified materials and items; a Play the Galactic Pension Expedition during weekdays and Ancient Relic Loot Battles during weekends to acquire modified materials and items; Premium Modification Package a For the duration of the event, the component quantity of existing sales products increases. A The Master of Eternity Cheerleader Costume Event is available now for iPhone and Android and is rated 12+. Additional information for members of the press: Download assets for Master of Eternity here Visit the official Master of Eternity Facebook page A About NEXON Co. Ltd. NEXON Co., Ltd. (aNexona) (3659.TO) is a worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile games. Founded in Korea in 1994, Nexon developed one of the world's first graphics-based massively multiplayer online games. Nexon also pioneered the concept of microtransactions and the free-to-play business model, setting a new standard in which play is free, and users have the option to purchase in-game items to enhance their experience. Nexon currently services nearly 100 titles in more than 190 countries. The Company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and its shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. A # # # A Press Contacts for Nexon Co. Ltd.: Javi Carlos/Gerard Bahri Wonacott Communications, LLC (310) 477-2871 [email protected] A A sign at an Mobile station Jul. 29, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Exxon Mobile's quarterly profits were released July 27 showing a second-quarter earnings increase of 91 percent beating analyst's profit expectations. (John Gress/Getty Images) Supreme Court Does Not Stop Climate Change Investigation of Exxon Exxon Mobil lost a round in the Supreme Court this week in its ongoing battle with an activist official in Massachusetts who claims the company has been concealing evidence about its role in the alleged phenomenon of global warming. The Supreme Court turned back Exxon Mobils request to review the actions of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. The company claims she has been violating its constitutional rights by leading what amounts to a fishing expedition. Exxon says Healey hopes to discover evidence to use in the states investigation that hypothesizes the company covered up information for decades about the role the fossil fuels it sells plays in climate change. Exxon Mobils resistance to handing over documents was backed by 11 Republican state attorneys general who called the Massachusetts probe an unconstitutional abuse of investigative power to promote one side of [the] international public policy debate. As is its custom, the court did not explain why it summarily refused the companys petition for certiorari on Jan. 7. Exxon asked the Supreme Court a few months ago to stop Healey from pursuing the documents, claiming she should not be permitted to force compliance with a subpoena from a company that does not operate in Massachusetts. In a case docketed as Exxon Mobile Corp. v. Healey, 18-311, the company asked the Supreme Court to review a decision the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court made in the case last April. In its petition, the company asserted that Massachusetts had no right to demand the documents requested in order to pursue its case and that the Massachusetts high court had no power to authorize the states actions. This case involves a breathtaking assertion of personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant, the company argued in the petition. [T]he Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court compelled compliance with sweeping investigatory requests by the States attorney general for decades worth of documents concerning petitioners knowledge of, and the relationship of petitioners products to, climate change. It justified that exercise of judicial power based principally on advertisements, despite the attorney generals admission that the ads at issue did not speak to the subject matter of the investigation and even though the corporation did not even create or approve the vast majority of the ads. Healey countered that the Massachusetts court could force the company to comply with the subpoena because it advertises in the state and has licensing agreements with businesses there. Exxon Mobil surrendered documents to New York and the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, which ended its investigation into the company last August, but it did not provide documentation to Healey. Environmentalists claim that the carbon dioxide generated by the consumption of fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal is responsible for climate change, but this theory of manmade global warming has never been proven. Critics say the sun, as opposed to human activity, and other factors are more likely responsible for whatever climate change may be taking place. Healey, a Democrat, said the Supreme Courts decision clears the way for our office to investigate Exxons conduct toward consumers and investors. The public deserves answers from this company about what it knew about the impacts of burning fossil fuels, and when, Healey wrote on Twitter on Jan. 7. Healey has been demanding internal documents from Exxon Mobil arising out of a probe years ago regarding the companys messaging, including advertisements, on global warming. Specifically, she asked for internal documents and records about conservative groups such as the Beacon Hill Institute and Americans for Prosperity that have not received money from Exxon Mobil. Healey began investigating the company in 2016 after former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat, began investigating the companys public and private messaging on global warming. According to The Daily Caller: Schneidermans office said its probe was sparked by 2015 reports from InsideClimate News and Columbia Universitys journalism school, but court documents later revealed staffers discussed the matter with environmental activists months before officially launching the investigation. The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) is seen over a mountain camp north of the Arctic Circle, near the village of Mestervik on Oct. 1, 2014. (Reuters/Yannis Behrakis) Shifting North Magnetic Pole Forces Rare Navigation Fix OSLO, NorwayRapid shifts in the Earths north magnetic pole are forcing researchers to make an unprecedented early update to a model that helps navigation by ships, planes, and submarines in the Arctic, scientists said. Compass needles point towards the north magnetic pole, a point that has crept unpredictably from the coast of northern Canada a century ago to the middle of the Arctic Ocean, moving towards Russia. Its moving at about 30 miles a year. It didnt move much between 1900 and 1980 but its really accelerated in the past 40 years, Ciaran Beggan, of the British Geological Survey (BGS) in Edinburgh, Scotland, told Reuters. A five-year update of a World Magnetic Model was due in 2020, but the U.S. military requested an unprecedented early review, he said. The BGS runs the model with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Beggan said the moving pole affected navigation, mainly in the Arctic Ocean north of Canada. NATO and the United States and British militaries are among those using the magnetic model, as well as civilian navigation. The wandering pole is driven by unpredictable changes in liquid iron deep inside the Earth, scientists believe. An update will be released on Jan. 30, the journal Nature said, delayed from Jan. 15 because of the U.S. government shutdown. The fact that the pole is going fast makes this region more prone to large errors, Arnaud Chulliat, a geomagnetist at the University of Colorado Boulder and NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information, told Nature. Beggan said the recent shifts in the north magnetic pole would be unnoticed by most people outside the Arctic, for instance, using smartphones in New York, Beijing, or London. Navigation systems in cars or phones rely on radio waves from satellites high above the Earth to pinpoint their position on the ground. It doesnt really affect mid- or low latitudes, Beggan said. It wouldnt really affect anyone driving a car. Many smartphones have inbuilt compasses, but in most places, the compass would be pointing only fractionally wrong, Beggan said. By Alister Doyle Writer Gary Wright watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking on Jan. 10. (Xiaomin Pang/The Epoch Times) WOKING, United KingdomChinese classical dance has been enriched from dynasty to dynasty, over thousands of years. Shen Yun dancers are bringing this rich art form to life on stage. The artists movements are like a bright thread running through embroidery, said writer Gary Wright, who watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking on Jan. 10. He was touched by the inner beauty of the performers. It was danced and performed with beauty and with spirit, and with heart, allied to all of the wonderfully colorful costumes, he said. It just made it a very different performance, and well worth going to see. Classical Chinese dance contains Chinas deep cultural traditions. Shen Yun, a company based in New York, has the mission of reviving this authentic Chinese culture through dance and music. A Moral Compass The dancers of Shen Yun tell stories from ancient history to the present day through Chinese classical dance. Its one of the most expressive art forms in the world. Wright was deeply moved by the traditional values that were expressed in the stories. If you keep an eye on tradition and you honor tradition and you follow it and you always keep it in mindeven when youre walking down the street with a phoneand not turn your back on history then that way the moral compass will survive, he said. That message was very clear in Shen Yun and it was a very colorful kaleidoscope of a story that was put together to keep pointingpoint the way of moral compass in the modern age. He said the narrative arc of Shen Yun had the opposite curve to most Western stories. While most Western stories chart a decline and fall and then a rise of the character at the end, in Shen Yun, the moralistic message was presented plainly at the beginning, he said. It wasnt concealed, it wasnt subtle and it wasnt revealed along the way, it was clear at the end of the performance that that arc was built upon all through the story, he said. With Western stories, very often the story revolves around losing the moral compass, and then at the end of a good story finding it again. Whereas the message in Shen Yun is to be aware to look down history and be aware that the moral compass points in one direction. Wright was struck by the contrast of the ancient tales of China with the final piece in the performance, which is set in the modern day. Dancers portray young people looking down at their cellphones. There was an immediate subtle distance between the audience and the people on stage, he said. It wasnt because the performance was bad, or there was a disconnect between the audience and the performersit wasnt that. That scene, for an audience member, it showed you a great contrast between a lot of the other tales [which] were rooted in ancient history. As an audience member, one felt closer to some of the performances in ancient history, than in the last section of Shen Yun which took place in modern day. And thats simply because it shows such a great contrast between all of the previous performances and the last one. Watching the performers, he could see that each dancer had worked incredibly hard to reach the level of perfection they exuded on stage. [Its] probably not just performance skills, I also suspect that its the important parts of their real life, by that I mean by being studious and still being mindful maybe of meditation and it comes through very clearly, he said. Ancient Chinese culture is said to be divinely inspired, with artists emphasizing self-discipline and virtue, aiming to create art that reflects their inner purity. As written in the programme book, Shen Yun performers are reviving this tradition and draw inspiration from the spiritual practice of Falun Dafa. Through their shared spiritual journey they meditate together, study teachings together and strive to live by truth, compassion, and tolerance, it says. Made Outside China Established in 2006, Shen Yun has the mission of reviving traditional Chinese culture. Its a culture that has been almost lost under communist rule in China. Its a very good thing that Shen Yun has been created outside of communist China and I think most of us can appreciate that it couldnt survive within communist China, said Wright. As a writer, Im always looking at how things are made and how and why we do things. He said that its a very good and noble mission to shine a light on the history and values before the communist phase of China. It was a very colorful, very acrobatic, very thoughtful and very uplifting performance, he said. With reporting by Xiaomin Pang and Jane Gray. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. Serial International Egg Thief Undone by a Hot Day, Jailed for 3 Years This time, it was his jacket that gave him away. Not because an eagle-eyed customs officer had spotted a tell-tale bulge over the 19 live eggs bound to his waist, but because Jeffrey Lendrums heavy coat looked odd on the hot summers day as he headed out of Londons Heathrow Airport. A suspicious border officer pulled over the 57-year-old ex-special military man. When asked whether he had anything to declare,said a border agency report, Lendrum stated he had some Fish Eagle and Kestrel eggs strapped to his body. On Jan. 10, Lendrum was sentenced to three years and one month for smuggling 19 live bird of prey eggs, with a value of between 2,000 and 8,000 each on the black market ($2,500 to $10,000), together with two live vulture chicks. A former member of the Rhodesian special forces, Lendrum has swung below helicopters and abseiled down remote cliffs trying to bag rare bird eggs around the world, picking up a string of convictionsand trotting out some bizarre cover storiesover the decades. Last year, he slipped the net in Brazil where he had picked up a four-and-a-half year jail sentence in 2016. In his latest trial, Lendrum had tried to convince authorities that he was just trying to save the birds from deforestation in their natural habitat in Africa when he was caught with the eggs at Heathrow on June 26, 2018. Chris Hill, NCA investigations manager at Heathrow, said in a statement, This offense was clearly no accident as Lendrum had gone to great lengths to both source and then attempt to conceal the birds eggs. His claims that he was engaged in an effort to save them from deforestation did not hold water. According to Andy McWilliam, investigations officer for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, Lendrum plans his heists with military precision. I remember we found notebooks and diaries among his possessions, Williams told the Times. I kept them because I was so impressed. He was visiting Sri Lanka during the breeding season of a bird called the black shaheen, a breed of peregrine falcon. The notes had details of most sites he had visited, including military activity in the area. He goes into detail on security at the airport: how often they search people and if they have X-ray. Egg-boxes in an Airport Shower Eight years ago, Lendrums detailed plans were unraveled by two egg-boxes and a stained chicken egg. A cleaner in Birmingham airport had seen Lendrum head into the shower in the first-class Emirates lounge on May 3, 2010, ahead of his flight to Dubai. But when Lendrum emerged, the cleaner was surprised to find the cubicle dry. Looking in the diaper bin, the cleaner found two egg-boxes, one with a blood red egglater established as a peregrine egg stained to look like a chicken egg. The cleaner alerted the authorities, and Lendrum was revealed to have 14 eggs wrapped in socks around his waist to keep them warm. But Lendrum could explain: the eggs were chicken eggs, used on recommendation of a physiotherapist for a back-ache. The authorities didnt believe him, and the eggs were identified as rare peregrine eggs, stolen from a clifftop in Wales, worth 70,000 ($90,000). He was jailed for for 30 months, reduced to 18 months on appeal. In 2016, he was jailed in Brazil for four years over the theft of four albino falcon eggs. When he got an early release, he skipped bail and disappeared. Lendrums first conviction came in 1984, for dealing in protected birds of prey in Zimbabwe. He was arrested in Canada in 2002 for stealing peregrines and gyrfalcon eggs. The biggest market for the illegal trade of birds of prey is in the middle-east, where falconry remains a revered tradition. The bright object dubbed the Cow was first discovered in the ATLAS survey (top panel). Astronomers around the world pointed their telescopes to follow the Cow. The bottom panel displays the telescopes in the GROWTH network that were used to study the mysterious cosmic explosion. From left to right and top to bottom: Liverpool Telescope; Himalayan Chandra telescope in India; Lulin Observatory in Taiwan; Mount Laguna Observatory; Palomar Observatory; Mitsume Observatory in Japan; and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in space. (NASA, Caltech/Palomar, ATLAS team, Daniel Lopez/IAC) Scientists Might Have Witnessed a Black Hole Being Born for the First Time Ever, After Mysterious Cow Blast Humans may have been able to capture and observe the birth of a black hole or a neutron star in real time for the very first time, astronomers said at a recent national astronomical meeting in Seattle, referring to an extremely bright flash in space first spotted in 2018 that has since become one of the most baffling and most studied cosmic events in history. The mysterious and spectacularly bright glow was first spotted on June 16, 2018, by ATLAS telescopes in Haleakala and Maunaloa in Hawaii. The event garnered international attention but also left astronomers perplexed. We thought it must be a supernova, astronomer Raffaella Margutti of Northwestern University in Chicago said in a release. But what we observed challenged our current notions of stellar death. Astronomers had a "cow" about this big blast https://t.co/lOEz49wwDd A dramatic stellar explosion, witnessed on June 16, 2018 (dubbed AT2018cow) is now one of the most intensely studied cosmic events in history pic.twitter.com/0nW0cmLpyK Caltech (@Caltech) January 11, 2019 The cosmic flare was peculiarly 10 to 100 times brighter than a regular supernova or exploding starat its most brilliant, it would equate to some 100 billion times the luminosity of our Sun. The cosmic flare also vanished within 16 daysmuch faster than other supernovae. The extreme flash was dubbed AT2018cow, or now widely referred to as the Cow. It was traced to a galaxy 200 million light-years from Earth called CGCG 137-068, in the constellation of Hercules. Since then, more than 100 astronomers have been observing the event using telescopes around the world, as well as in the sky. Now, some astronomers say the cosmic flare may be a new type of supernova that was created by a massive star that had collapsed to form either a black hole or a fast-spinning neutron star (also known as a magnetar). Meanwhile, others say the explosion may have been caused by a pre-existing black hole ripping apart a white dwarf star. Black Hole Birth Observed In Real Time? Researchers from various groups gathered at the 233rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle on Jan. 10, to present and discuss the latest data theyd been collecting. Using data gathered from 16 telescopes around the world, Marguttis team analyzed data on the Cow over a broad range of wavelengths that spanned from radio waves to gamma rays, as well as hard X-rays, which are 10 times more powerful than normal X-rays. At first, the cosmic flash looked to her like a black hole ripping up a white dwarf star. Our team used high-energy X-ray data to show that the Cow has characteristics similar to a compact body like a black hole or neutron star consuming material, Margutti, lead author of a multi-institutional research team, said in a NASA release. But based on what we saw in other wavelengths, we think this was a special case and that we may have observedfor the first timethe creation of a compact body in real time. By compact, Margutti refers to a dense body such as a neutron star or even a black hole. Margutti said in a release from Keck Observatory, We know from theory that black holes and neutron stars form when a star dies, but weve never seen them right after they are born. Never. Quick and Powerful Astronomer Daniel Perley from Liverpool John Moores University in the U.K. said that due to the Cow being extremely luminous as well as forming and disappearing quickly makes it so unique that existing supernova models cant properly explain it. Perley and colleagues of the GROWTH project under Caltech University followed the Cows aftermath for over a month. Their data showed that the debris from the explosion was ejected at very high speeds, which they say may have caused the quick flarethe Cow had reached its peak brightness in two days, whereas the time frame for a typical supernova is two to three weeks. It must be a new type of extremely energetic, explosive event, he said. The shock wave from the explosion traveled at one-tenth the speed of lightabout 30,000 kilometers per secondaccording to University of Sydney Ph.D. student Dougal Dobie, who was observing the Cow with a radio telescope, the CSIROs Australia Telescope Compact Array in Narrabri. A Central Engine? As the Cows luminosity dwindled, Perleys team observed irregularities in the optical data rather than a steady decline in brightness that would be typically observed for declining supernovae. Perley said the findings hint at another source of power, like a central engine that is propelling the expanding debris with energy. Whatever it is, it must involve some form of energetic and very fast explosion interacting with an extremely dense shell of material very close to the explosion progenitor, Perley said. Anna Ho, a GROWTH Ph.D. student at Caltech, was observing the Cow using radio telescopes in Hawaii and Chilethe Submillimeter Array (SMA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, respectively. This is the first time any transient has been seen to increase in brightness in millimeter waves, said Ho. Normally by the time explosions are observed with a millimeter telescope, they are already fading in brightness. Radio astronomy expert Tara Murphy, who oversaw Dobies research, said their findings pointed to a similar conclusion. The fact it was getting brighter with time and particularly in higher frequencies shows there must be something that was still powering the explosion pumping energy into this material, Murphy told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She added that the radio data suggests that the unique Cow explosion was being continuously energized by either a black hole or a magnetar at its core. It wasnt just this explosion that happened and then was fading away, there must be something that was still there that makes it different from the typical supernova we see. From NTD News Report: Woman in Vegetative State Who Gave Birth Was in Nursing Facility Since She Was a Toddler A vegetative woman who gave birth in a Phoenix nursing facility had been living there since she was a toddler, according to court documents. The woman was left in a vegetative state 14 years ago after a near-drowning incident. She gave birth in late December to a healthy baby boy. The patient was identified as a 29-year-old Native American woman. Court records state the woman has been a resident of the facility for more than 27 years nearly double the length of time that appeared in previous reports. People 2019110 The court documents state that she has been under the care of Hacienda Healthcare since she was between the ages of 2 and 3, People magazine reported. She also suffers from quadriplegia, a seizure disorder, and recurrent pneumonia, according to the documents. She lacks sufficient understanding and mental capacity to make decisions or give consents for her medical, placement or financial estate, the court documents said. The court documents were regarding the transferral of her guardianship from her biological father to her mother. Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said the womans birth took everyone [at the facility] by surprise. Thompson told the publication: Its my impression that the staff there had no clue that this lady was having a baby, and she was quite a ways along before delivery. Her last medical examination occurred more than eight months before her delivery, dated April 30, 2018. No changes, said a handwritten note about if there were any major changes in the wards physical and/or mental condition in the last year. Thompson also said the woman and her mother were in a hospital recovering following the birth. Were tickled that the babys okay, Thompson continued. I think its a miracle. I hate to draw a miracle of such a horrific event, but the baby survived. Words cant describe the thoughts we have, the questions that go through our mind about this. In another report, the child was having issues and that was the nature of the call, Thompson said. Thats what started this. Police officers served a search warrant on Jan. 8 to Hacienda to get DNA samples from male staff members. As a company, we welcome this development in the ongoing police investigation, the firm said in a statement. Hacienda also said it had considered asking employees for DNA samples, but noted its attorneys advised against it, as it might violate federal law. Hacienda stands committed to doing everything in our power to bring this police investigation to a quick conclusion, the company statement said. We will continue to cooperate with Phoenix police and all other investigative agencies to uncover the facts in this deeply disturbing, but unprecedented situation. Investigators are now asking the public to help identify a suspect in the assault case. Anyone with information can call 602-534-2121. What is a Vegetative State? According to The Brain Foundation, A vegetative state is when a person is awake but showing no signs of awareness. It means the persons basic reflexessuch as blinking when hearing a loud noisework. However, they dont show any meaningful responses, such as following an object with their eyes. The case speaks to the fact that the patient actually had largely normally functioning organs, Dr. Deborah Feldman, director for maternal-fetal medicine at Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, told CNN. She added, I can say that, biologically, her body actually was functioning very well in order to grow a full-term baby. Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, reacts during a news conference in Paris, France, September 15, 2017. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters) Prosecutors Set to Indict Nissans Ghosn Again on Friday: Source TOKYOJapanese prosecutors plan to indict former Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Chairman Carlos Ghosn on two more charges of financial misconduct on Jan. 11, a person with knowledge of the issue said, bringing the total number to three. Ghosn, who has been detained since his arrest in November, is likely to be formally charged with aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to Nissan in 2008, as well as for understating his compensation for three years through 2018. The charges, which have been widely expected, add to an earlier charge of under-reporting his income by around half over the five years through March 2015. At a court appearance this week, Ghosn said all accusations against him were meritless and unsubstantiated. Nissan also faces an indictment over the latest compensation reporting issue, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. The Nikkei daily earlier reported that prosecutors planned to charge Ghosn for aggravated breach of trust on Jan. 11. It also reported, citing unidentified investigation sources, that Ghosn had discussed the possibility of extending a 3 billion yen ($27.81 million) loan to a business run by a Saudi acquaintance who later provided collateral for a personal investment. Both the Tokyo Prosecutors Office and Nissan declined to comment on the issues when contacted by Reuters. Ghosn has been in detention since his initial arrest on Nov. 19. While he has said that he has been unfairly detained, the Tokyo District Court earlier this week rejected an appeal by his lawyers to end his detention. It is uncommon for defendants in Japan who deny charges to be granted bail ahead of trial, a practice that has drawn widespread criticism, including from Ghosns defense team. A member of Ghosns Japan-based legal team told Reuters that Ghosn did not attend an interrogation session scheduled for Jan. 10 due to a fever, and that he had been advised by a detention center physician to rest. Another member of the legal team told Reuters that they would apply for bail after Ghosns current detention period ends on Jan. 11, but that his release would come on Jan. 15 at the earliest should the court accept the application. Speaking with reporters on Jan. 15, Motonari Otsuru, who leads Ghosns legal team, said he expected prosecutors to take at least six months to prepare for trial. By Naomi Tajitsu WOKING, United KingdomProfessor Josefina Ramirez wasnt only impressed by the Shen Yun dancers physical abilities. She was deeply moved by their spiritual beauty too. The abilities and spiritual beauty that come from the dancing really comes across, said Ramirez, who attended Shen Yun in Wokings New Victoria Theatre on Jan. 10. It makes it even more meaningful than only plain dancing. It comes out with spirit, she said. Thousands of years old, Classical Chinese dance is one of the most expressive art forms in the world. Shen Yun, a company based in New York, has a mission of reviving authentic Chinese culture on stage through dance and music. We hear about it but then the history kind of washed it away so its very nice to recuperate it and bring it back and see it in a real performance, said Ramirez. Under communist rule in China, traditional moral values have been suppressed and almost wiped out. Shen Yun depicts ancient stories passed down through Chinese history and brings these values back to life on stage. Its so good it comes with a message on how people are living in China and how they could live if they had more freedom, she said. She was referring to the story, Goodness in the Face of Evil, which is about Falun Dafa, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted in China under the communist regime since the late 1990s. Tolerance and Spirituality She was particularly touched by the values portrayed in the dances. The values of tolerance and spirituality come across very clearlyand how a very peaceful way of living spirituality should be kept and should be maintained and protected, she said. Ramirez added that the energy from the performance was incredible. You can see all the smiles and real energy that comes out from every performer. Lots of energy from every one of them and passion for what they are doing, you can tell. Lots of humor but with a deep sense as well, she said. With reporting by Xiaomin Pang and Jane Gray. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. In this Jan. 3, 1997, file photo, a police officer sits in her cruiser outside the home in which 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered in Boulder, Colorado on Dec. 26, 1996. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) Police Department Aware of JonBenet Ramsey Confession The Boulder Police Department in Colorado has disputed a claim made by a convicted sex offender who confessed to killing JonBenet Ramsey more than 20 years ago. The Daily Mail published letters allegedly written by Gary Oliva, 54, who was convicted on child pornography charges, saying he accidentally killed the former child beauty pageant contestant. I never loved anyone like I did JonBenet and yet I let her slip and her head bashed in half and I watched her die, he allegedly wrote in a letter published by the Daily Mail. It was an accident. Please believe me. She was not like the other kids. Brother of JonBenet Ramsey reaches settlement with CBShttps://t.co/CYZbRc8sZJ pic.twitter.com/rea4kJp20K WSYX ABC 6 (@wsyx6) January 7, 2019 The Boulder Police Department released a statement about Olivas letters, saying it is aware of the claims. The Boulder Police Department is aware of Mr. Oliva and has investigated his potential involvement in this case, including several previous confessions, the department said, reported The Denver Channel. The department routinely receives information on this investigation, It added. Information provided to the police department is reviewed along with the many tips and theories we receive. There are no new updates in this investigation and the department will not comment further. Former Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett told Fox2 on Jan. 11 that the Daily Mail has not reported anything that wasnt already known to authorities. The Denver Post previously reported that Oliva was interrogated by police after JonBenet was killed in her home more than 20 years ago. He had lived just blocks away from the Ramsey family during the time of her killing. Pedophile Gary Oliva confesses to killing JonBenet Ramsey by accident https://t.co/x6vsmSJQ3l via @MailOnline Phil Sanchez (@Phil_Sanchez) January 10, 2019 In another letter published by the Mail, he allegedly wrote, in part, it was by accident she died and it was my fault. The letters were sent to music publicist Michael Vail, a former high school classmate of Olivas. In 2016, Oliva was arrested after an investigator found child pornography images in an email account used by him. The focus on him has to do with this new case, we are not in a position at this point to say if he is being looked at in connection with JonBenet, said Boulder city spokeswoman Sarah Huntley in 2016, according to reports at the time. We are not comfortable ruling anybody in or out as a suspect in connection with JonBenet, including Mr. Oliva. Oliva was arrested in 2002. He told the Denver Post, JonBenets murder touched me very deeply I feel she was an exceptional girl whose death was an exceptional loss. I felt the need to build a monument, a shrine, to remember this little girl. The Daily Camera of Boulder reported Oliva was a previously convicted sex offender from Oregon. He admitted to having an obsession with JonBenet. Boulder police: no new updates after man confesses again in JonBenet Ramsey case https://t.co/94WRxNKcei pic.twitter.com/v7uBNR8QUm FOX31 Denver KDVR (@KDVR) January 11, 2019 I believe she came to me after she was killed and revealed herself to me, he told the Daily Camera in 2002. Id like to see a memorial set up for her. I havent seen that, anywhere. No one has been charged in JonBenets death. Her father, John Ramsey, found her in the family homes basement on Dec. 26, 1996. Her parents were cleared in the girls slaying. Officials have said she was likely killed on Christmas Day 1996. Previous Confessions More than 10 years ago, John Mark Karr, a 41-year-old elementary school teacher, was arrested in Bangkok on Aug. 15, 2006, when he apparently confessed to murdering JonBenet. I was with JonBenet when she died, Karr told reporters at the time, reported The Associated Press. Her death was an accident. When asked if he was innocent in her slaying, Karr replied, No. Later, according to ABC News, DNA testing failed to link Karr to the crime scene. Boulder police then ruled him out as a suspect. Poland Arrests Huawei Employee, Polish Man on Spying Allegations WARSAW/LONDONPoland has arrested a Chinese employee of Huawei and a former Polish security official on spying allegations, officials and sources told Reuters on Jan. 11, a move that could fuel Western security concerns about the telecoms equipment maker. However, a spokesman for the Polish security services told Reuters the allegations related to individual actions, and were not linked directly to Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Huawei, the worlds biggest producer of telecoms equipment, faces intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese regime and U.S.-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims, but the allegations have led several Western countries to restrict Huaweis access to their markets. Stanislaw Zaryn, a spokesman for the Polish security services, said the countrys Internal Security Agency (ISA) detained a Chinese citizen and a former Polish security official on Jan. 8 over spying allegations. The two men have heard charges and will be held for three months, he said. This matter has to do with his actions, it doesnt have anything to do with the company he works for, Zaryn said of the Chinese man. A person with knowledge of the matter said a Huawei employee called Wang Weijing had been arrested but not charged. A LinkedIn profile for Wang showed he has worked for Huaweis Polish division since 2011 and previously served as attache to the Chinese General Consul in Gdansk from 2006-2011. Wang did not immediately respond to a request for comment via the social media site. Polish public TV channel TVP said the Polish man was a former ISA officer and that security services had searched the offices of his current employer, telecoms firm Orange Polska. Huaweis local offices were also searched, TVP reported. Chinas foreign ministry said it was greatly concerned by the reports, and urged Poland to handle the case justly. Huawei said in a statement it was aware of the situation but had no immediate comment. Orange Polska said in a statement security services had on Tuesday gathered materials related to an employee, whom it did not identify. The company said it did not know if the investigation was linked to the employees professional work, and that it would continue to cooperate with the authorities. Heightened Scrutiny Huawei has come under intense scrutiny in recent months as countries including Australia, New Zealand and Japan have followed U.S. moves against the company, citing security concerns. Canadian authorities in December also arrested Huawei finance chief Meng Wanzhou at the behest of U.S. authorities as part of an investigation into alleged violations of U.S. trade sanctions, raising tensions with China at a time when Washington and Beijing are engaged in a broader trade war. The Wests security concerns surrounding Huawei, and fellow Chinese telecoms equipment firm ZTE Corp, center around Chinas National Intelligence Law. Approved in 2017, the law states that Chinese organizations and citizens shall, in accordance with the law, support, cooperate with, and collaborate in national intelligence work. This has sparked fears Huawei could be asked by the Chinese government to incorporate backdoors into their equipment that would allow Beijing access, for spying or sabotage purposes. Some experts also see a risk that Chinese intelligence may develop an ability to subvert Huaweis equipment. Ewan Lawson, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said the arrests in Poland could bolster Western concerns. It does point at the sort of connections that may exist between the state intelligence enterprise and private Chinese companies, he said. The European Commission is aware of the reports of the arrests and will reach out to the Polish authorities for further information, spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters in Brussels. Norway said on Wednesday it was considering whether to join other Western nations in excluding Huawei from building part of the countrys new 5G telecoms network. By Joanna Plucinska, Karol Witenberg & Jack Stubbs Romaine lettuce sits on the shelves as a shopper walks through the produce area of an Albertsons market in Simi Valley, Calif., on Nov. 20, 2018. (Mark J. Terrill/AP File Photo) Officials Declare End To E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce Health officials have declared an end to a multi-state E. coli. outbreak linked to romaine lettuce that hospitalized 25 people last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Jan. 9, that the outbreak that was reported across 16 states and the District of Columbia appears to be over and that contaminated romaine should no longer be available on the market. Sixty-two people were sickened by the outbreak between October and December last year. No deaths were reported but two people developed a type of kidney failure from eating the contaminated lettuce. Illnesses were also reported in Canada as well. Officials traced the likely source of the outbreak to the central coastal growing regions of northern and central California. They found the strain of bacteria in the sediment collected from a water reservoir on a farm in Santa Barbara County. The farm, Adam Bros. Farming, subsequently recalled (pdf) its green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, and cauliflower harvested after Thanksgiving. Lettuce from the farm linked to the outbreak is no longer available for sale. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that they will continue investigating potential sources and contributing factors that led to the outbreak in order to prevent future outbreaks. Industry to Step Up Safety Recently, there have been repeated food poisoning outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce in the United States, prompting the produce industry to look into its safety measures to prevent, catch, and contain contamination. The outbreak that was announced before Thanksgiving last year followed another outbreak in June which sickened more than 200 people and killed five. In 2017, another E. coli. outbreak linked to leafy greens sickened 25 and killed one. The dozens of reported cases of illness highlight the challenge of eliminating risk for vegetables grown in open fields and eaten raw, and the delay of stricter federal food safety regulations. A contested aspect of the regulation, for example, would require testing irrigation water for E. coli. The FDA put the measure on hold when the produce industry said such tests wouldnt necessarily help prevent outbreaks. In the earlier 2018 outbreak, the bacteria was traced to romaine from Yuma, Arizona where testing of generic E. coli. in the water already occurs. The produce industry says the failure to prevent the Yuma outbreak could reflect the limitations of testing water for generic E. coli. Elizabeth Binh, a food science expert at Cornell University, said the tests look for the amount of fecal matter in water. She said the problem is some feces has pathogens in it, some feces doesnt. Binh is part of a federal program helping farmers comply with the new produce regulations. The food science expert added that testing for specific E. coli strains that are harmful is more difficult, and it doesnt rule out the possibility of other harmful bacteria. Additional regulations on sanitation for workers and equipmentother potential sources of contaminationonly recently started being implemented. Meanwhile, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said last year that the leafy greens industry has agreed to establish a task force to find solutions for long term labeling of romaine lettuce and other leafy greens to mitigate any outbreaks risk and to put in place standards for traceability of product. The labels will identify the origin of the romaine lettuce based on harvest region, along with the date of harvest. The agency said this would help to limit the amount of product to be removed from the market and it will help consumers, restaurants, and retailers determine that the romaine lettuce they are buying is from an unaffected growing region. The Associated Press contributed to this report Nurse Decapitated Baby After Pulling Too Hard During Botched Delivery: Reports A nurse in India reportedly decapitated a baby while pulling too hard during a difficult delivery. The male delivery nurse had reportedly pulled at the fetus so hard that he tore the body in two. The mother, whose name is Dikhsha Kanwar, is reportedly fighting for her life in hospital, according to local media. The horrific incident took place on Jan. 6 at a government health center in Ramgarh in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan state. If that wasnt horrific enough, the nurse and a colleague [another male nurse] deposited the lower part of the fetus in the hospitals mortuary, Hindustan Times reported. The staff then said there had been a complication with the birth, and the woman was then taken to Jawahar Hospital. Dr. Ravindra Sankhla, a gynecologist at Jawahar Hospital, said the staff at the health center had told him that they had completed the delivery but left the placenta in the womb, according to Hindustan Times. But when Sankhla tried to take out the placenta, he realized something was horribly wrong. He said he then referred the mother to Ummed Hospital in Jodhpur after he had stabilized the mothers health. Doctors at Jodhpur hospital operated on the mother to find the fetus head in the womb, at which point they informed the womans family. Dr. Nikhil Sharma, who oversees the Ramgarh community health center, said that he was not on site at the time and that medical staff had conducted the delivery without informing him. The two male nurses, Amritlal and Junjhar Singh, have not yet been arrested but the Rajasthan Police have filed a case against them under Indian Penal Code Sections 304A (causing death by negligence) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety), Scroll.in reported. Husband Tilok Bhati lodged a complaint against the two male nurses and claimed that they were drunk at the time, Jalam Singh, sub-inspector and investigating officer of the case, told the Hindustan Times. When questioned, the hospital staffers handed over the lower part of the foetus to us, he said. No arrest has been made so far. Dr. Usha Duggad, principal medical officer at Jawahar government hospital, told the paper that it was a rare case. Baby Decapitated in UK The case is reminiscent of an incident in the U.K. in 2018 where a doctor had decapitated a baby at a hospital in Dundee in a botched delivery. Dr. Vaishnavy Laxman was able to continue working at the maternity wards at Ninewells Hospital following the tragic incident. Laxman was delivering a premature infant in a breech position and had tried to carry out the delivery naturally, even though she could have given the mother a C-section delivery. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel had said that the only appropriate course was a caesarean section as the baby was in the breech position with a prolapsed cord and low heart rate, and the mothers cervix was less than 4cm dilated, the Independent reported in June 2018. This resulted in the fetuss legs, arms, and torso to become detached, leaving his head in the womb. The tribunal ultimately said Laxmans fitness to practice would not be affected, and ruled that Laxmans decision to deliver a natural birth was negligent and fell below the standards ordinarily to be expected but did not amount to serious misconduct. From NTD.com Watch Next: How Doctors in China Are Asked to Commit Murder Former Chinese surgeon Enver Tohti said he was turned into a killing robot while thinking he was working for a great cause. New York Teenager Stabbed by MS-13 Members Who Were Released by Judge: Police A teenager was stabbed in New York state on Jan. 9 by MS-13 members who were previously apprehended by authorities but ordered released by a federal judge. In the latest crime that appears to be committed by illegal aliens, the 16-year-old was stabbed by the trio of gang members behind a Burger King on Long Island. The teen told police that he was at the restaurant when six of his classmates from Huntington High School entered and began glaring at him. The victim and his friend left but three of the gang members followed them. The trio was armed with bats and knives. An altercation broke out in a parking lot and the victim was stabbed by Ramon Arevalo Lopez, 19, police told WABC. The 16-year-old was later rushed to a hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. The three gang members fled the scene but were soon caught by the police. Lopez had been picked up by the Department of Homeland Security in October 2017 after entering the United States illegally on Dec. 8, 2016, police said. But a federal judge ordered him released from custody in June 2018. According to The Intercept, authorities had identified Lopez as a likely gang member but the federal judge, Robert Sweet, 95, claimed that the government was breaking the law by holding Lopez. Arevalo Lopez made admissions to committing the stabbing, Suffolk District Attorney Timothy Sini told Newsday. However, Lopezs attorney Jason Bassett said his client isnt an MS-13 member nor did he commit the stabbing. By all accounts, hes a gentle and unassuming young man whos not a MS-13 member, Bassett said. Hes an innocent young man. Were going to fight these charges vigorously. The two other suspects were identified as Nobeli Montes Zuniga, 20, and Oscar Canales Molina, 17. They both entered the country illegally as well. Monila was apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security in July 2017 but also ordered released by a federal judge several months later. They were all charged with second-degree assault and face up to seven years in prison if convicted. All three were in the Suffolk Countys database of likely gang members. While its not clear what the fight was about, it is clear that the defendants are all members of the MS-13 gang, Suffolk Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. MS-13 The motto of MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is kill, rape, control. Members, most of whom are illegal aliens, are known for their brazen violence, including beheadings. MS-13 has created a brandlike Los Zetas in Mexicobased on its reputation for engaging in unspeakable acts of brutality using machete and knife attacks against those that cross it, Robert J. Bunker, an adjunct research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College, told The Epoch Times. This barbaric reputation greatly aids the gang in its collection of street taxes from local merchants and helps it to protect its turf and drug trade against opposing gangs who are afraid to face the street terrorism it can wage against them. MS-13 bolsters its ranks through recruitment in schools, often of youth coming into the United States from Central America as unaccompanied minors. What were seeing is that MS, by and large, is using the schools as recruitment centers, Fitzhugh said. The fear of not joining the gang is so significant that kids feel compelled, that they have no other option but to join the gang. And so obviously this is a win-win for MS, because this environment is there, and a lot of these kids are vulnerable. Images)[/caption] Trump Tries Addressing Illegal Immigration The stabbing in New York took place just days after President Donald Trump, in his first address to the nation as president, urged people to support the proposed border wall to crack down on illegal immigration. Day after day, precious lives are cut short by those who have violated our borders, Trump said. In California, an Air Force veteran was raped, murdered, and beaten to death with a hammer by an illegal alien with a long criminal history. In Georgia, an illegal alien was recently charged with murder for killing, beheading, and dismembering his neighbor. In Maryland, MS-13 gang members who arrived in the United States as unaccompanied minors were arrested and charged last year after viciously stabbing and beating a 16-year-old girl. The president said hes met with dozens of families whose loved ones were killed by people in the country illegally. Ive held the hands of the weeping mothers and embraced the grief-stricken fathers. So sad. So terrible. I will never forget the pain in their eyes, the tremble in their voices, and the sadness gripping their souls. How much more American blood must we shed before Congress does its job? he said. On Thursday, Trump was joined at the U.S.-Mexico border by families of some of those slain by illegal aliens. No family should suffer the loss of a child. A parent should not have to bury their child, said Marie Vega, whose son, Border Patrol agent Javier Vega Jr, was shot when he tried to stop an illegal alien from stealing the familys vehicle. We need the wallbut not just the wall. Theres other things we need to do also. MS-13 on Long Island The stabbing by alleged MS-13 members comes less than two weeks after officials in Suffolk County, ground zero for the gang on Long Island, said that a crackdown on the gang led to record-low gang-related crimes. We have now seen a 22 and a half percent reduction in violent crime this year, said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone during a press conference, according to Newsday. And in fact, every category of violent crime has decreased in 2018. The Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) formed a gang task force in response to an increase in gang activity. That, and the partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, has contributed to the falling crime rate in Long Island, said SCPD Commissioner Geraldine Hart. Operation Matador, a unified effort to combat the proliferation of MS-13 and other transnational criminal gang activity in Long Island, has arrested a total of 475 individuals since May 2017, according to a news release by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Of those arrests, 274 were MS-13 members or affiliates. Two hundred and ten arrests were made in Nassau County and 177 in Suffolk County. Four homicides on Long Island in 2018 were linked to the gang. Two of the killings were found to have happened in 2017 but because the bodies were found in 2018, the bodies were counted in that years homicide statistics, reported Fox News. Two other homicides in Long Island in 2018 were gang-related but they did not involve MS-13. On Dec. 18, 2018, the body of 17-year-old Harold B. Sermeno was found near the Five Towns Community Center in Nassau County with several gunshot wounds, according to the LI Herald. This is one of the murders that is believed to be MS-13 related but the case is still under investigation. In 2017, police reported that 14 killings were connected to MS-13 in Long Island, according to Newsday. The gang is infamous for its brutal crimes including executions, machete attacks, hacking victims to death, and human trafficking. Epoch Times reporters Charlotte Cuthbertson and Miguel Moreno contributed to this report. From NTD News (L) Actor Gary Sinise during his Walk of Fame Star ceremony in Hollywood, Calif., on April 17, 2017. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images); (R) Actor Max Martini attends the premiere of 'Bigger' at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sept. 13, 2018. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) New Gary Sinise Film Will Donate Big Portion of Profits to Veterans Groups The movie Sgt. Will Gardner, which opens in theaters on Jan. 11, has announced that a portion of its proceeds will go to some very deserving veterans organizations. The film stars Max Martini, who also writes and directs the movie, as a struggling Iraq War veteran who hopes to reunite with his young son. Actor Gary Sinise, who has been heavily involved in veterans outreach over the years, also has a role in the film. Martini told Military.com that the production company plans to give 30 percent of the films profits to three veterans charities: Higher Ground, Warriors Heart, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. Official Trailer for @SgtWillGardner is here! A troubled Iraq War veteran struggling to reintegrate into society sets out on a cross-country journey with the hope of reuniting with his young son. Coming to Theaters & Digital Jan 11, 2019@maxmartinila @OmariHardwick & @GarySinise pic.twitter.com/Bqb8AzwWJO Sgt. Will Gardner Movie (@SgtWillGardner) November 30, 2018 Sinises foundation recently made headlines in December for sending hundreds of children of fallen soldiers and their family members to Disney World during the holiday season. The annual Snowball Express trip is just one of many types of veterans support provided by the foundation. Anyone who goes to Military.com is aware that Gary is the #1 military charitable driving force in Hollywood. Nobody does more than he does for our veteran community, said Martini to the media outlet. The organization Higher Ground, based in Idaho, promotes recreational therapy to help disabled veterans regain their mobility and improve the quality of their daily lives. The group has also begun to reach out to the homeless veteran community in Southern California. Warriors Heart, located in Texas, assists veterans dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues. The charity also supports active military, firefighters, police, and first responders. Martini said he set out to make a film that would give back to veterans from the very beginning. The idea for the story came to him while he was working on the television series The Unit and he started to meet members of the military with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). In the film, Martinis character, Will Gardner, is in a very dark place and he decides to take a motorcycle trip to try to see his son who lives with his ex-wife and her new husband. In the meantime, he endures many intense flashbacks and works through his painful memories in conversations with his friend Sam, played by Omari Hardwick. Gardner is also encouraged along the way by an interaction with Sinises character Larry, a bartender. Max Martini, Omari Hardwick and Gary Sinise Star in @SgtWillGardner Coming to Theaters January 11! Pre-order Tickets for Imagine Cinemas Carlton Cinema Toronto, ON Now@ImagineCarlton #SGTWillGardner #SometimesTheBattleFollowsYouHomehttps://t.co/tEeFy7GDof pic.twitter.com/18fdo5No83 Sgt. Will Gardner Movie (@SgtWillGardner) January 10, 2019 At the end of my movie, there are some very sobering numbers, statistics regarding traumatic brain injuries, the homeless veteran population, PTS and veteran suicide, Martini told Military.com. I have a lot of friends who have had amazing experiences with the VA but I also have way too many buddies who havent. Its crucial that we support these charities and foundations that are making up for where the VA system is failing. This movie is a means to do that. Sgt. Will Gardner will also feature actors Dermot Mulroney, Omari Hardwick, Elisabeth Rohm, Robert Patrick, Lily Rabe, JoBeth Williams, Holt McCallany, and Stuart Margolin. Martini has also recently appeared in the television series The Order, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Training Day, as well as films Spectral, 13 Hours, Fifty Shades of Grey, Captain Phillips, and Pacific Rim. Missing Wisconsin Teen Jayme Closs Found Almost 3 Months After Parents Murder A Wisconsin teen, Jayme Closs, who had been missing since October 2018 has been located at Douglas County late Thursday, Jan. 10, according to the Barron County Sheriffs Department. The department shared on Facebook that a suspect was taken into custody after the 13-year-old was found alive in Douglas County, about 70 miles north of Barron County. We do not [have] any other details at this time as this is a very fluid and active investigation. We will not be answering any questions or taking calls on this tonight, the department wrote in a Facebook post. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said Jayme was expected to be reunited with her family Thursday night. The department plans to hold a press briefing at 10 a.m. on Jan. 11 at the Sheriffs Department in Barron. Jayme Closs has been locatedOn Thursday evening the Barron County Sheriffs Department was notified by the Douglas CO Barron County Sheriff's Department 2019110 We are receiving support from the FBI and WI DCI agents as this investigation continues, they wrote. Jaymes grandfather, Robert Naiberg, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Jayme was being treated at a hospital. Sue Allard, Jaymes aunt, told the Star Tribune that she could barely express her joy after learning the news Thursday night. Praise the Lord, Allard said between sobs. Its the news weve been waiting on for three months. I cant wait to get my arms around her. I just cant wait. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald thanked Closss family for their support throughout the investigation. [We] want to especially thank the family for their support and patience while this case was ongoing. We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfill that promise, Fitzgerald wrote. From the bottom of my heart thank you! This case has been very trying on the family so please respect their privacy and we reunite them later tonight. Closs was missing since Oct. 15, 2018 when police found both her parents dead at their home in Barron, Wisconsin. Police rushed over after receiving a 911 call around 1 a.m. on the day and found James Closs, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, dead. Police subsequently issued an amber alert for Jayme. Jaymes parents worked at the Jennie-O plant in the area. Officials said they found gun casings strewn around the Closs home. Jayme is not a suspect in her parents deaths. Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23 but it yielded no clues. Barron Mayor Ron Fladten said Thursday night he hadnt heard any details about Jaymes discovery yet but was overjoyed at learning she is alive. There was a lot of discouragement because this took quite a while to play out, Fladten said. A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. Its just a great result we got tonight. Its unbelievable. Its like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again. He acknowledged that Jayme may not be the same person she was before she disappeared. I hope that shes in good shape, the mayor said. Shes no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future. Puzzling Details In early December 2018, Fitzgerald spoke exclusively to DailyMailTV about the investigation. He told reporters that the items at the crime scene were strangely undisturbed and nothing seemed out of place despite an attack that was clearly violent. The house wasnt disturbed at all from what we were able to tell, Fitzgerald told the station. Thats part of the confusing part of this case. Fitzgerald said the shooter was inside the house for only four minutes. It doesnt appear that anything was taken, it doesnt appear that Jayme packed up any clothing, he added. He said Jaymes parents sustained wounds causing them to die instantly. Investigators were also troubled by the utter lack of forensic evidence left by the killer. Thats the frustrating part of it, Fitzgerald told DailyMailTV. Weve had four different lab teams look at the scene before we released it. We were very strategic. When we discovered it was a major crime we sealed it off immediately. But if Im in your house for minutes and I only step five feet inside your home Im probably not going to leave a big footprint. The sheriff said the only thing the shooter left behind was bullet casings. The caliber of the rounds fired was something Fitzgerald would not reveal, saying that this information was being withheld as a matter of investigative strategy. Only the killer is going to know that and thats information we have to hold close to the case so that when we catch this person we can convict them, he said. We are looking for that gun, he added. We are looking for a firearm. Epoch Times Tom Ozimek and Zachary Stieber, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD.com Watch Next: Sex Trafficking and Organ Trade: Abuse of the Adoption System Kidnappers and human traffickers are taking advantage of loopholes in international adoption laws. In this episode we reveal how this corrupt system works. The San Antonio Police Department released this photo as they search for 8-month-old King Jay Davila, believed to be a victim of foul play. (San Antonio Police) Missing Baby King Jay Davila Found Dead in San Antonio, Relatives Charged: Police "Every parent out there ... 'How can someone do that to a child?'" The body of a missing 8-month-old child, King Jay Davila, was discovered after his father took investigators to a field near his neighborhood, reported KSAT. Christopher Davila, King Jays father, took the child to the dead end of Castle Lance to show officials where the boy was buried. The location is less than one mile from Davilas last known address. BREAKING: San Antonio police have found the body of a baby believed to be missing 8-month-old King Jay Davila after his father took investigators to an open field near his neighborhood. KSAT 12 & KSAT.com 2019111 He walked on a roadway overpass in a field where investigators dug up a black backpack with what appeared to be a babys body in a blanket, the Jan. 11 report said. The father is now facing felony charges of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, evidence tampering, felony possession of a firearm, and possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance. Davila said he told officials that the boy was kidnapped from his car in San Antonio, ABC News reported. However, after surveillance footage was reviewed of the childs alleged kidnapping, police determined the staged kidnapping was done to cover up foul play, according to police. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the incident was a staged event without a doubt. Davila, grandmother Beatrice Sampayo, and cousin Angie Torres were charged with evidence tampering. Its a third-degree felony. We have statements from multiple witnesses that lead us to believe that King Jay is deceased, McManus said Jan. 10. We charged [Davila, Sampayo and Torres] with tampering with evidence because we believe that they participated in staging the kidnapping to hide King Jays body so we couldnt find it to determine what happened to him. A relative told investigators that Davila severely injured the child, but more details were not released in news outlets. Davila, 34, reportedly told police he was playing video games on Jan. 3 while King Jay sat inside a car seat on a bed in his room. At one point, the car seat fell over and sent the child to the floor, according to MySanAntonio. He claimed that the boy may have hit his head on a dresser, according to an affidavit for his arrest, which was cited by the local news website. However, instead of getting medical attention for the infant, he waited several hours before checking on King Jay before discovering the child died, officials said San Antonio police say they believe an 8-month-old boy reported as abducted is believed to be dead, and three members of his family have been charged in the case. https://t.co/seKfqu0oBC pic.twitter.com/QN85MIxTfW ABC News (@ABC) January 11, 2019 [Davila] stated he panicked and tried to keep [King Jay] awake as he was nodding off and was afraid to call 911, but knew he should have sought medical attention, according to his arrest affadavit. The childs mother, Jasmine Gonzales, is also under investigation, officials said. Here's the latest on the biggest story in our area. https://t.co/MxPJmmW6ZH KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) January 11, 2019 Every parent out there, everyone understands, How can someone do that to a child?' McManus said on Jan. 10. This kidnapping was used as a ruse to cover up what we believe early on was foul play. What other purpose would you fake a kidnapping other than to hide something? According to reports, Davila has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions for arson and assault. Torres is also being held on an unrelated aggravated robbery charge, ABC reported Mayors New Office Can Seize Buildings From Landlords: State of City Speech NEW YORK CITYMayor Bill de Blasio used his State of the City speech at the Symphony Space Theatre on Jan. 10 to sign an executive order on stage to seize property from landlords. He promised the measure would root out the worst landlord abuse. Seats were limited, ears kept busy by The Clash and other eccentric beats and all the time special guests sat, and waited patiently on stage for the mayor. Chief Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Alvin Mass, of the New York City Police Department, opened the event by honoring New York Citys achievements, such as its keeping the crime at a record low rate, and closed it with a quote from the Bible. Before giving the stage to firefighter Regina Willson to sing God Bless America, he spoke about his hope to see the mayor continue to carry the burden of leading the city on his shoulderssuggesting the Rabbi may be a fan of The Simpsons animated TV series. Following the First Ladys speech, the mayor made his appearance. His speech paired well with the Rabbis: the mayor honored firefighters, police officers, and othersweaving their incredible achievements through his praisesand ended the praise on a bittersweet note in honor of firefighter Steven H. Pollard, who lost his life in the line of duty. A moment of silence was held. New Year Welcomes New Regulations Messages of guaranteed health care, tenant protection, and forced paid time off appeared on screen, one by one next to the mayor. The mayor signed an executive order on stage, creating a new office in the city government that can seize property from landlords. He described it as a new arm of city government that will root out the worst landlord abuse. The citys worst landlords will have a new sheriff to fear, @NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio says in State of the City address. Then: We will seize their buildings, and we will put them on the hands of a community nonprofit! pic.twitter.com/CojxSLxjXa Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) January 10, 2019 Well fine the landlords, well penalize the landlords but, if the fine and the penalties dont cut it, we will seize their buildings, de Blasio said. According to the mayor, some landlords make the condition of their tenants homes unlivable in order to push them out. In an email to The Epoch Times, Real Estate Board of New York President John. H. Banks expressed his support for the mayors decision in granting the city government powers to punish unlawful landlords. He said, Seizing property is the most extreme type of enforcement, but owners must have the right to fight the governments decision. The executive order the mayor signed on stage a few moments ago. Bad landlords, this is your notice! pic.twitter.com/r4qX52Lkj9 Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) January 10, 2019 Private Property Right Upheld Banks touched on a core American value: the right to private property. The fifth amendment of the Bill of Rights confirms ownership of private property cannot be removed without just compensation. There are cases of where the government seizes private property called asset forfeiture. According to the FBI, this is used against criminals and criminal organizations to deprive them of their ill-gotten gains through seizure of these assets. The mayor plans to seize 40 buildings from the most distressed multiple dwelling buildings annually and give them to responsible owners, according to a press release. Neither a detailed explanation of the new office was provided, nor an explanation on how cases between the landlord and tenant will be investigated. He described the unlawful landlord as someone who makes the tenants home unlivable. What exactly qualifies a property as unlivable was not specified. A man types on a computer keyboard in Warsaw on Feb. 28, 2013. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom have expressed serious concern over a group acting on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) that is stealing commercial intellectual property in a malicious global hacking campaign, widely known as Cloud Hopper, as of Dec. 21, 2018. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters) Massachusetts Man Gets 10 Years in Prison for Hospital Cyberattack BOSTONA Massachusetts man was sentenced on Jan. 10 to more than 10 years in prison for carrying out a cyberattack on a hospital on behalf of the hacking activist group Anonymous to protest the treatment of a teenager in a high-profile custody dispute. Martin Gottesfeld, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston nearly three years after he was rescued from a disabled powerboat off the coast of Cuba by a Disney Cruise Line ship after fleeing the United States amid a federal investigation. A federal jury in August found him guilty of two counts, including conspiracy to damage protected computers related to cyberattacks he carried out in 2014 on Boston Childrens Hospital and another facility. Make no mistake, your crime was contemptible, invidious and loathsome, Gorton said. Assistant U.S. Attorney David DAddio called Gottesfeld a self-aggrandizing menace whose cyberattacks put childrens lives at risk and who could strike again once released from prison. It is terrifying to contemplate what he will do with the next cause he adopts, DAddio said. Gottesfeld, who beyond serving 121 months in prison must also pay nearly $443,000 in restitution, has been in custody since February 2016. He said he planned to appeal but had no regrets. I wish I could have done more, he said. According to prosecutors, in late 2013, Gottesfeld, a computer engineer living in Somerville, Massachusetts, learned about a child custody dispute involving a Connecticut teenager, Justina Pelletier. Pelletier had been taken into state custody in Massachusetts after a dispute over her diagnosis arose between her parents and Boston Childrens Hospital, which determined her health problems were psychiatric in nature and believed her parents were interfering with her treatment. Her case garnered headlines and drew the attention of religious and political groups who viewed it as an example of government interference with parental rights. Gottesfeld, who disagreed with the hospitals diagnosis, began advocating online for her release, prosecutors said. They said Gottesfeld in March 2014 launched a distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attack on a residential treatment facility called Wayside Youth & Family Support Network where Pelletier was a resident after her discharge from the hospital. DDOS attacks shut down or slow websites by flooding them with data. Gottesfeld later in April 2014 launched a DDOS attack on behalf of Anonymous that disrupted Boston Childrens Hospitals network for two weeks and interrupted internet services used to treat patients, prosecutors said. By Nate Raymond Man Describes Jellyfish Sting to Be Like Fire The content is not available due to expiration. Man Denies Involvement in Killing of Houston Girl HOUSTONA man accused in a drive-by shooting that killed a 7-year-old Houston girl says he wasnt involved in the attack, his lawyer said Jan. 10. Larry D. Woodruffe, 24, is one of two men charged with capital murder in the Dec. 30 killing of Jazmine Barnes, who was in a car with her mother and three sisters when someone in another vehicle opened fire on them, killing Jazmine. The girls family, who are black, told investigators that the shooter was white and in a red pickup truck, but a tip eventually led to the arrests of Woodruffe and another black man, 20-year-old Eric Black Jr. Prosecutors allege that Woodruffe fired the shots from an SUV that Black was driving. After a court appearance Jan. 10 by Woodruffe, his court-appointed lawyer, Lisa Andrews, told reporters that Woodruffe claims he wasnt in the SUV and wasnt involved in the attack in any way. She suggested that Black might have implicated Woodruffe as the shooter to get himself out of hot water and pointed out that the gun that was allegedly used in the attack was found at Blacks home, not her clients. This undated image provided the Harris County Sheriffs Office shows Eric Black Jr. Prosecutors said Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, that the shooting death of a 7-year-old black girl as she rode in her familys vehicle stemmed from a case of mistaken identity. Prosecutors charged Black in the Dec. 30 death of Jazmine Barnes. (Harris County Sheriffs Office/AP) Blacks attorney, Alvin Nunnery, didnt immediately return a phone call Jan. 10 seeking comment. Prosecutors say Black and Woodruffe thought they were attacking people whom they had fought with at a club hours before Jazmines death. Authorities suspect both men, who remain jailed, are gang members. Andrews declined to say if Woodruffe belonged to a gang. Court records show that Woodruffe has a long criminal record, including arrests for assault on a family member and drug possession. Andrews said she filed a motion to have Woodruffes trial moved out of Houston, saying the extensive pretrial publicity and social media posts and comments that investigators and others have made could prevent him from getting a fair trial in the city. She also filed a motion asking Harmon to remind the Harris County District Attorneys Office of its duty to ensure that law enforcement officials dont make any biased or inflammatory statements regarding Woodruffe. For example, Andrews pointed to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalezs decision to speak at Jazmines funeral on Jan. 8. While thats a heartwarming gesture and I take nothing away, he still is the person in charge of investigating this case. And actions like that dont seem objective or unbiased, she said. The casket of Jazmine Barnes is removed from the funeral hearse to be taken inside the Community of Faith Church for a memorial service, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Houston. (Marie De Jesus/Houston Chronicle/AP) Jazmines killing led to an outpouring of support for her family from celebrities and ordinary people across the country. It also prompted some local officials and even Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to weigh in on the case. On Jan. 8, Abbott tweeted that authorities must expand the states anti-gang task force in Houston to clean our streets of this trash and restore safety. #JazmineBarnes the innocent 7 year old girl gunned down in Houston appears to have been killed by a gang member. There are too many gangs in Houston. We must expand the Texas Anti-Gang Task Force in Houston to clean our streets of this trash and restore safety. #txlege https://t.co/WTqLHCmlps Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 9, 2019 The head of the Houston Police Officers Union, Joe Gamaldi, tweeted a photo of Woodruffe and claimed, This is the Dirtbag that killed #JazmineBarnes. They need to let the process play out and quit with the incendiary language, Andrews said. Police spokesman Kese Smith said Gamaldi didnt violate any agency policies because his tweet was sent in his capacity as the union president, not his capacity as a Houston police officer. Prosecutor Tom Berg called the motion to change jurisdictions premature, saying he believes Woodruffe will be able to get a fair trial in Harris County, which includes Houston. A trial date hasnt been set. He also said he doesnt think statements from Abbott and other officials have anything to do with the case. We intend to try this case on the evidence and not tweets that were made months earlier by other people unrelated to it, Berg said. In response to Abbotts tweet, both Houstons mayor and police chief suggested Jan. 9 that the governor could consider redirecting state funds that go toward border security to communities efforts to combat crime and gangs. By Juan A. Lozano Workers are photographed during construction of approximately 20 miles of the border wall by order of President Donald Trump on the border between Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico and Santa Teresa, New Mexico state, on April 17, 2018. (Herica Martinez/AFP/Getty Images) Local TV Station: CNN Declined to Hear From Us Due to Reports of Wall Effectiveness A San Diego-based television station said that CNN appeared to withdraw from an inquiry for one of its reporters to appear on the cable news network due to the stations past reporting on the effectiveness of the border wall. Thursday morning, CNN called the KUSI Newsroom asking if a reporter could give them a local view of the debate surrounding the border wall and government shutdown, KUSI said in a statement issued late Jan. 10. After we informed them about our past reports, they declined to hear from us. In a blog post, the news station said that it offered Dan Plante, who has covered the border for years. We believe CNN declined a report from KUSI because we informed them that most Border Patrol Agents we have spoken to told us the barrier does in fact work, it said. Thursday morning, @CNN called the KUSI Newsroom asking if a reporter could give them a local view of the debate surrounding the border wall and government shutdown. After we informed them about our past reports, they declined to hear from us. More info: https://t.co/RX4mB6EdNE pic.twitter.com/r0SAvWxFIm KUSI News (@KUSINews) January 11, 2019 We have continuously been told by Border Patrol Agents that the barrier along the Southern border helps prevent illegal entries, drugs, and weapons from entering the United States, and the numbers prove it, KUSI added. CNN responded in a statement, claiming the allegations were fake news. We called several local stations to book someone for a show. We didnt end up booking any of them. That happens many times every single day, the network stated. We did, however, book a reporter from KUSI for a story on immigration and the border wall in November. This is a non-story. CNN airs stories that are almost exclusively negative toward President Donald Trump and his policy goals. The network rarely invites reporters or analysts that are supportive of Trump onto its shows and regularly has panels that are comprised entirely of people who dont agree with Trump on whatever story they choose to focus on for the day. The allegations seemed to be inadvertently confirmed by CNN media reporter Brian Stelter while he tried to defend the company. Last week my show team interviewed several border reporters from great local papers. Then we realized we didnt have time for the segment. These things arent scandals, theyre just daily production decisions,' Stelter said on Twitter. CNN has been involved in several stories recently, as its reporters and analysts inject themselves into national debates. Jim Acosta, a White House correspondent, filmed a video at the border wall on Jan. 10, and tried to downplay President Donald Trumps claims of a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Many people noted, though that Acosta appeared to actually support the presidents argument that a wall is effective. Here are some of the steel slats that the presidents been talking about, Acosta said in front of the border wall. But as were walking along here, were not seeing any kind of imminent danger. Speaking from the Texas city of McAllen, he added: There are no migrants trying to rush toward this fence. A number of people noted that Acosta appeared to be supporting Trump. Er, you found a place where there is a barrier and all is quiet? Jim, do you know what point you're actually making here? https://t.co/YbZfYtyO5P Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) January 10, 2019 Er, you found a place where there is a barrier and all is quiet? Jim, do you know what point youre actually making here? said Fox News commentator Stephen Miller. Jim Acosta just posted one of the biggest self owns ever, added political strategist Caleb Hull. Hes walking along the border where theres a wall in place talking about how theres nothing that resembles a national emergency situation and theres no migrants trying to rush. And about a week ago, another CNN White House reporter had a microphone taken away from her after she refused to follow recently announced rules governing press briefings at the White House. The rules were put into place in November 2018 after another Acosta touched a female White House intern who was trying to obtain a mic from him. After President Trump answered the reporters question at length, she started shouting a follow-up question. Eventually, a White House worker took the mic from her since Trump called on someone else. From NTD News U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court building in Washington on June 1, 2017. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has No Signs of Cancer, Will Return to Supreme Court Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will miss arguments for a second week, but officials said that her recovery is on track. Her recovery from surgery is on track, court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said on Jan. 11 in a statement. The 85-year-old associate justice underwent surgery to recover two cancerous growths from her left lung on Dec. 21. Post-surgery evaluation indicates no evidence of remaining disease, and no further treatment is required, Arberg said. During her recovery, according to NPR, she will participate in cases before the Supreme Court from her home. She will use briefs and transcripts of arguments. This week, she missed arguments in the Supreme Court, marking her first absence since she joined the court in 1993, reported The Associated Press. Doctors told NPR that Ginsburgs odds of long-term survival are around 80 percent. According to AP, she underwent surgery for colorectal cancer in 1999 and pancreatic cancer in 2009. And her most recent cancer diagnosis was made after she fell down in her office, breaking three ribs, in November. Ginsburg, the eldest justice on the court, will turn 86 in March. Her health has been a matter of public concern due to the balance of the court, which is divided 5-4 among Republican and Democratic nominees. If she retires, President Donald Trump will likely name her successor, solidifying a conservative majority in the nations highest court. Misses Time for the First Time Justice Ginsburg is unable to be present today, but will participate in the consideration and decision of the cases on the basis of the briefs and the transcripts of oral arguments, Chief Justice John Roberts said on. Jan. 7 Arberg previously said that she will be working from home. Dr. John Lazar, the head of thoracic robotic surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, said its not uncommon to see slow-growing lung cancers in women in their 80s. If she doesnt need anything but the surgery, it is a very good sign, Lazar said. Ginsburgs previous battles with cancer were so long ago and theyre unlikely to be related, said Dr. Giuseppe Giaccone, an oncologist at Georgetown Universitys Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Speedy Recovery After she fell down and broke her ribs, President Trump wished Ginsburg a speedy recovery. I wish her well. She said something very inappropriate during the campaign, but she apologized for it, he told reporters in November. I wouldnt say shes exactly on my side, but I wish her well I hope she gets better and I hope she serves on the Supreme Court for many years, Trump added. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Ginsburg slammed Trump and called him a faker, an unusual move for a Supreme Court justice. She later apologized. In July, Ginsburg said she wants to stay on the bench past 2020. Im now 85, Ginsburg told CNN. My senior colleague, Justice John Paul Stevens, he stepped down when he was 90, so think I have about at least five more years. Ginsburg graduated from Columbia Law School. Her husband, Martin Ginsburg, died in 2010 due to complications of metastatic cancer. Businessman Bill Browder speaks after the coroner ruled that Russian businessman Alexander Perepilichnyy probably died of natural causes outside his home in 2012, after the inquest concluded at the Old Bailey, in London, Britain, December 19, 2018. (Reuters/Henry Nicholls) Investor Browder Asks France to Investigate Danske in Magnitsky Case COPENHAGEN, DenmarkBill Browder, founder and CEO of investment fund Hermitage Capital Management, said on Jan. 10 he had asked French authorities to investigate Danske Bank over alleged money laundering, rather than treating it as a witness. Danske Bank is already under investigation by authorities in Denmark, Estonia, Britain, and the United States over suspicious payments totaling 200 billion euros ($229 billion) made through its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015. A Paris court began investigating Danske Bank in October 2017 after Browder said he had provided details of the Danish lenders involvement in money laundering relating to a tax fraud which had been exposed by Sergei Magnitsky in Moscow, a lawyer who died in a Russian prison in 2009. Browder, once the biggest foreign money manager in Russia who now campaigns to expose corruption, has lobbied the European Union to bring in a Magnitsky Act, the law adopted in the United States which targets human rights offenders. Danske Bank was initially placed under investigation by a Paris court in related to suspicions of money laundering concerning transactions at its Estonian branch between 2008 and 2011, but in January last year the court changed its status to that of assisted witness, a Danske spokesman said. We do not believe that we have provided incorrect information to the French authorities, the Danske spokesman said in response to an allegation that it did so made by Browder during a press conference in Copenhagen on Jan. 10. On the contrary, it is clearly in our interest to obtain as accurate a picture of what happened in Estonia as possible, the spokesman said in a statement, adding that the bank has an ongoing dialogue with the French authorities. Browder, who in September asked the U.S. Treasury to investigate Danske Bank and to undertake steps to consider designating it for special measures under the USA Patriot Act, said he expected the French authorities to take action. The indication is that they are going to act on it. Reuters was not immediately able to contact the French national financial prosecutor about the case. On Jan. 9, Danske Bank and four former top executives were sued by a U.S. shareholder alleging it defrauded investors and inflated its share price by hiding and failing to stop the money laundering in Estonia. Danske Bank said it was aware that a lawsuit has been filed in the United States. It is public knowledge that several U.S. law firms have indicated that similar lawsuits are on the way, so it does not come as a surprise to us, the spokesman said. We will consider the lawsuit and the further process in consultation with our legal counsel. At the present time, we have no further comments, he added. By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen & Emmanuel Jarry Glencore Loses Exclusive Rights to Major Libyan Oil Grades LONDONTrading and mining giant Glencore has lost its exclusive marketing rights for two of Libyas main crude oil export grades after holding them since late 2015, trading sources with direct knowledge said. The Switzerland-based firm had secured the rights to the Sarir and Messla grades when it was one of the few foreign companies willing to deal with the North African country during unrest that has wracked the country since 2011. Glencore, which had exclusive rights on the two grades until the end of 2018, and Libyas National Oil Corp (NOC) declined to comment. In a sign of renewed international confidence in Libyas oil industry, BP, and Royal Dutch Shell returned to lifting directly from the country last year, initially taking other grades. Glencore lost exclusivity on Messla and Sarir, one of the trading sources told Reuters, asking not to be named. Companies like BP and Shell had their first Messla and Sarir allocation. A second trader said that now anyone can get these grades. The two grades account for nearly a fifth of Libyan output that now stands at 953,000 barrels per day (bpd), still well below the pre-conflict level of 1.6 million bpd. For a period when oil production fell even more sharply, those grades that are exported from the eastern Libyan port of Marsa el Hariga generated the bulk of state revenues. Libyas 220,000 barrel-per-day Ras Lanuf refinery, which is now idled, ran on the two grades. The remainder of Libyas crude streams have not been allocated exclusively to one company for such an extended period. So far, Unipec was also allocated three cargoes from Marsa el Hariga in January, one source said, although the proportion taken of each grade by the trading arm of Chinas Sinopec was not immediately clear. BP is due to take 1 million barrels on the Crescent Moon tanker in mid-January from the same port, according to a shipping source and Refinitiv Eikon ship tracking. BP did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shell is also due to take at least one cargo from Marsa el Hariga, three sources said. Shell also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Security challenges still threaten Libyas oil infrastructure. Its largest oilfield, El Sharara, has been shut since December over a dispute with tribesmen, armed protesters, and state guards demanding salaries and development. By Julia Payne & Ahmad Ghaddar Officials in Florida on Jan. 8 announced that the body of a missing woman, whose family and three dogs were allegedly killed by her husband, were found at a home near Tampa. (Pasco Sherrif's Office) Florida Murder Suspect Pretended Wife Was Still Alive for a Year, Deputies Say Officials in Florida on Jan. 8, announced that the body of a missing woman, whose family and three dogs were allegedly killed by her husband, was found at a home near Tampa. Police allege the woman, 21-year-old Jamie Nicole Ivancic, was killed by her husband, 25-year-old Shelby Nealy, who is reportedly also known as Shelby Svensen. The bodies of her parents, Richard Louis Ivancic, 71, and Laura Ann Ivancic, 59, her brother, Nicholas James Ivancic, 25, and three family dogs were discovered dead in Tarpon Springs, according to the Tampa Bay Times. BREAKING: A body found in the yard of a Port Richey home is a missing woman whose parents and brother were murdered at their home in Tarpon Springs, family members say. Tampa Bay Times 201918 Nealy allegedly killed Jamie Ivancic about a year ago, and police believe he killed her family on Dec. 19 or Dec. 20 of last year, according to the report. The suspect was taken into custody several states away in Ohio and was spotted driving Laura Ivancics vehicle. The couples two children, ages 2 and 3, were with the suspect when he was arrested. They are now in the custody of the state Department of Children and Families. No Contact for a Year? The Tampa Bay Times reported that Jamies sister, Karma Stewart, spoke to her in January 2018 via a Facetime call. Since then, no friends or family members spoke to her. Relatives told our @mack_oxenden this morning that a body found buried at a Pasco home is Jamie Ivancic, whose brother and parents were slain in their Tarpon Springs home. McKenna also spoke at length with the family for this story published yesterday.https://t.co/dIW0vxJyBj Tampa Bay Times (@TB_Times) January 8, 2019 Stewart said relatives got sporadic texts after the Facetime call, and she thinks those communications were done by Nealy. The texts reportedly included photos of the couples children, the Times reported. I feel betrayed and that I was played, Stewart told the newspaper. I didnt expect the worst when I probably should have. Police now think that Nealy killed her and was pretending to be her and posed as her when he sent text messages to the victims family. Detectives made the stark revelation at a news conference on Jan. 8. According to ABC Action News, she may have been dead for as long as a year. Investigators said Nealy left their Port Richey home with their two kids last year, and he hasnt been back since. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office holds a press conference about the body found in the yard of a Port Richey home on Sunday. Relatives say the body is that of Jamie Ivancic, 21, who lived at the Port Richey home with her husband Shelby Svensen, who is a suspect in the murder of Ivancic's three relatives. She may have been killed months earlier, relatives said. Tampa Bay Times 201918 The motive is not clear. The investigation indicates at this moment that she had conveyed to some family members about a year ago that she was planning on leaving [him], Colonel Jeff Harrington, Chief Deputy at the Pasco County Sheriffs Office, told ABC Action News. It would appear that he was able to just trick them into thinking that she was unavailable, she was somewhere else and she was unavailable for a phone call, he also stated. BREAKING UPDATE | Authorities say the body may have been there for as long as a year.Why investigators say it may have gone unnoticed so long >> https://wfts.tv/2FijNHc ABC Action News WFTS Tampa Bay 201918 Pasco investigators said he confessed to killing his wife a year ago, and she was killed by violent blunt force trauma, said Harrington. He was able to just trick his in-laws from afar, reported the Times. The family told the station that Laura Ivancic was trying to get ahold of Jamie for months. My sister, Laura, was very concerned about her daughter Jamie and she had contacted them a number of times and was never able to communicate with Jamie, said James Zindroski, Jamies uncle. If in fact Shelby is guilty of all this I just hope justice is served. Currently, Nealy is in custody in Ohio. Pasco County officials want to extradite him back to Florida and charge him with homicide. Officials said that investigators are backtracking to determine how Svensen was able to convince everyone his wife was fine, reported The Associated Press. They vacated the residence, he and his kids, close to a year ago and hes been in various places, in the area and elsewhere, Harrington said. #BREAKING: Authorities have recovered a body at a home related to a triple homicide in Tarpon Springs, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office announced Sunday. wfla.com/1688982278 WFLA News Channel 8 201916 Jamie had been listed on the National Center for Missing and Endangered website, and she was described as 5 foot, 5 inches, brown hair, and hazel eyes. Newly sworn-in Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks as his wife, Casey DeSantis, stands near him at the Freedom Tower where he appointed Barbara Lagoa to the Florida Supreme Court in Miami, Fla., on Jan. 09, 2019. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Floridas DeSantis Getting Right to Work After Inauguration as Governor Ron DeSantis has wasted no time toward putting his agenda in place since being sworn into office Jan. 8 as Floridas 46th governor. The pomp and circumstance is fine, DeSantis, a Republican and former U.S. representative, said of his inauguration, but ultimately this is about putting the pedal to the metal. DeSantis succeeds Rick Scott, the Republican former governor who is now serving in the U.S. Senate. Both DeSantis and Scott were elected in November 2018 in extremely close races, which required mandatory recounts. President Donald Trump endorsed DeSantis and by all accounts, helped the junior congressman become the chief executive of the nations third-most populous state. Florida will be critically important for Trumps 2020 re-election bid. Ron DeSantis showed great courage in his hard-fought campaign to become the Governor of Florida. Congratulations to Ron and family! Trump said in a Twitter post dated Nov. 7. State Supreme Court Opportunity The states Supreme Court may be considered a top prize from the divisive gubernatorial election that pitted DeSantis against Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a progressive Democrat backed by billionaire activist George Soros. The seven-member high court has been home to left-leaning justices for years. Consequently, the court served as a roadblock to legislation emanating from the Republican-controlled state legislature. But with three liberal justices set to retire by law this week, DeSantis has the opportunity to decisively shift the court to the political right. Both the executive and the legislative branches in Florida have had a lot of frustration with that third branch of governmentthe judiciaryconstantly usurping more and more legislative power over the years. Well, that ends tomorrow, DeSantis said Jan. 7. DeSantis, a Harvard law school graduate, claimed to have interviewed all 11 judicial finalists selected by a state nominating commission. I say to you: Judicial activism ends, right here and right now, he said in his inaugural speech. DeSantis made good on that promise Jan. 9, appointing Third District Court of Appeals Judge Barbara Lagoa, a conservative and the first Hispanic woman judge in the Sunshine States history, to serve on the state supreme court. Lagoas appointment was effective immediately. Justice Lagoas proven commitment to upholding the rule of law, unparalleled legal career, and vast experience on the appellate bench, distinguish her among the most qualified individuals to serve on our states highest court, DeSantis said in a statement. Executive Orders After officially taking office, DeSantis returned to the governors mansion to attend the scheduled baptism of his 9-month-old son. He then issued two executive orders: one upholding the states non-discrimination policy for government workers and applicants for government contracts, and another to continue the states Office of Open Government, which provides access to government records. DeSantis was plagued by accusations of racism on the campaign trail, due to his close ties to President Trump, who is often accused of bigotry. DeSantis was also lambasted for using a colloquialism to explain the danger of putting Floridas economy in the hands of Gillum, who hails from the Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wing of the Democratic Party. He is the most liberal candidate the Democratic Party has ever nominated in the state of Florida, DeSantis said of Gillum, an African-American, during a Fox Business interview. He then urged voters not to monkey this up. DeSantiss first executive order, 19-10, was in many ways an attempt to clear the air. His first official act as governor was to prohibit discrimination based on age, sex, race, religion, national origin, marital status, and disability. However, an activist group called Equality Florida has since attacked DeSantis for not expressly including gay people. Equality Florida is deeply disappointed to see that LGBTQ employees and contractors have been left out of the governors executive order, Equality Florida Senior Political Director Joe Saunders said. Through another executive order, 19-12, DeSantis implemented major reforms to protect Floridas environment. The order calls for $2.5 billion over the next four years to restore the Everglades and protect water resources, among other items. Our water and natural resources are the foundation of our economy and our way of life in Florida, DeSantis said in a statement. The protection of water resources is one of the most pressing issues facing our state. Preparing for 2020 Election DeSantis promised sustained attention to Floridas environment, something conservative Republicans arent typically known for. He has referred to himself as a Teddy Roosevelt-type Republican, a reference that leans toward fishing, hunting, and outdoor conservation, rather than left-wing environmentalism. On education, which is Floridas second-largest annual budget expense after Medicaid, the newly inaugurated governor has vowed to push school choice reforms, amid opposition by Democrats and teachers unions. Taxpayer-funded voucher programs for poor students to attend private schools is a key campaign pledge thats destined for conflict with the deep-pocketed and highly litigious Florida Education Association, a federation of the states individual teachers unions. DeSantis already has tapped former GOP state House Speaker Richard Corcoran to lead the fight. Corcoran was appointed as the DeSantis administrations Secretary of Education last month. As speaker of the house, he once called the state teachers union evil. Floridas 60-day state legislative session will begin March 5, with Republicans in control in all three branches of government. The political alignment will play a significant role in the 2020 presidential election. Florida is, by far, the nations largest swing state with 29 Electoral College votes. The president, a fellow Republican, has virtually no chance of winning re-election without carrying Floridasomething he achieved in 2016 by just 1.2 percent. DeSantis, now the states most powerful public official, won the governors election by 32,463 votes out of a total of more than 8 million, or by just 0.04 percent. A sign stands at the U.S. The Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Complex, where convicted Israeli spy Jonathan J. Pollard is housed, on Apr. 1, 2014 in Butner, North Carolina. (Sara D. Davis/Getty Images) Florida Congressman Seeks Halt to Federal Funds for Nation of Islam Rep. Vern Buchanan was incensed when he read a news report that Louis Farrakhans Nation of Islam receives federal funds for services to U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmates. The Florida Republican fired off a Jan. 7 letter to Acting Attorney General Matt Whittaker demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) immediately cease all contracts with the Nation of Islam and prohibit it from receiving any contracts in the future. Buchanan noted in his letter that Nation of Islam was contracted by BOP to conduct so-called spiritual guide services and study services to inmates, and he said, the fact that hard-earned American tax dollars are being funneled to this extremist group is not only unacceptable, its downright immoral. He also asked Whittaker to begin an immediate full review of all ongoing and future contracts to ensure that the U.S. government is not financing domestic or foreign hate groups. Buchanan has yet to get a response from DOJ or BOP, his spokesman Anthony Cruz, told The Epoch Times on Jan. 10. Buchanans demands are prompting questions about why federal prison officials would pay Farrakhans group more than $354,000, according to the Washington Examiners Alana Goodman, for services that are available at no cost from faith-based groups such as Prison Fellowship. Farrakhan is infamous for saying that Adolf Hitler was a great man and that Jews and Caucasians are evil, among his teachings, which have led to the Black Muslim organization being condemned across the political spectrum as a hate group. A review of federal spending data by The Epoch Times confirmed that federal funds are going to the Nation of Islam, as was first reported by Goodman. The review also found that Prison Fellowship International has received more than $3.5 million in awards from the Department of States Agency for International Development (AID) for human rights work overseas, mainly in Zambia and Ethiopia. The data revealed a different story for Prison Fellowship U.S., which has been deeply involved in inmate counseling and rehabilitation activities across the country since its founding in 1976 by former Nixon White House aide Charles Colson. Unlike the Nation of Islam, Prison Fellowship U.S. has received no federal funding. Thats because, according to spokesman Jim Forbes, Prison Fellowship is faith-based. We dont take any, zero, government dollars. Asked if his group would respond if approached by DOJ or BOP to conduct programs in the federal prison system, Forbes said, That has actually happened with the passage of the First Step Act, by them basically acknowledging that faith-based programs do work within the prison system. Forbes was referring to legislation signed by President Donald Trump on Dec. 21, 2018, after a rare bipartisan effort to reform federal prison sentencing and rehabilitation practices. As The Epoch Times previously reported, the bill gives judges more discretion when sentencing drug and lower-level offenders, while also reducing the recidivism risks of prisoners by expanding on programs such as job training. The bill, for which Trump and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, lobbied intensely, passed in the House of Representatives, 358-36, while the Senate also overwhelmingly approved the measure, 8712. The First Step Act was needed, according to a Prison Fellowship analysis, because until now, federal prisons unnecessarily limited the ability of nonprofit organizations and volunteers to mentor prisoners and provide programming. The new law prevents discrimination against faith-based programs and instructs the Bureau of Prisons that faith-based programs proven to reduce recidivism are permitted to function as education and reentry programs, the analysis said. The specific details of Prison Fellowships new work in the U.S. prison system are still being developed, according to Forbes. Meanwhile, Cruz said the congressman would take this into consideration when deciding on a further course of action regarding the Nation of Islam funding. A spokesman for BOP was unavailable to answer any questions about funding for the Nation of Islam or related issues, due to the partial shutdown of the federal government. The U.S. prison system released 34,530 inmates in 2018 and a third of them are likely to be re-arrested within three years, according to BOP data. There are more than 180,000 inmates in the system, which is 14 to 25 percent more than the systems facilities are designed to hold. An estimated 16,000 inmates, according to BOP, are currently on waiting lists for basic literacy training, which illustrates that demand for rehabilitative programming in the federal prison system far exceeds capacity, Prison Fellowship said. Doug and Paula Raetz together with Doug's parents enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts opening night at Lincoln Center, New York, on Jan. 10, 2019. (Sherry Dong/The Epoch Times) NEW YORKDoug and Paula Raetz flew from California to New York in order to give Dougs mother a unique birthday present: to see Shen Yun Performing Arts as a family. It was the first such performance for Doug, CEO of a capital management company in San Francisco. You understand thousands of years of culture through dance, Doug said. And that is exactly Shen Yuns goal. The New York-based company was formed by a group of artists with the wish to revive the nearly-lost traditional Chinese culture through music and dance, and share that with the world. Thirteen years and thousands of performances later, theyve succeeded. Year after year, performances are sold-out around the globe, as they were opening night at Lincoln Center. We came to New York to see it for the first time, Paula said. Its a wonderful, fabulous show, Paula said. The beauty is unbelievable. The dance form, the interaction between the men and the female dancers, everything is just beautiful. Watching the performers on stage, she had to wonder how many people there really were, because the energy radiating from the performance was just palpable. Its amazing because the energy in the show is amazing, she said. The energy is amazing, absolutely. From the orchestra to the dancersvery, very beautiful. Doug said Shen Yun was a beautiful way to be exposed to a new culture. The show was just a complete education to the culture, to the history of China, he said. The dance and the beauty, to be able to share that with my parents on her [my mothers] birthday was just an amazing experience. With reporting by Sherry Dong and Catherine Yang. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. EXCLUSIVE: McCabe Told Congress That Comeys Draft Exoneration of Clinton Was Unprecedented Andrew McCabe, the former deputy director of the FBI, told House lawmakers during a closed-door interview in late 2017 that other than the probe into Hillary Clintons unauthorized use of a private email server, he wasnt aware of any instance in which an FBI exoneration statement was drafted months prior to the conclusion of an investigation. This is the only time that I am aware of, sir, McCabe told a lawmaker, who asked him if it was common practice to lay out an exoneration statement two months prior to concluding an investigation, according to a transcript obtained by The Epoch Times. Then-FBI Director James Comey had circulated a draft exoneration in May 2016two months prior to concluding the investigation. Representatives and staff from the House Judiciary and Oversight committees grilled McCabe during an eight-hour session on Dec. 21, 2017. Two days later, McCabe announced his retirement. McCabe was forced to resign from his active position on Jan. 29, 2018, and on March 16, 2018, the day before McCabe was to retire with a full pension, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired him for lying to investigators about self-serving leaks to the media. The Judiciary and Oversight committees wrapped up a year-long investigation last month after interviewing more than 20 witnesses, including McCabe, Comey, and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch. The lawmakers concluded that the Obama Justice Department (DOJ) treated Clinton and then-candidate Trump unequally in 2016. While the DOJ appears to have abused foreign intelligence surveillance powers to target a Trump presidential campaign associate, its investigation of Clinton was over before it began, a summary released by the House Judiciary Committee states. Grossly Negligent Comey drafted the statement to exonerate Clinton two months prior to concluding the investigation and before interviewing more than a dozen key witnesses, including Clinton herself. Among other issues, the draft was edited to remove all mentions of gross negligence, a statutory term in the criminal code. McCabe said he played a marginal role in editing Comeys draft statement and doesnt remember having any discussions about the removal of gross negligence from the text. In one line of questioning, lawmakers showed that McCabe remembered discussions regarding another edit to the same draft, but not any conversations about the gross negligence aspect. Unidentified Representative: So you mention that you didnt talk to anybody about the extremely careless and grossly negligent, but you did go and talk about the cyber side of that. So why would you talk to cyber experts about the changes there and not the extremely careless to grossly negligent? Why do you recall one and not the other? McCabe: To be clear, I did not say that I did not discuss this with Director Comey. I participated in many discussions about many things Rep.: So you did discuss it? McCabe: I dont have a clear recollection of discussing Rep.: Okay. Do you have any recollection of discussing it? McCabe: That edit? Rep.: Grossly negligent [and] extremely careless. Any recollection? McCabe: I do not. I do not. McCabe claimed to not remember or recall certain events or matters more than two dozen times during the interview. Tensions Between FBI, DOJ McCabe detailed tensions between the FBI and DOJ over how the email investigation was to be conducted. While FBI staff pushed to use subpoenas to force witnesses to answer questions and produce evidence, the Justice Department preferred to negotiate with defense lawyers. There were times that people in the FBI suggested and wanted to pursue, lets say, acquiring of evidence through legal process, rather than the Departments preferred route, which was negotiating consent to access different pieces of evidence, McCabe said. The investigators ultimately followed the path preferred by the DOJ. Lisa Page, a former FBI counsel who worked on the email investigation, described similar tensions during two days of testimony in July 2018 detailed for the first time by The Epoch Times on Jan. 11. McCabes Role in Removing Strzok Until now, it was believed that special counsel Robert Mueller had been solely responsible for the removal of Strzok from his teams Russia investigation. While Mueller may have been involved, testimony revealed that it was McCabe who was personally responsible for the decision to remove Strzok from the Mueller probe. McCabe testified that he was briefed in late July 2017 on biased text messages sent by FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok and Page. McCabe said that the Justice Departments Office of Inspector General contacted him on July 27, 2017, and said they had a very important matter for me to review and they needed me to come across the street and talk to them that day, which was unusual. I made the decision to remove him from the investigation that evening, McCabe said. I came back from my meeting with the inspector general. I met with a very small group of my fellow leaders. We discussed Peters reassignment, and we discussed where we would place him. McCabes view on the matter is similar to that expressed by Comey during testimony last month. Comey said he would have removed Strzok from the investigation if hed seen the biased text messages. If I had known about those things that they were communicating that Ive seen in open source, I would not have had them stay on theplaying any role in connection with that [Clinton email] investigation, Comey said Dec. 7. In the text messages, Strzok called then-candidate Trump an idiot, rooted for Clinton to win the election, and discussed an insurance policy in the unlikely event Trump won the presidency. Page confirmed in her testimony that the Andy in the insurance policy text message was McCabe. However, during his testimony, McCabe said he didnt know who Andy referred to. Unidentified Representative: Do you know the identity of the Andy who is mentioned in that text message? McCabe: I do not. Rep.: Were there any other Andys who were working on this email investigation employed by the FBI or DOJ? McCabe: I mean, not at my level and not that Im aware of, sir, but I cant vouch for how many Andys we have. Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, attends at the Tomorrow In Motion event on the eve of press day at the Paris Auto Show, in Paris, France, on Oct. 1, 2018. (Regis Duvignau/File Photo/Reuters) Ex-Nissan Chair Ghosn Indicted for Alleged Breach of Trust TOKYONissans ex-chairman Carlos Ghosn was charged on Jan. 11, with breach of trust, according to the Tokyo District Court, making the star executives release unlikely for months to come. Ghosn, arrested Nov. 19, was earlier charged with falsifying financial reports in underreporting his income by about $44 million (5 billion yen) over five years through 2015. Ghosn; Greg Kelly, another Nissan executive; and Nissan as a legal entity also were charged Friday with additional underreporting of income, from 2015 through mid-2018. Ghosns lawyer Motonari Ohtsuru filed a request that Ghosn be released on bail. His detention period for the breach of trust allegations would have expired Friday if charges had not been filed. Nissan ex-chief Ghosn seeks bail after indictment on two new charges pic.twitter.com/y2pjiJO403 ShamelNews (@NewsShamel) January 11, 2019 Kelly and Nissan were not charged with breach of trust. Those allegations center on Ghosns handling of investment losses and payments made to a Saudi businessman. Ghosn, 64, says hes innocent. Suspects in Japan are routinely held for months until trials start, and Tokyo prosecutors maintain that Ghosn, a Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese ancestry, is a flight risk. Earlier this week Ghosn told a Tokyo court he was innocent, in his first public appearance since his arrest, and appealed for his detention to end. But the court rejected that request. I have a genuine love and appreciation for Nissan, Ghosn told the court. In all of my efforts on behalf of the company, I have acted honorably, legally and with the knowledge and approval of the appropriate executives inside the company. "Let me say that I have genuine love and appreciation for Nissan," Ghosn told the court.https://t.co/L7bUjdS4Mh Nikkei Asian Review (@NAR) January 8, 2019 He said the compensation was never decided on, the investment deal never resulted in any losses to Nissan, and the payments to the Saudi businessman were for legitimate services related to dealers and investments in the Gulf. Ghosn remains CEO of Nissans alliance partner Renault, though he was dismissed as chairman of Nissan and fellow alliance company Mitsubishi Motor Co. Renault has stuck by Ghosn since his arrest but faces pressure to find a successor as his jail time drags on and questions mount about executive payment schemes used by the carmaker and related companies. The Renault board of directors held a special meeting Thursday night to discuss internal reviews of executive pay prompted by Ghosns arrest. It declared that no fraud was found in 2017-2018 but it is still examining previous years. Its shares fell slightly Friday morning after those announcements. Ghosn, who appeared much thinner than before his arrest, came down with a fever the day after his court appearance, but has since recovered, Ohtsuru, the lawyer, said. His wife Carole Ghosn issued a statement overnight out of Paris, expressing concern over his sickness. I am pleading with the Japanese authorities to provide us with any information at all about my husbands health. We are fearful and very worried his recovery will be complicated while he continues to endure such harsh conditions and unfair treatment, she said. In a statement from Paris late yesterday, #Ghosn s wife Carole said "Japanese authorities refuse to tell us if he has been transferred to an infirmary, nor will they let us speak with medical personnel at the detention center. #Nissanhttps://t.co/B0nUh46Y2K KeiTea27 (@KTea27) January 11, 2019 Apart from prosecutors, only embassy officials and Ghosns lawyers are allowed to visit him. Such visits were canceled Thursday but resumed Friday. While declining to comment on specifics, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Shin Kukimoto told reporters that indicted suspects are usually detained for several months. We believe that there was enough to charge and go to trial, he said of Ghosns case, and he will be guilty. Ghosn has been interrogated daily but now will only be questioned with his consent, Kukimoto said. The maximum penalty for the falsifying financial reports and breach of trust is 15 years in prison, an $89,000 (10 million yen) fine, or both. The breach of trust charge alleges that $16.7 million (1.8 billion yen) in damage was caused to Nissan through transactions made by Ghosn, and that $14.7 million was paid to the Saudi businessman. The other new charge says Ghosn reported $26.9 million (2.9 billion yen) in compensation, when he earned more than $65.7 million (7.1 billion yen) in the three years ending in June 2018. Before his sudden downfall, Ghosn was a respected figure in the global auto industry, having rescued the Japanese automaker from near-bankruptcy, building its sales operations and profits and pioneering ecological vehicles. Nissan says an internal investigation began in mid-2018 after whistleblowers came forward. Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa has denounced Ghosn, accusing him of using the companys money and assets for personal gain. The company said in a statement that it took the latest charge seriously and was strengthening governance. It reiterated harsh words against Ghosn. Nissan filed the criminal complaint on the basis of Ghosns misuse of a significant amount of the companys funds. Nissan does not in any way tolerate such misconduct and calls for strict penalties, it said. By Yuri Kageyama Elizabeth Smart speaks during a news conference while her father Ed Smart looks on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Elizabeth Smart Rejoices After Missing Teen Jayme Closs Found Alive American child safety activist Elizabeth Ann Smart was among those rejoicing the return of Jayme Closs, 13, who was found alive after being abducted months ago from her Barron, Wisconsin, home. Smart, 31, was abducted from her Utah home when she was 14 and held for nine months. After news of Closs being found alive broke late Jan. 10, Smart took to Instagram Friday morning to make a post about the finding. What a miracle!!! Jayme Closs has been found!!!! Smart wrote. Im so thrilled to hear the news. What has been such a heart-wrenching tragedy finally has some happiness in the story. Smart said that Jayme was a brave, strong, and powerful survivor! Im praying for Jayme and all her family that they can have a joyous reunion and as the rest of the country celebrates alongside this happy occasion we all are mindful to give the family their space and privacy on their road to finding a new sense of normal and moving forward, Smart added. I have no doubt Jayme and her family will forever appreciate the efforts and prayers of the many thousands of people who contributed and kept them in their thoughts and prayers! Closs escaped from her captor in Gordon, a town about 65 miles north of Barron, and found a woman walking her dog. The dogwalker took her to a nearby home where she, Closs, and the homeowners waited for about 20 minutes while police officers rushed to the scene. In an update, law enforcement officials said Friday morning that the 21-year-old accused of imprisoning Closs since October and murdering her parents before kidnapping her was Thomas Patterson, who grew up in Gordon. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald praised Closs, saying of her endurance in captivity, That is the will of a kid to survive. Closs was taken to a hospital in Duluth, where doctors planned a mental health evaluation before FBI agents questioned the teen. Fitzgerald said Closs would be reunited with her family later on Friday. Relatives spoke out about the girl being found. I mean Im shocked, her aunt, Kelly Engelhardt, told KARE 11. Its what weve prayed for every single day. She said the family believed the whole time that the Closs would be found safe. I honestly had faith, Engelhardt said. I figured if they hadnt found her by now that the person that did this didnt want her dead, so I had hope. Every day there was hope. We had too much love and support around us for us to give up. Jeff Closs, an uncle of Closs, added, It was just unbelievable because you hear about youre not sure if shes going to be found. And when you actually hear it, its just unbelievable. Were all just so grateful and happy. Kidnappings in America The number of reported missing children significantly decreased in recent years, according to a report by the Department of Justice (pdf) in 2017. Reported missing children dropped from 6.5 per 1,000 children in 1999 to 3.1 per 1,000 in 2013. Missing children typically fall into five categories: kidnapped by a family member, abducted by a nonfamily perpetrator, runaways, those who got lost, stranded, or injured, or those who went missing due to benign reasons, such as misunderstandings, according to the report researchers. Justice Department researchers said in a separate report (pdf) published in 2016 that there were an estimated 105 children nationwide that were victims of stereotypical kidnappings, a number that was virtually the same as in 1997. Most kidnappings involved the use of force or threats, and about three in five victims were sexually assaulted, abused, or exploited, the researchers said. Stereotypical kidnappings are defined as abductions in which a slight acquaintance or stranger moves a child at least 20 feet or holds the child at least 1 hour. Most victims were girls aged 12 to 17 and most perpetrators were men aged 18 to 35. From NTD News The accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman (R), appears with defense attorney A. Eduardo Balarezo (L) in this courtroom sketch as he appears in Brooklyn federal court in New York on Nov. 19, 2018. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters) El Chapo Computer Whiz Tells Court of Nervous Breakdown After Helping FBI NEW YORKSelf-described computer whiz Christian Rodriguez told jurors on Jan. 10 how he had a nervous breakdown from the stress of cooperating with the FBI to hack into the secure communication system he built for accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. On trial in U.S. federal court in Brooklyn since November, Guzman, 61, was extradited to the United States in 2017 to face charges of trafficking cocaine, heroin, and other drugs into the country as leader of Mexicos Sinaloa Cartel. The witness testimonies have given a glimpse into the secretive and often violent workings of the cartel, one of the most powerful drug trafficking operations in the world. It was the second day of testimony for prosecution witness Rodriguez, 32, who said he worked for Guzman from 2008 to 2012 and built a system allowing members of the cartel to communicate securely using private servers, Nokia phones, and Blackberries. The Colombian-born Rodriguez told jurors he was approached in Bogota in 2011 by FBI agents who told him they knew he worked for Guzman and that he was in serious trouble. Rodriguez said he agreed to cooperate with them the same day. He gave the FBI the passwords to the secure servers he built for Guzman, as well as for software he secretly installed on some of his associates phones that allowed Guzman to spy on them, Rodriguez has testified. The value of Rodriguezs assistance to prosecutors became obvious this week, as jurors were presented with a slew of Guzmans phone calls and text messages intercepted thanks to his cooperation. Much of the evidence in the trial so far has consisted of spoken testimony from witnesses whose credibility Guzmans lawyers have done their best to undermine. Many of the intercepted communications jurors heard this week, however, appear unambiguously to show Guzman discussing high-volume drug trafficking and bribing officials. Guzmans lawyers have portrayed their client as a scapegoat for what they have called Sinaloas real leader, Ismael El Mayo Zambada, who also faces U.S. charges but remains at large. Rodriguez said he fled to the United States in fear of his life after learning that Guzmans associates knew he was cooperating with the FBI. He said he later had a nervous breakdown from stress, was hospitalized and underwent electroconvulsive treatment. Under cross-examination by one of Guzmans lawyers, Eduardo Balarezo, Rodriguez admitted family difficulties also contributed to his stress and nervous breakdown. To protect Rodriguez, court sketch artists have been ordered not to draw his face, and photos released of him have been pixilated. Late in the day, Alex Cifuentes, a member of the Colombian drug trafficking family that Rodriguez said introduced him to Guzman, took the stand. Dressed in prison garb, he said he worked for Guzman from 2007 until his 2013 arrest. Cifuentes, who pleaded guilty to U.S. drug charges and is cooperating with prosecutors, is expected to continue testifying on Jan.14. The trial began Nov. 13 and is expected to last a few more weeks. Guzman faces life in prison if convicted. By Brendan Pierson Police watch activists protest in Times Square in response to the recent fatal shootings of two black men by police in New York City, on July 7, 2016. (Yana Paskova/Getty Images) Crazy Nuremberg Reference and Race Cloud Police-Shooting Case Commentary How we talk about race does matter: Leaders have a responsibility to avoid fanning the flames of racism for political advantage, such as whats happening in Nashville, Tennessee, where a familiar national story is repeating itself. You know the storyline by now: A white police officer shoots and kills a black man who is running away from the officerits a multiple tragedy on several fronts. The national media then goes overboard in reporting the story, as in this case with the likes of Newsweek and The New York Times among those amping up coverage of the Nashville shooting. Its a tragedy for the deceased, Daniel Hambrick, 25, and his family, which going forward is denied his presence and fellowship. Its a tragedy for the Nashville community and for America as a whole, as well as for Andrew Delke, the 25-year-old police officer who fired the fatal shots. Its also a tragedy for the city and nation when Glenn Funk, the prosecutor in the case, decided to use incendiary and hyperbolic language at a preliminary hearing about whether criminal charges against the officer will advance. Not hesitant to demonstrate his foolishness, Funk argued that Delkes defense was similar to arguments used at Nuremberg. During the Nuremberg trials, Nazi officers tried to justify their war crimes by claiming they were following orders. Chalk this up as yet another instance of the knee-jerk politically correct tactic of cluelessly bringing Nazis into the conversation. Police Procedure Delke encountered Hambrick while the white officer was in a black neighborhood investigating car thefts. Hambrick was one of three men who fled from the police. Delkes defense is that he was following police procedure for dealing with armed suspects who refuse police orders. After seeing a gun in the suspects hands, Delke claims he gave verbal orders: Drop the gun or Ill shoot. Hambrick didnt drop the gun, nor did he follow any other of Delkes police orders. Video cameras show most but not all of the encounter between the two men. What is clear is that Hambrick was running away from Delke with a weapon in his hands. The cameras show Delke stop, aim, and shoot four bullets, striking Hambrick three times in the back. Delke says he fired because he feared for his life and the safety of others. According to this theory, the armed suspect could turn in a second and fire at the officer or accidentally shoot bystanders. The officer claimed the suspect looked back at him briefly, but this wasnt captured on videotapethere are a few seconds where the suspect is out of view. Delkes defense about fearing for his life is one that most police officers give when they make the split-second decision to fire their weapon. Following police training on how to respond to an armed suspect is hardly similar to the heinous crimes that Nazis perpetrated against the Jews. To say otherwise is utter nonsense. The issue seems to be the police training, which is undergoing review in many parts of the country. From the beginning, the handling of the case has been problematic. The prosecutor engaged in judge shopping to get his criminal warrant. The warrant came after a night court magistrate (Evan Harris) had reviewed the evidence and concluded there wasnt sufficient evidence to charge Delke. Dissatisfied with the outcome, Funk went to a different judge (Michael Mondelli) and got a criminal warrant that appeased protesters from Black Lives Matter and other social-justice groups who demanded a community oversight board for police actions. The mayor had his fingerprints on the case. Nashville Mayor David Briley told The Tennessean he had spoken with Hambricks mother shortly after her sons death and assured her that his life mattered. Hambricks mother asked for justice, and Briley said that Funks warrant was a necessary step towards that end. In other words, the mayor welcomed the warrant the first judge refused to issue for lack of evidence. Delke became the first police officer in Nashville charged for a murder committed while on duty. His case now goes to a grand jury. Racial Dynamics Although Hambrick had a criminal record and had previously engaged in aggressive actions, those who believe the police officer acted out of racial animus argue that Delke had no way of knowing he was dealing with a person with a criminal record when he made the decision to fire his weapon. Delke, however, did know he was dealing with an armed black man. Most likely, Delke was aware of demographic data showing racial disparities in crime rates and data on police shootings and ambushes. When he stopped, aimed, and fired, he was following police training and instincts in a high adrenaline situation. A research study by professors Logan Strother and Charles Menifield, and research associate Geiguen Shin used data from 2014 to 2015 to provide an eye-opening account of police shootings and the racial dynamics involved. The results will be surprising for those with so much vested in racism as being a primary factor in police shootings. The results indicate that 59.2 percent of people killed by white police officers were white; 28.2 percent of people killed by white officers were African American. Nonwhite officers were significantly more likely to kill nonwhite citizens, especially Latinos: 33.7 percent of the people killed by nonwhite officers were African American, and 32.6 percent were Latino, the study says. Blacks fitting the profile of Hambrick were more likely to be killed by minority law-enforcement officers. The researchers believe this is related to over-policing communities because of increased encounters between the police and crime suspects. Racism wasnt found to be a factor in the shootings, nor was there evidence of a significant pattern of white officers shooting unarmed blacks. More than 65 percent of the blacks killed in police encounters were armed. Less than 1 percent of unarmed suspects were killed in police encounters. The prosecutors grandstanding and over-the-top rhetoric does more harm than good to the Nashville community and the larger national discussion about crime and law enforcement. His references to Nazis and Nuremberg follows an all-too-familiar leftist tactic of labeling conservatives as evil. Funks willingness to judge-shop and spew incendiary language to advance a criminal case against Delke is shameful and doesnt serve the interests of the community or the national conversation we should be having about law enforcement and crime in minority communities. What Nashville and other American cities need are leaders who work with law enforcement and high-crime communities to educate the public and address legitimate concerns about how to police high-crime areas without stirring up racial animosity. Carol M. Swain is a former tenured professor at Vanderbilt and Princeton universities. Her Be The People News blog and podcast empower individuals to think independently, understand their responsibility, and make a difference in the world. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Cracks Appearing on Both Sides of Border Wall Impasse in Congress Democrats could be worried they are losing the public relations battle to Trump News Analysis President Donald Trump and Democratic congressional leaders are at such loggerheads that he walked out of a curt negotiating session Wednesday when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi flatly rejected border wall funding. Officially, neither side appears to be budging late Thursday, with Trump repeating his threat to declare a national emergency and use unspent billions in the military budget to erect the new barrier along the U.S. Southern border with Mexico. Look closer in Congress, however, and there are cracks appearing in the determined facades of both sides as the government approaches the 20th day with a quarter of its 2 million employees at home on furloughs. Trump must depend upon Senate Republicans to continue backing him on the border wall funding issue, but that may be the weak spot in the chief executives strategy. At least four GOP members of the upper chamber have already said they will support re-opening the government without Democrats agreeing to Trumps demand for $5.7 billion for the wall, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) being the most recent. I think we can walk and chew gum, Murkowski told journalists Tuesday, saying she is amenable to a process that would allow for those appropriations bills that have concluded some time ago that they be enacted into law, whether its the Department of Interior or the IRS. Id like to see that. Murkowski told Roll Call Thursday I certainly dont think that it benefits us to have a continued shutdown and I dont think the president enjoys the shutdown. Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Cory Gardiner of Colorado and Susan Collins of Maine are the other three GOP lawmakers Trump cannot expect to support keeping the government closed over the border wall funding impasse. Murkowskis colorful statement is significant for two reasons. First, her remark was picked up later in the day by Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) during Tuesdays debate on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells motion to force an end to Democrat stalling that is keeping the Senate from conducting regular business. This is the U.S. Senate. We can walk and chew gum at the same time, Risch said. He supported McConnells motion but using Murkowskis words could be an ominous warning to Trump that the Idahoans patience only goes so far. Second, Murkowski is one of a small group of senators working intensely since Wednesday out of McConnells office seeking a way out of the impasse and to reopen the government. Led by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), the group is pushing for a deal in which Democrats would give Trump his border wall funding and in return he would let an estimated 700,000 Dreamersindividuals brought to the U.S. as children by illegal immigrant parentsremain in this country without fear of being deported. Other Republicans who could be next to break with Trump on the shutdown are Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who has been openly and harshly critical of the chief executive, and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). Alexander, who is retiring next year, has been lukewarm throughout Trumps tenure in the oval office. Another less-noticed factor pressing on the GOP senators as the shutdown continues is the fact 22 of them must seek re-election in 2020. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also cannot count on all of his sides 45 senators to stay strong against Trump. Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley, for example, conceded during a CNN interview Wednesday that some fencing is useful, some barriers are useful. Theres a lot of surveillance technology. Ive been to some cities on the border that have triple fencing and have more personnel and have the technology to see the people moving in the middle of the night. And even Schumers right-hand man, Senate Democratic Whip Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) conceded in another CNN discussion that I can tell you, weve had fencing in the past, Im sure we will in the future. He hastened to add, however, it wont be a 2,000-mile wall. As for Pelosi, Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) said on CNN that if we have a partial wall, if we have fencing, if we have technology used to keep our borders safe, all of that is fine. Democrats may be worried they are losing the public relations battle to Trump. A Rasmussen Reports poll made public Wednesday found that 41 percent of those surveyed want Congress to do more of what Trump wants. Thats a 12-point gain in support for Trump since January 2017. Felix Tshisekedi, leader of the Congolese main opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) who was announced as the winner of the presidential elections walks after meeting to his supporters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jan. 10, 2019. (Baz Ratner/Reuters) Congo Opposition Leader Tshisekedi Clinches Surprise Win in Presidential Election KINSHASADemocratic Republic of Congos electoral commission on Jan. 10 declared opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the surprise winner of last months chaotic presidential election, but the runner-up dismissed the outcome as an electoral coup. The result sets the stage for Congos first democratic transfer of power, but also a tense political standoff with the potential for the kind of violence that followed polls in 2006 and 2011 whose outcome was contested. Vote tallies by Congos Catholic church (CENCO) showed second-placed opposition candidate Martin Fayulu as victor, according to two diplomats briefed on the findings. Tshisekedi won with 38.57 percent of more than 18 million ballots cast, Corneille Nangaa, the president of the election commission (CENI), told a news conference at 3 a.m. (09:00 p.m. EST, Jan. 9.) that seemed timed to avoid any immediate reaction in the streets. Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo is declared the provisionally- elected president of Democratic Republic of Congo, Nangaa said, to a mixture of cheers and gasps inside CENI headquarters. In the Kinshasa neighborhood of Limete where Tshisekedi lives, thousands of people danced in the streets in celebration and cars slowed down and honked their horns. Some chanted that Congo had turned the page on the Kabila era, which began in 1997 when Joseph Kabilas father, Laurent, led a rebellion that overthrew longtime leader Mobutu Sese Seko. Joseph took over in 2001 when Laurent was assassinated. For a ruler to pass power to an opponent is rare, and it gives hope for the rest of Africa, said John, a school teacher in Kinshasa who declined to give his full name. We now want change with this new power. Poverty, insecurity, killings, we must finish with all this. Speaking to cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters, Tshisekedi paid his respects to outgoing President Joseph Kabila, whom he called an important political partner, and promised to rule for all Congos 80 million people. I will not be the president of a political organization I will not be the president of a tribe I will be the president of all Congolese, he said. If Tshisekedis victory is confirmed in the next 10 days by the constitutional court, he will become the first leader to take power at the ballot box since Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, who was toppled in a coup less than three months after independence in 1960 and killed four months later. Opposition fears that authorities would rig the vote in favor of Kabilas hand-picked candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, did not materialize as Shadary finished a distant third to Tshisekedi and Fayulu, with about 4.4 million votes. However, the result will fuel suspicion among Fayulus supporters that Tshisekedi, shown by pre-election opinion polls to be running well behind Fayulu, struck a power-sharing pact with Kabila. Tshisekedis camp has acknowledged contact with Kabilas representatives since the vote but said they were aimed at ensuring a peaceful transition and denied there had been any deal. In an interview with Radio France Internationale, Fayulu, who was backed by prominent foes of Kabila, described the vote as an electoral coup. The results have nothing to do with the truth of the ballot box, he told RFI, and called on observers of the Dec. 30 vote to publish the real results. Contestation Tshisekedi is the son of the legendary Etienne Tshisekedi, who led opposition to three successive presidents over 35 years. Felixs profile rose when his father died in 2017 after helping to negotiate Kabilas reluctant departure. Kabila initially refused to step down when his mandate ended in 2016. In an interview last month, he did not rule out running again for president in 2023. Losing candidates can contest Tshisekedis victory before Congos constitutional court, which has 10 days to hear and rule on any challenges. Any widespread perception the election has been stolen could set off a destabilizing cycle of unrest, particularly in the volatile eastern borderlands where Fayulu enjoyed some of his strongest support. The Catholic Churchs bishops conference said last week that it knew the identity of the winner and demanded that CENI publish accurate results. The Church did not say who it thought the winner was, but briefed diplomats on its conclusions. CENCO was not immediately available for comment after the results. The vote was initially delayed by a week in part because of a fire that destroyed ballot papers. Authorities canceled voting on election day for more than one million people, saying the vote could not go ahead because of an Ebola outbreak and militia violence. Observers said many polling stations opened late and closed early and in some places voting machines malfunctioned. By Giulia Paravicini & Stanis Bujakera Colorado Nanny Caught on Camera Hitting and Swearing at Children A Colorado nanny was caught on camera hitting and swearing at children in her care thanks to a security camera set up by the worried mother. Working mom Shalin Cruz told local Fox affiliate KDVR that not long after she hurriedly hired a caregiver for her two sons because she needed to get someone and we needed to get them fast, she began to notice red flags. One of her sons told her that he was being hit in a way that she wouldnt like. Milo has autism and SPD, Cruz wrote in a post on social media, explaining that her son suffers from a condition known as Sensory Processing Disorder. Milo has 6 hours of therapy every week, she continued, and he started doing well and suddenly spiraled back down. They wont talk. Theyre scared. They wont talk in front of her, Cruz told the news outlet. Obviously, somethings going wrong. Neighbors also told the young mother that they heard troubling noises coming from the household, prompting her to finally take an extraordinary step to find out for herself what was going on. I went and bought a camera right away, she wrote. When she reviewed the recording, she said she was disturbed by what she saw. Go to the corner! Im done with it! the woman in the video can be heard shouting after shoving one of the children. Get your [expletive] over there and stay there! the nanny yells. Hit him so he fell and she kicked the cat too! Grrr! wrote a commenter, apparently referring to a moment in the video showing the woman manhandling the child, and to a fragment when she boots a kitten. Every Parents Nightmare Sharing the footage on Facebook, Cruz wrote, This is every parents nightmare, trusting someone to learn theyve betrayed you and hurt not only their child but your own. I was honestly scared to even say something at first, wrote Cruz, but after speaking with the cops and the other parents of the children in this video we all agree we dont want any other children or animals being harmed. I felt compelled to share this for the safety of other children and prevent other parents to feel the pain Ive felt, said Cruz as she explained why she went public with the video. Authorities have already been notified but please please consider doing more research on this person before hiring her, she wrote alongside the videos, I cant stand the thought that she can get away with hurting children. I was fuming, she told KDVR, and added that she was told by police what was seen in the footage did not qualify as criminal charges. Castle Rock police told the news outlet that anyone who entrusts their children to a caregiver should make sure that the person is trustworthy. Due diligence could include insisting on seeing character references from previous employers and checking for criminal history. Talking to her and talking to people that have known her, no one had anything negative to say, Cruz explained to KDVR, but admitted she had not done a more thorough background check. The nanny has reportedly been referred to Child Protective Services. A doctor examines a young girls ears. Hearing loss is an issue throughout childhood, with contributing factors that include earphone use with the volume turned up too high, loud urban environments, head trauma through physical sports, and excessive noise from video games, movies, and other media. (Catherine Yeulet/Photos.com) Chinese Woman With Rare Medical Condition Unable to Hear Mens Voices: Report A woman is unable to hear mens voices due to a rare hearing-loss condition according to a doctor in southern China. The woman, who was only identified as Chen, woke up one morning and could not hear her boyfriends voice, reported the Daily Mail. A woman has been diagnosed with a type of hearing loss which means she can't hear the voices of men only women https://t.co/H01xvn6yAI Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) January 10, 2019 The woman was rushed to the Qianpu Hospital in Xiamen, Fujian Province where a doctor treated her. She was able to hear me when I spoke to her but when a young male patient walked in, she couldnt hear him at all, Lin Xiaoqing, a doctor who treated Chen, told the Mail. The report said she is expected to fully recover from her condition called reverse-slope hearing loss (RSHL), which is rarely diagnosed. Tennessees Thigpen Hearing Center said, For every 12,000 cases of hearing loss, only one person has RSHL. According to the Mail, the woman said she was working late and under a lot of stress in recent days. She was also not getting much sleep. The doctor believes the fatigue and stress of lengthy days contributed to the hearing disorder. In North America RSHL affects about 3,000 people in all. Those with RSHL typically cannot hear low-frequency noises. Many people dont suspect they have RSHL unless someone in their family already has it, which underscores one of the main sources of RSHL: genetics. Wolfram syndrome, Mondini dysplasia, and inheritance through a dominant gene have all been identified as sources of RSHL, the Thigpen Hearing Center said on its website. Some diseases, mainly those affecting hair cells, can trigger the condition. The third most common source of RSHL is anything that causes a change in the pressure of the endolymph, a fluid in the inner ear. This includes things such as spinal or general anesthesia, intracranial hypertension, and a perilymphatic fistula, the centers website said. The World Health Organization confirmed about 466 million people around the world are affected by some form of hearing loss, and this figure is expected to rise to about 900 million in the year 2050. Other details about the Chinese womans case are not clear. Safety Is a Top Concern The Thigpen Hearing Center said RSHL patients could face a greater risk of danger due to hearing loss. The key reason is safety. Much of what you lose with RSHL is environmental sound, the center said. For example, if a patient cannot hear a car coming, you cant avoid it, said the center. If someone some distance from you is trying to warn you away from something, you might not hear it, because volume is a product of the lower frequencies, the centers website said. Another reason is enjoyment. There are many aspects and nuances in music that you might be missing out on if you have RSHL, because youre missing the low-frequency soundsfor example, much of what is below middle C. Symptoms Can Affect Phone Conversations Some symptoms of RHSL include difficulty understanding speech on the phone, as talking over the phone typically delivers the low and middle frequencies, which can pose a problem for sufferers of RHS. Some may find it easy to understand women and children but not men in all circumstances. Because RSHL affects the lower frequencies, those with RSHL more clearly understand higher-frequency speechthat of women and childrenthan lower-frequency speech, such as that of men, the centers website said. Meanwhile, patients might experience challenges in hearing a thunder or perhaps a refrigerator and other low-frequency environmental noise. China Deploys Corruption Tactics to Win One Belt, One Road Projects in Malaysia: WSJ Chinas ambitious geopolitical project One Belt, One Road (OBOR) is under scrutiny, after an investigation into a scandal-ridden Malaysia state investment fund revealed that Beijing was the mastermind behind the alleged corruption. Beijing rolled out OBOR, also known as Belt and Road, in 2013, with the objective of building up trade routes linking China, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. An investigation by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published on Jan. 7 revealed that senior Chinese officials in 2016 offered to bail out the heavily-indebted 1MDB, a Malaysian fund founded by former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, and tried to exert Chinas influence in the United States and other countries to pressure them into dropping their corruption probes into the fund. Chinas bailout offer was negotiated by Malaysian businessman Jho Low at the request of Najib, according to WSJ. At the time, 1MDB could not repay the $13 billion it had borrowed. Low is now a fugitive hiding in China, Malaysian officials told WSJ. In the United States and Malaysia, he is accused of criminal charges of orchestrating a money-laundering scheme to misappropriate funds taken from 1MDB. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has estimated that a total of $4.5 billion was misappropriated by high-level 1MDB fund officials and their associates, according to a press release about the agencys investigation. The DOJ has filed civil forfeiture complaints to recover the funds. In exchange for bailing out the fund, Malaysia offered Chinese companies lucrative contracts, including the $16-billion East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) connecting a port at the Strait of Malacca to a town facing the South China Sea, and the $2.5-billion Trans Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP), running 662 kilometers (411 miles) in eastern the Sabah state. These were projects under OBOR. The WSJ conducted its investigation based on interviews with current and former Malaysian officials, including a former official with the Najib administration, as well as official documents and minutes of meetings between Chinese and Malaysian officials. An unnamed Malaysian official stated that the ECRL should have cost only $7.25 billion, citing an estimate by an unnamed Malaysian consultancy. The 1MDB scandal was a big factor in Najib getting ousted during general elections in May 2018, which saw the return of Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister. Mahathir first served from 1976 to 1981. Najib has since been charged on corruption charges related to 1MDB. He has pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied wrongdoing. In August last year, Mahathir announcedwhile on an official visit to Chinathat he would cancel the ECRL and TSGP projects, a show of defiance against Chinas influence. He had said the countrys top priority was to minimize debt and loans. At a press conference on Jan. 10, Mahathir stated that he did not have in possession the documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal. We need to find this document and make use of the document as proof that this thing actually happened, Mahathir said. Beijing Pressure According to the WSJ, one of the Chinese officials present during negotiations with Malaysian officials was Sun Lijun. According to Chinese state-run media, Sun currently holds multiple positions: one of the vice ministers of Chinas Ministry of Public Security, a police agency; director of the Domestic Security Defense bureau; and director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, an administrative agency under the cabinet-like State Council. It was Sun who promised to use Chinas leverage on other nations to stop other governments from probing 1MDB, though the promise never materialized. Sun also tried to stop WSJs investigation. According to meeting minutes, Sun confirmed to Malaysian officials that Chinese surveillance, including full-scale residence and office tapping, and computer and phone data retrieval, at the Wall Street Journals offices in Hong Kong. According to an unnamed Malaysian official, the surveillance was carried out at Malaysias request. The revelation that China was spying on foreign journalists in Hong Kong has caused alarm about the erosion of press freedom. Bruce Lui, a senior journalism lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, said the incident reflected how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) viewed the media, in a Jan. 8 interview with Radio Free Asia. It is totally normal for the mainland authorities to monitor journalists, to obstruct their work, and to hide [things] from them, Lui said, adding that the incident is an example of one country trumping two systems. Currently, Hong Kong is governed by the principle of one country, two systems that allows the special administrative region a high degree of autonomy and freedoms that are not granted in mainland China. However, since 1997, when the city under British colonial rule was handed over to Chinese sovereignty, Hong Kong has seen greater political intrusion from Beijing. Lam Cheuk-ting, a Hong Kong legislator, said that if the surveillance claims are true, it could be a criminal act under Hong Kong law, according to a Jan. 8 article by Hong Kong daily newspaper Apple Daily. Chris Yeung, chairperson of Hong Kong Journalists Association, is worried that if such surveillance is allowed to happen again, it will have a negative impact on Hong Kongs press freedom and international image, he told Hong Kong non-profit online newspaper Hong Kong Free Press on Jan. 9. President Donald Trump speaks to media before departing the White House en route to the U.S.-Mexico border in McAllen, Texas, on Jan. 10, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Changes to H-1B Visas to Include Potential Path to Citizenship, Trump Says Hundreds of thousands of foreign workers working in the United States on H-1B visas may soon be granted a path to citizenship, according to President Donald Trump. H1-B holders in the United States can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship, Trump wrote on Twitter. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the U.S. Trump has vowed to fix issues with the H-1B visa system and ordered federal agencies to come up with proposals for reforming it. The H-1B system currently operates as a lottery and does not offer a path to citizenship. The president has said that foreign workers should be selected based on skill and paygrade and must not replace Americans. The United States grants 65,000 H-1B visas every year and an additional 20,000 visas for those with a masters degree or higher. In fiscal 2016, there were 400,000 applications for the lottery. Of those, nearly 75 percent were from India. The cap on the visas has frustrated tech giants, who rely on the H-1B program to bring in skilled workers due to a shortage in the United States. As a requirement, employers cant offer an H-1B petition to a foreign worker if there are Americans vying for the job. Yet only a small portion of the total petitions are granted due to the cap, which can only be raised by the Congress. The cap is not sufficiently high to guarantee that person getting a work visa. I can completely understand how frustrating that would be to the employer, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Francis Cissna, said in August last year. The H-1B visa allows foreigners to work in the United States for three years, with options to renew their stay. Silicon Valley companies are the heaviest users of the H-1B visa. In April 2017, President Donald Trump ordered the attorney general and the secretaries of state, labor, and Homeland Security to propose reforms to the H-1B visa system. The executive order did not provide a deadline for the proposals. The presidents message on Jan. 11 suggests that the White House has reviewed at least one proposal and has decided on a course of action. Trump issued the message on H-1B amid a government shutdown which resulted from an impasse with congressional Democrats, who are refusing to fund a security package for the southwest border that includes funds for constructing a barrier, Trumps signature campaign promise. Silicon Valley tech giants overwhelmingly support Democrats, which may mean that Trump is using the potential H-1B reforms as a bargaining chip to make a deal that would scupper the stalemate and end the shutdown. A bill introduced in Congress in 2017 would crack down on outsourcing companies that import large numbers of H-1B workers for temporary training purposes, only to send the workers back to their home countries to do the same job. Specifically, the bill would prohibit companies with more than 50 employees, of which at least half are H-1B or L-1 visa holders, from hiring additional H-1B employees. Charlotte Cuthbertson and Emel Akan contributed to this report. The CBS headquarters seen on August 2, 2013 in New York City. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images) CBS Deletes Fact-Check That Proved Trumps Point On Jan. 9, CBS News updated an article it published a few hours prior, taking out a fact check of one of President Donald Trumps claims made during the speech he gave the evening prior. In a ten-minute speech, Trump addressed the nation on the southwest border crisis from his Oval Office on Jan 8. On the same night, CBS News published an article that challenged the data cited by Trump with a fact check. CBS News later deleted the fact check but not before a copy of the webpage was saved on today.is. Comparing the two versions of the webpage, the fact check on the number of women sexually assaulted on trip to border is missing from the updated version of the article. CLAIM: The president claimed one in three women have been sexually assaulted traveling to the border, the original article reads. FACT CHECK: Between 60 percent and 80 percent of female migrants traveling through Mexico are raped along the way, Amnesty International estimates. The fact check proved that Trump had been inaccurate in his speech, as a 60 to 80 percentage would mean that closer to two (67 percent) and not one (33 percent) in three women suffered from sexual assault while traveling to the border. However, the fact check helped support the point Trump was trying to makethat women are victims in the border crisis. One in three women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico. Women and children are the biggest victims, by far, of our broken system, said Trump. After Twitter user Paul Joseph Watson published a post citing an article by Information Liberation about the deletion, many other Twitter users responded. Some users believe that Trump misspoke on purpose and others highlighted the issue of media bias. CBS News deleted a "fact check" of Trump's border wall speech on Tuesday night which said the situation with migrant women being raped while illegally crossing our southern border is even worse than he described. https://t.co/cihqhgbjgj Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) January 9, 2019 He did this on purpose 4-D chess my friends he knew theyd fact check him and he put them in checkmate, Twitter user Nick Larson responded. CBS claims to be the fact check, who deleted their post. In hence, they hid the fact. He just fact checked the fact checker, hiding the fact, Twitter user DeanLogic wrote. Stalin & Goebbels would be very, very impressed by todays US Democratic Socialist Party & the Leftist Press, Twitter user Richard Seibel wrote. Many other mainstream media also published articles fact-checking Trumps Tuesday address, and CBS News was not the only news agency whos fact-checking got fact-checked itself. For example, after The Washington Post published an article criticizing statements made in Trumps speech, the Daily Wire posted a response pointing out the articles bias. A Thorough Fact-Check In the original CBS News article, the words Amnesty International estimates were hyperlinked to a 2017 report by Migrancy Policy Institute (MPI), which cites both Amnesty International and Fusion for its estimate. A significant share experience sexual or physical abuse by smugglers, migrants, or even government officials: Between 60 percent and 80 percent of female migrants traveling through Mexico are raped along the way, according to estimates from a study by Amnesty International and reporting by Fusion, the report reads. Although the link to the source of the information appears to be broken, a 2014 article titled Is rape the price to pay for migrant women chasing the American Dream? by Splinter News, the rebranded version of Fusion, cites the 80 percent figure. A staggering 80 percent of Central American girls and women crossing Mexico en route to the United States are raped along the way, according to directors of migrant shelters interviewed by Fusion, the report says. Thats up from previous reports by non-profit organizations like Amnesty International that estimate the number at 60 percent. The Fusion article then cites from the Amnesty International report titled Invisible Victims: Migrants on the move in Mexico that was published in 2010. Tracing through the report, the 60 percent figure comes from a 2002 report that cited a 1999 report, and interviews with UN organizations and CNDH (Mexican Human Rights Commission). From NTD News Watch next: The SpyGate Scandal: What We Learned in 2018 2018 proved to be a year of numerous revelations that provided clarity regarding events leading up toand followingthe 2016 presidential election. The "Spirit of Ecstasy" bonnet ornament is seen on a Rolls Royce car during the 26th Monaco Yacht show, Sept. 30, 2016. (Eric Gaillard/Reuters) Carmaker Rolls-Royce Urges UKs May to Avoid a Hard Brexit LONDONCarmaker Rolls-Royce called on the British government to avoid a disorderly Brexit and said it was building up some stock, expanding warehouse capacity and training suppliers for customs changes in case Britain leaves the EU without a deal. Britain, the worlds fifth largest economy, is due to leave the globes biggest trading bloc in under 80 days but a Brexit agreement looks set to be voted down by lawmakers next week, making a no-deal and potential trade barriers more likely. The BMW-owned brand, which reported record 2018 sales, said that despite the steps it was taking to prepare for Brexit, it was impossible to predict what would happen if there is not a managed transition after March 29. We are highly dependent on a proper, working frictionless chain of goods and this whole company hinges on just-in-time deliveries, Chief Executive Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes told reporters. We urge the government to avoid any hard Brexit, he said. Asked whether Rolls-Royce, which builds all of its roughly 4,000 cars per year at its Goodwood factory in England, would ever make some models overseas, Mueller-Oetvoes said: This is a no-go, he said. Rolls-Royce belongs to Britain, we are committed to Britain. Sales at the 115-year-old company, which employs just over 2,000 people, rose 22 percent to 4,107 cars last year, boosted by an over 40 percent rise in demand from China, which accounted for one in five purchases. The numbers reflect similarly buoyant sentiment from Aston Martin, suggesting that luxury automakers might buck an apparent slowdown that has hit the likes of Apple and prompted Chinas most successful car firm Geely to forecast flat sales this year. You see more and more self-drivers in the Chinese market, people being behind the wheel particularly over the weekends in the luxury sector and that made (models) Wraith and Dawn quite successful in China last year, he said. I cant comment yet on how 2019 will pan out for us in China but so far we havent seen dents in our success over there. Mueller-Oetvoes also said that tax cuts made by U.S. President Donald Trump also helped the business. This was really fuel for our business last year in the United States, he added. By Costas Pitas Michael Kovrig, an employee with the International Crisis Group and former Canadian diplomat, appears in this photo provided by the International Crisis Group in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 11, 2018. (Crisis Group/Julie David de Lossy/Handout via Reuters) Canadian Detained in China Allowed Another Consular Visit Canadian consular officials in China were again able to visit Michael Kovrig on Jan 10, according to Global Affairs Canada. Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who now works as an adviser to the International Crisis Group, and entrepreneur Michael Spavor have been detained in China for over a month for allegedly endangering national security. Both men have had consular access at least twice now, with Spavor receiving a consular visit on Jan. 8. The families of both men continue to receive consular services, Global Affairs said. Canadian MP Michael Cooper, who is in China as part of a legislative delegation, said it was encouraging that Spavor was granted the consular visit, and said the delegation has spoken with their Chinese counterparts about the matter. In the course of meetings that we had with Chinese officials, we conveyed the position of the government of Canada, which was to call for the immediate release of Mr. Spavor and Mr. Kovrig, and to emphasize the fact that it is unacceptable that Mr. Spavor and Mr. Kovrig, up until the last few hours, were more or less unable to access consular services, were denied access to a lawyer, or are in conditions that are completely unacceptable, Cooper said in a phone interview from Shanghai. Kovrig and Spavor were detained shortly after Canada arrested Chinese telecom Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in early December on an extradition request from the United States. She is alleged to have defrauded several U.S. banks in misrepresenting company payments from Iran. The United States has until the end of January to make its formal extradition request. Meng, who was released on bail in Vancouver, will return to court on Feb. 6. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in a phone conversation on Jan. 7 that they would continue to seek the release of the two men, a statement from the Prime Ministers Office said. The United States came out strongly on the side of Canada in response to the detentions, and Trudeau thanked Trump for his support. A White House readout of the call described the detentions as unlawful. Other countries that have spoken out in support of the detained Canadians and the rule of law include the U.K., Australia, France, Germany, and most recently the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. On Jan. 9, Trudeau also thanked Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, for the EUs clear statements on the arbitrary detention of the two Canadians in China. They underlined the importance of respecting international norms and standards and judicial independence, a statement released by the Prime Ministers Office said. California Universities Circulate Travel Advisory Warning of Risks in China In the climate of rising diplomatic tension between China and Western countries, an alarming number of U.S. and Canadian citizens in China have encountered trouble with the communist authorities therewith some being detained and others deported. Gary Leonard, executive director of liability and property programs for the University of CaliforniaDavis, sent via email a travel advisory containing seven points for Americans and citizens to keep in mind if they were confronted by the authorities in China. The advisory was circulated among students throughout the UC network of universities. The email warned students traveling to China that if they were confronted by the authorities, they should avoid voluntarily giving up passports, signing documents, saying anything that could be turned into an excuse for detention, or making politically sensitive remarks. The notice also advised those in a complicated situation to request to speak with the U.S. or relevant embassy, and continue to ask until granted or released. It advised students to make travel arrangements, including check-outs and departures, in advance, as well as not to use messaging apps like WeChat or WhatsApp, citing precedent in which a U.S. citizen was detained in Russia on espionage charges for using WhatsApp. Rising Tensions Diplomatic tensions between Canada and China have escalated since the high-profile arrest of Meng Wanzhou, an executive and the heiress-apparent to Chinas flagship tech company Huawei. Beijing-based Western diplomats and former Canadian diplomats have described the detentions as a tit-for-tat reprisal by Chinas communist regime. The Canadian government has demanded the immediate release of some of the Canadian citizens. Guillaume Berube, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, said in an email after the new year that 13 Canadian citizens have been held in Chinese custody since Dec. 1, when Meng was arrested at the request of the United States while passing through the Vancouver International Airport. The U.S. State Department published a travel advisory on Jan. 3 because Chinese authorities have asserted broad authority to prohibit U.S. citizens from leaving China by using exit bans, sometimes keeping U.S. citizens in China for years. In November last year, The New York Times reported that Victor and Cynthia Liu, ages 19 and 27, and their mother, Sandra Han, are believed to have been refused permission by Beijing authorities to leave China after they went to visit their sick grandfather in June. The report said that in order to catch Liu Changming, a fugitive Chinese bank official and the childrens father, Beijing is preventing his two children, who are both U.S. citizens, from returning to America. Victor missed his sophomore year at Georgetown University in the autumn, and Cynthia couldnt continue her job at consulting firm McKinsey & Company in New York. Hostage-taking The Chinese regime has expanded the scope of its hostage-taking tactics, from Chinese dissidents to overseas Chinese, and now non-ethnic Chinese presence in China. Wang Bingzhang, a prominent Chinese democracy activist and U.S. green card holder, was abducted by Chinese agents in Vietnam and sentenced to life in prison on espionage and terrorism charges after being brought to China in 2002. Wang, who is now 71 and in deteriorating health, is detained in Shaoguan prison in the southern province of Guangdong. His daughter Wang Ti-Anna, a Canadian citizen, has not been able to see her father since 2008 because she is unable to obtain a travel visa to enter China. Last year, Ti-Anna finally had her visa approved. But when she and her 11-month-old daughter arrived at the airport in Hangzhou, eastern China, officers immediately redirected them to a flight going to South Korea. They didnt give us any reason at all. They just told us they were following orders from the minister of state security, Wang told CBC. This is more agonizing than not giving me the visa at all. It just feels extremely insulting and almost purposeful. Bill for Back Pay for Government Workers Passed by Congress, Headed to Trump Congress passed a bill on Jan. 11, that would guarantee back pay for federal workers who werent going to get paychecks on Friday due to the partial government shutdown. The legislation would also guarantee payment for employees affected by any future shutdowns. The bill passed the House 411-7 and the Senate unanimously. On the first day that some of our federal employees will miss their paycheck, Congress is saying and guaranteeing that workers will be paid not only for this shutdown, but God forbid if we have any future ones, that their pay will be guaranteed, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said, reported The Hill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has been wary about bringing bills to the Senate floor that President Donald Trump wouldnt sign, said that the president told him hed sign it. I had an opportunity to talk to President Trump a few moments ago and wanted to indicate to our colleagues that he will sign the bill that weve been discussing here to guarantee that government workers whove been displaced as a result of the shutdown will ultimately be compensated, McConnell told his colleagues late Jan. 10. Vice President Mike Pence said Friday during an appearance at the headquarters of Customs and Border Protection in Washington that Your families will get your paychecks after the shutdown. The partial shutdown started on Dec. 22, 2018, and affects about 25 percent of the government and 15 percent of the government workforce. According to projections by the staff of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, the shutdown led to the furlough of more than 380,000 workers while another 420,000 employees that are deemed essential would continue working, but wouldnt receive pay until the shutdown ends. No End in Sight The shutdown continues without an end in sight due to a standoff between the Trump administration and most Republicans against most Democrats. Trump has insisted that appropriations include approximately $5.6 billion in funding for the southern border wall, calling the flood of illegal immigrantsincluding a record number of family unitsa humanitarian crisis. The president underscored his case twice this week. First, he highlighted the stunning data surrounding the crisis in his first address to the nation on Tuesday night, a speech seen by some 41 million people. Then, on Thursday, he traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border to meet with law enforcement agents along with family members of some of those killed or allegedly killed by illegal aliens, including Reggie Singh, the brother of California police officer Ronil Singh, who was gunned down the day after Christmas while making a traffic stop. Because Democrats have refused to give him any funding, Trump has moved closer to declaring a national emergency. The sides have engaged in multiple rounds of discussions but dont seem any closer to a solution than before the New Year. Pelosi and other Democratic leaders have downplayed the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants entering the country, arguing that border security is possible without the wall if technology at the border is advanced enough. But Border Patrol agents and other experts agree that walls haves been shown to be effective in multiple places along the border. Banks Offer Help With the partial government shutdown nearing the end of its third week, banks are offering help to customers who are facing financial hardship as a result, earning praise from the Trump administration. The affected employees received their last paycheck Dec. 28, according to Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and were slated to miss their Jan. 11 paycheck. Aside from the employees, the shutdown has also hit contractors and vendors who do business with the affected agencies. On Jan. 8, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin commended mortgage providers and other financial institutions for assisting people affected by the shutdown. We applaud the actions of mortgage lenders, mortgage servicers, and other financial institutions, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, that are taking steps to assist individuals experiencing temporary financial difficulties due to the government shutdown, Mnuchin said in a release. The Administration is committed to doing all that we can, consistent with the law, to alleviate the effects of the shutdown. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, Chase, TD Bank, Citibank, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo were all offering government employees various measures to try to relieve the burden theyre feeling due to the shutdown. For instance, Bank of America was offering several forms of relief, including fee refunds, waivers, repayment plans, and loan modifications, spokesman Lawrence Grayson said. We will work with our clients on a case by case basis to help address their financial needs, he said, encouraging the customers affected by the shutdown to call the bank. Epoch Times reporter Petr Svab contributed to this report. From NTD News Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 2, 2019. (Mark Schiefelbein-Pool/Getty Images) Beijing Seeks To Divert Attention Away from Internal Crisis with Saber-Rattling Remarks Against Taiwan News Analysis Chinas current economy is far removed from the powerhouse status that saw double-digit growth before to 2013. Even worse, the country is mired in a myriad of problems beyond economic challenges. Aside from a slow quarterly GDP growth at rates not seen since the global financial crisis, the country also faces unabated levels of debt; a troubled stock market that saw the Shanghai Composite Index become the worlds worst performing major index in 2018; and large-scale unemployment. The ongoing Sino-U.S. trade war has also taken a toll on the economy. The trade dispute isnt likely to be resolved in the short term, and repercussions such as a reduction in export orders would likely persist in the foreseeable future. The trade war also inadvertently led to an unexpected problem. China decided to enact retaliatory tariffs on U.S. pork, instead buying pork products from Russia. Scientists have traced the current outbreak of African swine fever in 23 Chinese provinceswhich has killed scores of pigs in a country that is the worlds biggest pork producerto imported Russian pork. Politically, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is also facing pressure within the Chinese Communist Party. Sources have told Reuters and the Wall Street Journal that some senior officials have qualms about how Xi handled foreign policy and domestic development plans. For instance, China had to tone down mentions of its industrial policy Made in China 2025, designed to propel China into becoming a global leader in advanced technology, after the policy drew criticism in the West. Chinese officials blamed the government for pushing the policy so forcefully. To diverting Chinese citizens attention away from domestic problems, the Chinese regime recently decided to resort to its old playbook and draw focus on a polarized eventmore specifically, inciting nationalist sentiment. Such diversion took place on Jan. 2, when Xi gave a speech on cross-strait relations. He urged those seeking Taiwan independence to give up their plans, while extolling the benefits of the one country, two systems model, currently in place in Hong Kongwhich is considered a special administrative region of China. One country, two systems is the basis of which Britain agreed to hand over the rule of Hong Kong back to China after more than 100 years of colonial rule, given that the model promised political and economic autonomy to the city. Xis speech quickly drew rebuke from Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen, as well as lawmakers from two major political parties in Taiwan: the Kuomintang (KMT), which has a Beijing-friendly platform, and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has historically advocated for formal independence. Domestic Consumption The diversionary call seems like a desperate move at a time when the foundation of the Chinese regimes legitimacy the strength of its economy is in question Mr. Hu, a scholar on cross-straits relations living in coastal Zhejiang Province, said Xis remark was intended to incite anti-American sentiment to divert attention away from the facts that the Chinese economy is in a poor state, in a recent interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA). [What Xi said] is for domestic consumption, to show off a tough self-image, Hu, who is identified by surname only, said. Things have been this way in China for a long time; the tougher your talk, the more patriotic it makes you look. This is not the first time that Beijing has intentionally employed such a diversion. In 2012, there were signs that Chinese authorities deliberately organized anti-Japan protests in China, after Japan announced that it would nationalize the Senkaku Islands, a small chain of islets in the East China Sea whose ownership is claimed by Japan, China, and Taiwan. One of the signs of establishment manipulation was that a protest leader was found to be wearing a bulletproof vest and a police-issued earpiece. Additionally, local police in many cities kept protestors in some semblance of order, as opposed to crushing them with violence as Chinese police usually do in the face of any protest perceived as anti-government. That same year, the Chinese regime was mired in an internal crisis of political power struggles as the Communist Party selected Xi Jinping as its new leader in the 18th National Congress in November 2012. One of the key political developments at the time involved Bo Xilai, the former Chinese Politburo member and party chief in Chinas megacity of Chongqing, saw his fall from Chinas political ladderdismissed as Chongqing party chief in March, suspension from his Politburo post in April, and expulsion from the CCP in September. Before his downfall, Bo was tipped as a candidate for Chinas highest political office. In September 2013, Bo was sentenced to life in prison for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power. Bo also conspired with Zhou Yongkang, the former security chief in China, to carry out a political coup and usurp the incoming Xi. The attempt failed and Xi assumed leadership as planned. Australian Politician Vomits After Witnessing Mass Fish Kill in Darling River An independent MP was forced to rush off-camera to vomit after he held a dead fish while visiting the Darling River in the small town Menindee in far west New South Wales. NSW independent MP Jeremy Buckingham personally visited Menindee on Jan. 10 to highlight the mass fish deaths that had occurred in the river system. Earlier in the week on Jan. 7, a video that was posted to Facebook by local farmers of the carcasses of hundreds of thousands of native Murray cod went viral, highlighting the environmental catastrophe that was unfolding in the region. In the video, Menindee locals Rob McBride and Dick Arnold were filmed standing on the banks of the choking Darling River with one saying he feels like crying. A mass fish kill occured in the Darling river over the weekend of Jan. 5-6the second such incident in the same area over three weeks. Killing a river system. Generations of huge Murray Code wiped out in other huge fish kill #Menindee #auspol #MurrayDarling pic.twitter.com/poRJ3B6YQx Terry Australis (@AustralisTerry) January 6, 2019 Buckingham posted his own video to social media to raise awareness about the fish deaths and poor state of the rivers. Australia, you need to hang your head in shame. Look at this, Buckingham said, as he retched while holding a rotting fish. The cod that I was holding apparently was somewhere in the order of 50 to 60 years old. To see it dead, and to see hundreds of them, if not thousands of them, in the area where we were, dead like that, is truly appalling, he said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. They are rotting, theyre large corpses, theyre bloated in the water. Theres this scum of putrescent grease across the top of the water and its truly very, very sad. Drought or Mismanagement? The NSW Department of Primary Industries has launched an investigation into the incident and said the mass fish kill could have been caused by ongoing drought conditions and a sharp drop in temperature. After a very hot period, a sharp cool change hit the Menindee region over the weekend, with large temperature drops experienced, the DPI said in a statement. This sudden drop in temperature may have disrupted an existing algal bloom at Menindee, killing the algae and resulting in the depletion of dissolved oxygen. Menindee Fish: "It's not drought, unfortunately it is man-made. And I think someone needs to stand up and take accountability for what's happened. We've spoken to a lot of locals already today, and we've seen them crying" @TolarnoStation farmer Kate McBride. #Menindee #7News pic.twitter.com/Vpd4vAZbIL 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) January 9, 2019 As of Jan. 10, there was 3.1 percent of water remaining in Menindees lakes, the WaterNSW website stated. NSW Fisheries and Regional Water Minister Niall Blair said on Jan. 9 that cases of mass fish deaths may persist going forward. Unfortunately this is the sort of thing we do see during drought, he said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. However, McBride and Arnold say the fish deaths have been caused by mismanagement and draining of the lakes by the Murray Darling Basin Authority, leaving them almost dry. This is nothing to do with drought. This is a man-made disaster. This is a result of draining the Menindee Lakes twice in four years, killing the system, McBride said in the viral video. This fish is a hundred years old. Its never coming back. This is bloody disgraceful, he added. Professor Kingsford said the Menindee Lakes had been drained more often than in the past including twice in the past four years making such diasters more likely: "It's a classic example of nature biting back." Algal blooms trigger mass fish deaths https://t.co/jPlS2WFehv David Morris (@djmor6) January 7, 2019 Professor Richard Kingsford, Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at the University of NSW, told SMH that draining of the Menindee Lakes has been happening more often in recent times, including on two occasions over the last four years, which has made such disasters more likely. There had been three other mass fish deaths in the region since late December 2018one in the Darling River at Menindee, one at the Namoi River below Keepit Dam and another at the Lachlan River at Wyangala Dam, according to the DPI. Storyful contributed to this report. From NTD.com Watch Next: Why Banks Love War & the War Economy The global banking system has historically played both sides of major conflicts through war financing, and drawing out the battles by providing funds beyond what each country could have otherwise spent. An Arizona woman in a vegetative state who was sexually assaulted and had a baby received a medical exam nearly nine months before giving birth, according to court documents. The womans mother, who is her legal guardian, submitted an annual report as required by state law that included results of a physical done April 16 at a Phoenix long-term care facility where the 29-year-old patient lives. The doctor who examined her found no change in her health, according to the form, and wrote that the exam was external only. Police said it appears that none of the facilitys staff members knew about the pregnancy until the Dec. 29 birth, a notion that has drawn skepticism. But its possible there were no outward signs that would be noticed, especially by staffers who dont work with pregnant patients, doctors say. The woman is described as having tubes to feed her and help her breathe. While factors remain unknown, such as how far along she was, someone who is fed the same amount from a tube every day might not show any dramatic changes, like a swollen belly, said Dr. C. Kevin Huls, a clinical assistant professor and maternal-fetal medicine fellowship director at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. The mother could actually lose weight in other places like her face or arms if a fetus is consuming nutrients, too, Huls added. A good way to understand it is that really, the babys going to continue to grow even at the expense of the moms nutrition, Huls said. So, her weight may not change because shes not taking in additional calories. There may be changes to her body that are going to go undetected in a chronic care condition or at a facility like this. The revelation that an incapacitated woman was raped inside a care facility has horrified advocates for people with disabilities and the community at large. The providers CEO resigned this week, and the state said the center has made safety changes. Phoenix police learned of the situation when they received a call on Dec. 29 about a newborn in distress at Hacienda HealthCare facility. Officers launched a sex crime investigation when it was determined the mother was in a vegetative state, police spokesman Tommy Thompson said. She was not in a position to give consent to any of this, Thompson said. The baby and the woman are recovering at an area hospital, and their conditions were not released. Her family, who are members of the San Carlos Apache tribe in southeastern Arizona, said in a statement through their attorney that they will care for the baby boy. Its possible the woman wont have any additional long-term complications from giving birth. Women in a vegetative state after accidents or strokes have successfully delivered babies, Huls said. Phoenix police, meanwhile, have not ruled out any suspects in the assault. They are gathering DNA samples from the facilitys male staffers and have appealed to the public for any information. It remains unclear to investigators if the woman was sexually assaulted more than once. I know at least once she was sexually assaulted, which is way too many times, Thompson said. The Hacienda intermediate care facility specializes in providing around-the-clock care for infants, children and young adults with developmental disabilities or who are medically fragile. Since the womans delivery came to light, Hacienda HealthCare has implemented increased safety measures. They include more than one staff member being present during patient interactions and more scrutiny of visitors. Alleged Jayme Closs Kidnapper Identified as Jake Patterson as Sheriff Gives Update The man who allegedly kidnapped Wisconsin teenager Jayme Closs has been identified as Jake Patterson, 21. Jayme, 13, was abducted from her Barron home in October 2018. Law enforcement officers who responded to the house found her parents shot dead. Jayme was found alive after she escaped from her abductor on Jan. 10 and found nearby residents in Gordon, about an hours drive north from Barron, who called the police. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said that Patterson, of Gordon, was arrested and is being held on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the murder of Jaymes parents in addition to one count of kidnapping. Fitzgerald told reporters at a press conference on Friday that police believe Patterson killed the teens parents because he wanted to kidnap her, but that officials believe the man and teen did not have contact prior to the kidnapping. He said that the suspect took many proactive steps to hide his identity. Law enforcement officials said that Patterson doesnt have a criminal history and that Gordon, a small community thats mostly wooded and dotted with cabins, was not on their radar before Jayme appeared. Closs was missing for 88 days; a search quickly ramped up nationwide but several weeks after the kidnapping, law enforcement said it was switching gears as fewer tips were coming in. Then, on Thursday, she appeared out of the woods, asking a woman walking her dog for help. This lady immediately went to a nearby house and notified that neighbor of the claim and this neighbor called 911 and my deputies responded en masse immediately and identified Jayme as the person who approached the neighbor, Douglas County Sheriff Tom Dolbeck. Jeanne Nutter, a social worker, was identified as the woman walking her dog. I was terrified, but I didnt want to show her that, Nutter told The Associated Press. She just yelled please help me I dont know where I am. Im lost. She said she took the girl to a home other than her own because her own house was too close to the house at which shed been held. My only thought was to get her to a safe place, she added. Deputies whisked Jayme away and a short time later, found Patterson driving nearby. He surrendered to the police. Jayme is safe and the family is asking that you respect their privacy at this extremely emotional time, Fitzgerald said. Jayme was taken to a hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. She was being mentally evaluated, and questioned by FBI agents, before being reunited with her family later Friday. The suspect is being held at the Barron County Jail. Hes slated to appear in court for the first time next week. Daphne Ronning said that Pattersons parents moved to the house about 15 years ago and brought up Patterson and his brother there. The parents moved to another house as the boys became older but Patterson and his brother stayed at the house. Ronning told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that she had trouble with the two boys but that the dispute was settled. We had some problems with them when they were teenagerswe caught them siphoning gas, Ronning said. My husband talked with them and there was never anything else. Ronning said she had not seen Jayme around and wasnt aware that Patterson was living at the house until the news broke. Peter Kasinskas, whose home Nutter took Jayme to, said that he and his wife offered Jayme food and water but she declined. They introduced her to their new puppy and asked her about her experience. Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that Jayme was quiet, her emotions pretty flat, while the family waited with her for about 20 minutes inside their home as police officers rushed to the scene. She didnt know where she was. I honestly still think Im dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost, Kasinskas said. It was scary and awesome at the same time. My jaw just went to the floor. From NTD News British Prime Minister Theresa May and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hold a news conference after a bilateral meeting in London, Britain Jan. 10, 2019. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters) After Meeting UKs May, Japans Abe Says World Does Not Want No-deal Brexit LONDONJapans Shinzo Abe said on Jan. 10 that the world did not want to see a disorderly Brexit and that he fully supported British Prime Minister Theresa Mays withdrawal deal from the European Union now facing defeat in parliament. Some of Japans leading companies in Britain have warned that a no-deal Brexit could be a disaster. After meeting May in London, Abe said it was scenario no one wanted to see. It is the strong will of Japan to further develop this strong partnership with the UK, to invest more into the country and to enjoy further economic growth with the UK, Abe said through a translator at a news conference alongside May. That is why we truly hope that a no-deal Brexit will be avoided and, in fact, that is the wish of the whole world. Japanese firms have spent more than 46 billion pounds ($59 billion) in Britain, encouraged by successive British governments since Margaret Thatcher promising them a business-friendly base from which to trade across Europe. The future of Brexit remains deeply uncertainwith options ranging from a disorderly exit from the EU to another membership referendumbecause British lawmakers are expected on Jan. 15 to vote down the deal May struck with the EU in November. Abe has been one of the strongest international supporters of Mays Brexit deal since it was struck in November. When the two met at a G20 meeting in Buenos Aires in December, he asked for Mays support to avoid a no deal and to ensure transparency, predictability and legal stability in the process. Japan is in total support of the draft withdrawal agreement worked out between the EU and Prime Minister May which provides for transition to ensure legal stability for businesses that have invested into this country, he said. However, investors fear that if her deal is defeated as is expected then the worlds fifth-largest economy could be plunged into a chaotic no-deal exit from the worlds biggest trading bloc that would severely disrupt supply chains. Britains business minister Greg Clark also said a no-deal Brexit would be a disaster and partners such as Japan need assurance that it will be avoided. May told reporters that the only way to avoid such a scenario was for lawmakers to support her deal. Hondas Brexit Concern Japanese carmakers Nissan, Toyota, and Honda build roughly half of Britains nearly 1.7 million cars and have warned about the loss of any free and unfettered trade with the European Union after Brexit. Carmakers have warned that their factories, which rely on the constant delivery of parts to enter production cycles, would be severely damaged if Britain leaves the EU without a trade deal, forcing the need for customs checks at borders. In a sign of the concern, Honda said on Jan. 10 it would shut its British operations for six days in April to help it counter any disruption. This is to facilitate production recovery activity following any delays at borders on parts, Honda said in a statement. These contingency provisions have been put in place to best mitigate the risk of disruption to production operations at the Swindon factory. Japans ambassador to Britain, Koji Tsuruoka, issued a blunt warning about Brexit last February when he said Japanese companies would have to leave Britain if trade barriers made them unprofitable. Abe and May said they had discussed strengthening post-Brexit economic opportunities for both nations, with the Japanese leader welcoming Britains interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc. By Paul Sandle The participants also talked about cooperation towards low-carbon growth, environmental technologies, sustainable development, environmental infrastructure for developing countries, and partnerships between Vietnamese and Japanese cities. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said Vietnam urgently needs to consolidate the harmony between environmental protection and socio-economic development. Gearing towards sustainable development remains a key challenge for policymakers and enforcement forces in the field of natural resources management and environmental protection, he said. Highlighting the intensive and extensive relationship between Vietnam and Japan across all spheres, Nhan said Japan is one of Vietnams most important strategic partners in environmental protection. Vietnam hopes that environmental research and State management agencies, environmental protection associations, and businesses of the two countries will exchange information and management experience, promote technological transfer, and promote feasible and specific cooperation projects. The collaboration would serve as a foundation for the formation of an environmental technologies market and environmental industry in Vietnam, with the active participation of Japanese partners and businesses, he said. Japanese Vice Environmental Minister Takaaki Katsumata said Vietnam and Japan celebrated the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and cooperated well in many fields in 2018, including the environmental sector. The Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Japanese Ministry of Environment inked a cooperation agreement in 2013 and reaped the outcomes in different fields, he said. Many Japanese companies specialising in waste treatment are operating in Vietnam, he said, describing the workshop as an opportunity for the Vietnamese side to learn about Japans demands in this regard, he said. 13-Month-Old Baby Dies From Head Trauma, Mother and Mothers Boyfriend Arrested A 13-month-old baby has died in Oklahoma following head trauma injuries, officials said. Justin Lastra, 30, the boyfriend of mother Michelle King, 28, called 911 on Jan. 18 to report that Kings baby fell. The child was rushed to a nearby hospital and later transferred to Oklahoma University Medical Center with non-accidental abusive head trauma, police officials told News 9. Authorities said in an update late Thursday that the baby, Damien, died from his injuries. Both King and Lastra were arrested on a complaint of child abuse; theyre now facing first-degree murder charges. According to KFSM, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into the alleged child abuse after a request from the Guthrie Police Department. The assessment of child abuse came from doctors at the hospital, authorities said. Mother Charged After Baby Found in Freezer A woman who allegedly placed her baby in a freezer and closed the lid has been charged with child abuse. A witness told police officers that he saw Brittany Smith, 19, placing the baby, an 8-month-old child, into an unused freezer in the backyard of a house that wasnt hers. Oh my God, shes trying to hide a dead baby on us, Joshua Blair, the owner of the home, told WCYB of his initial reaction. It wasnt moving, wasnt nothing. I reached in and pulled it out. It started moving. Instant relief. Two other witnesses said they saw Smith on the property, according to an affidavit obtained by WJHL. Smith was located under the crawl space of the house without the child. Witnesses said they found the child in the freezer after lifting the lid. The freezer had about an inch of water in the bottom. Blair said he found the baby and handed it to his mother. He credited his mother and his fiancee for spotting Smith and the child. He said he removed the lid of the unused freezer so nothing like what happened could happen again. If they wouldnt have seen her put the child in there, the baby would have run out of oxygen, Washington County Sheriffs Office Maj. Shawn Judy told WCYB. The officer who wrote the warrant said there was sufficient cause to arrest Smith for having placed the child inside the deep freezer, which is an act that placed the child in immediate danger of suffocation and/or drowning, reported the Johnson City Press. The baby was taken to a hospital for treatment and is now OK. The baby was given over to his grandmother. Smith is being held on $200,000 bond for charges of child abuse and burglary and was slated to appear in court on Jan. 14 while her preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 14. Child Abuse According to a report published by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (pdf), in 2016, approximately 3.5 million children nationwide were the subjects of at least one maltreatment report to authorities. Child abuse is one of the nations most serious concerns, the authors of the report wrote in the introduction. About 17 percent of those reports were substantiated; the department said that there were an estimated 676,000 victims of child abuse and neglect, or 9.1 victims per 1,000 children. Children in their first year of life had the highest rate of victimization at 24.8 per 1,000 children of the same age in the national population according to the report. About three-quarters of the cases were neglect while about 18 percent were physical abuse. Some children suffered from multiple forms of maltreatment. Of the perpetrators of the abuse, more than four-fifths were between the ages of 18 and 44 and more than one-half were women. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, contact your local child protective services office or law enforcement agency so officials can investigate and assess the situation. Most states have a number to call to report abuse or neglect. To find out where to call, consult the State Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers website. The Childhelp organization also can provide crisis assistance and other counseling and referral services. Contact them at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). Donald Trump can look like a president. He can act like a president. He can talk like a president. He proved as much in his Tuesday night TV speech on getting $5.7 billion for a more secure border, and you wanted to say to him, thank you, thank you and please never wear that clown costume again. Sadly, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer gave a fist-in-the-face response to a speech that Trump did not give. Some of the fact checkers failed to check what world they live in. And the holier-than-thou media crowd at such places as the New Yorker magazine discovered hate where sympathy was pouring out about every other sentence. First, lets note that Pelosi pummeled Trump for partial government shutdown maneuvers that she has tried hard to outdo. Then she said he was not facing up to humanitarian issues. She said Trump aimed to waste money on an ineffective wall when he ought to turn instead to technology and innovation. Schumer, more aptly describing himself than Trump, said the president had pounded on the table. If he cared about border security, he would have spent the $1.6 billion he was given last year for border security. He would have accepted a compromise Republicans and Democrats alike forged before the holidays or one that would have locked in $25 billion over 10 years for border security. If he cared about America, he would not have put hundreds of thousands of families in financial jeopardy by refusing to pay federal workers, let alone consultants who wont get back pay. He alone said on TV that he would own a partial shutdown of government. He did it, refusing a bipartisan compromise, because conservative pundits mocked him for not honoring a spur-of-the-moment campaign pledge. If Trump cared about America, he wouldnt have ruined her reputation abroad as a harbor for the homeless and destitute by tear-gassing people seeking legal asylum, by taking children from their parents, by branding whole groups of people as unwanted. If he cared about America, he would have accepted the compromise to let Dreamers undocumented immigrants brought here as children stay in this country. Now they are in limbo, terrified of deportation. If its going to be a contiguous wall across the entire southwest border, youre talking about a massive land seizure of private property, he said. Most people, he said, are not willing to voluntarily hand over their land, even with a fair market price, forcing the government to go to court to obtain it. Youre talking about thousands and thousands of eminent domain proceedings that would have to run through federal district courts in Texas for the most part, but also places such as Arizona and New Mexico. Olivares said there were 334 eminent domain lawsuits filed in South Texas during the Bush administration; approximately 60 to 70 cases are still pending from a decade ago, mostly regarding payouts. The Texas Civil Rights Project is now trying to let people know that they are not required to sign over access to their land. They are going door-to-door in some neighborhoods, letting people know their rights, and they are running digital ads and spots on local radio stations. They also plan to host town-hall style meetings. If you dont have a lawyer, youre just going to get railroaded, Olivares said. Were trying to make sure this isnt going to happen. Miles said for too long, rent-to-own companies have used the criminal justice system to help them collect debts that should be handled as a civil matter, which is the way credit card and loan defaults are typically resolved. A lot of these people, they dont have the criminal intent, Miles said. What Im trying to do is back up people who are financially unable to pay. Under Senate Bill 183, Miles would essentially remove rent-to-own contracts from the state law that addresses theft of rental services. It would still apply to the other types of rentals, such as tools and construction equipment. Miles said his proposal, once in final form, would still allow prosecutors to go after rogues and thieves who willfully steal rent-to-own items, but theyd have to do it the old-fashioned way: by proving intent. Removing the presumption of intent from the rent-to-own statutes is long overdue, said Ann Baddour, director of the fair financial services project at the non-profit Texas Appleseed, which advocates for low-income Texans. At 5:53 p.m., about 10 minutes after the high-speed chase began, the pickup struck a Mini Cooper head-on at the intersection of Villa Maria Road and Carter Creek Parkway. The truck then spun out and lightly struck a third vehicle on Carter Creek Parkway, adjacent to the elementary school. The occupants of both the Mini Cooper and the second vehicle suffered minor injuries and did not require hospitalization, though the Mini was significantly damaged. The driver of the pickup was semi-conscious when he was removed from his truck, and he was rushed to CHI St. Joseph Hospital with what appeared to be serious injuries. Neither Stohler nor Morgan could comment on whether the injuries were life-threatening. A women in the pickup was taken into custody, though she did not require hospitalization. January marks National Blood Donor Month, designed to bring awareness to a time when blood is at a critical shortage for the American Red Cross. "January is a very difficult time for blood collection with holiday schedules, seasonal illnesses and weather," says Jan Hale, American Red Cross external communications manager. According to redcross.org, this year has been especially difficult, as the nation has faced severe winter weather since December, forcing the Red Cross to cancel dozens of blood drives nationwide and leaving hundreds of donations uncollected. While the Red Cross contributes roughly 40 percent of the nation's blood, local donors also can give at the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Joshua Buckley, media and promotions coordinator at the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, stresses that donors should not wait for a natural disaster or emergency to give, as making sure a supply is always available is crucial. The center sees National Blood Donor Month as a good way to teach the public as to why it is important to donate blood regularly rather than waiting for a time of crisis. Click the image to the left and log in to get your exclusive reader perks. Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom. Follow Melanie Tucker Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today JEFFERSON - Howard F. Schrumpf, 92, of Jefferson, went home to meet his savior he loved and served so faithfully on June 12, 2021, at the Valley View Manor Nursing Home of Norwich. Howard was born in Pennsauken, New Jersey, on Jan. 13, 1929, the son of Foster and Myrtle (Walker) Schrumpf. Fo This is the temporary subscription pass for users returning from the Vision Data subscription process. Your subscription will be updated within 24 hours, after your information is verified. Please click the button below to get your pass. Local featured Local task force to hit the streets to address homelessness Review Photo/Matt Hicks Bradford County Commissioner Ed Bustin, at right, is pictured next to commissioners Daryl Miller and Doug McLinko. Bustin said the Local Housing Opportunities Task Force will be going out during the night of Jan. 23 to assess the local homeless situation and to connect people in need with resources. A task force comprised of Bradford County government officials, human services, The Main Link, local churches and others are looking to get a better perspective on the local homeless problem during an overnight effort later this month. According to Commissioner Ed Bustin, who is part of the Local Housing Opportunities Task Force, members will set out at dusk on Jan. 23 and visit places where they think homeless people might be hanging out for the night. Its just a way of physically verifying what we think might be going on, said Bustin. The point-in-time survey is designed to not only get a better idea about how many homeless people are in the county, but also provide an opportunity for these task force members to interact with the homeless, discover more about the issues leading to homelessness, and connect these people with resources that can help them. Although these surveys are carried out regularly in urban areas, Bustin said this is the first time something like this has been tried in Bradford County. Meanwhile, the county will be using part of a $50,000 Emergency Solutions Grant to incorporate a state database to improve how it helps those in need. According to Grants Coordinator Amanda Boyer, the database allows the county to document the homeless population based on different categories. Bustin noted that the database can also be utilized by non-profits, faith-based organizations and others who deal with homelessness. This database allows you to ask them some questions, dig in a little bit, find out what are the causes, what are the needs, and then enter it into the database and it can automatically hook you up with a solution to that persons particular need, said Bustin. So its not just a simple data entry system, its a way of linking services with needs. If there is a shelter, but that shelter is full in Bradford County, we would put the information into the state database and maybe there would be a shelter that would be able to receive those individuals, said Boyer. The grant will also help provide assistance with rent, general finances, utilities and security deposits while also supporting the operations of countys homeless shelter, Endless Mountains Mission, and other outreach efforts. This subscription will allow current subscribers of The St. Helens Chronicle to access all of our online Subscriber-Only content, including the E Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please call us at 1-503-397-0116. Phoenix: Panicking staff members at a long-term care facility scrambled to save a baby born to an Arizona woman in a vegetative state amid their shock to learn she was pregnant, according to dramatic 911 audio released on Friday. The five minutes of audio from the December 29 birth starts with a frantic nurse at the Phoenix facility yelling, "The baby's turning blue! The baby's turning blue!" Hacienda HealthCare in Phoenix, Arizona. Credit:AP "One of our patients just had a baby, and we had no idea she was pregnant," the nurse said. She then says the mother appeared stable but care workers were administering CPR to the infant, who was still unresponsive. When the dispatcher asked how far along the mother was in her pregnancy, the nurse repeated that it was a shock to everyone. London: As the Australian Liberals face the dire prospect of their female representation in the parliament going even further backwards at the next election, the contrast with their counterparts in the United Kingdom could not be more stark. There, pundits are predicting the election of the country's first prime minister from a black or minority ethnicity background. While the diversity conversation in Australia has most recently focused on gender in the Liberal party, the cultural diversity of the nation is also under-represented in parliament. Research by the Australian Human Rights Commission found 95 per cent of parliamentarians came from Anglo-Celtic-European backgrounds. The most recent census found 73 per cent of the population was born in Australia, England or New Zealand - down from 76 per cent in 2011. British Home Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to line up for a tilt at the leadership. Credit:Bloomberg In the UK the diversity question has broadened to include focus on MPs' ethnicity. The election in 2017 resulted in the highest ever number of minority and ethnic MPs winning office - the majority from Labour. Thirty-two of the 52 non-white MPs hail from the opposition benches, comprising 12 per cent of the party, compared to the six per cent of non-white MPs on the government benches. But with Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May having smashed the glass ceiling twice, it is the Tories who are now openly speculating about the possibility of claiming another historic first. Chinese Millennials are insatiable content-sharers because they are only children who rely on social media to express themselves, says his co-founder at FEED Tech, Joy Dong, who sold her last internet video start-up for $US370 million. They have a huge desire to communicate, to be recognised and to let the world know they exist, she says. Loading They are always looking for something new, says Melbourne University graduate Jing Shen, FEED Techs chief product officer. The trends change so fast here. Jack Mas Alibaba, WeChat creator Tencent and search engine Baidu are among the worlds most valuable tech companies, and household names in China. They have broken the image of China as a technology copycat, creating unique businesses that meet the needs of Chinas 800 million internet users. Peng is among the next wave of innovators, who have left key positions at these Chinese tech behemoths to strike out on their own. We have seen Jack Ma do it, and we look at him and think, why cant I do that too? he says. Peng and Dong are in the right place at the right time. Chinese President Xi Jinping has set a goal for China to close the gap with the United States in the field of artificial intelligence by 2030. Loading Chinese government policies are very beneficial to tech entrepreneurs, says Peng, and venture capitalists are willing to invest in people with experience at the top Chinese technology brands. A report by French business school INSEAD found Chinese unicorns overtook those from the US in attracting the most venture capital globally raising $US56 billion with five of the worlds top 10 most valuable unicorns now Chinese. The success of the red unicorns has spurred a culture of entrepreneurship in China, inspiring millions of young Chinese to follow suit, the report said. Angel investor Joanna Wei, who set up the technology incubator Beijing Makerspace nine years ago, compares the leapfrog China has made in digital technology to its swift upgrade from dirt roads to national highways. Craig Zeng, an executive at finance portal LexinFintech, told a Harvard Business School conference that in the past, the most common question a Chinese company like his received from US investors was, who is your counterpart in the US? It meant who did you copy from the US? But things have started to change. Last year, over 10 Chinese companies were listed in the US, and only a few of them could answer that question. They have been creating their own business models. From fishing village to the world stage Shenzhen in China has been transformed from fishing village to the country's Silicon Valley. Here, bulidings in the city were lit up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of economic reform in China. Credit:Sanghee Liu To understand Chinas transition from copycat to innovator, you need to understand Shenzhen. Forty years ago it was a fishing village bordering Hong Kong. But Deng Xiaopings 1978 economic reforms designating Shenzhen as a special economic zone within China that welcomed foreign investment saw its rapid growth as the worlds factory. Today, Shenzhen is Chinas Silicon Valley. It is the biggest consumer electronics manufacturing base in the world. This is the supply chain that Trump wants to break with his trade war tariffs, vainly urging US companies like Apple to move their factories out. But Shenzhen is also now home to Chinas national technology champions Huawei, the worlds second-biggest smartphone maker, DJI, the worlds biggest drone maker, and BYD, the biggest electric vehicle company. To visit the public museum at the headquarters of Tencent, tourists must book a week in advance. It is Chinas internet shrine, one local explains. The Shenzhen government spends 90 billion Chinese yuan ($18 billion), or 4.13 per cent of its GDP, on research and development on a par with world-leader Israel. 'Innovation is the only way that we can win' Jasen Wangs company Makeblock sells educational robotics kits to 5 million users in 160 countries worldwide. Credit:Sanghee Liu There is a toy unicorn on Jasen Wangs desk and a bunch of international trophies for design excellence on a shelf above it. The 37-year-old recently presided over 3000 school children from around the world competing to build the best robot. His company, Makeblock, sells educational robotics kits to 5 million users in 160 countries worldwide, and is integrated into the French school curriculum. Wang has been profiled by the magazine Fast Company, and counts American venture capital firm Sequoia Capital as a backer. While most of Makeblocks sales are to overseas schools, the Chinese domestic market is growing fast, after the Ministry of Education announced robotics and coding lessons would become compulsory. Wang studied aircraft design at university in the northern Chinese province of Xian, but spent most of his time making robots. He came to Shenzhen in 2012 with the idea to make robotics easy. Shenzhen was a magnet not only because it had easy access to all of the hardware components or robot bits he needed, but it was easy to find good engineers with so many software companies there. And while the shanzhai, or copycat bandits, have largely cleared out of Shenzhen, Wang says they have left behind a useful resource there are so many factories. "Several years ago these factories were creating fake phones, but now we can use their supply chains to make innovative products. We can use their people to quickly manufacture our product. China still lags the US on basic fundamental technology, such as microchip design, he says, but Chinese companies have become very good at applying technology in new ways. We know that several years ago most Chinese companies acted like copycats, but the situation has changed a lot. Young entrepreneurs like me, we know that innovation is the only way that we can win the competition. Competitors at the 2018 MakeX Robotics Competition, which is hosted by Makeblock and attracts thousands of students. Credit:Makeblock Of his 500 staff, half work in research and development. To foster an innovation culture, Makeblock holds a Makeathon every two months, where staff form teams and have 36 hours to turn an idea into the real thing. On a much larger scale, Makeblock hosts an international schools robotics competition, attracting 1000 international children and 2000 Chinese children last year. Chinese traditional education is focused on how to pass an exam and get a high score. Our society is changing very fast and technology is very important. We want to help kids learn not only about technology but to have the ability to create and solve problems, he says. Joining the competition the children really learn how to face pressure, how to face failure and how to do team work. The race for intellectual property rights According to the World IP Organisation (WIPO), Chinese companies led the world in patent applications last year, lodging 40 per cent of all applications, or 1.38 million patent requests. Most covered electronic devices, computing, telecommunications and artificial intelligence. Patent certificates line the wall of Canbots Shenzhen research and design centre. Ranked among Chinas top 10 robotics companies, Canbot sells 100,000 humanoid robots a year to Chinese hotels, banks, hospitals, airports, shopping malls and schools. Optus has two in its Sydney flagship store. There are very few humanoid robots being mass produced most exist only in labs, says Canbots Simon Wang. He says China is three to five years ahead of the US and Japan in being able to bring all the ingredients of a service robot flexible hands for gripping, facial and speech recognition to interact verbally, touch sensors and navigation so they dont get lost into one package. Simon Wang introduces Canbots robot family to visitors at Canbot headquarters in Shenzhen. Credit:Sanghee Liu UU has cartoon-like eyes to overcome human fears of being usurped, and converses in Chinese or English. UUs developers have noticed a Western aversion to robots that is not shared in Asia, so UU tones down the smutty jokes in English. Loading A shorter robot with a pot belly is designed for school children it can be taken apart into 30 pieces and reassembled, and is loaded with the entire Chinese middle school curriculum. The company was founded by a roboticist who had an elderly family member who fell ill and required constant care he created a robot who could monitor and call emergency services. The Chinese government is now looking to the robot industry to assist with the healthcare of an ageing population. Robot sales are also boosted by government tax and legal offices, even train stations, which receive financial subsidies to buy robots to increase their efficiency, says Wang. The government actively promotes AI technology and the robotic industry to help China to grow faster, to save labour and to be more efficient. China was a little bit behind in mechanics or automobiles, but in AI technology and robotics we have the advantage. [Shenzhen] has the most efficient supply chain, the cheapest labour and manufacturing cost, says Wang, who heads Canbots overseas sales department. Meanwhile, small cats zoom around the floor in preparation for the launch in China of an officially licensed Hello Kitty robot. And behind a closed door, Canbots 30-year-old chief robot designer is tinkering with a design the company hopes will be a breakthrough in the competitive industry. The project is top-secret - to guard against IP theft. Inventors heaven A shop owner at the electronics and comupter market in Shenzhens Huaqiangbei. Credit:Sanghee Liu Walking through Shenzhens famous Huaqiangbei electronics market can feel like a scene from Bladerunner - retro holograms and flashing lights compete for attention across crowded floors of small booths. Thousands of tiny components spill across countertops. This is inventors heaven, where everything is possible. Customers come from across the globe both foot traffic and online to source components for their supply chain. Entrepreneurs are frequent customers. Li Feng, 30, hands a custom-designed circuit board to a stallholder for advice. He is creating an automated prayer wheel for use in Buddhist temples. He has a customer in Taiwan who wants several hundred made, and Li is at the market to find parts for his prototype. It is secret, he exclaims when we take a photograph. Li Feng buying electronic parts in Shenzhens Huaqiangbei Commercial Street. Credit:Sanghee Liu Queenslander Mike Reed, 26, works above the markets as an engineer at the HAX Accelerator, which has offered mentoring to more than 250 technology start-ups. There is a queue of North American hardware start-ups who want a place in HAX's workshop. They get seed funding from American investors and, crucially, close proximity to the Shenzhen factories that can help develop their prototypes more quickly. "You can change your designs four times in a week. You get things cheaper, you get things faster to market," he says of why Shenzhen is the best place in the world to develop technology products. HAX will take on more Chinese teams next year, and he is particularly interested in robotics start-ups. We are seeing opportunities pop up everywhere, he says. "You get things cheaper, you get things faster to market": Australian Mike Reed works as an engineer in Shenzhen. Credit:Sanghee Liu "It's going to be a no, 100 per cent no and they are the reasons, the industry wasn't consulted well and that consultation needs to continue. The industry is very open to change and to improving," he said. Nationals Agriculture spokesman Colin de Grussa said the issue hadnt gone before the party room but the party would not support what has been proposed. The proposal hasnt been formally considered by the Liberals either but Shadow Fisheries Minister Ian Blayney said he could not see his party supporting it or any of the crossbenchers either. I think it goes against everyone elses philosophy to have the government go in there and be a major force within the lobster industry, he said. None of them are people who would want to see more government involvement in the economy. "I will oppose the Government's lobster bill, and if need be, I will support a disallowance motion in the upper house, to get rid of it," Mr Stonehouse said. "You can't say that Western Australia is 'open for business', and push through cabinet a bill where you practically nationalise a part of the fisheries industry. The Greens attended a briefing on the plan on Wednesday fisheries spokeswoman Diane Evers said they were seeking more information about the plans and its implications on western Rock Lobster populations, the governments involvement in the industry, the export and domestic markets and alternative proposals. Acting Fisheries Minister Roger Cook said the plan had been out for industry consultation since mid-December and ended on 18 January and the government would not pre-empt the result of that consultation. "Well consider all the feedback before we proceed further," he said. The industry themselves have said as part of this consultation theyre preparing an alternative proposal, which they say will deliver similar benefits to the original agreed proposal. Mr Cook said there has been no decision to implement the plan via exemption, a power under the act that allows the fisheries minister to exempt the industry from provisions in the act. This can include exempting businesses from their catch limits. Industry devalued Loading Mr Kellys plan has been warmly welcomed by the states tourism sector, including industry bodies like the Tourism Council of WA and the Australian Hotels Association WA, who see plenty of tourism dollars if more WA lobsters hit restaurants. About 98 per cent of WA rock lobsters are exported to China and the plan is aimed at keeping some of the community owned resource in WA. The state signed an agreement with the Western Rock Lobster council but it has since come out strongly against a government quota and businesses within the industry have followed. Oceaneer Marine Brokers managing director Brad Arnup deals in lobster pots and said since the announcement in December the industry has taken a huge hit in value and banks were being more cautious lending to the sector. If youre going to throw the pots in the market it will slide the value of the pot back and most banks until Christmas were lending $60,000 per pot against the asset, he said. Since the ministers proposal its absolutely stopped everything in its tracks. There have been no sales activities because everyone is concerned. Mr Arnup criticised the state government for its lack of financial modelling of what the increased quota and government intervention would do to the market. A spokeswoman for Acting Fisheries Minister Roger Cook said the agreement signed with the lobster council specified the plan was subject to continuing market and scientific sustainability assessments. She said the industry had also commissioned a report, Economic Contribution of the Western Rock Lobster Industry, that supported the gradual release of additional lobster to grow the industry. Daley is seen as less cerebral than Foley, and some insiders particularly those who were close to the former leader query his policy heft. But a Labor elder counters, "Id be grateful for small mercies. There have been plenty of people with big policy brains in government who drove significant change and caused a hell of a lot of trouble. He describes Daley as an old-fashioned Labor leader, straightforward and reliable, more McKell than Whitlam. Hes less interested in the corporate boardroom and much more interested in Mr and Mrs Average, because he knows them and understands them. Daley, too, was well ahead of the pack in nominating climate change as a major challenge in his first speech to Parliament in 2005, long before most politicians had registered it as a blip on the horizon. Loading Labors hopes of toppling Gladys Berejiklian, or at least tipping her into minority government, were bolstered when the first public poll after Daley became leader had the ALP leading the Coalition 51-49. With the state election just 70 days away, hes feeling a "heavy responsibility" to the party and his colleagues to stay competitive. A Labor government, he argues, would "civilise the place". Sydney is a "beautiful city, a jewel in the crown of our country But I think at the moment weve got a government that's not really a government, it's a corporation masquerading as a government. They have taken power away from ordinary citizens and put it in the hands of corporate interests, and the people are feeling the pressure. They feel like they are not in control of their own communities, let alone their own city or their own lives, and they are crying out now for someone to come in and stop the madness and calm the place down, and govern carefully and sensibly and with respect." It's a potentially potent line of attack after eight years of breakneck urban development under the OFarrell, Baird and Berejiklian governments. The Coalitions much-vaunted infrastructure drive has delivered economic growth and jobs, but at the cost of mounting controversies over the giant WestConnex project; the troubled eastern suburbs light rail; the Opal Tower scandal highlighting questionable regulation of the building industry; the unswerving determination to knock down and rebuild the Allianz Stadium; and the string of resignations and complaints that accompanied the opening of the much vaunted Northern Beaches Hospital, supposedly a model of public-private enterprise. Against this, the Liberals continue to disparage Labor as the party that built little or nothing during their long years in office. (Daleys office issued a "fact check" this week insisting the previous ALP government had delivered more than 15 infrastructure projects.) Another vulnerability is the inexperience of his front bench. Apart from the leader himself, only Jodi McKay and Paul Lynch have held ministerial office. But Daley says this overlooks the depth of other expertise on his team, citing, for instance, shadow treasurer Ryan Parks stint as a former deputy director of the Transport Department. The government has also homed-in on the fact that Daley (fleetingly) thanked jailed former faction boss Eddie Obeid in his maiden speech in 2005. "They have returned to the swamp with Michael Daley," chortled state Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, on the floor of Parliament in the days after Daleys ascent. The new leader, he claimed, had been "thick as thieves" with Obeid. Daley flatly denies this. "I never met Obeid until I walked into this place," he says. So why give him a shout-out in his speech? "Because I was given a list of MPs who claimed that they were handing out how-to-votes for me, and I was told as a matter of protocol that you should thank all your colleagues who worked for you on election day. As it turned out, he didnt, anyway which was par for the course." Loading Former Labor premier Morris Iemma has told others he never saw any evidence Daley was part of the Obeid clique. "Morris knew very well who was close to Obeid and [crony] Joe Tripodi, who was lounging in their offices late at night, drinking and eating the nuts and the snacks. And it certainly wasnt Michael Daley," a senior Labor source says. While the Coalition highlights the demons lurking in Labors past, Daley has been busy harnessing some of the best talent from former premier Bob Carrs years: two of Carrs A-team, Bruce Hawker and Kris Neill, have come back to occupy key roles in his office, stepping out of their lucrative private careers. "I was pleasantly surprised when Kaila Murnain [Labors party secretary] rang me up and said Kris [now Daleys chief of staff ] wanted to come and join the team," Daley says. "Im blessed ... In Blues Brothers parlance, weve got the band back together." The new team in Macquarie Street has meant less friction with the partys Sussex Street headquarters as the election approaches. That tensions existed between Murnain and Foley was an open secret inside Labor. By contrast, Daley and Murnain go back to 2005, when Daley first put his hand up to replace Carr in the seat of Maroubra. Daley was not head offices preferred candidate but prevailed in a nail-biter of a preselection context. Murnain joined his campaign as a volunteer and so impressed him that he gave her her first job in politics, as his electorate officer. "When Luke left as leader, we had as close to a seamless transition as you could have," Daley maintains. "The difference [with the Turnbull-Morrison transition federally] could not have been more stark The Labor Party and the Labor movement in NSW at the moment is absolutely rock solid and that's a great platform for the election." Then deputy leader Michael Daley with then Labor leader Luke Foley, in November 2018. Credit:AAP Daley's relations with Foley are something he seems less keen to discuss. In 2016, Foley dumped Daley as shadow Treasurer, making him shadow minister for planning instead. Daley was bitterly disappointed. Did he take it on the chin? "Politics is a hard game," he replies. Why was he demoted? "You should ask Luke Foley that question." But he bristles at suggestions his work ethic at the time was under question. "As you can see from my record, I did not go slow at all. Look at the number of speeches I have given in the Parliament, the fact that Ive been leading the charge on the floor of the Parliament as the manager of opposition business, a position I held for seven-and-a-half years before I became leader ... Look at the amount of travel I have done into the regions. The portfolios I have held. My work ethic is as good as anyones." As an aside, he adds, there is a political mantra that insecure leaders from time to time like to try and nobble their rivals. I dont subscribe to that. One senior Labor source says: "I wasnt a Daley supporter, but the turning point for me was the Wagga byelection. He drove down there several times, rolled up his sleeves, campaigned harder than anyone. That's when I thought this guy could be the leader'." Michael Daley during Question Time. Credit:AAP Daley came out with alacrity after ABC journalist Ashleigh Raper accused Foley of groping her at a drinks function, saying he "believed Ashleigh". That won him kudos with many women voters. Asked if he had any concerns about Foleys personal welfare in the wake of the scandal, he replies: "My first concern for his wife and kids [and] of course I was concerned about Ashleigh." Later he concedes, "Yes, that was a traumatic event [for Foley] and hes got plenty of friends watching out there." Despite being close to Murnain, and their shared alignment with the partys dominant right faction, Daley likes to emphasise that he was not a product of the Labor "machine". "I did not come through [in 2005] as the head office choice, in fact I wasn't their choice," he says. "Ive not been a staffer to a politician, I did not come through the union movement, I came from the grassroots, the ordinary branch members and community members of Maroubra put me there." He was 27 before he joined the party. He describes Kempsey in the states mid-north as the familys "spiritual home"- a factor which may help his campaigning in the regions. Grandfather Ray was head of the north coast Dairy Farmers Association, and his father, John, kept close ties with the area after moving to Sydney as a young man. John was a draughtsman in the Lands Department, and later in the Department of Main Roads. It was a source of particular pride to Daley when he became Roads Minister in 2008. Many of his fathers mates were still working there. (Daley also moved on to the Police, and Finance portfolios.) Daleys mother Mary is descended from the Carlons of Burragorang Valley, whose ancestors arrived from Ireland as convicts. As a boy he attended Marcellin College in Randwick, and briefly went to university after school but found himself frustrated by the lackadaisical university timetable. "I just hated the waste of time, I hated having no money, I had a car and not enough money for petrol." Loading His father pointed him in the direction of a full-time job with the Customs office. He remained there for the next 13 years, crawling through ships bellies looking for contraband, searching luggage at the airport, patrolling the tarmac, sometimes riding out to meet ships and their foreign crews coming through the heads, or doing desk and intelligence work. At night he studied law, eventually joining a small firm where he met his future wife, legal secretary Christina, "over the photocopier" in 1997. Shed separated from her first husband, and had two young children, Jake and Alison, that Daley now counts his own. Daley was smitten but Christina moved to Western Australia to be closer to extended family. He persisted, travelling to WA once a month and shelling out what was then a small fortune for air tickets: $800 return. Eventually she moved back to Sydney and they married in 2005. That, he says, was "a huge year. I got pre-selected in a blood-bath in July, elected to Parliament in September, turned 40 in November and married in December". The couple have since added to their brood, with Olivia, now 12, and Austin, 8. Daleys networks came in handy when he ran for preselection after years on the local council. A bunch of customs officers joined the local party branches. That support was bolstered by the votes of people hed known since childhood, when he delivered Sunday papers through the housing estates of south Maroubra. It was a job he continued through to his final year of high school. "I would have breakfast with all the old ladies, put the washing out and do the chores, and some of them are still there," he says. "That's when I got to see what I unashamedly say is the beauty of the working-class. Just ordinary families, who dont want a handout, don't want anything special ... All they want from government is respect and order in the services that [their taxes] pay for." Daley got the scare of his life when his comfortable 16.5 per cent margin shrank to 1.5 per cent in 2011. He has never forgotten it. It makes you get into every nook and cranny of your electorate. On December 18, the member for the federal seat of Mallee, Andrew Broad, announced his retirement. Immediately, the name Peta Credlin appeared towards the end of reports on who will replace him. Most assumed it would be a National Party member. Since its creation in 1949 Mallee has had just four members all Nats. But the Coalition agreement permits both parties to contest a vacant seat and unlike NSW, the Victorian Liberals exercise that option. If Credlin took the seat, it would re-energise a dispirited conservative movement. She would be the "great right hope". Peta Credlin, former chief of staff for Tony Abbott, is considered by some in the Liberal Party as its 'great right hope'. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Credlin has fierce critics but great leaders do. It strengthens them. Attacks on Credlin the political staffer were vague and just another front in the campaign to bring down her boss, Tony Abbott. The slights against her at that time are cancelled out by the electoral scoreboard. She was chief of staff to an opposition leader who was derided as unelectable. Within a year, Credlin played a leading role in helping Abbott almost defeat a first-term government, which hadnt happened since 1931. Indeed, Abbott morally won in 2010 but lost thanks to two ex-Nat independents who betrayed their electorates. At the next election Abbott crushed Labor and in his victory speech he thanked Credlin above all other politicos. The ACT's switch from stamp duty to rates drove almost half of this year's rise in commercial rates revenue, despite government attempts to play down the impact of the taxation reform on businesses. Forty-four per cent of the increase in commercial rates revenue came down to the reform, while 37 per cent was due to the growing number and value of commercial properties in 2018-19, new government figures show. Civic in Canberra. The precinct was one of several commercial areas that were recently revalued, leading to a big rise in commercial rates. Credit:Lannon Harley Since 2015-16, total commercial rates revenue has grown by about 30 per cent, with 58 per cent of that increase attributed to the reform. The numbers came as the ACT Legislative Assembly's public accounts committee prepares to hold its first public hearings into commercial rate rises next month. Who is Americas leader of the opposition? There is no such position, of course, within the American system of government. But alongside Democrat congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, a new figure has emerged as a counterweight to President Donald Trump. Her name is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known to her followers as AOC. A newly elected congresswoman from New York City, Ocasio-Cortez came to attention last year. Then 28 years old, having worked as a bartender only months earlier, she upset a prominent Democrat to win the partys nomination for a seat in the House of Representatives. Describing herself as a democratic socialist, she has rapidly built a following as the de facto leader of the Justice Democrats group. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the opening day of the 116th Congress this month. Credit:AP Aligned with the left-wing populism of Bernie Sanders, Justice Democrats are aiming for something of a political revolution. On climate change, they seek a Green New Deal, based on moving America to 100 per cent renewable energy. On economics, they call for more progressive taxation, including a 70 per cent marginal rate slug on the super-rich. The group also wants the abolition of ICE, the federal government agency that enforces Trumps hardline immigration policies. The family of a Perth man last seen Monday afternoon has pleaded for him to come home, after the 29-year-old fly-in, fly-out driller missed his flight back to work on Thursday morning. Police are calling on the public for any information on the whereabouts of Brock Hewitt, last seen Monday evening. He had left his Butler home telling his parents he was going fishing at South Mole in Fremantle. He was seen at Boating Camping Fishing Butler on Monday afternoon buying an esky and stubby holder. Equally instructive is how the Chinese media came to focus on the Five Eyes in the first place. Put another way, how did a once little-known intelligence pact become such a blazing target for Chinas nationalist tabloid? Loading The answer to that question lies much closer to home. The Five Eyes grew out of a UK-US agreement to share signals intelligence after World War II, a partnership which later expanded to include Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The members have since extended co-operation to include exchanging personnel and strategic assessments. Like an omnivorous, 24-hour news organisation, the Five Eyes operations and facilities cover all time zones and continents, from listening stations at Pine Gap, near Alice Springs, to naval ships off Iran and satellite ground stations in the UK countryside, on top of the partnerships hub, the National Security Agency, near Washington. The Five Eyes has given Americas deep state a phenomenal reach and an unmatched level of integration with its allies that the Wests geopolitical rivals, notably China and Russia, cannot replicate. It also provides an intelligence windfall for its smaller members, like Australia. The partnership has one core rule, that the members agree not to spy on each other. Or, as Admiral Dennis Blair, Barack Obamas first director of national intelligence, said in Australia in 2013: We do not spy on each other. We just ask. For decades, the intelligence partnership was never acknowledged by respective governments, let alone talked about in public. Duncan Campbell, a longtime investigative reporter in the UK, thinks the first time the Five Eyes name was mentioned in public was barely a decade ago, in the pages of The Sydney Morning Herald. That secrecy has now been dispensed with, nowhere more so than in Australia. It has been strange to move back to Australia, as I did last year, and confront constant references in the media to Five Eyes ministers and Five Eyes meetings, as though the pact is so embedded in daily politics that it needs no explanation. When Peter Dutton, the Home Affairs Minister, hosted his Five Eyes counterparts on the Gold Coast in August, he didnt just announce the meeting. He also ensured the ministers were photographed together for the newspapers. In July, in Nova Scotia, the Canadians convened the partnerships intelligence chiefs annual get together, a meeting which also received an unusual amount of publicity, right down to the lobster served at dinner. Edward Snowden played a key role in elevating the partnerships visibility as well. The mass of documents leaked by the NSA contractor in 2013 before he fled to Russia drove home the centrality of the Five Eyes to Western intelligence, and perhaps, in turn, prompted the agencies to try to restore trust by promoting their case more publicly. Its little wonder, then, that the Chinese are talking about the need to target the Five Eyes, when we have been shouting its virtues from the rooftops ourselves. Former US spy and defector Edward Snowden disclosed how Western spies co-operate in counter-terrorism operations. Credit:AP The rise in the profile and power of the intelligence services is a direct result of the two seismic events in global politics this century: the 9/11 attacks and the so-called war on terror that followed, and more recently, the challenge from China. Both have galvanised Western politics, and resulted in expanded duties for the agencies and fatter budgets, vastly outpacing spending on Australias diplomats. Running in parallel to the expansion of intelligence agencies in Australia is the little-noticed phenomenon of how their role in domestic politics has changed as well. You only have to listen to the pervasive and almost casual way that ministers pepper their statements with reference to intelligence when batting back reporters. The I-know-and-you-dont form of statement can be very effective in shutting down questions, most recently in the debate over enhanced powers to compel access to encrypted messaging services. The other reason that ministers and their staff talk more about intelligence is that, compared with the recent past, their offices are awash in it. They are not shy in demanding the material, by all accounts. The green-marked briefs, indicating the material comes from ASIS, Australias mini-CIA, have apparently gained particular popularity. The agencies and their consumers in government were once strictly divided into collectors, assessors and policymakers. Those divisions are disappearing, with the result that the collection agencies are gaining a greater say in policy. It used to be a basic rule that raw intelligence did not go anywhere near ministers, said a former senior national security official. Now it is open slather. On top of that, the major agencies have a seat at the table in the national security meetings, where in the past, they generally attended on a needs basis. The creation of the super-agency, in the form of the Home Affairs Department, has accentuated all these trends. With such encouragement from political leaders, its not surprising that, in the words of the former national security official, the Australian agencies want to be like the big boys that is, like the Americans, but with one huge difference. With special courts to oversee wiretap warrants and powerful congressional committees which can grill spy chiefs, in public as well as in private, the US system is subject to multiple forms of oversight. In Australia, the system has expanded, but meaningful oversight has not, a recipe for disaster when public trust is at stake. None of which gainsays the value of a professional intelligence service, nor its worth in a hardnosed management of relations with China. Combating the threat of terrorist attacks demands immense resources. Likewise, officials admit privately they are a decade behind the counter-espionage capabilities to handle China. If nothing else, the revitalisation of the Five Eyes is an acknowledgement that the member governments benefit from pooling resources in the face of a rising challenge. There is safety in numbers for smaller countries too. Beijing remains furious at Australia for being out front in the campaign against Huawei but, for the moment, has refrained from retaliating, in large part because other democracies are watching on. Beijing knows that the intelligence alliance ranged against it could grow, to include Japan and Germany, now having their own Huawei debate. In the past, Berlin and Tokyos efforts to join the Five Eyes have been rebuffed, partly over issues of trust, but also at the urging of the smaller group nations, which didnt welcome latecomers from outside the Anglosphere into the club. The issue, however, is being revisited. If the headlines start to talk about the Seven Eyes rather than a mere five, then the Global Times will really have something to be angry about. Across Andersons Inlet at Venus Bay, Dr Kathy McInnes is wondering about the beach she has holidayed at since her childhood in the 1960s. Senior CSIRO scientist Kathy McInnes at the site of erosion at Venus Bay. Credit:Rick Bailey She is a senior CSIRO scientist and a leading international authority on climate change sea levels When asked about erosion and inundation at individual coastal locations she is careful not to jump to conclusions. Local beaches on any given day are a snapshot in time, says Dr McInnes. The coast is dynamic. Still, she was taken aback at Christmas to see Venus Bay beach eroded like shed never seen before in summer. Loading I was very surprised how little beach there is there at the moment. Its really unusual. Indisputable, however, says Dr McInnes, is that rising oceans are part of the backdrop to all the changes we are witnessing on the coast. Data collected by scientists globally indicate the ocean has risen by more than 20 centimetres since the late 1800s and at an accelerated 3.2 centimetres per decade since the early 1990s. Rising seas mean higher tides, bigger waves and, in a storm, higher tides again, reaching further inland and with more power and reach to strip sand from beaches and rocks from cliffs. The result, says Inverloch Conservation Society member Dave Sutton, is that: The hard line we currently call the coast is not going to remain, so we need to ask ourselves what should we be doing about it. Given that 80 per cent of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coastline, sea level rise looms as an issue for all of us. The Surf Lifesaving lookout at Inverloch surf beach is on skids so it can be moved back from the encroaching surf. Credit:Justin McManus At nearby Phillip Island in the south of Western Port Bay, Bass Coast shire mayor Brett Tessari says part of foreshore at the main town of Cowes is disappearing. He says erosion is now among the most pressing issues for the island community. The council is calling on the federal government to provide $6 million for a breakwater to avert what Cr Tessari says could be an environmental catastrophe on Phillip Island. While king tides do much of the damage, Cr Tessari is in no doubt that climate change is a factor. I hate to think what were leaving behind for our kids, he says. Climate change sceptics will scoff. But at the north end of Western Port Bay experts have identified what they say is indisputable evidence of coastal recession. University of Melbourne geomorphologist Professor David Kennedy, says that in the flat, swampy area around Tooradin, rising sea is evident in the creep of mangroves into areas long dominated by saltmarsh. Unlike mangroves, saltmarsh wont survive if is submerged too often. Here we are definitely seeing the evidence of sea level rise says Professor Kennedy. It is the only obvious explanation for the invasion by mangroves. I hate to think what were leaving behind for our kids. Bass Coast shire mayor Brett Tessari Port Phillip bay-keeper Neil Blake says erosion is a growing problem with trouble spots emerging, in particular, on the eastern side of the bay between Frankston and Mentone. He says at Seaford, sand is being washed away from under fences built to stop erosion caused by people walking on dunes. Its got to the point where those fences are undermined. The erosion has got to the fences and is going beyond them. Further towards the city Mr Blake has been monitoring erosion on beaches including at Middle Park. The Port Phillip Council has conducted renourishment programs at Middle Park beach. Mr Blake says the costly restorative programs would have to be repeated every five to 10 years to ensure the beach remained in a usable state. Sea level rise is caused by a combination of ocean warming from enhanced greenhouse energy and the loss of ice from glaciers and polar ice sheets. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes (IPCC) current projection for sea level rise, based on a high emissions, business-as-usual scenario, is almost 90cm by 2100, relative to an average sea level for the period from 1986 to 2005. That projection will be updated most likely upwards in the IPCCs special oceans report due for release this year. On the south west coast experts including geomorphologist Neville Rosengren studied the complex factors that stripped the beach of sand at the Apollo Bay back beach at Mounts Bay in 2017. Asked if the erosion at Mounts Bay was sea level rise at work, Mr Rosengren said: Yes, youre witnessing the effects of a complex of processes of which sea level is one. Further west down the national heritage-listed road, 280km from Melbourne, erosion is a major headache at Port Fairy. The towns historic sea walls are evidence that locals were anxious about the ocean long before sea level rise emerged as a major issue about a decade ago. A 2013 study by the University of NSW found that at Port Fairy, under a sea level rise scenario of 0.8 metres by 2080, 200 buildings were vulnerable should the existing the towns seaside fortifications fail. Since then, Port Fairy has faced a major problem with erosion exposing rusty metal, glass and asbestos at two decommissioned landfills. Moyne council and local residents have been active in researching and planning around erosion, including in current state-funded monitoring project using drones to study sand movement patterns. Inverloch is another important site for the study. Oliver Moles is Moyne Shires director of sustainable development. He has devoted much of the past decade to a study of the south-east coastline. I keep being educated about sea level rise, says Mr Moles. Its real. Its happening. Port Fairy is an important case study in the debate about how best to respond to rising seas. Some say the sensible long-term strategy is to retreat and allow the sea to have its way, unimpeded by engineered structures; the Victoria coast would maintain the rugged, natural beauty it is renowned for a beauty quite different to the armoured coastlines of Europe. An aerial view of the Inverloch surf beach, one of Victoria's major sand dune erosion trouble spots. Credit:Justin McManus Coastal experts say walls divert wave energy and erosion is intensified on the coast at either end of the wall. The Victorian government has either completed or funded construction of 10 new rock walls along the Great Ocean Road in 2018-19. More sites have since been identified for protection. The coastline between Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff is dominated by defensive structures. Much of Port Phillip Bay is also bolstered. The seawall and revetment business is apparently booming. So while everyone agrees we need to protect our coast, we are not always talking about the same thing. Is the coast the wide sandy beaches, dunes and indigenous flora and fauna? Or is it roads, shops and houses? Mr Moles says there an argument for abandoning some current coastal towns and moving to higher ground. Theres a big picture here for Victoria and the nation about how we think about and prepare for and budget for matters that are not going to go away. But given Port Fairys history as one of Victorias first and most intact settlements, retreat is unrealistic. When your talking about a historic town thats been here since the first days of (European) settlement, how do you do retreat? You cant. Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: While local communities and governments grapple with their own short and medium-term solutions to local erosion and flooding headaches, scientists like Kathy McInnes say we also need to be focused on the bigger picture - tackling emissions. Even if the world meets its 2015 Paris emissions commitments to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degree sea levels, the IPCC says sea level would continue to rise for hundreds of years. But if emissions remain on their current high trajectory, sea level rise will have more far-reaching impacts. Further charges have been laid against an elderly man accused of sexually assaulting boys in Victoria in the 1980s. Kevin Wilmore Myers, 73, was extradited to Victoria from his home in Queensland last October over 32 historical sex offences, including rape and indecent assault against eight boys in the Barwon region between 1980 and 1982. He faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday on an additional seven charges, relating to further allegations in the Barwon region in the 1980s, and in 1998 at St Kilda, Brunswick and Echuca. Myers, who is in custody and appeared by video link, is facing 12 rape charges and 27 of indecent assault. He faces three allegations of rape. Among other claims he fondled, kissed and licked some of the alleged victims and forced some to perform an indecent act on him. A man has died while in police custody after he was arrested near Anglesea last night. Police were called to Bellbrae in south-west Victoria at 7.30pm on Friday after reports that a man on foot was acting erratically on the Great Ocean Road, a police spokesman said. Officers arrested the man and he fell unconscious, the spokesman said. Emergency services tried to revive him but he died at the scene. The Andrews government has ruled out re-routing key sections of the Great Ocean Road that experts say are at risk of being washed away within years. Expert reports commissioned by the government have warned that the heritage-listed road is at risk and could be compromised within five years at locations around Apollo Bay. In a recent report, engineers GHD raised re-routing of the road as a long-term option. The report followed dramatic erosion at Apollo Bay and neighbouring Mounts Bay in 2017 and 2018. But Environment Minister Lily DAmbrosio has ruled out the move, flagging that other options - including groynes and other structures - were more likely instead. A nine-year-old boy has been seriously injured after a four-wheel-drive rolled and smashed through a fence east of Brisbane overnight. Emergency services were called to the crash in the Redlands suburb of Alexandra Hills just after 9pm on Thursday. The wreckage of the Toyota Landcruiser (back) and Subaru Forester (front) in Alexandra Hills. Credit:The Today Show A Toyota Landcruiser and Subaru Forester collided at the intersection of Vienna Road and Wimborne Street, causing the Landcruiser to flip onto its side. From the Landcruiser, a nine-year-old male passenger was taken to the Queensland Children's Hospital in a serious but stable condition with arm, pelvic, leg and head injuries. NSW Labor leader Michael Daley will tear up the city's housing supply targets if elected, arguing western Sydney has been hit with "rampant" development while affluent areas have been spared. The Opposition Leader says he would direct the Greater Sydney Commission to go back to the drawing board and revise the city's "unfair" housing supply targets if he becomes premier. Labor leader Michael Daley wants "unfair" housing targets rewritten. Credit:Brook Mitchell Mr Daley said the Coalition's so-called priority precincts "deliberately" disadvantaged western Sydney and favoured blue-ribbon suburbs, with "lenient development limits". "The current housing supply targets have seen councils in Sydneys west smothered by development while councils in the Premiers backyard have not been allocated their fair share," Mr Daley said. A woman was taken to hospital after a single-car rollover at Lyneham on Thursday afternoon. ACT Fire & Rescue and the ACT Ambulance Service were called to the crash on Randwick St near the Barton Highway just after 5.30pm. Firefighters used hydraulic rescue tools to free the woman, who was then assessed by intensive care paramedics at the scene. She sustained multiple injuries and was later taken to the Canberra Hospital in a stable condition. They are the unsung heroes of cyberspace; an army of Australian fighters against mistakes. Every day, a battalion of sticklers for accuracy go online and correct the newspaper and documents archive of the National Library in Canberra known as Trove. Volunteers John Warren and Neil Hamilton at the National Library of Australia. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos. Trove is an immense and amazing Australian achievement, recognized worldwide as the online archive to match. In it are (at the latest count) 221,070,605 newspaper articles from 22 million newspaper pages going back to the Sydney Gazette of 1803. They are nearly all Australian papers with a handful from neighbouring countries and the National Library gathers them in collaboration with other libraries in Australia. Australias first ever speaker in the House of Representatives died in the chamber, uttering the immortal words, Dreadful. Dreadful, Australias shortest prominent political speech. Hon Sir Littleton Groom presiding as Speaker, with the Clerk of the House. Credit:House of Representatives Over a century later, another speaker lost her job for chartering a helicopter to replace a one-hour car journey. In the intervening years are a multitude of stories of speakers, deputy speakers and clerks, the little-known figures who have overseen the functioning of the house since the dawn of Federation. The Department of the House of Representatives has commissioned a new project at the Australian National University to create a parliamentary dictionary listing the biographies of these figures. The director of medical imaging at Canberra Hospital has resigned, the latest in a string of executive resignations within ACT's health system. Mark Duggan cited personal reasons for his resignation, which sources say took place in late December. The director of medical imaging at Canberra Hospital has resigned. Credit:Jessica Shapiro His resignation came at the end of a tumultuous year for ACT's health system and was the most recent in a long line of high-profile departures. Chief medical officer Jeffrey Fletcher quit in October after 18 months in the role, telling colleagues he would be looking for roles outside Canberra. If after-work drinks or a frothy-filled Sunday barbecue aren't giving you the beer-drinking experience you seek, there's a festival for that. If you need an excuse to venture to Canberra's far north, aside from acting like a giant in the streets of Cockington Green, or entertaining the littluns at The National Dinosaur Museum, the bush capital's annual celebration of beer is returning on February 9. The Untapped Beer Festival is set to host an impressive cast of 20 brewers from Canberra and beyond. Credit:Untapped "We started it last year because Gungahlin is a burgeoning city and there haven't been many musical events out here. People out here have loved music festivals in the past, perhaps in their younger years, but Gungahlin is a bit more suburban and doesn't get many opportunities for that," co-organiser Richard Ko says. "We've run a few events with the George, but the owner Josh Leemhuis, wanting to do something uniquely Canberran." At nine weeks, we had our first ultrasound and saw the sack and the heart beating. The doctor was surprised and asked if I had my dates right, as I looked more like six weeks pregnant to her. I said I hadnt been sure about the exact time of my last period, so maybe. Two days later, I started bleeding. I called the hospital and spoke to a nurse who told me some bleeding is normal and to stay lying down so that gravity wouldnt become a factor in it. I wasnt sure if that was actually relevant advice, but I did what she said. I called all my friends and family who had children and asked them if this was normal. The next day, on our first wedding anniversary, the bleeding got heavier and I started having contractions. Miscarrying was one of the most intense, sad and physically painful experiences of my life. When the physical pain part of it ended, I realised with horror that now I was going to have to tell all the people that Id told I was pregnant that Id miscarried. This is why women dont tell anyone before 12 weeks, I realised. I was too sad to call, so I began the texting, emailing and WhatsApping. I started each off with, "Im so sorry I made this is so awkward by telling you so early, but Im no longer pregnant." But no one found it awkward. Everyone messaged me back with stories of their own miscarriages, their wives or sisters miscarriages, their mothers miscarriages. My aunt and cousin, who Im very close with, told me about their miscarriages that theyd never told me about before. I got pregnant again at the end of the year. Credit:Katie Collins I had to cancel a meeting with a theatre director and I didnt want her to think I was flaky, so I just told her the truth, "Im so sorry, I cant meet today, Im having an unexpected medical emergency. Actually, Im having a miscarriage." She wrote me back that shed had one herself if I ever wanted to talk to her about it. Everyone made themselves available to talk. And I needed to. The next two weeks were hard, but with the support of my husband and this new-found community (made up actually of all the people I already knew) who had experience with miscarriages, I was lifted. I got pregnant again at the end of the year. My husband said he didnt think we should tell anyone this time. Little did he know, Id already told my parents, brother, sister-in-law and two friends. I agreed to try to keep it under wraps because I felt he should have some say in it, but when he accidentally told our friend Josh, the floodgates were open and I told everyone again. I decided that I would rather have a chance to tell people the good news, even if it meant I might have to tell them bad news later. Again, on the nine week mark, I had an ultrasound. This one showed that the fetus wasnt developing. The doctor told me that I could either wait to miscarry naturally, or take a drug that induces it. Its so ironic to me that you go as a pregnant woman from wondering what kind of birth youll have, to suddenly wondering what kind of miscarriage youll have. We decided to wait a week and get one more ultrasound to be sure. During that week, I went down an internet hole about misdiagnosed miscarriages and became briefly convinced this is what had happened to me. I talked to two friends who Id found out had also had miscarriages and they told me they went through the same denial. They gently let me know I needed to let go. A new trial aims to help people with rare and debilitating diseases access support, treatments and clinical trials amid a malaise of confusion, red-tape and dead ends. People with rare conditions speak of an overwhelming disorientation as they attempt to navigate the complex health system. Credit:Nicolas Walker A three-year pilot trial funded by the federal government will station 10 telehealth nurses at 10 charities that support people with rare and complex conditions to connect them with the best-suited services and information for them. After the initial shock of a diagnosis, these patients and their families can feel overwhelming disorientation as they attempt to navigate a nebulous health system better equipped for more common ailments. The trial aims to ensure people who are in need of support get fast, expert advice tailored to their particular circumstances in a coordinated way, Health Minister Greg Hunt said. Be it specialist care, home services, mental health support, emerging technology or opportunities to participate in clinical trials for potential new treatments. A type of African grass that pushes out native species is spreading rapidly and contaminating swathes of land in and around Canberra, according to nature experts. The plant known as African lovegrass can grow to more than a metre high and once it spreads across public spaces it dominates the area. It's also a fire risk because it burns easily. Geoff Robertson is concerned about the spread of the weed. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos. "It's highly invasive," said Geoff Robertson, the president of the Friends of Grasslands conservation group in the ACT. "In Canberra, it's out of hand." You probably had a lovely shower this morning before you sat down to read the paper. Imagine if, when you turned the tap, the water that came out stank. Thats life for people in Menindee and surrounding areas right now. Politicians from every state and federal parliament should be at Menindee to experience the stench of policy failure, because it is the mismanagement of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, not the drought, that is the true culprit for the toxic mess in Australias greatest river system. Dead and dying animals including sheep, goats and kangaroos can be seen stuck in the mud as the Menindee Lakes dries out, as seen in this drone image taken on January 10. Credit:Nick Moir Its not just the odour thats offensive. It should be inconceivable that a $13 billion water reform developed in response to drought has failed at its first drought. The fury and distress of farmers Rob McBride and Dick Arnold, as they held the rotting corpses of two enormous and iconic Murray cod, was palpable and it is a fury every Australian should share. Federal and state governments have used taxpayers money to effectively make the problem worse. In the next few weeks the federal Coalition government will use taxpayers money to make another environmental and economic policy mistake that will burden future generations: refurbishing or building a new gas or coal-fired power station. Fortunately, its not too late to stop that disaster but more on that mess later. Loading 'Turning off life support' For Iain Ellis, a fisheries manager with NSW's Department of Primary Industries who visited the devastation on Monday, the kill was not a huge surprise. The region had been under a "red alert" for algal blooms for weeks. A large culling was almost inevitable given the lack of fresh flows coming into this - and much of the entire course - of the Darling. "The net result [of the dissolved oxygen depletion] is you can kill everything, particularly your less robust fish, like the bony herring [also known as bony bream]," Ellis says. Usually inured to nature's extremes, native fish species tolerance levels had been taking hit after hit. The challenges include drought and heatwaves, high nutrient levels from farm run-off, regulation of flows, and introduced fish like the carp. Dead and dying animals including sheep, goats and kangaroos can be seen stuck in the mud as the Menindee Lakes dry out, as seen in this drone image taken on January 10. Credit:Nick Moir "They are animals pretty much on life support, and you turn off their machines," Ellis says. And that's before climate change is added to the brew. The Murray-Darling Basin is on a long-term drying trend made worse by rising temperatures. Last year was one of the basin's driest in the past 109 years, while it was the region's hottest by maximum temperatures, bureau data shows. $13 billion plan Loading But it is not as though taxpayers haven't been forking out to restore the health of Australia's most important river system. This week's fish kill suggests the Murray-Darling Basin Plan isn't working. "We've spent $13 billion dollars on the plan, a million fish die here - there's a missing piece," McCrabb says as he steers the tinnie back towards a makeshift canopy favoured by locals out for a fish in better times. "There's not anyone on the Darling who would say it's in a better shape than before it started [in 2012]." National attention Maree McCrabb says there's every reason the Darling should be in the national spotlight given the importance of the river itself and the crucial role it plays in breeding fish such as the Murray cod or the endangered silver perch. "It's like trying to fix the Great Barrier Reef," she says as she prepared for a 16-hour drive back to Brisbane where she and her husband run a pool maintenance business, dividing their time between Queensland and Menindee. Being remote for most city dwellers, the Darling's health "doesn't get attention", Maree says. With state elections due in late March and a federal election in May, that could change. The Menindee fish calamity - followed this week by two smaller ones on the Namoi and Lake Cathie - could make the state of the rivers a fierce political battleground. Michael Daley, NSW Labor's leader, fired an early foray, demanding on Thursday a special commission of inquiry into the "ecological catastrophe" at Menindee and beyond. Niall Blair, the NSW Fisheries Minister, interrupted his holiday to make a flying visit to Menindee on Wednesday. His plan to land at the local boat ramp - still littered with stinking, decaying fish - was aborted after 150-odd protesters gathered to greet him after threats of harm were made on a Facebook post. Blair is adamant drought was the main trigger for average flows into Menindee diving to 30 gigalitres in the past half year from an annual average of 4000gl. His department will conduct an urgent study into the fish deaths and the subsequent clean-up but there would be no budging from plans to spend some $150 million on a reconfiguring of the lakes to reduce evaporation and avoid the need to find environmental water savings of 105gl a year. NSW Labor is sticking by plans to scrap the project - even though it has Federal Labor support and from the Labor states of Victoria and Queensland. "They don't understand what it would mean," Blair says, of the NSW Labor stance. "You would blow up the [Murray-Darling] plan." McCrabb, who met Blair during his Menindee visit in his role on the town's tourism committee, says locals - whether Indigenous or not - will need a lot of convincing the engineering projects planned for the lakes make sense. The 105gl is planned savings a year "is just a fictional number", he says. "It doesn't exist - why not make it 210?" Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Why empty the lakes when theres no need, echoes Badger Bates, a Barkandji elder. Wheres our share of the water. Bates, who worked as a national parks ranger for more than 20 years, says the Menindee Lakes was home to many important sites for the traditional owners dating back tens of thousands of years, making the region worth sharing the protection of near Mungo Lake. "Now they want to come back and muck around with the lakes more," Bates says. Making its own weather McBride - whose 230,000 hectare Tolarno station is the largest "husband and wife" farm in NSW - says it's also wrong to assume evaporation from the shallow lakes means the water is "lost to the environment". "When Menindee Lakes are full, we'd get one or two more inches of rain," he says. "It creates its own storm," he adds. "We're affecting our weather patterns." In the town, residents complain of the odour of the water they have to use, sucked from the river in large pipes. "Even washing your clothes, it's enough to make you sick," Mavis, the manager of the local provisions store, says. Science feast About the only beneficiaries from this week's die-off have been the fish scientists. Hundreds of bony bream and other dead fish in the Darling River at Menindee. Credit:Nick Moir While not cheering, fisheries experts have leapt at the chance to learn more about the fish "without sacrificing them", as one told the Herald after a day on the river. Murray cod caught by anglers have to be thrown back if they are 55-75 centimetres in length, McCrabb says. Specimens he collected - including from the December kill event - and kept in cold storage for scientists to gather included one more than 1.25 metres long, likely many decades old. The scientists don't actually require much of the fish to study - which is just as well as even by mid-week the bulk of the carcasses had started to decompose and sunk to the river floor if they hadn't been picked off by waterbirds first. "We don't get a lot of information about the big fish," Fisheries manager Ellis says. Otoliths, tiny ear bones that help the fish balance in the water, are almost all they need. The extraction process, quick as it is in skilled hands, still requires dissection of often pungent fish. "It's hard - you get used to it in this field even [this week's] been kind of extreme," Ellis says. "My wife's not too happy when I get home...which is why I have to wash down out on the lawn." Those ear bones are being spirited away to a new Department of Primary Industries laboratory at Narrandera, almost 600kms from Menindee, where lasers will be used to make remarkable findings about the age of the fish and where they spawned and lived. Replicating nature The posthumous or very-late-in-life publication of books can be a fraught affair. As with Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman, these events can provoke debate about an artist's wishes and intentions versus those of the family or estate and then there is the desire of the fans and readers to commune anew with a beloved author or character one last time. In the second half of 2016, when the news cycle was almost nothing but coverage of the upcoming US election, the Canadian poet, novelist and singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, living in California, was perhaps less concerned with the political future. Physically ill but with his mental capacities intact, Cohen was busy putting his affairs in order before he died. At the top of his priority list was the completion of the book he knew would be his last a collection of new poems, lyrics and notebook entries that would later be titled The Flame. The Flame will provoke no such controversy. In the final months of his life, Cohen took up meditation again in an attempt to sharpen his mind so he could better focus on the book project. He sent emails to those close to him, asking them not to drop by as he worked. "It's what he was staying alive to do, his sole breathing purpose at the end," his son Adam Cohen writes in the book's foreword. The Flame by Leonard Cohen. Edited by professors Robert Faggen and Alexandra Pleshoyano, The Flame is organised, as instructed by the author, into three sections: poetry, lyrics and notebook entries. It also includes a selection of Cohen's self-portraits, some brief playful emails written shortly before he died, and a speech he gave in 2011 while accepting the Prince of Asturias Award in Spain. While his 2006 poetry collection Book of Longing was often concerned with the details of his day-to-day life, much of it written while Cohen was living at a Zen centre atop Mount Baldy in California, The Flame was conceived and compiled down the mountain, and it is more reflective than Cohen's earlier work. The themes are similar to those that thread and recur throughout Cohen's oeuvre: longing, love, prayer, desire, brokenness, spirituality and death. The tone is sometimes wistful, sometimes wry, but Cohen is always observant and amused, even when he is the butt of his own jokes. Much of Cohen's writing here feels timeless and elevated, so there is a surprising jolt of recognition when, on occasion, the pieces contain a more specific contemporary image or reference. "A slight chill in the air/ seemed to polish the sunlight/ and confer the status of beauty/ to every object I beheld I am so grateful/ to my new anti-depressant," he writes in the poem Grateful. And in a notebook entry from 2008: "All my prophecies/ were coming true/ I was old/ My work was done/ Then you began/ to undress for me/ on Skype." Soren Sveistrup's crime novel shares many characteristics with his famous television series a multi-layered narrative, social and gender issues, and even its sense of place. The Chestnut Man also begins with a scene of terror in the countryside outside Copenhagen. The Chestnut Man is long, dark, grim, and compelling. What else would you expect from the man who wrote The Killing, the Danish television crime drama that has come to define Nordic Noir? It's 1989 and veteran policeman Marius Larsen is on a routine call to talk to an ageing farmer whose livestock have gone astray. Sveistrup sets the scene with cinematographic precision: the autumn leaves swirl on the wet asphalt as his car cuts through the woods on his way to the dilapidated farm with an eerily empty swing. The crows swoop as Larsen approaches a crime scene that will radically alter his retirement plans. The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup. The next chapter is shorter and more disturbing. It is the present, and a woman is being assaulted by a soft-voiced torturer. Next chapter and detective Naia Thulin is in bed with the lover she refuses to let move in with her. Like Sarah Lund in The Killing, Thulin is unconventional in her emotional relationships, although she displays rather more maternal instinct when it comes to her child. Again like The Killing, which devoted 20 episodes to dealing with a single crime and the repercussions this had on a family as well as society at large, The Chestnut Man complicates what might at first appear to be a relatively straightforward serial-killer thriller. Next we meet Thulin's new offsider, the mysterious Hess, who has been demoted from Interpol to work with the Danish police. Hess is a sad figure, unkempt and battered. What ensues, though, is a nicely judged working relationship without a skerrick of sexual attraction. The two come to appreciate each other's smarts. Film historian Joseph McBride's fine book about Lubitsch concurs with both observations. While acknowledging that the filmmaker's career was uneven, he's able to point to at least half a dozen films The Marriage Circle (1924), Trouble in Paradise (1932), Design for Living (1933), Ninotchka (1939), The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and To Be Or Not To Be (1942) and there are more that deserve the label masterpiece. A famous Billy Wilder anecdote speaks to the legacy left behind by the great Ernst Lubitsch, the German-born director who went to Hollywood in 1922 and changed the way they made movies there. After Lubitsch's funeral in 1948, the grief-stricken Wilder turned to fellow filmmaker William Wyler and bemoaned the passing of his mentor. "No more Lubitsch!" he sighed. "It's worse than that," Wyler replied, "No more Lubitsch films!" Bemoaning the fact that Lubitsch's fame and influence have receded in recent times, McBride approaches his part-biographical, part-critical examination of the director's career with a missionary zeal. As he puts it near the end of the book, almost as a plea to those who have failed to see the light, "(Lubitsch) is a director whose reputation, once so exalted, badly needs rejuvenation". Ernst Lubitsch in 1947. Credit:C.E. Gatward To ensure he does right by the task, he visits the places where Lubitsch spent his youth, tracks down as much of his often-elusive work as he can find, and offers detailed analyses of the best of it. What made the filmmaker such a master and differentiates him from everyone else, he argues, is what became known in Hollywood in the 1930s as "the Lubitsch touch". Notoriously difficult to define, that "touch" has something to do with the power of suggestion, the ability to convey information and evoke emotion without doing so directly. As McBride puts it in his introduction, it relates to "the endlessly inventive and fresh ways the director found to tell stories" and to how "he avoided storytelling cliches in favour of cleverly oblique methods of revealing character". McBride cites a censor's complaint that "they knew what Lubitsch was saying, but they couldn't figure out how he was saying it, so they usually had to leave his scenes uncut". And, in this context, he cites Lubitsch's observation to Douglas Fairbanks jnr on the set of his final film, That Lady in Ermine (1948), that "doors are as important as the actors". The corporate watchdog has suspended the financial licence of a stockbroker that collapsed just before Christmas trapping more than $200 million in client funds. Administrators from Ferrier Hodgson have likened the collapse of Halifax Investment Management to other high profile stockbroker collapses in recent years including BBY, Sonray and Opes Prime. Halifax's clients invested in equities in Australia and other markets and a range of derivative products. Credit:AP The broker had more than 12,000 client accounts registered with the group across Australia and New Zealand. Since its collapse its Melbourne and Gold Coast offices have been closed but its Sydney and Auckland offices remain open. The past 18 months have certainly been tough for shareholders in Donaco which listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2013. Less than a year ago, it had a market value of $290 million. Late on Friday afternoon, it was worth $51 million, at a share price of just 6.3 cents. On the question of what went wrong, Reichels reply is frank: We did a deal with the wrong person. Thats obvious in hindsight. The deal he is talking about is Donaco's 2015 purchase of Star Vegas. At the time the six-storey 385-room resort and casino was generating net profits of about $82 million a year. The vendor, Thai businessman Somboon Sukcharoenkraisri, also known as Lee Bug Leng, received US$240 million in cash, 147 million Donaco shares (worth $132 million at the time) and two seats on the board. In return, Somboon would remain as manager and guaranteed earnings of at least US$60 million per year for two years, vowing to make up any shortfall. Joey Lim. Credit:Dom Lorrimer The board seats went to his son and a business associate and Somboon was promised a quarter of the profits every year he reached the earnings target. This acquisition is a compelling opportunity for Donaco shareholders, Joey Lim, Donacos major shareholder and grandson of the casino billionaire Lim Goh Tong said at the time. He set up the company in 2001 with his famous grandfather. Shareholders will receive substantial benefits from the increase in size and scale of the company, and the diversification of our revenue streams. This was to be Donacos second casino complementing the Aristo International Hotel in northern Vietnam. Like the Star Vegas, the Aristo is located on a border and caters to Chinese gamblers who are not allowed to gamble in their own country. Shareholders will receive substantial benefits from the increase in size and scale of the company. Joey Lim The Aristo is designed for Yunnans middle rich, as opposed to the super rich who travel to Macau or Australia, and their favourite game is baccarat. The Vietnamese government, which forbids its own citizens to gamble there, owns 5 per cent of the Aristo. But with just one casino, Donacos annual earnings were only $15 million in 2014-15. The acquisition of Star Vegas would boost Donacos earnings by 502 per cent to $91 million, according to an investor presentation. Those benefits, however, werent to be. The death of the Thai king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October 2016 knocked the business. The death of the Thai king knocked Donaco's earnings. Most Thai people have never known any other ruler, Reichel explains. As a mark of respect, Thais stopped indulging and started mourning they stopped coming to Poipet for about 100 days. Subsequently Star Vegass earnings dropped 17 per cent for the second half of 2016. It was also forced to cancel a partnership with Manchester United. To make up for the shortfall in Thai visitors Donaco sought out gamblers from Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Macau by signing deals with new junket operators. Junkets are crucial to Asian casinos, and especially border town casinos with no other attractions. Junket hosts identify deep-pocketed punters and offer them an all-expenses trip to the casino for a few days. Sometimes junket operators lend gamblers money. Then, just as things were returning to normal and the official mourning period ended, more trouble surfaced. In 2017 Donaco decided it was time to take full control of Star Vegas from Somboon. Joey Lim met with him and the two agreed Somboon would stay on as a consultant earning about $170,000 a year. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Midway through 2017, Donaco discovered, it alleges in court documents, that rival casinos were being set up on land linked to Somboon including one out the back of a local supermarket in what Donaco alleges are breaches of a non-compete clause in the sale contract. The company soon discovered, the court documents continue, that the new casinos had also poached the Star Vegass lucrative VIP junkets, along with many of Star Vegas gaming staff. Reichel claims this took a substantial slice of the casinos profits. In 2017-18 Star Vegas earnings were $US30.4 million, a 54 per cent decline on the previous year. There were four key junkets that had been operating with Star Vegas for probably 10 years or more, and they all up and left in June 2017, Reichel says. With those four, a couple of them were relatively small, then there was a medium-sized junket and then a very big junket who generated a huge volume of turnover and a huge chunk of the revenue of that business. We have recruited other junkets, but they are not as big, and dont generate the same revenue as the previous ones. Donaco's Star Vegas casino is just inside the Cambodian border with Thailand. A storm of lawsuits has since erupted between the two parties. A Cambodian court has issued an injunction to shut down the new Star Paradise and Paramax with help from video footage of gaming tables hidden behind supermarket shelves. In Donacos main litigation, in the Singapore court of arbitration, the company is seeking US$190 million in damages from the vendor. In the New South Wales Supreme Court, Donaco has also obtained a freezing order against the vendor's 147 million shares in the company, which are now worth $10.1 million. In retaliation, Somboon has attempted to terminate Donacos lease on the Star Vegas land, and according to court filings, he has made a range of threats against the company in an attempt to interfere with its lease rights. He has threatened to terminate the lease at the Star Vegas property, hes threatened to build a wall around it, he cut off electricity to part of the property, he took one of our transformers, Reichel says. Its not pleasant to be threatened with a criminal offence for complying with your legal obligations in Australia. Donaco's Ben Reichel All of this, as you can see, has totally trashed the share price and is all down the actions of the vendor." And to top it all off, Somboon believes he has been defamed by Donacos ASX statements. Because the ASX website is accessible in Thailand he has initiated defamation proceedings and in fact he threatened to charge us with a criminal offence, Reichel says. Its not pleasant to be threatened with a criminal offence for complying with your legal obligations in Australia. According to the court documents, on the afternoon of June 30, 2017, all the slot machines at Star Vegas were turned off and the gambling tables closed. Somboon allegedly took computers, kitchen equipment and corralled about 550 staff to the new casino. Around 4pm an announcement came over the speaker system within the casino that the Star Vegas had ceased operation and all players were required to move to the Star Paradise, the new casino next door. Somboon allegedly took computers, kitchen equipment and corralled about 550 staff to the new casino. He also told VIP junket operators he would not extend credit to their clients and could not guarantee their safety unless they started visiting Star Paradise casino instead. These junkets were said to be worth about US$30 million a year to the business. Donaco is seeking US$120 million damages, and believes it has a very strong case. Somboon declined to comment when contacted through his Australian lawyer. Around this same time, with Star Vegas tied up in litigation, things also suddenly got very difficult for the first time at the Aristo International in Vietnam. The casinos earnings had taken a massive hit between July and August 2017, primarily due to a single loss to a high-roller VIP gambler, who won $4.6 million. Then, in mid-2018, a long-standing VIP player from Yunnan was losing a lot of money one night and ended up getting into a fight with another player at the table. The VIP got very upset and decided to use his underworld connections to damage Aristos business. The company has told investors that criminals then started meeting Chinese gamblers at the border and physically threatening them and demanding protection money. Most of the usual VIP players and junkets from Yunnan province were deterred from visiting the property in July and August, due to threats from the Chinese crime syndicate. The Vietnamese police now have all of the records of the Chinese crime syndicate members, and they will not be allowed into Vietnam, the company told shareholders in November last year. The Vietnamese governments 5 per cent stake in Aristo motivated them to act quickly, but not quickly enough to prevent a 93 per cent decline in gaming turnover in the four months to November 2018. To make up for the sudden drop in visitors from Yunnan, Donaco attracted junkets from Malaysia and bussed in tourists from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Aristo is expected to be back on track by now. Adding to Donacos difficulties, Joey Lim stepped down from his role of chief executive and managing director in December 2018, citing a need to deal with health and personal matters. A year earlier he sold 37.5 million shares for $15 million for private and family reasons to institutional investors. He still retains 230 million shares or 27 per cent of the company. His brother, Ben Lim, has stepped into the role, but Donaco has commenced a search for a chief operating officer and deputy CEO to enhance and strengthen the current management team at both of the companys casino properties. On Donacos board of directors is a wealth of business and gaming industry expertise. Reichel is a former general counsel with NSW wagering company Tab Limited (which was later bought by Tabcorp) and racing broadcaster Sky. Another director, Rob Hines, was Racing Victorias chief executive from 2008-2012. However, Hines resigned on December 21, after five years as a non-executive director, and the company is searching for a replacement. Donaco chairman Stuart McGregor has held top positions at beer giants Carlton & United, Cascade and San Miguel. With such critical issues to deal with at the board level, there was certainly no Christmas slowdown for us, says Reichel. We are focusing very intently on dealing with the issues ahead of us. With Joey Lim on Leave and Hines departure, Donaco has just three directors: McGregor, Reichel and Joeys brother Ben Lim. Donacos executive team insists the outlook for the company is not as grim as its spiralling stock price suggests. Turnover in the ever-important VIP business at Star Vegas was up 113 per cent, according to the groups latest trading update. It has started luring Chinese and Korean gamblers to Poipet to make up for the lost Thai junkets. The company has moved to assure investors that the problems with the Chinese crime syndicate at the Aristo has now been dealt with by the authorities. That business is coming back very nicely, says Reichel. Still two of Donacos biggest institutional nvestors, Perpetual and Fidelity, recently slashed their holdings in the company. Perpetual has cut its stake from 68 million shares to 26 million, while Fidelity has gone from 120 million to 33 million shares. Donaco says these cuts have driven its stock price to unrealistically low levels that dont reflect the value of our assets at all. We think the market reaction to our trading update is vastly overblown, says Reichel. Were confident we can get through this with an improved business in the new year. He says Donacos accounts show it has net tangible assets per share of just over 14 cents, and has announced a strategic review that will finish in March. Theres been a lot of approaches made to us, people have various ideas about buying one or both of the assets of joint-venturing, buying part of the assets. We are in discussions with our major bank, (Taiwanese) Mega Bank, about restructuring the ($US100 million) loan agreement we have with them, he says. In recent days the Singapore-based hedge fund OCP Asia took out a 9.3 per cent stake in the company. According to the Cambodian government, there were 150 active casino licences at the end of last year, up from fewer than 100 in 2017. Cambodias long-touted casino regulations, if they pass this year, as some expect, will introduce a tax on gross gaming revenue, licensing requirements, and rules and tests around casino products. One of the main aims of the bill, explains Cohen, is to encourage greater foreign investment in the Cambodian gaming industry by benefiting stronger operators and squeezing out the less reputable businesses. When Janine Hayes looked through the flyers and other mailings sent to her Gentilly home last week, she found a typical scattering of credit card offers, sale brochures and other random advertisements. But included among the deliveries was a small black paperback book, just under 100 pages, with Freedom! stenciled in white capital letters across the top. That made Hayes one of the first city residents to receive the manifesto of Adam Kokesh, an anti-government activist based in Arizona who is sending his self-published tract to every home in New Orleans. The distribution of 204,453 free copies which cost around $131,000 and was raised mostly from cryptocurrency companies began Jan. 4. Residents in many neighborhoods have already received the book, which aims to open New Orleanians eyes to what Kokesh sees as the oppression of "statism," unwarranted state-sponsored violence and government control through the distribution of propaganda. The books are being sent via the U.S. Postal Service. This is the catalyst for fundamental change in this city, Kokesh, 36, said of his book in a recent video post. Theres a lot of beautiful expression and celebration in the city of New Orleans, and yet you seem to have the greatest contrast between that and the political reality. New Orleans citizens arent known for their ready embrace of outsiders bearing answers to the citys problems. Many residents have quickly tossed the books, with some posting pictures on social media of the black book atop their trash bins, with others offering to just give theirs away. You can have mine, Desier Galjour and Paul McMahon said in separate social-media posts. But some, like Hayes, say theyll at least check it out. I find political propaganda and conspiracy theories amusing, she said. Kokesh, an Iraq War veteran, political activist and unsuccessful Republican primary candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, chose New Orleans as the first of potentially several cities for the giveaway because he loves the city despite what he says is overly aggressive law enforcement there. He arrived in New Orleans early this month to promote the book and set about drawing the word Freedom! on streets and sidewalks throughout the city using a power washer and a stencil. But his plans were delayed by a four-day stay in jail after a New Orleans police officer caught him and a friend parked on the side of the Pontchartrain Expressway, trying to tag a barrier on the side of the highway. He live-streamed his arrest and attributes the length of his stay to a complete lack of cooperation with authorities. The arrest is one of more than three dozen he counts across the U.S. Im so good at getting arrested I can do it without even trying, Kokesh said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Originally from San Francisco, Kokesh lived in New Mexico and received a psychology degree from Claremont McKenna College in California before joining the U.S. Marines and getting deployed to Iraq. In 2007 he joined the group Iraq Veterans Against the War and ran unsuccessfully for a New Mexico U.S. House seat. He launched an online talk show, "Adam vs. The Man," in 2011, that became popular among libertarians. He now lives in Arizona and recently registered to run for president in 2020. His plan, if elected, is to abolish the federal government and then leave and get a real job. Honestly, I think with the presidential campaign, winning in 2020 is not realistic, he said. The total shipping cost of what Kokesh calls the New Orleans book bomb was primarily funded through cryptocurrency-related businesses that bought advertising in the book, he said. The bulk-mail company he hired to send out the book said the mailings should all arrive this week. Local political consultant James Hartman called Kokeshs efforts admirable, adding that hes never heard of a political campaign sending out books to an entire city. Non-traditional candidates have to do non-traditional things, he said. Still, its not something he would advise a candidate to undertake, especially since Freedom! has no indication on either the front or back that Kokesh is the author or a presidential candidate. Kokesh got the idea for his book while reading other libertarian tracts during a previous jail stay. He envisioned the book as more appealing to the general population than more lengthy texts. In addition to denouncing what it sees as government overreach, the book advocates for the use of cryptocurrencies and claims that the safest populace is a well-armed one. To promote the book, Kokesh and members of his campaign put up signs and made water stencils of their logo across the city, many in the French Quarter. Kokesh said he chose water stenciling instead of sidewalk chalk because of the uproar over chalk ads that Coca-Cola stenciled on New Orleans streets without permission during the Final Four tournament in 2012. But Erin Holmes executive director of the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates said that water stenciling could break the same rule against placing a sign on public property. Shes waiting on a response from the Department of Safety and Permits on the issue. Kokesh said hes not worried about people being unhappy with his efforts, though. In fact, he expects it. Hartman agreed that a mass-mailed book and a stencil campaign are probably not going to sway many voters. Hed probably get more votes if he sent a king cake to everyone, Hartman said. Officials said Monday that they are aiming to complete construction of a new federal levee system protecting LaPlace and surrounding areas by 2023, the first concrete timeline for a project originally conceived nearly 50 years ago. St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom briefed the media on the $760 million project Monday, joined by U.S. Rep. Garret Graves and Col. Michael Clancy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, among others. Robottom said the next step is to acquire the property where construction will take place, a process that's expected to take up to two years. But she said officials hope to get that done earlier, which would push up the final completion date. Much of the land for the project, which will include a levee system on the east bank of the Mississippi River from the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish to the Hope Canal in St. John, is owned by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, she said. Clancy said the Corps will come up with a feasibility study, and construction then would proceed, taking about three years and putting the estimated completion date sometime in late 2023. The Corps will put out 11 different contracts for the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Risk Reduction Project work, which will include four pump stations and two drainage gates in addition to 18 miles of levee. Its simply too big a project to have as one single contract, Clancy said, adding that it will create hundreds of jobs as it moves forward over the next few years. The long-discussed project took on new urgency after Hurricane Isaac pushed water from Lake Pontchartrain into LaPlace in 2012, flooding more than 3,500 homes. The new flood protection system is designed to protect the area from a so-called 100-year storm, or a storm that has a 1 percent chance of happening any year. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The federal government will ultimately pick up 65 percent of the $760 million cost. It will advance the rest to the state, which will have 30 years to pay the feds back for its share, which will largely come from St. John Parish revenue, Robottom said. She added that getting the full $760 million upfront is critical, since quickly securing any significant funding at the local level would have been very difficult. Thats also key in getting flood insurance rates down, Robottom said, and her administration is already planning to reach out to FEMA to get the area remapped and rates lowered once the levee system is in place. Some homeowners saw their rates double or even triple after Hurricane Isaac. The project has been a long time coming for St. John, with Congress authorizing the first feasibility study in 1971. That didnt happen for another 42 years in 2013, one year after Isaac. President Barack Obama authorized the project as part of a comprehensive water resources bill in 2016, but it didn't get funding from Congress until this year. The money was finally approved in July as part of the $2.6 billion Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which includes a total of $1.2 billion for Louisiana flood mitigation projects. Another major project in the act is the Comite River Diversion Canal a $343 million effort to improve drainage between Baker and Zachary. That project, too, had been considered for decades but was not funded until after the surrounding area was inundated in 2016. Robottom credited the funding to Graves efforts, saying that for the West Shore project to go from initial authorization to full funding in just three years is unheard of. That is a comforting feeling to know your representatives and know that you can count on them, Robottom said before handing Graves a ceremonial key to St. John Parish, telling him, You are welcome in St. John the Baptist Parish any time." When completed, the project will protect over 60,000 people in the River Parishes, according to the St. John Parish government, as well as commercial and industrial structures and the Interstate 10 hurricane evacuation corridor. Oscar Velasquez said he moved to LaPlace in 2002 because he was tired of dealing with flooding in Metairie. He never expected that 10 years later he and his family would be evacuated on a military truck as water from Lake Pontchartrain swamped his house in the Indigo Lake subdivision. The streets started getting high," Velasquez said of the rising water that came with Hurricane Isaac in 2012. "We thought it was the drains. He soon learned the flooding wasn't due to a drainage problem. It was storm surge from the nearby lake that rolled right into LaPlace, which had no levee protection. But that should soon change. Congress recently authorized funding for a $760 million construction project, called the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Risk Reduction Project, that will create a massive flood protection system extending from the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish to the Hope Canal in St. John the Baptist Parish. First pitched almost 50 years ago, the system will consist of a series of floodwalls, earthen levees and pumping stations designed to protect the area from flooding during a 100-year storm, defined as a storm that has about a 1 percent chance of occurring any year. St. John Parish President Natalie Robottom said her only thought when she heard about the congressional action was that the project was really finally going to happen. That was enough for her to bust at the seams with joy. Wait, wait, wait say that again. Say that again, Robottom said she told U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, when he called to tell her he had negotiated the final funding bill to passage. Weve never been this close to anything like this before, she added. Velasquez's subdivision is especially vulnerable, as it sits on the front line of St. John's unprotected rear flank. The area just south of Interstate 10 was among the first to be inundated during Isaac, when more than 3,500 residents had to flee their homes. Many of them never returned. You had homes that had been abandoned. They were left because a lot of these people probably were not current with their mortgages, which kind of pushed it into an influx of foreclosures, said Tiesha Claborn, a real estate agent with Keller-Williams. She said flood insurance rates also skyrocketed, making selling homes in the most at-risk areas along Interstate 10 difficult. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Velasquezs landlord, Rick Ledbetter, said the only thing protecting that area, and all of LaPlace, at present is a slightly raised railroad track north of the community. Officials said the levee project will take about five years to finish, but its not clear yet when it will start or how many jobs it will create. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Ricky Boyett said internal teams are getting ready for the project and a timetable will be announced when the money arrives. Robottom said the announcement was a major victory because the federal government has agreed to finance the entire project up front. The state will still be responsible for 35 percent of the total cost, but it will have 30 years to pay that back. St. John had been so desperate for flood protection that officials had contemplated starting the work on their own, she said, and even got a property tax increase approved to support it. But construction without federal help would have taken a long time and piled significant debt on the parish. Congress authorized a feasibility study for a hurricane protection system in 1971, but that study didn't happen until 2013 one year after Isaac ravaged the area. Then in 2016, Congress and President Barack Obama "authorized" the project as part of a comprehensive federal water resources bill. Congressional approval for funding was the last major hurdle. The $760 million is part of a $2.6 billion supplemental spending bill that includes $1.2 billion in all for Louisiana flood mitigation projects, including a $343 million Comite River Diversion Canal project intended to improve drainage between Baker and Zachary. That project, too, had been considered for decades but was not funded until after the surrounding area was inundated in 2016 floods. Along with the obvious defense against danger that such projects will provide, Robottom said the system should also result in lower flood insurance rates. Ledbetter, the landlord, said that before Isaac, the flood insurance cost for the house he rents to Velasquez was $200 a year. Afterward, it jumped to $800. As for Velasquez, hes just glad that once the project is completed he wont have to worry about getting flooding every time a storm blows through the area. Since 2012, when he and his family were forced out of their house for two months after Isaac, he hasnt felt safe. Still, he said, he is committed to staying in LaPlace, where his children go to school and he works as a mechanic. When the levee is finished, people shouldn't have to live with so much anxiety, Robottom said adding that it's past time for residents to be allowed to stop worrying that theyre going to get wiped off the map. A public meeting will be held to discuss the project, but a date has not yet been set, she said. Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc., a provider of forensic consulting services, received a minority investment from Century Equity Partners*. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The transaction will allow the company to pursue significant opportunities to grow domestically and internationally through acquisitions, while continuing to organically grow its core services lines and build around its team of experts. Led by Curtis Brown, Chairman of the Board, Rimkus Consulting is a worldwide provider of forensic consulting services to insurance companies, law firms, corporations and government agencies. The firm assists clients in the resolution of claims and disputes via a team of professional engineers, architects, scientists, and technical specialists. Practise areas include: Forensic Accident Reconstruction Building Sciences Construction Claims and Disputes Electrical Engineering Expert Services Property Loss Consulting Transportation Forensics Energy, Oil & Gas, and Manufacturing Product Liability and Equipment Sciences Fire and Explosion Science Analysis Biomechanics and Injury Causation Environmental & Health Services Marine Forensics Human Factors Premises Liability Computer Animation, Trial Graphics, and Video Healthcare Technology Toxicology, Consumer Product, and Food Safety * Century Equity Partners is a Boston based private equity firm that provides capital to lower middle market companies seeking investments to support growth or fund acquisitions, partial buyout or recapitalization opportunities. The firm focuses on companies operating across the insurance, asset & wealth management, specialty finance, and banking and lender services sectors. FinSMEs 11/01/2019 The Southern Republican Leadership Conference won't generate the national media buzz that it engendered in years past when it opens in Kenner next Friday (Jan. 18), but conference chair Roger Villere Jr. says the gathering will make news nonetheless. At a minimum, it will attempt to rally Louisiana Republicans in advance of the 2019 statewide elections. The conference, held every two to three years, typically serves as an early sounding board for GOP presidential hopefuls anxious to test their messages and their popularity before a decidedly partisan, reliably conservative crowd. In the past, the group also conducted straw polls of potential Republican presidential candidates. Clancy DuBos: Looking ahead to the big political stories of 2019 Politically, 2019 will be a watershed year in the nations capital and in Louisiana. In Washington, all eyes will be on special prosecutor Rob This time around, the conference will see no cavalcade of White House wannabes. President Donald Trump consistently polls in the high 70s among GOP voters often higher in southern states making the notion of a primary challenge a long shot at this point. The 2019 conference's agenda and slate of speakers therefore reflects a shift in focus from presidential politics to developing future leaders, honing policy positions and improving campaign strategies and messaging (especially to women and minority voters). "We hope to create excitement that will lead the national party into 2020, and at the same time create opportunities for leadership as we try to elect a Republican governor here in Louisiana later in 2019," Villere said in a recent phone interview. "With state legislative elections on the ballot in addition to our governor's race, we hope to elect even more Republicans to the Legislature. "Nationally, we have a number of speakers coming to kick off 2020 and hopefully set the stage for policies, issues and messages that will help us take back the House and keep the Senate." Villere acknowledges the timing of this conference has presented some challenges. The initial target date was October 2018, which put it in the middle of a difficult midterm election cycle for House Republicans. Pushing it back to January put it right after the new congressional term began and, of course, the federal government shutdown that dominates all political news. "The schedule change to January hurt speakers' participation because many of our perennial speakers just got sworn in to the new Congress, plus there's some election fatigue," said Villere, who for years chaired the Louisiana Republican Party. "Still, we expect to see around a thousand people attend." The list of confirmed speakers reflects the spotlight on Louisiana, which is one of only three states holding gubernatorial elections this year. The speakers include all five Louisiana Republican congressmen, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, state Attorney General Jeff Landry, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain and others from the Bayou State. Congressman Ralph Abraham of Alto, in northeast Louisiana, will try to make a big impression as he begins his challenge to Democratic incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards. As Advocate columnist Stephanie Grace recently noted, Edwards' party affiliation makes him a favorite GOP target, but his favorable-to-unfavorable poll numbers among Louisiana voters (49-30 percent) suggest it will take more than a partisan push to beat him. Meanwhile, as voters yearn for an end to the federal shutdown, both national political parties are already looking ahead to 2020. Leave it where it is and renovate the building Move into the Municipal Auditorium in Treme Listen to Treme residents and find another location Put it in Plaza Tower, if financing becomes available Vote View Results A lawsuit by a Monroe businessman alleging that a court employee hid or destroyed official documents hasnt gotten much attention beyond north Shivering on the steps of the State Capitol, 50 of my colleagues shared a megaphone in protest of Louisiana's recent stripper age ban. Lawyer Scott Bergthold, defending Attorney General Jeff Landry against three now-jobless Jane Does, denied women under 21 the right to strip based on, essentially, a high school dress code. These girls, the judge stated, want to wear the bare minimum, overturning a federal injunction, splashing restrictive precedent all over a lawsuit on wrongful termination. As a Baton Rouge teenager, stripping helped our spokeswoman Stormy Daniels escape a very dangerous household. We reiterate: working in a swimsuit presents far less danger than the decisions wed stared down in adolescence: entering military service, shouldering student debt, moving, marrying, parenting, taking on independence and dependents at once. Underage women may still work as bartenders, cocktail waitresses, shot girls closer proximity to alcohol, half the pay. Before I began stripping at 19, I was a lifeguard at the municipal pool. I wore a red bikini, a lanyard between my breasts, the whistle Id blow when people got out of line. These girls and I have reason to shiver. New Orleans City Council members representing the Vieux Carre and New Orleans East have resurrected Stacy Heads widely unpopular alcohol beverage outlet ordinance, ceding automatic power to the state to suspend, cite, fine, and close bars, clubs and liquor stores; mandating surveillance, retrofitting, and civilian policing. Only five property-owning residents may conjoin to declare any "ABO" a nuisance, but 75 percent of neighbors must petition to keep it afloat. Only those of good moral character may receive a permit. The same council members amused by our dream of a stripper-owned club now plan its impossibility. Its a hate crime to hurt someone because of the way they have sex. Add money, and sex becomes the crime. Lewd conduct, obscenity, moral turpitude": all euphemisms drawn from New Orleans tricentennial depths, explicitly profiling people via sexuality and gender, race and land of origin. Enforcement does more violence than we lewd and lascivious lovers and workers. Those pitting us against our exploitative workplaces draft laws against consorting with prostitutes closing whole establishments over thought crimes sexy talk, touching, smiling and nodding. +6 Stormy Daniels joins Louisiana protest against 'sexist law' that raises age for exotic dancers Porn star and stripper Stormy Daniels returned to her hometown of Baton Rouge on Sunday and joined dozens of other women voicing opposition to My lifeguard training included treading water while holding a brick over my head, having it knocked from my hands, diving to retrieve it from the deep end. While our red-light district crumbles, sex workers beneath Interstate 10 report actual bricks thrown at them from passing cars. Stigma threatens stamina for some, survival for others. We all came into this work through the conditions of our lives. No amount of social punishment will keep us from work with total schedule flexibility and a real living wage: our bare minimum. Lyn Archer dancer New Orleans Visible work on the $360 million plan to widen Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge is likely a year away, Louisiana's transportation chief said Thursday. The upgrade will add a new lane in each direction for much of the 3 1/2 mile stretch between the "new" Mississippi River bridge and the I-10/12 split. +2 Unlike past battles, a wider I-10 in Baton Rouge could happen if these key questions are answered In a huge change from previous efforts, the latest push to widen Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge enjoys bipartisan political support, a source of Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the plans with considerable fanfare a year ago on Saturday. Shawn Wilson, secretary for the state Department of Transportation, said work on the Baton Rouge plan in 2019 is expected to be low-profile, like around the Acadian Thruway underpass, right-of-way acquisition and minor work on surface streets. Wilson said officials are still designing the project. "It is going to be some very minor things (in 2019) that you will see," Wilson said. "Depending on the rate of design you will see things ramp up probably in 2020." State officials have said previously work would begin in 2019 or 2020. The widening is expected to take 5-8 years. The Baton Rouge project is the most expensive of three set to be financed with $650 million of federal bonds. Work on improved access to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport could be visible to motorists by the end of 2019. That $110 million effort includes a flyover around Loyola Drive and I-10, and an easier path to the new terminal. Wilson said state officials expect to have a notice to proceed or contract by August. The Loyola project will be done using a method called design/build, which uses a team of highway designers and builders in one step to speed construction. No such decision has been made on the Baton Rouge project. The Baton Rouge and New Orleans work, and a third project on I-20 in Bossier City to ease access to Barksdale Air Force Base, are notable amid Louisiana's $14 billion backlog of road and bridge needs. They will be financed by the state essentially drawing annual federal aid dollars in advance, then repaying the federal government yearly with a portion of what the state collects $67 million of about $780 million. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The federal bonds are called Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle Bonds, or GARVEE. State and federal officials reached agreement on details of the borrowing last August. Agreement on financing for I-10 expansion, other work signed; here are next steps State and federal officials have reached agreement on plans for Louisiana to borrow up to $650 million to widen Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge a Wilson said Thursday he expects the first round of bonds sold to total about $200 million and take place in April. Sales depend on the construction outlook because 85 percent of the money has to be spent in three years. The Barksdale project is first in line followed by the Loyola work. The I-10 widening in Baton Rouge has sparked criticism from some home and business owners in the path of the work. The state held three public forums last year to let citizens get a detailed look at the plans. +9 Thoughts on I-10 widening plan? Some support it; others worry about 'impact' Anxious residents got their first detailed look Tuesday night at state plans to widen Interstate 10 between the Mississippi River bridge and t The corridor set for improvements is the site of daily traffic backups, and contributes to Baton Rouge's reputation for ever worsening commuter gridlock. A fourth undertaking, the new Belle Chasse tunnel and movable bridge, is expected to get a small portion of the bond dollars. Another high-profile project widening I-10 in Baton Rouge between Highland Road and La. Hwy. 73 in suburban Ascension Parish may take longer than expected. +13 In rarity, Louisiana state officials launch major I-10 widening project Gov. John Bel Edwards and a host of other politicians Thursday celebrated the launch of a rare, high-profile highway project: widening Interst The work, which was formally unveiled a year ago Friday, was initially set to be finished by mid-2020. Wilson said it may be slightly later that year because rainfall has been 30 percent higher than expected, sparking delays. Accidents in the 6 1/2 mile corridor are also on the rise, he said. The pricetag for construction is $72 million. A judge Thursday spurned Attorney General Jeff Landry's argument that Louisiana's public records law only applies to state citizens, refusing to throw out a lawsuit filed against Landry by a woman who lives in Indiana. But state 19th Judicial District Court Judge William Morvant, of Baton Rouge, also wouldn't heavily penalize the Republican attorney general for the lengthy time it took his office to turn over the records requested by Scarlett Martin, a researcher in Indianapolis. Instead, Landry will have to pay Martin's attorney fees. Her lawyer Chris Whittington estimated that would cost the attorney general's office about $25,000. Martin sought records in September and October 2016 about Landry's dealings with the oil industry, travel to conferences and public appearances, vehicle purchases and contracts to hire outside law firms. She received thousands of pages in response to her requests, a number that Morvant said exceeded 16,000 documents but only after she filed her lawsuit in March 2017. Landry argued Martin didn't have the right to sue because she doesn't live in Louisiana, and asked Morvant to dismiss the entire case. "The (state) constitution creates a right for the citizens of Louisiana, not the citizens of the world," said Landry's assistant attorney general Carey Jones. Louisiana government records law is only for state citizens, AG Jeff Landry says Attorney General Jeff Landry is arguing that Louisiana's public records law doesn't apply to out-of-staters, so he can't be penalized for his Morvant disagreed, saying state legislators didn't offer any such specification in Louisiana's public records law. He said the only people who have detailed limits on their records access under the law are inmates. "There is no implicit or explicit basis to say the Legislature intends that we have open public records, but you have to be a citizen of this state," the judge said, calling that a "novel argument." But while Morvant wouldn't shelve the lawsuit, he also didn't agree that Landry's response ran afoul of the public records law in a way that justified steep financial penalties. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In her lawsuit, Martin said she paid $250 for the requested copies but didn't get them 175 days after filing the records requests, despite repeated assertions from the attorney general's office that the documents were forthcoming. She asked the judge to fine him. Under Louisiana law, a judge can levy civil penalties up to $100 per day for public records violations. Attorney General Jeff Landry hands over thousands of documents in public records lawsuit Attorney General Jeff Landry has handed over 6,235 pages of documents to an Indianapolis woman who sued him last month for failing to respond Morvant said Landry's office didn't appear to be deliberately slowing the work to locate documents and didn't reach the "arbitrary and capricious" standard required to levy such fines "not even remotely close." He cited the sweeping nature of the records requests. "To say this was a rather broad and almost overly burdensome request would be an understatement," Morvant said. Several of Landry's current and former employees testified Thursday about the work done to locate the records, saying they had to sift through more than 100,000 files across multiple office divisions. Landry wasn't in court Thursday. Martin did appear for the half-day hearing, but she refused to speak with reporters. She and Whittington haven't said why Martin wanted the records. Whittington said he was satisfied with Morvant's decision. "My client wanted her fees, and she got them," he said outside the courtroom as Martin listened nearby. "Civil penalties are tough to get." Landry's office suggested the records request was political, noting that Whittington was a Democratic leader several years ago. The attorney general's office has called it a "money grab" by Whittington and described Martin as "an out-of-state political operative." Mike Gaudet, who has been attacked by teacher unions and celebrated by charter school groups, was selected Thursday night without opposition by his peers to serve as president of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. The board, however, deadlocked on picking a vice president, unable to choose between its most veteran member, Jill Dyason, in her 18th year on the board, and its newest member, Dadrius Lanus, who was elected Dec. 8, 2018. The vote split over whether to reward Dyasons long experience or whether board leadership should reflect that it educates predominantly African-American students by picking Lanus, who is black. Dyason is white. After three consecutive 4-4 votes, the board agreed to put off the matter and try again when the board holds its regular meeting Jan. 17. Dawn Collins was not present for the special board meeting Thursday, but is expected to be present on Jan. 17 and able to break a tie if the entire board shows up. Heres how Thursday's vote broke down: For Dyason: Board members Mark Bellue, Connie Bernard, Dyason and David Tatman. For Lanus: Board members Tramelle Howard, Gaudet, Lanus and Evelyn Ware Jackson. +5 Former chemical company executive making East Baton Rouge School Board leadership bid A retired Albemarle executive who has been attacked by teacher unions and celebrated by charter school groups is the odds-on favorite to becom Bernard spoke of Dyason, who is starting a seventh term in office, and her deep experience. She has served under seven superintendents and she has weathered many changes, Bernard said. Ware-Jackson said she was deeply torn between personal loyalty to Dyason and the need to make a change in leadership as many voters were seeking in the elections last fall. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up I cant ignore all the voices Ive heard, she said, before casting her vote for Lanus. Lanus, who has taught in a handful of independent charter schools in Baton Rouge, is just 30 years old. He entered the public spotlight in spring 2018 when he urged voters in an unsuccessful bid to defeat a portion of a 1-cent sales tax because it did not direct sufficient money to repair and upgrade Glen Oaks High. His supporters said racial diversity in board leadership is important in a district with such a high concentration of black students. I do think representation matters, said Raymond Allmon, a longtime board watcher and campaign treasurer for Howard. Dyason and Lanus are vying to fill a seat left vacant after Howard defeated Kenyetta Nelson-Smiths re-election bid. Nelson-Smith spent her last four months in office as vice president. The nine board members took their oaths of office Tuesday to start four-year terms overseeing the second-largest public school district in Louisiana. Seven are re-elected incumbents, while two, Howard and Lanus, who defeated Vereta Lee in the Dec. 8 runoff, are newcomers. By contrast, Gaudet's road to the board presidency was less dramatic. He's replacing current board President David Tatman, who threw his support behind Gaudet. Gaudet said the board has a lot of issues to tackle this year, including likely deep budget cuts and a search for a new superintendent. After spending decades as an executive with Albemarle, Gaudet said, he has a strong background in finance and working in large organizations but will lean heavily on the strengths of his colleagues. Gaudet replaced Barbara Freiberg after she was elected to the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council. Gaudet won a special election in fall 2017 for the District 7 seat and was re-elected on the Nov. 6, 2018, primary for a four-year term. The charter-school friendly group Stand For Children spent heavily to support him both times, allowing him to far outspend his opponents. The group did the same in supporting Howard and Lanus campaigns, as well as Ware-Jackson's. Like-minded education reform groups also spent heavily. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board will wait another week before deciding the fate of a south Baton Rouge charter school in danger of being closed. The board plans to take up South Baton Rouge Charter Academys charter when it meets Jan. 17. The school board by law has until Jan. 31 to either close the school or renew its charter for between three and 10 years. A team of administrators reviewed the charter schools application, generally finding fault with the schools academic performance over the past four years and not satisfied with its improvement plans. But, a parade of parents urged the board Thursday to give the school more time. Superintendent Warren Drake decided not to give a formal recommendation, saying he wants the board to make its judgment based on the findings of the team. Board member Connie Bernard pressed Drake for a recommendation anyway. With some reluctance, Drake said he likes the shift in leadership at the school, but its not enough and he suggests rejecting the charter: If you look at the school based on what the evaluators looked at, I would say that you have to come to that conclusion. Bernard said that was enough for her. Mike Gaudet, the board's new president, said the school should have done better. While I am sympathetic, I am also sympathetic with the children who were there in the four years you werent performing, he said. Do we believe what has happened, and do we believe in your promises? he asked. Another charter comes to rescue set-to-close Baton Rouge Charter Academy at Mid City An Indianapolis-based charter school group which runs an elementary school in Baton Rouge is coming to the rescue of a larger but lower-perfor The charter school, at 9211 Parkway Drive, opened in August 2014. It is run by the for-profit Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Charter Schools USA. The organization operates eight charter schools in Louisiana; it used to have nine. South Baton Rouge Charter and Iberville Charter academies are in the Baton Rouge region. South Baton Rouge Charter has about 670 students from prekindergarten to eighth grade. The school initially had a F letter grade from the state, but moved up to a D and has remained there. If the school is closed, students would be reassigned among 42 neighborhood schools. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up South Baton Rouge Charter's principal, Yolanda Burnette-Lankford, took over in July from Monique Smith, who led the school for four years. Burnette-Lankford said the school cares for every child. "It is not simply numbers on paper. We are making an investment in our children," Burnette-Lankford said. Lonnie Luce, state director of Charter Schools USA, who joined the organization in July, was puzzled why the school's charter extension is not being automatically granted given its recent academic growth: "Im not sure what the politics are but wed be open to discussing this." Luce said. Gaudet reacted badly to that line of argument. Its not political at all, he said. I hope you take that out of your lexicon because thats not the way it is at all." Newly elected board member Dadrius Lanus wondered why South Baton Rouge Charter is being recommended for denial while a similar charter school, Inspire Charter Academy, was renewed this past spring. On paper, those schools look identical, yet that school was approved and this one is recommended to close, Lanus noted. South Baton Rouge Charter parents who spoke were passionate in support of their school. Several spoke Spanish about a quarter of the students are Hispanic and had interpreters speak for them. Stephen Towner, a parent, brought his daughter, Skylar, who is in 4th grade. All Ive heard tonight is failure, Towner said. To tell a kid they're a failing, its like putting a bullet to their head, telling them to give up. Larry Young, a teacher at the charter school, said the school is a destination for many students trying to escape other public schools in Baton Rouge. Some of the schools you are talking about taking these kids to are some of the same schools where the kids came from, Young said. Why? Because those schools werent meeting their needs? The top administrator of the Louisiana Tax Commission was arrested Friday and accused of collecting pay for hundreds of hours he actually spent playing golf, shopping, receiving spa treatments and indulging in similar activities. Charles Abels III, 51, of Baton Rouge, claimed and was paid on multiple occasions for time worked "while not in the performance of his (tax commission) duties," Louisiana State Police said in a news release Friday morning. Abels is also accused of using a state rental car for his personal use. Authorities conducted a "surveillance operation of Abels for one full week" beginning at the end of July, according to his arrest warrant. During that time he "was observed playing golf on several different occasions at multiple golf courses. He was also observed shopping, visiting a spa, attending court in Livingston Parish on a personal matter and consuming alcoholic beverages." The audit found that Abels spent a total of one hour and 40 minutes in his office during the entire week that he was under surveillance. Authorities wrote in the warrant that he visited the office Monday morning and for the rest of the week engaged in activities that "did not appear to be related to (tax commission) business." His time sheet for that period claimed he had worked 32 hours and taken eight hours of annual leave. Abels' attorney Mary Olive Pierson said Friday she believes the allegations against her client are nothing more than an attempt to get him ousted from his position as administrator, which he's held for over a decade. Administrator for Louisiana tax commission is arrested on domestic violence in Livingston Parish The administrator for the Louisiana Tax Commission was arrested and accused of domestic violence in Livingston Parish earlier this month, acco "Obviously somebody down there wants to get rid of Mr. Abels and he's a civil servant and civil servants are hard to get rid of," she said. "So they had to go about it a different way. I guess they decided to go through the back door." Pierson said Abels was placed on paid administrative leave in November because of the investigation, which is normal protocol under state civil service law. Investigators also examined Abels' cell phone and bank records, his golf course receipts and time sheets between Jan. 1, 2017, and Sept. 30, 2018. They found that during that time period he submitted a total of 36 inaccurate time sheets claiming about 351 hours "that appear in conflict with his personal activities for a total amount of $17,025.40." Records of Abels' use of state rental cars included 27 reimbursement requests for fuel "purchased on weekends and holidays or on dates that corresponded with records indicating that Abels was playing golf." Those requests totaled $1,216.82, according to the warrant. Pierson said Abels is a salaried employee and as such doesn't punch a clock to indicate the exact hours he works every day. She said it's possible he was meeting colleagues on the golf course or for a drink professional engagements that are common in many workplaces. She also said his annual and sick leave allotments could have been used to cover the hours of alleged payroll fraud. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "I'm not saying that Mr. Abels is a saint and I don't want to diminish taxpayers paying for things they shouldn't have to," she said. "But I think this is making a mountain of a molehill." The tax commission is a state agency that oversees the property tax assessment process in Louisiana and provides guidelines for assessors aimed at fairness and uniformity, according to the commission website. Abels was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish prison Friday on one count each of malfeasance in office and public payroll fraud and 63 counts of filing or maintaining false public records one count each for the 36 time sheets and 27 fuel reimbursement requests. Pierson said Abels' bail was set at $16,300 and he planned to post bond by the end of the day Friday. His record also includes a domestic violence arrest in Livingston Parish last March and multiple DWI arrests dating back more than a decade. A report from the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to Abels' home on La. Highway 22 in reference to a battery complaint following an argument that caused the complainant to fear for her safety. The initial police report didn't indicate who was the target of the alleged violence. But Abels' wife filed for and was granted a temporary restraining order against him on earlier the same month, based upon findings of domestic abuse and stalking, according to court records. She later filed for divorce in the 19th Judicial District Court. Abels has been charged with domestic abuse battery since his March arrest, according to a spokesperson for the Livingston Parish District Attorney's Office. In her request for a restraining order, Abels' wife said he has a history of violence, drug and alcohol abuse and carries a gun and knife. Abels served one term as the tax assessor for Livingston Parish, losing his seat to Assessor Jeff Taylor in 1999. He resigned from office shortly before the end of his term in 2000 amid a scandal involving a DWI the fourth time he had been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated that he tried to cover up, according to media reports. After several years as tax commission administrator, Abels faced allegations in 2015 that he had authorized a falsified public record allowing the commission to reduce the assessed value of a St. Francisville golf course. Abels blamed the incident on a clerical error. Monerium, a Reykjavik, Iceland-based fintech startup bringing full asset backed, redeemable, and regulated e-money to blockchains through a licensed institution, raised a total of $2M in seed funding. The latest round was led by Crowberry Capital, with participation from NY-based blockchain software technology company ConsenSys, and Hof Holdings. The proceeds of the seed round will be used to accelerate the development of the companys services. Founded in September 2016 by its chairman Jon Helgi Egilsson, CEO Sveinn Valfells, CTO Gisli Kristjansson, and COO Hjortur Hjartarson, Monerium aims to make currency accessible, secure, and simple to transact by issuing asset-backed, redeemable, and regulated e-money on blockchains through a licensed institution. Earlier this year, the company completed and submitted an application to become a licensed financial services company in the European Economic Area through a wholly-owned subsidiary. Monerium counts a team of fourteen people in Reykjavik, Sweden, the US and UK. FinSMEs 11/01/2019 Local law enforcement officials are working to identify domestic abusers in East Baton Rouge Parish and intervene before it's too late part of a new initiative aimed at saving lives and reducing the high rates of domestic violence that have plagued Louisiana for decades. Those offenders are often men with extensive criminal histories that include a wide range of crimes not limited to prior domestic incidents. And the victims are often women living below the poverty line who have suffered past abuse, according to data collected and analyzed over the past several months. Researchers with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice are using that data to help local authorities develop a new program called "Stop the Loss" that will implement a "focused deterrence" crime fighting strategy to target potential abusers the same model used in the Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination program and its successor, Truce. "Stop the loss of life. Stop the loss of children's innocence. Stop the loss of family," East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III said during a press conference Thursday morning. "There's much work to do but I'm certain this can be done." Louisiana has historically ranked among the top five states for the number of women killed by men each year. East Baton Rouge Parish alone saw domestic homicides rise to 14 in 2017 when murders in general also rose to an unprecedented level of 106 parishwide and officials pledged to devote more resources to addressing the problem. +7 East Baton Rouge District Attorney: 14 domestic violence incidents in 2017 ended in homicides Domestic violence cost the lives of 14 people and led to more than 5,000 arrests last year in East Baton Rouge Parish, District Attorney Hilla An annual report from the District Attorney's Office released Thursday shows that domestic violence decreased overall in 2018, including seven intentional and unjustified killings. That reduction brought the numbers closer to what local officials consider average. "But even one homicide is one too many," Moore said. "Intimate partner violence is not only senseless but completely preventable. The single most important thing I can ask every citizen of Baton Rouge to do is not look away." Domestic violence is notoriously underreported in communities everywhere, including Baton Rouge. Officials said they want people to realize the importance of reporting incidents they've witnessed or suspect, even when the victim herself doesn't want to contact law enforcement. +3 In Louisiana, authorities battle domestic violence problem that's worse than most other states East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III is pleased that it appears the number of domestic violence killings in the parish Moore said "Stop the Loss" will be rolled out in coming months. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The research team developing the new program is looking at where domestic violence is occurring throughout the parish and studying characteristics of victims and offenders. Moore said the incidents are concentrated in areas where crime in general is highest and violence is more common. Researchers examined 24 domestic violence homicides in detail, finding "there was a long history of offending before the homicide happened and that (law enforcement agencies) were familiar with these incidents." Moore highlighted in his report the August 2018 case of Gabrielle Bessix and Broderick Edwards. Edwards shot and killed Bessix, then shot at her friend before killing himself outside her home. Bessix, who had broken off a relationship with Edwards, had called police in the months prior to her murder and reported his threatening and violent behavior toward her on multiple occasions. She received a protective order against him just days before her death. Moore wrote that Bessix did everything right: "Call the police make a report. Tell somebody. Call a friend. She did all of that. But in this case, there was no organized system in place to identify Mr. Edwards as an abuser to either offer him services toward change, or proceed with prosecution." Authorities hope "Stop the Loss" will help prevent similar tragic outcomes. The program outlines a tiered system for classifying potential domestic abusers. Authorities then choose how to respond, which could range from offering community resources to bringing felony charges, depending on the seriousness of the offense and the suspect's criminal record. Both East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux and Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul expressed their support of the program, which they said will allow local law enforcement agencies to present a united front in the fight against domestic violence. "It's really exciting because we're all on the same page, collectively coming together to address these issues," Paul said. "Because at the end of the day that's what it's all about prevention. "We know that there are loved ones, relatives, friends who had prior knowledge before these incidents happened. And we want you to come forward. We need you to come forward. You can save a life. Don't be silent." Georgia-Pacifics decision to stop producing office paper at its Port Hudson mill and lay off 650 people could ripple into an estimated loss of nearly 2,150 other jobs across Louisiana, an economic model produced by an LSU AgCenter economist shows. The layoffs will result in the loss of nearly $188 million in labor income and nearly $22.8 million in tax revenue for state and local governments, said Shaun Tanger, a forest economist at the AgCenter. This is a conservative number, Tanger said. The figures dont capture the ripple effects into nearby Mississippi, where some people live and work in the timber/paper industry and could be doing the lions share of their business in Louisiana, he said. +11 Latest on Georgia-Pacific layoffs in Port Hudson: ITEP status unclear; see shutdown timeline Georgia-Pacific is shutting down a major division of its Baton Rouge-area paper mill, a move that will leave nearly 700 people without a job a Georgia-Pacific announced Thursday it will permanently shut down its office paper machines, converting assets, woodyard, pulp mill and most of its energy-generating complex at Port Hudson by mid-March. About 650 of the jobs being lost at the facility are in the office paper and pulp assets, and about 40 more business and sales jobs are being lost primarily in Atlanta where Georgia-Pacific is based. The company, which has been owned by Koch Industries since a 2005 acquisition, is leaving the paper communications business entirely. About 300 jobs will remain at the Port Hudson mill, making toilet paper and paper towels. The plant layoffs will ripple across the south Louisiana economy, affecting everything from businesses that directly feed into the paper production process, such as commercial loggers, truck drivers and plant maintenance workers, to businesses that are buttressed by the paper mill, such as nearby restaurants and stores, Tanger said. Wholesale trade is forecast to lose nearly 170 jobs as a result of the partial plant closure, while Tangers forecast indicates that commercial logging could lose 135 jobs and nearby restaurants would lose just over 130 jobs. Other areas that could be big losers include management of companies and other enterprises, which would lose nearly 90 jobs, service to buildings, which would take a hit of just under 80 jobs, and truck transportation, over 60 jobs. Along with the loss in jobs and tax revenue, the prices that nearby landowners will get for their hardwood and pulpwood is expected to fall because of the reduced demand from Georgia-Pacific. When International Paper closed a mill in north Alabama in September 2013, Tanger said pulpwood prices were down by nearly 36 percent two years later. I dont see how prices won't fall by at least 20 percent, he said. Were talking about in the surrounding region for a 50- to 75-mile radius. The Zachary School Board could face a budget crunch in the future when the property tax bill falls on the plant. While Georgia-Pacific has benefited from millions in tax breaks over the years, the property taxes it does pay comprise a significant portion of the school system's budget. As recently as mid-December, Georgia-Pacific was seeking a $2 million tax break for a $42 million expansion project at the mill, a project the firm said would create 30 jobs. Following the mass layoff announcement, the firm said Friday it was canceling its request. "This morning we're requesting to the Commerce and Industry Board to not move forward with our ITEP project because we clearly won't meet the job requirement component of it," said Georgia-Pacific spokesman Kelly Ferguson. Georgia-Pacific to cancel request for tax break after laying off 650 in Louisiana Georgia-Pacific said Friday it is dropping its request for a $2 million property tax break that promised 30 new jobs, a day after the firm ann Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The Industrial Tax Exemption Program, or ITEP, is a controversial incentive program for manufacturers. Local officials have a say in the program because of a 2016 executive order from Gov. John Bel Edwards. Scott Devillier, Zachary schools superintendent, said he hopes the system will be able to absorb the partial closure and added he doesn't expect an immediate hit to the taxes paid to schools. "As we move forward we're going to be very cautious about asking them to share information with us to see, if our property taxes are going down, could you give us a heads up?" Devillier said. State and local officials rolled out a rapid response team to start meeting with workers and offering programs like job placement assistance, relocation assistance, labor market information and more. The Louisiana Workforce Commission and Mayor Sharon Weston Broome's office outlined several programs. ExxonMobil is evaluating which laid-off workers could land jobs at the oil and gas giant's chemical plant and refinery a few miles south, Exxon spokeswoman Stephanie Cargile said Friday. Exxon's refinery and polyolefins plant could land major expansions in the coming months, and the firm expects to be in hiring mode during 2019. Dow Chemical also is seeking applicants for a new apprenticeship program, according to the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance. The group also indicated workers could get jobs at other industrial projects throughout the region, like Methanex and Wanhua. Ava Dejoie, secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said the workers at Georgia-Pacific have skills that should be easily-transferable to other manufacturing operations in the region. "They're very well-trained, very well-skilled, diligent, dedicated employees," Dejoie said. "They're quite marketable. Our job is to help those folks find opportunities at other facilities." LWC will be able to tap federal funds to reimburse employers who train workers from Georgia-Pacific, as well as provide skills training to laid off workers directly, she said. Many of the workers will have certifications from OHSA and for work at docks, she added, making it easier to get hired on at another industrial employer. "It's everything, not just the production people or people working on the plant side of things," she said. "It's the people that order supplies. It's purchasing...(The layoffs) cover a number of career fields." The Louisiana Workforce Commission released the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act notice that Georgia-Pacific submitted Thursday, outlining the timetable for the layoffs and the positions that would be affected. According to the letter, the layoffs will start March 12 and end March 26. Forty-nine workers would stay on to decommission equipment, and they will be laid off April 29. Of the union workers being let go, 374 work for United Steelworkers Local 335, which represents the production workers. Most of the layoffs are concentrated in the fine paper division. Another 106 workers are members of the United Steelworkers Local 1334, which represents maintenance workers. The biggest category facing layoffs is general mechanic, which will lose 70 employees. Olindes, a 133-year-old retailer, has sold all nine of its south Louisiana furniture stores to a Memphis-based business but will keep its three mattress stores in the Baton Rouge area for now. Dufresne Spencer Group, which has 44 furniture stores across the U.S., purchased the Ashley Furniture HomeStores in Denham Springs, Gonzales, Harahan, Ponchatoula, Houma, Opelousas and Lake Charles as well as Olindes stores in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The sale price was not disclosed. Its bittersweet to have worked for all these years, tied to this name, said Tom Olinde, president of Olinde Hardware & Supply, the parent company of the furniture store. But nothing is designed to last forever, and its way better to go out on top than to have to shutter the doors. Olinde will still own three mattress stores in Baton Rouge, Central and Walker. But the forecast for those properties remains cloudy. Olinde said DSG didnt want the stores because the company isnt in the mattress business. Were not sure if were going to expand those stores or sell them, he said. Well continue to operate them as is for the time being. The Olindes bought a nearly 3-acre site in the Costco parking lot in Baton Rouge in May and planned on building an Ashley Furniture store there. But that property was not included in the deal and the family plans to hold onto it. Olinde said his family wasnt looking to sell the business until they were approached by DSG. We knew they were good operators, and it was a case of, in our minds where we'll be in 10 years, he said. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up For now the Ashley and Olinde names will remain on the stores. As of March, DSG had 40 Ashley stores across the U.S., along with four Stash Home stores. The two Olindes locations could be rebranded under the Stash name, Olinde said. As part of the sale agreement, DSG will retain the nearly 300 employees working at the furniture stores at their same wages, Olinde said. We had lots of 20- and 30-year employees who are like extended family, he said. We had to make sure they were covered. For loyal Olindes customers, the sale should lead to few changes. The merchandise mix might be a little different and the displays will change, Olinde said. Theyre going to bring in a lot of 21st Century technology. According to Furniture Today, DSG had nearly $300 million in sales during 2016, putting it 32nd on the magazines list of furniture retailers. Olinde said the company has lots of assets and a strong digital background that will allow it to compete with internet giants such as Amazon and Wayfair. NEW ORLEANS Two defendants in a 2014 shootout in Ascension Parish that left one man dead and another wounded in a scene a sheriff described as the "OK Corral have pleaded guilty to reduced charges in a New Orleans courtroom. The case, which had been moved out of Gonzales over concerns about security and pretrial publicity, centered around a shootout in rural southern Ascension involving at least seven guns. Isaac "Ike" Prestley, 23, died and his now-convicted killer was wounded. The tangled court case, with a murder scene complicated by the sheer number of weapons present, is more than 4 years old and has involved a shifting number of defendants, charges lodged by prosecutors and extended delays due to a federal drug investigation involving some of the same men. Tachi "Little Tachi" Williams, who investigators suspected of ordering the shooting, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a felon, receiving a 20-year sentence under an agreement with prosecutors, his lawyer said. The guilty plea from Williams, 32, of Gonzales, meant that he would not have been able to invoke his right against self-incrimination against his co-defendant, Clarence Ruth Jr. Shortly after Williams accepted his guilt, Ruth, 24, of Darrow, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. His sentence will be left up to the judge and will depend on a report on his background, Ruths attorney said. The men pleaded guilty Monday but the developments were not immediately logged onto the court's online repository. Their pleas came after more than a half-day of jury selection in New Orleans and short-circuited a trial that was expected to last a week and featured unusually heavy security provided by Ascension Parish deputies. Prosecutors in Ascension refused any comment this week while other defendants still awaited trial. Williams was already serving a 9-year sentence on federal gun charges, and with credit for time served and good behavior, he may serve less time than his 20-year sentence. His defense lawyer said that another man, Cprien Nicholas, 33, of Gonzales, was set to testify against Williams after pleading guilty to gun and drug charges in federal court, and a reduced charge of principal to manslaughter in the 23rd Judicial District Court in connection with the April 2014 shooting. In the hours and days after the shooting, the family of Prestley and Ruth, then 19, insisted that they were good friends who lived a block and a half from each other in the Astroland neighborhood. Ruth's father disputed then that his son would have shot Prestley, but sheriff's deputies insisted otherwise at the time, based on witness statements. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The factual basis in Ruth's and Williams' separate agreements with prosecutors, which were filed in Ascension Parish after the pleas Monday, say Williams "instructed" Ruth to fire his gun into a group of men hanging out off La. 22. Ruth, Williams, Bruce James, Nicholas and "several other people" had just arrived in Darrow to confront another man, but not Prestley, over a prior dispute, the plea agreements say. Those men also knew that the sport utility vehicle that Nicholas had driven to the area had weapons inside and knew about the "impending confrontation" with that man. Once there, Williams told Ruth "to do it," the plea agreements say, and Ruth fired an assault rifle several times, hitting and killing Prestley. Other unnamed defendants also fired toward a group of men around Prestley, the plea agreements say. Ruth was shot in the leg in the exchange of gunfire. Ruths attorney, Susan Kutcher Jones, said he had never been in trouble before the shootout. He was the youngest of everybody out there, she said. Williams had been charged with second-degree murder, which carries an automatic life without parole sentence. It was certainly determined, given the fact that he was already serving a federal 9-year sentence, that this plea was clearly in my clients best interest, Williams attorney Kevin Boshea. Although the venue of Williams and Ruths trial had been moved to the Orleans Parish Criminal District courtroom of Judge Arthur Hunter, it was still to be overseen by Judge Alvin Turner Jr. of the 23rd Judicial District Court in Gonzales. Williams father, Demitoris "Big Tachi" Alexander, and Bruce James, additional co-defendants in the shooting, await trial in the case and are scheduled to appear in court on Monday in New Orleans. During pre-trial proceedings in 2015, one of the defense attorneys then representing Nicholas and three other defendants charged in open court that deputies stole $175,000 from Nicholas' seized SUV. The Sheriff's Office disputed the allegations at the time, calling them "outrageous." State Police have refused to release the results of their investigation into the allegation while shootout cases are still pending. ___ David J. Mitchell reported from Gonzales. Local law enforcement officials are working to identify domestic abusers in East Baton Rouge Parish and intervene before it's too late part of a new initiative aimed at saving lives and reducing the high rates of domestic violence that have plagued Louisiana for decades. Those offenders are often men with extensive criminal histories that include a wide range of crimes not limited to prior domestic incidents. And the victims are often women living below the poverty line who have suffered past abuse, according to data collected and analyzed over the past several months. Researchers with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice are using that data to help local authorities develop a new program called "Stop the Loss" that will implement a "focused deterrence" crime fighting strategy to target potential abusers the same model used in the Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination program and its successor, Truce. "Stop the loss of life. Stop the loss of children's innocence. Stop the loss of family," East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III said during a press conference Thursday morning. "There's much work to do but I'm certain this can be done." Louisiana has historically ranked among the top five states for the number of women killed by men each year. East Baton Rouge Parish alone saw domestic homicides rise to 14 in 2017 when murders in general also rose to an unprecedented level of 106 parishwide and officials pledged to devote more resources to addressing the problem. +7 East Baton Rouge District Attorney: 14 domestic violence incidents in 2017 ended in homicides Domestic violence cost the lives of 14 people and led to more than 5,000 arrests last year in East Baton Rouge Parish, District Attorney Hilla An annual report from the District Attorney's Office released Thursday shows that domestic violence decreased overall in 2018, including seven intentional and unjustified killings. That reduction brought the numbers closer to what local officials consider average. "But even one homicide is one too many," Moore said. "Intimate partner violence is not only senseless but completely preventable. The single most important thing I can ask every citizen of Baton Rouge to do is not look away." Domestic violence is notoriously underreported in communities everywhere, including Baton Rouge. Officials said they want people to realize the importance of reporting incidents they've witnessed or suspect, even when the victim herself doesn't want to contact law enforcement. +3 In Louisiana, authorities battle domestic violence problem that's worse than most other states East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III is pleased that it appears the number of domestic violence killings in the parish Moore said "Stop the Loss" will be rolled out in coming months. The research team developing the new program is looking at where domestic violence is occurring throughout the parish and studying characteristics of victims and offenders. Moore said the incidents are concentrated in areas where crime in general is highest and violence is more common. Researchers examined 24 domestic violence homicides in detail, finding "there was a long history of offending before the homicide happened and that (law enforcement agencies) were familiar with these incidents." Moore highlighted in his report the August 2018 case of Gabrielle Bessix and Broderick Edwards. Edwards shot and killed Bessix, then shot at her friend before killing himself outside her home. Bessix, who had broken off a relationship with Edwards, had called police in the months prior to her murder and reported his threatening and violent behavior toward her on multiple occasions. She received a protective order against him just days before her death. Moore wrote that Bessix did everything right: "Call the police make a report. Tell somebody. Call a friend. She did all of that. But in this case, there was no organized system in place to identify Mr. Edwards as an abuser to either offer him services toward change, or proceed with prosecution." Authorities hope "Stop the Loss" will help prevent similar tragic outcomes. The program outlines a tiered system for classifying potential domestic abusers. Authorities then choose how to respond, which could range from offering community resources to bringing felony charges, depending on the seriousness of the offense and the suspect's criminal record. Both East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux and Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul expressed their support of the program, which they said will allow local law enforcement agencies to present a united front in the fight against domestic violence. "It's really exciting because we're all on the same page, collectively coming together to address these issues," Paul said. "Because at the end of the day that's what it's all about prevention. "We know that there are loved ones, relatives, friends who had prior knowledge before these incidents happened. And we want you to come forward. We need you to come forward. You can save a life. Don't be silent." Olindes, a 133-year-old retailer, has sold all nine of its south Louisiana furniture stores to a Memphis-based business but will keep its three mattress stores in the Baton Rouge area for now. Dufresne Spencer Group, which has 44 furniture stores across the U.S., purchased the Ashley Furniture HomeStores in Denham Springs, Gonzales, Harahan, Ponchatoula, Houma, Opelousas and Lake Charles as well as Olindes stores in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The sale price was not disclosed. Its bittersweet to have worked for all these years, tied to this name, said Tom Olinde, president of Olinde Hardware & Supply, the parent company of the furniture store. But nothing is designed to last forever, and its way better to go out on top than to have to shutter the doors. Olinde will still own three mattress stores in Baton Rouge, Central and Walker. But the forecast for those properties remains cloudy. Olinde said DSG didnt want the stores because the company isnt in the mattress business. Were not sure if were going to expand those stores or sell them, he said. Well continue to operate them as is for the time being. The Olindes bought a nearly 3-acre site in the Costco parking lot in Baton Rouge in May and planned on building an Ashley Furniture store there. But that property was not included in the deal and the family plans to hold onto it. Olinde said his family wasnt looking to sell the business until they were approached by DSG. We knew they were good operators, and it was a case of, in our minds where we'll be in 10 years, he said. Inside info on doing business in Acadiana We'll keep you posted on the Acadiana economy. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up For now the Ashley and Olinde names will remain on the stores. As of March, DSG had 40 Ashley stores across the U.S., along with four Stash Home stores. The two Olindes locations could be rebranded under the Stash name, Olinde said. As part of the sale agreement, DSG will retain the nearly 300 employees working at the furniture stores at their same wages, Olinde said. We had lots of 20- and 30-year employees who are like extended family, he said. We had to make sure they were covered. For loyal Olindes customers, the sale should lead to few changes. The merchandise mix might be a little different and the displays will change, Olinde said. Theyre going to bring in a lot of 21st Century technology. According to Furniture Today, DSG had nearly $300 million in sales during 2016, putting it 32nd on the magazines list of furniture retailers. Olinde said the company has lots of assets and a strong digital background that will allow it to compete with internet giants such as Amazon and Wayfair. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (Chris LeGrand and Dominick Lanzo) think you should vote for the Rolling Stones at the Brit band showdown that pits the London bad boys against the bespoke mop tops from Liverpool at the Sheridan Opera House tonight (Friday). (Courtesy photo) Barnard's Star, a nearby star system located just six light-years away, is orbited by a frozen Super-Earth. The exoplanet called Barnard b (or GJ 699 b) was discovered only two months ago. Frigid World Researchers who found the planet do not think the icy world could support life because of its extreme conditions. Barnard b only receives about 2 percent of radiation our home planet gets from the sun and its surface temperature is nearly -275 degrees Fahrenheit. A new group of astronomers, however, is more optimistic, saying alien life could potentially thrive on some parts of the planet. Edward Guinan, from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, and colleagues suggested that heat generated by geothermal processes could warm pockets of water beneath the icy world's surface, which could potentially support the evolution of life. Barnard b May Have Subsurface Oceans Depending On Its Size Guinan and colleague Scott Engle, also from Villanova University, found that while Barnard b could be too cold for liquid water and probably life to exist on its surface, it may have subsurface oceans depending on how big it is. These oceans could form on rocky worlds. If Barnard's Star b indeed has a mass 3.2 times greater than Earth's as currently thought, it could be a rocky super-Earth. If its mass is seven or eight times more than that of our planet, it would be a smaller version of Neptune, which could means that like the Solar System's blue gas giant, the exoplanet would not have enough surface for life to evolve on and would likely be inhabitable. Researchers are not yet precisely sure how large the planet is, but once it launches, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope could help determine the size of this Super-Earth and whether or not it has the right size for subsurface oceans to exist. "Super-Earths may have a capability of having extra geothermal energy that could, if it had water ice around it, melt the ice in places," Guinan said. The new research was presented at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle on Thursday, Jan. 10. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Louisiana is implementing a new payment scheme dubbed as the "Netflix model" to pay for pricey hepatitis C meds in a bid to help more financially struggling patients. Gov. John Bel Edwards explained on Thursday that the state's new model entails the government paying for a substantial fee to a drug manufacturer, pretty much how subscribers pay to streaming service provider Netflix for a month in exchange of unlimited access to its wide array of content. Instead, with this model, the state can have infinite access to drugs as well. Unlimited Access To Hepatitis C Drugs That said, the state also sent out solicitation to drug manufacturers to ask them to bid for the contract. Officials are crossing their fingers that they will be able to find one by July. Specifically, the plan aims to pay drug manufacturers five years in advance for the unlimited access of the medications. "I've had conversations with a number of governors to make sure they're aware of what we're doing and if and when we're successful, we're going to have something worthy of emulation and replication around the country," the governor said. Expensive Hepatitis C Meds Hepatitis C has no vaccine, but early treatment could prove to be helpful in treating 85 to 100 percent of patients, the Department of Health said. However, medications that are available in the market have been making it hard for other people to gain access to these. In 2013, a powerful hepatitis C drug came with a hefty price tag, $84,000, which sparked outrage among consumers. Meanwhile, Louisiana, which had explored aggressive means of lowering the prices of the medications, has already tried seeking interest of the Netflix model via a request for information. Health secretary Rebekah Gee said that they had been in talks with three hepatitis C drug manufacturers, and so far, all have been supportive. AbbVie and Gilead Sciences, which both make the medications, have already expressed their support. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Paterson, New Jersey officials ask those who came in contact with Jameek Lowery, who mysteriously died two days after seeking the help of police officers, to get treatment after the man was believed to have had meningitis. An investigation is undergoing for the death of 27-year-old Lowery, who, two days prior to his demise, came to the Patterson Police Department looking perturbed. The troubled man asked for water and sought assistance from the authorities, claiming there were people who were after him and were trying to kill him. Lowery's Visit To The Police Station Lowery documented his whole ordeal with the police via Facebook Live posted on the site around 4 a.m. on Saturday, where the agitated man can be seen begging not to be killed. The officers turned him away, saying he can get water at the hospital. "If I'm dead in an hour or two, they did it," Lowery said. Before going to the police station, Lowery called 911 twice. The first was at 2:45 a.m., when he admitted he took ecstasy and that he was paranoid, to which he was rushed to the hospital but immediately left. Then by 3:40 a.m., a call was traced from a Wendy's food shop near the police station. Get Preventive Treatment Lowery was taken to St. Joseph's University Medical Center and became unresponsive. He died on Monday morning for an unspecified reason. However, he was suspected to have meningitis, although the state health department said they were still awaiting laboratory results. Even so, they are advising all those who physically interacted with Lowery to get preventive treatment, including the emergency staff who responded to him. The mayor, who met with the man a week before his death, was given antibiotics. However, Lowery's half-brother, who spent time in the hospital room, said he doesn't want to be screened and expressed distrust on the mayor and the hospital. Meanwhile, the death prompted two nights of protest joined by the man's mother and hundred others in front of the police station in search of answers. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new study shows that migration occurs between the months of early March and May end, with peak movement between mid-April and early May. Scientists explain that quantifying the migration intensity and timing of movement is necessary to understand the impact of climate change and shifting landscapes on migratory birds. The most crucial findings of the study are the fact that at least half of yearly migration happens within a period of 18-days. This information, researchers suggest, can help mitigate the harm to bird populations caused as a result of wind turbines and light. Spring Bird Migration The study combined data from bird watchers and weather radar stations to provide detailed understanding into spring bird migration along the Gulf of Mexico. The findings of the study, which was published in the journal Global Change Biology, reveal the timing, location, and intensity of these movements. "We looked at data from thousands of eBird observers and 11 weather radar stations along the Gulf Coast from 1995 to 2015," said lead author Kyle Horton, an Edward W. Rose postdoctoral fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. According to their calculations, an average of 2.1 billion birds crosses the length of Gulf Coast in the spring season as they head towards their breeding grounds in the north, Horton explained. The radar helped reveal the timing of bird migration and the routes they take. Researchers found that the peak spring migration remained consistent for over two decades along the Gulf coastline and the period between April 19 and May 7 is the busiest. Criticality Of Migration Timing Scientists explained that even though the migration has evolved due to climate change, the current rate of change may be too brisk for the birds to keep up. The findings also show that seasonal movements now commence sooner. However, the peak activity has remained unchanged with regard to the change in seasonal movements, which may be an alarming trend. "If birds aren't changing their migration timing fast enough to match the timing for plants and insects, that's alarming," Horton said. These findings offer crucial standards in which the scientists can evaluate the long-term impact of climate change on migratory birds. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A hot potato: I've said it before but it bears repeating: you can't have a reasonable expectation of privacy when you're carrying around a tracking device (a smartphone) 24/7. Someone, somewhere is always going to have the ability to spy on you. Unfortunately, it's simply the price paid for the convenience afforded. A damning report from Motherboard earlier this week regarding the misappropriation of cell phone customers location data has prompted a swift response from wireless carriers. An AT&T spokesperson told The Washington Post that in light of the report, they are immediately eliminating all dealings with location aggregation services even ones with clear consumer benefits. The spokesperson said everything will be finalized in March. I keep my word, @RonWyden. T-Mobile IS completely ending location aggregator work. Were doing it the right way to avoid impacting consumers who use these types of services for things like emergency assistance. It will end in March, as planned and promised. John Legere (@JohnLegere) January 9, 2019 T-Mobile CEO John Legere issued a similar statement on Twitter, vowing to end its work with location aggregators in March as previously promised. Verizon told The Washington Post on Thursday that it, too, is ending its remaining location-sharing agreements. A spokesperson for Sprint told CNET that it has ended its relationship with companies that abuse location data but still provides location data when customers give their consent. All four major US carriers vowed to stop selling customer location data to third-parties last June in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Motherboards story earlier this week highlighted how customer location data can end up in the wrong hands. Even if carriers sell the data to legitimate companies for beneficial reasons such as roadside assistance, it only takes a few degrees of separation (the roadside assistance company sells it to someone else, and so on) for the data to end up in the wrong hands. In Motherboards case, they were able to pay a source $300 to get a devices location data that was accurate within a few hundred meters. Lead image courtesy RikoBest via Shutterstock Bottom line: Users over 65 shared more than twice as much fake news as the next age group (45-46) and seven times as much as the youngest age group (18-29). While conservatives shared more fake news than liberals, age was the biggest determining factor. Researchers at New York and Princeton Universities have conducted a study that shows Americans over 65 are the most likely to share fake news. Ever since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the notion of fake news has become a case of study as social media companies work to combat its spread. Facebook was perhaps the most notorious due to the numerous misinformation campaigns that took place on the site. With the accepted consensus that Russia produced a vast amount of fake news to help Donald Trump win the presidency, it's easy to see just how much of an impact fake news can have. The study began back in 2016 before the election and consisted of 3,500 people. To conduct the study, the participants agreed to share their profile data with the researchers. Their post history was then compared with a list of known fake news domains and tracked through time. When studying the social media habits of Americans, the researchers noted that age was the best predictor of one's tendency to share hoaxes. This was even better than education level, income, or political party affiliation. However, the study did reveal that "conservatives were more likely to share articles from fake news domains, which in 2016 were largely pro-Trump in orientation." Most of the news shared was legitimate, but the study found that 18% of Republicans shared fake news and less than 4% of Democrats did. Overall, they determined that users over 65 shared nearly seven times as much fake news as the youngest age group (18-29). While the study did not determine a cause for why older users share more fake news, the researchers do have two hypotheses. The first is that older people were not raised in an internet-connected society and may lack digital literacy skills. Hoaxes may look just as legitimate to them as real news. The second hypothesis is that as we age, we experience cognitive decline. The researchers believe this may be why the elderly more easily fall victim to online scams and hoaxes. A Brand's Guide to Digital Shelf Analytics | eBook What can you do to improve your digital commerce game? The first rule of the digital shelf is to make sure your products can be found. Some might say its mission impossible. Unless, of course, you use digital shelf analytics (DSA). Get the eBook Today! Several us have become increasingly concerned about the lack of ethics on the part of market-leading companies at the moment. Kara Swisher's New York Times column is an eye opener, considering that she concluded that "too many digital leaders have lost their minds." She cited some frightening examples of poor leadership -- ranging from Saudi funding (concerning given the alleged murder of a reporter); to Facebook's Portal device, which appears designed to violate user privacy; to Elon Musk's increasing insanity; to Google's recent coverup of a massive user data breach that forced it to close Google+. Swisher's column points to the solution adopted by Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, who hired a chief ethical officer -- but I think that would just repeat the mistake we made with chief risk officers around a decade ago. In response to her piece, Scott Cleland, who runs Precursor Watch, commented that these huge firms and their CEOs have ethics problems following them around like the dirt that followed Pigpen in the Peanuts comic strip. These firms, through Section 230 of the U.S. Code, largely have been given immunity to civil law, which appears to have promoted wrong, unjust, dishonest, unethical, and/or uncivil behaviors by the firms' employees and leaders. While I think Cleland overemphasizes the impact of Section 230, which detracts from what is more likely a practice of hiring people who think ethics is optional, his proposed solution should work. He suggests these firms and executives need to be held more aggressively to the same laws we all must follow. I'll share my views on that and then close with my product of the week: a new video-conferencing solution that could evolve to make most business trips obsolete. Power Corrupts I'm sure you've all heard the saying, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," but I often think that as they come up the ranks, executives view this as a goal and not a warning. It is clear that at some point executives feel they have reached a level of power where the rules their companies have just don't apply to them. In a way I was lucky -- or unlucky, depending on how you look at it -- to have an extremely unethical father. I was lucky in that I saw the damage it did to his marriages, finances, opportunities and the quality of his life. I was unlucky because I was often collateral damage, as were my brothers, sister, and his wives. The amount of damage this behavior can cause, once it is discovered, can be devastating. It can wipe out the companies and the executives' personal fortunes, and in some cases it can even land them in prison. The thing is, it isn't as if these folks weren't already wealthy -- but it becomes a competition as to who has the most expensive car, the most yachts, the biggest island, or the prettiest mistress (even if she is an employee). They lose perspective -- placing physical things, often inanimate, as higher priority over the things they really should care about: their families, employees, image/reputation, and even their continued freedom. Ethics Officer Won't Work Over a decade ago, companies became concerned about taking on too much risk, and they came up with the not-so-brilliant plan of hiring risk officers. These folks had staff and were given the responsibility to ensure that the companies, generally financial institutions, didn't take on excessive risks. Instead, it was if these institutions suddenly felt that any risk was acceptable, and the U.S. market crashed catastrophically as a result of loans that weren't properly secured. What happened was that the risk managers had responsibility but no real authority, so while they were viewed as some kind of shield, they were in effect more like sacrificial goats. They became blame magnets, which actually didn't really work well either. Since they had no authority, the blame still flowed to the idiots making the bad decisions. Hiring ethics officers won't work either, because they won't have enforcement authority. Often, they won't have the necessary visibility into company practices to ensure that the firm complies with policies and laws -- let alone behaves ethically. If the government comes calling due to a CEO misdeed, there might be an attempt to throw the ethics officer under the bus, but law enforcement -- as with the risk managers -- likely will go after the decision maker and not the sacrificial goat ethics officer. Appointing an ethics officer might have the unintended impact of convincing the other executives that ethics is no longer their concern, and they might go off the ethical rails even more than before -- similar to what happened with financial institutions after they got risk officers. That, of course, most likely would be catastrophic, because governments and investors eventually react poorly to out-of-control CEOs. In fact, they tend to overreact with company-killing regularity. Internal Audit I think a better solution would to be to reinstate, fund, and once again empower internal audit operations in these firms, allowing auditors to function much as they did when internal auditing first came to be, largely after the market crash in the first half of last century. Internal audit can, and often does, operate like internal affairs in police departments. However, both of those operations often have been gutted over time, losing qualified people, funding and authority. Today -- particularly in some newer firms -- those functions are either nonexistent or assigned to an ineffective department of employee rejects who comply with the letter but not the intent of their mandate. Staffed, funded, and with adequate authority, internal audit not only would have the experience to root out bad behavior but also the ability to terminate those exhibiting it. The internal audit department also would have the added benefit of ensuring the quality of operations, something that firms like Tesla currently need badly. (Its plants are so badly run, the firm is hemorrhaging money.) When properly set up, internal audit's ability to prevent behavior ranging from just bad management to embezzlement and sexual harassment largely would be unmatched and could go a long way toward ensuring that a firm isn't taken out by its own employees. Wrapping Up Whether we are talking about the book Brotopia, which focuses mostly on misogyny at scale, or Technically Wrong, which focuses on idiotic product development practices, or on a slew of recent articles on related subjects, the common message is that these firms are largely out of control. Given that a number of us believe they are massively overvalued as well, the potential for a catastrophe driven by bad executive behavior is almost a given. Such a catastrophe could reset the market, likely wiping out jobs, 401Ks and savings tied to the segment. I think internal audit is the only type of organization that could be capable of fixing this problem in a timely way, and that the interim use of ethics officers actually would do the exact opposite of what was intended. I don't expect this will end well at all. I've been involved with video conferencing in some shape or form going well back to the 1960s, when I first saw the video call demonstration at Disneyland as a child. I was part of a joint Apple/IBM trial in the 1980s, which ended badly, and I've been involved with the technology since the mid-90s as an analyst. Generally, the cycle goes like this: The market gets really excited about technology that could reduce plane travel and increase employee collaboration, everyone and their brother jumps into it, companies buy the products, the employees avoid using them, the market consolidates, and in around five to 10 years, the market forgets and starts the cycle over. One of the more interesting recent attempts were telepresence robots with tablets that could display the faces of those remotely using them. They weren't that successful, even though they did attempt to deal better with creating the impression that the remote worker was there. Spatial, which launched last week, has an idea that, while not yet mature, could get us far closer to where we need to go. It uses augmented reality to create ghost-like avatars of the remote people, who then can move around the room and interact with others as if they were present. The remote workers also get avatars of those in the conference room, almost as if they dropped into the workers' homes to collaborate with them. Spatial Mission Planning Even though the technology is raw now, I can see that the increased application of artificial intelligence tech, better AR glasses, and improved rendering capability -- like what exists in the new Nvidia RTX platform -- could make this experience far more realistic. Even in its raw form, an impressive number of companies have seen the value and have signed up, because it seems to work better for a number of interactions than the technology they have. I really hate getting on planes, and I live in a resort town now, which means that I'm going to love anything that has the potential to make most of my air travel obsolete. As a result, Spatial is my product of the week. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network. Rob Enderle has been an ECT News Network columnist since 2003. His areas of interest include AI, autonomous driving, drones, personal technology, emerging technology, regulation, litigation, M&E, and technology in politics. He has an MBA in human resources, marketing and computer science. He is also a certified management accountant. Enderle currently is president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group, a consultancy that serves the technology industry. He formerly served as a senior research fellow at Giga Information Group and Forrester. Email Rob. Three former executives of a German logistics firm and an oil company employee they bribed were sentenced to prison in London Friday, but were spared serving any jail time when the judge suspended the sentences. The three executives of Germany-headquartered FH Bertling Group had pleaded guilty to paying around $445,000 in bribes to help Bertling win a freight forwarding contract with ConocoPhillips worth $20 million. The contract was for the Jasmine North Sea oil project, the SFO said. The Bertling executives also bribed ConocoPhillips employees to approve and pay Bertlings inflated invoices. Colin Bagwell, FH Berlings former managing director and chief commercial officer, was sentenced to nine months in prison and fined 5,000 ($6,430). Stephen Emler, FH Bertlings former CFO, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the North Sea bribery plot and concurrently to 18 months for bribery at Angolas state oil company, Sonangol. Elmer was also fined 15,000 ($19,300). Giuseppe Morreale, Bertlings managing director for London, was sentenced to 15 months for the North Sea bribery plot and concurrently to two years in prison for the Angola schemes. He was fined 20,000 ($25,700). Christopher Lane, the former logistics lead at ConocoPhillips, was sentenced to six months in prison and placed under a 28-day electronic curfew order. All of the prison sentences were suspended for two years. The Serious Fraud Offices criminal investigation began in September 2014. The Sonangol bribes helped Bertling win and keep a freight and forwarding contract from 2004 to 2006 worth about $21 million. The SFO has charged thirteen individuals in connection with the FH Bertling investigation. Nine were convicted and four have been acquitted. Bertlings UK unit, FH Bertling Limited, pleaded guilty in August 2017. The UK unit stopped doing business and went into liquidation. In October 2017, three other former Bertling executives each received 20-month prison sentences and 20,000 ($25,700) fines. The prison sentences were suspended but the defendants were disqualified from serving as directors of UK companies for five years. _____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Seminole, FL (33772) Today Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms later during the night. Low 77F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. BRUSSELS Polish authorities detained an employee of Chinese tech giant Huawei and charged him with spying on behalf of China, amid growing global concerns that the company is tied to Chinese intelligence agencies, Polish authorities said Friday. Huawei's local sales director in Poland was arrested along with a Polish citizen who worked for the Chinese company's main local business partner and who once was a senior manager in a Polish intelligence agency. The move reflects long-standing suspicions by Washington and its allies that Huawei could be used as an arm of Chinese intelligence services, and it comes amid mounting pressure on the company. U.S. officials have long warned that the technology sold by Huawei - which ranges from the infrastructure that powers cellular networks to computers and phones - might be mobilized by the Chinese government to spy on people across the world. The company has defended itself in part by pointing to the absence of formal, public evidence of such activities. Huawei has sought to help develop a new generation of high-speed European cellular networks, but Western intelligence agencies have slowed its expansion efforts. Some countries have banned public purchases of Huawei technology, and many Western intelligence agencies have offered blunt assessments that the company was acting as an arm of China's spy apparatus. Last month, Germany's Deutsche Telekom said it would reevaluate its use of Huawei technology after unveiling its first 5G high-speed network based on equipment from the Chinese manufacturer. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis ordered his office to stop using Huawei phones. And a top European Union official for digital issues, European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip, said that "we have to be worried" about Huawei. Poland has been more open than other countries to partnering with Huawei, and last year its government said it would collaborate with the company in developing a next-generation high-speed 5G cellular network for the country. The arrests come a month after Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was detained in Canada at the U.S. government's request on charges related to violating sanctions against Iran. Meng is the daughter of the company's founder, and her detention has set off a diplomatic battle, as well as fierce condemnations from the Chinese government. Huawei was founded in southern China in the late 1980s by a former military officer, Ren Zhengfei, and rode two decades of unprecedented economic growth to become one of the country's largest privately held companies. Today, it is the largest supplier of the network equipment used by phone and Internet and competes with Apple in terms of cellphone sales. Its reach is vast: The company has 170,000 employees in 170 countries. At home, Huawei is seen as a symbol of China's economic transformation, of how far the country has come - and of its soaring ambitions to become a hub for tech manufacturing and innovation. But it is not a household name in the United States, largely because U.S. lawmakers have worked to limit its U.S. business and warned consumers against its phones. The company strongly denies any wrongdoing, as does the Chinese government. Poland's counterintelligence agency searched Huawei's Polish offices Tuesday, seizing documents and electronics. The agency also searched the house of the company's employee, a Chinese national, said Stanislaw Zaryn, a spokesman for the Polish special services coordinator. The Polish citizen who was detained alongside the Huawei employee once worked for a Polish intelligence agency and now works for Orange, a European cellular carrier, Poland's state broadcaster reported. He was "a pretty high manager in many public institutions," Zaryn said, declining to provide further details. Zaryn said he was unsure about the role other countries might have played in helping Poland assemble evidence against the two men. Senior Polish officials told the state broadcaster they had planned the arrests for months. Both men have denied the charges and have refused to cooperate with investigators, Zaryn said. The charges of espionage carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. They will be in custody for three months as investigators continue to build their case. "Huawei is aware of the situation, and we are looking into it," the company said in a statement. "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based." The Chinese suspect, identified only as Weijing W. by Polish authorities, studied Polish at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, then worked at the Chinese Consulate in Gdansk, in 2006. He has worked in Poland for Huawei since 2011, according to Polish state television. While working for Polands domestic counterintelligence agency, the Polish suspect, identified as Piotr D., had access to key information about a secure government communications network used by high-level Polish officials, the broadcaster said. Syracuse native and Syracuse University alumna Megyn Kelly says shell definitely be back on TV this year. The former Megyn Kelly Today host was spotted by TMZ in New York City with her husband Doug Brunt. She didnt comment on her firing from NBC, but promised her exit negotiations wont prevent her from joining another network. Youll definitely see me back on [television], Kelly told the celebrity news site. Kelly was fired in October after just over a year on the peacock network, following criticized interviews with Jane Fonda and Russian President Vladimir Putin; a Sunday newsmagazine that only aired a handful of episodes; getting left out of the networks 2018 Olympics coverage; and struggles in the ratings for most of its 13 months on air. According to USA Today, Megyn Kelly Today lost about 400,000 total viewers compared to previous 9 a.m. hosts Al Roker and Tamron Hall, or 13 percent of the slots overall audience; even worse, her viewership was down 25 percent among the shows target demographic of viewers aged 25-54. Kellys defense of blackface on Halloween appeared to be the last straw, as NBC fired her in October and her own Upstate New York high school tried to distance itself from her comments. Shes expected to receive $30 million, the full remaining value of her $69 million three-year contract, when she finalizes her exit negotiations; shes also expected to be free to go to any other network. An insider told Us Weekly this week that Kelly learned a lot from her time at NBC." Anytime you have a passionate, driven soul like her, there may be times within the context they say or do something that offends people without them even realizing it, the source said. Megyn is the first to stop and turn around and apologize... [shes] bent on learning from the NBC situation, ready to fight another day in applying her talents, enduring values and experiences to make real progress in this polarized world." Being true to herself is important to her. Its unclear where Kelly could go next, but it likely wont be her former home Fox News. Her show The Kelly File was a primetime hit, sometimes beating the cable news networks then-top-rated host Bill OReilly in the ratings, but a spokesperson told USA Today in October that there are no plans to change the current lineup of Tucker Carlson at 8 p.m. ET, Sean Hannity at 9 and Laura Ingraham at 10. We are extremely happy with our entire line-up, a spokesperson for Fox News said in a statement. Other networks, including ABC, CBS and CNN told Vanity Fair in 2016 that they werent interested in Kelly, but that may have been partly due to the large $20 million salary offer from Fox News to stay at the time. Meanwhile, NBC News meteorologist Dylan Dreyer announced Monday that shes been named one of four replacements for the Today shows third hour. The 9 a.m. time slot on NBC will now be hosted by SUNY Oswego alumnus Al Roker along with Dreyer, MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin and NBC News correspondent Sheinelle Jones. I love these guys, Roker wrote on Twitter. The 9 a.m. hour of the Today show, currently known as Today Third Hour (or 3rd Hour Today), had been temporarily filled by a rotating lineup that included Roker, Melvin, Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. Kotb became co-host of the Today show from 7-9 a.m., replacing Matt Lauer in the chair next to Savannah Guthrie, last year; Hager is rumored to be in the running to replace Kathie Lee Gifford in the Today shows 10 a.m. slot when KLG retires in April. Academy Award winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio appeared covertly before a Washington, D.C. grand jury to testify as part of the DOJs investigation into the looting of Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. According to reports, prosecutors believe DiCaprio, pictured left, is a witness and can provide insight into 1MDB mastermind Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low. Prosecutors said in court papers that Low allowed DiCaprio to gamble on his tab at The Venetian casino in Las Vegas, gifted him pieces of art, and helped him secure funding for the film The Wolf of Wall Street. DiCaprio starred in the movie, alongside Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, and Matthew McConaughey. Low and DiCaprio were introduced by Riza Shahriz bin Abdul Aziz, the stepson of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, according to prosecutors. The DOJ said around $4.5 billion was looted from 1MBD by Malaysian officials. DiCaprio is not a target of the investigation, according to the report. In November, Tim Leissner, the former Goldman Sachs chairman in Southeast Asia, pleaded guilty to FCPA and money laundering conspiracies in connection with a plot to loot the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund formally known as 1Malaysia Development Berhad. Leissner was ordered to forfeit $43.7 million as part of his plea deal. Hes waiting to be sentenced. Another ex-Goldman banker, Ng Chong Hwa, 51, also known as Roger Ng, was charged by the DOJ with conspiring to violate the FCPA and launder money. The DOJ alleged that Low, Ng, Leissner, and others conspired to bribe officials at 1MDB and in Abu Dhabi to win business for Goldman, including bond deals in 2012 and 2013. The defendants allegedly stole the proceeds from the bond deals and used some of the money to pay bribes. The DOJ said the defendants conspired to launder the money in the United States by buying luxury residential real estate in New York City and elsewhere, and artwork from a New York-based auction house, and by funding major Hollywood films, including the Wolf of Wall Street. In Malaysia last year, police charged former PM Najib Razak and his wife with laundering money looted from 1MDB. During raids on the couples houses and condos, Malaysian police recovered $273 million worth of jewelry, handbags, and other valuables. Jho Low is on the run and many believe he is hiding out in China. ____ Harry Cassin is the managing editor of the FCPA Blog. Speaking at the event, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son highlighted that Sweden was the first western country to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam on January 11, 1969. Over the past five decades, the European country has provided US$3.4 billion in non-refundable aid for Vietnam with symbolic works such as the Vietnam National Childrens Hospital, the Uong Bi Hospital in the northern province of Quang Ninh and the Bai Bang paper mill in the northern province of Phu Tho, contributing to the countrys socio-economic development. He said bilateral partnership is gearing towards trade-investment, education-training, health care, science-technology and tourism. Two-way trade surpassed US$1.4 billion in 2018. Sweden ranked 34th out of the 130 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. About 50,000 Sweden tourists visited Vietnam during the year. Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogberg, for his part, recalled that 50 years ago, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme and people joined street parades demanding an end to the war in Vietnam. Sweden became one of the largest donors to Vietnam during 1970-1990, he said, adding that the European country is always a trustworthy partner and will continue partnering with Vietnam in the future. According to the diplomat, the upcoming signing of the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will open up prospects for trade and investment growth, contributing to facilitating trade liberalisation and multilateral order in the world. The ambassador expressed his belief that a series of activities during 2019 will strengthen bilateral friendship and mutual understanding between both sides. At the event, former Vietnamese ambassadors in Sweden and Swedish ambassadors in Vietnam, officials and experts in health care, education and forestry recalled the past memories of their joint work. RICHLAND HILLS, Texas Shahid Shafi, a Muslim, remains a vice chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party. Tarrant County Republicans voted 139-49 late Thursday night after more than 2 hours of private discussion among precinct chairs to keep Shafi, 54, in the leadership post. Loud cheers were heard from where precinct chairs were gathered behind closed doors at the Faith Creek Church in Richland Hills shortly before party officials announced the vote to the media. This vote reaffirms the commitment by a majority of Tarrant County Republicans to our core values and moral compass, a demonstration of our allegiance to the Texas Republican Party Platform and the Constitutions of the United States and Texas, which strictly prohibit religious and racial discrimination of any kind, Tarrant County Republican Party Chair Darl Easton said in a written statement. While (Thursdays) vote brings an end to this unfortunate episode, it also demonstrates we are a party that respects the right of those who disagree on an issue to have a seat at the table and their voices heard, according to the statement. Religious liberty won tonight and while that makes a great day for the Republican Party of Tarrant County, that victory also serves notice that we have much work to do unifying our party. Shafi said the vote affirmed his belief in Tarrant County Republicans. As we struggled through the last few months, it would have been easy for me to quit. But I stayed on to fight, he said. We were fighting for religious freedom and today we have come out victorious. He said Thursdays vote took a stand against bigotry of all kinds. Our union is a little more perfect today and its time to put (party) divisions to rest, he added. At least one precinct chair Arlington Republican Dale Attebery, who was involved in the effort to oust Shafi reportedly tossed his ID at the lectern after the vote. Easton said he accepted that as Atteberys resignation. Thursdays meeting was much different than the last Tarrant GOP executive committee meeting in November, where members discussed the proposal to remove Shafi but never took a vote. This time, paper covered the windows into the sanctuary, where Tarrant Republicans gathered for the meeting, and law enforcers stood guard in front of the doors. The issue of religious freedom this time drew national attention and around two dozen reporters and TV crews to cover the vote. This issue arose about six months ago, after Easton appointed Shafi a surgeon and Southlake councilman to the vice chair post and fellow Republicans approved his proposal. Opposition from a small group of local Republicans began emerging on social media. Dr. Shafi is a practicing, Mosque-attending muslim who claims not to follow sharia law or know what it is, Republican Sara Legvold wrote on the Protect Texas Facebook page in calling for Shafis removal. As a practicing muslim that is an overt falsehood. Sharia law is anathema to our Constitution because Islam recognizes no other law but shariah. As the most conservative county in the nation, this is a demoralizing blow to the conservative rank and file of the Republican Party across the nation and in Texas. Then Precinct Chair Dorrie OBrien, from Grand Prairie, asked for Shafis appointment to be reconsidered because hes Muslim. She and others have long said this is not about religion but whether Shafi is loyal to Islam and Islamic law or connected to Islamic terror groups. OBriens motion was delayed until after the Nov. 6 election, which saw Tarrant County turn blue in the U.S. Senate race. Hours of discussion behind closed doors during a November meeting led to no resolution and pushed the issue to Thursday nights meeting. Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey said he stands by the Tarrant County vote Thursday night. Our platform clearly and unequivocally advocates religious freedom and non discrimination, he said in a statement. We have always and will continue to stand for religious freedom and for welcoming all who share our values into our party. A number of people who were not precinct chairs crowded into the churchs lobby Thursday night. Among them, two men carrying signs stating that they are against hate and for American rights. Its time for the Republican Party to defeat hate, said Shayan Elahi, a Dallas attorney who carried a sign that said #No Hate in DFW. Only they can clean their own house. A man from Bexar County held a sign that read Dr. Shafi is an American conservative. He declined to give his name but said he traveled to Thursday nights meeting to show support for Shafi. Others who showed up included a half dozen Muslim-American women who also wanted to support Shafi. We stand for justice, Shazia Alhassan, of Murphy, said. We felt that what was happening was not right. Not everyone agreed. Legvold, who showed up to Thursday nights meeting in a black burqa, was among those in the lobby waiting to hear how the vote went. She told some that she dressed up to show how this country has been impacted by Islam. The Star-Telegram has been reporting about the effort to remove Shafi from GOP party leadership since August. In recent months, the local party has drawn national attention as media outlets across the country joined in coverage of the issue. Shafi, born in India and raised in Pakistan, traveled to the United States to study medicine. He became a naturalized citizen in 2009 and, since then, has been involved with the Republican Party. Internal GOP emails delivered anonymously to the Star-Telegram last year showed that the effort to remove Shafi expanded. Others targeted included Easton; a precinct chair and area leader, Kelly Canon; and a precinct chair who is married to a Muslim, Lisa Grimaldi Abdulkareem. Many have cautioned the party at this crucial time, when the local GOP suffered unexpected losses during the midterm election and could see more in 2020 about voting to remove Shafi. Some top Texas Republicans including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former House Speaker Joe Straus condemned efforts to remove Shafi, as have Tarrant County Republicans including County Judge Glen Whitley, Sheriff Bill Waybourn and District Clerk Tom Wilder. The State Republican Executive Committee in Austin passed a resolution stressing that members across the state have the freedom to practice all faiths. And Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week noted that the promise of freedom of religion is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Many Republicans weighed in on the issue on social media Thursday, some cheering on OBrien, saying Hang in there Dorrie. You are right. Others cautioned that voting against Shafi could cause a number of precinct chairs to resign, prompt donors to walk away from the party and lead to the SREC denying Tarrant County delegates to the 2020 state convention. Many entering the meeting Thursday night squeezed through a lobby crowded with media, shaking their heads and muttering that this is crazy. Inside, precinct chairs were given a written statement from Dickey. In Tarrant County, a few individuals have sought to remove Dr. Shahid Shafi from his position as vice chair of the county party because of his religion because he is a Muslim, the statement read. That is not our party. This is the Republican Party of Texas. We stand behind those who wish to join us in supporting the founding principles of our nation and the right for everyone to pursue their own version of the American Dream, according to the statement. All are welcome in the Republican Party of Texas all, that is, except those who refuse to join in our mission to fight equally for the protection of, and opportunity for, those of all races, religions and creeds. Also handed out in executive session was a cartoon of a red-faced Elmer Fudd, labeled as Darl Easton. How dare you oppose my appointments!!!!!!!!!!!! the cartoon stated. (you wascal-wie bigots ) There has been much talk about the issue on social media this week. OBrien encouraged precinct chairs who want to vote out Shafi to attend Thursday nights meeting. Our side will run into strong headwinds no matter what happens on Thursday night, she posted on Facebook this week. Youve been beaten over the head by fellow PCs, the news, and the RPT about what a lousy person you are for doing your civic duty. Theyre demeaning you by saying youre a bigot. Youre a hater. I know youre not. You know youre not, she wrote. You cant affect an outcome of what the chair started with his ill-advised appointment if youre not there. Others cautioned that voting against Shafi could cause a number of precinct chairs to resign and donors to walk away from the party. We must do the right thing and reject a religious litmus test for a party leader position, Wilder posted on Facebook. Most of us know the hidden agenda of this dissident group is to discredit the party Chair and Vice Chairman and seize those positions for themselves no matter the cost to the party and its candidates. -- By Anna M. Tinsley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram WASHINGTON Airports in Syracuse and other Upstate New York cities have not been hit by a significant shortage of federal security screeners that affected operations at some larger airports this week, U.S. Rep. John Katko said Friday. Katko, R-Camillus, said Syracuse Hancock International Airport had only a very small uptick in absences among Transportation Security Administration screeners who have been operating airport checkpoints without pay during the partial government shutdown. TSA screeners have been calling in sick at higher than normal rates at some airports as the shutdown entered its 21st day Friday, one day short of the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history. Katko said he was assured by Syracuse airport officials and national TSA Administrator David Pekoske in conversations Thursday and Friday that airport operations were unaffected by TSA employee absences seen elsewhere in the nation. Pekoske met privately with Katko in his Washington office on Thursday to discuss the shutdowns impact on the TSA. Katko has chaired a House Homeland Security subcommittee that oversees TSA. At Miami International Airport on Friday, officials said they plan to close one of the airports terminals over the weekend because of a shortage of TSA screeners, who have been calling in sick at double the normal rate. The TSA workers, who are considered essential personnel, have been forced to stay on the job without pay during the shutdown. Their first paycheck of the year would have been due Friday. Katko said Pekoske is concerned that the longer the shutdown continues, TSAs screeners may be forced to quit their federal jobs because they need a paycheck. Most of the screeners are paid hourly. Hes worried about the fact they might start seeing cracks in the system if this continues much longer, Katko said. These guys live paycheck to paycheck, so we cant let it linger on. How a Syracuse IRS agent copes with no pay, mounting bills TSA officials told Katko that, for now, its business as usual at most airports. On Thursday, TSA screened 1.96 million passengers. The wait time at screening checkpoints was less than 30 minutes for 99.9 percent of the passengers, and less than 15 minutes for 95.5 percent of the passengers. Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Troy, N.Y. Campaign representatives for Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand signed a lease for a 5,000 square foot space in downtown Troy, according to a local Democratic operative a sign the recently re-elected Albany native could be basing a presidential campaign in the Capital Region. It was unclear which building the space is located in, and Gillibrand, who lives in the Troy suburb of Brunswick, has not officially announced she would run in the 2020 presidential race. But a Troy-based headquarters would be a nod to Gillibrand's familial roots in the area, which she represented in Congress before winning a Senate seat in 2010. "Senator Gillibrand has been a strong voice for New York State and the city of Troy, advocating on the issues important to our residents in Washington," said Troy Mayor Patrick Madden. "For Trojans, she is not just a U.S. senator, but a neighbor and familiar face with deep roots in our community, so it makes sense that Troy could be part of her future plans, whatever they may be." A call to a Gillibrand spokesperson for comment was not returned Thursday evening. Gillibrand would join a growing field of senators weighing pursuit of the Democratic presidential nomination, including New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and California Sen. Kamala Harris, among others. In a December CNN poll, Gillibrand garnered just 1 percent of the vote among likely democratic voters when asked who they would choose as the presidential nominee in 2020 the same percentage she polled in another CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. -- By Kenneth C. Crowe II and and Diego Mendoza-Moyers, Times Union, Albany, New York ALBANY, N.Y. -- Former state Sen. Dave Valesky has been appointed to a deputy commissioner post in Gov. Andrew Cuomos administration. Valesky, 52, started as deputy commissioner of the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets on Monday, Jan. 7. He replaces Raquel Gonzalez, the former deputy commissioner of administration, who left the job in November for a position with the Civil Service department. Valesky, a Democrat, spent 14 years in the state Senate representing the 53rd district, which includes most of Syracuse, all of Madison County and two towns in Oneida County. Last September, he lost a Democratic primary to challenger Rachel May. Two weeks after primary night, Valesky dropped out of the race and May was elected to office. Valesky could have continued campaigning against May in the general election, since his name was on the Womens Equality Party line. In the Senate, Valesky was the ranking minority member of the Agriculture and Environmental Conservation Committees. State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball cited that experience when welcoming Valesky to the department. We are thrilled to welcome Dave, who, as a former longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is a great addition to our team and will help advance the agencys priorities throughout New York State, especially given the national pressures on farms and producers, Ball said in a statement. We always look for ways to connect New Yorkers with the great foods we grow and produce here in New York, and Dave brings valuable statewide experience and knowledge to the Department." For seven years, Valesky was one of eight members of the Senates Independent Democratic Conference - a group of rogue Democrats that tipped the balance of power to Republicans. That group disbanded last year, before the election. Six of the eight members lost primaries to challengers in September. Prior to running for office, Valesky was vice president of communications at WCNY, Syracuses public television and radio station. Valesky lives in Oneida with his family. Its unclear if he will stay there or relocate to Albany. Valesky did not return a message Friday morning. The Department of Agriculture and Markets promotes farming and oversees food safety and production within the states agriculture business. It also runs the New York State Fair in Geddes. In his new role, Valesky will oversee education and outreach for the department and will be a liaison to local governments. His salary in the new job is $127,000. Melding science, art, carpentry and technology, Paul Leary, who holds a doctorate in composition from Duke University, will present the world premiere of his composition, "Larger Than Us," Jan. 20 at the Museum of Science and Technology. The piece was commissioned by the Syracuse Society for New Music, which supports and presents one creative work from a regional composer each year. The program includes a staged opera by American composer Charles Fussell, "The Astronaut's Tale," referencing Stravinsky's 1918 fable "The Soldier's Tale." Local Author and actor Bruce Coville will narrate; Victoria King is the stage director, and Heather Buchman will conduct the Society All-Stars. The show will take place in the IMAX Theater at MOST to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 manned mission, a precursor to man's first step on the moon. "Larger Than Us," with original music preformed electronically and with instruments of Leary's creation, along with a seven-piece chamber ensemble on the stage, joins other Society for New Music commissions that are given wide exposure, included being recorded at the premiere and broadcast on WCNY's "Fresh Ink." Neva Pilgrim points out that the commissions are part of SNM's mission; four previous commission composers are Pulitzer Prize winners, and three are recent nominees. "There is a wealth of talent in Upstate New York, and this is one way SNM can welcome these gifted musicians/artists into the vibrant arts scene here," Pilgrim says. "If their dreams can be realized here, they won't move elsewhere, and CNY will be much the richer for that." Posted by Victoria King on Saturday, January 5, 2019 Leary, a professor who coordinates the audio design and production minor and teaches in SUNY Oswego's music department, was introduced to SNM when his colleague, pianist Robert Auler, performed one of Leary's compositions for a concert the group presented. Leary says the work to be performed at the MOST reflects his long-time fascination with science and space exploration. "My interest lies in the unknown and in the new discoveries. So, at its core, 'Larger Than Us' is about a sense of wonder at the possibilities and the unknown that really inspires me," he says. "Also, it recognizes the true beauty and art that is our universe." Leary uses modern software to animate public domain images from NASA to make the galaxies spin, planets rotate and stars sparkle to his original music. He will introduce a new instrument he has built for the occasion, a nine-foot pendulum that moves to computer generated music. His popular bicycle wheels that uses magnets and an accelerometer to produce haunting electronic effects will be on display at the MOST. "It's so satisfying to make things," Leary says. "I'm inspired by all different types of music, and I embrace many different influences in my own work." He writes choral music inspired by early renaissance polyphony and some beat based electronic music in addition to popular electronic compositions. His work will be featured next in the Focus On Faculty series on the SUNY Oswego campus Feb. 10. THE DETAILS Who: Paul Leary, for Syracuse Society for New Music What: "Larger Than Us" Where: MOST, 500 S. Franklin St. When: Jan. 20 at 4:30 p.m. (Preview events at the MOST starting at 2 p.m. Jan 19) Suitable for: all ages, with special significance for students Cost: $20, with reduced prices for senior citizens and students; under 12 free Tickets: Society for New Music website Artists like Lady Gaga and Omarion announced they will retire their music produced by R. Kelly. In a statement, Gaga said her collaboration "Do What U Want" with R. Kelly was during a very dark time in her life. Fans are split on any artist's decision to retire former hits. Some argue it's too late, and artists are only doing this because it's convenient. But others commend artists taking a stand against R. Kelly. Should artists continue to shelve their collaborations with R. Kelly? PERSPECTIVES Check out Lady Gaga's statement below. I stand by anyone who has ever been the victim of sexual assault: pic.twitter.com/67sz4WpV3i Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) January 10, 2019 Some fans are proud of artists taking a stand against R. Kelly. Bless her, no need to apologise in my eyes. How were you to know? Paris (@Paris_ox) January 10, 2019 Omarion announced he will drop R. Kelly's songs after his upcoming tour. Good thing they waiting till after the tour cuz without those songs they aint got much of anything . Erik Woommavovah (@erikw1250) January 8, 2019 But Omarion gained criticism following his announcement of retiring the music made with R. Kelly after the B2K reunion tour. Fans say Kelly's collaborators knew about his past before they worked with him, but they are conveniently dropping the music because of the R. Kelly backlash. Following #SurvivingRKelly, Omarion vowed to retire all the songs that R. Kelly wrote from his set list ... AFTER his upcoming Millennium Tour. https://t.co/dwl7zuexV3 USA TODAY Life (@usatodaylife) January 7, 2019 Everybody in the industry would have to denounce him, he wrote and made songs with half the damn industry. And they all knew, because we first knew in 1994, so it's documented history, and they still worked with him. But next week we'll be on to something else. Sam T. Nevils (@samuelnevils) January 7, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. Marching through history Seneca Falls native Mary E. Corey found herself interested in the local history of the suffrage movement from a young age. The Associate Professor emerita of American History & Social Studies at Brockport State has turned that early interest, in conjunction with her academic background into a new book set to be published next month. "The Political Life and Times of Matilda Joslyn Gage" explores the life of one of the lesser-known contemporaries of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. "Of all the suffrage leaders Gage seemed to be the one that was quite prominent in her day but seemed the least well-known. Naturally I wanted to know more...Gage, Stanton, and Anthony studied separately are interesting. Studied together, they are fascinating. Researching Gage offered insights into all three and their working relationships you won't see otherwise," Corey says. The author also shared that it was the encouragement of Sally Roesch Wagner, Executive Director of the Gage Home in Fayetteville, in the early stages of her research that encouraged Corey to explore Gage as "a key player in the suffrage movement," and Wagner's continued support that has helped her share Gage's story. Corey will be speaking about Gage, Stanton, and Anthony at an upcoming event at the Seneca Falls Library on from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, -- the same day as the Women's March being held all over the country, and in Seneca Falls. At this event readers will have the opportunity to have early copies of the book signed by Corey before its official publication on Feb. 19. The event is free and open to the public. "The Political Life and Times of Matilda Joslyn Gage" is currently available for preorder from Paramount Market Publishing, Inc. and Amazon. One book, many stories CNY Reads One Book is offering a full calendar of events around their 2019 selection "Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah. The DeWitt Barnes & Noble hosted a special kick-off event last night with guest speaker Dr. Brian E. Konkol, Syracuse University Dean of Hendricks Chapel, who spoke on "Truth, Reconciliation and our Struggle to be Well." Many local libraries will be hosting discussions about the book, as well as showing movies connected to the themes of apartheid and racism. On Jan. 27 Trevor Noah will attend as a special guest at Syracuse University's Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The 5 p.m. dinner for the event has sold out, but tickets are still available for the 7 p.m. event, which will include a conversation with Noah, reflecting on the life and legacy of Dr. King, and discussing the global impact of the civil rights movement; performances by students and Central New York community members; and presentation of the Unsung Hero Awards, recognizing local community members who have championed the plight of those in need. For more information visit the Syracuse University MLK Celebration page. For a full list of all the events being hosted around the book, visit the CNY Reads One Book website. Loss and laughter Kathryn Allen Rabuzzi published a new book this past November. Featured previously for "What? Did Harvard Admissions Make a Mistake?" and "Just Do It," as well as "ElderFire: A Memoir of Aging," Rabuzzi has made a name for herself writing unflinching memoirs and nonfiction books, and her latest is no exception. "Run, Don't Walk: A Memoir" is an account of what happens when a mother learns that her adult son is diagnosed with lymphoma. At the time of the diagnosis, the son, Matthew, is at the prime of his life- thirty-three, a husband, and a father to a toddler. In the nine and a half years that follow the initial news, Rabuzzi says that there's an unexpected amount of humor that Matthew brought to the situation, preferring to find a way to laugh about it instead of inviting pity. As Rabuzzi shares in the description of the book: "Such an amazing ability for a young father to display throughout this ordeal, finds its reflection in the reactions of his family and many friends. All of them, inspired by Matthew's bravery, work hard to match, and thus buttress, his own dark humor and emotional strength in a time of enormous angst for every one of them." "Run, Don't Walk: A Memoir" is available on Amazon. Rabuzzi will be hosting an event for the book at the Century Club on the evening of Jan. 22. The Baltimore Woods Nature Center and the Marcellus Free Library are sponsoring a community read of John Week's book, "Nature's Quiet Conversations" during the months of February and March. The program kicks off with an event at the The Baltimore Woods Nature Center from 1 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 26, where Weeks will talk about his artwork and the inspirations behind his book. The event is for adults and an RSVP is encouraged as seating is limited. Copies of the book can be purchased in the gift shop or can be borrowed from a local library. Have a book to share? Are you a local author or have you come across a book set in Central New York? Tell us about it. Send a brief description of the book and the author and we'll add it as a candidate for coverage. Write us at features@syracuse.com. ROME, N.Y. -- A Rome woman has been charged with second-degree criminal sex act, a felony, according to sheriffs deputies with the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center. Myisha J. Cummings, 20, was arrested Thursday for an incident involving a 14-year-old girl, deputies said. The incident occurred in the summer of 2018, deputies said. Cummings was held at the Rome Police Department lockup pending arraignment in Rome City Court. An order of protection was requested for the victim against Cummings. The victim has been offered services through the Child Advocacy Center. Bronx, NY -- A New York City judge who crashed into a police van, then told officers to just let it slide should be officially admonished, the states judicial watchdog said. New York Civil Judge Shari Michels was driving to a Bronx courthouse in August 2015 when her vehicle crashed into the back of the police van near Yankee Stadium, the states Commission on Judicial Conduct found after an investigation. There were no injuries and no property damage. But Michels immediately identified herself as a judge and repeatedly challenged officers who insisted they needed to file a report because a police vehicle was involved, the commission found. The episode lasted 45 minutes and a police report was eventually filed. The commission turned to a referee in 2017 to determine what actually happened. The commission then reviewed the findings and came to its own conclusions in October 2018. The commission found: Michels was stopped behind the police van at a red light when the light turned green. Michels' vehicle pulled forward, striking the rear of the police van. There was no damage. Michels immediately identified herself as a judge to the officers and attempted to curtail their investigation by questioning the need for a police report. She was told that a report was required because the crash involved a police van. She approached at least three officers with her request. Michels told an officer he did not have to make a report and should just let it slide, or words to that effect, since there were no injuries or damage to the vehicles, the commission found. A report was filed. Michels later told the commission that she identified herself as a judge to alleviate any concern officers have she might flee. She said she regrets identifying herself as a judge and being rude to the officers. She denied trying to influence the investigation. The commission ruled that Michels had tried to use her influence as a judge to avoid the accident report. Public confidence in the fair and proper administration of justice requires that judges, who are sworn to uphold the law, neither request nor receive special treatment when the laws are applied to them personally," the commission ruled. Their recommendation that Michels be admonished -- or scolded -- will now be sent to the states highest court for review. Michels was previously admonished in 2011 for falsely indicating in campaign literature that she had been endorsed by the New York Times, when she had not, the commission said. Michels has been a judge since 2007. ALBION, N.Y. -- Bobby Baker III couldnt wait to become a father in a few weeks, his family said. His fiance is due to deliver his son, Bobby Baker IV, on Valentines Day. The couple recently moved to an apartment in Pulaski and Baker started working a new job three months ago as a machine operator. He felt so proud that he was taking care of his family, said his mother, Paula Schramm. He was the happiest hes ever been in his life. Baker, 25, was killed Tuesday when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree on state Route 13 in the town of Albion, according to New York State Police. Bakers 2004 Ford Explorer burst into flames and he was trapped inside. The crash happened at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday when many accidents were reported across the region due to icy, snowy roads. The cause of the accident is still under investigation and state police have not released the identify of the driver who died in the fire. The Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office will perform an autopsy to verify the drivers identity and determine an official cause of death. Schramm confirmed that it was her son who died. Baker was Schramms first child, but she called him her baby and her peanut," a nickname that he earned as a premature baby that stuck with him throughout his life. Baker was raised in the Syracuse area. He attended Henninger High School and graduated from the Sidney Johnson Center, a vocational program in the Syracuse City School District. He was employed by International Wire Group, Inc. in Williamstown. Baker was headed home from work when the crash occurred, his fiance, Kali Bennett said. Baker and Bennett have been best friends for nine years and theyve been dating for about a year, she said. We just fell in love, Bennett said. Bobby is the only one Ive been able to go to and talk to, no matter. We were always there for each other. Bakers family will remember him for his unconditional love for people. His laugh and smile were contagious, his mother said. Schramm said her son was unique" and that he saw the good in people and he always wanted to help others. He loved God, she said. He found his faith. Schramm said shell stay with Bennett in Pulaski to help her when the baby arrives. The baby will be Schramms first grandchild. A GoFundMe page was set up to help Bennett and the baby. Schramm said shes grateful for the outpouring of support from the community. Bennett said shell tell her son how much Baker loved him. Ill tell him that his father loved him unconditionally, Bennett said. Bobby would have been an amazing father. In addition to his fiance, Baker is survived by his parents, Schramm and Bobby Baker, Jr., and seven brothers and one sister. Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Carter Funeral Home, 1604 Grant Boulevard, with a service to follow. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester. Syracuse, NY -- A 44-year-old man who is being held in jail on at least eight separate crimes asked a judge today to reduce his bail on everything. Stephen Marks, of Syracuse, is facing a dizzying array of charges that took a jail deputy at least a minute to recount. All are apparently misdemeanors with relatively small amounts of bail. But together, they add up. A partial list on the jails website includes four theft charges in Syracuse, Camillus, Solvay and Clay, as well as impersonation charges and traffic violations. Marks' lawyer, Keith Young, didnt try to spin his clients record. Marks has had five previous felony convictions, two misdemeanors, two probation violations, four parole revocations, three failures to appear in court and a sealed youthful offender record. My client is a career criminal, Im not going to try to sugarcoat it," Young told County Court Judge Matthew Doran. Thats when Marks leaned over to his lawyer. Retired career criminal, Young corrected himself, based on his clients wishes. The lawyer went on to say that Marks had engaged in prison ministry and had found religion in jail." He asked that all of Markss bails be consolidated to $4,000 cash or bond. He acknowledged that he hadnt added up all the original bail amounts before court (Incomplete jail records show bail of at least $8,000 cash or $9,500 bond.) But prosecutor Lauren Phelps noted Marks' lengthy criminal history and asked for bail to be raised on each case. Doran, the judge, decided to leave all of the bails where they were set in lower courts. CAMDEN, N.Y. -- A Central New York man suffered massive head trauma after crashing his snowmobile into a tree in Camden on Thursday, according to the New York State Police. Joseph P. Beadle, 52, of Camden, was taken to Upstate University Hospital and is in critical condition, police said in a news release Friday. Troopers responded to 8690 Whiskey Island Road at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Thursday for a snowmobile accident. Beadle was riding his snowmobile southeast on Whiskey Island Road when he lost control, went off the east side of the road and hit a tree, police said. Beadle , who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected from the snowmobile, police said. He was pinned between the snowmobile and the tree, officials said. Police are investigating the accident. WESTMORELAND, N.Y. -- A 35-year-old Oneida County man was airlifted to Upstate University Hospital after a crash in the Westmoreland, according to the Oneida County Sheriffs Office. James Gonzalez, 35, of Vernon, is listed in critical condition at Upstate University Hospital, deputies said. Deputies responded to an accident at 3:50 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Skinner Road and State Route 26. An investigation into the crash found that Claude Crowell, 46, of Rome, was driving a 2008 Chrysler van when he tried to turn left from State Route 26 to Skinner Road, deputies said. Crowell crossed in front of a 2016 Chevrolet van driven north by Ashlee Rubyor on State Route 26, deputies said. Gonzalez was a passenger in Rubyors car. The crash closed State Route 26 in both directions until approximately 7:25 p.m., deputies said. Crowell was given a ticket for failing to yield to oncoming traffic on a left turn. Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Communications Workers of America is criticizing AT&T for its decision to close its 150-worker call center in downtown Syracuse while reaping a $20 billion windfall from the 2017 tax cut law. AT&T should have to explain why its rolling out closure after closure, and upending lives of workers whove given the company so much, CWA Telecommunications and Technologies Vice President Lisa Bolton said in a statement Thursday. To be out in front of the tax bill making promises about jobs and then pushing workers to relocate over 1,000 miles away -- there is simply no excuse. AT&T is profitable, theres an abundance of work to do in the company and no good reason why these jobs need to be moved out of Syracuse. AT&T said Monday it plans to close its call center at 250 S. Clinton St. in downtown Syracuse and consolidate the work into another company facility in Orange Park, Florida, to increase efficiency and make the most effective use of our facilities. The company said virtually all of the 150 employees at the Syracuse center are being offered jobs in Orange Park and a relocation allowance to assist with the move. The few employees who are not being offered jobs in Orange Park will be guaranteed a position elsewhere in the company, it said. But the CWA said many of the workers at the Syracuse center have been with AT&T for more than 20 years and their lives would be disrupted by a move to Florida. We need jobs with family-supporting wages and benefits in our communities, and with my kids in school and a home mortgage, its totally unrealistic for me to uproot myself at a moments notice, one of the workers, Monica Edwards, said in the union statement. Many of us will be forced to leave the company. AT&T booked a $20 billion windfall from the GOP-backed $1.5 trillion federal tax cut law, which CEO Randall Stephenson had long pushed for. Critics say the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act mostly benefits the very wealthy and corporate shareholders while doing nothing to create jobs. (The law cut the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent.) The CWA said the 150 jobs cuts in Syracuse are just the latest round of layoffs at AT&T call centers around the country. The company announced plans in December to close call centers in Indianapolis, Indiana; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Appleton, Wisconsin, and cut 10,700 jobs in 2018, the union said. AT&T spokesman Jim Kimberly said the company is reducing staffing in areas where demand for its legacy services is slowing but is hiring in areas where it is seeing increased customer demand for products and services. We hired over 17,000 people in the U.S. in 2017, including nearly 400 in New York, he said in an email to Syracuse.com. And we hired over 20,000 people last year, including nearly 500 in New York. Most are union-represented jobs. At the same time, technology improvements are driving higher efficiencies and there are some areas where demand for our legacy services continues to decline, and we must sometimes adjust our workforce in some of those areas, he said. Its not always easy, but like any business we must work consistently to ensure our workforce is aligned with the needs of our customers and the business. Syracuse, N.Y. -- AT&T has set the date it will close its call center in downtown Syracuse and cut 155 local jobs. The billing inquiry call center at 250 S. Clinton St. will close April 12, the telecommunications company said in a filing with the state under the New York Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. AT&T announced Monday that it will close the center when its lease expires and move its operations to a company facility in Orange Park, Florida, a suburb of Jacksonville. It did not publicly disclose the date of the closing at that time. The company has said nearly all the centers 155 employees will be offered jobs in Orange Park and a relocation allowance to assist with the move. The few workers who are not offered jobs in Orange Park will be guaranteed positions somewhere else within the company, it said. The Communications Workers of America, the union that represents workers at the center, on Thursday criticized the decision to close the center. The move, less than a month after the company announced the closings of three call centers in the Midwest, comes as AT&T is enjoying a $20 billion windfall from the 2017 federal tax cut law, the union said. Though workers at the center are being offered jobs in Florida, many have worked for the company for more than 20 years and a move more than 1,000 miles away would disrupt their lives, the union said. AT&T said the closing is part of an effort to increase efficiency and reallocate staffing from areas of its business that are seeing slowing demand to areas that are growing. The Syracuse center handles billing inquiries for wireline (landline) phone service. Ann Bower, American Legion, Department of Virginia Sixth District Commander, is raising money to take a group of approximately 30 veterans to the American Legion Centennial Gala March 23 in Richmond. The Gala, being held at the Marriott, will include a special recognition of the World War II veterans. Bower is hoping to raise $100-$140 per veteran to cover tickets, expenses and bus costs. On Friday, January 18, Bower is having a silent auction fundraiser at the Hotel Floyds Buffalo Mountain Conference Room from 1 to 7 p.m. Silent auction items are being donated by local merchants. A World War I centennial coin is included. Also at the event there will 50/50 giveaway tickets for a drawing to be held on March 10; you do not have to be present to win. An adult bicycle will also be given away. Bower will accept donations at any time. A Marion man will face charges in connection to the Sunday hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a Chilhowie woman. Virginia State Police Senior Trooper K.S. Chapman said 31-year-old Joseph H. Kestner was taken into custody without further incident late Wednesday evening. The trooper said Kestner initially admitted to being inside the vehicle when it crashed, but denied being the driver. He told investigators that the driver had blacked out before crashing into the Riverside Road home. But Wednesday, Kestner admitted to being the only person inside the vehicle, Chapman said. The crash happened just after 9 a.m. Sunday, when the gold 1993 Honda Accord ran off the road and crashed through 87-year-old Margaret Poes bedroom, killing her. The Honda crashed through four walls before it came to a rest protruding through the opposite end of the home. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, leaving the Honda behind inside the home. Chapman said Thursday that the cause of the crash is still under investigation. Murphy continued firing at the officers. The trooper returned fire, while simultaneously seeking cover for him and Goins behind a parked pickup truck. Murphy followed the officers outside and continued to fire at them. Martin ran out of ammunition and was attempting to reload when Goins began firing at Murphy while lying injured on the ground. Two of his shots struck Murphy in the chest and Murphy fell to the ground. He died on the scene. No shots were fired after Murphy fell, the letter said. During the incident, Murphy fired a total of 14 rounds from two handguns, the investigation showed. Martin fired 13 rounds from his service weapon and Goins fired nine rounds from his. The woman at the bus stop confirmed that she heard officers tell Murphy at least twice to get his hands out of his pockets, the letter said. She said Murphy started shooting for no reason, it added. In addition, the bus station attendant heard the officers commands, Jones said in the letter. In his incident report, Deputy Zack Puckett said he suspected Dunford was going to run so he used a one-step technique to take him down. According to the report, Dunford was taken to the Wythe County Sheriffs Office, where the Wythe County Rescue Squad checked him out. Puckett then took Dunford before a magistrate and obtained warrants for trespassing and obstruction of justice. Dunford was then transported to the New River Valley Jail. According to jail Superintendent Gregory Winston, Dunford entered the jail at 7:12 a.m. He was released from jail on bond at 6:59 p.m. Winston said Dunford was offered medical services when he arrived and around lunchtime. He could not provide specifics about any medical treatment because health information about inmates is protected. Dunfords family members said when they picked him up from the New River Valley Jail, he was injured and could not walk. Less than 48 hours later, Dunford was admitted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he died on Nov. 14. To reach Millie Rothrock, call 228-6611, ext. 35, or email mrothrock@wythenews.com The Aldi store in Savage is at 5785 Egan Drive in the OConnell Square. Rosenberg, TX (77471) Today Thunderstorms, some heavy this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph, becoming WNW and decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms, some heavy this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph, becoming WNW and decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Do you already have a paid subscription to any of the SWNewsMedia newspapers? If so, you can Activate your Premium online account by clicking here. Activation will allow you to view unlimited online articles each month. To activate your Premium online account, the email address and phone number provided with your paid newspaper subscription needs to match the information you use in setting up your online user account. If you are having trouble or want to confirm what email address and phone number is listed on your subscription account, please call 952-345-6682 or email circulation@swpub.com and we'll be happy to assist. A Sidney skilled nursing center is being closed by the state. Residents and staff of Sidney Care and Rehabilitation Center were informed of the decision Wednesday by Ken Klassmeyer of Klassmeyer and Associates, the company that has been managing the center since last March. That was when a Lancaster County Judge placed the center, and 20 others into receivership when the company, Cottonwood Healthcare, also known as Skyline, headquartered in New Jersey, could not make its payroll. In making the closure announcement Wednesday, Klassmeyer said the Sidney facility has been unable to become fin... LINCOLN The New Year will bring changes for owners of utility and farm trailers in Nebraska. From January 1, owners of utility or farm trailers will be asked to include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of their utility or farm trailer when registering their trailer for the first time, or when renewing their registration. If the trailer does not have a VIN, or if the VIN is unknown, the County Treasurer office will provide one. The County Treasurer will also provide a decal to display the assigned VIN on the trailer at no additional cost to the owner. This is an important step to bringing the registration of utility and farm trailers into line with other, similar types of trailer, said Rhonda Lahm, Director of the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. By including the VIN, or allocating a VIN to a trailer which doesnt have one, we are able to track ownership of trailers more accurately. In the event of theft, a VIN displayed on the trailer and registration document will assist in pairing the trailer with its owner. Currently, Nebraska residents are not required to provide a VIN to the County Treasurer office when registering a utility or farm trailer. In 2017, there were 184,770 utility and 81,784 farm trailers registered in Nebraska. Without a VIN recorded on the registration document, it can be a challenge to track ownership of a trailer, said Betty Johnson, Administrator of the Driver and Vehicle Records Division. We have been working closely with County Treasurer offices and agricultural groups to prepare for the upcoming changes. Existing utility and farm trailer owners do not need to do anything until their trailer registration is renewed. At that time, they can renew their trailer as normal and include the trailer VIN to ensure it is properly registered. The new information will ensure greater consistency in how trailers are registered and result in us providing a more comprehensive service to our customers. New trailer registration is completed at the owners local County Treasurer office. Renewals can be completed online at dmv.nebraska.gov, by mail, or at their local County Treasurer office. Cheyenne County Treasurer Shelly Bowlin said residents do not need to bring the information into the office until trailers are renewed or registered. Sandhills Publishing was among the many companies represented at the Job Fair at the Cheyenne County Community Center Wednesday. In all, 20 companies were available to provide information to prospective employees. Hopefuls flooded the Cheyenne County Community Center Wednesday, where 20 companies had representatives present at a job fair hosted by the City of Sidney's Economic Development department. On display were the possibilities of jobs across the board from labor to upper management. "I think in the first quarter of the year there are going to be a lot of opportunities," said Sidney Economic Development Director Melissa Norgaard. Those opportunities come not only from employers new to Sidney, but a number of those already established. By the job fair's midway point about 150 job seekers had entered the fair. The fair was scheduled to close at 2 p.m., but at that time a couple of the booths still had long lines of people seeking information. Tony Jones with ASI, an employment agency, said they were glad to see the turnout, as the company has been looking far and wide for people to fulfill job needs. Most of the ASI positions are hourly, but he Jones said the company has cast its net up to 100 miles away to find workers. UST Global's John Schlichfing said his company's subdivision, Xpansion, is hoping to fill 40 spots in the next 4-5 months, and as many as 200 over the next two years. Serving healthcare platform solutions, Xpansion got off to a slower start than originally hoped, Schlichfing said the company is still moving forward. "We're still dedicated to Sidney," he said. "We're developing resources here and look forward to what we can accomplish together." Schlichfing said the community was, and is, attractive because of the support it gives business. "We saw the support it gave Cabela's, and it gives heart to see such support." This is the third job fair sponsored by the city, and each time it has grown. Wednesday's fair also included MMP Enterprises, a Canadian company that just Tuuesday announced its expansion into Sidney. "We'll keep holding them as long as we need to," Norgard said. Companies in attendance included: Sidney Regional Medical Center, UST Global/Xpanxion, Sandhills Publishing, Agri-Plastics, Bell Lumber and Pole, Commercial Resins, Progress Rail, Legal Aid of Nebraska, Walmart, Advance Services, Renkoski Vegetations, Viaero Wireless, Sidney High School, 21st Century Equipment, ESU 13, Adams Industries, Regional West Medical Services, Colorado Department of Corrections, MMP Enterprises, GL Huyett, and the City of Sidney. A record number of entries for the 2019 Trustpower Photographic Exhibition have presented judges with an exciting challenge. When entries closed at midnight on Thursday for the 2019 Trustpower Photographic Exhibition more than 3600 entries had been received. Project lead Sally Cooke says they were once again overwhelmed with the calibre and number of photos. Last year we received over 2000 entries which was amazing for the second year of the event, so to top that this year with a more than 75 per cent increase I entry numbers is fantastic. It is great to see the community initiative continuing to grow. Sally says the judging process is now underway. Its an incredibly exciting part of the project, watching the judges deliberate and choose the 20 finalists who will appear on the large-scale display boards on The Strand for the Trustpower Photographic Exhibition. Its no easy task because of the diversity and caliber of entries. Even more exciting will be the awards presentation when we gather the 20 finalists together and announce the winners for this year. One of the judges, Mainstreet Taurangas Manager Millie Newitt says she has already started looking through some of the entries. Its going to be tough as there is an exceptionally high standard this year and there is amazing variety in the images. Choosing the top 20 wont be easy but its incredibly rewarding to judge this competition alongside the other judges and enjoy the talent that is on display through the photos. The winners will be announced and unveiled at an awards presentation on Friday, January 25 with the 20 finalists appearing in the exhibition and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place-getters sharing in $10,000 in cash prizes. The exhibition, which opens to the public immediately after the awards ceremony, is run as a partnership initiative with Trustpower, Downtown Tauranga, Media Works, UNO. Magazine and Weekend Sun and is believed to be New Zealands largest outdoor photographic exhibition. The exhibition season runs until April 14 on The Strand as a free community event. For more details go to www.downtowntauranga.co.nz An independent survey of nearly 1,000 New Zealanders reveals the Government's 2020 referendum on recreational cannabis use would gain 60 per cent support. New Zealand's largest licensed medicinal cannabis company, Helius Therapeutics, has released the result after commissioning Horizon Research which surveyed Kiwis on their attitudes towards cannabis, law reform, and its use. Of those surveyed, 60 per cent of adult New Zealanders say, on first glance, they would vote to support legalising cannabis for personal use in a referendum, with 24 per cent against, while 16 per cent had no opinion. Of most political parties currently in parliament, a clear majority of their supporters were in favour while notably less than half of National supporters (48 per cent) would actually vote against it, with 33 per cent in favour, and 19 per cent offering no opinion. At the same time 84 per cent of Green Party supporters were in favour of legalising cannabis for personal use. Overall support was also equally split between men and women - both at 60 per cent - while the age group most supportive was those between 25 to 34-year-olds at 75 per cent. Last month the Government also announced the referendum to be held at the 2020 general election would be binding as part of the confidence and supply agreement between the Labour and the Greens. This commitment is supported by the majority of survey participants with 53 per cent saying the Government should be bound by the referendum result. On legalised production, sales and tax, 68 per cent of all Kiwis believe that any tax revenue from the sale of legal cannabis products should be spent on health services; 63 per cent agree that those producing and selling cannabis should be regulated and licensed; 58 per cent believe that penalties for breaking any laws governing the sale of cannabis for legal personal use should about the same as those for breaking laws on alcohol sales; and those 60 per cent believe that legal cannabis will result in lower levels of crime or have no effect. The survey also reveals that 55 per cent of adult New Zealanders say they have used cannabis at some time during their lives. On the question of frequency, 10 per cent of all survey respondents said they use cannabis daily - equating to around 340,000 Kiwis. Executive Director of Helius Therapeutics Paul Manning says the referendum support will be encouraging for the many New Zealanders who support the liberalisation of recreational cannabis use. Whilst his company's focus remains on researching and developing cannabis therapeutics, legalising recreational use will further change the future market dynamics. "From this survey, it appears a majority of New Zealanders will vote yes at the 2020 referendum. Its also encouraging for us to see an overwhelming 81 per cent of Kiwis continue to support the legal production of medicines from cannabis. This very strong support for medicinal use reflects other poll results we've seen calling for widespread access to cannabis for therapeutic purposes. If New Zealand follows a similar path to Canada, where both medical and recreational sales are permitted, we will see the total domestic market for cannabis-based products expand significantly," says Paul. "Although we have no plans to operate in the recreational space, the referendum could open up the opportunity to offer New Zealanders a wider variety of cannabis-based wellness products, such as functional foods, beverages and cosmetics. Many of these would likely remain prohibited under medicinal cannabis legislation alone," he says. Paul notes that the Horizon survey reveals supporters of all the parties currently in parliament overwhelming favour legal cannabis use in medicines, including 77 per cent of National supporters. The Government passed The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill late last year, setting the way for the creation of a medicinal cannabis scheme that will allow New Zealand companies like Helius to manufacture medicinal cannabis products for both the local and international markets. Regulations, licensing rules and quality standards will be set on expert advice within a year. "2020 is going to be a watershed year for cannabis. The referendum on legalising personal use will take place while at the same time licensed New Zealand Grown medicinal cannabis products from Helius are expected to be available, to ease the suffering of many New Zealand patients." Paul says 2019 will also be an important year - when the voices of mainstream New Zealanders will again need to be heard with the Ministry of Health set to release a consultation paper, asking for public input on the design of the medicinal cannabis regulations. Commissioned by Helius Therapeutics and carried out independently by Horizon Research, the results are from a nationwide survey of 995 adults representing the 18+ population at the 2013 census, conducted between October 10 and 26 2018. Respondents are members of Horizons nationwide research panels. Results are weighted by age, gender, education level, personal income and employment status to provide a presentative population sample. At a 95 per cent confidence level, the maximum margin of error is +/- 3.1 per cent. Residents are reminded to think about their water use as we head into another hot, dry weekend. The Tauranga water supply is under pressure with high demand and is being monitored closely. If water use continues to increase, a sprinkler ban is likely to be put in place. Tauranga City Waters Manager Steve Burton says that we can all do our bit to conserve water. There are simple ways to save water while still taking good care of gardens. If you water your garden, do it in the cooler hours of the day to make every drop count. Use a hose rather than sprinklers and use a broom instead of hose when cleaning down outdoor surfaces." Other water saving tips: fix any drips and leaks in your household contact our Waterline team for a free advice on how to be more water efficient around the home mulch your garden to keep moisture in turn off the tap when shaving or brushing your teeth take shorter showers For more information and conservation tips, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/savingwater Tauranga water use level. Whakatane is gearing up to host the towns first-ever Seafood Festival this month, with Kiwi pop artist Theia set to headline the event. Thousands are expected to flock to the Eastern Bay of Plenty for the inaugural festival on January 19, which is being held at Te Hau Tutua Park at the picturesque Whakatane Heads opposite the iconic Wairaka on the rock statue. Proceeds from the day will go to the Whakatane Coastguard. Gates open at midday and the event finishes at 7pm after a performance by Christchurch-born artist Theia. The singer and songwriter, who was nominated for three awards at the 2017 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, is one of the countrys most exciting pop acts, with a number of hits to her name, including Roam, Treat You and her latest single Candy. Theia has performed at some of the biggest festivals in New Zealand, including R&V, Bay Dreams and Homegrown and is looking forward to performing her first-ever show in the summer hot spot of Whakatane. It is such a beautiful town, with so many friendly and welcoming locals. I have visited a number of times but Ive never had the chance to perform there. And the setting down at The Heads, right on the water, is just magical. I cant wait! Other acts set to play at the festival include Tasman Az and local Eastern Bay of Plenty talent Jinan Dodd, Made Alive, Jade Pritchard, Shelley Akuhata and Stix n Stones. The Whakatane Seafood Festival will feature some of the most popular pop-up food vendors and established culinary names in the country, with punters able to choose from a tasty selection of the best seafood New Zealand has to offer, with much of it caught fresh right in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. On the menu will be a delicacies such as paua, kina, crayfish, mussels, oysters, scallops, a variety of fresh fish, as well as non-seafood dishes. There will also be an appearance and cooking demonstration from Whakatane very own Pat Salmon from the hit TV series MKR. Office Bar and Grill will be providing beer and wine, with local company Mata Brewery also on site with their selection of unique craft beers and cider. The festival is open to all ages, with a special Kids Zone hosting a number of fun and exciting activities, including face painting, a super slide, bouncy castles and mini cars. Theres also lots of fun for the adults, with competitions for fish filleting, mussel shelling and for those keen on fancy dress, a prize for best dressed. For more information about the festival visit https://whakataneseafoodfestival.nz/ Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Sponsored By: Arvest Bank In North Korea, the more effective sanctions have resulted in higher taxes for most people. Not so much in the form of cash, although families are increasingly told to contribute cash or goods for some local government project. The most burdensome tax is free labor, especially if it involves working outside during cold weather. The food shortages make this kind of tax increasingly difficult to handle. One can pay bribes to avoid the manual labor, but those are escalating as well. Making matters worse the food production in 2018 was unusually low (for various reasons) and the inability to find enough food for the military became acute. Morale took a big hit and criminal activity by troops increased. In response, the government has demanded a larger share of harvests. Better the unarmed farmers should suffer than all those armed and trained soldiers. Taking all these demands into account North Koreans are more heavily taxed than the much wealthier (and better fed) southerners. More North Koreans are becoming aware of this angle and it is another cause for growing unrest. The need for more cash has spread to Christian churches in northeast China and South Korea. Many North Korean defectors join these churches and North Korea secret police have often done so as part of their job to collect information on subversives. In the last year, those orders have changed and the agents who are still active in these churches in northeast China have been ordered to change their focus to seeking business opportunities that will raise cash for the North Korean government. The agents have been told to seek out Church members with business connections in South Korea and develop those connections. These can be legal or illegal, as long as they are profitable. Collecting information on enemies of the state is now secondary to raising cash, the shortage of which has become the greatest enemy North Korean rulers currently face. North Korean and local ethnic Korean-Chinese in northeast China have long been vulnerable to North Korean interference. If the North Korean agents can secretly get the Chinese police to back off persecuting their church or individual believers the agent gains increased influence in the church. This was long suspected but some of the recent senior defectors have apparently confirmed this. For Chinese and North Korean Christians this is just another aspect of persecution they have been increasingly subject to. Over the last decade, China has become increasingly hostile to local Christians and religions in general. In early 2017 China expelled 32 South Korean Christian missionaries who were working along the North Korean border. The missionaries have long worked among the many ethnic Koreans living in the area. Most of these ethnic Koreans are Chinese citizens but a growing number are illegal migrants from North Korea. China also prosecuted two South Korean clergymen for assisting North Koreans to escape from North Korea and into China. South Korean Christian missionaries who were working along the North Korean border. The missionaries have long worked among the many ethnic Koreans living near the North Korean border. Most of these ethnic Koreans are Chinese citizens but a growing number are illegal migrants from North Korea. Since 2014, China has also applied more pressure to Christian charities and foreign Christians in general who are operating in China near the North Korean border. Many of these Christians (especially ethnic Koreans from the West) are known or suspected of helping North Koreans escape North Korea and get to South Korea. It is unlikely North Korea will go so far as to drop their nuclear weapons program because of all this assistance, even if thats what China really wants. Nevertheless China is trying the carrot with North Korea although the stick (messing with the North Korean economy by halting trade and Chinese investment) has been used more and more The anti-Christian campaign was not confined to the North Korean border but throughout China in areas where Christians are a large (meaning over five percent) of the population. Christians have often been persecuted by the communist government and that usually happens again when more Chinese Christians are too active in practicing what they preach. In North Korea, the government also carried out a major crackdown on Christianity, which is seen as a subversive belief in the north and persecuted more aggressively than in China. North Korean leaders believe that religion is a major threat. So the secret police operating in China were spending a lot of time monitoring ethnic Korean Christians there, especially those who openly support helping North Koreans become Christian or practicing religion there. There have been more arrests of Christians in the north, even in the capital. People practice religion in private, but informers are everywhere and there ware rewards for those who bring in information the government wants. The militantly atheist North Korean government considers possession of a bible a major crime and has over 50,000 local Christians in prison camps. The death rate in those camps is high and North Korean Christians who have fled the country report many fellow Christians simply disappearing. By 2007 Christianity was seen as a growing threat to communist control in North Korea. There were a rapidly expanding number of Christian converts. Since the early 1990s South Korean Christian churches have been working to get missionaries, as well as information about Christianity, into North Korea. They have succeeded, and North Koreans have taken to it, even at the risk of death or imprisonment. Missionaries (usually North Koreans who escaped to China, got religion and training, and returned) who get caught are executed or sent to prison. By 2007 it was believed there were over 10,000 Christians in the north and the number was (and still is) growing rapidly. These missionary activities have been an embarrassment to South Korea, which tends to play down the nastier aspects of North Korea (the regular executions, and the hundreds of thousands in harsh prison camps.) Negotiation Theatre At the moment the North Korean negotiations are stalemated with the Americans insisting on decisive and verifiable moves by North Korea to denuclearize and North Korea apparently unwilling to be serious about that and instead using its usual tactics of demanding substantial concessions (especially economic relief) from South Korea and the United States. That sort of thing does not work as well as in the past because by now it is obviously all a scam pretending to be sincere negotiations. North Korea is actually seeking some economic relief while it continues work on its nuclear weapons. Most of the work on improving the current crude nuclear weapon design North Korea has is done in research centers that can be easily hidden. North Korea is known to have built, over the last few years, a new underground complex near the Chinese border. The remote area where this underground facility is has been declared a high-security zone and it is known that some well taken care of people are doing high-tech work there. Kim needs time to complete the nuclear weapon improvements, then conduct another underground test which he knows the Americans and South Koreans can analyze (from seismic and atmospheric evidence) to determine how much of an improvement the new design is. Ultimately Kim could put one of those upgraded nuclear weapons on a ballistic missile and fire it out into the ocean where there would be the first open-air nuclear explosion since 1980 when China did it one last time before moving its tests underground. Most atmospheric testing stopped in the 1960s when the U.S., Russia and a growing list of other nuclear powers agreed to stop atmospheric testing. North Korea knows breaking that convention would get a lot of attention and, they hope, make everyone more willing to halt sanctions and submit to North Korean extortion efforts. Making extortion demands more effective has long been a North Korean objective. That is why North Korea is always demanding South Korea and the Americans halt joint training exercises. A lot of that training has to do with quickly destroying or disabling artillery, rocket and missile weapons aimed at the South Korean capital. These defensive measures have accelerated since the 2010 North Korea attacks against South Korea (sinking a warship and shelling a South Korean island off the west coast). In 2012 South Korea announced plans to purchase and deploy over a thousand new ballistic and cruise missiles over the next five years. That happened and more besides. These missiles and air-launched missiles would be aimed at specific North Korean missile launchers and artillery positions. In the event of a war, the South Korean missiles would be quickly launched and every North Korean missile or artillery weapon eliminated would mean less destruction in South Korean territory. The North Korean plan had always been to start any future war with an enormous bombardment of the South Korean capital (Seoul) with shells, rockets, and missiles. Most would be aimed at the South Korean capital, and largest city, Seoul. This is where half the population and a quarter of the GDP are. South Koreans have more to lose than the northerners. Sprawling Seoul is 40-50 kilometers from the North Korea border. The city alone is 600 square kilometers, and the suburbs even larger. There are over 17,000 people per square kilometer (45,000 per square mile) in the city. The southerners know the north has nothing to lose, are desperate and heavily armed. What do you do? South Korea has responded by increasing its ability to quickly halt any rocket and artillery bombardment from the north. This would involve a lot of artillery and smart bomb use in a short time. Many North Korean targets would be destroyed, but the south has much more to lose, even if the northern attack is cut short. As part of this South Korean program, the Americans agreed to add more air-launched missiles to their South Korean stockpile and increase joint training exercises to integrate American forces in the South Korean effort to diminish the North Korean threat against Seoul. North Korea has been increasingly intent on getting those joint training efforts halted, usually by calling them aggression even though they are entirely defensive and about neutralizing the North Korean threat to Seoul. North Korea has also intensified it's less publicized negotiating efforts by seeking to meet with American politicians and former government officials who might be more sympathetic to North Korea. It is no secret that there is always a political opposition in the American government and North Korea is seeking whatever it can from the opposition. North Korea has also been successful in dividing South Korea (which is more willing to make deals) and the United States. The Americans realize that South Korea has an edge in that they are fellow Koreans to North Korea and feel less vulnerable to a North Korean nuclear attack. The U.S. and Japan are another matter. Both are foreigners to both Koreans and Chinese and animosity for Japanese World War II atrocities is still an issue throughout East Asia. North Korea would be capable of firing a ballistic missile with a crude (might not work) nuke at Japan in a few years. If it were aimed at an American base (actually major American bases in Japan are used by Japanese and American troops) and the missiles were not intercepted the North Koreans would be admired by many East Asians even as their governments condemned this use of nuclear weapons. The Japanese are aware of their vulnerability and that explains their rapidly growing defense budget and the relative lack of nuclear anxiety in South Korea and China. North Korea always talks about nuking the United States but they will be able to hit Japan far sooner than North America. China is willing to unofficially reduce sanctions as long as North Korea follows Chinese advice about reforming their economy and adopting more of the techniques that have enabled China to remain a communist police state while also benefitting from a free market economy. Kim Jong Un is apparently succeeding in convincing China that North Korea will accelerate its adoption of Chinese economic practices. That includes being more open to economic cooperation with South Korea. Since the 1990s South Korea and China have become major trading partners. South Koreans are becoming more willing to help North Korea economically even though that will mean less incentive for North Korea to denuclearize. At the moment it is clear that North Korea is not planning to denuclearize. Internal propaganda repeats that and much critical work on perfecting a nuke that could be used against Japan continues. North Korea assumes Japan would never create their own nuclear arsenal (which would make it possible for Japan to hurt North Korea a lot more in retaliation for a North Korean nuclear attack.) So far the North Korean assessment of Japanese willingness to build nukes is correct but it is not a sure thing. In the first week of 2019, the Japanese government declared that North Korea was an imminent threat. If Japan goes nuclear it will have a defense against North Korea and Chinese nuclear threats. But the political cost, inside Japan and throughout Asia, would be high. The threat of Japan building nukes has been around for decades but it has become less of a bad joke and more of serious possibility as North Korea gets closer to having a working nuke and a willingness to use it against Japan. Thought Police Send A Message To The Rich Kids Another escalating North Korean demand is for North Koreas to stop watching South Korea TV and movies (via smuggled memory sticks or cards). To emphasize that point police recently arrested some 12 year old students, including one who was the son of a senior official, for watching South Korea videos. There are special prisons for kids this age and they are not pleasant. For the child of a senior official, it ruins future educational and career prospects. The secret police were apparently ordered to make an example that the children of senior officials would pay attention to. This unprecedented prosecution of children from high ranking families it part of a growing purge throughout the senior government and military leadership. As corruption and bad behavior (especially from family members) grows among the senior families Kim Jong Un has made it easier to get in trouble and lose your job (and possibly your freedom or life). Anyone related to a defector is at great risk as are those related to anyone caught with large amounts of bribe income. This large scale purge of high ranking bureaucrats is replacing experienced and often more talented officials with those who are, above all, more loyal to Kim. This is a common situation in dictatorships and the more loyal but less able officials tend to be a lot less effective in handling growing popular unrest, especially inside the military. As the old Chinese curse puts it, May you live in interesting times. Smuggler Blues China continues to tolerate a certain amount of North Korean smuggling and financial misbehavior. But North Korea must be discreet because China is officially backing (if not actually enforcing) most of the economic sanctions on North Korea. Since a crackdown on Chinese banks a few years ago North Korea has moved most of its illegal finance operations out of China. North Korea has established a network of companies and banks that will act (for a fee) as middlemen in turning North Korean profits from foreign operations into products that can be shipped to North Korea without any real proof North Korea paid for it. Of course, it is obvious that these imports are not free foreign aid but the source of payment is difficult to trace, often more trouble than it is worth. But when the effort is made a new North Korea financial network is detected. China is also helping North Korea control its side of the border by making it easier to purchase the latest Chinese surveillance camera equipment. China is a leader in this market and the Chinese government is a huge customer. The North Koreans are particularly interested in surveillance cameras that are easy to conceal the better to catch defectors or smugglers who believe they will not be detected. Same applies for border control guards who take bribes. North Korea does not want to stop smuggling but it does want most of it to be government controlled. This is vital to bring in the luxury goods (now banned by UN sanctions) via China. These luxury and consumer items are needed for gifts to reward successful officials and also to stock the hard currency shops that carry foreign goods that can be purchased using dollars, euros or yuan. With more donju (entrepreneurs) and government officials getting bribe income these shops are busier and in need of more frequent resupply. Reckless Disregard On The Streets Of North Korea A growing number of North Koreans dont worry about being seen by police while misbehaving. Brawling in the streets and other places where alcohol is consumed is increasingly common. The rowdy North Koreans will often curse at the police and make threats (which are increasingly carried out against off-duty police walking alone at night). Younger North Koreans tend to be hostile to their own government and not afraid to sound off in public. They know there is safety in numbers because there are not enough prison camps to hold many of the disrespectful and these are expensive to operate (even though inmates are used as slave labor). The growing antagonism towards the government, combined with the increased difficulty with making a living legally, has led to more crime among the young and some of that crime involves burglary and robbery. Some parts of the country suffer more from this than others. Areas around military bases are becoming particularly dangerous for the locals. All those malnourished conscripts (many serving for ten years) are increasingly turning to larceny on and off base. Sometimes you can get away with it by sharing the proceeds with an officer who will protect his felons. Even the elite secret police units who are supposed to be bribe-proof will often pretend to be willing to take a bribe to let potential defectors (or, better yet, family groups) to get out of the country. At the last minute, the secret policeman will reveal that it was a scam and they are under arrests. This wins points from the secret policeman's superiors and improves chances of promotion. Some of these bait and switch agents will actually take a bribe and have it both ways. Another North Korean Diplomat Defects In early January, Italy revealed that Jo Song Gil the acting North Korean ambassador to Italy was officially missing, along with his wife since early last November. All Italian officials could say was that the couple had probably arranged asylum with a Western country and were now under the protection of that country. It turned out to be Italy, where the Italian government is protecting Jo until he can move to the United States, where he has applied for asylum. Such defections are usually kept very secret until the high-level defector has been debriefed and his ultimate refuge arranged. The last North Korean diplomat defection was in 2016 when one in Britain did so. After that North Korea increased security measures to prevent such defections and life for North Korean diplomats became more difficult. Most of these defectors move to South Korea while others remain in some Western country. In this case, other senior defectors who personally know Jo are publicly urging him to come to South Korea where many of the 32,000 North Korean defectors are active in the reunification movement. The senior defectors, especially the diplomats, are very important because they have experience with the highest levels of the North Korean government and are invaluable in advising South Korean and foreign officials on what is actually happening in North Korea and how to deal with North Koreans in general. For example, Jo can provide useful details on what, if anything, is going on with the North Korean leadership and the current reunification and denuclearization talks. Senior North Korean defectors agree that the North Korean leader has no intention of giving up his nukes or moving forward with reunification. But before Jo can be heard from Western intel agencies have to be sure he is a genuine defector and not a North Korean agent. Such fake defector tactics are real, but rare. All North Korean defectors seeking asylum in South Korea must go through an intense screening to minimize the risk of a double agent getting through. For a senior defector that involves verifying details of the defectors kin back in North Korea and what is happening to them. These days Western intel organizations can reliably verify details about many things in North Korea, but it takes time and money to get the North Korean information broker network (which operates out of northeast China) to get the request in and responses out. This is one reason why North Korea has been cracking down on people smugglers and information brokers moving people, data and other items back and forth across the China/North Korea border. So far the North Korean crackdown has caused smuggler fees and delivery times to go up. As with the ancient Great Wall of China, it does not stop unwelcome invaders it just slows them down. A genuine senior defector can provide valuable updates on loyalty and effectiveness among the senior leadership in North Korea. This is crucial at a time like this, with growing signs of popular resistance to the Kim dictatorship and declining discipline among the few percent of North Koreans to keep the Kim government going. China has its own intel sources inside North Korea, which are considered to what South Korea and the United States have and a new senior defector provides updates on what the Chinese situation is within North Korea. Jo Song Gil comes from a high-caste family that has produced a number of senior diplomats. Jo and his wife are believed to have two young children who may have defected with them (unless they were still back in North Korea as hostages to prevent defection by their parents.) Jo became acting ambassador in October 2017 because the regular ambassador had been expelled by Italy because of a recent North Korean nuclear test. In late November Jo was officially replaced as ambassador and at that time was believed reassigned back to North Korea. January 2, 2019: China began the New Year by threatening Taiwan with invasion if it did not accept Chinese rule. China offers a deal similar to what Hong Kong got when it rejoined China when the British lease expired in 1997. That did not go as planned, as far as the people of Hong Kong were concerned. But while few Chinese in British Hong Kong ever considered Hong Kong an independent country, 70 percent of the people in Taiwan do. The Chinese do not want violence, not when threats and economic warfare have worked pretty well so far. The costs of a war with Taiwan would be substantial, even if it did not trigger a wider war with the United States. The risk of an armed conflict is an interruption in economic activity in China. It is a particularly bad time for that sort of thing right now. In response, Taiwan suggested that China try democracy as a solution for the growing political and economic problems the mainland Chinese are facing. That sounds attractive to many Chinese who note that it has worked in Singapore, as well as Taiwan. South Korea and Japan are also good examples because those two nations have cultures largely derived from Chinese practices. But the Chinese leadership is not interested. January 10, 2019: The South Korean president announced he will pressure the United States to ease sanctions on North Korea. January 7, 2019: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in China, aboard his private train, for a fourth visit. This one lasted four days and apparently consisted of Chinese officials reminding Kim how important it is for the Kim dynasties survival that Kim Jong Un pay attention to Chinese economic advice. Kim was taken to several Chinese workplaces to see the Chinese economy in action and have it explained to him how it would work in North Korea. Kim has been more cooperative with China than with South Korea or the United States and for good reason. China is the only reliable and effective ally North Korea has. In the past, North Korea has ignored and embarrassed China but no more. North Korea has been at odds with China ever since Kim Jong Un took power in 2012. In 2014 Kim was told that China would not come to the aid of the current North Korean government if the government collapses or starts a war. Since 2014 China has been cracking down on North Korean use of China for illegal imports and exports. Nothing seemed to work for China when it came to North Korea (or South Korea for that matter). This was humiliating for the Chinese leaders and while the Chinese government does not discuss this, many Chinese do talk about this disrespect and the Chinese leaders pay attention to that. But what could China do about an increasingly troublesome and disrespectful North Korean leadership? North Koreas traditional allies China and Russia, have found that, unlike before 2012, they now had little sway over the North Korean government. The Russians could ignore all this but China could not. To make matters worse China found itself being publicly insulted by North Korea, something that was unknown before Kim Jong Un came to power. In response, China began publicly criticizing things that were wrong in North Korea (mismanagement, nuclear weapons, criminality in general). China sent senior officials to North Korea in late 2015 to spell out in some detail the consequences of continued bad behavior. That did not fix the problem. As usual, when it comes to North Korea the situation was expected to get very interesting. Especially since China offered a carrot as well as a stick. Following the 2015 warning, Chinese censors were ordered to suppress popular criticism of North Korea and to have state-controlled media say nice things about Kim Jong Un for a while. Thus China offers North Korea a choice; cooperate and be rewarded or keep disrespecting their elder brother and suffer the consequences. Until 2018 North Korea had not cooperated but China was patient and eventually, reality caught up with the troublesome (and now in big trouble) Kim Jong Un. The elder brother is being listened to, respected and obeyed. December 27, 2018: South Korea complained to China that another Chinese military aircraft (apparently a Y-9 recon aircraft) had violated South Koreas ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) and flew in and out of the ADIZ three times before leaving. South Korea sent warplanes aloft to confront the intruder. This is the eighth such intrusion this year. In 2013 China announced a new ADIZ that overlapped South Korean, Philippine and Japanese air space. China demanded that any foreign military or commercial aircraft request permission before flying into this zone. South Korea and Japan protested while the United States quickly flew some B-52s into the disputed zone without asking for Chinese permission. China protested and the United States ignored them just as China ignores South Korean protests. December 26, 2018: On the DMZ a ceremony was held to mark the reconnection of South Korean and North Korean rail lines for the first time since the 1950s. The ceremony was mainly for show since the current sanctions prevent the two Koreas from going any further. Worse, it turns out that the North Korean rail network needs major upgrades and refurbishment before it can handle more traffic and do so at efficient levels (higher speeds by heavier rail cars for longer periods). In 2018 South Korean rail officials were allowed to make a personal inspection of key North Korean rail lines and found the conditions worse than expected. North Korea allowed South Korea engines and railroad cars to be used. Since the 1990s much less has been spent on repairs and maintenance and the North Korea railroads are increasingly unusable. Despite that reviving rail links between the two Koreas has been a goal for more than five years. For both Koreas, there are tantalizing trade possibilities. For example, an effective rail link could lead to business for North Korea by allowing South Korean goods to move through North Korea to China, Russia and (via the Trans-Siberian rail line) the rest of Eurasia. This is very concrete optimism for all three countries and is being backed by cash commitments from Russia and South Korea. It all depends on the northern leaders agreeing that economic reforms are the way to salvation. At the moment the northern elite fears any change because it might bring revolution. But the change is happening anyway and the more affluent neighbors are trying to explain it all to the perplexed northern leadership. December 21, 2018: Japan approved a record defense budget of $47 billion for 2019. This is the fifth year that Japan has increased defense spending and it is all about North Korea and China. This comes less than two weeks after South Korea announced another record increase (8.3 percent) in its defense budget. In 2019 South Korea will spend $43 billion on its military. Thats nearly as much as Japan (with a much larger economy) spends. The 2018 South Korea budget had the largest increase (6.9 percent) in the defense budget since 2009. Although North Korea openly complains about how unfair and unfriendly these increases are they are a direct result of the increasing threat from North Korea. The annual South Korean defense budget is more than a third larger than the annual GDP of North Korea (which spends about a third of GDP on defense compared to less than three percent in South Korea). The United States and South Korea agreed to send North Korea anti-flu drugs to deal with the particularly nasty strain of influenza this year. The disease constantly evolves and the versions that appear each year vary in their impact on patients. Because of the flu problems in North Korea, it is believed that these drugs will actually be used and not sold (on North Korean or Chinese markets) for hard currency, which North Korea values more than the health of its citizens. December 20, 2018: South Korea revealed a hacker had used a spearfishing attack to get into a government network that aided North Korean defectors. The hackers got away with names and other personal information on 997 North Koreans living in South Korea. North Korea is always seeking such information, and often getting it, and using the data to threaten defectors more effectively and attempt to persuade some to return to North Korea (and provide propaganda about how disappointing life in South Korea is, to discourage more defections) or become spies for North Korea. These intimidation efforts tend to backfire but succeed often enough to seem worthwhile to North Korea. Some defectors are persuaded to return, but their propaganda (lectures, TV appearances and so on) have little impact on North Koreans. Some spies are recruited, but most are apparently double agents, who quietly contact South Korea intelligence about the North Korean offer and arrange to get involved in order to collect information on North Korean espionage other secret operations in South Korea. The South Korea navy received the last of four LST II class amphibious assault ships from a local shipbuilder. The new LST will require 3-4 months of crew training and sea trials before it is ready for service. The LST IIs are 7,100 ton vessels that can carry 300 hundred troops as well as 10-20 vehicles. There is a landing pad that can hold two helicopters. Two smaller landing craft that can run up on a beach are also carried. The first ship entered service in 2015 and are part of an expansion of South Korea amphibious forces. The South Korean Marine Corps is being expanded from 25,000 men to 32,000 by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, South Korea is becoming a major builder of modern warships. Not just in the region but worldwide. December 19, 2018: The international air patrol off the west coast of North Korea has seen many of its aircraft harassed by Chinese jet fighters. The patrol, in international waters, uses large, slow, maritime patrol aircraft and aircraft from Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have complained, and documented, the harassment efforts by the Chinese. The patrol seeks out ships smuggling goods for North Korea. This includes ships (some of them known by name and type) that are used to transfer smuggled goods (including oil) at sea to North Korea ships. December 14, 2018: In South Korea, Thai naval officers accepted delivery of a 3,700 ton frigate recently completed in South Korea. The HTMS Tachin will arrive in Thailand on January 6th. The 136 man crew are already in South Korea. Another of these frigates is being assembled in Thailand. According to SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute), an independent defense research organization, as of 2017 Russia is now the second largest arms manufacturer in the world. Russia passes Britain first time since the Cold War ended. The United States remains in first place, with $227 billion in sales by 42 major firms. Russia is second with $38 billion and Britain third $36 billion. Taken together Western European nations have total sales of $94 billion which is about the same as Chinese arms firms, whose published data shows about $95 billion for 2017. SIPRI notes that it leaves China out because it has not got comparable data for China going back to 2002 (which is when the current data begins for the Top 100 Defense firms). During the Cold War, SIPRI did not include Russia or other communist nations with command economies (most of East Europe, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam and China) for the same reason SIPRI was founded in 1966 with the help of the Swedish government to compile and publish, among other things, unclassified (open source) data on weapons production and exports to be used as a basis for negotiation arms control agreements. SIPRI has been pretty strict about using only reliable sources and that was a problem with the larger communist nations which produced a lot of weapons. These communist nations tended to sell to anyone who can pay and that practice did not end with the collapse of most communist nations in the late 1980s and early 1990s. China avoided this collapse by adopting a form of radical socialism (which Russian communism was) that allowed free enterprise rather than the state ownership of all economic activity by the state, as practiced by the Russian Soviet Union and China, up until the 1980s. This total state ownership approach does not work, although it still has advocates (North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela). China switched to a modified form of radical socialism in which the unelected government allows free enterprise as long as these firms are loyal to the state (in the form of the CCP, or Chinese Communist Party). Its not politically correct to point out that this is what Germany was after the National Socialist German Workers' Party (or Nazis) took control of Germany in the mid-1930s, about twelve years after the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was established by the Russian Communist Party. The Bolsheviks sought to practice a pure form of socialism in which the state owned everything. The national socialist approach uses nationalism and only as much socialism as the economy can support. As the Nazis, Italians and Japanese demonstrated during World War II this approach did not work either. The Chinese communists believe they have learned from past mistakes of others and have, after three decades, kept it all going. But China is still trying to cope with the nationalism (reviving the Chinses empire at the expense of the neighbors) angle as well as the problems encountered when the strict controls over media and much else proved unenforceable with a huge new middle class full of well-educated Chinese who were willing and able to express disagreements with how the government and economy were being run. When China allowed the economy to operate under a free market model in the 1980s that led to more and more privately owned firms dominating the economy and obliged to provide generally reliable financial data in order to raise needed capital from banks and financial markets. Although nearly half the major firms are still state-owned, all have to compete and provide a certain amount of data on operations to compete in the world market. Thus data on the production (or at least the value of it) of Chinese arms firms are available but not to the extent it is in Western nations where there are a lot of laws mandating audited and published financial data. Chinese firms only give up as much of this as they must to gain and maintain access to world markets. Thus it is possible to compile comparable (to what SIPRI collects) data on what the major Chinese arms firms produce, and it is currently about $95 billion and has been rising rapidly since 2002. Sometime in the last decade, China passed Russia (the longtime second largest arms producer) to move into second place. China continues to be secretive about who it sells to, which some Western producers sometimes do (announcing a sale to an unnamed customer). But in the case of these Western firms, the unnamed customer is eventually identified. For Chinese customers, the unidentified customers are often outlaws or customers in areas under international (usually UN) arms embargoes apply. Such exports are illegal and China will protect Chinese firms caught carrying out these illegal sales because the Chinese government does exercise control over who can make secret purchases and who cannot. So while it was nearly impossible to get any reliable sales data from the communist nations where the economy was state-owned, that is not the case with the other form of radical socialism where free enterprise is tolerated as long as it serves, and obeys the state. SIPRI is unwilling, so far, to use data for China that might warrant an asterisk next to it (to indicate not strictly comparable to other data but close enough because China is such a major producer). Written by ACM *Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- On Space, the Biggest Generator of various High-Tech. Innovations, Christmas 2018 and the Beginning of the New Year 2019 were Both Marked by some highly Symbolic Rendez-Vous, bearing Catchy Names as "Mars InSight" and "New Horizons", etc, and Signaling the Fact that Space Exploration Projects are Back, (after a Long Eclipse, during former US President Barack Hussein Obama : See ..., etc), including for Human Space Flight. Americans, Russians, Chinese, and even, soon India, are Now Present in this relaunched Race, which includes also the rest of the Europeans, mainly through various Cooperations and "Autonomous" Projects. But the key Question of EU's "Autonomy" in Space Access, still Remains Open (See Infra)... - Thus, f.ex., Launched on May 2018, (i.e. when New USA President Don Trump had just presented his Vision for a "Moon to Mars" Strategy including Human SpaceFlight, 50 Years after the Historic "Apollo" landing of Austronauts on the Moon), NASA's "Mars InSight" landed at the Red Planet on November 2018, at ..."Elysium planitia", (i.e. while Trump was Visiting the French "Elysee" Presidential Palace in Paris), and brought a pioneer French Tool for Seismic Research, whose Mission extends up to November 2020, (i.e., by another yet Coincidence, until the Next USA Presidential Election !) Already, around Christmas 2018, "Mars InSight" gave its First Photographs from the spot, as a Welcome Christmas Gift... + And on this 1st January of the New Year 2019, NASA's "New Horizons" Spacecraft, initially Launched already as Early as since ...January 2006, (i.e. soon after former US President GWBush's - a Supporter of Space Exploration - unexpectedly Brillant Re-Election on November 2004, immediately Followed by an Iimportant Trip in Europe, including at nearby Germany, f.ex. at Gutemberg's City Mainz, where "Eurofora"s co-Founder met him : Comp. our Publication, then, at "TCWeekly", etc), Now Reached "the Most Distant Object" ever Directly Explored by Man : But, even if it's Named ..."Ultima Thule", in fact, this Asteroid is the First among Thousands of various objects that "New Horizons" is due to Explore accross the "Kuiper Belt", at the outer area of our Solar System, reportedly up to 2020, (i.e., once again, by a Coincidence, until the Year of the Next US Presidential Elections : Comp. Supra)... Meanwhile, China has just managed to Land at the Moon's Dark Side, for the 1st Time, with a workable Rover, and is also Planning a kind of New "International Space Station" asap... Russia, (the Historic Space Pioneer, since the "Sputnik 1" Times, Gagarin, etc), in addition to a very Busy Rocket Launching activity accross the Globe, (from Siberia until French Guyane's Kuru ESA Base), considers its on-going Partnership with the EU on the 2016-2022 "Exo-Mars" Project (See Infra), as one of the Most Important Scientific Cooperation affairs, according also to the President of its Academy of Sciences, Alexander Sergeyev. In Parallel, Moscow is also planning to cooperate with Washington DC's New Space Exploration Strategy (See Infra), particularly on the segments of Moon Orbital Station and Moon Landings, where Russians still keep a strong Pioneer Experience, since a long time ago. USA, indeed, has just announced, since Spring 2018, New US President Don Trump's ambitious Vision for Space Exploration starting "from Moon to Mars", and well Beyond, including with Human Space Fight, due to Begin with a original "Space Gateway" orbiting around the Moon, where several Landings and even Bases are scheduled, preparing more Steps towards Mars and, progressively, even Further. Meanwhile, even India, after having just Launched more than 30 Satellites in One Operation, has just Anounced that it Intends to engage in Human Space Flight at the Horizon of 2022. As for EU Countries, EU Parliament has just debated and Voted, during its latest Pleary Session of December 2018 in Strasbourg, a Multi-Billion (about 16 Billions ) Programme for "Autonomous" Space activities during the Next Multi-Annual Financial Perspectives' period of 2021-2027, including mainly the Strengthening of "GALILEO" and the Development of "Copernicus", "SSA" and "GovSatCom" Projects, for Satellite Navigation Systems, Earth Observation, but also Security and Communication, etc., according to a Report drafted by mainstream Italian ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Massimiliano Salini, (from the Same Party as EU Parliament's President Antonio Tajani, an Experienced former EU Commissioner in charge also of Space : Comp. Tajani's relevant Replies to "Eurofora" Questions on his Space Vision, f.ex. at ..., etc). Shortly afterwards, EU Council also adopted an Agreement on EU's Space Program, on 20 December 2018 in Brussels, around Similar Key Projects, (Comp. Supra). + In Parallel, ESA is still Preparing the 2nd and most Important Phase of its "Exo-Mars" Project, (in Cooperation with Russia : Comp. Supra), which will Focus on a European Rover due to work on Mars between 2020-2022, as part of a Wider Pioneer Research particularly seeking for traces of Life in the Red Planet's Historic Past, through an Exploration of its UnderGround sediments. ++ Naturally European Countries are also due to Cooperate with USA's "Moon to Mars" Strategic Plan (Comp. Supra), as well as with China's starting activities at the Dark Side of the Moon, (particularly Germany, etc), especially concerning various Experiments. ---------------------------------- However, Despite several MEPs' eagerness to Multiply succesfull Amendments calling for EU's "Autonomy" in EU Parliament's Reports on Space, (Comp. f.ex. Supra, etc), nevertheless, curiously almost Nothing has been Recently heard about the Natural Dream to Build a full and sustainable European Capability for Autonomous Access to Space : Certainly, "Ariane-5"'s Rockets are still working, from times to times, But a Strange Silence seems still kept on the Key Issue of ReUsable Spacecrafts' Technology, (as the former USA's "Shuttle", and/or its planned "Orion" Future Spacecraft, etc)... F.ex., it's not even mentioned in EU Parliament's latest Report on the Pluri-Annual, 2021-2027 Financial Perspectives concerning Space Projects, neither in EU Council's subsequent Agreement on EU's Future Space Program, (which, However, points at EU's "Strategic Autonomy", Comp. Supra). And Russia's earlier Attempt to develop a Plan, Together with EU Countries, for the Creation of such a Re-Usable Spacecraft, (then nick-Named "Clipper"), was finally Droped, despite the Efforts even of a former ESA's Head, to Negotiate such a Strategic Cooperation ! As for USA, at least until now, it's notoriously accustomed Only to Rent some Room, (f.ex. inside the ISS, in the former Shuttles, some Rockets, Satellites, etc), for several Experiments made by Other Countries, but Not to Negotiate on providing any "Autonomous Access to Space" also by Others... Even ESA's "Exo-Mars" Rover project (Comp. Supra), which had been Initially prepared in Cooperation with the USA, had Suffered a serious Backlash, when, suddenly, the USA started to Drop it, (during Obama's period), Obliging the European Countries to seek, Later-on, Help from Russia, (Comp. Supra). In Addition, EU Countries afterwards felt to Lack sufficient Money to pay for that "Exo-Mars" project's 2nd Phase, Earlier Scheduled to Start from 2016, and were Obliged to Postpone it for the Future Period of 2020-2022 ! Meanwhile, Russia too had been hardly hit by "Sanctions" on Pretext of the Ukranian Conflict, provoked since 2014, (by some strange, Deadly Snipers, killing Both Policemen and Demonstrators, who had pushed to Violent Conflict, Droping a Peace Agreement signed between former President Yanukovich and all Maidan Opposition Leaders, under the Auspices of France, Germany and Poland's Foreign Ministers), and herself Obliged to drastically Cut its own Space Budget. But EU Countries had probably faced Money-Problems from 2015-2016, since they were Suddenly Obliged to Pay Also +3 Billions in full Grants each Year to ...Turkey, after Ankara threw into Europe more than 1,5 Millions of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants, and Asked for Money and Other Advantages from the EU in order to Stop that. (Something that, in Fact, EU did Not Need, since Hungary and other Central-Eastern European Countries had already managed to Close the "Western Balkans' Route" to those Masses arriving through Turkey, who had, consequently, Ceased to do so, already Before that Controversial EU - Ankara Deal, as Official Data from International Organisations, such as UNHCR and IOM, etc, clearly prove : See ..., etc). However, it's mainly (at that Same Period) during former US President Barack Hussein Obama's era (2009-2016) that Human Space Flight, and even Space Exploration in general, were notoriously "Sacrificed" and practically Skiped, for Many Years, since he Decided to drastically Cut NASA's relevant Budget from 2010, (See : ...), prefering, instead, to Focus, curiously, on the International Space Station, (ISS : Closer to Earth than the small Distance "between Moscow and Saint Petersbourg", as Russian Critics use to say)... - MIT Professor, former Austronaut, and then in charge of Scientific Projects at the ISS, Jeff Hoffman, speaking to "Eurofora" in Strasbourg, during an event organized by the International Space University (ISU) here, as early as already since August 2010, (See: ..., etc)revealed that Obama's main Motivation for doing so, had been his will to Focus Research on Genetic Research on Human Beings, apparently Facilitated in Zero Gravity at the ISS, (as, the former US President had already shown earlier, by the Fact that his ...1st Decision at the White House was to Cancel a Prohibition of Federal Funding for Genetic Manipulations on Human Embryos, that his Predecessor, former US President GWBush, had established on August 2001)... Indeed, Obama's exceptionally High pre-Electoral Campaign's Private Funding, (the Biggest in USA's History !), Both on 2008 and 2012 Elections, includes Many "Big Pharma" Corporations, as Facts show. Even if, almost 10 Years Later (2008-2018), Despite a lot of Money vainly wasted on so-called "Medical Research" during all this Time, nevertheless, all this Failed to Bring any significant Breakthrough for Human Health until Nowadays, (But Resulting Only in the Invention of the Controversial "Gene Editing" Technique of "CRISPR9", notoriously Dangerous for all Humankind, since it may Alter even the Genome of Future Generations, normaly Prohibited by BioEthics' Law : See, f.ex., ..., etc). => So that, to put it in a nutshell, Nowadays, European People have to Choose : - Do they like to Waste Money on Controversial and UnPopular Turkey's EU bid, under the False Pretext that this might, eventually, serve to Stop Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants brought in Europe by Turkish Smugglers, (while, in Fact, the Western Balkans' Route was Closed Earlier by European States which are no more letting those Masses comming through Turkey to Pass their Borders : Comp. Supra)? And/or on "Big Pharma", which, after more than 10 Years of Massive Funding for Genetic Manipulations on Humans, Failed to find any Medical Breakthrough for Health, but only resulted into a notoriously Dangerous Technique, with great Risks for Humankind (Comp. Supra) ? - Or, do they Prefer for Europe to Develop many and various, useful High-Tech. Capabilities, thanks to that Unique Generator of Inventions, which is Human Space Flight and Space Exploration (Comp. Supra) ? The forthcoming EU's Elections, Debates and Votes, (including on the Financial Perspectives : Comp. Supra), can give some good Opportunities to usefully Enlighten the necessary Dialogue between EU Citizens and their Political Representatives on these Key Issues, able to Help Forge a Better Future. In this regard, an International Space University's 2,5 Months-long, Space Studies' Program, this Summer 2019 in Strasbourg, apparently due to Focus on Moon projects, could certainly bring some concrete Topical Insights. (../..) ---------------------------------- *** (NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send, Earlier, to "Eurofora"'s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be Published asap). *** Its tempting to laugh at the shambles that is US policy in the Middle East. But its no laughing matter. The chaos of Washingtons policy is destabilizing and dangerous. If President Trump thought his senior envoys coming to the region would clarify his recent announcement of pulling US troops out of Syria and Afghanistan, the opposite is the effect. Trump announced on December 19 that US troops would be pulling out of Syria and Afghanistan. This week, both his National Security Advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo only added more confusion and instability to the conflict-prone region. Bolton directly contradicted the president when he was in Israel and said that US forces would not be leaving Syria until a host of vague conditions were met. Those conditions included the defeat of terrorist groups and the containment of Iran. Trump also appeared to backpedal on his troop withdrawal plan, saying that US forces would be quitting Syria on a longer time scale than what he originally said on December 19. Bolton was given short shrift when he travelled on to Turkey where he was snubbed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who declined to even meet Trumps security advisor over comments he made earlier concerning American guarantees of security for Kurdish militants in northeast Syria. Ankara considers the Kurdish militia as terrorists while Washington has backed the same group in its putative campaign against Islamist terror groups. Then Pompeo in a speech delivered in Egypt appeared to contradict Bolton by saying that US forces were being withdrawn from Syria as Trump had ordered. The debacle of mixed messages from senior US officials shows Washingtons policy in the region is an utter shambles. What to make of it all? Trumps sudden pullout call of troops may be just American politicking, as the president looks to the 2020 elections and his need to give his electoral base a feel-good factor. Will US troops actually withdraw from countries in the Middle East that they are illegally present in anyway? That remains to be seen. Certainly the shilly-shallying and ambiguity enunciated by Bolton and Pompeo suggests that the directive of troop drawdown is not what it may have first appeared to be. Russias deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov struck a correct note of caution this week. He said Moscow doubts that US troops will vacate Syria because of the wider pattern of American militarism being an endemic, incorrigible factor. Ryabkov said: I cannot imagine that the United States will fully and indisputably leave Syria in terms of physical military presence Washington is locked in unstoppable contest for world domination and driven to be everywhere. Ryabkovs skepticism echoes the view of Russian President Vladimir Putin in his initial reaction to Trumps pullout announcement on December 19. Putin said then that it was a case of wait-and-see for actual results, reminding that the US has been talking for years of withdrawing from Afghanistan, but has yet do so after nearly 18 years of occupying that country. So, the purported withdrawal of US forces from Syria and Afghanistan may never happen, under the existing imperialist nature of Washington. And even if there is some drawdown of US forces, that certainly doesnt mean anything in terms of overarching American imperialist policy in the Middle East. Trump himself has been talking about Iraq being a hub for future US military operations in the region. Pompeo in his messages to the Middle East showed this week that the US wants to bolster its confrontational policy towards Iran. It seems that what Washington is after is merely a rationalization of its military forces in the region. The notion was very much renewed of US client regimes in the region taking over as surrogate forces, both in Syria and elsewhere. The danger stems from the instability for the region accruing from Washingtons bumbling contradictions and aberrations. Turkey is warning that its forces are ready to invade Syria allegedly to confront the Kurdish separatists, while Israel seems emboldened to fill a perceived vacuum in US presence to take on Iran in Syria. Trumps shambolic Mideast policy is testament to the failed US imperialist machinations in the region going back decades. Washingtons interventions have caused nothing but war and misery for the Middle East. The US needs to get out of the region until it begins to respect the sovereignty of countries. US policy is an utter failure. It is in chaos because it is an utter failure. Syrias sovereignty has been largely recovered because of the principled and legal intervention by Russia and Iran to salvage that country from a US-backed covert war for regime change. The only viable solution for Syria and for the Middle East is for Washington to get the hell out of the region, not partially, not conditionally totally. Trump was elected by US voters because he promised to look after American domestic needs. Well, he better do that instead of continuing to meddle in foreign countries and the Mideast in particular. Why that eminently reasonable option is not taken is proof that American policy is hellbent on imperialist predation. Thats the criminal reality of US power. No wonder then when a presidents order to withdraw US forces from a region elicits such confusion and mayhem. A leopard cant change its spots. National Security Advisor John Bolton is making the rounds in the Middle East to try and salvage whats left of the long-standing plan to balkanize Syria and overthrow President Bashar al-Assad in the wake of President Trumps announced troop withdrawal. What began as a political Hail Mary for Trump has morphed into a foreign policy quagmire for Bolton and the bloody-minded neoconservatives he is the tip of the spear for. Bolton first met fellow war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu to announce their conditions under which US troops would leave Syria. The big sticking point was getting the Turks to guarantee the safety of the Kurdish militia, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), that have been the US proxy forces in securing that part of Syria east of the Euphrates river for future plans vis-a-vis Iraq and Iran. His condition for the USs withdrawal from Syria is just another impossible demand placed on Turkey, who can no more guarantee the Kurds survival than Russia could implement the Minsk II agreement in Ukraine. This is yet another big lie neocons like Bolton have been parroting since Trumps announcement. They are desperate to convince us their mission in Syria is a humanitarian one. The Kurds are their casus belli of the day, dressed up for the liberal interventionist left to rally around. Since Trumps announcement we have been saturated with the idea that the Turks will come in and slaughter every Kurd in Syria if the US pulls out. This is something Pompeo was taken to task for by Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy who said Pompeo exhibited a worrying lack of knowledge about the situation in Syria, since Turkey houses currently over 300,000 Syrian Kurdish refugees from the fighting the US fomented. It is a continuation of the thoroughly debunked and false narrative that Assad is a butcher, Putin is only there for the gas pipelines and America is actually fighting ISIS. ISIS, the very terrorists we armed to overthrow Assad in the first place. Were there for humanitarian reasons, the same way were supporting the Saudi war in Yemen, maintaining a no-fly zone over the border crossing at Al-Tanf while the people who live there starve. And all John Bolton can think or care about is Great Powers theory and how to destroy the Heartland as defined by Makinder a century ago. In their desperation to hold onto the dregs of their strategic position, something that the pro-Syrian coalition is degrading daily, Bolton, Pompeo and Netanyahu have now turned to the Kurds who know the US doesnt care about them to justify more regional chaos. If they thought otherwise the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political arm of the YPG, wouldnt be negotiating with the Assad government. Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Syrian Special Envoy James Jeffrey, neocons and Israeli-Firsters all, have been furiously trying to drum up support for a permanent partitioning of Syria that has been described by those who have seen the plan as Sykes-Picot on acid. As Moon of Alabama points out, Trump has been against this plan from the beginning. Surprisingly enough, so has the Pentagon. Bolton and Pompeos plan is so daft, so obviously being pushed by forces outside of the White House itself, that even the Washington Post had to admit to the Pentagons resistance to it. Boltons Iran plan never really took effect at the Pentagon, where officials were not officially tasked with any new mission in addition to the operation against the Islamic State. Military officials likewise viewed Irans expansion into Syria as problematic, but they were skeptical about the lack of a clear legal justification that would be required for offensive military action against Iranian-backed forces. Its obvious that Bolton and Pompeo both are trying to tie Trumps hands by issuing public statements that contradict what they know of his wishes. They have routinely gone out and contravened him on many issues, overstating our goals or putting forth policy statements which Trump then does not back up. And the problem is that Trump isnt against the Syria operation on principle. He couldnt possibly do that, since he doesnt have any. No, Trump doesnt see the return on investment for America. And so, in his balance-sheet-focused mind Syria is a drain and therefore the troops can come home. Hell use other means, like sanctions and threats to allies, to get Iran to do what he wants, which is to try and secure a Middle East safe for Israel by dismantling Irans position in central Asia. But, thats as much a fantasy as Boltons psychedelic Skyes-Picot plan. Because it is pretty obvious to anyone observing this situation that the Pro-Syrian coalition Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and China are simply running a game of attrition against the Boltons and the Pompeos as well as Netanyahu. The solution is coming into focus. Turkey cant make good on its promises to Russia over the situation in Idleb, nullifying the agreement between them since the de-militarized zone has failed. Israel cannot effectively strike Syria anymore and has to resort to cowardly attacks using civilians as human shields. And the US can no longer maintain its position in al-Hasakah and Deir Ezzor if the SDF wishes them gone. Somehow, John Bolton thinks that 2000 men cannot only carve out a permanent US-backed Kurdistan with Turkeys acceptance along its border with Syria, force all Iranian troops and support from Syria and overthrow Assad and that constitutes a winning hand to go anegotiating with. Bolton went around the Middle East looking for takers and found only Israel while everyone else looked at him like, Buddy, the 70s are over. His stache is as outdated as his view of Americas role in the Middle East. Unfortunately, Trump is in no position politically to fire him. As was to be expected, the announcement that the US was withdrawing troops from Syria has served to provoke numerous reactions in the Middle East and beyond. Following the removal of Mattis, Pompey and Bolton embarked on a whirlwind Middle Eastern tour of Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait to reassure regional allies. The idea of withdrawing US troops from Syria was based on Trump wishing to fulfil one of his most important electoral promises. Trump knows that he needs to demonstrate to his electoral base that he has kept the most significant promises he made during his 2016 election campaign in order to have any chance of being reelected in 2020. People voted for change, and that includes preventing new wars and getting out of the ones the US is already embroiled in, especially in the Middle East. If Trump betrays his constituents by not delivering on his campaign promises, then he would simply be like any other politician who, upon being elected, soon forgets about those who put him in office. Trump is aware that such a perception would cost him the possibility of a second term. We live in a time where Western elites completely ignore the consequences of their actions, manipulate information, lie to their citizens and spread fake news. While we may not always believe what Trumps says in his bombastic remarks, we can rest assured that MSNBC/CNN are even less reliable in terms of facts and unbiased news. Keeping oneself correctly informed is a difficult and demanding task, involving the constant comparison and weighing up of a lot of different sources and constantly researching and learning through the process. Most people do not have the time for this and usually do not care, preferring to rely instead on the mainstream media. This obviously exposes such people to manipulation, lies and distorted facts, clouding the truth and making it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is fake. Alternative media the real media are riding to the rescue, but the overhauling process will require a full generation or even two. This is why it little matters whether the wall will really built or whether it will only start to be built as a PR stunt or whether it even makes sense in the first place to build it or not. Democrats watching MSNBC/CNN will agree that it is a dumb idea and should not be funded. Republicans watching Fox News will call it a brilliant idea and demand a government shutdown (as Trumps is doing) to force the Democrats to concede. The point is that Democrats or Trump supporters, feeding on news sources based on propaganda and lies, will only have their respective biases confirmed without the need for any real debate. What is important for us to understand is how Trump operates in order to gain the support of his base. That is what guides him in domestic, foreign and economic affairs. In the case of the wall, Trump's battle is against the Democrats, and the actions he has taken to fight his opponents is by using the government shutdown to provide himself with a win-win outcome. If the Democrats fund the wall, they lose in the eyes of their voters, as Trump ends up getting his wall. If the Democrats do not fund the wall, Trump will blame them and point to the government shutdown to demonstrate how he valiantly struggled against the Democrats in an effort to keep his promises. The same is the case with the economic warfare employing the US dollar and imposing tariffs and duties on allies and enemies alike. MSNBC/CNN will tell you that this is damaging the American economy. The Democrats will say that it is a failed strategy, without admitting that they hate Trumps economic war because it undermines US dollar hegemony and thereby their ability to prosecute the neoliberal imperialism to which they are so addicted. Fox News, on the other hand, will spin the news to show how Trump is battling against Xi Jinping and China in the interests of American farmers. Self-proclaimed experts will go on about the success of the White Houses economic strategy, declaring it a brilliant idea. Trump voters will enjoy the coverage of Fox News and accordingly praise the commercial war. Democrats will love the coverage of MSNBC/CNN and will worry about how various policies will either restore or further diminish US global leadership. The announcement of the withdrawal from Syria follows the same logic as the examples given above. Trump announced the withdrawal only in order to keep an electoral promise. The entire Washington foreign-policy establishment is opposed to Trumps decision. The purpose of the announcement was to convey to his voters a simple but clear message: I am trying to do what I promised you, but I have everyone against me in Washington as well as in the media. The same logic is employed with the government shutdown in order to fund the wall. Whenever Democrats, Republicans or talking heads condemn Trump's withdrawal from Syria/Afghanistan, his effort to build the wall, his imposition of tariffs and duties, his sanctions on Iran, they reinforce the beliefs of Trumps supporters, showing that Trump is really trying to keep his promises in the face of tremendous opposition. Every time they bash him they provide free advertisement for Trump and his political line, and this has been going on from the first time he announced he would run in the primaries in 2015. It is a win-win situation for him, even if he does not really build the wall, pull out of Syria, or effectively reduce the trade imbalance between China and the US. If he succeeds, he can declare that he has kept his promises. If he fails, then he can lay be blame squarely at the feet of his political opponents. People elected him on the basis of his words and promises. If he can demonstrate that he at least tried to keep his promises (even if he never actually does), then that should be enough to give him a second term. Trump understands very well how the media works and how much Washington detests him. He does not want to change the status quo and revolutionize Washington. He does not want to openly challenge the foreign-policy establishment by following a realist-isolationist policy. That was what he said in 2015/16 during the campaign trail, but his presidency has been much different from what he promised, especially in foreign policy. Nevertheless, Trump seeks re-election, and he cannot entirely break with the Washington establishment if he hopes to succeed. Indeed in 2016 he demonstrated this by appointing a staff of generals whose credo over the span of several decades has been that of American exceptionalism, the governing religion of Washington. He used the military to protect himself from the media-intelligence community, shielding himself with four generals (Kelly, McMaster, Mattis and Flynn), in the full knowledge that none of them would support a realist-isolationist policy. For this reason, the ructions that have followed the announcement of the withdrawal from Syria are part of normal US political theater, such as was the case with the resignation/dismissal of Mattis. It is no surprise that the deep state immediately dispatched Bolton and Pompey to sooth the concerns of dozens of US allies, in particular Israel and the Arab states. It was a PR exercise to reassure them of the real intentions of the US in the area (i.e., enduring imperialism). In practice, it makes little difference whether the US has 2,000 or 200 men in Syria. They will not be able to change the course of the war of aggression against Damascus in their favor. It is therefore not surprising that Bolton was not fired for publicly contradicting Trump on the question of withdrawing troops from Syria. Such contradictions play in Trumps favor. His supporters will say that Trump is so anti-establishment that even his closest collaborators are against him. If Trump were to fire Bolton as he did Mattis, none of his faithful voters will remember the ill-considered choice to appoint him in the first place, and will be struck instead by Trumps determination to stick to his guns and rid himself of internal saboteurs who stand in the way of his electoral mandate. As long as Trump, in our scenario, were not to name someone worse than Bolton, the imperialist wheel will continue to turn. Just look at North Korea as an example. Trump threatened to destroy Pyongyang, even knowing the US could not really do so. Then he meet with Kim, did an epic PR exercise that presented Trump as solving a major international problem that had eluded all his predecessors. After conveying this triumph to his base, he simply forgot all about Kim, Pyongyang and Seoul. In the meantime, the two Koreas are nonetheless speaking, advancing reconciliation and preparing for historical changes. As for Trump, he has already moved on, North Korea no longer holding his interest, the drama having served its purpose for a certain time but no longer being of relevance. (This, thankfully, is to the benefit of the Korean people.) It seems the same playbook is being employed in Syria. Trump announced the withdrawal, while leaving a few hundred soldiers behind who continue to be unable to change the situation on the ground; Bolton and Pompeo are dispatched to reassure allies/financiers, though Trump cannot wait to forget about Syria, proclaiming the falsehood that US, under his leadership, defeated ISIS (thereby fulfilling one of his electoral promises). As I wrote following Trump's election, The Donald's victory only served to accelerate the transition to a multipolar world, as we saw in the first two years of his presidency, with Trump's focus on his base translating into a perennial electoral campaign that uses all the tools at his disposal (domestic, foreign, economic, financial, and currency policy). This creates distrust and concern amongst historical allies and pushes Washingtons enemies closer together, serving in the process to smooth out any tensions that may have hitherto existed between these countries. Just think of the Astana format of Turkey, Iran and Russia concerning Syria, Inter-Korean talks in Asia, a peace treaty to be signed between Russia and Japan, Indian-Iranian cooperation on trade in oil, a European stance against Iranian and Russian sanctions, and, to top it off, coordination between the Russians and the Chinese on almost everything. All this is in the name of opposing US imperialist policies or trying to directly score a political win against Donald Trump and his policies. Trump's enemies have learned to ignore US decisions, which have now become irrelevant in certain parts of the globe. Americas historical allies cling hopefully to the words of Bolton and Pompeo, well aware that the US will not soon change their basic neoliberal and imperialist approach towards the world. Nevertheless, Washington is losing military and economic influence due to the transition into a multipolar world order, where power is shared among multiple countries (China, Russia, Iran, India). The unipolar moment is over and is not coming back, especially not with Donald Trump as president. And that is a good thing for the rest of the world. Motasem A DALLOUL A senior member of the Hamas Political Bureau said on Monday that the worst is still to come as far as the Gaza Strip is concerned. Mousa Abu Marzooks remarks followed the announcement by the Palestinian Authority that it will withdraw its security officers from the Rafah Border Crossing, the only route between Gaza and the outside world through Egypt. He tweeted similar sentiments after the PA Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein Al-Sheikh pledged that more punitive measures to tighten the siege on the Palestinians in the coastal enclave are on the way. This was said after a meeting between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Cairo. Abbas was there to take part in the opening of a mosque and a church in the new administrative capital zone, but it is unclear what exactly passed between the two men. Fatah Central Committee member Dalal Salama said that his movement would hold meetings with Abbas after his return from Cairo to discuss stricter and more precise measures against the Palestinians in Gaza. Last week, when the PA paid its employees in the besieged territory, thousands did not receive their salaries. It was revealed later that they were either Fatah members who are loyal to the former Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan a political rival of Abbas or those who still disobey Abbass diktat to refuse to work in the civil service under the Hamas-led government. Abbas gave his order in 2007 when Hamas pushed Fatah out of the Gaza Strip, ending eighteen months of security chaos which followed the Islamic Resistance Movements clear victory in the 2006 general election. The PA leader has paid civil servants to stay at home for the past 12 years in order to usurp the popular vote. According to Maariv, Abbas is likely to take extra punitive measures against the Palestinian people in Gaza in his efforts to score a political point against Hamas. The newspaper reported the findings of Israeli security officials, who believe that stricter punitive measures against Gaza are likely to affect the security situation in Israel because the Palestinian resistance accuses the occupation state of being behind all such moves and will respond by attacking Israeli targets. All of this suggests that something very nasty is being prepared for Gaza. From Norway, the Director of the Global Network for Rights and Development, Loay Deeb, reported informed sources saying that unprecedented escalation against Gaza is coming soon. He added that an agreement signed by major Arab countries included the announcement that Gaza is insurgent territory. Not only the Arab states have signed up to this; Israel has as well. Furthermore, Israels Channel 20 TV has just reported that the occupation authorities have announced the suspension of financial aid from Qatar which has been going through Israel to Gaza. The channel said that the Israeli government blamed the suspension on the fact that a rocket was allegedly fired from Gaza to Ashkelon during the night. The government asked the Qatari Ambassador to Palestine, Mohammad Al-Emadi, to postpone his visit to Gaza planned for Sunday when he was due to deliver the Qatari funds to pay government employees in the enclave. Egypt has also signed up to the agreement. When the PA and Fatah take measures against Gaza or Hamas, Egypt usually asks them to think twice about their decisions or rescind them. This time, though, when the PA announced the withdrawal of its officers from Rafah, Egypt announced that it would close the border as from today, Tuesday; it will only allow Palestinians who are abroad and planning to return to Gaza to go back home. The PA has imposed more punitive measures on the people of Gaza; the Israeli occupation authorities have banned high-level money transfers to the territory; Egypt has closed the Rafah Border Crossin, and an Israeli escalation appears to be on the horizon. Something serious is being prepared for the Gaza Strip and it looks as if Abu Marzook is right: the worst is still to come. If this happens, will the international community continue to keep quiet, as it did during previous Israeli military offensives, even though collective punishment is a serious breach of international law? The world has the chance to do something now; if human rights and the rule of law are to mean anything at all, the international community has to stand up against the ongoing oppression of more than 2 million people imprisoned in Gaza before it is too late. middleeastmonitor.com Stowe, VT (05672) Today Areas of patchy fog early. Sunny along with a few clouds. High 68F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear skies. Low near 45F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Morristown, VT (05661) Today Areas of patchy fog early. Sunny along with a few clouds. High 69F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low 44F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Michael Roy ("Polarization between the parties promises a frightening future," Jan. 6) claims that Democrats favor a dysfunctional government and will thwart any attempt by Republicans to move the country forward. He must be reminiscing rather than prognosticating. Immediately after Barack Obama's first inauguration, Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told his caucus that their primary goal would be to make Obama a one-term president. If that isn't throwing down the gauntlet of obstructionism, I don't know what is. The Republicans did everything in their power to defeat the Affordable Care Act, and then, when Americans began enjoying the benefits of it, the Republicans voted over 70 times to repeal the ACA. The worst case of obstructionism by the Republicans was McConnell's refusal to hold a hearing on the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, even though Garland had received strong support from Republicans in his previous nominations for positions on the bench. "Unprecedented" will be how historians report that bit of obstructionism as time goes by. Chris Brooks said he was picking up some food from a McDonald's in San Francisco when another man came to the counter holding what Brooks first thought was a dog. But it was a raccoon. Which was dead. And dripping blood. The incident Sunday morning forced the fast-food restaurant to temporarily close for a deep cleaning, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Brooks, 54, who said the other man came in screaming for help before sitting down with the dead animal at a table, went to his car to get his phone to record video that he posted on Facebook, which shows graphic images and contains harsh language. In the video, while an employee points toward the door, the man gets up from the table, leaving the raccoon atop it, and begins wandering around the restaurant. Before long, another man comes into the frame, grabs the raccoon by the tail, leaving a trail of blood along the floor, and dumps it into a trash can outside. The man who brought the raccoon follows him outside before returning inside. Jayme says abductor killed her parents, woman who helped her says Investigators are trying to determine how Jayme escaped from Patterson's home, Fitzgerald said. Kristin Kasinskas, a woman who helped report Jayme's emergence to police Thursday, spoke to CNN on Friday about what happened. Jayme had approached Kasinskas' neighbor -- the woman police say was walking her dog in the remote community outside Gordon -- around 4 p.m. Thursday and asked for help. The woman knew of Closs' story. Her disappearance had been reported nationally, and intensely so in the state. Those two then rushed to Kasinskas' home, which was nearby. "(The neighbor) said, 'This is Jayme Closs! Call 911 right now!'" Kasinskas said. Police were called -- but before they arrived, Jayme told them that she'd been held in the Gordon area, near Kasinskas' home, by someone who killed her parents on the night she disappeared. "She said to us that, 'This person killed my parents and took me,'" Kasinskas told CNN's Poppy Harlow. But the evidence we have to date suggests that, in the aggregate, women's leadership promotes stability, equality, and bipartisanship -- values that too often are in short supply in today's political climate. And when women make up a critical mass -- around 25 to 30% -- of legislatures, they are more likely to challenge established conventions and shift policy agendas. Regardless of political outcome, this new class of women leaders is likely to grow. As women contest and win elections worldwide, they are challenging traditional norms of what a leader looks like -- and inspiring even more women to run for office themselves. Indeed, many of the women who ran in the US election and in recent contests around the world cite the courage of the women who ran before them -- win or lose -- as motivation for throwing their own hats into the ring. In the US and elsewhere, the glass ceiling may remain intact for now, but its cracks are widening -- and when it breaks, everyone stands to gain. This article has been updated to reflect an accurate comparison between the number of women elected in 1992 and 2018, instead of women who ran or were nominated to run. I was kind of blindsided, Willenberg, 31, of St. Peters, said of the shutdown. Had I known, I wouldve done the holidays different. I wouldve been more cautious in budgeting and spending for Christmas. Willenberg, who is pursuing a masters degree in public policy administration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, had always wanted to work in civil service. But now hes considering leaving his government job of four years, where he helps low-income rural families obtain and pay for home loans. Even if I have to leave this job, I would hope to come back to government service, he said. But my family comes first. Were it not for the shutdown, $356 would be taken out of Erick Castellanos bank account on Jan. 21 to make one of the many automatic bill payments he has set up. Castellanos, 47, of Florissant, said he liked to pay his bills early. Hes been doing freelance graphic design work since he was furloughed from his job with the USDA. His parents and extended family have been helping him and his stay-at-home wife and daughter, 15, make ends meet, but he recently got a letter ordering him to report to work Tuesday without pay, he said. House $23.2 billion for farms, food, drug safety The House on Jan. 10 voted, 243-183, to appropriate $23.2 billion in fiscal 2019 for the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies. The House sent this measure and three other appropriations bills to the Senate in an effort to reopen some of the departments and agencies that have been largely shut down since Dec. 22 because of expired funding. The move was also intended to put pressure on the Senate and the White House to end the partial shutdown or reduce its scope. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said his chamber will not consider spending bills until President Donald Trump and House Democrats settle their dispute over border wall funding. A yes vote was to send HR 265 to the Senate. Gov. Mike Parson, a former county sheriff, could put the topic to rest if he takes the request out of the budget before he introduces his spending blueprint next week. A spokesman for the governor did not have an immediate response Friday. Mayor Lyda Krewson told the Post-Dispatch that she never wants to see employees moving out of downtown. We have a building boom going on and weve seen tremendous investment downtown. It is the hub of the region, she said. Revenue Director Joel Walters has not met with House budget officials to discuss his agencys request. In a response to questions from the Post-Dispatch and inquiries from the mayor, agency spokeswoman Anne Marie Moy suggested the request may be under review. The department is evaluating the pros and cons of a move. Certainly, safety is among the factors to be considered for any location where we might have staff. Other considerations include things like parking, commute times and proximity to the work performed by employees. For example, the majority of cases handled by the 6-8 attorneys currently officed at the Wainwright Building are in Clayton and surrounding counties. So the logistics of that are things we need to consider moving forward, Moy said in an email. The expansion had the support of Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh, D-Bellfontaine Neighbors, who said the additional slots could be filled by newly elected senators, giving them much needed experience in an age of term limits. Opponents, however, said the move and other changes would spread senators too thin and force them to miss hearings being held by the other 20 committees. Its gotten to where it just taxes everyone, said Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff. Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, led the pushback, saying there should be fewer committees altogether. Instead of consolidating, were expanding, said Romine, who laid blame for the filibuster at the feet of Schatz. It has to do with a lack of communication, Romine said. Democrats needled Republicans for being unable to get through even one day without descending into disagreement. This is our first real day and Republicans are infighting, said Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis. If this is an indicator moving forward, its just appalling. The 44-year-old woman had taken the eastbound Riverview Boulevard exit and was approaching a stop sign as she was struck by a vehicle from behind, police said. She pulled to the side of the road and saw two armed men approaching her, they said. She got out of her vehicle, ran to a nearby business and called police. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis man was sentenced Friday to 90 years in prison in a 2014 case in which a woman suffered a bullet graze wound in the head after being followed in her car. Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer sentenced Travon D. Johnson, 27, of the 5900 block of Theodosia Avenue, to prison for several counts of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and resisting arrest. Johnson was tried in October in the Aug. 29, 2014, killing of Darnell Martin, 41, who was murdered while helping two others repair the brakes on a car in the 4600 block of St. Ferdinand Avenue. The jury acquitted Johnson in Martin's death but found him guilty of shooting a woman Sept. 30 and of resisting arrest when police tried to arrest him the following day. ST. CHARLES The third suspect in a fatal stabbing in West Alton in 2016 will go to prison for the rest of his life after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. After deliberating for about 4 hours Thursday, jurors found Larry E. Northcutt Jr., 30, of Godfrey, guilty in the July 23, 2016, stabbing death of Christopher A. Gernigin, 29. The killing, according to Gernigins family, may have stemmed from a feud over a woman. Sentencing for Northcutt is set for March 14, where he will receive a term of life in prison without parole, the only sentence for first-degree murder when prosecutors do not seek the death penalty. Two co-defendants reached plea deals in 2017. Natasha R. Smith, 28, of Madison County, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 23-year sentence. Brent A. Jones, 30, of Madison County, received a 10-year sentence for his guilty plea to second-degree murder. CLAYTON St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell said Friday he will not seek the death penalty against a man accused of fatally shooting a woman and sexually assaulting two others last year inside the Catholic Supply store in west St. Louis County. A spokesman for the murder victims husband told the Associated Press that he supported the decision. These are horrific crimes, Bell said in a text message provided by his spokeswoman. I will use all the resources of the State of Missouri and my office to see to it that the person who killed Jamie Schmidt and violently sexually assaulted two other victims at the Catholic Supply Store will spend the rest of his life in prison with no possibility of parole. Bell, who took office Jan. 1 after defeating longtime incumbent Robert McCulloch in the August Democratic primary and winning election in November, said during his campaign that he opposed the death penalty. ST. LOUIS An undocumented immigrant from China was sentenced in federal court Friday to time served about seven months for employing more than 10 undocumented immigrants in his Desloge restaurant. Dianrong Jiang employed the immigrants, who were mostly from Mexico, in the Great Wall of China restaurant. Homeland Security Investigations agents received a tip about the restaurant workers in 2017. Jiang, then 40, pleaded guilty in September to a charge of knowingly employing 10 or more undocumented aliens. He is a citizen of China and entered the U.S. in the late 1990s using a fake passport. At a sentencing hearing Friday, Jiang said through an interpreter, "I do understand that I did something that I was not supposed to do." Jiang will be referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible deportation. This story was corrected to reflect that sentencing hearing was Friday. A message from David Nicklaus Want to stay smart about what's happening in St. Louis? Make a modest investment in a Post-Dispatch subscription and I'll tell you how developments around the world affect local businesses big and small. Intro subscription rate: Just $1 for 6 months Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 9-year-old girl stopped her mothers knife attack on her 5-year-old brother in their west St. Louis County home Wednesday, authorities say. The mother, 35-year-old Syeda W. Sirajuddin, had tried to drug both children before stabbing the boy, authorities say. She also attempted to smother her 2-year-old son with a blanket at the family home, in the 1300 block of Wickstead Road, off Weidman Road near Queeny Park. The 5-year-old boy was still hospitalized Thursday, a law enforcement official said. The other two children were not seriously harmed. Sirajuddin was charged Thursday with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of child endangerment and one count of armed criminal action Thursday. Her bail was set at $150,000, cash only. The 9-year-old told investigators the attack was not her mothers fault because the devil made her do it, a law enforcement official said. Sirajuddin picked up the older children from school Wednesday and gave them sleeping pills, telling them were all going to take a nap, according to the source. She gave four pills to the 9-year-old girl, but she said she didnt swallow them because they tasted bad. The logic behind such reversals of long-standing practices is simple: How can somebody pay child support if theyre in jail? How can a defendant get a job to pay court costs if he or she cant drive to work? Those moves, though, point to an ongoing challenge Bell will face, even in seeking civil enforcement of child support cases. When the criminal justice system focuses primarily on punishment and financial incentives sometimes the results arent very just at all. Jason Sharp knows that all too well. Nearly seven years ago, Sharp was $350 behind in child support. He was charged with a misdemeanor in Caldwell County. Associate Circuit Judge Jason Kanoy issued a warrant for his arrest. Sharp was picked up after being stopped for an alleged traffic violation. He spent more than 30 days in jail, unable to afford bail. He pleaded guilty to nonsupport and was given time served. But he also was required by Kanoy to serve two years on probation, supervised by a private probation company, which is standard in many parts of rural Missouri. Turns out, President Donald Trump isnt the only man named Trump who ever wanted to build a wall. An episode of a 1950s TV Western called Trackdown is getting a fresh look make that a double-take because it tells the story of a con man named Walter Trump who rolls into town with an ominous warning: Everyone in the town will die unless they let him build a protective wall. The episode is titled The End of the World. The show aired on CBS in 1958, reports Snopes, with actor Lawrence Dobkin in the Trump role. A representative for MeTV, a Chicago network that airs reruns of Trackdown, confirmed that the episode was real, writes Snopes. Heres the episodes description from Classic TV Archive: Walter Trump, a confidence man, puts on a long robe and holds a tent meeting in the town of Talpa. He tells the townspeople that a cosmic explosion will rain fire on the town and that he is the only one that can save them from death. Ranger Hoby Gilman (played by Robert Culp) attempts to prove Trump is a fraud. My parents kicked me out of the house. I ended up homeless, living in a park in San Francisco. I ate out of garbage cans, got food from soup kitchens. I did things Id never imagined doing to get money. Hes 36 now, but while growing up in San Francisco, he says, he didnt have much education about drug use. He remembers a police officer coming to his class and trying to scare students with a story of a guy on PCP jumping off a two-story parking garage. Sheff thought: That sounds amazing. Deeply insecure and anxious, at 11 he found that smoking pot seemed to help. I was so uncomfortable in my skin. I said drugs and alcohol arent my problem; theyre my solution. He believes that if his parents had given him a book like High he might have become aware of his own dependencies and asked for help sooner. There is so much misinformation out there, but High is clear and straightforward, he says during a phone interview from Los Angeles. Telling youths about the dangers of drugs is important, but he doubts anyone can scare them clean. He said it would permit pre-clearance of cargo bound for Mexico and for U.S. customs inspection of cargo imported from Mexico. He said he expects Mexico to approve the idea sometime after work on the terminal begins. All we need now is to show the Mexican government we have the location ongoing, he said. He said U.S. homeland security officials also have to sign off on the dual-customs plan. He said the terminal isnt aimed just at increasing Mexican trade but at international trade in general. Nicolopulos said his company decided to switch to a rehab project after the original plan was approved. It would be very difficult to demolish and very dangerous, he said, referring to the main manufacturing building. That building had been built like a fortress. He said the project had been delayed partly because of the pace of state approval of the cleanup process at the 61-acre site, on the north end of Lambert off Banshee Road. Nicolopulos said he expects about 700 jobs to be created once the first phase is completed. DETROIT General Motors strengthened its pretax profit estimate for 2018 and predicted even stronger performance for this year as it executives made a presentation to investors on Friday. CEO Mary Barra also says the company doesnt foresee any further job cuts through 2020. Last year GM announced plans to close five North American factories and lay off 14,000 salaried and blue-collar workers. The company predicts 2018 pretax, per-share profits will be higher than the $5.80 to $6.20 range it forecast in the third quarter. For 2019, it expects that to increase to $6.50 to $7. The rosy profit forecast comes despite declining sales for the company in the U.S. and slowing sales in China. GM also plans to exit several car lines in the U.S. in the coming year. The outlook exceeded Wall Streets expectations for both years. Analysts polled by FactSet expect pretax earnings of $6.24 for 2018 and they predict a decline for this year, to $5.92. In a briefing for reporters before the presentation in New York, Barra said GM has enough new trucks and SUVs coming this year to offset any U.S. sales decline caused by scrapping car models such as the Chevrolet Cruze. In 2016, Lamb and Stafford realized that companies wanted to do more than send prewritten messages to consumers. They wanted to interact through chatbots, which are intelligent programs that can respond to questions, and they wanted more data on the people they were interacting with. At the same time, companies wanted to reach consumers through a variety of channels text messaging, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Amazons Alexa and so on without dedicating a team of employees to each one. NativeMsg, founded in 2017, was their answer to those challenges. The self-styled omnichannel, intelligent conversation and messaging experience company attempts to reach consumers wherever they want to be reached. Increasingly, Lamb believes, that will be through text messages. The phenomenon of app fatigue is well known: Phone users may download dozens of apps but spend most of their time in four or five, and a messaging app always makes the cut. David Nicklaus David Nicklaus is a business columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow David Nicklaus Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The economic effects of the government shutdown may show up in a big way on Feb. 1, when the Labor Department issues its jobs report for January. We're in the "reference week" for the department's household survey, which is used to calculate the unemployment rate. If the shutdown lasts until Saturday, as seems likely, 380,000 furloughed employees will be counted as on temporary layoff. That will raise the unemployment rate about two tenths of a percentage point, says Ben Herzon, executive director of U.S. economics at Macroeconomic Advisers in Clayton. The shutdown also could end the nation's streak of 99 straight monthly job gains, which is the longest such streak in records dating to 1939. The government uses a survey of employers to calculate the monthly job gain. This week is also the reference week for that survey, so the furloughed workers may be subtracted from the January total. However, Herzon notes in a report, "as long as they eventually receive back pay, they will eventually be counted as employed." If the shutdown ends by Jan. 28, and the workers are guaranteed back pay by then, the furloughs won't affect the January jobs number. President Klaus Iohannis on Friday welcomed at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, in the context of the taking over by Romania of the rotating Presidency at the Council of the EU. The two high officials will have a tete-a-tete conversation, after which the head of state will have a meeting of the College of Commissioners. President Iohannis and the President of the EC will hold a joint press conference.According to a release of the Presidential Administration, the topics for discussion will be related to the Romanian Presidency at the Council of the EU, with emphasizes on the main European filed our country will have to manage during this time.The head of the state will underscore that Romania exercising for the first time the rotating presidency of the Council of EU will be a good opportunity to reiterate the commitment for strengthening the European project, specifies the said source."President Iohannis will highlight the fact that Romania wishes to have a successful mandate, result-oriented, in order to bring its contribution to pushing forward the European agenda, considering the complex context in which it will have to carry our its activity at the helm of the Council in the next six months," informed the Presidential Administration in a release.The College of Commissioners pays a visit in the beginning of each semester to the member state that holds the Presidency of the Council of EU. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Friday stated that the rule of law is not something to be negotiated. During a press conference he held jointly with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, he said that, for him, the rule of law is not something that could be negotiated. Discussions on justice laws and codes in Romania are very complicated and they have already been going on for two years, said the head of state, adding that he hoped all those involved would prove they are wise enough to bring this discussions to a good end (...) according to the expectations of Romanians, the Venice Commission and GRECO. For Romania cannot build a justice system that is not compatible with the other justice systems in the EU and, more than that, by joining the EU, Romania wanted to become part of a space of values and to stay there. And this space of values also includes the principles and basic regulations of a rule of law, he said. He also showed that the discussion with respect to the rule of law will continue in Romania, while pointing out that he has no intention to deviate from the EU values and principles.The head of state underscored that the problems related to the domestic affairs must not affect the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU.This discussion, as everybody was able to notice, it doesn't improve, unfortunately, Romania's image and this is a problem that must be considered, he said, but, in respect to the European affairs, he was certain that together with the Government they will find the adequate approaches to reach the objectives that Romania established for its 6-month presidency of the Council of the EU. Our internal problems don't have to affect the approach that Romania has while holding the presidency, which aspect, said the head of state, all parties understood. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, during a meeting she had with the French Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, highlighted the steps made in updating the roadmap for the Declaration of Strategic Partnership. During the meeting they had on Thursday at the Victoria Palace the two officials approached issues of interest on the agenda of bilateral relations, as well as topical issues on the European agenda, in the context in which Romania is exercising the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. "They highlighted the close cooperation relations existing between the two countries in numerous fields, reflecting the Strategic Partnership in place between Romania and France. The Romanian dignitary also mentioned the modalities of development and diversification of bilateral cooperation, while underscoring the steps made so far in updating the roadmap for the Declaration of Strategic Partnership," reads a release of the Government.In this context, the Romanian official appreciated the France-Romania season, which has recently been successfully inaugurated, in both countries, offering an excellent occasion for both countries to present a multitude of contemporary images of Romania and, respectively, France, in various fields of activity, and to strengthen bilateral cooperation in such fields as culture, science and economy."She also brought to mind how important the Romanian community in France is and its rich contribution to the strengthening of the bilateral economic relations and the development of both states," according to the same release.Moreover, the Prime Minister underscored the fact that the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU is exercised by Romania in a special European context, marked by a series of complex processes, such as the negotiation for the future Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, the Brexit and the clarification of the future relations with UK, the elections to the European Parliament to be held in May 2019, followed by a new institutional cycle of the EU, the informal Summit in Sibiu and the reflection process on the future of Europe.The Romanian PM briefly pointed out the priorities of the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU, built on four pillars/large directions of actions, namely a Europe of convergence, Europe of safety, Europe - global player and Europe of common values."She underscored that all projects considered in this context have cohesion at their core, hence the motto "Cohesion, a common European value." During the meeting, the two dignitaries had an exchange of opinions on the main topics on the European agenda," reads the same release.The Romanian PM also reiterated our country's objective of adhering to the Schengen Zone, while underscoring that all the necessary technical conditions were long met.In her turn, the French Minister for European Affairs reviewed France's interest in "finalizing the auctions in the maritime defence field, as well as for the other projects that France promotes in the anti-aircraft field, production of helicopters and the civil nuclear field.""During the discussions they also tackled the topic of modification of the justice laws, as well as the one related to the violation of the human rights. Moreover, they had an exchange of opinions with respect to the fake news topic, underscoring the need to promote the fight against online misinformation," reads the release. Monona County partnership allows more youth to show at fair Giving more youth the chance to learn about livestock and take animals to the fair is the goal behind a project started a decade ago in Monona County.Known today as The Breakfast Club, St. Johns introduces Sharing the Dream program St. Johns United Methodist Church in Mapleton will be sponsoring a special program on Wednesday, June 16 called Sharing the Dream: A Mission to Help Elderly Women in Guatemala. French Minister of European Affairs Nathalie Loiseau on Thursday stated that she trusted Romania's capacity to bring Council of EU presidency to a good end. "We came to Bucharest for the inauguration of the Romanian presidency at the Council of EU, in order to hold consultations with the Romanian government related to this semesters' priorities, for this semester is going to be essential for the EU history. (...) I trust Romania's capacity to bring to a good end the presidency at the Council of EU. A successful presidency is one that is committed, has vision, is impartial and exemplary. We have a long and repeated experience of European presidencies and we will be by Romania's side to make this presidency a success," said Loiseau, in a meeting with the media. She also mentioned that this semester would be like "a turning point," for there will be Brexit to deal with, and the elections to the European Parliament, in the context in which part of the candidates will come with a pro-European programme and other with a wish for weakening the EU."We both agree, the Romanian side and the French side, that all that will happen in the next six months must lead to the strengthening of the EU," said the French Minister.According to her, the motto of the Romanian presidency of the Council of EU is cohesion."This presidency will be based on four directions of action. The first is convergence. For convergence becomes very important in a time when we are working on the future multiannual financial framework. We must be able to overcome all these new challenges facing the EU, while also keeping the policies that bring added value to the EU and have already proved their efficiency. (...) We know how committed Romania is to the cohesion policy. For us cohesion means fiscal convergence, social convergence and no divergence, if possible, in the rule of law," said the French official.Another priority of Romania's presidency of the Council of EU is security, according to Loiseau."We support this priority and we wish 2019 to be the first year when we implement the programme that supports the European defence industries. We want to finalize the discussions regarding the European defence fund and to make progresses in the European defence field. This doesn't mean that we need to work against the Atlantic alliance, on the contrary, we need to strengthen the European pillar of this alliance, for this serves everyone's interest. Also, by doing this we will strengthen our strategic autonomy, in the context in which the EU's security stakes do not always coincide with those of our partners," said the French Minister.The third priority mentioned by the French official for Romania's presidency of the Council is the place that the Union occupies in the world."In this field, we wish for the Romanian presidency to make progresses in creating a common European asylum system," stated Loiseau.According to her, Romania's place in the world also means defending multilateral trade.She further brought to mind that the fourth priority of Romania's mandate is represented by the European values, which also include the rule of law.She mentioned that she discussed with the Romanian side about the Romanian presidency of the Council of EU and about the France-Romania bilateral relations. Minister-delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba highlighted, in the meeting on Thursday with his French counterpart Nathalie Loiseau, Romania's interest in ensuring a successful mandate at the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. According to a Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) release, the Romanian official highlighted "Romania's interest in ensuring a successful mandate at the EU Council Presidency, in close cooperation with the European member states and institutions, meant to make the European agenda progress of a consensual and efficient manner, to the citizens' benefit, with a focus on the transversal political objective of ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion on a European level." The discussions emphasised the similarity of positions between Romania and France on some current priorities of the EU agenda. Moreover, they underscored the importance of concluding an agreement on the future Multiannual Financial Framework this autumn at the latest and of keeping an important role for the Common Agricultural Policy in the future budget of the Union.MAE mentions that the two officials also reiterated that Romania and France are strategic partners sharing the goal of a stronger, more efficient and more democratic Union, and closer to its citizens and are closely collaborating to achieve this goal, including in the perspective of the Summit in Sibiu on Europe's future, of 9 May.On the occasion of the meeting, the special nature of the bilateral relation was also reaffirmed, as well as the opening to dialogue and a strengthened cooperation with the French partners, including during the first exercise of the Romanian Presidency at the Council of the EU.The visit of the French minister took place in the context of Romania's taking over the mandate at the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January. Minister-delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba welcomed on Thursday the appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, Fusun Aramaz, on which occasion he presented the action coordinates and objectives of Romania during the presidency at the Council of the European Union, and stressed the importance of the EU-Turkey dialogue, to the benefit of both parties. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), the two interlocutors made a short overview of the bilateral relation, the objectives of common interest in the next period and the bilateral dialogue conducted on a bilateral and regional level. Minister George Ciamba highlighted the Strategic Partnership between Romania and Turkey, the Action Plan that guides the bilateral relation and welcomed the upward trend of economic exchanges and deep cooperation on regional issues.The Romanian official congratulated Fusun Aramaz for her appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Romania, assuring her of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' support for the fulfillment of her mandate, the MAE informs. 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King wrote, [T]he judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust. I want to echo King, if people of faith dont get it together, were going to miss the point of why we have church in the first place. If were so focused on keeping prayer in schools we forget that God never left schools at all. If were so focused on our own churches we forget that Sunday is the most segregated hour of our week. If were so focused on keeping our guns, we forget that one day in Gods kingdom we will have no need for such things. Were so focused on locking up criminals we forget them once theyre in jail. Were so focused on building a wall we forget that the wall is costing Americans their livelihoods and paychecks. And this very point is found in Jesus first public sermon, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor. Nguyen Van Binh, who is Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and head of the CPV Central Committees Economic Commission, made the statement at the meeting with Ambassador Xiong Bo in Hanoi on January 10. The Vietnamese Party official congratulated Xiong Bo for being appointed as the new Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam. Politburo member Binh expressed his belief that, with a lot of experience and enthusiasm, the Ambassador will definitely fulfill the tasks entrusted by the Party and Government of China, contributing to fostering the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and two countries. He noted that the regular exchanges and substantial cooperation between the two Parties and two countries are of significant importance amid the complicated developments in the region and the world. The host affirmed that the CPV Central Committees Economic Commission is willing to cooperate with the Chinese Embassy to boost the bilateral relations between the two countries. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo also asserted that the Party, Government and people of China attach great importance to relations with Vietnam. He expressed his wish that senior leaders of the two countries will continue to direct ministries, sectors and localities to strengthen exchanges and cooperation for mutual political trust and healthy and stable bilateral relations in the future. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe MINATARE As the brisk morning air danced in front of a bright orange and pale blue sky, the sound of cackling ducks and geese surrounded a river bed south of Minatare. While the sun peeked over the horizon turning the sky into an array of oranges, reds and blues, Cheyenne Ridge guide Ross Juelfs threw 33 duck decoys into the Winters Creek Canal south of Minatare in preparation for the morning hunt. As a Kimball native, Juelfs grew up in a family of hunters and helped his father guide from a young age. At the age of 8, he shot his first pheasant and the following year, he took his first duck. Juelfs has turned his knowledge and passion for hunting into a career. He is in his 11th year serving as a guide for Cheyenne Ridge Outfitters at the North Platte Outpost in Minatare. With sunrise 30 minutes away, the sound of gunshots echo through the trees. In Nebraska, regulations allow hunters to shoot 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. As the temperature hung at 26 degrees, Juelfs climbed into a blind beside the river and loaded a round into his 20-gauge shot gun. As the ducks started to lift, Juelfs called the birds to get them to decoy. While the decoys attract birds closer to the blind, Juelfs said the sunlight plays a role, especially right after sunrise. Derek Grinnell, 27, was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute (Class IV felonies) and possession of drug paraphernalia (infraction). Grinnell was transported to the Dawes County Jail and bond was set at 10 percent of $50,000. Colin Ladeaux, 30, was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute (Class IV felonies) and possession of drug paraphernalia (infraction). Ladeaux was transported to the Dawes County Jail and bond was set at 10 percent of $50,000. Brittney Priestley was placed under arrest for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute (Class IV felonies) and possession of drug paraphernalia (infraction). Priestly was transported to the Dawes County Jail and bond was set at 10 percent of $50,000. Mrs. Gonzales told us she woke up about midnight and noticed the heaters werent running because it was getting cold, Reisig said. She left the door to her bedroom open and a short time later she started smelling smoke and got her family out. There were no other electrical heaters in use at the time and it was determined the fire was apparently caused by a short in the electrical system. When Scottsbluff Rural got the call, Reisig also called Carissa Smith with Firefighter Ministry to provide assistance for the Gonzales family. Weve put the family up in a local motel, probably for a week as our standard, Smith said. That will give them time to figure out what they want to do. Firefighter Ministry also provided vouchers for food and clothing. The family was able to salvage some of their clothing as most of the damage to the homes contents came from smoke. Smith said the family will also talk with their landlord and if they need help with rent or finding a new place to live, her group will help with that. Unfortunately, there have been a lot of house fires around the area recently, Smith said. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form We had a career fair here on Jan. 9 and they talked with several people in the community, she said. MMP is looking to hire their management staff all the way down to shippers and fulfillment people for their warehousing operation. They want to hire local. In a prepared statement, Priemer said that anyone can put up a brick-and-mortar facility, but its the people that make it successful. I admire that this city has no quit in it, he said. The stories are marvelous from every individual we have talked to. They are tremendously qualified for every job function. I would say, as an employer, Id be a fool not to locate here. MMP is estimating it will hire at least 155 people over the next three years. Norgard said that number could be higher as the company continues to develop the business model for its first expansion outside of Canada. When MMP started talking with some of their clients and customers from Canada, the customers were pleased the company was looking at expanding into the U.S., Norgard said. They were also happy MMP would be in the middle of the country where its at most a two-day trip to anywhere else. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Would Warthogs gut tourism? Free Access It was no surprise that members of the Potter County Tourist and Recreation Work Group took a dim view of the proposed A-10 Warthog training flights swooping across the county.... Potter County targeted for ATV trails Free Access Much of the region is bracing for the ATV season that traditionally kicks into gear on Memorial Day weekend and continues until late September. Those dates coincide with the opening... Tractor Supply plan revealed Free Access Details on the plan to bring a Tractor Supply chain store to Coudersport were revealed last week. Blueprints were reviewed by both the Coudersport Borough Planning Commission and the Potter... Rural Renaissance underway here Free Access Americans are itching to get away after being cooped up for a year or more. Some 72 percent are planning summer trips, up 37 percent from a year ago. State... Ogden jazz icon Joe McQueen may be gone, but his memory and legacy live on. One physical reminder of his life, McQueen's lifelong home at 3158 Grant Ave., has now become available for sale. The house received extensive remodeling, but as investor Richard Casperson has said, "Joe's energy is F lying taxis may become reality within six years, aviation giant Bell has claimed, as it showed off its vertical take-off and landing flying car concept in partnership with Uber Elevate. The hybrid Nexus is propelled by six fans and would carry four passengers and a pilot. In theory it has a top speed of 150 mph and a 150-mile range, but it is yet to be tested in the air. Scott Drennan, the helicopter firms vice president of innovation, told a panel discussion at the CES tech show in Las Vegas that the service could be in use as early as 2025. However, a number of challenges need to be overcome before the technology takes off, such as making lighter batteries. Bell has, however, struck a deal with Nasa to carry out its first urban tests in the US, delivering blood, organs and critical medical supplies. Bell has created a hybrid car/helicopter named Nexus that could be used by Uber in 2025 / Bell The audience heard how cities had reached thresholds and limits with the current transportation system and that a vertical dimension was the only way to increase capacity. Bells project needs to overcome legislative and safety hurdles, as well as the problem of how to incorporate a potentially large number of flying cars into existing city infrastructure. Mr Drennan said he believed vertical take-off vehicles could be safer than driverless cars because all the aircraft would be flown by professional pilots and would not encounter the problem of unpredictable road users. Then there was the advantage that there are no obstacles in the air such as pedestrians, he added. The interaction between those unmanned assets and pilots in the air should be cleaner, he said. The executive also claimed the Nexus would be quieter than helicopters because the rotors are smaller and have protection around the blades to further dampen sound. Ubers Air subsidiary also plans to enable shared, multi-modal air transportation between suburbs, cities, and ultimately within cities in 2023 in smaller, all-electric transporters, with affordable fares. F ake news is still very much alive and well on the internet, with the ramifications of misinformation having impacts across the world. The respected German newspaper, Der Spiegel, recently fired one its top reporters over a series of fake stories. The major culprit in the spread of fake news is social media, particularly Facebook, and the company has been pouring investment into working with independent third parties to check the content that appears online since December 2016. For the first time, Facebooks fact-checking programme is coming to the UK, facilitated by the charity Full Fact. Fact-checkers at the organisation will now begin reviewing and rating the accuracy of content on the social platform. Facebook users can flag content they presume is false, which Full Facts team will check and review. If youve shared a post which Full Fact later flags as fake, you will be informed and given the option to read more about the claims sources. Content considered fake will also be de-ranked by Facebooks algorithm so it appears lower in the News Feed and doesnt reach as many people. The organisation says it will focus on reviewing and rating misinformation, which carries the most potential for harming peoples safety or undermining democratic processes. It lists instances focuses on dangerous cancer cures, false news spread in the wake of terror attacks, or fake content about voting ahead of elections. Its painstaking work to flag fake news. Full Facts founder and director Will Moy, said: Fact-checking can take hours, days or weeks, so nobody has the time to properly check everything they see online. But its important somebodys doing it because online misinformation, at its worst, can seriously damage peoples safety or health. As Full Fact is an independent charity, it is very transparent about the work it does, particularly for organisations like Facebook and Google for which it has received donations for work on specific projects. Full Fact says Facebook will have no control over what its team chooses to check, what they write or the ratings they give. In addition, Full Fact will not be given access to Facebook users private data for any reason. New research published this week has shown that people over the age of 65 are more likely to share fake news on Facebook than younger people. Researchers at New York University and Princeton studied the behaviour of Americans online before and after the 2016 US presidential election and found that 11 per cent of people aged 65 or over shared links to fake stories, compared to only 3 per cent of those aged 18-29. Sharing a fake link online may seem like an honest mistake but it can have serious consequences. Up to 40 people are thought to have been killed in India after fake news surrounding alleged child abductors spread across WhatsApp in 2018, resulting in random and fatal attacks. Full Facts work to prevent the spread of fake news on Facebook is surely welcomed. R obot dogs are being trained to deliver parcels carried strapped to their backs. Continental presented a concept design for the autonomous canines as part of its new last-mile system as part of its project with Swiss engineers ANYbotics. The idea would see CUbE delivery pods, which have been trialled on public roads, not only carry peoples orders but also act as a kennel-on-wheels to stage and deploy the ANYmal robots. The 60cm tall model, which has a three-hour battery, at CES climbs the steps to the front door, touches a metal paw against the front door to inform the customer they have arrived. Continental developed the idea for the delivery robot dogs with ANYbotics / Mark Blunden The package is then tipped off its back on to the porch. The theory is the pod-and-dog system would work at a constant pace around the clock, which could help cut congestion. Power-generating treadmills Runners can try to cut their electricity bills by generating power on a treadmill. The 5,000 Verde G690 pumps electricity back into the grid as runners work out, creators SportsArt said. The machine has six resistance levels and a screen that shows users how much electricity they are producing. It is said to be capable of harnessing up to three-quarters of the energy generated when a person runs between 2mph and 10mph. Chief executive Ivo Grossi said: The treadmill not only reduces energy consumption but actually produces it. The Verde G690 pumps electricity back into the grid when you workout / SportsAid Baby's first memory A stick-on motion-sensing camera has been developed to save babies first memories by giving the parent an infants view of the world. The 16GB Babeyes device is hidden in the eye of a stick-on teddy bear badge, below, and features an HD smart camera with facial recognition and night vision. This motion-sensing camera wants to show parents how their infant sees the world / Babeyes It costs 110 and records 20-second videos which can be downloaded to a computer. A spokesman said: Babeyes lets the child see how people looked at them for the first time. Z oe Ball says she has been preparing for her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show debut by having some final lie-ins. The broadcaster, who replaces Chris Evans on Monday on the most listened-to radio show in the UK, will be setting her alarm for 4am to get to the BBC studio on time. She said: I have been lying in for the last three weeks. I was thinking, Should I try the drive in from Brighton? No! Youre going to do that next week. So Ive been lying in. On her new early starts, she added: It is not horrendous. Some people get up and do two jobs in a day, people do night shifts, they do horrendous long hours. Im going to get up and have three hours of fun, so I think, Get your butt out of bed Ball, its your job. The last audience figures released before Evans departure showed he pulled in 8.8 million listeners a week the lowest number in six years and Ball admitted losing listeners does break your heart. Taking over: Zoe Ball with her predecessor Chris Evans (BBC/Sarah Jeynes) / BBC She said: All you can do is give a show you truly believe in. Lets hope for the best, it could be rocky for a while but lets see. People have been really warm and positive. I know Im not everyones taste and thats fine, and that is the beauty of digital and radio that you can find what you want to listen to. Chris Evans leaves BBC Radio 2 1 /7 Chris Evans leaves BBC Radio 2 Chris Evans leaves Wogan House in London, with his wife, Natasha Shishmanian, and sons Noah (right) and Eli, after presenting his final BBC Radio 2 breakfast show PA Chris Evans and his sons SplashNews.com Emotional Chris Evans exits the BBC breakfast show in sprouts pajamas after his final show in which tears were shed SplashNews.com Chris Evans SplashNews.com Chris Evans SplashNews.com Chris Evans and his wife Natasha Shishmanian and their sons Noah and Eli SplashNews.com Chris Evans SplashNews.com Ball, at the station for more than a decade, said listeners want music, positivity and to be informed by a breakfast show. She said: It is an important role and a real privilege to wake up the nation and hopefully put people in a good mood, and I also know how much fun it is to do breakfast radio, its such a joy. She has already whittled down an 81-track playlist to choose the first song she will play on Monday, but is keeping it under wraps until she presses play. I had to narrow it down because its tricky. Who would have thought that was the thing I would have spent so much time on? Chris Evans: It was the right time to leave BBC Radio 2 It got to the point last night that I had so many features to get my head around that I thought I have to make a decision now, and Im one of those people, I do it with clothes, I choose an outfit and I change my mind. But Im really pleased with my first choice. Ball said Evans has been brilliant and she hoped she did not get the job of replacing him because Im a woman but because Im the right person for the job. P iers Morgan has revealed the bad news that he is not dying after being admitted to hospital for medical tests. The Good Morning Britain presenter shared a picture of himself in a hospital gown wearing a nasal cannula. Bad news: Im not dying, he wrote on Instagram. I can only apologise for all the distress I know this will cause some people. In a similar post on his Twitter account, the divisive TV host said he had undergone extensive hospital tests this morning. The 55-year-old revealed that he was recuperating at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital in Kensington, but did not provide further details of his illness. Last December, Morgan revealed that he had been diagnosed with bronchitis, laryngitis and sinusitis following another hospital visit. The GMB hosts fans were quick to wish him a speedy recovery, and voiced their hopes that Morgan would be back to work on Monday morning. Get better soon it makes my day with you on TV in the morning , one wrote. Piers Morgan battles flu on GMB Get well soon I need you in the mornings, you brighten my day, another added, with a further commenter chiming in: Please be on the mend in time for GMB on Monday, We need you! Some of Morgans followers suggested that his hospital stint would make social media a more boring place, with one predicting: Twitter will be quiet. Others joked that his hospitalisation might have been prompted by his exaggerated response to Greggs vegan sausage roll, which he tested out live on air last week. Oh wow Piers what on Earth has happened to you, one follower asked. It must have been a bad reaction to that vegan sausage roll K atie Price has come under fire after sharing a photo of herself posing with a new puppy, shortly after telling a judge that she would be unable to pay a 1,100 fine for driving while disqualified. In the photo, which was posted on Prices Instagram account, the former glamour model also showed off new hair extensions, which were a gift from a Sussex beauty salon. In love with my new Rapunzel hair that was sent to me as a gift to try, she wrote, adding that she has had so many compliments already on her new look. Price appeared at Crawley Magistrates Court on Thursday, where she pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance. She had been spotted driving on the A24 near her home in West Sussex on July 25 while a six-month driving ban was still in place. Her defence Paul Macaulay told the court that Price had mistakenly believed the ban had been imposed after an earlier hearing in January, meaning it would have ended at the start of July, before the incident took place. She was banned from driving for a further three months and fined 1,100 for the offences, but reportedly told the magistrate that she would need some more time to pay the charge. In response, she was issued with a 14-day collection order, meaning that the fine must be paid within a fortnight. Katie Price - In pictures 1 /46 Katie Price - In pictures Instagram/katieprice @katieprice Jeff Spicer/Getty Images Katie Price: Harvey & Me Glen Gratton SplashNews.com @zoejamesmua PA Wire/PA Images The Adventures of Katie and Carl Fluffy style Katie at a film premiere in London in February Dave Benett Crisis talks Katie Price and Derrick Pountney after crisis talks via Showbiz Bang Loved up Katie Price with husband Kieran Hayler, who had an affair with her best friend Katie Price Twitter Image Shining in silver The model pictured at a screening of a Lego film which she attended with her children (Picture: Sean Dempsey/PA) Sean Dempsey/PA Wire Extravagant Katie Price poses with a copy of her autobiography - Love, Lipstick And Lies - in one of her famously extravagant attires (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Angel Katie Price at aphotocall to launch her new venture KP Rocks (Picture: Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images) Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images My Little Pony Katie Price wore a strange pink horse outfit for the fifth birthday of her equestrian school PA Riding in Katie riding a horse for a book launch in London Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images Cooling off Katie Price poses in a bikini in the I'm A Celebrity shower ITV/Rex Features Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Bongarts/Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Prices followers did not hold back as they criticised the star for showing off her new German Shepherd puppy, which is thought to have cost her around 1,000. And yet, you couldnt afford to pay your fine for driving while disqualified? one scathing comment read. My oh my, your time in rehab has really helped you get your priorities straight. Sell[ing] your dog could pay for your fine, what a joke, another suggested. Pay your fine," one commenter wrote. Standard Online has reached out to Prices representatives for comment. A n 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Justin Trudeau has said. The Canadian prime minister said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse. "Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women's rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the UN's request," the Mr Trudeau said. A Korean Air flight carrying Ms Qunun left Bangkok for Seoul on Friday night at 11.37pm local time, an airport official told Reuters. Ms Qunun is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning / AP Ms Qunun will board a connecting flight to Toronto from Seoul's Incheon airport. She is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning. "It was her wish to go to Canada," Thailand's immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters. "She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be traveling back tonight as well ... They are disappointed." Ms Qunun has accused her family of abuse, and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia. The 18-year-old arrived in Bangkok on Saturday and was initially denied entry, but she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had "escaped Kuwait" and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia. Within hours, a campaign sprang up dubbed #SaveRahaf, spread on Twitter by a loose network of activists. Immigration chief Lt-General Surachate Hakparn speaks in Canada / REUTERS Following a tense 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter the country and has been processed as a refugee by the UNHCR. Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families. Ms Qunun's flight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing unusually intense scrutiny from its Western allies over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Instanbul in October and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen. Around midday on Friday, Ms Qunun posted on her Twitter account that she had "bad and good news!" But the account went offline shortly after. Your Holiday Shopping Magazine to Emporia and area businesses. Also visit ShopEmporiaKansas.com to shop Emporia businesses who are online. Start your online shopping here. VIEW NOW T he identity of the second Briton killed in a Spanish air crash which claimed the life of Paul Hollywoods brother-in-law was revealed today David Hockings was the registered owner of the Piper Arrow III that crashed in thick fog near the Basque country town of Errezil as it headed for the nearby coastal resort of Hendarribia. The 67-year-old from Hailsham, east Sussex, ran an aircraft maintenance company with his wife Tatyana. The other occupant of the light aircraft was named yesterday as 62-year-old Simon Moores, the brother of the Great British Bake Off stars estranged wife Alex, 54. Contact was lost with the plane shortly after 1pm on Wednesday and the alarm was raised after a local heard an explosion. Paul Hollywoods brother-in-law was killed in the accident / Danny Lawson/PA Archive/PA Images One of the victims bodies was recovered by search and rescue teams later the same day and the second yesterday morning. Mr Moores and his flying companion Mr Hockings had left Tires Airport near Cascais in Portugal around 9am on Wednesday. They were due to fly to Biarritz in France but changed their route to San Sebastian near Spains border with France instead for refuelling reasons. Local reports said the pair had been on a work trip to the Portuguese capital Lisbon and were heading back to Britain. A Norwegian Airlines plane has been stuck in Iran for four weeks after it was forced to land in Shiraz with suspected engine issues. Flight DY1933 landed in Shiraz on December 14 with passengers travelling on to Oslo the next day. However the plane is expected to stay there for some time as the airlines considers ways to get around international sanctions imposed on Iran by the US. A spokesman confirmed that the airlines was working on multiple options to return the aircraft to service after the plane safely diverted to Iran. According to The National, mechanics are facing delays in getting hold of the parts needed to repair the aircraft because of the international sanctions. Aircraft sales, including parts and services are banned under the sanctions. AFP reported that the overnight stop in Iran could cause a problem for the 168 passengers on board in the future. A passenger who was on board the flight told the National: Emotions were high at the hotel when the promised evening flight didnt materialise and we were told we would spend the night in Iran. Many argued that we should have been put on a quick flight back to Dubai, rather than kept in Iran overnight. T his is the incredible moment spiders appear to fall from the sky in Brazil. The staggering clip may give the impression it's raining spiders, but it actually shows hundreds of arachnids suspended in a huge web which has been spun to catch prey. Joao Pedro Martinelli Fonseca, who recorded the footage in the southern state of Minas Gerais, told a local newspaper he was "stunned and scared" when he came across it. However, according to experts, it is typical in the region during hot and humid weather. The phenomenon gives the impression its raining spiders / JPG4M3R/YouTube The species of spider, known as parawixia bistriata, are known to make their webs high up. D onald Trump has claimed the United States is being invaded at it southern border and gangs and human traffickers can easily pour in as he continued to fight for his border wall. Speaking after a visit to Mexico, the president warned of a humanitarian crisis at our southern border, tweeting: I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion! In a post on Friday, he added: I have been there numerous times The Democrats, Cryin Chuck and Nancy dont know how bad and dangerous it is for our ENTIRE COUNTRY. The steel barrier or wall should have been built by previous administrations long ago. They never got it done I will. Without it, our country cannot be safe. Criminals, gangs, human traffickers, drugs and so much other big trouble can easily pour in. It can be stopped cold. It comes as the US president edges closer to declaring a national emergency to fund his long-promised southern border wall amid a three-week government shutdown. Some 800,000 staff are set to miss their first pay cheque under the stoppage on Friday, and Washington is coming close to setting a dubious record for the longest government shutdown in American history. Those markers - along with growing effects on national parks, food inspections and the economy overall - have left some Republicans on Capitol Hill increasingly uncomfortable with Mr Trump's demands. Asked about the plight of those going without pay, the president shifted focus, saying he felt badly "for people that have family members that have been killed" by criminals who came over the border. President Donald Trump as he visits the banks of the Rio Grande River / REUTERS Mr Trump spoke during a visit to McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande on Thursday to highlight what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime. He said that "if for any reason we don't get this going" - meaning an agreement with House Democrats who have refused to approve the 5.7 billion dollars he is demanding - "I will declare a national emergency". Mr Trump is consulting with White House lawyers and allies about using presidential emergency powers to take unilateral action to construct the wall over the objections of US Congress. He claimed his lawyers told him the action would withstand legal scrutiny "100%". Such a move to bypass US Congress' constitutional control of the nation's purse strings would spark certain legal challenges and bipartisan claims of executive over-reach. A congressional official said the White House has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to look for billions of dollars earmarked last year for disaster response for Puerto Rico and other areas that could be diverted to a border wall as part of the emergency declaration. A doctor examined a woman who gave birth in a vegetative state less than nine months before she went through labour and did not discover she was pregnant, it has emerged. The 29-year-old woman had her child in a Phoenix care facility on December 29, after a decade in care with severe brain damage. It has since emerged a doctor examined the woman in Arizona on April 16 and found "no change" in her health. They stated the examination was external only, according to Maricopa County superior court documents. Police reveal a baby boy born to a woman who has been in a vegetative state The womans mother submitted the results of the physical examination as part of an annual report required of legal guardians under state law. In addition to this, medical experts have said it is possible the woman displayed no outward signs of pregnancy which workers who cared for her every day would have noticed. Police investigating the incident said it appears none of the staff members at the long-term care facility owned by Hacienda HealthCare knew about the pregnancy until the baby was born. Though this has been met by scepticism by some, foetal medicine expert Dr C Kevin Huls said while some factors remain unknown, such as how far along she was in her pregnancy, someone who is fed the same amount from a tube every day might not show any dramatic changes that would be noticed. The mother could have actually lost weight in other places like her face or arms if a foetus was consuming nutrients, Dr Huls said. "A good way to understand it is that really, the baby's going to continue to grow even at the expense of the mom's nutrition," he said. "So, her weight may not change because she's not taking in additional calories. There may be changes to her body that are going to go undetected in a chronic care condition or at a facility like this." Phoenix Police spokesman Tommy Thompson speaks at a news conference in Phoenix, about the investigation of a woman at a long-term care facility who gave birth. / AP The news that an incapacitated woman was sexually assaulted inside a care facility has horrified the public at large. The CEO of the provider caring for the woman resigned this week and Arizona state officials said the centre has made safety changes. Phoenix police learned of the situation when they received a call about a newborn in distress at the Hacienda HealthCare facility. Police launched a sex crime investigation when it was determined that the mother was in a vegetative state. Arizona police spokesman Tommy Thompson said: "She was not in a position to give consent to any of this." The woman and her child are recovering at a local hospital and her family, who are members of the San Carlos Apache tribe in south-eastern Arizona, said in a statement they will care for the baby boy. Phoenix police have not ruled out any suspects in the sexual assault and are gathering DNA samples from the facility's male staff. S audi asylum seeker Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun has deleted her twitter account after allegedly receiving death threats. On Friday the 18-year-olds social media account was no longer on the website. Sophie McNeill, a journalist who has been with the teenager told followers that she is safe and fine. She added: She will be back on twitter but for now shes apparently having a short break. Its thought that either Canada or Australia could become the new home for Ms Qunun. Thai police have said several countries are in talks with the UN refugee agency to accept her. Alqunun, the 18-year old Saudi woman who fled her family to seek asylum, remains in Thailand under the care of the UN refugee agency as she awaits a decision by a third country to accept her as a refugee / AP On Friday, Thailands immigration chief, Surachate Hakparn, told reporters the UN was accelerating the case. He did not give any indication on when the process would be complete. The 18-year-old barricaded herself in an airport hotel room, launching a social media campaign via Twitter and drawing global attention to her case. An Australian Broadcasting Corporation journalist Sophie McNeill who was in the room with Ms Qunun said the teenager was terrified. Ms Qununs campaign garnered enough public and diplomatic support to convince Thai officials to admit her temporarily under the protection of UN officials. On Wednesday, she was granted refugee status by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Australian newspaper reports Ms Qunun appears to be headed to Canada after the commissioner withdrew its referral to Australia to take her as a refugee. Australian government sources denied a Daily Mail report that the 18-year-old had already been granted resettlement in Australia, after it reported that she had told one of its reporters: I am so happy, I will start a new life, the newspaper reports. Immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters today the UNHCR was working hard to prepare the documents required for her resettlement to a third country. There are countries we already know that have offered to take her such as Australia which has been co-ordinating with the UNHCR or Canada, but it depends on the readiness of the destination country, if they are ready to receive her or not, he said. Today for the document process, that is between UNHCR and the destination country. We are still waiting for an answer on that but from what I see they are working very fast. On Friday, the teenager had deleted her Twitter account after she reportedly received death threats. Ms Qununs case has highlighted the cause of womens rights in Saudi Arabia, where womens freedoms are severely restricted under the countrys guardianship laws. Several female Saudis fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home. A n avalanche engulfed a Swiss hotel as heavy snow battered Europes ski resorts. Three people were injured in the avalanche and Hotel Santis confirmed that there were no missing guests. The avalanche occurred at around 4pm on Thursday afternoon in the Schwagalp pass area. One eyewitness told Tagblatt that he had stopped by the restaurant to grab a beer and read the paper when he saw the snow approaching. A general view shows Santis-Schwaegalp mountain area after an avalanche / REUTERS He said: There was a huge noise and a load of snow came in from the back of the restaurant. Outside, the street in front of the hotel was completely buried with several cars and a bus under the snow. According to reports, at least one person was dug out of the snow. Images from the scene show the sheer power of the avalanche, completely blanketing the hotel and the surrounding area. The incident comes as parts of Europe is battered by heavy snow which has left at least 17 dead. Austrian broadcaster ORF said that the weather was expected to calm on Friday however further heavy snow could be expected on Sunday. A snow-covered bus stands at Santis-Schwaegalp mountain area after an avalanche / REUTERS Around 9,000 households in the Czech Republic were without electricity on Thursday due to heavy snow. In Norways Svaldard islands, more than 200 people have been evacuated due to a storm and a risk of avalanche. Workers clear a roof in Gerold, Germany / EPA Earlier this week, snow hit parts of Greece, leaving the Acropolis dusted in snow. Locals had to contend with transport being brought to a standstill as ice made roads impassable. B BC weather presenter Dianne Oxberry has died aged 51 following a short illness, the broadcaster has said. Oxberry worked alongside Simon Mayo and Steve Wright on Radio 1 before moving to North West Tonight in 1994, where she worked until her death. She was the main weather presenter on the programme and also fronted regional current affairs show Inside Out North West. Oxberry, who lived in Greater Manchester, died at Manchester's Christie Hospital on Thursday, the BBC said. Family and colleagues have paid tribute after the presenter's death / PA Oxberry's husband, Ian Hindle, said: "Dianne was an amazing wife and mother who embraced life to the full. She was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her but also to the people who watched and welcomed her into their homes each night as if she were part of their family too." Mr Hindle, a camera operator, added: "She will leave a massive void in our lives but, because of the remarkable person she was, she will forever live on in our hearts. The children and I will miss her more than anyone can imagine." Sunderland-born Oxberry joined North West Tonight after studying at the Met Office College. Diane Oxberry has died aged 51 / BBC She also presented a number of programmes on BBC Radio Manchester, including the Breakfast Show. Roger Johnson, a presenter on North West Tonight, said: "We are heartbroken by Dianne's death. It is almost impossible to comprehend. Dianne was North West Tonight. It's hard to imagine the programme without her. "Our thoughts are with Ian and all of Dianne's family. We hope they will find some comfort in the knowledge so many people loved Dianne and will miss her terribly." Annabel Tiffin, also a presenter North West Tonight, said: "This is an enormous shock for all of us. I can scarcely believe Dianne has died. She was loved by our viewers, by all of us at North West Tonight. My heart breaks for her family. "Di was so talented, so beautiful, so funny and so full of life. On screen she was a star, radiating warmth and good humour. Off screen, she was a wonderful colleague, a loyal friend, and I will miss her terribly." Director of BBC England, Helen Thomas said: "Dianne had a remarkable career. For more than two decades, she was a key part of one of the most watched regional news programmes in the country. Prior to that, she'd had a successful stint working on air at Radio 1. "She was a brilliant weather presenter, showed she could do serious journalism with Inside Out and could do the lighter end of broadcasting brilliantly whenever it was needed. Diane Oxberry has died aged 51 after a short battle with cancer / PA "Above all she was a lovely woman whose sudden and shocking death has robbed the BBC of one of our brightest stars. I'm thinking of all her family and friends at this awful time." Aziz Rashid, Head of BBC North West, added: "We are all devastated by this dreadful news. The coming days will be difficult but we will do our best to pay tribute to someone who meant so much to us all and made such an enormous contribution to broadcasting in the North West. "Just last November during our Plod for Pudsey challenge for Children in Need, Di was out meeting viewers around the region. I saw for myself the incredible reaction she got from the public, which showed how much people cared for her." Colleagues and friends took to twitter to pay tribute to Oxberry. Judith Moritz, BBC North of England correspondent, said she was devastated by the news. She was so genuinely warm and kind. Funny and bright. A real light has gone out, for her workmates, and for audiences who loved her. Condolences to her family, she wrote. Steven Saul, a BBC North West presenter and social media producer said Oxberry was the kindest, caring, funny most obliging person you could meet. Just the same on screen as off. W hitehall chiefs are racing to recruit key staff just weeks before the UK is due to leave the EU stressing they need to be able to keep calm and carry out Brexit. The Brexit Department has put out a series of adverts for new civil servants. One ad is seeking seven analysts, on salaries between 49,000 and 70,000, who will play a critical role in analysis shaping decisions before the UK leaves the EU and in the negotiations after. The eleventh-hour recruitment move stunned MPs. Shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook said: We are less than 80 days until we leave the EU and yet the Government still hasnt hired the staff to properly plan for Brexit. The department is also seeking seven people to work in business assistant and business support roles to directors and deputy directors. They should be team players who are able to keep calm and prioritise workloads, with the ability to forward plan as business needs change, the ad explains. In an apparent sign of the frenetic pace of Brexit preparations, it continues: DExEU is a dynamic working environment where the successful candidate will be requested to make arrangements at short notice. A DExEU spokeswoman said: We will continue to recruit the staff we need to deliver Brexit and negotiate our future relationship with the EU. T heresa May reached out to union leaders amid signs she could face a Commons defeat over her Brexit deal. The Prime Minister also met with Labour MPs in a bid to gain support for her proposals ahead of next Tuesdays Commons vote. Mrs May held phone conversations with Unite boss and Jeremy Corbyn confidant Len McCluskey as well as with Tim Roache of the GMB. Number 10 described the calls as constructive and confirmed ministers would "consider very seriously" moves by Labour MPs to safeguard workers' rights after Brexit. Theresa May held phone conversations with Len McCluskey, pictured, and Tim Roache (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) / Getty Images But following the calls on Thursday, Mr Roache said the non-binding assurances on workers rights in Mrs Mays deal current deal wont cut it. Mr Roache added: "After nearly three years I'm glad the Prime Minister finally picked up the phone. "As you would expect, I was very clear about GMB's position, the deal on the table isn't good enough and non-binding assurances on workers' rights won't cut it. "If the deal genuinely did the job for GMB members, our union would support it, but it doesn't." Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry later on Thursday hit out at Tory figures putting out feelers on workers' rights in a bid to get a Brexit consensus. Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry / EPA Appearing on the BBC's Question Time, she accused the Government of treating the issue as an "afterthought" by attempting to discuss it at such a late stage. She said: "It would be fundamental to what we were doing and we would have it as part of the law that our rights would be in pace with Europe. Japanese prime minister backs May's Brexit deal "For the Tories to come back at the last minute and go 'oh yeah you know that thing about workers' rights, well you might be able to have the same rights as they have in Spain', it just shows the fundamental difference of approach to this." Mr Corbyn said the widely-expected defeat for Mrs May's deal next Tuesday would signal the failure of her leadership and of the Conservatives as a party of Government. Speaking on a visit to Wakefield in Yorkshire he urged MPs from across to House to back the motion of no confidence in the Government which Labour would table "at the moment we judge it to have the best chance of success". B rexit looks increasingly likely to be delayed beyond the scheduled leaving date of March 29, Cabinet ministers revealed today to the Evening Standard. A backlog of at least six essential Bills that must be passed before Britain quits the European Union has left ministers convinced the timetable will be extended. Even asking MPs to sit at weekends and cancel their half-term holiday in February may not provide enough time to avoid asking for a delay, several sources have disclosed. A senior minister said: The legislative timetable is now very, very tight indeed. Certainly if there was defeat on Tuesday and it took some time before it got resolved, its hard to see how we can get all the legislation through by March 29. Theresa May at PMQs today / PA The development came as: Senior ministers told the Standard that a majority of the Cabinet now support the idea of staging indicative votes in the Commons to see if a different Brexit plan is supported, despite Theresa May publicly opposing the idea. Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd refused three times on live radio to deny she would resign if the Prime Minister attempted a disorderly departure from the EU without securing a withdrawal deal. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned that Brexit paralysis was a risk if MPs vote down Mrs Mays deal on Tuesday while lacking a majority for a different deal. He said it was clear that a no-deal Brexit would be blocked by Parliament following the landmark votes earlier this week. An influential group of Cabinet ministers is understood to be pushing a Plan B designed to attract Labour support. Chancellor Philip Hammond, Mrs Mays de facto deputy David Lidington, Business Secretary Greg Clark, Justice Secretary David tGauke, and Ms Rudd, are said to support permanent membership of a customs union, which Labour has proposed. The pound jumped against the dollar as the Standards story about the likelihood of a delay was published online, rising to 0.6 per cent to $1.2851. A No 10 spokeswoman denied the report, saying Mrs May had ruled out extending Article 50, adding: Yes and she has done on a large number of occasions, including, I think, this week. But Mr Hunt appeared to concede that a delay could be forced by a Commons deadlock, telling BBC Radio 4s Today programme it was very unrealistic to think Parliament wouldnt find a way to stop a no-deal Brexit. Amber Rudd refused three times on live radio to deny she would resign if the Prime Minister attempted a disorderly departure from the EU / Getty Images No 10 revealed that the assurances and clarifications on the backstop sought by Mrs May from Brussels were expected to be unveiled on Monday. Speaking in Romania, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker confirmed talks were taking place with Downing Street. But Brussels sources said the assurances may amount only to a joint letter from him and European Council president Donald Tusk, which would not buy off MPs. Mr Hunt sounded more optimistic, saying he wanted the assurances to be legally-binding. TODO: define component type apester Diplomats believe Brussels may be holding back stronger wording for a re-run of the vote. BBC analysis estimates the Government is heading for crushing defeat on Mrs Mays withdrawal blueprint next week by a margin of 228 votes. The Prime Minister is committed to coming back to the Commons by Monday January 21 with proposals for a new way forward, opening the door to MPs forcing votes on Plan Bs. Greg Clark has previously hinted he would quit if the Government tried a no-deal exit / PA The prospect of a delay to the Article 50 process has arisen because in addition to the deal itself, MPs need to pass a Trade Bill, Agriculture Bill, Fisheries Bill, Healthcare Bill, a Financial Services Bill and an Immigration Bill. It follows reports from Brussels this week that British officials have already put out feelers about whether the other 27 EU countries would be willing to approve a limited extension of the Article 50 process that set a two-year deadline for Britain to leave the bloc. A minister said there was strong resistance around the Cabinet table to any delay. Nobody desires it, they said. We may have to sit down and really prioritise. But we would then be in an emergency crisis situation. Ministers think Mrs May will have to allow indicative votes on alternative plans such as a second referendum and a Norway deal if she loses heavily. But a senior Tory warned: Junior ministers and parliamentary private secretaries would feel very, very aggrieved if they did not have a free vote. You would get some resignations. Ministers have got to think how the process would work. The Tory added: Im absolutely certain its being examined. No 10 sources said Mrs May is not a fan of the idea, however. C onservative rebel Dominic Grieve has said Brexit should be delayed if Theresa May's deal is defeated to prevent a "national suicide". The MP, who wants a second referendum, said the current date for the UK's departure from the EU should be removed from domestic law if Mrs May loses next week's meaningful vote. He told the BBC: "The first thing we could do is to take the 29th March out of our domestic legislation, because without doing that there's no point in going to the EU and asking for an extension because we would still be crashing out and that would have to be, I think, a top priority. "I believe the EU will extend Article 50 for us but I think it'll only do it in a very limited number of circumstances and we have to be realistic about that as well. So we need to explore what those circumstances might be and have an opinion so that how we can proceed from there." The MP for Beaconsfield also spoke at an "emergency convention" on a second EU referendum at Emmanuel Centre in Westminster on Friday. Grieve, who tabled the amendment that led to a government defeat on Wednesday, told a packed hall that once Prime Minister Theresa May's deal is defeated in the Commons the only option is a second referendum. He also said that Conservatives had "blown it" by letting a "revolutionary change take place in the name of tradition". Dominic Grieve speaking during a convention on a second EU referendum / PA Mr Grieve said that if MPs vote against Mrs May's deal as is predicted next week, then the only option is to go back to the British public and hold a second referendum. He added: "My friend the Prime Minister has been doing her very best to try to find a way out of this problem that minimises the damage while trying to honour the referendum result. "The unpleasant truth for her is that it can satisfy no one. "There is only one way out. When the PM's deal is defeated, what else can we possibly offer to the British public which has any chance at all, but to go back to ask them to reconsider their decision. "Parliamentarians do have some duties and one of them is to prevent people from committing national suicide." Conservative MP Dominic Grieve / AFP/Getty Images Mr Grieve received a standing ovation from the packed hall when he stepped on stage and again when he finished speaking. He told the audience that options such as a Norway-style deal or customs union with the EU just "brush problems under the carpet" and the only option was to go back to the public. But Mr Grieve did not say what questions should be on a second referendum or whether a no-deal Brexit should be on the ballot paper. Mr Grieve said he had told sixth form students that what it meant to be a conservative was to believe in principals of "continuity" and "pragmatism" and to try to avoid "revolutionary changes". He added: "I then explained to them that we had blown it because we allowed a revolutionary change to take place in the name of tradition, and such things can never work. It ends up where you do not want to be." Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas told the audience the referendum of 2016 had highlighted the problems at the heart of British democracy which can no longer be ignored. The Brighton Pavilion MP said people voted with a "collective howl of rage" but it was also a collective message that the status quo was "intolerable". Caroline Lucas speaking during a convention on a second EU referendum / PA Ms Lucas added: "People were and are angry for many reasons, a general sense that any change is better than the status quo, that they have nothing left to lose. The tragedy of course is they do and likely will. "We must also be very honest, we know that immigration has been a good thing for Britain. "The point is that its benefits have not been equally shared and big changes to our communities can be frightening. "The tragedy is of course is that Brexit would make it harder to address all of those concerns." Ms Lucas said a second referendum could "fire the starting gun" on a new conversation about how the country is governed. She called for a new social contract, better jobs and green investment to address the "grotesque inequalities" and proposed introducing proportional representation to replace the first-past-the-post voting system. She added: "The lie at the heart of the leave campaign was that this downward spiral could be reversed by leaving the EU. "The serious democratic deficit in our own country, Brexit has laid bare the extent to which our government structures are derelict. "A people's vote should be the starting gun on the race to genuinely democratise the UK." From the bottom of our hearts, we want them to stay. Without your great nation, this Continent would not be what it is today: a community defined by freedom and prosperity. After the horrors of the Second World War, Britain did not give up on us. It has welcomed Germany back as a sovereign nation and a European power. This we, as Germans, have not forgotten and we are grateful. A ung San Suu Kyi could lose her Honorary Freedom of the City of London after councillors last night voted to begin the process of revoking the accolade a first in its history. They cited her failure to speak out and acknowledge the genocide that took place, a reference to the crisis in Myanmar, which began in 2015 and has seen hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims flee persecution. Suu Kyi, pictured, once the darling of Western politics for her long stand against her countrys military junta, has seen her reputation shredded in the wake of what a UN boss has called a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. Now City of London Corporation councillors have backed a motion by Munsur Ali (a councillor for Portsoken) that would remove her Honorary Freedom of the City. Though it has no practical effect, this is the highest honour the City of London can bestow and is normally reserved for heads of state or global figures such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, internet inventor Tim Berners-Lee and Winston Churchill. Suu Kyi was only awarded her Honorary Freedom in 2017. At the time, the Corporation praised her steadfast dedication to create a society where people can live in peace, security and freedom. Last night during the debate, councillor Jamie Ingham Clark disagreed with the motion and said the Corporation should take the long view and not enter into gesture politics. Another councillor, Tom Sleigh, replied: If this is gesture politics, what is giving the award in the first place? In fact, Suu Kyi, a 1991 Nobel Peace prize winner, has been losing honorary awards at a pace since the scale of the suffering of the Rohingya has become clearer to the West. The UN has estimated that 1,000 people have died, while at least 700,000 are thought to have fled the country. A City of London Corporation spokesperson confirms that the freedom applications committee will now write to Aung San Suu Kyi to inform her of the proposal to revoke the award and will consider her response before a final decision is made. Apologies to all, in perfect French Excusez-moi: Dominic Grieve MP / Getty Images Green Party MP Caroline Lucas opened The Convention this morning, an emergency get-together to demand a second Brexit referendum. She also called for Parliament to be moved from London. The Palace of Westminster, gothic, rat-infested, falling into the Thames, is a powerful symbol of the state of political decay, she said. Tory MP Dominic Grieve delighted Gallic journalists by responding to questions in flawless French, before walking off with the microphone still attached to his lapel. Oh, sorry, he mumbled in apologetic English. -- Chef Heston Blumenthal risks a cross-Channel war when he says that we taught the French how to cook. His reasoning is that in the 1800s, chefs came here from the palaces in France to meet leading experts at roasting meat over an open flame. Blumenthal says this, not poor cooking skills, is why the French call us les rosbifs. -- Josie Rourke, Mary Queen of Scots director, with leading ladies Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan / Getty Images Mary Queen of Scots director Josie Rourke fought to keep in a scene where the monarch receives oral sex. After a lifetime of watching women go down on men in film, surely we can do it the other way around for once? she said at a Women for Women International screening last night. A royal scandal and the price of love Those who love a royal scandal may want to get out their cheque book: the site of early trysts between Wallis Simpson and the Prince of Wales, right, is for sale. In the 1930s, Farm House in Mayfair was owned by a Lady Thelma Furness. She, according to film star Gloria Swanson, had a charming house on Farm Street, where her friend Wallis Simpson has kept the Prince of Wales company while Thelma was away in the States. Yours for a mere 11.75 million. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor in the Bahamas in 1941. / Bettmann Archive Dapper dudes and an early incarnation of Daenerys from Game of Thrones Models David Gandy and Oliver Cheshire were a dapper pair last night as they partied to a DJ set by Phoebe Collings-James at the Canada Goose and Henry Poole party. Also among the guests were actor Jack Fox and rugby pundit Ugo Monye. We hope no one cut themselves on those sharp cheekbones. Meanwhile, at the Regent Street Cinema, actors Billy Zane and Sadie Frost were among the guests at the Gold Movie Awards, a celebration of independent cinema. Also there was Tamzin Merchant, who stars in US hit Supergirl and will soon be seen in a modern big-screen adaptation of A Midsummer Nights Dream with Robert Lindsay, in which she plays Helena. It could all have been very different for the actor: she played Daenerys Targaryen aka Mother of Dragons in the original, unaired pilot episode of the internationally acclaimed series Game of Thrones. She was replaced by Emilia Clarke. Model form: Oliver Cheshire and David Gandy / Dave Benett/Getty Images SW1A Jacob Rees-Mogg was spotted on a plane to Prague yesterday. Was the prominent Leaver heading to the Czech Republic for secret Brexit talks? No: he was going for the weekend with my wife for our wedding anniversary. The Rees-Moggs could use a break: they have six children. Best to make the most of freedom of movement while they can. -- ANNA Soubry and Jess Phillips say there has been a marked improvement in the atmosphere on College Green though the week. I went over to Leave supporters to thank them for their peaceful, legitimate protest, Soubry says. Phillips, also there, adds: One even gave me a hug as its been a rough week. Thats more like it. "Hugs and selfies": Anna Soubry MP / Bloomberg via Getty Images -- LIZ Truss posted photos of herself at home making pizza for her kitchen cabinet last night. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is teasing: last October saw Cabinet ministers consider mutiny over pizza. Quote of the Day 'What was he doing just buying Toblerones? Emily Thornberry ponders the results of former Brexit Secretary David Daviss many trips to Brussels A lawyer has criticised the lack of barriers on London Bridge before the terror attack, and said pavements were wide open despite a similar atrocity three months earlier. Eight people were killed when three men ploughed into pedestrians in a white van on the bridge, before stabbing revellers in nearby Borough market on June 3, 2017. Gareth Patterson QC, who is representing six of the victims families, set out his key concerns ahead of a full inquest at the Old Bailey starting on May 7. The victims were Christine Archibald, 30, Xavier Thomas, 45, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, as well as Sara Zelenak, 21, Kirsty Boden, 28, Sebastien Belanger, 36, James McMullan, 32, and Ignacio Echeverria, 39. Anti-terror police at the scene of the attack at London Bridge / Jeremy Selwyn The attackers, Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, were shot dead by police at the scene. Mr Patterson criticised the lack of barriers on the bridge at the time of the attack, coming so soon after the Westminster attack in March. He said: "The pavements of London Bridge were wide open, despite what happened at Westminster." In the autumn, the Westminster inquest was told that no consideration was given at the time to putting up barriers in between the two attacks. But Mr Patterson said within a day of the London Bridge atrocity, work began to put up barriers. Emergency services attend to a person injured in the terror attack on London Bridge on June 3, 2017. / Getty Images He also said there was an "apparent failure to have any sort of regulation or security checks by rental businesses where they are renting out powerful vehicles which can be used as lethal weapons. "We have had them used in terrorist attack after terrorist attack." The lawyer pointed out that vehicles were also used to cause carnage in Nice and Berlin. Borough Market & London Bridge terror attack tributes - In pictures 1 /19 Borough Market & London Bridge terror attack tributes - In pictures Flowers and post it notes on the wall by London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Floral tributes and messages to those killed and injured after the London Bridge terror attack left at London Bridge Nigel Howard A message of "love not hate" posted among the tributes Jeremy Selwyn Thousands of people wrote messages to the victims Jeremy Selwyn Red roses laid out on London Bridge after the terror attack Jeremy Selwyn More flowers at Monument in remembrance of victims Jeremy Selwyn Floral tributes and messages to those killed and injured after the London Bridge terror attack left at London Bridge Nigel Howard A woman sticks a post-it note to the wall of messages Nigel Howard People from all over the world left messages of strength and support after the attack Jeremy Selwyn Onlookers take photos of the floral tributes Nigel Howard It comes as the market gears up to reopen Nigel Howard The Borough Market community left this message of strength Nigel Howard A woman takes a photo of the messages left at the scene Nigel Howard One person Rob wrote: They did not dent our democracy Nigel Howard The sea of flowers by London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Flowers and post it notes on the wall by London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Flowers and post it notes on the wall by London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Floral tributes and messages to those killed and injured after the London Bridge terror attack left at London Bridge Nigel Howard A giant blue screen closes an entrance to Borough Market Jeremy Selwyn The barrister said Butt was under investigation by security services yet was still able to plan and carry out the attack with his accomplices. He said it was a "very troubling and a significant issue" which he plans to pursue at the inquest. During the hearing, Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the coroner, said counter-terrorism police had taken 2,701 statements and seized "vast" amounts of CCTV footage of the attacks and the terrorists' movements. Other evidence included body-worn video from police officers and videos from members of the public caught up in the carnage. V ictoria Beckham's ex-brother-in-law has been jailed for his role in a 1million fraud that saw the famous family's name used to con vulnerable victims. Darren Flood was director in a firm which police described as "criminals in suits" who cold-called the elderly to persuade them to invest thousands in practically worthless materials. The 40-year-old, who was previously married to the former Spice Girls star's sister Louise Adams and is the father of her eight-year-old daughter, falsely promised big returns to his victims. He was handed a 30-month jail sentence at Kingston Crown Court on Friday. Video used by fraudsters to suggest legitimate company surrey police The Beckham name was mentioned to some potential investors to make the scheme seem legitimate, although Flood's barrister argued he had not personally sought to capitalise on the family link. The group targeted vulnerable people, including an 83-year-old woman who lost her life savings, phoning them from rented offices in London's Canary Wharf. The certificate of ownership given to victims of the 1 million scam / PA The scammers pressured their victims to invest money into buying rare earth elements, metals and oxides which are used in products such as mobile phones and computers, which police said may as well have been flour. While Surrey Police said the force is aware of 24 victims who invested more than 800,000, the true scale of the crimes is believed to be much larger, with up to 30 more victims, who officers believe did not wish to come forward due to embarrassment at having been fooled. Flood was responsible for marketing The Commodities Link (TCL), police said, as it claimed to be a "truly global brand" made up of commodities brokers with high value offices. The worthless "rare earth elements" which the gang tried to flog their victims / Surrey Police Detective Inspector Matt Durkin, who led the investigation, said: "This is a criminal gang who, dressed in suits, used big, long complicated words and flashy brochures but, fundamentally, they are just criminals." Deputy circuit judge Michael Carroll, sentencing, said the investment scheme Flood was involved in was "fraudulent from the outset". Flood, of Ware Road in Hertford, who owned almost a quarter of The Commodities Link (TCL), was part of the business alongside his half-brother Jonathan Docker and their cousin Gennaro Fiorentino. Accountant Mark Whitehead, office manager Vikki King, manager Stephen Todd and salesman Paul Muldoon were also sentenced on Friday for their parts in the scam. They had denied conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation but were convicted by a jury in November last year. T ributes have been paid to a kind and compassionate midwife found dead at her east London home in a suspected murder-suicide. Simbiso Aretha Moula, 39, who worked at Queens hospital in Romford, was found dead with her husband Garikayi Moula, 51, in Rainham on Friday. Police believe Mr Moula strangled his wife before hanging himself. They are treating her death as murder and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. Former colleagues of Mrs Moula, who had three children, said they were shocked and saddened. Kathryn Halford, chief nurse at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: Simbi was a popular, valued member of our midwifery team. During her 11 years at our trust, she built great relationships and friendships with her colleagues. We will remember her fondly for her professionalism, kindness and compassion, as will the many mothers she cared for so well. A close family friend said: This is such a difficult time for the family, especially the children they are suffering and need time to grieve. Police were called to the couples home at about 8am after Mrs Moula and her husband were found unresponsive. They were pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination revealed Mrs Moula died from compression of the neck and Mr Moula died from suspension. His death is not being treated as suspicious. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine, from the Mets homicide unit, said: If you heard or saw anything at the address that seemed out of place or of concern between the hours of 10.30pm on Thursday January 3 and 8 am the following day, please dont hesitate to contact us. P olice are hunting for a man who allegedly stole the blue lights from on top of a cop car. Officers are on the hunt for a thief who made off with the lights from the car which was parked outside the rail station. British Transport Police have today release CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident. The picture shows a man carrying the long blue emergency services lights. BTP said the theft took place at 4.29am on December 26. Police are hoping the man in the CCTV images may have information that could help their investigation. They have urged anyone who recognises the man or knows more about the incident to contact them. A murder probe has been launched after a woman in her 30s died from head injuries in east London. Police and paramedics were called to a residential address in City Island Way at about 4pm on Friday. The woman was found with a critical head injury and pronounced dead at the scene at 4.17pm, Scotland Yard said. Images posted on social media show an air ambulance landing nearby as scores of emergency services vehicles descended on the scene. A Met Police spokesman said officers were in the process of informing next of kin. He added: A post-mortem examination will be held in due course. Formal identification awaits. The Homicide and Major Crime Command have been informed. Police added that no arrests have been made. Anyone with information concerning this incident at the address is requested to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111. T eenager Jayden Moodie had been excluded from school weeks before he was murdered it emerged today, as his local MP called for vulnerable children to be given better support to stay in mainstream education. Friends of the 14-year-old said he had been excluded from Heathcote School in Chingford for activities outside school, which teachers spotted on social media. One said: He was excluded from school a few months ago. It was not for stuff done at school, he was bright and good at school, he was in the top sets for almost everything but it was social media things which got him in trouble. They added: He was well liked and clever we are all very upset. Its a good school and we all devastated about this. Jayden's family read a statement on the tragic stabbing / PA Detectives believe the attack was targeted and intent on lethal force from the outset and they are hunting three men who used a Mercedes B Class car to ram the boy off his moped. Investigators at the scene in Waltham Forest / Nigel Howard Neither the school or Waltham Forest council would comment on the exclusion today. It is understood the teenager was offered a place at a Pupil Referral Unit but it is not known if he had attended. The development emerged as local MP Stella Creasy said deaths of children in gang violence in London are increasingly linked to exclusions from school. She said victims were often children sent home from lessons because of mental health problems and urged the Government to give more support to vulnerable teenagers to help them stay in education and avoid being exploited by criminal gangs as drug couriers. Victim Jayden Moodie In a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the Walthamstow MP said this weeks horrific murder was the sixth death of a young person in her borough in 18 months. There is a recognised link between social exclusion and mental illness, she said. Amongst the violence we are seeing in our community there is clear evidence of the relationship between the educational status of a child and their vulnerability, and the importance of well-being in preventing any escalation of violence. Child victim: Jayden Moodie in a Facebook picture. His sister said he was caring and loving Ms Creasy said keeping teenagers safe from gang exploitation and violence would require a public health approach to crime, including mental health specialists in Pupil Referral Units and more funding for organisations working with children excluded from schools. Police have briefed MPs that in one London borough, Croydon, a study found that 60 kids involved in serious violence had all been excluded from schools. Meanwhile further details emerged today of the teenagers troubled background and his possible interest in gang culture. The boy was said to have been stabbed in the back seven times / Nigel Howard His father Julian Moodie, 51, was reportedly jailed in 2009 after he was caught selling crack cocaine and heroin to an undercover police officer in a sting operation in Basildon, Essex. He moved to Jamaica on his release. On his Facebook page the boy describes himself as a trapper kid, urban slang for drug dealer, while in one picture he appears making the sign of a handgun and in another he clutches a fistful of bank notes. Last night the boys family insisted he had absolutely no affiliation with gangs. Jaydens cousin, Leon Green, said: Focus needs to be on the fact that he has been brutally murdered in cold blood and deserves a fair chance at justice as much as anyone else in this situation. If there are people in our streets that are capable of killing a 14-year-old child, then no-one is safe, and they need to be caught and brought to justice. A gang behind a shockingly violent six-month robbery spree targeting tourists in the West End have been jailed for a total of 54 years. The eight men threatened and seriously assaulted pedestrians before stripping them of valuables worth 280,000 in 14 attacks between May and November 2017. Police said most attacks were at night but one happened in daylight when thedespicable gang mistook a cheap Rolex copy for a real one. The group also threatened to stab some victims. In a separate incident they stormed a house in Knightsbridge after befriending the residents on their way home after a night out. They assaulted the victims with fists and a belt and after failing to steal anything returned at 5.20am, threatening the victims with bottles and a knife. Police Sergeant Annie Yau, who led the investigation into the gang, said: There was a shocking level of violence... with some victims being grabbed around the neck and thrown to the floor, often being kicked and punched when on the ground and had watches ripped from wrists. Mohammed Chaab, 20, of Cricklewood, was jailed at Kingston crown court for eight years; Abdelhakim Naili, 19, of Ealing, got seven years; Ziyad Al-Daher, 28, of Lewisham, 10 years; Serewo Gwanzura, 23, of Southwark, 11 years; Khalid Abdullah, 31, of Croydon, four years. Damien Pates, 21, of Northolt, serving nine years for the Knightsbridge raid, got an extra two and a half years to serve consecutively. A golden sun is setting over an endless, frost-encrusted forest of pine trees and as I walk onto a small wooden jetty hanging over a vast, frozen lake, the ice below crackles and pops. 100 miles within the Arctic Circle, its eerily quiet as I get to work with the camera, pulling my scarf and cap tighter against the fast-plummeting temperatures. Aerial view of the lake at kangos / Michael ToIgrave And then, 300 yards away, as the sun disappears over the horizon and the mercury falls another notch, 200 husky dogs break out in a chilling chorus of howling. Sounding like a pack of wolves, its feeding time and, through the trees, I catch a glimpse of keepers tending to them inside the kennels. Sunset over the lake at Kangos / David Williams Its tough out here. Temperatures regularly fall to -40, often lower. Even trees that are 120 years old are short and stunted, arrested by the penetrating cold. The ground is frozen solid, even the undergrowth, covered in a fine hairy frost, slinters and crunches deliciously underfoot as I retrace my footsteps to the firelit warmth of my cabin. All of this makes it the perfect place to put BF Goodrichs latest all-terrain tyre, the KM3, which has been developed at a huge cost over the course of a decade, to the ultimate test. Flown in by the US subsidiary of Michelin, Im here to cross the frozen tundra as part of a small, day-long expedition in a small convoy of rugged Toyota 4X4 pickups. Ive already witnessed how the tyres made short work of the famous Rubicon Trail in California. Now Im here to see how the tyres get to grips with this unyielding terrain made of gravel, rock and ice. The only missing ingredient - at which, it is claimed, this tyre excels - is mud. Its all frozen into sharp, rutted lumps and will remain this way until the thaw reaches Kangos in the spring. Tackling the frozen tundra / David Williams Eearly the following day we drive out from our wooden cabins, part of the Explore The North reservation some 130km east of the tiny, local airport at Kiruna, in northern Sweden and an eight-hour drive from Murmansk on the Barents Sea in Russia. Following a reindeer herders track skirting the frozen lake, we head deeper into the forest and engage the four-wheel-drive system when the track narrows to little more than a pathway, carved out two centuries ago, we are told by the postal service. Some postal round. The only relief from the dense forest is the occasional large, remote paddock which was cleared by reindeer herders generations ago. Johan, one of our guides, who was born here but studied in Stockholm before returning to Kangos to found Explore the North, guides us deeper into the frozen forest which, he says, sits on a thick layer of gravel left behind by the ice age. It feels like an ancient, largely untouched landscape and theres not another human or structure in sight. As we push further into the forest we spot the occasional reindeer, shy, skittish creatures that melt quickly away into the shadows. We fail, however, to spot any of the local brown bears, moose, wolverines or golden eagles; they must have heard us coming. Tackling steep inclines, gravel-strewn pits, ancient tree stumps, boulders and frozen, log-ridden bogs, the Toyotas - and the KM3s - perform brilliantly, reaching for every shred of grip and providing a cushioned, comfortable ride. Testing the new bf goodrich km3 tyres on the forest trail / David Williams According to BF Goodrich, the new KM3 is 27 per cent tougher than its forerunner, and offers eight per cent better traction on rock and five per cent better traction on mud. It has tougher sidewalls, more split and bruise resistance and thicker, extended shoulder rubber - useful out here - when you really dont want to become stranded through tyre failure. Usefully, theyre multi-directional, meaning they can run in either direction. Next year, to keep the off-road show-offs happy, BF Goodrich will even start selling tyres with red, white and blue lettering on the sidewalls. I feel they wont catch on in the frozen north, where its all about practicality and stealth. In the UK, BF Goodrichs fifth largest world market, it might well be a different story. After three or so hours driving we stop for lunch in a clearing on a high rocky outcrop; the views are stunning. Siberian Jays flit from branch to branch and a rough legged buzzard soars high above. Lunch stop in the forests near Kangos / David Williams BF Goodrich rubber is a particular favourite among the off-road community in the UK as well as the US (where they are manufactured). Upon close inspection of the tyres, they have fared well. No cuts, no tears or blisters, despite pounding the vehicles mercilessly over the inhospitable terrain, in sub-zero temperatures, in heavy vehicles straining for every bit of traction. We eat reindeer meat cooked over an open fire, wash it down with steaming coffee heated on the flames, and pat the chefs Siberian Laika who, on account of her old age, is excused of herding or hunting duties. She seems to be more companion than pet. Lunch over, we belt ourselves in to the Toyotas double cabs again and tackle a vicious pathway of loose, heavy, craggy boulders that roll and rumble under the KM3s. Youd risk a broken ankle if you walked over them, even driving over them seems crazy and the Toyotas take a pounding but we make it to the other side. Testing the Toyota and the km3 tyres on the seesaw / David Williams We zig-zag towards another, hauntingly beautiful lake surrounded entirely by trees, crunching over fallen branches and undergrowth, and tackle a series of tank traps which would look at home in a battlefield. We sail over all obstacles unscathed - despite the Toyotas regularly hoisting two wheels into the air in protest and crashing down on their bash plates which are bolted on to protect the engine and running gear. The final treat, driving the vehicles up and onto a crude seesaw fashioned from logs on the edge of a steep natural precipice, fails to outwit tyres or trucks and, tired, we head home. As we emerge from the forest, we hear the howls of those huskies again. Wide-eyed, open-mouthed and lashed in teams to wheeled sleds, they hurtle towards us at speed and disappear, again, into the shadow of the trees as we rumble back to camp. For more information head to bfgoodrich.co.uk and Explore the North: explorethenorth.se W ho doesnt remember The Killing and Sarah Lund in that jumper? But how many of us recognise the name of its Danish creator, Sren Sveistrup? He may be a household name in Scandinavia but ask most people here and they shake their heads. Still, that may be about to change. Five years after the third and final series came to an end, Sveistrup is publishing his debut novel, The Chestnut Man, in the UK. It has been sold in 25 territories and is already a bestseller in Denmark, Holland and Norway. Not that Sveistrup is seeking fame. In fact, the 50-year-old is so publicity-shy that his UK publishers have agreed to fly me to Copenhagen to interview him for a one-off and we meet at the office of his Danish publishers. First screened on BBC4 in 2011, The Killing became an instant cult hit, despite being four years old, foreign and subtitled. Not only did it create a market for Faroese jumpers and win a Bafta, it paved the way for shows such as Borgen and The Bridge as well as two further seasons. Catching up with it again, Im struck by its sheer originality and emotional depth. Stieg Larsson may have brought us the concept of Nordic noir but Sveistrup is the guy who gave us Nordic noir with feeling. You can say Nordic noir is just splatter and blood, and women getting molested, but it must also be about emotion, which is what I write about. Without it, theres no reason to write anything. Not even a crime novel, he says. More than just a gory whodunnit, at its heart The Killing was the story of a couple grieving for their teenage daughter and whether or not they could survive their loss. Likewise, beyond Lunds jumper which was [the actress] Sofie Grabls idea to hide her femininity, was her inner turmoil at putting her work above her family. And then there was Troels Hartmann, the politician torn between ambition and integrity. Dark detective: Sofie Grabl as Sarah Lund in The Killing / BBC/DR (Danmarks Radio)/Tine Har Powerful themes such as conflict, revenge, loss and sorrow were what made The Killing so compelling, together with unusually long periods of silence in homage to Sergio Leones spaghetti westerns, which allowed for the nuanced development of each character. Sveistrup says he always imagined The Killing as an epic with biblical layers, with me picturing myself as God, moving these people around in my sadistic daydream and he wanted to make his characters suffer, he says, because Im a masochist and a sadist. The Chestnut Man, another epic at 500 pages, returns to similar territory. Set in Copenhagen, he has deliberately chosen another ballsy female detective, because shes physically not as strong as the perpetrator, so its an uneven match from the beginning, which I like. There is her partner, burnt out from a previous case but with brilliant intuition, a politician and her husband, who are struggling to cope with losing their daughter, abducted a year earlier. For splatter and blood, there is a serial killer with a nasty amputation habit. But the common thread is the characters inner demons, which in essence are Sveistrups own. Writing about emotions has always been a way for me to control and hide them, Sveistrup admits. For years, Id tell myself, Oh f***, I can feel Im getting sad, Id better sign a new contract. The heartbreaking scene in The Killing, for example, where the couple have to tell their two young sons that their big sister wont ever come back, was based on the day in April 1989 when Sveistrup found out his mother had committed suicide and had to tell his two younger siblings. He was 21. His parents had recently divorced and it was his mothers third attempt to kill herself. She had been diagnosed as manic-depressive and was on sick leave. He fought with his father, who was a fool and a drunk, and for years they didnt get on. But he was very bright, and if he were alive today Id forgive him many things. Its only when youve had kids you know how imperfect you really are, he says, wistfully. Married to a journalist, Sveistrup has two sons, aged nine and 12. "I can see that I was obsessed with trying to get confirmation as a human being by chasing success." He had also learned when he was 13 that he and his siblings had been adopted at birth, and that his biological mother, who became pregnant too young, had given him up for adoption so he might have the opportunities she could never provide. In one sense she was right. Sveistrup grew up on Funen, an island southwest of Copenhagen. His parents were teachers. He studied history and literature at Copenhagen University and got a degree in screenwriting at the National Film School of Denmark in 1997 before becoming an acclaimed screenwriter. Apart from The Killing, his credits include a Danish film called The Day Will Come, about a boys orphanage in the Sixties, and an early version screenplay for the film adaption of Jo Nesbs The Snowman, starring Michael Fassbender. There was an Emmy-winning series, Nikolaj og Julie, and two further seasons of The Killing before Sveistrup decided it had run its course. Its my own baggage that Im working through again and again and again, he has said previously. And I can see that I was obsessed with trying to get confirmation as a human being by chasing success and trying to meet other peoples expectations. I still lack self-worth and I think thatll follow me for the rest of my life. Im talking about what it feels like to find out that youre adopted, that your parents have terrible problems, that youre not loved enough to stop them getting divorced, and eventually that your mother is not able to stay in this life even though she loves you. Its a shameful admission for many people to make, and was for me in the past. But it feels so good now that Im fifty finally to be able to say it. Coming to terms with his past has come at a high cost. Having always wanted to write a novel and with publishers falling over themselves to publish whatever he produced, he began writing The Chestnut Man two years ago. But 170 pages in, he had an acute breakdown. He couldnt do anything for the next six months and went into therapy. The breakdown changed my life. In a lot of bad ways, of course. Id never experienced anything like it because Id always told myself I was strong and could handle anything. But it has taught me that another success isnt going to mend the hole in my heart. Winning prizes wont heal me. What matters is the need for love and human relationships, and people who know you and love you. Its banal but true. Sveistrup eventually returned to his manuscript. I crawled back to the computer and said, Lets see if I can write two lines today and thats how I came back. So it was absolutely fantastic for me to finish it . Im so proud. F ormer Doctor Who star Alex Kingston is to star in a production of Joshua Harmons comedy Admissions at Trafalgar Studios. Kingston, who played enigmatic River Song in the BBC series, will take the lead role in the production, which debuted at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York last year. The play explores ideals and contradictions across liberal America through the story of Sherri Rosen-Mason (Kingston), who is fighting to diversify the student intake as Head of Admissions at a private school. Sherris progressive values are, however, torn when her son is deferred from an Ivy League university, and his friend who ticks more boxes gains a place. Kingstons theatre work includes Macbeth opposite Kenneth Branagh and One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest with Christian Slater. Her further television credits include hit American drama ER and more recently Sky One series A Discovery of Witches. W hy go to one bar, restaurant or club, when you can go to several? W12 Studios is the latest venue to join this blossoming brigade of luxe food courts, promising to bring a fusion of Londons best food, drink and music to one of the citys most up-and-coming areas. This is everything you need to know about the new foodie-plus hotspot heading to west London. What is W12 Studios? Bright young thing: The neon-lit bar at W12 Studios W12 Studios is the latest multifunctional food court, bar and music venue to come to the capital. The 450-person capacity venue will feature multiple food operators, a cocktail bar and spaces for live performances and DJ sets, all under one roof with communal seating. Food. Bars. Going out. Delivered weekly Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} The venture is the brainchild of Rory Graham, a former actor and alumni of Indian restaurant Krickets management team. Where is W12 Studios and when will it open in London? The clues in the name: W12 Studios will be yet another addition to White Citys burgeoning cultural cornucopia. The venue is situated in White City Place, the former home of the BBC and its Television Centre. W12 Studios is set to open to the public on February 7. What restaurants are at W12 Studios? Revolving door: Zoe's Ghana Kitchen will come to W12 Studios in March / Camille Mack Having teamed up with street food connoisseurs Feast It, two rotating kitchens are set to make W12 Studios a veritable revolving door for some of the capitals hottest food operators. February will see Joshua Moroney former head chef of barbecue joint Smokestak bring his new venture Cue Point to the west London spot. Hell be joined in the other kitchen by The Piadina Project, the sarnie sensations that specialise in fried chicken wrapped in thin Italian flatbreads. The following month will host Brixton-hailing west African food purveyor Zoes Ghana Kitchen, which will be cooking alongside a currently undisclosed trader. The bar will focus on the capitals most innovative beverage producers, featuring London craft breweries, wine merchants and distilleries, including The East London Liquor Company. What live music and DJs will be at W12 Studios? Music is just as much at the heart of W12 Studios, with the venue doubling as a platform for emerging artists. Both live music and DJ sets will be on the agenda, with confirmed acts currently including the likes of Max Rad, Quiet Man, Tommy Gold, Finn Foxell and P-rallel. As well as performances, the music offering will extend to club nights (the venue will be open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays), disco brunches and open mic nights. T op chefs Francesco Mazzei and Merlin Labron-Johnson will battle it out in a new "Ready Steady Cook" challenge later this month to raise awareness of food poverty and waste in the capital. The event, taking place on January 28, will be the second instalment of the cook-off following Mazzeis head-to-head with Toms Kitchens Tom Aikens last year. Mazzei will invite Michelin-starred Merlin Labron-Johnson to his Battersea restaurant Fiume where they will race against the clock to prepare a variety of sharing plates. The chefs will create their dishes using surplus food from supermarkets, wholesalers and retailers that would otherwise go to waste. Guests will then sample their creations and vote for their favourite using the BBC shows iconic red tomato and green pepper score cards. They will be supported by teams from their respective restaurants The Conduit in Mayfair for Labron-Johnson and Fiume itself for Mazzei. Both sides will work in the restaurants open kitchen in full view of the diners, so guests can watch as things heat up. Food. Bars. Going out. Delivered weekly Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} Kitchen wizard: Merlin Labron-Johnson Mazzei said: Im so excited for the second round of our Ready, Steady, Cook-Off. Last year Tom and I had such a fun evening, as well as raising money for a very deserving charity. Things got very competitive between us and Im sure this year will be much the same! All proceeds from the night will go directly to The Felix Project, a charity which collects food from suppliers and delivers it to charities across London so they can provide healthy meals for those in need. Review at a glance W hen once asked by an American journalist what The Madness of George III was about, Alan Bennett replied that it was about the madness of George III. That prim rebuke in mind, I will try to resist the temptation to wax pretentious about any profound underlying meaning to Stan & Ollie. What this utterly glorious biopic is about, after all, is Laurel and Hardys curious tour of Britain and Ireland in 1953. If to you those names are faint echoes from ancient showbiz history, and their body of work a total stranger, congratulations on your youth. To anyone who is over 50 and on nodding terms with taste who grew up with their scratchy, grainy old films on Saturday morning telly, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are the greatest comic double-act of all time. From the late Twenties to the early Fifties, the skinny, pallid, British-born Stan and his obese, moustachioed American partner lavished their exquisitely honed brand of hobo-loser slapstick on scores of movies and short features. If they lacked the creative genius of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, those deities of silent comedy, they were easier to love. By the early Fifties they were also obsolete. On screen, Ollie was the pompous blowhard railing at the ruination of his grandiose schemes by the ever perplexed Stans simple-minded haplessness. Off set, as the film shows in flashback, the roles were reversed. Stan and Ollie trailer Stan was the driven brains of the team, having the ideas and obsessively polishing the screenplays. Childlike Ollie was too laid-back to join him in leaving the studio of Hal Roach (Danny Huston), who was dramatically underpaying them. After an anguished period apart, broke and disregarded, they reunited and took the steamer across the Atlantic in an eccentric final bid to resuscitate their comatose careers. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy - In Pictures 1 /31 Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy - In Pictures Getty Images PUBLICITY PIC Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images AP Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Within a few years of being among Hollywoods most bankable acts, here they are uncomplainingly lugging their luggage up the stairs of a frowsty Newcastle hotel, whose receptionist tells Stan she thought they had retired, and playing to a blasphemously empty Glasgow Empire. Imitation may not be the sincerest form of flattery, as anyone featured on Spitting Image would confirm. But here, in the hands of Steve Coogan and John C Reilly, its the sincerest form of fond reverence you will ever see. Reilly captures every aspect of Ollie the sweetness and comic resignation, the embarrassed tie-twiddling and graceful fat-man dancing with such supernatural accuracy that it becomes impossible to believe you are not watching the original. But Coogan, though less a dead ringer for Stan, is the revelation. If his film work seemed a little cold and calculating in the past, and more the work of a master impressionist (he started out doing voices on Spitting Image) than a world-class actor, here he finds a new level of depth, heart and soul. Both are so staggeringly good physically in recreating the legendary routines on stage and emotionally in their fractious but touching relationship off it that you can no more split them than Stan and Ollie. Reilly was shortlisted for a Golden Globe, and Coogan is up for a Bafta, but in a civilised world they would be jointly nominated for the Oscar. Director Jon S Baird tells the story with elegant sparseness (God be praised for a 90-minute movie). After the tours wistfully how-have-the-mighty-fallen start, unctuous producer Bernard Delfont, whose real concern is promoting Norman Wisdom, persuades them to whip up interest with degradingly naff publicity stunts. Double act: John C Reilly and Steve Coogan are pitch perfect in Stan & Ollie / PA The theatres fill, a fortnight in Londons glittering theatreland is arranged, and in the seemlier setting of The Savoy the boys are joined by wives whose sniping neatly mirrors the tensions between them. Hilariously caustic, Russian-born Ida (Nina Arianda) is Stans fourth (and final) missus, and the almost equally amusing Lucille (the always excellent Shirley Henderson) Ollies third. The reason for their nuptial profligacy becomes plain. Time and resentment have obscured this from them. But when Ollies girth and boozing bring on a mild heart attack, and Stan perches on his bed maternally warming his icy hands, they are reminded that the true love of his life to each is the other. Ollie recovers to resume the tour. They get to bask again in public adoration (in a wonderful scene, Ollie tears up as a quayside throng cheers them as their boat reaches Ireland), and rediscover the tenderness of their mutual dependence. Q ueens are in vogue right now, and thats without taking the Freddie Mercury biopic into consideration. Rather, historic queens are having their moment, courtesy of Josie Rourkes Mary Queen of Scots, which opens on January 18, plus Yorgos Lanthimoss The Favourite, an account of Queen Annes relationships with Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and her cousin Abigail Hill, later Masham, which won a Golden Globe for Olivia Colman last week. In fact, the one thing that The Favourite has done is put perhaps the least-known modern monarch (after William IV) in British history on the radar. Mind you, the depiction of her by Olivia Colman in her dismal decrepitude (the films billing as a comedy is weird), surrounded by a (fictional) menagerie of bunny rabbits to represent the 17 children she lost either young or at birth, doesnt do her any favours. In fact, if Colman gets her just deserts and an Oscar, the film will do more for Queen Annes standing than any historian. By comparison, neither Mary Queen of Scots nor Elizabeth I needed any introduction to modern audiences the Tudor period is brimful of human interest but the version of events in Rourkes film, based on the diligent scholarship of the historian, John Guy, really does bring home the real human attributes of these queens. The crucial encounter between them was made up although, as Guy points out, Mary was desperate to meet Elizabeth but the way in which the fate of two nations revolved round these two women needs no embellishment: its all true. These monarchs, Mary and Anne, are separated by more than a century, not to mention dress and disposition, but they faced challenges by virtue of their sex and their position which would have rendered their position perfectly intelligible to each other. They were, first and foremost, monarchs in their own right. Like the present Queen Elizabeth, or Queen Victoria (wholl be back centre stage when the ITV series returns shortly), they inherited their thrones rather than married it. The Favourite - Trailer 2 We use the term queen indiscriminately to describe the wife of a king and a monarch by birth, but these positions are radically different. A queen by birth carries royal authority, and she can confer royalty on the man she marries. She is the source of power in the land, even when nearly every office of state is occupied by a man. A couple of the most potent scenes in both films involve queens confronting a parliament composed of men in black: Queen Anne heading off a tax rebellion in her parliament; Elizabeth facing down critics of her handling of Mary. In both cases you can see how the dynamic of gender cuts both ways: the men manipulate and castigate the Queen, but she has the ultimate authority, even if, as in Marys case, it wasnt enough to save her. Of the three, Anne, as devastatingly portrayed by Olivia Colman, is the least impressive, but she can still say crossly, when shes told that the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz) is dealing with affairs of state: Its my state! Its an odd concept for contemporary feminists to grasp: some assume that female political authority only really happened after women got the vote a century ago, yet here we have women who rule, who exercise power, who raise up men and women and cast them down. Undoubtedly their position as monarchs was far trickier on account of their gender, but they still called the shots. In an age when power was so personal and often exercised by virtue of sheer physical proximity to the monarch, women had intimate access to the queen that male counsellors lacked. The so-called Four Marys, the women friends who attended on Mary, Queen of Scots in her private chamber, had far greater access to her than her male courtiers. In fact, the suggestion in Rourkes film that her poor Italian secretary, Rizzio, saw her undressing, was one factor that led to his murder. As for The Favourite, whats notable is the inability of men to get anywhere near Queen Anne when they want to bend her ear. In her chamber its the women: first Sarah, then Abigail, who have proximity to her and can browbeat her about money and positions. In fact, the male factions have to use Abigail to find out whats going on between the Queen and Sarah Churchill. The Duke of Marlborough, Sarahs husband, who was away fighting the Queens wars in France, appears in The Favourite merely as a cipher under his wifes thumb. And she was indeed, in life, the person with greater political influence than her husband. Mary, Queen Of Scots Clip - Withdraw From Court These queens were perfectly conscious that they were default monarchs, in the absence of a male heir and its worth remembering the present Queen Elizabeth was always the heiress presumptive before she became queen, not the heir apparent. In the case of Anne, she only became queen after the death of her sister, as a result of a sectarian rebellion against her father, King James II, following the birth of Bonnie Prince Charlie. She was complicit in the biggest episodes of fake news in history the suggestion that he was smuggled into his mothers chamber in a warming pan. But she nursed no doubts that had the little prince been a Protestant, she couldnt have displaced him. (If Olivia Colmans Queen Anne has a fault, its that she gives no indication of the ruthlessness and duplicity that her character exercised at that crucial juncture.) As for Queen Elizabeth, the very fact that she was merely a girl was one of the factors that turned Henry VIII off her mother, Anne Boleyn. Like her half-sister Mary, she only became Queen because her brother, Edward, died. All these women were also defined by marriage: though you wouldnt think so from The Favourite, which focuses solely on Annes supposedly lesbian relationships. Whom they married, whether they married, what children resulted from the marriage, was the most important question about them. Queen Elizabeth I famously dodged that bullet by refusing to marry at all. But that refusal to marry and have a child rendered her relationship with her nearest heir (just nine years her junior), Mary Queen of Scots,dangerous, because so much power lay with the monarch in waiting. Marriage could make a queen (as in Mary Queen of Scots first brief marriage to the king of France) or unmake her, as in her disastrous subsequent marriages. And, once married, the queens would be subordinate to their husbands in crucial respects though in the case of Queen Annes happy marriage to Prince George of Denmark, she never seems to have minded. These films are necessarily snapshots of complex events. They give a fleeting glimpse of the men who manipulated these queens and of the winds that blew them this way or that, not least religion. What they achieve in different ways is to remind us that women did once wield real, supreme power as crowned heads. And now we once again have a woman monarch as head of state, over a government led by a woman. The real successor to Mary Queen of Scots and The Favourite is, of course, The Crown. A pair of paintings that sparked one of the most famous feuds in art history have been reunited at the Royal Academy for the first time since they appeared there in the Summer Exhibition of 1832. The row pitched two of the countrys greatest artists, JMW Turner and John Constable, against each other and was later immortalised on screen in Mike Leighs Oscar-nominated film Mr Turner, starring Timothy Spall. Their rivalry peaked at the exhibition where Constable was showing his vast seven-foot long painting The Opening Of Waterloo Bridge, which he had been working on for 15 years. Turner, realising his own painting a sombre seascape called Helvoetsluys suffered next to his rivals work, strode into the gallery and painted a small red buoy in the middle of his canvas before leaving without saying a word. The story goes that Constable, mortified by Turners impromptu touch of genius which transformed the work, is said to have remarked: He has been here and fired a gun. Exhibitions to look forward to in 2019 1 /17 Exhibitions to look forward to in 2019 Don McCullin February 5 - May 6, Tate Britain; tate.org.uk Image: Protester, Cuban Missile Crisis, Whitehall, London 1962 Don McCullin Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams V&A, February 2 - July 14; vam.ac.uk Christian Dior Van Gogh and Britain March 27 - August 11, Tate Britain; tate.org.uk Image: Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait, 1887 Paris, Musee d'Orsay RMN Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition April 26 - September 17, Design Museum; designmuseum.org Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc Only Human: Photographs by Martin Parr March 7 - May 27, National Portrait Gallery; npg.org.uk Martin Parr / Magnum Photos Rembrandts Light October 2 - February 2, Dulwich Picture Gallery; dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Image: Rembrandt van Rijn, Philemon and Baucis, 1658 National Gallery of Art, Washington. Dorothea Tanning February 27 - June 9, Tate Modern; tate.org.uk Image: Dorothea Tanning, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, 1943 Tate DACS, 2018 Gauguin Portraits October 7 - January 26, National Gallery; nationalgallery.org.uk National Gallery Writing: Making Your Mark April 26 - August 27, British Library; bl.uk British Library Lee Krasner: Living Colour May 30 - September 1, Barbican Centre; barbican.org.uk The Irving Penn Foundation Diane Arbus: In the Beginning February 13 - May 6, Hayward Gallery; southbankcentre.co.uk Lady on a bus, N.Y.C. 1957, Diane Arbus Antony Gormley September 21 - December 3, Royal Academy; royalacademy.org.uk Royal Academy Manga May 23 - August 26, British Museum; britishmuseum.org Konami Kanata / Kodansha Ltd Smoke and Mirrors: the Psychology of Magic April 11 - September 15, Wellcome Collection; wellcomecollection.org Courtesy of The British Library. Tracey Emin: A Fortnight of Tears February 6 - April 7, White Cube; whitecube.com White Cube Anthea Hamilton From March 8 - May 18 , Thomas Dane Gallery; Image: The New Life, 2018, installation view at the Secession, Vienna Anthea Hamilton and Thomas Dane Gallery Posy Simmonds: A Retrospective May 24 - September 15, House of Illustration; houseofillustration.org.uk Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Curator Per Rumberg said the story helped create the image of Turner as an impulsive genius. I think it became so famous because it epitomised the rivalry between Turner and Constable which we like to think of, he said. We know both pictures were shown in 1832 and they did hang next to each other. However, the whole story that became so famous wasnt recorded at the time but 30 years later by Charles Robert Leslie, a fellow academician, who said he had been in the room 30 years earlier. Its largely about Turner and his impulsiveness and of course both artists were dead at that point, but by 1860 had become the stuff of legend already. The free display is part of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the RA Schools which count Turner and Constable among their graduates. The Turner work has been borrowed from the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, while the Constable is on loan from Tate Britain, which showed the pictures together a decade ago. Mr Rumberg said he had deliberately decided not to hang the two pictures directly next to each other because they were so different. He added: You can look at them individually or step back and look at them together. We are not saying one is better than the other but leaving it open to the visitor. You know those days when you can't decide whether to go for skinny jeans or a dramatic flare? Well, now there's a solution. Kiev-based brand Ksenia Schnaider, run by husband-and-wife duo Ksenia and Anton Schnaider, has created a half-and-half pair of asymmetrical jeans. The high waisted jeans, which retail for $375 (294), come in indigo and feature one straight legged side contrasted with a dramatic XL flare. While they are definitely unusual, it wouldn't be the first unexpected denim trend to catch on. 2018 was the year of invisible jeans, whilst 2017 saw one-legged jeans, double jeans and detachable jeans plastered all over Instagram. People. Fashion. Power. Delivered weekly. Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} In fact, this wouldn't be the first pair of unusual jeans by these particular designers to hit headlines. The label's Demi-Denims, featuring a pair of mom jeans reworked to include denim shorts layered over the top, have already been a sartorial success, seen on the likes of Bella Hadid and numerous fashion influencers. E leven weeks tonight, I may be on the first flight from the UK to touch down in the European Union after Brexit (its BA634 from Heathrow to Athens, if youre in). But you might instead find me sailing from Dover to Calais aboard the first ferry that arrives in the French port after midnight local time. The option that appeals most: finishing a pint at a pub along the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Such uncertainty about my plans on the evening of March 29 reflects the confusion about post-Brexit travel from Britain to the EU. While travel broadens horizons, leaving Europe is designed to narrow them. But how? An implausible two-and-a-half years on from the referendum, the basics of making a journey after the UK leaves remain shrouded in mystery. Flights? If anyone assures you that you can book on UK airlines to the EU from late March onwards with confidence, they are either misguided or seeking to mislead you. Brussels confirmed shortly before Christmas that it will permit British carriers to continue to fly to the EU even in the event of no deal, but the number of flights to each country will be capped at 2018 levels. All the leading British airlines flying to Europe have announced increased services this summer. So if no deal is struck, travellers could find they end up grounded. Passports? After Brexit yours will continue to function as a UK travel document until its expiry date, but will lose its EU power. Exactly what stipulations Brussels will make about validity are still unclear, but the Government is warning travellers they should have six months remaining before venturing elsewhere in Europe after Brexit. Be prepared for a surge in applications as Easter approaches and families realise their childrens passports are running out in August and may not qualify for entry. Driving licences? Again, after March 29 that EU flag in the top left corner loses all influence. One or two bureaucratic barriers could impede your departure on Europes open roads. By February, you should be able to fill out a form in longhand at your local post office, hand over 5.50 and watch a staff member diligently copying everything out for your new 1949-edition International Driving Permit. Welcome to 21st-century Britain. In another back-to-the-future move, call your insurance company and ask for a Green Card to extend your policy to the rest of Europe, since that will no longer happen automatically. Travellers who rely on the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are wondering what, if anything, will replace the right to reciprocal medical care. Free mobile phone roaming, easy pet passports and seasonal work in ski resorts and beach clubs for young Brits may also be at risk. U nless you happen to be in government, work for government or run a restaurant close to a big government department, you would barely notice that the US government has been shut down for three weeks. In New York a few of the duller historical museums are closed, but all the must-sees, the great art museums, the Statue of Liberty, are open. At the airports, security staff are not being paid but as essential workers they are still expected to show up. If the shutdown triggered by Donald Trumps demand for a wall along the border with Mexico, and the refusal of Democrats in Congress to pay for it continues into the weekend, it will be the longest in US history. Congress is scrambling for work-arounds to keep the basic skeleton of government working. The White House is drafting contingency plans to fund as much as they can as long as they can. But this week, some 800,000 federal employees around the country wont be paid. Banks are offering emergency loans to tide them over. Welfare payments are going to start drying up in the next few days. If you are a corrupt factory owner, now is the perfect time to start dumping toxic waste into the air or water, as the Environmental Protection Agency has put most of its 600 pollution inspectors on leave. The Food and Drug Administration has suspended inspections of the products most at risk of contamination: seafood, fruits and vegetables. Now is definitely not the time for that big plateau de fruits de mer. Where all this goes, though, is still anyones guess. President Trump wants his wall and the Democrats wont pay the $5.7 billion (4.5 billion) tab. So far the negotiations have been little more than a series of walkouts, table banging, and Trump tweets saying bye-bye. The White Houses latest ploy is to cobble together money from various emergency funds, earmarked for storm and fire relief, to pay for the wall. That way the President could use his executive powers and not need congressional approval. Yesterday, he visited the Mexican border to press his case that the wall was needed to stanch the flow of immigrants, criminals and drugs into the United States. When campaigning for election he promised it would be built, and he remains hell-bent on doing so. As a property developer, he seems to see the wall as the ultimate validation of his presidency. But the longer he stares down Congress, the greater the risks. There is always a winner and loser in these struggles, and the outcomes can be highly unpredictable. The previous longest shutdown, likely to be surpassed tomorrow, happened in late 1995. Bill Clinton was in deep political trouble. He had stumbled through the first two years of his presidency and his Democrats were routed in the mid-terms of 1994. Now he had to deal with a hostile and very active Republican Congress. The preening Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, came to him demanding he sign a bill cutting federal welfare programmes. When Clinton vetoed it, the Government shut down for a few days. It then shut again in December over differences in the federal budget. Gingrich imagined it would embarrass Clinton and confirm to the country his weakness and unsuitability for office. But the Speaker made the mistake of saying that one reason he had triggered the shutdown was because Clinton hadnt talked to him during a long flight from Israel, where they had attended the funeral of president Yitzhak Rabin. Its petty but I think its human, Gingrich said. "He is up against Democrats, led by Nancy Pelosi, who are not intimidated. They see this as a chance to ruin him" Clinton had his opening. Gingrich was a cry-baby and the Republicans small-minded. The shutdown was their fault, because they cared more about themselves than the country. It was a formidable feat of political ju-jitsu, and Clinton was re-elected easily in 1996. The dark side of his triumph was that during the shutdown, the White House used interns to do the jobs of regular staff. One of them was 22-year-old Monica Lewinsky, who found herself bringing pizza to the President. The reverberations of their affair dominated Clintons second term. Trump is betting that eventually its the Democrats who will look weak in this shutdown. So far, no good. They are using it as evidence of his dysfunctional leadership and are saying he is holding the country to ransom for his ego-driven wall, which wont do any of what he promises. The immigrants and criminals will fly over it, and the drugs will flow around it. The fight has exposed Trumps one basic mode of negotiating, the one he learnt as a property developer in New York. First, he decides to pick a fight, and begins with a punch to the face. Im doubling your rent! Im terminating your lease. The other party is shocked and woozy, but eventually comes round. But Trump keeps yelling. Im changing the locks! Im throwing your stuff out on the street, like youre a bum! Eventually the talks become more normal. You sit around a table. Trump throws a few tantrums but always comes back. The lawyers take over and the deal is signed without too much fuss. But whatever the outcome, Trump will look around the room and say with a grin: Boy, we screwed that guy. It works until the other side has a strategy and leverage. Until hes no longer the guy with the keys who can change the locks. But Trump is up against a group of senior Democrats, led by Nancy Pelosi, who have done this a few times and are not being intimidated. They see this as a chance to ruin him before he starts running for re-election. T he UK economy is heading for one of its worst performances since the Brexit vote as a manufacturing malaise saps growth, downbeat official figures revealed on Friday. Novembers 0.4% output slide for a sector employing 2.9 million and accounting for around 10% of the economy is its fifth monthly decline in a row, marking the worst run for the sector since the financial crisis a decade ago. The weakness dragged the pace of the overall economy down to 0.3% in the three months to November, offsetting the heavy Black Friday discounts which helped overall GDP in November alone rise 0.2%, according to the Office for National Statistics. With more tepid growth likely in December the economy could eke out growth of just 0.3% in the final quarter, the worst since the referendum period barring snow disruption a year ago. While services and a volatile construction sector are still growing, manufacturers have struggled despite the fall in the pound since the referendum as Brexit uncertainty saps confidence amid doubt over future trading arrangements. Carmakers Jaguar Land Rover and Ford have revealed thousands of job cuts while Honda has announced a six-day shutdown in April. Todays data showed car production, also suffering from lower demand for diesel cars, falling 2.4% in the three months to November. The EEF manufacturers organisation economist Francesco Arcangeli said: The sector, which is crucial for several manufacturing sub-sectors in the country, appears to be in a very weak spot and it would appear the knock-on effects are now having significant consequences for the supply chain. The gloomy UK figures come amid a welter of bad news on manufacturing across Europe. Italian industrial production tumbled 1.9% in November, almost certainly enough to push Italy into recession, following disappointing figures from France, Germany and Spain. There was better news on the UKs overall trade deficit, which fell slightly to 2.9 billion. But City economists predicted the economic news would get worse as the UK moves closer to an EU exit on March 29. F lybe on Friday avoided becoming the latest casualty of turbulence in aviation, with a consortium involving Stobart Group and Virgin Atlantic rescuing the troubled airline. The group, which also includes investor Cyrus Capital Partners, will buy the struggling carrier which has 76 planes and valuable slots at Heathrow and Stobarts Southend airport through a joint venture company called Connect Airways. A 2.2 million deal has been agreed that values Flybe at 1p per share a 94% discount to yesterdays closing price. The firm was valued at 215 million when it floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2010. Under the agreement the consortium will provide a 20 million loan to Flybe. A further 80 million could be put into the new combined business. It is a lifeline for Flybe, which put itself up for sale last year after being hit by higher fuel costs and currency headwinds, as well as softer customer demand and Brexit uncertainty. Flybes chief executive Christine Ourmieres-Widener said today: By combining to form a larger, stronger, group, we will be better placed to withstand these pressures. She added: We aim to provide an even better service to our customers and secure the future of our people. Barclays, Evercore and Rothschild advised on the transaction. The deal will eventually see Flybe rebranded to Virgin Atlantic, part owned by Sir Richard Branson. For Virgin the deal marks a return to domestic flights, after a failed attempt five years ago. Virgin Atlantics boss Shai Weiss said: Together, we can provide greater connectivity to our extensive long-haul network and that of our joint venture partners Delta Air Lines, at Manchester airport and Heathrow . P ubs group Ei on Friday agreed to sell hundreds of properties to a US hedge fund for 348 million. The firm said 370 of the 412 sites in its commercial property arm will be bought by Tavern Propco, which is owned by Texas-based Davidson Kempner Capital Management. Most of the sites are watering holes which Ei, formerly known as Enterprise Inns, owned the freehold of but did not operate. Eis chief executive Simon Townsend said he thinks the assets are best suited to a free-of-tie, rent-only business model. The boss has long been trying to boost profits, including by shifting Eis 4500-strong estate away from the beer-tie model, which involves a publican renting a site and buying beer at inflated prices from a landlord in return for lower rent. Proceeds from the latest disposal will allow the FTSE 250 company to trim its debt pile, which was 2 billion in September. The agreement will also allow Ei to concentrate on its core estate and give it an opportunity to consider more immediate returns to shareholders. Liberum analyst Anna Barnfather said the deal is a game changer, allowing more rapid deleverage and leaving scope for cash returns to shareholders. The Farm Bill signed in December 2018 clears the way for CBD products to become legal nationwide - or, at least, that is the hope of marijuana industry advocates. If that is the way the situation unfolds, it would eliminate the ambiguity that has hung over CBD products since states began legalizing marijuana, starting with Colorado in 2014. Thats because the federal government still lists marijuana as an illegal Schedule I drug in the Controlled Substances Act, alongside cocaine and heroin. However, by legalizing hemp in the Farm Bill, the U.S. Congress and the president opened the door to CBD products, which are derived from hemp. Much of it will depend on what states decide to do. But the potential is there. Colleen Keahey, president of the Hemp Industry Association, told Consumer Reports that legalizing hemp in the U.S. could mean doubling or tripling domestic cultivation within the next year. Related: Seniors Are the Cannabis Market Few Companies Are Targeting What Are CBD Products? At this point, the question might be what arent CBD products? CBD, which stands for cannabidiols, is already being infused into gummies, candy, chocolate, coffee, water, pet food, specialty menu items at restaurants, lotions, oils, bath soaks - the list goes on and on. Why the popularity? Because CBD has been found to help relieve headaches, muscle aches, menstrual cramp pain, chronic pain, anxiety and even depression. Athletes have espoused its use both before and after workouts. CBD also is an ingredient in Epidiolex, approved this year by the federal Food and Drug Administration to treat seizures for people who suffer from two of the most severe forms of epilepsy. It is the first drug approved by FDA with a derivative of cannabis and signaled a regulatory shift away from the Drug Enforcement Agency, at least regarding pharmaceutical use of CBD, to the FDA. Importantly, CBD is the chemical in marijuana that does not cause the high feeling (thats THC). This is an important distinction when it comes to considering the Farm Bill. Related: Federal Cannabis Prohibition Got a Lot Weaker in 2018 Hemp Made Legal In passing the Farm Bill through the Senate, Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ensured that it contained a provision that made domestic hemp legal. It helps that his home state of Kentucky sold $16 million in hemp in 2017 alone under a state pilot program McConnell supported. The president even signed the bill with a pen made from Kentucky-grown hemp that McConnell provided. Among its many provisions -- including $867 billion in programs over the next decade -- the Farm Bill also accomplished two major CBD-related goals. Changed the language of the Controlled Substances Act to remove hemp Gave states the right to develop a plan -- which must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- on how they will move forward with legal hemp production As pointed out in Rolling Stone, that does leave some uncertainty about how the USDA will view the state plans and whether this could become a major obstacle. If states do not submit a plan, individual growers have the right to submit a plan directly to the federal government. In a sign of the significance of the change, Colorado-based Charlottes Web named Eugenio Mendez as chief growth officer for the company. Charlottes Web specializes in producing CBD-infused wellness products, including beverages. Mendez formerly served as vice president of global marketing for water, enhanced water and sport drinks at Coca-Cola. Follow dispensaries.com on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest cannabis news. Related: What Does the New Farm Bill Mean For Legal Cannabis? America Began Alcohol Prohibition in 1919 but It's Edging Toward Ending Cannabis Prohibition in 2019 CBD From Hemp Is Booming for Body, Mind and Business Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Remember when Elon Musk, speaking at SXSW in March 2018, scared the dickens out of us by warning against artificial intelligence (AI)? "The danger of AI," Musk stated, "is much greater than the danger of nuclear warheads ... more dangerous than nukes." Now comes yet another worrisome prediction, this time from Chinese venture capitalist and the world's foremost authority on AI, Kai-Fu Lee. In an interview to be aired this Sunday on 60 Minutes, Lee says that in as soon as 15 years, 40 percent of the worlds jobs could be done by machines. Related: 4 Artificial Intelligence Trends to Watch for in 2019 "AI will increasingly replace repetitive jobs, not just for blue-collar work, but a lot of white-collar work," Lee tells CBS reporter Scott Pelley. "Chauffeurs, truck drivers, anyone who does driving for a living -- their jobs will be disrupted more in the 15-to-25 year time frame." Lee has also said (in an interview with PBS's Amanpour & Company last September) that AI will never be capable of creativity or empathy. If you're unaware of Lee's impact as an influencer in tech, you should read up on this guy: For starters, he's got 50 million social media followers for his micro-blog (on China's Sina Weibo). As an immigrant, he attended high school in Tennessee, graduated from Columbia University and earned his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon, developing the world's first speaker-independent, continuous speech recognition system as his thesis subject. He's been an executive at Apple, Microsoft and Google. And he's written the recently published bestseller AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley and the New World Order. Now 57, Lee is based in Beijing, where he focuses on helping young Chinese achieve in their studies and careers. Education is a big part of this, Lee tells Pelley, in a profile that depicts Chinese students even in remote rural villages using technology with aplomb. Lee finances the companies installing those classroom AI systems and he has some intriguing, some might say frightening, things to say about what he sees as the eventual outcome both for the students and their nation, 70 percent of whose citizens use cellphones often for routine transactions. The enormous data blocks that have resulted are helping China's companies develop AI. "China clearly has an advantage," Lee says. Overall, "I believe [AI] is going to change the world more than anything in the history of mankind. More than electricity," Lee says. And the sea change in jobs? "What does that do to the fabric of society?" Pelley asks in the interview. "Well, in some sense, there is the human wisdom that always overcomes these technological revolutions," Lee says. "The invention of the steam engine, the sewing machine, electricity, have all displaced jobs. We've gotten over it. The challenge of AI is this 40 percent, whether it is 15 or 25 years, is coming faster than the previous revolutions." For the moment, America is ahead in terms of its advanced technological research, Lee says, noting that this scenario versus China's will be "about 50/50 for the next five years." Related: Artificial Intelligence Will Be the Greatest Jobs Engine the World Has Ever Seen But after that, who knows? Huge job losses? Chinese advances? A lack of empathy from all those future AI machines? Maybe Elon was right to worry. Related: Remember Elon Musk's Scary Warning Against AI? Here's More Reason to Worry. Artificial Intelligence Systems Can be Fooled The Five AI Professionals Companies Need to Succeed in 2019 Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The start of 2019 has seen a flurry of political activity from Mali to Madagascar, with a shock opposition victory in Africa's biggest country, protests against long-serving rulers, a short-lived coup and agitation stirred by economic mismanagement all suggesting this will be a year to watch on the continent. South Africa and Nigeria, the continent's two biggest economies, are among more than 20 African nations that will hold elections this year. Voting takes place against a backdrop of growing discontent among the young over faltering job and educational opportunities in countries long dominated by strongmen. China, Russia and Islamist militants add a layer of unpredictability as they jostle for influence at a time when the U.S. is turning inward. One of the continent's brightest spots is Ethiopia, whose 42-year-old prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, is pursuing change at a breathtaking pace and overseeing Africa's fastest-growing economy. Since taking power last year, Abiy has sought to establish a multi-party democracy in a nation that's been under the iron rule of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front for a quarter-century. The jury is out on whether he can see it through. Following is a country-by-country guide to the issues -- and opportunities -- across Africa for investors this year: - Democratic Republic of Congo: The risk of widespread political unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo receded after electoral authorities announced that opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi won last month's presidential elections. Tension had been building in sub-Saharan Africa's largest nation and the world's biggest cobalt producer after an earlier postponement of results from the Dec. 30 vote that was more than two years overdue. There is still a danger of protests from supporters of another opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu, who called the result "electoral fraud." If confirmed by the Constitutional Court, the outcome will bring to a close Joseph Kabila's 18-year rule and, just possibly, mark the first democratic transition since independence from Belgium in 1960. - Nigeria: Africa's most populous nation is bracing for another round of general elections that have traditionally been marred by violence and rigging. Presidential and parliamentary votes are taking placed under the shadow of a devastating war against Islamist militants in the northeast, clashes between farmers and herders that have been claimed thousands of lives, and a moribund economy. The presidential race in OPEC's sixth-biggest oil producer is proving to be a hard-fought battle between the incumbent, former military strongman Muhammadu Buhari, 76, and Atiku Abubakar, a 72-year-old businessman who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007. - Sudan: Sudan entered the new year with unprecedented protests over soaring living costs that are posing one of the greatest challenges to President Omar Bashir since he came to power in a 1989 Islamist-backed coup. Bashir, who's quelled several internal rebellions and been indicted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, is now facing an existential challenge much closer to home in the shape of unrest that's left dozens of casualties. - South Sudan: Africa's newest nation is emerging, tentatively, from a conflict that at its height rivaled Syria for the dubious title of the world's worst conflict, claiming almost 400,000 lives. The country, which split from Sudan in 2011, has witnessed false dawns before, and its pillaged towns and villages show the scale of the challenge in rebuilding even a country endowed with sub-Saharan Africa's third-biggest oil reserves. - Somalia: Twin explosions that killed at least 30 people near the presidential palace in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, at the close of 2018 served as a reminder of the threat al-Qaida-linked militants pose to the Horn of Africa country. The insurgents remain the biggest source of insecurity in Somalia, despite continuing operations to degrade it, including U.S. airstrikes that are intensifying under President Donald Trump's administration. - Cameroon: A violent rebellion in Cameroon's two Anglophone regions is increasingly affecting the country's much larger French-speaking area, which registered its first attack late last year and is sheltering thousands of people who've been forced to flee their homes in the Northwest and Southwest regions. A disarmament program recently announced by longtime President Paul Biya has yet to yield results. Biya has vowed to quash those who refuse to put down their weapons in 2019. - Sahel region: An Islamist insurgency that began in northern Mali seven years ago and has reverberated across West Africa shows no signs of abating. The deployment of more than 15,000 United Nations peacekeepers and 4,000 French troops has failed to stop militant attacks from spreading to neighboring Burkina Faso. At the same time, both nations are facing a surge in inter-communal violence in impoverished rural areas that, as in Nigeria, pits farming communities against ethnic Fulani herders. - Chad: Chad has deployed troops and military aircraft near its northern border with Libya following a deadly attack last year on army positions claimed by rebels called the Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic, or CCSMR. While few details have trickled out about the group, it's widely believed to be supported by Libyan fighters. The government of the oil-producing nation has also been bogged down by weeks of public-worker strikes amid an economic crisis. - Libya: After eight years of turmoil, Libya was offered some hope when the main rival leaders -- Fayez al Serraj, whose internationally recognized government is based in the west, and Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar in the east -- agreed to cease hostilities and call elections early this year. But the holder of Africa's largest proven reserves of crude remains deeply divided, and disputed vote results could spark more chaos and embolden Islamic State's bid to carve out a base in Libya. That would affect regional security and increase migrant flows to Europe. In an added complication, Russia has been expanding its presence in Libya and is lobbying for the return of Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, the late dictator's son, as a possible next ruler. - Zimbabwe: Labor unrest is mounting as the southern African nation endures its worse economic crisis in at least a decade, with fuel, food, medicines and foreign exchange all in short supply. Doctors have gone on strike, demanding that their salaries be paid in hard currency instead of via electronic transfers, and teachers have threatened to take similar action. Political tensions also continue to simmer, with the government and opposition still at loggerheads over last year's disputed election. - Guinea-Bissau: A political feud in the sleepy capital of Guinea-Bissau is threatening to push one of the world's poorest countries back to being a haven for gangs smuggling cocaine into Europe and open the door to Islamist militants. The dispute between President Jose Mario Vaz with his party, known as PAIGC, over delayed elections is stoking anger among young people dissatisfied with faltering job and educational opportunities. - Togo: Negotiations about planned constitutional changes with Togo's largest opposition parties are at an impasse, and mass protests against the regime of President Faure Gnassingbe are likely to continue into 2019. Gnassingbe has been in power since winning disputed elections in 2005 that were held shortly after the death in office of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for 38 years. - - - Bloomberg's Brian Latham, Caroline Alexander and Jeremy Diamond contributed. The tech industry has proven time and time again that theres nowhere to go but up, and proof of this lies with the fact that some of the deserving heroes behind this growth are actually heroines. Women may not populate the industry as much as their male counterparts, but just stop a moment and take a look at all the awards and conferences out there now dedicated to women in tech and business: We're talking the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Women in Silicon Valley annual conference. Related: Why Gender Diversity In Tech Matters If these symbols of prestige tell us anything, its that the world is pushing for more women to take the lead. Women are stepping up to the challenge. Until the time comes when the industry offers all women equal opportunity and representation, the following six up-and-coming women are role models and evidence of female leaders making tech waves from multiple corners of the globe. Image credit: JP Yim | Getty Images Sophia Amoruso A few years ago, you might have heard about Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso and her unlikely story of having built a multi-million-dollar online vintage clothing store. Her rags-to-riches story -- and New York Times bestselling autobiography -- arguably catapulted the #Girlboss lifestyle to mainstream fame. But then disaster hit; and after Nasty Gals very public bankruptcy filing in 2016, Amoruso stepped down as CEO and sold the company. That didnt stop her entrepreneurial journey, however. After Nasty Gal, Amoruso founded Girlboss Media, an L.A.-based media company churning out online content and hosting annual conferences for career-oriented women and women entrepreneurs. This year, 2019, shes waded into the tech industry by developing a women-exclusive social networking platform (also named GirlBoss) meant to fill the gaps that even professional social site LinkedIn is missing. Image credit: Bloomberg | Getty Images Edith Harbaugh With more than 10 years of experience in product, engineering and marketing for both consumer and enterprise startups, Edith Harbaugh has topped off her impressive track record iwith her newest brainchild, LaunchDarkly: a company and product thats making waves for any business that tackles product development. Harbaugh first noticed the product development problems she works on in previous jobs; instead of waiting for solutions to come, she created them herself. Today, LaunchDarkly is a feature-management platform designed to help software developers control the entire lifecycle of product development and launch. The platform has been such a hit in recent years that Harbaugh has landed huge clients -- the likes of GoPro and Microsoft -- while receiving millions of dollars in funding. Image credit: Karma Elsa Bernadotte Sustainability and zero waste take the front seat in founder Elsa Bernadottes app. In 2015, Karma became the first Swedish-born app that connects grocery stores, cafes and restaurants to eager customers who want to buy unsold food at discounted prices. Related: 4 Keys to Bringing More Women Into the Tech Industry Bernadotte envisions a more eco-conscious world, so shes leading the way with Karma one food provider at a time. The companys efforts of fighting global food waste have landed Bernadotte a spot on the 2018 Forbes 30 under 30 list, while her company has been tbagged one of Wired UKs top 100 hottest startups in Europe. Sadaf Monajemi The field of medicine is one of the hardest industries in which to innovate due to its complexity, but thats exactly what founder and director Sadaf Monajemi has done. In 2017, she launched See-Mode Technologies, a med-tech startup thats helping doctors and medical professionals predict strokes in at-risk patients without conducting multiple and costly tests. Monajemi completed her Ph.D. at the National University of Singapore, majoring in machine learning and AI for medical applications. Image credit: AngelCentral Shao-Ning Huang Shao-Ning Huang is currently the chief angel and co-founder of AngelCentral, a Singapore-based community that manages and facilitates angel investments across Southeast Asia. Today, she links over 500 angel investors to countless Asian startups that have the potential to create positive change around the world. When shes not bridging startups to investors, Huang is a consultant to tech startups and a supporter of causes that champion women-founded and women-led businesses. Kathleen Yu The youngest founder on this list, Kathleen Yu was only 23 when she had the idea to use artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to revolutionize talent recruitment. After years spent in incubators, Yu developed a concept that eventually garnered grants and awards at international startup competitions, giving rise to what became Rumarocket. Related: 4 Ways to Attract and Retain Top Female Talent in Tech Now 26, Yu has taken a path to entrepreneurship in the tech industry -- complete with rejection and failures -- tht's led her to an $8-million business thats solving the hiring needs of multinational clients in different industries around the world. Related: Reclaiming Your Entrepreneurial Dreams: Searchie's Sahiqa And Harvey Bennett Asians Believe in Cherishing and Treasuring Relationships. Here's Why 6 Inspiring Women Changing Tech and Business This New Year Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved CES may be the worlds largest showcase for technology's giants, but its also one of the primary hubs for the scene's innovative upstarts. One of its convention areas, known as Eureka Park, often hosts more than 1,200 startups from more than 40 countries. And although flashy booths from the likes of Google, Intel, Huawei and more typically generate buzz, its the startups that tend to have riveting stories -- and even some of the most talked-about products. Here are five of the most inspiring startups we found at the show. Image credit: Timekettle Leal Tzen has always been a fan of science-fiction novels. Thats why The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxys Babel fish -- a creature that can reside in your ear and translate any language spoken to you in real time -- inspired him to co-found his translation tech company. Launched in November 2018, Timekettle's headline product is the WT2 Plus, a set of AI-powered translation earpieces thats already brought in about $3 million in sales despite little to no advertising. Another of Tzens inspirations? His parents, who speak only one language. He sent them on vacation to the Alps in 2016 and downloaded many translation apps for them, but Tzens parents didnt use them -- even when his mother got altitude sickness. It was too awkward, he remembers hearing. Finally, Tzen understood that it wasnt just about translation -- it was about communication, comfortable interaction and building closer relationships. We believe translation is not enough, he said. Currently, most translator options on the market require more work on the consumers part than the WT2 Plus does. Competitive translation products usually dictate that one person speak at a time, that someone needs to download an app or that one person speaks into a smartphone while the other uses an earpiece. But using Tzens solution, people can communicate via simply splitting the earpieces and sharing one with another; then, they can both start communicating immediately. The earpieces also make use of dual-noise reduction tech by way of neural networks, and they can translate more than 36 languages. MATE Image credit: MATE Build something you yourself would buy, and others will likely do the same. Thats one of the reasons Christian Adel Michael and Julie Kronstrom Carton founded MATE in 2016 after spending about two years searching for a cool, affordable electric bicycle. The brother-and-sister team hail from Copenhagen, a city that apparently has more bikes than people. When the two couldnt find a hip, clean-cut e-bike, they knew there was a hole in the market, Michael said. They decided to fill it, starting work on the project in 2016 and simultaneously launching their first crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. Since that first campaign, MATE has sold 8,000 bikes to customers in more than 50 countries. Thats key because if the siblings had gone the traditional route of distribution chains, they wouldve needed to adhere to store inventory guidelines, potentially manufacturing many more products than people would order. By selling directly to their customers, they manufactured the exact amount of bikes that were ordered (and likely saved 10 to 40 percent on manufacturing costs, said Indiegogo CEO David Mandelbrot). The company also reached a prominent crowdfunding platform milestone: After raising $20 million over two campaigns, MATE has raised more money than any other company in Indiegogo history. Common crowdfunding advice is to work on creating hype for your product for up to six months or a year, but Michael and Carton didnt do that, instead opting to put some money towards targeted ads on Facebook and elsewhere online. The e-bikes are available now, and until Jan. 31, 2018, discounted pricing starts at $699 plus shipping costs. After that date, prices in the U.S. will likely rise to between $1,400 and $2,000, Carton said. Eargo Image credit: Eargo Its difficult to disrupt the hearing aid industry -- its institutional, and its regulated by the FDA. But among individuals ages 20 to 69 with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, only about 16 percent has ever used them. That suggests the time is ripe for something new. And Eargo -- cool, invisible hearing aids sold directly to consumers instead of through a clinician -- offers just that. Prices range from about $1,950 to $2,750, which the company says is much lower than the $8,000 to $10,000 industry standard for invisible hearing aids, and they come with a sleek portable charging case. Founders Florent Michel, a medical doctor, Raphael Michel and Daniel Shen wanted to decrease hearing aid cost and stigma, and they did it by way of the formers invention of Flexi Fibers -- medical-grade silicone and a key part of Eargo hearing aids. In Dr. Florent Michels work as an ENT surgeon, he encountered many patients with hearing loss and saw the stigma associated with hearing aids firsthand. His son Raphael met Shen at Stanford -- the former was in the design program, while the latter was studying medicine -- and in 2010, they launched the company out of Raphaels Palo Alto garage. Hearing aid regulations were stringent, but Eargo found a grey area: The FDA doesnt regulate the sale of hearing aids. Thats regulated state by state, and if youre certified to sell (or dispense) hearing aids in one state, youd have to pass an examination to sell them in another. Eargo put its product up for sale online, directly to consumers. Industry veteran Christian Gormsen thought it was crazy (What kind of consumer is going to spend thousands of dollars on hearing aids online, especially when many are in their 60s and older?) Now, Gormsen is Eargos CEO. Pillo Health Image credit: Pillo Health In 2005, Emanuele Musinis father passed away from a heart condition. He hadnt been taking his medications as directed or following all of his doctors orders, Musini said, and the tragedy hit his family hard. A nagging thought kept at Musini over the following years: What if there had been a someone there to help keep an eye on his father and his health plan? What would have happened then? Musini resolved to design one: a someone inside the home to serve as a sort of health aide, especially when it comes to taking medications as scheduled. Home caregivers are cost-prohibitive for many families, and he wanted to make aging in place -- in the comfort of ones own home -- more accessible. Thats why he created Pillo, a healthcare assistant for the home, after co-founding his company Pillo Health. The device is available now and costs $499, plus a $39 monthly subscription. Scheduled reminders cause Pillo to wake up, scan the room for an individual and alert them its time to take a certain medication. The user can then opt for Pillo to dispense it. If they dont take their medication for a set period of time, Pillo will alert the users care team (whether medical professionals or family) so they can start a conversation. Another feature of Pillo: A user can ask it questions about health, from general (How many calories are in an apple?) to specific (Show me my wellness plan). They can scroll through their medication types and times, as well as their carefriends (or caregivers). Intelino Image credit: Intelino Consumer robotics company Intelino is the very definition of a startup: founder Dr. Armen Kroyan officially launched it the first day of CES 2019. Its first product? A $99 smart train set billed as the first of its kind, complete with engine, wagons, track pieces, decals, charging cable and -- perhaps most unique -- action snaps, or small, colored plastic tiles that can snap onto any piece of track. The tiles colors are correlated with different smart features -- green denotes speed, for example, so placing three green action snaps in a row would command the train to move fast, two would yield a medium speed and one would mean slow. One red action snap tells the train to stop for two seconds, while three in a row would make it stop for 10. Blue is associated with direction, while yellow is for dropping off a wagon. And theres an optional bluetooth-enabled companion app that can act as a train dashboard, manual override mode, way to create custom action commands for the snaps and more. Kroyan dreamed up the new take on connected play from firsthand experience as a parent to two young boys. His older son, now age 7, has been playing with train sets since he was 2, but the way he played with them shifted over the years: At first, he needed a lot of help building the tracks, but as he grew, he built more and more elaborate track designs. Kroyan wanted to create a way for kids, including his own, to use technology actively instead of passively consuming content by way of screens. Inspired by his son, he decided to take the intuitiveness of the classic toy train experience and augment it with an interactive, tactile layer of technology. Trains were a perfect platform for the sort of sequential thinking used in STEM, he thought -- before a child builds a track, they often need to preconceive what itll look like on the whole. The train set, available to consumers in March 2019, is retrocompatible with wooden tracks so that it can serve as an addition to any childs set, and Kroyan hopes it will grow up alongside kids that may first use it as an ordinary train set, then move on to use action snaps to build elaborate sets. As a rule, those steps dont require any sort of screen interaction, Kroyan said, but if parents want to allow usage of the accompanying app later on, it can add a new layer to what a child can do with their train set. Related: 5 Incredible Startups We Found at CES 10 cosas presentadas en el CES que si vas a querer comprar The 15 Craziest Cars and Futuristic Vehicles of CES 2019 Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The software development world is changing drastically, making more and more new technologies and tools readily available and allowing for faster release cycles. Those faster cycles have come about in response to online users' demands for not only those features themselves but for their faster introduction. Related: How to Atract In-Demand Tech Developers in the Competitive European Market And that in turn has required a whole new version of "the product team," whereby enterprises can deliver on user demands without sacrificing great customer experience. The challenge facing those teams will be to establish new standards for the future of work where software development teams can balance technical skills with non-technical skills in order to build exceptional products that will excel in the market. How to do that? The introduction of three key characteristics will redefine what makes for a successful product team and in the process will attract, retain and develop the talent necessary to achieve that perfect "balance." Those characteristics: The ability to incorporate social skills into building product teams Softer power skills such as creative thinking, communication and teamwork tend to be more prevalent in liberal arts studies in the humanities and social sciences, and in the creative arts. Creating outlets to marry traditional science with the humanities by either attracting new types of talent altogether or expanding training will add a better rounded perspective for product design. A product team that's diverse in this way will be able to challenge a particular application in the context of varied customer scenarios, serving as a catalyst for user advocacy. As an example, look to Microsoft Windows' AI assistant, Cortana. Microsoft built its team with not just software engineers, but also poets, comedians, fiction writers and other types of expertise beyond the traditional skills developers offer. Behind the biggest companies, including Apple and Amazon, we find diverse fields of studies designed to drive a more humanized technology. The ability to increase emotional intelligence using "soft skills" The more emotional intelligence (EQ) that's found in products, the more successful those products will be in terms of their adoption by global populations. One big reason for that success will tbe the steadfast avoidance of biased or ethnically insensitive decisions during product development. Related: The 5 Non-Technical Skills Any Great Developer Needs in Order to Advance For example, following a devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Indonesia, family members searching for survivors received celebratory balloons and confetti in Facebook messages. The reason was that a Malay word, selamat, used in those messages means both "congratulations" and "survive." Facebooks automatic (and insensitive) displays of balloons and confetti, in that case, where user permission was absent, lacked emotional intelligence. But we can all learn from that episode: To leverage artificial intelligence and gather more data on users, leading to greater insights about those users from that data, we will need to balance what's been the traditional use of formulaic decisions ... with softer people skills. I think that the world is focused very heavily on hard skills like computer science, data science and artificial intelligence, Anant Agarwal was quoted as saying in a Capgemini Digital Transformation Institute report on digital talent. Agarwal is founder and CEO of eDX, an open online education (MOOC) provider. Let us be clear those skills are very important," Aarwal said of hard skills. "However, the combination of hard skills and power skills, like communications, critical thinking and teamwork, is most vital. These skills are required in every job and are critical for professional success across all industries. Software development teams are infamous for "hand-offs" between disparate teams that design, develop, test and deploy a product. But fostering co-creativity among teams will help foster a beneficial product for all stakeholders across the software development life cycle. For example, by having developers co-create feature requirements with designers and co-create tests with quality engineers, teams can ensure they are developing what the user actually wants. This practice is supported by modern approaches to development, like behavior-driven development. Today, we're seeing more and more job descriptions for developers asking not only for test-driven experience but also behavior-driven design and development experience; and we're seeing these job descriptions from major companies from GE Digital to Liberty Mutual Insurance. Incorporating approaches such as behavior-driven development can create a shared understanding on how an application fosters continuous learning and co-creation among all stakeholders. Related: Employers Are Paying Freelancers Big Bucks for These 25 In-Demand Skills The ability to incorporate user advocacy at every stage of software development The future of work for software developers lies in the industry's ability to embed diversity, emotional intelligence and co-creativity into product teams, in order to prioritize a user perspective. With user advocacy at the forefront, developers will be able to successfully enrich their technical expertise with people, social and communication skills to create powerful products and services that excel in the market. Related: 3 Capabilities the Software Industry Needs, to Solve the Developer Talent Crunch Successful Startups Know How to Motivate Top Software Developers How Software Teams Can Learn to Make Beautiful Music Together Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NEW HAVEN Noting that Saturday will mark the longest partial government shutdown in the countrys history, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy came to Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport Friday to try and get President Donald Trump to back down. The president needs to reopen the government, Murphy, who was accompanied at the press conference by New Haven Mayor Toni Harp, outgoing Tweed executive director Timothy Larson and airway transportation specialist Dennis Amato. He cant continue to use these employees as hostages, Murphy said, referring to the fact that the 30 Tweed employees are among the some 800,000 federal workers who have gone without pay checks for three weeks. Tomorrow (Saturday) this will become the longest shutdown in the history of this country, Murphy said. We are grateful that we have security personnel who are continuing to work without pay. But, the senator added: They need to get paid. They need to find jobs, even temporary ones, to put food on the table. Murphy noted that today or Friday was a normal payday for most federal workers. Murphy referred to it as a little bit of good news that both the House and Senate have passed bills authorizing retroactive pay for all federal workers once the shutdown is ended. The shutdown is coming down to who will blink first - Trump or Democrats in Congress. The dispute is over giving Trump $5.7 billion to build a wall to block illegal immigrants from coming into the United States from Mexico. Larson, who will soon be leaving his position to take a position in Gov. Ned Lamonts administration heading up the Office of Higher Education, said hes proud that the 30 workers at Tweed havent done what a lot of airport workers at bigger airports across the country have done: calling in sick in increasing numbers since the shutdown began on Dec. 22. Why do they show up, Larson said. Because they love their job. They are professional and they care. Amato, who has been in the airline safety business for close to three decades, said he and his colleagues are willing to work without pay because we are dedicated employees who show up to work every day. But Amato said working for no money is a bit easier for a veteran employee like himself. Im worried about the younger guys, he said. The people who have families, have bills to be paid. Theyre going to have to be taking out loans. New Haven Mayor Toni Harp picked up on the same theme noting that many of the people that work at the small airport are residents of New Haven. They have mortgages and credit card payments to make, Harp said. They are neighbors right here in New Haven and they are caught in a desperate Washington power play. Murphy said besides the issue of pay there are other issues involved with the government shutdown that impacts security at airports - even small ones like Tweed. He noted the recent incident in which a wanted man from Hamden was apprehended after he drove across the runway at Tweed. Officers attempted to arrest the man at a Tweed car rental office but the man drove away and fled by driving through a chain link fence onto the airport runway. Murphy said the investigation into how to probe that incident cant be dealt with because the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is shut down. The senator added that another issue that he believes hasnt gotten enough attention due to the shutdown is food inspection. That worries the hell out of me as a parent, Murphy said, noting that the Food and Drug Administration has stopped routine food safety inspections of seafood, fruits, vegetables and many other foods at high risk of contamination because of the federal governments shutdown, Murphy said while the impact of the shutdown hasnt been felt at Tweed, the impact at larger airports across the country is impossible to ignore - and getting worse. He referred to the fact that Miami International Airport plans to close one of its terminals this weekend due to staffing shortages. A Miami airport spokesman told the Miami Herald that one of the terminals will be closed as of 1 p.m. Saturday. In recent days, as it has become apparent that Congress - especially the Democratically-controlled House of Representatives, is not likely to give Trump his multi-billion dollars for his wall, Trump has indicated he may divert funds from other areas, such as disaster relief accounts, to build the wall. Murphy said that would be opening a dangerous Pandoras box. What would stop future presidents from doing the same thing, he said, referring to re-directing funding toward pet projects when a president doesnt get their way. HARTFORD Six Medicaid recipients have filed a class action lawsuit against the state Department of Social Services for failing to provide them with timely transportation to their doctor appointments. For over a year, with little improvement, the DSS, according to the complaint, has been failing to provide disabled residents with necessary transportation to their medical treatment appointments. The Medicaid program, which is a federal- and state-based program, provides transportation for all Medicaid covered services, including emergency services and pre-scheduled medical appointments. Last January, DSS inked a three-year, $140-million contract with Veyo to provide transportation for the states more than 800,000 Medicaid patients. Veyo is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The complaint says DSS has been unable to give their clients answers about why their rides were canceled. A spokesman for DSS said the agency has received the lawsuit and is reviewing it. Problems with the transportation of Medicaid patients has been a topic of discussion for the Medicaid Managed Care Council, but there have been no solutions to all the problems. This is unacceptable, Kristen Noelle Hatcher, managing attorney of the public benefits unit at Connecticut Legal Services said. The state needs to answer to the thousands of people whose health is suffering because they are not getting to the doctor, while the company who is supposed to be helping them is getting paid and not being held accountable. Connecticut Legal Services filed the class action on behalf of all of the individuals who have been left stranded and in the dark, unable to get to their medical treatment. One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Terrilynne Trudeau, is a 56-year-old resident of Terryville who requires treatment for lymphedema, and numerous other serious conditions. Ms. Trudeau had eight appointments scheduled to receive this treatment and her transportation cancelled for seven of them, the complaint states. Then theres Ida Davidson, 90, of Norwalk. She is disabled due to atrial fibrillation, and the effects of a stroke. Because of her disabilities, she is bedridden, cannot walk, and is unable to use a wheelchair. Davidson requires an ambulance with a stretcher to transport her to medical appointments where her primary care physician and cardiologist monitor her condition. Davidson confirmed her transportation did not arrive on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17, 2018. Veyo representatives told Mrs. Moorer (Davidsons daughter) that they were denying her ride because no transportation providers were able to accommodate her, the complaint states. The complaint states that in some cases the wrong mode of transportation arrives for the clients. Sometimes when a client needs a wheelchair van, a taxicab arrives. Even in cases in which an individuals transportation error has been corrected for an appointment or two, the individual has a high likelihood of experiencing that problem again, the complaint states. The failure to provide the service is compounded by the agencys lack of guidance for how to complain if their transportation doesnt arrive. Matthew Ibrahim, another plaintiff named in the case, has several disabling health conditions. He uses a wheelchair and needs a wheelchair van to transport him to appointments. He routinely sees a cardiologist, pulmonologist and primary care doctor to monitor him and keep him healthy and out of the hospital or nursing home. Without regular visits, he may develop infections in his severely swollen legs, or fluid may build up around his heart and lungs, causing either to fail. Several times he has expected a ride to take him to one of these doctors, but he was told minutes before the scheduled appointment that the ride would not be coming. Connecticut residents have seen their rights under the Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act ignored by DSS for too long, said James S. Haslam, a veteran Social Security Disability and Public Benefits attorney at CLS. It is time to take this to the courts to get those protections back. HANOI PERFORMANCE Vietnam RoK Concert to celebrate New Year 2019 7pm on January 14 Hanoi Opera House 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, The concert features the participation of the Korean Symphony Orchestra, soloists Synyoung Seo (soprano) and Maria Callas, alongside Vietnamese Peoples Artist Dang Thai Son. The performances will be conducted by Chi Yong Chung. Free entrance Happiness Concert 2019 8pm on January 15 Hanoi Opera House 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, The concert features the performance of conductor Honna Tetsuji, piano soloist Ngo Phuong Vi, and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra. Tickets: VND500,000 VND350,000 VND200,000 Electric Hurdy-gurdy Solo Performance by Guilhem Desq 8pm on January 19 LEspace 24 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, The solo performance will introduce talented French artist Guilhem Desqs electric hurdy-gurdy a version of the thousand-year-old instrument. Tickets: VND210,000 VND130,000 (LEspace members) VND100,000 (students) EXHIBITION Exhibition Les Experiences-cles des Petits Debrouillards LEspace 24 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, The exhibition is a popular education movement that aims to provide access to scientific and technical knowledge for all here indicating the little scientists. The Vietnamese edition of the book series Les Experiences-cles des Petits Debrouillards consists of four books, each with 40 fun and easy-to-carry-out experiments, to help little scientists discover the secrets of the world around them, through its elements: water, air, earth and the cosmos. Free entrance Exhibitions: Bicycles by Thu Van Tran and Ellipses by Ha Manh Thang Vincom Centre for Contemporary Art (VCCA) B1 R3, Vincom Mega Mall Royal City 72A Nguyen Trai street, Thanh Xuan District Bicycles is Thu Van Trans first solo installation exhibition in Vietnam, marking a milestone for the artists participation and involvement in the art scene in her home country. The exhibition was inspired by a memorable song from the artists childhood, with symbolic local media (rubber bands, sails, and ceramics). Ellipses is a solo exhibition presenting new works by Ha Manh Thang, one of the most prominent faces of the Vietnamese art scene, of abstract expressionist art language and installation art. Thangs works have the sophistication of Western modern art, yet still hold an Asian spirit in them, reminding us of the past and the regret for what is lost. HO CHI MINH CITY PERFORMANCE A O Show by Lune Production 6pm Ho Chi Minh City Opera House 7 Cong Truong Lam Son, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 The A O Show features optical illusions and impressive acrobatics, paired with traditional music performances by a troupe of talented local artists. Known as the Cirque du Soleil of Vietnam (minus the flashy outfits), this live show depicts the transition of rural Vietnam into todays modern landscape, using props such as giant woven baskets, scaffolding, bamboo canes, and ropes. Price range: VND630,000 - VND1,470,000 EXHIBITION Exhibition an everyday day by Nguyen Quang Huy Galerie Quynh 118 Nguyen Van Thu, Dakao, District 1 You are invited to an everyday day a solo exhibition of new work by Hanoi-based artist Nguyen Quang Huy. Considered one of Vietnams pioneering artists following the Doi Moi reforms initiated in 1986 (a period of economic liberalisation marked by increased artistic experimentation), Quang Huy will be showing a suite of oil paintings depicting Hmong women and misty mountain scenes created with hazy brushworks in his distinctive muted palette of blue-grey grisaille. Ait Melloul (Morocco), Jan 09, 2019 (SPS) - The prison administration repeatedly prevented the visit to Sidahmed Lemjeyid, a Saharawi political prisoner, currently detained in the Moroccan prison of Ait Melloul 2, according to information received from the family. The administration of the local Ait Melloul prison denied the right of family visit to the Saharawi political prisoner of the Gdeim Izik Group on Monday, January 7, 2019. It denied visiting rights three times in the last months, on December 24, January 2 and January 7, in violation of the law on the rights of prisoners. The Lemjeyid family protested for several hours in front of the prison, but received no explanation. The prison of Ait Melloul is several hundred kilometers from El Aaiun, Western Sahara, and the travel expenses are a huge effort for the families of the political prisoners. SPS 125/090/TRA Strasbourg, January 6, 2019 (SPS) - The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that EU follows closely the situation of the Sahrawi prisoners of Gdeim Ezik group in the Moroccan prisons, underlining that EU expresses regularly its concerns about the suspected cases of ill treatment and the impunity from which suffered these detainees. Asked at the European Parliament about the situation of four Sahrawi prisoners of Gdeim Izik group, sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in 2013 and subjected to continuous periods of isolation and ill treatment, Mogherini affirmed that EU follows closely the situation of Sahrawi detainees in Moroccan prisons. The four Sahrawi detainees Sidi Abdallah Abbahah, Mohamed Bourial, Mohamed Lamin Haddi and El Bachir Khadda are political prisoners belonging to Gdeim Izik group who were sentenced in 2013 to 20 years improsnment. They were imprisoned in different Moroccan jails and are now in Tiflet where they are subjected to ill treatment, according to the question asked to Mogherini. The four prisoners were also isolated for continuous periods without any human contact and deprived from their rights. The Euro deputies also wondered about the reason which allows Morocco to remain immune from an EUs condemnation while it continues its ill treatment practices towards the Sahrawi prisoners, infringing thereby the most basic human rights. In its written reply, Mogherini ensured that following the situation of the Sahrawi detainees in the Moroccan prisons includes the presence of the EUs delegation in Rabat as an observer in civil proceedings, adding that representatives of the EUs delegation meet regularly with the National Human Rights Council to improve health and detention conditions of Gdeim Izik groups prisoners. (SPS) 062/SPS/APS An eight-episode series adaptation based on Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows Grishaverse fantasy novels have been ordered to series by Netflix. Eric Heisserer, who penned the screenplays of Bird Box & Arrival, will pen the fantasy adaptation and serve as the showrunner. Leigh Bardugo will executive produce. Two of @LBardugos best-selling Grishaverse books will be adapted into a new series by #BirdBox screenwriter @HIGHzurrer! Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows follow a young soldier as she uses magical power to unite her world even as dangerous forces plot against her! #tsarpunk pic.twitter.com/OtNvJ6GRAA NX (@NXOnNetflix) January 10, 2019 LEIGH BARDUGOS BEST-SELLING SHADOW AND BONE AND SIX OF CROWS BOOKS COMES TO NETFLIX IN NEW SERIES Eric Heisserer will adapt the series to be produced by Shawn Levys 21 Laps and Pouya Shahbazian Leigh Bardugos NYT and USA Today bestselling Grishaverse books will finally come to life on screens around the world for the first time, in an all-new Netflix original series. Eric Heisserer (Bird Box, ARRIVAL) will adapt and serve as showrunner for the series, which brings together the stories and characters of both Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows, two overlapping series that take place in Bardugo's Grishaverse. The series reunites Heisserer with 21 Laps (Stranger Things), who produced his Oscar-nominated film ARRIVAL. Pouya Shahbazian (the Divergent series) also serves as an executive producer. With over 2.5 million copies sold in the English language alone, Bardugo's Grishaverse books have been translated into 38 languages around the world and counting. A new installment of the Grishaverse, King of Scars, comes out later this month. Logline: In a world cleaved in two by a massive barrier of perpetual darkness, where unnatural creatures feast on human flesh, a young soldier uncovers a power that might finally unite her country. But as she struggles to hone her power, dangerous forces plot against her. Thugs, thieves, assassins and saints are at war now, and it will take more than magic to survive. Episodes: 8 Episodes Shadow and Bone is a Netflix production. Creator / Writer / Showrunner / Executive Producer: Eric Heisserer Author and Executive Producer: Leigh Bardugo Executive Producers: Pouya Shahbazian (New Leaf Literary & Media) and Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen and Josh Barry for 21 Laps Source: Netflix Eric Heisserer will adapt the series to be produced by Shawn Levys 21 Laps and Pouya ShahbazianLeigh Bardugos NYT and USA Today bestselling Grishaverse books will finally come to life on screens around the world for the first time, in an all-new Netflix original series.Eric Heisserer (Bird Box, ARRIVAL) will adapt and serve as showrunner for the series, which brings together the stories and characters of both Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows, two overlapping series that take place in Bardugo's Grishaverse. The series reunites Heisserer with 21 Laps (Stranger Things), who produced his Oscar-nominated film ARRIVAL. Pouya Shahbazian (the Divergent series) also serves as an executive producer.With over 2.5 million copies sold in the English language alone, Bardugo's Grishaverse books have been translated into 38 languages around the world and counting. A new installment of the Grishaverse, King of Scars, comes out later this month.Logline: In a world cleaved in two by a massive barrier of perpetual darkness, where unnatural creatures feast on human flesh, a young soldier uncovers a power that might finally unite her country. But as she struggles to hone her power, dangerous forces plot against her. Thugs, thieves, assassins and saints are at war now, and it will take more than magic to survive.Episodes: 8 EpisodesShadow and Bone is a Netflix production.Creator / Writer / Showrunner / Executive Producer: Eric HeissererAuthor and Executive Producer: Leigh BardugoExecutive Producers: Pouya Shahbazian (New Leaf Literary & Media) and Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen and Josh Barry for 21 Laps This is real. Shadow & Bone AND Six of Crows are coming to @netflix. The #grishaverse is about to come to life. https://t.co/FPD2VbYf2F Leigh Bardugo (@LBardugo) January 10, 2019 That's right. We're bringing the stories together. You're getting all the murder babies and saints #grishaverse pic.twitter.com/m3tgYh6WTh Leigh Bardugo (@LBardugo) January 10, 2019 This is our head writer and showrunner. It's always scary to put your work in someone else's hands, but @HIGHzurrer is a dang genius (and a lovely human) so that helps. #grishaverse #netflix https://t.co/3RRxfmpNd5 Leigh Bardugo (@LBardugo) January 10, 2019 For years, my happy place has been in the pages of Leigh's books. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to live there for a while. Oh this will be so much fun. https://t.co/irDbe6NK8C Eric Heisserer (@HIGHzurrer) January 10, 2019 I'll be honest... I'm pretty emotional right now. This has been in the works for a long while, but it didn't seem real until I got to share it with you. And now I'm very blotchy. Leigh Bardugo (@LBardugo) January 10, 2019 What do you get when you link up six of Australias largest cities with nearly 400 cybersecurity experts? One of the worlds biggest capture the flag events! Its becoming ever-more important to improve the technical skills of Australias cybersecurity specialists, especially with a prevailing skills shortage. What better way to do this than getting together some Splunkers and the nations leading cybersecurity specialists to battle it out? We recently teamed up with the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) to host Australias largest-ever cybersecurity challenge. Attendees came from far and wide, from Australias federal and state governments, key financial institutions in insurance and banking, healthcare, education and telecommunications. Using the ACSCs Joint Cyber Security Centres (JCSC), we hosted the event in many of Australias capital citiesSydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. Across these cities, we saw a turnout of nearly 400 cybersecurity specialists within over 100 teams go head-to-head to claim the title of Boss of the Security Operations Centre (BOTS). Our goal was to improve and test the technical skills of specialists and continue to raise the cyber resilience of the nation. This is crucial as threats to cybersecurity and cybercrime continue to increase in Australia, costing the economy up to $1 billion a year. Additionally, the Office of the Australian Commissioner (OAIC) received 242 data breach notifications between 1st April and 30th June. Of these breaches, the healthcare and financial sectors were the hardest hit, so we were pleased to have experts from these areas join us on the day to reap the benefits of the event. Many of our Splunkers were on the ground to support the teams with different challenges and answer questions, ensuring that participants walked away feeling better versed in security and with a firmer understanding of how to use Splunks platform. Playing the part of the security operations centre, analysts used Splunks platform to test their defensive security analysts skills in using Splunk for incident response and investigation and to ultimately capture the flag. By taking the right steps to ensure data is secured and managed appropriately, organisations can decrease the likelihood of a data breach. Our competitors were able to use our BOTS event to gain a stronger and more realistic understanding of how to do just that, as well as hone their skills for incident investigation and highlight areas for training and educationall in the name of friendly competition. A massive congratulations to Team NAB who emerged triumphant on the day, taking home the BOTS crown. A thanks to our Splunkers who helped make the event possible; Simon OBrien, Staff Sales Engineer and Kate Baker, ANZ Marketing Manager, not to mention those providing their expertise to our competitors on the day. I was lucky enough to speak with journalist David Williams at iTWire about the importance of events like this, right as the winner was announced! Our fellow organisers at the ACSC also kept us updated on social throughout the competition with pictures of our cybersecurity experts going for gold. It was a pleasure to be part of this event and we were very pleased to have taken it stateside to .conf18 in Orlando. Our attendees at the conference were able to join the Splunk Security Team and show off their l337 skills and compete against their peers for l00t and respect. This time, it was Sony who came out on top! We look forward to hosting similar events and initiatives in the future to assist Australia and places beyond in strengthening their cybersecurity posture. Spoilers set to "maximum." If you're a dedicated disciple of "The Orville," then you've probably seen one of the Facebook groups or discussion forums or YouTube videos that talk about rumors and gossip surrounding the show. Many fans already knew that Lt. Alara Kitan (Halston Sage) was leaving, but the continued mystery surrounding the reasons behind that departure have kept those threads buzzing. However, the general consensus is that it was a simple scheduling conflict on the actor's part. Regardless, many viewers suspected it was coming but we didn't expect that it would happen this early in the second season. The last time a sci-fi series' chief of security departed prematurely was when Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) was unceremoniously executed by an especially evil blob of black tar on Vagra II in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Skin of Evil" (S01, E22). [Biggest Space Movies to Watch in 2019] Isaac (Mark Jackson) arm-wrestles Lt. Alara Kitan (Halston Sage) in what has become a regular Friday fixture in the Orville's mess hall. (Image credit: Fox) During what seems to be a weekly wacky arm-wrestling event in the ship's mess between the equally matched Isaac (Mark Jackson) and Lt. Kitan, the artificial life from Kaylon 1 accidently breaks her arm. Naturally, the young Xelayan officer receives treatment from Dr. Finn (Penny Johnson Jerald), who notices that Alara's muscle mass and bone density have decreased during her time on the USS Orville under the equivalent of Earth's gravity, 1g. It appears that Alara must return to her own planet, where the gravitational pull is many times greater than the planetary average, which means Xelayans have superhuman strength in Earth-like environments. Once there, she can begin the healing process and perhaps, in time, return to the USS Orville. To this point, this potentially predictable departure episode is handled well. Some great camera angles enliven the arm-wrestling opening, plus any opportunity to watch Robert Picardo who plays Alara's father, Ildis Kitan on television is a delight. This is our first chance to see Alara's home world, Xelaya, which looks a lot like Dubai, with a bit of Beverly Hills thrown in. We also get to see the Orville's environment suits for the first time; it's always nice to see how a sci-fi series approaches the design of those. (We never saw a single suit in seven seasons of "The Next Generation.") [To Celebrate 30 Years, 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' Stars Visit Dragon Con] Alara (Halston Sage) has an interim replacement, Lt. Tharl (Patrick Warburton), who is an alien with a "crazy high metabolism" and two esophagi. (Image credit: Fox) Both her father and her mother, Drenala Kitan (Molly Hagan), opposed Alara's enrollment in the Planetary Union and instead wanted her to pursue a university degree, like her older sister, Solana (Candice King), did. Apparently, however, Alara is of below-average intelligence for a Xelayan, which heavily influenced her decision, and as a result of her superhuman strength, she was fast-tracked to becoming chief of security on the Orville. Meanwhile, Alara's interim replacement, Lt. Tharl, arrives, played by Patrick Warburton, who just about owns every single scene he's in, regardless of the series. Here, he's tragically underused, playing an alien with a "crazy high metabolism" and two esophagi in a fairly forgettable attempt at uncomfortable-new-guy humor. Alara's family welcomes her home, but the inevitable clashes arise as her parents make their feelings known about her potential return to the Orville and the Planetary Union. In an attempt to smooth things over and get the Kitan family to bond a bit, Ildis suggests they all take a trip to their beach house in the Xelayan equivalent of the Hamptons. Here, we meet their neighbors from the next house up the beach, Floratta (Kerry O'Malley) and Cambis Borrin (played by another "Star Trek" alumni, John Billingsley). And suddenly, this episode jumps on an express train to Insaneville. Cambis turns out to be utterly bonkers, which will catch anyone nodding off at this point by complete surprise. His turn makes this episode much more interesting. The husband and wife team of Xelayan psychos hold Alara and her family hostage. Turns out that many years ago Ildis disputed some medical breakthrough or other made by Cambis' son in a scientific journal and ruined the researcher's career. After that, the son took his own life, so it's all about revenge. Since Alara has a bit more experience than her more academic-focused family dealing with life-or-death situations, she takes the initiative and eventually overpowers the deranged duo. At the same time, her injured father saves the life of the injured Cpt. Mercer (Seth MacFarlane), who had just landed unannounced in a shuttle in an attempt to persuade Alara to come back. Phew. Viewers get a glimpse of the Orville crew's environment suits for the first time. (Image credit: Fox) Sage turns in another borderline over-passionate performance, but Picardo goes for broke in a truly emotional scene between father and daughter. Tissues will be required at this point. Despite a possible solution that ol' Doc Finn has devised, Alara decides to stay on Xelaya. The bridge crew gathers in the Orville's shuttle bay, as the actors as much as the characters say a sad farewell, with echoes of Tasha Yar's funeral. It drags on far, far too long. We know that "The Orville" is a love letter to "The Next Generation," and there will inevitably be similarities, but the untimely exit of the security chief in both series is just plain bizarre. It's still too early to call thumbs up or thumbs down on "The Orville," because only 15 episodes have aired, while "Star Trek: The Next Generation" averaged an impressive 25 episodes per season. Perhaps next week, we'll meet Alara's permanent replacement, who is also a young Xelayan female officer, Talla, played by Jessica Szohr. So, a simple straight swap then at least Tasha Yar was replaced by a Klingon. Robert Picardo plays Alara's father, Ildis Kitan, who comes to an important realization in this episode. (Image credit: Fox) Season 2 of "The Orville" airs on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. EST on Fox in the U.S. You can watch it on on demand on Fox Now and Hulu. It's also available on Fox.com in the U.S. In the U.K., the show's on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. GMT on Fox. You can buy the first season of "The Orville" on DVD, and you can purchase a season pass from Amazon. Follow Scott Snowden on Twitter. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com. China's Chang'e 4 moon lander on the far side of the moon took this panoramic view of its surroundings in Von Karman crater, showing its rover Yutu-2 nearby. The China National Space Agency unveiled the image on Jan. 10, 2019. China made history earlier this month with the first successful soft landing on the far side of the moon and now, the mission has sent back an incredible panorama view of its work site. The mission consists of two robots: the Chang'e 4 lander and the Yutu 2 rover. Since their arrival on Jan. 2, both have been exploring the lunar surface inside Von Karman Crater, a 115-mile-wide (186 kilometers) feature. (You can see a high-resolution image of Chang'e 4's moon panorama here, via the China National Space Agency.) The panorama taken from the Chang'e 4 lander at its perch in Von Karman Crater and stitched together as a full-circle view. (Image credit: CNSA) Because the panorama was captured by the Chang'e 4 lander, it shows on the left the Yutu 2 rover, complete with the tire tracks left behind by the adventuring robot. Yutu 2 has a little more freedom to explore, but although it was deployed on Jan. 3, it soon settled down for a nap to avoid overheating during the long lunar day. According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, temperatures reached 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). [Photos from the Moon's Far Side! China's Chang'e 4 Lunar Landing in Pictures] The moon's surface experiences days and nights that each last about 14 Earth days, and the mission landed just after sunrise at Von Karman Crater. Chinese media reported yesterday (Jan. 10) that Yutu 2 successfully woke up from that nap a feat its predecessor, the Yutu rover, had failed to accomplish in 2013. Expect those tracks from the rover's tires to lengthen in future photographs. The Chang'e 4 lander, as seen by the Yutu 2 rover. (Image credit: CNSA) The panorama also shows the edges of some of the science instruments onboard the Chang'e 4 lander itself. According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), several of those instruments, which are collaborations between China and other governments, have already been turned on. They are starting to gather observations on the lunar far side and should send science data back within the next few weeks, according to CNSA. Information cannot be sent directly from the lunar far side to Earth the moon's bulk gets in the way. Instead, signals are sent from the lunar surface up to a relay satellite called Queqiao, which launched in May 2018 and is hovering in an orbital "parking spot" from which it can communicate with Earth. The Yutu 2 rover, as seen by the Chang'e 4 lander. (Image credit: CNSA) In addition to the panorama view, each robot has sent back an image of its compatriot on the surface. We may also get a bird's-eye view of the mission. That would come courtesy of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is due to fly over the site on Jan. 31. Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com. Update for 11:45 a.m. EST: All 10 Iridium Next satellites were successfully deployed. A used SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lofted 10 final Iridium Next satellites into orbit today (Jan. 11), completing a two-year, eight-launch contract between the two companies. The rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 7:31 a.m. local time (10:31 a.m. EST, 1531 GMT) during an instantaneous launch window. If all goes well, satellite deployment will begin about an hour after launch. The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket successfully landed on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions" about seven minutes after liftoff. That stage had previously flown on the Telstar 18 launch in September 2018. SpaceX did not attempt to recover the fairing, which it has yet to do successfully. "There it is, right in the middle of the bull's-eye," SpaceX's launch commentator, John Insprucker, principal integration engineer said during the broadcast after the first stage's safe landing. "The first stage is back again down on Earth." [Watch SpaceX's Falcon 9 Booster Land on a Drone Ship] A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the final 10 Iridium Next communications satellites for a new constellation launches from Space Launch Complex 4E of Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Jan. 11, 2019. (Image credit: SpaceX) Today's launch completed the Iridium Next constellation of communications satellites, replacing the company's previous generation of satellites and completing the launch partnership between SpaceX and Iridium. "That's not only 10 for 10 today, but 75 for 75," Insprucker said after the final satellite successfully deployed, about 70 minutes after launch. "It's been a clean sweep for Iridium and Falcon 9." The Iridium Next network will support the company's new broadband service and devices connected to the so-called Internet of Things, among other communications services. The fourth satellite in the final batch of the Iridium Next constellation deployed about an hour after the SpaceX Falcon 9 launched on Jan. 11. (Image credit: SpaceX) "Our final launch is by far the most important milestone of all," Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium, said during a news conference last week. "It means finally realizing the dream that the founders of this system had 30 years ago." Once the new satellites are orbiting successfully, Iridium will spend about three weeks testing them to make sure everything is working properly. When the tests are complete, the upgraded constellation will be fully operational, with 66 active satellites and nine orbiting spares. The entire overhaul cost $3 billion, and each Next satellite is about the size and weight of a Mini Cooper, according to Desch. Over the course of the two years during which the Iridium Next satellites have launched, the company has been de-orbiting their predecessors. The six satellites of that generation remaining in orbit will be brought down over the coming months, Desch said. The Iridium Next satellites also carry air traffic control technology for Aireon, a company providing air traffic surveillance services. Aireon will be able to track airplanes equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems, which are mandated for implementation by 2020, but have not yet been installed on most planes. Currently, airplanes can't accurately be monitored away from ground-based radar systems, which means they are required to stick to "highways in the sky" over oceans and other less densely populated areas of Earth. If they can instead report their location through satellites, airlines will be able to design more direct flights and more accurately track flights in distress. Today's launch was the first successful rocket liftoff from the U.S. this year. SpaceX's next planned launch will be the uncrewed test flight of its Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will eventually carry NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. That launch was recently pushed to no earlier than February. The company's next major activity will be the return of the Dragon capsule, scheduled to leave the space station at 3:36 a.m. EST (0836 GMT) on Sunday (Jan. 13), which will be broadcast without commentary on NASA TV beginning at 3:15 a.m. (0815 GMT). The return had been delayed by poor weather at the capsule's landing site. Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com. This image from NASA's InSight Mars lander, taken on Jan. 7, 2019, shows the SEIS seismograph instrument deployed on the Martian surface to measure Marsquakes. NASA's InSight Mars lander is officially hunting for quakes on the Red Planet. The lander's ultrasensitive seismometer, called the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS), has passed its initial tests and is working working well, according to the French space agency CNES, which built the lander's instrument. "This is a historic moment and a great hope for geophysics," CNES officials said in a statement. "The two U.S. Viking 1 and Viking 2 missions launched by NASA in 1975 were each carrying a seismometer. One failed to function, while the other fixed to the deck of the lander was unable to measure Mars seismic activity as it was too sensitive to the background noise generated by winds. SEIS is thus the first instrument of its kind to be placed on the surface of the Red Planet." [NASA's InSight Mars Lander: Full Coverage] The InSight lander touched down on Mars Nov. 26 and used its crane-like robotic arm to deploy the SEIS instrument on the Martian surface on Dec. 19. On Jan. 1, InSight celebrated the new year by testing the seismograph, CNES officials said. InSight will soon deploy a special cover over the SEIS instrument to protect it from the Martian wind and extreme temperatures. SEIS is the first seismometer to successfully begin work on another world since NASA's Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972, when astronaut Harrison Schmitt deployed a that mission's Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package a sensor suite that included a lunar seismometer, CNES officials said. SEIS is made up of three ultraprecise seismic sensors surrounded by a vacuum inside a titanium sphere. An electronic tether to power its systems and heaters was deployed on Jan. 6, and the SEIS sensors "are beginning to record minute ground displacements." according to CNES. InSight's SEIS instrument is one of two tools the lander will deploy on the surface of Mars. The other is a burrowing tool called the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Probe, or HP3. Mission scientists will use the sensitive seismometer to detect Marsquakes, meteorite impacts and to study the structure of the interior of Mars, with the HP3 tool recording observations on how heat moves through the planet's surface. InSight also carries a radio experiment to help scientists study the planet's wobble. NASA launched the $850 million InSight lander (its name is short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) in May 2018. It is expected to study the interior of Mars for at least one Martian year, which is about the equivalent of two Earth years. Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original story on Space.com. China's Yutu 2 rover explores the far side of the moon shortly after its Jan. 2, 2019, touchdown. China's far-side moon rover Yutu 2 has woken up from its nap as planned, according to Chinese media reports. "China's space engineers care about the reactivation, as the last model [Yutu 1] failed its first awakening in February 2014," China's Global Television Network (CGTN) reported today (Jan. 10). Yutu 1 was the rover on China's Chang'e 3 moon mission, which landed on the near side in December 2013. On Jan. 2, the Chang'e 4 mission pulled off the first-ever soft landing on the moon's far side. The rover-lander duo touched down on the floor of the 110-mile-wide (186 kilometers) Von Karman Crater, which lies within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the largest and deepest basin in the solar system. [China's Chang'e 4 Farside Moon Landing in Pictures] Yutu 2's handlers powered the rover down a few days later, in a "noon nap" designed to protect against temporarily high lunar temperatures. International payloads Meanwhile, a suite of international payloads carried by Chang'e 4 have started operations. A neutron radiation detector aboard the lander, developed by Germany, and a neutral atom detector on the rover, developed by Sweden, have both been switched on, according to a statement by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Both detectors have been booted up and are under testing. The Swedish device, the Advanced Small Analyzer for Neutrals (ASAN), will study how the solar wind interacts with the lunar surface. ASAN, which was built in collaboration with the Chinese National Space Science Center (NSSC), is the first energetic neutral atom sensor ever deployed on the lunar surface. From a vantage point of only a few decimeters above the regolith surface, ASAN will measure energy spectra of energetic neutral atoms originating from reflected solar wind ions under different solar wind illumination conditions. "Yes, we have successfully started commissioning of ASAN and expect the first science data before mid-February," ASAN principal investigator Martin Wieser, a researcher at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, told Inside Outer Space. "It depends on the rover being in a favorable position." ASAN is mounted on the Yutu 2 rover, allowing the instrument to perform measurements at different locations. These data could shed light on the processes responsible for the formation of water on the moon, researchers have said. Chang'e 4's data comes to Earth via the relay satellite Queqiao (Magpie Bridge). Queqiao launched in May 2018 to set up the communication link with the moon's far side, which always points away from our planet. [China's Moon Missions Explained (Infographic)] The moon's Von Karman crater, landing site for China's Chang'e 4 mission. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter took this mosaic image, over which a 5-degree latitude and longitude grid was added. (Image credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University) Tricky landing Chang'e 4's historic landing was tricky, said Yang Yuguang, a professor at the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. "The terrain at the far side of the moon is entirely different compared to the near side. There are more highlands, craters, and mountains and the landform is much steeper," Yang told China's state-run Xinhua news agency. (A summary of the geology of the Chang'e 4 landing region can be found in this recent paper.) Yang also highlighted the importance of a new low-frequency spectrometer carried on the Chang'e 4 mission that will conduct a radio-astronomical study from the far side, an ideal place to conduct such work as there is no radio disturbance from Earth. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Chinese space officials have noted the cooperation offered by NASA, specifically orbital data from the American space agency's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). The Chinese side has provided its NASA counterparts with information about Chang'e 4's landing timing and location, CNSA officials said. LRO is slated to fly over the landing area in the coming weeks and may spot the Chang'e 4 hardware on the surface. LRO will be able to scout for the Chang'e 4 lander and Yutu 2 rover at about midnight on Jan. 31, Mark Robinson told Inside Outer Space. Robinson, of Arizona State University, is principal investigator for LRO's LROC camera system. An artist's illustration of China's Queqiao relay satellite, which launched in May 2018 to relay data between controllers on Earth and China's Chang'e 4 mission on the moon's far side. (Image credit: CNSA) More cooperation An Argentina-based ground station built by China has played an important role in the monitoring and control of the mission. Furthermore, ground stations run by the European Space Agency will also offer support, according to Xinhua reports. The Chang'e 4 mission also includes a radioisotope heat source, a collaboration between Chinese and Russian scientists, to help deal with the huge temperature swings on the surface of the moon. (One lunar day lasts nearly 30 Earth days, so spacecraft on the moon experience two weeks of perpetual darkness followed by two weeks of sunlight.) "International cooperation is the future of lunar exploration," Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, told Xinhua. "The participating countries would share the costs, risks and achievements, and learn from each other. We hope to have more international cooperation." Leonard David is author of the forthcoming book, "Moon Rush: The New Space Race" to be published by National Geographic in May 2019. A longtime writer for SPACE.com, David has been reporting on the space industry for more than five decades. Follow us @Spacedotcom or Facebook. This version of the story published on Space.com. SEATTLE One of Earth's nearest exoplanet neighbors, the planet orbiting Barnard's Star, may still have a chance at hosting life, despite its frigid temperatures. New research suggests that heat generated by geothermal processes could warm pockets of water beneath the surface of the planet called Barnard's Star b, potentially providing havens for life to evolve. Images captured by NASA's much-delayed James Webb Space Telescope could help determine if the planet is the right size for that phenomenon to occur, and instruments coming even later in the future could identify signs of life. "This is the best-imageable planet, the best Earth-sized one," Edward Guinan, a researcher at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, told Space.com. Using 15 years of data, Guinan and his colleague Scott Engle, also at Villanova, determined that while the planet is too cold for liquid water, and thus probably for life, to exist on the surface, the world might still hold subsurface oceans, depending on how large it is. Such oceans could form only on a rocky world, but if the planet is a gas giant, all bets are off. [Barnard's Star b: What We Know About Nearby 'Super-Earth' Planet Candidate] "If it's a super-Earth, it could have anything going on," Engle said. The two researchers announced their results here at the 233rd annual winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society. A gas giant or a super-Earth? Located only 6 light-years away from Earth, Barnard's Star is the closest single star to the sun; only the triple stars of the Alpha Centauri system are closer. The nearness of Barnard's Star has encouraged many researchers to turn their instruments toward it, and in the 1970s, astronomers debated whether the dim star had a planet. It wasn't until November 2018 that researchers announced the discovery of a massive world orbiting the nearby sun. Barnard's Star b is enormous for a rocky planet, at least 3.2 times as massive as Earth. Although its orbit is roughly the same as Mercury's, the planet is probably a freezing wasteland thanks to the dim light from the star. (If our sun were replaced by Barnard's Star, it would be only 100 times brighter than the full moon, and Earth's surface would quickly freeze.)That knowledge didn't dissuade Guinan and Engle, who were both part of the team that discovered the planet. At minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 170 degrees Celsius), the planet's temperature resembles that of Jupiter's moon Europa. With its subsurface ocean, Europa is considered one of the solar system's most potentially habitable bodies. While Jupiter's radiation melts Europa's ice, the two researchers knew something different would be needed to produce lakes and seas beneath the ice of Barnard's Star b. So, the researchers looked at the planet itself. An artist's impression of the super-Earth orbiting Barnard's Star. (Image credit: M. Kornmesser/ESO) "Super-Earths may have a capability of having extra geothermal energy that could, if it had water ice around it, melt the ice in places," Guinan said. You don't have to travel to Jupiter to see evidence of similar lakes. The ice sheets of Antarctica cover hundreds of lakes, many of which are thought to be melted by the heat radiating from the Earth's core. The largest of these, Lake Vostok, is thought to contain a wide variety of organisms cut off from other life for millions of years. Guinan and Engle think similar environments could evolve on a rocky Barnard's Star b. Rocky is the key term, because researchers aren't sure precisely how large Barnard's Star b really is just that it's at least 3.2 times the mass of Earth. That would likely make it a rocky super-Earth, but if the planet instead has seven or eight times the mass of Earth, it would be a smaller version of Neptune. Like the solar system's own (other) blue world, this type of gas giant would lack a surface for life to evolve on and would most likely not be habitable, the researchers said. "In that case, it's game over" in the search for life on this world, Guinan said. Radar imagery shows the outline of Lake Vostok, which is hidden deep below Antarctica's ice. (Image credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio/Canadian Space Agency/RADARSAT International Inc.) The James Webb Space Telescope could help solve the mystery of the planet's nature by directly imaging the world. This kind of imaging of planets requires the worlds to be far enough away from their stars that the starlight can be blocked; otherwise, the glow would drown out the world like a spotlight drowns out candlelight. Once again, the dim nature of Barnard's Star comes to the rescue. If the planet is a mini-Neptune, Guinan said, the Webb telescope should easily spot the world. Things are a little trickier for a rocky world, which he said was "borderline." Still, he and Engle seemed confident that the upcoming telescope could catch a glimpse. Barnard's Star also benefits from popularity. Its close proximity to our solar system means it has been a target for planet hunters for decades, and Engle said that this world would be "on Webb's top priority list" for many researchers. If Webb spots a dim world, then it's probably a super-Earth, Guinan said. If, however, the planet is extremely bright, then it's most likely a mini-Neptune. "Then, I don't care," Guinan said. If life thrives beneath the icy surface of Barnard's Star b, future generations of telescopes could one day catch a glimpse of signs of that life. If the planet expels plumes, as Europa has occasionally done, researchers could search for organic material in those fountains. But that would require telescope technology that won't come until future decades. Follow Nola Taylor Redd on Twitter @NolaTRedd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and onFacebook. Original article on Space.com. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Sunshine and some clouds. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. The South Bend Community School Corporation plans to equip all school buses with new stop-arm cameras at the start of next school year, in an effort to aid police enforcement of state school bus laws. Secure access control is helping to shape the post-pandemic world With the continued rolling back of COVID restrictions in the UK, there is a palpable sense of relief. A mixture of mass vaccinations, widespread testing, and track and tracing of the infection is helping to enable a healthy bounce back for businesses with secure access control taking an important role in facilitating this. However, rather than just being a reaction to the wake of the pandemic, there is every sign that the economy, and consequently the security sector as well, are both rebuilding and reshaping for the long-term new normal. Prioritising Safety Already deemed an essential service even during the first wave of the pandemic, the security industry has of course taken a vital role in protecting people and property throughout the crisis. Now that venues in the UK are starting to reopen again, our services are key to occupancy management and ensuring that disease transmission is limited as far as possible. Access control is also key in reassuring people that their safety is a priority. Making the upgrade Its all been about choosing the most suitable components and technology that already existed with a few tweaks Businesses and organisations have a duty of care to their employees and the safety of visitors so controlling access, employing lateral flow testing, and deploying suitable Track & Trace mechanisms are all key components. I think those outside our industry are surprised to learn that most of the technology being deployed and used hasnt just magically developed since COVID appeared its all been about choosing the most suitable components and technology that already existed albeit with a few development tweaks or adjustments for the situation at hand. This includes using or installing facial recognition readers rather than using fingerprint or contact tokens, it is swapping to automatic request to exit sensors instead of buttons; it is using powered secure doors rather than having people all grab the same handle. Using mobile credentials is also a key technology choice why not use the highly secure, easy to manage, cost-effective, and of course contact-free benefits of this approach? Touchless solutions We have seen a clear shift in organisations looking to protect their staff and visitors. For instance, we have a big utility customer in Southeast Asia that has just replaced close to 200 sites using fingerprint readers with an additional facial recognition capability. We have also seen a big rise in demand for touchless request to exit sensors and Bluetooth Low Energy Readers for use with smartphone authentication. Working together Integration of security systems is of course nothing new, but in the post-pandemic or endemic age, it has perhaps never been more important. Installations need to be simple, straightforward, and rapid to help maintain safe distancing but also to ensure systems can be deployed as soon as they are needed. The world is changing and developing rapidly and there is simply no place for systems that dont work with others or cause the end-user considerable cost and inconvenience to upgrade. This flexible delivery of security solutions perfectly matches the evolving and increasing demands of the market. Its clear that end-users want systems that work well and can easily integrate with their existing systems not only security but all the other business components which work in unison with each other over a shared network. Great opportunities ahead The recent work-from-home trend is also clearly changing the way organisations and businesses interact with the built environment. Lots of companies are downsizing, offices are being split up, there is lots of revitalisation and reuse of existing office space all of which creates considerable opportunities for security providers. UK inflation more than doubled in April 2021 with unemployment figures dropping and the Pound rising in value There are also, in the UK at least, clear signs that the construction industry is rapidly growing again -with a forecast of 8% rebound and growth this year. UK inflation more than doubled in April 2021 with unemployment figures dropping and the Pound rising in value all positive signs for UK-based security providers. Undoubtedly the highly successful UK vaccination rollout has helped considerably, but there are signs that the Eurozone looks set to improve considerably over the next few months as well. Using integrated access control Undoubtedly the pandemic has made security markets around the world more aware of the benefits of integrated access control in managing the needs of the new normal COVID endemic environment. For example, as a business, we have always had keen interest from the UK healthcare sector, but over the last 12 months, we have seen a big growth in previously modest international markets including Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand all of which are very keen to adopt improved access control solutions. Learning the lessons Nobody would deny the last year or so has been unprecedentedly tough on everyone, as a society we have had to make huge changes and sacrifices. Governments, organisations, and businesses all need to be better prepared in the future, to understand the things that went wrong and those that were successful. However, there is a world beyond the immediate pandemic and its effects. Flexible working practices and the changes these will have to the way we live and work will undoubtedly present great opportunities for the security sector in helping the world evolve. The pandemic has been a wake-up call for many organisations with regards to their duty of care to employees particularly when it comes to mental health and providing a sensible work/life balance. Where we work and the safety of these facilities has received far more scrutiny than before. Flexible security systems Integrated security solutions have a vital role to play in not only protecting the safety of people during the post-lockdown return to work but also in the evolution of the built environment and move towards smart cities - which inevitably will now need to consider greater flexibility in securing home working spaces rather than just traditional places of work. Importantly, powerful access control and integrated security systems need to be flexible to the uncertainties ahead. The COVID pandemic has shown that nothing can be considered certain, except the need for greater flexibility and resilience in the way we operate our professional and personal interactions. Axis Communications is returning for the 21st edition of Intersec from 20 22 January 2019. Axis will showcase the many dimensions of products, solutions and services across Retail, Critical Infrastructure and Smart Cities. Future of security Philippe Kubbinga, Regional Director - Middle East & Africa, Axis Communications, At Axis, we have stayed at the forefront by constantly challenging the status quo and investing in our people and our partners. As we move into another year, we have an ever-increasing demand for smart products, solutions and services. In the last year, network audio, edge analytics, multi-sensors and privacy of data dominated in demand, conversations and actual applications trends we deem very positive for our industry. We have continued to add new dimensions in our offerings across Retail, Critical Infrastructure and are also seeing a positive trend in Smart Cities" We have continued to add new dimensions in our offerings across Retail, Critical Infrastructure and are also seeing a positive trend in Smart Cities. At Intersec 2019, we look forward to an in-depth conversation with our ecosystem on the future of security and surveillance, and its constantly adapting landscape and application. Security end points Martin Gren, Co-Founder of Axis Communications, will be a key speaker at the Intersec Future Security Summit on 20th January 2019 where he will discuss Future of global security industry: security end points viewed as a mode of connection, not an intrusion. At the stand, visitors can experience the Q8742 Bi-Spectral Camera, Q1645-LE Fixed Box Outdoor Camera, Q6125-LE PTZ with IR, Access Control, Analytics, Audio Products and Management Software, Technologies and the award-winning AXIS P3717-PLE. Axis Communications will be located at stand S1-J12, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. In the lead up to Intersec, Axis also shared the Key Technology Trends for 2019. Key technology trends Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer, Axis Communications, Its become a tradition to write about the key technology trends that we think will have a significant impact on our business over the coming year and the security sector as a whole. In thinking about 2019 we see a number of the key trends being an extension of those we identified at the start of 2018" Future-gazing is never an easy task, and while many new technologies and broader issues will no doubt be significant in the long-term, what particularly interests us are those areas where we can see a compelling use case in the shorter-term. As such, in thinking about 2019 we see a number of the key trends being an extension of those we identified at the start of 2018. Incremental improvements In our industry today, machine or deep-learning is mostly used for video analytics, but we expect the technology will be an important component in many different applications and products in the future. Over time it will become a common tool for software engineers and will be included in many different environments and devices. But, again, its application will be driven by the most compelling use cases, not by the technology itself. There is a temptation in the surveillance and security sector to over-promise in relation to new technologies. This has been true of AI in video analytics and, particularly, in some of the claims made around the current application of deep learning. With AI and deep learning, as with any new technology, were committed to making sure its implementation is robust, reliable and addresses real customer challenges. Research and progress will continue, steadily, and bring incremental improvements and benefits over the next year rather than radical change. Ever-increased capacity Cloud computing is based on the centralised computing in one or many data center, and as the proliferation of connected Cloud computing is based on the centralised computing in one or many data center, and as the proliferation of connected, Internet of Things (IoT) devices grows exponentially, so does the amount of data produced. Even as more data centers with ever-increased capacity are created, this tsunami of data could become overwhelming. This can be particularly critical in areas such as video surveillance, where despite the development of technologies designed to reduce storage and bandwidth needs, data demands are still significant. This is where the benefits of edge computing come to the fore. In simple terms, as its name suggest, edge computing puts more data processing at the edge of the network, close to where the data is collected by the sensor and before transfer to the data center. Addressing security In our business, edge computing means processing data within the camera itself. Firstly, initial processing of data within the camera can significantly reduce the bandwidth demands of both data transfer and storage. Additionally, data can be anonymised and encrypted before it is transferred, addressing security and privacy concerns. Ultimately, cloud and edge computing will not be an eitheror decision; the two will work in balance to the greatest benefit. In years to come, 2018 might be considered as the year when broad awareness of data privacy reached its highest point, particularly that associated with personal information. To those in the public and private sectors, the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) bought a higher level of scrutiny than ever before to how organisations collect, store, share and use personal information (including that captured by video surveillance). Heightened awareness This data is used by the likes of Facebook, Amazon, Google and others to increase the value of these services through a high degree of personalisation To the broader consumer, however, it is more likely to be issues relating to Facebooks use of data which has heightened awareness and concern regarding what happens to the personal data given away online. Ultimately, we live in a world where we have been given valuable online services in exchange for knowingly or unconsciously handing over a significant amount of personal data. Indeed, this data is used by the likes of Facebook, Amazon, Google and others to increase the value of these services through a high degree of personalisation. To many, however, it feels like a line has been crossed between useful personalisation and invasion of privacy, and the rumours that home voice assistants listen in to domestic conversations will only cause this unease to increase. Most impactful aspects Ultimately, the trust between an organisation and its customers is becoming an increasingly important and tangible asset. Concerns about a companys approach to privacy and the use of personal data will be one of the most impactful aspects of trust in business moving forwards. Can something continue to be a trend when it appears every year, and is a constant concern? Whatever your answer to that question, its impossible to think about issues that will affect every sector this year without a mention of cybersecurity. Indeed, in relation to the previous point, the fastest way to damage trust between a company and its customers (and shareholders) is through a cybersecurity breach. Good cybersecurity practice Cybersecurity will never be solved, because the cybercriminals will never stop trying to find and exploit vulnerabilities Cybersecurity will never be solved, because the cybercriminals (and increasingly nation states) will never stop trying to find and exploit vulnerabilities. These organisations are incredibly well-funded and organised and can innovate much more quickly than companies that need to adhere to industry regulations. Attacks are becoming more sophisticated, at a time when the number of connected devices mean that potential vulnerabilities and insecure network end-points are growing exponentially. One particular area of vulnerability that has been highlighted recently is in the supply chain, where either a lack of good cybersecurity practice or even deliberately malicious actions can result in cybersecurity breaches being achieved through both software and hardware. The provenance of products is ever more critical than ever, with manufacturers needing to be confident that every link in their supply chain is a secure as it should be. Environmental impact Weve already seen how video analytics can be used as an operational planning tool by organisations looking to improve energy efficiency within offices, with the subsequent positive benefits for the environment. But new types of sensors can more accurately measure environmental impact across an organisations sites, effectively acting as highly sensitive artificial noses calibrated to different forms of output, and thermal imaging can be used to pinpoint areas of energy wastage. For instance, one critical area where such sensors can heighten awareness, understanding and, increasingly allow for remedial action is in air quality. Whether inside buildings or in the external urban environment, the negative impacts on health and associated costs are becoming an ever-greater issue. Effective response Smart sensors will have a central role to play in addressing the problem globally. Such applications add value to organisations through efficiencies and cost savings (and, hopefully, health benefits), but also help them reach their own environmental and sustainability goals. But a final trend that were confident will be increasingly prevalent in 2019 will be combining and integrating sensors to prompt smart actions In themselves, individual sensors such as those described above can deliver significant benefits. But a final trend that were confident will be increasingly prevalent in 2019 will be combining and integrating sensors to prompt smart actions. For instance, in a smart city, a motion sensor connected to a barrier could trigger a camera which, in turn, would trigger an alert in the operations center, allowing for rapid and appropriate response. Or an environmental sensor could again trigger a video or thermal camera to quickly identify fires or spillages, again prompting alerts which will create a more rapid and effective response. Bringing new technologies When the range of sensors are considered from thermal to motion, from atmospheric to video the ways in which they could be combined are endless, as are the potential benefits of doing so. Technology continues to develop at a rapid and accelerating pace. While it can be easy to become distracted by the potential of every new trend or innovation, each must be considered in relation to the use cases that are going to deliver maximum positive impact and value to organisations and citizens. This remains the lens through which we view technology trends and their application, and 2019 promises to be another exciting year in bringing new technologies to market in increasingly useful ways. Norman D. Levine, 84, of Eubank, passed away Monday, June 14, 2021 at the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital Jean Waddle Care Center. Arrangements are pending and will be announced later by Morris & Hislope Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at: www.morrisandhislope.com. Get 25% off of the regular $65 annual All Access rate. With this subscription you will get: Digital access to ElPasoInc.com and archives (value $45) Print subscription home or business delivered (value $65) Book of Lists (annual rate only, value $50) El Paso Inc. Magazine (value $20) El Paso Kids Inc. Special sections - OR - Get 15% off of the regular $45 annual Digital-only rate. With this subscription you will get: Complete digital access to ElPasoInc.com. P3 collaborates with Amazon to provide system integration and testing for Alexa Auto Posted by Publisher Telecommunication P3, an engineering, technology development and management consultancy firm, announces a collaboration with Amazon?s Alexa Auto team to provide system integration and testing services for automakers integrating Alexa into their vehicles. At the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show?s GENIVI Showcase, a special reception designed to kick off the premier annual event, and the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), P3 will showcase its Connected Vehicle Voice Recognition services with Alexa built-in, along with its core capabilities. ?This is where we need to be in terms of Voice Recognition capabilities and in making today?s drive and vehicle ownership a truly positive experience,? said Philip Potkowski, Managing Partner, P3 North America. ?It is another example of how P3 is committed to providing clients with a truly end-to-end experience, from strategy consulting through development and implementation,? added Hakan Ekmen, CEO of P3 communications. In addition to demonstrating voice recognition access to Alexa features and capabilities like music, weather, and traffic, the preview system will showcase specific in-vehicle features that could be introduced to simplify customers? interactions in the car. For example, the system could alert drivers of any maintenance-related issue: when passengers ask Alexa about a maintenance alert light, Alexa could respond with the description and an offer to schedule an appointment with a local dealer or service center. Alexa could then cross-reference the driver?s calendar with the dealer?s service scheduling system and proactively suggest a potential service appointment. ?By integrating Alexa into the vehicle, we believe we can make the in-car experience simpler, more productive, and more entertaining for our customers,? said Ned Curic, VP of Alexa Auto at Amazon. ?We?re excited to be working with P3 to deliver new, vehicle-specific features and capabilities to Alexa, and to make it easier for automakers and suppliers to embed Alexa into their vehicles.? In addition to the GENIVI Showcase, P3 and Alexa will be demonstrating this at the North American International Auto Show during media and industry preview days in the AutoMobili-D space at Cobo Center in Detroit. P3 is a leading international consulting, engineering and testing services company with a rapidly growing team of more than 3,500 consultants and engineers working to develop and implement innovative solutions to today?s complex technology challenges. P3 posts a turnover of more than 350 million Euro. Offering a broad portfolio of services and proprietary tools to the automotive, aerospace, telecommunications and energy industries, P3 adds tangible value that helps clients succeed at every stage, from innovation to implementation. In the telecommunications sector, P3 communications provides independent technical and management consulting services including network planning, end-to-end optimization, security, QoS and QoE testing, international benchmarking, device testing and acceptance services. P3 addresses all industries with connectivity needs reckoning among their clients? network operators, equipment vendors, device manufacturers, public safety organisations and regulatory authorities around the world. For more information, please visit www.p3-group.com. PHILIPSBURG:--- Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultations (IPKO) on Tuesday, January 8, 2019, continued, concerning the Migration Issues of Venezuela faced by Curacao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten. Member of Parliament (MP) Silveria Jacobs was applauded by the Tripartite delegation for her statements made during yesterdays meeting, where she expressed her opinion on the Dutch delegations attitude towards creating a solution together. The viral video of her statements on Tuesday on the National Alliance Facebook page was met with the same admiration as the delegation yesterday. MP Wescot- Williams (acting chairperson) on the other hand did not express the same sentiment, as she promised the Dutch delegation in Wednesday's closed-door meeting that nothing like what happened Tuesday would happen again and that all members would surely be able to contain our emotions. The discussions on the topic of Venezuela came to a head, where two members from each delegation were grouped together behind closed-doors to discuss the way forward on the Venezuelan Immigration/Migration challenges affecting Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. The groups discussed what the grievances are, the experiences and some of the needs in each country. The information was recorded and specifics were mentioned as to what other information would be needed from the respective governments, prior to an official request being submitted to the Dutch government. The Dutch delegates stated they now have a list of the issues now, which they claimed they didnt before. Curacao delegates clearly stated they sent letters with the issues before and were turned down by the Dutch. The Dutch delegates will be presenting to the Dutch government the clear needs of the tripartite countries, what has been done and in what areas and aspects the islands can receive assistance. The National Alliance faction does not appreciate its representative's statements being relegated to emotional statements or statements made by other delegations. The MPs statements, as well as those of the others, were expressions of truth from their individual delegations' perspectives and opportunities for transparency in open and honest deliberations should never be minimized. No public statements have as yet been concluded on the topic, however, a compilation of notes from both committees was compiled by the secretary generals from the various countries and made available to delegates. McAllen, Texas: US President Donald Trump travelled to the US-Mexico border to warn of crime and chaos on the frontier, as White House officials considered diverting emergency aid from storm- and fire-ravaged Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas and California to build a border barrier under an emergency declaration. In a sign of growing unease about the partial government shutdown, some Senate Republicans came off the sidelines to hash out a deal that would reopen the government as Congress worked towards a broader agreement tying wall funds to protection for some immigrants in the country illegally and other migrants. But before those negotiations could gain momentum, they collapsed. Vice-President Mike Pence and other members of Trump's team let it be known privately that the President would not back such a deal. Barron: A 21-year-old man has been charged with murdering a Wisconsin couple because he wanted to kidnap their teenage daughter, US investigators say. Jake Thomas Patterson was taken into custody shortly after 13-year-old Jayme Closs sought help from a woman walking her dog in a rural, heavily wooded neighbourhood near the small town of Gordon, about 96.5 kilometres north of Barron. Jayme disappeared from her family's home near Barron after her parents were killed on October 15. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said during a news conference on Friday that Jayme was taken against her will. He said investigators believe Patterson killed Jayme's parents because he wanted to abduct her, and that Patterson "planned his actions and took many steps to hide his identity". Warsaw: Poland has arrested a Chinese employee of Huawei and a Polish national involved in cyber business on allegations of spying, Polish media reported on Friday, deepening the controversy over Western criticism of the Chinese telecoms equipment maker. Polish public TV channel TVP said security services had searched the local offices of Huawei, as well as the offices of telecoms firm Orange Polska , where it said the Polish national works. Attendees walk past signage displayed outside the Huawei booth at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show. Credit:Bloomberg "The Chinese national is a businessman working in a major electronics company ... the Pole is a person known in circles associated with cyber business," Maciej Wasik, the deputy head of Poland's special services, told state news agency PAP. The arrested pair will be held for three months, PAP reported, citing the spokesperson for Poland's head of special services. Washington, DC: US officials expect China's top trade negotiator may visit Washington this month, signalling that higher-level discussions are likely to follow this week's talks with mid-level officials in Beijing as the world's two largest economies try to hammer out a deal to end a tit-for-tat tariff war. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, centre, attends an event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Credit:AP "The current intent is that the Vice Premier Liu He will most likely come and visit us later in the month and I would expect the government shutdown would have no impact," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters on Thursday in Washington. "We will continue with those meetings just as we sent a delegation to China." The US government is in the 20th day of a partial shutdown with President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats feuding over funding and Trump's desire for a wall on the US-Mexico border. Meanwhile, an 8K television can "upscale" 4K to help it look a bit sharper, but realistically you'll struggle to see the improvement on anything smaller than a 65-inch screen. Sony unveiled only one 8K TV; an 85-inch LCD. While there's no rush to upgrade your television this year for 8K alone, the TV makers are sweetening the deal with a range of enhanced smart features to help you get more from the big screen in your lounge room. Sony, Samsung and LG are including built-in support for Apple's AirPlay 2 streaming in some of their 8K and 4K 2019 models. This lets users stream video from their iPhones or iPads, or mirror the screen, without the need to shell out for an Apple TV set-top box. Even better, Samsung is the first TV maker to offer direct access to the iTunes store from a smart TV app. Loading The app will let Apple users access their existing iTunes library directly through the television. More significantly, it's the first time that movie lovers can access the iTunes store to buy or rent movies and TV episodes in 4K without the need to own any Apple hardware. Samsung and LGs smart assistants, Bixby and ThinQ, are built into their smart TVs; plus the new models both also feature Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant. On top of this, LG and Sony are adding support for Apple's HomeKit, to let owners control their television by talking to Siri on an iPhone, iPad or HomePod smart speaker. Sony relies on Googles Android TV to power its sets, with Google Assistant and Chromecast streaming built in, so the addition of Apples AirPlay and HomeKit means its TVs work with the two major tech giants. Meanwhile, LG adds Amazons Alexa into the mix but in return isnt as tightly integrated with the Google ecosystem as Sony. This kind of integration means more than the luxury of controlling your television without reaching for the remote control on the coffee table. It also means that you can use your television to control all the other smart devices around your home, from light bulbs and wireless speakers to kitchen appliances. LG's new onscreen Home Dashboard turns your television into a command centre for your smart home. You can see every Google, Amazon and Apple-compatible smart device and even control them using the TV's remote. This is handy when you want to dim your lights from the couch late at night without the need to argue with the smart speaker in the corner. Loading With most of the great new features in today's smart TVs relying on software rather than hardware, you'd think you might get away with buying a new television less often. Unfortunately it doesn't tend to work that way, as television makers can be rather frugal when it comes to software updates adding new features to old televisions. Neither LG or Sony are adding Apple's AirPlay 2 streaming or HomeKit to last year's televisions, even if you spent top dollar on their flagship Ultra HD OLEDs. Samsung is a little more generous, promising to add AirPlay 2 and iTunes to last year's televisions but nothing older. A 20-year-old man who was stabbed while getting his hair cut in Sydney's west has died in hospital, and a teenager has been charged with murder. Emergency services were called to the hair salon on Mimosa Road, Bossley Park, at 12.38pm on Friday to reports a man had been stabbed by an "unknown offender". A spokesman for NSW Ambulance said four crews attended the scene and found the man in cardiac arrest on the pavement outside the salon when they arrived. He had a single stab wound to the right side of his chest, the spokesman said. Since Ali Died. Written and performed by Omar Musa. Directed by Anthea Williams. Canberra Theatre Centre in association with Griffin Theatre Company. ETCETERA. The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre. January 30 to February 2 at 8pm. Bookings: canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700. Omar Musa performing Since Ali Died. Credit:Charles Collins Award-winning rapper and writer Omar Musa, born in Bowral and raised in Queanbeyan, says Muhammad Ali was his childhood hero. He's used the African-American boxer as the starting point for his deeply personal one-man show, Since Ali Died. It's on at the Playhouse at the Canberra Theatre Centre as part of its ETCETERA series of contemporary works by independent artists. Musa, 35, worked with director and dramaturge Anthea Williams to craft the piece, which had a successful debut run at the Griffin Theatre Companys inaugural Batch Festival in April 2018. He says it's a combination of styles and genres, a mixture of raw hip-hop, poetry and story with a mythic as well as an autobiographical element; a one-man stage show, rather than a concert. Men who had lived their lives in the bush went their ways in the shadow of dread expectancy," it said before detailing the impacts of the "devastating confluence of flame that had been "lit by the hand of man". The results included whole townships "obliterated in a few minutes", while the monstrous winds accompanying the flames uprooted huge trees that were consumed by fire. "[F]ormer forest monarchs were laid in confusion ... piled one upon another as if strewn by a giant hand, Stretton wrote. Norm Goldings used his trusty DeSoto to rescue nearly 100 people near Noojee in Gippsland during the 1939 Black Friday bushfires. "In my view, Black Friday remains Australia's largest fire in terms of its size especially in Victoria, ACT and South Australia and its impact on the population, proportionally," says Tom Griffiths, emeritus professor of history at the Australian National University. "Most of the deaths were people living and working in the bush at remote sawmills, for the interwar years were a period of intensive milling of mountain ash in the rugged Victorian ranges," he says. "Stretton recommended that sawmills be moved out of the bush and into the towns." But moving the mills out of the forests only took them so far from harm's way. Narbethong was one such town destroyed in 1939. Fast forward to Victoria's Black Saturday fires in 2009 (which has its 10th anniversary next month) and the town was again among those hardest hit, with its sawmill torched. Killer heatwaves Just as in the 2009 fires perhaps the closest analogue to 1939 the death toll in the accompanying heatwave easily exceeded that of those who burned to death. Lucinda Coates, a senior risk scientist at Risk Frontiers and a researcher at the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre, estimates at least 420 people died in the 1939 event across Australia. More than three in four of those were in NSW "The series of heatwaves were accompanied by strong northerly winds, and followed a very dry six months," Coates says. The January 1939 event was notable for its longevity and record daily temperature maxima." While Melbourne hit 45.6 degrees and Adelaide 46.1, Bourke in north-western NSW sweltered through 37 consecutive days above 38 degrees. Menindee, site of this week's huge fish kill due to stagnant Darling River flows and extreme heat, reached 49.7 degrees on January 10, 1939 a statewide record that stands to this day. Home refrigerators were rare and air-conditioned buildings were unknown," Coates says. "Relief was sought at the beaches and baths; there were by then no inhibitions about mixed bathing. Workers leaving the Noojee area in Gippsland after the 1939 Black Friday bushfires. Record-setting heat and drought Linden Ashcroft, a researcher of climate history at the Bureau of Meteorology, says the weather in early 1939 was notably severe. Four of the five hottest days on record for New South Wales as a whole were in January 1939, and two of the five hottest days in Victoria, she says. Victoria's hottest day is now February 7, 2009, just before the Black Saturday blazes. Melbourne hit a record high of 46.4 degrees in the late afternoon. "The second week in January [1939] is generally regarded as the most extreme heatwave to affect south-eastern Australia during the 20th century," Ashcroft says. Dry conditions played an important role, too, with the fires coming at the end of two dry years that would later be known as the World War II drought, one of the worst on record for south-eastern Australia. "January 1937 to December 1938 were much drier than average across almost all of Victoria and NSW, and remain the driest two-year period on record for much of Victoria's eastern ranges where the Black Friday bushfires caused so much destruction," Ashcroft says. "December 1938, in particular, was very dry across almost all of eastern Australia, which would have helped to really crisp up any fuel. "Things were so dry that the topsoil blew up into dust storms easily, and did so for much of the summer until much-needed rain fell in February 1939." Scorched trees line the Black Spur between Healesville and Marysville after Black Friday in January 1939. Credit:Department of Primary Industries Lighting up With a hot air mass forming over the continent, the missing ingredient was a strong cold front from a low-pressure system off the south-west coast of Victoria. With forest workers, graziers and even campers busy lighting fires as normal the latter "burning to facilitate passage through the bush, according to Stretton the flames were ready to be fanned into an inferno. Even without sophisticated weather modelling or satellite imagery to guide forecasters and the public alike, the "shadow of dread" Stretton reported was real, ANU's Griffiths says. "The whole week leading into Black Friday was terrifying in the bush," he says. "No one living in the bush at that time thought their homes were safe they fled to rivers, creeks, dugouts, mining tunnels and public buildings where they existed." Stretton notes the calamity that befell those who were unable to flee, in particular one mill where all but one of the workers died while trying to bury [themselves] in the imagined safety of the sawdust heap. Making progress Some long-standing good would come out of the inquiry, as Joelle Gergis, climate scientist, notes in her book, Sunburnt Country. Apart from the CFA's creation, recommendations acted upon included "construction of a network of access trails, towers for early detection of fires, the implementation of controlled burns during spring and autumn to reduce fuel loads, and improved fire prevention education", she writes. Those gains were important, not just for humans, given the impact fires had the environment. Mountain ash in the Yarra Ranges, a region burnt out in 1939 leaving a forest largely of a similar vintage. (Image taken 12 January 2019.) Credit:Peter Hannam "Large tree hollows and other important habitats for mammals and birds, such as the Leadbeater's possum and powerful owl, were destroyed when the mature mountain ash forests burned," Gergis writes, noting that reports state the ash from the burning forests fell as far away as New Zealand. "Local soils took decades to recover from the damage, and in some areas, water supplies were contaminated for years afterwards due to ash and debris washing into catchment areas." Travellers up the Maroondah Highway beyond Healesville on Melbourne's north-eastern edge can see some of the evidence of the 1939 fires to this day. The battalion-like formations of towering mountain ash trees of similar shining white girth bear witness to their common vintage, all circa 1939. Mountain ash logs piled up at a site in the Yarra Ranges, north-east of Melbourne. Ring-counters would get close to 80 on most of them. Credit:Peter Hannam Scientific leaps Richard Thornton, chief executive of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, said Stretton's report "was the first real attempt to gain a deep understanding of the causes and consequences of a major bushfire". "This approach continues today as we study fires to learn how to better keep people and property safe in future fires, he says. Scientific advances means technology available now and in 1939 are almost incomparable. "Not just in firefighting equipment like more protective clothing and vehicles, but in analysing the weather and the land with satellites and aircraft, before, during and after bushfires," Thornton says. "Today we have a much better understanding of extreme bushfire behaviour, and how large bushfires interact with the atmosphere and create their own weather," he says. "There is software to predict the path of a bushfire, and more experts trained to provide more accurate warnings to threatened communities." Human factors Researchers also provide expert advice on building standards to ensure that new buildings are safer and more likely to survive a bushfire, provided human psychology is taken into account. "Thats one thing that hasnt changed since 1939," Thornton says, noting that people will continue to want to build on ridges and at the end of one-way roads deep in the bush even with the attendant risks. Griffiths agrees, adding that in terms of research gaps about fire, "they are overwhelmingly cultural". "We know a lot about the physical behaviour of fire, less about the ecological effects of fire, and least of all about the cultural, human dimensions of fire," he says, citing international fire historian, Stephen Pyne: "The cultural paradigm is both the most obvious and the least developed [in fire research]". 'Beyond our imagination' Thornton from the bushfire research centre adds that studying events like the 1939 and 2009 conflagrations, or the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires in South Australia and Victoria, also have their limitations because historical precedents are only so helpful. At the time, the 1939 conditions were beyond the imagination of everyone, even those who had lived their whole lives in the bush," he says. "What does the next bushfire that is beyond our imagination look like? What will its impacts be? "Climate change is causing more severe weather more frequently, but demographic changes are having an equal impact and deserve just as much of our attention," Thornton says. "Since 1939, our population has grown from around 7 million to more than 24 million, with more people living, working and playing in at-risk areas." Climate signals The Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO biennial State of the Climate report, released late last year, singled out extreme bushfire conditions as among the clearest changes under way as the country's (and world's) climate warms. The most extreme 10 per cent of fire weather days based on temperature, rainfall, humidity and wind speed has increased in recent decades across many regions of Australia, especially in southern and eastern Australia, the report said. One consequence is an associated increase in the length of the fire weather season, a view supported by 2018's late-season fires in March and late winter in NSW and Victoria. The trend is particularly notable in spring. "The 1939 heatwave remains a very significant event, but observations show that extreme heat events, from hot days to heatwaves to a warmer-than-average month, are happening more often," Ashcroft says. She cites the example of 86 extreme hot days (when the Australia-wide maximum temperature was in the top 1 per cent of temperatures recorded) observed during the five-year period from 2013 to 2017. "This is more than double the number of extreme heat days recorded during the 50-year period from 1911 to 1960," she says. One degree headstart Unlike 1939, when Stretton concluded that much of the evidence put to him was "quite false" and "little of it was wholly truthful", researchers have a wealth of data open to scrutiny and cross-checking (even by deniers of climate change). That means they can compare how sea-breezes eased the 1939 heatwave but were largely missing in the belter that swept across south-eastern Australia ahead of Black Saturday. Many lives have a dividing line. For Maggie Rogers, that line is a five-minute video from 2016. Nobody knew who she was before the video went public; after it went viral, everyone knew her name. But spend a little time with her and you realise something Maggie Rogers has not changed much at all. It all started with a harp. Looking back, she thinks she was inspired by watching The Little Mermaid. So when she was seven, she asked her parents if she could learn to play. Her mother would drive her to lessons an hour each way from their home in rural Maryland. She later picked up guitar and piano, but after being passed over for slots in school bands when so many boys were playing guitar, she switched to banjo and became engrossed in the rustic indie folk-pop of Grizzly Bear, Sufjan Stevens, Beirut and Bon Iver. Following graduation she left home to study at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University. Singer Maggie Rogers. Credit:Olivia Bee "So when I was 18 I moved from a small town in Maryland to New York City," says Rogers, who is now 23. "I'd spent my whole life fighting with every ounce of energy to get to live music. Suddenly I was in New York and seeing four, five, six, seven shows a week. "I was exposed to a whole new way of living. I think the first year of college is really intense for a lot of people. It's a really big transition. I was going through some personal things and I needed a rest after that year. The flight-or-fight instinct is something I come back to. I always choose to run." To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Get out of here, MTV. This ones for Nat Geo. In the latest example of animals exceeding expectations (see: Pizza Rat, squirrel with egg roll), an Oakwood man found himself on the giving end of a wholesome encounter with a pigeon at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan. The charitable moment began when Steven Pesantez spotted the bird sitting on a water fountain. I think hes waiting for me to help him, Pesantez said in a caption on an Instagram story clip that showed the creature perched atop the drinking fountain. Seconds later, the concerned Staten Islander cautiously approached the bird, a la Ace Ventura at Dolphins Stadium, and turned on the fountain, prompting the bird to drink. Pesantez quickly turned to the camera being held by his friend, Mariel, to express shock and euphoria. Oh my God, Mariel is heard saying during the 26-second fountain moment. He was waiting for you! The unusual, yet highly satisfying sequence ended with the pigeon -- naturally -- flying away inside the terminal. They call me pigeon whisperer, Pesantez wrote when he posted the clip to Facebook. The pigeon, perhaps New York Citys most popular since Berts pet Bernice, rapidly became a hit after the video surfaced on our Twitter. Life in the big city... I like this bird a lot better than that Pizza Rat. https://t.co/AX4z3YiU5N Lane Bajardi (@LaneBajardi) January 11, 2019 Gotta love those #pigeons. If you've never spent time with one, you probably wouldn't know. #GoodPeople https://t.co/Fn7bW3XDhu matt zarella (@cheesuscripes46) January 11, 2019 But, of course, there was some negativity: Dont touch those water fountains. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. His time in prison will be a far cry from a day at the shore. Kaiser Rafiq, 45, who was busted more than two years ago in a takedown dubbed Operation Beach Boys, has been sentenced to five years behind bars. Rafiq was among six defendants rounded up in September 2016 and accused of peddling heroin in and around South Beach. The arrests were the culmination of a five-month undercover probe launched in April 2016, a spokesman for District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said. Undercover cops bought drugs during the afternoon and early evening from April through July 2016 at businesses and residences in South Beach, Arrochar, Dongan Hills, Grasmere and Stapleton, police said. Multiple deals were made on Bionia Avenue in South Beach, a few doors down from a daycare center, said a criminal complaint. Rafiq was busted on Sept. 2, 2016, on the corner of Raritan and Mason avenues in Dongan Hills and accused of possessing heroin with the intent to sell. Public records show addresses in South Beach and Rosebank for him. On Oct. 2 of last year, the defendant pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Besides prison time, he was sentenced Thursday to 18 months post-release supervision. This was a fair negotiated plea, said defense lawyer Kevin McKernan. He has taken responsibility for his actions which occurred as the result of a long-standing drug addiction. He realizes selling drugs was not the way out of addiction. He has made great strides while incarcerated in attempting to cure his addiction. Assistant District Attorney John Hall prosecuted the case. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Manhattan man who sexually abused a young girl on Staten Island dating back nearly 14 years was sentenced Thursday to jail and probation. Efrain Sarmiento also potentially faces deportation due to his conviction. Sarmiento, 45, abused the girl between June 1, 2005, and June 30, 2010, according to statements previously made in court. The defendant would have been between the ages of 31 and 36 then. The incidents occurred in Mariners Harbor, said a law enforcement source. Sarmiento was arrested on Feb. 1 of last year, court records show. In June, Sarmiento pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to a felony count of first-degree sexual abuse. Speaking through a Spanish interpreter, he admitted to subjecting a girl under the age of 11 to sexual contact. He did not state how many times. Assistant District Attorney Melissa OLeary said then prosecutors agreed to the plea because the case against Sarmiento was hindered by some issues of proof. She said there had been a lengthy delay in reporting the episodes to authorities, and there was no corroborating physical or forensic evidence. The defendant has no prior criminal record. In addition, OLeary said the plea, which was discussed with the victim, spared her the ordeal of testifying at trial. Leo V. Duval, Sarmientos lawyer, declined comment on the case Thursday. Sarmiento was sentenced to 90 days behind bars and 10 years probation. He must also register with state authorities as a Level 2 sexual offender, which means he has been deemed a moderate risk to commit another sex crime. Since he is not a U.S. citizen, the defendant could be deported after serving his jail sentence. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 19-year-old Clifton man was arrested on Thursday for firing a gun in his home community on New Years Eve, authorities allege. Robert Fields was arrested after police executed a search warrant at about 6 a.m. on Thursday in his apartment on Park Hill Avenue, according to the criminal complaint and police. Police recovered a defaced 9 mm Hi-Point semi-automatic pistol from his bed, according to the complaint. Fields is accused of firing a gun at the corner of Roff and Bowen streets near his home on Dec. 31 at about 8:11 p.m., according to the criminal complaint. The suspect is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the criminal complaint. The 120th Precinct credited the NYPDs Gun Violence Suppression Division with the arrest and posted a photo of the gun on Twitter. An emailed message left for his attorney seeking comment was not immediately returned. STATEN ISLAND -- As the city charges forward with plans for a new fast ferry on the North Shore -- not all Islanders are welcoming the news or Mayor Bill de Blasios choice of route. The new route will run from St. George to Battery Park/Vesey Street in a total of 18 minutes. It will continue on for another 17 minutes from Battery Park City/Vesey Street to Midtown West at Pier 79/West 39th Street. The trip will run for a total of about 35 minutes. Some on the South Shore say the mayors plan to add a new route where there is already existing ferry service doesnt make sense when commuters on the South Shore are already forced to commute for two hours or more to Midtown. Once again the South Shore is screwed. Sure, let's put a ferry up where there is already a ferry, Island resident Michelle Gennari said on the Advances Facebook page. They are dropping the ball where the South Shore is concerned. I mean, they've royally screwed the express bus system. It never gets better for [Staten Island] transportation. Janine Materna, the president of the Pleasant Plains, Princes Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association on the South Shore and former state Assembly candidate called the plan short sighted. To think that putting a fast ferry in the same location where we have one is not a victory for the people of Staten Island, Materna said. If maybe the mayor and [Borough President James Oddo] had to endure the commute, they would be a little bit more willing to fight for the people of the South Shore of Staten Island, she continued. On the heels of the announcement, Oddo told the Advance he plans to quickly pivot to see how he can maximize this opportunity. ODDOS IDEA FOR SOUTH SHORE COMMUTERS He said he plans to set up a call with MTA New York City Transit President Andy Byford to see if the agency would go for running express trains from the South Shore to St. George so that commuters on the South Shore can use the new fast ferry route too. He also wants to continue to work with Arthur Imperatore, the president and founder of NY Waterway, in the hopes of bringing a private fast ferry to another part of the Island, be it the east side of the North Shore, Mid-Island, or the South Shore. South Shore Councilman Joe Borelli (R) also questioned the citys placement of the new route. He said his office is also looking at other potential sites on the South Shore where service could be added. It doesnt solve the problem for the South Shore, but it is a positive step for all Islanders commuting to Battery Park and Midtown, and those looking to connect to the broader NYC Ferry system, Borelli said. But Borelli said the South Shore sites still pose real challenges the city would need to navigate -- like finding a site with parking for hundreds of cars, a place to build a solid pier and floating dock in addition to others. THE CITYS PLAN The city plans to launch the new route sometime in 2020. It will cost commuters $2.75 per ride. In total, the city says commuters will see an average of 20 minutes shaved off their commutes to Battery Park and another 20 minutes taken off their commute to Midtown West, if you factor in the time it takes to get on the subway and walk to those locations. Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid Island) said he too would continue to pursue new fast ferry locations in his district and on the South Shore. "Any new transportation option that could potentially help Staten Islanders avoid the usual hellish commutes into Manhattan and get to work more quickly and efficiently is a certainly a good thing. I applaud Borough President Oddo for his relentless advocacy to get us here, Matteo said. Obviously, there is more work to do to provide better connections to this service for all residents, whether that may mean changing bus routes or adding SIR trains. But, while I understand the logistical difficulties that other locations present, I will continue to pursue fast ferry options for the Mid-Island and South Shore. MAX ROSE SAYS FURTHER STUDY OF SOUTH SHORE NEEDED Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island) welcomed the news of the new route and applauded the mayor, but agreed that further study of a South Shore site is still needed. As Ive told anyone who will listen and even those who wont, the ultimate goal for this ferry route must be to shorten the tortuous commute that Staten Islanders on the South Shore endure, Rose said. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure we bring every idea and resource to the table to accomplish that goal -- including creating a super express train for South Shore residents as the Borough President has proposed. With the North Shores Empire Outlets slated to come in the spring of 2019, Joseph Ferrara, the principal of BFC Partners and developer of Empire Outlets, said the addition of the new route will help to further transform the area. Staten Islands North Shore is a cant miss destination that is rapidly transforming into one of New York Citys most vibrant communities, and todays announcement that the NYC Fast Ferry will now service St. George only accelerates that transformation. Empire Outlets -- which will be New York Citys first and only outlet center -- will further that momentum with our grand opening in April 2019, and we look forward to welcoming millions of visitors for a world-class shopping and dining experience, Ferrara said. An exact schedule for the St. George-to-Manhattan fast ferry route has not yet been determined, but the current NYC Ferry routes run about every 20 minutes during the peak spring and summer seasons, and about every 60 minutes during the off-peak seasons during winter and fall. A speedy St George-Battery Park City-Midtown West connection is a much-needed and very welcome addition to what will soon become a true five-borough ferry system," said Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore). "This new route from St. George will take cars off our roads and exhaust out of our air, while adding minutes, if not hours, to the lives of Staten Islanders who suffer some of the longest commute times in the country a positive, sustainable step forward for North Shore transportation (Editors note: The real name of the mother and sex offender in this story are not used to protect the identity of a minor.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When Annas daughter was 3 years old, she decided to talk to her about what an inappropriate interaction with a man looked like. Anna tried her best to explain to her what a good touch and bad touch was, and warned her daughter it was inappropriate to sit on a mans lap. She had this conversation with her young daughter not because she wanted to, but because her daughters grandfather had recently been arrested for molesting a minor. He was charged with second-degree sexual conduct against a child, endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree sexual abuse. He went on the New York State Sex Offender Registry as a level 1 offender. The grandfather had molested a 12-year-old girl he knew on numerous occasions over the summer of 2005. He served in state prison from 2009 until he was granted parole in 2011. Several years after his release, his son, Annas estranged husband, returned to Staten Island and began living with his parents. Amid an ongoing custody battle between the two, over the summer, Annas daughter wound up living with the grandfather and her father. About six months later, Annas her worst nightmare came true. In December, she received a call from her estranged husband telling her his father did it again. The sex offender showed a picture of his genitals to his granddaughter. He was arrested and charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17, a misdemeanor offense. A temporary order of protection was issued and the grandfather was released on his own recognizance. Anna says he is no longer in the home. Over the years, Anna made it clear to the Islands Family Court that her daughter was not to be left alone with her paternal grandparents, and the court acknowledged he was registered sex offender, according to court documents obtained by the Advance. Shes upset that despite her warning, Family Court allowed her daughter to live in the same home as a sex offender. When the grandfather went on the sex offender registry in 2011, he initially was not supposed to have any contact with children under 18 years old unless under the supervision of another adult. But once his supervision ended in 2013, those stipulations went away. [Family court] wrapped my daughter in a bow and sent her into the arms of a predator and that was OK to everybody until something happened, the mom said. Id like to see the New York State Registry be more responsible for still continuing to monitor peoples statuses after theyre off parole, and give someone some type of clear guideline on what is supposed to happen when that person is no longer under supervision. The New York State Unified Court System declined to comment on any aspect of the case because it is a pending criminal matter. OFFENDERS FREE TO LIVE WHERE THEY WANT ONCE OFF SUPERVISION Once a sex offender, of any level, is no longer under any form of supervision, parole or probation, the Sex Offender Registry Act (SORA) does not say where they can or cannot live, said Janine Kava, a spokeswoman at the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service (DCJS). Kava said that without a local law restricting where a sex offender can live once they are off supervision, there are no residency restrictions under SORA. The levels of sex offenders vary. Level 1 offenders are considered low-risk of re-offending, and in New York, their names cannot be seen on the public registry. Instead, you have to call a hotline to confirm they are on it. Level 2 sex offenders are considered medium risk of re-offending, while level 3 offenders are considered high risk of re-offending, and their names are available on a public database. In New York, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) monitors sex offenders who are under community supervision and parole. Once sex offenders are off supervision, local police agencies step in to monitor offenders to ensure they are in compliance with the law when they are no longer under supervision. Kava said the registry only serves as a source of information to make the public aware of offenders and has no role in actually monitoring them. CITYS UNIT CAN ONLY WARN A HOME THAT OCCUPANT IS AN OFFENDER In New York City, the police departments Sex Offender Monitoring Unit (SOMU) monitors every sex offender who moves to the city. SOMUs head, Lt. Craig Nilsen, said if a child is in the same home as a sex offender, SOMU can only warn the homes co-habitants that the person moving in is a registered offender. Even when a child is in a home with a sex offender, Nilsen said SOMU will only check on that home if there is an allegation that the sex offender did something improper to that minor. Its entirely up to the occupants of that house to decide whether they want [the sex offender] there, Nilsen said. There is no rule that could be enforced that he cant live with children. Although Anna said the grandfather is no longer in the home, she fears he could return and no one would know. When the Advance initially called SOMU and asked the office about how the unit monitors sex offenders, the officer, who declined to provide their name, said: Theres 9,000 sex offenders [in New York City], its nearly impossible to check every single person. Nilsen insisted the agency conducts an investigation into any tip it receives about a sex offender. As of Jan. 4, Nilsen said there were 8,475 registered sex offenders living in New York City. About 2,000 of them were level 3 offenders. Of the 380 registered sex offenders living on Staten Island counted by the registry as of Dec. 4, more than 47 percent of them were level 1 offenders. ACS INVESTIGATING THE CASE The citys Administration for Childrens Services said it has launched an investigation into the case, but declined to answer questions about whether the agency plays a role in monitoring when minors live with sex offenders and whether they step in when it is requested that minors are not to be left alone with a sex offender who lives under the same roof. Our top priority is protecting the safety and wellbeing of all children in New York City. We are investigating this case, said ACS spokeswoman Chanel Caraway. A source close to the ACS case said the family was on the agencys radar, however, because of the grandfathers status and the NYPDs guidance that there were no restrictions on where he could live, there was not much the agency could do to intervene. The source also said ACS will work with the NYPD to investigate a home situation that involves a minor if a report is made, however, the source was unsure whether the agency automatically steps in to check on a home when a minor is living with a sex offender. For now, her daughter is still living with her father. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. An old-school Grant City man never does any of his financial transactions online. He has his routine of going to the bank and then dropping off his checks in the mailboxes by the New Dorp Post Office. But recently, the borough resident, who declined to have his name published, discovered he was the victim of a mail-fishing and check-washing scheme. The process involves perpetrators removing mail from the boxes, and if they find a check, erasing the handwriting on it and replacing it with new amounts and signatures. The scheme has been a hot trend in the borough the past few months, especially in New Dorp and Eltingville, according to a top-ranking NYPD official. Check washing is not new, mailbox fishing is something we are just seeing on Staten Island for the last few months, said Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, the borough commander, in a sit-down interview about overall crime on Staten Island. The day after Christmas, the Grant City man said he mailed two checks totaling $39 that were then fraudulently cashed for more than $8,200. The checks were for a church and veteran charities. Im rather mistrusting, but you can imagine my head exploding 80 times by this, he said. Its a very difficult and frustrating situation. The man said the signature on one of the checks was just a straight line that his banking institution did not catch. He has filed a fraud complaint and the bank will reimburse him for the loss. He said he has changed to a new account and even tries mailing his items in New Jersey or Manhattan. Police confirmed the incident was reported on Dec. 26 and have launched an investigation. There have been no arrests. Im less concerned about the money, and more concerned about the security, he added. Mailbox fishing was more common in other boroughs like upper Manhattan and the Bronx before it became an issue on Staten Island, Corey said. The arrests show the perpetrators are not from the borough, the chief noted. Theres also been an uptick in reports of these attempted schemes, where the checks bounce for insufficient funds, Corey said. Officials said the Staten Island post offices are in the process of replacing all the boxes with tamper-resistant ones. The New Dorp and Eltingville locations have already installed the new boxes. The new mailbox design involves a narrow slot where the drop-down opening once was. This narrow opening prevents would-be fishers from accessing the contents of the mailbox, while still allowing ease of access for Staten Islanders to drop off their mail. About 50 (mailboxes) have already been replaced, and they should all be done within the next couple of weeks, Corey said. District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn) were among those working with post office officials on the upgrades. Staten Islanders deserve to know their personal information is safe from would-be criminals after dropping mail into the mailbox, and I am pleased the [United States Postal Service] is acting swiftly to eliminate this problem," said McMahon. "My office will continue working with our partners across government and law enforcement to bring these types of much-needed upgrades to our borough. Said Rose: Everyone should know with certainty that their mail will be sent and delivered safely and securely. The NYPD suggests people take their mail into the post office because even the boxes directly outside post offices were being fished. They also recommend using a pen with pigmented ink that cannot be erased and giving mail directly to a carrier. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dont fret, pet-napping is not the new crime trend on Staten Island. After a recent report of a Yorkie, Nugget, being snatched off a porch in Dongan Hills, a top NYPD official said this is an isolated incident. Its an opportunistic thing, said Assistant Chief KennethCorey, Staten Islands borough commander, adding that its nothing the rest of the borough should be worried about. Police are investigating the Dongan Hills incident after surveillance video captured an unknown individual taking Nugget from the front of the home on Jan. 3. There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing, according to an NYPD spokeswoman. The heartbroken family is offering a $3,000 reward for the safe return of their Yorkie, who slipped out through a small crack in the front door and was accidentally locked out. Its heartbreaking, said the owner, who asked to be identified only as Dana. Arlo, a black and tan American cocker spaniel, has been missing since Dec. 10. Owner Anthony Franzolin said that the puppy, which turned 6 months old on Christmas, was at Franzolins mother-in-laws Travis home when Arlo ran under a fence in the backyard. Franzolin fears that Arlo may have been taken after he ran under the fence near the intersection of Wild and Roswell avenues. The family is currently offering a $3,000 reward for Arlos safe return, but Franzolin said most people that reach out say they dont want the money. When pets go missing, their owners also turn to social media to aid in the search. Their efforts bring out some of the most passionate pet lovers from the borough and beyond -- with thousands sharing the posts on their personal pages, generating tips, suggestions and even offers to contribute to growing rewards. Missing posts on the Finding Arlo page have been shared more than 10,000 times. Tracking down a pet like this feels like a full time job, Franzolin said. Every pair of eyes could lead to a potential tip. Sharon, PA (16146) Today Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High around 70F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear skies. Low 42F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. KATHMANDU, Nepal When Amba Boharas period came this week, she followed a familiar routine in western Nepal. Considered impure in her village because she was menstruating, Bohara barricaded herself in a tiny hut, built a fire and braced for an icy winter night with her two young children. By Wednesday morning, all three were dead. It seems they died from suffocation, said UddhabSingh Bhat, the deputy superintendent of police in the area. The hut was so small. It was very difficult to breathe. Bohara and her children were the latest victims of a centuries-old tradition of banishing menstruating women and girls from their family homes. Though Nepal criminalized the practice last year, many villages in the country continue to follow the taboo, known as chhaupadi in Nepali. During their periods, women living in places where chhaupadi is followed are unable to visit temples, use other villagers kitchen utensils or wash in communal water sources. Some religious Hindus consider it bad luck to touch menstruating women and girls. Instead, they leave their homes and sequester themselves in closet-size huts made of mud or rock, sometimes sleeping next to goats. Each year, at least one or two women die in the huts typically from exposure, animal bites or smoke inhalation after building fires to stay warm during the Himalayan winters. Reports of sexual assault from men who prey on women while they stay alone are also common. A Nepalese government survey from 2010, which was cited in a State Department human rights report, found that 19 percent of women ages 15-49 in the country followed chhaupadi. In Nepals midwestern and far western regions, the proportion climbed to 50 percent. Nepals Supreme Court banned the practice in 2005, and last August the government went a step further by criminalizing it. Anyone who forces menstruating women into the huts now faces up to three months in jail. Rewati Raman Bhandari, a former lawmaker who drafted the measure that criminalized chhaupadi, said the push to eradicate the practice from villagers, the police and local politicians was still far too muted. Tradition is stronger than the law, he said. Bhadra Sharma and Kai Schultz are New York Times writers. Nabil Hasan / AFP / Getty Images SANAA, Yemen A bomb-laden drone launched by Yemens Shiite rebels exploded over a military parade for the Saudi-led coalition and its allies on Thursday near the southern port city of Aden, killing at least six people in a brazen attack that threatened U.N.-brokered peace efforts to end the years-long war tearing at the Arab worlds poorest nation. The attack at the Al-Anad Air Base, where American special forces once led their fight against Yemens al Qaeda branch, targeted high-ranking military officials in Yemens internationally recognized government with what the rebel Houthis described as a new version of one of their drones. CAIRO Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a scathing rebuke of the Obama administrations Mideast policies on Thursday as he denounced the former president for misguided and wishful thinking that diminished Americas role in the region, harmed its longtime friends and emboldened its main foe: Iran. In a speech titled A Force for Good: Americas Reinvigorated Role in the Middle East to the American University in Cairo, Pompeo unloaded on President Trumps predecessor for being naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the Middle East, including Egypt, beginning in 2011. Pompeo laid the blame notably on a vision outlined by President Barack Obama in a speech he gave in Cairo in 2009 in which he spoke of a new beginning for U.S. relations with countries in the Arab and Muslim world. Remember: It was here, here in this very city, another American stood before you, Pompeo told an invited audience of Egyptian officials, foreign diplomats and students. He told you that radical Islamist terrorism does not stem from ideology. He told you 9/11 led my country to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East. He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed a new beginning. The results of these misjudgments have been dire. In falsely seeing ourselves as a force for what ails the Middle East, we were timid about asserting ourselves when the times and our partners demanded it, Pompeo said, without mentioning the former president by name. Pompeo blamed the previous administrations approach to the Mideast for the ills that consume it now, particularly the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and Irans increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, since rescinded by the Trump administration, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal. He criticized Obama for ignoring the growth of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon to the detriment of Israels security and not doing enough to push back on Iran-supported rebels in Yemen. Since Trumps election, however, Pompeo said this was all changing. The good news is this: The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering, he said. Now comes the real new beginning. Matthew Lee is an Associated Press writer. KINSHASA, Congo Congo appeared ready to achieve its first peaceful transfer of power with the surprise victory Thursday of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi, despite clear signs that a rival opposition leader actually won in a landslide. With no major protests in the capital and limited violence elsewhere in the vast Central African country, the population seemed to be choosing stability over credibility, accepting Tshisekedis win and the end to President Joseph Kabilas long and turbulent rule. But a court challenge to the results could spin the country into chaos, observers warned. The influential Catholic Church, which deployed 40,000 observers at all polling stations, said official results did not match its findings, and diplomats briefed on them said rival opposition candidate Martin Fayulu won easily. Fayulu alleges that Kabila engineered a backroom deal with the largely untested Tshisekedi to protect his power base in a country with staggering mineral wealth. An outspoken campaigner against Congos widespread graft it ranked 161st among 180 countries in Transparency Internationals latest index Fayulu denounced the official results as robbery. He called on people to rise as one man to protect victory. As night fell, scores of police with automatic rifles and tear gas launchers were positioned along a road in Kinshasa leading to the Kingabwa neighborhood, a Fayulu stronghold. One vehicle was filled with military personnel in combat gear. Congos population of 80 million remained largely calm. Some protest violence was reported in Kikwit, a Fayulu stronghold, where police said three people were killed. Police also confirmed agitations in Congos third-largest city, Kisangani, but said they were quickly brought under control. It was not immediately clear whether Fayulu would challenge the election results in court. Candidates have two days after the announcement to file challenges and the constitutional court has seven days to consider them before results are final. Tshisekedi, who received 38 percent of the vote according to official results, had not been widely considered the leading candidate. Fayulu, a former Exxon manager and Kinshasa lawmaker, received 34 percent of the vote in the official results. Kabila has ruled since 2001 in the troubled nation rich in the minerals key to smartphones around the world. He is barred from serving three consecutive terms. Mathilde Boussion is an Associated Press writer. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., did not see the government shutdown coming, and neither did her peers in Congress, she told Stephen Colbert in a Thursday night appearance on "The Late Show." When the Senate passed a spending bill on Dec. 20 with a $5 billion allocation for border security, they thought it was "a done deal" with the seal of approval from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, she told the late-night host. "It was a no-brainer," she said. ALSO: Special San Francisco shutdown trash heading for the White House Harris described a celebratory atmosphere in the chamber, with people playing games and singing Christmas carols, totally unaware of what was coming. "I was singing 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,'" she said. "I was jubilant." She described going home to California and getting to stay for less than a day before finding out she'd have to head back to D.C. But Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, had it worse, she said. "He was home in Hawaii for 17 minutes when he found out he had to come back for a vote," said Harris. Harris had a bit of a backhanded compliment for her colleagues across the aisle. YIKES: People are chopping down Joshua Tree's iconic trees during the shutdown "I have to give my Republican colleagues credit for knowing that this is something that is indefensible," she said of the shutdown. "We need to stop holding the American people hostage because of the president's vanity project." She also has an idea of how it will end or rather, how it won't. "It will not end with a wall," she said. Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter In an appearance on "Late Night with Stephen Colbert" on Thursday, Sen Kamala Harris danced around the question of whether she's running for president, and Colbert mocked her, because it is obvious she's almost certainly running for president. "Many people who put out books two years before a presidential election do so to introduce themselves in a broad way to the American people," said Colbert, placing a copy of Harris's new, very presidential candidate-y memoir, "The Truths We Hold: An American Journey," in the center of his desk. "Are you going to run for president?" Elk Grove, CA (95624) Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. 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Stay in touch with all of the news. Sign up today for complete digital access to The Daily News-Record. The diplomat said apart from partnerships in oil and gas, the two countries are actively carrying out projects to develop rice cultivation and aquaculture. According to Uzcategui, thanks to the assistance of Vietnamese experts, Venezuela has developed nearly 40 rice varieties with high yield. Venezuelan farmers have succeeded in cultivating three crops a year and ensuring food security, he said. The countrys shrimp output in the previous year increased by 60 percent thanks to Vietnams technical support, he added. He stressed that for the 2019-2025 tenure, the Venezuelan Government will actively promote policies to attract foreign investment. Venezuela wants to expand cooperation projects with Vietnamese investors, he said, suggesting the two countries work together in the garment-textile field in the future. Regarding activities to support Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims, the ambassador said the Venezuelan Embassy in Hanoi will continue accompanying the country in the fight for justice for the AO victims, as well as in humanitarian activities to support them. REDWOOD CITY (BCN) A shareholder sued the board of Google Inc.'s parent company, Alphabet Inc., in San Mateo County Superior Court Thursday for allegedly tolerating and covering up sexual harassment by senior executives and giving some of them millions of dollars in exit pay. The lawsuit by stockholder James Martin also names as defendants former senior executives Andy Rubin, who left the company with a $90 million severance package in 2014, and Amit Singhal, who resigned in 2015, allegedly with a multimillion-dollar exit payment. The suit contends that Google found claims of sexual harassment against both men to be credible, but the board violated its duty to the company and wasted corporate money by "disregarding, covering up and rewarding the malfeasance of its senior executives." The lawsuit asks for court orders requiring changes in Google's procedures and financial restitution to the company from Rubin, Singhal and board members. Mountain View-based Google had no immediate comment. Rubin developed the Android operating system and in 2005 sold his Android startup to Google and joined the company. The lawsuit alleges he pressured a woman who worked on his team to engage in a sexual encounter in 2013 and was found to have sex bondage videos on his work computer. The suit says the board found the harassment allegations to be credible, but allowed Rubin to resign quietly with the $90 million severance package to "ensure his silence" and avoid a wrongful termination lawsuit that would have resulted in negative publicity about alleged harassment within the company. After the New York Times published an article in October that said Rubin and others accused of misconduct were given millions of dollars in exit pay, thousands of Google workers around the world walked off the job on Nov. 1 in protest. Several days later, Google CEO Sundar Pichai promised changes and told employees, "We recognize that we have not always gotten everything right in the past and we are sincerely sorry for that." The lawsuit alleges that the board implicitly maintained a double-standard policy for workers. "If you were a high-level male executive at Google responsible for generating millions of dollars in revenue, Google would let you engage in sexual harassment. And if you get caught, Google would keep it quiet, let you resign and pay you millions of dollars in severance. "On the other hand, if you were a low-level employee at Google and were accused of sexual harassment or discrimination, you would be fired for cause with no severance benefits," the lawsuit claims. The board members named in the lawsuit include Pichai, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and Alphabet's former executive board chairman Eric Schmidt. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SANTA CRUZ (BCN) Santa Cruz police are searching for a man suspected of installing card skimmers at banks in late December, police reported Thursday. An unnamed bank reported several of its customers were unable fit their cards into ATM slots on Dec. 28, leading an ATM technician to discover skimming devices, police said. Card skimmers are attached on the inside or outside of ATMs or gas pump card readers and can be used to steal information from debit or credit cards. Individuals can then use the information to create new cards or purchase items. The bank reviewed transactions and determined a possible suspect from surveillance footage. Police seized the card skimmers as evidence. Anyone who has information about the suspect or the card skimmers is asked to call Officer Brent Northrup at (831) 420-5838. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. NAPA (BCN) Napa police on Thursday said a 13-year-old River Middle School student has been arrested on suspicion of hiding evidence and interfering with witnesses related to a fellow student's threat to kill another student who intended to disclose alleged plans for a mass shooting at two schools in Napa. The Napa boy was taken into custody on suspicion of two felony counts of accessory after the fact when one of his parents brought him to the Napa Police Department around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, police Capt. Pat Manzer said. A 14-year-old boy who allegedly planned the shootings at River Middle School and Vintage High School was arrested Jan. 2 for allegedly threatening to kill the River Middle School student who threatened to inform police and parents about the alleged shootings plan, police said. Police said they searched the 14-year-old boy's two Napa residences and found evidence related to the planning and research of a mass shooting. "It also appears this (accessory) suspect (was) trying to thwart our investigation into the school shooting threat," police said in a news release Thursday. Police said, however, there is no evidence the boy arrested as an accessory was actively involved in the planning of any violence toward others and he was not a threat to anyone, police said. Police are still investigating the alleged shootings plan and the alleged threats to the teen who intended to inform authorities. Police also said they have not found further evidence or active threats toward any school or individual victim other than the boy who was arrested on Jan. 2. Police learned on Dec. 31 about the alleged shootings plan at the two Napa schools. The schools were closed at the time for winter break. Napa Valley Unified School District Superintendent Rosanna Mucetti said Thursday the school district will take the next prudent steps to ensure student safety. "NVUSD will be working on large-scale, district wide action plans to address students' socio emotional needs, digital citizenship and safety and school security more intensely in response to the events of the last couple days," Mucetti said. "Finally I want to put our attention to where it belongs. We are deeply grateful to the student who reported concerns to an adult, the adult who reported it to police, and to our staff and parents who are supporting our students and focusing on their mental and emotional health," Mucetti said. Napa police also praised the River Middle School teen who talked to parents and police. "We believe based on the information collected at this point, this was possibly a tragedy averted and are thankful for the information provided to us," police said in a news release Monday. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN JOSE (BCN) San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has nominated Councilman Chappie Jones to serve as vice mayor, the mayor's office announced Thursday. If elected by the City Council next week, Jones will replace current Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco, who is at the end of a two year-term. Jones is currently serving his second term as councilman for District 1 in West San Jose. "I greatly admire and fully share the progressive vision the Mayor has for San Jose," Jones said in a news release. "I am humbled and proud to be given this new opportunity to continue to serve the City of San Jose and its extraordinary residents." Jones was born in Sacramento and moved to San Jose in 1990. He serves on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority board of directors and lives in the Murdock neighborhood of West San Jose with his wife, Kelli, and two children. Carrasco congratulated Jones and said she was looking forward to continuing her work in the city's East Side. As vice mayor, she was charged with overseeing the City Council in Liccardo's absence. "It has been an honor to serve for the past few years," she wrote on Twitter. "CM Jones's demeanor and collaborative presence is instrumental for his residents & our City." Liccardo thanked Carrasco for leading the City Council while he recovers from a bike collision on New Year's Day that left him with a fractured sternum and vertebrae. "She has been a great partner and I look forward to continue working with her to broaden prosperity and educational opportunity in our city," Liccardo said in a statement. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) San Francisco city officials celebrated on Thursday the renovation of 90 affordable housing units for seniors and people with disabilities in the city's Duboce Triangle neighborhood. The property at 25 Sanchez St. was renovated as part of the Rental Assistance Demonstration program, a federal program that allows public housing units to be converted to privately owned and affordable housing. "The continued rehabilitation of affordable housing in San Francisco has a huge impact on the lives of the people living there, and today 90 seniors and people with disabilities have a new, safe place to call home," Mayor London Breed said in a statement. "I grew up in public housing and I remember what those conditions were like. Seeing these residents return to their new homes is a testament to what we are accomplishing for vulnerable households across the city." The renovation is part of the city's effort to preserve and revitalize some 3,500 older public housing units across the city. So far, according to Breed's office, more than 2,500 apartments have been renovated under the program. "Despite having one of the highest rates of evictions and displacement in the city, District 8 has seen very little creation of new affordable housing," District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said in a statement. "The RAD program allows us to rehabilitate our precious existing affordable housing stock and maintain our critical supply of affordable housing units while improving the lives of tenants in buildings like 25 Sanchez." Co-developers BRIDGE Housing and Mission Economic Development Agency, also known as MEDA, oversaw the building's rehabilitation, which included upgrades such as room renovations, safety and accessibility improvements, improved elevator access, structural upgrades and sprinkler system fixes. Additionally, the building's community room and laundry room have been revitalized. The building's residents were not displaced during the rehabilitation and have all moved back into their units and will continue to rent the units at reduced rates totaling 30 percent of their income. Also, on Wednesday Breed joined Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, to announce the opening of the Bryant Street Navigation Center, equipped to serve about 84 homeless clients at a time. According to Breed's office, the new center at Fifth and Bryant streets is the city's sixth Navigation Center to open and the second to be built on land leased out by Caltrans. As of December 2018, Navigation Centers have helped transition 621 people into permanent housing, placed 125 others into temporary housing and helped another 1,234 people exit homelessness through the city's Homeward Bound program, Breed's office said. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A 37-year-old man was hospitalized Thursday night after four suspects allegedly robbed him and then shot him in San Francisco's Candlestick Point area, police said. Around 10:40 p.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 600 block of Jamestown Avenue. There they learned that the male suspects robbed the victim of his cellphone and cash and then shot him. Afterward, they fled in a vehicle, police said. The victim was hospitalized for his injuries, which were not considered life threatening, according to police. Officers were unable to apprehend the suspects. A detailed description of them and their vehicle was not immediately available. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the beginning of the message. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. OAKLAND (BCN) An Oakland man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday for fatally shooting a San Francisco Municipal Railway bus driver outside a bar in unincorporated San Leandro in 2016. Sophy Kong, 36, was convicted on Sept. 20 of first-degree murder for the shooting of Sukia Jackson, 43, of Foster City outside the Shooter's Bar in the 1500 block of 150th Avenue in unincorporated San Leandro at about 2 a.m. on June 4, 2016. Kong was also convicted of the special circumstance of lying in wait and two counts of premeditated attempted murder for shooting at two other men and wounding one of them. Kong pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity after charges were filed against him so he had a separate sanity phase in his trial in early October. But jurors decided that he was sane at the time of the shooting. In his closing argument in the guilt phase of Kong's trial, his lawyer, James Reilly, said Kong should be found not guilty because he was blacked out and in an unconscious state when the shooting occurred and he doesn't remember anything about it. Reilly told jurors, "Make no mistake about it, it's clear that he (Kong) shot Mr. Jackson." But Reilly said, "If you find he (Kong) was unconscious at the time he shot Mr. Jackson it's a complete defense." Reilly said Kong, who was born in Cambodia and lived in Thailand for a time before he came to the U.S., bought a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun because he felt he needed to protect his family after hallucinating and hearing threatening voices in his head. The defense lawyer said Kong has suffered from mental health issues since 2012. Reilly said Kong was "semi-homeless" at the time of the shooting and occasionally stayed with his mother, his sister and his girlfriend, with whom he had a child who's now 3 years old. But Alameda County prosecutor Danielle Hilton told jurors in her closing argument that Kong should be found guilty as charged and their verdict indicates that they agreed with her. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. RICHMOND (BCN) State lawmakers and local leaders celebrated the launch of regular daily ferry service from the Port of Richmond into San Francisco for the first time since the late 1950s Thursday. The first boat into the city left at 6:10 a.m. but this afternoon hundreds of commuters and transit enthusiasts gathered in the Craneway Pavilion, which is adjacent to the docks, for a public address and a short tour around the harbor on a ferry boat. "This is truly a great day for Richmond and also the San Francisco Bay Area, because today, after a 61-year absence regular sustainable ferry service from Richmond is back," Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia said to a crowd of at least 500 people. Gioia called it the best commute in the Bay Area, pledged to work on expanding night and weekend service as well as find funding to bring a zero-emission ferry boat that is currently under construction to Richmond. Richmond Mayor Tom Butt addressed the crowd as well, pointing out the presence of Betty Reid Soskin, one of the oldest National Park Service rangers, currently serving at the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, and other "Rosies" who worked on manufacturing lines to support the war effort in the 1940s. Soskin raised her hand in acknowledgement. She was named one of Glamour Magazine's 2018 Women of the Year in November. Newly-elected Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks also addressed the crowd, calling this new ferry route proof that big things can still be accomplished in California when stakeholders cooperate and emphasizing the positive impacts ferry service will have on commuters and the environment. Wicks recounted a recent rush-hour commute from South Berkeley to Hercules, a roughly 15-mile trip, that took 90 minutes on Interstate Highway 80. By comparison, the ferry ride from Richmond into San Francisco takes just 35 minutes. "We know that when people are out on the water, they're not on I-80," Wicks said. State Sen. Nancy Skinner, representing California's Ninth District, and Jody Breckenridge from the Water Emergency Transportation Authority also addressed the audience. After the conclusion of the speaking program, hundreds of people streamed out of the Craneway Pavilion, waiting in line for their turn to board the ferry. The fare from Richmond to San Francisco is $9 or $6.75 with a Clipper Card. Boats are making round-trips six times per day, seven days a week. For more information about the schedule go to https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/richmond. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. FAIRFIELD (BCN) Fairfield police said an Arizona man was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Thursday morning. Ricky Acosta, 39, was found dead on East Travis Boulevard near Chamberlain Drive around 6:40 a.m. after police received multiple calls about a deceased man. Police determined he had been struck by a vehicle. Acosta was found lying partially on the sidewalk and the roadway, Officer Ryann Fuentes said. East Travis Boulevard between North Texas Street and Kidder Avenue was closed until around noon during the investigation. Acosta was pronounced dead at 6:50 a.m., the Solano County coroner's office said. Police are asking the public to call Officer Fuentes at (707) 428-7300 if they have information about the collision. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN MATEO (BCN) Two people were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of arson in the wake of a family argument that allegedly led to a San Mateo car fire in December, police said Thursday. The case began when officers responded to reports of a car on fire in the 100 block of North Idaho Street in San Mateo at 2 a.m. on Dec. 28, according to police. The victim said she had had an argument with her stepsister, Amber Gonser, and the stepsister's boyfriend, Kristopher Jones, about a week previous to the fire, police said. The victim alleged Jones had been harassing her ever since. According to surveillance video obtained by police, Jones broke the rear passenger window of the victim's car, poured gasoline inside, then ignited the fire and quickly fled the scene, police said. On January 8, police searched the home of Gonser and Jones in the 100 block of Fell Street in San Francisco and found a gas station nearby that had video surveillance of Gonser and Jones filling a plastic jug with gasoline just one hour before the fire, police said. Police subsequently arrested the couple on suspicion of arson and took them to the San Mateo County jail, according to police. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. In what was, so far, the best baseball game of the week, the Jaguars pulled their 33rd win out of the fire and salvaged a gem of a start from their star pitcher. The China National Space Administration on Jan. 11, 2019 releases the 360-degree panoramic photos taken by a camera installed on China's Chang'e-4 lunar probe (cylindrical projection). China's Chang'e-4 probe took panoramic photos on the lunar surface after it successfully made the first ever soft-landing on the far side of the moon. (Xinhua/China National Space Administration) BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Chang'e-4 probe took panoramic photos on the lunar surface after it successfully made the first ever soft-landing on the far side of the moon. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) Friday released the 360-degree panoramic photos taken by a camera installed on the top of the lander. The images were sent back via the relay satellite Queqiao, which was operating around the second Lagrangian point of the earth-moon system, about 455,000 km from the earth, where it can see both the earth and the moon's far side. Scientists have made a preliminary analysis on the terrains and landform surrounding the probe according to the panoramic pictures. Chang'e-4 probe touched down on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin in the morning of Jan. 3, and the lunar rover Yutu-2 drove onto the lunar surface late that night. Then the rover took a "nap" as the solar radiation raised the temperature on the lunar surface to over 100 degrees centigrade. It restarted to work on Thursday. The lander, the rover and the relay satellite are in good condition, said CNSA. 2 1 [ Editor: zyq ] For more than 20 years, local garden writer and lecturer Liz Ball has offered helpful information and advice to homeowners on enjoying and caring for their yards and the plants that grow there in her Yardening column. Direct your Yardening questions to her at lizball@aol.com. BARRON, Wis. A 21-year-old unemployed man shot a Wisconsin couple to death in a scheme to kidnap their 13-year-old daughter, holding the girl captive for three months in an isolated north woods community before she managed to escape, authorities said Friday. Jayme Closs was skinny, disheveled and wearing shoes too big for her when she approached a stranger to tell her story Thursday in the small town of Gordon, where police said Jake Thomas Patterson lived. Her discovery brought joy and relief 60 miles away in her hometown of Barron, population 3,300, ending an all-out search that gripped the state, with many people fearing the worst the longer she was missing. My legs started to shake. It was awesome. The stress, the relief it was awesome, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said at a news conference, describing the moment when he learned that Jayme had been found. Patterson was jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges. It was not immediately known if he has an attorney. Fitzgerald gave no details on what happened to Jayme during her captivity and why she was seized, but said investigators do not believe Patterson knew her. The sheriff said he did not know if Jayme had been physically abused but that she was hospitalized overnight for observation and cleared and released after a checkup. Investigators were still interviewing her Friday. Jayme told one of the neighbors in Gordon who helped take her in after her escape that she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held. She said that this persons name was Jake Patterson, he killed my parents and took me, another one of the neighbors, Kristin Kasinskas, told the Associated Press. She did not talk about why or how. She said she did not know him. Property records show the cabin was sold by Pattersons father to a credit union in October, a few days before Jaymes disappearance. Kasinskas called 911 to report the girl had been found after another neighbor out walking her dog encountered Jayme and brought her to Kasinskas house. Minutes later, Patterson was pulled over by a sheriffs deputy based on a description of his vehicle Jayme provided, authorities said. Jayme disappeared from her familys home near Barron after someone broke in and killed her parents, James and Denise Closs, on Oct. 15. Fitzgerald said Jayme was taken against her will. He said investigators believe Patterson killed Jaymes parents because he wanted to abduct her. Kasinskas said she taught Patterson science in middle school. He seemed like a quiet kid, she said. I dont recall anything that would have explained this, by any means. Jeff Baenen and Gretchen Ehlke are Associated Press writers. TOPEKA, Kan. Abortion opponents in Kansas have been bracing themselves for nearly two years for a ruling from the states highest court that protects the right to have an abortion and potentially upends politics in a state long at the center of the national debate. The Kansas Supreme Court is relatively liberal in a state with a Republican-dominated Legislature that has strong antiabortion majorities. Court watchers also are asking: Why is it taking so long for the justices to rule? No one outside the court knows for sure and the justices are not saying, as is their long-standing custom. One educated guess is that they still are wrestling with the implications of declaring that the state constitution protects abortion rights. That was the core legal issue when the court heard attorneys arguments in March 2017 in a major abortion lawsuit. An abortion-rights decision could allow state courts in Kansas to chart their own course on abortion and invalidate restrictions that the federal courts would uphold. Whats the test for that? said Jeffrey Jackson, a Washburn University of Topeka law professor. Theres any number of weird possible decisions that you can get to. The case arises from abortion opponents numerous legislative victories during eight years under Republican governors. Democratic Gov.-elect Laura Kelly, a strong abortion rights supporter, takes office Monday, but the Legislature emerged from last years elections more conservative and as antiabortion as ever. GOP conservatives power in the Legislature surged following Summer of Mercy protests in 1991 against the late Dr. George Tillers clinic in Wichita, among a few in the U.S. known to do late-term abortions. An antiabortion zealot shot Tiller to death in 2009. Legislators debate abortion annually. Kansas recorded its lowest number of abortions in 30 years in 2017, fewer than 6,800 46 percent less than the peak of more than 12,400 in 1999. Its more important than ever for Kansas to recognize that women have protections under the state constitution, said Genevieve Scott, a Center for Reproductive Rights attorney. Any time that a court recognizes womens rights, it has an important impact in shaping our national discourse. John Hanna is an Associated Press writer. Federal employees received pay stubs with nothing but zeros on them Friday as the effects of the government shutdown hit home, deepening anxieties about mortgage payments and unpaid bills. All told, an estimated 800,000 government workers missed their paychecks for the first time since the shutdown began. Employees posted pictures of the pay stubs on Twitter and vented their frustration as the standoff over President Trumps demand for $5.7 billion for a border wall entered its 21st day. This weekend, it becomes the longest shutdown in U.S. history. I saw the zeros in my pay stub today, and its a combination of reality setting in and just sadness, air traffic controller Josh Maria told the Associated Press after tweeting a screenshot of his paystub. Were America. We can do better than this. The missed paychecks were just one sign of the mounting toll the shutdown is taking on Americans daily lives. The Miami airport is closing a terminal this weekend because security screeners have been calling in sick at twice the normal rate. Homebuyers are experiencing delays in getting their loans. Roughly 420,000 federal employees were deemed essential and are working unpaid. An additional 380,000 are staying home without pay. Workers are turning to Uber, Lyft and other side gigs to pick up some money in the meantime. In Falls Church, Va., outside Washington, a school district was holding a hiring fair for furloughed federal employees interested in working as substitute teachers. Chris George, 48, of Hemet (Riverside County), has picked up some work as a handyman, turned to a crowdfunding site to raise cash and started driving for Lyft after being furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Forest Service. But the side gigs arent making much difference, and he has been trying to work with his mortgage company to avoid missing a payment. Here we are, Day 21, and all three parties cannot even negotiate like adults, he said, describing government workers like him as being pawns for an agenda of a wall. Youre not going to put a wall across the Rio Grande, Im sorry. Economists at S&P Global said the shutdown has cost the U.S. economy $3.6 billion so far. Most of the government workers received their last paycheck two weeks ago. Brady McCombs and Michelle Smith are Associated Press writers. Swarthmore, PA (19081) Today Mostly clear. Low around 60F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low around 60F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. The first boat left the dock at 6:10 a.m. Thursday, but passengers were trotting down the gangway at Richmonds new ferry terminal long before then. One hundred sixty-one riders were aboard the Pisces when it slid away from the pier, the first high-speed catamaran of a transit service that west Contra Costa residents have anticipated for years. Officials expect the 225-person capacity boat to fill up during rush hour as word spreads. Ive been counting down the days, said David Huckabay of Hercules, who normally drives Interstate 80 to get to his office in the Embarcadero area a slog that can take up to two hours. Hes among the commuters whose lives could be transformed by the ferry, which glides from Richmonds shoreline to downtown San Francisco in 35 minutes. The new terminal is a sharp, steel and glass box next to the Craneway Pavilion, its architecture redolent of the old Ford assembly plant that operated during the Great Depression and into the 1950s. For now, it will run six boat trips from Richmond and six from San Francisco each weekday. Officials at the Water Emergency Transportation Authority hope to beef up service, but they are waiting for the outcome of a lawsuit against Regional Measure 3, the series of bridge toll hikes that voters passed in June to raise money for Bay Area transit. The measure would invest $300 million into new ferry infrastructure and $35 million annually to support operating costs, enough to double the regions water transit capacity in the coming years and ease pressure on jammed freeways. But that money is sitting in escrow as lawmakers await the outcome of a July lawsuit by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which claims Measure 3 enacted a tax that needed a two-thirds threshold to pass significantly more than the 55 percent support it drew from voters. If the measure holds, the water transportation authority will quickly expand the number of boats coming from Richmond, said agency spokesman Thomas Hall. The new terminal would add to a ferry renaissance thats blossomed in the Bay Area: Over the past six years, the number of passengers has doubled at Water Emergency Transportation Authority terminals in San Francisco, Vallejo, Oakland, Alameda, South San Francisco and Mare Island from 1.4 million in 2012 to an estimated 2.9 million by the end of last year. Were hoping to increase as soon as possible and be open on weekends by next summer, Hall said, standing outside the terminal to greet commuters Thursday. Several people who showed up for opening day some nattily dressed for jobs in the Financial District, others wearing bicycle helmets or sneakers and sweats said they would happily take the ferry on a regular basis. Oh, Im very excited about this, said Jacqueline Harris, whose family has lived in Richmond for generations. Her grandfather worked at a lumber yard building ships in the 1940s, and her grandmother toiled nearby in a cannery. Harris marveled at how much the shoreline has changed in recent decades, as wine bars and restaurants bloom in the husks of old warehouses. Its a still-jagged revitalization that Richmond Mayor Tom Butt hopes will accelerate now that the new terminal is open. New housing is planned for a weed-choked lot at Marina Way South, which could hold as many as 600 units. Butt was aboard the 6:10 a.m. boat, along with several City Council members and others from City Hall. There were a lot of us along for the ride, but I was amazed at the number of actual commuters, the mayor said in an interview Thursday afternoon. People are using this to commute, and that bodes well. The mood was festive as the Pisces crawled out of the channel, past the houses at Point Richmond and near Alcatraz Island, where it enjoyed a short burst of speed before pulling into the port at the Embarcadero. By 6:30 a.m. more customers had thronged outside the terminal, 40 minutes before the next boat was scheduled to leave. The air was cold and prickly, the sea a crinkled black tarmac. Cars were filling the parking lots 352 spaces as AC Transits 74 bus puttered in every half hour, carrying riders from the Richmond BART station. Pam Hyland and Buzz Baylis grinned and clutched their coffee cups. The two retirees from Point Richmond recalled the citys last attempt at a ferry service in 1999: it sputtered within a year after averaging 50 passengers a day. Publicity was scant, said Hyland, who was among the few devoted riders back then. She and Baylis awaited the 7:10 a.m. vessel as a sunless dawn frothed on the horizon. The boat departed with 105 aboard. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan For more stories like this, check out The Chronicles weekly Travel newsletter! Sign up here. Guests who checked into the Westin Monache hotel in Mammoth Lakes this past summer were welcomed with an odd complimentary item: N95 masks, the kind you may have seen covering the faces of residents of Beijing, where smog is so bad it is known as the airpocalypse. The Lions Fire was incinerating part of the Sierra Nevadas Ansel Adams Wilderness nearby, producing plumes of hazardous smoke that settled in the air for weeks. Guests at the hotel were even seen wearing their masks while lounging on the hotels pool deck, as smoke permeated the normally pristine High Sierra air. Similar masks were handed out at hotels throughout San Francisco in November, after air purifier company IQAir rated the city as having the worst air quality in any of the worlds major cities. Out of concern, the five-star Omni hotel welcomed guests with complimentary bottles of fruit-infused water and individually wrapped cold towelettes scented with lavender oil, gave suggestions on how to visit San Francisco without being outdoors and offered N95 masks, while air purifiers hummed in the lobby. Has the ever-expanding wildfire season brought about, as Gov. Jerry Brown has suggested, a new abnormal for California travelers? The short answer is yes. Noah Berger / Associated Press New abnormal was the expression Brown used when describing the spate of recent wildfires that have decimated the state. He predicted they will intensify and continue for the foreseeable future. We have a real challenge here, threatening our whole way of life, Brown said at a press briefing in November during the Woolsey and Camp fires. Just look at the Sierra on Google Earth, says John Koeberer, CEO of the California Parks Co., which operates campgrounds, lodging and marina concessions on public lands. The forest is orange from all the dead trees. It used to be green. Enjoying the natural beauty of Californias outdoors has been a beloved aspect of the states lifestyle since John Muir proclaimed that wildness is a necessity. But it is being threatened as the frequency and severity of wildfires have grown in recent years decimating parks and forestland, blanketing the state in toxic air, and driving people indoors. The reasons are many: a long history of poor forest-management policy, aging utilities infrastructure, climate change, more human activity in natural places. The immediate toll on the affected people, communities and environments cant be overstated many have lost everything. What is concerning is that the recent spate of fires is not an isolated incident, as Californians well know, and the situation appears to be getting worse. Between 1984 and 2010, the number of wildfire acres that burned at high intensity rose by 50 percent, and more than 60 million dead trees remain in the state's forests, according to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, a state agency focused on conservation efforts. Right now, the Sierra Nevada region is at a critical point. A century of fire suppression, a shortage of restoration efforts and years of drought have placed Sierra forests ... at incredible risk, according to the conservancy. We are set up to travel this cycle of suffering and grief again and again. And because upwards of 80 percent of California tourism is generated by in-state residents, we arent losing tourism attractions, were losing a pillar of our way of life. This could easily mean fewer opportunities to camp and recreate outdoors or visit rural places in California. The fires and smoke arent going away but the travelers might. In just the past three years, a visitors guide-full of California destinations has been singed or suffocated by wildfires from Yosemite to Wine Country and Malibu to Lake Shasta. Seven notable wildfires occurred in 2016, four in 2017 and five in 2018, incinerating over 1.75 million acres, destroying over 24,000 homes and structures, displacing hundreds of thousands of Californians and, tragically, taking the lives of more than 120 residents and firefighters. Despite the number of affected areas, little tourism infrastructure hotels, attractions, wineries, trails burned. The greatest impact has been to public lands that depend on entrance fees for operations and improvements, and to their local communities. For example, the Whiskeytown and Santa Monica Mountains national recreation areas, which sustained major damage in recent wildfires, are beloved and used by nearby residents, not just out-of-towners. There is an emotional connection to our visitors, said Whiskeytown National Recreation Area spokeswoman Jen Gibson. They just want to be here. They love this park. But those local visitors have now lost access to the parks, and the parks have lost income from visitor entry fees. The flames dont just drive people from the immediate areas, they also cast an ominous shadow over associated destinations. For instance, during the 2017 wildfires in Napa and Sonoma counties, social media-fueled commentary fed the misimpression that all Californias wine-growing areas were ablaze. The result: mass cancellations and alarm across unaffected wine regions. Areas that were directly affected were treated as quarantine zones. Travelers were reluctant to visit, thinking they would be interfering with recovery efforts, or that their experience wouldnt be as good, even as tasting rooms remained open, restaurants set empty tables and lodging was widely available. Because international and out-of-state travelers book trips far in advance, theyre less likely to change plans when a wildfire occurs. They either dont show, purchase travel insurance or stick to their itineraries and ride out the discomfort. Those initial losses are particularly hard for small tourism communities to overcome. Californians, on the other hand, quickly adapt their plans and change reservations. As a result, weve seen travel to wildfire-affected destinations return to near normal within weeks. During the recent Paradise and Malibu (Camp and Woolsey) fires, for instance, online travel agencies saw short-term dips of 10 to 11 percent, due to cancellations, postponements or relocation to other California destinations, according to Visit California president and CEO Caroline Beteta. After the dust settles, some tourist-dependent areas can get back on track relatively quickly. Napa and Sonoma reported being up in 2018 over 2017 when the Wine Country fires happened, Beteta said. Napa had bounced back within two months. But not every California destination is as popular as Napa, and many suffer far greater damage. Wildfires hurt most in rural California those places most dependent on clean air and quality outdoor experiences to entice visitors. Tourism businesses in forested areas which often have short operating seasons may not survive the new abnormal. The Carr Fire (in Redding) occurred in the middle of summer and it broke our back, Koeberer says. We never really came out of it, even after the fire was out. People didnt return to Shasta or Lassen Volcanic (National Park), even though the fires were out. Wildfire effects extend beyond the burn areas. Smoke travels for hundreds of miles and destroys the travel experience by making a casual visit both unpleasant and unhealthy. The issue then filters down to the businesses and infrastructure supporting tourism: campgrounds, lakes, resorts, outfitters, lodges, retailers and restaurants. In Southern California, where Koeberers company operates campgrounds at Lake Hemet, the fire almost made it to our back door, but it was the economic hit that nearly broke us, he said. Koeberer has had difficulty getting a bank loan to finance improvements, as well as fire insurance and business interruption insurance. If you cant insure outdoors-based facilities, you cant improve or operate them, Koeberer said. The banks are going to back off. Measuring the immediate and long-term economic impact of wildfire on travel and tourism is complicated: Reporting on hotel occupancy and tax receipts typically takes up to 18 months; poor tourist occupancy of hotels in the immediate area of a wildfire is often offset by displaced residents and recovery workers; and research does not usually connect declines in tourism, beyond the immediate area, to the cause of the decline. Other ripple effects are even tougher to gauge but can be consequential. An executive at a large California-based outdoor business who asked to remain anonymous in order to protect his companys relationships with destinations and public agencies, told The Chronicle that the effect of wildfires has gotten so bad he is no longer looking to expand his outdoor recreation and tourism company inside the state and is now seeking similar opportunities outside California. And Im not the only one, he said. Its a big, big story. What this means for California travelers is that the places we go and the things we love to do in the outdoors may be suffocated long term, not just during the ever-expanding fire season. Welcome to the new abnormal. John Poimiroo is Californias former state tourism director and an active outdoor and travel writer. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com For more stories like this, check out The Chronicles weekly Travel newsletter! Sign up here. Ever wonder where Christmas goes to die? If you said SantaCon or a Berkeley hills holiday party, youre close but no cigar. Right now, outside local Fish and Wildlife offices in far Northern California, crinkly discarded Christmas trees are piling up. But unlike most of the sad arboreal vestiges of Christmas past, these select few trees arent about to become mulch. Instead, the departments fish improvement shop in Yreka (Siskiyou County) will sink 200 or so old firs and spruces into state-managed waters. Its a move, ecologists say, that will create valuable fish habitat and boost fishing, too. The habitat structures thats Fish and Wildlife-ese for sunken tangle of old Christmas trees provide juvenile fish with refuge, and adult fish tend to congregate around the structures in the hope of ambushing prey, says department spokesman Kyle Orr. Your sunken old Christmas tree, in other words, is a win for the ecosystem and a win for anglers, too. As any good bass-master knows, submerged fallen trees along lakeshores can be prize spots for fishing. Thats because, ecologists say, any sort of sunken wooden object from manzanita plants to huge pines is appealing to fish. They lay eggs and nest underneath downed branches, then feed on the smaller creatures attracted to the security and shade of the structure. A large downed tree, according to the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, will degrade over the course of several hundred years and in that time attract a whole community of fish, with 15 or so species calling the thing home at any given time. How do ecologists know that dumping Christmas trees into a lake is as effective a habitat as natural tree felling? Our biologists go dive em, says Joseph Rightmier, a fish habitat supervisor in the Yreka office. If divings not an option, though, occasionally we do hook and line sampling but thats a tough day, lemme tell you, he jokes. The fish improvement shop usually does two Christmas tree habitat dunkings a year, Rightmier says, and municipalities across the country, ranging from Alameda County to the state of Montana, often do the same. Right now, the program is in the collection phase, Rightmier says. The department will wait a month or two for all the browned, sad Christmas trees around Redding and Siskiyou County to come in, then theyll be hauled to a yet-unnamed reservoir in Lassen County. Assuming the waters in the far north of the state remain icy this winter, Rightmier says depositing the trees into the lake will be easy enough, too. If you can catch the reservoir when its frozen over thick enough, then were able to do this all with a quad ATV and just tow the trees out on the ice, he says. Last year, however, the waters of the Green Springs Reservoir in Modoc County werent icy enough to support all-terrain vehicles, so barges had to be called in to submerge the trees in the early summer heat. The trees were weighed down with cables and within a day or two fishermen were out on the water to reap the benefits. They were quite successful, too, Rightmier says. Thats the beauty of the work, he adds. The fish do well and the anglers do, too. And although the department doesnt advertise the exact locations of the new habitats, if the public wants to inquire, were more than happy to steer em in the right direction, he adds. David Ferry is a freelance writer in Los Angeles. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com WASHINGTON The Trump administration is considering diverting millions of dollars from San Francisco Bay shoreline restoration and flood control to help build the presidents wall on the southern border part of a bigger plan under consideration to move disaster relief money to the project. The White House is looking at nearly $2.5 billion allocated for California projects being worked on by the Army Corps of Engineers as possible sources to fund President Trumps wall, according to a list of targeted projects obtained by The Chronicle from a source familiar with discussions. The White House could try to tap the money if Trump declares a national emergency along the U.S.-Mexico border to get around Congress refusal to approve his request for $5.7 billion for wall construction. Other California projects on the list include nearly $1.6 billion for an American River flood control project in the Sacramento area, $200 million to raise Folsom Dam, nearly $260 million for dam work at Lake Isabella in Kern County and $13 million for a Yuba River flood control levee in Marysville. All told, the administration is looking at nearly $14 billion in Army Corps of Engineers funds that were part of a disaster relief appropriation made by Congress last year and have yet to be spent or obligated. That includes nearly $2.5 billion in hurricane relief for Puerto Rico and billions for hurricane-related aid in Texas. NBC News was first to report that the administration was considering the idea. The White House didnt respond to a request for comment. Trump has said he will most likely declare an emergency if he and congressional Democrats cant agree on wall funding, although he said Friday he was not going to do it so fast. Trump walked away from a bipartisan deal in December that would have provided $1.6 billion for his wall efforts, demanding $5.7 billion and sending the government into a shutdown. The impasse has forced about 800,000 federal workers and thousands of contractors either to go on furlough or work without pay. The San Francisco Bay project is a long-in-the-works effort to build up levees and convert 3,000 acres of former salt ponds in the South Bay back into marshlands. The federal government allocated $177 million for the project, but Californias Coastal Conservancy and the Santa Clara Valley Water District are expected to reimburse the Army Corps for half that amount. The restoration is considered a crucial part of a region-wide effort to restore 100,000 acres of former wetlands around the bay within 50 years. The South San Francisco Bay Shoreline project would also protect bay communities against expected sea level rise. What theyre really talking about is killing a flood protection project in Silicon Valley to build a stupid wall, said Coastal Conservancy Executive Director Sam Schuchat, who has been working since 2002 on research and planning for the project. We have real flood risk for the northern part of the city of San Jose for which we have a real solution, and now they want to snatch it away from us. David Lewis, executive director of the environmental group Save the Bay, said he believes it would be illegal for Trump to divert money from a project that Congress mandated. Its vital to the restoration of San Francisco Bay and its already been delayed for many years, so keeping it moving is a high priority, Lewis said. Its crucial for fish and wildlife and endangered species. Wetlands really are the front line protection from sea level rise for shoreline communities. A concerted effort has been made over the past two decades to repair the wetlands. Much of the 30,000 acres of shoreline flats once owned by salt manufacturers Leslie and Cargill have been restored. Three thousand acres near Alviso are scheduled to be the next phase of the job. This is a critical missing link for flood protection, Schuchat said. This is 3,000 acres of wetlands restoration that we cant restore until the levee gets built. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove (Sacramento County), whose district includes the American and Yuba river projects, said it was unclear how seriously the administration was looking at diverting the money. He noted that Trump has chilly relations with the states Democratic leaders, and speculated that might influence what the White House does. He pointed out that the dam project at Lake Isabella, for example, is in the district represented by House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield. If they persist and decide this is where theyre going to go to get the money, they will go project by project and theyll look at Lake Isabella and go, Kevin McCarthy? Not a good idea, Garamendi predicted. Theyll go to Sacramento: Gavin Newsom? Screw him. There will be that kind of thing going on, picking and choosing based on the politics of that particular project. Newsom, Californias new governor, called the idea of diverting disaster money unconscionable in a tweet. Earlier this week, Trump renewed his threat to cut off wildfire disaster aid to California unless they get their act together on unspecified forest management practices. Any move to declare an emergency for the southern border would face pushback from Democrats, either in the form of a legal challenge, congressional action or both. But its not just Democrats who are concerned about diverting disaster-related funding. Trump could face bipartisan obstacles if he were to pursue the idea. The top Republican on the Houses tax-writing committee, Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, represents a Houston district that was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. He told reporters Friday that he does not believe the White House will follow through. I feel confident that disaster relief dollars will not be tapped, Brady said, citing his conversations with the White House. Theyre assessing throughout the breadth of government what are the unobligated funds and what can be tapped in the short term. But beyond that, I think its an assessment. The consideration alone, though, set off California lawmakers. Just the fact this would be under consideration is seriously concerning, said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, who chairs a key water subcommittee in the House. Whatever he chooses to do, were going to take him to court, Huffman said. This is political theater. He knows hes not going to get his stupid wall ... so were going to have to play out this Kabuki for a few more rounds. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale (Butte County), said he is concerned as well about the Army Corps money suggestion. Lets be very, very careful before we do something that pronounced on funding for Puerto Rico lets do a better assessment of that, LaMalfa said. And when were talking about some of the other infrastructure that would affect Californias flood control systems there, again, Ive got a lot of concern about that, because (while) all of the areas Im hearing about arent actually my own district, its all kind of a part of a matrix of systems. He added that although House GOP leader McCarthy is straddling a thin line in what he can say about Trump publicly, the GOP leaders relationship with the president will be very, very helpful. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Tal Kopan reported from Washington. Chronicle staff writer Peter Fimrite reported from San Francisco. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com; pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan; @pfimrite San Franciscos progressive supervisors have once again struggled to coalesce around a cause, leading some to question how effective they will be even as theyve retaken the Board of Supervisors majority. The board gained its first progressive majority in years with the addition of Supervisors Gordon Mar and Matt Haney. Their first task was to elect a president on Tuesday. But, just as in the past, the progressives were distracted by personal differences and disorganization. A progressive agenda should have led the conversation, said Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer. But I feel like (the political fighting) just took off like a snowball, and I was like, Oh, my God, whats going on? While the board successfully elected progressive District Seven Supervisor Norman Yee, the run-up to the election was mired in bickering, infighting and clashing personalities. It was a messy, head-turning few weeks, where the group struggled to rally behind one of the several supervisors who raised their hands for the job. In the end, Yee emerged as a compromise candidate who received enough votes to win only because of Ahsha Safai, Catherine Stefani and Vallie Brown, supervisors outside of the core progressive faction. Its an important symbol of possible division between the progressive faction of the board, said Jason McDaniel, a political science professor at San Francisco State University. Its some indication that they may have to scale back some of their priorities if they dont have a consensus approach within their faction. This lack of organization has hampered progressives for years. In 2011, when the board was choosing a replacement for then-Mayor Gavin Newsom, who had been elected lieutenant governor, the progressive-leaning board failed to gather enough votes for its preferred candidate, Sheriff Michael Hennessey and instead ended up choosing City Administrator Ed Lee, who was considered a moderate. That vote led to an impassioned speech by former Supervisor Chris Daly, who called it the biggest fumble in San Francisco progressive politics. The progressives attempted to regain power again after Lees death in 2017 by ousting then-Supervisor London Breed from the interim mayor position, which she had taken over as board president. The goal was to keep her from ascending to the mayors seat in the June special election. But they couldnt get the votes to install one of their own as interim mayor, so they instead elevated Mark Farrell, a wealthy white man from the boards moderate faction. A progressive supervisor Yee nominated Farrell. Then came the June 2018 election, where progressives Mark Leno and Jane Kim ran a joint campaign in an attempt to change the citys moderate axis of power. But, in the end, the two failed in their one-two ranked-choice voting strategy to win against Breed, who was backed by the citys establishment. As a progressive myself, Ive always said that we are our own worst enemies. We get caught up on the personalities and dont focus on the substance of the issues, said former Supervisor David Campos. And I dont think that bodes well in terms of progressives pushing forward an agenda that actually serves the working people and middle class of San Francisco. Tuesdays contentious vote was the latest example of the fractured progressive politics and a sign of tumult that may lie ahead as the board takes on bigger issues, such as the citys housing and homelessness crises. But others say its just a sign that San Franciscos political factions are more fluid than they used to be. The differences between moderates and progressives in San Francisco are as slight as theyve ever been, said Jim Ross, a longtime political consultant. Moving forward, each controversial piece of legislation will probably break based on the agendas and priorities of each of the supervisors, not based off of labels of moderates or progressives. While distinction between San Franciscos progressives and moderates has grown increasingly blurry over the past few years, the differences generally come down to specific issues: Progressive politicians tend to push for more affordable housing, more restrictions on tech companies and higher taxes. Moderates, on the other hand, tend to be pro-development and more business friendly. When you dont have political parties, like in San Francisco, being able to maintain a coalition is harder, McDaniel said. On one hand, that could be a good thing ... but ideology is not a reliable way to keep a coalition together. While the election of a board president is always a scramble, several supervisors said there was a slightly different tone this time as the discussions focused more on personality than politics. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle The deepest division centered on Hillary Ronen. As she campaigned for the position, she said she would work to bring the board together, but also wouldnt be afraid to joust with her colleagues whether it be the mayor or fellow supervisors to get things done. But in the end, her active push for the position rubbed some supervisors the wrong way and cost her votes. And without naming anyone in particular, she said she encountered a wave of sexism and misogyny from her colleagues in the process. On Tuesday, the board originally voted 7-4 to elect Yee. Ronens votes came from herself and three new supervisors who had never worked with her on the board, Haney, Mar progressives and Walton. Then Mar asked to rescind that vote and elect Yee by acclamation. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle The supervisors then voted 10-1 in favor, with only Ronen dissenting. Im disappointed, Ronen said. By electing Yee, I think my colleagues sent a message that they want to see slower incremental change. They want it to be nice and collegial, over quick and ... urgent. But those who voted for Yee said his election was a success for the progressives. He is the most senior member of the board and tends to line up with the progressive side on issues such as childhood education and social programs. Since being elected in 2012, he has gained a reputation as measured, flexible and mild-mannered. He typically doesnt crave the spotlight or conflict. We chose someone with enormous experience and who is committed to maintaining relationships and keeping us together, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said. Yee is taking over for Malia Cohen, who was termed out, and now must steer the largely progressive board in its dealings with Mayor London Breed who may often have a different opinion on how to get things done. After the vote, some supervisors stood up at the meeting and spoke about how they were proud of their colleagues for finally coming together on the vote and how much they were looking forward to moving on and getting back to work. But when asked outside of the board chamber how they really felt about their performance over the past few weeks, some of their answers struck a different tone. I would grade the process as being a D or a D-minus, Fewer said. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani Kamala Harris in the Senate California senator gains prominence by grilling Trump officials, laying the groundwork for a likely 2020 presidential run Kamala Harris in the Senate California senator gains prominence by grilling Trump officials, laying the groundwork for a likely 2020 presidential run WASHINGTON Sen. Kamala Harris communications director has a note in all capital letters stuck on her office computer: Show the math. Its a quote from her boss one the senator uses frequently. Theres, I think, a running joke in the office about certain phrases I use all the time, the California Democrat said. This is how I would train lawyers, prosecutors about trial techniques: Id say, When youre standing before the jury, in your closing argument ... show them the math. Instead of saying, You must find 8, show them 2 plus 2 plus 2 plus 2. The Kamalism, as one former staffer called it, is far from the only remnant of her prosecutor past that followed her to Washington. That background has helped define Harris time in the Senate which will draw intensive scrutiny if, as expected, she declares her candidacy for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Harris Senate colleagues frequently refer to her prosecutorial approach to the job, noting in particular her propensity for sharp questioning of Trump administration officials during committee hearings. Harris foreshadowed that approach in her election night speech in which she emphasized her intention to fight in Washington. But she said shes trying to use her bully pulpit to fight not against something, (but) for something which has turned out to include issues as broad as immigration and income disparity and as specific as honoring historic victims of lynchings. The emphasis on her lawyer past is also evidence of her adjustment to being a freshman legislator. Harris two years in the Senate have been the only ones of her career in a legislative body, and her impact has been more visible in public face-offs than in policy. Harris tussles with President Trumps nominees have earned her the most attention. Her interrogation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his August confirmation hearing about whether he had discussed the investigation into Russian election interference with anyone at a law firm connected to Trump gave C-SPAN one of its most-watched YouTube videos of the year. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions told Harris during a 2017 hearing that her rapid-fire questions made him nervous. ... If I dont qualify it, youll accuse me of lying. Im not able to be rushed this fast. During a tense, interruption-filled exchange with John Kelly in 2017, the then-homeland security secretary asked, Would you let me finish once? Excuse me, Im asking the questions, Harris said, pressing on. Its a constant pursuit of the truth. You know, What happened? Harris, 54, said in an interview. Its not about me giving a beautiful speech in those hearings. Its about finding out: Is our government doing its job? Are we being accountable? Are we being transparent? Are we conducting ourselves consistent with the mores and the values of our country? That style has been polarizing. Her supporters praise it as a no-nonsense form of oversight. Her detractors describe it as inappropriate or grandstanding. Former Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller set off a firestorm when he said her questioning of Sessions was hysterical. After Harris pressured Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in an Intelligence Committee hearing about Special Counsel Robert Muellers independence, panel Chairman Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., cut her off and said she wasnt giving Rosenstein the courtesy ... for questions to get answered. The episode prompted a tweet from Sen. Elizabeth Warren with the #NeverthelessShePersisted hashtag that the Massachusetts Democrat herself inspired. But even her Republican colleagues who sparred with her during those hearings say they respect Harris sharpness. Book Review: The Truths We Hold, by Kamala Harris Shes quite a fighter, and you saw that between me and her on the Kavanaugh hearings, said GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee. Shes always treated me fairly and ... if I were in the minority and I didnt want someone like Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, I probably would have taken the same approach. Im not sure Id necessarily want to be a witness in front of her, said Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who chairs the homeland security committee. Some Kavanaugh stuff wasnt my cup of tea, but I think shes very bright, has a good personality, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the new chair of the Judiciary Committee. Anybody who underestimates her will do so at their own peril. Harris legislative record is thin, not a surprise for a first-term senator in the minority party, but already a potential talking point for those taking aim at her ambitions. Shes pretty new at it, as we all were at one time, said Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn. But I guess President (Barack) Obama demonstrated you didnt have to stay here and develop much of a record in order to run for president. A presidential run would invite close examination of Harris work in the Senate for clues about how she might govern. Much of that work speaks to the Democrats progressive base. She was the first Democratic senator to announce she would co-sponsor Medicare for All legislation from Sen. Bernie Sanders, independent-Vt. She was one of just three Democrats to vote against compromise legislation that would have protected young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children from deportation, in exchange for other cuts to legal immigration visas and $25 billion for Trumps wall and other border security measures. Harris called the wall money a waste and said the overall bill would have advanced Trumps anti-immigrant agenda. In late 2018, Harris introduced her approach to helping working families through tax credits to alleviate the strain of rising housing prices and other cost-of-living increases. Harris said she was so damn excited about the legislation and that she had spent nearly her entire two years in office working on it, trying to achieve something meaningful and relevant and substantial. Perhaps her most-recognized legislative achievement came in the final week of the last congressional term, when a bill she co-sponsored with the only other African Americans in the Senate, Democrat Cory Booker of New Jersey and Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina, to make lynching a federal crime passed the Senate unanimously. Harris noted that Congress has repeatedly failed to pass such legislation since 1882 and said the Senate vote offered some long-overdue justice and recognition to the victims of lynching crimes. The bill, however, still hasnt become law: The House failed to take it up before Congress adjourned, meaning it would have to be reintroduced and pass both chambers again. Harris has also partnered with Republicans on other pieces of ultimately unsuccessful legislation, including a bail reform bill with Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and an election security measure with Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma. Harris colleagues from both parties describe her as affable and focused, with a command of key issues and an ability to ask skilled questions. They also cite her preparation and her friendliness with all lawmakers. Booker, a close friend of the senators who like Harris is a probable 2020 presidential contender, said she brings much to Washington by virtue of who she is only the second African American woman ever to serve in the Senate. I hear her voice, I see her in private, I see her in caucus, I see her in a lot of the meetings we have behind closed doors, and Im telling you right now, she brings something powerful and unique to this body, Booker said. But Harris is not without her Democratic critics and many of them focus on her prosecutor past as their concern. The Twitter hashtag #KamalaHarrisIsACop is popular among her progressive detractors, who point to her work in law enforcement that they say disproportionately affected people of color. Kamala Harris is entitled to no scrutiny, just like every other Democratic politician who is loved by Clinton donors. Also, war is peace, progressive commentator David Sirota, a one-time congressional staffer for Sanders, tweeted sarcastically in 2017. It came during a time he highlighted her role as California attorney general in the approval of a California hospital merger criticized by nurses and abortion rights activists, as well as misconduct in a crime lab during her tenure as San Francisco district attorney. Harris seemingly tries to deflect progressive criticism in her new memoir, writing that its a false choice to suggest you must either be for the police or for police accountability. Given racial disparities in arrest rates that harm black and brown people, egregious police shootings and outfitting of police departments like military regiments, she wrote, is it any wonder that the very credibility of these public institutions is on the line? Harris is the daughter of two immigrants her mother is from India and her father is from Jamaica who met at UC Berkeley and fell in love during the height of the civil rights movement. She said a duty to serve was nonnegotiable growing up. The dual importance of the movement and her law enforcement past is evident in her sparsely decorated Senate office. A bust of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, an award, sits on a credenza with a law-enforcement-heavy challenge coin collection. There is a photo of Harris on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., with civil rights great Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. Another picture shows Harris, her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and their two children from Emhoffs previous marriage marching in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. And theres her prized possession, a photograph of her mother and a close friend as young women on the UC Berkeley campus in the early 1960s. In the background are people wearing black armbands, often a symbol of protest and mourning for 60s activists. A sign refers to Birmingham, Ala., a focal point of the civil rights movement. Harris mother, a breast cancer researcher, raised her after divorcing her father when Harris was 7. Her mother died in 2009. I talk a lot about my mother, Harris said as she held the picture. So this is, I think, my favorite thing on this desk. This job is not the first time Harris has worked in that very office. In 1984, as a student at Howard University, Harris was an intern for Sen. Alan Cranston, D-Calif., who occupied the same Hart Senate Office Building suite. She was tasked with answering constituents mail. The experience taught her that even as a lowly student, I could make decisions or work on something that could impact millions of people. Harris, however, said she never intended to return to Washington as an officeholder. I enjoy being in the executive branch, she said. I enjoy being able to make decisions and then roll up my sleeves and just pursue and get stuff done. She went to law school and became a prosecutor in the Bay Area, winning election as San Francisco district attorney in 2003. Seven years later, she narrowly won a race for California attorney general. She had just won a second term when Sen. Barbara Boxer announced in 2015 that she wouldnt run for re-election the next year. Harris decided that as a senator she could get things done on a national scale. She announced her candidacy and cruised toward victory, expecting to be playing a supporting role to a Hillary Clinton White House right up until the presidential numbers came in on election night. I had a speech that was prepared, Harris recalled, and then through the course of the night it became apparent what was happening nationally, and I just went out there and kind of just riffed on what I felt in that moment. What Harris ended up telling the stunned crowd at the Exchange LA nightclub in Los Angeles was that when fundamental values are being attacked ... we fight for immigration reform, civil rights, abortion rights and truth and transparency. It didnt take long for her fighting moments to arrive. She voted against 18 of Trumps 22 original Cabinet-level nominees, one of the highest no rates among Democratic senators. She was one of only 11 Democrats to vote against Kelly for homeland security secretary, presaging a relationship that would become heated before he left the job to become White House chief of staff. One of their earliest interactions occurred outside of public view, in a small office in the Capitol known as a hideaway borrowed from Californias senior senator, Dianne Feinstein. Harris said she was talking with Kelly about immigration when it occurred to her to ask, Have you ever met a Dreamer? young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children who are temporarily protected from deportation under an Obama-era program. And he said no, Harris said. I asked him if he would be willing to meet with them. And he said, Well, can I meet with their representative instead? The White House did not respond to a request for comment before Kelly left in December. Shortly after Harris exchange with Kelly, Trump signed his first version of a travel ban barring people from several Muslim-majority nations from entering the U.S. Harris recalls sitting on the rented stools in the kitchen of her new D.C. apartment that night and fielding calls from immigration lawyers she had worked with as California attorney general. Then I said, OK, well, we just got through confirming John Kelly, so I say to my team, Get me his number. I need to call him and find out whats going on. She did call him, at home. Hes not too happy, she said. Later, I learned I guess thats just not something that senators normally do. The episode inspired her first piece of legislation, to guarantee that anyone detained trying to enter the U.S. would have access to legal counsel. Her first floor speech followed, an address criticizing Trumps immigration policies that she grounded in the stories of her parents. Former staffer Sergio Gonzales said Harris often met in her office with young immigrant activists, many of whom were undocumented. Harris would hear their stories, tell them to stay positive and hug them as they cried, he said. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Attorney General Kamala Harris greets supporters at a election night rally Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Attorney General Kamala Harris greets supporters at a election night rally Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Photo: Chris Carlson / Associated Press 2016 Photo: Chris Carlson / Associated Press 2016 Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Kamala Harris prosecutor past could be a 2020 issue. It defines her in the Senate 1 / 3 Back to Gallery You dont always see that with lawmakers, Gonzales said. Sometimes it is just politics to them, and they would walk out of the room and not think about it again. And these stories, they stayed with her. He added that it was her idea to put up a sign outside their office that reads, Dreamers are welcome here, so they knew they had a place in the building to recharge and get support. In fact, Harris said, it is constituent work that she is most proud of in her time as a senator. I dont believe that the people who elected me elected me to be a pundit on cable news, Harris said. They elected me to address their issues, and I take that job very seriously. She said she is enjoying the Senate before correcting herself. I feel relevant, she said. Lets just say that. I feel a sense of purpose. People ask me all the time, Are you having fun? I wouldnt characterize it that way. But I do feel a sense of purpose. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan Upcoming political events in the Bay Area. MONDAY Nationalism: Political reporter and author John Judis discusses the underlying causes of the nationalist revolt and its global impact, at the Commonwealth Club. $20 for nonmembers, $8 for students. 6 p.m., 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. Living off the land: Is it possible to live off the land, fully self-sufficient? A discussion with the general manager of Burning Mans Fly Ranch. Free. 6:30 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. TUESDAY S.F. Politics 101: United Democratic Club presents San Francisco Politics 101, an introductory course on politics with a panel of experts and activists. Free. 6:30 p.m., Richmond/Sen. Milton Marks Branch Library, 351 Ninth Ave., San Francisco. More information is here. Phil Ginsburg: San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg is featured in Mannys Local Leaders series. Free. 6:30 p.m., 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. WEDNESDAY New citizen voting: Democracy Action volunteers will register new citizens to vote following swearing-in ceremonies. Two sessions, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. More information is here. Elections and democracy in digital age: A panel discussion and question-and-answer session with members of the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age. Free. 5 p.m., Koret-Taube Conference Center, Gunn-SIEPR Building, 366 Galvez St., Stanford University. More information is here. THURSDAY Felony disenfranchisement: Strategy session to campaign for felons to regain rights to vote, run for office and serve on juries. Sponsored by Legal Services for Prisoners With Children. 7 p.m., Booth Auditorium, UC Berkeley School of Law. More information is here. Rep. Jackie Speier: The San Mateo Democrat will discuss politics and her new book, Undaunted.? $6. 6:30 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. The Iron Wall: Screening of The Iron Wall, a documentary with interviews ofr Israeli and Palestinian peace activists and political analysts, as well as Israeli settlers and soldiers, and Palestinian farmers. Followed by discussion with Dalit Baum, director of economic activism for Palestine at the American Friends Service Committee. Sponsored by Mount Diablo Peace and Justice Center. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. 6 p.m., Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafatyette. More information is here. FRIDAY Reproductive rights: Socialist analysis of womens fight for abortion access and reproductive rights. Sponsored by San Francisco Party for Socialism and Liberation. 7 p.m., 2969 Mission St., San Francisco. More information is here. SATURDAY Womens Marches: Third annual San Francisco Womens March and rally begins at 11 a.m. at Civic Center. More information is here. Marches will also be held in several other Bay Area cities; times and locations are here. Libertarian convention: Libertarian Party of San Francisco holds its annual convention. Agenda includes activist training, speakers and socializing. Free. 1 p.m., ClickUp, 580 Howard St., Suite 101, San Francisco. More information is here. Race and education: A panel discussion on the impact of race on education, sponsored by the African American Community Health Advisory Committee and the African American Library Advisory Committee. Free. 2 p.m., San Mateo Public Library, 55 West Third Ave. More information is here. SUNDAY Impeaching a president: Constitutional scholar Alan Hirsch reviews issues surrounding impeachment, history of impeachment efforts and the ways in which President Trump may be vulnerable. Part of Grace Cathedrals Forum series. 9:30 a.m., Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., San Francisco. More information is here. JAN. 21 MLK Day in S.F.: March begins at 11 a.m. at Caltrain station at Fourth and Townsend streets and ends at Yerba Buena Center on Mission Street between Third and Fourth sts., , where the Martin Luther King Jr. Day festival will be held. More information and other MLK Day weekend events can be found here. Bringing the Noise: 22nd annual event Martin Luther King Jr. Day event featuring young poets and multidisciplinary artists who focus on justice issues. Free; advance registration recommended. 7 p.m., Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco. More information is here. MLK Day in Piedmont: Celebration features Oakland's youth poet laureate, Leila Mottley; Black Sheroes of Young Gifted and Black; Oakland Jazz Workshops; Together We Slam of Piedmont High School; and Oakland Interfaith Youth Choir. Free. Noon, Piedmont Veterans Memorial Building, 401 Highland Ave., Piedmont. More information is here. JAN. 23 Indivisible Sausalito: Inaugural 2019 meeting of Indivisible chapter. 7 p.m., Studio 333, 333 Caledonia St., Sausalito. More information is here. JAN. 24 Female Shariah judge: Screening of The Judge, a documentary about Kholoud Al-Faqih , the first woman to be appointed to the Middle East's Shariah (Islamic law) courts. Benefit for Middle East Childrens Alliance. $15-$50. 7 p.m., Berkeley City College, 2050 Center St., Berkeley. More information is here. Facial recognition: Panel discussion on the uses and ethical issues surrounding artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology. Sponsored by Mid-Peninsula chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Free. 6:30 p.m., Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd., Palo Alto. More information is here. Indian land accounts: Screening of the documentary 100 Years; One woman's Fight for Justice, about Blackfeet warrior Elouise Cobells 30-year fight against the federal government over its mismanagement of Indian land. Free. 7 p.m., Ellen Driscoll Playhouse, 325 Highland Ave., Piedmont. More information is here. JAN. 26 Money and politics: A discussion on fixing our tattered democracy, sponsored by Central Conta Costa County MoveOn. Free. 1 p.m., Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. More information is here. JAN. 27 Restorative justice: A panel discussion on implementing restorative justice, sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. Free. 2 p.m., Embassy Suites by Hilton, 101 McInnis Parkway, San Rafael. More information is here. Indian land accounts: Screening of the documentary 100 Years; One woman's Fight for Justice, about Blackfeet warrior Elouise Cobells 30-year fight against the federal government over its mismanagement of Indian land. Free. 12:30 p.m., New Parkway Theater, 474 24th St., Oakland. More information is here. JAN. 28 Feminist resistance in Brazil: A forum discussion with four feminist leaders of the resistance to the radical right in Brazil. Free. 4 p.m., 220 Stephens Hall, UC Berkeley. Registration and more information are here. JAN. 29 We Rise Women: 2020 strategy session featuring Sister District co-founder Lala Wu, Lisa Bennett of Swing Left and Indivisible, Sarah Grewe of Sister District and Airlift.fund founder Danny Altman. 6 p.m. Zephyr Real Estate, 350 Bon Air Center, No. 100, Larkspur. More information is here. Feminism in China: Journalist and author Leta Hong Fincher discusses the rise of feminism in China. Sponsored by the World Affairs Council. $20 for nonmembers, $7 for students. 6:30 p.m., 312 Sutter St., Suite 200, San Francisco. More information is here. JAN. 30 Negotiating with terrorists: Joel Simon, author of We Want to Negotiate: The Secret World of Kidnapping, Hostages, and Ransom, discuss the conflicts and consequences of negotiating with terrorists and paying ransom, in a World Affairs Council event. $20 for nonmembers, $7 for students. 6:30 p.m., World Affairs Auditorium, 312 Sutter St., Suite 200, San Francisco. More information is here. Watergate documentary: Screening of the film Watergate and an appearance by director Charles Ferguson. Sponsored by Center for Latin American Studies at UC Berkeley. Free. 7 p.m., Sibley Auditorium, Bechtel Engineering Center, UC Berkeley. More information is here. JAN. 31 Rep. Jared Huffman: North Bay Democratic congressman holds a town hall meeting. 7 p.m., Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato. More information is here. Carbon neutral: Can California go carbon neutral? A conversation with Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, and Greg Dalton of Climate One. $20 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $7 for students. 6:30 p.m. 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. FEB. 4 Jose Antonio Vargas: Journalist and activist discusses immigration reform and being undocumented in America. $6. 6:30 p.m. Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. FEB. 5 Segregation by Design: UC Merced political science Professor Jessica Trounstine discusses her book Segregation by Design: Local Politics and Inequality in American Cities. $5. 7 p.m., OMalley Hall, St. Kevins Catholic Church, 704 Cortland Ave., San Francisco. More information is here. FEB. 6 Robert Reich: Writer, public policy professor and former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich discusses his new book, The Common Good, in a benefit for KPFA-FM. $12 advance tickets. First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley. More information is here. Chris Christie: Former GOP governor of New Jersey discusses his new book, Let Me Finish, and his relationship with President Trump. $30 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $10 for students. 6:30 p.m., 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. Stacey Abrams campaign: Ashley Robinson, political director of Stacey Abrams campaign for Georgia governor, and Genny Castillo, director of the campaigns Latinx constituency efforts, discuss the lessons they learned and how to engage people of color in the political process. Sponsored by Democracy Labs. Free. 6:30 p.m. at Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. FEB. 13 New citizen voting: Democracy Action volunteers will register new citizens to vote following swearing-in ceremonies. Two sessions, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. More information is here. To list an event, email Politics Editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com Associated Press That Donald Trumps former campaign chairman provided polling data to a suspected Russian intelligence associate seemingly undermines another aggressively capitalized presidential mantra: that there was NO COLLUSION. The exchange of valuable political information between representatives of Trumps campaign and Vladimir Putins regime shows that the two entities were, to some extent, colluding. In the spring of 2016, while Trump was seeking the Republican nomination, former campaign chairman and current convicted felon Paul Manafort shared the data with Konstantin Kilimnik, whom the FBI has linked to Russian military intelligence, reportedly for further distribution to pro-Russia Ukrainian oligarchs. Manaforts own lawyers appear to have inadvertently revealed the contact this week in responding to allegations that their client deceived Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigators about Kilimnik and other matters despite having agreed to cooperate with them. California is rolling in tax money, a fact that is smoothing Gov. Gavin Newsoms entry to office. Hes doling out money to nearly every serious need the state has, paying down debt and easing pension liabilities. Its good to be Gavin. But hes also sounding a familiar warning, borrowed from his thrifty predecessor, Gov. Jerry Brown, with a warning that much of the money will be targeted, tested and one time, though those promises will be hard to keep once the funds begin to flow. Its made possible by a growing state surplus, thats climbed from $15 billion last year to $21.4 billion, according to the governor. Looking ahead, Newsom believes he can keep the budget balanced for three more years, given financial predictions. Hes promising to add to the required rainy day fund to bring it to $20 billion during his four-year term. The early-season budget plan, due to be refined in May, weighs in at $144 billion, up 4 percent or $8 billion from last year. Newsom and the Democratic-controlled Legislature are pushing to pay for causes that range from K-12 education to wildfire prevention. On the list as well are homelessness, preschool and expanded health coverage, all major expansions of state involvement and campaign promises of Newsom. The money flowing to Sacramento is also allowing the state to pay off the recession-era borrowing from a decade ago that totaled over $25 billion, a sum known as the Wall of Debt. The tax largesse also allows Newsom to steer over $4 billion into the states two major teacher and state employee pension funds, which face crippling liabilities. Newsom was at pains to emphasize that his spending leans on yearly outlays and wont lock the state into future obligations. Thats a promise worth remembering, especially when it involves signature programs such as $1.8 billion for preschool education or wider health care coverage that includes undocumented young adults. There may never be a governor who savors details the way Newsom does. I love this stuff, he said, warning his audience in a Sacramento meeting room before an eye-glazing tour of his spending plans. Unlike Brown, who occasionally deferred to aides for help, Newsom needed no one to sail through an hour-long presentation. Californias poverty rate, education divide and economic divisions demand a response from Sacramento leadership. With the money at hand, its time to test the answers that Newsom is offering. With a strong economy at his back for now, he deserves a chance to test his solutions. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. For most of his childhood, Ayush Alag lived with the near-constant fear of a life-threatening allergic reaction. He had never gone into full anaphylactic shock, but a taste of cashew would make his tongue prickle and his lips swell up. He was convinced that he could die if he accidentally ingested too much. It wasnt until middle school that he finally learned after days of exhaustive testing in his Stanford allergists office that he did not have a severe allergy to cashews or any other foods. He was just sensitive to them. The results were a huge relief, but they made him think: There had to be a better way to diagnose allergies. So Ayush, at age 14, decided to come up with a better way. After three years of research and development, mostly at his parents home in Santa Clara, he created a type of DNA test that could someday be used to quickly identify whether someone has a deadly food allergy or an inconvenient but not life-threatening sensitivity. He has received a grant to further his research already credited with breaking new ground and started a company. My thinking was, with the technology we have out there, why is there not something better? Ive always seen science and technology as the golden key, said Ayush, who is 17 and a senior at the Harker School in San Jose. I realized this was a really under-researched space in medicine, and that I could really contribute to it. Cody Glenn/Special To The Chronicle Ayushs allergy test is a long way from reaching consumers, and it may never work well enough to be of use. But even what hes accomplished so far is an indicator of the incredible potential lurking in the reams of biological data available to anyone with internet access and the math skills and fantastically creative mind to use the data. In simple terms, Ayushs test looks for genetic markers that a person is allergic not just sensitive to certain foods. He developed the test by studying DNA analyses that were already publicly available. With just a laptop, Ayush used those analyses to build an algorithm that sorts out genetic markers associated with allergies. His work won him first place in a science fair last year, and a few months later, a $10,000 grant from Illumina, a San Diego company focused on genomic testing. Ayush started his company, Allergezy, last March and has brought on several advisers, including his own allergist. Ayush has a tremendous amount of initiative and self motivation, said Dr. Joseph Hernandez, an allergist at Stanford. He was frustrated because we didnt have tests that could easily answer his questions about his own allergies. Hernandez said that working in Silicon Valley, hes used to fielding questions from tech-savvy, inquisitive parents but not typically from his pediatric patients. When Ayush approached him about helping develop the diagnostic tool, Hernandez said he would be happy to participate. But I told him I couldnt help him with the algorithm part of it, Hernandez said with a laugh. Most allergists dont have that kind of training. Food allergies are an immune reaction to a protein or chemical found in the particular food. In people with allergies, an antibody called IgE mistakes the protein for an intruder that needs to be wiped out, triggering a flood of histamine, an anti-inflammatory compound. That reaction is what can cause symptoms ranging from a mild rash or upset stomach to anaphylactic shock, which can close off airways. The simplest and most common tests for food allergies arent especially reliable. One is a blood test to check for allergen-specific IgE antibodies. Another is a skin test, during which patients skin is pricked with probes laced with a tiny dose of the allergen to see whether they have a reaction. Both tests often give false positives. Finding IgE in the blood doesnt mean a patient has a severe allergy. And a reaction to the skin-prick test could mean a patient is sensitive but not fully allergic. If patients want to know for sure whether they have an allergy and confirm how severe it is the oral food challenge is considered the most reliable test. Thats what Ayush did, and it was awful. For one summer, Ayush spent hours almost every week in Hernandezs office tasting all of the foods, mostly tree nuts, that could hurt him. Hed start with barely a nibble and wait for a reaction, then eat a little more, working his way up to a whole nut. The tests were excruciating: incredibly stressful and mind-numbingly boring at the same time. Luckily, I was fine, but it was such a harrowing experience, Ayush said. Many kids are too scared to try it. Once Ayush learned that he did not have full-blown allergies, he began sampling those foods at home and in restaurants. Hes now able to eat most of the previously off-limits foods in small amounts, and though he sometimes has a physical reaction the tingling in his mouth, the swollen lips he knows it wont get worse than that. But he was annoyed that hed gone through years of unnecessary fear and endured the long hours of testing just to get a diagnosis. Ayush, frustrated and always eager to learn, got on his computer to look up everything he could find on allergies and how to test for them. Hes always been a very intelligent and analytical kid. And once he starts a problem, you cannot get him to do anything else, said Ayushs mother, Alpana Verma-Alag, adding that her son will often skip meals and stay up all night when hes focused on something. Its hard for a parent, but its good as a scientist, she said. You have to have that kind of determination. As he continued digging into the topic, Ayush found the public data on people with allergies who had undergone genetic sequencing. Such data stripped of patient-identifying information is sometimes made public by the researchers who collect it so that other scientists can apply it to their work. In the data set that Ayush used, the DNA results had been analyzed for changes in gene expression for example, when certain genes turn off or on. Ayush was able to use those results to build an algorithm that screens for similar gene expressions in any blood sample. He also identified several genes associated with food allergies that no one else had found before. Ive always been research-focused I was never out to start a company, per se, Ayush said. But I think our market potential is really huge. There are 15 million people with food allergies. If we can make a difference in some of their lives, that will be gratifying to me personally. Hell need a much larger sample of DNA tests to refine his algorithm and prove that its a reliable diagnostic tool before he can even think about bringing it to the public. Ayushs next step is doing just that: The grant from Illumina will go toward getting the needed samples and doing genetic sequencing. He hopes to start that process in February. In March, he has been invited to speak at a symposium of leading scientists in medical big-data analysis. After that: high school graduation. And, presumably, college hes still waiting to find out where he has been accepted. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Three days after an elderly woman was brutally beaten and left unconscious in a Visitacion Valley park, community members are calling for increased safety measures while San Franciscos police union has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to a suspects arrest. A witness found 88-year-old Yik Oi Huang covered in blood on the ground around 6:50 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Visitacion Valley playground where she exercised each day. Police had been investigating a report of a burglary in the neighborhood when the witness flagged officers down, officials said. Huang suffered several fractured ribs, shattered facial bones and a fractured spine. She remained in critical condition Friday at San Francisco General Hospital, Huangs granddaughter Sasanna Yee said. Yee said her grandmothers home had also been burglarized that morning, and a witness reported seeing a stranger inside the house, but nothing looked disturbed or ransacked. At a San Francisco Police Commission meeting Wednesday, community members called for public safety improvements such as more early-morning patrols in Visitacion Valley, the creation of a police substation in the neighborhood and the hiring of more bilingual officers to better serve the Asian community. Now Playing: Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, talks about an assault on an 88-year-old woman in the city's Visitacion Valley neighborhood. Video: San Francisco Chronicle At a news conference Friday, Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, proposed a mobile command unit for the neighborhood as a more immediate solution than a substation. This will provide a very visible police presence that will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, preferably with some certified bilingual officers to make people feel comfortable to come out, he said. Montoya added that this is the first time the police union has made such a suggestion to the Police Department, and that its up to Police Chief Bill Scott and city officials to make a final decision. But not everyone is convinced that adding the mobile unit will solve the neighborhoods problems. Rex Tabora, executive director of the Asian Pacific American Community Center, has worked in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood for years, providing public safety workshops and tips on how to interact with police. He said many in the Asian community dont report crimes because they feel like their concerns are ignored. Right now, what Im hearing is, Even if I go, the police wont do anything. And theyre afraid of retribution, Tabora said. Its a symptom of a bigger issue. San Francisco police implemented a mobile command center near the citys United Nations Plaza in September and saw immediate results, department spokeswoman Grace Gatpandan said. But its part of a multifaceted plan to address crime, Gatpandan said. Its not just about the vehicle being there. We look at the whole picture and what is needed and deploy our resources as necessary. An increased police presence along with more neighborhood outreach would help improve community relationships, Gatpandan said. She added that since Tuesdays assault, the Ingleside Station captain had been in the neighborhood speaking with community members. As her grandmother recovers from the brutal attack, Yee has urged people to remain calm. I know there are tensions and this is not a one-time occurrence. Many people have been hurt over the years, she said. There are bad apples in every place, but this is a bigger conversation about communities coming together. Huangs family will hold a prayer vigil at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Asian Pacific American Community Center. Authorities have asked anyone with information to call the anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444. Ashley McBride is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ashleynmcb The Hearst Foundations awarded more than $6 million in grants to 13 nonprofit organizations in California including four in the Bay Area in mid-December, the organization said last week. Paul Dinovitz, the executive director of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and the Hearst Foundation Inc., announced the grant recipients after the foundations quarterly board meeting Dec. 11. Bay Area nonprofits specializing in literature and medicine, sustainable agriculture, family services and nursing education received grants of $50,000 to $150,000. San Francisco nonprofit Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture received $100,000 to bolster its Foodwise Teen Program. The paid job training program allows high school students ages 14 to 18 to learn about sustainable food careers and get experience in gardens, kitchens and farmers markets. The foundations awarded a $50,000 grant to California Humanities, which has offices in Oakland and Los Angeles, for its humanities-based development program for health care workers. San Joses Grail Family Services received a $75,000 grant to support its Family Engagement Professional Development Program. George Mark Childrens Home in San Leandro, where youths with chronic or rare illnesses receive treatment, was awarded $150,000 to support the expansion of its Nursing Education Program. Four Los Angeles nonprofits were awarded $525,000 total: California Science Center received $300,000 to support its EndeavourLA Campaign to create the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center; Get Lit-Words Ignite received $50,000 toward its school-based literary programs; Mount Saint Marys University received $100,000 to provide financial assistance for students enrolled in the bachelor of science nursing program; and Wayfinder Family Services received a $75,000 grant to support its workforce training and youth development programs. Five Southern California nonprofits received grants ranging from $50,000 to $5 million, the foundation said. The Laguna Beach Playhouse received $50,000 to support its TheatreReach program; the Venice Family Clinic received $150,000 to support programming addressing the social, economic and environmental factors that influence health; the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara received $100,000 to support its Family for Life program; the American Martyrs School in Manhattan Beach received $75,000 to fund campus enhancements and technology improvements; and the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla received $5 million to fund a model that accelerates medicine development. The Hearst Foundations charity operates separately from Hearst Corp., which owns The Chronicle. Kamala Harris may run for president her decision is expected soon. Her record nationally is limited to two years as a senator in the minority party. But as Washington correspondent Tal Kopan writes, its her time as a San Francisco prosecutor that informs Harris most high-profile impact: her questioning of Trump appointees in the Senate. Those moments have garnered excitement among the Democratic base and grudging respect from some of her Republican counterparts. Harris prosecutor past is also important to her critics on the left, who argue that her prior work in law enforcement has disproportionately harmed people of color, and point to controversial moments during her time as California attorney general. Read more of Kopans story here. Top of the News Now off to the legislative races: Lets get the big news out of the way first: Gov. Gavin Newsoms first budget proposal includes directing the DMV to accept credit cards. The $209 billion proposal includes increases in funding for education (especially the California State University system and community colleges) and navigation centers. Insert company name here: Are you really broken up about the switch from AT&T to Oracle Park? No need, columnist Ann Killion writes. If you stick around long enough, it too will change. Probably to some company that weve never yet heard of or that doesnt yet exist. Sign up for Bay Briefing Like what you're reading? Subscribe to The Chronicle's Bay Briefing newsletter and get the Bay Area's best journalism in your inbox every weekday. See More Collapse Its no Jets: Whats Detroit-style pizza? Ill leave the particulars up to food writer Jonathan Kauffmanto explain, but the regional pizza variation is growing in popularity in the Bay Area, including through two local Detroit pizza proprietors who have never even been to the Motor City. A wet week: After a break in the clouds on Thursday, expect seven days of rain starting on Friday, forecasters say. Despite a series of storms, the area is still under its average rainfall for the year. Private trash eye: While Oakland may be seeing some progress on combatting illegal dumping through proactive cleaning, San Francisco has turned to more extreme tactics to crack down against rampant dumping in the Bayview, including hiring a private investigator to catch those trashing the neighborhoods sidewalks with construction waste. A warm welcome: Come From Away tells the story of a small town that welcomed 7,000 stranded airline passengers and crew on 9/11. Its a musical that invites us to be our best selves, Lily Janiak writes in her review. All aboard: Richmonds last attempt at a ferry service in 1999 fell apart amid low ridership, but this time around anticipation was high. More than 150 riders were aboard the transit services first high-speed catamaran journey early Thursday. Ive been counting down the days, said one commuter. Good episode of antiques roadshow: Spengers Fish Grotto may be gone after more than 120 years in business, but its legacy lives in the cache of memorabilia that once adorned its walls including a large vase that was, in fact, a famous Japanese art piece produced for the 1893 Worlds Fair, long thought to have been lost or destroyed. End of the road: Despite being described as the future of changing mobility when it was acquired by Ford Motor Company in 2016, San Francisco commuter shuttle company Chariot is shutting down. The reason is simple: Theyre not making enough money. A union representative says they will negotiate severance for Chariots drivers but adds nobody in this countrys been able to figure out how to run transit without subsidies. Water suit: San Francisco has joined a lawsuit against the state for ordering more of the Sierras cool, crisp flows to go to fish instead of people. The states new water plan focused on restoring the depleted river system could lead to water cuts in San Francisco of 20 percent or more, the city says. The Kicker Cody Glenn / Special To The Chronicle Ayush Alag lived with the fear of a life-threatening allergic reaction for years but he was most frustrated with the lengthy and painful process of allergy testing. So Alag created a type of DNA test that could potentially be used to quickly identify whether someone has a deadly food allergy. He has received a grant to further his research, has already been credited with breaking new ground, and started a company. Oh, did we mention hes 17? Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here and contact Brown at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com Thank you for reading! You have reached your 30-day limit of free access to SentinelSource.com, The Keene Sentinels website. If you would like to read two more articles for free at this time, please register for an account by clicking the sign up button below. We hope you find The Sentinels coverage of the Monadnock Region valuable. We rely on our subscribers to bring you strong local journalism and hope you will consider supporting our work by taking advantage of this special subscription offer here. Kenneth Gill, age 65, husband of 47 years of Marsha Gill of Lily, Kentucky went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at his residence. He was the father of Kenneth E. Gill, Jr., of Hamilton, Ohio and Jessica Bowman and husband Terry of London, Kentucky; the brother of Vic Gill Courtesy Port of Seattle As the partial government shutdown continues, some federal employees are feeling an incredible financial strain. To alleviate the stress a little, the Port of Seattle announced on Thursday a Resources Fair for federal safety and security employees affected by the shutdown. It's Seattle, right? Well not quite. According to apartmentguide.com's ranking, Seattle squeaks into the top five, but there's a few too many residents per coffee shops to put it first on the list. RELATED: Seattle's coziest bars and coffee shops How did they come up with the ranking? First they took cities with populations of more than 100,000 based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Then they added all coffee-related businesses in the city and divided the populations by those numbers. This ratio determined the ranking. So rejoice Seattleites, you may not have been the top city -- or even the top Washington city -- but you do have 1 shop per 2,308 residents. Click the through the slideshow above to see which other six Washington cities made the top 50. Minority Republicans are framing a question they hope echoes across Washington the next three months: Can state government, flush with new revenue, live on $50 billion in the next biennial budget? Gov. Jay Inslee has proposed a $54.4 billion budget, a spending increase of 20 percent and more than $10 billion, with new taxes proposed to pay for it. "When you're in the minority, you have to pick your spot," State Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, told a Seattle City Club legislative preview breakfast on Friday morning. While Washington is a "one party state," he added, "the minority party has a responsibility to be heard." The minority party wants to talk about "new and higher taxes," said Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, Republicans' Senate leader. "It's all about higher taxes and more spending." Inslee has argued that more spending is needed, on programs ranging from mental health to his $1.1 billion Orca whale recovery project, to climate-related spending on electric cars and energy efficient buildings. He has even proposed a $1.3 million grant to the State Patrol for the Governor's security detail. RELATED: Gov. Inslee proposes health care 'public option' for Washington Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, argued that the Legislature should be looking at a "longer time horizon" beyond the two-year budget, and asking "What are the quality investments?" "We're going to be owning the state of Washington forever and we should be thinking longer term," Billig added. The 2018 election saw Democrats gain seven seats for a 57-member majority in the 98-member Washington State House of Representatives, and pick up three seats to hold 28 in the 49-member State Senate. Inslee has proposed $3.7 billion in new revenue, starting with a 9 percent capital gains tax on high income earners, and hiking the Business & Occupation Tax from 1.5 percent to $2.6 percent on services. "It is indisputable: Washington has the most regressive tax system in the nation," argued State Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland, deputy majority leader in the House. He pointed out that very conservative Idaho, our neighbor to the east, has a capital gains tax and an income tax. But a state income tax has long been the "third rail" of Washington politics. Voters don't want it and have rejected it. As well, a statewide Crosscut/Elway Poll, released Thursday, showed majorities oppose Inslee's capital gains tax and B & O tax proposals. RELATED: Gov. Inslee off to New Hampshire, state he allegedly 'abandoned' in 2018 The Republicans have argued that the proposed capital gains tax is really a tax on income, and a camel's nose-in-the-tent vehicle to legalize an income tax. The Washington State Supreme Court on Thursday rebuffed Seattle's request for a direct review of its effort to impose a city-wide income tax. "Like the city of Seattle, however, advocates of a capital gains tax are trying to set up another lawsuit to see if they can get the court to overturn its prior income tax rulings," Jason Mercier of the conservative Washington Policy Center wrote on Friday. The progressive wing of the Democratic Party is urging majority lawmakers to be bold, particularly enacting the capital gains tax. The state has not seen big Democratic legislative majorities in about a decade. From 2013 until November of 2017 -- when Democrats won a special election -- a "Senate Majority Coalition" of Republicans and renegade Democrats controlled the upper house of the Legislature.. Divided control led to long legislative sessions, but was "a good process," in writing state budgets Wilcox, House Republican leader, argued. Each party delivered a wish list of proposals. Prolonged negotiations resulted, edging into summer. "We all knew we would end up at a good place in the middle," Wilcox added. Although, in 2017, the state ended up with no capital budget. Neel Bhatt, a UW assistant professor of otolaryngology, specializes in treating patients with voice problems. Through his work, he began to realize people did not like the sound of their own voices. With the transition to school over Zoom, many students can relate to the discomfort of hearin The Episcopal Church, lifting a statute of limitations on reporting sexual abuse by clerics, has created a three-year window when any allegation of misconduct at any time can be brought forward to church authorities. "In short, you do not have to wonder if the allegation comes from long ago," the Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, Episcopal Bishop of Olympia, has written in a pastoral letter to be read in parishes and missions across Western Washington. The odds are that this isnt a coincidence. That people are fleeing almost every high-tax state is, at least in some part, a backlash against costly government. It also reflects to some extent the much better economic growth in low-tax states; people go where the jobs are. Because youre probably wondering: South Carolina is one of the low-tax states, although it might not feel like it for many folks. The report showed our average state and local taxes to be 7.9 percent of our average personal income. Only 10 states had lower tax burdens by that measure. Meanwhile, ours is among the most desirable states to relocate. South Carolina welcomes three newcomers for every two people who leave, ranking fourth nationally by that measure. In terms of net gain we rank eighth, with 18,519 more people moving here than leaving in 2016. No matter how you dissect the data, such a stark pattern establishes an unmistakable correlation between taxes and the migration patterns of Americans. Americans see low-tax states as greener pastures, and that factors into their decisions. FLORENCE, S.C. -- Francis Marion Universitys annual remembrance Martin Luther King celebration will be Jan. 17 in Chapman Auditorium on the FMU campus. The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce is co-sponsor of the event. The event, which brings together both the region and the FMU family to celebrate King his legacy in the field of civil and human rights, will begin at 6:15 p.m. with a candlelight march. The march begins on the front lawn of the Wallace House and processes to the McNair Science Building and the Chapman Auditorium. The 21st Annual MLK Jr. Celebration Program will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapman Auditorium, with performances by Young, Gifted and Blessed Gospel Choir and others. South Carolina Rep. Carl Anderson of Georgetown will provide the events keynote address. Dr. Daphne Carter-McCants, FMUs assistant president for student affairs and one of the events organizers, says the importance of the event cannot be overstated as it provides a valuable forum for the campus and surrounding community as a whole to learn of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. McCants says the event is a great way to educate FMUs students and the community as a whole on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his role in the Civil Rights Movement. A Northwestern University-led international team is getting closer to understanding the mysteriously bright object that burst in the northern sky this summer. On June 17, the ATLAS survey's twin telescopes in Hawaii found a spectacularly bright anomaly 200 million light years away in the Hercules constellation. Dubbed AT2018cow or "The Cow," the object quickly flared up, then vanished almost as quickly. After combining several imaging sources, including hard X-rays and radiowaves, the multi-institutional team now speculates that the telescopes captured the exact moment a star collapsed to form a compact object, such as a black hole or neutron star. The stellar debris, approaching and swirling around the object's event horizon, caused the remarkably bright glow. This rare event will help astronomers better understand the physics at play within the first moments of the creation of a black hole or neutron star. "We think that 'The Cow' is the formation of an accreting black hole or neutron star," said Northwestern's Raffaella Margutti, who led the research. "We know from theory that black holes and neutron stars form when a star dies, but we've never seen them right after they are born. Never." Margutti will present her findings at the 233rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society at 2:15 p.m. PST on Jan. 10 in Seattle. (Reporters can join the session to watch, listen and ask questions via webcast.) The research will then be published in the Astrophysical Journal. Margutti is an assistant professor of physics and astronomy in Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and a member of CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics), an endowed research center at Northwestern focused on advancing astrophysics studies with an emphasis on interdisciplinary connections. advertisement The curious Cow After it was first spotted, The Cow captured immediate international interest and left astronomers scratching their heads. "We thought it must be a supernova," Margutti said. "But what we observed challenged our current notions of stellar death." For one, the anomaly was unnaturally bright -- 10 to 100 times brighter than a typical supernova. It also flared up and disappeared much faster than other known star explosions, with particles flying at 30,000 kilometers per second (or 10 percent of the speed of light). Within just 16 days, the object had already emitted most of its power. In a universe where some phenomena last for millions and billions of years, two weeks amounts to the blink of an eye. "We knew right away that this source went from inactive to peak luminosity within just a few days," Margutti said. "That was enough to get everybody excited because it was so unusual and, by astronomical standards, it was very close by." Using Northwestern's access to observational facilities at the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii and the MMT Observatory in Arizona, as well as remote access to the SoAR telescope in Chile, Margutti took a closer look at the object's makeup. Margutti and her team examined The Cow's chemical composition, finding clear evidence of hydrogen and helium, which excluded models of compact objects merging -- like those that produce gravitational waves. advertisement Comprehensive strategy Astronomers have traditionally studied stellar deaths in the optical wavelength, which uses telescopes to capture visible light. Margutti's team, on the other hand, uses a more comprehensive approach. Her team viewed the object with X-rays, hard X-rays (which are 10 times more powerful than normal X-rays), radio waves and gamma rays. This enabled them to continue studying the anomaly long after its initial visible brightness faded. After ATLAS spotted the object, Margutti's team quickly obtained follow-up observations of The Cow with NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and INTEGRAL hard X-ray laboratories, soft X-rays at XMM-Newton and radio antennae at the Very Large Array toward The Cow. Margutti attributes The Cow's relative nakedness to potentially unraveling this intergalactic mystery. Although stars might collapse into black holes all the time, the large amount of material around newly born black holes blocks astronomers' vision. Fortunately, about 10 times less ejecta swirled around The Cow as compared to a typical stellar explosion. The lack of material allowed astronomers to peer straight through to the object's "central engine," which revealed itself as a probable black hole or neutron star. "A 'lightbulb' was sitting deep inside the ejecta of the explosion," Margutti said. "It would have been hard to see this in a normal stellar explosion. But The Cow had very little ejecta mass, which allowed us to view the central engine's radiation directly." Galactic neighbor Margutti's team also benefited from the star's relative closeness to Earth. Even though it was nestled in the distant dwarf galaxy called CGCG 137-068, astronomers consider that to be "right around the corner." "Two hundred million light years is close for us, by the way," Margutti said. "This is the closest transient object of this kind that we have ever found." Margutti's team at Northwestern includes graduate student Aprajita Hajela, postdoctoral fellows Giacomo Terreran, Deanne Coppejans and Kate Alexander (who is a Hubble Fellow), and first-year undergraduate student Daniel Brethauer. "Being given the opportunity to contribute to something as cutting edge and international as understanding AT2018cow as an undergrad is a surreal experience," Brethauer said. "To have helped the world's experts figure out what AT2018cow is even in the smallest way was beyond my wildest expectations at the beginning of the summer and something that I will remember for the rest of my life." Many stars explode as luminous supernovae when, swollen with age, they run out of fuel for nuclear fusion. But some stars can go supernova simply because they have a close and pesky companion star that, one day, perturbs its partner so much that it explodes. These latter events can happen in binary star systems, where two stars attempt to share dominion. While the exploding star gives off lots of evidence about its identity, astronomers must engage in detective work to learn about the errant companion that triggered the explosion. On Jan. 10 at the 2019 American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle, an international team of astronomers announced that they have identified the type of companion star that made its partner in a binary system, a carbon-oxygen white dwarf star, explode. Through repeated observations of SN 2015cp, a supernova 545 million light years away, the team detected hydrogen-rich debris that the companion star had shed prior to the explosion. "The presence of debris means that the companion was either a red giant star or similar star that, prior to making its companion go supernova, had shed large amounts of material," said University of Washington astronomer Melissa Graham, who presented the discovery and is lead author on the accompanying paper accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. The supernova material smacked into this stellar litter at 10 percent the speed of light, causing it to glow with ultraviolet light that was detected by the Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories nearly two years after the initial explosion. By looking for evidence of debris impacts months or years after a supernova in a binary star system, the team believes that astronomers could determine whether the companion had been a messy red giant or a relatively neat and tidy star. The team made this discovery as part of a wider study of a particular type of supernova known as a Type Ia supernova. These occur when a carbon-oxygen white dwarf star explodes suddenly due to activity of a binary companion. Carbon-oxygen white dwarfs are small, dense and -- for stars -- quite stable. They form from the collapsed cores of larger stars and, if left undisturbed, can persist for billions of years. advertisement Type Ia supernovae have been used for cosmological studies because their consistent luminosity makes them ideal "cosmic lighthouses," according to Graham. They've been used to estimate the expansion rate of the universe and served as indirect evidence for the existence of dark energy. Yet scientists are not certain what kinds of companion stars could trigger a Type Ia event. Plenty of evidence indicates that, for most Type Ia supernovae, the companion was likely another carbon-oxygen white dwarf, which would leave no hydrogen-rich debris in the aftermath. Yet theoretical models have shown that stars like red giants could also trigger a Type Ia supernova, which could leave hydrogen-rich debris that would be hit by the explosion. Out of the thousands of Type Ia supernovae studied to date, only a small fraction were later observed impacting hydrogen-rich material shed by a companion star. Prior observations of at least two Type Ia supernovae detected glowing debris months after the explosion. But scientists weren't sure if those events were isolated occurrences, or signs that Type Ia supernovae could have many different kinds of companion stars. "All of the science to date that has been done using Type Ia supernovae, including research on dark energy and the expansion of the universe, rests on the assumption that we know reasonably well what these 'cosmic lighthouses' are and how they work," said Graham. "It is very important to understand how these events are triggered, and whether only a subset of Type Ia events should be used for certain cosmology studies." The team used Hubble Space Telescope observations to look for ultraviolet emissions from 70 Type Ia supernovae approximately one to three years following the initial explosion. "By looking years after the initial event, we were searching for signs of shocked material that contained hydrogen, which would indicate that the companion was something other than another carbon-oxygen white dwarf," said Graham. advertisement In the case of SN 2015cp, a supernova first detected in 2015, the scientists found what they were searching for. In 2017, 686 days after the supernova exploded, Hubble picked up an ultraviolet glow of debris. This debris was far from the supernova source -- at least 100 billion kilometers, or 62 billion miles, away. For reference, Pluto's orbit takes it a maximum of 7.4 billion kilometers from our sun. By comparing SN 2015cp to the other Type Ia supernovae in their survey, the researchers estimate that no more than 6 percent of Type Ia supernovae have such a litterbug companion. Repeated, detailed observations of other Type Ia events would help cement these estimates, Graham said. The Hubble Space Telescope was essential for detecting the ultraviolet signature of the companion star's debris for SN 2015cp. In the fall of 2017, the researchers arranged for additional observations of SN 2015cp by the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array in New Mexico, the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, among others. These data proved crucial in confirming the presence of hydrogen and are presented in a companion paper lead by Chelsea Harris, a research associate at Michigan State University. "The discovery and follow-up of SN 2015cp's emission really demonstrates how it takes many astronomers, and a wide variety of types of telescopes, working together to understand transient cosmic phenomena," said Graham. "It is also a perfect example of the role of serendipity in astronomical studies: If Hubble had looked at SN 2015cp just a month or two later, we wouldn't have seen anything." Graham is also a senior fellow with the UW's DIRAC Institute and a science analyst with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, or LSST. "In the future, as a part of its regularly scheduled observations, the LSST will automatically detect optical emissions similar to SN 2015cp -- from hydrogen impacted by material from Type Ia supernovae," said Graham said. "It's going to make my job so much easier!" A new bioengineering approach for boosting photosynthesis in rice plants could increase grain yield by up to 27%, according to a study publishing January 10 in the journal Molecular Plant. The approach, called GOC bypass, enriches plant cells with CO 2 that would otherwise be lost through a metabolic process called photorespiration. The genetically engineered plants were greener and larger and showed increased photosynthetic efficiency and productivity under field conditions, with particular advantages in bright light. "Food shortage related to world population growth will be a serious problem our planet will have to face," says senior study author Xin-Xiang Peng of South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou, China. "Our study could have a major impact on this problem by significantly increasing rice yield, especially for areas with bright light." Bioengineering improvement of rice, a staple food crop worldwide, has high practical importance, particularly in light of the need for increased crop productivity due to world population growth and the reduction of cultivable soils. But increases in yield for rice and several other major crops have been sparse in recent years, and crop yield seems to be reaching a ceiling of maximal potential. The main genetic approach for increasing the yield potential of major crops focuses on photosynthesis, the biochemical process in which CO 2 and water are converted into O 2 and energy-rich sugar compounds that fuel plant growth. One way to increase photosynthesis is to bypass photorespiration, a light-dependent process in which O 2 is taken up and CO 2 released. The cost of photorespiration is massive. Abolishing photorespiration could result in up to a 55% increase in photosynthesis, placing photorespiration on center stage in attempts to improve photosynthetic efficiency and yield. Over the past few years, three photorespiratory bypasses have been introduced into plants, and two of these led to observable increases in photosynthesis and biomass yield. But most of the experiments were carried out using the model organism Arabidopsis, and the increases have typically been observed under environment-controlled, low-light, and short-day conditions. "To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first that tested photorespiration bypass in rice," says co-author Zheng-Hui He of San Francisco State University. In the new study, the researchers developed a strategy to essentially divert CO 2 from photorespiration to photosynthesis. They converted a molecule called glycolate, which is produced via photorespiration, to CO 2 using three rice enzymes: glycolate oxidase, oxalate oxidase, and catalase. To deploy GOC bypass, which was named for the three enzymes, the researchers introduced genes encoding the enzymes into rice chloroplasts -- organelles where photosynthesis takes place in plant cells. As a result, the photorespiratory rate was suppressed by 18%-31% compared to normal, and the net photosynthetic rate increased by 15%-22%, primarily due to higher concentrations of cellular CO 2 used for photosynthesis. Compared to plants that were not genetically engineered, the GOC plants were consistently greener and larger, with an above-ground dry weight that was 14%-35% higher. Moreover, starch grains grew in size by 100% and increased in number per cell by 37%. In the spring seeding season, grain yield improved by 7% to 27%. Moving forward, the researchers plan to optimize the performance of the engineered plants in the field by putting the same metabolic bypass in other rice varieties. They would also like to apply the same approach to other crop plants such potatoes. "Our engineered plants could be deployed in fields at a larger scale after further evaluations by independent researchers and government agencies," Peng says. "Although we don't expect this approach would affect the taste of these plants, both the nutritional quality and taste are yet to be comprehensively evaluated by independent labs and governmental agencies." This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Science and Technology Project of Guangzhou City. Two children from Europe and a child from Canada suffer from a previously unknown disease that causes epileptic seizures, loss of magnesium in urine and reduced intelligence at the same time -- though unfortunately without it being possible to treat or alleviate their symptoms. But researchers in an international consortium have now discovered what is wrong with the children aged 4, 6 and 10. Professor Bente Vilsen and her research group at the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University, Denmark, are part of the consortium, which also includes researchers from universities in Germany, England, Austria, the Netherlands and Canada. The research results have been published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. Using a genetic analysis, the researchers have discovered that the disease is caused by a newly occurring mutation in one of the sodium-potassium pump's four forms, known as the Alpha-1 form. Even though the children have exactly the same three symptoms, they do not have the same genetic defect, as the amino acids in the pump protein which are genetically altered are different, explains Bente Vilsen. "It turns out that the form of sodium-potassium pump which mutates is found in both the kidneys and the brain. The mutation leads to the kidneys, which normally absorb magnesium, instead secreting the substance in the urine; however, it is not the loss of magnesium which triggers the epileptic seizures. The convulsions occur because the sodium-potassium pump is also extremely important for the brain's functions, meaning that giving extra magnesium supplements won't help prevent the seizures," says Bente Vilsen. She adds that the third frightening sign of the disease, mental retardation, should probably be attributed to a lack of oxygen to the brain during the seizures. The children share the common trait that the mutations have destroyed the pump functioning that Jens Christian Skou received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997 for discovering. This knowledge is important because understanding the role of the sodium-potassium pump is the first step towards developing effective treatment methods. The research group is now working towards this goal, even though the disease is most likely rare. advertisement "But three cases have turned up in two different places in Europe and in Canada, and they're not likely to be the only ones," says Bente Vilsen. She explains that the new knowledge about the disease will probably mean that medical doctors will in future be more aware that loss of magnesium in combination with epilepsy may be caused by genetic defects in the sodium-potassium pump. "I believe that we will in future find many more children with the disease, and that this is a good example of why international research cooperation is absolutely necessary -- there are simply too few cases of the disease for a single country to carry out the research alone," says Bente Vilsen. She points out that in future, it will be possible to replace sick genes with healthy, and that it is therefore important to know precisely which gene is affected by a mutation. She also points out that the understanding of the disease mechanisms causing rare diseases often turns out to lead to better treatment of patients with related but far more commonly occurring diseases. Jens Chr. Skou's sodium-potassium pump is best known as the membrane pump that is needed for the normal functioning of nerve cells, kidney cells and most of the body's other cells. The pump works like a battery that separates sodium and potassium on either side of the membrane. This creates an electrical current across the cell membrane that drives many other processes such as e.g. electric conduction along the nerve cells and the absorption of magnesium and a range of nutrients from the urine into the kidney cells, so that they are not normally lost in the urine. advertisement Jens Christian Skou, who died in early summer at the age of 99, originally had the idea that mutations in the sodium-potassium pump would be incompatible with life. But it has since been found that more serious diseases which are not necessarily fatal are due to genetic defects in the sodium-potassium pump -- and this is precisely the case with the disease that the three children suffer from. This is due to two factors. Firstly, that in the body's different types of tissues there are several variants of the sodium-potassium pump which are able to supplement each other if one of the forms does not work. And, secondly, that we have genetic material from both our parents, so even in the kidneys, which in contrast to the brain only contain one variant of the sodium-potassium pump (Alpha-1), not all of the sodium-potassium pumps will be defective, but only those derived from one of the two parents. Therefore, in both the brain and kidneys, there will be a reduced number of functioning sodium-potassium pumps, but not a total absence of pumps -- because if this was the case, the children would have died before birth as predicted by Jens Christian Skou. In the specific research project, the patients were discovered by medical doctors working in clinical practice. Bente Vilsen's group have contributed with their expertise in examining sick sodium-potassium pumps by inserting the diseased gene in cultured cells that originally come from monkey kidneys, making it possible to measure their pump function in the laboratory. As it turned out, the three mutations each in their own way caused the pump to be unable to transport sodium and potassium. There is a long way to go before the research results benefit the patients as the discovery is as such basic research. However, Bente Vilsen explains that Postdoc Rikke Holm from her research group recently discovered how it was possible to use an additional mutation -- a so-called 'rescue' mutation -- to nullify the effects of the disease mutations on the pump's binding of sodium. "This provides an insight into the molecular mechanism which we in the research group are working to utilise to improve the pump's transport activities, meaning that we can possibly one day develop a drug with a similar 'rescue-effect'. In any event, that's our hope. The fact is that it's basic research which generates the knowledge that forms the basis for the development of the vast majority of drugs and forms of treatment," points out Bente Vilsen. At least 115 people die every day in the U.S. after overdosing on opioids, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. And in 2016, illegal injectable opioids became the most common drug involved in overdose-related deaths. This spike has led to a national public health crisis and epidemic. During an overdose, a person breathes slower or stops breathing altogether. These symptoms are reversible with the drug naloxone if caught in time. But people who use opioids by themselves have no way of asking for help in the event of an overdose. Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a cellphone app, called Second Chance, that uses sonar to monitor someone's breathing rate and sense when an opioid overdose has occurred. The app accurately detects overdose-related symptoms about 90 percent of the time and can track someone's breathing from up to 3 feet away. The team will publish its results Jan. 9 in Science Translational Medicine. "The idea is that people can use the app during opioid use so that if they overdose, the phone can potentially connect them to a friend or emergency services to provide naloxone," said co-corresponding author Shyam Gollakota, an associate professor in the UW's Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. "Here we show that we have created an algorithm for a smartphone that is capable of detecting overdoses by monitoring how someone's breathing changes before and after opioid use." The Second Chance app sends inaudible sound waves from the phone to people's chests and then monitors the way the sound waves return to the phone to look for specific breathing patterns. advertisement "We're looking for two main precursors to opioid overdose: when a person stops breathing, or when a person's breathing rate is seven breaths per minute or lower," said co-corresponding author Dr. Jacob Sunshine, an assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine at the UW School of Medicine. "Less than eight breaths per minute is a common cutoff point in a hospital that would trigger people to go to the bedside and make sure a patient is OK." In addition to watching breathing, Second Chance also monitors how people move. "People aren't always perfectly still while they're injecting drugs, so we want to still be able to track their breathing as they're moving around," said lead author Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, a doctoral student in the Allen School. "We can also look for characteristic motions during opioid overdose, like if someone's head slumps or nods off." To be able to use real-world data to design and test the algorithm behind the app, the researchers partnered with the Insite supervised injection facility in Vancouver, Canada. Insite is the first legal supervised consumption site in North America. As part of the study, participants at Insite wore monitors on their chests that also track breathing rates. "We asked participants to prepare their drugs like they normally would, but then we monitored them for a minute pre-injection so the algorithm could get a baseline value for their breathing rate," said Nandakumar. "After we got a baseline, we continued monitoring during the injection and then for five minutes afterward, because that's the window when overdose symptoms occur." Of the 94 participants who tested the algorithm, 47 had a breathing rate of seven breaths per minute or slower, 49 stopped breathing for a significant period, and two people experienced an overdose event that required oxygen, ventilation and/or naloxone treatment. On average, the algorithm correctly identified breathing problems that foreshadow overdose 90 percent of the time. advertisement The researchers also wanted to make sure the algorithm could detect actual overdose events, because these occur infrequently at Insite. The researchers worked with anesthesiology teams at UW Medical Center to "simulate" overdoses in an operating room, allowing the app to monitor people and detect when they stop breathing. "When patients undergo anesthesia, they experience much of the same physiology that people experience when they're having an overdose," Sunshine said. "Nothing happens when people experience this event in the operating room because they're receiving oxygen and they are under the care of an anesthesiology team. But this is a unique environment to capture difficult-to-reproduce data to help further refine the algorithms for what it looks like when someone has an acute overdose." For the simulation, the team recruited healthy participants undergoing previously scheduled elective surgeries. After providing informed consent, the patients then received standard anesthetic medications that led to 30 seconds of slower or absent breathing, and these events were captured by the device. The algorithm correctly predicted 19 out of the 20 simulated overdoses. For the one case it was wrong, the patient's breathing rate was just above the algorithm's threshold. Right now, Second Chance is only monitoring the people who use it. The team would eventually like the app to interact with them. "When the app detects decreased or absent breathing, we'd like it to send an alarm asking the person to interact with it," Gollakota said. "Then if the person fails to interact with it, that's when we say: 'OK this is a stage where we need to alert someone,' and the phone can contact someone with naloxone." The researchers are applying for FDA approval and have plans to commercialize this technology through a UW spinout called Sound Life Sciences, Inc. While this app could be used for all forms of opioid use, the team cautions that right now they have only tested it on illegal injectable opioid use because deaths from those overdoses are the most common. "We're experiencing an unprecedented epidemic of deaths from opioid use, and it's unfortunate because these overdoses are completely reversible phenomena if they're detected in time," Sunshine said. "The goal of this project is to try to connect people who are often experiencing overdoses alone to known therapies that can save their lives. We hope that by keeping people safer, they can eventually access long-term treatment." This research was funded by the UW Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute and the National Science Foundation. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before leaving the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 10, 2019. Donald Trump said Thursday he "would almost say definitely" that he would declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, a controversial option he has been publicly contemplating since last week. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled his planned trip later this month to the Swiss ski resort of Davos for the annual World Economic Forum (WEF), due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. "Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," the president tweeted. Trump has locked himself in a stalemate with congressional Democrats in the dispute over his demand for more than 5 billion U.S. dollars for funding a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters before setting out for a trip to the U.S. southern border that he "won't go" to Davos if the shutdown continues. "Well, I intended to go and speak in front of the world financial community in Davos. That's still on, but if the shutdown continues, which is in a while from now, if the shutdown continues, I won't go," Trump told reporters outside the White House. On Dec. 18, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced the presidential trip to Davos, adding that the president will be accompanied by an entourage led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. According to Sanders, the U.S. delegation comprises Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, among others. Trump, whose presence at the 2018 WEF was the first by a U.S. head of state since former President Bill Clinton, said Washington has "a great story to tell" at the international gathering this year, which runs on Jan. 22-25. Trump on Thursday headed for McAllen, a city in the southern U.S. state of Texas that borders Mexico, to continue pitching his demand for the wall-funding money. The president said during the press gaggle before his departure that he "would almost say definitely" that he would declare a national emergency at the border, a controversial option he has been publicly contemplating since last week. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone is accompanying Trump during the border visit, as the White House Counsel's Office has been assessing the legal process involved in a national emergency declaration over the wall. While claiming that he has "the absolute right" to make a national emergency declaration, Trump said "it makes sense" to get the wall-funding money from the Congress, but using his executive power to get it done is "the easy route." A U.S. president does have the authority to declare a national emergency, which, in the case of the current deadlock, will enable Trump to bypass congressional approval and build the wall using the Department of Defense money that has already been allocated. However, Democratic lawmakers and legal experts have said Trump's adoption of this method constitutes an abuse of power and will invite immediate court challenges. In a nationally televised speech from the Oval Office on Tuesday night, Trump painted a picture of "growing humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border," justifying his argument with a number of unchecked examples. He at that time refrained from mentioning his decision on national emergency declaration. The partial government shutdown, which now stretched into its 20th day and is set to surpass the 21-day historical record, has paralyzed a quarter of federal agencies and left 800,000 federal employees furloughed or working without pay. 5 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] File photoRoads in Salem, and along the coast, were closed last year by repeated storms and flooding. Senate President Karen Spilka said Wednesday that nothing Beacon Hill does in the next two years will be as important as addressing climate change. Whatever map Virginia winds up with after the court fight ends the old one or a new one will be in place only for the 2019 state election. Lines will have to be redrawn again after the U.S. Census Bureau releases new demographic data in 2020, and some would like to have that task taken out of lawmakers hands by then. As the rally progressed, Daniels held her youngest son, 4-year-old Hakeem, who was bundled up against a cold wind that whipped across the Interstate 64 overpass, near where the workers stood. Being a transportation screener can be stressful on a normal day, but so far morale among her co-workers is holding up, she said. 11th Jan'19: If Manmohan Singh was The Accidental Prime Minister, then I must say that it was a rather pleasant accident, a serendipity. In fact, his life offers great lessons and inspiration to the people of India, especially the youth. Manmohan Singhs early life is a story about a boy who lost his mother at a young age and whose family was displaced by Partition. He was perhaps the first member in his family to pursue higher education, he topped almost every exam that he wrote, secured a scholarship to study in Cambridge University where he won multiple prizes including the famous Adam Smith prize (past winners included the likes of J.M. Keynes). After securing a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford, he went on to win renown as one of the top economists of the modern era with a distinguished career spanning the globe. Former Prime minister Manmohan Singh Surely, this is far more inspirational for any young Indian today than apocryphal tales of exaggerated achievements that are being published by the BJPs propaganda machine. All his life, Singh never actively sought or craved for a position, the vanities and the accoutrements of a public office were never an attraction for him, but whenever his nation called upon him, the soft-spoken,erudite patriot was there for his motherland, always going beyond the call of duty. His contribution to Indian educational institutions, various advisory roles to government institutions, tenure as the Governor of the Reserve Bank all tell the story of an assiduous technocrat, who went about his duties diligently, observing the highest standards of probity. With the Indian economy on the precipice and I.G. Patel having refused the poisoned chalice of the finance ministry, former Prime Minister Narsimha Rao turned to Singh to save the country from an economic debacle. Movie: The Accidental Prime Minister Once at the helm of affairs in North Block, the new finance minister went about his task in the right earnest. The reforms that he initiated unleashed the animal spirits of the Indian economy. He was conscious of not leaving the task half done and used the opportunity presented by the balance of payment crisis to engineer an overhaul of the Indian economy, that propelled our nation to the glory and prosperity that we enjoy today. As a Prime Minister, Manmohan Singhs contribution has been exceptional too. The BJPs recent statistical skullduggery cannot take away the fact that the growth witnessed by the Indian economy was far more inclusive than the pseudo India Shiningcampaign of NDA-I era. Former Prime Minister Narsimha Rao The transformative effects of MGNREGA, especially in terms of real wages and spending power in rural India, the breakthrough in US-India nuclear deal that ended Indias nuclear isolation, making telecom and aviation affordable tothe commoner, elimination of the long-standing scourges such as polio, the urban renewal schemes, creation of new IITs, IIMs and the knowledge cities, drawing the blueprint of GST, retail and insurance reforms, and most importantly, introducing RTI to encourage citizens interface with the government and to increase transparencythese are all actual achievements and not mere sloganeering. One would rather have an accidental Prime Minister who achieved impressive GDP growth rates and built institutions, rather than a whimsical Prime Minister who caused deliberate accidents such as demonetization and blatantly undermines countrys top institutions. Narendra Modi As the 2019 national elections come closer, the Narendra Modi government has rather tactlessly resorted to its old chestnut of targeting the Gandhi family again. In doing so, they have decided to back a film based on memoirs of a panjandrum who clearly had an exaggerated estimation of his own importance and low estimation of professional propriety. One wonders if a media adviser, that too for barely four years in a total tenure of 10 years, is so influential as to be privy to PMOs dealings in all matters. The grace and dignity with which Singh has disassociated himself with this controversy is quintessentially him and is a well-deserved snub for the author of the book and makers of the film. One would assume that people learn from their mistakes, but that doesnt appear to be true for the BJP. In the run-up to the 2004 elections, sections of the BJP initiated a visceral attack on Sonia Gandhi and questioned her right to be the Prime Minister of India, even when the UPA under her leadership had won a decisive mandate. Sonia Gandhi But Sonia Gandhis decision to give up the top job in the country sent the BJP scurrying for cover. Innominating a man of accomplishment with impeccable credentials and pristine character, she had given the country a great leader. Nervous at their own poor performance in the last five years and the recent electoral setback, now the BJP is hoping that a cock and bull story would reap rich electoral dividends for them in the 2019 elections. Unfortunately for them, the Indian voter doesnt base her voting preference on the basis of works of fiction. Some 277 passengers and crew were sickened by a norovirus outbreak. We think the right thing to do is get everyone home early rather than have guests worry about their health, Cruise line spokesman Owen Torres told to media. The company will also give passengers a full refund. Unveiled in 2009, Oasis of the Seas, 18-deck-high, 1,186-foot-long and 225,282 tons, is one of the largest cruise ships in the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. It has a short incubation period. The best ways to prevent the spread of the virus is washing hands often, rinsing fruits and vegetables, cooking shellfish thoroughly, and avoiding the preparation of food when sick. The number of outbreaks of norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships has been declining in recent years. Lines also have adopted rigorous cleaning regimes. Norovirus hits about 19 to 21 million Americans each year, according to the CDC. Stacker dove into film history to compile data on 50 films set in ancient times, an era which spans from the beginning of human history to the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century. To qualify, the movie had to have at least 1,000 votes on IMDb. Click for more. The point here is not to argue whether Trump is right or wrong on border policy. It is, however, to remind everyone just what the U.S. Constitution says and why it says what it says. In the case of the current impasse over a border wall, the essential point is this: We dont have a parliamentary system of government. If we did, then wed have Prime Minister Trump presiding over a Republican majority that he won in the 2016 election. Quibblers, shush, please. Were not getting into the whole popular vote vs. electoral vote thing. The point is that in 2016 Republicans won a majority in the House. If the United States were set up the way most other western democracies are, wed have only a single chamber that matters, and the leader of the majority party would be the executive running the government. Thats why Theresa May is prime minister in Great Britain and Justin Trudeau is prime minister in Canada and so forth. If that Republican majority wanted to vote for money for a border wall, then it would. And if it didnt, then that would probably trigger a vote of no confidence in the prime minister who was pushing the measure. Winthrops sermon lay dormant, unpublished for two centuries. Yet his notion, that New England and, in time, America held an exceptional place in history with an exemplary mission beyond its own people to all of humanity, took root in the national self-understanding, so much so that I have nearly all my classes read it every term. One senses its theme in Thomas Jeffersons phrase that all men are created equal, or Emma Lazaruss words on the Statue of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free to whom I lift my lamp beside the golden door! And so, more than 350 years after the Puritans ship Arbella landed in Boston, Ronald Reagan imagined a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind swept, God blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace. Tellingly for today, he pictured a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors, and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. How stands the city on this winter night?, he asked. More prosperous, more secure and happier than when he entered office eight years before. Even more, after 200 years, he went on, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. Corey Long, who was found guilty of using a makeshift flamethrower at the 2017 Unite the Right rally, has withdrawn his appeal. Long was found guilty of disorderly conduct by a Charlottesville General District Court judge in June and sentenced to 360 days in jail, with all but 20 suspended. He initially appealed the conviction and was set for a trial on Jan. 24. However, Long dropped his appeal on Thursday, according to court documents. He will serve 10 days in jail over five weekends, half the original sentence, as is typical of misdemeanor convictions. Long claimed he was acting in self-defense when he ignited an aerosol can during the violent white supremacist demonstration on Aug. 12, 2017. The (Charlottesville) Daily Progress White said in an interview then that Lee County would open by the end of the year despite the lawsuits. We have the access to cash and the capabilities to get Lee County reopened, and we also are resolving any disputes with existing creditors, he said. The lawsuits appeared to have been settled in late October about the same time the Lee County authority required Americore to file daily progress reports. Authority member Howard Elliot said in December that did not occur and no substantive report had been provided since the beginning of November. Meanwhile, news outlets in Pennsylvania reported Americore failed to pay taxes and utilities for its Ellwood City hospital and continues to be chronically late with payroll. Americore has failed also to meet payroll dates for the hospital it owns in Pineville, Kentucky. The first time payroll checks bounced there preceded a vote by Lee County to sell its hospital to Americore. White had assured authority members then that his company had the financing and the connections to build a new model of health care in rural America, though he declined to provide details. RICHMOND The House committee chairman who stopped ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment from advancing last year said he remains opposed to it but hasnt decided how to handle the issue this year. A Senate resolution for Virginia to become the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment passed a committee with bipartisan support on Wednesday, indicating that its likely to pass the full Senate and head to the House. That means it could go to the House Privileges and Elections Committee, chaired by Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania. Cole said Thursday that hell talk to House GOP leadership and subcommittee chairs to get their thoughts on how to proceed should the Senate resolution make it to the House. A House resolution also was assigned to the committee he leads. I have made no decision on whether to schedule it for a hearing or not, Cole said of ERA ratification. Last year, resolutions for Virginia to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment were left in Coles committee over loud protests near the end of the General Assembly session. Cole said then and repeated in an interview Thursday that the deadline for states to ratify the ERA has long expired. Herring endorsed Gov. Ralph Northams budget proposal for a one-time transfer of $80 million into the state Literary Fund, which provides low-interest loans for school facilities. Northam has said that money would cover all the requests in the funds priority waiting list, with projects dating from 2008. However, the list includes only a portion of school construction needs across Virginia. While this political expediency by Herring and Northam may serve to make them feel better, this problem with our crumbling school infrastructure continues to grow worse, and the costs to fix it continue to skyrocket, Stanley said. Now is the time to solve this critical issue to Virginias infrastructure. Herrings spokesman Michael Kelly said in a statement Friday that Herring believes that every Virginia child deserves to learn in a school that is safe, healthy, and nurturing, and Senator Stanleys political attacks wont replace one broken desk or patch one schools leaky roof. The Liberal Women of Chesterfield County sprang up following President Donald Trumps election, and spent much of last year organizing to defeat then-Rep. Dave Brat, R-Henrico. As the activists made the rounds among lawmakers offices, they dropped off the animals and told anyone who would listen that lawmakers should tune out the pro-gun fringes and listen to people who dont think firearms being around small children is something to laugh about. When Meredith Baker encountered Del. Dave LaRock, R-Loudoun, in the hallway, she jogged his memory about the video. He was pushing it as a product that children could use to defend themselves if they were in a situation where a gun was in their school. They could put the bad guy to sleep and have a long timeout. And they had a little song about aim for the head, not for the toes. It was ridiculous, Baker said. That was an embarrassing episode for him. But I think that people should be embarrassed if they continue to side with him. Those lines now have to be redrawn. The legal and political fight centers on how to do that, and whether the new map should preserve the existing GOP majority or be drawn in a way that could make it easier for Democrats to take control of the chamber in Novembers elections. Republicans have appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, raising the prospect that the lower courts map could be overruled in the spring or early summer. This week the Supreme Court rejected House Republicans bid to halt implementation of a new House map for the November elections. Kevin Hamilton, an attorney for the Democratic-aligned African-American voters who brought the case, said the state needs a new, constitutional map with the 2019 election year already underway. Theres no reason to think that the result would be any different, especially under a very short timeline, Hamilton said. Not if they act in the same stubborn fashion theyve been acting in, Payne responded. Attorneys for the House GOP said the court should reject Grofmans efforts because in order to undo racial gerrymandering, Grofman, too, was allowing race to guide his decisions. In interviews both at the rally and elsewhere this week, people affected by the furloughs avoided taking sides in the political battle driving the shutdown. But all said they hoped that there would be a resolution soon that allows workers to do their jobs and to be paid on time. Its frustrating to see no real progress being made, said Alicia Thomas, of Wytheville, whose husband is a counselor for federal inmates. The uncertainty is frightening for those caught in the middle, she added. While she also works and the couple has some savings, her husband is the primary breadwinner and they have a mortgage, student debt and other bills that wont stop coming just because of the shutdown. I think weve always been pretty smart with our money but you dont expect to be working for free for a month, said Thomas, whose husband is among the personnel deemed essential and required to continue reporting to work. With no way to know how long the shutdown will last, the couple is squeezing every dollar and searching for part-time jobs or other secondary sources of income. Virginia Western Community College occupies a pretty warm spot in 94-year-old Maury Strauss heart. Thats what the founder of Strauss Development Corp. told the crowd Friday at a ceremony honoring his devotion to the school. The Roanoke businessman and philanthropist donated $1 million to the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation, the college announced. In response, the college named its student recreational wing the Maury and Sheila Strauss Family Student Life Center. The Strauss family was on hand for the dedication, held on the third floor of the student life center, along with college leaders and public officials. Sheila Strauss, a well-known supporter of the arts and nonprofit organizations in the Roanoke Valley, died in 2016. The gift launches the public phase of the Virginia Western Forward Endowment Fund, a vision of Dr. Charles Steger , the foundations late board of directors chairman and former Virginia Tech president. An unrestricted endowment such as the one to be funded by this campaign is rare for a community college, and more common among four-year institutions. Amanda Mansfield, the foundations director of philanthropy, said an unrestricted endowment fund of this size is especially unusual. The new facility will have four studios with vinyl-covered sprung floors, which are shock absorbent and thus ideal for dance practice. A divider between two of the studios can be removed to create one large performance space. This is not only for us, Szalay said. This is really for the people who want to come and learn, in an environment like that of a professional ballet school. Another of the studios is designated for fitness classes such as yoga and Pilates. There are dressing rooms, a study hall for dancers and dance students of grade school age to do their homework, and a storage room for Southwest Virginia Ballets stage props, sets and costumes at present, SVB keeps those items in rented storage units off-site. To be at the center of Roanoke, to have this kind of parking, is great, Szalay said. Its a great location. The layout contains separate, adjacent offices for Star City School and Southwest Virginia Ballet. The entities are separate but connected. Nonprofit SVB pays rent to the for-profit school. Szalay and his husband, Roanoke artist Mark Sheppard, purchased the ballet school in 2017. We gave a lot to this project. After another night in the 20s for Richmond, Wednesday's sun will bump the highs close to normal in the mid 40s. A cold front will pass through, but it will be a dry one. Thursday will remain chilly beneath a mix of sun and clouds and highs in the mid 40s. We could make it back to the 50s on Friday once winds come back in from the south. That will also bring in our next chance for rain. If it comes in early while temperatures are still cold, we could see some snowflakes before a switch to rain. At this time, it doesn't look like a significant snow threat for the area. Weekend forecast A robust low pressure system will track from the Tennessee Valley to the Northeast and deliver quite a bit of rain to Virginia from Saturday night into Sunday. Though Saturday could bring some mild 50s or 60s to the region, a bigger cold snap will move in right on the heels of the low pressure. Wintry weather can't be ruled out next weekend if that moisture mixes with arriving cold air, but uncertainty is high at this point. Beyond that, below normal temperatures are favored for much of the Eastern U.S. during the final two weeks of January. Whether the snow and ice was a hit or a miss for your neighborhood over the weekend, it seems there's still a lot of winter left. Check Richmond.com/weather for John Boyers videos and forecast updates. Contact him at JBoyer@timesdispatch.com. Joe Concha, The Hills trustworthy journalist, writes on media, consistently expressing disenchantment about how the cable propaganda seems never-ending. The cable networks rating in meeting their professional obligations to the American public for fact-based reporting borders on empty. For me, it border on repulsive. Catch me on #Kimmel TONIGHT! @JimmyKimmelLive@JimmyKimmel#ABC, FNCs Bret Baier excitedly tweets. How absolutely sad! If one network attempts a balanced yet controversial news report, the competitors morph into Chesapeake Bay crabs. You know: the crab that nearly manages to climb out of the basket causes other crabs to pull him back down. Thats what crabs do. It is also what cable news networks do. To the sophisticated news viewer, it becomes a repulsive dynamic. All three networks had their strategies: Fox came available in the late 1990s as a needed conservative antidote simply offering a choice, and keeping the others honest. CNN came to Richmond viewers in 1980 symbolizing balanced coverage. MSNBC appeared in an almost schizophrenic state, with little consistency just flopping around from ideology to ideology. The governors office defended the proposal as well deserved and necessary. Virginias law enforcement officers have physically demanding jobs and they put their lives at risk every day to keep the public safe, spokeswoman Ofirah Yheskel said. Governor Northam believes they should be able to afford their health care costs after retirement and has proposed a reasonable credit that would ensure they are able to do so. VRS estimates that the proposal would increase the long-term, unfunded liabilities by $33.7 million for the state fund and $42.3 million for the sheriffs and deputies plan. Currently, both plans are funded at less than 10 percent of their obligations 9.67 percent for the state plan, which already has almost $900 million in unfunded liabilities. The deputies plan was funded at 8.45 percent in mid-2017, with an unfunded liability of about $26.3 million. These are not well-funded plans, VRS Director Trish Bishop told a House Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday. VRS estimates that the proposals would lower the funded status of the state plan to 5.40 percent and the deputies plan to 2.66 percent. The Liberal Women of Chesterfield County sprang up following President Donald Trumps election, and spent much of last year organizing to defeat then-Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th. As the activists made the rounds among lawmakers offices, they dropped off the animals and told anyone who would listen that lawmakers should tune out the pro-gun fringes and listen to people who dont think firearms being around small children is something to laugh about. When Meredith Baker encountered Del. Dave LaRock, R-Loudoun, in the hallway, she jogged his memory about the video. He was pushing it as a product that children could use to defend themselves if they were in a situation where a gun was in their school. They could put the bad guy to sleep and have a long time out. And they had a little song about aim for the head, not for the toes. It was ridiculous, Baker said. That was an embarrassing episode for him. But I think that people should be embarrassed if they continue to side with him. I dont think it really matters what Virginia does with it because it expired in 1982 and its not legally before us, he said. This is a trumped up issue right now and I think designed to be a political wedge issue. Congress initially set 1979 as the deadline for ratification, then extended it to 1982. Thirty-five of the required 38 states ratified the ERA by the 1982 deadline. Following a bus tour and lobbying effort in 2018, supporters of the ERA say the amendment would be added to the U.S. Constitution should Virginia become the 38th state to ratify it. But thats in legal dispute. Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Richmond, who is sponsoring the ERA ratification measure in the Senate, said Wednesday that even if the vote is simply symbolic thats no reason to oppose ratification. After ERA supporters swarmed Capitol Square on Wednesday, women opposed to the ERA held a large news conference Thursday, led by the Family Foundation, Concerned Women for America and several other groups that oppose legal abortion. Del. Margaret Ransone, R-Westmoreland, who chairs a subcommittee of the elections committee chaired by Cole, joined women opposed to the ERA and told them to keep fighting. ALEXANDRIA A federal judge has spoken out against a sharp increase in Northern Virginia in the prosecution of illegal immigrants for re-entering the country after deportation. I hope this is not the start of a pattern for this year, Judge Leonie M. Brinkema said in Alexandria federal court last week, noting that there were six such cases scheduled for the first Friday in January. I think this is not the best use of judicial or Justice Department resources to keep seeing these types of cases. She added that she would like that message to be relayed to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Zachary Terwilliger. The defendant before her that morning, Ramon Adrian Ochoa Paz, ended up in federal court after serving time in Prince William County for aggravated sexual battery of a child, a felony. But in federal court, his only alleged crime was coming back into the country after being deported in 2000. And he is something of an outlier; in the majority of the 224 felony re-entry after deportation cases filed in the Eastern District last year, the initial arrest involved misdemeanor offenses, most commonly drunken driving. Arrests for misdemeanor assault and public intoxication are also common. She had been in your jail since July 5 ... and was keeping a blanket over her head and refused to even acknowledge the evaluator, and staff tells the evaluator that she had been like that for two months in your jail, the judge told the defendants. This courts order was based on that, that she be sent to Central State, and it doesnt happen for weeks upon weeks after a period of months that shes been [mentally unstable]. Thats frightful. Riverside attorney William Hefty had urged Brice to dismiss the charges because neither of the administrators was aware Gonzales had not been transferred until it came to the courts attention in early December, when the inmate was to return to court for a status hearing in her case. The mix-up was the responsibility of a records clerk at the jail, he said. Nobody intentionally ignored the order, Hefty told the judge. When we got the [court] order for transport to Central State, normally we call Central State [and] when they have a bed, they let us know. They didnt let the jail know in this case [and] a new records clerk did not follow up to see if there was a bed available that was missed. In another development, the state medical examiners office in Richmond on Friday released the cause and manner of Goochs death. A spokesman said Gooch died of gunshot wounds to his torso in a confirmed homicide. Chesterfield police said Friday that the vehicle Buschmann was driving at the time of his arrest was a Toyota Camry that had been reported stolen from a gas station in the 10000 block of Hull Street Road between 1 and 1:40 p.m. last Saturday. The vehicle was left unlocked with the keys in the ignition, but it was not running. Police so far have not released any details about the firearm used in the killing and how Buschmann acquired it. Buschmann, 34, is accused of fatally shooting Gooch outside the Wawa store after the victim left the store with his daughter; they had gone there to buy some popcorn to eat while watching a movie. Gooch, 34, lived in the Hampton Park neighborhood a short distance from the store at the intersection of Hull Street Road and Otterdale Road. Rowlett said Buschmann has told him and the police that he felt threatened by Gooch when he encountered him outside the Wawa. Gooch, who had been stationed at Fort Belvoir in Northern Virginia, would have retired this week from the Army as a major, said his father, adding that his son had survived deployments to Afghanistan without injury. A Prince Edward County resident and former band teacher at Quioccasin Middle School in Henrico County was sentenced to five years in prison for soliciting a minor on a computer. Jeffrey Michael Lazenby, 32, was sentenced Wednesday in Prince Edward Circuit Court. Judge Donald Blessing suspended another 85 years from Lazenbys term and required him to register as a sex offender. Attorney General Mark R. Herring, whose prosecutors handled the case, announced the sentence Thursday in a statement. Another dangerous predator is off our streets thanks to the hard work and collaboration between my team and local law enforcement, Herring said in the release. Those who take advantage of children in these disgusting ways must be brought to justice and my office and I will continue working to make sure men like this are placed behind bars. In May 2017, Lazenby was identified by administrators at the Henrico school through an anonymous email saying he was having inappropriate contact with a minor, according to evidence presented at the plea hearing. Investigators interviewed Lazenby, who admitted to communicating with the child. A former Patrick Henry High School science teacher was sentenced to serve two years in prison on Friday on an indecent liberties conviction involving a student. Miranda Nicole Pauley, 35, of Hanover County, pleaded guilty in October to four counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor while serving in a custodial role. Pauley also pleaded guilty to a charge of using a communications system to solicit a minor. The former teachers pleas were part of a deal with prosecutors under which she would serve two years in prison. Judge Herbert C. Gill Jr., a substitute judge in Hanover Circuit Court, formally accepted the plea agreement at a brief court hearing on Friday. Gill sentenced Pauley to serve five years behind bars on one of the indecent liberties charges but suspended three years of that sentence, leaving the two-year active term. Gill sentenced Pauley to 20 years on the remaining four charges but suspended all 20 years for those remaining charges. This is a most difficult case, the judge said before issuing the sentence. James C. Driggs, Pauleys defense attorney, provided the court with a half-dozen letters of support for the defendant from family members and others who wrote that Pauley has taken responsibility for what happened and has shown remorse. Chesterfield County police are seeking the public's help in locating a woman they have identified as a suspect in last weekend's robbery of the Wells Fargo bank branch at 5630 Hopkins Road. Investigators have obtained a warrant for Elizabeth A. Shelton, 29, of the 9100 block of Patterson Avenue, that charges her with robbery. Police described her as a white woman who is about 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 200 pounds. She has green eyes and brown hair, and she may be in the Northern Neck area. On Saturday, Jan. 5, about 9:45 a.m., a woman fitting Shelton's description entered the bank and passed a note to a teller demanding money, police said. Upon receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the woman fled on foot. Anyone with information about Sheltons whereabouts is asked to call Chesterfield police at (804) 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660. You can also contact Crime Solvers by going to www.crimesolvers.net or using the P3 Tips app for smartphones. The defendants sister, Ruth Buschmann of Charlottesville, said Thursday that her brother has been mentally off all his life, adding that things got worse as he got older. She said her brother was hospitalized in Charlottesville after trying to commit suicide in an overdose about six months ago. He doesnt say much of anything. He lived his life the past year, pretty much without talking, Ruth Buschmann said. You could ask him yes or no questions, and he would look you right in the face, and I dont think he took in anything you said. Buschmann also said her brothers head was messed up as a result of the death of his infant son years ago. The 5-month-old died in August 2004, according to an obituary in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. It was very traumatic, she said. The baby died of crib death. Buschmann said that despite her brothers issues, she was shocked to hear about the allegations hes facing. I never in a million years would have imagined him doing anything evil like that, Ruth Buschmann said. These are working families. They dont have the income to be able to pay market rates, Artze said. There isnt a difference between this type of housing and what folks would find in a market-rate housing. The families living there are not getting any subsidies. They will pay the rent, but the rent is lower because the debt on the project was lower as a result of the tax credit. Wilkinson said the tax credits and the tax-exempt financing were key to the project. Fourteen leases have been signed so far, he said, with minimal marketing efforts. There are three phases for a developer. The first is raising the money. The second phase you build it, but much of the stress is on the contractor. The third phase is renting it and leasing it out. That is most stressful phase. You hope you have made the right analysis, Wilkinson said. Were getting ready to start the most stressful part. We have so many people who have said they want to live there. The one-bedroom units average 971 square feet, and the two-bedroom units average 1,344 square feet. The project has just one three-bedroom unit, at 1,723 square feet. About half of the units in the first phase and about 80 percent in the second phase are one-bedroom units. NEW WASHINGTON -- Another successful Crawford County Spelling bee is in the books. After 12 rounds of competition, Rachel Teynor, a seventh grader from Colonel Crawford Local Schools, is the Crawford County Spelling Bee Champion. Teynor claimed the crown with the winning word, pavilion. Maddy Martin, a sixth grader from St. Bernard, was the runner-up. Twenty-eight spellers competed in the bee held on Thursday night at Buckeye Central Local Schools. Others rounding out the top spellers included Zachary Flood, eighth grade from Buckeye Central; Chris Palmer, seventh grade from Bucyrus; Emma Scott, eighth grade from Colonel Crawford; Lily Riddle, eighth grade, and Drake Moyer, seventh grade from Crestline; Jillian Capretta, sixth grade from Galion; Madeleine Weithman, seventh grade from St. Bernard; Drew Johnson, sixth grade, Emily Schuster, fifth grade, Lauren Ferguson, fifth grade, and Cassandra Kurek, seventh grade from Wynford. Every speller received a certificate and the champion, and first runner-up received awards. Certificates and awards are provided by the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum. The top qualifiers will be invited to participate in the Tri-County Spelling Bee held at Mid-Ohio ESC on Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. The alternate date is Feb. 21. The public is welcome to attend the spelling bee. Mid-Ohio ESC is located at 890 West Fourth Street in Mansfield. Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides high quality, cost-effective, specialized academic/ therapy support services and professional development for school districts in the Central Ohio Region. These include offering alternative educational options, preschool education and printing services, as well as conference center facilities. A Tajik man who was severely injured in the partial collapse of a residential complex in Russia on New Year's Eve has regained consciousness. Shuhrat Ulfatov's relatives told RFE/RL that he came out of a coma late on January 10 and was able to communicate with representatives of Tajikistan's consulate in Yekaterinburg. The 26-year-old Ulfatov was found in the rubble shortly after an explosion on December 31 sent a section of the 10-story building in Russia's southern Urals city of Magnitogorsk crashing to the ground, killing 39 people. Ulfatov's 24-year-old wife and their three children were among those killed. "The first thing he asked after he regained consciousness was about his wife and children," Ulfatov's uncle, Bahtiyor Sultonov, told RFE/RL on January 11. "We told him that they are fine. Now we are thinking about how to tell him what really happened to his loved ones." Russian officials said on January 3 that the explosion was likely caused by a natural-gas leak. Ulfatov's wife and children were buried in Tajikistan on January 7. Russia's Defense Ministry has outlined draft legislation that would allow Russian forces to shoot down civilian passenger planes within the country's airspace. The draft document placed on the government's list of proposed legislation says passenger planes that cross into Russian airspace without authorization and do not answer warning signals or respond to warning shots can be shot down if they are deemed to pose a threat of mass deaths, ecological catastrophe, or an assault on strategic targets. The draft legislation also says the Defense Ministry must start reacting to unidentified planes when they are within 50 kilometers of Russian airspace. According to the draft legislation, passenger planes cannot be shot down if there is no "real danger of human deaths or ecological catastrophe." The draft bill does not specify how Russian military officials would identify such threats. In 1994, the Russian government adopted a resolution that bans military forces from shooting down civilian planes if passengers are known to be aboard. A court in Moscow says it will consider a request by the Russian Investigative Committee to prolong the pretrial detention of 24 Ukrainian sailors detained by Russian forces who attacked three Ukrainian navy vessels in the Black Sea in November. The Lefortovo District Court's spokeswoman, Yekaterina Krasnova, said on January 11 that the court would consider the committee's request on January 15. Russia's Investigative Committee has asked for a court order to extend their detention until April 26. Russia has held the Ukrainian sailors since capturing them and seizing their three ships near the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Moscow claims the Ukrainian vessels illegally entered Russian territorial waters near Crimea, which Russia seized and illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The court's announcement comes a day after the European Union reiterated its call on Moscow to release all Ukrainian citizens, including the sailors, that Brussels says have been illegally detained by Russia and within Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea Peninsula. Russia occupied Crimea in March 2014 -- sending in military forces and quickly staging a referendum that has dismissed by more than 100 countries as bogus. Moscow also backs pro-Russia separatists in a war against Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 10,300 people since April 2014. Based on reporting by various new agencies The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. In Russia's remote Sakha-Yakutia region, the frozen ground is studded with the remains of prehistoric mammoths. Their tusks are worth a fortune to traders in China, where the sale of elephant ivory was banned in late 2017. Moscow has condemned Britain's plans to build new military bases in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, saying Russia is prepared to take retaliatory measures if its own interests or those of its allies are threatened. British Defense Minister Gavin Williamson told the Sunday Telegraph in December that Britain could establish the new military bases "within the next couple of years" after the country leaves the European Union. Williamson said the expansion would be part of a strategy for Britain to become a "true global player" after Brexit. He did not specify where the bases might be built. But the newspaper reported that options included Singapore or Brunei near the South China Sea and Montserrat or Guyana in the Caribbean. Speaking on January 11, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswomen Maria Zakharova said Williamson's comments were baffling and warned that such plans could destabilize world affairs. "Of course, Britain like any other country is independent when it comes to its military construction plans. But against the backdrop of overall rising military and political tensions in the world...statements about the desire to build up its military presence in third countries are counterproductive, destabilizing, and possibly of a provocational nature," she was quoted as saying by TASS. Russia has military bases in several former Soviet countries. It also operates military facilities in Syria and Vietnam. Based on reporting by Reuters and AP The United States says it will host a global conference in Poland next month, to discuss the Middle East, and Iran in particular. The U.S. State Department said in a statement on January 11 that the meeting will take place in Warsaw on February 13-14. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a televised interview that the meeting would "focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence." The meeting will "bring together dozens of countries from all around the world, from Asia, from Africa, from Western Hemisphere countries, Europe too, the Middle East of course," Pompeo said, according to a transcript released by the State Department. Pompeo, who is on a tour of the Middle East, has said that the United States is redoubling efforts to put pressure on Iran. Last year, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord, that suspended sanctions in exchange for Tehran curtailing its nuclear programs. The Trump administration moved to reimpose sanctions on Tehran, as well. Other partners in the deal, however, have sought keep the agreement from completely unraveling. Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said he hoped the conference would bring closer the EU and U.S. positions. He said more than 70 countries were invited to the conference, including all EU members. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, called the conference a "desperate anti-Iran circus." Writing on Twitter, Zarif said: "Reminder to host/participants of anti-Iran conference: those who attended last U.S. anti-Iran show are either dead, disgraced, or marginalized. And Iran is stronger than ever." During his Middle East tour, Pompeo is also trying to build support on other issues, including the U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria and the killing of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. With reporting by AP The Moscow City Court has approved the extradition to Astana of Kazakh business tycoon Zhomart Ertaev, who is wanted in Kazakhstan for alleged financial fraud. The court's spokeswoman, Ulyana Solopova, said on January 11 that the Kazakh Prosecutor-General's request to extradite Ertaev had been found to be legal and grounded. Ertaev's lawyer, Aleksei Petrov, said that the court's ruling will be appealed. Moscow police arrested Ertaev in May 2018 at Kazakhstans request and placed the fugitive oligarch under house arrest. Ertaev's lawyers have said their client denounced his Kazakh citizenship and asked for political asylum in Russia on the grounds that he may be killed if he is sent back to Kazakhstan. Kazakh authorities said in May 2018 that Ertaev was suspected of helping arrange loans worth more than $80 million to bogus companies while working as an adviser to Bank RBK in Kazakhstan. Ertaev spent nine months in pretrial detention in Kazakhstan in 2009 on suspicion of embezzlement, but was released after a court dropped those charges. He was found guilty, however, on lesser charges of misusing bank funds and violation accounting regulations. The court ordered his release on grounds that his nine months in pretrial detention was sufficient punishment. Russian media have reported that Ertaev is the chairman of Troyka-D Bank in Moscow and an honorary president of Alma Group, an investment company based at Moskva-Citi business complex in the Russian capital. Based on reporting by RIA-Novosti and Interfax Macedonia's parliament has approved a constitutional amendment that renames the country the Republic of North Macedonia. Eighty-one deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted in favor, securing the required two-thirds majority. Representatives of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE boycotted the vote that took place on January 11. The name change will help resolve a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece -- opening the way for Skopje to join NATO and the European Union. At the start of the parliamentary session, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told lawmakers the name change would "open the doors to the future, Macedonia's European future. Several hundred people have protested against the deal in front of parliament over the past three days. The vote came after three days of negotiations between Zaev and lawmakers that opposed the change. Zaev's governing coalition needed opposition backing to get the required number of votes and had said on January 10 that it was struggling to achieve that after a small ethnic Albanian party raised last-minute objections. Talks between government and opposition lawmakers continued for a second day on January 11 following repeated delays in the vote. The governments of Macedonia and Greece both struggled to secure the political support required to ratify the agreement reached last June in the border region of Prespes. Opponents to the proposal say they are defending Macedonia's name, identity, and history, as well as the traditions of the Macedonian people, against what they call "the greatest national treachery." Athens argues that use of the term Macedonia implies territorial claims on Greeces northern province of the same name and on its ancient heritage. For the deal to come into effect, Greece's parliament must now convene in the coming weeks to ratify it. The office of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a statement that "the prime minister congratulated Mr. Zaev on the successful conclusion of the process to revise the constitution of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." Tsipras said earlier this week that Greece's parliament would also be asked to ratify the agreement by the end of the month. "Within 10 days, in any case as soon as the [Macedonian parliamentary vote] result is notified to us and if we see that everything is in order, we will vote [to approve] the Prespes agreement," he told Open TV. EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn welcomed the Macedonian parliaments approval of the constitutional changes, describing it as a crucial step in implementing the historic deal with Greece. "Political leaders and citizens alike have shown their determination to seize this unique and historic opportunity in solving one of the oldest disputes in the region, and decisively move forward on the European Union path," they said in a joint statement. "The EU strongly supports this agreement which sets an example of reconciliation for the region and Europe as a whole," the statement said, adding that the EU was "awaiting the completion of the next steps leading to the full implementation" of the deal between Skopje and Athens. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is on a working visit to Athens, has expressed strong support for the agreement. With reporting by AP, Reuters, dpa, and AFP Russia's Foreign Ministry says Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono plans to visit Moscow next week for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the four Pacific islands that have been disputed since World War II. "The first round of Russian-Japanese consultations on the conclusion of a peace treaty between the two countries will be held in Moscow on January 14," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on January 11. The visit comes after Russia accused Japan this week of whipping up tensions before an expected meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Moscow and Tokyo never signed a peace treaty after World War II due to the territorial dispute over the Pacific island chain, which was occupied by Soviet forces in the final days of the war. Russia refers to the islands as the Southern Kuriles and Japan calls them the Northern Territories. Soviet forces seized the islands at the end of the war, and Russia continues to occupy and administer the territory, although it has allowed some visits by former Japanese residents and family members in recent years. Zakharova blamed Japanese media for "playing a significant role in creating a strange information atmosphere that precedes the beginning of a negotiation process." Earlier this week, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Japanese Ambassador Toyohisa Kozuki and told him recent statements by Tokyo represented an apparent attempt to "artificially incite the atmosphere regarding the peace-treaty problem and try to enforce its own scenario of settling the issue." The ministry cited Tokyo's remarks about the need to prepare island residents for a return of the chain to Japan and about dropping demands for Moscow to pay compensation to former Japanese residents of the islands. It also took issue with Abe's comments that 2019 would see a breakthrough in the negotiations. Putin and Abe last met in November and agreed to accelerate talks to formally end World War II hostilities. With reporting by AFP and Interfax The U.S. journal Foreign Policy has reported that Belarus has lifted a long-standing limit on the number of U.S. diplomats allowed in the country. There was no immediate confirmation of the move from Belarusian officials. The reported improvement follows months of increased engagement with Belarus by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. It would be a diplomatic breakthrough with Belarus at a time that its ties with Russia are fraying over an energy dispute. "It's a big step. This is the beginning of a thaw," an unnamed U.S. official was quoted as saying in the January 10 issue of Foreign Policy. In Minsk, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told RFE/RL's Belarusian Service that senior officials from Belarus and the U.S. have recently discussed ways to improve bilateral relations. But the spokesman, Anatol Hlaz, declined to confirm the report, or reveal more details of the conversations. "In accordance with diplomatic ethics, the contents of such conversations should not be disclosed," Hlaz said. Citing two diplomatic sources briefed on the matter, Foreign Policy said that Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey had informed U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell of the decision in a January 10 phone call. The decision partially reverses a decline in diplomatic relations between Washington and Minsk that dates back to the first years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The State Department declined to comment, saying its press operations were on a "reduced status" because of the ongoing shutdown of the U.S. government. The reported move comes amid a political clash between Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Belarus has long benefited from buying subsidized oil products from Russia and reexporting them, but Russia now plans to charge higher prices for crude to lessen the burden on its economy. Lukashenka warned Russia earlier this week that it could lose its ally if Moscow fails to offer Minsk compensation for higher oil prices. BelTA quoted Lukashenka as saying on January 10 that if the Kremlin chose a path that causes Moscow to lose Minsk as an ally, the development would be the result of "their choice." The last U.S. ambassador posted to Minsk was expelled in 2008 after the United States imposed additional sanctions on Belarus, citing the country's deteriorating human rights situation and Lukashenka's authoritarian rule. Thirty of the 35 diplomats serving in the country were also expelled. Foreign Policy quoted diplomatic sources as saying that since 2008, Belarus had limited the number of U.S. officials serving at the embassy to five, and later 10. The U.S. Embassy in a country the size of Belarus typically would have about 30 staff members, not including local hires, the report said. With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarusian Service, Foreign Policy and BeITA BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's former prime minister, who was arrested in 2018 on corruption charges linked to the modernization of a Bishkek power plant, is facing additional charges in another corruption case. The State Committee for National Security (UKMK) said on January 10 that Sapar Isakov had been charged with corruption that led to serious financial losses in connection with the reconstruction of the Kyrgyz State Museum of History in Bishkek. UKMK has charged that Isakov illegally interfered in the reconstruction project in 2016, leading a Turkish company involved in the repair work to cancel its agreement with the Kyrgyz government. The cancellation resulted in additional expenses for Kyrgyzstan's budget. Earlier this week, UKMK said investigations into the Bishkek power-plant corruption case had been completed. That case stems back to 2013, when Isakov was implementing a project to modernize the Bishkek thermal power station. At the time, Isakov was the deputy head of the administration of then-President Almazbek Atambaev. Isakov is accused of using his position to lobby for a Chinese company during the tender for the contract to modernize the power plant. The Chinese company TBEA was eventually awarded the contract. Criminal proceedings in the case against Isakov were launched after an accident at the Bishkek power station in January 2018 left thousands of local households without heat for several days. The 41-year-old Isakov is considered to be a close associate of Atambaev. Pressure on Isakov and several other former officials has increased amid ongoing tensions between President Sooronbai Jeenbekov and Atambaev. Atambaev had backed Jeenbekov in Kyrgyzstan's October 2017 presidential election, but has criticized Jeenbekov in recent months. Another of Atambaev's close allies, former Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev, was also arrested in 2018 on corruption charges. In late December, former customs chief Adamkul Junusov was extradited from Azerbaijan to Bishkek on charges of abusing his power during Atambaev's 2013-15 presidency. In October, Atambaev's former adviser, Ikramjan Ilmiyanov, was detained in Russia and brought by Kyrgyz authorities to Bishkek, where he faces corruption charges. Meanwhile, Kyrgyz lawmakers and other politicians are increasingly calling for an investigation into decisions made by Atambaev during his presidency. The Supreme Court ruled in October that the immunity provided to the country's former presidents is unconstitutional. On November 27, a parliamentary committee outlined a bill that would eliminate immunity for former presidents. A French court has handed Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky a prison sentence for setting fire to the facade of a French central-bank building but allowed him to walk free for time served. The court on January 10 turned away a request by prosecutors, who had asked for 10 years for Pavlensky for his torching of the front door of a Paris branch of the Bank of France on October 16, 2017. The court gave him a one-year jail term, plus a two-year suspended sentence. Since he had already been held for 11 months in custody, that meant he was able to walk free. His former partner, Oksana Shalygina, received a two-year sentence, 16 months of which were suspended. In a January 9 interview with Current Time TV, Pavlensky predicted that he would not be sentenced to prison in the case. "I don't know, but I think I will remain at liberty," he said. "They released me before [from pretrial custody]. If they wanted to hold me in prison, I don't think they would have released me so that I could spend a few months calmly walking around Paris." Current Time is a Russian-language TV network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. In an interview with RFE/RL in February 2018, Pavlensky said he targeted the Bank of France because it "remains a symbol of occupation for Paris" and "a firm symbol for suppression of all revolutionary beginnings." The stunt echoed one Pavlensky carried out in Moscow in November 2015, when he set fire to a door of the headquarters of the Russian Federal Security Service. He spent six months in pretrial detention in that case before he was convicted and fined about $8,000. Pavlensky, Shalygina, and their two children fled Russia in January 2017. They were granted political asylum in France in May 2017. Pavlensky is known for attention-grabbing protests aimed at breaking through public indifference to perceived oppression. In the past, he has nailed his scrotum to Moscow's Red Square, sewn his lips together, wrapped himself naked in barbed wire, and chopped off part of his ear. With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service, AFP, and FrenchInfo Radio The U.S. Treasury secretary has said he told U.S. lawmakers that President Donald Trump will keep strict sanctions on Oleg Deripaska, as congressional Democrats turned up pressure on the administration's policy toward the Kremlin-connected oligarch. Steven Mnuchin released a statement on January 10, ahead of a classified briefing he was requested to give a key House of Representatives committee. Congress has been reviewing an administration decision announced in December to lift sanctions against three companies that Deripaska controls: Rusal, EN+, and JSC EuroSibEnergo. Early last year, the Trump administration indicated it was planning to sanction Rusal -- one of the worlds largest aluminum companies -- but that announcement roiled global markets, sending metal prices soaring. The Treasury Department delayed imposing the sanctions several times, amid a reported lobbying campaign by Deripaska's companies. In December, the administration notified Congress it would lift the sanctions. That triggered a clause in Congress that gives lawmakers 30 days to try to reverse the decision by passing a joint resolution of disapproval. In his statement, Mnuchin said Deripaska remained under sanctions and "his property and interests remain blocked, and any companies he controls are also sanctioned." House Democrats, however, were publicly angry, with the leader of the chamber, Nancy Pelosi, calling it "one of the worst classified briefings we've received from the Trump administration." "He answered some questions, but he didn't give testimony. They had an intelligence briefing, which I won't go into, and then they read a document that was unclassified, wasting the time of members of Congress," she told reporters after the briefing. Deripaska is a billionaire tycoon who made his fortune in aluminum and metals trading. He was barred from entering the United States in the 2000s, on allegations of ties to organized crime. He was also a business partner of Paul Manafort, Trump's campaign chairman during part of the 2016 presidential election. With reporting by NBC A U.S. military spokesman says the U.S.-led military coalition in Syria has begun the process of withdrawing troops from the country. The spokesman, Colonel Sean Ryan, said in a January 11 statement that "the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria" had begun, however he did not reveal specific details. "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements," Ryan said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the U.S.-led coalition had started scaling down its presence at the Rmeilan airfield in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakeh. It said the U.S. troops began to withdraw from the military base on January 10, describing the development as "the first such pullout of American forces" since President Donald Trump announced on December 19 that he intended to withdraw all of an estimated 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria. But the Associated Press quoted unnamed defense officials as saying that the U.S. military had started pulling equipment, but not troops, out of Syria. The officials said that no U.S. troops had been withdrawn from Syria, but added that the contingent of about 2,000 troops is expected to depart from the war-torn country in coming weeks. Trump's announcement, which came after a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stunned U.S. allies and has been criticized within his own administration. Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP The ruling Chinese Communist Party is extending its United Front strategy to schools in the former colonies of Hong Kong and Macau in a bid to garner "voluntary" support for its leadership, RFA has learned. Beijing's ministry of education announced on Tuesday that it would allow teachers trained in Hong Kong, Macau, and even the separately governed democratic island of Taiwan to take exams that would qualify them to teach in mainland China. The move is part of an ongoing offer of full residency status to residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, which the Taiwan government has warned will risk human rights violations for anyone agreeing to be treated as a Chinese citizen. Applicants for the teaching scheme must "voluntarily uphold the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, adhere to the direction of socialist education and implement the party's educational policy," the ministry said in a Jan. 7 announcement on its official website. Bruce Lui, senior journalism lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, said the moves are part of the Chinese Communist Party's "United Front" work, which aims to co-opt groups and individuals outside the party to further its aims. He said it was likely sparked by the vocal opposition in Hong Kong's education sector to proposals to introduce "patriotic education" into the city's schools, which many saw as "brainwashing." "This is to let Hong Kong teachers know that the Communist Party requires them to hold to a certain political line," Lui said. "They will not allow teachers who oppose the Chinese Communist Party or are not patriotic." A backwards step Chinas education minister last year called on the Hong Kong government to resurrect the controversial program in the city's schools after it was shelved in 2012 following mass protests in which student activist Joshua Wong first emerged as a protest leader. "[The party] requires you to relinquish your own mind, along with your capacity for independent and critical thought, and turn into a ... soulless teaching machine," Lui said. "These requirements pretty much run counter to the basic concept of education." "I think it is a huge backwards step." Fung Wai-wah, president of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, the largest teachers' union in the city, said such requirements would be understandable for teachers trained in mainland China. He said he didn't think Hong Kong's teachers would accept such requirements. "Education should enable people to think independently, and improve their abilities and qualities," Fung said. "It shouldn't be used as a brainwashing tool, or as a tool for government to exert control." "This is incompatible with our philosophy of education here in Hong Kong," he said. "We don't want to be used as tools of the state, to carry out control and brainwashing." "I don't think most teachers in Hong Kong would accept this," Fung said. "There will definitely be huge resistance if they try to implement this stuff in Hong Kong." An unattractive offer Macau University lecturer Choi Chi U said the move was definitely part of the United Front strategy, but that low salaries in China made the offer fairly unattractive to teachers outside mainland China. "For example, they only make between 5,000 and 8,000 yuan a month in Beijing, and they would have to leave their familiar surroundings," Choi said. "[I can only see it working] if they made it extremely attractive," he said. The education ministry is already rolling out extensive United Front operations on major university campuses across China, announcing a list of 20 elite institutions charged with setting up "study centers" for party ideology. Six universities in Beijing are on the list, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University, the Global Times newspaper reported. Northeast Normal University and Jilin University are being targeted in the northeast, while Wuhan University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Chongqing University, and Lanzhou University in the northwest are also on the ministry's shortlist, it said. The centers will be charged with "maintaining stability ... and United Front work ... and are required to keep in touch with relevant departments in the MOE to push forward the work and report problems," the paper quoted the ministry as saying. Lining up support The Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department is tasked with ensuring that groups and individuals outside the party endorse its message. It seeks to propagate the party's political ideology among any group not considered a natural part of its support base, including religious believers, lawyers, academics, and ethnic minority groups. The department is also extending its overseas operations, stepping up its influence operations among a range of groups and institutions, including overseas Chinese groups, Chinese students studying overseas, civil society organizations, political lobby groups, political parties and lawmakers, academic institutions, think tanks, and the media, scholars have said in a series of reports last year. Taiwan, officially still known as the Republic of China, has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, and has strongly rejected suggestions from Chinese President Xi Jinping that it "unify" with China, saying Beijing must first democratize. Taiwan was ruled as a Japanese colony in the 50 years prior to the end of World War II, but was handed back to the 1911 Republic of China under the Kuomintang (KMT) government as part of Tokyo's post-war reparation deal. The KMT regime fled to the island after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists in 1949. The island began a transition to democracy following the death of Chiang's son, President Chiang Ching-kuo, in January 1988, starting with direct elections to the legislature in the early 1990s and culminating in the first direct election of a president, Lee Teng-hui, in 1996. Reported by Tam Siu-yin for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Gao Feng for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Authorities in China have denied entry to the Canadian daughter of a jailed veteran democracy activist, her family said. Canadian passport-holder Ti-Anna Wang, daughter of jailed dissident Wang Bingzhang, flew to the eastern city of Hangzhou after obtaining a valid visa to travel to China for the first time in a decade. The family had been en route to the southern province of Guangdong to visit her father, who is serving a life sentence for "espionage and terrorism" in Guangdong's Shaoguan Prison. However, Wang, her husband, and the couple's 11-month-old daughter were detained for nearly 10 hours, denied entry to the country by border officials, and put on a flight for South Korea, where they have relatives. "They gave me no explanation whatsoever," Wang told Canadian broadcaster CBC. "All they told us was that they were acting on orders from the minister of state security." Wang, who obtained the visa with the help of Canadian officials after several previous applications were turned down, said it was "extremely humiliating" to have been turned away at the border. She said Wang Bingzhang knew they were coming, and had been expecting their visit, her first in 10 years. Its cancellation would be a huge blow to him, she said. 'Unreasonable' Wang's sister Wang Yuhua, who lives in Vancouver, said the ruling Chinese Communist Party had acted deliberately, because the purpose of the family's trip had been made clear during the visa application process. "The Chinese regime has never acted reasonably," Wang Yuhua told RFA in a recent interview. "How can it, when there is no rule of law?" "If the ministry of foreign affairs issues you with a visa, that means you have permission to go to China," she said. "What's more, she made it very clear that she planned to visit her father, and that there was no other reason [for the trip]." "Instead, she was turned away at immigration, and no reason was given," Wang Yuhua said. "I recall that they did the same thing in 2012." Wang's denial of entry comes after authorities in China detained 13 Canadians after the ruling Chinese Communist Party vowed to retaliate for the arrest in Vancouver of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, wanted for questioning by investigators in the U.S. over alleged bank fraud linked to the breach of sanctions against Iran. The United States warned its citizens last week that they could face arbitrary action by authorities when they visit China. Arrested in Poland Meanwhile, Polands counter-intelligence service said on Friday it has arrested a Chinese sales director of tech giant Huawei on suspicion of spying. The man was identified as Wang Weijing, or Stanislaw Wang, according to Polish public broadcaster TVP. He stands accused alongside a former Polish intelligence officer of spying for China, following police raids on Huawei's Poland headquarters. The company said in a statement on Friday that it was "aware of the situation." "We are looking into it. We have no comment for the time being, the statement said. "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based." The arrest comes after E.U. technology commissioner Andrus Ansip warned member states of a security risk linked to Huawei, prompting a number of countries to consider excluding the company from bidding for the next generation of 5G mobile networks. Meng was granted bail by a Vancouver court last month, is confined under curfew to her residence in the city, and must wear an electronic GPS tag at all times. She is expected to appear at a hearing on Feb. 6, before the extradition hearing is scheduled. A false equivalence Current affairs commentator Zhao Jinrong said Chinese official complaints that her human rights had been violated drew a false equivalence between the two countries' jurisdictions. "Meng is now safe and comfortable, and to some extent, free to live in her own home in the Greater Vancouver area," Zhao said. "How does this compare to the situation of the ... Canadians held in China?" "Can they contact their families? Their situation is worlds apart from that of Canada," he said. Canadian diplomats in China met on Tuesday with detained Canadian citizen Michael Spavor, and with detained Canadian citizen Michael Kovrig on Thursday, but didn't disclose details of the meetings for reasons of privacy, officials said. Both men are accused of "endangering state security." "The Canadian government remains deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of these two Canadians since last month and continues to call for their immediate release, the foreign ministry said in a statement. While Huawei has repeatedly insisted that it has no links to the government, industry analysts point to the firm's close involvement in the ruling Chinese Communist Party's flagship technology projects, including internet censorship technology and facial recognition systems deployed in neighborhoods across the country. Reported by Liu Fei for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. We would love for you to join us to share your memories of Daryl with family and friends. Daryls full obituary can be view at http://www.myersmortuary.com/ A celebration of life will be held from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on 2021-06-27 at Fraternal Order of Eagles , 2140 N Lebanon St, Lebanon, IN 4 Proptech company RESAAS Services recently announced an agreement to license its cloud-based block-chain platform to boutique real estate advisory firm LEGACY Council of Canada. The agreement is for a five-year term and includes new customizations to suit the requirements of LEGACYs real estate investors. Once customization is complete, a monthly licensing fee subscription is activated. We have had a tremendous response from our members about our plans to digitize some of the very core fundamentals we provide, said Jean-Guy Francouer, chief growth officer at LEGACY Council of Canada. Proptech will push real estate businesses to the next level, through growth using real estate tools, artificial intelligence, technology and apps. The value we provide our members will be tremendous, as the basis for the technology is built from RESAAS award-winning technology platform that already has an enterprise value of approximately $25 million. By extending it for our own specific needs, we will have a best-in-class solution for our members. Since forming a relationship with REIN in the spring of 2018 and then LEGACY Council of Canada in early 2019, we have uncovered areas within the proptech sector that are primed for innovation, said Tom Rossiter, CEO at RESAAS. LEGACYs commitment to their thousands of members, and providing them with never-before-seen technology through new investment in the RESAAS technology platform, will position them for unprecedented growth in 2019. The Town of Barkhamsted is restarting the Housing Rehabilitation program for residents who meet income and other qualifications. This program provides interest-free loans for qualifying projects; and the loans do not have to be repaid until the owner-occupant is no longer resident in the home. We will accept applications on a first come-first served basis until the available funds are used up. The number of grants will depend on the value of the individual awards and the number of applicants. The housing rehabilitation program utilizes funds that have been returned to the Town as a result of a 1988 Small Cities Block Grant that was awarded for the same purpose. The program will be managed using the following guidelines: Acceptable projects will be limited to those which are necessary for the homeowner to maintain the integrity of their house or which enhance their ability to stay in the home. Such projects will include: Improvements for energy efficiency or replacement of critical, fixed household equipment (for example: furnaces, replacement windows, chimney repair) Improvements which are necessary as part of home maintenance (for example: roofing or siding which is no longer capable of withstanding natural forces) Projects solely dedicated to aesthetics will not be considered (for example: painting, wallpapering, upgrade to kitchens or appliances) Projects will be considered on an individual basis, not as a group. A project will consist of a single improvement (e.g., a roof replacement). The maximum loan under this program will be $15,000 (in aggregate per property). The owner of the house must be resident in the house (i.e., it cannot be rental property). Qualifying incomes will be in accordance with the FY 2018 HUD Income Limits, as defined below. Qualifying homeowners cannot exceed the Low (80%) Limit. The attached documents provide more detail on the program requirements. Click or copy the links below to view the documents: https://www.barkhamsted.us/sites/barkhamstedct/files/uploads/housing_rehab_approach_january_2019.pdf https://www.barkhamsted.us/sites/barkhamstedct/files/uploads/housing_rehab_application_form_january_2019.pdf UNICO accepting project applications TORRINGTON The Torrington Chapter of UNICO National is accepting applications for community projects from now through Jan. 31. Community projects funds are made available to nonprofit and public agencies. Applications and criteria can be obtained by calling Chairman Mark Giorda at 860-601-8262. Car donations wanted HARTFORD Residents are invited to donate a car, truck or van and help raise funds for a local private school. Towing provided; vehicles can be running or not running. The donation can be used for a charitable tax deduction. Call Charter Oak Education d/b/a Sterling Education at 860-643-1100 for further details. Friendly Hands seeks food donations TORRINGTON Friendly Hands Food Bank is in need of food donations to serve people in need on a daily basis including soups, grape jelly, peanut butter, canned fruits, canned carrots, canned ravioli and Spaghetti Os, and canned tuna, juice boxes, baked beans, pasta, jar tomato sauce, stews and chili, canned meats, instant potatoes and rice dishes. Friendly Hands is also seeking volunteers and encourages interested residents to call the number below. Those in need of a winter coat can inquire at the office or call the number below. Donations are accepted at Friendly Hands Food Bank, 50 King St., Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 860-482-3338. Grief support group offered in Salisbury SALISBURY SVNA is hosting a Grief Support Group to help the bereaved cope with sadness and loss in a safe space. The group is facilitated by SVNAs Medical Social Worker, Liz Tanner-Horn and Sharon Health Cares Social Worker, Cindy Meritt. The group is open to all community members, and it is not necessary to attend every session. Meetings are held every Wednesday, 1-2 p.m. at St. Johns Church, 12 Main Street, 2nd floor, Salisbury. The group is free. For more information or to reserve a seat, call Liz Tanner-Horn at 860-435-0816 or ETanner-Horn@salisburyvna.org. Hospital to hold Stop the Bleed course TORRINGTON Charlotte Hungerford Hospital will present a Free Stop The Bleed training course, to educate and equip healthcare providers and members of the public on how to help reduce the loss of life due to traumatic bleeding. The help given by an immediate responder can often make the difference between life and death, even before professional rescuers arrive. The course will be held twice: Jan. 15, 4:30-6 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. in the conference hall at the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, memorial building, 540 Litchfield Street, Torrington. Specially trained local first responders and hospital personnel will be on hand to train participants to recognize and respond to life-threatening bleeding and take the appropriate measures to control it through the immediate application of pressure, dressings, and tourniquets. The Stop the Bleed Course was developed by the American College of Surgeons to teach the lay public the fundamentals of how to recognize and intervene upon severe bleeding. The sessions are part of a national campaign meant to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. For more information visit www.bleedingcontrol.org Admission is free and refreshments will be served. Registration is required. Visit www.charlottehungerford.org - click on Stop the Bleed in the Current News & Events section for registration link or call the CHH event line at 860-496-6479. UNICO accepting project applications TORRINGTON The Torrington Chapter of UNICO National is accepting applications for community projects from now through Jan. 31. Community projects funds are made available to nonprofit and public agencies. Applications and criteria can be obtained by calling Chairman Mark Giorda at 860-601-8262. Car donations wanted HARTFORD Residents are invited to donate a car, truck or van and help raise funds for a local private school. Towing provided; vehicles can be running or not running. The donation can be used for a charitable tax deduction. Call Charter Oak Education d/b/a Sterling Education at 860-643-1100 for further details. I make and eat a lot of soup in the winter. More often than I want to, I will bust open a carton of store-bought broth. Sometimes the time and effort of making the soup itself is all I can handle. It's not that making broth is difficult. But it does require more forethought (and refrigerator or freezer space) than I usually have. Sadly, what passes muster for most store-bought broths is limited to brown, salty water. I recently made a batch of one of my favorite Minestrone soups and could not get over how good it was. The biggest difference from some of my other batches? This one used a particularly rich, dark batch of homemade vegetable broth. The entire soup had a much more savory backbone that made the healthful dish that much heartier. "The body and flavor of the soup changes dramatically when you make your own" broth (or stock, depending on whom you ask or what you're making it with), says food writer and cookbook author Ivy Manning. When writing her 2017 book, "Easy Soups from Scratch with Quick Breads to Match: 70 Recipes to Pair and Share," Manning tested her soups two ways, with homemade and store-bought broth, and they were inevitably better with the homemade stuff. Homemade broths are a relatively low lift - put things in a pot and boil it while you do other things. They're also thrifty - use up ingredients you already have or stock up on what's cheap at the store. Here's how to get started making your own broth, with a couple of next-level tips. If you're short on time, make broths for when it counts. Let's be real. Lofty goals or not, a homemade broth isn't going to happen every time you want a pot of soup. So consider when it will matter most. When there are a lot of flavors and ingredients going into a soup, homemade isn't as important, Manning says. But with something like a chicken soup, where the broth really needs to shine? Yeah, it's worth the effort. Be thoughtful about what you put in the pot. Manning recalls a phrase a chef she worked for would use: "Garbage in, garbage out." So if you're making a broth with a few sad shriveled vegetables from your crisper drawer, forget it. She's not even a huge fan of the turkey carcass broth, especially if you're not adding much else to enhance it. If, however, you have extra onions, celery and carrots lying around in decent shape, proceed. Manning likes a ratio of 50 percent onion and 25 percent each of carrot and celery for her mirepoix, a.k.a. the base of many broths and soups. For meat-based broths, Manning recommends you "buy the parts of the animal that look like they were responsible for moving them around." That means anything like wings, drumsticks, shins and shanks. There's flavor in the connective tissue and bones, and collagen, which breaks down in cooking to provide body and a satisfying texture. It's the reason your broth might gelatinize in the fridge, which means you've done it right. Manning is flexible on the parts, depending on what's on sale at the supermarket. Pack in flavor where you can. Roasting bones will absolutely bring out additional flavor for meat-based broths, although Manning is also a fan of a quicker fix with broiling. To add even more depth to your broth, try including tomato sauce, kombu (seaweed) or mushrooms. Soy sauce can salvage a weak vegetable broth after cooking, too. All are high in glutamates, the substances responsible for savory, umami flavor. Other flavor enhancers: Peppercorns, bay leaves and herbs. Manning will even add a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast to chicken broth a few minutes before it's done, which she says helps with that umami and contributes a golden hue. Rinds from spent wedges of Parmigiano-Reggiano can be good, too, but Manning suggests using those mostly for European-style soups. And be sure your rinds are from a fresh wedge you just ate or have been stored in the freezer. Old ones that have been languishing in your cheese drawer may bring a funky flavor you're not looking for. Stay away from brassicas - broccoli, cauliflower, etc. - which Manning says can turn broth into, ahem, "skunk water." You can use other potential discards, though. The dark green parts of leeks, some (but not too much) fennel and carrot tops (similar to parsley) are all possibilities. What else should you leave out? Salt. Getting the level right can be tricky, plus you're going to be seasoning the soup anyway. - - - Cook it right. Manning likes to use a tall stockpot, which is good for large batches and gives you enough head space to top off the pot if the water level looks low before the broth is done. Start your broth with cold water. For meat, add just about enough water to cover the ingredients. For vegetables, Manning suggests covering with half an inch of water. Slowly bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it's just about boiling (bubbling but not vigorously), reduce the heat to maintain a simmer with constant, small bubbles. The gentler cooking keeps the fat and protein from dispersing too much and keeps the broth from getting cloudy. Manning doesn't usually bother skimming the surface of the broth while it's cooking. She prefers to do that later, after the broth has cooled (more on that below). Vegetable broth might take an hour to an hour and a half, she says. With meat, "there's sort of a bell curve that after awhile you're not getting anything out of those bones. They're dead," Manning says. To see whether your chicken broth is done, she suggests trying the meat. If it tastes like water, you're good. If meat is falling off the bones, that's another sign the broth is ready. Beef will take longer, 2 to 2 hours. "It should just smell intoxicatingly delicious" when it's done, she says. If for some reason your broth comes out too watery and bland, put it back on the heat and reduce it by half, Manning says. That will concentrate the flavor and give you a better result. Strain your broth after cooking (pressing on the solids can make it cloudy). Especially if it's meat-based, you'll want to let it cool overnight in the fridge. That way you can easily skim off fat and anything else that might have risen to the surface. Think beyond the stove top. Manning has written several Instant Pot cookbooks, and she's particularly fond of using such multicookers to make broth. (Her vegetable broth, which I recently made, is stunningly easy, flavorful and colorful.) They also make the task much faster. If you'd like to go the opposite direction, try making your broth in a slow cooker. Use it now or later. Store broths in the fridge for up to a week. If you're freezing broth, make sure you leave enough space for expansion. In our Food Lab, we measure 2- and 4-cup portions into zip-top bags and label them with the type of broth, date and amount. We then let them freeze flat on sheet pans, which makes them easier to store and stack once they're solid. It also helps with defrosting. Manning recommends using frozen stock within 3 months. After that "it starts to kind of fade," she says. Nothing catastrophic, though it may not be as delicious. After all, delicious is the goal. Otherwise, why bother? And you should definitely bother. China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesperson Gao Feng answers questions during a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2019. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that China consistently advocates for the building of regional free trade arrangements in line with the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles. "At present, related countries have pressed forward with regional free trade arrangements in the hope of further promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, showing the trend of economic globalization remains unchanged," spokesman Gao Feng said at a press conference. China's position on such arrangements is consistent, Gao said. "We firmly champion the multilateral trade system, and meanwhile advocate the building of regional free trade arrangements that follow WTO principles and that are open, transparent and mutually beneficial," he said. China has always contributed to economic globalization and regional economic integration, Gao said. At present, China is jointly pushing forward negotiations with affected parties on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a proposed free trade area of 16 parties comprising nearly a half of the world's population and home to more than 31 percent of the world's GDP. "It is going to be a market with huge potential," Gao said. China is willing to work with related parties to push economic globalization and regional economic integration toward a higher level and a wider scope in pursuit of mutual benefits and open development, and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity, he said. Gao made the remarks when commenting on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, an 11-party agreement that became effective late last year. [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] [br]CRAWLEY [ndash] Naomi "Nemo" Ann Hughes (Meadows), 75, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2021, after a 9-year battle with Alzheimer's. She was born in Eccles, WV, to Wesley and Chessie Meadows on June 2, 1946. She and husband Charles Hughes would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniv Source: January 11, 2019 23:28 IST IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks next to Senator Ted Cruz and border patrol agents as he visits the banks of the Rio Grande River on the US-Mexico border in Mission, Texas, on Friday. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters United States President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to be inching closer to imposing a national emergency that could allow him to bypass Congress to fund a controversial wall along the US-Mexico border that has led to a bitter political impasse and a 21-day government shutdown. Trump has asked for $5.6 billion from Congress to construct the border wall, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats have repeatedly refused to approve any legislation to fund the wall. The standoff led to the partial government shutdown. During his visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for the wall plan, Trump was asked if he is closer to declaring an emergency -- an action that would likely face legal challenges. "We are. I would like to look it broader. I think we could do this quickly, because this is common sense and it's not expensive. We will save the cost of the wall every year but much more than that," the Psaid. Trump had on Wednesday said that imposing a national emergency is the last option and threatened to use it if the Democrats did not allocate $5.7 billion funding for the wall. The president's inclination towards declaring a national emergency has gained momentum after he walked out of a meeting with top Democratic leaders -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer -- on Wednesday following their refusal to allocate funding. During an interaction with media personnel in Texas on Thursday, Trump said, "I would like to do a much broader form of immigration, and we can do immigration reform. It'll take longer. It's been complex. "It's been going on for 30-35 years, they've been talking about immigration reform. But before we do that, we have to create a barrier. That we could do very quickly." Contending strongly for construction of a barrier, concrete or steel, along the southern border with Mexico, the president has been claiming that illegal immigrants cause $250 billion drain on the American economy. Republican leaders insist the party stands behind the President, although some Republican lawmakers have spoken out in favour of ending the shutdown. The opposition Democrats, who are now in majority in the House of Representatives have refused to support such a move arguing that building the wall is a waste of taxpayers' money. Referring to his meeting with Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil Singh killed in California recently allegedly by an illegal immigrant during a border patro, Trump said, "Reggie, I got to know him today a little bit. This shouldn't be happening in our country." "This shouldn't be happening. And what you see of the border, that's not as much of a problem as they (illegal immigrants) come through the border and they go out throughout our nation," Trump said. "As hard as we work, and as well as we're doing nationwide on crime, a lot of it is caused by people that come in through the southern border. So, and you know, if we had the barrier, it wouldn't happen," he told reporters. But the Democrats appeared to be unconvinced by Trump's argument of national emergency. "If and when the President does that, you'll find out how we will react, but I'm not going to that place now. But I think the president will have problems on his own side of the aisle for exploiting the situation in a way that enhances his power. But not to go there. Let's see what he does," Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol Hill. Democratic Congresswoman Grace Meng from New York on Thursday announced that a legislation would be introduced in the House of Representatives on Friday to prevent Trump from declaring a national emergency. Some others said that they will file a lawsuit against national emergency. Trump said he is ready for the lawsuit and asserted that he will win it. "I am prepared for anything. The lawyers tell me, like, 100 per cent," he told reporters. As the government shutdown neared the end of its third week, the president left Washington with no additional negotiations scheduled with congressional leaders over a possible compromise that could both provide border security and open the government. Trump asks how many Pakistanis apprehended at border During the tour of the southern border in Texas, Trump asked a law enforcement official how many Pakistanis were arrested early this week trying to illegally enter America as he was told that individuals from several South Asian nations attempted to cross the porous border with Mexico. Trump asked the question when a law enforcement official briefed him on the security situation on the border and listed out the name of the countries whose citizens were nabbed at the border a day earlier. "So far this sector has apprehended folks from 41 different countries. Just yesterday, we apprehended 133 people from countries other than Central America and Mexico. That includes individuals from India. We apprehended some Pakistanis, Romania," the law enforcement official told Trump. "How many Pakistanis?" Trump asked, interrupting the law enforcement official. It was two yesterday, the border security official told the President. Texas Senator John Cornyn, who was standing there along with Trump, said that nationals of many countries are exploiting the vulnerabilities at the US-Mexico border. Senator Ted Cruz was also present at the briefing. Prez cancels Davos trip due to shutdown Meanwhile, Trump has canceled his planned trip to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, Switzerland, citing the 'intransigence' of the Democrats on his funding request. Trump was scheduled to attend the five-day Davos Summit which will begin from January 21. 'I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum,' the President tweeted. 'I intended to go and speak in front of the international community in Davos. That's still on, but if the shutdown continues, I won't go,' he had said. Later, he tweeted to cancel his Davos trip. 'Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. My warmest regards and apologies to the @WEF!' Trump said. The WEF, an annual gathering of the world's political and financial elite, is typically an event American presidents avoid. Source: January 11, 2019 20:01 IST Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Shah Faesal addresses a press conference in Srinagar. Former Indian Administrative Service officer Shah Faesal, who quit the service recently, on Friday shared his future plans, saying he would not join any mainstream political parties 'as of now', or separatist Hurriyat Conference, but would be happy to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections. The 2010-batch officer said he was deeply inspired by the style of politics of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, but the 'situation' in Jammu and Kashmir would not allow him to pursue politics their style. "As of now, I do not have any plans to join any existing mainstream political party. I plan to go to the field, listen to the ground, to the youngsters and important stakeholders and then take a decision," he told reporters in Srinagar. "I am deeply inspired by Imran Khan and Arvind Kejriwal. But, we know we are operating in a conflict zone and it is not very easy for us to work in that space, a space which has lost legitimacy in last few years. "I wish if the youngsters of the state give me that kind of opportunity, I will be happy to do a retake of Imran Khan and Kejriwal," Faesal added. He said he would be holding consultations with all stakeholders including political parties before taking the next step. "In Kashmir, we need to come together. We are in a crisis situation. It is not time to do politics on the graves of the people." Asked if he would be contesting the elections, Faesal said, "I will be happy to contest the upcoming elections. In fact, I believe parliament and legislature are important space and we need well-meaning and right people there." He said that in the recent years, due to the 'delegitimising' of the electoral politics because of the way it has been conducted, youths are not attracted to it. "We need to change that. I wish to use Parliament for engagement, for bringing solutions to our problems." On a question about the possibility of him joining the Hurriyat, Faesal said he would not do so as he cannot put to use his expertise in that forum. "I am a man from the system and I have an experience and my specialisation is in governance... I will be happy to do something in the institutions where I can use my experience as an administrator. "I wish I could do that elsewhere as well, but because the Hurriyat does not give me that kind of opportunity, very rightly because Hurriyat does not believe in electoral politics. "So, I think at this moment I may not be able to do that," he said. However, he said it was wrong to assume the Hurriyat has no role in achieving resolution of the Kashmir problem. He also said phrases like 'azaadi', right to self-determination and plebiscite should not be seen as taboo words in the mainstream politics. "We have this political discourse and there are certain taboo words ... we should not talk about azaadi, we should not talk about azaadi, we should not talk about plebiscite... all these, which are not actually taboo words." "Let the mainstream politics actually open its eyes to that vocabulary and re-imagine," he said. "We have got politicians to deal with municipal problems and military to deal with political problem. I think that is a problem itself. We need to open the space for the politicians and leave other things to those who need to be doing it," he added. In response to a question about the timing of his resignation, Faesal said he did it at the right time. "Resignation is a weapon which can be used only once and I think I have used it at the right time." Faesal said his new initiative of peace-building should not be seen as an alternative to the existing parties, but an addition. He said his resignation from the IAS has nothing to do with the factors within the service but factors external to it and the environment in which he was working there. "The service has given me an opportunity to understand the development problems of the state and serve the people at the grassroots level. I will always be a proud ex-member of the service," he said. He said that over last few years, in the state and rest of the country there have been circumstances that made him realise that this is time to speak up. "By the resignation, I am putting across a small act of defiance to remind the central government of its responsibilities towards the people of J-K. "I am resigning to protest the lack of political initiative to assuage the hurt feelings of people of Kashmir," he said. Faesal said in recent years, there have been some serious attacks on the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. "The constitutional arrangement which exists between the state of Jammu and Kashmir and Union of India under articles 370 and 35-A have been constantly invoked for electoral gains." He also accused the Centre of failure to facilitate the homecoming of Kashmiri Pandits, 'an important element of our diverse culture'. Faesal also spoke about 'lack' of initiative for bringing peace to the border residents, especially in Jammu, R S Pura, Poonch and Rajouri. He said the rise of 'lynch mob nationalism' in last few years has led to extreme marginalisation of minorities -- both political and religious -- in the country. "The other thing that has led to me being disgruntled is the curbs placed on the free speech of individuals in the country and the culture of hate and intolerance used to win elections." Faesal said that due to the service conduct rules, it would not have been possible for him to speak out. "Today I'm feeling extremely relieved. I'm free now." January 11, 2019 08:20 IST One perk of being a pilot, apart from travelling the world, is a front-row seat to the Earths natural wonders -- from jaw-dropping sunrises to silver slivers of lightning against ink coloured-clouds. One among them is Ecuador-based Santiago Borja who is known as The Storm Pilot because of the images hes taken. Borja, who lives in Quito, Ecuador, was kind enough to grant us permission to show some off his work. For more of his work, check out his website or his Instagram account @santiagoborja. So be ready to be amazed! Borja began his photography four years ago. Each of Borjas flights departs from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and often travel through New York and the Caribbean, zones of considerable weather activity. Photograph: www.santiagoborja.com Dont worry, Borja doesnt take photographs when hes manning the plane. He mostly snaps the shots while on his commute -- his fellow pilots let him sit in the observers seat and capture what's going on out the window. Photograph: www.santiagoborja.com Borja says his favourite experiences are when he's flying and he gets to see very rare atmospheric events such as storms, Atlantic sunrises and some very unusual cloud formations. Photograph: www.santiagoborja.com Borja, who became a pilot because he wanted to see the world from a unique perspective, flies a Boeing 767 for a major airline. On our long haul flights were usually three to four pilots and we switch places, explains Borja. So on a 12 hour flight we always get six hours off the controls. So thats a perfect opportunity for me to try different angles, different lenses. Photograph: www.santiagoborja.com When asked what his favourite spot to click images is, he says The Amazon. Photograph: www.santiagoborja.com Despite the incredible images he takes, he and the crew stay safe and protect others. The plane never flies near or above the storm, but long lenses are enough to do the work more than fine. As a result, the passengers are safe and sound, and they get to see some incredible images once they are back on the ground. Photograph: www.santiagoborja.com Borjas images have attracted interest from NASA, MIT and the University of Columbia. He has also won an award from National Geographic. Photograph: www.santiagoborja.com Photograph: www.santiagoborja.com Hes not the only pilot to snap photographs from 30,000 feet. Pilot photographer Christiaan van Heijst is also known for his striking cockpit captures. Despite a growing portfolio, there are plenty of weather conditions he's never photographed. One common misconception of Borjas work is that the photographs are taken in turbulence. Borja explains its actually the opposite. The fact that you can see the storm is because you are away from the storm and you are flying through clear air. So I would say that all of my images happen in a very quiet, very calm environment. Theres no turbulence, there is not much going on in the cabin." Photograph: www.santiagoborja.com Source: January 11, 2019 23:57 IST The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Manipur has decided to urge the Centre to exempt the state from the jurisdiction of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the latest voice from the north-east against the proposed legislation. Protesters hit the streets against the bill on Friday. Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance cabinet, which has two BJP ministers, has passed a resolution opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, as the saffron party's leadership in the state asserted they were with the indigenous people on the proposed legislation. The cabinet passed the resolution during a meeting on Thursday. The BJP, which has two MLAs in the MDA government, backed the Cabinet decision. "We are with the people of the state. The state cabinet had unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the Bill and we are part of the government," Health Minister and BJP MLA A L Hek said. Asked if he would resign from the BJP on the issue, he said, "No question". "People have voted for me. They have entrusted me with responsibilities as their representative and I will continue to serve in that capacity." However, defending the controversial bill, Assam's Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said its implementation is a must for the state to ensure it does not face a Kashmir-like situation in the future. He claimed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill can be an opportunity for not just Assam but the entire Northeastern part of the country. In Guwahati, BJP leader Pradip Dutta courted controversy by threatening Assamese speaking students in Bengali dominated Barak Valley that their admission in the Assam University at Silchar would be barred if they protest against the citizehsip bill. Students union of another university in Guwahati filed an FIR against Dutta for his provocative statement. Dutta, a local leader of the saffron party known for making controversial statements, issued the threat after a section of students of the Assam University raised their voice against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. "I warn the Assamese (speaking) students of the university that you study only and don't indulge in politics. Think about the future. We then will be forced to bar admission of Assamese students in the university," Dutta was heard saying in local news channels. Three persons, including a woman and a police officer, were injured in a clash between students, women vendors and the police at the Khwairamban Bazaar, the main market in Imphal, during a mass rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The police had to fire teargas shells to disperse the agitators, who joined the mass rally jointly organised by six students' organisations and the women vendors of the Khwairamban Bazaar. A police officer, who did not want to be quoted, told PTI that some unidentified student agitators threw mineral water bottles at the police personnel, in which a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) got injured on his face and he was hospitalised. Two injured civilians were also admitted to the RIMS hospital in Imphal as they were injured after the police lobbed teargas shells. At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the state cabinet on Thursday decided to appeal to the Centre to allow it not to implement the proposed legislation, which was recently passed by the Lok Sabha, a press release issued by the chief minister's secretariat said. The Bharatiya Janata Party is heading a coalition government in Manipur with the National People's Party, the Naga People's Front and the Lok Janshakti Party. In Meghalaya, the ruling NPP, the United Democratic Party, the BJP and the Hills State Peoples Democratic Party, as well as the opposition Congress, have voiced their opposition to the Bill, reflecting strong dissent prevailing in the state against the proposed legislation, cleared already by Lok Sabha. The ruling UDP (having nine MLAs) has aired its opposition to the Bill and party president Donkupar Roy slammed the BJP at the Centre for going against the voices of the people, particularly in the frontier states of the northeast region. Roy, who is also the speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, told PTI, "There is a great danger in accepting the Bill in its current form, and if it's implemented in the frontier states of the North East, particularly in Meghalaya." The speaker demanded the state and the northeast region be exempt from implementing the proposed legislation 'going by the sentiments of the indigenous people'. Meanwhile, the Gauhati high court on Friday granted bail to senior journalist Manjit Mahanta and interim relief to Assamese litterateur Hiren Gohain and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi in a sedition case filed by Assam Police for their alleged remarks against the citizenship bill. Justice H K Sarma granted interim bail to Gohain and Gogoi, RTI activist and chief of the KMSS, against a surety of Rs 5,000 each. The Judge also directed police to file the case diary by January 22. Mahanta was granted absolute bail as there is no specific allegation against him in the FIR. Police had filed a suo motu case under Indian Penal Code sections, including 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against government), 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) and 124(A) (sedition), at the Latasil police station in Guwahati. The case was filed on the basis of comments made by the three during a meeting on January 7 to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Assam Congress president Ripun Bora Friday visited Gohain and expressed the party's solidarity with him. Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters that the case against Gohain, Gogoi and Mahanta is a blatant misuse of power by the BJP government in the state. "The entire episode reflects Hitler and Mussolini type rule in the state and misuse of power by the BJP. The government cannot stop spontaneous protests by such high-handed measures. The protests will continue," he said. One person at Jorhat also held a strip protest against the sedition charge slapped on Gohain on Friday. Akhil Gogoi has announced that he will hold a 24-hour hunger strike on the coming Magh Bihu festival, of which community feast is an integral part, to protest against the bill. "I will not celebrate Magh Bihu this time and will not eat anything on 'Uruka'. I will observe a 24-hour hunger strike with other representatives of 70 organisations from afternoon of January 14 to protest against the Bill," he told a press conference. In Shillong, a bus carrying a team of rescuers from Odisha, headed to aid the operations to trace 15 miners trapped in a rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya, was attacked in East Jaintia Hills district allegedly by people protesting against the bill, police said on Friday. District Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger said while there was no injuries to any personnel when the bus was targeted Thursday night on the National Highway in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, the vehicle was partially damaged. Meanwhile, Sarma, who is also the convener of BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance, said, People of Assam need to understand that this is not an Assam specific bill and the burden of these refugees will be shared by the entire country. In fact, it will protect 17 important assembly seats of Assam from going to the All India United Democratic Front led by Badruddin Ajmal. We need to win the fight of civilisation as we cannot surrender Assam like we surrendered Kashmir," he said. Accusing the Congress of misleading the people of Assam over the bill, he said nearly 20 lakh of the 40 lakh people left out during the process of National Register of Citizens update were Hindus. He also said the Narendra Modi government's recent decision to grant constitutional status to clause 6 of the Assam Accord that ensures protection of indigenous Assamese from demographic invasion is a boon for the people of the state. Sarma argued that tribal status given to six communities of Assam will make it a forte of indigenous Assamese people. He also thanked Modi for transforming the socio-economic status of the entire Northeast region and improving the much needed infrastructure. Source: January 12, 2019 00:05 IST IMAGE: BJP president Amit Shah addresses on the first day of BJP National Executive Meet, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, on Friday. Photograph: Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Friday projected the Lok Sabha polls as a clash of ideologies and likened it to the 'decisive' third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the Afghan army, saying the election results will be equally significant for the country. In his inaugural address at a party convention in New Delhi, he dismissed the proposed grand alliance of opposition parties as a 'sham', saying they are a disparate group with neither a leader nor any policy and have been brought together by their greed of power. He also asserted that the BJP wants Ram temple to be constructed at the earliest in Ayodhya, drawing huge applause from thousands of party members, and accused the Congress of creating hurdles in the issue's early resolution in the Supreme Court. Targeting the opposition, Shah said its proposed alliance has no nationwide relevance and the BJP had defeated each of them in 2014, claiming that the party is sure to come back to power with a bigger majority. It had won 282 of 543 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls. Amid a challenge from the likely opposition unity and the BJP's defeat in the recent state polls, Shah sought to reassure the party cadres about its prospects, describing Modi as an 'invincible warrior' he has known since 1987 and under whom not a single election has been lost. The party has the 'world's most popular, visionary, transparent and hardworking' leader in Modi with the opposition having no match to him, he asserted, asking thousands of BJP delegates to go with the pledge of bringing the government back to power. That rival parties are joining hands against the BJP is their admission of Modi's strength, he said. In his over an hour-long speech, Shah emphasised on a number of government's measures -- especially those related to security, curbing corruption and welfare programmes for the poor and farmers -- and attacked the Congress for the dare to target Modi on the issue of graft when its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi are on bail in a 'case of corruption'. With Modi and other top leaders on dais he gave the party war cry to win the next polls, claiming that people like the BJP want a 'majboot sarkar' (strong government) and the opposition wants a 'majboor sarkar' (helpless government). "Nobody other than Modi can give a strong government," Shah said. "Two ideologies are facing off during the polls. We stand for cultural nationalism and antyodaya (poor's welfare). On the other hand there is neither a leader not policy, only a disparate group of selfish parties brought together by their greed of power," he said. He said rivals find it 'impossible' to defeat Modi, who has emerged as the 'nucleus' of politics like the Congress was for many decades, claiming that people stand behind the prime minister like a rock. Underlining the poll's significance, he said battles are of different kinds; consequences of some are felt for a decade or so while of some others are felt for centuries. "I believe the 2019 battle is going to be like this. That is why it is important to win. For 70 years the poor and deprived got nothing and the BJP government has made a successful attempt to provide for them. This battle is for them," he said, drawing a parallel with the third battle of Panipat. Under king Shivaji, Marathas had started freeing different parts of India and won over 131 battles under various kings before losing the third battle of Panipat in 1761. "It was not merely a loss in one battle... India was sunk in slavery for 200 years and the English ruled us for two centuries. It was a decisive battle," he said. He also claimed that the party is on its way to win more than 50 per cent votes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliance's tally will increase to 74 seats from 73 it had won in 2014 out of the state's 80. Mocking the 'bua-bhatija' alliance of Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party, he said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the BJP's fear. Dismissing Rahul Gandhi's allegation of corruption against the Modi government on the Rafale issue as baseless, he said the prime minister's image is unblemished and referred to the Supreme Court's order that rejected demands for a probe. When chowkidar (watchman) came to power all thieves ran away, he said, referring to fugitives like Vijay Mallya, claiming they will be held to account. Referring to the passage of a bill in Parliament to give 10 per cent quota to the general category poor, Shah said the government has 'fulfilled' dreams of crores of youths, describing it as one of the most important legislations passed by Parliament. For 30-40 years, upper castes' youths felt neglected and did not get a level playing field, he said. Shah said India had developed and its global prestige has enhanced under Modi and also made a reference to surgical strike. With this, India joined the ranks of the US and Israel, he added. Under the UPA, 'aaliya, maliya and jamalia' would infiltrate into India and target security forces but the country gave a befitting reply under Modi and secured its borders, he said. Attacking 'Rahul baba and company', he said they spoke for illegal infiltrators on the issue of National Register of Citizens in Assam as if they considered them as their 'mausere bhai' (cousins). He said infiltrators were hollowing out the country like termites and the BJP would identify each of them. He also touched on issues of triple talaq and conviction of those accused in anti-Sikh riots cases. Source: January 11, 2019 14:27 IST Meanwhile, the Congress said that that it is ready to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha election. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati will address a joint press meet in New Delhi on Saturday, amid talks of seat-sharing for Lok Sabha polls from which the Congress seems to be almost out. The joint press conference at a posh hotel in Lucknow was announced on Friday by SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary and Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary SC Misra. The top leadership of both the parties had met in New Delhi recently to discuss broad parameters of an alliance to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party unitedly in the Lok Sabha elections. The joint press conference will be the first after the parties gave contours of an electoral alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The two party chiefs had given their "in principle" approval to the alliance, which has virtually shut its doors to the Congress in the state. However, media coordinator of the Congress Rajiv Bakshi said that the party is ready to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha election. The Congress already has 45 seats in the Lok Sabha, more than any other regional player, Bakshi said. "We are a political party and are ready to fight the coming elections alone in Uttar Pradesh," he said "We are ready to take along like minded parties and they can come together with us," he added. Sources said that both the SP and the BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 on offer in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two, Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for the Congress. Smaller parties like the Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Nishad Party are also likely to be in the alliance. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and its allies had won 73 of the 80 seats in UP. Congress leaders like PL Punia, who delivered Chhattisgarh to the Congress as its state in-charge, and Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Raj Babbar are reportedly of the view that the Congress should not "be sheepish in alliance negotiations any more" and should seek its pound of flesh. They cite the example of 2009 when the Congress romped home with 22 Lok Sabha seats in UP, surprising many prophets of doom. They also say that with party chief Rahul Gandhi getting more "combative, direct and effective" in taking on the Modi juggernaut, the Congress stood better chances in going alone. Over the week, Yadav and Mayawati also put out press statements that specifically referred to the word "gathbandhan". Mayawati's press statement was in solidarity with Yadav amid reports that the CBI might question him on investigations into a mining scam that allegedly took place when he was chief minister. "Don't be shaken," she advised him. Yadav returned the favour when he put out a press release to condemn Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at a rally in Agra on Mayawati, "forgetting" an attack on her by Samajwadi Party workers in 1995 for "political gains". "The PM is scared of the alliance," said Yadav. In Agra, Modi sought to drive a wedge between the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party when he said that the two parties which could not see eye to eye were joining hands. Last year, Yadav and Mayawati decided to bury their differences and pool in their resources to contest three bypolls and won all. It gave them hope that if they team up, they can pull voters away from the BJP. The mahagathbandhan arithmetic had worked in the bypolls as a consolidation of OBC, Dalit and Muslim votes powered joint opposition candidates to victory in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana last year. If they try to replicate their success in the 2019 national polls, it might upset the apple cart of the BJP, which recently lost three major state elections, feel analysts. A senior BJP leader, when contacted, sought to play down the SP-BSP tie-up as "opportunistic" politics and expressed confidence that the saffron party will come out with flying colours on the plank of development as it believed in 'sab ka saath, sab ka vikas'. Source: Last updated on: January 12, 2019 00:08 IST Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati will on Saturday announce their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, appearing set to keep the Congress out of the pact in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress described this likelihood as a 'very dangerous mistake' and said it was ready to fight the parliamentary polls alone in the state. SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary and BSP national general secretary SC Misra on Friday sent out the invitation for a joint press conference at a hotel in Lucknow. Akhilesh Yadav confirmed in a television interview that the press conference is on the alliance in Uttar Pradesh, while parrying questions on the Congress. At a meeting in Kannauj, he also said, "Our coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress." Smaller parties like the Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Nishad Party are also likely to be part of the alliance, but were not mentioned in the announcement on the press conference. RLD's state unit president Masood Ahmed told PTI that the party national vice president Jayant Chaudhary will be in the state capital Saturday and, if invited, could be a part of the joint press conference. His party chief Ajit Singh evaded questions from the media on the two seats expected to be set aside for the RLD, saying the discussions were in an early stage. Sources said the RLD has demanded six seats in any seat-sharing agreement. In Delhi, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and eliminate 'autocracy, misgovernance' at the Centre. "We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake, he told reporters when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance. "Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future," he added. Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi said the party was ready to fight the coming elections alone in the state. "We alone have 45 seats in the Lok Sabha and it is any day many more than the regional players," he said. "A 'mahagathbandhan' in the Lok Sabha elections needs to be built around the party having a national face," Bakshi said. The top leadership of the SP and the BSP recently met in Delhi to discuss the broad parameters of an alliance to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming parliamentary elections just months away. After the meeting, the SP said Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati had given their 'in-principal approval' for an alliance in Uttar Pradesh. Sources said the SP and the BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 on offer in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two, Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for the Congress. Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi said the party was ready to fight the coming elections alone in the state. "We alone have 45 seats in the Lok Sabha and it is any day many more than the regional players," he said. "A 'mahagathbandhan' in the Lok Sabha elections needs to be built around the party having a national face," Bakshi said. "We are ready to take along like- minded parties and they can come together with us," he said. Congress leaders like P L Punia, who delivered Chhattisgarh to the Congress as its state in-charge, and Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Raj Babbar are reportedly of the view that the party should seek its pound of flesh in any alliance. They cite the example of 2009 when the Congress romped home with 22 Lok Sabha seats in UP, surprising many. They also say that with party chief Rahul Gandhi getting more 'combative' against the ruling BJP, the Congress now stands a better chance than before. At a party convention in Delhi on Friday, BJP president Amit Shah mocked the 'bua-bhatija' alliance of the parties led by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati. He said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the fear of the BJP, echoing remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent rally in Agra. Shah claimed that the BJP is on its way to win more than 50 per cent votes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliance's tally will improve from the 73 Lok Sabha seats it won in 2014 out of the state's 80. Last year, Yadav and Mayawati decided to bury their differences to contest three bypolls. The joint opposition victories in the bypolls in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana was seen as a consolidation of Other Backward Classes, Dalits and Muslim votes, and raised expectations of a similar math working in the 2019 elections. In recent days, Yadav and Mayawati have put out press statements that mention a 'gathbandhan'. Mayawati's press statement was in solidarity with Yadav amid reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation might question him in connection with a mining scam that allegedly took place when he was chief minister. "Don't be shaken," she advised him. Yadav returned the favour when he put out a statement to condemn Modi's remarks at a rally in Agra on Mayawati 'forgetting' an attack on her by SP workers in 1995. "The PM is scared of the alliance," Yadav said. January 11, 2019 10:45 IST 'While the fears in Assam and other north eastern states are natural given their experience since 1947 when successive governments and even political leaders in Delhi repeatedly let them down, the intent and provisions under the Citizenship Amendement Bill -- when examined closely -- should remove those apprehensions,' says Nitin A Gokhale, the well-known commentator who lived in and reported from the north east between 1983 and 2006. IMAGE: Members of various indigenous organisations stage a protest outside the Assam government secretariat in Guwahati, January 9, 2019, against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. Photograph: PTI Photo Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while introducing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the Lok Sabha, mentioned, and rightly so, that the entire country will share the burden of refugees and it will not be Assam's responsibility alone to give shelter to the persecuted minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who came to India before 2014. The Bill seeks to give citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Jains and Christians on the grounds that they have been persecuted and hounded out of these three countries and in keeping with India's long-standing tradition of giving shelter to distressed people of all faiths. This assurance came even as many political organisations and civil society in Assam are up in arms because they fear that the state will once again be burdened by the influx of millions of illegal migrants like in the past. The Asom Gana Parishad, the regional party that was formed in the wake of the six-year anti-foreigners agitation in the early 1980s, has in fact walked out of an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. Assam's neighbouring states in the north east have also witnessed protests against the Bill. Those opposed to the Bill contend that the Constitution is religion-neutral while granting citizenship and therefore this step will go against the spirit of the statute. Certain myths associated with the Bill need to be dispelled because they are merely myths. First up is a myth that the Bill is discriminatory against Muslims and that citizenship on the basis of religion is against the Constitution. Since the Bill is for foreigners it is the prerogative of the Government of India to accord citizenship on the basis of its conscience. The Bill addresses only three countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan) because Pakistan and Bangladesh were part of the same subcontinent and were separated from India on basis of religion. It is no secret that the that the six identified groups of people have been tremendously persecuted and discriminated against on religious lines in these countries which is not the case with the vast Muslim majority of these countries. If the constitution of the country embraces a specific religion as its State religion, the discrimination against the people of other faiths in that country becomes inherent. As regards the right to equality enshrined in the Constitution, the Supreme Court has held that 'the principle of equality does not mean that every law must of universal application for all persons who are not by nature, attainment of circumstances in the same position, as the varying needs of different classes of persons often require separate treatment. It would be in expedient and incorrect to think that all laws have to be made uniformly applicable to all people in one go.' In leading judgments, the Supreme Court held that 'the equality under Article 14 is not indiscriminate. Paradoxical as it may seem, the concept of equality permits rational or discriminating discrimination. Conferment of special benefits or protection of rights to a particular group of citizens for rational reasons is envisaged under Article 14 and is implicit in the content of equality.' 'There is no abridgement of the content of Article 14 thereby but an exposition and practical application of such contents.' What it guarantees is similarity off and not identical treatment. The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that equal protection of law means the right to equal treatment in similar circumstances or to similarly situated people. The Bill has been proposed in extreme humanitarian grounds as the six minorities are fleeing persecution and have no other option except coming to India illegal. Moreover, India has had a long history of hosting victims of persecution. Be in the 12th century or more recently the Tibetans or the Tamils from Sri Lanka, India has always shown humanity and generosity in opening her arms for minority people persecuted by the majority in other nations. And it is not for the first time that the law is being sought to be applied to the persecuted minorities trying to enter India. As early as 1950, months after India was proclaimed a Republic, a similar law called Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950 was enacted to deal with the large-scale influx from East Pakistan, spoke of treating those who felt persecuted be treated differently. Section 2 of this Act lays down that if 'the Central Government is of the opinion that any person or class of persons, having been ordinarily resident in any place outside India, has or have, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, came into Assam and that the stay of such person or class of persons in Assam is detrimental to the interest of general public of India or any section thereof or of any Scheduled Tribe in Assam, the Central Government may by order direct such person or class of persons to remove himself or themselves from India or Assam...' The proviso of this section is the interesting and a crucial operative part. It says '(the section) will not apply to any person who on account of civil disturbances or the fear of such disturbances in any area now forming part of Pakistan has been displaced from his place of residence in such area and who has been subsequently residing in Assam.' The situation since then in Pakistan and later in Bangladesh has forced lakhs of Hindus to migrate forcibly into India. The census figures speak for themselves. In 1941, Hindus formed 28 per cent of East Bengal's population. By 1951, it had fallen to 22.05 per cent. A combination of genocide and mass exodus, East Pakistan in 1971 witnessed the loss of 20 million Hindus -- one of the largest displacement of population based on ethnic or religious identity in recent history. This development was well reflected in the 1974 census conducted in newly independent Bangladesh. That year, the population of Hindus had fallen to 13.5 per cent. The current estimate of Hindu population in Bangladesh is about 8 per cent. Thus, most of the Hindu minorities have already come into India. There is no likelihood of a large-scale migration of remaining Hindus into Assam or the north east given that Sheikh Hasina's India friendly government has won a renewed mandate in Bangladesh. Finally, all that the Bill seeks to do is to identify persecuted minorities who came into India before 2014 so that they cannot be deported. However, this group of people will not automatically granted citizenship of India. They will have to apply for citizenship, go through a process and wait for six years to get it. While the fears in Assam and other north eastern states are natural given their experience since 1947 when successive governments and even political leaders in Delhi have repeatedly let them down, the intent and provisions under the Citizenship Amendement Bill -- when examined closely -- should remove those apprehensions. January 11, 2019 09:54 IST China has been trying to build lobbies of influence and mould public opinion in India since at least 2017, and large sums have been invested in the effort, reveals former RA&W officer Jayadeva Ranade. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi, December 21, 2018. Photograph: PTI Photo Keeping up the tempo of high-level visits between the two countries, China's 63-year-old State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a 4-day (December 21-24, 2018) visit to India. His itinerary included visits to Mumbai and Aurangabad with a day in Delhi. The visit received little coverage in the official Chinese media. Wang Yi's visit is part of Beijing's efforts to play down tensions in relations with its neighbours, initiated at a time of growing pressure exerted by the slowdown in China's economy, the 'trade war' begun by the US, and imposition of restrictions on the sale and export of hi-tech goods to China by the US and West. Relations with the West got strained because of the arrest of the chief financial officer of Huawei, China's fastest growing and largest telecommunications firm, at least three Chinese foreign intelligence officers and China's retaliatory arrests of at least 13 Canadian citizens. Wang Yi might personally have felt the chill in the relationships when his wife Qian Wei, daughter of a former high-ranking Chinese foreign ministry official, was just days earlier reportedly denied a visa to Canada. In Delhi, he called on the President, met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and attended high-level media interactions and people-to-people and cultural contacts. No other issues figured on Wang Yi's slim agenda, making clear that Beijing had decided to portray that India and China had agreed to put the 73-day military face-off at Doklam behind them and that bilateral relations had 'normalised'. At the press conference, EAM Swaraj pointedly stated that during her two hour meeting with Wang Yi, only media and cultural contacts were discussed. Wang Yi's was the last high-level visit from China to India last year. Nonetheless, Wang Yi's visit is important as its focus reflects the high priority given by Chinese President Xi Jinping to propaganda and united front activities. Pertinently, Wang Yi slipped in a mention of Confucius Institutes during his remarks at the press conference on December 21, but elicited no response from Mrs Swaraj. Promptly after Wang Yi's visit to Delhi, articles recommending intensified contacts including recognition of Chinese degrees and establishment of Chinese Confucius Centres appeared in some Indian newspapers! China has been trying to build lobbies of influence and mould public opinion in India since at least 2017, and large sums have been invested in the effort. This includes hosting politicians, journalists, academics, representatives of think-tanks etc on all-expenses paid visits to China, buttressed by substantial financial incentives. There was an uptick in efforts consequent to India's opposition to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative and after the standoff at Doklam. Propaganda is an important part of China's 'Three Warfares' (Public Opinion, Psychological and Legal). Xi Jinping has followed more assertive policies since taking over in November 2012, when he outlined the 'China Dream', which aims to make the Chinese people prosperous, the Chinese nation strong, and bring about the 'rejuvenation of the great Chinese nation' by 2021. The last ambition includes 'recovery' of the so-called 'territories lost through the imposition of unequal treaties by hostile imperialist powers!' Xi Jinping's policy towards Taiwan underlines the importance of Propaganda Warfare, as seen particularly in his message on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the call to end military confrontation across the Taiwan Strait on January 2, 2019. After taking over as head of the central small leading group on united front work and later the new foreign affairs commission, Xi Jinping doubled the budgets and personnel strength of China's ministry of foreign affairs and the Chinese Communist party central committee's united front work department. $6.6 billion has been allocated for an international propaganda offensive. The Confucius Institutes, set up under China's ministry of education in 2014, are part of this initiative. Li Changchun, a member of the politburo standing committee in 2009, called the Confucius Institutes 'an important part of China's overseas propaganda apparatus.' Later, in a speech at the Beijing headquarters of the Confucius Institute in 2011, he called them an 'appealing brand', adding that 'using the excuse of teaching Chinese language, everything looks reasonable and logical.' The Chinese authorities provide substantial amounts of money to institutions that host these institutes, or the smaller 'classrooms'. They retain virtual controlling rights in selecting or approving individuals recruited as teachers and professors, vet the syllabi and excise portions considered to be 'offensive' or incorrect, and decide which topics can be taught or even discussed in these institutes and classrooms. Confucius Institutes maintain close contacts with the Chinese embassy. India needs to discourage Confucius Institutes as, in addition to propaganda, they will try and propagate China's version on Sino-Indian conflicts, the border issue, the Tibet issue and the Dalai Lama. Jayadeva Ranade, former Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, is the President, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy. Last updated on: January 11, 2019 09:08 IST However, independent economists are not as gung-ho as the finance ministry over the likelihood of deficit target being met this time around, says Indivjal Dhasmana. IMAGE: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses a press conference in Bhopal. Photograph: PTI Photo If the past trend is anything to go by, the finance ministry should be able to contain the Centre's fiscal deficit in 2018-19. The ministry has a successful record of reining in the fiscal record in two of the three pre-election years since the idea of the fiscal responsibility and budgetary management (FRBM) was mooted. The FRBM Act was introduced in Parliament by the then finance minister, Yashwant Sinha, in 2000, but it got enacted only in July, 2004, when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government came to power. The FRBM Act mandated the fiscal deficit to be reduced every year until it came to three per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008-09. So we took into account the fiscal consolidation exercise of the government since 2003-04, a pre-election year Budget of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime in its first stint under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Since then, four pre-election Budgets have been presented -- in 2003-04, 2008-09, 2013-14 and 2018-19. Of these, the revised estimates of 2018-19 are yet to come out. Of the remaining three Budgets, the finance ministry has been able to rein in fiscal deficit as budgeted in 2004-05 and 2013-14. It was only in 2008-09 that the fiscal deficit target was not met. But the main cause of the disruption was not elections but the global financial meltdown. In 2004-05, the Budget had targeted the deficit to be at 5.6 per cent of the country's GDP, but the actual deficit came at about 4.5 per cent. Similarly, in 2013-14, the fiscal deficit, targeted at 4.8 per cent, ended up lower at 4.4 per cent. It was only in 2008-09 that fiscal deficit was targeted at 2.5 per cent of GDP, but it came to be wider, in fact more than double, at six per cent. The hit on fiscal deficit was so much that FRBM targets went awry. Since the enactment of the FRBM Act, the government had been maintaining the targets until 2007-08. The then finance minister, P Chidambaram, had even said in his Budget speech of 2007-08 that the fiscal deficit was estimated at Rs 1,509.48 billion, or 3.3 per cent of GDP. "I am happy to report that we are on course to achieve the FRBMA targets," he had asserted confidently. A year later, he proved his point when the deficit was reduced to 3.1 per cent of GDP in 2007-08. "It is widely acknowledged that the fiscal position of the country has improved tremendously," he said. Also, at the beginning of 2008-09, the government was confident that the fiscal deficit target would be met in line with the FRBM Act, if not in line with the Budget. Chidambaram had said in 2008-09 Budget, "... Not only will I achieve the target for fiscal deficit under the FRBM Act, I have also left for myself some headroom". This was so because the FRBM Act had mandated the fiscal deficit to be three per cent of GDP, but it was budgeted to be 2.5 per cent. But, the year did not progress as it was expected by the government. The collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008 accentuated the financial meltdown. The global GDP growth averaged 3.7 per cent during 1997-2006. Growth further improved to 5.1 per cent in 2007, shored up by emerging Asian economies, particularly India and China. However, in the aftermath of the global financial meltdown, growth started decelerating in 2008 and the world output contracted in 2009. This had a ripple effect on India. The government had to announce stimulus to perk up the economy. Meanwhile, there was change in guard at North Block. Chidambaram was shifted to the other corner of North Block -- home ministry -- in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in November 2008, and the finance ministry was taken by the then prime minister, Manmohan Singh. Later, Pranab Mukherjee became the finance minister. To counter the ripple effect on India, fiscal and monetary policies were initiated. Two stimulus packages were announced on December 7, 2008, and January 2, 2009, and a third one in the interim Budget on February 16, 2009, in quick succession. The total size of the fiscal stimulus package was estimated at 3.5 per cent of GDP in 2008-09, amounting to Rs 1.86 trillion. On the demand side, the government reduced excise duty rates by 6 percentage points in two phases and service tax by 2 percentage points. States were provided financial assistance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for purchase of buses for urban transport system. These, together with frontloading of public expenditure on physical and social infrastructure, were aimed at stimulating domestic demand. The government also took measures on the supply side -- an interest subvention of 2 per cent on pre- and post-shipment credit on labour-intensive industries attempted to reduce the cost of these export-dependent industries. A refinancing facility of Rs 70 billion was provided initially, which was enhanced by another Rs 40 billion in 2009-10 to Small Industries Development Bank of India for supporting incremental lending to micro and small enterprises, either directly or through banks. The government also provided back-up guarantee to Export Credit Guarantee Corporation to enable it to provide guarantees to exports. All this led to a widening of the fiscal deficit to six per cent of GDP, as was cited above. As such, 2008-09 was the only exception in two of the three pre-election year budgets, and that too because of exceptional a global financial situation. This time, there is no such extraordinary global situation, even though demand is taking time to recover. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is confident that fiscal deficit would be reined in at 3.3 per cent of GDP, as was budgeted for 2018-19, even as the target was already breached till October 2018. The fiscal deficit for April-October stood at Rs 6.49 trillion, more than the full-year target of Rs 6.24 trillion. The confidence is also despite the fact that it is almost certain that goods and services tax (GST) are not giving the targeted revenues, even as Revenue Secretary A B Pandey has expressed confidence that GST targets will be achieved. Overall, there could be a shortfall of Rs 700 billion to Rs one trillion in GST collections, against the target of almost Rs 13 trillion. All of this may not come only to the Centre, even if one assumes that states would meet the target due to a compensation cess, since 42 per cent of even central tax revenues are shared with states. The issue is where the government will find resources to meet this shortfall. Jaitley has already said that capital expenditure would not be squeezed, even as fiscal deficit target would be adhered to. It should be noted here that while fiscal deficit target in 2013-14 was met, it mainly came due to a huge 22 per cent cut in capital expenditure. Ironically, while there was stimulus in 2008-09, capex was reduced marginally even then. It was only in 2004-05 that capex was raised by a whopping 50 per cent, but then fiscal deficit targets were still achieved. Independent economists are not as gung-ho as the finance ministry over the likelihood of deficit target being met this time around. For instance, India Ratings projected that fiscal deficit would be 3.5 per cent of GDP in 2018-19. And this would also be so due to robust direct tax collections and disinvestment proceeds, the rating agency's chief economist Devendra Pant said. The government collected 48 per cent of the direct tax targets for this year by November. In absolute terms, collections stood at Rs 5.5 trillion against the target of Rs 11.5 trillion for the entire year. Similarly, the government has garnered Rs 322 billion from disinvestment so far, against the target of Rs 800 billion. The acquisition of Power Finance Corporation by Rural Electrification Corporation, approved by the Union Cabinet recently, would give the government another Rs 140-150 billion. The government is also working on another tranche of its successful Bharat 22 exchange-traded fund, and a few other deals, including the sale of Air India's ground-handling unit and NTPC taking over the Centre's 63.7 per cent stake in SJVN Ltd. Had it not been for direct tax collections and disinvestment, fiscal deficit would have surpassed even 3.5 per cent, Pant said. Even as fiscal deficit target now is 3.5 per cent for 2018-19, it should be noted that the original projection by the fiscal consolidation road map was 3 per cent. In 2008-09, the Budget Estimate of fiscal deficit at 2.5 per cent of GDP was lower than the FRBM target of three per cent, but then it actually turned out to be six per cent ultimately. After FRBM targets ended in 2008-09, the Vijay Kelkar committee was appointed. It gave a new road map for fiscal consolidation. According to that road map, the deficit was to be checked at 4.6 per cent of GDP in 2013-14. However, the Budget had estimated it to be 4.8 per cent. But, actually the deficit stood quite lower at 4.4 per cent. This time around (2018-19), the original target of the fiscal consolidation road map has already given a pause. January 11, 2019 08:29 IST Customers should be fully aware of what their policy covers and should follow claim procedures meticulously, says Sanjay Kumar Singh. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com If you have bought a health or motor policy, you will have to deal with intermediaries like third party administrators (TPAs) and surveyors respectively. In its recently published annual report, the Executive Council of Insurers (ECOI), the body that supports the office of the ombudsman, has made a few critical observations about these intermediaries. About TPAs, the report says their decisions on settlement of claims should not be final and the matter should be reviewed by the insurer to arrive at a judicious decision. As for surveyors, it comments that the assessment of surveyors on the quantum of loss in motor claims is not in tune with the desired repairs and the reason for not allowing the estimated items is not explained. The report further adds that TPAs and surveyors add significantly to the woes of hapless customers. TPA recommends, insurer decides The TPA is the entity that processes your claim. It does so according to the claim settlement guidelines provided by the insurer and then makes a recommendation to the latter. "The insurance contract is between the insurer and the customer, so the final decision on whether to accept or reject a claim is made by the insurer," says Nayan Shah, founder and managing director, Paramount Health Services and Insurance TPA. Experts, however, say that insurers go with their TPA's recommendation in most cases. According to Arvind Laddha, deputy chief executive officer, JLT Independent Insurance Brokers, "Only in cases where the insured has an issue with the decision do insurers usually review the case." According to the ECOI report, some insurance companies do not even send a repudiation letter to their customers. The letter from the TPA is the only correspondence that policyholders receive. "If a TPA writes to a claimant that your claim has been rejected, that is not right according to law, since the contract is between the insurer and the insured," says Shah. Condition not covered According to TPAs, claims get rejected because they do not fit into the claim settlement guidelines provided to them by the insurer. For instance, certain conditions like hernia and cataract, which do not require immediate treatment, are not covered in the first and second year of the policy. If a customer gets operated and then makes a claim within this period, it will not be paid. Similarly, most policies do not cover pre-existing diseases for two to four years. Another reason for claims getting rejected is lack of proper documentation. A customer, for instance, may have submitted the receipt but he may not have attached the MRI report. "If the TPA feels that the presence of the MRI report is necessary for settling the claim, it could be rejected," says Laddha. Get to know your policy well Customers, on their part, can take a couple of steps to reduce the chances of their claims being rejected. According to Shah, they should acquire a good knowledge of what their policy covers and what it does not. Customers, for instance, complain that their bill was not reimbursed fully, but are often unaware that their policy has caps, such as for room rent, intensive care unit, and so on. Any cost they incur above the cap has to be paid out of their own pocket. Second, the insured should be meticulous in providing documentation when making a claim. Cover yourself comprehensively Surveyors are the people who inspect your vehicle, assess the damage, and give an estimate to the insurer. A motor insurance customer's claim could be turned down or be only partly reimbursed due to a variety of factors. Says Rahul Sharma, vice president and head of claims, Bharti AXA General Insurance: "It could happen because the loss was caused by a peril that the insured was not covered for. Perhaps the customer did not opt for maximum coverage through the many add-ons available." "It could also happen if there was material non-disclosure at the underwriting stage or misrepresentation of facts at the time of claim," Sharma adds. According to experts, the risk of under-assessment is lower in a cashless claim and higher in a reimbursement claim. "In a cashless claim, under-assessment is usually not an issue since you send your vehicle to a garage that already has a link with the insurer. Customers are more likely to encounter this problem in reimbursement claims," says Naval Goel, chief executive officer, Policyx.com. The fault, according to Goel, can lie on both sides. Sometimes customers make inflated claims. At other times, it could be the surveyor trying to lower cost. "Surveyors trying to beat down the claim amount to reduce the cost to the insurer does happen," says Goel. Sometimes, the surveyor could be trying to squeeze a bribe out of the customer. Opt for cashless facility At the time of buying the policy, get a good understanding of your needs and buy suitable add-on covers. If a claim arises, provide the correct details of your losses in the claim form without delay. "At this stage, do not get influenced by unauthorised consultants or intermediaries who may try to encourage you to falsify or inflate your claim," says Sharma. Customers should use cashless garages as far as possible. In a reimbursement claim, if the surveyor says that the cost is lower than you expect, ask him to state this in writing. "If your claim amount is genuine, this will help you prove your case before the ombudsman," says Goel. Alternatively, ask the surveyor to offer a garage where the repair work can be done at a lower cost. If the issue does not get resolved, ask the insurer to send another surveyor. If despite all the above-mentioned steps and precautions, you feel that you have got a raw deal at the hands of a TPA or surveyor, complain to the grievance cell of the insurer. The office of the ombudsman (see table) and consumer court are other fora you can approach for redress. January can often be regarded as the month of starting anew. It's the first month of a new year and a time when people try their best not to b A 24-year-old man died after he was shot at an unspecified location on Sycamore Drive on Feb. 2 around 5 p.m., according to an Athens-Clarke County Police Department press release. The victim was still alive when he was taken to a local hospital. Lindsay Lohan has nothing but love for Kim Kardashian following their online feud in 2018. ADVERTISEMENT The 32-year-old actress and television personality discussed her drama with Kardashian during a game of Plead the Fifth on Wednesday's episode of "Watch What Happens Live." Lohan clashed with Kardashian on Instagram in January 2018 after saying she was "confused" by Kardashian's braided hairstyle. Kardashian responded by mocking Lohan's vaguely European accent in a viral 2016 interview. "@lindsaylohan you know what's confusing.....your sudden foreign accent," the reality star wrote. Lohan told host Andy Cohen she was genuinely confused by Kardashian's hairstyle. Many called out Kardashian for cultural appropriation after she posted a photo of herself with the braids. "I love Kim," Lohan said. "I just was confused about the braids because she just had a baby. I don't know. We're friends, yeah, with all the family." 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! Lohan denied hooking up with Vanderpump Rules star Jax Taylor during an earlier question in Plead the Fifth. "I've never even met him! I've never met him. Really. Maybe he met Annie or Hallie," she joked, referencing her Parent Trap characters. Lohan stars on the new MTV series "Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club," which follows the actress as she manages a club in Mykonos, Greece. She said during the after-show Tuesday that Oprah Winfrey helped turn her life around following her jail time. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/11/2019 ADVERTISEMENT So what's the current status of Ashley and Jay's relationship now? Are they still married and still together? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Ashley Martson and Jay Smith have clearly been struggling ever since Ashley discovered Jay was trying to meet other women on a dating app a couple of days after their wedding, so how is the couple doing now?TLC is about to air Part 2 of 's sixth-season "Tell-All" reunion show on Sunday, January 13.In the first part of the reunion show that filmed in November 2018 and aired earlier this week, Ashley made it clear her relationship with Jay was in limbo after finding out about his alleged intention to cheat on her."Once [trust] is broken, it's pretty much broken. That's something extremely hard to come back from," Ashley noted."I wouldn't trust me too, if I did that. I messed up and I'm just trying to make it up to her," Jay admitted on the special.The couple agreed if they hadn't been restricted to tying the knot within 90 days due to Jay's K-1 visa, they would have waited to get married and just lived together in the U.S. instead.However, Ashley still slammed her husband by saying, "You should be thankful that you had 90 days because it took you 93 to screw up... You don't invite a woman over to my house while I'm bartending at night."Jay repeated how he had made "a mistake" but it was also "a misunderstanding" because he never planned to invite a woman back to their shared place."Don't even try to defend yourself because you sound like an idiot," Ashley barked at Jay.Ashley didn't know whether to give Jay another chance -- although she admitted forgiving him would make her look like a fool -- or send him back to Jamaica and move forward in her life without a husband."Honestly, I have not filed for Jay's adjustment of status and I don't plan to any time soon," Ashley announced on the Tell-All.Unfortunately, fans of this couple will be disappointed to find out that while Ashley has declined to directly confirm their current status, Ashley and Jay's social-media activity seems to indicate they split just before Christmas 2018.Ashley was completely devastated by Jay's cheating, and so it appears she is still considering divorce and ending their brief marriage.In her Instagram Stories on January 10, Ashley wrote, "Everything changed the day she learned that she was just as valuable as everyone else," alluding to the notion she may feel like she's better off without Jay in her life.Back on December 30, Jay shared a link to a newly-created GoFundMe account that was looking to raise $5,000 to "help me get and my feet an a place to stay."The GoFundMe account had only raised $5 from a single contributor several hours after it was created, and was later removed.According to blogger John Yates, Jay also briefly posted an Instagram photo showing Ashley talking with a police officer outside what appeared to be her home."Okay Ashley call the cops... guess it's time to leave now," the star captioned the photo, which he subsequently deleted.Ashley later posted an Instagram Story claiming the GoFundMe was a scam and Jay had only shared the link to it "to be a smartass.""I spoke with Jay and neither one of us has a go fund me... he just reposted it to be a smartass! I can't watch people send money to someone scamming them," Ashley wrote.Speculation that Ashley and Jay may have suddenly split began swirling on December 22 after Ashley posted a cryptic Instagram Stories photo about not being able to "fake" things anymore.fans also noticed at the time she had deleted all of her photos of Jay from her Instagram account."You can only fake that things everything is ok for so long. Then you just hit that point... - ME!!!!!" the Instagram Stories posting stated.In addition, fans also noticed Ashley and Jay were no longer following each other on Instagram. Jay also subsequently scrubbed his Instagram account of any photos of Ashley.Prior to Ashley's December 22 posting, Ashley and Jay's social media postings had regularly featured each other and made it clear they were still together and living in Ashley's home in Mechanicsburg, PA.In early December, Ashley revealed she had recently been hospitalized but was now home and doing better, and Jay was apparently by her side the whole time.Jay posted two photos showing Ashley sleeping in a hospital bed, and he seemingly confirmed her condition was due to her ongoing battle with lupus."I promise I will always be there for you through all the ups and downs, no matter what happens. Love you babe girl get well soon #lupus #getwellsoon #staystrong," Jay captioned the images.However, a few days after her cryptic December 22 posting that alluded to a split with Jay, Ashley had posted several more Instagram Stories in which she revealed she had been re-hospitalized due to lupus and spent Christmas in the hospital."If I could ask Santa for one gift it would be Good Health. Being admitted on Christmas Eve and missing Christmas morning with my children is the worst," she wrote in an Instagram Story posting."My strength is beginning to run out but God's strength will pull me through."Although he didn't confirm where he was, Jay had also subsequently posted an Instagram Story showing him sitting in a hospital room fans presumed was Ashley's.However, Jay had urged viewers to stop speculating about his life in an Instagram Stories posting on December 29."Stop act like y'all know my life," he wrote.Ashley was released from the hospital after Christmas and returned home.Earlier this month, Ashley clarified when and where her wedding to Jay actually took place.While 's sixth season showed the couple canceling their big local wedding and deciding to elope in Las Vegas, a marriage certificate could not be found in Nevada records.In addition, photos had surfaced online from what appeared to be a wedding ceremony showing Ashley and Jay posing with the ocean and palm trees in the background -- a setting which certainly didn't look like the Las Vegas landscape."I know there are some rumors, so I spoke with TLC they would like me to clarify: We scheduled our original wedding on the 88th day after Jay arrived to America," Ashley wrote January 3 on Instagram, sharing a copy of her marriage license."Due to canceling our original wedding plans so last minute (as you saw on the show during the wedding registry incident) and having my kids that weekend, we could not go to Vegas before the 90 days were up."As viewers saw, the "wedding registry incident" was when the couple's wedding website was allegedly bombarded with racist comments about their interracial union and threats of violence.Fearing for their safety, Ashley decided to marry Jay -- whose formal first name is Conroy -- in private, in a way where no one could ruin their special day."Jay and I went to City Hall in Harrisburg, PA, said our vows, then flew out to Vegas for an actual ceremony a week later," Ashley continued in her post."This is why no one can find a public certificate in the Vegas records. I hope this gives you all some clarification! Please don't mind my kids juice box spill on the certificate! #momlife #married #90dayfiance #tlc #receipts."Ashley's marriage certificate reads that "on May 16, 2018, at Upper Allen Township Conroy St Christopher Smith and Ashley Elizabeth Martson were by [retired district justice Ronald E. Klair] united in marriage, in accordance with the license issued by the Clerk of the Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania."As for the photos that appeared to show the couple getting married a tropical wedding, Jay had explained on Instagram the pair participated in a 2017 commitment ceremony in his native country of Jamaica so his family and friends could attend.The ceremony, however, was more of a spiritual and emotional event, not a legally-binding marriage. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/11/2019 ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Kalani Faagata and Asuelu Pulaa have revealed the gender of their second child together and when the new baby is due!Kalani and Asuelu took to Instagram on Thursday to share a family photo in which Kalani was holding a blue letter "B" and the couple was standing in front of a TV screen showing an image of their unborn son's face."We're having another boy! I'm now 24 weeks and due at the end of April. Anyone else think they look like twins?" Kalani captioned the sweet photo.And Asuelu captioned the picture on his own Instagram account, "Yaayyyyy it's another BOY."The couple's first-born son, Oliver, also made an appearance in the photo. Oliver was born on January 27, 2018.Kalani, a 29-year-old from Orange County, CA, met Asuelu, a 23-year-old from Samoa, when she had traveled to Samoa in July 2016 and Asuelu worked as an activities director of the resort she was staying at.The couple kept in touch and a relationship blossomed, resulting in Kalani deciding to visit Samoa again to see her love interest.During her second visit, Kalani lost her virginity and ultimately had a surprise pregnancy, which rocked and initially disappointed her entire Mormon family.Kalani and Asuelu therefore went ahead with the K-1 visa process so Asuelu could move to the United States and become a hands-on father and eventual husband.Asuelu arrived in America for the first time when Oliver was only five months old, so that means Asuelu's first trip to America was in late June or July of last year.'s sixth season ended with Kalani learning she's pregnant again and getting married to Asuelu.Based on their respective Instagram accounts, Kalani and Asuelu appear very happy in their relationship ever since saying "I do." By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/11/2019 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Colt Johnson and Larissa Christina Dos Santos Lima have reached a disturbing new low in their unhealthy relationship, as Larissa has apparently been arrested again following a bloody brawl in their home.Larissa updated fans on Instagram as well as blogger John Yates via text messages on Thursday night in real time as her fight with Colt was transpiring.According to Larissa, the drama began when she allegedly found email receipts for pornographic videos Colt had allegedly purchased. Larissa posted screenshots of one receipt in particular on Instagram, trying to prove Colt had bought a "Jacuzzi Sex" video for $59.99.Colt's alleged purchases sparked an argument, which then escalated into bloody injuries -- including a large gash on Larissa's cheek, scratches on Larissa's torso, blood smears on Larissa's face, and a cut on the inside of Colt's lip -- and Larissa's eventual arrest."Colt called the cops on me we argue," Larissa posted Thursday night on her own Instagram account alongside two photos of her face which had a nasty scratch down her cheek.In an Instagram Stories video, Larissa showed off her injuries and admitted she scratched Colt, but only in alleged self defense."Colt called the cops on me. I am going to be deported. I just scratched him because he was hurting me. As you see, I am really hurt," Larissa said. "But he called the police first."Larissa continued on Instagram Stories, "Colt argued because many vids he tortured me I need one attorney he called the cops. Please help me he will lie."Larissa has since deleted most of the material she had posted about her altercation with Colt.Larissa apparently wanted fans to know her side of the story because she also begged Yates to publicly share information she had provided him with."The cops are here. Please let people know," Larissa apparently told John in a text message.John said Larissa asked him to post their private text messages after she alleged Colt is also a "pedophile.""I found him buying pornography. John he's pedophile too," Larissa apparently told John in a text. "He cut off my [signal]."John also received a photo from someone claiming to be Colt's friend. The picture shows Colt holding his lip down and showing a bleeding cut on inside his mouth.John then shared a video on Instagram in which Larissa was recording herself to prove her husband had sprayed shaving cream all over her arms and clothing.Larissa alleged in the video Colt had sprayed her with the shaving cream in order to provoke a reaction and make her "crazy." She called him "abusive" as Colt stood in a doorway and repeatedly asked his wife to "stop."Larissa eventually told John that she had left her shared home with Colt and found safety at her close friend Carmen's house, where she received medical treatment from an EMT.John revealed Carmen later informed him that Larissa had been arrested.Before her arrest, Larissa actually took to Instagram and wrote, "I was nervous thinking that I would be arrested today because when I tried to call the cops, Colt [took] my phone and called the cops on me. Thank God, this life of abuse and manipulation is over. I received medical help and I am safe at my friends house."In addition to the new altercation, John released some disturbing screenshots of alleged text messages between Colt and Larissa on Instagram. Although it's unclear when the messages were exchanged, they show how unhealthy the couple's relationship is.Colt allegedly told Larissa that she has no control over what he does or whether he cheat on her. Colt also allegedly swore at Larissa and called her a "c-nt" and "piece of sh-t" among other horrible names.As viewers are well aware, Larissa previously accused Colt of cheating on her and flirting with multiple women on social media. Colt subsequently owned up to his mistakes and claimed he was going to try to be a better man and fight for his marriage Larissa said she will likely be deported back to Brazil because she had already been arrested previously during her time in the United States.Larissa was taken into custody back in November 2018 for domestic violence after another huge fight with Colt.Larissa had also been arrested in June 2018 for domestic battery under similar circumstances -- an off-screen incident that Colt was shown mentioning in the final minutes of 's sixth-season finale when it aired on December 30.While Larissa was charged in the June 2018 incident, the charge was eventually dismissed in October 2018. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Property details: Timely AcquisitionsWants you to please note that we are not affiliated with nor do we represent the resort described in this item ad.(The Photos in this Ad are General in Nature) VISTANA FOUNTAINSTIMESHARE FOR SALE Two Bedroom Floats Weeks 5-35,40-47,50-52 Annual2019 Free UsageApprox. 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Pompeo denounced the vision outlined by President Barack Obama in a speech he gave in Cairo in 2009 in which he spoke of a new beginning for U.S. relations with countries in the Arab and Muslim world. Remember: It was here, here in this very city, another American stood before you, Pompeo told an invited audience of Egyptian officials, foreign diplomats and students. He told you that radical Islamist terrorism does not stem from ideology. He told you 9/11 led my country to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East. He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed a new beginning. The results of these misjudgments have been dire. Pompeo said that the U.S. was timid about asserting ourselves when the times and our partners demanded it. The secretary did not mention Obama by name but the remarks still struck listeners in the U.S. as unusually partisan. Its a speech shocking for its use of domestic politics, for kind of attacking a prior president in an international setting and for going to a long-time ally and questioning some of the foundations of the relationship with the ally, said Heather Hurlburt, an analyst with the New America, a nonpartisan think tank. Those are all things that secretaries of state dont normally do but seem to becoming standard practice with Pompeo. Pompeos speech came on the third leg of a nine-nation Mideast tour aimed at reassuring Americas Arab partners that the Trump administration is not walking away from the region amid confusion and concern over plans to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria. Former Obama administration officials rejected Pompeos assertions as petty, political and weak. They said the speech pandered to authoritarian leaders and ignored rights violations that Obama had called out. That this administration feels the need, nearly a decade later, to take potshots at an effort to identify common ground between the Arab world and the West speaks not only to the Trump administrations pettiness but also to its lack of a strategic vision for Americas role in the region and its abdication of Americas values, National Security Action group, a group of former officials, said in a statement. Rob Malley, who was Obamas national security council director for the Middle East and is now at the International Crisis Group, said hearing Pompeos speech was like like listening to someone from a parallel universe in which the regions shortcomings were ignored. In that parallel universe, the Arab public probably will receive it enthusiastically, he said. Back on planet earth, they will see it for what it is: a self-congratulatory, delusional depiction of the Trump administrations Middle East policy. Pompeo blamed the previous administrations approach to the Mideast for the ills that consume it now, particularly the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and Irans increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, since rescinded by the Trump administration, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal. He said Obama ignored the growth of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon to the detriment of Israels security and not doing enough to push back on Iran-supported rebels in Yemen. Since Trumps election, however, Pompeo claimed this was all changing. The good news is this: The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering, he said. Now comes the real new beginning. In just 24 months, actually less than two years, the United States under President Trump has reasserted its traditional role as a force for good in this region, because weve learned from our mistakes. In the speech entitled A Force for Good: Americas Reinvigorated Role in the Middle East, Pompeo extolled the Trump administrations actions across the region cementing ties with traditional, albeit authoritarian, friendly governments, taking on the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and imposing tough new sanctions on Iran. President Trump has reversed our willful blindness to the danger of the regime and withdrew from the failed nuclear deal, with its false promises, Pompeo said. Since withdrawing from the nuclear deal last year, the administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Tehran and routinely accuses the nation of being the most destabilizing influence in the region. It has vowed to increase the pressure until Iran halts what U.S. officials describe as its malign activities throughout the Mideast and elsewhere, including support for rebels in Yemen, anti-Israel groups, and Syrian President Bashar Assad. The nations of the Middle East will never enjoy security, achieve economic stability, or advance the dreams of its peoples if Irans revolutionary regime persists on its current course, Pompeo said. Good morning, its Friday, January 11, 2019. Today is National Milk Day, which means our quote of the week practically suggested itself: Money is the mothers milk of politics. This aphorism was popularized in the early 1960s by famed California Assembly Speaker Jesse Big Daddy Unruh. The powerful Democrat -- and Ronald Reagan nemesis -- might have coined the phrase himself, although some contemporaries attributed it to Southern California tycoon Howard Ahmanson. Ill offer a bit more of Jesse Unruhs ruminations about political money in a moment. First, Id direct you to our front page, which aggregates an array of columns and stories spanning the political spectrum. We also offer original material from our own reporters and contributors this morning, including the following: * * * Dems Diversity Push May Block White Males in 2020. Adele Malpass examines the partys increasing embrace of identity politics and the effect it could have on the next presidential primary. Why U.S. Should Bolster Latin American Investment. In RealClearWorld, James Marks writes that China is filling the void. Black Mirror Creates Privacy Problems It Warns Against. In RealClearPolicy, Mark Epstein sees hypocrisy in Netflixs tale about corporate data collection run amok. Trumps Xenophobia Is Harming Public Higher Ed. Also in RCPolicy, Jeff Kucik and Rajan Menon warn that American universities may not be able to count on international students serving as cash cows. Millennials Get Free Markets, But Not How Pols Preach About Them. In RealClearMarkets, Yates Wilburn hails the virtues of Unbox Therapy, a YouTube channel aimed at his generation. NYCs Climate Lawsuit Wastes Money to Boost de Blasio. RealClearEnergy editor Jude Clemente takes a dim view of the mayors now year-old legal action against oil companies. * * * In the 1950s and 1960s, when Jesse (pronounced Jess) Unruh came to power in Sacramento, the lines between personal and political money were often blurred. Some lawmakers, such as Unruh, took money from lobbyists -- today wed call them special interests -- strictly for political purposes. That is to say, they didnt line their own pockets; they sought donations to fund the election campaigns of themselves and their allies. Others were less scrupulous; they accepted personal favors such as liquor, meals, women, even cash. Lets be frank about this: There was always an ethical distinction between these two types of exploitation. Today, it is an especially bright line; the first form of influence peddling is celebrated -- some politicians even boast about their fundraising prowess. The second kind is considered simple graft and can land a lawmaker in prison. In Unruhs mind, however, political money itself presented a stark ethical dilemma however it was dispensed or used. He solved this problem -- or perhaps excused it away -- with an infamous bit of bravado. At a time when House Speaker Sam Rayburn was advising freshmen congressmen to get along, go along, the salty Unruh dispensed with any euphemisms. Alluding to the blandishments offered by lobbyists to lawmakers, Unruh told his lieutenants, If you cant take their money, drink their booze, screw their women, and look them in the eye and vote against them, you dont belong here. A catchy line, to be sure, but it hardly solves the timeless ethical quandary presented by the mothers milk of political money. Speaking more candidly to crusading California journalist Leslie Velie -- under a cloak of anonymity as Assemblyman X -- Unruh was more reflective, and used language that has a timeless, even haunting, quality: This is my dilemma. If I had stayed away from the lobbyists I would have been ineffective. If I take their money and give them nothing for it, I am a cheat. If I do their bidding, I could be cheating the public. I find myself rationalizing what I have done. The tragedy is that I may wind up serving the very elements I set out to beat -- yet not even know that I have changed. Carl M. Cannon Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics @CarlCannon (Twitter) ccannon@realclearpolitics.com For years, the United States has distanced itself from the national reconciliation process in Libya, adopting a more limited role that focuses mainly in fighting the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in the oil-producing North African country. This left room for Libyan stakeholders and their foreign backers to fill the void and prolong the countrys instability. However, there are signs that Washington has begun to recognize the costs of disengagement and sought to balance its engagement with Libyas main rivals in the east and west. This is a good step, but it is not enough. For the first time, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on December 4 tweeted about Libya, praising his meeting in Brussels with Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the Tripoli-based and UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). Pompeo also expressed support for the recalibrated plan presented by UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame which calls for a national conference to be held in January 2019 and a subsequent electoral process to begin in the spring. Pompeos tweet was followed by a reported confidential meeting in Rome between General Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), and U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Daniel Rubinstein. The American diplomat and Haftar discussed developments in Libya, as reported by Faraj al-Jarih, the chief editor of The Libyan Address Journal. U.S. officials have frequently met with al-Sarraj and expressed public support for the GNA, yet they kept their distance from Haftar, who is aligned with the GNAs rival government in the east. But a senior White House official recently told The Wall Street Journal, Certainly we would see a role for Gen. Haftar in any future of Libya. If this becomes official policy, it will mark a shift from favoring the Tripoli-based government to seeking an agreement between the two main contenders for power. In addition, a balanced approach to reconcile Libyan rivals is indispensable to the counterterrorism campaign in Libya. In fact, the countrys persistent divisions will undermine the already weak GNA, and terrorist groups, mainly IS and AQIM, will keep exploiting this reality to rebuild. Over the last two months alone, IS launched two major surprise attacks on Al-Fuqaha and Tazirbu towns in central and southern Libya in a bid to cement its foothold after the loss of its coastal stronghold in Sirte in 2016. Therefore, a move to realign engagement towards political reconciliation would prove more fruitful in the long term. This U.S. shift came after two major summits organized in May and November by France and Italy, respectively. Both countries tried to resolve the Libyan crisis and advance their respective agendas, but the summits yielded no major breakthroughs. Paris and Rome have legitimate concerns regarding migration and terrorism threats. Italy seeks to maintain its economic interests in Libya, mainly in Tripoli and the countrys west, while France prioritizes the stabilization of Libyas south, as terrorists, criminals, and smugglers located there threaten the Sahel region, where 4,000 French troops are currently deployed. Because of these divergent interests, Paris favored Haftar while Rome backed the GNA and some of its aligned militias in the west. Nevertheless, a power struggle between the two EU allies has compounded Libyas complex problems and frenzied politics. Truth be told, the Italian initiative proved to be more practical and productive compared with its French counterpart. Its Palermo conference succeeded in two key respects: shelving the overly optimistic December 10 deadline for elections promoted by France, and giving precedence to the UNSMIL and its action plan. This might explain why the United States favored the more realistic Italian approach, as reflected by a statement welcoming the conclusions of the Palermo conference and supporting the UN Action Plan. This kind of engagement is positive but insufficient, as divisions among Libyan stakeholders and international backers persist. The Tripoli-based GNA and its eastern rivalsHaftars LNA and the House of Representatives (HoR) continue to seek foreign help to enhance their positions. Haftar indicated that he might accept al-Sarraj as a transitional leader until elections can be held, yet differences between them remain despite reported Italian efforts to bring the two rivals to the table after the Palermo conference. These divisions within Libya mirror equally serious divisions in the broader Middle East. Whereas Egypt and the UAE provided significant support to the eastern-based authorities, Turkey and Qatar backed western-based Islamists. The conflicting agendas of these regional camps, the first seeking to counter Islamists in Libya and the second trying to establish an Islamist order, has exacerbated the lingering divisions between Libyan stakeholders. Two experts have recently warned of foreign interference, saying part of the divisiveness fueling the Libyan conflict has roots abroad. Meanwhile, Russia, whose strategy aligns with those of Egypt and the UAE, recently stepped up engagement to fill the void left by American passivity. In the run-up to the Italian summit, Haftar met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow where Yevgeny Prigozhin, a friend of President Putin who reportedly orchestrates Russias engagement in Africa, attended the talks. Moscow, which tries to prove that it can fix what Washington breaks, has adopted a strategy of hedging its bets. It maintains contacts with both the east and west, that includes receiving Haftar and GNA Prime Minister al-Sarraj in Moscow and, at the same time, expresses support to the UN-led peace efforts to safeguard its long-term interests and renew the economic deals on construction, energy, and arms sales which were severally affected after the fall of Muammar al-Qadhafi. While the latest U.S. balanced approach should be applauded, yet it is not enough to reinforce the UN-led efforts seeking to help Libyans realize a stable and unified government. To that end, Washington should press international and regional players to end their negative interferences that delay reaching a settlement that could pave the way for credible and fair elections and bring peace and stability to Libya. Without robust U.S. diplomatic engagement, Libyan actors and their external backers will continue to obfuscate Libyas impasse by fueling existing divisiveness and terrorist groups like IS and AQIM would exploit the waning status quo to build a safe haven there. Romany Shaker is an Arabic-language research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow him on Twitter @RomanySh. Follow FDD on Twitter @FDD. FDD is a Washington-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy. Almost two weeks have passed since Kim Jong-un delivered his 2019 New Year Address. He informed the world of his intention to capitalise on his diplomatic victories to enhance North Koreas international status. He also expressed his willingness to continue the detente with South Korea and the United States. North Koreas strategy towards the United States and South Korea has been based on a desire to decouple Seoul from Washington. In the past several years, Kim has used the New Year Address as a way to communicate North Koreas intentions with the rest of the world. The 2017 Address signalled his determination to develop North Koreas nuclear arsenal. The 2018 Address showed his willingness to engage with the South and the international community. Many Korea watchers have studied Kims words closely, and they have come to the conclusion that North Korea is looking at new ways to deal with the U.S.. These could be a building of a better relationship with China, which was seen in Kims latest visit to Beijing, or a return to missile and nuclear tests, which isnt likely in the next several months given the pending second Trump-Kim summit. However, there is another option that hasnt been taken into consideration: the decoupling of the peace process with South Korea from the denuclearisation process with the U.S.. The language of Kims speech indicates that North Korea will employ selective detente if the talks with Trump break down. Pyongyangs strategy towards the U.S. and South Korea has been based on a desire to decouple Seoul from Washington. To achieve that goal, North Korea will seek to widen the differences between South Korean North Korea policy and the U.S. North Korea policy. The South Korean left prioritises the Korean race (minjok) over ideological disparity. This opens a pathway for Kim to stoke ethnonationalism and break South Korea away from the U.S.. One particular statement from Kims speech illustrates this point: Given that north and south committed themselves to advancing along the road of peace and prosperity, we maintain that the joint military exercises with foreign forces, which constitute the source of aggravating the situation on the Korean peninsula, should no longer be permitted and the introduction of war equipment including strategic assets from outside should completely be suspended. Kim attributes the achievement of peace in Korea to both North and South Korea, and he uses the phrase fellow countrymen to refer to both North and South Koreans as the beneficiary of the inter-Korean detente. What is more important is that this paragraph reflects North Koreas official definition of denuclearisation as the removal of all nuclear threats in both parts of Korea and in the peninsulas vicinity. Even though Kim does not verbally accuse the U.S., his reference to foreign forces clearly indicates his suspicion of Washington ruining the peace process if talks do not go its way. By blaming the source of tension to outside powers, Kim wants to assure South Korea that if North Korea ever returns to provocations, the North will still hope the inter-Korean detente can continue. The first Trump-Kim summit did not result in a declaration of North Koreas nuclear facilities, a roadmap for international inspections, or a halt in North Koreas nuclear production. Apparently, a second Trump-Kim summit without a list of North Koreas nuclear and missile facilities would be considered a failure. Unfortunately, given North Koreas continued expansion of its missile facilities, which could be used to target the U.S., there are reasons to doubt Kims sincerity to denuclearise. To avoid being blamed for the negotiation deadlock and potential failure, North Korea has defended itself by communicating its definition of denuclearisation and putting the ball into Washingtons court by forcing it to respond to North Koreas scrapping a missile facility and a nuclear testing site. It can be predicted that Kim hopes to get another summit with Trump for propaganda purposes, and if Kim is lucky enough, he can persuade the U.S. to tone down its military presence in South Korea given the current deadlock in U.S.-South Korea negotiations over a cost-sharing agreement. Under the circumstance that the denuclearisation process with the U.S. collapses, Kim can continue his detente with the South on the ethnonationalist ground to push for the reopening of joint Korean projects in Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang Tourism Resort. The remaining question is how far President Moon Jae-in will carry on with the peace process without a U.S. blessing. Moon understands that economic cooperation with North Korea requires sanctions relief from the U.S., and at the same time, he also wants to boost inter-Korean economic ties to address South Korean unemployment and improve his domestic rating. Certainly, North Korea is putting much pressure on Moon, and Moon will have to make a choice between North Korea and the U.S. in the aftermath of the second Trump-Kim summit. Khang X. Vu is a Master's candidate at Dartmouth College, where he focuses on East Asian politics and U.S. East Asia policy. This article appeared originally at Lowy Institute's the interpreter. On Jan. 3, the China National Space Administration landed a lunar exploration vehicle on the far side of the moon. It was a remarkable technical achievement, possible only because China had already managed to put a relay satellite into a halo orbit some 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) beyond the moon, from which it can bounce signals from Earth down to the exploration vehicle (and vice versa), getting around the problem that the moon blocks direct communications with its far side. China was a latecomer to outer space, launching its first satellite only in 1970, 13 years after the Soviet Union's Sputnik, and its first taikonaut in 2003, 42 years after Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. It also operates on the cheap, spending less than one-fifth as much on its programs as the United States, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. However, China is now without a doubt the world's second-greatest space power, and strategists are increasingly talking about a second space race, paralleling the original race between the United States and the Soviet Union from the 1950s to the 1980s. Yet the harder we look at the details, the less the Sino-American competition looks like the Soviet-American competition of a half-century ago. Prestige Right from Nikita Khrushchev's "We will bury you!" threat to Western ambassadors in Moscow in 1956, the Soviet-American space race was about prestige. In reality, both space programs initially depended heavily on former Nazi scientists ("Our Germans are better than their Germans," Khrushchev boasts in the film version of Tom Wolfe's novel The Right Stuff), but the Soviets' success in launching the first satellite and putting the first man into orbit were stunning propaganda coups. Only the American triumph of landing men on the moon in 1969, watched live on television by 530 million people around the world, surpassed it. In some ways, the 2010s Sino-American rivalry looks similar. The China Daily, a Chinese government publication, regularly pronounces that the nation's successes in space show that China is catching up with Western science and technology. However, there is one big difference: While Khrushchev and his successors insisted that Soviet space exploration showed that communism was a superior system to capitalism, Beijing's leaders have consistently interpreted their own space program as evidence for the strength of their national culture, not for the strength of socialism. Taikonauts, Xi Jinping said at the launch of the Shenzhou 10 mission in 2013, "carry the space dream of the Chinese nation and represent the lofty aspirations of the Chinese people." While the Soviets liked to name their spacecraft after socialist concepts (Sputnik meant "fellow traveler" and Soyuz "union"), China prefers names from its own mythology, full of cultural resonance. Chang'e 4, the lunar exploration vehicle that landed on the moon last week, is named after a goddess said to have drunk an elixir of immortality, flown to the moon and built a palace there. Everything seems designed to drive home the Chineseness of the effort. On board Chang'e 4 are the cocoons of silkworms, one of the icons of Chinese culture (although, admittedly, the spacecraft also took along seeds for potatoes, the quintessential New World crop). Following in the footsteps of the goddess Chang'e, the Chinese space agency announced in a video released April 24, China's national "Space Day," that "China's dream of residing in a lunar palace will soon become a reality." Wu Weiren, the project's chief designer, predicts that the dream will be fulfilled by 2030, and student volunteers are already practicing in a replica lunar palace here on Earth, living off mealworms and like the hero of Andy Weir's science fiction novel The Martian crops fertilized with their own manure. Even the relay satellite that made last week's moon landing possible was named Queqiao, "magpie bridge," after a story that magpies flocked together once each year to make a bridge across the Milky Way, reuniting separated lovers. It is all a far cry from the Soviet equation of space exploration with the triumph of the proletariat. We have to conclude that in outer space as well as here on Earth, nationalism now trumped trumps socialism and capitalism in great-power competitions. Exploiting Spinoff Technologies We have to conclude that in outer space as well as here on Earth, nationalism now trumped socialism and capitalism in great-power competitions. The economic dimension of the Second Space Race differs even more from that of the original version. The Soviet Union never found, or frankly even looked for, positive economic externalities from its space program. NASA, by contrast, energetically encouraged private-sector contributions to and exploitation of the breakthroughs it made. NASA was consuming 4 percent of the federal budget by the late 1960s, and polls consistently found that half of the American population didn't want to fund the Apollo program. But in the long run, the 6,300 inventions that came directly out of the program more than paid for the investment. Without the Apollo program, personal computing, global positioning systems and a string of other technologies that we now take for granted would lag years or decades behind where they are now. China's second aircraft carrier has returned to its home port of Dalian after finishing a fourth sea trial, and a naval expert says it is likely to be commissioned in the next few months. It is the first aircraft carrier designed and built in China, and it returned to the shipyard on Tuesday after spending 13 days off the northeast coast in the Yellow Sea the longest trial so far, according to Chinese media reports. Australian content sales house TheMovieAgency.com has landed a seven-title contract in the US with Digital Media Rights to take domestic content to American digital platforms. All of the seven titles will be making their North American digital premieres and they will launch across a number of digital services including Amazon Prime, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, Pluto TV , TubiTV, Google Play, FandangoNow, Vudu, Kanopy, Overdrive, and on cable VOD. They will also air across Digital Media Rights owned and operated OTT channels such as Midnight Pulp and Asian Crush. Among the titles are two Cambodian feature films by director Amit Dubey, namely Mind Cage, a thriller about a psychiatrist struggling to defeat superstition and old beliefs when a disgraced traditional healer threatens to tear his world apart, and The Spell, a supernatural horror where a dark spirit's vengeance shatters the life of a couple in their new home.The deal also includes three Malaysian films in Mandarin: Get Hard, a comedy about the adventure of a bachelor; My Surprise Girl (Drama. Nine-year-old Mimi and her cat Miracle embark on a journey to find a father she has never met; When Geek Meets With Serial Killer, a thriller where a cartoonist accidentally killed his best friend and comes out with a creative way to dispose the body.Rounding out the portfolio is Argentinean documentary Cycles directed by Francisco Pedemonte who followed for months a 15-year-old cyclist struggling between the severity of his training for the Olympic games and French horror story entitled Rutabaga.The agreement was negotiated between Philippe Louis Galliano, CEO of TheMovieAgency.com and John Stack, programming/acquisitions manager for Digital Media Rights. US Spanish-language network HITN has inked a deal with TV Azteca International to co-produce more than 200 hours of programming. The fare will be aired on HITNs two-hour lifestyle and health programming block, Vida y Salud, starting 14 January.The block will broadcast every morning from Monday through Friday in the United States on HITN, and in Latin America on AZ Mundo, the TV Azteca cable net.Vida y Salud is an important brand for HITN, said Guillermo Sierra, head of television and digital services at HITN . For more than two years, we have been presenting a daily programming block with carefully selected content designed to help US Hispanic audiences make healthful lifestyle choices. By producing our own programme, we are taking the brand to the next level, generating specialised content that covers the topics of most interest to our viewers.He added, US Hispanics have high rates of chronic illnesses associated with unhealthful lifestyle habits, so HITN has made it part of its mission to provide them with the information they need to make a change for the better. Vida y Salud is based on the brand and website developed by the well-known medical presenter Doctora Aliza. In the new series, interviews with invited medical experts cover issues such as nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, pregnancy and infant care. Filmed at the TV Azteca studios in Mexico City, the series is hosted by Gabriela Quiroga and Ericsson Espitia, with Laura Masnatta as executive producer.For TV Azteca International, this co-production partnership with HITN is a great opportunity to join forces on a high-quality product that makes an enormous contribution to the health and wellbeing of Latinos, said Patricia Jasin, vice president of TV Azteca International. Without doubt, this is just the beginning of a productive relationship for both of our companies. The international distribution arm of TV Azteca will represent the programme for licencing around the world, expanding our audience even further. EUROPE: Wagon leasing company Ermewa is to draw up a deployment concept for innovative wagons to support the business case for investment in vehicles which are being developed under the Competitive Freight Wagon research initiative. CHINA: While the demand for railway technology is expected to continue at a high level for the next five years, the Chinese market has lost momentum and is not expected to grow, according to a new study by German consultants SCI Verkehr. This may put pressure on Chinese suppliers to ... Two men exit an elevator in Honors College and Residences. Both are suspected of stealing students' electronics and personal belongings. The Purdue University Police Department released surveillance video of the suspected thieves exiting an elevator in Honors College and Residences. The police have also asked for help in identifying the two men suspected of stealing students' laptops, purses and wallets Wednesday night. The police say a victim's stolen credit card was used later that night to purchase gas at a Speedway station on State Street. Astronaut Jerry Ross is the keynote speaker WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Astronaut and Purdue alumnus Jerry Ross is the featured speaker at the Jan. 18 International Ideas Festival in Mumbai, India, where the university will celebrate 150 years of Giant Leaps. This will be Purdues largest global Ideas Festival and the only one that focuses on all of the 150th Giant Leaps themes space, artificial intelligence, health and sustainability. While celebrating the universitys global advancements over the past 150 years, the half-day event will challenge audience members to think deeply about the most pressing challenges and opportunities the world faces in the next 150 years and beyond. The half-day event will feature the India-Purdue Collaborative Lecture Series in honor of Purdue alumnus CNR Rao, chemistry professor and Bharat Ratna awardee. More information and registration are available online. Ross will give the keynote presentation, My Journey as a NASA Astronaut: What IF We Found Evidence of Previous Life on Mars? Ross is the first human to be launched into space seven times. During his career with NASA, he logged more than 1,393 hours in space. Rosss keynote highlights the sesquicentennial Ideas Festival theme Space: Earth, Exploration and Economics. Other speakers include: * Ambarish Kenghe, presenting What IF AI is the New Electricity? Kenghe is the senior product director of Google Pay. He received his masters degree in computer science at Purdue and was instrumental in launching Chromecast. This presentation aligns with the sesquicentennial Ideas Festival theme Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms and Automation. * Vijay Chandru, presenting What IF You Could Lead a Healthy and Productive Life Until You Were 164 Years Old? Chandru is the INAE Distinguished Technologist at Indian Institute of Sciences Division of Interdisciplinary Research. He is also the co-founder and director of Yantri Labs Inc. and the founder director of Strand Life Sciences. Chandru researched computational and decision sciences at Purdue, and was one of the inventors of the award-winning Simputer. This presentation aligns with the sesquicentennial Ideas Festival theme Health, Longevity and Quality of Life. * Ravi Venkatesan, presenting What IF Every Young Person Were a Leader? Venkatesan is the special representative for young people and innovation at UNICEF and a founder of the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship. Venkatesan received his masters degree from Purdue and served as a chairman of Microsoft India. This presentation aligns with the sesquicentennial Ideas Festival theme Sustainable Economy and Planet. Suresh Garimella, Purdues executive vice president for research and partnerships and Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, will be the master of ceremonies for the event. Garimella was recently appointed by President Donald Trump to the National Science Board. Members are selected for their eminence in research, education and records of distinguished service. The event, which will be held at the Taj Santacruz Hotel in Mumbai, is sponsored by GVK, Wockhardt Limited, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, SMT, Purdue India Alumni Network, and Alok Nanda & Co. Writer: Kelsey Schnieders Lefever, kschnied@purdue.edu News Service contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu Note to Journalists: Journalists interested in requesting event credentials need to contact Paradigm Shift at paradigmpr@gmail.com by 5 p.m. IST on Jan. 14, 2019. A related video is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=230MUablgF8 Robert S. Friedman, founder of Rainbow Ridge Books and longtime publisher of works on spirituality and metaphysics, died January 9 at his home in Virginia. He was 76. A longtime publishing entrepreneur, Friedman launched his first house, The Donning Company, a publisher of commemorative titles, illustrated science-fiction and fantasy, and graphic novels, in 1974. In 1989 he cofounded Hampton Roads Publishing Company, which specialized in self-help and non-traditional books on spirituality. Among the bestselling authors he published at Hampton Roads were Mary Summer, Lynn Grabhorn, Barbel Mohr, and Neale Donald Walsch. Friedman retired from Hampton Roads in 2009 before returning to publishing to launch Rainbow Ridge Books, another New Age-focused publishing house, in 2010. As a writer, Friedman was the co-author along with Eckhart Tolle of Miltons Secret, a childrens book published in 2008. Jonathan Friedman, his eldest son, will take over as publisher of Rainbow Ridge Books. A memorial service is planned to be held in February or March of this year. WolfePak Software, a leading provider of accounting, regulatory compliance and automation software for the oil and gas industry, and Eddye Dreyer Financial Services (EDFS), a San Antonio based firm providing accounting services for domestic and international oil and gas companies, announced today a new milestone in its 22-year history with the establishment of a formal Service Provider Agreement designating EDFS as a preferred partner to deliver WolfePak implementation, conversion and training services. The agreement expands WolfePak Softwares abilities to deliver solutions to its growing customer base through a designated, preferred provider. As a preferred partner, EDFS now has access to the entire suite of WolfePak Software, allowing them to deliver turn-key financial services to oil and gas operators, midstream producers, investors and service companies. Those services include using WolfePak Software to manage revenue distribution, accounts payable and receivables, financial reporting, data analysis and other accounting functions. As part of the agreement, EDFS will now leverage the WolfePak Cloud to deliver accounting services in a secure, SOC 1 Type 2 compliant and highly available environment, which provides additional security for EDFS client data and ensures 24x7 availability and support for EDFS and its customers. It also makes Eddye Dreyer the largest WolfePak customer to date operating in the WolfePak Cloud environment, another milestone for this partnership and testament to the scalability of WolfePak Software. Formalizing our partnership is an exciting next step in our 22-year relationship with Eddye Dreyer. Together we can offer a complete, turn-key accounting solution for small to mid-size companies seeking industry-leading oil and gas software packaged with first-class outsourced services, said Brent Rhymes, CEO of WolfePak Software. Additionally, this formal agreement allows WolfePak to scale our implementation and conversion services to keep pace with our rapid growth and ensures timely deployment of our software and services while maintaining our high level of quality. WolfePak Software and EDFS together provide a complete solution for oil and gas companies looking to outsource its accounting operations. Built by oil and gas accountants, WolfePak Software accommodates the unique requirements of oil and gas accounting and operations. It compiles, connects and integrates the multitude of data points oil and gas accounting, revenue distribution, billing, production management and more require. Eddye Dreyer has a full-time staff of over 40 experienced oil and gas CPAs, controllers, analysts and landmen that have the WolfePak knowledge and operational expertise to provide turn-key accounting operations. WolfePak Software combined with on-staff experts allows us to quickly assume the cumbersome and complicated accounting and controller functions off operators or owners and allow them to focus on operations and profitability, said Scott Phipps, SVP of Corporate Strategy and Finance for Eddye Dreyer Financial Services. This agreement extends our ability to support not only our existing customers on WolfePak but also provide expertise to offices and accounting departments needing installation support or technical consulting for their WolfePak licenses. About Eddye Dreyer Financial Services Founded in 1991, Eddye Dreyer Financial Services is a leading bookkeeping and finance consulting firm specializing in developing long-term advisory relationships across the oil and gas industry. Our growth is directly attributable to the word of mouth referrals weve engendered over nearly 30 years in the business working with E&P firms, private equity, and family offices. Between our technical expertise and thorough understanding of the industry, we have uniquely positioned ourselves to serve as both strategists and tacticians, providing a full-service outsourced solution that adds value to our clients bottom line. For more information on the services we provide and the industry we serve, visit http://www.edfsllc.com. About WolfePak Software WolfePak Software offers a fully integrated suite of software products for oil and gas upstream and midstream customers, including exploration and production well operators, crude oil purchasers, transporters, haulers, investors, CPA firms and service companies. Located in Abilene, deep in the heart of the Texas oil patch, WolfePak serves customers throughout the United States and the world. With its staff of experienced software developers, CPAs and oil and gas professionals, WolfePak has provided best-of-breed accounting and automation software and services since 1986. For more information, please visit http://www.wolfepak.com. The microbiome is one of the most significant scientific discoveries of our age, regarded as a new organ of the human body, & it is proposed to revolutionize the future of healthcare. As such, the microbiome is of eminent importance to global thought-leaders. -Jessica Richman, PhD, co-founder, CEO uBiome, the leader in microbial genomics, will host a microbiome conference in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland following their selection as a 2018 Technology Pioneer. The conference is invitation-only. In January, the heads and members of more than 100 governments, top executives of the 1,000 foremost global companies, leaders of international organizations, and prominent thought leaders will gather in Davos to define priorities and shape global, industry, and regional agendas. uBiome was chosen to join the Technology Pioneer community in 2018, composed of early-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development, and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. Previous recipients include Google, Foundation Medicine, Airbnb, Kickstarter, Spotify, and Twitter. The microbiome is believed to have a profound effect on human health, including synthesizing vitamins, metabolizing nutrients, impacting immune response, and interacting with our hormones. Given that recent research suggests microbes influence body systems and various health conditions, understanding and further manipulating these interactions may allow for better management and treatment of conditions. The microbiome is one of the most significant scientific discoveries of our age, regarded as a new organ of the human body, and it is proposed to revolutionize the future of healthcare. As such, the microbiome is of eminent importance to global thought-leaders, Dr. Jessica Richman, PhD, co-founder and CEO of uBiome, said. uBiome is honored to contribute cutting-edge insights to initiatives and world-critical discussions at the Annual Meeting by hosting a microbiome conference. To learn more about uBiomes accomplishments, please visit https://ubiome.com/news-press/. About uBiome Founded in 2012, uBiome is the leader in microbial genomics. The Companys mission is to advance the science of the microbiome and make it useful to people. uBiome combines its patented proprietary precision sequencing with machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop wellness products, clinical tests, and therapeutic targets. uBiome has filed for over 250 patents on its technology, which includes sample preparation, computational analysis, molecular techniques, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic applications. uBiomes commercial products include SmartGut, the worlds first sequencing-based clinical microbiome test, which identifies microbes in the gut for patients with chronic gut conditions such as IBD, IBS, Crohns Disease, and ulcerative colitis; SmartJane, the first sequencing-based womens health screening test, which genotypes all 19 clinically relevant strains of HPV, identifies four common STDs, and surveys more than 20 vaginal microbes associated with bacterial vaginosis and other conditions; SmartFlu, the worlds first sequencing-based clinical respiratory test, which identifies more than 20 clinically relevant targets for viruses and bacteria associated with the flu and common cold; and Explorer, a health and wellness product to understand the role that food and lifestyle can play in wellness. uBiomes platform has been used by hundreds of thousands of consumers, patients, and doctors and more than 200 research institutions around the world, including the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Harvard University, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of California, San Francisco, Oxford University, and the University of Sydney. Since its launch, the company has received widespread recognition including CNN 10: Startups to Watch, the IVY Technology Award, CNN Future 30, and was named one of Fast Companys Most Innovative Companies in Healthcare in 2016 and in Data Science in 2018, as well as a Technology Pioneer from the World Economic Forum in 2018. For more information, visit http://www.uBiome.com. The podcast series will be hosted by well-known industry veteran Alan Percy The podcast series provides insight into the changing technologies that impact how we interact with friends, family and businesses. TelcoBridges, the developer of FreeSBC, today announced the launch of the Telecom Disruptors podcast, which focuses on people and technologies that are changing the way we communicate. Taking a big-picture view of the industry, the objective of the podcast is to give listeners regular insight into the changing technologies that impact communications and how they can utilize these changes to better interact with friends, family and businesses. Regular episodes of the podcast series will be hosted by well-known industry veteran, blogger and speaker Alan Percy. Initial episodes will feature interviews with key industry experts, including: Eric Berger, Chief Technology Officer at the FCC, discussing the FCCs actions to reduce illegal robocalling; Jim Dalton, CEO at TransNexus, discussing the adoption of STIR/SHAKEN in carriers; Rebeka Johnson, CEO at Numericle, sharing her thoughts on legal & wanted robocalls; Jonathan Rosenberg, SIP expert, sharing his thoughts on the impact of telecommunications migration to the cloud. A complete list of episodes can be found at telecomdisruptors.com. Future topics for discussion will include: The threat of illegal robocalling and the means to stop offenders; Adoption of chatbots, team collaboration and persistent chat; How Artificial Intelligence will influence communications; 5G and wireless adoption; Video, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) adoption; The influence of Open Source software in communications; Communications Platforms as a Service (CPaaS) for service providers; The impact of migrating communications services to the cloud; and more Dont miss a future episode by subscribing to the podcast and/or following the @TelcoBridges twitter feed. Future episodes will be posted on Twitter with the #TelecomDisruptors hashtag. Anyone interested in participating in a Telecom Disruptors podcast or submitting a topic for discussion can send proposals to marketing(at)telcobridges(dot)com. About TelcoBridges FreeSBC: TelcoBridges FreeSBC virtual session border controller protects networks from DoS and DDoS attacks while offering outstanding session handling performance. FreeSBC runs on any combination of VMware, OpenStack, Amazon/AWS and bare metal servers as well as dedicated network devices as part of virtual network function integration. FreeSBC is offered via a freemium business model, where sessions can be licensed at no cost or with optional support, and premium feature subscriptions for $1/session/year. To date, more than 7 million sessions have been downloaded by hundreds of customers in 83 countries around the globe. FreeSBC is just one component of TelcoBridges portfolio of carrier-grade solutions. A wide array of optional paid services and extensions are available, including 24/7 support, analytics for troubleshooting, fraud detection, call removal and more. Support for transcoding is made possible via optional IP-based DSP hardware resources, which are sold in various capacities. To learn more about the FreeSBC offering visit freesbc.com About TelcoBridges: TelcoBridges is a leader in the design and manufacture of carrier grade, high performance, and high-density SBCs and VoIP gateways. Based in Montreal with offices in Poland, Turkey and Hong Kong, TelcoBridges has deployed VoIP solutions in more than 100 countries worldwide. TelcoBridges' brands include: FreeSBC, Tmedia (VoIP media gateways), Tsig (signaling gateways), Tdev (development platforms) and Tmonitor (real-time network monitoring equipment). For more information, visit freesbc.com or http://www.telcobridges.com. Contact Information: Alan Percy Senior Director of Product Marketing Mobile: +1 716-830-5966 apercy(at)telcobridges(dot)com The Franchise Show, presented by Allstate, is pleased to be taking place at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center, January 11 & 12, 2019. The Show is the perfect venue for attendees to find their best opportunity to attain prosperity and success by taking the first step to becoming a business owner. Many entrepreneurs dream of starting their own business and every year thousands of Americans consider franchising as a way to make it happen. Visitors have the chance to speak directly with representatives from proven, successful franchises. Full-time franchises and part-time business opportunities are available in the Northeast. The show plays a critical role in helping people find the business thats right for them. Franchising gives people the opportunity to start a business without feeling overwhelmed and alone. They have the support system of a company behind them with training, marketing and in most cases a proven brand, said Fred Cox, president, National Event Management, which produces the Franchise Show. The event features companies that are household names such as Allstate, Rosatis, Circle K, Little Caesars, Puroclean and Benjamin Moore. The exhibitors at the show offer a variety of industries from traditional retail stores and restaurants to fitness, home services, education and printing. The Show is also an excellent venue to discover new franchises and business opportunities to take advantage of being involved from the early stages of growth. The Franchise Show successfully hosts thousands of attendees across North America every year, with the hope of helping each one become their own boss. Its important to be able to meet and speak with representatives from the companies at the event because it gives you a better understanding of the culture of a company and gives you a better indication of whether or not a company complements your specific personality, says Mr. Cox. The opportunity to speak directly with representatives from the hottest franchises as well as industry experts make this event a must attend for anyone considering owning a small business or looking to grow their already established business. The show is a significant source of information for people looking to open their own business and research franchising in depth. Visitors may attend free daily seminars given by industry experts including lawyers, financial specialists and franchise experts that have information that entrepreneurs need to know to start and grow a business. Seminar topics include: 5 Lessons I Learned in My First Year as a Small Business Owner, How to Start Your Own Business Franchising vs. Small Business Start Up, How To Match Yourself With The Right Franchise, How to Use your 401k to Finance Your Business Start Up, and Franchise Tips & Advice - Getting the Most Out of the Show. For a full schedule of free seminars please visit http://www.bostonfranchiseshow.com. The Franchise Show Dates: Friday, January 11 and Saturday, January 12 Time:Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center 1 Seaport Ln, Boston, MA 02210, USA Admission: For more info: $8 at the door http://www.bostonfranchiseshow.com Contact Information For media accreditation and more information, contact: Lisa Spodek, Director of Marketing 1-800-891-4859 ext. 225 lspodek@nationalevent.com Relocating Smiths Silicon Valley office gives Smith more exposure to the fast-growing and emerging technologies being advanced by some of the worlds most influential corporations. Smith, a global distributor of electronic components and semiconductors, today announces the relocation of its Silicon Valley sales office. The new location in San Jose positions Smith within the United States center for technology and innovation, in a region that is a haven for startups and home to the headquarters of some of the worlds largest high-tech corporations. San Jose is Silicon Valleys largest city by population and is located near many other major tech hubs, like Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Cupertino. The new office is conveniently located near the San Jose International Airport, allowing for easier face-to-face interactions and networking opportunities with customers. New products, hardware, and technologies are constantly being developed in the area, and Smiths involvement here will provide reliable supply-chain procurement and service solutions to partners in this tech hotspot. Relocating Smiths Silicon Valley office gives Smith more exposure to the fast-growing and emerging technologies being advanced by some of the worlds most influential corporations, said Marc Barnhill, Smiths Chief Trading Officer. Focusing on these developments helps us keep pace with our customers dynamic needs so that we can better serve them regionally and globally with the most up-to-date commodity expertise and strategic inventory decisions. The new office is located at: 100 Century Center Court, Suite 700 San Jose, CA 95112 Tel: +1 925.600.3333 About Smith Founded in 1984, Smith sources, manages, and distributes the electronic components that go into everything from mobile phones and computers to appliances and directional drilling systems. In 16 cities around the world, from Silicon Valley to Seoul, Smiths legion of employees communicates in 50 different languages and dialects and buys and sells components 24 hours per day, with global annual sales of $1.66 billion. Smith is always moving: helping manufacturers navigate market shifts; customizing supply chain solutions; testing components using cutting-edge technology. With testing and logistics hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam, Smiths processes focus on critical issues, from quality management to counterfeit prevention and environmental safety. Smiths operations, purchasing, and sales worldwide are seamlessly integrated with the companys global IT infrastructure, offering real-time inventory and logistics visibility anywhere in the world. Smith is the leading independent distributor of electronic components and ranks number eight among all global distributors. Smiths Intelligent Distribution model adapts to ever-changing demands by providing reliable global electronics sourcing and logistics, regardless of distribution channel or locale. For more information, please visit https://www.smithweb.com, or, to reach a Smith representative 24 hours a day, please call +1 713.430.3000. Securities Training Corporation (STC), the market leader in securities training, today announced that Ouachita Baptist University has partnered with STCs General Securities College Program to offer students curriculum and the knowledge needed to pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam and other entry-level FINRA exams. The College Program reflects FINRAs outline and topics for the SIE, Series 6 and Series 7 exams and and upon completion helps students prepare for finance, insurance and fintech careers. STCs General Securities College Program allows our students to gain a better understanding of the world of financial services, but its also a way to demonstrate their commitment to potential employers, said Dr. Chris Brune, CFP, Associate Professor of Finance and Department Chair of Accounting and Finance, Hickingbotham School of Business, Ouachita Baptist University. In fact, 100% of our students have passed the SIE exam with flying colors. STCs College Program works within an institutions current curriculum and provides students with the same content STC used to train more than 1,000,000 Wall Street professionals at more than 3,500 firms for five decades. The College Program combines fundamental principles with real-world examples to equip students with the knowledge required to pass FINRA securities license exams, including the new SIE Exam, Series 6, and Series 7. Students who successfully complete and pass the SIE Exam showcase themselves as job ready. While recent graduates typically spend three to five months prepping for the SIE and the Series 7 exams, students who participate in the program can take the SIE exam now, while still in school, and be ready to take the remaining FINRA exam immediately upon graduation and obtaining sponsorship. said Paul Skordilis, President of STC. Any college or university can implement our College Program, putting college sophomores and juniors in an excellent position for internships as they prepare for future career advancement. STCs College Program provides instructors with the following: A detailed syllabus to provide a class timeline and structure PowerPoints for class lectures Teaching guides mapped to each powerpoint Access to recruiters at top financial services firms On-demand video lectures Online testing and scoring diagnostics for instructors A dedicated staff of experienced instructors who may be contacted for assistance For students, the program provides over 22 hours of on-demand lectures, Crunch Time Facts, online flashcards, online progress exams, final exams, a printed textbook and an online study manual. STCs College Program Curriculum Department monitors changes to regulatory rules and regulations and works with instructors to integrate necessary corresponding changes into the exam preparation programs. Students also have access to all courses and materials for one full year after completion of the program. College Program materials are concise and easy to follow. Our students appreciate having videos and text, and the supplemental materials have also been beneficial, said Dr. Brune. STCs College Program gives our students the opportunity to connect with national firms who are seeking quality graduates. As a small school in a small state, we are hopeful that the new SIE program through STC is one way to open additional doors for our graduates. Many institutions who work with STC report a 100 percent job placement rating, said Skordilis. Preparing for and taking the SIE exam, along with studying for the Series 7 exam, sets students apart from other students entering the workforce. They have shown they understand the material and can pass a FINRA exam. A one-time fee (often sponsored by a financial firm) covers implementation, as well as ongoing updates to the program. A per-student textbook fee includes access to all STC courses and materials for one full year after completion of the program. For additional information about STCs College program visit: https://www.stcusa.com ABOUT OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY Ouachita Baptist University, a private liberal arts university in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, is in its 132nd year as a Christ-centered learning community. It is consistently ranked among the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News. For more information, visit http://www.obu.edu. ABOUT SECURITIES TRAINING CORPORATION Founded on Wall Street in 1969, Securities Training Corporation (STC) has successfully helped over 1,000,000 professionals pass FINRA regulatory exams and launch their careers. STC has grown to become the leading provider of financial examination training, working with the top banks and broker-dealers in America to offer FINRA exam courses like Series 6, Series 7, Series 24, Series 79, and Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) (coming October 2018) in addition to continuing education, and Life, Accident and Health pre-licensing courses. STC is committed to providing a superior customer experience and innovative product offerings. STC is part of Colibri Group, which provides learning solutions to licensed professionals who strive to be among the best in their fields. Learn more at http://www.stcusa.com. For STC Media Inquiries Greg Severin, 314-239-4143 greg@spokemarketing.com For STC College Program Inquiries Amanda Shae, 815-739-1494 amanda.Shea@stcusa.com Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced three new monitors: the modern and minimalist Space Monitor, the CRG9 designed for an unparalleled gaming experience and the UR59C, a stunning 4K UHD curved monitor ideal for content creators. Each monitor offers the best in technology, ranging from ultra-wide screens and lifelike colors for immersive gaming to space-saving designs to increase productivity. Samsungs latest monitor lineup is incredibly versatile, and demonstrates our commitment to continued innovation and leadership in the category, said Seog-gi Kim, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. All of these monitors are part of our larger strategy this year, to keep giving you choices so you can get what you want beautiful, hardworking devices that inspire you to do more. Space Monitor: Modern, Minimal and Flexible Design Samsung Space Monitor leverages its sleek design and functionality to allow users to focus on whats on the screen and not whats around it. Its unique built-in space saving solution, a minimalist fully-integrated arm, clamps to the desk and frees up desk space for ultimate user productivity. Samsung Space Monitor is easy to set up and adjust when you arent using it, and simple to push back and store flat against the wall. Through easy ergonomic adjustment, port access and a discreet cable management system, Space Monitor improves the form and function of any workstation or home office. Beyond aesthetics, Space Monitor is a feature-rich, high-performance monitor. The 27-inch model offers QHD resolution for incredibly detailed, pin-sharp images, while the 32-inch model presents content in 4K UHD. Space Monitor gives users a unique arm stand, which can disappear into the back of the monitors slim-bezel. When using the stand, Space Monitor can be easily tilted or extended from the wall. It can also be lowered to the desk surface, and Samsungs Zero Height Adjustable Stand feature provides the ultimate versatility for any type of viewing preference. The stand not only makes viewing more comfortable, but also eliminates the hassle of cable management by integrating power and HDMI cords through the arm for a clean, flexible look. CRG9 49 Gaming Monitor: Super Ultra-Wide Screen with Dual QHD Resolution The CRG9 is the worlds first high-resolution super ultra-wide gaming monitor with 32:9 aspect ratio. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate with a fast 4ms response time on a 49-inch display that minimizes image lag and motion blur to effortlessly keep up with fast-paced games. Built for a superior gaming experience, the monitor also features AMD Radeon FreeSync 2 HDR technology to reduce stutter, screen tearing and input latency to ensure the best possible frame rate and smoothest gaming experience. Content truly comes alive on the CRG9, with dual QHD resolution (5120x1440) and HDR10 with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, providing superfine detail in the brightest and the darkest parts of an image. HDR10 delivers outstanding local dimming, and high-contrast HDR offers advanced spectacular highlights not available in non-HDR monitors. The monitor also leverages Samsungs revolutionary Quantum dot technology for an exceptionally wide range of accurate color reproduction, and a 1,800mm screen curvature and an ultra-wide field of view for complete visibility. Equivalent to two 27-inch QHD 16:9 monitors placed side-by-side, the 32:9 super ultra-wide screen also provides ultimate multitasking flexibility assisted by PBP (Picture-by-Picture) functionality to allow two video sources to be viewed on the same screen. The CRG9 includes one HDMI port, two Display Ports, USB 3.0 and headphone connectivity options. Samsung also designed the CRG9 with a smaller stand size for convenience and flexibility in every gamers space. UR59C 32 Monitor: World First 32-inch Curved 4K UHD Designed for Content Creators Ideal for content creators that seek both versatility and performance, the new UR59C 32-inch monitor features a UHD curved display with a 2,500:1 contrast ratio and a full 3840x2160 4K UHD resolution with support for up to one billion colors. The 1500R curvature delivers a truly immersive experience that shines while creating content and art, watching videos or gaming while reducing the eye strain typically associated with long periods of traditional monitor use. Available in Dark Blue Gray, the UR59C has a super-slim design, with a depth of only 6.7mm with a fabric-textured rear casing. Its 3-sided bezel-less screen is attached to a slender yet sturdy V-slim metal stand with two-prong base that encases cables and reduces its footprint on work space. Experience all three monitors at Samsungs CES booth #15006 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 8-11, 2019. For more information about Samsungs new monitors, please visit http://displaysolutions.samsung.com/ces2019. ### About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com. RallyPoint, the militarys largest online network with 1.6 million members, announced a new partnership with Recon Realty that will help veterans learn whether becoming a rehabber, builder, or income property owner is a smart move for them, regardless of where they are in their military or civilian career. Recon Realty, founded by Marine Corps Sergeant Andy Williams has a clear vision for Veterans to win in America. The Real Estate Entrepreneur and co- Host of HGTVs Flip or Flop - Fort Worth, has launched a resource center on RallyPoint that will deliver valuable real estate insights to RallyPoint members. In early 2018, I ran a successful pilot empowering a dozen veterans to buy, flip and rent income properties, says Andy Williams. This success inspired me to launch a new initiative that will support my fellow veterans achieve similar success but on a much greater scale. This initiative is VeteransBuyAmerica. This partnership with RallyPoint will support and expand the movement by empowering the military community with the ability to serve as responsible rehabbers, builders, and property owners in the communities in which they live during and after their military service. This partnership will enable the servicemembers, veterans and military family members on RallyPoint to access education, resources and guidance so they can determine if building, flipping, and / or buying turnkey real estate as a form of passive income is the right path for them. At RallyPoint, we actively connect our members to leaders who have a broad and impactful value proposition to our member base, said Dave Gowel, RallyPoint CEO. The individuals and companies with whom we seek to join forces are those who authentically have our members best interest in mind and who lead by example. Were proud to partner with Recon Realty because they couldnt be a better fit for these criteria. To learn more about this initiative, go to https://www.rallypoint.com/topics/real-estate, and get exclusive information and authentic stories on how veterans have made and lost money with real estate. About RallyPoint: RallyPoint is the online platform where warriors talk. With more than 1.6 million members, RallyPoint is the premier network for military service members and veterans to come together and discuss military life through both professional and personal perspectives. Visit http://solutions.rallypoint.com/ to learn more, and follow RallyPoint on Facebook and Twitter @RallyPoint. About Recon Realty: Recon Realty is a benefit corporation that deploys select veterans into communities primed for revitalization, empowering each Veteran with a clearly defined mission: to positively impact our country, economy, and community. Facebook @reaconrealty Twitter @reconrealty Instagram @reconrealty linkedin @recon-realty Polly Apfelbaum, "Life Spirit", 2018, acrylic paint, 174 x 384 inches. Courtesy of the artist, Alexander Gray Associates, New York, Frith Street Gallery, London and Galerie Nachst St. Stephan, Vienna. Apfelbaum is celebrated for her bold and vivid use of color, its vast signification, and the ability to engage space with objects that command the walls, floors, and spaces in between, states Erin Dziedzic, director of curatorial affairs at Kemper Museum. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is pleased to present "Polly Apfelbaum: Waiting for the UFOs (a space set between a landscape and a bunch of flowers)" with an opening reception taking place Thursday, January 24, from 6:008:00 p.m., kicking-off Kemper Museums twenty-fifth anniversary year. Raise a glass with the artist, with complimentary beer and wine provided by Cafe Sebastienne and cocktails thanks to Toms Town Distilling Co. of Kansas City. Debuting new works exhibited for the first time in the United States, this major exhibition by internationally-renowned New York-based artist Polly Apfelbaum (American, born 1955), features textiles, ceramics, and works on paper with Apfelbaums artistic practice branching out into broader social and historical contexts, situated in the legacy of post-war American art. Apfelbaum is celebrated for her bold and vivid use of color, its vast signification, and the ability to engage space with objects that command the walls, floors, and spaces in between, states Erin Dziedzic, director of curatorial affairs at Kemper Museum. More recently, her large-scale woven rugs create literal space, activating the notion of gathering and claiming space for artists and women. Their large scale and deep color saturation make them seem like massive paintings, yet their position on the floor gives them greater tactility and accessibility. "Waiting for the UFOs (a space set between a landscape and a bunch of flowers)" has been specially designed for Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, after originating in 2018 at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK, where it was praised as an extraterrestrial landscape of vibrant ceramics, immersive installations and patterned paintings. (The Guardian, September 20, 2018) The exhibition includes "Life Spirit" (2018), a giant version of Gilbert Bakers original 1978 Rainbow Flag symbolizing gay and lesbian community pride, marking the flags fortieth anniversary and enveloping the only wall remaining in the adaptable Charlotte Crosby Kemper Gallery; "Kneeline" (2018), in which hundreds of clay glazed beads hang from the ceiling, each on a single string, creating multiple false walls throughout the space; "Sun Targets" (2018), a collection of over 130 ceramic targets individually named after planets or constellations, displayed on an orange and yellow painted frieze the encircles the entire gallery; and "Wallflowers (Mixed Emotions)" (1990/2019), Apfelbaums very first target work, combining dozens of paper flowers into the circular pattern first explored by the artist nearly thirty years ago. A review of the exhibition by Louisa Elderton celebrates the work as inclusive and political, stating: The only older work on view is 'Wallflowers (Mixed Emotions)' (1990), featuring now-faded red and beige glittery flowers forming a mandala, or another kind of target, since wallflower is often a gendered term for women who are not seen by men. In Buddhism, the mandala is a symbol of the universe, and here Apfelbaum turns it into a bulls-eye, pulling your stare into its vortex, as if refusing to go unnoticed. (Garage, Vice Media, September 2018) Also present throughout the gallery are a number of vibrantly colored rugs, woven in Oaxaca, Mexico. Titled "Halfpipe" (2018), "Squiggles" (2018), and "Sun Targets (Red, Blue, Yellow)" (2018), the works were created by indigenous women using traditional weaving and dying methods at the direction of the artist. Museum visitors will be provided with shoe coverings and invited to walk on these works, allowing for the fully immersive experience the artist intends to create. Ikon Gallery curator Christine Takengny summarizes the exhibition stating, 'Waiting for the UFOs (a space set between a landscape and a bunch of flowers)' brings to the fore essential formal qualities, especially colour and texture, that has always been key to Polly Apfelbaum practice. At the same time it inspires us as the exhibition title already suggests to question the conventional boundaries between high art and so-called popular culture. (Contemporary Art Society, September 2018) Apfelbaum will be in attendance at the Exhibition Opening, January 24, and give an Artist Talk on Friday, January 25, at 6:00 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public, as are fifteen additional public programs scheduled in conjunction with the exhibition, which runs through April 28, 2019. A complete list of Museum programs taking place in conjunction with "Waiting for the UFOs (a space set between a landscape and a bunch of flowers)" can be found at kemperart.org. Support for Kemper Museum is generously provided by members and donors. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is open 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m., TuesdayWednesday; 10:00 a.m.9:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday; and 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. All exhibitions and public programs at Kemper Museum are free. ### About Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Kansas Citys renowned FREE contemporary art museum, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened in October 1994 and draws 100,000 visitors each year. The Museum boasts a growing Permanent Collection that uniquely bridges modern and contemporary works of art featuring artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Keltie Ferris, Helen Frankenthaler, Hans Hofmann, Rashid Johnson, Joan Mitchell, Richard Mosse, Georgia OKeeffe, and Ursula von Rydingsvard. Special exhibitions, installations, lectures, and workshops, as well as youth, teen, and family programs are regularly hosted at the Museum. For more information about Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art visit kemperart.org. For high-resolution images of select works, please contact: Breeze Richardson Director of Marketing and Communications Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art brichardson@kemperart.org | 816-457-6132 (direct) Dogs, cats, goats, ponies, and other pets take part in the annual Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Pet Parade in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana. Photo by Jim Noetzel. Each year, thousands of costumed pets and their owners gather to walk...in a giant pet parade. The Krewe of Barkus and Meoux, also known as The Animal Krewe, formed in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana in 1999 with the purpose of hosting year-round fundraising activities to support regional spay and neuter programs. The largest event organized by the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux is the annual Pet Parade, which will be held, 12-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019 at 2000 Reeves Marine Drive in Bossier City. Each year, thousands of costumed pets and their owners gather to compete in costume contests and walk in a giant pet parade. Complete parade information and online pet registration is available at http://www.barkusandmeoux.com. The theme of the 2019 Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Pet Parade is Steampunk Pups and Futuristic Felines. Admission is $1 for adults and free for children; the cost to register a pet for the parade is $25 per pet. Parade day activities, including the judging of registered pets for prizes in such categories as Best Dressed, Best Float, Best Interpretation of Theme and Pet/Owner Lookalike, will begin at 1 p.m. The parade typically marches at 3 p.m. The Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Pet Parade is held each year on the Sunday afternoon following the Krewe of Centaur Parade, one of the largest Mardi Gras parades in North Louisiana. The Krewe of Centaur Parade XXVIII will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the intersection of Clyde Fant Parkway and Lake Street in downtown Shreveport and will proceed south along Clyde Fant Parkway and Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, ending on East Kings Highway near the Duck Pond Park, also known as East Kings Highway Park. In 2017, the Krewe of Centaur parade was attended by approximately 285,000 parade-goers. This enormous, colorful parade features more than 40 massive floats, dozens of marching units, and more. Pet owners who are planning to visit Shreveport-Bossier in order to participate in the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Pet Parade can find a current list of pet-friendly hotels on the official website of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, http://www.Shreveport-Bossier.org. For more information on Mardi Gras celebrations in Shreveport-Bossier, visit http://www.ShreveportMardiGras.com or call 800-551-8682 to request a free copy of The Gris Gris Guide to Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier. The best conference on the beach in Santa Monica! I think AppSecCali was one of the best conferences I have been to. Talks were good. Venue was awesome and atmosphere was really chilled out #thanks - @abhaybhargav AppSec California 2019 will happen from January 22nd-25th at the beautiful Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, California, a three mile stretch of beach along the sun drenched Southern California coast. This years conference will have the first two days reserved for hands-on trainings, followed by an additional two days of keynotes and presentations. AppSec California is a one of a kind experience for anyone in the information security community. OWASP AppSec California is dedicated to increasing diversity in the workplace while also helping solve the information security talent shortage. With these goals in mind and in order to help under-represented groups enter into the Information Security arena, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) has provided eight scholarships allowing admittance to AppSec California 2019 Conference. Two of the scholarships have been sponsored by Contrast Security and Segment. A single scholarship includes a two-day conference attendance ticket and up to a $1200 stipend for reimbursement of travel expenses for non-local candidates. OWASP and AppSec California are proud to announce that four of the scholarship recipients are Military Veterans, and by the luck of the draw they represent four service branches of our military: Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. One Veteran is in the process of completing the last few months in twenty years of service to our nation. OWASP is also proud to announce that the remaining four recipients are women. While women comprise almost half of the U.S. population, they only make up 20% of the cybersecurity workforce. While that's up from a mere 11% in 2013, there is still a lot of opportunity to be seized in cybersecurity careers. Through these types of scholarship and forming the Women In AppSec Committee (WIA), OWASP is committed to changing the trend by promoting female participation in the Information Security sector. In support of greater interest in Information Security among students, OWASP is offering a deep discount for AppSec California 2019. Registrants with a valid .edu email address or a valid student ID can attend the $400 conference for only $99 (a 75% discount). Interested students may apply to receive their tickets by following the instructions at https://2019.appseccalifornia.org/index.php/register/student-discount/ It is not too late to contribute and become a corporate sponsor for AppSec California 2019 Diversity and Veteran Scholarship. If you are interested, please contact us for more information. Register You can sign up for just training, or you can take advantage of the special discounted package and attend one or two days of training followed by two days of keynotes and speaking sessions. For a conference of this caliber, the cost of the training and the package is remarkably low. Join us on the beach, grab drinks, hack around, network with over 600 security pros and end the day with a serene sunset. Register before discount pricing ends, so go and own a ticket before its gameover! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/appsec-california-2019-tickets-49541214105 About OWASP The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, worldwide organization focused on improving the security of application software. OWASPs mission is to make application security visible to ensure that organizations and individuals can make informed decisions about true application security risks. Participation in OWASP is free of charge and open to the general public. All OWASP materials are available under a free and open source license. http://www.owasp.org California OWASP Chapters The OWASP Los Angeles chapter hosts a networking dinner on the fourth Wednesday of every month, and the Orange County chapter meets on the fourth Thursday. OWASP Bay Area meets every other month, and OWASP San Diego meets monthly. The Santa Barbara chapter is being relaunched! Great networking, food and drinks, and awesome presentations focused on what security is really about. Join the movement today! New Life Hiking Spa & Wellness Retreat If you're looking for a comfortable and rewarding health spa experience focused on hiking, weight-loss, getting fit and having fun, the New Life Hiking Spa in the Green Mountains of Vermont is an ideal wellness destination. New Life Hiking Spa & Wellness Retreat has been named the number one spa of 2018 on Spas of Americas Top 100 list. It is the fifth year at the top of the list for this long established, seasonal wellness vacation in Vermont. The New Life Hiking Spa has been a long-time favorite health spa experience with our targeted spa and wellness travel audience says Spas of America president Craig Oliver. Placing #1 in 2018, from over 800 of the best resort, hotel and health spas on our website is a real accomplishment, says Oliver. If you're looking for a comfortable and rewarding health spa experience focused on hiking, weight-loss, getting fit and having fun, the New Life Hiking Spa in the Green Mountains of Vermont is an ideal wellness destination." Spas of America inspires healthy living and travel. Launched in 2005, Spas of America is the largest spa and wellness travel website, showcasing over 800 of the leading resort, hotel and health spas and wellness experiences to consumers around the world. It helps consumers to connect with the industry by providing guests with a beautiful, clean, and easy-to-use online experience in stunning HD quality. The website allows consumers to search for spas by name, keyword, location or spa experience, and to browse spas on an interactive map. Each year, Spas of America publishes the Top 100 Spas award. It is one of the industrys leading awards. Founded in 1978, New Life Hiking Spa's emphasis is using the mountains instead of a treadmill and getting back to nature for a path to wellness. More than 21 guided hikes are offered each week to accommodate every guests fitness level. From hikes along the famous Appalachian Trail and Long Trail to nature walks that wind around beautiful Vermont scenery, all guests receive a workout for their level and return to the lodge to receive freshly prepared meals and additional wellness programming. New Life Hiking Spa offers the following packages: 3-4 night mini-wellness getaway 5-10 night jump start vacation 11-night weight loss retreat 21 night extended stay wellness retreat. All-inclusive prices range from $229 - $279 per person, per night based on length of stay and occupancy. The reasonably priced, affordable wellness retreat, includes a room, three freshly prepared meals a day, one massage for each three night stay, fitness classes and daily guided hikes with the award-winning hiking program. About New Life Hiking Spa Founded by Jimmy LeSage, M.S. who decided to take an empty ski lodge during the summer months and turn it into a retreat with hiking, spa services and healthy food, New Life Hiking Spa has grown into one of the top wellness retreats over the past four decades. New Life Hiking Spa has earned top accolades from major publications including one of the best weight loss retreats in Health Magazine and the #1 destination spa in Travel + Leisure Magazine. Approximately 1,000 guests from around the world attend New Life Hiking Spa in Vermont each season. New Life Hiking Spa is open May September when hiking is at its peak in Central Vermont. Reservations are now being accepted for the 2019 season dates of May 16 September 30. Early booking specials and additional information on wellness programming are available on their website at http://www.newlifehikingspa.com. Smiles for Everyone! In Partnership with the Smiles for Everyone Foundation, Monarch Dental will provide free dental services for low-income, underinsured individuals at its Burleson, TX office on February 9. Dental services provided include same-day procedures such as exams and x-rays, fillings, cleanings and extractions. For more information, please visit the Monarch Dental website. About Monarch Dental Monarch Dental provides general dentistry, childrens dentistry and specialty care services such as orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics and endodontics at 89 locations throughout Texas, Arkansas and Utah. Monarch Dental affiliated practices make it easy and affordable for individuals and families to get the dental care they need with convenient locations, extended hours and same-day appointments. The Monarch Dental mission is to create healthier smiles by making dental visits easy and enjoyable. Learn more at http://www.monarchdental.com. . About the Smiles For Everyone Foundation The Smiles for Everyone Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of delivering smiles for everyone by providing free dental care for those in need, both at home in the U.S. and around the world. Since 2011, the Smiles for Everyone Foundation has delivered over 19,000 smiles and $14.5 million in donated dentistry. The foundation currently supports programs which provide free dental care to those in need in Cambodia, Ghana, Laos, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Thailand, and the United States. For more information or to make a donation, visit http://www.smilesforeveryone.org. Contacts: Monarch Dental Jody Martin PR@smilebrands.com 714.427.1299 Smiles for Everyone Foundation Crystal Strait crystal.strait@smilesforeveryone.org 714.824.5037 I am so proud and appreciative of all of our staff and the difference Magnovo has made in so many lives this year, President Rob Jackson said. As 2018 has come to a close, Magnovo Training Group revealed their philanthropic efforts for the year. More than 2,500 items have been donated to those in need through the charity teambuilding workshops offered by Magnovo. One of the biggest missions at Magnovo Training Group is charity, and to give back to others, said Rob Jackson, company president. Magnovo offers a wide variety of workshop options and all are fun and educational, but also are philanthropic and give back to the community at the same time. In 2018, Magnovo donated: 535 bikes; 981 rescue buddies; 61 individual care packages of various kinds: 65 hospital helpers; 235 for Mission Kids Care; 310 for Mission Military Care; 99 bags of food supplies; and 242 wheel chairs. According to Jackson, the Magnovo team has worked hard over the past year and is very proud of their efforts. I am so proud and appreciative of all of our staff and the difference Magnovo has made in so many lives this year, he said. Magnovo partners with businesses and organizations of all sizes to provide various teambuilding workshops to their associates. The charity team building events not only develop a stronger and more cohesive team, but each one has a philanthropic twist giving back through local charities and community organizations. These workshops were created with the goal of inspiring significant, positive change within organizations and communities. About Magnovo Training Group Magnovo Training Group is a professional development company dedicated to creating meeting experiences that matter with an extensive range of customized workshops, charity team building, and performance consulting throughout the Indianapolis region, as well as across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Offering workshops that focus on leadership, public speaking, and team building activities, the company features an energized group of soft-skills experts. Magnovo Training Group strives to inspire positive change for clients. Every workshop is tailored to the clients needs in order to create impactful, experience-based events that educate, inspire leaders, and develop teams. The company emphasizes philanthropy: each of its team building workshops contribute to the community. For more information, please visit http://www.magnovo.com. Sean OHarrow, 2019, at the Musee de Basse Navarre in Saint Palais, France. We are so eager for Sean OHarrow to bring his vision and enthusiasm to Kemper Museum, stated Mary Kemper Wolf, Chair of the Kemper Museum Board of Trustees. Sean thinks creatively about how to do things differently in order to make a positive impact for institutions and their communities." After an extensive search, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has named Sean OHarrow as its next Executive Director. We are so eager for Sean OHarrow to bring his vision and enthusiasm to Kemper Museum, stated Mary Kemper Wolf, Chair of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Board of Trustees, and daughter of museum founders, R. Crosby Kemper Jr. and Bebe Hunt. At this point in our history, it was critical to bring in an Executive Director with solid experience, who embraces artists, staff, community, and fundraising responsibilities alike. Wolf continued, Sean thinks creatively about how to do things differently in order to make a positive impact for institutions and their communities. He has the unique ability to dream big, thoughtfully assess risk, and make things happen. This will be an exciting and productive chapter for Kemper Museum and our community with Sean OHarrow at the helm! OHarrow currently serves as the director of the Honolulu Museum of Art, an AAM-accredited, AAMD-member civic art museum with an encyclopedia collection of over 60,000 objects and a combined full- and part-time staff of a couple hundred museum professionals. While in this position, OHarrows leadership accomplishments have included organizational restructuring that created more collaborative teamwork, more efficient use of resources, and reduction of inefficient expenditures while preserving staff levels and program quality; a greater emphasis on contemporary art exhibitions and programming with a focus on issues relevant to museum audiences; implementation of significant changes in financial management focused on capital expenditure, timeliness, and accuracy; long-range planning and budgeting; the release of $2.2 million in funding from the State of Hawaii Grants-in-Aid program toward museum expansion; and raising more funds in a single year than in the museums recent history, including the museums largest cash gift ever at $4 million. This year marks a quarter of a century since the Kempers established the museum, and I feel most fortunate and honored to be chosen as Executive Director on this auspicious anniversary, stated OHarrow. The world is dynamic, diverse, interconnected, and ever-changing, and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is precisely the right institution to lead Kansas City and the nation forward in exploring how contemporary art can foster understanding of relevant issues and the world around us for another exciting twenty-five years and beyond." Born in Paris, France, and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, of parents from the Midwestern United States and Vietnam, OHarrow was appointed director of the Honolulu Museum of Art in late 2016. Prior to this return to his hometown in Hawaii, he was director of the University of Iowa Museum of Art and a member of the Iowa Arts Council Board of Directors. While at the university, he organized a worldwide tour of the work of American Abstract Expressionist artists, featuring Jackson Pollocks "Mural"his first commission from Peggy Guggenheim, considered the genesis of Modern American art. More recently, this work was exhibited in Kansas City at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to great acclaim. Before arriving at the University of Iowa, OHarrow led the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa, after serving as an Official Fellow of St. Catharine's College in the University of Cambridge. He received his AB from Harvard University and his PhD from the University of Cambridge, both in Art History. He has received numerous academic awards and grants, including from the Pulitzer and Ford foundations in the United States, as well as the British Academy in the United Kingdom. In order to learn about the "real" world, as O'Harrow puts it, he also spent several years as an executive in the world of hedge funds and technology finance in London. OHarrow will begin his duties as Executive Director of Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art on Monday, February 11, 2019. Support for Kemper Museum is generously provided by members and donors. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is open 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m., TuesdayWednesday; 10:00 a.m.9:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday; and 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. All exhibitions and public programs at Kemper Museum are free. About Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Kansas Citys renowned FREE contemporary art museum, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened in October 1994 and draws 100,000 visitors each year. The Museum boasts a growing Permanent Collection that uniquely bridges modern and contemporary works of art featuring artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Keltie Ferris, Helen Frankenthaler, Hans Hofmann, Rashid Johnson, Joan Mitchell, Richard Mosse, Georgia OKeeffe, and Ursula von Rydingsvard. Special exhibitions, installations, lectures, and workshops, as well as youth, teen, and family programs are regularly hosted at the Museum. For more information about Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art visit http://www.kemperart.org. For high-resolution images, interview requests, and general media inquiries please contact: Breeze Richardson Director of Marketing and Communications brichardson(at)kemperart(dot)org | 816-457-6132 (direct) Intellipaat Intellipaat Cloud and DevOps architect master program enables you to become a successful professional in 2019 Cloud architect is today one of the top technology job roles with average salaries of over $120,000 per annum. It is in this backdrop that Bangalore based Intellipaat has launched the industry-designed Cloud and DevOps Architect Master Program for professionals looking to fast-track and excel in their careers. Intellipaat is seeing a huge interest for its DevOps and Cloud Architect Master Program from non-technical professionals like those in the sectors of banking, insurance, HR, manufacturing, retail and others. The key reason for this is that most of the Intellipaat training courses do not assume any prior technical knowledge from the learners. Thus Intellipaat is making a key difference to the careers of these professionals who do not have a technical background but are skilled enough to take on technical roles with the right training The Intellipaat DevOps and Cloud Architect course has been designed by industry experts with major focus on practical aspects through real world projects for hands-on experience. Intellipaat CEO Mr. Diwakar Chittora was quoted as saying, Intellipaat USP includes all training courses in line with industry needs, trainers with 12+ years experience, practical-oriented training methodology, 24/7 lifetime support, lifetime access to course material, free course upgrade, industry-recognized certification and so on. The Intellipaat DevOps & Cloud Architect course includes mastering the DevOps methodology for getting software from development to deployment in the most efficient manner, cloud technologies like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, Python programming, Splunk for Data Analytics along with Java and Linux. So this is one comprehensive Master Program upon completion of which your skills will be in high demand. The entire training course has been designed keeping in mind the fact that the learner has no prior experience in the cloud domain. The training includes step by step quizzes and assignments after every module to help the learners evaluate their progress. The projects that you have are similar to the projects that you will be working on in the real world. The Intellipaat DevOps certification is highly valued in over 80 corporates from around the world including Cisco, Sony, Ericsson, Standard Chartered, TCS and more. Intellipaat also provides free DevOps tutorial to the community at large so professionals can get a basic understanding of this domain and learn on a fast-track basis. Intellipaat strongly believes in spreading knowledge and democratizing education. So, in keeping with this ethos, Intellipaat is offering these free online learning resources. Check the Intellipaat learner success stories on YouTube to get a first-hand idea of how this EdTech major from India is changing the lives of young professionals and helping them pursue their dreams. Defensive driving education allows drivers to improve their skills and learn new moves. As a driver, you learn how to assess traffic hazards or how to adapt the vehicle to traffic conditions said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. Lowestcarinsuranceratesonline.com has released a new blog post that presents the main topics covered by defensive driving education. When getting online car insurance quotes, the user is likely to be asked if he or she participated in defensive driving courses. This question is addressed more frequently to teen and senior drivers. However, defensive driving benefits all drivers, no matter the age. Besides improving driving skills and theoretical knowledge, defensive driving classes will also help drivers save money on car insurance after graduation. Defensive driving classes cover the following topics: Crash statistics. The driver will be presented with updated statistics about the annual number of car crashes, the number of fatalities and the resulting financial losses. Furthermore, the main causes of accidents will be presented and ways to avoid them. How emotions impact driving performance. Stress, emotional distress, fatigue and anger can impair a persons driving capabilities. The course will teach how to stay focused while driving and have a positive attitude. DUI?DWI is one of the most important topics. Attendants will learn more about the effects of alcohol and drugs and how they impair driving. The legal aspects, including penalties and blood alcohol limits, are also presented. Crash dynamics. Drivers will learn how speed and position of the car influence the severity of the collision and which types of collisions are the most dangerous. Crash prevention techniques. Drivers will learn how to avoid traffic crashes and to recognize potential dangers that lay ahead before any collision can occur. Crucial prevention techniques include: road scanning and surroundings adaptation, keeping the distance with the following vehicles, knowing the braking distance of the car, dangers of environment, allowing the emergency vehicles to pass, how to share the road with other cars, passing procedures, how to adjust the speed, how to pass the railroads and many other related techniques. For more car insurance info and money-saving tips, please visit http://www.lowestcarinsuranceratesonline.com/ Lowestcarinsuranceratesonline.com is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "If youre in the market for general tools, racking, and material handling, you wont want to miss our Argyle Security auction. HYPERAMS, LLC recently announced the equipment auctions of several businesses, including an offset printing facility and a security and detention contractor. HYPERAMS is also assisting several businesses with the sale of surplus equipment, including ACE Hardware and Chicago-based Why Not Iron. HYPERAMS is assisting major retailer ACE Hardware in the closure of its 400 thousand square foot distribution center in Portland, Maine. The orderly liquidation features a wide assortment of pallet racking, cantilever racking, and facility support equipment including forklifts, pallet jacks, order pickers, conveyors, and floor scrubbers. The orderly liquidation is ongoing now and inventory lists are available to potential buyers. In addition, HYPERAMS is participating in several upcoming auctions. First, the firm is assisting San Antonio, Texas prison and detention center contractor Argyle Security with its wind-down of operations. A sealed bid sale is being held for the companys security system components, while an online auction will be held for the remaining equipment, including general contractor equipment, material handling equipment, trailers, assembly equipment, IT and business machines (including hundreds of monitors), as well as a nice selection of office furniture. The sealed bid sale is an excellent opportunity to purchase new product at a fraction of new cost, said HYPERAMS Director of Auction Services Burdette Wilber. And if youre in the market for general tools, racking, and material handling, you wont want to miss our Argyle Security auction. Interested buyers must act fast sealed bids are due by January 15 and the online auction starts to close on January 18. HYPERAMS is also assisting Chicago, Illinois metal fabricator Why Not Iron liquidate its surplus assets, including CNC burning tables, shears, press brake, iron worker, bending rolls, mill, lathe, saws, drills, forklifts, plasma cutter, welders and generators, as well as assorted steel, racking, ladders, and much more. Wilber noted that this online auction, which starts ending on January 31, would be a great way for local fabricators to pick up new equipment to start their businesses on the right foot in the new year. Finally, HYPERAMS, is participating in the wind-down of operations of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based Bartash Printing. HYPERAMS is conducting an online-only auction of the companys cold set offset printing facility, with featured assets including seven Tensor Web offset printing presses, as well as bindery, inserting, pre-press assets, paper stock inventory, and facility support equipment. Wilber noted this will be one of the first opportunities of the new year to purchase late-model printing equipment, with some of the equipment as new as 2016. The Bartash Printing online auction starts closing on February 7. For more details on these and other upcoming auctions, please visit http://www.HYPERAMS.com or contact Director of Auction Services Burdette Wilber at bwilber@hyperams.com. If you are interested in discussing our auction and liquidation solutions, please contact Senior Vice President Gene Arenson at garenson@hyperams.com. About HYPERAMS, LLC HYPERAMS is a full-service auction, appraisal, retail advisory and liquidation, and reverse logistics firm. The Company specializes in assisting both distressed and healthy companies manage surplus assets by providing clients with a complete asset disposition strategy. The Asset Disposition division focuses on investing in excess assets and conducting live and webcast auctions. The Appraisal division provides valuations of machinery, equipment, and inventory in most industry verticals. Since its inception, HYPERAMS has performed hundreds of appraisals, auctions, and store closings on behalf of financial institutions, restructuring/turnaround professionals, private equity firms, as well as business owners. Hurst Boiler Multi Flex Watertube Boiler We plan to become a force to be reckoned with in the watertube boiler space as well. In response to market need and overwhelming customer requests, Hurst Boiler is excited to announce they have begun manufacturing Engineered Packaged Watertube boilers. This product line extension compliments the company's already strong wetback and dryback Firetube, Biomass, and Hybrid boiler manufacturing capabilities. For years, weve been asked by customers impressed with the reliability, efficiency and longevity of our Firetube/Hybrid and Biomass boilers to pursue the manufacturing of Watertube boilers as well. We feel the timing is right to enter the market with a more comprehensive strategy. This allows us to build on the success of our Performance Series of Firetube boilers, along with our comprehensive line of Biomass and Hybrid boilers to now have a complete and deeper product offering including a full line of watertube solutions, stated Tommy Hurst, President, and CEO. All Hurst Watertube boilers will be manufactured in the company's newly retooled factory on its 50- acre corporate and manufacturing campus located in Coolidge, Georgia. Before embarking on this decision, we took a strong look at the state of the boiler business. Weve done extensive work on developing smart processes with technology and manufacturing advances, coupled with equipment and factory investments, to arrive at a cost position that works for our company and our customers. We plan to become a force to be reckoned within the watertube space as well, remarked Hurst. 100% Built In the U.S.A., Hurst manufactures and factory assembles virtually every component needed for a complete boiler room solution. By delivering a complete system optimized to work together, efficiency and performance is improved. The new Hurst Performance Series Watertube boiler offering is being expanded to meet virtually all commercial and industrial applications ranging from 17,250 to 103,500 lbs./hr (500 to 3000 H.P.), making Hurst Boiler an even more complete boiler systems provider. To learn more about the Hurst Watertube boiler series, Hurst Boiler welcomes guests to their exhibit Booth # C5809 at the AHR EXPO 2019 Show at the World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA from Jan 14 -16 2019. For exhibit information, visit http://www.hurstboiler.com/tradeshows. About Hurst Boiler Hurst Boiler & Welding Company, Inc. has been manufacturing, designing, engineering and servicing gas, oil, coal, solid waste, biomass & hybrid fuel-fired steam & hot water boilers since 1967. With installations across all industries worldwide, Hurst Boiler is recognized for the highest code standards, innovative engineering and design, Energy Star rating, and renewable, sustainable solutions for green building design and operational efficiency. Visit http://www.hurstboiler.com or call (877) 994-8778. The highly-anticipated movie, 20 MINUTES starts principal photography in February 2019 and already is getting tremendous buzz as over 10,000 actors are expected to submit to play a role in the film. Directed by Tim Chey, the film is about an incoming ballistic missile to Hawaii that changes twelve peoples lives when they discover they have 20 minutes to live. Its incredible to think what would happen if you had 20 minutes to live, says Chey. For these twelve people, they come from all different backgrounds and politics. And in the end they realize that what they thought was important was really not." The buzz on the film is that it also comes on the heels of the ballistic missile warning in Hawaii in 2018 that caused many to think of their eternal destiny. I was in Hawaii when the missile warning came, says Chey. Thank God I was asleep. But my wife was awake and she told me it was the most surreal experience as she really thought we could all die. The characters in the film range from an attorney to a film producer to a white nationalist to a Japanese billionaire all seeking refuge as the missile approaches. The film, from RiverRain Productions, is slated to hit theaters nationwide in February 2020. Tim Chey also produced the movies Freedom (Cuba Gooding, Jr., William Sadler, Sharon Leal) for Showtime TV, and directed Sony Pictures Slamma Jamma (Michael Irvin, Chris Staples) which had a national theater release on March 24, 2017. The film hit 502 theaters in 281 cities across the U.S. We are about big dreams, intense execution, and being one firm, without a headquarters, where merit is rewarded. Based on all those core values, there is no one in our firm more qualified to become our next Co-President than Brad Kaufman. Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP today announced that Bradford D. Kaufman will join Ernest L. Greer as Co-President. In a joint statement, Richard A. Rosenbaum, Executive Chairman, and Brian L. Duffy, Chief Executive Officer, who together guided the firm to another record year of performance in 2018, said: For the last 50-plus years, we have been a firm built on delivering value and satisfaction to clients, innovation, individual empowerment, respect, and collaboration, and to being one firm providing vast and growing opportunities to thousands of lawyers and staff across the country and now the globe. They continued, We are about big dreams, intense execution, and being one firm, without a headquarters, where merit is rewarded. Based on all those core values, there is no one in our firm more qualified to become our next Co-President than Brad Kaufman. Kaufman, resident in the firms West Palm Beach office, is currently defending the key figure in the Barclay's case in London - the only major prosecution stemming from the financial crisis. Most recently, he served as a Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Greenberg Traurig and as Global Chairman of the firm's Professional Development and Integration. Rosenbaum added, "It is a huge positive to see Brad join Ernest Greer, a Co-President since 2016. They are quite a team. Ernest has been making a day-to-day impact in such key areas as business development, our alumni program, shareholder integration, our diversity and inclusion program, and other matters. With Ernest in his role as Co-President, and such other senior leaders as Patricia Menendez-Cambo (Vice Chair), Lori G. Cohen (Co-Head of Litigation, the firm's largest practice area), Shari L. Heyen (Co-Head of Bankruptcy & Restructuring and Co-Managing Shareholder of Houston office), G. Michelle Ferreira (Managing Shareholder of the San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices), Mary Olga Lovett (Senior Vice President), and, of course, Cesar L. Alvarez, (Senior Chairman), and a number of other practice and office leaders and executive committee members, the firm's most senior leadership significantly reflects the diverse community of clients, lawyers, and staff which it serves. Kaufman has been with the firm for more than 18 years, has led efforts on firmwide associate issues, as well as on shareholder elevations and on professional development and integration. It is a great source of pride to have been named Co-President of our global and well-respected firm, Kaufman said. I look forward to continuing to influence how we as a firm, and as a profession, address the needs of clients while developing new lawyers and new methods for the efficient delivery of legal services. Kaufman has tried dozens of arbitrations, regulatory proceedings, and court trials for the premiere Wall Street investment banks and broker dealers, several involving hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars. He has appeared as counsel for Morgan Stanley at the Supreme Court of the United States with co-counsel Ken Starr; has successfully represented two of the most prominent analysts on Wall Street in the fallout from widespread allegations of fraud and conflicts of interest; has defended the president of Morgan Stanley Funds in the two billion dollar term trust regulatory case before FINRA -- one of the largest contested cases a major financial firm had ever taken to hearing; and has been involved in the defense of dozens of class and derivative actions on behalf of issuers, boards, and special committees. In addition to having an internationally recognized legal practice, Kaufman is passionate about community service and about the future of the legal profession. To that end, Kaufman served as Vice-Chair of the Florida Bar's Vision 2016 Commission on Legal Education, a comprehensive study of the future practice of law. He has been involved in numerous not-for-profit boards in Florida and is a member of the Town of Palm Beach Retirement Board of Trustees. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2018 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Note to editors: Photos available. Innovate Logo Fibo Wall Panels are the perfect solution for kitchen, bathrooms and high-impact public areas, and the quality of this product speaks for itself! A solution for bathrooms sure to turn heads as much for its beauty as its ability to solve tough problems, Fibo Wall Panels are now available in the United States through a partnership between Innovate Building Solutions and FiboUSA. Builders, developers, designers, architects, remodelers and do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) can solve tough wet room challenges with Fibo Wall Panels. These panels are perfect for bathrooms, showers, laundry rooms and kitchens. This contemporary high-pressure laminate panel is as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing. While Fibo Wall Panels are able to meet the heavy demands placed on public buildings, apartments and condominiums, they also satisfy the design needs of a homeowner renovating a small bathroom. Fibo Wall Panels are the perfect solution for kitchen, bathrooms and high-impact public areas, and the quality of this product speaks for itself, Innovate Building Solutions President Mike Foti said. Fibo Wall Panels come in a variety of high-fashion styles, and because grout isnt needed for installation, the cleaning hassles which come with tile are eliminated. In fact, they are so easy to clean that warm water and a clean cloth or a non-abrasive detergent is all that is required! This makes them a perfect solution for commercial and residential applications. Ease of installation is a draw for both contractors and homeowners. Installation of the wall system is five times faster than tile, and can be fitted directly onto wood or steel studs or even existing walls. Backer boards, membrane, glue and grout are not necessary. The 2 x 8 x 3/8 thick panels simply click, lock and seal together like tongue and groove panels and one person can install them. An added guarantee for DIYers, remodelers and contractors is Fibos 15-year warranty. The cost-effective product is hygienic and instantly waterproof. Best of all, it comes in a wide variety of styles and colors. Use these panels in styles as varied as Mid-Century Modern, to Traditional, to Minimalist to Modern Farmhouse bathrooms. The Fibo collection incorporates the latest trends in tile designs, finishes and interior surfaces for walls including shabby chic, cracked cement, wood grain, tile and more. These large-format faux tile designs are available in a wide range of modern sizes 24 x 12, 24 x 18, 24 x 24 and 12 x 16. FiboUSA is exhibiting at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas. Find them at Booth SU3635. Innovate Building Solutions is a nationwide stocking distributor and installer of Fibo panels. They have specialists to assist homeowners, contractors, architects and designers with bathroom products. For more information on Fibo panels, visit Innovate Building Solutions at http://www.InnovateWallPanels.com. About Fibo System USA Fibo, started in 1952, combines a legacy of Scandinavian nature and style with the ability to consider limitations as a chance to innovate. Fibo has delivered hundreds of millions of square feet of wall panels for bathrooms, kitchens and other demanding wet rooms. Today, Fibo is the leading supplier of high-quality waterproof wall panel systems and can be purchased throughout Scandinavia, Northern Europe, North America and New Zealand. Theyre creating interior technology for the future. Fibo believes the room of opportunity always is the most important room. Whether challenges are technical, economical or creative Fibo will always find the smarter way to transform your wall. For more information, visit http://www.FibosystemUSA.com About Innovate Building Solutions Innovate Building Solutions is a nationwide supplier and installer of unique building materials. Their product lines include Fibo waterproof wall panels, glass block showers, custom shower pans and even glass floors, stairs and countertops. For more information, call 877-668-5888 or visit http://www.InnovateBuildingSolutions.com. For images, please visit our Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r7upoipo9uk5npq/AABBkanj98_LBiH2u8c2QfIWa?dl=0 Launched in Tampa Bay in April of 2018, more than 800 attorneys, paralegals, and legal services providers are signed onto the platform in that market. In addition to Tampa Bay, Expedite will also be available in Los Angeles and Houston this February. Expedite Legal Announces U.S. Expansion and New President Seasoned tech executive, Ron Favali, to drive growth of Legal Services Platform Expedite Legal, the on-demand platform that connects attorneys and paralegals with legal support services, announced it has named tech-industry veteran, Ron Favali, as president. The fast-growing startup also announced plans to expand nationally, with Los Angeles and Houston being the next two target markets. Expedite addresses the inefficiencies in the $2.3 billion market for court reporting services. The inability to quickly find experienced and available court reporters, videographers and interpreters creates significant delays with court calendars. The Expedite platform removes these barriers by allowing legal teams to book the closest provider with the highest rating, often finding the right resources within seconds. Launched in Tampa Bay in April of 2018, more than 800 attorneys, paralegals, and legal services providers are signed onto the platform in that market. In addition to Tampa Bay, Expedite will also be available in Los Angeles and Houston this February. Additional expansion targets planned for 2019 include Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Charleston, Chicago, New York, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Orlando. As part of the companys growth and expansion, Expedite Legal has named Ron Favali as president. He will be responsible for expanding Expedites presence into key markets across the U.S., as well as securing additional investors to fuel rapid adoption of the platform. Rons experience in mobile technologies, combined with his enterprise experience, brings key skills to Expedite that will help us scale quickly, said Eve Barrett, founder and CEO of Expedite Legal. This platform has been battle-tested and were ready to take it national. The reception from initial users and providers has been outstanding. Favali brings nearly two decades of technology industry experience to Expedite Legal. Prior to joining the company, he was a senior strategist at IBM where he played key roles in launching the companys mobile business, including overseeing the marketing portfolio of assets for IBMs partnership with Apple. He has also helped a range of investor-funded startups expand into new markets. About Expedite Expedite is an easy-to-use on-demand platform that allows attorneys and paralegals to hail immediate legal support services; i.e., court reporters, videographers and interpreters. When needed, Legal teams can locate, request and book the closest provider with the highest rating in seconds. For additional information visit http://www.expedite.legal. "ECOs primary goal is to meet and exceed the needs of both legacy users of cannabis, as well as those new to cannabis post California recreational legalization." ECO Cannabis announces the grand opening (January 10) of its first retail dispensary located on the world famous Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, California. East Bays first retail cannabis dispensary geared towards lifestyle and wellness offers customers a singular experience thanks to its highly trained staff trained and specially curated products. Understanding that traditional cannabis dispensaries can be confusing and intimidating, ECO was created to break the mold of the rote cannabis buying experience. From the second one walks into ECO, the space exudes the feeling of a high-end retail store. Everything has been thoughtfully and intentionally designed to provide an open and modern cannabis experience. ECO offers the best and largest selection of quality vape pens, CBD products, and edibles available. They also offer a large selection of flower, tinctures, and topicals. ECO showcases a number of unexpected lifestyle products designed for both the cannasseur and the canna-curious: Infusion devices, cannabis-centric cookbooks, and the latest in health-conscious consumption. What makes ECO truly unique is the way they have expedited the purchasing process though express-style online orders and a self-service in-store check-out option, allowing customers to avoid long lines while still ensuring excellent customer service. This balance is achieved through the use of ECOs highly trained Experience Guides. Each Experience Guide is assigned a customer for a personalized in-store consultation with every visit. This one-on-one staff interaction ensures that every customer gets exactly what they came in for, whether it be a sleep-aid, pain, and inflammation relief, or just something to help them relax at the end of a tough day. According to Bronwyn Kopacek, Chief Marketing Officer: We are excited for what this new space means for those local to Oakland and the Bay Area, adding to the fabric of this vibrant city; in the opportune jobs that we have created for those with prior cannabis convictions, the impact of the Oakland Equity Program and also through the wellness products we offer. Our mission at ECO is to become the social equity standard for the cannabis industry. ECO Cannabis is dedicated to neighborhood beautification programs and employing individuals with previous cannabis convictions; ECOs impact extends well beyond its doors. They have also supported 8 different equity businesses by providing them with free rent at their campus for a 3-year period, thus allowing them to get set up for success. Kevin Ahaesy, Chief Executive Officer, had this to say when asked about his vision for and take on the Cannabis Industry: We have built our in-store experience based on the predicted trajectory that we foresee. In 2019, we will continue to see a shift in consumer consumption. Vape pens and edible products will continue to rise in popularity, as flower sales decline. Terpenes, which guide the high, will become increasingly important to those seeking specific effects from the plant. We expect to see a sharp increase in senior (50 years old +) consumers, with CBD products being the main driver for this increase. This vision was fundamental to the way in which ECO was formed. ECOs primary goal is to meet and exceed the needs of both legacy users of cannabis, as well as those new to cannabis post California recreational legalization. ECO Cannabis: Oakland, CA Dispensary Location Details ECO Cannabis is located at: 2435 Telegraph Ave Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: (510) 338-3001 Web: https://ecocannabis.net/ Hours of operation are Mon-Sun: 10 am 8 pm GRAND OPENING: 1/10/2018 About ECO Cannabis: ECO Cannabiss core mission is to deliver an optimal and altogether unique shopping experience, offering premium cannabis products for those interested in integrating it into their wellness and lifestyle. With a unique classification system tailored to the effects induced by terpenes, customers can easily find high-quality cannabis products to suit their needs. In addition to offering its carefully curated products in an enjoyable setting, ECO is committed to supporting the community through its employment practices, neighborhood beautification programs, and charitable giving. Dr. Overton has achieved significant milestones in her career as both a financial practitioner and educator. I consider receiving the Dunton Award as one of the most significant honors in my career as a financial professional, relates Dr. Overton. Being a financial consultant and planner has been my calling. It allows me to use my analytical skills to help people. In addition to the intellectual challenge of designing a sound financial plan, I am keenly aware of the emotional needs of my clients as we work for their financial security. Rosilyn Overton has maintained this journey for over 35 years. She is an extraordinary combination of practitioner, scholar and contributor to the public good. She has published a multitude of articles and made many media appearances including Good Morning America, Wall Street Journal Report and WCBS Morning News. With a career of that longevity, Dr. Overton has had many opportunities to advance the profession and has received countless awards. When asked her most significant achievements, she singles out the following experiences as highlights: Achieving her Ph.D. at age 65 while working full time as a practitioner and professor with a dissertation topic of Financial Planning Theory & Practice; Representing the United States to the Financial Planning Standards Board Task Force that developed educational standards for worldwide programs - attending meetings in London and Dubai; Designing and implementing the Master of Science in Finance, Financial Planning specialty at the New Jersey City University School of Business; Serving on the Council on Education of the CFP Board of Standards, Inc.; Organizing public education events in New York City on financial planning; Serving as Chairperson of the Financial Planning Association of New York and Chairman of the Wall Street Division; Fulfilling roles in the IARFC including Vice President, Board Member, Financial Planning Competition Judge and contributor to MRFC exam content. We very much feel that Dr. Overton exceeds the criteria for the Dunton Award, commented IARFC Chairman and CEO, H. Stephen Bailey, MRFC. Dunton is regarded as the Father of Financial Planning who organized financial professionals in the late sixties. With their help, he created the financial planning movement. Dunton developed associations, magazines, colleges, university programs and foundations. He used his experiences to frankly explain what all financial consultants now recognize - that the ethical sales of financial products and the delivery of competent advice is a noble calling. Loren Dunton was a man of vision who cared deeply about both financial consultants and consumers. In bestowing the Loren Dunton Memorial Award, the IARFC salutes Dr. Overtons contribution to Duntons principles and mission, continues Bailey. The Loren Dunton Memorial Award will be presented to Dr. Overton during the IARFC Annual Conference Banquet held in Nashville, TN March 20-22. Members of the Association and the public are encouraged to register and attend the awards banquet. For additional information on the IARFC, the Loren Dunton Memorial Award, and the 2019 IARFC Annual Conference visit the IARFC website. Cognitiv provides marketers with the first ever self-learning, fully automated, custom marketing algorithms. Cognitiv trains artificial neural networks to recognize and predict patterns that ensure their deep learning algorithms are tailored to a brands needs and audience. Cognitiv, the first self-learning, fully automated neural network technology available for marketers, today announced its NeuralMind platform has been named a finalist for Best Ad Tech/Programmatic Company in the annual DMN Awards competition. Winners will be announced at the 2018 DMN Awards ceremony, to be held at Fishbowl at the Dream Midtown, New York City, on January 24. The DMN Awards honor the most innovative strategies and platforms in marketing, and recognize exemplary and innovative use of data, strategy, and technology in pursuit of marketing excellence. DMN received submissions for digital campaigns, leading tech companies, and stand-out individuals. It narrowed down hundreds of submissions to an elite group of 51 companies; three finalists in 17 categories. Marketers have come to recognize that AI needs to play a pivotal role in their efforts to enhance targeting and improve ROI, said Jeremy Fain, CEO and co-founder of Cognitiv. Cognitivs deep neural networks are providing customers with consistent, scalable performance and exceptional results. We are thrilled to be recognized as a DMN award finalist for our unique approach and offering as we continue our mission to provide every marketer with their own custom AI. Cognitiv provides marketers with the first ever self-learning, fully automated, custom marketing algorithms. Cognitiv trains artificial neural networks to recognize and predict patterns that ensure their deep learning algorithms are tailored to a brands needs and audience. As it learns more about a brands consumer behaviors, NeuralMind continuously optimizes the brands specific AI to better predict preferences and future actions. Measurable KPIs, such as conversions, test-drive signups, purchases, website visits, and store visits, can be turned into algorithms that identify new customers or drive incremental sales from existing customers more effectively than traditional manual or older machine learning efforts. In addition to being named a finalist for the DMN Awards, Cognitiv has been named a winner of the SB100 in the 2018 Best of Small Business Awards. The Best of Small Business Awards is Americas most prestigious honor that recognizes and celebrates the BEST Small to Mid-Sized Business Visionaries. About Cognitiv Cognitiv is the first marketing AI company to offer plug-and-play products that enable marketers to improve results through customized algorithms. Cognitiv provides self-learning, fully automated deep neural network technology for multi-touch, full-funnel marketing. Cognitiv allows marketers to predict customer behavior and more accurately target potential customers, improving ROI on ad spend. As the only company that provides custom deep learning algorithms to brands, Cognitiv's solutions have been shown to be up to 20 times more efficient than standard industry practice. Learn more at http://cognitiv.ai, follow us on Twitter @teamcognitiv, on LinkedIn, and on Facebook. CICA is committed to attracting new professionals to the captive industry, which is top-heavy with leadership that is approaching retirement. That is why CICA is creating new opportunities for students and young professionals to learn about captive insurance The Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) today announced the three finalist teams in its Next Generation Captive Insurance Solutions for New Risk Challenges essay contest for college risk management and insurance students, sponsored by Strategic Risk Solutions. The three finalist teams are: Christian Ferrara and Charles Fisher, Appalachian State University, Alternative Risk Solutions: Captive Insurance for Cyber and Supply Chain Risk Kayla Cecchine and Brendan Tarte, St. Josephs University Captive Insurance: An Intimate and Efficient Risk Financing Solution to Climate Change and Tax Rulings Risks Angel Song and Alana Vicale, Temple University - Opioid Epidemic in the U.S. For the CICA Essay Contest, two-person teams were asked to describe how and why a captive insurance company could be used as a cost-effective means of alternative risk financing for emerging risks and their corresponding loss exposures. CICA President Dan Towle said the organization was very pleased with the results. The contest was very competitive. We received entries from students studying risk management, insurance, actuarial science, finance, and business. All these areas of study are important to preparing the next generation of captive professionals. CICA is committed to help attract new professionals to the captive industry, which is top-heavy with leadership that is approaching retirement. That is why CICA is creating new opportunities for students and young professionals to learn about captive insurance, Towle explained. Finalist teams are invited to attend the CICA 2019 International Conference in Tucson, Arizona March 10-12 where they will receive cash prizes and give presentations on their essays. Our conference sessions with students have been very popular. By involving students in the conference, it allows them to showcase their creative ideas, connect with industry leaders and get excited about career opportunities in captive insurance, Towle said. The essay contest aligns with this years conference theme Captives Shaping the Future which reflects the growing opportunities for captives. With over 500 attendees, CICAs domicile neutral status draws the perfect blend of captive owners, captive managers, risk managers, domicile regulators and service providers from around the world. Key decision makers from the captive owners attend, along with many people who are just beginning the process to form a captive. About the Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) http://www.cicaworld.com CICA is the only global domicile-neutral captive insurance association. CICA is committed to providing the best source of unbiased information, knowledge and leadership for captive insurance decision makers. CICA is your advocate around the world, key to the captive industry and the resource for captive best practices. About Strategic Risk Solutions (SRS) http://www.strategicrisks.com SRS is the 5th largest captive management firm in the world and the leading independently owned manager. The company has a consulting unit and strong representation in all major US captive domiciles, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman and Europe. It provides consulting, financial reporting, regulatory compliance and program management services to captive insurance companies as well as subsidiaries of commercial insurance and reinsurance companies. Our goal is to provide home buyers with multiple assistance options to increase the likelihood of homeownership success There has been a steep decline to homeownership rates over the last 10 years, especially among millennials, single-parent households, and minority households. In order to help borrowers sustain homeownership, CBC Mortgage Agency (CBCMA) recently entered into a partnership with the Baltimore-based nonprofit HLP, a Baltimore-based nonprofit. Founded in 2013, CBC Mortgage Agency (http://cbcmortgageagency.org/) is a nationally chartered Housing Agency. CBC Mortgage Agency is a subsidiary of the Cedar Band Corp., a federally chartered, tribal corporation founded by the Utah-based Cedar Band of Paiutes. The partnership was created as a way to provide outreach to homeowners after purchasing. The two organizations saw that many individuals have the income and credit history to afford and maintain a home; however, there is often a lack in ability to accumulate a downpayment. As such, the new Chenoa Fund initiative will provide homeowners specific-to-them financial advice from an HUD-approved housing counselor. This initiative will allow homeowners to receive the tools and advice necessary to keep them on track with mortgage payments. The innovative Chenoa Fund program hopes to give more affordable homeownership access to qualified buyers by breaking through the down payment barrier. You can view recent successes from the Chenoa Fund program here: https://chenoafundreviews.com/ Chenoa Fund Rate Advantage Program: Chenoa Fund's Rate Advantage allows borrowers to obtain a first mortgage FHA loan at a market rate along with a repayable second mortgage as a down payment, as long as they meet CBCMAs debt-to-income and credit score requirements. The second mortgage can cover the 3.5% minimum down-payment requirement when purchasing a home. With the help of a financial counselor, CBCMA clients will find it much easier to make significant monthly payment savings when compared to other methods. The Rate Advantage program truly is the first of its kind. CBCMAs Chenoa Fund also provides other great solutions for qualified borrowers, and the Rate Advantage program falls directly in line with the mission of each of these options. The new program will give borrowers another choice as they begin their journey to owning their own home. Where some down payment assistance models may raise specific concerns, Rate Advantage addresses these while also giving borrowers immense cost savings. Buying a home is a cornerstone of the American Dream, and we have developed this new program to help more creditworthy buyers make homeownership a reality for themselves and their families, said Richard Ferguson, president of CBCMA. The Rate Advantage program will give the borrower the ability to lock their first mortgage in at a market comparable rate as long as borrowers meet the minimum FICO score requirement of 640, have a debt to income ratio of 50% or less and their income is less than or equal to 115% of the median income for the county in which they live. On top of this, qualified borrowers may obtain a repayable second mortgage for the down payment. Chenoa Fund DPA Edge Program: There is also another option for CBCMA clients, the DPA Edge Program. The DPA Edge Program allows eligible borrowers to apply for a forgivable second mortgage in order to cover their 3.5% minimum down payment requirement when purchasing an FHA-insured home. Our goal is to provide home buyers with multiple assistance options to increase the likelihood of homeownership success, Ferguson said. We believe that by helping responsible homebuyers meet the down payment investment required for a mortgage, we can create healthier communities by improving the balance between homeownership and other housing types. That benefits our entire economy. As lending restrictions have begun to crop up in recent years, there has become a great need for programs like Rate Advantage and DPA Edge Program. These kinds of home financing tools have opened up doors that have been otherwise closed to potential home buyers in the past, especially if they have responsible debt and good credit. Additional information available via https://chenoafund.org Chenoa Fund training resources can be found here: https://chenoafundtrainingresources.org/ Peel Plate EB Test We are pleased with the Peel Plate EB test performance in the MicroVal evaluation process, and we are looking forward to providing this simplified alternative to conventional microbial testing to the food industry. Charm Sciences is pleased to announce that its Peel Plate EB Microbial Test has received MicroVal approval. This follows the August announcement it received AOAC-Official Methods of Analysis (OMA) First Action, a US-based certification. MicroVal is a European-based validation body, which has created a harmonious certification with AOAC to evaluate microbial test methods according to International Standards Organization (ISO) guidelines. Charms Peel Plate EB test is one of the first microbial tests to be certified under this evaluation process. The evaluation assessed ten food matrices compared to reference methods and included a focused international collaborative study of infant formula. Twelve laboratory participants in five countries compared the ISO reference method to Charms Peel Plate EB Microbial Test. Expert reviewers of the results noted how closely the Peel Plate EB data replicated the ISO method. We are pleased with the Peel Plate EB test performance in the MicroVal evaluation process, and we are looking forward to providing this simplified alternative to conventional microbial testing to the food industry, said Robert Salter, Vice President of Regulatory and Industry Affairs. The validation for infant formula and dried dairy ingredients should be particularly helpful for the food industry, as these commodities faced some serious contamination challenges in 2018. European Union (EU) food standards specify detection of very low levels of Enterobacteriaceae in processed foods using ISO methods or equivalent. Many infant formula producers are multinational and require an international approval of the method they use. Increasingly in the USA, multinational food producers are adopting Enterobacteriaceae testing over coliform testing as the globally recognized regulation. The MicroVal/AOAC certification of Peel Plate EB Microbial Test provides industry a globally recognized validation that the easier and faster Peel Plate method has the accuracy of ISO methods. Using Charms Peel Plate EB testing for infant formula provides additional advantages over traditional methods and other easy to use microbial tests. It is fast to set up, does not require a sample spreader, and results are available within 24 hours. Additionally, it is validated using a singlet analysis, while traditional and competitor products, if validated at all, are validated in duplicate. Eliminating duplicates can significantly reduce ISO laboratories testing volume and cut costs in half. About Charm Sciences Established in 1978 in Greater Boston, Charm Sciences helps protect consumers, manufacturers, and global brands from a variety of issues through the development of food safety, water quality, and environmental diagnostics tests and equipment. Selling directly and through its network of distributors, Charms products serve the dairy, feed and grain, food and beverage, water, healthcare, environmental, and industrial markets in more than 100 countries around the globe. https://www.charm.com The Adrian Awards recognize the exceptional work being done in travel marketing, and also put a well-deserved spotlight on the exceptional people behind that outstanding work. The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is pleased to announce the Gold Winners of the 2018 Adrian Awards, which honor outstanding advertising, digital marketing, and public relations in hospitality. Platinum and Best of Show winners will be unveiled at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Dinner Reception and Gala on January 22 at the New York Marriott Marquis. After receiving close to 1,200 entries, HSMAI will present Gold Awards to one of the largest groups of winners in the Awards history, including 104 awards in Public Relations, 25 in Integrated Marketing, 89 in Digital Marketing, and 48 in Advertising. The 200 judges for this years awards are prominent members of the travel industry and subject-matter experts in advertising, digital marketing, media, and public relations. View the complete list of Gold Award winners on the Adrian Awards website. The Adrian Awards are a rare opportunity to recognize the exceptional work being done in travel marketing, said Fran Brasseux, executive vice president of HSMAI. But just as importantly, we are also putting a well-deserved spotlight on the exceptional people behind that outstanding work. At the Adrian Awards Dinner Reception, co-sponsored by HSMAI, Google, and TravelClick, Gold winners submissions will be showcased on digital displays and honored during the dinner reception. Winners of the Gold Adrian Awards are considered for Platinum Adrian Awards and the Best of Show Awards, the Adrian Awards highest honor, which will be announced at the Adrian Awards Gala. All winning work will be showcased in the Winners Gallery on http://www.adrianawards.com following the Gala. Two new awards will also take center stage at the Adrians this year. The first Facebook Mobile Video Award will be handed out as well as HSMAI honors for Leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility. The evening's celebration will also pay tribute to the HSMAI Top 25: Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization, who will be honored in a private reception and onstage at the Adrian Awards Gala. The Adrian Awards also celebrate lifetime achievements in hospitality sales, marketing, and public relations. Harris Rosen, President and CEO, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, will be honored with the Albert E. Koehl Award for Hospitality Marketing. Steve Bartolin, Chairman of The Broadmoor, has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Winthrop W. Grice Award for Public Relations. Stephen Powell, most recently SVP Worldwide Sales for IHG prior to retirement, is the recipient of the inaugural HSMAI Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Sales. In addition to recognizing outstanding travel advertising, digital marketing, and public relations campaigns, HSMAIs Adrian Awards Dinner Reception and Gala offers hospitality professionals an opportunity to connect for an evening of celebration with nearly 1,000 peers from their industry. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.adrianawards.com. HSMAI will also host the 2019 Digital Marketing Strategy Conference at the New York Marriott Marquis, January 23. For more information, visit http://www.hsmai.org/digitalconference. For more information about the Adrian Awards and to inquire about media passes to the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala and the Digital Marketing Strategy Conference, please contact Andrea Bomar at abomar@hsmai.org. About HSMAI The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners, and is the industrys leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as HSMAI Digital Marketing Strategy Conference, Adrian Awards, and Revenue Optimization Conference. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at https://www.hsmai.org, http://www.facebook.com/hsmai, http://www.twitter.com/hsmai, and http://www.youtube.com/hsmai1. The $40 million EB-5 loan through CanAms New York Metropolitan Regional Center helped fund the first phase of construction of the Gulfport Marine Terminal. I am genuinely proud of the Gulfport Marine Terminal project it shows that EB-5 is a great source of funding for industrial facilities that positively impact the surrounding areas, creating many direct and indirect jobs, said Tom Rosenfeld, CanAms President and CEO. CanAm Enterprises (CanAm) announces that its 37th EB-5 partnership has repaid recently. The two-phase Gulfport Marine Terminal project in Staten Island, NY has repaid its first tranche of EB-5 loan funding in full and on time. The 37th repayment further establishes CanAm Enterprises as the industry leader with over $1 billion in EB-5 capital repayments. The $40 million EB-5 loan through CanAms New York Metropolitan Regional Center helped fund the first phase of construction of the Gulfport Marine Terminal. Subsequent phases of the construction project are well underway with nearly 2 million square feet of industrial logistics center space completed. The construction of the Gulfport Marine Terminal has created 1,671 jobs within the geographic boundaries of the New York Metropolitan Regional Center area, which exceeds the EB-5 investment requirements of 10 jobs per investor by far. The legal conditions for EB-5 visas have been fully met, meaning all 80 investors qualify for receiving permanent residency in the United States. I am genuinely proud of the Gulfport Marine Terminal project it shows that EB-5 is a great source of funding for industrial facilities that positively impact the surrounding areas, creating many direct and indirect jobs, said Tom Rosenfeld, CanAms President and CEO. The Gulfport Marine Terminal is being built on a 674-acre tract of vacant land located on the Arthur Kill waterfront in Staten Island, Richmond County, New York. The terminal features a 135-acre area, which is ready for development of a full-service port facility, and a 193-acre on-site logistics center. The first two buildings in the logistics center are completed and open. A one million square-foot building occupied by Ikea opened in August 2018. The second, an 850,000 square foot robotics-enhanced fulfillment center for Amazon opened in September 2018. The opening of this second facility is significant in that it marks the first fulfillment center Amazon has located within New York City. Both companies are now the largest employers in the borough, bringing even more economic growth and opportunities to Staten Island, NY. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Program provides qualified foreign investors with the opportunity to earn conditional or temporary two-year visas in return for investing $500,000 in businesses located in high unemployment areas that create or retain at least ten permanent full-time jobs for U.S. workers. About CanAm Enterprises With three decades of experience promoting immigration-linked investments in the United States and Canada, CanAm has a long and established track record. Basing its work on a reputation of credibility and trust, CanAm has financed more than 55 project loans and raised over $2.7 billion in EB-5 investments. CanAm exclusively operates seven USCIS-designated regional centers that are located in the city of Philadelphia, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the county of Los Angeles, the Metropolitan Region of New York, the states of Hawaii, Florida and Texas. For more information, please visit http://www.canamenterprises.com An emergency can strike at any time, from a simple power failure to something far worse. You never know what could happen. Be ready with the 72-hour Get Home Bag from Echo-Sigma. The Get Home Bag from Echo-Sigma will make you feel prepared for whatever comes your way. Echo-Sigma kits come pre-assembled so you can use them right out of the box. They're packed with provisions, tools, first-aid supplies and other things you'll be glad to have handy when the going gets tough. Fully customizable, the food has a shelf life of 5 years. Take a Get Home Bag from Echo-Sigma with you when you go camping or hiking, so youre always prepared. Echo-Sigma was born of the belief that you don't need to be a prepper to be geared up like one, says Chris Reidel, President of Echo-Sigma. Were happy to share our completely assembled kits with the world and partner with AsSeenOnTV.pro to do so. The Get Home Bag from Echo-Sigma really is the top-of-the-line emergency kit, says Lisa Vrancken, Vice President of Business Development at AsSeenOnTV.pro. Anyone who has one will feel totally equipped to deal with any crisis scenario. As part of its DRTV campaign with AsSeenOnTV.pro, the Get Home Bag will be appearing in 60 second spots set to air nationwide and feature the original Shark himself, Kevin Harrington. AsSeenOnTV.pro is comprised of an award-winning team of producers, writers, videographers, and editors as well as industry veterans dedicated to finding the latest, most innovative products and ideas, and putting them on the DRTV map. About AsSeenOnTV.pro Headquartered in South Florida, AsSeenOnTV.pro is a full-service production, branding, and marketing company that specializes in direct response television, short- and long-form commercials, and brand building. Based out of a 25,000+ sq ft, state-of-the-art studio, the companys creative team handles every aspect of production from script to screen to airing. For nearly two decades, AsSeenOnTV.pros veteran staff of writers, producers, videographers, and editors has amassed more than 50 Telly Awards, thousands of prestigious clients, and over $20 million in television placements. About Kevin Harrington As the inventor of the infomercial, founder of As Seen on TV, and one of the original Sharks on Shark Tank, Kevin Harrington has worked with some of the worlds biggest celebrities and launched some of the best-selling DRTV campaigns in history. Since producing his first 30-minute infomercial in 1984, Harrington has been involved in over 500 product launches that have resulted in over $4 billion in sales. Now, in his latest venture with AsSeenOnTV.pro, Harrington is on the hunt for the best new products and ideas, bringing them to homes everywhere through personalized DRTV campaigns featuring the Shark. For more information on the Get Home Bag, please visit http://www.echo-sigma.com. "THE MONSTERS ARE COMING" America's wildest monster truck show is coming back to Duncan, OK! Enjoy all the fun & high energy excitement! Advance General Admission tickets Only $10 Bucks - Adult or Child & limited supply VIP Reserved Seating $25...Adult or Child..Get Best Seat & includes pre-show Pit Party. Two Giant Shows on same day! Matinee Show @ 2:00 pm & Evening Show @ 7:30 pm. Featuring GIANT NATIONAL TV MONSTER TRUCKS in wild and amazing competition. ONLY chance to see these superstars compete in non-stop action. See 12,000 POUND MONSTER TRUCKS battle it out in head-to-head competition! World Famous OUTLAW - EL LOCO OSO - SHERIFF- CAROLINA CRUSHER will battle it out in earth shaking, ground pounding, high flying excitement! First time EVER, see "Clash of the Giants" as World Famous Outlaw compete's in non- stop action against EL LOCO OSO QUAD WARS - See the pro's in wheel-to-wheel racing action as TEAM OKLAHOMA challenges TEAM TEXAS on our fast track for a big cash purse & bragging rights! KIDS POWERWHEEL RACES - Kids ages 3 to 9 can be a part of Monster Truck Show. To reserve a spot in the race, call 480-772-7490 (SPACES ARE LIMITED - CALL EARLY!) RIDE ON A REAL MONSTER TRUCK - Get a chance to ride on a real monster truck! SERGEANT SMASH is selling rides throughout the big show. Chennai, Jan 11 : Modifying its earlier order, the Madras High Court on Friday allowed distribution of Rs 1,000 as gift by Tamil Nadu government on Pongal festival to those holding ration cards on which only sugar can be purchased. The court allowed the state government to give Rs 1,000 to 'non-priority household' only for sugar category of people, accepting the plea that such households also belong to economically weaker section. Hearing a PIL, the court on Jan 9, restrained the Tamil Nadu government from distributing Rs 1,000 as a cash gift to all ration card holders regardless of financial status. Pointing out to the government that it was public money and, not the party money, the court said it would not question if it was the latter. The court said the total cash outgo will be about Rs 2,000 crore which could be used for relief works in cyclone Gaja-hit districts or infrastructure development and others. According to the court, the Pongal cash gift can be given to people who are below the poverty line and not above. On Jan 2, Governor Banwarilal Purohit while addressing the Assembly had said the state government would provide a cash gift of Rs 1,000 and a gift hamper to all ration card holders in the state to celebrate Pongal festival. New Delhi, Jan 11 : The BJP on Friday set the tone for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with a no holds barred attack on the Opposition grand alliance and the coming together of the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh, calling it an "eyewash" while describing the elections a battle of "two ideologies" and likening it with the battle of Panipat. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top leaders attending the two-day National Convention ahead of the general elections, party President Amit Shah sounded the poll bugle expressing confidence that the Modi government will return to power on the basis of its performance and on the idea of a strong leader versus a leaderless opposition. He said the arch rivals were coming together because they have realised that they cannot defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi on their own individually and it was a victory for the BJP. Being held against the backdrop of losses in the Assembly polls in the Hindi heartland states, the hour-long speech of the party President made no reference to the defeats or issues like agrarian distress, unemployment and the ill-effects of demonetisation that were said to have gone against the party. Prime Minister Modi will address the valedictory session on Saturday. Asserting that 2019 will be a year of expansion for the BJP, Shah said Modi was leading the NDA that has 35 parties while the opposition does not have either a leader or a policy. He asked the BJP workers to resolve to bring Modi back to power in the general elections saying the people of the country will elect a "mazboot sarkar (strong government) and not a "mazboor sarkar" (compromising government). Under pressure from the RSS and other members of the 'Sangh Parivar', Shah utilised the opportunity to assert that the government is keen on the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya in accordance with Constitutional norms but accused the Congress of creating hurdles. "This 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) is an eyewash. Everybody is fighting for their survival. We defeated them in 2014 and it is time to defeat them again. Politics is not physics but chemistry in which when two compounds meet they can lead to unintended consequences. They have come together for their self interest and for power. This is a battle that will have a far-reaching impact for centuries to come. It is necessary to win it." Touching upon the proposed alliance between arch rivals in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP President asked "if bua-bhatija' (aunt-nephew) come together what will happen. They did not want to see each other's face a few months back. They cannot sit together." "We are ready to fight the battle to get over 50 per cent vote share in Uttar Pradesh. We will get not less than 74 seats (one more than what the BJP and its allies got in 2014). They have united because they cannot defeat Modi on their own. This is acceptance of our strength, of the strength of Prime Minister Modi," he said. "There was a time when it used to be Congress versus all. Today it is a matter of pride that it is Modi versus all. He is a pole of Indian politics on the strength of his hard work," he said. Calling the election the third battle of Panipat, Shah spoke of the rise of the Marathas under Shivaji and subsequent warriors and said they lost in the Battle of Panipat in 1761 and the country later came under the rule of the British for 200 years. Speaking on the Agriculture resolution, Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched an attack on the Congress party, saying it was "pretending" to be the farmers' friend though it never cared for them when in power, and added that the opposition was already staring at defeat in the next Lok Sabha polls. He underlined that India's growth story could not be written by bypassing the country's villages. "The Congress party is pretending to be the champion of the farmers' cause, but it did not look at the Swaminathan Commission report for 10 years of UPA. It was Narendra Modi government that implemented the Commission's recommendation of giving the minimum support price (MSP) to the farmers," he said. "The opposition knows that if the farmers of this country stand up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi then nobody can save their boat. Today the public is with Modi. In any case they (opposition) have almost conceded that their boat is going to sink in the coming elections," he added. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the NDA would come back to power again with the "blessings" of the poor people who have received food and houses at affordable prices and medicine for free in the Modi government's rule. She said about 22 crore people in the country were benefited under the welfare schemes of the BJP-led NDA government for the poor, particularly the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). "Our government took care of food, house, medical treatment for poor people. So will not they give us blessings? Their prayer is the will of God," she said presenting the resolution on Poor Welfare. "These people are making only one prayer that Modi government should come back to power again. And their blessing would not go in vain for sure." Both the resolutions were adopted. Gandhinagar, Jan 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ninth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit themed, 'Shaping a New India', on January 18 as the state gears up for its flagship biennial summit, which pulls in the who's who of the business community, heads of states and policy makers from across the world. Modi will be in Gujarat a day earlier on January 17 when he will throw open the global trade show at the convention centre, Mahatma Mandir, held parallel to the Summit. He will be having one-on-one meetings with the heads of 5 states, Denmark, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, Malta and Rwanda. The Prime Minister will also be visiting the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run VS Hospital in Ahmedabad. In the city itself, Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Ahmedabad shopping festival held on the lines similar to Dubai shopping festival. After inaugurating the summit, Modi will be participating in a round-table conference of the sovereign wealth funds, which is being held in the country for the first time. He will spend an hour to discuss the prospects of huge funds getting invested in infrastructure projects of the country. New Delhi, Jan 11 : Posters, banners and hoardings dotted the stretch to the Ramlila Maidan, the venue of the BJP's National Convention in the heart of the capital, with "Abki Bar Phir Modi Sarkar" (Modi government again this time) as the party sought to prepare the workers for the battle of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Delegates to the two-day meet which began on Friday also saw hoardings related to the government's pro-poor schemes and the just-passed quota bill that provides reservation to economically backward upper castes and the enhancing of the minimum support price to farmers. Chants of "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" across the Ramlila Maidan electrified as many as 12,000 party workers participating in the mega event. The hour-long presidential speech of BJP President Amit Shah got the maximum response from the party cadres when he spoke about the Ram temple issue. "The BJP wants a grand Ram temple to be built at the earliest. We are committed to it," Shah said, as the audience erupted into dramatic cheers. The issue charged the workers and compelled Shah to interrupt his speech and chant "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" along with the crowd. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was seen smiling as the audience continued to express its enthusiasm. Soon after Shah's presidential speech, breaking security protocol Prime Minister Narendra Modi met some of the BJP office bearers and also shook hands with the party workers. The event which started with the customary flag hoisting and lighting of lamp also saw a Muslim Shabana Rehman singing the Vande Mataran. She also chanted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". While welcoming Modi, Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwary offered a shawl and a lotus flower, the party symbol. Modi was seen admiring it. Many of the party leaders including union ministers later posted their photographs on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag Abki Bar Phir Modi Sarkar. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP's main slogan was "Abki Bar, Modi Sarkar". New Delhi, Jan 11 : Launching an attack on the Congress at BJPs National Convention, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Congress was "pretending" to be farmers friend though it never cared for them when in power, and added that the opposition was already staring at defeat in next Lok Sabha polls. He underlined that India's growth story could not be written by bypassing the country's villages. "The Congress party is cutting a 'swang' (pretence) of being the champion of the farmers, but it did not look at the Swaminathan Commission report for 10 years of UPA. It was Narendra Modi government that implemented the Commission's recommendation of giving the minimum support price (MSP) to the farmers," he said. "The opposition knows that if the farmers of this country stand up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then nobody can save their boat. Today the public is with Modi. In any case they (opposition) have almost conceded that their boat is going to sink in the coming elections," he added. He said a perturbed opposition had launched a campaign of false allegations to blemish the image of Prime Minister Modi. "But our Prime Minister's life is like an open book. Anybody can read it," he said. He said that after Lal Bahadur Shastri and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi was the only Prime Minister who had taken the agriculture and farmers' issues with seriousness and sensitivity. He said the Modi government had allocated Rs 2.11 lakh crore to agriculture during its tenure which was "unprecedented". He also spoke of various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, neem-coated urea, MSP and farm loans. He claimed in Karnataka, where the Congress-Janata Dal Secular (JD-S) alliance is running the government, farmers were being "arrested" for not repaying their loans. New Delhi, Jan 11 : Describing the coming Lok Sabha elections as a "battle of two ideologies", BJP President Amit Shah on Friday hit out at the proposed opposition grand alliance describing it as an "eyewash" and attacked the coming together of the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh because they have realised that they cannot defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi on their own individually. Asserting that 2019 will be a year of expansion for the BJP, he said Modi was leading the NDA that has 35 parties, the opposition does not have either a leader of a policy. Sounding the poll bugle at the inauguration of the party's two-day National Convention, he asked the BJP workers to resolve to bring Modi back to power in the general elections saying the people of the country will elect a "mazboot sarkar (strong government) and not a "mazboor sarkar" (compromising government). Under pressure from the RSS and other members of the 'Sangh Parivar', Shah utilised the opportunity to assert that the government is keen on the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya in accordance with Constitutional norms but accused the Congress of creating hurdles. "This 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) is an eyewash. Everybody is fighting for their survival. We defeated them in 2014 and it is time to defeat them again. Politics is not physics but chemistry in which when two compounds meet they can lead to unintended consequences. They have come together for their self interest and for power. This is a battle that will have a far-reaching impact for centuries to come. It is necessary to win it." Touching upon the proposed alliance between arch rivals in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP President asked "if bua-bhatija' (aunt-nephew) come together what will happen. They did not want to see each other's face a few months back. They cannot sit together." "We are ready to fight the battle to get over 50 per cent vote share in Uttar Pradesh. We will get not less than 74 seats (one more than what the BJP and its allies got in 2014). They have united because they cannot defeat Modi on their own. This is acceptance of our strength, of the strength of Prime Minister Modi," he said. "There was a time when it used to be Congress versus all. Today it is a matter of pride that it is Modi versus all. He is a pole of Indian politics on the strength of his hard work," he said. Calling upon the BJP workers to take a resolve for the re-election of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, Amit Shah compared the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to the third battle of Panipat. Shah said the party was gaining momentum in Odisha and West Bengal and he was personally keen to see a BJP government in Kerala. Referring to the contentious issue of the Ram Temple, he said it was being said that the party has deviated from its earlier words. "The ideology with which we started in 1950, the journey is continuing in the same direction. The BJP wants that Ram Temple should be constructed at the earliest and a grand temple should be built at Ayodhya. We are trying that the issue is settled soon as per constitutional norms. The matter is pending in the Supreme Court. Congress is creating road blocks. We were and are committed for Ram temple," he said. He laid out the issues that will be the campaign themes of the party in the next three months including upper caste job reservation and welfare measures for the poor including toilets, gas, housing, Ayushman Bharat and financial inclusion. Shah accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of "manufacturing" allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal and talked of surgical strikes and said Modi had enhanced India's stature in the world. Speaking of the rise of the Marathas under Shivaji and subsequent warriors, he said they lost in the Battle of Panipat in 1761 and the country later came under the rule of the British for 200 years. "That was a decisive battle. Today the situation is the same. The country's politics saw several ups and downs in the last 70 years. The BJP started its journey from Jan Sangh and got full majority in 2014 under Narendra Modi. In 2014 we were in power in six states, today we are in power in 16," he said. He said the Modi-led government was transparent, decisive, sensitive and based on democratic values. "When we went for election in 2014, we had cadre. Today we have nine crore active workers. There are 22 crore beneficiaries of government schemes. Last time people wanted to give Modi a chance, this time we are fighting on the basis of his performance." "We have leadership of the most popular, hardworking, transparent and visionary leader. I am working with him since 1987. He has never been defeated. There is no question of stopping. We will again make a full majority NDA government in 2019." He urged the people to have faith in Modi again and said no one else can give a strong government. He said the Modi government had a "spotless record" and attacked Rahul Gandhi and his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. "Those who are on bail and are facing income tax notices are making allegations of corruption against us. People of the country are not going to believe this." He said the Supreme Court had said that there was no need to probe the Rafale fighter deal and answers were given in parliament but Rahul Gandhi was still making allegations. "What is this frustration. Five years are about to end. If they do not rake up allegations, how will they fight. They (the Congress) has indulged in corruption in every defence deal. If Michel mama is caught, they start sweating." "The history of their four generations is marked by corruption and you are making allegations against us." Referring to fugitive economic offenders Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya, he said they were "in comfort" during the UPA rule but were forced to flee when the Modi government came to power. "Chowkidar will bring all the thieves. It is only a matter of time. They will have to return the money pending against their names," he said. He said India is the fastest growing economy and the government had implemented its promise of giving farmers prices at 50 per cent over their input cost. He talked of efforts to bring justice to various sections including the Sikhs and efforts to empower weaker sections including Dalits, women and tribals. Shah said the NDA had made a difference to the lives of the poor by providing a record number of houses, toilets, banking, electricity and gas connections in the last five years. He made repeated mention of the bill to provide 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward sections among the upper castes in education and government jobs and said the poor among the general categories will get their first opportunity for a slice of the pie of reserved government jobs. Dubai, Jan 11 : On his maiden visit to the UAE, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday reached out to Indian expatriates and assured them of accommodating and redressing their issues in the party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi, who reached here on Thursday night, held talks with UAE business leaders in the day and followed up with an interactive session with Indian workers at Jebel Ali industrial area. Addressing the workers, Gandhi also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his monthly radio programme (mann ki baat), saying "I am not here to say my 'mann ki baat', but I am here to listen to your mann ki baat". "Leaving your families behind in India, you all are here working hard to earn for your family. I am here to assure you that we are with you... I am here to listen to your problems. Whatever help we can extend, we are ready," said Gandhi amid loud applause. Accompanied by former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda, Gandhi interacted with the workers, enquiring about the problems faced by them in Dubai and their families back in India. With several workers complaining about not getting their full salaries and getting cheated by touts, Gandhi asked them to inform their grievances to Pitroda so that they are accommodated in the Congress manifesto. "Share all your problems and issues with Pitroda, we will have them in our manifesto. We want to know about all your problems and what the Indian government should do to them. Not this government (Modi government) but the one which is coming to power after the elections," he said. "I assure you the government will work for you and your families back in India". Replying to a worker from Amravati in Andhra Pradesh, Gandhi assured the state of a special category status if the Congress came to power at the Centre. As part of his global outreach programme ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi also interacted with representatives of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), Dubai and met the Punjabi community. He is also slated to hold talks with UAE Ministers. San Francisco, Jan 11 : Pedophiles searching for child pornography on Microsoft Bing get keyword suggestions that lead to more criminal content on the web, according to a latest TechCrunch investigation, coming on the heel of an earlier one that found similar issues with Facebook-owned WhatsApp. Bing's 'Similar Images' feature can suggest additional illegal child abuse imagery to those who search for related content, said the study -- carried out by Israeli online safety start-up AntiToxin on behalf of TechCrunch -- on Thursday. The study came after another TechCrunch report last month claimed that Facebook-owned WhatsApp was being used by traders of child pornography to distribute disturbing content without much of a hurdle. The concerns raised in the latest study was shared with Microsoft following which, the software giant said it assigned an engineering team that fixed the issues. "Clearly these results were unacceptable under our standards and policies and we appreciate TechCrunch making us aware. "We acted immediately to remove them, but we also want to prevent any other similar violations in the future. We're focused on learning from this so we can make any other improvements needed," Jordi Ribas, Microsoft's Chief Vice President of Bing and AI Products, was quoted as saying. Microsoft said it was working on blocking any similar queries as well problematic related search suggestions and similar images. However, AntiToxin -- that is closely supervised by legal counsel -- found that while some search terms from its report are now banned or cleaned up, others still surface illegal content. Microsoft also claimed that it was changing its Bing flagging options to make it easier for people to report "child sexual abuse." Similar searches on Google did not produce as clearly illegal imagery or as much concerning content as did Bing, the research showed. The latest study was commissioned after the investigation last month revealed that in the absence of adequate human moderators, child pornographic material was slipping by the automated systems of WhatsApp that offers end-to-end encryption for its users. AntiToxin also found that several people from India were part of groups that circulate child porn-related content. WhatsApp last week said it blocked and removed over 1,30,000 such accounts to clamp down on child pornography on its platform. "WhatsApp has a zero-tolerance policy around child sexual abuse. We deploy our most advanced technology, including artificial intelligence to scan profile photos and actively ban accounts suspected of sharing this vile content. "We also respond to law enforcement requests in India and around the world. Sadly, because both app stores and communications services are being misused to spread abusive content, technology companies must work together to stop it," a WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement. Islamabad, Jan 11 : The government has decided to continue a travel ban imposed on top Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders, including chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. The decision was taken at a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Thursday, reports Dawn news. The cabinet, at its meeting on December 27, had decided to place names of 172 suspects of the fake bank accounts and money laundering case, including top PPP leaders and Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz, on the Exit Control List (ECL). However, the Supreme Court, which is monitoring the case, on December 31 ordered the government to review the decision. The cabinet in its last meeting had referred the matter to a special committee of the interior ministry to review it. On Thursday, the committee presented its report to the cabinet recommending removal of 20 names from the ECL, including those of the PPP leaders. However, Prime Minister Khan and his team rejected the recommendations and decided that the names of the top leaders of the PPP would remain on the ECL. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that names of the PPP leaders would remain on the ECL until a detailed written order of the Supreme Court was received. In response, the PPP called the development a "dictatorial decision", Dawn said. "The cabinet decision has not only exposed the 'ugly' face of Imran Khan but the fact that dictatorship is prevailing in the country which does not even accept the decisions of the Supreme Court," said PPP leader Nafisa Shah in a statement. Tokyo, Jan 11 : Ousted Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who has been under arrest for alleged financial misconduct, was on Friday hit with new charges and was accused of misreporting his compensation through 2018 and abusing his position for personal gain. Tokyo prosecutors accused Ghosn of misreporting his compensation by tens of millions of dollars during a three-year period that ended in March 2018, reports Efe news. The latest indictment means Ghosn is eligible for bail. The former Chairman's lawyer is set to file for his release on Friday. Ghosn's alleged co-conspirators, Nissan Director Greg Kelly and Nissan Motor, were also indicted for the alleged misreporting. Ghosn, Kelly and Nissan were previously indicted on December 10 on similar allegations related to financial statements filed over a five-year period that ended in March 2015. Nissan has expressed regret over the case but hasn't said whether it will contest the allegations. Ghosn has called the charges against him "baseless" and Kelly, who is currently out on bail, has maintained his innocence. Ghosn faces an additional charge of breach of trust related to a series of transactions with Saudi Arabian businessman Khaled al Juffali. Lucknow, Jan 11 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav will hold a joint press conference here on Saturday when the alliance between them for the coming Lok Sabha polls is likely to be announced. An invitation, jointly signed by SP General Secretary Rajendra Chowdhary and BSP General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, has been circulated to the media for the press conference at a five-star hotel here. Informed sources said that the two former Chief Ministers might formally announce the formation of the alliance for the Lok Sabha polls and also share the seat-sharing formula. A tactical alliance between SP and BSP - once sworn enemies - helped them defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha by-elections in Gorakhpur and Phulpur last year. The two parties also backed the candidate of RLD-led by Ajit Singh to win the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency. Four-time Chief Minister Mayawati flew into Lucknow late on Thursday and is likely to deliberate with her party leaders on Friday before sealing the deal with SP. A senior party leader said that while the SP and BSP will share 37 seats each, they will leave two for Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). The alliance might also leave two seats, Amethi and Rae Bareli, for the Congress to enable Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to contest from there. These were the only two seats the Congress won in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in which the BSP drew a blank and SP managed to win five seats, again won by members of the Samajwadi Party's 'first family'. The BJP swept 71 seats while its ally Apna Dal got two seats in a four-way contest. If the BSP, SP and RLD join hands, it may emerge as a formidable alliance against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Dubai, Jan 11 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday began his two-day maiden visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a breakfast meeting with business leaders here. Gandhi, who reached here on Thursday night, held talks with the business leaders from the country accompanied by Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda. He also interacted with hundreds of Indian workers at a labour accommodation in Jebel Ali. "I am here to listen to what you all have to say," said Gandhi. A part of his global outreach programme ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi will also hold talks with UAE Ministers besides addressing the larger Indian expat community including students. New Delhi, Jan 11 : A day after the removal of Alok Verma, Additional Director M. Nageswara Rao on Friday again took charge of the office of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, the agency said. Rao, a 1986-batch Odisha cadre Indian Police Service officer, took charge in pursuance of an order of the Department of Personnel and Training issued a day earlier. Rao was first given charge as interim Director after the government on October 23 sent Verma on leave divesting him of his powers along with Special Director Rakesh Asthana following a bitter spat between them alleging each other's involvement in corruption. Rao has been again given the charge after Verma was on Thursday removed from the post within 48 hours after rejoining as CBI Director. A 2-1 decision by a Selection Committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its other two members being Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge and Supreme Court judge A.K. Sikri on Thursday decided to ease out Verma from the post of CBI Director. Taipei, Jan 11 : Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen appointed a new Prime Minister on Friday following the resignation of the incumbent over the recent electoral setback suffered by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. The President announced the appointment of Su Tseng-chang to replace Lai Ching-te at a press conference in which both were present, reports Efe news. Lai announced his resignation on Thursday night and made it effective on Friday morning after a cabinet meeting. His exit had been expected since Premiers in Taiwan usually step down after a party's election defeat. Experts believe Su could help garner support for Tsai within the party and boost her chances of re-election in 2020. He was appointed Prime Minister in 2006 by then President Chen Shui-bian but resigned in 2007 to contest the 2008 presidential elections, which he lost to Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang Party. The DPP suffered a resounding defeat in the local elections of November 24, which sparked opposition to Tsai's 2020 candidacy among pro-independence supporters. San Francisco, Jan 11 : Samsung Electronics Co. said on Friday it will roll out its next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S10, here late in February. Samsung said it will host an Unpacked event at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on February 20 to showcase the new Galaxy model, with a separate event scheduled for London, Yonhap news reported. The gathering will bring together 3,000 journalists and officials from Samsung's global partners, it said. Samsung's planned rollout of the new Galaxy model is about a week earlier than usual. The tech giant has usually released its new Galaxy smartphones at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in late February. It will also be Samsung's first Unpacked gathering in San Francisco, close to the headquarters of arch-rival Apple Inc. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S3 in London and hosted Unpacked events for the Galaxy S4 and S8 in New York. This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on January 11 shows a teaser poster for Samsung's "Unpacked" event for its upcoming flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S10. San Francisco, Jan 11 : In a bid to hide sexual harassment allegations against former Google executives, Alphabet's board of directors has approved hefty severance packages for the accused, according a lawsuit filed by a shareholder of the company. Alphabet Inc is Google's parent company. The lawsuit filed on Thursday in California state court accuses the board and executives of breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, abuse of power and corporate waste, CNET reported. The lawsuit makes reference to oversize severance packages that Google reportedly paid to Android creator Andy Rubin, and Amit Singhal, head of Google's search unit until 2016. The New York Times in November 2018 reported that Rubin received $90 million in severance when Google fired him in 2014 over accusations of sexual misconduct that the company deemed credible. Allegations of sexual harassment against the two men were found to be credible by company investigations, according to the lawsuit filed by shareholder James Martin. "Rubin was allowed to quietly resign by defendants Larry Page and Sergey Brin after an internal investigation found the allegations of sexual harassment by Rubin to be credible," according to the complaint. "While at Google, Rubin is also alleged to have engaged in human sex trafficking -- paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to women to be, in Rubin's own words, 'owned' by him." Singhal stepped down as ride-hailing giant Uber's Senior Vice President of Engineering in 2017 after it discovered he had allegedly been accused of sexual harassment while he was employed at Google, said the CNET report, adding that both Rubin and Singhal have denied the allegations. Following the New York Times report in November, Google employees around the world staged a protest against the tech giant's handling of sexual harassment cases. After the reaction to the story in The Times, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sought to reassure employees about the company's stand against sexual harassment. "Over the past two years, we have terminated 48 people, including 13 senior managers and above for sexual harassment," Pichai said. "None of these people received an exit package. And to clarify: in that time, we have also not provided any exit packages to executives who departed voluntarily in the course of a sexual harassment investigation," he added. Athens, Jan 11 : German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European spirit has been strengthened through the management of common challenges and Europe will have a better future through cooperation and not nationalism. She gave a joint statement to the press with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday at the start of her two-day visit to Athens, reported Xinhua news agency. "We have been through difficult years. What we have achieved was to strengthen the European spirit," the German leader stressed during the remarks broadcast by Greek state television ERT. Merkel praised Greece for its achievements despite the difficulties of the recent years of the debt crisis, such as the historic agreement reached last summer for the resolution of the Macedonia name dispute. The deal, which is currently in the process of ratification by the parliaments of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Greece, will benefit the entire Europe, the chancellor stressed. She reiterated Germany's support to Greece's efforts to stand on its feet, noting the need to continue on the path of reform in the post-bailout era. "Today you are coming to a different Greece, which after many challenges has managed to overcome the crisis and enter the path of growth," the Greek prime minister said. "I believe that Greece is not only gradually exiting the crisis but is turning from part of the problem into part of the solution," the Greek leader said, underlining that his country is a pillar of stability in a region suffering from destabilisation. The German chancellor's visit marks the end of a difficult period in bilateral relations, opening new prospects, Tsipras noted, referring to past differences regarding the way to address the Greek debt crisis, which was overcome through compromises. He also stressed the need for closer cooperation in finding solutions to more problems as Europe faces more challenges, like the rise of the populist far-right. The leaders also highlighted the need to establish a comprehensive European migration and asylum policy to deal with the refugee-migrant crisis, which has also tested the EU in recent years. During the meeting at the prime minister's office, police used tear gas to disperse leftist and far-right protesters who held two different demonstrations against the chancellor's visit. "We are here to protest against Merkel's visit. She came indeed to check what the entire EU leadership has created in Greece. We are against and we demand that our country be liberated from the shackles of the EU and the debt load," Nikos Adamopoulos, one of the leftist protesters, told Xinhua. The German leader is scheduled to hold a meeting with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and main opposition New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday before departing from Athens. The overview of the seminar (Source: CPV) The Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on January 10th coordinated with the Ministry of Environment of Japan to organize a seminar on Environmental Infrastructure and Technologies to further concretize the content of the Joint Statement of senior leaders of the two countries. Speaking at the seminar, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said Vietnam urgently needs to consolidate the harmony between environmental protection and socio-economic development. Gearing up towards sustainable development remains a key challenge for policymakers and enforcement forces in the field of natural resources management and environmental protection, he said. Highlighting the intensive and extensive relationship between Vietnam and Japan across all spheres, Mr Nhan said Japan is one of Vietnams most important strategic partners in environmental protection. Japanese Vice Minister of the Environment Takaaki Katsumata said Vietnam and Japan celebrated their 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and cooperated well in many fields in 2018, including the environmental sector. The two sides signed a cooperation agreement in 2013 and reaped the outcomes in different fields. Many Japanese companies specialising in waste treatment are operating in Vietnam, describing the seminar as an opportunity for the Vietnamese side to learn about Japans demands in this regard./. Washington, Jan 11 : US President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen has agreed to testify publicly before a Congress committee on February 7, according to an official statement. In a statement to CNN, Cohen said on Thursday that he has agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee "in furtherance of my commitment to cooperate and provide the American people with answers". "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," Cohen said. Cohen is likely to face questions about the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between senior members of President Donald Trump's campaign and a Russian lawyer as well. Thursday's announcement comes after Cohen pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December to three years in prison on multiple charges, including two campaign finance crimes tied to illicit payments made to silence women during the presidential campaign. Cohen cooperated with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation after his August guilty plea. Mueller's team in court filings wrote that Cohen provided "useful information concerning certain discrete Russia-related matters core to its investigation". House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said that Mueller cleared Cohen's testimony before it was agreed to, CNN said. "He'll have a chance to tell his side of the story, and we'll have a chance to question him. The American people deserve that," Cummings said. "We don't want to do anything to interfere with the Mueller investigation." Other members of the Trump administration are likely to be summoned to Capitol Hill also. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler of New York is demanding acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker testify this month, and he's threatening a subpoena if Whitaker won't voluntarily appear. Cairo, Jan 11 : The United States' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said his country has learnt from the mistakes it committed in the Middle East and vowed to continue fighting against terror organisations. Mike Pompeo spoke on Thursday at the American University in Cairo as part of a whirlwind tour of the most populous Arab country. His visit comes after US President Donald Trump announced last month a pullout of US troops from Syria, EFE news reported. "American troops are coming home from Syria, but this is not a change of mission. We remain committed to the complete dismantling of the ISIS (Islamic State) threat and the ongoing fight against radical Islamist terror. We are looking to our partners to do more going forward," Pompeo said during his visit to the Egyptian capital. Cairo and Washington have been maintaining close ties for the last 40 years since Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 following the US-brokered Camp David peace accords of September 1978. The peace between Israel and Egypt ultimately led the US to provide the latter with $1.3 billion in military aid annually. Pompeo praised the efforts of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in guaranteeing the coexistence of Christianity and Islam, days after the al-Sisi administration inaugurated the country's biggest cathedral and mosque in the New Administrative Capital, located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) to the east of Cairo. "I applaud President al-Sisi's efforts to promote religious freedom which stands as an example for all leaders and all peoples of the Middle East," the US' top diplomat said. Pompeo acknowledged that some have criticised the US' role in the Middle East; yet, he asked his audience to "just look around at this university (the American University in Cairo) which has existed now for a century." "It is not a coincidence that many other American universities like this one thrive all across the Middle East... (American universities) are symbols of America's innate goodness, of our hopes for you and of the better future we desire for all nations of the Middle East," he added. On Tuesday, Pompeo began his Middle East tour with a visit to Jordan followed Wednesday by a trip to Iraq to meet with government leaders and Kurdish-Iraqi regional leaders. The US Secretary of State is set to visit Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait in the coming days. SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- X Financial (NYSE: XYF) (the "Company"), a leading technology-driven personal finance company in China, today announced that it has signed the "Credit Information Sharing Cooperation Agreement" with Baihang Zhengxin ("Baihang Credit"). X Financial is among the first batch of financial institutions to share credit information with Baihang Credit, and has successfully finished data system connection testing. Baihang Credit is the second licensed individual credit bureau in China in addition to PBOC credit bureau. Baihang Credit was established by the National Internet Finance Association of China (NIFA) in early 2018 in conjunction with eight Chinese companies including Sesame Credit, Tencent Credit, Kaola Credit, Pengyuan Credit, Sinoway Credit, Qianhai Credit Service, China Chengxin Credit and Intellicredit. Baihang Credit provides credit ratings on individuals borrowing money from financial technology companies. X Financial is going to transfer comprehensive, accurate and timely data to Baihang Credit, and Baihang Credit will integrate, save and process the data collected from the Company and multiple other partner companies, and provide information searching and other additional services for the cooperating institutions which are eligible and connected with Baihang Credit. Mr. Justin Tang, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of X Financial commented, "We are pleased to begin sharing credit information with Baihang Credit. Leveraging the data shared on Baihang Credit's platform, we will strengthen our credit assessment system which will allow us to quickly and accurately assess a customer's creditworthiness, target a broader user base for our financial services, and reduce the cost of risk management. I am confident that this will greatly enhance the convenience of our financial services, reduce financial service cost for high credit people, and benefit development of inclusive finance industry in China." About X Financial X Financial (NYSE: XYF) (the "Company") is a leading technology-driven personal finance company in China focused on meeting the huge demand for credit from individuals and small-to-medium-sized enterprise owners. The Company's proprietary big data-driven risk control system, WinSAFE, builds risk profiles of prospective borrowers using a variety data-driven credit assessment methodology to accurately evaluate a borrower's value, payment capability, payment attitude and overall creditworthiness. X Financial has established a strategic partnership with ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co., Ltd. in multiple areas of its business operations to directly complement its cutting-edge risk management and credit assessment capabilities. ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co., Ltd. provides credit insurance on X Financial's investment products which significantly enhances investor confidence and allows the Company to attract a diversified and low-cost funding base from individuals, enterprises and financial institutions to support its growth. X Financial leverages financial technology to provide convenient, efficient, and secure investment services to a wide range of high-quality borrowers and mass affluent investors which complements traditional financial institutions and helps to promote the development of inclusive finance in China. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," "targets," "guidance" and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the credit industry, and marketplace lending in particular, in China; the demand for and market acceptance of its marketplace's products and services; its ability to attract and retain borrowers and investors on its marketplace; its relationships with its strategic cooperation partners; competition in its industry; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to the corporate structure, business and industry. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this announcement is current as of the date of this announcement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law. For more information, please contact: X Financial Ms. Jennifer Zhang E-mail: [email protected] Christensen In China Mr. Christian Arnell Phone: +86-10- 5900-1548 E-mail: [email protected] In US Ms. Linda Bergkamp Phone: +1-480-614-3004 Email: [email protected] SOURCE X Financial WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Women owned businesses are one of the fastest growing segments of small business. That's why Wells Fargo has teamed up with STEM Connector to fund year two of the successful Million Women Mentors Entrepreneurship Initiative (MWM-Ei) Mentor Program. As MWM-Ei moves forward into its 2nd year, aspiring woman-owned businesses (WBEs) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) will be paired with seasoned accomplished mentors in an effort to help their businesses strengthen and grow. The MWM-Ei Mentor Program is a one-year development program that includes content related to strategic planning, access to capital and cultivating networks. "We've partnered with MWM-Ei because we fundamentally believe that women-owned businesses can help corporations create and capture value," Regina O. Heyward, senior vice president and head of Supplier Diversity from Wells Fargo, shared. "The MWM-Ei program is a demonstration of our strategic commitment to develop strong women entrepreneurs in STEM. The MWM-Ei program is an opportunity for WBE's to focus on growing their businesses; I encourage women business owners in STEM to consider applying to be a mentee." A mentoring relationship can accelerate growth for women owned STEM businesses. Having recently completed the MWM-Ei program, mentee Alka Dhillon, Founder and CEO of Technalink, Inc. states: "I learned from my mentor, to always 'Think Big' and 'you don't have to win by a direct connection.' Thanks to Wells Fargo for funding such a program that gave us the tools for us to succeed. I'm really excited about the program because everyone from Wells Fargo, my mentor, the program director, and the other mentors really care about the tangible results and they want to see our companies grow. Wells Fargo walks the walk with this program and I'm so grateful to be a part of it." Mentors are currently being selected while the application period for mentees is open until January 18, 2019. If you are a woman entrepreneur with goods or services related to STEM, a business revenue between $3 million to $20 million annually, and have a zest for a great mentor to help you grow your business, MWM-Ei is for you! Get your application at www.MillionWomenMentors.com/MWM-Ei and click on "Apply to this Program." The application period ends, January 18, 2019, submit your application NOW! Testimonials of 2018 Entrepreneur Mentees' success: "Up until last year, my growth strategy was non-existent. The MWM-Ei program gave me a growth plan, structure, and validation. I did not have the accountability component in my business until I participated in this program. The inherent value was a strict strategic growth strategy plan. Thanks, Wells Fargo for sponsoring such a wonderful program." Mentee Rashi Khosla, CEO of MARS Solutions Group. Mentee Peggy Gionta, CEO, Partner's Consulting, Inc., stated, "I am so excited to be a mentee in the MWM-Ei Mentor Program sponsored by Wells Fargo. This program gave me the opportunity to step back a few times and look at where we are and where we are going as a business. The net impact to my business is 50% growth. The timing of this program was perfect to have the support network around me." Mentor Gloria Bohan, CEO, Omega Travel, shared, "I am so proud of our OMEGA team effort to be engaged with our MWM-Ei mentee. The MWM-Ei Mentor Program was officially launched October 2017. The first class for the program Mentor/Mentees began in February 2018 and the second class starts February 2019. Million Women Mentors (MWM) has gained 2.3 million commitments for mentorship; and fulfilled more than 1.1 million mentor matches. Edie Fraser, founder of STEMconnector and Million Women Mentors is the champion for the MWM-Ei program and Kim R. Grimes is the Director. SOURCE Million Women Mentors NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sleep Apnea Diagnostics Market by Product (Polysomnography (PSG) Device, Actigraphy System, Respiratory Polygraph, Sleep Apnea Screening Device, and Oximeter) and End User (Hospitals & Sleep Laboratories and Home Care Settings): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018 - 2025 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05698761 Sleep Apnea Diagnostics Market Overview: The global sleep apnea diagnostics market was valued at $99million in 2017, and is expected to reach $168 million by 2025, registering a CAGR of 6.8% from 2018 to 2025. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that fluctuates with the patient's breathing pattern. It may decrease or even stop patient's breathing completely during sleep. In few cases, it may pause the breathing (called apnea), which can last 10 seconds or longer and can occur 30 times or more in an hour. Symptoms of sleep apnea include daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, and restless sleep. Approximately 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, while only 20% have been diagnosed and treated. The major key factors that drive the growth of the sleep apnea diagnostics market include rise in sedentary lifestyle diseases such as diabetes & others and surge in geriatric population. Obesity is considered one of the major risk factor for the development and progression of sleep apnea. In addition, technological advancements to make products more comfortable for patients and considerable upsurge in sleep apnea disorders boost the growth of the global market. However, high cost associated with these devices, limited reimbursement of these devices, and low patient awareness regarding sleep apnea are projected to hinder the market growth. Moreover, increase in preference for home healthcare devices among patients is projected to create lucrative growth opportunities in the near future. The global sleep apnea diagnostics market is segmented based on product and region. Based on product, the market is divided into polysomnography (PSG) device, actigraphy system, respiratory polygraph, sleep apnea screening device, and oximeter. Based on end user, the market is bifurcated into hospitals & sleep laboratories and home care settings. By region, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Key Benefits for Sleep Apnea Diagnostics Market: The study provides an in-depth analysis of the global sleep apnea diagnostics market along with the current trends and future estimations to elucidate the imminent investment pockets. A comprehensive analysis of the factors that drive and restrict the market growth is provided. A comprehensive quantitative analysis of the industry is provided from 2018 to 2025 to assist stakeholders to capitalize on the prevailing market opportunities. An extensive analysis of the key segments of the industry helps understand the global trends in the sleep apnea diagnostics market. Key players and their strategies are provided to understand the competitive outlook of the industry. Sleep Apnea Diagnostics Key Market Segments: By Product Polysomnography Device (PSG) Clinical PSG Device Ambulatory PSG Device Sleep Apnea Screening Device Actigraphy Monitoring Device Respiratory Polygraph Oximeter Finger Tip Oximeter Handheld Oximeter Wrist-worn Oximeter Tabletop Oximeter Others By End User Hospitals & Sleep Laboratories Home Care Settings By Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe UK France Germany Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific Japan China India Australia Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEA Saudi Arabia South Africa Brazil Rest of LAMEA KEY MARKET PLAYERS Cadwell Laboratories Inc. DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC. Koninklijke Philips N.V Medtronic plc Mindray Natus Medical Incorporated Nihon Kohden Corporation Resmed Smiths Medical SomnoMedics The other players in the value chain include (profiles not included in the report): Cleveland Medical Devices, Inc. Compumedics Ltd. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited Vyaire Medical, Inc Becton, Dickinson and Company BMC Medical Co., Ltd Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05698761 About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com ATLANTA, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraCap Management LLC, a privately held investment firm with its headquarters in Naples/Estero, Florida, announced today the acquisition of 200 Ashford Center in Atlanta, GA for $24,620,000. 200 Ashford Center in Atlanta, GA 200 Ashford is a multistory Class A office building with 159,000 rentable square feet and structured parking. The property offers many tenant amenities including a cafe, fully renovated fitness center and state-of-the-art conference center in a lush, park-like setting. 200 Ashford was 85% occupied at acquisition with approximately 30 tenants who office at the property. "It's a great property in a great location, in our opinion," said Steve Good, Partner and Acquisitions Director for TerraCap. "We see it as a value-add investment with a quality and diversified roster of tenants already in place. We're excited about the opportunity." The property is ideally located within Central Perimeter, which is Atlanta's largest and most sought-after location for suburban office. Recent corporate relocations to the immediate area include Mercedes Benz and State Farm Insurance, with Cox Communications also recently expanding their corporate campus in the area. Founder and Managing Partner Steve Hagenbuckle said, "We remain demand-market focused at TerraCap. Our research shows the drivers for growth in the South/Southeast are strongest in sub markets like the Atlanta central perimeter. With long term historic and projected demand, we can continue to create value for our investors. We believe Ashford is an excellent add to our holdings." The seller was represented by Samir Idris and David Meline of Cushman Wakefield. Chicago based NXT provided financing for TerraCap, who was represented by CJ Kelly of CBRE in Atlanta. About TerraCap Management LLC TerraCap Management, LLC considers thematic factors such as business formation, employment growth and population growth on a market-by-market basis, as most metros and submarkets have different economic-based industries and therefore move through their economic cycles differently. TerraCap makes moderate strategic overweighting or underweighting to markets, depending on the specific economic drivers influencing supply and demand. The Investment Manager has been in operation since 2008 with offices located in Naples/Estero, FL, Tampa, FL, and the Atlanta, GA metro area. As operators, TerraCap believes it can make decisions more efficiently while leveraging expertise from property to property. More information can be found at terracapmgmt.com. For More Information, Contact: Steve Good 239.898.4454 TerraCap Management LLC SOURCE TerraCap Management Related Links https://terracapmgmt.com BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- T-Mobile operated by Wireless Vision is proud to have donated more than $150,000 within its respected communities in 2018. Over 300 WV team members joined together to volunteer 400+ hours of their time and service this year. Wireless Vision's core values and culture are its best asset where they work hard to build happy, successful teams by taking care of their employees and communities they serve. Wireless Vision organized seven head-shaving events raising raising over $45,000 to benefit Childhood Cancer . "Giving back is part of who we are. One of our core values is 'Passion for our People' and that doesn't stay within our store walls," says Saber Ammori, CEO of T-Mobile Operated by Wireless Vision. "We are passionate about our employees, customers and our communities." Wireless Vision's Got Your Back (WVGYB) began in 2012 and has since become Wireless Vision's Social Responsibility program. They have worked alongside organizations such as Boys and Girls Club, St. Baldrick's Foundation, Feeding America, One Warm Coat Foundation, Susan G. Komen, Life Remodeled and many more. "It's important for us that our stores and employees are genuinely connected with our local communities," says Layla Muhammad, VP of Human Resources. "It could be through providing solutions for our customers in our stores, or out in the neighborhoods bringing positive change. It brings meaningfulness to the work we do, and is part of why we are so proud of the WV brand we represent." This year WV has partnered with incredible organizations such as Boys and Girls Club and St. Baldrick's Foundation to create a series of diverse volunteer projects focusing on youth development, supporting veterans and social responsibility. Examples of WV's volunteering activities included backpack drives, head shaving events, hosting donation drives, and events at military bases. Additionally, they have donated items such as school supplies, food, clothing, and toys during the holiday season. Wireless Vision contributed to the following organizations this year: Denver Polar Plunge raised $5,000+ for the Special Olympics Raised over $45,000 during 7 St. Baldrick's Head Shaving Events Hosted 16 Backpack Drives with over 7,000 backpacks and $5,000+ in school supplies Adopted 9 families and gifted over $15,000 Built 28 bikes for Boys & Girls Club Partnered with many amazing organizations: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Boys & Girls Clubs Hope Warming Shelter Gleaners Community Food Bank Feed My Starving Children Tucson Centrals Giving Initiative Toys for Tots Nicole Schmidt, National Loss Prevention Manager, says, "It is important that I work for an organization that is aligned with my personal values, and Wireless Vision is that organization. Through Wireless Vision's Got Your Back, I've had the opportunity to help beautify neighborhoods, provide clothing and supplies to those less fortunate, and help prepare students for the school year. WV not only makes it a priority to give back to the community, they inspire their employees to do so as well." Wireless Vision employees are proud to embrace the WV's Got Your Back Program and they are committed to continuing to give back their time and dollars in 2019. Visit the Wireless Vision Website to learn more. About Wireless Vision Wireless Vision LLC is a family-owned business established in 2004 and based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Wireless Vision now operates over 568 T-Mobile locations in 26 states across the U.S. They have experienced tremendous growth in the last couple of years with acquisitions and organic growth. The company's leadership team credits its success to providing customers with the best sales and service in the industry. Wireless Vision is equally dedicated to cultivating and caring for both existing and acquired employees and has been regularly voted Best Place to Work. For more information, please visit WirelessVision.com. Media Contact: Vanessa Hanna 248-763-3328 [email protected] Related Images wireless-vision-employees-in.png Wireless Vision employees in Tucson, Ariz., showing off their freshly shaven heads to help raise funds for childhood cancer research. Wireless Vision organized seven head-shaving events raising raising over $45,000 to benefit Childhood Cancer . denver-polar-plunge.jpg Denver Polar Plunge Wireless Vision employees took the plunge raising over $5,000 for Special Olympics Related Links Wireless Vision SOURCE Wireless Vision Related Links http://WirelessVision.com HENGELO, the Netherlands, January 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Split-off Lithium Werks and Koolen Industries offers new opportunities Battery and energy storage specialist Lithium Werks today announced to specialize in order to achieve their mission to enable the energy transition. The business continues in two group companies: Koolen Industries (http://www.koolenindustries.com) and Lithium Werks. The split will enable the company to respond more rapidly to the enormous growth that it is experiencing. Koolen Industries, a Dutch company with Kees Koolen in charge, focusses on smart energy and helps people and companies to contribute to the energy transition. Koolen Industries is 100% owner of Super B in Hengelo, developer and manufacturer of lithium batteries. "When you grow as fast as we did last year, there are many things that need your attention," said Kees Koolen, now founder of Koolen Industries. "We worked on so many things at the same time, from three continents, that we simply could not act fast enough. By splitting in two, each company can focus on his part while both work on their higher goal: facilitating the energy transition." Koolen Industries, including Super B, focuses on smart clean energy storage, electrification, conversion from lead acid to lithium and on starter batteries, for which Super B has built a known brand for years. Initially with Europe as a focus region. "The market is growing very fast, there are countless opportunities to develop as a company. It is good that we now each choose our own specialization, so that we can focus. For us this means concentration on smart energy and superior product development, backed by a team of about 20 engineers and a fast growing production facility in Hengelo. Koolen Industries remains a minority shareholder position in Lithium Werks and we even expect that we will use each other's products", said Kees Koolen. Kees Koolen is convinced that Koolen Industries, like many of his other companies, will experience exponential growth. There are new developments going on in several areas: "This spring, we are installing a dozen home solutions, particularly in the Twente region. We test these extensively so that we are ready to supply them to people at home on a large scale. A number of developments are also underway for industrial applications, including the launch of new energy batteries. In the area of starter batteries, the business that Super B has started with, we are making good progress with large customers. I am happy to see we are working with a great team for and together with our customers." About Koolen Industries As Koolen Industries, it is our mission to enable everyone to contribute to the energy transition. Therefore, we provide smart energy solutions for consumers and businesses. Super B in Hengelo, The Netherlands is part of Koolen Industries and develops and produces high quality lithium batteries and battery management systems. http://www.koolenindustries.com http://www.super-b.com SOURCE Super B RESTON, Va., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- With the latest federal government shutdown preparing to enter its fourth week, government employees aren't the only ones feeling the effects. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is among the federal agencies impacted, delivering a significant blow to the American small business community. It's projected that the current backlog of business loan applications could take weeks or even months to clear, leaving small business owners who were counting on those funds to grow or maintain their business in limbo. "The effects of this shutdown on American small businesses is absolutely devastating," says StreetShares CEO Mark L. Rockefeller. "The SBA does incredible work for the small business community, not only through their loan programs but through their education, assistance, and resources. To see all of that get shut down is heartbreaking." This is where alternative lenders such as StreetShares come in. "SBA loans are one of the best options for small business owners, and I will always encourage entrepreneurs to pursue them if possible," Rockefeller continues. "However, sometimes business owners need alternative solutions in cases like this. This is where our Patriot Express Line of Credit product really excels." The StreetShares Patriot Express Line of Credit is a flexible small business funding option for amounts from $5,000 to $250,000. Business owners draw funds only when they need them, and only pay interest on the funds actually used. Lines of credit are a great option for times such as a government shutdown, when business owners need "bridge" money to keep business operations going while waiting for another loan to come through. Rockefeller encourages business owners to give StreetShares a call if they've been affected by the SBA shutdown and need help figuring out their next steps. "We all certainly hope that the shutdown ends quickly and the SBA can get back to providing all the great things they do for our small business community," he says. "But in the meantime, our team is doing everything they can to help these entrepreneurs out. A government shutdown doesn't mean we have to shut down the American dream." Learn more about StreetShares and their business funding options by calling 800-560-1435, visiting streetshares.com, or emailing [email protected] This is not an offer of credit. All applications are subject to approval, no guarantee of funding. SOURCE StreetShares, Inc. Related Links http://www.streetshares.com FULSHEAR, Texas, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Seasoned technology executive Tim Wintrip has joined Fulshear, Texas-based Krystallize Technologies as its new Chief Revenue Officer. Wintrip looks to drive sales, revenue and strategic growth of Krystallize and its flagship cloud performance management product, CloudQoS. Wintrip is an accomplished senior technology veteran with two decades of experience driving new services, business models and revenue streams at leading technology companies. He joined from Virtustream where he held various vice president positions managing global accounts, cloud service providers and software. Wintrip also previously held senior sales leadership, consulting and engineering roles at DXC Technology, Visa Inc., VCE and EMC Consulting. "I'm excited to join Krystallize and help customers gain more efficiency, performance and value from their cloud investments." Wintrip said. "With the mass adoption of cloud, clients need a better way to gain transparency into their workload performance to gauge whether they are getting the value they are paying for. Most clients are shocked at the variability of workload performance in the cloud and the impacts it has to their cloud cost base." Cloud service variability is a key issue for users running public, private and hybrid cloud configurations. In Krystallize's most recent workload testing on Amazon Web Services cloud infrastructure, the widest service variability gap was a staggering 121.2 percent. "This means there was a 121.2 percent variation in service capability between our slowest and fastest machines," Wintrip said. "This has a direct correlation to cost. I can see why, according to IDC, 80% of enterprises migrated workloads back from public to private cloud in 2017." Wintrip strives to create greater market awareness of CloudQoS and its necessity in solving variability problems. "We are privileged to have Tim onboard leading the retooling of our sales and revenue initiatives and in the positioning of CloudQoS as the gold standard in CSP measurement, ranking and data intelligence," said Krystallize Technologies CEO Clinton France. About Krystallize Technologies Founded in 2013, Fulshear, Texas-based Krystallize Technologies (http:/www.krystallize.com) provides enterprises, CSPs, managed service providers, and systems integrators with Cloud performance measures that matter. The company's flagship technologyCloudQoSdelivers critical insights into cloud performance and helps maintain best-fit, best-cost performance for application workloads. SOURCE Krystallize Technologies Related Links http://www.krystallize.com NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES and SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwood Capital, LLC ("Rockwood"), a private real estate investment firm, today announced that it has added two senior professionals to its Capital and Client Strategies team: Tara McCann, as Managing Director, and Injong Kim, as Director. Both will be based in Rockwood's New York City office. Ms. McCann will manage Rockwood's client relations and fundraising initiatives on a global basis and will sit on the firm's Investment Strategy Committee. Mr. Kim will focus on client relations and fundraising in Asia. Ms. McCann and Mr. Kim will both be responsible for the development and execution of capital strategies and investment products for domestic and international investors. Ms. McCann has over 20 years of experience in real estate finance. Prior to joining Rockwood she held senior roles in strategy development, investor relations, acquisitions, and investment banking. Most recently she was a Managing Director at USAA Real Estate where she led strategy development and capital raising for the firm's affiliate, Square Mile Capital. "We are delighted to welcome Tara to Rockwood," said Tyson Skillings, Managing Partner. "Her leadership skills and deep industry experience, including capital raising, strategy development and transaction underwriting, make her ideally suited for this role." Mr. Kim has over 11 years of experience in real estate finance. Prior to joining Rockwood, Mr. Kim was a Senior Portfolio Manager for the National Pension Service of the Republic of Korea ("NPS") where he focused on global real estate investments and portfolio management. His responsibilities at NPS included direct investments, fund investments, joint ventures, co-investments and other private portfolio equity. "We are very pleased that Injong has joined the team," said Walter Schmidt, Senior Managing Partner. "We believe that we will benefit greatly from his expertise, investor mindset and relationships with real estate professionals all over the world." About Rockwood Capital Rockwood Capital, LLC (Rockwood) is a real estate investment management firm founded in 1995 that provides equity capital combined with real estate operating expertise for the repositioning, recapitalization, development and redevelopment of residential, office, research and development, retail and hotel space in key markets throughout the United States. Rockwood and its principals have invested on behalf of their clients approximately $28.9 billion of real estate through commingled funds and separate accounts. Rockwood is a 76-person organization with offices in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Los Angeles, CA that manages a portfolio of approximately $3.6 billion of net equity value in approximately $7.1 billion of gross real estate value as of 9/30/2018. Rockwood's investors include sovereign wealth funds, public and private pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, funds of funds, high net worth individuals and family offices. Contact: Caroline Luz Owen Blicksilver Public Relations, Inc. 203-656-2829 [email protected] SOURCE Rockwood Capital, LLC TOKYO, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus Corporation today announced a comprehensive transformation program to continue its development as a global medical technology (medtech) company and drive improved performance, accelerating value creation for all stakeholders. The multi-tiered plan is designed to re-engineer Olympus with a governance, leadership, and human resources framework that will pave the way for more coordinated, agile management processes that better support the global enterprise Olympus has become. The plan reflects the Board and management's belief that the new framework will better enable Olympus to capture meaningful cost savings and generate growth through its strongest business opportunities, particularly in the U.S. market for medical devices that support endoscopic procedures. This transformation will be led by Yasuo Takeuchi, who will be named President and Chief Executive Officer of Olympus Corporation. Mr. Takeuchi is currently Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Hiroyuki Sasa, who has successfully led Olympus through an important period of global development and stabilization, will transition from President of Olympus Corporation to Board Director as of April 1, at the same time the broader organization changes take effect. Mr. Takeuchi said: "The Transform initiatives we are announcing today are the culmination of the multi-year effort to rebuild Olympus led by Hiroyuki Sasa when he became CEO in 2012 after a highly challenging period. He introduced the Medium-Term Vision and then drove sustainable business growth during the initial years of the '16 Corporate Strategic Plan (CSP). Through Mr. Sasa's leadership, we strengthened internal control frameworks as a foundation for enhancing global compliance and governance, implemented a matrix organizational structure to maximize the use of corporate resources, and reinforced the quality and regulatory assurance function. We also began to reorganize our operations by including leadership from Europe and the Americas as part of our executive management team and introduced the cross-business application of best practices. "We will now take the next major step to launch a comprehensive plan to further transform our operations, together with clear objectives, accountability, and a responsible time frame," continued Mr. Takeuchi. "As we near our 100 year anniversary as a leading company in Japan, this new plan better supports and harmonizes our global operations as a global medtech company. We believe this organization will drive improved organic growth and significantly more efficient operations, as we look to position Olympus for another 100 years of success. This plan is also fundamental to our commitment to accelerate shareholder value creation. "I want to thank Mr. Sasa for his extraordinary service to Olympus. I am also honored to continue my own service to Olympus in this new role. Through the implementation of this go-forward plan, we will improve our performance and create a more efficient company that will fulfill our purpose of making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling," Mr. Takeuchi added. Adopt Global Management Structure and HR Program To align Olympus' management structure with its current and future business operations and drive cost reductions, Olympus will strengthen leadership globally by implementing a new global structure, streamlined decision-making, and more uniform business management. This transformation work will place clear accountability on the business unit leaders for driving sales and profitability in their respective units. Starting April 1, the executive management team will consist of five executive officers with leadership across the entire organization. In addition to Mr. Takeuchi as Chief Executive Officer, the team will include Mr. Akihiro Taguchi as Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Haruo Ogawa as Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Yasushi Sakai as Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Stefan Kaufmann as Chief Administrative Officer. This team will be responsible for decision-making and execution of unified, global policies and strategies across the different business lines. The business unit heads will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer. To better drive continued global growth and recruit and retain high-level talent across business lines, the Company is also updating its talent management protocols across the Company and reassessing its global workforce to drive greater efficiency. Olympus will establish the required talent management infrastructure through a Global HR Program. This will allow the Company to reinforce strong performance, to manage headcount, and to place the right individuals in optimal positions globally. Optimize and Simplify Medical Device Business An integral part of this new plan will be the reorganization of the Olympus medical device business into two global divisions Endoscopic Solutions and Therapeutic Solutions rather than the current five. These two divisions' business models differ in distinct ways, and organizing the business through this structure will enable speedy and lean business management, enhancing Olympus' competitiveness among global medtech companies. The Endoscopic Solutions division, a proven global leader in endoscopes, will continue to be managed from Japan. This division will have global responsibility, facilities around the world and will invest in enhancements to its existing infrastructure and processes. The division will consist of Gastrointestinal (GI), Respiratory and Surgical endoscopy capital products; Software; Reprocessing; Repair service and System Integration. The Therapeutic Solutions division will be managed from the United States, bringing the management of the organization closer to the largest therapeutic device market with better access to the medical industry cluster and its largest customers. This division will also have global responsibility and facilities around the world. This division will consist of EndoTherapy (single-use therapeutic) devices for GI and Respiratory fields; Energy and other surgical single-use devices; and Urology, Gynecology and Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) products. Under this new organizational structure, Olympus looks forward to focusing the business strategies and cost structure of its divisions to optimize their potential with respect to more timely and effective product offerings. Prioritize Cost Containment and Capital Efficiency Olympus recognizes that there is a significant opportunity to improve operating profit margin and return on capital in line with global medical device industry peers, especially following a period of elevated investment in the early years of 16CSP. Olympus will now increase focus on cost containment and capital efficiency initiatives. Working groups have been established to accomplish this goal. The first step of these initiatives is to freeze FY 2020 SG&A, including R&D, at the FY 2018 level, starting April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year, while FY2019 will remain at current guidance level. Olympus is also developing longer-term cost savings programs, which will be finalized and announced together with the revised strategic plan. Olympus will also review its capital expenditure levels across business units with the goal of sustainably improving free cash flow available for shareholder return and responsible M&A investment toward the strategic goal of becoming a leading global medtech company. Intention to Adopt New Governance Initiatives Consistent With the Transformation Plan, Including Migration to a Three Committee Board Structure and Adding Three Directors Consistent with the focus of its Transform Olympus and Transform Medical plans, particularly to further support the global nature of its business, Olympus will seek shareholder support for changes to the structure and composition of its Board of Directors at the next annual meeting. To align Olympus' Board structure with the global nature of its business and provide enhanced oversight and support of management, at the June 2019 Annual Meeting Olympus will ask its shareholders to approve an amendment to the Company's Articles of Incorporation to migrate from a Company with a Kansayaku-kai audit structure to a Company with a Three Committees Board structure. The Three Committees structure will simultaneously improve the Board's focus on supervising management's implementation of strategy and best practices, increase management's agility, and improve the ability to attract global executives. In addition, the Board's nominating committee is identifying three new Board member candidates to present to shareholders for election at the June 2019 Annual Shareholders' Meeting. Building on its ongoing collaborative relationship with its largest shareholder, ValueAct Capital Management L.P. ("ValueAct"), Olympus plans on inviting D. Robert Hale, a Partner at ValueAct, to stand for election at the June 2019 Annual Meeting. As a seasoned management consultant and investor across industries, Mr. Hale would bring the Board expertise in advising leading global companies during transformation as well as significant global capital markets and healthcare experience. Two additional new Board members will also be proposed to stand for election at the 2019 Annual Meeting. Olympus will recruit international executives who have highly relevant experience at leading global medical technology companies and has invited ValueAct to help identify candidates. Mr. Takeuchi said: "We made good progress over the past few years developing our reorganization plans on our own initiative. We believe the change in our governance structure at this time will help to advance our progress by bringing us more in line with the world's leading global companies. We have been impressed with ValueAct's expertise and constructive approach, and believe that having Rob Hale on the Board will bring useful global perspective and experience to our ongoing work to transform Olympus and build value for all shareholders." Mr. Hale said: "Over the past year our team has been in a highly collaborative dialogue with Hiroyuki Sasa, Yasuo Takeuchi and their colleagues. We share their vision and believe the transformation initiatives to globalize governance and management will position Olympus to achieve its full potential. I am honored to be invited to serve on the Olympus Board and look forward to working with Mr. Takeuchi and his team for the long-term benefit of all Olympus stakeholders." Of the transformation plan as a whole, Mr. Takeuchi added: "Olympus also looks forward to realizing its full potential as a global medtech company. This transformation plan constitutes an important further step forward in that process through changes to our leadership, recruiting, divisional structure and management, and corporate governance. By executing on these changes, Olympus will become a more efficient and agile operator which will allow us to maximize long-term shareholder value and drive benefits to all of our stakeholders." Investor Presentation and Investor Call Olympus will hold an investor presentation in Tokyo on January 11, 2019 at 17:00 Japan time to discuss this announcement. It will also hold an international investor call on January 11, 2019, at 22:00 Japan time. I. Conference Call Details (1) Event: Conference call for announcing the transformation plan "Transform Olympus" (2) Date & Time: Friday, January 11, 2019 10:00 PM (Japan time) (3) Speaker: Hiroyuki Sasa, President and Representative Director Yasuo Takeuchi, Director, Vice President and CFO (4) Agenda: 1. Presentation 2. Q&A Session II. How to Participate in the Conference Call (1) Dial-in information: Telephone number: +81-(0)3-6629-1042 PIN code: 23540365# (2) Please dial in 10 minutes before the start time. You will be greeted and asked to enter the conference code. (3) Record your name and company name followed by the "#" key. (4) Please stand by until the conference begins (Recorded music will play). About Olympus Group Olympus is a global technology leader, crafting innovative optical and digital solutions in medical technologies; life sciences; industrial solutions; and cameras and audio products. Throughout our nearly 100-year history, Olympus has focused on being true to society and making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. Our Medical Business works with health care professionals to combine our innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing with their skills to deliver diagnostic, therapeutic and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance quality of life for patients. For more information, visit Olympus.com. SOURCE Olympus Corporation Related Links http://Olympus.com Francesca has created electrifying looks for performers and actresses from Cher to Beyonce to Cindy Crawford and has had her work featured in print, music videos, TV, and film worldwide. See her work here and follow her journey @francescatolot and @ofracosmetics. With Francesca's "makeup is what you want it to be" philosophy the OFRAxFrancesca collection shows that we are all "together for makeup." Whether you are a pro, a guru, an influencer, a beauty lover, or a lipstick and go kind of person, makeup has infinite possibilities. We are not just the MUA's of our own looks, we are all MUX's. Together for makeup. #MUXeffect Ofra Gaito, OFRA Founder and President, describes Francesca: Francesca is an icon. She has quietly created an enduring career curating the beauty industry and trends over decades of work. Like a hidden gem, she is a master of color and juxtaposition. Beauty and art. She is truly inspiring to be around. Growing up in Italy, traveling the world, and Francesca's love of art has helped form this collection. Francesca on creating this collab: I am inspired by so many things, and now makeup is something that is inspiring to so many, and that makes me even more excited for how the makeup industry will transform and transcend beyond trends. There are no rules. That's how each person should approach this collection. Play, try something new, and never be afraid that it's not right. Launching at IMATS Los Angeles January 11, 2019 and ofracosmetics.com. Francesa Tolot Collection Infinite Palette MSRP: $49 Item Code: 80008 9-2g Gilded Palette MSRP: $49 Item Code: 80009 2-10g 2-4g Infinite Lip Set MSRP: $50 Item Code: 65719 3-8g Baroque Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick MSRP: $20 Item Code: 65716 8g Vermillion Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick MSRP: $20 Item Code: 65718 8g Ruby Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick MSRP: $20 Item Code: 65717 8g All OFRA Cosmetics' products are made to order, including the Electro Glaze Collection, and are 100% vegan. No animal testing is done at OFRA Cosmetics Laboratories. The company prides itself on being cruelty-free and committed members of both PETA and Leaping Bunny. SOURCE OFRA Cosmetics Related Links http://ofracosmetics.com "The obstacles for companies to structurally deal with customs and trade compliance and effectively manage this domain exposes them to great vulnerability, and the topic has become a key agenda item in the boardroom," said Pieter Haesaert, CEO of Customs4trade. "CAS is designed to empower the customs manager and his or her team to gain visibility and be in control of their processes and flows instead of constantly putting out fires. Enterprises understand very well that customs compliance should be an integral part of business administration but struggle to find solutions that fit their organisation." CAS is a unique solution that integrates the complex mechanics of customs legal requirements with an organisation's ERP or WMS systems and processes via a straightforward user interface. The C4T team embarked on development by rethinking the fundamentals of customs compliancerecognizing patterns, standardising work flows, and simplifying tasks for specific users. The result, CAS, is a scalable, multi-country, multi-language solution that streamlines customs compliance for leading manufacturers including Honda Motor Europe, Isuzu Motors Europe, Agristo, Reynaers Aluminium. "Customs4trade has developed a software solution that is unique to the marketplace and fills a defined need. We see great potential for global expansion and are excited to support their growth," shared Alex Meyer, investor and partner at 42CAP. About Customs4trade Customs4trade's (C4T) unique team of customs experts and best-of-breed technology engineers has developed CAS, a one-of-a-kind software solution that automates customs and trade compliance. CAS is a collaborative hub, designed to manage regional and worldwide customs and trade compliance quickly and accurately, within one single platform. By automating all import and export processes, C4T clients experience faster time to market, eliminate customs duty and administration costs, and gain strategic visibility into their customs operations. Built on the Microsoft Azure platform and delivered as a Service (SaaS), CAS provides clients with continual updates and feature enhancements, including the incorporation of any changes to legislation and compliance regulationsalong with Azure's signature accessibility, scalability, and security. Based on the quality of the solution and its potential to solve a real business challenge for Azure customers, C4T has achieved prioritized status in Microsoft's IP Co-Sell Program. With hundreds of thousands of EU companies bracing for Brexit, forward-thinking customs managers are turning to C4T to prepare their organizations for a seamless transition. Or visit: www.customs4trade.com About 42CAP 42CAP is a European seed-stage investment fund focused on technology companies with the ambition to take their businesses global. Prior to founding 42CAP, its lead investors Alex Meyer and Thomas Wilke built one of Europe's largest SaaS start-ups, eCircle. They sold the profitable company to Teradata (NYSE:TDC) in 2012. Core to 42CAP's investment approach is their "Peers Amongst Entrepreneurs" conviction; working as peers to share their fundamental values. These include their belief in technology- and data-driven business models with sustainable approaches and a true passion for entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.42cap.com. About 10x Group 10x Group is comprised of serial entrepreneurs and technology venture experts that support strong founding teams in second seed-stage companies. 10x Group focuses their funding on companies that have introduced a disruptive technology with proven market acceptance and traction, poised for significant growth. The company's leadership has founded and invested in over 100 early-stage digital and technology start-ups spanning Europe and Silicon Valley. For more information, visit www.10x.group. SOURCE Customs4trade Related Links http://www.customs4trade.com/ JUNO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that it plans to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 financial results before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in a news release to be posted on the company's website at www.NextEraEnergy.com/Earnings. The company will issue an advisory news release over PR Newswire the morning of Jan. 25, with a link to the financial results news release on the company's website. As previously communicated, the company will make available its financial results only on its website. Jim Robo, chairman and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy, John Ketchum, executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer of NextEra Energy, and other members of the company's senior management team will discuss the company's fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 financial results during an investor presentation to be webcast live, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on Jan. 25. Results for NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) also will be discussed during the same investor presentation. The listen-only webcast will be available on NextEra Energy's website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergy.com/Earnings. The financial results news release and the slides accompanying the presentation may be downloaded at www.NextEraEnergy.com/Earnings, beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET on the day of the webcast. A replay will be available for 90 days by accessing the same link as listed above. NextEra Energy, Inc. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. NextEra Energy owns two electric companies in Florida: Florida Power & Light Company, which serves more than 5 million customer accounts in Florida and is the largest rate-regulated electric utility in the United States as measured by retail electricity produced and sold; and Gulf Power Company, which serves approximately 450,000 customers in eight counties throughout northwest Florida. NextEra Energy also owns a competitive energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from eight commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin. A Fortune 200 company and included in the S&P 100 index, NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry on Fortune's 2018 list of "World's Most Admired Companies" and ranked among the top 25 on Fortune's 2018 list of companies that "Change the World." For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.GulfPower.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com. SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc. Related Links http://www.nexteraenergy.com TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) today announced the five finalists selected for the FLASH 2019 National Weatherperson of the Year Award, an annual honor recognizing an outstanding weatherperson for leadership in promoting disaster safety and resilience. The five finalists were selected from a field of 70 nominations made through an online Facebook poll. The top five nominees demonstrated leadership during the 2018 historic weather and disaster season as well as year-round contributions to disaster safety and resilience overall. The five finalists listed in alphabetical order include: 1. Jeff Lindner, Meteorologist Harris County Flood Control District Mr. Jeff Lindner is a native Houstonian and graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology. He began working with the Harris County Flood Control District in 2003 as a meteorologist. Mr. Lindner's steady, straight advice to citizens as the flood waters rose during Hurricane Harvey empowered informed decision-making on whether to evacuate, and how to survive what has been described as "biblical flooding." He was so instrumental in guiding citizens through Hurricane Harvey that Mayor Sylvester Turner declared May 2 as "Jeff Lindner Day" in Houston. A grateful public set up a GoFundMe account to finance a vacation for Jeff who promptly donated the funds to help flood victims. 2. Dr. Matthew Sitkowski, Executive Weather Producer The Weather Channel Under Dr. Matthew Sitkowski's leadership, The Weather Channel implemented immersive mixed reality (IMR) technology in its broadcasts and by doing so, they were able to clearly illustrate the risks posed by various weather phenomena, while sharing critical information about how people can stay safe. This cutting-edge technology was most impactful during Hurricane Florence, a storm that brought life-threatening flood waters and storm surge to the Carolinas. During the storm, Dr. Sitkowski led a team of meteorologists, on-camera talent, and graphic artists to produce an IMR segment that demonstrated the impact of storm surge as never before. This IMR demonstration went viral as a critical new way to get the information out about storm surge, which accounts for roughly 50% of deaths during tropical cyclones. The IMR technology was also used to demonstrate additional natural disasters including the wildfires that plagued California, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms. Dr. Sitkowski even worked with experts at Sesame Workshop, to develop an outreach series of videos featuring meteorologists and Elmo to help children understand severe weather, ensure that they're not afraid of it and know how to stay safe. 3. Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist WGN-TV Chicago For 40 years, Tom Skilling has consistently provided in-depth coverage of significant weather impacting the third largest metropolitan area in the U.S. not only on the air, but through social media and the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Skilling has established himself as a respected meteorologist both locally and nationally, known for his in-depth reports, enthusiasm, and use of state-of-the-art technology. Mr. Skilling hosts the renowned severe weather conference, Tornado and Severe Storms Seminar at Fermilab. As host of the event, Mr. Skilling welcomes the 'who's who' in the severe weather research and forecast community, including famed University of Chicago tornado researcher Dr. Ted Fujita. The Fermilab seminars have been attended by thousands and streamed online to provide critical education and disaster resilience information. Mr. Skilling has been awarded with three honorary doctorates from Lewis University, St. Mary's of Minnesota, and Aurora University. 4. James Spann, Chief Meteorologist ABC 33/40 & Host, WeatherBrains James Spann has served as the Chief Meteorologist for ABC 33/40 since 1996. He has received numerous awards for broadcast meteorology including, "Broadcaster of the Year" by the National Weather Association; AMS (American Meteorological Society) "Award for Broadcast Meteorology"; and received an Emmy Award for best television weather anchor in the Southeast U.S. from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Mr. Spann was also elected to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle in 2013. Essentially, it is the ultimate Emmy Award. It represents outstanding achievement spanning at least 25 years in the broadcast industry with a proven record of mentoring and community involvement. In 2001, James received another Emmy for live coverage of the deadly tornado which hit Tuscaloosa on December 16, 2000. He is also the Host of WeatherBrains, a weekly 90-minute netcast that's all about weather, delivered on a variety of audio and video platforms. The show unites weather geeks worldwide and covers the world of weather on a fun and interactive platform. The WeatherBrains team has produced more than 400 shows to date. 5. Weatherboy Weatherboy is the cumulative effort of a team of people from Miami to Denver to Hawaii who are passionate about connecting people with the world of weather. You can find Weatherboy on television, radio, in print, or online. While he appears online as a happy-go-lucky young weather enthusiast, he is very serious about the weather. The well-known Weatherboy character has roots to one of our founding meteorologists, made famous on national television in the 1990s. Since then, Weatherboy has appeared on countless television and radio programs. By the time Hurricane Irene traveled up the U.S. east coast in 2011, Weatherboy's Facebook presence became a significant player in the weather news space. By the time Hurricane Sandy approached the same area the following year, Weatherboy's presence as a major force in the meteorology space was cemented. Weatherboy continues to leverage new technology to connect with audiences. Whether it's a sizeable presence with Snapchat or an audience that watches live streams from their aerial photography drones, they are committed to connecting people of all ages with valuable, actionable weather information. Past National Weatherperson of the Year Award winners include: 2014 Jim Cantore , On-Camera Meteorologist and Co-Host, "AMHQ" - The Weather Channel , On-Camera Meteorologist and Co-Host, "AMHQ" - 2015 Max Mayfield , former National Hurricane Center Director & Hurricane Specialist - WPLG-TV , former National Hurricane Center Director & Hurricane Specialist - 2016 Alex Garcia , Chief Meteorologist - KABB-TV , Chief Meteorologist - 2017 Dr. Richard Knabb , Hurricane Expert & Tropical Program Manager - The Weather Channel , Hurricane Expert & Tropical Program Manager - 2018 Ada Monzon, Meteorologist, AMS Fellow - CBM-WIPR-TV Puerto Rico The 2019 winner will be announced on Friday, February 1 ahead of National Weatherperson's Day. He will be featured on the National Weatherperson of the Year Facebook page and win a complimentary trip to the National Disaster Resilience Conference as well. About FLASH The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. The FLASH partnership includes more than 100 innovative and diverse organizations that share a vision of making America a more disaster-resilient nation including: BASF Corporation, FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Huber Engineered Woods, International Code Council, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, and USAA. In 2008, FLASH, and Disney opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and access free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org, calling toll-free (877) 221- SAFE (7233), following @federalalliance on Twitter, on Facebook.com/federalalliance, and the FLASH blog Protect Your Home in a FLASH. SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) Related Links http://www.flash.org WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing the impact of the partial government shutdown on the National Park System, the National Park Foundation has set up the Parks Restoration Fund to help repair parks as quickly as possible once the government reopens and National Park Service employees are back to work. People can contribute to the fund at www.nationalparks.org/restoration. "People's love for their national parks is palpable, and the Parks Restoration Fund gives everyone a place to channel their strong desire to support these national treasures," said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. "Once the government reopens and rangers have determined what needs to be done, this fund will help repair damage where it's needed most." When the government shutdown ends, the National Park Foundation will deploy much-needed resources to national parks and their local philanthropic partners to help address top priorities, which will likely include natural habitat restoration, graffiti and trash removal, and other volunteer efforts. The National Park Foundation is also working with national parks' local philanthropic organizations to provide the public with information about volunteer opportunities once the government reopens and National Park Service staff is present and able to ensure volunteer and visitor safety. People can sign up to receive this information on the National Park Foundation website. ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and ENGAGE the next generation of park stewards. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org. MEDIA CONTACT: Alanna Sobel 202-796-2538 [email protected] SOURCE National Park Foundation Related Links http://www.nationalparks.org DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Self-driving and electric cars will help create more than 100,000 US mobility industry jobs in the coming decade, including up to 30,000 jobs for engineers with degrees in computer-related subjects. But the demand could be as much as six times the expected number of such graduates, exacerbating the industry's already significant talent shortage, according to research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Detroit Mobility Lab (DML). Cars of the future will be very different from today's automobiles. By 2030, more than 20% of them will have plug-in hybrid or battery-powered electric engines, and more than 10% will be self-driving, excluding partially autonomous cars. As cars and other forms of mobility become more complex, they will require engineers with more sophisticated systems-level skills, according to BCG and DML. Like the US mobility industry, other industries are modernizing and looking to attract and retain such engineers and skilled trade workers. "Companies cannot delay defining what their workforce needs will be for the next few years so they can begin to plan accordingly. Those that delay could find it difficult to compete," said Xavier Mosquet, the Detroit-based BCG senior partner who led the research. "Jobs will also be created where talent is developed." The Mobility Industry Needs Not Just New Jobs but Also New Skills Additional key findings of the research conducted by BCG and DML include the following: Over the next decade, the US mobility industry will need as many as 30,000 additional engineers with advanced-level skills just to work on self-driving and electric cars, and on smart-infrastructure innovations. Other emerging forms of mobility, including autonomous trucks and drones, could push the number of new positions even higher. Unlike today's engineers who typically work on specific automotive components, such as engines or electronics, the interconnected nature of future automotive systems will require engineers who are cross-functional "tinkerers," who have a strong foundation in mathematics and physics; deep skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, data sciences, and software; and a passion for cars. The demand for engineers with cross-functional skills will exacerbate an ongoing talent shortage that already has motivated auto companies such as GM and Ford to pay high premiums to acquire startups whose workforces have those abilities. Recent layoffs at the major auto companies underscore how much talent requirements are changing. In addition to increasing the need for engineers, current mobility trends could create more than 65,000 jobs for skilled trade workers, including positions for AV and electric vehicle mechanics, and AV safety drivers. Moreover, industry changes could usher in several thousand additional jobs for remote-support staff for self-driving vehicles and fleet maintenance. Technology advancements will eliminate some existing jobs and require some staff to go through retraining or upskilling. Cities Must Take Steps to Become Mobility Industry Talent Hubs Cities that can develop and attract engineers and other talent with in-demand skills will become job magnets. Areas around, for example, Silicon Valley, Boston, and Pittsburgh already attract talent because of technology institutes located there that are doing mobility research, such as Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University, respectively. Traditional automakers that have located their own technology operations to these talent hubs include GM, which runs its Cruise Automation outpost in Silicon Valley, and auto parts manufacturer Aptiv, which opened a tech lab in Boston. Automotive hubs such as Detroit and its surrounding areas have the potential to remain at the center of the expanding mobility industry. But they must develop more of the talent that the mobility industry needs in order to retain their standing. The Detroit area has already taken such steps, including supporting AV test facilities from American Center for Mobility and the University of Michigan's Mcity. Ford recently announced it would turn a former railroad station in downtown Detroit into a 1.2 million square-foot smart-vehicle innovation hub. To go along with such activities, the city must also provide higher-education programs that produce graduates with the integrated engineering skills that the industry needs. A more detailed report will be published later this year. To arrange an interview, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or [email protected]. About Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world's leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with offices in more than 90 cities in 50 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com. About the Detroit Mobility Lab Detroit Mobility Lab is committed to the future of mobility and Detroit's place in it. We believe that building the mobility talent infrastructure necessary to shape the future mobility sector is a key part of this commitment, and our goal is to create one of the world's foremost mobility technology ecosystems in the City of Detroit. To learn more about what we believe and why now is the time to focus on the effort, visit www.detroitmobilitylab.org. SOURCE The Boston Consulting Group Related Links https://www.bcg.com MIAMI, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In a newly created position reporting directly to Medimix CEO, Henry Gazay, Jean-Jacques' mission is to accelerate the development of Medimix's innovative, cloud-based Real World Evidence suite of solutions and to enhance the experience of its various stakeholders (Customers, HCPs and Patients). He will spearhead the company's innovation efforts so that Medimix platforms remain incrementally superior to the competition, while converging towards global interoperability standards. Jean-Jacques Borie, Senior VP Innovation "I was impressed by Jean-Jacques' track record in delivering innovative solutions in complex, cloud-based ecosystems, as well as his wide knowledge of the big data environment," declared Henry Gazay. "With Medimix expanding at a double-digit growth rate and becoming a recognized global player in Real World Evidence for specialty medicine, Jean Jacques' talent will be instrumental in helping us tackle new challenges, such as interoperability with the recent FDA and EMA standards, compatibility with new industry ecosystems such as Amazon Healthcare machine learning, and integration of Patient Reported Outcomes mobile platforms." A computer science engineer (CNAM 07), Jean-Jacques holds an MSIT from Ecole des Mines and HEC Paris, and an executive TRIUM Global EMBA from HEC / NYU Stern / LSE. He has spent over two decades advancing state-of-the-art technology in the application platform industry. In each of his prior positions, he has demonstrated a great level of skill in digital platform design and played a key role in the companies' furthered success. Prior to joining Medimix, he held a range of technology executive positions with multiple leading and innovative companies, including Leade.rs, Digitas LBi (Publicis), Kantar and BBDO and worked for investors such as Reid Hoffman (founder of LinkedIn), Eric Schmidt (Google Chairman), Marissa Mayer (Yahoo CEO) or David Marcus (head of Facebook Messenger). "Joining a leader in the healthcare analytics industry is a new and fascinating challenge," commented Jean-Jacques. "The more I am talking with Henry and his team, the more I am convinced that our collaboration will generate exponential value for Medimix customers and for patients suffering from chronic diseases." About Medimix International Medimix is a global technology company that specializes in providing business understanding, Real World Evidence insights and information support to the pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and medical device industries. Our solutions leverage big data and evidence-based information, to advise and support business decisions in forecasting, marketing, commercial analytics, business intelligence, health economics, medical affairs, strategy and licensing. Medimix has offices and teams in 12 cities around the globe: United States Boston, San Francisco, and NJ; EU Paris, London, and Basel; LatAm Montevideo, Uruguay and Sao Paulo, Brazil; Asia: Bacolod, Hong-Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai. For more information go to www.medimix.net. Contact for this press release: Kathryn McAdam 333 NE 24th St., Ste 411 Miami, FL 33137 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Medimix International Related Links http://www.medimix.net SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Malwarebytes, the leading advanced endpoint protection and remediation solution, today announced that it has been recognized as an Excellence Award Finalist in the "Best SME Security Solution" category of the 2019 SC Awards. Finalists are recognized for outstanding leadership and providing superior security products to the cybersecurity industry. Winners will be announced at the SC Awards ceremony on March 5, 2019 in San Francisco. "Every new year brings with it an unpredictable mix of adversity and opportunity for information security professionals," said Illena Armstrong, VP, editorial, SC Media. "In 2018, we watched as ransomware took down entire city governments, popular online platforms were accused of mishandling user data, and technology giants announced an unprecedented industry-wide effort to solve the Spectre and Meltdown CPU vulnerabilities. Through it all, this year's SC Awards Finalists found ways to break boundaries, overcome challenges and contribute fresh new ideas to the world of cybersecurity." Now in its 22nd year, SC Awards is recognized as the industry gold standard of accomplishment for cybersecurity professionals, products and services. Winners in the Excellence category are determined by an expert panel of judges with extensive knowledge and experience in the cybersecurity industry. The Excellence Award honors the professionals, products and services that have proven to be the best in the industry for protecting today's corporate world from an array of risks and threats. "We are honored to have Malwarebytes recognized as an Excellence Award Finalist for Best SME Security Solution," said Marcin Kleczynski, CEO, Malwarebytes. "At Malwarebytes, we strive to provide the best endpoint protection and remediation tools available. More than eight million threats are detected or blocked every day with Malwarebytes technology. The judges' acknowledgment underscores our mission to provide everyone with a malware-free cyber experience today and well into the future. A huge thank you to SC Media for your support of the IT security community and for this recognition." "As a finalist, Malwarebytes demonstrated unique innovation in its approach to protecting companies from the onslaught of malicious attacks and other threats," added Armstrong of SC Media. "Malwarebytes' solutions represent some of the most effective security technology on the market today." Malwarebytes' award-winning protection and remediation tools continue to fuel the company's growth. To date, Malwarebytes has more than 750 employees, millions of customers around the world and $80 million in venture capital. Malwarebytes products have been downloaded more than 500 million times and have removed more than five billion pieces of malware. "Malwarebytes catches the malware that our antivirus misses," said Tyler Conacher, IT Support Specialist, Rocky Mountain Equipment. "Cleanup and exploit blocking is great too. Malwarebytes eliminates the worry and the need to continuously watch everything." The SC Awards gala honoring the winners attracts top professionals in the cybersecurity community and provides an invaluable opportunity for networking. To register for the 2019 SC Awards gala, please visit https://scawards2019.splashthat.com/. About SC Media SC Media is cybersecurity. For 30 years, they have armed information security professionals with in-depth and unbiased information through timely news, comprehensive analysis, cutting-edge features, contributions from thought leaders, and independent product reviews in partnership with and for top-level information security executives and their technical teams. In addition to their comprehensive website, SC Media offers magazines, ebooks, and newsletters. They also host digital and live events such as SC Awards and RiskSec NY to provide cybersecurity professionals all the information needed to safeguard their organizations and contribute to their longevity and success. Friend us on Facebook: facebook.com/SCMag Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/scmagazine Event Information: Anna Naumoski, Events Manager [email protected] 646.638.6015 About Malwarebytes Malwarebytes proactively protects people and businesses against dangerous threats such as malware, ransomware and exploits that escape detection by traditional antivirus solutions. Malwarebytes completely replaces antivirus with artificial intelligence-powered technology that stops cyberattacks before they can compromise home computers and business endpoints. More than 60,000 businesses and millions of people worldwide trust and recommend Malwarebytes solutions. Our team of threat researchers and security experts process emerging and established threats every day, from all over the globe. Founded in 2008, the company is headquartered in California, with offices in Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit us at http://www.malwarebytes.com/. Malwarebytes founder and CEO Marcin Kleczynski started the company to create the best disinfection and protection solutions to combat the world's most harmful Internet threats. The market continues to recognize Marcin's advancements in cybersecurity with the recent recognition as "CEO of the Year" in the Global Excellence awards. He has also been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Rising Stars of Enterprise Technology list and received both the Silicon Valley Business Journal's 40 Under 40 and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/Malwarebytes Follow us on Twitter: @malwarebytes twitter.com/malwarebytes Follow us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/malwarebytes See us on YouTube: youtube.com/malwarebytes Read our latest Malwarebytes Labs blog: blog.malwarebytes.com/ SOURCE Malwarebytes Related Links https://www.malwarebytes.com Under Arkeveld's leadership, Lone Wolf, backed by Vista Equity Partners, has grown into one of the most trusted technology providers in the real estate industry. Arkeveld spearheaded several transformative initiatives since joining the company in 2015, including the acquisition of Instanet Solutions, which significantly expanded the company's product portfolio to become the largest brokerage software platform in North America. This platform includes industry-leading solutions for both back office and transaction management and helps over 20,000 offices and 500,000 agents generate more revenue, reduce costs, and be more profitable in their real estate businesses. "It's been my honor to lead Lone Wolf and I am incredibly proud of our accomplishments," Arkeveld said. "I am thrilled to welcome Jack to the team. Jack brings the skill set and experience to drive Lone Wolf forward on this tremendous upward trajectory, and I am confident he will serve our clients well in the years ahead. I look forward to supporting Jack and Lone Wolf, as we continue to grow the company and our influence in the real estate industry." Blaha was the former CEO of PeopleAdmin, a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company, where he led the market-leading organization through a similar period of significant growth. Prior to this role, Blaha served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Aptean, Inc., where he led their global Product, Development, Corporate Development, Professional Services and Support teams. With a 20-year track record of technology leadership and client-focused innovation, Blaha will ensure both Lone Wolf and its clients thrive in this period of rapid growth. "This is an exciting time for Lone Wolf and I am thrilled to be working with such a passionate and talented team," said Blaha. "Lone Wolf has a fantastic reputation in the residential real estate software industry and Patrick has built a great foundation, company culture, and product portfolio. I look forward to learning more about the real estate industry and how we can continue to meet the needs of real estate professionals with innovative technology and a fantastic user experience." Rob Rogers, Principal at Vista Equity Partners and Lone Wolf board member, added: "Jack has a track record of successful leadership within several Vista companies and other technology firms. He joins Lone Wolf with a wealth of experience in driving innovation and improving the client experience. Jack's experience and strong history of leading high performing teams will support Lone Wolf's growth and deliver unrivalled value to our customers." About Lone Wolf Technologies Lone Wolf Technologies, a Vista company, is the North American leader in residential real estate software, with products in over 20,000 offices across Canada and the U.S. The company offers an ecosystem of technology products, including software for back office, transaction management, front office, and web, as well as professional services and 3rd party integrations. Each element of this ecosystem enables brokerages and agents to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and increase opportunities for profitability. Lone Wolf's head office is located in Cambridge, ON, with additional offices in Dallas, TX, London, ON. For more information, please visit lwolf.com. About Vista Equity Partners Vista Equity Partners is a U.S.-based investment firm with offices in Austin, Chicago, New York City, Oakland, and San Francisco with more than $46 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Vista exclusively invests in software, data, and technology-enabled organizations led by world-class management teams. As a value-added investor with a long-term perspective, Vista contributes professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies to realize their full potential. Vista's investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions, and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com. MEDIA CONTACT Kate Annis VP, Marketing [email protected] SOURCE Lone Wolf Technologies Related Links https://www.lwolf.com/ LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Living in Digital Times LLC today announced at the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES 2019, the winner of the wildly popular Last Gadget Standing (LGS) live competition. In its 19th year, LGS celebrates ten competitors who presented new and unique consumer gadgets to a standing-room-only crowd that voted for their favorite gadget via the Audience "Applausometer." The winner this year is Shure's new MV88+ Video Kit, a digital stereo condenser microphone that provides content creators with an all-in-one solution for capturing professional-quality on-the-go recordings. The kit also includes a Manfrotto PIXI tripod, phone clamp, and mount as well as iOS and USB cables for next-level compatibility and connectivity. The HP Spectre Folio, a new concept for the laptop computer featuring leather construction and innovative foldable design, won this year's People's Choice Award. The emcee this year was Jennifer Jolly, an Emmy Award-winning tech life columnist, a New York Times columnist and host of the digital lifestyle series TechNow for USA Today. Competitors presented a range of exciting leading-edge new products that tackle problems we deal with every day, from hearing better, to solving the seemingly never-ending password conundrum with a simple key solution, to a dash-cam video system that immediately sends your mobile phone video of car break-ins and accidents. "I am happy to be the first-ever female host of Last Gadget Standing and to introduce so many exciting new consumer products that promise to improve our lives in so many ways," said Ms. Jolly. "In its 19th year, LGS continues to look to the innovators who consistently wow us year after year with solutions to life's most vexing challenges," said Robin Raskin, founder of Living in Digital Times. "Regardless of who won, everyone on stage today was a winner because they beautifully shared their passions by bringing these products to life and impressing everyone in the room here at CES." Last Gadget Standing 2019 Top 10 Gadgets HP Spectre Folio MIXXTAPE Vuze XR Orii from Origami Labs Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit YubiKey 5 NFC IQ Buds BOOST from Nuheara Owl Car Cam Shure MV88+ Video Kit Rosary Beads from Gadgetek Following LGS, five exceptional students under the age of 20 from the US and Canada were named the 2019 Young Innovators to Watch (YITW) for their innovative and outstanding inventions. Thanks to the generosity of Lenovo, the Young Innovators to Watch award offers scholarships to students who are moving the technology needle with game-changing products and new ideas. Backen: Tomorrow's learning system was built by a student today. Jerry Qu, 17 (Unionville High School, Markham, Ontario, Canada), created Backen using Tensorflow, Microsoft Azure, and various APIs, all connected in Python. The system uses machine learning to automatically tag keywords in research papers, and recommends and suggests relevant articles, the first step towards a universal knowledge bank. HICCUP: At 17, Lyron Co Ting Keh (Crescenta Valley High School, La Crescenta, CA) is already hard at work in one of the most prestigious cancer labs, the Alizadeh Lab (Stanford Medicine, Division of Oncology). He works on algorithms to help research in "Cancer of Unknown Primary" (CUP) where he designed and trained a robust and cost-effective machine learning model to carry out non-invasive CUP classifications from cell-free DNA (cfDNA). HotSpot: HotSpot is a peer-to-peer Wifi network created on the blockchain that allows you to make money from sharing your hotspot. Born out of a Wifi-challenged visit in Berlin, 17-year-olds Vishanth Thangavelautham and Talha Atta (R.H. King Academy, Toronto, Canada) didn't want to waste $20 on an Uber and took the train, but they didn't have Wifi and didn't know how to navigate. They only needed Wifi for 10 minutes so why buy a different SIM card? Should they not be able to just pay to use someone else's network for five or ten minutes? Lumen: Kumaran Akilan, 18, and Archishman Sravankumar, 17 (Cupertino High School, Cupertino, CA), have devised a promising algorithm for detecting early onset of Alzheimer's Disease via retinal scan. They've been working with data sets supplied from Belfast University, creating a completely autonomous algorithm. Along with a team of mentors in the fields of ophthalmology and computer science, they hope to fulfill the promise of a low-cost, non-invasive early detection test. Quantum Vector: Tanisha Bassan, 17 (St. Robert Catholic High School, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada), is leveraging quantum machine learning using IBM's Qiskit software to run a quantum support vector machine kernel algorithm. Support vector machines, she says, help computers classify different types of objects (cats & dogs) and can project complex data structures into higher dimensions for accurate classification. "These outstanding students set themselves apart by serving their communities with remarkable innovations," said Robin Raskin, founder of Living in Digital Times. "The scholarships and recognition they received at CES acknowledge their brilliance and can encourage them to continue their passion for creativity and technology and combine both to affect and improve how we live." The YITW winners received $500 scholarships, a trip to CES, dinner with industry leaders, and global recognition. About Living in Digital Times Founded by veteran technology journalist Robin Raskin, Living in Digital Times brings together the most knowledgeable leaders and the latest innovations impacting both technology and lifestyle. It helps companies identify and act on emerging trends, create compelling company narratives, and do better business through strong network connections. Living in Digital Times produces technology conferences, exhibits and events at CES and other locations throughout the year by lifestyle verticals. Core brands include Digital Health Summit, Digital Money Forum, FitnessTech, Baby Tech, [email protected], Family Tech Summit, FamilyTech TV, Beauty Tech, Wearables and FashionWare runway show, Last Gadget Standing and the KAPi Awards. The company also works with various foundations and manages the Young Innovators to Watch awards recognizing student STEAM innovations. For more information, visit www.LivinginDigitalTimes.com and keep up with our latest news on Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook. About CES CES is the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years-the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. As the largest hands-on event of its kind, CES features all aspects of the industry. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) TM, it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers. Check out CES video highlights. Follow CES online at CES.tech and on social. Media Contact: Leigh Anne Varney and Lisa Sheeran Varney Business Communications for Living in Digital Times [email protected]; [email protected] 415-713-0713; 510-710-1004 SOURCE Living in Digital Times Related Links http://www.livingindigitaltimes.com A trailblazer in the advertising industry, Mr. Wunderman launched a new kind of advertising agency in 1958one that focused on delivering sales for its clients. That agency concept caught on and led to the creation of today's trillion-dollar direct marketing industry. The visionary marketing techniques he conceived and perfected over his long and brilliant career transformed the advertising industry and continue to shape the interactive marketplace. Mr. Wunderman is fondly remembered by Sue, whom he married in 1975, his son Marc and daughter Karen and three stepchildren, Patrick, James and Thomas. He is also remembered and revered by the thousands of people who work for the agency that bears his name. While he left the helm of Wunderman in 1998, he reported to work every day at the agency's offices, where he often visited with clients, executives and interns alike. A New Yorker throughout his life, Mr. Wunderman was born in 1920 in the Bronx. After an apprenticeship served at several agencies, he joined Maxwell Sackheim & Company in 1947, where he became executive vice president. In 1958, he founded Wunderman, Ricotta & Kline, now known as Wunderman. In 1967, in an address at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Wunderman identified, named and defined Direct Marketing which led the theoretical and practical growth of the industry ever since. As a result of that speech, he was named "The Father of Direct Marketing." Mr. Wunderman received many awards and tributes from the direct marketing industry, including inductions into the Direct Marketing Association's Hall of Fame in 1983, and the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame. In the July 23, 2001 issue of Time, Mr. Wunderman (along with David Ogilvy and Sergio Zyman) was heralded as "Great Pitchmen over the Years." Most recently he was awarded the Golden Apple from the Direct Marketing Club of New York in recognition of over 50 years of contributing to the direct marketing community and Marketing EDGE's Lifetime Achievement Award. His book Being Direct was published by Random House in January 1997 and reissued in 2004 with new information, including the first-ever Consumer's Communications Bill of Rights, and his views on the Internet. In 2010, it was translated and published into Chinese. An earlier book, Frontiers of Direct Marketing, was published in 1981, and his speeches and articles have appeared in publications worldwide. Mr. Wunderman's achievements do not, however, fully describe the impact he has had on our industry. In 1967, he served at the behest of President Lyndon Johnson to champion usage and acceptance of the fledgling U.S. Postal Service's Zip Code. A passionate believer in the arts, Mr. Wunderman collected the artwork of the Dogon tribe of West Africa. Mr. Wunderman made two visits to the region including spending time living there. Mr. Wunderman donated his collection to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Dapper Foundation in Paris, which is now part of the Louvre. Mr. Wunderman became fascinated by photography many years ago, studying at The New School in New York City and working privately with several well-known photographers. Long ago, he met regularly with Cornell Capa, Karl Katz and Jacqueline Kennedy to discuss the possibility of a professional school of photography. And so, the International Center of Photography was born, and has thrived ever since. His photographs have been on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in association with his collection of Dogon sculpture, and 50 photographs remain in its permanent collection. As the head of Wunderman, he served as an inspiration and visionary, providing thoughtful counsel and valuable insight. "Lester possessed the curiosity of a scientist, an artist's eye, the soul of an author and the heart of an entrepreneur," said Mel Edwards, CEO, Wunderman. "Lester was a true visionary with a lifelong commitment to innovation and creativity," said Mark Read, CEO, WPP. "He will be remembered and respected for his achievements and revered as a friend and colleague." In Lester's own words, "If there is a lesson to be learned, I believe it is to not do anything half-heartedly. If you are going to do it at all, give it all that you have to give." Our thoughts are with his family. About Wunderman Wunderman is a global digital agency whose mission is to inspire people to take action. It is Creatively Driven. Data Inspired. In 2015, industry analysts named Wunderman a leader in marketing database operations as well as a strong performer in customer engagement strategy and its creative work has won numerous awards globally. Headquartered in New York, the agency brings together 9,200 creatives, data scientists, strategists and technologists in 200 offices in 70 markets. Wunderman is a WPP company. For more information, please visit www.wunderman.com and follow us @Wunderman. Contact Courtney Kaczak [email protected] +1 212.710.2400 SOURCE Wunderman Related Links http://www.wunderman.com REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Laura Ashley, an international lifestyle retailer, has selected Oracle Commerce Cloud to support its growing global online business. With Oracle Commerce Cloud, Laura Ashley is able to create seamless, integrated customer experiences across traditional and digital channels and enhance inventory management to meet growing demand for custom, one-of-a-kind goods online. Laura Ashley sells custom furniture, home accessories, decorating and fashion products in stores throughout the UK, Ireland and France and franchisees in 29 territories globally. To further extend its growing online business, Laura Ashley began selling custom products online in 2001. With over one million combinations of made-to-order products at any given time, Laura Ashley needed more control over its online store to seamlessly deliver custom products to customers across the world. To manage this complexity and ensure it could deliver the best possible customer experience, Laura Ashley selected Oracle Commerce Cloud. "Customers can see our products and customize them in store, but a growing number want the option to buy customized items online as well and this was adding significant complexity to our business," said Colin Rice, chief information officer, Laura Ashley. "With Oracle Commerce Cloud, we have been able to streamline business processes and capitalize on the opportunity to sell custom goods online globally. Oracle Commerce Cloud was the only platform that could accommodate our needs and still give us room to grow." With Oracle Commerce Cloud, Laura Ashley has been able to redesign and internationalize its website so each territory can customize its online storefront. By enabling Laura Ashley to seamlessly integrate its inventory system and commerce platform, Oracle Commerce Cloud has provided a flexible platform that allows the company to control its front end, deliver personalized experiences at scale and build on its rapidly expanding online business, which has grown 23% percent in the last three years. "In our 2018 consumer research study The New Topography of Retail, we discovered that 62 percent of European consumers declared a fast and responsive online experience as a top priority for their brand experience. Laura Ashley was looking for a commerce platform that gave its team the control and creativity to update the look and feel of its online store so it could continue to delight consumers with a seamless shopping experience," said Dusan Rnic, regional vice president, Oracle Retail. "With the help of Oracle Commerce Cloud, Laura Ashley now owns its front-end experience and has been able to reduce management costs and the time it takes to deploy changes." Oracle Commerce Cloud is part of Oracle Customer Experience (CX) Cloud, which empowers organizations to take a smarter approach to customer experience management and business transformation initiatives. By providing a trusted business platform that connects data, experiences and outcomes, Oracle CX Cloud Suite helps customers reduce IT complexity, deliver innovative customer experiences and achieve predictable and tangible business results. Be sure to visit Oracle's booth #2321 at the NRF Big Show, January 13-15, 2019. Learn more about Oracle Retail here. 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 oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. SOURCE Oracle Related Links http://www.oracle.com BOSTON, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jenzabar, a leading technology innovator in higher education serving the new student, today announced additional student-centric functionality in its Jenzabar One Student Registration Module to simplify the way students plan and register for courses from anywhere, anytime. With new personalized course planning and scheduling capabilities, added granular grade information, and improved registrar functionality, universities can now more easily and efficiently streamline registration to enhance the student experience and transition to a student-centric campus. Students today are more technology savvy than ever before. Always tied to their smart devices, students expect the same high-quality digital experiences and responsiveness from their higher education institutions that they are accustomed to everyday with information at their fingertips. "Colleges and universities are seeking ways to create a student-centric campus experience that satisfy student's technology expectations," said Melanie Common, Product Manager, Student at Jenzabar. "Jenzabar One is a true partner in helping colleges and universities stay competitive and agile, focused on integrating new technologies that help serve the needs of the new student. Our new enhancements leverage best practices in academic planning, providing students a smoother graduation path." The new Jenzabar Student streamlines and simplifies the registration process and automates student record tracking. The system manages an institution's vital enrollment data quickly and efficiently, allowing it to easily determine space availability, course conflicts, course prerequisites, and non-course prerequisites. The new enhancements include: New student registration features provide all students with an online scheduling grid to pre-plan and register for their courses for a clear path to academic completion . Jenzabar One's Registration module provides students easy access to the classes they need to complete degree requirements. Students now have the online tools to pre-plan for courses and resolve issues before registration begins and then register with the click of a button. The system provides a customized registration experience for each student based on their unique academic planning and degree audit. . Jenzabar One's Registration module provides students easy access to the classes they need to complete degree requirements. Students now have the online tools to pre-plan for courses and resolve issues before registration begins and then register with the click of a button. The system provides a customized registration experience for each student based on their unique academic planning and degree audit. New improved student home page offers a seamless user experience. Upon logging in, students can now view all of their academic, advising, registration, financial aid and billing in one place making it easier for students to get the information they need to progress in their educational journey. Upon logging in, students can now view all of their academic, advising, registration, financial aid and billing in one place making it easier for students to get the information they need to progress in their educational journey. Access to more granular student grades so that students know where they stand academically and how they are tracking to degree completion for improved student outcomes . With Jenzabar Student, learners can now view grade reports for all grade periods that the institution may use not just final and midterm grades. . With Jenzabar Student, learners can now view grade reports for all grade periods that the institution may use not just final and midterm grades. Student academic information easily accessed via a single portlet so that staff can service students quicker. All student data is now accessible in one centralized location with the ability to see current and active degree program information, assigned advisors contact information and complete registration hold information and how to resolve. All student data is now accessible in one centralized location with the ability to see current and active degree program information, assigned advisors contact information and complete registration hold information and how to resolve. Streamlined registrar processes free up staff to spend more time serving students. New streamlined process allow registrars to register one or multiple students in one or multiple sections at one time, make mass edits, edit various data elements on many entities at one time such as students, courses, and sections resulting in an improved student registration experience. About Jenzabar Created out of a passion for education and a vision for technology, Jenzabar offers disruptive, innovative software solutions and services that empower students' success and helps higher education institutions meet the demands of the modern student. Over 1,350 higher educational campuses harness Jenzabar solutions for improved performance across campus and a more personalized and connected experience for the student. For further information, please visit www.jenzabar.com or on twitter @Jenzabar or LinkedIn. SOURCE Jenzabar Related Links http://www.jenzabar.com NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecommerce continues to grow at record rates. From 2015 to 2021, Statista predicts that ecommerce will increase from 7.4% to 17.5% of overall global retail sales. However, as brands continue to grow their online sales, connection with consumers becomes difficult and even more important. In order to address brand challenges sellers face in online marketplaces, GEODIS is partnering with Project Verte, an ecommerce platform using proprietary software and blockchain technology to provide brands a transparent and community-driven marketplace. This initiative allows GEODIS to boost the ecommerce capabilities and fulfillment needs of small-and-medium-sized brands. "While we traditionally focus on enterprise clients, we recognize the growth opportunities for growing brands to connect with their consumers online," says Jerry McDonald, SVP of retail at GEODIS Americas. "We have been looking for the opportunity to work with small-and-medium sized brands, and are thrilled to combine Project Verte's ecommerce and fulfillment platform with our operational expertise and global footprint." Working with GEODIS, Project Verte has opened their first 750,000 sq. ft. automated fulfillment center in Atlanta, Georgia with immediate plans to expand. The operation uses a variety of innovative technologies within the warehouse, including goods-to-man robotics that provide a scalable warehouse operation for growing brands. "Project Verte is shaping the next generation of consumer-business relationships through our community-based ecommerce ecosystem," said Julian Kahlon, Project Verte CEO and Founder. "Our technology is uniquely built to give small-and-medium-sized businesses the tools they need to innovate, create, and grow in the present and future state of ecommerce. This initiative with GEODIS propels us into the forefront of the ecommerce industry." GEODIS and Project Verte are officially announcing their joint initiative at NRF 2019 Retail's Big Show from January 13-15 in New York City. GEODIS www.geodis.com GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its passion and commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS' growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company's truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #4 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2017, GEODIS accounted for over 40,500 employees globally and generated 8.1 billion in sales. PROJECT VERTE www.projectverte.com Project Verte is an ecommerce ecosystem that uses technology to create a participatory community, helping people and businesses achieve satisfillment through secure and easy-to-use tools. Headquartered in Atlanta, Project Verte boasts a global team of developers, experience designers and ecommerce professionals. The company is rolling out a suite of proprietary, community-powered software and developing new scalable tools for the future of ecommerce. PRESS CONTACT Natalie Walkley GEODIS Director of Marketing & Communications +1 615-987-2524 [email protected] SOURCE GEODIS Related Links http://www.geodis.com DUBLIN, Jan 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Pharmaceuticals: Drifting towards Big Data & Analytics - Drivers, challenges and technology developments" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. "Pharmaceuticals: Drifting towards Big Data & Analytics" is an attempt to analyze the key trends expected to impact the Pharmaceuticals industry and its various stakeholders in 2018. The volumes of data enterprises are handling continue to increase, and big data analytics (BDA) is an essential part in enabling the systematic management of information. Big data has evolved from just a data management tool to become a more integrated set of business intelligence (BI) solutions that helps management make critical business decisions. With enterprises undergoing digital transformation, investments in BDA has become the next logical step, with the primary motive to simplify decision-making. Furthermore, big data helps organizations harness their data to identify new opportunities and support making strategic business moves. The big data BI functions are evolving where artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) algorithms are taking business decision making to the next level. The significance of BDA is not foreign to the pharmaceutical industry, especially in the drug discovery process. Every major pharmaceutical company is investing in some form of drug discovery analytics platform in their various clinical research processes. Even contract research organizations (CRO) are using analytical software in clinical trial processes to identify the best possible outcomes. Apart from the drug discovery, pharmaceutical companies are using analytics solutions in other operational processes such as marketing analytics, pharmacovigilance, drug manufacturing, and targeted marketing of geographies. Although the adoption of big data in pharmaceutical operations has been focused mostly on R&D, vendors are exploring its potential use in other operational processes. In supply chain, it helps pharmaceutical companies diagnose issues in their logistics, supplier performance, procurement, delays in delivery, demand management, etc. Vendors are launching BDA solutions that focus on increasing supply chain productivity of pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, new branches of pharmacology are gaining importance in the market such as pharmacogenomics (the response of drugs to the genetic makeup of an individual) and pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, and exit mechanisms of a drug within the body). Consequently, big data vendors and pharmaceutical companies are working together to develop analytics solutions that can be used in the clinical research processes relating to different branches of pharmacology. Likewise, even bio-pharmaceuticals are using AI and cognitive computing applications to predict the effect of biological products (antitoxins, bacterial and viral vaccines etc.) on the human body. With competition increasing in the pharmaceutical sector and the market flooded with a multitude of treatments and therapies, determining drug efficacy and designing market strategies remains a priority, while maintaining drug safety. The use of big data in these operational domains will enable pharmaceutical companies to introduce innovations in both products and processes. With digital transformation being the main priority of most pharmaceutical enterprises, the adoption of BDA and AI platforms are expected to increase in the coming years. Scope Overview of the technology and its relevance in the verticals. Key challenges faced by the industry verticals (pharmaceutical) pertinent to its technology (big data & analytics) implementation. Elaborate overview of supply side and demand side trends affecting the technology growth. Overview of the revenue opportunities in the big data & analytics market for the pharmaceutical sector through to 2021 - highlighting the market size and growth by technology, geography, sectors, and size band. Moreover, the report also outlines enterprises' investment priorities in the big data & analytics segment for the pharmaceutical sector. Future recommendation and market opportunities for big data & analytics segment in the pharmaceutical industry. Reasons to Buy Helps the reader to understand the big data & analytics market landscape in the pharmaceutical industry, the recent trends, and challenges. The most exhaustive and up-to-date report providing revenue opportunity forecasts in the big data & analytics market from 2016 to 2021, spanning four technology segments, six regions, and two size bands. Extensive technology growth predictions based on adoption indicators, end-user technology demand, ICT survey results, and macroeconomic factors. The report provides a detailed breakdown of the opportunities within the big data & analytics segment and its sub categories. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Challenges impacting pharmaceuticals in big data analytics 3 Market Dynamics 3.1 Demand side trends 3.2 Supply side trends 4 BI investment priorities in the pharmaceutical sector 5 Market size and forecast 5.1 Market forecast 5.2 Geographic breakdown 6 Recommendations 6.1 Recommendations for vendors 7 Future outlook 7.1 Precision medicine and targeted drug development is the next focus area in the pharmaceutical industry 8 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/x8rzjp/global?w=5 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com ATLANTA, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Power Foundation today announced a $50,000 donation to St. Vincent de Paul Georgia to help provide support to furloughed and unpaid federal workers and contractors in Georgia impacted by the partial government shutdown. Through the fund, impacted families can ask for assistance by submitting a request to [email protected]. Each email request should include the following: requestor's name contact information (address, email and phone number) brief summary of situation A St. Vincent de Paul Georgia caseworker will reach out within 24 working hours. Questions regarding assistance through the newly-established fund can also be submitted to [email protected]. "At Georgia Power, we believe in helping our neighbors. We understand the shutdown may have affected federal workers, contractors and their families across the state," said Paul Bowers, Georgia Power Chairman, President and CEO. "We hope this partnership with St. Vincent de Paul Georgia will help provide some peace of mind during this time." Georgia Power offers assistance options year-round for families who need help paying their bill. For more on payment arrangements and to learn more about other agencies that offer assistance, visit georgiapower.com. St. Vincent de Paul Georgia, respecting the dignity of each person, works to bring hope and help to those in need so they may achieve stability and move toward self-sufficiency. The non-profit organization runs many programs benefitting citizens across the state including Family Support Centers in North and Central Georgia, benefits screenings, direct aid support and more. Since 1883, Georgia Power has remained steadfast in its mission to improve the same communities it calls home for its customers, employees, neighbors and friends. Through the years, Georgia Power and its employees and retirees have poured themselves into enriching the environment and prosperity of Georgia's communities. In fact, the company's total community impact totaled $21 million last year. Georgia Power and the Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. invested more than $16.2 million in communities and nonprofit organizations across the state. Additionally, Georgia Power employees and retirees donated nearly 150,000 hours in volunteer services valued at more than $3.5 million. For more on Georgia Power's community efforts, visit www.georgiapower.com/community. About Georgia Power Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.5 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power). SOURCE Georgia Power Related Links http://www.georgiapower.com SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor London Breed will respond to questions, concerns, and policy issues raised by older adults and adults with disabilities in a public forum sponsored by the Dignity Fund Coalition on Friday, January 11, 2019, 1:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. at the San Francisco Public Library Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco. Community and disability rights advocate Yomi Wrong, will emcee the event and will be asking questions of Mayor Breed in front of a live and a live-streamed audience (http://sfgovtv.org/DFC-mayorbreed). The forum is a follow up to the Dignity Fund Coalition's April 2018 Mayoral Candidate Town Hall in which over 2,000 participants heard San Francisco's Mayoral Candidates, including then candidate Breed, field questions on a range of topics critical to older adults and adults with disabilities. The Dignity Fund Coalition Mayoral Candidate Town Hall was the largest and most accessible mayoral candidate town hall of the election season. "We are keeping the momentum going because our community is facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities," said Marie Jobling, Co-Chair of the Dignity Fund Coalition. "We look forward to continuing the conversation with the Mayor and to working with her Administration on policy issues that can help San Francisco's older adults and adults with disabilities live with dignity, independence, and wellness." The forum with Mayor Breed will address issues related to the aging and disability demographics in San Francisco, often accompanied by increasing social and economic vulnerability. Today 1 in 4 San Franciscans are older adults or adults with disabilities. By 2030, 1 in 3 San Franciscans will be over the age of 60. "So many in our community are being forced to leave the city everyday," said Fiona Hinze, Co-Chair of the Dignity Fund Coalition. "We want to work with the Breed Administration to ensure that San Francisco is a place where people can live and age at home and in our communities with dignity and quality of life." In 2016, more than 1,000 community organizations joined together as the Dignity Fund Coalition to support the passage of Proposition I (the Dignity Fund) which guarantees baseline funding for supports and services for San Francisco older adults and adults with disabilities, veterans, those aging with HIV, and other chronic conditions and caregivers. Timely implementation of the Dignity Fund is underway, but more is needed to address growing need and to ensure equitable access to Dignity Fund supports. The Dignity Fund Coalition calls on Mayor Breed to: Champion the Dignity Fund . The city has gone on record in support of efforts to make San Francisco an aging and disability friendly city. Leadership is urgently required to protect and further implement the Dignity Fund. . The city has gone on record in support of efforts to make an aging and disability friendly city. Leadership is urgently required to protect and further implement the Dignity Fund. Elevate issues of older adults and adults with disabilities as a citywide concern and resource. Challenges facing older adults and adult with disabilities should be at the forefront of current city strategies and discussions to address housing, homelessness, street/sidewalk safety, transportation and employment to name a few. Challenges facing older adults and adult with disabilities should be at the forefront of current city strategies and discussions to address housing, homelessness, street/sidewalk safety, transportation and employment to name a few. Harness all city resources and lead innovative collaboration within city departments and offices, among service providers, non-profits, and business. Challenges facing older adults and adults with disabilities cut across multiple issue areas beyond the supports offered through the Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS). within city departments and offices, among service providers, non-profits, and business. Challenges facing older adults and adults with disabilities cut across multiple issue areas beyond the supports offered through the Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS). Promote a vision that leverages the prodigious resource of 25% of the city's population on behalf of San Francisco's overall quality of life. To learn more about the Dignity Fund Coalition and the Dignity Fund visit www.sfdignityfund.org. Event live-stream: http://sfgovtv.org/DFC-mayorbreed. Media Contact: Andrew Adams / [email protected] / (917) 569-9644 SOURCE Dignity Fund Coalition Related Links https://sfdignityfund.org BOSTON, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- At a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on January 10, 2019, shareholders of Eaton Vance New Jersey Municipal Income Trust (NYSE American: EVJ) approved the merger of EVJ into Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust (NYSE: EVN). The merger is currently expected to be completed as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange on or about February 22, 2019, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Each EVJ shareholder will be issued common shares of EVN at an exchange ratio based on the Funds' respective net asset values per share. Each Fund is a closed-end management investment company sponsored and managed by Eaton Vance Management. EVJ trades on the NYSE American and the EVN trades on the New York Stock Exchange. Eaton Vance Management is a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. (NYSE: EV). Eaton Vance is a leading global asset manager whose history dates to 1924. With offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, Eaton Vance and its affiliates managed $439.3 billion in assets as of October 31, 2018, offering individuals and institutions a broad array of investment strategies and wealth management solutions. For more information about Eaton Vance, visit eatonvance.com. Additional Information about the Funds and the Merger This press release is for informational purposes only and is not intended to, and does not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of the Funds. Fund shares are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal invested. No Fund is a complete investment program and you may lose money investing in a Fund. An investment in a Fund may not be appropriate for all investors. Additional information about the Funds, including performance and portfolio characteristic information, is available at www.eatonvance.com . Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond a Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. SOURCE Eaton Vance Management Related Links http://www.eatonvance.com SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty (the "Company") (NYSE: DLR), a leading global provider of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions, announced today that Digital Euro Finco, LLC, a wholly owned indirect finance subsidiary of the Company's operating partnership, Digital Realty Trust, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership"), has commenced an offering of Euro-denominated green bonds (the "Euro Notes"). The Euro Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Digital Euro Finco, LLC and will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company and the Operating Partnership. The Company intends to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds from the offering of the Euro Notes to finance or refinance, in whole or in part, certain green building, energy and resource efficiency and renewable energy projects (collectively, "Eligible Green Projects"), including the development and redevelopment of such projects. Pending the allocation of an amount equal to the net proceeds of the Euro Notes to Eligible Green Projects, all or a portion of an amount equal to the net proceeds may be used for the payment of outstanding indebtedness or other capital management activities. Such indebtedness to be redeemed or repaid is expected to include the Operating Partnership's 5.875% Senior Notes due 2020 pursuant to a tender offer for such notes announced separately today, by redemption or otherwise, and may include borrowings under the Operating Partnership's global credit facilities, as well as other outstanding debt securities. The Euro Notes will be offered only outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Euro Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act and will not be offered or sold in the United States or to United States persons (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Euro Notes, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of the Euro Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Digital Realty Digital Realty supports the data center, colocation and interconnection strategies of more than 2,300 firms across its secure, network-rich portfolio of data centers located throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. Digital Realty's clients include domestic and international companies of all sizes, ranging from cloud and information technology services, communications and social networking to financial services, manufacturing, energy, healthcare and consumer products. For Additional Information: Andrew P. Power Chief Financial Officer Digital Realty (415) 738-6500 Investor Relations John J. Stewart / Maria S. Lukens Digital Realty (415) 738-6500 [email protected] Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to the timing and consummation of the offering of the Euro Notes and the expected use of the net proceeds. The Company can provide no assurances that it will be able to complete the offering on the anticipated terms, or at all. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Reg S Statement This communication is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities ("Securities") of Digital Realty Trust, Inc. or its subsidiaries. The Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Consequently, the Securities may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred, delivered or distributed, directly or indirectly, into or within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Any offering of the Securities will be conducted pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. Notice to EEA Retail Investors The Euro Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and, with effect from such date, should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (the "EEA"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC (as amended, the "IMD"), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Euro Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Euro Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. SOURCE Digital Realty Trust, Inc. Related Links http://www.digitalrealty.com SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR)("Digital Realty") announced today that Digital Realty Trust, L.P. (the "Issuer"), its operating partnership subsidiary, has commenced a cash tender offer for any and all of its outstanding 5.875% Senior Notes due 2020 (CUSIP Nos. 25389JAH9, 25389JAE6, and U25389AA2 ) (the "Notes"), which were issued by the Issuer and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Digital Realty, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated the date hereof (the "Offer to Purchase"), the related Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), and the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery attached to the Offer to Purchase (the "Notice of Guaranteed Delivery"). As of January 11, 2019, there were $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding. The tender offer is referred to herein as the "Offer." The Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery are referred to herein collectively as the "Offer Documents." Certain information regarding the Notes and the pricing for the Offer is set forth in the table below. Title of Security CUSIP Numbers Principal Amount Outstanding U.S. Treasury Reference Security Bloomberg Reference Page Fixed Spread Hypothetical Tender Offer Consideration (1)(2) 5.875% Senior Notes due 2020 25389JAH9 25389JAE6 U25389AA2 $500,000,000 2.00% U.S. Treasury due 01/31/2020 FIT4 37.5 bps $1,022.68 (1) Per $1,000 principal amount. (2) Hypothetical Tender Offer Consideration calculated on the basis of pricing for the U.S. Treasury Reference Security as of 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 10, 2019 and a Settlement Date (as defined below) on January 18, 2019. The actual Tender Offer Consideration (as defined below) payable pursuant to the Offer will be calculated and determined as set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Holders must validly tender (and not validly withdraw) or deliver a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery for their Notes at or before the Expiration Time (as defined below) in order to be eligible to receive the Tender Offer Consideration. In addition, holders whose Notes are purchased in the Offer will receive accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date to, but not including, the Settlement Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) for the Notes. The Issuer expects the Settlement Date to occur on January 18, 2019. Notes tendered by Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and accepted for purchase will be purchased on the third business day after the Expiration Date, but payment of accrued interest on such Notes will only be made to, but not including, the Settlement Date. The Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 17, 2019 (such time and date, as it may be extended, the "Expiration Time"), unless extended or earlier terminated by the Issuer. The Notes tendered may be withdrawn at any time at or before the Expiration Time by following the procedures described in the Offer to Purchase. The Issuer's obligation to accept for purchase and to pay for the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver, in the Issuer's discretion, of certain conditions, which are more fully described in the Offer to Purchase, including, among others, the Issuer's receipt of aggregate proceeds (before underwriter's discounts and commissions and other offering expenses) from an offering of new senior unsecured notes, on terms satisfactory to the Issuer, of an amount sufficient to fund (i) the purchase of all Notes accepted in the Offer and (ii) the redemption, in accordance with the indenture governing the Notes, of all Notes remaining outstanding after the Offer. The complete terms and conditions of the Offer are set forth in the Offer Documents. Holders of the Notes are urged to read the Offer Documents carefully. The "Tender Offer Consideration" for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer will be determined in the manner described in the Tender Offer Documents by reference to a fixed spread specified for the Notes specified in the table above plus the yield based on the bid-side price of the U.S. Treasury Reference Security specified in the table above at 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 17, 2019, unless extended or earlier terminated. The Issuer has retained Global Bondholder Services Corporation as the tender agent and information agent for the Offer. The Issuer has retained BofA Merrill Lynch as the dealer manager for the Offer. Holders who would like additional copies of the Offer Documents may call or email the information agent, GBSC at (866) 924-2200. Copies of the Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal, and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery are also available at the following website: http://www.gbsc-usa.com/DigitalRealty. Questions regarding the terms of the Offer should be directed to BofA Merrill Lynch at (888) 292-0070 (toll-free) or (980) 387-3907 (collect). This press release shall not constitute an offer to buy or a solicitation of an offer to sell any Notes. The Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer Documents. The Offer is not being made to holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offers will be deemed to be made on behalf of the Issuer by BofA Merrill Lynch or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. About Digital Realty Digital Realty supports the data center, colocation and interconnection strategies of more than 2,300 firms across its secure, network-rich portfolio of data centers located throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. Digital Realty's clients include domestic and international companies of all sizes, ranging from cloud and information technology services, communications and social networking to financial services, manufacturing, energy, healthcare and consumer products. For Additional Information: Andrew P. Power Chief Financial Officer Digital Realty (415) 738-6500 Investor Relations John J. Stewart / Maria S. Lukens Digital Realty (415) 738-6500 [email protected] SOURCE Digital Realty Trust, Inc. Related Links http://www.digitalrealty.com WAKEFIELD, Mass., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCBB: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company"), the largest vertically integrated cannabis operator in the United States, announced today that Joe Lusardi, Chief Executive Officer, will be presenting at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference to be held at Eden Roc in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at 10:40 AM ET. Additionally, Mr. Lusardi will give a keynote session at 3:40 PM ET. The Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is among the largest gatherings of cannabis entrepreneurs and investors in North America, hosted by Benzinga, a leading financial media outlet with extensive coverage of the cannabis space. About Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. The Company is the parent of Curaleaf, Inc., a leading vertically integrated cannabis operator in the United States. Headquartered in Wakefield, Massachusetts, Curaleaf has a presence in 12 states. Curaleaf operates 42 dispensaries, 12 cultivation sites and 10 processing sites with a focus on highly populated, limited license states, including Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. Curaleaf leverages its extensive research and development capabilities to distribute premium cannabis products in multiple formats with the highest standard for safety, effectiveness, consistent quality and customer care. Curaleaf is committed to being the industry's leading resource in education and advancement through research and advocacy. For more information please visit www.curaleaf.com. Company Contact: Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Christine Rigby, SVP, Investor Relations PH: (781) 451-0145 [email protected] Investor Contact: KCSA Strategic Communications Valter Pinto, Managing Director PH: (212) 896-1260 [email protected] Media Contact: KCSA Strategic Communications Anne Donohoe, Managing Director PH: (347) 487-6199 [email protected] SOURCE Curaleaf, Inc. Related Links https://www.curaleaf.com HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank announced today that it will begin Federal Shutdown Food Assistance services effective next Tuesday, January 15. Employees and their families that are missing paychecks due to the federal shutdown and are in need of food will be eligible. Joe Arthur, Executive Director of the Food Bank, gave this statement: "The federal shutdown is becoming a crisis for many employees and their families. We are mobilizing to make sure nobody impacted goes hungry due to this shutdown. Starting today paychecks will be missed by thousands of central Pennsylvanians. Our 27-county service territory includes almost 25,000 federal workers, a portion of whom will not receive paychecks during the shutdown. Also, there is potential for a 'downstream funding effect' and we are concerned that some Pennsylvania state and local government employees and private contractors may also be at risk if the shutdown lengthens. We hope that some of the impacted families will qualify for SNAP benefits or unemployment compensation, but for those who will not, we need to be there for them." The Food Bank will also continue its normal operations serving with more than 1,000 Partner Agencies and Programs, but will add Federal Shutdown services on January 15 at the following locations: Central Pennsylvania Food Bank - Harrisburg Hub 3908 Corey Road, Harrisburg, PA 17109 17109 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Central Pennsylvania Food Bank - Williamsport Hub 3301 Wahoo Drive, Williamsport, PA 17701 17701 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Food Bank will also work with high-capacity Partner Agencies to add additional service sites in closer proximity to impacted employee workplaces as we continue mobilizing. The Food Bank will provide a nutritious array of food to each recipient household including fresh milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, frozen meats and nutritious shelf stable food. Mr. Arthur continued, "We are blessed that we have significant additional stocks of food on hand at our two Hubs due to recent shipments of highly-nutritious USDA commodities. These shipments resulted from recent Trade Mitigation activities by the USDA, and we are thankful for their efforts and those of our Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. With these good foods in stock, and our privately-resourced inventory, we expect to readily meet demand during the shutdown. If conditions change, we will reach out to our generous commercial food donors and other donors and partners." Instructions for accessing Federal Shutdown food assistance are located on the Food Bank's website at www.centralpafoodbank.org and through a recorded message on the Food Bank's Federal Shutdown food assistance phone line at 717-547-6336. The Food Bank also offers a Food Stamps Helpline at 1.877.999.5964 About the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank: The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce hunger in 27 counties across Pennsylvania. By working with more than 1,000 local agencies and partner programs, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves nearly 140,000 people in need every month. For more information on the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and its mission to reduce hunger in Pennsylvania, visit centralpafoodbank.org or call 717-564-1700. SOURCE Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Related Links http://www.centralpafoodbank.org BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Burst Biologics is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization centered on quality, safety, and patient satisfaction. This relationship will give distributors with Burst Biologics reliable access to a large number of surgical hospitals without the need to contract with each one at a local level. Adventist Health System has a heavy presence in Florida, Texas, and South Carolina. The organization includes a network with an estimated 41 owned hospital affiliates, 5 non-owned affiliates, and 481 owned ambulatory care centers. Burst Biologics plans to utilize the partnership to contract with new distributors throughout the network. "We're looking forward to our partnership with Adventist Health System. This represents a tremendous benefit to our surgical product distributors and surgeons, and at the same time helps more patients gain access to our cutting-edge neurosurgical technologies," said Christopher D. Jones, CEO of Burst Biologics. Burst Biologics is committed to expanding its distribution network and plans to establish additional relationships with group purchasing organizations (GPOs). Burst also supports its distributors with a range of marketing materials and peer-reviewed research studies. With new distribution opportunities, a prominent portfolio of products, and support from industry experts, Burst Biologics is a promising partner for a distributor business. About Burst Biologics Burst Biologics is a rapidly-growing medical research and biotechnology company providing hospitals and clinicians with a range of regenerative medicine products derived from cord blood, placental tissue, and bone. With a commitment to harnessing the power of biology, the research team at Burst Biologics is conducting industry-leading research in areas like musculoskeletal, immuno-oncology, and CNS diseases. To learn more about distribution opportunities with Burst Biologics, visit the company distributor page. About Adventist Health System Adventist Health System is a faith based-health care organization with a long tradition focused on caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient. The connected system employs over 80,000 caregivers in physician practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing facilities, home health agencies, and hospice centers. Read more about Adventist Health System and their values here. SOURCE Burst Biologics Related Links https://www.burstbiologics.com/ INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- BSA LifeStructures (BSA), a nationally recognized architecture and engineering firm has appointed two new members to their current seven-person board of directors. Effective January 1, 2019, Robyn Eckermann and Gary Olson are the first two outside voting board members in BSA LifeStructures' history. Robyn was Chief Strategy & Customer Experience Officer at Rallyhood in Austin, TX until 2017. Prior to that, she was the Vice President, Strategic Planning at HCA. She holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a Health Sector Management certificate. She also received a Bachelor of Arts, Economics degree from UCLA. Robyn's background includes strategic, service line and facility master planning, executive communications, physician relations, research and analytics, project management, interior design, and community relations. Gary retired in 2015 after 16 years as President and Chief Executive Officer at St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, Missouri. He also served as Executive Vice President at St. Luke's and as an Associate Administrator. Prior to joining St. Luke's, Gary was an Assistant Administrator for Lafayette Home Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana. Gary received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois State University and a master's in healthcare administration from Washington University. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and served as Regent for three years for the State of Missouri. He also served on the Board of Trustees for the Missouri Hospital Association for over ten years and was the Chairman in 2011. Gary has served on several boards including the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce and YMCA of Greater Saint Louis. The concept of external board members has been discussed at various times over the years. However, the idea accelerated when the firm became an ESOP in 2017. "While we have tried to vary the board members in terms of their backgrounds, we are still all working in the same company, in the same industry, and with similar clients every day," says Chairman Kevin Token. "With the addition of the external members the BSA board will be challenged with different perspectives. Robyn and Gary will improve the quantity and quality of diversified opinions and ideas." BSA, a national, integrated design firm, creates inspired solutions that improve lives. BSA provides architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning services for spaces that support and enhance healing, learning, and discovery facilities known as LifeStructures. Learn more at www.bsalifestructures.com. Media Contact: Lauren Pachacz, Content Manager, BSA LifeStructures [email protected], 317.819.2023 SOURCE BSA LifeStructures Related Links http://www.bsalifestructures.com NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CareDox, the nation's largest provider of healthcare software and services for K-12 school districts, today announced a partnership with Boston Children's Hospital to address existing gaps in pediatric disease management. Rates of chronic disease now affect 15 to 18 percent of children and teens, and those estimates may not fully account for growing obesity and mental health woes. Together, CareDox and Boston Children's will tackle the rise in chronic conditions among children by working through a part of the healthcare system that is not well addressed K-12 schools, starting with mental health screenings. "Large gaps exist in the current model of pediatric care, and the rapid rise of asthma, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and diabetes has outstripped our ability as a country and a system of care to help children and their families manage these challenging conditions," said Hesky Kutscher, CEO of CareDox. "Working with schools, payers and, starting today, some of the nation's leading experts in clinical care for children, CareDox will play a leading role in addressing the unmet needs of our nation's youth." K-12 students spend an average of 14 percent of their waking hours in school by the time they are 18 years old, where school nurses play a critical role in managing an increasing number of complex chronic medical conditions. Working with clinical experts at Boston Children's Hospital, CareDox is jointly developing new tech-enabled care management services to assist nurses and children's primary care providers to more effectively manage these conditions together. These care management solutions will be based on CareDox's digital records management platform, which is now in use at 7,100 schools supporting more than 4.9 million students. Boston Children's Hospital will advise CareDox on the development of new tech-enabled services via its Innovation and Digital Health Accelerator group. "Together, we are addressing gaps in access to quality pediatric care that is so desperately needed in thousands of communities and for millions of families across the country," said John Brownstein, Chief Technology Officer at Boston Children's. "Our two organizations are creating a new model of care delivery one that combines Boston Children's expertise and pediatric clinics protocols with the nation's largest health platform for K-12 school districts to bring care management directly to where 50 million children spend a significant portion of their daily lives." The Mental Health of our Nation's Youth: Addressing an Unmet Need Nowhere is the gap in pediatric care more acute than behavioral health, where one in five youth experience some form of mental illness, but less than 20 percent of those diagnosed receive treatment. Working with experts in child behavioral health at Boston Children's Hospital Department of Psychiatry, CareDox will first develop methods for school-based screening of children for ADHD, depression, PTSD and other mental health conditions. CareDox: Growing to Meet the Healthcare Needs of Children Nationwide Today, CareDox's trained nurses visit individual schools and administer wellness services, and thousands of school nurses interact with CareDox's technology platform daily to digitally manage instances of care throughout the year. In fact, the CareDox technology platform replaces schools' historical use of paper records. By allowing school nurses, administrators and parents to digitally manage a student's care online, it significantly reduces time spent managing a student's healthcare. And with the increase in chronic conditions among school-aged children conditions like asthma and diabetes it's critical to capture details of visits to the school nurse and maintain complete and timely tracking of chronic illness. CareDox's platform is helping school nurses manage 380,000 chronic conditions among 270,000 students. Further, there are more than 50,000 care management plans maintained in the CareDox system. The CareDox platform and training for school nurses and health professionals are both provided free of charge to schools. And schools and individual students and their families are not charged any fee for CareDox's services, as each vaccination or wellness exam is reimbursed by a student's individual health plan. CareDox maintains 61 individual contracts with payers across eight states. If a service isn't covered for any reason, CareDox absorbs the cost. For more information on CareDox, please visit www.caredox.com . About CareDox CareDox is the leader in pediatric healthcare technology and services aimed at transforming the most consistent health delivery system in the U.S.; K-12 public schools. The company's health records management technology houses more than 4.9 million student health records, and its unique, no-cost wellness services, including in-school flu vaccinations, are in operations in more than 7100 schools. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in New York City. To learn more about CareDox and how they work with schools and payers, please visit www.caredox.com . Media Contact: CareDox [email protected] SOURCE CareDox Related Links http://www.CareDox.com BOSTON, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Artemis Capital Partners ("Artemis"), an industrial technology-focused private equity firm, today announced the final close of its second fund, Artemis Capital Partners II, L.P. (the "Fund"), after hitting the Fund's hard cap in September 2018 in an oversubscribed fundraise. "We are humbled by the support we received from our existing base of Limited Partners and are delighted to welcome several new top-tier institutional partners," said Peter A. Hunter, Founder and Managing Partner of Artemis. "With capital from our new fund and that of our co-investors, we will continue our focus on acquiring and growing profitable industrial technology companies in close partnership with our management teams and look forward to a successful second fund." To date, Artemis has made two industrial technology platform investments in its new fund. The Fund's first investment, StanChem Polymers, is a specialty chemicals manufacturer based in East Berlin, Connecticut and the Fund's second investment, Superior Technical Ceramics, is a leader in advanced ceramic materials based in St. Albans, Vermont. Artemis will continue its focus on acquiring founder/family-owned manufacturers of differentiated industrial technologies in the lower middle market with high-margin, growing end markets and product applications including: Industrial Automation RF/Microwave Sensors & Instrumentation Aerospace & Defense Medical Devices Specialty Chemicals & Materials Flow Control Optics & Photonics Water & Wastewater Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP served as legal counsel to the Fund. About Artemis Capital Partners Founded in 2010, Artemis Capital Partners is a Boston-based private equity firm focused on acquiring and growing manufacturers of differentiated industrial technologies. Artemis seeks to partner with companies that have strong established management teams, outstanding engineering capabilities, unique products, and expanding niche markets. For more information on Artemis, please visit: www.artemislp.com. SOURCE Artemis Capital Partners Related Links http://artemislp.com CHICAGO, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) for Combined Insurance Company of America (headquartered in Chicago, IL) and Combined Life Insurance Company of New York (Latham, NY) in a recent press announcement, affirming the credit ratings of Chubb Limited and its subsidiaries. Combined Insurance is a leading provider of individual supplemental accident, disability, health, and life insurance products. "Combined Insurance is pleased to receive this 'Superior' rating affirmation," said Kevin Goulding, President of Combined Insurance. "As a Chubb Group company, we take great responsibility in meeting the needs of our customers and being there when they need us most." Additionally, AM Best affirmed the FSR of A++ (Superior) of the North American property/casualty subsidiaries of Chubb Limited (Zurich, Switzerland) (NYSE: CB), which include the members of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies (Chubb US Group); the members of Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd. (Chubb Bermuda) and Chubb Tempest Reinsurance Ltd. (Chubb Tempest Re) (both domiciled in Bermuda); and Chubb Atlantic Indemnity Ltd. (Bermuda). AM Best is a trusted source of insurance data and market intelligence, covering thousands of companies worldwide through analytical resources and news coverage that provides a critical perspective for informed business decisions. It is also the only global credit rating agency with a unique focus on the insurance industry. AM Best's ratings, which are issued through AM Best Rating Services, Inc., are a recognized indicator of an insurer's financial strength and creditworthiness. Combined Insurance Company of America has received a long-standing A+ (Superior) financial strength rating by AM Best, which is known as one of the world's top insurance rating firms. The company has also been recognized for eight consecutive years on Ward's 50 Top Performing Health-Life Insurance Companies list. Furthermore, Combined Insurance has received numerous accolades throughout the years for its veteran-friendly hiring practicesmost recently named the #1 Military Friendly Employer and #1 Military Friendly Spouse Employer in the nation for 2019 by VIQTORY. About Combined Insurance Combined Insurance Company of America (Chicago, Ill.) is a leading provider of individual supplemental accident & health, disability, and life insurance products and a Chubb company. With a tradition of nearly 100 years of success, Combined Insurance is committed to making the world of supplemental insurance easy to understand. The company has an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau and is one of Ward's Top 50 Performing Life-Health Insurance Companies. Combined Insurance is ranked the number one Military Friendly Employer in the over $1B revenue category for 2019 by VIQTORY. This is the company's eighth consecutive year on the top 10 list and fifth consecutive year in the top 5Combined Insurance was previously named the number one Military Friendly Employer in the nation for 2015 and 2016. For more information, please visit combinedinsurance.com. About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com. SOURCE Combined Insurance Related Links http://www.combinedinsurance.com ALBANY, New York, January 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As reported by TMR, the global allergy diagnostics market is likely to expand at a 12.80% CAGR over the forecast period 2016 to 2024. At this rate, the market is estimated to be worth US$3.8 bn by 2024. Among the product types, consumable are projected to gain prominence in the global allergy diagnostics market. Geography-wise, North America is anticipated to remain a lucrative regional market over the forecast period. This could be on account on the first-class healthcare infrastructure in the region. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=5147 Surge in Incidence of Allergies to Spur Growth Patients are required to be diagnosed with allergies such as hay fever accurately. Food allergies are also increasing. There are about 17 million EU citizens with food allergies, and in the last ten years hospital admissions for severe allergies and their reactions have increased seven times in children, according to the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI). Anaphylaxis, nutritional allergies, forms of asthma, conjunctivitis, eczema, eosine and allergy to medicinal products and insects include allergy. The new diagnostic market is therefore expected to grow at a good pace with the increasing incidence of allergic diseases. Additionally, the emerging strategies for detection and control through new approaches for allergies are expected to drive the allergy diagnostics market in the coming years. Spread of Awareness Regarding Allergens to Boost Opportunity Governments worldwide are gradually encouraging the expansion of vaccines and new treatments for different allergic syndromes, thereby fueling the expansion of the market for allergy diagnostics. Governments also invest in research and development activities to expand high-tech diagnostic methods for allergic diseases. As governments take actions to improve health care facilities, the main contributors to the development of the health sector are major drug companies and medicines for allergic syndromes. Request a Sample of Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=5147 The global allergy diagnostics market is expected to see high growth in the coming years, according to a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The market's competitive landscape comprises features consolidation at present, with a small number of vendors holding substantial shares in the global allergy diagnostics market. The market fosters moderate competition among the vendors. Request For Discount On This Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=5147 Market players are seen focusing on several organic and inorganic strategies in order to gain momentum in the global allergy diagnostics market. Among these, mergers and acquisitions, and partnerships are expected to be adopted gratuitously. Vendors are furthers seen focusing on adopting the latest technological innovations in their offering. Research and development of novel products is another area that players are focusing on in order to gain market shares. Leading vendors operating in the global allergy diagnostics market include Omega Diagnostics Group Plc., Quest Diagnostics Inc., BioMerieux, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and Stallergenes Greer. Browse Press Release - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/allergy-diagnostics-market.htm The study presented here is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled, "Allergy Diagnostics Market (Product - Assay Kits, Consumables, and Instruments; Allergen Type - Inhaled Allergens, Food Allergens, and Drug Allergens; Test Type - In-vivo and In-vitro tests; End Users - Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, and Academic Research Institutes) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024." Popular Research Reports by TMR: Allergy Immunotherapy Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/allergy-immunotherapy-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/allergy-immunotherapy-market.html Allergy Treatment Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/allergy-treatment-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/allergy-treatment-market.html Pediatric Health Care Products and Services Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pediatric-health-care-products-services-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr. Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://theglobalhealthnews.com/ SOURCE Transparency Market Research MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- AIP Publishing (AIPP), a leading not-for-profit scholarly publisher in the physical sciences, today announced that Professor Jan Philip Solovej, University of Copenhagen, has taken the reigns as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Mathematical Physics (JMP), a peer-reviewed journal publishing original research and reviews that connect the application of mathematics to problems in physics. "AIP Publishing is pleased that Jan Philip Solovej has agreed to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Mathematical Physics, which he has served as an Associate Editor since 2013. When JMP launched in 1960, it was the first journal in the field of mathematical physics. We are confident that JMP will continue to be on the forefront of its field under his direction," said Jason Wilde, Ph.D., AIPP's Chief Publishing Officer. He added, "We want to take this opportunity to thank Bruno L. Z. Nachtergaele for his dedicated stewardship of JMP since 2006." Prof. Solovej commented, "I am honored to step up to become Editor-in-Chief of JMP, a journal that has published some of the best papers from outstanding mathematicians and physicists over the last 60 years, and I look forward to building on this distinguished legacy as quantum physics is sparking a revolution in science and technology." Prof. Solovej is currently Professor of Mathematics at the University of Copenhagen, and the Centre Leader of the Villum Centre of Excellence for the Mathematics of Quantum Theory (QMATH). His research focuses on mathematical understanding of quantum physics, specifically in the stability and structure of atoms, Bose and Fermi gases, and thermodynamic stability. In addition to his faculty and QMATH positions, Prof. Solovej currently sits on the Board of the Independent Research Fund in Denmark and was elected to the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters in 2000. He was previously a faculty member at Princeton University, where he also earned his Ph.D. in 1989, and held various positions at the Erwin Schrodinger Institute, Universite Paris (6 and Dauphine), Aarhus University, University of Toronto and University of Michigan. He has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of European Mathematical Society and the Journal of Spectral Theory. The Journal of Mathematical Physics (ISSN: 0022-2488; E-ISSN: 1089-7658) publishes original research in all areas of mathematical physics, review articles on mathematical subjects relevant to physics, and special issues on topics of current interest to its community. Published articles focus on areas of research that illustrate the application of mathematics to problems in physics, the development of mathematical methods for such applications, and for the formulation of physical theories. JMP is part of AIP Publishing's portfolio which includes Applied Physics Letters, Journal of Applied Physics, AIP Conference Proceedings, and other community focused peer-reviewed journals, its flagship magazine Physics Today, and Scilight, a weekly publication highlighting the most interesting new research in the physical sciences. AIP Publishing partners with 10 scholarly societies, providing the full suite of publishing services, from manuscript submission to online hosting. About AIP Publishing AIP Publishing is a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of the American Institute of Physics (AIP). AIP Publishing's mission is to support the charitable, scientific and educational purposes of AIP through scholarly publishing activities in the fields of the physical and related sciences on its own behalf and on behalf of our publishing partners to help them proactively advance their missions. SOURCE AIP Publishing Related Links http://publishing.aip.org SAN PABLO, Calif., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectrum Center Schools & Programs announced today it is hosting two hiring events and plans to hire 50 special education instructional aides in January for the Greater Bay Area. The ideal special education instructional aide candidate is interested in making a difference by helping children and adolescents with autism and behavioral disabilities develop the skills they need to be independent while working for an organization with a social mission to offer hope. Special education experience is not required. Spectrum offers a comprehensive educational program for school-age students with autism, emotional/behavioral disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and other disabilities which require focused academic, behavioral, communication, therapeutic and transition services. Spectrum Center offers quality, research-based, data-driven programs that help students reach their full potential. Spectrum is a division of ChanceLight Behavioral Health, Therapy and Education, which provides behavioral health and special and alternative education to students nationwide. Spectrum has 22 schools throughout Northern and Southern California. "Our special education instructional aides are a valued and highly respected part of our Spectrum classrooms and are instrumental in the overall success of our organization," said Chris Holmes, senior vice president of operations for Spectrum Center Schools & Programs. "We provide our instructional aides with a meaningful and supportive work environment and comprehensive training so they can help our growing number of students develop the academic, emotional and social skills they need to succeed." Spectrum will host two events to hire 50 goal-oriented people interested in changing the direction of children's lives. No appointment is necessary to attend the events. Greater Bay Area hiring event locations are as follows: Jan. 15 , 9:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Spectrum Solano Campus 590 Central Way, Suite 200, Fairfield, CA 94534 Jan. 15 , 9:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Spectrum Tara Hills Campus 16330 San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo, CA 94806 In addition to hiring in Fairfield and San Pablo, Spectrum is also seeking instructional aides in the Oakland area. Applicants interested in working in Oakland, or any other Greater Bay Area location, should attend one of the two hiring events listed above. Spectrum offers special education instructional aides full- and part-time positions, competitive compensation, seven weeks paid school closure and opportunities for advancement. Spectrum also offers a full benefits package to full-time employees working 30 hours a week or more that includes medical and dental coverage, a 401k retirement plan and life insurance. Special education instructional aides assist with group and individual instruction in the classroom and the community to help implement students' Individualized Education Programs (IEP). An IEP is a document that is developed for every child in a public school district who requires special education. The position requires a high school diploma or a GED and the job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: Provide instructional support to teachers and special education students Assist students with tasks like eating, using the bathroom, riding the bus and transitioning classrooms Customize lessons to fit individual student needs and assist students with challenging assignments Monitor and record students' progress or behavior Assist teachers with lesson planning If you are interested in a special education instructional aide position with Spectrum Center Schools & Program but are unable to attend one of the hiring events, please contact Diana Velasquez at 510-426-3396 or [email protected]. For more information on Spectrum, please visit spectrumschools.com. More about ChanceLight ChanceLight is the nation's leading provider of behavioral health, therapy and education solutions for children and young adults. We change the direction of children's lives by offering them the opportunity to create successful, independent futures. ChanceLight serves nearly 19,000 clients and students each year at more than 150 locations in more than 20 states across its three divisions. ChanceLight autism services serves children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder, pediatric developmental delays and physical challenges. ChanceLight Therapy offers physical, occupational and speech therapy services for infants, toddlers, children and young adults who have complex medical and developmental needs. ChanceLight Education includes an alternative education program, Ombudsman Educational Services, which partners with more than 100 school districts to serve at-risk students; and Spectrum Center Schools and Programs, which partners with more than 100 school districts to operate schools and programs for students with special needs. Contact: Robin Embry, Lovell Communications [email protected] 615-297-7766 SOURCE ChanceLight Related Links https://autismservices.chancelight.com SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Under the leadership of Will Palmer, Coast Properties announced today that the company has chosen to affiliate with Century 21 Real Estate LLC, and will now conduct business as CENTURY 21 Coast Properties. Located in the Florida Panhandle, the company specializes in coastal resort properties and second homes. CENTURY 21 Coast Properties will continue to provide full-service real estate services to buyers and sellers in the greater Destin and Panama City Beach, 30A and Mexico Beach areas, and it will now benefit from the world-class marketing, agent learning and educational resources, and technology and productivity tools provided through its affiliation with the iconic CENTURY 21 brand. Palmer is a second-generation real estate professional and started his career while he was in college at Auburn University, after watching his mother's success in their local market. He spent several years with a local brokerage prior to starting Coast Properties and brings fifteen years of experience to the table. "Initially, I was a business of one, but we are now 18 agents strong and working in a fast-paced industry fueled by digital transformation," Palmer said. "I am confident this affiliation will offer our close-knit team the technology and educational assets necessary to evolve our business and remain one of the most innovative and competitive real estate teams on the Emerald Coast." Great company culture is a crucial piece of the company's success, and after its Mexico Beach satellite office was lost to a recent hurricane, employees came together to help with recovery efforts. Strong employee relations contribute to the success of the company's impressive spread of client relationships, which will only advances their client services. "We are thrilled to welcome Will and his entire team to the CENTURY 21 System," said Michael Miedler, president and chief executive officer, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. "I'm excited to see how CENTURY 21 Coast Properties grows in the coming year under Will Palmer's expert leadership." About CENTURY 21 Coast Properties CENTURY 21 Coast Properties is a full-service real estate company, serving the buyers and sellers in the greater Destin and Panama Beach area of the Emerald Coast. The office is located at 5365 E. Co HWY 30A, Suite 105, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459. CENTURY 21 Coast Properties is an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate of Century 21 Real Estate, franchisor of the iconic CENTURY 21 brand, comprised of approximately 9,400 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 80 countries and territories worldwide with more than 127,000 independent sales professionals. 2019 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. All rights reserved. CENTURY 21 and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Century 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Media Contact: Dana Hershman MullenLowe for CENTURY 21 Coast Properties 617.226.9345 [email protected] SOURCE CENTURY 21 Coast Properties VANCOUVER, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Rubicon Organics Inc. ("Rubicon Organics" or the "Company") (CSE:ROMJ) (OTCQX:ROMJF), a super-premium organic cannabis company with operations in Canada, California and Washington, is pleased to announce that the Company has secured eligibility by The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") for its shares on the OTCQX. DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies in the United States. DTC eligibility will simplify the process of trading and is expected to enhance liquidity of the Company's common shares on the OTCQX marketplace where Rubicon Organics now trades under the symbol "ROMJF". U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ROMJF/quote. "We are pleased to announce that we have obtained DTC eligibility, effective January 10, 2019. Electronic trading is the standard in today's financial markets, and becoming DTC-eligible greatly simplifies the process of trading and exchanging our common shares. We continue to make positive steps to grow the Company into the market leader in super-premium certified organic cultivation. We would like to thank our DTC Advisor, VStock Transfer, LLC, for their guidance through this process", commented Jesse McConnell, CEO. ABOUT RUBICON ORGANICS INC. Rubicon Organics Inc. ("Rubicon Organics" or the "Company") (CSE:ROMJ) (OTCQX:ROMJF) is focused on building super-premium organic cannabis brands with operations in Canada, California and Washington. The Company holds the intellectual property to produce super-premium, certified organic cannabis at low cost, while utilizing environmentally sustainable production methods. Rubicon Organics is working towards beginning cultivation in Q1 2019 with a combined Phase I capacity of 15,500 kg, including 4,500 kg leased to a Washington state licensed operator applying Rubicon Organics' cultivation methods. The Company also owns two award-winning U.S. cannabis brands: 1964 Supply Co.TM in California and Doctor & Crook Co.TM in Washington. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, statements regarding Rubicon Organics' plan to cultivate, timing and estimates of production for its facilities, are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans" or "is expected", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results are "to begin", "ramping up to", "imminent", "set to" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. The forward looking information in this press release is based upon certain assumptions that management considers reasonable in the circumstances, including that its capital needs will be as currently projected, that Rubicon Organics will be able to successfully obtain all necessary permits and approvals to conduct its business as currently proposed to be conducted, that Rubicon Organics will not be prosecuted in the U.S. for its involvement in the cannabis industry. Risks and uncertainties associated with the forward looking information in this press release include, among others, dependence on obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals, including acquiring and renewing state, local or other licenses and any inability to obtain all necessary governmental approvals licenses and permits to complete construction of its proposed facilities in a timely manner; engaging in activities which currently are illegal under U.S. federal law and the uncertainty of existing protection from U.S. federal or other prosecution; regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations, including U.S. state-law legalization, particularly in California, due to inconsistent public opinion, perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry, bureaucratic delays or inefficiencies or any other reasons; any other factors or developments which may hinder market growth; Rubicon Organics' limited operating history and lack of historical profits; reliance on management; and the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability; competition, including from more established or better financed competitors; and the need to secure and maintain corporate alliances and partnerships, including with customers and suppliers. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Although Rubicon Organics has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. 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 forward-looking statements. Rubicon Organics assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law. SOURCE Rubicon Organics NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Moore Kuehn, PLLC is investigating whether certain officers and directors of LendingClub Corporation (NYSE: LC) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. According to a federal securities lawsuit, LendingClub insiders caused the company to make false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) LendingClub falsely promised consumers they would receive a loan with "no hidden fees"; (2) LendingClub's privacy policy did not comply with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act; (3) consequently, the foregoing conduct would subject LendingClub's business practices to heightened regulatory scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission; and (4) as a result, LendingClub's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Moore Kuehn encourages shareholders of LendingClub to contact Justin Kuehn, Esq. by email at [email protected] or telephone at (212) 709-8245. There is no cost or obligation to you. Moore Kuehn is a New York-based law firm with attorneys representing investors and consumers in litigation involving securities law violations, financial fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties, and other claims. For additional information about Moore Kuehn, please go to www.moorekuehn.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts: Moore Kuehn, PLLC Justin Kuehn, Esq. 30 Wall Street, 8th Floor New York, New York 10005 [email protected] (212) 709-8245 SOURCE Moore Kuehn, PLLC Related Links http://www.moorekuehn.com NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today provided investors with an update on its comprehensive strategic plan as it continues to build the foundation for the company's long-term success. GM also said it expects earnings growth in 2019, compared to projected 2018 full-year results. Full-year 2019 guidance: Earnings per share diluted-adjusted of between $6.50 and $7.00 . and . Adjusted automotive free cash flow of between $4.5 billion and $6 billion . 2018 performance: GM expects 2018 EPS-diluted-adjusted and adjusted automotive free cash flow to exceed the guidance provided when reporting its third quarter 2018 earnings on Oct. 31, 2018. For complete details, click here to download the full press release. To see reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures, visit the GM Investor Relations website. Investor analyst webcast GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra will host a webcast for investor analysts and institutional investors at 10 a.m. EST today to share various updates on the future of GM. The webcast will include several management presentations followed by a question and answer session for analysts. Journalists who wish to view the webcast can register by visiting the GM Investor Relations website. General Motors (NYSE:GM) is committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for people to get around. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Cadillac, Chevrolet, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, Maven, its personal mobility brand, and Cruise, its autonomous vehicle ride-sharing company, can be found at http://www.gm.com. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and related comments by management may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements including words such as "anticipate," "appears," "approximately," "believe," "continue," "could," "designed," "effect," "estimate," "evaluate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "initiative," "intend," "may," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "priorities," "project," "pursue," "seek," "should," "target," "when," "will," "would," or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements represent our current judgment about possible future events. In making these statements we rely upon assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future performance; they involve risks and uncertainties and actual events or results may differ materially from these statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, a variety of economic, competitive and regulatory factors, many of which are beyond our control and are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as well as additional factors we may describe from time to time in other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law. Non-GAAP Financial Measures: See our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and our subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a description of certain non-GAAP measures referenced in this presentation, including EBIT-adjusted, Core EBIT-adjusted, EPS-diluted-adjusted, ETR-adjusted, ROIC-adjusted and adjusted automotive free cash flow, along with a description of various uses for such measures. Our calculation of these non-GAAP measures are set forth within these reports and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies due to potential differences between companies in the method of calculation. As a result, the use of these non-GAAP measures has limitations and should not be considered superior to, in isolation from, or as a substitute for, related U.S. GAAP measures. SOURCE General Motors Related Links http://media.gm.com FALLS CHURCH, Va., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today announced that Robert W. Helm, currently serving as Senior Vice President for Planning and Development, will assume the role of special advisor to the CEO. Thomas W. Kirchmaier, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, will become Senior Vice President for Planning, Communications and Trade Compliance. Elizabeth "Betsy" L. Schmid will lead the Government Relations organization as Vice President for Government Relations. The three will report directly to the CEO. The appointments will be effective April 1, 2019. Helm has served in his current role since joining General Dynamics in 2010, overseeing all communications, international trade compliance and Congressional engagement in support of General Dynamics' programs and initiatives. In his new position, Helm will provide counsel to the CEO on emergent issues and continue to support General Dynamics' strategic initiatives. "I am grateful for Bob's service and his lasting impact on our company," said Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer. "I look forward to his continued contributions in his new role." Kirchmaier, who joined General Dynamics in 1978, has served in a variety of roles including president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, and senior vice president of General Dynamics Information Technology. He became vice president for Strategic Initiatives in 2015. Schmid joined the General Dynamics government relations team in 2015 after serving in a variety of roles including as a vice president of the Aerospace Industries Association, a staff director for the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and a Presidential Management Fellow in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She became vice president for Government Relations in 2018. "Tom and Betsy are assuming greater leadership roles, which reflect their strong contributions to our company," said Novakovic. Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; IT services; C4ISR solutions; and shipbuilding and ship repair. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com. SOURCE General Dynamics Related Links http://www.generaldynamics.com ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CoreMedia, developer of the best-of-breed content management platform, Content Cloud, today announced the appointment of Bob Balfe as Vice President of Solution Architects, Americas. In this role, Balfe will guide brands and retailers across the region to deliver iconic digital experiences. "We're excited Bob has joined CoreMedia," said Soren Stamer, CoreMedia's CEO. "His expertise in eCommerce, software development, technical sales, and strategy will add tremendous value to our team and accelerate growth. We're positive he'll play a major role in establishing the credibility of CoreMedia among our prospects and installed base in the Americas." Balfe brings three decades of experience as a software engineer, including 18 in senior management positions, along with a lifelong passion for producing thought leadership about technology. Areas of expertise include omnichannel eCommerce and marketing, supply chain management, content management, digital experience, and SaaS solutions. "I've always had real admiration for CoreMedia as a company and deep respect for their software, which makes marketers and merchandisers more productive while providing innovative solutions in the content management space," said Balfe. "I'm excited to lead the solution architects team in the Americas and work with our customers to help them realize digital experience goals." Bob comes to CoreMedia from IBM's Watson Customer Engagement division where, as Distinguished Engineer, he managed a team of solution architects and developers supporting worldwide pre-sales demonstrations and partner integrations. His team was known for creating innovative tools to streamline demonstration capabilities of over 20 offerings. Previously, he was a senior developer leading a global team working on IBM's Lotus and Domino product lines. A devoted blogger and frequent contributor to YouTube, Bob is always up for sharing his perspective on software development, eCommerce, and digital experience. Meet him in person at the National Retail Federation's (NRF) Big Show: January 13-15 in New York at the Javits Center Booth #2931. Resources: About CoreMedia Based in Hamburg, Germany with offices worldwide, CoreMedia is the strategic content management and experience orchestration engine behind today's most iconic online brands. Leading global B2C companies (Deckers, Luxottica, PVH Corp, Finnair, T-Mobile) and B2B firms (Continental, Claas, Emerson, DMG-Mori) create world-class digital experiences powered by CoreMedia. A company of visionaries, trusted advisors, and passionate experts, CoreMedia takes brands to the next level of digital experiences. We're about dialogue, so let's talk. For more information or to set up a demo, visit www.coremedia.com or follow us on Twitter @contentcloud. Contact: Doug Heise Phone: +1.415.794.0964 Email: [email protected] SOURCE CoreMedia Related Links http://www.coremedia.com Airstream Living Napa Valley inaugural Give to Get Winter 2019 Tour By: Airstream Living Napa Valley Airstream Living Napa Valley Contact Lisa Adams Walter ***@adamswalter.com Lisa Adams Walter End -- California's Napa Valley has long been known for charitable generosity, hosting and producing critical fundraisers such as Auction Napa Valley, The V Foundation and Festival Napa Valley. Yet, most philanthropic events take place right there, within the boundaries of Napa County. This year that has changed, as the new wine country experiential companyhas taken that inherent Napa concept of "giving back" and hit the road with an inaugural event, thewith stops in Palm Springs (through 1/12), Santa Barbara (1/12 16) and San Luis Obispo (1/16-19), California.Airstream Living Napa Valley, founded byand, has brought the legendary Airstream travel trailer experience to the Napa Valley. Airstream luxury trailers are sleek, iconic, comfortable, and undeniably retro-hip. Aten and Barstad are passionate about the experience, their home valley and both literally driven to share the Airstream experience in a huge way."Our flagship travel trailer in the Airstream Living Napa Valley fleet, in which we are currently making our way around the state, can be booked for a private getaway, used as a green room for a special event or wedding party, or even as a mobile office retreat for solitude or team building," Aten explained, "The possibilities are massive!"Together the founders, high-level wine country event producers and hospitality executives, have been able to rally others in wine country to support theThrough their personal connections they have created unprecedented experiential donation packages, which will be auctioned off to benefit worthy causes around the state. The first tour will benefit three non-profits:(Palm Springs);(Santa Barbara); and(San Luis Obispo).Three custom lots have been created by Airstream Living Napa Valley with a minimum value of $10,000 each and donated to each non-profit for auction at their largest, live auction fundraisers which Aten and Barstad will attend and support later this year. The lots were inspired by a 2016 Auction Napa Valley "Glamping" experience for which five couples paid $75,000 each for two days and three nights of glamping in the Napa Valley, raising $375,000 for a singular lot.Each of the three lots includes transportation from a Bay Area airport to the Napa Valley; private ground transportation by Squire Livery Private Transportation once in the Napa Valley, two nights and three days in an Airstream Living Napa Valley travel trailer, a glamping basecamp with the trailer fully stocked from wines from one of three headliner wineries: Alpha Omega Winery, Chappellet Winery or Peju Province Winery; a three-hour photography excursion with Art + Clarity Napa Valley Photography;electric bicycle day use from either St. Helena Cyclery or Napa Valley Velo; a hot air balloon ride from Napa Valley Balloons; breakfast, lunch and dinner certificates from Napa Valley restaurants including JAX Mule Diner, Southside Cafe, Mustard's Grill, Celadon Restaurant, Las Alcobas Fine Dining and BlueNote Theater Restaurant; VIP winery tour and tasting experiences at JCB Raymond Vineyards, Amizetta Vineyards, Robert Mondavi Winery and Clif Family Vineyards; and a Napa Valley wellness package from the Gitali Institute.Aten and Barstad, a Napa Valley dream team, are on a mission to do two things: have as many people as possible experience Airstream Living Napa Valley and mostly give back in a big way. The inaugural Airstream Living Napa Valley "Give to Get Winter 2019 Tour" will make their dreams, and well as the dreams of others less fortunate, come true. For more information visit http://www.AirstreamLivingNapaValley.com or contact David Aten, Founder at (707) 333-1122 or David@AirstreamLivingNapaValley.com or Guy Barstad, Co-Founder at (707) 363-3790 or Guy@AirstreamLivingNapaValley.com. Like Airstream Living Napa Valley on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ airstreamlivingnapavalley and follow on Instagram @airstreamlivingnapavalley and Twitter @AirstreamNapa. Zero Hedge January 11, 2019 The White House has been reaching out to political allies and conservative activist groups to discuss preparations for an ailing Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs possible death or departure from the bench, according to Politico. Ginsburg has been absent from Supreme Court arguments this week following the removal of two malignant cancerous growths from her left lung on Dec. 21. The outreach began after Ginsburg, 85, on Monday missed oral arguments at the court for the first time in her 25 years on the bench. The justice, who was nominated to the court by President Bill Clinton in 1993, announced in late December that she underwent a surgical procedure to remove two cancerous growths from her lungs. -Politico According to a source familiar with the discussions, the White House is taking the temperature on possible short-list candidates, reaching out to key stakeholders, and just making sure that people are informed on the process. Theyre doing it very quietly, of course, because the idea is not to be opportunistic, but just to be prepared so we arent caught flat-footed. The Supreme Court announced that Ginsburg had a pulmonary lobectomy, and that there was no evidence of any remaining disease post surgery. That said, her absence from the bench for the first time in more than 25 years is notable. The oldest Supreme Court Justice has battled cancer twice in the past, once in 1999 and then in 2009 when she underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer neither of which kept her away from court. On Monday, Chief Justice John Roberts said that she was unable to be present but would participate in oral arguments by reading briefs, filings and a transcript of the session. Ginsburgs departure from the Court would pave the way for Trump to nominate a third Supreme Court Justice the most in one presidential term since Ronald Reagan nominated three judges during his second term, notes Politico. The nine-member court is currently divided 5-4 between its conservative and liberal wings. Ginsburgs departure would allow Trump to create the Courts strongest conservative majority in decades, a scenario sure to bring intense opposition from Democrats and liberal activists still furious over the October confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. -Politico It would be a brutal confirmation, said the Heritage Foundations John Malcom, who heads up the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies. The first two were not easy at all, but this would be much harder in this respect: When Neil Gorsuch was the nominee, you were replacing a conservative with a conservative. With Kavanaugh, you were replacing the perennial swing voter, who more times than not sided with the so-called conservative wing, so that slightly solidified the conservative wing. But if you are replacing Justice Ginsburg with a Trump appointee, that would be akin to replacing Thurgood Marshall with Clarence Thomas, said Malcom. It would mark a large shift in the direction of the court. The White House is urging outside allies to be prepared for another bruising confirmation battle should Ginsbergs health take a sudden turn for the worse, according to four sources with knowledge of the overtures. Outside groups, led by the Federalist Society and the Judicial Crisis Network, played a leading role in helping to confirm Kavanaugh and, before that, Justice Neil Gorsuch. The groups have advised the Trump team on everything from potential nominees to political and media strategy, producing television advertisements and blitzing reporters with supportive messaging. Together, the conservative groups spent over $7 million on ads supporting Kavanaughs nomination. -Politico Supreme Court appointments are for life, and replacements can only occur upon the death or retirement of a judge. If a judge cannot perform their duties, Congress has the option to impeach. In December, the vehemently anti-Trump- Ginsburg told an audience that she will do this job as long as I can do it full steam. During the heat of the 2016 US election, Ginsburg made shockwaves when she told the New York Times that should President Trump become President, it would be time to move to New Zealand, stating I cant imagine what the country would be with Donald Trump as our president, adding For the country, it could be four years. For the court, it could be I dont even want to contemplate that. The comments led many to suggest Ginsburg would need to recuse herself from any decisions involving Trump, with even the Washington Post noting that some wondered what impact this might have on Ginsburgs decision to hear cases involving Trump. If theres a redo of Bush v. Gore, how does Ginsburg not recuse herself, given her Trump comments? Trump fired back, telling The Times I think its highly inappropriate that a United States Supreme Court judge gets involved in a political campaign, frankly. He also tweeted: Justice Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court has embarrassed all by making very dumb political statements about me. Her mind is shot resign! This article was posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 6:33 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article Newsbusters January 11, 2019 Congressional Democrats, like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY), used to be in total support for barriers along the border before President Trump came along. Its an inconvenient truth the liberal media refused to adequately acknowledge as they blamed Trump for the prolonged government shutdown. On Thursday, NBC Nightly News was in such denial of that truth that they sent correspondent Jacob Soboroff to the border to attack the effectiveness of Trumps prototypes and the existing fencing. In 2018, private companies built eight prototype barriers in an effort to score a government contract to build President Trumps border wall. All eight failed because federal officials were able to breach them; clearly signaling they couldnt be used. But according to NBC, those prototypes could be what actually gets built. This image obtained exclusively by NBC News shows how vulnerable President Trumps wall could be. Its the result of a Department of Homeland Security test ordered by this administration, Soboroff bitterly declared. Smearing Trumps attempt to compromise with Democrats, in which he offered to use border wall funds to build a type of wall they had funded in the past (steel slats), Soboroff conflated one prototype with the existing barrier. This steel slat prototype sliced with a saw. Critics of President Trumps border policy say no barrier, including steel just like this, will do anything to solve the humanitarian or security crisis, he claimed as he walked along an existing border fence. Touting how the President responded to NBCs slanted reporting during his trip to the border on Thursday, Soboroff chided the fact that previous administrations had used similar designs and insisted on further conflating them. While previous administrations did use the design, the prototypes were built during the Trump administration, he said. All eight were breached during testing. Read more This article was posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 7:20 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article RT January 11, 2019 Dozens of people would have been killed in an unprecedented terrorist attack in the Netherlands if a seven-strong terrorist cell had not been stopped in time, a Dutch public prosecutor told a court on Thursday. The terrorists were intercepted in September last year following months of investigation. The seven suspects were arrested in the towns of Arnhem and Weert. Police seized 100kg of fertilizer as well as other bomb-making materials at their homes, they said at the time. This week, preliminary hearings in the high-profile case started. The suspects said goodbye to friends. These suspects were on the way to commit an attack, with dozens of victims. The Netherlands escaped a major attack, the prosecutor told a court on Thursday. According to the prosecution, the terrorists intended to target a festival with guns and bombs. A car bomb was also considered by the group. The conspirators discussed how they would conduct the raid, how they would avoid police, and how they should set off their explosive vests early if law enforcement tried to stop them, the court was told. Luckily, the police identified the threat before they could carry out their plans. The prosecutor stressed that at no point was the public in danger in this case. But how different it could have been. If the string had broken with the infiltrators, we might have had dozens of victims. The police operation to bust the cell started in mid-May after a tip from the Dutch intelligence service AIVD, which flagged one of the suspects as a potential terrorist. The police managed to infiltrate the cell sometime in June and collected enough evidence against them by late September, after which the arrests were made. Shortly before that, group members received training in using guns by two undercover police officers. The defense team insists that the police operation was actually entrapment and that the group would never have taken part in the gun training unless provoked by the police. The defendants say they only wanted to play with Kalashnikovs and were not hardcore jihadists contrary to what the prosecution alleges. Of the seven people arrested in September, only three were present during the preliminary hearing. One 18-year-old person was since released due to lack of evidence to justify his continued detention, but remains a suspect in the case. This article was posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 6:19 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: RT January 11, 2019 Swiss police have defended their decision to fine a man who shouted Allahu Akbar in public, arguing that they would have reacted the same way if someone had been shouting obscenities in public, local media reported. The 22-year-old man, named as Orhan E., claims that he used the Islamic phrase, meaning God is great, to express surprise after unexpectedly seeing a friend in a parking lot in Schaffhausen, a town in northern Switzerland. The exclamation often shouted by Islamic terrorists before carrying out attacks caught the attention of a police officer, Schaffhauser Nachrichten (SHN) reports. The policewoman promptly approached the male and later handed over his case to city law enforcement, which fined him 150 Swiss francs for causing a public nuisance. An additional 60 francs in administrative fees brought the total to 210 francs ($213). The incident occurred in May 2018, but was only revealed to the public this week after the man went public with his story. Police have stood by the fine, arguing that the phrase was used in a loud and clear manner and could have caused panic among the public. At that time of the day, there was a possibility that people could have become afraid and horrified, a media spokesperson for the towns police force, Patrick Caprez, told SHN. Police chief Romeo Bettini said that officers would have acted in the same way if someone had shouted obscenities in a public space. He also stressed that it is completely wrong to say this phrase [Allahu Akbar] is forbidden in Schaffhausen. Orhan E. for his part claimed that he did nothing wrong, saying that he decided to go public with his story because he had heard of a similar incident from December. Back then, a border guard allegedly punched a young man who had said Allahu Akbar. I was born here [in Switzerland] and have never experienced anything like this, Orhan E. said. Just because terrorists misuse these two words doesnt mean I have bad intentions when I say them. The incident has sparked a Zurich anti-racism group to file a criminal complaint against Schaffhausens police department, The Local writes. The picturesque town may be justifiably skittish when it comes to potential acts of violence: In 2017, Schaffhausen was the target of a chainsaw-wielding attacker who injured two people in a rampage. This article was posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 6:18 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article American Mirror January 11, 2019 Sen. Kamala Harris media blitz ahead of her likely 2020 presidential run has already gotten off to a disastrous start. During an interview Wednesday with CNNs Jake Tapper, the California Democrat was asked about reports that indicated she was not aware of a recent harassment settlement involving one of her top advisers. Harris responded by implying that her office was too big to notice that one of her top aides had been sexually harassing people. She also did not issue an actual apology to the alleged victims or for her lack of leadership on the issue, but rather acted as if she was the victim by saying the experience was very painful for her. You were a leader of the #MeToo movement, you were very vocal on the Senate Judiciary Committee during Kavanaugh, Tapper said. An unfortunate thing happened on your staff, which is one of your top aides had to resign a few weeks ago, Larry Wallace. Right, Harris said, nodding her head in agreement. A d v e r t i s e m e n t Tapper then detailed how Wallace helped Harris run the California Department of Justice when she served as the states Attorney General. As somebody who is a leader of the #MeToo movement, how did this happen and you didnt know about it? Tapper pressed. And what did you learn about it given that it kind of struck close to home? Harris said it was a very painful experience for her, playing up the victim card, and suggested her office simply had too many employees almost 5,000 for her to notice. While Democrats claim to be the leaders of the #MeToo movement, several of their top potential top 2020 candidates have been plagued with issues of sexual harassment. Last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, told CNNs Anderson Cooper that he was a little bit busy to notice that several women experienced sexual harassment while working for his 2016 presidential campaign. Just to be clear, you seemed to indicate that you did not know at the time about the allegations. Is that correct?Cooper asked. Uh, yes, Sanders responded. I was a little bit busy running around the country, trying to make the case. Harris media tour this week has been packed with controversial comments. During an appearance Tuesday on ABCs The View, the California Democrat attacked President Donald Trump, brushed off the Muslim lawmaker who referred to the president as a motherf*cker, and said she thinks Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs proposed 70 percent tax hikeon wealthy Americans is fantastic. Later in the segment, Harris defended Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who last week called on her congressional colleagues to impeach the motherf*cker, referring to Trump. Honestly, my candid response is that shes not the first nor will she be the last elected person to curse in public, Harris said. People are feeling very passionate right now in our country, and theyre expressing those views in a variety of ways. I also do believe that in the passion what we also do have to check, as a separate matter, is that there are also very right now powerful voices in our country that are sowing hate and division among us. And we also need to check that, Harris added, with the crowd applauding her completely deflecting and making it all Trumps fault. Harris radical ideas and anti-Trump positions arent surprising, especially given this is the same woman who recently compared the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to the Ku Klux Klan. Before that, she came under fire for refusing on 10 separate occasions to say whether she believes a convicted felon should be allowed to serve in the U.S. Senate. She also wasnt asked by anyone on Tuesday about The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust ranking her as one of the Worst Ethics Violators of 2018. This article was posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 7:12 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article RT January 11, 2019 The head of the US Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, is concerned about US debt, which has recently topped $21.9 trillion, according to US Treasury Department data. Im very worried about it, the Fed chief told participants of The Economic Club of Washington, DC on Thursday. From the Feds standpoint, were really looking at a business cycle kind of length: thats our frame of reference. Just one day before his statement, the overall US deficit was more than $21.93 trillion $16 billion of which is owed by the public and $5.8 by intragovernmental holdings, US Treasury data showed as of January 9. Thus, the annual surge in 2018 topped $1 trillion. The long-run fiscal, nonsustainability of the US federal government isnt really something that plays into the medium term that is relevant for our policy decisions, Powell added. Its a long-run issue that we definitely need to face, and ultimately, will have no choice but to face. The head of the Federal Reserve also warned that while his department has no official projection on the current government shutdown, it can still have a damaging effect on the national economy. The shutdown, which affects about a quarter of the federal government, entered its 21st day on Friday, with still no consensus on $5.7 billion funding to build the border wall US President Donald Trump insists on. If we have an extended shutdown, I do think that would show up in the data pretty clearly, Powell stated. He added the Fed will have a less clear picture on the state of the national economy as during the shutdown the government agencies will not be able to release some vital data, including retail sales and GDP figures. A d v e r t i s e m e n t Earlier, Powells predecessor as chair of the US Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen, warned that another financial crisis can hit the US due to ballooning corporate debt and regulatory impotence. I think things have improved, but then I think there are gigantic holes in the system The tools that are available to deal with emerging problems are not great in the United States, Yellen said in December. This article was posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 6:22 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article Zero Hedge January 11, 2019 Turkey has threatened to strike the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia if the United States delays its troop withdrawal from the country, according to The Guardian. If the [pullout] is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this decision, said Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, referring to their threat to launch a military operation in Kurdish controlled Syria. Speaking with broadcaster NTV, Cavusoglu said it was not realistic to assume that the United States will be able to collect weapons it gave to the YPG, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers a terrorist group. Turkish officials had a tense meeting this week with Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, in Ankara aimed at coordinating the pullout process. Erdogan who has welcomed the pullout plan accused Bolton of a grave mistake by demanding that Ankara provide assurances on the safety of the Kurdish fighters before Washington withdraws its troops. The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, who is on a regional tour, also said on Wednesday that Turkey had committed to protecting Washingtons Kurdish allies fighting Islamic State in Syria. The Guardian The United States has worked closely with the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Ankara views as a terrorist offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), reports The Guardian. The PKK has vowed to battle the Turkish state since 1984. We are determined on the field and at the table We will decide on its timing and we will not receive permission from anyone, Cavusoglu said of the plan to strike, adding that various officials in the Trump administration had tried to discourage Trump from the pullout plan creating excuses such as Turkey massacring Kurds, referring to Pompeos comments. Cavusoglu added that Turkey would fight the YPG whether or not the US withdraws from Syria, and that he and Pompeo would discuss over the phone on Thursday. This article was posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 7:16 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article RT January 11, 2019 Earths magnetic field, the basis for modern global navigation systems, is constantly in some state of flux. However, it now seems to be going haywire, pushing the North Pole closer to Siberia, and no ones sure why. The field changes as the molten metals surrounding the earths solid iron core churn and flow, creating electric currents and a corresponding magnetic field. As a result, the magnetic poles tend to shift slightly as a matter of course. However, researchers dont know whats causing the magnetic field to now move so quickly. The north magnetic pole sped across the International Date Line last year at a rate of 55 km per year, more than three times as fast as it moved before the mid-1990s. Now located in the Eastern Hemisphere, its moving away from Canada and approaching Siberia. Scientists think a high-speed jet of liquid iron under Canada could be responsible for the poles movement, weakening the magnetic field below and allowing Siberia to draw over the pole, Nature reports. The location of the north magnetic pole appears to be governed by two large-scale patches of magnetic field, one beneath Canada and one beneath Siberia, University of Leeds geomagnetist Phil Livermore told a recent American Geophysical Union meeting. The Siberian patch is winning the competition. In general, the World Magnetic Model (WMM) is updated at five-year intervals to ensure modern navigation keeps up with the changes in the Earths magnetic field. It was due to be reconfigured next in 2020, but was so out-of-whack by 2018 that a more urgent update was needed. A d v e r t i s e m e n t Researchers at the British Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been working to correct the WMM using three years of recent data, including a 2016 pulse that threw their last models accuracy off. The scientists were due to release the latest update next week if the US government hadnt shut down, hamstringing NOAAs operations. Now the release has been postponed to the end of January. The team hopes this model lasts until 2020. This article was posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 6:20 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article Free Beacon January 11, 2019 Democrats and Republicans introduced dueling gun proposals this week in the Senate with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) pushing a new gun-ban proposal and Sen. John Cornyn (R., Tex.) attempting to expand gun-carry protections across the country. Feinsteins bill, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, would ban the sale, manufacture, transfer, and importation of certain semiautomatic firearms. The text of the bill has not yet been released, but Feinsteins office said it would ban any firearm capable of accepting a detachable magazine and either a pistol grip, a forward grip, a barrel shroud, a threaded barrel or a folding or telescoping stock. Firearms fitting the description would become illegal to sell if the bill was passed but those already legally owned would remain legal but become subject to additional regulations. Transfers of so-called high capacity magazines would also be banned under the proposal, though the senators office didnt specify what would constitute a high capacity. Last year we saw tens of thousands of students nationwide take to the streets to demand action to stop mass shootings and stem the epidemic of gun violence that plagues our communities, Feinstein said in a statement. Our youngest generation has grown up with active-shooter drills, hiding under their desksand now theyre saying enough is enough. Americans across the nation are asking Congress to reinstate the federal ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. If were going to put a stop to mass shootings and protect our children, we need to get these weapons of war off our streets. Feinsteins office said the bill will resemble similar legislation the senator has introduced in previous years. However, they said the updated bill will include a ban on assault pistols that weigh 50 or more ounces when unloaded, a ban on pistol stabilizing braces, and a ban on Thordsen-type grips and stocks that are designed to evade a ban on assault weapons. Read more This article was posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 7:18 am Print this page. Infowars.com Videos: Comment on this article American Mirror January 11, 2019 Rather than work toward bipartisanship and unity, a prominent Democrat is now taking a page out of Hillary Clintons book. On Tuesday, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-TN, took to Twitter to suggest Trumps address from the Oval Office on Tuesday night resembled Ku Klux Klan tactics. Cohen also implied that Trumps audience is similar to Ku Klux Klan membership. Cohens salacious tweet, which was later deleted, was in response to presidential biographer Jon Meacham, who suggested in his tweet that calls for a border wall are comparable to the Ku Klux Klan. Steve Cohen Implies Trumps Audience Is Similar to Ku Klux Klan https://t.co/O036HBwoG4 pic.twitter.com/gE08nPodZ3 fneudecker (@fneudecker) January 10, 2019 In another tweet, which has not been deleted, Cohen described Trump as a national emergency. There is a #NationalEmergency ! Its Donald Trump! Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) January 9, 2019 The Tennessee Democrat fired off a third tweet that insulted Americans as plain folks of the land who are following a downright and complete narcissistic moron like Trump. Cohen has been busy since Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives last Thursday. Just hours after taking control of the lower chamber, Cohen introduced two radical bills. One would prohibit presidents from pardoning themselves or their family members, and the other would abolish the electoral college. A press release from Cohens office stated: Senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced two Constitutional Amendments today on the opening day of the new Congress. The first would eliminate the Electoral College and provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President of the United States. The second would limit the presidential pardon power by prohibiting presidents from pardoning themselves, members of their families, members of their administrations and their campaign staff. In two presidential elections since 2000, including the most recent one in which Hillary Clinton won 2.8 million more votes than her opponent, the winner of the popular vote did not win the election because of the distorting effect of the outdated Electoral College. Americans expect and deserve the winner of the popular vote to win office. More than a century ago, we amended our Constitution to provide for the direct election of U.S. Senators. It is past time to directly elect our President and Vice President. Presidents should not pardon themselves, their families, their administration or campaign staff. This constitutional amendment would expressly prohibit this and any future president, from abusing the pardon power. In August, Cohen joked that then-Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn should jump off a bridge. During a speech at a Memphis church, Cohen claimed Blackburn will do whatever the president asks and joked that he wanted to see Trump order her off a bridge. Ghana hosts ECOWAS Summit this week Ghana will, from today, host the Mid-Year Statutory Meetings of the Economic IGP must step down- Security Analyst Security Analyst Adam Bona is advocating for the replacement of the IGP James B-Heck Africa Sanitation Challenge launched B-HeCK Africa NGOs Alliance has launched their novel sanitation campaign World Bank introduces strict disbursement rules for Ghana's $200m vaccine loan The World Bank has put in place strict disbursement rules to check any abuse of Mats Hummels own goal gives France win over Germany at Euros World champions France started their Euro 2020 campaign with a win over Germany GFA begins 2021/22 CAF Inter Club Licensing process The Club Licensing department of the Ghana Football Association will today, CIMG admits 104 new members The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), has admitted 104 new Tullow rules out further layoffs Tullow says there will not be further layoffs in the coming days. World Bank introduces strict disbursement rules for Ghana's $200m vaccine loan The World Bank has put in place strict disbursement rules to check any abuse of 14 times this year armed robbers heightened fears of insecurity in Ghana A brutal attack on a vehicle transporting cash to a bank on Monday, June 14, Court to hear case against #fixthecountry convenors today The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Ruby WhatsApp launches privacy campaign after backlash WhatsApp has launched its first major privacy-focused advertising campaign in 14 times this year armed robbers heightened fears of insecurity in Ghana A brutal attack on a vehicle transporting cash to a bank on Monday, June 14, Court to hear case against #fixthecountry convenors today The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Ruby Galamsey: John Boadu petitions CID The General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu has petitioned the Director of the CIMG admits 104 new members The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), has admitted 104 new Israel strikes in Gaza after fire balloons launched Israel says it has carried out airstrikes against Hamas militant targets in Irish police to be given powers over passwords Irish police will have the power to compel people to provide passwords for TUTAG begins strike today The leadership of the Technical Universities Teachers Association of Ghana Dates for MTN FA Cup Round 32 fixtures announced Matches in the Round of 32 of the MTN FA Cup have been scheduled for Friday, Tullow rules out further layoffs Tullow says there will not be further layoffs in the coming days. Court to hear case against #fixthecountry convenors today The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Ruby Three-member management committee to revamp TOR sworn in The Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has sworn in a three-member Mats Hummels own goal gives France win over Germany at Euros World champions France started their Euro 2020 campaign with a win over Germany Ghana Assoc. of Bankers to hold an emergency meeting The Ghana Association of Bankers is expected to hold an emergency meeting to Irish police to be given powers over passwords Irish police will have the power to compel people to provide passwords for Ghana Assoc. of Bankers to hold an emergency meeting The Ghana Association of Bankers is expected to hold an emergency meeting to Dates for MTN FA Cup Round 32 fixtures announced Matches in the Round of 32 of the MTN FA Cup have been scheduled for Friday, Galamsey: John Boadu petitions CID The General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu has petitioned the Director of the Mats Hummels own goal gives France win over Germany at Euros World champions France started their Euro 2020 campaign with a win over Germany B-Heck Africa Sanitation Challenge launched B-HeCK Africa NGOs Alliance has launched their novel sanitation campaign WhatsApp launches privacy campaign after backlash WhatsApp has launched its first major privacy-focused advertising campaign in Plattsburgh, NY (12901) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 72F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low 51F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Sweeney backs donor transparency measure {child_byline}COLT SHAW Staff Writer {/child_byline} Senate President Steve Sweeney on Thursday announced his support for a bill that would require groups that seek to influence the political process to disclose their donors, a move he says will increase transparency. State Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, introduced a bill last February to revise existing legislation to include expanded reporting requirements for any organization that spends $3,000 or more in pursuit of influencing the political process. It would require information from those organizations on contributions and expenditures over $300. Sweeney, D-Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland, wants to revise Singletons bill to require disclosure of all contributions retroactive to the beginning of 2018. In a statement, Sweeney said adding his name to those calling for greater transparency is about strengthening the democratic functions of the system. Sweeney pension reform is realistic and good Since I started state employment 20 years ago, I have heard about the problems of the pension fund for state workers. Only one person is realistic enough to see that this fund will never become solvent without serious reform. That is why as a 20 year state worker, as a lifelong union member, I fully support state Senate President Stephen Sweeneys pension reform plan. Under his plan every current vested state employee would retain their pension. No promises would be broken. Future state employees would know exactly what their benefits would be so that they can make an informed decision on whether to join state service. That is fair. I am sick and tired of the naysayers who have no realistic plan of their own. What also bothers me is that most of the opponents to Sweeneys plan (typically organization leaders) are not even state employees. The stock market is dropping, the economy will soon slow down and the pension fund is in horrible shape. The funds future is bleak. Getting to the Dallas/Fort Worth airport from the suburbs can be an hour-and-a-half drive, and we think these aircraft can make the same trip in eight minutes, he added. Hastings said the company believes the Bell Nexus is more than just a commuter aircraft. When cargo needs to be moved from a Walmart on one side of town to the other, he said, the companys aircraft could be put to use. The Bell Nexus seats up to five passengers, not including the pilot. The company originally planned to bypass a pilot, keeping the aircraft autonomous, but it has since included room for a pilot in the machines design, Hastings said. Larger versions of the aircraft could hold eight to 10 people, he said. What does it look like inside? Hastings said the internet-connected cabin was designed to be plush and provide wide views of the outside world. It looks like youre in a limousine on your way to prom, one reviewer said, excitedly pointing out USB ports and cup holders. The craft is powered by a hybrid-electric propulsion system featuring six tilting fans. Those fans, the company said, would allow the vehicle to take off vertically and cruise at high speed when theyre positioned at 90 degrees. TRENTON The states new Complete Count Commission, tasked with ensuring an accurate and complete count of New Jerseys population in the 2020 federal Census, met for the first time Wednesday, according to the Department of State. About 60 people from community groups all over the state attended, said Department spokeswoman Trudi Gilfillian. This is of paramount importance as the census will determine congressional representation and the allocation of billions of dollars in federal funding for services within our communities, said Secretary of State Tahesha Way, who chaired the meeting at the War Memorial. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution mandates the Census take place every 10 years. The data collected determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and is used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities, according to the Census Bureau. +2 More people leaving New Jersey than arriving, moving company says Its a familiar story: Residents, sick of the cost of living, pick up and flee New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill creating the commission Aug. 24. Gilfillian said there will be a focus on hard-to-count populations, including African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, Asian Americans, non-native English speakers, the homeless and indigent, college students, children under age 5, men ages 18 to 49, and the elderly. Cape May was designated a Coast Guard Community in 2015, one of 20 cities in the country with the title. How the community has rallied together in an effort to support those families impacted by the shutdown is certainly an example of why they have earned the title Coast Guard Community, said John Edwards, spokesman for the training center. At First Assembly of God Church on Seashore Road, the Rev. Leo Dodd heard a Coast Guard family in his congregation was at risk of missing a paycheck and asked whether he could cover their groceries. Word spread, and others wanted to help. They connected with the on-base chaplain, and became a collection point for the pantry. We just love the Coast Guard and what theyre doing for our community, and we want to help them anyway we can, Dodd said. The pantry, though, is for all furloughed federal employees and essential employees working without a guaranteed paycheck, the Coast Guard emphasizes. In America, everyone lives paycheck to paycheck, so to go a week could be very hard for a family, said Dodds wife, Jeannie, and theyre there to help us and protect us, so we want to help them. The U.S. Attorneys Office alleges Gilmore avoided paying his taxes by concealing information from the IRS, falsely reported his income and filed false tax returns. Court documents showed Gilmore under-reported his income in tax returns for 2013 and 2014. In November 2014 to October 2015, he told IRS collections officers he would make partial payments for outstanding tax liabilities. He then sent a check to the IRS in 2014 for $493,526 from a personal bank account with no more than $2,500. The check bounced, but Gilmore never resubmitted payment. Investigators say Gilmore spent more than $80,000 toward the remodeling of his home including building an infinity pool, a cabana, marble flooring and a mahogany and cherry wood fireplace mantle. Gilmore also allegedly purchased a $20,000 Steinway piano, $80,000 in collectible model trains, $440,000 of various antiques, art and animal tusks, along with spending more than $100,000 on vacations in Colorado and more than $700,000 for mortgages and expenses for five other real estate properties. Staff Writer Two men were arrested and a handgun recovered after reports of shots being fired Tuesday. Officers responded to the 1500 block of Sewell Avenue at 7:16 p.m. after hearing gunshots in the area. Surveillance center personnel found suspects fleeing the area and notified officers of their description, police said. Officers Justin Draper and Robert Reynolds saw two men on the porch of a residence in the 1900 block of Blaine Avenue who matched the description of the fleeing suspects, police said. The officers began to speak with the men when one, Ibinnassi Bailey, 21, of Atlantic City, attempted to flee, police said. Draper quickly detained him and placed him in custody, finding a loaded handgun in Baileys waistband in the process, police said. Bailey was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a defaced firearm and resisting arrest. The second man, Zaire Bailey, 21, of Pine Hill, Camden County, was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. Both men were taken to the Atlantic County jail. Unfortunately, a lot of people get caught up in headlines, and it distorts the facts, Small said. +2 Excessive force suit against retired Atlantic City police officer dismissed CAMDEN A federal judge has dismissed excessive force claims in a lawsuit against a former In a statement issued the same day as the council meeting, White said the report fails to recognize the continued dramatic reduction in force and reduction in internal affairs complaints, including excessive force complaints, experienced by the ACPD, coupled with the significant reduction in violent and non-violent crime in Atlantic City. The departments 2017 End of Year report shows a 67.7 percent reduction in use-of-force reports compared to 2013, according to Whites statement. He added that, while 2018 data is still being studied, it looks like there has been a 38.5 percent reduction in excessive force complaints compared to 2017. White also said the number of arrests the outlet reported was incorrect. NJ Advance Media states in its report that the department has had a 55 percent drop in arrests, while the number has actually been steady for the past several years, White said. With the use of erroneous data, NJ Advance Media has extrapolated an incorrect force percentage for all arrests, and uses that incorrect percentage as the basis of its criticism, White said. Former deputy chief suing Atlantic City Police Department ATLANTIC CITY A former deputy police chief has filed a lawsuit against the city, the Polic MAYS LANDING Although my mom taught me to not carry hate in my heart and she believed in forgiveness, I will never, never forgive this monster and I will always hate him as long as I live, Ana Blanco said Thursday afternoon during the sentencing of the man who killed her mother, Bessy Blanco. Jose B. Lopez, 53, of Ventnor, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his ex-grilfriend, 54-year-old Blanco, who was found stabbed to death inside her home on North Harrisburg Avenue in Atlantic City on Feb. 18, 2017. Lopez was also sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder of Blancos friend, Mark Richart, who was found stabbed on the street outside the home but survived the incident. +2 Families wait while attorneys work in local domestic violence murders I just want other parents to see what I didnt see, Paula Modelle said Friday afternoon, h He will serve the sentences concurrently. Richart was present at the sentencing but did not give a statement. Lopez, who appeared shackled and in an orange prison jumpsuit, kept his head lowered during his sentencing and declined to speak. Mr. Lopez has decided not to speak, but he certainly wants me to convey his remorse, his apologies, said his attorney, Steve Scheffler. He certainly wants both families to understand that, from the outset, he wishes he could dial back the clock and rewrite history. Joyce was already an institution in Millville, said DAmico. Vanaman was known for filing more stories per day than any other reporter, she said. When she retired (in 2005), we joked she had to retire, because she had interviewed every person in Millville. There was no one left. Vanaman always covered the announcement for Millville Citizen of the Year, but in 1991 she was the nominee. To keep it a secret, DAmico worked with the city to have Vanaman write about a decoy candidate. Vanaman went to the event and was surprised because she had already written a story on someone else. Her first words after they called her name were, I have to call my editor, my story is all wrong, DAmico said. Her nickname was The Velvet Steamroller, said writer Eileen Tedesco Bennett, of Maurice River Township. She said Vanaman was her mentor, as she was for so many other reporters over the years. She was sweet but tough, Bennett said of the woman shes known since 1975. She was so polite, I never heard her lose her temper or say a mean word to anyone. Freeholder Jim Quinn, president of Quinn Broadcasting and former Millville mayor, said his father would show up at city meetings to give officials a hard time. Emergency management officials are gearing up for a snowy Saturday night in South Jersey. Atlantic County began brining roads Thursday in anticipation of moderate precipitation, said county spokeswoman Linda Gilmore. Brine, a mix of salt and water, can be placed on roads days before a winter weather event, as long as conditions are dry between the time the brine is placed and the start of winter precipitation. Snow is expected to begin between 8 and 11 p.m. Saturday and end by 6 p.m. Sunday. Most of the snow is expected south of the Atlantic City Expressway, according to Press Meteorologist Joe Martucci. The area will see 2 to 4 inches of snow that will likely stick to the roads. If 2 or more inches fall, Gilmore said, crews will begin plowing. The county has a 40-vehicle fleet for salting and plowing. Residents are reminded to exercise caution on roadways and to leave room behind salt trucks and plows, Gilmore said. ATLANTIC CITY Two of the candidates vying to be the next mayor of this city are tallying their endorsements three weeks before the election. Republican Mayor Don Guardian, who is running for re-election, announced endorsements on Monday from several city community leaders, including Democratic City Council President Marty Small, who originally set out to challenge him. Small lost in the June primary election to Democratic candidate Frank Gilliam, who will challenge Guardian in the general election. Gilliam previously announced he was endorsed by the South Jersey Building Trades Council, which is made up of about 40,000 members and 25 trades. Along with Small, Guardian also announced endorsements from former City Councilman and current Atlantic County Freeholder Ernest D. Coursey, the Rev. Collins A. Days Sr. and Bishop R. Fulton Hargrove II. Last month, Unite Here Local 54, the citys Policemens Benevolent Association and the president of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey also endorsed Guardian and his team for mayor and council at-large. Of course it was a surprise, but my reaction was positive, said Miss Coastal Shores 2019 Christa Steiner, 20, of Beach Haven. Steiner competed for Miss New Jersey last year and will be in this years pageant. She said Ocean City was a great hosting town, but Atlantic City is synonymous with pageant glitz. Atlantic City is so famous and has so much they can provide us. For us girls competing in Miss New Jersey, well get to experience a bit of what Miss America feels like, Steiner said. Gillian said the city supported the Miss America franchise at a time when the pageant was struggling financially. We rolled out the red carpet. We made some great strides for the pageant, including their own Show Us Your Shoes parade, Gillian said. We made sure the hotels were offering good rates and had the expertise of the Music Pier facility for the pageant and publicity for the event. We used a lot of resources, and the businesses opened their doors. During last years pageant week, the 28 Miss New Jersey candidates made appearances at several city restaurants, including the Promenade Food Court, Pisa Pizza, Uncle Bills Pancake House and Yiannis Cafe. +6 Miss New Jersey competition leaving Ocean City ATLANTIC CITY While the future home of the Miss America Competition remains unclear, the M The support I have received from my fellow board members and the community has been wonderful. I respect the process that we have to follow and am eagerly awaiting the decision from the county. Its unfortunate it has to come to this, however with a 10-voting-member board its unavoidable, Lyons said. For the past 16 years, Ive worked for our students, staff and parents. I am eager to resolve this issue and remain focused on their needs. The 11-member board includes two members from Hammontons sending districts of Folsom and Waterford Township. The ability for the Waterford board member to vote is fairly new, thanks to a law enacted by the state Legislature and signed by the governor in 2017 that allows eligible members from sending districts to cast votes on board leadership, among other items. Board Solicitor Will Donio said he has not seen tied votes before for the leadership of the board mostly because boards usually consist of odd numbers of members. Donio said the reason that Waterford can vote is because it comprises more than 10 percent of the district. Folsom, he said, does not. In other school board news, Egg Harbor Township is again looking to fill a vacant seat on its Board of Education after a member-elect declined the position. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftains in Lagos State on Friday visited the Alimosho area of the state in continuation of the partys house-to-house campaign. APC Chieftains that accompanied the VP included the immediate past governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) and APC Governorship Candidates for Lagos, Babafemi Sanwo-Olu. Alimosho is the most populated area of Lagos, comprising Ijegun, Ikotun, Idimu, Egbeda, Ipaja and Ayobo, among others. NAN also reports that traffic was at standstill as residents in the various areas visited by the VP trouped out to join the interactive session. Speaking to the crowd at Greenland Stadium in Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Mr Osinbajo urged the APC members to work tirelessly for President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates victory in the forthcoming elections. He said Alimosho was very crucial to the APC as it is the local government area with the largest voting population in the state. There are votes in Alimosho. We should all go out and vote on Feb. 16 for Buhari. We are expecting large votes from Alimosho, which has the largest voting population, he said. Mr Ambode said: Alimosho votes are very crucial to APCs victory. We should all go out and vote enmasse for President Buhari and other APC candidates. You can see all of us coming together to campaign. It is a complete house and we are all united to work for APCs victory in Lagos State, he said. He said the laudable programmes of the Buharis administration should be the reason for Nigerians to vote for APC. Yomi Kasali, the Director General of the Professor Yemi Osinbajo APC Campaign Support Group, said returning Messrs Buhari and Osinbajo would be the best thing to happen to Nigeria in 2019. Mr Kasali said a vote for the duo was a vote for posterity and progress of the nation. Dapo Akinosun, Human Rights Lawyer and Managing Partner, SimmonsCooper Partners, said the house-to-house campaign choice was targeted at every Nigerian. Mr Akinosun explained that choices of houses to visit were on-the-spot decision and not determined by tribe or religion. Residents across the area that spoke with NAN, expressed great admiration and Love for the VP, pledging their support and votes. At Ijegun, the VPs first point of house call, Ikechukwu Obioma, an Igbo trader who spoke with NAN said: I am surprised by the VPs visit to my house. He is truly a humble man and he has won my heart and my votes will go to him, he said. Bola Ogundimu, another resident at Abesan Estate, said: The vice president is truly a humble man, I will not only vote for him but will convince others to do so. Another resident, who claimed anonymity because he belonged to an opposition party said from what he saw which was no longer propaganda, his votes would go to APC in spite of not being a member of the party. ADVERTISEMENT (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT Remi Olorunleke, a former Commissioner in the first regime of Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was abducted by unknown gunmen on Monday, has regained his freedom. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that also released from the kidnappers den is the Director of Administration, Gbonyin Local Government Area (LGA), David Jejelowo. They were kidnapped on Monday on the Ado Ekiti-Ikere road and spent four days in captivity before they were released. Olorunleke, who hails from Aisegba, Gbonyin LGA, was the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Urban Renewal and Physical Planning during Fayemis first term. The former commissioner, who announced his release on Friday while speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state capital said they were freed late Thursday night. He said he was kidnapped around 6.30 p.m. on Monday and taken to an unknown location where he was kept before his family was contacted. Yes, I have regained freedom after spending four days with the kidnappers. It was a traumatic experience and I thank God that I came back alive. We were two; I was together with the Director of Administration of Gbonyin Local Government. We both regained our freedom. I want to thank my well-wishers and my family for standing by me during this period, he said. He, however, declined to say if any ransom was paid to their abductors. Mr Olorunleke called on security agencies in the state to live up to the expectations of citizens. Also confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Police Command, Caleb Ikechukwu, a deputy superintendent of police, said police were aware that the duo had been freed. Mr Ikechukwu assured the people of the state that the police would soon unmask perpetrators behind the incessant cases of kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the state. He said the command would continue to work hard to ensure security of lives and property in the state. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, on Thursday evening gathered in their numbers to protest against the semester examinations for 2017/2018 academic session. According to the university time table, students are expected to start examinations on Monday, January 14, despite the strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which has denied the students of being properly taught. The ASUU in the school had warned the institution against conducting examinations when 70 per cent of the courses have not been taught. Lecturers of the university are divided over the strike as those of them in the parallel Congress of Universities Academics (CONUA) refused to join in the nationwide strike of ASUU, which began on November 4. The management of OAU is also bent on institutionalising a stable academic calendar, despite the fact that students in some departments like Chemical Engineering and Botany have not been receiving lectures for the past two months. However, the students of the institution, after a public meeting organised by the Students Union Committee, resolved to embark on a peaceful protest against what they tagged, stubborn and inconsiderate authority. The students marched from one hall of residence to another. Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES during the protest, a student who spoke under the condition of anonymity to avoid victimisation said, I am in my final year at Electrical and Electronic Department and we did not have the minimum of 12 weeks teaching and one compulsory lecture free week before we can proceed to examination as provided in the university regulations. The management should not in the name of stable calendar jeopardize the lives of students. Another student said, Some department have fixed lectures for Saturday and Sunday. Yet, students are expected to be in the examination hall on Monday. We are protesting not because we are lazy but because we are concerned students. The university should stop legalising illegality. We have not taken 70 per cent of lectures, as ASUU began strike in the 5th week. Citing the English Department as example, a 100 level student who did not want his name on print wondered how examination will hold for courses they were not taught for once. There are about seven or eight lecturers taking EGL102 and five of these lecturers are members of ASUU. Among these five is the coordinator of the course so who will set question. In fact two literature courses examination have been cancelled for those in 300 level. Rather than address the issues raised by the students and ASUU, the university management, in a statement signed by its Registrar, Margaret Omasule, warned the students against boycotting or engaging in any action that may disrupt the examination and stable academic calendar agenda. ADVERTISEMENT A former deputy governor of Osun State and candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the states last gubernatorial elections, Iyiola Omisore, has said he is fully in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections. Mr Omisore said this on Thursday when the governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, paid a thank you visit across Ile Ife. God made (the) relationship between me and the APC possible. Osun is one now and Ife remains the source from where all of draws our strength. I dont have to tell anybody that I am with the party. Any wise person should know where I belong. Mr Omisore maintained that the support he gave to the APC during the Osun elections rerun still remains intact, in 2019. Reacting to this promise, Mr Oyetola said the relationship between Mr Omisore and APC is the work of God. He promised to create employment for Ife Youths and infrastructural development. The governor further canvassed for the support of Ife in the coming election. Mr Omisores party, SDP, came third in the last Osun gubernatorial election. Delegates from the two major parties, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC, held separate meetings with him to seek his support in the rerun that took place after the main election. Mr Omisore later threw his weight behind APC on the claims that the party agreed to adopt his plans for the state. Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), said on Friday that President Muhammadu Buhari had done substantially well for the South-East to deserve the peoples massive support in the February polls. Mr Oshiomhole said this at a rally in Umuahia to formally handover the partys flag to the governorship candidate of the party in Abia, Uche Ogah, as well as the state and National Assembly candidates. He said Mr Buharis developmental strides in the zone in less than four years of his administration was enough to prove his critics wrong. He listed the reconstruction of Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressways, the construction of the Second Niger Bridge and completion of Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwes mausoleum in Onitsha, as some of the presidents achievements in the area. The partys national chairman therefore urged the people of the zone to vote massively for Mr Buharis re-election. He admonished them not to repeat the mistake they made in 2015, when they allegedly voted against APC. He further charged them to vote for Mr Ogah and other APC candidates in the polls to ensure the rapid transformation of the state. He described Mr Ogah as a product of self-effort, industry, creativity and enterprise. He said, Ogah is self-made. He is not coming into government to steal your money. Im happy that in Abia we had a direct primary that produced him. It was transparent. Im proud of him. Also, former Governor Orji Kalu, who is the Abia North Senatorial candidate of APC, said Abia would give Buhari 70 per cent vote in the February 16 election. He berated the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu led-administration for allegedly failing to utilise the states resources to transform the state. Mr Orji decried the poor state of infrastructure in the state, saying that Abia had not witnessed any meaningful development since he left office in 2007. He expressed the hope that Mr Ogah as a businessman would replicate his success story in his private business in governance, if elected. In his speech, Mr Ogah, an oil merchant, promised to make the people of Abia happy when elected. Abia rejoice! Your light has come and the glory of God has risen upon you, he said, amidst loud ovations from his teeming supporters at the Umuahia Township Stadium, venue of the rally. Earlier, Donatus Nwamkpa, the state Chairman of the party, said that APC painstakingly chose credible candidates for all the elective offices in the state. Mr Nwamkpa assured the people that an APC government would put an end to the sufferings of the people and salvage the state from many years of economic underdevelopment. ADVERTISEMENT Other candidates that received the partys flags at the event included Mr Kalu, Nkechi Nwaogu (Abia Central) and Marc Wabara (Abia South). The rally was attended by the Ministers of Labour and Employment, Science and Technology, Chris Ngige and Ogbonnaya Onu, respectively, amongst others. NAN reports that Mr Ogahs running mate, Martins Azubuike, along with most of the governorship aspirants, who lost at the party primary, were absent at the rally. They included former Deputy Governor Chris Akomas, Friday Nwosu and former Nigerias Consular-General to South Africa, Okey Emuche. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said its members will take part in next months general election. The group, which stated this at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Enugu on Friday, urged its members to participate in the polls. The meeting, which was presided over by its leader, Uchenna Madu, at their Awgu headquarters, Enugu State was attended by all the state, zonal, local government and national directors of the group. The group also resolved to allowed INEC to conduct elections in the South-east for those that still believe in the Nigeria state. MASSOB advised that other pro Biafra groups that planned to boycott the elections are entitled to stay at home during elections days, it said via a statement. The statement which was signed by its spokesperson, Samuel Edeson said in recognition of the freedom of political participation and exercises, we declare that this years general elections in Nigeria will not be stopped or boycotted in Biafra land. Our people that still believe in Nigerian project are free to participate in the electoral processes of Nigeria including this year as we will allow INEC to conduct elections in Biafra land. MASSOB, reaffirmed its commitment to the actualisation of Biafra through non-violence and international diplomacy in collaboration and brotherhood with other progressive pro Biafra groups. MASSOB, having realised that Biafrans cannot forcefully impose our desirable interest on the people of Nigeria. Also having understood the principles of non-violence, MASSOB unanimously agreed and resolved that Nigeria state will independently and internally observe and conduct their political exercises including general elections. That Nigeria elections will come and go irrespective of whoever that wins in both national and state elections. That we must continue with Biafra project of actualisation irrespective of both internal and external distraction, the statement said. Ahead of the 2019 general election, three candidates vying for the governorship seat in Kwara State have debated on issues affecting the state. The debate was conducted by the BBC Africa, on Thursday. It focused on five major issues: economy, education, health, infrastructure and creation of jobs in the state. The debate tagged #BBCGOVDebate #KwaraDecides2019 was conducted in Yoruba language. In a live broadcast via the BBC Yoruba Service Facebook page, the debate was conducted at the University of Ilorin. Five political parties were billed to attend the debate but only three candidates showed up. They include Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Abdulmumin Yinka; the governorship candidate of Accord Party, Ayorinde Adedoyin and Issa Aremu of Labour Party. The candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Razak Atunwa, and that of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, were absent. Speaking on health, Mr Adedoyin said his government would focus on health insurance adding that the health insurance scheme in Kwara State is not functioning well. He also said he would set up an elderly home in each local government in the state so as to keep and take care of our elderly ones even if it is feeding them. Mr Aremu said his government would employ more doctors, nurses and pharmacists in the state and spend more on healthcare. Mr Yinka said he would banish the menace of begging in Kwara state, On education, Mr Aremu said he would provide scholarships and grants for students. He would also pay unemployed youths and improve social welfare services. On security, Mr Yinka he said he would launch a platform called Integrated Public Safety Commission to ensure all the security heads meet regularly to discuss issues affecting peace. He also said he would end thuggery in the state. Mr Adedoyin said he would empower personnel in the state with vehicles and make judicious use of the security votes. Mr Adedoyin said he would focus on how to attract new investors in the state and enable the Shonga farmers to produce more. Meanwhile, Mr Aremu said he would focus on a progressive tax system that will increase state revenue. Mr Yinka said he would partner with international investors who have no interest in (getting) kickbacks. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The Borno State Government on Friday says it has commenced disbursement of N200 million education allowance to over 14, 000 students in tertiary institutions in the country. The Commissioner for Higher Education, Abubakar Hassan, told journalists in Maiduguri, the state capital that the bursaries would be paid to the students through the state Scholarship Board in 20 institutions across the country. He explained that the disbursement was made to settle accumulated outstanding allowances since 2013. The gesture is to motivate youths and women to further their education and encourage academic excellence, he said. Mr Hassan said a verification committee had been set up to facilitate smooth running of the exercise. According to him, the government will pay a minimum of N30,000 to each student depending on their discipline. The commissioner reiterated the governments commitment to reinvigorating the education sector through execution of viable projects. (NAN) In what appears a brazen mockery of President Muhammadu Buharis war on corruption to date, a former governor accused of absconding amidst his ongoing fraud trial has been seen attending a rally of Nigerias ruling party. Orji Kalu joined other politicians of the All Progressives Congress in Umuahia to stomp for the partys candidates ahead of the general elections next month. The appearance comes amidst pronouncements by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the former governor was wanted after departing Nigeria for Germany on purported health grounds in November 2018. The N7.7 billion trial had remained stalled ever since, although the court fixed further hearing for later this month. Mr Kalu left office as governor of Abia State in Nigerias South-east in May 2007, and has faced allegations he squandered state resources during his reign. After several judicial manoeuvres which critics said were designed to frustrate his prosecution, the EFCC ultimately reactivated Mr Kalus case last year, filling amended graft charges of up to N7.7 billion against him. At the resumed hearing at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on November 5, 2018, the EFCC expressed shock that Mr Kalu had departed the country despite seizing his travel documents. The former governors lawyers said he travelled to recuperate in Germany following a surgical operation. The judge scolded Mr Kalu for departing the country without due notice to the court, and gave him seven days to return to the country for his trial. Although the matter was subsequently adjourned till November 12, 2018, Mr Kalu failed to show up. He has been reportedly sighted at different parts of the country by those who know him. Last week, the Buhari campaign announced Mr Kalu as a key member of the presidents reelection committee. The announcement drew nationwide outrage, even though the politician was not sighted in public. But at the rally in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, today, Mr Kalu was shown on NTA wearing white clothes with an APC campaign lapel Friday afternoon. It was not immediately clear why Mr Kalu seamlessly roamed about in the country without being apprehended by law enforcement authorities. A spokesperson for the EFCC told PREMIUM TIMES the agency was not aware that Mr Kalu was in the country, much less attending a public event. A spokesperson for Mr Kalu did not return requests for comments Friday evening. A Trend The seemingly sloppy manner with which Mr Kalus corruption case is being handled suggest that the Buhari administration has not been as enthusiastic in going after corruption suspects in his own political party as he had been with opposition, said political analyst, Sola Olubanjo. ADVERTISEMENT We have seen cases and cases where the Buhari government turns a blind eye to its allies who have been formally accused of corruption, Mr Olubanjo said. But we may say the soft-landing they have given Orji Kalu is the most brazen since 2015. Mr Kalu was a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party since 1999. He joined the APC in November 2016, and critics immediately added him to a growing list of opposition politicians moving to the new ruling party to dodge trial for fraud. The PDP was Nigerias ruling party from 1999 until 2015 when Mr Buhari became the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election. Amongst those whose corruption cases have gone cold since joining APC include Abdullahi Adamu and Godswill Akpabio. While their cases were not entirely dropped by the EFCC, the anti-graft agency, which is under absolute control of the president, has not been vigorously prosecuting them as it has been doing with Femi Fani-Kayode, Olisa Metuh, Nenadi Usman and other opposition PDP bigwigs. The EFCC has however convicted two major politicians affiliated with the APC: Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye. They are now serving jail terms. ADVERTISEMENT Masked security operatives on Friday stormed the hospital where Dino Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi West, was receiving treatment, and forcibly removed the lawmaker. Mr Melaye was taken from his hospital bed into an unmarked vehicle and drove away, witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES. The senator was arrested last week after police laid siege on his home in Maitama, Abuja, for eight days. He turned himself in after hiding in the house for days. Mr Melaye has been in the hospital since then. Police accuse the senator of being involved in the shooting of an officer in his native Kogi State. Police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, later said that Mr Melaye was moved to a medical facility of the State Services Service (SSS) in Abuja. Mr Moshood said the lawmaker was taken away from the police clinic to another government-owned medical facility after the senator and the police disagreed about his fitness to face trial. The Police medical team at the Police Hospital, Abuja certified that Senator Dino Melaye is well and healthy to stand trial after treating him. However, due to the complaint from Senator Dino Melaye that he is not well, the Police Investigation Team has taken him this afternoon to another government hospital, DSS Medical Facility in Abuja for further medical attention, Mr. Moshood said. Mr. Moshood said the police have obtained a warrant of arrest from a Federal Capital Territory High Court to keep the embattled senator for 14 days, starting from January 9. The Police Investigation Team obtained a Fourteen (14) day Remand Warrant from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on 9th January, 2019, to keep Senator Dino Melaye in Police Custody for investigation into the case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide against him till 23rd January, 2019, he said. A photo appearing to show the senator lying outside the SSS medical facility has gone has gone viral on social media. This newspaper is yet to confirm the authenticity of the picture in circulation. The siege on Mr Melayes home was the fourth attempt by the police to arrest him in 2018. Police accused him of leading thugs to attack a police personnel in July 2018, an allegation Mr Melaye denied. Ambassador Tran Quang Tuyen (and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Photo: baoquocte.vn) During the informal meeting after the ceremony of presenting the letter of credence, President Recep Erdogan welcomed Ambassador Tran Quang Tuyen to receive the mission in Turkey and wished him to fulfill his mission. The President said that Turkey and Vietnam have many similarities, especially in terms of scale of population. The two countries have great potential to further promote cooperation in many fields, especially in economics and trade. He expressed his desire to promote the negotiation of a bilateral free trade agreement as well as strengthen cooperation in the fields of defense, healthcare and tourism. Ambassador Tuyen thanked President Erdogan and conveyed the cordial greetings of President Nguyen Phu Trong to him. He affirmed that the relationship between the two countries is developing very well, especially in recent times with consecutive high-level visits. The Turkish Prime Minister paid an official visit to Vietnam in August 2017 and Vietnams National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan paid an official visit to Turkey in October 2018. The Ambassador expected Mr. Erdogan to pay an official visit to Vietnam in the near future. The Vietnamese offical also hoped that the two sides would strive to boost the trade turnover to achieve the target of USD4 billion by 2020 as the leaders of the two countries proposed in 2017, and strengthen cultural exchanges between the two countries to improve mutual understanding between the two peoples. The two sides have direct flights Istanbul - Ho Chi Minh city - Hanoi of Turkish airline, and it is hoped that direct flights Istanbul - Ho Chi Minh city and Istanbul - Hanoi with more frequent flights will be soon opened, helping to further promote development of economics, trade, tourism and people exchange. On the following day, Ambassador Tuyen, his spouse, staff and families of officials and staff of the Embassy visited the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first President of the Republic of Turkey. He placed a memorial wreath at the late President's mausoleum, wrote and signed in a memorial gold book and visited the War Museum in the precinct of the Mausoleum./. ADVERTISEMENT The Nigerian Army on Friday buried 14 soldiers killed in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists on December 24. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 14 soldiers who were on escort duty were ambushed on their way back to Kaduna by the terrorists on Damaturu-Maiduguri road. The General Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Mohammed Mohammed, a major general, said it was a grim day in the division and the entire Army. Today we are gathered here not only to mourn but also celebrate lives of service and sacrifice. These enthusiastic and inspiring men, exemplified the values of our nation and the military which is loyalty, courage, selfless service, respect, honour and dignity. The GOC added that the fallen heroes gave their lives in the service of Nigeria for the good of the Nigerian people. We are so very proud of them. Your labour and sacrifice will never be in vain. What these men represent is the quest for national defence and preservation of the aspiration of the Nigerian people, he stressed. To the families of the slain soldiers, Mohammed said: Your husbands and children made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of this great country. They did not die in vain as they had given the ultimate duty to Nigeria. We will remember them forever as the brave soldiers. I want to assure you that myself and all my staff will always be there for you whenever the need arises. The GOC charged the troops to regard the death of their colleagues as antidote for inspiration and determination to go all out and rid your respective Areas of Operation of kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements. Soldiers carrying the remains of their dead colleagues during the burial of 14 Nigeria military personnel who lost their lives in an ambush by Boko Haram on Damaturu-Maiduguri Highway in Kaduna on Friday 11/1/2019 00305/11/01/2019/Ibrahim Bashir/ICE/NAN Family of the Captain Abimbola Moyinoluwa performing the dust to dust rite; during the burial of 14 Nigeria military personnel who lost their lives in an ambush by Boko Haram on Damaturu-Maiduguri Highway in Kaduna on Friday 11/1/2019 00303/11/01/2019/Ibrahim Bashir/ICE/NAN Soldiers carrying the remains of their dead colleagues during the burial of 14 Nigeria military personnel who lost their lives in an ambush by Boko Haram on Damaturu-Maiduguri Highway in Kaduna on Friday 11/1/2019 00304/11/01/2019/Ibrahim Bashir/ICE/NAN I want to assure you of the unwavering support of the Chief of Army Staff and the leadership of our dear nation in ensuring that you are provided with necessary equipment as well as adequate welfare to carry out your duty effectively and efficiently. The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) presented N500,000 to the families of each of the 14 soldiers as assistance, pending the processing of their benefits. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has begun training of its new recruits, PREMIUM TIMES has gathered. FRSC spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, told PREMIUM TIMES in an exclusive chat Thursday night that successful candidates have been contacted through the email with which they applied. Mr Kazeem who said the successful candidates are 4, 650 in all noted that training has since started in three locations across the country. He gave the locations of the training to include Enugu, Jos and Kontagora. According to him, officers are in FRSC academy, Udi Enugu; inspectorate cadre in Training school Jos; and Marshals cadre in Nigeria Army Training Centre, Kontagora. There are three cadres: Officers, Inspectorate and Road marshal assistants, he explained. The FRSC spokesperson said the exercise was quite transparent, with physical screening, Jamb test and Interview. He added that the training will span 6 months and it would also include a one-month internship. The FRSC had in late May 2018 commenced the recruitment exercise through a call to qualified candidates to apply through an online portal. Between September 24 and 29, shortlisted candidates were subjected to certificate screening and physical fitness assessment across the country. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) later in November conducted recruitment examination for the about 15,000 candidates shortlisted for the recruitment. The examination was conducted at the boards Computer Based Test (CBT) centres across the country. Pregnant and married women, as well as applicants with tattoos, bow and K-legs, were disqualified from the recruitment. In any uniform service, you are not supposed to have a tattoo on your body; likewise twisted eyes, bow, K-legs and flat foot are not allowed in the service, Corps Marshall, Boboye Oyeyemi, said on September 25. This is because anybody with bow and K-legs will not be able to stand and walk for a long period of time. In uniform service, you must be able to walk and run long distances in case of emergency. To save a life, you will be required to walk long distances and you wont be able to perform your duty if you have K or flat leg. We have patrol duties for eight hours and rescue exercise can take up to five hours and if you are not fit you cant do it. Likewise pregnant and married women, we cant take them because that is the rule for uniform services. Imeh Okon, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Infrastructure, says the federal government has invested about N2.7 trillion in the development of infrastructure in the last three years. Mr Okon said this during a High Level Stakeholders Retreat on Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Friday. So far, the federal government has invested N2.7 trillion in infrastructure in the last three years and as you can see, some of the dividends have been the N100 billion that we have injected into the rail project. What we have done as a government is to go back to the 25-year Master Plan on the rail sector. All what you are seeing right now is in terms of rail infrastructure as a result of the Master plan that was on ground. She said the essence of the retreat was to bring stakeholders together to deliberate and develop on policies that would be suitable for the country. She said the federal government was committed to the development of infrastructure in the country, adding that infrastructural development enhances growth. The presidential aide, however, said that revenue generation was a major challenge since the country depended on oil for revenue and the price of oil was not stable in the international market. The challenge we have seen is revenue; because we are largely dependent on oil to generate revenue and the price of oil has affected government spending. So, we are going to partner with the private sector to develop most of our priority infrastructure projects. Chidi Izuwah, the Acting Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), noted that infrastructure deficit was the major challenge to the nations development. According to him, increase in infrastructure will boost prosperity, growth and peace in the country. Mr Izuwah said the Ibom Deep Seaport being a PPP project would come to reality on or before April 2019. Ibom Deep Seaport is a PPP project that is going to bring 2.5 billion dollars of investment and change the landscape of infrastructure in the country. It will have solutions to traffic congestion in Lagos port because those goods that normally go to Lagos will come here. I can assure you before April, the contract for Ibom Deep Seaport will be signed and the approved consortium will start immediately. The President is committed to developing infrastructure, without infrastructure, we cannot have inclusive growth and development. The stakeholders conference is to re-define our strategies and create investment to develop infrastructure across all parts of Nigeria, Mr Izuwah said. In his opening remarks, Gabriel Aduda, the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that the retreat was organised to discuss infrastructure improvement delivery framework in Nigeria. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Aduda added that the retreat was also put together to examine the legal and operational framework for infrastructure development in the country. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT Nigerias president, Muhammadu Buhari, said he has received with profound sadness, news of the passing of the Emir of Lafia, Isah Mustapha Agwai I. Mr Agwai died on Thursday at a private hospital in Abuja after a prolonged illness. His death brings to three the number of first class emirs from Nasarawa State who have passed in recent times. The death was earlier announced of the emirs of Awe and Nasarawa. While the immediate past minister of state for the environment has been announced as the new emir of Nasarawa, a new emir for Awe is yet to be announced. A source at the palace of the emir of Lafiya told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Agwai would be buried today after Friday prayers at the Palace of the Emir of Lafiya. A statement by Mr Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Thursday evening, said on behalf of the Federal Government, the President extends heartfelt commiserations to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, the Lafia Emirate Council, the people of Lafia and Nasarawa State on the passage of the highly respected monarch who ascended the throne of his ancestors in 1974. The President assures them of the fullest sympathy of the Federal Government as they mourn the chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Emirs and Chiefs and state chairman of Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI), who will be fondly remembered for his exemplary leadership and tireless efforts at improving the lives of his people. Mr Buhari said the late Mr Agwai devoted himself to championing inter-religious harmony, tolerance, peacebuilding and conflict prevention as well as promoting the role of education in nation building in the course of his remarkable 44 years on the throne. As the remains of the late Emir is buried on Friday, the President prays Allah to receive the monarchs soul and grant him peaceful repose. He also prays that Allah will grant the people of Lafia a worthy successor, the statement highlighted. Borno State elders who met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday have demanded the suspension of the militarys operation safe corridor, a de-radicalization programme that allows purportedly repentant Boko Haram militants released into civilian population, fearing hardened insurgents have exploited the programme to help escalate attacks. The elders, led by Governor Kashim Shettima, also demanded a special approval for police in the state to be equipped with anti-aircraft guns in the fight against the insurgents. They questioned the failure of the military to deploy majority of the 800 Civilian JTF fighters recruited into the Nigerian Army to Borno to join in combating the deadly sect. The elders say the deployment of the Civilian JTF away from the state has deprived the anti-Boko Haram campaign a critical component since the indigenous fighters have excellent knowledge of the states terrain. The elders raised this point in a 12-point letter to President Muhammadu Buhari. The letter made 10 demands of the president. A senior official briefed about the meeting told PREMIUM TIMES that the Borno leaders told the president they were concerned that Civilian JTF who have been deeply involved in intelligence gathering, easy identification and arrest of suspected Boko Haram members, are worried the militarys Operation Safe Corridor could be breeding spies for insurgents because their recent freedom have coincided wiith accelerated attacks by the insurgents. The ongoing de-radicalization and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram insurgents under the operation safe corridor of the defense headquarters is a course for concern for members of the Civilian JTF and some stakeholders in the State, who suspect that Boko Haram members do not repent hence the de-radicalization programme may be breeding spies and agents of recruitment for the Boko Haram, they said in the letter. The letter demanded that Mr President should consider and approve the suspension of the ongoing de-radicalization and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram insurgents until such a time they do not pose serious threat to our fighting force. The source said the militarys operation safe corridor was not well thought out. Fearless The elders, who met Mr Buhari at the presidential villa, said the ex-CJTF members are fearless and understand Bornos terrain better than most soldiers deployed from other parts of the country. The resurgence in attacks by Boko Haram has seen the insurgents take over some towns in northern part of Borno state before they were eventually overrun by the military special forces this week. The terror group had also been attacking villages surrounding Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, with commentators saying the insurgents are determined to attack the capital. The observation regarding the issue of deployment of the CJTF is the seventh in the elders letter, with a corresponding demand for Mr Buhari to order the immediate deployment of the 800 soldiers drawn from ex-CJTF fighters to Borno state. The delegation to the president comprised of two former governors, traditional rulers, national and state assembly members, local government chairmen, representatives of unions of women, labour, journalists, religious leaders including the state chairmen of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Jamaatul Nasril Islam. Our source said both observations and demands made by the group were generated during an extraordinary security meeting convened by the governor which had in attendance senior military officers including the theater commander of operation lafiya dole and the General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army. Also in attendance were heads of the police, DSS, Civilian JTF fighters, hunters, traditional rulers, elders, national and state assembly members, chairmen of the Christian Association and Jamaatul Nasril Islam, representatives of labour, women council and chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists who ensured that journalists did not divulge any part of the meeting. That meeting held in Maiduguri on Monday, December 31, 2018. At least 26,000 Civilian JTF members fight alongside the military. ADVERTISEMENT The letter urged the president to consider working with the National Assembly for the equipping of selected number of brave Civilian JTF, rather than all, with non-prohibitive arms and only for a specific period of time and under strict regulation by the military. Mr President should consider working with the National Assembly towards the speedy amendment of the Terrorism Act or coming under a doctrine of necessity to approve the specialized and regulated use of non-prohibitive arms for selected volunteers of the Civilian JTF, for the specific reason of fighting the Boko Haram in specific locations. Such use of arms should be for a specific period of time under strict monitoring by the Military the letter reads in its fourth demand. It also informed the president that the Borno State police command, which has the duty to preserve constitutional authorities in liberated and rebuilt communities, is faced with challenges of low man-power and dependence on AK 47 rifles to counter Boko Haram fighters who attack communities with AA (Anti-Aircraft) rifles. Consequently, the letter in another demand, said Mr President should consider and approve, as a matter of special case, the specialized use of AA rifles for the Borno State Police Command for capacity enhancement as against the current dependence on AK 47 rifles. The Muhammadu Buhari administration has always maintained that its rice revolution has made the nation attain food sufficiency, especially in rice production. For far too long, the government has claimed that the Anchor Borrowers Program, its flagship agriculture program, has reduced the nations dependence on importation of rice. Responding to a question on the state of the economy in an interview with ThisDay/Arise TV last week, Mr Buhari restated the same claim on how reduced importation figures are a sign of surge in local production and consumption of rice. In the interview published on Monday, which is by far, his most revealing interaction with the local media after his first and only media chat held shortly after he was sworn-in in 2015, Mr Buhari again echoed the sentiment of the government that its administration has done well in rice production. I am sure you know that we virtually achieved food security, the president said. And you, especially you who are responsible for informing the people of Nigeria, you have failed, in my own opinion, to fully appreciate the luck we have and what we did in agriculture. He later spoke on the intervention in fertilizer, saying that the government partnered Morocco and it has made locally produced fertilizer available to farmers at cheap prices. He attributed the nations food sufficiency to the ABP intervention anchored by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Ministry of Agriculture. He explained that farmers were given soft loans without interest and that impacted on the nations local production and reduced importation in 2016, 2017 and 2018. We dont import rice, virtually, anymore. We dont import rice. We have stopped importing rice and we are even exporting grains, the president said. We made very, very large stride in agriculture. Last December, the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, made a similar claim at the Vice Presidential Debate, when he said Nigeria produces 90 per cent of the rice it consumes. Earlier in March, Audu Ogbe, minister of agriculture, made a similar claim, when he said Thailand accused Nigeria of being responsible for the collapse of its seven rice mills, following the drastic fall in rice importation from the country. That claim was faulted by the diplomat. For Messrs Buhari, Osinbajo and Ogbeh, one thing is common: they have attributed the nations reduced rice importation figures to the effectiveness of the governments rice revolution. But how true is this claim? CLAIM 1: Nigerias rice importation figures have slumped According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, the volume of rice importation into Nigeria (in metric tonnes) declined drastically in 2018. Isaac Okorafor, CBNs spokesperson, said the figures obtained from India and Thailand, (two dominant rice exporters to Nigeria) indicated that as at September, Thailand had so far, exported about 5,161 metric tonnes of rice to Nigeria, while India sold only 426 as at July. The CBNs spokesperson attributed the reduction to concerted efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the interventions of the CBN, adding that the bank had not allocated any foreign exchange for the importation of rice this year. PREMIUM TIMES independent check revealed that in 2016, about 58,260MT of rice was imported into Nigeria from Thailand, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association. This represents a huge reduction when compared to about 805,765 MT recorded in 2015. By November 2017, the figure reduced to 23,192 MT and between January and November 2018, the figure had crashed to 6,277 MT. Within the years, the Thai Exporters statistics show that there had been a 72.9 per cent reduction in quantity of export to Nigeria while the export value had also crashed by 72.2 per cent. This, clearly, confirms that there has been reduction in Nigerias rice import figures. CLAIM 2: Importation figures crashed because of local production, consumption On the flipside, as Nigerias importation figures slide downward, neighbouring Benin Republic has seen its export figures skyrocket exponentially, within the same years. ADVERTISEMENT According to the Thai Import statistics, from 805,765 MT in 2015, Benin Republic has seen import figures rise to 1,650,237 MT in 2017 and 1,487,188 MT between January and November 2018. Nigerian borders are notoriously porous and several reports have established how numerous goods, including rice, find their way into the country through the borders, especially the ones adjoining Benin Republic. In November 2016, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, said the nations boarders were porous because of their interconnectivity with adjoining nations, adding that there was no line demarcating Nigeria from its neighbours. Similarly, Mr Ogbeh once acknowledged the illegal importation of rice and other products into the country through the land borders. Too much rice, too much fake fertiliser is still coming across the borders into this country in spite of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) we have with them they are not listening, the minister said in March 2018. More importantly, Benin Republic consumes mostly white rice and most of its par-boiled rice imports, up to 30,000 containers per year, are routed via transit shipments through Niger to the northwest of Nigeria, according to HAS Rice, a leading exporter in Pakistan. Between Tuesday and Thursday, PREMIUM TIMES monitored activities in Sango and Owode markets, two major rice hubs in South Western Nigerian with border communities stretching through the notorious Owode-Idiroko road. The road is an international lane linking Nigeria and Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, among other countries. Multiple traders at the markets confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the bags of parboiled rice being transported from the markets are smuggled into Nigeria from neighbouring countries. In three days, PREMIUM TIMES observed that an average of two commercial vehicles (Danfo) conveyed bags of rice from the markets to Agege and Alimoso through Iyana-Ipaja, arguably two of Lagos most populated areas. Checks revealed that while some were produced in Thailand, others were produced in Pakistan. The locally produced LAKE rice is rarely available, except during festive periods. Last December, Nigerians lamented its unavailability and were forced to consume foreign alternative. Since the CBN has declined giving out Forex for importation of rice, the foreign alternative are largely smuggled into the country through the borders in Ogun, Lagos, Katsina, among other places. VERDICT: The claim that Nigerias rice import figures have crashed is TRUE. The claim that the crash was triggered by surge in local production and consumption is at best, INCONCLUSIVEand at worst, FALSE. This is because, smuggling and other illegal activities, rather than a surge in local production, have sustained local consumption of rice among Nigerians. No fewer than 815 contractors were recently shortlisted by the Border Communities Development Agency (BDCA) for hundreds of constituency projects despite failing to meet federal contracting requirements, an ongoing investigation by PREMIUM TIMES has revealed. It is the second time in less than a month that the agency has been exposed for procurement irregularity. Being shortlisted presupposes that an applicant has satisfied all criteria contained in the procurement guidelines published by a government agency for the award of contracts. But a fresh trove of procurement documents analysed by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that the bulk of the prequalified contractors for the 2018 intervention projects by lawmakers did not meet the most basic criteria spelt out in the invitation to tender advert released by the BDCA in August 2018. The agency advertised nearly 400 self-enrichment projects of lawmakers for which funds were earmarked in the 2018 budget. The Nigerian governments anti-corruption posturing could be undermined if officials at the BDCA are allowed to go ahead with the flawed contracting process in brazen defiance of the countrys extant procurement regulations. The value of the contracts ranges between N10 million and N200 million. President Muhammadu Buharis son-in-law, Junaid Abdullahi, is the executive secretary of the federal interventionist agency established in 2003 to develop the countrys border communities. President Muhammadu Buhari [Pix: Daily Post Nigeria] The agency has the mandate to provide social and infrastructural amenities to international border communities in 21 states of the federation, spanning over 105 local government areas. 2018 Constituency Projects A list by a technical evaluation team constituted by the BDCA to select qualified contractors for the award of the constituency projects contracts showed that 987 bids from various contracting firms were prequalified. The list seen by PREMIUM TIMES contained names of companies shortlisted for over 390 contract lots for the procurement and supply of various goods, works and services in various locations across the country. The BDCA had invited bids from prospective experienced and competent contractors/suppliers. They were asked to submit bids for the projects in line with the criteria laid out clearly in the invitation-to-tender advertisement published on July 29, 2018, for the execution of the projects between late July and early August. Bid guidelines Submission of bids by prospective contractors was to be accompanied with a three-year tax clearance certificate validated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), with a cumulative average annual turnover of a minimum of N50 million for the period 2015, 2016 and 2017. Also, prospective bidders were requested to submit their current Industrial Training Fund (ITF) compliance certificate and Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) compliance certificate, all valid till December 31, 2018. The companies were required to produce evidence of registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and service providers by submitting the Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring January 1, 2019, or valid certificate issued by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP). Besides, submitted bids must be accompanied by the companys audited accounts for 2015, 2016 and 2017, along with other documents attesting to their professional and technical competences. ADVERTISEMENT Guidelines breaches PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that BDCA procurement officials disregarded some key criteria for selection of prospective contractors, as well as some requirements for the award of contracts, in a potential violation of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007. Section 23 (1) of the PPA (2007) does not allow federal agencies or their management to manipulate procurement guidelines to favour any party during a contracting process. The law says: Where a procuring entity has made a decision with respect to the minimum qualification of suppliers, contractors or service providers by requesting interested persons to submit applications to prequalify, it shall set out precise criteria upon which it seeks to give consideration to the applications and in reaching a decision as to which supplier, contractor or service provider qualifies, shall apply, only the criteria set out in the prequalification documents and no more. National Assembly Complex Therefore, the BDCA appeared to have violated Nigerias procurement law by disregarding its published guidelines for the selection of contract applications in favour of unqualified companies. Fresh findings A further review of the procurement documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES exposed how only about 173 bids could be considered to have met the minimum threshold for the award of the contracts advertised, out of around 988 bids received from various contractors and prequalified by the BDCA technical evaluation team. The 173 bids were the only applications accompanied with both evidence of current Pension Compliance Certificate (PCC) and the Company Incomes Tax Clearance Certificate validated by the FIRS, both valid till December 31, 2018. Of these, about 13 that did not have company income tax clearance certificates were from companies that were already enjoying tax holiday incentives granted by the Nigerian government covering the three-year period. Still, further analysis by this newspaper showed that about 815 of the prequalified or shortlisted bids (or over 83 percent) failed to meet at least one or the two key criteria that define the minimum threshold specified in the bid guidelines. At least 94 of the bids were accompanied with neither the pension compliance certificate nor tax clearance certificate, the two key documents required to qualify to even enter a bid, our findings show. Where the bids were accompanied with tax clearance certificates, the cumulative average turnover of the companies fell far below the specified benchmark of N50 million average annual turnover. Biding without valid documents For instance, Arcad Projects Limited (Lot 110) prequalified to bid for the N200 million contract for the rehabilitation of selected rural roads in Ekiti/Irepodun/Idi/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency was not qualified. The companys bid was accompanied with its PENCOM certificate only without the requisite tax clearance document. Similarly, SMV Nigeria Limited and Young Stallion Group Nigeria Limited (Lot 83) submitted bids for the N150 million contract for the construction of a mini-stadium at Kashere in Gombe Central Senatorial District, but both were shortlisted despite not meeting the requirements on tax clearance certificates. Aicon Residential Limited (Lot 84) also submitted a bid for the N150 million contract for the rehabilitation/maintenance of water infrastructure in Yobe East Senatorial District without submitting its tax clearance certificate. ABG Synergy Limited was prequalified for the N50 million contract to supply tricycles, popularly called Keke NAPEP in Monguno/Marte/Nganzi Federal Constituency of Borno State despite not attaching any of the two vital documents to its bid. Budmusdru Hill Nigeria Limited and Khamz Intercontinental Limited (Lot 386) shortlisted for a N100 million contract to train youth and community leaders in Niger North Senatorial District also did not meet the requirements. De Poor Shall Rich Nigeria Limited and Dankole Global Services (Lot 281) were shortlisted to bid for the N60 million contract to supply motorcycles in Edo Central Senatorial District without their tax clearance certificates. Yalele Farms Limited (Lot 315) was shortlisted for the N60 million Strategic Empowerment and Training of Women and Youth in Zaki Federal Constituency with absolutely no requisite documentation. Equally, Al Nady Multi-Services Limited (Lot 23) bided for the Solar lights contract in Gada/Goronyo Federal Constituency; Nitux Engineering Services Limited (Lot 68) for the provision and installation of solar street lights in Abia Central Senatorial District, and AIAG Energy Limited (Lot 135) for the supply of Toyota Hilux pick-up vans at Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal Constituency (each worth N50 million), without either pension or tax clearance certificates. Yet there bids that met all the requirements but were deliberately excluded from the list of those prequalified or shortlisted by the agency. A history of violation PREMIUM TIMES had on December 14, 2018 revealed how BDCA) shortlisted 18 unqualified companies for constituency projects of federal lawmakers advertised between late July and early August. About 33 companies were prequalified for eight zonal intervention projects worth over N1.3 billion that were reviewed by this medium at the time. In shortlisting the firms, procurement officials at BDCA overlooked tax clearance certificate, one of the top two requirements which any interested firm must present to meet the basic requirement of contract award. In its invitation to tender published on July 29, the BDCA had said all firms must have a minimum annual turnover of N50 million in taxes over three years but officials prequalified at least 18 firms whose annual taxes were substantially below N50 million, according to tax documents obtained by this newspaper at the time. Estivus Nigeria Limited, the last of the 33 companies reviewed, did not qualify for the contract because it obtained its tax clearance on August 16, 2018, three days after the bidding process closed on August 13, 2018. It remained unclear how the firm was smuggled into the list of companies whose bids were received as of deadline. A BDCA official claimed that may have been an error which would could still be corrected before the final companies are announced.Fresh procurement documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES have revealed how the Border Communities Development Agency (BDCA) shortlisted unqualified companies for a slew of federal contracts across the country. BDCA reacts, defends process Regardless, the BDCA defended its handling of the bid process. The agency in a statement said its interventionist activities have always been carried out strictly, guided by the provisions of the BCDA Establishment Act. Our activities have given a sense of belonging to those living in border communities and boosted their confidence in the present administration, the agency insisted in its statement. However, it noted that not meeting the cumulative average turnover of N50 million over a three-year period does not disqualify any company for further considerations for the award of the contracts. Each requirement is assigned a weighted score and cumulative score of each contractor determines their prequalification or otherwise, the agency said. Group writes procurement office, demands probe of agency A group of anti-corruption campaigners has petitioned the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), demanding an urgent probe of ongoing procurement activities at the Border Community Development Agency (BDCA). The Council on African Security and Development (CASADE) said in a December 18 letter to the BPP that it was alarmed a PREMIUM TIMES investigation which exposed how procurement officials at the BDCA have been shortlisting unqualified firms for federal contracts in the 2018 zonal intervention projects. PREMIUM TIMES revealed last week that dozens of firms were pre-qualified to get contracts for federal projects which lawmakers inserted into the 2018 budget in continuation of their self-enrichment tradition. The group said the BPP, as the regulatory institution responsible the supervision of federal contracting processes to ensure strict compliance with procurement regulations, should immediately step in and sanction the BDCA for previous violations, and forestall further occurrences. We hereby request for the intervention of the BPP in the ongoing BCDA ZIP 2018 procurement process, the group said in the letter to BPP. Please assist in the fight against corruption. By A. Trevor Sutton, Concordia Seminary This past year, many people deleted their social media accounts following revelations about privacy violations on social media platforms and other concerns related to hate speech. As people adopt their resolutions for the year, it is likely that many more will reconsider their social media use. However, as a scholar of social media and religion, Id argue that rather than just stop using social media, people could use it to improve their overall well-being. Here are three ways to do so. 1. Be active Studies have shown that there is a big difference between passive social media use and active use. Scrolling through a newsfeed and merely looking at what others have posted is considered passive social media use. Conversely, commenting on posts, sharing articles and creating posts constitute active social media use. Research has found that actively using social networking sites can contribute to feelings of social connectedness. This can contribute to a sense of overall well-being. On the other hand, a study found that passive Facebook use increases feelings of envy. Researchers asked participants to sit in a laboratory and passively use Facebook by only browsing and not commenting, sharing or liking content. Participants passively using Facebook were found to have an increase in their feelings of envy. 2. Focus on meaningful engagement Social media sites allow users to engage in various types of communication. There are impersonal forms of communication such as the single click Like button and more personal forms of communication such as direct messaging and comments. Research has found that direct communication on Facebook can have a positive psychological impact on individuals. A direct message can often lead to feelings of social support and encouragement. It has been found to be particularly helpful when people already share a connection. Direct messaging and personalized comments can provide a deeper level of engagement. One of these studies showed that commenting on a post, instead of pressing the like button, could improve the mood of the person who made the original post. In one such example, a respondent in the study described how personalized comments, even trivial ones about funny cat videos, can result in feelings of support. Similarly, research has shown that social networking sites can provide social support to those who have recently lost a job. 3. Use social media for professional purposes According to researchers in Germany, Sonja Utz and Johannes Breuer, using social networking sites for professional purposes can result in informational benefits such as knowing what is happening in ones field and developing professional connections. For example, these scholars found that people who use social networking sites for professional purposes report having greater access to information about timely innovations in their field than nonusers. A similar study of academics in the United Kingdom found that 70 percent of participants had gained valuable professional information through Twitter. Researchers, however, have found that these professional benefits require active use of social networking sites. Frequent skimming of posts, as Utz and Breuer explain, can lead to short time benefits. What is more important, however, are active contributions to work-related discussions. Indeed, there are those who recommend curtailing use of social media and focusing instead on real-world relationships. But, as with everything else, moderation is vital. A. Trevor Sutton, Ph.D. Student in Doctrinal Theology, Concordia Seminary This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. ADVERTISEMENT Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:48:42 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Umesh SEO Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 606 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comSEO Manager3479183531 A wireless ultrasound scanner is devices which can help physician for high-quality scans in minimum time when they have limited access to traditional machines. Wireless ultrasound is a pocket sized device which can wirelessly connect to smart devices, and it can fit in the palm of a hand. This device is powered by rechargeable batteries. The scanned images can be transferred to the smart device, where they can be reviewed or shared on the cloud platform. Wireless ultrasound scanner can image abdomen, lungs, and hearts. The wireless ultrasound scanner is Class III medical devices and required 510(k) clearance for its approval. The main advantage of wireless ultrasound scanner is that it eliminate the risk of infection.Wireless Ultrasound Scanner Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe primary factors driving the growth of wireless ultrasound scanner is the capability to offer a quick diagnosis. Recent advancement in computing platform to reduce the size of ultrasound machine is also responsible for the growth of wireless ultrasound devices market. Increasing demand for portable ultrasound machines and point of care diagnosis will propel the growth of wireless ultrasound scanner market. Reducing cost of diagnosis and improved experience of patients during diagnosis by wireless ultrasound scanner will boost the growth of this market. The lack of expertise to hand wireless ultrasound scanner can restrain the growth of this market. Besides that, less installation of wireless ultrasound scanner in diagnostic center will hamper the growth of this market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3399 Wireless Ultrasound Scanner Market: SegmentationThe global Wireless Ultrasound Scanner Market is classified on the basis of product type, application areas and end user.Based on product type, Wireless Ultrasound Scanner Market is segmented into following:Hand heldLaptopPalmtopLarge PortableBased on application areas, Wireless Ultrasound Scanner Market is segmented into following:Emergency RoomAcute Care UnitsIntensive care unitsOb-Gyn unitsOperating roomsBased on end user, Wireless Ultrasound Scanner Market is segmented into following:HospitalsClinicsDiagnostic CenterAmbulatory Surgical CenterOthersWireless Ultrasound Scanner Market: OverviewWireless ultrasound scanner is expected to show significant growth over the forecast period owing to increasing demand for point of care diagnosis. Wireless ultrasound scanner is used for the diagnosis of lungs and abdomen, beside that it is also used for diagnosis of veterinarians. Wireless ultrasound scanner market is segmented on the basis of product type, application and end user. Based on product type wireless ultrasound scanner is segmented as handheld devices and large portable devices. Handheld devices is expected to gain maximum value share over the forecast period owing to its quick diagnosis method. Among all end user hospital segment is expected dominate the market share due increasing number of installation of wireless ultrasound scanner in hospitals.Wireless Ultrasound Scanner Market: Regional OverviewBased on the geographical region wireless ultrasound scanner market is segmented into seven key regions i.e. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to dominate the market share in term of value over the forecast period due high healthcare infrastructure in this region. This market is then followed by Western Europe and APEJ region. In APEJ region China and India are expected to be major market place owing high population in this countries.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3399 Wireless Ultrasound Scanner Market: Key PlayersExamples of some of the market participants in Wireless Ultrasound Scanner Market identified across the value chain include Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Clarius Mobile Health, SonopTek Co.,Ltd ., Meditech Equipment Co.,Ltd , Sonostar Technologies Co. Ltd., Shantou Easywell Technologies Co.,Ltd PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 08:02:01 PRESS RELEASE 11 January 2019 WENTWORTH RESOURCES PLC ("Wentworth" or the "Company") Commercial, Operational Update and 2019 Production Guidance Wentworth, the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: WEN) and AIM (AIM: WEN) listed independent, East Africa-focused oil & gas company, is today providing an update to shareholders. Tanzania Operations Gas demand for the Company's producing reserves continued to grow in the final quarter of 2018, resulting from combined demand from the Kinyerezi-1, Kinyerezi-2 and Ubungo II power stations, and the burgeoning demand growth from industrial customers including Dangote Cement and Goodwill Ceramics. This demand from off-takers collectively resulted in an average daily production in Q4 2018 of 87.3 MMscf/d and for the month of December 2018 of 92.5 MMscf/d. The average production for the full year 2018 was 83.2 MMscf/d; above the Company's 2018 production guidance range of 65 - 75 MMscf/d and greater than the Daily Committed Quotient ("DCQ") of 80.0 MMscf/d, which the Joint Venture Partners are required to supply under the Gas Sales Agreement with TPDC and for the TANESCO-owned, Mtwara Power Station (ca.2.5 MMscf/d). Commercial The Company is pleased to inform shareholders that monthly payments for November and December 2018 (post allocation of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation ("TPDC") receivable, adjusted to reflect the Ziwani-1 exploration well and associated 3D seismic costs as previously announced) for gas sales generated from the Mnazi Bay Concession of $3.0 million net to Wentworth, have been received. Payments were received from both TPDC and Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited ("TANESCO"). The Company is pleased to report that due arrears from TPDC and TANESCO, have steadily reduced over the course of 2018 and now stand at three months for both off-takers. As a result of the continued demand and sustainable payment landscape, the Company has continued to meet and pay-down its debt commitments from free cash-flow in 2018 and expects to be substantially debt free within the next twelve months, with the final payment on its single outstanding loan facility falling due in January 2020. As at 31 December 2018, outstanding debt was $8.3 million (excluding $2.5 million corporate overdraft facility), with cash of $11.8 million. 2019 Production Guidance and Outlook Discussions continue with TPDC with regards reducing the Madimba gas receiving facility export pressure from the current 92.5barg to ca.75barg. This will allow for a sustained overall production rate and/or plateau period from the current well stock, prior to installation of compression facilities. As communicated by the Company on 3 October 2018, this is technically and operationally feasible, has the potential to extend the production plateau by c.18 months on a standalone basis and c.42 months including slickline and chokes upgrade work; and would be immediately accretive to asset value. As of 7 January 2019, the field was delivering ca.89.6 MMscf/d: 86.8MMscf/d to TPDC with an additional 2.8 MMscf/d to TANESCO. Current demand for Mnazi Bay gas is estimated by the Joint Venture Operator to be in excess of 95 MMscf/d. For 2019, the Company anticipates further growth in gas demand with the extension to the Kinyerezi-1 power plant which is expected to come online in Q4 2019. This facility will initially require 5 MMscf/d and will build up approximately 30 MMscf/d of gas requirement when fully commissioned over a six-month period. Continued gas demand growth in 2019 is also expected, primarily from the Dangote Cement Plant and other smaller industrial consumers; adding an additional 10-15 MMscf/d to national demand needs by Q2 2019. Wentworth's operational activities in 2019 will include working with TPDC to determine the optimal operating transnational pipeline inlet pressure for the system and ensuring the maintenance of the current production plateau using existing wells and infrastructure. The Mnazi Bay Joint Venture anticipates conducting slickline and choke upgrade activities and will perform regular pressure build up tests to further reduce uncertainty with respect to in-place and recoverable gas volumes over the forthcoming year. These activities will help to ensure that forecast production meets the Daily Committed Quotient ("DCQ") of 80.0 MMscf/d, which the Mnazi Bay Joint Venture is required to supply under the Gas Sales Agreement with TPDC and for the TANESCO-owned, Mtwara Power Station (ca.2.5 MMscf/d), without risking a shortfall in 2019 and beyond. For 2019, full year average daily production, is expected by the Company to be in the range of 75 to 85 MMscf/d in order to sustain the current plateau rate from the existing five producing well stock. The Company will continue to update the market as new sources of demand materialise, in addition to operational updates on the asset. Mozambique Further to its announcement dated 17 December 2018, the Company is in the process of relinquishing the Tembo Appraisal License with a planned effective exit date of 30 April 2019. The Company continues to assess suitable upstream opportunities in country, through its strong relationships with ENH and INP. Eskil Jersing, CEO, commented: "We are pleased that the Mnazi Bay asset has successfully ramped up to deliver sustainable and material production rates, with minimal downtime in 2018. The Mnazi Bay Joint Venture continues to work with all stakeholders on the four key value catalysts, referred to in the 3 October 2018 RNS, to ensure that we derive the maximum possible production value from the Mnazi Bay field. We look forward to updating the market on our progress in 2019, in a rapidly developing demand-led landscape. With the intended relinquishment of the Tembo appraisal licence in Q2 2019, our efforts this year will be primarily focused on maintaining efficient operations at our Mnazi Bay asset, strengthening our financial position and executing on our M&A led growth mandate." -Ends- Enquiries: Wentworth Eskil Jersing, Chief Executive Officer Katherine Roe, Chief Financial Officer eskil.jersing@wentplc.com +44 (0)118 2065427 katherine.roe@wentplc.com +44 (0)118 2065428 Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited AIM Nominated Adviser and Broker (UK) Callum Stewart Ashton Clanfield Simon Mensley +44 (0) 20 7710 7600 Peel Hunt LLP Broker (UK) Richard Crichton James Bavister +44 (0) 20 7418 8900 Vigo Investor Relations Adviser (UK) Patrick d'Ancona Chris McMahon +44 (0) 20 7390 0230 About Wentworth Resources Wentworth Resources is a publicly traded (OSE: WEN, AIM: WEN), independent oil & gas company with natural gas production; exploration and appraisal opportunities, all in the onshore Rovuma Delta Basin of coastal southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique. Inside Information The information contained within this announcement is deemed by Wentworth to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 ("MAR"). On the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service ("RIS"), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking information. The words "expect", "anticipate", believe", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "forecast", "plan", and similar expressions are used to identify forward looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made considering management's experience, current conditions and expected future development in the areas in which Wentworth is currently active and other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Wentworth 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 required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcome will not occur, including some of which are beyond Wentworth's control. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in exploration, development and production, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, the imprecision of resource and reserve estimates, assumptions regarding the timing and costs relating to production and development as well as the availability and price of labour and equipment, volatility of and assumptions regarding commodity prices and exchange rates, marketing and transportation risks, environmental risks, competition, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources and changes in applicable law. Additionally, there are economic, political, social and other risks inherent in carrying on business in Tanzania and Mozambique. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could vary or differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. See Wentworth's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017, available on Wentworth's website, for further description of the risks and uncertainties associated with Wentworth's business. Notice Neither the Oslo Stock Exchange nor the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange has reviewed this press release and neither accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Wentworth Resources Plc via Globenewswire Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Vinegar And Vinaigrette Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Vinegar And Vinaigrette Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 05:32:35 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 726 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531 Vinegar is made by fermenting dilute alcoholic liquid such as beer, cider and others. It contains acetic acid and is sour in taste. Vinaigrette is made by mixing edible oil such as olive oil, soybean oil, cider oil, walnut oil, corn oil and others with vinegar or lemon juice. To achieve better taste this mixture can also be enhanced by adding various spices, herbs, or salt. The vinaigrette is used as a salad dressings and marinade. Rising demand for snacks items such as salads, sandwiches and others coupled with increased interest in bold flavors and gourmet cooking is expected driving vinegar and vinaigrette market over the forecast period.Vinegar & Vinaigrette Market SegmentationThe market is segmented the basis of type which includes vinegar & vinaigrette. Vinegar segment is further sub-segmented as balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, sherry vinegar, garlic vinegar, cava vinegar, honey vinegar, red wine vinegar, malt vinegar and others. Among all these sub-segment balsamic vinegar is expected to have major market share in terms value during the forecast period. Availability of wide variety of product variant in balsamic vinegar sub-segment is expected to drive the sub-segment growth over the forecast period.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2801 Furthermore red wine vinegar sub-segment is expected to account for favorable growth during the forecast period. Rising health awareness among the consumers regarding the consumption of red wine vinegar is expected to drive the red wine vinegar sub-segment growth in the near future. Vinaigrette segment is further sub-segmented as emulsified and biphasic. Among all these sub-segment emulsified sub-segment is expected to account for major value share over the forecast period. However, biphasic sub-segment is expected to register relatively higher growth. Increasing consumption olive oil based vinaigrette is expected to support sub-segment growth over the forecast period.Global vinegar & vinaigrette market is further segmented on the basis of distribution channel which includes hypermarket/supermarket, convenience stores, specialty stores, grocery stores and online retailing. Among all these segments hypermarket/ supermarket is expected to register relatively higher value share during the forecast period. Increasing penetration of hypermarket/supermarket especially in developing countries coupled is expected to drive the segment growth over the forecast period. Online retailing is expected to register relatively higher growth in vinegar & vinaigrette market over the forecast period. Rising consumer inclination towards online purchasing of products is expected to support the segment growth over the forecast period.The vinegar & vinaigrette market is further segmented on the basis of end-use which includes end consumer, hotel and restaurant/bar. Among all these segments end consumer segment is expected to occupy major share in terms of volume consumption followed by restaurant and bar.Vinegar & Vinaigrette Regional OutlookGeographically vinegar & vinaigrette market is segmented on the basis of region which includes North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East & Africa and Japan. Geographically, Europe is expected to be the major market in terms of value owing to increasing consumer shifting preference towards convenient healthy food options. Among the countries, U.K. is expected to remain major markets in terms of consumptions for vinegar & vinaigrette followed by Germany. North America is expected to represent the favorable market for vinegar & vinaigrette in terms of consumption. In the region the U.S. is expected to represent major value share during the forecast period. Increasing demand for natural and organic ingredients, and products without additives or preservatives is expected to support the market growth in the country. Asia Pacific is expected to represent a rapid growth in vinegar & vinaigrette market. Countries such as China and Japan is expected to be the major consumer for vinegar & vinaigrette across the region.Vinegar & Vinaigrette Market DriversContinuous product launch with variety of flavors is a key trend in the market. In addition organic and gluten free vinegar is the emerging trend in the market. The growing demand of salads coupled with increasing number of fast food restaurants across the globe is expected to support the market growth over the forecast period.Request Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2801 Vinegar & Vinaigrette Market Key PlayersSome of the key players operating in vinegar & vinaigrette market includes Borges Branded Foods, Fleischmann's Vinegar Company, Inc, The Kraft Heinz Company, Mizkan Group, Annie's Homegrown, Inc and Borges Branded Foods S.L.U. among others. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:33:02 News release from Vestas China Beijing, 11 January 2019 Leveraging its high tower solution, Vestas has secured a 101 MW order in China for 46 V120-2.2 MW turbines that will all feature the countrys tallest towers with a hub height of 152m. The projects customised tower solution takes the 2 MW platform to the highest hub heights ever in Vestas history and opens up new wind resources by allowing access to higher and more consistent wind speeds, maximising the sites energy output. As Vestas latest 2 MW platform addition, The V120-2.2 MW turbine was launched for the Chinese market during China Wind Power 2017, underlining how Vestas has been introducing its latest technologies and solutions to China since pioneering the market more than 20 years ago. In 2018, Vestas installed several wind parks with 2 MW platform turbines and hub height of 137m, which at the time was the hub height record for Chinas wind industry. With this project, we continue to offer our best-in-class solutions and our industry leading project expertise from 100 GW of global installations for the Chinese market, says Thomas Keller, Senior Vice President and CFO/COO of Vestas China. Together with the proven 2 MW platform, Vestas high tower solution remains one of our core competitive offerings for Chinas low wind market. The V120-2.2 MW turbine is a great match for the for Chinese market and Im pleased to see that its being received well by our Chinese customers, says Anne Vedel, Vice President and CTO/CCO of Vestas China. The order includes a 2-year Active Output Management 4000 (AOM 4000) service agreement, as well as VestasOnline Business SCADA solution. Delivery and commissioning are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2019. For more information, please contact: Chen Xing Product Marketing Professional Mail: chxng@vestas.com Tel: +86 10 59232178 About Vestas Vestas is the energy industrys global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines across the globe, and with 97 GW of wind turbines in 79 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled 83 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas more than 24,400 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future. For updated Vestas photographs and videos, please visit our media images page on: https://www.vestas.com/en/media/images We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com and following us on our social media channels: Attachment PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:40:54 Press Information Research Report Insights Research Report Insights (RRI) 42 Joseph Street Port carling P0B 1J0 Muskoka, Ontario1 Phone - +1-631-721-4201 Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com BISHU +1-631-721-4201 +1-631-721-4201 email https://www.researchreportinsights.com # 426 Words Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.comEmail: sales@researchreportinsights.com+1-631-721-4201+1-631-721-4201 The new ink is colourless in normal light and fluoresces blue under a black light.With its MEK solvent base, the ink offers very good adhesion to a variety of substrates including coated cartons or glossy labels, vial caps and closures, and dark substrates where a bar code is needed.The clear, UV fluorescing ink is suited to GS1-DataMatrix and other 2D codes, and is resistant to the autoclave process. This ink offers a 2-3 second dry time on non-porous materials such as ABS, HDPE, PET, PVC and nylon, and Videojet delivers good adhesion versatility on a wide range of substrates.Gravure printing, flexographic printing, offset printing, screen printing, and digital printing are the main application areas of UV cure printing inks. Among these, offset printing reported a greater demand for these inks in 2015 with a share of 38% and is likely to remain leading throughout the forecast period.On the other hand, the digital printing segment is expected to maintain high attractiveness among UV cure printing ink vendors over the forthcoming years due to the shifting preference of consumers towards digital printing. Similarly, the flexographic printing segment is projected to register a healthy rise in the demand for UV cure printing inks due to their extensive usage in highly lucrative end users, such as the packaging and the publication and commercial printing sectors.Request For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upsample/120124616/UV-Fluorescing-Ink-Market The increasing penetration of digital media across North America is reflecting positively on the sales of UV cure printing inks in this region,. The trend is expected to remain so in the near future, influencing the regional market greatly.The growing preference for digital media compared to traditional printing in architectural designs, textiles, fine arts, advertising, and desktop publishing, thanks to the flexibility it offers, is likely to propel the North America market for UV cure printing inks substantially over the next few years.Request Report For Toc: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/TOC/120124616/UV-Fluorescing-Ink-Market Major Key players such as Hewlett-Packard Co., Flint Group, Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., and Paul Leibinger GmbH are actively involved in the UV curable inks market, with numerous strategic alliances and product innovations, which are being emulated by other players as well.Other market participants include APV Engineered Coatings, RUCO Druckfarben, Eastern Marking Machine Corporation, Gans Ink & Supply Co., T&K Toka Co. Ltd., Nutec Digital Ink Pvt. Ltd., Colorgen, Marabu Inks GB, Mimaki Engineering Co. Ltd., Nazdar Ink Technologies and Superior Printing Inks Co. Ltd.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upcomming/120124616/UV-Fluorescing-Ink-Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 09:13:02 Press release Group Communications Holmens Kanal 2 12 DK-1092 Kbenhavn Tel. +45 45 14 56 83 11 January 2019 Update on investigation into possible violation of French anti-money laundering legislation In continuation of the media coverage of the ongoing investigation into the possible violation of French anti-money laundering legislation in the period 2007-2014, Danske Bank would like to provide an update on developments in the case. Danske Bank is still a party to the investigation in France, and we have an ongoing dialogue with the authorities. In January 2019, Danske Bank received a letter from an investigating judge of the French Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris court summoning Danske Bank to an interview to discuss matters relating to the ongoing investigation into organised money laundering of tax evasion proceeds and stating that the judge envisages placing Danske Bank under formal investigation. As a result, Danske Bank may again become subject to formal investigation instead of being an assisted witness. The letter also indicated that the scope had been expanded to include transactions in the amount of approximately EUR 28 million in total between 2007 and 2014. If our dialogue with the French judge results in a change of Danske Banks legal status, we will notify the market through the same channels as on previous occasions. In October 2017, when we were charged with violating French anti-money laundering legislation, we notified the market via a company announcement. We did the same in January 2018, when the status of Danske Bank in the investigation was changed to that of an assisted witness. Other than the above, Danske Bank cannot comment further on the case at the present time. Danske Bank Contact: Group Press Officer Kenni Leth, tel. +45 45 14 14 00 Attachment Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:49:54 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Umesh SEO Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 809 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comSEO Manager3479183531 Technological advancements in the use of Information, Communication & Technology has moved ahead the rehabilitation services over the telecommunication network or the internet. This uses the technology to deliver real time rehabilitation services to the clients at their homes. Telerehabilitation service provides benefit to those living far away from the actual rehabilitation centers. It also reduces the frequent visits to hospitals and rehabilitation centers as physicians can follow-up with the clients after discharge. It also reduces the transportation cost and saves the time for both patient and physician. Various healthcare organizations and hospitals are starting this type of services for growing their business. It permits the individuals to have control on the supervision of their medical requirements and interventions by facilitating personalized care, choice and personal control. With the help of this technology, a large number of assessment and treatment alternatives can be provided to the clients using remote monitoring technology, robotic and virtual reality systems, with synchronized collaboration of online material.Telerehabilitation also offer a potential benefit of collaborating the family members and friends for the effective rehabilitation treatment. Thus, overall improving the healthcare benefit for the patient. With the integration of telehealth measures, the healthcare costs will also be reduced. The rapid progress of technology provided an opportunity for health professionals to adapt to these changes and deliver healthcare in a new and remote fashion way.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3424 Telerehabilitation Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe change in the global demographics towards an increasing aging population brought about an increase in the chronic health conditions.Telerehabilitation Treatment market is likely to proliferate in the future as per existing trends for the adaption of these types of services by patients as well as by healthcare professionals. Integration of virtual technology is another advancement in the healthcare sector which allow users to interact with computer generated environments in real time. Vast range in the number of mobile applications, interactive tools and podcasts fuels the market. Initiatives by various non-governmental and non-profit organizations in this direction also increase the sector. Cost of the process, Lack of skilled people and poor quality of communication in many developing and underdeveloped regions of the world still provides hindrance for the growth of these radical approaches. Thereby, improving the adaptive technologies in these regions would boost the telerehabilitation market. Lack of insurance facilities for telerehabilitation market in most parts of the world still curbs the growth.Point-of-Care Genetic Testing Market: SegmentationSegmentation by Service TypeClinical AssessmentClinical TherapySegmentation by Disease/Therapy TypeOccupational TherapyPhysical TherapyCancer TherapyChronic DiseasesSegmentation by Technology UsedTextual Based TechnologyOnline LiteratureE-mail ProgramsText MessagesAudio Based TechnologyVoice over internet protocolCell PhonesVideo Based TechnologyVideoconferencingVirtual RealitySegmentation by End UserService ProvidersPayersPatients/ ClientsTelerehabilitation Market: OverviewThere has been increase in integration of telecommunication tools in the clinical practice of rehabilitation. Rise in the adoption of home care settings by patients or reduction in the hospital visits are expected to propel the growth. The future market is related with the development and use of new, pioneering technologies that will modify the current practice and make telerehabilitation an integral part of healthcare. With the ever increasing applications, this sector has a growing demand in the future. Companies and mergers in this sector is also increasing and thus fueling the market. Increase in the m Health facilities operating the market. Increase in cloud computing technology also an advantage for this market. Educating the healthcare professionals about the use of technology and awareness in the patients will improve the market. Willingness to adapt the approaches would be required for the successful integration of telerehabilitation into the profession. New models in this direction will improve the services.Telerehabilitation Market: Region-wise OutlookNorth America and European regions have the established market with large number of key players in their market. This is because of the favorable healthcare facilities, availability of reimbursement in these services and technological awareness among people. Middle East and Africa has a huge demand of these kind of services because of large patient pool and unavailability of healthcare services in various parts. Japan is showing an increasing trend in the use of telerehabilitation services because of the rise in geriatric population. In Asia-Pacific, Australia has a market base for these services. Developing countries like India and China shows strong investment opportunities in this sector because of the emerging economies, improving healthcare facilities and low doctor patient ratio.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3424 Telerehabilitation Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players involved in the telehealth and telerehabilitation service sector includes C3O telemedicine, Philips Healthcare, Care Innovations LLC., Bosch Healthcare, Cisco, Medvivo Group, TeleVital, Cloud Physio, Neorehab, Jintronix and many others. These companies provide various types of management, consultation and technology. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:44:38 The systems majorly targeting pods which were the sign of luxury once have become basic equipment for air forces serving countries with deep pockets. Targeting pods helps to detect, identify, laser-designate, and automatically track small tactical targets at long distance or range along with providing superior air-to-air and air-to-ground capability. Furthermore, the targeting pods also helps in supporting the use of GPS and laser-guided weapons against moving targets and have been able to use across multinational and typhoon aircrafts. The targeting pods displays an infrared image of the target to aircrew as it contains a high-resolution forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor with a wide search capability field.The Governments across the globe are investing and upgrading their capabilities through placing contracts, enabling to respond to need of the war fighters such as reliability rates and snipers availability. Additionally, ongoing investments in new capabilities such as short-wave infrared to improve targeting capability in low and haze light, and two-color LST which supports tracking of combat lasers and eye-safe will uplift the market growth over the next decade. Moreover, the development of a two-way data-link configuration is estimated to double the targeting pods capability for providing surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance (ISR) solution to end users. Targeting pods features such as highly accurate Geo-location Coordinates provision, laser pointing capability, laser spot tracker, and target designator have attributed towards the significant sales over the last few years.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6489 Targeting Pods Market: Dynamics:Targeting pods market is estimated to gain traction due to driving factors such as high-resolution, mission history recording, advanced image processing, and high density capabilities. Furthermore, high reliability, superior range performance & maintainability, and growing investments in air force sector are other driving factors which are estimated to drive the global targeting pods market over the forecast period. Moreover, safe & easier training, navigation capability at night, multi target tracking, and accurate stabilization are the factors which may propel the growth of global targeting pods market over the forecast period. Increasing spending for upgrading existing aircrafts and fighter planes, and procurement programs for precision ground attacking aircrafts will further enhance the growth of global targeting pods market during the forecast period.However, few issues related to production of the filmstrips consistently on the screen is estimated to hamper the growth of global targeting pods market during the forecast period.Targeting Pods Market: Segmentation:Global targeting pods market can be segmented into product type, type of fit, and application.On the basis of product type, global targeting pods market is segmented into:Laser Spot TrackerFLIR & Laser DesignatorOn the basis of type of fit, global targeting pods market is segmented into:Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)Upgradation/AftermarketOn the basis of application, global targeting pods market is segmented into:HelicoptersCombat AircraftsUnmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)Targeting Pods Market: Region-wise Outlook:Europe is estimated to account for the dominating share in the global targeting pods market owing to increased spending on advanced technologies and upgradation programs for targeting pods aircrafts. Furthermore, North America is estimated to be one of the target region for the targeting pods due to strong investments for air force, ongoing mergers and acquisitions in the region. For instance, recently Lockheed Martin was selected by U.S. Air Force to sustain and upgrade over 680 Snipers with Advanced targeting pods on Typhoon aircraft as well as on multinational B-1, B-52, A-10, F-16, F-15, among others. Asia Pacific is forecasted to register substantial growth during the forecast period owing to growing awareness towards more advanced products during the war and strong demand for targeting pods import from Western Countries. Middle East & Africa and Latin America are estimated to register relatively steady growth during the forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-6489 Targeting Pods Market: Key Market Participants:Some of the key market participants in the Global Targeting Pods Market are:Lockheed Martin CorporationRaytheon CompanyULISThales GroupASELSAN A.?.Northrop Grumman Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 17:47:07 Press Information Research Report Insights 42 Joseph Street Research Report Insights (RRI Port carling P0B 1J0 Muskoka, Ontario1 Phone - +1-631-721-4201 Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/ Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com BISHU 6317214201 6317214201 email http://www.. # 524 Words 42 Joseph StreetResearch Report Insights (RRIPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com63172142016317214201http://www.. researchreportinsights.com The main objective of the report is to offer a wide ranging strategic scrutiny of worldwide warehouse management systems market revenue along with the growth estimates for the assessment period, 2017 till 2025. This new publication namedWarehouse Management Systems Market has recently been included by Research Report Insights (RRI) in its database. The report provides a comprehensive analysis and insights that are supported by vital data and statistics. Escalating response for global warehouse management systems in the retail sector is anticipated to boost the development of warehouse management systems market at regional and global level in the near future.In addition, a high demand in the healthcare industry and rising awareness of warehouse management systems incorporated with advanced RFID technology in growing regions like Europe and North America is also a growth driver. Several micro and macro-economic aspects are analyzed for driving the development of this market. The report also highlights other factors responsible for the development of the marketplace as well as drivers and restraints influencing market growth. The report throws light on the key trends and strategies impacting market growth. The study also offers a broad scrutiny of the prominent players and important strategies devised by the companies to succeed in this market.The report segregates the global market for warehouse management systems into component, region and application. Among the component, the study segregates warehouse management market systems market into services, cloud,on-premise, as well as software. Further the report divides the servicessegment into sub segments such as system integration, operations and maintenance and consulting. Similarly, cloud is segregated into Analytics and Optimization, Labor Management Systems and Others (Yard Management and 3PL Biling); Software into Other (Yard Management as well as 3PL Billing), and Analytics and Optimization.Request For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upsample/120124586/Warehouse-Management-Systems-Market On the basis of region,the study categorizes global warehouse management systems market into South America, North America, Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom and MEA. Europe is divided into Italy, Spain, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and rest of Europe. Similarly, South America is bifurcated into rest of South America and Brazil. MEA is categorized into Saudi Arabia, the UAE, South Africa and rest of MEA. Likewise, North America is divided into the United States, Canada and rest of North America. In terms of application, the study fragments the market intopharmaceutical, electronics, others (Books & Publishing, Home Improvement), retail (apparel, department and general merchandise), grocery/food and beverage and 3PL.Request For Report TOC: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/TOC/120124586/Warehouse-Management-Systems-Market Global Warehouse Management Systems Market: Competitive AnalysisThe report presents a dashboard view of the market enabling the reader to understand the competitive scenario in the global market for warehouse management systems. This report features companies in the international warehouse management systems Marketand provides useful information such as overview of the company, product portfolio, financial ratios, and current developments in warehouse management systems market. Major companies showcased in warehouse management systems market report include SAP SE, Synergy Logistics Ltd.,Infor Inc.,Made4net LLC,HighJump Software, Tecsys, Inc.,Softeon Inc.,Manhattan Associates Inc.,and LogFire Inc.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upcomming/120124586/Warehouse-Management-Systems-Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 09:59:24 Press Information Future Market Insights Contact Us U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Vaibhav SEO 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/saas-enterprise-applications-market # 338 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/SEO3479183531 Software as a Service (SaaS) has risen as an effective software-delivery model for meeting the needs of enterprise IT Services. SaaS helps IT enterprises to rapidly build and deploy their applications. SaaS delivers to host the application on its own private server or deploy it on a third-party cloud computing services. SaaS has eliminated the need for enterprises to install and run the applications on its premises. Due to this the expenses for maintenance and software licensing has been eliminated for organizations. SaaS model enables application service providers (ASP) to offer enterprise applications over the internet for their clients.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3632 SaaS Enterprise Applications Market: Drivers and ChallengesThe major driver for SaaS is the growing enterprises adoption for advanced data analytics application. Many enterprises are focusing on their investment from measurement to analysis, forecasting and optimization. Further, enterprises are spending on modernizing, functionality expanding and office applications with Software as a Service (SaaS). Another driving factor for SaaS is many enterprises have reduced their maintenance cost, operation patches, and speedier delivery in of enterprises services.In contrast to this, many enterprises are hesitant to go for Software as a Service(SaaS) , due to its security concern , as enterprise sensitive data and business process are entrusted to a third party SaaS provider.SaaS Enterprise SystemsMarket: SegmentationSegmentation on the basis applications:Customer Relationship Management (CRM)Enterprise Relationship Management (ERP)Supply Chain Management (SCM)Business Intelligence (BI)Business Process Management (BPM)Content Management SystemEnterprise Asset Management (EAM)OthersSegmentation on the basis of industry:IT and TelecommunicationsManufacturingTransportation and LogisticsDefense and GovernmentBFSIHealthcareRetailEnergy and UtilitiesOthersTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3632 SaaS Enterprise ApplicationMarket: key playersSome of the key players for SaaS Enterprise Application Market are Oracle Corporation, NetSuite, Inc, Epicor Software Corporation, Acumatica, IBM, SAP SE, Sage Software, Microsoft Corporation, Plex Systems, and Ramco Systems Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:42:08 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Bhudholiya Manager +1-347-918-3531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 419 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1-347-918-3531 Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide with 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012 estimated by World Health Organization (WHO). Retinoblastoma is a cancer that starts in the retina, the very back part of the eye. It is the most common type of eye cancer in children. During the early stages of development, the eyes have cells called retinoblasts that divide into new cells and fill the retina. At a certain point, these cells stop dividing and develop into mature retinal cells. Rarely, something goes wrong with this process.Instead of maturing into special cells that detect light, some retinoblasts continue to divide and grow out of control, forming a cancer known as retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma starts with a mutation in a gene called the retinoblastoma (RB1) gene. Depending upon the changes in RB1 gene, retinoblastomas are two types, they are congenital (hereditary) retinoblastoma and sporadic (non-hereditary) retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma is a rare disease. 9 in 10 children suffering from retinoblastoma are cured with the existing treatments.Retinoblastoma Treatment Market: Region-wise Outlook: Geographically, global retinoblastoma treatment market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America will remain key market for global retinoblastoma treatment market due to rising R&D activities by key players, better reimbursement policies, and availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure helps to maintain larger market share in the globalretinoblastoma treatmentmarket by the region. Asia Pacific is anticipated to present growth opportunity owing to large untapped market and growing governments interventions for improving healthcare infrastructure in the region.Retinoblastoma treatment market is driven by increasing remissions or recurrence of the disease and increasing awareness among healthcare professionals and patients. According to American Cancer Society, Inc. there are only about 200 to 300 children are diagnosed with retinoblastoma each year in the United States. Apart from aforementioned drivers, retinoblastoma market is driven by availability of better diagnostic tests and treatment options for the disease.Retinoblastoma treatment market hindered by the small patient pool for the treatment and stringent regulatory requirement for the approvalsRetinoblastoma treatment market is witnessing significant changes due to increasing opportunity for the pharmaceutical and medical devices companies to gain larger untapped market in developing and under developed economies. Companies continuously investing in developing newer treatment options for treating retinoblastoma.Request For Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2783 Some of the players in the global retinoblastoma treatment market are Baxter, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., CryoConcepts LP to name a few. Persistence Market Research PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 11:29:48 Press Information Persistence Market Research Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Yogesh Team Lead 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 556 Words Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Team Lead800-961-0353 Persistence Market Research recently conducted in-depth analysis of the global ready-to-use therapeutic food market, according to which the global sales registered a value worth US$ 307.3 Mn in 2017. The market is poised to be valued in excess of US$ 617 Mn by 2024 end, according to the report, titled Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 20172024. The market is expected to observe exponential growth at a robust CAGR of around 10.5% over a seven-year forecast period, 2017-2024.Favourable initiatives by government as well as non-government entities in order to efficiently treat severe acute malnutrition (SAM) will remain a key factor impacting the demand for ready-to-use therapeutic food products throughout the projection period, states a research analyst, Persistence Market Research.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11044 With more intensifying instances of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) worldwide, the global market for ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) has been experiencing a rapid upsurge since the past decade. As RUTF is high energy fortified food, it is being predominantly used in the treatment of SAM, by government as well as non-government entities. RUTF will continue to gain traction as the highest recommended nutrition alternative by UNICEF, WHO, UNSSCN, and WFP. The market has been seeing escalated domestic production in the recent past, which is foreseen to boost the growth of market. Furthermore, growing encouragement from UNICEF for R&D of RUTF raw materials is also expected to fuel the market growth in near future.The regional analysis highlights continued dominance of the European market, primarily because the regional European companies have been the key providers of RUTF to leading organisations, such as UNICEF. This region houses state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, which are currently under ambitious expansion plans. MEA is identified to be another key market and the most opportunistic region for ready-to-use therapeutic food in coming years, owing to the support from local as well as regional governments. While local governments in MEA are augmenting SAM treatment budgets, regional governments are on the verge of approving new production facilities. APAC market for RUTF will reportedly flourish due to CAMAM implementation. On account of a significant malnutrition rate, some of the underprivileged Asian and African countries are anticipated to constantly drive the demand for RUTF products.Among product types, semi-solid paste segment is presumed to remain the dominant segment throughout the assessment period and will possibly thrive at an impressive CAGR of over 10%. Research says that the products that fall under this category tend to have a negligible risk of contamination and is thus relatively safer for children. Moreover, they do not demand preparation before they are distributed among children, and are more convenient and cost-effective in terms of transport and storage. The market is expected to see extensive innovation in solid RUTF products. Drinkable ready-to-use therapeutic foods segment is however believed to observe substantial and relatively higher growth in near future, as the UNICEF has recently announced its focus on drinkable RUTF procurement.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC)@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/11044 The report profiles the key vendors in the global ready-to-use therapeutic food market, some of which include GC Rieber Compact AS, MANA, Nutriset, Tabatchnick Fine Foods, Edesia, Inc., Insta Products (EPZ) Ltd., Nutrivita Foods Pvt Ltd., Power Foods Industries Ltd., Tabatchnick Fine Foods, HILINA Enriched Food Processing Center P.L.C., Diva Nutritional Products, and InnoFasoSA. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Public Safety In-Building Wireless DAS System Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Public Safety In-Building Wireless DAS System Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 06:40:55 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 429 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531 In order to improve public safety, governments are making it mandatory to install public safety in-building wireless DAS systems in buildings. The implementation of minimum legislative standards by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and new public safety building codes by International Code Council (ICC) is driving the demand of public safety in-building wireless DAS systems.Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growth of 4G LTE network is one of the important drivers for public safety in-building wireless DAS systems. Further, a high amount of investment is being done for 5G development focusing on higher frequency bands, new air interface transmission schemes and new antenna technologies like massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications.One of the major challenges in public safety in-building wireless DAS system market is high initial cost. Labour costs are high due to complicated installation process. Highly skilled installation personnel are required to ensure proper installation and system performance. This increases the labour cost of the project.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3347 Global Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Market: Market SegmentationGlobal Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Market can be divided into three segments, based on size, end-users and components.Segmentation on basis of size in Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System market:The segments in Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System market by size include:Tier one (more than 500,000 sq.feet) Mid-tier/ Middleprise (100,000 sq.feet to 500,000 sq.feet) Segmentation on basis of end-users for Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Market:The major segments of Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System market on basis of end-users include:Stadiums & AirportsRetailHospitalityHealthcareCorporate BuildingsOthersSegmentation on basis of components in Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System market:The segments in Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System market by components include:AntennasCablesRemote UnitMaster UnitRepeaterGlobal Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Funding ModelsThe public safety in-building wireless DAS system market has three funding models which include self-funding, neutral host and carrier funding. Self-funding means the enterprise uses internal funding from the company itself. Neutral host includes contracting with a third party and carrier funding means getting funds from the cellular carrier companies.Request Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3347 Global Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Competitive LandscapeSome of the prominent players in the Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System market include Alcatel-Lucent, Anixter Inc., AT&T Inc., Corning Inc., Cobham PLC, Commscope Inc., TE Connectivity Ltd. and Verizon Communications, Inc., among others. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:39:52 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Bhudholiya Manager +1-347-918-3531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 683 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1-347-918-3531 Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory condition that causes inflammation of joints. Psoriatic arthritis affects both the skin and the musculoskeletal system. Musculoskeletal symptoms include joint pain, swelling, tenderness, morning stiffness, reduction in joint movement; skin symptoms include reddening and thickness of the skin, separation on the nail bed; other symptoms include general fatigue, inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelid Psoriatic arthritis mainly affect those who are affected with skin disease known as psoriasis. Out of 10 people with psoriasis, only one or two will develop arthritis. Psoriasis is characterized by scaly red and white skin patches that may affect any joint in the body such as elbows, knees, scalp, including the spine and others.Psoriatic arthritis is caused due to genetic and environmental factors. It often, often between the ages of 30 and 50 years, but it can also develop in children called psoriatic type juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is more common in Caucasians people than African Americans or Asian. According to disease control and prevention, about five to seven percent of the population suffer from psoriasis, out of these 10-20% people will develop psoriatic arthritis. Diagnosis of the psoriatic arthritis is done by rheumatologists, by looking at the swollen and painful joints, skin and nail change by various diagnostic procedures like X-rays, MRI, ultrasound, CT scans and othersTreatment for psoriatic arthritis depends on its severity. Various over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and prescribed drugs are available for treatment. Drugs prescribed for psoriatic arthritis includes immune-suppressing drugs, Non-steroidal drugs, and various biologics. Biologics works by stopping the inflammatory process, mainly tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL) inhibitors are used to treat psoriatic arthritis. Different ways for the treatment include Short-term oral therapy, Low-dose, ongoing oral therapy or Injection administered directly into the joint.Change on lifestyle such as physical exercise, limiting alcohol intake, weight management etc. may also help in the treatment process. Psoriasis is a severe disease affecting about 100 million individuals globally, according to world health organization prevalence of psoriasis in countries ranges 0.09% to 11.43%. Patient with psoriasis is at higher risk of developing other clinical conditions such as CVD and other non-communicable diseases.Global psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment market is segmented by mechanism of action, disease condition and distribution channel. Based on the product type, global psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment market is segmented TNF inhibitors, PDE4 inhibitors, and Interleukin blockers. TNF- inhibitors are said to revolutionize the market. IL-17 inhibitors are the latest wave, as companies are developing new biologics based on this inhibitor. On the basis of disease condition, the global psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment market is segmented into mild psoriatic arthritis, moderate psoriatic arthritis and severe psoriatic arthritis.On the basis of distribution channel, the global psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment market is segmented into hospital pharmacy, drug stores, retail pharmacy and e-commerce. Rise in incidence of psoriatic arthritis, increased awareness of healthcare professional and new product launch is said to drive the global psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment market during the forecast period. Whereas inadequate access to health care, cost and availability of essential medicines and lack of standardized tools for diagnosis and treatment will hamper the growth of global psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment market.By regional presence, the global psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment market is segmented into five broad regions viz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is estimated to lead the global psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment market. According to world health organization, in 2008, the annual cost of psoriasis in the United States was estimated at US$ 11.5 billion. Europe market is also projected to experience high growth in the near future. Asia Pacific market is anticipated to grow at the fastest growth rate during the forecast period, owing to factors such as rising standard of living, lifestyle changes and focusing on healthcare expenditures.Request to view Sample Report:Some of the major players in global psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment market are Celgene Corporation, Amgen Inc., AbbVie, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Janssen Global Services, LLC, Eli Lilly and Company, UCB, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Novartis AG and Others PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:14:35 Press Information Research Report Insights Research Report Insights (RRI) 42 Joseph Street Port carling P0B 1J0 Muskoka, Ontario1 Phone - +1-631-721-4201 Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com BISHU +1-631-721-4201 +1-631-721-4201 email https://www.researchreportinsights.com # 497 Words Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.comEmail: sales@researchreportinsights.com+1-631-721-4201+1-631-721-4201 Evaporative air coolers incorporate evaporative cooling and are used to lower temperatures in the areas where these are installed, thereby finding widespread adoption in both indoor and outdoor applications across the global residential and commercial sector. Over the years, the demand for evaporative air coolers has witnessed a surge owing to several factors. Global warming is one of the main factors fueling growth in demand for evaporative air coolers.This industry is constantly evolving with the advent of new players along with existing established companies foraying into this space. A few years ago, the air cooler market was largely dominated by the unorganised players as spending too much on air coolers wasn't considered necessary.The portable evaporative air cooler market is segmented based on product type, end users, and geography. Based on product type, the market is bifurcated into automatic and semi-automatic. Based on end users, the market is divided into industry, commercial and home. Based on geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.Request For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upsample/120124622/Portable-Evaporative-Air-Cooler-Market Asia and the Middle East have witnessed substantial climate change in the last few years, thereby impacting the lives of people living in these regions. This has increased the demand for air cooling systems in both the commercial as well as the residential sector. There is also a strong awareness of the use of sustainable products in these regions. Evaporative air coolers offer natural and energy saving solutions that are also cost effective. This has resulted in an increased demand especially from the rising middle class in these regions. Several domestic manufacturers operating in the Asian and Middle Eastern markets are slowly expanding their brands in the international market as well, thereby broadening the scope for exports of evaporative air coolers.Air coolers have proved to be one of the superior alternatives to air conditioners (lower life-cycle cost and enhanced flexibility). Rising prosperity and increasing environmental consciousness is likely to generate attractive air cooler market growth over the foreseeable future. The Government of India launched an initiative of 'Make in India' in 2015 that paved the way for air cooler manufacturers to produce their products locally. While this development no doubt gives a major incentive to global as well as in-house air cooler manufacturers, there are many benefits associated with Make in India that can add greater value to the entire business chain. One of the most important factors that have traditionally influenced the countrys evaporative air coolers market has been the value-for-money mindset of the Indian consumer.Request Report For Toc: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/TOC/120124622/Portable-Evaporative-Air-Cooler-Market Key players operating in the market includeSPX Cooling Technologies, Inc., Kelvion Holding GmbH, Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc., Evapco, Inc., Ebara Refrigeration Equipment & Systems Co. Ltd., Luoyang Longhua Heat Transfer and Energy Conservation Co., Ltd., Xiamen MingguangMachinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Lanpec Technologies Ltd-A, Condair Group AG, and Honeywell International Inc.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upcomming/120124622/Portable-Evaporative-Air-Cooler-Market Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Porridges Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Porridges Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 05:31:16 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 646 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531 Growing number of single individuals along with rising number of working women has led consumer shifting preference towards ready to eat breakfast food products. Porridges are the breakfast food products which are made up by starch plant specially the grains such as wheat, barley, oats and others. Presently the marketer is positioning and marketing porridges as instant ready to eat breakfast option to the consumers. Increasing consumer inclination towards convenience food products coupled with rising consumption of health fortified breakfast options is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.Porridges Market SegmentationPorridges market has been segmented on the basis of source which includes rice, barley and oats. Among all these segments oats is expected to occupy the largest value share during the forecast period. Availability of wide variety of product variants in oats based porridges is expected to support the segment growth during the forecast period. Rice based porridges is expected to register a favorable growth in the near future. Increasing demand for rice based porridges in country such as China and Japan is expected to support the segment growth over the forecast period.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2781 Global porridges market is also segmented on the basis of distribution channel which includes hypermarket/supermarket, retail stores, convenience stores, online, others. Among all these segment hypermarket/supermarket is expected to account for relatively higher value share over the forecast period. Increasing penetration of retail industry especially in developing countries is expected to support the segment growth in the porridges market over the forecast period. Convenience stores is further expected to account for favorable growth during the forecast period.Porridges Regional AnalysisGlobal porridges market is further segmented on the basis of region which includes North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East & Africa and Japan. Geographically, Western Europe is expected to be the major market in terms of value for porridges market, owing to increasing consumer shifting preference towards convenient breakfast options. Among the countries, U.K. is expected to remain major markets in terms of consumptions for porridges followed by Germany.North America is expected to represent the favorable market for porridges in terms of consumption. In the region the U.S. is expected to represent major value share during the forecast period. Increasing consumption of instant and on-the-go breakfast alternatives is expected to support the market growth in the country. Asia Pacific is expected to represent a rapid growth in porridges market. China is expected to be the largest consumer of porridges in the region. Continuous new product launches is expected to support the market growth in the country. Moreover, among ASEAN countries Singapore is expected to represent potential market both in terms of value and volume consumption.Porridges Market DriversGrowing number of single individuals along with rising number of working women across the globe is expected to drive the porridges market across the globe. For instance, according to the European Commission, the proportion of women employed in EU-28 increased from 51.4% in 2004 to 55.5% in 2014. Also, employment rate for women was pegged at 59.6% in 2014. In addition, continuous introduction of new porridges products such porridges combined with fruits and nuts is expected to fuel the market growth over the forecast period. In addition increasing awareness among the consumers through aggressive advertisement by the manufacturers is expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period. Moreover, increasing per capita expenditure on prepared food coupled with rising demand for convenience breakfast products is further expected to fuel the market growth in the near future.Request Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2781 Porridges Market Key PlayersSome of the key players operating in porridges market includes Quaker Oats Company, Kellogg Co., General Mills Inc., Dole Food Company Inc, Weetabix Limited and H. J. Heinz Company among others. Pharmaceutical Excipients for Taste Masking Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:50:36 Press Information Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Yogesh Sengar Team Lead 800-961-0353 email https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ # 602 Words 305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comTeam Lead800-961-0353 Taste masking techniques are applied to overcome or mask the unpleasant and bitter taste of active pharmaceutical ingredients to achieve patient acceptability and compliance. Oral administration of bitter and unpleasant tasting drugs is often the biggest challenge for pediatric and geriatric patient groups. Unless the active ingredient is tasteless or does not have any unpleasant taste, taste-masking plays a key role in the success of a final solid oral dosage form. The efficiency of taste-masking is often a key determinant for the success of specialized dosage forms like orally disintegrating tablets and films, and chewable tablets. The mechanisms of taste-masking techniques often rely on two major approaches the first is to add excipients like sweeteners, flavors, and effervescent agents to mask the unpleasant taste, and the second is to avoid the contact of bitter and unpleasant drugs with taste buds.Pharmaceutical Excipients for Taste Masking Market: DynamicsDue to advancement in drug delivery system, there has been a need of novel excipients to fulfill the multi-functional role like affecting release pattern, improvement of bioavailability and stability, taste masking and enhancement of patient acceptability. For these purpose researchers have been investigating on both natural and synthetic excipients. However, disadvantages of synthetic excipients like toxicity, expensive, environmental issues, and incompatibility can led to give more emphasis on extensive investigation of natural excipients. Some of polymers, preservatives, penetration enhancers and sweeteners from various plant sources are also being reviewed and discussed. Herbal excipients are preferable as they not only full filling their role in formulation but provide health benefits by discarding the hazards of synthetic chemicals. More research effort should be provided for investigation on materials to innovate no-toxic, biocompatible, patient acceptable, cost effective, eco-friendly excipient, suitable to be incorporated in pharmaceutical preparations.Request Sample Report@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/14743 Pharmaceutical Excipients for Taste Masking Market: SegmentationOn the basis of type of excipient the pharmaceutical excipients for taste masking market can be segmented into,,Natural,Artificial,Both,On the basis of taste masking technique the pharmaceutical excipients for taste masking market can be segmented into,,Organoleptic Methods,Hot Melt Extrusion,Microencapsulation,Complexation,Spray Drying,OthersStimuli responsive drug delivery systems incorporating ion sensitive and pH sensitive polymers have been developed for masking bitter API tastes. Techniques like nano hybridizing and wet spherical agglomeration have also been used for taste masking Lycopodium derived microcapsules have been used to taste mask.Pharmaceutical Excipients for Taste Masking Market: Region-wise OutlookRegionally, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. Presently the US, Japan and UK together account for 30 to 35 percent of the global demand for pharmaceutical excipients. The Indian pharmaceutical excipient industry has also come a long way since the time of independence when the multinational corporations dominated the pharma industry. Implementing taste-masking programs into the drug-manufacturing process is crucial to avoid losses due to noncompliance. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are faced with challenges in life-cycle management, cost control, global regulations, and patent protection.Request TOC@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/14743 Pharmaceutical Excipients for Taste Masking Market: Key PlayersSome of the players in the pharmaceutical excipients for taste masking market are Adare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Asahi Kasei Corporation, Ashland, Inc., Azelis, BASF SE, Capsugel Belgium, Dow Chemical Company, Gattefosse, SPI Pharma. Both regulators and industry groups are consequently taking steps to establish process for ensuring the safety and quality of excipients across the entire excipient supply chain. Also, leveraging upon the cheap labor available, the manufacturers in the emerging countries are producing competitive products at lower costs which will provide a momentum to the growth of the pharmaceutical excipients market globally. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2017-2027"report to their offering Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:12:36 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 553 Words Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comManager3479183531 Pervasive computing is a trending technology, which involves imparting of embedding computational capability to any device such as wearable computing gadgets, smartphones, lighting, etc. to facilitate effective communication.The underlying technologies such as artificial intelligence, wireless communications, location and positioning, internet capabilities, mobile protocols, advanced middleware, networking, embedded systems and voice recognition support pervasive computing.Currently, Ubiquitous Computing is also known as IoT (Internet-of-things) that means connecting devices or everyday objects to the internet.Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market: Drivers and RestraintsGrowing consumer industries, for instance, logistics, healthcare and automotive are anticipated to propel the Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market over forthcoming years. Further, the need of being connected is spurring day by day, so to facilitate the same the demand for Ubiquitous Computing is growing.(M2M) Machine-to-machine communications, reduced data communications cost, production costs and even decrease the size of the transistors, these factors are piloting the growth of Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market. On the other hand flaws in human-machine interfaces, cyber forage and energy management issue are the major challenges faced by pervasive computing marketGet Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4332 Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market: SegmentationPervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market is segmented by products, mobile computing, context adaptation & adaptation application architecture, intelligent environment, applications and region.By product, the Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market can be segmented into current technology products, wearable computing products, and othersBy mobile computing, the Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market can be segmented intobasic introduction and vision, issues, wireless communications, wireless problem, ad-hoc networking, ad-hoc network applications, and ad-hoc collaborative working and integration of mobile systemsBy context adaptation & adaptation application architecture, the Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market can be segmented intocontext awareness, user selection, map adaptation, adapting vector maps,and adaptation architecture.Adaptation architecture can be further bifurcated into policy-based adaptive systems, obligation policy, and rolesBy intelligent environment, the Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market can be segmented smart dust technology, future smart dust, pervasive computer problems, scaling factors, vision-based interaction.By application, the Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market can be segmented into security, privacy, and management, mobility and networking, information access, text retrieval, multimedia document retrieval, speech recognition, gesture recognition, othersBy Region, the Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) market can be segmented into Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, the Middle East and Africa, Western Europe, North America, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Japan.Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market: Regional OutlookIn Asia Pacific, emerging economies such as China and India are expected to drive the demand for pervasive computing owing to increasing smartphone penetration, expansion in automotive industry and growing number of internet subscribers.North America and Europe are considered to be matured economies in term of technology adoption owing to the presence of the major player such as IBM Corporation in the respective region are anticipated to drive the growth of the Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market during the forecast period.Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market: Competition LandscapeThe major player operating in Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing) Market are Blazon Marketing Inc., E-Tron CO., Ltd., Hewlett-Packard, Neo Mtel Co., Ltd., Palo Alto Research center Incorporated (PARC), AT&T Inc., Maruhachi Warehouse Co., Ltd., IBM Corporation, Fujitsu Laboratories of America, Inc., and Tata Consultancy Services Limited.Buy Full Report Now @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/4332 PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:17:51 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Bhudholiya Manager +1-347-918-3531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 615 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1-347-918-3531 Parkinsons disease is a central nervous system disorder affecting motor neuron activities, characterized by tremor, rigidity, dementia, depression etc. According to GDB 2013 Mortality and Causes of Death Collaborators report, in 2013, 53 Mn people were living with Parkinsons disease while the disease caused 103,000 deaths globally. Risk of Parkinsons disease increases with age and the disease mainly affects person over 50 years of age. Treatment for the Parkinsons disease in mainly symptomatic and no curative treatment options are available.The main aim of the Parkinsons disease treatment is to provide control on signs and symptoms such as shakiness in hands, difficulty with walking, slowness of movement etc. Therapeutic approach for each person varies according to his or her symptoms. Treatment options include medication or surgical treatment. Levodopa in combination with carbidopa is considered as a gold standard for symptomatic treatment of Parkinsons disease.Recent advances in Parkinsons disease therapeutics such as combination therapies to prolong the action of continuous dopaminergic stimulation drugs, approval for Neurostimulation devices neuroprotective therapies to slow down prognosis of a disease, gene therapy, neural transplantation etc. are expected to bring massive growth in global Parkinsons disease therapeutics market over the forecast period. Moreover, increasing aging population, prevalence of Parkinsonism across the world are the factors fueling demand for Parkinsons disease therapeutics. But generic erosion due to expiry of patents for several drugs such as Rytary, Stalevo (2012), Azilect (2017), Comtan (exclusivity expired in 2013) etc. would deter the growth of global Parkinsons disease therapeutics market.Surgical treatment options include deep brain stimulation and Carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension therapy. However, surgical therapy is effective only for patients who have previously responded to Levodopa therapy. Some of the commercially available drugs for treatment of Parkinsons disease are Cycloset, Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate), Requip (ropinirole), Rytary, Azilect, Northera, Stalevo, Comtess/Comtan and others. Over the past decade, great progress has been made in the treatment of Parkinsons disease such as identification of new therapeutic targets through genetic research, understanding the common mutations that contribute to Parkinsons disease etc.Global Parkinsons disease therapeutics market is expected to witness healthy CAGR over the forecast period as few new therapies are expected to hit the market during the forecast period such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation device, adipose derived stem cell therapy, non-invasive Neurostimulation device etc. Increasing burden of Parkinsons disease management on healthcare systems of major countries such as the U.S. and U.K. would stimulate the exhaustive efforts by the government to increase the pace of R&D in Parkinsons disease therapeutics. For instance, in the U.S. over 40 medicines are being developed for the treatment and diagnosis of Parkinsons disease many of which have gained fast track designation from the U.S. FDA.Region wise, the global Parkinsons disease therapeutics market is classified into seven regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America has conventionally dominated the global market for Parkinsons disease therapeutics due to good reimbursement policies and high prevalence of the disease. According to Parkinsons disease Foundation (PDF) approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinsons disease annually. Europe is expected to hold second highest share in the global market owing to increasing R&D efforts by the key players in the region.Request For Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2527 Some of the key players in global Parkinsons disease therapeutics market include GlaxoSmithKline Plc., Salix Pharmaceuticals, mpax Laboratories, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Novartis AG, Orion Corporation, Mylan N.V. while generic players include Par Pharmaceutical, Cipla Inc., Daiichi Sankyo, Apotex Inc., Wockhardt Limited and others. Persistence Market Research PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 11:29:45 Press Information Persistence Market Research Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Yogesh Team Lead 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 615 Words Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Team Lead800-961-0353 The market for palm sugar is dominated by the Asia Pacific region. Several companies are importing organic palm sugar from Indonesia, India, and Philippines at a very low price and are offering palm sugar with private labelling to other regional markets. Companies are currently focusing on launching palm sugar in different forms, especially the liquid form, and are pumping in investments in research and development for product innovation, with a view to expand their customer base and enhance their regional presence. Insights like these and more are the crux of a new report on the global palm sugar market published by Persistence Market Research. The report titled Palm Sugar Market: Global Industry Analysis (20122016) and Forecast (20172025) tracks the performance of the global market for palm sugar over a period of eight years from 2017 to 2025. The global palm sugar market is estimated to be valued at US$ 1,684.2 Mn by 2017 end, and is forecast to be valued at US$ 2,205.8 Mn by 2025 end. Sales revenue is projected to increase at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period (2017-2025).Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11023 Global Palm Sugar Market: TrendsGrowing interest and popularity among consumers in organic food productsIncreasing demand for healthier and premium food options such as smoothies and other bakery productsGrowing interest among consumers regarding ethically sourced products, thereby providing opportunities for ethically traded palm sugarMore transparency in e-commerce, internet and online stores accompanied with review sites, thereby making it easy for consumers to compare productsRising trend of consuming products such as pastries, biscuits and cakesGlobal Palm Sugar Market: Segmental Analysis and ForecastThe global palm sugar market is segmented on the basis of origin, end use, form, and distribution channel. By origin the market is segmented into conventional and organic. The growing demand for organic food products is expected to boost the demand for organic palm sugar across the globe. The organic palm sugar market is estimated to account for a value share of 23.3% by 2017 end, and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 4.4% in terms of value over the forecast period.On the basis of form the market is segmented into powder, crystal and liquid. The powder segment is expected to account for relatively high value share in the global market by 2025 end, while in terms of value, the liquid segment is expected to expand at a relatively high CAGR over the forecast period.End use segmentation of the global palm sugar market includes food and beverage, foodservice, and household. With more than 80% value share, the household segment is expected to lead the global palm sugar market and register a CAGR of 3.2% in terms of value over the forecast period.The segments by distribution channel comprise direct and indirect segments. In terms of value, the indirect channel segment is projected to be the most attractive market in the global palm sugar market during the forecast period.Global Palm Sugar Market: Forecast Analysis by RegionThe five key geographies of North America, Latin America, Europe, APAC and MEA have been covered in this report. Asia Pacific accounts for the highest market share throughout the forecast period. Indonesia is the largest producer as well as consumer of palm sugar in the Asia Pacific region and controls the dynamics of the global palm sugar market.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC)@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/11023 Global Palm Sugar Market: Key PlayersNavitas Organics, Windmill Organics Ltd, Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc., Asana Foods, Organika Health Products Inc., Betterbody Foods & Nutrition LLC, Big Tree Farms, e Farms, Inc., Royal Pepper Company, Sevenhills Wholefoods, and Phalada Agro Research Foundation are some of the leading companies operating in the global palm sugar market. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:30:03 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Bhudholiya Manager +1-347-918-3531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 992 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1-347-918-3531 Diabetes has evolved as one of the primary healthcare epidemic characterized by high sugar levels and principle cause of mortality worldwide. In 2014, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 8.5% of adults living with diabetes. A diabetic person cannot either synthesize enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or either does not make enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin produced by the body (type 2 diabetes). Another type of diabetes that occur in women during her pregnancy is gestational diabetes. However, gestational diabetes is usually resolved after delivery but can precede towards type 2 diabetes later in a womens life. Most of the continuous glucose monitoring devices are invasive and involves use of needles leading to increased chance of infection. Furthermore, the invasive glucose monitoring device is considered to be discrete glucose measurement system which cannot be practically used for continuous monitoring of blood glucose. Certain evidences of hyperglycemia between measurements are however not recorded thus resulting in false or no representation of the blood glucose pattern. Noninvasive monitoring of glucose levels eliminates the need of painful pricking with increased risk of infection, and amount of damage caused to the finger tissue.Therefore, non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring devices are being widely investigated and studied over the past few years for their ability to monitor glucose continuously under highly controlled (e.g. in-clinic) conditions. Various techniques that involves measurement of blood glucose levels non-invasively includes, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), Mid -Infrared Spectroscopy (Mid-IRS), Raman Spectroscopy, Photo-acoustic Spectroscopy (PA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and many more.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring DevicesMarket: Drivers & Restraints : Rising prevalence of diabetes globally is expected to result in greater use of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring devices among the prevalent population. Owing to the several disadvantages imposed by the use of invasive blood glucose monitors and growing need to develop noninvasive glucose monitoring diagnostic techniques, the market for non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices is expected to rise at a greater pace during the forecast period. For instance, in June 2015, researchers in U.K. developed blood glucose device that utilizes low-powered lasers in order to measure the blood glucose levels on the skin surface. Also a bench-top version of the system is currently in clinical trials studies which might land in the market over the next few years. This includes, a finger-touch device similar to a computer mouse and a wearable version for continuous blood glucose monitoring.In addition, increasing efforts by several startup manufacturers, for example, Prediktor Medical- a Norway based manufacturer is developing a wearable device for estimation of blood glucose levels based on the combination of several principles determining the noninvasive glucose monitoring including, advanced multivariate analysis and dynamic models for insulin or glucose interaction. The device is expected to be in the form of a watch or bracelet communicating with the mobile phone or a tablet for data presentation. This would enable patients monitor their glucose levels continuously without the need for an implant. Currently available blood glucose measuring devices lacks specificity and sensitivity due to the substantial physical and chemical interference. Non-invasive glucose monitoring devices use multivariate regression analyses converting optical signal to glucose concentration. Hence the device should be designed in such a way that it leads to accurate detection of blood glucose levels imperative for optimum therapy and disease management.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Segmentation : Non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices marketis segmented by technology, modality end user and geography: By Technology -MIR/NIR (Mid/Near Infrared Spectroscopy), Raman Spectroscopy, Occlusion Spectroscopy, Optical Coherence Tomography, Thermal Emission Spectroscopy, Photoacoustic Spectroscopy, Impedance/Dielectric Spectroscopy, Electromagnetic, Polarimetry, Fluorescence By Modality Wearable Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems, Non-wearable /Table top Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems By End User Hospitals,Home Care Settings, ClinicsNon- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Overview : Rising prevalence of diabetes worldwide imposes significant economic consequences on the individuals life. Currently, there are 350 million people worldwide estimated to live with diabetes. Thus continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels is essential in order to manage the ever increasing prevalent population living with diabetes currently. For this reason manufacturers are focusing on developing diagnostic techniques that are highly reliable and monitors individuals blood glucose levels with greater accuracy with the capability to improve glycemic control and patient wellbeing. By integration of sensing elements, electronics along with a reliable power source in a single unit, noninvasive blood glucose monitors are offering immense opportunity for all the device manufacturers along with patients and various healthcare providers across the world. Accelerated regulatory approvals of blood glucose monitors is one of the another important factor leading to increased revenues of noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Region-wise Outlook : On the basis of region presence, Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Growing number of diabetic population in U.S. is the leading factor contributing towards higher adoption of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems. Center of Diseases Control and Prevention estimated 29.1 million of U.S. population with diabetes in the U.S. The data also estimated adult population with diabetes are at 50% higher risk of death. Furthermore, growing need of continuous non-invasive method of blood glucose diagnosis among patients is expected to create higher demand for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems worldwide. The incidence of diabetes is higher in regions such as Asia Pacific, North America and Western Europe. Presence of several pipeline blood glucose monitoring systems and their expected launch is expected to drive the market for noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Key Players : Some of the key market players in the non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices market are, Abbott, Animas Technologies, Bayer Healthcare, Cercacor, Pendragon Medical, OrSense, and Bayer Healthcare.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2613 Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:48:34 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Umesh SEO Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 627 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comSEO Manager3479183531 Neuromodulation is technology that is used for the alteration or modulation of the nerve activity by using chemical agents or electrical stimulation to the specific neurological sites in the body. Most of the neuromodulation devices work through electrical stimulation.Neuromodulation devices are used by the application of electrodes to the brain, peripheral nerves or the spinal cord. The electrode leads in neuromodulation devices are connected through an extension cable to a power source and pulse generator, which generates required electrical impulses. A low-voltage electrical signal passes from the impulse generator to the nerves, and work by either stimulating the neural impulses where they were not present previously or inhibiting the pain signals. Neuromodulation devices are used to treat or enhance the quality of life of people suffering from the conditions such as, chronic pain, urinary and fecal incontinence, essential tremor, epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, dystonia and psychological disorders. The conditions which are being treated with neuromodulation devices are mostly permanent in nature so it requires a long term use of neuromodulation devices.Neuromodulation Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global market for neuromodulation devices is primarily driven by the increase in geriatric population in developed countries such as, the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Increasing incidence of neurological disorders is another factor responsible for the growth of neuromodulation devices market. Other growth factors for neuromodulation devices market are miniaturization of devices, new neuromodulation devices approval by regulatory bodies and increasing awareness among people.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3361 Neuromodulation Devices Market: SegmentationThe global neuromodulation market has been segmented on the basis of product type, end users and geography.Based on product type, the global neuromodulation devices market is divided into:Internal NeuromodulationDeep brain stimulationSacral nerve stimulationVagus nerve stimulationSpinal cord stimulationGastric Electrical StimulationExternal NeuromodulationTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulationRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationBased on end users, the global neuromodulation devices market is segmented as:HospitalsClinicsHome healthcareNeuromodulation Devices Market: OverviewNeuromodulation devices market is expected to witness significant growth due to the technological advancement of neuromodulation devices. Spinal cord stimulation is the largest segment of the neuromodulation devices market as this therapy is mostly used for the treatment of chronic pain. Deep brain stimulation is expected to be the fastest growing segment of neuromodulation devices market due to increasing prevalence of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinsons disease & dystonia and also due to lack of existing treatments. In case of the end users home healthcare is expected to be fastest growing due to miniaturization of neuromodulation devices and ease of use.Neuromodulation Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookNeuromodulation devices market is segmented into seven regions, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is the most attractive market due to increase in the end use of devices, awareness among people and high prevalence of disease conditions such as Parkinsons disease, chronic pain, epilepsy. Followed by which is Western Europe. Asia-Pacific region is expected to be fastest growing due to increasing population, change in lifestyle, and government initiative to aware the people regarding the neurological disorders and their treatments. Japan is also an attractive market for neuromodulation devices due to ageing population and increase in the approval rate of neuromodulation devices by Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3361 Neuromodulation Devices Market: Key Market ParticipantsSome of the market participants in the global neuromodulation devices market are Medtronic, Accellent, BioControl Medical, Boston Scientific Corporation, DynaMD, Nevro Corp, NeuroSigma, Inc., NeuroPace, Inc., St. Jude Medical, Inc. Soterix Medical, Inc. and Synapse Biomedical, Inc.,. These companies are focusing on miniaturizationof the neuromodulation devices and advancement of the technology. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the "Naval Artillery System Market set to record exponential growth by 2018 - 2028" report to their offering PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:47:02 The naval artillery system market is undergoing radical changes with recent developments in technologies. As adopting a naval artillery system leads to strengthening the operational capacities of defense systems of a country, the naval artillery system market is likely grow at a rapid pace. With a mounting number of nations investing in upgrading the naval defense system, naval artillery system sales are expected to surge in the upcoming years. Leading stakeholders in the naval artillery system market are developing highly advanced features of naval artillery systems to boost the profitable growth in the market. Naval artillery system developers are focusing on enhancing salient features of naval artillery systems such as weapon system compatibility, precision, effectiveness against mobile objects, and weather compatibility, to attain higher sales in the coming future.Leading stakeholders in the naval artillery system market are introducing advanced features of naval artillery systems depending on the requirements for short, medium, or long range of naval artillery systems. Additionally, the compliance with time and cost requirements remain another prime concern for manufacturers and distributors in the naval artillery system market. Offering advanced features, such as precision in navigation without GPS, increasing the rate of fire, and mitigating crew fatigue, is becoming a popular trend in the naval artillery system market. As accuracy, precision, stability, and efficiency remain the most important factors affecting the fire power of naval artillery systems, these factors are likely to remain instrumental in redefining the growth prospects of the naval artillery system market in the upcoming years.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6494 Naval Artillery System Market: IntroductionThe naval artillery system is an advanced weaponry system which are specially used by the naval ships to support the land force with back up fire power or fire from long range. The naval warship are using this kind of defense system so that they prepared for any war like situation. This type of defense system are the most destructive and are gaining popularity in all the defense sectors of prominent nations in the global market. The digitalization has brought profound changes in the well settled areas of weapons technology and the naval artillery is no exception. In current scenario with the digital technology penetrating into navigation system in self-propelled artillery and guides rounds from naval artilleries the market for the naval artillery system is expected to gain noteworthy prominence. The naval artillery system is a weaponry system planned and installed to provide sustainable and high volume fire in support of amphibious actions and the joint land battle. Naval Artillery System is fully integrated defense system that has a guns system which are installed on the warship and can fire many round per minute and the accuracy for hitting the target is exceptional as most the them uses GPS co-ordinates. The most important driver for the naval artillery system is the potential backup with a limited ammunition load, operational reliability and relatively lower combat stability.Naval Artillery System Market Dynamics:The growth of the naval artillery system depends on the nation economy and the amount of investment a country is doing for upgrading their naval defense system in the global market. Some of the prominent driving factors for the growth of global naval artillery system are sustained effect on target areas and ships, less time of reaction and least possible time of handling and engagement of coastal targets against clutter background and in a heavy jamming environment. These promising factors make the naval artillery system very attractive among the end users in the global market. Additionally, the growing spending and investment of several countries on their naval defense is estimated to propel the demand of the naval artillery systems over the forecast period.Naval artillery system market has a lot of potential in the research, innovation and development and it is coming with new ideas to elevate itself in the near future. Some of the prominent countries in the global market, are focused to develop advanced naval artillery system which can directly target the destruction areas. The naval artillery system market has been emerging from a lot of time and has become the necessity in the naval defense sector and for the protection against international terrorism activities. The demand to increase the national naval armory with more advanced weapons and ammunitions by the government authorities has made the naval artillery system market in great demand and this market will grow even more rapidly in the future. The market for the naval artillery system will remain healthier in coming period as this component has been gaining popularity in all the developing economies.Naval Artillery System Market segmentation:By Product type, the Naval Artillery System market can be segmented into:Naval ArtilleryCoastal ArtillerySubmarine ArtilleryBy Range, the Naval Artillery System market can be segmented into:Short RangeMedium RangeLong RangeBy Artillery Type, the Naval Artillery System market can be segmented into:HowitzerMortarAnti-airRocketOthersNaval Artillery System Market Regional Outlook:Naval artillery system Module can be divided into seven specific geographical regions/divisions such as North America, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Middle East and Africa. The North America and the European regions have greater spending on their naval defense and national security sectors that has led to the boom of Battlefield Simulation System in the developed nations. The Asian massive countries like India and China which are leaders in APAC market are expected to grow greater in the Naval Artillery System market in the coming yearsRequest For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-6494 Naval Artillery System Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some market participants in the Naval Artillery System market are:Alliant TechsystemsGeneral Dynamics CorpNORINCO GROUPNexterMandus Group Some of the market participants in the global nasopharyngoscope market are Optim LLC, XION GmbH, Jedmed instrument Company, Inventis Srl, Hipp Endoskop Service GmbH, Anthony Products, Inc., Xi'an Landcom Digital Medical Sci-Tech Co. Ltd., Machida, Inc., Pentax Medical (Hoya Corporation), Ambu A/S, ATMOS MedizinTechnik GmbH & Co. KG, and Olympus Corporation. Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 14:37:46 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Umesh SEO Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 777 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comSEO Manager3479183531 Nasopharyngoscope is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to examine the internal surface of nose and throat. Flexible fiberoptic nasopharyngoscope is used for this procedure, and are equipped with eyepiece, lens, and light source. Nasopharyngoscope is adopted by surgeons, and are conducted under local anesthesia or sedative. Nasopharyngoscope is advantageous as they provide direct insights larynx, nasal passage, and upper respiratory tract. Nasopharyngoscope is used as a diagnostic equipment to target obstruction in nasal airway, viewing of abnormal growth of cells, and biopsies procedures. Nasopharyngoscope is also used in after surgeries in order to track patients progress, or for monitoring efficiency of antibiotic therapy. Nasopharyngoscope is adopted as they offers a clean view of respiratory tract, and are more precise than X-ray imaging modalities. In contrast to this, various complication is associated with nasopharyngoscope, and some of them are bleeding, vomiting respiratory collapse, and laceration. Nasopharyngoscope is generally equipped with 2-way articulation and offers inline inspection with videos and photos capabilities. Nasopharyngoscope is used for both diagnostic and treatment purposes where visualization of nasopharyngeal anatomy is mandatory. Nasopharyngoscope is generally available in various diameters ranging from 1.9 mm to 6 mm for adults, and pediatric respectively. Furthermore, Nasopharyngoscope are equipped with additional devices such as camera, printer, and monitor.Nasopharyngoscope Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growth of the nasopharyngoscope market is primarily driven by increasing prevalence and incidence of chronic sinusitis. For instance, according to the estimates of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 29.4 million are diagnosed with nasopharyngoscope in the U.S. alone. In addition, factors such as rapidly growing ageing population on the global level, increasing adoption of minimally invasive surgical procedures, and favorable reimbursement policies are also impelling the growth of the nasopharyngoscope market. However, factors such as high cost of equipment, limited availability of skilled professionals, complexity concerns, and adverse complication are the major obstacles in hampering the growth of nasopharyngoscope market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6450 Nasopharyngoscope Market: SegmentationThe global nasopharyngoscope market can be segmented on the basis of usage type, end-user, and region.On the basis of usage type, global nasopharyngoscope market can be segmented as:Single Use NasopharyngoscopeMulti Use NasopharyngoscopeOn the basis of end user, global nasopharyngoscope market can be segmented as:HospitalsSpecialty ClinicsAmbulatory Surgical CentersOn the basis of region, global nasopharyngoscope market can be segmented as:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeAsia Pacific Excluding JapanJapanMiddle East and AfricaNasopharyngoscope Market: OverviewNasopharyngoscope is opted for minimally invasive surgical procedures in nasopharyngeal anatomy to identify any abnormality in this region. During the nasopharyngeal process, patient is treated with a mild sedative to reduce irritation. Since its inception in 1930, various technological advancement has been witnessed in recent years to drive an optimal device. Nasopharyngoscope allows visualization of structures such as a nasal cavity, eustachian tube orifices, nasopharynx, adenoid, lingual tonsils, epiglottis, and many others structures. A recent study claims that nasopharyngoscope is also used as an evaluating tool in patients with angioedema, and use of nasopharyngoscope with conventional speech therapy aid to enhance velopharyngeal closure during articulation. Nasopharyngoscope are widely adopted in diagnosis and treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis, and cost for per procedure can range up to US$ 35,000 per patient.Nasopharyngoscope Market: Region Wise OutlookGeographically, the nasopharyngoscope market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. The market in North America is anticipated to hold the largest share of nasopharyngoscope in the global market, followed by Western Europe, owing to the increasing demand for minimally invasive surgical procedures. In addition, the presence of favorable reimbursement scenario is driving the market growth of nasopharyngoscope. The market in Asia Pacific region is anticipated to show to grow at a higher rate owing to the improving healthcare facilities, increasing funding and grants for research and development activities, and presence of large population-based coupled with the large share of the geriatric population in countries such as China and Japan. However, the market for nasopharyngoscope in regions such as Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Middle East & Africa are estimated to show a stagnant growth over the forecast period owing to the presence of inadequate healthcare infrastructure and low per capita healthcare expenditure.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-6450 Nasopharyngoscope Market: Key PlayersSome of the market participants in the global nasopharyngoscope market are Optim LLC, XION GmbH, Jedmed instrument Company, Inventis Srl, Hipp Endoskop Service GmbH, Anthony Products, Inc., Xi'an Landcom Digital Medical Sci-Tech Co. Ltd., Machida, Inc., Pentax Medical (Hoya Corporation), Ambu A/S, ATMOS MedizinTechnik GmbH & Co. KG, and Olympus Corporation. Motorized Quadricycles Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 09:20:18 Press Information Persistence Market Research (PMR) 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, yogesh sengar Team Lead +1-646-568-7751 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 454 Words 305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Team Lead+1-646-568-7751 In Europe, motorized quadricycles continue to be an attractive vehicle segment, especially among urbanites. Many consumers in European countries such as Germany, France and the UK, among others, are opting for electric quadricycle over compact cars. In addition to this, car rental companies in Europe are providing motorized quadricycles on rent and promoting their use in the regions automobile market. Persistence Market Researchs latest report on Europes motorized quadricycle market reveals that such factors will bolster the markets growth, which is expected to reach US$ 456.9 Mn by registering global sales of over 37,000 units towards the end of 2027.The report, titled Motorized Quadricycles Market: Europe Industry Analysis 20122016 and Forecast 20172027, also projects that the European market for motorized quadricycles, which is likely to be valued at US$ 268.3 Mn by 2017-end, will soar at a steady CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. However, the markets growth in terms of volume is expected to subpar, representing a 3.9% CAGR over the forecast period. Key factors restraining the growth of Europes motorized quadricycle market include:Technical and economic limitations: Despite the various advantages that the motorized quadricycles offer, many customers feel reluctant to buy a motorized quadricycle due to their high costs.High emission levels: With regards to transition to higher emission levels, the existing regulatory scenario in European countries creates a point of concern for quadricycle manufacturers, who are already combating at the pricing front.Sub-A segment cars: Demand for low cost, Sub-A segment cars micro cars that are filling the space between a quadricycle and a compact passenger car is gaining traction in countries such as France.The report expects that Europes motorized quadricycles market will witness sizeable growth in France, Germany and Russia. Among European countries, France is estimated to remain dominant over the forecast period owing to increasing demand for eco-friendly small size vehicles and stringent government regulations. U.K.s motorized quadricycle market, meanwhile, is estimated witness high growth opportunities, owing to rising efforts taken by domestic manufacturers and low penetration of motorized quadricycles in its auto-markets.By product-type, the light quadricycles segment is estimated to represent dominant market share through 2027. Around 88% of Europes motorized quadricycle revenues in 2017 are expected to be accounted by light-weight quadricycles. Demand for electric motorized quadricycles, however, is expected to be lesser than that of motorized quadricycles equipped with conventional fuel motors. By the end of 2027, over 68% of Europes motorized quadricycles revenues will be accounted by quadricycles operating on conventional fuels. The report also profiles leading players in Europes motorized quadricycle market, which include Renault SA, Bajaj Auto Ltd., Automobile CHATNET, Ligier Group, Aixam-Mega, Tecno Meccanica Imola SpA, Grecav Auto Srl.Request for sample report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/16711 Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Mobile Computing Devices Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2017-2027"report to their offering Mobile Computing Devices Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:53:25 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 552 Words Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comManager3479183531 The internet and web plays an important role in the adoption of mobile computing devices, as the enterprises are gradually shifting their focus to offer their customers customized products in accordance to the preferences. Strong network connection enables the organization to monitor the clients likes and dislikes and aid them in quick decision making. Technological innovations and increasing disposable income of the population is expected to have a positive impact in the growth in market revenue of global mobile computing devices. Increasing application of mobile computing devices starting from retailers to healthcare sector is enabling the vendors of mobile computing devices to launch multi-featured, cost effective devices to solve their clients purpose. The mobile computing devices include laptops, smartphones, tablets, e-readers and others which does not simply fulfill the requirement to check scheduled meetings, e-mails, weather reports etc. but beyond that it offers detailed analysis of customer behavior, interpretation of the communication and many more.Global Mobile Computing Devices Market: Drivers and ChallengesThe need to understand customer demographics is urging the enterprises to opt for mobile computing devices in order to monitor their preferences. The organization can make decisions efficiently with the use of mobile computing devices. Growing demand for rugged computers in military applications owing to the technological advancements is encouraging the global mobile computing devices market. The above factors are driving the growth of global mobile computing devices market.However, there are a few challenges faced by the enterprises which hinder the growth of global mobile computing devices market. Data breaching is among the prime reasons that limits the adoption of mobile computing devices. In order to utilize the advanced features of a mobile computing devices, better network connectivity is required. In most of the developing countries lack of advanced wireless networkm hinders the growth of mobile computing device market.Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4311 Global Mobile Computing Devices Market: SegmentationGlobal Mobile Computing Devices Market can be segmented into type, end-user industry and regions.On the basis of type, global mobile computing devices market can be segmented into smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearable devices and others (E-reader and mobile gaming devices).On the basis of end-user industry, global mobile computing devices market can be segmented into Consumer and Industrial. The industrial sector sub-segmented by IT and telecommunications, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, defense and government, BFSI, retail, energy and utilities, healthcare, and others.Global Mobile Computing Devices Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of regions, global mobile computing devices market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and Africa.Mobile computing devices market is currently dominated by North America due to the technological advancements and high usage of mobile devices among the population and high disposable income. Asia Pacific computing devices market is expected to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period owing to the digitization and increased investment by government of various countries in the region.Global Mobile Computing Devices Market: Competition LandscapeSome of the key players for mobile computing devices market are Acer Inc., ASUSTek Computer Inc., Hewlett Packard, Microsoft Corp., Samsung Electronics, Apple Inc., Amazon.com , Lenovo Group, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and Google Inc.Buy Full Report Now @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/4311 Some of the major market players in microplate handling instruments market globally include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Core Life Sciences, Inc., PerkinElmer Inc., BERTHOLD TECHNOLOGIES GmbH & Co. KG, Biochrom, AVIOQ, INC, ANTISEL, Erba Manaheim LLC etc. The microplate handling instruments market is currently witnessing a number of strategic collaboration and partnership activities by manufacturers and end users. Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 11:42:20 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Umesh SEO Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 727 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comSEO Manager3479183531 Microplate handling instruments have a common presence as a microplate automation in diagnostics centers and research institutes. A microplate is generally characterized by the number of wells contains in the plate. The microplate handling instruments facilitate the handling of plates at all stages in the process from sterilization to the analysis of the sample. Microplate handling instrument help to mitigate manual errors by automating the assay process. The lab automation as a microplate handling instruments frees up technicians to work on other operations and save times, increases efficiency and result output. The microplate handling instrument has benefits such as payload, precision, throughput, duty cycle over the conventional manual process.The microplate handing instruments are generally connected with the operating interface to perform the various tasks at a time without any human intervention. The microplate handling instruments are considered as walk away automation.The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the demand for advanced microplate handing instruments for the diagnosis and research purpose augments the market growth of the global microplate handling instruments market over a forecast period.The global microplate handling instruments market is segmented on the basis of product type, application, and end user.On the basis of product type, the global microplate handling instruments market is segmented into:Microplate ReadersMicroplate DispensersMicroplate WashersMicroplate IncubatorsRequest Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5490 On the basis of application, the global microplate handling instruments market is segmented into:ImmunologyCell Based AssaySerologyMicrobiologyMolecular DiagnosticsOthersOn the basis of end users, the global microplate handling instruments market is segmented into:Hospitals LaboratoryDiagnostics CentersBlood BanksResearch OrganizationsAcademic InstitutesOthersThe global microplate handling instruments market is anticipated to register a significant CAGR over a forecast period. The increasing prevalence of various diseases and requirement of body fluid testing, blood testing, and diagnosis, is the leading factor anticipated to boost the demand for microplate handling instruments to automate the processes and drives the growth of the global microplate handling instruments market over the forecast period. The increasing demand for technically advanced microplate handling instruments due to the benefits such as accuracy, efficiency and less-human interference in the diagnosis process, is also expected to propel the growth of the global blood drawing chairs market over the forecast period. The scientific enhancements and increase in the research and development activities worldwide would also accelerate the demand of microplate handling instruments and anticipated to drive the growth of the market over the long run.However, the poorly developed medical infrastructure and research facilities in the developing countries may hamper the demand for the microplate handling instruments and restrain the global microplate handling instruments market over the forecast period. The higher prices of the microplate handling instruments may also hinder the growth of the global microplate handling instruments market over the forecast period.On the basis of regional presence, the global microplate handling instruments market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Currently, North America is contributing the leading shares to the global microplate handling instruments market in terms of value and anticipated to register a significant CAGR over a forecast period. The Europe is also contributing the moderate shares to the market due to the advanced diagnostics facilities and research activities in the region. APAC is the most lucrative market for the microplate handling instruments due to developing medical infrastructure, increasing government funding for research and development activities in the countries such as India, China which is expected to show a robust growth to the global microplate handling instruments market. MEA is at a nascent stage to the global microplate handling instruments market and anticipated to register a decent growth to the market over a forecast period. Overall, the global microplate handling instruments market is expected to show significant growth over a forecast period.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5490 Some of the major market players in microplate handling instruments market globally include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Core Life Sciences, Inc., PerkinElmer Inc., BERTHOLD TECHNOLOGIES GmbH & Co. KG, Biochrom, AVIOQ, INC, ANTISEL, Erba Manaheim LLC etc. The microplate handling instruments market is currently witnessing a number of strategic collaboration and partnership activities by manufacturers and end users. Medical X Ray Detectors Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:40:28 Press Information Persistence Market Research Contact Us Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Yogesh Senger Associate Consultant 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 534 Words Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comAssociate Consultant800-961-0353 Increasing private and public investment in digital imaging technology particularly in the field of healthcare, the numerous benefits offered by digital detectors, analog X-ray reimbursement cuts, and reducing prices are the main factors driving the medical X-ray detectors market. Furthermore, technological advancements coupled with strong encouragement by venture capitalists should boost the medical X-ray detectors market throughout the course of the study period. The medical X-ray detectors market is poised to grow with a robust CAGR of 6.1% from 2017-2022.Digital X-ray systems are twice the size of retrofit X-ray systems in terms of module type and are expected to become even more popular in the days ahead. The digital x-ray systems medical X-ray detectors segment is on track to be worth more than US$ 2 billion by the end of the study period, making it imperative for key stakeholders to target this segment. Retrofit systems are slowly but surely fading in popularity. Nonetheless, this segment still accounts for a revenue share approaching a third of the medical X-ray detectors market in 2017 and companies cannot overlook it entirely in favor of digital x-ray systemsA sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/18580 Fixed detectors comprise more than half the medical X-ray detectors market by revenue share. North America alone has a third of the market in 2017 and is expected to be the only region in the medical X-ray detectors market to record a robust CAGR in excess of 6%. Europe is the second largest region in the fixed detector segment of the medical X-ray detectors market but MEA and Latin America are predicted to grow at a higher CAGR. Portable detectors occupy the balance revenue share in the modality segment of the medical X-ray detectors market. This segment is highly likely to see strong growth and companies can try to target this lucrative segment accordinglyLarge-area flat panel detectors are dominant in the medical X-ray detectors market by panel size segment in 2017 and are estimated to remain so going forward. The large-area flat panel detector segment in both North America and Europe is assessed to be worth more than US$ 600 million by the end of the forecast period, ensuring that all major players can be profitable in such a large market. The small-area flat panel detectors segment is particularly popular in North America with a high CAGR in the APEJ regionComputed radiography has a revenue share of just over a fifth of the medical X-ray detectors market by product type segment and is likely to lose popularity over the study period. A similar CAGR greater than 4.5% exists in Latin America and APEJ but the latter is considerably larger in terms of market sizeNorth America is the largest region in the medical X-ray detectors market and the U.S. accounts for the lions share within the continent. The U.S. medical X-ray detectors market is anticipated to grow to more than a billion dollars by end 2022.Request report Toc @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/18580 The companies profiled in the medical X-ray detectors market report are Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Rayence Co., KONICA MINOLTA, Hamamatsu Photonics, DRTECH Corporation, Canon Inc, Analogic Corporation, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Onex Corporation, and Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Machine Learning As A Services Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Machine Learning As A Services Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 05:34:35 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 575 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531 With recent advances in science and technology, particularly in machine learning, organisations need to adopt more comprehensive analytics strategies rather than basic analytics as large volumes of data is needed to be analyzed. Machine learning draws from numerous fields of studyartificial intelligence, data mining, statistics, and optimization. With the emergence of need for new computing technologies, the machine learning as service market has emerged drastically from the past where an organisation need critical, reliable and faster ways to learn from the data already available and provide insights. The evolution of artificial intelligence enabled researchers to adopt new iterative models for machine learning and when these models are exposed to new data they are able to learn independently.Many organisation are adopting machines learning as a service (MLaaS) rather than in-house development due to various Organizational Challenges like talent scarcity etc., and Data Challenges like need of reliable and quality data. The organisations also face Infrastructure Challenges like lack of proper storage facilities and hardware for computation.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3220 Market drivers & challenges:Major markets drivers for Machine learning as Service (MLaaS) market increased volume of data and diversity in the data available which need to be studied qualitatively. The other driver for Machine learning as service market was data storage became more affordable and cheaper.The other major market driver for the Machine learning as Service market (MLaaS) is Recommendation systems which are usedacross a wide range of industries, most notably online shopping sites which help organisation to get deeper insights about the customer behavior by helping them discover new and relevant offers thereby leading to stronger customer relationships and higher sales for the business.The other major factor driving Machine learning as Service market (MLaaS) is some organizations need to make important decision during real time where machine learning models provide best predictions.The biggest challenge in adopting Machines Learning as Service (MLaaS) by many organisations was the cold start problem wherein they lack the historical data needed to provide recommendations where in organisation first create a feedback lack that test user responses in order to make further recommendations which can improve over time.Global Machine Learning as a Service Market: SegmentationGlobal Machine Learning as a Service Market is segmented based on the, type, vertical and region.On basis of Type global Machine Learning as a Service Market can be segmented to Supervised learning, Unsupervised learning, Semi supervised learning and Reinforcement learning web and mobile.On the basis of vertical global Machine Learning as a Service Market is segmented into BFSI, Government, healthcare, retail, energy, transportation and others.On basis of region, global Machine Learning as a Service Market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).Market Overview:North America region is dominant in Machine Learning as a Service Market due to growing demand from large enterprises and startup companies in North America and followed by Western Europe during the period. Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at a faster rate during the forecast period.Request Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3220 Key Market Players:Some of the Key players in Machine Learning as a Service Market include Google, Amazon Web Services, IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, SAS Institute Inc., BigML, Inc., DataRobot, Inc., FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation), Yottamine Analytics, LLC, and Algolytics. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Livestock Monitoring System Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Livestock Monitoring System Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 05:37:49 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 538 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531 Nowadays, animals are produced intensively and maintained under optimal conditions for growth and production within current technological limits. The majority of animals are constrained within a building or stockyard for most of the times. As they are prevented from foraging for their own food, the farmer/ owner of livestock has to take care for all aspects of their husbandry.Therefore, monitoring and management related to feeding, environment, reproduction, health, growth, marketing, transport and quality becomes the responsibility of the farmer.Livestock monitoring systems monitor the entire livestock environment 24/7, and alert the user by phone, text or email if any condition falls outside of a preset parameter, so that the user can respond quickly. Additionally, these systems are used to monitor sick animals, tack rooms, and observe animals kept in the trailer in case of travelling.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3223 Market Overview:Progressive developments in sensor technology are making available increasing amounts of information relevant to monitoring animals and their environment, and hence their production, growth and health.Continuously rising demand for the large cattle and poultry, new and advanced techniques are being utilized to aid the tracking and monitoring of animals. Poultry, cattle and other animals require best possible living conditions to stay healthy and maximize their yield. Equipment failures such as ventilation systems, circulation fans, heaters and air conditioners can threaten their health and can cause problems if not handled diligently.Market Dynamics:Major factors responsible for fuelling the demand for livestock monitoring systems are growth in size and number of dairy farms, development of sensors which can gather an increasingly wide range of information, new product launches for livestock management, and need for substantial cost savings associated with livestock monitoring & management.The usage of systems for identifying and weighing animals is already pronounced globally, and it is expected that systems for tracking animals, monitoring basic health related factors such as body temperature and heart rate, and for assessing body conformation, will witness high adoption rate in coming years.Presently livestock monitoring systems market is witnessing gradual adoption of integrated monitoring systems, in which information from sensors, databases, and other knowledge bases are combined and interpreted. Several systems containing some of the elements of an integrated monitoring system are already available commercially for swine, cattle, broiler and milk production.Market Segmentation:Livestock monitoring system market is mainly classified on the basis of component, application, and regions.On the basis of component, livestock monitoring system market is segmented into hardware, software and services.On the basis of application, livestock monitoring system market is segmented into milk harvesting management, reproduction management, feeding management, heat stress management, animal comfort management, behavior monitoring and control, and other applications.On the basis of regions, the market is segmented into 7 key regions:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeAsia Pacific Excluding JapanJapanMiddle East & AfricaRequest Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3223 Key Market PlayersThe major players operating in the livestock monitoring system market include DeLaval, Sensaphone. Rugged Networks Limited., GEA Group AG, Afimilk Ltd., Communications Group Lethbridge Ltd., BouMatic LLC., SCR Dairy, Inc., DairyMaster, Lely Holding S.A.R.L, SUM-IT Computer Systems, Ltd., and Valley Agriculture Software. The AIM in the Financial Services Market provides a detailed study of current and future opportunities to clarify future investments in the market.This market is majorly driven by bringing your own device (BYOD) used by the enterprises and increasing usage of advanced cloud computing systems by the organizations. AIM in the Financial Services PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 21:52:08 Press Information QYReports Pune, India. Jones John Sales Manager +91-9764607607 email http://www.qyreports.com # 441 Words Pune, India.Sales Manager+91-9764607607 The Global AIM in the Financial Services Market provide the actual processes of industry-wide objectives in the sectors of manufacturers, geographic analysis, forecasting, type and application, and financial services. The AIM in the Financial Services Market provides a detailed study of current and future opportunities to clarify future investments in the market. The Global Market Research Report aims to forecast product types, classifications, end users, applications and industrial chain structure in the financial services sector by 2023. The report shares information on key drivers, limitations and opportunities.QYReports has as of late declared the addition of another research report to its developing repository. The exploration report, titled "Global AIM in the Financial Services Market Report 2023," offers an unmistakable understanding of the subject matter. The research report tries to understand the cutting-edge methodologies taken by merchants in the overall market to offer product separation through Porter's five forces analysis.Get sample copy of this report @Major Key Players are including in this report: IBM, NEC, Talend, Salesforce.com , Intersystem, Liferay, MuleSoft, Adobe Systems, SAP, Seeburger, Open Text, Pegasystems, Axway, BEA Systems, Software, Oracle, TIBCO Software, Fujitsu, TmaxSoft, Microsoft, Adeptia, Hitachi, Red Hat, Intel, Informatica, WSO2, Progress Software, Google etc.This market is majorly driven by bringing your own device (BYOD) used by the enterprises and increasing usage of advanced cloud computing systems by the organizations. The foremost challenges in the enhancement of Global AIM in the Financial Services Market could be the low mindfulness among the end users, for example, web-based social networking, manufacturing, utilities, government bodies ventures and low rate of approval of most recent technological advancements.Get discount copy of this report @There is a lot of statistical surveying organizations out there, notwithstanding, only a couple are trusted and are productive in pulling in the trust of the customers. With Qyreports, the primary statistical surveying group online, you can ensure a day in and day out customer service, high gauge administrations, high customer benefits, and innovative thoughts in data assembling, and research experts that are pros in the field. This great opportunity of helping diverse endeavors is what incites QYReports to finally launch their dynamic statistical surveying services, the online solution that every business must take the full favorable position of.Major Factors: Global AIM in the Financial Services Market Overview Economic Impact on Market Market Competition Global AIM in the Financial Services Market Analysis by Application Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Global AIM in the Financial Services Market Effect, Factors, Analysis Global AIM in the Financial Services Market Forecast Lactic acid forms an important industrial product, which is used in the formation of various small or large compounds. Lactic acid is formed through the breakdown of glucose and its oxidation PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 09:29:07 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +13479183531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com abhishek manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 724 Words Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +13479183531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.commanager+1 03479183531 Lactic acid forms an important industrial product, which is used in the formation of various small or large compounds. Lactic acid is formed through the breakdown of glucose and its oxidation. Lactic acid can be processed both naturally and synthetically. The naturally obtained lactic acid is formed by the fermentation process through bacterial reaction, the prominent bacteria involved in the process are lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, pediococcus among others. Moreover, lactic acid is also naturally present in human body obtained from glycogen through muscles cells to support energy production when oxygen supply is inadequate in the body. However, chemically lactic acid is derived through the hydrolysis of lacto nitrile. Lactic acid finds extensive application in food industry as it helps to regulate micro flora in the food and act as food preservatives. It is formed by the natural fermentation process in food products such as cheese, soy sauce, pickled vegetables among others. Apart from food industry, it is widely used in pharmaceutical and chemical industry. The polymers of lactic acid are widely used as labelling and packaging material as they are biodegradable and being biocompatible in nature, they are being used in manufacturing of sutures, drugs and prosthetic devices.Request Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3895 Global Lactic Acid Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe widespread applicability of lactic acid across various sectors is driving the demand for lactic acid market. Lactic acid possess various peculiar characteristics, which has different roles to be played in various food segments. . In meat poultry and fish products lactic acid helps to prolong their shelf life along with preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria. In pickled vegetables and salad dressings, lactic acid helps to prevent their spoilage and enhances the product safety, whereas in dairy products certain bacteria breakdown the sugar of milk into lactic acid which provides a creamy texture and savoury flavour to the products such as yogurt whose flavour and texture is dependent upon the presence of lactic acid. Hence broad spectrum of applicability in food industry is spurring the growth of lactic acid market. Owing to antimicrobial, moisturizing property of lactic acid, it has a revitalising effect on the skin. Hence, is gaining popularity among cosmetics manufacturers. In other non-food application lactic acid is available as myriad which is extensively used in various industrial applications such as pharmaceuticals, chemical and textile industry Thereby, propelling the growth of lactic acid market.The major challenge faced by the lactic acid market is to fermentation process of the lactic acid which requires technological optimization and product purification. Moreover, this biotechnological production requires optimization of nutrients thus, leading to high manufacturing cost. Thereby, restraining the growth of lactic acid market.Global Lactic Acid Market: SegmentationOn the basis of application, lactic acid market is segmented into:-Dairy ProductsMeat poultry and fishPickled vegetablesBaked productsSavoury flavoursSalad dressingOn the basis of end user industries, lactic acid market is segmented into:-Food & BeveragesChemicalPharmaceuticalCosmeticsTextilesOn the basis of functionality, lactic acid market is segmented into:-Flavouring AgentEmulsifierph RegulatorAnti-forming agentAnti-microbial agentBuy This Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/3895 Global Lactic Acid Market: Region wise OutlookThe global lactic acid market is categorised into seven regions, namely, Western Europe, Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan Latin America and, North America. North America accounts for largest share of the lactic acid market. The food industry accounts for the majority of the lactic acid market and rest is contributed by non-food application in North America region. Asia Pacific accounts for potential region which is expected to record significant growth during the forecast period. Increasing demand for versatility in the food products among consumers, is contributing to the growth of lactic acid market as it prolongs the shelf life of the food products and make them perishable. Europe also holds significant share in the market. Increasing demand for processed and functional food among consumers, is propelling the demand for lactic acid in the food products.Global Lactic Acid Market: Key PlayersSome of the prominent players identified in the global lactic acid market includes:NatureWorks LLCCorbionGalactic s.a.Archer Daniels Midland CompanyMusashino Chemical (China) Co.,Ltd Palsgaard A/SHenan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology Co., LtdSigma-Aldrich Co. LLC.Futerro PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 09:45:41 LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2019 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 131,029 incentive stock options and 130,870 deferred share units to certain directors of the Company as non-cash directors' fees for Q4 2018 (the "Director Grant"). All incentive stock options issued under the Director Grant are exercisable for a period of ten years at $0.34 per share and vest immediately from the date of grant.As of the date hereof, a total of 24,750,126 common shares of the Company are reserved for issuance under the Company's incentive stock plan, representing 5.3% of the issued and outstanding share capital. 2,933,603 common shares of the Company are reserved for issuance under the Company's deferred share unit plan.For information on this press release, please contact:Dragos TanasePresident & CEOPhone: +44 7799 469694 dt@ gabrielresources.com Richard BrownChief Commercial Officer Phone: +44 7748 760276 richard.brown@gabrielresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Further InformationAbout GabrielGabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal focus has been the exploration and development of the Rosia Montana gold and silver project in Romania ("Rosia Montana Project"). The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license ("License") for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Rosia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company. It is anticipated that the Rosia Montana Project would bring over US$24 billion (at US$1,200/oz gold) to Romania as potential direct and indirect contribution to GDP and generate thousands of employment opportunities.Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group (as defined below) focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com Forward-looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.In this press release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the uncertainties associated with: the ICSID Arbitration, actions by the Romanian Government, conditions or events impacting the Company's ability to fund its operations (including but not limited to the completion of further funding noted above) or service its debt, exploration, development and operation of mining properties and the overall impact of misjudgments made in good faith in the course of preparing forward-looking information.Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 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, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "is of the view", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward- looking statements.Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation: delay or extension to the duration of the ICSID Arbitration; required disclosure, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration against Romania; changes in the liquidity and capital resources of Gabriel, and the group of companies of which it is directly or indirectly parent ("Group"); access to funding to support the Group's continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future; equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of new or existing securities in part or in whole to Common Shares; the ability of the Company to maintain a continued listing on the TSX Venture Exchange or any regulated public market for trading securities; the impac Research Report Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 15:08:12 Press Information Research Report Insights Research Report Insights 42 joseph street, Portcarling P0B 1J0, Muskoka, Ontario T: +1-631-721-4201 Vikas Bahurupi Manager 6317214201 email https://www.researchreportinsights.com # 553 Words Research Report Insights42 joseph street,Portcarling P0B 1J0,Muskoka, OntarioT: +1-631-721-4201Manager6317214201 The demand for individual quick freeze (IQF) fruits is largely influenced by the prominent wellness and health trends in the world. Also, the rising occurrence of pancreatic disorder due to overconsumption of poorly-preserved fruits is expected to stimulate the demand for IQF fruits among consumers globally. In2016, the global market for IQF fruits is anticipated to close in on US$ 8.0 Bn in terms of revenues, surpassing consumption of over 2.3 Mn tonnes of volumes. To asses optimal growth opportunities of the global IQF fruits market, Research Report Insights (RRI) provides key market perceptions in the report titled, Global Market Study on Individual Quick Freeze (IQF) Fruits: Industry Analysis and Forecast 2016-2026. According to the report, the market value of the global IQF fruits market reached US$ 7.4 Bn in 2015, and is expected to grow exponentially in 2016 and beyond.Request For Report Sample with Table of Contents@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114688/IQF-Fruits-Market Growing awareness on the health benefits of consuming fruits with nutritional additives is one of the major factor driving the growth of the market. The consumption of natural and organic fruits assorted with artificial ingredients is surging, which has resulted in a positive impact on the demand for quick freeze fruits. However, the growth of the global market will face challenges owing to the lower acceptance of IQF fruits as an alternative for conventional fruit preservation processes.By product type, the global market for IQF fruits is expected to exhibit dominance from strawberry segment. Strawberry additives will account for more than US$ 570 Mn revenues, while blueberry additives will be adopting a y-o-y growth rate of 10% and increase their revenue share by 2016-end. Increasing consumption of berries in preparation of smoothies and other fruit drinks will also influence the product growth in 2016 and beyond.On the basis of the buyers, the groceries and wholesaler outlets will continue to account for substantial share in the global market value. Dairy product manufacturers are also expected to increase their demand for IQF fruits in order to develop new edible and drinkable products. In 2016, cake shops and confectionary outlets will emerge as one of the key contributors for rising consumption of IQF fruits.Request For Report Discount@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114688/IQF-Fruits-Market The global market is further segmented on the basis of geographic regions, wherein North America is estimated to lead as the most lucrative region for the expansion of the global IQF fruits market. In terms of volume, North America shall solely account for consumption of more than 850 thousand tonnes of IQF fruits by the end of 2016, resulting into a y-o-y growth of 5.9% over 2015. Western Europe is also expected to join North America as one of the leading regions, procuring market value of US$ 1.3 Bn in 2016.The key fruit suppliers and consumer companies in the global market for individual quick freeze fruits include, Dirafrost Frozen Fruit Industry NV., Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, Uren Food Group Ltd., Danone, Rosemary & Thyme Limited, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Nestle S.A, and Milne Fruit Products Inc., among others.The global IQF fruit market is projected to expand at a 6.5% CAGR in terms of revenues, during the forecast period 2016-2026. The global individual quick freeze fruits market is anticipated to be value at US$ 14.8 Bn by end of the forecast period.Report Analysis@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114688/IQF-Fruits-Market Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Insurance Telematics Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Insurance Telematics Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 05:33:38 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 499 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531 Recently insurance industry is facing a huge technological shift in order to stay competitive in the market. Due to innovations in IoT and using them for insurance telematics products in order to connect insurance products and their offerings are in rise. The growth in investments in the IoT insurance technologies are enabling to develop innovative insurance telematics offerings.Insurance telematics devices are primarily used by automobile insurance companies in order to track driving behavior of the customer and based on their performance in driving there would be change in the insurance premiums.Life insurance companies are incorporating health tracking devices in order to integrate change premiums and insurance plans based on the customers health change patterns. This smart life way of changing insurance offers is an example of how insurance companies are starting to make impact in the daily lives of their customers.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3219 Market drivers & challenges:These technology enabled products will become necessary across all segments of the insurance industry, as increase in the digital savvy customers. Growth in innovations like IoT and machine learning also increase the adoption of insurance telematics market.Insurance telematics market is also driven by the growth in construction industry where insurance companies offer reduced premiums based on the building systems and also react and monitor utilities in order to understand water leakage, fire occupancy trends etc. Insurance companies can use this data findings and can do predictive maintenance by detecting potential problems prior to their occurrence, thereby reducing claims from the customers.One of the major challenge faced insurance telematics market is lack of knowledge of these advanced technologies by the insurance companies and the huge task of designing the IoT applications based on companys Policies and government regulations.Global Insurance Telematics Market: SegmentationGlobal Insurance telematics market is segmented based on the type of Deployment, by the size of the organisation, by region.On the basis of the type of deployment Global Insurance telematics market is segmented to Cloud, On-premise.On the basis of the size of organisation the Global Insurance telematics market is segmented to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Large Enterprises.On basis of region global Insurance Telematics Market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and The Middle East and Africa (MEA).Market Overview:Majority of the Insurance Telematics market is dominated by Europe as there are large number of insurance companies adopting to these change. Followed by North America and Asia pacific which also share a significant market due of growth of online retail.Request Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3219 Key Market Players:Some of the key players in Global Insurance Telematics Market include, CoverBox Ltd., Hughes Telematics, Inc., Insure The Box, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, MyDrive Solutions, Novatel Wireless, Numerex Corporation, , State Farm, TomTom, TRACKER Network, Travelers Indemnity Company, Trimble Insurance Agency, Inc., ViaSat, Inc., Zurich Financial Services Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:46:00 The growing automotive industry has led to higher adoption of equipment such as anti-fog lights in the market. Anti-fog lights help drivers to navigate safely and avoid head-on collision during foggy weather. In the automotive industry, anti-fog lights are generally placed in front of a vehicle below the head lamps. Sometimes anti-fog lights are placed both at the front and rear of vehicles. Anti-fog lights are crucial for vehicles operating in hilly and mountainous areas for safe driving. Lights emanating from anti-fog lamps must be compatible with lights produced by the vehicles head lamp, so that the driver can view the road through the car windshield without any strain to the eyes.Xenon, halogen and LED (Light Emitting Diode) are the different types of materials used in manufacturing of anti-fog lights. Traditionally, Halogen is the most preferable material used for manufacturing of ant-fog lights. But, recently, LED technology is being used in developing anti-fog lights owing to its advantages such as it consumes less amount of battery and has longer lifespan.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6492 Global Anti-Fog Lights Market: Market DynamicsDrivers:Increasing accidents due to foggy weather is one of the major factor that drives the growth of the anti-fog lights market. Moreover, the global vehicle safety organization IRF (International Road Federation) insists that automotive bodies should mandatorily install front and rear fog lights in all vehicles, which is also expected to give traction to the growth of the anti-fog lights market in the near future. Furthermore, increasing installation of anti-fog lights in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles will also drive the growth of the anti-fog lights market. Besides, rise in air pollution across the world is resulting in increase in smog, which will further increase the demand for anti-fog lights and drive the growth of the anti-fog lights market over the forecast period.Restraints:In few countries, weather condition does not require the use of fog lights as well as there are no regulations for installation of anti-fog lights in the vehicles. This is expected to be a major factor to hamper the growth of the anti-fog lights market over the forecast period.Global Anti-Fog Lights Market: SegmentationThe global anti-fog lights market can be segmented on the basis of sales type, material used and vehicle type.By Sales Type, the global anti-fog lights market can be segmented into:OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers)AftermarketBy Material, the global anti-fog light market can be segmented into:XenonHalogenLED (Light Emitting Diode)By Vehicle Type, the global anti-fog lights market can be segmented into:Passenger CarsCommercial VehiclesLCV (Light Commercial Vehicle)HCV (Heavy Commercial Vehicle)Global Anti-Fog Lights Market: Regional OutlookAsia Pacific is expected to be closely followed by North America throughout the forecast period. Both of these markets are expected to witness massive growth in the anti-fog lights market due to the estimated growth in the automotive sector in emerging economics, such as the U.S., China and India. Western Europe is estimated to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period owing to high demand for anti-fog lights in the growing automotive sector in the region. Germany is expected to be the leading automotive and automobile market in Western Europe. Latin America, in particular, is projected to support the growth of the anti-fog lights market due to increasing usage of anti-fog lights in passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the region. Japan and the Middle East and Africa are expected to support the growth of anti-fog lights market over the forecast period owing to increasing hybrid and electric cars manufacturers in this regions.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-6492 Global Anti-Fog Lights Market: Key ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants identified across the value chain of the global anti-fog lights market include:OSRAM GmbHHolophaneGE LightingKoninklijke Philips N.V.Magneti MarelliHELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:41:49 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Bhudholiya Manager +1-347-918-3531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 506 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1-347-918-3531 Blood disorders are mainly affect the one or more parts of the blood and prevent blood from doing its basic functions in the body. Blood disorders may be acute or chronic based on the cause and part of the blood system affected. Many blood disorders are inherited and some are acquired over the course of lifetime in a human being. Orphan diseases are those diseases which affect the fewer than 200,000 people which has been not adopted by the pharmaceutical companies owing to little financial incentives for discovery or marketing. There are several blood disorders which are considered orphan owing to lesser prevalence. Inherited blood disorders are seen due to genetic abnormalities in the patient population. Inherited orphan blood disorders includes sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, and Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) which are less prevalent. There are very few therapeutic options available for addressing inherited orphan blood disorders.Inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is driven by the increasing prevalence of inherited blood diseases in the developing and under developed economies. In addition availability of high unmet needs, increasing product pipeline for treating orphan blood disorders expected to create demand for these treatment options over the forecast period. Inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is driven by increasing governments and regulatory bodies support by means of research and development investment, fast track approval for discovering newer treatments for these disorders. Apart from aforementioned factors financial incentives, premium pricing for these products helps to achieve significant revenue growth over the forecast period.Inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market hindered by the lack of awareness among healthcare professionals and patients about the disorder and treatments. The market restrained by slow adoption of treatments due to cost associated with it and absence of permanent cure for these diseases.Inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is witnessing significant changes due to increasing product pipelines and rising awareness among clinicians about the disorders. Companies continuous investment in creating awareness and implementation of registries by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to change market dynamics over the forecast period.Geographically, global inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America will remain key market for global inheritedorphan blood disorders therapeutics market due to rising R&D activities by key players, better reimbursement policies, and availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure helps to maintain larger market share in the globalinheritedorphan blood disorders therapeutics market by the region. Asia Pacific is anticipated to present growth opportunity owing to large untapped market and growing governments interventions for improving healthcare infrastructure in the region.Request For Report sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2759 Some of the players in the global inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market are Biogen Idec, amida Cell, Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Sangamo BioSciences, Global Blood Therapeutics, Mast Therapeutics, Genetix Pharmaceuticals Inc., Emmaus Medical, Inc., Prolong Pharmaceuticals, Calgene Corporation, Invenux LLC, Optinova Ab, HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, and Acceleron Pharma. to name a few. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:40:32 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Bhudholiya Manager +1-347-918-3531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 653 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1-347-918-3531 A new understanding of inflammatory diseases has changed the drug development landscape for several major diseases that are affecting millions of people in the world. Inflammation describes the primary response of the body that eliminates the cause of injury. Periodically, bodys defense mechanism works inappropriately that leads to inflammation. Drug development has focused on treating each disease symptoms separately. The discovery of drugs to treat inflammatory diseases related with immune system is driving the market towards growth. Immune Mediated Inflammatory diseases represent a global threat in terms of quality of life, morbidity and mortality that leads to increasing opportunity to develop new treatments to conquer the inflammatory diseases and increase market share. On the top inflammatory diseases are most common in human beings. Increasing popularity of inflammatory diseases and treatment followed by anti-inflammatory drugs with lesser side effects is driving the global inflammatory diseases market.Based on type of diseases, global inflammatory diseases market can be segmented into following: Respiratory Diseases, Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,Heart disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Bone disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Others, Based on type of drug class, global inflammatory diseases market can be segmented into following: Anti-inflammatory Biologics, Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Corticosteroids, Others, Based on type of distribution channel, global inflammatory diseases market can be segmented into following: Hospital pharmacy, Retail pharmacy, Drug stores, Online pharmacy.On the basis of type of disease global inflammatory diseases market is segmented into respiratory diseases, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, Psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, bone disease and others. Respiratory diseases are further classified into asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, where asthma is a condition in that a persons airways become swollen, narrow and inflamed to produce extra mucus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is name for a group of lung conditions that causes due to smoking in adults that leads to breathing difficulties. Heart disease or heart disorders are conditions in that heart stops functioning, there are several types of heart diseases like arrhythmias heart disease, atherosclerotic and cardiomyopathy. Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease that attack central nervous system and disrupts the flow of information within the brain. Psoriasis is systemic inflammation that causes red and flaky plaques with joint pain of psoriatic arthritis. Inflammatory bowel disease involves inflammation related with gastro intestinal tract, includes to most common diseases of gastro intestinal tract that are crohns disease and ulcerative disease. Bone disease mostly includes rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.Moreover, on the basis of drug class used in treatment of inflammatory diseases global inflammatory diseases market is segmented into non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-inflammatory biologics and corticosteroids. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs bound the production of hormones in the body such as prostaglandins that is responsible for inflammation. Anti-inflammatory biologics are mostly used in treatment of arthritis indications in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis that is one of the revenue generating segment followed by respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On the basis of distribution channel global inflammatory disease market is segmented into hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy, drug stores and online pharmacy.Geographically, global inflammatory market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East Africa. North Amrica is dominating in inflammatory diseases market as there is demand for branded medicines over the generic medicines. Rising geriatric population is driving the inflammatory diseases market throughout the globe. Followed by North America, Asia Pacific and Latin America has shown increasing market share in inflammatory diseases.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2723 Some of the major players in global inflammatory diseases market are AstraZeneca, Merck & Co., GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, F-Hoffmann-La-Roche, Eli Lilly and Sanofi. Other emerging competitors like Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd., Gilead Sciences, Immune Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Neovacs, Prometheus Laboratories, Sandoz, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals are developing drug pipeline and launch of new products as key strategies. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Industrial Agitators Market: Adoption across Chemical Industry as a Preferred Alternative for Homogenous Blending to Fuel Growth Prospects: Global Industry Analysis (2013 - 2018) & Opportunity Assessment (2019 - 2027)" report to their offering. Industrial Agitators Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 06:37:25 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 815 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531 Future Market Insights (FMI) has recently published a report titled Industrial Agitators Market Global Industry Analysis 2013-2018 and Opportunity Assessment 2019-2027. Industrial agitators are simple instruments used for the mixing of two types of liquids together. However, with time, industrial agitators are being used in more applications and for performing different functions such as keeping the homogeneous liquid bulk during storage, increasing the heat transfer and promoting the reaction between chemicals. Industrial agitators work on the basic principle where the rotation of the impeller is used for the blending of the liquids.The global industrial agitators market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period. The industrial agitators market was valued at US$ 2293.4 Mn in 2018, and is projected to grow significantly to reach US$ 4487.6 Mn by 2027 due to the flexibility provided by industrial agitators to work in multiple industries and the increasing number of small and medium manufacturers across the world, which receive funding from venture capitalists as well as help from the governments of their countries of operation.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3323 In this report, FMI has segmented the global industrial agitators market by type, by model, by end user and by region. By type, the industrial agitators market is sub-segmented into top entry industrial agitators, side-entry industrial agitators and bottom-entry industrial agitators. The top-entry industrial agitators sub-segment of the global industrial agitators market is projected to register a 69.0% market share at the end of 2018. In addition, in terms of volume, the top-entry industrial agitators sub-segment is also expected to register a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period.Based on model, the industrial agitators market is sub-segmented into large-tank agitators, drum agitators, portable agitators and tote agitators. Due to the increasing demand from the paints & coatings industry as well as the inks & pigments industry, the tote industrial agitators sub-segment is expected to register a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period. In the recent years, industrial agitators have been gaining traction in the developing countries as there is an increase in the number of chemical industries where the industrial agitators find applications. It has been observed that an increase in the number of laboratories and research institutions is also driving the industrial agitators market due to an increase in the number of industrial agitators at research laboratories of the food, pulp & paper and similar other industries in the recent times. Due to these factors, the tote industrial agitators sub-segment is projected to create potential growth opportunities for the manufacturers of industrial agitators.Based on end user, the global industrial agitators market is segmented into chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverages, paper & pulp, waste & wastewater treatment, and oil, gas & petrochemical. In terms of value, the chemicals sub-segment is projected to register a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period, and, in terms of volume, the paper and pulp sub-segment is expected to register a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period. In addition, advancements in technology have resulted in an increase in the demand for application-specific customised industrial agitators, which is among the key factors expected to boost the market during the forecast period. Owing to these factors, the chemicals sub-segment of the global industrial agitators market is projected to register a 22.3% market share at the end of 2018.In addition, the report covers the trends that drive all the segments and offers insights & analysis about the growth potential of the industrial agitators market in various regions, which include Europe (Germany, Italy, France, Spain, U.K. & the rest of Europe), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico & the rest of Latin America), APEJ (China, India, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore & the rest of APEJ), North America (U.S. & Canada), MEA (GCC Countries, Israel, South Africa & the rest of MEA) and Japan. The revenue contribution of APEJ is estimated to increase at a CAGR of 8.4% over the forecast period due to consistent innovations as well as an increase in the number of research activities at laboratories, which is fuelling the adoption of industrial agitators in this region.Need more information about Report Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-3323 According to FMI analysis, strategies such as product innovations, improvements in durability and others are estimated to boost the revenue, due to which the vendors of industrial agitators are likely to be able to reach new growth markets. Xylem Inc. is one of the prominent vendors in the industrial agitators market. The company offers industrial agitators for different end-users such as chemicals, pulp and papers etc. As per FMI analysis, Xylem Inc. plans to upgrade its existing products to enhance its customer base by providing an improved user experience. Some of the key players featured in the global industrial agitators market report include Xylem Inc., Silverson Machines Ltd., Dynamix Agitators Inc., EKATO HOLDING GmbH, Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Ltd., Tacmina Corporation, SPX FLOW, Inc., Sulzer Ltd, Statiflo International Ltd., MIXEL Agitators, Mixer Direct Inc., Alfa Laval AB. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Air Treatment Products Market: India Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2014 - 2020" report to their offering FMI PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:57:58 Press Information Future Market Insights CONTACT: Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States Mr. Abhishek Budholiya Manager 3479183531 email http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 734 Words CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesManager3479183531 The air treatment equipment includes those products which modify or change the technological characteristics and properties of air. This modification may include the treatment of harmful gases present in the air, increasing or decreasing the air temperature, compressing the air, removal of harmful microorganism from the air, increasing or decreasing the air pressure, removal of extreme odours and others. The air treatment equipment includes air compressor, air dryers, air washers, air filters, injectors and others.On the basis of application the air treatment products are available for both industrial and domestic use. It is also used for roadways vehicles, waterways vehicles such as for ships, marines, and also for airways such as in aeroplane, spaceship, fighter plane and others. For domestic use air treatment equipment are offered to the consumers in the modified form and available in the consumer durable products for their convenient use. The air treatment consumer durable product includes hot air blowers, air conditioners, automatic washing machine, microwave, oven, automatic washer dryers, hair dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers and others.On the basis of domestic use the air treatment products is sub-segmented into air conditioner, air purifier, humidifiers and dehumidifiers and others. Among all these sub-segments air purifiers are further sub-segmented into air filters purifiers, ionizing purifiers, ozone generators, adsorbents and others. Whereas air conditioners is sub-segmented into room air conditioners, split air conditioners, window air conditioners and others.Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-in-246 Globally Asia-pacific is considered to be the highest market for the air treatment products followed by North America and Europe. In Asia Pacific China, India and Japan represent ample opportunities for players in this market. This growth in these countries is supported by increasing number of health conscious consumers and rising disposable income of the consumers.Among all these countries, India accounted for low growth for air treatment products in 2011 due to economic slowdown. Moreover, the demand of air conditioner segment also registered less growth as monsoon arrived early in the country. However, the market growth for air treatment product showed a positive growth in 2013 due to rise in country economic condition and urge of the consumer for better and healthier life. It is expected that India will show a potential growth for air treatment products in the forecasted period. This growth will be supported by rise demand for air conditioners in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and others due to rise in heat and temperature. It is expected that air conditioner will occupy the largest position of the pie as the consumers in India are making their switch from ceiling fans or table fans to air conditioner. Among all the sub-segments of air conditioner, split air conditioner is expected to show the highest growth. Furthermore, it has been found that awareness among the consumers for purified air will also fuel the market growth for air treatment products in India. States such as Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat is expected to support the growth of air purifiers as these states possess large number of industries.In India, high entrant of manufacturing industries, outsourcing companies and rise in commercialization are some of the major drivers supporting the market growth. In addition, increase in number of health consciousness among the consumers coupled with rising disposable income is also expected to fuel the market growth for air treatment products in India.However, the market of air treatment products in India possess some restraining factors. This includes lack of awareness among the consumers regarding the product such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers and others. Additionally, the consumers perceives these products as quite expensive and also it is considered as a luxury product and not an absolute necessity.The key players for air treatment products in India includes Bajaj Electricals Ltd, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd., Usha International Ltd., Panasonic Corp, Atlas Copco AB, Eureka Forbes, OSIM International, SANYO Electric Co ., Ltd and others.Request to Browse Full Table of Content, figure and Tables @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-in-246 Report Highlights:Detailed overview of parent marketChanging market dynamics of the industryIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and valueRecent industry trends and developmentsCompetitive landscapeStrategies of key players and product offeringsPotential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective towards market performanceMust-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint Persistence Market Research PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:39:11 Press Information Persistence Market Research Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Yogesh Team Lead 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 422 Words Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Team Lead800-961-0353 According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Breakfast Cereals: Hot Cereals to Witness Highest Growth by 2019, the global breakfast cereals market was valued at USD 32.5 billion in 2012 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2013 to 2019, to reach an estimated value of USD 43.2 billion in 2019.The need for convenience and busy schedules of people has been propelling the processed food industry, which includes breakfast cereals. Developed nations already have breakfast cereals as part of their regular course of meals. Increasing per capita income in developing countries is further giving the breakfast cereal industry a new dimension to look for.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3030 The market in the US is declining which is compelling the companies in this industry to increase their markets in the emerging economies. These companies have been increasing their advertising spends in the emerging markets in Asia Pacific region to make consumers aware about the breakfast cereals and the health benefits associated with them. Companies have also developed some brands according to the regional preferences, such as inclusion of saffron and raisin flavored cereals in India.Special emphasis on healthy living has prompted market players to introduce new products, which suit all age groups and lifestyles. International players are also focusing on reformulating their products by replacing harmful hydrogenated fat and oils with healthier ingredients such as fiber and fruits. Demand for gluten-free cereals has increased in the market, especially in North America and Europe. There also has been an increase in demand for whole-grain cereals worldwide.Breakfast cereals are broadly marketed under two segments: RTE cereals and Hot cereals. The market for RTE cereals is much bigger as compared to that of Hot breakfast cereals. The Ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal had the larger share in the breakfast cereal market and was valued at USD 27.8 billion in 2012. However, the Hot cereals is growing at more than double the CAGR of RTE cereals due to its increasing consumption in the Asian markets.Geographically, North America, led by sales from the US, accounted for the largest share in the breakfast cereals market and was valued at USD 13.9 billion in 2012. Though China does not have a large market, but the market in the country is growing at a brisk pace, therefore showing opportunities for the companies to increase investments in this region. Major companies operating in the market are Kelloggs, Cereal Partners Worldwide and PepsiCo.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC)@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3030 PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:00:50 Press Information Future Market Insights Contact Us U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Vaibhav SEO 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 575 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/SEO3479183531 Analog to digital converters (ADC) is an electric component that translates analog signals, physical world signals such as pressure, temperature, current, voltage, distance or light intensity into a digital representation of that signal which can be stored, manipulated, computed, and processed. Analog to digital converters are used to convert signals from analog to digital signals so that the signals can be read by the digital devices. As the global analog to digital converter market is among typical semiconductor market, it is expected to have a steady growth for the forecast period. Next generation communication systems and various other advanced consumer electronics are expected to influence the growth in deployment of analog to digital converter devices influencing a steady rise in the revenue of the global analog to digital converter market.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4085 Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: Drivers and ChallengesWith increasing government initiative to digitize working processes and encouraging smart living, and increasing disposable income of the population in growing economic countries is rising the adoption of consumer electronics among the people. Innovation in technology is also making use of analog to digital converters in various devices including consumer electronics and automotive equipment. Hence, these factors have a positive impact on adoption and penetration of analog to digital converters driving the revenue growth of global analog to digital converter market.However, few challenges faced by the analog to digital converter devices manufacturers while designing an analog to digital converter device are pressure for product differentiation, continuously improving efficiency of the product or having better performance goals, fast time-to-market and others.Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: SegmentationGlobal analog to digital converter market can be segmented into product type, resolution, application and regions.On the basis of product type, global analog to digital converter market can be segmented into pipelined ADC, display ADC, dual slope ADC, delta-sigma ADC, and others.On the basis of resolution, global analog to digital converter market can be segmented into 8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit, 14-bit, 16-bit and others.On the basis of application, global analog to digital converter market can be segmented into consumer electronics, IT and telecommunication, automotive and industrial.Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of regions, global Analog to Digital Converter Market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and Africa.North America accounts for largest market share in the global analog to digital converter market owing to the advanced technology and easy adoption in the countries such as the U.S. The expansion in the industrial and automotive sectors are offering lucrative growth opportunities for Western Europe analog to digital converter market. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is expected to have maximum potential for the revenue growth of global analog to digital converter market during the forecast period. Latin America, Middle East and Africa, Eastern Europe are among the regions which are expected to witness positive growth during the forecast period.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-4085 Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: Competition LandscapeSome of the key players for analog to digital converter market are Texas Instruments Incorporated, Analog Devices, Inc., Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, Microchip Technology Inc., Intersil Americas LLC, Sony Corporation, National Instruments, Maxim Integrated, Diligent Inc., and Adafruit Industries. Research Report Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 15:00:29 Press Information Research Report Insights Research Report Insights 42 joseph street, Portcarling P0B 1J0, Muskoka, Ontario T: +1-631-721-4201 Vikas Bahurupi Manager 6317214201 email https://www.researchreportinsights.com # 568 Words Research Report Insights42 joseph street,Portcarling P0B 1J0,Muskoka, OntarioT: +1-631-721-4201Manager6317214201 According to the latest study conducted by Research Report Insights (RRI) the global market for precision medicine is anticipate grow manifold, reflecting a robust CAGR of over 14% during 2016 to 2024.Rapid augmentation of the medicine industry across the globe will certainly benefit the global market for precision medicine. In addition, factors such as growing infrastructural development, higher investments, streamlined drug approval systems along with companion diagnostics are expected to favor the overall market growth during the assessment period. Cost-effective DNA profiling and increasing prevalence of carcinogenic diseases worldwide are additional factors that are projected to propel the market growth. Moreover, apt storage of genome data is of great significance to the global market for precision medicine as demand for data medicare is on the rise. However, acute data storage capacity, data privacy breach and discrepancies in funding systems and hefty price tag of personalized drugs may deter the market growth in the near future.Request For Report Sample with Table of Contents@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114684/Precision-Medicine-Market The global market for precision medicine has been categorized into various parent segments that are further segmented into smaller sub-divisions.On the basis of technology, next-gen sequencing, bioinformatics and drug discovery technology are expected to be the technologies highlighting the expanding the market width in forthcoming years. Based on applications, the oncology segment is expected to witness an overwhelming growth and is estimated to reach US$ 69 Billion over 2024, reflecting a staggering 13.5% CAGR. This is primarily owing to increasing prevalence of tumor-related disease amongst the global geriatric population. On the other hand, increasing cases of arthritis will favor the growth of immunology segment, which is expected to surpass US$ 34 Million in revenues by 2024 end.The popularity of precision medicine has grown significantly across various parts of the world, hence on the basis of region, the markets for precision medicine in Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is set to achieve new figures of growth over the next eight years. Precisely, the market in North America is expected to present new lucrative opportunities, occupying over 35% share of the market during the forecast period. In addition, the region is estimated to surpass a market valuation of over US$ 60 Million by the end of 2024.Request For Report Discount@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114684/Precision-Medicine-Market The US and Canada will be the heavyweights of the global market owing to the existence of well-established medical industries in both the countries. In Europe, the market is expected to witness a steady growth and will increase its revenues charts close to US$ 40 Million, riding on a healthy CAGR of over 13% during the assessment period. This is largely due to the increasing demand for precision medicines in countries such as France, UK, Italy and Germany. The Asia Pacific region is another region which is considered to be full of business potentials. The region is projected to increase at over 14% CAGR to reach approximately US$ 35 Million by 2024 end. The market in APAC will be heavily dominated by Japan, while, India and China will compete for the second spot. Likewise, the in Latin America the market is expected to surge at a pace in terms of revenue over 2024. However, MEA will witness a sluggish growth of the market which is attributed to the lack of initiatives for conductive extensive research and development activities.Report Analysis@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114684/Precision-Medicine-Market Persistence Market Research has announced the addition of the Growing Demand for Event Management Services Market to Significantly Increase Revenues Through 2022" report to their offering. Event Management Services Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 14:03:24 Press Information Persistence Market Research CONTACT: Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com yogesh sengar team lead 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 536 Words CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comteam lead800-961-0353 The term Crowd funding refers to a collection of funds for any venture or project through various sources like equity and non-equity, the platform for collecting funds can be the internet and other social media. These crowd funding platforms help investors to meet entrepreneurs in need of funds for their ventures. Mostly, none- equity sector can be considered as the main source of crowd funding rather than equity sector. The crowd funding market had started in the early or mid of 2000s, and since then it has noticed an enormous growth owing to the increase of Start-Ups and many new projects globally. Moreover, such crowd funding platforms have been able to collect billions of dollars for meeting millions of campaigns in the year 2012. Nowadays, Investors are getting attracted to such crowd funding market because of the potential of the untapped market in many regions. North America is having a greater potential in crowd funding market due to the presence of economically sound countries like the US in this region. Likewise, every year crowd funding platforms are launched, thus globalizing the crowd funding market.The increase in a number of Start-Ups and many new small projects are responsible for the growth of crowd funding market for their capital needs. Moreover, Real Estate sector is growing with a significant rate in developing regions like North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Hence, increasing fund requirement in Real Estate sector is a driving force for crowd funding market. In addition, this sector is having a good market share in crowd funding market.Besides the driving factors of crowd funding market, there are many stringent conditions of crowd funding platforms which can restrain the crowd funding market in further future. Many entrepreneurs are not aware of the existence of crowd funding platforms which can hamper the growth of crowd funding market. Like Kickstarter launched a mission to empower artists and creative projects owners for their ideas through reward crowd funding, but due to lack of awareness many entrepreneurs were not able to avail the benefits of crowd funding.Request for Report Sample: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/8422 On the basis of Sources, the crowd funding market can be segmented as follows:Non-Equity Sources.Equity Sources.On the basis of crowd funding platforms, crowd funding market can be segmented as follows:Specialized platforms.Activity Specific platform.General purpose platform.On the basis of allocation of funds, crowd funding market can be segmented as follows:The All-or-Nothing model.The keep what you earn model.The global Crowd Funding market is segmented into seven key regions as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Japan. North America is having the maximum market share in the global crowd funding market, specially the US in this region is having a big chunk in crowd funding market because of its higher economy than other countries. North America is followed by Europe in crowd funding market and in Europe also, the best performing countries are UK and France. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a moderate growth in crowd funding market due to many new business opportunities in various sectors.Request for Report TOC: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/8422 Share this: PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 14:01:39 SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2019 / GreenBox POS, LLC ("GreenBox", "GRBX", the "Company") is pleased to announce their move to a new, larger San Diego location, with the prestige address of 8880 Rio San Diego Drive. The new all-glass building provides adequate parking, modern look, on site food and sport facilities, and enough space for needs for FY19 and beyond."With the current growth of the company, we had to find a larger, energetic new location that fits our company now and will allow additional growth in the future as necessary," stated Ben Errez, Executive Vice President and Chairman of GreenBox.About GreenBox POS:GreenBox POS (OTC PINK: GRBX), ("GRBX") is a groundbreaking technology company that builds customized payment solutions for a multitude of industries. The company has developed the fastest and safest way to send and process money using Blockchain technology. The company was awarded 5 provisional patents for its technology. GreenBox POS develops the following main products: POS (Point of Sale software and hardware solutions); DEL (delivery app, APIs to POS and PAY); PAY (payment app, providing financial APIs to all other components); KIOSK (deposit, cash and E-wallet management). All products, services and custom hardware are available now from GRBX. GRBX is based in California with offices in Seattle, WA; Las Vegas, NV; Vancouver, BC, Canada; and HQ in San Diego, CA.For more information, visit the company's website at https://www.greenboxpos.com/ Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer:This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.Public Relations and Media Contact:GreenBox POSOffice: 619-631-8261Info@ GreenBoxPOS.com SOURCE: GreenBox POS, LLC The Banking Systems Software Market Report includes a comprehensive analysis of the present market. Banking Systems Software Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 19:37:34 Press Information Research N Reports 10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064 Sunny Denis Sales Manager 8886316977 email http://www.researchnreports.com # 474 Words 10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064Sales Manager8886316977 Banking systems software market is segmented by type, application, and region. On basis of type banking system software market is segmented into core banking software, multi-channel banking software, bi software, and private wealth management software. It helps to record and manage the transactions of bank customers to their banks and optimize the operations in back and front office of the banks. It enables the need of banks for system integration and maintains core banking system. Banking software provides customer management suits which help the banks to view clients relationship with the bank.The segments of the Global Market study integrates the growth conditions and definition of the market modules. The global market is categorized into its type, product type, material type, application, vertical, and end-use applications. In the next piece, the market has been categorized in terms of presentation. The presentation segments of the global Banking Systems Software market are also mentioned in this statistical surveying research report.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Top Key Vendors in Market:NexorONE, CoBIS Microfinance Software, EBANQ, CorePlus, Aspekt Microfinance Software, NovoDoba, Canopus EpaySuite, Corniche, Apex Banking Software, SecurePaymentz, Ababil, Cashbook, Finacle, ICBS, Kapowai Online Banking, Loan Performer, Moneyman, TCS BaNCS, TEMENOS T24Mobile Terminal Segment represented the major share in the global banking systems software market owing to its high prevalence in the global market. The increase in cell phone purchasers has basically determined the market for mobile banking software. Advances in digital technology have offered countless channels for customer interaction. Customer interaction via digital channels is generating beneficial transactional data of Banking Systems Software Market. Mobile banking has been increasing with the growing number of smartphone owners with a bank account.Ask for discount@North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe have been examined on the basis of different leading key players operating in the global regions. This research report encapsulates several attributes of businesses such as demand and overview of the products or services. In this segment, the prominent competitors working in the different sectors of the Global Banking Systems Software Market have been put forth. The demographic study includes parameters like age, gender, education, or income level aspects, to understand what the target market looks like.For more Information@About 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. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 06:59:31 Press Information Research Report Insights 42 Joseph Street Research Report Insights (RRI Port carling P0B 1J0 Muskoka, Ontario1 Phone - +1-631-721-4201 Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/ Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com BISHU 6317214201 6317214201 email http://www.. # 555 Words 42 Joseph StreetResearch Report Insights (RRIPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com63172142016317214201http://www.. researchreportinsights.com Rail wheels are the basis of movement for the trains by providing traction, while axles are used to transmit vertical loads to the wheels. The assembly of rail wheels, axle, bearing and brake components are called as rail wheel set. Over the last few year, increasing government projects to connect two states or country such as One Belt One Road is anticipated to create opportunity for the global market during the forecast time period. Additionally, increasing high speed rail project particularly in developing countries have also opened the door for the market. On the flip side, government regulations pertaining to replacing of wheel and axle are also anticipated to give positive potential to the global rail wheel and axle market during the forecast time period.SegmentationThe global rail wheel and axle market can be segmented on the basis of Wheel Type:Locomotive WheelResilient WheelOthersThe global rail wheel and axle market can be segmented on the basis of Axle Type:Powered AxleNon-Powered AxleRequest For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upsample/120124576/Rail-Wheel-and-Axle-Market The global rail wheel & axle market can be segmented on the basis of Rail Type:LocomotivePassenger TrainFreight TrainSpecial TrainThe global rail wheel and axle market can be segmented on the basis of Sales Channel:OEMAftermarketDriverIncreasing railway projects as well as electrification in existing rail line are projected to drive the global market. Moreover, continuous innovation in rail technology such as high speed train, bullet train are anticipated to foster the market throughout the forecast time periodRequest For Report TOC: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/TOC/120124576/Rail-Wheel-and-Axle-Market RestraintOther modes of transportation such as Maglev and Hyperloop are anticipated to hinder the market over the slated time period.Regional Market OutlookEurope is anticipated to dominate in the region owing to increasing rail vehicle fleet. In term of value China is projected to be 2nd largest market for the global rail wheel and axle wheel market. North America is projected to grow with healthy growth rate owing to increasing rail trams and metro rail over the slated time period. Moreover, APAC is also projected to grow with noteworthy growth rate owing to increasing government rail project particularly in Japan, China and India. Middle East & Africa is anticipated to grow with remarkable CAGR due to increasing railway infrastructure particularly in GCC Countries and Turkey.Key PlayerKey player for the global Rail Wheel & Axle market are:KALYANI GROUPSimmons Machine Tool CorporationNIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATIONMannshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.Masteel Wheel AxleKLW Wheelco SACNGHH-BONATRANSLucchini RSOMKKolowagResearch Methodology:RRI surveys a number of companies in order to estimate the data covered in the report through triangulation methodology. A detailed market understanding and assessment of the drive and application segments covered in the study. The research methodology also includes interviews conducted for various industry leaders by the research experts. This helps the researchers to match their previous findings with the ones confirmed from various resource persons. The report focuses on analyzing the supply-side approaches and keeps a track of that of the demand-side so as to make sure the findings are true. The global market scenario has been derived by consolidation of regional market overviews.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upcomming/120124576/Rail-Wheel-and-Axle-Market Persistence Market Research PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:38:48 Press Information Persistence Market Research Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Yogesh Team Lead 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 596 Words Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Team Lead800-961-0353 According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Nano-Enabled Packaging For Food and Beverages: Intelligent Packaging to Witness Highest Growth by 2020, the global nano enabled packaging market for food and beverages industry was worth USD 6.5 billion in 2013 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.7% during 2014 to 2020, to reach an estimated value of USD 15.0 billion in 2020.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/2809 The global progress in technologies is making lives simpler and safer. Nanotechnology is one such field which is dynamically progressing and is contributing to the development of several industries, including food and beverages packaging. Nano-enabled packaging gives longer shelf life to food and beverages as compared to traditional plastic packaging. Food and beverages packaging is done through two different technologies under nano-enabled packaging-active and intelligent packaging. Active packaging has a comparativelylarger market than intelligent packaging.Intelligent packaging is growing at a faster rate as compared to the active packaging. Customers prefer traceable food and beverages packaging, since it offers information such as expiry date and best use period, present state of the consumables. The radio frequency identification (RFID) tags keep customers informed about the state of the food within the packaging. Intelligent packaging is mostly used for fruits and vegetables, meat products, and beverages. Stricter regulations associated with active packaging have been stimulating the use of intelligent packaging in Europe and North America.Intelligent packaging in the U.S. is growing mainly due to the increasing demand for fresh fruits and vegetables. Americans are shifting their breakfast preference from junk foods to fresh alternatives. The U.S. is one of the largest producers and exporters of cherries globally. With the ease in trade regulations, fruit exports of the U.S. have increased. In September 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that after ten years of negotiations, U.S. cherries can be exported to Western Australia, one of the most important markets for cherries. The increasing demand for intelligent packaging in international trade (especially in fruits) is laying out opportunities for this technology in food packaging.The Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) proposed by FDA in 2011 is another growth indicator for intelligent packaging wherein the fresh produce, including fruits and vegetables, are required to be scientifically grown, harvested, packaged, and stored. The farm products that come in the acts domain are lettuce, spinach, cantaloupe, tomatoes, sprouts, mushrooms, onions, peppers, cabbage, citrus produce, strawberries, and walnuts.Nano-enabled packaging finds its application in several industries, including bakery, meat, beverages, fruit and vegetables, prepared foods, and others. The increasing demand for meat products, beverages, vegetables, and prepared foods is expected to drive their respective nano-enabled packaging markets, while the market share of bakery products is expected to decline on account of the rapid growth of other application segments.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/2809 Nanotechnology is at a nascent stage and, therefore, usage of nano-enabled packaging is low in the food and beverages industry. Limited numbers of buyers have more leverage to negotiate with nanotechnology companies. On the other hand, there is a plethora of companies providing nano-enabled packaging solutions to the food and beverages industry.Nano-enabled packaging market for food and beverage is very competitive with a large number of players offering an array of patented products. The major players in this industry include Amcor Limited, Bemis Company, Inc., Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, L.L.C., Klockner Pentaplast, Sealed Air, and Tetra Pak International S.A. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:14:47 Press Information Future Market Insights Contact Us U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Vaibhav SEO 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 624 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/SEO3479183531 Dispensing liquid through disc top caps involve application of pressure on the cap top which allows convenient flow of content through opening wherein a small orifice expels viscous liquid content from the the bottle. Disc top caps provide protection from contamination to content within, by prohibiting entry of foreign elements in the bottle. Disc top caps provide convenient and safer solution to consumers. Disc top caps are widely used for paste like or viscous contents that have semi solid characteristics such as shampoos, shower gels, oils, and body creams etc. Larger diameters of disc top caps eliminate the possibility of clogging of the product. Due to its differential features from other products, disc top caps are getting preference from retailers end.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5238 Disc Top Caps Market: Market DynamicsDisc tops caps market is driven by strong demand in the cosmetic industry. Due to its wide applications in conditioners, oils and hair care products etc., the global market for disc top caps is expected to witness strong market demand. Disc top caps are present in variety of shapes, and they are convenient to use. Disc top caps have metal finish, with multi-color option. Visually appealing features of disc top caps differentiate disc tops caps in the global market. Consumers are in search of products that are user-friendly, as disc top caps are easy to handle, and light in weight, so consumers are showing their interest towards disc top caps bottles. Disc top caps have crab craw sealed system in bead of plastic, which is placed on the neck opening of the bottles, this provides perfect sealing without separating linear component. Favorable features of disc top caps widens its application in cosmetic industry. The metal glossy finish of disc top cap enhances design and beauty of the product. The metal cap property is fueling disc top cap market. Disc top caps are mainly manufactured from aluminum, plastic, metal, and wood. Wood disc top caps are recyclable and reusable which makes packaging an eco-friendly solution. The pharmaceutical industry has disc top cap application for packing highly viscous oils, wherein the application of disc top caps is expected to witness upward trend in the global market over the forecast period 2017-2027. One of the restricting factors that affect the growth of disc top caps market is overflowing of content through the orifice when used for low viscous products.Disc Top Caps Market: Market SegmentationThe global market for disc top cap is segmented on the basis of material type and by end use.On the basis of material type disc top market may be segmented as:PlasticAluminumMetalOthersOn the basis of end use disc top caps market is segmented as:Pharmaceuticals IndustryCosmetic IndustryPersonal CareOthersDisc Top Caps Market: Regional OverviewGlobal disc top caps market is segmented into seven regions including North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) and Japan. In North America, consumers spending has seen an increase in the cosmetic industry. Consumers in this region are looking towards value added solutions, so manufacturers are updating their technologies and working for more effective solution. Disc top caps market is growing in this region. In Asia Pacific region, manufacturers in countries like India, and China are looking towards a recyclable solution.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5238 Disc Top Caps Market: Competitive LandscapeSome of the disc top caps manufacturers operating in the global market are Best Cosmetic Package Co., Ltd, Yulin Plastic Packing Factory, Gramss GmbH Kunststoffverarbeitung Spechtsbrunn, Mold-Rite Plastics, PET Power, and CPP Global. Long-Term Acute Care Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:03:24 Press Information Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Yogesh Sengar Team Lead 800-961-0353 email https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ # 362 Words 305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comTeam Lead800-961-0353 A long-term acute care refers a specialty care provided by long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) to the patients in their serious medical conditions. In these medical conditions patient requires intense and special treatment for an intended period of time. In long-term acute care, a patient needs to stay for 25 to 30 days in hospitals for their Medicare. On the basis of types of patient, long-term acute care market can be segmented into respiratory patients, multiple IV medications or transfusions required patients, renal failure patients, prolonged ventilator use patients, wound care patients and others. Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) provide services such as cardiopulmonary monitoring, respiratory therapy, dialysis, mechanical ventilation, wound care and others.Respiratory therapy includes products such as ventilators, oxygen delivery devices and aerosol delivery devices. Wound care includes product such as standards and advanced wound dressings, negative pressure wound therapy, skin substitutes and other products. Dialysis includes therapy such as hemodialysis, hemofiltration and peritoneal dialysis. Some of the monitoring technologies used by long-term acute care hospitals are cardiac monitors, pulse oximeters and blood pressure monitors.Request Sample Report@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3336 Various factors such as increasing aging population, technological advancement in patient care, rise in need for long-term care services, increasing number of patients in long-term acute care facilities are expected to drive the North American long-term acute care market. In addition, increasing government spending in healthcare sector is expected to drive the North American long-term acute care market. However, high cost of new technologies, time consuming technical interfaces and complicated workflow are some of the factors restraining the growth for long-term acute care market in North America.Adoption of technological advancement and growing demand for long-term acute care due to continuous rise in aging population are expected to offer good opportunities for long-term acute care market. Increasing patient centric approach and new product launches are some of the latest trends have been observed in North American long-term acute care market. Some of the major companies operating in the North American long-term acute care market are CareFusion, Fresenius Medical Care, Philips Healthcare, Prism Medical Ltd., Covidien, Kinetic Concepts, Inc., SelectMark and Promise Healthcare, Inc.Request TOC@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3336 Research Report Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 14:57:59 Press Information Research Report Insights Research Report Insights 42 joseph street, Portcarling P0B 1J0, Muskoka, Ontario T: +1-631-721-4201 Vikas Bahurupi Manager 6317214201 email https://www.researchreportinsights.com # 600 Words Research Report Insights42 joseph street,Portcarling P0B 1J0,Muskoka, OntarioT: +1-631-721-4201Manager6317214201 According to a Research Report Insights (RRI) report, the global market for lecithin is anticipated to reflect a CAGR of over 5% during 2016-2014. In 2015, the market was estimated at US$ 770.5 Million and is expected to stand at US$ 1225 Million in terms of value by the end of 2024.Lecithin is used as a food additive and food emulsifier in several food items in order to add desirable attributes for making them more appealing to the consumers. As an emulsifier lecithin enhances the texture of food items such as in salad dressing. Growing preference for low-calorie food and increasing demand for packaged or convenience food across the globe are the two major factors expected to drive the growth of global lecithin market. Amongst various food emulsifier products, demand for lecithin is anticipated to relatively higher in the near future.Based on source type, the global market for lecithin has been segmented into sunflower, soya bean, and others. Soya bean is expected to be the largest segment of the market and is anticipated to witness a robust growth. Based on form type, the market has been segmented into powder, granules and liquid. In terms of revenue, liquid segment is expected to account for the largest share. The segment is closely followed by powder and granules segment.Request For Report Sample with Table of Contents@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114682/Lecithin-Market By applications, the market has been segmented into pharmaceuticals, animal feed, food & beverage, industrial purpose and cosmetics. The food & beverage is expected to be the leading segment over the forecast period owing to the recent inclination of consumers towards natural ingredients for various food items. Food manufacturers are focusing on offering food products without GMO (genetically modified organism) ingredients to meet the expectation of the consumers. Moreover, food processing companies are launching new products to suit the growing demand for healthy ingredients in convenience food such as ready-to-eat items. According to US FDA, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) do not fall under the category of Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) food items.Likewise, food manufacturers are emphasizing on developing non-GMO ingredients and raw materials substitutes. Further, most food processing companies are also focusing on production volume expansion. Higher production of lecithin will enable manufacturers to serve a larger base of customers and impact the price margins of lecithin across the globe.Request For Report Discount@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114682/Lecithin-Market On the basis of region, the global market for lecithin has been segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, are anticipated to register strong growth rates during the forecast period. In 2016, North America is expected to account for the highest share of the market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific respectively. In addition, the North America is expected to continue as the leading market over 2024 and is anticipated to account for over 37% share of the market in revenues. Demand for lecithin is expected to grow significantly in Asia Pacific during the forecast period. Countries such as China and India is expected to reflect an overwhelming demand for lecithin, which in turn is will support the market growth in the region.Key PlayersKey players operating in the global market for lecithin includes Cargill, Inc., Sternchemie GmbH & Co. KG, American Lecithin Company, Thew Arnott & Co. Ltd., Lipoid GmbH, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co, Archer Daniels Midland Company, NOW Foods, and Bunge Limited. Most of these companies the formulating strategies and actively focusing on better product offering.Report Analysis@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114682/Lecithin-MarketUL PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:41:13 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Bhudholiya Manager +1-347-918-3531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 783 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1-347-918-3531 Computerized physician Order Entry (CPOE), which refers to the system in which physicians directly place orders electronically, with the orders transmitted directly to the recipient. This can be beat example of digital transformation of physicians prescribing pattern. Computerized physician order entry is the method of entering medication orders or instructions electronically instead of on paper charts. A prime advantage of CPOE is that it helps to mitigate errors pertaining to transcription or poor handwriting of medication orders. CPOE systems are designed to emulate the workflow of the paper chart. CPOE systems are frequently used in conjunction with e-prescribing systems, by which the healthcare professionals made cognizant to a current medications of the patient and drug allergies. CPOE systems were basically designed to improve the patient safety by reducing medication orders, but recent systems permit electronic ordering of consultations, procedures, and tests as well. CPOE permits to enter medical order into Electronic Health Records (EHR) directly by HCPs or other staff members. The CPOE acronym can be understood differently as computerized physician order entry, computerized prescription order entry, and computerized provider order entry.Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: Drivers and Restraints Global Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) market is driven by the conscious initiatives of the various governments across the globe for the patient safety. In U.S. According to the provisions of the Healthcare Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, healthcare organizations that achieved meaningful use compliance by 2011 were eligible to receive incentive payments and moreover those who have failed to achieve that standard by 2015 may incur financial penalties. Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) market is driven by several advantages the system bring in to the healthcare setups that include reducing problems with handwriting, drug names misinterpretation, drug interactions, and specification errors. Computerised physician order system helps in quick transmission to the laboratory, pharmacy, or radiology department this helps in recommending alternative tests or treatments that may be safer or lower cost.Computerised physician order entry market hindered by the time and money it takes to install a CPOE system. The market restrained by slow adoption due to healthcare setups resistance, largely because of the disturbance to existing healthcare settings and the cost of application, which includes CPOE training. The implementation of CPOE has proven to be a complex process that led to abandonment of the systemComputerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: Segmentation Global computerized physician order entry market has been segmented on the basis of Component, Deployment Mode, Type, End User and Region.Based on the componenttype, the global computerized physician order entry market is segmented into the following: Software,Hardware,Services,Based on the deployment mode, the global computerized physician order entry market is segmented into the following: Web-based,On Premise,Cloud-basedBased on the type, the global computerized physician order entry market is segmented into the following: Integrated CPOE, Standalone CPOEBased on the end user, the global computerized physician order entry market is segmented into the following: Hospitals,Clinics,Ambulatory Surgical Centers,Pharmacies,LaboratoriesComputerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: Overview Computerized physician order entry market is witnessing significant changes due to fast growing inpatient and outpatient settings in across the globe. The majority of hospitals and outpatient practices now use some form of CPOE in U.S. Computerized physician order entry market is gradually progressing, and is chiefly driven by government proactive measures to improve infrastructure and healthcare IT, for reducing healthcare expenditure. Players in the COPE market launching newer products, upgrading the older versions, collaborating with the new entrants to improve their market presence and revenues.Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, veterinary pain management drugs market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America will remain key markets for computerized physician order entry market due to governments proactive measure for the implementation of COPE moreover, increasing awareness among healthcare fraternity and availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure helps to maintain larger market share in the globalcomputerized physician order entry market by the region. Asia Pacific is anticipated to present growth opportunity owing to large untapped market and growing governments interventions for improving healthcare infrastructure in the region. Europe market expected to grow at moderately owing to recent statutory requirements by the European Commissions eHealth Action Plan.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2754 Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: Key PlayersSome of the players in the Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs market are Medical Information Technology, Inc., Siemens Healthcare, Carestream Health, Allscripts, Athenahealth, Inc., Philips Healthcare and Cerner Corporation, eClinicalWorks LLC, GE healthcare to name a few. The market for Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019 has been undergoing a tnsitional phase over the recent past. The continual advancements in technologies and the swift increase in infstructul development projects have influenced the demand for Global robotic arm Robotic Arm PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 21:16:59 Press Information QYReports Pune,India Jones John Sales Manager +91-9764607607 email https://www.qyreports.com # 515 Words Pune,IndiaSales Manager+91-9764607607 The swift rise in urbanization and the significant increase in the disposable income of people are likely to maintain the demand pace of Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019 in the near future. The augmenting interest of investors, government funding, and the rising trend of automation are also projected to reflect positively on this market in the years to come.Get Sample copy of this Report: https://www.qyreports.com/request-sample?report-id=83109 Top key player profiled in this report: Covering, Ross, AR+, MR Motion Control, Camerobot, PhotoRobot, Electric Friends, Dongxu Robotics, Hanson CreativeThe research study examines the Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019 on the basis of a number of criteria, such as the product type, application, and its geogphical presence. The whole supply chain of this market has been explained with statistical details with a special emphasis on various upstream and downstream components.The current trends pertaining to the demand, supply, and sales of Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019, together with the recent developments have been given here to provide an exhaustive picture of this market.In this research report, the prominent trends, driving factors, restints, opportunities, and challenges have been taken into considetion in order to identify the markets future. It also discusses the production cost structure of Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019. As per the research study, w material and equipment are two major components of the Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019 manufacturing process.Here, researchers have studied the costs of w materials and equipment with a special mention to their suppliers. Furthermore, the labor and other opetional costs experienced in the production of Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019 have also been discussed at length in this market report.Get Discount on this Premium Report: https://www.qyreports.com/ask-for-discount?report-id=83109 The report presents an estimation of the ovell market size in terms of value (US$) and in volume (kilo tons) and talks about the key segments and the geogphical subdivisions of the Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019 in details. It presents in-depth information on the development trends and the policies and regulations, concerning Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019, implemented in each of the geogphical segments. The predominant applications of the Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019 have also been talked about at length in this research report.Further, the research study analyzes the regulatory fmework of the Global robotic arm market professional survey report 2019, offering stakeholders a better understanding of the various policies, rules and regulations, and future projects, which are expected to influence numerous proceedings in this market. It also collects in-depth information gained through extensive primary and secondary research methods, which has been assessed with the help of sevel effective analytical tools.Based on the data attained from such systematic research, the research report presents near-accute estimates for the market players as well as the readers. Readers will also gain significantly from the references and case studies given in the research study.Get Complete Report@: https://www.qyreports.com/report/global-robotic-arm-market-2017-83109/ Facial Rejuvenation Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:58:21 Press Information Persistence Market Research Contact Us Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Yogesh Senger Associate Consultant 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 659 Words Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comAssociate Consultant800-961-0353 Increasing consumer spending on aesthetic treatments coupled with growing popularity of non-surgical procedures are key factors driving the global facial rejuvenation market. Macro factors including rising employability and promising economic growth in Asia Pacific to promote nice-to-have services are projected to contribute to the adoption of facial rejuvenation treatments and present potential growth opportunities to providers and other stakeholders in the facial rejuvenation market. As per a report by Persistence Market Research (PMR), the global facial rejuvenation market, expanding at a steady 5.0% CAGR, is likely to reach a valuation of US$ 39.4 Bn by 2028. However, adverse reactions associated with facial aesthetics products, high procedure costs, and lack of trained professionals are some key factors projected to restrain the adoption of facial rejuvenation procedures.Rising Adoption of Minimally Invasive Procedures and Combination Therapies Driving the Adoption of Facial Rejuvenation TreatmentsConsidering the advancements in cosmetic treatments, a number of consumers are preferring least invasive, less painful procedures. From minimally invasive injectables to non-invasive topical skin treatments, facial rejuvenation treatments have hugely evolved from equipment-based procedures, further complementing the growing adoption of facial rejuvenation treatments among patients with specific cosmetic concerns, the most common being anti-aging.Request for Report Methodology @: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3639 PMRs study on the global facial rejuvenation market reveals that the availability of products with much faster results are driving the growth of facial rejuvenation market, for instance, derma fillers. Moreover, long lasting effect of treatments with clinically-approved products, results in much higher adaptability and retains the trust of patients. In terms of products, Botulinum toxin injection is the most preferred owing to its dynamic used in aesthetic clinical practice. Moreover, positive response from regulatory authorities for different set of facial problems, is also complementing the adoption of botulinum.Combination therapies including botulinum and derma fillers is also gaining traction considering its higher efficiency, further driving the adoption of facial rejuvenation treatment. Botox injection decreases muscle movement and dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid products are used for creating more youthful looking appearance. In developed economies including U.S, U.K, Japan, and South Korea, combination therapies of botulinum neurotoxin and dermal fillers of hyaluronic acid, are the most preferred therapeutic choice considering its high efficacy and enhanced results. However, irrespective of the delivery system, growing awareness among patients is resulting in increased facial rejuvenation procedures in private clinics rather than hospitals.Product Innovation, Partnerships, and Acquisitions to Remain Key Forward Market StrategiesKey, established providers of facial rejuvenation procedures are focusing on strategic collaborations, agreements, and acquisition of local and new players to expand their market footprint along with enhanced service offerings. For instance, Allergan, in 2017, acquired LifeCell and ZELTIQ Aesthetics to enhance its facial aesthetic product portfolio. Various manufacturers are also trying to obtain approvals for single product for treatment of different conditions. Moreover, key players are also focusing on expanding their offerings to regions where penetration of advanced facial rejuvenations products is relatively low including Asia Pacific and MEA.Providers and manufacturers, in an attempt to minimize the side-effects of facial rejuvenation treatments, including muscle weakening, rashes, swelling, and head and neck pain are innovating more efficient products and combinations. Side effects, often caused by botulinum toxin-A injections, are being minimized using collagen or hyaluronic filling agents with botox, thereby, positively impacting longevity of tissue dwell time of the filling agent. This factor is expected to fuel the demand for combination of reflation and relaxation rejuvenation therapies.Request to Sample Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3639 In terms of growth opportunities, Brazil, South Korea, and Dubai are projected to be destinations of interest, owing to burgeoning medical tourism in these regions and increasing collaborations between organizations and health authorities. Moreover, comparatively low cost and usage of FDA-approved or CE-marked facial rejuvenation products in these countries is expected to present potential growth opportunities for stakeholders in the global facial rejuvenation market. For more insights on other market dynamics shaping the global facial rejuvenation market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:13:49 Press Information Future Market Insights Contact Us U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Vaibhav SEO 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 698 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/SEO3479183531 Pharmaceutical packaging involves enclosing and protecting products for storage, distribution, and end use. Pharmaceutical products require high protection from spillage, breakage, and leakage. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is a dose of medicine prepared in an individual package for monitoring and administration. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is the technique of preparing medications in which individual dose of pharmaceutical content is packed and delivered in discrete labeled packets to the respective consumer. The major purpose behind pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is to minimize the administration error. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging was specifically developed to efficiently and safely dispense the patient specific medications. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is widely used in dispense of oral doses.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5236 Pharmaceutical Unit Dose Packaging Dynamics:Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging market is likely to gain traction in the upcoming years owing to development in pharmaceutical industry. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging help customer to improve efficiency, avoid dosing errors, and promote patient safety. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging system is an individualized preparation of drugs manually in the pharmacy or with automated dispensing machines. The demand for pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is growing with the growing number of hospitals. To improve efficiency, hospital pharmacists urge the pharmaceutical industry to supply drugs in unit dose packaging. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging provides protection against environmental impacts such as moisture, light, pressure, and contamination during storage, transportation, and handling.Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging encloses the particular dose of the drug for a specific patient according to the given prescription. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is well designed, environmentally efficient, and cost effective way of packaging which fulfills the packaging needs of the consumer. In pharmaceutical unit dose packaging market pharmaceutical pouches and strip packs comes as a cost alternative to blister packs. Pouches will gain satisfactory sales from increasing use in the pharmaceutical unit dose packaging market. Manufacturers and researchers are making innovations in various new treatments which helps in replacing the traditional dosage forms such as pharmaceutical bottles by pharmaceutical unit dose packaging. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging offer enhanced portability, product reliability, ease of use, and dosage precision. Pharmaceutical unit dose packaging can be done using various packaging technologies such as blister packs, sterile single use blow fill seal packaging, powder stick packs, and liquid stick packs. The severe regulations in pharmaceutical industry related to product safety helps in the growth of pharmaceutical unit dose packaging market.Pharmaceutical Unit Dose Packaging Segmentation:The global market for pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is segmented on the basis of product type, product form, and material type.On the basis of the product type, the global market for pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is segmented as follows:Blister packsPowder stick packsLiquid stick packsSterile single use blow fill seal packagingOn the basis of the product form, the global market for pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is segmented as follows:Solid unit doseLiquid unit dosePowder unit doseOn the basis of material type, the global market for pharmaceutical unit dose packaging is segmented as follows:PlasticPolyethylene (PE)Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)Polypropylene (PP)Polystyrene (PS)OthersAluminumOthersPharmaceutical Unit Dose Packaging Regional Outlook:On the basis of geography pharmaceutical unit dose packaging market region is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Japan. Among these region, North America is expected to grow in pharmaceutical unit dose packaging market due to high demand in unit dose packaging. Europe is expected to witness an above average growth rates in the pharmaceutical unit dose packaging market due to rising demand in pharmaceutical industry. The global pharmaceutical unit dose packaging market is expected to grow at rapid speed during the forecast period.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5236 Pharmaceutical Unit Dose Packaging Major Players:Some of the prominent players operating in the global pharmaceutical unit dose packaging market include Unit pack Co. Inc., Swisslog (KUKA group member), The Medi-Dose Group, Unither Pharmaceuticals, Omnicell, Inc., Mylan N.V., Medical Packaging Inc., Pharma Packaging Solutions, and Pacific Packaging Components Inc. Worldwide Business Cloud Storage Market Analysis to 2026 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Business Cloud Storage industry with a focus on the global market trend. Business Cloud Storage Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 21:11:58 Press Information QY Reports Pune India Jones John (Sales Manager) +91-9764607607 email https://www.qyreports.com # 696 Words Pune India(Sales Manager)+91-9764607607 The Business Cloud Storage report is an exclusive elaborated study of the given industry with an aim towards the global market trend. The report focuses to deliver a synopsis of global Business Cloud Storage Market with in-depth market segmentation by several market players, suppliers and distributors of Business Cloud Storage. The global market of this industry is anticipated to experience lucrative growth during the forecast period. The report delivers prime statistics on the market status of the market manufacturers who are existent leaders and provides key opportunities and trends in the market.Major Key Vendors:Zoolz, OpenDrive, JustCloud, MozyPro, Egnyte, CrashPlan, Dropbox, Carbonite, Hightail, Box, Baidu, Alibaba, Amazon, Microsoft etc.To get overview of exclusive sample report at: https://www.qyreports.com/request-sample?report-id=51112 On the basis of regional segmentation, U.S., Europe, China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia have been taken into consideration and is therefore elaborated in the report. It also describes the key strategies adopted by the players to enhance their prominence in the global market. Also, it describes the opportunities for new entrants who want to establish a strong standing in this global market.Key Players in Business Cloud Storage Market covers the complete in-dept information, which in brief covers there:Regional Market AnalysisMarket AnalysisMarket OverviewSales Price AnalysisMarket Share AnalysisLocal Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption AnalysisMarket Forecast (2018-2023)Growth and Investment OpportunitiesWorldwide Business Cloud Storage Market Analysis to 2026 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Business Cloud Storage industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Business Cloud Storage market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Business Cloud Storage market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Business Cloud Storage players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Do You Have Specific Requirement? Ask To Our Experts at: http://qyreports.com/enquiry-before-buying?report-id=51112 Also, key Business Cloud Storage 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.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 Business Cloud Storage 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.Get Attractive Discount on This Report at: https://www.qyreports.com/ask-for-discount?report-id=51112 In addition, light is thrown into the pit in connection with Business Cloud Storage consumption and market supply. In addition, data on the growth of this market in 2026 can be translated in this report. The Business Cloud Storage report consists of information on ingestion based on the application and type of all markets.Table of Contents:Global Business Cloud Storage Market Research Report 2019-2026Chapter 1: Business Cloud Storage Market OverviewChapter 2: Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3: Business Cloud Storage Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4: Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5: Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6: Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7: Global Market Analysis by Application.CONTINUED FOR TOCThis in-depth report discusses this industrys market in forms of overview/definition, application, classification, predictions pertaining value and volume, and future predictions. It also prominently attributes the current situation and outlooks with industrial and financial aspect. Furthermore, it comprises of current events, latest market trends, schematic representation of the global companies with their prime developments, mergers & acquisitions, deals and agreements, expansions and investments, etc. Additionally, it talks about the vital prospects such as market restrains, growth drivers, challenges and potential opportunities that may affect the overall Business Cloud Storage market. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Exhaust Sensor Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Exhaust Sensor Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 06:43:04 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 548 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531 Exhaust Sensors sense the exhaust from the automobile and determine the appropriate fuel mixture in order to reduce the emissions from the exhaust. Exhaust sensors are primarily used in automotive industry and they are very important for automobile efficiency, safety, comfort and for monitoring emissions. Due to increasing environment awareness among the people and increasing global warming led various governments to implement strict exhaust norms on emissions. These norms and regulations imposed by government encourages exhaust sensors manufacturers to improve their engineering and target market with advanced products and technology. Exhaust sensors are commercially attractive market which can grow at faster rate.In past couple of years exhaust sensor market witnessed a few technological advancements such as adoption of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), as a result of which manufacturers are able to manufacture miniaturized form of advanced sensors with increased accuracy, reliability and its response time which enables integrators to easily deployable into vehicles.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3249 Market drivers & challenges:Thedemand for exhaust sensor is likely to increase due to strict emission norms worldwide and due to growing automobile market. Many automobile manufacturers are readily implementing electronics instruments into the vehicles for the sack of safety, comfort ability and stability, which increases demand for exhaust sensors into the automobiles. Recently mergers and acquisitions have been observed by key players of exhaust sensor market in order to expand their market share. In order to meet governmentguidelines, automobile manufacturers are installing large number of exhaust sensor in their vehicles.Manufacturers also investing largely in R&D facilities to create more efficient exhaust sensors in order to sustain in highly competitive world, which is a major factor driving global exhaust sensor market.Market Segmentation:Exhaust sensor market is segmented on the basis of sensor type, type of vehicle and geography.On the basis of sensor type global exhaust sensor market is segmented into oxygen sensor, particulate matter sensor, exhaust temperature sensor, NOx sensor, engine coolant sensor and mass air flow sensor.On the basis of vehicle type, global exhaust sensor market is segmented into motorcycle, passenger car, light commercial vehicle and heavy commercial vehicle.Global exhaust sensor market is also segmented on the basis of region like North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe Asia pacific and Middle East & Africa. Among all aforementioned regions Asia Pacific region is expected to dominant the market due to high sell of cost effective sensors provided by Chinese manufacturers across the globe.Market overview & Key Market Players:Europe is second most contributor of exhaust sensors in the exhaust sensor market as majority of key players have establishments in Europe and also introduction and adoption of Euro norms is fuelling the growth of exhaust sensor market in the region.Global exhaust sensors market have several established key players and also medium and small scale enterprises. The global players are expanding their reach by mergers and acquisitions and small & medium enterprises struggle to meet the quality and also to comply with the norms and regulations laid down by regional government.Request Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3249 Few of exhaust sensor market key players include Robert Bosch GmbH, Denso Corporation, Sensata Technologies Inc., Hitachi Automotive systems Ltd, Continental AG, Delphi Automotive, ABB etc and others. The ERP Software Market Report includes a comprehensive analysis of the present market. The report starts with the basic ERP Software Market overview and then goes into each and every detail. ERP Software Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 19:38:06 Press Information Research N Reports 10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064 Sunny Denis Sales Manager 8886316977 email http://www.researchnreports.com # 516 Words 10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064Sales Manager8886316977 Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a software that enables organizations to manage and automate their business processes. The capabilities of the ERP Software Market has evolved from back office activities to the integration of business processes. ERP software has been widely used for back office operations, which include order management, inventory control production, and accounting, etc. An ERP software system can be deployed either as a cloud based or on premise software. Integration of organizational activities and managing resources efficiently are some of the major tasks of the ERP system.The ERP Software Market is growth at a CAGR of +7% in the forecast period of 2019-2025.The most profitable data is gathered with our inbound research activities considering the Market elements that organizations are interested in. An all-inclusive overview of historical & futuristic cost, quantified ERP Software Market opportunities through market sizing & forecasting, along with technological breakthroughs have been provided in details. The report includes data that can help businesses in handling this issue with ease and provides complete qualitative and quantitative details concerning the Market elements that organizations are interested in.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Top Key Vendors in Market:SAP, Oracle, Sage, Infor, Microsoft, Epicor, Kronos, Concur(SAP), Ibm, Totvs, Unit4, Yonyou, Netsuite, Kingdee, Workday, Cornerstone, DigiwinThe ability to access the central system from any demographic due to integrated system architecture of the ERP Software Market module, is compelling enterprises to adopt these systems. It is responsible for enhancing productivity by enabling organizations get potential return on investment by reducing their expenses. However, some of the factors restraining the market growth are high installation cost and the accessibility of open source applications.Region wise, the global ERP software market is segmented into North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Presently, North America is estimated to dominate the market in terms of its revenue contribution share followed by Europe. However among all the regions, APAC is expected to create significant market opportunity for key players operating in the ERP Software Market due to growth in industrialization in this region during the forecast period.Ask for discount@The study objectives of this report are:To study and forecast the market size of ERP Software in global market.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, end use and region.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze growth strategies.For more Information@About 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. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:17:35 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Bhudholiya Manager +1-347-918-3531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 696 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1-347-918-3531 Digital stethoscope is a real time invention, which translates acoustic sound into an electrical signal, heart beats per minute (HBM) is displayed on LCD. Digital stethoscope also offers signal amplification and additional functions like storage, analysis and visual demonstration of sound signals. Sounds from multiple locations can be seized with the help of an electret microphone. The arrested sound is filtered and processed digitally by exhausting an adaptive frequency to obtain clearly audible and distinct heart sounds. An advanced digital stethoscope can wirelessly stream heart sounds to a smartphone. It also offers refined capabilities with audio recording and playback features. Digital stethoscope provides a new dais for potential computer-aided diagnosis (CAD).A digital stethoscope has various applications such as to assist doctors in examine and analyze cardiac signals in real time during auscultation. Digital stethoscopes are frequently favored by healthcare professionals for a physical examination. New edition of digital stethoscopes does have a learning curve, as its unique features with the integrated system for rapid diagnosing purposes is gaining more scope for the worldwide physicians. The upcoming advanced technology potential to revolutionize overall diagnosis by driving great innovation and enhancing the way healthcare services are administered throughout the globe successfully.Digital stethoscopes have cutting-edge features like audio recording, amplification of sound and eliminate other troublesome sounds for improved diagnosis. These digital stethoscopes are also fortified with software that allows doctors to generalize the readings for monitoring the heart rate of the patient. Substituting the linking cable with a wireless model may support lessen the potential risk and further agree to the propagation of the signals to different users for a checkup.Now physicians are capable to capture individuals heart and lung sounds and incorporate them into the electronic health record. This breakthrough signifies a revolutionary advancement in longitudinal patient care. Digital stethoscopes are gaining more popularity among dental practitioners that are seeking for more flexibility in overall functionality. In addition, increasing healthcare awareness and promotional campaigning by manufacturing companies is also fuelling the growth of the global digital stethoscopes market. Digital stethoscope manufacturers are converging on developing the devices with superior acoustics, better performance, and pioneering designs.Growing healthcare expenditure, increasing lifestyle, and the elderly population is expected to fuel the growth of digital stethoscope market. These stethoscopes offer advanced features with modern technology and have strongest growth potential in the overall stethoscope market. A lot of startup firms in the digital health space appear to launch their own manufactured products when FDA gave a green light to digital stethoscope. It may be too complex, time-consuming and too expensive to accept the new digital technology. Physicians have to gain more trust their medical devices work as stated. FDA approval system is one way of substantiating the upcoming digital device. This adoption of new technology by worldwide doctors is really a value based shift payment for digital stethoscope providers.Geographically, the digital stethoscope market is segmented into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The global digital stethoscope market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. North American region has a huge market owing to a large number of manufacturers, technological advancements with increasing population with and growing awareness about the upcoming devices and technology.Asian countries and Latin American countries are having more growth opportunities for digital stethoscope market players in the forecast period. North America leads the global digital stethoscope market due to rise in geriatric population and increasing concern of healthcare. Some of the key factors impacting digital stethoscope market in emerging countries are rising demand for healthcare medical devices for commercial and personal usage, growing healthcare expenditure and rising government initiatives in the field of digital market.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2524 Key players operating in the global digital stethoscope market are FarmaSino Pharmaceuticals, Eko, Qinhuangdao Contec Medical Systems Co., Ltd., EXANOVO GROUP, Qufu Longercare Meditech Limited, and others. Digital stethoscope made by Eko Devices is also the first company to incorporate heart sounds directly with a patients electronic health record (EHR). Adult Vaccines Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:26:29 Press Information Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Yogesh Sengar Team Lead 800-961-0353 email https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ # 546 Words 305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comTeam Lead800-961-0353 Vaccines are used to prevent diseases and improve immunity of the body. A vaccine is a biological preparation, contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism and is made from weakened and killed forms of microorganisms. Vaccines are categorized into many types. Some of the major types include inactivated vaccines, attenuated vaccines, toxoid and conjugate. Cholera, influenza, hepatitis A, polio and rabies vaccines are inactivated vaccines. Key attenuated vaccines are measles, mumps, rubella and typhoid.The global adult vaccines market is categorized based on their various types and by diseases. Adult vaccines are mainly classified into preventive and therapeutic vaccines. The disease segment includes influenza, meningococcal, cervical cancer, zoster shingles, pneumococcal, hepatitis, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP).Request Sample Report@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3472 In terms of geographic, North America and Europe dominates the global adult vaccines market. This is due to improved research infrastructure in these regions. The U.S. represents the largest market for adult vaccines followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France and Germany holds major share of adult vaccines market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in the global adult vaccines market due to increasing awareness among people about preventable diseases. Several government associations have launched various programs to raise awareness among people towards diseases such as influenza, DTP, measles and mumps, in Asia. This has resulted in significant rise in demand of adult vaccines for the prevention of these diseases. In addition, many companies constructing their manufacturing and research facilities in the region. This is due to low wages, availability of a large talent pool, less stringent environment and health and safety regulations in the region. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing adult vaccines markets in Asia.In recent time, increasing prevalence of diseases and novel vaccine technologies are some of the major drivers for the global adult vaccines market. In addition, increased research in the field of vaccine technologies and increasing government supports are also supporting in growth of the global adult vaccines market. Several government associations are providing funds and grants to increase research on specialized vaccines to improve their efficacy and disease prevention capability. Moreover, some government associations are also providing specific guidelines for their safe usage. Increased R&D investment in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries and Extensive R&D pipelines also have strong positive impact on global adult vaccines market.However, high capital requirements and lack of technical professionals are some of the major restraints for the global adult vaccines market. In addition, stringent regulations and limited vaccines production are also hampering the growth of global adult vaccines market. Risk of side-effects and complications associated with vaccinations also obstructs the growth of global adult vaccines market. Some of the major side-effects include muscle ashes, pain around the injection site and fever. Advancement in biomedical science would develop opportunity for global adult vaccines market. Increasing mergers and collaborations between manufacturing companies and government associations and rapid product launches are some of the major trends of the global adult vaccines market.Request Report TOC@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3472 Some of the major companies operating in the global adult vaccines market are GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis and Merck. Research Report Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 14:49:55 Press Information Research Report Insights Research Report Insights 42 joseph street, Portcarling P0B 1J0, Muskoka, Ontario T: +1-631-721-4201 Vikas Bahurupi Manager 6317214201 email https://www.researchreportinsights.com # 577 Words Research Report Insights42 joseph street,Portcarling P0B 1J0,Muskoka, OntarioT: +1-631-721-4201Manager6317214201 According to a Research Report Insights (RRI) report, the global market for tea Market is estimated to surpass US$ 21 Billion, reflecting a 5% CAGR during the forecast period. The market is expected to reach 14.45 Billion by the end of 2016 up from US$ 13.85 Billion in 2015, registering a Y-o-Y growth rate of 4%.Most consumers demand good quality and unique flavor in tea. Tea producers across the globe are constantly focusing on developing unique and authentic flavors to offer highest consumer satisfaction. Tea producers are looking forward to introducing new blends and flavors in tea products such as mint flavor, lemon flavor, chocolate flavor, fruit flavor, and others. There are more than 500 varieties of tea Market found worldwide. Thus, tea lounges are offering varieties of tea product with variants of blend, color and flavor in order to attract more consumer. Moreover, increasing consumer awareness on health and fitness and the growing need for people to have more human interactions and unplug themselves is expected to support the growth of tea-specific beverage outlets across the globe. Therefore, increasing penetration of the tea cafes and rise of lounge culture, especially in regions such as Asia Pacific and Americas is further anticipated to sustain the market growth for tea in the near future.Request For Report Sample with Table of Contents@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114677/Tea-Market The global market for Tea is estimated to reach US$ 21.33 Billion by the end of 2024Based on types, the global market for tea Market has been segmented into oolong tea, black tea, herbal tea green tea, and others. Black tea is expected to be the predominant segment, witnessing a robust growth, followed by the green tea segment. Factors such as growing consumption of tea-specific beverages amongst young adults in both developed and developing regions are two of the major factors influencing the overall growth of the market.Based on distribution channel type, the market has been segmented into convenience stores, online stores, hyper/super market, retail stores, and others. The hyper/super market segment is anticipated to witness a significant growth due to increasing consumer base and easy availability of different type of tea flavors in such market. Due to aggressive promotional strategies implemented by tea producers, awareness on health benefits from consumption of tea has spread vehemently across the globe. This, in turn, is appealing people to start drinking tea Market on regular basis, which is further fueling the demand for tea products globally.Request For Report Discount@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114677/Tea-Market On the basis of region, the global market for tea has been segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The markets in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America are anticipated to grow at healthy rates during 2016 to 2024. In addition, North America is expected to account for a relatively higher value share of the market by 2016 end, followed by Europe and APAC respectively. The region is expected to continue its dominance, gaining 210 BPS and is estimated to account for over 37% share of the market in revenues during the forecast period. The market in Asia Pacific is also anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast period. Further, increasing demand for non-GMO ingredients is a primary factor driving the tea market in the region. APAC countries such as China and India are set to witness a healthy growth of their domestic tea market.Report Analysis@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114677/Tea-Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:18:52 Press Information Research Report Insights 42 Joseph Street Research Report Insights (RRI Port carling P0B 1J0 Muskoka, Ontario1 Phone - +1-631-721-4201 Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/ Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com BISHU 6317214201 6317214201 email http://www.. # 631 Words 42 Joseph StreetResearch Report Insights (RRIPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com63172142016317214201http://www.. researchreportinsights.com Utility tractors are commonly used for various agricultural and non-agricultural purposes. The main applications of utility tractor are ground keeping, landscaping and other commercial purposes. Furthermore, additional features of utility tractors are attaching or detaching of plaguing equipment such as grader, blades, mid- or rear-mount finish mowers, subsoiler, rotary cutter and rototiller. It is very easy for the farmers to purchase these tractors for small agricultural applications. In North American region, utility tractors with rear-mounted snow blowers are gaining superior traction in the market due to cold climatic conditions. The major end users of the utility tractors are agricultural farmers and landscape contractors. Over the last few years, sales of 2-WD (Two Wheel Drive) and 4-WD (Four Wheel Drive) tractors have witnessed an increase in the growth of sales and the same trend is anticipated to continue over the slated time period. The sales of utility tractors in the global market is projected to grow with a healthy CAGR during the forecast time period.SegmentationThe global utility tractor market can be segmented on the basis of Drive:Pedestrian TypeWheeled TypeThe global utility tractor market can be segmented on the basis of Application:LandscapingConstruction CompanyGovernment AgenciesHay & Agriculture Products OperationsMunicipalitiesOthersRequest For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upsample/120124577/Utility-Tractor-Market DriverIncreasing demand of low budget agricultural equipment for personal plaguing purposes and in government projects such as field plaguing is expected to drive the global utility tractor market over the forecast time period. Furthermore, growing government subsidies on agricultural machine is also capturing consumers eyes towards the market in the foreseeable time period.TrendIndustry leaders are investing hefty money in the research and development in order to make a cornerstone in the global market. Moreover, Tech giants are focusing on manufacturing Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) system for utility tractor. Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) system is easy in operation owing to this system has no manual gear & clutch system, each and every transmission related to tractor is automatic.Regional Market OutlookThe global utility tractor market is segmented into the following regions North America, Latin America, Europe, APAC and Middle East and Africa. APAC region is expected to dominate in the market owing to rapidly growing agricultural industry. North America is anticipated to be the 2nd largest market, owing to growing small scale government projects related to agricultural industry. In Europe, the growth rate for the market is witnessed to be healthy due to increasing mid-size dairy farm, particularly in Italy and Germany. Middle East & Africa region is projected to grow with sluggish growth rate owing to low growth rate of agricultural industry particularly in GCC countries. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are estimated to grow with noteworthy growth rates throughout the forecast time period.Request For Report TOC: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/TOC/120124577/Utility-Tractor-Market Key PlayerKey player for the global utility tractor market are:Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.LS Mtron TractorDeere & CompanyAGCO TractorArgo Tractors S.p.A.Daedong-USAVmax InternationalGroup (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd .,AC&ECaterpillar Inc.Research Methodology:RRI surveys a number of companies in order to estimate the data covered in the report through triangulation methodology. A detailed market understanding and assessment of the drive and application segments covered in the study. The research methodology also includes interviews conducted for various industry leaders by the research experts. This helps the researchers to match their previous findings with the ones confirmed from various resource persons. The report focuses on analyzing the supply-side approaches and keeps a track of that of the demand-side so as to make sure the findings are true. The global market scenario has been derived by consolidation of regional market overviews.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upcomming/120124577/Utility-Tractor-Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 15:14:46 Press Information Persistence Market Research CONTACT: Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com yogesh sengar team lead 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 395 Words CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comteam lead800-961-0353 Marketing software and solutions are software tools used by various enterprises to track the performance of marketing initiatives. Marketing software and solution enables marketing managers to evaluate the their marketing initiatives by measuring performance using important business metrics such as return on investment (ROI), marketing attribution, and overall marketing effectiveness.Change in the landscape of information technology industry and advent of social media platforms has created potential market for marketing software and solutions. These software solutions helps marketers to analyze the performance of its products in terms of hits that these products have received on digital platforms and its purchase scenario. In addition to this, marketing software and solutions also measures and analyzes customer lifetime value in the real-time. Although, these software solutions helps enterprise in taking real time decisions, they lack capabilities which can help enterprises to explore root-cause behind the triumph or catastrophe of a particular marketing campaign. To elucidate, these software and solutions can provide predictions and recommendations to a marketing team about a particular marketing campaign, however, does not provide key parameters taken into consideration for these predictions and recommendationsRequest for Sample Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10586 In North America region, marketing software and solution are emerging at a rapid pace and are assisting various technology companies in this region. Business organizations that are based in countries such as United States and Canada are aggressively adopting marketing software and solutions.Cloud based marketing software and solution have witnessed traction in its adoption in the Asia Pacific region. IBM is offering its cloud based social media analytics software in this region which provides information about customers sentiment in social media.With the rise of big data in the Europe region, marketing software and solutions are being adopted from many end-user organizations.In Latin America and Middle East and Africa regions, most of the business organizations are still reluctant to deploy marketing software and solution because of the high cost involved in it. In coming future, with increase in cloud based offerings, the adoption of marketing software and solution will also increase as cost associated with deployment of these will come down from cloud based offerings.IBM Corporation, Adobe Systems Incorporated, Accenture PLC, Oracle Corporation, SAS Institute Inc., Harte-Hanks Inc., and Pega-Systems are some of the major players of the market.Request for view TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10586 Persistence Market Research PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:52:28 Press Information Persistence Market Research Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Yogesh Team Lead 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 604 Words Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Team Lead800-961-0353 According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Food Retail: Supermarkets/hypermarkets Segment To Witness Highest Growth by 2020, the global Food Retail market was valued at USD 5,643.6 billion in 2013 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1 % from 2014 to 2020, to reach an estimated value of USD 8,541.9 billion in 2020.Rise in the global population, changing customer preferences, and emerging economies are making the way for the food retail industry. It is a dynamically progressing industry and contributes to the development of several industries such as food packaging. Rising middle-class population is creating growth opportunities for food retail market and is expected to drive the market further. According to a U.S.-based research firm, about 1.5 billion households globally would be in the middle-class category by 2020, up from 1.2 billion households in 2012. China and India are among the countries witnessing a fast growth in their middle-class population. In 2012, there were 227 million and 149 million middle-class households in China and India, respectively. In addition, due to busy life schedules many working peoples have less time to shop for food items. Therefore, increasing online retail shopping through online retail formats such as in-store pickup and pure-play online grocers is expected to drive the food retail market in the years to come.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3922 The restraining impact of lack of supply chain effectiveness in less developed countries is expected to be medium in the short and medium terms, and low in the long term. Government investment in infrastructure and the entry of global food processing companies in developing countries are expected to minimize the impact of supply chain-related restraints. The threat from unorganized players is expected to be high in the short term, medium in the medium term and low in the long term. The number of organized players is increasing in developing countries due to increasing urbanization and per capita income. In India, discussions regarding foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail are currently under way, and if it is approved by the Indian government it may add benefits to the food retail industry.Asia-Pacific is the largest market for food retail. Increasing per capita income, growing level of education, smaller families and increasing urbanization and westernization are the key factors driving the growth of food retail industry in this region. Europe is the second largest market for food retail due to the presence of the large number of branded stores and discounters such as Aldi, Carrefour, Auchan and Tesco which offer fresh and branded products. They are then followed by North America. Health and nutritional concern among consumers are the major factors fuelling the growth of the food retail market in this region. RoW region has experienced the fastest growth in the past few years and is likely to hold its position in the years to come.Food Retail is categorized under distribution channel into four different segments: supermarkets or hypermarkets, independent and specialist retailers, convenience stores and others. Supermarket or hypermarket segment holds the largest share of the overall market in 2013 at USD 2,925.8 billion and is expected to reach USD 4,448.5 billion by 2020 at a CAGR of 6.2 % during 2014 to 2020.Under regional segment, the Asia Pacific food retail market (the largest market in 2013) increased by 7.2 % CAGR during 2010-2013 to reach USD 1,909.2 million in 2013.Some of the major companies of food retail operating at the global level are such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Carrefour SA, Tesco plc, AEON CO. LTD., Metro AG, Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd., The Kroger Company, Groupe Auchan and REWE Group.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC)@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3922 PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:47:09 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Umesh SEO Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 745 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comSEO Manager3479183531 Custom assay services, now a days, are highly trending among life sciences and biotechnology industries due to its cost effective and fit-for purpose nature. Custom assay are specifically designed biochemical or cell based assays provided by the manufacturers of assay kits upon request by the customer to satisfy their purpose or needs. Custom assay provide easy solution to the academic as well as industrial laboratories for qualitative as well as quantitative determination of various biological analytes such as proteins, enzymes, antibodies, biomarkers, antigens etc. Custom assay services are highly beneficial in biotechnology industries for genotyping, HLA tissue typing etc. where quick turn-around time is desired to screen large number of samples and avoid the wastage of chemicals & resources. Introduction of customized multiplex assays is further expected to cut-down the requirement of time and money in the complicated biological assays. Customized assays are also used in the research institutes, diagnostic laboratories, and contract research organizations for analysis of clinical parameters during new drug development or development of new treatment. Customized cell-based assays are used in cancer research institutes, government institutes, forensics, etc. Custom assays are also used in the pharmaceutical and food industries for quality testing.Custom Assays Market: Drivers and RestraintsCustom assays market is expected to be driven by increasing research and development activities in life science and biotechnology industry and growing number of academic and research institutes across the globe. Moreover, increasing demand for tissue diagnostic and cell based diagnostics for cancer, HIV, and infectious diseases is expected to fuel the global demand for custom assay products over the forecast period. Availability of custom assay and bulk purchase contracts for huge number of biological samples being screened is proving cost effective for biotechnological companies. Emerging biochip technology would create good opportunity for custom assay providers in the global market. However, challenges in assay optimization and standardization are some of the factors restricting the growth of global custo assay market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3312 Custom Assays Market: SegmentationTentatively, the global custom assay market has been segmented on the basis of assay type, end user, and geography.Based on assay type, the global custom assay market is divided into following:Activity AssaysCompetitive AssaysELISA AssaysSandwich AssaysScreening AssaysOthers (conjugation assay, etc.)Based on technology, the custom assay market is divided into following:Flow CytometryMembrane Based/Planar AssaysSuspension/ Bead Based AssaysOthersBased on retail end user, the laboratory filtration devices market is segmented as below:Academic and Research InstitutesLife Science IndustriesBiotechnology CompaniesDiagnostic CentersContract Research OrganizationsFood and Beverage CompaniesCustom Assays Market: OverviewThe global market for custom assay is highly fragmented with presence of local and regional players. However, global players are expected to account for over 50% of the share in the global market. Based on assay type, custom ELISA assays are expected to contribute highest share in the global market owing to huge applications of ELISA assays in different industries. Based on end user, biotechnology industries and diagnostic centers are expected to hold considerable share in the global market for custom assays. Requirement of minimum skills and cost-saving products are the factors contributing high demand for custom assay products in academic and research institutes across the globe.Custom Assays Market: Regional Wise OutlookGeographically, global custom assays market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. The market in Asia Pacific and Japan is expected to grow at significant CAGR due to growing number of research institutes in countries such as India, Australia and Japan. North America will continue to hold largest share in the custom assays market as majority of the best academic and research institutes are located in the U.S. which are culture positive to innovation. Europe is expected to take second largest share in the global custom assay market due to large number of global players operating in Europe.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3312 Custom Assays Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players in the global custom assay market are Promega Corporation, Bioassay Systems, Sigma-Aldrich Inc. (Merck KGaA), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., R & D Syatems Inc. (Biotechne Inc.), Fluidigm, Luminex Corporation, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, QIAGEN N.V, Quansys Bioscience, BD Biosciences and others. Companies often provide custom assay services, where user can define their requirements and specifications and assay is built accordingly by the manufacturer. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Creep and Stress Rupture Testers Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2018-2028" report to their offering FMI PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:42:00 Press Information Future Market Insights CONTACT: Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States Mr. Abhishek Budholiya Manager 3479183531 email http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 695 Words CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesManager3479183531 In the past few years, creep and stress rupture testers have been widely used to determine the way materials change shape due to long-term exposure to high levels of stress and temperature. The increasing demand for creep and stress rupture testers by engineers and researchers for evaluating the durability of a large range of materials and products such as power generation turbines, ovens, boilers, and pressure vessels, is one of the major factors driving the growth of the market. Moreover, creep and stress rupture testers also play an important role in automotive and aerospace industry applications for carefully evaluating a decrease in performance that may occur when the adhesive bonded joints are subjected to creep loading. Furthermore, increased levels of automation and improved energy efficiency in laboratories are also supporting the rapid demand for creep and stress rupture testers, which, in turn, are fuelling the growth of the creep and stress rupture testers market.Creep and stress rupture testers are devices that are used to measure dimensional changes accurately at constant high temperatures and constant load or stress. Furthermore, creep and stress rupture testers provide the prediction of life expectancy before service, which is important for various industrial equipment such as turbine blades and boilers. Due to this factor, the demand for creep and stress rupture testers is increasing continually, which is driving the growth of the market. In addition to this, due to the increasing adoption of creep and stress rupture testers from practically every relevant vertical, especially across regions, increase in number of laboratories is being witnessed, the creep and stress rupture testers market is expected to exhibit a high growth rate during the forecast period.Global Creep and Stress Rupture Testers Market: Drivers and ChallengesDriversThe increasing usage of creep and stress rupture testers for modelling long-term applications that are strain limited is the primary factor driving the growth of the creep and stress rupture testers market. Furthermore, the increasing growth of the pharmaceutical industry coupled with increasing collaborations in the chemical sector is also creating potential opportunities for the growth of the creep and stress rupture testers market. Significant investments in the research and development sector of various industries is another factor driving the growth of the market. Moreover, technological advancements in the laboratory processes have also led to the increasing adoption of creep and stress rupture testers, due to which, the market is expected to witness high growth rates during the forecast period.Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-7789 ChallengesThe high maintenance cost associated with creep and stress rupture testers is one of the major challenges/restraints for the growth of the market.Global Creep and Stress Rupture Testers Market: SegmentationSegmentation on the Basis of Testing Temperature Range:1200 Degrees F1200 - 1500 Degrees F1500 Degrees FSegmentation on the Basis of End Use Industry:ManufacturingAerospaceMedical and PharmaceuticalsMilitary & DefencePower GenerationOil & GasTransportationOthersGlobal Creep and Stress Rupture Testers Market: Competition LandscapeKey PlayersProminent players in the global creep and stress rupture testers market are Laboratory Testing, Inc., Element Materials Technology, Qualitest International Inc., Lucideon Limited, IMR Test Labs, SATEC Ltd., Shenzhen Wance Testing Machine Co., Ltd., Touchstone Research Laboratory, and Veekay Industries.Request to Browse Full Table of Content, figure and Tables @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-7789 Global Creep and Stress Rupture Testers Market: Regional OverviewOn the basis of geography, North America is expected to capture the largest market share in terms of revenue in the creep and stress rupture testers market, owing to a rise in the adoption of creep and stress rupture testers in various industries, and the presence of various manufacturers in the region. Asia Pacific and Europe are also expected to capture substantial market shares in the global creep and stress rupture testers market, owing to the presence of many testing laboratories, research facilities, and manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries in various countries of the region. The creep and stress rupture testers markets in MEA and Latin America are also expected to witness high growth, due to significant investments in the research and development sector of various industries in the region. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the "Continuous Track Wheels Market Promising Growth Opportunities over 2018 - 2028" report to their offering PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:43:53 Continuous track wheels are the driving mechanism used in crawling mediums in all the crawlers across the world. These wheels are manufactured using iron, nylon, phenolic or polypropylene. Continuous track wheels are popular with tracked vehicles which operate in uneven terrains. These wheels are housed between the track and sprockets, thereby facilitating the motion of the crawler. Continuous track wheels find use in various machines, such as agricultural tractors, mining vehicles, armored tanks and robots. In case of army tanks or industrial crawlers, continuous track wheels are referred to as road wheels or suspension wheels. This is mainly because these wheels are a part of the suspension system of tanks.Two wheels are connected to a suspension system in such a way that they form a set of independent suspension systems for each other, housed inside the same spring arrangement. Road wheels or continuous track wheels are available in various sizes and formats, depending on the tank size and application. The demand for continuous track wheels is quite high from end-use industries, such as mining, agriculture and defense industries.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6444 Continuous Track Wheels Market: DynamicsWith the growth in mining, agricultural and defense applications, the demand for continuous track wheels is also anticipated to increase exponentially during the forecast period. The replacement rate is highest in case of mining applications, which are followed by agricultural and defense applications, respectively. Although the mining sector is facing a downfall these days, the agricultural sector is set to grow at a significant pace owing to the growing demand from consumers. That apart, rising competition between the armies throughout the world will further strengthen the base for sales of continuous track wheels in the defense sector. This can be seen as a new trend in the road wheels market.With such a diversified end use market structure, the scope for better sales is only apparent. The main factor responsible for the growth of the market are the crawling robots being employed for sting operations in the defense sector and for acquiring information from within deep holes down the earth in archeological & mining applications. However, there are a few constrains related to the market, such as low rate of replacement leading to less scope for aftermarket sales. Apart from this, the market seems poised for positive growth throughout the forecast period.Continuous Track Wheels Market: SegmentationOn the basis of wheel type, the Global Continuous Track Wheels Market can be segmented into:Sprocket WheelIdler WheelRoad WheelOn the basis of track type, the Global Continuous Track Wheels Market can be segmented into:FlangedV-GrooveOn the basis of wheel material, the Global Continuous Track Wheels Market can be segmented into:Cast IronStainless SteelPhenolicNylonOn the basis of applications and end-use industries, the Global Continuous Track Wheels Market can be segmented into:MiningDefenseAgricultureRoboticsArcheologyContinuous Track Wheels Market: Regional OutlookChina is expanding its army exponentially and this will lead to higher sales of continuous track wheels. The same is the case with India, U.K., Germany and the U.S. The agricultural sector is witnessing a boom in emerging economies of APAC, MEA and LA. Agricultural advancements are being observed in North America and Europe as well which will steer the market of continuous track wheels towards growth. Mining brings in a lot of scope for sales in emerging economies. Overall, the market is expected to be distributed mainly among Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Russia, Latin America and North America. Middle East and Africa is underdeveloped in terms of mining activities as of now and is thus anticipated to grow in the coming years in the continuous track wheels market.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-6444 Continuous Track Wheels Market: Key PlayersExamples of some of the market participants identified across the value chain of the Continuous Track Wheel Market are:TGL SP Industries Ltd.SuperDroid Robots, IncHamilton Caster & Mfg. Co.Titan Australia Pty LtdVan HalterenMaxion WheelsKalyani Strategic Systems Limited Increased demand for animal biologics products fuelled by increased adoption of pets and awareness towards various infectious diseases globally, finds a new study from FMI PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:35:43 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way Suite 2-9018, Abhishek Budholiya Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 615 Words U.S. Office 616 Corporate WaySuite 2-9018,Manager3479183531 Arecent study published by FMI states that the companion animal vaccine market is likely to register an attractive CAGR of 6.8% in terms of revenue during the forecast period 2018-2026. The companion animal vaccines market is likely to witness significant growth in developed markets by 2018 due to the increasing awareness regarding various infectious diseases that affect pet animals. The easier availability of vaccines and diagnosis of diseases spreading patterns are creating attractive demand opportunities in Asian markets. The FMI study covers the entire macroeconomic and microeconomic spectrum influencing the companion animal vaccines market.Do Inquiry to Get the Sample of Report Here @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1427 Routine vaccine programs for companion animals have eliminated some of the chronic scourges from developed countries. The improved focused on vaccination campaigns and the higher awareness regarding pet care are fuelling the demand for companion animal vaccines. Attenuated live vaccines is, by far, the largest revenue generating segment, accounting for over half the revenue generated across the globe due to faster action and lower number of required doses. To boost the sales as well as benefits of vaccination, leading vaccine manufacturers are trying to improve vaccine quality by minimizing vaccine load. The industry is witnessing a phase of consolidation in order to set up a technically-superior facility and remain competitive. The companion animal vaccine market in APEJ is expected to witness significant growth due to the increasing awareness and increasing focus towards the adoption of pets, inspired by western countries.In developed countries, there is an increasing tendency to vaccinate pets so as to induce herd immunity. In this regard, more and more companion animals are being brought under the coverage of at least the core vaccines. Further, re-emerging concept of One Health has also impacted on the field of vaccinology especially the management of infectious diseases through the collaborative interaction of agents involved and provide a rational and cost-effective solution. This aims at provision of at least core vaccines to companion animals across the involved countries.Methodology With Latest Advancements and Application @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1427 It has been worth noting the animal health industry is one of the most lucrative revenue generating industries as well as innovative too. The route map of the animal health industry is innovative too Prevent Treat End. The industry is said to have invested US$ 960 Mn in research and development in the US in 2016. Authorities have reportedly noted that administration of adequate companion animal vaccines keep families safe from health issues. The largest exported of animal biologics is the U.S. accounting for over 40% of total global exports. In such a scenario, manufacturers of animal biologics in the U.S. and other developed EU markets are facing a windfall in demand generation.Industry players are on a consolidation spree to remain profitable and sustain profits in the long run. Manufacturers of companion animal vaccines are also emphasizing on collaborative manufacturing in the absence of direct manufacturing presence to grab a greater share in high potential untapped markets such as China and Africa. The Japan-based animal healthcare company, Sumitomo Corp., revealed plans to market vaccines in China in November 2015 through an undisclosed investment in a leading local Chinese drug manufacturer. The company is currently in discussions regarding the establishment of a local vaccine production set up. Further, support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Japan could aid regional expansion in other Asian economies. These type of collaborations are new and could actually boost local manufacturing presence in less developed economies of Asia. External partnerships in research and development and provision of funding are shaping the development of the companion animal vaccines market.Report Overview: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/companion-animal-vaccines-market Combined Heat And Power Systems Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 08:50:17 Press Information Persistence Market Research (PMR) 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, yogesh sengar Team Lead +1-646-568-7751 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 557 Words 305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Team Lead+1-646-568-7751 Cogeneration (also known as combined heat and power systems (CHP)) is a cluster of technologies primarily used for the concurrent generation of electricity and useful heat. This combined generation of heat and electricity is much more effective than separate generation of electricity and useful heat in a way that CHP systems offers improved energy efficiency, reduced managing cost, low CO2 emission and others. Growing data center capacity as business operate more processes, handle complex analytics with increasing storage requirements for customer data and employing rich media. Handling of such large data requires continuous supply of reliable power making cogeneration systems of primary importance. Efficiency level for cogeneration systems can reach up to 80 % against separate generation of heat and electricity which provides combined efficiency of 40-50 %. CHP systems for data centers are gaining traction in the market as using such plants as source of data center power leads to energy efficient and substantial cost reduction benefits. However, another technology commercially available for powering data centers includes fuel cells. Although CHP systems are less efficient than fuel cells but requires lesser fuel to generate the same amount of power and has a win when its ability to supply chilled water is factored. Some of the major benefits offered utilizing CHP systems for data centers are limited reliance over external power supply, increased energy efficiency, low site carbon emission and others.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11998 Global CHP System market for Data Centre: Market DynamicsRegions with high electricity cost are readily adopting CHP systems primarily to save on their energy cost to provide base load power and using such systems to provide absorption cooling for the facility. Moreover, government initiatives to install CHP systems in data center facilities due to low CO2 emissions is also expected to increase its adoption rate thereby increasing the adoption of CHP system in data centers.Low economic life of data center IT equipment results in consumer reluctance towards adoption of CHP systems for data centers since these systems have equipment life of around 10-15 years in comparison to economic life of IT equipment which is only 2-3 years.Global CHP System market for Data Centre: SegmentationThe global CHP system market for data center can be segmented on the basis of data center types, facility size, installation type and region. By Data center types the market can be segmented into Telecoms, ISPs (internet Service Provider), CoLos (Co-located server hosting facilities), server farms, corporate data centers, university/ national laboratory and others. Based on facility the market can be segmented into less than 200 sq.ft , 200-700 sq.ft , 700-1,200 sq.ft , 1,200-6,000 sq.ft and more than 6,000 sq.ft . Based on installation type global cogeneration systems market for data center can be segmented into newly installed systems and retrofit systems. By region global CHP system market for data centers can be segmented into seven key regions namely North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East and Africa and Japan.Global CHP System market for Data Centre: Key PlayersSome of the major players identified across CHP system market for data center includes ENER-G, Korea Electric Power Corporation, National Grid plc, Exelon Corporation, NextEra Energy, Inc., Chubu Electric Power Company, American Electric Power Company, Inc. and others.Visit For TOC@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/11998 New York digital agency Code18 Interactive gives Americas oldest apothecary, C.O. Bigelow, a website redesign that celebrates the legendary Greenwich Village pharmacy and its unique and unusual personal care remedies. The new site is fully responsive and built on the Magento 2 platform. C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 00:35:40 Press Information Code18 Interactive 175 Varick Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10014 Steve Pilon CEO 404-585-2725 email http://www.code18.com # 359 Words 175 Varick Street, 8th FloorNew York, NY 10014CEO404-585-2725 Code18 Interactive, a boutique digital agency based in New York City, announces the launch of a newly redesigned website for C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries ( http://www.bigelowchemists.com) . The highly customized and fully responsive Magento 2 website is a well-known ecommerce destination in the luxury beauty, skincare and personal health sector.Shopping at C.O. Bigelows retail store in New York City is a unique experience, and we wanted to reflect that authenticity in the online shopping experience, says Code18 Interactives Creative Director Steve Pilon. Thats why it was so important for the site to embrace and express the companys rich history and heritage, while also offering customers a modern, user-friendly and engaging shopping experience. As the oldest apothecary in America, C.O. Bigelow produces their own world-famous line of products under the C.O. Bigelow brand. They also offer an artfully hand-picked selection of the best emerging brands and time-tested favorites in Beauty, Skin Care, Bath & Body, Hair Care, Fragrance, and more. The C.O. Bigelow catalog is a treasure trove of thousands of the best and most effective beauty and skincare products from around the world, says Steve Pilon. In an age where the web is full of cookie-cutter websites, Bigelows distinct personality and flawless taste make them a standout above the rest. Among the 200+ brands that are showcased at C.O. Bigelow, you will find: Proraso, Marvis, Gulsha, GLAMGLOW, Jane Iredale, Deborah Lippman, Sol de Janeiro, Cannuka, Graffitti Collective, and more. The site also features a wide selection of popular natural and homeopathic remedies from companies such as Strepsils, Hylands, Badger Balm, Boiron, and Banale.Code18 Interactive is a New York Digital Agency that caters to national Consumer and Media brands. The agency specializes in the design and development of enterprise-level WordPress and Magento 2 websites. They have the pleasure of working with many wonderful brands, including: GoGo squeeZ, Boursin Cheese, Public Radio International, Grove Atlantic Publishing, and others. The C.O. Bigelow ecommerce project was developed in partnership with Ecommerce Partners ( http://ecommercepartners.net) , an ecommerce agency also headquartered in New York.For more information, please visit http://www.code18.com PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 15:15:31 Press Information Persistence Market Research CONTACT: Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com yogesh sengar team lead 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 619 Words CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comteam lead800-961-0353 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.Request for Report Sample : https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10496 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.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 : https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10496 PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 07:27:00 Press Information Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Yogesh Sengar Team Lead 800-961-0353 email https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ # 529 Words 305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comTeam Lead800-961-0353 Cardiac Marker Analyzer, also known as Cardiac Reader Systems, provides high point-of-care testing solutions for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and other cardiac-related diseases. It performs all cardiac monitoring tests, such as myoglobin and cardiac troponin tests, through immunochromatographic assays. A Cardiac Marker Analyzer increases its efficacy and accuracy with special features, such as software, which provides an internal standard to diagnostic procedures and built in LCD displays for the visualization of practices. Cardiac Marker Analyzers are important for the prevention of the misdiagnoses of cardiac conditions.Some of the major Cardiac Marker Analyzers which are frequently used in diagnosis of cardiac conditions include QL Care Analyzer, Meritas POC Analyzer, PATHFAST Analyzer, Alere Meterpro Analyzer, RAMP Reader, RAMP 200, iSTAT System, Stratus CS Analyzer, Cobas H 232 POC System, Access 2 Immunoassay System, DXpress Reader Analyzer and ichroma DUO Analyzer.Request Sample Report@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3479 In terms of geographic, North America and Europe dominates the global Cardiac Marker Analyzer market. This is due to increasing prevalence of cardiac related diseases in these regions. The U.S. represents the largest market for Cardiac Marker Analyzer followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France and Germany holds major share of Cardiac Marker Analyzer market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in the global Cardiac Marker Analyzer market due to increasing awareness among people about cardiovascular diseases. This increasing awareness increases the demand of Cardiac Marker Analyzer for diagnosis of heart diseases. In addition, less stringent regulatory environments attract manufacturing companies to construct their research facilities in the region which further support in the growth of Cardiac Marker Analyzer in the region. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing Cardiac Marker Analyzer markets in Asia.In recent time, increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, and technological advancement in marker technology are some of the major drivers for the global Cardiac Marker Analyzer market. In addition, rising number of geriatric populations and technological advancement in cardiac assist devices are also supporting in the growth of global Cardiac Marker Analyzer market. Aged people are more susceptible towards cardiac diseases compared to youngster. Thus, geriatric people increase the demand of Cardiac Marker Analyzer for the management of their cardiac disorders. Moreover innovative applications of Cardiac Marker Analyzer, such as less time consuming practices and provides accurate diagnostic results, have also fueled the growth of the market. It takes less than 14 minutes to complete a diagnostic test. Increasing prevalence of diabetes and obese people develops opportunity for the global Cardiac Marker Analyzer market. However, stringent regulations and cost constrains are some of the major restraints of the global Cardiac Marker Analyzer market. In addition, presence of alternative technologies for the diagnosis of cardiac diseases also obstructs the growth of global Cardiac Marker Analyzer market. Increasing mergers and acquisitions between major players is key trend for the global Cardiac Marker Analyzer market.Some of the major companies operating in the global Cardiac Marker Analyzer market are Mitsubishi Chemical Medience Corporation, CardioGenics, Trinity Biotech, Lifesign, Abbott, Siemen Healthcare, Boditech and Beckman Coulter.Request Report TOC@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3479 Increasing prevalence of chronic and lifestyle diseases expected to create demand for branded generics over the assessment period PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 11:36:44 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way Suite 2-9018, Abhishek Budholiya Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 614 Words U.S. Office 616 Corporate WaySuite 2-9018,Manager3479183531 Differential and innovative product strategies that are adopted by various multinational pharma companies have been fuelling the growth of branded generics market at a global scale. These strategies include establishing sustained local capabilities with the strong local talents, engaging in portfolio marketing, recalibrating regulatory affairs, bolstering sales force with the multi-channel engagement and enhancing contracting capabilities. Developing regions are witnessing a rapid increase in demand for branded generics on account of increasing affordability of the products and ease of regulations. Rising disposable income and changing lifestyle of consumers is also expected to augur well for growth of the branded generics market in the near future.The study predicts that patent expiries of the blockbuster drugs are likely to create demand for branded generics during the forecast period. Increasing prevalence of the lifestyle and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes together with increasing purchasing power makes branded generics market attractive for investors. The study by Future Market Insights predicts that branded generics market is likely to register a healthy 7.3% CAGR over the forecast period, 2016-2026. Commodity generic products and huge competition from the branded drugs have prevailed as major challenges inhibiting the growth of branded generics market, in terms of price structure.Do Inquiry to Get the Sample of Report Here @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1260 Cardiovascular Diseases are likely to prove highly lucrative for revenue growth of branded generics market due to rising prevalence of diverse types of cancers and increasing comorbidities across the globe. Anti-hypertensive segment is expected to prove highly lucrative for the purpose of reducing premature cardiovascular disease. Oral formulations hold the largest demand from medical providers and patients for branded generics. This is mainly due to the benefits that oral formulation offers such as accuracy, dosing convenience and easy adherence to a medication plan.Parenteral formulations are likely to gain traction in branded generics market during the forecast period, with API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) being degraded in intestinal tracts, thereby driving the demand for parenteral delivery. The report predicts that APEJ and North America are likely to remain lucrative for parenteral formulations during the forecast period. Retail Pharmacies are expected to prove as the most lucrative distribution channel for branded generics, as the pharmaceutical companies manufacturers are highly dependent on this distribution channel for selling the products over-the-counter.APEJ accounts for the largest revenue share in the branded generics market owing to lack of worldwide health coverage and higher out-of-the-pocket expenditure on healthcare. China, India and ASEAN countries are expected to pose lucrative growth opportunities for the new and existing key players in the forthcoming years. Most of the leading manufacturers in the global market are concentrated in Asian countries and have been working towards expansion of their production capacity, for catering to the existing and emerging global demands.Methodology With Latest Advancements and Application @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1260 Statutory regulatory bodies have been playing a significant role in the growth branded generics market in APEJ by providing approvals for products. Furthermore, growth through the adoption of inorganic approaches have been forming cornerstone of the branded generics drug makers in APEJ region. Latin America, Eastern Europe and North America will prove significantly lucrative for the branded generics market in the forthcoming years.Brand-name prescriptions are anticipated to remain ubiquitous amongst the aged people worldwide. Since geriatric demographics hold a larger portion of drug-consuming population across the globe, demand for branded generics are expected to rise substantially. Branded generics market has been projected to develop at a healthy pace as enormous number of the pharmaceutical products are expected to go off-patent within the assessment period of 2016-2026.Report Overview: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/branded-generics-market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 09:48:37 Press Information Research Report Insights Research Report Insights (RRI) 42 Joseph Street Port carling P0B 1J0 Muskoka, Ontario1 Phone - +1-631-721-4201 Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com BISHU +1-631-721-4201 +1-631-721-4201 email https://www.researchreportinsights.com # 364 Words Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.comEmail: sales@researchreportinsights.com+1-631-721-4201+1-631-721-4201 Bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy are usually performed on the back of the hipbone, or posterior iliac crest. An aspirate can also be obtained from the sternum (breastbone). For the sternal aspirate, the patient lies on their back, with a pillow under the shoulder to raise the chest. A trephine biopsy should never be performed on the sternum, due to the risk of injury to blood vessels, lungs or the heart.The need to selectively isolate and concentrate selective cells, such as mononuclear cells, allogeneic cancer cells, T cells and others, is driving the market. Over 30,000 bone marrow transplants occur every year. The explosive growth of stem cells therapies represents the largest growth opportunity for bone marrow processing systems.Europe and North America spearheaded the market as of 2016, by contributing over 74.0% to the overall revenue. Majority of stem cell transplants are conducted in Europe, and it is one of the major factors contributing to the lucrative share in the cell harvesting system market.Request For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upsample/120124610/Bone-Marrow-Processing-Systems-Market In 2016, North America dominated the research landscape as more than 54.0% of stem cell clinical trials were conducted in this region. The region also accounts for the second largest number of stem cell transplantation, which is further driving the demand for harvesting in the region.Request Report For Toc: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/TOC/120124610/Bone-Marrow-Processing-Systems-Market Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period, owing to rising incidence of chronic diseases and increasing demand for stem cell transplantation along with stem cell-based therapy. Japan and China are the biggest markets for harvesting systems in Asia Pacific. Emerging countries such as Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa are also expected to report lucrative growth over the forecast period. Growing investment by government bodies on stem cell-based research and increase in aging population can be attributed to the increasing demand for these therapies in these countries.Major players operating in the global bone marrow processing systems market are ThermoGenesis (Cesca Therapeutics inc.), RegenMed Systems Inc., MK Alliance Inc., Fresenius Kabi AG, Harvest Technologies (Terumo BCT), Arthrex, Inc. and others.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upcomming/120124610/Bone-Marrow-Processing-Systems-Market Some of the players in biosimilar testing services market include: Charles River Laboratories International Inc., Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. (sub. of Merck KGaA), Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC, Pace Analytical Services Inc, and Eurofins Scientific. Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 11:38:28 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Umesh SEO Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 522 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comSEO Manager3479183531 Biosimilar are the biological based products used for various use in healthcare industry. Biosimilar products are very helpful to the patients and also offer therapeutic options. Biosimilar have a unique properties, which is used to study the biological functions and structures complexity of the sample. As the diseases type are increasing over the global, with various effect on human and animals which can cause death also. Public and private associations are working to develop various preventive methods and pre-identifying methods to detect the cause and type disease. Biosimilar testing are used in all the industry related to healthcare and other industry such as diagnoses, clinical and etc. Biosimilar improvement is used for medication, which is why the accurate analysis at every single stage activities are been recorded and analyzed, to determine the arrangement, structure and value qualities of the initiator to virtual one-on-one biosimilarity testing of the biosimilar with the inventor, biosimilar testing services provide vital analytics to easily understand the process and come-up with better results in short duration of time.Biosimilar Testing Services Market: Drivers and RestraintsBiosimilar testing services is a growing market over the forecast periods, as the diseases incidences are increasing every year. The biosimilar testing are used for clinical assay determination, comparability testing and others which is high in demand by the healthcare industry users. The accurate analysis of the sample is a major strength of the biosimilar testing services. Players are coming with various advance biosimilar testing services which cover major segment of healthcare industry and other pharmaceutical industry. The biosimilar testing services market has huge potentials to grow as the current market has huge demand by the supplies are less as compared in various segments. The high cost and lack of availability of the product is the hindrances of the market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5494 Biosimilar Testing Services Market: SegmentationBiosimilar testing services market is segmented based on:Biosimilar testing services based on product typePharmacokinetic assayTiered Immunogenicity testingNAb assaysBiosimilar testing services based on test typeELISAKinetic Binding AssaysADCC & CDC Cell-Based AssaysEffector BindingBiosimilar Testing Services Market: OverviewBiosimilar testing services market has a huge potential for growth as the players are coming with various advance products, to identify the biological activities and other activities related to the drugs.Biosimilar Testing Services Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, Biosimilar testing services market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America has the major players which directly contribute the market of biosimilar testing services. Europe is also a growing region as the players and the regulation to approve the biosimilar products actively participating. Asia- Pacific and other region is also contributing the biosimilar testing market by increasing awareness about the biosimilar testing services market.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5494 Biosimilar Testing Services Market: Key PlayersSome of the players in biosimilar testing services market include: Charles River Laboratories International Inc., Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. (sub. of Merck KGaA), Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC, Pace Analytical Services Inc, and Eurofins Scientific. PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:39:00 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Bhudholiya Manager +1-347-918-3531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 680 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1-347-918-3531 Biologics are genetically engineered proteins which originate from human genes. These drugs target the specific parts of the immune system. Biologics are entirely different from chemically synthesized drugs. There is wide range of biologics products include vaccines, blood components, allergenic, somatic cells, gene therapy and recombinant therapeutic proteins. Biologics are constituted as nucleic acids or proteins or may be cells and tissue from living entities. Biologics are isolated from different sources such as animal, human or microbes by using different biotechnological methods. Biologics are a complex mixture, and it is heat sensitive product and highly susceptible to microbial contamination. Therefore manufacturing of biologics needs very aseptic environment and skilled professional. Hence, the demand for biologic contract manufacturing has shown subsequent growth. The pharmaceutical companies are signing an agreement with CMOs for the manufacturing of biologics.Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market: Drivers and Restraints : The factors driving the growth of biologics contract manufacturing are growing number of drug development by traditional pharmaceutical companies and the entrance of various small manufacturers in the pharmaceutical market. Increasing rate of drug approval by FDA and number drugs in the pipeline has also boosted the growth of biologic contract manufacturing market. Increase in generic drugs competition and rise in patent expiry has also propelled the growth of biologics contract manufacturing market. Increasing geriatric population and increasing the prevalence of diseases such as cancer are driving the growth of biologic contract manufacturing market. Production of biologics requires highly skilled professional and aseptic environment which will restrain the growth of this market. Beside that production of biologics are very complex and costly method which can again hamper the growth of this market.Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market: SegmentationBased on product type biologics contract manufacturing market is segmented into following:Antisense,Cell Therapy,Gene Therapy,Growth Factors,Interferons,Monoclonal Antibodies,Recombinant Hormones,RNA Interference,Vaccines,Others, Based on indication biologics contract manufacturing market is segmented into following : Autoimmune Disorders,Blood Disorders,Cancer,Cardiovascular Diseases,Digestive Disorder,Eye Condition,Genetic Disorder,Infectious Diseases,Musculoskeletal Disorders,Neurologic Disorders,Respiratory Disorders,Skin Diseases,Others. Based on geography biologics contract manufacturing market is segmented into following:North America,Latin America,Western Europe,Eastern Europe,Asia Pacific excluding Japan,Japan,Middle East and Africa.Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market: OverviewBiologics contract manufacturing is expected to show significant growth over the forecast period. Biologics cover around 10-15% of revenue from overall revenue generated by leading pharmaceutical companies. Biologics contract manufacturing market is expected to show double growth in every five years. This market is growing because of traditional pharmaceutical companies are unable for meet the need required for the production of biologics, besides that they are also the lack of skilled professional. Biologic contract manufacturing market can be classified by product type and indication. On the basis on product type biologic contract manufacturing market is classified as antisense, gene therapy, cell therapy, growth factors, interferons, monoclonal antibodies, recombinant hormones, RNA interference, vaccines and others. From all product type monoclonal antibodies is expected to dominate the biologic contract manufacturing market.Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market: Regional OverviewRegion-wise contract manufacturing market is classified as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is expected to dominate the biologics contract manufacturing due to rise in FDA approval in last decade. Western Europe and Asia-Pacific then follow this market. Western Europe is projected to show subsequent growth due to the high availability of skilled professional for the production of biologics. Asia-Pacific region is expected to show the fastest growth over the forecast period owing to rise in the number of CMOs.Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in biologics contract manufacturing market are Boehringer Ingelheim, Lonza, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies U.S.A., Inc., Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH, Celonic AG, AutekBio Co. Ltd., WuXiAppTec, Kemwell Biopharma, Shasun Pharma, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Syngene, Piramal Pharma Solutions, AAIPharma Services, Alpax Pharmaceuticals, Cantab Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, 3P Biopharmaceuticals, and BIBITEC GmbH.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2679 Some of the global key players in the market includes AbbVie Inc., Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Janssen Inc., Roche Holding AG, Merck & Co., Eli Lilly &Co., Biogen and many others. Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:49:41 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Umesh SEO Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 700 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comSEO Manager3479183531 Biologic Response Modifiers are the substances that modulate the immune response by either increasing or decreasing the immunogenic effect. These are used in immunotherapy or biological therapy for enhancing the activity of immune system to fight infection and disease. These substances are naturally produced in small amounts in the body but some of them such as interleukins, monoclonal antibodies, inetrferons and colony stimulating factors are now being manufactured in large units by the pharmaceutical industries. Depending on the disease type, synthetic Biologic Response Modifiers mimics the natural cytokines or inhibitors against a receptor and thus been used in the treatment to restore, boost or dampen the host immune response. Various research studies has increased the knowledge regarding the biological agents and the effective targets are being identified.Increasing prevalence of cancer and autoimmune diseases worldwide and upsurge in the success rates of immunotherapy treatment is going to increase the demand of Biologic Response Modifiers. Recently in 2015, a Biologic Response Modifiers Taltz (ixekizumab) is launched by Eli Lilly in Europe which made $261m in 2015.Biologic Response Modifiers Market: Drivers & RestraintsBiologic Response Modifiers Market is likely to proliferate in the future as per current trends of increase in the number of cancer patients and autoimmune disorder cases across the globe. Immunotherapy is considered an effective treatment for patients with different types of cancer that are resistant to chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Some of the side effects such as increased risk of certain serious and opportunistic infections for patients receiving these Biologic Response Modifiers therapeutic agents, especially the risks of TB and viral infections restraints their market to grow. Some regulatory issues related to the manufacturing and export also limits the market to expand worldwide. High costs of biologics restricts its availability to all the section of population. Rituxan is one of the FDA approved Biologic Response Modifier drug having an average monthly cash price of more than $5000.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3421 Point-of-Care Genetic Testing Market: SegmentationSegmentation by Product TypeInterleukinsInterferonsColony stimulating factorsTyrosine kinase inhibitorsTNF-Angiogenic InhibitorsMonoclonal antibodiesTumor VaccinesSegmentation by Treatment TypeCancerAutoimmune DiseasesSegmentation by Distribution ChannelsHospital PharmaciesRetail PharmaciesMail Order PharmaciesBiologic Response Modifiers Market: OverviewBiologic Response Modifiers have become an important component for the effective management of patients with a variety of autoimmune/inflammatory conditions and cancer. It reduces the side-effects of various cancer treatments, which is favored by patients. Market for Biologic Response Modifiers has increased since the last decade with dozens of drugs been approved by FDA and several research studies in this area. Not only was biologic utilization growing, but the drug prices were also rising fast with a trend of more than 45%. Hefty prices and the increasing demand generated huge revenues for biopharmaceutical companies. The last decade has witnessed the development of various Biologic Response Modifiers, such as mABs, IFNs, TNF, ILs, CSFs, and antitumor vaccines but still there are many more opportunities to be explored. Increase in the clinical trials also expect more drugs in pipeline and thus the market will proliferate.Biologic Response Modifiers Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, North America dominates the market, followed by Western Europe and Asia Pacific. Presence of large number of biological drug and vaccine manufacturers, high per capita income, affordable treatment facility and good reimbursement scenario for life-threatening diseases proliferates the growth in North America and Western Europe segment. NIH estimates up to 23.5 million Americans have an Auto Immune Disease and cancer affects up to 9 million Americans. Western Europe is the second largest market from both the demand side and supply side scenario. Asia pacific is expected to grow at a highest rate due to increasing prevalence of cancer patient, improvement in the healthcare facilities, more establishment of pharmaceutical companies and growing number of insurance coverage. In Asia-Pacific, China has marketed the presence of large number of patients with autoimmune disorder.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3421 Biologic Response Modifiers Market: Key PlayersSome of the global key players in the market includes AbbVie Inc., Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Janssen Inc., Roche Holding AG, Merck & Co., Eli Lilly &Co., Biogen and many others. The Cyber Security Market Report includes a comprehensive analysis of the present market. Cyber Security Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 19:36:59 Press Information Research N Reports 10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064 Sunny Denis Sales Manager 8886316977 email http://www.researchnreports.com # 350 Words 10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064Sales Manager8886316977 Cyber security solutions are used to secure the network infrastructure and the devices connected to it. Encryption solutions offer consistent protection to sensitive data across all critical points in the entire life cycle. These solutions enable enterprises to hide their critical data from unauthorized bad actors. The government is expected to have largest Cyber Security Market size in 2018, due to the increased adoption of cyber security solutions in this industry vertical.The segments of the Global Market study integrates the growth conditions and definition of the market modules. The global market is categorized into its type, product type, material type, application, vertical, and end-use applications. In the next piece, the market has been categorized in terms of presentation. The presentation segments of the global Cyber Security market are also mentioned in this statistical surveying research report.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Top Key Vendors in Market:Cisco, IBM, GarrettCom, Siemens, CyberArk, Symantec, Honeywell, Cybercon, MAVERICK, Check Point, Waterfall, Parsons?, Wurldtech, Weinute Technology, TOFINO, HUACON, NSFOCUSThe report encompasses the different strategies, such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations, business expansions, and product developments, adopted by the major players to increase their market share. Cyber Security Market companies are popping up all the time in response to the heightened demand.Ask for discount@Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Application, Cyber Security can be split intoDefenseMilitarBFSIpublic utilitiesHealthcareFor more Information@About 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. Some of the players in bedless hospitals market include: Healthway Medical Group, AmSurg Corp., Medical Facilities Corporation, HCA Holdings Inc., Tenet Healthcare, Surgical Care Affiliates Inc., Surgery Partners, Community Health Systems, Inc. and Vision Group Holdings. Future Market Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 11:42:33 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Umesh SEO Manager 3479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ # 482 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comSEO Manager3479183531 The number Hospitals in a regions reflects healthcare system of the region. As in the modern days the patients are coming with very less time and the increasing populations increases the demand of bedless hospitals. The increasing prevalence of various diseases has led to adoption of advanced, efficient and cost-effective treatments and therapies. Shift of inpatient volume to cost-effective. Bedless hospitals has significantly increased, thus resulting in increasing value share of bedless hospitals globally. Bedless hospitals are categorized as hospital based treatment centers and freestanding centers. Various diagnostic and surgical procedures performed in bedless hospitals include ophthalmology, gastroenterology, urology, neurology and some others.Bedless Hospitals Market: Drivers and RestraintsBedless hospitals market have a significant growth over the forecast period, as the populations is increasing, cost-effective treatment and others factor to provide better treatment in short duration. Players such as Montefiore Medical Centre in New York City, is the working as bedless hospitals to treat the patients. For instances, in September 2015, DMC (Tenet Healthcare's Detroit Medical Centre), USA, open with ED, ORs, and department servicing for neurology, cardiology and oncologywhich is a bedless hospitals and use of advance medical technology to treat the patients. Technology advancement is also the major contribution to increase the bedless hospitals numbers in the globe. The lack of healthcare expenditure, declining reimbursements and others factors are the hindrance of the market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5492 Bedless Hospitals Market: SegmentationBedless Hospitals market is segmented based onBedless Hospitals based on Centers TypeSingle Specialty CentersMultiSpecialty CentersBedless Hospitals based on ServicesDiagnostic ServicesSurgical ServicesBedless Hospitals based on Specialty AreaGastroenterologyOphthalmologyOrthopedicsPain/NeurologyUrologyDermatologyOthersBedless Hospitals Market: OverviewBedless Hospitals market is primarily driven by increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and ageing population worldwide. This has resulted in increase in the number of outpatient admissions in bedless hospitals. Other factors that led to the growth of the bedless hospitals are increasing number of cataract and refractive errors such as myopia observed in younger population and increasing inclination towards LASIK (Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) procedures.Bedless Hospitals Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, Bedless hospitals market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America has the major market for bedless hospitals as the healthcare expenditures are higher than the other regions, populations are more aware about the health. Europe and Asia Pacific are the growing market for bedless hospitals as the healthcare expenditures are increasing and the introduction of new medical technology is also increasing.Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5492 Bedless Hospitals Market: Key PlayersSome of the players in bedless hospitals market include: Healthway Medical Group, AmSurg Corp., Medical Facilities Corporation, HCA Holdings Inc., Tenet Healthcare, Surgical Care Affiliates Inc., Surgery Partners, Community Health Systems, Inc. and Vision Group Holdings. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Hard Luxury Goods Market: ASEAN Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2014-2020" report to their offering FMI PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:55:23 Press Information Future Market Insights CONTACT: Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States Mr. Abhishek Budholiya Manager 3479183531 email http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 824 Words CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesManager3479183531 Luxury goods comprises of products such as accessories, footwear, apparel, watches and others which are quite expensive and target those consumers who belongs to premium class. The market for luxury goods consist of three types of end consumers, which includes kids lying between the age of 0-12 years, teenagers belonging to the age group of 13 to 19 years and the rest lies in adult group. Luxury goods market can also be segmented on the basis of application which includes soft luxury goods and hard luxury goods. Soft luxury goods includes designer apparel and leather goods such as hand bags and others, which is easily available for the customers in the hypermarket stores or directly operative outlet. Whereas hard luxury goods comprises of jewellery and premium watches. The hard luxury goods are offered to the consumers through premium class outlets, stores or sell out through internet.Thus the market for hard luxury product is also segmented on the basis of mode of distribution channel used for offering products to the consumers. The mode of Distribution channel is segmented into retail outlets, sell out through internet, companys brand outlet and others. Among all these distribution channel online retailing is expected to be most preferred mode for distribution in the forecasted period. This is due to consumer convenience preferences and availability of the products at lower price. Furthermore, the second most preferred mode is expected to be the companys brand retail outlets as they provide better offerings at less price.Globally, the demand of hard luxury goods are showing robust annual growth of 10% to 12%.North America and Europe is the highest contributor in the market share of hard luxury goods market. Increasing demand of accessories coupled with rising middle class disposable income has supported the growth of emerging markets in Asia-Pacific. It is expected to account for the fastest CAGR growth as compared to other regions. Among all the countries in Asia Pacific China is expected to be the most lucrative market followed by Japan. India is also expected to show a healthy growth in the forecasted period by registering a single digit CAGR growth. Whereas in ASEAN region Singapore is expected to be the most dominant market. The rising growth for hard luxury goods in Singapore is supported by the new entrants of jewellery brands and rising sales of watches. Rapid urbanization coupled with increasing disposable income in Thailand and Malaysia is predicted to boost the customer base and prominent contributor in the revenue of hard luxury good market in ASEAN region followed by Indonesia and Philippines.Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-as-106 Expanding middle class income group coupled with the urge of consumers for premium class products are the key drivers for the market growth of hard luxury goods in ASEAN region. Moreover, wide varieties of product offerings in each segments and continuous innovation and product launch is also expected to influence the consumers of ASEAN region to fuel the market growth of hard luxury goods in the forecasted period.However, the market of hard luxury goods in ASEAN region possess some restraining factors. This includes the weak distribution channel and limited availability of the products. Furthermore, the consumers perceives these products as quite expensive and also it is considered as a premium class product and not an absolute necessity.The key international market players for hard luxury goods operating in ASEAN region includes Gianni Versace S.p.A., LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA, Prada S.p.A., Hermes International SCA, Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A, Prada S.p.A, Ralph Lauren Corp, Christian Dior SE, Gucci, Rolex SA, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton Malletier, Tod's S.p.A. and others.This research report presents a comprehensive assessment of market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data and statistically-supported and industry-validated market data and projections with a suitable set of assumptions and methodology. It provides analysis and information by categories such as market segments, geographies and types.Regional analysis includesSingaporeMalaysiaThailandBruneiVietnamPhilippinesIndonesiaRequest to Browse Full Table of Content, figure and Tables @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-as-106 The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also the maps qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.Report Highlights:Detailed overview of parent marketChanging market dynamics of the industryIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and valueRecent industry trends and developmentsCompetitive landscapeStrategies of key players and product offeringsPotential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective towards market performanceMust-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 12:01:01 Three Rivers, MI., Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Armstrong International hosted its first Thought Leadership in Higher Education Facilities Management Forum on December 3-5, 2018. The forum was designed to grow and develop professionals responsible for facilities management by sharing knowledge, strategies and best practice applications among peers in higher education facilities management. The event drew participation from 37 facility management personnel representing 24 colleges and universities across the country. We recognize that many colleges and universities share common pain points including an aged infrastructure, reduced budgets, a skilled workforce that is nearing retirement, as well as meeting goals of reducing energy consumption and ensuring environmental sustainability all while expanding it campuses, said Tom Hiatt, Director of Institutional Higher Education Markets for Armstrong International. The two-day program featured peer-led panel discussions on topics ranging from energy reduction and sustainability initiatives, to optimizing performance of aged infrastructures and effect management of resources under reduced budgets and staff. Panelists from the University of Nebraska, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and Western Michigan University presented case studies, strategies and best practices to address these common pain points. The event was held at the new Armstrong Learning Center in Three Rivers, Michigan and included a tour of Western Michigan University that featured a hands-on look at best practices including the use of technology to optimize energy management and performance in a large-scale facility. Collaborating and learning from other higher education peer groups helped bring perspective of what areas we can improve as well as an understanding of best practices, said Craig Spencer, Energy Services Director for Oklahoma State University. Our motto at Armstrong is Knowledge Not Shared Is Energy Wasted and we are proud to serve as a catalyst for sharing knowledge that helps everyone achieve more, said Hiatt. About Armstrong International Armstrong International provides intelligent system solutions that improve utility performance, lower energy consumption, and reduce environmental emissions, while providing an enjoyable experience. Founded in 1900, Armstrong International is a family-owned company headquartered in the United States, with manufacturing, sales and seminar centers located throughout The Americas, Asia, and Europe/Middle East/Africa. More information can be found at www.armstronginternational.com . Attachment Animal Health Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 10:26:13 Press Information Persistence Market Research Contact Us Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Yogesh Senger Associate Consultant 800-961-0353 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 581 Words Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comAssociate Consultant800-961-0353 The global animal health active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) market is projected to register an impressive expansion at 7.3% CAGR during the forecast period 2017 to 2025, according to a recent study by Persistence Market Research (PMR). PMRs study estimates the market to increase from revenues worth US$ 5,216.1 Mn in 2017 to reach US$ 9,162.2 Mn by 2025-end.Limited Insurance or Government Intervention Provides Smooth Flow to the Market Growth in APACAsia Pacific (APAC) will continue to be the most lucrative region in the global animal health active pharmaceutical ingredient market, with sales exhibiting the second highest CAGR through 2025. APAC has remained one of the largest API suppliers, at affordable costs. Governments across APAC have been making investments and focusing on local manufacturing facilities of APIs. Favorable policies offered by these governments have been shifting the focus of API manufacturers in moving their production bases to APAC countries, such as India and China. In addition, limited insurance or government intervention provides smooth flow to market growth in these regions.Request Sample Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/16972 However, animal health API products manufactured in APAC countries do not meet regulatory standards, and there has been increasing concerns pertaining to the quality of APIs, especially those produced in China and India. Western regulatory bodies are becoming stricter in the inspection of APIs produced in these regions. Manufacturers are further facing challenges in bridging the gap between the cost and quality of APIs. These factors will inhibit growth of the market in APAC.Europe to Remain the Second Largest Market for Animal Health APIsEurope will remain the second largest market for animal health active pharmaceutical ingredients. Leading healthcare companies are located in the Europe, which in turn has boosted requirement for veterinary APIs in the region. Consumption of veterinary drugs in Europe has surged substantially over the past few years. Spain has been witnessed to be the largest consumer of veterinary antimicrobial APIs in the EU. In addition, rising improvements in the animal productivity has driven growth of the animal health industry in this region. These incidences are expected to augment growth of the animal health API market in Europe.However, the pharmaceutical industry in Europe has been concerned with potential short-term impacts of REACH regulations. This is likely to result in decreased supply of materials, or reagents, which are not preregistered by EU suppliers. In addition, dynamic changes in Europes macro-economic environment, such as the Brexit, has been impacting the intra-European trade and overall pharmaceutical sector. These factors might curb growth of the animal health API market in Europe.Request Report TOC@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/16972 Antiparasitics to Remain the Largest Adopted APIs in the MarketAntiparasitics will continue to be the largest adopted API in the market, followed by anti-infectives. Sales of Antiparasitics are expected to register the fastest expansion, to account for the largest revenues by 2025-end. In contrast, revenues from sales of anesthetics and NSAIDs will remain comparatively lower than antiparasitics and anti-infectives.Key market players profiled in PMRs report include Glenmark Pharmaceutical Limited., Zoetis, Inc., Eli Lilly & Co., Sanofi Winthrop Industrie (CEPiA), Indukern, S.A., Ofichem BV, P&R S.p.A (Olon S.p.A), Lonza Group AG, Huvepharma AD, Ourofino Saude Animal, Blanver Farmoquimica E Farmaceutica S.A., Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Changzhou Yabang-Qh Pharmachem Co., Ltd., Shanghai Pharmtech Co., Ltd., Ningxia Tairui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shaanxi Hanjiang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Sequent Scientific Ltd., NGL Fine-Chem Ltd., Omkar Speciality Chemicals Ltd., Excel Industries Ltd. Research Report Insights PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 14:56:32 Press Information Research Report Insights Research Report Insights 42 joseph street, Portcarling P0B 1J0, Muskoka, Ontario T: +1-631-721-4201 Vikas Bahurupi Manager 6317214201 email https://www.researchreportinsights.com # 483 Words Research Report Insights42 joseph street,Portcarling P0B 1J0,Muskoka, OntarioT: +1-631-721-4201Manager6317214201 The emergence of innovative solutions, that improve mechanical endurance of food products and provide them longer shelf-life, has exerted importance on the use of active and modified atmosphere packaging. In terms of value, the global market for active and modified atmosphere packaging is predicted to reach US$ 17.0 Bn in 2016, and will continue to expand at a CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period 2016-2024. Research Report Insights (RRI) has compiled in-depth research on the markets insights and global analysis of growth opportunities is compiled in the report titled, Active and Modified Atmosphere Packaging Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2016-2024.Developments in global food packaging industry such as self-venting microwave packs and respiring trays will continue influencing the demand for active & modified atmosphere packaging solutions. Moreover, the consumption for active & modified atmosphere packaging products will be majorly concentrated among meat producer and retailers as they require packaging methods that provided better sustenance in terms of biodegradability and compostability. Although, packaging material recyclability and increasing initial costs in packaging processes are expected to curb the expansion of global active & modified atmosphere packaging market.Request For Report Sample with Table of Contents@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114681/Active-And-Modified-Atmosphere-Packaging-Market In terms of revenues, the global market for active & modified atmosphere packaging is projected to exceed US$ 26.0 Bn by the end of forecast period 2016-2024. APAC region will dominate the market, increasing at a CAGR of over 6% over the forecast period.Based on the applications, the global market for active & modified atmosphere packaging is segmented into processed food products, bakery & confectionery, fruits & vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry & seafood, and others. Demand for modified atmosphere packaging is higher in fruit & vegetable vendors, while active packaging products are consumed higher in food processing companies. By 2016, the processed food segment is anticipated to account for 15% of the total revenue share of global active and modified atmosphere packaging market.Request For Report Discount@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114681/Active-And-Modified-Atmosphere-Packaging-Market Based on the material type, the global market is further segmented into polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polypropylene, and others. Polymer materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate provide additional properties to several active & modified atmosphere packaging materials.Among the markets regional segmentation, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region will continue to procure leading value share in the global market. However, the APAC region will face close competition by the active & modified atmosphere packaging market in Latin America, which will exhibit a similar CAGR during the forecast period.Amcor Limited, Sealed Air Corporation, Winpak Limited Company, Coveris Holdings S.A., Berry Plastic Group Inc., Bemis Company Inc., Linpac Packaging, ULMA Packaging, and S. Coop and Ilapac International S.A., among others are recognised as some of the leading companies contributing to the growth of the global active & modified atmosphere packaging market.Report Analysis@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114681/Active-And-Modified-Atmosphere-Packaging-Market Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Access Control As A Service Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Access Control As A Service Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 06:39:53 Press Information Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Abhishek Budholiya Manager +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 518 Words 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: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531 The rise in terrorism, hacking and vandalism has necessitated the need for access control as service by many organisations for security concerns. Access control system performs identification, authentication, and authorizations, through login credentials which include personal identification numbers, CCTV, biometric scans and also physical keys etc. Many Organisations focus on their core business activities and prefer to offer access control as service to other private organisations in order to cut the expenditure. For Access control systems servers are needed to be deployed in order to store, monitor and manage access control activities, which causes an additional expenditure for the organisations. Therefore, Organizations prefer Access control as a Service rather than on-premise deployment.With the growing technologies and more mobile devices connected to web world, it is more likely that hackers can gain access to personal and confidential information of the organisations. So organisations need technical expertise which can handle the issues such as data theft, hacking attempts, online identity theft and unauthorized access. But many organisation lack in technical and infrastructural needs to counter such issues so they prefer Access control as Service.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3187 Global Access Control as a Service Market drivers:The major driver for Access control as service is adoption by many organisations for security concerns due to increased threats in cyber world.The market for Access control as service is majorly driven by the need for the companies to cut down their expenditure and focus on their core business activities.The global market for access control as service is grown efficiently owing to growing concerns of cybercrimes, thefts, break-ins which drive the market demand from organisations for usage of access control systems as service. Invention of new technologies like NFC have enabled Access control as service providers to update their product offerings in order to have strategic advantage over competitorsGlobal Access Control as a Service Market: SegmentationGlobal Access Control as a Service Market is segmented based on the Size of enterprise, end-user and region.On basis of Size global Access Control as a Service Market can be segmented to Small enterprise, medium enterprise and large enterprise.On the basis of end-user global Access Control as a Service Market is segmented into BFSI, Government, education, healthcare, retail, energy, transportation and othersOn the basis of region, global Access Control as a Service Market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).Market Overview:North America region is dominant in Access Control as a Service Market due to growing demand of security solutions from large enterprises in North America and followed by Western Europe during the period. Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at a faster rate during the forecast period.Request Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3187 Key Market Players:Some of the Key players in Access Control as a Service Market include Cisco Corporation, Protection1 Security Solutions, Johnson Controls (Tyco), Brivo Inc., Stanley Access Technologies, Centrify Corporation, Ping Identity Corporation and Gemalto NV Absorbed Glass Mat Battery Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-11 08:37:36 Press Information Persistence Market Research (PMR) 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, yogesh sengar Team Lead +1-646-568-7751 email http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com # 491 Words 305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Team Lead+1-646-568-7751 Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery Market: Overview: Absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery is an advanced technology battery compared to lead- acid flooded battery. AGM batteries are constructed in such a way that the electrolyte is made to be suspended between the glass mat (primarily made of fiberglass) and battery plates. The amount of electrolyte is minimal in such batteries and it contains only enough electrolyte to keep the mat wets. If we compare traditional lead acid batteries with AGM batteries then AGM batteries are far more efficient because of its design and construction, better lifespan, resistance to vibrations, no spillage or leakage and more capacity. The demand for battery market has been healthy and AGM battery is gaining momentum currently owing to its nature of maintenance free battery and no hassle of topping up with distill water in frequent intervals. The increasing demand for AGM battery is favorable growth indicator for the global market and is projected to register a moderate CAGR during the forecast period.Request Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11806 Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery Market: Drivers & Restraints: Stringent CO2 emission norms and start-stop functions in all the cars manufactured by European automobile by 2020 is one of the key driver for Europe AGM battery market. Trucking industry has also now started using AGM battery since it requires minimal maintenance. Renewable energy systems like solar power completely depends on AGM batteries too and these factors are anticipated to strongly driver growth of the global AGM battery market. Higher AGM technology costs as compared to lead-acid battery could be a potential restraint for the global market of AGM battery.Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery Market: Segmentation: The global automotive maintenance tools market can be segmented as follows: Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery Market, by Distribution channel : OEM,Aftersales ,Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery Market, by types: ,,Automobile Battery,Inverter Battery,Solar energy battery,Alternate Energy,Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery Market, by output capacity: ,,6V,8V,12VAbsorbed Glass Mat Battery Market: Regional Outlook: Based on the geographic regions, global AGM market segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific (APEJ), Japan and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Western Europe is leading in terms of value in the AGM market, since the demand is driven by the various upscale automobile companies and renewable energy systems established in the region followed by North. The demand for AGM battery is gaining momentum in countries of Eastern Europe, APEJ as well as Japan and during the forecast period, the demand will be augmented by the automobile, trucking and renewable energy industry.Absorbed Glass Mat Battery: Key Players: Some of the key players identified in the absorbed glass mat battery global market are: Robert Bosch GmbH,Duracell,,Exide,Trojan Batteries,AMARON QUANTA,ODYSSEY batteries,Adventure Power,Johnson Controls,MK Battery,Defender Industries,Tudor India Limited,Centennial AGMVisit For TOC@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/11806 Democrats and the mediabut I repeatare moving into full panic-mongering mode about the continuing government shutdown. NBC News reports this morning that we could be facing economic doomsday if the shutdown continues for several more weeks. I immediately went into the body of the story to see who or what evidence was cited in support of this apocalypse, and found to no surprise the solitary testimony of Mark Zandi, a leading liberal economist: The country would face an economic hellscape if the government shutdown lasts months or even years, as the president has suggested it might, experts tell NBC News. The doomsday scenario might be unlikely the longest the federal government has ever shut down is 21 days, a record that will fall if the current closure lasts until Saturday but it is chilling. Well be in no mans land, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics, told NBC News. . . If the standoff persists talks blew up at the White House on Wednesday and Congress and President Donald Trump cant reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling in a few months, its game over youll have a pretty severe recession, Zandi said, adding that given the trade war with China, and Brexit looming, you could start seeing some pretty dark scenarios worldwide. First of all, did Zandi just assume the economys gender (no mans land)? Meanwhile, Democratic leaders seem determined to steal the mantle as the Stupid Party away from Republicans by emphasizing that the shutdown is imposing hardships on federal workers! Thats not a bugthats a feature. Smarter liberals like Damon Linker perceive what a blunder this is: In this fight, the Democrats would seem to have the edge. . . But that doesnt mean the Democrats wont blow it. The surest way for them to do so would be to keep on their present path of emphasizing that the government must be reopened because of how the shutdown is hurting federal workers. . . Focusing on the suffering of these employees during the shutdown, however humane it might be, tacitly confirms this [Republican] narrative by making it look like the primary concern of the Democratic Party is the plight of federal workers rather than the good of the country as a whole. When youre the party of government, its hard not to side with your posse. For Democrats, the good of the government is the good of the country. Full stop. Given Trumps penchant for saying the outrageous, Id love to have him say something like: Look, I want to shrink the government, and most of those government workers are Democrats anyway, so if they want to quit their jobs and find jobs in the private sector, it sounds like a win-win to me. So were hearing that air traffic controllers are starting to call in sick and might abandon their posts, with obvious consequences for civilian air travel. Hmmm. . . Do air traffic controllers really want to go there? They must have short memories of Ronald Reagan firing 15,000 illegally striking controllers in 1981, and instead of bringing civilian air travel to a halt, Reagan sent military controllers into the towers. Regular schedules were restored within days. You can easily imagine Trump doing thisand it would be a much more fitting use of the emergency powers hes been thinking of trying to use to build the wall. More than that, why not go all the way and simply privatize air traffic control as Canada did more than two decades ago? (In fact, some smaller airports in the U.S. do in fact contract out their local air traffic control functions rather than use the FAA.) The airlines would likely be enthusiastic about such as move, as there is good evidence that Canadas air traffic control works better than ours, at considerably lower cost. And then lets throw TSA into the briar patch while were at it. There are breathless headlines that TSA security officers are starting to call in sick, with the threat that this could turn our security theater at the airport into a dark not-so-comedy. Miamis airport is already making plans to close down one concourse. This is a golden opportunity to drive a stake through the heart of the TSA madness. Airlines and airports have the option to opt-out of TSA and provide security screen themselves or with a private contractor. I imagine that if we got rid of the TSAs bureaucrats, wed end up with a much more efficient and effective security screening process at airports. Moreover, because of the variation that would come about, it would be better at providing the unpredictability that the government says it tries to present to would-be terrorists, but everyone knows this is a joke as conducted by TSA right now. I rather like the proposal Charles Murray floated a few years back: imagine if you had a choice between an airline that ran you through the standard TSA security process, or an airline that ran you quickly through a metal detector, but then as the last step at the boarding gate, had you file past a couple of retired New York homicide detectives. Which would you choose? Thats a no-brainer. As a frequent flyerover 110,000 miles last yearI say: go ahead TSA, make my day. Please do walk off the job so we can be rid of you. (NB: I believe the executive branch could effect both of these large changes without legislation from Congress.) Im liking this shutdown more and more every day. In his great undoing of the accomplishments of the Obama administration, President Trump has withdrawn the United States from the humiliating and destructive Iran nuclear deal. The deal funded a terrorist regime that remains at war with the United States and that continues to avow its dedication to our destruction. The Trump administration has also reimposed sanctions on the Iranian regime. There was no bridge too far for Obama in seeking to align the United States with the mullahs of Iran. Michael Doran explained the secret strategy driving this policy. Whatever the explanation, Obamas appeasement of Iran represented part of the fundamental transformation of the United States that he proclaimed in the days before the 2008 election. I am grateful for the intercession of President Trump and his national security team in its great undoing of Obama administration foreign policy. Secretary Pompeo is in the Middle East. His trip has been obscured in the news by events at home. The great undoing continues. Yesterday Pompeo gave a speech at the American University in Cairo. The speech was a sort of counterpart to Obamas June 2009 speech in Cairo. Obamas speech was a nauseating exercise in fake history, destructive diplomacy and strategic self-destruction. By contrast, Secretary Pompeo represents the voice of sanity. In substance he repudiated Obamas speech and related strategic vision. Pompeo could not have been more blunt: Remember: It was here, here in this city, that another American stood before you. He told you that radical Islamist terrorism does not stem from an ideology. He told you that 9/11 led my country to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East. He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed, quote, a new beginning, end of quote. The results of these misjudgments have been dire. In falsely seeing ourselves as a force for what ails the Middle East, we were timid in asserting ourselves when the times and our partners demanded it. We grossly underestimated the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islamism, a debauched strain of the faith that seeks to upend every other form of worship or governance. ISIS drove to the outskirts of Baghdad as America hesitated. They raped and pillaged and murdered tens of thousands of innocents. They birthed a caliphate across Syria and Iraq and launched terror attacks that killed all across continents. Americas reluctance, our reluctance, to wield our influence kept us silent as the people of Iran rose up against the mullahs in Tehran in the Green Revolution. The ayatollahs and their henchmen murdered, jailed, and intimidated freedom-loving Iranians, and they wrongly blamed America for this unrest when it was their own tyranny that had fueled it. Emboldened, the regime spread its cancerous influence to Yemen, to Iraq, to Syria, and still further into Lebanon. Our penchant, Americas penchant, for wishful thinking led us to look the other way as Hizballah, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Iranian regime, accumulated a massive arsenal of approximately 130,000 rockets and missiles. They stored and positioned these weapons in Lebanese towns and villages in flagrant violation of international law. That arsenal is aimed squarely at our ally Israel. When Bashar Assad unleashed terror upon ordinary Syrians and barrel-bombed civilians with sarin gas, a true echo of Saddam Husseins gassing of the Kurdish people, we condemned his actions. But in our hesitation to wield power, we did nothing. Let me pause here to say it one more time: Pompeo could not have been more blunt: Lets turn to Iran. President Trump has reversed our willful blindness to the danger of the regime and withdrew from the failed nuclear deal, with its false promises. The U.S. re-imposed sanctions that should never have been lifted. We embarked on a new pressure campaign to cut off the revenues the regime uses to spread terror and destruction throughout the world. We joined the Iranian people in calling for freedom and accountability. And importantly, we fostered a common understanding with our allies of the need to counteract the Iran regimes revolutionary agenda. Countries increasingly understand that we must confront the ayatollahs, not coddle them. Nations are rallying to our side to confront the regime like never before. Egypt, Oman, Kuwait, and Jordan have all been instrumental in thwarting Irans efforts to evade sanctions. The State Department has posted the text of Pompeos speech here. I have posted the video below. Trumps foreign policy as laid out in this speech is to his great credit, as is its execution by Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton. The speech is worthy of your time and attention. I dont believe Ive ever written about an article from Mother Jones before, but this one about the effects of marijuana seems well worth considering. Its based on a book by Alex Berenson, formerly a reporter for the New York Times, called Tell Your Children. According to Mother Jones Stephanie Mencimer, Berensens book takes a sledgehammer to the promised benefits of marijuana legalization, and cannabis enthusiasts are not going to like it one bit. Her discussion fully justifies this statement. Ive always thought that the ill-effects of long-term marijuana use resided mainly in laziness, low ambition level, and a gradual decline in ability to think analytically. But the evils Berensen alleges are of a different order of magnitude. The book was seeded one night a few years ago when Berensons wife, a psychiatrist who evaluates mentally ill criminal defendants in New York, started talking about a horrific case she was handling. It was the usual horror story, somebody whod cut up his grandmother or set fire to his apartmenttypical bedtime chat in the Berenson house, he writes. But then, his wife added, Of course he was high, been smoking pot his whole life.. . . [H]is Harvard-trained wife insisted that all the horrible cases she was seeing involved people who were heavy into weed. She directed him to the science on the subject. Here is what Berensen found: Cannabis has been associated with legitimate reports of psychotic behavior and violence dating at least to the 19th century, when a Punjabi lawyer in India noted that 20 to 30 percent of patients in mental hospitals were committed for cannabis-related insanity. The lawyer, like Berensons wife, described horrific crimesincluding at least one beheadingand attributed far more cases of mental illness to cannabis than to alcohol or opium. The Mexican government reached similar conclusions, banning cannabis sales in 1920nearly 20 years before the United States didafter years of reports of cannabis-induced madness and violent crime. Over the past couple of decades, studies around the globe have found that THCthe active compound in cannabisis strongly linked to psychosis, schizophrenia, and violence. Berenson interviewed far-flung researchers who have quietly but methodically documented the effects of THC on serious mental illness, and he makes a convincing case that a recreational drug marketed as an all-around health product may, in fact, be really dangerousespecially for people with a family history of mental illness and for adolescents with developing brains. Consider a 2002 study in BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal). It found that people who used cannabis by age 15 were four times more likely to develop schizophrenia or a related syndrome than those whod never used. Even when the researchers excluded kids who had shown signs of psychosis by age 11, they found that the adolescent users had a threefold higher risk of demonstrating symptoms of schizophrenia later on. Or consider a 2017 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It concluded that marijuana use is strongly associated with the development of psychosis and schizophrenia. The researchers also noted that theres decent evidence linking pot consumption to worsening symptoms of bipolar disorder and to a heightened risk of suicide, depression, and social anxiety disorders: The higher the use, the greater the risk. Marijuana use is up 50 percent over the past decade, so many people having become woke during this period. Does this significant increase in use correspond to a significant increase in psychotic diseases? Yes, it does, according to Berensen. He reports that from 2006 to 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, the number of ER visitors co-diagnosed with psychosis and a cannabis use disorder tripled, from 30,000 to 90,000. But maybe marijuana doesnt cause mental illness; perhaps mental illness drives self-medication with weed. Not so, says Berensen. Longitudinal studies in New Zealand, Sweden, and the Netherlands spanning several decades identified an association between cannabis and mental illness even when accounting for prior signs of mental illness. In Sweden, a researcher analyzed a large data base of those who had been conscripted for military service. After adjusting for factors such as a family history of mental illness or existing symptoms of schizophrenia at the time of conscription, he found that using cannabis more than 10 times in adolescence more than doubled the risk of developing schizophrenia. That study was published in 1987. Mencimer points out that the marijuana consumed today is significantly more potent than back in the day. Some forms, she says, come pretty close to 100 percent THC content. The marijuana I consumed nearly 50 years ago probably had a THC level one-tenth or less that high. One would expect that if marijuana produces serious mental disorders it will also increase violent crime. It seems to, just as Berensens wife told him anecdotally: Berenson looked at data for the four states that legalized weed in 2014 and 2015Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Coloradoand calculated a combined 35 percent increase in murders in those states from 2013 to 2017, compared with a 20-percent rise nationally. This isnt a statistical anomaly, Berenson writes. Its real. The role of weed in rising violent crime rates in legalization states is a hotly contested question, especially in Colorado, where murders in Denver are at a 10-year high. Berenson admits he cant say for sure whether those upswings are due to legal weed, but the raw data, he says, definitely contradicts advocates claims: What I want people to stop saying is that legalization reduces violent crime. It doesnt. Mencimers article is followed by the following boiler-plate about Mother Jones (which precedes an appeal for financial support): Mother Jones was founded as a nonprofit in 1976 because we knew corporations and the wealthy wouldnt fund the type of hard-hitting journalism we set out to do. With all the money to be made by corporations if the marijuana legalization movement continues to prevail, Im pretty sure corporations and the wealthy wont be funding the hard-hitting journalism contained in Mencimers piece. JOHN adds: Reefer madness Like most people of my generation, I smoked some marijuana when I was young. Its potency was, I understand, a fraction of what is being marketed today in candy form, where it is apt to be consumed by children. Years ago, we ridiculed efforts by our elders to warn us of the dangers of dope (as we called it). We were wrong, as has tragically been proven since. Now, I have a horror of the stuff. With Democrats taking control in my state, word is that they will try to add Minnesota to the list of states where recreational marijuana is legal and smiled upon by government. Not if I can help it. Robert P. George of Princeton offers this prediction: You will be able to watch something as if in slow motion over the course of the next few years: the collapse of support for Israel by Democratic Party politicians who harbor ambition for national office. It will follow the pattern we saw of collapse of support for the pro-life cause by leading Democrats in the period of 1973-80 (and particularly 1973-76). One by one, major pro-life Democrats, perceiving the writing on the wall, flipped to supporting abortion and, eventually, even its public funding: Teddy Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Richard Gephart, Al Gore, Jesse Jackson, Joe Biden, and many others. (Something similar happened on marriage, by the way, in the period of 2000-2012, especially 2004-09, culminating in Barack Obamas evolution and Hillary Clintons change of heart.) Similarly, todays leading Democrats will move from support for Israel, to merely nominal support for Israel, to neutrality, to quiet, somewhat ambiguous opposition, to something effectively indistinguishable from Zionism is racism. The left calls the tune, and just as the left settled in on abortion in the early 1970s and marriage redefinition in the 90s, it has now settled in on opposition to Israelnot merely the policies of its government, but its very existence as a Jewish state and homeland of the Jewish people. Do you doubt me? You can do a test of your own. Go to the center of campus at your local university and hoist a placard bearing a large blue star of David and the words Long Live Israel! (Notice: Please make sure your health and life insurance coverage are in good order before conducting this experiment.) Derrick Irish Houlihan, 44, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 2-to-6-years in in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to engage in possession with intent to deliver heroin in connection with incidents that occurred in Cheltenham in December 2016. The Republican Governors Association poured $7.5 million into the race, including $3 million for a television advertising blitz in the New York City market during the homestretch of the campaign. Fairfield County is part of the New York television footprint, the most expensive in the country. Ambassador Vu Dang Dung and Minister K. Ardonowski (Photo: baoquocte.vn) During the meeting, Minister K. Ardonowski expressed his pleasure at saying that Poland -Vietnam relations are developing well in all fields. The Minister said that the long-standing friendship and cooperation tradition and dynamic economic development achievements of the two countries over the years have created a favorable basis for the two countries to further strengthen economic and trade cooperation, including agricultural cooperation, which has great potential and cooperation opportunities. Poland and Vietnam both have traditional strengths in agricultural production. Poland's temperate agricultural products and Vietnams tropical agricultural products are not competitive, but can complement each other. In the coming time, the Polish side wants to increase exchange of agricultural and food products with Vietnam, such as: pork, chicken, dairy products, vegetables, fruit juice, especially apple and apple juice with high quality under EU standards. Mr. K. Ardonowski also agreed with Ambassador Vu Dang Dung to close coordination between the Vietnamese Embassy and Polands Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to promote cooperation in this field, especially strengthening exchanges of delegates and sharing information between the two ministries of agriculture and rural development and enterprises of the two countries, effectively implementing the cooperation agreement signed between the two ministries during the visit to Vietnam of the Polish President in November 2017. On this occasion, the Polish Minister expressed his willingness to arrange a visit to Vietnam, as well as to welcome his Vietnamese counterpart to visit Poland at the appropriate time in 2019./. Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation@postregister.com for help creating one. President Donald Trumps October 2018 executive order allowing year-round use of E15 across the country has the potential to be a win for farmers and the biofuels industry. However, challenges that involve pump availability at gasoline stations, resistance from Big Oil and opposition from environmental groups must be overcome. The presidents action means the summertime ban on the sale of E15 that was in effect from June 1 to mid-September falls by the wayside once it earns regulatory approval. The decision is sure to boost demand for ethanol and other biofuels at a time when profit margins are tight for ethanol producers and corn prices remain at below-cost-of-production levels. However, the rule making process and potential legal challenges to the order may mean that the impact of the change may not be felt until much later this year. The biofuels industry is dogged by limited access to E15 pumps. Its estimated that only 1 percent of all filling stations in the United States are equipped to handle E15 product. Environmental groups protested the action saying the previous ban was enacted because E15 biofuel doesnt meet Environmental Protection Agency air-quality standards. Big Oil contends that added ethanol has the potential to damage engines not designed to handle it and reduces fuel efficiency in many engines. Environmentalists argue that E15 use year-round will increase smog and worsen air-quality problems. The ethanol industrys financial performance has shifted wildly in recent years. Producers reported record profits of $1.31 per gallon in 2014 when crude oil prices reached more than $100 per barrel. Profit margins declined sharply following that to a point where many small ethanol plants operated at a loss while bigger operations managed to break even. Crude oil prices declined sharply in the second half of 2018 and the slide continues into the new year as gasoline demand falls at a time when output is increasing. Boom or bust, ethanol has had a huge economic impact. The Renewable Fuels Association reported in 2017 that ethanol production directly employed 71,900 workers, supported 285,000 indirect jobs, added $24 billion to household income, contributed $10 billion to federal, state and local tax collections and spent $32 billion on goods and services. An industry that has contributed so much to local, farm state and national economies continues to be treated with disrespect by Big Oil, which is obviously afraid of losing market share. The industry must shout about its immense value as a rural economic development tool along with touting biofuels obvious environmental benefits. The industry also must work in partnership with state governments across the country to provide financial incentives for retailers to install thousands more of ethanol-accessible pumps. The presidents order should provide the industry with additional momentum that will be needed to capture a greater share of the fuel market despite continued well-funded opposition. Jamie Lovegrove is a political reporter covering the South Carolina Statehouse, congressional delegation and campaigns. He previously covered Texas politics in Washington for The Dallas Morning News and in Austin for the Texas Tribune. Columbia/Myrtle Beach Managing Editor Andy Shain runs The Post and Courier's newsrooms based in Columbia and Myrtle Beach. He was editor of Free Times and has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Charlotte, Columbia and Myrtle Beach. Lamonts new chief of staff, Ryan Drajewicz who headed Lamonts transition team said Thursday that Dach has not yet been formally installed in the $140,000 job, but will be within a few days. The chief of staff said that after the election, he had met the people who worked for Lamonts campaign and quickly noticed that he had a sharp mind and was policy oriented and had high-level government experience. He said Dach immediately mentioned the Colombia episode and, after hearing his explanation, Drajewicz read up on it. I believe him, he said, and the governor believes him. He said he told Dach to think hard before accepting the job offer because the Colombia episode would have to explained publicly; Drajewicz didnt expect that to happen Thursday, but The Courant approached Dach with questions Wednesday, which accelerated it. He said Dach understood he would have to go through a period of turmoil. Political Editor Schuyler Kropf is The Post and Courier political editor. He has covered every major political race in South Carolina dating to 1988, including for U.S. Senate, governorship, the Statehouse and Republican and Democratic presidential primaries. 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. The focal point of the University of South Carolina's new logo is not a palmetto tree, a stylized silhouette of the campus's historic Horseshoe, or even a ferocious fighting gamecock. It's the word "of." The new logo may help resolve a longstanding identity crisis at South Carolina's flagship university which often is confused with the University of Southern California in Google searches and in conversations across state lines. Alumni have for years claimed they are the rightful owners of the acronym "USC," pointing out (sometimes after a drink or two, sometimes quite loudly) that they were a college before California was a state. When pressed on the details, a knowledgeable alumnus might concede that South Carolina College did not re-brand as the University of South Carolina until 1866, 16 years after California was admitted to the Union. But it still predated the founding of the University of Southern California by 14 years. Some simply call it "Carolina," but again confusion can reign: Which Carolina? North or South? The university's communications department announced the new marketing and monogram logo via Twitter on Wednesday, then spent the day fielding a mix of praise, outrage, nitpicking and saucy GIFs. "This better be a joke," tweeted sophomore Jack Hornsby. "I just don't really understand why they moved from a recognizable, more individual design to a seemingly lazier, boring version of the same thing?" said 2017 graduate Erika Ryan. Patrick Ellis, speaker of the university's student senate, said he liked the logo tweaks. "They're really crisp," the junior political science major from Hampton said. Some said they loved it. Others lamented the font choice. Still others asked when they could buy the logo on a sweater and speculated that the whole thing was a research project designed to gauge reactions. It was no experiment, though. J.C. Huggins, an alumnus himself and director of brand strategy for the university, said the new academic logo is part of a broader "brand refresh" that will be rolled out later in the year. After conducting interviews and research using in-house staff, the university inked a $238,000 contract with an Ohio-based branding and marketing company called Ologie. The new set of logos, which included slight tweaks to the formal and marketing logos, cost about $25,000 in all and represented a small portion of the contract. "Once you get outside of the state of South Carolina, theres brand confusion, and this naturally addresses that in a way that furthers our desire to be proud of our position as the flagship university of South Carolina," Huggins said. Huggins also contends that the "of" isn't really all that new. The university has included it in its social media accounts, including its Twitter handle @UofSC, for 10 years now. Huggins said the earliest reference he could find to UofSC actually dates back to a caption on a photo of the University of South Carolina marching band from 1923. Still, at least one famous alumnus seems unlikely to swim with the current on matters of style. In his May 2013 commencement address at his alma mater, Hootie and the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker closed with an encouraging word of defiance. "Speak well of USC," Rucker told the cheering crowd. "When somebody says to you, 'The real USC is in L.A.,' you tell them that we were a school before they were a state. When they tell you the real Carolina is in North Carolina, you laugh at them." Andy Shain contributed to this report. A Coast Guard rescue helicopter takes off from the deck of the North Charleston-based Cutter Hamilton during a search for a missing Piper PA-31T airplane off the S.C. coast in 2018. Coast Guard/Provided Jerrel Floyd is an Alabama raised reporter who covers Summerville and Dorchester County for The Post and Courier. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. On January 8, the Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom posted a press release answering a question about a recent article in The Daily Telegraph which suggested that poisoning victims Sergei and Yulia Skripal are still in the U.K. and possibly working with the British security services. Along with containing a number of claims which Polygraph.info has debunked, the embassys answer also contained an interesting new detail. The embassy claimed that on March 4, the day the Skripals were found poisoned, they drove in the direction of Porton Down laboratory, a restricted military research facility. Citing British media, the Russian independent news site Meduza reported that the Skripals car had been sighted on the London Road, which is, indeed, located between Salisbury and Porton Down. However, Meduza also noted that the Russian Embassys statement left out the fact that London Road also leads to the cemetery where Sergei Skripals wife and son are buried. Shortly after the Skripals poisoning, law enforcement officials established that Sergei and Yulia Skripal had visited the cemetery and laid flowers at the graves of their relatives the same day they were poisoned. A BBC timeline of what law enforcement said showed the Skripal car was spotted on London road around 9 a.m. on March 4.The suspected Russian agents arrived about 15 minutes before noon and were captured on CCTV on a road steps from Skripals home shortly after 1 p.m., shortly before the agents are believed to have sprayed the former spys doorknob with the deadly nerve agent Novichok. Skripals car was seen closer to his home about 1:30 p.m. Later, he and his daughter were seen in the shopping district, where they visited a pub and a restaurant. Investigators found traces of Novichok at both locations the pub and the restaurant -- and an even stronger signature at the Skripals home -- but not at the cemetery, where law enforcement said the Skripals visited before the Russians arrival in Salisbury. While there is no public timeline of all the Skripals movements in Salisbury on March 4, traces of the poison were found only at places the Skripals visited in the afternoon, after the Russians had appeared in Skripal's neighborhood and the father's car was seen in the area. There is no evidence available indicating Sergei and Yulia Skripal visited the restricted military facility. On January 9, top Russian lawmakers expressed outrage over a letter from the Parliamentary Assembly of European Council (PACE) inviting Russias PACE delegation to a session set for the end of this month. Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy speaker of the State Duma, the lower house of Russias parliament, said the PACE invitation outlined the criteria for selecting the Russian delegation. These criteria are related both to the fractional principle, well-known to you, and to the perhaps less known principle of gender equality, Tolstoy said. I think six sexes are indicated. The PACE Charter, he added, declares that all Council of Europe members have equal rights. "It is from this equality that we, the deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, and our colleagues from the Federation Council [the upper chamber of Russias parliament] proceed," Tolstoy said. "We believe that the current situation is unacceptable." According to Mediametrics.ru, the PACE six genders requirement was #3 top headline in the Russian media on Wednesday, January 9, and the most discussed topic on social media. In a live interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel, Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Dumas Foreign Relations Committee, called the PACE letter a provocation, specifically to coerce the Russian delegation to slam the door and pull out of PACE. Both Tolstoy and Slutskys claims are false. PACE gave Polygraph.info a copy of the letter sent to the Russian parliament, which stated that Russias PACE delegation include at a very minimum one member of the under-represented sex appointed as a representative. This is a standard letter, (exactly the same as every year) which all speakers of our national parliaments received at the end of November 2018, wrote Micaela Catalano, head of the Communication Division Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, in an email to Polygraph.info. In June 2018, PACE adopted Resolution 2222 Promoting Diversity and Equality in Politics. The resolution states: Diversity is an inherent part of European societies and contributes to their richness. However, all too often, elected institutions fail to mirror this diversity, reinforcing the stereotype that politics is the reserve of a certain category of people, to the exclusion of others. Women, visible minorities, people with an immigration background, national minorities, young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and persons with disabilities remain under-represented in politics at local, regional, national and European level. This representation gap perpetuates the idea that politics is reserved for a select group, composed mostly of white, heterosexual men over 50. At their most diverse, Russian PACE delegations in past years have included only two women and never members of sexual minorities, those whose sexual orientation, identity or characteristics differ from the majority, who in Russia are constantly subjected to harassment and homophobia. While charges of sexual assault and harassment have brought down the careers of politicians and celebrities in West, and some have even been criminally prosecuted, Slutsky has not suffered such consequences despite multiple sexual harassment accusations made against him. Indeed, Slutsky, along with various higher-ups and colleagues, have simply waved off such accusations. In 2014, PACE suspended the Russian delegations voting rights over the annexation of Crimea and military interference in eastern Ukraine. Russias PACE delegation continues to demand the immediate restoration of full representation while fully supporting the Kremlins foreign policy acts. On Thursday, January 10, after PACE made public a copy of the letter sent to the Russian parliament, Tolstoy admitted he had made a grave mistake about the number of genders. I repent, he wrote on Facebook. There are, of course, not six, but only two - male and female. All the other individuals are underrepresented sexes, genders; that is precisely what is being referred to in the PACE letter Where we get them remains to be determined. From the beginning, we have alleged that Alex Jones and his financial network trafficked in lies and hate in order to profit from the grief of Sandy Hook families. That is what we intend to prove, and todays ruling advances our effort," attorney Christopher Mattei said Friday in a statement. We look forward to gaining access to Infowars internal marketing and financial documents to show that Jones has built an empire as nothing more than a conspiracy profiteer, as alleged in our complaint. 658 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising The editors of The Wall Street Journal issued a warning to Republicans on Friday, saying they will regret it if Donald Trump declares a national emergency to get funding for a border wall. The conservative newspapers editors expressed serious concerns that if Trump uses an emergency declaration for wall funding then Democrats could do the same thing in the future whenever it is politically expedient. They expressed their fear that such a decision by the president would probably open the door to future misuse of national emergency declarations. They mentioned that Democrats may want to use the measure on issues such as gun violence and climate change. If Mr. Trump did win in court, a President Elizabeth Warren might take the precedent as license to circumvent Congress whenever it is politically expedient, the editorial warned. Rising carbon emissions or even income inequality could be declared national emergencies. The Journal editors argued that Trump should not use a national emergency to fulfill a campaign promise. Advertising While President Trump may be on sounder legal footing than President Obama was when he legalized millions of undocumented immigrants, he would still be spending scarce military funds to essentially fulfill a campaign promise, the editors continued in their strongly worded piece. Trump visited the border Thursday as a partial shutdown of the federal government continued into its 21st day. The president repeated his demand wall funding while on his trip to Texas. He has been hinting all week that he could go around Congress and declare a national emergency soon. I think we might work a deal, and if we dont we might go that route, the president said this week, during a bill signing in the Oval Office. This is about the people of our country, and we have to do whats right at our border and many other places, he added at the time. They say its a medieval solution, a wall. Its true because it worked then and it works even better now. Most legal experts believe that if Trump declares a national emergency that he will face a long legal battle, and he will probably lose. Under the U.S. Constitution, it is Congress that appropriates money for use by the government, not the president. And Trump has another problem: He has himself in effect admitted that there really is no true emergency. As we reported yesterday: Trump told reporters that he hasnt declared a national emergency for his wall because he wants a deal with Congress, which means that there is no emergency. Trump has admitted that the only national emergency is that Congress wont give him what he wants Trump is right. He probably can declare a national emergency, but he is going to get sued immediately by Democrats in Congress because he doesnt have the constitutional power to move or appropriate funds for the construction of his wall. Trump admitted that there is no emergency. He is mad because Congress wont give him his wall, so he is going to try to violate the Constitution to get it. What the Wall Street Journal has pointed out is that everything Donald Trump does is setting a bad precedent that can be used by future presidents. He has lowered the standards of acceptable presidential behavior, and now he wants to get his way by violating the U.S. Constitution. If he is allowed to do this, then the disaster of the Trump presidency will not end when he leaves office. It will continue into the future, to the detriment of our country. 11.9k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Most media reports leave out the long history of Trumps Russia relations which go back decades. But knowing about this history is needed in order to understand all of the facts and allegations surrounding the Mueller probe into Russian interference in the 2016 elections. It also helps explain how Mueller will be able to soon take down not only Donald Trump but also several of his children. Trump has been cultivating connections with the Russians for his money needs since the late 1980s. And Russians have been cultivating him as an ally (and as an intelligence asset) for the same amount of time. Recently Salon Magazine did an interview with Seth Abramson, author of the New York Times bestseller Proof of Collusion: How Donald Trump Betrayed America that explains the significance of the TrumpRussia relationship. Abramsons book discusses how Trump has been traveling to Russia since the late 1980s and how he came to adopt Kremlin-backed talking points as his own talking points when he began his political career. Advertising The book provides great amounts of evidence explaining how Trump sought and received funding from Russian banks tied to the Kremlin in the late 1990s and 2000s, when American banks would not lend him money because of his multiple bankruptcies. He explains why Ivanka Trump got a special private tour of Vladimir Putins Kremlin office in 2006, conducted by Trumps Russian-born business partner and ally Felix Sater, who has deep connections to the Russian mob. This long history of close relationships with Russians is why Donald Trump Jr. received an email in June 2016, telling him that Russias well-connected Agalarov family wanted to help Trumps campaign by offering dirt on Hillary Clinton. The phone call and the infamous Trump Tower meeting were just the continuation of the ongoing Russian government support for his father. It explains why Don Jr.s response to the email was simply: I love it. He wasnt surprised, and he wasnt outraged, that the Russian government was offering to help his fathers presidential campaign. In fact, he seemed to expect it, even though it was clearly illegal. The thoroughly-researched information in the book makes very clear that Donald Trump and others in his family should be charged with crimes. The investigative journalist also predicted what will happen next, saying: We should expect that impeachment proceedings will begin against Donald Trump at some point during 2019. We expect impeachment would pass once we have all the evidence that Robert Mueller has, which is much more than even whats in Proof of Collusion. The question would be whether 67 senators would vote to convict. If its looking like thats going to happen, theres a lot of speculation that Donald Trump would attempt to negotiate his resignation, in exchange for some sort of immunity from prosecution for him and his children. That would be an unprecedented maneuver by federal prosecutors, so I dont even know if thats possible. Abramsons book does a great service in providing both the details of AND the rationale for Russias involvement in helping elect Donald Trump as President of the United States. It also points out that the information in the book may be just the tip of the iceberg. Mueller and other federal investigators have much more information and hard evidence about Trump family crimes in their files. Donald Trump has always involved his three oldest children Ivanka, Eric, and Don Jr. in his business activities. This means that as this new book shows they have also been intimately involved in his crimes. Which also means that when Robert Mueller destroys Donald Trumps life, he will also be destroying the lives of his children. 517 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising The Trump Shutdown is now three weeks old, the longest U.S. government shutdown ever, and it is really starting to hurt people. And even though theyre trying to hide it in a show of party unity, Republicans are starting to panic. Donald Trump behaves like a sociopath who doesnt care about other people, but most Republican members of Congress do care. They know that as the shutdown continues their popularity at home continues to plummet. As each day goes on, more and more Republicans are beginning to take the side of the Democrats who want to pass legislation to fund the government without giving Trump money for his wall. After Trumps disastrous speech on Tuesday night several GOP senators said they wanted to end the shutdown. On Wednesday eight House Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting to re-open the government. Advertising Then yesterday, on the individual appropriations bills to reopen parts of the government piecemeal, even more Republicans started to defect. Chad Pergram from Fox News tweeted: 12 GOPers defect & side w/Dems on bill to fund Transportation/Housing pgmrs 12 GOPers defect & side w/Dems on bill to fund Transportation/Housing pgmrs: RodneyDavisIL Fitzpatrick Herrera Beutler Hurd Katko KingNY Kinzinger Smith Stefanik Stivers Upton Walden Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 10, 2019 And now four Senate Republicans have called for an end to the shutdown as they fear a backlash from the unpopular tactic. They are Alaskas Lisa Murkowski, West Virginias Shelley Moore Capito, Maines Susan Collins, and Colorados Cory Gardner. Senate Democrats are starting to block all bills in the Senate until the shutdown is resolved. Not all Republicans are giving up on the wall. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), warned that abandoning the wall could be the end of [Trumps] presidency, and he tried to broker a last-ditch trade of DACA for Trumps wall demands. He is now saying that It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall. If Republicans wanted to, they could end the shutdown right now without Trump. The resolution Democrats sent to the Senate to keep the government open without a wall passed on a voice vote three weeks ago, and there would be enough votes to override a presidential veto. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has single-handedly blocked any Senate vote from taking place, since he is opposed to the idea of going against the presidents wishes. This hard-line position by McConnell is causing Republicans real political problems, and this is why they are panicking. As we wrote on Wednesday: Mitch McConnell is the only person standing in the way of a bill that would reopen the government passing the Senate and being sent to Trumps desk without the wall. If enough Republican Senators bail, expect them to join Democrats in trying to force a vote on a wall free bill to reopen the government. McConnell may have no choice soon, but to cave to the demands of the Senate. Trump is on Capitol Hill trying to keep Senate Republicans in line. The whole fiasco is coming to a head. Republicans are ready to bolt. Most Republicans in Congress want to end this disastrous situation, and are willing to do it with or without a border wall. As more Republicans face the political consequences due to the financial distress of their constituents affected by Trumps shutdown, look for more pressure to be put on McConnell to allow a Senate vote on the bills that would provide money the government needs to re-open. 12.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is setting Mitch McConnell up to own the shutdown by passing a bill to fund the FAA. Speaker Pelosi tweeted: Air traffic controllers have incredibly stressful jobs keeping us safe but federal ATCs arent getting paid during the shutdown. The House already voted to fund the FAA this week. Its time for the Senate to do the same. #EndTheShutdown https://t.co/9qyX9RV6np Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 11, 2019 Pelosi is masterfully squeezing McConnell and Trump to reopen the government Speaker Pelosi is forcing Mitch McConnell to say no to reopening the government over and over again. Pelosi is sending the message to the rest of the country that Trump and his party are keeping the government closed. Democrats are trying to reopen the government, but Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump wont say yes. Advertising There can be no mistaking who is to blame for the continuation of the shutdown. Mitch McConnell could put real pressure on the White House if he passed any of the funding bills that the House has sent to the Senate. The problem is that Trump believes that he will lose leverage if he opens the government without wall money, so he is refusing to open a single agency. With each vote to reopen a part of the government, Nancy Pelosi is using her House majority to increase the pressure on McConnell. Republicans dont support this shutdown or the wall. They are looking for a way out. Speaker Pelosi keeps opening the door and telling them to come on in. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 1.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising A month ago we reported that Federal prosecutors are investigating whether U.S. President Donald Trumps inaugural committee misspent some of the funds it raised, writing: The criminal probe by the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office is examining whether some of the committees top donors gave money in exchange for access to the incoming Trump administration, policy concessions or to influence official administration positions, some of the people said. Trumps inaugural committee is accused of misspending some of the $107 million it raised in 2017 as part of a massive pay-to-play scheme. We also reported that Ivanka Trump may have violated tax laws and is at the center of $40 million missing dollars from Trumps inaugural committee. Advertising And now the New York Times is reporting that Mueller is investigating possible criminal activities of pro-Russia Ukrainian nationals who attended President Donald Trumps inauguration. According to the Times, at least a dozen Ukrainian political and business figures went to Washington for the inauguration, most of whom were known for their pro-Russia stances. According to the Times report: Evidence of the Ukrainians presence eventually prompted interest from the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, as he investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election, and has spawned a number of related inquiries by federal prosecutors. The investigations are playing out against growing indications that some of the Ukrainians who came to Washington for the inaugural, or their allies, were promoting grand bargains, or peace plans, that aligned with Russias interests, including by lifting sanctions. Federal prosecutors asked witnesses about how the Ukrainians gained access to inauguration events, whom they met with while they were in the United States, and what they discussed. In other words, Mueller may have evidence that these Ukrainians were at Trumps inauguration to improperly curry favor with the new administration. They also met with GOP leaders to seek their favor also, the Times reports. Mueller believes that the Ukrainians had agendas that aligned with Russian interests, including easing sanctions on Moscow and approving a peace plan between Russia and the Ukraine. The Times reported that investigators are looking into whether Ukrainians and other foreigners disguised donations to the Trump inaugural committee since it is illegal for foreigners to donate to inaugural committees. This new report comes just a few days after former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manaforts attorneys inadvertently revealed that Manafort discussed a Ukrainian peace plan with a Russian national more than once during the 2016 campaign and offered to brief the Russians on the Trump campaign. We also reported that: Paul Manafort gave the Russians polling, data, and internal documents. Donald Trump knew about this and still coordinated lies to Mueller with him. This latest report about Muellers investigation looking into crimes surrounding Trumps inaugural committee is no surprise. It shows that pro-Russian foreigners attend the inauguration in large numbers, and were there to lobby the new administration as well as GOP members of Congress. From the very first day of the Trump administration it was a criminal enterprise, and Bob Mueller without a doubt has the evidence to prove it. 275 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Donald Trumps former attorney/fixer Michael Cohen will testify before Congress on Feb. 7. But what exactly will he talk about? Surely well find out about Trumps hush-money payments, but what else? He cant discuss things that the Mueller probe is still looking into, so what exactly will he be able to tell congressional investigators? Here is what it is believed Cohen will discuss on Feb. 7: Details of the Trump Tower Moscow Project Advertising Mueller reached a deal with Cohen on this specific charge, which indicates that it is a main focus of the collusion investigation. Muellers team wrote last month: The fact that Cohen continued to work on the project and discuss it with Trump well into the campaign was material to the ongoing congressional and [special counsel] investigations, particularly because it occurred at a time of sustained efforts by the Russian government to interfere with the U.S. presidential election. But its not clear how much Trump was involved in this deal. Given Trumps pro-Russia campaign rhetoric if he was involved in the deal it could implicate the president in collusion. Trump Financial Officer Allen Weisselbergs Role in Crimes Whatever Trump was up to, Weisselberg probably knows, because he cut all Trumps checks for decades. Cohen mentioned Weisselberg twice on that tape of him talking to Trump about the hush money. Ive spoken to Allen Weisselberg about how to set the whole thing up with Cohen said before Trump interrupted him. Cohen then mentioned Weisselberg again: So Im all over that. And I spoke to Allen about it, when it comes time for the financing. The Trump Organization chief financial officer has agreed to cooperate with Mueller in exchange for immunity, but the public has received few details. Cohens testimony may help clarify the extent of Weisselbergs legal exposure. It will also clarify what crimes Weisselberg and Trump may have committed together. How Trump Directed Hush Money Crimes Cohens guilty plea in the Southern District of New Yorks investigation implicated Trump in the 2016 hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal. The question is whether Trump himself has real legal exposure due to the payoffs. Trumps defense has been: I may have told him to do it, but I didnt tell him to break the law, and I expected that he wouldnt, because hes a lawyer and should know better. Cohen told ABC News last month that of course Trump knew the hush-money payments were wrong, but he didnt provide any proof. So expect the congressional investigators to dig into the details of what Trump said when he directed the payments, and exactly why Cohen believes Trump knew it was illegal. If Cohen can substantiate Trumps knowledge that they were committing crimes then Trump himself may be charged with the same crimes that are sending Cohen to jail for three years. Was Cohen in Prague, or Just His Cellphone? The Steele Dossier said that Cohen (or another top Trump campaign official) was in Prague in 2016 negotiating the financial terms of collusion with a senior Russian official. McClatchy reported in April that Mueller has evidence that Cohen was in Prague around the time that the Steele dossier claimed he was there. But Cohen denied this. Then McClatchy reported recently that Cohens cellphone pinged a tower near Prague around the same time. Then Cohen denied it again. Cohen will be expected to talk to investigators about the Prague trip. If he wasnt there himself, then who was? Was it Donald Trump Jr. who was there meeting with Kremlin figures to work out the collusion plan for Russia to help Donald Trump get elected? This information may provide a missing link in proving there was an illegal conspiracy to elect Trump in 2016. Tax Evasion, Money Laundering and Other Crimes Financial officer Weisselberg would know about all kinds of potential crimes committed over the years by Trump, but so may Michael Cohen. These crimes may include tax evasion, illegal money laundering schemes, fraud, and potentially other financial crimes. Cohen was at the center of everything Trump did so if the president was committing financial crimes then it is likely that Cohen knew about it. So we can expect the congressional investigators to press Cohen to reveal as much information as he has, and he is likely to comply. The tax, money laundering, and other financial crimes should be fair game on Feb. 7. Michael Cohens testimony on Feb. 7 will be public, so the information he provides concerning Donald Trumps crimes may be a political disaster for the president. 745 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising The White House legal strategy to justify declaring a national emergency for the wall is to get their talking to say national emergency a whole lot. This is the Trump legal strategy: Liptak also reports that the lawyers are "looking for other ways to illustrate that an emergency is underway, recognizing a declaration would be challenged by Democrats. That has included hosting lawmakers in the Situation Room, a setting that lends to the sense of crisis." Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 10, 2019 As Mimi Rocah pointed out, this strategy has already failed in other areas where Trump has tried it: Advertising This wont work in a court of law. (Just like in the criminal arena where they been repeatedly shot down by judges with this kind of gamesmanship). https://t.co/KP2keH0f11 Mimi Rocah (@Mimirocah1) January 10, 2019 Saying crisis isnt like the movie Beetlejuice. The White House cant say crisis three times a border crisis appears. The problem with the Trump gang is that they are not equipped to do any legal or strategic thinking. They are constantly playing politics and catering to their Fox News crowd. The legal standard for a national emergency is much higher than arguing in court that it is an emergency because the president says so. It is a desperate ploy by a desperate president that will be shot down by any respectable court. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 5.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Trump has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to see if they can divert disaster relief money from California wildfire victims, and Hurricane victims in Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico to pay for his wall. When Trump talks about other funding mechanisms for the wall, this is what he means: Fox confirms WH directs Army Corps of Engineers to see if it can divert money to border wall from disaster funding bill to cover wildfires in California, hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 10, 2019 Trump does not have discretionary authority to move money that Congress appropriated for disaster relief into a fund to pay for his wall. Beyond the heartless cruelty of trying to eliminate funds for victims of natural disaster just so he can keep a campaign promise, which he wont really be keeping because he promised that Mexico would pay for the wall, there is also the little problem of the Constitution. Advertising The Executive Branch doesnt appropriate funds. The role of the Executive Branch is to implement the laws and appropriations of Congress. There is no compelling legal argument that the Trump administration could make that diverting funds for disaster relief to the wall is within their powers. The only way that the wall fiasco could get worse for Republicans is if Trump tries to pay for the wall by stealing money from disaster victims. Trump is attempting an unconstitutional act of theft, which must be stopped by the courts. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 923 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising By Jonathan Allen (Reuters) Republicans in and around Forth Worth, Texas, will vote on Thursday on whether to oust a vice chairman of the county party from his post because he is a Muslim, a move opposed by Republican elected officials in the state. The Tarrant County Republican Partys executive committee voted to make Shahid Shafi, a trauma surgeon, a vice chairman last July in a nearly unanimous vote, according Jeremy Bradford, the county partys executive director. A dissenter on the committee, Dorrie OBrien, filed a motion to remove him, which is expected to be voted on at a committee meeting on Thursday evening. Advertising At the end of the day, its a fear that they have, in my opinion unfounded, of Muslims, Bradford said in a telephone interview, referring to OBrien and what he described as a small group of her supporters. OBrien, a Tarrant County precinct chairwoman, has posted lengthy comments on social media complaining about Shafi because he is a Muslim, a religion she regards as dangerous, and possibly a stealth Democrat. She says Islam is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, while her critics note that the Constitution forbids religious discrimination. We dont think hes suitable as a practicing Muslim to be vice chair because hed be the representative for ALL Republicans in Tarrant County, and not ALL Republicans in Tarrant County think Islam is safe or acceptable in the U.S., OBrien wrote in a post in December. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz are among elected Republicans who have condemned OBriens effort. OBrien did not return a request for comment. Shafi grew up in his native Pakistan before moving to the United States in 1990 to train as a surgeon. In 2009 he became a U.S. citizen and later was elected to the Southlake city council. In a November open letter, Shafi called OBriens religious discrimination un-American and denied her accusations that he was secretly a Democrat or sought to supplant U.S. law with Islamic law. We need to build trust by breaking bread with our neighbors who dont look like us or talk with an accent, he wrote. Regardless of when we arrived on this precious soil, we are all Americans, with equal rights and responsibilities. The partys executive committee has 269 voting members, Bradford said. While some who voted for Shafi last year now support the motion to oust Shafi, the majority continue to support him, Bradford said. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Susan Thomas) 3.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Rachel Maddow looked at the past mass presidential pardon that Trumps attorney general nominee William Barr was involved with and raised the red flag on how it relates to the Russia scandal. Maddow said: William Barr is something very, very specific in the history of presidents and presidential scandals and the bad ways they can end. Because on Christmas eve 1992 when George H.W. Bush shocked the country by pardoning everyone still in trouble in Iran Contra and effectively ending the prosecution of that scandal, while he himself was edging into the crosshairs, he took that action specifically on advice of William Barr in the George H.W. Bush administration at the time, the same trump nominee to the attorney general. Here is the New York Times write up from the Christmas Day edition, throughout the deliberations, Mr. Bush consulted with attorney general William Barr. William Barr was asked about the pardons. In a 2001 oral history at the University of Virginia. William Barr said quote I certainly did not oppose any of them. I favored the broadest. There were some people arguing just for a pardon for Weinberger. Video: Advertising Rachel Maddow raises the prospect that Trump is sowing the seeds for a potential Russia scandal mass pardon. https://t.co/xvFTUTqZbq pic.twitter.com/zGgvX32baU PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) January 11, 2019 With everything else going on in the U.S. Government, with just, with the government shutdown, with the trump administration quietly trying to lift sanctions on a Russian oligarch linked to the trump campaign and expected testimony of Michael Cohen in open session. With the revelation this week the presidents campaign chair was providing internal campaign data, is it really possible in this environment right now that the Senate is about to confirm someone who is most notable previous achievement he was the architect of the last time a major criminal presidential scandal was shut down with blanket pardons for everyone. In for a penny, in for a pound. I wanted everyone pardoned. That is who President Trump has nominated to be attorney general, who is now taking meetings with senators. His confirmation hearings begin on Tuesday. Trump has not been subtle with his actions as it relates to his desire to kill the Mueller investigation. One of the ways that he could kill the investigation is to pardon everyone associated with it, including himself. Trump is clearly trying to pull something with the nomination of Barr. Amongst all of the other chaos that Trump is causing, the Senate needs to keep its eye on the bigger prize and not be distracted into playing into the hands of what could be Trumps plan to pardon his way out of potential future criminal charges. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. The $150,000 likely to be provided to Carman comes from a trust set up by Chakalos for his grandson. On Friday, at what was supposed to be a pre-trial hearing in New Hampshire, Carman told King that he didnt want to postpone the start of the trial and would rather represent himself than delay the case that has taken up the last five years of my life. 3.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) suggested that one of the topics that one of the crimes that Michael Cohen is expected to testify about is Trump money laundering. Rep. Speier said on MSNBCs The Beat with Ari Melber, So what Ive been told is that Mr. Cohen wants to tell his full story so it will probably be outside of the issues relative to the campaign in which he was directed to make these payments. But there are probably many other aspects of his ten years with Donald Trump that will come into focus whether its the Moscow hotel or the other various hotels in which Donald Trump invests in Toronto and Soho and in Panama. I mean I think what were really going to find over the long run is the money laundering that went on very intentionally by Donald Trumps organization is probably whats going to bring him down. Speier made it clear that she wasnt confirming Trump money laundering, but that she believed that under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Trump was laundering money. Video: Advertising Rep. Jackie Speier said that Michael Cohen is expected to testify to Congress about Trump money laundering. https://t.co/dxnlNIUx2q pic.twitter.com/bjr45tuNxl Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 11, 2019 Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) had been saying long before he became the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee that he wanted to investigate Trump money laundering, so it is a certainty that Michael Cohen is going to be asked about Trumps business dealings, and if the Trump Organization was laundering money for Russians. No US bank would loan Trump money for his projects, so he had to be getting the cash from somewhere like Russia. The Mueller investigation is not believed to be examining Trump money laundering, which makes this an area with no limit to how deep congressional investigators can dig. Michael Cohen is going to have a lot to say to Congress when he starts talking in February, but one of the most damning areas for Trump will concern money laundering. Trumps day of public reckoning is coming next month. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 261 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Advertising By Deborah Gembara WASHINGTON (Reuters) Hundreds of furloughed federal employees chanting we want to work gathered for a union-led march to the White House on Thursday, the 20th day of a partial government shutdown over U.S. President Donald Trumps demand for border wall funding. Hey, hey, ho, ho, shutdowns got to go protesters shouted as they assembled in the bitter cold outside of the AFL-CIO union headquarters, hoisting signs reading Trump: End the Shutdown, Reopen Govt and Let Me Do My Job. Some 800,000 federal government employees have been ordered to stay home or work without pay during the shutdown brought on by a standoff between Trump and Democrats in Congress over Trumps demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall on the southern U.S. border. Advertising Trump, in a 2016 presidential campaign promise, repeatedly vowed that Mexico would pay for the wall. But he has said he will not sign any bill to reopen the government that does not provide wall funding. Protesters, many wearing neon green vests reading, I am a worker. I demand a voice, on Thursday demanded the government be reopened, separate from any debate over wall funding. We want our pay! We want our pay! We want our pay! shouted government employees and contractors bundled against the cold in knitted hats and scarves as they gathered for the march. In its third week, the shutdown of about a quarter of the federal government is the second longest since the mid-1970s. Trump has said it could continue for months or even years. Many furloughed federal workers have turned to online fundraising outlets such as GoFundMe.com to help cover expenses from food to utility bills. Trump will not be at the White House when the protesters arrive. He was headed to the U.S.-Mexico border in McAllen, Texas. The president has said he has the right to declare a national emergency if no deal with Congress can be reached on funding the project. (Additional reporting by Katharine Jackson in Washington and Barbara Goldberg in New York; editing by Bill Berkrot) Sean Winter has been crowned the winner of the first $25,000 Single-Day High Roller here at the 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Atlantis Resort after it needed a second day. Winter defeated David Peters after only three hands on the second day to claim the first-place prize of $495,210 while Peters took home $352,040. This win will take his lifetime earnings up to over 11 million in total according to Hendon Mob and will be his seventh largest cash ever. For Peters, this cash will take him close to the 30 million mark. The first Super High Roller of the week attracted 75 entries which also includes 25 reentries. All those entries created a total prize pool of $1,800,750 with the winner walking away with $495,210 whenever the two remaining players will finish the heads-up battle. During the first eight levels of the day, 68 entries were collected with another 7 players jumping in during the 80-minute dinner break. PokerStars Team Pro, Igor Kurganov, Steve ODwyer, Joe McKeehen, Isaac Haxton, Joe Cada, Jean-Noel Thorel, and Timothy Adams are some of the players who took their seats in the first level of the day. Cada was one of the first unlucky players who was sent away from his table when he shoved on the trey-queen-seven-five-nine board with king-high and was called by ODwyer who held pocket nines. Many more familiar names joined the field just before the first break of the day, including Alex Foxen, Byron Kaverman, Cary Katz, Jason Koon, Manig Loeser, Matthias Eibinger, John Juanda, and Rainer Kempe. When registration closed after the dinner break, it also signaled the end of the reentry period and players were sent to the rail in quick succession. Players like Ramin Hajiyev, Andras Nemeth, Steffen Sontheimer, Benjamin Pollak, Bryn Kenney, Elio Fox, Daniel Dvoress, and Ben Yu were all eliminated without cashing. The bubble lasted almost two hours as only eleven players would be in the money for at least $45,020. Peters increased his chip lead when he shoved on ODywer who let his hand go on the river. Kaverman found a double through Ivan Luca with pocket tens while Luca held eights. Foxen tripled up with ace-queen against the jack-six of Winter and then the bubble finally burst when Jonathan Kamhazi finally put his last 10,000 in after having blinded down for a while and busted to Jack Salter. Kamhazis king-four couldnt beat the king-nine of Salter as Salter had the higher kicker. Results Place Player Country Prize (in USD) 1 Sean Winter United States 495,210 2 David Peters United States 352,040 3 Jack Salter United Kingdom 230,500 4 Rainer Kempe Germany 177,380 5 Ivan Luca Argentina 140,460 6 Steve O'Dwyer Ireland 109,840 7 Stanley Choi Hong Kong 86,440 8 Igor Kurganov Russia 67,520 9 Byron Kaverman United States 51,320 10 Erik Seidel United States 45,020 11 Alex Foxen United States 45,020 Once the bubble burst, there was a flurry of action on both tables with Foxen being the first to cash when he ran ace-four into Winters ace-king. Erik Seidel was next to go when his jack-nine got no help from the board against Peters ace-king. With nine players left, it was time to combine the remaining players onto the final table. Kavermans king-nine call when Kurganov shoved with king-queen on the flop didnt earn him a double up as he was the first to leave the final table. Kurganov himself flopped top pair with ace-jack on the five-trey-jack-four board and decided to bet and call the shove of Peters. Unfortunately for the PokerStars Team Pro, Peters had the overpair with kings, and no ace or jack came on the river to save him. Stanley Choi was taken down by Salter when his pocket eights got rivered as the ace came while Salter held ace-jack. ODywers king-jack were beaten by the king-queen of Winter, and then it was time for Luca to go when he ran king-six into the tens of Kempe. Kempe tried bluffing Peters and lost a huge chunk of his stack and then the remainder also got added to Peters stack when he shoved his last eleven big blinds with ace-four. Peters had called with queen-nine and made trips on the river to take the German out in fourth place. Salters run was over a mere five minutes later when he called with his last chips with queen-nine when Winter had put him all-in with queen-trey. The queen-four-trey-trey-nine board did not help and Salter was happy to have managed to pick up quite a few pay jumps after having been short for quite a while. Heads-up play lasted for around 90 minutes with Peters and Winter swapping out the chip lead and doubles back and forth. In the end, they had to bag up their chips as the tournament room was closing on the first day. They agreed that they wanted to play the $50,000 Single-Day High Roller first before closing out this tournament and decided to delay it for another day. In the end, they both decided to finish the tournament on January 10, after play ended in the $100,000 Super High Roller. Once it was time to start, Peters managed to double up in the first hand with five-deuce when he had flopped two pair and his shove was called on the river by Winter who held nine-five. In the second hand, Peters shoved on the button with nine-eight and Winter called with king-jack. Winter managed to double back up with the higher hole cards. In the third and final hand of the night, Winter had limped on the button and Peters went along. Peters check-called the continuation-bets of Winter on the seven-trey-queen flop and the ace on the turn. The eight came on the river and now Peters tank-called Winters shove with seven-deuce for Winter to claim the win with eight-seven as he had rivered the two pair. They shook hands and as quick as they came to finish the tournament, just as quickly they left the poker room via the payout desk to collect their cashes. This concludes the coverage of the first Single-Day High Roller here at the PCA with two more to come over the next few days so make sure to keep following the updates provided by the PokerNews live reporting team. Sean Winter Wins $25,000 Single-Day High Roller for $495,210 January 11, 2019 Shirley Ang In what should have been a one-day event, Sean Winter has been crowned the winner of the first $25,000 Single-Day High Roller at the 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure on the added second day of play. Winter defeated David Peters after only three hands on the second day to claim the first-place prize of $495,210 while Peters took home $352,040. This win will take Winter's lifetime earnings up to over 11 million in total according to Hendon Mob and will be his seventh largest cash ever. For Peters, this cash will take him close to the 30 million mark. PCA 2019 $25,000 Single-Day High Roller Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Sean Winter United States $495,210 2 David Peters United States $352,040 3 Jack Salter United Kingdom $230,500 4 Rainer Kempe Germany $177,380 5 Ivan Luca Argentina $140,460 6 Steve O'Dwyer Ireland $109,840 7 Stanley Choi Hong Kong $86,440 8 Igor Kurganov Russia $67,520 9 Byron Kaverman United States $51,320 10 Erik Seidel United States $45,020 11 Alex Foxen United States $45,020 The first regular High Roller of the week attracted 75 entries, including 25 reentries. All those entries created a total prize pool of $1,800,750. During the first eight levels of Day 1, 68 entries were collected with another seven players jumping in during the 80-minute dinner break. PokerStars Team Pro, Igor Kurganov, Steve ODwyer, Joe McKeehen, Isaac Haxton, Joe Cada, Jean-Noel Thorel, and Timothy Adams were some of the players who took their seat in the first level of the day. Cada was one of the first unlucky players who was sent away from the table when he shoved on a trey-queen-seven-five-nine board with king-high and was called by ODwyer who held pocket nines. Many more familiar names joined the field just before the first break of the day, including Alex Foxen, Byron Kaverman, Cary Katz, Jason Koon, Manig Loeser, Matthias Eibinger, John Juanda, and Rainer Kempe. When registration closed after the dinner break, players were sent to the rail in quick succession. Players like Ramin Hajiyev, Andras Nemeth, Steffen Sontheimer, Benjamin Pollak, Bryn Kenney, Elio Fox, Daniel Dvoress, and Ben Yu were all eliminated without cashing. The bubble lasted for almost two hours as only eleven players would be in the money for a minimum score of $45,020. Peters increased his chip lead when he shoved on ODywer who let his hand go on the river. Kaverman found a double through Ivan Luca with pocket tens while Luca held eights. Foxen tripled up with ace-queen against the jack-six of Winter. The bubble finally burst when Jonathan Kamhazi put his last 10,000 in after having blinded down for a while. He busted to Jack Salter as his king-four couldnt beat the king-nine of Salter. Once the bubble burst, there was a flurry of action on both tables with Foxen being the first to cash when he ran ace-four into Winters ace-king. Erik Seidel was next to go when his jack-nine got no help from the board against Peters ace-king. With nine players left, it was time to combine the remaining players onto the final table. Kavermans king-nine call when Kurganov shoved with king-queen on the flop didnt earn him a double up as he was the first to leave the final table. Not much later, Kurganov himself flopped top pair with ace-jack on a five-trey-jack-four board and decided to bet and call the shove of Peters. Unfortunately for the PokerStars Team Pro, Peters had the overpair with kings, and no ace or jack came on the river to save him. Stanley Choi was taken down by Salter when his pocket eights got rivered as the ace came while Salter held ace-jack. ODywers king-jack were beaten by the king-queen of Winter, and then it was time for Luca to go when he ran king-six into the tens of Kempe. Kempe tried bluffing Peters and lost a huge chunk of his stack, and then the remainder also got added to Peters stack when he shoved his last eleven big blinds with ace-four. Peters called with queen-nine and made trips on the river to take the German out in fourth place. Salters run was over a mere five minutes later when he called with his last chips with queen-nine when Winter had put him all-in with queen-trey. The queen-four-trey-trey-nine board was no good for Salter. Heads-up play lasted for around 90 minutes with Peters and Winter swapping out the chip lead and doubles back and forth. In the end, they had to bag up their chips as the tournament room was closing for the day. They agreed that they wanted to play the $50,000 Single-Day High Roller first before closing out this tournament and decided to delay it for another day. In the end, they both decided to finish the tournament on January 10, after play ended in the $100,000 Super High Roller. Once it was time to start, Peters managed to double up in the first hand with five-deuce when he had flopped two pair, and his shove was called on the river by Winter who held nine-five. In the second hand, Peters shoved on the button with nine-eight and Winter called with king-jack. Winter managed to double back up with the higher hole cards. In the third and final hand of the night, Winter had limped on the button, and Peters checked. Peters check-called the continuation-bets of Winter on the seven-trey-queen flop and the ace on the turn. The eight came on the river and now Peters tank-called Winters shove with seven-deuce for Winter to claim the win with eight-seven as he had rivered two pair. They shook hands and as quick as they came to finish the tournament, just as quickly they left the poker room via the payout desk to collect their cashes. The PSPC and the firsttwo high rollers are in the books, but the PCA is really just getting started. Today, the $10,000 Main Event gets underway. Follow all the PCA Live Updates via the PokerNews Live Reporting section. The Stars Group owns a majority shareholding in iBus Media. 888poker LIVE 2019 Schedule Announced January 11, 2019 Valerie Cross With 2018 firmly in the rearview mirror, poker tours are releasing schedules for the new year. 888Live is among them, recently announcing live stops to include London, Barcelona, Malta, and Vienna as well as confirming a return to sponsoring the World Series of Poker (WSOP). There will be five major stops in total, kicking off with the 888Poker LIVE London Kick Off event at Aspers Casino in February. The tour will then head to Barcelona at the end of May, stop in Vienna and Malta in October, and then head back to London to end the year. Along with the 2019 schedule, 888 has announced it will once again be the exclusive partner of the WSOP for the fifth year running. For years, 888 has sent hundreds of qualifiers to participate in the Main Event and this year will be no different. All the winners of an 888Live main event also receive WSOP Main Event packages. For the 2019 live tour, 888 is bringing back the popular Big Blind Ante and the Shot Clock format, both of which have fast become the norm across the poker landscape. Though full schedule details are yet to be announced, it appears that 888Live will offer buy-ins on the more modest end of the spectrum. 888Live 2019 Schedule Details Aiming to make 2019 their biggest year yet, 888 has suggested the possibility of adding more stops to the schedule. So far, players can mark their calendars for the five festivals that are slated. The first stop is Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford in London from Feb. 7-10, which will feature a Main Event with a 440 buy-in and 120,000 prize pool guarantee. They have high hopes for this stop considering their LIVE London Main Event in December tallied 656 entries for a prize pool of just under 650,000. From May 22 to June 3, 888poker LIVE Barcelona will take place at Casino Barcelona. The last time this event was held, the 1,100 Main Event attracted 709 entries for a prize pool of 709,000 and the LIVE Barcelona festival has boasted as many as 20 events. After a break during the summer season, 888 LIVE heads to Montesino Casino in Vienna, Austria for the first time in two years. The 888 buy-in Main Event in Vienna will offer a 300,000 guaranteed prize pool. The Battle of Malta will follow the Vienna stop in October, with expectations high after last years 550 buy-in Main Event became the biggest live tournament in the country, drawing 3,816 entries to generate a prize pool of 1.85 million. The tour is scheduled to wrap up back at Aspers Casino in November. 888poker LIVE 2019 Schedule Dates Event Location February 7-10 888poker LIVE London Kick Off Aspers Casino May 22 June 3 888poker LIVE Barcelona Casino Barcelona October 3-7 888poker LIVE Vienna Montesino Casino October 15-21 Battle of Malta Casino Malta November 888poker LIVE London Festival Aspers Casino Francois Perron teaching class at the French Academie of Ballet. Rachel Neville, Courtesy French Academie of Ballet. Should You Consider a Smaller Summer Program? Here Are the Big Benefits of Going Small Vermillion, SD (57069) Today A few clouds from time to time. Hot. High around 100F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 71F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Augustin told the detectives that after Kidik looked at her identification, Augustin decided that she wanted to leave. Kidik was standing in her way, Augustin said, and they began to wrestle. Augustin told police the officer took her to the floor, was saying things to her that she does not remember, and that she reached for a purple Cuisinart chopping knife. Staff reports The Petoskey News-Review PETOSKEY The Little Traverse Civic Theatre will soon be hosting auditions for its spring play and production of Pride and Prejudice. Auditions will take place from 7-9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, and Wednesday, Jan. 16, at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey. Show dates for the play are April 25-28 and May 2-4. The play follows a Mrs. Bennett as she is determined to get all her daughters married. Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Katherine and Lydia are likely looking girls in a period when a womans one possible career is matrimony. To be a wife was success. Anything else was failure. Jane with her Mr. Bingley, Mary with her books and music, Lydia and Kitty with their regimental officers are quite content with things as they are, but not Elizabeth. She actually refuses to marry Mr. Collins, whom she openly deplores, and Mr. Darcy, whom she secretly adores. The play calls for the roles of Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Hill the butler, Lady Lucas, Charlotte Lucas, Jane Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Katherine Bennet, Mary Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Collins, Amelia May, Captain Denny, Amanda, a young man, another young man, a third young man, Miss Bingley, Agatha May, Belinda May, Ada the maid, Maggie, Mrs. Gardiner, Lady Catherine, Colonel Guy Fitzwilliam and Mrs. Lake. Scripts are available at the Petoskey Public Library to check out for audition preparation. However, they must be returned before auditions. Those auditioning are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes prior to auditions to fill out forms and calendar availability in order to determine the rehearsal schedule. You can expect warm-up activities and to read from the script with movement. You are also encouraged to attend both nights of auditions, but it is not required. Contact Aleta Watton, the director, at aletajwatton@gmail.com with any questions. Sean Miller (231) 439-9394 Polar Nights Presents Gods and Goddesses: A Grecian Gala Polar Nights is an annual fundraiser for the Audies Scholarship Fund that awards graduating Mackinaw City seniors scholarships to aid in the cost of college. Polar Nights Gods and Goddesses: A Grecian Gala will take place this Saturday in Audies Banquet Room in Mackinaw City. This years festivities will include music, dancing, gourmet hors doeuvres and a silent auction with 100 percent of the monies raised during the auction going toward the scholarship fund. Tickets are $40 each or two for $75. Purchase tickets by calling (231) 436-5744 . Second Saturday On the second Saturday of every month, Raven Hill Discovery Center in East Jordan offers free admission for families between noon and 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.ravenhilldiscoverycenter.org. Young Childrens Library Series At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday join the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra at the Petoskey Public Library for its young childrens library series. The program provides a variety of opportunities for children ages 4-10 to discover their own gifts through interactive activities. During the time children can explore through various styles of music with storytelling, listening, sing-a-longs and more. This series is free and open to the public. Sunday Series Recital: Piano Duo On Sunday the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra will also be hosting a performance featuring pianists Michelle Mitchum and Robin McCarty. The performance is from 4-6 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Harbor Springs, with freewill donations accepted for admission. Call (231) 487-0010. Great Lakes Cinema Series: The Greatest Showman This Sunday, the Great Lakes Center for the Arts will be showing The Greatest Showman as part of its Great Lakes Cinema Series starting at 4 p.m. Admission is $8.50 per person and tickets can be purchased online at www.greatlakescfa.org, by calling (231) 439-2610 or by emailing tickets@greatlakescfa.org. Sean Miller (231) 439-9394 semiller2@petoskeynews.com The Petoskey News-Review PETOSKEY The Blissfest Music Organization wont be hosting its annual festival until July but is kicking off the year already with its annual Winter Concert Series. The series kicks off with Twisted Pine an indie and pop band based out of Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday, Jan. 19. They are a really fun group that has been on our radar for the festival for a few years, said executive and programming director Jim Gillespie. We were impressed that they had all met at the Berklee College of Music and have some hot chops. Twisted Pine, over its years as a band, has garnered fans across the world playing on stages large and small with accolades ranging from winning the 2014 Freshgrass band competition, being finalists at the 2015 Rockygrass contest and being nominated by the International Bluegrass Association for its 2015 Momentum Award. We got them here at a good time, too, as they just released a new record they are touring with this year as well, said Gillespie. Petoskey will enjoy them. They arent your run-of-the mill group. Gillespie said that, aside from the energy the band will be bringing to the stage, he is excited that the concert series can now offer a cash bar with Crooked Tree Arts Center having recently acquiring a liquor license. People wont be sneaking off at intermission to grab drinks at the Mitchell Street Pub, he said jokingly. People can though get a glass of wine or a beer and bring it into the theater and I think that just helps create a little more interest and keeps people engaged with the venue a bit more. Twisted Pine will play starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19 and tickets are priced at $15 for Blissfest members and $20 for non-members. Tickets for the upcoming show also include what Blissfest calls a night on the town which gives ticket holders a 10 percent discount at participating restaurants in downtown petoskey the night of the show. Participating restaurants include City Park Grill, Beards Brewery. Palette Bistro, Pour Public House, Roast and Toast and Staffords Noggin Room Pub according to the organizations website. More information can be found and tickets may be purchased for the upcoming show at www.blissfest.org. Despite public denials, District of Columbia Cardinal Donald Wuerl knew of sexual misconduct allegations against ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick and reported them to the Vatican in 2004, church officials confirmed Thursday evening. Robert Ciolek, a former priest who reached a settlement with the church in 2005 after reporting abuse and misconduct by clerics including McCarrick, told The Post he recently learned that the Pittsburgh Diocese has a file that shows Wuerl's initials next to a firsthand account of Wuerl bringing Ciolek's complaint to the then-Vatican ambassador, Gabriel Montalvo. At the time, Wuel was the bishop in Pittsburgh. The document Ciolek told the Post he saw in December clashes sharply with Wuerl's public statements about McCarrick since the older cleric was suspended in June due to a complaint he groped an altar boy decades ago. As the American Catholic Church since summer has erupted into a full-blown clergy sex abuse scandal, Wuerl has largely rejected charges that he played a role in it, portraying himself as unaware about the allegations against McCarrick that set off the crisis. McCarrick's case, which includes allegations of youth abuse and harassment of seminarians, is reportedly now about to be decided in one of the highest-profile clergy clergy sex abuse trial processes to come before Rome. Both the archdiocese of the District and the Pittsburgh diocese Thursday night acknowledged Wuerl knew and told the Vatican, and said they were simply trying to protect Ciolek's confidentiality. Ciolek dismissed that Thursday. "There was nothing that precluded them from talking to anyone" about his case. Wuerl at worst could have said: 'I am aware but I can't name that person.' " Wuerl himself was forced to retire early in the fall due to his alleged mishandling of clergy sexual misconduct when he was bishop of Pitsburgh and his replacement is rumored to be named in coming weeks. A grand jury report by Pennsylvania prosecutors detailing extensive clergy abuse and cover-up and criticizing Wuerl for not doing more has heaped fuel on the belief that the Catholic Church hasn't reformed itself at its highest levels. Many Catholics have been angered and hurt by reports that the popular, prominent McCarrick regularly engaged in misconduct and that it was an open secret among the hierarchy. Wuerl, a close Francis ally seen as a loyal, effective and cautious administrator, has portrayed the McCarrick matter as news to him when he's been asked since June. He's issued similar statements of surprise as the allegations included minor victims, seminarians and priests and also settlements. In most cases his denials were specific, such as in June when he said: "I can report that no claim - credible or otherwise - has been made against Cardinal McCarrick during his time here in Washington." He denied in that statement and in others knowing about the settlements, and said after the first youth allegation only that he was "shocked and saddened." In some cases his denials were broader, such as in a July 31 interview in the archdiocesan paper Catholic Standard, in which Wuerl said: There have also been numerous stories or blog posts that repeated long-standing rumors or innuendos that may be out there regarding Archbishop McCarrick. . . In the past month, I have seen some of those now public reports. But in my years here in Washington and even before that, I had not heard them. With rumors - especially old rumors going back 30, 40, even 50 years - there is not much we can do unless people come forward to share what they know or what they experienced. This ought to be interesting. John Fetterman, who has gained inordinate amounts of attention for someone toiling in the trenches of Pennsylvanias municipal government, goes into a job thats rank on state governments organizational flow chart typically far outstrips its actual function. Its literally a blank canvas at the state Capitol that Fetterman, 49, is clearly eager to fill through the next four years as your lieutenant governor. Gov. Tom Wolfs ticket-mate took some time out of his transition prep this week for an interview about his move up from mayor of hardscrabble Braddock in Allegheny County to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, and what he wants to do with the bigger platform his new, $166,291-a-year job entails. First, some background. A married father of three, Fetterman will, in one respect, be like many of the legislators he will serve with as presiding officer of the Pennsylvania State Senate: He is renting a home in the city and will make extended commutes to Harrisburg while his wife, Gisele, and their three kids - ages 10, 7 and 4 - maintain their household (and lives) in Allegheny County. (Gisele Fetterman established a unique charity known as the Free Store 15104 in Braddock, and is part of groups that run 412 Food Rescue - a food pantry - and The Hollander Project, an incubator for female- and minority-owned businesses. At one point, according to a report by the Pittsburgh-based news site The Incline this fall, John Fetterman was promoting his wife as his replacement as mayor, though that now seems unlikely to happen.) The decision to become a road-runner grew out of the Fettermans' distaste for living in the State House on Fort Indiantown Gap that has been the traditional home - and one of the nicest perks - for the lieutenant governor. Fetterman says he prefers a comfortable place to hang his hat while in Harrisburg that can also accommodate the family during the summer and other school breaks. And he can go to the familys home in Braddock when he has down time. Fettermans new digs, incidentally, is a townhouse on North Second Street owned by his brother Gregg. John Fetterman describes the rental as a private transaction that he will not seek any reimbursement from the state for. The Commonwealth does not owe me a place to live, he said. Still and all, working out of Harrisburg marks a regional homecoming for Fetterman, a York County native - Central York High School Class of 87, in case youre wondering - who graduated from Albright College and worked in the insurance industry before a volunteer stint with Big Brothers changed his personal trajectory. I made the choice at that point in 95 that I didnt want to spend the rest of my professional career just making my circumstances even better than they were, he told Pennlive in a 2015 profile. After a stint in AmeriCorps and graduate school, Fetterman found his way to Braddock and founded a non-profit serving youth there, which morphed into running for mayor, which morphed into a career in which he gained a lot of regional attention for his personal investment in trying to make something out of a down-on-its heels mill town that another notable politician probably had in mind when he famously decried this American carnage. Fetterman has spent the last 17 years practicing street-level triage for little Braddock, from development of an all-purpose community center, to landing a starring role for the town in a Levi Strauss advertising campaign, or a one-man protest for improved medical services that resulted in a defiant trespass arrest in Pittsburgh. Along the way, hes earned notice in publications ranging from Rolling Stone to The New York Times Magazine. The legend of John Fetterman grew in a different way during his underdog bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2016, where a respectable third-place finish put him more squarely on the states political radar screen, and he made the smart choice to seek to be Wolfs running mate last year. It was smart because the incumbent lieutenant governor, Mike Stack, was already politically estranged from Wolf and badly wounded by massive press coverage of issues concerning his and his familys treatment of personal staff. And it was smart because a glut of rivals from the southeast split the vote there to a degree that Fetterman could ride his western Pa. base to a relatively easy primary win. The Wolf-Fetterman ticket rode the 2018 Blue Wave to victory in the fall. What now? The LGs office is a position that - like one of those express lanes on a Candy Land game board - allows the holder to skip over a lot of steps to get right in the middle of the state government team picture. It is the office-holder, and his or her dynamic with the chief executive, that determines what happens next. Fettermans approach. No one is more keenly aware of the improvisational nature of the office than Fetterman, who had another one of those the-job-is-what-you-make-of-it positions as Braddocks mayor. First off, he is eager to give Wolf the governmental partner he deserves. If Governor Wolf thinks Im helpful directing traffic in Harrisburg, Ill be out there directing traffic," Fetterman joked during the interview with PennLive Wednesday. But the sentiment was real. "My agenda is his agenda, and Im really excited to work for somebody that I genuinely admire. The full parameters of that new partnership are still being worked out, but Fetterman talks eagerly about becoming something of an at-large ambassador for Wolf, who isnt born to the bully pulpit. To the extent hes willing to do that, I would love it," Wolf said in an interview Thursday. "Because he is really good at doing that, and hes tireless. And hes a really smart guy. What Ive asked him to do is lets keep working together and figure out areas, Ill try to anticipate where he can be helpful, and if he sees something he wants to do that I have ignored, hes free to say, Id like to be in that meeting, Wolf said. Fetterman is also eager to dig into his work as chair of the State Board of Pardons, the non-court entity that gives ex-convicts the chance to wipe their records clean. Its one of the few roles that is constitutionally assigned to the office, and Fetterman is looking to build on Stacks work in promoting the pardons process - which can play a major role in helping ex-cons unlock doors to job and career opportunities - including posting pardons applications online for the first time. The other role, of course, is presiding over the state Senate. It is one of the most ornate spaces in Pennsylvanias Capitol Building, and one of the states favorite parlor games has been to speculate how the shirt-sleeved, tattooed mayor from Braddock would adjust to its High Decorum. Will he wear a suit and tie at the rostrum?, folks want to know. Now hear this: Fetterman will not be gavelling in the Senate in his trademark Dickies work shirt and cargo shorts. There will be a tie. You see, while he has been portrayed, and has happily accepted the role of the non-traditional politician, Fetterman told us Im not a bomb-thrower. He is, Fetterman says, actually a rules respecter. So, in Harrisburg, I want to help facilitate as much cooperation and achievement as I can. Its lets see what we can get done," Fetterman said. "I certainly am not going to kick that process off by being defiant about dress codes and things like that. Fetterman, in one of the ultimate perks of his new job, also automatically becomes part of a deep Democratic Party bench in Pennsylvania that will be fascinating to watch as jockeying begins for open gubernatorial and U.S. Senate seats in 2022. In Pennsylvanias system, there would be nothing to prevent Fetterman from seeking re-election as lieutenant governor that year, with a new running mate at the top of the ticket. But with Wolf now term-limited, he could also be in the conversation for the top job, too. Fetterman isnt making those decisions yet; nor does he need too. But, the 6-foot, 8-inch dude with the bald pate and bearded chin does hope to stick around in that aforementioned state government team picture for awhile. As he put it Wednesday: I just want to be of service for as long as the voters of Pennsylvania will have me. State police said Friday they are investigating an attack by an inmate that injured a female counselor in the state prison at Coal Township. The 21-year-old male inmate and the 31-year-old counselor were engaged in a one-on-one counseling session in a housing unit of the Northumberland County facility when the assault occurred around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said. They said the prisoner hit the counselor on the head from behind with a lock. A struggle ensued and the counselor was able to escape, police said. The case is being investigated as an aggravated assault. About 250 people attended a town-hall style meeting at a Harrisburg Catholic parish night to hear what their church was doing differently after revelations that thousands of children were molested by priests over decades. Parishioners asked tough questions at the 7 p.m. meeting at the Saint Catherine Laboure Parish at 4000 Derry Street. It was the first in a series of planned listening sessions by Bishop Ronald W. Gainer across the Harrisburg Diocese, which covers 89 parishes. The Harrisburg Diocese last year was one of six at the center of a grand jury investigation led by Attorney General Josh Shapiro that unearthed widespread clergy sex abuse spanning seven decades, as bishops and church officials turned a blind eye to the crimes. Some parishioners said they planned to withhold their financial offerings to the church until they felt more trust and saw more transparency from the diocese, said Carolyn Fortney, one of five sisters who were sexually abused as children by the same priest in Dauphin County. All five sisters attended the two-hour meeting. Patty Fortney-Julius said she thought Gainer spoke from his heart at the meeting but that he remained disconnected and still doesnt get it. As long as the church withholds names of some accused priests and fights the two-year retroactive window that would allow victims to sue the church even after the statute of limitations, Fortney-Julius said, then some people are going to struggle to fully reconnect with the church. Everything that was brought up, every issue, she said, He came up with an excuse. He could never just let it be what it was and accept that there are huge faults that they cant excuse. Saundra Fortney-Colello said she felt the meeting was perfunctory, like slapping a band aid on a gaping wound. News reporters werent allowed to attend the meeting but were allowed to interview parishioners afterward. Patrick Scott, 50, of Lower Paxton Township, said he attended mass for nearly 20 years, but as of late, he doesnt go as often. I came here because I wanted to find out some answers, 50-year-old Patrick Scott said. Why was this allowed to go on for so long and how can it get better? The sex abuse scandal hurt his faith, Scott said. It disappoints me that both the church and the priests are supposed to preach the word of the Lord, and they werent doing that, he said. They werent helping the children who needed help from abuse. It would take years before Scott said he would consider donating toward any financial fund, regardless of the financial position the church has found itself in. Despite the heart-wrenching stories Ellen Bretz heard, she said she still would contribute toward the churchs causes. She said she drove from Linglestown to hear for herself how other parishioners are doing. I still attend church regularly, she said. This has nothing to do with the Catholic religion. It has to do with revamping the church. Gainer took questions from reporters after the meeting and addressed the churchs lack of support for a retroactive window for victims to sue the church. Its a question really for the Legislature, he said. The Senate pretty much feels that its unconstitutional as well as some members of the House so theres a whole question that has to be debated and decided. State lawmakers couldnt agree on legislation to approve a retroactive window for those beyond the statute of limitations. The state House overwhelmingly approved a retroactive window by a 171-23 vote but the measure stalled in the state Senate, with Republican leaders expressing constitutional concerns. Some lawmakers have vowed to continue pushing for the bill. When asked if he was concerned about the dioceses financial stability should a two-year window be granted by the Legislature, Gainer noted that dioceses in other states that have passed similar legislation have filed for bankruptcy without exception. Gainer said he hoped the dioceses new compensation fund could help make amends to victims with financial settlements. The fund will allow victims to receive compensation faster than going through the courts, he said, but receiving an award from the fund would preclude a victim from trying to collect later through the courts. Money to pay the awards will come from investments and assets the diocese has, including insurance recoveries, Gainer said. In addition, the church will borrow money if needed and sell Diocesan assets to fund the program. Creating the fund was one of several new actions the church has taken since the grand jury report was revealed. Gainer said he opened the meeting with eight points, including the fact that they no longer do their own internal investigations into sexual abuse allegations. That was a big mistake, he said. Some of our worst problems came from that. Immediately now investigations are turned over to the proper law enforcement agency. The church also tightened up how it vets seminary candidates and the process that men must go through to become priests. The diocese also hired a former state police captain to provide independent oversight of the dioceses new youth protection programs. Gainer said he welcomed the chance Thursday night to see parishioners and hear their stories. They were able to talk about their frustration, anger and disappointment with the way their situations were handled, he said. Its one step forward for a better, safer Catholic church. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Adams Saint Joseph Parish, 5055 Grandview Road in Hanover, and another one is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 21, at the Saint Joseph Parish, 410 East Simpson Street in Mechanicsburg. A full schedule is available on the diocese website. Staff Writer Jana Benscoter contributed to this report. Oct. 18, 2018 About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers. The search turns up nothing useful. The Wisconsin Department of Justice announces it is sending therapists, comfort dogs and school resource officers to help students at the school Jayme attended. There is a possibility that Carlisle Borough officials will use eminent domain to take control of portions of two properties along North Hanover Street. It was a decision the local borough council made Thursday night, but Mayor Timothy A. Scott stressed that the option would be used only as a last resort to make sure an ongoing traffic and redevelopment project moves forward. We also are going to continue to negotiate with the property owners, he said after the meeting. Im optimistic that this is going to work out. Scott made similar remarks during the meeting, where he read a statement to those in attendance. The statement, he said, was in reaction to criticism about the eminent domain issue made on social media in the days before the meeting. We felt that it was important at least to get our version of the truth out there, Scott said. But on Thursday, no one spoke when given the opportunity to talk at the meeting about the eminent domain issue or the larger traffic project, which includes the construction of a roundabout. The roundabout is part of the Carlisle Connectivity Project, which is part of a larger project called the Carlisle Urban Redevelopment Plan. It is intended to revitalize three former industrial sites, as well as public infrastructure, according to Borough Manager Matt Candland. Over a period from 2008 to 2010, three companies IAC/Masland, Carlisle Tire & Wheel and Tyco Electronics ceased operations in the borough. Closing those operations resulted in the elimination of about 600 jobs, borough officials said, and it left about 50 to 60 acres of vacant industrial space, according to Candland. The former industrial properties, while not adjacent, all are situated in northern Carlisle Borough. They were referred to by Candland as brownfields. Its just that its not a clean site, he said, explaining the term. The former IAC/Masland site lines both sides of Carlisle Springs Road north of Hanover Street; the Tyco site sits at the southeastern corner of Clay and Hamilton streets; and the Carlisle Tire & Wheel site is at the northwestern corner of A and Factory streets, borough officials said. Redeveloping those areas means that housing and profitable businesses could again enter the Carlisle tax base, Candland said. So local officials helped to launch the Carlisle Urban Redevelopment Plan, which required them to look at the former industrial space as well as traffic in the surrounding area. That process included a look at local roads, Candland said. He said planners found that the current layout could be problematic for growth. If we did nothing, the redevelopment could totally overwhelm our towns existing roadway network, he said. That is the reasoning behind the multi-phase Carlisle Connectivity Project, Candland said. In addition to planned road extensions, widenings and realignments, one of the recommendations made by the studys engineers was to install roundabouts at particularly complicated intersections, Candland said. The first of those roundabouts is planned for the five-way intersection of East and West Penn streets, North Hanover Street and Fairground Avenue. Right now, that intersection doesnt work well, Candland said. Roundabout requires more land But to build a roundabout there, the borough will need space, certainly more than is available at a traditional intersection like the one that currently exists, he said. To acquire that space, borough officials have contacted and made offers to purchase land from current property owners in the area. That model, Candland said, has yielded mostly success. On Thursday, a woman working behind the counter of Chens Asian Restaurant on the corner of North Hanover and Fairground Avenue said restaurant owners came to an agreement to give up the western portion of their parking lot for the project. All told, the entire project will require the acquisition of pieces of 14 properties, Candland said. Owners of 11 of those properties had agreed to turn over land as of Thursday morning, Candland said, explaining all owners will be compensated. Two of the three remaining properties at 320 and 330 North Hanover Street were discussed at the Thursday meeting. From those properties, the borough needs 0.15 acres, Candland said. He said the space is needed to expand lanes to make improvements to safety at existing rail crossings near the intersection of North Hanover Street and Carlisle Springs Road. These lanes had to shift and expand to ensure that traffic would not sit on the tracks, Candland said in a statement. Scott said the project also would add traffic lights at the crossings. The addresses of those properties correspond to the Cornerstone Credit Union and Carroll Mart convenience store along North Hanover Street, Candland said. By Thursday, their owners had not agreed to give up the needed space to the borough project. So at the meeting, borough leaders were asked to authorize the use of parallel paths, meaning that while officials continued their work to reach an agreement with the owners, they also would begin the process of using eminent domain to seize those properties, Candland said. Scott stressed that the term eminent domain does not mean that property will be stolen from the owners without compensation. They will be paid fair market value, he said. On Wednesday, Colleen Baird, an attorney with Marston Law Offices, who represents Mohammad Iqbal, the tenant who operates the Carroll Mart, said she is working with her client to seek a settlement. But she pointed out that her client is concerned that the loss of property could affect access to his business. Its cutting off an entire access point to my clients business, she said, adding that other concerns, specifically about the placement of utility lines connected to the building, also are being explored. Baird said she has been communicating with borough officials. Its been a lot of back-and-forth, she said. The third not-yet-acquired property is owned by Norfolk Southern, Candland said, explaining that it is near the problematic rail crossing. Prior to the Thursday meeting, Candland said he was confident an agreement with Norfolk Southern could be reached. The move toward possibly using eminent domain is necessary due to deadlines, which have been set because the project has received state and federal funding, Candland said. That funding comes with specific deadlines. PennDOT has the plans The redevelopment project includes about $30 million worth of public infrastructure improvements, Candland said. State and federal funding should cover all but $12 million of that cost. To cover the remaining $12 million, the borough largely plans to use tax increment financing, Candland said. Through tax increment financing the borough will borrow money to complete the upgrades. That loan will later be repaid by any additional tax revenue generated after the former industrial sites are redeveloped, Candland said. Its a commonly used tool all over the country, he said of the borrowing model. There is risk in that model, but the three former industrial sites have new owners, and there already are plans for development, Candland said. A combination of housing, commercial and lodging projects are planned for the sites, Candland said. Work on at least one of the former industrial sites has begun, according to Mike Skelly, the borough's planning, zoning and codes manager. And Candland said more construction likely is to take place this year. Youll start seeing things go vertical in spring, Candland said. Plans for the roundabout have been submitted to PennDOT officials for review, and once they are returned, borough leaders can finalize those plans and advertise for contractor bids, said Mark Malarich, the boroughs public works director. Malarich said construction on the roundabout could begin by late fall. The boroughs plan does not call for the closure of the entire intersection during construction, Malarich said, but Norfolk Southern officials also hope to conduct work in the area at the same time, and that work may require a total closure. A similar timeline has been set for the construction of two smaller roundabouts that are included in the overall project, Malarich said. According to the borough website, a three-point roundabout is planned for B Street and Fairground Avenue while a four-point roundabout is proposed at B Street and N. College Street. Joes Steaks and Soda Shop has a special menu thats as Philly as it gets. The Philadelphia cheesesteak spot is celebrating its upcoming 70th anniversary with a new limited edition menu item every month. Each one pays homage to the City of Brotherly Love. Januarys special item is the Kielbasa Cheesesteak ($6.75 for a small, $9.25 for a large) which features smoked Polish kielbasa from Czerws Kielbasy. Czerws has been a Philadelphia staple in Port Richmond since 1938. Chocolate Covered Potato Chip Milkshake featuring Herrs potato chips ($6.50) is available at Joe's Steaks and Soda Shop in February 2019. February will bring about the Chocolate-Covered Potato Chip Milkshake ($6.50), which is made, in part, with Herrs potato chips. The chips are manufactured in Philadelphia -- although true Herrs fans know that the place to go to get the full Herrs experience is the brands snack factory tour in Nottingham in Chester County. Pound Cake Cheesesteak featuring Stocks Bakery ($9.25) is available at Joe's Steaks and Soda Shop in March 2019. Joes customers can nab the Pound Cake Cheesesteak in March. It is a cheesesteak with two Stocks Bakery pound cake slices serving as its roll and will sell for $9.25. The poundcake at Stocks Bakery in Port Richmond is legendary in Philadelphia, where it has become a holiday dinner favorite. Butterscotch Krimpet Milkshake featuring Tastykakes ($6.50) is available at Joe's Steaks and Soda Shop in April 2019. Then, in April, customers can enjoy the Butterscotch Krimpet Milkshake ($6.50) which is made of Tastykakes. Tastykakes are based out of Philadelphia, of course. Joes Steaks and Soda Shop has been serving up cheesesteaks (including a Gritty one) since 1949. The shop has two Philadelphia locations: 1 W. Girard Ave. in Fishtown and 6030 Torresdale Ave. in Wissinoming. Learn more at joessteaks.com. Want more stories about Philly? Click here for all our coverage of the City of Brotherly Love. Elizabethtown College will soon have a new president. The college announced on Friday that Cecilia M. McCormick, a college executive, educator and attorney will become the schools 15th president on July 1. She will succeed Carl Strikwerda. The appointment follows a 10-month national search and McCormick will be the first woman to lead the college in its 120-year history. It is truly an honor to have been chosen to lead Elizabethtown College, to build on its legacy and accomplishments, and to seek opportunities at a pivotal time in the history of the college, McCormick said in a press release. Currently, McCormick serves as vice provost for academic strategy and special programs at Thomas Jefferson University. Previously at Jefferson, McCormick served as the chief of staff for academic affairs and the associate provost for strategic and academic initiatives. At Johns Hopkins University, she was the chief of staff to the senior vice president for finance and administration and chief operating officer. She also has held a number of positions at Widener University, including serving as executive director in the office of the president and a member of the presidents executive team. McCormick has also taught in the areas of business, law, and leadership for students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The press release from Elizabethtown College noted the following about her recent experience at Jefferson: She was integral to the successful merger of Thomas Jefferson and Philadelphia Universities. She developed numerous strategic initiatives, including new academic programs, an Institute for Emerging Health Professions, an Honors Institute, and effective academic operations and processes. She has collaborated across the institution in both the creation and implementation of strategic plans and budgeting processes. She secured school and community partnerships and launched pipeline programs for students in the Philadelphia region to create an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education with a focus on skills and workforce development for underserved populations.McCormick also maintains her license to practice law in Pennsylvania, and she was an attorney over a 10-year period with two private law firms in the Philadelphia region. Prior to that, she held the positions of assistant general counsel for PECO Energy and special project manager for The Vanguard Groups Retirement Resource Center. McCormick received her bachelors degree in management/marketing from St. Josephs University, her paralegal certificate from Widener University, a juris doctorate from Delaware Law School: Widener University and post-doctoral education from the Institute of Educational Management at Harvard University, Graduate School of Education. Strikwerda will retire on June 30 after eight years at the helm. Upon his retirement, Strikwerda and his wife, plan to move to Washington D.C. Elizabethtown College, is a private college in Elizabethtown and was founded in 1899. The school has more than 1,600 students. Last year the school announced it was decreasing its tuition by nearly one third. Good Friday Morning, Fellow Seekers. We have long been of the opinion that Pennsylvania has always had the wrong official state slogan. Instead of State of Independence or Pennsylvania, pursue your happiness, and No, Gritty isnt some kind of elaborate practical joke, (Okay, that last one is purely wishful thinking), state officials should cut right to the chase and bottle the essence of the Keystone State for all who cross its borders: Welcome to Pennsylvania, we fear change. How else to explain the Keystone States eternal lingering at the bottom of most rankings lists? How else to come to terms with the fact that, even as other states charge fearlessly into the 21st Century, implementing the policy changes needed to spur new innovations in technology, communications and the economy, thousands among us continue to believe the Mummers are entertaining? Take, for instance, tiny Delaware, land of tax dodges and shopping malls, where First State lawmakers are moving ahead with a new bill legalizing recreational marijuana. As our friends at WHYY-FM report, this latest push comes just six months after a similar attempt failed. From WHHY-FM: "Last year, a measure to legalize recreational marijuana fell just four votes short of passing in the Delaware House after several Democrats abstained from voting. "Despite the creation of a task force to address concerns about public safety and distribution issues, some legislators still were anxious about the effects of legalization. "The prime sponsors of that bill, state Rep. Helene Keeley and state Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, both Wilmington Democrats, did not seek re-election this year. "Now, state Sen. Trey Charles Paradee will be one of the sponsors on a new marijuana legalization bill, which he hopes to introduce during this legislative session. "As he and the other sponsors seek out the opinions and concerns of stakeholders, Paradee said hes not ready to lay out the specifics of his bill. "But he said Delaware is in a good position. We have another years worth of information from other states to look at. There are states that have done things well and some states that have had some problems, said Paradee." More astute readers will recall that Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf was met with howls of criticism from legislative Republicans, who have been just fine with wringing cash from other forms of vice, when he suggested that it was time for the state to take a serious look at legalizing recreational marijuana. Thats not even a bill. Thats a serious look. But with the state facing a $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion deficit for the fiscal year that starts July 1, Republicans could change their tune if theyre looking to shore up the bottom line without raising taxes. And legal pot is a cash cow. As Forbes reported last year, California is a juggernaut with over $2.75 billion in cannabis sales. Yet its northern neighbors Oregon and Washington are no slouches either. Oregon tallied more than $500 million in recreational sales and another $275 million in medical. Washington pulled in over $975 million through recreational, plus $61 million from medical sales. A 2016 analysis by the Tax Foundation concluded that "a mature marijuana industry could generate up to $28 billion in tax revenues for federal, state, and local governments, including $7 billion in federal revenue: $5.5 billion from business taxes and $1.5 billion from income and payroll taxes. So far, 10 states, and Washington D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana. Twenty-three more states, including Pennsylvania, have legal medical marijuana. On Capitol Hill, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., an all-but-guaranteed 2020 presidential candidate is drumming up congressional support for his proposed Marijuana Justice Act, which would not only end federal prohibition of cannabis but also attempt to make things right in communities most targeted by cannabis arrests, Esquire reported. Further, last June, members of Congress introduced the bipartisan Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act, intended to protect states' rights to determine their own marijuana laws without federal interference, Esquire also reported. How soon can we have those new billboards ready? The rest of the days news starts now. Philly just got some serious clout on Capitol Hill: U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle and Dwight Evans were both named to the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, The Inquirer reports. The Tamaqua schools in Schuylkill County have put off a vote on a controversial measure to arm teachers, The Associated Press reports. WESA-FM explains how, win or lose, Pittsburghs push to ban assault weapons could spark a statewide debate. Heres an entirely adorable #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day. The United States should 'never confuse a wall with border security," U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. says (Via WITF-FM). The Morning Call has an updated list of the federal agencies affected by the government shutdown. Okay, maybe there is such a thing as too much social media: Likely 2020 Democratic prez contender Beto ORourke live-streamed a visit to the dentist (via Politico). Raiding the DoDs budget for money for the wall would contradict previous Trump administration, Roll Call reports, as if consistency from the White House is actually a thing. What Goes On. 10 a.m., Pa. Farm Show, Giant Expo Hall: The Pa. Dept. of Agriculture celebrates environmental and farmland conservation efforts during two back-to-back events at the 103rd Pennsylvania Farm Show. Wolf Watch: Gov. Tom Wolf joins students, teachers, and educators for the 79th and final Schools That Teach Tour stop of his first term. Youll find him at Winding Creek Elementary School in scenic Mechanicsburg at 11:15 a.m. this morning. Heavy Rotation. Heres a soulfully chill way to roll into the weekend. Fridays Gratuitous Hockey Link. Our beloved Carolina Hurricanes saw their winning streak snapped by perennial rivals Tampa on Thursday night. After a listless couple of periods, the 'Bolts rallied to beat the 'Canes 3-1 at home. And now youre up to date. They cheered. Bungie split off from Activision this week, taking control of the Destiny franchise with them, and staff reportedly cheered when the announcement was made. If that doesnt tell you everything about the Bungie/Activision relationship circa 2019, Im not sure what else to add. But I do have some thoughts. Youll find them below, along with a bevy of other news this weekincluding a new Metro Exodus story trailer, delays for Tropico 6 and Dead or Alive 6, free Edith Finch and Fallout, Paradox acquiring Prison Architect, and more. Its been a really busy week. This is gaming news for January 7 to 11. Edith Finch, freed Epics still giving away games to promote the new Epic Games Store, and the latest is a big one: What Remains of Edith Finch, a.k.a. our 2017 PCWorld Game of the Year. Telling the story of the ill-fated Finch family across multiple generations, its one of the most creative games of the past decade. Saying more would ruin the experience, and given the fact its free? You really have no excuse not to try it at this point. Head over to Edith Finchs store page, create an Epic account, and click the big blue button to add it to your account anytime between now and January 25. You can also get A Story About My Uncle for free if you sign up for Humbles newsletter by 1 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. A new hope That bit of bookkeeping out of the way, lets jump to the weeks biggest news: Bungie and Activisions divorce proceedings. We loved Destiny 2s Forsaken expansion last fall, but Activision was apparently less keen on itparticularly its sales numbers, which were lower than expected. Blame it on Destiny 2s weak first year, blame it on Forsaken doubling down on the hardcore audience, either way it was clear Activision and Bungies relationship was souring. Worse, it seemed like Bungie and Activision had different, competing views for where the series should go next. Now that impasse is coming to an end, in probably the best way possible for Destiny fans. Bungie finds itself free from Activision, and with full ownership of Destiny to boot. Thats a marked change from Bungies last split, which saw Microsoft retaining ownership of Halo for all eternity. The Destiny 2 road map remains unchanged as well, and Im half convinced the transition to smaller and less story-centric expansions for year two was made in anticipation of this split. The question is what Bungie does next. A game of Destinys size takes lots and lots of money to make, and I doubt thats a safe bet for an independent developer, even one of Bungies size. Bungie says itll self-publish but, like IO and Hitman, I wouldnt be surprised if Bungie ends up with another publisher soon. But which? There arent many options these days. In any case, best of luck to Bungie. Im interested in seeing what Destiny 2 becomes, sans Activisions influence. Train in vain On to lighter news! Metro Exodus is about a month away from release, and theres a new story trailer this week showcasing its various non-metro environments, weird mutant animals, and the kickass coal-fired train that will carry you to these lush locales. Architecting a new future This is the opposite of the Bungie situation this week. A game that had no PC publisher, Prison Architect, was sold this week to a publisher, Paradox Interactive, because the original developer was just...done with it. Introversions Mark Morris said to Eurogamer, Weve been building and managing this building-and-management game for nearly a decade. I think weve taken Prison Architect just about as far as we can. And so, they sold it. Fans dont seem to have taken too kindly to the news, anticipating a host of Prison Architect DLC in the near future, but Im nevertheless curious to see what Paradox doesnot just with Prison Architect, but the entire concept. As part of the sale, Paradox said its looking to explore opportunities with the wider Architect IP in the future, which sounds like it has the potential to be a modern day Sim[Blank] or [Blank] Tycoon label. Im always down for more themed builder games. Delays A couple of delays this week, though luckily nothing too dire. First up is Tropico 6, originally due to release at the end of January. Its now been pushed back to March 29. The delay announcement comes courtesy of Kalypsos Simon Hellwig, who wrote Over the holidays, I have played Tropico 6 for many hours and really liked what I saw. But, in my humble opinion, it is not enough to like a gameI want to love it! And Tropico 6 is good, but not very good, or outstanding. Yet. Its hard to believe theyll be able to make any substantial changes with just a two-month delay, but...well see, I guess. Then theres Dead or Alive 6. This delay is more understandable as DoA6 was originally supposed to release February 15, a.k.a. the same day as Far Cry: New Dawn, Metro Exodus, and Crackdown 3. Thats enough to make DoA dead on arrival, so while Team Ninja says the delay is for balance and polish reasons I think its likely a tactical move as well. DoA6 is now due on March 1. Project Winter Its the dead of winter, youre scrounging for supplies to keep you and your friends alive, and youre running out of time for rescue. Also, one or more of your friends are traitors, determined to kill the rest and leave your corpses in the snow. Thats the gist of Project Winter, a very boring name for a game that sounds interesting, combining the stealth-multiplayer aspects of something like SpyParty or Murderous Pursuits with modern survival mechanics. My only qualm is that its an eight-person multiplayer game. Given how quickly the multiplayer populations fall off on these sorts of games...youd better pick it up at launch or not at all, probably. Outcast, no more THQ Nordic is starting 2019 at a run, continuing the acquisition streak its been on for the past few years. This time around its purchased the rights to Outcast, the open-world adventure game released way back in 1999and apparently remade as Outcast: Second Contact in 2017. Given the remake just happened I assume this was purchased with intent to make a sequel, but Outcast is pretty niche by 2019 standards. Im not wholly sure what THQs planning to do with all these games its acquiring, to be honest. Crawl out through the Fallouts And lastly, a bit of Fallout news. This actually was announced in December but I missed it: Anyone who played Fallout 76 in 2018 gets copies of Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics for free. Youll find your copies in the Bethesda.net launcher. Click the arrow in the top-left to show the list of every Bethesda game (not just the featured ones in the sidebar), and then youll find the three classic Fallouts somewhere in that list, ready to install. It might not be the most alluring giveaway for longtime Fallout fans, as I assume many of them owned these games alreadymaybe even for free, since GOG.com gave away copies of all three a few years back. But hey, its free games and a bit of good Fallout news. Cheers, Bethesda. (Via PC Gamer) Apple's supply chain executive Tony Blevins testified at the trial between Qualcomm Inc and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Friday. Blevins testified that Apple considered tapping Samsung Electronics and MediaTek Inc along with existing vendor Intel Corp to supply 5G modem chips for 2019 iPhones, reports the New York Times. Blevins testified that Apple has long sought multiple suppliers for modem chips but signed an agreement with Qualcomm to exclusively supply the chips because the chip supplier offered deep rebates on patent license costs in exchange for exclusivity. Blevins did not say whether Apple had reached a decision on a 5G modem supplier or whether it would release a 5G iPhone in 2019. For more on this, read the New York Times report here. Although Bloomberg reported that 5G iPhones won't surface until 2020, and that still may stand, it's been seen as a baffling position. Patently Apple noted in a report this morning that having Samsung and Huawei beat Apple to 5G at this point in time in the market would give their competitors an edge supplying 5G phones to millions in the US. and around the world where 5G was rolling out. As for MediaTek, we reported on the FTC vs. Qualcomm trial on Sunday and noted at one point that "under contract MediaTek was 'not authorized' to sell its chipsets to device makers that didn't have a license agreement with Qualcomm." We noted then that this was likely why MediaTek wasn't a viable alternative chip supplier for Apple's iPhones. 100 years ago Jan. 11, 1919: Captain Eddie Rickenbacker of Columbus, Ohio, is recognized as the top American flying ace of the recent war. Rickenbacker, also a famous race car driver, downed 26 enemy planes. It takes five such kills to earn the ace rating; 63 men did but not all survived. 75 years ago Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Jan. 11, 1944: Billy Miller, a 21-year-old soldier from Peoria, is being hailed as a one-man army. Miller was in Italy when he captured 21 German soldiers all by himself. He convinced them that they were surrounded. 50 years ago Jan. 11, 1969: Fred Kemnetz, the Piper City police chief, is retiring. He gave his notice at the city council meeting, and the council has accepted. There was no word from Village President Merle Harford as to what arrangement the village will make for police protection. 25 years ago Jan. 11, 1994: The Best Western Eastland Suites is in for a major expansion. Plans call for adding a conference center and more suites to the inn. Its owners have bought a 250-by-300 foot parcel of land east of the motel to accommodate the expansion plans. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. I was recently honored with a Land of Lincoln Honor Flight from Springfield to view the Washington memorials. It was the first time I saw the Korean Memorial. I will be forever grateful to that organization and to the many volunteers and donors that made it possible. I still have pleasant memories of my military life in Japan. One such memory occurred when I went along with two buddies to Tokyo. We noticed a crowd was forming on the palace grounds. Later, the emperor and his wife appeared on the balcony. He raised his arm and nodded his head and hell broke out with shouts of Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. The crowd then surged into a massive wave. We were trapped and had to move with the crowd. We began stepping over people who had fallen down. I noticed a little girl down at my feet. We pushed back the people just enough to pull her up and set her on my shoulders. Finally, we made it out of the crowd and turned the little girl over to the police. She never cried or talked and only stared at me with her big dark eyes and rosy cheeks. Later, I learned that over 20 people had died in that stampede. Donald Landers, Bloomington Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The day after Christmas, police officers in Lakeland, Florida, fatally shot a 17-year-old. Police say the young man was driving a stolen car in a crowded parking lot and tried to hit an officer. It was one of 63 fatal police shootings in Florida in 2018, according to The Washington Posts tally of police shooting nationwide. For years, Americans have had to rely on unofficial media counts like the Posts, because the federal government didnt track police shootings. That changed on Jan. 1 when the FBI launched its National Use-of-Force Data Collection Task Force. Finally, an official data set will shed light on officer-involved shootings, and it will include details that will help people understand the nuances of a difficult issue. The lack of reliable information about officer-involved shootings has hampered discussions about use of force and reforming law enforcement. Some communities do an admirable job of reporting police shootings. Orlando, for example, maintains a database on its website. Other locales are content to avoid the uncomfortable conversations that occur around police shootings, especially when white officers shoot black or Hispanic suspects. News media organizations have tried to fill the information gap, but they can do only so much. They dont have access to all the information that law enforcement agencies collect locally, and they lack the reporters on the ground to check in with every jurisdiction. They also dont agree on what to track. The Washington Post tracks when police kill someone, but other organizations track every time a cop fires a weapon or a suspect is wounded. Those third-party efforts also usually leave out crucial context. The headline is how many shootings there were in a month or a year, but theres much more to the story. For example, when an off-duty police officer shoots someone, should that count as a police shooting? Depends which tally you check. Likewise, who initiated the confrontation? Did someone call in a report about a youth with a gun, or did police approach someone on the street for little reason? Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Without the details that fill out the narrative, public conversations about police department policies and accountability too easily turn into blunt shouting. The FBIs new database aims to enable a better discussion. It will track the specifics of incidents that previous tallies could not, such as details about the officers and the victims. The goal isnt to facilitate investigations into individual incidents but to provide a broad data set for national and comparative analysis. The FBI will release statistics at least twice per year that will help researchers, reporters, community activists and anyone else better understand trends in police shootings. Theres a glaring problem though: Participation is optional. Local law enforcement agencies will report shootings only if they choose to. Some will bow out to avoid uncomfortable scrutiny. Others simply wont have the resources to compile the stats needed. However, if participation nationwide is spotty, the FBI and Congress should consider upping the pressure. Threatening to withhold federal funds might convince some reluctant departments to embrace this need for transparency. The public entrusts law enforcement with tremendous power. In return, law enforcement must remain accountable to the public, and that requires accurate data about the most challenging circumstances. Such mutual trust is critical. It may save lives. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Donald Trump has become so weak that even when the formal powers of the presidency favor him the most in his role of commander-in-chief he can be easily rolled. And this feebleness costs him everywhere, including in his impotent bargaining position on his border wall and the shutdown. Last month, Trump declared that U.S. troops would be leaving Syria within 30 days. Thats no longer operative. National Security Adviser John Bolton suggested the withdrawal would only occur under certain conditions and could be months or even years away. Staffers arent supposed to be able to put conditions on a presidents decisions about troop deployments; the Pentagon isnt supposed to be able to, either. Even if you believe, as Richard Neustadt taught, that presidential power is very limited, everyone agrees that a presidents position is strongest with regard to commander-in-chief functions, one of the very few constitutional powers they have that arent easily checked by others. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. And yet the Syria episode is a good demonstration of just how much Trumps influence has eroded through inept presidenting. Slates Fred Kaplan has a good overview of the chaos that reportedly began when Trump simply acted impulsively on Syria after a conversation with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Its not so much that leaving Syria is a terrible option; experts seem to differ on that. Its that Trump ignored the policy process before announcing his decision, and therefore failed to get any buy-in from potential allies within or outside of the administration. Nor did he learn the weak points of his plan, things he might have modified to appease opponents of the policy shift. The result: Widespread condemnation, especially from Republicans, and the resignations of the secretary of defense and the special envoy to the coalition against Islamic State. That December blow-up (and all that preceded it) leave Trump even more vulnerable to Boltons maneuverings against his policy. Sure, Trump could obviously stand up for his plan by firing his national security adviser. But since Bolton is already Trumps third NSA in under two years, and since a third or so of Trumps cabinet is already filled with temporary actings, canning yet another key player would be very costly. Its worth noting, too, that Trump hired Bolton just a few months ago, and its not exactly a secret that Bolton is a hawk when it comes to the Middle East. If Trump wanted to withdraw troops and disengage, hiring Bolton made no sense at all, even given that the White House chaos probably meant that the list of qualified experts willing to take the job was extremely limited. The result: as the political scientist Dave Hopkins put it, More evidence that Trump the authoritarian is actually the weakest president in modern history. While his reputation mattered in Trump's previous careers, he had never been subjected to the kind of attention he is getting as president. There are no political players who are unaware of Trumps dismal professional track record and remain available for him to work the presidential equivalent of Trump University on. And absent the extremely unlikely possibility that hell actually change how he operates and then manage to convince the world of it, its only going to get worse. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Outgoing Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday picked former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and businessman Willie Wilson when asked which Chicago mayoral candidates he preferred. Rauner leaves office on Monday when Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker gets sworn in. "I don't think I should opine too extensively on the mayor's race at this point. I don't think that's appropriate," Rauner said at a meeting of the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. "I just think from a skills and a track record point of view, I think probably Paul Vallas might make the best mayor in my opinion, for what it's worth. "Although Wilson would be an interesting option too," Rauner said. "A little more volatile." Public support from the governor might not be helpful in the Feb. 26 city election. In November, Rauner won just more than 15 percent of the vote in the city. Pritzker pulled more than 81 percent. "I appreciate the Governor's kind words," Vallas said in a statement. "I welcome the support of all Chicagoans who are committed to finding lasting solutions to the daunting problems Chicago is facing." Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Of the mayoral candidates, Rauner said he also knows former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. "I'm very concerned for taxpayers and job creators what would happen with a Preckwinkle or Mendoza administration," he said. "Union officials. Spending proclivities. Ties to the machine." Mendoza and Rauner feuded often in her opening years as Illinois comptroller. The job's control of the state's checkbook put her in a unique position to criticize the governor during the state's two-year budget stalemate. Rauner said he's been friends with Vallas and Wilson for years and talks to them often. He appointed Vallas to an administrative post at Chicago State University, the year after he recorded no taxable income, the Tribune has reported. Over the summer, Rauner appeared with Wilson at a South Side church where Wilson passed out money to pay property taxes and other expenses of congregation members. At the time, Rauner said he had given Wilson $200,000 to help struggling families but did not approve of Wilson handing out cash at the church. "I'm very fond of Vallas and Wilson," Rauner said Thursday. "Don't agree with them on everything. Don't agree with myself some mornings, so that's OK." The governor noted he's not a Chicago voter, as he's registered from his home in Highland Park. Rauner on Wednesday performed one of his final official acts, swearing in the Illinois Senate in Springfield as Mayor Rahm Emanuel watched from the front row. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WAUKEGAN A judge has ordered a former Illinois legislator accused of posting nude photos of an ex-girlfriend to stay off social media. Former state Rep. Nick Sauer on Thursday was ordered held in lieu of $30,000 bail by Lake County Associate Judge Paul D. Novak. The judge also ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victims Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Sauer, who was indicted Wednesday on 12 felony counts of disseminating private sexual images, was handcuffed as he stood in front of Novak during Thursday's hearing. Sauer did not speak during the hearing. Defense attorneys Daniel Locallo and Steve Landis did not comment as they left the courtroom after the hearing. The first-term Lake Barrington Republican announced his resignation last year after his ex-girlfriend made the allegations. Prosecutors say the charges against Sauer stem from an investigation that revealed two victims. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BLOOMINGTON Bloomington-Normal YMCA has met two challenge gifts in its fundraising for a new, larger building to include Easterseals Central Illinois, meaning the proposed building on the OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center campus is another step closer to reality. "I'm ecstatic," YMCA Executive Director B.J. Wilken told The Pantagraph on Friday. "I'm humbled by our donors and grateful for the support this project has received from the community." "We have 106 donors to the campaign and that represents $13,401,733," Wilken said. "Our goal is $16 million. "We've committed to not putting a shovel in the ground until we reach that goal." Wilken said when the project was announced in April 2018, he hoped construction would begin in fall 2019 and open in spring 2021. The location for the proposed 70,000-square-foot building is on the St. Joseph campus, 2200 E. Washington St., Bloomington. It would front Washington Street with St. Joseph Drive and the medical center to the north and OSF's under-construction medical office building to the west. OSF donated six acres of land valued at $3 million to the YMCA. "OSF continues to be excited by the fundraising progress of the Y and Easterseals for the new facility on the OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center campus," said Chad Boore, OSF HealthCare Eastern Region CEO. "The community's support of this initiative is overwhelming and speaks volumes to the power of collaboration," Boore said. "OSF looks forward to this project coming to fruition and the positive impact it will have on the communities we serve." Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. The first challenge gift, announced in September, was $4 million from a Bloomington-Normal family who has chosen to remain anonymous. That gift asked the community to match the $4 million by Dec. 31. Then, in October, Dr. Jerry Oakey, an orthopedic surgeon, and his wife, Dr. Laura Randolph, a plastic surgeon, supporters of the YMCA and Easterseals, pledged to match contributions to the building project from fellow health care providers, up to $200,000. Both challenges have been met, Wilken said, thanks in part to 12 donors who gave at the end of the year. Steve Thompson, Easterseals Central Illinois CEO, said he was "elated" the challenges have been met and said it's indicative of the support the project has in the community. "This is a YMCA project but we (Easterseals) will benefit and the community will benefit," he said. YMCA announced in April that wanted to move from its longtime home south of downtown Bloomington, 602 S. Main St., to a larger building on the St. Joseph campus. Project supporters have said the YMCA has outgrown its 40,000-square-foot building that was built in 1971, is landlocked and can't be expanded. When asked by The Pantagraph in April about the YMCA moving farther from Bloomington's west and south sides, project supporters said that people in need live throughout the Bloomington-Normal area. The proposed building in addition to larger, updated YMCA facilities would include leased space for Easterseals to relocate its therapy and counseling programs from 2404 E. Empire St., Bloomington. The next step is the fundraising campaign's public phase that will kick off May 3, Wilken said. "With these challenges met, the path to success is clear and we look forward to the public phase of the campaign," said Thompson. Contact Paul Swiech at (309) 820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech Love 6 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 3 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Bids to re-use the property were due in October and four proposals were sent to the city, including one from St. Vincent de Paul. The economic development commission vetted the proposals, which also included one from the Community Health Center and one for the Middletown Green Community Center. The common council will need to ratify the agreement between the city and St. Vincent de Paul in February before ownership of the building is officially transferred. BLOOMINGTON The Illinois Department of Corrections has turned down a judge's recommendation to allow a Manito man to serve his prison term for aggravated drunken driving in the state's impact incarceration, or boot camp, program. Chancey Meyer, 24, pleaded guilty in September to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol in a 2016 crash that killed Scott D. Line, 45, of Mason City. The collision occurred on U.S. 136 about half a mile east of County Line Road near McLean. In December, Judge William Yoder sentenced Meyer to four years in prison but a recommendation for the IDOC boot camp program could have meant Meyer would be released within six months. Defense lawyer Kevin Sullivan said Thursday that he has filed a motion asking the judge to modify the sentence in light of the IDOC decision. Sullivan had strong words Thursday for state prison officials who denied the judge's recommendation. "The personnel of the DOC have made an unreasonable, arbitrary decision in this case," that amounted to second-guessing the judge, said Sullivan. Yoder found the defendant eligible for the program that puts young male offenders in a physically challenging and regimented program lasting several months. "The judge is in the best position to tailor a sentence," said Sullivan. The state's Code of Corrections allows the court to recommend an offender for placement in the impact incarceration program but the placement is conditioned upon the inmate's acceptance in the program by the Illinois Department of Corrections, said IDOC spokesperson Lindsey Hess. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} "In determining program approval, the department may consider, among other matters, criminal history, safety and security of any person or the facility, and disciplinary record," said Hess. After the December sentencing hearing, the victim's mother, Rosemary Line, was critical of the boot camp recommendation, calling the months-long sentence "nothing." State's Attorney Don Knapp said his office supported an eight-year prison sentence for the driver. According to a state police accident reconstruction report, Line's vehicle slowed from 48 mph to about 25 mph seconds before his Ford Mustang collided head-on with Meyer's Chevrolet Silverado. Meyer was driving about 60 mph and did not attempt to slow down before the crash, according to state police. Mayer's supporters provided a large number of letters to the judge detailing his volunteer work and completion of substance abuse counseling. Photos: 2018-19 McLean County jail mug shots Contact Edith Brady-Lunny at (309) 820-3276. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_blunny Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Cancellations and closings The following weather-related cancellations and postponements have been reported to The Pantagraph newsroom. To submit a cancellation or postponement, visit Pantagraph.com/cancel. Cancellations are subject to verification and will only be accepted online. Travel The parking ban in Normal has been lifted. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. A parking ban along snow routes in Bloomington began at 5 p.m. Thursday. All residents are encouraged to park off the street, even if the street is not a snow route. Schools Businesses/groups/organizations Henson Disposal garbage/recycle pick up, McLean County; Thursday and Friday routes are one day behind If you have questions about cancellations, contact newsroom@pantagraph.com or call 309-820-3241. BLOOMINGTON The McLean County Emergency Management Agency is alerting Twin City area residents that snowfall of 7 to 8 inches is now projected when the first winter storm of 2019 arrives Friday night. The EMA says on its website that the snow is expected to start falling around 9 p.m. and increase "throughout the night," tapering off to flurries and low wind by 6 a.m. Saturday. The agency also is reporting that, initially, the National Weather Service was predicting a heavy, wet snow, but "it is now supposed to be more 'normal'; slightly wet but not real heavy and not the dry/light fluffy stuff either." EMA, like other first responders, is advising motorists to stay off the roads if possible during the storm. Every storm is different, said Normal Public Works Director Wayne Aldrich. But our plow drivers are kind of anxious. It has been a while since we had some snow for them to move. A winter weather advisory will be in effect from 6 p.m. Friday through midnight Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Lincoln. Our crews are rested and ready to go, said Jim Karch, the public works director for the city of Bloomington. We will prepare our trucks on Friday and work until its out of the way. It might not stick too much at first, but by 3 or 4 in the morning, we should have a pretty good coating, said NWS meteorologist Ed Shimon. We have plenty of available salt and are in good shape, Karch said. Aldrich said the same was true for Normal. Its been a light winter so far, but here we go now, he said. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Anyone driving south will see higher amounts. Decatur and Mattoon are expected to receive about 6 inches of snow. The Taylorville area could see 7 inches. Travel will be rough over most of Central Illinois, added Shimon. Basically, thats all of the way from Interstate 80 south to Interstate 64 near St. Louis. The snow should taper off to flurries by late Saturday night, he said. As the system continues to move east toward the southeastern U.S., snow will spread into Central Illinois Friday night and continue through the day Saturday, forecasters said in a statement released Thursday morning. Some of the snow will become mixed with rain on Saturday, mainly in east Central Illinois and areas along and south of Interstate 70. The heaviest snowfall amounts, of 5 to 7 inches will occur west and southwest of a Springfield to Shelbyville to Olney line. Since the system is still two days away, amounts and location of the heaviest snowfall could change between now and when the system arrives. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency said Thursday that it is coordinating with state agencies if assistance is needed. State officials urged the public to prepare for the storm. Fridays high temperature will be around 35 degrees and Saturdays high will be around 32 degrees. Winds will be out of the east on Saturday and Sunday, with some gusts as high as 15 mph. The sky will clear as next week begins, and temperatures will warm up slightly, hitting 37 degrees by Wednesday. From the archives: Major snowfall of years past Contact Kevin Barlow at (309) 820-3238. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_barlow Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON Changes in the states restaurant inspection scoring system have McLean County Health Department employees spending twice as much time in local restaurants on routine food inspections. Consumers will be able to get a lot more detail from the inspection if they are into the nitty-gritty of it, said Linda Foutch, the food program supervisor at the health department. The department publishes the finalized reports online, and The Pantagraph publishes edited versions. More thorough inspections and new reporting forms from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are placing more emphasis on violations that can cause food-borne illnesses and identifying control measures to eliminate risk factors. Its a major difference in the formatting, Foutch said. The scoring system that was previously used is now gone. The main focus is on the number of violations a restaurant has. Inspections are done one to four times per year to rate how successfully a restaurant meets food handling, storage, processing and service standards on a given day. Those factors still are being considered, but inspectors are placing more emphasis on identifying reasons behind a noted risk. I have had discussions with the inspectors about it, but really, as a restaurant, we are not going to change anything, he said. We are always ready for any inspection at any given time, and always do fine. As long as you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, there is nothing to worry about. Still, Foutch has concerns about restaurants with multiple owners or chain restaurants. Its inconvenient for the inspectors and its inconvenient for the owners and managers of restaurants, she said. In some instances where we might previously take two hours in one of our bigger restaurants, it might take four hours now, and that has an impact on the restaurant because we dont want to be in their way during their peak business hours. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. There will be changes for consumers who view the health departments restaurant inspection scores as well. In the past, a weighted system was used, and after each inspection, the restaurant received an overall score based on points for violations being deducted from a perfect starting score of 100. The weighted score will not be used, and now each violation will be noted. Nothing has changed in the fact that we advise consumers to look at trends, Foutch said. The same goes for now. Follow the trends. Lisa Slater, communications specialist with the health department, said the changes have not appeared on the departments public inspection form as of yet. Things on our website will look different, she said. "We are working very hard to make everything understandable and get everyone the info they want to make decisions on their choices. The Illinois Department of Public Health supplied county health departments with the new forms. The top half of each form lists main risk factors and the interventions for those risk factors. Noncritical violations are listed on the bottom half of the form. Violations included in the 29 risk factors range from supervision whether the person in charge demonstrates knowledge of proper food handling procedures and performs duties satisfactorily to ensuring that food additives are properly identified, stored and used. There are 28 good retail practices, classified as preventative measures to control food safety. Those range from using safe food and water from an approved source to ensuring that all food employees have the proper food handler training. Because of the extra time being spent, it is unclear whether inspectors will still be able to make that goal if they are spending extra time at each facility. We are all pretty stressed right now, Foutch said. Hopefully once the process gets a little streamlined and we are more accustomed to it, things will speed up. But it is taking extra time right now. Contact Kevin Barlow at (309) 820-3238. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_barlow Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need With a weekly newsletter looking back at local history. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Terry A. Skaro, 71, of Elkhart went to be with his heavenly Father on Friday, June 11, 2021. He passed away at Trinity Mother Frances in Tyler, Texas. Terry was born in Denver, Colorado on December 17, 1949. His parents Ed and Mary Skaro. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Elkhart, T State Rep. Jason Wentworth of Clare on Wednesday introduced a plan reforming Michigan's civil asset forfeiture process to protect the due process rights of residents. Wentworth, whose district includes Gladwin County, said the current civil asset forfeiture process violates the civil liberties of Michigan residents by giving law enforcement agencies the authority to keep the property of individuals who haven't even been charged with a crime. "Our local law enforcement officers should be commended. They're doing a great job," Wentworth said in a prepared statement. "But we must also take precautions to ensure innocent people aren't treated like criminals when it comes to civil asset forfeiture. Requiring a conviction will protect the due process rights of Michigan citizens." Wentworth introduced the bipartisan solution alongside Rep. David LaGrand, D-Grand Rapids. The plan laid out in House Bills 4001-02 would require a criminal conviction before law enforcement agencies can take ownership of personal property using the civil asset forfeiture process. "This solution is simple," Wentworth said. "It allows officers to seize property based on probable cause, but requires a criminal conviction before law enforcement agencies can sell or use the property. This will ensure an individual's personal property can easily be returned if they are found not guilty." In 2017, Michigan law enforcement agencies reported confiscating $13.1 million worth of cash and property through civil asset forfeiture. In more than 200 cases, people who were later found not guilty were forced to forfeit their property, never to have it returned. In a staggering 736 cases, charges were never even filed. "Requiring a conviction is a common-sense reform that safeguards the civil liberties of innocent people while still giving our law enforcement officers the tools they need to crack down on convicted criminals," Wentworth said. The legislation has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration. But it already seemed to have support. New Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield asked Democrats to join him Wednesday as he unveiled the legislation, according to the Associated Press. The GOP-led Senate, which also opened its session Wednesday, will not introduce legislation until next week. "We can work together, and we will work together," said Chatfield, who was joined at a post-session news conference by Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel, House Minority Leader Christine Craig and other lawmakers. The legislation is modeled after a bill that won bipartisan approval in the House in May but died in the Senate. The measure would not apply in police seizures of property and currency worth more than $50,000, excluding the value of contraband. When asked about the emotional toll on the family, she says: Its awful. I cant hold back the tears now. My husband is doing his job and hes sworn to his country and his country is failing him in return. A husband and a wife has enough stresses as it is with being a parent and keeping the house afloat when pay is coming in. Having no pay coming in is heartbreaking, and its very stressful on the marriage and the family. Shelter manager Kaci Aschenbrenner said if local citizens asked local governments to make the shelter part of their regular spending, the shelter could survive. Here, she's enjoying the fun part of the job, with a pup she said needs "not just a good home but the right good home." This particular 5-month old female rottie is full of energy and goofy love. BARRON, Wis. A 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed has been found alive, authorities said Thursday. The Barron County Sheriff's Department said on its Facebook page that Jayme Closs has been located and that a suspect was taken into custody. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said Jayme was expected to be reunited with her family Thursday night. Fitzgerald said authorities in Douglas County, about 70 miles north of Barron County, located the girl. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed on its website that Jayme was found in the Town of Gordon at 4:43 p.m. Thursday, and that a suspect was taken into custody 11 minutes later. Neither statement gave any further information about the suspect. The Barron County sheriff's office plans to hold a news conference Friday morning to discuss the case. Gillian Drummond, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and Leonard Peace, a spokesman for the FBI in Wisconsin, declined comment Thursday evening. Both agencies have been involved in the search for Jayme. Jayme Closs has been missing since her parents, James and Denise Closs, were found shot to death Oct. 15 in the family's home near Barron. Investigators said Jayme was quickly ruled out as a suspect. Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23. Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode. "I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive. I've always been a glass half-full kind of guy," Fitzgerald said at the time. Barron Mayor Ron Fladten said Thursday night he hadn't heard any details about Jayme's discovery yet but was overjoyed at learning she is alive. "There was a lot of discouragement because this took quite a while to play out," Fladten said. "A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. It's just a great result we got tonight. It's unbelievable. It's like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again." He acknowledged that Jayme may not be the same person she was before she disappeared. "I hope that she's in good shape," the mayor said. "She's no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future." The notification that Jayme had been found came just four hours after Fitzgerald had taken to Twitter to debunk a report that she had been found alive near Walworth County. Douglas County, where Jayme was found, is hundreds of miles northwest of Walworth County. The Portland Timbers selected forward Ryan Sierakowski out of Michigan State University and defender Lennart Hein out of St. Louis University in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft Friday. The Timbers took Sierakowski with the No. 23 overall pick in the draft and selected Hein with the No. 47 overall pick. The Timbers still hold the No. 71 overall pick (Round Three) and No. 95 overall pick (Round Four) in the draft. The third and fourth rounds of the draft will take place via a conference call at a later date. The MLS SuperDraft has become less relevant over the years as teams have started putting an emphasis on developing players through their academy programs and acquiring top young talent through homegrown contracts. Sierakowski recorded eight goals and five assists in 23 starts for Michigan State in 2018. He finished his Michigan State career with 33 goals and 16 assists in 82 starts. Hein, a native of Hamburg, Germany, appeared in 65 career matches for Saint Louis University, recording six goals and five assists. Sierakowski and Hein likely to compete for spots on Portlands lower division team, T2, this year. They are unlikely to fill holes at the first team level. Portland still has a hole to fill at the forward position with the expected departure of Samuel Armenteros. Striker Jeremy Ebobisse claimed the starting forward position late in 2018 and is expected to play a key role for the club again this season. The Timbers also have an open Designated Player slot that they are likely to fill with a forward. The Timbers are also on the verge of adding a veteran to their backline. The Timbers are on the verge of acquiring the rights to center back Claude Dielna in a trade with the New England Revolution, a source confirmed to the Oregonian/OregonLive Friday. Ive dreamt of this moment ever since I started playing at six years old. Your dream is now a reality, @ryan_rdski8! #RCTID #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/wfZ6FiNZzt Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) January 11, 2019 -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com 503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg A Portland judge sided with prosecutors Thursday by raising the bail of jailed pharmacist Johnny Tuck Chee Chan to $4 million. Prosecutor Bumjoon Park told Multnomah County Circuit Judge Karin Immergut that if 34-year-old Chan posts bail, he could easily set up another hidden video camera in a public restroom and record unsuspecting people again. How do we know hes not stopping by a Starbucks bathroom or a public library bathroom or a Shell gas station bathroom or walking around a mall or grocery store with a mini camera on his shoe like he did before? Park said. ... The public would definitely be at risk. Chan has been jailed since Dec. 7 on allegations that he recorded co-workers using the toilet at the Banana Republic Factory Store near Portland International Airport last year. He had been briefly jailed but released less than two weeks earlier on accusations that he secretly recorded colleagues at a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy in Northeast Portland in 2016 and 2017. Investigators said he also took upskirt footage of female co-workers sitting at desks at Kaiser Permanente and walked around various stores while he used a camera on his shoe to record more upskirt footage of young women. In all, prosecutors said they've identified 78 alleged victims, including minors. Chan has been charged with more than 100 counts of invasion of personal privacy and encouraging child sexual abuse. Park said Chan was masterful at covertly creating the videos, which he watched to feed his out of control compulsion. He filmed them in HD and stereo sound, Park said, capturing colleagues during their most private moments. Chan also manipulated the videos to make them play in slow motion, the prosecutor said. The $4 million in bail was justified, he said, because Chan has considerable means: He worked as a pharmacist for five years before he was fired in late 2017 and appeared to be making $200,000 a year then, Park said. Chan has tried to make himself appear less wealthy than he really is, telling his sister in a recorded jail phone call to take his name off the title of a house, Park said. As Park spoke, Chan looked over at one of his attorneys several times, rolled his eyes and shook his head. Some of his former co-workers at Kaiser Permanente and Banana Republic attended the hearing, filling three rows of the courtroom. Defense attorneys Jeff Turnoy and Mark Cogan had asked the judge to reduce Chan's bail to a total of $485,000. Turnoy assured the judge that Chan doesn't personally have the money to get himself out of jail if bail is set at $4 million. He needs to post $400,000 to be released. The judge asked Turnoy to respond to the prosecutors argument that Chan could film more people on toilets if released from jail. Turnoy said his client doesnt want to jeopardize his freedom. Everybody is watching him. Every single person, Turnoy said. This story has been all over the news. ... Mr. Chan does not intend to go out into the public and cause further damage here. So far, Chan has posted $28,000 toward the bail. -- Aimee Green WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Friday threw cold water on the idea of immediately declaring a national emergency to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, reversing days of signals that he might soon declare the emergency amid a protracted standoff with Democrats over a partial shutdown of the federal government. "What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency," he said Friday afternoon, surrounded by law enforcement officials at a White House roundtable. "I'm not going to do it so fast." The president has defiantly said for days he might declare a national emergency to expedite construction of the wall and his administration has asked agencies to begin preparations. But he has gotten sharp pushback, even from Republicans, at the notion of declaring such an emergency. His lawyers have privately warned that he could be on shaky footing with such a move, according to people familiar with the discussions. The House broke for the weekend Friday, all but ensuring that the partial government shutdown would become the longest in U.S. history. The Democratic-led House held its final votes of the week Friday, including on a measure to ensure that federal workers who are furloughed receive back pay once the government reopens. The bill, which passed the Senate on Thursday, now goes to Trump for his signature. The House also passed another bill that would reopen more shuttered government departments - but it was already declared dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled Senate because of a veto threat from Trump. About 800,000 workers missed a paycheck Friday as the impasse between Trump and Democrats stretched into its 21st day. Without a dramatic turn of events, the shutdown would become one for the record books at midnight. As of early Friday afternoon, there were no signs of serious negotiations underway, and leaders of both chambers announced no plans to meet before Monday. Meanwhile, speculation continued to swirl around whether Trump would declare a national emergency and direct the military to build the wall without congressional consent. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who talks frequently with Trump, said that he expected the president to take that step in a matter of "days, not weeks" but that it was unclear whether doing so would lead to a full reopening of government. Trump took to Twitter to tout his high-profile trip to the border Thursday, writing, "I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion!" "The Democrats, Cryin' Chuck and Nancy don't know how bad and dangerous it is for our ENTIRE COUNTRY," Trump wrote, referencing Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Trump asserted that without a wall or steel barrier our Country cannot be safe. Pelosi said Friday that Democrats have not felt any political pressure to give in to Trump's wall demands. "No, except to stay firm," she said. She dismissed Trump's negotiating style as one destined to fail. "His version of a negotiation is, 'Do everything I want,' " she said. Other Democrats pushed back in television appearances and speeches on the floor. "One person is responsible for shutting down government: Donald Trump," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told his colleagues. He argued that Democrats are open to tightening border security but are not going to "waste money" on what he characterized as an antiquated approach advocated by Trump. Hoyer referred to comments last month by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in which he described Trump's call for a border wall as a "metaphor." "If it is a metaphor for security, we're in," Hoyer said. House Republicans accused Democrats of going through the motions Friday by passing the latest of four bills to reopen parts of the government unrelated to border security. The bill taken up Friday would reopen the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service and several other agencies. The bill passed 240-179, with 10 Republicans joining all Democrats in the chamber supporting it. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., called the exercise "a charade" because Senate leaders have already indicated they do not plan to vote on the bill and Trump has said he would not sign it. "If anybody thinks this is accomplishing anything, it's not," Cole said. "We've wasted the week because our friends can't sit down and split the difference," he added. "I don't think anyone looks particularly good in this. . . . This will end another sad week in this chamber." The bill to ensure workers receive back pay passed 411 to 7. All those who opposed it were Republicans. As part of an effort to continue to build a public case for the wall, Vice President Mike Pence spoke Friday with Customs and Border Protection employees, assuring them, "We're going to build that wall." "Let me assure you that in a challenging time . . . I'm here to say we are with you and we are going to continue to stand with you until you have the resources and reforms to do your jobs, Pence said. The agency is among those with employees working without pay because of the shutdown. Later Friday afternoon, Trump was scheduled to hold what was billed as a "roundtable discussion on border security" at the White House with state, local and community leaders. Amid the stalemate, the White House has been laying the groundwork for a declaration of a national emergency to build Trump's border wall. The administration is eyeing unused money in the Army Corps of Engineers budget, specifically a disaster-spending bill passed by Congress last year that includes $13.9 billion allocated but not spent for civil works projects, The Washington Post reported Thursday. The list includes dozens of flood-control projects in areas affected by recent natural disasters, including the Texas coastline inundated by Hurricane Harvey and parts of Puerto Rico battered by Hurricane Maria. The military construction budget is also being looked at as a potential source for unspent funds, with billions more potentially available there. The notion of declaring a national emergency to bypass Congress has divided Republicans, some of whom see it as an encroachment on congressional authority. "I think the president should not do it," Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters Friday. "I think as a member of Congress I ought to be very selfish about the constitutional powers that we have to appropriate money. I think it might be a bad precedent." Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, Democrats from Virginia, both objected to the use of military funding for the wall while speaking with reporters Friday after a meeting with furloughed workers. Kaine, who sits on the Armed Services Committee and is the only senator with a child on active duty, said military construction dollars are used for things like removing lead from the water supply in troops' housing and hardening overseas bases to better resist a terrorist attack." "There is a lot of emergency expenditures that are already in the queue," he said. "I'd like the ability to compare, well what's more of an emergency right now." Warner said the courts would have to decide if money could be spent on the wall after Congress appropriated it for other uses. "Let's face it," Warner said. "This is an attempt to basically go around the law, to go around the rules. That's why you even see pushback from some in his own party." On Friday, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello also strongly objected to the idea of diverting money intended for hurricane mitigation. "No wall should be funded by the pain and suffering of citizens of the United States who have suffered a tragedy and loss through a natural disaster," he said in a statement. While the emergency declaration has been floated as way to end the standoff between Trump and congressional Democrats, Meadows said such a move by Trump would not necessarily end the partial shutdown. "They're two separate things, and I can tell you that everybody who thinks the national emergency declaration would actually end the shutdown, those two don't necessarily go hand in hand," he said. "They probably would, but they don't necessarily go hand in hand." Pelosi told reporters that she expects the government to reopen if Trump declares a national emergency. "Well, I think that would be his purpose," she said. "Well, I guess his purpose is to build a wall. But remember this about the wall: This isn't a wall between Mexico and the United States." She said Trump is instead trying to distract from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's election interference and other challenges his administration is facing. This is a wall between his failures of his administration, problems that he might have with the Mueller [investigation], people leaving his Cabinet in dismay and disgrace, Pelosi said. Thats the wall hes trying to build between public opinion and what is going on. And so this is his big diversion, and hes a master of diversion. The Washington Post Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read apologized Friday to Oregon College Savings Plan participants for the account access and customer service problems theyve encountered since the program transitioned to a new program administrator four months ago. We fell short on a number of the customer service standards you deserve and have come to expect, Read said in an email that also was signed by Michael Parker, the plans executive director. We apologize, and we want you to know that we are working around the clock to immediately put in place solutions to the issues we have identified. Some 65,000 account holders have $1.8 billion invested in the program, which offers tax-free growth on education savings and tax deductibility of contributions at the state level. The Oregon Treasury switched to a new program administrator in September in an effort to provide a more secure plan with lower cost investments, an improved website and other enhancements. The transition to Sumday has not gone smoothly, however. Some account holders lost online access to their accounts for months. About two-thirds of the 900 plus trust account holders another layer of complexity on top of standard 529 account holders still lack online access to their accounts. Officials say they hope another big batch will be online soon, but note that 200 or so account owners will still require more attention to clean up their data and get online access established. Sumday also was unable to import any historical information as part of the transition, meaning account holders lack online access to any information about deposits, withdrawals and earnings prior to September. Sumday and the Oregon Treasury blamed the previous plan administrator for failing to provide the data in a timely manner and then providing technologically corrupt information that has delayed its availability for four months. That problem is becoming more crucial as tax season approaches, and Treasury now says it hopes to have the information available by the end of the month. Finally, participants have been plagued by customers services issues, lengthy holds on deposits, and an inability to ensure that requested tuition payments are being processed in a timely manner. We are also aware that for some, the customer service experience has been the cause of much frustration, Reads letter said. Many concerns and questions have not been handled promptly or properly, and we are actively working to ensure that this situation does not repeat itself. We know that you deserve the best from us, and we will keep working non-stop until the program lives up to an incredibly high standardboth yours and our own. Read also apologized for the lack of proactive communication to date from the state or Sumday about the problems and what was being done to fix them. He asked participants to watch for important email communications about that progress in the next two weeks. Gov. Kate Brown and Nike co-founder Phil Knight are still on speaking terms, despite a bruising campaign in which Browns camp frequently questioned Knights motives for donating millions of dollars to her Republican opponent. According to the Democratic governors calendar, she spoke with the billionaire a week before Christmas. So, what did Knight and Brown discuss? The governors calendar gives no hint. Knights representatives could not be reached, although a spokesman for Nike said he would pass along a request for comment. However, the governors press secretary Kate Kondayen wrote in an email that the call was a continuation of periodic conversations about the upcoming track and field championships. Earlier in December, The Oregonian/OregonLive had reported that the University of Oregon Foundation backed out from its pledge to cover any financial shortfall for the 2021 Track and Field World Championships in Eugene and that was making state officials uneasy about their commitment to chip in $25 million. Knight is one of the lead funders of the new larger stadium where the event will be held. Leading up to the November election, Brown and her campaign were highly critical of Knights willingness to shower her GOP challenger, Knute Buehler, with campaign cash. The billionaire donated a total of $2.5 million directly to the Bend legislator and sent $1 million to the Republican Governors Association. The association gave Buehler a total of $3.4 million. What causes concern is Knute Buehler is trying to pound a for sale sign in front of the Oregon Capitol, Browns campaign spokesman Christian Gaston told the Salem Reporter in the fall. If he wins, is he going to install a red phone that goes straight to Phil Knight? Although reporters sought interviews with Knight about the reasons behind his prolific spending, he does not appear to have commented in 2018. Willamette Week noted last year that Knight, who has donated to both Republican and Democratic candidates in Oregon, emphasized two concerns in a 2017 interview for a political consultants newsletter: the states public pension shortfall, now around $25 billion, and lackluster political leaders. Nike is highly involved in the governors efforts to raise billions of dollars in business taxes to spend on education, with the Coalition for the Common Good organized by Nike's senior director of government and public affairs Julia Brim-Edwards drafting tax proposals. Nike CEO Mark Parker called the governor the Friday after the election, her calendar shows. "He simply called to congratulate the governor on her victory, Nike spokesman Greg Rossiter said of Parkers call to the governor. Knights contributions helped Buehler stay competitive last year. Buehler and Browns combined $37 million in political spending on the governors race shattered the previous record. They raised similar amounts: Browns coffers reached $18.5 million and Buehler brought in $19.3 million. But whereas Buehler spent nearly all his money on the race, the governor managed to win while holding onto hundreds of thousands of dollars she can now use to push her priorities in the upcoming legislative session. Hillary Borrud hborrud@oregonian.com 503-294-4034 @hborrud Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Police fatally shot a man involved in a custodial dispute at a Eugene middle school Friday morning. Eugene police said the man produced a gun while they were escorting him from Cascade Middle School and that a struggle ensued. Police said they shot and killed the man during the struggle. The fatal shooting happened outside the school. No students, staff or police officers were hurt. Students will stay in school for the remainder of the day, the school said. They will be released through the schools side exits at 3 p.m. Students who are usually picked up from school can meet parents or guardians at a nearby church. The school is still under a lockout. School officials urge the public not to call or come to the school. Police initially responded there about 10:30 a.m. They remained on scene three hours later. Police didnt say how many officers fired their weapons, how many shots were fired or how many times the man was hit. They havent publicly identified the officer or officers involved in the shooting or the man who was killed. Gov. Kate Brown issued a statement on the incident Friday. Gun violence is never acceptable, but in our schools it is a tragedy and a travesty," she said. "Everyone deserves to be free of the fear of gun violence, and for our children to grow and thrive, our schools must be safe. An Oregon State Police investigation is ongoing, and as such its not appropriate for me to comment on any particulars of a case. Cascade Middle School, which is part of the Bethel School District, serves students in sixth through eighth grades. It had an enrollment of 330 in 2017. Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Just how timely, tenacious, and frighteningly thorough was the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries' quest for "substantial evidence" in its critique of sexual harassment at the State Capitol? Brad Avakian's investigative team never bothered to interview Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-Portland. Steiner Hayward was one of two senators to file formal complaints about the creepy and endlessly unwelcome behavior of former Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg. Her complaint is admirably vetted in the 51-page report on Kruse that Dian Rubanoff, an employment law attorney, produced for the Legislature in February 2018. But Avakian and his investigators showed little interest in Steiner Hayward's experience. They relied, instead, on Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, while pressing the case that the Legislature's Democratic leaders knew about sex harassment in the building and "failed to take immediate and appropriate corrective action." "You talk to one (senator) about it, and not the other?" Steiner Hayward said Wednesday. "I'm puzzled. To say the least." Let's puzzle through this together. Few women would quarrel with Avakian's contention that the Capitol has long been a hostile work environment for their gender, rife with "unwelcome verbal or physical conduct." In one grim anecdote, a former legislator recounts how often she saw "young women attending events with their older bosses who were members. Interns on the arms of members." Gelser set a spotlight on that culture. She is unfailingly direct, whether she is addressing the latest foster-care disaster or describing Senate President Peter Courtney's embarrassing rant at a Salishan coffee shop. That candor is a major deal for other women at the Capitol. When Rubanoff interviewed two female law students who interned with Kruse and the young female lobbyist he groped in the Governor's office, she notes the women made clear "they were only willing to come forward and discuss this conduct because Senator Gelser made them feel less vulnerable and alone by publicly disclosing her own complaint about Senator Kruse." To BOLI's credit, its investigators spent considerable time following up with the two former interns, Adrianna Martin-Wyatt and Anne Montgomery. After Gelser went public, she was disappointed by the response of several colleagues. She was stunned when House Speaker Tina Kotek told her that questions about her "likeability" surfaced during the Kruse investigation. Kotek apologized for that last week. Gelser was also frustrated by an exchange about "grandstanding" with Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland. Burdick is the legislator who saw Kruse with his arm around Gelser on the Senate floor during the 2017 session and told him, "Get your hands off of Senator Gelser." As the furor over Kruse's conduct intensified, Gelser called the Senate Majority Leader to discuss the evolving caucus strategy: "Ginny said something to the effect of she wanted results and I wanted to grandstand," Gelser told BOLI investigators. "That was really hurtful." "I wanted Kruse gone," Burdick said Wednesday. "I told my caucus that the best chance of getting a resignation from Kruse was to have us not be the issue. I did use that word: 'Do not grandstand.' I thought that was our best shot: to maintain radio silence, and let the attention stay focused on the Rs." What's more, Burdick adds, that strategy worked: Kruse resigned two days after the release of the Rubanoff report. "It's entirely possible that had we not done that, Kruse would still be here today," Burdick says. "There could have been a contested hearing ... and you know how victims are treated in court." Is that relevant context for Burdick's comment to Gelser? Avakian apparently didn't think so. Burdick says his investigators didn't contact her, either. When you read Rubanoff's report, this much is clear: She spoke to just about everyone in the building, not just the witnesses who helped frame a prescribed narrative or foregone conclusion. Avakian's crew had no such ambition. "Sara has an important piece of the narrative," says Steiner Hayward, a family physician at Oregon Health & Science University. "I have a different piece of the narrative." Had BOLI investigators spoken to her, she added, "I think it would have been a very different report." Steiner Hayward spent the worst part of two legislative sessions dealing with unwelcome physical contact from Kruse and confronting him about it. "I probably put up with too much, not because I didn't feel safe coming forward but because I was trained, like most women my age, to shrug it off," Steiner Hayward told me. When she did come forward, Steiner Hayward said she felt "incredibly supported" by leadership and the disciplinary process: "If you read my complaint, you know what I put up with. It wasn't because someone told me I had to (put up with it). It's because I'm a 55-year-old woman who has worked in male-dominated professions my whole life. There were adult men preying on me as a teenager. I could tell you stories about my medical training. We all had to put up with this." Will women fare better in the first legislative session of the #MeToo era? Steiner Hayward doesn't think Avakian's complaint recognizes the changes wrought by the two senators, the other Kruse survivors, and the Oregon Law Commission. "I'm not the only person who is looking at that report and saying, 'Why the heck didn't they talk to me?'" she says. "When any investigator, whether that be a researcher in a lab or a police officer or a BOLI commissioner, doesn't get as much evidence as possible, you end up with an investigation that is fundamentally flawed. "And that doesn't do the people you're trying to serve any good." -- Steve Duin stephen.b.duin@gmail.com The grand jury said they used social media, among other avenues, to get account information and then write counterfeit checks for sizable withdrawals made before the fraud was uncovered. They also are accused of getting account holders to provide personal information required to access bank accounts including debt card numbers and PIN numbers. I read in the Oregonian that Jeff Merkley is going to the Mexican border for the third time (Merkley visits southern border for third time to investigate 8-year-olds death, Jan. 7). I assume that the U.S. taxpayers are paying for these trips. It is certainly worth the money to have him in Texas trying to help illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, he keeps returning to Oregon. -- Jim Crisp, Forest Grove Researchers say theres a new calf among the population of critically endangered killer whales that live in the waters between Washington state and Canada. Ken Balcomb, founding director of the Center for Whale Research, told The Seattle Times that staff first saw the calf Friday at the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. He said the youngster looks healthy, but survival rates for baby orcas are only about 50 percent. The whales have been starving amid a dearth of salmon. Vessel noise and pollution have complicated their plight. No calf born in the last three years has survived. One whale drew international attention when she carried her dead calf on her head for 17 days last summer. Two other orcas are known to be sick, and researchers fear they could die within months. After years of contentious meetings, the hiring of an outside facilitator to find common ground among stakeholders and a last minute withdrawal by conservation groups, Oregons revised wolf management plan will finally get a vote, nearly five years after it was due. The revised plan will be sent to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife commission for a final vote in March, according to state officials. Wolves have long been a source of strain in Oregon, especially in the northeast and south where the canids are clustered. Conservationists have long argued that the wolf plays an important role in the states ecosystem and has a historical right to exist here. On the other side of the negotiating table, ranchers and hunters have said wolves wreak havoc on livestock and endanger their livelihoods. The answer, according to conservationists, is non-lethal deterrents that will keep wolves from preying on livestock. Ranchers and hunters want more lenient rules on when wolves that repeatedly kill cows and sheep can be killed. The first wolf management plan was implemented in 2005 and revised in 2010, just a year after wolves made their return to Oregon after decades of extirpation. The plan was supposed to be updated every five years, but the 2015 revisions became mired in argument and repeated delays ensued. Last year, The state hired a professional facilitator who presided over five meetings with stakeholders from August 2018 through early January. But just before their last meeting, scheduled for Jan. 8 in Clackamas, all four of the conservation groups Defenders of Wildlife, Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands and the Center for Biological Diversity announced that they would be pulling out of the talks. Quinn Read, Northwest director for Defenders of Wildlife, said none of the proposals put forth by the conservation consortium were seriously considered by state officials, who they claim tried to act both as a stakeholder and a neutral arbiter. It was a very difficult decision to make after years of advocacy and coming to the table in good faith, Read said. If we thought there was still an opportunity for meaningful discussion, we would be there. Derek Broman, carnivore coordinator for the state agency, said it was disheartening to have roughly half the stakeholders pull out just before the last meeting. We were disappointed these groups left the discussion and we did not have the full stakeholder group present at the final meeting, Broman said in a statement. Since the drafting of the original 2005 plan, stakeholders remain very passionate so consensus is challenging to achieve. Jim Akenson, conservation director for the Oregon Hunters Association, recognized that negotiations had been heated at times, but said he felt the process had been fair. The biggest point of contention came over the definition of chronic depredation. Once a wolf has been deemed a chronic depredator, the state can kill the wolf to protect livestock. Currently, the Plan allows for consideration of lethal removal after two confirmed depredations within no specific time frame, the state said in a statement. But ODFW typically authorizes lethal removal after three or more confirmed depredations. In practice, ODFW has denied more lethal removal requests for wolves than it has approved. It remains to be seen what criteria will need to be met for the chronic depredator label to be applied. Officials said the revised plan would be available to the public prior to the commissions vote on March 15. -- Kale Williams kwilliams@oregonian.com 503-294-4048 @sfkale Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Nearly a year after a jury awarded up to $7 million to a man shot at his home by Washington County and Hillsboro officers while they were looking for someone else, a judge has dramatically reduced the damages he can recover. A federal jury last February awarded $2.5 million to Adalberto Flores-Haro for battery and $4.5 million for negligence by the Washington County sheriffs deputy and a Hillsboro police officer who shot him. But the jury also found Flores-Haro 42 percent negligent, reducing the negligence award to $2.6 million and the total verdict to about $5 million. Flores-Haro had stepped out of his North Portland home with a gun, fearing an intruder on his property, after hearing several men going through in his yard in March 2012. Read: JURY VERDICT FORM Read: Opinion by U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman Since then, U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman found the jury made an error and further reduced the damages that Flores-Haro can recover to $1.13 million, partly due to an Oregon tort claim law capping damages for cities and counties in civil cases. Mosman, who was the trial judge, called the revised amount still a significant recovery. Flores-Haro and his lawyer disagree. They argue that the final award barely covers his hospital costs and attorney fees and the pain he must bear the rest of his life. They plan to challenge the reduced verdict and argue the case highlights the inadequacy of Oregons tort claim law. Flores-Haro, a married father of six, was shot in his right elbow, hand and abdomen in March 2012 and can no longer work. He was hospitalized for 27 days initially, underwent 14 surgeries and has permanent and lasting injuries. Bullets from the officers' M-4 rifles whizzed through the Flores-Haros family home. Its a travesty, frankly, said attorney Beth Creighton, who represented Flores-Haro during his two-week federal trial. Its basically the legislators who made the law, who never heard of Flores-Haro, never heard a shred of evidence and are making a determination of how much hes been harmed. Thats just fundamentally unjust. Adalberto Flores Haro with his wife Alma Granados-Millan. The jury, after deliberating for nearly three days, found two Washington County tactical officers liable for battery and negligence when they failed to identify themselves after their fellow team members traipsed through Flores-Haros yard at night to serve a search warrant at a home two doors down. Flores-Haro emerged from his New Columbia home, cursing and shouting at the unknown figures, who ordered him to "Get back in your house!'' Flores-Haro then retrieved a .44-caliber revolver and when he stepped out his front door again, a Washington County deputy and a Hillsboro officer fired their M-4 rifles a total of 14 times, shooting him at least five times. Lawyers for Washington County and Hillsboro successfully argued after the verdict that Flores-Haro could recover multiple damages only if there were separate injuries. They convinced the judge that the wounding of Flores-Haro from 14 continuous, rapidly fired shots represented one event and a single harm. Eight months after the verdict, Mosman ruled the jury had made an error by awarding damages for two harms battery and negligence -- when lawyers for Flores-Haro had only proven one harm. The jury verdict form, though, had provided potential verdicts for each offense. The judge said Flores-Haros lawyers failed to show a significant separation between the wounds he suffered that would allow the jury to separate the harm attributable to negligence from the harm attributable to battery. The judge asked Haro-Flores and his lawyers to choose damages for one of the offenses, and they chose battery. For the battery offense, Mosman also ruled that the jurys separate award of $1.5 million for economic damages, including medical costs and loss of wages, was higher than what was proven at trial, about $498,000. Then, the judge further limited the damages that Flores can recover to $1.13 million, citing the Oregon Tort Claims Act, which at the time of the shooting set the limit for a city or countys liability at $566,700. That adds up to $1.13 million applied separately to Hillsboro and Washington County. Flores-Haro, who had trouble sitting through the trial because of back pain suffered from his wounds, called the jury trial just a big show since the jurys initial verdict no longer stands. Its not only taken away my clients right to a fair trial, Creighton said, but its essentially committing a fraud upon the jury. Shes considering challenging the final award to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals or asking the Oregon Supreme Court to review the Oregon Tort Claims Act as it applies to this case and pushing for a change in state law. If Flores-Haro had been shot by a state trooper, hed be entitled to recover twice the amount he can now because the cap for a state public body is twice as high as that set of local municipalities, his lawyer noted. Let the juries decide, Creighton said. Stay out of the jury room. Few challenges to Oregons tort claim law have succeeded. In 2016, the Oregon Supreme Court found limits on damages to plaintiffs set by the Oregon Tort Claims Act are constitutional in a medical malpractice case. The state Legislature could make changes to the law, but any move to do that would likely trigger a battle with publicly funded agencies that argue raising or abolishing the limits would come at great expense to taxpayers. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian About 100 Portland-area air traffic controllers on Thursday picked up their first paychecks since the federal government shut down 20 days ago. For most, the checks were worthless. Net pay: $0. The air traffic controllers continue to work full time because theyre considered necessary employees. Theyre just not being paid -- and wont be -- while President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress bicker over Trumps demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. My members are borrowing money, theyre deferring mortgage payments, said Eddie Delisle, a union official in Portland representing the controllers. Theyre in limbo, theyre paralyzed by the stalemate. U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, a Democrat from Eugene, appeared at a rally for the air traffic controllers on Thursday in Washington, DC. As the newly installed chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the nations air travel system falls under his watch. The president wants to talk about national security, DeFazio said, whats more critical than running the biggest, busiest air transportation system in the world? There are over 14,000 air traffic controllers who got paychecks worth zero today. All for an ineffective, stupid wall. Lawmakers have been unable to reach a spending deal to end the government shutdown that began Dec. 21. The impasse has closed parts of the government, cutting scattered services and leaving 800,000 workers without pay. Most will miss their first paycheck on Friday, according to The Associated Press. DeFazio predicted the shutdown could end as soon as Friday if Trump successfully employs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its money to fund the wall. Trump is reportedly close to declaring a national emergency, which would allow him to enlist the Corps of Engineers to design barriers and let contracts to build them. Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, who commands the corps, on Thursday accompanied Trump to McAllen, Texas, which sits near the Mexican border. Trump said the declaration could happen at any time. But bypassing Congress constitutional control of the nations purse strings would almost certainly spark a legal challenge and bipartisan cries of executive overreach. DeFazio said he would do his best to block such a plan. The House Transportation Committee also oversees infrastructure and has considerable oversight and funding authority over the Corps. The Corps has more than enough to do already, he said. They have a $40 billion backlog of critical infrastructure improvements, he said. To take $5 billion out of the Corps would be an obscenity, an incredible waste of money. I would certainly oppose diverting that money. Oregons congressional delegation, Democrats and Republicans alike, are unanimous in wanting to restore government funding and ending the shutdown. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, a Republican from Hood River, broke with Trump last week. He said he favors a wall, but not at the expense of federal employees. I dont agree that it makes sense to furlough the people working on the biological opinion in the Klamath Basin, forest fuels reductions in central Oregon, or grazing permits in eastern Oregon, Walden said in a statement. How does a nearly month-long work stoppage benefit taxpayers who are waiting for decisions and plans and permits? And we know not many people can afford to miss a paycheck, so I have empathy for the federal workers and their families who are caught up in this. Several other Republicans also have come out for ending the shutdown, even as Trump says hes prepared to let it go on for months or even years. One of the latest defectors is U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Battle Ground in Southwest Washington. To everyone not infected by partisan politics, the situation is ludicrous, she said. Theres a solution at hand, if politicians grow up, stop worrying about which side is winning the political fight (spoiler alert: theyre both losing) and deliver results, she wrote in an editorial that ran in the Columbian newspaper in Vancouver. As the partisan battle rages, air traffic controllers feel like pawns. All of the Portland-area controllers have continued to work their full shifts, some have worked overtime, Delisle said. The lucky ones got paid $40 in their latest pay period. The unlucky got nothing. The difference depended on whether they worked on Christmas Eve, the last day for which there was funding. Regardless, the day will soon come when some of the controllers simply wont be able to afford to continue to work for free. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management this week advised federal employees who were running out of money to warn their creditors that they likely wouldnt be able to pay their bills on time. The office suggested employees barter with their creditors, offering goods and services rather than money, Delisle said. Were your average Americans, he said. Some of us have savings, some dont. What happens when the money runs out? Do my members take a restaurant job? Do they drive for Uber? The Associated Press contributed to this report. Former Standard Insurance Company chief executive Eric Parsons, who spent 40 years with the Portland business, died Wednesday at age 70, according to the company. A graduate of Lewis & Clark College and Northwestern Universitys School of Mortgage Banking, Parsons joined The Standard in 1968. He served as CEO and chairman of The Standard and its parent company, StanCorp Financial Group, from May 2004 until June 2009. Earlier that year he suffered what the company called a minor heart attack. The Standard did not disclose a cause of death in Thursdays announcement. Additionally, Parsons served on the boards of the Oregon Business Council, the Oregon Community Foundation, OHSU Foundation, the Oregon Historical Society, the Portland Art Museum and the Portland Development Commission. Survivors include his wife, Janet. StanCorp, founded in 1906, sold to Tokyo-based Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co. for $5 billion in 2015. Its headquarters remain in downtown Portland. -- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 North America Radiotherapy Market Companies Profiles Covering key market players Varian Medical Systems, Inc.,Elekta AB, Accuray, Inc., CIVCO Medical Solutions, Brainlab AG, C. R. Bard, Inc https://www.researchformarkets.com/sample/north-america-radiotherapy-market-348040 https://www.researchformarkets.com/reports/north-america-radiotherapy-market-348040 https://www.researchformarkets.com/inquiry/north-america-radiotherapy-market-348040 North America radiotherapy market is expected to reach a CAGR of 7.8% in the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The new market report contains data for historic year 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.The report gives inside and industry Outlook on North America Radiotherapy market. It helps in imagining the arrangement of the North America Radiotherapy market complete analysis regarding type and applications, featuring the key business resources and key players. North America Radiotherapy Market development divisions and distinguishes factors driving change. This Research helps in understanding the dynamic condition, markets significant players, and driving brands. The North America Radiotherapy Market five-year period can evaluate how the market is forecast to evolve. This analysis gives an examination of various segments that are relied upon to witness the quickest development amid the estimate forecast frame. Recognize the most recent North America Radiotherapy market improvements, share, and systems utilized by the significant market.Get Sample Report @Key Market PlayersThe key market players for North America radiotherapy market are listed as- Varian Medical Systems, Inc.,Elekta AB, Accuray, Inc., CIVCO Medical Solutions, Brainlab AG, C. R. Bard, Inc., IsoRay Medical, Inc., Nordion, Inc. , RaySearch Laboratories AB , PRECISIS AG, Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. , Technicas Radiofiscas S.L. , Hitachi, Ltd. , Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation , ProNova Solutions, LLC,ProTom International LALLEMAND Inc., Brenntag North America, Inc., Kerry Inc., Caldic B.V.Market SegmentationBy Therapy (Beam Radiotherapy, Brachytherapy, Systemic Radiotherapy), By Product Type (External Beam Radiotherapy, Internal Radiotherapy Products, Radiotherapy Softwares, Systemic Radiotherapy), By Application (Prostrate Cancer, Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Spine Cancer, Liver Cancer, Brain Cancer, Others), Country (U.S., Canada and Mexico)Major growing sectors under the market segmentation are as follows:In therapy type, The beam radiotherapy is dominating the market with the highest market share as it is the form of radiotherapy where radiation in the form of beams are targeted on the tumor site with the help of various instruments the most common one being a Linear Accelerator (LINAC). This destroys cancer cells while sparing surrounding cancerous cells. Beam radiation can be used to treat large areas of the body. Whereas, brachytherapy is growing in the market as it is used to treat multiple forms of cancers some of the major applications are prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, penile cancer among others.Get Full Report @In product type, External beam radiotherapy is the dominating the radiotherapy market as it is the most common type of radiation therapy used for cancer treatment. It is used to aim high-energy beams from outside the body into the tumor. The systemic radiotherapy is growing with high pace as this technology is used for the treatment of various types of cancers systemically. This technique uses radioactive materials which leave the body through urine, saliva and other fluids.Enquire before buyingNote: 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 Wireless Charging Market Size 2019 by Top Key Players: Samsung, Ergo (AirCharge), BEZALEL, FONE, IOttie, Lenmar, Gill Electronics, NXP Semiconductors, Humavox, Semtech Corporation, Integrated Device Technology, Inc., Wireless Charging Market Size https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/87354?utm_source=openpr.com&utm_medium=Abhi https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/87354?utm_source=openpr.com&utm_medium=Abhi https://www.marketstudyreport.com/enquiry-before-buying/87354?utm_source=openpr.com&utm_medium=Abhi https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/blog Recently, Market Study Report, LLC, documented a study on the Wireless Charging Market which encompasses significant inputs with respect to market share, market size, regional landscape, contributing players, and revenue projection of this industry vertical. The report also educates investors regarding the existing tends, prime challenges, and current expansion strategies applied by the key organizations that constitute the hyperactive competitive gamut of this business sphere.This report focuses on the Wireless Charging in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample of this premium report atMarket Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Samsung Ergo (AirCharge) BEZALEL FONE IOttie Lenmar Gill Electronics NXP Semiconductors Humavox Semtech Corporation Integrated Device Technology, Inc.Wireless charging also known as wireless power transfer, is the technology that enables a power source to transmit electromagnetic energy to an electrical load across an air gap, without interconnecting cords. Wireless Charging Receiver and Transmitter are the devices help to add Wireless Charging to Any DeviceMarket Segment by Type, coverso Residential useo Commercial useMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoo Receiver Applicationso Transmitter ApplicationsRequest a discount on standard prices of this premium atThere are 10 Chapters to deeply display the global Wireless Charging market.Chanter 1, to analyze the top manufacturers of Wireless Charging, with sales, revenue, and price of Wireless Charging, in 2015 and 2016;Chapter 2, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2015 and 2016;Chapter 3, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Wireless Charging, for each region, from 2011 to 2016;Chapter 4, 5, 6 and 7, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 8 and 9, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2011 to 2016.Chapter 10, Wireless Charging market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2016 to 2021.Table of ContentsGlobal Wireless Charging Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 20211 Manufacturers Profiles1.1 Samsung1.2 Ergo (AirCharge)1.3 BEZALEL1.4 FONE1.5 IOttie1.6 Lenmar1.7 Gill Electronics1.8 NXP Semiconductors1.9 Humavox1.10 Semtech Corporation1.11 Integrated Device Technology, Inc.2 Global Wireless Charging Market Competition, by Manufacturer3 Global Wireless Charging Market Analysis by Regions4 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Wireless Charging by Countries5 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Wireless Charging by Countries6 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) Wireless Charging by Countries7 Latin America, Wireless Charging by Countries8 Wireless Charging Market Segment by Type9 Wireless Charging Market Segment by Application10 Wireless Charging Market Forecast (2016-2021)11 Appendix11.1 Methodology11.2 Analyst Introduction11.3 Data SourceBuying decision on this premium ReportAbout 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 Report LLC4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog: Mali Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Market Growth, Analysis, Trends, and Industry Key Players Planor Afrique, Afribone, CEFIB, Datatech | 2019 Mali - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband 2019 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2534408-mali-telecoms-mobile-and-broadband-statistics-and-analyses https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2534408-mali-telecoms-mobile-and-broadband-statistics-and-analyses www.wiseguyreports.com WiseGuyReports.com Mali - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses report has been added to its Research Database.Scope of the Report:Mali grants its first LTE licence. Mali has a challenging geography for the provision of telecommunication services, with large tracks of the country being sparsely populated desert. Many settlements are hard to reach, making them difficult and expensive to service with effective backhaul infrastructure. Security issues have also been a concern, leading to delays in the national backbone network being built by Huawei.Compounding these difficulties is the fact that underinvestment in fixed-line networks has meant that telecom infrastructure is barely adequate to serve consumer needs in most towns and is largely absent in many areas of the country. In addition, a combination of poverty, high illiteracy and low PC use has led to a very low take-up of fixed-line internet services. In common with many other countries in the region, Mali has taken to mobile networks for voice and data services.Orange Mali entered the market as the second mobile and fixed-line operator in 2003 and soon became the dominant provider. The duopoly with national telco, Sotelma, continued until late 2017 when Alpha Telecom (after much delay) launched mobile services. A fourth mobile licence is also being considered by the government in a bid to improve market competition. In June 2018 the Algerian operator Mobilis expressed an interest in entering the Malian mobile market by acquiring this licence.Request Sample Report:Mobile penetration in Mali is relatively high and given the sparse nature of the fixed-line infrastructure there is considerable potential for mobile broadband services. Nevertheless, Malis landlocked location makes it dependent on neighbouring countries for international bandwidth, which has kept prices high. Improvements in this sector can be expected from the recent arrival of several new competitive international submarine fibre optic cables in the region, while the government in late 2017 set in motion plans for a local Internet Exchange Point.Key developments:Malitel launches Mobicash money transfer service, secures 4G licence;Orange Mali pays XOF100 million for renewed 15-year concession;Alpha Telecom Mali launches mobile services;Government agrees loan to fund the Mali Numerique 2020 fibre network project;Huawei granted extension to complete the national fibre backbone network;Vodafone Wholesale completes its second fibre-optic network connecting Ghana to Mali and Niger;Orange Mali and Ecobank develop m-banking service;G5 Sahel countries adopt free mobile roaming measures;Sonatel begins project to upgrade its network infrastructure;Report update includes the regulators market data for 2016, telcos operating data to Q3 2018, recent market developments.Companies mentioned in this report:Societe des Telecommunications du Mali (Sotelma, Maroc Telecom, Vivendi), Orange Mali (Ikatel, Orange Group), Monaco Telecom, Planor Afrique, Afribone, CEFIB, Datatech.For Detailed Reading Please visit @Major Key Points in Table of Content:1. Key statistics2. Country overview3. Telecommunications market3.1 Historical overview4. Regulatory environment4.1 Historical overview4.2 Regulatory authority4.3 Telecom sector liberalisation4.4 Privatisation5. Fixed network operators5.1 Sotelma5.2 Orange Mali6. Telecommunications infrastructure6.1 Overview of the national telecom network6.2 International infrastructure6.2.1 Terrestrial/submarine fibre6.2.2 Satellite7. Fixed-line broadband market7.1 Introduction and statistical overview7.2 Broadband statistics7.3 Fixed-line broadband technologies8. Digital economy8.1 e-health9. Mobile market9.1 Market analysis9.2 Mobile statistics9.2.1 General statistics9.3 Mobile infrastructure9.3.1 4G (LTE)9.4 Mobile data9.4.1 SMS9.5 Mobile broadband9.6 Regulatory issuesContinuous.....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.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK) Maldives Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Market Overview, Growth, Challenges, Opportunities and Industry Key Players Dhiraagu, Wataniya, Ooredoo Maldives | 2019 Maldives - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband 2019 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/650971-maldives-telecoms-mobile-and-broadband-statistics-and-analyses https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/650971-maldives-telecoms-mobile-and-broadband-statistics-and-analyses www.wiseguyreports.com WiseGuyReports.com Maldives - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses report has been added to its Research Database.Scope of the Report:Ooredoo Maldives extends FttP services to more than 40 islands. Although the Maldives has a population of only 360,000 the telecom market is bolstered by the considerable influx of tourists. Steady growth in recent years has attracted international investment, including the Qatar-based Ooredoo Group. The vibrant tourist sector helps to account for the unusually high mobile penetration rate, though multiple SIM card use is also widely adopted. In addition a large number of expatriate workers require SIM cards on a semi-temporary basisThe two licensed operators, Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun (Dhiraagu) and Ooredoo Maldives, have both invested in HSPA and LTE infrastructure, providing coverage to all populated islands. Dhiraagu in late 2018 also demonstrated 5G. These developments have encouraged the take-up of mobile broadband services among subscribers. Both operators also provide fixed-line services.The country has given priority to telecom infrastructure upgrades, with considerable success. There is a well-developed national network, though investment has been concentrated in the capital Male as well as in the tourist resort islands.The submarine cable connection to Sri Lanka improved international bandwidth and helped reduce access pricing for end-users. A second submarine cable linked the archipelago to India in 2006. Additional cables linking the main atolls has substantially strengthened domestic connectivity.Request Sample Report:This was augmented by a new inter-island National Submarine Cable network contracted by Ooredoo Maldives: the 1,200km nationwide system, which came into service at the end of 2016, supports traffic demand arising from increased use of mobile broadband and fibre. In 2016 international internet bandwidth increased 37%.Key developments:Ooredoo Maldives extends SuperNet FttP service to more than 40 islands;Dhiraagu completes upgrade of the fixed broadband network in Male, trials 5G services;Ooredoo and Huawei Marine complete nationwide submarine cable project;Ooredoo Maldives completes IPO;Report update includes the regulators market data to October 2018, operator data to Q3 2018, recent market developments.Companies mentioned in this report:Dhiraagu, Wataniya, Ooredoo Maldives, Focus Infocom, Thuraya, Cable & Wireless Communications.For Detailed Reading Please visit @Major Key Points in Table of Content:1.Key statistics2.Country overview3.Telecommunications market3.1 Historical overview4.Regulatory environment4.1 Regulatory authority4.2 Telecommunications plans4.3 Telecom sector liberalisation5.Fixed network operator6.Telecommunications infrastructure6.1.1 Domestic satellite service6.2.1 Satellite networks6.2.2 Submarine cable networks7.Fixed-line broadband market7.1 Government Network of the Maldives (GNM)7.2 Broadband statistics7.3 Fixed-line broadband technologies8.Mobile market8.1 Market analysis8.2 Mobile statistics8.3 Regulatory issuesContinuous.....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.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK) Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Governor of the Bank of the Lao PRD Sonexay Sitphaxay (Photo: VNA) The PM briefed his guest on outcomes of the 41st meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, which he chaired alongside his Laos counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi on January 5th-6th. The two sides reviewed collaboration in 2018 and agreed on a cooperative plan for 2019, focusing on raising two-way trade by at least 10 percent as compared with the previous year, he said. PM Phuc affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to assist the Lao Government in economic stabilisation and development. He asked SBV Governor Le Minh Hung to instruct the banking sector to aid the BOL, suggesting sending experts to Laos to help improve professional knowledge for BOL officials. The leader expressed his belief that Vietnam and Laos will work together to realise initiatives and agreements reached by their leaders, covering sectors which the BOL and the Lao Government are interested in. For his part, Sonexay Sitphaxay said he is glad to attend the SBVs conference to put forth tasks for 2019 the same day, saying through the event, the Lao side has learnt from the Vietnamese central banks experience in management. He noted his hope for more cooperation, support and experience sharing from Vietnam in the fields of finance and banking./. Dust Control Market 2024 | Quaker Chemical Corporation, Nederman Holding AB, Sly Environmental Technology Ltd., JKF Industri A/S, Global Road Technology, Donaldson Company, Inc. https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114739/Dust-Control-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114739/Dust-Control-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114739/Dust-Control-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/ The global market for dust control positively influenced by precautionary maintenance of dust control equipment & recent testing of advanced dust control technology that are constraining the levels of dust pollution in the world.Dearth of fresh and clean air continues to traumatize people across the world, commending local authorities to take measures towards curbing the causes that alter the fabric of breathable air. Among common antecedents such as carbon emissions, fossil fuel combustion, and industrial smoke, the atmospheric balance is adversely altered by rising incidences of dust pollution. The need for effective dust control systems has become a zenithal priority for municipalities and counties across the world. The evident risks of dust pollution recorded in Asia-Pacific countries such as India and China continue to fuel the use of dust control systems to reduce the profusion of smog and dust haze. Anticipated to be reach a market value of US$ 17.41 billion by the end of 2024, the global market for dust control is projecting to garner US$ 12.3 billion sales by 2016-end.Request For Report Sample:A recently published analysis report on the global dust control market by Research Report Insights (RRI), titled Dust Control Market by 2024, illustrates how the considerable rise in mineral processing industries, rampant construction of roads & edifices, and excavation & mining activities are propelling the amount of dust present in the air. The report takes into account several recent developments that have impacted the growth of global market for dust control. Insufficiency of oxygen continues to risk the lives of millions in India, especially in New Delhi, and in China. Dust treatment measures are being actively adopted by municipal and county authorities in such regions, as well as in the ones that are on the brink of witness major air pollution due to higher dust exposure. Maintaining dust control equipment has been a key priority in such measures in order to avoid incidences of additional dust deflection from malfunction control systems.Global leaders in mining and metallurgical industry such as Southern Peru Copper Corporation have recently began testing an advanced microbial dust control technology (EA1) which is developed by Earth Alive Clean Technologies, Inc., a leading Canadian manufacturer of microbial-technology products that deliver sustenance to eco-friendly mining & agriculture. Other prominent players in the global market for dust control systems, included in the report, are, Quaker Chemical Corporation, Nederman Holding AB, Sly Environmental Technology Ltd., JKF Industri A/S, Global Road Technology, Donaldson Company, Inc., and Beltran Technologies, Inc., among others.Request Report Discount:A regional overview of the global dust control market mentioned in the report has classified the growth of the market into North America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. Owing to the dense presence of dust in several cities in India and China, and the grating excavation activities witnessed in several Southeast Asian countries have resulted in APEJ region to dominate the market through 2024, expanding the value of its dust control market at 4.5% CAGR.In order to analyze the growth in demand for such advanced dust control systems, the report has segmented the global market into types of systems and their applications. Dry type dust control system and wet type dust control system are the key bifurcations of the global market based on the type of dust control systems. Applications of dust controls systems include end-use industries such as chemical & processing, mining, oil & gas, power & utilities, construction, pharmaceuticals, and other niche industries such as food and metal & finishing, among others.Report Analysis:About Us:Research Report Insights (RRI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver a host of services including custom research reports, syndicated research reports, and consulting services which are personalised in nature. RRI delivers a complete packaged solution to clients; this combines current market intelligence, technology inputs, statistical anecdotes, valuable growth insights, 360-degree view of the competitive framework, and anticipated market trends.Contact Us:Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website:Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com Semiconductor Dicing Machines Market to Gain Highest Future Growth by 2026 | Top Manufacturers are ACCRETECH (Tokyo Seimitsu's brand), Synova, Disco, IPG Photonics Corporation, ... among others Semiconductor Dicing Machines https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/249367 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/discount/249367 Worldwide Market Reports added Latest Research Report titled Global Semiconductor Dicing Machines Market, 2017 Market Research Report" to its Large Report database. The study provides information on market trends and development, drivers, capacities, technologies, and on the changing capital structure of the Semiconductor Dicing Machines Market.The Report highlights key market dynamics of sector. Various definitions and classification of the Market, applications of the Market and chain structure are given. The current market scenario and future prospects of the sector also have been studied. Additionally, prime strategically activities in the market, which includes product developments, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, etc., are discussed.Get Sample copy of research report:This Semiconductor Dicing Machines Market report 2019-2026 focus on global and regional market, providing information on major players like manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, traders, customers, investors and etc., major types, major applications from global and major regions such as Europe, North America, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and etc. Data type include capacity, production, market share, price, revenue, cost, gross, gross margin, growth rate, consumption, import, export and etc. Industry chain, manufacturing process, cost structure, marketing channel are also analyzed in this report.In this study, the years considered to estimate Semiconductor Dicing Machines Market size to grow from XX Million in 2018 to XX Million by 2026, at an estimated CAGR of XX%:Initial Year: 2018Historic Year: 2014 - 2018Projected Year: 2019Forecast Year: 2019 - 2026Semiconductor Dicing Machines market report covers the Key Players' data, including: shipment, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size.Major Players operating in market includes: ACCRETECH (Tokyo Seimitsu's brand), Synova, Disco, IPG Photonics Corporation, ... among othersThis Semiconductor Dicing Machines market report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment etc. cover different segment market size. Also cover different industries clients' information, which is very important for the Key Players.Semiconductor Dicing Machines 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 etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Key Reasons to Purchase:1) To gain insightful analyses of the market and have comprehensive understanding of the global market and its commercial landscape.2) Assess the production processes, major issues, and solutions to mitigate the development risk.3) To understand the most affecting driving and restraining forces in the Semiconductor Dicing Machines market and its impact in the global market.4) Learn about the Semiconductor Dicing Machines market strategies that are being adopted by leading respective organizations.5) To understand the future outlook and prospects for the market during years 2019-2026.In the end, Semiconductor Dicing Machines market report provides valuable information for companies like manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, traders, customers, investors and individuals who have interests in this industry.Get Best Discount on Research Report:About WMRWorldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunities and shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market Reports1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154,U.STel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.com Drug Screening Market Major Trend in North America 2019 - Siemens Healthnieers, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Quest Diagnostics, Roche Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Express Diagnostics Int'l Inc Drug Screening Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1507 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/north-america-drug-screening-market-1507 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1507 Drug Screening Market - OverviewDrug abuse, especially among the young population, is a common problem, and high rates of alcohol and drug use make universal screening of drugs necessary. In North America, various schools, hospitals, and offices have established drug testing models which boost the growth of the market.Governments of different countries have endeavored to maintain a drug-free and healthy environment in the form of fundraising has helped the market expand. Relaxation of state marijuana policies in the North America region has impacted the growth of the drug screening market. With the legalization of recreational marijuana, there has been a surge in drug screening. Moreover, workplace drug testing is a crucial driver of the market. Pro-employer laws which give employers the right to maintain a drug-free workplace increases screening for marijuana and other drugs.Sample Report atOrgan-on-a-chip innovations are also fueling the growth of the North America drug screening market. Novel organ-on-a-chip platforms allow better and accurate insight into the possible effects of drugs in the human body. Sports drug screening is a significant factor in supporting the growth of the market. Drug screening is widespread in the sports field to promote and protect doping-free sport. Athletes often indulge in performance-boosting drugs which makes screening essential. Stringent drug abuse laws imposed by the government in the region mandating drug testing has also contributed to the growth of the market. However, drug screening is a violation of privacy rights in some countries which is a restraining factor to the growth of the market.Drug Screening Market - Competitive LandscapeThe North America drug screening market is highly competitive, characterized by the presence of few established key players. To sustain the intense competition, the market participants are leveraging various strategies such as product launch, mergers, acquisition, and partnership.The notable players operating in the North America drug screening market include Siemens Healthnieers, Quest Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Shimadzu Corporation, Alere Toxicology, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Roche Diagnostics, Express Diagnostics Int'l Inc., and MPD.Drug Screening Market - SegmentationThe North America drug screening market has been segmented based on test sample and conditions. By test sample, the market has been segmented into Urine, Blood, Hair and Saliva. By condition, the market has been segmented into Unconsciousness, Panic Attack, Chest Pain, Drug Allergies, and Others.Drug Screening Market - Regional AnalysisThe US and Canada are the key markets in the North America region. The market in consolidated in these regions due to the presence of a broad base of population with chronic diseases who consume high dosages of drugs which calls for more drug testing. Moreover, the US is currently at the forefront of the organ-on-a-chip technology which helps it gain a substantial share of the market. Development of drug and alcohol screening devices coupled with rising disposable income of people supports the growth of the market in the region. Moreover, stringent anti-doping laws North America favors the market growth.Browse Complete 50 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with Respective Tables and Figures atIndustry UpdatesIn July 2018, A-Alpha Bio, a clinical drug screening startup won a grant of USD 225,000 for speeding up the development of new drugs. The company uses engineered yeast cells to understand the interaction of drugs with different proteins.In July 2018, Chekr and Uber have rolled out a new product which seeks to identify, disqualify records of drivers and flag them. This new product called Continuous Check will move beyond static background reports and also include drug screening of drivers.Major Table of Content:1 INTRODUCTION2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3 MARKET DYNAMICS4 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS5 NORTH AMERICA DRUG SCREENING MARKET, BY TEST SAMPLE6 NORTH AMERICA DRUG SCREENINGMARKET, BY CONDITION7 NORTH AMERICA DRUG SCREENINGMARKET, BY REGION8 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE9 COMPANY PROFILEInquire for Discount atAbout 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 Latest report reveals growth prospect of Individual Health Insurance Market focusing on top key vendors like Allianz SE, Japan Post Holding Co., Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A., Munich Re Group and others https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=215023 https://www.researchnreports.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=215023 https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=215023 www.researchnreports.com The Individual Health Insurance market is expected to grow at a Cagr of +28 % during the forecast period. Increase in aging population and rise in health expenditure are the two major factors fueling the growth of the market. Also integration of solutions through data analytics, cloud computing, and other modeling techniques are also contributing the markets growthThe Global Individual Health Insurance Market report thoroughly analyzes the necessary details with the help of an in-depth and specific analysis. The report presents a widespread synopsis of the market based factors that are expected to have a substantial and determinate influence on the markets growth prospects over the forecast period. The research lists key companies operating in the global market and also highlights the key changing trends adopted by the companies to maintain their dominance.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Top Key Vendors in Market:Allianz SE, Japan Post Holding Co., Ltd., Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A., Munich Re Group, United Heath Group, Prudential plc, Berkshire Hathaway, China Life Insurance, Zurich Insurance Group, and AXA.The report profiles some of the leading players in the global Individual Health Insurance market for the purpose of an in-depth study of the challenges faced by the industry as well as the growth opportunities in the market. The report also discusses the strategies implemented by the key companies to maintain their hold on the industry. The business overview and financial overview of each of the companies have been analyzed.The global Individual Health Insurance market is segmented on the basis of Demographics, Type, Service Providers and Region. On the basis of Demographics the market is segmented into Minor, Adult and Senior Citizens. By Type, Individual Health Insurance is segmented into Life-time Coverage and Term Insurance. On the basis of service providers the market is segmented into Public and Private. While Market segment by Regions, this report covers North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America.This provides a detailed summary of the revenue generated in major regions, which also includes an understanding of the income growth patterns have changed over the recent years. The relation between the overall income generation figures and the sales structure of the Individual Health Insurance market in each provincial segment is also described in the report. Thus, this report gives a clear picture of the market situation for better understanding to the readers.For more Information:Table of Content:Global Individual Health Insurance Market Research Report 2019-2023Chapter 1: Industry OverviewChapter 2: Individual Health Insurance International and China Market AnalysisChapter 3: Environment Analysis of Individual Health Insurance marketChapter 4: Analysis of Revenue by ClassificationsChapter 5: Analysis of Revenue by Regions and ApplicationsChapter 6: Analysis of Individual Health Insurance Revenue Market StatusChapter 7: Analysis of Individual Health Insurance Industry Key ManufacturersChapter 8: Sales Price and Gross Margin AnalysisChapter 9: Marketing Trader or Distributor Analysis of Individual Health Insurance MarketChapter 10: Development Trend of Individual Health Insurance Industry 2018-2023Chapter 11: Industry Chain Suppliers of Individual Health Insurance with Contact InformationChapter 12: New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Individual Health InsuranceChapter 13: Conclusion of the Global Individual Health Insurance Market Research ReportAsk for discount@About 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 Reports)10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064,Sunny Denis(Sales Manager),+1-8886316977,sales@researchnreports.com Linear Actuators Market: Global Sales, Ex-Factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis 2027 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/13612 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/toc/13612 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Linear actuators assist in converting energy into straight line motions, generally for positioning applications. Most of the linear actuators are either mechanical or electro-mechanical devices that provide controlled movement and positioning. These actuators are primarily used in industrial machinery, computer peripherals, valves, and many other places where linear motion is required. A typical linear actuator generally produces push and pull action. As most processes across a variegated range of industries gets automated, the global linear actuators market is expected to expand with an impressive CAGR throughout the forecast period.Get Sample Copy of this report @Linear ActuatorsMarket: Drivers & RestraintsThe major factors boosting the growth of linear actuators market is rising automation across manufacturing industry. Industrial objectives such as achieving complete factory automation, and integrating Industrial Internet of Things are some of the prime reasons that will drive more demand for linear actuators. While, rising industrialization particularly in the third world countries is another factor that will drive the demand in the global linear actuators market, on the backdrop of increasing number of factories. As the number of research studies conducted increases, demand for telescopic actuators is expected to increase significantly. Also as companies overcome their legacy systems to achieve higher efficiency, and replace existing actuators with new ones, demand for linear actuators is expected to rise. Furthermore, as an increasing number of industrial process adopt self-control and positioning demand in the linear actuators market is expected to continuously rise.However, as concerns regarding employment rises among most countries on the backdrop of increasing automation in factories, demand for linear actuators might get sluggish over the end years of the forecast period. Adoption of 3D printing in many industries is another factor that will restrain the demand for linear actuators, as usage of machines will decrease.Linear ActuatorsMarket: Market SegmentationThe Linear Actuators Market is segmented into two parts based on operation type and end use industry:Based on operation mechanism, the linear actuator market is segmented into:MechanicalHydraulicPneumaticPiezoelectricElectro-mechanical actuatorsBased on End Use Industry, the linear actuator market is segmented into:AutomotiveMedical/HealthcareEnergy and Mining,SteelConstructionMilitaryChemicalOthersLinear Actuators Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, linear actuators market has been categorized into seven key regions including North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.A prominent share of the demand for linear actuators comes from North America, and the region is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Furthermore, with more inclination towards shifting manufacturing in US from China and other ASEAN countries, demand for linear actuators will further rise in the region. Asia Pacific Exc. Japan is another prominent shareholder in terms of demand for linear actuators, amid, large manufacturing sector of China. Moreover, with India and Indonesia picking up at a fast pace, demand for linear actuators is expected to expand with a bullish growth rate over the forecast period. Being home to large automotive and research base companies, Western Europe is another prominent region generating huge demand for linear actuators. Eastern Europe is also expected to generate descent demand for linear actuators, particularly from energy and defense sector. Rising industrialization and the already dominant oil and gas industry of Middle East and Africa is the prime reason driving automation in the Middle Eastern region. Thus driving more demand for linear actuators. Japan is another prominent industrial nation, which drives demand for linear actuators, due to high automation penetration in their industries coupled with growing semiconductor industry of the region.Request For TOC Report @Linear Actuators Market: Key PlayersSome of the players identified in Global Linear Actuators market are:-Duff-NortonHelix Linear Technologies, Inc.Altra Industrial MotionTolomatic, Inc.Fabco-Air, Inc.Actuonix Motion DevicesTusk Direct, Inc.Bishop-Wisecarver CorporationBEI Kimco MagneticsBurr Engineering & Development CompanyDel-Tron Precision, Inc.Rollon India Pvt. Ltd.The global woodworking machines market is highly fragmented due to the presence of large number of regional and global players. Regional players choose quality service and competitive pricing as their winning strategy over global players. In response to this, global players are largely involved in merger & acquisition and partnership activities in order to enhance their profitability margin and market share.MRR.BIZ has been compiled in-depth market research data in the report after exhaustive primary and secondary research. Our team of able, experienced in-house analysts has collated the information through personal interviews and study of industry databases, journals, and reputable paid sources.The report provides the following information:Tailwinds and headwinds molding the markets trajectoryMarket segments based on products, technology, and applicationsProspects of each segmentOverall current and possible future size of the marketGrowth pace of the marketCompetitive landscape and key players strategiesThe main aim of the report is to:Enable key stakeholders in the market bet right on itUnderstand the opportunities and pitfalls awaiting themAssess the overall growth scope in the near termStrategize effectively with respect to production and distributionMRR.BIZ is a leading provider of strategic market research. Our vast repository consists research reports, data books, company profiles, and regional market data sheets. We regularly update the data and analysis of a wide-ranging products and services around the world. As readers, you will have access to the latest information on almost 300 industries and their sub-segments. Both large Fortune 500 companies and SMEs have found those useful. This is because we customize our offerings keeping in mind the specific requirements of our clients.MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Saudi Arabia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses 2019 https://www.qurateresearch.com/report/sample/CnM/QBI-BIS-CnM-131270 https://www.qurateresearch.com/report/enquiry/CnM/QBI-BIS-CnM-131270 https://www.qurateresearch.com/report/buy/CnM/QBI-BIS-CnM-131270/ https://www.qurateresearch.com/report/customize/CnM/QBI-BIS-CnM-131270 https://www.qurateresearch.com/ Saudi Arabia entered 2018 on a positive note with the government announcement of its largest financial budget ever which will support the countrys expansion and diversification plans as part of its Vision 2030 program. Generally speaking; the strategy will implement changes relating to improving the kingdoms economy through increases in taxes and fuel prices as well as encouraging investment and diversification away from its reliance on oil. It will also support the use of digital technologies for such uses as cloud computing and e-commerce as well as encouraging ICT development, including investments in broadband infrastructure.Get Easy Access to Sample Report@Broadband is widely available in Saudi Arabia via DSL, fibre, and wireless. In 2018 DSL subscriptions still account for the largest proportion of fixed broadband subscriptions but are now in decline as consumers switch to mobile broadband or FttH/FttP services.Internet penetration in Saudi Arabia has reached around 80%, well above the average for the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is committed to providing Internet services to its deprived rural areas and a special Universal Services project was established around ten years ago. The program is now over three quarters completed with thousands of localities provided access where it was not considered commercially viable for operators to do so.The mobile operators have faced recent changes and challenges with the introduction of the biometric fingerprint law which saw subscriber numbers drop, as well as a shift away from pre-paid accounts.Enquiry about Report@A major competitive shake-up for the Saudi telecoms sector began in late 2016 when the Saudi government announced plans to award unified licenses to Zain Saudi Arabia and Mobily, which would allow the operators to offer fixed line telephony and Internet services. In the past only STC was permitted to do so. In 2018 Go Telecoms request for the unified license was rejected however.Further increasing competition in the mobile market was the recent lifting of OTT VoIP and messaging services bans, allowing providers such as Skype, Viber, Whatsapp and so forth to begin operations again.This valuable report provides analyses, information, industry statistics and insights in the major players in Saudi Arabias telecoms sector.Purchase Report@Table of Contents1. Executive summary2. Key statistics2.1 Country overview3. Telecommunications market3.1 Market overview3.2 Market analysis3.2.1 Universal Licenses3.2.2 Saudi Arabias Vision 20303.3 Summary of key developments4. Regulatory environment4.1 Historic overview4.2 Regulatory authority4.3 Telecom sector liberalisation4.4 Data service provider licences4.5 Fixed-line licences4.6 New satellite broadband license4.7 Interconnect and access4.8 Number Portability (NP)4.9 Universal service5. Fixed network operators in Saudi Arabia5.1 Saudi Telecom Company (STC)5.2 Integrated Telecom Company (ITC)5.3 GO Telecom (Etihad Atheeb)6. Telecommunications infrastructure6.1 Overview of the national telecom network6.1.1 Alternative operators infrastructure6.2 International infrastructure (satellite, submarine)6.2.1 Terrestrial cable networks6.2.2 Submarine cable networks6.2.3 Satellite networks6.3 Specific IT developments (data centres, cloud computing)7. Smart infrastructure7.1 M2M/IoT/Big Data7.2 Smart grids7.3 Smart cities8. Broadband access market8.1 Introduction and statistical overview8.2 Internet access8.3 Censorship8.4 Broadband statistics8.5 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks8.6 Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP)8.6.1 STC8.6.2 GO Telecom8.6.3 Mobily8.7 Other fixed broadband services8.7.1 WiFi9. Digital economy9.1 M-banking9.2 e-Health9.3 Videostreaming10. Mobile communications10.1 Market overview10.2 Market analysis10.3 Mobile statistics10.3.1 General statistics10.3.2 Mobile voice10.3.3 Mobile data10.4 Mobile broadband statistics10.5 Regulatory issues10.5.1 Award of second GSM mobile licence10.5.2 iDEN contract awarded10.5.3 Award of Third Generation (3G) licences10.5.4 Award of third mobile licence10.5.5 Mobile license extensions 201610.5.6 Roaming10.5.7 MTRs10.5.8 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)10.5.9 Fingerprinting law10.6 Mobile infrastructure10.6.1 GSM, 3G10.6.2 LTE, LTE-A10.6.3 Satellite mobile10.6.4 5G10.7 IoT and M2M networks10.8 Major mobile operators10.8.1 Saudi Telecom Company (STC)10.8.2 Mobily (Etihad Etisalat)10.8.3 Zain KSA10.8.4 Mobile handsetsEnquiry for Customization@About Us:Qurate Business Intelligence delivers unique market research solutions to its customers and help them to get equipped with refined information and market insights derived from reports. We are committed to providing best business services and easy processes to get the same. Qurate Business Intelligence considers themselves as strategic partners of their customers and always shows the keen level of interest to deliver quality.Runwal Platinum,Ramnagar Colony, Bavdhan,Pune, Maharashtra, India-411021IN +919881074592info@qurateresearch.com Enzymes Market Analysis Focusing on Top Key Players Novozymes, DSM, Danisco and Novus International https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/467791/?utm_source=openpr.com-AN https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/467791/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/blog Market Study Report adds Global Enzymes market report that gives meticulous investigation of current scenario of the market size, share, demand, growth, trends, companies active in the industry and forecasts for the coming years.Enzymes Market size is estimated to exceed USD 9.5 Billion by 2024; according to a new research report.Potential outlook in food & beverages and animal feed industry, owing to its benefits including enhanced metabolic reaction will propel the enzymes market size. Growing population resulting in rising food demand will remain the key factor driving the industry growth.Request a sample of this premium report at:Shifting consumer preference towards processed food and ready to drink beverages have enhanced the product demand. The U.S. processed food industry was worth over USD 750 billion in 2016. Moreover, increasing product usage in brewing process will open new avenues for industry growth.Enzymes enhance the chemical reactions involved in production process of detergents, textile, pulp & paper and personal care products. Enhancing the stain removal along with improved effectiveness of detergents are the key aspects driving the market growth.Development of enzymes as cost effective alternative for synthetic catalyst has stimulated the industry demand. Improving product quality, reduced energy consumption & hazards, low chemical discharge along with multifunctionality properties will encourage the industrial applications.Biofuels market generated over 24 kilotons in terms of volume in 2016. High dependency on enzymes in biofuel industry will provide a positive outlook for industry demand. Growing biodiesel production particularly in the U.S. and Europe due to environmental regulations will support the industry growth.North America is anticipated to witness gains over 6% up to 2024. Increasing penetration of organized retail business coupled with expansion in food & beverages industry will drive the industry growth. Emergence of genetically engineered products has enhanced the product scope.Europe enzymes market was valued over USD 1.5 billion in 2016. Presence of leading manufacturers in this region including Novozymes, DSM, Danisco and Novus International will support the industry demand. Growing diversity of product applications along with environmental uses including waste treatment will propel the industry demand.Global enzymes market is highly consolidated as top three players account for 75% of the industry share. Novozymes alone accounted for 48% of the market share in 2016. BASF, DSM, Dupont Danisco, and Novozymes are the major industry participants. Expansion of geographical coverage along with improved profitability through joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions and collaborations remain the key strategies adopted by industry players.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Table of Content:Chapter 1 Methodology & Scope1.1 Methodology1.1.1 Initial data exploratio1.1.2 Statistical model and forecast1.1.3 Industry Insights and validation1.1.4 Definitions, assumptions & forecast parameters1.2 Data Sources1.2.1 Secondary1.2.2 PrimaryChapter 2 Executive Summary2.1 Enzymes industry 360 degree synopsis, 2013 - 20242.1.1 Business trends2.1.2 Product trends2.1.3 Application trends2.1.4 Regional trendsChapter 3 Enzymes Industry Insights3.1 Industry segmentation3.2 Industry landscape, 2013- 20243.3 Industry ecosystem analysis3.3.1 Distribution channel analysis3.3.2 Profit margin trends3.3.3 Vendor matrix3.4 Industry impact forces3.4.1 Growth drivers3.4.1.1 Food & beverage industry expansion3.4.1.1.1 Baking industry3.4.1.1.2 Baby food industry3.4.1.1.3 Brewing industry3.4.1.1.4 Juices & beverages industry3.4.1.1.5 Dairy industry3.4.1.1.6 Meat tenderizers3.4.1.2 Rising demand from animal feed industry3.4.1.3 Increasing application scope in biofuels and pulp & paper industry3.4.1.4 Penetration in enzyme engineering3.4.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges3.4.2.1 Lack of standardized regulatory guidelines3.5 Enzymes that work on specific industry3.6 Concentration and primary purification of enzymes3.6.1 Some of the essential features determining the choice of enzymesAbout 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 Report LLC4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog: Veterinary Microscopes Market Overview with Latest Trend, Industry Growth & Product Development | Forecast 2025 | Key Players DEBRO ENGINEERS, Drucker Diagnostics, Etaluma, Euromex, Feinoptic and More Veterinary Microscopes Market https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request_sample/287253 https://www.reportsmonitor.com/check_discount/287253 https://www.reportsmonitor.com/report/287253/Veterinary-Microscopes-Market Veterinary Microscopes MarketReports Monitor has added a new report titled, Global Veterinary Microscopes Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Regional Outlook, and Forecasts, 2019 - 2025 to its vast repository of research reports. This report provides a detailed analysis of the product types used for medical implants and regeneration.For more insightful information request a sample copy @The following manufacturers are covered in this report, with sales, revenue, market share for each company:DEBRO ENGINEERS, Drucker Diagnostics, Etaluma, Euromex, Feinoptic, Helmut Hund GmbH, Hitachi High-Technologies, HORIBA Scientific, IDCP Medtech, Jeol, JPK Instruments, KERN & SOHN, Laxco Inc, Leica Microsystems, Levenhuk, LW Scientific, Magnus Analytics, Meiji Techno, Micro-shot Technology Limited, Microptik BVThe report also discusses the SWOT analysis, Porters five forces analysis, as well as the supply and distribution chain analysis in detail for a thorough understanding of the market. The regulations and guidelines for quality management and manufacturing practices of medical devices with regards to its usage in the Medical Devices industry have also been mentioned in this research study. The report also includes the company profiles of the leading competitors, detailing their business operations, global presence, key developments, and revenue and strategy analysis. In addition, the market share analysis of the leading competitors along with their product portfolio has also been studied in this report.Avail Upto 50% discount while purchasing this report @Market size by Product:Optical, Electronic and MoreMarket size by End User:Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary Laboratory and MoreOn the other hand, the report provides a thorough analysis of the regional scope of the industry, detailing the qualitative and quantitative insights along with the coverage of major countries in the regions. The analysis provides key insights into the current trends of the industry in the key regions and countries, identifying the government & private investments, regulatory scenario, and the demographic & economic impact. According to the report, North America holds the largest share of the market, followed by Europe and the Asia Pacific. The Asia-Pacific region represents the fastest-growing market for the Global Veterinary Microscopes Market , owing to the rising medical tourism, government initiatives to create eHealth platforms, increasing Medical Devices expenditure, and growth in the overall Medical Devices industry.Some of the key geographies mentioned in this report include:North America (U.S and Canada and rest of North America)Europe (Germany, France, Italy and Rest of Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea and Rest of Asia-Pacific)LAMEA (Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Rest of LAMEA)Read Full Report with TOC, Table & Figures @Key questions answered in the report:What will be the market size and growth rate by the end of the forecast period?How will the penetration of IT solutions in the hospitals impact the global Global Veterinary Microscopes Market ? What impact will it have on the other end-users?Which are the high growth market segments in terms of product type, medical devices, component, deployment mode, end-user, and geographies?What are the forecast growth rates for the market and for each segment within it?Which segments of the market are expected to offer lucrative revenue growth? Why?What are the major factors responsible for the growth of the market?How will the penetration of IT solutions impact the growth of the market?Which region is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period?Who are the leading players in this market and what approaches do they employ to gain market shares?Who are the leading competitorsoperating in the regional market? What are their strengths and weaknesses?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the playersin the global market?About Us:Reports Monitor is a market intelligence and consulting firm with extensive experience and knowledge of the Market Research industry.Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics-driven intelligence. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact Us:Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-591481 (U.S.),+44 203 318 2859 (U.K.)Email: sales@reportsmonitor.com The Value of Marine Life Rafts Market Estimated to Soar Higher During 2017- 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5473 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5473 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Marine life rafts are small inflatable rescue boats designed to keep distressed passengers afloat. These small sized rafts are carried within larger ships and boats, deployed immediately whenever an emergency arises. Some of the marine life rafts, also known as rigid life rafts, are usually pressurized and contained within airtight canisters, conveniently placed at the outer deck of the ship, which aids in easy and faster deployment of the life rafts. Owing to tighter regulations formed over the years for the purpose of improving marine safety, life rafts are a common fixture on ships and boats. Its penetration rate is anticipated to improve in the upcoming years by increasing the minimum number of marine life rafts to be present in the ships. SOLAS or International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea is the prime regulatory body and treaty governing the usage of marine life rafts on ships and boats. The prime functional requirements of a marine life rafts include being able to withstand extreme weather conditions, be able to absorb impact loads, carry minimum rescue equipment as well as food and among others.Request For Report Sample @Marine Life Rafts Market DynamicsThe primary factor responsible for driving the marine life rafts market is growth witnessed in maritime transport or seaborne trade wherein large volume of goods take it to the sea for transportation purposes. The shipbuilding industry is also on the rise around the globe which thereby contributes to the growth of the marine life rafts market in the forecast period. The market of marine life rafts is also aided by the growth witnessed in the fishing industry wherein large boats and dispatched for fishing purposes. Marine tourism is also another area which has grown considerably over the past few years especially in the Mediterranean and Asia Pacific region prompting higher requirements of marine life rafts which thereby helps in the overall growth of the market.Though the manufacturers of marine life rafts do not fall under the category of large revenue generating players, they are keen in continuously developing the product to improve its lifespan, passenger holding capacity and reliability. Shortcomings noticed in product differentiation within the major players has led to the development various innovations such as large capacity, self-propelled life rafts.Marine Life Rafts Market: SegmentationMarine Life Rafts Market can be segmented as follows;By Capacity, the market can be segmented as:Less than 3 persons3 to 6 personsMore than 6 personsBy Type, the market can be segmented as:RigidFlexibleSingle Tube Life RaftMulti tube Life RaftBy Packing Type, the market can be segmented as:Hard PackingValiseCanister PackingMarine Life Rafts Market: Regional OutlookIn terms of the geographical reach of the marine life rafts market, it can be said that economies with larger coastlines are expected to have a larger market share. The market in the landlocked economies will be lesser but may rely on marine transport within the inner waterways such as rivers. The market for marine life rafts in the Asia Pacific region is anticipated for a healthy growth in the forecast period due to growing marine industry and transportation. This factor is also true for the Middle East and Africa region as well, in particular the Middle East region owing to improvements witnessed in its maritime cargo industry. The North American market is also anticipated for a positive growth due to tighter regulations placed around the mandatory instalment of such rescue equipment on board the ships and boats. Influx witnessed in the coastal tourism of the European region is anticipated to strengthen the growth of the marine life rafts market on a longer run in the future.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Marine Life Rafts Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the major players in the Global Marine Life Rafts market, identified in the value chain include:Survitec GroupSafety Marine Australia Pty. Ltd.Compass Inflatables Ltd.Shanghai Star Rubber Products Co., Ltd.Viking Life-Saving Equipment A/SRevere Survival Inc.Seago Yachting Ltd.Plastimo SASAbout 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: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in BFSI Market Is Thriving including key players AlphaSense Inc., Brighterion, Inc., IBM Corporation, IPsoft Inc., Infosys Limited, Inbenta Technologies Inc. https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-toc-and-sample/2791 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2791 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/artificial-intelligence-in-BFSI-market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Artificial intelligence (AI) in BFSI refers to the simulation of human intelligence into machines with the help of sophisticated machine learning, cognitive computing, andnatural language processing algorithms that help in customer relationship management, communication, and recruitment & wealth management.The need to provide better customer support, enhance process automation, and improve decision-making process generates the demand for artificial intelligence in theBFSI market.Download Sample PDF Brochure@The global artificial intelligence (ai) in BFSI market is expected to register substantial growth in the near future, attributed to a rapid demand for anti-money laundering(AML) pattern detector, rapid digitalization in the financial market, and adoption of chatbots in banking and financial services. The need for personalized financial servicesand rise in demand for data-driven solutions for imparting decision-making capability further drive the market growth.However, high initial investment cost, government policy, and regulatory frameworks related to AI are expected to restrict this growth.The artificial intelligence in BFSI market is segmented on the basis of deployment type, technology, and geography. Based on deployment type, it is bifurcated into cloudand on-premise. According to the technology, the market is classified into machine learning, natural language processing, image processing & video recognition, cognitivecomputing, and others. Geographically, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.Comprehensive competitive analysis and profiles of major market players, such as AlphaSense Inc., Brighterion, Inc., IBM Corporation, IPsoft Inc., Infosys Limited, InbentaTechnologies Inc., MicroStrategy Incorporated, Google Inc., Microsoft Corporation, and Nvidia Corporation, are provided in this report.Get 25% Discount on this Report - Inquire More@Artificial Intelligence in BFSI Market Key Segments:By Deployment Type Cloud On-premiseBy Technology Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Image Processing & Video Recognition Cognitive ComputingChapter: 1 INTRODUCTION1.1. REPORT DESCRIPTION1.2. KEY BENEFITS1.3. KEY MARKET SEGMENTS1.4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY1.4.1. Secondary research1.4.2. Primary research1.4.3. Analyst tools & modelsChapter: 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2.1. CXO PERSPECTIVEAccess Full Summary@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:David Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesUSA/Canada (Toll Free):+1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1(855)550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb: Bra Cups Market looks to expand its size in Overseas Market | Cosmo Lady, Aimer, Huijie, Embry, Wacoal Holdings Bra Cups Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1237774-global-and-china-bra-cups-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1237774-global-and-china-bra-cups-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1237774 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1237774-global-and-china-bra-cups-market https://www.linkedin.com/company/13388569/ https://www.facebook.com/htfmarketintelligence/ https://twitter.com/htfmarketreport https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NidhiBhawsar-SEO_Expert?rel=author HTF MI recently introduced Global and China Bra Cups Market study with in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status to 2023. 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 Cosmo Lady, Aimer, Huijie, Embry, Wacoal Holdings, Triumph, Vivien, Fast Retailing, Tutuanna, PVH, Gunze, Miiow, BYC, MAS Holdings, Hop Lun, P.H. Garment, Good People, GUJIN, Victoria's Secret, SBW, Sunflora, Gokaldas Images, Lovable, Gracewell & Oleno Groupetc.Request Sample of Global and China Bra Cups Market Research by Company, Type & Application 2013-2025 @:This report studies the Global and China Bra Cups market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the Global and China Bra Cups market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.Browse 100+ market data Tables and Figures spread through Pages and in-depth TOC on " Bra Cups Market by Type (, Full Cover Bra, 3/4 Cup Bra & 1/2 Cup Bra), by End-Users/Application (Specialty Stores, Supermarket & E-commerce), Organization Size, Industry, and Region - Forecast to 2023". Early buyers will receive 10% customization on comprehensive study.In order to get a deeper view of Market Size, competitive landscape is provided i.e. Revenue (Million USD) by Players (2013-2018), Revenue Market Share (%) by Players (2013-2018) and further a qualitative analysis is made towards market concentration rate, product/service differences, new entrants and the technological trends in future.Enquire for customization in Report @Competitive Analysis:The key players are highly focusing innovation in production technologies to improve efficiency and shelf life. The best long-term growth opportunities for this sector can be captured by ensuring ongoing process improvements and financial flexibility to invest in the optimal strategies. Company profile section of players such as Cosmo Lady, Aimer, Huijie, Embry, Wacoal Holdings, Triumph, Vivien, Fast Retailing, Tutuanna, PVH, Gunze, Miiow, BYC, MAS Holdings, Hop Lun, P.H. Garment, Good People, GUJIN, Victoria's Secret, SBW, Sunflora, Gokaldas Images, Lovable, Gracewell & Oleno Group includes its basic information like legal name, website, headquarters, its market position, historical background and top 5 closest competitors by Market capitalization / revenue along with contact information. Each player/ manufacturer revenue figures, growth rate and gross profit margin is provided in easy to understand tabular format for past 5 years and a separate section on recent development like mergers, acquisition or any new product/service launch etc.Market Segments:The Global and China Bra Cups Market has been divided into type, application, and region.On The Basis Of Type: , Full Cover Bra, 3/4 Cup Bra & 1/2 Cup Bra.On The Basis Of Application: Specialty Stores, Supermarket & E-commerceOn The Basis Of Region, this report is segmented into following key geographies, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share, growth rate of Bra Cups in these regions, from 2013 to 2023 (forecast), covering North America (U.S. & Canada) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Analysis (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Latin America (Brazil, Mexico & Rest of Latin America) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Europe (The U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden & RoE) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Middle East & Africa (GCC, South Africa, North Africa, RoMEA) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Rest of World {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Analysis (%) and Opportunity Analysis}Buy Single User License of Global and China Bra Cups Market Research by Company, Type & Application 2013-2025 @Have a look at some extracts from Table of ContentIntroduction about Global and China Bra CupsGlobal and China Bra Cups Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2017Bra Cups Market by Application/End UsersGlobal and China Bra Cups Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications(2013-2023) table defined for each application/end-users like [Specialty Stores, Supermarket & E-commerce]Global and China Bra Cups Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2023)Bra Cups Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and ApplicationBra Cups (Volume, Value and Sales Price) table defined for each geographic region defined.Global and China Bra Cups Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales DataAdditionally Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors list is being provided for each listed manufacturersMarket Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018) table for each product type which include , Full Cover Bra, 3/4 Cup Bra & 1/2 Cup BraBra Cups Manufacturing Cost AnalysisBra Cups Key Raw Materials AnalysisBra Cups Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Industrial Chain AnalysisMarket Forecast (2018-2023)........and more in complete table of ContentsBrowse for Full Report at:Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.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 Expecting Massive Growth for Commercial Boiler Market Growth Opportunities and Forecast to 2023 | Leading Players Viessmann, Weil-McLain, A. O. Smith Corporation, Vaillant Group, Babcock & Wilcox Commercial Boiler Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2809 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2809 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/commercial-boiler-market https://www.gminsights.com http://allnewsmyway.com/ Global Commercial Boiler Market is set to surpass USD 15 Billion by 2024, as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, Inc. Growing need for hot water and space heating solutions across cold climatic regions along with shifting trend toward adoption of energy efficient heating units will drive the global market growth. Government efforts toward promotion of energy efficient systems in high carbon footprint buildings will further augment the product deployment. The European Union adopted the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD), targeting a zero-greenhouse gas release from building infrastructures by 2050.Standing as one of the top-notch energy transition verticals, commercial boiler market is poised to amass substantial gains, with a global installation target of 300,000 units by 2024. Boiler efficiency has been touted as one of the foremost factors determining the overall efficiency of a central heating system. According to the U.S. DOE, commercial infrastructure consumes more than 7 trillion joules of site energy annually. The boiler efficiency also has a major impact on the carbon emissions and cost reduction, owing to which the demand for commercial boilers has observed a sharp uptick globally.Get a Sample Copy of this Report @The stringent government regulations mandating the use of energy-efficient systems also bags a major growth credit. Europe, in this regard, has been at the forefront to implement these energy-efficient and sustainability standards. One of the significant measures along these lines have been the Energy Performance of Building Directive by the European Union, which aims to achieve zero carbon emissions from buildings by 2050. As yet another initiative, in 2017, the European Commission launched Voluntary Reporting Framework Level(s) to improve the building sustainability. Driven by such stringent regulations toward energy transition and infrastructural developments, Europe commercial boiler market is slated to witness appreciable proceeds over the coming years.The U.S. market is predicted to surpass an annual installation of 80,000 units by 2024. Resurgent economic growth coupled with rapidly increasing population will drive the industry growth in coming years. As per the World Bank, the U.S. has witnessed a GDP growth of 34.5% between 2009 and 2017, and a population surge of 6.1% within the same period.In context of energy efficiency, the ongoing renovation activities of inefficient building infrastructure is providing a substantial impetus to the commercial boiler industry trends. The fraternity has been witnessing a slew of product developments and technological proliferations to develop advanced, efficient, and sustainable equipment. In this regard, condensing boilers have registered a massive demand across the commercial sector, primarily driven by their emission reduction capabilities.It is imperative to mention that amidst the stringent regulatory backdrop, gas-fired commercial boiler industry has witnessed a massive penetration globally. Besides meeting the emission standards, these boilers also have lower maintenance and operational costs which is further fueling its deployment across the commercial sectors. In terms of commercialization, this segment is forecast to record a CAGR of 3% over the coming six years.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @All in all, with a rather expansive application spectrum and rising ecological needs of the industries, commercial boiler market is overt to record substantial demand in the coming years. In terms of profitability potential, Global Market Insights, Inc. forecasts the worldwide commercial boiler industry to surpass USD 15 billion by 2024.Notable industry participants across the global market include Viessmann, A. O. Smith Corporation, Babcock & Wilcox, Vaillant Group, Weil-McLain, Cleaver-Brooks, BDR Thermea Group., Ferroli S.p.A. NIBE Energy Systems Limited, Fulton Boiler Works (GB) Limited, MIURA AMERICA CO., LTD.Le Groupe Simoneau, Navien, Inc., WOLF GmbH, Atlantic Boilers, Hurst Boiler & Welding Company, Inc., Clayton Industries, Bosch Thermotechnology, Cochran Ltd, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Parker Boiler Co.Global Commercial Boiler Market: Competitive Market Analysis & Forecast 2018 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog: Global Zeolite for Detergents Market 2019-2025| Key Players Analysis- Kunjan Silicate Pvt. Ltd, Sachem Inc, IQE Group, Silkem d.o.o, Anten Chemical Co. Ltd, PQ Group Holdings Inc, Fujian Risheng Chemical Co. Ltd https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1996352 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-zeolite-for-detergents-market-insights-forecast-to-2025-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1996352 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Zeolite for Detergents Market Insights, Forecast to 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.Zeolites are micro porous crystalline solid structures made of aluminum, silicon and oxygen that form a tetragonal framework with cavities wherein cations such as water, sulfur and other small molecules may reside. Zeolites are also known as molecular sieves. Generally, zeolites are of two types: natural zeolites and synthetic zeolites. Around 232 unique zeolite frameworks have been identified and over 40 frameworks of zeolites are known. Synthetic zeolites are predominantly used as detergent builders and absorbents and catalysts.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Natural zeolites, on the other hand, find applications in soil amendment, feed additives, water treatment and construction, among others. The core components of detergents are surfactants, builders, bleaching agents, enzymes and special additives, among others. In detergents, zeolites are used as builders to improve the performance of surfactants and other detergent additives by softening the water through the ion exchange process.Global Zeolite for Detergents market size will increase to xx Million US$ by 2025, from xx Million US$ in 2018, at a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period. In this study, 2018 has been considered as the base year and 2019 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Zeolite for Detergents.This report researches the worldwide Zeolite for Detergents market size (value, capacity, production and consumption) in key regions like United States, Europe, Asia Pacific (China, Japan) and other regions.This study categorizes the global Zeolite for Detergents breakdown data by manufacturers, region, type and application, 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.This report focuses on the top manufacturers' Zeolite for Detergents capacity, production, value, price and market share of Zeolite for Detergents in global market. The following manufacturers are covered in this report:PQ Group Holdings IncChalco Shandong Advanced Material Co. LtdNational Aluminium Company LimitedAnten Chemical Co. LtdSilkem d.o.oIQE GroupGujarat Credo Mineral Industries LtdSachem Inc........To Get Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Zeolite for Detergents Breakdown Data by TypeZeolite AZeolite PZeolite X and AXZeolite for Detergents Breakdown Data by ApplicationCommercialIndustrialZeolite for Detergents Production Breakdown Data by RegionUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanOther RegionsZeolite for Detergents Consumption Breakdown Data by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaMalaysiaPhilippinesBrazilGCC CountriesTurkeyEgyptSouth Africa........Make an Enquiry of this report @The study objectives are:To analyze and research the global Zeolite for Detergents capacity, production, value, consumption, status and forecast;To focus on the key Zeolite for Detergents manufacturers and study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in next few years.To 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.About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on Blogger at: Insomnia Market Asia Pacific 2019 Analysis - Research Covers Top 10 Players as Sanofi, Pernix Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline Plc., Meda Consumer Healthcare Inc, Dainippon Sumitomo, ECR Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Insomnia Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/619 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/asia-pacific-insomnia-market-619 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/619 Asia Pacific Insomnia Market Research Report, By Types of Therapy Pharmacological Therapy and Non-Pharmacological Therapy, By Drug Formulation Capsules, Tablet and Others, By Type of Diseases Poor Quality of Sleep, Sleep Maintenance and Other - Forecast Till 2023Asia Pacific Insomnia Market Key PlayersTakeda Pharmaceutical Company (Japan), Pfizer, Inc. (US), Eisai, Co. (Japan), Merck & Co Inc (US), Sanofi (France), GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (UK), Meda Consumer Healthcare Inc (US), Care Fusion Corporation (US), Pernix Therapeutics (US), Purdue Pharma L.P. (US), Consumer Healthcare Inc. (Canada), Dainippon Sumitomo (Japan), ECR Pharmaceuticals (US), Johnson & Johnson (US), Astellas (UK), Biocodex S A (France), Neurim (Switzerland), Flynn Pharma (UK).Asia Pacific Insomnia Market - ScenarioInsomnia is the most common sleep disorder. It involves disturbance in the sleep or trouble in falling asleep or waking up too early in the morning. The exact cause is still a mystery. Insomnia can be exist alone or conjugated with the other psychiatric problems.REQUEST FREE SAMPLE REPORT ATIt is most common is women and mostly occur in young age. Conditions like pregnancy, postpartum and menopause can increase the severity of insomnia in the patients. Asia Pacific insomnia market is driven by increasing number of the number of patients suffering from sleep disorders due to adoption of alcohol, caffeine and tobacco by a huge number of population.Many research has explain that psychological and behavioural factor are responsible for causing insomnia. Increasing workload and stressful modern life has increase the demand for the sleeping pills.Asia Pacific Insomnia Market - SegmentationAsia Pacific insomnia market has been segmented on the basis of types of therapy which comprises pharmacological therapy and non-pharmacological therapy. Pharmacological therapy is further segmented into benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines, melatonin receptor agonists and other. Non pharmacological treatment are further segmented into relaxation therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, sleep hygiene education, stimulus control, paradoxical intention and other. By drug formulation they are segmented as capsules, tablet and others. On the basis of type of disease they are poor quality of sleep, sleep maintenance and other.Asia Pacific Insomnia Market - Study ObjectivesTo provide the detail overview of market.To provide In-depth market segmentation and sub segmentations.To provide insights about factors affecting the market growthTo provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospectiveTo track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Asia Pacific insomnia market.BROWSE COMPLETE 50 PAGES PREMIUM RESEARCH REPORT ENABLED WITH 121 RESPECTIVE TABLES AND FIGURES ATAsia Pacific Insomnia Market - Regional AnalysisOn regional basis, Japan accounts the largest share in the Asia Pacific insomnia market. 1 in every 5 people in japan is suffering from acute or chronic symptoms of insomnia. In Japan insomnia is the major problem than anxiety and depression. India and China are also contribute major share in the market. Approximately 5% of total Indias population is suffering from insomnia. This increasing number of people suffering from insomnia is the major driving factor for the market in Asia Pacific region.TABLE OF CONTENTS1 INTRODUCTION1.1 DEFINITION1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY1.2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE1.2.2 ASSUMPTIONS & LIMITATIONS1.2.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS1.2.2.2 LIMITATIONS1.3 MARKET STRUCTURE:2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 RESEARCH PROCESS:2.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH2.3 SECONDARY RESEARCH:3 MARKET DYNAMICS3.1 DRIVERS3.2 RESTRAINTS3.3 OPPORTUNITIES3.4 MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS4 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS4.1 PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL4.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS4.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS4.4 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTSMajor TOC Continued!GET EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT ATAbout 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 SIP Based IP PBX Market to 2017 - 2023: NEC, Microsoft, Huawei, Mitel, Vonage, Avaya, Cisco, BroadSoft, ShoreTel https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1054306 https://www.researchmoz.us/sip-based-ip-pbx-market-shares-strategies-and-forecasts-worldwide-2017-to-2023-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1054306 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "SIP Based IP PBX: Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2017 to 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.Next generation SIP Based IP PBX is able to leverage cloud computing software technology to support next generation communications systems. Some automation of the smart phone app and communication process includes the use of analytics to achieve higher quality connectivity in a variety of circumstances and IoT configurations, leveraging social media. The study has 228 pages and 61 tables and figures.SIP based IP PBX is supporting FXO, FXS, ISDN-BRI, T1, E1 and SIP trunks. SIP supports the versatile trunking expansions, including FXO, FXS, ISDN, T1 and E1. The users can fit into all sort of telephony environments. Standard SIP trunks and trusted peers make devices seamlessly integrated with ITSP services. The study illustrates with great specificity how some companies are more fully integrated with SIP application servers than others.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Business leaders are challenged to move their enterprises to the next level of competition. An effective digital business player, transformer, and disruptor position depends on the effectiveness of employing digital technologies and leveraging connected digital systems. Organizational, operational, and business model innovation are needed to create ways of operating and growing the business using SIP based PBX systems. It is a journey to achieve the connected enterprise, ultimately connecting all employees and a trillion connected devices.Many companies are using digital technology to create market disruption. Amazon, Uber, Google, IBM, and Microsoft represent companies using effective disruptive strategic positioning. As entire industries shift to the digital world, once buoyant companies are threatened with disappearing. SIP is a significant aspect of telecommunications applications server disruptive technology, it is enough to look at Avaya and the bankruptcy to see there is a shift to cloud SIP solutions.A digital transformation represents an approach that enables organizations to drive changes in their business models and ecosystems leveraging cloud computing, and not just hyperscal syste,s but leveraging . Just as robots make work more automated, so also cloud based communications systems implement the IoT digital connectivity transformation.Disruption in the business communications markets represents major opportunity for vendors with cloud offerings. This is part of a larger digital transformation, a digital approach to interconnecting everything that enables organizations to drive changes in their business models and ecosystems.Cloud based SIP PBX systems are able to connect to the disruptive cloud systems provided by Amazon (AWS), Microsoft, Google, and Facebook data centers are in a class by themselves, they have functioning fully automatic, self-healing, networked mega datacenters that operate at fiber optic speeds to create a fabric that can access any node in any particular data center because there are multiple pathways to every node. In this manner, they automate applications integration for any data in the mega data center.By leveraging digital competencies, businesses can grow faster than they would otherwise. A digital strategy, in conjunction with the appropriate unified communications solution permits the implementation of innovative communications services. Digital connectivity with combined voice, video and file transfer can help organizations and their end users innovate and compete more effectively. It is imperative that organizations have a digital communications strategy in place.Communications and collaboration solutions are migrating to the cloud in every segment of small, medium and large business. In vertical markets, businesses are managing competition that is characterized by disruption. Traditional verticals exploit digital technologies.Initiatives provide innovation in the marketplaces. Communications initiatives are being used to leverage information from the Internet of Things (IoT) and video. New functionality is being built out in the healthcare sector. Communication goes beyond voice. Most people under 30 prefer to communicate via text.SIP IP communications can provide an increase in the quantity and quality of home and personal medical devices for monitoring patient health care. Care delivery is being improved by having monitors linked into a full communications system. By integrating the data from monitoring devices with a real-time communications system, medical professionals can do their jobs better.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @Making the workforce more engaged and productive by providing users with new tools and solutions that are highly relevant to how they work in the DX era, while delivering enterprise-class voice and video capabilities. Increased productivity is achieved.Users can remotely share and explain real-time data in context. Compelling benefits that organizations can realize from UC&C solutions designed for the digital transformation era:ISDN PRI (T1/E1):Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Siemens, and Nortel PBXsSIP Trunk:Nokia Siemens, Nortel, BroadSoft, and Huawei Soft SwitchesInformation technology (IT) has moved from the back office to the front office with platform technologies, mobile, social business, cloud, and analytics monitoring. The shift occurring is for digital technology to embed itself into every aspect of business endeavor and personal lives.This is an era where the distinction between the technologies and processes that businesses deploy is tightly linked. Digital technology directly impacts customers and markets. The boundary between internal operations of the enterprise and its external ecosystem is rapidly disappearing. Customers, markets, competitors, partners, and regulators are inextricably linked.Growing acceptance of SIP enabled PBX and IP PBX markets come form companies dedicated to supporting modern digital communications. A bifurcation in the market between hardware servers and cloud enabled services, either for soft switches and or Unified Communications (UC) is tending to have the software systems replace separate servers.The SIP based voice equipment and services market PBX phone systems, voice over IP gateways, UC applications and IP phones markets at $14.15 billion in 2016 are anticipated to grow strongly in the cloud computing segment to reach $59 billion by 2023. The complete report provides a comprehensive analysis of SIP Based IP PBXes in different categories, illustrating the diversity of software communications market segments. A complete analysis is done, looking at numbers of procedures and doing penetration analysis.Companies ProfiledNECMicrosoftHuaweiWest Unified CommunicationsMitelVonageAvayaCiscoBroadSoftShoreTelMake An Enquiry @Market Participants8x8AT&TBrekeke SoftwareBT / Avaya IP PBX CloudCiena / BluePlanetCisco SystemsEquinix / Avaya Cloud SIP CommunicationsEricssonFonalityNetSapiensRingCentral Next-Gen CompetitorVonageWest CorporationZyXELKey TopicsSIP Based IP PBXSIP PBX Solution Deployment Models SIP Enabled IP PBX Unified Communications Virtual Office Functions UnifiedSIP Collaboration System Hosted Collaboration Solution Team Collaboration Device Transaction Solutions Functions OSS from BluePlanet SIP Enabled IP PBX Cloud Enterprise / Service Provider SIP PBX Cloud SMB SIP Cloud Enterprise / Service Provider SIP Unified CommunicationsAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @ Ceramic Tiles Market Outlook to 2025 - RAK Ceramics, Florida Tile, Mohawk Industries, China Ceramics Co, Gruppo Ceramiche Ricchetti S.p.A., Kajaria Ceramics Ltd., PT. Muliakeramik Indahraya, and The Siam Cement Public Co. Ltd. Ceramic Tiles Market to 2025 http://bit.ly/2J2SoJh http://bit.ly/2SNOzM1 Global ceramic tiles market is expected to grow from US$ 81.01 Bn in 2017 to US$ 122.59 Bn by 2025 at a CAGR of 5.5% between 2018 and 2025.An off-the-shelf report on Ceramic Tiles Market which has been compiled after an in-depth analysis of the market trends prevailing across five geographies (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa, and South America). Various segments of the market such as type/components/ application/industry verticals/ end-users are analyzed with robust research methodology which includes three step process starting with extensive secondary research to gather data from company profiles, global/regional associations, trade journals, technical white papers, paid databases etc. followed by primary research (interviews) with industry experts/KOLs to gain their insights and views on current scenarios and future scope of the market as well as validating the secondary information, further internal statistical model is used to estimate the market size and forecasts till 2025.The Ceramic Tiles Market report aims to provide a 360-degree view of the market in terms of cutting-edge technology, key developments, drivers, restraints and future trends with impact analysis of these trends on the market for short-term, mid-term and long-term during the forecast period. Further, the report also covers key players profiling with detailed SWOT analysis, financial facts and key developments of products/service from the past three years.Get sample PDF copy at:The key players influencing the market are:- Mohawk Industries, Inc.- China Ceramics Co., Ltd.- Florida Tile, Inc.- GRUPO LAMOSA, S.A.B. DE C.V.- Kajaria Ceramics Limited- Porcelanosa Grupo AIE- PT. Muliakeramik Indahraya- RAK Ceramics- The Siam Cement Public Co. Ltd.- Gruppo Ceramiche Ricchetti SPACeramic Tiles Market - Global Analysis to 2025 is an expert compiled study which provides a holistic view of the market covering current trends and future scope with respect to product/service, the report also covers competitive analysis to understand the presence of key vendors in the companies by analyzing their product/services, key financial facts, details SWOT analysis and key development in last three years. Further chapter such as industry landscape and competitive landscape provides the reader with recent company level insights covering mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations, new product developments/strategies taking place across the ecosystem. The chapters also evaluate the key vendors by mapping all the relevant products and services to exhibit the ranking/position of top 5 key vendors.Ceramic Tiles Market report is a combination of qualitative as well as quantitative analysis which can be broken down into 40% and 60% respectively. Market estimation and forecasts are presented in the report for the overall global market from 2017 2025, considering 2017 as the base year and 2018 2025 forecast period. Global estimation is further broken down by segments and geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa and South America covering major 16 countries across the mentioned regions. The qualitative contents for geographical analysis will cover market trends in each region and country which includes highlights of the key players operating in the respective region/country, PEST analysis of each region which includes political, economic, social and technological factors influencing the growth of the market.Inquire for Discount at:Reason to Buy- Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global Ceramic Tiles Market.- 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 Ceramic Tiles 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.About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Defense.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.com Telecom Power System Market 2019 Global Key Leaders: Microtek International, Schneider Electric, Delta Electronics, Eaton, Huawei Technologies, Emerson Network Power, GE Industrial Solutions https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2378 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/telecom-power-system-market-2378 Market Research Future published a research report on Global Telecom Power System Market Research Report- Forecast to 2022 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Telecom Power System Global Market - OverviewThe global telecom power system market is showing high growth in coming years; mainly due to the increasing awareness regarding the reduction of carbon footprint of the telecom industry. Telecom power system refers to secure telecommunication services in case of grid power interruptions and fluctuations. Telecom power systems are designed for wireless broadband access and fixed-line applications and are also implemented for data centers.With the explosive growth of mobile data traffic, telecom operators have been compelled to extend the network coverage area by providing numerous wireless telecom networks in both rural and high-density metropolitan areas. Also, the recent increase in the adoption of hybrid power systems is another major factor driving the growth of Telecom Power System Market.The increased deployment for small cell power system for LTE, and increasing penetration of telecom towers in rural and off grid areas are some of the major factors driving the growth of telecom power system market. The market for off grid type telecom power system is expected to grow at the highest rate whereas, the market for bad grid holds the largest market share of the global telecom power system market.Get Sample of Report @On the other hand, high costs associated with managing business operations is one major factor hindering the growth of telecom power system market. Other factors such as environmental concerns pertaining to telecom towers power supply system due to high utilization of diesel for powering telecom infrastructure could be hamper the market growth.Key PlayersThe prominent players in the market of Telecom Power System market are Eaton (Ireland),Huawei Technologies Co. (China), Schneider Electric (France), Delta Electronics (Taiwan), GE Industrial Solutions (U.S.), Emerson Network Power(U.S.),Microtek International Inc.(U.S.),Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.(Japan),AEG Power Solution B.V.(Netherlands) and among the others.Telecom Power System Global Market - SegmentationThe telecom power system market can be classified into 4 key segments for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding; Segmentation by Component: Comprises of inverters, rectifiers, converters, controllers, generators, heat management systems and others Segmentation by Grid Type: Comprises of on-grid, off-grid and bad grid Segmentation by Power Source: Comprises of diesel-solar, diesel-wind, diesel-battery and others Segmentation by Region: Comprises of Geographical regions - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the WorldTelecom Power System Global Market - Regional AnalysisAsia Pacific is expected to witness a significant growth and hold the largest market share during the forecast period. This is owing to the dispersion of telecom towers in rural areas to enlarge the mobile network to the rising mobile subscriber base and also to advance connectivity. Asia Pacific region has seen 3G network growth and LTE networks have been tossed in the countries across Asia Pacific. The market in North America is also expected to show significant growth due to large scale positioning of small cell nodes for LTE and the upgradation of heritage power systems to high productivity power systems. Whereas, the Europe market for telecom power system is expected to grow at a considerable CAGR (2017-2023).Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:September 2017 UNIPOWER has launched Aspiro 1U Integrated DC Power System for North American Market. This power system provides an output of -48VDC, includes multiple features including remote monitoring and control, hot-swappable high-efficiency rectifiers, a field replaceable controller, and an LCD display.March 2017 AEG power solutions has launched latest version of their protect SC. 600 storage converter now with a new outdoor enclosure which reduces global installation costs and simplifies system usage for any type of battery storage energy application, on or off-grid.Get Complete Report @Intended Audience Telecom Tower Companies Mobile Network Operators Telecom Infrastructure Provider Research Consulting Companies Power System Providers Power System Distributors Original Equipment Manufacturers Component Manufacturer of Power System GovernmentAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Media Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Wireless Connectivity Market 2019 Global Key Leaders: Qualcomm Incorporated, Texas Instruments, Cypress Semiconductor, Microchip Technology, Intel, MediaTek, Bernafon Canada https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2148 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/wireless-connectivity-market-2148 Market Research Future published a research report on Wireless Connectivity Market Research Report- Global Forecast to 2023 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market Scenario:Wireless connectivity is a technology used to connect various consume and electronic devices. The information or the data are transferred in the form of data packets with the help of technology like Bluetooth, radio frequencies, internet and others. Besides this, the wireless connectivity also required in the application that are used by numerous IoT devices to enable the access points through data transfer and communication among all the devices. Therefore, growing demand of internet of thing (IoT) and increasing demand of cloud computing are some of the key driving factors for the growth of this market.The increasing demand of wearable device applications is also adding fuel to the Wireless Connectivity Market. Whereas, the major shift from 3G to 4G connectivity is also expected to drive the wireless connectivity market globally. According the recent study the low power wide area network is evolving and growing rapidly. Various telecom companies have come up with solution such as NB-IoT which are considered as one the optimum enterprise solution. These solution benefits the enterprises by lowering the operating consumption cost.Get Sample of Report @The global wireless connectivity market is expected to grow from USD14.5 Billion in 2016 to USD 30.4 Billion by 2022, at an estimated CAGR of 10.9%. The growth of this market can be constrained by the factors such as the security issues faced by the customers for protection of data and lack of uniform communication protocol. Whereas, increase in the need of cross domain applications can open up some opportunities for the growth of the market.Key PlayersThe prominent players in the market of Wireless connectivity market are Texas Instruments Inc. (U.S.), STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland), Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (U.S.), Microchip Technology Inc. (U.S.), Qualcomm Incorporated. (U.S.), Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co. (U.S.), Nexcom International Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), Bernafon Canada Ltd. (Canada), Intel Corporation. (U.S.) and MediaTek Inc. (Taiwan) among others.Segments:The Global Wireless connectivity market has been segmented on the basis of technology, deployment and applications. Technology comprises of Bluetooth, WI-Fi, GPS, ultra wide band, cellular and others. Deployment includes control devices, gateways, cloud and others. Applications include healthcare, public safety, wearable devices, energy, automotive, consumer electronics and others.Regional Analysis:Regionally, North America is expected to propel the market due to the intense research and development in the field of wireless connectivity, high penetration of Internet of Things, and growth of a number of IoT and cloud start-ups in the region which is followed by the Europe and Asia pacific. Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow due to the increase in investments in the internet of things in the various industry verticals such as manufacturing, healthcare and transportation among others. Increase in the number of mobile user and of numerous wearable devices will expected to contribute for the growth of the wireless connectivity market.North America region is expected to hold a highest market share with the existence of early technology adopters in the region. The region also has existence of technologically advanced countries such as U.S. and Canada which are promoting the wireless connectivity market and the internet connections.Get complete Report @Intended Audience: Original equipment manufacturers Wireless device manufacturers Software providers Component providers Manufacturers of electronic devices Investors Industrial end users Research institutesAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Media Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com 3D Printing Market In Europe Forecast To 2024 Emphasis On Component, Material And Technology Analysis By Top Key Player 3D Systems Corporation, Arcam AB, Royal DSM N.V., ExOne Company. https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2844779?utm_source=op&utm_medium=Srbh https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2844779?utm_source=op&utm_medium=Srbh https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/europe-market-insights-on-3d-printing-insights-and-forecast-2018-2024-emphasis-on-component-product-professionalindustrial-printer-personaldesktop-3d-printers-material-polymer-plastic-metals-and-alloys-ceramic-other-materials-technology-stereolithography-selective-laser-sintering-electron-beam-melting-fused-deposition-modelling-laminated-object-manufacturing-other-technologies-market?utm_source=op&utm_medium=Srbh The European 3D printing market is segmented based on component, sub-component, technology and industrial verticals. Product (industrial and desktop printer), material (polymer, metal & alloy, ceramic and other) and services are the types of components considered while analyzing and defining the penetration of 3D printing technology in different geographies and countries. In 2017, product segment dominated the Europe 3D printing market with maximum share in terms of revenue. Based on estimation, the segment occupied for around 36.8% share in the same year. However, increasing demand for desktop printers would help the product segment to grow at a faster rate of 27.9% during the forecast period (2018-2024).Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Additive manufacturing in Europe act as a strengthening pillar for the industrial sector and rapid adoption of 3D printing in industrial processes has significantly supported the reduction of cost of manufacturing in high end industrial verticals such as aeronautics and in processing spare parts for machines. It has been observed that Europe will represent around 22% share by 2024.3D printing offers integration of metals & alloys with other raw materials as per the requirement of the end-user industry, to create specified 3-dimensional objects. During 2017, polymer held prominent share of 33.5% followed by plastic which held 30.6% during the same year. Polymer market in Europe 3D printing was valued at US$ 96.6 Million in 2017 and is projected to derive US$ 525.5 Million revenues by 2024 witnessing astonishing CAGR of 27.6% during the forecasted period.Numerous industrial sectors are influenced by 3D printing solutions. In addition, Custom Design and Manufacturing held more than 50% share and garnered US$ 121.5 Million revenues during 2017. Based on technology, the Europe market is segmented into stereolithography, selective laser sintering, electron beam melting, fused deposition modeling, laminated object manufacturing and others. In 2017, Fused Deposition Modelling technology dominated the Europe 3D Printing market, and is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the analyzed period.It is projected to reach US$ 1,789.1 Million by 2024 showcasing significant CAGR of 26.2% during the analyzed period. Furthermore, depending on application type, the market is further classified into Functional Parts, Fit and Assembly, Prototype Modelling, Education, Metal Casting, Metal Casting, Visual Aids and Presentation Modelling. During 2017, functional parts occupied the largest share of 33.8% followed by Fit and assembly application type in regional 3D printing market.Moreover, benefits of 3D printing can also be witnessed among various industry verticals such as Education, automotive, aerospace & defense, healthcare, consumer goods, manufacturing, construction and others where the additive manufacturing has turned out to be a game changer.Automakers and raw material suppliers for manufacturing sector have realized the benefits of 3D printing solutions, eventually increasing the demand for 3D printing solutions in these industries. In the automotive industry, the use of 3D printing technology has been successful in bring about new shapes to the industry, allowing the industry to produce lighter and more complex structures at affordable price ranges. Manufacturing sector was accounted as the fastest growing industry vertical in terms of its applications in 3D printing. Based on estimation, the respective segment is projected to generate revenue of US$ 1,090.6 Million in by 2024 displaying tremendous CAGR of 26.2% during the forecasted period in Europe 3D printing market.Get Purchase Inquiry @As Europe forms an interesting market for 3D printing leading companies in European region have begun making huge investments in the respective sector. In addition, European Union has also offered immense opportunities to boost up the research initiatives in 3D printing landscape. Regional 3D printing competitors have come up with ambitious R& D strategies and are stepping up the R&D funding commitments for additive manufacturing wherein during 2014-16, total of US 142 Million in EU funding gave rise to more than 20 additive manufacturing projects. Since additive manufacturing is defined as one of the advanced technologies, it has significantly contributed towards the industrial rejuvenation in Europe.It has not just appealed to big businesses but it has been successfully embraced by small and medium enterprises. Although right set of education and skills is absent in 3D printing, but with 3D technology gaining ground across Europe, it has been anticipated that industrial rejuvenation can get generate skilled jobs thereby offsetting significant job loss of around 3.5 Million since 2008 owing to economic crisis. Moreover, Europe constitutes to be the key leader in the development of additive machines for fabrication of metallic parts, expertise of companies and research centers in metal industry has further made Europe as one of the lucrative destinations for investments. Furthermore, with 3D printing growing large in other industries such as toys, robotics, prosthetics and car parts, it is anticipated that apparel production forms as promising market wherein adoption of the 3D technology will gradually meet more and more of the demands in the aforementioned sector.However, lack of standardization and certifications paired with issues related to intellectual property rights and patent development encompass some of the impeding factors in European 3D printing market.Also, for better understanding of 3D printing market penetration, the market is analyzed in different geographies and countries of Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Russia, Spain, Italy and Rest of Europe), Based on estimation, Europe accounted for revenue share of 20.6% in 2017 and continues to look at 3D printing to pursue its industrial renaissance. Germany constitutes as one of the leading country in terms of adoption of 3D printing with majority of German companies already using the 3D printing and some businesses on the verge of adopting it in coming future. The country contributed around US$ 275.5 Million in 2017 towards regional 3D printing sales and is further projected to garner US$ 1,342.2 Million by 2024 registering CAGR of 25.6% over the period. Moreover, the gradual acceptance of 3D printing among French factories has also resulted into considerable metamorphosis in its industrial sector. Several government initiatives undertaken have enhanced the acceptance of additive manufacturing in the country. French manufacturing sector represent around 5% of the worlds additive manufacturing market.Considering the presence of 3D printing players in European region, 3D Systems Corporation, Arcam AB, Royal DSM N.V., ExOne Company, Autodesk, Inc., Stratasys Ltd., Organovo Holdings, Inc , Hoganas AB, Mcor Technologies Limited and Voxeljet AG, constitute as some of the prominent players operating in 3D space.The players consistently aim to focus on product development, launch new products and enhance their existing portfolios to expand their customer base and strengthen their market position through partnerships and collaborations which further offers them growth opportunities for geographic expansion.Table Of Contents @1 MARKET INTRODUCTION2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY OR ASSUMPTION3 INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY5 MARKET OVERVIEW6 EUROPE MARKET INSIGHTS BY COMPONENT7 EUROPE MARKET INSIGHTS BY TECHNOLOGYAccess Full Report @About Us:Big Market Research has a range of research reports from various publishers across the world. Our database of reports of various market categories and sub-categories would help you find the exact report you may be looking for. We are instrumental in providing quantitative and qualitative insights on your area of interest by bringing reports from various publishers at one place to save your time and money. A lot of organizations across the world are gaining profits and great benefits from information gained through reports sourced by us.Contact Us:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United Statescall answer Direct:+1-971-202-1575call answer Toll Free:+1-800-910-6452email help@bigmarketresearch.com Patient Engagement Solutions Market to Witness Huge Growth in 2025 | Key Player Analysis: Athenahealth, Inc., Orion Health, McKesson Corporation, Cerner Corporation, Allscripts, GetWellNetwork Inc. Patient Engagement Solutions Market to 2025 http://bit.ly/2zXrPBN http://bit.ly/2H9PzZx http://bit.ly/2FnnvQA The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the Global Patient Engagement Solutions Market based on components, therapeutic area, delivery mode, application, end user, and geography. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Patient Engagement Solutions Market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM).Patient engagement solutions are used to manage the healthcare information and provide access to the medical team to interact with the patients. For effective self-care, the patient engagement solutions provide better access of information to healthcare providers. The hardware, software, services are used to obtain information on patients health.Get Sample PDF Copy of this Report:Patient Engagement Solutions Market report aims to provide a 360-degree view of the market in terms of cutting-edge technology, key developments, drivers, restraints and future trends with impact analysis of these trends on the market for short-term, mid-term and long-term during the forecast period. Further, the report also covers key players profiling with detailed SWOT analysis, financial facts and key developments of products/service from the past three years.Some of The Major Players In Patient Engagement Solutions Market:1. Athenahealth, Inc.2. Orion Health3. McKesson Corporation4. Cerner Corporation5. Allscripts6. GetWellNetwork Inc.7. IBM8. WelVU9. Lincor10. Oneview Ltd.The Global Patient Engagement Solutions Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the patient engagement solutions industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global patient engagement solutions market with detailed market segmentation by components, therapeutic area, delivery mode, application, end user, and geography. The global patient engagement solutions market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Want Full Report? Inquire Here:Rising adoption of mobile health solutions and increasing government initiatives & regulations for promoting patient-centric care are the major drivers which are likely to propel the growth of patient engagement solutions market. Upsurge in the adoption of cloud-based systems hospitals and clinics, increase in wearable health technology, and rising technological advancements are likely to add new opportunities for this market in the coming years.North America region is expected to contribute to the largest share in the patient engagement solutions market in the global arena. This largest share of the region can be attributed to rising incidences of chronic diseases and increase in number of accountable care organizations (ACO), rise in number of end users for patient engagement solutions, and growing geriatric population. However, Asia Pacific region is likely to witness highest growth due to growing economies and improving healthcare infrastructure in this region.What our report offers:- Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global Patient Engagement Solutions Market.- 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 Patient Engagement Solutions 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.Buying this Customized Report at @About UsThe Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services.We are committed to providing highest quality research and consulting services to our customers. We help our clients understand key market trends, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions by providing market research solutions at an affordable cost.Contact usThe Insight partners,Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.com Gene Editing Market 2019 Analysis - Research Covers Top 10 Players as Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Lonza Group Ltd., Horizon Discovery Group plc Gene Editing Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/707 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/gene-editing-market-707 Overview:The Gene Editing Market is growing by leaps and bounds as the demand for such from both agriculture and healthcare sectors are on the rise. Gene editing is a process that involves insertion, deletion or replacement of DNA in the genome sequence of a living organism which can be achieved by using molecular scissors. It can be applied to both plants and animals. The life science sector across the globe is expected to benefit much from the engineering technology. Its applications in several areas such as mutation, therapeutics, and agriculture biotechnology are providing traction to the market. The technique has huge opportunity in agriculture as it can better crop production. The global gene editing market is expecting a significant rise by 18.30% CAGR during the forecast period (2018-2023). A report published by Market Research Future (MRFR) includes an overview of the market with special emphasis on the segmental analysis and factors that can contribute to the growth of the market. Its use in the healthcare sector to develop new medicines can open up avenues for the gene editing market. The technique has the prospect to treat genetically affected cells, cancer, diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites.Get Sample Copy @However, ethical issues regarding the alteration of the human genome can be seen as a market irritant during the forecast period. At the same time, genetically-edited animals are also raising concerns regarding the quality of products. Despite these factors, gene editing has a colossal prospect in the healthcare sector which can ensure the expected growth in the coming years.Competitive Analysis:Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), GenScript USA Inc. (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (U.S.), Lonza Group Ltd. (Switzerland), New England Biolabs, Inc. (U.S.), Horizon Discovery Group plc (U.K.), Sangamo Biosciences, Inc. (U.S.), OriGene Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (U.S.), and Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (U.S.) are major companies of this gene editing market profiled in the report.In 2018, scientists at The University of Texas at Austin discovered that in Cas9 the most popular enzyme used in CRISPR gene editing is, in reality, less effective and precise than CRISPR protein named Cas12a. The use of the latter would enhance the speed which is much necessary for such tests.In March 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the regulatory board would no longer control the genome testing in plants as they believe that it is perfectly safe and brings in new traits much quicker. This is a promising sign for the gene editing market. However, many are still arguing over the credibility of such decision as they believe that perfect process is still miles away.Segmental Analysis:The Global Gene Editing Market can be segmented by methods, applications and end users for better understanding and analysis.Based on methods, the gene editing market includes clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN), zinc finger nucleases (ZFN), antisense technology and others.On the basis of application, the gene editing market can be segmented into plant genetic engineering, animal genetic engineering, microorganisms genetic engineering, and gene therapy.Based on the end-users, the gene editing market comprises biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and contract research organizations.Regional Analysis:Region-specific analysis of the Gene Editing Market includes namely the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).The Americas is the leading with the maximum share of the global market. It is the presence of the U.S. that is impacting the growth the most. Infrastructural superiority, sufficient funding from both private and public bodies, advanced technologies in the research sector are providing a tailwind to the market.Europe is following the footsteps of the Americas. Similar features have given the regional market prominence. In addition, the presence of several organizations involved in such researches is promoting the market further.The APAC region is expecting the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Emerging economies are investing significantly to provide a push to the regional market. Moreover, market behemoths are targeting this location to expand their business as its prospects are quite high owing to cost-effective associated expenditures.Browse Full Reports @Table of Contents1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations1.2.2.1 Assumptions1.2.2.2 Limitations1.3 Market Structure2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research3 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 RivalryContinued!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 Bacterial Cell Culture Market 2019 Analysis - Research Covers Top 10 Players as Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., ScienCell Research Laboratories, Inc. Becton, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., and Culture Media & Supplies, Inc. Etc. Bacterial Cell Culture Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/696 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/bacterial-cell-culture-market-696 MRFR is the Leading Brand in The Research Company who Recently Published Bacterial Cell Culture Market Research Reports which includes Study of growth, Regional Analysis, Top Industry Players Formation, Major Drivers, Upcoming Trends and Forecast to 2023.Overview:Fast transforming economies have led to a search for a better lifestyle that involves the efficient exploration of alternatives. One such is the bacterial cell culture market that can provide not just drugs for better treatment procedures but can substitute traditional fossil fuel as well. The global bacterial cell culture market is banking heavily on these drivers and is expecting significant growth during the forecast period (2018-2023), reports Market Research Future (MRFR) in a detailed study. Researches in life science and advanced antibiotics are proving impressive determinants for the global market and are aptly backed by demand for renewable energy from biological waste. Bacterial cell culture has also started infiltrating other sectors such as cosmetics, and food & beverage as well which ensures its future prospects.Get Sample Copy @However, bacterial cell culture setup requires aseptic setting which can incur huge cost. Associated elements such as media, reagent, and instruments come at a high price as well which can bottleneck the market for a significant period. The scarcity of trained professionals and high chances of contamination can pull back the market from its expected trajectory during the forecast period.Competitive Dashboard:Globally, the market is very competitive. Presence of a number of well-established companies, all vying for a significant share of the market, has made it so. This has spurred a growth in investment and is taking the market forward.Some of the key players for the Global Bacterial Cell Culture Market are ScienCell Research Laboratories, Inc. Becton, Dickinson and Company, bioMerieux S.A., Hi-Media Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Neogen Corporation, Eiken Chemical Co, Ltd., EMD (Merck) Millipore, Scharlab S.L., and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., and Culture Media & Supplies, Inc., and others.Industry News:Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) reveal that a new enzyme has been discovered which can ensure production of a renewable alternative to toluene, an octane booster. This can enable researchers to produce first of its kind aromatic hydrocarbon fuel.Scientists from the Rockefeller University have recently found a new class of antibiotics, malacidins, from previously unknown microorganisms which can kill several superbugs including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Segmentation:The Global Bacterial Cell Culture Market can be segmented by consumable, instruments, application, and end-user.Consumable-based segmentation includes media, reagents, and others.Instrument-wise, the market segmentation comprises incubator, centrifuge, spectrophotometer and biosafety cabinet.Based on application, the market is segmented into food testing, water testing, animal feed testing, bioenergy production, agricultural research, and others.On the basis of end-users, the market consists hospital & clinics, diagnostic centers, the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology companies and academic and research institutes.Regional Analysis:Region-specific analysis of the bacterial cell culture market girdles namely the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).The Americas is dominating the global market. Regionally, North America, at present, is spearheading the market with its well-structured biopharmaceuticals and life science industries that are continually putting in efforts to develop new products. Life science sector alone, as per the published report of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation 2018, invested around USD 96.5 billion in 2013.Europe assumes the second position. The region is witnessing growing demands from the food & beverage sector as the region has a disturbing experience in getting affected by food allergies.The APAC has the potential to become the largest market for bacterial cell culture in countries such as China, Japan, and India are investing heavily in researches to get favorable results.Poor economies and stringent government policies are affecting the market in the MEA region, and they are contributing the least to the market growth.Access Report @Table of ContentChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentChapter 5. Market Factor AnalysisAbout 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 Inventory Management Software Market to expand US$3bn by 2024 | Top Key Players: Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Stitch Labs, monday.com, Fishbowl, Manhattan Associates, TradeGecko, Zoho Corporation Inventory Management Software Market www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2364 www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2364 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/inventory-management-software-market https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/cybersecurity-market www.gminsights.com http://industry-source.org Inventory Management Software Market to grow at 6% CAGR from 2018 to 2024, is set to exceed USD 3 billion by 2024. The inventory management software market owing to the growing trend of omnichannel retailing, increasing adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices, a rapidly evolving global e-commerce landscape, and the increasing need to control and reduce supply chain inefficiencies along with increasing manufacturing output due to the adoption of Industrial IoT (IIoT). Inadequate supply of inventory may grind manufacturing operations into a halt.Request for a sample of this research report @It is noteworthy to mention that the development of cloud-based systems has also had a positive influence on the demand for inventory management software. SMBs, healthcare service centers, pharmaceuticals, and automotive companies have been deploying cloud-based stock management software on a large scale to help their employees access data in real time. The capability of this software to update the stock level and sales conversions automatically eliminating the chances of stock-out and stock overflow will further stimulate the use of inventory management software.The advanced radio frequency system (RFID) segment in inventory management software market is projected to register an accelerated growth during the forecast timeline with an impressive CAGR of around 11%. The technology allows supply chain managers to identify individual products and components and to track the movement of the inventory throughout the supply chain right from the manufacturing unit to the point-of-sale. The systems are used for ensuring stock security, quality control, and for the prevention of over-stocking or under-stocking of products.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & analysis:1. Sage2. Oracle3. Zoho Corporation4. Microsoft5. Fishbowl6. TradeGecko7. Stitch Labs8. Wasp Barcode Technologies9. Megaventory10. SAP11. Manhattan AssociatesThe barcode scanning system held a majority market share of over 50% in 2017 due to the extensive adoption for tracking inventory movement across the supply chain right from manufacturing facilities till the customer delivery. As the technology eliminates manual errors in record keeping for warehouse processes, it is being widely adopted across medium and large-scale businesses. The system allows organizations to process large volumes of items with the ability to pull the data directly from POS systems and cash registers.Make an inquiry for buying this report @The SMB segment accounted for a significant share of over 70% in the inventory management software market in 2017. By adopting modern inventory management software, SMBs can streamline their storage and distribution operations to gain a competitive advantage over other similar businesses. Also, the system allows them to remain highly agile for flexible supplier management. By using inventory management software, these companies can easily switch order and suppliers at the touch of a button. This enables SMBs to make their product lines as adaptable as possible.The vast expanse of omnichannel retailing and increasing penetration of smartphones have also been identified as the inherent factors impacting the revenue graph of the global inventory management software market. If reports are to be believed, given the increasing rate of paperwork errors, supplier fraud, employee theft, and shoplifting activities SMEs, SMBs, and the retail sector are the prominent end-use segments that are rapidly adopting inventory management software systems.These activities have also been deemed as the major sources of inventory shrinkage and are therefore favoring effective implementation of IMS programs in the retail sector, which is expected to dominate the overall inventory management software market by accounting for a 40% share over 2018-2024. It is important to mention that according to the National Retail Federations NRSS (National Retail Security Survey) on retail theft, the retailers globally incurred inventory shrinkage losses of over USD 49 billion in 2016.The manufacturing sector is expected to secure a inventory management software market share of over 25% by 2024. This impressive growth is attributed to the robust growth of the manufacturing sector after Industry 4.0, and the emergence of automation systems in manufacturing to rapidly increase production capacities. According to the UN, manufacturing globally contributed to 17% of the total economic value in 2016. This steady growth of the sector is expected to further fuel the demand for modern inventory management software to streamline and optimize the manufacturing process flows.Browse key industry insights spread across 220 pages with 338 market data tables & 30 figures & charts from the report, Inventory Management Software Market in detail along with the table of contents:North America is anticipated to emerge as one of the most lucrative grounds for inventory management software market. The surging adoption of next-generation technologies such as the Internet of Things and cloud computing are slated to fuel the North America inventory management software industry outlook over the years ahead. Driven by an expanding e-commerce industry and a rapidly growing manufacturing sector that has been adopting industrial IoT on a large scale, North America held a dominant 40% of the overall inventory management software market share and is anticipated to grow at a commendable pace ahead.Europe is the second-largest market for inventory management software and is expected to secure a market share of over 20% by 2024. The retail sector is one of the major sectors in the European Union (EU) economy with almost 1 in 10 people employed in more than 3.6 million retail companies. Also, the demand for solutions is likely to increase consistently over the forecast timeline in the automotive sector in the region due to the surge in the production of electric vehicles (autonomous vehicles) and passenger cars in response to the rising global demand.Asia Pacific inventory management software market is projected to register an excellent growth with a CAGR of around 10% between 2018 and 2024. This growth can be attributed to a rapidly evolving e-commerce ecosystem along with heavy investments from venture capitalists to leverage the growing demand for online marketplaces. In 2017-2018, the retail shrinkage as a percentage of sales in the Asia Pacific region was estimated at around 1.75%, amounting to nearly USD 24 billion. To tackle the growing concerns related to the inventory shrinkage, the uptake of inventory management software in the region is expected to grow consistently over the forecast timeline.Some of the key players operating in the inventory management software market are SAP, Oracle, Zoho, Microsoft, Fishbowl, TradeGecko, Ordoro, Brightperal, Stitch Labs, Acctivate, Wasp Barcode Technologies, Dapulse (Monday.com), Orderhive, KCSI, Handifox, Dearinventory, Megaventory, Veeqo, eTurns, SkuVault, Sage, and Manhattan Associates.Browse Related Reports:About Global Market InsightsGlobal 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 UsArun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog: Agrochemical Market: Sales, Consumption, Demand and Forecast 2017-2025: Syngenta AG (Switzerland), The Mosaic Co. (U.S.), and Yara International ASA (Norway), etc. Agrochemical Market https://bit.ly/2IqkQUg https://bit.ly/2IjFn0B https://bit.ly/2rJZPxl Agrochemical covers broad range of hormones, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and other chemical growth agents. It is the chemical products that are used especially in horticulture, agriculture and floriculture. Due to the expanding commercial cultivation of high value crops to meet the rising diversified food demand, the agrochemicals market is considered to be one of the most important segments of agri-inputs.More Insightful Information | Request a Sample Copy @Agrochemical Market -A vast and developing market even todayAccording to a new report published by Reports Monitor titled, Global Agrochemicals Market, Growth Opportunities, Innovations and Forecast, 2018-2025, the global agrochemicals market was valued at XX million in 2018, and is projected to reach at XX million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% from 2018 to 2025.Due to the expanding commercial cultivation of high value crops to meet the rising diversified food demand, this market is considered to be one of the most important segments of agri-inputs. Agrochemicals includes specialty chemical products such as hormones, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and chemical growth agents that are used in agriculture, floriculture as well as horticulture. The increasing research and development in the sector of bio-pesticides in order to compete with integrated pest management and organic farming is one of the most recent inclination in global agrochemicals market. Increasing pest concerns and emergence of a variety of agrochemicals are expected to drive the demand for agrochemicals in the near future.The agrochemicals market is also driven by factors including shifting Research development investments as well as rigorous research & sharing of intellectual property rights. The increase in crop production tending to the optimal use of scarce resources covering land, water, and fertilizers is gaining attention in the field of agriculture due to the introduction of new technologies. Development of safe alternatives such as bio-farming and organic pesticides is hindering the growth of the agrochemicals market.The high growth potential in emerging markets and untapped regions is anticipated to provide growth opportunities for major players in the market. The global agrochemicals market is boosted by the increasing number of population leading to the increase in the demand for food .Whereas, the benefits of agrochemicals are estimable and people are becoming aware of them. Tthe toxicity of synthetic products acts as a major challenge for the industry.The global agrochemicals market is classified on the basis of geography and type. On the basis of type, agrochemicals are segmented covering pesticides and fertilizers. Fertilizers can be further bifurcated into biofertilizers and synthetic. Synthetic fertilizers can be further segmented into phosphatic, nitrogenous and potassic fertilizers. On the basis of pesticides, they are divided into fungicides, insecticides and herbicides including synthetic and bio-based.China is the largest producer as well as the largest consumer of fertilizers globally. Brazil is the worlds leading country in the consumption of pesticides. Africa is also proving as a good potential in the agrochemicals market. Presently, China is leading the agrochemical market tending to its development in agricultural sector following the need for its ever-growing population. The largest agrochemicals market includes Japan, China, France, Germany, India and US.Get Discount of Agrochemicals Market Report:The key vendors in this market are: :- Syngenta AG (Switzerland), The Mosaic Co. (U.S.), and Yara International ASA (Norway), Agrium Inc. (Canada), Bayer AG (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), Dow AgroSciences LLC (U.S.), E. I. du Pont Nemours and Company (U.S.), Monsanto Company (U.S.), Sumitomo Chemical Co. (Japan)Research ScopeThe study for Global Agrochemicals Market will provide market size, estimates and forecast based on the following years:Historic data: 2015 Base Year Estimate: 2016 Forecast: 2018 to 2025The report has been categorized in two distinctive sections, where the first category titled as Market Overview provides a holistic view of the market, key trends, drivers, challenges/restraints or opportunities with their current and expected impact on the overall industry sales.Our analyst implement several qualitative tools such as Ansoffs Matrix, PESTEL analysis, Porters five force analysis among other to interpret and represent key industry findings.The second section of the study provides market size, estimates and forecast for key market segments and regional market. The final part of the report highlights key manufacturers/vendors operating in the associated market.1. Introduction1.1. Market Definition1.2. Market Scope2. Research Methodology2.1. Primary Research2.2. Secondary Sources2.3. Assumptions & Exclusions3. Market Overview3.1. Research Report Segmentation & Scope3.2. Key Market Trend Analysis3.2.1. Market Drivers3.2.2. Market Restraint/Challenges3.2.3. Market Opportunities3.3. Porters Five Forces Analysis3.4. Potential Venture Avenues3.5. Market Share Analysis, 20164. Type Overview4.1. Introduction4.2. Market Size & Forecast, 2015 to 2025Fertilizers-4.3. Synthetic Fertilizers4.3.1. Nitrogenous4.3.1.1. Urea4.3.1.2. Ammonia4.3.1.3. Calcium Ammonium Nitrate4.3.1.4. Other Nitrogenous Fertilizers4.3.2. Phosphatic4.3.2.1. Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)4.3.2.2. Mono-Ammonium Phosphate (MAP)4.3.2.3. Triple Superphosphate (TSP)4.3.2.4. Other Phosphatic Fertilizers4.3.3. Potassic4.3.3.1. Potassium Chloride4.3.3.2. Potassium Sulfate4.3.3.3. Potassium Magnesium Sulfate4.3.3.4. Others4.4. Biofertlizers5. Pesticides5.1. Herbicides5.1.1. Synthetic Herbicides5.1.1.1. Glyphosate5.1.1.2. Atrazine5.1.1.3. Acetochlor5.1.1.4. 2,4-D5.1.1.5. Paraquat5.1.1.6. Others5.1.2. Bio-Herbicides5.2. Insecticides5.2.1. Synthetic Insecticides5.2.1.1. Organophosphates5.2.1.2. Pyrethroids5.2.1.3. Methyl Carbamates5.2.1.4. Neonicotinoids5.2.1.5. Others5.2.2. Bio-Insecticides5.3. Fungicides5.3.1. Synthetic Fungicides5.3.1.1. Dithiocarbamates5.3.1.2. Benzimidazoles5.3.1.3. Chloronitriles5.3.1.4. Triazoles5.3.1.5. Phenylamides5.3.1.6. Strobilurins5.3.1.7. Others5.3.2. Bio-FungicidesGet More Information Read Full Press Release @(Note: The segments mentioned above are tentative in nature and are subject to change as the research progresses)About Garner Insights:We at Garner Insights.com provide a comprehensive analysis by providing in-depth reports of the various market verticals. Our Mission is to provide a detailed analysis of the vast markets worldwide backed by rich data. Decision makers can now rely on our well-defined data gathering methods to get the correct and accurate market forecasting along with detailed analysis.Media ContactCompany Name: Garner InsightsContact Person: Kevin ThomasPhone: +1 513 549 5911 High-Temperature Composite Resins Market to Reach US$ 168.3 million in 2023 https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/186/high-temperature-composite-resin-market.html https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/186/high-temperature-composite-resin-market.html https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market/report/Advanced-Materials.html Stratview Research has published a new research report on High-Temperature Composite Resins Market. This extensive report by Stratview Research analyses the growth of High-Temperature Composite Resins Market over the trend period of 2012 to 2017 and forecast period of 2018 to 2023 under the following segments - By Resin Type (BMI Resin, Cyanate Ester Resin, Polyimide Resin, High-Temperature Thermoplastic Resins and Others), By End-Use Industry Type (Aerospace & Defense, Transportation,and Others), By Composite Manufacturing Process Type (Prepreg Layup, RTM, and Others),and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)Go through the detailed scope:OrGet a free sample of the report:High-Temperature Composite Resins Market: Highlights & DriversResins used for composite applications, which can withstand extreme heat and temperature environments, are considered as high-temperature composite resins. High-temperature resins have a long history in the composites industry with usage in military and commercial aircraft engines. Nowadays, composite stakeholders are betting on these resin technologies in other applications including airframe and other hot sections.The high-temperature composite resins market is projected to grow at a healthy rate over the next five years to reach US$ 168.3 million in 2023. Increasing penetration of composites in aerospace and automotive industries coupled with a greater demand for high-temperature composites, increasing production rates of high-temperature composite rich F-35 aircraft, and superior performance benefits of high-temperature resins are the key factors proliferating the growth of the market.High Temperature Composite Resins MarketHigh-temperature resin excels the performance of composite parts and enhances parts ability to withstand extreme heat and harsh environmental conditions. Also, the resin performs better under fatigue compared to more brittle ceramics and are lighter than metals; therefore, manufacturers have started adopting high-temperature resins instead of using ceramics and exotic metals. The aircraft engine is one of the biggest application areas of high-temperature composite resins as it is prone to extreme temperature and heat environments.Newer jet engines and 5th generation fighter aircraft have pushed service temperature into the range of 600F to 1000F (316C to 538C), along with an increasing demand for composite materials in order to achieve excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Lockheed Martins F-35 is among the best-selling fifth-generation aircraft, which has incorporated high-temperature composite resins. About 35% of the aircraft is made of composites and approximately 50% of which is high-temperature composites.BMI resin is likely to remain the most dominant high-temperature resin typeBased on the resin type, the high-temperature composite resins market is segmented as BMI, Cyanate Ester, Polyimide, Thermoplastics, and Others. BMI resin is likely to remain the most dominant high-temperature resin type in terms of volume over the next five years. It is preferably used in military aircraft engines as well as airframe applications, nacelles of business jet engines, tooling prepreg, and hot-air ducts. However, polyimide resin is likely to remain the largest resin type in terms of value during the forecast period. Polyimide composite parts can withstand continuous use up to 315C (600F) and intermittent use up to 480C (900F) and exhibit extremely high dimensional stability at elevated temperatures.Aerospace & defense is likely to remain the most dominant segmentThe high-temperature composite resins market is segmented based on the end-use industry type as Aerospace & Defense, Transportation, and Others. Aerospace & defense is likely to remain the most dominant segment during the forecast period. Increasing production rate of high-temperature composite rich fighter aircraft F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter) is likely to give an impetus to the demand for high-temperature composites in the industry. Lockheed Martin announced it has increased the deliveries of F-35 by 40% in 2017 than the previous year. The company is likely to further increase its annual deliveries from 66 aircraft in 2017 to an expected delivery of 160 aircraft in 2023. Another key application area of high-temperature composite resin is tooling prepreg, where BMI resin is gaining traction.Prepreg layup is expected to remain the most dominant processBased on the manufacturing process type, the high-temperature composite resins market is segmented as Prepreg Layup, RTM, and Others. Prepreg layup is expected to remain the most dominant process for manufacturing composite parts made using high-temperature resins. It is the most widely preferred process for manufacturing of critical parts in the aerospace & defense industry, where high-temperature resin systems are used. Prepreg layup offers various advantages, such as consistent material properties, high fiber volume, flexibility in fiber orientation, low-void content, and easy to operate on complicated shapes.North America is projected to remain the largest market during the forecast periodBased on regions, North America is projected to remain the largest market during the forecast period, driven by the worlds leading aircraft OEMs, aeroengine manufacturers, tier players, and material suppliers. The USA is the growth engine of the regions market. Lockheed Martin has opened a new manufacturing facility to produce its high-temperature composite resin rich F-35 aircraft in Pinellas Park, Florida, the USA, to raise the existing production rate. There is a total un-filled order of more than 2,691 F-35 aircraft from 12 countries out of which the USAs inventory objective is 2,456 F-35 aircraft.Europe is projected to remain the second largest market for high-temperature composite resins during the forecast period. Dassault Aviation, BAE Systems, and Airbus Group are some of the key OEMs, which are driving the demand for high-temperature composite resins in the European market.Top Key PlayersThe supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, high-temperature resin manufacturers, prepreggers & compounders, tier players, OEMs, and airliners. The key high-temperature composite resin manufacturers include Solvay S.A., TenCate Advanced Composites, Lonza Group, Hexcel Corporation, and Renegade Materials Corporation. The development of low-cost high-temperature composite resins with an ease of manufacturing processes; reduced operational cost; and formation of strategic alliances are the key strategies adopted by the players to gain a competitive edge in the market.Why Stratview ResearchOur report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report: High-Temperature Composite Resins Market overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis Growth drivers and constraints, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis Market trend (2012 2017) and forecast analysis (2018-2023) of each segment. Competitors market share, product portfolio and new launches. Growth opportunities in each segment. Emerging trends which will decide the future course of development. Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players Key success factors.Click Here for Other Reports from Stratview Research in the Chemicals & Materials Industry:Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm offering a wide range of services including syndicated market reports, consulting, sourcing intelligence, and customer research.We have a strong experienced team of industry veterans and research analysts with a perfect blend of wisdom, knowledge and attitude. We have been serving multiple clients across a wide array of industries.400 Renaissance Center,Suite 2600,Detroit, Michigan, MI 48243United States of AmericaPhone No. +1-313-307-4176sales@stratviewresearch.com Turbine Engine Market 2019 With Top Key Players Like CFM International, General Electric, NPO Saturn Avio Aero Turbine Engine Market https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/418 https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/request-toc/418 https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/418 The Turbine Engine Market is prized at USD xx million and is likely to touch to USD XX million, with a CAGR of XXX % during the forecast period. The key driving factor the development turbine engine market is the advancements in engine technologies.Get a Sample PDF Of Turbine Engine Market:Air travel has become a necessity and the industry has seen growth owing to increased production of aircrafts. An integral part of every aircrafts is gas turbine engine that powers the aircraft. The engine converts fuel energy into mechanical energy that is used to push the aircraft. Since the invention of air transport, airlines have tried to use fuel efficient for overall cost reduction. The growing investment done by people in aircraft manufacturing and leasing of engine activities has contributed towards the growth of turbine engines market. Present day engines are digitally controlled, and the output is managed by sensors placed at different levels of flight. Sensors are placed at various important locations and various other dimensions pressure, temperature, oil debris and vibration is recorded in real time.Turbine engines market is segmented on the basis of type, fit and region. Based on type it is divided as turbofan, turbojet and turboprop. Turbofan engine uses mechanical energy generated by the gas turbine to accelerate air. Turbojet is a jet engine that comprises of air inlet, compressor, combustion chamber and a turbine. At the same time, Turbopop comprises of combustor, intake, compressor, propelling nozzle and turbine. Based on fit, the market is divided into line-fit and retrofit. Line-fit is if some additional options are included during the aircraft construction. Some items are installed during production line by the producers. To reduce emission from engine, retrofit technology is added in the engine.Browse Detailed TOC and Companies Mentioned in Turbine Engine Market Research Report:Turbine engines market region is segmented into America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Turbine engines market trends indicate growth in North America and South America owing to technical advancement and increased buying power. Europe comes after North America as the top key player in the market. United States of America and Canada contributes the most revenue in North America region. Brazil is the biggest market in South America and similarly Germany, France, Spain, Italy and United Kingdom markets contributes maximum revenue in Europe region. Asia-Pacific owing to its growing population and constant innovations in the technology sector has a steady pace of growth. The biggest market in the region are Australia, India, China, New Zealand and Japan. Rest of Asia Pacific region has large requirement for commercial aircraft gas turbine engine. The market in Middle East and Africa is less owing to its lack in technology innovations. In regions like Kuwait, Israel and so on there is highest demand for turbine engine.Turbine engines market trend indicate a shortfall of sufficient fund for buying new craft will hamper the market as implementing new engines might be difficult owing to the cost involved. The stringent custom duties and environmental threats due to carbon emission are also factors hampering the industry growth.Make an enquire Before Buying This Report:Key players in turbine engine market are CFM International, General Electric, NPO Saturn Avio Aero and many other.SegmentationThe various segments of turbine engine market are,By Type: Turbofan Turbojet TurbopropBy Fit: Line-fit RetrofitBy Region: America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa (MEA)What to expect from the upcoming report on turbine engine market:- Future prospects and current trends of the turbine engine market by the end of forecast period- Information regarding technological progressions as well as innovations across the world- Supportive initiatives by government likely to influence the market dynamics.- In-depth analysis of different market segmentations including regional segmentations, applications and types.- Deep analysis about the competitive landscape of the market and the initiatives by them to improve this market.- Trends, drivers, opportunities, restraints, challenges and key developments in the marketWho should buy this report?Venture capitalists, Investors, financial institutions, Analysts, Government organizations, regulatory authorities, policymakers ,researchers, strategy managers, and academic institutions looking for insights into the market to determine future strategies.We provide quantified B2B research on numerous opportunistic markets, and offer customized research reports, consulting services, and syndicate research reports. We assist our clients to strategize business decisions and attain sustainable growth in their respective domain. Additionally, we support them with their revenue planning, marketing strategies, and assist them to make decisions before the competition so that they remain ahead of the curve.Contact Information:Ryan JohnsonAccount Manager Global3131 McKinney Ave Ste 600, Dallas,TX75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: USA: +1 (214) 884-6068 / +91 9665341414 BFSI IT 2019 Global Market Key Players IBM, Microsoft, Accenture, Micro Focus, SAP, Cognizant Analysis and Forecast to 2025 BFSI IT Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3661749-global-bfsi-it-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3661749-global-bfsi-it-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025 www.wiseguyreports.com WiseGuyRerports.com Presents Global BFSI IT Market Size, Status and Forecast 2019-2025 New Document to its Studies DatabaseBanking, Financial services and Insurance (BFSI) is an industry term for companies that provide a range of such financial products/services such as universal banks. BFSI comprises commercial banks, insurance companies, non-banking financial companies, cooperatives, pensions funds, mutual funds and other smaller financial entities.The BFSI vertical is one of the major targets for cyber criminals, considering the sensitive information it holds. The vertical collects vital data including customers financial and other personal information and employee information. Therefore, the BFSI vertical is always on the radar of cyber security product and service vendors. With the advancements in cyber-attacks, the BFSI organizations face significant challenges to safeguard their databases from internal and external hackers. This is a major factor that contributes to the high adoption of cyber-security solutions in the BFSI vertical. This vertical is always improving its processing and transaction technologies. Also, the vertical continues to introduce new and improved financial products and services to improve its business operations. Cybercriminals are attracted toward this vertical to grab sensitive customer information. The stringent government regulations are another major factor that drives the adoption of cyber security solutions in the BFSI vertical.Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is expected to penetrate further into the BFSI sector in coming years, with an objective to enhance customer experience and aid their operational processes. Automating operational processes by implementing the AI technology is likely to reduce the operational costs and speed up the banking operations.North America is estimated to hold the largest market share in 2017, while APAC is expected to be the fastest-growing region in terms of CAGR during the forecast period.In 2018, the global BFSI IT market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during 2019-2025.This report focuses on the global BFSI IT status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the BFSI IT development in United States, Europe and China.The key players covered in this studyIBMMicrosoftAccentureMicro FocusSAPCognizant...Request For Sample Report @Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoECMCRMHCMERPArtificial IntelligenceBusiness IntelligenceUnified CommunicationsMarket segment by Application, split intoCommercial BanksInsurance CompaniesNon-Banking Financial CompaniesCooperativesOthersMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South AmericaThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze global BFSI IT status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.To present the BFSI IT 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.Complete Report Details @Table Of Contents:1 Report Overview1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Players Covered1.4 Market Analysis by Type1.4.1 Global BFSI IT Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2014-2025)1.4.2 ECM1.4.3 CRM1.4.4 HCM1.4.5 ERP1.4.6 Artificial Intelligence1.4.7 Business Intelligence1.4.8 Unified Communications1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global BFSI IT Market Share by Application (2014-2025)1.5.2 Commercial Banks1.5.3 Insurance Companies1.5.4 Non-Banking Financial Companies1.5.5 Cooperatives1.5.6 Others1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Global Growth Trends2.1 BFSI IT Market Size2.2 BFSI IT Growth Trends by Regions2.2.1 BFSI IT Market Size by Regions (2014-2025)2.2.2 BFSI IT Market Share by Regions (2014-2019)2.3 Industry Trends2.3.1 Market Top Trends2.3.2 Market Drivers2.3.3 Market Opportunities2 International Players Profiles12.1 IBM12.1.1 IBM Company Details12.1.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.1.3 BFSI IT Introduction12.1.4 IBM Revenue in BFSI IT Business (2014-2019)12.1.5 IBM Recent Development12.2 Microsoft12.2.1 Microsoft Company Details12.2.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.2.3 BFSI IT Introduction12.2.4 Microsoft Revenue in BFSI IT Business (2014-2019)12.2.5 Microsoft Recent Development12.3 Accenture12.3.1 Accenture Company Details12.3.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.3.3 BFSI IT Introduction12.3.4 Accenture Revenue in BFSI IT Business (2014-2019)12.3.5 Accenture Recent Development12.4 Micro Focus12.4.1 Micro Focus Company Details12.4.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.4.3 BFSI IT Introduction12.4.4 Micro Focus Revenue in BFSI IT Business (2014-2019)12.4.5 Micro Focus Recent Development12.5 SAP12.5.1 SAP Company Details12.5.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.5.3 BFSI IT Introduction12.5.4 SAP Revenue in BFSI IT Business (2014-2019)12.5.5 SAP Recent DevelopmentContinued.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 Chemoinformatics Market Future Growth with Top Company Profiles Openeye Scientific Software, Dassault Systemes, Agilent Technologies, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Biosolveit Gmbh, Schrodinger, Llc, Chemaxon Ltd Chemoinformatics Market to 2025 http://bit.ly/2SMrZDt http://bit.ly/2SVkXME http://bit.ly/2SMsldh Worldwide Chemoinformatics Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Chemoinformatics industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Chemoinformatics Market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Chemoinformatics Market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Chemoinformatics is the use of computer and informational techniques applied to a range of problems in the field of chemistry. These techniques are used, in pharmaceutical companies in the process of drug discovery. These methods can also be used in chemical and allied industries in various other forms. Chemoinformatics is the mixing of those information resources to transform data into information and information into knowledge for the intended purpose of making better decisions faster in the area of drug lead identification and optimization.Book Your Sample Copy of the Report here @Some of the key players influencing the market are Jubilant Biosys, Molecular Discovery Ltd., Openeye Scientific Software, Dassault Systemes, Agilent Technologies, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Biosolveit Gmbh, Schrodinger, Llc, Chemaxon Ltd. and Golden Helix, Inc.The market of chemoinformatics market is anticipated to grow with a significant rate in the coming years, owing to factors such as, growing occurrence and incidence of chronic disease in the global population and consistent requirement to discover innovative drugs. Various technological and medication developments in the healthcare industry in Asia Pacific and Europe are expected to offer growth opportunities for the players operating in the market.The global chemoinformatics market is segmented on the basis of mode of deployment, application end user and geography. The mode of deployment segment includes, web based, cloud based. Based on application, the market is segmented as, drug discovery, drug validation, chemical analysis and others. Based on end user, the market is segmented as, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, research and academic institution, regulatory center and others.North America is likely to contribute to the largest share in the chemoinformatics market in the coming years, owing to factors such as, enhanced infrastructure of healthcare, funds in initiatives of R&D and technological enlargements in United States and Canada. Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth rate during the forecast period primarily due to increasing activities of research and initiative of medication improvement in Asian countries such as, India, China and Japan.Make Inquiry Before Buying the Report@The report also includes the profiles of key chemoinformatics market manufacturing companies along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. In addition, the report focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Key Benefits of Buying this Research Study:1. Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global Chemoinformatics Market2. Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies3. The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Chemoinformatics Market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long term strategies4. Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets5. Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it6. Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution7. Examine the political, economic, social and technology impact of the five regions namely: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and South America.To Buy This Informative Research Report, Please Click On The Link @About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.com Coconut Water Market 2018 Top Key Players - VITA COCO, Pepsico (ONE,Amacoco), Taste Nirvana, Naked Juice, Coca-Cola(Zico), C2O Pure Coconut Water, Coconut Palm Group Coconut Water Market https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/236 https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/industry-reports/coconut-water-market https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/236 The Global Coconut Water industry is expected to exceed more than USD XXX Billion at a CAGR of XX% in the forecast period. Coconut water is extracted from tender coconuts which are of 6-9 months of age. Industry experts predict a steady growth in volume and revenue in the upcoming years.Request a sample of this report @Detailed study of coconut water market analysis indicates the rise in market due to various factors. Growing awareness about the health and nutrition, increase in global average temperature due to the climate change are helping the market grow. Furthermore, pro-government policies and growing investment in the coconut farming sector are reasons for growth.Coconut water is popular in the tropical regions, however it is increasingly garnering attention across the map. It is refreshing and keeps you hydrated and contains low calorie as compared to competitive drinks popular in the market.Another vital contributing factor for growth is the demand for coconut water mix and concentrates, increased presence of various FMCG companies in the market, and transparent trade practices in food industry are helping Coconut water industry. At the same time growing frequency of diseases and reduced productivity is one of the major factors that can impact the global coconut water market size negatively.Coconut water has milk nutrition, vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes, minerals, amino acids and growth hormones in abundance. As coconut grows near the sea they have access to rich in mineral salt water, which is soaked up by their roots. This makes the coconut water a rich source of major minerals.Coconut water market analysis is done on the basis of packaging material as plastic and paper board. The emerging trend in the Coconut water industry are vending machines and e-commerce platforms. In the near future coconut water would be easy to buy from supermarkets.Packaged coconut water is garnering attention recently. It is easily available in the form of easy-to-carry and drink, tetra packs over the counter. Coconut water is widely used owing to its various skin and hair benefits. Furthermore, also it is widely used in gyms and health centers. Plastic, paper and paper board packaged water are predicted to beat the metal packaging in the coming years. Sweetened coconut water contributes largest share (almost half) in the Global Coconut water market size. Other variant of coconut water is unsweetened or negligibly sweetened coconut water.Browse the complete report @The coconut water market size is generally segmented based on the Type and regional market. Based on the type it is divided as coconut water, Natural fruit sugar and others. On the basis of geography it is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Asia and Pacific is positioned to grow owing to the growing awareness of its salient features among the people. India, China and Indonesia are some countries which have high production of coconut water.Some of the key players having the major share in coconut water market size are VITA COCO, Pepsico (ONE,Amacoco), Taste Nirvana, Naked Juice, Coca-Cola(Zico), C2O Pure Coconut Water, Coconut Palm Group and many others.Segments:The various segments of coconut water industry are,Type:Coconut WaterNatural Fruit SugarOthersRegions:North AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaWhat to expect from the upcoming report on coconut water Market:- Future prospects and current trends of the coconut water market by the end of forecast period (2018-2025)- Information regarding technological progressions as well as innovations across the world- Supportive initiatives by government likely to influence the market dynamics.- In-depth analysis of different market segmentations including regional segmentations, applications and types.Deep analysis about the competitive landscape of the market and the initiatives by them to improve this market.- Trends, drivers, opportunities, restraints, challenges and key developments in the marketMake an enquiry of this report @Who should buy this report?Venture capitalists, Investors, financial institutions, Analysts, Government organizations, regulatory authorities, policymakers ,researchers, strategy managers, and academic institutions looking for insights into the market to determine future strategies.About Us:Adroit Market Research is an India-based business analytics and consulting company incorporated in 2018. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps.Contact Info:Ryan JohnsonAdroit Market Research3131 McKinney Ave Ste 600,Dallas, Texas 75204, U.S.APhone No: +1 (214) 884-6068Email: sales@adroitmarketresearch.com Excellent Growth of Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market With Top Leading Key Players DowDuPont, Roquette, Ashland, BASF, Kerry, Evonik | Global Forecast till 2025 Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/122554 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/122554/single https://www.businessindustryreports.com/check-discount/122554 A fresh report has been added to the wide database of Business Industry Reports. The research study is titled Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2025 which provides important data about the production, consumption, revenue and company profiles for key industry participants.Global Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Synopsis:According to Market Analyst, Global Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market is projected to grow at a Healthy growth rate from 2019 to 2025.Get Free Sample Study Papers of Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market @The excipients from the major part of any medical product and proportion of it when compared to Active Pharmaceutical Agent (API) exceed two to three folds in any pharmaceutical preparations. Excipients usually help in improving the bioavailability of the active pharmaceutical ingredient pharmaceutical. It also helps in overall safety and effectiveness of the formulation during its storage and usually assures the consumer and manufacturers that the excipients quality will meet the international market.The major driving factor of global Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients market are rising demands of generics, growing demand of pharmaceutical excipients due to the rising aging population and incidence of chronic diseases. In addition, advancement in functional excipient development and rapid growth in biopharmaceutical sector are also some major drivers that boosting the market growth.The Global Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients market has been segmented based on Product, Application, and region. Based on Product, the market is segmented into Oleo Chemicals, Carbohydrates, Petrochemicals, Protein, Others. Based on application, Market can be sub segmented into Oral Formulation, Topical Formulation, Parenteral Formulation, Others.Regionally, North America has accounted the leading market share of total generating revenue in across the globe owing to increase in number key market players in the region. Europe is also contributing maximum share in the global organic pharmaceutical excipients. Asia-Pacific region is also anticipated to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2018-2025 due to the expansion of Asia-Pacific region is primarily due to countries such as China and India.Complete report on Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market spread across 200 Pages and No. of Table of contents. Buy Research atThe Market is segmented and projected on the basis of major key players:1 DowDuPont2 Roquette3 Ashland4 BASF5 Kerry6 Evonik Industries7 CrodaMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers:1 North America Country (United States, Canada)2 South America3 Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)4 Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)5 Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Request a Discount on standard prices of this premium report atThe prime objective of this report is to help the user understand the market in terms of its definition, segmentation, market potential, influential trends, and the challenges that the market is facing. Deep researches and analysis were done during the preparation of the report. The readers will find this report very helpful in understanding the market in depth. The facts and data are represented in the report using diagrams, graphs, pie charts, and other pictorial representations. This enhances the visual representation and also helps in understanding the facts much better.Key Questions Answered in this Report:1 What are the major market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients market?2 What was the market value of the leading segments and sub-segments of the global Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients market in 2017?3 What are the influencing factors that may affect the market share of the key players?4 Who are the key players in Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market?5 How will the industry evolve during the forecast period 2019-2025?TABLE OF CONTENTS1 Executive Summary2 Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Definition and Scope3 Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Dynamics4 Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Industry Analysis5 Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market, by Application6 Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market, by End-User7 Organic Pharmaceutical Excipients Market, by Regional Analysis8 Competitive Intelligence9 Research ProcessAbout 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 Robotic Lawn Mower Market Major players analyzed by DEERE & COMPANY, Robert Bosch GmbH, Hitachi, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Husqvarna Group, Zucchetti Centro Sistemi S.p.a., Stiga S.p.A. https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2848564/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/2848564/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2848564/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL The newly released research at Big Market Research titled 2018-2025 Global Robotic Lawn Mower Market Report provides data, information, brief analysis, company profiles, statistics for past years and forecasts for next few years.Robotic lawn mower is an autonomous robot that functions without human intervention within a definitive area closed by perimeter wire. To use robotic lawn mower user requires to set up a border wire around the lawn that defines the area to be mowed. The robot uses the wire to locate the boundary and in some cases to locate a recharging dock. These lawn mowers have the capability of self-docking that minimizes human intervention, and it also contains rain sensors that are capable of sensing rain or high humid condition. Robotic lawn mowers are also integrated with custom apps to adjust settings, scheduled mowing times and frequency, as well as the mobile app can be used to manually control the mover with a digital joystick. Some of the manufacturers are implementing ledge sensors that improve maneuverability and offer additional features such as laser vision, mapping, lawn memory, and smart navigation that improve performance and efficiency of the mower. An advanced robotic lawn mower is also guided by a global positioning system (GPS) and computer vision, which provide higher accuracy to mow around obstacles. The effective strategy adopted by companies to develop advanced product through R&D and self-powering features is expected to fuel the growth of the global robotic lawn mower market. The new technologies improve the quality and durability of these mowers and introduction of features such as lawn memory, barrier recognition, threshold climb, and lawn mapping are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the global robotic lawn mower market.Request for a sample copy of this report @The increase in dependency on robots to save human efforts, money, and time and rise in productivity are the key factors that drive the market growth during the forecast period. Moreover, robotic lawn mowers enhance the quality of life and reduce workload of users, thereby driving the growth of the global robotic lawn mower market. In addition, robots have also earned popularity in the commercial markets as lawn maintenance devices, cleaning robots, and a lot of low-level operational work. Moreover, decreased time for household activity and rise in disposable income throughout the world are expected to boost the market growth. However, high initial investment, installation cost, and difficult setup procedure are anticipated to hinder the market growth during the forecast period. On the contrary, decline in cost of batteries due to increase in its production worldwide are expected to reduce the cost of a lawn mower and boost the market growth during the forecast period. Moreover, rise in the adoption of the internet of things via smartphone and computers enables a user to control mower time and frequency, thereby further driving the growth of the global robotic lawn mower market.The robotic lawn mower market is segmented based on range, end user, distribution channel, and region. Based on range, the market is classified into low-range robotic lawn mower, medium-range robotic lawn mower, and high-range robotic lawn mower. Based on end user, the market is bifurcated into residential user and commercial user. Based on distribution channel, the market is classified into retail and online. By region, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.Some of the major players analyzed in this report are DEERE & COMPANY, Robert Bosch GmbH, Hitachi, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Husqvarna Group, Zucchetti Centro Sistemi S.p.a., Stiga S.p.A., LG Electronics, The Kobi Company, and MTD Products.Request for a Discount of this report @KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERSThis report presents a quantitative analysis of the current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the global robotic lawn mower market from 2017 to 2025 to identify the prevailing market opportunities.The key countries in all the major regions are mapped based on their market share.Porters five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders to make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplierbuyer network.In-depth analysis of the market segmentation assists in determining the prevailing market opportunities.Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global industry. Market player positioning segment facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players.The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global market, key players, market segments, application areas, and growth strategies.Robotic Lawn Mower Key Market Segments:By RangeLow-Range Robotic Lawn MowerMedium-Range Robotic Lawn MowerHigh-Range Robotic Lawn MowerBy End UserResidential UserCommercial UserBy Distribution ChannelRetailOnlineBy RegionNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeUKGermanyFranceItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia-PacificChinaJapanIndiaSouth KoreaAustraliaRest of Asia-PacificLAMEABrazilSaudi ArabiaSouth AfricaRest of LAMEATable of content:CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Report description1.2 Key benefit1.3 Key market segment1.4 Research methodology1.4.1 Secondary research1.4.2 Primary research1.4.3 Analyst tools and modelsCHAPTER 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2.1 CXO prospective2.2 Market beyond: what to expect by 20252.2.1 Moderate growth scenario2.2.2 Rapid growth scenario2.2.3 Diminishing growth scenarioCHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW3.1. Market Definition and Scope3.2. Key Findings3.2.1. Top investment pocket3.2.2. Top winning strategies3.2.3. Top winning strategies, by year, 2015-2018*3.2.4. Top winning strategies, by development, 2015-2018* (%)3.2.5. Top winning strategies, by company, 2015-2018*3.3. Porter's Five Forces analysis3.3.1. Bargaining power of suppliers3.3.2. Bargaining power of buyers3.3.3. Threat of substitution3.3.4. Threat of new entrants3.3.5. Intensity of competitive rivalry3.4. Market dynamics3.4.1. Drivers3.4.2. Increasing dependence on robotics3.4.3. Increasing penetration of smartphones3.4.4. Decreased time for household activity3.4.5. Rise in disposable income3.4.6. Restraints3.4.6.1. High initial investment and installation costs3.4.6.2. Difficult setup procedure3.4.7. Opportunities3.4.7.1. Declining Cost of Batteries/ Fuel Cells3.4.7.2. Growth in the adoption internet of thingsCHAPTER 4: ROBOTIC LAWN MOWER MARKET, BY RANGE4.1. Overview4.1.1. Market size and forecast4.2. Low Range Robotic Lawn Mower4.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities4.2.2. Market size and forecast4.2.3. Market analysis, by country4.3. Medium Range Robotic Lawn Mower4.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities4.3.2. Market size and forecast4.3.3. Market analysis, by country4.4. High Range Robotic Lawn Mower4.4.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities4.4.2. Market size and forecast4.4.3. Market analysis, by countryEnquiry Before Buying @About Us:Industry executives tend to keep a tab on their business competitors. This keeps them updated on strategic business activities and investment trends. Company profiles are crucial to participating players of interconnected verticals.Contact Us:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United Statescall answer Direct:+1-971-202-1575call answer Toll Free:+1-800-910-6452email help@bigmarketresearch.com USD 8700 Million Smart Speaker Market - Global Outlook Report 2019-2022 | Top Key Players are Amazon, Apple, Sonos, Alphabet, Sony Smart Speaker Market https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/116763 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/116763/single https://www.businessindustryreports.com/check-discount/116763 Global Smart Speaker Market Report 2019 offers elaborated knowledge on the market parts like size, Key Regions, growth, trends, dominating firms, Major Manufactures. The Smart Speaker report introduces market competition situation among the vendors, revenue, product & services, latest developments and business strategies.Global Smart Speaker Market Overview:According to Market Analysts Global Smart Speaker Market size is to maintain the average annual growth rate of 34.38% from 820 million $ in 2014 to 1990 million $ in 2017. Market analysts believe that Smart Speaker Market size will be further expanded, The market size of the Smart Speaker will reach 8700 million $ by 2022.Sample Copy of Global Smart Speaker Antenna Market Report Available @Smart speaker is a wireless speaker enabled by Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other wireless protocols and powered by virtual assistant, which is driven by artificial intelligence. It is the latest technological innovation dominating the consumer technology market and is activated by a voice command to perform different tasks such as listening to music, ordering food, and online shopping.The Smart Speaker Market is driven by the factors such as Increasing number of smart homes, Rising disposable income, Rapid proliferation of multifunctional devices and growing trend of personalization.The Smart Speaker Market is segmented based on Intelligent Virtual Assistant, Application, Component and Regions. On the basis of Intelligent Virtual Assistant, the market is sub-segmented into Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and other. The market for Alexa smart speakers is growing owing to its low cost and compatibility with numerous smart devices and apps.By component, the market is sub-segmented into Hardware and Software. Hardware segment is to account for major portion of smart speaker market during the forecast year.Regionally, North America is currently leading the smart speaker market and is projected to be in the leading position for the next few years owing to the high adoption of smart speakers. The penetration of smart speakers is high in this region owing to the presence of early adopters.Purchase this report online along with table of contents @Key Regions:1 North America Country (United States, Canada)2 South America3 Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)4 Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)5 Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Top global key service provider companies covered in the study include:1 Amazon2 Harman International3 Apple4 Sonos5 Alphabet6 Bose7 Sony and More...Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @Key Questions Answered in this Report:1 How has the Smart Speaker market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?2 What are the price trends of Smart Speaker?3 What is the structure of the Smart Speaker industry and who are the key players?4 Who are the key vendors in the global Smart Speaker market?5 What are the latest market trends?Table of Content:1 Smart Speaker Definition2 Global Smart Speaker Market Major Player Share and Market Overview3 Major Player Smart Speaker Business Introduction4 Global Smart Speaker Market Segmentation (Region Level)5 Global Smart Speaker Market Segmentation (Type Level)6 Global Smart Speaker Market Segmentation (Industry Level)7 Global Smart Speaker Market Segmentation (Channel Level)8 Smart Speaker Market Forecast 2019-20229 Smart Speaker Segmentation Type10 Smart Speaker Segmentation Industry11 Smart Speaker Cost Analysis12 ConclusionAbout us:BusinessindustryReports.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 Baby Infant Formula Market | The key players profiled in the report include Abbott, Arla Foods Amba, Campbell Soups, Dana Dairy Group Ltd https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2831905/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/2831905/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2831905/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SBL Big Market Research adds global Baby Infant Formula market report that gives meticulous investigation of current scenario of the market size, share, demand, growth, trends, companies active in the industry and forecasts for the coming years.The global baby infant formula market size is estimated to be $24,043 million in 2018, and is projected to reach $45,348 million by 2025, registering a CAGR of 9.5% from 2018 to 2025. Infant formula is an acceptable alternative substitute for infant consumption, which attempts to mimic the nutritional composition of breast milk as closely as possible. Although physicians recommend breastmilk for optimal infant nutrition, it may not always be possible, suitable, or solely adequate. Enspire infant formula and toddler milk, and Similac infant formula and toddler milk are among various infant formulas available for healthy, full-term infants who are not breastfed or partially breastfed.Request for a sample copy of this report @Increase in participation of women in labor force has led to rise in number of women working outside their houses, which drives the baby infant formula market growth. Infant formula presents an appealing alternative to working mothers for their babies as per the need and convenience. Rapid urbanization and growth of the middle-class population have led to changes in the lifestyle of individuals. The middle-class population is more affluent and can afford to spend more on their children, thus driving the market growth. Consumer perception of high nutritional content in the infant formula also supplements this growth. At present, consumers health consciousness is increasing, and they are on a lookout for infant formula having high content of protein, minerals, and vitamins. Moreover, growth in preference for organic infant formulas may present new avenues for the manufacturers. However, concerns related to food safety and decline in global birth rate may hamper the market growth.The global baby infant formula market is segmented based on type, ingredient, distribution channel, and geography. Based on type, it is classified into infant milk, follow-on-milk, specialty baby milk, and growing-up milk. By, ingredient, it is divided into carbohydrate, fat, protein, minerals, vitamins, and others. Based on distribution channel, the market is categorized into hypermarkets, supermarkets, pharmacy/medical stores, specialty stores, hard discounter stores, and others. Based on region, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.The leading players in the baby infant formula market have focused on product launch as their key strategies to gain a significant share in the market. The key players profiled in the report include Abbott, Arla Foods Amba, Campbell Soups, Dana Dairy Group Ltd, Danone, D-Signstore, HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG, Reckitt Benckiser (Mead Johnson & Company LLC), Nestle S.A. and The Hain Celestial Group.Request for a Discount of this report @KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERSThe report provides an in-depth analysis of the current trends, drivers, and dynamics of the global baby infant formula market to elucidate the prevailing opportunities and potential investment pockets.It offers qualitative trends as well as quantitative analysis from 2018 to 2025 to assist stakeholders to understand the market scenario.In-depth analysis of the key segments demonstrates the types of baby infant formula.Competitive intelligence of the industry highlights the business practices followed by key players across geographies and the prevailing market opportunities.The key players are profiled along with their strategies and developments to understand the competitive outlook of the industry.Baby Infant Formula Key Market Segments:By TypeInfant MilkFollow-on-MilkSpecialty Baby MilkGrowing-up MilkBy IngredientCarbohydrateFatProteinMineralsVitaminsOthersBy Distribution ChannelHypermarketsSupermarketsPharmacy/Medical StoresSpecialty StoresHard Discounter StoresOthersBy GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeUKGermanyFranceItalySpainTurkeyRussiaRest of EuropeAsia-PacificChinaIndiaSouth KoreaJapanPhilippinesIndonesiaRest of Asia-PacificLAMEABrazilArgentinaSouth AfricaSaudi ArabiaUAERest of LAMEATable of content:CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Report description1.2 Key benefit1.3 Key market segment1.4 Research methodology1.4.1 Secondary research1.4.2 Primary research1.4.3 Analyst tools and modelsCHAPTER 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2.1 CXO prospective2.2 Market beyond: what to expect by 20252.2.1 Moderate growth scenario2.2.2 Rapid growth scenario2.2.3 Diminishing growth scenarioCHAPTER 4: BABY INFANT FORMULA MARKET, BY TYPE4.1. Overview4.1.1. Market size and forecast4.2. Infant milk4.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities4.2.2. Market size and forecast4.3. Follow-on-milk4.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities4.3.2. Market size and forecast4.4. Specialty baby milk4.4.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities4.4.2. Market size and forecast4.5. Growing-up milk4.5.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities4.5.2. Market size and forecastCHAPTER 5: BABY INFANT FORMULA MARKET, BY INGRIDIENT5.1. Overview5.1.1. Market size and forecast5.1.2. Market volume and forecast5.2. Carbohydrate5.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities5.2.2. Market size and forecast5.3. Fat5.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities5.3.2. Market size and forecast5.4. Protein5.4.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities5.4.2. Market size and forecast5.5. Minerals5.5.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities5.5.2. Market size and forecast5.6. Vitamins5.6.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities5.6.2. Market size and forecast5.7. Others5.7.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities5.7.2. Market size and forecastEnquiry Before Buying @About Us:Industry executives tend to keep a tab on their business competitors. This keeps them updated on strategic business activities and investment trends. Company profiles are crucial to participating players of interconnected verticals.Contact Us:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United Statescall answer Direct:+1-971-202-1575call answer Toll Free:+1-800-910-6452email help@bigmarketresearch.com The staff of the Litchfield Jazz Festival is presenting the fourth installment of their free virtual concert series for April. PARIS, January 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- An obsolescent hegemony and the birth of competition.A By Aude de Kerros.A At the beginning of 2019, the international art market is experiencing an evolution that will likely have a profound impact on the existing global art market system. The event underlying this structural change is an unexpected and unprecedented strategic business alliance between three companies based on the creation and operation of databanks. Two are specialized in the field of art - both with an online sales capacity - and a third (Cision) selects information from the international press and feeds that information to the press and media directly concerned. A A A A (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/644091/Artprice_Logo.jpg ) A A A A A (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/806924/Artprice_on_Arton_net.jpg )A The alliance comes at the end of a decade that has seen a technological revolution in communication and a profound change in geopolitical power relations. Moreover, a clivage has emerged between a very high-end mainstream art market with global visibility, the 'contemporary-international' art market, and a whole series of 'local' markets that present an art considered 'non-innovative' that falls outside the sophisticated and intellectualised 'art world'. It is in this context that a new partnership has been negotiated between Artprice, Artron and Cision. - The creation of this game-changing triumvirate was triggered by the listed French art info company Artprice, founded and steered by a larger-than-life and non-conformist personality dedicated to the principle of maintaining his liberty and independence. Thierry Ehrmann is the creator of the most comprehensive databank on the global art market, an exhaustive databank that covers both 'global financial art' and 'local non-sophisticated' arts. The inclusion of the latter field is a mission that the French state has distinctly eschewed (at its own national level), since its archiving work only covers 'state-recognised' conceptual/contemporary artists. - Artron is a Chinese institutionnal company founded in 1993 that aims to promote art and creation in China, providing all of the requisite tools to foster a thriving art sector in a country where the auction market was almost non-existent under the communist regime. It has also built up a comprehensive database that includes all currents of Chinese art. - Cision is a press observer and distributor, headquartered in Chicago, providing tailored relationships with global media outlets to the world's influencers and communication strategists. CARTELS AND MONOPOLIES BEWARE! Thierry Ehrmann is a Robin Hood character with a strong allergy to monopolies and intermediaries which he hounds relentlessly. Over the years he has turned this allergy into a positive mission to release the art world from its economic and intellectual predators. By analysing the data collected in the Artprice databanks he realised that the high-end global art market, referenced in New York, has a hegemonic visibility around the entire globe; a supply market, without real roots and without any real competition. He also realised that the 'real' market, a demand driven market, is infinitely larger, but under-developed due to a lack of visibility. By contrast, the hegemonic market thrives through a highly interconnected international network, sharing common interests, holding fairs, auctions, exhibitions in museums and international galleries. Its business model combines two levels: a market that closely resembles a pure financial market, secured by collectors operating within a closed circuit, and a mass market occupied by derivative arty objects produced industrially in limited series in all prices and formats (from gallery replicas to keyrings and t-shirts). This latter market effectively translates the original works - which often fetch massive sums at auctions - into 'promotional icons'. Together (i.e. the high-end plus its low-end sister), this market owes its legitimacy to its profitability and its various different utilities: simultaneously a 'social' and a business platform, generating urban events, tourist attractions, fuelling the museum industry etc. The Global Financial Art system, which provides incomes for a lot of people, also benefits from donations (tax-free of course) from patrons, companies, institutions, as well as subsidies from certain states. For Thierry Ehrmann, this market is built around a cluster of arcane agreements, in its own image His databanks of objective information give him prime access to the market's key information and the analytical firepower behind an inspired strategy. He was the first to note that China had become the world's leading art market as early as 2009, ahead of America. This fact has attracted little comment, with the media pretending it is insignificant. Thierry Ehrmann quickly understood the impossibility of claiming ownership to a planetary databank that did not include data from the Chinese market, which is difficult to access because of the language obstacle and the Internet barrier. This reality inspired Ehrmann to create links with the Chine! se agency Artron and, subsequently, to form an official alliance with Artron in September 2018. As Artprice has already done for the other countries, it is working towards making its art market data accessible to the entire planet. Apart from anything else, this mission involves the translation and documentation of the spellings of proper names that change from one language to another. To make this possible, Artprice needed a unique and exceptional authorization to cross the frontier of the Chinese Internet. The resulting fluidity of information has generated an online commerce of artworks, via WeChat[1], across national borders, a platform that the Chinese are familiar with, especially for luxury purchases. In 2017 Artprice had already anticipated a massive proliferation in the flow of information and a massive expansion of the art market's clientele by making its data available to the smartphones (much of it free of charge) of anyone interested in art. This evolution is at the very core of a strategy designed to turn the art market into a demand driven online market, without the intervention of intermediaries. However for a real revolution to take place, raw information is not enough; it also requires analytical tools. This is the need to which Artprice has crucially responded, creating numerous equally accessible indices that allow an understanding of the art market from a variety of different angles. Understanding the art market is no longer reserved for specialists and experts. In short, it has been demystified. The last hurdle to jump is that of the existing monopoly on visibility: to do this Ehrmann and his teams have decided to feed global data from the art market to all journalists and media around the world. This new project was initiated by a deal signed on 26 December 2018 between Artprice and the 120-year press mogul Cision to create the world's first press agency dedicated to the art market: Art Press Agency. The 'Access-to-Information' revolution that this deal represents is shaking the foundations of the existing system: the various different art markets, be they supply or demand, global or local, are now all in competition. FROM A HEGEMONIC 'GLOBAL' ART MARKET TO A 'PLURALISTIC' ART MARKET COMPETING ON EQUAL TERMS And soa Artprice's initiatives, along with Artron and Cision, are founded on the perception and acknowledgement of the 'real' global market, one that it is hidden behind today's highly visible 'global-financial' market. Indeed, the Chinese, who currently spend the most on art, make no discrimination between the various artistic currents. They consume ultra high-end art, well above the million-dollar threshold, including conceptual art validated in New York, as well as art created by artists with purely aesthetic concerns in the long tradition of art history (particularly their own). Indeed, the Chinese market is today far more geopolitically representative of the true diversity of art in the world than the New York marketplace. The 'global-financial' art that has established itself as the reference since the collapse of the Soviet Union has lost its power to provoke and surprise, despite its astronomical prices. The idea of 'global culture and art' as a historical fatality has been questioned by many countries for a decade. Global Kitsch art now looks like the last metamorphosis of a 20th century utopia that imagined the art of the future as being homogeneous and the same for everyone on the whole planet. This utopic vision, which appears to have emerged alongside the proclamation of 'socialist, international and communist realist art', nowadays appears to be confronted with the latest incarnation of 'global, international and financial conceptual art'... two sides of the same coin that reduces the world to an economic materialism supposed to explain everything. (1) Artprice is one of the only Western companies to own a WeChat site (WeChat is reserved for companies operating under Chinese law) that reaches more than 1.8 billion Chinese Internet users worldwide. See article (French only) on contrepoints.org: https://www.contrepoints.org/2019/01/10/334255-__trashed-5 Try our services (free demo): https://www.artprice.com/artist/23640/baishi-qi Subscribe to our services: https://www.artprice.com/subscription About Artprice:A Artprice is listed on the Eurolist by Euronext Paris, SRD long only and Euroclear: 7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF.A Founded by thierry Ehrmann (see Who's who certified Biography ) (c)A https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2018/10/bio-2019-whos-who-thierry-ehrmann.pdfA ). Dicover Artprice in video:A https://www.artprice.com/video Artprice is the global leader in art price and art index databanks. It has over 30 million indices and auction results covering more than 700,000 artists. 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Artron's Web:A http://www.Artron.net Artprice's Contemporary Art Market Annual Report for 2017 - free access at:A https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2017 Artprice's press releases: http://serveur.serveur.com/Press_Release/pressreleaseen.htm https://twitter.com/artpricedotcom Artmarket News: https://twitter.com/artpricedotcomA &A https://twitter.com/artmarketdotcom https://www.facebook.com/artpricedotcomA 3.4 million subscribers http://artmarketinsight.wordpress.com/ Discover the Alchemy and the universe of ArtpriceA http://web.artprice.com/video, which headquarters are the famous Museum of Contemporary Art, the Abode of Chaos: http://goo.gl/zJssd https://vimeo.com/124643720 The Contemporary Art Museum The Abode of ChaosA https://www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999 3.4 million subscribers Contact: thierry Ehrmann -A ir@artprice.comA US Syria pull-out plan delay frustrates Turkey; will launch attack, says Ankara International oi-Shubham Ghosh Ankara, Jan 11: With the US administration led by President Donald Trump showing indecisiveness over its troop pull-out from Syria, Turkey has indicated that it is running out of patience and will not deter from launching an offensive against the Kurdish fighters in Syria irrespective of America's procrastination. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told NTV channel on Thursday, January 10, that if the US's withdrawal of troops is put off with "ridiculous excuses" like Turks are attacking Kurds, then Ankara will go ahead with its decision to launch an offensive against the Kurds. The Kurds have been backed by the US in its fight against the Islamic State and Washington has sought their safety post its withdrawal. Also Read | Is US withdrawing from Syria or not? If yes, when? Confusion galore... The Turkish foreign minister also said a military offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) which Ankara has pledged to carry out in northeastern Syria is not dependent on the US troop pullout. "We are determined on the field and at the table ... We will decide on its timing and we will not receive permission from anyone," Cavusoglu said. Turkey considers the YPG and its political wing - the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) to be "terrorist groups" with links with the banned PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) on its soil. US changes Syria withdrawal plan, seeks safety of allies Kurds first Trump came up with a sudden announcement of pulling out troops from Syria last month stunning many politicians in Washington as well its allies and the Kurds fighting alongside America in the war-torn nation. However, the timetable of the troops' withdrawal became vague in the subsequent weeks, leaving sides like Turkey and Russia that aspire to play a major role in the region once the US departs, frustrated. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 9:54 [IST] Donald Trump snubs globalism again, cancels visit to economic forum in Davos citing shutdown International oi-Shubham Ghosh Washington, Jan 11: In yet another snub to globalism, US President Donald Trump on Thursday, January 10, cancelled his visit to the high-profile World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland: The reason being the ongoing partial shutdown in his government. Hours after he told the media that the trip was still on but he would not go if the government shutdown continued, said in a tweet: "My warm regards and apologies". The US is witnessing a shutdown for 20 days now, the second longest in its history, and is just a couple of days away from being the longest. Trump's tweet gave an indication that the shutdown could continue for another 10-11 days since he was scheduled to leave for Davos on January 21. The conference begins on January 22. Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. My warmest regards and apologies to the @WEF! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2019 Trump revealed his decision in a tweet while heading for a border inspection in southern Texas. The president is in the middle of a fight with the congressional Democrats over the signing of a $5.7 billion wall for a border wall which Trump believes will secure the US from the threat of immigration. The key issue in the budget impasse is the main reason for the shutdown. Border wall fiasco: President Trump's support in his own party sees fall, claims report As he is always looking to pass the buck, Trump lashed out at the Democrats blaming them for the shutdown and the cancellation of his Davos visit and said he would be staying in the US for the sake of its safety. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 9:30 [IST] Brother of slain Indian-origin cop supports Trump on border security International pti-PTI Washington, Jan 11: Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil "Ron" Singh killed in California and described a national hero by Donald Trump, has said he supported the US president's efforts on border security so that others do not experience what his family has been going through since the incident. Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, of the Newman Police Department was shot and killed during a traffic stop on December 26 allegedly by an illegal immigrant. During a visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for his controversial US-Mexico border wall plan, Trump attended a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, where Reggie Singh was seated next to the president. There the US president said, "I watched a family right around Christmas time... suffer and I'd like to ask Reggie, maybe you could say a few words about your incredible brother, the job he was doing. He was so beloved by the people of the department and beyond the department." To this, Reggie Singh told the president, "The way he (Ronil Singh) was killed, what my family is going through right now, I do not want any other family, law enforcement person to go through that." Trump spells 'forest' as 'Forrest'; it's Gump's first name, trolls Twitter "Whatever it takes to minimize... put a stop to it, my family fully supports it," Reggie Singh said. In the last few days, Trump has made it a point to mention the killing of Ronil Singh by an illegal immigrant to build a strong case in favour of a stronger border security to prevent entry of illegal immigrants. "We are deeply moved to have with us Reggie Singh, whose brother, Ronil Singh, incredible guy. I mean, I watched, and I've rarely felt worse and watching news of our nation than watching your family and the love that you have for your brother," Trump said. During the roundtable meeting, Reggie Singh said he and his brother are originally from Fiji. "He (Ronil) always wanted to be in law enforcement. So legally we migrated to America to fulfil his dream of joining the law enforcement, he said. "English is our second language. He worked on that, got his education, applied for law enforcement agency and he was asked to get his citizenship. He worked towards that and he became a cop, K-9, Corporal K-9," Reggie Singh said. "At 33, Ronil Singh was cremated and I had to pick up his remains. It breaks my heart and no one should ever go through that. Seeing a five-month-old baby looking for his dad, no one should ever go through that on Christmas Day," he told Trump. The president replied, "We are with you. You know that, right." "That was a tough one, too. That was a tough one for a lot of people, not only the family, for a lot of people in this country. That was a tough thing to watch," Trump said. "I can see that, the way it came through. It came through loud and clear. And there are so many other people who have the same -- nobody covers them..., nobody talks about how unfair it is to the victims of these brutal killings," he said. On Tuesday, Trump spoke with the family members and law enforcement colleagues of Singh, a native of Fiji who joined the force in July 2011 and said America's heart broke the day the young officer was "savagely murdered" in cold blood by an "illegal alien". Trump has asked for USD 5.6 billion from the Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers' money. The sharp differences between the Trump administration and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday, making it the second-longest in history after the 21-day shutdown in 1995-96. PTI Bernie Sanders adviser forcibly kissed female subordinate in 2016 campaign: Report International oi-Shubham Ghosh Washington, Jan 10: The campaign of the 2016 presidential election in the US was marred by episodes of sexual misconduct, especially by the then Republican candidate Donald Trump who eventually won the poll to become the president. But now, the Opposition Democratic camp has also hit the headlines for something similar. According to a report published in Politico, a top adviser of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders who lost to Hillary Clinton as the eventual opponent to Trump, has been accused of forcibly kissing a young female subordinate after the Democratic National Convention of the election year got over. The adviser, Robert Becker, who oversaw Sanders's campaign in Iowa, Michigan, California and New York, and served as the deputy national field director, had allegedly grabbed a woman in her let 20s by her wrists and forcibly kissed her at a restaurant in Philadelphia. The campaign staffers had gathered at the restaurant to mark the end of Sanders's presidential bid. It was also reported by Politico that Becker, 50 then, had told the young woman in front of other people that he always wanted to have sex with her. Democratic Rep of Congo: Oppn leader wins election, to end 18-year-rule of Kabila Though Becker denied the charges, Sanders's main campaign committee denounced his alleged actions and said the former would not be part of any of its future endeavours. The woman did not open her mouth then since the campaign was over and she also feared a backlash from Sanders's supporters. But when Becker contacted her again for a potential rerun for Sanders in the 2020 election campaign, she came out strongly over the incident. "It just really sucks because no one ever held him accountable and he kept pushing and pushing and seeing how much he could get away with," she told the outlet. "This can't happen in 2020. You can't run for president of the United States unless you acknowledge that every campaign demands a safe work environment for every employee and volunteer." English woman & Italian man fell in love by using Google Translate As 77-year-old Sanders explores another presidential bid, several reports came out last week about several women supporters of Sanders who suffered in a hyper-masculine atmosphere during the 2016 campaign. Sanders, apologised in an interview on CNN last week "to any woman who felt that she was not treated appropriately. And of course, if I run, we will do better next time." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 7:55 [IST] Andhra to get special status if Congress wins, says Rahul Gandhi in Dubai International oi-PTI Dubai, Jan 11: Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that his party will grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh if voted to power in the upcoming general elections. Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a two-day visit, addressed a gathering of Indian workers at the Labour Colony in Dubai. He said, "As soon as our government comes to power, we will give special status to Andhra Pradesh". Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh State on June 2, 2014. "You helped India, Indian states and the poor people and you worked to make this city of Dubai, which is great in the whole world. I want to say thank you heartily," he said. Hailing the development of the UAE, Gandhi said all the "massive developments you see here, tall buildings, large airports and metro, wouldn't have been built without your contribution. You have given your sweat, blood and time for the development of this city and you have made Indians of all backgrounds proud." Gandhi reiterated what he told a group of party workers protesting at Jantar Mantar in March last year for Andhra Pradesh''s special status. "We will give special category status to Andhra Pradesh. It's the first thing we will do after coming to power in 2019," he had told the workers. "I am confident that if we stand together we will convince the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that what is due to the people of Andhra Pradesh should be given to them," he said. The general elections are due to be held between April and May this year. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 19:55 [IST] Very dangerous mistake to ignore us, says Congress on proposed SP-BSP tie-up India oi-PTI New Delhi, Jan 12: Ignoring the Congress in Uttar Pradesh can be a 'very dangerous mistake', the party asserted on Friday, a day before the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are likely to announce their alliance for Lok Sabha elections in the politically crucial state. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate 'autocracy, misgovernance' at the Centre. He, however, accepted that the Congress has 'fallen on difficult times'. Singhvi's statements came ahead of SP president Akhilesh Yadav's and BSP chief Mayawati's joint press meet in Lucknow on Saturday. The presser will be the first after the two parties gave broad contours of an electoral alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Lok Sabha polls: We will leave 2 seats for Congress, says Akhilesh Yadav "I don't think anybody should underestimate the strength, extent and reach and vote share, presence and support of the Congress in a state like Uttar Pradesh. We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake. Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future," he said when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance. "Those who in any manner do not do it will be blamed ultimately by the public, which knows everything. Therefore, it is an obligation on each one of the parties to do so (defeat the BJP)," Singhvi asserted. Asked about Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy saying he was merely a 'clerk' and did not have a say in running the state government, Singhvi said the remark might have been made in the heat of the moment and that the two parties were 'happily married'. Mayawati-Akhilesh joint presser tomorrow: Alliance announcement on cards On BJP chief Amit Shah's remarks of winning the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the Congress leader said, "These jumlas have become so stereotyped and so repetitive that the party president speaks in almost auto-pilot and no one believes them (rhetoric)." On Shah's remarks about formation of 'unholy alliances', Singhvi said it was reflective of the 'very grave frustration and fear and absolute chaos' in the ranks of the BJP. He also took a dig at Union minister Piyush Goyal over his remarks against Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging the leader of opposition is habitual to giving dissents. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 0:36 [IST] As PM led panel gets set to meet, here are the officers in contention to become next CBI chief Verma refuses to take charge as DG fire services, resigns from service India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P New Delhi, Jan 11: Alok Verma, who was ousted as CBI chief has refused to take charge as the DG of fire services. He said that he would have already been superannuated as on July 31 2017, but was serving in a fixed tenure role as the CBI Director, the tenure of which was to come to an end on January 31 2019. In his letter to the DoPT, he wrote, "it may be noted that the undersigned would have already been superannuated as on July 31 2017 and was only serving the Government as Director, CBI till January 31 2019, as the same was a fixed tenure role. The undersigned (Alok Verma) is no longer Director, CBI and has already crossed his superannuation age for DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. According the undersigned may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today." Former CBI Chief Alok Verma in a letter to Secy Dept of Personnel and Training:It may be noted that the undersigned would have already superannuated as on July 31, 2017 and was only serving the Government as Director, CBI till January 3, 2019, as the same was a fixed tenure role. pic.twitter.com/iMRxwWOgUl ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 Verma who was reinstated by the Supreme Court on Tuesday was ousted by the selection committee by a 2:1 verdict on Thursday. The committee said he "had not acted with the integrity expected of him". Verma also writes that "natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the Director." Nehru was not an accidental PM India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was certainly a prime minister not by accident and was always looked upon as the worthy successor to Mahatma Gandhi. There was in fact no challenger to the man when he ruled. Towards the end of his reign which concluded in 1964 with his death, there was always the question "Who after Nehru?" since the leader had not finalised any successor. Lal Bahadur Shastri was an accidental PM; so was Indira in 1966 After his death, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the prime minister and though he was an able leader, it could never be said that he assumed the top post as per a script. He was backed by the Congress for his socialist background that would be a check against the conservative Morarji Desai. Shastri did not survive too long as he died under mysterious conditions in January 1966 and it was the time for "Gungi Gudiya" Indira Gandhi to take over. The Congress syndicate had thought that she would remain under its control and also prevent Desai to become the premier but Indira proved everybody wrong (a similar situation like Manmohan but with a different result) by eclipsing everybody else. Indira was certainly not accidental prime minister when she won the term in 1971 and 1980 again but in 1966, she was certainly an accidental post holder. Coalition-era prime ministers are always accidental In 1977, India saw a fragile coalition taking charge as the first non-Congress government. The three-year government saw two prime ministers - Desai (1977-79) and Charan Singh (1979) but again those incumbents were more a result of a chaotic political system and even if 81-year-old Desai's rise to the PM's position was less accidental, that of Singh was more. In 1984, Gandhi Rajiv was an accidental PM; so was VP Singh & Chandra Shekhar In 1984, Indira's assassination again saw an accidental prime minister in the form of Rajiv Gandhi since he had no prior experience in politics. He lost the election in 1989, thanks to Bofors and India saw the advent of the coalition era. The men who took charge as the prime minister between 1989 and 1991 when a full-term government was back were Vishwanath Pratap Singh (1989-90) and Chandra Shekhar (1990-91) who were no less than accidental either in the churning of coalition drama. PV Narasimha Rao was an accidental PM too The next man Narasimha Rao was also accidental since the Congress was looking for a leader to fill the void created by the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in the middle of the election. Rao, however, proved his mettle as the premier even though he never got his due recognition. The first non-Gandhi prime minister of the Congress, Rao survived as the leader of a minority government for five years and scripted the biggest story of India's economy: Liberalisation. ABV's 13-month term, Deve Gowda, Gujral were all accidental Rao's defeat in 1996 again saw India plunging into the uncertainties of coalition politics and till Atal Behari Vajpayee took up as the premier for a full tenure in 1999, India saw as many as three prime ministers. Vajpayee himself became the PM for 13 days in May-June 1996 and was succeeded by HD Deve Gowda (the JDS ruler himself conceded a few days ago that he too was an accidental prime minister) who was in office between June 1996-April 1997 and then it was Inder Kumar Gujral who served between April 1997-March 1998. It is needless to say that in the days of total coalition chaos, all incumbents that make the headlines are accidental. Vajpayee returned to power for the second time in 1998 but only for 13 months and even though he was the face of the BJP then, his coalition government meant that his returning to the post of the top executive was nothing planned. In just over a year, Vajpayee government fell and he finally returned for a full term in 1999, heading yet another coalition government in which the BJP had the exact number of seats (182) as before. Modi not an accidental PM Vajpayee lost the Lok Sabha election in 2004 and Manmohan ruled for the next decade till Narendra Modi won a massive mandate in 2014. However, one must also remember that Singh was not an accidental prime minister in 2009 when the party had contested the general election with him to the fore. Modi was the BJP's prime ministerial candidate much ahead of the election and hence was not accidental. 'Save the saviors': IMA to protest against assault of doctors on June 18, hospitals to remain open Shocking medical botch up: Baby's head left inside womb during delivery in Ramgarh India oi-Vikas SV Jaipur, Jan 11: In what is a clear case of medical negligence, the nurses at a health centre in Rajasthan's Ramgarh allegedly pulled a premature baby so hard that its head was left inside the womb. Two male nurses are said to be at the centre of this major medical botch up in which the foetus broke into two parts. The nurse allegedly pulled the baby's legs with excessive force during delivery earlier this week. In their alleged attempt to hide the case, Ramgarh doctors then referred the woman to Jaisalmer for further treatment and surgery, citing complications. Twin baby case: No medical negligence on part of Max Hospital, says DMC "The reports from the Ramgarh health centre stated that delivery had been done. Also,the family didn't inform that the head of the baby was inside the womb. On examining her I found the placenta to be hard and referred her to Jodhpur," Dr Sankhla of Jawahar Hospital, Jaisalmer, told ANI. Finally, the head was removed from the womb in a Jodhpur hospital. The mother, identified as Dikhsha Kanwar is now fighting for her life in the Jodhpur hospital. A case has been registered against the two male nurses but police are yet to arrest them, said a Hindustan Times report. Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the incident and sought a report from Jaisalmer SP and CMHO. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 11:53 [IST] Dont you have confidence in the state you served for 30 years: SC to Param Bir Singh Seek help of experts to rescue miners trapped in Meghalaya says SC India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 11: The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and the Meghalaya government to seek help of experts to rescue those trapped in a coal mine. The miners have been trapped in Meghalaya's East Janitia Hills since December 13 2018. On the last date of hearing the court sought to know what action the government had taken on this issue. The court asked," what action have you taken. The miners have been missing for so many days. The court also said that it was not satisfied with the rescue operations. No matter whether they are all dead, some alive, few dead or all alive, they should be taken out. We pray to God that they are alive, the court said while summoning the Central Government counsel. Navy vehicle sent to determine visibility gets stuck at bottom of Meghalaya mine The court also told Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, ' you wanted to send pumps to Thailand. That is not happening here. Why not,' the court also asked. Further it said that it is the Centre which has to do something. The Army had volunteered to help, but government did not want it. Why? Mehta said that instead of the Army, the NDRF is there. The court said that there are 72 NDRF men there, but there has been no result. Mehta then said that instead of the Army, they had sent the Navy. The PIL filed by Aditya N Prasad also sought a direction to the Centre and other authorities concerned to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for rescue operations in mining. Meghalaya: Operations continue to rescue miners Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually three-four feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat holes" as each just about fits one person. Screening of The Accidental Prime Minister cancelled in Kolkata, Ludhiana India oi-Shubham Ghosh Kolkata, Jan 11: The controversial film on former prime minister Manmohan Singh 'The Accidental Prime Minister' which got released on Friday, January 11, hit a wall in Kolkata and Ludhiana as its screening was cancelled in those two cities. Police said the screening of the film was restricted because of security reasons amid protests shown by Youth Congress activists. According to reports, the show of the film near Central Kolkata's Chandni Chowk area was cancelled after screening took place for just 10 minutes on the inaugural day. "The afternoon screening of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' has been cancelled due to security reasons. There was an agitation by a certain group outside the hall," a senior Kolkata Police officer was quoted as saying by IANS. Most of India's prime ministers were 'accidental'; Why just pick Manmohan? The state's Youth Congress leadership claimed that the content and title of the film were not in good taste towards Singh, who served as the PM between 2004 and 2014, and other senior leaders of the party sought that the film be banned. "The tile of the film itself is derogatory. What did the filmmaker want to imply by calling Manmohan Singh an accidental prime minister? Close to 100 activists of Youth Congress in Kolkata protested in front of the theatre. It is good the screening has been stopped," Bengal Youth Congress President Shadab Khan was quoted as saying by IANS. In Ludhiana, Punjab, where the Congress returned to power in 2017, activists held protests outside the Pavilion Mall as a result of which the multiplex authorities did not risk screening the film which features veteran actor Anupam Kher portraying Singh's character. The screening though took place in Chandigarh, the state's capital. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 17:45 [IST] Sabarimala: Kerala CM submits report to Governor says Sangh Parivar trying to polarise society India oi-Madhuri Adnal Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 11: Kerala Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday submitted report to Governor on Sabarimala violence following entry of two young women into the Sabarimala temple on January 2. The report said that 9,489 of the accused belong to Sangh groups. He also alleged that there were attempts to communally polarise society by the Sangh Parivar outfits following the Supreme Court judgment allowing entry to women of all ages to Sabarimala. The Governor had on January 3 sought an "urgent report" from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the disturbances during the 12-hour state-wide shutdown called by Hindu fringe groups and supported by the BJP. 36-year-old woman claims to have offered prayers at Sabarimala shrine Pinarayi said there was unprecedented violence carried out by the Parivar outfits when the hill shrine opened during various periods. The report also mentioned the attacks carried out against the media persons and the police force. The Chief Minister also mentioned in the detailed report the violence unleashed across the state following the entry of two women in Sabarimala. Pinarayi explained the nature of the agitation and the action taken to curb the violent protests in various parts of the state. "The Chief Minister assured the Governor that stringent action would be initiated against those involved in the violent incidents, irrespective of party affiliations," it said.On January 3, the Governor had sought a report on the law and order situation. On January 4, Sathasivam had briefed the Union Home Minister about the law and order situation in the state.The CM and Governor also discussed the progress of the rehabilitation of the flood victims, among other matters. BJP takes Sabarimala fight to President, accuses Kerala govt of appeasement Violence involving BJP-RSS and ruling CPI(M) rocked parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur district, during the January 3 hartal with several houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked over the Sabarimala issue. Two women, Kanakadurga (44) and Bindu (42), entered the shrine and offered prayers on Wednesday, breaking a centuries-old tradition. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 10:19 [IST] As PM led panel gets set to meet, here are the officers in contention to become next CBI chief Removal of Verma before end of tenure a message for future CBI chiefs to behave: Ragothaman India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 11: It would not be wrong to say that in the battle of the two officers, the Central Bureau of Investigation has become the victim. The drama unfolded until Thursday night before the selection committee decided to shunt out Alok Verma from the post of CBI Director. The decision came barely 48 hours after the Supreme Court had re-instated him while setting aside a midnight decision of the Centre that sent him on leave. Undoubtedly this is a huge mess and the big question is whether there is a way out. OneIndia spoke with K Ragothaman, former officer with the CBI, who also led the investigation in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case on this issue. Substantiated to not substantiated: The CVC report that cost Alok Verma his job "I don't think the mess would be resolved as yet. Something has been done, but the sad part is that in this entire mess, the organisation has become a victim," he says. The root cause of the problem: There have been reports suggesting that the feud in the CBI could have been a result of groups. However Ragothaman says that this has always been there. Every officer of the Indian Police Service indulges in this. When they come on deputation to the CBI, they bring their own people. Alok Verma breaks his silence, calls decision to oust him unfair When a director comes, he brings with him people who do not have experience in investigation. This is how the organisation has been diluted since 1977. When I joined the organisation in 1968, I had read the manuals and instructions framed by the officers. These were so good and could not be matched. However due to constitutional restraints, the CBI has to work under the DSPE Act. Never did any of us think that the centre would acquire the power in due course of time. According to me, the Centre should only be an administrator as was the original intent. Now speaking of groups within, these are there everywhere. When I would carry out a probe, I would get no support from the state police. If this is the issue within, how can we expect to go ahead with probes against white collared criminals sitting abroad with the help of the international police. Interference: Interference by a ruling party is nothing new, Ragothaman says. Since the days of the British, our police system follows bureaucratic methods. This basically means that it is not the public that the system is catering to. In this regard, the intelligence agencies are to be blamed the most. They are the ones who prejudice the minds of the politicians. This is not specific to any party, but all of them be it the Congress, BJP or the Janata Party. Due to this, it is the caucus around the politicians that rule the country. Inside details of the selection panel meet which removed Verma as CBI chief Earlier the IB director would call on the Prime Minister with a Daily Status Report. This does not happen anymore. Since the days of M K Narayanan, it is the NSA who decides everything. He had his own caucus. He put his men in as a result of which efficient officers were shunted out, Ragothaman says. It is things such as these that led to the degradation of the CBI. The officers coming into the CBI should have done a stint in the vigilance. Now anyone and everyone come into the CBI. Even those who do not know how to draft an FIR are in the CBI. Stepped in too late: The two year tenure introduced for the CBI Director was thought to be a good idea following the Vineet Narain judgment of the Supreme Court. It was felt that this would ensure that there would be professionals manning the top position, Ragothaman says. However there is an interesting fact that I want to share with you. Prior to this two year tenure rule, there has never been a case of corruption against a CBI Director. However, coming back to the main issue, why has everyone lost track of the fact that in this whole mess, the Moin Qureshi case has suffered. No one including the Supreme Court is speaking about this issue, which appears to be the main issue behind this entire mess. Alok Verma removed as CBI chief by selection panel Seven years have gone by and this case has been a contentious one for three CBI directors- A P Singh, Ranjit Sinha and now Verma and Asthana. The CBI had found that Moin Qureshi's daughter Sylvia Moin's company, SM Production was given contracts by then CBI director AP Singh for in-house Diwali celebrations in November 2012. The next director, Sinha, again gave Sylvia Moin the contract to organise CBI's at home function in April 2013. According to the Income Tax Department, a bill of Rs 33.5 lakh was charged for the event by Sylvia Moin's SM Productions. During the searches in connection with the case, I-T officials found BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) exchanges between Moin Qureshi and AP Singh. Even the war between Asthana and Verma has a Qureshi angle to it. One of his associates Satish Babu Sana tried to evade the CBI. He had alleged while recording his statement that he had paid Rs 2 crore to Verma. He then recorded another statement alleging that he had paid Rs 3 crore to Asthana. The government should have stepped in earlier to sort this mess says Ragothaman. The same panel could have been called in and Verma could have been removed or transferred Asthana. What gave Verma in: Ragothaman says that Verma acted in haste. He was re-instated by the Supreme Court and the very next day, he began recalling the transfers. Either he should have taken charge and put down his papers or at least remained quiet until the selection panel met. Had he not gone ahead with these transfers, I am sure that the verdict would have been in his favour 2:1 with the backing of Justice A K Sikri. High powered panel takes into account observations made by CVC against Verma for his removal To be honest, I am happy that he has been shunted out. Had be remained, he would have continued to create groups within the CBI officially. Let this incident be a reminder to all future chiefs. The decision by the panel to cut short the two year tenure should be a lesson to all future CBI chiefs to behave themselves, Ragothaman says. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 13:34 [IST] Punjab Bumper Lohri Lottery Results 2019: Draw date, time, prize money India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa The Punjab Bumper Lohri Lottery Results 2019 will be declared soon. The results once declared will be available on the official website. This bumper lottery is known by two names - Punjab state New Year bumper lottery and Punjab State Lohri bumper lottery 2019. The Punjab State Lottery ticket is prize at Rs 200 plus Rs 90 extra for postal and packaging charges. Be warned that due to the number of visitors once the draw is held the website may be slow. Be patient, as the website would speed up once the traffic reduces. The first prize of Rs 2 crore is guaranteed from the sold ticket. The second prize is Rs 1 crore. The third and fourth prizes are Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively. While there is only 1, first and second prizes, there are 10 and 20, third and fourth prizes respectively. The first, second and third prizes will be drawn only out of the sold tickets. The Punjab State Lohri Bumper Lottery 2019 is available for sale. The results would be declared on January 16 2019 and the winning numbers would be available at 5.30 pm. For more details about how to purchase the ticket and also to check the results you can go to https://www.gandhibrotherslottery.com/punjab-state-lottery/. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 7:17 [IST] We need to make more political films, says on-screen Sanjaya Baru Akshaye Khanna No personnel interest says Delhi HC while junking plea to ban trailer of The Accidental PM One must make another film 'Disastrous PM: Mamata Banerjees dig at Modi India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 11: Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi without naming him over the movie The Accidental Prime Minister, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was once a part of the Congress party, said a movie named 'Disastrous PM' should also be released. "I do not do politics with the Congress and we have (ideological) differences. I have come out of the Congress and formed the Trinamool Congress with your blessings. But I believe that what is being done by twisting facts is unethical. "That is why those who are making films like 'The Accidental PM' must also watch another film titled 'The Disastrous PM'. If we can have 'The Accidental Prime Minister', then we must have a film on 'The Disastrous Prime Minister'," she said. Screening of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' cancelled in Kolkata, Ludhiana Known to be a theatre-lover, Banerjee asked stage artistes to choose more plots based on politics and showcase realistic subjects depicting social causes. "I am not asking to stage any political drama. Choose plots which are realistic, highlighting social causes and showing the youth, girls and women of the state," she said. Without naming Modi, the TMC chief compared him with Sholay's "Gabbar Singh" and said people would soon teach him a lesson. "The Accidental Prime Minister" is based on a book of the same name written by Sanjaya Baru on Manmohan Singh's term as prime minister from 2004 to 2014. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 18:47 [IST] Mumbai: BEST employees' strike enters Day 3 after talks fail India oi-Madhuri Adnal Mumbai, Jan 11: The indefinite strike by Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) employees entered its fourth day on Friday, as talks between union leaders and officials remained inconclusive. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose party controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), met the BEST union leaders in the presence of Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta and the BEST commissioner Surendra Kumar Bagde at the Mayor's bungalow Thursday. The negotiations went on for nearly seven hours but failed to break the deadlock. At least 32,000 employees of Mumbai's civic transport from a long time have been demanding higher pay, merging budget of the loss-making transport undertaking with that of the BMC, deliberations on new wage agreement, resuming appointments on compassionate grounds and a bonus equivalent to that of the civic body's employees. The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200 buses, which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai. It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 8:31 [IST] Jan Shatabdi train between Kathgodam and Dehradun likely to start in August Char Dham shrines welcome pilgrims; 8 army personnel tests positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand Modi's pet Char Dham road widening project gets SC nod India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Jan 11: The Supreme Court on Friday gave a green signal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project to build an ambitious 899-km-long all-weather Char Dham road. A bench of justices R F Nariman and Vineet Saran asked the Centre to file its affidavit on a plea to stay the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order which had cleared the projects and set up a committee to oversee it. The top court, however, said the construction of stalled projects under the plan will remain stayed till further orders. The famous Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand comprises four holy sites for Hindus - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath - and is visited by millions of tourists every year. [Uttarkhand: NGT accepts Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna, to offer connectivity to four holy towns] Following the 2013 Uttarakhand floods the Char Dham National Highway (NH) connectivity programme was launched launched by Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 14:03 [IST] Rules permitting liquor home delivery in Delhi come into force, but wait not over yet MJ Akbar's defamation complaint against Priya Ramani: Hearing on Jan 22 India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Jan 11: The hearing in the criminal defamation case filed by MJ Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani, who had accused the former union minister of sexual harassment, has been fixed for January 22. The case will be heard in Delhi's Patiala House Court. Akbar had sued Ramani, seeking her prosecution under Sections 499 and 500 of the IPC for defamation. On October 17 last year, Akbar had stepped down as Minister of State for External Affairs following a flurry of allegations made against him several women, who accused him of sexual misconduct during his stint as the editor of The Asian Age. As women we feel vindicated: Priya Ramani after MJ Akbar resigns Priya Ramani was one of the first to come forward about Akbar's harassment As many as 20 women accused Akbar of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour when he worked as a newspaper editor. He had then issued a statement denying allegations of sexual harassment against him and said had that he would take legal action. #MeToo: Offending part is when Priya Ramani referred me as 'talented predator' says Akbar in Court Akbar had said, "Pertinent to remember Priya Ramani and Ghazala Wahab kept working with me even after these alleged incidents. It clearly establishes they had no apprehension and discomfort. The reason, why they remained silent for decades, is very apparent, as Ms Ramani has herself stated, I never did anything." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 13:20 [IST] FIR against former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, 20 SP workers for 'assaulting' journalists in Moradabad Lok Sabha polls: We will leave 2 seats for Congress, says Akhilesh Yadav India oi-Deepika S Lucknow, Jan 11: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said that not more than two seats would be left for the party in the SP-BSP alliance plan for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "We can give the Congress two seats in Uttar Pradesh they have always held," Akhilesh Yadav told NDTV, but refused to give a direct answer on whether the alliance between the SP and BSP for the general election due by May would include Rahul Gandhi's party. According to reports, the SP-BSP alliance would not field any candidates at Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Mayawati-Akhilesh joint presser tomorrow: Alliance announcement on cards Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati have called a joint press conference tomorrow at noon at a five-star hotel in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow. "Our [BSP and SP] coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress," Yadav said at a public meeting in Kannauj. The Samajwadi Party chief said the alliance would get the electoral math right in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the Bharatiya Janata Party would be defeated. His statement came a day ahead of his press conference with BSP chief Mayawati, where they are expected to make a formal announcement about the tie-up. Can upper caste reservation negate SP-BSP combine in UP "Last time we had come together in the Lok Sabha bye-elections and BJP had lost the seats [earlier held by] Chief Minister Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya," Yadav said. In a recent interview to Gulf News, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, "There are very interesting things that the Congress party can do in Uttar Pradesh... the Congress idea is very powerful for Uttar Pradesh. So, we are very confident of our ability in Uttar Pradesh and we will surprise people," he said. Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. In the last parliamentary elections in 2014, the BJP won 71 seats, Samajwadi Party got five while the BSP did not win any seat. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 19:39 [IST] Kolkata: Protest over screening of movie The Accidental Prime Minister India oi-Madhuri Adnal Kolkata, Jan 11: The Congress workers protested on Friday outside INOX in Kolkata over the release of Accidental Prime Minister. The party workers raised slogans with banners and also burnt the effigy of Modi. Earlier, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala called 'The Accidental Prime Minister' a part of fake propaganda by the BJP ahead of the 2019 general elections, but former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has decided to remain mum. After courting many controversies, Anupam Kher-starrer The Accidental Prime Minister is hitting the theatres today. The film, based on the eponymous book by Dr Manmohan Singh's media advisor Sanjaya Baru, chronicles the time when Singh served as the Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. The film sparked a row over the alleged distortion of facts. The Accidental Prime Minister: Advocate who filed plea against Anupam Kher On Tuesday, a local court in Bihar ordered to register an FIR against Kher and 13 others in connection with the petition filed by Advocate Sudhir Ojha, in which he had alleged that the public figures in the film were portrayed in a manner that projected a poor image of the country. Besides Kher, others named in the complaint include actor Akshaye Khanna, who essays the role of Baru in the film. Actors and actresses who play the roles of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi - then a national general secretary - and Priyanka Vadra, have also been named in the petition alongside the movie's producer Sunil Bohra and director Vijay Gutte. The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea challenging the January 7 order of the Delhi High Court which had disposed of a petition seeking to ban the trailer of 'The Accidental Prime Minister'. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 13:05 [IST] India's first manned mission to space in December 2021 India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Jan 11: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday said that it has set a target to launch India's first manned mission to space, also called Gaganyaan project, in December 2021. On December 28 last year, Union Cabinet approved indigenous human spaceflight programme- Gaganyaan and approved funds of Rs 10,000 crore for the ambitious project. Gaganyaan woud carry three member crew for minimum seven days in space. "The target for two unmanned missions to space is December 2020 and July 2021. The target for a manned mission to space is December 2021," ISRO chief K Sivan said today. "The inital training for Gaganyaan will be done in India and advanced training maybe in Russia. Women astronauts will be there on the team. That's our aim," he added. Two technologies key to ISRO's ambitious Gaganyan mission Prime Minister Modi on August 15 this year announced that an Indian astronaut would go into space by 2022. He had said from the ramparts of Red Fort that when India celebrates 75th year of Independence in 2022, "and if possible even before, an Indian son or daughter" will undertake a manned space mission on board 'Gaganyaan' "carrying the national flag". If ISRO executes Gaganyan perfectly, then there would be a paradigm shift in the way world looks at India's capabilities in terms of space exploration. ISRO has undertaken a number of space programmes with great success rate, but sending a human being to space is a different ball game altogether. It is far more complicated than even Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan. There are a number of new technologies that ISRO has to develop to successfully carry out Gaganyan and several of these technologies are being tested. India grants consular access to Christian Michel: MEA India pti-PTI New Delhi, Jan 11: India has granted consular access to Christian Michel, a British national who was brought here from the UAE last month in connection with the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal scam. The British High Commission had sought consular access to Michel after he was arrested in the first week of December. "Consular access has been granted to Michel," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Michel, 57, was brought to India following his extradition by the United Arab Emirates in connection with the chopper deal case. At present, he is lodged in Tihar jail here. It is learnt that consular access to Michel was granted on Thursday. MJ Akbar's defamation complaint against Priya Ramani: Hearing on Jan 22 Michel is one of the three middlemen, being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. Michel has denied the charges. Asked about Pakistan's call for talks with India to improve strained ties, Kumar accused Pakistan of trying to mainstream terror organisations, and said there was no seriousness in its statement on dialogue. India has been maintaining that talks and terror cannot go together. PTI Dilli Gupshup: Ajay Maken to be elevated for getting out of way of Congress-AAP alliance India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Jan 11: Hurdle of the Congress and AAP alliance is over with Ajay Maken going out of the city Congress but he is likely to be given some award for moving out from the way. Senior BJP leaders, who have been the loud voice of the party, have been silenced. They are not even allowed to speak in debates. Besides that three regional satraps are difficult to deal with for the BJP leadership but forcing Maharani to toe the party line is real difficult task to achieve. Lets see who bells the cat. The Congress is looking from the newly appointed chief minister to take a revenge before she ends her political innings. Some such issues are subject of discussion in the power corridor. Read on... Ajay Maken to be elevated for getting out of way of Congress-AAP alliance The biggest hurdle in the alliance of the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is out of the scene of Delhi but the party knowing his contribution in the rejuvenating the Congress in the city may help former Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken to get elevated as All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary. Maken is likely to be elevated either on January 14 or anytime soon but it is in the offing for sure. Grapevine is abuzz that he is in good books of Rahul but was also opposed to alliance with AAP. But his contribution cannot be ignored. Leaders feel there is a big change in the work culture of the BJP Grapevine is abuzz that the new leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is dominating so much in the party that old leaders are completely ignored. One of the senior most leaders of the party wanted to speak in the debate in the Lok Sabha on triple talaq, he sought permission from the chair as well and approval was given to him also but suddenly a Union minister got to know and swung into action to stop it. He had somehow managed that he does not speak on the issue. So the old regime is replaced by the new one but those who are responsible for making the BJP from seed to a big Banyan tree are now no where in the scene. So not only leadership but work culture also changed. Regional satraps in the BJP a big challenge for the party! Handling three former chief ministers of the BJP, who are authority unto themselves is really difficult for the party leadership. Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh chief ministers know their limits and work within the limits of the party but managing former Rajasthan chief minister is a difficult task for the party leadership. Grapevine is abuzz that both the CM are working hard win Lok Sabha elections but Rajasthan will have to managed by the central leadership slight in a better way. However, the central leadership wants her to contest Lok Sabha election and shift to Delhi. Lets see if the new regime in the BJP is able to bell the cat. Workers looking for a revenge by Sheila Dikshit before she hangs boot The Delhi Congress has got a new president Sheila Dikshit, who is in her eighties. But the Congress workers in the city feel that if anyone can do any good to the Congress in the city it is the former three-time chief minister of Delhi. She is also not opposed to the idea of the central Congress leadership on alliance with AAP. This has not only given hopes to the Congress workers for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but also for subsequent Assembly elections. Party leaders feel that Sheila Dikshit will take revenge from Arvind Kejriwal before hanging her boots. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 19:12 [IST] Congress leaders express their view that ticket for Lok Sabha elections to be decided early India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Jan 11: The Congress has started playing to same old tune of distributing early tickets in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, the party failed to do so in the Assembly elections. In the meeting of the election preparations senior leaders of the party told general secretaries, in-charge of the party of states and state presidents that home work should be done with elections in mind. The meeting was attended by A K Antony, Ahmed Patel, Moti Lal Bora, and Jairam Ramesh. They told office bearer of the party that how poll preparation should be made. It was also said in this regard that very soon booth committees and many other committees will be constituted. Congress sanctions Rs 5000 crore for loan waiver in supplementary budget The Congress is giving importance to the manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections so issues are being asked from every state to include them in it. The day-long meeting discussed about the election preparations and its different aspects. Enthusiasm of victory in three states was clear in the meeting. Senior leaders leaders told in-charge and state president that there should not be any dearth of resources in the election. It was also discussed in the meeting that what challenges the party will face from the BJP and how these issues will be faced. Chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath, chief minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel could not attend the meeting despite being state presidents. Baghel reached Delhi late in the evening on January 10 while Kamal Nath is expected to arrive on January 11. Congress restructures its various departments just before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections Deputy chief minister of Rajasthan and state Congress president Sachin Pilot was president in the meeting on election preparations. This was not the first meeting of election preparations. The Congress leadership has met without state presidents earlier also. The meeting discussed election campaign, canvass and manifesto. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 9:46 [IST] CBSE 10th Board Exams: Two levels of mathematics for students from 2020 India oi-Madhuri Adnal Bhubaneswar, Jan 11: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to introduce two levels of Mathematics for All India Secondary School Examination from the Academic Session ending March, 2020 onwards. In a circular, the premier education board said that students experience stress before their most "difficult" subject's exam. The present level and curriculum of mathematics would continue to remain the same. All the students, the circular reads, would be instructed the same course and explained the concepts in the same manner. The difference lies in how the students would be assessed during the board examinations. Keeping this in view, the board has decided to introduce two levels of Mathematics examination for the academic session ending March 2020, it added. However, there shall not be two levels of assessment exam for class IX, officials said. Furthermore, CBSE has also provided that a student who opts for Mathematics Basic and clears it would have the opportunity to appear for the Mathematic Standard examination during the compartmental examinations - should he wish to pursue mathematics in higher classes. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 13:23 [IST] Asthanas plea to quash bribery case rejected: CBI to complete probe in 10 weeks India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 11: The Delhi High Court has rejected the petition filed by CBI special director Rakesh Asthana to quash the FIR against him . The plea filed by Deputy SP also seeking to quash the FIR has also been rejected. The CBI has been directed to conclude the investigation against both Asthana and Kumar within 10 weeks. The court granted Asthana a certificate for appeal to the Supreme Court under Article 134 A of the Constitution. The court while refusing to grant interim protection to Asthana, however asked the CBI to maintain status quo for 2 weeks. This means no arrest can be carried out during this period. The court said that there is no doubt that the registration of an FIR against a public servant would cause a great deal of concern and stress for a public servant. Charges under the FIR are a matter of investigation. It is important that the law presumes a person is innocent until proven guilty. Justice Najmi Waziri of the Delhi High Court had reserved the judgement on December 20, 2018 on various petitions after hearing submissions of the counsel for CBI, the Centre, Asthana, Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar, Alok Verma and Joint Director A.K. Sharma. Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged and who had alleged to have paid a bribe to get relief in a case, had also filed a similar plea seeking to be heard in the case. However, he did not press for his plea and had said that he would cooperate with the CBI whenever called for the investigation. Kumar on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court seeking direction to the probe agency not to allow Verma and other re-transferred officers to deal with the bribery FIR lodged against him. The application, filed in the main petition, is likely to be heard on Friday. Asthana and Kumar's counsel had argued that the FIR was antedated and it reached the magistrate 52 hours after registration, whereas, as per law, it should be placed before the magistrate within 24 hours. They had contended that there was no allegation of demand and acceptance of illegal gratification against Asthana, and he cannot be made an accused for the alleged offence under the PC Act. The CBI had said there was no merit in the petitions of the two officers and the agency was bound to probe the matter thoroughly. Verma, who was made a respondent in the petitions, had earlier maintained that all mandatory procedures of law were followed while registering an FIR against Asthana on bribery allegations. Sharma, who was one of the respondents, had argued that the FIR was not lodged exclusively under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the provisions of IPC, including, forgery, extortion and criminal conspiracy, which means sanction to prosecute the government official was not of much importance. The Centre's counsel had said that ordinarily it was required to take prior sanction to prosecute a public servant, but as this matter was not referred or brought before the government, she cannot say anything. The Delhi High Court had earlier, in an interim order, directed the CBI to maintain status quo regarding proceedings against Asthana. Kumar, who was arrested on October 22, was granted bail on October 31. Prasad was arrested on October 17, 2018 and he was granted bail on December 18 as the CBI could not file the charge-sheet in the case in the stipulated time of 60 days. Verma had said in the affidavit there was sufficient incriminating documents and evidence against all accused-Asthana, Kumar and middleman Manoj Prasad-with the CBI and the FIR was lodged after the PE disclosed cognisable offences. He had claimed that Asthana's plea was misconceived, premature and not maintainable as investigation in the matter was at a nascent stage. Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of Sana who had alleged to have paid a bribe to get relief in the case. Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractices against Asthana. As PM led panel gets set to meet, here are the officers in contention to become next CBI chief A 2:1 decision, Verma becomes first CBI chief in history to be removed India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 11: Corruption and dereliction of duty flagged by the Central Vigilance Commission in its enquiry report, citing telephone interceptions by external spy agency RAW, led to the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma as the CBI chief, the first in the probe agency's over 50-year history. According to officials, the high-powered panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi considered the CVC report which levelled eight counts of charges against Verma, who had been reinstated by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.The panel's decision to remove Verma was based on a majority vote of 2:1 with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge opposing it and Justice A K Sikri siding with the government, they said. Alok Verma breaks his silence, calls decision to oust him unfair The CVC report spoke about the controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi's case and claimed that CBI team looking into the case wanted to make Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana an accused in the case but Verma never gave clearance. The probe in this case was led by special director Rakesh Asthana, who along with Verma was sent on forced leave on October 23.The CVC report also contained intercepts from the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the external snooping agency, in which "money changing hands with number one in the CBI" is talked about, the officials said. Incidentally, Sana is the complainant for a case registered against Asthana in which he has given graphical details about how he had paid bribe to his middlemen. He has also mentioned the name of Samanta Goel, the second-in-command at the RAW, of being involved in protecting the middleman, Manoj Prasad. Inside details of the selection panel meet which removed Verma as CBI chief The other case relates to a Preliminary Enquiry registered by the CBI about acquisition of land in Gurgaon. The CVC alleged that Verma's name had figured in the case and at least Rs 36 crore had changed hands.The CVC had recommended a thorough probe into the case. The CVC, which has a supervisory role over the CBI, had also alleged that Verma tried to save an officer in the IRCTC case involving former Union Minister Lalu Prasad.The commission also alleged that Verma was trying to bring in tainted officials into the CBI. It claimed that efforts seeking cooperation from the CBI chief did not yield results as he continued to keep the files away from the CVC. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 6:29 [IST] 7th Pay Commission: Why the next Cabinet meeting is very crucial for CG employees India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 11: The next Cabinet meeting would be crucial as there could be some discussion relating to the 7th Pay Commission. There are lakhs of Central Government employees waiting for a pay hike beyond what the pay panel had recommended. There is no confirmation on whether any decision relating to a pay hike may be taken, but the issue relating to the 7th Pay Commission is expected to be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting. 7th Pay Commission: Interim budget dashes hopes of pay hike, misery to continue The government seems to be in a mood to give. The 10 per cent reservation benefits in jobs and education fro the general category on an economic basis was one such move by the government which indicates that it wants to extend benefits. The government is under immense pressure to extend benefits to the CG employees. There have been several meetings in this regard. The next Cabinet meeting would be very crucial as some decision or good news is expected. Officials say that there is still not much clarity on what exactly the Finance Minister wants. However there could be some adjustments to both the fitment factor and the basic minimum pay. 7th Pay Commission: Good news on DA, are you eligible It was first expected that there would be some announcement in the Budget. The government has however decided not to go in for a full budget as there is no time to get it passed in Parliament. This would mean that there would be a vote of account or interim budget that would be presented on February 1 2019. The budget is not expected to have any major announcement on issues relating to the CG employees. Hence some decision is expected in the Cabinet meeting. It may not be a big announcement, but there could be some good news regarding the 7th Pay Commission. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 6:54 [IST] More than 500 killed by wild animals in Bengal since 2015, govt to give jobs to their kin 429 elephants killed since 2008, 642 poachers arrested India oi-Deepika S Noida, Jan 11: As many as 429 elephants were poached and killed in the country since 2008 and 642 poachers arrested, revealed a data obtained through an RTI query. In 2008, 53 elephants were killed in the country, but the number came down to only five in 2018 all five in Assam, according to the data provided by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The maximum killings of 136 elephants have been reported from Kerala, followed by West Bengal (48), Karnataka (46), Tamil Nadu (44) and Odisha (41) during the period, according to the data. Noida-based lawyer Ranjan Tomar had from the bureau through an RTI query sought state-wise data on the number of elephants killed by poachers in the last 10 years and offenders arrested. The bureau is a statutory body formed to combat organised wildlife crime in the country. Notably, there are nine states and Union Territories -- Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim, Telangan, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli from where no such killings have been reported since 2008, it said. Tripura recorded only one elephant killing by poachers and that was in 2014, while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported six such deaths till 2013 but none since 2014, according to the data. National capital Delhi reported six elephant killings by poachers two in 2008, one each in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, it said. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand each reported 21 such killings during the period. As per data available in records of the bureau based on the information from state forest and police departments, 642 poachers have been arrested for killing elephants during last 10 years, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau said in its reply to the RTI. Tomar had also sought to know the elephant census of 2008 and 2018 but the bureau said no such data was maintained by it, neither was information available on the estimated amount of tusks and other elephant body parts recovered from poachers during the period. The data shows the number of elephants killed by poachers has been coming down, particularly during the last four-five years, which is a good indication, the 30-year-old social activist told PTI. It is essential to save wildlife if we want to protect the environment. Animals like elephants and tigers are critical to our survival because they are on the top of their food chains and losing them could endanger our existence, he added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 23:19 [IST] TMC ghar wapsi: Will Rajib Banerjee be the next to ditch BJP? MP: BJP Yuva Morcha leader fined Rs 10,000 for flouting COVID-19 norms but no case as he expresses 'remorse' Ayodhya land deal: Rahul Gandhi slams BJP, says betrayal in name of Lord Ram is unrighteous BJP National Council meet: 'We will see a repeat of 2014,' says Amit Shah India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P New Delhi, Jan 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah arrived at Ramlila Ground to attend the two-day BJP National Council meeting. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, EAM Sushma Swaraj, Senior BJP leaders Murali Manohar Joshi and LK Advani also present. In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP will hold several meetings of the party's various wings across the country, including its two-day national council meeting on January 11-12 in New Delhi. About 12,000 delegates from every district of the country will participate in the meeting. This has become more important in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha election. Terming Modi as pro-farmer, BJP passes resolution Highlights of Amit Shah's speech: We will see a repeat of 2014. Will definitely win and form the government. This election is important to continue development: Amit Shah at BJP National Executive meeting. PM Narendra Modi will fulfil Swami Vivekananda's vision. One family ruled the country for 55 years, the poor were disconnected from banking services under Congress rule: One family ruled the country for 55 years, the poor were disconnected from banking services under Congress rule. Terror attacks have come down significantly under this Government BJP wants Ram Mandir to be constructed at the earliest. We are trying in the Supreme Court that the case reaches its conclusion but Congress here also is trying to create obstacles. Its disturbing that some U.S. senators have chosen to inject religion as a factor in deciding on the nomination of Omaha attorney Brian Buescher for a Nebraska federal judgeship. The U.S. Constitution states directly that no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. Yet, two lawmakers Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii have chosen to put Bueschers Catholic affiliation in the forefront of consideration. The senators claim Bueschers membership in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, raises concern about how he would conduct himself as a judge. The organization holds traditionalist positions on abortion and same-sex marriage with which the senators disagree. The senators stance is troubling and irresponsible, since it indicates the Senate should make membership in religious organizations a major disqualifier for a federal nominee. Its ironic that Democratic lawmakers would approach federal qualifications in that way, given that one of the hurdles that John Kennedy (a member of the Knights of Columbus, incidentally) had to overcome in his 1960 presidential bid on the Democratic ticket was suspicion from part of the electorate that he wouldnt approach his presidential duties properly due to his Catholic faith. LINCOLN A controversial electric transmission line planned through the Nebraska Sand Hills now has a contractor, but construction wont start until it gets an OK from federal wildlife officials. Directors of the Nebraska Public Power District voted Thursday in Columbus to approve a $265 million bid by Forbes Brothers Timberline Construction of Rapid City, South Dakota, to build the 225-mile, 345-kilovolt R-Project transmission line. But NPPD officials said construction will not begin until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completes its review on the projects impact on the endangered American burying beetle. NPPD Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Kent said he expects that the utility will get its so-called incidental take permit in the first three months of the year. A staunch opponent of the project, State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, said he is still working to convince the Fish and Wildlife Service to also require an incidental take permit for the endangered whooping crane. Brewer said a recent report, not considered by the wildlife agency, warns of greater deaths of the migrating birds. That might cause a delay, but its the right thing to do, Brewer said Thursday evening. Bacon said calls into his Capitol Hill office have been running 70 percent in favor of the wall, which he noted was a central plank in Trumps presidential platform. This was the presidents top issue in the campaign, Bacon said. It was never really my issue. I never supported a 2,000-mile wall, but it was his top issue. And I think that thats how the system works. Theres got to be give and take. For him to get zero on this is not I think it would be too much to expect to say youre going to get zero, period, and have him roll over on it. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he wants to reopen the government, but he also wants the right type of border security. A long-term shutdown is not sustainable, Fortenberry said. I think most Americans are with the president and with those of us who again want clarity on how we are going to actually advance border security. But Im worried that the commingling with the shutdown actually undermines the ability to have that argument for border security. The four GOP senators from Nebraska and Iowa have also been keeping rank, with none of them calling for the Senate to take up the House-passed spending bills. In the wake of that shooting, at least two dozen states began looking at an approach to preventing gun violence pioneered in Connecticut in 1999. The approach aims at getting firearms away from people who show signs they might use the weapons for mass shootings, suicides, terrorism or other gun violence. Thirteen states, including Florida, now have such laws. Typically, the laws allow law enforcement or prosecutors to go to court for an order preventing a dangerous person from possessing or purchasing firearms. Some states also allow family or household members to seek such orders. The orders may be called extreme risk protection orders or risk warrants. The orders can be issued on an emergency basis and last for a set period of time, usually a few weeks up to one year. Most critically, they allow police to remove guns from a persons home. In Nebraska, federal and state laws now bar some people from possessing or purchasing firearms, but only if they have been committed for mental health treatment, judged mentally incompetent, convicted of a felony or misdemeanor domestic violence or are knowingly violating a protection order. LINCOLN Gov. Pete Ricketts was sworn in Thursday for his second four-year term and immediately pledged to continue working to bring more high-wage jobs to Nebraska and to control government spending. Nebraska is what America is supposed to be, he said. We have the best place in the world to live. Ricketts, a 54-year-old Republican, is the states 40th governor. He is not eligible to run for re-election in four years because of term limits. The GOP has held the governors mansion in Nebraska since 1999. After watching Ricketts 10-minute speech, his father, Joe, the founder of online brokerage TD Ameritrade, said his son was doing a great job. I love hearing him talk about not raising taxes, said the elder Ricketts, who has founded and funded groups aimed at curbing government spending. The state does have a website for processing applications and recertifications, Rettig said. Visit accessNebraska.ne.gov. Rettig said the state prefers that people try the online avenue first because the phone lines have already been busy because of worried food stamp recipients. Its not clear what will happen if people miss the Tuesday deadline. Tuesday is also the states deadline for submitting those re-certification requests to a federal contractor for processing. Because of the potential for a last-minute overload, state officials hope that those who receive food stamps will act quickly and submit their requests in the next few days rather than wait until Tuesday. The state plans a Friday teleconference with nonprofits and others who work with the needy to seek their help in getting the word out. And even if the federal shutdown comes to an early end, all food stamp recipients will get their February payment early, Rettig said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Omaha police are seeking the public's help in locating a man they say rammed an unmarked police car with a stolen truck. John Burghardt is a suspect in several burglaries, said Officer Phil Anson, police spokesman. Police, traveling in an unmarked car, were checking a tip on his whereabouts when he spotted them and rammed their vehicle, Anson said. If you spot Burghardt, call 911, Anson said. Do not call the Crime Stoppers tip line, he said. Police urge caution around Burghardt as he may be armed. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As of early January, NPPD had acquired right of way for 131 miles of the route from about 75 percent of landowners in its path. Eminent domain could be used to secure right of way from holdouts, and Brewer said his concern lies with them. Landowners, he said, should be free to do with their property what they want but their neighbors shouldnt be forced to go along with it if they dont want to. Advocates for wind energy werent buying it. Eminent domain can also be used on wind energy projects, which require interconnecting transmission lines between electricity-producing turbines and longer-distance transmission lines. Those interconnecting lines can be built by developers, or utilities like NPPD can put them up for developers and use eminent domain to secure right of way if landowners refuse to sell. If the bill were to pass, it would restrict the ability of private companies in the state to buy and sell electricity from the 14-state regional wholesale marketplace that includes Nebraska, said David Levy, an Omaha lobbyist representing BHE Wind, Sandhills Energy and Geronimo Energy. BHE Wind is a division of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. In other words, (LB 752) would discriminate against private business in favor of government business, Levy said. WASHINGTON Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, one of the nations top economic policymakers, predicted the economy is not going to plunge into a deep downturn this year. I dont see a recession in 2019, Powell said Thursday in an interview at the Economic Club of Washington D.C. The U.S. economy is solid and theres good momentum going into this year. Several prominent economists and investors have said theres a heightened chance of a recession by 2020. Larry Summers, a Harvard professor and Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton, said earlier this week that he thinks theres better than a 50/50 chance of a recession in 2020. Powell stressed the Fed is watching the situation closely and monitoring potential cracks in the economy. His biggest concern is weakening growth in China and Europe, although he warned that a prolonged U.S. government shutdown could become a drag on the economy. The principle worry I would have is global growth, Powell said, but he added: I still think the mostly likely baseline case for China is another year of solid growth. Hospitality. Weve all been on both ends as hosts offering warm receptions into our homes and as guests receiving kindnesses offered to us. Its a concept we easily can understand. We relate to the expectations involved. When we throw a dinner party, we assume a guest will bring a bottle of wine or bouquet of flowers. As a guest, we wouldnt think to show up at someones door without one or the other. And when overnight stays are involved, unwritten rules abound on both sides. The Bemis Centers current two-person exhibition, I let them in: Conditional Hospitality and The Stranger, uses this familiar concept as a jumping-off point for the global migration crisis. Conceived by Taraneh Fazeli, the Bemis 2018 curator-in-residence, the show uses video works by Kader Attia and Candice Breitz to explore the aesthetic, political, socio-psychological and technological systems that shape our understanding of ourselves and our communities. What is demanded of host countries? What are they supposed to provide to migrants and refugees? What, in turn, is expected from migrants and refugees? Are there codes for behavior and tacit requirements for assimilation? Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The Global Exfoliating Powder Market report is encompassed of unique market dynamics that support the industry growth along with the various market issues such as trends, growth path, revenue, prediction, and market size analysis which directly impact the market dynamic. The information is obtained and analysed from the past and current year to forecast the market covering in the next coming years. The Exfoliating Powder industry experts were interviewed across the globe to gather the data which is then validated based on the secondary data. In-depth study of market segmentation and active major players involved in the Market has been outlined in the report. The report also discloses the demand consumption along with the current and future market environment. Besides, it also throws light on the various regional market scenario which gives important information to gain a competitive edge. 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The details of the threats and Affecting factors is sure to assist in corporate decision making. The following manufacturers are covered in this report, with sales, revenue, market share for each company: Umang Pharma, Kinvara True Skincare, May Lindstorm, Lina Hanson, Moogoo Skincare, de Mamiel, Dermalogica, Josie Maran Cosmetics, Galenic Paris, Biodroga, Alex Carro, Herb Farm, Perla Whitening, Image Skincare, Murad, Biore, Amorepacific Corporation, White and Elm. Market size by Product By Nature, Organic, Conventional, By Product, Face Exfoliating Powder, Body Exfoliating Powder. Market size by End User, Men, Women. Market size by Region North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China. Access Report and Full Table of Contents of Exfoliating Powder Market @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/38557-exfoliating-powder-industry-market-report Table of Contents - Snapshot Chapter 1 Study Coverage Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Breakdown Data by Manufacturers Chapter 4 Breakdown Data by Product Chapter 5 Breakdown Data by End User Chapter 6 North America Chapter 7 Europe Chapter 8 Asia Pacific Chapter 9 Central & South America Chapter 10 Middle East and Africa Chapter 11 Company Profiles Chapter 12 Future Forecast Chapter 13 Market Opportunities, Challenges, Risks and Influences Factors Analysis Chapter 14 Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis Chapter 15 Research Findings and Conclusion Chapter 16 Appendix View More Related Reports @ Global Cobalt Powder Market Research Report 2018 https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/23555-cobalt-powder-industry-market-report Global Powder Wood Activated Carbon Market Research Report 2018 https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/3073-powder-wood-activated-carbon-industry-market-report About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a Global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research Report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For More Details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91-90-28-057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Fianna Fail TD for Offaly, Barry Cowen has called on the Government to progress legislation to regulate drone usage. Deputy Cowen was commenting following the recent interference which occurred in UK airports and led to major disruption. Deputy Cowen explained, The Government must realise that Irish airspace is not immune to the same challenges which we have witnessed recently in the UK. The Small Unmanned Aircraft (Drones) Bill 2017, drafted by my Party colleague, Deputy James Lawless, currently sits at second-stage in the Dail and must be progressed with urgency." "Drones are freely available and largely untraceable. They are available without age restrictions or registration. This Bill would ensure that drones are registered with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and that prior to use the owner must be issued with a registration certificate by the IAA." "Its clear that drones can provide many benefits, but in the wrong hands they are quite literally weapons. Legislation and a framework on their use is required," concluded Deputy Cowen. The government must "move swiftly to tackle the growing collapse of confidence of the armed forces in the leadership of the force," RENUA Ireland leader and Offaly councillor John Leahy has warned. The Party Leader Cllr. John Leahy said, "we ask a great deal from our armed forces, not least that they must be prepared to put their lives at risk in the service of the state." "By contrast, our respect for our soldiers is so low many need Family Income Supplement and food hampers to feed their families." "Nothing epitomises the amicable contempt our soldiers are held in than the Taoiseachs claim that no-one enters the army for the money." "That is for sure, but they do not enter it to see their families starve either," Leahy said. "The current scenario where on Christmas Day 2018, members of the Defence Forces received just 20 for working 24 hours on duty is all too typical of the penny-wise pound-foolish approach to our armed forces." "Since 1922 our Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and the Reserve, have never flinched in their unquestioning loyalty to our State. The State, however, has never reciprocated that loyalty." "This failure to develop a state culture of justice and respect has created the dangerous scenario where the border cannot be policed in the event of an unruly Brexit." "This will create a gap that will do serious systemic damage to Ireland's agriculture and agri-business model. Such has been the decline in the capacity of the Army were a recurrence of the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak in the UK and Northern Ireland to happen it could not now be prevented from spreading to the Republic." "It is time the government restored the Army to the control of the Army and reversed the current scenario where non-professionals in the public service have been allowed to dominate critical strategic security decision making." "If they dont, we will reap a bitter price in areas as diverse as Brexit, cyber security, fisheries protection and Irelands international reputation," Leahy concluded. Jamal Khashoggi The Trump administration's tepid response to the murder of Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi serves as a green light for tyrants around the world to escalate their attacks on the media. Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan drove that point home during his appearance at the Capitol Hill remembrance of Khashoggi on Jan. 10, the 100thday anniversary of his torture, murder and dismemberment at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. "The brutality of Jamal's murder, reported to be on the orders of the Crown Princethe extensive Saudi efforts to cover it upand our government's apparent willingness to accept these repeated lieshave shocked the conscience of freedom-loving people around the world," said Ryan. The US response to the assassination "demonstrates how committed we are to a fundamental American value: support for a free press both at home and abroad," he said. Trump's lack of response speaks volumes. Ryan noted the role of the free press is to cut through propaganda and deliver the truth. "American voters need to know which countries are friends, and which are foes, so they can evaluate our foreign policy and hold elected officials accountable," said Ryan. Honest information is fundamental to our freedom, noted Ryan, "and any policy by any government that silences reporters and restricts access to this information, is an attack on our country and everything we stand for." Ryan said the world is watching how America will respond to the challenge. "We should not allow the size of a tyrant's checkbook to blind us to the importance of standing up for our values." Minus leadership from the White House, Ryan wants Congress "to demand full and immediate transparency" into the Khashoggi killing. Ryan said the Congressional message to tyrants around the world shoud be: "If you jail, if your torture, or if you murder a journalist, there will be serious consequences." Qorvis Communications is working with nonprofit Food Rescue Hero on its push to distribute surplus food in cities where people are hungry. Launched in Pittsburgh a year ago, FRH uses an app that supermarkets and wholesalers can use to distribute unsold food to community groups and soup kitchens. In Pittsburgh, the app was downloaded by more than 9K people, which allowed 1,700 volunteers to rescue five million pounds of food to feed those in need. FRH founder/CEO Leah Lizarondo estimates that 40 percent of food in the US goes to waste. "Surplus food at retail and wholesale grocers is an extraordinary opportunity to radically change the way we approach hunger and measurably impact one of our most wicked problems," said Lizarondo in a statement. Qorvis will promote FRH's program as it expands into Cleveland, Philadelphia and San Francisco as part of its "20 Cities by 2020" campaign. Publicis Groupe owns Qorvis. Another thing that drives me nuts: This has always been a two-party solution until Trump got elected. It has always been a bipartisan issue to secure our borders, Rogers said. Obama said some of the exact same things, but its bad now because its coming out of (Trumps) mouth instead of Barack Obamas. Rogers agreed that constructing a barrier should be only one part of the solution. Technology and people are part of the system just like a barrier is part of the system, he said. To be effective, we need all of it. Its part of a system and I think the president is right to do this. A question of power Although the two lawmakers working with armed services in Congress disagree on whether Trump should try to use emergency powers to divert military resources to build the wall, they agree it is not a preferred action. I would prefer he not go into military spending, but he is the commander in chief and if he sees this as the only way to secure the border, he has to do what he has to do, Rogers said. It is a security issue, and I feel he has a right to do it. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 319-352-3334 or email legals@waverlynewspapers.com. Gridlock in Washington President Donald Trump spoke with reporters before boarding Marine One on Thursday morning for a visit to the southern border. When a reporter asked him how much longer the shutdown will last, Trump responded, We have to get a win, or Ill have to go to national security. One or the other. Either were going to win either were going to win or make a compromise. Im OK to making a compromise. Compromise is in my vocabulary very strongly. So were either going to have a win, make a compromise because I think a compromise is a win for everybody, he said, according to a transcript on WhiteHouse.gov. Or I will declare a national emergency. The Democratic-controlled House passed bills Thursday that would fund the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments and the Agriculture Department. The House voted Wednesday on bills to reopen the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service. The Associated Press reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he wont bring up the Democratic bills in the Republican-controlled Senate. Contrary to his agreement with the USDOT, Dr. Edwards did not thoroughly examine the applicants who came to him for their USDOT-required physicals. Instead, he collected cash payments from the applicants and then signed forms indicating that the applicants were physically capable of driving commercial vehicles, Franklin said. In many instances, Dr. Edwards certified an applicants physical fitness without conducting even a partial physical examination. Sometimes, Dr. Edwards permitted his staff to conduct physical examinations and then stamp his signature on the USDOT forms. On occasion, Dr. Edwards knowingly failed to report to the USDOT conditions that would have disqualified an applicant from obtaining a CDL. For example, as discussed in court on Thursday, on one occasion, Dr. Edwards reported that an applicant had 20/20 vision in both eyes, Franklin said. In fact, one of the applicants eyes was prosthetic. At the sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge W. Keith Watkins found that Edwards had abused the trust placed in him by the USDOT to conduct physicals and that Edwards had fraudulently obtained approximately $224,000. 1 of 11 President Trump has repeatedly said he might declare a national emergency in order to bypass Congress and build a wall on the southwestern border. If he did so, the money to pay for the wall would be diverted from where? Shopko Hometown Vinton is one of 39 stores being closed across the country. A liquidation sale will be conducted until April 7 when the doors will be locked . Photo by Jim Morrison Perplexed? Youre not alone. Several people contacted The New York Times about the change. Notices emailed to Equifax subscribers do explain the lock issue, if readers click through to a question-and-answer page. But some subscribers and consumer advocates worry that people may not absorb the details and remain unaware that they have to relock their Equifax credit report. Credit locks are marketed by credit bureaus as a convenient way to prevent lenders and others from obtaining your credit report without your knowledge. Theres an opportunity for consumers to be confused, said Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy with Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. If consumers dont relock their files and if they havent used another option, known as a security freeze theyre still going to be very vulnerable, he said. Christina Tetreault, a staff attorney at Consumers Union who specializes in financial services, said the situation illustrated why the best way to guard against account fraud is to place a security freeze not a lock on your files at all three credit bureaus. Federal law now requires credit bureaus to offer security freezes free of charge, and theyre much simpler to set up than in the past, Ms. Tetreault said. A freeze accomplishes the same thing as a lock, she said, but with a freeze, your rights are defined by law. With credit locks, she said, the bureaus set the rules. With a freeze, she said, the power belongs to the consumer. Equifax initially told at least some subscribers that it would extend free credit monitoring through TrustedID Premier, according to emails shared with The Times. But later, it switched to an offer of a second year through the credit bureau Experian, a competitor. Some subscribers may already have switched, but the deadline to enroll for the free extra year is Jan. 31, according to a notice Equifax sent to subscribers. (Experian normally charges a monthly fee for its service, called IDnotify.) In December, President Trump made an extraordinary declaration about U.S. involvement in Syria: We have won against ISIS. Now, its time for our troops to come back home. Ignoring advice from his generals and advisers, Trump said that the U.S. would leave Syria. Defense Department officials said that they were ordered to do it within 30 days. [explosion] Then came a flurry of criticism, even from inside his own party. I believe it is a catastrophic mistake. This is very disappointing. It needs to be reconsidered. Then, the resignations. First, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis quit. And Americas chief diplomat in the fight against ISIS, Brett McGurk, soon followed. Now, the timeline for a full withdrawal is unclear. I never said were doing it that quickly. He went on to say that the U.S. will leave at a proper pace while continuing to fight ISIS, a shift from Theyre all coming back, and theyre coming back now. The nearly eight-year-long war in Syria has left hundreds of thousands of people dead. [explosion] So, how did we get here and what are U.S. forces doing in Syria? In 2011, uprisings rippled through the Middle East. Leaders fell in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. And after months of anti-government protests in Syria, the U.S. had a message for President Bashar al-Assad: This morning, President Obama called on Assad to step aside. He didnt and the conflict escalated. In 2012, Obama warned Assad against using Syrias stockpile of chemical weapons against his own people. Thats a red line for us, and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing the use of chemical weapons. A year later, Assads army launched a chemical attack on a Damascus suburb, killing 1,400 people. [screaming] In response, the U.S. debated airstrikes, but they were avoided when Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons. But a new threat was also emerging ISIS. In 2014, the U.S. began supporting rebel groups to fight extremists, while also conducting airstrikes as part of an international coalition. These efforts expanded and the U.S. troop numbers grew from hundreds to the low thousands. In 2016, U.S.-supported fighters took control of the ISIS stronghold of Manbij and in 2017 their de facto capital, Raqqa. There are now around 2,000 American forces in Syria who are largely fighting alongside the Kurdish groups. This has been a problem for Americas ally Turkey, which has a long-standing conflict with the Kurds. U.S. troops have had run-ins with Assads forces as well as groups backed by Russia and Iran. Since taking office, Trump has ordered two strikes on areas controlled by Assad in response to chemical weapons attacks. We are prepared to sustain this response, until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents. U.S. officials and allies dispute the claim that ISIS has been defeated. They warn that an American departure will weaken U.S. influence in the region and may embolden Russia, Iran and Turkey, who are also on the ground. The other worry? The move may inspire some ISIS fighters to return to Syria. In Saudi Arabia, all women are required to have a male guardian, whose permission they need to get married, travel and undergo some medical procedures. The guardian is often a father or husband, but can be a brother or even a son. The kingdoms day-to-day ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has vowed to make life better for Saudi women. He defanged the once-feared religious police, who harassed women deemed inappropriately dressed, and last year he lifted the ban on women driving. Saudi women can now attend mixed concerts and pursue careers off limits to their mothers. [Read about the challenges that remained for Saudi women after the driving ban was lifted.] When asked about guardianship laws last year, the prince said that Saudi Arabia had to figure out a way to treat this that doesnt harm families and doesnt harm the culture. Those moves have increased his popularity among Saudi women, many of whom say guardianship is not a burden because their male relatives take good care of them. Others escape the rules by seeking jobs in neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates, where social rules are more lax. But the systems critics say it gives no recourse to women with controlling or abusive guardians. Thats what sent Nourah, 20, fleeing for Australia. Her father had divorced her mother before Nourah was born, and she was raised mostly by her uncles, she said. Her father sometimes abused her, but her efforts to get help fell on deaf ears. Last year, her boyfriend wanted to marry her, but her family refused because they perceived him as coming from a lower social class, said Nourah, who spoke on the condition that only her first name be used for her safety. Her father began to arrange her marriage to a man she did not know and who wanted to bar her from working. In October, a day before her prospective groom arrived, she ran away. LONDON It just might be the most adorable thing on four wheels. People smile when one cruises by. They point, they wave, they use the word cute a lot, and they ask, What is that? The tiny Nissan Figaro has an almost cartoonish design that is guaranteed to stand out. To an American living in Britain, who regularly spots pristine Figaros, it would appear to be a highly popular model that was made recently. Every part of that guess is wrong: The Figaro is rather old, built for the 1991 model year, and there never were large numbers anywhere. Nissan never even exported it from Japan. LONDON The Polish authorities arrested two people, including a Chinese employee of the telecommunications giant Huawei, and charged them with spying for Beijing, officials said on Friday, as the United States and its allies move to restrict the use of Chinese technology because of concerns that it is being used for espionage. The arrest of the Huawei employee is almost certain to escalate tensions between Western countries and China over the company, which the authorities in the United States have accused of acting as an arm of the Chinese government and making equipment designed for spying. In December, the daughter of Huaweis founder was arrested in Canada at the request of the United States, which said she had committed fraud as part of a scheme to violate American sanctions against companies doing business with Iran. It was unclear whether the arrests in Poland had been requested by the United States. But a senior Western diplomat who was briefed on them said the Justice Department had been working with the Polish government. Europe is increasingly a battleground in the fight over Huawei, the worlds second-largest smartphone maker and a top supplier of networking equipment. The companys sales in the region have been growing, but many countries there now face pressure to reconsider its presence, particularly as construction begins for the next-generation wireless networks known as 5G. Germany, Britain, the Czech Republic and Norway are among the nations that have recently questioned how deeply Huawei should be involved in developing 5G infrastructure. I mean, I do have some very special ones, some sentimental feelings, personal tastes, I do have, he continued in broken English. But in general, all of them, they are the same. He added that he would keep his personal favorites to himself. Sheikh Hamad asserted that Mr. Ahmed had initially told him the private meetings would cost around $50,000, but that after introducing him to several Bollywood celebrities he started to make unwarranted demands for very large sums of money. After meeting four Bollywood stars and paying $3 million in fees, he felt that he was being taken advantage of and said that he had informed Mr. Ahmed he should not arrange any further meetings. According to Mr. Ahmeds account, the sheikh told him that his family had taken over his funds because they did not approve of his expensive Bollywood passion, but that he went on to meet 15 other Bollywood stars through another agent. Mr. Saffy, the sheikhs assistant, menacingly said that I would be in big trouble if I did not leave the sheikh alone after it became clear he would not pay, Mr. Ahmed said, adding that he had faced threats and intimidation since his lawyers sent their first letter to the sheikh. The sheikh robustly denied Mr. Ahmeds allegations, calling them entirely false and unfounded. Sheikh Hamad said in a statement after Fridays judgment, It was with a heavy heart that I was forced to defend myself against this claim, since I had considered Mr. Ahmed to be a friend whom I trusted, and had always treated him with generosity and kindness. After my dad passed away, he was an element in my life, he said, in reference to Mr. Ahmed. I wanted to get to know him as a brother, as a new friend in my life. So, we started like this. And he was very much aware of this matter. Harp seals spend winters in the waters off Newfoundland, and it is common for them to go ashore at times, and to swim into bays like the long, narrow ocean inlet that borders Roddickton-Bide Arm, said Garry Stenson, head of the marine mammal section at Canadas Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Then if the ice freezes up behind them, they have a harder time getting access to water, he told the Canadian broadcaster, CBC. Its almost like they get going in a direction and just keep going, hoping that theyre going to eventually find water that way. At first the seals in Roddickton-Bide Arm, each one about five feet long and weighing about 300 pounds, crowded around the towns two brooks that do not freeze over in the winter. Then they spread out, rolling around in the deep snow and barking like dogs. Residents began to worry that the seals were there to stay through the winter or might starve. Theyre very cute little creatures, Ms. Fitzgerald in a telephone interview. They look so calm when you just look at them, they look so cute but theyre still wild animals. SYDNEY, Australia There was a hint of mauve peeking out from behind Joel Edgertons left eyelid, barely discernible beneath a newsboy cap. I ran into my van, hit it on the awning, he said, pointing at his face. But it was the camper van, not his face, that preoccupied the actor and filmmaker as we met at a coffee shop near a house he owns north of Bondi Beach. He took out his phone and pointed to custom trappings, an annex with a tent and shower at the back, all designed for surfing holidays along the Australian shoreline. And something more. This is all part of the building of the enticement to come back home more often, he said. SEOUL, South Korea Prosecutors in South Korea confronted a retired Supreme Court chief justice on Friday with accusations that he conspired to delay a case that could upset relations with Japan, interrogating him in a closed-door hearing that is likely to lead to an unprecedented indictment. No former or sitting chief justice in South Korea had ever been summoned as a criminal suspect until Yang Sung-tae, 71, presented himself to address allegations that he had manipulated the case on behalf of the nations disgraced former president. The scandal involving Mr. Yang has drawn intense interest in South Korea, where a mistrust of the judiciary is a longstanding phenomenon. The depth of anti-judiciary sentiment is such that when a quixotic pig farmer angry over a court ruling threw a firebomb at the car of the current chief justice, Kim Myeong-su, the November incident received outsize news and social media coverage. Mr. Yangs scandal is also being closely watched by diplomats because of its connection to the growing diplomatic schism between South Korea and Japan, both key American allies. NEW DELHI The 16-year-old girl had simply decided to go to her boyfriends birthday party. A week later, her body was found along a highway, her head and one of her arms chopped off. Her face may have been burned with acid. In her small town in eastern India, it is forbidden for a teenage girl to date, and the police believe the girls father arranged for her to be killed supposedly to protect the familys honor. It was yet another stomach-turning case of extremely sadistic violence against a woman or a girl in India. On Friday, the police said the girls father, Turaj Prasad, had been formally arrested, along with a friend of his who was suspected of carrying out the killing. Charges were expected to be filed later. (The police are withholding the girls name.) It will be a long fight for the girls human rights, said Gopal Patwa, an activist in Gaya, the main town in the area where the killing took place. The condition her body was found in is inhuman, and I do not have words to describe the gory details. NEW DELHI India has nine of the worlds 10 most polluted cities, according to one World Health Organization measure, with choking urban smog that researchers estimate killed 1.24 million people in 2017. But until this week, it did not have nationally set targets for reducing hazardous air pollution. That changed this week, when the governments National Clean Air Program unveiled a five-year plan that environmentalists welcomed as long overdue but criticized as lacking clear mechanisms or robust funding to achieve its aims, which include reducing air pollution in 102 cities by up to 30 percent from 2017 levels. Some observers questioned the timing of the initiative: Delayed by a year because of bureaucratic hurdles, it arrives as the central government faces elections in May. It also comes alongside other crowd-pleasing measures such as a promise to reserve 10 percent of government jobs for those earning less than 800,000 rupees annually, or about $11,300. This is an important step forward, setting a reduction target, said Anumita Roychowdhury, a director at the Center for Science and Environment, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization in New Delhi. MEXICO CITY A Nicaraguan Supreme Court justice has resigned with a scathing open letter to President Daniel Ortega, who faced down protests against his government last year by unleashing security forces against them. I fought against a dictatorship and I never believed that history would repeat itself on account of those who also fought against that same dictatorship, said the letter, attributed to Judge Rafael Solis Cerda, who stepped down Thursday. Mr. Solis is a longtime member of the presidents Sandinista Front party, but his letter said Mr. Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, were dragging Nicaragua toward a civil war. The letter, circulating widely on social media, was accompanied by a photograph of Mr. Soliss government-issued ID. The letters authenticity could not be independently confirmed, and a message to him was not immediately answered. Pemex, the state-run energy company, said the new transportation methods had caused delays in the delivery of gasoline to service stations. The long lines, it said, did not result from actual fuel shortages. Pemex appeals to the general publics support and understanding, the company said in a statement. These operations will undoubtedly translate into benefits for all Mexicans. Mr. Lopez Obrador said Friday that 4,000 military and police personnel had been deployed to secure strategically important portions of pipeline, which stretch out some 375 miles and ordinarily transport around 400,000 barrels of gasoline per day. He did not say when fuel would resume flowing through the closed sections, but vowed to continue with his efforts to stem the thefts. The thefts have been a result in part of the incompetence or complacency of local authorities, he said. That is what we are fighting against, Mr. Lopez Obrador said, because corruption cannot be allowed. He, too, said there was enough fuel in the country: It is a matter of distribution only. Despite the long lines at the pumps, Mr. Lopez Obrador showed no sign of changing his approach. He said the amount of stolen fuel had dropped significantly as a result of his tactics. While that investigation continues, detectives with the Phoenix Police Department recently opened a criminal investigation at a nursing home operated by Hacienda HealthCare after a 29-year-old woman who has been in a coma nearly her entire life gave birth to a boy there on Dec. 29. The two investigations have brought intense national scrutiny on Hacienda, Arizonas largest privately operated long-term nursing company for people with developmental disabilities. People in its care have a range of intellectual and physical disabilities. In recent years, Hacienda has also been investigated by the Arizona Department of Health Services over the treatment of its patients. In 2013, the agency found that a male employee at the nursing home being investigated, the Hacienda Skilled Nursing Facility, had made sexually explicit remarks to patients, including telling a resident that his penis was erect. In 2017, investigators reported that employees freely walked in on patients while they were naked and showering. The woman at the center of the police investigation has been at Hacienda since she was 3. She cannot move on her own, cannot communicate and requires total supervision, according to health records obtained by The New York Times. The San Carlos Apache Tribe, whose reservation is about 100 miles east of Phoenix, said the woman was an enrolled member of the tribe. The tribes chairman and her mother, who was granted permanent guardianship in 2009, have not returned calls seeking comment. On Friday, the police released a frantic 911 call from the Hacienda nursing center when the woman went into labor on Dec. 29. The caller said no one knew that the woman had been pregnant. Both the mother and the baby were recovering at a Phoenix hospital, the police said this week. She was not in a position to give consent to any of this, Sgt. Tommy Thompson, a police spokesman, said on Wednesday. This was a helpless victim who was sexually assaulted. Since the Phoenix police announced their investigation a week ago, detectives have collected the DNA of male employees at Hacienda; the state dispatched health inspectors to check on the other patients there; and the companys longtime chief executive, Bill Timmons, resigned. Over nearly three decades, Mr. Timmons had built Hacienda into a major player in long-term health care in Arizona. An Alabama woman has become the first known transgender person killed this year in the United States. Dana Martin, 31, identified by advocacy groups as a black transgender woman, was found shot to death in a vehicle in Montgomery, Ala., on Sunday. Ms. Martin, who lived in Hope Hull, Ala., about nine miles southwest of Montgomery, was well-known in the transgender community of Birmingham and Montgomery, said Meta Ellis, the director of Montgomery Pride United, an L.G.B.T. advocacy organization in Alabama. Our community is devastated because the murders going on especially of trans people of color are just happening more and more often and very little is being done about it, she said. And here in Alabama we dont have laws that support hate crimes against people of other genders. The government shutdown and partisan wrangling over a wall at the southern border have produced high political drama in Washington, where President Trump has sought to portray the impasse as a national emergency. And as the shutdown reached a record 22nd day on Saturday, Americans following local and national media coverage would be forgiven for thinking they had fallen into a parallel universe with the episode being presented both as a moment of crisis and hardship, and a curiosity that mostly registered as a politically motivated annoyance. Early in the week, the historically conservative Cincinnati Enquirer labeled the paralysis a buzzkill, warning readers that the lag in government approval of new beer labels could reduce the output from local breweries. Several days later it reported on 40 Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky government employees protesting outside a local I.R.S. processing center, focusing on the financial difficulties furloughed employees face, like day care expenses and rent payments. Polls show that more Americans blame the president for the shutdown than blame congressional Democrats. But there is a very stark partisan divide, with a large majority of Republicans supporting Mr. Trump. Glen Caplin, a spokesman for Ms. Gillibrand, declined to comment. Taking the step of actually retaining new staff rather than merely conducting interviews or planning out staff recruitment indicates that Ms. Gillibrand is probably in the very last stages of preparing for the 2020 race. Once politicians raise or spend more than $5,000 on their candidacy, they have just 15 days to file paperwork forming a campaign with the Federal Election Commission. Depending on when she announces her decision, Ms. Gillibrand, 52, could become the second high-profile Democrat to join the race, after Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Ms. Gillibrand has signaled that she will run as a progressive and has been an especially forceful advocate within the party on matters of gender equality. At least two other senators, Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey, are expected to announce in the coming weeks, joining a field that could grow to dozens. Joseph R. Biden Jr., the former vice president, has also told associates he intends to make a decision this month and has been leaning toward running. While she has a high profile in the news media, Ms. Gillibrand is not well known among Democratic voters nationally. In a Quinnipiac University poll last month, 64 percent of Democrats said they did not yet know enough about her to form an opinion. As a senator, Ms. Gillibrand has relied on a tightly knit team of advisers who have counseled her for years, helping her navigate her appointment to the Senate in 2009, a special election to defend the seat in 2010 and a regularly scheduled Senate election in 2012. But she has been moving aggressively to add to her staff and compete with other Democratic contenders for prized talent in the party. Four black men who were accused of raping a white woman in Florida in 1949 were pardoned on Friday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who called their case a miscarriage of justice. The so-called Groveland Four Charles Greenlee, Ernest Thomas, Walter Irvin and Samuel Shepherd were accused of the rape in 1949 near the city of Groveland in Lake County, Fla. Mr. Thomas was killed shortly thereafter, and the other three were taken into custody, beaten, and eventually convicted. Mr. Shepherd was later shot and killed by the county sheriff. Mr. Greenlee and Mr. Irvin were each imprisoned for more than a decade and released on parole. Both have since died, but for years, their families have insisted on their innocence and fought for their pardons. I wanted two things to happen, said Carol Greenlee, Mr. Greenlees daughter, in an interview on Friday. I wanted the world to know the truth, and I wanted my daddys name cleared. The flip side of all of this is that moving to the densest urban areas remains a good bet for college-educated workers. Cities offer them very different kinds of jobs than small towns do. They can enjoy much higher wages for their skills there (in addition to all the amenities big cities provide). Other research Mr. Autor is conducting with Juliette Fournier, an M.I.T. doctoral student, suggests that the densest urban counties have become so appealing to prime-age workers that theyre now less likely to move away at life stages when previous generations have retreated to the suburbs, like when children arrive. Policymakers have suggested that low-skilled workers head to the same places where college-educated workers are growing wealthy, like New York and the Bay Area (although many have argued that high housing costs and strict land-use regulation in these places block lower-income workers from opportunity). The Harvard economist Ed Glaeser, whose work has long championed the benefits of cities, argues that they could still offer advantages to low-skilled workers because of high unemployment in many rural communities. Perhaps the kinds of low-skilled jobs that major metros offer are the same as those in smaller towns but such jobs are a lot easier to find in big cities. Low-skilled workers may also find opportunities in cities that dont come in the form of higher wages. They could come from the availability of nonprofits and social services, or of training programs, or from better access to health care and public transit. And there are other ways to measure opportunity in a community, like whether it enables poor children to get ahead. The wage pattern Mr. Autor describes looks startling to many economists in part because he has taken a well-recognized divergence in the labor market between the boom in highly paid jobs for college graduates and the growth of low-paid service-sector work and mapped it onto the country, by population density. But other scholars have been studying pieces of this picture for some time. The sociologist William Julius Wilson has documented the disappearance of precisely the kinds of urban jobs Mr. Autor describes. Each week, technology reporters and columnists from The New York Times review the weeks news, offering analysis and maybe a joke or two about the most important developments in the tech industry. Want this newsletter in your inbox? Sign up here. Hello, Its Erin Griffith, reporting, happily, from my home base in San Francisco and not the carnival of virtual assistants, shiny screens, crowded smart homes and greasy VR demos in Las Vegas. Our correspondents made the CES maze of gadgets look almost fun, which anyone who has been there before knows is an impressive feat. Back in the land of magical, billion-dollar start-up unicorns, things have been quieter, thanks to the federal government shutdown. No Securities and Exchange Commission means no progress on initial public offering plans of the larger start-ups, including Uber and Lyft. Any other time in the last five years, this would not have mattered. The unicorns have been putting off their public market debuts for as long as possible whats another month or two? But a volatile stock market and signs of a possible recession have fostered a creeping sense of panic. Now, after making billions of dollars and joining forces with Big Tobacco, Juul is billing itself as a public-health crusader. Juul is far from the first company to attempt a humanitarian makeover. Facebook, an outgrowth of a Harvard students juvenile attempt to quantify the attractiveness of his classmates, now claims to have been motivated by a virtuous impulse to connect the world; Uber, created by two tech entrepreneurs who wanted to zoom around San Francisco in luxury cars, later tried to convince people that it wanted to provide affordable mobility to the masses. But in Juuls case, revisionist history is particularly important, because the way Juul markets itself is central to the question of how it should be treated. Many consumers, investors and ethical technologists would rightly shun a company that knowingly targeted minors with harmful products, and cleaned up its act only after public pressure. But if you believe that Juul had a noble anti-cigarette mission all along, its easier to excuse its missteps as the product of innocent naivete. Unfortunately for Juul, plenty of evidence suggests that the company didnt always take its public health agenda so seriously. In 2015, in an interview with The Verge, Ari Atkins, a research and development engineer who helped create the original Juul, said that we dont think a lot about addiction here because were not trying to design a cessation product at all. He added that anything about health is not on our mind. In other early interviews, James Monsees, Juuls co-founder and chief product officer, played down the idea of a public health mission. Were not an activist company, he said in a 2014 interview. If you dont like what were making better than cigarettes, then have a cigarette, thats fine. I feel like Im doing something illegal, and I like it, Danielle Macdonald said. It was a shivery Monday morning, and Ms. Macdonald shook a spray can and hissed an arc of orange paint. After starring in the recent Netflix movies Dumplin and Bird Box, Ms. Macdonald, 27, was receiving a master class in graffiti writing from an artist who calls herself Anjl. The classroom was a semi-vacant lot in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, ringed by a chain-link fence and barbed wire. Even though the class broke no laws, it still felt just a little criminal. For Ms. Macdonald, learning to write graffiti is a yearslong dream (she once tried to find every Banksy in London). Knowing the dream was a messy one, she had dressed down, wearing a black puffer jacket, bright bluejeans and old sneakers. Her hair, the color of raw honey, twirled in the wind. She was kitted out in plastic gloves and a plastic apron, which gave her the look of an extremely chilly food service worker. This was not the apocalyptic world of Bird Box; no blindfold required. Despite those daunting statistics, chances of winning are better than it may seem. That is because many of those who apply are disqualified, either because their earnings exceed or are below the requirements for a specific development, or because they fail to provide the necessary paperwork, including work history and tax records. And depending on the housing project, preference may be given to those who meet certain criteria, like municipal workers, the homeless or residents of the neighborhood where the development is being built. (The latter, known as community preference, has come under attack for perpetuating racial segregation in some neighborhoods, and in the wake of a growing homeless population, some have also criticized the lottery program for not giving enough preference to the homeless.) Those who have won housing lotteries are a diverse group, from a variety of socioeconomic, racial and geographic backgrounds. Despite their differences, however, they tend to have something in common: Many have faced challenging life events, and nearly all insist that the key to winning the lottery is determination. You have to know how to hustle and be on it, said Erika Lindsey, an urban planner who spent nearly a decade applying to lotteries before winning a one-bedroom in Brooklyn, near Barclays Center. My main advice is to be persistent. LIZZIE VILLAS BOAS Mott Haven, Bronx | $251 for a one-bedroom Lizzie Villas Boas suffers from hip dysplasia and has had 25 surgeries and four hip replacements. Ive had to learn to respect my pain, said Ms. Villas Boas, 57, who is from Brazil. I cannot change my life, and so I always try and find the happiness. Her first purchase for her new home reflects that. In October, when she moved into her new one-bedroom in the South Bronx, Ms. Villas Boas went to Target to fill her empty refrigerator. As she wandered the aisles, her eyes alighted on a wooden sign that read, Give Thanks Always. Ms. Villas Boas, who gets around on a scooter, depends on Supplemental Security Income, and she couldnt afford what amounted to a luxury, but she splurged on it anyway. This is Charlie. He was just born. These are his parents Jenny and Greg. In 20 years, Greg will be dead. But Charlie doesnt know that yet. Charlie doesnt know anything yet. Hes just a baby. This is where Charlie grew up, his brother Geoff, sister Meg, their dog Louie, and the TV room where his dad hid these, some of the tackiest video pornography of the 1980s had to offer. Greg will be dead in 10 years. But Charlie still doesnt know that yet. This is Charlies first project from film school. Evidently, he loaded the camera wrong, so the footage came out like this. So he never showed his dad. Greg will be dead in one year, but Charlie still doesnt know. Charlie has a ticket to see his favorite band. Its the same day that his dad tells him hes gotten a diagnosis. But he insists that Charlie go to the concert and not to worry. So Charlie isnt worried. He doesnt even know what malignant means. Then just before Gregs 52nd birthday [ring] Charlies mom calls to tell him that his dad has been hospitalized and is basically comatose. She explains, as delicately as she can This is to the end. At his hospital bed, Charlie thinks his dad gives him a smile. Greg cant speak anymore. So they sit in silence. In truth, this is not so different from when Greg was healthy. They didnt agree on much and so they never really spent time together. But Charlie was waiting for the moment when they could see each other as adults. He knew that was when the strange distance he felt between them would finally close. But then [beep] This is Charlies dad today. Hes been dead for nine years. In the aftermath, a lifes worth of weird stuff is left behind, stuff that Charlie hoped might explain why his dad was the way he was. Like maybe if Charlie looked hard enough, he could bring him back from the dead, at least long enough to understand who he really was. So its a pretty stupid plan, but this is him trying anyway. [music] Gregory Allen Tyrell was born November 14th, 1956, in Hamilton, Ontario. Parents, Dale and Stan. Along with Greg, theyd all die within a year of each other. Dale was the last holdout. Greg was a police officer. Hed work long shifts an hour from home. But it was a job he kept pretty tight-lipped about. OK. Being a cop just paid the bills. So what did Greg choose to do? Well he flew airplanes in his spare time. Hed often drag Charlie to airstrips on weekends, but always ended up chatting with the other pilots for hours while Charlie, bored out of his mind, would leave to wait in the car. He fixed planes too. He loved fixing things. He left behind a junkyard of tools. And their house was in a constant state of renovation, right up until his death. But what did any of this mean? Greg: So this is our [chuckles] not done yet kitchen, 12 years in the making, this. This is our front hallway. What a vast improvement. Its actually quite nice. Well, I do nice trim work, dont I? He was pathologically protective of his stuff. Anything misused, misplaced, or presumably used in a movie would make him erupt. So far this is going very badly. It looks like everything in this pile is just as elusive as Greg was. Its just trivia. Greg was hard to live with. Greg had a volatile temper. So what? Unexamined for all these years, this stuff could have hidden anything revelations, answers, catharsis. Examined, its looking more and more like a big pile of nothing. And hes gone all the way from birth certificate to cancer diagnosis. The doctors told Greg that the most common causes of this kind of cancer were smoking, drinking, and stress. Greg didnt smoke and he didnt drink. They nicknamed the tumor Dale. So maybe Charlies been looking in the wrong place. Dale threw cocktail parties. Stan was a pilot. On the surface, they looked like a pretty typical well-adjusted family. This was their house, a monument to a respectable brand of normalcy. Dales cocktail parties were showcases. Her kids were props. On Christmas mornings, she would march them downstairs in matching uniforms and make them write long thank-you cards immediately after every gift was unwrapped to Santa, every single time. Greg had a speech impediment back then. Dale would reluctantly drive him to corrective lessons, bullying him the whole time about what a burden he was on her. Decades later, nothing had changed. Charlie remembers how reticent his dad got every time they went to her house for the mandatory holiday visits. And then Charlie found this. No, its something we have to be aware of. Every time you try to For a split second, its like Charlie has his answer. But all hes really done is move the question back a generation. If she made him this way, what made her? A pattern starts to emerge. But rather than see how far back it goes, Charlie focuses back on himself. When Charlie was a kid, he wasnt living in an abusive household. He was just trying to avoid another visit to the airstrip with his dad, his dad who was only trying in his own naive and awkward way to just spend time with his son. This wasnt Greg failing. This was Greg trying. He just kind of sucked at it. A cycle of abuse, echoing from Dales father to her, to him, left Greg hard and bitter. But at some point, he made a decision. He was going to stop it from going any further. Im dressing up for my daughters birthday. Get the wide angle going to get this shape. [chuckling] Funny You wanna watch me brush my teeth? Sure. And after all those years Charlie spent avoiding him, Greg still supported Charlies filmmaking ambitions. And Charlie wasted all that time at the airfield hiding out in the car, like he wasted so much time combing through his dads crap, clinging onto VHS porno tapes like they were part of this puzzle. But Greg was never defined by what he carried with him. He was defined by what, after multiple generations, he was finally able to let go. His loving and devoted wife who would have happily spent the rest of her life with him His son Geoff, now a father to his own perfect impossible kids. His daughter Meg, who shares his stubbornness, if nothing else. And his youngest son Charlie, the one who thought his dad could be a dick sometimes, who felt like there always was, and now always will be, a distance between them. But he still ends every single movie he makes the same way, even though his dad will never see it, a single credit all by itself that reads When Ayanna Pressley, a new representative from Massachusetts, took up residence in Shirley Chisholms former office, she framed it not as a goal achieved but as one marker on a long trajectory toward equality. Rashida Tlaib, a new representative from Michigan and one of two Muslim women now serving in Congress, showed up to her swearing-in in a thobe, a traditional Palestinian robe, asserting that her story is not one of American Horatio Alger achievement but of a particular, and particularly marginalized, place in the world. Ilhan Omar, the other Muslim woman now in Congress, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York wore suffragist white on the day of the swearing-in because, Ms. Omar tweeted, it was a small way we could honor those that paved the way for us. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez posted an Instagram photo of her swearing-in with a caption detailing all of the ways she and her family had struggled. Noting she is the youngest congresswoman in history, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez made explicit the fact that her success is not a story of bootstraps but of a web of support. Darkness taught me transformation cannot solely be an individual pursuit, but also a community trust, she wrote. We must lean on others to strive on our own. From these women, the message is clear: Their strength comes from collaborative, generational efforts to move toward the good. The promise of America is not the possibility of individuals going at it alone and achieving in a high-profile way as a result, and the purpose of politics is not personal empowerment. The gift of power requires the responsibility of appreciating who came before you and how you might do your part to push forward. Powerful men have always considered their individual legacies. These powerful women seem more interested in their role in improving an evolving and complex ecosystem. In some ways, this refusal to take full individual credit for professional success is a very female thing, and perhaps itself springs from sexism: Women who are seen as individually ambitious or self-glorifying pay a price unlikability that men do not. It may be safer for powerful women to make clear that they got to where they are because of significant support from those around them, and to focus their origin stories on home and community. But the fact that this version of a heros journey grows partly out of sexism doesnt make it any less true. If voters can see the group effort that enables power and achievement, it could diminish the collective discomfort with powerful women. It can also help illustrate the unearned advantages that put some people in power. Women shouldnt adapt to the existing lie; men in the political realm should be more honest. The lines we have drawn around power, and the stories we tell about it, have kept many people from seeing themselves in their political leaders. Changing the way we tell the stories of how people achieve political power is much bigger than just more honest candidate autobiographies or triumphant Instagram captions. It has the power to change the outcome of what those in power do. Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) is the author of The H Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness and a contributing opinion writer. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. This article is part of David Leonhardts newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it each weekday. First, Obamacare marches on: In the latest sign of the laws success, Maine has become the 36th state to expand Medicaid, thanks to the insistence of the states voters. Janet Mills, Maines new Democratic governor, implemented the expansion more than a year after voters approved it in a ballot referendum. The previous governor Paul LePage, a Republican had refused to honor the referendums result. As a result of Millss move, more than 500 Mainers gained health insurance, and many more will be covered in coming years. The larger lesson is to avoid despair. Changing laws is hard work, often involving years of frustration. But it really is possible for politics to improve peoples lives. Congratulations to all of the voters, activists, politicians and medical professionals in Maine who kept fighting for this change. At 3 a.m. on Jan. 10, bleary-eyed Congolese sat stunned in front on their TVs and radios. The preliminary results of the Democratic Republic of Congos presidential elections were announced, and it was not, as many had feared, the anointed successor of President Joseph Kabila. Nor was it the opposition leader Martin Fayulu, whom the respected Catholic Church had projected to win. Instead, it was Felix Tshisekedi the son of the opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi who could be seen on Twitter and Facebook streams, hugging his wife and proclaiming victory. These election results are extraordinary, in two very different ways. First, the president appears to have rigged the polls, not in favor of his preferred candidate but in favor of an opponent. In addition to the tallies of the Catholic Church, which deployed some 40,000 election observers, two polls commissioned just days ahead of the elections by the Congo Research Group also pointed to a Fayulu victory. According to our numbers, a Tshisekedi win would have been statistically impossible. He was 23 percent behind Mr. Fayulu, which would have translated into around 4.5 million votes. There are persistent reports indignantly denied by Mr. Tshisekedi that he has struck a deal with Mr. Kabila to guarantee the incumbents interests in exchange for the presidency. But the results also underscore the Congolese peoples commitment to building a democracy. Whatever the true vote count may have been, it is clear that this is not the outcome that Mr. Kabila initially wanted. Faced with constitutional term limits, he was widely reported to have first considered changing the Constitution, then delayed elections for two years. In addition, he excluded key opponents from the race and brutally suppressed protests and opposition rallies, killing hundreds of people. In response, Congolese youth groups mobilized, many of them facing arrest, torture and worse. Inspired by these actions and an activist clergy, Catholics took to the streets by the thousands, prompting scenes of police beating up priests and tear-gassing churchgoers in the pews. It was these patient, courageous actions that hemmed in Mr. Kabila at every turn and pushed him to this current compromise. In the end, however, these protesters did not risk their lives, nor did 19 million voters trek to the polls for a small group of politicians to concoct fake results and share power among themselves. A Tshisekedi victory is at risk of being regarded as illegitimate by many Congolese unless there is a transparent accounting of the results. The election commission must publish the breakdown of its results by polling station, so that independent observers can assess their credibility. Foreign diplomats should refrain from recognizing Mr. Tshisekedis victory until this has been done. Lamin Sanneh, who was born into poverty in a tiny river town in Gambia and became a world-renowned scholar of Christianity and Islam, providing key insights into how each religion took hold in West Africa, died on Jan. 6 in New Haven. He was 76. His son, Kelefa, said the cause was complications of a stroke. Dr. Sanneh was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity as a teenager and became a practicing Roman Catholic, giving him experience in both Islam and Christianity and an unusual perspective for a scholar of religion. Even more striking, he alone of his large rural family managed to migrate across continents and attend prominent universities. He ended up as a professor at Yale University, where he taught for 30 years. He was the D. Willis James professor of missions and world Christianity at Yale Divinity School and a professor of history at Yale. His memoir, Summoned From the Margin: Homecoming of an African (2012), relates how, even as a youth, he was consumed with theological questions about the nature of God and human suffering; that passion led to his religious conversion and academic career. Joseph Jarman, a saxophonist, flutist, woodwind player and percussionist who helped expand the parameters of performance in avant-garde jazz, especially as a member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, died on Wednesday at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, N.J. He was 81. His former wife, the writer and scholar Thulani Davis, said the cause was cardiac arrest as a result of respiratory failure. Over the last two decades Mr. Jarman was less active in music than in other pursuits, notably his ministrations as a Buddhist priest and aikido instructor. With Ms. Davis, he founded the Brooklyn Buddhist Association in 1990. And his students at the Jikishinkan Aikido Dojo, which he established in Brooklyn, typically did not enroll there because of his jazz career; some may not have known much about it. But Mr. Jarman was revered for his tenure in the Art Ensemble, from its inception in the late 1960s, through his departure in the early 1990s and again early in this century. BUCHAREST, Romania Eugeniu Iordachescu, a Romanian civil engineer who helped save some of Bucharests most emblematic churches from destruction in the 1980s by literally rolling them to safety, died on Jan. 4 at his home in Bucharest. He was 89. The cause was a heart attack, his son Nicholas said. Over a six-year period, Mr. Iordachescu (his full name is pronounced ayoo-JAY-nyu yor-da-KES-cue) and his colleagues were able to save a dozen churches, as well as other buildings that were earmarked for destruction by the Communist regime; they often moved them hundreds of yards on the equivalent of railway tracks. The churches still stand, though few visitors to the Romanian capital are aware of their unusual history. Im not a high-paid salary, federal bureaucrat in Washington. Im an air conditioning mechanic. My husband is an electronics technician in the United States Coast Guard. I work at the United States Department of Agriculture. My husband is an attorney for the Department of Commerce. We work for the U.S.D.A. in rural housing. My husband is active duty. Ive been a government employee, now, for 29 years. Today, was the first time in my life that I actually filed for unemployment insurance. It was quite a moment. Its just my husband and I. Im coming to the point to where I dont know if I should just go ahead and apply for unemployment. If I should look for, maybe, temporary work. Were going to need another income pretty soon. The prospect that, for no reason at all, I may have to find another permanent job is very frustrating and it speaks to a kind of waste. You know, the taxpayers would have to fund the whole hiring process for my replacement. I have an autoimmune condition that causes severe nerve pain and made the decision to cut back work hours so I could focus on my health and get more treatment. But we cant now get on my husbands plan because my husband works for the federal government and theyre not processing the special enrollments right now. I was due to retire from the government on Dec. 30. The lady that was processing my, my pension has been furloughed. I cant even retire. My husband is working without pay. Were very stressed about our bills and how were going to manage them. Theres a food pantry that was started by the spouses club and that is helping every single family here. And were just, were conserving really. You know, the food pantry is great. You know, were trying to, you know, make meals that last. No spending in excess. You know, as much as I want that Starbucks its not happening. My medicine is getting low. I have diabetes and Im a breast cancer survivor. Some of my medications are getting low. If the shutdown keeps going on, then I cant delay my care anymore. Ill get a lot worse. So, it really means my husband is not going to have a paycheck. Im going to have a paycheck thats a lot lower than it was and were going to be paying a lot more. We need to come together and realize that this hurts all of us. And its going to start hurting everyone pretty soon. So, please stop and put your petty differences to the side and open us back up. If the issues with the wall, deal with the wall later. But open us back up. We want to work. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] The second time I met the man I would eventually marry, we sat down to Thai food in Brooklyn, and he asked me what my favorite building was in New York. Relatively new to the city, he posed the question as a litmus test, it seemed, to see who would answer honestly and who would strain to offer a contrarian response. Without any hesitation, I said that I loved the Chrysler Building beyond any other, and he laughed appreciatively at my total lack of interest in saying something original. The Chrysler Building is beautiful, but that alone does not explain the unequivocal, emotional reaction it provokes. Like all skyscrapers of the Modernist period, it conveys the grand ambitions of a new machinist age. But it also suggests something more intimate, that aspirations do not always play out predictably that how you imagine you will experience the pinnacle is not, in fact, how you might actually experience the pinnacle. Distinctively, the building literalizes this view, forcing us to look up delivering circularity rather than conclusion, surprise over certitude. Designed in the 1920s and completed in 1930, the spire was assembled the day before the stock market crashed in 1929. The Chrysler Building, currently owned by an Abu Dhabi wealth fund and the Tishman Speyer real estate empire, is now going up for sale. There is not an obvious buyer. Despite its significance, it is plagued by the same problems that face so many office buildings in the city that went up between the 1920s and the 1970s, many of them, like the Chrysler Building, on the east side of Midtown. They lack the light and efficiency of contemporary working spaces, and they are hugely expensive and time-consuming to repair and modernize, with warrens of rooms, interior columns and low ceilings. On Wednesday, Mr. Brown, 86, announced his retirement. That opens the door to the first competitive district attorney election in Queens, the citys largest borough, in nearly three decades. A lot has changed since Mr. Brown took office. The governor of New York is still named Cuomo. But instead of Mario, it is now his son, Andrew. Bill de Blasio still shows up to work at City Hall. In 1991, he worked for Mayor David Dinkins. Today, Mr. de Blasio is the mayor. And in 1991, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, arguably the most famous first-term member of Congress today, was 1 year 7 months old. Here is more about what Queens and New York were like when Mr. Brown first took office. Disappearing Queens [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] The stone church has been in Brooklyn for almost 200 years, and it was easy to tell. The floor creaked under worshipers feet as they made their way to a pew, and a plaque in the vestibule commemorated past members who had fought in the Great War. Many who gathered for a recent Sunday morning service had been part of the congregation of New Utrecht Reformed Church for decades. Still, as they sang and prayed and wandered the aisles to offer peace to one another, many felt like they were acclimating themselves to the sanctuary. They had been locked out for some 15 years, as a renovation project swelled into an epic overhaul. They have only been allowed back inside to worship in recent weeks. Welcome to Gods house, the Rev. E.J. Emerson, the churchs pastor, said at the start of the service. The sanctuary was new to her, too. She had arrived six years ago, and until now, the space had been filled with scaffolding and tools. She had led services in a hall next door. In 2017, around 33,000 criminal defendants in New York couldnt post bail at their initial hearing. They went straight from a courthouse to jail simply because they were poor. States such as New Jersey, Arizona, and California have all recently adopted new rules eliminating or sharply curtailing the use of cash bail. The New York government could pass its own bill as soon as this spring. Advocates for criminal justice reform say that ending the bail system would help curb mass incarceration. Abolishing bail, however, raises the question of whether additional measures to detain criminal defendants will be needed. In a news conference last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the criminal justice system needs not only reform but also tightening up, particularly through allowing judges to consider a defendants level of dangerousness before granting bail. In response, a dozen advocacy groups, such as the Legal Aid Society, released a statement accusing the mayor of attempting to derail essential reforms to New Yorks bail and parole release systems and to reverse progress made toward the decarceration of New Yorks jails and prisons. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] New Yorkers are used to waiting in lines for burgers, sneakers, the latest tech gadgets. But on a recent Sunday morning, the line at the Japanese teahouse Nippon Cha in Bayside, Queens, was different. For one thing, people werent hunched over, staring at their phones. They were too busy chatting about the intrigue of the pop-up inside. One young woman asked how quickly the products sold out. (I think within the first two hours came the answer from somewhere farther up.) An older woman joining the line announced that she was here with a specific order from a friend in the hospital. Japanese families at wide wooden tables briefly looked up from bowls of ramen to survey the crowd gathering at the entrance. Two French bulldogs who had tagged along with their owners were squatted on a bench made for humans, but no one seemed to mind. They were sad to see her go, she said, and they sent her to Albany with a bevy of gifts, including one representing her penchant for high heels: a tape dispenser in the shape of a stiletto. She also received a glass nameplate reading, Anna M. Kaplan, New York State Senate. Ms. Kaplans rise to senator caps a personal saga, which includes fleeing her native Iran as a Jewish teenager during a repressive time. Considering that back story, and her surprising win in November, Ms. Kaplan was emotional on Tuesday. I think back to that 13-year-old girl, who came here on a very cold night, without my parents and with 40 other kids , she said, pausing to gather herself. And now Im elected to the New York State Senate. Im one of 63. Really? How amazing. Ms. Kaplan said that she said a prayer when she entered her office Tuesday and promptly filled shelves with photographs of her husband and two college-age daughters, one of whom is set to graduate from nearby Union College in Schenectady. Like other newly empowered Democrats, Ms. Kaplan has an ambitious agenda that includes gun control and more funding for public schools. But on Tuesday, at least, Ms. Kaplan was giving herself a moment or two to reminisce. I look around at all of these pictures, she said, and really see how far Ive come. 5 p.m. The Capitol is full of historical treasures, from the imposing grandeur of its architecture to artifacts stashed, half in shadow, in the corners of the legislative galleries. Ms. May and her husband, as well as her brother and sister-in-law, took advantage of the mostly empty Capitol to play tourist, admiring an old desk near the entrance to the Senate chambers doesnt look very comfortable and strolling the steps of the so-called Million Dollar Staircase, the reddish-gold opulence of which can inspire even seasoned legislators to stop in awe. My name is George Tillman Jr., and I am the director of The Hate U Give. We always called this scene the talk. The scene was actually in the middle of the book, but we decided very early on to move it at the top of the film. What I love about this scene is, outside, you see a normal neighborhood, with a lot of playing. It feels like a Saturday afternoon. But I cinematically wanted to move slowly towards this house, to really show that, while everyone is having a good time playing, theres important business being done with the Carter family. The first guy we see is Mav Carter. You see a guy who got braids, and he got a tattoo, so your assumption is that this guy is a gang member and hes up to no good. But as the scene sort of progressed, I love turning the scene on its head and seeing that hes not who you think he is. Now, one day, youre all going to be with me, and you best bet we gonna get pulled over. Hes a guy whos a father, a husband, and hes talking about something thats a very serious issue, that hes telling them to put their hands on the table. Youre going to see me with my hands like this. What I love about this scene is that this feels like a normal conversation like somebody would have about the birds and the bees with their children. But this is a scene thats very normal in a lot of African-American families across the country, which is, how you keep your kids safe. How do you get them to understand how to act around police officers? Its all about a father protecting his family. It can get real dangerous, so dont argue with them. But keep The rehearsal for the scene was very important. It started off by rehearsing a scene with Lamar Johnson, who plays Seven, and Amandla Stenberg, who plays Starr. They rehearsed the scene, but they are not actually in the scene, but I only rehearsed it with them so they could have it as a backstory for them, moving forward, for the rest of the film. Now, just because we got to deal with this mess, dont you ever forget that being black is an honor, because you come from greatness. But the young kids who played the scene in the film, I didnt rehearse with them. I wanted them to be on camera for the first time experiencing that. So what we do were seeing three different kinds of dynamics in this scene, is understanding the subtext of what an African-American family go through in the inner city. Were seeing a father figure who is very present in the household. And were seeing a relationship that shows a loving relationship between a husband and wife. Even though they have disagreements, we still see a love. You understand? With politically charged movies like Vice and BlacKkKlansman expected to be contenders, the 2019 Academy Awards could prove provocative. But its unlikely any ceremony will ever inspire more heated division than the Oscars a little over 40 years ago, when the best supporting actress winner, Vanessa Redgrave, was burned in effigy outside the theater, booed by some audience members during her acceptance speech and rebuked by a presenter later in the evening. It was startling to watch, Tom ONeil, editor and founder of the awards-themed goldderby.com, said in a phone interview. It was open combat among the Hollywood elite. Redgrave had played the title role in Julia, about an anti-Nazi operative during World War II and her friendship with the liberal writer Lillian Hellman (Jane Fonda). It was perfect symmetry, the films producer, Richard Roth, said. The two most famous left-wing women of the 70s playing two left-wing women of the 30s. While she was shooting the movie in Paris, Redgrave lived with a couple of Palestinian students who inspired her to produce and narrate a documentary called The Palestinian. It was perceived by some as promoting Yasir Arafats Palestine Liberation Organization. [Get a weekly roundup of Times coverage of war delivered to your inbox. Sign up here.] But thats not to say this is not a big deal for the Marine Corps. Its an organization steeped in old habits and tradition and surrounded by a rampant group of veterans who are quick to criticize any change to their old corps. The corps has the lowest percentage of women of any military branch and for years has resisted integration of its fighting forces. In the winter of 2007, at age 19, I was in Platoon 3028, India Company, Third Recruit Training Battalion, the same company and battalion that this female platoon will soon join. Back then, Third Battalion was located on the other side of the base, far away from the other two male battalions. There were rows of barracks that housed each company of recruits India, Kilo, Mike and, later that year, Lima with an old parade ground, built in the middle of the 20th century, surrounded by tree lines. On Parris Island, we felt isolated from the rest of the world and at Third Battalion even more so. Our interaction with female recruits was not just limited but was explicitly forbidden by our drill instructors. On Sundays, we would see them at church, assigned to their own rows of seats in the auditorium. One story circulated that a male recruit was passing notes to a female recruit in church, and his drill instructors found out. We all pictured him getting hazed until 2 in the morning and to within an inch of his death. Who knows what really happened, and who knows if thats really changed. Elsewhere in the Marine Corps, women have slowly started to appear in the combat jobs that the Obama administration opened in 2015 a change the Marine Corps leadership strongly opposed at the time. Of the roughly 15,000 women in the Marines (less than 10 percent of the force), around 100 are serving in the once-restricted roles, and only one has led an infantry platoon. In 2018, I profiled First Lt. Marina A. Hierl, who is the first woman in the Marine Corps to lead an infantry platoon. In the beginning, she faced skepticism from her superiors, but months later, she was seen no differently than anyone else in her 1,000-strong battalion. Jan. 10 Baghlan Province: nine security forces killed A Taliban Red Unit attacked three security bases in the Hussainkhel village of Pul-i-Kumri City, the provincial capital. Two local police bases were captured by insurgents; nine local police officers were killed and nine others were wounded in the clashes. Jan. 10 Badghis Province: eight security forces killed The Taliban attacked security outposts in Ab Kamari District, not far from the district governors office. Three members of a National Directorate of Security (N.D.S.) special forces unit and five soldiers were killed in the fighting. At least 16 people were wounded, including the district governor of Ab Kamari, five soldiers, seven members of the N.D.S. special forces unit and three police officers. The Taliban tried to capture the district, but was pushed back. Jan. 10 Takhar Province: eight security forces killed The Taliban attacked six security outposts at the center of Khwaja Ghar District by approaching the area from four directions. Seven local police officers and one national police officer were killed and five local police officers were wounded in the clashes. The Taliban fighters eventually were pushed back. Jan. 10 Kunduz Province: 10 security forces killed The Taliban attacked the center of Qala-e-Zal District, killing 10 security force members and wounding 10 others. Seven soldiers, two special forces police officers and a commander of a militia battalion were among those killed. Officials did not provide a breakdown of the wounded, but claimed they killed 15 Taliban fighters. Jan. 9 Balkh Province: 18 security forces killed Using laser weapons and night-vision goggles, the Taliban attacked two security outposts in the Timorak village of Charbolak District, killing eight members of the security forces. At least 15 security forces were taken prisoner and one other was wounded in the clashes. Officials did not provide a breakdown of casualties. The outposts were located along the highway that connects Balkh and Jowzjan. Reinforcements arrived to the area, but they were ambushed by the Taliban. Nine members of a special forces police unit were killed and three of their Humvees were destroyed in the ambush. The insurgents seized one Humvee and captured both outposts. Later, security forces abandoned five other outposts in the area. After a stroke had rendered him blind 10 years ago, Olmedini started working the trains with an assistant. To other Ecuadoreans who encounter him, he is a welcome link to their childhood, when the magician appeared on television shows and judged beauty pageants. He was a fabulous magician back home, Mr. Permuth said. He opened for Menudo once. He was a celebrity. He still is, just on a smaller, moving stage. Gavin Newsom dived into the highly charged debate over prescription drug prices in his first week as Californias governor, vowing action on a topic that has enraged the public but has proved resistant to easy fixes. His idea: Find strength in numbers. Within hours of taking office on Monday, Mr. Newsom signed an executive order proposing a plan that would allow California to directly negotiate with drug manufacturers. The state would bring to the bargaining table not just the 13 million beneficiaries of Medi-Cal (Californias version of Medicaid), but also other state agencies that purchase drugs, including coverage for state workers and prisoners. Down the road, the plan could possibly allow private insurers and employers to join in the savings. We think this is a significant step forward, Mr. Newsom said in a video address. Its the right thing to do, and I recognize deeply the anxiety so many of you feel around the issues related to the cost of prescription drugs, and I hope Californias efforts here can lead the way for other states to consider the same. MILAN The current give and take between the worlds of mens and womens wear does not work in only one direction. In Milan, Lorenzi Milano is about to open its first store with a mission to not only preserve an Old World culture and civility but to cater to women. It should be welcome news for fans who include Johann Rupert, chairman of the luxury group Richemont; the designer Marc Newson ; Prince Philip; and Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, all of whom were fervent collectors of the knives, gentlemans grooming tools and esoteric cutlery of G. Lorenzi , and most of whom went into a kind of mourning when the brand shuttered in 2014. G. Lorenzi was a completely masculine store, said Serena Lorenzi, 30, one of the family members behind the rebirth of the business as Lorenzi Milano. Its owners were male, as were the sales staff. My grandmother would assist at Christmas but there was no space for women. They were supposed to be at home, making dinner. Good morning. Brett Anderson has a great story in The Times this week about a new wave of gumbo cooking in New Orleans restaurants, one thats stretching the boundaries of what constitutes the citys signature dish and, in doing so, bringing it a fresh relevance. Bretts is a marvelous yarn, rich with good reporting, and it may leave you wanting to book a flight to Louisiana right away. It certainly left me with the desire to cook gumbo this weekend. I hope youll do the same. Brett came through with receipts. He got Arvinder Vilkhu, the chef and owner of Saffron Nola on Magazine Street, to give up his recipe for curried shrimp and crab gumbo (above). Its a dish Vilkhu has developed over the course of his 30 years in the city, and it incorporates curry leaves, fresh ginger and other ingredients and flavors youre more likely to see in the cooking of his native India than in the gumbo pots of south Louisiana. The Cajun-ish pork and black-eyed pea gumbo that Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski serve regularly at their Cochon in the Warehouse district is also well worth making, with its once-radical-in-New-Orleans use of pork, legumes and greens, against the roux. Looking for a shortcut or two? You might try the inky brown duck and Andouille gumbo thats served Uptown, at Upperline you can use chicken stock in place of duck, and you can use roast duck from a Chinese restaurant in place of one of your own. Hundreds of years before John Wayne and Gary Cooper gave us a Hollywood version of the American West, with men as the brute, weather-beaten stewards of the land, female ranchers roamed the frontier. They were the indigenous, Navajo, Cheyenne and other tribes, and Spanish-Mexican rancheras, who tended and tamed vast fields, traversed rugged landscapes with their dogs, hunted, and raised livestock. The descendants of European settlers brought with them ideas about the roles of men and women, and for decades, family farms and ranches were handed down to men. Now, as mechanization and technology transform the ranching industry, making the job of cowboy less about physical strength though female ranchers have that in spades and more about business, animal husbandry and the environment, women have reclaimed their connection to the land. LONDON Some car manufacturers will idle their factories. The police are advising store owners to hire more security guards. Trucks have been sent to the coast to practice with artificial traffic jams. And exasperated business lobbyists are warning of supply-chain calamities. Britain remains politically paralyzed ahead of a contentious vote in Parliament next week on a plan to withdraw from the European Union, or Brexit. But businesses are plowing ahead and preparing for the possibility that the country crashes out of the bloc without an agreement at the end of March a no-deal Brexit. Honda, the Japanese auto company, which produces about 150,000 cars a year in its factory in Swindon, in southwest England, said on Friday that it would stop production for six days in April to assess its supply chain and possible disruptions from border delays after Brexit. The company said its 4,000 employees would go to work but would be training or handling maintenance. BMW has already said it will shut its Mini factory in Oxford for maintenance for a month beginning April 1, in case a no-deal outcome disrupts its production. TOKYO Japanese prosecutors brought fresh charges of financial wrongdoing on Friday against Carlos Ghosn, the embattled global auto chief who sits in a Tokyo jail. The new allegations raise the stakes in a showdown between Mr. Ghosn, until recently the head of the vast car-making alliance of Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi, and the prosecutors, who have been working in tandem with whistle-blowers inside Nissan. It also signals that prosecutors remain undeterred by Mr. Ghosns recent assertion of innocence in court. Mr. Ghosns lawyers said they had applied for his release on bail, but the court was not expected to rule until at least Tuesday and could still choose to hold the executive for months. Mr. Ghosn, his top aide Greg Kelly and Nissan are now charged with understating Mr. Ghosns income through March 2018, according to a statement from the Tokyo District Court. Mr. Ghosn was also charged with improperly transferring personal losses to Nissans books in 2008. As an immigrant living in Arizona, a state that has come to be defined by its ugly history with immigration, I try to teach my bilingual, bicultural daughter she was born in the United States to an American father and a Brazilian mother to judge people by what we have in common. Moving around, for one thing: So many of us move to new cities or countries, new schools or new homes, and not always by choice. Movement means disruption, and every disruption forces us to learn and adapt. It forces us to grow. It is in this universal experience that Malala Yousafzai, the worlds youngest Nobel laureate, anchors WE ARE DISPLACED: My Journey and Stories From Refugee Girls Around the World (Little, Brown, 224 pp., $18.99; ages 12 and up). It is a stirring and timely book that strips the political baggage from the words migrant and refugee, telling the deeply personal stories of displacement and disruption that were lived by Yousafzai and nine other girls. Each of the girls we meet in these pages was pushed out of her homeland by violence. In the girls own words, we hear about escape, resettlement and the conflicting emotions that come with fitting into a new place when so much is defined by where they came from. The accounts are intimate, and strike me as honest. At times, it felt as if the narrator were sharing her story with a trusted new friend. Contextual information at the start of each chapter explaining, for example, the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar offers easy-to-digest lessons in world affairs. As many of her readers will already know, Yousafzai had been conspicuously advocating for girls education in Pakistan when a Taliban gunman shot her in the head in 2012, as she was boarding a school bus, at the age of 15. She detailed this life-altering event and herremarkable recovery in her 2013 memoir, I Am Malala. In We Are Displaced, she takes us to an earlier time, when she and her family hastily fled their home in Pakistans Swat Valley as the army waged war against Taliban forces that had occupied the area. All you need to know is that when you go through that kind of experience, she writes, there are often two extremes: Either you lose hope completely and you shatter and break into pieces, or you become so resilient that no one can break you anymore. A few days later, Jodi has completed her quest and fulfilled her decades-old promise to Paula. Except the abused boy, Ricky, is now a troubled and troubling adult, rescued but not always grateful to his savior. Along the way Jodi has also found a new locus of desire, Miranda a beautiful, impulsive young woman with an addictive personality and three young children from her broken marriage to a faded country music star. Jodi and Mirandas complex relationship, with its tough and delicate moments of attraction and then romance, shapes one of the books strongest movements. Image Before the six of them damaged and desperate shoehorn into Mirandas Chevette and head up to West Virginia in time for Jodis first appointment with her parole officer, Jodi tells Ricky, Whatever you want for a new life, bring it here with you in the morning. But the new life theyre all fleeing toward is harsh, and its margins so tight that a welfare benefits card counts as a major asset. Throughout the narrative, which jumps back and forth in time between the late 1980s and 2007, the events leading to Jodis conviction spin in her memory, becoming clearer bit by bit. Her teenage affair with Paula once took Jodi into a dark, frightening and exciting underworld of gambling, guns and passion. At one point, remembering a flight in a small plane over the ocean with Paula, Jodi searches in vain for the right words to describe the color of the water, as elusive as her swirling emotions words sufficient to catch the heart-wild magic of it. Now, back in West Virginia with her collection of fugitives, Jodi holds to her prison vision of living simply on the land, an old and deeply American dream that is hard to let go. She finds that her grandmothers farm has been sold, but that doesnt deter her from moving her group into the cabin anyway for a brief cigarette-and-whiskey outlaw idyll. Instead of peace and hope and love, however, they find theyre under constant threat in an Appalachian community gutted by meth and opioids, by fracking creeping so close that a neighbor can set his tap water on fire, and, as always, by limitations on upward mobility for the underprivileged that have been baked into American culture from its beginning. Though the powerful pulls of land and home and sense of place persist, one of the primary questions Sugar Run asks is what these concepts even mean now in this country. Maren is masterly at describing Americas modern wastelands, the blasted towns not yet and maybe never-to-be the beneficiaries of rehabilitation and reoccupation. The books landscape is dotted with roadside casino trailers, abandoned mining operations, country brothels set up like prisons with chain-link fences and armed guards to control both the customers and the immigrant prostitutes. Jodis own brother uses her in an opioid transaction and then threatens her by suggesting that locals might consider Mirandas children better off with a more Christian family. How do you possibly find or make a home under such conditions? Six new paperbacks to check out this week. KING ZENO, by Nathaniel Rich. (Picador, $19.) In 1918 New Orleans, a new style of music takes hold as the Spanish flu, the mafia and a serial killer ravage the city. Richs sprawling, unruly novel focuses on three characters a Creole jazz musician, a detective recovering from World War I and the matriarch of an organized-crime family whose lives are tossed into chaos by an ax-wielding killer on the loose. THE MONK OF MOKHA, by Dave Eggers. (Knopf, $16.95.) Mokhtar Alkhanshali, the Yemeni-American at the center of Eggerss book, became captivated by the history of coffee in his familys country and set out to encourage farmers there to revive the trade. Eggers tells his story, though the book is built less on a history of Yemen or coffee than on a more familiar theme: the American dream. THE AFTERLIVES, by Thomas Pierce. (Riverhead, $16.) At the opening of this debut novel, Jim Byrd is waking up after a heart attack, which left him dead for several minutes. But the world he finds after his revival seems strange and impossible (free-range holograms, disease-detecting condoms). As he encounters more and more supernatural elements, the sense that life is off-kilter nags at him, and at us. FUTUREFACE: A FAMILY MYSTERY, AN EPIC QUEST, AND THE SECRET TO BELONGING, by Alex Wagner. (One World, $18.) The only child of a Burmese mother and a white American father, Wagner grew up hearing stories of escapes, settlement, assimilation. She set out to understand her heritage, traveling across the world and turning to DNA tests. Our reviewer, Maud Newton, praised the book, writing, Its the concreteness of Wagners own search, in all its messy detail and lingering uncertainties, that underscores our interconnectedness. One night, after Yuko and Koji walk in on Ippei and a lover, Koji ends up assaulting Ippei, bashing his head with a wrench. Thats the relatively normal part. When Koji is released from jail, Yuko takes him back under her wing. She is censured for her rashness by the prison governor, who said he had never before heard of a case where a member of the victims family had become the criminals guarantor. She brings him back into the orbit of her husband, who now has trouble communicating because of his injuries from the attack. After two years of anguish, each of them had, perhaps, finally found happiness, Mishima writes. Yuko had Ippei exactly as she wanted him, Koji had his freedom, and, as for Ippei, he had something very peculiar. What exactly does Ippei have? For the villagers (and for the readers) there was pleasure in guessing how their immoral behavior would turn out. The novels plot isnt really enough to sustain even its relatively brief length, and theres a slackness to certain scenes thats missing in Mishimas other work. But two primary things make this book worthwhile. First, it may be a minor work, but Mishima is a giant, and even the minor works of giants are inherently interesting. Second, the uniquely askew relationships at the center of the story mean that its most riveting scenes are well and truly riveting; unforgettable, even. There is a macabre fascination, tinged with pitch-black humor, in Kojis meeting Ippei again after he is released from prison. And in a shocking moment when Yuko kisses Koji in front of her bewildered husband, there is the unveiling of a profound cruelty. According to Elmore Leonard, aspiring writers should avoid using adverbs (a mortal sin). Zadie Smith says they should work on a computer that is disconnected from the internet. Roddy Doyle tells them, Do not place a photograph of your favorite author on your desk, especially if the author is one of the famous ones who committed suicide. And William Faulkner once famously said that anyone who wants to be a writer should be a reader first: Read, read, read everything trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! Some authors, like Roxane Gay, offer advice on Twitter; others, like Stephen King and Anne Lamott, have written entire books on the subject. Image J.K. Rowling Credit... Neil Hall/EPA, via Shutterstock Earlier this month J.K. Rowling posted some tips on her website. I havent got 10 rules that guarantee success, though I promise Id share them if I did, she wrote. The truth is that I found success by stumbling off alone in a direction most people thought was a dead end, breaking all the 1990s shibboleths about childrens books in the process. Rowling listed the various qualities a writer needs to have discipline, resilience, humility, courage and independence but stressed, like Faulkner, that anyone serious about writing books should also be a voracious reader. You cant be a good writer without being a devoted reader. Ever since Tracy K. Smith became the United States poet laureate in 2017, she has been hosting readings big and small in all corners of the country. Now she is spreading poetry through the air waves. Starting Jan. 14, her podcast, The Slowdown, will be broadcast on public radio stations in seven cities, including San Francisco, Honolulu and Charleston, W. Va. Produced by American Public Media with funding by the Poetry Foundation and support from the Library of Congress, The Slowdown debuted as a five-minute weekday podcast in late November. Its available to stream on iTunes, Google Podcasts and other platforms. In each episode, Ms. Smith introduces, and then reads, a poem of her choosing. The idea for the podcast arose last year while she was visiting towns as part of a reading series called American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. If youre interested in hearing from The Times regularly about great TV, sign up for our Watching newsletter and get recommendations straight to your inbox. Government Shutdown, Contd. Amid the continuing government shutdown, Jimmy Fallon joked that it felt like one big metaphor for Donald Trumps entire presidency. A Times Opinion piece this week brought up the film NO! The Rape Documentary, created 20 years ago by the filmmaker Aishah Shahidah Simmons. It was initially rejected by distributors, and in 1998, an executive from HBO told Ms. Simmons: Lets face it, very unfortunately, most people dont care about the rape of black women and girls, and therefore were concerned that there wont be many viewers who will tune in. [Sign up here for this newsletter, In Her Words, about women, gender and society.] Playing sex for laughs. In an essay this week, my colleague Aisha Harris, a television editor, examined how two cultural touchstones helped keep people laughing at Mr. Kelly, thus helping to shape the publics perception of the accusations. The first was a 2003 sketch from Chappelles Show called (I Wanna) Pee on You, which parodied a widely distributed sex tape that appeared to show Mr. Kelly urinating on a 14-year-old girl. The second was a 2005 episode of the animated series The Boondocks titled The Trial of R. Kelly, in which a main character, a boy named Riley, defends Mr. Kelly, saying: Ive seen that girl! She aint little. Im little. Mr. Kelly had no part in those shows, but in 2005 he began to release Trapped in the Closet, an episodic, bizarre and often comical operetta. I think at some point he probably figured out that playing sex for laughs was a way that he could continue to avoid absolute condemnation for what he might have been doing behind the scenes, Ms. Powers said. The black community rallied around him. The way that Mr. Kelly managed to stay in the publics good graces was a remarkable balancing act, but perhaps it was not so surprising given his hero status and the blind adoration of millions of his fans. Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo movement, who was interviewed for the documentary, said that his songs were the soundtrack to the lives of many black Americans played at weddings, graduations, birthdays and people were not ready to give that up. The black community rallied around him, Burke said. They believed he was innocent. In the Dvorak concerto, the cellist Gautier Capucon battled valiantly to assert himself against an ensemble that seemed intent on belittling him. His tone sounded tight and strained at first, but over the course of the first movement began to glow; his playing became eloquently assured. This is heroic music that builds pathos and excitement from the contrast of solo cello and large orchestra playing, yes, fortissimo. But while that Italian term translates as loudest, brawn should be matched by character. Dvorak marks these moments grandioso. They should be an exhilarating amplification of the cello-protagonist. Here, the ensemble obliterated him. In the hard-driving Danse Generale that concludes Ravels suite, there were more sledgehammer moments in which volume swallowed up color and complexity. (A shame, since the light-dappled opening Daybreak movement held glimpses of the Philharmonics playing at its most beguiling.) And in the start of the Rimsky-Korsakov on Thursday this movement marked maestoso, or majestically the huge brass statements burst out with saber-rattling strength but little majesty. The most satisfying part of that evening was the Prokofiev concerto with the ebullient pianist Simon Trpceski, who gave a performance that encompassed cartoonish humor and hushed lyricism. Mr. Hrusa is a charismatic conductor with a particular knack, evident in Scheherazade, for minutely shaping a string melody so that an entire section appears to play with the same effortless freedom as a soloist. Mr. Hrusa also managed to husband the dynamic forces in the Rimsky-Korsakov so that the most voluminous louds came near the end. But there, once again, the sound lacked the necessary roundness and texture to support the decibel burn. We believe that the ban has had its intended effect of promoting freedom of artistic expression at the national level, Joel Wachs, the foundations president, said in the statement announcing the repeal. The Smithsonian has also demonstrated a strong track record of highlighting underrepresented artists over the past eight years, which aligns well with the Foundations core values. Mr. Wachs said that the Foundation has reviewed its decision every year, but until now hadnt been comfortable reversing it. We thought that a period of time has to go by before you know whether someone has really changed, he said in an interview on Friday. The Oscar Howe show, he added, came along and seemed like a perfect example of what the foundation wants to support. Wojnarowiczs video came under fire from the Catholic League and members of the House of Representatives for its perceived disrespect to Christianity. One image of ants crawling on a crucifix was singled out for criticism. At the time, Martin E. Sullivan, the director of the National Portrait Gallery, said that the aim of the work was to articulate the reality of the suffering of the AIDS epidemic in Latin American culture, not to criticize or demean Christianity. Nevertheless, the piece was removed from the exhibition. (Wojnarowicz died at age 37 of AIDS-related complications in 1992.) The Oscar Howe retrospective will include approximately 75 of his paintings, some of which have never been publicly exhibited. Mr. Howe, who died in 1983, was a pioneer of contemporary Native American art whose style combines abstraction with passionate, expressive dynamism. The remainder of the Warhol Foundations fall 2018 grants will be announced next week. In March of 1985, the photographer Robert Frank arrived with a paper sack at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to use Polaroids 20-by-24-inch camera. It was a hulking beast of an apparatus, worlds away from the diminutive 35-millimeter Leica that had freed him to roam the country while shooting The Americans, the 1959 book of photos that crowned him a king of counterculture and the most imitated photographer alive today. He emptied the bag of salvaged miscellany hed brought to shoot, jotted a few cryptic words on bits of paper, and then pinned them together with old photos and other ephemera onto timeworn corkboards. In the resulting six-paneled work Boston, March 20, 1985 we see the corkboards arranged in grids like signs at an old grocers. Few clues reveal Franks intentions, but we know that his fellow trailblazing photographers, Robert Heinecken, Dave Heath and John Wood, were somehow involved: The images show scrawled dedications to them. The four renowned artists were brought together by two photographic historians, Susan E. Cohen and William S. Johnson, who pulled off a curatorial feat that would be unimaginable today. They persuaded Mr. Frank, Mr. Heinecken, Mr. Heath and Mr. Wood to collaborate with them on a project whose contours were hazy at best. And then they persuaded the Polaroid Corporation to finance it. A Russian artist granted political asylum in France was sentenced to three years in prison by a Paris court on Thursday for an art performance that involved setting fire to a bank. Pyotr Pavlensky, 34, has become notorious in Europe for his dramatic acts of protest. In 2012, he sewed his lips shut in response to the jailing of the feminist punk collective Pussy Riot. The following year, he nailed his scrotum to the pavement of Red Square in Moscow. He said he was making a statement about political apathy in Russia. The conviction on Thursday related to a 2017 performance called Lighting, in which Mr. Pavlensky and his then partner, Oksana Shalygina, set fire to a building of the Banque de France, the countrys central bank, on the Place de la Bastille square in central Paris. The Banque de France has taken the place of the Bastille, and bankers have taken the place of monarchs, he said at the time. The Bastille prison, which the square is named after, was stormed by rebels in a key moment in the French Revolution of 1789. Jakiw Palij, a former Nazi concentration camp guard who lived for decades in New York City and resisted deportation for 14 years, died on Thursday in a retirement facility in Ahlen, Germany. He was 95. German officials confirmed the death, according to an American Embassy official. No cause was cited. Before investigators traced him to the borough of Queens in 1993, Mr. Palij had lived for decades in anonymity, a Polish-born draftsman in one of the most diverse neighborhoods of a city famous for its immigrant communities. He had arrived in the United States in 1949 in his 20s, after receiving a visa meant for people left homeless by World War II, according to Peter Black, the former chief historian for a Justice Department unit devoted to deporting former Nazis. KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo In the days after Congolese voters went to the polls late last month, as ballots were being counted, the opposition candidate widely believed to have won the presidency offered assurances to the regime that has long ruled the country. If I am elected, there will not be revenge, said the candidate, Martin Fayulu. Mr. Fayulus rival opposition candidate, who was handed victory by Democratic Republic of Congo election officials on Thursday, in a decision that has set the country on edge, may have done Mr. Fayulu one better. The president-elect, Felix Tshisekedi, declared that his predecessor, President Joseph Kabila, who agreed to step down only with the utmost reluctance after 18 years, will be an important partner in the transition. Mr. Tshisekedis comment reinforced speculation that his campaign had reached some kind of power-sharing agreement with the Kabila government. WASHINGTON As the partial government shutdown took hold over the holidays, President Trump seemed to express wonder at being alone in the White House with little but the cheeriness of heavily armed guards to keep him warm for the better part of a week. I was waving to them, Mr. Trump said just after New Years Day. I never saw so many guys with machine guns in my life. Secret Service and military. These are great people. Mr. Trumps Home Alone-like Christmas tale has hardened into a 20-day standoff as relations between his administration and Congress over his $5 billion demand for a border wall grow ever frostier. The White House has stopped paying its water bill. Desks of some furloughed employees, whose job can include such drudgeries as helping their bosses work the copy machine, sit empty in the West Wing. And the Secret Service agents Mr. Trump was so impressed with, down to the officers who check IDs and wave black SUVs in and out of the gates surrounding the complex, are all working unpaid everyone in the Secret Service is, according to an official at the agency. WASHINGTON Hours after he was sworn in as Americas 45th president, Donald J. Trump and his wife, Melania, swayed together to a rendition of the Frank Sinatra classic My Way, as hundreds of their wealthiest and most influential supporters held aloft smartphones to capture the Trumps first dance following the inauguration. Serhiy Kivalov, a Ukrainian lawmaker known for pro-Russian initiatives, took photos of the dance, as well as of his coveted tickets and passes to the soiree where it took place, the Liberty Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, posting them on Facebook and declaring that it was an honor to attend. He was one of at least a dozen Ukrainian political and business figures who made their way to Washington for the inauguration, several of whom attended the Liberty Ball. Most had more on their dance cards than just parties. They attended meetings and orchestrated encounters at Trump International Hotel with influential Republican members of Congress and close allies of President Trump. Representing a range of views, including a contingent seen as sympathetic to Moscow, they positioned themselves as brokers who could help solve one of the thorniest foreign policy problems facing the new administration the ugly military stalemate between Russia and Ukraine and the tough sanctions imposed on Moscow following its seizure of Crimea. WASHINGTON President Trump has long claimed that he puts America first overseas. But in two remarkable statements on Thursday, Mr. Trump and his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, explicitly favored foreign autocrats over elected American leaders. Mr. Pompeo chose Cairo, the site of President Barack Obamas 2009 address to the Islamic world, to deliver a caustic, point-by-point repudiation of Mr. Obamas message. He paid tribute to Egypts repressive president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, for his courage in supporting Mr. Trumps alternative approach. About an hour later, on the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Trump said that Chinas Communist Party bosses negotiated in better faith than the Democratic leaders in Congress, with whom the president is in a bitter standoff over his border wall that has shut down much of the federal government. I find China, frankly, in many ways to be far more honorable than Cryin Chuck and Nancy. I really do, Mr. Trump said, referring to the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. China is actually much easier to deal with than the opposition party. Saratoga Springs, NY (12866) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For over 14 years and 30,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going. Every day that goes by that the government is shut down, safety is going to be compromised, Mr. Perrone said. Every day that goes by, something could occur that causes a crack in the system. Their show of concern on Thursday was among the most visible efforts by public employee unions to try to highlight the consequences of the shutdown and urge President Trump and Congress to reopen the government. At a rally outside the headquarters of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., a short walk from the White House, hundreds of people, including federal workers and union leaders, also gathered to demand an end to the shutdown. They focused their blame on Mr. Trump and Republican lawmakers. Shame on the Senate. Shame on the White House, said Richard L. Trumka, the president of the federation. This lockout has to end, and it has to end now. Workers said they were facing urgent financial pressure. I think from what Ive saved up, I can last six months, said Robert Reynolds, an aviation safety inspector who has been working for the Federal Aviation Administration for 14 years. Its still going to hurt. Jumpy Republicans. On Wednesday night, eight House Republicans broke with the president and voted for a Democratic bill that would reopen the Treasury Department. At least four G.O.P. Senators have expressed some support for reopening the government. The most jittery of all? Republicans up for re-election in purple states. What the White House sees: The other base. Mr. Trump measures his political success by whether he keeps his supporters happy. Thats part of why he rejected a deal on the shutdown negotiated by his own aides and G.O.P. leaders after conservatives voiced opposition. And his base wants that wall. Mueller? Mueller? The constant focus on the shutdown provides Mr. Trump and the White House with a break from the story line that really makes them nervous: the special counsel investigation. What Republicans see: Opposition to Mr. Trump never pays. There are 19 Senate Republicans up for re-election next year in red states. A lesson many took away from the presidents support of primary challengers during 2018 midterms was that Republican establishment doesnt win by contradicting Mr. Trump. A longer timeline. The decisions by the White House to pay out food stamps through February and process tax refunds means Republicans have a bit more breathing room. Particularly in poorer districts, extending these programs provides essential cash infusions to large parts of their voting base. The elusive deal. Senate Republicans have grown increasingly aggravated with the lack of clarity from the White House, leaving them unsure about whether Mr. Trump would even sign a deal they managed to cut with Democrats. Thats part of why the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, has kept his distance from the talks. Its always difficult, Senator John Cornyn told The Washington Post, when the person youre negotiating with is someone who changes his mind. But dont forget this: Elections are not won or lost on shutdowns. In 1995 and 1996, Americans blamed the Republican Congress for shutdowns. The party held onto its majorities in the 1996 election. In 2013, Americans once again blamed Republicans for the shutdown. In the midterms that followed the next year, the party gained seats in the House and won back the Senate. Kevin Fret, a Puerto Rican social media star who billed himself as the first openly gay Latin trap artist, was fatally shot in San Juan early Thursday, according to the police and local news reports. Mr. Fret, 25, was riding on a motorcycle in the Santurce neighborhood at about 5:30 a.m. when he was shot twice, in the head and the hip, the police said. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The police had not yet released the name of the man who was shot pending identification of the body, but Mr. Frets manager, Eduardo Rodriguez, confirmed his death in a statement to Billboard. His death came amid widespread concern about crime in Puerto Rico; on Wednesday, the top F.B.I. official there said the island was facing a crisis of violence. [Read our latest update on the Jayme Closs story.] Just when the family started to give up hope, Mr. Closs said, we got the greatest news ever. Jayme had been missing since Oct. 15, when the authorities found her parents, James and Denise Closs, dead in their home, the front door open and Jayme gone. The double homicide of the Closses, a quiet couple who worked at the local turkey plant, and the mystery of their daughters disappearance riveted Barron, a town of just over 3,400. A manhunt drew more than 2,100 tips and thousands of volunteers. All over town, shops and homes hung green ribbons bearing the words Find Jayme Closs. The local police force of 78 swelled as a corps of 200 federal, state and local officers joined a hunt that went on day and night. [Read more about how Jaymes disappearance shook her hometown.] Her disappearance also drew national attention, and her name topped the F.B.I.s missing persons list as the reward for her recovery grew to $50,000. We have exhausted every lead, Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald of Barron County had said. There is no stone that has been unturned. Weeks into the search, Jayme was found about 65 miles from where she disappeared in the town of Gordon, Wis., at 4:43 p.m. Thursday, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. A suspect was taken into custody at 4:54 p.m., also in Gordon, the authorities said. A couple who lives in the area, Kristin and Peter Kasinskas, told The Minneapolis Star Tribune that Jayme appeared on their doorstep about 4 p.m. Thursday, after she had been found by one of their neighbors who was out walking her dog. The neighbor pounded on the familys door, the couple said. A skinny girl, who had matted hair and was wearing shoes too big for her feet, stood by her side. SACRAMENTO Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a blizzard of new spending in his first budget, calling for increased expenditures on education, homelessness and poverty, as well as programs to bolster Californias long-term fiscal health. His $209 billion proposal, which now goes to the Legislature, left little doubt that California, already one of the more liberal states in the nation, was taking a turn to the left, and moving beyond the fiscal restraint of his predecessor, Jerry Brown. Mr. Newsoms new spending plans take advantage of a growing surplus he projects for the state. The governor laid out his plans on Thursday, his fourth day on the job, in a two-hour presentation, reading from notes scribbled on a legal pad and fielding often detailed questions. At one point, apparently speaking extemporaneously as he walked across a stage, Mr. Newsom offered state financial assistance for workers furloughed in the partial shutdown of the federal government a huge community of workers in this state. Any of those federal employees who are furloughed, come in and well get you unemployment insurance, he said. DENVER In Georgia, a pecan farmer lost out on his chance to buy his first orchard. The local Farm Service Agency office that would have processed his loan application was shut down. In Wisconsins dairy country, a 55-year-old woman sat inside her new dream home, worried she would not be able to pay her mortgage. Her loan had come from an Agriculture Department program for low-income residents in rural areas, but all of the account information she needed to make her first payment was locked away in an empty government office. And in upstate New York, Pam Moore was feeding hay to her black-and-white cows at a small dairy that tottered on the brink of ruin. She and her husband had run up $350,000 in debt to keep the dairy running after 31 of their cows died of pneumonia, and their last lifeline was an emergency federal farm loan. But the money had been derailed by the government shutdown. It has just been one thing after another, after another, after another, Ms. Moore, 57, said. Farm country has stood by President Trump, even as farmers have strained under two years of slumping incomes and billions in losses from his trade wars. But as the government shutdown now drags into a third week, some farmers say the loss of crucial loans, payments and other services has pushed them and their support to a breaking point. Were like lambs. Theyre taking us one after another. We have no ability to fight back. PAN XIDIAN, a construction company employee who was forced to delete tweets and was later detained for two weeks after he criticized human-rights crackdowns. Our guide to plays and musicals coming to New York stages and a few last-chance picks of shows that are about to close. Our reviews of open shows are at nytimes.com/reviews/theater. Previews and Openings THE CONVENT at A.R.T./New York Theaters (previews start on Jan. 16; opens on Jan. 24). A girls trip with monastic overtones, Jessica Dickeys new play goes on retreat with a group of women trying to live like medieval nuns (though likely practicing better personal hygiene). Daniel Talbott directs the all-female cast, which includes Lisa Ramirez and Samantha Soule, as they recede from modernity. weathervanetheater.org GOD SAID THIS at the Cherry Lane Theater (previews start on Jan. 16; opens on Jan. 29). A companion play to Leah Nanako Winklers Kentucky, this Primary Stages piece finds a New Yorker, Hiro, returning to her old Kentucky home, braving her newly sober father, her born-again sister and her ailing mother. Morgan Gould directs, with Satomi Blair, Ako and Jay Patterson revisiting their roles. 866-811-4111, primarystages.org SAN FRANCISCO A shareholder lawsuit says the board of directors of Googles parent company, Alphabet, played an active and direct role in approving a $90 million exit package for Andy Rubin, a senior executive, even though an investigation into a sexual harassment claim against him was deemed credible. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in California Superior Court, said minutes from board meetings showed that the directors had agreed to ask for Mr. Rubins resignation while approving the sizable separation agreement to keep the matter quiet. The minutes were redacted in the court filing. In October, The New York Times reported that Google had paid the exit package after a female employee accused Mr. Rubin of coercing her into performing oral sex on him. At the time, it was not clear how much the board had known about the allegations or the companys decision to pay Mr. Rubin. The directors wrongful conduct allowed the illegal conduct to proliferate and continue, the lawsuit said. As such, members of Alphabets board were knowing and direct enablers of the sexual harassment and discrimination. I am a 13-year-old girl. I get good grades, I have good friends, and Ive never given my parents any reason for concern. However, they dont trust me with my own phone and have gone so far as installing an app on it to track what I do with it. Im not worried about what theyre going to find, but I am upset by the fact that they dont trust me. Now, I dont trust them either. What should I do? LAUREN I would probably be more sympathetic to your plight, Lauren, if a responsible teenage boy I know hadnt shared his Instagram password with a good friend, only to be betrayed by him when vulgar posts began popping up on his account. The virtual world can be an amazing place when its not terrifying or dangerous. By monitoring your phone, your parents are wisely (sorry!) trying to make sure that youre ready to navigate it on your own. But I also get that their uncertainty feels insulting to you. So, lets make this standoff productive. Have a direct conversation with your parents about what theyre afraid of: inappropriate text messages or posts on social media, visits to adult websites, online predators, or all of the above? You may have to help them out here. Your parents may not mistrust you, but there are still things they need to be aware of, such as unsolicited contact between adults and minors. NATIONAL An article on Thursday about Bill Shines White House role misstated the location and theme of a poster displayed by President Trump. It was present at a cabinet meeting, not in the Oval Office, and it was related to sanctions on Iran, not the government shutdown. An article on Monday about an expected teachers strike in Los Angeles misstated the causes behind the disproportionate numbers of black and Latino students in the Los Angeles school district. While white students enrollment in private schools and surrounding districts has contributed to the demographic shift, charter school enrollment has not. (The demographics of the citys charter schools, over all, generally match those of the citys traditional district schools.) BUSINESS An article on Thursday about the economic strategy devised by President Moon Jae-in of South Korea misstated Mr. Moons approval rating in the most recent Gallup poll. It was 45 percent, not 46 percent. Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions. The words composed by the speechwriter Peggy Noonan, who consulted closely with Mr. Reagan in those closing weeks of his reign are as different in spirit and in substance from Mr. Trumps as words could be and still be rendered in the same tongue. Invoking the Puritan John Winthrop, who in 1630 drew on Jesus Sermon on the Mount when speaking of America as a city upon a hill, Mr. Reagan said, Ive spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I dont know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. It was a free, proud city, build on a strong foundation, full of commerce and creativity, he said, adding, If there had to be city walls, the walls had doors, and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. Thats manifestly not how Mr. Trump sees it. From his announcement-speech allusion to rapists coming in from Mexico to his lament about American carnage to his manufacturing of a crisis at the border that requires a wall, the 45th president speaks in the vernacular of darkness, not light; of exclusion, not inclusion. And whatever his faults and he had many Ronald Reagan believed in the possibilities of a country that was forever reinventing itself. He knew, too, that the nation had grown stronger the more widely it had opened its arms and the more generously it had interpreted Thomas Jeffersons assertion of equality in the Declaration of Independence. He was about hope, not fear. And that is another reason his farewell address should be more widely appreciated: Its a kind of final testament of an American president who had a genuine faith in the future. Mr. Reagan was a practical man, and he knew, as he put it, that because were a great nation, our challenges seem complex. It will always be this way. But as long as we remember our first principles and believe in ourselves, the future will be ours. Or so we can hope. His last words on that long-ago Wednesday bear hearing, and pondering. And how stands the city on this winter night? Mr. Reagan asked. More prosperous, more secure and happier than it was eight years ago. Shes still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home. They hurtle through that darkness even now. Mr. Reagan would have us light the lamp and open our arms for thats what cities on a hill do. Jon Meacham, a historian, is the author, most recently, of The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. New York is moving from caboose to locomotive, said Blair Horner, the executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group, adding, New York has been in the obstacle-creating business, as opposed to the obstacle-smashing business when it comes to voting. The bills, which will be introduced as a package, would place New York in the same rank as other liberal bulwarks like California and Washington, at a time when Democrats are seeking to enhance voter involvement. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has expressed support for such measures in the past, most recently last month, when he vowed to make an election overhaul a priority in the first 100 days of the new year. A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo said the administration is hopeful that the voting package is the start of a range of reforms lawmakers pass this session. We look forward to working with them to go further and enact public campaign financing, make Election Day a state holiday and ban corporate contributions once and for all, the spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, said. Mr. Cuomo has also favored a bill that would close the so-called L.L.C. loophole, which allows corporate interests to funnel almost unlimited amounts of money into campaigns through various anonymous limited liability companies. The loophole has been a bete noire of good government groups for years, but has been utilized by various powerful politicians in the state, including Mr. Cuomo, who has been one of its biggest beneficiaries. The Democrat-dominated Assembly has voted to close the loophole for years, but the measure went nowhere in the Republican-led Senate. On Monday, however, the new Democratic leadership in the Capitol intends to pass identical bills to cap contributions from L.L.C.s at $5,000, bringing them in line with limits on donations from corporations. The mayor has learned that the road to becoming a national progressive leader can be bumpy. His efforts to create a national debate around income inequality for the 2016 presidential election failed. Just a few years later, Mr. de Blasio is willing to try again. New York City needs Albany For all of Mr. de Blasios talk about how much his administration is doing to reduce inequality, the city still needs help from Albany to accomplish many of its most impactful goals. Want to fix the subway and bus systems? All of the funding sources the mayor suggested a millionaires tax, congestion pricing or marijuana sales revenue require Albanys approval. Strengthening rent regulations and eliminating vacancy decontrol, which allows landlords to increase rents when tenants vacate apartments? Albany. Making it easier to vote? Albany. Speedy trial rules and bail reform that would help the city reduce the inmate population enough to finally close Rikers Island? Long-term mayoral control of schools? Albany. Mr. de Blasio has not been warmly welcomed in Albany during the first five years of his tenure. But now that Democrats control the Assembly and the Senate, the mayor expects thing to change. We need Albany to do its job to finally fix the subways, Mr. de Blasio said. I dont care if I have to pound on every door in Albany to get it done, he added. Theres a real chance that the building that weve been spending all this time and money on could fall through if our landlord doesnt want to sit around and wait for a couple of months while we wait for our license, Jeff Tyler, the head brewer at Spice Trade, said. Real estate prices are just going up. If this pushes us back, it could have a real impact on our rent price. In New York City, Transmitter brewery in Queens is looking to expand from tiny quarters in Long Island City to a much larger facility in the Navy Yard in Brooklyn. But its move has also been held up by the shutdown. People dont even realize how deep it goes, Rob Kolb, a founder of Transmitter, said. Were a small business and it could potentially ruin us. You cant pay rent in two places without increasing revenue. and theres no way to increase revenue if you cant make beer. The bureaus oversight over labeling has also made the shutdown difficult. From graphic design to alcohol warnings to listing the percentage of alcohol by volume, every new beer must have its label approved before it can be sold nationally. Some states do allow breweries to sell in-state before getting federal label approval. For many smaller breweries, a constant churn of new beers is as important for attracting new customers as is having established fan favorites. Jersey Girl Brewing in Hackettstown, N.J., had been planning to introduce a beer each month and had begun to gather ingredients and lay out a brewing schedule. Without label approval, the beer already brewed could sit in tanks, go stale in cans, or, in a worst-case scenario, have to be thrown away. In Maryland, 1623 Brewing is in Carroll County, which shares a border with Pennsylvania and is a short drive to Virginia and West Virginia. The brewery had been increasing its production with plans to expand to those three states, but without label approval it will be left with a glut of beer. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] Not long after his 21st birthday, Christian Rodriguez got the contract of a lifetime for his new info-tech company: The Colombian was hired as a cybersecurity consultant by Joaquin Guzman Loera, the Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo. While Mr. Rodriguez had little experience or formal education, he had been recommended by one of his other clients: Jorge Cifuentes Villa, a veteran trafficker who worked with Mr. Guzman making cocaine deals with left-wing guerrillas in Colombia. And so in 2008, the ambitious, young techie visited Mr. Guzman at one of his hide-outs deep in the Sierra Madre mountains, inspecting the kingpins communications system and his shoddy internet setup, which often broke down when it rained. In several follow-up meetings, Mr. Rodriguez testified this week, he pitched Mr. Guzman on an elaborate plan to enhance his information security, offering to build him a private phone network that ran on the internet and was totally encrypted. That sophisticated system was, within three years, used against Mr. Guzman after Mr. Rodriguez became ensnared in an F.B.I. sting operation and was then persuaded to become an informant. The I.T. expert helped the American authorities secretly collect a vast trove of the kingpins phone calls and text messages among them, dozens he had sent to his wife and mistresses. In two days of testimony that ended on Thursday, Mr. Rodriguez told this riveting story to great and damaging effect at Mr. Guzmans drug conspiracy trial in Federal District Court in Brooklyn. FIRST LOOK 2019 at the Museum of the Moving Image (Jan. 11-21). The museums annual series is really less of a first look than a look back (to under-heralded titles that screened on the past years festival circuit) and a look to new horizons (many films here are likely too experimental or niche to turn up in New York again soon). The opening weekend offers a double dose of the acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa, who will appear with the bleakly absurdist fiction feature Donbass (on Friday), a narrative relay set in that war-torn, Russia-bordering region of Ukraine, and with The Trial (on Saturday), a document of real people confessing to fictional crimes. Loznitsa pieced together the film from footage of a Stalinist show trial from 1930. As the movie proceeds, the subjects performing their confessions appear to become more emotional, more genuine. 718-784-0077, movingimage.us KAY FRANCIS: THE QUEEN OF PLEASURE at the Metrograph (Jan. 11-Feb. 3). If you only know Francis as the perfume heiress from Trouble in Paradise (on Sunday and Jan. 18-20), this retrospective offers a snapshot of her charms in the period when she rose to stardom, unencumbered by the imposed gentility of the Production Code. Its rare to see high-quality versions of these titles by directors such as George Cukor, Leo McCarey and King Vidor. Cukors 1931 comedy Girls About Town (on Friday, Saturday and Thursday) finds Francis and Lilyan Tashman seeking wealthy male accompaniment, with Francis targeting Joel McCrea. 212-660-0312, metrograph.com A media mystery popped up a week before Christmas: Leslie Moonves, who had just been fired as the chief executive of CBS after multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, appeared to give an exclusive, on-the-record interview to a little-known publication in which he bluntly addressed his dismissal. Agenda, a news service owned by The Financial Times, quoted Mr. Moonves in an article as saying, How quickly the board forgets the job I did for CBS. They were a rudderless ship when I went there, when I took over. Later in the article, the interview subject addressed the boards decision to deny him a $120 million severance payment, saying, I think the board will do the right thing, ultimately. It was an unlikely-seeming exclusive. Mr. Moonves had shunned all interview requests since the publication of an article in The New Yorker last summer that included detailed, on-the-record accounts from women saying that he had sexually assaulted them. For much of 2018, reporters at major outlets, including The New York Times, had aggressively sought Mr. Moonves, with little success. The idea that Agenda, a niche outlet with 6,000 subscribers focused on corporate governance issues, had scored his first on-record comments since his firing struck many observers as implausible. This feature is meant to send you into the weekend with a smile, or at least a lighter heart. Want to get The Week in Good News by email? Sign up here. Here are seven great things we wrote about this week: A new year holds new opportunities for adventure, be it in a far-flung locale or in your own backyard. If travel is on your list of resolutions this year, we have a treat for you: The Times has recommended dozens of places for you to visit, from Puglia, Italy, to Huntsville, Ala. Puerto Rico tops the list, a year and a half after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. You can also get to know our new 52 Places Traveler. Sebastian Modak has the enviable job of visiting each of the destinations and sending us his dispatches. For me, travel is all about immersing yourself in the unfamiliar, and embracing the feeling of humility that comes with that: Theres always something to learn from someone else, from somewhere else, he said. Well put. Read more Pompeo takes shots at Obamas Middle East policies U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a speech in Cairo, declared that the U.S. would take a more activist role in the region. He also rejected much of President Barack Obamas human-rights-based approach there, outlining an approach that is based on a close alliance with authoritarian rulers. Mr. Pompeo whose remarks came almost exactly a decade after Mr. Obama delivered a landmark speech in the same city denounced the former president for, he said, underestimating the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islam and for his policies on Iran. Here are the many ways Mr. Pompeo departed from Mr. Obama. We also fact-checked the speech. Confusion: Mr. Pompeo apparently sought to reassure jittery nations with his declaration that when America retreats, chaos follows and that the U.S. would expel every last Iranian boot from Syria, but the effect was confounding to many, coming weeks after President Trumps impulsive announcement that U.S. forces would leave Syria. Go deeper: The U.S. has spent $8 billion to build a strong Afghan air force but it is still struggling, which could complicate Mr. Trumps efforts to pull out of the country. 3. Along the border in Texas, on a trip that he did not want to take, to discuss a crisis that Democrats say does not exist, President Trump repeated his demand for a wall. He reiterated an untrue claim that Mexico would indirectly pay for the wall through a revamped trade agreement, and heard from people who had loved ones killed by immigrants. Above, Mr. Trump in McAllen, Tex. If we had a barrier of any kind, whether its steel or concrete, Mr. Trump said of tragic stories involving violence and human trafficking, they wouldnt even bother trying. We could stop that cold. The president continued to float the idea of declaring a state of national emergency that could allow him to bypass Congress to fund the wall. Separately, our journalists are driving the length of the approximately 1,900-mile U.S.-Mexico border. They just sent in their first dispatch. LILIANA PORTER: OTHER SITUATIONS at El Museo del Barrio (through Jan. 27). This exquisite survey of 35 objects, installations and video by this Argentinian-born American artist covers nearly half a century, but feels unanchored by time and gravity. In pieces from the early 1970s, Porter adds spare pencil lines to a photographs of her own face as if to challenge optical perception: Which is more real, the artist or the artists mark? Later, she began assembling and photographing groups of toys and figurines found in flea markets and antiques shops to tease out political puzzles. And despite a witty use of miniaturist scale, cruelty and loss run through the work. In the 2009 video Matinee, tabletop statuettes live tragic lives: A ceramic child is suddenly beheaded by a hammer. (Cotter) 212-831-7272, elmuseo.org POSING MODERNITY: THE BLACK MODEL FROM MANET AND MATISSE TO TODAY at Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University (through Feb. 10). This landmark show uses a new lens on 19th-century French art history. Progressiveness both artistic and social is measured by the way black women are depicted in the paintings of the period; this yardstick is also applied to subsequent generations of European, American and African artists. A revelatory thesis, brilliantly executed. (Smith) 212-854-6800, wallach.columbia.edu STERLING RUBY: CERAMICS at the Museum of Art and Design (through March 17). Adept at most art mediums, this artist is at his best in ceramics, especially in the outsize, awkwardly hand-built, resplendently glazed baskets, ashtrays and plates and the objects that verge on sculpture in this show. These works actively incorporate accident and aspects of the ready-made, have precedents in the large-scale ceramics of Peter Voulkos and Viola Frey, but may be closest in spirit to the Neo-Expressionism of Julian Schnabel rehabilitated, of course. (Smith) 212-299-7777, madmuseum.org SCENES FROM THE COLLECTION at the Jewish Museum. After a surgical renovation to its grand pile on Fifth Avenue, the Jewish Museum has reopened its third-floor galleries with a rethought, refreshed display of its permanent collection, which intermingles 4,000 years of Judaica with modern and contemporary art by Jews and gentiles alike Mark Rothko, Lee Krasner, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman and the excellent young Nigerian draftswoman Ruby Onyinyechi Amanze. The works are shown in a nimble, nonchronological suite of galleries, and some of its century-spanning juxtapositions are bracing; others feel reductive, even dilettantish. But always, the Jewish Museum conceives of art and religion as interlocking elements of a story of civilization, commendably open to new influences and new interpretations. (Farago) 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org SOUL OF A NATION: ART IN THE AGE OF BLACK POWER at the Brooklyn Museum (through Feb. 3). It will be a happy day when racial harmony rules in the land. But that days not arriving any time soon. Who could have guessed in the 1960s when civil rights became law that a new century would bring white supremacy tiki-torching out of the closet and turn the idea that black lives matter, so beyond obvious, into a battle cry? Actually, African-Americans were able to see such things coming. No citizens know the national narrative, and its implacable racism, better. And no artists have responded to that history-that-wont-go-away more powerfully than black artists have. More than 60 of them appear in this big, beautiful, passionate show of art that functioned as seismic detector, political persuader and defensive weapon. (Cotter) 718-638-8000, brooklynmuseum.org ANDY WARHOL FROM A TO B AND BACK AGAIN at the Whitney Museum of American Art (through March 31). Although this is the artists first full American retrospective in 31 years, hes been so much with us in museums, galleries, auctions as to make him, like wallpaper, like the atmosphere, only half-noticed. The Whitney show restores him to a full, commanding view, but does so in a carefully shaped and edited way, with an emphasis on very early and late work. Despite the shows monumentalizing size, its a human-scale Warhol we see. Largely absent is the artist-entrepreneur who is taken as a prophet of our market-addled present. What we have instead is Warhol for whom art, whatever else it was, was an expression of personal hopes and fears. (Cotter) 212-570-3600, whitney.org AILEEN PASSLOFF, STEPPING FORWARD: ONE FOOT (IN FRONT OF THE OTHER) at the 92nd Street Y (Jan. 11, 8 p.m.; Jan. 13, 3 p.m.). In 1944 at the age of 13, this veteran dance artist made her debut at the Y performing in the company of the witty, influential James Waring. Now, Passloff graces the Y with four premieres: Frolic, a group dance set to music by Erik Satie; Yo, a solo created for Charlotte Hendrickson; At the Window, a solo set to John Cages Suite for Toy Piano; and an untitled duet for Arthur Aviles and Andrew Chapman. The program also features revivals: Passloff brings back He Dreams of Small Battles, a 1978 work dedicated to Waring, her mentor, while Warings solo Octandre (1958), created for Passloff, will be performed by Nic Petry. On Saturday, the Y hosts a program by David Parkers the Bang Group, which, in a bit of a crossover, presents Octandre as well as Passloffs Nocturne for Bob. 212-415-5500, 92y.org PHYSICS AND DANCE: AN OPEN READING AND BOOK SIGNING WITH EMILY COATES AND SARAH DEMERS at New York Live Arts (Jan. 17, 7 p.m.). Coates, a former member of New York City Ballet, and Demers, a CERN particle physicist, have written a soon-to-be-released book about how their respective disciplines relate to questions about the universe. Both on faculty at Yale University, they have forged a rich dialogue between art and science; Bill T. Jones, the artistic director of Live Arts, will introduce the pair, who will discuss topics ranging from quantum mechanics to classical dance; Yvonne Rainer, Patricia Hoffbauer, Lacina Coulibaly and Daniel Ulbricht will be on hand to demonstrate. 212-924-0077, newyorklivearts.org For an overview of January and Februarys cultural events, click here. Please register or log in to keep reading Stay logged in to skip the surveys. The Soliday and Aylesworth bill to address this disaster strikes the right chords of bipartisan oversight, prohibitions on nepotism and augmented checks and balances in the election process without creating a large or unwieldy board to do it. Under the bill, a five-person board of elections and voter registration, led by a director, would oversee Porter County elections. The Democratic and Republican county chairmen each would appoint two members of the board, and those appointees would serve two-year terms. Those members would have to be Porter County voters and of no family relation to the chairmen making the appointments. The elected Porter County clerk would serve as the fifth board member. That duty would fall to newly elected Clerk Jessica Bailey, a Democrat, who said she's "cautiously optimistic" about the proposed legislative fix. The Soliday and Aylesworth bill also enjoys bipartisan support from Republican and Democratic Porter County commissioners. The bill was crafted after lawmakers met with local leaders, seeking their input. It's time for all state lawmakers and the governor to get behind the proposal and bring it to fruition. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Where in the AV levels of self-driving is the automotive industry today? Early in Level 2, where under certain conditions the vehicle may take over steering, braking and acceleration but the driver is still responsible for the overall safe operation of the vehicle. Some examples of this AV technology in commercially available vehicles include Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot, Tesla Autopilot and Nissan ProPilot Assist. At Level 2, AV self-driving technology is still a ways off from Level 4, where a vehicle can be driven by a person, but does not always need to be, as it can drive itself under the right circumstances. Thus, American consumers are not looking at any fully self-driving vehicles (Level 4) being commercially available any time in the near future (although field testing and development of AV driverless technology is now underway in regulated circumstances at the state level). However, their consumer apprehension is not only understandable given these media reports, but also expected. Most of todays vehicles are at Level 1, and will have at least one vital function, such as adaptive cruise control, which the car can take over for a limited time. However, with Level 1 technologies introduced to the buying public over the last decade, this transition has allowed for consumer adjustment and AV technology improvements. INDIANAPOLIS A group of truck drivers is suing Gov. Eric Holcomb over a 35 percent fee increase placed on large trucks that use the Indiana Toll Road. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Inc., Utah-based Chutka Trucking LLC, Indiana truck driver Mark Elrod and Ohio-based B.L. Reever Transport Inc. filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of the fee hike, The Indianapolis Business Journal reported . The lawsuit alleges the increase is discriminatory and excessive, and that truck drivers won't benefit from the hike because the revenue will be used for projects unrelated to the toll road, which runs across the northern part of the state from the Illinois state line to the Ohio state line. Holcomb's office said they disagreed with the lawsuit's allegations. "We do not believe there is any issue of constitutionality regarding the transaction," Holcomb's spokeswoman Rachel Hoffmeyer said. "We will vigorously defend the lawsuit." CHICAGO An East Chicago man allegedly ran over a mechanic at a South Side auto shop during an argument over $100. Keith Watley, 29, of East Chicago was charged with first-degree murder, according to the Chicago Police Department, after the mechanic died from injuries at the scene. After his arrest, Watley told police the argument with the victim was over $100 and that he "kind of snapped, NBC Chicago reported. At 3:14 p.m. Monday, Watley was arrested at the 8600 block of South Lafayette Street in Chicago. Numerous witnesses told police they saw Watley intentionally hit a man with his car near the AutoZone at the 200 block of West 87th Street, fatally injuring the victim. The day before the alleged murder, Watley got into an argument about owed money with the mechanic, 22-year-old Carlos Posadas, according to NBC Chicago's report. Surveillance footage showed Posadas was working on a vehicle when Watley got into his Ford pickup truck and drove in the parking lot for several feet, NBC reported. Watley was seen in the video footage turning his truck toward Posadas, who was kneeling down at the wheel well of the car he was working on. INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Supreme Court is likely to affirm Derrick Cardosi's life sentence, without the possibility of parole, for participating in a 2016 drug-related triple homicide, burglary and robbery in the Newton County town of Sumava Resorts. At oral arguments Thursday, the five justices appeared unpersuaded by Cardosi's attorney Harry Falk's claim that text messages between Cardosi and his accomplice, Sebastian Wedding which implicated them in the crimes should not have been shown to the jury because Cardosi and Wedding attempted to delete them. Justice Steven David, in particular, seemed astounded by that argument, which Deputy Attorney General Lyubov Gore confirmed to David never has been accepted by any appellate court in the country. Likewise, Chief Justice Loretta Rush and Justice Mark Massa suggested that even if the messages were admitted in error, the error likely was harmless as there was considerable other evidence linking Cardosi and Wedding to the three stabbing deaths. Falk, undeterred, argued that without the text messages in evidence, the jury never would have agreed to a life without parole sentence, which is equivalent to the death penalty in terms of legal procedure, including direct appeal to the Supreme Court, and the ultimate resolution. INDIANAPOLIS Many voters in Indiana House District 15, which includes Dyer, Schererville, St. John and Griffith, may know state Rep. Chris Chyung, D-Dyer, because he likely knocked on their doors last year while campaigning for office. But word about the 26-year-old legislative wunderkind, who toppled a powerful Republican incumbent in the November election and is the first Hoosier of Korean descent to serve in the General Assembly, is starting to spread well beyond Northwest Indiana. On Thursday, a reporter and videographer from the national Newsy television network traveled to the Statehouse to interview Chyung about his first full week serving in the Legislature. Chyung this month was also profiled on the Korean-language News Magazine Chicago program, and highlighted in a Governing magazine article about millennials winning elected office across the country. In between eating a quick breakfast and rushing off to a 7:30 a.m. Region time committee hearing, Chyung told The Times that he's grateful for the attention, in part because it gives him the opportunity to show the increasing diversity at the Indiana Statehouse. "We have so many people of differing perspectives and backgrounds and age groups, so, you know, it's cool," Chyung said. PORTAGE A trail of panties, bras and other allegedly shoplifted items flew from the car window of a Liberty Township woman as she led police on a high-speed chase, nearly colliding head-on with other vehicles Wednesday night, Portage officers reported. When approached by police for suspected shoplifting from the nearby Kohl's store at 6495 U.S. 6 in Portage, the woman, identified as 34-year-old Holly Sansone, shrugged with both hands in the air and said, "I've gotta go," before leading officers on the chase. Sansone is accused of leading a chase that topped out near 100 mph at times as it proceeded shortly after 6:30 p.m. east down U.S. 6 and then north on Ind. 49 where it ended when her tires were punctured after driving over stop sticks placed down by police at Ind. 49 and Indian Boundary Road. Police said she nearly struck another vehicle head-on at one point, ignored red lights and nearly sideswiped other vehicles during the chase that found her traveling left-of-center and on the shoulder of the road. Police said Sansone led officers on the potentially fatal car chase over the alleged theft of four bras, 14 panties, two candles and a few air freshener refills valued in total at $445. Nearly lost control of her vehicle For the first time in forever, me and Alayna had been getting along great. We had just made plans to go to the movies on Sunday, Angel Ortiz stated through social media. She was my first best friend and always will be. Throughout our lives we were always mistaken as twins. I never saw the resemblance. She was just so beautiful, how could I compare? I have never met another person in my life who loves people so deeply and with their entire heart. She was so family-oriented and always stood up for her siblings. I'll be trying to live my life to the fullest for the both of us and I can only hope you are in a better place, baby girl. I love you to the moon and back, forever and always, sissy. CROWN POINT A man charged in a murder-for-hire plot to kill a state witness in 2010 will get to talk to a detective about allegations his former attorney stole money from him. Ronnie E. Major, 48, appeared before Lake Criminal Court Judge Samuel Cappas on Friday with attorney Jamise Perkins. Major paid his former attorney Larry Rogers a "substantial sum of money" to act "as a conduit" for Major to bring an attorney from Illinois into the case, she said. Rogers, a well-known defense attorney, began serving a 90-day disciplinary suspension from his law practice Dec. 14 for failing to pay back $8,000 to the family of a Porter County defendant he agreed to represent on appeal. Major was told by jail staff he would need a judge's order to talk to a detective about Rogers, Perkins said. Rogers did not provide the services promised to Major, who been unable to recover the money, Perkins said. Major needs the money to continue to retain a private attorney, she said. Cappas said, "That's the first time I've heard that." The judge said Major had a right to report a possible crime and ordered the Lake County Sheriff's Department to send a detective to talk to Major. Indiana State Police discovered 23.5 lbs of marijuana hidden in luggage during a traffic stop on I-65 in Jasper County. At 11 a.m. Wednesday, a state trooper pulled over a 2017 Chevy Equinox for making unsafe lane movements in the southbound lanes, according to a news release from state police. The driver, Christopher Anderson, 34, of Kokomo, pulled over about four miles north of the Fair Oaks exit at the 224 mile marker. After smelling the odor of marijuana, police called a K-9 unit to search the car. Police said 23.5 pounds of marijuana were found in luggage and in a sealed box within the vehicle. Anderson was arrested and charged with dealing marijuana and possession of marijuana. He was taken to Jasper County Jail in Rensselaer, police said. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT A Lake Criminal Court judge agreed Tuesday to continue for the 19th time the case against a retired St. John police commander accused of sexual battery and ghost payrolling. Judge Clarence Murray scheduled the next hearing for former officer Michael Fryzel for Jan. 17. Defense attorney Thomas Vanes said attorney Thomas Mullins plans to take up Fryzel's case. Vanes filed a motion to withdraw from the case in January 2018. Fryzel was charged May 5, 2016, with three counts of sexual battery, five counts of official misconduct, two counts of theft and three counts of battery. He is accused of sexually battering two St. John Police Department employees while he was a commander and a third woman who worked as a janitorial contractor. He also is accused of receiving pay for hours he didn't work. Indiana State Police uncovered the alleged theft while they were investigating the sexual battery allegations against Fryzel, records show. Investigators compared the department's payroll with police dispatch logs from the Lake County sheriff's department and determined Fryzel was paid $5,356.97 from 2011 to 2015 for hours he didn't work, according to a probable cause affidavit. VALPARAISO Fearing a fair trial would not otherwise be possible, the defense is seeking to move a Chesterton murder case out of Porter County or at least pick a jury from elsewhere. "Attorney (Bob) Harper does not believe that a fair and impartial jury can be selected for Christopher Dillard with all the publicity that has been garnered by this case especially since the statements made by him that are not going to be allowed into evidence would be especially prejudicial to him," according to the motion. The motion argues further that hundreds of people have commented on and/or shared the stories online and that the largest newspaper in the county wrote an editorial mentioning the case. Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer scheduled a hearing for 2 p.m. Feb. 15. Dillard, 52, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Nicole Gland, 23, of Portage, on April 19, 2017, by stabbing her in her vehicle in a parking area behind the former Upper Deck Lounge, 139 S. Calumet Road, in Chesterton. The case has attracted a lot of attention, in part, because Dillard's confession was thrown out by the courts because Chesterton police ignored his repeated requests for an attorney during an 11-hour interrogation. Pleas of not guilty have been entered on Major's behalf to charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. She had spent nearly four years behind bars the first time around before the charges were dropped in March 2017 due to a lack of evidence. Major was taken back into custody in October after the gunman in the case, Gary resident Dontaye Singletary, reached out to police and prosecutors in August offering to provide the information they needed against Major. Singletary is serving a 65-year prison term after being found guilty in 2015 of murdering Griffith. Singletary described how a third person Antoinetta Johnson contacted him Oct. 31, 2012, with the offer from Major to kill Griffith for money, according to charging information. Singletary agreed and shot Griffith outside his home in the 2700 block of Locust Street, according to court documents. Griffith was an employee of a towing company owned by Major's estranged husband and police said Major had Griffith killed because she did not like him. A key difficulty in making the original case against Major came with the Dec. 13, 2012, shooting death of 34-year-old Johnson in her beauty salon at 1008 W. Fifth Ave. in Gary. Johnson gave a videotaped statement before her death, which was used to convict Singletary. One of America's sweethearts hands the torch to another when Tom Hanks presents Alan Alda with a lifetime achievement award at the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Award ceremony. The 82-year-old Alda, a Golden Globe- and Emmy-winner, will become the 55th recipient of the annual award given to an actor who fosters the "finest ideals of the acting profession." Hanks will hand it to him in a Jan. 27 ceremony. "I'm so thrilled that Tom agreed to that. I had no idea they were even asking him. And it's so generous of him," Alda told The Associated Press. Alda and Hanks worked together on the film "Bridge of Spies," and Alda said they "have run into each other casually over the years at awards ceremonies and on airplanes and things like that. So, I remember him when he was just a kid." Throughout a career that has spanned seven decades, Alda has appeared in "The West Wing," ''The Aviator" and "Manhattan Murder Mystery," but is perhaps best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the television series ""MASH." Alda has won six Emmy Awards and was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 for his role in "The Aviator." The Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University will debut its winter exhibits with an opening reception this Sunday. In addition to its permanent collection, the art museum is showing three new exhibitions for the spring semester, including Line/Force/Burn Rubber: Sarah Krepp & Olivia Petrides. "Krepp has shown her interdisciplinary works in museums and galleries nationally and internationally, and she has received numerous research awards and travel grants," Valparaiso University said in a press release. "Petrides is a painter, illustrator, and adjunct associate professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has traveled to iconic landscapes around the world, and specific emblematic features of these landscapes are the inspiration for her paintings and drawings." The museum also is displaying The Icons on Ammo Boxes: Art by Sofia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko, which turns accessories of war into works of art to symbolize life and death in Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone of eastern Ukraine. Proceeds from the sales of any art in the exhibit will benefit the Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital in Ukraine. Nucor has not yet identified where it will build the plate mill, which is expected to be up and running by 2022. Nucor Executive Vice President of Beam and Plate Products Leon Topalian said the company expects to select a site for the new mill early this year. "By building this state-of-the-art plate mill in the Midwest the largest plate-consuming area in the United States we will enhance our ability to serve our customers in the region while also furthering our goal of meeting all the steel needs of our customers around the country," he said. Chuck Bradford, a New York City-based steel industry analyst with Bradford Research, said Nucor reportedly has eyed sites in Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. Nucor already operates a mini mill in Crawfordsville. Bradford said it was unlikely the company would look at locations in Northwest Indiana because it does not like to work with unions. "They don't want even the hint of a union," he said. Nucor wants to build a new mill at a time when the U.S. steel industry is only operating at about 80 percent of capacity. The U.S. Coast Guard kicked off its annual icebreaking operations on the Great Lakes to ensure that lake freighters can continue to haul iron ore from Minnesota and Michigan to Northwest Indiana's steel mills and that other maritime commerce can continue through the winter months. U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie started Operation Taconite to break through ice in the commercial ports of western Lake Superior and the St. Marys River, a key passage that enables ore boats from the Minnesota Iron Range move from Lake Superior into Lake Huron, so they can gain access to Lake Michigan. It's the U.S. Coast Guard's largest domestic icebreaking operation and has been ongoing since 1936, when President Franklin Roosevelt ordered it to assist in keeping open to navigation by means of icebreaking operations, in so far as practicable, and as the exigencies may require, channels and harbors in accordance with the reasonable demands of commerce. Coast Guard cutters press down on ice cover on the Great Lakes, breaking it up to clear way for boats headed to points including the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor and the steel mills that ring the southern shore of Lake Michigan in Northwest Indiana. Northwest Indiana's casinos closed 2018 on strong note in December, taking in $77.8 million at their table games and slot machines, a 7.9 percent increase from the same month a year ago. December brought the Region's casinos within one-half percent of 2017's total. The $934.2 million "win" was $4.3 million short of the previous year's. Horseshoe Casino Senior Vice President and General Manager Dan Nita called December "a pretty strong way to finish the year. We were able to pick-up nearly half the year's deficit in one month." Good weather and the calendar helped, Nita suggested. "We had stronger holiday week volume than we have in past years," he said, noting that the Monday New Year's Eve essentially created a long holiday weekend. Ameristar Casino in East Chicago led the way, both for December and the year. Its $19.5 million December win was a 9.6 percent increase; its $231.6 million total was up 7.2 percent from 2017. Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City concluded a challenging year with a strong December, up 7.1 percent to $13.2 million. Its annual win of $152.4 million was down 3.7 percent, during a year that included the opening of the Four Winds Casino in South Bend. Marino de Medici is a Winchester resident and formerly the dean of foreign correspondents in the United States. The Hoosier Statethe Amtrak rail line that provides service between Indianapolis and Chicago four days a weekmay soon be history. The new two-year state budget proposed by Gov. Eric Holcomb Thursday eliminates the $3 million annual appropriation for the rail line. Without it, the line likely will be discontinued. Two years ago, Holcombthen lieutenant governorwent to Lafayette, one of the Hoosier States station stops, to proclaim the line a success: We all recognize the importance of the Hoosier State train to tourism and economic development. Thursday, though, he was practically giving the last rites. It hasnt performed as originally billed, Holcomb said. Besides, he said, theres still opportunity to get from here to there on Amtraks Cardinal line, which runs from Washington D.C. and New York to Chicago on three days weekly. And he sought to shift some of the blame to Amtrak. Theyre cutting back on those short runs across the country, so its not just Indiana, he said. That was news to Amtrak. There are no such plans, said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari. In fact, he said, the focus has been on expansion. The governors decision to ax Amtrak funding also came as a surprise to some legislators. Sen. Jim Merritt, an Indianapolis Republican now running for mayor, and State Rep. Sheila Klinker, a Democrat from one of the Hoosier Lines station stops, Lafayette, both were taken aback by the decision. Merritt, a former vice president of the freight-hauling Indiana Rail Road Co. and a fan of the Hoosier State train, said: Im a supporter of that people-mover. Train service between Indianapolis and Chicago is vital, and Ill work to restore the funding in the budget that was there before, said Merritt, who also has a freight firm, Anacostia Railroad Co., among his consulting firm clients. To some, trains are the transportation of the past, the no-longer-needed caboose of mass transit. But one only needs to look at Europe, and the network of train lines in the East that provide vital commuter services between New York, Washington and other metropolitan areas, to see that they also can be a key engine in a world where many people especially young adults are choosing public transportation over car ownership. Holcomb seems to love transportation. Hes proposing $20 million in new state investments to boost nonstop overseas flights and millions more for hiking and biking trail development. At less than 0.02 percent of the states two-year spending, the $6 million for the rail line is, well, chump change. But despite that 2017 Lafayette speech, he apparently doesnt see rail in the mix. Steve Coxhead, president of the Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance, and Doug Yerkeson, secretary of that group, are hoping to change his mind. We see this as a key component to building a modern transportation system in Indiana, a 21st century transportation system, Coxhead said, envisioning a rail network linking Indianapolis with major in-state cities plus Chicago, Cincinnati, and Louisville. He makes the same case Holcomb does for those nonstop flights to Europe: Economic development and attracting young people to work here. Relying completely on surface expressways, where you have to drive your own car any time you go anywhere, is actually kind of an old-fashioned idea, a 1950s idea, he said. But, they said, Indiana needs to improve the Hoosier State to keep it from being in what Yerkeson called a perpetual purgatory. Our hope was that the state of Indiana would get on board like some of the other Midwestern states like Illinois and Michigan and Wisconsin and make some capital investments. That includes improving the rails themselves so the train can run at up to 110 miles per hour, slashing the currently 5-hour long trip to Chicago, and increasing the frequency of the trips to twice a day so it truly becomes a commuter option. That, they said, would improve the ridership numbers the state points to as one reason for killing the Hoosier State: 27,876 passengers in fiscal 2018, down from 29,504 the previous year. But in a year when lawmakers are scrambling to find dollars for priorities such as education, theyll settle for just keeping the Hoosier State on track. Mary Beth Schneider is editor of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. From the first moments of the press conference held Thursday to announce the Indianapolis mayoral bid of Republican Sen. Jim Merritt, the issue of public safety was placed front and center. First elected to represent District 31 in the Indiana State Senate in 1990, Merritt defeated Democratic challenger Derek Camp at the polls during the 2018 midterm election by a 51.4 percent to 48.6 percent margin. Merritt now looks to unseat incumbent Democratic Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, who announced his re-election bid last month. Along with other Marion County Republican leaders, Merritt has been sharply critical of Hogsett's response to violent crime, as the city set a record for homicides for the fourth year in a row in 2018. First at the podium Thursday was Ted Feeney, Butler Tarkington Neighborhood Association past president, who referenced the 2015 drive-by shooting death of Deshaun Swanson, 10. Feeney said he reached out to Republican and then-Mayor Greg Ballard for help in making their neighborhood safer. When we asked the city for help, they showed up and followed through, said Feeney. It was an all-hands-on-deck approach, and it worked. Ballard is the author of the just-released book, Less Oil or More Caskets: The National Security Argument for Moving Away From Oil, and was in attendance to support Merritt's run. Ballard said when first decided to run for mayor in early 2007, Merritt agreed to be his campaign chairman at a time when nobody knew who I was, and even fewer people actually supported my candidacy. I never forgot that, said Ballard, who is now returning the favor by being Merritt's campaign chairman. Merritt then addressed the crowd to officially begin campaign, calling himself an underdog. We do have some problems in this city, some big problems, he said. My passion for Indianapolis is going to make me an outstanding mayor. Merritt said those problems included unsolved homicides and homelessness. We all know crime is going to be an issue, he said. I'm working on some plans here, some bold new solutions. MARION COUNTY DEMOCRATS RESPOND Prior to Merritt's campaign announcement Thursday, Kate Sweeney Bell, Marion County Democratic Party chair, issued the following statement: Senator Jim Merritt, the longest-serving State Senator of the Indiana General Assembly, is preparing to enter the Indianapolis mayor's race today, and his recent role as partisan attack dog will present a formidable establishment challenge to his three outsider Republican opponents. Unfortunately for Senator Merritt, his voting record and policy positions will also present a formidable challenge with Indianapolis voters. From support for President Trump to a vote for now-infamous RFRA legislation, Senator Merritt has consistently embraced views over the last three decades at the Statehouse that are out of step with the city he wants to represent: Senator Merritt claims he wants to combat violent gun crime, but his record speaks for itself Merritt has voted for more guns in our workplaces, more guns in our schools, and more guns in our churches. He even supported "stand your ground" legislation that would allow the use of deadly force against local policean NRA pet project opposed by some law enforcement. Senator Merritt says he wants to support crime prevention and re-entry efforts but voted in 2017 to revoke the City of Indianapolis's efforts to 'ban the box,' which would have created economic opportunity for non-violent felons. Senator Merritt says he wants to represent all of Indianapolis, but he supported then-Governor Pences RFRA in 2015 and has consistently opposed hate crimes legislation for 28 consecutive years. Pure partisanship has earned Senator Merritt the support of lobbyists and extremist special interest groups, but in 2018 he lost the Marion County portions of his legislative district by nearly 10 points. Indianapolis voters have rejected Senator Merritt's extremist views in the past, and we are confident they will do it again this year. Hogsett also released his own statement after Merritt's announcement: This November, Indianapolis voters will have the opportunity to make their voices heard. Should Senator Merritt win his partys nomination, I look forward to a spirited conversation. MARION COUNTY GOP PICKS NEW LEADER The Marion County Republican Central Committee announced late Tuesday that their precinct and vice precinct committeemen had elected Bryce Carpenter as their new leader. The caucus to replace outgoing Chairman Merritt was held at Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway. Carpenter was most recently MCRCC's vice chairman and will now serve as the group's next chairman after eligible voters on the official roster of the Marion County Republican Party cast their ballots, according to I want to thank the three other candidates who ran today, stated Carpenter after his election. I would also like to thank all of the precinct committeemen and vice precinct committeemen who overwhelmingly supported me. I am humbled by your decision and excited to get to work. Our party is more unified than ever. We are ready to make 2019 one of the best years in our party's history by winning back the mayor's office and taking control of the council. Jan. 14, Carpenter selected Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer, R-Beech Grove, as his vice chair. First elected to represent District 89 in the Indiana House of Representatives in 2010, Kirchhofer barely fended off a re-election challenge from Democrat John Barnes. In the 2018 midterm elections, Kirchhofer received 50.5 percent (10,452 votes) to Barnes' 49.5 percent (10,229 votes). Representative Kirchhofer will be an excellent addition to our team," stated Carpenter. "She knows the true value in grassroots politics and knocks on thousands of doors personally for her re-election cycle. Cindy's knowledge of grassroots politics will be a huge assett to our party in 2019 and beyond. Dec. 14, Merritt announced his resignation from his MCRCC post effective immediately. Though his farewell message didn't spell it out, speculation immediately swarmed around Merritt's intentions to seek Hogsett's job. The municipal primary election is scheduled for May 7, and the general election will be Nov. 5. UPDATE Jose Evans, former city-county councilor, ended his campaign for mayor at an event the morning of Jan. 18 at Xclusive Cuts. Evans is now endorsing the mayoral campaign of Sen. Jim Merritt, Indianapolis. Merritt accepted Evans support and welcomed him onto his campaign team. Editor's note: We're finalizing the details of an interview with Jim Merritt to take place in the next few days. What questions would you like us to ask the mayoral candidate? Send an email to News Editor Rob Burgess (rburgess@nuvo.net) with your question. 2018 was a big year for preeminent Nashville superstar Kacey Musgraves. After establishing herself as one of country musics most promising young talents with previous releases, Musgraves branched out in 2018 with her fourth full-length, Golden Hour. Widely praised by many, Golden Hour expertly meshes elements of pop, country, and disco together over the course of 13 ear-grabbing tracks. Not surprisingly, it was nominated for several awards at the upcoming Grammys, including the always-coveted Album of the Year honor. Unlike some current and previous nominees of the award, most music critics (including myself) would certainly agree that Golden Hour is worthy of this accolade as well. To open up the night, Richmond, Virginias Natalie Prass kicked things off with her brand of shimmering pop goodness. Much like Musgraves, Prass rather awkwardly interacted with the Murat Theatre audience in an unabashed way, performing many standout selections from her highly touted 2018 album The Future and the Past. This included the buoyant Short Court Style, which closed out her set and served as a great precursor to Musgraves performance. The self-proclaimed Spacey Kacey kicked off her 2019 tour with a glorious bang, treating the sold-out Murat Theatre crowd to a meticulous pop music spectacle. Musgraves started the show off with several Golden Hour selections, including Butterflies, Lonely Weekend, and Slow Burn. While rattling off one gem after the next, she further emphasized her knack for writing no-nonsense pop, as her backing band was skilled yet tactful throughout the show. Natalie Prass and Kacey Musgraves singing I Will Survive together pic.twitter.com/GAxSJY33uv Seth Johnson (@sethvthem) January 10, 2019 About midway through the set, Musgraves and company performed a selection of tunes stripped down, which was highlighted by a bluegrass-y rendition of Oh, What a World. The versatile lineup then went back to full-band disco mode for the remainder of their performance,even playing a cover of Gloria Gaynors I Will Survive in between Golden Hour songs. Prior to performing Follow Your Arrow, Musgraves admirably spoke on inclusivity, saying that she hopes attendees feel welcome at her shows no matter who they are. To close out the night, she kicked off the encore with the piano-led Rainbow, following it up with a cover of Brooks & Dunns Neon Moon. To cap things off, Musgraves sent fans home with her irresistible High Horse hit, which is admittedly still stuck in my head today. After introducing their Kurt Vonnegut-honoring Granfalloon festival in 2018, Indiana University has planned a second event with a stellar lineup that would make K.V. proud. Much-loved indie-rock songwriter Neko Case headlines this years music portion of Granfalloon, visiting Bloomington in support of a 2018 album titled Hell-On. Case will perform outdoors at Upland Brewing Co. on Saturday, May 11, headlining a stacked bill that also features Parquet Courts and Durand Jones and the Indications. In addition to this May 11 banger, other concerts taking place as part of the 2019 Granfalloon festival include: - Khruangbin, Sudan Archives, and Huckleberry Funk at the Bluebird on Friday, May 10 - Austin White, Barrie, and more at the Bishop on Friday, May 10 - A Late Night Dance Party with DJ Action Jackson at the Blockhouse Bar on Friday, May 10 "The beauty of Vonnegut is that his work leans into the eclectic and adventurous," said Dan Coleman of Spirit of '68 Promotions. "That frees you to look at stages as a place where the rock royalty of Neko Case can blend with the dancey art punk of Parquet Courts and the harmonic soul of Durand Jones and The Indications; where a Friday stroll will take you to the Afro-inflected-R&B-meets-psychedelic-soul combo of Sudan Archives, the indie pop of Barrie and literary genius of Dave Eggers." This years Granfalloon festival will also feature a keynote address from author Dave Eggers. For a full schedule of Granfalloon festivities, be sure to visit the fests official website. In addition to decrying topsoil disturbances from installing the power lines, opponents say project documents from the sponsoring Southwest Power Pool note the R-Project would enable the further spread of private wind-energy farms and their heavy turbines across the Sandhills. NPPD officials, saying the new line would offer more reliable power supplies and fulfill commitments to the multistate power pool, have denied that wind-energy considerations motivated the utilitys publicly elected board to pursue the R-Project. The utility wants Fish and Wildlife to approve its plan to help offset construction-related losses in burying beetle populations by buying and restoring a partly drained 500-acre site in Blaine County. That county lies east of Thomas County, where the 200-foot-wide, 225-mile-long R-Project corridor would link up with an existing NPPD substation near Thedford and turn east. Fish and Wildlife, however, has expanded its review to include the R-Projects area of potential effect on historic and cultural sites. Staffers from the agencys Nebraska office near Alda collected comments at a July 25 meeting in North Platte, during which some 100 Sandhills and Platte Valley residents renewed their objections to the project. An Omaha man with arrest warrants in Nebraska barricaded himself inside a unit at the Riverbend Apartments in Council Bluffs Thursday, according to authorities. Joshua McCoy, 27, was arrested for violating a no contact order, burglary and interference with official acts. He has a warrant out of Douglas County, Nebraska, for absconding from post-release supervision and not reporting to probation since Oct. 5, 2018, following a domestic assault conviction. Council Bluffs Police Lt. Darren Budd said officers were dispatched to the apartment at 805 N. 35th St. for reports of a man making threats to kill someone. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} McCoy refused to let officers in, so police forced the door and found McCoy wielding a hammer in a threatening way, Budd said. A less-lethal 12-gauge shotgun was used, he was hit once and surrendered peacefully afterwards, Budd said. Budd said the gun used bean bag rounds. McCoy was treated by medical personnel at the scene before being taken into custody. OMAHA, Neb. An Iowa woman accused of having sex with a teenage boy staying at the Child Saving Institute shelter in Omaha has been sent to prison. Douglas County District Court records say 24-year-old Hanna Dickerson was sentenced Tuesday to two years. She'd pleaded guilty to attempted sexual abuse of a protected person. Prosecutors lowered the charge in exchange for her plea. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The records say Dickerson lives in Neola. The 17-year-old boy was a ward of the state who told investigators that he and Dickerson engaged in sex several times in July and August 2017. Her job at the institute was to supervise wards of the state, sometimes overnight. The institute specializes in adoptions, emergency foster care and family therapy. New Horizon Presbyterian Church, 30 Valley View Drive, invites the public to attend traditional Sunday worship at 8 and 11 a.m. and a praise service at 9. Adult and children Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. Nursery care is available for ages 4 years and younger from 8:30 a.m. until after the last worship service. On Monday, prayer shawl ministry will meet at 4 p.m. and the Boy Scouts will hold a den meeting at 6:30. On Wednesday, praise team will meet at 5:45 p.m. followed by chancel bells at 6:30 and chancel choir at 7:30. On Thursday, Stephen Ministry will meet at 10 a.m. On Saturday, MRV Presbyterian Women coordinating team will meet at 9 a.m. Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2444 N. Broadway, will hold worship with Communion at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by fellowship and coffee at 10:30, a wider ministries meeting at 10:45 and Confirmation at 11. On Monday, The Gathering (womens study) will meet at 9:30 a.m. and Tai Chi at 11. On Tuesday, Girl Scouts will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the community room and the Boy Scouts will meet in the youth center at 7. On Wednesday, Mission Action Quilters will meet at 9:30 a.m.; the church dinner will begin at 6 p.m. followed by adult study and Kidz Kamp, both at 6:45 and worship in the community room at 7:30. On Thursday, adult study begins at 9:30 a.m. and Tai Chi will meet at 11; church choir practice will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by DaBand rehearsal at 7:30. The church office is closed on Fridays. On Jan. 18, food pantry volunteers will meet at Our Saviors Lutheran Church at 4:30 p.m. On Jan. 20, worship with Communion at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by fellowship and coffee at 10:30, and mental health advocacy training led by MOSAIC at 11. Visit the church online at emanuelcb.org or facebook.com/emanuellutherancbia. UPDATE: Fort Bliss has retracted its news release about Sgt. Trey Troney, saying his commanders are investigating whether Troney lied. Read the update here. --- When a self-described Saints fan in Cowboy country came upon a crash involving two tractor-trailers and a pickup truck last month, he put his Saints hoodie to good use. According to the El Paso Times, Sgt. Trey Troney was driving Dec. 22 on Interstate 20 near Sweetwater, Texas, when he stopped to help the pickup truck driver who had a bleeding head injury, cracked ribs and a collapsed lung. Troney, a soldier stationed at Fort Bliss Army base, wrapped his New Orleans Saints Salute to Service hoodie around the victims head to stem the bleeding and used a ballpoint pen for chest decompression, the Army Times reported Thursday (Jan. 10). The victim, who was hospitalized, offered to buy Troney a new hoodie, but the Raleigh, Mississippi, native told him not to worry about it. Its likely that a Saints win on Sunday will be reward enough for Sgt. Troney. Read the full reports here and here. NFL Network to air its Steve Gleason story Tuesday Louisiana bettors got a step closer to being able to start wagering on sporting events by fall if the governor approves the second of two bills that is about to clear the Legislature. The August 2014 Times-Picayune news story announcing Michael Harrison as then-Mayor Mitch Landrieus interim police superintendent describes Harrison as a low-profile commander. Its a fitting description. Not only had Harrison kept a low profile as he moved up through the ranks of the New Orleans Police Department, but he kept a low-profile even during his four-year tenure as the person in charge. New Orleanians could read about Harrison in the news, but the news was never about him. That wasnt true for other superintendents. Weve had police chiefs whove seemed to beg for the spotlight and embarrassed themselves after getting it. But Harrison only stepped up when he had something to say, and then he stepped back when he didnt. Despite climbing through the ranks of a profession dominated by swaggering, tough-talking men, his public presentations were refreshingly free of bravado or a pretentious know-it-all attitude. Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh announced Tuesday that shed picked Harrison as Baltimores police commissioner, citing his success here in reducing the number of New Orleans homicides and deploying proactive and effective policing strategies that reflect 21st century, constitutional policing. Pugh will be expecting Harrison to do the same things in Baltimore, a city with rising violent crime and a police force with a history of jaw-dropping (and jaw-breaking) brutality. New Orleans Police Chief Michael Harrison leaving to head Baltimore police It was Harrisons job to bring the New Orleans Police Department further into compliance with the federal consent decree the department entered into because too many of its officers were flagrantly disregarding the U.S. Constitution and policies prohibiting the unnecessary use of force. Those police needed to be taught how to de-escalate volatile situations, and they were fortunate to have a chief who, by all appearances, is slow to anger. That was important. It would have been incongruous to have a hot-headed, impulsive leader ordering street-level cops to interact with residents and criminal suspects calmly and more professionally. Harrisons decades on the force must have taught him that you cant reason with everybody, but he consistently gave the impression that thats how he prefers to handle conflict. Norris Henderson, an advocate for prisoners and former prisoners, told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune about a protest he helped plan in the spring of 2015 after Freddie Gray, a black man in Baltimore, was fatally injured while in the custody of that citys police. Hendersons group gathered near the New Orleans Fairgrounds during Jazzfest where Harrison tried unsuccessfully to talk them out of marching. So he offered the protesters police escorts: for their own protection, he said. To his credit, he really helped, Henderson said. He defused something. We werent looking to create nothing, but ... we know how people behave when inebriated, the potential for something that could have gotten out of hand. He would listen: Chief Harrison leaves legacy of openness to change Indeed, just like nothing of significance happened during the protest that Henderson helped to lead, Harrison might just deserve the most credit for what didnt happen during his tenure. New Orleanians may not have given much thought about what hadnt happened in 2017 until that August when 32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed in Charlottesville, Va. Heyer was protesting the white nationalist groups that had gathered, in part, to defend a Robert E. Lee monument. Some of those same groups maybe some of the same members had spent considerable time in New Orleans that year. They caused a spectacle and made some noise, but they werent allowed to hurt anybody. After Heyers death, I suggested to Harrison that New Orleans police had proved the truth of the claim that theyre excellent at crowd control and that the departments experience handling large crowds prevented us from becoming Charlottesville. It hadnt just been crowd control, Harrison said, but strategy and coordination. New Orleans police reached out to the leaders of the groups coming to New Orleans, he said. They protected everybodys freedom to protest but kept opponents out of striking distance of one another. According to people who were there, the stand-back approach adopted by police in Charlottesville allowed adversaries to clash. The Baltimore City Council must confirm the mayors choice of commissioner, and the day Pugh picked Harrison, the president of the Baltimore City Council asked her for documents including Harrisons resume and police personnel file. That councilmember wants Harrison to take questions at multiple public meetings, explain his familiarity with the details of that departments consent decree, and assess his ability to explicitly address institutional racism and bias within the police department and between the police department and the community. At Dillard University in 2014, Harrison told a gymnasium full of black boys, Everybody has stories about being stopped for the color of our skin or being stopped for reasons we dont know." Some of the other black men on stage contradicted themselves: following stories of being harassed by police with instructions to the boys to not let their pants sag. But Harrison told the boy who asked, What makes a person look suspicious? that We look at suspicious behavior, not how youre dressed or how youre groomed per se. Well, theoretically. Thered have been no consent decree if New Orleans police had really been responding just to suspicious behaviors. But if we ever get to the point where were not under a consent decree anymore, Harrison will deserve most of the credit. Jarvis DeBerry is a columnist on the Latitude team at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Latitude is a place to share opinions about the challenges facing Louisiana. Follow @LatitudeNOLA on Facebook and Twitter. Write Jarvis at jdeberry@nola.com or @jarvisdeberry. In 2017, the number of babies born in the United States dropped to its lowest level yet. A new report published Thursday (Jan. 10) says that the current fertility rate in the U.S. is not high enough for the population to be able to replace itself. The total fertility rate, which is based on birth certificates, in the U.S. last year was 1,765.5 births per 1,000 women, a rate about 16 percent lower than what is considered necessary to keep population numbers at the same level. For that to happen, the fertility rate has to be about 2,100 births per 1,000 women of childbearing age over their lifetime, according to the National Vital Statistics Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. South Dakota (with a rate of 2,227.5) and Utah (with a rate of 2,120) were the only states with fertility rates higher than the national replacement level. Louisianas fertility rate was also well below that level in 2017 at 1,876 per 1,000 women. The research also broke down fertility rates among different demographics. No states reported fertility rates higher than the replacement level among non-Hispanic white women. There were 12 states where the rate was above the replacement level among non-Hispanic black women and among Hispanic women 29 states had fertility rates higher than the replacement level. The CDC did not point to any specific factors in its reports that have led to the continued decline in the countrys fertility rate. The fertility rate in 2017 was the lowest since 1987, according to the CDC. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Doctors point to a variety of factors that has led to decline in the fertility rate in the United States. Women are waiting later in life to have children, they are putting careers first, said Dr. Veronica Gillispie, OBGYN, and the Director of Quality for Womens Services with Ochsner Health System. The older a woman gets there may be a decrease in fertility, she said. The availability of different methods of contraception and increase in sexual education are also likely contributing factors. A separate report from the CDC showed that the number of births in the U.S. in 2017 was 3.85 million, down by 2 percent from 2016 and the lowest number in 30 years. Gillespie said that other factors that could be contributing to the decline could be access to health care in rural areas, as well as insurance coverage for fertility treatment among women who choose to conceive a child later in life. I think in general these numbers will balance out after a while. I dont foresee any long-term effects of this, she said. But that is still to be determined to see if it balances out. Two elderly Pearl River residents escaped their burning home Thursday night (Jan. 10) but several dogs perished, St. Tammany Parish Fire District 11 reported. Firefighters responded to the blaze in the 65000 block of Louisiana 41 Spur around 10:30 p.m. and found the home engulfed in flames, the fire department said on its Facebook page. Fire crews knocked the blaze down, but the structure became unstable, authorities said. The blaze was eventually placed under control and completely extinguished with assistance from Fire Districts 1 and 7. The two elderly occupants of the home got out safely, but several dogs did not survive the fire, Fire District 11 said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. One way Louisiana could close its pay gap between men and women in Louisiana is to prohibit businesses from banning the discussions of wages and salaries among their employees, according to advocates for gender pay equity. If people could discuss their compensation with each other, women would be more likely to know whether they were being paid as much as men for the same type of work. At least thats the idea behind Gov. John Bel Edwards' push to provide pay transparency in Louisiana. Ill be advancing legislation to eliminate pay secrecy by prohibiting employers from taking action against employees for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing their wages or another employees wages, Edwards, a Democrat, said Monday (Jan. 7) at the Baton Rouge Press Club. Edwards proposed, and failed to pass, the same legislation in 2017 and 2018. Here's why you can't 'explain away' the gender wage gap in Louisiana, U.S., report says Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2017 found Louisiana women working full-time had median weekly earnings of $686. Thats 77.4 percent of what their male counterparts were paid. The difference was the fourth-largest in the U.S., behind Utah, Wyoming and Washington state. Other studies show Louisiana has one of the largest pay gaps between men and women in the country. Business lobbyists have argued a new law is unnecessary because existing federal law prohibits retaliation against some types of employees for discussing wages at work. They also say it will open up employers to many more lawsuits from disgruntled employees. A lot of times when workers start discussion of salaries with each other it creates dissension in the workforce, said Renee Amar, director of small business for the Louisiana Association Business and Industry. Edwards' pay secrecy proposal is part of an overall strategy to promote equal compensation between men and women, a priority for the governor. The governor has also unsuccessfully backed requiring private businesses to pay women and men in the same jobs the same amount of money. Those proposals have received more attention than the pay secrecy proposals, though they are meant to work in tandem. At current pace, Louisiana women won't see equal pay until 2115: study Supporters say the proposals to end pay secrecy should be more palpable to the business community than traditional equal pay measures. It would allow the free market to work better, said Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, who is expected to sponsor the equal pay legislation this year. If employers cant ban women and men from talking about their pay, then women will have a better chance of knowing whether they are being compensated fairly, Morrell said. If they arent, they can go work for another company, Morrell said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Because of pay secrecy, many women dont know that they are being underpaid, Morrell said in an interview Tuesday. Theres widespread agreement that many employers dont necessarily realize they arent allowed to ban the discussion of compensation among their employees under federal law. Amar said the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry partnered with the United Way to educate employers on that federal provision last year, after discovering many people didnt realize it existed. The organization held seminars all over the state. I know that there are employers that have policies that say you cant talk about compensation. However, they are violating the National Labor Relations Act, said William Corbett, a LSU law professor that focuses on labor and employment issues. Minimum wage hike, equal pay bills fail in Louisiana Senate In 2014, NPR reported that punishments for violating the National Labor Relations Act are not usually severe enough to necessarily deter an employer from trying to prohibit wage discussion. The federal law contains exceptions that state legislation could address as well. Smaller companies -- specifically retailers, transportation companies, child care establishments and health care providers -- are not prohibited from banning conversations about wages amongst employees. Supervisors, managers and agricultural workers arent protected under the federal law either. Corbett also said the federal law only applies to private businesses, not public sector workers. In Louisiana, state employees are allowed to discuss wages with each other under an existing law, but other types of government employees -- including public school teachers and local government workers -- arent covered by that statute. Corbett said he believes issues of pay secrecy has become a hot topic in recent years because former President Barack had tried to implement more transparency around compensation when he was in office. Obama put an executive order in place that prohibited federal government contractors from retaliating against employees who discussed their compensation with each other. He also directed the U.S. Department of Labor to collect more information from employers about compensation with race and gender breakdowns. When President Trump came into office, he reversed those reporting requirements. Members of Louisianas congressional delegation say planned flood and hurricane risk reduction projects in the state would not be in jeopardy under a White House proposal to divert money and other resources from the Army Corps of Engineers to build a 315-mile barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Trump administration brought forward the proposal Thursday (Jan. 10) as their stalemate with Congress over border wall funding continued and the resulting partial government shutdown headed toward a fourth week. President Donald Trump has said he would declare border security a national emergency if lawmakers wont provide $5.7 billion to construct the wall. He has directed officials to find the money to complete the task if Congress wont. Democrats have resisted providing the amount Trump wants for the wall, while the president refuses to end a shutdown in which some 800,000 federal government workers have been furloughed or forced to work without pay. NBC News, The Washington Post and other news outlets reported Thursday that Defense Department officials reviewed a plan with the president that would take money and manpower from Corps of Engineers projects that have been approved but not yet funded. They include disaster recovery work in Puerto Rico, where rebuilding continues after Hurricane Maria in 2017, and flood protection and prevention along rivers in California. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, said via text message Friday that major Louisiana projects, such as the Comite River Division Canal near Baton Rouge and the Westshore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane risk reduction system, are not on the chopping block. We have been in constant communication with the Corps, OMB (Office of Management and Budget) and White House, Graves said. Otherwise, (it) would make a really awkward trip for POTUS on Monday. Graves was referencing Trumps scheduled appearance at the American Farm Bureau Federations annual conference in New Orleans on Monday. Matt Wolking, a spokesman for Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said in an email that funding for corps work in Louisiana, including the Comite and Westshore projects, has already been set aside. Indications are that the money for the border wall would come from unobligated Army Corps funds, Wolking added. Cassidy wrote Friday afternoon on Twitter that he was seeking further clarification from the White House. Funds for dredging along the Mississippi River are traditionally vulnerable to the whims of budget debates, with shipping interests annually pushing for additional resources to ensure waterways are navigable for deep draft ships. Questions to the corps about whether the White House emergency plan to pay for a border wall could impact money for local dredging were forwarded to Army headquarters in Washington. Sean Duffy leads the Big River Coalition, an umbrella group of port and business organizations along the Mississippi. He said he hasnt heard much specific about diverting dredging money for Trumps border wall, but doing so would clearly threaten work coalition members have deemed a priority. The current federal budget includes $147 million for dredging, jetty repair and rock work on the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge south to the Gulf of Mexico. Duffy singled out a dredging project at Southwest Pass as most pressing. Were short of funding right now. Taking funding will not help matters, Duffy said. ... We need at least another $30 million just for dredging. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up A week ago, a deep-draft vessel was grounded on the Lower Mississippi. Heavy fog at the time contributed to a backup of 50 ships trying to enter or leave the river. Local corps spokesman Ricky Boyett said in an email that dredging operations have been increased in response to river conditions. There are four dredges working in the area with plans to extend the contract of one of them. Fog back in late December and early January prevented corps dredging and surveying work, he said. We are working to address the shoaling from time lost during the fog as well as extending the operations to try and get ahead of the increased sediment heading our way, Boyett said. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said Thursday night via email that he had not received word from the White House that any project in Louisiana was in danger of losing funding. Lauren Fine, a spokeswoman for House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said Scalise agreed with President Trump that Congress needs to solve the crisis at the border wall. Fine did not address whether any Army Corps work in Louisiana could have its funding redirected under a possible emergency declaration from the president. Rep. Cedric Richmond of New Orleans, the only Democrat in the states congressional delegation, had not responded to a request for comment. Watching the border wall standoff unfold is the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. The guidance and approval of the Corps of Engineers is key to much of the bolstering and rebuilding work it oversees. Chip Kline, interim CPRA chairman, said in an email that he doesnt see the wisdom of using what he considers critical infrastructure projects as leverage in a political showdown. If the goal of the Presidents standoff at the border is to improve the safety of Americans, then it makes no sense to penalize already approved wildfire and flood projects that will make Americans safer and more resilient. This proposal should be a nonstarter," said Kline, who is also Gov. John Bel Edwards' interim adviser on coastal restoration. Should Trump follow through with an emergency declaration, Democrats are expected to bring lawsuits challenging his executive powers. Fine said Scalise believes the president has such authority under limited circumstances, although she did not specify whether border security was one of those situations. - Mark Scheifstein, Drew Broach and Bob Warren contributed to this report. As an Eagle Scout and a lifeguard, Patrick Carroll received life-saving training countless times. But it wasnt until he saw a young boy unconscious in a Slidell pool last summer that he had to put his skills to use. Carroll, then 17 years old, initiated CPR on the boy, with the teamwork of three fellow lifeguards who helped rescue the boy at the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana in Slidell in June 2018. Carroll, along with lifeguards Jaslyn Bright, Jack DeBen and Patrick Kelly were recognized for their life-saving efforts during a ceremony Thursday morning (Jan. 10) at the American Red Cross New Orleans office in Mid-City. The award, one of the highest given by the organization, recognizes individuals who save or sustain a life by using skills learned in an American Red Cross Training course, said Joshua Joachim, the regional chief executive of the American Red Cross of Louisiana. Its one thing to be trained and know how to save a life, Joachim said. In the case of these four mentioned honorees, its the bravery to take action that we celebrate today. Carroll and DeBen, manager of the pool, performed two-rescuer CPR until the boy started to breathe. EMS then transported the boy to the hospital for further treatment. This is a rare thing that happens, DeBen said of the rescue, noting that in his 16 years as manager of the pool, this was the first rescue of a passive drowning victim. Training was good and it worked, he said. DeBen, who has volunteered with American Red Cross for nearly 25 years, trained Carroll, Kelly and Bright as lifeguards. 'It can happen in minutes:' After 5 children die in New Orleans area drownings, experts discuss safety Kelly, a four-year letterman on Pope John Paul II High Schools swim team, helped clear the pool as his fellow lifeguards performed CPR. Despite his swimming skills, Kelly said it was his instinct that kicked in to save the boy. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Its hard to describe, Kelly, a senior at the Slidell school, said of the rescue. You just do it. Though he has been lifeguarding for three years, his dad, Rick Kelly, said it wasnt the first time his son saved a life. He recalled when his son jumped into a pool at a birthday party to save a drowning boy when he was seven years old and another time when he was eight. Bright, who called 911 that day, said she was grateful that their rescue efforts were successful. Bright, now a sophomore at Louisiana College, lifeguarded at the pool during her summer break. Karen Carroll said her son Patricks award brought her to tears, explaining that his ability to save a life made her especially proud after the death of her other son in March 2018. I was so happy that he saved a young boys life because we couldnt save my son, she said, referring to her other son who died due to complications of pneumonia in March 2018. Karen Carroll said she was thankful and blessed for her sons recent achievement, on top of him becoming an Eagle Scout. Both of my boys got wings," she said. President Donald Trumps visit to New Orleans on Monday (Jan. 14) for a convention appearance is expected to close down Convention Center Boulevard for several hours. Officials with the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center said the road will be closed between 5 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., the length of the convention center between Julia and Henderson streets. Drivers also should expect intermittent closures" Monday of surrounding streets in the Central Business District and I-10, New Orleans authorities said. Trump is scheduled to appear at the American Farm Bureau Federations 100th annual convention. His speech is scheduled from 9:55 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., according to the groups website. The event is open to Farm Bureau members only. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes and to plan ahead for heavy traffic and delays, the city said. When Vice President Mike Pence visited New Orleans in 2017, Interstate 10 had rolling closures from the airport in Kenner to downtown while his motorcade was on the road. Sections of I-10 were closed when he returned to the airport as well. In addition, Jefferson Parish authorities closed down roads that crossed under the interstate while the vice president was traveling. Authorities declined to say if the plan is similar Monday for Trumps visit. Shiloh Perry, a media relations specialist with the Farm Bureau, said Trump is expected to take part in the conventions general session on Monday. The group expects more than 6,000 attendees for its convention and trade show, which begins Friday. This will mark the second year in a row that Trump has spoken at the Farm Bureau convention. Last year, he was in Nashville, Tennessee, for the event. The visit will also put a day-long pause on an ongoing $557 million convention center construction project, officials said. The work includes building a 7.5-acre linear park along Convention Center Boulevard, reconfiguring the road as one lane in each direction, in addition to improvements to the facility itself. See plans for the New Orleans Convention Center's 5-year, $557 million upgrade Note: This story has been updated with additional information from authorities. Teachers, students and families of Raphael Village gathered Thursday (Jan. 10) to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new facility at 530 Jackson Ave. that will provide vocational training and job opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Irish Channel facility will be called The Town Center and is planned to include a community cafe with a catering kitchen, vocational and job training classrooms, on-site artist workshops, as well as administrative offices for Raphael Village, a nonprofit that began in 2012 as an after-school program for students with disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome. The Town Center will be 5,000 square feet once it is completed and was financed through a $2 million capital campaign. Construction is set to begin later this year. The project is an extension of Raphael Villages current programs, which include a school called Raphael Academy for students with intellectual disabilities in Pre-K through first grade, and fifth through 12th grade. A separate program called The Guild at Raphael Village provides day programming for adults with intellectual disabilities. Through this program Guild members are also able to work and volunteer in different businesses throughout the community including Whole Foods, Wild Lotus Yoga Studio, and the Louisiana SPCA. The program was part of a vision that started eight years ago to provide a space where individuals who are differently-abled could reach their full potential in our community and feel supported by and integrated to this community, Jacqueline Case, the co-founder of Raphael Village, said during the groundbreaking. John Melton, chairman of the board of Raphael Village, said his daughter Leah has attended school at Raphael Village for six years. Although its still difficult to get her up at 6 a.m. to go to school he joked, by the time she gets into the car, she has a spring in her step. I think every parent like us is looking for the perfect school where our children not just survive, but truly thrive, he said. Where they see the whole person first, not the disability. The only likeness of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, the European founder of New Orleans, hangs inside a gold frame at the Historic New Orleans collection in the French Quarter. The tired-eyed, middle-aged Canadian colonialist is wearing polished black armor befitting a man whod seen New World combat, plus the white bow tie, frilly lace sleeves and a curly white wig of a well-born Old World aristocrat. What you cant see in the portrait are the retired sailors scary snake tattoos. In his 1720 logbook a French admiral tells us that Bienville was inked in a style similar to the American Indians of the Mississippi River region. According to the admiral, when Bienville went into battle with the residents, he stripped off his shirt to let the ominous reptiles on his body be seen, just like his opponents did. Inky intimidation versus inky intimidation. That tattoo revelation (it was a revelation to me anyway) is the first thing youll read in Jason Berrys tricentennial history book City of A Million Dreams, which, among many other things, describes Bienvilles gritty struggle to get a European trade colony to take root in the cotton mouth-infested mudflat that we now call home. In a recent telephone conversation, Berry said that he suspects Bienville hired a native artist to apply his reptilian tats. Why wouldnt he? He may have just sat down, smoked the peace pipe and said, Hey, why dont you put some of those snakes on me. And if you think the buzzing needles they use in tattoo parlors down on Frenchmen Street these days sting, imagine being inked with a bone needle and soot like they did back then. Who knows, Berry said, Bienville may have begun getting native-style tattoos way back when he was a kid in Canada, where the Huron people commonly wore body art. As Berry wrote, Bienville was born to a wealthy colonist in Montreal. He was orphaned by ten and became a naval cadet by twelve. At age 19 hed tagged along with his big brother Iberville on an exhausting, life-threatening voyage up the Mississippi river, pausing at Mardi Gras Point near what is now Buras on Fat Tuesday 1699. Where was the first Mardi Gras? A tricentennial history adventure By age 38 Bienville was commanding conscripted French convicts to chop down the weeds along whats now Decatur Street or thereabouts in order to plant the flag and found a future city. It was so long ago that Tujagues wasnt even in business yet. Bienville was the on-again, off-again governor of the territory for four decades. During which he was accused of graft. As Berry coyly put it: His jaded view of local law foreshadowed Louisianas floor show of political corruption. Corrupt or not, Bienvilles rule would help cement European dominance of the region with New Orleans as its hub. Which for the myriad native nations that were subjugated and the Africans who were brought here as slaves would lead to a multi-century cataclysm. The swashbuckling 1955 bronze statue of Bienville in the French Quarter tellingly includes a deflated-looking native American. In current times, those who disdain tattooed newcomers will have to accept that, for good or ill, tattooed newcomers represent the very oldest New Orleans tradition. Berry, who was born and raised in New Orleans, attended Jesuit High and has no tattoos, said his whole book is largely about the blend of newcomers and old timers in the evolution of the city. New Orleans is the classic melting pot, he said, made stronger by its diversity. On the other hand, he said, the current fear of gentrification is legitimate, because if older Crescent City communities, especially African-American communities, are priced out, age-old traditions from gospel music to Mardi Gras Indians could fade away. City of a Million Dreams tells New Orleans like it is Doug MacCash has the best job in the world, covering art, music and culture in New Orleans. Contact him via email at dmaccash@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter at Doug MacCash and on Facebook at Douglas James MacCash. As always, please add your point of view to the comment stream. In Netflixs The Last Laugh, Chevy Chase and Richard Dreyfuss are two desperate old show-biz has-beens who set out for one last taste of glory. It just so happens thats the plot of writer-director Greg Pritikins New Orleans-shot road comedy, too. As for whether their characters find what they're looking for -- well, you'll have to watch for yourself; you'll find no spoilers here. In real life, though, it's unlikely anyone associated with Pritikin's geezer comedy will achieve anything resembling glory from what ends up as a good-hearted but largely uninspired, by-the-numbers bit of Netflix filler. Safe to say, it will not go down as the next "Birdbox" or "Bandersnatch," those buzz-generating Netflix phenomena that have people talking, Tweeting and crafting internet memes. It'll be lucky if it gets many people younger than 60 to even pay attention. That's not to say "The Last Laugh" is a flat-out terrible movie, necessarily. It's just a tame, unimaginative one -- a low-budget cinematic shrug that has nothing new to offer. When 'SNL' visited New Orleans -- and got out-crazied by Mardi Gras Chase stars as Al Hart, a fading manager for stand-up comedians whose heyday was back when guys named Shecky and Jackie ruled the comedy circuit. Alas, those days are long past for him. When we meet Al, his well-meaning granddaughter (Kate Micucci) is gently doing her best to put him out to pasture at the Palm Sunshine retirement community. Naturally, he is mortified by the idea. ("I've always been hip, you know that," he insists.) And, naturally, he relents -- otherwise we wouldn't have a movie, would we? It's at Palm Sunshine that Al reunites with an old client of his, Buddy Green (Dreyfuss), a once-promising comic who, we learn, chucked it all and became a podiatrist just as his comedy career was about to explode, way back in the days when "The Ed Sullivan Show" was still a thing. (Podiatrist: That's what passes for quirky in "The Last Laugh.") In short order, Al and Buddy decide to bolt from Palm Sunshine and hit the road for a cross-country comedy tour and that last moment in the spotlight. The pot of gold at the end of their asphalt rainbow: a spot for Buddy on "The Tonight Show," which Al -- although allegedly a showbiz veteran -- naively thinks he can book with a cold call from the road. What we end up with is an episodic collection of sequences in which they drive from Los Angeles to New York, playing at various comedy clubs along the way, everywhere from Tijuana to Texas to Chicago. (But, oddly, never New Orleans, even though the bulk of the film was shot here.) It all might work as a movie if Buddy had decent material. Alas, his comic sensibilities -- which focus mostly on catheters, Viagra and other topics for the Geritol set -- generate more chuckles than actual laughs. Along the way, there are no real surprises to be found, as "The Last Laugh" hits all the expected beats, from Al's newfound lady love (Andie MacDowell, as a Kansas hippie) to the inevitable and predictable third-act revelation that I won't detail here. (OK, I'll admit: I didn't see the freaky-deaky magic mushroom sequence coming. But that's about it.) At times, "The Last Laugh" flirts ever-so-briefly with poignance, as Chase's character grapples with the evaporation of his career. "I'm one of those guys that didnt work to live," his character says in a nicely conceived, nicely performed third-act monologue. "I lived to work. But now I don't work, which means I have to figure out how to live. So I don't have a (expletive) life right now. But I need one." Given the trajectory of Chases real-life career -- in which he went from Saturday Night Live supernova and the star of such enduring comedies of Caddyshack, Fletch and the Vacation movies to, today, a Hollywood pariah branded with the dreaded label of difficult -- there was a tantalizing opportunity there for a bit of touching, thought-provoking drama. Like pretty much everything else in "The Last Laugh," however, that opportunity is squandered. ________ THE LAST LAUGH, 2 stars, out of 5 Snapshot: Chevy Chase and Richard Dreyfuss star in a road comedy about two show-biz veterans -- one a former stand-up comedian, the other a former talent manager -- who bolt from their retirement home for one last turn in the spotlight. What works: It's a well-meaning film, and there are a handful of chuckles to be had along the way. What doesnt: The script is predictable and unimaginative, and the laughs just aren't what they should be in what ends up as an uninspired, by-the-numbers bit of Netflix filler. Starring: Chase, Dreyfuss, Kate Micucci, Andie MacDowell, Lewis Black, Chris Parnell. Director: Greg Pritikin. MPAA rating: Unrated, warrants PG-13 for language, sexual humor and scenes of drug use. Running time: 1 hour 38 minutes. When and where: Arrives Friday (Jan. 11) on Netflix. Very few New Orleans students can say theyve interacted with the actors of Broadway plays beyond the stage, but one school in the city gave its students a firsthand experience with the professionals this week. More than 50 theater students and alumni from Lusher Charter School Wednesday (Jan. 9) had an opportunity to learn about the award-winning musical Les Miserables from cast members of the show thats in town through Sunday, Jan. 13. A.J. Allegra, Lushers theatre teacher, moderated questions from students eager to learn from Paige Smallwood, who plays Eponine, and Stavros Koumbaros, who plays Joly and Marius. Its a great opportunity for the kids to see people that arent much older than themselves that are succeeding in the business, Allegra said. Their professional dreams are a lot closer than they might otherwise see. The students asked Smallwood and Koumbaros several questions about their experiences, including the audition process, their job security, and what they enjoy most about performing in the musical based on Victor Hugos epic French novel. The students laughed when Koumbaros said his favorite moment is the final battle when we all die on stage. Its like if youre playing cops and robbers or something like that as a kid, but its fully realized, Koumbaros said. The actors told students that they have to practice fighting and gunplay choreography as well as their songs to perform in the show. Some students gasped when Smallwood said the guns used weigh at least 20 pounds. Koumbaros told students that professional shows and shows in high school are pretty much the same in terms of relationships with colleagues. Smallwood said the main difference is that actors on tour are still with their colleagues on days off stage. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Both actors said they enjoy the opportunity to travel and explore different cultures nationwide. They advised students that their career is really difficult, but they encouraged students to pursue theater if its what theyre passionate about today. Getting employed is the easy part but staying employed is the hard part, Smallwood said. Some of the students present already had experience in theater beyond New Orleans. Lusher senior Rohan Padmakumar last year performed Shakespeare at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater in Lincoln Center in New York City after being placed as a finalist at the 35th Annual National Shakespeare Competition on William Shakespeares birthday. Who better to tell me what the right steps are to take then people who have done it themselves and done it successfully, said Padmakumar, 17. New staging is a refreshing surprise as 'Les Miserables' returns to Saenger 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. Martin "Fess" Sawyer, who stepped behind a French Quarter bar in the 1940s and kept serving drinks until 2005, died Dec. 25 at home. He was 97 years old. Literacy was what led Sawyer to the liquor business. In the mid-1940s, the New Orleans native, who as a boy had lived through the Great Flood of 1927, was looking for a job. He had been working in a local shipyard, but as World War II was ending, the shipbuilding business was slowing down. A friend had gotten a bartending job at Bourbon Street's 500 Club, owned by Louis Prima's older brother Leon. The friend, however, could not read the orders from the waitresses, so he convinced Sawyer to be his barback at the club and read off the drinks. Sawyer watched carefully and learned to make the drinks himself, even though the friend tried to hide the recipes from him. Once Sawyer knew the cocktails, he became a bartender himself. "Back in those days, for an African-American to acquire that kind of job was a great career income-wise," said his son, Martin Sawyer Jr. "For him to have that opportunity, that was a golden opportunity." In 1949, Sawyer was working at the 500 Club on the Friday before Mardi Gras. He was given the task of sneaking in a special musical guest: Louis Armstrong, who would reign that year as King of Zulu. The ones on the outside were banging to get in to hear Armstrong, Sawyer recalled in a short documentary called Marsaw produced by the Southern Foodways Alliance (see video below). Sawyer went on to work at Stormy's Casino Royale, Club Kelsto and Brennan's. In 1971, he was hired for the bar at the Rib Room inside the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. He stayed there until 2005, when he retired after Hurricane Katrina struck the city. Although he dropped out of high school during the Great Depression to work, Sawyer was self-taught and an avid reader. "He was able to communicate with people from a wide range of cultures," his son said. While at the Rib Room, Sawyer would sell regular customers tamales he made or jars of his barbecue sauce. Sometimes, customers would trade game they had hunted for the sauce. Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In the documentary, filmed in the summer of 2005, Sawyer said that he couldn't even guess how many customers he had served over his 63-year career. "You know it's over a million people. It would have to be," he said. For most of his bartending career, Sawyer made classic cocktails, like Old Fashioneds, Brandy Alexanders and Pink Ladies. Later in the 20th century, the number of drinks he had to learn grew exponentially. "Now they've got goo gobs of drinks," he said in the documentary. "Can't keep up with them." Sawyer was particularly proud of a drink he invented called the Marsaw, a portmanteau of his first and last names. The cocktail combined bourbon, strawberry syrup and almond syrup over crushed ice. With the drink, he won a competition at the hotel, beating out the rest of the bartenders. A recipe for the drink was included in the 2013 book "Treme: Stories and Recipes from the Heart of New Orleans" by Lolis Eric Elie. In 2005, the Southern Foodways Alliance honored Sawyer with its Ruth Fertel Keeper of the Flame Award. Services for Sawyer were held at the Estelle J. Wilson Funeral Home on Jan. 4. Sawyer is survived by his children, Alphonse J. Harris Sr., Eugene Harris Sr., Laura A. Sawyer, and Martin Sawyer Jr., all of New Orleans, and 12 grandchildren. Centrul de Instruire Continua in Domeniul Electoral, cu suportul financiar al PNUD Moldova, anunta concurs de granturi mici pentru biblioteci A Dec. 6 letter to the judge and monitors overseeing NOPDs federal consent decree tells them the mayor, NOPD superintendent and New Orleans City Council expect the judge to find NOPD has reached full compliance in the very near future. The letter, written by New Orleans City Attorney Sunni LeBeouf on behalf of Mayor LaToya Cantrell, NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison and City Councilmembers Helena Moreno and Jason Williams, also provided an accounting of the cost of the consent decree since it was entered into in early 2013 over $55 million. Addressed to U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, lead monitor Jonathan Aronie and U.S. Department of Justices Jude Volek, the letter included a breakdown of some of those costs, such as travel for monitors, some of whom fly in monthly, at the Citys expense, the monitors monthly Sheraton Hotel costs, their daily meals, and their Uber and taxi costs. The letter also gently asked monitors to back off in certain areas, suggesting they have at times involved themselves in issues not related to the decree. Aronies response to the letter both letters were filed in court Thursday (Jan. 10) gives no confirmation that full compliance is coming especially soon, and reminds city officials that NOPD still has work to do. As you know, substantial work remains to be done in, among other areas, bias-free policing, community policing, performance evaluations, and stops, searches, and arrests before the NOPD will achieve compliance with the Consent Decrees requirements, Aronie wrote in the response, dated Dec. 13. While we cannot say, based on our monitoring, that the Department will be in full and effective compliance in those areas in the very near future, we certainly agree the Departments overall progress to date has been admirable especially considering the Departments slow start." Aronies letter does not respond to the LeBeoufs list of costs the city has incurred since it entered into the consent decree in 2013 after the Department of Justice investigation found a systematic pattern of civil rights abuses and biased policing. Mary Howell, a member of the board of the National Police Accountability Project and civil rights attorney whose career has focused on representing people whose rights have been violated by the NOPD, told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune the citys letter mentions the cost of the consent decree but lacks context about the cost of unconstitutional policing, via lawsuits or otherwise. Having a police department that was widely reputed to be among the worst, if not the worst, in the nation is an expensive and unacceptable position for any city to be in. And we were in that position for a long time, Howell said. The consent decree, she said, is a good long-term investment." The process also should not be rushed, she said. NOPD has made major progress under consent decree, but more work ahead, monitors say LeBeoufs letter cites the NOPDs own figure of 93 percent compliance to suggest full compliance is near. The figure comes from NOPDs compliance bureau, which works with monitors but serves an internal function. The monitors make their own assessments, which the judge follows. Aronie said the basis for LeBeouf citing the 93 percent figure was unclear. Regarding the suggestion that monitors were operating outside their bounds, LeBeouf wrote: It appears that lines have been blurred over the years, and the Citys questions about certain matters in which the monitors and Court are currently dedicating time and resources are often met with disdain, the letter states. In response to LeBeoufs suggestion, Aronie said monitors agree their work should remain within the parameters of the consent decree and constitutional policing and suggests they havent crossed that line. He wrote monitors have kept their specific role in mind every day, while vigilantly adhering to their job providing oversight. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up LeBeouf also requested the city attorneys office be copied on any correspondence between monitors and NOPD. She also asked that the city be advised of any scheduled meetings ahead of time. Aronie flatly denied those requests in his response. The consent decree calls for full and direct access to city and NOPD staff that has allowed for frank and candid discussions, Aronie noted. Looping in a city attorney could risk creating a chilling effect on NOPD and City personnel, he said. Similarly, we also cannot agree to your request to be notified of all meetings with the court and/or with the monitors, Aronie wrote, noting the consent decree grants the monitors access to on-site visits without prior notice to the City and NOPD. While we conduct unannounced visits only rarely, the continued availability of this tool is important to ensure the monitoring team is able to assess the substance of NOPDs performance without concern that compliance has been staged for our benefit. Since Harrison has been chief, federal monitors relationship with NOPD has been good with praise of NOPD leadership by Morgan at nearly every quarterly public hearing. In their most recent public statements about the consent decree, the judge and monitors have said NOPD still has work to do, but they have commended the department for impressive strides. Morgan acknowledged in May NOPD is approaching full compliance and going above and beyond in some areas -- but is not yet there. Its unclear what prompted the letter penned by LeBeouf, though some observers say it could be a demonstration by a new mayor asserting herself in relationships between the city, NOPD, the federal judge and monitors. While the citys letter to the judge and monitors touched on a variety of issues, its stated purpose was specific: The city asked that a Jan. 25 public hearing not be televised on public access TV. LeBeouf wrote that a televised meeting should more appropriately occur concurrent with a compliance determination, meaning the meeting when the judge determines NOPD is fully compliant should be televised, not before. Since the city has the resources to televise a meeting, Aronie wrote in his response, the monitors and judge would honor that request. Media, including TV stations, would be invited to attend, he noted. Once Morgan has determined NOPD has reached full compliance with the consent decree, federal oversight will remain in New Orleans for at least two more years during a period referred to as sustained compliance, to ensure the reforms stay in place. As Cantrell looks to announce a new police superintendent on Monday following news of Michael Harrisons departure, Howell, of the National Police Accountability Project, said the new NOPD leaders stance on the consent decree is critically important. Howell hopes, she said, the city and new chief have a good working relationship, going forward. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated NOPD has been under a consent decree since 2012. The agreement was entered into in January 2013. One of two murder suspects remained at large Thursday (Jan. 10) as a grand jury charged the pair with the shooting death of a Little Woods store clerk during a robbery last fall. Frank Sams Jr., 25, and Farnell Jackson Jr., 19, were indicted on charges of second-degree murder, armed robbery and obstruction of justice in the deadly Sept. 18 robbery at a New Orleans East gas station, the Orleans Parish District Attorneys office said in a news release. The seven-count indictment, which also charges Sams with being a felon in possession of a handgun, was handed up after Assistant DA Inga Petrovich presented the case to the grand jury. Man killed in Little Woods shooting, New Orleans police say According to New Orleans police, two men, later identified as Sams and Jackson, entered the Fuel Express Mart, 7220 Hayne Boulevard, about 1:20 a.m. Sept. 18. Olah Bessid, 58, was working behind the counter. Surveillance video shows the men pushing Bessid into a corner, where Bessid was shot in the head before the pair tried and failed to open the stores cash register, the DAs office said. The two stole cigarettes and other items before fleeing the scene, according to the DAs office. Jackson turned himself in to police the next day, after a relative recognized Jackson as one of the gunmen in surveillance images distributed to the media. Authorities in November announced a search for Sams, naming him as a second suspect in the robbery and shooting that left Bessid fatally shot at his workplace. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Sams is believed to have fled the state, the District Attorneys Office said Thursday in a news release. Police seek 2nd suspect in fatal shooting at Little Woods gas station After the indictment was read Thursday, Ad hoc Orleans Criminal District Judge Dennis Waldron increased Jacksons bond from $350,000 to $500,000. The judge issued a no-bond capias warrant for Sams arrest. Such warrants are often issued for failure to appear in court. According to Orleans Parish court records, Sams has failed to make a series of scheduled probation status hearings in connection with prior drug and gun convictions, stretching back to June and continuing through last month. Sams in 2017 received a suspended 10-year sentence along with five years of active probation for 2014 convictions of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being a felon in possession of a gun, court records show. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Frank Sams Jr. is asked to call NOPD Homicide Detective Everett Briscoe at 504-658-5300 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867. Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. An 82-year-old man was charged Thursday (Jan. 10) with raping and committing other sex crimes against a 6-year-old girl in the Leonidas neighborhood, according to the Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office. Blanton Roosevelt III is accused of first-degree rape, sexual battery of a juvenile under 13 and indecent behavior with a juvenile under 13 in a three-count indictment handed up by a New Orleans grand jury. Assistant DA Payal Patel presented the case to the grand jury. According to the DAs office, the indictment alleges that Roosevelt sexually abused the girl from early 2017 through September of last year, when the girl was between the ages of 4 and 6. Roosevelt was arrested Sept. 19, the same day that a relative walked into a room to find Roosevelt in the act of abusing the child, the DAs office said, citing information from NOPD investigators. The Sept. 19 incident led to the indecent behavior charge. The girl subsequently disclosed other incidents of sexual abuse, leading to the rape and sexual battery charges. Roosevelt was booked Sept. 19 into the Orleans Justice Center jail but was released after posting a $32,500 bond. After the indictment was read Thursday, Ad hoc Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Dennis Waldron set Roosevelts bond at $155,000. Roosevelt had not been booked into jail as of Thursday evening, court records show. Roosevelt has been appointed representation by a public defender, court records show. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In a separate case, a New Orleans grand jury handed up an indictment this week accusing a 48-year-old man of sexually abusing a young girl beginning when she was 11 years old. The indictment charges Tharon McDowell with first-degree rape and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Assistant DA Naomi Jones presented the case to the grand jury. According to the DAs office, McDowell gained access to the victim through friendship with her family and abused the girl in at least two homes, one in Gentilly Terrace and the other in New Orleans East. Prosecutors believe the rape occurred between 2013 and 2015, when the girl was between the ages of 11 and 13. The other sexual abuse occurred between January 2015 and August 2018, when the victim was between 13 and 16 years old, the DAs office said in a news release. McDowell was arrested Sept. 5, after someone accessed McDowells text messages and discovered the sexual abuse, the DAs office said. He was freed after posting a bond set at $7,500. Waldron set McDowells bond at $125,000 after the indictment was read. McDowell remained at large Thursday afternoon. He is represented by a private attorney, Steve Smith. Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Posted Friday, January 11, 2019 10:02 am The Washington state Supreme Court has declined to immediately take up the lower-court ruling that killed Seattle's income tax and is instead sending the case to the Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court issued the order after meeting en banc Thursday, more than a year after the city petitioned for direct review. Seattle made its request in December 2017, after a King County Superior Court judge struck down the tax on well-off households, which the city hadn't yet begun to collect. Rather than appeal Judge John Ruhl's ruling to the Court of Appeals, the city went straight to the Supreme Court. Supporters have seen Seattle's case as an opportunity to break through the long-standing inability of Washington and its cities to tax the wealthy. For them, Thursday's order could be seen as a setback. "There's no way they can look at this and see any silver lining," said income-tax opponent Jason Mercier, director of the Center for Government Reform at the libertarian Washington Policy Center. But in a statement, City Attorney Pete Holmes said the city wouldn't be giving up. "While we felt the state Supreme Court was the most appropriate forum to address the constitutional issues we hope to resolve in this case, we're happy to first take our arguments to the Court of Appeals," Holmes said. "Whatever the outcome at the appellate court, either side will have the opportunity to petition our state Supreme Court for appeal." John Burbank, executive director of the progressive Economic Opportunity Institute, said direct review would have been best because Seattle and other cities need income taxes now. But Burbank said proponents should remain confident. "We continue to believe Seattle's income tax on the affluent is constitutional and legislatively permissible," he said. "Having said that, because the case will seriously impact our state's tax system, it's perfectly understandable that the Supreme Court wanted the Court of Appeals to consider this first." Matthew Davis, an attorney for one of the Seattle residents who sued over the city's tax, said he was surprised by the choice to punt on the high-profile case. The legal battle started after the Seattle City Council voted unanimously in July 2017 to adopt the 2.25 percent tax on total income above $250,000 for individuals and above $500,000 for married couples. The council, estimating the measure would raise about $140 million per year, promised to spend the money on housing, education and transit and to reduce other, more regressive taxes. Several Seattle residents almost immediately sued, some backed by conservative organizations, including the Olympia-based Freedom Foundation. In his Nov. 22, 2017, decision, Ruhl said the city lacked specific authority from the state Legislature to impose the income tax. The judge also said the tax violated a Washington law that bans taxes on net income. Seattle described the measure as an excise tax and sought to skirt the ban on taxing net income by taxing total income instead. Ruhl disagreed. The judge didn't take up the question of whether the tax violated the state constitution's requirement that taxes be uniform within the same class of property. Seattle's case might be considered a longshot. Washington voters have rejected income taxes more than once, and the Supreme Court decades ago ruled that income was property. At the Supreme Court, Seattle and its supporters hoped to attack that interpretation. A ruling for the city could open the door to statewide changes. Washington's tax system has been labeled the most regressive in the country by tax-reform think tanks, meaning low-income people pay a much higher percentage of their earnings than do affluent residents. And Seattle's tax system is the worst of any city in the state, Burbank said. "We have this incredible growth of private wealth but an inability to pay for public services," he said. Back in 2017, Seattle agreed to pay an outside law firm up to $250,000 to help defend the city's income tax. A Democratic state senator on Friday accused Gov. Phil Murphys chief of staff of lobbying him to help ease the pressure of the state Legislatures investigation into how Murphys team responded to Katie Brennans rape allegations. Murphys office said that characterization of that conversation is not true. State Sen. James Beach, D-Camden, said in a statement he called the chief of staff, Pete Cammarano, less than a month ago to seek Murphys support for legislation. But at the end of the conversation, Beach said, Cammarano asked the senator about his relationship with state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, New Jerseys highest-ranking state lawmaker. Mr. Cammarano asked me if I had any influence with Senator Sweeney and if I could get Steve Sweeney to ease up on him in the legislative investigation into the Alvarez matter," Beach said in his statement, referencing Albert J. Alvarez, the former Murphy administration official that Brennan has accused of raping her in 2017. Beach said he reported Cammaranos alleged comments to Marci Levin Hochman, the Legislatures first assistant counsel. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and Beach are both South Jersey lawmakers and allies of Camden County powerbroker George Norcross III, the most powerful non-elected official in the state. Beach is also chairman of Camden Countys Democratic Party. Sweeney and state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, convened the special legislative committee holding public hearings to examine how Murphys inner circle responded to Brennans allegations. Murphy, who has had a sometimes strenuous relationship with Sweeney and other Democratic lawmakers, has said his office will cooperate with the investigation as long as it doesnt get political. Sweeney declined comment Friday on Beachs remarks. Beachs statement comes a day after Cammarano testified a second time before the committee. During his five-hour appearance Thursday, Cammarano was grilled by lawmakers over why he didnt do more to stop Alvarez from being hired and then force him out of his job. Brennan, chief of staff to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, has said she repeatedly alerted Murphys team of her allegations but Alvarez remained chief of staff to the New Jersey Schools Schools Development Authority until October, when the Wall Street Journal asked him for comment on Brennans accusations. Cammarano is planning to step down next week, but said Thursday the Brennan investigation is not a reason why. Beach said Friday he was appalled to read the accounts of Cammaranos testimony. "His statement that the investigation has nothing to do with his resignation is disingenuous, if not outright dishonest, the senator said. There has been a complete lack of candor exhibited by Mr. Cammarano in his testimony, which is consistent with his self-serving attempt to have people ease up on him in the investigation, Beach added. Cammarano on Friday deferred comment to the governors office, which denied the allegation. Senator Beachs characterization of his conversation with Mr. Cammarano is not true," Murphy spokesman Dan Bryan said. "Pete has been completely honest and forthcoming cooperating with the legislative investigation, and has spent hours upon hours testifying in front of the committee in good faith." "Pete is a longtime public servant and this attempt at character assassination as he transitions to the private sector is unwarranted and uncalled for, Bryan added. NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphys chief ethics officer testified Thursday that the state Attorney Generals Office concluded the state did not have jurisdiction under Equal Employment Opportunity regulations to investigate the top Murphy staffer that Katie Brennan accused of raping her. Heather Taylor told a special legislative committee investigating the matter that she learned of Brennans allegations from Matt Platkin, Murphys chief counsel, on March 22 and promptly referred it to the attorney generals director of Equal Employment Opportunity. Brennan, chief of staff to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, told Platkin the night before that Albert J. Alvarez raped her after a Murphy campaign gathering in April 2017. Platkin recused himself from the matter because he was familiar with both Brennan and Alvarez. Taylor said the Attorney Generals Office got back to her a few days later, saying the state did not have jurisdiction to investigate under state EEO rules because neither Brennan nor Alvarez were state employees at the time Brennan says she was attacked and because it didnt take place on state property. Instead, Taylor said, the office suggested that perhaps the Murphy for Governor campaign could conduct an investigation, since Ms. Brennans alleged incident occurred during the campaign." Taylor said she passed that determination along to Platkin. I think he was disappointed, she said during her testimony at the Statehouse in Trenton. I think we were both disappointed. Taylor testified she didnt call Brennan with that update until April 24 after Brennan reached out to Platkin for an update. She stated that it was too bad that women do not have a recourse unless the incident occurs at work, Taylor said. Taylor conveyed that conversation with Brennan to Platkin later that day. A lawyer representing state senators on the committee said that in a text message to Platkin, Taylor noted Brennan did not indicate she was going to take her story to the press. Taylor testified that Platkin must have asked her to inquire about Brennans plans. I would not have put that in my text unless he had asked me the question, Taylor said. It was previously known that Taylor alerted Brennan the states hands were tied. But that the Attorney Generals Office made the determination was a new revelation Thursday. This marked the fourth public hearing the committee has held as they examine how Murphys transition team and administration responded to Brennans allegation. Brennan has said she repeatedly alerted Murphys inner circle about her accusations but Alvarez kept his jobs as chief of staff to the Schools Development Authority until October, when the Wall Street Journal asked him for comment. Brennan has accused Murphys team of not acting ignoring her pleas until it risked hurting the Democratic governor politically. Alvarez has, through an attorney, denied the allegations. He has not been charged with a crime. Platkin is expected to testify Jan. 18. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. WASHINGTON Rep. Andy Kim became the latest member of Congress to announce he would not take a pay check while the government remains closed. As a former federal employee who worked through a previous shutdown, I stand with our workers and their families by not taking a paycheck until they get paid, said Kim, D-3rd Dist. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., also is not accepting her $174,000 salary as the partial government shutdown continues into its third week. And Rep. Jeff Van Drew, D-2nd Dist., introduced legislation to pay those serving in the Coast Guard and working for the Federal Aviation Administration House Democrats on Thursday passed two more spending bills to reopen the government, but most Republicans voted to keep the government closed. Rep. Chris Smith, R-4th Dist., broke with his party and voted for both measures, which would have funded the Agriculture, Transportation and Housing departments. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has refused to allow a vote on those bills, virtually identical to the ones the Senate passed in December before President Donald Trump said he would not sign any legislation that did not also include more than $5 billion to build a southern border wall that he promised Mexico would pay for. He blocked new efforts by Senate Democrats to bring the spending bills to the floor on Thursday. Today I went to the Senate floor and requested unanimous consent to #EndTheShutdown.@SenateMajLdr objected. "The president won't sign off." The last time I checked the Constitution, we were a co-equal branch of government with the power to override vetoes. Let's act like it. pic.twitter.com/8sTwidK7li Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) January 10, 2019 In retaliation, Senate Democrats have moved to block any other legislation until McConnell allows votes to reopen the government. That prevented a vote for a second day on legislation to strengthen the U.S.-Israel security relationship and oppose the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. The measure failed to get the 60 votes needed to move to debate. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., a strong supporter of Israel, was one of only four Democrats to vote to proceed. He also supported the earlier failed effort to bring the bill to the Senate floor when most of his colleagues opposed it. RIO BRAVO, Texas - In theory, the Border Patrol could prevent the flow of undocumented aliens into the U.S through a combination of high-tech approaches such as electronic sensors and a heavy presence of agents on the ground. I discovered the limits of that theory as I was poking around the town of Rio Bravo on Tuesday with Andre the photographer. As we pulled up to the banks of the Rio Grande in this small town near Laredo, we saw three Border Patrol vehicles stationed so the agents could keep an eye on the banks of the river. But thats not easy, especially not in this spot. Upstream a bit theres a long, heavily vegetated island blocking the view of the Mexican bank of the river. A migrant - or party of migrants can make it to the island unseen and then just wait for a chance to make the short sprint across the small channel separating the island from the United States. The bank is steep in most spots, but theres one culvert that drops down to river level. We figured wed wander down there to get a closer look. As I poked around, Andre started shooting a video of the scene. Then something totally startling happened. An inflatable boat packed with people emerged from the reeds just a few yards from us. Apparently theyd mistaken us for border agents. There were eight people in the boat, but they had just one oar. That didnt seem to slow them down. It took a mere 45 seconds for them to make it back to the island, the video showed. At that point, the river is so shallow they got out and walked back to Mexico. Before long a Border Patrol agent drove up. We got to chatting. Like the rest of the agents we met, this guy was very affable and informative. When we told him about the incident, he said it was nothing out of the ordinary. The occupants of these boats will hide in the reeds all day and then try to blend in with the townspeople at night. Thats not that difficult. We saw that earlier in the day when we went to the river banks in the city of Laredo. This is in the epicenter of illegal entry, not far from McAllen, where President Trump made his appearance Thursday. For hundreds of miles in this region there is no border wall or fence - or any obstacle other than the Rio Grande. This has its advantages. We learned that when we were standing just under the international bridge that connects Laredo with the Mexico town of Nuevo Laredo. A pickup pulled up. Out came a Mexican-American guy by the name of William Turgeon. Out also came a whole lot of fishing gear. You can catch some pretty big fish in the Rio Grande, Turgeon told us. He also told us he was a big supporter of Donald Trumps border policy even though he has lots of relatives living on the other side of the river. Turgeon told us he was born in the U.S.A. and had spent a lot of time in the Marine Corps. You cannot just come in and insist youre a citizen, he said. He told us hed seen plenty of people swimming over from Mexico right here at the most populous spot on the Rio Grande. Ive seen them come right here right in front of here, he said. Theyd be swimming like it was nothing. As to whether a wall was the best solution, Turgeon said, Youll never stop people unless theres a wall. But he also noted that once a wall went in, there would be no more fishing. The pleasant park with picnic tables where we were talking would be up against a metal barrier. When we got talking to a Border Patrol agent there, I asked him how often people cross. Pretty often, he answered. The wall/fence that President Trump proposes would stretch for 45 miles in the Laredo area. Building it wouldnt be easy. We saw that as we drove along the river, checking out different spots along the way. The river takes a lot of twists and turn and forks off at various estuaries and lakes. I dont envy the planners whod have to figure out where it would go. There are some spots where a fence seems to make perfect sense. One was the small town of Roma. We stopped there because we wanted to cross over into Mexico to take a look at a border town from the other side. We crossed into the town of Miguel Aleman at the same time as a big bunch of schoolkids. They live in Mexico but go to school in America, a symbol of how closely intertwined these border cities are. The vast majority of crossings are perfectly legal, with Mexicans heading into America to shop at outlet malls and Americans traveling to Mexico for leather goods and other bargains. But even here, the Border Patrol is stressed. As we got back to the American side, we heard what sounded like gunshots. A nearby Border Patrol agent started up his truck and zoomed off. At the base of the bridge on the American side, we saw three deflated inflatables lying in the dirt. There was a lot of clothing in the reeds, discarded by crossers who switch to dry clothes to blend in with the population. This was one spot where a wall/fence would seem appropriate. Border Patrol agents told us the role of a fence is not so much to stop all traffic but to channel it and slow it down to the point where they can respond. Theyre well-prepared for that. As we drove along the highway that winds along the river for hundreds of miles, we saw quite a few unmanned surveillance blimps tethered to the ground. Border Patrol trucks seemed to be as common as cabs in New York City. Theyve got a navy as well, as we saw when a patrol boat came down the river shortly after wed surprised those eight people in Rio Bravo. The agents have their work cut out for them. I learned that when I asked the agent in Rio Bravo what would likely happen with those eight people we had surprised. Theyll be back, he said. Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events, with prompts from Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington on Jan. 10, 2019. (Bloomberg photo by Andrew Harrer)Bloomberg Q. Lets start with the government shutdown. As this drags on and the pressure to cut a deal grows, which side gains advantage politically? DuHaime: Neither side has gained much advantage. Donald Trumps core supporters are solidified, but no new ones have been gained. Perhaps Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi becoming the face of the next generation of Democrats will be a net advantage for Republicans in the long run. Roginsky: The presidents polling numbers keep sliding as this shutdown drags on. The majority of the country does not support his wall proposal. He has boxed himself in politically, with no way of getting out. He has also made it a zero-sum game, so if he doesnt get funding for the wall, he will be tremendously weakened politically. Q. If you were advising members of Congress in your own party, what would tell them? DuHaime: Get something instead of nothing in this shutdown with a smart compromise. As soon as workers start missing paychecks and stop paying bills, there will be problems. If TSA workers stop showing up, that will be worse for business than national parks with overflowing garbage cans. Republicans should aim for an increase in funding for border security in return for some movement on DACA. Why Democrats havent pursued this compromise puzzles me. Roginsky: Why should Democrats pursue a compromise when its the president and his party who are shouldering the blame for this shutdown? The president should pursue a compromise instead. But my general advice is this: Dont cave, Democrats. You have the upper hand. As I said, this is a zero sum game, and this is a president who has boxed himself in. Democrats should not help him get out of the quagmire he has created for himself, lest he try to hold the nation hostage again the next time he throws a temper tantrum. Q. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist., voted in favor of Pelosi as House speaker after promising during the campaign that he wouldnt. Did that surprise you? Will it cost him? DuHaime: Andy Kim went back on his word on a core campaign promise on day one. Thats a bad start and why people distrust politicians. He told his voters he would vote against Pelosi and used this to show voters he is tough enough to stand up to his own party leadership, and to trick voters into thinking hes moderate. I hope voters dont forget. Roginsky: I dont think it will hurt Rep. Kim much. In two years, voters will judge him by whether he took action to make their lives meaningfully better. It doesnt matter whom he supported for speaker. DuHaime: I dont think we should look the other way when someone purposefully misleads voters. Q. At legislative hearings into Katie Brennans rape allegation, Gov. Phil Murphys claim that he knew nothing about the case has come under close scrutiny. So far, I havent heard a convincing explanation as to why none of his senior advisers told him about it. Whats the risk to Murphy if voters believe he did know, or that he deliberately looked away? DuHaime: When voters elect someone running on business credentials, they believe he will run a competent business-like operation. Right now, it doesnt look like that. The governors people were either getting/giving bad legal advice, or retroactively blaming bad legal advice for keeping the governor in the dark, which is a head-scratcher. For the governor to be kept in the dark on this is inexcusable. Governors must be told bad news. Its how you look out for someone in power. (Believe me, telling a governor bad news is not a fun job, but it is necessary.) Roginsky: It seems that the pattern of hiding relevant information from the governor seeped over from his campaign operatives to his inner governmental staff. The bottom line is this: A woman in crisis reached out to many people in government for help. Nobody helped her. That should not stand. And I hope that the governor considers why it is that the people around him continue to keep information from him of which he should be acutely aware. Q. We learned last week that PSEG made a secret donation of $55,000 to a fund associated with George Norcross, an ally of Senate President Steve Sweeney, four months after Sweeney pushed a bill to grant PSEG enormous subsidies to operate its nuclear plants. Should New Jersey change the law to require disclosure? Will it? DuHaime: The premise of your question way too casually implies wrongdoing by one of New Jerseys great corporate citizens and Sweeney for simply complying with the law. PSEG is a client of my company (Mercury), but this view on disclosure is my personal one, not theirs. The misguided campaign finance reform of the 1990s only served to entrench incumbents and create advantages for uber-wealthy candidates. Its clear the governor and Senate president agree there should be more disclosure, but until the law changes, I wont criticize those who play by the rules. Roginsky: Gov. Murphy, Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Craig Coughlin all agree there should be more disclosure. But for what its worth, Mike, these current laws were enacted not because of well-meaning campaign finance reformers but because a right-wing organization called Citizens United was on yet another right-wing jihad against Hillary Clinton and got a divided Supreme Court to allow them to accept corporate and other kinds of dark money. DuHaime: And Citizens United was brought about because campaign finance reform laws stupidly severely limited the money that could go to candidates and political parties instead of driving them to outside groups not held accountable to the voters the way candidates are. Roginsky: No, Citizens United was brought about because some right-wing corporate interest wanted to produce a hit piece on Hillary Clinton. Plus ca change. DuHaime: Campaign finance restrictions have been great for Jon Corzine and Phil Murphy, and absolutely terrible for everyone else in New Jersey. Q. On the Mueller investigation, we learned that Paul Manafort, when he was chairman of the Trump campaign, passed internal campaign polling data to a Russian oligarch with ties to Russian intelligence. Whats the significance? DuHaime: I dont pretend to know. Polling data is a very valuable resource to a campaign and is normally held very close to the vest, only shared when it serves the campaigns interest. But some people with access to information like that also just like to show off to friends and associates that they are part of the inner circle. Roginsky: How much more smoke does this gun need? The highest-ranking individual on the Trump campaign shared internal polling data with an alleged Russian spy. On any campaign, polling data is among the most sensitive information, shared only with those who need to know. Are we to believe that this data wasnt used to coordinate the Russian social media barrage that propped Trump up during the election? Are we to believe that it could not have been giving to Cambridge Analytica for targeting? How much more collusive does it have to get before we finally admit that there was, indeed, collusion? Jersey political insiders: On the left, Julie Roginsky, a career Democratic strategist and TV commentator; on the right, Michael DuHaime, a Republican strategist and public affairs executive. More Julie & Mike: Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. A business owners foremost responsibility is to ensure his or her employees are paid correctly and on time. Donald Trump should know that. But, either hes so far away from the idea of cashing a paycheck before paying the rent, buying groceries or getting growing kids new shoes that hes clueless or he simply doesnt care about his 800,000 federal employees. Of course, its an accusation thats been hurled at him scores of times in the past. Remember the lawsuits from contractors in Atlantic City saying casino developer Trump stiffed them? And Labor Department citations saying he didnt pay overtime or minimum wage? The continuing shutdown of the federal government is a clear indicator of the kind of man Trump is. His shameful refusal to sign or even consider legislation to get furloughed workers back on their jobs and essential employees paid on schedule is just another sign that he is unfit to lead the country. Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, meanwhile, are beyond enabling; they are complicit in Trumps disregard for decency. Trumps demand for $5.7 billion of our taxpayer money for a wall that the American people dont want should be played out, but not while holding federal employees hostage. Get the government back working first. Then, in Congress, the debate can continue to rage over whether its better to spend that enormous amount of money on a physical border between the United States and Mexico or on things like education, infrastructure and scientific research. Trumps my way or the highway approach cannot be abided. Its time for Republicans to grow consciences and do the right thing. Submit letters to the editor and op-eds to jjletters@jjournal.com. A 19-year-old Neptune teen who admitted to mistakenly gunning down a 10-year-old boy in Asbury Park last year was slapped with a 25-year prison sentence Friday after he broke down in tears before a judge. I didnt mean to hurt that boy, wept Karon Council, who pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in October in the slaying of Yovanni Banos-Merino. We love you, bro, shouted one of his supporters. On the evening of Feb. 21, Council and another teen, 17-year-old Jah-Del Birch, went to a house on Ridge Avenue in Asbury Park looking for Juan Garcia, prosecutor said. Garcia had stabbed Council in April, prosecutors said, and he was seeking revenge. Birch knocked on the door and was told by someone in the home that Garcia was not present. Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Joseph Cummings said the two waited in the vestibule of the house for more than 30 minutes, listening for Garcias voice. Birch was able to spot Garcia in the window of the crowded home, Cummings said. He said the two left the house, grabbed a gun that was stashed in the bushes nearby, put on masks and returned to the home. Council then opened fire five times, riddling the home with bullets. One of those bullets, Cummings said, struck Yovanni in the shoulder as he hid under the bed like any child would do. Yovannis mother was hit in the leg with another bullet. Councils attorneys said that he accepts responsibility for the mistake he made, but that hes so much more than a couple police reports. A young man lost his life at the hands of a young man who made a foolish mistake, Joshua Hood said. When he fired those shots, he never meant to kill that boy and hurt his mother. He never meant to end a life. Cummings disagreed with those assertions. This wasnt a random, small mistake, Cummings said. They targeted Juan Garcia. Did they make a mistake? Absolutely. They shot the wrong person. You want to talk about children, Cummings continued, Yovanni played with toys. Karon Council played with guns. The hourlong hearing before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Richard English was extremely emotional at times. At one point, one of Councils supporters left the courtroom because she was crying hysterically. His family and friends occupied three rows of the courtroom. Meanwhile, seven members of the Yovannis family sat quietly on the opposite side of the courtroom. Lilia Merino, Yovannis mother, read four letters aloud, through an interpreter, to Judge English. Each letter implored English to impose a harsh sentence, and also asked for psychiatric help for the remaining members of the family, who are paralyzed with anxiety and grief. I ask you and beg of you that these people who committed the crime of taking my brother pay with a sentence of many years, read a letter from Yovannis sister. That way our family will rest given this situation, and that the law will be applied accordingly. But they should not be set free and commit another crime with innocent people who have nothing to do with them. English, before handing his sentence to Council, said the shootings in Asbury Park that kill random people are decimating that area. I dont know what the message has to be, he said. It just makes no sense at all. The number of shootings and murders in this county last year is astonishing and its a shame." According to statistics from the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office, the county had 16 killings in 2018. Four of those happened in the Asbury Park/Neptune Township area. The overall number of homicides is up from 13 in 2017 and seven in 2016. However, its important to note that both 2017 and 2018 had incidents where multiple family members were killed in one incident allegedly at the hands of another family member. Council, who had a juvenile record that included assaulting a teacher, possession of a knife and possession of marijuana, was a member of a local rap group that called themselves the O-Shop Boys, Cummings said. He lived a life of crime in Asbury Park, Cummings said. His co-defendant, Birch, has also pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter. Birch, who Cummings said was a member of the Bloods street gang, was sentenced later in the day to 10 years in prison. Merino also spoke before Birchs sentencing, but this time she didnt read from a letter. What was he thinking to commit that crime and kill my son, she said. ... Only God will forgive them for what they did because I will not forgive them. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips MIAMI (AP) Royal Caribbeans Oasis of the Seas is returning to a Florida port a day early and giving passengers full refunds of their fare after at hundreds of guests and crew members were hit with an outbreak of Norovirus as it sailed to Jamaica. Cruise line spokesman Owen Torres told The Associated Press we think the right thing to do is get everyone home early rather than have guests worry about their health. He says the ship will return to Port Canaveral on Saturday. It sailed from there Sunday on a seven-day Caribbean cruise. In a video shared by passengers Friday, an announcement on the ship said the number of sick people had increased significantly, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The latest that I can share with you here is that we have had a total during the cruise here somewhere around 475 people affected," the announcement said, according the newspapers report. Someone got sick in the wind jammer on oasis of the seas, this has been a pretty common thing to see on the boat at this point pic.twitter.com/u2e21NKeki burneraccountforsports (@burneraccountf1) January 11, 2019 Passengers took to social media, tweeting they were forced to stay onboard after docking in Falmouth, Jamaica, for what was supposed to be a day of excursions. Torres says returning a day early gives the cruise line more time to completely clean and sanitize the ship before it sails again. The cruise ship is based in Florida, but was set to begin sailing from Bayonne in May, Florida Today reported. NJ Advance Media staff contributed to this report. UPDATE: White supremacist group had 20 members at most and faked rally for publicity -- At least one organization is planning a counter-protest during a white supremacist groups march in Princeton Saturday, leading local officials to issue warnings urging the opposing sides to keep the peace. Black Lives Matter began the process to obtain a permit with the Princeton Police Department to have a counter-demonstration at the same time and place as a march hosted by the New Jersey European Heritage Association -- noon Saturday in Palmer Square. The NJEHA has not applied for a permit, Police Chief Nick Sutter confirmed. As of Thursday, no other counter-groups had either, though police urged any groups planning gatherings to apply for permits. Its unclear how many people are expected to attend either side of the march. The last time the NJEHA rallied in Princeton, five people participated, officials said. Still, police are planning a heavy presence in the area Saturday, when Sutter speculated the number of counter-protesters may outnumber the original demonstrators. The Central Jersey Democratic Socialists of America is working with other local grassroots organizations to spread the word about counter-protests and have created a Facebook event to alert the local community. People who attended the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, (Virginia) are trying to gain sympathy and attract like-minded people in Princeton," Ayesha Mughal, the Central Jersey chapters co-chair, said in a statement. We believe that the best way to avoid a violent confrontation will be to overwhelm them with numbers and deny them the space to spread their genocidal ideology. Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert said she was confident that the turnout by counter-demonstrators would be at least as large as that of NJEHA members and supporters. Hate has no home here, she said. "We pride ourself on being a welcoming community. Portions of the square where the event is set to take place are privately owned. Palmer Square Management has not been consulted nor did we authorize any activity by any group on the square," said Jamie Volkert, marketing director for the company. Upon being alerted to the situation, we contacted the town and local officials. We have the utmost confidence in local authorities to handle the matter and protect the best interest and safety of the general public. Requests for comment left via the NJEHA website and phone number were not returned. Those in the area Thursday were not overly concerned about the protest. Im not worried. I think local authorities have everything under control, said Jill Wargo, the owner of Highbar Boutique. Her shop faces out onto the green space of Palmer Square. Nothing happened, she said, when the NJEHA held a rally on Palmer Square in November of last year. But, Wargo said, she is concerned about how the event will impact her business -- Saturday is usually a busy day for her store, especially during January. They have a right to say what they want, but I do wish theyd think about the other people in the area they are impacting by being here," she said of the white supremacist group. Fellow business owner Matt Banihoni of Chez Alice Gourmet Cafe & Bakery said he is also not worried about those who plan to protest on Saturday. It doesnt mater if youre a white supremacist or (whatever) coming from somewhere. Weve had protests here before, Banihoni said. What is the NJEHA? The New Jersey European Heritage Association is a white supremacist group that is small and not widely known, that spreads hateful propaganda but lacks a history of violence or much activity of any kind, according to state officials and hate group watch dogs. The only hit that we have on them was they were at the Unite the Right rally in August 2018, said Lecia Brooks, outreach director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups nationwide. At this point, Brooks said, the law center has not designated the NJEHA as a hate group, but that it would add the latest activity in Princeton to the groups file and continue to monitor its activities. The NJEHA was cited by the New Jersey Department of Homeland Security in a March 2018 analysis of recent white supremacist activity in the state, referring to the posting of recruitment flyers in downtown Princeton that month. The Anti-Defamation League refers to the group as a small, New Jersey-based white supremacist group, that espouses racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance under the guise of saving white European peoples from purported imminent extinction. ADL closely monitors all white supremacist and extremist activity in New Jersey and all over the country and will be monitoring events in Princeton over the weekend," said Alex Rosemberg, the ADLs associate regional director. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook. In the two years it's taken for production company Theatre of Terror to toil away on their eponymous anthology feature, anthology horror has continued a resurgence that makes the film's premiere tomorrow at the historic Loew's Theater in Jersey City perfect timing. In a vein reminiscent of the "Twilight Zone," the "Theatre of Terror" features four short films directed by local filmmaker Tom Ryan. Influenced by horror TV that also includes "The Outer Limits" and "Tales from the Dark Side," Ryan is careful to point out that, while this anthology's four films have a degree of social commentary, "Theatre of Terror" is mostly in the character-study mold of those shows. "I think we focus on that a lot more than making a broader statement," Ryan said. The four films consist of "The Gift," about a scorned mother who meets a stranger willing to do whatever it takes to be reunited with the family she's estranged from; "The Bookworm" is the story of a young man getting more than he bargained for when he purchases an old library with his inheritance; "Abducted" is a country bumpkin's obsession with an alien encounter changing his life forever; and in "Endangered," three radical activists trying to save endangered wolves find themselves facing something much more dangerous. The Bloomfield-based production company made sure all four films were shot in the state. "I was born and raised in Jersey City," Ryan said. "I've been living in Bloomfield for maybe the past 15 years or so, but I still work with Jersey City actors and locations, and we actually shot part of our film at the Loew's. I premiered a feature film I did called 'Faces' in 2014 (there). That film was shot all over Jersey City, so I like to return to the town where I grew up." Ryan said he didn't want to write scripts for something that was beyond the capability of the Theatre of Terror team to shoot, "so we basically tried to keep the story within reach of a lot of the locations, and we actually got some really fantastic locations for these "100 percent Jersey-shot" stories. "As far as the first film, we needed an antique shop, and that was a place that we shot in Bloomfield: a small ma and pa antique shop that was just perfect and creepy. ... For our second film, we needed a mansion and we needed a library. I reached out to the town of Bloomfield, and there was a mansion called the Oakside Manor, and it's an old colonial that was beautiful and perfect. I told them I was a local filmmaker, and they were great about working with me and letting me shoot in there." "I also shot in the Glen Ridge Public Library," Ryan said. "I scouted six or seven libraries, and it was the only one that still had kind of a classical wooden shelf, rows, staircase, wooden trims and everything, as opposed to these more updated libraries which are a lot of metal racks and they're not as comfortable and as picturesque as Glen Ridge was." Friends of the production team happened to have a house out in the woods that fit the third film, said Ryan. He found everything he needed for the fourth film in Branchville. "I found this picturesque diner, and I reached out to the owner, and she let us shoot on her property. And I wound up meeting Mayor Anthony Frato, and he got some locals out, and they wound up being in the film." Theatre of Terror team-members Louis Libitz and Michael Beck grew up in Jersey City and still live there. Ryan said they all went to the Loew's Theatre when it was still fully functioning, and he loves to share his work among the historic architecture the Friends of the Loew's have renovated. Doors open at 7 p.m. tomorrow for the 8 p.m. screening of "Theatre of Terror" at the Loew's Jersey Theatre, 54 Journal Square, in Jersey City. The first 100 people in the door get a free movie poster. Purchasing tickets online gets the buyer a chance to win a copy of "Theatre of Terror" on Blu-Ray. Check out Theatre of Terror's Facebook page to learn more about the company's troupe who are on and off the screen, and check out Ryan's film "Faces" on Amazon Prime Video. Posted Friday, January 11, 2019 10:12 am Amid speculation that he'll run for president, Gov. Jay Inslee laid out his goals Thursday for the upcoming Washington legislative session, which starts its run Monday. Inslee, a Democrat, said he was optimistic that issues such as early childhood development and behavioral health reforms will have full support from both sides of the aisle. Inslee might find some of his other proposals, including a controversial capital gains tax, having difficulty passing the Legislature. At a legislative preview sponsored by the Associated Press, Senate Minority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, was critical of some of Inslee's proposals and took a shot at the governor over speculation he might run for the White House. "Gov. Inslee's policies may be geared more towards Iowa than Washington state," said Schoesler, referring to Iowa's presidential caucuses and Inslee's most recent trips there. There are concerns among some that Inslee's focus won't be on Washington but on a presidential bid should he decide to pursue one. "It's difficult to focus on issues when we look too far in the future," said House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm. Inslee shrugged off critics who say his policy proposals are meant to appeal to a national audience. "These are issues that I've had deep in my heart for 30 years," he said. Inslee took the opportunity Thursday to tout some recent actions. In December, he announced the formation of the Southern Resident Orca Task Force, a recovery program aimed at saving Puget Sound's dwindling killer whale population. Last week he introduced the Marijuana Justice Initiative, which would pardon those who have misdemeanor marijuana convictions on their records. Inslee said he hopes to tackle more during the 2019 session. Climate change is at the top of the list, including pushing cleaner transportation fuels and having more transportation options available. Such measures would put Washington on track to having lower carbon emissions, he said. Behavioral health is another major issue facing the legislature this year, the governor said, as is fulfilling the final terms of the education-funding reform tackled by the Legislature during last year's session. Inslee said he's optimistic legislators will reach agreement on the most important issues. He added that Washington is seen as a leader on progressive policies like family leave and pay equity, and that he shares stories of "the Washington way" in his travels. "The Washington way can produce spectacular economic growth," Inslee said. The Charge dAffaires at the Embassy of Somalia in Lusaka, Mr Ahmed Abdirahman Sheikh Nur has revealed that his country is looking for areas to invest in within the COMESA region. Ahmed said this in Lusaka when he paid a courtesy call on Secretary General Ms Chileshe Kapwepwe at the COMESA Secretariat. The two-discussed regional integration and possible areas of investments that Somalia can venture into within the region. Some of the areas of interest mentioned by Ahmed are Livestock, Fisheries and Infrastructure development. He indicated that Somalia has over 50 million heads of cattle and therefore stands to contribute greatly to the leather sector in the region and beyond. Stories Continues after ad As we get readmitted to the Common Market, we wish to invest in various sectors such as fisheries, Infrastructure and Livestock. With over 50 million animals in our country, we are sure we can help boost the livestock sector and help the leather sector, he said. While welcoming the diplomat, Secretary General Kapwepwe said she looked forward to Somalia fully completing the re-admission process to the Comesa. She said Comesa is read to provide a platform for Somalia to look for potential investment areas in the various sectors. The Secretary General indicated that supporting Somalias investment portfolios in the region will help spur job creation among the youths and women in the region especially that Comesa is supporting investments which are aligned to value addition to the raw materials. The Somalia Government will soon appoint a new ambassador to Zambia who will also be the Permanent Representative to Comesa. JERSEY CITY Some Jersey City parents are questioning the districts decision not to tell them that three schools, including a pre-K, were on lockdown Wednesday as police looked for two gunmen. The suspects did not appear to target any of the schools, but the victims of the shooting drove into the School 41 parking lot afterward. Parents said some didnt know about the lockdowns until they read The Jersey Journals coverage. For everybody to find out in the paper is not the right thing at all, said Shana Givens, 40, whose 9-year-old son is a School 29 fourth grader. The shooting happened near Givens home on Grant Avenue. Thats half a block away from School 29 and three blocks from School 41, both elementary schools. The Claremont preschool is around the corner from the crime scene. The district used a robocall to tell School 41 parents but not parents of the other two schools. Tara Ocanseys 3-year-old son attends Claremont. She also knew nothing about the lockdowns until late Wednesday evening, when she learned from a reporter. "It's not great to hear that these things are happening at my son's school and I don't know about it," said Ocansey, 34. A request for comment from the school districts spokeswoman was not returned. The board will urgently review this situation to ensure policy (and) protocol are strictly adhered to, Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas said. We sincerely apologize to our parents who were affected by this breakdown of communication. The shooting was gang-related, according to a source with knowledge of the incident. It occurred at about 12:30 p.m. Both victims were treated at a local hospital with injuries that officials said are not life-threatening. Police are still investigating. Cops arrested 24-year-old Jakeem Gibson Madison and charged him Thursday with weapons offenses, conspiracy, criminal attempt and an aggravated assault charge, according to city spokeswoman Ashley Manz. Ocansey stressed that she likes Claremont preschool and believes they handled the lockdown correctly. But, for future events, she wants to hear it from the school first. "It should be better communicated, she said. "It generates trust in the school district. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. Secaucus police responding to a suspicious persons report in a parking garage arrested two New York men on weapons charges Sunday afternoon. Gregory Trotter, 29, of Bethpage, and Robert Milione, 27, of Queens, were arrested in a parking garage at 400 Park Plaza Dr. around 2:10 p.m., police said. The men were charged with possession of an imitation firearm, and Milione was additionally charged with possession of a firearm silencer, police said. Both men were charged on summonses, given a date to appear in court, and released, police said. JERSEY CITY A 25-year-old Jersey City felon who has been in and out of the prison system since he was 15 was sentenced Friday to 16 years in prison for gun offenses related to a murder. Davon Cooper was the co-defendant of 25-year-old Aaron Enix, who was convicted of the Nov. 27, 2016 murder of Rashay Washington and sentenced to 55 years in prison last week. Cooper was found not guilty of murder, but was convicted of unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose in the incident that claimed the 24-year-old Washingtons life. Coopers conviction on the gun charges bring his criminal history to five indictable convictions and made him eligible for a discretionary extended prison term as a persistent offender. The sentenced handed down Friday will not start running until Cooper finishes serving a six-year term for an unrelated robbery. There is a very strong and specific need to deter Mr. Cooper, Hudson County Superior Court Judge John Young said at the sentencing after agreeing with the states motion for an extended term. The fifth conviction made Cooper eligible for a 10- to 20-year sentence, rather than five to 10 years behind bars. Young noted that Coopers first contact with the criminal justice system was at the age of 15 and said, This pattern is very clear to me. He is certainly someone who does not appreciate the need for a secure society and he continues to violate the law. Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Adam Salzer asked Young to consider the totality of the circumstances that led to Coopers conviction. Although we are talking about weapons offenses the jury watched the video a number of times and they saw this defendant fleeing a murder, Salzer said. Salzer noted that Enix and Cooper were friends of Washington. Speaking on behalf of Washingtons family and friends in court, the prosecutor said Cooper is someone who has been in their house. Coopers father and cousins were present at the sentencing, but they chose not to comment. Arguing against an extended prison term, Coopers lawyer, Mark Bailey, said I want the court to know that this young man is 25 years old. He is redeemable. When Young sentenced Enix, he noted that Enix was incarcerated three times as a juvenile. He also said Enix had two adult convictions and was on probation at the time he murdered Washington. Young told Enix Society does not need your presence again. Cooper will become eligible for parole on his current prison term on Dec. 17, 2021. He will then begin serving the 16-year sentence and will not become eligible for parole on that sentence until serving eight years. When asked if he wanted to say anything before being sentenced, Cooper said No. The charges against a Jersey City woman accused in an Election Day bias incident were dismissed this week, but the damage has been done, she told The Jersey Journal. Shaquana Jones, 34, had been charged with bias intimidation, simple assault and terroristic threats over an incident involving school board candidate Asmaa Abdalla and members of her family . But those charges along with the counter charges filed by Jones against Abdalla were dropped Tuesday when the two appeared in Hudson County Superior Court. Jones, who denied all of the allegations made against her, was fired from her seasonal job with the city of Jersey City for conduct unbecoming a public employee on Nov. 14, stemming from the Election Day incident. Jones also said she was soon to be promoted to a full-time position with the Department of Public Works. I was about to become permanent right before this happened. Everything got taken away from me and my family, Jones said. Ive been struggling." Abdalla, 25, has previously told The Jersey Journal that Jones initiated the altercation and tried to get Abdalla and her sister to fight her, calling them f-----g Muslims. Abdalla and her family are Muslim. But Jones on Wednesday provided a different version of the story. Theres no way, no how, no form or fashion I am a racist, Jones told The Jersey Journal. Being that I work for the city, I [am] around different types of people because I work outside in the environment. Jones said she worked in litter patrol. Jones said that on Election Day she approached Abdallas mother, who was at the polling place distributing literature, and told her that by law, she had to be at least 100 feet away from the polling place to pass out campaign-related information. Jones, who was with another campaign, said Abdallas mother replied, Im tired of you people. You dont run this country. Its a free world. When Jones asked her what she means by you people, Abdallas mother said black people, Jones said Wednesday. When Abdalla arrived at the school, the altercation escalated and Abdalla called 911 after Jones spit on Abdalla and her younger sister, according to Abdallas account of the story. In a counter complaint Jones filed Nov. 13 against Abdalla, Jones alleges that Abdalla called her a homophobic slur and threatened to f--- her up after jumping in her face on Election Day, which made Jones fear for her safety. Im an openly gay woman. I get judged every day when I walk out of my door. Why are you calling me a d--- b--h? Jones said. "I am embarrassed. I got publicly humiliated. I had to go to counseling. Jones also said that Abdalla and her sister tried to attack her. Abdalla denied Jones version of the story on Wednesday. Those words never came out of my mouth. I dont even use those words, Abdalla said. Abdalla said she agreed to drop the charges against Jones on Tuesday after Jones agreed to dropping the counter charges. I did nothing wrong. My family did nothing wrong. I wanted to hold her accountable for what she did, said Abdalla. On Nov. 1, Abdalla was arrested for allegedly trespassing at the former Puccinis Restaurant, located at 80 Broadway in Jersey City. According to the complaint, Abdalla attempted to coerce arresting officers by threatening political retaliation," when she said, you dont know who I am and who I know and what I do," during the arrest. She was charged with disorderly conduct, trespassing and criminal coercion. These charges are faceless. I am looking to having them dismissed, Abdalla said of the Nov. 1 incident. Meanwhile, Jones is glad her charges were dropped, but only getting back her job will make things right. Right now, Im trying to get my job back, adding that she has not been working since she was terminated. You dont know what Ive been through since I lost my job. Its been really hard. The recent surge of influenza in New Jersey and the first pediatric flu-related death has hospitals taking extra precautions, limiting visits from children and people with flu-like symptoms. Inspira Health and Atlantic Health are among the systems in the state ramping up restrictions. Inspira Health, which has four facilities in South Jersey, said in a statement that it is no longer permitting visits from children younger than 13 years old or people with a fever, cough or symptoms such as a sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Those people may visit after being free of symptoms for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. The hospital system noted that anyone planning to visit a patient in a specialty area at any of its locations (maternity, pediatrics, neonatal intensive care or behavioral health) should call ahead, as additional restrictions may be put in place for specific departments. Inspira Healths facilities include Inspira Medical Centers Elmer, Vineland and Woodbury; and Inspira Health Center Bridgeton. Atlantic Health System also has implemented age and other restrictions at its facilities. Children younger than 16 and people feeling sick are prohibited from visiting the maternity, neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit and emergency departments, a spokeswoman said in an email. By limiting the number of people who enter our facilities, were able to better control the spread of viruses and infections, and minimize unnecessary risk of exposure, Laura Anderson, director of infection prevention at Atlantic Health System, said in a statement. Atlantic Health System has six locations in New Jersey: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown Overlook Medical Center in Summit Newton Medical Center in Newton Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown Goryeb Childrens Hospital in Morristown The flu is officially widespread in all 21 counties, according to state health officials. So make sure youre taking extra measures, including getting a flu shot, washing your hands and covering those coughs, health experts say. A child from Central Jersey died late last month from a flu-related illness, according to state officials, marking the first pediatric flu death in the state this season. Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have information about this story or something else we should be covering? Tell us. nj.com/tips Police are asking for the publics help in finding a 66-year-old East Orange woman with dementia who went missing Friday morning. Juliet Cudjoe left her residence on Amherset Street Friday around 7:30 a.m. and was last seeing walking toward Rhode Island Avenue, police said. Cudjoe was wearing a light blue sweater, white turtle neck, dark grey pants and black boots with her black and gray hair in a bun. She is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, and about 160 pounds, officials said. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the East Orange Police Department at 973-266-5000. ***PLEASE SHARE*** The New Jersey State Police and the East Orange Police Department are seeking the publics... Posted by New Jersey State Police on Friday, January 11, 2019 Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Nick Vallelonga, a writer and producer of the Golden Globe-winning film Green Book, has issued an apology for a tweet he posted in 2015 about the Sept. 11 attacks. Vallelonga had sent the tweet in reply to Donald Trump, who was then running for president. Trump had claimed that thousands of Muslims had cheered the fall of the twin towers in Jersey City. "100% correct, Vallelonga tweeted. Muslims in Jersey City cheering when towers went down. I saw it, as you did, possibly on local CBS news. On Wednesday, Vallelonga, who grew up in Paramus, deleted the tweet after people started to share it, then he deleted his Twitter account. I want to apologize, said Vallelonga, 59, in a statement shared by his publicist, Jonathan Taylor, on Thursday night. I spent my life trying to bring this story of overcoming differences and finding common ground to the screen, and I am incredibly sorry to everyone associated with Green Book,'" he continued. "I especially deeply apologize to the brilliant and kind Mahershala Ali, and all members of the Muslim faith, for the hurt I have caused. I am also sorry to my late father who changed so much from Dr. Shirleys friendship and I promise this lesson is not lost on me. Green Book is a story about love, acceptance and overcoming barriers, and I will do better. In his deleted tweet, Vallelonga may have been referencing a WCBS report that aired on Sept. 16, 2001 that cited unnamed sources saying federal officials had detained eight men seen cheering on a roof of a building on John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, which could not be verified. A 2015 NJ Advance Media examination of Trumps claim found the assertion to be baseless. Though some reported witnessing small celebrations, they were far from the thousands of people Trump described. Looks like this tweet has been deleted, but here is the screengrab. I've asked Nick Vallelonga's manager and Universal for comment. To be continued? pic.twitter.com/SWgsZQqetc Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) January 10, 2019 Vallelonga co-wrote the films screenplay with director Peter Farrelly and Brian Currie. He based the story on a 1962 trip his father, Tony Lip Vallelonga, took with pianist Don Shirley to the Deep South. Throughout his time working as a driver for Shirley, who was black, Tony Vallelonga becomes friends with the pianist and learns to reevaluate his racist tendencies. The films title comes from the Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide that African Americans used for decades to find lodging and places to eat while traveling. Lip, who worked as a bouncer at the Copacabana and lived in the Bronx before moving to Paramus, went on to become an actor who appeared in films including GoodFellas and had a recurring role on The Sopranos as Carmine Lupertazzi when he was in his 70s. On Sunday, the film won the Golden Globe for best picture in the musical or comedy category and Mahershala Ali won the best supporting actor award for his portrayal of Shirley. The backlash to Vallelongas tweet arrived three days later. Many wondered how Vallelonga could hope to spread a message of unity with his film when he made such a statement about Muslims. Others said they were not surprised by Vallelongas tweet, given their low appraisal of the film, which some have criticized for its handling of racism through the perspective of a white man. Others, including La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz (who became known for holding up the Moonlight card during the best picture mix-up at the 2017 Oscars), noted that Ali is Muslim. This is all just too disgusting, he tweeted, sharing a screenshot of Vallelongas deleted tweet. In 2017, Ali became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar. He received the best supporting actor award for his role in Moonlight. Participant Media, which co-produced the film, also issued a statement in the wake of the tweet controversy, Deadline reports: We find Mr. Vallelongas Twitter post offensive, dangerous, and antithetical to Participant Medias values. We reject it in no uncertain terms." Mahershala Ali after winning the Golden Globe for supporting actor.Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Vallelongas tweet amounted to the latest in a series of controversies linked to the film. The tweet, which made Vallelonga a Twitter trend after it was shared by BuzzFeed reporter Adam Vary, surfaced on the same day that The Cut highlighted stories from 1998 in which Green Book director Peter Farrelly talked about exposing himself to colleagues. In a Newsweek story, Farrelly said he had flashed his genitals to Theres Something About Mary star Cameron Diaz as part of what he and his brother Bob described as a favorite joke. The director also told the Observer he had repeated the stunt in front of different people hundreds of times. Green Book had already been the subject of controversy, with some calling the film an example of the white savior" trope. In the story, Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) acts as a protector to Shirley as the pianist faces the perils of the Jim Crow South. Shirleys family spoke out against the film, saying they had not been consulted about the pianist, who, like Vallelongas father, died in 2013. They also took issue with the films point of view. There was no due diligence done to afford my family and my deceased uncle the respect of properly representing him, his legacy, his worth and the excellence in which he operated, the excellence in which he lived, Carole Shirley Kimble, Shirleys niece, told NPR. "Its once again a depiction of a white mans version of a black mans life. In order to write the screenplay, Nick Vallelonga drew on interviews he had conducted with Shirley and his father as well as letters his father wrote to his mother during the 1962 trip. He told NJ Advance Media that Shirley would only allow him to pursue a movie about the story after he died. Vallelonga added that the musician told him not to contact the Shirley family. In the film, Shirley is depicted as being estranged from his family, which is something his brother Maurice has since disputed. Vallelongas tweet follows a Green Book-related controversy from earlier in awards season. As the movie began to generate both positive buzz and criticism, Mortensen, who plays Tony Vallelonga, made headlines in November when he said the N-word at a public discussion after a screening of the film. The actor apologized, and Ali issued a statement saying that he accepted Mortensens apology. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. Think you paid attention in history class? Here's your chance to prove it. New Jersey requires schools to teach students about hundreds of topics in their history curriculum. But the states social studies standards mention fewer than two dozen historical figures by name meaning schools are expected to teach about them no matter what. Some of the names are obvious. But others are more obscure. Take this quiz to see if you know 10 of the names New Jersey wants every student to know. Before you get angry that your favorite president isnt on the list (sorry, Grover Cleveland fans), remember that just because someone isnt mentioned here doesnt mean schools dont teach about them. If you cant see the quiz, click here. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Thrill-seekers at Moreys Piers are getting a new roller coaster this summer. The Runaway Tram is inspired by the famed Wildwood Sightseer Tramcar and succeeds the Flitzer Roller Coaster, which closed last September after a 35-year run. It is described as a family-friendly roller coaster by the amusement park, with room for up to 20 passengers at a time. Seven other rides are being moved to accommodate the new attraction. Jack Morey, a partner at Moreys Piers, said the Wildwood Sightseer Tramcar is a beloved sight on the boardwalk, and it made complete sense to pay homage to this Jersey Shore staple." The Tramcar arrived on the Wildwood Boardwalk in 1949, one decade after debuting at the first of the two Worlds Fairs held at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York. It marked the 70th season in 2018 by offering rides for 10 cents, which was the initial ticket price for the two-mile trip up and down the Boardwalk Moreys Piers has more than 100 rides and attractions stretching across 18 acres and six beach blocks. The Runaway Tram is its sixth roller coaster. The others are the Great NorEaster, the Great White, Sea Serpent, Rollies and Wild Whizzer. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook HAMILTON: Our ancestors died with purpose, not just so you could vote NEW HAVEN The city has projected police overtime costs will be close to twice what was budgeted, so officials are doubling down on reining in expenses. The Police Department started to see overtime expenses go down late last year after working to further streamline operations. In the midst of vacations, holidays and an end-of-year homicide, the department brought overtime down about $50,000 weekly. Weve made a concerted effort to put our heads together to see how we can be more efficient in our use of resources, Assistant Chief Ontoniel Reyes said. That being said, we run a pretty efficient department. We have many people wearing multiple hats as a result of of diminished staffing levels. The department is budgeted for 495 officers, but the department only has about 377 sworn men and women available on the street to handle daily operations, Reyes said. The academy class in session of 27 new officers wont be available until well into the year since theyll have nine weeks of field training after graduation. The fact is were finding more efficient ways to operate and asking people to do more, Reyes said. The reduction in overtime is accredited to everyones willingness to do exactly that. The department was averaging around $170,000 per week in overtime in November and by December saw it reduced to as low as $111,000 one week, Acting Chief Administrative Officer Sean Matteson said. What drives overtime tends to be absence of personnel, whether thats a vacant position, a holiday, vacation or injured officers, Matteson said. Theres a fixed number of personnel available and, when you dont have that, you hire overtime. A huge one was when detention was taken over by the department, which takes officers off the street. The department had used 85 percent of its budget as of the end of November, according to the latest monthly financial report. Matteson said theyre planning to ask for a budget transfer next month before the overtime line item uses up all its funds. The projected 2018-19 overtime spending for police is $8.25 million, almost double what was budgeted for the department, but Matteson said much of that gets recaptured through lapsed salaries from officer vacancies. The shortfall between what you need and what you actually have, that tends to equal out pretty equally what the overtime runs, Matteson said. Matteson and police officials have been working with Chief Internal Auditor Ed Zack on an internal audit of the departments finances and operations as the department prepares its budget for the next fiscal year. In their proposal they have reduced the budgeted positions from 495 to 430, a number with which Reyes said they can still achieve their goals of community involvement and effective policing. The problem is weve been working with far less than 430, he said. As always there are unpredictable injuries, illnesses and serious crime incidents that take more resources, he said. Additionally, retirements take their toll last year saw 49 and with the contract not settled, many officers leave to other towns. Were in arbitration with no end in sight, so the reality is we cant forecast how many people will leave this year, Reyes said. Reyes said the department has stepped up to run a more efficient operation despite fewer officers, but that practice cant go on forever. Some people might argue that if it can be done, why dont you as a matter of practice? Reyes said That takes a toll on an organization. A lot of overtime is not volunteer positions. Theyre required to stay over because we need the officers on the street and it takes a toll. While were managing we have committed professionals that are answering the call its untenable. The department and the city are working on creating a process for lateral hires and trying to get legislation on the books that would prohibit suburban police departments from poaching newly trained New Haven officers. What we dont want is to be the farm team for other municipalities, Matteson said. Its the individuals choice but at the same time, we shouldnt be robbing each other from needed resources. Correction: Chief Internal Auditor Ed Zack has been working on the internal audit with police. An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported his name and title. mdignan@hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN Police are investigating the citys first homicide of the year. A man was found on the sidewalk on Diamond Street near Roger White Drive in the Beaver Hills neighborhood around 5:41 a.m. on Thursday, police said in a release. Personnel from the New Haven Police Department, New Haven Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the scene and medical personnel began rendering medical assistance, according to the release. NEW HAVEN The former chief operating officer of New Haven Public Schools will receive more than $100,000 from the school board in severance after leaving the district for a job in Waterbury at the end of 2018, according to a separation agreement obtained by the New Haven Register Friday. Will Clark, who served in the COO role since 2007, left the district with about 18 months left on his contract. The school board voted 5-1 in November to approve the separation agreement after an executive session. According to the agreement obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, Clark is owed $97,716 in regular payroll checks and received a payment of $5,081 for a tax shelter annuity payment. Clark declined to comment Friday. Darnell Goldson, president of the Board of Education and the lone vote against approving the separation agreement, said he is against golden parachutes. I dont believe you should get a check for leaving for another job, he said. I already knew through the grapevine he had another job; I was surprised to hear we were paying him to leave. Joe Rodriguez, one of five board members who voted to accept the agreement alongside Jamell Cotto, Tamiko Jackson-McArthur, Mayor Toni Harp and Frank Redente who has since resigned from the board said he could not elaborate beyond what has been released publicly because Clarks departure is a personnel matter. Cotto and Jackson-McArthur did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. Laurence Grotheer, city spokesman, said Harp voted based on recommendations made by Superintendent of Schools Carol Birks and attorneys representing the school board. According to a financial report presented to the school boards Finance Committee Monday, the district has a projected budget deficit of $8.9 million for the end of the fiscal year, approximately where it has hovered since the school board voted to close three schools in May 2018. Birks said after that meeting that the district would use the same strategies it has been using to close the deficit, including leveraging grant funds. Birks could not be reached by phone Friday and did not immediately respond to an email request seeking a comment. Attorney Clark has been a long time and valued employee of the New Haven Public Schools and we wish him well in his future endeavors. He effectively led a variety of divisions for many years and led many projects that will serve the District well for years to come, Birks said in a statement released to the public at the time Clarks resignation was made public on Dec. 3. He served as an Executive Team member and community leader who was counted on by past Superintendents and has been a collaborator for me as I have transitioned into New Haven. I wish Attorney Clark well as he chooses to move to the next chapter in his career and know that he will continue to be a resource and passionate advocate for his home City and District. In a public statement at the time of his departure, Clark said the past 11 years had been extremely rewarding. It was my distinct pleasure to serve the citizens of New Haven and particularly the New Haven Public School students, Clark said at the time. I am confident in the foundation that exists within New Haven to continue on a path to reach its goals and to support all students on their educational journey to be the best they can be. I wish the Superintendent, the Board of Education and the staff well as they continue to pursue the District goals. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com ORANGE A developer this week quietly ran a pre-application for a 10-building housing project by the Inland, Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, but the plan could attract residents attention by the time it moves through to the zoning board because it will probably have an affordable housing component. A pre-application allows a developer to run a project by the commission before filing formally, to gauge what the issues might be so some of them can be addressed before the formal process. The commission this week voted unanimously that the project was a significant activity, meaning it would need a public hearing. They were not aware of any affordable housing component, as that likelihood at application time was disclosed by a member of the developers team the meeting. A similar project by the same group in the same location was rejected last year by the Town Plan and Zoning Commission after the public voiced strong opposition. In that case, the affordable housing statute wasnt used. Under the states 8-30g affordable housing statute likely being used in round two, the TPZC would be hard pressed to deny the project because the burden of proof would be on it to show the project was a danger to the health or safety of residents. Affordable housing is a hot button issue in the town of single-family homes typically on one- and two-acre lots. Under the statute, intended for suburbs to share in providing affordable housing, municipal boards can feel pressured to give approval because they almost always lose appeals by the developer and it is costly. Miland LLC, represented by Milford attorney Kevin Curseaden and Codespoti & Associates in Orange, wants to build 10 buildings, with 60 bedrooms, although they havent determined how many bedrooms will be in the units. They want to build the project on four parcels of about 22 acres near Turkey Hill Road and Route 15, off Grassy Hill Road. Experts told the commission there are nine wetlands over two acres of the property and no wetlands would be filled, although they would be working near wetlands. Engineer Robert Wheeway, of Codespoti & Associates, told the commission the soil has been tested extensively and 150 holes dug for percolator tests regarding a septic system. Another member of the Codespoti team, environmental planner Jeff Gordon, said when they file the application it is likely to be under the 8-30g affordable housing statute. Gordon said that, under the statute, 30 percent of the complex would be affordable housing which is different than low-income housing. Those who live in such complexes must make a minimum amount of money to qualify for rents that could be upward of $1,400 per month. Gordon said they see senior citizens and students from the University of New Haven, whose graduate campus is just down the road, as potential tenants. Gordon said there is a possibility the complex could be age-restricted. Under 8-30g, a municipality must reach having 10 percent of its housing stock as affordable before it is no longer held to the statute. Orange is currently at 2 percent, Gordon said. Gordon said he doesnt know when the regular application will be filed. NEW HAVEN A Woodbridge woman who was ordered detained Wednesday by a federal judge is believed to have helped her husband conceal the murder of a man outside their home last year, according to a federal prosecutor. Aninha Spear-Zuleta, 31, of 135 Rimmon Road, faces federal charges of robbery, kidnapping by use of force and aiding and abetting her husband, Christopher Spear, 45, of the same address. She also faces state charges of conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping and second-degree larceny. In his motion for pretrial detention, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo wrote there is evidence Spear-Zuleta assisted Spear in concealing the murder of Alan Robinson Jr., which occurred outside the Spear home in Woodbridge in April 2018. Neither Spear-Zuleta nor Spear has been charged with Robinsons murder. He was 37 at the time of his death, living in Milford. Woodbridge police found him lying on Rimmon Road, outside the Spear home, on the morning of April 4 after residents called 911 to report they heard gunfire. Robinson had been shot in the head and torso. Vizcarrondo wrote in his motion that authorities recovered videotape from the Spear home showing events within moments of Robinsons death, including Aninha Spear-Zuleta running into the house, clutching what appears to be a handgun. Further, from the context of the video, Vizcarrondo wrote, the suspected firearm is likely the very weapon used to kill Alan Robinson. Vizcarrondo noted the audio of the tape captured Spear-Zuleta repeatedly and frantically asking Chris Spear what to do with the gun, shouting, Put this where, Chris! Put this where! In response, Chris Spear can be heard to shout back: Out of the house! In the car! Out of the house! Spear fled Connecticut in May of last year when state police obtained arrest warrants for him and Spear-Zuleta. Members of the U.S. Marshal Service tracked him across the country, including Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and California, as he traveled with false documents and used multiple aliases. FBI agents caught up with him in San Francisco on Dec. 22. Spear appeared in federal court in California and waived extradition to Connecticut to face multiple charges. These include interference with commerce by robbery and kidnapping. The charges he and his wife face stem from an alleged encounter with Robinsons fiancee on Nov. 28, 2017, in the basement of the Spear home. According to Vizcarrondos motion, the fiancee told investigators she was kidnapped and her home had been robbed in the wake of a drug dispute between her fiance and Chris Spear. It was her belief that the kidnapping/robbery incident was related to Robinsons murder. This witness said she and Spear-Zuleta had been close friends in high school. She said Robinson sold drugs supplied to him by Spear. But in fall 2017, the witness said, Spear told her Robinson was a scam artist, was too flashy and owed Robinson about $40,000 in drug money, according to the court motion. On Nov. 27, 2017, the witness got a phone call from Spear-Zuleta, asking her to come to the Spear home. The witness said she was afraid of Spear because of his dispute with Robinson. And so when she went to the house, she brought along a person she had been hired to watch as a caretaker: an elderly man with severe dementia. She said she hoped this would make it less likely there would be a confrontation. But when the witness and the elderly man arrived at the Spear house the following night, Spear ordered her to go with him down to the basement, according to the court motion. The witness said Spear yelled at her, threw her onto a couch, slapped her in the face and began to choke her. She said a man and woman she did not know who were in the basement intervened to restrain Spear. The witness said Spear then ordered his wife and the two interveners in the basement to take the witness to the Milford condo she shared with Robinson and to take everything and anything belonging to Robinson. During the robbery, the court document stated, Robinson, who was not home, was able to observe the intruders because he was monitoring the property via a security system linked to his cellphone. He called Milford police to report the robbery. However, Robinsons fiancee convinced the two Milford officers who responded that there was no problem; she was merely having an argument with her boyfriend. After the police left, the robbers continued to steal Robinsons belongings, including a gun and a backpack containing a large quantity of drugs, according to the court motion. The witness said the backpack had tens of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine and that the other stolen items were worth more than $10,000. In the conclusion of his 18-page motion, Vizcarrondo wrote: There is probable cause to believe that Aninha Spear-Zuleta actively engaged in substantial criminal activity unknown to the (Connecticut) Superior Court when granting her pretrial release on bail. That activity included aiding and abetting her husbands drug-trafficking and likely destroying physical and audio-visual evidence of his involvement in the killing of Alan Robinson at the Spear home. Vizcarrondo added that after she was released from Superior Court, Spear-Zuleta knew her husband was the target of a warrant for robbery/kidnapping charges but she continued to communicate with him and likely provided material assistance allowing him to evade law enforcement for nearly eight months. Spear-Zuletas attorney, Tara Knight, could not be reached for comment. She is listed as Spear-Zuletas representative on the state court docket. randall.beach@hearstmediact.com BRIDGEPORT - Charged with killing 12-year-old Clinton Howell in a drive by shooting last month, 18-year-old Tajay Chambers will have a choice. Im going to ask you if you choose to have a hearing on probable cause or not, Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin told Chambers on Tuesday, as the defendant looked about the courtroom. The judge then continued the case to Jan. 28. Next out was 16-year-old Alexander Bolanos Jr., who police said was the driver of the car. Through a Spanish interpreter, Bolanos pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a pistol without a permit and second-degree larceny. He asked for a jury trial. His case was continued to Jan. 31. In the back of the courtroom, Howells family sat grim-faced. They left after the hearing, declining comment. Chambers, is charged with murder with special circumstances, murder, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal carrying or possession of a pistol or revolver without a permit, three counts of risk of injury to a child, first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree larceny. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bond. If convicted of murder with special circumstances, Chambers could be sentenced to life without the possibility of release. In a hearing on probable cause, state prosecutors would have to present their evidence in the case before a judge to determine if they have probable cause to try Chambers for murder. However, in most cases defendants decide to waive such hearings. Shortly after 9 p.m. on Dec. 18, Howell was standing outside his Willow Street home with an older cousin when he was shot in the chest. Police said Chambers had been aiming for the cousin, who had shot at their stolen car with a BB gun. An undocumented immigrant from Jamaica, Chambers joined his family in Bridgeport 18 months ago. Enrolling in September at Central High School, he quickly formed his own gang with the 16-year-old Bolanos and a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old whose names are not being released, police said. On Oct. 8, they attacked a 16-year-old boy in a stairwell of the high school, police said. Police said that as the victim protested he was not involved in gang stuff, Chambers and associates pummeled him and then kicked him down the stairs. Police said they had a rivalry with a supposed gang from the citys East Side calling themselves the BGs or Blitz Gang, and were using Facebook and Snapchat to trade boasts and insults. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Chambers told Police Detective Adam Roscoe that on Dec. 18, Bolanos and the two other youths had picked him up in a Ford Escape they had stolen on Madison Avenue. Chambers took over the driving and they went to a location in Stratford to make a sneaker trade, police said. While driving back, Chambers received a Snapchat video on his cell phone from Howells cousin, who Chambers told the detective is a member of the BGs. In the video, (the cousin) showed them the Willow Street sign and they understood this to be a dare or challenge. Chambers stated that after receiving the video he said, they just hit me, they are on Willow, the affidavit states. With Bolanos now at the wheel, the four drove to Willow Street, police said. At first, they didnt see any BG members, so they drove around the block twice, the affidavit states. On the third pass, they saw Howells cousin who they believed to be one of the captains of the BGs. He was coming back from the corner store with the younger Howell. When the cousin saw them, he fired at them with a pellet gun, the affidavit states. Bolanos then drove to the end of the block and made a U-turn. One of the other youths in the car handed Chambers a loaded 9mm handgun and Chambers told the detective he extended his hand out the rear passenger window and fired twice. I didnt know that he was 12 years old, police said Chambers told them. He said he didnt know he shot someone until he saw it on the website Doing It Local. Police said they later recovered the gun used in the shooting. Photo by Tom McCorkle for The Washington Post Pinot grigio, all too often, is Italian for boring. Clean, nondescript white wine, refreshing at best but with little else to offer. But climb away from the sea of plonk into the mountains of northern Italy, and you can find pinot grigio with distinction, coursing with an energy that seems to come from the mountains themselves. The Cantina Tramin 2017, one of this week's recommendations, is a fine example, hailing from near Italy's border with Austria. Outside Italy, the same grape is often labeled as pinot gris, the French name, and this can be an indication of style. Alsace produces rich, sometimes sweet, pinot gris, while Oregon strikes a (dry) stylistic middle between Alsace and Italy. The Villa Wolf Pinot Gris, from Germany's Pfalz region, is more Italian in style. It doesn't pack the punch of the Tramin, but its price makes it a no-brainer to stock up. For additional cred, it's made by Ernst Loosen, one of Germany's most renowned winemakers. Canadas radio telescope has detected the second repeating fast radio burst (FRB). FRBs are short bursts of radio waves coming from far outside our Milky Way galaxy. Scientists believe FRBs emanate from powerful astrophysical phenomena billions of light years away. The repeating FRB was one of 13 bursts detected over three weeks during the summer of 2018, while CHIME was in its pre-commissioning phase and running at only a fraction of its full capacity. Additional bursts from the repeating FRB were detected in following weeks by the telescope, which is located in British Columbias Okanagan Valley. Before CHIME began to gather data, some scientists wondered if the range of radio frequencies the telescope had been designed to detect would be too low to pick up fast radio bursts. Most of the FRBs previously detected had been found at frequencies near 1400 MHz, well above the Canadian telescopes range of 400 MHz to 800 MHz. The CHIME teams results published January 9 in two papers in Nature and presented the same day at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle settled these doubts, with the majority of the 13 bursts being recorded well down to the lowest frequencies in CHIMEs range. In some of the 13 cases, the signal at the lower end of the band was so bright that it seems likely other FRBs will be detected at frequencies even lower than CHIMEs minimum of 400 MHz. About CHIME CHIME is a revolutionary new telescope, designed and built by Canadian astronomers. CHIME reconstructs the image of the overhead sky by processing the radio signals recorded by thousands of antennas with a large signal processing system, explains Perimeter Institutes Kendrick Smith. CHIMEs signal processing system is the largest of any telescope on Earth, allowing it to search huge regions of the sky simultaneously. CHIME is a collaboration of over 50 scientists led by the University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Toronto, Perimeter Institute, and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). The $16-million investment for CHIME was provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the governments of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, with additional funding from the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. The telescope is located in the mountains of British Columbias Okanagan Valley at the NRCs Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory near Penticton. CHIME is an official Square Kilometre Array (SKA) pathfinder facility. Square Kilometer Array The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is an international effort to build the worlds largest radio telescope, with eventually over a square kilometre (one million square metres) of collecting area. The SKA will eventually use thousands of dishes and up to a million low-frequency antennas that will enable astronomers to monitor the sky in unprecedented detail and survey the entire sky much faster than any system currently in existence. Its unique configuration will give the SKA unrivalled scope in observations, largely exceeding the image resolution quality of the Hubble Space Telescope. It will also have the ability to image huge areas of sky in parallel a feat which no survey telescope has ever achieved on this scale with this level of sensitivity. With a range of other large telescopes in the optical and infra-red being built and launched into space over the coming decades, the SKA will perfectly augment, complement and lead the way in scientific discovery. The SKA will be developed over a phased timeline. Pre-construction development started in 2012 and will last until the latter half of this decade, involving the detailed design, implementation, R&D work, and contract preparation needed to bring the SKAs first phase to construction readiness. This first phase will involve testing the full system in a proof of concept manner. In Australia, the SKA low-frequency telescope will comprise 512 stations in a large core and three spiral arms creating a maximum baseline of 65km. Each of the stations will contain around 250 individual antennas, meaning almost 130,000 will be installed on site in total. Initially, 476 of these stations will be constructed with a maximum baseline of 40km. The further away antennas are from the core of the telescope, the more expensive they become, so slightly reducing the number in the early stages of construction will allow the SKA to stay within the budget available at the time construction begins. The remainder will be added when funding allows. Unlike telescopes that take the form of one huge dish, the scalable nature of interferometers like the SKA means that more stations can simply be added to the array further down the line. A similar situation will apply with the mid-frequency telescope in South Africa, where 133 antennas will be added to the existing the 64-dish MeerKAT precursor telescope, forming an array of nearly 200 dishes. Some of them will be arranged in three spiral arms with a maximum baseline of 150km. Initially, 130 of these dishes will be constructed with a maximum baseline of 120km; the remaining three will be added later. The ultimate goal is to expand the SKA further, to 10 times this size, with a million low-frequency antennas in Australia and some 2000 high and mid frequency dishes and aperture arrays extending into African partner countries across the continent. The SKA will start conducting science observations in the mid-2020s with a partial array. Chimes Science Papers Nature A second source of repeating fast radio bursts The discovery of a repeating fast radio burst (FRB) source FRB 121102, eliminated models involving cataclysmic events for this source. No other repeating FRB has hitherto been detected despite many recent discoveries and follow-ups suggesting that repeaters may be rare in the FRB population. Here we report the detection of six repeat bursts from FRB 180814.J0422+73, one of the 13 FRBs detected by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) FRB project during its pre-commissioning phase in July and August 2018. These repeat bursts are consistent with originating from a single position on the sky, with the same dispersion measure, about 189 pc cm^3. This traces approximately twice the expected Milky Way column density, and implies an upper limit on the source redshift of 0.1, at least a factor of about 2 closer than FRB 1211028. In some of the repeat bursts, we observe sub-pulse frequency structure, drifting, and spectral variation reminiscent of that seen in FRB 1211029, suggesting similar emission mechanisms and/or propagation effects. This second repeater, found among the first few CHIME/FRB discoveries, suggests that there existsand that CHIME/FRB and other wide-field, sensitive radio telescopes will finda substantial population of repeating FRBs. Nature Observations of fast radio bursts at frequencies down to 400 megahertz ast radio bursts (FRBs) are highly dispersed millisecond-duration radio flashes probably arriving from far outside the Milky Way. This phenomenon was discovered at radio frequencies near 1.4 GHz and so far has been observed in one case at as high as 8 GHz, but not below 700 MHz in spite of significant searches at low frequencies. Here we report detections of 13 FRBs at radio frequencies as low as 400 MHz, on the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) using the CHIME/FRB instrument. They were detected during a telescope pre-commissioning phase, when our sensitivity and field-of-view were not yet at design specifications. Emission in multiple events is seen down to 400 MHz, the lowest radio frequency to which we are sensitive. The FRBs show various temporal scattering behaviours, with the majority significantly scattered, and some apparently unscattered to within measurement uncertainty even at our lowest frequencies. Of the 13 reported here, one event has the lowest dispersion measure yet reported, implying that it is among the closest yet known, and another has shown multiple repeat bursts, as described in a companion paper. The overall scattering properties of our sample suggest that FRBs as a class are preferentially located in environments that scatter radio waves more strongly than the diffuse interstellar medium in the Milky Way. Baidu, who is Chinas version of Google, has entered a partnership deal with California-based autonomous delivery start-up Udelv that will see self-driving vans powered providing delivery services to American retailers such as Walmart from February. Baidu announced the deal with Udelv at a launch event for its latest open self-driving platform Apollo 3.5 at 2019 CES in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Apollo 3.5 will be used in Udelvs new self-driving van model. Designed to address middle-range and last-mile delivery, the van can drive itself at up to 60 miles per hour and carry up to 32 customer orders per route. Founded in 2016, Udelv has completed over 1,200 deliveries on public roads in the San Francisco Bay Area and has signed trial service deals with Houston-based auto repair chain XL Parts and Walmart. Walmart will likely be one of the first major US retailers to integrate autonomous deliveries into its customer service offering. The collaboration also points to the global nature of many new technologies and supply chains, at a time when US-China trade relations remain under stress. Udelv, backed by Japans Marubeni Corporation, expects to deploy up to 100 vans this year for merchant customers. Baidu will have fleet of 100 robo-taxis in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan province, on 130 miles of city roads where cars can communicate with intelligent road infrastructure for autonomous driving. In November, Baidu unveiled a jointly-developed self-driving passenger car model with state-owned FAW Group, with volume production expected in 2020, while a similar deal is under way with Volvo to develop level-four autonomous cars over next few years. In downtown Syracuse, a new brewery that expects to open soon may not start with all the beers it planned on. In Cazenovia, one of New York states largest craft brewers decided to cancel production of a winter seasonal beer. Around Upstate New York, some new breweries may find they cant open on schedule, and existing breweries may not be able to introduce some new beers. The problem is the ongoing federal government shutdown. The federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is closed. That means it cant approve licenses for new breweries -- or distilleries or wineries, either. It also cant process alcohol makers requests for new brand labels or formulas. And the backlog for those approvals is growing. In 2018, according to a recent National Public Radio report, the TTB received about 3,000 brewery brand label applications per week. A prolonged shutdown could slow the flow of new alcoholic beverages. It may not be the most important effect of the government shutdown -- comedian Stephen Colbert made a joke of it on a recent episode of The Late Show -- but the impact on breweries and other alcohol manufacturers is capturing local and national attention. In Syracuse, Talking Cursive Brewing Co. expects to open as planned by February at 301 Erie Blvd W., across from the National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) building. Co-owner Andrew Brooks said the brewerys timing was good -- it got its federal license to open before the shutdown. But Brooks said one of the beers he hoped to have on tap probably wont be available right away, since its a specialty brew with ingredients that require federal approval. The impact is pretty minimal for us now, said Brooks, who hopes to offer several creative beers in his lineup, like an Italian Grape Ale and an IPA made with rye and pineapple. But if it goes on for too long, it will be a problem getting new beers out there. At the Empire Farm Brewery in Cazenovia, plans for a seasonal beer called Subterraean were scrapped, said owner David Katleski. We decided to not brew our seasonal Subterranean because we wouldnt get approval in time for distribution, Katleski said in an email. Label manufacturers will not even produce a label without (the government) registrations. Katleski, founder and past president of the New York State Brewers Association, said the impact on breweries that are ready to open but dont yet have a license is a more serious problem. For them, he said, This shutdown is a real big issue. But for the many new small breweries operating across Upstate New York, there may be little impact. TTB brand approval is only needed for beers that are sold through distributors, especially across state lines. A small brewery that wants to introduce a new beer for sale only in its tap room does not need federal approvals (unless its a new formula, as in the case with Talking Cursive). Its also probably going to have less impact, for now at least, on the states wineries and distilleries. Thats because they typically introduce new products less frequently than breweries. My guess is that the longer this goes on the bigger the buildup of labels needing to be approved, said Scott Osborn, owner of Fox Run Vineyards on Seneca Lake, via email. I am guessing once the shutdown is over there will be a long wait to get a label approved. On the other hand, those of us who are not making any significant changes like vintage date and alcohol percentage dont have to get label approvals. Just people with a new wine or major changes to the back label. It is the beer guys who make a different product every few weeks who are going to feel the pressure. At Old Home Distillers in Lebanon, Madison County, co-owner Adam Carvell said the big issue for spirits makers may be formula approval, which is needed for some products before the TTB will consider the label application. Many common products require this approval, particularly liqueurs, some gins, non-traditional spirits, or or anything "flavored,".Carvell said in an email. You can submit a product and reserve your spot in line, but that backlog goes back to Dec 4th. I would predict this whole process of Formula Approval and (label approval) which used to take around 20-30 days, will stretch into a 3-4 month delay from the time the shutdown ends. Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him atdcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on TwitterorFacebook. CALGARY, Jan. 9, 2019 /CNW/ - Ensign Energy Services Inc. (TSX:ESI) ("Ensign") and Trinidad Drilling Ltd. (TSX:TDG) ("Trinidad") announce today that Trinidad has entered into an amalgamation agreement (the "Amalgamation Agreement") with Ensign Holdings Inc. ("Holdings"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ensign, under which Trinidad will amalgamate with Holdings, with the amalgamated entity ("Amalco") becoming an wholly-owned subsidiary of Ensign (the "Amalgamation"). The Amalgamation, which is subject to the approval of the holders (the "Trinidad Shareholders") of common shares of Trinidad (the "Trinidad Shares"), will constitute the subsequent acquisition transaction proposed by Ensign in order to acquire all of the Trinidad Shares that Ensign did not acquire under its offer to purchase all of the outstanding Trinidad Shares (the "Offer"), which expired on December 21, 2018. Ensign acquired an aggregate of 215,831,365 Trinidad Shares under the Offer, representing approximately 78.9% of the number of issued and outstanding Trinidad Shares. Together with the 26,863,239 Trinidad Shares already owned by Ensign at the time of the Offer and the 1,500,000 Trinidad Shares acquired through ordinary course market purchases on the TSX conducted by Holdings prior to the expiry time of the Offer, Ensign holds an aggregate of 244,194,604 Trinidad Shares, representing approximately 89.3% of the issued and outstanding Trinidad Shares. A special meeting (the "Meeting") of the Trinidad Shareholders has been called for 9:00 a.m. (Calgary time) on January 31, 2019 at the offices of Ensign located at 400 5th Avenue S.W., Suite 1000, Calgary, Alberta to consider, and if thought advisable, pass a special resolution in relation to the Amalgamation (the "Amalgamation Resolution"). The Amalgamation Resolution must be passed by 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Trinidad Shareholders, voting in person or by proxy at the Meeting. In addition, pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Amalgamation must also be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by "minority" Trinidad Shareholders represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Ensign currently holds approximately 89.3% of the issued and outstanding Trinidad Shares, and is entitled to treat the Trinidad Shares that it acquired under the Offer, representing approximately 78.9% of the issued and outstanding Trinidad Shares, as "minority" Trinidad Shares. Ensign has advised that it intends to vote all of its Trinidad Shares in favour of the Amalgamation. An documents are being mailed to Trinidad Shareholders of record on December 27, 2018 and will be information circular and proxy statement (the "Information Circular") and related filed on SEDAR (under Trinidad's profile) at www.sedar.com. Subject to the terms of the Amalgamation Agreement, each Trinidad Shareholder (other than Holdings or any Trinidad Shareholder who validly exercises dissent rights in relation to the Amalgamation) will, upon completion of the Amalgamation, receive one redeemable preferred share of Amalco (each, a "Redeemable Preferred Share") for each Trinidad Share. The Redeemable Preferred Shares will be automatically redeemed immediately following the completion of the Amalgamation for $1.68 in cash per Redeemable Preferred Share (the "Redemption Consideration"). The Redemption Consideration is the same as the consideration that was available to Trinidad Shareholders under the Offer. As Ensign intends to vote the Trinidad Shares held by it in favour of the Amalgamation Resolution, it is anticipated that the Amalgamation will be approved at the Meeting and take effect on or about January 31, 2019 but in any case, prior to February 28, 2019 (the "Effective Date"). At that time, Amalco will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ensign, the Trinidad Shares will thereafter cease to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and Trinidad will apply to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable securities laws as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Date. ABOUT ENSIGN Ensign is a global leader in oilfield services, headquartered out of Calgary, Alberta, operating in Canada, the United States and internationally. Ensign is one of the world's top land-based drilling and well servicing contractors serving crude oil, natural gas and geothermal operators. Ensign's premium services include contract drilling, directional drilling, underbalanced and managed pressure drilling, rental equipment, well servicing and production services. Please visit Ensign's website at www.ensignenergy.com. Ensign's Common Shares are publicly traded though the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ESI. This news release does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities of Ensign or Trinidad. ABOUT TRINIDAD Trinidad is an industryleading contract driller, providing safe, reliable, expertlydesigned equipment operated by well trained and experienced personnel. Trinidad's drilling fleet is one of the most adaptable, technologically advanced and competitive in the industry. Trinidad provides contract drilling and related services in the US, Canada, the Middle East and Mexico. Ensign now owns 89.3% of the Trinidad Shares. Trinidad has called the Meeting for January 31, 2019 to consider the Amalgamation as the going private subsequent acquisition transaction pursuant to which Ensign will indirectly acquire the remaining Trinidad Shares it does not now own at $1.68 per share. Ensign owns sufficient Trinidad Shares to assure approval of such transaction. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking information" that is prospective in nature. Forward-looking information is not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believes", "plans", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to the following items: the timing of the Meeting, the manner in which the Trinidad Shares held by Ensign will be voted at the Meeting, that Amalco will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ensign upon completion of the Amalgamation, the completion of the Amalgamation and the timing thereof, the redemption of the Redeemable Preferred Shares and the timing thereof, the anticipated de-listing of the Trinidad Shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange following the Amalgamation, Trinidad ceasing to be a reporting issuer under applicable securities laws following the Amalgamation and the timing thereof, the mailing and filing on SEDAR of the Information Circular and related documents. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of Ensign and Trinidad as at the effective date of such statements and, in some cases, information supplied by third parties. Although Ensign and Trinidad believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and that information received from third parties is reliable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such things as new laws and regulations, failure to obtain approval of the Amalgamation Resolution by Trinidad Shareholders and/or complete the Amalgamation in the manner contemplated by the parties or at all. Having regard to the various risk factors, readers should not place undue reliance upon the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and such forward-looking statements should not be interpreted or regarded as guarantees of future outcomes. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof neither Ensign or Trinidad undertake any obligation to update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws in force in Canada. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE Ensign Energy Services Inc. For further information: Ensign Energy Services Inc., Bob Geddes, President & Chief Operating Officer, Ensign Energy Services Inc., [email protected], W. (403) 262-1361; Mike Gray, Chief Financial Officer, Ensign Energy Services Inc., [email protected], W. (403) 262-1361; Trinidad Drilling Ltd., Bob Geddes, President & Chief Operating Officer, Trinidad Drilling Ltd., [email protected] W. (403) 262-1361; Mike Gray, Chief Financial Officer, Trinidad Drilling Ltd., [email protected], W. (403) 262-1361 Related Links http://www.ensignenergy.com DANBURY The rescue of 86 puppies from a fire next to a pet shop has left some questioning the current regulations around these types of stores. Connecticut now has no regulations on the numbers of animals that can be kept in a certain square footage, which animal advocates say needs to change although it isnt on the top of their legislative lists. The 86 puppies kept in the 5,000-square-foot facility at Puppy Love, where a nearby fire raged last week, is permitted under the law and the numbers didnt upset local animal welfare advocates because the store is such a large space. Firefighters and others rushed to evacuate all the puppies safely as an adjacent shed burned to the ground. The number of dogs surprised some but not all. It wasnt terribly odd that there were 86, said Stephanie Barksdale, the operations manager at the Danbury Animal Welfare Society. She said she is against pet stores in general, though, because she feels people should adopt, not shop and pet shops dont give the puppies room or time to play like a shelter would. Puppy mills Most of the focus in Connecticut pet shop laws tend to be cracking down on puppy mills, which are breeding facilities that maximize profit over the animals well being. A lot of times, these puppy animals are genetically deficient and sick, said Gordon Willard, executive director for the Connecticut Humane Society. Some states, following a California law, have already made the shift to ban pet shops from selling animals from these large-scale commercial breeders and are instead selling animals from shelters or rescue organizations. New York City and Cook County (Chicago) now have similar ordinances on the books. Connecticut State Rep. Allie-Brennan, D-Bethel, introduced legislation to this week to prohibit the sale of puppies and kittens raised under inhumane conditions. The current standards of care at kennels, shelters and pet shops are overseen by the state Department of Agriculture. But the standards tend to deal more with humane treatment of the animals requiring the dogs be let out of their cages for a certain amount of time each day, proper lighting and air flow at the facility and ensuring the spaces are clean. The standards also arent well defined, one of the reasons Connecticut is only ranked 27th in the country and last in New England in the Animal Legal Defense Funds 2018 Rankings for Animal Protection Laws. Better standards A task force was held in 2013 to examine standards and led to stores being required to tell their clients where the dogs came from and if that place had any violations. It also improved the states lemon law for pets purchased at pet shops. The industry hasnt changed much, but peoples perception has, Willard said of the puppy mills. He said a big task for the upcoming session will be creating and updating standards of care for nonprofit and municipal shelters so that they are identical. He said these standards might then be applied to kennels and pet shops. Its appropriate to have regulations and its appropriate to have expectations, Willard said. He said good standards would include a requirement for the number of animals per square foot. State Sen. Bob Duff, of Norwalk, who leads the animal welfare coalition of sorts at the state Legislature, said he would welcome a discussion on standards, but didnt have specific plans to introduce bills on a limit to a number of dogs at a pet shop. The Legislature is concerned more about abuse and neglect, whether from an owner or pet shop, he said. DANBURY A woman had to undergo immediate surgery for a serious eye injury after being stabbed after a collision at a local gas station, according to Detective Lt. Mark Williams. Rosa Iris Tolentino-Reyes was charged with second-degree assault and breach of peace. Danbury police officers responded to the Citgo gas station/Food Bag at 90 West St. for a report of a crash with injuries. When the officers got there, they found a woman inside the store with a stab or slash wound to her right eye, face and hand, according to Detective Lt. Mark Williams. The woman had been injured with a knife when attempting to thwart off a physical assault by another female, Williams said. The suspect was later identified as Tolentino-Reyes. Due to the extent of her injuries, the victim was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital for specialized care, Williams said. The eye injury was described as serious and will require immediate surgery, he said. Officers found out that the victim was driving a car that accidentally hit another car in the gas pump area, William said. He said the victim moved her car away from the gas pumps and was approached by Tolentino-Reyes, a passenger of the vehicle that was hit, and assaulted. The investigation indicates that Reyes assaulted the other female as she was still seated in her stopped vehicle, with the door closed, Williams said. During the assault, Reyes caused the stab/slash wound to the other womans face and hand with a knife that was produced by the victim. Tolentino-Reyes is currently being held on a $25,000 bond. NEWTOWN A foundation created in honor of a late state lawmaker has granted $110,000 to several local organizations. The Julia Wasserman Animal Welfare Fund gifted money to the Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Newtown Forest Association and more. Wasserman was a longtime Newtown resident and former state representative who died in 2015 at 91. The fund was created in partnership with the Fairfield Countys Community Foundation because of her passion for animals and giving back. It was so rewarding to help the stewards of Julias legacy, who were intent on finding the best way to perpetuate her philanthropy, create a fund at Fairfield Countys Community Foundation and utilize our philanthropic services to accomplish her wishes, said Nancy Tartaglia, a director with Fairfield Countys Community Foundation. Philanthropy can be amplified for many generations when a donor advised fund sets parameters for you to give back in ways that are important and significant to you and your family. Boots and Buddies, Connecticut 4-H Foundation, Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Newtown Forest Association, and Wildlife in Crisis will receive the money. Wasserman escaped Nazi Germany as a teenager and later joined the U.S. Womens Army Corps, serving as a captain in the Medical Service Corps during the Korean War. She was elected to the state legislature in 1990, a position she held until 2008. She also served 10 years on the Newtown Legislative Council, 10 years on the Newtown Conservation Commission and six years on the Fairfield County Soil and Water Conservation District. Wasserman Way, a road in Newtown, is named after her. DANBURY The first Democrat to file to run this year against long-time Republican Mayor Mark Boughton has posted $25,000 in contributions in his first weeks as a candidate. Attorney and former City Council President Chris Setaro, who has challenged Boughton once before, collected 51 campaign contributions in the two weeks since he officially filed for the race just before the New Year. Im gratified by the generosity of the contributions and our supporters, Setaro said. Were very happy that were off to a strong start. Setaros lightning fast start helps set the tone for what is expected to be a heated municipal election season as Democrats turn toward local offices after posting upset victories in November in a half dozen state legislative seats, some of which had been held by Republicans for decades. Should Setaro secure the Democrats nomination for mayor, it would set up a rematch of the hotly contested 2001 race that elevated Boughton to the mayors office for the first time. Boughton defeated Setaro by just 138 votes that year and no Democrat has come that close since. Now Boughton plans to run for his tenth term this fall he already is the longest serving mayor in city history after falling short in the GOP primary race for governor last year. Boughton plans to file in the coming weeks but has declined on the would-be race, saying he and city staff focused on the upcoming city budget negotiations. Setaros contributions range from as small as a pair of $5 contributions to 13 contributions of $1,000, according to campaign finance statements prepared for the first Jan. 10 filing deadline. Only one third of those came from Danbury residents, however, and some came from as far away as Tampa, Florida, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Both the Danbury Democratic and Republican town committees will meet Monday night and are expected to discuss their slates of candidates for all local offices. Although Setaro is the only Democrat to file for the mayoral race so far, other candidates could include 2017 mayoral candidate Al Almeida and town party chairwoman Andrea Gartner. zach.murdock@hearstmediact.com New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Thursday cancelled his trip to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos in Switzerland due to the ongoing partial shutdown of the government over his demand for the funding of a US-Mexico border wall. Trump is scheduled to attend the five-day Davos Summit in Switzerland, which will begin from January 21. "I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," the US president tweeted. Trump has asked for USD 5.6 billion from the Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats who support border security measures, argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers money. ALSO READ | Syria: 19 killed in clashes between militants and rebels in Idlib Earlier, Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a visit to the southern border in Texas that he will skip the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos in Switzerland if the ongoing partial shutdown of the government continues. I intended to go and speak in front of the international community in Davos. Thats still on, but if the shutdown continues, I wont go, he had said. The partial shutdown has brought the functioning of several wings of the federal government, including the State Department, to a standstill, leaving more than 800,000 employees without pay. The shutdown will enter its 22nd day on Saturday, breaking the previous record of 21 days of US government shutdown under the Bill Clinton administration. Trump said the partial government shutdown could be resolved in 15 minutes, but for the Democrats, who he alleged are not interested in national security. Also Read | Want great relationship with Pakistan, meeting with new leadership soon, says Donald Trump "The buck stops with everybody. They can solve this problem in literally 15 minutes. We could be back, we could have border security. They could stop this problem in 15 minutes if they wanted to, he said. I really believe now that they (Democrats) dont want to...they dont care about crime, he added. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A teacher in South Africa has been suspended after a photo of children seated 'segregated' by their race surfaced on the internet. This seemingly ignorant and racist approach from a teacher expected to teach students against her done actions has shocked the world. According to reports, the teachers intention was to show the parents of Schweizer-Reneke primary school that everything was going fine since it was the first day of school, which needless to say, backfired. A black parent of one of the students told TimesLive News site that she thought her child's first day at school in had got off to a good start until she saw the image. Also Read | Watch: Man licking doorbell for three hours is breaking the internet "This was meant to be an exciting day for me, but it's not," she said. Local authorities say they highly condemn what had entailed and have removed the teacher with immediate effect. Many parents have also taken to social media to express their horror over what had happened. One Twitter user commented, What seems to have happened at Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke is an absolute disgrace. If you cannot accept children as children, get out of the classroom. What seems to have happened at Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke is an absolute disgrace. If you cannot accept children as children, get out of the classroom Jonathan Jansen (@JJ_Stellies) January 10, 2019 The BBC's Milton Nkosi in South Africa says Schweizer-Reneke is a conservative rural town with a population of just under 50,000, surrounded by a farming community made up of mainly white Afrikaners. Sello Lehare, the education minister for the North West province, said the school's explanation was that "the learners were separated according to those who could understand Afrikaans and English". Also Read | US Island is offering Rs 91.6 lakh salary to look after lighthouse He added: "We are suspending her [the teacher] because we want the investigation to be fair and free". Nearly 25 years after the white-ruled majority came to an end in South Africa, this sad incident regarding racism questions otherwise. For all the Latest Offbeat News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The British High Commission in India has got the consular access to Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case. Michel is currently lodged in the judicial custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with AgustaWestland scam. Michel, a British national, was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4, 2018. Following his extradition, the UK government had sought the urgent information from India on the circumstances surrounding his detention and extradition. Our staff continue to support the family of a British man following his detention in the UAE. We are in contact with his family and the Emirati authorities regarding his case and are urgently seeking information from the Indian authorities on his circumstances, a spokesperson for the UKs Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had said. Also Read | AgustaWestland Scam: 'Middleman' Christian Michel extradited to India, to be produced before court The extradition order by the Dubai government was long awaited after Dubai's top court had on November 19, upheld a lower court's order to consider the possibility of Michel's extradition to India. The UAE Court in September rejected Michel's appeal, opposing the extradition plea by the Indian authorities. His counsel argued that India may expose Michel to "inhuman treatment" and the case against the accused was "political" in nature. The 57-year old businessman had an anxiety attack upon reaching the CBI headquarters post extradition to India and doctors were called to attend to him. After giving him treatment, he was put to an intense grilling about money trail and identification of documents in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers scam case. Besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, Michel is among the three middlemen being probed by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly bribing politicians and top Airforce officials to help AgustaWestland get the VVIP choppers contract. Also Read | AgustaWestland Case: Christian Michel moves application seeking permission to make international calls The ED had filed a chargesheet against Michel in 2016, alleging that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of approximately Rs 2,666 crore to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers to ferry the President, the prime minister. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Shah Faesal, IAS officer who has announced his resignation, on Friday said he would not be joining any political party "as of now" but was willing to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, he ruled out the possibility of joining separatist Hurriyat Conference saying his experience in governance could not be used there. Faesal, the 2009 IAS topper, has decided to quit on January 9 over in protest against the unabated killings in Kashmir. "I am deeply inspired by Imran Khan (Pakistan Prime Minister) and Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi Chief Minister), but we are operating in a conflict zone and it's not very easy for us to work in that space. The space that has lost its legitimacy in last few years," Faesal said. Earlier reports suggested Faesal might contest the Lok Sabha polls. The reported added that the National Conference is likely to give a ticket to Faesal. Taking to micro-blogging website Twitter, Faesal wrote: To protest the unabated killings in Kashmir and absence of any credible political initiative from Union Government, I have decided to resign from IAS. Kashmiri lives matter. Faesal, an MBBS degree holder may contest the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla parliamentary seat on an NC ticket, political sources told news agency PTI. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah had said his resignation was a loss of bureaucracy and gain of politics. Shah Faesal, IAS officer from #JammuAndKashmir who resigned on 9 January: As of now, I do not have any plans to join any existing mainstream party. pic.twitter.com/lK3bXGlsAu ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 Read Here | IAS topper Shah Faesal resigns, likely to join politics; Omar Abdullah says 'welcome' Faesal has been in the limelight since becoming the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exam in 2009. In a brief statement on Facebook, the 35-year-old Faesal, who belongs to 2010 batch of the IAS, said his resignation was also to protest "the marginalisation and invisiblisation of around 200 million Indian Muslims at the hands of Hindutva forces reducing them to second-class citizens; insidious attacks on the special identity of the state and growing culture of intolerance and hate in mainland India in the name of hyper-nationalism". "I wish to reiterate that voices of reason in this country cannot be muzzled for long and the environment of siege will need to end if we wish to usher in true democracy," he had said. Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also welcomed Faesel's resignation. "Welcome the stand to resign by @ShahFaesal to protest unabated killing of Kashmiris by GOI." "Hope his outrage over killings and his sentiment that #KashmiriLivesMatter guide his choice of politics and gets reflected in representing his people's collective deep driving desire of right to self-determination and their relentless struggle and sacrifice in achieving it - also the reason behind killings and repression on them by the state," the Hurriyat leader had said in his tweet. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. China Aviation Daily | Jan. 10, 2019 South Australia, the location of the next World Routes event, has reported a record number of visors to the region, with the state's visitor economy soaring to an all-time-high of AUD $6.9 billion. The results of the latest International and National Visitor Survey showed growth in domestic and international expenditure and visitation. The biggest boost came from interstate guests, with 2.5 million visitors spending a record $2.2 billion in South Australia. This growth complemented an increase in international expenditure, which now sits at $1.15 billion, a 4% increase on 12 months ago. China led international growth - with expenditure up 15 per cent to $426 million. The United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand also recorded strong growth. South Australian Tourism Commission, Chief Executive, Rodney Harrex, said it's exciting to start the new year with these impressive figures. "The State Tourism Plan 2020 has helped build a strong and competitive tourism industry, as we work towards an $8 billion visitor economy - it is vital that this momentum continues," Mr Harrex said. "South Australia is seeing a huge increase in its level of aviation activity and with World Routes coming to Adelaide this year, we expect demand will only continue to increase." he said. Acting Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, David Pisoni, said the results were pleasing and a testament to the hard work and passion of thousands of local tourism operators. "When we attract more tourists to experience the wonders of South Australia and our world-class events we grow our economy and help create more local jobs,' Minister Pisoni said. "We look forward to building on this momentum by ensuring that South Australia continues to deliver world-class events and experiences to our valued visitors particularly in the regions, through new and exciting government initiatives." he said. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, will host the 25th World Route Development Forum 21-24 September 2019 at the Adelaide Showground with 3,000 delegates expected to attend. Attracting senior decision makers from the world's leading aviation organisations, World Routes provides a platform for route development professionals to discuss, develop and plan airline network strategy on a global scale. Contributed by Routes New Delhi: Amid the row over favouritism in Rafale deal, a group of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) employees on Thursday accused Narendra Modi of hatching a conspiracy to bleed and shut the countrys largest public sector defence unit. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the members of HAL Welfare Forum claimed that the Modi government has not paid Rs 14,000 crore for aircraft and helicopters that have already been delivered and the company had to take a loan to pay the salaries of its employees. There is a systematic conspiracy to bleed and shut down HAL by the present government. The present government has paid Rs 20,000 crore in advance for buying the Rafale to Dassault Aviation without delivery of a single aircraft. On the other hand, HAL has not been paid Rs 14,000 crore for aircraft, helicopters that have already been delivered, Renuka S, ex-general secretary and former chief convenor of the All India Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Trade Union Coordination Committee, said. Also Read | Alok Verma's ouster: PM Narendra Modi is a prisoner of his own lies, says Congress president Rahul Gandhi Alleging corruption in the Rafale deal, the Opposition Congress and its chief Rahul Gandhi have been accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of overlooking HAL by giving preference to his businessman friend Anil Ambanis Reliance. The government, however, rejected the allegations and said that it played no role in choosing the offshore partner of Dassault Aviation the French company responsible for manufacturing the aircraft. However, former French president Francois Hollande, under whose term the deal was signed, claimed that India had proposed Reliance for the deal. Read More | Alok Verma removal: Congress says CVC is working on Modi government's direction, attacks PM over Rafael again The group of HAL employees claimed that the company was capable of providing offshore services for the Rafale deal and Anil Ambani's Reliance, which was reportedly floated 10 days before Modi signed the Rs 58,0000 crore deal with the French president. Watch the highlights of the press conference by HAL employees: The web of lies spun by NoMo and his associates has been busted by the HAL Welfare Forum. Watch the highlights of their Press Conference where they explain how the current govt. has bled them dry and misled the nation on their capabilities. #HALExposesModi pic.twitter.com/uTh6hHaz3p Congress (@INCIndia) January 10, 2019 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In the election year, Alok Vermas unceremonious removal from the post of CBI Chief will have far-reaching effects. Without naming anyone, Verma said that he was transferred to another post pursuant to the orders of the committee on the basis of false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations made by only one person, who was inimical to him. Apart from the CBI row, Delhi will also witness another significant event. The ruling BJPs 2-day meet will begin today at Ramlila Ground. There are reports that a mini PMO has been made for Narendra Modi. The Delhi Traffic Police has also issued a special advisory in this regard. In other news, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will interact with the Indian overseas and student communities during his maiden visit to the UAE today. News Nation brings all the action from around the globe. Stay updated with all the breaking news: 22:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Meera Sanyal, a member of the national executive committee of the Aam Aadmi Party, who also served as the chairperson of Royal Bank of Scotland in India died of cancer, the party said. 20:49 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The National Stock Exchange on Friday said Ashok Chawla has resigned as chairman with immediate effect in light of recent legal developments. However, the exchange did not provide specific details. 20:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Two Army personnel lost their lives in an IED blast in Naushera. 19:47 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists lobbed a grenade at CRPF platoon near Lal Chowk, Srinagar. No loss of life or injury reported yet. J&K: Terrorists lobbed a grenade at CRPF platoon near Lal Chowk, Srinagar. No loss of life or injury reported yet ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 19:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In National Ayyappa Devotees Association (NADA) files an application in the Supreme Court seeking video-recording and live-telecast of proceedings of review petitions challenging its verdict allowing entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala Temple. Constitution bench to hear review petitions on Jan 22. 18:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "If there is a movie on Accidental Prime Minister, then there should be a movie titled as 'Disastrous Prime Minister'. This will be made in the future... No one will be spared," says West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Barasat. 17:07 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In CBI has filed charge sheet against P Chidambaram's wife Nalini Chidambaram in a court in Kolkata, in connection with Saradha scam. CBI has filed chargesheet against P Chidambaram's wife Nalini Chidambaram in a court in Kolkata, in connection with Saradha scam. pic.twitter.com/NIRtctMwIS ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 16:31 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah arrive at Ramlila Ground to attend the two-day BJP National Council meeting. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, EAM Sushma Swaraj, Senior BJP leaders Murali Manohar Joshi and LK Advani also present. Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah arrive at Ramlila Ground to attend the two-day BJP National Council meeting. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, EAM Sushma Swaraj, Senior BJP leaders Murali Manohar Joshi and LK Advani also present. pic.twitter.com/qA3IY7KfaW ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 15:26 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Alok Verma resigns from service day after his unceremonious removal as ex-CBI chief. 15:22 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh convicted in a journalist murder case by Panchkula court. The quantum of punishment will be decided on January 17. 15:12 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Fire breaks out at a plastic factory in Mumbai's Kandivali. Five fire tenders are at the spot. 14:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Nageswara Rao reverses all transfers made by Alok Verma on January 9 and 10 CBI Sources: All transfer orders issued by ex-Director Alok Verma have been reversed by Interim Director M Nageshwar Rao. 14:14 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Aircel Maxis case adjourned till February 1 by Delhi's Patiala House Court Aircel Maxis case adjourned till February 1 by Delhi's Patiala House Court. The court also extended the interim protection of Karti Chidambaram and P Chidambaram till February 1 in both CBI and ED cases. 14:06 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Raveesh Kumar, MEA: Pakistan said minorities are not treated well in India, I think Pakistan should be the last country to lecture us on plurality and inclusive society. We and the world are fully aware of the situation of minorities in their country. 14:03 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Raveesh Kumar, MEA: If Pakistan is ready for a dialogue, why hasn't it taken any action against Mumbai and Pathankot terror attack perpetrators? 13:50 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Nageshwar Rao assumes charge as CBI Director after Alok Verma's transfer M. Nageshwar Rao, Additional Director of CBI, has assumed the charge of the office of Director, CBI after Alok Verma was transferred yesterday as DG Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence. 13:01 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In MK Stalin says DMK will never align with BJP, adds PM Modi is not Atal Bihari Vajpayee DMK will never align with BJP and Prime Minister Modi is not Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The alliance under him is not a healthy alliance. It is an irony that PM Modi compares himself with Vajpayee: MK Stalin. 12:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Meghalaya Mine accident: Supreme Court tells government to continue rescue efforts Supreme Court asks government what it has done about the persons who were operating in illegal mines & the officials who allowed illegal mines to go on? A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri further added, "Carry on with your rescue efforts, what if all or at least some are still alive? Miracles do happen." 12:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In CBSE issues circular announcing two levels of Mathematics for students of Class X for different needs The CBSE has issued a circular announcing two levels (basic and standard) of Mathematics for students of Class X for different needs, for CBSE Board Examinations 2020. The present level and curriculum of Mathematics would continue to remain the same. 12:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh confirms his party's alliance with SP and BSP in Uttar Pradesh. 12:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In ISRO boss K Sivan makes big announcement for manned mission ISRO Chief K Sivan says the preparations for Gaganyaan Mission are underway. It has been a major turning point for ISRO. The target for two unmanned missions to space is December 2020 and July 2021. The target for a manned mission to space is December 2021. 11:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In #MeToo: Patiala Court to hear MJ Akbars defamation case against Priya Ramani on Jan 22 Delhi's Patiala House Court has fixed Jan 22 for further hearing in the criminal defamation complaint filed by former Union Minister MJ Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani 11:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Panchkula court to announce verdict against Ram Rahim Security has been increased in Haryana and parts of Punjab in the wake of Special CBI court in Panchkula's likely verdict on Friday in the journalist murder case in which jailed Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is an accused. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Haryana especially in Panchkula, Sirsa (headquarter of Dera) and Rohtak districts with several companies of the state armed police, anti-riot police and commando force being deployed to deal with any law and order situation. 10:36 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP's 2-day national council meeting starts today , Delhi Police issues special traffic advisory The Modi government's "social justice" plank with its outreach to Dalits, backward classes and general category is likely to be a key theme at the BJP's two-day national council meeting that begins today, as the party looks to set the tone for its Lok Sabha poll campaign. In the wake of a two-day BJP National Council meeting here at Ramlila Ground, Delhi Police on Thursday issued traffic advisory anticipating traffic congestion on several roads leading to the venue. 08:58 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Mayawati, Akhilesh to address a joint press briefing tomorrow Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav to address a joint press briefing in Lucknow, tomorrow. There are reports that both leaders will announce split from the Congress for the up coming Lok Sabha Elections For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Lal Bahadur Shastri was one of the most popular prime ministers of India who played a crucial role in shaping up the country's future. His famous 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan' (Hail the soldier, hail the farmer) slogan injected energy during the freedom movement. Born on October 2, 1904 in Mughalsarai, Shastri emphasised the idea of unity in the country. He was the second prime minister of India from 1964 to 1966. He took over the rein of our country after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru. His untimely death in Uzbekistan's Tashkent on January 11, 1966 after a massive heart attack left a void. He signed a peace agreement between India and Pakistan post-1965 War before his death in Tashkent. Indira Gandhi became the prime minister after Shastri's death. Shastri once said, "As a nation, we must fight for peace as we fought in a war." Today, on his 53rd death anniversary, we bring to you some interesting facts about Lal Bahadur Shastri: Lal Bahadur Shastri went to jail for taking part in Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement. Later, he was let off as he was still a minor of 17 years. Shastri introduced the provision of female drivers and conductors in public transportation when he was the Transport Minister. He accepted a Khadi cloth and spinning wheel as dowry at his wedding. Shastri introduced the rule of spraying jet water to disperse crowd instead of lathi charge, during his tenure as the Minister of Police. Shastri took part in the Salt March, for which he was jailed for a period of two years. This is how politicians paid tribute to Indias second prime minister: Today we honour India's second Prime Minister and a strong leader of the masses, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. His leadership, his slogan of 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisaan', and his various contributions towards building India will always be remembered by one and all. pic.twitter.com/72MihsUGQl Congress (@INCIndia) January 11, 2019 Remembering former Prime Minister of India #LalBahadurShastri ji on his Punya Tithi. Shastriji led the nation at a crucial time and his leadership continues to be an inspiration in public life for his simplicity and moral values.#jaijawanjaikisan pic.twitter.com/hAjJRZk0CS Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp) January 11, 2019 On his Punyatithi, my Pranam and tributes to our Former PM Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji, who with the mantra of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, had envisaged a new model of Nation development... pic.twitter.com/lrz3YpqBvZ Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 11, 2019 On his death Anniversary, we remember the unparalleled contribution of #LalBahadurShastri Ji in laying & strengthening the foundation of free India. His slogan of "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan", is a continual reminder of the strength of our youth & farmers. My sincere tributes to him! pic.twitter.com/vQyh2EGzzk Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) January 11, 2019 Tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri, former prime minister, on his death anniversary Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 11, 2019 Tributes to India's 2nd Prime Minister #LalBahadurShastri ji on his Punya Tithi. May his ideals of public service continue to guide us forever. pic.twitter.com/zbwGbs8lIv Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) January 11, 2019 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: India on Friday hit back at Pakistan for accusing Indian spy agency RAW of being involved in the November terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, saying it was "fabricated and scurrilous". "We have seen statements in the Pakistani media attributed to the police chief of Karachi making false allegations against India for the terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi in November, 2018. We completely reject these fabricated and scurrilous attempts to levy accusations on India. Instead of maliciously pointing fingers at others for such terrorist incidents, Pakistan needs to look inwards and undertake credible action against support to terrorism and terror infrastructure in its territories," a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said. The Karachi police said it has arrested five suspects from a separatist Baloch group for the November 23 attack on the Chinese consulate that killed four people, which they claimed was carried out to "sabotage" the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). At a press conference, Karachi police chief Amir Sheikh said the men arrested confessed to their role in facilitating the three attackers, who were also killed during the attack on the consulate. Shaikh added that the attack was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). According to Sheikh, the detainees were linked to the Baloch Liberation Army, a Balochistan-based group which had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time. What happened? # In November, 2018, three militants tried to storm the consulate Karachis posh Clifton area but security forces foiled their bid by killing all of them in a gunbattle. The attack also killed two police officials and two visa applicants. # "The aim was to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and create the impression in China that Karachi is not safe," Sheikh said. India condemned # India had strongly condemned the terror attack on the Chinese consulate, saying such strikes only strengthen the resolve of the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. # "There can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. The perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement last November. India opposed the CPEC # India has opposed the CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The ambitious $60 billion CPEC project connects China's northwestern Xinjiang region to Pakistan's Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a major setback to special CBI director Rakesh Asthana and Deputy special director Devender Kumar, Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed the plea filed by them seeking to quash an FIR filed against them by the Central Bureau of Investigation. On directions of ousted CBI chief Alok Verma, the CBI had registered an FIR against Asthana and Kumar for allegedly taking a bribe from Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana to clear his name from the Moin Qureshi case. The High Court also removed the interim ban from his arrest. However, Asthana's lawyer then requested to continue the ban on his arrest. After his lawyer's plea, the court verbally said that the status quo will remain for the next two weeks. On October 15, following Sanas testimony against Asthana before a magistrate court, the CBI had registered a corruption case against him for taking a bribe. Asthana had challenged the CBI move in the Delhi High Court which ordered the agency to maintain the status quo and granted him interim relief from the arrest. Also Read | CBI has become BJP Bureau of Investigation: Mamata Banerjee on Alok Verma 'sacking' In his plea mentioned before the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Rajendra Menon, Asthana had sought the courts direction that no coercive action be taken against him. The investigating agency defended the arrest of its Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar saying "incriminating documents and evidence were found after raiding his office and residence". In an unprecedented move, the CBI had told the court that an extortion racket in the garb of the investigation was being run from the CBI headquarters and that Kumar was also part of it. Also Read | Alok Verma resigns from service a day after his removal as CBI chief, calls it a moment of introspection Following the registration of FIR, Kumar, the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested by the CBI on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of businessman Sathish Sana, who had alleged to have paid bribes to get relief in the case. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Meera Sanyal, who also served as CEO and chairperson of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) India, has passed away at the age of 57, according to AAP leaders. Sanyal had joined the Aam Aadmi Party after quitting her job, and contested the Lok Sabha election from South Mumbai in 2014 which she lost. She had earlier contested as an independent candidate in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from the Mumbai South constituency. AAP leader and Delhis Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia confirmed her death in a tweet, saying the country has lost a sharp economic brain and a gentle soul. I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of Meera Sanyal. The country has lost a sharp economic brain and a gentle soul. May she rest in peace! You will forever remain in our hearts. Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) January 11, 2019 In her 30-year-old banking career before surprising all by plunging into politics, the Kochi-born Sanyal had also served as the head of corporate finance and chief operating officer for ABN Amro for Asia. "We are deeply saddened by this loss, Meera Sanyal a good heart has stopped beating, a good soul ascended to heaven. Her memories will forever remain in our hearts. May she rest in peace!" tweeted AAP. We are deeply saddened by this loss, @meerasanyal a good heart has stopped beating, a good soul ascended to heaven. Her memories will forever remain in our hearts. May she rest in peace! #RIP pic.twitter.com/LGGygwQmHi AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 11, 2019 "She will be sorely missed by all, those who knew her professionally and those who worked with her in public life. She bravely fought cancer for over two years now but God claimed her this evening. I pray she is free from pain and in everlasting peace. She passed away at 8 pm at her south Mumbai residence and the funeral is a private affair. Will share details of a prayer meeting shortly," said AAP's national executive member Preeti Sharma Menon. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: An Indian Army Major and another soldier were killed in an IED blast at Nowshera sector in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, according to news agency PTI. An improvised explosive device was planted by suspected militants in foot-track along the LoC to target Army soldiers patrolling the borderline in Laam belt of Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, they said. The blast resulted in injuries to two soldiers, including a Major, the officials said, adding they were rushed to a hospital where they succumbed to injuries. Army soldiers have been alerted against IED blasts and attacks by the border action teams (BATs) of the Pakistan Army, they said. In a similar attack on Friday, terrorists lobbed a grenade at a CRPF platoon near Lal Chowk in Srinagar. However, there were no reports any causality in the incident. Earlier in the day, an Army porter was killed when Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations for the fourth consecutive day along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting the Indian Army to retaliate, officials said. Army porter Hemraj was critically injured when Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Sunderbani Sector of Rajouri district, PRO Defence Lt Col Devender Anand said. He was provided immediate resuscitation and medical aid, but he succumbed to the gunshot wounds, he said. The Army will provide all possible assistance to the family of martyred porter, the PRO said. Pakistan troops also resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in forward areas of the Poonch district, the officials said. Indian troops guarding the borderline retaliated strongly, resulting in an exchange of firing on both sides, they said. The year 2018 had witnessed 2,936 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Indo-Pak border, the highest in the last 15 years. The continuous shelling and firing by Pakistan targeting villages has set in fear psychosis among the border dwellers, the officials said. On Thursday, an Army major and a BSF jawan were injured as Pakistani troops shelled forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire for a third consecutive day Thursday, inviting a strong retaliation from Indian forces, they said. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Selection Committee removed Alok Verma as the CBI chief, the 1979 batch IAS officer has resigned from the service. According to the Press Trust of India, Verma in his resignation letter said that it was a moment of collective introspection. "Also, it may be noted that the undersigned already superannuated as on January 31, 2017 and was only serving Government as Director, CBI till January 31, 2019, as the same was fixed tenure role. The undersigned is no longer Director, CBI and has already crossed the superannuation age for DG Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards. Accordingly, the undersigned may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today," Verma said in his letter to Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training Friday. Former CBI Chief Alok Verma in a letter to Secy Dept of Personnel and Training:It may be noted that the undersigned would have already superannuated as on July 31, 2017 and was only serving the Government as Director, CBI till January 3, 2019, as the same was a fixed tenure role. pic.twitter.com/iMRxwWOgUl ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 Also Read | Alok Verma breaks silence on removal as CBI chief, says tried to protect the integrity of institution Late on Thursday, Verma broke silence over his exit and said that the decision has been taken on false allegations. In a statement issued late on Thursday, Verma spoke about independence of the CBI. It (CBI) must function without external influences. I have tried to uphold the integrity of the institution while attempts were being made to destroy it. The same can be seen from the orders of the central government and the CVC dated October 23, 2018, which were without jurisdiction and were set aside, Verma said. Calling the Thursday decision as sad, Verma said that he was transferred to another post pursuant to the orders of the committee on the basis of false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations made by only one person, who was inimical to him. During the high-power committee meeting, while senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that Verma should be given the extension of 77 days, the majority opined otherwise. Verma, a 1979-batch AGMUT-cadre IPS officer was removed from the post after a 2-1 decision with Justice Sikri siding with the Narendra Modigovernment. Also Read | Alok Verma sacked again as CBI chief with 2-1 decision by PM Modi-led high-power committee The CVC report on the basis of which the decision of the removal was taken had found evidence against Verma of influencing investigation in the controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi case. There was also evidence of Verma taking a bribe of Rs 2 crore to give relief to Qureshi - a millionaire meat exporter from Kanpur, who faces multiple investigations, ranging from tax evasion to money laundering and corruption. The CVC said Alok Verma's conduct in the case is suspicious, and there is a prima facie case against him, sources privy of the development were quoted as saying. The CVC report claimed that the CBI team looking into the case wanted to make Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana an accused in the case but Verma never gave clearance to special director Rakesh Asthana, who was leading the investigation. Asthana along with Verma was sent on forced leave on October 23. (With inputs from PTI) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a quick turn of events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Selection Committee removed Alok Verma as CBI chief on Thursday. The decision came just 48 hours after the Supreme Court reinstating Verma as the head of the probe agency. Last on Thursday, Verma finally broke silence over his unceremonious exit and said that the decision has been taken on false allegations. In a statement issued late on Thursday, Verma spoke about independence of the CBI. It (CBI) must function without external influences. I have tried to uphold the integrity of the institution while attempts were being made to destroy it. The same can be seen from the orders of the central government and the CVC dated October 23, 2018, which were without jurisdiction and were set aside, Verma said. Calling the Thursday decision as sad, Verma said that he was transferred to another post pursuant to the orders of the committee on the basis of false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations made by only one person, who was inimical to him. What CVC report said against CBI Director Alok Verma that led to his ouster? Read here During the high-power committee meeting, while senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that Verma should be given the extension of 77 days, the majority opined otherwise. Verma, a 1979-batch AGMUT-cadre IPS officer was removed from the post after a 2-1 decision with Justice Sikri siding with the Narendra Modi government. PM Modi, Justice Sikri voted to remove CBI Director Alok Verma, Kharge wanted his extension The CVC report on the basis of which the decision of the removal was taken had found evidence against Verma of influencing investigation in the controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi case. There was also evidence of Verma taking a bribe of Rs 2 crore to give relief to Qureshi - a millionaire meat exporter from Kanpur, who faces multiple investigations, ranging from tax evasion to money laundering and corruption. The CVC said Alok Verma's conduct in the case is suspicious, and there is a prima facie case against him, sources privy of the development were quoted as saying. The CVC report claimed that the CBI team looking into the case wanted to make Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana an accused in the case but Verma never gave clearance to special director Rakesh Asthana, who was leading the investigation. Asthana along with Verma was sent on forced leave on October 23. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Rating Star Cast Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam, Paresh Rawal, Rajit Kapoor Director Aditya Dhar Genre Action, Drama Delhi: Vicky Kaushal starrer Uri: The Surgical Strike, one of the most anticipated movies of the year 2019, hit the screens today. And well, with the hard hitting dialogues and power-packed action sequences, the film is off to a good start. The film is based on 2016 Indian Armys surgical strike as a retaliation of the Uri attacks on an Indian army camp in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri. Story: The plot of the film revolves around Major Vihaan Shergill (Vicky Kaushal), who led an attack on a camp on the Indo-Myanmar border, where a large group of terrorist have gathered. If you want to find an insight into the hearts and minds of brave men and women who willingly put themselves forward in the line of fire, you wont find it here. Also Read: Exclusive | Uri cast Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam talk about surgical strikes, patriotism and more Acting: With back to back extraordinary performances in Raazi and Sanju, Vicky Kaushal is back to the silver screens with yet another striking performance. He has proved that theres no one like him when it comes to versatility and great acting skills. The film also stars Yami Gautam and well, we can say that she is finally back with a bang. Rajit Kapur plays PM Narendra Modi, and seems to be around to ask a few questions and give reaction shots. The real hero is Govind Sir played by Paresh Rawal, who is modelled on National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Direction: Directed by Aditya Dhar, its a revenge film from the word go. From gun battles, hand to hand combat scenes to precisely planned drones, Dhar has brilliantly executed each and every shot. Dhar has successfully kept us hooked to our seats and managed to leave us pretty impressed. Its probably the best result any director can expect from a film based on real life events until youre still looking for proofs. The film has started on a good note and it may earn a good collection. In the end, we would like to say that Uri: The Surgical Strike has many exciting moments. Dont be surprised to see hooting and whistles all around when Indian army officers blast terrorist camps in Pakistan. Delhi: The year 2019 seems to have begun on quite an epic note with several eminent Bollywood celebrities coming together to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss how the industry can contribute towards nation building. PM Modi met Ranveer Singh, Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Rohit Shetty, Varun Dhawan, Vicky Kaushal, Ashwini Iyer, Bhumi Pednekar, Rajkummar Rao and Sidharth Malhotra. And, to mark this perfect moment, they clicked a selfie that was more epic than their meeting. Karan Johar was the first one to post the selfie on his Twitter account, with a caption, ''Thank u Honble PM @narendramodi. All of us who had the incredible opportunity to interact with u today represent the worlds largest film industry & together we would love to inspire & ignite positive changes towards a transformative India.'' The Prime Minister himself posted the same selfie and wrote, ''Had a good meeting with popular film personalities.'' As soon as the epic selfie made its way on social media, it was only natural for the netizens to go into overdrive and react instantly to this epic picture. Here are some of the hilarious reactions that will make you LOL: Pic 1: Original. Pic 2: How Modi haters see it. pic.twitter.com/mo3wE0mHQO Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) January 10, 2019 Bollywood celebs visit PM Modi to seek his blessings for 2019. #NaMo #selfie pic.twitter.com/6ovNJHZvnJ Chanakyapanti (@ChanakyaPanti) January 10, 2019 Rare pic Where we can see the brightest Sun in the middle of stars Best #Selfie ..#NarendraModi pic.twitter.com/ItGXWDFqDi Nilesh Bhatt (@NeileshBhatt) January 10, 2019 No vivek oberai (@Bhai_saheb) January 10, 2019 Ghar Ghar Modi SAHIL CHAUHAN (@thesahilchauhan) January 10, 2019 The meeting comes a week after PM Modi met Bollywood producers and discussed the issues faced by the film industry. The meeting was followed by a reduction in GST on film tickets by the government. Also, a biopic based on PM Modis life is all set to go on floors in mid-January. Vivek Oberoi has been roped in to play Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the latter's biopic, titled PM Narendra Modi. The film will be directed by Omung Kumar who has previously helmed hit biographical dramas like Sarabjit and Mary Kom. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid frantic speculations over the joint press conference by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh has spilled the beans about the strategic alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Talking to media, Singh confirmed the news and said that, Yes, we are a part of the Grand Alliance. However, Singh didnt say anything on the seat-sharing formula. We haven't discussed seats yet, Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. But he kept mum on the imminent split with the Congress and said that, Mayawati Ji and Akhilesh Ji will decide whether there will be an alliance with Congress or not. For those uninitiated, Singh drew blank in the 2014 General Elections. Even at present, Singhs RLD has no lawmaker in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Once known as the prominent leader in western Uttar Pradesh, Singh couldnt save his bastion and lost in Baghpat in 2014. Earlier in April last year, lone RLD MLA from Chhaprauli assembly constituency in Baghpath district, Sahender Singh Ramala, joined the BJP at its office in Lucknow in presence of state BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey and the party's general secretary Vidyasagar Sonkar. In July last year, when asked about the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the RLD chief had confirmed that he will contest the 2019 elections. 2019 Lok Sabha Elections: SP-BSP alliance may shatter of PM Modi's dream, find surveys At that time, Singh had termed a `mahagathbandhan' (a mega alliance of opposition parties) as the need of the hour, saying that if any party contests the next election on its own, it will be wiped out. Even at that time, Singh had dismissed the possibility of the RLD forging an alliance with the BJP. 2:1 seat-sharing formula should go in favour of Congress in Karnataka: JD(S) leader Earlier, News Nation had reported that the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are coming together for a pre-poll alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. According to the sources, the Samajwadi Party will contest 37 seats while the Bahujan Samaj Party will fight on 38 of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies. Three seats - Baghpat, Mathura, Kairana - will go to Ajit Singh's RLD. Singh is likely to contest from his stronghold Baghpat while his son Jayant Choudhary will once again contest from Mathura. BJP's Hema Malini had defeated Jayant from Mathura constituency in 2014. The alliance, however, will not field its candidates on Amethi and Raebareli - the traditional seats of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Dubai: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday reached out to the Indian expatriates during his maiden visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Praising the UAE for declaring 2019 as the 'Year of Tolerance', Gandhi said that he is sad that back home it is four and a half years of intolerance. The values that bring together the people of UAE and India are humility and tolerance; tolerance for different ideas, religions, and communities. I'm sad to say that back home it is four and a half years of intolerance, Gandhi said in a veiled attack to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. ALSO READ: I want to listen problems instead of telling 'Mann Ki Baat', says Rahul Gandhi in Dubai The values that bring together the people of UAE and India are humility and tolerance; tolerance for different ideas, religions and communities. I'm sad to say that back home it is four and a half years of intolerance: Congress President @RahulGandhi #RahulGandhiInDubai pic.twitter.com/7HRc0v7BeE Congress (@INCIndia) January 11, 2019 Gandhi said that India cannot be strong if it is divided and it is being divided for political reasons and benefits. "Once again, we have to bring India together regardless of ideologies and thinking. Once again we have to bring India together, its people, religions, and casts. I want a commitment from you to stand together with us and solve problems back in India, Gandhi said. I want a commitment from you to stand together with us and solve problems back in India: Congress President @RahulGandhi #RahulGandhiInDubai pic.twitter.com/BYO66PeEJp Congress (@INCIndia) January 11, 2019 He also took a jibe at the BJP's 'Congress-mukt Bharat slogan and said, "We don't need a 'BJP-mukt Bharat'. We want an India where every citizen says he is an Indian first and then the rest". Earlier, Gandhi interacted with the Indian workers at Jebel Ali industrial area and enquired about their problems. "I have come here to tell you that I stand by you. You leave your families behind in India, you all toil hard to earn for your families. I am here to assure you that we are with you... I am here to listen to your problems. Whatever help we can extend, we are ready," he said amid loud applause. He also announced that as soon as Congress government come to power, it will give special status to Andhra Pradesh. "We will give special category status to Andhra Pradesh. It's the first thing we will do after coming to power in 2019," Gandhi said. New Delhi: Patidar leader Hardik Patel is likely to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi. According to sources, the Samajwadi Party (SP)- Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are considering to name Patel as Mahagathbandhans candidate against Modi. Once sworn enemies of each other, Akhilesh Yadavs SP and Mayawatis BSP have forged a pre-poll alliance with other smaller parties to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. They, however, dumped the main Opposition party Congress, saying the Grand Old Party does not have much significance in Uttar Pradesh. Hardik Patel, who hails from Modi's home state Gujarat, had emerged as a rising political leader when he led the Patidar Reservation Agitation and addressed a massive rally in Gujarat's Visnagar in 2015. Soon, he became a household name and played a crucial role in 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections. Also Read | Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav likely to announce poll alliance tomorrow, split with Congress imminent Although the chances of Patel winning against Modi looks bleak given the popularity of the prime minister in his constituency, but his candidature will indeed make the contest interesting. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when Narendra Modi's popularity was at its peak, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal dared to challenge him but lost miserably. Modi had trounced Kejriwal by a massive margin of 3.37 lakh votes. Modi had secured 5,16,593 votes as against the 1,79,739 votes of Kejriwal. However, at that time, Congress and BSP had also fielded their own candidates in Varanasi but things may not be the same this time as SP and BSP have allied each other and given the fact the Patel had supported Congress in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi may also refrain from pitting his party candidate in Varanasi. The development came ahead of the joint press conference by BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav at Lucknows Taj Hotel on Saturday. During the presser, the SP and BSP chiefs are likely to declare the seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Yadav had met BSP chief in New Delhi on January 3 to finalise the contours of the seat sharing agreement ahead of the general elections. As per the seat-sharing pact reached, both the Samajwadi Party and the BSP will fight on 37 seats each and the six remaining seats will be given to smaller alliance partners like Chaudhary Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Om Prakash Rajbhars Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP). Also Read | In marathon Delhi meet, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati reach consensus on poll alliance minus Congress Ajit Singhs RLD and Rajbhars SBSP will get two seats each but if Rajbhar didnt join the mega anti-BJP alliance, his share of two seats will be equally divided between the major allies. Miffed with the Congress party, both Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati do not want the Grand Old Party to be a part of the Grand Alliance. However, they will still not field any candidate against the Gandhies in their stronghold Amethi and Rae Bareli, the sources said. New Delhi: A day before Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party and Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party are likely to announce their alliance for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress said ignoring the party in the politically crucial state could be a "very dangerous mistake". Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate "autocracy, misgovernance" at the Centre. "I don't think anybody should underestimate the strength, extent and reach and vote share, presence and support of the Congress in a state like Uttar Pradesh. "We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake. Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future," he told reporters when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance. "Those who in any manner do not do it will be blamed ultimately by the public, which knows everything. Therefore, it is an obligation on each one of the parties to do so (defeat the BJP)," Singhvi said. Also Read | BJP will win 74 seats in UP this Lok Sabha polls: Amit Shah Singhvis comments came hours after the media on Friday received an invite from Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav for a joint press conference in Lucknow. In the election year, two party chiefs coming together for a joint presser translates into an announcement for an alliance. Scheduled to be held at Lucknows Taj Hotel, the SP and BSP chiefs are likely to declare the seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. There are reports that split with the Congress is imminent, at least in Uttar Pradesh. This is not good news for either Congress or ruling BJP as both the SP and the BSP have a good presence in the state. Confirming the news, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh said that, "Yes, I am part of the Mahagathbandhan." However, he said that he has no information about the Lucknow press conference. The formidable alliance will impact the poll mandate. It will especially hit the BJP as the saffron party had won 71 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh during the 2014 General Elections. The importance of this alliance can be gauged from the fact that during the debate for the Forward Quota Bill in Parliament, several Opposition parties had alleged that the Narendra Modi government brought the Bill because it was afraid of the impact SP and BSP will cause in Uttar Pradesh. Also Read | Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav likely to announce poll alliance tomorrow On January 6, Akhilesh Yadav had indicated about the alliance announcement later in the week. Earlier, statements made by Mayawati and Akhilesh have hinted that both the parties are not too keen to cede space to the Congress in the seat-sharing deal in Uttar Pradesh. Yadav had met BSP chief in New Delhi on January 3 to finalise the contours of the seat sharing agreement ahead of the general elections. Bhubaneswar: Odisha government on Friday decided to provide financial assistance to the children ofunder privileged families to pursue higher education, officials said. Under the new Financial Assistance Scheme, students of under privileged class will be provided Rs 20,000 annually for pursuing both graduate and post-graduate courses. In order to avail the new scheme, the beneficiary student should belong to HIV/AIDS affected family, parents suffering non-curable diseases, landless or homeless family, child of a single mother, women headed family in case of non-earning spouse. A decision in this regard was made at a meeting presided over by Higher Education Secretary B P Sethi. Though the Department of Higher Education has implemented various schemes to make higher education inclusive and to increase the gross enrolment ratio, the government decided to start a new one for under students of privileged families. There are programmes like E-Medhabruti, Kalinga Sikhya Sathi Yojana and Green Passage to provide free education to orphan students pursuing Plus II to post-graduate education. The new assistance scheme will be limited to the duration of the course and will be given each year till completion of the course, Sethi said adding that the department has listed eligibility criteria for applying under the scheme. The student should have enrolled for under-graduate and post-graduate courses on regular mode from recognized colleges, institutions, universities in the state. And income from all sources of the family to which student belongs, should not be more than Rs 1 lakh per annum, he said adding that the financial assistance will be given through bank accounts. New Delhi: Keeping in mind the growing popularity of Journalism in the contemporary world, the Delhi School of Journalism (DSJ) is reportedly planning to start a short-term course for working journalists. According to sources close to the Delhi University (DU), the proposed Journalism programme may be introduced in the upcoming academic session, as was originally provisioned in the ordinance under which the varsity established the school. The school is mulling a course for digital journalism and may conduct classes on weekends for the working professionals. Speaking to news agency IANS, Manasvini Yogi, Officer-on-Special-Duty for DSJ said, "Since we are a new college and have just started our second batch, things are bound to take some time. But we are planning to start the short-term courses by 2020 latest, and if we can, we will start the courses from 2019". Read | UGC recommends university status for IIMC "We will have to see about all that. Too early to talk about the kind of courses we will start. But a course in digital journalism will be there and since these would be for working journalists, the classes may be held on weekends," Yogi said. The newly-established school, which started its journey in 2017 with a batch of 120 students is already having a five-year Post-graduate course in Journalism. At present, there are 218 students across the two batches of DSJ. Read | IIT Kharagpur to launch 6-month Artificial Intelligence course About Delhi School of Journalism: The University of Delhi established the Delhi School of Journalism (DSJ) in 2017 and introduced a Five-Year Integrated Course in Journalism. The North Campus of the varsity houses the newly-introduced school of journalism along with various other centres and colleges including the Cluster Innovation Centre, Delhi School of Economics and others. Delhi: As per the latest notification released, the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB) has decided to admit students for various engineering programmes and medical courses through JEE Main and NEET UG respectively. Earlier, the BCECEB used to conduct Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (BCECE) for admission into engineering and medical courses. The board will later announce the counselling schedule for admission to undergraduate engineering and veterinary courses. Students will be required to register separately for counselling. The candidates who were not able to apply for JEE Main January 2019 can now apply for JEE Main in April. The application process for NEET 2019 exam, however, has closed and the next examination will be conducted on May 5, 2019. However, with this latest announcement, Bihar has joined a list of states that accept JEE Main scores for admission to engineering programmes. Those who are not aware, NEET is an entrance examination for students who wish to study graduate and undergraduate medical course (MBBS, MD, MS) and dental course (BDS, MDS) in government or private medical colleges and dental colleges respectively in India. JEE Main, on the other hand, is an engineering entrance examination conducted for admission to various engineering colleges in India. New Delhi: A 37-year-old man, who allegedly killed his nephew suspecting him of having an affair with his girlfriend, was arrested by the Delhi Police from Hyderabad after three years of the incident, officials said Thursday. Bijay Kumar Maharana, a resident of Odishas Ganjam, moved to Delhi in 2012 after his girlfriend shifted to the national capital. In 2015, Bijays nephew Jai Prakash also moved to Delhi from Hyderabad and they started living together at a flat in Delhis Dwarka area, officials said. While Bijay used to work in an IT firm in Noida Sector 144, Jai Prakash was an employee of a Gurgaon-based company. Over time, Jai Prakash became close to Bijays girlfriend, which he didnt like. Upset over this, Bijay planned to kill his nephew, Rajender Singh Sagar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), said. On the night of February 6, 2016, when Jai Prakash was asleep, he smashed his head with the motor of a ceiling fan, which was lying in his flat for repair, the officer said. He dragged the body to his balcony and buried it in soil, which he had already arranged. He even planted saplings to alleviate any suspicion, the officer said. Also Read | In Delhi, 5 women raped, 8 molested everyday; most accused known to victims After a week, he filed a missing complaint with police saying his nephew didnt return after he went out with some friends. He stayed in the flat for about two months and then shifted to Nangloi in western fringes of the city. In 2017, he moved to Hyderabad, the officer said. In October last year, Jai Prakashs skeleton was found when the building was being renovated. The skeleton was wrapped in a blue-color jacket, a shirt, a bed sheet, a blanket and a mattress. From the owner of the flat, police found about Bijay. The owner, Vikram Singh, also told police that two other tenants also lived in the flat after Bijay vacated it. During the investigation, Bijay was found missing and no one in his family or his group of friends knew about his whereabouts. He had changed his mobile number and stopped using his bank accounts after withdrawing all his money, the officer said. Also Read | US agencies launch probe after Phoenix woman in vegetative state for a decade gives birth With the help of technical surveillance, police located him after weeks of the hunt. A team of the Delhi Police first went to Vishakhapatnam on December 26 and later traveled to Hyderabad on January 1 in search of Bijay. Bijay was nabbed on Sunday from Hyderabad and was brought to Delhi, he said. For all the Latest Crime News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In yet another major development in the Aircel-Maxis case, Ashok Chawla has resigned as the chairman of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) on Friday. The development came after the Centre granted sanction to prosecute five people including Chawla accused in the Aircel-Maxis case. In a statement, the bourse said Chawla has resigned as "Public Interest Director/ Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd with immediate effect in light of recent legal developments". "Ashok Chawla has resigned as Public Interest Director/Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) with immediate effect in light of recent legal developments," the news agency ANI reported. NSE: Ashok Chawla has resigned as Public Interest Director/Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) with immediate effect in light of recent legal developments. ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 Read | Sensex falls 96 points, Nifty ends below 10,800 Earlier in the day, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) counsel informed a special court in Delhi that it has obtained sanction to prosecute Ashok Chawla and four the then Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) officials in the Aircel-Maxis case. Chawla, who was appointed NSE Chairman in 2016, was the former Secretary of Economic Affairs and is named in the infamous Aircel-Maxis case along with former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has been probing the alleged lapses in high-frequency trading offered through NSE's co-location facility. It was also investigating whether some brokers had unfair access to the exchange's co-location facility. Read | Tips To Manage Your Credit Card Expenses In July 2018, there were also reports that market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) would take cognisance of the matter and look at whether or not to allow Chawla to continue holding the post. As per the revised rules, the A class government officials holding the positions of joint secretary and above cannot be prosecuted without the approval of the Centre, whether or not the officials are still in active service. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Please purchase a subscription read this premium content. If you have a subscription, please sign up for a digital website account or log in. Microsoft's search engine Bing has been serving up images of child abuse and exploitation, and even suggesting new terms users could search for to find more illegal content, an investigation has found. Technology news site TechCrunch asked anti-exploitation firm AntiToxin to look into the matter after receiving an anonymous tip, with "alarming results". Searching for child porn was easy - obvious terms like 'kids porn', 'nude family' and 'porn CP' brought up more illegal imagery than legal. Even searches for innocent material were interpreted as a search for child porn, AntiToxin's report found. "When researchers searched for 'Omegle Kids', referring to a video chat app popular with teens, Bing's auto-complete suggestions included 'Omegle Kids Girls 13' that revealed extensive child pornography when searched," TechCrunch's Josh Constine wrote. "And if a user clicks on those images, Bing showed them more illegal child abuse imagery in its 'Similar Images' feature." Bing already blocked obvious search terms like 'child porn'. Heavily censored screenshots posted by TechCrunch showed the majority of images presented by Bing, when its 'Safe Search' function was turned off, were illegal. CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta is being mocked online after posting a tweet about the US-Mexico border wall which Republicans are calling a massive self-own. Mr Acosta, who was infamously kicked out of the White House last year after a contentious back and forth with US President Donald Trump, was in Texas on Friday (NZ time) where Mr Trump is expected to speak on the lack of funding for a border wall with Mexico. In the McAllen area of the state, which borders Mexico, Mr Acosta tweeted that he "found some steel slats" which appear to be a form of barrier marking the border, "but I don't see anything resembling a national emergency situation". Mr Trump is presently considering whether to declare a national emergency to gain access to money allocated to the Department of Defence in order to build the wall. In a video attached to the tweet, Mr Acosta walks along the wall saying he can't see any danger or migrants "trying to rush towards this fence". "No sign of the national emergency the President is talking about. As a matter of fact, it is pretty tranquil down here." The face of the police throughout the Grace Millane homicide investigation, Det Insp Scott Beard, flew to England to attend the British backpacker's funeral. Det Insp Beard travelled to the United Kingdom with a family liaison officer as a "mark of respect to the family and as part of our commitment to on-going support for them". Ms Millane's father, David, had previously thanked Det Insp Beard for his compassion and service to the family during the investigation and said his daughter would, in a small way, "forever be a Kiwi". Her funeral was held at 12:30am (NZ Time) in Brentwood Cathedral in Essex. It included the hymn 'Amazing Grace' and a eulogy from her father. Hundreds attended the service, which included a procession from her hometown Wickford, about 20km to the east. Many wore white ribbons, a symbol representing opposition to violence against women, The Sun reported. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more U.S. Census Bureau employee Kristy Demas, who works at the National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, holds up a sign Thursday afternoon that she would be using later that night at a protest at U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's office in Louisville urging the senator to end the partial government shutdown. Demas has been on furlough since Dec. 26 due to the shutdown. Pass a clean budget, Shoemaker said. Congress needs to do their jobs. While some corrections officers nationwide have reported seeking second jobs to make more money during the shutdown, that hasnt yet been the case at USP Lee, Shoemaker said. He noted that many corrections officers at Lee already have second jobs. Hes a farmer on the side. Another officer owns a store. But hes concerned others may consider finding second jobs once they dont receive a paycheck on Friday. Some local companies have begun assisting corrections officers and other federal employees. The Lee Bank & Trust Co., which has branches in Abingdon, Bristol, Jonesville and Pennington Gap, is offering federal employees a no-interest, no-fee loan for up to 60 days for the amount of two semimonthly paychecks, according to institutions CEO, Robert Coffey. Lee Bank has customers that struggle with their financial circumstances every day, and we work with them on an individual basis, Coffey said. In this case, we were able to identify a large number of our customers that could be affected by the government shutdown and decided to reach out to them by mail, email and social media in order to reach as many as possible. There are 5 counties in Texas with over a million people: Harris County (Houston), Dallas County, Tarrant County (Ft. Worth), Bexar County (San Antonio) and Travis County (Austin). Four are basically blue counties that elect Democrats. Tarrant, with nearly 2 million people, is the outlier. This was Trump's share of the vote in each: Gerrymandered savagely, Tarrant County, is part of 6 congressional districts-- and five are held by Republicans, just one by a Democrat (Marc Veasey). These are the congressional districts and the percentage the congressman got this past November: Why all this Tarrant County information today? There's a reason. The vice-chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party is Shahid Shafi and there is a move among some Republicans to remove him from office -- and tonight's the vote. And it's not because he's a surgeon. "Shahid Shafi identifies as a Republican," wrote Alex Samuels, "because of his firm belief in small government, lower taxes and secure borders. But his commitment to core GOP values hasnt shielded him from ire within his own party." This is, unfortunately, not the first time that people or my political opponents have tried to use my religion against me to distract the voters, Shafi, who declined to be interviewed by the Texas Tribune before Thursdays vote, told the Washington Post. And unfortunately, I dont think it will be the last either. Dorrie OBrien, one of the precinct chairs leading the charge to recall Shafi, did not respond to The Tribunes request for comment. Shes previously said, however, that her support for ousting Shafi stems not from his religion, but whether he supports Islam or is connected to Islamic terror groups, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In a series of lengthy Facebook posts, OBrien wrote that she never doubted her side has the votes to rescind Shahid Shafis ratification as vice chair. We dont think hes suitable as a practicing Muslim to be vice chair because hed be the representative for ALL Republicans in Tarrant County, and not ALL Republicans in Tarrant County think Islam is safe or acceptable in the U.S., in Tarrant County, and in the TCGOP," O'Brien wrote on Facebook, adding that "there are big questions surrounding exactly where Dr. Shafis loyalties lie, vis a vis Democrat and Republican policies. ...Its unclear whether Thursdays vote will happen in public, behind closed doors or be delayed indefinitely, Easton said. The Star-Telegram reported that, since the movement to remove Shafi has picked up steam, it has expanded to also target some of his defenders, including Easton and a Republican party official who is married to a Muslim. Shafi, who came to the U.S. in 1990 and became a naturalized citizen in 2009, has repeatedly defended himself against the attacks on his religion. In an open letter, he wrote that he believes much of the hate against Muslims is driven by a fear of terrorism. Here are the facts. I have never had any association with the Muslim Brotherhood nor [the Council on American-Islamic Relations] nor any terrorist organization, he wrote. I believe that the laws of our nation are our Constitution and the laws passed by our elected legislatures-- I have never promoted any form of Sharia Law. I fully support and believe in American Laws for American Courts. I am honored to be an American and a Republican, he concluded. Jeremi Suri, a professor of public affairs and history at the University of Texas at Austin, said claims that Shafis religion impede his ability to work with the Republican party are completely unfounded. He compared the attacks against the surgeon to rhetoric the Ku Klux Klan used in the early 20th century against Catholics and Jews running for political office. The Klan argued that if youre a Catholic, you obviously put the pope before the country so how could you be an American leader? Thats the same argument this Tarrant County group is making," said Suri. Though the movement to reconsider Shafis appointment was afoot well ahead of last years midterm elections, Thursdays vote comes just months after Tarrant County-- considered the most conservative urban county in the country-- narrowly flipped in favor of Texas Democrats star senatorial candidate, Beto ORourke. In Tarrant County and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth region, several Texas Senate and House seats went to Democrats, including the district previously held by conservative state Sen. Konni Burton of Colleyville. Brendan Steinhauser, an Austin-based GOP strategist, worries that Shafi's ousting would harm the Tarrant County GOP and state party in the 2020 elections. These are the kinds of headlines the party doesnt need right now, Steinhauser said. "Doubling down on shrinking the tent is a very bad idea. It does make me wonder whats next. Are they going to say no Catholics can be in a leadership positions in the party or no Jews? I mean, what is the religious standard that they want to impose?" Mark Wilson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed he had no knowledge that Paul Manafort, his onetime campaign chairman, allegedly shared internal 2016 Trump campaign polling data with a suspected former Russian intelligence officer. When asked by ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl, "Did you know Paul Manafort was sharing polling data from your campaign with the Russians? Trump responded, "No. I didnt know anything about that." News of Manaforts coordination with the Russian, Konstantin Kilimnik, came to light by mistake on Tuesday when his defense team failed to properly redact portions of a court document meant to defend their client from accusations he lied to investigators. Legal experts told ABC News this week that sharing campaign polling data with a foreign person is not a crime, but could be an important piece to the puzzle concerning possible Trump campaign coordination with Russians during the 2016 campaign a subject being investigated by special counsel Robert Muellers office. Manafort already faces lengthy prison sentences for charges brought by Muellers office in Virginia and Washington, D.C. A jury convicted Manafort on eight counts of tax and bank-fraud in August during his trial in Alexandria, Virginia. On the eve of a second trial in Washington, D.C., the next month Manafort struck a plea deal with prosecutors. he agreed to fully cooperate with prosecutors and plead guilty to two counts of conspiracy in a separate case in Washington, D.C. But that plea deal fell apart after prosecutors accused him of lying. Manaforts sentencing in Virginia is scheduled for February 8 and in Washington, D.C., on March 5, but the president hasnt ruled out a pardon for his former campaign chairman. Trump, asked by the New York Post in November whether he was considering a pardon Manafort, said that he wouldnt take it off the table." Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Miller, a native of Bedford County, joined the sheriffs office at 21-years-old. Since then he has filled virtually every role in the sheriffs office, from road deputy to vice officer to jailor. He spearheaded the development of the school resource officer program and served as the first SRO in Bedford County. As an administrative captain he helped manage the sheriffs offices budget and courthouse security, among other responsibilities. Our sheriffs office needs a leader who is familiar with local law enforcement practices and has established partners in the community and criminal justice system, he said. As of Friday, no other candidates had publicly announced their entry into the race. Millers announcement comes less than a week after Brown revealed that he will not seek reelection in November and will retire from the sheriffs office at the end of the year. Brown will end a nearly quarter century tenure as sheriff when he leaves office on Dec. 31. Miller praised the sheriffs work in establishing the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to find and prosecute internet predators and argued that he is the best candidate to continue Browns legacy. A Regenstrief scientist is calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to create access to better care for the 20 million Americans affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias - both patients and their caregivers. The proposed reimbursement changes, outlined in the newest issue of Health Affairs, greatly expand the scope of services offered to patients and even provide residual benefit to caregivers. Through these changes, quality of life for patients could be improved, relocations to nursing homes can be delayed, and caregivers' stress can be significantly reduced. "Collaborative care models will get a strong return on investment to CMS through cost savings on patient care, however, that is just the beginning," says Malaz Boustani, M.D., MPH, a Regenstrief Institute research scientist and lead author of the Health Affairs paper. "We're not just reducing expenditures on CMS' current patients, we're also providing a future return on investment. These unpaid caregivers are later being introduced into the system at a health deficit. Those caregivers could enter the Medicare system as healthier patients with lower stress." Dr. Boustani is also director of the Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science, a collaboration among the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and Regenstrief. He is the Richard M. Fairbanks Professor of Aging Research at the IU School of Medicine and a clinician at the Sandra Eskenazi Center for Brain Care Innovation. Studies have shown collaborative care models, which use a multidisciplinary team of specialists to manage and coordinate holistic care for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, to be among the most effective methods of care, providing better outcomes for patients and reducing costs to healthcare systems by thousands of dollars per patient, per year. However, Medicare currently does not reimburse for the wide range of evidence-based services that are offered as part of collaborative care. Examples of effective models exist. Dr. Boustani and colleagues developed and have tested for nearly a decade, a dementia care model - the Aging Brain Care (ABC) model - which includes care coordination for diseases like depression and heart failure that often co-occur with dementia, offers families a highly qualified team of diverse experts to provide wraparound services and coordinate care, and activates services for caregivers that could help reduce stress and avoid burnout. "Collaborative care models lead to better health and better lives for patients and caregivers as well as lower expenses for hospitals and Medicare," says Dr. Boustani. "If we get their family member eligible for care, they too will benefit, and it will help them enter the Medicare system in better health." In the new payment model being advocated, existing patients experiencing moderate to severe dementia, or patients with mild dementia whose caregivers present high levels of stress, would be eligible to receive coordinated services such as medication management, dementia care, care navigation support, and complementary support for diseases that commonly co-occur with Alzheimer's and related dementias. In addition, unpaid caregivers would receive access to mental health services and support groups. Reimbursement to providers for these services would all be tied to performance-based metrics. Penn study shows 41 percent increase in opioids for small animals over past 10 years; findings indicate another avenue of potential risk for human access to opioids The increase in opioid prescriptions for people over the past decade may have been paralleled by an increase in opioid prescriptions for pets, according to a study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine. The findings, in this first-ever study of veterinary opioid prescriptions, suggest that there is also an increased demand for veterinary opioids, driven by complex procedures performed in veterinary medicine, as well as a heightened awareness of the importance of pain management. Given that opioid prescribing in veterinary medicine is not as heavily regulated as medical prescriptions for humans, it is possible that misused veterinary prescriptions could contribute to the ongoing opioid epidemic. The results are published today in JAMA Network Open. In the study, researchers reviewed all opioid pills and patches dispensed or prescribed for dogs, cats, and other small animals at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) from January 2007 through December 2017. The results show that the quantity of these prescriptions, as measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MME), rose by 41 percent during the period annually, while the annual number of visits rose by only about 13 percent. As a veterinary tertiary care facility, Penn Vet's unique caseload requires particular attention to and treatment of pain in veterinary species, which may account for increased opioid utilization in the study. "As we are seeing the opioid epidemic press on, we are identifying other avenues of possible human consumption and misuse," said study senior author Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine and the director of Medical Toxicology at Penn Medicine. "Even where the increase in prescribed veterinary opioids is well intended by the veterinarian, it can mean an increased chance of leftover pills being misused later by household members, sold or diverted, or endangering young children through unintentional exposure. The results of this study suggest that by assessing the rate of veterinary opioid prescriptions, we can develop strategies to reduce both human and animal health risks associated with increasing use." The current opioid crisis in the United States causes tens of thousands of overdose deaths every year--roughly 50,000 in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The crisis began in the late 1990s and was fueled largely by a steep increase in prescriptions for opioid pain relievers. Tightening regulations including prescription drug monitoring programs have helped reduce the number of opioid prescriptions from their peak in 2011. Although prescription opioid overdose deaths are now exceeded by those due to illegally obtained heroin and fentanyl, the former still account for nearly 20,000 fatalities annually. Since opioid prescribing in veterinary medicine is not as comparatively regulated, concerns are raised that opioids prescribed for pets could be misused by humans. The researchers reviewed pharmacy records at the Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital during the 10-year study window, and analyzed trends for the four opioids prescribed or dispensed to animal patients -- tramadol, hydrocodone, and codeine tablets, and fentanyl patches. The animals in the study included dogs (73.0 percent), cats (22.5 percent), and assorted others including rabbits, snakes, and birds (4.5 percent). "We found that the increased quantity of opioids prescribed by our hospital was not due to increased patient volume alone. It is likely that our goal of ensuring our patients are pain-free post-operatively, particularly for those requiring complex and invasive procedures, has driven our increased prescribing practices during this period," said lead author Dana Clarke, VMD, an assistant professor of Interventional Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine "At the national level, we don't know the potential or extent of prescription diversion from animals to humans, and what impact this could have on the human opioid crisis." Anecdotes about veterinarian-prescribed opioids being used by people have already prompted some states to add restrictions to veterinary prescribing. In Pennsylvania, state legislators are working with the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) to determine the most effective course of action for opioid dispensing by the state's practicing veterinarians. Two states, Maine and Colorado, now require background checks on animal owners' opioid prescription histories before a veterinarian can write an opioid prescription. Alaska, Connecticut, and Virginia now limit the amount of opioids any one veterinarian can prescribe to a single patient/animal. Twenty states now require veterinarians to report their opioid prescriptions to a central database, just as medical doctors do. At Penn Vet, efforts currently in practice to reduce opioid prescribing include preference of local anesthetics for post-operative pain, pain scores to guide administration of opioids, and monitoring of patients requiring long-term opioid use, such as dogs with chronic coughing requiring hydrocodone. The authors say it is important that the potential problem of diverted veterinary opioids be studied further to determine its scale, and should be addressed by extending the opioid stewardship measures that already affect medical physicians to veterinary doctors, in all states. First of its kind, on demand supply service for clinical trials to be offered Clinigen Group plc (Clinigen), the global pharmaceutical and services company, announces that its Clinical Trial Service (CTS) business has extended its exclusive European clinical trial supply agreement with Accord Healthcare (Accord). Clinigen is also offering pharma companies an on demand service to Accords products, a first for the industry. Clinigen and Accord have been partnered since 2012 to deliver oncology Injectable Products, including carboplatin, cisplatin and paclitaxel, into clinical trials. The extended agreement now covers Accords European Solid Dose Products, including those in the central nervous system, autoimmune, diabetes and anti-viral therapy areas. The CTS team is the sole point of contact for all clinical trial supply enquiries, ensuring an effective and secure supply chain in the distribution of Accords European product portfolio to pharmaceutical manufacturers, contract research organizations (CROs), clinical trial contract packagers and other specialist service providers. The drugs are supplied for use as comparator, co-therapy, rescue and adjunctive drugs in clinical trials. The on demand supply service will be available for any Clinigen client running clinical trials. They will be offered instant access to key products from Accord's generic oncology Injectable Product portfolio. Products will be held in large batch sizes on consignment ready for instant dispatch to new and existing clinical trials. This is the first type of dedicated service providing instant access to products solely for clinical trials in the industry and directly tackles the constant timeline and flexibility challenges experienced when running clinical trials. Shaun Chilton, Group Chief Executive Officer of Clinigen, said: This extended agreement builds on the strong partnership we have with Accord in providing access to its medicines for use in clinical trials. The launch of our on demand offering demonstrates the ability we have across the Group and the specialisms we have in the supply and distribution of medicines. These capabilities enable us to provide the best possible service to those running clinical trials. Phill Semmens, Senior Vice President Commercial, Accord Healthcare, EMENA, said: Earlier detection of cardiovascular disease is a step closer thanks to the findings of a research team at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) led by Francisco Sanchez-Madrid and Pilar Martin. The scientists have found that the expression level of the molecule CD69 in blood cells inversely predicts the appearance of subclinical atherosclerosis (developing before symptoms appear) independently of classical cardiovascular risk factors. Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by the accumulation of lipid deposits in the artery wall, but the disease is usually not detected until after it has caused a clinical event such as a myocardial infarction or stroke. Because of the diminished quality of life experienced by affected individuals, treatment after symptoms appear is of limited benefit, and the long-term management of the disease is a major cost for health care systems. The origin of atherosclerosis and its progression to acute myocardial infarction and stroke involve an essential contribution from the inflammatory immune response. However, according to Francisco Sanchez-Madrid, of the Hospital Universitario de la Princesa (Madrid), "the relationship between lipid metabolism and the immune response is not well understood. The established hypothesis is that oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDLox) induce the recruitment of inflammatory immune cells and their accumulation in the plaque; however, there is also evidence that cells and tissues can respond to LDLox by inhibiting proinflammatory signals." The study was a collaboration between the CNIC research groups led by Sanchez-Madrid and Pilar Martin. The study identifies the molecule CD69 as a T cell receptor for oxidized lipoproteins that contributes to the control of inflammation and thus prevents the development of atherosclerosis. "Binding of LDLox to CD69 triggers the adoption of an anti-inflammatory profile by T lymphocytes that protects against the development of atherosclerosis in mice and humans," explained Pilar Martin. For this research project, the team used mice lacking the CD69 gene. The project was supported by the Spanish Cardiovascular Disease Research Network (CIBER-CV) as was conducted in partnership with Jose Martinez Gonzalez, whose group is based at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas in Barcelona (IIB-Sant Pau). The clinical relevance of the study is demonstrated by the results of an analysis of lymphocyte-expressed CD69 in blood samples obtained from 305 participants in the PESA project (Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis). PESA is a prospective study that uses advanced imaging techniques to detect the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in overtly healthy individuals. This part of the study was conducted in partnership with the PESA project investigators Valentin Fuster and Borja Ibanez and the CNIC technical units focused on Bioinformatics (Fatima Sanchez-Cabo), Genomics (Ana Dopazo), and Proteomics (Jesus Vazquez). The PESA study is a joint project between the CNIC and Banco Santander and is led by Dr. Fuster. The study evaluates the presence and progression of atherosclerosis in more than 4000 middle aged participants. The results of the Circulation study show that the expression of CD69 in circulating lymphocytes correlates inversely with the presence and extent of subclinical atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular disease is the single largest cause of death in the world, and preventive strategies for this disease are therefore a major priority. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. To subscribe, click here. Already a subscriber? Click here. Willoughby-Eastlake Schools will make use of the Ohio Attorney General's Office safety grants to further support the presence of school resour Esperanza Pacheco Padilla has sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over her deportation. Michael Douglas is shown speaking at Walsh University where he serves as chief diversity officer. He will be honored Jan. 17. Crime Former Euclid police officer to spend five days in jail for brandishing a gun during Downtown Willoughby bar fight Free access for current print subscribers As a home delivery subscriber, you get free unlimited digital access to news-daily.com including stories, photos, obituaries, e-edition and more on your computer, tablet or phone. All you need is your print subscription account number and your last name. Don't know your subscription number? Email access@news-daily.com with your delivery address. Activate your account now. DARIEN - Police say they are seeing a new trend with overnight burglaries into unlocked motor vehicles: Also breaking into peoples house. Police put of a warning Thursday and social media and the departments web site. The town of Darien continues to experience an increase in overnight-hour burglaries into unlocked motor vehicles. This trend is not isolated to Darien as the majority of towns and cities in Fairfield County, and the state, continue to experience these incidents at increasing rates. Many of these crimes are perpetrated by juvenile offenders who, when caught, inform police officers that it is common knowledge that towns like Darien are target-rich environments. A more recent trend in Fairfield County is the occurrence of residential burglaries (the entry into, and intent to commit crime in, a residence) committed in conjunction with the ongoing motor vehicle burglaries. Overnight hours on Wednesday and Thurasday two such incidents occurred in Darien. In one incident, a resident was wakened to the sound of their car being stolen. The resident informed officers that the vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys inside. In addition, the suspect struck the second vehicle parked in the driveway in the commission of the theft. In another incident, a resident was awoken to a sound they believed to be a family member arriving home. As the resident exited their bedroom, they observed an intruder in their home, police said. Upon seeing the homeowner, the intruder immediately exited the home. It would later be determined that the intruder had ransacked parts of the residence and taken several items. Additionally, both vehicles in the driveway had been entered. The homeowner informed officers that both the door to her residence where the intruder gained access, and her vehicles, had been left unlocked. Several motor vehicle burglaries were discovered and reported on Thursday morning. In the overwhelming majority of these incidents, the vehicles and/or residences were left unlocked. The Darien Police Department continues to encourage residents to make themselves a hard target by simply locking their vehicle and/or residence. With the apparent increase in residential burglaries in Fairfield County, we dont want Darien to be known as an easy target. It asked residents to take proactive measures to reduce the likelihood of being a victim of a burglary. Examples include: Lock Your Vehicle Remove the keys (in particular proximity keys) when exiting your vehicle Remove attractive valuables from your vehicle when exiting Do not store proximity keys in an area close to the associated vehicle Lock your residence If applicable, arm your home security system (or consider installation) Consider the installation of security cameras Keep valuables away from doors/windows in your residence If your residence has a security camera system, and it records anything out of the ordinary, contact police. Even if you are not the victim of a crime, you may have footage that is of interest to investigators. The suspects that commit these crimes are often involved in other, more serious crimes. Vehicles stolen in Darien have been involved in more serious incidents in Fairfield County. By working together, we can make Darien less attractive to those who wish to come to our town and commit these dangerous acts. Help support your local hometown newspaper/website. Independent local news reporting matters. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, for as little as $3, so we can continue to provide independent local reporting on our communities. In this photo taken Tuesday, the Rev. Roy Snipes, pastor of La Lomita Chapel, shows journalists the land on either side of the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border in Mission, Texas. Portions of Snipes church land in Mission could be seized by the federal government to construct additional border wall and fence lines. AP photo/John L. Mone Lawrence - Madeleine "Maddy" (Waye Descoteaux Brown), 87, passed away on April 5, 2020. Maddy was born to Irene and Charles Waye in Nashua, N.H., on December 17, 1932. She was predeceased by her parents; a brother Charles Waye; and husbands, Louis G. Descoteaux of Nashua, N.H., and George Br When most enterprise companies worry about having their systems hacked by attackers, the main concern is for the enterprise networks. Few companies consider that their phone systems may be vulnerable to hacking resulting in costly toll fraud. Nevertheless, the practice of hacking into corporate PBX systems and injecting fraudulent calls over the network is causing billions of dollars in damage worldwide every year. Enterprise companies use modern PBX (private branch exchange) systems to run their communications. A PBX switches calls between enterprise users on local lines while allowing all users to share a certain number of external phone lines. Modern PBX systems work on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which is a signaling protocol used for initiating, maintaining, and terminating real-time sessions that include voice, video, and messaging applications. SIP is a protocol that runs on the internet rather than on traditional telecommunication lines. It creates a vulnerability because the protocol is open for anybody to get into these communications if they have the access credentials. The only thing an attacker needs to hack a PBX is a login ID and password and then its possible to start a fraudulent voice communication via a telco operator. This is a common occurrence. A fraudster logs into a device on the PBX and is then able to inject other peoples calls into the enterprises phone system. The fraudster resells this calling capacity to people or companies who want to place calls to high-cost destinations, often in Africa and other far away destinations. The telecommunications service connects these unauthorized calls to their destinations because they look like legitimate calls to the phone company. Who gets stuck with the bill for the calls? The enterprise, of course. Once the billing period is over, the enterprise receives an invoice for the telecommunications services that were provided over that time period. It is now when the enterprise may discover the fraudulent use of its phone lines. The thieves can easily rack up tens of thousands of dollars worth of calls without anyone knowing until its too late. Telecom service providers are aware of this scam, but they are virtually powerless to stop it because the PBX equipment is on the customers premises and out of their control. Its no longer part of the well-protected and proprietary telecommunication network. But mostly, the vulnerability comes from SIP, which is easily accessible to anyone. If a hacker can get the PBX login credentials say, through phishing or some other method a breach is inevitable. Preventing PBX fraud with Oculeus Protect Oculeus recently launched an anti-fraud service to protect enterprise telecommunication systems. The solution, Oculeus Protect, monitors the signaling of calls within the PBX and uses machine learning and behavioral analytics to assess the likelihood of calls being fraudulent. If the risk is deemed to be high, the system can drop the calls shortly after connection in order to minimize the fraudulent charges. A call has two parts of interest. One is the signaling that accompanies a call attempt. The PBX essentially says, I have a call going to this destination. What should I do with it? The signaling also contains information about when the call has ended. The other piece of interest is the call media, which is the actual content of the call. Invoices are based on the amount of time of the call media. Oculeus looks specifically at the signaling to understand, in real time, whether the call is authorized or not. The enterprise establishes a company profile to provide guidance to Oculeus. This profile identifies things such as the companys typical business hours and work days, typical business regions, countries where calls would normally not be call destinations, and other relevant parameters. Then once the Oculeus service is activated, it learns a companys typical calling behavior and looks for anomalous activity that is outside the profile and/or the normal behavior. Oculeus also uses input from its broad customer community to incorporate known fraudulent call destination numbers. Call destinations, as well as costs, can be evaluated for fraud. Suppose that U.S.-based employees of a global corporation typically call locations in the U.S. and Europe, and then there is a call to Burundi in Africa. The call is originating on a weekend, when employees arent normally working. Burundi is a known location for high-cost calls. Oculeus Protect can immediately identify that call as high risk and take action, such as to drop the call or send an alert to an administrator. This solution is simple to deploy. A company would just point its PBX to Oculeus cloud-based protection system, which performs the behavioral analytics via the evaluation profiling system. Then a call controller determines what to do with the calls that are analyzed. It includes a dashboard that allows an administrator to view call histories and patterns, which can help to fine-tune the company calling profile. Oculeus claims to have a very low false-positive rate that would drop legitimate calls. Oculeus works with telecom service providers, as well as enterprise companies that have their own PBX system on premises. Friday was supposed to be payday for many federal employers across the country, but their deposits didnt come, because of the ongoing partial government shutdown. Were all concerned about our families and what the future holds, said Marlon Verasamy, the vice-steward for the union covering National Weather Service employees in the office housed inside Vermonts Burlington International Airport. The meteorologists are still on the job, because their forecasting work, aimed at protecting lives and property, is considered essential. Despite that classification, no paychecks came Friday. Verasamy, who talked to necn outside the NWS office and off government time, said staffers in Burlington are worrying about their personal household expensesespecially younger scientists with student loans and other bills. Its a day-to-day struggle for us, and its definitely an added weight and stress to all of us on top of the work we do here, Verasamy said. Some 800,000 federal employees missed scheduled paychecks because of the partial government shutdown, according to the office of Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vermont. More than 1,300 of those employees are in Vermont, Welchs office noted. A lot of them go paycheck to paycheck, Bruce McDonald, the Transportation Security Administrations federal security director for Vermont said of many TSA agents he works with. McDonald said hes proud his agents at the Burlington International Airport are staying positive and focusing on their critical safety mission, but he added that hes concerned about how long they can go. Money is tightrent and things like thatthey have credit card bills and holiday bills, McDonald said. Some of them are young married couples, so its a tough time for them right now. Congress is looking to guarantee retroactive pay for federal employees, and President Trump is expected to support those measures. However, that money likely wouldnt come until after the shutdown is over, and right now, no one can say when thatll be. Its very stressful, observed Yvonne Garand, the senior vice president for marketing and business development for the Vermont credit union VSECU. VSECU is offering low-rate $1,500 emergency loans to members who have gone without their incomes during the shutdown, Garand said. Those members also may be eligible to skip one payment on their consumer loans through VSECU without a penalty, Garand added. Vermonters really are about people helping people, Garand told necn. Use your voice and ask for help, because there are ways you can be helped during this crisis. Affected workers hope the shutdown will end soon, said the NWS and TSA employees necn spoke to. A Massachusetts couple was among the hundreds of people sickened on a cruise ship after a Norovirus outbreak. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas headed back for a Florida port a day early, with passengers receiving full refunds, after hundreds of guests and crew members were hit with the illness as the ship sailed to Jamaica. Thursday, officials said 277 people had been sickened, but by Friday, that number had climbed to 475. Cody Haddad of Taunton is relieved the trip is ending early. "With the circumstances, I'm glad at this point. I just want to get off this ship," Haddad told NBC10 Boston Thursday. For Haddad and his girlfriend, the trip started out great. But Tuesday night, people on the ship started getting sick. By Wednesday, even more people were ill, including the couple. "It's been awful," Haddad said. "I've just been staying in the room, because I don't want to go out. There is a lot of sick people out there." Cruise line spokesman Owen Torres told The Associated Press "we think the right thing to do is get everyone home early rather than have guests worry about their health." He said the ship would return to Port Canaveral on Saturday. It sailed from there Sunday on a seven-day Caribbean cruise. Passengers took to social media on Wednesday, tweeting they were forced to stay onboard after docking in Falmouth, Jamaica, for what was supposed to be a day of excursions. Torres says returning a day early gives the cruise line "more time to completely clean and sanitize the ship" before it sails again. Haddad's mother, Robin, also just wants her son to get home. "Worried sick. I'm worried sick about him," Robin Haddad said. "There is nothing I can do, you can't check on him, you can't call him, it's horrible." "The fact we are in the middle of the ocean and this is occurring is just a scary thing," Cody Haddad said. New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan is visiting organizations that provide shelter and food to discuss the impacts of the partial government shutdown. Hassan is visiting the Nashua Soup Kitchen on Friday, which relies on programs within the USDA to supply food and shelter. A news release from Hassan's office says if the shutdown continues, the Nashua Soup Kitchen will find some of its services affected. Hassan also will be speaking with employees of the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, which helps provide food, education, child care, and housing. It also relies on the USDA for funding and will be impacted if the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children are not funded by the end of February. A Massachusetts firefighter has been fired from his fire department amid allegations of overtime abuse. The firing of Amesbury Fire Lt. Scott Cloutier came on Friday, the same day as his first court appearance in Salem Superior Court on a charge of larceny over $250 and filing a false claim to a government agency. Cloutier's indictment was announced earlier this week, months after he was placed on administrative leave following accusations that he put in for about $30,000 in overtime shifts he didn't work. A second firefighter is facing similar allegations. A third firefighter was cleared of wrongdoing and returned to work. "These actions have consequences, and it's now up to the courts to determine how justice will be served," Amesbury Mayor Ken Gray said in a statement on Tuesday, when the indictment was announced. Authorities said when city officials were informed of the overtime abuses, Gray ordered a detailed investigation which ultimately led to a grand jury indictment. "The abuse of overtime represents a betrayal of trust and a theft of taxpayer money, and I am very disappointed in the alleged actions of two of the senior members of the fire department," said Amesbury Fire Chief Kenneth Berkenbush said. "These incidents appear to be isolated, and the members of the Amesbury Fire Department have no tolerance for this activity." Officials said the situation has led to changes in the supervision and keeping of overtime records, as well as overtime policies and practices. In addition to the Amesbury Fire Department, the investigation has been handled by Massachusetts State Police and the Essex County District Attorney's office. The investigation into overtime fraud allegations against the other Amesbury firefighter is ongoing. Cloutier was released on personal recognizance after he pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Friday. He's due back in court on March 12 for a pre-trial hearing. The people of northern Iceland have had their travel plans disrupted with a record high snowfall this December. Roads have been shut, flights cancelled and school suspended. But for the children of this isolated North Atlantic island nation, the main worry is how the waist-high snow might affect the Icelandic Santa, Stekkjastaur, who comes to town Wednesday. Stekkjastaur, after all, has a stiff peg-leg. He is one of 13 mischievous troll brothers, called the Yule Lads, who have entertained and also frightened Icelandic children for hundreds of years. Instead of a friendly Santa Claus, children in Iceland enjoy favors from the brothers, who come down from their mountain cave 13 days before Christmas according to folklore. The brothers are loud, reckless, and have names like Door-Slammer, Window-Peeper, Meat-Hook, Candle-Stealer reflecting their preferred method of pranks or criminal behavior. But they claim to be mostly rehabilitated, and Sausage-Swiper is now keen to host barbecues. Traditionally, they bathe once a year ahead of Christmas. Every year local actors in Myvatn, an inland community bordering Iceland's uninhabited interior, dress up in 19th-century costume and arrive as the Yule Lads to a natural lagoon heated with water from hot springs. To children in the region, their arrival marks the countdown to December 24, when Icelanders celebrate Christmas. "But, but, but I was told we were going fishing," mumbled actor Hulda Sigmundsdottir, who plays "Pot-Licker," as she dipped her woolen sock reluctantly into the bath. In the spirit of today's global outsourcing economy, the Yule Lads have also taken on the responsibility of replying to letters addressed to Santa Claus, their foreign colleague. Soffia Jonsdottir, who is Santa's de-facto secretary in Iceland, says the Icelandic Postal Service forwards all Santa mail to the tiny outpost at Myvatn. "Santa is a distant cousin of the Yule Lads so of course we are happy to help out," she said. "We reply to every letter that has a return address." The letters arrive throughout the year and often include a wish-list, personal gift or simply a warm greeting. The Yule Lads, who speak Icelandic, admit sometime struggling with foreign languages. Fortunately the letters are not delivered to the Yule Lads' home, where they might be stolen by their evil mother, Gryla, said to be a 600-year-old woman who eats children. This dysfunctional family even has an innocently named "Christmas Cat," a giant feline with the habit of eating children particularly those not wearing new clothes over the Christian holiday. "You find a number of parents saying that we have to tone Gryla and her family down a bit," said Terry Gunnell, a professor in folklore at the University of Iceland. "But that would take away some the genuine Icelandic Christmas which is a dark time when days pass with only few hours of sunlight." Gunnell said the Yule Lads had traditionally been used to discipline children when adults were busy preparing for the holiday. "On the old Icelandic farms, stories of dark figures kept children from running into the mountains or falling into lakes or things like that," he said. Parents used to torment children with such disturbing stories that in the 18th century, Danish king Christian VI tried to ban such un-holy tales. For the next 13 days leading to Christmas, Icelandic children will enjoy favors from the Icelandic Santas as they come down from the mountains one by one, with presents or a rotten potato in the case of bad behavior. Five-year-old Anita Heidrunardottir, who was playing with her friends at the Managardur kindergarten in the capital Reykjavik, said she was hoping to wake up to books and mandarin oranges in her shoe in the run-up to Christmas. "My sister is scared of the Yule Lads," she said. Why? "She does not know them. That's why she is scared." What to Know A Muslim family says staff at Inova Fair Oaks told them they looked "scary" and threatened to throw them out. Inova said it is reviewing its anti-discrimination policy with staff members. The incident was especially hurtful because the infant's grandparents once volunteered as chaplains for the same hospital system. A Muslim family went to a hospital in Northern Virginia to celebrate a joyous occasion: the birth of a newborn baby. But they say hospital staff humiliated them by telling them they looked "scary," and threatened to kick them out. Visiting hours were nearly over when the Zahr family went to Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, in early December. They wanted to visit Ahmed Zahr's newborn baby. When they got up to the third-floor birthing center, they were confronted by a security guard, Arwa Zahr, the newborn's aunt, said in an exclusive interview with News4. "He screams and he says, 'You're not allowed to be here!' And then he said, 'You know, you look scary,'" she recalled. "I was shocked, like, 'Did he say that?'" The Zahrs believe the guard was objecting to the full black veils Arwa Zahr and her mother wore, showing only their eyes. The family was ordered to go back downstairs. When the newborn's father learned what happened, he told the guard he had been disrespectful. The guard summoned the shift supervisor, whom the family identified as the head nurse, and things got worse, the family said. "We tried to explain to [the supervisor] our side of the story. He looked at my mother as she was trying to explain what happened, and he told her, 'Close your mouth or Ill kick you out,'" Ahmed Zahr recalled. The family said that wasn't all. "Hes telling them, 'Nobody wants you here. The nurses don't want you. The doctors don't want you here,'" Ahmed Zahr said. As he continued to defend his family, the supervisor called the police. "It was surprising to me. First of all, we werent threatening in any way. No one had done anything," Ahmed Zahr said. The family spoke with Fairfax County officers, who they described as calm and helpful, and then left the hospital. Then, they registered formal complaints with Inova. The incident was especially hurtful because the infant's grandparents, Dr. Nabil Zahr and Karima Zohdi, once volunteered as chaplains at Inova Fairfax Hospital, another hospital in the Inova system. They founded and run The Palm Tree School, a private school in Fairfax that provides Islamic studies as well as the standard curriculum. Ahmed Zahr said his family had never encountered such abuse. "Just to be treated like that just because of the way you're dressed," he said. "We're been living here for, you know, 20-plus years. I haven't witnessed discrimination to this extent." Inova said all patients "have the right to a respectful, safe environment, free from all forms of discrimination." They said they reviewed their anti-discrimination policy at all daily safety meetings. The hospital group said Inova is reviewing the family's concerns, and that they offered to meet with the Zahrs. The family said they're not interested in meeting until Inova says what action they've taken related to their specific case, and what any investigation they conducted found. In the meantime, the Zahr family calls the day they visited the hospital for the birth of a baby "The Day of Mortification." They didn't get to meet Ahmed Zahr's first child, a baby girl, that day. Here's the full statement Inova sent News4: Inova respects and values our diverse patient community and believes that all patients have the right to a respectful, safe environment, free from all forms of discrimination. We hold our team members and contractors to the highest ethical standards, supported by a strict zero-tolerance policy against discrimination of any kind. We are reviewing the familys concerns and we continue to look for opportunities to better manage these situations in the future. Inovas senior leadership values our longstanding relationship with the family and has extended an invitation to meet in person. All employees are aware of our anti-discrimination policy and are required to complete ethics and compliance training annually. Following this incident, as part of staff awareness, the policy was reviewed at all of our daily safety meetings. We understand how important visitors are to our patients and their care. However, certain units in the hospital require family visitation hours to assure that all patients have a quiet, healing environment. A Virginia woman said her car has the same defect that prompted a recall, but the recall doesnt include her model year. Every time Connie turns on her car, she says a blinking yellow light lets her know theres a problem with her passenger seat air bag, which is why she's always alone in the front seat. She said an inspection by a local Infiniti dealership revealed her 2009 Infiniti EX35 has a faulty air bag sensor in the passenger seat cushion, and if it's not fixed, the passenger side air bag may not work in a crash. I started searching online to see if this is a common problem, Connie said. She said she found there was a recall of more than 200,000 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles for a similar issue, but Connies car wasnt included. I have to pay for it myself, she said. A total of $4,261.15. News4 found a number of similar complaints to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) from other Nissan and Infinity owners with vehicles outside the recall. Every repair and every recall is different, but unfortunately because there's money involved, it costs manufacturers money to recall and repair vehicles, said Jason Levine of the Center for Auto Safety. They have an incentive to limit the span of the years or models involved in a recall. He said it's important for consumers who have issues with their vehicles to file a complaint with NHTSA and the manufacturer. Because the way recalls happen and the model years are selected is based on how many complaints are out there, Levine said. Are they finding the defect across multiple model years? In Connie's case, Infiniti said her car was produced almost two years after the recalled vehicles production dates. She bought her car in October 2009, and it's now more than five years outside her warranty period, Infiniti said. But the automaker offered to cover all but $1,000 to repair her vehicle. But still I don't understand why I have to pay for their defective products, defective components, that put my life in danger. My passengers life in danger, actually. The Archdiocese of Washington confirms Cardinal Donald Wuerl knew of sexual misconduct allegations against ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick more than a decade ago, despite Wuerl's insistence last summer that he had no knowledge of the alleged abuse. The Washington Post reported that Wuerl reported an allegation of misconduct by McCarrick to the Vatican in 2004. The Archdiocese of Washington confirmed this in a statement to NBC News. The allegation came from a former priest, Robert Ciolek, who reached a settlement with the church in 2005, the Post reported. Ciolek told the Post that the Pittsburgh Diocese has a file that shows Wuerl brought his complaint to a Vatican ambassador. In a statement to NBC News, the archdiocese said that Wuerl's previous statements about McCarrick referred to "claims of sexual abuse of a minor," not the claims made by the former priest. But the archdiocese went on to say Wuerl "stands by those statements, which were not intended to be imprecise." In a statement to NBC News, the Archdiocese of Washington said Ciolek "was allowed to review the file regarding his Pittsburgh complaint" and that the "Diocese of Pittsburgh and then-Bishop Wuerl acted appropriately in addressing his complaints." Wuerl resigned as archbishop in October amid a storm of criticism after a Pennsylvania grand jury report said he allowed priests accused of sexually abusing children to be reassigned or reinstated when he was the bishop of Pittsburgh. Read the archdiocese's full statement below: The Archdiocese of Washington understands that in 2004 Robert Ciolek, a former priest of the Diocese of Metuchen, filed a complaint in the Diocese of Pittsburgh asserting claims of abuse arising from an adult relationship as a seminarian with a Pittsburgh Diocese priest assigned to the faculty of Mount Saint Marys Seminary, where Mr. Ciolek was studying. In that same complaint, the Archdiocese understands that Mr. Ciolek claimed that years prior, he as an adult seminarian also experienced inappropriate activity involving Archbishop Theodore McCarrick. At that time, the Archdiocese understands that Mr. Ciolek requested confidentiality he submitted. The Archdiocese also understands that Mr. Ciolek's 2004 claim was addressed immediately by the Diocese of Pittsburgh and then-Bishop Donald Wuerl. The priest in question was immediately removed from ministry. Bishop Wuerl also quickly forwarded the Ciolek claim regarding then-Cardinal McCarrick to the Papal Nunciature in Washington, D.C., and received no further information regarding the matter. Bishop Wuerl adhered to Mr. Ciolek's request for confidentiality, and the Archdiocese understands that Mr. Ciolek also expressed his gratitude with how the Diocese of Pittsburgh handled his allegations. In late 2018, the Archdiocese understands that Mr. Ciolek was allowed to review the file regarding his Pittsburgh complaint, and that Mr. Ciolek confirmed that the Diocese of Pittsburgh and then-Bishop Wuerl acted appropriately in addressing his complaints and in fulfilling his request that his assertions regarding then-Cardinal McCarrick be submitted to the Nunciature in Washington, D.C. As Cardinal Wuerl has noted, neither he, the Diocese of Pittsburgh nor the Archdiocese of Washington were made aware of Mr. Cioleks settlement with the Diocese of Metuchen until the Diocese disclosed the confidential settlement in July 2018. Further, Mr. Ciolek began publicly sharing his experiences in the Fall of 2018. The Archdioceses communications with Mr. Ciolek were meant to be respectful of what he has experienced. Furthermore, Cardinal Wuerl has attempted to be accurate in addressing questions about Archbishop McCarrick. His statements previously referred to claims of sexual abuse of a minor by Archbishop McCarrick, as well as rumors of such behavior. The Cardinal stands by those statements, which were not intended to be imprecise. It is important to note that Archbishop Theodore McCarrick was appointed to the Archdiocese of Washington in November 2000 and named a cardinal in February 2001, years before Mr. Ciolek made his claims. Then-Bishop Wuerl was not involved in the decision-making process resulting in the appointment and promotion. In June 2006 Bishop Wuerl was named Archbishop of Washington. Cardinal Wuerl has said that until the accusation of abuse of a minor by Cardinal McCarrick was made in New York, no one from this archdiocese has come forward with an accusation of abuse by Archbishop McCarrick during his time in Washington. A Northern Virginia high school that is removing Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's name will be renamed as Washington-Liberty High School. The Arlington County school board voted 5-0 for the new name Thursday night. In December, a 21-member committee appointed by the school board recommended that Washington-Lee High School be renamed as Washington-Loving. The name would have honored Mildred and Richard Loving, a Virginia couple whose legal challenge led the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the state's law banning interracial marriage. The board chose to vote in favor of the second option proposed by the committee: Washington-Liberty. The school board decided last year to remove Lee's name. Last year, neighboring Fairfax County renamed a high school that had been named for Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart. The Associated Press contributed to this report. CORRECTION (Jan. 11, 2019, 8:38 a.m.): A previous version of this story said the school board decided earlier this year to remove Lee's name. It happened last year. A man suspected in a triple-homicide case out of Little Rock, Arkansas, was arrested Wednesday night in San Diego, police confirmed. The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said Joshua Milik Williams, 22, was arrested just before 7:45 p.m. at the Harborside Trolley Station on S. 28th Street. Law enforcement officials from the Joint Agency Task Force aided in the arrest. The SDPD said officers were conducting enforcement on the trolley when they came across Williams on board the public transit train. He was busted for a fare violation and when officers checked his record, they learned he had an active felony warrant out of Little Rock, Arkansas, for a triple-homicide that happened on Nov. 16, 2018. Williams was booked into San Diego Central Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Friday. He will soon be extradited to Arkansas to face charges. According to the Little Rock Police Department (LRPD), Williams is linked to a shooting that left three young victims dead and another wounded. A report from the LRPD identified the victims as Carrington Williams and Latija Luckey, both 19, and Kennelle Anderson, 20. A fourth victim who is 17 years old suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his legs, but survived. His name was not released by police. The LRPD said the shooting happened on Nov. 16, 2018, at 4405 West 14th St. in Little Rock. Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area and, when they got to the scene, discovered a black Jeep Renegade rolled over on its side in a ditch. When officers looked inside the wreckage, they discovered Carrington Williams, Luckey and Anderson inside, all suffering from gunshot wounds. Anderson was declared dead at the scene; Carrington Williams and Luckey were both taken to a local hospital where they soon died. Arkansas-based NBC affiliate KARK spoke with Luckey's father, Larry Luckey Jr., Monday about the case. He fought back tears as he talked about the pain of having his young daughter suddenly ripped from his family. "I want him to go to jail. We need justice right now, for my daughter. My daughter was murdered!" Larry Lucky Jr. told the NBC affiliate. "My daughter was murdered; three people [are] dead." The SDPD said Williams had been living as a transient in the San Diego area but did not offer further details. The LRPD is leading the investigation into the triple-homicide. At this point, the motive for the slayings is unknown. A 22-year-old Davis police officer, on the beat for just a few weeks and considered a rising star in her department, was shot and killed Thursday evening while responding to a traffic accident in the Northern California college town. Officer Natalie Corona's suspected killer was found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a house in the area, according to the Davis Police Department. The shooting occurred about 6:45 p.m. in the area of Fifth and C streets near downtown, police said. Corona was responding alone to a three-car crash in the area when she was shot. Davis Police Department Corona was rushed to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where she later died, police said. Police have not determined what prompted the attack. Corona first joined the Davis Police Department in 2016 as a part-time community service officer, graduated from the Sacramento Police Department Academy over the summer then completed a six-month field training just before Christmas, The Davis Enterprise reported. Father of fallen Davis police officer remembers his daughter as someone who always wanted to be an officer. The 22-year-old was shot and killed Thursday evening while responding to a traffic accident. Jodi Hernandez reports. "She was a rising star in the department and I've known her for a couple years," Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel said in a late-night news conference. "She started as a part-time employee, volunteer. I can tell you that I've never seen anybody work harder in a part-time capacity and be more motivated to be a police officer than Natalie. She's just absolutely a star in the department and somebody that pretty much every department looked to as a close friend, a sister." Pytel added she had "been out on her own for just a couple of weeks." [[504244862, C]] Corona's father Merced Corona has worked as a sheriff's deputy in Colusa County for 26 years and a local newspaper there had written a story about him pinning his daughter's badge as she was sworn in as an officer, The Sacramento Bee reported. "I just want her to know were going to miss her a lot The whole family is going to miss her a lot & we are very proud of her," Corona told NBC Bay Area. Corona said his daughter never wanted anything else but to be a police officer just like him. "I couldnt get her to talk about anything else but law enforcement ... she wanted to follow in my footsteps. Every chance she got shed go on a ride along with me," he said. "Im not angry I dont think any of us are angry. We want some answers some basic what happened but were not angry people. People are going to pay the ultimate price sometimes for protecting us and keeping us safe. And she signed up to do that." Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel speaks at a news conference about 22-year-old Natalie Corona, the officer who was shot and killed by a suspect who opened fire as she was investigating a three-car crash. Police had issued a shelter in place across Davis as officers searched for the suspect and the UC campus was placed on lockdown. Later Thursday night, police were focused on a house in the same general area of the shooting where they found the suspect dead. Police haven't provided details about the suspect. As news spread of Corona's death, police departments and others began to pay tribute to her across social media. Some of the posts featured a photo that Corona had shared on her Facebook page that showed her holding a "thin blue line" American flag. The flag honors sacrifices made by those in law enforcement. Chief Pytel said the investigation would be led by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. Davis is located about 20 miles west of Sacramento, California. This was the first fatal shooting of an on-duty officer in the city since 1959, according to the Enterprise. https://twitter.com/FireChiefT/status/1083743053024702471 Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered Capitol flags to be flown at half-staff Friday to honor Corona. "Jennifer and I are terribly saddened to learn of the death of Officer Corona. Officer Corona was protecting her community from harm when she was tragically shot by an armed subject. Despite the valiant efforts of paramedics who rushed her to the hospital, and UC Davis Medical Center personnel, she succumbed to her injuries. We join all Californians in mourning the loss of this courageous officer and extend our deepest condolences to Officer Coronas family, friends, and coworkers," Newsom said in a statement. Corona is survived by her father, Merced Corona, her mother, Lupe Corona, and her sister, Jackie Corona, according to the governor. Her father told NBC Bay Area that it was his daughters dream to follow in his footsteps. He said he couldnt be prouder of his daughter. Corona is the second officer killed in California in recent weeks. Newman Police officer Cpl. Ronil Singh, 33, was shot and killed on Dec. 26 after a traffic stop. Gustavo Arriaga Perez was charged with the murder. Jodi Hernandez contributed to this report. Sign up to get breaking news, weather forecasts, and more in your email inbox. Sign Up Now What to Know Jenna Burleigh disappeared in 2017 after leaving a bar near Temple's campus in North Philadelphia. The former roommate of Josh Hupperterz has spent 2 days on the stand after being accused by the defendant of killing Burleigh. Hupperterz turned down a plea offer in December. If convicted by a jury, he could face up to life in prison. A tense morning of cross examination Friday marked the end of week one in the ongoing murder trial of Josh Hupperterz, who is accused of killing Temple University film student Jenna Burleigh in August 2017. Much of Friday focused on interactions between Hupperterz and his former roommate, Jack Miley, who the defense claims is Burleighs real killer. Miley, who is not charged with a crime, testified that he slept through the alleged murder and awoke the following afternoon to find Hupperterz sweating profusely and really nervous. Hupperterz's lawyer challenged Miley's testimony of a booze-fueled night that ended with Miley drunkenly asleep in his bed and Burleigh murdered in the North Philadelphia apartment he shared with Hupperterz. You cant hear people screaming as if its a horror movie? David Nenner, Hupperterzs lawyer, asked Miley. No, Miley answered, adding that a combination of booze, cannabis, Xanax and white noise from a floor fan prevented him from hearing Burleigh's cries. Hupperterz, 29, is accused of killing Burleigh and then hiding her body in a plastic storage tote at his grandparents' rural Pennsylvania home. Photos: The Life of Jenna Burleigh Prosecutors have said that Hupperterz - after having oral, vaginal and anal intercourse with Burleigh - took her down to the ground and strangled her, naked, on the kitchen floor. Hupperterz punched the film student 38 times, broke a cereal bowl over her head, stabbed her repeatedly after wrestling a knife from her, then strangled her so severely that he broke her larynx, accoridng to Assistant District Attorney Jason Grenell. Hupperterz pleaded not guilty to murder and using an instrument of a crime. He pleaded guilty, however, to abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence for moving Burleigh's body to his grandparents' house. His lawyer argued in court earlier this week that Hupperterz's roommate killed Burleigh. But Miley contended that he passed out in the early hours of Aug. 31, 2017 after leaving Pub Webb alone. The night was typical for the two friends drinking and maybe picking up girls at different bars near Temples campus, Miley said. He talks to every female that he comes in contact with, Miley said of Hupperterz, his roommate for just one month before Burleighs death. The former friends parted ways around 1 a.m., according to Miley. He woke up around 1 p.m. that afternoon and found Hupperterz alone in the kitchen, cleaning up blood and tending to a gash on his hand. Initially, Hupperterz told his roommate that he woke up in a pricker bush, Miley said in court. Hupperterz later said the cut came from a broken cereal bowl, according to Miley. According to testimony provided earlier in the week by the defendants cousin, Hupperterz also claimed to have cut his hand on a broken beer bottle. Prosecutors have argued that Hupperterz was actually injured during a deadly struggle with Burleigh and that the cereal bowl was broken over her head. That bowl was shown in court Friday. It was covered in blood drops and hair strands when first examined, an investigator said in court. STXfilms Throughout much of Fridays testimony, Hupperterzs lawyer challenged Mileys recollection, going through several pages of phone records showing that Miley and Hupperterz contacted each other after leaving Pub Webb and several times throughout the following afternoon. Miley said at least a few of the calls were to get the WiFi password for his sisters. One of his sisters testified Friday that she sat in blood splattered on the living room futon. Blood was also found in the kitchen and bathroom and sprinkled on a broom, gauze and bits of broken ceramic, investigators said. A corporal with Pennsylvania State Police also took the stand Friday, telling the jury that Hupperterz never mentioned Burleighs name during three hours of interrogation. He told officials that scratches on his neck were the result of rough sex with a woman named Vicky. During questioning, Hupperterz appeared calm and conversational, according to state police, according to state police. Josh Hupperterz, who is on trial for the 2017 murder of Temple Student Jenna Burleigh, claimed that it was his roommate who murdered her. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and use of an instrument of a crime, but guilty to abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Its every parents worst nightmare. You stare at the phone waiting for the call, Grenell said during his opening argument. The Burleighs would never have that. They would never hear from their daughter again. Earlier in the week, Hupperterzs cousin testified that he unknowingly helped transport Burleighs body out of the city in a blue tote bag. Wednesday was day two of the trial for Josh Hupperterz. He was accused of beating and strangling Jenna Burleigh, a Temple student, after he met her at a bar. Jurors heard from witnesses, including Hupperterzs cousin, who claimed he unknowingly helped move Burleighs body. The cousin, Erick Carlson, has not been charged in connection with the murder. The 30-year-old steel mill worker from Philadelphia said he found Hupperterz cleaning up blood in his apartment. Hupperterz turned down a plea offer in December from the Philadelphia District Attorney's office, which had offered 30-to-60 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea. Hupperterz could face up to life in prison if convicted at trial, which prosecutors said will continue into next week. What to Know President Trump is edging closer to declaring a national emergency to fund his long-promised border wall Federal health experts report the U.S. drug overdose rate has soared for middle-aged women between 1999 and 2017, NBC News reported An attorney for Michael Jackson accusers who appear in a documentary says their allegations haven't been discredited and deserve to be heard Get the top headlines of the day in your morning briefing from NBC 4 New York, Monday through Friday. Sign up for our newsletter here. Trump Closer to Declaring Emergency; 800,000 Won't Get Paid President Trump is edging closer to declaring a national emergency to fund his long-promised border wall, as pressure mounts to find an escape hatch from the three-week impasse that has closed parts of the government, leaving hundreds of thousands of workers without pay. Some 800,000 workers, more than half of them still on the job, were to miss their first paycheck on Friday under the stoppage, and Washington was close to setting a dubious record for the longest government shutdown in the nation's history. Those markers along with growing effects to national parks, food inspections and the economy overall left some Republicans on Capitol Hill increasingly uncomfortable with Trump's demands. Asked about the plight of those going without pay, the president shifted the focus, saying he felt badly "for people that have family members that have been killed" by criminals who came over the border. Trump visited McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande to highlight what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime. Jayme Closs Found Alive, Suspect in Custody, Sheriff Says A 13-year-old northwest Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed has been found alive, authorities said. The Barron County Sheriff's Department said on its Facebook page that Jayme Closs has been located and that a suspect was taken into custody. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said Jayme was expected to be reunited with her family soon. Fitzgerald said a suspect was taken into custody a short time later. The parents of Jayme Closs, James and Denise Closs, were found dead from gunshot wounds in their home in October. Authorities ruled their deaths homicides. Jayme could not be located and authorities determined the teen was missing, but did not believe she had run away of her own volition. Investigators believed she was in danger. No gun was found at the scene, and authorities believed Jayme was in the home at the time of her parents' deaths. US Drug Overdoses Rose Most Among Middle-Aged Women, CDC Says Federal health experts report the U.S. drug overdose rate has soared for middle-aged women between 1999 and 2017, NBC News reported. It rose a startling 260 percent for women between 30 and 64 years old, according to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of drug overdose deaths rose 492 percent for the same group over the same time period. "Prescription opioids clearly were overutilized for more than a decade," said Dr. Michael Lynch, medical director of the the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's poison center, who was not involved in the study. Last year, the government reported that overdoses killed more than 70,000 Americans, driven most by opioid drugs like fentanyl. US Officials Declare End to Outbreak From Romaine Lettuce U.S. health officials are declaring an end to a food poisoning outbreak blamed on romaine lettuce from California. From October to December, the E. coli outbreak sickened 62 people in 16 states. No one died, but 25 people were hospitalized. Illnesses were also reported in Canada. Investigators concluded that romaine lettuce grown in central and northern California was the likely source. They found the same bacteria strain in a reservoir at a farm in Santa Barbara County. Officials said no new illnesses have been reported for a month, and lettuce from the area is no longer in stores or restaurants. Romaine harvesting has since shifted to winter growing areas, primarily Arizona, Florida, Mexico and California's Imperial Valley. Michael Jackson Allegations Resurface With New Film An attorney representing two Michael Jackson accusers who appear in an upcoming documentary says their sexual-abuse allegations have not been discredited as the Jackson estate says, and deserve to be heard. Vince Finaldi, who represents Wade Robson and James Safechuck in lawsuits alleging Jackson molested them, said the suits were dismissed on technical grounds, not the credibility of the men's claims, and they are now under appeal. "There were never any rulings to the court as to their testimony," Finaldi said. "We stand by our clients, and we believe them, and we fully expect them to be vindicated." The stories of Robson and Safechuck, who came forward as adults to say Jackson had sexually abused them for years when they were boys, will be heard again in the two-part, four-hour documentary "Leaving Neverland," which will air on HBO and British public broadcaster Channel 4 in the spring. It premieres Jan. 25 at the Sundance Film Festival, the channels announced. R. Kelly Celebrates Birthday Amid Misconduct Allegations Hours after protesters demonstrated outside R. Kelly's Chicago studio, the rapper - facing increased scrutiny over allegations of a range of misconduct - reportedly partied at a nightclub on the city's South Side, videos posted on social media appear to show. According to multiple clips posted on Instagram and Snapchat, the musician was reportedly spotted at the V75 Lounge, located in the 100 block of West 75th Street in the city's West Chatham neighborhood. The videos appear to show Kelly - clad in a fur coat, red hat and sunglasses - surrounded by fans and smoking a cigar before taking the microphone and giving what looks like an impromptu performance. Along with videos of Kelly and the crowd singing happy birthday, a fan said on Snapchat that they were celebrating Kelly's birthday. He just turned 52. What to Know A woman, thought to be a bystander, and two men died when gunfire erupted near a strip mall in the Bronx on a June morning last year Cops say the men, who were shot in the head, appeared to have been targeted; they ID'd a man named Sam Cross as a person of interest Witnesses described running for cover under park benches amid the hail of bullets on what was otherwise a quiet morning in the neighborhood A suspect wanted in a brazen triple homicide outside a Bronx diner in broad daylight last summer, a shooting that sent terrified bystanders running for cover under park benches, may be hiding in coastal South Carolina, authorities said. A Charleston police department spokesman said cops are helping the NYPD look for Sam Cross in the capital city and nearby Colleton County. He has ties to the state, the spokesman said, but didn't give details on the connections. Cross was identified in late June as a person of interest in the shooting that killed 45-year-old Arileida Jimenez; 33-year-old Mustafa Tarver; and 33-year-old Christopher Alleyne outside the diner around 10 a.m. June 14. Authorities said at the time that Jimenez was thought to be an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire; they said Alleyne and Tarver may have been targeted, though no possible motive was discussed. Tarver was known as Moody to his friends, and Alleyne was called Butta. "I knew Moody longer than my brothers," said Orie Bynum. "He's that guy. If I ever needed something, he had it. Go somewhere, he's make it happen. Butta was the same way. The coolest person in Castle Hill." What to Know Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is looking at basing a potential 2020 presidential campaign in Troy in upstate New York The search for a headquarters is the strongest signal yet that the New York senator will soon enter a presidential race If Gillibrand enters the race, she will join what is expected to be a historically large field Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is looking at basing a potential 2020 presidential campaign in Troy, New York, a small upstate city on the banks of the Hudson River, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions. The search for a headquarters is the strongest signal yet that the New York senator will soon enter a presidential race that could ultimately draw dozens of candidates. The selection of Troy, 150 miles north of Manhattan, could allow Gillibrand to highlight her roots in upstate New York, where she was born and later represented in Congress before being appointed to the Senate. The sources spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. They cautioned that a final decision hadn't yet been made. Gillibrand's representatives didn't comment Thursday on her choice of headquarters. If Gillibrand enters the race, she will join what is expected to be a historically large field, and one that could include many of her Senate colleagues. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has already formed an exploratory committee and is moving quickly with trips across the landscape of early primary states. Other members of the Senate's Democratic caucus, including California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, are all weighing their own presidential bids and are expected to announce decisions in the upcoming weeks. Several Democrats, including billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, have declined to run in 2020. Gillibrand easily won re-election to her Senate seat in 2018 with more than $10.6 million in campaign money left over that she could funnel toward a presidential bid. In recent weeks, she has worked to expand her fundraising network and to improve her standing among critical voting blocs, including African-American voters. What to Know A woman who left behind her Chanel purse containing $10K at an Upper West Side subway station last month has finally been reunited with it She said she never thought she'd get the cash back, but thanks to the local retiree who found it and brought it to police, it's safely back She said she was carrying so much money because she was getting back to Kazakhstan to visit family and it's easier to take out cash here The New York City woman who lost a bag containing $10,000 on the subway has been reunited with the cash, thanks to the good Samaritan who brought the money to a police station. A young woman named Aya was heading back to her native Kazakhstan to visit her family and had $10,000 in an envelope in her purse when she accidentally left it on a subway platform, she told reporters Thursday. She said she had the money because it's easier to take out cash here than in Kazakhstan, and she wanted to use it to buy gifts for her family. She never thought she'd get the money back. But when Richard Taverna, a retiree from the Upper West Side, found the purse and envelope at the West 66th Street and Broadway station last month, he brought it to the 20th Precinct station the next morning. He said cops were shocked when he told them what was inside. "'I found this bag,' she said 'OK,'" Taverna recounted his conversation with an officer when he went to the station. "'I found it in the subway'; she said 'OK.'" "Then I said, 'Oh. and by the way, it has $10,000 in it.' And she turned and said, 'Sarge! Come here!'" he said. An NYPD deputy inspector said all the officers in the station were talking about it -- and proud of Taverna for doing the right thing. Taverna said there was never any question about returning the money. He was happy to do it and didn't realize it would lead to so much attention. Aya was able to pick up the cash Thursday after returning from vacation. Through a translator, Aya said she was extremely grateful to Taverna and that his action spoke to the goodness of Americans. She gave him a small trophy of an important Kazakh symbol as a thank you. What to Know The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog opens Feb. 8 in midtown Manhattan, returning to midtown after 30 years in Missouri You'll be able to see portraits of famous pets, try basic training with a virtual puppy, study dog history and match your face to a breed Admission costs $15 for most adults; the spot is in a glassy street-level space a block from Grand Central Terminal It's a museum that invites visitors to come! Sit! And stay. The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog opens Feb. 8 in midtown Manhattan, returning to New York after three decades on the outskirts of St. Louis. The collection boasts portraits of royal and presidential pets, artifacts that trace canine history as far back as an estimated 30 million-year-old fossil, and devices that "match" visitors' faces with dog breeds and let people try their hand at basic dog training with a virtual puppy. While there won't be actual dogs except for special occasions, the museum hopes to give visitors "an understanding of the history of dogs, how they came to be in such different variety," said Executive Director Alan Fausel, a longtime art curator and appraiser seen on PBS' "Antiques Roadshow." About 150 pieces from the kennel club's extensive, mostly donated collection are on view at the museum, which also has a library area for perusing some of the club's 15,000 books. Fanciers will find images and information on canines from bulldogs to borzois to Bedlington terriers. There are some just-don't-knows, but the collection is focused on purebreds. The kennel club, which runs the nation's oldest purebred dog registry, has taken heat over the years from animal-welfare activists who view dog breeding as a beauty contest that fuels puppy mills. The club argues there's value in breeding to hone various traits, from companionability to bomb-sniffing acumen, and hopes the museum helps make the case. "I think the best thing to take away is the fact that dogs were meant to have different jobs," Fausel said. "It's learning why they were purposely bred for certain jobs, and their activities and their attributes." The exhibition ranges from the scientific such as a skeleton of a 19th-century smooth fox terrier that was important to shaping the breed to the whimsical, including one of photographer William Wegman's images of Weimaraners in humanlike situations (in this case, canoeing). There's also a tiny, elaborate, Edwardian-style dog house for a Chihuahua, and a wall of movie posters celebrating canine stars from "Lassie" to "Beethoven." Other pieces speak to dogs' stature in real life. A painting of a fox terrier mournfully resting its head on an empty armchair depicts Caesar, a pet so cherished by Britain's King Edward VII that the dog marched prominently in the monarch's 1910 funeral procession. The collection also features paintings of White House dogs: U.S. President George W. Bush's Scottish terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley, and one of President George H.W. Bush's English springer spaniels, Millie. "Dogs have enriched our civilization, and woven themselves into our hearts and families through the ages, and I am delighted to see them acknowledged" in the museum, then-first lady Barbara Bush wrote in a 1990 letter. The museum opened in the kennel club's former headquarters in New York in 1982. Seeking more space and hoping to attract more than its roughly 15,000 annual visitors, the museum moved in 1987 to a historic house owned by St. Louis County. Another planned move, to a new development in a nearby city, didn't materialize. Neither did the hoped-for attendance boost: The museum counted under 10,000 visitors last year, Fausel said. St. Louis County officials didn't return a call Thursday, but Parks Director Gary Bess told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this week the museum's former home will be rented out for events and exhibits. It offered something unmatched in the new locale in a high-end Manhattan office tower: Visitors can no longer bring their own pet pooches. And admission rates are higher: $15 for most adults in New York, compared to $6 in St. Louis County. But the kennel club hopes the new museum, in a glassy street-level space a block from Grand Central Terminal, will boost attendance to 80,000 to 100,000 people this year. What to Know Steven Pollard, 30, died helping victims of a car crash on the Belt Parkway after he fell more than 50 feet off the Mill Basin overpass He had only been with the FDNY for about a year and a half and came from a family of firefighters Pollard is being remembered as a brave and dedicated hero who "just wanted to help people;" he's survived by his parents and brother Thousands of colleagues, friends and family gathered Friday to remember the young firefighter who fell to his death from a bridge in Brooklyn while trying to reach victims of a car crash last weekend. A wall of FDNY lined the street outside Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church in Marine Park as a somber procession led Steven Pollard's flag-draped casket to the service. The crowd saluted Pollard's casket in silence as it was being taken inside while bagpipes played "Amazing Grace." Pollard was assigned to Ladder Company 170 of the FDNY when he died Sunday on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. He was only 30 years old. Pollard was running toward two men injured in the crash when he slipped into a gap in the bridge and plunged about 50 feet to the concrete below. Mayor Bill De Blasio eulogized Pollard on behalf "of a grieving city" and thanked the Pollard family for their heroism. Pollard was the son of 31-year FDNY veteran Raymond Pollard. His brother, Ray Jr., is currently an FDNY firefighter and has been with Ladder Company 114 for 11 years. He is also survived by his mother. "He was so proud to be a member of the FDNY," de Blasio said, adding Pollard believed in being of service to others. The mayor made a call for the public to live with the "same love and commitment" as Pollard. De Blasio said one of the men Pollard tried to safe was a corrections officer who Pollard previously worked with. "I offer my deepest condolences to this good family, to all the members of the FDNY, to all who knew and loved Steven" de Blasio said. FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro also eulogized Pollard. "Steven was everything we want in a firefighter," Nigro said. "This young man was strong, smart, hardworking, dedicated and, above all, he was brave." One of Pollard's Ladder 170 firefighter colleagues described him as "a true gentle giant" who was an exemplary firefighter and person. "We lost a true hero that night," he said. Later during the service, Pollard's long-time friend reminisced about his love for family, hockey, friends and the FDNY. A subsequent service is scheduled at the Green-Wood Cemetery Crematory Chapel in Brooklyn. Firefighters teared up at wakes earlier this week as Pollard, who had been on the job for a year and a half, was remembered for his bravery and dedication. "As you can see its a tremendous outpouring of love for a wonderful young firefighter and his family," Nigro said. "Steven just wanted to help people." Pollard is the 1,151st member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty. What to Know Jakiw Palij, a former Nazi concentration camp guard who lived an unassuming life in New York City for decades has died in Germany Palij was the last Nazi facing deportation from the U.S. when he was taken from his Queens home on a stretcher and put on a plane to Germany "An evil man has passed away. That, I guess, is a positive," said a rabbi who has led protests in front of his home Jakiw Palij, a former Nazi concentration camp guard who lived an unassuming life in New York City for decades until his past was revealed and he was deported to Germany last year, has died. He was 95. Palij died Wednesday in a care home in the town of Ahlen. U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell, who lobbied for Germany to take Palij, said he had been informed of the death. He credited U.S. President Donald Trump with seeing through Palij's August 2018 deportation after it had been stalled for a quarter-century. "It would have been upsetting to many Americans if he had died in the U.S in what many viewed as a comfortable escape," Grenell told The Associated Press. Palij was the last Nazi facing deportation from the United States when he was taken from his Queens home on a stretcher and put on a plane to Germany. "An evil man has passed away. That, I guess, is a positive," said Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, who had led protests at Palij's home. Dov Hikind, a longtime New York lawmaker who fought for Palij's deportation, said the death brings "the closure survivors of the Holocaust needed." From the time American investigators first accused Palij of lying about his Nazi past, it took 25 years for his removal from United States, despite political pressure and frequent protests outside his home. He was not prosecuted in Germany and spent his last months in the nursing home. "While his case was always a race against time, the saddest part is that Palij outlived the victims of his horrific crimes by seven decades," said Jon Drimmer, the former deputy director of the U.S. Justice Department office that found Palij and pursued his deportation. Palij, an ethnic Ukrainian born in a part of Poland that is now in Ukraine, entered the U.S. in 1949 under the Displaced Persons Act, a law meant to help refugees from postwar Europe. He told immigration officials he worked during the war in a woodshop and farm in Nazi-occupied Poland, as well as at another farm in Germany and finally in a German upholstery factory. Palij said he never served in the military. In reality, the U.S. Justice Department said he played an essential role in the Nazi program to exterminate Jews as an armed guard at the Trawniki training camp, southeast of Lublin in German-occupied Poland. When investigators knocked on his door in 1993, he told them: "I would never have received my visa if I told the truth. Everyone lied." According to a Justice Department complaint, Palij served in a unit that "committed atrocities against Polish civilians and others" and then in the notorious SS Streibel Battalion, "a unit whose function was to round up and guard thousands of Polish civilian forced laborers." Palij served at Trawniki in 1943, the same year 6,000 prisoners in the camps and tens of thousands of other prisoners held in occupied Poland were rounded up and slaughtered. Palij eventually acknowledged serving in Trawniki but denied any involvement in war crimes. The U.S. lacks jurisdiction to prosecute such cases since the crimes were not committed in the United States and the victims were not Americans. Instead, it has focused on revoking the U.S. citizenship of suspects and deporting them - or extraditing them if another country is seeking to prosecute them. A judge stripped Palij of his U.S. citizenship in 2003 for "participation in acts against Jewish civilians." He was ordered deported a year later. But because Germany, Poland, Ukraine and other countries refused to take him, he continued living in limbo in the two-story, red brick home in Queens he shared with his now-late wife, Maria. After a diplomatic push, the U.S. finally persuaded Germany last year to take Palij. However, German investigators concluded there was not enough evidence of wartime criminal activity to bring charges against him. "Good riddance to this war criminal," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said after Palij's deportation was announced. Palij had managed to live quietly in the U.S. for years as a draftsman and then as a retiree until a fellow former guard told Canadian authorities in 1989 that Palij was "living somewhere in America." Investigators asked Russia and other countries for records on Palij beginning in 1990 and first confronted him in 1993. It wasn't until after a second interview in 2001 that he signed a document acknowledging he had been a guard at Trawniki and a member of the Streibel Battalion. Palij suggested at one point during the interview that he was threatened with death if he refused to work as a guard, saying, "If you don't show up, boom-boom." As his case languished, his continued presence in New York City outraged many, especially members of the Jewish community. The frequent protests outside his home featured chants such as "Your neighbor is a Nazi!" In 2017, all 29 members of New York's congressional delegation signed a letter urging the State Department to follow through on his deportation. Scott Israel, suspended on Friday from his post as Broward County's sheriff, said the move by Florida's new governor was politically motivated. Israel began his comments by expressing his condolences to those families who lost loved ones during the Parkland school shooting. Seventeen lives were taken by a lone gunman on Feb. 14, 2018, in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. In response to the suspension by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was inaugurated Tuesday to replace now-U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, Israel said that DeSantis was fulfilling a campaign promise. DeSantis said the massacre may never have happened if BSO was under "better leadership." Israel said he would "vigorously" oppose the "unjustified" suspension in Florida's court and the Senate. "Let me be clear. I wholeheartedly reject the statements from the governor's executive order as lacking both legal merit and of valid factual basis. There was no wrongdoing on my part," Israel said during a press conference. "This was about politics not about Parkland," Israel said. Israel suggested DeSantis and now the Broward County Sheriff's Office are under the influence of the National Rifle Association. Israel was largely supported in Broward County particularly for his gun control advocacy. In the 2016 general election, Israel defeated his Republican opponent Santiago Vazquez with 72 percent of the vote. In 2012, Israel won with 50 percent of the vote against Al Lamberti's 44 percent. The tides turned against Israel's favor when details emerged after the Parkland school shooting. In February, Israel confronted NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch during a CNN town hall related to the gun debate after Parkland one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. "You just told this group of people that you are standing up for them. You're not standing up for them until you say, 'I want less weapons!" Israel said to thundering applause. However, Israel the following day announced that Scot Peterson, the BSO school resource officer assigned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas, was "absolutely on campus" but "never went in" to confront the gunman during the onslaught. The NRA then set Israel on its sights. "No Sheriff Israel you were the one that didnt PROTECT these children and that is your job. You run the largest fully accredited sheriff's office in the United States, yet your office failed this community," the NRA wrote on Twitter. The NRA's response generated a social media wave catapulted with a hashtag: #ResignSheriffIsrael. In December, a commission that was investigating the Parkland shooting heavily criticized BSO's active shooter policy under Israel stating it contributed to the failure of deputies from confronting the gunman. The policy stated that deputies "may" confront active shooters instead of "shall" confront. The commission said it gave deputies an excuse for not entering the building as the massacre occurred. What to Know Work at Superfund sites lessens the threat from old nuclear-weapons plants, chemical factories, mines and other entities Absent imminent peril, it would be up to state governments or contractors to continue any cleanup during the shutdown, according to the EPA The government shutdown has suspended federal cleanups at Superfund sites around the nation and forced the cancellation of public hearings, deepening the mistrust and resentment of surrounding residents who feel people in power long ago abandoned them to live among the toxic residue of the country's factories and mines. "We are already hurting, and it's just adding more fuel to the fire," says 40-year-old Keisha Brown, whose wood-frame home is in a community nestled among coking plants and other factories on Birmingham's north side. The mostly African-American community has been forced to cope with high levels of arsenic, lead and other contaminants in the soil that the Environmental Protection Agency has been scraping up and carting away, house by house. As President Donald Trump and Congress battle over Trump's demand for a wall on the southern U.S. border, the 3-week-old partial government shutdown has stopped federal work on Superfund sites except for cases where the administration deems "there is an imminent threat to the safety of human life or to the protection of property." EPA's shutdown plans said the agency would evaluate about 800 Superfund sites to see how many could pose an immediate threat. As an example of that kind of threat, it cited an acid leak from a mine that could threaten the public water supply. That's the hazard at Northern California's Iron Mountain mine, where EPA workers help prevent an unending flow of lethally acidic runoff off the Superfund site from spilling into rivers downstream. Practically speaking, said Bonnie Bellow, a former EPA official who worked on Superfund public outreach at the agency, the impact of the stoppage of work at sites across the nation "wholly depends" on the length of the shutdown. "Unless there is immediate risk like a storm, a flood, a week or two of slowdowns is not going to very likely affect the cleanup at the site," Bellow said. In north Birmingham, Brown said it's been a couple of weeks since she's spotted any EPA crews at people's houses. It wasn't clear if state workers or contractors were continuing work. But long before the shutdown began, Brown harbored doubts the cleanup was working anyway. "My main concern is the health of the people out here," said Brown, who has asthma. "All of us are sick, and we've got to function on medicine every day." In terms of time, the federal government shutdown is a chronological blip in the long history of the site which includes ethics charges in a local bribery scandal to block federal cleanup efforts but adds to the uncertainty in an area where residents feel forgotten and betrayed. At the EPA, the shutdown has furloughed the bulk of the agency's roughly 14,000 employees. It also means the EPA isn't getting most of the daily stream of environmental questions and tips from the public. Routine inspections aren't happening. State, local and private emails to EPA officials often get automated messages back promising a response when the shutdown ends. In Montana, for instance, state officials this month found themselves fielding calls from a tribal member worried about drinking water with a funny look to it, said Kristi Ponozzo, public-policy director at that state's Department of Environmental Quality. The EPA normally provides tribes with technical assistance on water supplies. With most EPA colleagues idled, Ponozzo said, her agency also had to call off an environmental review meeting for a mining project, potentially delaying the project. But it's the agency's work at Superfund sites lessening the threat from old nuclear-weapons plants, chemical factories, mines and other entities that gets much of the attention. Absent imminent peril, it would be up to state governments or contractors to continue any cleanup during the shutdown "up to the point that additional EPA direction or funding is needed," the EPA said in a statement. "Sites where cleanup activities have been stopped or shut down will be secured until cleanup activities are able to commence when the federal government reopens," the agency said. For federal Superfund sites in Michigan, the shutdown means there are no EPA colleagues to consult, said Scott Dean, a spokesman for that state's Department of Environmental Quality. At Michigan Superfund sites, day-to-day field operations were continuing since private contractors do most of the on-the-ground work, Dean said. Bellow, the former EPA official, said the cancellation of hearings about Superfund sites posed immediate concerns. In East Chicago, Indiana, for example, the EPA called off a planned public hearing set for last Wednesday to outline how the agency planned to clean up high levels of lead and arsenic in the soil. The EPA has proposed a seven-month, $26.5 million cleanup that includes treating and removing tainted soil from the area, where a lead smelter previously was located. During a public meeting Nov. 29, some residents complained that the EPA's approach would leave too much pollution in place. But others didn't get a chance to speak and were hoping to do so at the meeting this week, said Debbie Chizewer, a Northwestern University environmental attorney who represents community groups in the low-income area. The EPA announced the cancellation in an online notice and gave no indication that it would be rescheduled. Leaders of the East Chicago Calumet Community Advisory Group asked for a new hearing date and an extension of a Jan. 14 public comment deadline in a letter to the EPA's regional Superfund division. Calls by The Associated Press to the agency's regional office in Chicago this week were not answered. Local critics fear the EPA will use the delay caused by the shutdown as justification for pushing ahead with a cleanup strategy they consider flawed, Chizewer said, even though the agency has designated the affected area as an "environmental justice community" a low-income community of color that has been disproportionately harmed by pollution. The EPA has a "special obligation" when dealing with such communities, Chizewer said. "This would be an example of shutting them out for no good reason." In North Birmingham, former longtime neighborhood resident Charlie Powell said most of people living in and around the Superfund site had already "just got tired and fed up." Powell left the area but started a group called PANIC, People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination. He believes money would be better spent helping residents move away from the pollution. "Can I say hell?" Powell said when asked what residents have been through. Associated Press writers John Flesher and Matthew Brown contributed to this report. President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress if he can't reach a deal with Democrats to fund his promised border wall. He headed to the U.S.-Mexico border to draw further attention to his case after negotiations with lawmakers blew up. The partial government shutdown dragged into a 20th day with hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job or working without pay as the wall fight persisted. Asked about a national emergency declaration, Trump said as he left the White House for Texas, "I'm not prepared to do that yet, but if I have to I will." He contends such a declaration would allow him to direct the military to begin wall construction. "So we're either going to have a win, make a compromise because I think a compromise is a win for everybody or I will declare a national emergency," he said. It's not clear what a compromise might entail. Trump says he won't reopen the government without money for the wall. Democrats say they favor measures to bolster border security but oppose the long, impregnable walling that Trump envisions. He is asking $5.7 billion for wall construction. Trump insisted as he left Washington that there are "a tremendous amount of funds" available to build the wall if he declares a national emergency and claimed, incorrectly, that he never campaigned on Mexico paying for the wall directly. His campaign released a detailed plan that outlined how the Mexican government could make "a one-time payment of $5-10 billion" for the wall. Asked about an NBC News report that a steel border wall prototype could be cut through with a saw, Trump claimed that it was "designed by a previous administration." He said the "wall we'd be doing would be very, very hard to penetrate." Trump also insisted he doesn't have temper tantrums, as Democrats said he did at their meeting Wednesday, and claimed China, Trump's major trade adversary, is "far more honorable" than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. Trump's comments came a day after he walked out of a negotiating meeting with congressional leaders "I said bye-bye," he tweeted soon after as efforts to reopen the government fell into deeper disarray. Affected federal workers face lost paychecks on Friday, and more people are touched every day by the rollback of government services. In McAllen, Texas, Trump visited a border patrol station for a roundtable discussion on immigration and border security and a briefing. But he has expressed his own doubts that his appearance and remarks will change any minds as he seeks money for the wall that's been his signature promise since his presidential campaign. He then toured a section of the U.S.-Mexico border as he continued to bolster his case for spending billions on a wall. Standing along the Rio Grande, the president said "a lot of the crime in our country is caused by what's coming through here." A law enforcement officer told Trump during his tour that a greater percentage of apprehensions in recent weeks have involved people from places other than Mexico and Central America. He cited people from Pakistan, China and India as specific examples. Trump told reporters, "So they apprehended people from the Middle East and they do it all the time." "Whether it's steel or concrete, you don't care," Trump said. "We need a barrier." McAllen is located in the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest part of the border for illegal border crossings. Several hundred protesters were chanting and waving signs opposing a border wall next to the South Texas airport where Trump was set to arrive. Across the street, a smaller group of protesters shouted back, chanting, "Build that wall!" At least two protesters were arrested, according to Telemundo 40. Meanwhile, federal workers in Washington Thursday denounced Trump at a rally with congressional Democrats, demanding he reopen the government so they can get back to work and receive their paychecks. Trump tweeted Thursday that he is canceling his upcoming trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, because of the partial government shutdown. Several Cabinet members are still scheduled to attend the event, which attracts business and political elite. Putting the standoff in personal terms, the president tweeted before leaving for Texas: "The Opposition Party & the Dems know we must have Strong Border Security, but don't want to give 'Trump' another one of many wins!" Pelosi fired back in a press conference Thursday, accusing the president of engaging in political games to fire up his base. "I think the meeting was a set-up so he could walk out," she said. The White House meeting in the Situation Room ended after just 14 minutes. Democrats said they asked Trump to reopen the government but he told them if he did they wouldn't give him money for the wall. Republicans said Trump posed a direct question to Pelosi: If he opened the government, would she fund the wall? She said no. Schumer said Trump slammed his hand on the table. But Trump, who handed out candy at the start of the meeting, disputed that characterization. He said he "didn't smash the table" but "should have." One result was certain: The shutdown plunged into uncharted territory with no endgame in sight. On Saturday, Washington appears certain to set an ignominious record for the longest government shutdown in the nation's history. The Democrats see the idea of the long wall as ineffective and even immoral. Trump sees it as an absolute necessity to stop what he calls a crisis of illegal immigration, drug-smuggling and human trafficking at the border. Trump also went to Capitol Hill Wednesday, seeking to soothe jittery Republican lawmakers. He left a Republican lunch boasting of "a very, very unified party," but GOP senators have been publicly uneasy as the standoff ripples across the lives of Americans and interrupts the economy. During the lunch, Trump discussed the possibility of a sweeping immigration compromise with Democrats to protect some immigrants from deportation but provided no clear strategy or timeline for resolving the standoff, according to senators in the private session. GOP unity was tested when the House passed a bipartisan spending bill, 240-188, to reopen one shuttered department, Treasury, to ensure that tax refunds and other financial services continue. Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting, defying the plea to stick with the White House. There was growing concern about the toll the shutdown is taking on everyday Americans, including disruptions in payments to farmers and trouble for home buyers who are seeking government-backed mortgage loans "serious stuff," according to Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican. Some Republicans were concerned about Trump's talk of declaring a national emergency at the border, seeing that as unprecedented interference with the right of Congress to allocate funding except in the most dire circumstances. "I prefer that we get this resolved the old-fashioned way," Thune said. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Colleen Long, Alan Fram, Deb Riechmann, Zeke Miller and Nomaan Merchant contributed to this report. An investigation into an alleged identity theft ring led federal agents and members of the North Texas Financial Crimes Task Force to raid a home in Keller Thursday morning, officials say. Investigators have not released many specifics about the case, but in a news release, said it involves the "fraudulent use of credit card information throughout the region." Multiple agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, Colleyville Police and Keller Police, served both search and arrest warrants on a home along Shady Grove Road at about 6 a.m. Keller Police confirmed that diversionary and breaching devices were used as part of that operation. Several windows around the home were busted, but authorities said nobody was hurt. Seven people were found inside the home. Officers took all of them into custody, but have since released four of them. The other three 30-year-old Stewart Keal, 20-year-old Jordyn Tabor, and 39-year-old Kristy Jackson were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Officials said both the Secret Service and the task force will continue to investigate the case and "file additional charges as necessary." What to Know Project Innovation is a competitive grant program presented locally by NBC 5 & Telemundo 39 in partnership with the NBCUniversal Foundation. North Texas organizations that are using innovation to address community issues are eligible. Eligible non-profit organizations can apply for Project Innovation grants beginning January 11. For the second year in a row, NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 are teaming up to make a positive impact in our community with Project Innovation, an exciting grant challenge, powered by the NBCUniversal Foundation. Project Innovation will recognize and award $225,000 in grants to local non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations that are addressing local community issues through innovative solutions around four grant categories. Applications for Project Innovation are open Now - February 15, 2019. For more information and to apply for a grant, click here. To access information and apply for a grant in Spanish, click here. Project Innovation 2019 grant winners will be announced by the stations in April 2019. Presented in 11 markets throughout the country, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Project Innovation is offered by the NBCUniversal Foundation and NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, a division of NBCUniversal. This year, NBC and Telemundo owned stations will present nearly $2.5 million in Project Innovation grants to eligible non-profits that are physically located in the participating markets and service each market, have an annual operating budget of more than $100,000, and are using innovation to inspire community solutions in any of the following four grant categories: Next Generation Storytellers : Programs that empower the next generation of storytellers and utilize media to drive social impact. Culture of Inclusion : Programs that seek to build pathways for diverse and equitable communities. : Programs that seek to build pathways for diverse and equitable communities. Youth Education : Programs that equip youth with the tools they need to succeed, including STEM/ STEAM education. : Programs that equip youth with the tools they need to succeed, including STEM/ STEAM education. Community Engagement : Programs that enable individuals to engage and volunteer in their communities. Project Innovation Past Winners Project Innovation 2018 winners, including Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, have leveraged the grant funding presented by the stations to create community solutions around youth education and community engagement, to name a few. Meals-On-Wheels used their Project Innovation grant to hire a part-time employee who was able to work with APP developers and Meals-On-Wheels volunteers for training and software troubleshooting. The transition from the previous, time consuming, manual reporting system to utilizing the APP resulted in the ability to have quicker volunteer communication, improved delivery to their home-bound clients across Tarrant County, and increased tracking of clients conditions, changes, and availability. Junior Players Guild and The Solar Car Challenge Foundation were able to continue providing unique learning opportunities through their innovative initiatives. Junior Players Guild was able to implement more education for the at-risk youth they serve through more technology driven programs, including mixed media, graphic design, and use of more software applications in their education efforts. The Solar Car Challenge Foundation was able to continue providing year-round Science, Engineering, and Alternative Energy learning for high school students through their Solar Car Challenge Education Program. State police major crimes detectives are investigating whether the use of force was justified in a police-involved shooting in New Haven on Tuesday. Marcus Rivera, 22, of New Haven, was shot in the pelvis area while running from police in the Hill South neighborhood around 5:45 p.m., according to authorities. He was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he went through surgery and has been upgraded from critical, but stable, condition to good condition. New Haven Police Chief Anthony Campbell said he wishes the incident never occurred but the outcome was as favorable as possible. He identified the officer who exchanged gunfire as detective Francisco Sanchez, a seven-year veteran of the department assigned to the criminal intelligence unit. Campbell said there was an active warrant for Rivera and Sanchez was working on an investigation with a group of undercover officers from the intel unit and shooting task force when they encountered him in the Lamberton Street area. Authorities apprehended Rivera, but he managed to get free and there was an exchange of gunfire as Rivera continued to run, according to police. No officers were hurt, but Rivera was shot. Amidst this chaos, officers had the wherewithal to provide first aid to an individual who moments before had tried to take their lives, that is a testimony to the morality and humanity which all officers have an abundance, Campbell said. Rivera has been charged with carrying a pistol without a permit. State police are continuing to investigate the case. Detective Sanchez and the other undercover officers have been assigned to administrative duty, which is department protocol, according to police. Campbell did not name the other law enforcement officers involved. Internal affairs for the New Haven Police Department will conduct its parallel investigation into the police shooting. A man found dead after an hours-long standoff in Groton died of a gunshot wound and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined the death was a suicide. Police said the man, identified as 35-year-old James Bangura, prompted a SWAT response when he barricaded himself in a home on Orion Avenue, near the Navy Lodge in Groton Tuesday night. Groton police responded to the home at 7:18 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a disturbance and a woman told them her husband was in the house and had fired a handgun. Officers removed the woman and children from the home, set up a perimeter, evacuated residents in the area and called in mutual aid, including police from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and the FBI. Residents in the neighborhood, which is described by police as mostly military families, were asked to shelter in place and a SWAT team was called in. Police said the man was found dead just after noon on Wednesday. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest, and the manner of death was suicide. Investigators are still looking into whether anyone fired at law enforcement officers during the response. The Groton Police Department thanked the other agencies that responded to assist or offered support during the situation, which include Connecticut State Police, police from Groton City, Groton Long Point, Stonington, Waterford and Ledyard as well as members of the FBI and NCIS, Rhode Island State Police and the Massachusetts State Police, Submarine Base Fire Department, the U.S. Navy, Groton Ambulance and The Salvation Army Canteen. SUICIDE PREVENTION HELP: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Both Democrats and Republicans are praising Gov. Ned Lamonts aspiration for rapid train service connecting Hartford to New Haven, New Haven to Stamford, and Stamford to New York City. Im so excited that we have a governor that finally understands the importance of Fairfield County and Metro-North, said Rep. Laura Devlin, (R Fairfield). The economic factor that that could drive and the desirability factor just to get to New York within even an hour from Fairfield, that would provide. Lamont made this bold statement during his first address to the people of Connecticut Wednesday: You know what we do? I believe in the 30/30/30 I want the following to be a reality: 30 minutes from Hartford to New Haven; 30 minutes from New Haven to Stamford; and 30 minutes from Stamford to New York. New Democratic Sen. Alex Bergstein campaigned on upgrading Connecticuts railways to high-speed systems. She was also very happy to hear the new governor mention rapid train times during his first major address. The fact of the matter is New York and New Jersey have invested in their infrastructure over time and the travel time to Manhattan has gone down and property values have gone up. Connecticut has done the opposite, she said. Weve underinvested in our infrastructure and were in a predicament where we really have to catch up and exceed our neighbors in order to stay competitive. Since 1976, train times have actually increased between New Haven and Grand Central Terminal in New York City. A Business Council of Fairfield study found that the time up by six minutes by 2014. Devlin says she doesnt want to see any new revenues to pay for transportation, and said the existing bonding system should be enough. Tolls are essentially a $700 million tax on Connecticut residents, $350 million at least out of residents in Fairfield County. Weve got to look at prioritizing projects in DOT, also looking for greater efficiency. So if we can do those things first, that would be more important, Devlin said. Bergstein, who campaigned on bringing tolls to Connecticut says taxpayers are demanding better infrastructure like high speed trains, and adds that they understand the cost of new, bold projects. The taxpayers I speak to definitely understand it. They dont understand why we dont have tolls, yet. Every state around us has it, and, again, its an opportunity lost to access billions in private sector financing. Why wouldnt we want to access that? A local fire department is making changes after NBC Connecticut Investigates began looking at what some might consider generous perks for its commissioners. Before our first report two years ago, Blue Hills Fire District commissioners in Bloomfield could receive: a $5,000 annual stipend up to a $6,000 performance bonus up to a $2,000 holiday bonus a full tank of gas per week a district credit card The bonuses went away after our first set of stories. Now commissioners have eliminated some of the last of the perks. They agreed to get rid of the weekly free tank of gas they are eligible to receive. Commission chair Ariel Marzouca-Jaunai said before the unanimous 3-0 vote It has become a big distraction for us and we just want to be finished with it." They also announced they will no longer each be allowed to have a district credit card at their disposal, another topic of criticism. Instead, there will be just one credit card for all fire district purchases. Taxpayers who have complained about the perks fire commissioners have received in the past gave them equal credit for now eliminating most of them. Former Bloomfield mayor Joan Gamble told NBC Connecticut Investigates, I think it's heading in the right direction. They didn't need to have some of these perks." Each fire commissioner still does receive a $5,000 annual stipend. While not unheard of in Connecticut, fire chiefs have told NBC Connecticut Investigates that amount is on the high end of the scale. The Blue Hills Fire District also revealed it's part-time finance director has decided to discontinue receiving his health benefits on the district plan, which cost the district thousands of dollars each year. Critics still say his $38,000 annual salary is too high. The treasurer at the fire department serving the other half of the town of Bloomfield receives a fraction of that amount. Every year, the CES gadget show brings more devices promising to make life a little bit easier for harried parents. Sure, the kids might love them too: who wouldn't want a computerized Harry Potter wand that also teaches coding? The Las Vegas show's growing "family tech" sector encompasses products that range from artificially intelligent toys and baby monitors to internet-connected breast pumps. Their common thread is an appeal to parental anxiety about raising smart kids, occupying their time, tracking their whereabouts and making sure they're healthy and safe. Some also come with subtle trade-offs. "Technology makes us forget what we know about life," said psychologist Sherry Turkle, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who studies people's relationships with machines. She's particularly concerned about robots that seek to befriend or babysit young children. NOT-SO-IMAGINARY FRIENDS Take the cute, furry Woobo, meant to be a real-life version of a child's imaginary friend that can help set tooth-brushing routines, answer complex questions and play educational games. It's part of a new cottage industry of sociable toys, which includes robots like Cozmo and Sony's dog-like Aibo. A gentle pull at the ears switches the screen-faced Woobo into listening mode. The $149 toy talks in a child-like voice and makes a game out of boring chores that might otherwise require a parent's nagging. Its makers say Woobo doesn't glue kids to its screen because it invites them to go find things in the home, help parents cook dinner or play family games like charades. "Our focus on the content side is not to replace parents," said Shen Guo, who co-founded Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Woobo after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design. "It's to enhance family time." But its appeal for a child's emotional attachment and nurturing sets off alarm bells for Turkle, who has been warning against what she calls "artificial intimacy" since the Tamagotchi digital pet craze of the 1990s. Research has shown the benefits of children playing out their inner feelings and worries by projecting them onto inert dolls. But Turkle says that doesn't work when the toys seem real enough to have their own feelings. "Pretend empathy is not a good thing," Turkle said. "Everything we know about children's development is that if you read to a child, what's going on is the relationship, the talking, the connection, the mentoring, the safety, the sense that people love learning. Why do we think this is a good idea to give this to some robot?" IS YOUR BABY BREATHING? Talk to makers of the next generation of baby monitors unveiled at CES and you'd be surprised that generations of children survived infancy without artificial intelligence systems analyzing their every breath. "Babies want to breathe. Babies want to live," says Colt Seman, co-founder of Los Angeles-based startup Miku, which promises to monitor breathing and heart rate without letting parents get overly worked up about it. Regulators haven't approved any baby monitors for medical use and instead recommend parents focus on providing a safe sleeping environment. Some doctors worry that such devices create additional stress for parents. Unlike most past offerings, the latest crop of baby monitors that measure vital signs are "contactless" meaning they don't work by attaching some electronics to a baby's sock or chest. Raybaby's device resembles a one-eyed robot that detects breathing patterns using radar technology. The non-ionizing radiation it emits is at low levels, but might still turn off some parents already concerned about keeping their babies too close to smartphones. Most of the other devices rely on computer vision. A camera by Nanit watches a baby from above and measures sleeping patterns by tracking the slight movements of a specially-designed swaddle. It also uses the data it collects to recommend more consistent sleep times. Nanit's Aaron Pollack acknowledges that some parents might still check Nanit's phone app to check breathing data five times a night "out of sheer anxiety." "We're not trying to prevent that," he said. "We're just trying to give you some piece of mind." Two others, Miku and Utah-based Smartbeat, each boast of a level of precision and analytical rigor that could eventually help predict when the baby is going to get sick. Both have phone alert systems to report worrisome breathing irregularities. Smartbeat's analysis is purely image-based, while Miku also uses radar. Miku's sleeker hardware comes at a cost: It's $399, well above the $250 Smartbeat. TECH IN THE WOMB Of course, parental anxiety begins even before a child is born hence Owlet's new $299 pregnancy band that wraps around a woman's abdomen to track fetal heartbeats by taking an electrocardiogram. The idea is to put on the stretchy band before going to sleep starting about three to four months before the due date. It sends a morning wellness report to a user's smartphone app, with details including an expectant mother's contractions and sleep positions and warnings if fetal heartbeat or movements fall outside acceptable ranges. An owl-faced medallion above the mother's belly gives the band the look of a superhero emblem and why not? Pregnancy is tough. "It's really just having that extra piece of mind, between doctor's visits, that everything is OK," said Owlet spokeswoman Misty Bond. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brought the Trump administration's anti-Iran message to Gulf Arab states on Friday as he continued a nine-nation tour of the Middle East aimed at reassuring America's partners that withdrawing troops from Syria does not mean Washington is abandoning the region. Pompeo was traveling to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates where he will call for increasing pressure on Iran and push for unity among Gulf neighbors still embroiled in a festering dispute with Qatar. He'll also be promoting a U.S.-backed initiative to form what some have termed an "Arab NATO" that would bring the region together in a military alliance to counter threats from Iran. In Bahrain, the UAE and later Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, Pompeo will also be making the case as he did on previous stops in Jordan, Iraq and Egypt that President Donald Trump's decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria is not a sign Washington is retreating from the fight against the Islamic State group. U.S. partnerships with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council "are critical to achieving shared regional objectives: defeating ISIS, countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies, and rolling back Iranian aggression," the State Department said in a statement released as Pompeo departed Egypt for Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. But the now 2-year-old crisis between GCC members Saudi Arabia and UAE and Qatar has hampered U.S. attempts to forge a unified front against Iran. Washington's efforts to ease the dispute, begun by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have thus far failed and took another hit this week when the former general tasked to broker a solution stepped down. "A united GCC is the backbone for regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability, and is essential to countering the single greatest threat to regional stability: the Iranian regime," the State Department said. At each of his stops in the Gulf, Pompeo will be urging progress on creating the Middle East Strategic Alliance, which would join GCC militaries with those of Egypt and Jordan to serve as a counter-balance to Iran, which they all accuse of fomenting unrest and rebellion throughout the region. In addition, Pompeo will call for boosting efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling Iranian-backed rebels in what the U.N. says is now the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the department said. U.N.-led peace efforts in Yemen, along with attempts to broker a political solution to the war in Syria that "expels every last Iranian boot from the country" and promoting reconciliation in Afghanistan will also be high on Pompeo's agenda, the State Department said. Pompeo kicked off the Gulf portion of his tour after a stop in Cairo, where he delivered a scathing rebuke of former President Barack Obama's Middle East policies that Obama had outlined in a 2009 address to the Arab and broader Muslim world. In a speech entitled "A Force for Good: America's Reinvigorated Role in the Middle East," Pompeo accused the former president of "misguided" thinking that diminished America's role in the region while harming its longtime friends and emboldening Iran. He unloaded on the Obama administration for being naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the Middle East, including Egypt, beginning in 2011. And, he said the Trump administration was taking action to repair the damage. "The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering," Pompeo said in the speech, which was itself denounced by former Obama administration officials for pandering to autocrats, ignoring human rights concerns. "That this administration feels the need, nearly a decade later, to take potshots at an effort to identify common ground between the Arab world and the West speaks not only to the Trump administration's pettiness but also to its lack of a strategic vision for America's role in the region and its abdication of America's values," National Security Action group, a group of former officials, said in a statement. Pompeo blamed the previous administration's approach to the Mideast for the ills that consume it now, particularly the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and Iran's increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, since rescinded by the Trump administration, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal. He said Obama ignored the growth of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon to the detriment of Israel's security and not doing enough to push back on Iran-supported rebels in Yemen. Since withdrawing from the nuclear deal last year, the administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Tehran and routinely accuses the nation of being the most destabilizing influence in the region. It has vowed to increase the pressure until Iran halts what U.S. officials describe as its "malign activities" throughout the Mideast and elsewhere, including support for rebels in Yemen, anti-Israel groups, and Syrian President Bashar Assad. A Wisconsin baby sitter who allegedly killed a 2-month-old boy then pretended he was alive when she gave the boy back to his mother has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide. A criminal complaint filed Friday says 28-year-old Marissa Tietsort of Wausau caused the infant's death in October, then put him in a snowsuit and car seat and returned him to his mother without telling her the child was dead. Authorities found the mother trying to revive the boy, but he had died hours earlier of blunt force head injuries from multiple impacts to the head. During a court appearance Friday, Judge Jill Falstad issued a $500,000 cash bond for Tietsort and ordered that she have no contact with children or with the victim's family, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Tietsort, who is pregnant with her sixth child, also faces child abuse charges involving an 11-month-old girl in her care. That charge stems from an August incident. Tietsort was arrested in that case after the 2-month-old died in October. A message left with the public defender's office hasn't been returned. According to the criminal complaint, the mother of the 2-month-old boy dropped him and his older brother off at Tietsort's home on Oct. 18. About two hours later, the baby's mother received a text from Tietsort, in which Tietsort told her that a local news website published a story saying she'd been charged with child abuse and she isn't supposed to have contact with children. Tietsort told the mother not to tell anyone she was watching her two sons. When the victim's mother came to pick up her sons later, the infant was in his car seat with a hat pulled down over his eyes. The mother told police she thought he was sleeping, the complaint said. The boy's mother later realized her son was not breathing, cold and stiff. Officers arrived to find the boy had "ashen skin tone, his jaw was clenched and his lips were blue." Tietsort told police she didn't kill the baby, but knew he was dead, the complaint said. When her boyfriend got home that evening, they went to McDonald's and she brought the dead baby with them, according to the complaint. After she gave the boy back to his mother, Tietsort, her boyfriend and their son went swimming at a local hotel, the complaint said. Two more people have been charged in connection with an attack in which more than a dozen of people, mostly teenagers, beat three people last week on a Red Line platform on the Near North Side. On Tuesday, 18-year-old Michael Sardin and a 15-year-old boy were charged with felony aggravated battery and mob action for the Dec. 29 attack at the State/Chicago Red Line station, according to Chicago police. Police said Sardin turned himself in after learning that he was being sought in a community alert issued by CPD. He was the first adult to face charges related to this incident. The teen was arrested after he was identified by a witness as being involved in the attack, police said. Sardin and the boy, along with 10 to 12 other offenders, were seen on surveillance footage kicking and punching two victims multiple times. The victims were waiting for a train about 7:30 p.m. at the station when the group of teens stepped onto the platform, police said. One of the people in the group asked a 26-year-old man if he was recording them, which he denied. The horde of teens then approached the man, a 29-year-old woman and her 28-year-old boyfriend and started punching them, according to police and the victims. All three were treated at the scene for bruising and lacerations, according to Chicago Fire Media Affairs. Another 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy, who were arrested on Jan. 3, were facing the same charges. The 28-year-old, who has lived in Chicago for three years, said he later went to University of Illinois Hospital, where he learned that his eye socket was fractured. In the days following the attack, authorities released surveillance photos of multiple suspects. Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) said in a statement last week that additional arrests in the case were anticipated. Sardin, who lives in the Gresham neighborhood, appeared in bond court Tuesday where his bond was set at $5,000, according to the Cook County Sheriffs Office. He is scheduled for another court date Jan. 14. The 15-year-old charged Tuesday was scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday. None of the teens were identified because they are juveniles. Monday marks the end of an era in Illinois consumer protection, as the state's longest-serving attorney general will step aside. After 16 years in office, Attorney General Lisa Madigan is getting ready for her next chapter - and taking a look back at all she's tackled - in an exclusive interview with NBC 5 Responds, like you've never seen her before. Madigan is Illinois' first female attorney general - an historic role she says wasn't weighing on her mind when she took office. "For me, what I've always enjoyed most is diving in, finding out what the problems are, figuring out the solutions and getting the work done," Madigan said. [[504171502, C]] Getting to work meant taking on many of the expected issues, but it also meant navigating a new world, as digital devices changed everything for consumers. "The use of technology was really adapted, you know, maybe first and best by scam artists," Madigan said. "We've had to adapt by making sure we bring on people who can investigate." [[504169032, C]] As the office tackled that task, a more immediate crisis cropped up: the collapse of the housing market, which hit Chicago hard and launched Madigan into a national role as the first Illinois attorney general to argue in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 25 years. "I was spending the vast majority of my time in Washington, D.C., negotiating the mortgage foreclosure settlement, that $25 billion dollar deal," she recalled. "I was at the Department of Justice, you know, week in and week out." [[504171272, C]] That work ultimately snared a bevy of bad actors - and left Madigan with personal stories she may never shake. "People would come in with shopping bags of their mortgage documents and have us try to help sort through what had happened," Madigan said. "That's always, I think, what strikes me the most about consumer problems, is the fact that, you know, there are people out there who are so, you know, willing to say anything to make money that they don't care what happens to you, they dont care what happens to your family, they dont care if you lose your house, they care about nothing but making that money." Madigan says it is the people she served who made her job worthwhile, heading an office she realized many still don't understand. [[504168752, C]] "I've learned this - even lawyers don't understand what the state attorney general does," she said. "But the way I try to describe it is, look, while I am the lawyer for the state, and therefore defending the state of Illinois when its sued, what most people know about the office is the affirmative work that we do, so the work that were doing for people. So when were actually investigating and suing companies that have, you know, defrauded somebody, or done something wrong, and thats really the consumer work that people know us for," she continued. [[504171282, C]] Its scope is both enormous and complicated - though some boil it down as the only elected official who actually makes people happy. "Not all the time," Madigan said with a laugh. "I would say like 98 percent of the time." Madigan's most impactful case, in her eyes? She couldn't decide. "The national mortgage settlement," she said, adding, "but I also have to say that bringing the lawsuits against Countrywide and Wells Fargo for discriminatory lending." [[504170692, C]] The one that kept her up most at night? "So-called debtors prisons," Madigan responded. "Where people are using, you know, they're using the court process ultimately to throw people into prison or jail simply because they don't have the resources to pay a debt." [[504170682, C]] As for what she will miss least - it's the creatures in her office. "I'm not gonna miss the cockroaches at the Thompson Center," she exclaimed. "That is the worst! They're big, they're big." [[504171262, C]] But what she will miss is both the people and the work itself. "I mean the greatest thing about my job is that when somebody comes to the office, or when I see something on TV, and I know we can help, Im right there," she said. "I mean I bring the mail I get from home and say look, I can tell this is a scam! Find out." [[504169022, C]] As for what advice she's given her successor, Attorney General-elect Kwame Raoul, she said it was simple. "Pay attention to the details. Sweat the small stuff. Because you have to. Theres a lot going on, the office does not run by itself, youve gotta come into work and youve gotta do the job. You can make an extraordinary difference, its incredibly satisfying, but sweat the small stuff." [[504171302, C]] Into the office at age 36 and out at 52, Madigan said her recipe for success came from another prominent Illinois politician. "You dont have to worry about the politics if you just do your job and you do it well," she said. "People will support you even if they disagree with you if they know youre doing the right thing, or youre trying to do the right thing." "And you know where I got that? I got that from watching Paul Simon," she continued. [[504171292, C]] "I had the opportunity to work with him, and he was just such an extraordinary public servant that I saw, you know people disagreed with him, when he was, you know, from Southern Illinois talking about the injustice of the death penalty. And nonetheless they supported him, because they understood why he was saying that, they knew he believed in that, and he was always at the forefront of issues." The easiest question of all might be the hardest thing for this attorney general to put behind - is this the best job she thinks she'll ever have? "Oh theres a really good chance," she quickly answered. "And certainly as a lawyer, its difficult to imagine a better job. And I can tell you among my AG colleagues around the country, even the folks that go onto the U.S. Senate and other governors, they all say the best job I ever had was serving as attorney general." What to Know Jayme Closs, 13, went missing on Oct. 15 when police discovered someone had broken into her family's Wisconsin home and killed her parents Jayme was found Thursday, walking along a rural road roughly 60 miles north of where she disappeared three months earlier Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, was arrested on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of kidnapping, authorities sai Thirteen-year-old Jayme Closs escaped the man who killed her parents and held her against her will in a remote part of Wisconsin, then gave police a description of his car that enabled deputies to quickly take him into custody, authorities said at an emotional news conference Friday. Jake Thomas Patterson, a 21-year-old from Gordon, Wisconsin, was arrested Thursday - the same day Jayme was discovered walking down a road roughly 60 miles north of where she disappeared, authorities said. Jayme had been missing for 88 days, since her parents were fatally shot at their home outside Barron, Wisconsin, in October. Patterson was being held on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting deaths of James and Denise Closs and one count of kidnapping, officials said. He is expected to appear in court Monday. Authorities said Jayme gave deputies a description of Patterson's vehicle, enabling them to locate and arrest him minutes later. "Jayme is the hero in this case, there's no question," Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said. Police said Patterson was not home when Closs escaped and appeared to be "looking for her when law enforcement found him." "That is the will of a kid to survive, its the unthinkable," Fitzgerald said. "Its amazing the will of that 13-year-old girl to escape." Fitzgerald said Jayme was inside her family's home when her parents were killed and that Patterson planned his actions, then "took many proactive steps" to hide Jayme and himself from law enforcement and the public. Among those steps, Fitzgerald said, Patterson shaved his head to avoid leaving any hair behind. The area where Jayme was allegedly held was remote and heavily wooded with few houses, officials said. "We also do not believe at this time that the suspect had any contact with the family. We do believe Jayme was the only target," Fitzgerald continued, adding that Patterson "had zero criminal history locally and zero criminal history in Wisconsin." Closs discovery and Pattersons arrest brought to an end what he said was a long and difficult search for the girl, whose disappearance, coupled with her parents death, rocked their community. She was discovered by a social worker walking her dog heard her cries for help and recognized her. Jeanne Nutter told The Associated Press on Friday that she was walking her dog at around 4 p.m. along a rural road near Gordon when a disheveled teenage girl approached her and called out for help. Jayme told Nutter her name and said she had walked away from a cabin where she'd been held captive, a cabin not far from Nutter's own home. "I was terrified, but I didn't want to show her that," Nutter told the AP. "She just yelled please help me I don't know where I am. I'm lost." Nutter said she didn't want to bring Jayme to her nearby home because it was too close to where she'd been found, and she didn't want them to be alone. She said: "My only thought was to get her to a safe place." The two went elsewhere in the neighborhood, to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinskas. Jayme was skinny and dirty, wearing shoes too big for her feet, but appeared outwardly OK, the neighbors said. "I honestly still think I'm dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost," Peter Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "My jaw just went to the floor." "We've seen her face a lot so I knew it was her the second she walked in the door," Kasinskas' wife Kristin said. "She seemed kind of in shock and kind of timid but she did talk to us a little bit and she came in and sat down in our living room and was able to have a conversation with us," Kristin Kasinskas said in a phone interview on NBC's "Today" show. "She didn't give us a ton of details," she added. "I'd asked her if she knew where Gordon, Wisconsin, was; she did not. She did not know where Gordon was and she did not know where she was at the time." Kristin Kasinskas said Jayme told the couple the name of the person she believed had taken her. "I recognized the name when I was told it but not somebody I knew well by any means," Kristin Kasinskas said. "She kind of talked about being locked when this person had to leave but she did not go into any detail about how she got away." "We kind of just talked with her, nothing too specific. She didnt express like any fear," she continued. "She didnt say she was afraid the person was coming after her but she did say that somebody took her, she did say that somebody killed her parents. She told us a vehicle to be watching out for." Jayme went missing on Oct. 15 after police discovered someone had broken into the family's home outside Barron and fatally shot her parents, James and Denise Closs. Jayme was nowhere to be found, with the Barron County Sheriff's Department at the time describing her as likely abducted. Kristin Kasinskas heard a knock on her door Thursday afternoon, according to the Star Tribune. It was Nutter, her neighbor, with Jayme alongside. In the 20 minutes Jayme was in their home, Kristin and Peter Kasinskas tried to make her feel more comfortable, they said. They offered her water and food, but she declined both. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Peter Kasinskas said. Kristin Kasinskas told NBC affiliate KARE Jayme looked thinner than in her missing persons photograph, "a little unkempt, but okay over all." Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon. From what she told them, they believe she was there for most of her disappearance. Gordon lies about 40 miles south of Lake Superior and about 65 miles north of Barron, Jayme's hometown. The town is home to about 645 people in a heavily forested region where logging is the top industry. Sue Allard, Jayme's aunt, told the Star Tribune that she could barely express her joy after learning the news Thursday night. "Praise the Lord," Allard said between sobs. "It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait." "When you actually hear it, its just unbelievable," Jayme's uncle Jeff Closs said via phone interview. "Were all just so grateful and happy. Hopefully shes okay, we dont really know what shape shes in. We dont really know a lot, all we know is shes alive." Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23 but it yielded no clues. Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode. "I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive," Fitzgerald said at the time. He was right. "I figured that if they hadnt found her by now, that the person that did this didnt want her dead, so I had hope, every day," Jayme's aunt Kelly Englehardt said. "Every day there was hope." "It's what we've prayed for every single day for the last 87 days," Englehardt added. Barron Mayor Ron Fladten said Thursday night he was overjoyed at learning the news. "There was a lot of discouragement because this took quite a while to play out," Fladten said. "A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. It's just a great result we got tonight. It's unbelievable. It's like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again." He acknowledged that Jayme may not be the same person she was before she disappeared. "I hope that she's in good shape," the mayor said. "She's no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future." Jayme was hospitalized for observation overnight, authorities said, but was doing well and was cleared from the hospital by Friday morning. She was undergoing a "reunification process" Friday, which includes medical and mental evaluations, as well as questioning by detectives and the FBI, and reuniting with family members. Authorities said they hoped to have her back in Barron County by Friday morning or early afternoon. The notification that Jayme had been found came just four hours after Fitzgerald had taken to Twitter to debunk a report that she had been found alive near Walworth County. Douglas County, where Jayme was found, is hundreds of miles northwest of Walworth County. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the suspect in custody in connection with the abduction of Jayme Closs and the fatal shooting of her parents. Read more here. A Wisconsin teenager missing for nearly three months after her parents were killed in the family home was found alive barely an hour's drive away, by a woman who stumbled across the 13-year-old girl and pounded on her neighbors' door shouting: "This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!" Jayme was skinny and dirty, wearing shoes too big for her feet, but appeared outwardly OK when she was discovered Thursday afternoon near the small town of Gordon, the neighbors said. "I honestly still think I'm dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost," Peter Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "My jaw just went to the floor." Authorities said a suspect was in custody, but otherwise didn't give any additional details ahead of a planned Friday news conference in Barron, in northwestern Wisconsin. Jayme went missing on Oct. 15 after police discovered someone had broken into the family's home outside Barron and fatally shot her parents, James and Denise Closs. Jayme was nowhere to be found, with the Barron County Sheriff's Department describing her as likely abducted. Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23 but it yielded no clues. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode. "I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive," Fitzgerald said at the time. He was right. The Star Tribune reported that Town of Gordon resident Kristin Kasinskas heard a knock on her door Thursday afternoon. It was her neighbor, who had been out walking her dog when Jayme approached her asking for help. The woman, who declined to be identified, said she was pretty sure who the girl was, but any doubt was erased when Jayme gave her name. During the 20 minutes Jayme was in their home, Kasinskas and her husband, Peter, tried to make her feel more comfortable, they said. They offered her water and food, but she declined both. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Peter Kasinskas said. Kristin Kasinskas told NBC affiliate KARE Jayme looked thinner than in her missing persons photograph, "a little unkempt, but okay over all." Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon. From what she told them, they believe she was there for most of her disappearance. Gordon is about 40 miles south of Lake Superior and about 65 miles north of Barron, Jayme's hometown. The town is home to about 645 people in a heavily forested region where logging is the top industry. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed on its website that Jayme was found in the town at 4:43 p.m. Thursday, and that a suspect was taken into custody 11 minutes later. The Associated Press couldn't confirm the Kasinskases' account; the sheriff's office's non-emergency line rang unanswered Thursday night and Sheriff Thomas Dalbec didn't respond to an email. Sue Allard, Jayme's aunt, told the Star Tribune that she could barely express her joy after learning the news Thursday night. "Praise the Lord," Allard said between sobs. "It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait." Barron Mayor Ron Fladten said Thursday night he was overjoyed at learning she is alive. "There was a lot of discouragement because this took quite a while to play out," Fladten said. "A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. It's just a great result we got tonight. It's unbelievable. It's like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again." He acknowledged that Jayme may not be the same person she was before she disappeared. "I hope that she's in good shape," the mayor said. "She's no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future." The notification that Jayme had been found came just four hours after Fitzgerald had taken to Twitter to debunk a report that she had been found alive near Walworth County. Douglas County, where Jayme was found, is hundreds of miles northwest of Walworth County. Associated Press writer Amy Forliti contributed to this report. Hailee Stone cant believe her best friend is gone just weeks after spending Christmas together. "She was my best friend, my other half," she said. "We did everything together, absolutely everything." Alayna Ortiz went to see a movie with her boyfriend Wednesday night and never made it home. The 18-year-old senior at Portage High School was struck by a bullet while riding in a vehicle in Griffith. "It just doesn't seem real," another friend, Hope Newcomb, said. "(I) just wish it didn't happen." Ortiz loved to spend time with friends-- especially at the beach. She dreamed of working as a nurse. "She was always positive in every situation," friend Gage Blankenship said. Ortiz came from a large family. I have never been more at a loss for words in my entire life," her sister, Angel Ortiz, said. "The pain Ive been feeling is indescribable." Ortiz's family set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses, as they and so many others wait for answers. Griffith police and the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force are investigating. It was a packed house Thursday at the Andrew Peabody School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as residents looked for information following the killing of Paul Wilson last Wednesday in Danehy Park. "It's unnerving. We're very distressed," said one resident. "We don't know what's going on." Residents are concerned with what appears to be the randomness of the attack. Investigators say there's no evidence the 60-year-old, who lived in a condo near the park, was targeted. Now, they're looking for tips, no matter how small or unsubstantial they may seem. One woman said she made the trip through the park three times the night of the killing, which was unusual for her, and that she noticed something different and shared that information with detectives. Residents are also wondering what they can do to stay safe. "It just makes sense, given what happened, especially after dark, if you're using the park, take your headphones off, be paying attention to your surroundings," said Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan. Police say Wilson was beaten over the head. He was attacked on a well-lit path at the entrance of the park on the New Street side around dinner time. "The gentleman was 6'6, at 6 o-clock in the evening," said Cambridge resident Sabina Duborg. "How does that happen? So it's a mystery to all of us." "We understand why, even though it was one victim who was actually assaulted, the whole neighborhood was victimized," said Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville Bard. "They have every right to feel upset, frightened and bewildered." Wilson's friend, Tom Meek, who worked with him at IBM, says Wilson would often cut through the park to get home from work. Investigators have said robbery wasn't a motive, and many are left with questions. "It's 6:30 at night, there's a lot of people around that parking lot," said Meek. "I'm kind of shocked it happened." Anyone with information is asked to call call Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office at 781-897-6600 or Cambridge Police at 617-349-3300. Anonymous tips can also be sent to the Cambridge Police tip hotline at 617-349-3359. An estimated 42,000 active duty United States Coast Guard members will likely not see a paycheck this month due to the partial government shutdown. The stalemate and uncertainty is affecting thousands of families including the Broadways who live on Cape Cod. Amber Broadways husband, a Coast Guardsman of 14 years, is stationed at the base in Boston. She cannot speak for him or the Coast Guard but can speak about how the shutdown is impacting her family, including their two teenage sons. NBC10 Boston sat down with her at Bobby Byrnes restaurant in Sandwich on Thursday. Were having to plan like we cant provide for our families, Broadway said. How Im going to keep things normal at home, how Im going to make sure we have food? Its disheartening. As part of the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard is the only branch of the military that will not be paid during the shutdown. They likely will not see that pay until the shutdown is over barring a legislative miracle. Their last paycheck came on New Years eve after the Coast Guard announced it had found enough money to pay members one more time. Were just kind of being still and quiet and waiting, Broadway said. My greatest fear is what are we going to do? The Broadways live on Joint Base Cape Cod and are thankful for the food pantry set up by the Military Support Foundation. In anticipation of the needs during the shutdown, the foundation opened another distribution location at the base in Boston this week. The organization is actively seeking donations to keep up with the demand. Broadway does have a job, but said supporting her family on just her salary will be difficult over time. She said her sons have offered to forgo birthday presents and set up a hot chocolate stand to raise money. She told them it was not necessary. Thats really hard to hear as a mom, Broadway said. She did read the tip sheet posted online by the Coast Guard Support program suggesting members have garage sales and do side jobs like babysitting to get by during the shutdown. It was taken down after the Coast Guard said it did not reflect its efforts to support its workforce during the lapse. Broadway said she appreciates any advice, but it is far from enough. This isnt going to be solved by us having a garage sale and were not going to pay the car note by mowing someones lawn, Broadway said. She said she is holding out hope that a resolution will happen and the shutdown will be over soon. It doesnt matter which side of the aisle youre on, Broadway said. This is about providing salaries for the people who are serving the country. President Donald Trump has been briefed on a plan that would use the Army Corps of Engineers and a portion of $13.9 billion of Army Corps funding to build 315 miles of barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, NBC News reported, citing three U.S. officials familiar with the briefing. The money was set aside to fund projects all over the country including storm-damaged areas of Puerto Rico through fiscal year 2020, but the checks have not been written yet and, under an emergency declaration, the president could take the money from these civil works projects and use it to build the border wall, said officials familiar with the briefing and two congressional sources. The plan could be implemented if Trump declares a national emergency in order to build the wall and would use more money and build more miles than the administration has requested from Congress. The president had requested $5.7 billion for a wall stretching 234 miles. Two passengers on an Aeromexico flight were detained Thursday and others called 911 to say they were being held against their will as the plane sat for hours on the tarmac at Oakland International Airport, officials said. Flight 622 from Guadalajara was scheduled to land at San Francisco International Airport but was diverted due to fog and landed at Oakland at about 10:30 a.m., airport spokeswoman Keonnis Taylor said. The plane was stuck on the tarmac in Oakland for at least four hours and Aeromexico staff onboard the "sweltering" plane did not offer any food or water, passenger Jazmin Eunice Sarabia said. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office said another person during the incident requested medical assistance for breathing difficulty. Some called 911 to report they were being held against their will, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's Office officials said the plane was eventually moved to Gate 1 at Oakland International Airport, where passengers were able to get off. A spokesperson for Oakland International Airport said the plane for stuck for three hours. Passengers were then cleared to leave after going through the customs screening process in Oakland, according to the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's units also responded to reports of an unruly passenger who was threatening to open the emergency door exit as the flight crew tried to stop him, Sgt. Ray Kelly said. That man and another passenger were detained for interfering with an aircraft and flight crew but after talking to the men, they were allowed to leave without being arrested, according to the Sheriff's Office. Oakland airport said in a statement that it is an airline's decision whether to await clearance to return to the original destination or let passengers deplane at the diversion airport. Aeromexico said in a statement that it has no Oakland operations and needed special authorization from airport authorities to disembark passengers Isaura Ochoa and the Associated Press contributed to this report. A police officer in San Francisco suffered minor injuries in a crash Thursday, according to police. The crash happened in the area of 5th and Bryant streets, police said. The officer declined to be escorted to the hospital, according to police. Further information was not immediately available. Some of Google's most prominent executives have been accused of ignoring sexual harassment in the workplace in a new lawsuit filed Thursday. The legal team behind the complaint said during a news conference it has been compiling evidence, including records from Google Board of Directors meetings, that shows company leaders covered up sexual misconduct and even rewarded some with big payouts after they were forced to leave the company. One of those payouts, reportedly included a $90 million severance to the former head of the Android operating system, who was found to be facing credible sexual misconduct allegations. The lawsuit seeks to loosen board control by top Google executives. "We dont care how rich or powerful you are," said Louise Renne of the Renne Public Law Group. "If youre on the Board Of Directors, and youre in a leadership position, you have a responsibility to do the right thing." The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a shareholder of Alphabet, Google's parent company. Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Teachers in across the Bay Area joined a state-wide educators rally Friday in solidarity with at least 35,000 Los Angeles teachers who are in a contract dispute with the district. "We are all part of the same struggle in California which is to make sure public education is sustainable and viable, making sure we get the appropriate funding not only at the state level but at the local level with our individual school districts," said Victoria Birbeck-Herrera, President of Fremont Unified District Teacher Association. Educators from around 40 schools in Fremont and about a dozen others around the Bay Area rallied in red, riding on the "Red4Ed" movement that began last year in West Virginia, to call for better pay, smaller class sizes and less standardized teaching. Classes were not affected, according to organziers, because teachers are participating in a walk-in as opposed to United Teachers Los Angeles' walkout. Oakland teachers have been without a contract for over a year and negotiations are still ongoing. Last year, teachers and students participated in another walkout by calling in sick to call for better pay. Fremont teachers are also working without a salaried contract for the 2018-19 school year. If negotiations stall, Birbeck-Herrera said teachers are also willing to strike. "While these are our jobs, it's also a situation where you have people who went into their profession as educators because they strong believe that education is a foundation of equity and is really essential. They want to make sure that it stays and that requires some involvement," Birbeck-Herrera said. Oakland teachers will hold another rally at noon on Saturday at Oakland City Hall. (Natural News) Dr. Martin Gore, a widely celebrated cancer doctor credited with saving thousands of lives died from total organ failure just minutes after receiving a vaccine shot yesterday. Dr. Gore was a professor of cancer medicine at the Institute of Cancer Research based in London. He died suddenly yesterday after a routine inoculation for yellow fever, reports The Times (UK). His death highlights the increased risks associated with the vaccine for the growing number of older travellers visiting exotic destinations, the paper explains. It also underscores the horrific price of believing in Big Pharma, chemotherapy and vaccines. Throughout his career, Dr. Gore oversaw the harming of tens of thousands of children who were subjected to toxic chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Ultimately, he was killed by his own false belief in the safety of vaccines, another weaponized form of toxic medicine. Live by the sword, die by the sword. So far, the U.S. media has completely blacked out the story in yet another effort to silence any truth about the deadly dangers of vaccines. There isnt a single establishment news outlet in the United States that has accurately reported on this vaccine-induced sudden death of a cancer doctor. In truth, vaccines kill people, yet the CDC-directed U.S. media pretends no one ever dies from vaccines in order to deliberately mislead the public, resulting in more people being killed by vaccine injuries. Even the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity where Dr. Gore also worked withheld the truth in their own Facebook announcement about his death, saying, It is with deep sadness that The Royal Marsden announces the sudden death of Professor Martin Gore CBE who died this morning, utterly failing to mention he died from a vaccine jab. BBC lies about the doctors death claiming, cause of death is unknown and eliminating the word vaccine from its story headline The BBC also tried to hide the truth about this vaccine-induced fatality by eliminating any word of vaccine from the headline of the story announcing his death. Royal Marsdens leading cancer expert Martin Gore dies, states BBC News, deliberately misleading readers because the BBC is, of course, state-run fake news. The BBC even goes on to misleadingly claim, The cause of his death is not known. We wonder what Dr. Gore would think if he knew the BBC was using his death to promote more vaccines that will kill more people, all while burying the truth about the serious risks associated with vaccine shots. The UK Daily Mail reported the story with greater accuracy, stating, Martin Gore, 67, passed away after suffering total organ failure shortly after having the injection, which is recommended to anyone visiting Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America and the Caribbean The Daily Mail even goes on to quote a study that documented some of the serious side effects of the Yellow Fever vaccine: Serious adverse effects recorded in the study included hospitalization, life-threatening illness, permanent disability and death. Five people died from the jab in this period. Dr. Martin Gore was part of a review team that exposed medical malpractice taking place inside The Royal Marsden Adding to the intrigue of the story, in 2013 Dr. Gore led an investigation that exposed medical malpractice by other cancer doctors working at Royal Marsden. A top cancer doctor has admitted mistakes were made in the care of a toddler who died after doctors failed to spot her fatal brain condition in time to save her. reports the UK Mirror. Professor Martin Gore, medical director of the Royal Marsden, who led an inquiry into Alices care at the hospital and Kingston Hospital following her death, found more than a dozen failings by medical staff. The Royal Marsden is the same hospital that sought to destroy the career of a renowned cancer surgeon named Joseph Meirion Thomas, who blew the whistle on the medical fraud taking place at the hospital. As Natural News reported on August 29, 2015: A vicious hate campaign has been waged against an internationally renowned cancer surgeon named Joseph Meirion Thomas. At first, his superiors in the medical system tried to silence him, but now theyve resorted to firing him. The courageous 69-year-old surgeon has been fired from the Royal Marsden Hospital in London because he started speaking the truth about the faults of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK while questioning the quality of care that general practitioners provide. It raises the obvious speculative question: Was Dr. Gore deliberately murdered with a vaccine injection to silence him? Read VaccineDeaths.com to stay informed about the deadly side effects of toxic vaccines. (Natural News) A cough can be rather annoying, especially when it keeps you up at night, but you can usually take comfort from knowing that it tends to run its course rather quickly and youll be back to normal in no time. Unfortunately, a new virus is going around that is turning what is normally a week-long nuisance into a month-long nightmare and speculation abounds regarding its origin. Physicians around the nation are reporting a spike in cases of people suffering from a very unusual cough. Its caused by a virus and its lasting anywhere from four to six weeks and in some cases, even longer. One doctor, Texas Health Dallass Dr. Gary Gross, says he has been seeing at least a patient a day suffering from the virus, and he lamented the fact that it lasts so long without seeming to get better. Dr. Gross told CBS DFW that the virus has no quick fix. Patients have no choice but to let it run its course, although some medications can help soothe the cough somewhat. Patients are advised to get plenty of sleep as well as lots of fluids. Emergency medicine specialists in Cincinnati have warned the public about the virus, which they say has caused a surge in patients presenting with upper respiratory symptoms such as a cough, congestion, and shortness of breath. Bethesda North Hospitals Dr. Kenneth Patton describes the difficulties patients with the virus experience in breathing, saying: They are retracting, their ribs are doing a lot of work. You can see their neck muscles, you can really see that they are having a hard time breathing. Patients biggest complaint, however, is the duration, with many people stuck in bed for weeks. Avoiding the virus is a matter of washing your hands frequently and keeping your distance from people who are sick. Once you get it, however, youll simply have to wait it out. What is the source of this virus? Naturally, any time a new virus like this emerges seemingly out of nowhere, its hard not to wonder if it could be part of a depopulation bioweapon experiment. Plant Pathology Professor Dr. Cyril Broderick has stated his belief that the Ebola virus was manufactured and then released intentionally in Africa as a weaponized virus. Other experts agreed with his theory. Meanwhile, in the wake of the Zika outbreak, governments in Latin America urged women to avoid pregnancy because of the potential for birth defects. The idea that depopulation efforts are underway is bolstered by the ongoing push toward reducing human populations in the name of somehow saving the planet from global warming and the testing of vaccines and experimental drugs in African nations. Influential names like Bill Gates have openly declared that reducing the human population could help save the planet, and The New York Times recently printed an editorial arguing that the end of humanity would actually be a good thing for the planet. Theres also the fact that pharmaceutical companies have a lot to gain in the wake of such outbreaks by developing new vaccines and drugs. In fact, a team of researchers at Californias Scripps Research Institute have engineered a deadly new bird flu strain that can infect humans on the pretense of learning what such a virus could do in order to prepare for it. The mutations theyve created allow the virus to make its way into human lung cells. What could possibly go wrong? When you pay attention to everything that is going on in the world today, its not a stretch to question whether depopulation efforts are behind viruses that emerge mysteriously and suddenly affect a significant number of people. Sources for this article include: DFW.CBSLocal.com KUTV.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Left-leaning mainstream media tried its best to take apart POTUS Donald Trumps Oval Office speech earlier this week by fact-checking everything he said. Desperate for any gotcha moment they can produce, editors at one news network, CBS, thought they had the president on something he said, so they quickly pounced. The network published a fact check piece that it had to quickly delete because it turns out that POTUS Trump was right and CBS News essentially proved it. During his speech, the president said of the explosion of illegal immigration along our southwestern border, Women and children are the biggest victims by far of our broken system. One-in-three women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico, The Daily Wire noted. CBS live fact checker noted: Fact check: 1 in 3 women sexually assaulted while traveling to cross the border. CLAIM: The president claimed one in three women have been sexually assaulted traveling to the border. FACT: Between 60 percent and 80 percent of female migrants traveling through Mexico are raped along the way, Amnesty International estimates. So in other words, the president said about 33 percent of women and young female migrants were assaulted sexually but the real number was actually more than double that. He should take that as a win. CBS News deleted a "fact check" of Trump's border wall speech on Tuesday night which said the situation with migrant women being raped while illegally crossing our southern border is even worse than he described. https://t.co/cihqhgbjgj Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) January 9, 2019 In fact, some on social media even believed that the president gave the lower figure intentionally knowing that the medias so-called fact checkers would be hinging on his every word waiting to pounce. He did this on purpose 4-D chess my friends he knew theyd fact check him and he put them in checkmate Nick Larson (@xBigDawgx) January 9, 2019 The president left the lamestream media nothing to fact check Whether it was intentional or whether the president was trolling the establishment media, he didnt give them anything to go on in terms of disputing the veracity of what he was saying Tuesday night. (Related: Ingraham: POTUS gave sober, serious speech but Dems dont give a damn about border security.) As noted by Fox News Greg Gutfeld, POTUS left them with nothing to fact check. Sadly, the dizzy anticipation overwhelmed the payoff. Afterward, they seem so deflated they had to return to their late-night booty call, collusion. Its always there for them, the network funnyman joked. Gutfeld did acknowledge that the establishment media tried to fact-check the president but couldnt because the information he put out during his short speech was simply accurate and sobering. That included providing details of Americans who have been killed by illegal aliens such as police Cpl. Ronil Singh, a dismembered neighbor, and gang members stabbing a young girl to death, Gutfeld noted. Those, sadly, are facts. He also noted that the president put House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., whom he referred to as Ma and Pa Kettle, in a fact-check box. The best media overreach, however, came from The Washington Post, which ran this story January 5, just a few days before POTUS Trumps speech: After years of Trumps dire warnings, a crisis has hit the border but generates little urgency, under the subhead of National Security. The story noted: With parts of the federal government shut down over what has morphed into the defining symbol of Trumps presidency, administration officials are clamoring louder than ever. Only this time, they face a bona fide emergency on the border, and theyre struggling to make the case theres truly a problem. But that didnt last long. Gutfeld pointed out that the Post called POTUS a liar after he made references to a humanitarian crisis on the border just a few days later. Was it because he used their analysis? Gutfeld joked. No wonder nobody pays attention to these so-called fact checkers. They dont even trust what they say to themselves, and neither do we. Watch: We keep an eye on these so-called media fact checkers at MediaFactWatch.com. Sources include: WashingtonPost.com DailyWire.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Congressional Democrats are now looking to dismantle the Constitution and radically change the nations electoral process. Naturally, all of the changes proposed by liberal politicians serve to benefit the Democratic party, and undermine the core principles upon which the United States was founded. Just when you start to think the American Left couldnt get any more disgraceful, they go prove you wrong. The Constitution was designed to protect the citizens of the United States from tyranny and to limit government power, and it is clear that the left-wing is trying to change that. Indeed, if Congress approves these proposed changes to our electoral process, the United States as we know it will soon cease to exist. Repealing voter ID laws, dismantling the Electoral College and other proposals from congressional Democrats would rig the system in their favor. Under such new rules, millions of American voters in less populous states would lose their voice. Under Democratic power, the majority would easily rule over the minority, exactly what our current system is designed to prevent. Dems propose radical changes to voting system According to recent reports, House Democrats are wasting no time in trying to secure the next election. But rather than trying to win votes the old fashioned way, our elected officials are now trying to will their future victories into law by radically altering the American voting system with a bill named H.R. 1. The massive government overhaul package dreamed up by the Democrats reportedly includes super PAC restrictions, automatic voter registration, independent redistricting commissions,and the forced release of presidential tax returns, alongside some other popular leftist talking points. Liberals claim that these policies will help protect voters rights and reduce the influence of dark money in politics an ironic claim, coming from the party who wanted to elect Hillary Clinton (who is tied to a number of dark figures, like George Soros). Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated in a floor speech that the passing of H.R. 1 would restore integrity to government, so that people can have confidence that government works for the people, not the special interests. And if the bill also helps ensure that voting laws work for Democrats, the general public will be none the wiser. Changing the laws to secure power Writing for PJ Media, Tyler ONeill contends that Democrats have crafted their own conspiracy theory, which asserts that the levers of power are weighed against the people. Liberal dogma further alleges that our political system favors dark money, corporations and evil oppressors, who just so happen to be Republicans. But as ONeill explains, the founding fathers designed our electoral system to prevent any one faction or partisan group from obtaining too much power, and to make change very difficult. The Electoral College, for instance, forces presidential candidates to win votes in many different areas around the country, rather than just major cities. Without it, most of America would have no say in our elections and thats exactly what the Democrats want. This is further evidenced by the insane proposal that the government should fund certain political candidates. The very notion of government funding certain political causes is more than enough proof that the Democratic party is heavily corrupted and sees no problem with corrupting the function of government entirely. Government is supposed to serve the people not its own interests. The bridge between government-funded politics and authoritarianism is very short. Given that most members of Big Government are in favor of policies that support Big Government, it is easy to see where this would gp very wrong, very fast. ONeill further declares: H.R.1, the omnibus bill from Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) that would reshape the process of American voting, proves an excellent example of how Democrats couch their radical demands in the language of good government. The bill would strike down the ability of states and local governments to determine their own standards on voting, preventing them from fighting fraud by requiring identification and stopping them from setting their own voter registration standards. You can see more coverage of the Democrats attack on freedom at Liberty.news. Sources for this article include: PJMedia.com RollCall.com (Natural News) The more you learn about Spygate the Obama-era operation launched by the Deep State to trip up POTUS Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and then undermine his administration after he unexpectedly won the more angry it should make you. Shocking new details revealed last week by a former law enforcement official named Roscoe B. Davis in a series of tweets that were backed by previous reporting from Fox News allegedly implicate the Clinton Foundation as raking in millions of dollars running guns and other weapons into the Middle East. Furthermore, according to Davis information, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, who once headed the Defense Intelligence Agency, was also allegedly targeted by special counsel Robert Mueller and the Deep State because he knows all the details. Davis began his series of tweets claiming that people were once again showing interest in the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya, in which U.S. Amb. Chris Stevens, along with CIA operatives Glenn Doherty and Tyrone Woods and Information Officer Sean Smith, were all killed. The former law officer began by reminding readers that the Obama administration initially blew the attack off as a random incident caused by an anti-Muslim video. It turns out that was not simply a lie but part of a much larger cover story. And the tragedy, Davis notes, had actually been set in motion by Hillary Clintons State Department and others within the intelligence community months earlier. On July 25, 2012 Taliban fighters in Kunar province Afghanistan successfully targeted a US Army CH-47 helicopter with a new generation Stinger missile. The terrorists didn't properly arm the missile, so it didn't explode, it only downed the chopper. #Benghazi Roscoe B Davis (@RoscoeBDavis1) January 2, 2019 Davis recounted that on July 25, 2012, Taliban fighters in Afghanistan targeted a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter with a new generation Stinger missile. The United States is the only country that manufactures those missiles. Reports at the time claimed that the chopper was downed by a Russian-style RPG, but subsequent reporting by Kenneth Timmerman indicated that a new generation Stinger was used. But the Taliban fighters did not properly arm the missile so it failed to detonate and only managed to down the Chinook. The next day, a U.S. Army explosives ordnance team that examined the wreckage discovered unexploded pieces of missile that could only be a next-gen Stinger. The debris included an actual serial number. https://twitter.com/RoscoeBDavis1/status/1080586429934247936 How did the Taliban manage to get their hands on these missiles? This is where the Clinton State Department comes in. (Related: Why hasnt anyone been charged with a crime for removing Benghazi documents subpoenaed by Congress?) Weapons exports rose dramatically under the Clinton State Department Davis notes that the serial number on the missile fragment tracked back to a lot signed out by the CIA and turned over to Qatar the previous year weapons Hillary Clintons State Department intended for anti-Qadaffi forces in Libya through a contact of [late Sen.] John McCains named Mark Turi. Fox News national security correspondent Catherine Herridge interviewed Turi in 2015, three years after the Benghazi attack, who told her that he had been licensed and regulated by the State Department for decades to move weapons around the world, working with the department, the CIA, and other agencies. https://twitter.com/RoscoeBDavis1/status/1080589755698561024 Turi, Davis explained, lives in Arizona and was a neighbor to McCain, who had been a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee for years and helped him secure billions in arms contracts with the DoD. Davis adds that McCain and Clinton came up with a plan to arm Al-Qaeda to get them to overthrow the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was assassinated on Oct. 20, 2011, as the Arab Spring spread throughout the Middle East (recall how anti-Trump McCain always was). After first denying it, the State Department eventually approved the Turi Defense Groups $267 million request to move arms into Qatar, but the transfer never happened. Instead, Turi says, the weapons went directly to Libya instead of third-party nation Qatar, where half of them subsequentlyended up in Syria. Turi told Herridge that shortly after weapons were sent to Libya on behalf of the Clinton State Department, he became extremely concerned that many were falling into the wrong hands including those who eventually attacked and killed Ambassador Stevens and his staffers. In her report, Herridge noted that during Clintons tenure as secretary of state, U.S. arms dealers were awarded a record number of export licenses, and most of the hardware was destined for the Middle Easts Arab Spring conflicts in Egypt, Libya, Syria, and elsewhere. In 2011 alone, more than 86,000 licenses totaling $44.3 billion were awarded a $10 billion surge from the previous year. To that point, Davis tweeted that the U.S. arms bad guys around the world all the time, but the CIA generally runs those operations. This time, however, Clintons State Department was running things, which was worrisome to Turi and the CIA; officials at the agency were concerned that arming insurgents with powerful weapons would lead to the downing of civilian aircraft and catastrophe for the U.S. on an international scale. But [Clinton] had a big pay day (sic) coming and could [sic] care less, she never flew commercial anyway, Davis wrote in a tweet. She wanted to overthrow Qaddafi on the cheap. They needed a scapegoat A few months after the shipment, Fox News reported that Turis home was raided by federal agents in July 2011. The Feds would continue to pursue him for three more years, alleging he committed violations of federal arms export laws. Why? Because Turi said, the Clinton State Department-led operation quickly got out of hand and fell apart, leaving her in need of a scapegoat. Turi threatened to spill the beans when the CIA started coming after him wanting answers, and they framed him up on a bogus weapons charge, and tried to ruin him. People are asking who is Marc Turi, well meet Marc Turi pic.twitter.com/7KqJXCL6Eb Roscoe B Davis (@RoscoeBDavis1) January 2, 2019 As for Ambassador Stevens, Davis claims that Hillary put him in Libya to make things right that is to say, to cover up the weapons-smuggling and the gun-running by her State Department that had since grown beyond her ability to control things from Washington. Some of the weapons that remained in Libya, as noted by Turi, did, in fact, end up in the hands of insurgents who were aligned with al Qaeda. They attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11, killing Stevens, Doherty, Woods, and Smith. (Related: Disgusting! Obama and Hillary FIRED Benghazi heroes in Germany after 13-hour assault.) The cover story for that attack, laid out by Obama and Clinton and repeated continuously for weeks afterward by Obama administration stooges like national security adviser Susan Rice, was that the attack was spontaneously spurred by an obscure anti-Muslim video made by a producer in California. During subsequent congressional hearings into the Benghazi disaster, Hillary would show up once to testify, essentially lying to Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., when he asked her about any U.S.-sponsored weapons-smuggling operations in the region: What does any of this have to do with Michael Flynn? His term as director of the DIA occurred during this time span; he was aware of what was taking place, who was responsible, and what their objectives were. In short, he knew all of the details of the weapons smuggling operation and how it had gone awry, culminating in the death of a senior U.S. diplomat in Benghazi. Who was the director of the DIA at the time Benghazi went down and who was warning HRC and the Sate Dept, & Leon Panetta that an attack was planned? @GenFlynn and now you know why they were so desperate to get Flynn out of the seat of National Security Advisor. He knew the truth Roscoe B Davis (@RoscoeBDavis1) January 3, 2019 And thats why President Obama tried to persuade POTUS Trump not to appoint Flynn as his NSA and why, after Trump did, the Deep State went after him. As for Turi, shortly before Election Day 2016 the Obama administration dropped all charges against him and his company. Read more about Hillary Clintons brazen corruption at Clinton.news. Sources include: TheGatewayPundit.com NaturalNews.com NYPost.com FoxNews.com (Natural News) One of Hillary Clintons biggest donors is under investigation for injecting young black men with crystal meth, poisoning them with unknown drugs, and performing sex acts on them. Perverted democrat donor Edward Buck, 63, paid a young man to fly across the country to Los Angeles to his sex toy-filled apartment so he could dress him up, experiment with drugs on him, and have sex with him. The young victim, 28-year-old Jermaine Gagnon, said he narrowly escaped death after Edward Buck injected him with a substance dissolved in Gatorade and followed up with injections of crystal meth. Jermaine Gagnon told police that a Democratic donor named Edward Buck paid him $250 to dress him up in tighty-whities, a muscle t-shirt, long johns, and white knee-high socks. Gagnon was homeless when he met Ed Buck on a gay dating website named Adam4Adam. Gagnon showed police pictures of Buck hovering in fetish clothes and a picture of a red and black toolbox full of fetish sex toys. Gagnon told police that Buck paid for his flights and addicted him to drugs. When they first met, Buck was calm and collected. His house was full of mirrors and looked like a club scene. On their first date, Buck talked about his gay fetishes and got Gagnon to perform oral sex. Gagnon recalls dressing up to be Bucks sex slave. Buck openly talked about his gay relationships with multiple black men. Buck told him that he likes to get with vulnerable, depressed black men because their energy feeds him. The sex games quickly turned to drug use and Gagnon remembers taking his first injection of meth from Buck. As the relationship went on, Buck ultimately offered him a spiked drink that made Gagnon feel weak shortly after drinking it. Gagnon tried to call his mother and recalls telling her, I feel like hes going to kill me, I think Im going to die. He remembers feeling woozy and having his phone taken away. I was so scared. I felt the sensation of death. I felt death walked into my soul, recalls Gagnon. He remembers Buck telling him, Youre not high enough for me, I want you to do another point (injection of meth). Gagnon tells all in an interview with DailyMailTV. Young mans survival will help save others from perverted, corrupt political donors Gagnon could have been the third young man to die of an overdose at Edward Bucks apartment. Police are currently investigating the deaths of two black men over the course of 18 months. One case, the death of Gemmel Moore, was abandoned due to lack of evidence. The 26-year-old died of meth overdose at Bucks apartment. That case has been reopened. Upon hearing the news, Congressman Ted Lieu returned all donations from the perverted Edward Buck. The Clinton campaign and California governor Jerry Brown, having received tens of thousands of dollars in donations, have made no such efforts. Gagnon is currently living with friends and getting help with his drug addiction. He believes that Ed Buck should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law but thinks he will get off the hook because Buck is a wealthy Democratic donor. Its going to take for him to kill a whole village before they do anything about it, says Gagnon. This man is a murderer and hes getting away with it and its all because the media wants to sweep it under the rug because hes this rich, white man. The DA and Sheriffs Department have come under fire for improperly investigating the death of Gemmel Moore. Moores family even provided evidence from their sons diary that allege Buck introduced him to narcotics. As the case is reopened and as victims speak out, pervert Edward Buck inches one step closer to facing justice. Sources include: Dailymail.co.uk Addiction.News (Natural News) The day after POTUS Donald Trumps Oval Office speech Tuesday night in which he laid out details of the ongoing humanitarian crisis along our southern border, many Americans were left hoping that he could strike a deal with recalcitrant Democrats in Congress to fund part of his border wall and get shuttered government agencies reopened. By late Wednesday afternoon, however, those hopes were dashed. Earlier in the day POTUS met with Democratic leaders at the White House to try to hammer out a deal. There were even reports from a top Democrat, House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina, that everyone was very close to a deal. But within a few hours, newswires began reporting that the president stormed out of the meeting, proclaiming it a total waste of time. Just left a meeting with Chuck and Nancy, a total waste of time, he tweeted, in reference to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., adding that Pelosi said she would not go along with border wall funding. Prior to the presidents speech, there were reports that the president was going to declare a national emergency at the border during his speech Tuesday and use that authority to marshal the resources needed to get the wall or some kind of substantial barrier built. He didnt. Now that talks have broken down again however, it seems even more likely thats what hell do. Infowars reports: Once again, Infowars is tomorrows news today: President Trump said he will declare a national emergency to build a border wall if the Democrat-controlled House cant come to terms with him on the wall. The Hill added that the president did indeed say he may declare an emergency to circumvent Congress and build a border wall if spending talks fail, raising the stakes for negotiations set to resume later in the day. (Related: Ingraham: POTUS gave sober, serious speech but Dems dont give a damn about border security.) The president has the authority and Democrats know it Infowars noted that other sources who spoke to the news site indicated thats the direction POTUS is headed, especially now that it appears as though Pelosi is refusing to even consider border wall or border boundary funding. Constitutionally, all spending bills have to originate in the House so if shes not on board, majority Democrats will shoot down any funding bill. Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence urged Americans to call their representatives, especially Democratic representatives, to urge them to go back and discuss some compromises with the president. The door here at the White House is wide open, he said, Breitbart News reported. Schumer told reporters after the meeting that POTUS threw another temper tantrum, which he said the president did during their open, televised White House meeting before Christmas, in which the president pledged a government shutdown if he didnt get wall funding. But others who were in the room gave a far different account of what happened. Well, the president walked into the room and passed out candy. Its true, Pence said, according to CNBC. I dont recall him ever raising his voice or slamming his hand, he added, refuting a claim by Schumer. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the same thing. He also said that POTUS was in a great mood and wanted to come to an agreement. He even brought a little candy for everybody, McCarthy said. Their behavior is embarrassing to me, he added, in accusing Schumer and Pelosi of lying about the details of the meeting. He said the media should be allowed into the next meeting, if there is one, to see for themselves how conversations go. The law is clear, however: The president has authority to declare a national emergency, and even some Democrats have admitted as much though they have also said such a declaration is likely to get a court challenge. Read more about whats going on in the Trump White House at WhiteHouse.news. Sources include: CNBC.com Infowars.com Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The mainstream media has been having a heyday trying to paint President Donald Trump as a ruthless tyrant over the tragic death of a seven-year-old migrant girl who reportedly died of dehydration and shock while in Border Patrol custody. But where has this same mainstream media been in bringing to light the untold thousands of American children who have died from government-mandated vaccines? As you may have seen, on December 13, 2018, The Washington Post (as well as many other fake news outlets) ran a lengthy article online eulogizing the young girls death not because the folks over at the Post actually care about human life, of course, but simply because it was another politically-expedient opportunity to undermine the Trump presidency. The childs death is likely to intensify scrutiny of detention conditions at Border Patrol stations and CBP facilities that are increasingly overwhelmed by large numbers of families seeking asylum in the United States, Post writer Nick Miroff wrote in typical virtue-signaling fashion, fueling the fire of Leftist hatred towards our President, as if hes somehow personally responsible for Border Patrol agents simply doing their jobs. Its been an endless riff that Democrats and their media lapdogs have been droning on and on about ever since President Trump took office, and actually proceeded to try to fulfill his campaign promise to build a more comprehensive and effective border wall at Americas southern border something that the Left is desperate to stop, at all costs. If questioning vaccine safety could harm Trump in any way, the Leftist media would be all over it But mysteriously missing from the narrative of these opportunistic phonies working against the President is any concern whatsoever about not only American children and families who are being harmed by illegal aliens, but also American children and families who are being harmed by CDC-approved vaccines. Though officials statistics on vaccine-related deaths are hard to come by, theres plenty of data in the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) to suggest that thousands or even millions of American children have died or suffered serious, and oftentimes permanent, health consequences as a result of getting vaccinated. As weve reported in the past, VAERS receives some 30,000 submissions annually from members of the public, as well as doctors and physicians, citing injuries and deaths associated with vaccines. These submissions are said to represent as little as one percent of the actual number of injuries and deaths caused by vaccines. What this suggests is that there are hundreds of thousands of young American children being harmed or killed every single year as a result of vaccines, and yet there are no major headlines from the Post or any other mainstream news outlet reporting on it. Thats because vaccines are a deep state cash cow that will never be questioned by the lunatic Left unless, of course, the President decides to play reverse psychology with these psychopaths by declaring publicly through a presidential address that all vaccines are perfect and safe, in which case the mainstream media headlines might suddenly tell the truth about how theyre decidedly imperfect and entirely unsafe. It just goes to show the level of rampant hypocrisy thats embedded deep within these fake media corporations, which dont care one iota about childrens health. They only care about pushing an agenda, which in our current political climate means fighting against everything the President tries to do to promote justice and the rule of law two things that the fake news media simply wont tolerate. For more related news, be sure to check out and Vaccines.news. Sources for this article include: WashingtonPost.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Google has allegedly been tapping into Android users mobile devices to secretly record private conversations, The Sun reported online. According to the report, the technology giants Google Assistant which works in the same manner as Apples Siri purportedly records conversations without the users knowing. Google has insisted that its new virtual assistant only switches on and commences recording when users say OK Google. We only process voice searches after the phone believes the hot word OK Google is detected. Audio snippets are used by Google to improve the quality of speech recognition across Search[and] improving speech recognition against all Google products that use your voice, a company spokesperson said. However, an investigation carried out by the British newspaper showed that Googles audio assistant jams up in some instances. The report noted that in some cases, just saying Ok in a random conversation will prompt the system to switch the phone on and record about 20 seconds of audio. The system was also found to switch the microphone on as users go about their usual activities day-in and day-out. Once the virtual assistant finishes recording, the system uploads the audio files to its computer servers often referred to as the cloud. According to the report, these audio files can be accessed anywhere in the world as long as internet connection is available. This means that any device that is signed into a users personal Gmail or Google account can access these files and allow the user to listen to the recordings. The audio recording typically last around 10 to 20 seconds on average. The tech giant is also found to save text versions of the private conversations. The report noted that these audio files will help the artificial intelligence designed to oversee Google Home by teaching it how humans naturally communicate with each other. Heres what you can do to delete files, other private information An article posted in the Wired website features a few pointers in deleting private information to prevent unwanted attention from Google and the federal government. The article confirmed that Google saves the users voice search entry. The tech giant saves the entries to improve the systems search capacity and ad placement. However, this has been reported in many cases. The Wired article recommended that users visit Googles Voice & Audio Activity page to review the saved voice searches and listen back to them. These files which may contain interesting, funny and random recordings may be deleted by selecting any of the files, checking the box beside them and then clicking delete at the top of the screen. (Related: WATCH OUT: Google is recording everything you search and say.) Aside from the voice searches, Google was also found to keep track of the users location and search history. According to the article, the tech giants location history or timeline page features a Google Map that allows users to check their location and select specific dates and time. The systems accuracy depended on whether a users was signed in to his Google account, or if he had his device with him. This information can be deleted by visiting the timeline page, clicking on the settings cog at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen and selecting the delete all option. Google is also noted to store the search history of all its users, the article stated. Perhaps a no-brainer, users may delete their list of search queries by checking Googles history page clicking on the Menu and hitting the Advanced, All Time, and Delete options. Users may also bar google from tracking their searches for good. This can be done by visiting the activity controls page and clicking on the tracking off option, the article noted. Sources include: TheSun.co.uk Wired.co.uk (Natural News) A staple in food seasonings used make recipes more flavorful, monosodium glutamate (MSG), hides a toxicity that is often overlooked due to its apparent usefulness in the kitchen. MSG was initially thought to be safe, as it is a naturally occurring amino acid. However, the CDCs decision to upload a list of vaccine excipients used in the U.S. has once again put the compound under scrutiny as it is apparently added in most vaccines that contain disputable ingredients such as toxic chemicals and human and animal cells. Renowned neurosurgeon and author Dr. Russell Blaylock has identified monosodium glutamate, along with aspartate and cysteine, as an excitotoxin. According to Dr. Blaylock, excitotoxins are biochemical compounds that can overstimulate the neurons. Overactivity may lead to serious neurological risks, according to Dr. Blaylocks book entitled Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills. In his book, Dr. Blaylock pointed out that excitotoxins may lead to parkinsonism by overstimulating cortical glutamate cells that are connected to the nigrostriatal neurons in the brain. This mechanism is similar to when lightning strikes an electric pole directly causing appliances to burn up in a nearby house, Dr. Blaylock explains. The retired neurosurgeon has also expressed concerns over MSGs link to more adverse health conditions such as hypoglycemia, especially among those who workout. Dr. Blaylock said high core temperatures during the post-workout phase may lead to a temporary breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, which in turn may result in glutamate leakage to the brain. Physical stress may also result in the prolonged decline in blood glucose levels and brain glucose, which makes the brain more susceptible to excitotoxins. More research ties MSG to major health woes Various medical studies on both human and animal samples show a high correlation between MSG and different health conditions. A 2009 study found that consuming this excitotoxin may result in brain cell swelling and even death. Researchers said mature neurons appeared to be highly susceptible to the effects of MSG, while younger neurons showed greater resilience. The findings may provide insight into why older individuals are more likely to suffer MSG-related health concerns than younger people. In addition, the researchers found that boiling does nothing to reduce the toxicity of MSG. However vitamin C intake may mitigate the adverse effects of MSG, researchers added. The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine. Another study found that MSG intake was associated with higher odds of obesity. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 752 respondents and found that the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in those who frequently used the excitotoxin compared with nonusers. Data also showed that respondents in the highest tertile of MSG intake had greater odds of obesity independent of physical activity. An animal study in 2008 revealed that MSG exposure resulted in severe brain lesions in mice one to five days old, and less pronounced lesions in older counterparts. Data also showed a higher incidence of obesity in younger mice than older samples. The findings in Experimental Neurology coincide with another animal study, which found a correlation between MSG exposure and increased odds of insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes and mice. An excitotoxin in vaccines The FDA has categorized MSG as generally safe. However, the health agency has also acknowledged its short-term effects including numbness, fatigue, disorientation and palpitation. Like many other vaccine excipients, the excitotoxins long-term effects are yet to be identified. While various studies have identified the health risks associated with MSG, the excitotoxin is still widely used as a stabilizer in vaccines against diseases such as flu and MMR. The reason why this excitotoxin is still added to vaccines remains unclear. Sources include: AmericanNutritionAssociation.org VaccineImpact.com OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com Patient readers, Yves apologizes for the lack of original posts. She had a business dinner last night, which was productive and informative, but she hasnt been feeling so hot and it took all of what she had to perform. lambert How fast are the oceans warming? Science Here Are the Finance Firms Cutting Jobs Amid 2019 Market Turmoil Bloomberg. . Then they came for me. Macys sparks $34bn retail wipeout after guidance cut FT Alphabet board sued on allegations of sexual misconduct cover-up Reuters Former CEO pleads guilty to fentanyl spray kickback scheme ABC Syraqistan Brexit A new British naval base in Southeast Asia could stoke resentment, split Asean and put the UK in Chinas cross hairs South China Morning Post Figureheads emerge among Frances gilets jaunes protesters FT How Slovakians Beat the Oligarchs NYRB Europe is fast-becoming a natural gas battleground for Russia and the US CNBC Russias GMO debate looks a lot like Americas with more geopolitics Christian Science Monitor (MR). India Over 100 Bangladesh garment plants halt operations in strike Nikkei Asian Review Japanese prosecutors file new charges against former Nissan chair Ghosn Agence France Presse Taiwan premier, cabinet to quit after local election defeat The Business Times Kenya will start teaching Chinese to elementary school students from 2020 Quartz China? Trump Transition Canada wants to welcome more than 1 million new immigrants in the next three years CNN Raising the Bar on the Green New Deal Black Agenda Report. Very good, and explains the role of Howie Hawkins. Democrats in Disarray Progressive Groups Blast Centrist Tilt Of House Democrats Campaign Arm HuffPo Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Takes the Democrats Back to the Future: An Interview with the Historian Rick Perlstein The New Yorker. [S]uddenly, she has the power to actually act in a way that the Party hasnta party that, almost forty years later, is still traumatized by the success of Ronald Reagan. Its a profoundly generational phenomenon, and, clearly, its scary. So, the key drivers for electoral politics are psychology and generational change. Good to know. Thats why we study history. Wall Street should love the economic theory Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backs and that should worry the rest of us Business Insider Modern Monetary Theory Doesnt Make Single-Payer Health Care Any Easier Josh Barro, New York Magazine (Furzy Mouse). Big Brother Is Watching You Watch How Facebook Borrows From the NSA Playbook Reader Supported News Our Famously Free press Health Care Generic drug maker formed by hospitals attracts a dozen more health systems STAT Imperial Collapse Watch An analysis of murders in 55 of Americas largest cities revealed block by block where police fail to catch killers. WaPo What got published in criminology journals in 2018? Less Crime Class Warfare How an outdated law is leaving millions of low-income college students hungry New Food Economy After the Storm The Baffler Antidote du jour (via): Bonus antidote (MR): "Mama snow leopard acts scared when baby leopard tries to sneak up on her" <- looks more like mama showing the gap between their ninja skills and putting baby in its place like "you're 100 years too early to face me" pic.twitter.com/eIOEhJ7Cst Fluff Society (@FluffSociety) January 10, 2019 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Cooking oil manufacturer, Surface Wilmar has closed its operations until further notice citing the current biting foreign currency shortage which, has seen the company failing to service its foreign suppliers. Surface Wilmar who are the owners of Chitungwiza-based Surface (manufacturers of Pure Drop) and Olivine Industries is currently owing its foreign raw material suppliers in excess of $11 million. Surface Wilmar chief executive Sylvester Mangani told Business Times that the company has been failing to access enough foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for the past five months. He said the situation has made it more difficult for the company to secure the needed raw materials mainly crude oil. We have stopped our operations because the company has not been getting adequate foreign currency and this has led to the ballooning of our obligations with our foreign suppliers who has since indicated their intention to stop supplying the raw materials. Foreign currency has been a challenge hence our current position to stop operations until further notice, Mangani said. Surface Wilmar is the biggest cooking oil manufacturer in Zimbabwe. Other manufacturers include Pure Oil and Willowton in Mutare. BusinessTimes Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News There is an overstatement of Mugabes power when he was still in office as there are several instances in which the man was held hostage and his decisions overturned by his then Vice, Emmerson Mnangagwa, a senior private secretary has said. Lawrence Kamwi, who held a top position as Mugabes principal private secretary said his former boss sins are exaggerated as he was not responsible for everything that came out of his Government. He said for example that ANJIN, a Chinese company that mined diamonds in Marange in Manicaland was foisted on Mugabe by Mnangagwa. He also said the Army unilaterally expanded the size of its diamond mining concession in Marange including taking over a protected concession against Mugabes advice and will. Kamwi said the $98 million Defence Forces College project and the Long Chen Plaza built by the Chinese in a wetland thereby causing headaches for environmentalists are both the brainchild of Mnangagwa and Mugabe just officially opened them. He said for example Mugabe was uneasy on one of the days to see Mnanagagwa who had asked for a meeting arriving at State House together with the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Constantino Chiwenga and a busload of 32 Chinese from ANJIN. But I thought you said Mnangagwa asked for a meeting? Then why did he bring the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, asked a livid Mugabe. Kamwi wrote in an article published in the local Daily News last week that Mugabe is no saint but in the same vein he is not the monster that the public had come to know. He said Mnangagwa was particularly powerful in Mugabes Government to the extent that he together with Chiwenga at one time held the former President hostage at State House for more than four hours. Mnangagwa could change Mugabes meeting schedules and overturn decisions of the former President, said Kamwi in the article in which he painted a gloomy picture of the prospects of turning around the fortunes of ZBC and making its editorial line more professional. On another day, Mnangagwa and the Commander of the Zimbabwe Forces held an extraordinarily long meeting with the President. I only got to know how acrimonious the meeting was when Mrs Mugabe called. The two had allegedly held the President hostage in his office for four hours. At issue was the subject of diamond mining, where the Defence Forces were unilaterally expanding the size of their concession. In this expansion, they had also taken over a protected concession. The former First Lady claimed that they refused to listen to the Presidents reasons for the existence of the disputed mining claim, said Kamwi in the article. During a meeting with Ray Kaukonde at his palatial Blue Roof mansion last year, Mugabe is reported to have apologised for removing him from the party for siding with Mujuru saying his decisions were influenced by ED (Mnangagwas initials) and Chiwenga. He actually said Chiwenga came in his military fatigues and sat in the chair behind him with a long military-style dagger and insisted that Mujuru and her allies should be removed from the party. He said he feared the long knife, something which Kaukonde appeared to disbelieve, a source told Zimbabwe Independent. Mnangagwa, Chiwenga used to hold Mugabe hostage ED overruled Mugabe on Army, Chinese in diamonds investments Mirror Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has relented to pressure from some of his senior lieutenants to bring forward the partys long-awaited congress from October to June this year as factional tensions in the countrys main opposition movement reach boiling point, it emerged this week. Chamisa took over as MDC president in controversial circumstances last year after he outwitted his then two co-vice-presidents, Elias Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe, during a cat-fight which played out at a time former founding president Morgan Tsvangirai was on his deathbed in South Africa. Tsvangirai succumbed to bowl cancer on February 14 last year. Soon after Tsvangirais death, Chamisa who at the time was acting party president convened an urgent national council meeting which immediately confirmed him as acting party leader until congress is held. The national council later confirmed Chamisa as the substantive leader. Chamisa grabbed power at a time Khupe who was elected vice-president at the partys last congress unlike Chamisa and Mudzuri who were appointed by Tsvangirai, had travelled to Johannesburg with some senior party officials to collect the former trade unionists body. Relying on a militant youth wing christened The Vanguard, which launched violent raids on Khupes camp, Chamisa managed to decimate his most potent rival then. Khupe and her followers were beaten by the Vanguard members at Tsvangirais funeral in Buhera. She was also subjected to frequent attacks even when she had retreated to her Bulawayo base. Khupe eventually broke away from the party alongside other officials including former spokesperson Obert Gutu. But no sooner had Khupe left than fresh fissures emerged particularly between Chamisa and party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora and Mudzuri, who have been pushing for the leadership dispute to be settled at congress. Officials in the party say Mwonzoras camp has since last year been pushing for the congress to be held by end of February in accordance with a provision in the partys constitution, which states that upon the death or resignation of a sitting president, an acting president must take over for a period not exceeding a year, after which an elective congress should be held to decide the new substantive leader. Chamisas camp has, on the other hand, been arguing that since the MDC leader was made substantive president by the partys highest decision-making organ, the national council, soon after Tsvangirais burial, that provision no longer applied. Instead they say congress can only be held in October this year when it is constitutionally due. MDC sources told Zimbabwe Independent the party has initiated the process which will lead to the June congress after having tasked its organising department headed by Mkoba legislator Amos Chibaya to come up with a programme of action which will be presented at the national council meeting slated for the end of this month for adoption. The sources said Chamisas camp relented after it realised that further delays were giving impetus to the narrative that Chamisa was afraid of a congress. It was realised that delaying the congress to October was feeding into the narrative that Chamisa was too keen to hold onto power without congress approval. The only problem now is that we should hold smaller congresses at all levels of the party, starting with the branch, the ward, the district and then the province before the national congress happens, an official said. Now, it is clear that it will not be logically possible to hold those by June because we need two months to restructure each organ. But then Chibayas department was tasked to come up with a timeframe and programme to reorganise those lower structures. The most workable plan would be to waive the two months programme for lower structures so that it would be possible to hold the congress by that time. Another source said: It will all depend on whether or not the national council will agree with the plans of the organising department, especially considering that the party really wanted time to restructure the branches and wards which have not been functioning well especially in rural areas. So there is a little bit of a challenge there but these can be attended to afterwards. MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said the next national council meeting will decide when the congress is to be held. Constitutionally, the latest time by which the congress has to be held is October but the national council can determine otherwise. Hopefully, the issue will be dealt with when it meets next, he said. Mafume also said the re-organisation of smaller party organs will kick off shortly. It is common knowledge that in the period leading to the congress, we will have to attend to those smaller structures of the party and we are coming up with a programme for that, he said. Efforts to get a comment from Chibaya were fruitless as he was not answering calls on his mobile phone. He also did not respond to text messages sent to him. Zimbabwe Independent Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Government has, with immediate effect, suspended the importation of all live cloven-hoofed animals and their products from South Africa following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in some parts of Limpopo Province on Tuesday. Botswana has also taken similar action. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement said the position was arrived at following an outbreak of the disease, affecting the non-vaccination disease-free zone in the Limpopo Province. FMD was reported in these areas on Tuesday, although authorities say the affected places will not affect the countrys meat export business. The control of foot and mouth disease involves the implementation of trade restrictions, said the ministry in a statement. Consequently, all imports that had been issued before 09-01-2019 and not used are hereby cancelled. In line with the Animal Health Act CAP 10:01, the issuance of permits is a mandatory requirement for the importation of all animal products. Any import application will now be considered on a case by case basis depending on the risk. Government said the Department of Veterinary Service would continue monitoring the situation, in view of progress to be made in the control of the outbreak. On Tuesday, the highly contagious disease, which poses a threat to the livestock industry, was detected in the northern district of South Africas Limpopo Province. Positive laboratory results for the viral disease, which causes lesions and lameness in cattle and sheep, were taken in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, which borders Zimbabwe. The South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in a statement, said the affected areas were under quarantine and investigations to verify the results and determine the extent of the outbreak were being conducted. We have quickly quarantined the area, so it does not affect the commercial livestock farming which will pose a danger to us as consumers and the export business, said that countrys Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries spokesman, Khaye Nkwanyana. The World Organisation for Animal Health has officially temporarily suspended South Africas FMD free status, but exports were continuing as the affected cattle were not from commercial farmers. Herald Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Government yesterday offered its workers a 10 percent salary increment beginning next April, a figure that would translate into an additional $160 million to its wage bill by December, but the workers representatives rejected the offer, saying they wanted to consult their membership first. The workers are demanding a $1 733 salary for the least-paid employee, up from $414 inclusive of allowances, which would represent an increase of 419 percent. This however, flies in the face of austerity measures which the Government is implementing to reduce the national budget deficit and advance President Mnangagwas ambitious vision to turn Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy by 2030. Earlier this week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube was in Brussels, Belgium, where he said the country was implementing a raft of measures to cut its deficit and debt, appealing to Zimbabweans to swallow the bitter pill required to turn around the economy. What is required is urgent and bold action, and tough decisions, declared Minister Ncube on Wednesday. We cannot run away from the challenge the longer we wait to address it, the harder it will be, he said. The demand by civil servants means Government must find over $1 billion this year to meet the increments only. Speaking after yesterdays National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC)meeting in Harare, Apex Council chairwoman Mrs Cecelia Alexander said they would consult their membership on Governments offer and the way forward. The two parties are likely to meet again next week as Government negotiators also asked for time to brief their principals after the 10 percent offer was turned down. The purpose of the meeting was to get response from Government on a position that we presented to the NJNC in November last year, which was amounting to $1 733 for the least-paid worker, said Mrs Alexander. It is quite disturbing that Government brought a 10 percent offer, which translates to only $41 for the least-paid civil servant. As Apex Council negotiators, we have rejected this offer in totality and now we are going back to give feedback to our constituencies who will advise us on the way forward, she said. She said the Government had presented $160 million towards the increment spread between April and December. Government wanted that quantum to cater for all civil servants and us to go on and distribute it according to the various areas. We also rejected that, she said. She said the workers would meet tomorrow to debate the way forward. Consultations will not take long because we are going to have a fully constituted Apex Council meeting tomorrow (today).The full council will come up with a resolution, said Mrs Alexander. She said their salaries had been eroded by price distortions in the market. We are not requesting for an increment from Government but we want them to restore value of the money we used to get since July last year when we got a 17.5 percent increment, she added. Mrs Alexander said the issue of non-monetary incentives did not come up. We did not go there because there was a more pressing issue (of salaries). So it is up to and in the interest of Government to expedite the process. We believe the ball is still in their court. We are likely to meet them next week because when we rejected the offer they said they were going to consult their principals, said Mrs Alexander. Government, which has acknowledged the challenges faced by its workers, has also proposed a range of non-monetary benefits for its workers. These include residential stands, housing mortgages, vehicle loan schemes and access to medical care and insurance cover. The stalemate will likely pile more pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwas regime, which is already seeking to reduce its wage bill and battling a worsening economic meltdown. Mnangagwas government has since last years disputed presidential election been battling to contain growing discontent over the escalating cost of living characterised by shortages and arbitrary price increases for commodities and services. Mnangagwa is yet to issue a public statement on the myriad of challenges affecting the ordinary majority Zimbabweans. Chronicle Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News President Donald Trump did something Tuesday night that he has rarely done since taking office: He used the presidential bully pulpit to reach beyond his hard-core base of supporters to make his case to the American people as a whole. Speaking from the Oval Office for the first time during his presidency, Trump embraced our countrys tradition as a nation of immigrants, declaring America proudly welcomes millions of lawful immigrants who enrich our society and contribute to our nation. He then offered a cogent explanation for why he believes we face what he called a humanitarian crisis a crisis of the heart and a crisis of the soul along our southern border. He pointed out the human cost of our broken system to illegal migrants themselves, expressing compassion for the children (who) are used as human pawns by vicious coyotes and ruthless gangs and the women (who) are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico. He shared heartbreaking stories of Americans killed by criminal aliens who had no right to be here including a police officer in California who was murdered, a 16-year-old girl who was brutally stabbed in Maryland, and an Air Force veteran who was raped and beaten to death. Ive held the hands of the weeping mothers and embraced the grief-stricken fathers, Trump declared. I will never forget the pain in their eyes, the tremble in their voices, or the sadness gripping their souls. And he laid out his solution, which he explained was developed by law enforcement professionals and border agents and includes funds for cutting-edge technology, more border agents, more immigration judges, more bed space and medical support and $5.7 billion for a physical barrier that he called just common sense. Without naming her, Trump responded to the absurd charge from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., that a wall is immoral. Democrats voted repeatedly for physical barriers until he was elected president, he noted. If a wall is immoral, Trump asked, why do wealthy politicians build walls, fences and gates around their homes? They dont build walls because they hate the people on the outside, but because they love the people on the inside. The president did not unilaterally declare a national emergency. Instead, he called for compromise and said, To those who refuse to compromise in the name of border security, I would ask: imagine if it was your child, your husband, or your wife, whose life was so cruelly shattered and totally broken? He was, in short, presidential. Democrats insisted on equal time, which is highly unusual for presidential addresses other than the State of the Union. It was a mistake. In contrast to Trump, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer came across as small and intransigent. While Trump spoke calmly and rationally from behind the Resolute desk, the Democratic leaders accused him of pounding the table and having a temper tantrum. While Trump told human stories, they complained about process. They accused him of arguing that the women and children at the border were a security threat when he had just explained to the American people that they were victims, too. They charged him with using the backdrop of the Oval Office to manufacture a crisis, stoke fear and divert attention from the turmoil in his administration. They were partisan and petty, while Trump came across as reasonable and even compassionate. To normal Americans watching in the heartland, and who are not steeped in Trump hatred, the president must have seemed like the adult in the room. And, most important, Pelosi and Schumer failed to use the one word that millions of Americans were longing to hear compromise. But Trump did. That is why the president won the night. Schumer and Pelosi appealed to their base, while Trump made an effective appeal to persuadable Americans. Until now, Trump has owned the 18-day government shutdown that prompted this address, because hes the one who started it. But if Democrats continue to attack him, and wont entertain any compromise, soon the shutdown will be all theirs because theyre the ones who have refused to end it. @marcthiessen Its a wonder that Democrats havent staked out a negotiating position demanding the destruction of already-existing barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. Their opposition to President Donald Trumps border wall (or, more properly, his so-called wall) is now so total as to be nearly indistinguishable from opposition to any serious infrastructure at the border at all. The partial government shutdown is fueled by a clash of visions over, ultimately, the legitimacy of borders and, proximately, physical barriers to make our southern border more secure. Trump has the better part of the argument, but his lurch into the shutdown with no discernible strategy and his scattershot pronouncements make it unlikely that his view will carry the day. Obviously, a 2,000-mile-long border wall rivaling the best work of the Ming Dynasty never made any sense, and was never going to happen. Nor, short of Trump finding a latter-day Gen. Winfield Scott to go occupy Mexico City, was Mexico going to suffer the humiliation of funding a Yanqui border wall. This was all lurid fantasy, and Trump has conceded as much, although he will, at times, deny having conceded as much. His ambitions are now much more reasonable, involving the kind of up-to-date bollard or steel slat fencing that already exists in places. But hes running into an opposition that is much less reasonable. Triggered as always by Trump, and growing more dovish on immigration almost by the hour, Democrats are treating the notion of a wall as practically a human-rights abuse. President Barack Obama routinely droned people without generating as much high dudgeon as Trump does asking for $5 billion to better fortify our southern border. Chuck Schumer calls the wall medieval. Its true that the core idea a physical barrier to impede the movement of people isnt a new technology. The basic concept proved out so long ago that there hasnt been any need to revisit it. Nancy Pelosi deems the wall immoral. She sounds like West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt condemning the Berlin Wall as the Wall of Shame when the East Germans built their border barrier to keep people in, whereas we only want to keep illegal entrants out. If a wall is immoral, what standing does the current 350 miles of primary fencing have? Isnt it just as hateful as what Trump proposes? The $5 billion the president wants wouldnt even match what we already have it would construct about 150 miles of new barriers where none currently exist. A wall or fencing is relatively mild as far as immigration enforcement goes. It doesnt involve deporting anyone. It doesnt separate families. It doesnt prosecute and detain anyone. It doesnt deny any illegal immigrant currently working in the United States a job. All it does is seek to avoid getting in a situation where these other things are necessary in the first place. A wall doesnt close down the border, or close us off to the world. There are still ports of entry. People can still travel to and from Mexico. People can still, for that matter, fly to Paris. It just diminishes illegal entry at certain strategic points. Robust fencing made an enormous difference in stopping illegal crossings in Yuma, Ariz. The area had only about 5 miles of fencing in the mid-2000s, then saw the extent of its fencing increase tenfold. Illegal crossings plummeted. Yuma got that additional fencing thanks to the passage of the Secure Fence Act in 2006 on a bipartisan basis, prior to the Democratic Party becoming unsettled by the prospect of putting physical barriers in the way of illegal entrants. The wall isnt the most important immigration enforcement measure. Requiring employers to verify the legal status of their employees would be much more consequential. But the wall has taken on great symbolic significance. What it denotes, perhaps more than anything else, is the growing irrationality of the Democrats on immigration. comments.lowry@nationalreview.com It seems nearly everyone wants to give Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a scolding. But what we should really do is give her a break. Much of the criticism is driven by fear. The worlds of media and politics are largely controlled by old white men, and a 29-year-old Puerto Rican congresswoman from New York doesnt check any of those boxes. Some of it is fueled by jealousy. I cant think of another freshman member of Congress who was sought out for an interview by CBS 60 Minutes or who gets mobbed by tourists asking for selfies. Whatever drives the backlash, its obvious and undeniable that the political novice is being singled out for criticism and held to an unfair standard. Put simply, shes being picked on. Her most unforgivable sin? Standing up for herself, and hitting back whenever she gets punched by the right or the left. In this divided country, conservatives and liberals finally have something they agree on: Ocasio-Cortez needs an education. Not just on the ways of Washington, but on the ways of the world. The newly minted representative has barely unpacked her bags, or moved into her office. And already, they expect her to know the answer to every question the media hurl at her. Many of those questions are ridiculous, and some are even unfair. She is expected to have it all buttoned down, while many of her colleagues will maintain low profiles and keep their mouths shut for at least the first year theyre in office. Thank goodness, thats not Ocasio-Cortezs style. After 30 years of writing about politics, Im burned out on politicians who talk for a living and still dont say a darned thing. The bartender-turned-lawmaker doesnt hold back. She spouts off. And she takes heat for it. One minute, Fox News Sean Hannity is blasting the lawmakers radical ideas. The next, Whoopi Goldberg on The View is bristling at Ocasio-Cortezs criticism of establishment Democrats for compromising too much and is telling her to sit still for a minute and learn the job. Rest assured, folks. Ocasio-Cortez is getting an education all right. Just not the kind her critics intended. For instance, if there is one thing that people of color eventually learn in life, its this: White people are held to different standards. And while this will come as old news to many Latinos, Asian-Americans, African-Americans and Native Americans, the standards for white people are often lower than they are for others. And white males often have the easiest ride of all. The first time I learned this lesson, I was a college freshman staring at a roomful of my fellow Harvard Latinos and seeing a familiar pattern light skin, high GPAs and a limited ability to speak Spanish. The university apparently didnt want to take chances, so it skimmed the cream and played it safe. The lesson is reinforced whenever I apply for a job, dont get it, and then watch it get filled by a white male whose resume is paltry compared to mine. Or when I see white males on cable TV fail up getting raises and promotions, even with lagging ratings when the people of color whom I know in media dont have that experience. Now Ocasio-Cortez has learned a similar lesson. Ever since her Democratic primary victory last June, everyone has gotten on her case. She is criticized for her tweets, her comments, her clothes, her tactics, her tone, her politics, her beliefs, even her dance moves back in college. Republicans who championed Sarah Palin say Ocasio-Cortez is just not very smart, and those who supported Donald Trump insist she gets her facts wrong. Democrats who voted for Joe Biden criticize the congresswoman for saying the wrong thing, and those who supported Hillary Clinton complain that she has difficulty telling the truth. Welcome to the political version of The Twilight Zone. Ocasio-Cortez is sharp, so she gets the joke. When Anderson Cooper pressed her on 60 Minutes about whether she thought it was important to be factually correct, she didnt flinch. Its absolutely important, she said. And whenever I make a mistake. I say, OK, this was clumsy, and then I restate what my point was. But its its not the same thing as as the president lying about immigrants. Its not the same thing, at all. Good for her. This rock star obviously has no interest in being anyones pinata. As for getting facts straight, perhaps its best that we to borrow a phrase take Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seriously but not literally. Thats still a thing, right? ruben@rubennavarrette.com Jim Mattis and Nikki Haley - the two Trump Cabinet members least blemished by their service - got out just in time. The longer the administration's foreign policy officials stay in office, the more foolish they look serving a president who undercuts them with willful perversity. Case in point: the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. As recently as Jan. 6, national security adviser John Bolton had said that the withdrawal, which President Doanld Trump had announced on Dec. 19, would not occur until the Islamic State was defeated and the Kurds protected - conditions that might not be met for years, according to The New York Times. But when Bolton showed up in Turkey to seek a deal this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointedly refused to meet with him and denounced Bolton's attempt to attach conditions to the U.S. withdrawal as a "serious mistake," according to The Washington Post. It didn't matter: On Friday, U.S. forces began pulling out of Syria anyway, suggesting that the era of the Pentagon trying to sidestep Trump's temper tantrums is finished, the New York Times reported. Once the troops are gone, America's Kurdish allies will be left at the Turks' mercy and the Islamic State will be free to rise again. In the administration's internecine battles, you can chalk this up as a victory for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has insisted all along that U.S. troops are coming out just as the president said. But Pompeo looked foolish - and petty, too - with his hyperpartisan foreign policy speech in Cairo on Thursday. It was full of unseemly attacks on the previous administration - whatever happened to politics stops at the water's edge? - but it actually amounted to a massive self-own. "We learned that when America retreats, chaos often follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds. And when we partner with enemies, they advance," Pompeo said. It's hard to find anything better than that as a description of the Trump policy in Syria. The United States is retreating from the one-third of Syria that its troops effectively controlled in partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces, and chaos is likely to follow. In the process the United States is neglecting its friends - the Kurds and Israelis - and partnering with its enemies, Iran and Russia. Trump even said on Jan. 3 that Iran will have free rein in Syria: "They can do what they want there, frankly." That's very different from Pompeo's fatuous pledge in Cairo that the United States will "work with our partners to expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria. With the removal of U.S. troops, the amount of territory that Iran and Russia can control will vastly expand. The Kurds are already asking Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - Tehran and Moscow's man in Damascus - for protection. Is this really the foreign policy that Mike Pompeo and John Bolton signed up to promulgate? They were both known at one time as fire-breathing foes of anti-American regimes and advocates of U.S. military interventions. Bolton even advocated preventative strikes on Iran and North Korea. Now they have become yes-men and enablers for a president who is instinctively predisposed toward isolationism and appeasement of dictators. Just imagine how Pompeo and Bolton would be lambasting a President Hillary Clinton if she had held a summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, said she had fallen in love with him and refused to call him out for expanding his nuclear and missile arsenals even while pledging to "denuclearize." They would be apoplectic, and rightly so. But because it's their boss appeasing North Korea, they are silent - at least in public. What about in private? That's harder to say, but there is no indication that they are strongly pushing back on the president's fantasies because they know the fate that has befallen previous officials who have tried to do that. Just ask former secretary of state Rex Tillerson and former national security adviser H.R. McMaster. When Pompeo and Bolton have tried to slow Trump's rush into Kim's arms, they have been rudely slapped down. Bolton suggested that North Korea follow the "Libya model" of complete nuclear disarmament before the United States lifted sanctions. Kim reacted strongly, threatening to scupper a summit, and Trump tossed Bolton under the bus, saying, "The Libya model isn't the model that we have at all when we're thinking of North Korea." Or recall what happened when Pompeo traveled to Pyongyang in July to follow up on the Singapore summit and attain from North Korea a list of their nuclear facilities and a timeline for dismantlement. Kim refused to see the secretary of state (he visited a potato farm instead), and the Foreign Ministry denounced Pompeo's "gangster-like" demands. Instead of backing up his secretary of state, Trump meekly truckled to Kim's tirade. "Complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization," once the administration mantra, is now off the table, and Trump is preparing to reward Kim for his intransigence with a second summit. At some point, Bolton and Pompeo need to ask themselves what they are doing in an administration that does violence to nearly every belief they have spent their careers advocating. Maybe they are restraining Trump from doing even worse. Or maybe they are just closing their eyes to the ugly reality that they are complicit because they enjoy the perks and prestige of high office. On Jan. 4, Christopher Davila called San Antonio police from a West Side gas station to report a kidnapping. His 8-month-old son, King Jay Davila, was inside his car when a thief jumped in and drove off, he said Authorities began hunting for the boy, but as time passed, Davila's story of what happened that night, as well as those of his close relatives, began to fray and eventually the threads came apart. Now, after the child's body was found a week later, police said the family's story has completely disintegrated. "Right from the very beginning there were questions as to whether this was a legitimate kidnapping or not," said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. King Jay's body was found sometime between Thursday and Friday wrapped in a blanket, stuffed inside a backpack and buried in an empty lot on the Northeast Side. His father is facing charges of tampering with evidence and injury to a child. The boy's grandmother, Beatrice Sampayo, and his father's cousin, Angie Torres, are facing charges of tampering with evidence, but investigators have requested arrest warrants for the two women on charges of injury to a child. FROM OUR SUBSCRIBER SITE: Police hint that they do not believe father of dead San Antonio infant Police accused the three family members of staging a cover up to hide King Jay's death from investigators. Arrest affidavits for the three suspects lay out what investigators say happened after the boy died, and how police learned the truth. The accident Christopher Davila told police that on Jan. 3 he was playing video games in his room while King Jay's mother, Jasmine Gonzales, was at work. King Jay was lying in a baby car seat, which was placed on top of a bed in the room. When he sat down on the bed, Davila told police, the car seat fell off the bed, sending King Jay crashing to the floor, the affidavit says. Davila told police King Jay "hit the floor with his face and may have struck the front of the dresser on the way down." When he examined the baby, he saw a large bump over the boy's eye. Davila panicked, according to the affidavit. Instead of immediately requesting medical assistance, Davila told police he just tried to keep the boy from falling asleep. He checked on the child a few hours later and discovered he had died, according to the affidavit. At some point that night, he called his mother, Beatrice Sampayo, and told her what had happened. A witness overheard the conversation and later told police Davila had been "talking about the baby falling and being injured," the affidavit says. A different witness who was staying with Davila at the time told investigators he heard King Jay crying the night of Jan. 3. The next morning, sometime between 9 a.m. and noon, he saw Davila leave the home with King Jay in the car seat, according to the affidavit. RELATED: A timeline of events in the missing San Antonio baby case According to the court records, Davila went to his parents house. When he arrived, the witness who had overheard the phone conversation between Davila and Sampayo greeted him and asked to see King Jay. "Get the f--k back in the house," Davila told the man. The man told police he saw Angie Torres, Davila's cousin, look into the car with a "shocked look on her face," according to the affidavit. The man also told police he saw Davila and Sampayo "visibly upset and crying" in the driveway. The two hugged, "which was unusual because they do not normally hug," according to the man. According to the San Antonio Police Department's narrative, Torres, Sampayo and Davila then conspired to cover up the boy's death. The kidnapping At about 7 p.m., Christopher Davila stopped at the Friend's Food Mart on Enrique M. Barrera Parkway to buy water and lottery tickets. Before he went inside, he appeared to check twice to make sure the driver door to his 2016 Dodge Dart was unlocked, according to his arrest affidavit. Moments after he left his car and went into the store, Sampayo pulled up to the gas station. Torres got out of the car, "walked directly to (Davila's) vehicle, opened the vehicle's front driver's side door, entered the vehicle, and drove away," the affidavit says. At this point, two stories began to develop. Davila called police and reported King Jay had been kidnapped and his car had been stolen. Police rushed to the scene and established a quadrant around the area, searching for the car. They found the Dodge Dart a short time later parked near Rodriguez Park, but King Jay was no where to be found. Investigators questioned Davila and he told them King Jay had been staying with Sampayo since Dec. 31 and that he had picked the child up on Jan. 4 to take him to Gonzales' house, authorities said. But when detectives showed him security camera footage from the gas station, Davila clammed up and "refused to cooperate further," the affidavit says. Police arrested him on a charge of endangering a child on Jan. 5. FROM OUR SUBSCRIBER SITE: Asked where missing San Antonio child is, grandfather says: 'Only God knows.' Meanwhile, police say Torres and Sampayo were leaving a false trail of breadcrumbs for investigators. Torres drove Davila's car to Rodriguez Park, where Sampayo met her. Torres took the car seat with her and got into Sampayo's car, according to the affidavit. Torres later told investigators that she and Sampayo drove to the 700 block of South Acme Street, where Sampayo dumped the car seat at a donation shed. They drove off, only to return a minute later to retrieve the car seat and leave it three blocks away at Guthrie and SW 41st Street, authorities said. According to the affidavit, security camera video from the area confirms Torres's story. The unraveling At a press conference held at San Antonio's public safety headquarters on Monday, McManus told reporters that King Jay's kidnapping was a ruse to cover up "foul play." The next morning, police arrested Torres on an unrelated robbery charge. On Wednesday, Torres requested an interview with police from her jail cell and allegedly confessed to the "staged kidnapping." Her confession lead to the arrest of Sampayo and rearrest Davila, who had by that time bailed out of jail, on Thursday. During interviews with police Thursday night, Davila confessed to police and agreed to show them where he had buried the boy's body, according to the affidavit. "When (Davila's) story started to unravel...it's when he broke down," McManus said. "His story weakened and he figured he wasn't going to get away with it." According to the affidavit, Davila led investigators to an empty lot near a dead end at Caste Lance and Castle Prince, which is less than a mile away from his home. He led them through the field and pointed out the burial spot. "After digging, investigators located a black backpack with what appeared to be an infant's body wrapped in a blanket placed inside," according to the affidavit. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Police then secured an arrest warrant for Davila on a charge of injury to a child by omission because he "intentionally and knowingly failed to seek medical attention for the serious injuries" King Jay suffered. Authorities also requested the warrants for Sampayo and Torres. Many questions regarding King Jay's death remain. When was he buried, and by whom? How many people knew of his death and went along with the staged kidnapping? Did the boy die in the manner described by Davila, or by some other means? McManus declined to answer these questions and others at a press conference announcing the discovery of King Jay's body on Friday. But he did say the tragic revelation by no means represents the end of the investigation. "This is not the finish line, in fact, the hard part of the investigation is just beginning," he said. "The investigation won't be finished until we can answer how exactly King Jay died, who knew it, and when they knew it." Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | cdowns@mysa.com | @calebjdowns The Bexar County Medical Examiner released Friday afternoon the ages of the three people found shot to death inside a luxury, gated community in Boerne on Thursday. A 37-year-old woman and 10- and 16-year-old girls were found around 9 a.m. inside a home in the Anaqua Springs Ranch community, officials said. All had gunshot wounds. Family members on Thursday identified the woman as Nichol Olsen. Authorities have not released the names of any of the victims. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said a fourth resident of the home in the 11300 block of Anaqua Springs, who was romantically involved with the 37-year-old victim, came home and discovered the three bodies. That person had apparently stayed elsewhere the previous night. He said the two girls were victims of homicide but it was unclear whether the woman was killed by homicide or suicide. READ ALSO: Court records expose how family allegedly covered up San Antonio baby's death with staged kidnapping The Bexar County Sheriff's Office did not release any further information on Friday, but Salazar had previously asked anyone who saw or heard anything unusual Wednesday night or Thursday morning to call the sheriff's office at 210-335-6000. He also requested that nearby homeowners with outward facing video surveillance equipment, such as doorbell cameras, check their footage for signs of anything unusual. Read more about what the sheriff and neighbors had to say on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. Staff writers Peggy O'Hare and Caleb Downs contributed to this story. | rzilbermints@mysa.com | @RZilbermints Courtesy of Bexar County Sheriff's Office A 19-year-old inmate at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center died early Friday morning after "suffering an apparent medical episode" Thursday, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Joshua Andrew Miranda had been in custody since Sunday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the sheriff's office said. On Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, Christopher Davila called police to report that an unknown woman stole his car with his 8-month-old son, King Jay Davila, inside. A week later, the arrest of Davila led to the discovery of the boy's body in a backpack on the Northeast Side. The search for the infant led police to believe that both Christopher Davila, and the unknown woman later identified by authorities as his cousin, 45-year-old Angie Torres, staged the kidnapping as part of an elaborate scheme to cover up "foul play." 3 1 of 3 HCSO Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Google Maps Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A single bullet fired at a north Houston trailer home struck a 13-year-old girl in the chest Thursday afternoon as she was sitting in bed with her sister, according to police. Three teens, including the girl, were in the home in the 16000 block of Maeline Street near Aldine Bender when the shooting happened around 4:30 p.m., Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy Thomas Gilliland said. The girl is in stable condition at a hospital. Washington Over and over, 17-year-old Sarah Taylor struggled to make doctors understand her sometimes debilitating levels of pain, first from joint-damaging childhood arthritis and then from fibromyalgia. "It's really hard when people can't see how much pain you're in, because they have to take your word on it and sometimes, they don't quite believe you," she said. Now scientists are peeking into Sarah's eyes to track how her pupils react when she's hurting and when she's not part of a quest to develop the first objective way to measure pain. "If we can't measure pain, we can't fix it," said Dr. Julia Finkel, a pediatric anesthesiologist at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, who invented the experimental eye-tracking device. But there's no stethoscope for pain. Patients must convey how bad it is using that 10-point scale or emoji-style charts that show faces turning from smiles to frowns. That's problematic for lots of reasons. The aching that one person rates a 7 might be a 4 to someone who's more used to serious pain or genetically more tolerant. Patient-to-patient variability makes it hard to test if potential new painkillers really work. Nor do self-ratings determine what kind of pain someone has. The National Institutes of Health is pushing for development of what its director, Dr. Francis Collins, has called a "pain-o-meter." Spurred by the opioid crisis, the goal is to determine what kind of pain it is and what drug might be the most effective. "We're not creating a lie detector for pain," stressed David Thomas of NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse, who oversees the research. "We do not want to lose the patient voice." Around the country, NIH-funded scientists have begun studies of brain scans, pupil reactions and other possible markers of pain in hopes of finally "seeing" the ouch so they can better treat it. It's early-stage research, and it's not clear how soon any of the attempts might pan out. "There won't be a single signature of pain," Thomas predicted. "My vision is that someday we'll pull these different metrics together for something of a fingerprint of pain." NIH estimates 25 million people in the U.S. experience daily pain. Most days Sarah Taylor is one of them. Now living in Potomac, Maryland, she was a toddler in her native Australia when the swollen, aching joints of juvenile arthritis appeared. She's had migraines and spinal inflammation. Then two years ago, the body-wide pain of fibromyalgia struck. One recent morning, Sarah climbed onto an acupuncture table at Children's National, rated that day's pain a not-too-bad 3, and opened her eyes wide for the experimental pain test. "There'll be a flash of light for 10 seconds. All you have to do is try not to blink," researcher Kevin Jackson told Sarah as he lined up the pupil-tracking device, mounted on a smartphone. The eyes offer a window to pain centers in the brain, said Finkel, who directs pain research at Children's Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. How? Some pain-sensing nerves transmit "ouch" signals to the brain along pathways that also alter muscles of the pupils as they react to different stimuli. Finkel's device tracks pupillary reactions to light or to non-painful stimulation of certain nerve fibers, aiming to link different patterns to different intensities and types of pain. Looking deeper than the eyes, scientists at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital found MRI scans revealed patterns of inflammation in the brain that identified either fibromyalgia or chronic back pain. WASHINGTON - The National Air Traffic Controllers Association filed a lawsuit Friday against President Donald Trump and other top federal officials, saying they are depriving controllers of their "hard-earned compensation without the requisite due process." Controllers across the country started seeing pay stubs Thursday showing that they are receiving no pay for their work guiding planes to airports nationwide. The legal challenge, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks a temporary restraining order against the federal government for allegedly violating controllers' constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment. The air traffic controllers are also organizing a leafleting effort appealing directly to passengers at airports across the country, including in Dallas Atlanta, Seattle and Portland, Ore., as well as at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, a union official said. The intent of the leafleting is to underscore the importance of their work and end the shutdown more quickly, the official said, not to protest. The controllers are among hundreds of thousands of federal workers forced to work for free during the partial government shutdown. More than 24,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees are working without pay because their positions are considered vital for "life and safety." Separately, more than 17,000 other FAA workers have been furloughed. "Each day, the FAA's Air Traffic Controllers," the lawsuit says, "are responsible for ensuring the safe routing of tens of thousands of flights, often working lengthy, grueling overtime shifts to do so. In fact, plaintiffs' job is so demanding and requires such rare stills that the FAA struggles to maintain a full complement of certified Air Traffic Controllers." A similar suit was filed on behalf of federal workers at the departments of Justice, Agriculture and Homeland Security. A person familiar with the negotiations said that the Mets and free-agent infielder Jed Lowie, who set career highs with 23 homers and 99 RBIs last year for the As, have agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract. The deal is subject to a successful physical. Lowrie, who turns 35 in April, is a switch-hitter who batted .267 and is coming off his first All-Star season. Though he played mostly second base for Oakland during the past three seasons, he figures to get time at third and first with the Mets, who acquired second baseman Robinson Cano from Seattle. Oakland deemed Lowrie expendable after it acquired Jurickson Profar from the Rangers last month to play second base. Lowrie, who played five seasons total in two stints with Oakland, is the fifth All-Star added by the Mets this offseason, following Cano, closer Edwin Diaz, catcher Wilson Ramos and reliever Jeurys Familia, traded to the As last summer and then re-signed by New York as a free agent. Also for the Mets, left-handed reliever Luis Avilan has agreed to a minor-league contract and will report to major-league spring training. The 29-year-old Venezuelan held left-handed batters to a .220 (18-for-82) average last year, when he was 2-1 with a 3.77 ERA and two saves in 70 games for the White Sox and Philadelphia. Buchter, As agree: Left-handed reliever Ryan Buchter and the As agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract to avoid salary arbitration. Buchter earned $555,000 last year. Oakland announced the deal one day before salary figures are exchanged between arbitration-eligible players and their clubs. Buchter went 6-0 with a 2.75 ERA in 54 games and 391/3 innings last season. He allowed only two of 30 inherited runners to score, the lowest percentage in the majors. The As have five other players eligible for arbitration, including big-league home run champion Khris Davis. Dozier to Nationals: Free agent infielder Brian Dozier and Washington reportedly agreed to a $9 million, one-year contract, subject to the successful completion of a physical exam. Dozier, who played for Minnesota and the Dodgers last season, would fill the Nationals need for a starting second baseman and could help add some power to the lineup. Dozier batted a career-low .215 with 21 homers and 72 RBIs last year, but averaged 35 homers over the preceding three seasons, with a career best of 42 for Minnesota in 2016. He was an AL All-Star in 2015 and won a Gold Glove in 2017. By Alex Samuels Texas Tribune Shahid Shafi identifies as a Republican because of his firm belief in small government, lower taxes and secure borders. But his commitment to core GOP values hasn't shielded him from ire within his own party. A group of Tarrant County Republicans will vote Thursday evening on whether to remove Shafi as vice-chairman of the county party after a small faction of members put forth a formal motion to oust him because he's Muslim. Those in favor of the motion to recall Shafi, a trauma surgeon and member of the Southlake City Council, have said he doesn't represent all Tarrant County Republicans. They've also said Islamic ideologies run counter to the U.S. Constitution an assertion many Texas GOP officials have called bigoted and Shafi himself has vehemently denied. "This is, unfortunately, not the first time that people or my political opponents have tried to use my religion against me to distract the voters," Shafi, who declined to be interviewed by The Texas Tribune before Thursday's vote, told The Washington Post. "And unfortunately, I don't think it will be the last either." Dorrie O'Brien, one of the precinct chairs leading the charge to recall Shafi, did not respond to The Tribune's request for comment. She's previously said, however, that her support for ousting Shafi stems not from his religion, but whether he supports Islam or is connected "to Islamic terror groups," according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In a series of lengthy Facebook posts, O'Brien wrote that she "never doubted" her side has "the votes to rescind Shahid Shafi's ratification as vice chair." "We don't think he's suitable as a practicing Muslim to be vice chair because he'd be the representative for ALL Republicans in Tarrant County, and not ALL Republicans in Tarrant County think Islam is safe or acceptable in the U.S., in Tarrant County, and in the TCGOP," O'Brien wrote on Facebook, adding that "there are big questions surrounding exactly where Dr. Shafi's loyalties lie, vis a vis Democrat and Republican policies." But several prominent Texas Republicans have rallied behind Shafi leading up to Thursday's vote a list that includes U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former House Speaker Joe Straus. As news of the motion to remove Shafi garnered national attention, the state party's GOP executive committee passed a non-discrimination resolution that affirms and supports "all Americans' right to practice their religion ... and recognizes the contributions of Republicans of every faith who advance conservative policies and ideals." Thursday's motion "is about religious prejudice," said Darl Easton, the Tarrant County GOP Chairman who appointed Shafi to his role in July. "[Shafi's] very active with the party, but most of the people don't even care about what he's done," Easton said. "Most of them already have a prejudice against Muslims, and a lot of that comes from the attack on 9/11 and the Shariah law they claim all Muslims must obey." It's unclear whether Thursday's vote will happen in public, behind closed doors or be delayed indefinitely, Easton said. The Star-Telegram reported that, since the movement to remove Shafi has picked up steam, it has expanded to also target some of his defenders, including Easton and a Republican party official who is married to a Muslim. Shafi, who came to the U.S. in 1990 and became a naturalized citizen in 2009, has repeatedly defended himself against the attacks on his religion. In an open letter, he wrote that he believes "much of the hate against Muslims is driven by a fear of terrorism." "Here are the facts. I have never had any association with the Muslim Brotherhood nor [the Council on American-Islamic Relations] nor any terrorist organization," he wrote. "I believe that the laws of our nation are our Constitution and the laws passed by our elected legislatures I have never promoted any form of Sharia Law. I fully support and believe in American Laws for American Courts. "I am honored to be an American and a Republican," he concluded. Jeremi Suri, a professor of public affairs and history at the University of Texas at Austin, said claims that Shafi's religion impede his ability to work with the Republican party are "completely unfounded." He compared the attacks against the surgeon to rhetoric the Ku Klux Klan used in the early 20th century against Catholics and Jews running for political office. "The Klan argued that if you're a Catholic, you obviously put the pope before the country so how could you be an American leader? That's the same argument this Tarrant County group is making," said Suri. Though the movement to reconsider Shafi's appointment was afoot well ahead of last year's midterm elections, Thursday's vote comes just months after Tarrant County considered the most conservative urban county in the country narrowly flipped in favor of Texas Democrats' star senatorial candidate, Beto O'Rourke. In Tarrant County and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth region, several Texas Senate and House seats went to Democrats, including the district previously held by conservative state Sen. Konni Burton of Colleyville. Brendan Steinhauser, an Austin-based GOP strategist, worries that Shafi's ousting would harm the Tarrant County GOP and state party in the 2020 elections. "These are the kinds of headlines the party doesn't need right now," Steinhauser said. "Doubling down on shrinking the tent is a very bad idea. It does make me wonder what's next. Are they going to say no Catholics can be in a leadership positions in the party or no Jews? I mean, what is the religious standard that they want to impose?" Easton, meanwhile, said he felt optimistic the vote to recall Shafi would fail, but feared that the push for his removal already has driven a wedge between members of his party. "As long as someone is a U.S. citizen, has obeyed the laws of the country, paid their taxes and so forth, they have an equal right to be involved in city, county, state or national government," Easton said. "The accusations they've brought against [Shafi] are not sufficient. He has every right to be here." Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Read related Tribune coverage In Texas' third largest county, there's a campaign to oust the local GOP's vice-chair because he's Muslim Split Decision: Can one of these Democrats unseat Texas Sen. Konni Burton? Beto O'Rourke draws crowds in some conservative enclaves in bid against Ted Cruz The Border Patrol agent accused of killing four women in September and assaulting another pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon during his arraignment hearing. Clad in an orange jumpsuit, his wrists handcuffed, Juan David Ortiz was escorted into the 406th District Court by three sheriff's deputies. During the brief hearing, Ortiz entered his plea. Afterward, the judge, Oscar J. Hale Jr., set an initial pre-trial hearing for April 25. A second pre-trial hearing was set for Oct. 3. TCVB Tuolumne County Too Cool to Trash campaign View Photos Yosemite, CA In light of the National Park Service restoring trash pickup in Yosemite, the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau will suspend passing out trash bags at the Highway 120 entrance station. Volunteers have been gathering over the past week to hand out the bags as a way to promote good stewardship of the public lands during the partial government shutdown. The bureau is still monitoring the situation and is prepared act if trash service again become unavailable. That said, Visitors Bureau Executive Director Lisa Mayo says the overall corresponding Too Cool To Trash campaign will continue on. It was in development prior to the shutdown and the plan is to focus on sharing information related to fire safety, responsible hiking, weather preparedness and other safety and beautification initiatives. In addition, the bureau will continue to sponsor outhouses at the Pinecrest Lake Recreation Area in the Stanislaus National Forest while the partial government shutdown is in effect or until restroom services are restored. Congressman Tom McClintock recently announced that trash pickup in Yosemite, and cleaning of restroom facilities, would be funded on an emergency basis by revenue collected through entrance fees, as reported here. Davis Police Officer Natalie Corona View Photos Davis, CA The Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office and Sonora Police Department are offering condolences following the tragic death of a police officer last night in the community of Davis near Sacramento. A statement from the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office, via spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson, reads, We are extremely saddened as we lose another fellow law enforcement officer. 22-year-old Davis Police Officer, Natalie Corona, was fatally shot after responding to a three-car traffic accident. The suspect was found in a home nearby with a self inflicted gunshot wound. A statement from the Sonora Police Department reads, Our hearts are heavy for the family and the Davis law enforcement communityPrayers are with every law enforcement agency, and families of Officer Corona. Corona had just been sworn into office two weeks ago and had followed in her fathers footsteps to work in law enforcement. She was shot while responding to the crash in the city limits of Davis. Limited details are available. The name of the alleged shooter has not been released. RCRC 2018 Rural County Photo Contest winning picture Sunset Over New Melones Reservoir with Springtime Flowers on Table Mountain by Peggy Sells View Photos Sonora, CA Legal posturing has begun over state water regulators recently passed plan broadly dubbed a massive water grab with far-reaching negative impacts. Today, in Tuolumne County Superior Court, multiple plaintiffs filed an injunction request against the California State Water Resources Control Board over its proposed Bay-Delta Phase 1 unimpaired flow proposal that the board adopted Dec. 12, as reported here. The water board plan, for the supposed purpose of protecting fish, will require 40 percent in unimpaired flows in the Stanislaus and two other rivers with a range of 30 to 50 percent between February and June. Local impacts include largely reducing the operational and recreational capabilities of New Melones for years at a time. Tuolumne County Court Filing Details With Jan. 11 being the end of a 30-day deadline to file a complaint, the lawsuits began to fly today. Listed plaintiffs on the Tuolumne County Superior Court filing are the Tri-Dam Project Partnering Oakdale (OID) and South San Joaquin (SSJID), the Turlock Irrigation District, and the City and County of San Francisco. All are members of the San Joaquin Tributaries Authority (SJTA). OID General Manager Steve Knell explains the lawsuit filing in the county where part of New Melones reservoir is located may enable an appellate filing, if necessary, in Fresno, an area more centrally located at the heart of agriculture. He says the groups attorneys estimate that 15 to 18 complaints may file and consolidate if legal actions move forward, a process that might take six to eight months. Asked about the apparent failure to complete negotiations in December, Knell says that although much work was done with the Governors Office, Department of Water Resources, and Fish and Wildlife, there was still a bit more to be done; however, the Water Board voted to push its plan approval over carrying negotiations into the new year under a new administration. We ended up very, very closewe wanted a little more time. The board said no and in order to preserve our legal rights, we then had 30 days to file a complaint that is where we are at, he continues. Who knows the new Governor is going to do if any of the players are changingwe are just waiting. Federal Lawsuit In The Wings? Knell stresses that potential plan impacts to New Melones may well trigger another lawsuit from higher up the chain. A real key issue is how is the federal government is going to respond to a state plan that interferes with the operation of a federal dam. He adds, We have shown the feds that the demand on Melones is significant. It will drain that reservoir and it takes all of its operational ability away from the federal government because it will be pumping out so much water. Should the federal government file an action he says, The feds and the state would have to knock it out in federal courtuntil that is decided all of our cases sit on the sideline. The feds have more reasons to complain under the Water Boards overall plan, which in Phase 2 involves the Sacramento River and what will be similar operational impacts on federally controlled Shasta reservoir. Asked how long the matter may remain mired in lawsuits, Knell confides, Our attorney says that if they dont want to play ball this could be five to eight years down the road, and that for us just serves no purpose, because it until then it is all uncertainty and thats not good. The fisheries do not get better, projects are not implemented, and predation is not cured. For all the things that are harming fish, nothing gets done. I mean if its about fish, you are really not going to be able to do anything to help fish in that period of time and that is truly unfortunate if it is truly about fish. Apart from todays filings, Knell emphasizes hope for continued negotiations and a voluntary settlement that will provide a viable solution that addresses all stakeholders needs. We stand ready to go back. We are willing to go back to the table because we really are that close. For more details on the SJTA lawsuit filing, click here. Sacramento, CA California Governor Gavin Newsoms first budget proposal of $209 billion includes 144 billion in general fund spending, special funds and bonds. Newsoms budget is a 4 percent hike in spending from Governor Jerry Browns final budget. In announcing his budget today, which includes $13.6 billion to boost reserves and pay down debt and pension liabilities, Newsom referred to his inaugural speech where he described the California Dream as a house that will be built together. He defined it, saying, To make the California Dream available to all, our state must be fiscally sound. This budget lays a strong financial foundation for our state by eliminating debts, expanding the rainy-day fund and paying down our unfunded liabilities. Newsoms proposed budget expands the earned income tax credit, adds $1.3 billion for housing development and nearly $2 billion for early childhood education and care. The latter also includes two free years of community college tuition for first-time, full-time students. As reported here Tuesday, Newsom outlined $105 million in new fire-related spending in the budget targeting some of the monies towards purchasing new fire engines to pre-deploy in fire prone areas, improve camera technology to monitor fire threats, fix up firefighting aircraft and upgrade the emergency system. Reaction to Newsoms budget by Republicans was a mixed bag with some agreeing that more disaster funding is needed and others concerned that he is not doing enough to prepare for an inevitable recession. Mother Lode Republican Assemblyman Frank Bigelow called the budget ambitious and warned that every new program costs taxpayers. He commended the focus on issues, like wildfires, that affect rural Californians, stating, I find common ground with the Governor on forest health. Preventing catastrophic and devastating wildfires has been a top priority as both a volunteer firefighter of 40 years and Assemblymember in Sacramento. He also pledged to roll up his sleeves to work on the critical issue of the states healthcare system. While agreeing with the need to invest in education, protecting communities from wildfires and upgrading the 911 system, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron cautioned, While Californias fiscal picture this year is strong, the longer-term economic outlook is less certain. Our state liabilities are substantial, so we must avoid overcommitting the state with programs that will be threatened when our economy slows. I applaud the Governors decision to increase our reserves and pay down a portion of the states wall of debt. Democrats praised the new Democratic governors initiatives on education, affordable housing and health care. Newsom noted that 86 percent of the new spending is for one-time investments. Lawmakers must approve a spending plan by June 15. His entire proposed budget can be viewed here. A Starbucks is slated to open next spring in this Festus site, where a Payless store used to operate. As you read this column, I should be on my way back from a journey to China to promote our great state and region of Illinois! As part of an Illinois Office of Tourism effort put together by Great Lakes USA, we participated in a multi-city sales mission meeting with more than 100 China tour operators, travel agents, media and more. All of this is a hope to have them visit Chicago and come down the ever-so-popular Route 66 and linger longer in Illinois, and in particular our region from Springfield to St. Louis. We also have the connection with the Great River Road to showcase a multi-day statewide route that takes them throughout much of the state. The reception from China was quite warm and welcoming. Indeed, they are hungry for ways to explore the real America. We have raised the flag of Great Rivers & Routes for Southwestern Illinois and we will continue to build relations through the year with the Chinese market. We had the privilege of meeting the business community of Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou to discuss possible trips to the region. They are all armed with two sales sheets on the region and a lot of photos and videos they can use to promote us to their clients. In the coming weeks, we will be working the Asian market more with tradeshows in Alaska and California to connect them with a stronger relationship to Illinois and Great Rivers & Routes. It has been less than a year that we have marched forward with this brand connecting the Mother Road to the Great River Road and it continues to pick up momentum and interest from many. People connect with the themes and our communities within the region are uniting so that our voice can go farther and can be heard, yes, all around the globe! I look forward to my return so we can continue to celebrate eagle season and also highlight our year in review next week. Check out all that is going on around you at www.RiversandRoutes.com. Brett Stawar is president and CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, which works for the vested interests of hospitality partners in Madison, Jersey, Calhoun and Macoupin counties. A winter storm system will track across the southern plains today, bringing 7 to 9 inches of snow to parts of west-central Illinois, according to the National Weather Service. As the system moves east, snow will spread into central Illinois tonight and continue through the day Saturday. Some of the snow will become mixed with rain on Saturday, mainly in areas along and south of Interstate 70. Because of the expected severity of the winter storm that roared into west-central Illinois this weekend, delivery of Monday's Journal-Courier might be significantly delayed, especially in rural locations. The newspapers staff will make every effort to deliver to home customers, but must also ensure the safety of employees and contracted carriers. The pending and probably permanent separation of Netflix and Marvel in no way dampens the second season of "The Punisher." Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle is the last man standing: His lead role in "The Punisher" and Krysten Ritter's "Jessica Jones" are the only Marvel street-level heroes remaining in Netflix's once-vast interconnected playground. "Iron Fist." "Luke Cage." Even "Daredevil," after a stellar third season. All canceled. Disney, which owns Marvel, is preparing to load up its own streaming service with Marvel goodies later in 2019. Netflix has a bevy of other comic-book-inspired options, including the soon-to-be-streaming "Umbrella Academy," based on the Dark Horse Comics series from Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba, and the creator-owned and probably very expensive library of all-star comic book scribe Mark Millar. So, if you're someone who always liked the idea of Marvel having a streaming, live-action space where its brand could be darker, edgier and sexier, you could be feeling like Thanos just snapped a little mini-universe from you. But don't let that stop you from enjoying one of the best all-time live-action Marvel performances: Bernthal was born to play the Punisher. And for however much longer you can binge Marvel's most violent and heavily armed anti-hero in action, treat yourself to it. Bernthal is to Frank Castle what Robert Downey Jr. and the Chrises are to Iron Man, Captain American and Thor. He isn't just playing a role. He is the role - from the gravel in his voice to the pain and anger in his eyes. Season 2 of "The Punisher," which begins streaming on Netflix Jan. 18, is more of Bernthal's on-the-run grit. He's as far away from the personal hell that is New York (at least in the beginning) as his equally menacing black van can take him. If for just half an episode, he's trying to see whether there's anything remotely human and emotional remaining in his soul after Season 1's discovery that his best friend (Ben Barnes' Billy Russo) was the monster behind his family's killing. The violent retribution he delivered left Russo in a coma and Frank feeling empty. To get the vengeance his family deserved, he had to take down the only family he had left. In Season 2, the Punisher is either protecting or punishing. The protecting comes courtesy of Amy (Giorgia Whigham), a teenage girl who gets caught up with the wrong crowd and lucks out that taking down bad people is the only thing that brings the Punisher joy. Frank and Amy's relationship takes on a paternal tone. He volunteers to keep Amy safe from whatever she's running from. That doesn't seem too valiant because it's obvious he not only welcomes the carnage, but needs it. Violence is his only comfort. The punishing? There's plenty. The bad guys after Amy have a religious hit man on call. John Pilgrim (Josh Stewart), an extreme conservative, feels like bad-guy filler, plugging the holes and giving something for the Punisher to aim and miss at until the eventual and obvious confrontation between the Punisher and Jigsaw (the once again out-on-the-streets Russo). The Punisher/Jigsaw rematch is what hardcore Punisher fans are here for. From the moment Russo gets his face rearranged at the end of Season 1, they knew it would turn him into the Punisher's biggest foe for Season 2. That rematch is a little hampered because despite their violent, glass-heavy battle, Barnes' Russo is still quite dashing. Almost distractedly so. Jigsaw's name to fame in comic book lore is a heavily disfigured face that's tough to look at. Through the magic of television plastic surgery, Russo has just a few scars to show for his battle with the Punisher. The creepy mask Russo wears when he's out doing bad things is a little more Jigsaw-ish. Key supporting cast members return and give painfully human and emotional performances, including the always justice seeking but heavily flawed agent Dinah Madani (Amber Rose Revah), and the Punisher's only remaining friend, Curtis (Jason R. Moore). Royce Johnson's Detective Mahoney is sort of the Samuel L. Jackson-Nick Fury of this dying Netflix/Marvel universe - always around, never having enough information and continually a joy to watch. He's a reminder that this connected Marvel world was a good idea that worked for the most part. This might be as far as "The Punisher" goes. Netflix isn't saying anything yet. This dark corner of Marvel's superhero world, down to the theme song marinated in blues, soul and strife, could have kept going. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't at Netflix. If this is the end, it's an end well worth a stream. The Birth of Loud: Leo Fender, Les Paul, and the Guitar-Pioneering Rivalry That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll By Ian S. Port Scribner. 352 pp. $28 --- Consider the Fender Stratocaster. Asked to picture an electric guitar, most people will immediately bring to mind inventor Leo Fender's most famous creation. Upon its introduction in 1954, the Stratocaster not only redefined the sound of American music but immediately became, with its sweeping curves and jewel-like colors, a stunning piece of midcentury design on par with a Bel Geddes radio or an Eames chair. Yet the Strat's iconic shape was not a bold foray into space-age aesthetics as much as it was an on-the-fly modification. Many musicians found the Stratocaster's predecessor, the Telecaster, cumbersome, so Fender simply streamlined the instrument with beveled contours that echoed a player's body - and a classic was created. "A radical design had been born through Leo's obsession with practicality," author Ian S. Port writes; for Fender, form followed function as naturally as morning followed night. This and many other fascinating accounts are the bounty of "The Birth of Loud: Leo Fender, Les Paul, and the Guitar-Pioneering Rivalry That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll." Port's book is a lively and vivid account of the careers of Fender and his main competition, Les Paul, the star guitarist whose name adorns the Gibson six-string that rivals Fender's instruments in popularity and influence. "The Birth of Loud" traces the dual arc of the men's rise with consummate skill and authority. Although they were close for a few years in the late 1940s (Port writes that, tantalizingly, Paul turned down a position with Fender in 1951), and would be forever linked in their fame, they were in many respects opposites. Fender was a taciturn man who could be found tinkering in his laboratory until late at night, whereas Paul was a showman, a musical and technical whiz who, with his wife, Mary Ford, was one of the biggest stars of the postwar, pre-rock 'n' roll pop era. What they shared was that ineffably American knack for experimenting and stirring the pot, for trying out harebrained ideas and pushing homemade contraptions to their limits. They were "untrained men who could build or fix almost anything because, back then, anythings were simple," Port observes. They also shared a keen itch for the main chance. Fender, Port relates, frequented the gritty honky-tonk joints in the crude postwar boomtowns springing up around Fullerton, Calif., talking shop with rawboned country musicians; what they needed, he quickly sussed out, was an electrified guitar that could be cranked up for maximum volume, and that was cheap, sturdy and easy to repair. Out in New York City, Paul was experimenting along similar lines; in 1940, he had created a Frankenstein's monster-like object called "the Log," an ur-electric guitar fashioned out of a plank of pine and a crude pickup that "looked like a lumberyard mutant, a stick bound with steel cables." Paul was already a seasoned professional musician with a distinctive style, but the reaction he got one night from a stunned crowd in a bar in Sunnyside, Queens, of all places, told him everything he needed to know about the future of the instrument. The guitar arms race was on. The next two decades were probably the most transformative in the history of American music, and Port does an outstanding job of tracking the ways each new musician, from Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix, vaulted over the next, engaging the new instruments with ever-surprising results. Port tells the story elegantly and economically, but two turning points are identified with exceptional insight. In 1960, now-forgotten surf icon Dick Dale pushed Fender's amplifiers to the limit and beyond during his thunderous concerts at a roadhouse in Orange County, Calif., called the Rendezvous Ballroom, thus inventing a style of music that was specifically built on excessive volume. And the 1966 recording of John Mayall's album "Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton," in Port's estimation, was a ground-zero moment when the signature sound of an overdriven Les Paul - "a molten, billowing wail" - was first recorded. These passages highlight one of Port's true strengths: his ability to marry an agreeably anecdotal writing style to a musician's ear. Describing sound is extraordinarily difficult; Port can do it without channeling one of those weird, adjective-heavy descriptions of wine or perfume. I myself have owned and played both a Fender Telecaster and a Gibson Les Paul for many years now, and Port's descriptions of their respective sonic capabilities is the most articulate and accurate I have ever read. The way a Telecaster snaps and sizzles, the way a Les Paul purrs with liquid, violin-like tones; he just gets it. Port's descriptive elan is particularly in force in his account of Hendrix's famous rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock in 1969, which pushed rock guitar playing to a height it may never again reach. Port wisely ends his narrative here, and it's an apt capstone. The story of these instruments is the story of America in the postwar era: loud, cocky, brash, aggressively new. --- Lindgren is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post. The Water Cure By Sophie Mackintosh Doubleday. 288 pp. $25.95 --- If you and your children survived an apocalypse, how would you raise them to be safe in what remains of the world? On its surface, Sophie Mackintosh's remarkable "The Water Cure" is a post-apocalyptic story in which the three adult daughters - Grace, Lia and Sky - of parents known as King and Mother have found shelter on a tiny island after a catastrophe turns the mainland into a toxic chemical stew. The daughters came to the island as children but no longer have any sense of how long they have been there. The sisters have been raised to believe that unmanageable emotions, especially those of men, led to the chemical destruction of the mainland. Men's uncontrolled feelings and the violence they provoke continue to be the greatest threat to the small family of survivors, and so the parents use daily exercises to associate negative physical sensations - mostly pain - with their children's emotional responses. After Lia cries, for example, she is compelled to submerge her hands in ice water long past the point of pain and numbness. At the start of the book, each daughter takes turns narrating, describing the various rituals used to purify them. The most extreme of these measures is referred to as the water cure. Early in the story, King fails to return from a trip to the mainland to glean equipment and food supplies from the ruined world. After days of waiting, the women accept that he has been killed - and that is when the grief kicks in. Mother panics at her daughters' extreme reactions to this loss and drugs her daughters, keeping them unconscious for a week. Afraid that her girls will be broken by this dangerous emotion, Mother invents a new therapy to cleanse them of their sadness. "Mother told us about these kinds of energies," Lia says. "Especially dangerous for women, our bodies already so vulnerable in ways that the bodies of men are not." Keeping her daughters pure becomes more difficult after a tempestuous storm washes up two men and a young boy. At this point, Lia takes over the narrative through journal entries in which she apprises her dead father of all that transpires. Lia now understands the "emergency" that King and Mother had been preparing their girls for since the beginning: contact with other survivors, especially men. She also recognizes that without King, "we have become softer already, worn by the burden of vigilance." Mother and King have brought up their children to resist any potential feelings that could make them vulnerable to men's violence, just as modern-day rape culture assigns blame to victims based on what they were wearing, what they were drinking, where they were walking and when. Victims are told that they could have prevented assault by following certain rules. Through the story of this family, Mackintosh delves into the question of whether it makes sense to put the onus on women to keep themselves safe in a dangerous world. Mother allows the men to stay temporarily, although she warns them that if they touch her daughters, she will kill them. Lia, meanwhile, becomes fascinated by the way men inhabit their bodies in alien ways. She contrasts her own body - which she has learned to treat as a discrete, closed unit - with the body of one of the men. "There is a fluidity to his movements, despite his size, that tells me he has never had to justify his existence, has never had to fold himself into a hidden thing," she thinks, "and I wonder what that must be like, to know that your body is irreproachable." Lia will also acknowledge that despite all the forced training, she feels an overwhelming need to be touched. When she acts on her craving, she sets in motion a chain of events that will test whether "the water cure" has provided the daughters with the tools to withstand the horrors caused by human desire. Mackintosh seamlessly weaves together the themes of Shakespeare - the harsh, overprotective fathers from "The Tempest" and "King Lear" - with the very modern issue of toxic masculinity. Theories drawn from French feminism are also present. Julia Kristeva argued in "Powers of Horror" that communities maintain their cohesion by the designation of a "pollution" that must be rejected by the group's members. The rituals that hold the group together are designed to cleanse the community of any contact with the forbidden. In this case, that poison is literal, demonstrated by a ravaged land, polluted by the emotions men are unable to process. King and Mother take draconian measures to create a world in which women can be safe. But as happens in our own culture, that illusion of safety can only be maintained if women are willing to accept constricted lives in virtual prisons where men cannot touch them. --- Berry has written about books for the Guardian and Salon, among other outlets. Discuss this article with your neighbors or join the community conversation. Click here to get access According to the lawsuit, in 2016 Burling began receiving calls from a reverse mortgage borrower who said that he felt his originator was taking advantage of him. Upon investigation, Burling discovered that he had never been sent the disclosures required under the Truth in Lending Act and that funds had been taken from him before he signed an intent to proceed. She also found that the originator in question was not licensed to do business in the customers state. When Burling brought these issues to Moores attention, Moore allegedly told her that informing the borrower of the issues could cause Burling to be fired and blackballed from the mortgage industry. Burling also allegedly discovered numerous brokered loans in which the required fee disclosures were not sent to the borrowers, but fees collected nonetheless. When she brought these to Moores attention, she was told to drop the issue, the lawsuit alleged. Burling also allegedly located numerous transactions in which there were conflicts of interest and was again told to drop the issue. Eagle Home Mortgage uses audit software that is designed to allow the relevant government regulators to monitor the companys activity. Burling allegedly discovered that the company routinely hid negative information on loans in the notes section of the software rather than the reporting section effectively preventing any government agency from seeing it. That practice, according to the lawsuit, was in violation of the federal False Claims Act. Burling allegedly discovered that a number of loans had closed improperly even when borrowers had insufficient funds to qualify. Eagle Home Mortgage was allegedly hiding these loans from the federal government. When Burling brought these loans to the attention of Moore and senior executive Kirk Parks, Moore and Parks allegedly told her that the numbers needed to look good for the end of the fiscal year, the lawsuit stated. According to the lawsuit, Moore fired Burling on March 1, 2017, for poor job performance despite the fact that Burling had never been given any disciplinary write-ups and had received a score of 4.25 out of 5 on her last performance review. When Burling pressed Moore to explain her poor performance, Moore became irate and was unable to provide a direct answer, the lawsuit stated. Burling is suing Eagle home mortgage for back pay and benefits, interest on back pay, front pay and lost earning capacity, compensatory damages, and attorneys fees and costs. The countrys hottest markets should expect varying degrees of housing demand this year, according to the latest analyses by Altus Group. In particular, Ontarios residential property segment will benefit the most from population growth and increased immigration. Markets in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, including the GTA, have the most upside potential for an increase in sales activity in 2019 given the depth of the decline in 2018 and building off of the sales recovery noted in the back half of 2018, Altus explained in its outlook for this year. This is in contrast to a relatively subdued 2018, especially in the condo sector, which saw the most significant cooling impact of the B-20 regulations along with new development charges. Last years sales remained down by almost 50% compared to 2017, Altus noted. Ontarios markets apart from the GTA, particularly Kitchener-Waterloo, magnetized greater demand in 2018 due to their condos affordability. Read more: Number of housing starts across Canada dipped in December Meanwhile, Vancouver saw a remarkably constrained supply of new homes last year. Going into 2019, Vancouver is exhibiting the most potential for downside risk, Altus warned. The market will likely experience a notable decline in sales numbers this year, amid higher borrowing costs and mounting construction costs. A key challenge that has become more apparent as of late in Vancouver has been the price sensitivity of consumers, with higher priced projects, or those priced above the competition, experiencing below average sales rates, according to Altus. Some investors gloss over the "exchange-traded" in "exchange-traded fund," failing to understand or appreciate those two words and the implications of investing in a fund that trades like a stock. The exchange-traded nature of these funds is increasingly taken for granted, as many of the largest ETFs trade at tight spreads in very narrow bands around their net asset values through most market conditions. But not all ETFs are created equal from a liquidity perspective, and investors shouldn't take ETFs' liquidity for granted. In addition, the market mechanisms that underpin the ETF ecosystem have experienced hiccups of varying magnitude, ranging from the "flash crash" in 2010 and the early-morning meltdown witnessed on Aug. 24, 2015, to more sporadic episodes of lesser scope and impact. These events have served as painful reminders of why investors should exercise caution when buying and selling ETF shares. With market volatility back on the rise, now is a good time to brush up on what constitutes good hygiene when transacting ETFs. Here, I provide five tips on how to best trade them. A Lorain nonprofit is looking to expand its services from giving a hand out to giving a hand up. Defendant Brittany Pilkington, center, listens during an evidenciary hearing on January 8, 2019 at the Logan County Courthouse in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Pilkington is charged with three counts of murder after allegedly suffocating her three sons, Niall, 3 months, Gavin, 4, and Noah, 3 months, over a 16-month period in 2014 and 2015. The Upside certainly has its downside, but Cranston, Hart, Kidman keep dramady afloat | Movie review Democrats, if they were smart, would be offering solutions, not just saying no to a churlish president. A wall is not the answer to the asylum crisis at the border, but neither is pretending that the current system works. Democrats have asked for more money to deal with the consequences of the flood of asylum-seekers needing processing, temporary shelter, food and medical care. But we need to find a way to discourage these families from coming in the first place. That is not to say we should shut our doors altogether. We need to do it in a fair, systematic, orderly way, and that requires a change in law. And we need to do more to help Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador deal with the horrific crime from the illegal drug trade. This trade is driven by the millions of Americans who consume cocaine, heroin and amphetamines. Whenever an American buys illegal drugs, that person is financing the drug cartels and gangs, such as MS-13, that terrorize parents and children trying to live peaceful, lawful lives in Central American towns and countrysides. The watch includes the cities, towns and communities of Morganton, Valdese, Hickory, Jonas Ridge, Dysartsville, Nebo and Pleasant Grove. The counties of Avery, Alexander, Buncombe, Caldwell, Catawba, Davie, Henderson, Iredell, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford and Yancey also are under the watch. Saturdays forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of snow before 5 p.m., followed by a 40 percent chance of snow and sleet. Skies will be cloudy with a high near 38 degrees. New snow and sleet accumulations of inch or less are possible. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Saturday night will bring a 90 percent chance of sleet between 9-11 p.m. and freezing rain after 11 p.m. The low will be around 30 with new ice accumulation of 1/10 to 3/10 inch new sleet accumulation of inch or less are possible. On Sunday, there will be a 70 percent chance of rain or freezing rain before 8 a.m., changing over to a 60 percent chance of rain afterward. Skies will be cloudy with a high near 38. New ice accumulation of less than 1/10 inch is possible. That night, there will be a 40 percent chance of rain before 9 p.m., rain and snow between 9-10 p.m. and snow after 10 p.m. Conditions will remain cloudy with a low around 32. Famously, filmmaker Jordan Peele tricked the internet last year with a doctored PSA featuring former president Barack Obama on the dangers of believing fake news. As real as the footage looked, it was actually just digitally tampered with to appear legitimate - hence the very point Peele was hoping to make. "We're entering an era in which our enemies can make it look like anyone is saying anything at any point in time - even if they would never say those things," the fake Obama said in the clip. "For instance, they could have me say things like, I don't know, Killmonger was right. Or Ben Carson is in the sunken place. Or, how 'bout this: Simply, President Trump is a total and complete [expletive]." More seriously, people are using such techniques to edit in the faces of women and celebrities into pornographic clips. For example, as The Washington Post reported in December, actress Scarlett Johansson has had her image superimposed into dozens of graphic sex scenes in the last year. "Nothing can stop someone from cutting and pasting my image or anyone else's onto a different body and making it look as eerily realistic as desired," Johansson told The Post. "The fact is that trying to protect yourself from the internet and its depravity is basically a lost cause . . . The internet is a vast wormhole of darkness that eats itself." Armed with a box cutter, police say a man demanded a cashier give him all the money in the register at the Roses in Morganton, but only made out with a Sun Drop. The Burke County Democratic Party will hold its Third Tuesday meeting from 6-8 p.m. at its headquarters at 310 S. Sterling St. in Morganton. Attendees are invited to bring a dish to share during the potluck meal, which starts at 6 p.m. Tourism meeting The Burke County Tourism Development Authority will meet at 11 a.m. at the Morganton Community House. Wednesday Wildlife Commission public meeting The North Carolina Wildlife Commission will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. in Leviton Auditorium on the campus of Western Piedmont Community College. The purpose of the meeting is to receive input on proposed changes to agency regulations related to enforcement, wildlife management, inland fisheries and game lands for the 2019-20 seasons. Comments also may be submitted online through Friday, Feb. 1, at regulations@ncwildlife.org. Medicare 101 seminar The Burke County Senior Center will offer a Medicare 101 seminar at 1 p.m. The session will review what Medicare is, what it covers, and the parts individuals may need. The seminar is designed for those about to turn 65 or start Medicare. Those interested in attending should RSVP by contacting the center at 828-430-4147. Susan Boyle fast flew to the rank of Scottish royalty after she stunned the world with her audition for season 3 of Britian's Got Talent. While she placed runner-up in the final, Susan went on to be a worldwide phenomenon selling millions of records and gaining millions of fans. Boyle returned to her reality TV roots when she appeared on The Champions, the spinoff of NBCs America's Got Talent, with a familiar face in Simon Cowell looking on from the judging desk. The pair had a brief reunion before she stunned yet again with 'Wild Horses'. While the judges praised her and her incredible talents, it was judge Mel B of the Spice Girls who cut to the chase and slammed the golden buzzer. The announcement last year that the Swedish company would be hitting the shores of Aotearoa was welcomed by many Kiwis. Friday's announcement of where the first Kiwi Ikea store will open its doors was made by Ikea's global chief executive in Auckland. There has been much speculation about where a potential big-box store could be located, but it has been revealed that the first store will be located in Auckland. It has also been confirmed that the physical store will feature a cafe that serves their famous meatballs. The company typically looks for area with more than 1.5 million people within a 48km radius to establish a mega store - leaving Auckland as the only viable option. The global chief executive did stress that while the physical store will be in Auckland, they are also offering different kinds of formats of stores across the whole country. With all plans going well, they hope a second store will open in the South Island, before working their way back up the country again. A "Bring Ikea to NZ" Facebook page received more than 19,000 likes, and has now changed its name to "Ikea is coming to NZ". Newshub. Nuheara Limited [ASX:NUH] is off to a flying start for the year with its stock price climbing up over 15% since trading commenced in 2019. Nuheara managed to consolidate some good gains over 2018, up over 12% over the past 12 months. The developer of wearable hearing and communication technology could be set to make 2019 an even bigger year. Nuheara is a Perth-based developer of a wearable technology that enables users to listen and communicate. The company has developed patented and multi-functional intelligent hearing technology that augments a persons hearing and facilitates cable-free connection to smart devices. End of year hype NUH closed out 2018 with an oversubscribed $5 million equity raise, completed in early December, which saw strong demand from both new and existing institutional investors. Four-Step Guide to Small-Cap Success. Download your free report now. The company says the equity will assist in achieving planned objectives over the next six months. Namely increasing sales of its patented IQbuds BOOST and the manufacture and development of new products. Nuheara delivers It hasnt taken NUH long to deliver on its promises to investors and consumers. Only into the second week of the new year and Nuheara has already announced a string of releases. On Monday the company announced the launch of their new flagship product, the IQbuds MAX. According to the company, the new product has triple the hearing capability and five times the processing power as their IQbuds BOOST. Wednesday saw the company announce the launch of their propriety IQstore, in what they have called the worlds first subscription-based hearing services app. According to a press release: Nuhearas IQstore will provide customers with the power to choose supporting features that are most important to them. Critically, it is designed to provide the Nuheara customer with lifelong hearing support through their hearing health journey. To cap off what had already been a busy week for NUH, the tech developer announced yesterday the launch of IQconnect, a point of sales system designed to help customers determine the extent of their hearing loss and recommends Nuheara products. Beginners Guide: Easy-to-read instructions on the steps you need to take to successfully jump into the ASX TODAY. Sign up now, its free! IQconnect is a pivotal piece of Nuhearas product range, eliminating the need for their potential customers to visit an audiologist to have a data-based understanding of their health. It also helps the company consolidate its products in retail sales channels. NUH hopes that by having hearing tests readily available in shopping malls it can break down traditional barriers to hearing health, normalising a focus on hearing health. What are Nuhearas prospects for 2019? While Nuhearas new products may be exciting and tech savvy, its all for naught if theyre not selling. Last year, the UKs National Health Service (NHS) began to prescribe Nuhearas IQbuds BOOST alongside traditional hearing aids. Nuheara expects that once their IQbuds MAX is available in H2 2019, more government health providers will begin using their products in lieu of traditional hearing aids. NUH also finished off 2018 by cementing a partnership with Specsavers in the UK. The partnership will see Specsavers stores stock Nuhearas products country wide, greatly increasing their products availability. In the UK, Specsavers has revenues upwards of 2.6 billion, with more than 36 million customers, making it the countrys largest optical retailer. With its recent swath of product releases and a strong end to 2018, Nuheara has certainly created a strong foundation to launch from in 2019. But market volatility is always a variable. Regards, Ryan Clarkson-Ledward, For Money Morning PS: If youre an at home investor and interested in some of the best small-cap stock on the market right now, check out this Aussie expert and his free step-by-step small-cap guide. Read now. Peoples movements, civil society organisations or non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions and citizens concerned over finance and banking have made an appeal to all political parties to include a transparent and accountable financial banking system in their election campaign and manifesto. This appeal is published by Centre for Financial Accountability after consultation with all the concerned entities. The appeal talks about issues like mounting non-performing assets (NPAs), demonetisation, proposed bank mergers, weakening of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), crippling the economy by introduction of goods and services tax (GST), charging the customers for basic banking services taxing them and pending wage revision for bank employees. These are only a few amongst the various ways in which the policy changes manifested, affecting not just the citizens, but the economy of the country, shaking the foundations of our financial system and public sector banks (PSBs). The upcoming general elections in 2019 will be crucial in many ways, particularly for the financial and banking sector. It will be an opportunity for political parties to commit to correct the past mistakes and take proactive initiatives to put systems in place for strengthening the sector and making it transparent and accountable, the appeal says. The appeal is endorsed by eminent activists like Medha Patkar (Narmada Bachao Andolan), CH Venkatachalam (All India Bank Employees Association- AIBEA), Thomas Franco (Former General Secretary, All India Bank Officers Confederation- AIBOC), Sucheta Dalal (Founder Trustee of Moneylife Foundation), Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA), Soumya Dutta (Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha), Madhuresh Kumar (National Alliance of Peoples Movements), Leo Saldanha (Environment Support Group), T Peter (National Fishworkers Forum), Ulka Mahajan (Sarvahara Jan Andolan), TR Bhatt (Former Chairman Corporation Bank Officers Organisation), Beyond Copenhagen Collective/ MAUSAM, Working Group on International Financial Institutions (WGonIFIs), Dunu Roy, Sreedhar Ramamurthy (Environics Trust), and several bank employee unions among others. Here are the points raised in the appeal Whitepaper on Demonetisation Demonetisation, which rendered 86% of the currency at the time of its announcement invalid, with announced objectives of unearthing black-money, stopping terror funding, abolishing corruption and checking counterfeit currencies, has imposed unaccountable miseries on people. With more currency in circulation than at the time of demonetisation, with over 99.3% demonetised currency returning to banks, with increased cases of counterfeit currencies, corruption and terror activities there is no evidence that the purpose of demonetisation was ever met. Yet, the unorganised (informal) sector, which constitutes countrys 83% of workforce was shattered. More than 100 people died due to hardships imposed due to demonetisation, over 100 cases were filed against people holding huge amount of fresh currency and few bankers (specially in private banks) of aiding hoarding of new currency. The only sector, which benefited from it seem to be the Fintech companies. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance could not complete its enquiry because BJP MPs stalled the process. After two years, it is very clear that demonetisation did nothing to achieve its stated aim, but on the contrary has destroyed a major part of the economy, that was a source of livelihood for the poor, lower and middle class. We demand a whitepaper on demonetisation, capturing the economic and social costs and benefits of it. The purpose, objectives and the outcome of demonetisation require a public scrutiny, which we expect to happen through the whitepaper on it and its presentation in the Parliament. Addressing NPA crisis The central problem of the Indian banking industry is the piling of NPAs worth over Rs10 lakh crore, which have accumulated on account of faulty lending practices, which favoured Corporates. The RBI and the government chose to not intervene between 2008 and 2014, but rolled out a series of restructuring and readjustment policies, prompt corrective action that was not prompt, all of which contributed to intensifying the crisis. Instead of timely and stringent actions on the defaulters, the RBI and the government policies focused on tightening the banks. From the restructuring policies, introducing Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) that resulted in huge haircuts, merger of banks, attempts to privatise banks have only been detrimental to the banks and helped the defaulters. This shows the lack of political will to address the issue of NPAs in a fundamental way. Even the recommendations made by the Parliament Standing Committee in February 2016 are ignored. We demand publication of defaulter lists, a transparent recovery measures, assets recovery procedures including attaching of properties and sale, along with a moratorium on wilful defaulters, companies and their offshoots, from accessing any fresh loan or restructuring. We demand strict action against defaulters. Commercial banks should keep away from high risk lending and instead let a new development bank take the role of long term, high risk lending, as recommended by Standing Committee on Finance, in its report on the Banking Sector in India Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward (May 2018), a comprehensive social and environmental safeguard policy to ensure the risks related to litigations and delays due to negative impacts on people and environment are mitigated are essential to fundamentally address the NPA crisis. Strict Action Against Wilful Defaulters More than 82 per cent of the NPAs are due to corporate defaulters. One third of that belongs to just 40 Corporates. The government and the RBI have not released the name of the wilful defaulters, nor has there been any actions against them. Even the list of written off accounts are not made public allowing them to cheat another bank. The PSBs should be empowered to take strict action against wilful defaulters, thereby recovering the bad loans and setting deterrence to the potential violators of loan terms in future. We demand that the names of the top 500 wilful defaulters should be made public. There has to be criminal procedures against the wilful defaulters. Strengthening RBI The destructive interference in the operations of key institutions was the hallmark of this government and the case of Reserve Bank of India was no different, jeopardising its independence. Using its Board as a rubber stamp to legitimise demonetisation was just one of them. Appointment of RSS ideologues at its Board only confirms the fear of turning critical institutions such as RBI as pawns of the government. Attempts to dig deep into RBIs reserves to bolster its capital requirement to announce sops with elections round the corner exposes the myopic vision of systems and structures for economic stability. We demand complete political non-interference in the functioning of RBI and instead should take steps to strengthen its independence. Appointments to its Board should be made more stringent and transparent, based on experience and expertise rather than ideological leanings. Accountability should be fixed on RBI with stronger reporting system to Parliament and better transparency. Political Interference in PSBs The political interference in the functioning of public sector banks (PSBs) has promoted crony capitalism and corruption. This has resulted in mounting non-performing assets (NPAs) and the political patronage for certain corporations crippled banks will to recover money from the defaulters. We demand complete political non-interference in the operations of PSBs and incentivise prudent recovery of bad loans. Instead Accountability should be fixed on the Chairman, MD and Board of Directors. Depositor Rights In the history of Indian Banking, depositors of PSB have never been under such tremendous pressure like the last four years. With policies like demonetisation that resulted in a country wide chaos, the FRDI Bill that sent panic that depositors might loose their savings, the increased and huge charges on banking transaction and the eminent threat of bank privatisation has all contributed to many even closing accounts with PSBs. As attempted in the failed FRDI Bill, depositors are now being made to be stakeholders for the losses of the banks. Hence, we demand that depositors should be empowered with full disclosure by the bank about investments of their deposits and the risks involved and mitigation plans. Depositor should have the right to assert not to invest in certain sectors, which are proven to be detrimental to humans and nature. Depositors should be provided with policies, which guide the investments of their bank. Banks should not impose charges on depositors for basic banking services. Bank Charges Service charges on banking services have increased drastically in the previous few years. Primarily, banks are in the loss due to increased non-performing assets and provisions needed for them. The loss has been caused by corporate defaulters but the burden of this loss has been shifted to common people in the form of increased bank charges despite the fact that these charges amount to merely 1% of the total amount of bad loans. Depositors are being charged for almost every banking service such as cash transaction at branches, ATM transactions, change in ATM pin code, change of mobile number or address, SMS alerts, changes in KYC related documents etc. The Government along with the RBI must come up with the clear guidelines for banks to stop charging customers for each and every banking service and take actions against real culprits who have caused the loss to banks. Strengthening rural and agricultural credits Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. Keeping this in mind, in the nationalisation era, PSBs had taken efforts to improve agricultural credit by having mandatory priority sector lending. Further the direct credit within priority sector also aided in the credit needs of farmers. But changes in such polices and including agro based industries for priority sector lending, has severely affected credit flow to the farmers. After nearly three decades of economic liberalisation, farmers are worse off and indebted. Theres an alarming rise of debt in the farm sector. Banks having nearly withdrawn from rural and small agricultural credit, farmers were forced to approach informal credit sources, consequences of which was unfolding the past many years in the form of suicides of thousands of farmers. We demand that farm loans of small, marginal and subsistence farmers should be written off. And banks should step in to support the sector with providing credits. Crop Insurance should be done by Public Sector Insurance Companies and not by private companies like Reliance. Strengthen the devastated unorganised sector and small businesses Demonetisation had the maximum impact on unorganised sector and small businesses. GST has made it only worse. They being the largest workforce in the country, contributing more than half of our GDP, priority should be given to the sector to rebuild and restore it. They require seed money for start-ups, Equity Support, Loans, marketing support and common support services. Transparency and Accountability Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Absence of transparency and accountability at all levels of appointments and decision making has been fundamental to the cancer of crony capitalism, corruption, under performance, loss making and the monumental social and environmental costs, which the irresponsible investments are causing. We demand mandatory policies pertaining to transparency and accountability for all banks, including RBI, NABARD, SIDBI and Private Banks. Banking Activities without Banking Licence There are many Fintech companies, which are into lending which is a banking activity. There are no supervisory mechanism or Licence. They charge huge interest. They have to be immediately brought under RBI supervision. Social and Environment safeguard policies Large-scale development projects have been seen as imperative for the economic and social growth of the country. But, such projects have had adverse effects on the lives of people in project areas and also have done irreversible damage to the environment. The civil society movements have raised these issues with financial institutions funding such projects. Coming under the pressure of such movements major multi-lateral development organisations had included social and environment safeguards to their investments. These remain one of the tools of holding these institutions accountable. National financial institutions specially the public sector banks are today primary lenders for such developmental projects in India. But PSBs do not have any mandatory guidelines to ensure that their investments do not cause harm to the common people of the country and destroy the environment. This coupled with lack of due diligence and reckless lending have also caused severe crisis within the Indian banking sector. Hence there is a need to develop robust safeguard policies. Appointment of Employee Director / Officer Director The board of the banks is where decisions, inter alia, of the large scale loans are decided. Unfortunately, the posts of the employee director at the PSBs have been left vacant for far too long and thus preventing their voices at the Board has been a strategy of this government. As a crucial stakeholder of the decisions of the banks, employees have to be a part of this decision making. We demand immediate appointment of employee director in all PSBs and policies to ensure that such appointments are not delayed in future. Bank Merger The government says its plan to merge one weak bank with two stronger banks will help to mitigate the burden of bad loans and further increase the lending capacity of the amalgamated entity. The merger may help clean up bad loans of the weak bank, but it would also necessitate more provisions by the new bank. Further, the new bank lending to the same large borrowers, without recovering existing bad loans will only result in more loss for the bank. Not just commercially unviable, but a three-way merger among banks with different administration will only result in an administrative chaos. Mergers cannot resolve or clean up the balance sheets; rather the NPAs of the three merged entities would simply add up. The improvement in certain ratios, if any, would amount to mere financial engineering, without resolving the actual problem. Should learn from the mistakes of merging SBI with Associate Banks. Privatisation Public Sector Banks have been the driving factor of Indian economy since the nationalisation of banks in 1969. While private banks are confined to urban areas, with no branches or nearly no services in rural areas, PSBs serve one and all. Policy changes and political interference in the recent years have weakened and made them vulnerable, mounted the burden of non-performing assets and ended up charging for their services, hitting the poor the most. These are weakening the PSBs and steps like bank mergers are steps towards privatisation of PSBs and it should be vehemently opposed. Going forward, the PSBs must be strengthened, help them recover the bad loans from wilful defaulters and remove the bank charges introduced in the recent past and ensure its independence without political interference. We request you to give all assurance that Public Sector Banks will be strengthened and No Privatisation of PSBs GST 1. There should be greater relaxation for MSMEs for GST compliance, as the GST system invariably discriminates against MSMEs vis-a-vis large companies, as a large amount of working capital of MSMEs has to be devoted towards GST compliance. 2. There should be a lower tax rate for mass consumption goods, which should be compensated by levying a higher tax rate for luxury consumption goods. 3. The tax collection targets of the Government should come more through a progressive direct tax system, with higher tax rates for individuals in the high income category. GST or any such indirect tax is regressive as it puts more burden on people from economically weaker sections. 4. States should have a higher representation in GST council for determining the tax rates, on the lines of federal cooperation, which would also lead to offsetting the higher amount of control with the central government through a mechanism like GST. Development Financial Institutions Development Financial Institutions were established with the purpose of financing the mid and long-term large development projects and they have played a paramount role by contributing to the industrial growth and overall growth of the nation. During Indias economic liberalisation, these banks were slowly eliminated or transformed into commercial banks. With the dismantling of development banks, the scheduled commercial banks were forced to engage in long term lending, which parked the considerable part of banks capital and led to shortage of capital for other banking activities. Additionally, banks adopted aggressive lending practices and issued big loans without due diligence increasing the non-performing assets to an unprecedented level. The Standing Committee on Finance, in its report on the Banking Sector in India Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward (May 2018) also made the recommendation to go back to the previous model of development banks for medium and long-term lending. The government should make sure that there are adequate development banks to provide long term lending for development projects so that commercial banks can focus on short term lending and other economic activities. Parliamentary Oversight on IFIs While their lending has been minimal, the influence of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) on our economy and our policies have been disproportionate to the lending volume, facilitating and augmenting changing the fundamental structure of public sector, many of them privatised at throw-away prices. Yet, Parliament does not have a role when negotiations are underway with the IFIs. The highest law making institution of the country is handed down a decision made by the IFIs and bureaucrats, without a thorough deliberation on its impacts on people and the economy. We demand a Parliamentary oversight of all IFIs at all stages of negotiations, decision, monitoring and post evaluation of lending, to ensure that countrys interests are not compromised. Ease of Doing Business Ranking In a hurry to jump ahead in the Ease of Doing Business rankings, the government has reportedly taken 10,000 steps, most of it amending policies, as acknowledged by the Prime Minister. These policies are related to labour and environment standards, eliminating public hearing from the approval process for certain projects and diluting forest and land use policies. Considering the devastating impacts this could have on people and economy, we demand that the amendments are made to only strengthen the policies and wherever it has diluted or weakened it, it should be reversed. Strengthen Co-operative Banks and Co-operatives Co-operative Banks and Co-operatives like primary Agriculture Co-operatives are the ones catering to the poorer sections of the societies. They are neglected and there is an effort to privatise urban co-operative Banks. They have to be strengthened through NABARD and not allowed to dilute their goals. Support RRBs and Stop Efforts to Merge them Regional Rural Banks are doing a yeomen service in the rural areas. From 198 there number is reduced 56. There is another attempt to merge them state wise. This will defeat the purpose for which they were initiated. They have done well and they should be strengthened. FRDI Bill Because of peoples relentless campaign the Financial Regulation and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill was withdrawn by the government, which otherwise would have risked depositors savings and would have jeopardised the existence of PSBs. However, the government is trying to bring in elements of FRDI Bill through different legislations. We demand that such a move is reversed and resist the attempts of Financial Stability Board to meddle with our banking system. Corporate tax wave off Government should end the practice of waving off corporate tax year after year. The average corporate tax waiver the past few years have been more than Rs. 5 lakh crore per year which is nearly one-fifth of the Union budget of past years. Parliamentary Standing Committee Proceedings Proceedings of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance should be made public and aired live to the citizens enabling them to watch and follow them, like in many other democratic countries. Such transparency would not only enhance accountability amongst and members and parties involved, but also ensure active and responsible citizenry. Accountability of Regulators The Regulatory Bodies should be accountable to the Parliament submitting regular reports, which in turn is made available to the public. The Regulatory Bodies should engage with and consult investors, depositors, policy holders, pensioners or borrowers regularly to take feedback and in fine tuning the policies of regulation. The appointment and/or extension of tenure of the Chairpersons should be decided by a Parliamentary body, not just the Finance Minister and/or Finance Secretary as it is practiced now. We had mentioned in last weeks closing report that Nifty, Sensex might rally if global markets remained steady. The major indices of the Indian stock markets were range-bound during the week and closed on Friday with small weekly gains over last Fridays close. The trends of the major indices in the course of the weeks trading are given in the table below: The major indices of the Indian stock markets were range-bound on Monday and closed with gains over Fridays close. On the NSE, there were 876 advances, 862 declines and 347 unchanged. The Sensex advanced on Monday following Asian markets on signs of an easing trade tensions. Talks between US and China are scheduled to be held on Monday and Tuesday. Barring the healthcare sector, all the other sectorial stocks traded comfortably in the green on both the NSE and the BSE. The Indian currency, however, was trading flat at Rs69.73 per US dollar from its previous close of 69.72. Cash-strapped state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Sunday said it had taken an overdraft of Rs962 crore. "With anticipated collection up to March, the cash position is expected to improve. Orders for LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Mark 1A 83 and LCH (Light Combat Helicopter) 15 are in advanced stages," said HAL in a tweet from its official Twitter account. The defence aerospace major, however, did not mention from whom or which bank the overdraft was taken and for what purpose. The company's clarification on its cash crunch is the wake of a media report in a national newspaper on Friday that it had borrowed nearly Rs1,000 crore "to pay salaries to its 29,000 employees". The major indices of the Indian stock markets were range-bound on Tuesday and closed with small gains over Mondays close. On the NSE, there were 829 advances, 896 declines and 341 unchanged. Caution ahead of the outcome of ongoing US-China trade talks and Q3 corporate earning session kept the major indices in a short range on Tuesday. Sensex and Nifty logged marginal gains during the afternoon session. The US-China trade talks assume special significance as analysts say both sides face a resumption of tariffs in March if they don't strike a deal. The two economic giants agreed on a 90-day trade truce in early December. Also, Q3 corporate earning session starting this week kept the investors from taking position. On the domestic front, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will meet representatives of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) on Tuesday pushing the banking stocks 0.82% higher. In contrast, consumer durable and power sectors traded lower but the finance stocks managed to stay in the green. Most of the central government offices, banks, port trusts and other state government departments wore a deserted look on Tuesday as employees launched a two-day nationwide trade strike, a top organiser said here in Mumbai. The Delhi High Court set aside a Central government notification restricting the manufacture, sale and distribution of an anti-inflammatory medicine Ace Proxyvon manufactured by pharma company Wockhardt Ltd. Ace Proxyvon, which combines the dosage of aceclofenac, paracetamol and rabeprazole, is used to get relief from pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The high court observed that the Centre's decision to ban the drug had been taken without application of mind and order was passed without following certain procedures. The major indices of the Indian stock markets were range-bound on Wednesday and closed with gains over Tuesdays close. On the NSE, there were 701 advances, 1,009 declines and 356 unchanged. Sensex gained during Wednesday afternoon's trade session over signs of easing US-China trade tensions and expectation of healthy Q3 corporate results. The third quarter results session will start with the earning announcement of Tata Consultancy Services. The IT (information technology) major is scheduled to announce its results on Thursday. Globally, investors awaited the outcome of US-China trade talks which has been extended. Sector-wise, metal, oil and gas stocks lost over 1% but key finance and banking stocks traded in the green. State-owned NMDC announced a buyback of 3.23% equity shares at a price of Rs98 per stock for a consideration not exceeding Rs1,000 crore. The buyback decision was taken by the company's Board in its meeting held on Tuesday. The company's regulatory filing to the BSE said that its Board has "approved the proposal to buyback of not exceeding 10,20,40,815 equity shares at a price of Rs98 per equity share payable in cash for an aggregate consideration not exceeding Rs1,000 crore representing 4.11% of the aggregate of the fully paid-up equity share capital and free reserves." Just a week after lowering its revenue estimate for the first quarter of fiscal 2019, Apple is cutting its current production plan for new iPhones by about 10% for the January-March quarter, the Nikkei Asian Review reported on Wednesday. Apple, being a market leader, is conservative on growth and consequently, equity analysts are conservative about capital appreciation in 2019 in the US stock market as a whole. The major indices of the Indian stock markets were range-bound on Thursday and closed with small losses over Wednesdays close. On the NSE, there were 846 advances, 860 declines and 359 unchanged. Sensex and Nifty traded lower on Thursday over a sharp rise in crude oil prices and decline in financial stocks. Brent crude futures on Thursday surpassed the $60-a-barrel mark. Also, investors awaited Q3 corporate results, set to start on Thursday, and more clarity regarding US-China trade talks. It is observed that crude price rise would have an adverse effect on the Indian rupee. In addition, the supply cut by OPEC and other major oil producers came into effect from January 1. Lately, excess US oil has pushed down prices. Accordingly, the Indian currency weakened to Rs70.57 per dollar from its previous close of 70.46. On Friday, the major indices of the Indian stock markets were range-bound and closed with small losses over Thursdays close. On the NSE, there were 707 advances, 1,000 declines and 358 unchanged. A continuous rise in global crude oil prices, along with caution ahead of key micro-economic data to be released later in the day, dragged the Indian equity market into the red on Friday. The benchmark Brent crude prices rose over 0.5% to cross the $62 a-barrel-mark. Stocks of IT (information technology), banking and finance sectors were heavily sold. Realty sector stocks also ended 1.43% lower after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said at Thursday's GST Council Meeting that owing to diverse opinions, a decision on the much-expected rate reduction for under-construction homes would be taken at a later meeting. Bandhan Bank reported a 10.3% increase in its net profit for the third quarter (Q3) of 2018-19. Its net profit during the quarter under review rose to Rs331 crore from Rs300 crore in the corresponding period of last fiscal. "Net Interest Income (NII) for the quarter grew by 53.5% at Rs1,124 crore as against Rs732 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year," the bank said in a statement. According to the lender, its net NPA (non-performing asset) as on December 31, 2018 stood at to 0.7% as against 0.8% on December 31, 2017. "Gross NPAs as on 31 December 2018 at 2.4% against 1.3% as on 30 September 2018 and 1.7% as on 31 December, 2017," the statement said. In addition, the bank, without naming the IL&FS Group, said that it has made provision of Rs384.95 crore in respect of an exposure "to a borrower from Infrastructure development and finance sector, which was classified as non-performing asset and fully provided for during the quarter". Bandhan Bank shares closed at Rs452.45, down 4.05% on the NSE. Indian IT (information technology) bellwether Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) posted robust net profit and revenue growth for the third quarter of this fiscal (2018-19), beating estimates by analysts and a weaker rupee. The city-based Tata Group's flagship company reported Rs8,121 crore consolidated net profit for the quarter (Q3) under review, registering 24% annual growth from Rs6,545 crore in the same period a year ago. Similarly, consolidated revenue for the quarter grew 21% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs37,338 crore from Rs30,904 crore in the like period a year ago. Sequentially, net profit, however, rose 2.5% from Rs7,927 crore but revenue remained flat (0.1%) from Rs36,854 crore a quarter ago. Under the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS), net income grew 12% YoY to $1,140 million from $1,014 million in the same period a year ago and gross revenue rose 9.7% YoY to $5,250 million from $4,787 million in the like period a year ago. Sequentially, net income grew 1.9% from $1,119 million and gross income remained flat (0.7%) from $5,215 million a quarter ago. Profit before tax grew 24% YoY to Rs10,727 crore from Rs8,651 crore in the same period year ago and 2.2% sequentially from Rs10,501 crore a quarter ago. Operating margin for the quarter at 25.6% remained flat (0.4%) YoY. Accounting for 30% of the revenue, digital business grew a whopping 53% YoY during the quarter. Geographically, it grew in Britain 25% YoY and in Europe 17.6% YoY. "The board has recommended Rs4 or a whopping 400% dividend per share of Re1 face value," said the company in a statement here later. TCS shares closed at Rs1,842.55, down 2.39% on the NSE. Global software major Infosys will buy back its shares again and pay special dividend to its shareholders for this fiscal (2018-19), said the company. "The company's Board of Directors will consider buyback of its paid-up equity shares, payment of special dividend and implementation of the Capital Allocation Policy at its meeting on January 11," said the city-based IT firm in a regulatory filing on the BSE. The board had approved the capital allocation policy at its meeting on April 13, 2018. Infosys on Friday reported Rs3,610 crore consolidated net profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2018-19, posting nearly 30% annual decline from Rs5,129 crore in the same period a year ago. In a regulatory filing on the BSE, the city-based IT behemoth said consolidated revenue for the quarter (Q3) under review, however, grew 20.3% annually to Rs21,400 crore from Rs17,794 crore in the like period a year ago. Sequentially too, net profit dipped 12% from Rs4,110 crore but revenue rose 3.8% from Rs20,609 crore a quarter ago. Under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), net income declined nearly 37% annually to $502 million in Q3 from $796 million a year ago and declined sequentially 13.6% from $581 million a quarter ago. Gross income under IFRS, however, grew 8.4% to $2,987 million in Q3 from $2,755 million in the like period a year ago and 2.2% sequentially from $2,921 million a quarter ago. Infosys shares closed at Rs683.50, up 0.68% on the NSE. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Friday suggested that asset sale of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) should be under supervision or oversight of a retired judge from the Supreme Court. While staying arbitration proceedings against the cash-strapped group, the Tribunal asked IL&FS to submit details of all the arbitral proceedings going on against it and its 348 subsidiaries. However, arbitration proceedings where IL&FS is getting money will continue, the two-member bench headed by NCLAT Chairperson Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya said. IL&FS group, which had a debt of more than Rs91,000 crore at the end of March 2018, is trying to sell its companies and their assets as part of its asset monetisation efforts to pay off the dues. Next hearing on the matter will be held on 28th January. Last year in October, the Central government superseded the management of IL&FS by appointing a six-member board led by banker Uday Kotak to restore its financial solvency after it defaulted on payment dues triggering liquidity concerns in the NBFC sector. By November, the firm initiated the asset monetisation process and received over a dozen Expressions of Interest (EoIs) towards acquiring its stake in IL&FS Securities Services Ltd (ISSL) and ISSL Settlement and Transaction Services Ltd (ISTSL). Later, it initiated the process to sell its renewable energy business, the group's interests in education (IL&FS Education & Technology Services Ltd) and the 'Alternative Investment Management' businesses, along with other subsidiary businesses. On Wednesday, IL&FS said it received more than 30 EoIs for domestic roads vertical IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd. It includes its domestic EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and O&M (operations and maintenance) businesses. IL&FS Ltd is a core investment company and serves as the holding company of the IL&FS Group, with most business operations domiciled in separate companies, which form an ecosystem of expertise across infrastructure, finance and social and environmental services. a report from Times of India , the Gujarat Metro Rail Corp (GMRC) had terminated a contract awarded to IL&FS Engineering & Construction due to delays in completing the project. The Rs374.64 crore contract was to build four stations and lay a 4.6kms viaduct for the metro project in Ahmedabad. However, facing financial constrains, the IL&FS group company had stopped work on this project since September 2018. GMRC has now given the contract to J Kumar Infrastructure. Separately, according tothe Gujarat Metro Rail Corp (GMRC) had terminated a contract awarded to IL&FS Engineering & Construction due to delays in completing the project. The Rs374.64 crore contract was to build four stations and lay a 4.6kms viaduct for the metro project in Ahmedabad. However, facing financial constrains, the IL&FS group company had stopped work on this project since September 2018. GMRC has now given the contract to J Kumar Infrastructure. Meanwhile the debt-ridden group has urged Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) to release funds to secure the release of four employees still held hostage in Ethiopia by local staff, says a report from the Hindu Business Line In a letter to the Exim Bank, Dilip Bhatia, chief executive of IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (ITNL), said the company has sought 4.89 million Ethiopian birr (ETB) from the bank. The local employees of IL&FS joint venture in Ethiopia, ITNL-Elsamex JV Bure, have demanded an additional four months net salary for the release of the four Indian employees who have been held hostage since 24 November 2018. This is a crisis our employees are facing in Ethiopia and its our humble request to kindly let these funds be unblocked to help our employees, the ITNL letter dated 8 January 2019, seen by BusinessLine, states, adding that the bank should take a view on humanitarian grounds. A recent seminar at Moneylife Advisory Services (MAS) addressed an issue that agitates investors and ought to worry regulators: How To Spot Red Flags about Management. Amit Mantri, partner of 2Point2 Capital, started the presentation with two interesting images. A Snakes & Ladders board to depict investment traps and, second, the cover of Harry Markopoloss book No One Would Listen which became famous only after Bernie Madoffs ponzi scheme finally collapsed during the global financial crisis. Until then, Markopolos had written to everybody who mattered in 2001, 2005, 2007 and even in 2008, drawing attention to the fraud; but, as his book showed, no one would listen. article, were a massive $65 billion in paper wealth and $17.5 billion in cash. The fact that Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison in 2009 is no comfort for millions of investors who lost their savings. The US governments effort have led to $1.2 billion being paid back to investors over 10 years, while the losses, according to a New York Times article, were a massive $65 billion in paper wealth and $17.5 billion in cash. It immediately brought to mind the collapse of IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services), the massive 348-company conglomerate, that has defaulted on its massive Rs100,000 crore debt. IL&FS, a favourite destination for officers from Indian Administrative Service (job-seekers and on deputation), managed to hide from everybody, including the government regulators, its financial jugglery and even the number of subsidiaries and overlapping businesses it had. In fact, when the board was sacked, the government press release said that IL&FS had 169 subsidiaries, when it turned out that the number was twice as much. no one would listen. Here again, former directors like DC Anjaria (former audit committee head of GIFT City), high-profile victims, like Umesh Baveja (former vice-chairman of Cairn Energy and founder of RAHI Aviation), institutional investors like AIDQUA Fund of Singapore and an anonymous whistleblower, had written to the board of directors and regulators several times, over many years, but Even today, the cabal responsible for the debacle, led by founder Ravi Parthasarathy, Hari Sankaran, Ramesh Bawa, Arun Saha, Vibhav Kapoor and K Ramachand, seems to be getting away with its members systematic self-enrichment , while banks and investors face a minimum loss/ write-off of Rs30,000 crore and thousands of employees are set to lose well-paid jobs. IL&FS is not alone. Even Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Gems seemed to have operated with the blessings and support of regulators and politicians across parties. So the question that was posed to Amit Mantri at the MAS seminar was, who is to blame for the failure to detect the fraud? Is it the regulator, or does the buck stop at auditors and rating agencies? Mr Mantri and his firm shot to fame with an in-depth, on-the ground investigation into Manpasand Beverages, a high-flying company that made huge sales claims, until 2Point2 Capital exposed the hollowness of its operations. No Upsides But, as Mr Mantri quickly realised, other than some reputational benefit, there are only downsides to serious investigation in India. The threats and harassment take the form of SLAPP suits (strategic lawsuit against public participation) for defamation (IL&FS used this effectively to silence people), exclusion from investor conferences and denial of access to research analysts and even direct threats. Moreover, when regulators are not held accountable for failing to respond to whistleblower complaints, they do not even deign to engage with them let alone offer protection or handhold them against vindictive action by promoters. Employees who dare to blow the whistle are harassed, like they are all over the world, while anonymous whistleblowers are simply ignored, unless the media highlights the issue (as in the National Stock Exchange algo scam case). Media houses like ours, that expose corporate fraud, suffer clear financial losses, especially when it involves corporates with large advertising budgets. They also face defamation suits or, at least, threats of legal action. Corporates involved in fraudulent activities are also working with image consultants to wipe the Internet clean of previously published reports about investigation and regulatory action against them. This includes misuse of the police machinery and the Information Technology Act to intimidate writers and analysts. Given the high level of corruption in India, misusing State machinery and the legal system for a small price is very easy. Well-known equity analyst, Ambarish Baliga, says that the reward for indulging in fraud and market manipulation is extremely high in India, while the cost of being caught is negligible. He was referring to a set of notorious and high-profile companies, which have successfully fudged sales numbers, their on-ground network, and even tax payments in order to pump up prices and play the market-capitalisation game. Many of these use round-tripped funds from tax havens to enhance their image. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has regularly permitted settlement on payment of fine for a variety of frauds including insider trading. The regulator does not even issue speaking orders that disclose the nature or extent of misdemeanour and whether the fine levied is proportionate to the wrongdoing. In most cases, it is not even a slap on the wrist; this acts as an incentive for disreputable corporates to brazen it out. The best proof of this is that hardly any industrialist, other than a Ramalinga Raju (who confessed to a massive fraud himself) of Satyam and Dinesh Dalmia of DSQ Software have done any jail timeand both examples are over a decade old. In effect, there is absolutely no upside to exposing fraud. And, as Mr Mantri points out, our regulations do not allow short-selling, which would be a big incentive for analysts and investors in many developed markets for exposing crooked managements. A US study, titled Who Blows the Whistle on Corporate Fraud?, which attempted to identify the most effective mechanism to detect corporate fraud (it studied 216 fraud cases involving more than $750 million between 1996 and 2004), concluded that monetary incentives for detection in frauds against the government influence detection without increasing frivolous suits, suggesting gains from extending such incentives to corporate fraud more generally. It advocated better incentives for auditors, analysts and employees to blow the whistle. The study observed that journalists, who act as whistleblowers (accounting for 14% of cases detected), stand to gain in terms of reputation and better job prospects. The largest percentage of whistleblowers comprises employees, at 17%. Sadly, 82% of employees who blew the whistle lost their jobs. Among the other losers are auditors who end up losing accounts. The same study showed that short-sellers were responsible for exposing 15% of fraud cases and analysts 14% of them. They seemed to have a clear incentive to do so. The study recommends the need to increase incentives to specific players to expose fraud. These findings are nearly 15 years old and the global financial crisis has led to a significant increase in incentives to blow the whistle on financial fraud. In the US, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) runs a successful programme which allows whistleblowers to file information directly, or anonymously through lawyers, and be rewarded as much as 10% to 30% of the monetary sanctions against the company. The reward is paid when SEC is able to carry out a successful enforcement action and for sanctions above $1 million. This makes the process safe and effective and prevents an India-like situation, where a set of lawyers lobby SEBI to ensure low penalties. In fact, SEC issued $168 million in awards to whistleblowers in 2018 alone. Today, a reward system had created significant incentives for employees and others to blow the whistle. This has led to serious disclosures in the healthcare and pharmaceuticals industry. In many case, the nature of disclosure is so extensive that corporates have preferred to settle, by forking out large penalties, rather than contest the charges brought by regulators. Encourage Short-selling While employee whistleblowers are, often, motivated by morality and not merely monetary rewards, short-sellers are usually focused on profits. But, taking a contrarian position requires deep analysis, since they run the risk of making monumental losses. Consequently, they have, often, helped expose corporate misconduct faster than any regulator. Moreover, short-sellers, often, send their findings to regulators and help trigger official investigations into fraudulent activity. If the government wants to develop an early warning system for detecting corporate fraud and staunching crippling losses to the financial system, there is an urgent need to make regulators more accountable and create incentives and support systems for employees and journalists to blow the whistle. This can be through engagement with investigators and analysts, strong monetary incentives for whistleblowers and by permitting short-selling. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brought the Trump administration's anti-Iran message to Gulf Arab states on January 11 as he continued a nine nation tour of the Middle East aimed at reassuring America's partners that withdrawing troops from Syria does not mean Washington is abandoning the region. Pompeo was traveling to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates where he will call for increasing pressure on Iran and push for unity among Gulf neighbors still embroiled in a festering dispute with Qatar. He'll also be promoting a US backed initiative to form what some have termed an "Arab NATO" that would bring the region together in a military alliance to counter threats from Iran. In Bahrain, the UAE and later Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, Pompeo will also be making the case as he did on previous stops in Jordan, Iraq and Egypt that President Donald Trump's decision to pull US troops from Syria is not a sign Washington is retreating from the fight against the Islamic State group. US partnerships with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council are critical to achieving shared regional objectives: defeating ISIS, countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies, and rolling back Iranian aggression the State Department said in a statement released as Pompeo departed Egypt for Bahrain, which is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet. But the now 2-year-old crisis between GCC members Saudi Arabia and UAE and Qatar has hampered US attempts to forge a unified front against Iran. Washington's efforts to ease the dispute, begun by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have thus far failed and took another hit this week when the former general tasked to broker a solution stepped down. "A united GCC is the backbone for regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability, and is essential to countering the single greatest threat to regional stability: the Iranian regime," the State Department said. At each of his stops in the Gulf, Pompeo will be urging progress on creating the Middle East Strategic Alliance, which would join GCC militaries with those of Egypt and Jordan to serve as a counter-balance to Iran, which they all accuse of fomenting unrest and rebellion throughout the region. In addition, Pompeo will call for boosting efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling Iranian-backed rebels in what the UN says is now the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the department said. UN led peace efforts in Yemen, along with attempts to broker a political solution to the war in Syria that "expels every last Iranian boot from the country" and promoting reconciliation in Afghanistan will also be high on Pompeo's agenda, the State Department said. Pompeo kicked off the Gulf portion of his tour after a stop in Cairo, where he delivered a scathing rebuke of former President Barack Obama's Middle East policies that Obama had outlined in a 2009 address to the Arab and broader Muslim world. In a speech entitled "A Force for Good: America's Reinvigorated Role in the Middle East," Pompeo accused the former president of "misguided" thinking that diminished America's role in the region while harming its longtime friends and emboldening Iran. He unloaded on the Obama administration for being naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the Middle East, including Egypt, beginning in 2011. And, he said the Trump administration was taking action to repair the damage. "The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering," Pompeo said in the speech, which was itself denounced by former Obama administration officials for pandering to autocrats, ignoring human rights concerns. "That this administration feels the need, nearly a decade later, to take potshots at an effort to identify common ground between the Arab world and the West speaks not only to the Trump administration's pettiness but also to its lack of a strategic vision for America's role in the region and its abdication of America's values," National Security Action group, a group of former officials, said in a statement. Pompeo blamed the previous administration's approach to the Mideast for the ills that consume it now, particularly the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and Iran's increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, since rescinded by the Trump administration, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal. He said Obama ignored the growth of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon to the detriment of Israel's security and not doing enough to push back on Iran-supported rebels in Yemen. Since withdrawing from the nuclear deal last year, the administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Tehran and routinely accuses the nation of being the most destabilizing influence in the region. It has vowed to increase the pressure until Iran halts what US officials describe as its "malign activities" throughout the Mideast and elsewhere, including support for rebels in Yemen, anti-Israel groups, and Syrian President Bashar Assad. North Korea-United States summit: US President Donald Trump held a summit meeting North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un at the Capella Hotel in Singapore. The meeting assumed significance as the first-ever meeting between leaders of the two countries. (Image: Reuters) Nepal on Friday strongly pitched for convening of the SAARC summit, saying differences should be resolved through dialogue and the grouping should collectively deal with terrorism and other key challenges facing the region. Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali also cited last year's historic talks between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore, saying dialogue was the only way to address differences. "If US President Trump and North Korea's Kim can meet, then why not (leaders of) other countries," he asked during an interaction with a group of foreign policy experts and reporters. It is Pakistan's turn to host the summit. However, India, citing continued support to cross-border terrorism by Pakistan, has been maintaining that it is difficult to proceed with the summit. The 2016 SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after a deadly terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir that year, India expressed its inability to participate in it. The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the meet. Maldives and Sri Lanka are the seventh and eighth members of the grouping. "There is no alternative to sitting together and mitigating differences. The problems we (the region) are facing cannot be resolved alone. We need to put collective efforts to deal with various key challenges like climate change and terrorism," Gyawali said. The Nepalese foreign minister, who held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday, said his country has been raising the issue of the SAARC summit with India. "I am hopeful the summit will be held soon," Gyawali said. SAARC summits are usually held biennially, hosted by a member state in alphabetical order. The member state hosting the summit assumes the chair of the Association. The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Nepalese foreign minister also said he has requested the Indian government to replace Rs 7 crore worth of old Indian currency notes with new ones. Following the demonetisation exercise in India, people in Nepal deposited the old notes in banks in Nepal. Indian currency is extensively used by Nepalese people and businesses. The Nepalese government last month asked its citizens to refrain from keeping or carrying Indian bank notes higher than Rs 100 denomination. On Nepal's ties with China, Gyawali said Nepal has very close ties with India and it will be unfair to compare his country's relationship with India to that of China. "We have a wonderful relationship with India. I do not want to compare it with our ties with China. We have a good relationship with China and I do not want to compare it with India," he said. The minister also said the Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations was finalising its report covering all aspects of the bilateral ties and asserted that there was no difference of opinion between the two sides on the issue. The EPG was formed in January 2016 with the mandate to review various aspects of the bilateral relations including Nepal-India Friendship Treaty 1950. Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas said January 10 that Egypt plans to fully reopen its border crossing with the enclave, days after partially closing it amid infighting between Palestinian factions. Forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas withdrew on January 6 from the Rafah border crossing, accusing rivals Hamas of interference. The crossing is the only way for Palestinians to leave Gaza that bypasses Israel. Egypt has prevented Gazans from leaving the enclave since Abbas's Palestinian Authority withdrew its staff. An Egyptian security delegation visited Gaza on January 10, meeting with senior Hamas officials including its head Ismail Haniya. Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas, told journalists the Egyptians "assured us that there will be no changes at the Rafah border and it will stay open". It was not immediately clear when the crossing would fully reopen. Hayya said he expected that all sides would also stick to an informal truce agreement with Israel. Hamas employees retook the post on January 7 in what they said was an attempt to maintain border control after the shock PA withdrawal. Separately on Thursday, a senior Hamas official announced Haniya had put on hold a planned trip to Russia. General Motors projected strong 2019 profits on January 11, fueled by savings from a deep restructuring including job cuts, and by solid sales in the United States and China. GM, which has faced criticism from President Donald Trump and other US politicians over the planned layoffs, expects $2-2.5 billion in additional profits this year due to the restructuring, pushing its earnings-per-share forecast well above analyst expectations. The biggest US automaker forecast 2019 profits of $6.50 to $7.00 a share, compared to the $5.88 now expected by Wall Street analysts. GM also said it sees 2018 earnings per share as exceeding analyst expectations. GM has defended the job cuts as needed to position the company long-term, in part by providing funds to build autonomous cars and other new offerings. "We are focused on strengthening our cash generation and creating efficiencies that will position us to take advantage of opportunities through the cycle," Chief Financial Officer Dhivya Suryadevara said in a statement. Shares of the auto giant surged 8.0 percent in morning trading to $37.52. The auto giant also announced plans in 2019 to position its electric cars under the Cadillac brand and to launch a new global line of lower-cost models aimed at emerging markets. Global markets have been shaken in recent weeks amid worries over slowing global growth due in part to weakness in China amid the trade confrontation with Washington, and to some forecasts indicating the US will tip into recession in 2020. But GM offered a solid outlook for its home market, estimating overall US sales in 2019 in the "low 17-million range," a good level, and projecting no sales drop in China. US auto sales are expected to be revved up by new sport-utility vehicles coming to market, and by a full calendar year of sales of pickup trucks unveiled in 2018 that have been hot sellers amid low gasoline prices. The company plans new launches in China, although it also sees continued pricing pressure. Overall, GM expects a "moderate decline" in profits from China, Suryadevara told reporters GM Chief Executive Mary Barra was upbeat on the prospects for a US-China trade deal, characterizing this week's talks between US and Chinese officials as "constructive." According to news reports the next round of talks is set for late January in Washington. Barra told reporters it was a "good sign" that the two governments already had plans for additional negotiations, adding that sales in China also could be boosted by government stimulus spending. GM in December announced a plan to cut thousands of jobs and shutter seven plants worldwide, including five in North America. The announcement drew heavy criticism not only from Trump, but from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, labor unions, senior lawmakers in the US Congress and labor unions. Barra said the company has no plans for further downsizing at this time. The automaker said Cadillac would become its "lead" electric brand, a shift from the current structure where the first models have been under Chevrolet. The move positions GM to compete with Tesla in the high-end market. GM said it was on track to launch in 2019 a new global vehicle aimed at emerging markets, beginning in China, followed by South America and Mexico. The vehicles are expected to account for 10 percent of GM's global sales by 2020. Space officials from China and America have exchanged information for the launch of Beijing's recent successful mission to land on the dark side of the moon, the first such collaboration since the 2011 US law banning space exchanges with the Communist nation, an official media report here said. Space authorities from two sides have been discussing cooperation in lunar and deep-space exploration since the second half of last year. The "close communication" between China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) included the use of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) satellite to observe the landing of Beijing's Chang'e 4 spacecraft on the far side of the moon, state-run China Daily reported. The lunar explorer Chang'e-4 landed on the far side of the moon on January 3, becoming the world's first spacecraft to touch down on the natural satellite's uncharted side never visible from Earth, in a major boost to China's quest to become a space superpower. Before the start of Chang'e 4 mission last month, Chinese scientists involved in the program and their counterparts from NASA's LRO team had "close communication" to discuss the use of the LRO satellite to observe the landing of Chang'e 4 for scientific purposes. Launched in June 2009, the LRO is a NASA robotic spacecraft orbiting the moon to gather various kinds of scientific data. "Space authorities in China and the US have been discussing cooperation in lunar and deep-space exploration since the second half of last year, and the two sides exchanged information before the launch of the Chang'e 4 mission to the far side of the moon," the daily quoted CNSA as saying. As a result, the US provided orbital data of the LRO to the Chinese team, while the Chinese side informed the US team about the pre-set site and time of the Chinese lunar probe's landing. Both sides expected the collaboration would bear scientific fruit, the Chinese space agency said. The exchange was the first cooperation, though at a rudimentary level, between Chinese and US space programs since 2011, when a US federal law was made to prohibit NASA from bilateral cooperation with China, it said. A Chinese insider who didn't want to be named told China Daily that the communication represented important progress between the two. He said the two countries can also join hands in making use of Chang'e 4's scientific findings, such as those generated by the low frequency spectrometer carried by the probe's lander, to boost lunar research. In May 2018 China launched a relay satellite named Queqiao to set up a communication link between the Earth and Chang'e-4 lunar probe as direct communication with the far side of the moon is not possible, which was the main challenge for lunar probe mission. The CNSA on January 11 released the 360-degree panoramic photos taken by a camera installed on the top of the lander. The images were sent back through the relay satellite Queqiao, which was operating around the second Lagrangian point of the earth-moon system, about 455,000 km from the earth, where it can see both the earth and the moon's far side, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The Chang'e 4 is China's fourth lunar expedition. In another development, the CNSA has stated that two foreign-made scientific instruments mounted on the Chang'e 4 -- a neutron dosimeter developed by Kiel University in Germany and an energetic neutral atom analyzer provided by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics --have been activated for testing. In picture: KCR gestures to his supporters during a victory procession for the formation of Telangana state. | Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), founded in 2001 with a one-point agenda of creating a separate Telangana state, is a major contender. TRS was emerged as the largest political party in 2014 assembly elections after winning 63 out of 119 seats and formed the first government in the state. (Reuters) Ahead of the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh this year, the TRS January 11 said the Y S Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) can be its 'friend' if it does not align with the Congress or the BJP. On whether the TRS would support the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh where assembly elections are scheduled to be held along with Lok Sabha polls in April-May, TRS spokesperson Abid Rasool Khan said no such decision has been taken. "That's (whether to support YSRCP) a call Mr KCR (Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who leads the Telangana Rashtra Samiti) has to take," Khan told PTI. YSRCP is the main opposition in Andhra Pradesh, where the N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is in power. In last month's elections to the Telangana Assembly, the Congress, the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samiti and the Communist Party of India had formed a pre-poll alliance to take on the TRS but the grouping came a cropper. The TRS returned to power with 88 seats in the 119-member assembly, pushing the Congress to a distant second position with 19 seats. The TDP bagged a mere two seats, while the TJS and the CPI drew a blank. During campaigning, Naidu had come under blistering attack from TRS leaders, who alleged that if the Congress-led alliance were to come to power, he would call the shots and also invoked the "Telangana pride". After the election victory, KCR had said Naidu would get a "return gift", indicating that the TRS is keen to see that the TDP is defeated, but did not elaborate on his party's strategy in this regard. He said the TRS would certainly spread the message that Naidu "cannot be trusted as sometimes he goes with the BJP, and sometimes with the Congress." Khan alleged in the run-up to the December 7 assembly polls, Naidu sought to "interfere in Telangana politics and create an atmosphere of mistrust among the people and tried to divide them on the lines of Seemandhra, Andhra and Telangana". "...about the policy, whether to contest (in Andhra Pradesh), whether to support somebody, that will be taken by party (TRS) politburo when the time comes," he said. YSRCP did not contest in the Telangana elections but some analysts have said supporters of Jaganmohan Reddy-led party supported the TRS given their "antipathy" towards the TDP. But Khan denied it, saying the TRS received no such backing from YSRCP. Speaking in the context of "national perspective", he said any party which is not with the Congress and BJP, can be "our friends". Asked then if YSRCP is a "friend of TRS", Khan said: "If he (Jaganmohan Reddy) does not align with these two major parties". "Definitely, he (Jaganmohan Reddy) can be our friend and he can sail with us in the larger interest of the country, where KCR has said he is trying to form a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front," he said. Khan rejected the perception in some quarters that KCR's efforts in promoting a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front has not cut much ice with regional parties. Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik's statement that his party would not align with the Congress and BJP is in tune with KCR's "thinking", he argued. "Now Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party chief) said he would not align with the Congress, Mayawati (Bahujan Samaj Party supremo) said she will not align with Congress. This thought (of KCR on federal front) is developing", Khan said. Youth Congress activists on January 11 staged protests outside a movie halls here against the screening of the film "The Accidental Prime Minister" which is based on the tenure of former PM Manmohan Singh. However, the West Bengal Congress disapproved the action and said the party would never "oppose freedom of speech", which it values deeply as part of its ideology. Youth Congress activists staged a protest outside a movie hall here and burnt posters of the film. They also raised slogans against the actors and the producer of the film. The film, which was released today, features actor Anupam Kher as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The film is based on Singh's then media adviser Sanjaya Barus 2014 memoir of the same name and details Singhs relationship with the Congress partys Gandhi family. "This is nothing but a propaganda film to show former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party in poor light. We condemn it," a youth Congress activist said. However, the West Bengal Congress unit in a statement disapproved their actions. "The official stand of the Indian National Congress on the 'Accidental Prime Minister' is that we have nothing to do with it. Our president Rahul Gandhi has instructed us that we as a party will never oppose freedom of speech, which we value deeply, as part of our ideology. "In the recent years, we have fallen victim to propaganda and we firmly believe that the people who watch the movie will see through the vile propaganda at play," the state unit of the Congress said in a statement. Rahul Gandhi Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that his party will grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh if voted to power in the upcoming general elections. Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a two-day visit, addressed a gathering of Indian workers at the Labour Colony in Dubai. "As soon as our government comes to power, we will give special status to Andhra Pradesh," Gandhi said. Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh State on June 2, 2014. "You helped India, Indian states and the poor people and you worked to make this city of Dubai, which is great in the whole world. I want to say thank you heartily," he said. Hailing the development of the UAE, Gandhi said all the "massive developments you see here, tall buildings, large airports and metro, wouldn't have been built without your contribution". "You have given your sweat, blood and time for the development of this city and you have made Indians of all backgrounds proud," he said. Gandhi reiterated what he told a group of party workers protesting at Jantar Mantar in March last year for Andhra Pradesh's special status. "We will give special category status to Andhra Pradesh. It's the first thing we will do after coming to power in 2019," he had told the workers. "I am confident that if we stand together we will convince the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that what is due to the people of Andhra Pradesh should be given to them," he said. Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on January 11 said the administration was ready for assembly elections in the state and a call in this direction should be taken by the Election Commission and New Delhi. "Whenever, they (EC) tell us, we are ready for the polls (to assembly)," he told reporters here after the oath-taking ceremony of sarpanch of Jammu region. On IAS officer Shah Faesal's resignation, Malik said he himself was a government employee and did not wish to comment on the matter. The Election Commission (EC) had in November last said fresh elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be held within the next six months, even as the body did not rule out the possibility of holding the state polls before the Lok Sabha polls due this year. "The Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls must be held on the first occasion before May. It could be held before the parliamentary elections also," Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat had said. He said as per the Supreme Court, the outer limit for holding fresh polls after the dissolution of the House was six months, that is May, 2019. It may be recalled that the central government on December 28 told the Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir Governor had no option but to recommend President's Rule in the state as no party or alliance staked claim to form the government. On January 8, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the assembly polls should be held "as soon as possible". The National Conference (NC) vice president also took a dig at some politicians and bureaucrats for "creating hurdles" in holding of assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Rahul Gandhi Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on January 11 told Indian workers here that he wants to listen to their problems instead of telling his "Mann Ki Baat". Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a maiden visit, was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian diaspora at the Dubai airport on January 10. He lauded the Indian workers here for making the country proud by their hard work in the UAE. "You have illuminated the names of every religion, every state and every caste," he said. He said his party is aware of the difficulties faced by the labourers and wants to help them. "We want to talk to you," he said. "Main yahan apne mann ki baat kahne nahi aaya hun..main yayan aapke mann ki baat sunane aaya hun (I have not come here to speak my mind, I have come to listen to your heart)," he said in his address at the Jabel Ali labour colony. He was referring to Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat where he address the nation on various issues. Earlier Gandhi met with the business leaders in the country. A construction worker from Jabel Ali labour colony said he wants to see Gandhi leading India with compassion and care for all Indians. alpesh_thakor Congress MLA in Gujarat and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who recently criticised the state leadership of the party, met party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday. Speaking to reporters at the city airport after returning here, Thakor claimed that Gandhi trusts him a lot. "I apprised Rahul Gandhi of the current situation in Gujarat and how the Congress can win in the state in Lok Sabha elections. "I also shared my views about the ways to strengthen the party and how we can start preparations for the elections," Thakor said. "Rahul Gandhi said he has immense trust in me. He offered to give me any responsibility of my choice. Such offers are rare to come by in politics," Thakor claimed. The Congress MLA from Radhanpur also said that though he asked Gandhi to relieve him of the responsibility of Bihar, the party president asked him to continue. Thakor is the Congress secretary in-charge of Bihar. "I told him I want to work only in Gujarat. But he asked me to continue with Bihar too. He even indicated that I would be given responsibility of other states, which he will discuss with me after he comes back from Dubai," said Thakor. On his criticism of the Gujarat Congress leadership, Thakor maintained that it was not a "rebellion". "I am an honest man. I will speak if something is not going in the right direction. If we do not speak, how would we correct our mistakes? I only spoke truth. It should not be labelled as a rebellion," he said. The young OBC leader had said recently that his community and supporters were feeling "cheated" and "ignored", which was seen as a criticism of the state leadership. "Weak leaders" were at the helm of party affairs in Gujarat, he had said in an apparent reference to Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda. India's government has recently announced a series of measures to try to win over farmers, small business owners and the less well-off, after the ruling party suffered setbacks in state elections and with a general election due in months. The measures are likely to be a drain on finances in Asia's third-biggest economy, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is trying to stick to a decade-low fiscal deficit target of 3.3 percent of the gross domestic product. But Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised even more perks ahead of the general election, which must be held by May. "They will be for development, they will be for transformation," Ravi Shankar Prasad minister for law, justice, and information technology, told parliament this week, referring to inducements for the electorate. "Who wins or loses, the people will decide. We are confident when elections happen, the country's public will again give a big majority to the ruling coalition led by Narendra Modi." Reuters reported this week that the Reserve Bank of India could transfer an interim dividend of 300 billion-400 billion rupees ($4.3 billion-$5.8 billion) to the government by March to help meet the fiscal deficit target as spending rises ahead of the election. Following are steps the government has taken, in addition to proposals for farm-loan waivers worth billions of dollars after the main opposition Congress defeated the BJP in the agrarian states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in state assembly elections late last year. HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES The government on Jan. 10 announced a change in national sales tax rules that would exempt an additional two million small businesses. Businesses with annual sales of up to 4 million rupees ($56,700) will be exempt from the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Currently, firms with an annual turnover of up to 2 million rupees are exempt. The change will come into effect in April. HELP FOR FARMERS Modi is considering three options for a relief package to help farmers suffering because of low crop prices at a cost of as much as 3 trillion rupees ($42.82 billion), according to three government sources. The possibilities are a direct payment to all landowning farmers, compensation for those who sold produce below government prices, and a loan forgiveness programme. JOB RESERVATION Parliament passed a landmark bill on Wednesday reserving 10 percent of government jobs for people outside high-income brackets. Under the amendment to the constitution, floated by the BJP, people with an annual income of less than 800,000 rupees ($11,355), and owning less than five acres of land, would be eligible. India already has job and education quotas for its lowest social classes, but this is the first time upper caste Hindus and people from other religions will benefit from affirmative action. ONIONS The government on Dec. 28 doubled export incentives for onion farmers to 10 percent, following a steep drop in prices of the important staple. The export incentive programme allows farmers to get credit from the government, which can be used to pay various taxes. E-COMMERCE RULES The government said on Dec. 26 it would ban e-commerce companies such as Amazon.com and the Walmart-owned Flipkart Group from selling products from companies in which they have an equity interest. The rule will be applicable from Feb. 1, and came after complaints from retailers and traders, who say the big companies are using their control over inventory from their affiliates, and through exclusive sales agreements, to create an unfair market that allows them to sell some products at very low prices. SALES TAX CUT On Dec. 22, the government slashed the sales tax rate on more than 20 items - including televisions, batteries and movie tickets - aiming to appeal to traders and the middle class. President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before a House committee next month in a hearing that could serve as the opening salvo of a promised Democratic effort to scrutinize Trump, his conflicts of interest and his ties to Russia. The House Oversight and Reform Committee announced January 10 that Cohen will appear before that panel February 7, a little more than a month after the Democrats took the House majority. The hearing marks the latest step in Cohen's transformation from a trusted legal adviser to the president to a public antagonist who has cooperated extensively against him. Although Democrats say the questioning will be limited to avoid interfering with open investigations, the hearing is still likely to pull back the curtain on key episodes involving Trump's personal life and business dealings, including hush-money payments to women and a proposed Moscow real estate deal, that federal prosecutors have been dissecting for months. Cohen is a pivotal figure in investigations by special counsel Robert Mueller into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign and by federal prosecutors in New York into campaign finance violations related to payments to buy the silence of a porn actress and a former Playboy Playmate who say they had sex with Trump. Federal prosecutors have said Trump directed those payments during the campaign. Trump has denied having the extramarital affairs. Cohen has pleaded guilty in both investigations and was sentenced last month to three years in prison. An adviser to Cohen, Lanny Davis, said shortly after he was sentenced that the former political fixer wanted to testify and "state publicly all he knows." In a statement released on January 10, Cohen said he had accepted the invitation "in furtherance of my commitment to cooperate and provide the American people with answers." Cohen added, "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired." Trump has denied wrongdoing and sought to minimize Cohen's statements by painting him as a liar. Asked by reporters in Texas on Thursday about Cohen's appearance, Trump said he's "not worried about it at all." Cohen acknowledged in the Mueller investigation that he lied to Congress by saying negotiations over a Trump Tower in Moscow had ended in January 2016 when he actually pursued the project into that June, well into Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. In New York, he acknowledged his involvement in payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The chairman of the oversight panel, Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, said the committee is consulting with Mueller's office about the testimony. He told reporters on January 10 that "there will be limitations" on the topics covered in Cohen's testimony. "We don't want to do anything to interfere with the Mueller investigation absolutely nothing," Cummings said. The panel's top Republican, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, said Cohen's appearance shows that Cummings is using the "committee as a venue for political theater rather than legitimate oversight," noting how Cohen has admitted knowingly lying to Congress and is a witness in ongoing investigations. "This makes clear that Chairman Cummings and the Democrats will do whatever it takes to attack this President," Jordan said in a statement. A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment. Cummings has signaled that his committee is more interested in investigating the president's involvement in the campaign violations to which Cohen pleaded guilty last year. Cummings has sent document requests to the White House and the Trump Organization that seek to determine why Trump, who reimbursed Cohen for the hush-money payments, omitted that debt on his public financial disclosure form. Cummings is also requesting a raft of potentially revealing communications about the payments and other legal services Cohen provided for the president and his company. The oversight hearing may not be Cohen's only appearance. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said he welcomes Cohen's testimony before the oversight panel, but "it will be necessary, however, for Mr. Cohen to answer questions pertaining to the Russia investigation, and we hope to schedule a closed session before our committee in the near future." Cohen testified before the House intelligence panel in a closed-door hearing in 2017, before his role in the federal investigations was fully known and when Republicans controlled the committee. The GOP-led committee later ended its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, saying there was no evidence of collusion or conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia. Schiff wants to restart parts of that probe. Seventy-nine-year-old Mohan Lal has a last wish: To live the remainder of his life along with "my community" and die in "my homeland". Sitting in his hut at Jagti camp on the outskirts of Jammu city, Lal, who is among the seven lakh-odd Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee Kashmir Valley in the wake of spread of terrorism in 1989-90, says they are living as "refugees in our own country" for three decades but "nothing" is being done for their return and rehabilitation. As Lal's wait for a life "in Kashmir as I used to (live) before 1990" gets longer, his hope gives way to disappointment and anguish. "We have completed 30 years in exile. we still await a call for return from our homeland. I want to live along with my community in Kashmir as I used to before 1990. I want to die in my homeland. Promises made and policies adopted by successive governments for our rehabilitation have fallen flat due to opposition from Kashmir," Lal, who hails from Kulgam district in South Kashmir, told PTI. Lal, along with his family of five members, lives in Jagti camp which houses about 20,000 Kashmiri Pandits. The displaced Kashmiri Pandits say the biggest hurdles in their return to their roots were concerns for their "safety and security" and the government's inability to implement its return and rehabilitation package of 2008 on the ground. Like Lal, 80-year-old Soomawati too want to return home in the border district of Kupwara. She says, "I want to return and die in my home. But nobody is fulfilling my last wish, neither the government nor my family." The general secretary of the All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), T K Bhat, said, "Kashmiri Pandits are at the crossroads. There is uncertainty. The return and rehabilitation policy of the government is on paper and there are no takers for it. Our core concern is safety and security for the community in Kashmir Valley." In 2008, the then Congress-led government at the Centre announced a package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, offering maximum assistance of Rs 7.5 lakh each family for construction of houses. But the then state government led by Omar Abdullah of the National Conference requested the Centre to enhance the package to Rs 20 lakh per family, following feedback from affected families. The plan has not since moved forward. In September 2017, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Srinagar that the central government had decided to construct 6,000 transit accommodations for Kashmiri Pandits. But the plan to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits in three composite townships in North, South and Central Kashmir was opposed by the National Conference and separatists, BJP MLC Surinder Ambardar said. "I feel there is a need to carve out separate homeland for the community," Ambardar said. Even employment schemes for Kashmiri Pandit youths failed to yield desired results. Over 1,900 educated youths were given employments in Kashmir under the prime minister's job package and put up in four different transit accommodations. But they fled following stone pelting on their camps in Kashmir after the killing Hizbul Mujahideen division commander Burhan Wani in July 2016. "These youths were forced to flee to Jammu. The security and safety of Kashmiri Pandits is the primary concern," All Party Migrant Coordination Committee chairman Vinood Pandit said. As families fled the valley, protection of immovable properties of Kashmiri Pandits became an issue that required government intervention within months. "We want the government to remove massive encroachments of lands and properties of displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the valley. But nothing is being done. I have approached the office of the governor in this regard, but to no avail," Legislator G L Raina said. Their hopes for a return to Kashmir was rekindled after the formation of the PDP-BJP government in March 2015 as the two parties had talked about "protecting and fostering ethnic and religious diversity by ensuring the return of Kashmiri Pandits with dignity based on their rights as state subjects and reintegrating as well as absorbing them in the Kashmiri milieu". "We had high hopes after the formation of the BJP-PDP government. But that has been dashed now. The growing radicalism in Kashmir and government policies to deal with the situation are the biggest hurdles," Vinood Pandit said. Batting strongly for a homeland for displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the valley with union territory status, Panun Kashmir Chairman Ajay Chrungoo said, "An end to terrorism is must for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir Valley. New Delhi: Congress Party worker celebrate as initial trends show the party leading in the states Assembly elections, at Congress office, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec.11, 2018. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)(PTI12_11_2018_000027B) The Congress is ready to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections, a senior state leader said on January 11 as speculation about an SP-BSP seat sharing alliance spiralled with the two parties announcing a joint press conference of their chiefs. The Congress already has 45 seats in the Lok Sabha, more than any other regional player, said the party's media coordinator Rajiv Bakshi. His comments came as the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party announced that their leaders, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, would jointly address a press conference on Saturday, signalling a 'gathbandhan' excluding the Congress. "We are a political party and are ready to fight the coming elections alone in Uttar Pradesh," Bakshi told PTI. "We alone have 45 seats in the Lok Sabha and it is any day many more than the regional players... a 'mahagathbandhan' in the Lok Sabha elections need to be built around the party having a national face," Bakshi said, "We are ready to take along like minded parties and they can come together with us," he said. Discussing the Congress' poll preparedness, Bakshi said the party has an organisation and is getting ready for an election. "Where there are glitches, we are revamping it. We will be all set for the polls soon," he added. Another senior leader added that talk on a 'mahagathbandhan' had been going on for a while but Congress members in the state were of the opinion that the party should it go alone as it has an independent identity among the people. "A decision on who to join hands with always rests with the party high command, but we will apprise them that workers and supporters want the Congress to go alone in Uttar Pradesh where it still has its own identity which is different from these parties," he said. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, when, too, the situation seemed against the Congress, the party got 21 seats in the state, paving the way for the return of the UPA government at the Centre, he said. Party leaders here said the Central leadership did not respond to the statements of Akhilesh Yadav or Mayawati during the recent Assembly elections in five states, making it clear that it might prefer to go it alone. They also said party president Rahul Gandhi had made it clear that the Congress cannot be underestimated. In an interview to Gulf News ahead of his visit to UAE on January 11, Gandhi said the Congress idea is very powerful in Uttar Pradesh. "So, we are very confident of our ability in Uttar Pradesh and we will surprise people," he was quoted as saying. Gandhi's comments were the first indication of the party's plan B after the regional players seemed to have deserted it. Sources in the Congress said Gandhi will soon meet UPCC president Raj Babbar and AICC in-charge of party affairs in the state Ghulam Nabi Azad to deliberate on the matter. "There are chances that Gandhi will set up a committee to finalise issues concerning elections," a party leader said. Delhi's Chief Minister Sheila Dixit speaks during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the United States embassy chancery building, marking the support of U.S.-India bilateral cooperation, in New Delhi January 5, 2009. REUTERS/Vijay Mathur (INDIA) - GM1E5151FEG01 The newly-appointed Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit met with the three working presidents and took stock of the party affairs in the national capital. According to party sources, Dikshit will officially take charge from January 16. She was appointed as the Delhi party unit head by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on January 10. Devender Yadav, Rajesh Lilothia and Haroon Yusuf were appointed as working presidents to assist the former Delhi chief minister. "The meeting focused on setting priorities and fixing responsibilities of office-bearers in view of the approaching Lok Sabha elections. The ways to strengthen the party unit were also discussed in the meeting," the party leaders said. The new team headed by Dikshit is yet to decide on the possibility of alliance with the AAP. Dikshit had after her appointment told reporters that she would react on the issue (of alliance) after understanding the situation from top to down. Meanwhile, sources said most of the party leaders believe Congress is "prepared" to challenge the BJP on its own in the upcoming general elections. A final decision on Congress' alliance with other parties will be taken by the committee headed by A K Antony, they added. (Image: Reuters) Abhijit Iyer-Mitra Christian Michels revelations of lobbying in favour of the Eurofighter seem (once again) to have set the cat among the pigeons in the whole Rafale saga. This begs two questions: One, what did Christian do and was it illegal? Two, how do the Eurofighter and Rafale match up and did India get the right plane? From press reports one is yet to discern any clear illegality in Michels actions with regards to the Eurofighter as opposed to a clear line of illegality with regards to the Augusta Westland helicopters. The allegations so far are of acting as a consultant to Eurofighter and writing strategy papers for them. This is common practice as many companies will seek out old experienced India hands when entering a contest here. The role of these India hands is to advise on the Indian system and how to go about working it. So the question is: What is the difference between the much-dreaded middleman and consultants? Primarily, in the Indian legal definition this depends on if the person in question is paid a regular remuneration for services rendered on a regular basis or on a one-off basis (consultants and advisers) or if the remuneration is a percentage cut depending on the outcome of a deal (middlemen). The belief (though not substantiated by statistics) is that the former is legitimate while the latter incentivises corruption. To extend a tour guide analogy, pre-payment for your day tour of Paris might get you a horrid grumpy guide who explains nothing properly to you. On the other hand, if you hire an enterprising youngster (a la Slumdog Millionaire) with the promise of good things at the end if he/she does a good job, youll get an individual willing to bend/break a few rules for you including bribe the occasional museum to cut the queue. Given this, the onus for the conviction of Michel will be on the authorities who will have to prove that he fell into the illegal middleman category rather than the legal, paid employee category. This brings us to the substance of the Eurofighter vs Rafale arguments. I do not think highly of the Rafale jets and feel the Eurofighter is superior. However, given a choice, I would have picked the Swedish Gripen or the F-18 over the Eurofighter and Rafale. The Eurofighters advantages are a mature active electronically scanned array (AESA) (the Indian Rafale has a similar radar albeit later in development), a two-way data link with the meteor missile unlike the Rafales one-way link (this enables the aircraft to use the missile as a forward observation post and disengage much quicker, leaving the missile to attack autonomously), better manoeuvrability, and; better on board power for brute force jamming. On the other hand, the Rafale, unlike the all active approach to war the Eurofighter takes, has a more passive approach, preferring to control its electronic emissions instead. Its primary advantage visible then (and without the benefit of hindsight) is that it is a single nation product and hence at least in the Indian mind has a higher probability of full technology transfer (this is not true as at least 17% of the Rafales key technologies, contributing to a major chunk of its combat efficiency, are made in the US). Today, with the benefit of hindsight we know three things: One, the Rafales range was significantly greater than the Eurofighter, as evidenced by its flight fully loaded from St Dizier in the north of France to take part in the 2011 Libyan regime change operation. Two, the French had agreed to allow its modification for the carriage of nuclear weapons. Three, and most importantly, the Indian Air Force knew by 2009 at the latest that the Sukhoi was underperforming severely in terms of range, availability and electronics. In effect the Eurofighter was the best match going by advertised specifications. The Rafale was the best match going by unadvertised exigencies that arose in the 2004 to 2009 period. In the end what we have to understand is that there is no one fits all solution to the problems the IAF faces. Moreover, it must not be forgotten that India has tried thrice since Independence to industrialise its defence sector and failed all three times. Given this, you end up settling for even more imperfect solutions. Abhijit Iyer-Mitra is a defence economist and senior fellow at Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi. He tweets at @iyervval. Views are personal. Flash Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China.org.cn, spoke to Professor Joseph Nye, a renowned political scientist and scholar of international relations, about the current state of U.S.-China relations. Nye was an important figure in international affairs and national security during the Clinton administration, and is famous for creating the concept of "soft power." Professor Nye offered his insights on how China, the second-largest economy in the world, could use smart power and soft power to make itself more attractive to people in other countries. Mumbai: A view of Dharavi depot after over 33,000 employees of Mumbai's civic transport undertaking BEST went on an indefinite strike since midnight over their demands, including higher wages, in Mumbai, Tuesday, Jan 8, 2019. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade) (PTI1_8_2019_000074B) The indefinite strike by employees of the city's civic transport undertaking Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will continue on Friday, as talks between union leaders and officials remained inconclusive. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose party controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), met the BEST union leaders in the presence of Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta and the BEST commissioner Surendra Kumar Bagde at the Mayor's bungalow Thursday. The negotiations went on for nearly seven hours but failed to break the deadlock. "The officials have refused to relent on our demands to merge the budget of BEST with that of the BMC. Therefore, the strike will continue. They did not agree to even give us a written assurance about our other demands," BEST Workers Union president Shashank Rao told reporters after the meeting. He added that while Thackeray tried to find a middle ground, he did not succeed. The Union has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded a written assurance on its demands, Rao said. "This strike was called by workers. In the absence of definite assurance, what will we tell them?" said Rao. Nearly 32,000 BEST employees are on indefinite strike since Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries and merger of budgets. While the BMC is the richest municipal body in the country, BEST is a loss-making undertaking. Not a single BEST bus plied on Mumbai roads since morning, an official said. Commuters complained that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers were charging much more than normal rates. A PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court Thursday seeking a direction to BEST workers to end the strike. The court will be hearing it Friday. The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance cabinet, which has two BJP ministers, has passed a resolution opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, as the saffron party's leadership in the state asserted they were "with the indigenous people" on the proposed legislation. The Cabinet passed the resolution during a meeting on January 11. The BJP, which has two MLAs in the MDA government, backed the Cabinet decision. "We are with the people of the state. The state cabinet had unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the Bill and we are part of the government," Health Minister and BJP MLA A L Hek said. Asked if he would resign from the BJP on the issue, he said, "No question". "People have voted for me. They have entrusted me with responsibilities as their representative and I will continue to serve in that capacity." The ruling National People's Party (NPP), the United Democratic Party (UDP), the BJP and the Hills State Peoples Democratic Party, as well as the opposition Congress, have voiced their opposition to the Bill, reflecting strong dissent prevailing in the state against the proposed legislation, cleared already by Lok Sabha. The ruling UDP (having nine MLAs) has aired its opposition to the Bill and party president Donkupar Roy slammed the BJP at the Centre for "going against the voices of the people", particularly in the frontier states of the northeast region. Roy, who is also the speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, told PTI, "There is a great danger in accepting the Bill in its current form, and if it's implemented in the frontier states of the North East, particularly in Meghalaya." He said, "The Bill would open the gates for illegal immigrants from Bangladesh to come into the state and in the northeast. We do not want the indigenous population to become a minority in our own state." The speaker demanded the state and the northeast region be exempt from implementing the proposed legislation "going by the sentiments of the indigenous people." National Peoples Party (NPP) president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had said his party will be meeting in the coming days to decide on the future course of action of the party with regards to the Citizenship Bill. The NPP is heading the MDA government and has 20 MLAs in the 60-member House. On January 11, Sangma flew to Itanagar to meet his party leaders in that state. His party is also a part of the ruling government in Arunachal Pradesh. The Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (with 2 MLAs), and part of the ruling MDA government, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 10 demanding reconsideration of the implementation of the Bill, party MLA Renikton told PTI. He said the party met urgently earlier and expressed concern over the Bill. "The Bill opens floodgates for influx of foreigners into indigenous hill state like Meghalaya. We demand 1971 as the cut-off year for identifying genuine citizens in the country," the letter said. The Bill proposes to accord Indian citizenship on non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. "We earnestly pray that Bangladesh be excluded from the Bill and we assure you that you will get an unstinted support from the people of the North East," it added. The Peoples Democratic Front (having 4 MLAs and is part of the ruling dispensation) will be meeting shortly to decide on how to air its opposition to the Bill. Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma termed the Bill as the "biggest" let down to the indigenous people in the northeast post partition. "This Bill is aimed at crushing the indigenous people here. I condemn it," the senior Congress leader said. New Delhi: BJP National President Amit Shah addresses on the first day of BJP National Executive Meet, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, Friday, Jan 11, 2019. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore) (PTI1_11_2019_000121B) BJP president Amit Shah on January 11 projected the Lok Sabha polls as a clash of ideologies and likened it to the third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the Afghan army, saying the election results will be equally significant for the country. In his inaugural address at a party convention, he dismissed the proposed grand alliance of opposition parties against the BJP as a "sham", saying they are a disparate group with neither a leader nor any policy and have been brought together by their greed of power. The BJP must win the elections to pursue its agenda of cultural nationalism and the poor's welfare, he said. The party has the "world's most popular" leader in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asserted, asking thousands of BJP delegates to go with the pledge of bringing the government back to power. In his speech, which lasted over an hour, Shah repeatedly emphasised the significance of the upcoming polls, stressed on a number of Modi government's measures- especially those related to security, curbing corruption and welfare programmes- and hit out at the Congress for its dare to target Modi on the issue of graft when its president Rahul Gandhi is on bail in a "case of corruption". Modi and other top leaders of the party were on dais as he gave the party war cry to win the next polls, claiming that people like the BJP want a "majboot sarkar" (strong government) and the opposition wants a "majboor sarkar" (helpless government). "Nobody other than Modi can give a strong government," Shah said, adding that it will be an election to give stability to the country's development and the party's expansion. Opposition parties know that it is impossible to "defeat" Modi, who has emerged as the "nucleus" of politics like the Congress was for many decades, he said, claiming that people continue to stand behind the prime minister like a rock and that the BJP is sure to win under him. Underlining the election's significance, he said battles are of different kinds; consequences of some are confined to win and defeated, of some others are felt for a decade of so while of some others are felt for centuries. "I believe the 2019 battle is going to be like this," he said, drawing a parallel with the third battle of Panipat. "This is an example in history which matches with the situation today," he said, asserting that it is a must for the party to win the polls. Under king Shivaji, Marathas had started freeing different parts of India and won over 131 battles under various kings before losing the third battle of Panipat. "It was not merely a loss in one battle... India was sunk in slavery for 200 years and the English ruled it for two countries. It was a decisive battle," he said. Noting that from six states in 2014, when it came to power at the Centre, the BJP is ruling 16 states now, he said it will rule south India and form its government in Kerala if the Modi government is re-elected. Amid a growing challenge from opposition parties and the BJP's defeat in the recent state polls, Shah sought to reassure the party cadres about its prospects in the general elections, saying he knew Modi since 1987 and not a single election has been lost under him. He also claimed that the party is on its way to win more than 50 ppercentvotes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliance's tally will improve from the 73 seats it had won in 2014 out of the state's 80. Mocking the "bua-bhatija" alliance of Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's BSP, he said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the BJP's fear. Dismissing "Rahul baba and company's" allegation of corruption against the Modi government on the Rafale issue as baseless, he said somebody told him that the Congress could not face elections without levelling charges against the prime minister whose image, he added, remains unblemished. Mocking Gandhi for his dare to attack the government on the issue of corruption, he said he and his mother Sonia Gandhi are out on bail in a case of graft, a reference to the National Herald matter. Referring to the passage of a bill in Parliament to give 10 ppercentquota to the general category poor, Shah said the Modi government has "fulfilled" the dreams of crores of youths and described the constitution amendment bill as one of the most important legislations passed by Parliament. Shaktikanta Das_RBI_Reserve bank_RBI Industry lobby Assocham met Reserve Bank governor Shaktikanta Das and discussed the liquidity issues being faced by non-banking financial companies and housing finance players, and suggested some steps to ease the crisis. Since taking charge on December 12, Das has met banks, both public and private sector and also NBFCs and MSMEs. This is the first meeting the governor has had with an industry lobby, though. The delegation, which met the governor in New Delhi, told him that over-regulation of the sector is hampering the growth of the NBFC model of lending. The players requested the governor to maintain the existing asset liability mismatch (ALM) norms till the normalcy is restored. The industry body said NBFCs need the regulator to also play the role of facilitator. "We reiterated our concern that while the asset side of NBFCs is subject to regulation which has been harmonised with that of banks, the liability side i.e. fund raising activity, still remains highly restricted, thereby creating a liquidity crunch for the sector, Assocham said in a statement. The delegation requested the governor to reduce the minimum holding period to three months for loans having maturity of two-five years. Housing finance companies should be allowed to access National Housing Finance (NHB) refinance facility, they said. The players have demanded that sectoral cap on mutual funds investing in NBFCs be enhanced to 35 percent, and an additional 15 percent in case of HFCs. "Life insurance companies have a limit of 25 percent to BFSI portfolio including equity exposures; this may be increased, and government securities exposure limit may be reduced from 50 percent in line with the trend in the economy," the delegation suggested. Risk weightage for NBFCs should be reduced to 20 percent for AAA rated companies and 30 percent for AA rated ones in line with the weighting to asset finance companies (AFCs) and IFCs, it said. Assocham also urged the monetary authority to restore the arrangement of treating bank funding to NBFCs & HFCs for on-lending to the priority sector as priority sector lending for banks. U.S. President Donald Trump waves prior to departing on a trip to Wisconsin from the White House in Washington, U.S., October 24, 2018. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC13580F4390 President Trump has canceled his planned trip to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, Switzerland, citing the "intransigence" of the Democrats on his funding request to build a controversial wall along the US-Mexico border. Trump was scheduled to attend the five-day Davos Summit which will begin from January 21. "I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," the president tweeted. Trump has demanded $5.7 billion from the Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats who support border security measures, argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers' money. Earlier, Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a visit to the southern border in Texas that he will skip the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos in Switzerland if the ongoing partial shutdown of the government continues. "I intended to go and speak in front of the international community in Davos. That's still on, but if the shutdown continues, I won't go," he had said. Later, he tweeted to cancel his Davos trip. "Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. My warmest regards and apologies to the @WEF!" Trump said. The WEF, an annual gathering of the world's political and financial elite, is typically an event American presidents avoid. Trump was the first president to attend the forum, in 2018, since Bill Clinton attended in 2000, the New York Times reported. The partial shutdown has brought the functioning of several wings of the federal government, including the State Department, to a stand still, leaving more than 800,000 employees without pay. The shutdown will enter its 22nd day on January 12, breaking the previous record of 21 days of US government shutdown under the Bill Clinton administration in December 16, 1995 to January 5, 1996. Trump said the partial government shutdown could be resolved in 15 minutes, but for the Democrats, who he alleged are not interested in national security. "The buck stops with everybody. They can solve this problem in literally 15 minutes. We could be back, we could have border security. They could stop this problem in 15 minutes if they wanted to," he said. Yes Bank live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Yes Bank has proposed the names of two senior bankers for the position of the bank's chief executive officer and managing director to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), sources told Moneycontrol. While one of them is CEO of a foreign bank, the other in the race is the current executive director of Yes Bank, Rajat Monga, according to people familiar with the development. On January 9, Yes Bank informed the exchanges of the names shortlisted at its board meeting. It has sent a formal proposal to RBI on January 10. Yes Bank didnt provide any comment on this story. The bank had set up a search and selection committee to recommend both internal and external candidates. It will now require RBI approval. The RBI had in September 2018 directed the bank to cut short the tenure of CEO Rana Kapoor to January 31, 2019, following a mismatch in the non-performing assets (NPA) numbers of the bank versus calculations by RBI. Rana had taken over as the CEO in 2004 and was given an extension of three years by shareholders in August 2018. The apex bank, however, directed the board to appoint a new chief by January 2019. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Share price of Welspun Enterprises rose 3.6 percent intraday Friday after company's subsidiary entered into concession agreement with Public Works Department, Government of Maharashtra. Public Works Department, Government of Maharashtra and Welspun Road Infra, a wholly owned subsidiary of company executed the concession agreement for upgradation of roads/ two laning of roads/ two laning of roads with paved shoulder under MRIP package on hybrid annuity mode (HAM) under Public Works Circle, Amravati in Maharashtra state. The subsidiary will develop the project at a bid project cost of Rs 1,460 crore and first year O&M cost of Rs 31.50 crore. The construction period is 2 years from the appointed date and O&M period is 10 years after commercial operation date. The trading window for dealing in the securities of the company by the insiders is closed till January 12, 2019. At 10:36 hrs Welspun Enterprises was quoting at Rs 111.85, up Rs 2.85, or 2.61 percent on the BSE. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Share price of S H Kelkar & Company rose 4 percent intraday Friday after company's subsidiary appealed against I-T department's order of tax demand. Keva Fragrances, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company has received an assessment order under Section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for the Assessment Year 2016-17 with a demand of Rs 137.95 crores including interest. The company has been advised that the said order is not tenable under law and there is reasonable certainty of the order being quashed by appellate authorities. Keva Fragrances has filed an appeal contesting the assessment made by the Assessing Officer and has also filed for stay of demand. At 14:32 hrs S H Kelkar & Company was quoting at Rs 181.15, up Rs 3.10, or 1.74 percent on the BSE. Yes Bank live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More We are recommending Yes Bank as a tactical call for investors who can withstand some volatility. The stock has been in the thick of action for all the wrong reasons. It has corrected close to 54 percent from its 52-week high after Reserve Bank of India's refusal to extend Managing Director Rana Kapoors tenure beyond January 31. We feel the steep price correction beckons investor attention, should its successor gets finalised shortly. Newspaper reports suggest that the board of Yes Bank has suggested names of one internal (Rajat Monga, Executive Director) and one external candidate (Rajesh Sud, former MD of Max Life Insurance) to the RBI to replace Rana Kapoor. Pralay Modal another internal candidate gunning for the top job has quit and Sud has also backed out as per media reports, thereby leaving Monga as the sole contender for the top position. Should RBI clear the name, Kapoors legacy would continue, offering respite to the beaten down stock. The leadership change should pave the way for capital raising, which is critical for future growth of the bank. The bank has grown at a blistering pace in the past and a stable top management along with capital is all that it requires to come back to the race where it can meaningfully capture market share, thanks to the void created by the departure of weak state-run banks and smaller non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). While current account-savings account (low cost deposits) at 34 percent has a long way to go, the bank has been steadily gaining market share in advances as well as deposits. Asset quality remains a key concern and RBIs audit report for FY18 is keenly awaited. Should it turn out to be better than last year, the stock will have reasons to cheer. In the near term, the rise in slippage and significant exposure to Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS, in excess of Rs 2,620 crore) could mar performance. However, even if one fully provides for IL&FS and all other exposure that are under various dispensations, the historic price-to-adjusted book still looks reasonable (at 2.5 times), especially if there is visibility after the top management rejig. Spot great ideas: Damani recalling his first major trade outlined the importance of spotting good stocks. He gave example of CMC Ltd (which later merged with TCS), a public sector company which saw first round of divestment in 1992. The stocks were available at around 10-15 rupees a piece. This was the company which had developed Indian Railways reservation and ticketing system, revolutionising the experience. Despite, there were no buyers. Damani bought it and eventually it went up to Rs 800 within a year. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Highlights - Eveready promoter group is planning to exit the business- Monetising land banks to reduce debt- CCI Penalty of Rs 172 crores is a major overhang- Operational issues to supersede other developments - Fairly valued at current levels Eveready, the maker of dry cell batteries, has witnessed stagnation in core business in recent years. The management has been actively trying new strategies for revival and has managed to hog the limelight with its latest announcement. Evereadys promoter group, the Khaitan family is evaluating an exit from the flagship business and has mandated an investment banker to identify potential strategic and financial investors. Core business stagnating Eveready engages in multiple consumer-focused businesses - which ranges from batteries, flashlights, lighting products, home appliances to confectionary candies and tea. The company has had little success in its core business of late. Batteries and flashlights (torches) contributing around 60 percent to its topline have been facing tough competition from multiple corners - Chinese players, unorganised players. The company enjoys a strong market position in batteries and flashlights with a dominant market share of around 50 percent and 75 percent, respectively. However, the sector appears to have reached a stage of maturity and the business looks difficult to scale from here in the current market dynamics. This is probably the primary reason for the stake sale. The segment should see improved operating margins as it stands to benefit from the recent softening of zinc prices, anticipated to lend support to its margins in the first half of this calendar year. Diversifying revenue stream through new ventures To diversify revenue stream, Eveready entered into lighting and home appliances business in 2013 and 2016, respectively. These two segments together contribute around Rs 100 crore to its topline of Rs 1,500 crore and remain a key focus area to double the revenue base in the next 1-1.5 years. In 2018, the management got smitten by the candy crush saga as it forayed into the confectionary business with the launch of Jollies - fruit chew candy. The move is aimed at leveraging at the existing distribution network of batteries, which are traditionally sold through an FCMG channel. Besides, the company entered into Joint Venture (JV) with Universal Wellbeing, part of Indonesia-based Wings group, in order to scale up its FMCG business in India. It also entered into a strategic partnership with McLeod Russel India, a promoter group company, to carry out its packet tea business through a separate entity. Land monetisation underway The company holds a number of land banks in multiple geographies and the management has decided to monetise these non-core assets. In December last year, Eveready announced the sale of Chennai land for Rs 100 crore. It also owns land banks in Hyderabad and Kolkata, which may be sold to bring in more cash in near to medium term. The proceeds from the Chennai sale will help pare down the balance sheet debt of nearly Rs 315 crores at the end of September 2018. CCI Penalty a major overhang Earlier this year, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a penalty of Rs 172 crore on the company for indulging in anti-competitive practices in the zinc-carbon dry cell battery market in India. In a subsequent hearing, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) stayed the order and asked the company to deposit Rs 17 crore (10 percent of the penalty) with the registry of the tribunal. The final outcome of this penalty is still pending and remains a major overhang on the business as the penalty amount translates to nearly two times it operational profits. Outlook on the company The management is trying hard to get the business out of the woods. While the stake sale decision seems like a step in the right direction, the operational issues will continue to supersede other developments. We dont see a material reason to get excited at this point as the stock appears fairly valued (at 28 times price-earnings) and the anticipated stake sale can take years to fructify. Prospective investors are, therefore, advised to wait until there is any constructive development (regarding operational improvement or new promoters announcement), before jumping in. Read: Global bond & equity markets giving conflicting signals, what should investors do? Flash Despite the opposition that appears now in China-U.S. relations, cooperation is far more important, underscored prominent U.S. political scientist Dr. Joseph S. Nye during an exclusive interview with Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China.org.cn, on Jan. 10. Ties between the two countries underwent tremendous challenges in 2018, noted Nye. At the close of China-U.S. vice-ministerial level talks on economic and trade issues, the prospects for a swift settlement still remain unclear. Some today are looking at China-U.S. relations through a Cold War lens, even labeling the two sides as "strategic adversaries." Nye, the University Distinguished Service Professor at Harvard University, stressed the cooperative nature of China-U.S. relations. He suggested that rather than focusing on the negative aspects of the two countries' current relationship, people should think cooperatively, as transnational challenges are impossible to resolve without cooperation. In the face of climate change, for example, "No way can the U.S. solve that problem without working with China. No way can China solve that problem without working with the U.S.," said Nye, noting the same is true when it comes to financial stability, dealing with pandemics, and other issues. "So as we think about this, yes there will be tension, but there has to be cooperation." Nye contrasted today's China-U.S. situation with then Soviet Union-U.S. relations during the Cold War era. In the latter case, he explained, there was almost no trade and no social relations, while today with China, "We have obviously massive trade. And we have 370,000 Chinese students in the U.S., and millions of tourists going in both directions. This is not like the Cold War. And we should not use the language of cold war. I've called it a cooperative rivalry." China's poverty alleviation achievements "good for all of humanity" Nye, perhaps best known as the inventor of the concepts of "soft power" and "smart power," spoke highly of China's achievements in the alleviation of poverty. Smart power refers to the ability to combine the power of attraction with the power of coercion and economic strength. He noted that China has been following a smart power strategy since the 17th CPC National Congress. He further noted that the "economic miracle" of poverty eradication has far-reaching benefits. "China has much to be proud of. If you look at what has happened in China, of raising hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, that's good for China. That's good for all of humanity," Nye said. From 1978, when the reform and opening up policy was first adopted, to 2017, China has lifted 740 million people out of poverty, contributing more than 70 percent to global poverty alleviation work in the past 40 years. Nye advised China to continue its effort in increasing its soft power, "because China's hard power, economic and military, is growing. But if China can also increase its soft power of attractiveness, it makes that more acceptable to other countries." "America First" slogan a blow to American soft power According to Nye, U.S. President Trump has damaged American soft power with his "America First" rhetoric, as well as his decision to drop out of the Paris climate accord and other international agreements. Nye mentioned that the Global Ranking of Soft Power 2018, published by London consultancy Portland Communications, showed the United States' ranking fell from the top position two years ago to fourth today. "You can see this by public opinion polls. When you have a slogan like 'America First,' it makes everybody else feel second. So it may be a good slogan for American domestic opinion. It's a very bad slogan for international opinion," Nye said. In contrast to Trump's "America First" policy, Nye thinks Chinese President Xi Jinping's concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" reflects a collaborative spirit required in today's global climate. "I think President Xi's slogan is a way of illustrating that type of cooperation. It's something which is going to be essential for all mankind. I sometimes say that we have to learn not about power over others but power with others. The power with others." live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Here are stocks that are in the news today: Results today: Infosys, Karnataka Bank, Reliance Industrial Infrastructure, Infomedia Press, TRF Reliance Industries: The company is planning to shut down one of the crude distillation units and coker unit of its DTA refinery at Jamnagar for routine maintenance and inspection activities for about 4 weeks staring from January 16, 2019. The other crude distillation and secondary processing units are expected to operate normally. HFCL: Company wins major optical fibre cable orders worth more than Rs 500 crore for BharatNet Phase -II Project from L&T and ITI led consortium. Tata Motors: JLR December sales down 6.4 percent to 52,160 units YoY. Emkay Global Financial Services: Company appointed Suveer Chainani as Chief Executive Officer - Institutional Clients Group. Praj Industries: Company expands bio-energy basket by adding compressed bio-gas (CBG) technology; also on track with execution of first batch of 2G bio refineries. Indian Energy Exchange: Board extended the term of Satyanarayan Goel, Managing Director & CEO of the company for further six months. Welspun Enterprises ' subsidiary Welspun Road Infra executed concession agreement with Public Works Department, Government of Maharashtra TCS Q3: Profit rises 2.6 percent at Rs 8,105 crore versus Rs 7,901 crore; revenue increases 1.3 percent to Rs 37,338 crore versus Rs 36,854 crore; $ revenue rises to $5,250 million versus $5,215 million QoQ. KNR Contructions: Subsidiary company received the financial closure letter from the National Highways Authority of India. NBCC: Company has secured the total business of Rs 187.90 crore in December 2018. There is dispute between the Labour contractor and some workers appointed under the labour contract Management of the company has decided to declare holiday for 2 days i.e. January 9 and 10 in the production department of the company for the appointment of new labour contractor Kernex Microsystems India: Board approved the appointment of Kalidindi Satyanarayana Raju, as Chief Executive Officer of the company. Tata Motors: Jaguar Land Rover outlined the next phase of 'Charge and Accelerate', the company's ongoing transformation programme to deliver 2.5 billion pound in cost reductions and cashflow improvements over 18 months as well as long-term strategic operating efficiencies. Mukand received no adverse observation Letter from NSE and BSE for the proposed Amalgamation amongst Adore Traders & Realtors and Mukand Global Finance and Mukand Engineers and Mukand RBL Bank: Rama Bijapurkar resigned as Independent Director of the bank. Lemon Tree signed a license agreement for a 50 room resort property located at Dindi, Andhra Pradesh Lyka Labs: Kapol Co-operative Bank Ltd has assigned company's entire loan account along with all underlying balances, rights and securities to International Asset Reconstruction Co. Pvt. Ltd. CONCOR has commenced coastal operations from January 10, 2019 Syndicate Bank keep Marginal Cost of Fund Based Lending Rate (MCLR) unchanged Bulk Deals on January 10 Bliss GVS Pharma: Kotak Mahindra Investments sold 5,50,000 shares of the company at Rs 171.59 per share on the NSE. CL Educate: ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company sold 1,03,290 shares of the company at Rs 114.98 per share on the NSE. (For more bulk deals, click here) Analyst or Board Meet/Briefings IndusInd Bank: Motilal Oswal AMC will meet representatives of the company on January 10, 2018. The Great Eastern Shipping Company: The company will meet representatives of Phillip Capital on January 15, 2019. Aurion Pro: The company will hold an earnings call on January 23, 2018. Chennai Petroleum Corporation: Board meeting is scheduled on January 28 to consider the un-audited financial results for the quarter and nine months ended December 2018. SRG Housing Finance: Board meeting is scheduled on January 17 to consider raising of funds by way of equity shares through further public offer/ preferential allotment/ qualified institutions placement or any other permissible mode. Dena Bank: Board meeting will be held on Janaury 15 to consider / approve, raising of capital through issuance of fresh Equity shares to Employees and Whole time Directors of the bank under Employee stock purchase scheme (ESps). HEG: Senior Management of the company is scheduled to meet Analysts / Investors from January 14 to 15 at Singapore, as organized by Bank of America Merill Lynch. Muthoot Capital Services: Board meeting is scheduled on January 18 to consider the financial statements of the company for the quarter (Q3) ended December 2018. HT Media: Conference call for analysts and investors is scheduled to be held on January 17. Siyaram Silk Mills: Board meeting is scheduled on January 19 to consider the unaudited standalone financial results for the quarter /nine month ended December 2018. Supreme Petrochem: Board meeting is scheduled on January 21 to consider the unaudited financial results of the company for the quarter/nine months ended December 2018. Great Eastern Shipping: Company's officials will be meeting Phillip Capital on January 15. Reliance Industries: Board meeting is scheduled on January 17 to consider standalone and consolidated unaudited financial results for the quarter / nine months ended December 2018. Sundram Fasteners: Board meeting is scheduled on February 1 to consider the unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended December 2018. Hindustan Media Ventures: Conference call for analysts and investors is scheduled to be held on January 17. Nucleus Software Exports: Board meeting is scheduled on January 28 to consider the audited standalone financial results for the quarter and nine months ended on December 2018. Hindustan Bio Sciences: Board meeting is scheduled on January 31 to consider the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 31/12/2018. Aarti Industries: Board meeting is scheduled on February 3 to consider the audited financial results for the quarter and nine months ended on December 2018. Shree Pushkar Chemicals & Fertilisers: Officials of the company will be meeting investors and analyst at the plant at Lote Parshuram, Chiplun, Ratnagiri- Maharashtra on January 11. Mukand: Board meeting is scheduled on February 12 to consider the un-audited financial results (standalone) of the company for the quarter ended December 2018. Zee Learn: Board meeting is scheduled on January 18 to consider the un-audited financial results of the company on standalone and consolidated basis for the third quarter and nine months ended of financial year 2018-19 ended as on December 2018. MT Educare: Board meeting is scheduled on January 18 to consider the un-audited financial results on standalone and consolidated basis for the third quarter and nine months of the financial year 2018-19 ended as on December 2018. Shriram Asset Management: Board meeting is scheduled on January 28 to consider the unaudited financial results for the quarter and nine months ended December 2018. Pricol: Board meeting is scheduled on February 7 to consider the un-audited accounts for the quarter and nine months ended December 2018. Dixon Technologies: Company's officials will be meeting Kotak MF on January 11, Phillip Capital on January 14 and UBS on January 15. Ujjivan Financial Services: Board meeting is scheduled on January 23 to consider the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 2018. Infosys | Company completed the acquisition of Blue Acorn iCi, an Adobe Platinum partner in the US. (Image: Reuters) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Infosys, which came out with results post market hours on Friday for the quarter-ended December, had more disappointments than surprises. Net profit, EBIT and operating margin of the Bengaluru-based software services exporter missed estimates. Infosys closed 0.56 percent higher at Rs 683 ahead of the results on Friday. We have collated a list of 10 takeaways from Infosys Q3 results: Net Profit: The net profit of the Bengaluru-based software services exporter slipped by nearly 30 percent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis and a little over 12 percent sequentially at Rs 3,610 crore for the quarter ended December. The net profit number was lower than CNBC-TV18 poll of Rs 4,115 crore. The IT major reported a net profit of Rs 5129 crore in the year-ago period and Rs 4,110 crore in the September quarter. Remember, TCS on Thursday reported a 24.1 percent rise in YoY profit at Rs 8,105 crore for the December quarter. Rupee Revenue: Rupee revenue grew by 3.8 percent on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis to Rs 21,400 crore for the quarter ended December which was higher than CNBC-TV18 poll of Rs 21,105 crore. The IT major reported revenues of Rs 20,609 crore in the previous quarter. Revenue in dollar terms rose 2.3 percent to $2,987 million, which was in line or slightly higher than CNBC-TV18 estimate of $2,950 million. Guidance: FY19 revenue guidance in constant currency revised upward to 8.5-9.0% while the Operating margin guidance retained at 22-24% Operating Margin: Operating margin fell 110 basis points to 22.6 percent which was lower than CNBC-TV18 poll of Rs 23.6 crore. It includes additional depreciation and amortization impact of 0.4 percent due to the reclassification of assets of Panaya and Skava from Held for Sale. EBIT or earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) which is a measure of a firm's profit that includes all incomes and expenses stood at Rs 4,830 crore for December quarter, lower than the analyst estimate of Rs 4,978 crore. Dividend: The board declared a special dividend of Rs 4/- per equity share and fixed January 25, 2019, as the record date for the special dividend and January 28, 2019, as payment date. Buyback: The board of Infosys also approved a buyback of Rs 8,260 crore at a price of Rs 800 apiece, which is at a 17 percent premium to its current market price of Rs 683.50. ADS holders are permitted to convert their ADS into Equity Shares, and, subsequently, opt to sell such Equity Shares on the Indian stock exchanges during the Buyback period, the company said in the release. Revised Compensation: Grant of annual Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) having a value of Rs 3.25 crores to Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director, in accordance with the terms of his appointment as approved by the shareholders. The RSUs are issued under the 2015 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan (Plan). The management also issued a grant of 68,250 RSUs to U.B. Pravin Rao, Chief Operating Officer, and Whole-time Director, based on his performance in fiscal 2018, in accordance with the terms of his employment as approved by the shareholders. Held For Sale: The company had earlier classified its subsidiaries Kallidus & Skava (together referred to as "Skava) and Panaya as Held for Sale. During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, based on an evaluation of proposals received and progress of negotiations with potential buyers, the Company concluded that it is no longer highly probable that sale would be consummated by March 31, 2019. On de-classification, the company recognized additional depreciation and amortization expenses of $12 million and a reduction of $65 million in the carrying value for Skava. The impact of the same on the Basic Earnings Per Share was a decrease of $0.02 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. Kiran MazumdarShaw reappointed as Independent Director: Based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, considered and approved the reappointment of Kiran Mazumdar Shaw as the Lead Independent Director for the second term from April 1, 2019, to March 22, 2023, subject to shareholders approval. I am delighted that the Infosys Board of Directors has unanimously recommended Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for reappointment as the Lead Independent Director., said Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of the Board said. Digital Revenues: Digital revenues at $942 million (31.5% of total revenues), a year-on-year growth of 33.1% and sequential growth of 5.0% in constant currency terms Management Change: The board has appointed Nilanjan Roy as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective March 1, 2019. Jayesh Sanghrajka was appointed as Interim Chief Financial Officer effective November 17, 2018. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers As we enter 2019, there are a number of risks as well as positive triggers for the market. While the outlook for the global economy has deteriorated as the World Bank cuts the global growth forecast, the Indian macros stand strong. India's Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) has increased by 12.5 percent YoY during Q3FY19, the third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. The high GFCF growth suggests increase in aggregate demand and production capacity which will in turn boost the corporate earnings. Also, as per RBI's Financial Stability Report the Gross Non-performing assets of banks have decreased from 11.5 percent in March 2018 to 10.8 percent in September 2018 and is further expected to decline to 10.3 percent by March 2019. These positives will aid in the equities rally going ahead. However, worries over unfavourable general election outcome and risk on account of monetary condition globally may make market volatile. But, since markets have now entered into the earning season, the results will be a key factor in deciding the directions in the short term. Regardless of international or political set up on the national front, investors should focus on companies which can give earning prominence, and have a high margin of safety with high corporate governance standard. Here is the list of three stocks which could give 14-38% return: Havells India: Buy | Target: Rs 788 | Return: 14% Havells India Limited is one of the leading Fast Moving Electrical Goods (FMEG) companies and a key player in power distribution equipment manufacturing. With a robust global presence in over 52 countries, the company offers a wide range of products, including Industrial & Domestic Circuit Protection Devices, Cables & Wires, Fans, Modular Switches, Luminaires for Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Applications. In its latest quarterly results, Havells recorded net revenue growth of 23 percent at Rs 2,190.9 crore as against Rs 1,777.4 crore in same quarter previous year. Net Profit increased 4 percent to Rs 178.6 crore from Rs 171.1 crore in the previous year quarter. With solid fundamentals and favourable macro traits, we believe the company is well positioned for long term growth and recommend a BUY rating and a target price of Rs 788 per share. JB Chemicals: Buy | Target: Rs 416 | Return: 38% Ranked 35th in the Indian pharmaceutical industry, the companys four brands brings 80 percent sales to its domestic business. Its brands (Rantac, Cilacar, Metrogyl) each have Rs 1,000 crore-plus revenues. The company recently restructured its domestic division so as to have more therapy-focused divisions. With the restructured divisions, the company has created capacity to handle more products efficiently. It plans to expand its domestic business through intensive MR training, product promotion and introducing products. The company has 6-7 active products in the US, with 11 approved ANDAs filings and five pending approval. The US market revenue was Rs1.07bn and, following launches. We expect a 12 percent revenue CAGR over FY18-21, to Rs 1,600 crore. Growth in the domestic market is expected to be chiefly driven by the recently-added field force and rapid growth in brands in Cilacar, Rantac, Metrogyl and Nicardia. In exports, growth is expected mainly from South Africa led by sharper focus on the private market with new product launches, and continuous momentum in the US business. NOCIL: Buy | Target: Rs 210 | Return: 26% An Arvind Mafatlal Group enterprise, Nocil is Indias largest rubber chemicals manufacturer, with four decades experience and long-term business relations with major tyre companies. The plants are fully automated through Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)/Distributed Control Systems (DCS) which ensure not only product quality and consistency but also built-in safety features in all operations. It is confident of controlling nearly 10 percent of the global market in rubber chemicals. It is investing Rs 4,500 crore in three phases, expected to be operational from H2 FY20. Being recognised for its technical capabilities, it enjoys an edge over others in this business. It has built a broad customer base in India and has operations in over 40 countries. We like the company, its positioning in the industry it operates in and the management. Nevertheless, the industrys myopic reliance on only the auto and logistics sectors, the concentrated dependence of the end-product pricing on Chinas operational capacities and duties imposed by our government render us cautious. Assuming all these factors to be constant (ceteris paribus), we recommend a buy in NOCIL. (The author is Vice President - Equity Advisory at Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers.) : 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. For equity markets in emerging markets, the 2018 scare was far worse. The World Bank said $24 billion fled these markets during the recent fall compared to $5.8 billion moving out during the taper tantrum in 2013, while $16.9 billion exited during the Chinese slowdown worries in 2015. The accompanying chart has the details. (See bottom) For India, the extent of the fall in the Sensex from its highs was much more during the Chinese scare, but that was also the period when we had our spectacular demonetisation experiment. The Indian markets suffered as much during 2013 as in the 2018 fall, but crude oil prices were higher then, so the Indian economy was far more vulnerable. India needs foreign money to fund its current account deficit, so its important that the government sticks to the straight and narrow fiscal path. Macro-economic stability, rather than populist measures or trying to push growth at all costs is needed to weather global volatility, which is pretty much inevitable these days. US_China_Trade_Trade war_Tariff US officials expect China's top trade negotiator may visit Washington this month, signaling that higher-level discussions are likely to follow this week's talks with mid-level officials in Beijing as the world's two largest economies try to hammer out a deal to end a tit-for-tat tariff war. "The current intent is that the Vice Premier Liu He will most likely come and visit us later in the month and I would expect the government shutdown would have no impact," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters on Thursday in Washington. "We will continue with those meetings just as we sent a delegation to China." The US government is in the 20th day of a partial shutdown with President Donald Trump, a Republican, and congressional Democrats feuding over funding and Trump's desire for a wall on the US-Mexico border. People familiar with the talks in Beijing said on Thursday that hopes were mounting that Liu would continue talks with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Mnuchin. Talks at that level are viewed as important for making the key decisions to ease a festering trade war, which has disrupted trade flows for hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods and roiled global markets. Trump has demanded better terms of trade with China, with the United States pressing Beijing to address issues that would require structural change such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers and other non-tariff barriers. Trump on Thursday said the United States was having "tremendous success" in its trade negotiations with China. A spokeswoman for Lighthizer's office declined to comment. More than halfway through a 90-day truce in the US-China trade war agreed on December 1 when Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the G20 summit in Argentina, there have been few details provided of any progress made. Trump has vowed to increase tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports on March 2 if China fails to take steps to protect US intellectual property, end policies that force American companies to turn over technology to a Chinese partner, allow more market access for US businesses and reduce other non-tariff barriers to American products. The timeline is seen as ambitious, but the resumption of face-to-face negotiations has bolstered hopes of a deal. "We have the two sides back at the table. That's encouraging," said Myron Brilliant, the US Chamber of Commerce's head of international affairs, while speaking to reporters at an event on Thursday. China's commerce ministry said on Thursday that additional consultations with the United States were being arranged after the Beijing talks addressed structural issues and helped establish a foundation to resolve US and Chinese concerns. Commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng told reporters the two sides were "serious" and "honest." Asked about China's stance on issues such as forced technology transfers, intellectual property rights, non-tariff barriers and cyber attacks, and whether China was confident it could reach agreement with the United States, Gao said these issues were "an important part" of the Beijing talks. "There has been progress in these areas," he said without elaborating. China has repeatedly played down complaints about intellectual property abuses, and has rejected accusations that foreign companies face forced technology transfers. 'CORDIAL STANDOFF' Discussions on those issues were an extensive part of the talks, said people in Washington familiar with the discussions. Chinese officials listened "politely" to US grievances, they said, but responded by saying that the Americans had some issues wrong and misunderstood others, but that some other issues could be addressed. "It was a cordial standoff," said one person familiar with the discussions. China has said it will not give ground on issues that it perceives as core. On Wednesday, the US Trade Representative's office said officials from the two sides discussed "ways to achieve fairness, reciprocity and balance in trade relations," and focused on China's pledge to buy a substantial amount of agricultural, energy, manufactured, and other products and services from the United States." The US trade agency said the talks also focused on ways to ensure enforcement and verification of Chinese follow-through on any commitments it makes to the United States. STEPS TAKEN US and Chinese officials made more progress on straightforward issues such as working out the details of Chinese pledges to buy a "substantial amount" of US agricultural, energy and manufactured goods and services, sources said. Since the Trump-Xi meeting, China has resumed purchases of US soybeans. Buying had slumped after China imposed a 25 percent import duty on US shipments of the oilseed on July 6 in response to US tariffs. China has also cut tariffs on US cars, dialed back on an industrial development plan known as "Made in China 2025" and told its state refiners to buy more US oil. Earlier this week, China approved five genetically modified crops for import, the first in about 18 months, which could boost its overseas grains purchases and ease US pressure to open its markets to more farm goods. The government is considering raising the minimum selling price of sugar, television news channel ET Now reported on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office was directly examining the proposal, ET Now said quoting sources. The move is likely to help farmers, who are struggling to export their surplus due to fall in global prices and a strengthening rupee. India's sugar exports are likely to be far lower than a 5 million-tonne target set by New Delhi despite a government push for overseas sales, industry officials said. The government has given special attention to stop unutilised water allotted to India under the 'Indus Waters Treaty' from entering Pakistan, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday. Gadkari, the minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, also signed an MoU with six chief ministers for the construction of Renukaji Multi-Purpose Dam project in the Upper Yamuna Basin. The pact was signed with chief minister Yogi Aditynath of Uttar Pradesh, Ashok Gehlot of Rajasthan, Trivendra Singh Rawat of Uttarakhand, Manohar Lal of Haryana, Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi and Jairam Thakur of Himachal Pradesh. Another agreement was signed for Namami Gange projects in Allahabad under Hybrid Annuity Mode and One-City-One-Operator concept by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, UP Jal Nigam and Dilip Pormal from Prayagraj Water Pvt. Ltd. Addressing the gathering, Gadkari said there is enough water available in the country, but the real issue is its effective management. "We have done one thing. The rivers awarded to India under the Indus Waters Treaty....(some portion of) our share still goes to Pakistan. The first thing we did was to arrest the (excess) water and we will take it to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan and Delhi will benefit from it," he said. Under the Indus Waters Treaty, waters flowing in three of Indus tributaries -- the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi -- have been allotted to India; while the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus waters have been allotted to Pakistan. Of the total 168 million acre-feet, India's share of water from the three allotted rivers is 33 million acre-feet, which constitutes nearly 20 percent. India uses nearly 93-94 percent of its share under the Indus Waters Treaty. The rest of the water remains unutilised and goes to Pakistan. After the Uri attack in 2016, it was decided to fast track water projects to arrest the unutilised water. The three projects to arrest this water from going to Pakistan, include the Shahpur Kandi dam project, a second Sutlej-Beas link in Punjab and the Ujh Dam project in Jammu and Kashmir. An agreement has been signed on one project and there is a progress in other two projects, Gadkari said. Terming the signing of agreement for Renukaji Dam project a historic moment, Gadkari said that the government will try to get the Cabinet approval as soon as possible. He added that a consensus on Kishau Multi Purpose project on Yamuna river has also been developed and soon an agreement for it will also be signed. He also informed about the Lakhwar Multi Purpose project for which agreement was signed on August 28 among six basin states. Gadkari said that these projects will benefit all basin states and it is a "win-win situation" for everyone. "Delhi will not face drinking water issues for the next 50 years. Rajasthan, which is at the tail end, will also get water for drinking and irrigation." He added that these projects will also ensure more flow in River Yamuna which is the need-of-the-hour. Renukaji Dam project has been conceived as a storage project on Giri River (tributary of river Yamuna) in Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh. The project envisages construction of 148 M high rock filled dam for supply of 23 cumecs water to Delhi and other basin states. The project will also generate 40 MW of power during peak flow and will be executed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (HPPCL). The live storage of Renukaji MPP is 0.404 million acre feet (MAF) and total submergence area is about 1508 hectares in the territory of Himachal Pradesh. Stored water of Renukaji Dam will be used by Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi from the Hathnikund Barrage, by Delhi from Wazirabad Barrage and by UP, Haryana and Rajasthan from the Okhla Barrage. The share of these states is as follows: Haryana, Uttar Pradesh/Uttarkhand and Himchal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi will get 47.82 percent, 33.65 percent, 3.15 percent, 9.34 percent and 6.04 percent respectively. JLR Sounak Mitra Jaguar Land Rover and Ford announced massive job cuts on 10 January. The timing may be a coincidence, but the reasons are common. One, both the companies have been suffering from a sharp decline in sales in the once-lucrative Chinese market. Two, auto sales in Europe fell during the past few quarters as production was hit by new emission norms and slow economic activity in the region. Three, Brexit had a role to play in slowing sales and eventually make things worse in the Euro zone for some time. Four, the auto industry has been undergoing a rapid shift in focus from diesel and petrol to electric and autonomous cars. Besides, the love for saloons, hatchbacks and sedans is fast shifting to SUVs and cross-platform vehicles. In effect, companies need to change and ready themselves for the future. JLRs sacking of 4,500 employees globally, mostly from management roles, did not come as a surprise. The first hint came when the firm announced a 2.5bn cost-saving programme (over 18 months) in October 2018. In 2018, JLR cut 1,500 jobs and saved around 500 million. The precipitous dip in China sales has hastened the firms search for more cost cutting. In 2018, sales in China dropped around 20 percent; in December, they plunged by 42.4 percent. Sales in Brazil has also been declining. But what came as a surprise is its announcement to invest a few hundred million pounds in making electric vehicles at its Wolverhampton factory and a new battery plant at Hams Hall in Birmingham that will be operational by 2020. Clearly, JLR is readying itself for the future. An all-electric Land Rover (in the foreseeable future) that can potentially take on Tesla isnt a bad news. The possibility of exotic hybrid cars cant be ruled out. Ford, on the other hand, has some way to go yet. Not only has China been a pain point for some time - sales there fell around 38 percent in 2018 (till November) -, it is also worried about Brexit. The company has shuttered loss-making units, which has led to loss of thousands of jobs, but doesnt solve a fundamental problem. Ford makes too many products. It aims to have a car for everyone. That model is making less and less sense in the current scenario given the way the automotive industry is heading. Ford needs to change. It had said that the European operations overhaul was a fundamental reset and redesign of its business. Similar exercises across its global operations would not be surprising. Saudi Arabia, the second largest producer of crude oil to world, faced an attack on its oil infrastructure facilities on September 14, which caused a sharp increase in fuel prices. Do you know where petrol prices were the highest? Here's a list of the countries where petrol is the cheapest and most expensive. (Note: All price comparisons are on rupee terms only. Global rates as of September, 16 2019 - Image: Reuters) US oil prices edged down on Friday as concerns over economic growth were rekindled after talks fell short of offering concrete steps to end the Sino-US trade conflict, although OPEC-led production cuts bolstered sentiment in crude markets. Oil prices were also supported by comments from US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday that the central bank had the ability to be patient on monetary policy. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures had slipped 23 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their last settlement to $52.36 per barrel by 0016 GMT. However, US crude was on track for a second consecutive week of gains and its largest weekly percentage increase in more than two years. WTI has climbed about 9 percent so far this week, its biggest weekly rise since December, 2016. International Brent crude futures had yet to trade. China said three days of talks with the United States that wrapped up on Wednesday had established a "foundation" to resolve differences over trade. But it gave few details on key issues at stake, including a scheduled US tariff increase on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. A partial US government shutdown and tepid economic data in some countries also dragged on broad financial markets. "The US government shutdown and weak retail sales figures around the world reinvigorated concerns about (economic) growth," analysts at ANZ bank said in a note on Friday. China's producer prices in December rose at their slowest pace in more than two years, a worrying sign of deflationary risks that could see Beijing roll out more policy support to help stabilise the economy. "However, investors are becoming increasingly confident that OPEC+ production cuts will balance the market," ANZ said. Saudi Arabia said earlier this week that supply curbs started in late 2018 by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers including Russia, would bring the oil market into balance. "Saudi is turning the screws on export supply in order to re-balance the market in their favour. Prices are maintaining highs which suggests that the recent bullish move is not yet over," said Jonathan Barratt, chief investment officer at Probis Securities in Sydney. "We expect more bullish rhetoric from OPEC, especially from Saudi Arabia to help shore up the prices. US producers will just enjoy the rise." The likelihood of supply curbs elsewhere also helped buoy oil markets. Norway's oil industry regulator said the country's crude output in 2019 would be smaller than previously forecast and at its lowest level in three decades. Meanwhile, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Thursday US sanctions against his country were "fully illegal" and Tehran would not comply with them. Iran will see its crude exports severely curtailed for a third month in January as it is struggling to find new buyers amid fresh US sanctions even though its traditional customers secured waivers, according to tanker data and industry sources. Iran's crude exports in November plummeted to below 1 million barrels per day, from regular sales of 2.5 million bpd before sanctions were imposed in May, and taking them back to where they stood during the previous round of sanctions in 2012-2016. Buyers said plunging exports in November, which will severely hit the Islamic Republic's budget revenues, were caused by a total lack of clarity of what volumes they were allowed to purchase under the new US sanctions. Washington later gave a fairly generous set of waivers to eight traditional Iranian oil buyers - including China, India, Japan and South Korea - to avoid a rally in oil prices, but the measure has failed to give a meaningful boost to exports. According to tanker data and industry sources, Iran's crude shipments remained below 1 million bpd in December and are unlikely to exceed that level in January despite rising month-on-month. "In January, I expect a slight uptick in the second half of the month with some Asian lifting resuming," one of the sources said. "For the time being, I am pencilling in around 900,000 bpd for January." Regular buyer Taiwan said last year it was not yet buying Iranian oil despite receiving a waiver because of a lack of a clear payment mechanism. Iran has said its exports have not declined as much as estimated by the industry because it was selling oil to new buyers. But it declined to disclose them because of a fear of new sanctions. A restrained level of Iranian shipments would assist the new global push to cut oil supply in 2019 led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, from which Iran is exempt, and lend support to oil prices. "We are forecasting slightly more than December, but not massive," said a source at another company that monitors Iranian shipments, putting the month-on-month rise at below 50,000 bpd. Iranian exports are higher if condensate, a type of light oil, is counted as well as crude. Kpler, another company that tracks oil flows, put Iranian crude and condensate exports at 1.35 million bpd in December. Tracking Iranian exports has become harder since the sanctions began as ships switch off tracking systems, industry sources say, keeping some of the shipments hidden. According to Refinitiv Eikon data, shipments including condensate plunged to about 650,000 bpd in December, although such figures are probably not counting all the tankers that switch off their AIS tracking signal. Some buyers that stayed away in November are returning. Turkey has resumed imports of Iranian oil after a one-month hiatus in November, Reuters reported on Tuesday, at a volume less than half of the pre-sanctions amount. Shipments were at least 2.5 million bpd in April, the month before US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions. Tehran has vowed to keep exporting oil despite the US effort to reduce its shipments to zero. Flash President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takehiko Nakao on Friday welcomed the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), saying that it is nice to build connectivity between countries through the initiative. "Together with other development banks like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, we have a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with the Belt and Road Initiative," he told Xinhua while attending a press conference in the Fijian capital city of Suva. Hailing the Belt and Road Initiative as a good idea, Nakao said "We can cooperate through BRI to support the countries that need our help." Proposed by China in 2013, the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa based on ancient land and maritime trade routes. The ADB chief is in Fiji to visit the facilities which will be the sites of ADB's 52nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors from May 1 to 5. According to Nakao, Fiji will be the first Pacific developing member to host ADB's annual meeting, which is a unique opportunity for ADB governors, government officials, the private sector, and development partners and experts to discuss critical issues and challenges facing Asia and the Pacific. The ADB meeting, under the theme of "Prosperity Through Unity," will discuss, among others, the development of sustainable tourism and management of ocean health which are important issues not only for Fiji and other Pacific countries but also for many Asian countries. ADB is building its presence in 11 Pacific island countries to increase the impact of its growing program of assistance. Across the Pacific region, ADB is significantly scaling up financing to help developing members achieve sustainable economic and social development, while strengthening climate and disaster resilience. ADB, which has committed 593 million Fijian dollars (about 279.36 million U.S. dollars) of assistance to Fiji since it joined the bank in 1970, expects to invest about 280 million Fijian dollars (about 131.9 million U.S. dollars) in the island nation in 2019-2020. Established in 1966 and based in Manila, the Philippines, ADB currently comprises 67 members, including 48 from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside. Is this Seattle Penny Pot Stock a Potential Blockbuster? (Ad) A small, rapidly expanding Seattle cannabis company is gaining attention from investors. Founded by two cannabis veterans, the company has increased sales 8-fold and is looking to double sales again in the next two years. Now selling for less than $1 per share, this is an opportunity to acquire thousands of shares a potential windfall. Get Free Report on #1 Cannabis Pick for 2021 Flash U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States will "use diplomacy" and work with partners to curb Iran's influence in the Middle East region. "The nations of the Middle East will never enjoy security, achieve economic stability, or advance the dreams of their peoples if Iran's regime persists on its current course," Pompeo said during a speech at the American University in Cairo. Pompeo said that the U.S. administration is confronting Iran's "campaigns of destruction and destabilization in the region and around the world," stressing that the U.S. economic sanctions against Iran are among the strongest in history, and will keep getting tougher until Iran changes its policies that threaten the United States and the international community. "The United States is working with partners in the region and beyond to stop malign activity by Iran and its proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere," he added. "Feb. 11 will mark 40 years since this brutal regime came to power. The Trump administration stands with the Iranian people, as they demand new freedoms and accountability they deserve," the U.S. top diplomat added. With regards to the U.S.-led international anti-terror campaign in the region, Pompeo said that "99 percent" of the territory once held by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group is now liberated, adding that "life is returning to normal for millions of Iraqis and Syrians." He said that U.S. "allies and partners" supported the American anti-IS efforts, pointing out that France and Britain joined the strikes while Jordan and Turkey have hosted millions of Syrians fleeing violence. Pompeo continued that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have "generously" contributed to the stabilization efforts in the region. "We thank all of them for their help, and we urge them to continue," Pompeo said. The U.S. top diplomat revealed that the U.S. troops in Iraq have been reduced from 166,000 to about 5,000 at the moment. He added that the United States has provided 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in humanitarian assistance to Iraq since 2014. "Together, with our allies, nearly 30 billion dollars in grants and financing have been generated to aid Iraq's reconstruction during the Kuwait Reconstruction Conference last year," Pompeo said. As for the U.S. number one regional ally, Israel, Pompeo said that Washington will continue to ensure that Israel has the military capacity to defend itself against regional threats, particularly what he referred to as "the Iranian regime's aggressive adventurism." Trump's administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital last year and moved Washington's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the controversial holy city, amid regional and international rejection. Pompeo reiterated U.S. commitment to the Jerusalem recognition in favor of Israel, yet he said that Washington will work on the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. "The Trump administration will also continue to press for real and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians," Pompeo said. Pompeo arrived in Cairo late Wednesday following stops in Jordan and Iraq, in a tour for the Middle East that also includes Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. Earlier on Thursday, he held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as both asserted the depth of the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries. Flash China and the United States should respect each other's sovereignty, security and development interests and properly handle and control differences through dialogue and consultations, which is key to the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, Vice President Wang Qishan said Thursday. The remarks came as Wang attended a reception marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Wang said 40 years ago, leaders of the two countries made a historic decision to establish diplomatic relations, in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and out of extraordinary strategic vision and outstanding political courage. China-U.S. relations are one of the most important bilateral ties in the world with the greatest potential, Wang said. Over the past 40 years, their relations have forged ahead despite twists and turns, and recorded achievements unimaginable to people four decades ago. The ties have not only benefited the two peoples but also promoted world peace, stability, and prosperity. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump have met each other, had a phone call, and exchanged congratulatory letters on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, pointing the way for the two sides to further promote bilateral ties, Wang said. He called on the two sides to keep in mind the original aspirations of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and stick to the keynote of coordination, cooperation, and stability to benefit the two countries as well as the world. Wang said the two sides should respect each other and seek common ground while shelving differences and adhere to the three joint communiques and important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries. The two sides should keep seeking and expanding the overlapping interests, deepen and promote pragmatic cooperation to bring the two peoples a greater sense of gain, the vice president said. He also called on the two countries to conform to the two peoples' desires to enhance exchanges and cooperation, and encourage more interactions from all circles to further consolidate the public opinion and social foundation for bilateral relations. Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Wang said no matter how the international landscape may evolve, China will insist on its own development path and well handle its affairs so that the Chinese people can live a better life. "China's reforms will never stop, and its door will only open even wider," Wang said, vowing that China will always be a contributor to world peace, facilitator of global development and proponent of international order. The nations of the world including the United States stand to gain more opportunities and interests from the development and progress of China, he said. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in a congratulatory letter urged builders of bilateral ties to face challenges and opportunities with vision, courage and pioneering spirit, and asked the two countries to work together to forge a future which will benefit the peoples of the two countries and all humanity. You are here: World Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Afghan president's national security adviser Hamdullah Mohib Thursday in Beijing. China and Afghanistan are traditional friendly neighbors, Wang said, noting that China firmly supports the Afghan government's effort on maintaining national security and stability and pushing forward the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. China has always maintained that Afghan issues should be ultimately decided by the Afghan people. All relevant sides should respect Afghanistan's sovereignty, the will of the Afghan people and the Afghan government's role, said Wang. "China is ready to continue to provide necessary support to the Afghan reconciliation and peaceful reconstruction process," he added. Mohib said that Afghanistan appreciates China's constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability, and is willing to continue to maintain close exchanges with China on the development of the Afghan situation. Moscow, ID (83843) Today Scattered thunderstorms early, then becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 43F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 43F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. If you live in the United States and are a federal government employee, it's time to worry. A partial government shutdown due to lack of congressional spending approval is affecting around 800,000 people; the number indirectly hit might be even bigger. It all started with a difference over the merits of a proposed wall to barricade the southern border with Mexico and prevent illegal crossings. President Donald Trump has tried to convince opponents his wall is an answer to every problem ranging from drug to terrorism. The Democrats being disinclined to buy into that argument has produced deadlock. Trumps' presidency has been mired in controversy from the very start. Even an initiative to secure the border, and thus the nation's safety, has become problematic. It shows the dysfunctional nature of his rule. Among his first decisions after election was to impose a travel ban on the people from selected countries due to the fear of allowing in potential terrorists. It backfired and created needless friction and legal consequences, not to mention emotional distress for many innocent people. Instead of learning from this bad experience, the president has steadily moved deeper into the political quagmire. His fresh challenge started over the issue of funding for the contentious wall. Failure to win over his congressional opponents resulted in the closure of several federal government departments on December 22, and there is still no solution in sight. Trump certainly hasn't offered any ideas on how to resolve the imbroglio without giving up the whole wall idea. He has not declared a national emergency, which was something that had been feared; however, the threat remains for such an extreme step could be the only option to gain the required funds. The amount in question is above $5 billion. The president has made it clear that unless the funds are made part of federal spending, he will not sign the bill covering the overall budgetary allocations. The Democrats who regained control of the House of Representatives in mid-term elections last November, aren't blinking, either. Instead, House Leader Nancy Pelosi called the wall "immoral." Actually, the primary reasons offered by Trump for the wall are only partially tenable. For example, Trump says that drugs are pouring into the country over the southern border. Facts show that, though over 90 percent heroin comes in U.S. from the drug pushers in Mexico, more than 80 percent hard drugs overall enter through legal port of entries. Hence, a wall has nothing to do with stopping those drugs which are ravaging communities right across America. Trump and his supporters also believe that terrorists are in via that same porous border. Again, available data doesn't support the claim. The State Department said in July 2017 that it has no information of any terrorist group infiltrating from Mexico. However, the presidential claim that illegal migrants sneak through the Mexican border is true to a large extent especially in the context of the recent groups of people from Honduras traveling right up to the border and camping nearby. The real problem is not about having some kind of barrier to stop illegal border entries, but the way Trump has sought to have it built first making it a campaign promise in order to win the 2016 election, and now trying to achieve it by "my way or highway" style to fortify his reelection bid. The man has been on a roller-coaster ever since the day he announced he was joining the presidential race, and has refused to come down even after winning. He is unable to rule quietly. There seems to be a constant tendency towards controversy and seeking to bash opponents with harsh rhetoric. The success of a government can be gauged by the amount of comfort it brings to the people. In case of Trump, he starts the day by shooting a tweet and sits back to see the reaction, until he is ready with another salvo. Since the issue of the wall is highly politicized, the two sides should change their approach. The offer by Trump to have a fence or steel structure could at least be worth discussing. While the president may need some support to escape the pit into which he has fallen, the Democrats should also abandon their fears that giving Trump his wall will also supply a second term in office. 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. The weekend weather across Michigan this weekend should be good for winter traveling. The same can not be said for traveling south of Michigan. Heres a quick breakdown of our weather, and where the snowstorm will hit south of us. Heres a look at the radar forecast for early Saturday afternoon: The large weather system south of Michigan will have a large area of snow falling at 1 p.m. Saturday. Snow is shown in blue. The darker blue is moderate to heavy snow. The snow will creep north to around the southern Michigan border. The real snow will cover much of Illinois and Indiana and southern Ohio. I would say driving south of Michigan Saturday afternoon will bring the most treacherous driving conditions of the weekend. The snowstorm will still have the leftover part of the snow stretching across Ohio. The heaviest snow will have moved into the Virginias early Sunday. The main part of the storm will move east into the Virginias Sunday, but still have a large area of light snow lagging behind the storm. Sunday morning you will probably still find accumulating snow along the major interstates heading south out of Michigan. The snowstorm south of Michigan should be almost tapered off by Sunday afternoon. Sunday afternoon will likely be a better time to drive south through Ohio or Indiana. The Virginias will still have snow. The more boring, less pretty drive down I-75 will be a safer drive compared to I-77 through the Virginias. The heaviest snow will fall over Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, where over six inches will be common. Ohio will have three to six inches of snow. The higher elevations in the Virginias will have heavier snow. You can see it will be quite a snowstorm for states just south of Michigan. Saturday's high temperatures will be right around the normal January cold. Saturday will be the type of winter day youd expect in Michigan, with high temperature in the upper 20s south to lower 20s north. Also look south where the snowstorm is hitting. Temperatures will be below freezing across the snowy areas, making for treacherous roads. Sunday's high temperature forecast shows highs in the 20s across Michigan Michigan will be chilly again Sunday with high temperatures in the 20s. Look south at Kentucky. High temperatures should get just above freezing. Any salt should work great on roads south of Michigan as the snow ends Sunday. Its a quiet weather weekend here in Michigan. The travel problems will occur south of Michigan, and those travel problems will be big on Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday. SAGINAW, MI - Parents of students in the Saginaw Public School District are urged to talk to their children about strangers after an incident occurred near a bus stop on Bond and Madison streets. According to Cynthia Brackett, spokeswoman for the district, a letter was sent home after an Arthur Hill High School student was approached about 7:05 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, by a black male wearing a black hoodie and black pants. The male grabbed the her by the arm and pulled down his pants, Brackett said. The student was able to break away and run toward her brother, who was a block away walking to school. Saginaw police were dispatched to the area but no one was arrested. Brackett said the student did the correct thing. We want parents to talk to their children about stranger danger, she said. A letter sent home with students to report the situation to parents and guardians also reminded them to review safety procedures with students, especially those who walk to and from school, or ride the bus. The letter also urged people to monitor their neighborhoods and call 911 if anything looks suspicious or out of the ordinary. SAGINAW, MI A year and a half after a shooting on Saginaws West Side, a suspect has been arrested in Georgia and extradited north to face charges. He joins two codefendants already charged in the crime. The shooting occurred the afternoon of May 23, 2017, with police responding to calls of shots being fired in the area of Throop and Oakley. Police found a 19-year-old lying facedown on the steps of a house on nearby Bond Street with a bullet wound to his posterior. Police arrested John F. Whitley and Davarrio D. Coleman at the scene. A few days later, Whitley was charged with felony firearm, assault with intent to murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and carrying a weapon with unlawful intent. Vanquavyis O. Tinsley (left) and John F. Whitley Whitley, now 19, has been jailed since his arrest. His case is currently in Saginaw County Circuit Court, where a trial date is pending. Coleman was held on a probation violation until March 21, 2018. At some point thereafter, he relocated to Georgia, police said. As Whitleys case proceeded, prosecutors reexamined the matter and decided to charge Coleman and Vanquavyis O. Tinsley, 24, with offenses related to the shooting. Authorities on Dec. 3, 2018, issued warrants for both Coleman and Tinsley. Tinsley on Dec. 17 appeared in Saginaw County District Court for arraignment on two counts of felony firearm and single counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder and assault with intent to commit murder. Prosecutors on Dec. 26 were notified by deputies in Carroll County, Georgia, that they had Coleman, now 19, in custody on the Saginaw warrant. Coleman waived his right to challenge extradition and was thereafter transferred to Saginaw. Saginaw County District Judge A.T. Frank on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 10, arraigned Coleman on the same four charges Tinsley faces. The judge set Colemans bond at $500,000 cash-surety. Both Tinsley and Coleman are to appear for a preliminary examination on Jan. 24. VICKSBURG, MI -- Students from a handful of schools in both Vicksburg and Schoolcraft will go home early Friday because of a power outage. Students from all Schoolcraft Community Schools and a portion of Vicksburg schools were released early Friday, Jan. 11, because of lost power, according to Facebook posts from the schools. The power outage is affecting 3,357 customers in Vicksburg and another 1,709 people in Schoolcraft, according to the coverage map from Indiana Michigan Power. Schoolcraft students will be released at 11 a.m. and transported home by buses, the post said. Parents with questions or those that would like to pick up their child should call the appropriate school. Due to the regional power outage, all Schoolcraft Community Schools will close and release students at 11:00 and stay... Posted by Schoolcraft Community Schools on Friday, January 11, 2019 The outage is affecting Indian Lake Elementary, Sunset Lake Elementary, Vicksburg High School and Vicksburg Middle School, a Facebook post said. Middle and high school students were released at 10:30 a.m. Elementary students will be fed lunch and then released at 11:45 a.m., the post said. The power outage did not affect Tobey Elementary and those students will go home at the end of the regular school day. Power Outage at VCS Buildings - Friday, January 11, 2019 Due to the ongoing power outage affecting Indian Lake... Posted by Vicksburg Community Schools on Friday, January 11, 2019 For more coverage on Michigan education, see mlive.com. KALAMAZOO, MI -- U.S. Rep. Fred Upton said he is among a short list of House Republicans joining Democrats to reopen the federal government, but also supports building a wall on the southern border. The 17-term Southwest Michigan congressman voted on several spending bills to fund federal departments, joining a small but growing number of Republicans supporting Democrats' efforts to end a partial government shutdown, expected to become the longest in history this weekend. Uptons schedule did not allow for an interview with MLive, a spokesperson for the congressman said. In a statement sent by email Friday, Jan. 11, Upton expressed frustration with the partisan stalemate while voicing support for increased border security. I will continue voting to re-open the government as I did last week," Upton said in an email. At the same time, I have long-supported increasing border security and building a wall. We also need to fix a broken immigration system and a key component is protection for Dreamers." President Donald Trump has threatened to veto bills that do not include $5.7 billion for a physical barrier between the United States and Mexico. Meanwhile, Democratic leadership in Congress oppose what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Thursday an expensive and ineffective wall. Upton and fellow Michigan U.S. Rep. Justin Amash voted against a stopgap funding bill that included border wall funding on Dec. 20. The bill was not taken up in the Republican-controlled Senate, and Congress missed a Dec. 21, 2018, deadline to fund nine departments. Twenty-one days later, as of Jan. 11, the shutdown is tied for the longest in U.S. history. It will become the longest if the government does not reopen by Saturday, Jan. 12. The departments of Treasury, Agriculture, Homeland Security, Interior, State, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Commerce and Justice are affected by the shutdown, according to the Associated Press, as well as the Forest Service, EPA, FDA, NASA and other programs. On Jan. 3, Upton voted against a spending bill that would provide short-term funding for the Department Homeland Security without the funds a border wall. The same day, he voted for a bill brought by Democrats to fund other departments and agencies. This week, Upton supported three more appropriations bills. The American people, including some of our most vulnerable citizens, should not be forced to suffer because of partisan politics," Upton said in an email. The blame game, the name-calling, the retreating to separate corners like angry children all needs to end. There is a path forward for a bipartisan solution to do all these things. Upton has said he supports border security measures that arent necessarily a physical barrier, but include surveillance technology and tougher enforcement of existing laws in other areas. He has advocated for ending the ugly and inhumane practice of family separations at the border and for giving long-term stability to people using the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program ended under Trump. Upton took to Twitter last week to explain his position, saying: Enough. I voted last night to fund nearly all of the government agencies that have been unnecessarily shuttered since Dec. 22. I will continue working with my colleagues in the House & Senate to ensure the govt is fully funded & our border is secure. Much work remains. Reactions to @RepFredUpton vote to fund government departments "unnecessarily shuttered" since Dec. 22 is getting mixed reviews. #MI06 pic.twitter.com/eLZlBEhx2h Malachi Barrett (@PolarBarrett) January 4, 2019 Democrats gained a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives after the November 2018 election, while Republicans held onto control of the Senate. Upton represents Michigans 6th District, which includes all of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties, and most of Allegan County. The Berrien County native was re-elected in November in what was the closest race of his long career representing Southwest Michigan. Democratic nominee Matt Longjohn lost by 4.4 points, but became the first Upton opponent to win Kalamazoo County in three decades. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Former members of the Board of Education at Kalamazoo Public Schools came to a meeting Thursday with tough love to criticize a recent decision by the current members. Reading from a letter signed from six former board members, former board president Eric Breisach said the boards decision to use appointment to fill a recent vacancy undermined trust from the public. The decision was made without the benefit of meaningful public notice and discussion," he said. This is not how an open, transparent and democratically elected board functions." Three new board members, two elected and one appointed, were inducted Thursday. Tandy Moore and Jermaine Jackson were voted in during the November election. Former board member Carol McGlinn did not run for re-election, and Craig Herschleb was defeated in his bid to retain a seat on the board. Shortly after the election, in November, Trustee Lauren Freedman announced her resignation, creating the third vacancy. The board voted to appoint Jason Morris, who received the third most votes in the November election, to fill that vacancy. You always have to bring the community along, Bresiach said. Public trust is hard to earn and fragile. It is destroyed much more easily than its built. Breisach was joined by fellow former board president Barb Miller at the podium during the portion of Thursdays meeting devoted to public comment. Breisach was elected to the board in 1999 after campaigning for a stronger relationship between the board and the community, according to a Kalamazoo Gazette article published Jan. 23, 1998. Miller was first elected to the board in 1993, she said. Miller and Breisach won in 1999 by a large margin, illustrating the publics interest in changing how administrators and the board interact with the community and with parents who come forward with issues, the article said. The boards relationship to the community recently came under fire by one of its newest members. In a recent interview with MLive, Moore challenged her fellow board members to be more transparent and to speak more openly with parents. Moore said the current board was disconnected" from the community. My main goal is to better the relationship between the district and the community, Moore said. Bresiachs relationship to the district was first as a parent with concerns about how the school district was being run two decades ago. In 1998, Bresiach led a watchdog group in an effort to build accountability and trust between the board and community, according to a Gazette article published at the time. The former members felt compelled to come forward with their opinion because they care so much about the district, Bresiach said in an interview with MLive after Thursdays meeting. Im coming tonight with a letter from six former trustees spanning 20 years of service and a little bit of tough love, he said. We are doing this because we care. The former members compared the boards choice to recent action taken by the Michigan Legislature during its 2018 lame duck session. New and old members of the school board should keep public perception in mind and redouble its efforts to engage the public in decision making, said former board member and former city commissioner Barb Miller. It may take a little longer and can be messy, but your decisions will be much stronger with diverse and meaningful public input, Miller said. All of you serve on a public school board. Public trust and accountability are vitally important to the success of the board. In our opinion, the prior board got this one wrong in a big way. This was a tragic, major mistake." The former board members criticized the timing of the appointment. Moore and Jackson were not involved in the decision, but outgoing members Carol McGlinn and Craig Herschleb voted in favor of the appointment. Miller noted that Herschleb lost his seat on the board after not earning enough support from voters. Patti Sholler-Barber, who was reappointed as board president Thursday night, said in an interview after the meeting the board took all the appropriate measures in the choice to appoint Morris. Because the election was held only six weeks prior to Morris' appointment, the board felt it was appropriate to choose the candidate who was a runner-up in November, Sholler-Barber said. He was definitely selected by the community with 11,000 votes, she said, referring to the number of votes Morris earned in the November election. It was the appropriate thing to do, Sholler-Barber said. KALAMAZOO, MI Walking into a bar, ordering a beer and smoking marijuana would, historically, qualify as illegal in Michigan. Local brewery owner Mark Rupert wants to change that. Michigan voters in November approved a measure legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in the state, though the law does not allow the use of the drug in public places. Rupert plans to close his downtown Kalamazoo brewery periodically to hold private events where individuals will be invited inside to smoke or consume marijuana products. During private events not open to the general public, Ruperts Brew House, located at 773 W. Michigan Ave., will turn into The Cooperative. The events will offer a private setting for adults to bring their own marijuana to consume, while hanging out with like-minded people and sharing marijuana knowledge and products with each other, Rupert said. Rupert expects to charge a membership fee, which he estimated would be $5 per event, or $20 a month. But that could change, he said. The social club is meant to build a community around cannabis culture, Rupert said. There are not a lot of places that are welcoming to the new idea of cannabis being recreational, he said. I think its important for the community to have a place where they can feel comfortable talking about cultivation or the culture of cannabis on top of everything we already do with the craft beer. A growler and pint at Rupert's Brew House the night before its grand opening in 2013. (James Buck / MLive File photo) From the perspective of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Spokesman David Harns said a licensee with a brewers license that closes its doors for private club activities could face a liquor control commission hearing because a public licensee must remain public while the license is in effect. A brewery may not act as a private club unless they surrender their liquor license to the Commission or put it into escrow, Harns said. A licensee could face penalties including fines, suspension or revocation depending on the situation, Harns said. Rupert said he believes he only has to maintain public hours at the brewery to maintain the brewing license. Rupert said he wants people such as artists who use marijuana to have a place where they wont be judged or intimidated. Its not going to be a pot den, he said. Were not trying to turn it into a smokers bonfire of weed. We want people to respect what were doing. Rupert plans to have demonstrations at events in the future, like seminars about cultivation or glassblowing. This building has always been a place where good friends meet, he said. He wants that aspect of the business to survive, and believes the cannabis club will help build a community. Rupert plans to install a key fob system to provide access to members of the private club, and membership fees could help cover the cost of installing it, he said. He opened Ruperts Brew House in 2013 inside the building on West Michigan Avenue that previously housed The Strutt, a nightspot and coffee bar. Captain Stooby, the 197-pound, 7-year-old Great Dane mascot that inspired the brewerys logo, greeted customers at the bar until it died in 2015. Rupert now has a new Great Dane, Uncle Bill. Rupert expects to periodically hold the private club events inside the brewery. In the beginning, he said, he plans to hold them weekly on Saturday evenings. On days when a cannabis club event will be held, he said, plans are for the brewery to remain open from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. before closing to the public and reopening to for club members only at 10 p.m. Ruperts will not sell cannabis products, but will allow their use during the private club events, Rupert said. Members can consume cannabis as they see fit, he said, which is why the events are private. Rupert said he has spoken with an attorney about his plans and, based on that conversation, believes he is not doing anything illegal. Were not condoning any sale of cannabis products," he said. Were not into bartering, were not into any sort of transaction that would put people in jeopardy. The ideas is to let them be free with themselves. Rupert's Brew House the night before its grand opening in 2013. (James Buck / MLive File Photo) Sarissa Montague, associate attorney at Kalamazoo-based law firm Levine & Levine, said social clubs have not been specifically addressed by the state legislature. Montague, who is not affiliated with Ruperts, said one important issue a social club would have to deal with is whether its in a private space or not. The marijuana act is intended to allow people over the age of 21 to use marijuana unless it is specifically precluded by the act, she said. That said, there are still grey areas and it might take court cases to figure out what those grey areas mean. Municipalities can ban some types of marijuana recreational businesses. Social clubs are not one of the types of businesses regulated under the states medical marijuana business law, which regulates sellers, growers, processors, transporters and safety compliance facilities. You cant know for sure if somebodys going to try to challenge it, Montague said. If somebody tries to challenge it, then a court case comes in to flesh it all out. The law says what it says, but whats it going to mean in 5 years? she asked. Kalamazoo City Attorney Clyde Robinson said this apparently is a loophole in the law. Robinson said he is aware clubs of this nature, and that they have been a concern for other communities. He said the issue raises questions about how such a club would operate, and if the memberships constitute an exclusive club. He said it raises a question about the requirements to be a private club. Whether a plan like Ruperts would qualify as a private club could depend on the terms of membership, Robinson said. The city attorney said he did not know about the social club planning to open in Kalamazoo, but said there are general questions about how such clubs would operate. Paying an admission and what members get for paying admission is one question, he said. Were really on the frontier, if you will, Robinson said. I think a lot of things are going to develop over the course of the next few months that nobody thought of when this new statue passed, as to what you can do and cant do. When asked if the state allows people to consume marijuana at a business, Harns said LARAs Bureau of Marijuana Regulation is reviewing the provisions of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act passed by voters in 2018 as LARA begins to work toward implementing its facility regulatory program. Rupert held an informal event in late December to tell people about his plans. He thinks some of his current customers will want to join the social club, and he invites others to come see what its all about too. Mark Rupert talks about his new Cannabis Club that will be at Ruperts Brew House in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.Emil Lippe | MLive.com For many, cannabis culture and consumption is nothing new, he said. Weve all been doing this for 30, 40 years, he said. Were going to do it anyway, we might as well embrace it in a legal environment where we can come together, have a good beer, have a good bowl and relax. Rupert plans to hold a private event beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. He said people can come to the brewery Saturday night to join. He plans for the club to be inclusive, allowing people to join as long as they dont cause problems at the event space. LEONI TWP., MI Guy Conti, an Ann Arbor attorney with experience in bankruptcy and municipal law, is Leoni Townships new attorney. Multiple attorneys were invited to make presentations to the townships Board of Trustees at its Tuesday, Jan. 8 meeting, but Conti was the only one who showed up. The board voted 5-2 in favor of contracting with him. Trustees Jerry Cox and Mike Villarreal voted no. Neither could be reached for comment, although Cox mentioned at the meeting the township shouldn't hire the first attorney they meet with. Conti is a Brooklyn, New York native who went to the Ave Maria School of Law in Ann Arbor. He started practicing law in 2005 and has worked as an assistant or associate attorney in Belleville, Lodi Township and Ypsilanti. Eric White was fired as the townships attorney in a Dec. 31 special meeting. His role in the former medical marijuana fee pay structure and a bankruptcy with $950,000 owed in back taxes to the IRS were cited by trustees as reasons for the firing. Conti said hes been getting up to speed on the issues Leoni Township is dealing with, calling it a township in transition. "For a township of 13,000 people, it has some rather complex problems," Conti said. "Some of which fall into the legal realm and some of which fall into the political realm which is not my bailiwick." One of the chief issues in the township is medical marijuana law which Conti has some experience with. Hes represented a landlord in the Ann Arbor area who was evicting a medical marijuana grower for violating the Michigan Medical Facilities Licensing Act, he said. "For the issues our township is facing, he's an ideal candidate," outgoing township trustee Corey Kennedy said. "(He's) probably one of the most qualified attorneys Leoni's ever seen." Conti isnt looking for a monopoly, he said, as hes open to other attorneys working on township issues in specialized areas. White earned $125 an hour plus a $750 monthly representation fee, Kennedy said. Conti said hell earn $145 an hour and a representation fee hasnt been discussed yet. Leoni Township hasnt addressed whether it will allow recreational marijuana businesses in its township limits. The board wont make a decision on recreational marijuana business until workshops are hosted for community members, the board decided in other action on Tuesday. Workshops could happen at a Leoni Township Planning Commission meeting or a separate special meeting, Planning Commission Chairman John Spencer said. Once a date is set, Spencer said he plans to heavily promote the meeting in hopes of a good turnout. Voters in Michigan approved the legalization of recreational marijuana last November. Communities can no longer collect excise taxes on medical marijuana because of this, per state law. Leoni Township has approved 87 medical marijuana licenses so far, although businesses must also receive state approval. GRAND RAPIDS, MI When Ashley Young failed to respond to her mothers text messages, Kristine Young panicked. Her daughter always responded. They were supposed to meet. Where the hell is she? she thought. She called police and drove to Grand Rapids. She knew her daughter had been out with Jared Chance. On Friday, Jan. 11, she sat on the witness stand only a few feet from Chance, 29. He is accused of killing her daughter, a bank worker and 31-year-old Kalamazoo Valley Community College student, and using a Skil saw to dismember her and dispose of parts of her body. She was last seen early Nov. 29. Kristine Young, who lives in Grand Haven, testified at a probable-cause hearing for Chance, who is charged open murder, tampering with evidence, mutilation of a body and concealing a death. She knew something was wrong when her daughter didnt answer text messages late Nov. 28 into the next day, when they were supposed to meet so her daughter could move into a new apartment. She said she knew her daughter had been with Chance and talked to him. He told her they had been at Mulligans Pub and the Hookah Lounge the night before. Workers at Mulligans provided her with surveillance video that showed her daughter and Chance together. She never saw her daughter again. The suspects brother, Konrad Chance testified Thursday that on Dec. 1, his brother, along with his parents, James Chance, 76, and Barbara Chance, 63, drove to Grand Rapids to bring Jared Chance back to their home in the 100 block of West 20th street in Holland. He brought boxes and other items with him. One cardboard box, lined with a black plastic bag, contained something but no one asked about it. When the family brought him back the next day, he brought the items with him. Later that day, Grand Rapids police, investigating a report of a bloody tarp in the basement of Jared Chances rental home at 922 Franklin St. SE, found a torso. DNA tests showed it belonged to Young. The parents are facing charges of perjury for statements provided during an investigative subpoena and accessory after the fact. The perjury charge carries a potential penalty of life in prison if convicted. The husbands case on Thursday, Jan. 10, was bound over for trial in Kent County Circuit Court after a probable-cause hearing before Grand Rapids District Judge Michael Distel. The wife waived her right to the hearing and also had her case bound over. Konrad Chance, who testified at his fathers proceeding, recalled that his brother appeared very disturbed when the family showed up at his rental home. Beyond finding the victims torso in the basement of Chances apartment, police found evidence in boxes on the landing outside of the front door of his upstairs home. Police also recovered blood evidence, empty bottles of ammonia and two saw blades outside of his home. Police think he used a bloody saw found under a couch in his parents home to cut up the body. Konrad Chance, who was in court this morning, is expected to testify. Mario Nelson, who lived below Jared Chance, said he detected a foul odor coming from the basement and took a look on Dec. 2. He saw a bloody tarp and ran upstairs to call 911. There was blood in my basement, he testified. I dont know if its normal for anyone else but theres not supposed to be blood in my basement. Nelson also testified that he had seen Chance with a .22-caliber revolver. He said Chance kept touching the gun, moving it, moving it. You never know what can happen. It made me kind of nervous. He said Chance said he knew how to get rid of gun-powder residue if he had to shoot someone. Police think Chance shot her before dismembering her body. Sgt. John Purlee said police found spent casings but no projectiles at the crime scene. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed legislation designating $31.3 million for School Mental Health and Support Services within the K-12 budget. Advocates for children say years of lobbying and advocacy finally paid off in December. School leaders say every year they try to meet the growing needs of students with mental, emotional or behavioral disorders with limited resources. We are abundantly grateful for the allocation because it acknowledges student mental health issues are a problem in our schools, said Ottawa Area ISD Superintendent Peter Haines. For a long time, there has been a universal outcry that this is a common problem. This funding is a good start and will make a difference. There is also excitement around the funding opening the door for the possible expansion of the Medicaid-enrolled students for whom a school can bill Medicaid for health services delivered in the school. West Michigans Sen. Pete MacGregor, R-Cannon Township, and former Sen. Goeff Hansen, R-Hart, co-sponsored the school mental health bill which includes the following funds: $16.5 million for intermediate school districts (ISDs) to work with their local school systems to provide mental health services. Statewide it breaks down to $294,500 for each ISD. The Ottawa Area ISD has 11 districts and the Kent ISD 20. $5 million to hire additional licensed mental health care providers in School-Based Health Centers such as those operated locally by Cherry Health. $8 million for ISDs will to create school-based behavioral health assessment teams utilizing a train the trainer model that focuses on providing age-appropriate interventions, identifying behaviors that suggest a student is struggling with mental health challenges for treatment and support. $500,000 to assist ISDs with administration for school mental health programs. Kent and Ottawa school leaders say they are well positioned to capitalize on the new funding because theyve been working on the issues for years. Both ISDs are currently in conversations with superintendents about how to utilize the funding to address common needs and help those districts that have limited mental health support. Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent Ron Koehler said the growing problems around students struggling with mental health issues and the scarcity of state aid, has long been identified as an area of concern by Kent County superintendents. A 2017 MLive investigation explained the financial struggles school leaders were having trying to support a growing number of students battling various types of anxiety, depression, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and behavior disorders. However, many in the Kent ISD were finding resources for campus mental health clinicians.. Schools had to cut back pretty dramatically on school psychologists and social workers because they did not have the means to support those position, he said, noting the shortages compared to other states are cited in the School Finance Research Collaborative study outlining how Michigan is underfunding schools. We have needed to bring in stable funding to give students the support and services they need, when they need them, and not allow their mental health situation to become chronic. Koehler is hoping to grow state funding while hopeful about new federal dollars for school-based Medicaid. On Dec. 27, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services submitted a state plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to expand the current school-based services program to include a new program known as Caring 4 Students. Schools would be able to bill for Medicaid services provided to all Medicaid-enrolled students, not just those special education students enrolled that have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The primary focus of this new Michigan program is to increase nursing and behavioral health services within Michigans schools, according to Bob Wheaton, spokesperson for DHHS. Wheaton said the new program would use funds appropriated by the legislature along with expenditures by the schools that were not previously reimbursable to draw down additional federal funds. This new opportunity to add additional services to the Medicaid program for all Medicaid kids would make a huge difference, said Debra Brinson, interim executive director of the School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan, whose group was key player lobbying for mental health funding. We know there are gaps in services across the board and state and federal funding will help us reach more students. In five years, we could create a statewide system of care for kids. A plan similar to Michigans was recently approved for Massachusetts. If approved, these services would qualify for the regular services Medicaid match rate, which is 64.45 percent this fiscal year, Wheaton said. Brinson said the potential to capitalize on these new federal dollars would not be possible if state lawmakers had not unlocked the door by budgeting for school mental health funding, signaling it is a priority. Amy Zaagman, executive director of Michigan Council for Maternal & Child Health, another group that actively lobbied lawmakers for mental health funding, said the federal match opportunity will not only improve access but better integrate school health services with the broader health care system. Educators and advocacy group leaders say they have been lobbying for state for mental health funding well over a decade but started to make real headway in the last two years. "There is a recognition that Michigan needs to focus more for mental health service for all students,'' said Carol Paine-McGovern, executive director of the Kent School Services Network, noting the strong support from Sen. MacGregor, who chairs the appropriations subcommittee for Health and Human Services. "The funding for the behavioral health assessment teams is an opportunity to build capacity through training for assessment and screening.'' The Kent School Services Network created the community school model adopted by the state that brings health and human services into the school building, including mental-health clinicians, to serve students and families. Districts in 10 of the 20 Kent ISD districts - 44 schools - contract for KSSN for services. Koehler said Kent ISD would like to see the program expanded to more schools, in addition to other endeavors. He said approval for the Medicaid expansion would be a big deal, as it is the linchpin of their mental health services through KSSN. "We couldnt afford the clinical therapists otherwise,'' he said. For two years, Haines said the OAISD has been piloting the Ottawa Community School Network, modeled after KSSN, in five buildings in three school district. He said he expects some of the state funding would go to expand their program. LEELANAU COUNTY, MI -- Three men were hospitalized and two suspects were arrested after police said a home invasion and armed robbery led to a multi-county police pursuit and rollover crash in Northern Michigan. A 25-year-old Glen Arbor woman and a 33-year-old Interlochen man were jailed on charges of attempted murder, armed robbery and first-degree home invasion, according to the Leelanau County Sheriffs Office. The assault victims -- a 78-year-old man, 55-year-old man, and 56-year-old man -- were transported to Munson Hospital to be treated for their injuries, including multiple stab wounds. Police said the incident occurred Thursday evening, Jan. 10, at a residence on South Kasson Street in the village of Cedar. Officers were dispatched to the residence around 8 p.m. On scene, first-responders found the three men, two of which had been stabbed and another who had suffered several blows to the head with a metal object. All three men were residents of the home. Police said the 25-year-old woman, known to the family, entered the home uninvited with the 33-year-old man. The two are accused of forcing a 77-year-old woman into a bedroom to help locate valuable items to steal, police said. Afterward, the 33-year-old man allegedly stabbed and assaulted the three older men with a knife and metal flashlight. Police said the two suspects fled in a 2004 Suzuki SUV. After a statewide broadcast went out regarding the suspects' vehicle, a Wexford County detective located the SUV around 11:30 p.m. traveling west on M-115. State police attempted a traffic stop and made multiple commands for the male to shut off and exit the vehicle, police said. The vehicle fled a short time later, leading police on a 20-mile pursuit through Wexford and Manistee counties. At one point, the SUV turned around and struck a troopers vehicle in a head-on collision. The pursuit continued until police initiated a precision immobilization technique maneuver on the SUV, which led to the vehicle running off the left side of the roadway and rolling over. The man and woman were arrested after the crash and booked in the Leelanau County Jail. Police said the male suspect has an extensive criminal history that includes weapons and drug offenses. The woman has convictions for retail fraud and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Their names were not released, pending arraignment. The incident remains under investigation by the Leelanau County Sheriffs Office, with assistance by Michigan State Police. HOLLAND, MI -- A Holland fire marshal said one of the six individuals injured in a house fire in Holland on Friday morning was absolutely a hero for his efforts to ensure the burning building was unoccupied. Holland Fire Marshal Bret Groendyke cautioned individuals from entering a home thats on fire, but said the passerby that helped clear the house acted heroically. That was certainly dangerous, Groendyke said. "That individual put themselves in harms way to help someone else, thats significant ... This whole neighborhood came together, people driving by helped out. We dont want to get anybody else hurt but certainly in this situation, this worked out very well. Firefighters were dispatched shortly after 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, to a report of a fully-involved house fire at 136 W. 19th Street in Holland. Crews arrived to find a house with heavy flames coming from the front-side of the building, and smoke billowing from the residence. Five people were inside when the house caught fire. With the help of passerby, they got out. Three of those inside, including a toddler, were transported to Holland Hospital and are in stable condition. The rest were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Groendyke said its unclear how the fire started. Crews remained on scene as of 1 p.m. Friday to put out hot spots and investigate the fire. This was a heck of a fire, he said. Fire crews responded from Holland, Holland Township and Park Township fire departments. Police shut down 19th Street between Pine and Maple avenues while extinguishing and investigating the fire. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A man whose ex-girlfriend went missing last week in Texas has been arrested in Grand Rapids on a burglary warrant out of the southern state. Cedric Joseph Marks, 44, is in the Kent County Jail awaiting extradition to Bell County, Texas, records show. Police have not identified Marks as a suspect or person of interest in the disappearance of Jenna Scott, 28, or her friend, 32-year-old Michael Swearingin. They were last heard from about 3 a.m. Jan. 4 and were in a Gray Hyundai Genesis. The car later was found parked and unlocked in an Austin neighborhood, according to the Temple Daily Telegram. Temple police late Jan. 5 issued a missing persons report on the departments Facebook page and asked anyone with information about their whereabouts to call them. Swearingin may have health issues, police indicated. Marks and Scott had been in a previous relationship and a Bell County judge issued a civil personal protection order against Marks on July 30, according to the Telegram. Later, he was accused of illegally entering Scotts home on Aug. 21 and a burglary arrest warrant was issued in early November for the incident. Court records showed that Scott told police Marks threatened her during the August incident and told her not to call the police. Shawana Neely, a Temple Police Department spokeswoman, said police are not linking Marks to the disappearance. There was a protection order and he is named in it. That is the reason why (media) are putting the two together. We have not confirmed anything, she said. Marks was arrested Jan. 8 by a U.S. Marshals fugitive team in a parking lot at RiverTown Crossings mall in Grandville. He did not resist arrest, police said. GRAND RAPIDS, MI A Grand Rapids man accused of killing a Kalamazoo woman and dismembering her body was ordered Friday, Jan. 11, to stand trial on multiple charges, including open murder. Jared Chance, 29, is accused in the death of Ashley Young, 31, whose torso was found early last month in the basement of his rental home on Franklin Street. Grand Rapids police detectives and crime-scene investigators found evidence of blood and tissue in the bathroom and kitchen of his upper apartment, along with body parts boxed outside on the landing. Grand Rapids District Judge Jennifer Faber bound Chances case over to Kent County Circuit Court on charges of open murder, mutilation of a body, concealing a death and three counts of tampering with evidence. Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Lawrence Boivin said evidence showed that Chance took extensive steps to dispose of the victims body and clean up the crime scene to hamper the investigation and get away with killing. Young was with Chance early Nov. 29 but was not heard from again. Her body was found Dec. 2 after Mario Nelson, who lived below Chances apartment, saw blood in the basement while looking for the source of a strong odor. He ran back upstairs and told his girlfriend call police. Officers soon found the torso. Dr. David Start, a forensic pathologist, said Friday that he ruled the death homicide by unspecified means. He said it appeared the victims body had been cut with an electric saw. He could not identify a specific injury causing the death but considered information from police as well as damage to the body. Defense attorney Andrew Rodenhouse argued that there was no evidence that his client killed Young. He suggested that Young could have shot herself, hit her head or died of a stroke. The government doesnt know what happened, he said. Testimony included the suspects brother, Konrad Chance, 27, who said he and his parents picked up his brother on Dec. 1 brought him back to their Holland home. They took him back the next day. Konrad Chance said his brother brought a cardboard box with a black plastic bag inside and other items and left with them the next day. Konrad Chance had an attorney next to him while he testified. The judge told him he had constitutional protections against providing incriminating testimony. He had testified that he became aware of the killing after spending Dec. 1 with his brother. Attorneys did not ask him to disclose any statements his brother may have made. He described his brothers demeanor as very disturbed. He said that his brother had a .22-caliber revolver. Police suspect it was used in the killing. Not long before the killing, Jared Chance had pointed the gun, unloaded, at his brother and repeatedly pulled the trigger. Young happened to be there and told Chance to never play with a gun like that. He had called her for a ride to Grand Rapids after he drove into a ditch leaving a Kalamazoo strip club, his brother said. Konrad Chance testified at a hearing on Thursday, too. His parents, James Chance, 76, and Barbara Chance, 63, are charged with perjury and accessory after the fact. Kristine Young has listened to horrific testimony about her daughter over the last two days. She provided emotional testimony. She recalled her frantic efforts to find her daughter after her text messages went unanswered. Her daughter, a bank worker and student at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, would always answer her. They were supposed to meet Nov. 29. She tracked down Chance, then viewed surveillance video of Chance and her daughter at Mulligans Pub. On the witness stand, Youngs voice trembled with emotion when asked, for the record, her relationship to the victim. Ashley was my daughter. GENESEE TWP, MI -- Residents living and conducting business near a proposed 400-acre solar farm in Genesee Township are concerned the multi-million-dollar development may have an impact on their serene environment. Township board members voted Jan. 8 to approve a new ordinance that would permit and regulate solar energy systems including the size and display of equipment, power output and space requirements. Minnesota-based Geronimo Energy has been purchasing land options near Bray and Coldwater roads for the installation of solar panels and potential connection to a nearby Consumers Energy transmission line that would include around 100 temporary construction jobs and one to three-full time jobs as part of the roughly $69 million investment. An estimated 380 acres would be needed for the project, according to Lindsay Smith, marketing and communications manager for Geronimo Energy. The company took an interest in the location due to the flat and contiguous property, access to existing electrical infrastructure and market interest, But people living near the proposed solar farm raised some objections this week, including Crystal Greene, owner of the Woodland Park Senior Assisted Living facility off East Coldwater Road. We were left out of that conversation with other neighbors, she said, arguing the potential for 12-foot-high panels and eight-foot-high fence would "display a hideous and unsightly scenery for our seniors that could negatively impact the 13-year-old business. Margie Neal moved into a home nearly two decades ago next to Woodland Park with a mind frame that we would have peace of mind, that you can come out and you can sit out and look into cornfields. Nobody wants to look at solar panels when you come out and sit on the porch, she told board members. We are not looking forward to this development in our neighborhood. Steve Fuhr, the townships supervisor, said Geronimo came to the local government with a list of changes theyd like to see in the ordinance including a 100-foot setback that would create 65 acres of unusable space, but those changes were turned down. When contacted after the meeting about the ordinance vote, Smith said the Genesee Solar Project is an early stage solar development, and as such, the project design and layout have not yet been finalized. As with all solar projects, when designing a solar development, Geronimo takes several items into consideration, including the structure of the local ordinance, she commented. As the local ordinance was just approved, we are now considering how this may or may not affect the Genesee Solar Project in conjunction with a variety of other factors, including but not limited to power offtake and overall project feasibility. The company has solar and wind projects under construction and completed across the country, including Michigan. Consumers Energy entered into a long-term agreement with the company in 2015 to buy electricity from the Apple Blossom Wind Farm located in Huron County. In 2016, Sempra US Gas & Power struck an agreement with Geronimo Energy to acquire the site. Solar projects by Geronimo Energy in the works in Michigan include the 550-acre Sandstone Creek solar farm in Eaton County and the 150-acre White Pine solar farm in St. Joseph County. FLINT, MIResidents of Flint are invited to meet Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at the Flint Farmers Market for the Whitmer Warm-Up event from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. The governor will be joined by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist for special activities and refreshments for community members. Residents are encouraged to be bring a book to donate to a child in need. Attendees can park at the Flint Farmers Markets parking lot at 300 East 1st Street, Flint. This event is free and open to the public. This will be the governors first visit to Flint since the election. Whitmer hasnt announced any specific plans addressing the water crisis since taking office. FLINT, MI Flint Mayor Karen Weaver has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars in campaign contributions, with much of it coming from contributors doing business with the city, according to a campaign finance report obtained from the Genesee County Clerks Office. With the deadline for candidate petitions months away, Weaver and her campaign have raised $252,522 already for the Nov. 6 election cycle compared to the $55,549 she raised in her first election in 2015. The mayor also survived a recall election in 2017. She will face a run-off primary and general election later this year. A lot has changed since Weaver first took office, most prominently a gigantic effort to replace Flints water infrastructure, from removing hazardous water service lines made of lead to rebuilding its water distribution plant. The wave of work has attracted multi-billion dollar companies to Flint. Weavers campaign finance reports show 39 percent of her contributions come from businesses, some of which are contracted to perform work in the wake of the water crisis. Weaver declined to comment for this story. Flint City Council members have differing opinions on businesses contributing to political campaigns. Whether its lawyers or contractors, I think they should give back to political campaigns, 1st Ward Councilman Eric Mays said. You get those types of contracts and you want to pursue more business with the city, I think its just common practice for those folks to want to come to functions and donate to a campaign." This information was provided by campaign finance reports filed with the Genesee County Clerk's office by Friends of Karen Weaver between 2015 and 2018. Mays also pointed out that there isnt anything illegal about companies donating to campaigns. Craig Mauger, executive director for the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, said its not unusual for an incumbent to raise more money during their second campaign or from interest groups and businesses that have matters before elected officials to donate large sums of money. A lot of businesses will wait until they know who the candidate is before donating, because its safer to give to the incumbent, Mauger said. Theyre more likely to give to someone with the power to influence the decisions than they would give to some candidate thats running for the first time. While a quarter of a million dollars is a lot of money to raise for a mayoral election when compared to the $42,694 Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, for example, has raised, its small potatoes compared to the $4 million Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan raised during his election in 2017. Weavers growing political profile could also be a factor in the large amounts of money shes been able to raise, according to Mauger. While the campaign contributions appear above-board, that doesnt mean residents shouldnt be paying attention to whos donating to their mayors campaign and what the mayor is doing with those donations, Mauger stated. There is a lot of gray area in the business of public office holders trying to raise large sums of money and oftentimes trying to raise it from people that have very specific interest in what those public office holders are doing, Mauger said. The public should be aware if a person seeking office takes money from businesses looking to get a contract from the city or state -- or trying to increase an existing contract, Mauger said, because of the potential for conflicts of interest. Some Flint City Council members whove reviewed Weavers campaign finance reports have raised concerns about a pay-to-play type of scenario. Ninth Ward Councilwoman Eva Worthing said its a slippery slope because the mayors administration could be more lenient toward contractors such as AECOM. AECOM is the Los-Angles based international engineering company contracted in December 2017 to oversee FAST Start, the citys water service line replacement program. Worthing was concerned about contributions from AECOM PAC, its senior vice president Joseph Moss, former project manager Alan Wong, subcontractors and service line contractors who donated a combined $35,220 to Weavers campaign. Individuals directly associated with AECOM also donated more than $9,000 between Aug. 21 and Sept. 10, 2018, just months before Flint administrators recommended city council approve an additional $1.1 million to the companys $5 million contract, Worthing pointed out. "To me, thats why they got that additional $1.1 million, she said. Why are they giving thousands of dollars to her campaign and then when they dont fulfill their contract, they ask for money and shes more than willing to give it to them? The 5-4 vote approving additional funding for the multi-billion dollar companys contract was made at a Dec. 10, 2018, general council meeting. Community members voiced concerns during the general meetings public comment period, stating AECOM didnt meet its promise to remove and replace at least 6,000 lead service lines. AECOMs contract states its responsible for managing the removal and replacement of 6,000 lead service lines. It oversaw 9,846 excavations uncovering service lines, but replaced only 1,603 hazardous lead service lines in 2018. This is pay to play, 4th Ward Councilwoman Kate Fields stated. They give you money, you give them contracts. Contributions arent illegal, but when they correlate with who gets what work, Im concerned. Law firms and attorneys gave a total of more than $27,180 in campaign contributions, while the rest of the mayors contributors were made up of retirees, elected officials, city administrators and other individuals. Politicians like former Gov. Rick Snyders close adviser Rich Baird, who donated $2,250, and former Receivership Transition Advisory Board member Joel Ferguson, who donated $1,250, contributed to 4 percent of the mayors campaign fund. Other companies like Wade Trim, E&L construction, A&S construction and DLZ construction contributed a combined total of $11,325. Employees from Wade Trim, an engineering firm thats been contracted for projects like the Kearsley Street Rehabilitation program or the repairs on the Thread Lake dam, donated $3,375 to the mayors campaign, records show. ANN ARBOR, MI For the first time that city officials can recall, the Ann Arbor City Council has voted down a greenbelt purchase, deciding not to permanently protect a 75-acre farm north of the city. Thats a first, Council Member Zachary Ackerman, D-3rd Ward, remarked after the 7-4 vote to reject the $478,867 purchase this week. That is a first, agreed Council Member Jane Lumm, an independent from the 2nd Ward who has been the lone dissenting vote on a number of greenbelt purchases approved over the years. Perhaps we should give Council Member Lumm a moment to take this in, joked Council Member Jack Eaton, D-4th Ward. Ann Arbor voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of a 30-year tax to launch the greenbelt program in 2003, and as of last summer roughly 5,200 acres of farmland and open space in township areas just outside the city had been permanently protected through conservation easements under the program, including more than four dozen working farms. Conservation easements approved by the City Council in cooperation with willing land owners keep the lands in private hands and on the tax rolls, allowing them to continue to be farmed, while ensuring they can never be developed. The influx of cash from selling the development rights has helped a number of local farms stay in business, producing crops that end up at local markets and restaurants. It also lowers land prices for the protected farms, making it easier for new farmers to get into the business. More than $40 million has been spent on the greenbelt so far, counting city and other funds, and the program will continue at least through 2034, which is when the current millage expires. The proposal before council Monday night, Jan. 7, was to purchase a 75-acre conservation easement on roughly 80 acres of farmland owned by Thaddeus and Margaret Lepkowski along Spencer Road in Northfield Township. The property scored in the top 40 percent of all greenbelt applications due to the size and quality of the farmland, proximity to other protected properties, and the potential to leverage federal funds, said Emy Brawley, greenbelt program manager. But without the township or the county sharing any of the costs, Lumm raised concerns. I support some of these greenbelt acquisitions, but not others, and its largely dependent on the degree of leverage of the citys tax dollars, she said. In this specific instance, a federal grant is paying half the actual purchase price, with city greenbelt tax dollars paying the other half, plus all of the due diligence, closing and endowment costs. Considering these other costs, the city ultimately pays $265,000, which is equivalent to 62 percent of the purchase price, Lumm said. I just dont think its appropriate or fair to Ann Arbor taxpayers that the city bears all of the local share of costs. Council Member Chip Smith, D-5th Ward, joined Lumm in speaking out against the purchase, but he had different reasons. A goal of the greenbelt program is to prevent urban sprawl outside the city and drive density and growth in the citys core, Smith noted. Citing growing University of Michigan enrollment and employment numbers, Smith said he doesnt think the thousands of new housing units the city has added have been enough to justify adding more land to the greenbelt and taking away development rights. I believe that the greenbelt program is having a detrimental effect environmentally because we are forcing people to live farther away, he said, suggesting people are commuting past greenbelt properties to get into the city for work. And until we commit to densifying the city core, where we have infrastructure, where we have transportation, Im not going to support greenbelt purchases outside the city of Ann Arbor. Council Member Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward, pushed back on Smiths suggestion that theres a lack of new development in the city. We have thousands of units in the pipeline right now or very near to the pipeline, Hayner said, referring to the many new housing developments in the works, including new downtown high-rises. We are building up. I mean, weve got a 19-story one coming, he said of a proposed apartment high-rise behind the Michigan Theater. Weve got all kinds of building up going on. Hayner said hes been a longtime supporter of the greenbelt and his first time speaking before the City Council was to express support for it when it was being proposed many years ago. I came out and said, Yes, Im all for it, and Im still all for it, he said. I just wish that the other municipalities were as eager to protect this valuable agricultural land as we are. The only four to support the purchase were Mayor Christopher Taylor, Julie Grand, Hayner and Ackerman. The seven opposed were Lumm, Eaton, Smith, Anne Bannister, Kathy Griswold, Elizabeth Nelson and Ali Ramlawi. Northfield Township has established a land preservation committee, but it has no funds dedicated for purchasing development rights at this time and the only townships within the greenbelt district that have dedicated land-preservation funds are Webster, Scio, Ann Arbor and Augusta, according to a staff memo to the City Council. Washtenaw County was asked to contribute funds for the farm in Northfield Township, but the county is putting its limited funding toward higher-scoring projects, the memo stated. CHIPPEWA COUNTY, MI A pedestrian walking along I-75 was killed when they were hit by a truck in Michigans Upper Peninsula. According to the Chippewa County Sheriffs Office, the incident occurred north of Gains Highway on Thursday evening when deputies investigated a small car stuck in the snow after it left the roadway and struck a reflector pole. That investigation revealed that all the occupants, a driver and three passengers, had been consuming alcohol. Deputies learned that two of the passengers had begun walking southbound in the traffic lane of I-75 wearing dark-colored clothing. The fatal crash occurred when a truck traveling southbound on I-75 struck the two individuals walking in the roadway, killing one of them. The second pedestrian was taken to War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the small car was arrested for OWI, open intoxicants, unregistered vehicle, possession of narcotics, resisting arrest and assault on a corrections officer. The third passenger of the small car was arrested for open Intoxicants. The driver of the truck who struck the individuals had not been drinking, police said. No names are being released at this time. This is an open investigation. The Chippewa County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Michigan State Police, U.S. Border Patrol, Kinross Police Department, Kinross EMS and Chippewa County Central Dispatch. Michigans economy is expected to continue growing at a slightly slower pace over the next few years, according to the state treasurer and legislative fiscal experts. Experts from the House Fiscal Agency, Senate Fiscal Agency and Michigan Department of Treasury gathered Friday to release the projections at the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, a biannual meeting where the states economic experts hash out revenue projections. The outlook informs lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as they prepare to enter the budget-making process. State revenue falls into two broad categories: the general fund, which funds state agencies and other programs, and the School Aid Fund, which provides funding for school districts and some higher education. General fund revenue is projected to be $10.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2019, up $288.6 million from May estimates. School Aid Fund revenue is projected at $13.55 billion, down $23.9 million from May. Combined, estimates are up about $264.7 million in Fiscal Year 2019. In Fiscal Year 2020, which begins Oct. 1, general fund revenue is forecasted at $10.72 billion, and the School Aid Fund revenue is estimated to be $13.93 billion. Initial Fiscal Year 2021 estimates show general fund revenue is projected at $10.85 billion, and School Aid Fund revenue is projected to be $14.26 billion. Todays agreement shows the economy is projected to grow at a modest pace, State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said in a statement. While down from last fiscal year, General Fund estimates are up from May due to higher projected growth in individual and corporate income taxes." In a statement, state budget director Chris Kolb said the general fund total was almost exactly what it was when he started in the legislature almost 20 years ago. "General Fund revenues have remained flat over a long period of time, and so we have a fundamental problem of constrained resources and additional funding needed to address real problems for Michigans residents, he said. The revenue estimates are based on the most recent economic projections and forecasting models. Experts warned slow growth at the national level and continued trade uncertainty could pose risks to the states revenue. Michigan State University is creating a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program that will offer 24-hour-a-day, first-response medical care to sexual assault survivors on campus. A new advisory board overseeing the program includes Amanda Thomashow, a plaintiff in the Larry Nassar case who now works as a sexual assault coordinator, and Angie Povilaitis, the Michigan assistant attorney general who was the lead prosecutor in the Nassar case. The SANE initiative was among the recommendations of the universitys Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Expert Advisory Workgroup. In addition to the SANE program,, university is forming a new campus Sexual Assault Response Team to align advocacy, medical, legal and educational services for survivors and ensures trauma-informed practices across service sectors. The SANE-SART model will allow MSU to implement national best practices in sexual assault response, a MSU press release said. We conducted a thorough review of programs and services for sexual assault survivors at MSU and concluded that there is no reliable option for post-assault medical support on campus, Rebecca Campbell, work group chair and psychology professor, said in the press release. Although there is a SANE and a SART program in the greater Lansing area, they are difficult for MSU community members, particularly students, to access. Given the size of the student body and broader community, we need dedicated 24-hour on-campus programs. MSU has hired forensic nursing consultant Jenifer Markowitz to lead the development of its SANE program. Once formed, the SANE program will be funded by state and federal grants. Markowitzs resume includes stints with the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. To implement the SANE program, the work group has formed the SANE advisory board of volunteers that consist of students, faculty and staff as well as stakeholders from the greater Lansing area and state-level organizations. Thomashow and Povilaitis are among the board members so far. The board will also include three at-large seats open to MSU community members and members of the public. Those interested can request an application for consideration. The development of SART also will begin immediately, bringing together partners from the MSU campus and surrounding community, such as the MSU Sexual Assault Program, MSU Police and the Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance. The primary goals of the SART are to: Develop collaborative relationships between campus partners that improve the quality of assistance provided to survivors. Provide Title IX, criminal justice, medical and advocacy support. Prevent and minimize re-traumatization of survivors. Increase awareness of and provision of culturally sensitive services for survivors. Increase perpetrator accountability while empowering survivors. Increase utilization of sexual assault services. Kathleen Miller has been hired as full-time SART coordinator, a position funded by a grant that the MSU Sexual Assault Program received from the MDHHS Division of Victim Services. Millers role will be to elevate the needs and voices of survivors to collaborative campus and community partners. State officials are issuing a mandatory recall of medical marijuana sold at provisioning centers in Detroit, Kalamazoo and Lansing after tests revealed the product did not meet state standards. This is the second and third recall of medical marijuana in a week issued by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs' Bureau of Marijuana Regulation. Friday morning officials recalled four strains of marijuana flower sold at The Green Mile Detroit at 6650 E. Eight Mile Road in Detroit, and 11 strains of marijuana sold at Compassionate Care by Design at 401 N. Sage St. in Kalamazoo. Friday afternoon officials recalled four strains of marijuana flower sold at HG Lansing at 1116 E. Oakland Ave. in Lansing. All three licensed provisioning centers had obtained the marijuana from caregivers, and sold it to customers before it was tested by a lab, said David Harns, spokesman for the bureau. Lab testing revealed marijuana sold at The Green Mile was contaminated with yeast, mold and chemical residue, and marijuana sold at Compassionate Care by Design was contaminated with chemical residue. Marijuana sold at HG Lansing was contaminated with E. coli, Salmonella and chemical residue. Due to a shortage of medical marijuana at newly state-licensed provisioning centers, officials announced in early December that they would continue to allow the shops to keep stocking their shelves with marijuana grown by caregivers without fear of retribution. Provisioning centers were allowed to sell untested medical marijuana from caregivers until Dec. 31, 2018, as long as patients signed a disclosure form, Harns said. As of Jan. 1, provisioning centers are required to test any caregiver product that they are selling. Any patients or caregivers who purchased medical marijuana affected by the recall should return it to the provisioning center so it can be destroyed, Harns said. Provisioning centers are required to notify patients of the recall, according to state officials. The mandatory recalls, announced Friday, Jan. 11, comes a week after state officials issued a voluntary recall of medical marijuana products sold across the state. The voluntary recall was due to a data entry issue in Metrc, the software that the state and provisioning centers use to track marijuana from seed to sale. Officials werent able to tell in the Metrc system if medical marijuana processed at Choice Labs in Jackson had been tested or not, and issued a voluntary recall. Read on for further details on the products that are under a mandatory recall: The Green Mile Detroit Here are the strains and batch numbers sold between Dec. 18, 2018, and Jan. 3, 2019, that are affected by the recall: Gelato 1A405010000076E000000140 Failed for total yeast and mold. Superman OG 1A405010000076E000000141 Failed for chemical residue. Mimosa 1A405010000076E000000125 Failed for bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria and total coliforms. Girl Scout Cookies 1A405010000076E000000126 Failed for total yeast and mold. Compassionate Care by Design Here are the strains and batch numbers sold between Dec. 12, 2018, and Dec. 29, 2018, that are affected by the recall. All of them failed for chemical residue: Critical Cali 1A4040100000515000000014 GMO 1A4040100000515000000015 Silver Haze 1A4040100000515000000016 GSC 1A4040100000515000000017 Critical Kush 1A4040100000515000000018 Blueberry 1A4040100000515000000019 Skunk #1 1A4040100000515000000020 Chunk D 1A4040100000515000000021 Amnesia Lemon Kush 1A4040100000515000000022 Special Kush 1A4040100000515000000023 Purple Punch 1A4040100000515000000024 HG Lansing Here are the strains and batch numbers sold between Dec. 27, 2018, and Dec. 30, 2018, that are affected by the recall: Citrix 1A4050100000F3D000000009 Failed for E. coli and Salmonella Gelato 1A4050100000F3D000000010 Failed for chemical residue Green Crack 1A4050100000F3D000000008 Failed for chemical residue and bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria, E. coli, Salmonella and total coliforms Oreoz 1A4050100000F3D000000023 Failed for chemical residue and E. coli and Salmonella -- Amy Biolchini is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact her with questions, tips or comments at abiolch1@mlive.com. Read more from MLive about medical marijuana. A Southeast Michigan man who saw an 8-point buck near his house on Thanksgiving Day told DNR officers it was an impulse decision to grab his gun and shoot the deer out of his homes second-story window. When he bagged the buck, he felt like a kid again, he told authorities, according to a Department of Natural Resources law enforcement report filed recently. Conservation Officer David Schaumburger went out to investigate the holiday incident that started as a possible poaching complaint. When the officer arrived at the home, he looked through a garage window and saw a dead deer hanging inside. While speaking with the suspect, the suspect admitted to shooting an 8-point deer out of his window on Thanksgiving Day, the report said. He stated that it was an impulsive decision and stated that he felt like a kid again. But afterward, the man realized what hed done was wrong, he told the DNR. He did not have a deer hunting license, so he bought one the next day because its the right thing to do to tag your game, he said, according to the report. He was also hunting with a shotgun in an area where there were other homes nearby, the DNR told him. Charges were being sought for taking a deer without a hunting license, and hunting within a safety zone. Hunting without a license is a misdemeanor crime in Michigan that carries the possibility of up to 90 days in jail. If found guilty, a person can be fined anywhere from $25 to $250, depending on what the areas district court decides. In this case, because the animal was killed, there are tougher penalties for illegally taking a deer, the DNR said. This means a fine ranging from $200 to $1,000, and the possibility of more jail time. The suspect faces a restitution cost of $1,000 for the deer, and the loss of his hunting licenses for the next three years. While no specific city was listed in the report, the incident occurred in the DNRs District 9, which encompasses the Southeast Michigan counties of Genesee, Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St Clair and Wayne. Michigan House lawmakers have renewed efforts to extend transparency requirements to the legislative and executive branch, but the bills could hit snags in the Senate again over concerns with opening up certain state correspondence to public view. Led by state Reps. Daire Rendon, R-Lake City, and Vanessa Guerra, D-Saginaw, House bills 4007 through 4016 would expand Michigans Freedom of Information Act to include the governor and lieutenant governor, and subject the legislature to a separate Legislative Open Records Act, or LORA. Certain records - including letters to and from constituents, human resources files and active investigations - would be exempt under LORA. The bills were referred to the House Government Operations Committee. Michigan is one of the only states that exempts the governor, lieutenant governor and the legislature from public records requests, and a 2015 report from the Center for Public Integrity ranked Michigans government transparency and accountability laws as the worst in the nation. Were determined to change that, Guerra said in a statement. This package and the bipartisan way it was developed sends a clear message to the people of Michigan that the era of complacency in government is over." The legislation is similar to bills that passed the House unanimously last session, but withered in the Senate. Former Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof was opposed to the legislation, writing in a March 2017 op-ed that opening legislative records up to public review could pose privacy concerns and potentially dissuade residents from contacting their state lawmakers. Asked by reporters Thursday whether he would support subjecting the governor and legislature to public records requirements, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, said hes been a transparency hawk from day one" and is open to discussion, but believes further review is needed to avoid potential negative consequences. Walking down this narrow pathway of trying to ensure maximum transparency and being able to contemplate what is actually occurring in terms of communication and negotiation...is going to require some study, Shirkey said. A blanket FOIA opening up for everybody is not a good place to start, but the conversation, I think, is appropriate. In a statement, Rendon said by introducing the bipartisan bills on the first day of session, House lawmakers are reiterating their commitment to getting the plan through. The House sent a powerful message last session when we unanimously approved a similar government transparency plan, Rendon said. I was disappointed to see the package die without reaching the governors desk, but were not giving up." Other sponsors on bills in the package include Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Twp.; Annette Glenn, R-Midland; Ryan Berman, R-Commerce Township; Roger Hauck, R-Union Twp.; Sue Allor, R-Wolverine; Andrea Schroeder, R-Independence Twp., Graham Filler, R-Ovid, and Darrin Camilleri, D-Brownstown Twp. The progressive group Progress Michigan this week suggested the House and Senate could subject themselves to FOIA laws in a different way. In an open letter, the group called on lawmakers to amend chamber rules to allow for public records requests, arguing it would be a simple fix to bring a new level of accountability and transparency to Michigans government. The stalemate between the House and Senate that caused FOIA reform to die each and every year is not an excuse to continue governing from the shadows, the groups open letter stated. FOIA reform can and needs to happen today. I might have been born Air Force. I did, in fact, give birth to a kid determined to join the Army. But I count myself lucky, lucky, LUCKY that I have spent my entire adult life loving on the Navy. And even at it's ripe old age of almost 238, it's still looking good. That's why I was delighted by this list some of our readers created at a Military.com Spouse Experience event in 2013. We know the Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force are great, too. But there's just something about the Navy. So why is the Navy the best service? We'll tell you: Top 10 Reasons the Navy is the Best Service 1. Oceanfront property. Be it ever so humble, the Navy forces you -- just forces you, Dear -- to live near an ocean. You have to walk on beaches in the sunset -- there is a law. You simply must learn to pick crab or lobster while drinking local beer and listening to Buffett. Porpoises and dolphins are such an everyday thing that you don't even bother to look up when they flash by. Once in a while you get a weirdo billet (NAS Fallon we're talkin' to you) where you can't even remember what the ocean looks like, but most of the time you get to live near the sea. 2. White uniforms. Not only do our own sailors develop miraculously good superstar looks when they don the spanky white version of their uniforms, this trick works for actors, too. Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Richard Gere in Officer and a Gentleman. Cuba Gooding Jr. looking his cutie best in Men of Honor. John Wayne and Cary Grant also quite delightful in Navy garb. Makes you wanna wake up and smell the polyester! Please note: Putting on the "blueberry" uniform does not work the same way, Liam Neeson. 3. New Chief season. The Navy is a service surrounded by history and traditions and customs. One of our favorites happens in August when they do the CPO induction and you see all these ridiculously cheerful people out doing car washes to raise money. We like when good things happen to good people. Now get out there and be the backbone of the Navy. 4. The Big Turnaround. All the services do this in one way or another, but we love when kids join the Navy out of high school. Then they kind of look around and figure out who they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing. My own nephew enlisted in the Navy (and recently reenlisted) and found a place in the world to do good work. Gotta love it. 5. Huge support group. In Navy towns like Norfolk, San Diego, Jacksonville, and Bremerton you can't walk a block without running into someone with connections to the Navy. Not only have these neighbors walked the walk, but they have really good advice about getting up to speed on all you need to do...along with a nice plate of brownies. 6. Never say goodbye. In Navy life, the limited number of bases means that you never really say goodbye to the people you meet. Instead we say, "Fair winds and following seas." Translated I think this means, "Bye for now and we'll catch up at the commissary two duty stations from now." Or it could also be like that Far Side comic where the sea captain is trailed into a dark alley by a following sea ... one of the two. 7. Ships slipping over the horizon. One of the most beautiful moments of a Navy homecoming is that instant when the ship slips over the horizon and into view. One minute there is nothing but some ugly oiler jacking up the horizon. The next moment there is this huge, grey vessel slipping across the ocean like a mist. The whole thing makes you choke up with the joy of it. Really. 8. Homecoming on a pier -- not in a gym. For the majesty of the event, nothing beats a Navy homecoming where the sailors line the rails of the ship and then descend onto the pier into the arms of their loved ones. This is a little less picturesque in the rain. Or the snow. Or that unfortunate sleet storm that pummeled all the balloons. But it is really, really pretty most of the time. 9. Land, sea and air -- we fight everywhere. Unlike the other services, the Navy is equipment driven. We may rib each other about whether surface, air, subs, SEALs, supply, etc. are the best part of the Navy, but in the moment of crisis, we got it all. 10. Sailors have more fun. Trust us. They just do. Keep Up with the Ins and Outs of Military Life For the latest military news and tips on military family benefits and more, subscribe to Military.com and have the information you need delivered directly to your inbox. Air and missile defense may not be the top priority under the Army's new modernization strategy, but in the past 15 months, the service has crafted a sophisticated, new approach to protecting ground forces from enemy air attack, acquisition czar Bruce Jette said Thursday. In the past, the Army looked for single systems, such as the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, to handle air defense, said Jette, the assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics and Technology (ASAALT). "The way you [did] air defense is, 'OK, I've got this altitude, that altitude, that altitude and I need a system that works at this altitude, that altitude and that altitude,' " he told a group of reporters at a Defense Writers Group breakfast in Washington, D.C. The systems were "standalone concepts, and the integration of them in a battlespace was purely done at the operator level," Jette said. "Here is the Patriot battery. It stands alone, and all you've got to do is put fuel in the thing and a couple of soldiers and the thing works," he said. Since then, the threat on the battlefield has changed, Jette said. "The threat has become much more complicated. It's not just tactical ballistic missiles or jets or helicopters. Now, I've got UAVs, I've got swarms, I've got cruise missiles, I've got rockets, artillery and mortars," he said. In October 2017, the Army launched its new modernization strategy, designed around special cross-functional teams, or CFTs, made up of members of the acquisitions, requirements and operational communities, to manage the service's six new modernization priorities. Those include long-range precision fires, next-generation combat vehicles, future vertical lift, a mobile network, air and missile defense and soldier lethality. "So using the cross-functional teams, the technical side has come back and said, 'Listen, normally, if you want to deal inbounds that are not ... missiles -- things like rockets, artillery and mortars (RAM) -- the radars that comes with the Patriot battery are not the same radars that you need to see RAM,' " Jette said. "We have radars that see RAM, so why don't we integrate them into a network." Northrop Grumman's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System, or IBCS -- a system that "was in trouble" in the past because of "muddy requirements" -- will form the new air defense network, he said. "We fixed the requirements. ... We've got an acquisition process in place and we are doing really well," Jette said. "We will be delivering next December systems that are deployable. "So I don't deliver you a Patriot battery anymore, I deliver you missile systems, I deliver you radars, I deliver you a command-and-control architecture," he said. "They all integrate, and any of the command-and-control components can fire any of the missiles against any of the threats." In the long term, the Army will work to integrate artificial intelligence into air defense, a capability that could help units engage incoming enemy threats faster than ever before, Jette said. "We have a much more holistic view of where we are heading now in the air defense area," he added. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- Lodging at many U.S. military bases worldwide is getting pricier due to a Pentagon requirement that such facilities become self-sustaining. Rates could go up as much as $75 a night, with variations by service, location and room type, according to military officials. The change comes as the Pentagon looks to make business operations more efficient and free up funds, as spelled out in Defense Department guidance issued to the services late last year. Beginning in October, military lodging programs won't be supported by taxpayer dollars. Base lodges will have to use income generated from nightly room fees for all operations. Appropriated funds may be authorized in limited cases, such as to restore a facility "destroyed by acts of God, fire or terrorism," or to accommodate a mission change or influx of new units. Services may no longer assign military personnel to work at lodging, as all employees must be paid through nonappropriated funds. The Air Force says the service is in the process of reassigning airmen working in its lodging. Exceptions to the new guidance include morale, welfare and recreation recreational lodging; military treatment facility lodging, including Fisher Houses; and privatized lodging facilities. Air Force base lodging rates went up Jan. 1, service officials announced this week. They said to expect more increases. The smallest increase is to large distinguished visiting quarters, a jump from $75 to $83 a day. Other rate increases include: airman quarters ($44 to $55), officer quarters ($60 to $70), temporary lodging facilities ($63 to $77) and distinguished visiting quarters ($69 to $79). Rates are standard across the Air Force and also apply to rooms booked for non-official travel. The Air Force said the rate increase is within per diem levels, but if a location has a lower per diem rate, overnight fees will be dropped to match it. At Navy Gateway Inns and Suites, rates went up Oct. 1 and adjustments vary based on location, officials said. In the Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia regions, rates increased $11 to $31 per night, depending on room type, according to a Navy statement. The rate at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii increased an average of $45 a night, Debra Couch, a Navy region lodging director, said in a statement. The increase "is mid-range compared to the DOD expected range of increase from $1 to $75 a night," she said. Rates at U.S.-based Army lodges likely won't be affected by the new Pentagon guidance because the service turned operations over to private companies a decade ago to save money and modernize facilities. It remains unclear whether the Army's overseas lodges will raise prices. Congress authorized the services to privatize lodging facilities in 2002. The Army began to do so in 2009. The other services chose not to privatize at the time, fearing higher room rates, according to a Pentagon watchdog report from 2010. The Coast Guard's 41,000 active-duty members will not be paid on their next payday, scheduled for Jan. 15, due to lack of appropriations in the ongoing government shutdown, the service's vice commandant said Thursday. Active-duty Coast Guardsmen received a paycheck Dec. 28 as the result of a workaround by the Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, and Office of Management and Budget, which ruled that the service had the authority to issue all pay and allowances for December. But in an all-hands message dated Jan. 10, Adm. Charles Ray said no reprieve will occur Jan. 15: The service is unable to cover its payroll. "Unfortunately, without an appropriation, a continuing resolution or another legislative measure, the Coast Guard will not be able to meet the next payroll," Ray wrote. "Let me assure you your leadership continues to do everything possible, both internal and external to the service to ensure we can process your pay as soon as we receive an appropriation." Ray said the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Board has approved an increase in interest-free loans to junior employees and service members to help during the crisis. According to the memo, personnel E-5 and below, and GS-6 and below, are eligible for a loan up to a maximum of $1,000 for those with dependents and $750 for those without dependents. Personnel in other paygrades may qualify for a loan as well, depending on their financial circumstances. "Please know that your entire senior leadership team is pursuing every possible avenue to mitigate the effects that this unprecedented event is having on you and your families," Ray wrote. While Coast Guard uniformed members were paid through December, the shutdown's effects were felt immediately by Coast Guard civilian employees, who were last paid Dec. 22. Of the 8,500 civilians who work for the service, 6,400 are on furlough and 2,100 are working without pay. The Coast Guard lies within the Department of Homeland Security, which is among the agencies affected by the shutdown. The closure is impacting operations at nine departments and agencies, including Homeland Security, Justice, State, Treasury, Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and NASA. Appropriations were passed last year for the Defense and Veterans Affairs Departments, which remain unaffected. In a message to the Coast Guard fleet on Wednesday, Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz expressed his pride in the members and employees for continuing to serve, answering "a higher calling to protect America." "We remain a ready, relevant and responsive Coast Guard. Thank you!" Schultz wrote. He also noted that the situation demands that leaders be on their best footing. "I call on you to be intrusive leaders at your respective units, demonstrating empathy, conveying key information and identifying and ensuring our most vulnerable shipmates get the assistance they need." Bills were introduced earlier this week in both the House and Senate to ensure that Coast Guard members get paid, but whether the legislation, dubbed the "Pay Our Coast Guard Act," can be approved before Tuesday is doubtful. Speaking on NPR on Tuesday, a former Coast Guard commandant, retired Adm. Thad Allen, called the situation "pretty, pretty bad." "I think when you have people who are providing emergency services to this country without pay, I think we ought to take a serious look at how we're governed," he said. "[Coast Guardsmen] are doing their job. And they're dependent on the American public and the people that run this government to make sure they're paid on time." A number of military and veterans organizations and companies that serve the military community are stepping in to help distressed families. American Legion officials said Tuesday the organization would provide financial assistance to Coast Guard members with children who can't meet their living expenses. USAA is offering low-interest direct deposit loans to its members who are active-duty Coast Guard. And Navy Federal Credit Union is offering a 0 percent loan up to $6K during the shutdown to federal government employees, as well as active-duty Coast Guard who are members. In Alaska, the Armed Services YMCA extended access to its food pantry to families with base access, including Coast Guard members, civilian Defense Department contractors and retirees. Roughly 300 Coast Guard families living in Lincoln Military Housing will get a reprieve to pay their rent when they finally are paid, without penalty, according to a Lincoln Military Housing spokesman. Other contractors running military housing did not respond to questions regarding their policies by press time. In many communities, Coast Guard families are getting support from their neighbors. In Boston, about 400 Coast Guard families had visited a pop-up food pantry in the first two days it was open, according to a Maine Public Radio report. At Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where a handful of Coast Guard families live in base housing, Kelsey Pernsteiner, an Air Force veteran and spouse of an active-duty airman, is organizing a dinner for Jan. 15 -- the day the families are likely to miss their first paycheck. "It's the least I could do to help them out," she said. "We are having trouble getting food donations for them, and they are under stress to pay their rent. It's outrageous." -- Patricia Kime can be reached at patricia.kime@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Toby Hauck, an Air Force veteran and air traffic controller in Chicago, said he received a paycheck from the government Thursday -- minus the money. "We're getting to see pay stubs with nothing but zeros on them," said Hauck, one of several hundred air traffic controllers in the Chicago area working without pay during the partial shutdown, now in its 20th day, that has affected nine federal departments and several smaller agencies. Hauck, one of thousands of veterans feeling the shutdown's impact, said the Leave and Earnings Statement sent to his bank had "all zeros" under the heading "Net Pay." "It's a tough time out here right now, a lot of uncertainty on what to do next," he said of the back-and-forth between Congress and the White House on resolving the impasse, which centers on the $5.7 billion President Donald Trump has demanded for the southern border wall. Ed Canales, a 100 percent-disabled veteran and Bureau of Prisons worker in California, said, "It's getting to crunch time" for the estimated 800,000 federal workers who have either been furloughed or are working without pay. Canales, a former Army specialist and Desert Storm veteran, said, "We've got a lot of young kids coming back from Iraq and Syria" who now have federal jobs. "They have low pay as it is, and now they're being denied a check." "You can get into a deep depression" over the situation, he added. "God forbid, I start getting the phone calls I dread," said Canales, a union representative who echoed the fears of other federal union officials that veterans under financial stress would harm themselves. "Right now, our veterans are standing on a cliff," said Will Attig, a former Army sergeant and Iraq veteran. "One of the leading causes of veterans suicide is financial insecurity," said Attig, executive director of the Union Veterans Council of the AFL-CIO. About 31 percent of the federal workforce is made up of veterans, and the federal government is the nation's largest employer of disabled veterans, he said. "It's a shame that they're being allowed to be used as pawns in a political game." Younger veterans just off active duty "are working paycheck to paycheck" in federal jobs, Attig said. "Some average about $500 a week, but they have good benefits and a stable job. Then this happens. They didn't realize they'd be fighting another battle when they came home." A move in Congress Thursday to end the stalemate shutdown failed, and Trump visited the Texas-Mexico border region the same day to underscore his case that the U.S. faces an immigration crisis that a border wall could alleviate. The president has said he would consider declaring a national emergency, which would allow him to use funds allocated by Congress to the Defense Department for the border wall. But in his address to the nation Tuesday night, he stopped short of declaring such an emergency. In Congress, the Senate mulled House proposals to reopen parts of the government while pushing consideration of border wall funding to a later date, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, blocked a vote. "Political stunts are not going to get us anywhere," McConnell said on the Senate floor. He added that he would not allow a vote on any legislation that Trump will not sign. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. The all-female platoon currently undergoing recruit training in a previously all-male battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., may not be the last, according to the Marine Corps' most senior enlisted leader. Speaking Thursday at a forum on maritime priorities in Washington, D.C., Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green said the service doesn't "do things as a one-time deal" and is assessing the integration of an all-female platoon within one of the battalion's companies to determine whether it is a model the Corps should continue, rather than training female recruits in a single battalion, as is current protocol. "The assessment is to see how we can more closely align integration," Green said. But completely integrating platoons, with men training side-by-side with women, is not likely to occur anytime soon, he added. "What we ask individuals to do at recruit training is a lot more physical and challenging than any other service. We all know that. Who we recruit, we must take them and transform them into Marines. We want to give every individual the greatest opportunity for success," Green said at a forum hosted by the U.S. Naval Institute at the Center for International and Strategic Studies. A platoon of 50 female Marine recruits began training Jan. 5 in 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, marking the first time women have trained outside the all-female 4th Recruit Training Battalion. The service decided to integrate the women as a single platoon in a traditionally male company rather than make them wait until later in the year, when there would be enough women to activate 4th Recruit Training Battalion. Women now make up 8.9 percent of Marine recruits, Green said. Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller has said he'd like to grow the Marine Corps to 10 percent female. Marine officials say they are increasing outreach to potential female recruits. But Green said Thursday that a challenge to recruiting both men and women has been high schools nationwide that block military recruiters from approaching students. The 2001 No Child Left Behind Act required public high schools to give military recruiters as much access to campuses as is given to any other recruiter. But some school districts have blocked access to military personnel, Green said. "It's difficult to get into some schools. I'd like to see a more open-door process but, in some schools, there's no entry point. We are protecting the people in these high schools, and there are people in these high schools who want to serve. The door shouldn't be slammed shut and closed," he said. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. The Republican Party might have until June to choose its next leader, but the behind-the-scenes politics of filling the role are already well under way. Current party chairman J.R. Romano has yet to decide if hell seek re-election, and speculation has already begun on who else might step in. Former state Sen. Joe Markley and Ben Proto, a GOP strategist from Stratford who was Donald Trumps campaign coordinator in Connecticut in 2016, have both been named as possible successors. This is a lot of work and its not easy, Romano said. In politics like anything else, theres a lot of people talking. Ive just been quietly doing the work of a chairman. While Proto is interested, Markley, who gave up his state Senate seat to run for lieutenant governor, has made it clear: he is not. Im not surprised Im getting encouragement. I was interested in it four years ago, and I thought it was the right moment for it. Its not right now. I dont have any intention of running, said Markley, who recently took a part-time job doing public relations for Farmington-based Companions and Homemakers, a home care organization. Being the state party chairman is a very difficult job and I have great sympathy for J.R, Markley said. I think that very few people realize how much falls to him and how tough it is. Even though I ran against him for the position in the first place, Ive always been hesitant to criticize him. When you have a disappointing election like we did, hes the first person thats going to get blamed. I think hes done a great job, he hasnt done a perfect job, but I havent seen anyone do a perfect job. Proto said hes been approached by a number of people to consider the chairmanship. Right now what Im doing is just talking to people about the party, where the party is at, different things we can do to improve our structure and our organization and share our message, Proto said. He believes the partys message could have been better presented, but Proto would not explicitly criticize Romano. He praised the series of five debates Romano hosted prior to the party convention, though he does not think participation in the debates should have been tied to monetary thresholds raised by the candidates excluding some of the early hopefuls including New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart. While the concept of what he wanted to do was good, I think it created more belief with second- and third-tier candidates that they were first-tier candidates because they had a stage that they normally would not have had, Proto said. State campaigns at the end of the day is about herding kittens and its very difficult to do. They all want to run off and find their own little ball of yarn to play with. Its not easy. Romano said hes heard that several people might have an interest in his job which he made clear is not a walk in the park but none as seriously as Proto, who he knows has had many conversations with party insiders about the role. Sen. Len Fasano, the top Republican in the Senate, blamed the partys losses on the Trump factor, which he said no party chairman could have overcome. J.R. has always had the best interest of the party at heart, Fasano said. Bob Stefanowski got 100,000 more votes than (Tom) Foley did (in 2014), and I think the larger turnout had a lot to do with Trump. To say J.R. failed, I look back and say, What else do you want him do to? I think he did a fine job. I have an open mind about chairmen, but I dont think we should make a change just to make a change. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt MILFORD A local resident brought a grenade he found in a house outside of the city to the Milford Police Department on Friday, forcing the closure of the departments lobby and front lot for about half an hour. Officer Mike DeVito, the Milford police spokesman, said the man went to the police station in Milford because he lives in the city. DeVito said the grenade was found in another area of Connecticut. The man was, as part of his job, cleaning out a house in another town where no one was home. He came across an ancient grenade, DeVito said. So he brings it out, puts it in his car and drives it not to the town he was in, but he takes it to Milford Police Department. The man told Milford officers what he had in his car and the officers decided it looked like a grenade and called in the Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad, DeVito said. While this was unfolding, around 12:40 p.m., police announced that the front lot and lobby of the police department was closed to the public as they dealt with what was called a suspicious item. By 1:05 p.m., the police station was deemed safe and reopened to the public after members of the bomb squad took the grenade and planned to safely dispose of it, he said. The man didnt break any laws bringing the grenade to police, DeVito said. But the department is still investigating to ensure there are no additional devices in the home where the grenade was found. He didnt indicate that there were, DeVito said. He said it was the only item that he found, but wed like to be sure. In Aug. 2018, a contractor hired by homeowners to do work in the backyard of their home in the 40 block of Cornell Street in Bridgeport found a World War II-era hand grenade buried under the ground. Exactly one year ago Friday, on Jan. 11, 2018, a grenade from World War I or World War II ended up at Stratfords All American Waste at 80 Garfield Ave. In Feb. 2015, a Darien man brought a grenade to the police station after he found it in a house he was working on. Any residents that come across a grenade, or something that resembles a grenade, are urged to call 911. 3 1 of 3 File photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 File photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 MIDDLETOWN The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce announced its restaurant week, the fourth annual Taste of Middlesex County, will run Monday through Jan. 20. The event, sponsored by Comcast Business, is designed to highlight the numerous and diverse dining experiences within the greater Middlesex region, according to a press release. All restaurants participating will feature fixed price menu options in a three-course meal for $20.19 (does not include beverages, tax or gratuity). 3 1 of 3 Contributed photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Contributed photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 HARTFORD State Rep. Irene Haines, R-East Haddam, was recently sworn into the 34th District, which includes the towns of East Haddam, East Hampton and part of Colchester. Haines, elected in November, will serve a two-year term in the House of Representatives. She was appointed to the Education Committee, Planning & Development Committee and the Transportation Committee, according to a press release. CLINTON Residents are invited to support Adam Stanton House and General Store by attending a Benefit Night, sponsored by Scottish Daves Pub at 24 East Main St., Clinton. The event at the publ will be held Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. Attendees can enjoy live music by the Corbys, bagpipers, raffle prizes and an appetizer buffet. Reservations are not required. For more information e-mail us at adamstantonhouse@gmail.com or visit our website at www.adamstantonhouse.org Residents warned of CO danger KILLINGWORTH With cold weather approaching, Paul Hutcheon, Director of Health, Town of Killingworth, and the Killingworth Health Department reminds all residents of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and encourages residents to have their heating systems serviced and carbon monoxide detectors installed in their homes. Residents are also warned against the improper use of portable generators during power outages. Improper use of portable generators and charcoal grills lead to hospitalizations and deaths each year According to the state Health Department, every winter in Connecticut, hundreds of residents are taken to the emergency department and some are hospitalized and even die from CO poisoning resulting from malfunctioning furnaces, improperly placed portable generators and indoor use of charcoal grills. Residents can take preventive measures such as having their furnace serviced annually, installing a CO detector near all sleeping areas, replacing the batteries annually, and placing portable generators well away from the house to prevent CO poisonings. CO is an invisible odorless gas that can be fatal and forms when fuels do not burn completely. Breathing CO can deprive the body of oxygen, and may lead to illness, unconsciousness and death. Often times, CO detectors are the only way to know that the deadly gas is present. CO detectors should be installed near all sleeping areas in a home to alert occupants of the presence of CO. To prevent CO poisoning, portable generators should be placed at least 20 feet from the home and should never be used in enclosed spaces such as porches, carports, garages and basements, even with open windows and doors. Opening windows and doors and using fans is not sufficient to prevent the build-up of deadly levels of carbon monoxide. The symptoms of CO poisoning mimic those of the flu, including headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or loss of consciousness. If several members of a household experience these symptoms when they are home, but feel better when they are away from the home, there may be a CO problem. The following safety tips are offered to prevent CO poisoning: Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home and outside of each bedroom. Install new batteries at least once a year and replace detectors every five years as the sensors degrade. Have heating systems, chimney flues, gas appliances and generators checked every year, and cleaned and serviced as needed by qualified heating/appliance contractors. Never use portable generators, pressure washer engines, or other gasoline-powered equipment (including tools) inside your home, garage, carport, basement or other enclosed spaces. Be sure to place portable generators at least 20 feet from your home. Use gasoline-powered equipment outside and away from doors, windows or air intake vents. Use grilling apparatus such as charcoal or gas grills outdoors only. Opening windows and doors, and operating fans is not sufficient to prevent buildup of CO in a home. Check that gas dryer vents and automobile tail pipes are not plugged up with snow. Make sure the exhaust pipe on your standby generator is pointing away from the house. Get out of the house and seek medical help immediately if you or a family member has unexplained/sudden onset of symptoms of CO poisoning. Symptoms include headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and loss of consciousness. Call 911 from a cell phone or neighbors home and the Connecticut Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. For more information on carbon monoxide poisoning and prevention, contact: CT DPH Environmental & Occupational Health Assessment Program, www.ct.gov/dph/co 860-509-7740 Connecticut Poison Control Center http://poisoncontrol.uchc.edu 800-222-1222 Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov To reach Paul Hutcheon, Director of Health, Town of Killingworth,, email phutcheon@townofkillingworth.com or call 860-663-1765, x223. Students can apply for environmental leadership scholarship MIDDLETOWN- Applications are now being accepted for the Virginia R. Rollefson Environmental Leadership Scholarship, a $1,000 award to recognize leadership and initiative by a high school junior or senior residing in Middlesex County, Lyme, or Old Lyme for participation in a program, project, or activity that benefits preservation, conservation, restoration or environmental education. The scholarship is presented by The Rockfall Foundation. Applications must be submitted by March 1. The scholarship is named in honor of former Executive Director of The Rockfall Foundation, Virginia R. Ginny Rollefson, who retired in 2010 after 24 years with the Foundation. The award honors her long service to the Foundation, her enthusiasm, and her belief that we all benefit when young people are actively engaged in making their communities a better place to live. For a copy of the application and more information, visit www.rockfallfoundation.org or call 860-347-0340. Founded in 1935 by Middletown philanthropist Clarence S. Wadsworth, The Rockfall Foundation is one of Connecticuts oldest environmental organizations. The Foundation supports environmental education, conservation and planning initiatives in the Lower Connecticut River Valley through public programs and grants. In addition, the Rockfall Foundation operates the historic deKoven House Community Center that offers meeting and event room rentals and office space for non-profit organizations. For additional information about the Virginia R. Rollefson Environmental Leadership Scholarship or The Rockfall Foundation, visit www.rockfallfoundation.org or call 860-347-0340. Charity bowling event set CROMWELL The DeSoto Council #6 of the Knights of Columbus in Cromwell is hosting a bowling fundraiser to benefit the Cromwell Food Bank, Feb. 16, 12-3 p.m. The event will be held at Bowl-O-Rama in Newington. Fee is $20 per bowler, $10 for children 12 and under, includes 2 games, shoes, pizza & soda. Prizes and raffles as well. Advance registration is preferred. Visit www.cromwellkofc.com/charitybowl.htm for registration details. Inquiries can be sent to cromwellkofc@yahoo.com. BRIDGEPORT - A Texas man accused of abducting the child of a Fairfield family and holding him for ransom at the point of an alligator pleaded guilty to reduced charges Thursday. Standing before Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin, Isaias Garcia appeared only too happy to plead guilty to first-degree unlawful restraint. Yes, sir, Garcia said when asked by the judge if he understood the ramifications of his guilty plea. He faces a year in prison when he is sentenced March 15. The 30-year-old Garcia, of Garland, Texas, had been charged with first-degree kidnapping, attempted first-degree larceny by extortion, unlawful restraint, third-degree assault and threatening. Our investigation developed information that contradicted the original statement of facts, Garcias lawyer, Senior Assistant Public Defender Jonathan Demirjian, told the judge. It was not a clear-cut case, Devlin agreed. Police said it was one of the strangest they have investigated. Last April 6, the 21-year-old Fairfield mans aunt and his father came to the front desk of the Police Department to report the kidnapping. Police said they played detective the phone messages they had received from the victim. Police said the victim told his aunt he had been kidnapped. His abductor was demanding $800 in ransom or he would burn, the young man. Titi, I was wondering if you were gonna send that money, cause I really want to go home, police said the young man pleaded with his aunt in a subsequent phone call. Working with the FBI, police said detectives managed to trace the cellphone number the victim was calling on to the Residence Inn in Shelton. They determined that in addition to being used to call the aunt, the phone had been used to call in a takeout order to a Stratford Chinese restaurant. Police said restaurant employees confirmed they had made a delivery to a room at the hotel and gave the room number to detectives. As officers readied a raid of the hotel room, detectives told the aunt to assure her nephew that she was working on getting the ransom money and to demand that his abductors text her a photograph of her nephew. I want to make sure youre still good, she told her nephew in a subsequent phone call, police said. No one was prepared for what came next, police acknowledged. The photograph showed the victim lying face down in a bathtub, a 3-foot long alligator on top of him, its open mouth facing the camera. Titi, man they got this alligator on me and they saying that if no money is given they are gonna have him chewing on me, the victim said in a follow-up phone call, police said. But when police got to the hotel room, they said, the victim and his captor were gone. Instead, they said they found Garcias girlfriend and the alligator. While the state Department of Environmental Protection took control of the alligator, police said, detectives interviewed the girlfriend. They said she told them that Garcia had arrived at the hotel room with the victim, ordered the victim to lie on a sofa and then just sat there staring at the victim until the young man fell asleep. Told that Garcia was expected to return soon, detectives, along with Shelton police, waited nearby. When Garcias car pulled into the hotel parking lot police converged on it, guns drawn. Police Lt. Chris LaMaine pulled Garcia from the drivers seat, handcuffed him and recovered a large hunting knife tucked in the front of Garcias pants, police said. Police said the victim had two burn marks, one on his face and the other on his right forearm. He told police Garcia had burned him with a barbeque-style lighter after tying him up. BETHEL After Emily Todd was killed in Bridgeport, her family did not want to look at the car police said the murder suspect stole. But there were still two years remaining on the 25-year-old womans lease, and her family thought they would have to pay it off. Yet, thanks to Danbury Kia, the family will not have to see the car again. Nor, will the family pay for it. It just felt like the right thing to do, said Sal Sinardi, general sales manager, who handled the dealerships payment of the lease. I didnt give it much thought. Greg Henry, Todds uncle who shared the story in a Bethel Facebook group, said he and a friend took the car to Danbury Kia on Tuesday, with little hope the family could break the lease. He met with Sinardi and explained the situation. Within minutes, Mr. Sinardi was overcome with emotion, Henry wrote on the Facebook page. It was all over his face. Sinardi said all he could think of was his 21-year-old daughter, who goes to school in Florida, and how he could not imagine losing her. I was heartbroken, he said. I could see the pain on their faces. He said he knew he couldnt allow Henry to take the car home. Sinardi checked out the car for damage and for how many miles it had. He then went back to his computer and finalized the almost $16,900 payment. Well take a small loss, but it's whatever, Sinardi said. When Sinardi told him the dealership bought the car, Henry was in shock. He started to tear up, which made us all tear up a little bit, Sinardi said. He literally said he felt like he went numb. In the Facebook post, Henry described goosebumps, a hot flash and tears. My friend and I just stared at each other unable to get a word out for what seemed an eternity, he wrote. This was contrary to what I was prepared for. In my mind I had gone over the conversation(s) that I was planning on having in hopes that someone would work out some way to lessen the blow to (my sister) Jenn and (brother-in-law) Tommy. Henry could not be reached for further comment Thursday. Todd was found shot to death near the boat ramp on Seaview Avenue in Bridgeport on Dec. 9. Police have said Brandon Roberts, 26, confessed to killing her, as well as shooting another woman in Washington Park in 2017. Todd, who graduated from Bethel High School in 2011 and worked on the memory care unit at Saint John Paul II Center, has been described as generous and caring. A GoFundMe page has been set up to benefit her family. The community can also donated to the Avielle Foundation in Todds name. Sinardi said the dealership will fix some of the damage to the car caused by the murder suspect and then sell it or send it to an auction. Sinardi has two sons who work at Danbury Kia with him. Hopefully they see this as an example of doing the right thing, he said. After Henry posted the story to the Facebook page, Sinardis inbox was flooded with emails from people thanking him for his kindness. Ive been completely blown away, Sinardi said. To me it was the smallest, little thing I could have done. This article, NASA flying saucer crash photo has a real history behind it, originally appeared on CNET.com. As far as headlines go, it's a doozy. NASA shared an image on Sunday as part of its Astronomy Picture of the Day series and titled it with the whimsical phrase "Flying saucer crash lands in Utah desert." If that's as far as you read, then you might think NASA is finally fessing up about aliens visiting Earth. But that's not the case. It's just a fun reference to what the 2004 image actually shows: the remains of the space agency's Genesis mission. Genesis launched in 2001 to study the sun. The spacecraft include a sample-return capsule that was shaped a bit like a flying saucer. The capsule crash-landed back on Earth in 2004 when its parachutes failed to open. "The Genesis mission had been orbiting the Sun collecting solar wind particles that are usually deflected away by Earth's magnetic field," says NASA, noting that some of the samples were still in good condition despite the hard landing. NASA tracked the reentry by radar and sent chase helicopters after it. The US Air Force 388th Range Squadron snapped the photo of the capsule partially buried in the Utah desert. The image is making the internet rounds this week due to NASA's picture-of-the-day release combined with the catchy title, but it's not actually new. It shows up in a gallery of photos on the official mission site. The photo's headline isn't untrue, it's just that it was an IFO (identified flying object) and not a UFO. Fans of alien visitation theories will be disappointed. BAD AXE Rose Cooper, broker and owner of Hagle Real Estate in Bad Axe, always wanted to work in the real estate business. I had spent years doing networking for computers and I wanted a different career, Cooper said. Real estate was something I always wanted to do, I always wanted to be a real estate agent. When my daughter graduated from high school, I had the opportunity and enrolled in a real estate class. That was about 11 years ago, and after she got her real estate license, she spent eight and a half years with another local real estate agency. About a year and a half ago, Cooper decided that she wanted to start her own agency. I worked with another company for eight and a half years, Cooper said. I decided to open my own company because it was a career that I loved. I went and got my brokers license and opted to open my own company. In July of 2017, Cooper opened Hagle Real Estate. I guess what made me want to open my own company is there were ideas and a direction that I wanted to go in, Cooper said. There was a plan that I had and there were things that I wanted to do that they werent doing, so I decided to open my own company. I loved my career in real estate and I knew I was going to be doing it for a very long time, so it made sense to open my own company and take it in the direction in the way I wanted it to go in. Cooper opened Hagle Real Estate at 305 E. Huron Ave., in the old Independent Bank building, which was built in 1912. Its been astronomical, Cooper said of the move to the new building. It has been a very good move for the company. People know where Bad Axe is with the central location. The move to that particular building, with the historical nature of the building, helps people notice us. We were the first business to move into that building after it sat empty. Since opening Hagle Real Eastate nearly a year and a half ago, Cooper has seen quite a bit of growth within the company. When she started, it was just her and three other agents. Now, Hagle Real Estate employs Cooper and 11 other agents, which serve not only the Thumb area, but the whole state of Michigan. Weve seen growth in the company, Cooper said. Theres actually myself and 11 agents now. Weve had a very good following with our customer base. People have gotten to know the Hagle name. Our honesty and integrity have really carried us a long way. As Hagle Real Estate enters the New Year, and nears its two-year anniversary, Cooper has a few goals for the company. Our goals are to continue to ensure that all of the real estate needs of our customers are taken care of, Cooper said. We want to continue to build on what we are doing. We want to make sure that we have satisfied clients and continue to go above and beyond for the best real estate experience. As were moving forward, we want to continue with our astronomical growth, but not lose sight of whats important, she added. We want to make sure that all of our real estate customers come first and we will go above and beyond to do that. BAD AXE A parolee was given more time in prison for breaking into, and stealing from, area homes back-to-back days last summer, following the judge's decision this week. Derek Michael LaPorte, of Flint, appeared in Judge Gerald M. Prills circuit courtroom Monday morning after pleading guilty to two counts of breaking and entering a building with intent. The charges stem from two separate incidents last June. On June 26, the 22-year-old broke into a Bad Axe home on West Butler Street and stole jewelry, a television, laptop and other electronics, according to court records. Investigators later tracked the items at a pawnshop in Greenville. On June 27, police discovered LaPorte broke into a home on North Van Dyke, also located in Bad Axe, and stole a separate victims purse. In the first file, Prill sentenced LaPorte, on Monday, to a minimum five years in prison with a maximum set at 20 years. He received three years to 20 years in the second file and his sentences will run concurrently. However, the sentences will run consecutively with two files in Genesee County. LaPorte was on parole for a slew of fleeing-, theft- and assault-related charges. Prill ordered LaPorte to pay $260 to the Crime Victims Rights fund, $136 in State Minimum Costs and $231 in restitution toward one victim. Restitution toward the other victim was left open. Since LaPorte was on parole at the time of the offense, he received no credit for time served in either case. LaPorte was represented by Bad Axe-based attorney Dallas Rooney. UPPER THUMB The new year is upon us, bringing with it new opportunities. But along with the turn of the new year comes the likelihood that the number of cases of influenza are about to rise. Flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by different strains of the influenza virus and can result in mild to severe illness. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recommends that everyone six months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine, as it is the best way to prevent against getting the flu and can also reduce the severity of flu illness. MDHHS confirmed last month the first influenza-associated pediatric death of the 2018-19 flu season occurred in Osceola County. The reported death involved a child who was infected with influenza A/H1N1. Nationally, there have been six influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported during the 2018-19 flu season. At the local level, Huron County has experienced just one case of influenza and Tuscola County two cases. However, officials are still advising people to get their flu shots. According to Ann Hepfer, health officer for both the Huron and Tuscola county health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting widespread flu activity statewide. "We typically see flu spikes in late January and February, but that is not a guarantee," said Hepfer. "They can happen anytime of the year depending on the flu strain." Hepfer said there is still time to get a flu shot to help avoid the chances of catching the flu. Other tips she suggested include being diligent with hand washing, avoiding those who are ill and stay home from work and school if you are ill. According to the CDC, last years flu season was estimated to be the deadliest since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. More than 79,000 deaths were attributed to the flu, 185 of which were children. In Michigan, two children died last year due to flu-related complications. A majority of the positive influenza specimens confirmed by MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories this flu season have been an H1N1 virus. During the 2017-18 flu season, only 39.5 percent of Michigan residents were vaccinated against flu, below the national rate of 41.7 percent. Vaccine is especially important for persons at increased risk for complications from flu, including children, adults aged 65 years and older, persons of any age with underlying medical conditions, and pregnant women. Children less than 6 months of age are too young to be vaccinated and need to be protected by vaccination of their close contacts, including parents, siblings, grandparents, child care workers and healthcare personnel. To find flu vaccine near you, call your healthcare provider, the Huron County Health Department at 989-269-9723 or the Tuscola County Health Department at 989-673-8114. For more information about the flu, visit Michigan.gov/flu. HURON COUNTY The Huron County Health Department encourages area residents to check the radon gas levels in their homes during National Radon Action Month. The U.S. Surgeon General has issued a national health advisory on the risks of breathing radon gas in our homes. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Michigan has proclaimed that January is Radon Action Month. Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas that seeps into homes from surrounding soil. It has no immediate health symptoms. When radon gas becomes trapped in homes, it can be harmful at elevated levels. During cold weather, we spend more time indoors with windows and doors closed, potentially breathing unhealthy levels of radon. A statewide survey indicates that elevated levels of radon would be expected in one out of eight homes in Michigan. In some counties, as many as 45 percent of the homes could have radon levels above the EPA recommended action guideline of four pico curies per liter of air. Radon levels vary considerably from house to house. Elevated levels of radon have been detected in some homes in just about every county the only way to know if your home has radon gas is to test for it. It is easy to check your home for radon. Test kits are available year round from the health department for $11. During the month of January, however, the kits are available at no charge. Some hardware stores, home improvement centers and other local retailers sell the do-it-yourself test kits. Professional testing services are also available, though they are most often used for testing as part of a real estate transaction. If elevated levels are found, they can be reduced with various ventilation techniques. County residents are urged to pick up a free test kit from the Huron County Health Department during normal business hours through the month of January. The Health Department is located at 1142 South Van Dyke in Bad Axe. Citizens interested in finding out more about radon can contact the Huron County Health Department at 989-989-269-3308, or visit www.michigan.gov/deq/radon Miami, FL (33127) Today Scattered thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then cloudy skies overnight. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. The active involvement of the Greek youth abroad in its second homelands, as well as the entrepreneurship of the Diaspora, are the two pillars of the "NOSTOS III" program agreed by Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt during the tripartite meeting in Cairo (10.01.2019). Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Terence Quick, the Cypriot Presidential Commissioner, Fotis Fotiou, and the Egyptian Minister of Immigration and Expatriate Affairs, Nabila Makram, have confirmed that the city of Melbourne, where Greeks Cypriots and Greeks from Egypt have remarkably large communities - Melbourne is the "third largest Greek city" in the world after Athens and Thessaloniki - will host the Program "NOSTOS III" on 25, 26 and 27 March. This will enable Messrs Quick and Fotiou to attend the events which will be held in Australia on 25 March, the National Day commemorating the 1821 Greek Revolution. On March 24, the two counterparts on Diaspora issues, will be in Adelaide for the Lauds, the laying of wreath and the anniversary events organised by the Community. The latest details were discussed during a teleconference of the Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Cypriot Commissioner and the Egyptian Minister, with the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Vasilis Papastergiadis, in view of the fact that all the activities of the "NOSTOS III" Program will take place in the impressive building of the Greek Community of Melbourne. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered the following speech: "I am particularly pleased that, after Alexandria, and London last October, in the presence of the Presidents of our three countries, for its third phase, the NOSTOS Program, has opted for the city of Melbourne." And I would like to thank particularly the Hellenic Community of Melbourne and its President Vasilis Papastergiadis who, in consultation with us and with our diplomatic Authorities, has accepted to host the individual units of "NOSTOS III" in the Hellenic House of Melbourne. I am certain that as the Cypriot Community handled the organisation of "NOSTOS II" in London in the most perfect manner, the Hellenic Community in Melbourne, will do as much with NOSTOS III by offering it its maximum assistance. And it is very important that in these actions undertaken by the Hellenes abroad, we have with us our very important allies from Egypt, with whom we have an excellent cooperation. Moreover, the tripartite co-operation of the three countries at all levels, especially at the Summit level, is of a high standard in the field of security of the region, energy, economic and cultural cooperation, and in any area that can show the determination of Greece, Cyprus and Egypt to play a leading role for peace and progress in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond. And no one should be indifferent to the fact that in all their latest meetings, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Presidents Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Nikos Anastasiadis, have included on their agenda and underscored in their official announcements the importance issues of Diaspora". Samsung is all set to launch its next flagship smartphone that will likely be called the Galaxy S10. It will debut a week ahead of MWC on February 20th. The invites for the 'Unpacked' event have been sent out to media and it will take place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Samsung The company has decided to skip the Mobile World Conference and it is unlikely that we will see any other major announcements from the South Korean giant that week. It's not the first time Samsung has skipped the conference, as in 2017, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S8 at a separate event in March. Twitter/Even Blass It has been long rumoured that Samsung will launch three variants of the Galaxy S10 i,e, the S10, S10 Plus and S10 Lite/E. Previous rumours have suggested that either all or some of these devices will come with Samsung's Infinity-O display, better known as the punch-hole display. The display will basically have a very small circular cutout that will house the front-facing camera. It will be at the top of the screen and looks similar to a punch hole on a paper. We can also see a clue about the new display in the invite, where the middle bezel is extremely thin and will be all around the phone. Twitter/Venya Geskin1 Additional information from leaks suggests that Samsung may add a third camera to the back of the Galaxy S10 Plus and may sport a wide-angle lens just like the LGv40 and Huawei Mate 20 Pro. Of course, since these are all based on leaks, we can only be sure once Samsung makes it official at the February launch event. What Else Can We Expect? Samsung has already confirmed that it's working on a foldable smartphone and there's a good chance that we may see it unveiled at the Galaxy Unpacked event. It has already been confirmed by Samsung that the foldable smartphone will launch in the first half of 2019. We could also hear about the Galaxy Home smart speaker that is powered by Samsung's Bixby digital assistant. The smart speaker was unveiled at the Galaxy Note 9 launch however we haven't heard anything about it ever since. On a fairly lighter side of things (pun intended), we have some great inspirational news from the other part of the world. East African country Rwanda, has officially banned skin lightening and bleaching products and we couldn't be happier about the country's decision. The government is now sending officials around the country to enforce the ban more openly. The country is leading a campaign against skin bleaching and similar substandard cosmetics, especially products that include hydroquinone, a skin-lightening agent, in it. After all, it took an African country to stand up against some very intangible and ridiculous beauty standards that have been placed in high regard, almost all over the world. Twitter "It is been implemented by the Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority and the Rwanda Standards Board," Simeon Kwizera, the PR and communications officer for the board told a popular publication. He also mentioned that the operations are being handled by technical people and that the police are ensuring all safety standards, while the operations are ongoing. The initiative was sparked by President Paul Kagame on social media, when he started a discussion on the need to ban skin whitening products, way back in November 2018. Well, it's a terrific move by the Rwanda government as they've realised the crucial health hazards that a chemical like hydroquinone can pose, even today. Yes, it's been given a green signal all across the globe but it's still designed to unnaturally change skin pigmentation, so it can be determined at hazardous. Twitter While Rwanda has taken a stand towards the unethical standards of beauty, India is still lagging far behind in this sphere. The most Googled content on the internet in India still spells 'best fairness cream in India'. There's also a lot of search on 'why is India obsessed with fair skin'. A very paradoxical situation for a diverse country like ours, where 'let's scrub off that tan' is a very common thought process for most girls who go to beauty parlours. Matrimonial columns and sites still want a 'beautiful fair girl' for all the 'handsome, tall and dusky' boys out there, and most of these expectations make people, boys and girls alike, obsess with fairer skin. Twitter We still don't understand though where this obsession comes from, but it definitely creates an imbalance that is bred amidst apathy and entitlement in our country. I mean. you need fairer skin to feel more confident and whole and if you don't possess it, you need to apply dozens of fairness creams and bleaches, with a heap load of chemicals in it, to magically transform your pigment to a lighter one. And it's not done for fun or for the sake of looking beautiful! No! It's done under immense pressure, to stand out in society and maybe get an equal opportunity somewhere! Twitter Advertisements showcasing the need to use these creams, wherein a girl who goes for an interview, or is performing on stage doesn't do well unless she starts using a fairness cream to become more confident and voila! she's the best dancer or the best candidate, henceforth! Not only that, there's a fairness cream for men doing popularly well and is marketed in South India, endorsed by the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham and Siddarth Malhotra, and young boys are drawn to it like a moth to the flame. Although some celebrities like Abhay Deol and Nawazuddin Siddiqui have condemned the use of fairness products, we have a larger chunk of celebrities still endorsing it for even a larger audience. Thank U 4 making me realise dat I cannot b paired along wid d fair & handsome bcz I m dark & not good looking, but I never focus on that. Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@Nawazuddin_S) 17 July 2017 Twitter The fact of the matter is the awakening for a secure sense of being has to come from within and not from TV commercials, other people's standards of beauty or even your own conditioning. Even if you're conditioned into believing dark-skinned people have to try harder in the society, there's a way to break that belief system and unravel positive thoughts towards 'just and equality' in your own psyche. Twitter We really wish the Indian Government administers a similar ban as Rwanda has, but I guess we have way bigger issues to tackle right now and it may take time to do so. But here's hoping we slowly realise the redundancy for this obsession and take a stance on equal standards of lifestyle and beauty and build progress in a unidirectional fashion, together. Vicky Kaushal starrer 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' has hit the screens today, and it officially marks the beginning of Bollywood releases in 2019. The movie has been gaining a lot of momentum owing to its theme and the film's timing. While some are calling it political propaganda, others are largely moved by the nationalist fervour that the movie represents. The audience has even upheld the movie as an earnest tribute to the Indian Army. RSVP Movies 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' is based on India's successful surgical attacks of 2016. The plot sheds light on the numerous terrorist attacks that took place on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LOC), which eventually prompted the government to plan the surgical strikes. This jarring historical and militaristic episode forms the basis of Aditya Dhar's 'Uri: The Surgical Strike'. While most of you might already be aware of this, there still remain a few interesting bits you might be unaware of about the Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam and Paresh Rawal starrer. Here are 7 interesting facts about the movie, you probably didn't know about: 1. 'Uri' Is Vicky Kaushal's First Action Movie If you look at Vicky Kaushal's career trajectory so far, you will find that this piece of trivia is as true as it is obvious. Vicky plays the role of Major Vihaan Shergill, the man who executed the surgical strike on the battlefield. Therefore, this also happens to be Vicky's first action movie, and he called it the most physically demanding film of his career so far. RSVP Movies 2. Paresh Rawal's Character In The Film Is Based On A Real Person Paresh Rawal is seen essaying the role of Ajit Doval who happens to be India's National Security Advisor in real life! The man, by the same name, is the real inspiration for Rawal's character and had also formerly been the Director of Intelligence Bureau from 2004 to 2005. 3. Vicky & The Supporting Cast Trained With Army Personnel For Months In an interview, Vicky shared that, I go to gym and train at the naval base in Cuffe Parade (in Mumbai). Army men help me with training. As of now, they are helping us. I have to gain some weight. "I am training for five hours every day. Then there is three to four hours of military training, you get to enhance your stamina, go through obstacle training, you are slithering. I am receiving gun training right now," he added. RSVP Movies Additionally, it was reported that the supporting cast was also trained at Mumbai's Navy Nagar where Army Captains and Majors taught them slithering, use of arms and ammunition, and other drills used by the armed forces. 4. Yami Gautam Plays An Intelligence Officer It is said that Yami underwent a major makeover for her role in the film, where she will be seen as an Intelligence Officer. This will be the first time we see Yami in such a belligerent avatar. Earlier in an interview with The Telegraph, Yami spoke about the complexity of her character and said that she did MMA and strength training for the role. 5. Mohit Raina's Special Appearance Is Set To Make Things Interesting Mohit Raina, who is more popularly known as Lord Shiva from 'Devon Ke Dev: Mahadev', will be seen portraying the role of Captain Karan Kashyap. The few glimpses of the man that people received in the trailer, confirmed that his character shall play an interesting part in the movie. RSVP Movies 6. A Major Part Of The Movie Was Shot In Serbia While the movie is about militant attacks in Kashmir, the filming of the movie capturing the fights and struggles were shot in Serbia. Apart from the many Serbian locations, some parts have also been shot in Mumbai. 7. Directorial Debut Of National Award Winner Aditya Dhar 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' happens to be the directorial debut of National Award winner Aditya Dhar, who is better known for his short film 'Boond'. RSVP Movies The 2016 militant attacks in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir were carried out by four armed militants who allegedly belonged to a terror outfit called Jaish-e-Mohammed. The Uri terror attack was declared as one of "the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades". Eleven days after the attack, the Indian Army announced that it has successfully carried out retaliatory surgical strikes on the launch pads being used by militants in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' has tried to recreate the sequence of events of the attack in the film, and bring the larger story related to the strike to its audience. MANCHESTER, N.H. Jan. 10, 2019 Manchester Manchester Keith Howard Tonya Watkins Keith Howard New Hampshire New Hampshire New Hampshire /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Oasis Recovery Centers is proud to announce the addition of a new office at the Hope for New Hampshire Recovery center in. The new location, located at 293 Wilson Street, will assist individuals needing help with addiction. Oasis Recovery will offer a full spectrum of resources including medication assisted treatment (MAT).Oasis Recovery Centers is an innovative treatment program that looks to expand upon patients' options for treatment. Immediate treatment is typically available within 24 hours to people struggling with opioid addiction. Outpatient medication assisted treatment is at the core of the program, and additional support is selected based on the individual. Oasis offers skilled physicians and nurse practitioners that are federally licensed and specially trained to provide highly effective treatments for opioid dependence and addiction."We are thrilled to be joining in the community outreach endeavors in, supporting the work that is being done byand the team at Hope for NH," said Advanced Practice Registered Nurse of Oasis Recovery Centers,"If someone is unsure what type of help or program is best, they can come in and explore their options and essentially we will help them build a program that is tailored to meet their needs. This may include medication and counseling or a breadth of additional options such as group sessions, yoga therapy, religious support or even art groups."Hope for New Hampshire Recovery supports a variety of pathways to recovery, including 12-Step meetings, SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery, and 3 Principles. More important, Hope provides a supportive space for those in recovery. With this collaboration between Oasis and Hope, both companies are strengthened. Oasis will now be able to offer its patients a wide variety of recovery-based activities and Hope welcomes folks using MAT as part of their recovery."Hope is here to meet people's needs, not sit in judgment on anyone," said, Hope's Executive Director who is also in long-term recovery. "MAT saves lives. Living humans have a much better chance of finding happiness and meaning, so we embrace MAT as a pathway for some. The dead rarely find recovery at all."In the new facility, outpatient medication assisted treatment is at the core of the program and additional support is selected based on the individual. Oasis firmly believes in convenient, private outpatient visits so patients can continue living their life. Individuals needing help with addiction will have a full spectrum of resources available to them, including medication assisted treatment. Immediate treatment is also accessible to those struggling with opioid addiction.Watkins speaks for the entire Oasis team when asked about the Recovery Center's main goal. "To help determine what people need to get better and help them take control of their lives back, that's our role," said Watkins.Drug related deaths have continuously been on the rise throughout the country, withranking third overall for most deaths per 100,000 in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's statistics that were released last year.The opioid epidemic inis no secret and the demand for treatment is highly prevalent. Mostresidents know someone who is or has been affected by drug abuse. With this crisis being so close to home, many are beginning to get involved in how to stop drug abuse or misuse and helping those in need.Anyone can learn more about Oasis Recovery Centers or how to help those struggling with addiction by visiting http://www.recoverynh.com or by calling (603)627-4764.SOURCE Oasis Recovery Centers A new study revealed that three common drugs normally used to treat cardiovascular problems or diabetes could also aid in the treatment of some serious mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia. Share on Pinterest Could we repurpose common drugs to treat mental health conditions? Scientists at University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and the University of Hong Kong conducted a study to see how some commonly prescribed drugs for physical health treatments can impact the symptoms of severe mental health conditions. They did so using large population datasets. Serious mental illnesses, the study authors say, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and nonaffective psychoses, are associated with high levels of morbidity and are challenging to treat. Many drugs have been identified as having potential for repurposing in these disorders, they add in the introduction to their study paper . The first author is Joseph Hayes, from UCL, and the paper appears in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Hayes and team decided to focus on three of the most common drugs for physical health issues: hydroxylmethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, or statins, which are helpful in the management of high cholesterol and heart disease L-type calcium channel antagonists (LTCC), which treat high blood pressure biguanides, which people use to treat diabetes According to Hayes, This study is the first to use large population datasets to compare patients exposure to these commonly used drugs and the potential effects on people with serious mental illnesses. Exercise is a vital element of a healthful lifestyle; it helps maintain heart health, improve mood, and fight weight gain. New research also suggests that it can protect a persons cognitive skills, and a new study uncovers fresh information as to how this can happen. Share on Pinterest How does exercise help protect memory? According to a study covered on Medical News Today last year, engaging in regular, leisurely exercise can help keep the body young and healthy. The same appears to be true for the relationship between exercise and the mind; only 10 minutes of physical activity may boost cognitive function in the short-term. Meanwhile, exercising regularly for 6 months could actually reverse the symptoms of mild cognitive impairment. Starting from such evidence, which suggests that exercise has a protective and even healing effect on brain functioning, a team of researchers from numerous international academic institutions has recently investigated some of the biological mechanisms that underlie this relationship. The researchers came from institutions including the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimers Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University in New York City, NY. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, January 11, 2019 About 170,000 anti-Semitic Google searches are made in the UK annually, and 10% of them include phrases such as Jews must die or kill Jews, according to research released Friday. The report -- Hidden Hate: What Google searches tell us about antisemitism today, released by the Community Security Trust and AntiSemitism Policy Trust -- concludes that many of the searches include queries with phrases that mock Jewish people. About 10% of these searches include violent language or intentions, and evil and racist are the negative terms most commonly searched in connection with Jews. These types of queries spike late at night, between the hours of 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. 'We partner with organisations in the UK who work to tackle hate speech including CST and Stop Hate UK," said a Google spokesperson. " Autocomplete helps you get to the information you are looking for as quickly as possible. For certain issues, including hateful predictions against groups and individuals based on religion we have developed policies to exclude such terms." advertisement advertisement The findings are based on Google search data gathered in the United Kingdom since 2004, and are based on the IP address, cell phone location, or other information. Taking a deeper look at all searches done during that time frame, the researchers found that nearly all searches begin with I want to kill or how to kill. The majority of searches that begin with these phrases reveal suicidal thoughts, but most searches express violent thoughts toward others. Jews are the fourth-most frequent subject of searches for offensive jokes online in the United Kingdom, behind obese people, black people and gay people. The report also notes that after Google removed the phrase Are Jews evil? from its auto-complete function in December 2016, 10% fewer people searched for Are Jews evil? than had done so in the previous year. Another interesting finding is that Google searches containing the word Jewish tend not to be anti-Semitic, whereas searches with the abbreviation Jew do. Location also plays a major role. Anti-Semitic searches are most common in Wales -- about 7.2% above the average -- followed by England with 1.9% above average. Northern Ireland is about 2.4% below average, and Scotland is about 6.7% below average. by Chuck Martin , January 11, 2019 Digital license plate maker Reviver Auto has partnered to create a Susan G. Komen-branded license plate to help support the organizations fund raising for ending breast cancer. As part of the arrangement, specific Rplates will be sold in California with the Susan G. Komen of Los Angeles branding and messaging, with a portion of each sale going to the organization. The digital license plate is a high-definition display that goes in place of the traditional car license plate and is continually connected. The connected license plate platform ultimately is expected to allow registration renewals and display messages such as a childs academic achievements or eventually even messaging from marketers. The Rplate launched a pilot program in California last year and is expected to be live in Arizona next month, CEO Neville Boston told the AI & IoT Daily at CES, where the partnership was announced. The use of digital license plates has been approved in Arizona and legislation has been passed in Texas and Florida, Boston said. by Sara Guaglione , January 11, 2019 American Media Inc, the publisher of celebrity and active lifestyle media brands such asand, announced it has completed the refinancing of all of its outstanding debt by raising $460 million. The refinancing proceeds were used to repay AMIs bridge loan, which was obtained in June to finance the acquisition of the Bauer U.S. celebrity and teen titles. It was also used to pay off the outstanding balance of about $320 million of its first lien and second lien debt. "Completing this latest refinancing, in one of the most challenging market conditions in recent history, underscores the confidence the investment community has in American Media and our powerful brands," stated American Media chairman and CEO, David J. Pecker. advertisement advertisement The refinancing consists of a new $235 million first lien term loan, and a new 10.5% second lien bonds of $225 million. AMI is also getting a $40 million line of credit. "The refinancing provides American Media a significant amount of runway, stability and liquidity, which will allow us to focus on maximizing our margins and continue to deliver strong free-cash flow results from both the ongoing operating improvements of our recent acquisitions, as well as from our core brands, stated American Media CFO Chris Polimeni. This year, AMI plans to increase production of special-interest publications, a spokesperson told the New York Post. AMI has been embroiled in controversy since the company admitted it coordinated with President Trumps campaign to make an illegal hush payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal for catch and kill rights to the story of her affair with Trump. AMI also owns Star, OK!, In Touch, Life & Style, Closer, Muscle & Fitness as well as other celebrity and teen titles and digital and social properties. The media company claims its magazines have a combined total circulation of 5.7 million, while its digital properties reach about 65 million unique visitors monthly. MRFR is Leading Brand in Research Sector who recently published Allergic Rhinitis Market Research Report which includes Growth Study, Regional Analysis, Top Industry Players Formation, Major Drivers, Upcoming Trends and Forecast to 2023. Global Allergic Rhinitis Market Overview Allergic Rhinitis is also widely known as hay fever which occurs as an allergic reaction to allergen bacteria. Allergic rhinitis causes itchy nose & eyes along with sneezing & a runny nose. Pollen is considered the most common allergen causing allergic rhinitis. Besides, allergic rhinitis is contagious, and it severely affects the human respiratory system. As a result, the Health and Prevention Ministries across the world provide comprehensive and integrated health, releasing alert to their respective citizens at the starting of every allergic rhinitis season as a part of their strategy to ensure community wellness. TRY PREMIUM SAMPLE COPY @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1547 Allergic Rhinitis is a prevailing disease, and hence, the increasing prevalence of Hay Fever, along with the proliferation of FDA-approved rapid diagnostic and testing methodologies drive the growth of the allergic rhinitis market. Furthermore, the recent advances in the medical science escalate the market on the global platform. Global Allergic Rhinitis Market Key Players Leaders in the global allergic rhinitis market include Merck (US), GSK (UK), Sanofi (France), Cigna (USA), Himalaya (India), J&J (US), Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. (South Korea), FaesFarma (Spain), Glenmark Pharmaceutical (India), Olain Farm (Lavtvia), Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co.in (Japan), and Ampio pharmaceutical Inc. (US). Growth and Analysis Acknowledging the exponential growth, the market is perceiving currently, Market Research Future (MRFR) in its recently published study report asserts that the global allergic rhinitis market is expected to worth USD 15 BN by 2023, registering approximately 7% CAGR throughout the assessment period (2017 2023). Increasing patient pool suffering from various types of allergies has spurred the market growth. Additional factors contributing to the market growth include a rising demand and rapid adoption of various treatment methods to treat allergic rhinitis, increasing R&D activities, clinical trials, and new approvals among others. Market players are increasingly collaborating with hospitals and independent research centers to develop new treatments, which in turn is driving the market growth. Simultaneously, increasing uptake of allergic rhinitis treatments among medical professionals as well as patients, along with the growing awareness towards benefits of the procedures, and increasing success rate are some of the crucial factors for the market growth. Conversely, factors such as incidents of diagnostic products resistance/allergies and unmet clinical needs, are expected to restrict the market growth of Allergic Rhinitis. However, advancements in biotechnology coupled with the planned Government initiatives are expected to fuel the global Allergic Rhinitis market. Global Allergic Rhinitis Market Segmentations MRFR has segmented its analysis into four key dynamics for the convenience of understanding; By Types : Comprises Seasonal, Perennial, and Non-allergic rhinitis among others. By Treatments : Antihistamines (Allegra, Clarinex, Xyzal & Zyrtec), Decongestants (Afrin nasal spray, Sudafed, Sudafed PE, and Zyrtec-D), Eye drops, and Nasal sprays among others (immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) & home remedies). By Tests : Skin Test, IgE RAST Test, and Complete Blood Count among others. By Regions : Europe, North America, APAC, and Rest-of-the-World. OBTAIN PREMIUM RESEARCH REPORT DETAILS @ Global Allergic Rhinitis Market Geographical Analysis The North American region leads the global allergic rhinitis market with a significant market share. The market is further expected to create a large revenue pocket growing at a considerable CAGR throughout the review period (2017-2023). Factors such as well-developed healthcare sector and increasing prevalence of hay fever coupled with the high per capita healthcare expenditures drive the growth in the regional market. The allergic rhinitis market in the European region is the second largest market, globally. A well-developed healthcare sector predominantly drives the market growth. Undoubtedly, the resurging economy in Europe is playing a vital role in the growth of the allergic rhinitis market. The Asia Pacific region is rapidly emerging as a promising market for allergic rhinitis. The region is estimated to grow rapidly over the projected period. Growing population, increasing healthcare expenditures, and rising incidences of allergic rhinitis, along with the greater awareness about this disease and its commutative treatment propel the APAC market. Global Allergic Rhinitis Market Competitive Analysis The intensely competitive allergic rhinitis market appears fragmented due to the presence of several large & small key players forming a competitive landscape. These market players through strategic partnership, acquisition, expansion, collaboration, product & technology launch try to gain competitive advantage. Substantial investments are being made in the R&D to develop a treatment procedure that is on a different level entirely compared to their competition. Industry, Innovation & Related News November 12, 2018 AstraZeneca plc (Sweden), a multinational pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Company announced entering into an agreement with Covis Pharma B.V. (Sweden), a global specialty pharmaceutical company to sell AstraZenecas breakthrough medicine Alvesco, used to treat asthma and allergic rhinitis. August 08, 2018 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (India), announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review New Drug Application (NDA) for Glenmarks nasal spray Ryaltris is indicated for seasonal allergic rhinitis in patients aged below 12 years. Ryaltris nasal spray contains olopatadine HCl 665mcg, an antihistamine, and mometasone furoate 25mcg, a steroid. Some Points form Table of Content 1 Report Prologue 2 Market Introduction 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Scope of Study 2.3 Research Objective 2.4 Assumptions & Limitations 2.4.1 Assumptions 2.4.2 Limitations 3 Research Methodology 3.1 Research Process 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research ..Continued GET EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1547 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 Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com You are here: China Armed police in Northwest China's Gansu province completed a winter camp training in the Gobi Desert from Jan. 2-6. They traveled 970 kilometers during the five-day camp, with 150 kilometers of that distance on foot. The training also focused on a number of combat programs. Organizers said the harsh natural conditions, including the extreme cold helped with the training. Note: We have changed our commenting system. If you do not have an mdjonline.com account, you will need to create one in order to comment. Black Friday is behind us, but for some folks, the spirit of Christmas began when the Thanksgiving decorations were unboxed. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are two of the most aggressively celebrated holidays in the United States, and most people try to take off from work. Offer a personal message of sympathy... You'll find individual Guest Books on the page with each obituary notice. By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. . From a Guest Book, you may log in with your user account to leave a message. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that. Otherwise, it's simple to create a new one by clicking on the Create "Sign up" button and following the simple steps on the Sign Up page. A new, county-backed effort to control Pauldings growing stray cat population is up and running thanks to a group famous for rescuing dogs. "I felt greatly relieved after returning to China. My life as a fugitive had finally ended," said Huang Haiyong, an economic fugitive who was extradited from Peru in 2016 after spending 18 years on the run. Huang, former head of Yuwei Trading Industry Co Ltd in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, stands accused of smuggling goods worth 1.22 billion yuan ($179 million) and evading 717 million yuan in taxes. He fled to Peru in 1998 and was detained there in 2008. China then started an eight-year extradition process for his return to face trial. Huang's story was related in detail for the first time as China Central Television began airing a five-episode documentary on Thursday on China's arduous efforts to hunt fugitives who fled abroad. With the support of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, the production team went to 17 countries and regions, including the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Kenya and Peru to shoot footage. The series, named Red Notice, covers 15 high-profile cases and presents a large number of interviews with Chinese and overseas law enforcement officers. To evade extradition back to China, Huang hired an experienced lawyer in Peru. "(The lawyer is) very famous in Peru, and very expensive$30,000 for each court appearance. He told me not to worry about being extradited, because that's impossible," Huang said in the documentary. However, Huang didn't expect the process would last for eight years, during which time he was detained in a local prison. "I was so afraid. ... I couldn't speak the local language and didn't know what to do. I was surrounded by criminals, most of them drug dealers," he said. Gao Bo, deputy head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection group stationed at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the documentary shows China's resolute determination to bring fugitives back to face justice, no matter where they escape to. Last year, China's global anti-corruption manhunt repatriated 1,335 fugitives and recovered 3.54 billion yuan in illegal gains, figures released by the CCDI on Thursday show. They included 307 former members of the CPC or government employees, according to the CCDI and National Supervisory Commission. Five of the 307 were on the Inter-pol Red Notice of the 100 Chinese corruption fugitives most wanted by China. Amid a renewed anti-corruption drive, China has run its "Sky Net" manhunt program for four years, focusing mainly on tracking down corruption fugitives and recovering illegal assets from overseas Sky Net has secured the return of more than 5,000 fugitives from over 120 countries and regions, including 56 fugitives on the Interpol Red Notice, according to the CCDI and National Supervisory Commission. It has recovered more than 10 billion yuan. Min Zhule, deputy head of the CCDI's International Cooperation Bureau, said Sky Net will continue this year, and extraditions and criminal judicial cooperation with foreign countries will be further enhanced to keep high pressure on Chinese fugitives abroad. More to be done La Yifan, head of the CCDI's International Cooperation Bureau, called for those who are still at large to return voluntarily. "Fugitives should give up the fantasy, plead guilty in a timely manner and return their ill-gotten funds to get leniency in sentencing," he said. On Aug. 23, Chinese authorities issued a notice asking fugitives to return and confess their crimes before the end of year. From that day up to Dec. 31,441 economic fugitives117 of them corrupt officialsreturned from 46 countries and regions, according to the CCDI. Huang Feng, a professor of international criminal law at Beijing Normal University, said that apart from getting fugitives returned, strict management of officials is also important to prevent them from fleeing the country in the first place. "The authorities concerned should carefully manage officials' private passports, require them to declare their private properties and tighten border controls to prevent suspicious officials from fleeing overseas," he said. In addition, China should further build pragmatic cooperation with other countries to combat money laundering and try to secure the return of the suspects' illegal funds abroad. To that end, China enacted the International Criminal Judicial Assistance Act in October. The law provides "a domestic legal basis for engaging in judicial cooperation with our foreign counterparts to repatriate or extradite corrupt fugitives, and to seize or return their illicitly gained assets", Huang said. A divided Board of Commissioners pretty well mirrored the rest of Douglas County during its yearlong debate on creation of a fixed-route bus system. The Center for Puppetry Arts in Midtown will debut Jim Hensons The Dark Crystal: World of Myth and Magic, a new special exhibition in the W With the layout of the school, four people ideally can monitor the entire academic wing at vantage points in the hallways, Garrett said. There was also a reduction in doors leading to the outside from 31 to six. Construction crews are expected to start rolling in this week. The Head Start building will be the first one to be demolished. Next, the gym will come down, then the auditorium. These areas will house the new two-story academic wing and offices. Once that is finished, students will move into that building for the demolition of the rest of the building, which will house the gym, auditorium and cafeteria. In the school design, rock from the gym and the facade of the school mimic that of the original. Starting Monday, however, students, staff and parents will undergo a new traffic pattern that flows through the front of school. Old Fort staff will have to park off campus and be shuttled to and from the school during construction. Afternoon car riders will also be shuttled off campus to meet their parents. Everyone who spoke to the crowd Thursday evening, echoed the same sentiments that although it will be hectic for a while, it will be worth it. Viola Caudill, 85, a resident of the Gowen Community passed away Thursday June 10, 2021 at home. A Graveside service will be held a 11:00 AM Monday June 14, 2021 in the Pavilion at Bache-Red Oak Cemetery. There will be a family and friends visitation on Sunday June 13, 2021 from 5:00pm to 7: SPRINGFIELD Assistant Hampden District Attorney Melissa Doran who prosecuted murders, motor vehicle homicides and many horrific domestic violence cases in her tenure in Springfield will begin as first assistant clerk in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton on Jan. 14. Doran will take the job currently held by Nancy Foley, who is retiring after 35 years. Doran will be second in command to Clerk of Courts Harry Jekanowski Jr. The salary for Dorans new position is $129,495. She is a graduate of Western New England College of Law. She did her undergraduate work at Western New England University. She worked as an assistant district attorney for 12 and one half years in the Northwestern district attorneys office before coming to the Hampden district attorneys office, hired in 2011 by former DA Mark Mastroianni, now a federal judge. Current Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said, Melissa Doran has been a dedicated prosecutor for many years and, in recent years, has devoted her time and energy to protecting victims of domestic and sexual violence. Her work will be missed as the chief of the offices newly formed Domestic and Sexual Violence Unit, but I join her colleagues in congratulating her on this terrific opportunity with the Hampshire Clerks Office, where she (will) continue her great career of quality public service. Dorans departure from Gullunis office follows the recent departure of Assistant District Attorney Karen Bell, who prosecuted murders. Bell has become first assistant district attorney in Berkshire County. The cases Doran prosecuted, including some of the worst domestic violence cases in the area, covered a wide spectrum showing the terrifying ways human beings can hurt each other. Often the victims were still very afraid as the cases wended their way through the courts. Along with victim witness advocates, Doran worked to make the experiences less fearful for the women. Below is a sampling of cases that Doran prosecuted. Domestic violence In August, Jose Alvelo, 37, was sentenced to six to nine years in state prison for a brutal attack on his ex-girlfriend Feb. 18, 2017, in Springfield. He was found guilty by a jury of strangulation, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and assault and battery on a family or household member. As he was led out of the courtroom after sentencing, a handcuffed Alvelo turned toward the woman and called her a derogatory name in Spanish, shocking people sitting in the courtroom. Doran asked to put that comment on the record. In July 2017, Joseph Malachi, 43, was sentenced to 12 to 13 years in state prison after pleading guilty to domestic violence assaults that left the victim on life support at a Springfield hospital. Malachi pleaded guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and assault on a family member. The victim, who was in the courtroom with a group of family members, had to learn to walk again, as well as other functions, and still uses a cane, Doran said. In April 2015, Miguel Pizarro-Escalera admitted that he invaded the home of his ex-girlfriend and pointed a loaded gun at her while she was in the shower. Pizarro-Escalera pleaded guilty to 13 charges, including two of home invasion, and was sentenced to 10 to 12 years in state prison followed by five years probation. In March, David Bryan Lozada pleaded guilty to terrorizing his ex-girlfriend. He was sentenced to four to five years in state prison followed by three years probation after pleading guilt to armed burglary and assault, kidnapping, strangulation or suffocation, witness intimidation, assault with intent to murder, and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Doran asked for a sentence of eight to 10 years plus five years probation. In November 2017, Angel Perez pleaded guilty to assaulting and torturing his wife over six days and was sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison and five years probation. The worst thing he would do to me is he would strangle me unconscious, said the woman as her husband pleaded guilty. The victim said Perez said he liked to strangle her because it was like a mini-killing, or the closest thing to killing me. Doran, who had asked for a longer sentence, said of all the cases she has handled, this may very well be the worst case of domestic violence. Motor vehicle homicide and drunken driving In January, Thomas Murphy was sentenced to three and a half to five years in state prison and five years probation after admitting guilt in the hit-and-run crash that killed a man crossing the street. Murphy, 30, pleaded guilty to motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident resulting in death in the crash that killed James A. Heath at about 10:30 p.m. May 29, 2016, in front of 700 Sumner Ave. In December 2015, Pedro Gonzalez, 59, was sentenced to two years in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow and four years probation. In the courtroom were the three children who were hit and seriously injured, including permanent injuries, by Gonzalez. Gonzalez was found guilty in a jury-waived trial of three counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing serious injury one count for each child. Doran asked for a four- to six-year state prison sentence followed by six months in the Ludlow jail and five years probation. In July 2013, a Hampden Superior Court jury found Daniel Leary of Southwick guilty of motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol and negligent driving in the death of pedestrian David Laduzenski, a Somerville resident and West Springfield native who was home visiting family and friends when he was hit March 25, 2011. Leary was sentenced to five to seven years in state prison. Murder Michael Rodriguez was found guilty in April 2017 of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Julian Cartie in 2009 in Springfield. In November 2017, Richard Page admitted he beat Eric Stephenson to death with a table leg. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 to 12 years in state prison followed by four years probation. In March 2015, Ronald Ruell Jr. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2012 beating death of Judy Ramirez. Police found Ramirezs body in the rear stairwell of the Progressive Community Chapel on State Street on Feb. 1, 2012. She was 38 at the time of her death. Doran is the prosecutor in several pending murder cases in Hampden Superior Court. They include murder charges against Erick Buchanon, Van Dorsey and Terry Lockett. You are here: China Vice Premier Hu Chunhua on Thursday called for more emphasis on the construction of farmland water conservancy projects. Hu made the remarks during an agricultural inspection tour in Shandong and Hebei provinces. Farmland water conservancy projects are key to safeguarding food security, ensuring the supply of major agricultural products, and maintaining a stable economy, Hu said. Hu said high-standard cropland should be at the center of the construction of farmland water conservancy projects and more efforts should be made to guarantee the task will be completed in a timely and high-quality manner. China has stepped up efforts to build major water conservancy projects as 132 key water conservancy projects have been under construction since 2014, with the total investment exceeding one trillion yuan (about 146.71 billion U.S. dollars). Hu also stressed the improvement of facilities for flood control and drought relief and better protection of water resources during the inspection. SPRINGFIELD A roomful of prosecutors was sworn in Thursday afternoon as Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni began his second term as the countys top prosecutor. Seventy-three assistant district attorneys work in Gullunis office, and most were there for the swearing in ceremony. Among newly hired assistant district attorneys is Paul Caccaviello, who served as Berkshire district attorney after David Capeless retired in March. Caccaviello narrowly lost a three-way Democratic primary election for Berkshire DA to Andrea Harrington in September, and lost a write-in campaign against Harrington in Novembers election. He had been first assistant district attorney under Capeless. Hampden Superior Court Judge Michael K. Callan, who is the regional administrative judge, swore in Gulluni, who then swore in the assistant district attorneys. Four other Hampden Superior Court judges attended the swearing in ceremony. Gulluni thanked the prosecutors for all the work youve done to allow me to stand here again and be sworn in for a second term as district attorney." Without you I could not be in this position, he said. "Without your hard work day in and day out and commitment to the office and your commitment to the communities that we serve, your commitment to our mission, I would not be in this position. You make me look good each and every day and I really appreciate it, the DA said. At his first swearing in ceremony four years ago, he said he had the themes of appreciation and responsibility and he will continue with those goals. Among achievements Gulluni cited was strengthening our office, forging new relationships with law enforcement and other groups. He said he is expanding the prosecutors' office. He will hold an office-wide meeting in the near future and said, were going to introduce a lot of new people. We hired so many people over the first four years, but in the last month ... it demonstrates an expansion of the office, of commitment to the work that were doing so you can do your jobs to the best of your ability," he said. So again thank you very much. Lets have another great four years and hopefully four more after that and four more after that, Gulluni said. Mookie Betts and the Red Sox have agreed to a $20 million salary for 2019, avoiding salary arbitration, per reports. Fancreds Jon Heyman was the first to report the figure. Betts made $10.5 million in 2018. And so this marks a $9.5 million raise for the 2018 American League MVP. Betts has won Gold Gloves in right field the past three years. He led the major leagues in batting average (.346) and slugging percentage (.640) during 2018. He finished second in on-base percentage (.438), OPS (1.078) and extra-base hits (84). He finished with 32 home runs and 30 steals. The two sides failed to agree on a salary the past two years. Betts was the lone Red Sox pre-arbitration player who Boston failed to agree with in 2017. The two sides then went to an arbitration hearing in 2018. A longtime police officer and his wife were killed in a multi-vehicle crash involving a vehicle traveling the wrong way. New Hampshire State Police were called to the westbound lanes of Route 101 late Thursday for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash. Police say the driver of a pickup truck make a u-turn into the westbound lanes and was traveling the wrong way when the vehicle crashed into the sedan of John and Heidi Johnson, then a third vehicle crashed into the two. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. John was a longtime member of the Townsend Police Department, having served since 1985. It is with great sadness that I am sharing news of the tragic death of Sgt. John Johnson and his wife in a car crash. ... Posted by Townsend Police Dept on Friday, January 11, 2019 The operator of the third vehicle involved in the crash, a 23-year-old from Raymond, New Hampshire, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries not considered life-threatening. The operator of the vehicle traveling the wrong way was transported by med-flight to Massachusetts General Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. FOXBOROUGH - Ryan Allen hasnt been watching the weather. Theres been enough talk about it that the Patriots punter knows its going to be cold, but hes been in New England long enough to know what the meteorologists says one day might not reflect the temperature and precipitation the next. Anyone who has lived out here understands itll change in a 48-hour period. You can keep an eye on it. But Ive seen it all, said the sixth-year Patriot who grew up in Oregon and went to Louisiana Tech. Ive seen no chance of rain and it rains. It helps not to overanalyze it. Take each day for what it is. Hell take his own analysis. Whats the wind doing? How does the ball react coming off his foot? Weather and the Chargers defense could make field position critical in Sundays 1 p.m. AFC Division Playoff game against Los Angeles. Go out there early and pay attention to what the wind is doing and how the ball is reacting," he said. Youre seeing what youve got that day. Wind is the biggest factor. Allen said every specialist handles it differently. Anyone who handled the ball, at one point in time, has either thrown or kicked into the wind, a tailwind, a side wind. We all know what that feels like, said Allen, who has averaged 45.1 yards per punt on 64 kicks this year. You dont know what youre going to get until you go out there. When youre dealing with wind, the one thing Ive learned you dont want to have it floating in the wind too long," Allen said. "You want to stay clean in your technique and maybe hold onto to it a little longer. Every kicker and punter does things a little different. Some lean more over. Some stand up really straight. Know your technique and dont get too distracted. He ignores the flags around the stadium. Personally I dont think thats very helpful, he said. What youre feeling on the field can be completely different than what the wind is doing 200 feet up. With the help of a large grant, the town of Worthington is in the process of finalizing a project that will significantly improve its residents access to fast, reliable internet. In December, the Hampshire County community chose Comcast to take charge of a project to build a local broadband network that will bring connectivity to more than 96 percent of the towns residential and business premises. While it may seem hard to believe, residents in many communities throughout Massachusetts still do not have quality access to local high speed internet service. Worthington, one such community which has been looking to improve access for residents for some time, will fund its project through a variety of state and local means. On Dec. 26, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech (MBI) approved an award of $2.2 million to Comcast to build the local network. The MBI works to extend high-speed internet access to communities throughout the state. Money for the MBI award came largely from a grant from the Last Mile, a state program dedicated to closing connectivity gaps in unserved and underserved communities in Western and Central Massachusetts, which will provide $2,213,809 to help with the completion of the Worthington network. The Last Mile program has made great progress in identifying and funding projects that will help close the connectivity gaps in these towns, through public-private partnerships like this, and through the Commonwealths support for municipal-owned networks in 20-plus towns, said Governor Baker in a statement. As Ive met with leaders and residents in unserved towns, its clear that closing the broadband gap is a top priority, for homeowners, for parents of school age children, and for citizens who need access to online resources, said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. I believe the Town of Worthington is very pleased to have a path forward to bring broadband service to virtually everyone who wants it, said Charley Rose, Chair of the Worthington Selectboard. This has been a long process and a solution would not have been possible without the combined effort of a large number of people, both in and out of government." Michael Parker, the senior vice president for Comcasts Western New England Region, said that the company was honored to tackle the project. Comcast is honored to partner with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute and the town of Worthington to bring our state-of-the art, fiber-rich network to its residents and businesses. This network expansion will enable broadband speeds up to and including 2 Gigabit per second for residential service and multi-Gigabit speeds for businesses, speeds which are among the fastest and most widely available, said Parker. SPRINGFIELD The City Council will consider submitting statements of interest to the state to help fund 11 school building improvement projects ranging from new roofs to new windows, doors and heating systems. The statements are the first step in applying for funds from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. If approved, the city could be eligible for up to 80 percent reimbursement of design and construction costs, said Peter Garvey, the citys director of capital asset construction. Its a great opportunity, Garvey said. We have worked well with the MSBA on all our (school) projects. We want to continue to be a partner with them. The council will consider approving the statements of interest, as supported by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, at its meeting on Monday. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. There is not a price estimate on the projects at this early stage, Garvey said. The School Building Authority makes decisions based in part on the amount of state funds available and the number of communities competing for funds, Garvey said. The list of priority projects in Springfield includes new roofs proposed at six schools: Edward P. Boland, Samuel Bowles, Commerce, Indian Orchard Elementary, Glenwood and Sumner Avenue. The new roofs are intended to ensure the health and the safety of the school children and to decrease the energy related costs associated with the school building, the statements say. The city attempts to replace roofs at around the time their warranties expire. The warranty times vary on the old roofs, but the city generally seeks to replace them with warranties lasting 25 to 30 years, Garvey said. Other projects on the interest list include a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at German Gerena Community School, and a new heating system at Frederick Harris School. The list includes new windows and exterior doors at Balliet Elementary School, the High School of Science and Technology, and Arthur T. Talmadge School. The various projects reflect the citys desire to keep the buildings secure, dry and energy efficient, Garvey said. The Maintenance Department does a great job on keeping everything up and running, Garvey said. Things do come with lifespans. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker, best known for her starring role in Sex and the City franchise and more recently, the HBO comedy series Divorce, is in Boston for the day. On Instagram, Parker announced she had arrived in South Station Thursday night for a very short trip to the Massachusetts' capital. Always a treat to arrive at South Station Boston and looking forward to my next 24 hours in this great city, Parker said in the photo caption. The picture shows the actress pushing a cart of luggage, dressed in gold-heel boots and a conductor hat from someone named Frank, an accessory she describes as old school, the real deal." Parker, who is expected to begin production on season 3 of Divorce" in early 2019, spent her holiday with husband Matthew Broderick and their children in Ireland before returning home to New York City. It is unclear why the actress is in Boston for just one day on Friday. See the full Instagram post below: A 22-year-old man was arrested in Freetown Thursday in connection with a serious stabbing in Fall River last weekend. Authorities said Patrick Theriault of Assonet was arrested on a warrant after he allegedly stabbed a man in Fall River multiple times Saturday. Fall River police responded to 130 Canal St. around 11:30 p.m. for a report of an injured person. Upon arrival, they found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to St. Annes Hospital and transferred to Rhode Island Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. Authorities identified Theriault as a suspect in the stabbing and arrested him Thursday on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a weapon causing seriously bodily injury. He is expected to be arraigned in Fall River District Court Friday. The commission overseeing Massachusetts marijuana industry will ask the Legislature for authority to review and regulate the agreements municipalities enter into with marijuana companies. The Cannabis Control Commission is also hoping lawmakers will clarify what exactly can go into the agreements. Marijuana businesses today are required to enter into a host agreement with the community where they operate. Although state law caps community impact fees at 3 percent of sales, it does not preclude cities and towns from requiring donations to nonprofits and charities or adding additional fees. Some small businesses and minority applicants say this makes it hard for them to open shop, since they cannot pay as much as larger companies. Its been a barrier to entry for some of the communities and people were trying to help, said Cannabis Control Commission Chairman Steven Hoffman. While state law authorizes the Cannabis Control Commission to oversee the industry, the law does not include reviewing community host agreements in the commissions authority. Commissioner Kay Doyle prepared a report, which she presented at Thursdays commission meeting, that said the way the law is written, the courts could subject the commission to stricter examination on any decisions they make related to host community agreements, since it is not clear they have the authority to regulate those agreements. Rather than engage in litigation that ties up time and resources, it makes more sense to go back to the Legislature and talk about what needs to be done to address the problem, Doyle said. Doyle suggested the commission ask lawmakers for the clear authority to review agreements and revise them if necessary, such as by lowering or raising fees. The commission voted 4-1 to ask for that authority. The dissenting vote was Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan, a former state senator. Flanagan said it should be up to the Legislature to decide whether to grant that authority, and she does not think the commission should put forth its opinion. If the Legislature wants us to have statutory authority over community host agreements theyll take action to make sure that that happens, Flanagan said. They voted on the law and they told us what they wanted us to do, so if anything changes Im sure theyll tell us. The commission will also give lawmakers Doyles report, which lists several areas of law that remain murky. Doyle said she would like to see the Legislature clarify what is covered by the community impact fee, and whether municipalities can ask businesses for additional fees or charitable donations. Lawmakers could consider making host agreements optional, Doyle suggested, since some towns would rather treat marijuana establishments like any other business. Lawmakers could also consider letting the commission waive fees for certain types of licensed establishments, like research facilities, which do not have significant community impacts. Doyle noted that lawmakers will have to consider how any changes made going forward affect existing contracts. A Massachusetts bill banning the use of some flame retardants in household and childrens products is dead, at least for now. State lawmakers sent the bill to Gov. Charlie Bakers desk in the closing hours of the 2017-2018 legislative session. Because the session ended and a new one started, the bill could not be amended and fell victim to whats known as a pocket veto. While saying he supports the elimination of flame retardant chemicals, Baker called the bill flawed and said if he had the opportunity, he wouldve returned the bill with suggested changes. The bill can be filed again in the new State House session and restart the legislative process. The bill as written wouldve made Massachusetts the only US state to ban certain flame retardants in car seats and non-foam parts of adult mattresses, products already subject to federal flammability requirements, according to Bakers letter to lawmakers. In addition, this ban would go into effect in less than five months, cutting the lead time for manufacturers by more than half as compared to the full year provided in the legislation as originally filed, Baker said in the letter explaining why he didnt sign the legislation. The resulting disruption to what is available to consumers in Massachusetts would likely have a disproportionate impact on families with lower incomes who are less able to afford expensive alternatives. Baker also noted that the bill called for the Department of Environmental Protection to ban other flame retardants based solely on certain risks, without any consideration of countervailing benefits. The pocket veto earned a note of disappointment from the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, saying Baker "missed an opportunity to start reducing the risk of occupation cancer for firefighters." "While the firefighting profession will always be dangerous and come with risk, this proposed ban of toxic flame retardants could have been a step forward to reduce the risk of occupational cancer for our 12,000 members," the group said in a statement. Science and research about the health effects of the chemic is irrefutable, the group continued. As firefighters, we accept an inherent risk that comes with our profession, but families should not be needlessly put at risk when they purchase children products and household items. Bakers letter came a day after the local chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics urged the governor to approve the bill, according to the State House News Service. In everyday use, flame retardant chemicals migrate out of products in the air and incorporate into household dust. Children are disproportionately exposed to this chemical-laced dust because of their tendency to put things in their mouths, including their own fingers after crawling on dusty floors or dust covered objects they encounter during their explorations, Dr. Elizabeth Goodman, the president of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, wrote in a letter to the governor. The bill, the subject of intense lobbying on both sides, sought to ban 11 flame retardants. Twelve states have similar bans. Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and the American Chemistry Council opposed the bill, the News Service reported. After Bakers office released the letter from the governor, the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund, an advocacy group, said in a post on Twitter they were disappointed that Gov Baker has prioritized concerns of chemical companies over parents +firefighters. The group pledged to "keep up the pressure. Baker closed his letter to lawmakers by saying the state can be a leader in eliminating flame retardant chemicals. A deliberative process involving all stakeholders and an implementation schedule that takes into account the realities of manufacturing and distribution practices are key components to any legislation, he wrote. I look forward to working with the bill sponsors and stakeholders on a revised form of this legislation in the current session." Material from State House News Service was used in this report. A China-Myanmar border gate, which was suspended for over two weeks, was temporarily reopened on Thursday to facilitate border trade between the two neighbors, said Assistant Secretary of Myanmar Commerce Ministry U Khin Maung Lwin. The reopening of the Kyin San Kyawt border check point was agreed after coordination between Myanmar's Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Commerce and officials from the Chinese Embassy. The gate, through which fruit and seafood were exported from Myanmar to China, was shut down for security reasons on Dec. 27 last year, causing financial losses to farmers and fruit traders. As a result, the time for border crossing through the gate was also extended to 6:00 p.m. from the previous 4:30 p.m. after opening at 6:30 a.m. local time every day, and roads were upgraded from two lanes to four lanes. The annual Toys for Tots drive at the Massachusetts State Police this holiday season left troopers with an abundance of donated gifts. So many in fact, Major Pasquale Russolillo said troopers asked, What can we do with these toys? On Friday, Russolillo and other members of Troop A donated toys to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, a hospital that specializes in pediatric burn care, as well as cleft lip and cleft palate care. The citizens of Massachusetts have been more than generous this past holidays [sic], which gave us these extra toys," said Russolillo in the lobby of the hospital on Friday. And now we want to show the public that were going to provide and give back to the public, not just during the holiday seasons but throughout the year. The Troop A major, who leads patrols that cover the North Shore region, said he and his team hope to keep the donations going throughout the year rather than just the holidays. Russolillo and fellow troopers posed for photos in front of their police vehicles outside to later show to the children who were too sick to come down. The Shriners hospital in Boston, located on Blossom Street, is one of 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children across the country, and one of two in Massachusetts: the other Shriners Hospitals for Children in the state is located in Springfield and focuses on spinal injuries. The system of hospitals relies heavily on philanthropy to provide top medical treatment, as well as what the Boston hospitals Chief Donor Development Officer Jean Maginnis describes as wrap-around care. We also provide housing, for instance, for the families that have to come here and also have to stay for long periods of time, Maginnis said Thursday after accepting the toys from the state police troopers. She said the children are excited about all of the toys that have been donated by so many people. The stuffed animals of course are really loved. The various things that distract children from their pain, they love. Things that are interactive are helpful, Maginnis said. She added that in addition to toys for the children, gift cards that help families shop for necessities like groceries can also be very helpful. Anyone interested in donating to the hospital can reach out directly to see what is needed, Maginnis said. As for when to bring donations to the Mass. State Police? Russolillo said anytime is a good time: Were never going to say no, the major said. It humbles us. We just want to give back. Hobbyists and crafters and fans of music and dance have no shortage of fun events to experience this weekend. Woodworking enthusiasts will gather in West Springfield, while classical music lovers may want to attend a chamber concert in Longmeadow. Here are just a few events in around Western Massachusetts worth checking out: Thousands of hobbyists expected at Woodworking Show Springfield Symphony Orchestra percussionists team up for chamber concert on Sunday 'Dancing With the Stars Live!' comes to Mohegan Sun 'The Mountaintop' recalls Martin Luther King Jr. Pop culture treasures from Smithsonian at Springfield Museums Don't forget to visit masslive.com/events for all of our events listings. Did we miss anything? Post suggestions in the comments section below It has been more than a week since 60-year-old Paul Wilson was found dead inside Danehy Park in Cambridge and investigators are still looking for clues. District Attorney Marian Ryan and police spoke about the case at a community meeting at the Andrew Peabody School Thursday night. They said authorities are still unsure whether the attack was planned. Investigators have not identified a possible motive. We have no information at this point that suggests it was other than random, Ryan said to a crowd of more than 150 people, according to The Boston Globe. Cambridge police received a 911 call at 6:46 p.m. Jan. 2 from a person who said they saw a man, later identified as Wilson, lying unresponsive near the New Street entrance of the park. Police found Wilson suffering from blunt force trauma to his head, Ryan said. He was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 10:18 p.m. Wilson was 6 feet, 6 inches tall, and often traveled through the park to get to and from work, police said. Police do not believe Wilson was robbed because he had multiple possessions on him when emergency responders found him. At the meeting Thursday night, police and prosecutors asked the dozens of attendees to report any information related to the case, no matter how small. Named for Mayor Thomas W. Danehy, the 50-acre park is built on the site of a former landfill. Cambridge Police Superintendent Steven DeMarco said it has been about 10 years since an assault took place in the park. Anyone with information is asked to call Cambridge Polices anonymous tip line at 617-349-3359, or the emergency police line at 617-349-3300. A popular Franklin County ice cream soon will have a home in Collinsville. Rodney Billings has announced that he will open Livys Ice Cream Shop, carrying Homestead Creamery products, in March. The shop will be built on the same lot used by insurance agent Chris Starnes of State Farm, at 2842 Virginia Ave., in Collinsville. This past summer I started thinking [that] I really want to do something different, said Billings, who is the president of and executive producer at BTW21 and the owner of The Candyboard Company. He said he reflected back on how much he enjoyed taking his kids to the Homestead Creamery shop in Burnt Chimney and thought, I would love to have Homestead Creamery right here in the middle of town. Starnes is a good friend, he said, and I pitched the idea to him, and he said, Lets share this property. I told him it would be great to share that space with him, Starnes said. I didnt see anything but good come out of it. Billings said he has bought a 16- by 7-foot enclosed trailer, and in March it will be set up on the front right corner of the insurance offices parking lot. Earn Resort Dollars at over 250 participating outlets, and then use them to offset your transaction on hotel stays, dining, shopping, and more! Earn 6% Resort Dollars on your hotel stay Earn up to 10% Resort Dollars when you dine and 3% Resort Dollars when you shop On top of that, enjoy a bounty of members-only discounts and perks! In this Nov. 1, 2018 photo, Laurel Foster looks at Instagram in San Francisco. App developers say as teens scroll through Instagram and Snapchat, tap out texts, or hole up in their rooms watching YouTube, theyre leaving enormous digital footprints that may offer clues to their psyches. Studies are under way to find out. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Guest Column Attitudes have changed on the shop floor The latest round of vice-ministerial level trade talks between China and the United States, which concluded on Wednesday, have laid a foundation for addressing each other's concerns, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. Both sides have actively implemented the significant consensus reached by their heads of state and conducted extensive, in-depth and detailed exchanges on trade and structural issues of common concern, Gao Feng, the ministry's spokesman, said at a news briefing on Thursday. The meetings between China and the US began on Monday in Beijing. According to a statement released by the ministry on Thursday morning, the two sides improved mutual understanding. Both sides agreed to continue to keep in close contact, the statement said. On Dec 1, the top leaders of China and the US met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They agreed to continue negotiations, suspend the imposition of new tariffs and exchange visits at an appropriate time. The US delegation was led by US Deputy Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish. Craig Allen, president of the US-China Business Council, said he was pleased that the two governments have had substantive discussions over the past three days and looked forward to hearing details about the negotiations. Any agreement between the governments should include positive incentives, such as a mechanism for removing tariff hikes the two countries have imposed on each other, as progress is made in the talks, Allen said. He said removal of those tariffs should be a priority to address the damage that has been done to US companies that depend on trade with China and to the US economy as a whole. The council will continue to work with both governments to encourage that result, he said. China has already shown its determination to put its foreign trade on a firmer footing, said Wei Jianguo, vice-president of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges. The country also has increased moves to accelerate the pace of its reform and opening-up, especially to further safeguard intellectual property rights, expand market access, increase imports from the US and make the business environment even more transparent and fairer, Wei said. "These moves are not only to respond to concerns from the US but also to realize the potential of high-level opening-up to the rest of the world," he said. "China has always adopted an open stance toward solving trade disputes with the US. It has shown its sincerity in settling disputes through concrete measures." Trade volume between China and the US amounted to $582.8 billion between January and November last year, up 10.9 percent year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs. To further improve the business environment, China has already removed the import license requirement for 118 products and 29 product restrictions on imports, said Song Xianmao, deputy director-general of the Foreign Trade Department at the Ministry of Commerce. It also has suspended export quotas for phosphorus ore and silver starting Jan 1, he said. China's imports are expected to exceed $2 trillion in 2018, which would be a record, Song said. Column Border security matters, now is time to deal with it A filled pothole in Novi, Mich. According to a recent study conducted by Lvl5, a company that creates high-definition maps for self-driving cars, Michigan has the worst roads in the country. MOUNT CLEMENS Man's vehicular manslaughter charge dismissed in girlfriend's death He pleads to reduced misdemeanor charge, could get one year in jail DETROIT (AP) A vehicle manufactured in Macomb County scored a major victory on Monday in the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle o Turning Point's CEO Sharman Davenport said she is concerned about the effect the U.S. government shutdown could have on the funding for Turning Point, which provides shelter, emergency support and prevention services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Ensure you get a print copy of the Loudoun Times-Mirror delivered weekly to your home or business! Complete online access is included with all print subscriptions purchased online. Plus, up to four other members of your household can share online access through this subscription with their own, individual linked accounts at no additional charge. (Are you a current advertiser? Ask your sales rep for our special advertiser rate code!) China will this year grant temporary 5G licenses to promote the application and construction of fifth-generation mobile communication technology. [Photo / Xinhua] The nation will grant temporary 5G licenses this year to promote the application and construction of fifth-generation mobile communication technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the nation's top industry regulator, said on Thursday. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Miao Wei said temporary 5G licenses will be issued in a number of cities to enable the large-scale construction of 5G networks in key cities and regions. The ministry will also accelerate efforts to push forward the development of 5G hardware, including smartphones, Miao said in an interview with China Central Television on Thursday. As part of its broader push to lead the global race toward commercializing 5G, China will also expedite the use of the superfast technology in education, medical care, elderly care and other sectors, Miao added. The comments came as China's big three telecom carriers are all starting large-scale 5G trials and application tests. The state-of-the-art technology is expected to be 10 times faster than 4G and will support superfast movie downloads, self-driving cars and the streaming of virtual reality games. China Mobile, the country's largest telecom carrier by mobile subscribers, said in December that it is starting large-scale 5G trials and application tests in 17 cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. China Unicom and China Telecom are also working on similar trials after the government allocated specific low and medium-frequency bands to them. China is eyeing pre-commercial use of 5G this year and official commercialization in 2020. Fu Liang, an independent telecom analyst, said temporary licenses are exactly what China's telecom industry needs. "It is exciting news for telecom carriers, smartphone makers, mobile chip designers and network builders, as it will accelerate the maturity of the whole 5G industry chain," Fu said. China Mobile said in December that the first batch of 5G smartphones will be priced above 8,000 yuan ($1,166). More than 30 precommercial 5G devices are likely to hit the market in 2019. According to the Beijing-based company, it will test the first batch of prototype 5G smartphones made by Huawei, Xiaomi, ZTE, Vivo, and Oppo in the first quarter of this year. China Mobile also plans to set up a 30 billion yuan fund to promote industrywide cooperation on 5G. China Mobile and other companies will jointly contribute to the fund, the first phase of which will be 10 billion yuan. Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: January 11 2019 Birnbaum congratulated them on attaining their highest scouting rank. Williston Park, NY - January 11, 2019 - Nassau County Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum (D Nassau County Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum (D Great Neck ) recently honored young men from the Boy Scout Troop 201 of Albertson /Herricks at an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at the American Legion Post 144 on Sunday, Jan. 6. During the ceremony, Legislator Birnbaum presented a Nassau County Citation to each new Eagle Scout and congratulated them on attaining their highest scouting rank. Local News, Crime, Press Releases, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: January 11 2019 Vows to Pass Red Flag Bill, Preventing Individuals Who Show Signs of Being a Threat to Themselves or Others from Purchasing or Possessing Guns. New York, NY - January 11, 2019 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today vowed passage of legislation in the first 100 days of the new legislative session to combat gun violence and make New York's gun laws even stronger. First, the Governor vowed to pass the Red Flag Bill, also known as the extreme risk protection order bill, which would prevent individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm. This legislation builds on New York's strongest in the nation gun laws, and, if passed, would make New York the first in the United States to empower its teachers and school administrators to prevent school shootings by pursuing court intervention. In addition, the Governor will push to ban bump stocks and extend the background check waiting period for purchasing guns from three to ten days. "The scourge of gun violence in our nation is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and we are not going to wait for the federal government to act on passing gun safety legislation," Governor Cuomo said. "New York already has the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, and we are taking additional steps to make our laws even stronger and keep our communities, and our schools, safe. Together, we will pass this common sense legislation and send a clear message to Washington that gun violence has no place in our state or nation." "I traveled to schools across the state with Governor Cuomo this past summer to push for common sense gun safety measures like the Red Flag Bill," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, during remarks at the high school attended by Scott Beigel, the Long Island native who was killed during the Parkland shooting, as part of announcement of initiatives of the 2019 Justice Agenda. "We are continuing to rally for legislation that will further combat gun violence and keep guns out of the hands of people who can harm themselves and others. While the federal government fails to protect its citizens, New York will continue to lead the way and enact policies that help stop senseless gun violence and save lives." Red Flag Bill No law currently exists in New York State that enables a court to issue an order to temporarily seize firearms from a person who is showing red flags, like violent behavior, or is believed to pose a severe threat of harm to himself, herself, or others unless that person has also been accused of a crime or family offense. In addition, no state in the nation currently empowers its teachers and school administrators to prevent school shootings by pursuing court intervention. The law would provide all necessary procedural safeguards to ensure that no firearm is removed without due process while ensuring that tragedies, like the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, are not repeated. In this mass shooting, the shooter was reported by multiple sources to be disturbed and dangerous yet was allowed to purchase and possess deadly firearms. In fact, more than half of all perpetrators of mass shootings exhibit warning signs before the shooting, according to a recent analysis. In these cases, an extreme risk protection order could have prevented countless, needless deaths. Governor Cuomo previously advanced the legislation to keep guns away from individuals who pose a danger with the launch of a statewide campaign to pass the Red Flag Gun Protection Bill last June. The campaign included a series of bus tours to schools across the state to stand in solidarity with students, teachers and school administrators who support the bill and other common sense gun reform. Ban Bump Stocks The 2017 Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people demonstrated the deadly consequences of bump stocks, which can be attached to semi-automatic weapons to simulate machine gunfire. Bump stocks serve no legitimate purposes for hunters or sportsmen and only cause unpredictable and accelerated gun fire. There is no reason to allow for their continued sale in New York State. Extending the Background Check Waiting Period Governor Cuomo previously advanced legislation to establish a ten-day waiting period for individuals who are not immediately approved to purchase a firearm through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Current federal law requires gun dealers to conduct the NICS background check on a potential purchaser prior to selling a firearm, which immediately provides the dealer with one of three possible notifications: "proceed", "denied", or "delayed". In the case of a "delayed" response, the dealer must wait three days before the sale is eligible to go through, even though the FBI continues to investigate these individuals past the three-day timeframe. Oftentimes, by the time it has been determined that the potential purchaser was, in fact, ineligible, the individual has already been sold the firearm upon completion of the three-day waiting period. Extending the waiting period to ten days would allow sufficient time to complete the background check and builds on legislative efforts to ensure that only those eligible to purchase and own a firearm are able to do so. "Saving lives from gun violence requires leaders like Governor Andrew Cuomo who have the courage to do what's right," said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. "He's refused to give in to the gun lobby and continued to champion policies that have made New York a leader in addressing this public safety threat. That record continues today as he renews his efforts, with support from state lawmakers, to enact legislation that will better protect New York schools, streets, churches, and neighborhoods. We applaud Governor Cuomo for never backing down and will stand with him in fighting for this new legislation that will make New York communities safer." Senator Brian Kavanagh said, "I have been proud to join Governor Cuomo in enacting the NY SAFE Act and other common-sense gun violence prevention policies throughout his administration. As Washington Republicans have refused again and again to take action to protect us, Governor Cuomo, our Democratic colleagues in the Senate and the Assembly, and I have remained committed to doing everything we can here in New York to save lives. I particularly appreciate the Governor's strong support for enacting extreme risk protection orders, a tool we've long sought that will keep guns out of the hands of people who are likely to harm themselves or others. I look forward to working out the bill's final language and passing this critical legislation promptly in the new session." Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon said, "As mass shootings become commonplace, it is critical for New York to do everything we can to ensure the safety and security of our communities. Governor Cuomo's staunch commitment to gun safety serves as an example for the nation and I applaud him for his continued commitment to gun control. It is crucial that we pass the Extreme Risk Protection Orders, also known as the red flag law, in the upcoming legislative session and I look forward to the Governor signing it into law." Assembly Member Patricia Fahy said, "While the federal government turns a blind eye toward mass shootings and gun related tragedies, New York is ready to continue to lead the way on gun safety. Governor Cuomo's common sense vision for gun control stands in stark contrast to the Trump administration, who is beholden to the NRA. I thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership and look forward to passing into law my legislation to permanently ban bump stocks in New York State - among other vital gun control measures we can act on this session." Assembly Member Amy Paulin said, "Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, New York State is answering the call for stronger gun safety legislation. After a year that witnessed the most school shootings in American history, it is incumbent upon us to take important, common sense measures to ensure New Yorkers are safe. Many of the mass shootings committed this year were carried out by individuals who should not have owned a gun in the first place. Governor Cuomo recognizes that purchasing a gun should not be an expedited process, and I applaud his call to extend the waiting period for purchasing a gun." Under Governor Cuomo, New York has passed the strongest gun control laws in the nation, including the SAFE Act which keeps guns out of the hands of convicted felons and the dangerous mentally ill, ensures private gun sales are subject to a background check, bans high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, and toughens criminal penalties for illegal gun use. The Governor also recently enacted a law targeting the well-known link between domestic abuse and deadly gun violence. The Governor has also championed evidence-based gun violence reduction efforts which have received national recognition, such as the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative and SNUG program, which together work to support both law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations in the prevention of shootings and homicides involving firearms. Local News, Arts & Culture, Health & Wellness, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events By Chris Boyle Published: January 11 2019 Noted Smithtown-based clinical psychologist addresses attendees on his runaway success in treating opioid addiction. Smithtown, NY - January 11, 2019 - Dr. Simon Zysman is many things- a licensed clinical psychologist, a successful pioneer in opioid addiction treatment, founder of Dr. Simon Zysman is many things- a licensed clinical psychologist, a successful pioneer in opioid addiction treatment, founder of Smithtown -based outpatient clinic Employee Assistance Resource Services, Inc. ( EARS ), and author of the newly-released book Successful Heroin and Opioid Addiction Treatment , which chronicles his extensive experience in successfully combating the opioid dependency epidemic that is currently ravaging our nation. Successful Heroin and Opioid Addiction Treatment and to get the word out about his groundbreaking therapy and its high degree of effectiveness, Dr. Zysman has been holding a series of speaking engagements. The latest event is scheduled for Saturday, January 19 at the In order to help promoteand to get the word out about his groundbreaking therapy and its high degree of effectiveness, Dr. Zysman has been holding a series of speaking engagements. The latest event is scheduled for Saturday, January 19 at the Dolphin Bookstore in Port Washington, NY , from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. As per Successful Heroin and Opioid Addiction Treatment , opioid addiction reduces the body's ability to generate dopamine, a vital neurotransmitter; the less dopamine your body generates, the more opioids you need to compensate for it. Dr. Zysmans breakthrough treatment therapy allows the body to fill the void associated with dopamine deficiency in conjunction with conventional spoken therapy techniques until they are able to function as relatively normal, healthy, individuals once again. At the January 19th Port Washington event, Dr. Zysman will be holding a presentation centered on his life-saving treatment, that currently boasts of one of the highest success rates in treating opioid addiction in New York State. Ill be speaking about opioid addiction and treatment, as well as sharing some of the information that is available in the book that'll help people to develop a better understanding of the disease concept of opiate addiction and how to treat it, with the ultimate goal of saving lives, he said. That will be followed up by taking questions from members of the audience. Usually the question and answer sessions take up quite a bit of time...the last speaking engagement I did was supposed to be an hour, but it led to an hour and a half of questions. But theres always some flexibility there, especially when it comes to a topic as important as this one. It's a very emotional and distressing subject for most people...they're still trying to get a grip on the problem, especially as it pertains to loved ones. Dr. Zysmans appearance schedule to promote Successful Heroin and Opioid Addiction Treatment has included presentations at libraries and universities, as well as an upcoming interview on a cable television news show. He's also been approached by documentary filmmaker about potentially doing a film based on his work; this project is currently in the fundraising phase, Dr. Zysman said. Successful Heroin and Opioid Addiction Treatment for presentation in the esteemed Dr. Zysman was also recently honored by his alma mater, Queens College, who requested a copy offor presentation in the esteemed Alumni Authors display in the campus Rosenthal Library Dolphin Bookstore already has copies of Successful Heroin and Opioid Addiction Treatment in stock, and Dr. Zysman noted that he would be bringing additional copies in case, due to the high demand. Sales of the book have remained consistently strong since it's a release and reception by the medical community has been highly positive proving that there is a very receptive audience out there looking for a real, practical, and ultimately effective solution to opioid addiction. The majority of the sales of my book are through Amazon.com as well as appearances I've made while promoting it, Dr. Zysman said. Both avenues have been very effective, and it's getting quite a bit of publicity. The momentum of the book has been continuing to buildits very helpful for professionals, for addicts, and for their families so that they can have a better understanding of the disease. My additional goal is to take away the stigma associated with opioid addiction. The ultimate goal, of course, is to save lives. Local News, Business & Finance, Health & Wellness, Press Releases, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: January 11 2019 Task Force on Marijuana Legalization & Regulation to prepare County for necessary action to ensure public safety, protect public health, promote business development, and provide consumer protection. Mineola, NY - January 11, 2019 - In anticipation of the state legislature enacting legislation legalizing the sale and possession of marijuana for recreational use, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran today announced the formation of the Nassau County Task Force on Marijuana Legalization & Regulation. Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and Legislator Josh Lafazan will co-chair the Task Force, which will include representatives from the Department of Health, the business community, law enforcement, and other key stakeholders listed below. The Task Force will bring together leaders from across the County to understand key local needs in advance of potential legalization, including the identification of equipment and training requirements for officers, public health protocols, new regulatory and licensing procedures, and tax revenue and business development implications. The overall goal will be for Nassau County and its residents to be fully prepared for this potential change to New York State law on day one. Legalization of recreational marijuana will mean a big change to our local laws, procedures, and regulations Nassau County will be ready for this change when it comes, said County Executive Curran. I have directed the formation of this task force to pre-emptively ensure that our law enforcement, health officials, and residents are equipped with the tools and resources they need to be prepared. I commend County Executive Curran for forming this task force so we can all work together to address the issues and concerns that the Police Department has regarding any possible legalization of marijuana, said Commissioner Ryder. Officers will require additional training and new equipment will need to be purchased to identify drivers driving under the influence of marijuana to keep our roadways safe. As a Police Department, our job is to enforce the laws that are in effect and that is what we will do. Whether legislating or establishing regulations, my goal as Co-Chair of this committee remains the same: for our county to benefit from insight from those states who have previously legalized marijuana, consult experts in various industries, engage stakeholders from all across the county, and open this process in a transparent manner to the public at large, said Legislator Josh Lafazan. No generation will be more affected by the policy decisions government makes surrounding drugs than my generation, and that is why I am so honored to serve in this new role. I want to thank County Executive Curran for her proactive leadership, and for her confidence in me - I cant wait to get to work. The Nassau County Task Force on Marijuana Legalization & Regulation will comprise the following members: Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein, Department of Health Commissioner Francesca Carlow, President of the Nassau County Chambers of Commerce Patrick Ryder, Nassau County Police Commissioner (Co-Chair) Josh Lafazan, Nassau County Legislator (Co-Chair) Giselle Campbell-Ham, Assistant Principal of Freeport High School Ralph Ekstrand, Mayor of Farmingdale Bishop Lionel Harvey, First Baptist Cathedral of Westbury Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, President of Family and Childrens Association While no legislation has yet been passed to legalize recreational marijuana in New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo and leaders in the state legislature have made clear their intention to affirmatively address the issue in the new legislative session. Legalization of recreational marijuana is expected to have a myriad of implications for law enforcement processes, criminal justice proceedings, commercial development, government tax revenue, licensing and regulation, public health protocols, and more. Given the breadth of potential impact for all County residents, the initial goal of this Task Force will be to develop a working understanding of the facts around marijuana legalization, and to accordingly pursue policy recommendations that will adequately prepare the County for what comes after legalization. Should sale and possession of marijuana be legalized, County Executive Curran believes that Nassau County should be a leader in New York on day one by seamlessly incorporating harm reduction strategies, while implementing a regulated marijuana program that will properly absorb the regulatory mechanisms required to ensure public safety, protect public health, and provide consumer protection. Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: January 11 2019 Oldest Congressional Committee Tasked with Setting the Nations Tax Policies. Long Island, NY - January 11, 2019 - Today, Congressman Suozzi was appointed to the US Congress Committee on Ways and Means, the chief tax-writing committee of the House of Representatives. As a former CPA, an attorney, a Mayor and County Executive, the Congressman brings expertise and experience to the committee charged with handling the nations finances. Suozzi is assuming former Congressman Crowleys downstate New York seat on the committee and will continue to be the champion for New Yorks interest. It is an honor to be appointed and serve my constituents on this committee, said Congressman Suozzi. I will fight for the national issues voters and American families are concerned about increasing wages, improving retirement security and reducing healthcare and prescription drug costs as well as local issues like reinstating the SALT deduction. I want to thank the Democratic leadership, Chairman Neal and my colleagues, especially the New York delegation, for their support and help with this important committee assignment. New York state is a net donor to the federal government. Estimates range from $36 to $46 billion in annual income tax dollars New Yorkers pays to the federal government that is not reinvested back in New York. The committee is essential to striking a fairer balance between our tax dollars and reinvestment in our state. For example, the recently introduced King-Suozzi bill, H.R. 257, that would reinstate a full SALT deduction was referred to the to the Ways and Means Committee. "A sad day for Ireland of a thousand welcomes," is how one local councillor reacted to the shocking news of tonight's suspected arson attack at the Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey which had been designated as a possible direct provision centre. Sinn Fein Councillor Seadhna Logan tweeted, "If this is indeed malicious like the incident in Donegal in December its a sad day for Ireland of a thousand welcomes." Fire crews from Roscommon and Leitrim fought the blaze which is believed to have broken out shortly before 8pm and it was quickly brought under control. The scene has since been sealed off by investigating Gardai, with personnel from ESB Networks also on hand to assist. Rooskey is situated on the Leitrim / Roscommon border, with the hotel located on the Leitrim side of the village. Traffic diversions are currently in place in Rooskey at the Shannon Key West Hotel (R371). Expect delays approaching from both the Aghamore direction and the Newtownforbes direction. #LEITRIM #ROSCOMMON Diversions in place at Shannon Key West Hotel in Roosky. More Here: https://t.co/ipFDM8svNY AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) January 10, 2019 ALSO READ: Emergency services at scene of fire at Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey Fire services at the scene of a fire at the former Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey - the venue for a possible direct provision centre. If this is indeed malicious like the incident in Donegal in December its a sad day for Ireland of a thousand welcomes @LeitrimToday #Refugees January 10, 2019 With Christmas done and dusted and 2019 well and truly underway, the whole county is looking towards a new year with new resolutions and new hopes - and none moreso than the family of Laura Noonan, who had a long, difficult year of treatment in 2018. The Ballymahon doctor captured the hearts of everyone in Longford in September 2017 when her husband, Archie, set up a GoFundMe account to raise the funds needed to get Laura the essential chemotherapy and stem cell treatment she needed in Russia. ALSO READ: Fearless Longford doctor Laura Noonan vows to fight back after Moscow treatment To date, the account, Laura's Russian Lifeline, has raised more than 110,000 for Laura in a bid to get her healthy again for her daughter, Freya. Laura travelled to Moscow in January 2018 where she received chemotherapy treatment and the stem cell transplant as planned. However, recovery from the treatment has been difficult with the family coming up against many complications and issues over the course of the year. Laura left Moscow in March and was admitted to hospital in Dublin where she remained for nine weeks. Laura has since travelled back to Moscow and is now faced with travelling over and back every few months for the foreseeable future. On her Facebook page, Laura's Russian Lifeline, Laura posted a belated Christmas message that detailed the struggles she has been going through over the festive season. I wanted this Christmas to be perfect, she wrote. I wanted a Hallmark Christmas. I wanted everyone to spend quality family time together to make up for all the time we spent apart over the past year. I wanted everyone to enjoy Christmas but I have now come to realise that I didnt just want everyone to have a lovely Christmas - I desperately needed everyone to have a lovely Christmas. I needed to make up for everything I have put everyone through this past year. I needed to see my family relaxed and enjoying time spent together at home instead of around a hospital bed in Dublin or thousands of miles from home in Moscow. The perfect Christmas didn't happen for Laura this yeart. But, she said, it was better than last Christmas. I had hoped Christmas 2018 would be better than Christmas 2017, she said. Reflecting on things made me realise that it was better than last year. The worst of my treatment is hopefully behind me. I survived three trips to Moscow.... it was almost easy to forget how that might not have been the case... There were some terrifying moments over the year where I thought the fight was over. Its just going to take more time to see the benefit of all I have been through. Most of what Im experiencing now is as a result of the incredibly gruelling treatment I have been having. With time that will improve. Despite it all, the young mother is looking forward to a 2019 that will hopefully bring good health. We will try to spend more quality time together. Less existing and more living, said Laura on Facebook. This year I have to settle for my medications while counting my blessings that Im here. Next year will be our year..... I can feel it. To keep up to date with Laura's journey back to health, follow Laura's Russian Lifeline on Facebook. A tabletop layout at the N63 junction in Lanesboro would bring the town up to date, according to Cllr Gerard Farrell. Cllr Farrell raised the motion that the Roads Department write to the TII about the matter in the December meeting of Ballymahon Municipal District. The council had written to Transport Infrastructure Ireland previously but had no luck. They said theres no history of any accidents in that area, so they wont provide funding for that type of layout, said Cllr Farrell. But my argument for that is that its not a safety measure. It would be a traffic calming measure. There are similar layouts in towns like Westport and Letterkenny where theres never been an accident. They work well and would bring the town up to date. Love will be in the air as First Dates Ireland swings into the RTE Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy this week. ALSO READ: Suspected arson attack at Rooskey hotel 'a sad day for Ireland of a thousand welcomes' The restaurant doors have swung open once again on RTE with a new series to bring singletons from all over the country together in the hope of finding love. Ryan catches up with some of the new contestants, as well as checking in on previous First Dates couples; including Dubliner Shannon and Monaghan farmer Ciara who bonded over their love of club classic Maniac 2000. Fresh from presenting an award at the Golden Globes, Saoirse Ronan leads the star-studded line up on the first show of 2019. ALSO READ: Longford Association in London saddened by death of Life President Lily Armstrong The 24-year-old Carlow star has an illustrious career, with three Oscar nominations already under her belt. Saoirse joins host Ryan Tubridy to look back at her journey from The Clinic and Proof to the dizzying heights of Hollywood stardom, and discuss her new movie, Mary Queen of Scots. Actor John C. Reilly and comedian Steve Coogan will be chatting to Ryan about their new biopic, Stan and Ollie, which follows the fame and friendship of comedy icons Laurel and Hardy, as they embark upon their final tour of Ireland and the UK. Earlier this week Padraig Harrington was unveiled as European Captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup having vice-captained the last three. The three-time major winner joins Ryan to discuss his plans for continued European domination of the competition and how recovery is coming along after breaking a bone in his wrist in December. ALSO READ: Emotional tribute as mourners told of how grandson told Longford's Peter Kelly: 'You're a fantastic man Grandad' Ryan will be asking four of Irelands most successful young people about life in your twenties in Ireland today. Michael Conlan, the former Irish Olympic boxer who recently won the first title of his professional career; Barry Keoghan, the Irish actor who is one of two Irish people to make the BAFTA Rising Star shortlist; Ellen Coyne, a senior journalist at The Times Ireland and Rosie Connolly, one of Irelands leading fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers. Also joining Ryan is spoken word artist Natalya O'Flaherty, and therell be music from The Academic, and The 2 Johnnies, Irelands favourite comedy podcast duo. The Late Late Show, RTE One, Friday, January 11 at 9.35pm ALSO READ: Micheal O Muircheartaigh will be guest speaker at annual Clonfin Commemoration in Longford China had 225,000 bookstores and sales outlets for books at the end of 2018, a 4.3-percent increase from the previous year, according to an annual report on the country's bookstore industry released Tuesday. Issued by China's Books and Periodicals Distribution Association, the report showed that the total sales revenue of publications in China reached 370.4 billion yuan (about $54.1 billion) last year, up 5.9 percent year on year, while 158 billion yuan was from retail, which enjoyed an 11.3-percent growth. Private bookstores played a significant part in the development, as 85 of the over 160 popular Sisyphe Bookstore chain as of October last year were opened in 2018 alone, and Yanjiyou, another popular brand, opened another 53 bookstores from January to November last year, according to an article on Wednesday's People's Daily. New media also contributed to the growth, with major outlets such as Yitiao opening brick-and-mortar bookstores last year based on their high popularity. According to the paper, the revitalization of bookstores in China was largely due to favorable policies unveiled in recent years. After a national guideline on supporting the bookstore industry was issued in 2016, 28 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities also released relevant policies to boost the industry. For instance, 50 million yuan of subsidies has been distributed to 151 bookstores in Beijing since the release of the local guideline in July 2018, the paper reported. The city council has a good plan. The narrower lanes will slow traffic. Narrower vehicle lanes will make it too difficult for larger vehicles. A separate pedestrian solution should be constructed away from any vehicular traffic. Widening the sidewalk could work best if a barrier is put up between the sidewalk and vehicular traffic. Vote View Results The 91st annual Academy Awards might go without a host for the first time in 30 years, as is reported by "Variety" on Wednesday, quoting insiders of the event. According to the report, the producers will select a number of A-listers to introduce various segments instead of "relying on one marquee name to kick things off in a monologue filled with Trump zingers." The dilemma occurred after Kevin Hart dropped out in December last year, soon after he was named the host by the Academy, due to several anti-gay comments he made on Twitter in 2010 and 2011. Now with the night only about six weeks away, it is difficult to find a host to take over the job. Kevin Hart also ruled out the possibility of returning as the host for this year's event, as is reported by Reuters, since he no longer had enough time to prepare for the show. It was only days after saying he was evaluating his December decision to step down over criticism of past homophobic comments. "I'm over it," he repeatedly told ABC's "Good Morning America." Hart apologized to the LGBTQ community last month for "insensitive words from my past." In his tweet where he officially declined the role, the comedian said he chose to pass on the opportunity because he does not want "to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists." While attending Ellen DeGeneres' talk show, Hart said he does not "have a homophobic bone in my body." The Academy will hand out the Oscar awards on February 24 this year in Los Angeles. Lockport, NY (14094) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 69F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 47F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. The passing last week of Herbert D. Kelleher, the co-founder of Southwest Airlines, has spawned one of the greatest outpourings of praise and fond memories of a business leader any of us may ever see again. Mr. Kelleher almost no one actually called him that was just plain Herb to friends, employees, competitors and even to journalists who were supposed to keep any personal feelings about those they wrote about to themselves. That kind of reserve instantly melted the moment you met Herb, always joking and laughing, making the visitor feel comfortable and never coming across the way some corporate executives do: puffed up, acting like the smartest guy in the room. In fact, Herb usually was the smartest guy in the room. But as an airline reporter looking back at three decades of Herbs exploits, one word characterizes the man and his legacy: love. If Herb had not had such a strong love for both people and hard work, he could not have inspired Southwests employees to pour their hearts into a company that is not only perennially profitable but also makes its customers love it back. Herbs love affair with life and those around him started long before Southwest established its headquarters at Dallas Love Field in the 1970s and adopted LUV as its New York Stock Exchange trading symbol. Herb, a San Antonio lawyer at the time, and businessman Rollin King may have first sketched out the concept of Southwest one evening in the 1960s in the St. Anthony Hotel bar. But the seeds for what kind of company it would become were planted 25 years earlier in the suburbs of Philadelphia. By the start of World War II, Herbs three older siblings had left home. His father, Harry Kelleher, died in 1943, leaving him alone as a high school student in Haddon Heights, N.J., with his mother, Ruth. In an interview with me for the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003, Herb described his mother as a wonderful person, an egalitarian who had no use for the high-born. In talks that would last long into the night, Herb said, Ruth taught him that everyone, no matter who their parents were, where they were from or where they were educated, deserved to be treated with dignity and respect. And that, he said, was the philosophical underpinning for running Southwest. Of course, the business model Southwest perfected flying only one type of jet, having no reserved seats yet one of the less-chaotic boarding processes, a low simplified fare structure, no fees for the first two checked bags, no ridiculous penalties for changing the day or time of a ticket is the foundation of its financial success. And no one outworked Herb at sticking to the model and never losing sight of delivering value to shareholders, which includes all its employees. But Herbs influence over the airline created something else, something beyond turning the little company from Texas into the peoples airline, flying more passengers annually than any other. He created Ruth Kellehers egalitarian workplace which, by the way, is largely unionized where people like what they do, are appreciated by the company and are paid accordingly. Those people in turn treat customers with dignity and respect, committing random acts of kindness every day that are as natural for them as breathing. It is precisely that corporate culture that sets Southwest apart from the rest of its industry. Many other airlines provide a safe, relatively high-quality product, yet they struggle to be respected or even liked as much as Herbs airline is. Tom Belden is a San Antonio freelance journalist who has written about transportation since 1977. An exhibition of Shao Fan's artworks at Suzhou Museum is giving visitors a chance to view his philosophy, Lin Qi reports. French painter Georges Rouault (1871-1958) was once asked by a student if he would continue to paint just for himself in a scenario of being banished to a deserted island where his paintings did not find a second viewer. Rouault said, of course he would, because he painted to communicate with his soul. Chinese artist Shao Fan shares this sentiment. Over the past three decades, the 54-year-old Beijing native has kept a low profile, focusing on painting and designing, while many of his peers have actively engaged with the market to gain public exposure even at the expense of creativity. Shao's paintings are often about a single subject against a spacious background that transmits an otherworldliness or perhaps a solitary feeling. Authorities found the body of 8-month-old King Jay Davila wrapped in a blanket and buried in a backpack on San Antonio's Northeast Side, according to court records. The affidavit says Christopher Davila, the boy's father, led police to the burial site, located at a dead end near Castle Lance and Castle Prince, less than a mile from Davila's home. He is now charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission, a 1st-degree felony, along with felon in possession of a firearm, drug possession and tampering with evidence. His bail has been set at $1.25 million. The discovery caps a week-long search for the missing child that captivated the city. It began with Davila calling police to claim the baby was inside a car that had been stolen from a San Antonio gas station -- a claim police said they almost immediately doubted. Finding King Jay, however, is not the end of this investigation, McManus said. "This is not the finish line, in fact, the hard part of the investigation is just beginning," he said. "The investigation won't be finished until we can answer how exactly King Jay died, who knew it, and when they knew it." FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox According to an arrest affidavit, Davila, 34, told police he had been playing video games on Jan. 3 while King Jay sat in a car seat on a bed in his room. At some point, the car seat fell over, sending King Jay to the floor. Davila indicated the boy might have hit his head on a dresser on the way down. Rather than seek medical attention for the boy, Davila apparently waited for several hours, then checked on King Jay and discovered he was dead, according to the affidavit. "He said King Jay's death was an accident," San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said at a Friday morning press conference. "He panicked and did not call 911." ON EXPRESS-NEWS.COM: Asked where missing San Antonio child is, grandfather says: 'Only God knows.' Instead, he enlisted the help of his mother, Beatrice Sampayo, and his cousin, Angie Torres, to cover up King Jay's death by faking the kidnapping, officials said. McManus said he and investigations noticed inconsistencies almost right away and continued to pull at those threads until the story came apart. "When (Davila's) story started to unravel...it's when he broke down," McManus said. "His story weakened and he figured he wasn't going to get away with it." Torres and Sampayo are facing charges of tampering with evidence, but investigators have requested arrest warrants for the two women on charges of injury to a child. An autopsy on King Jay will likely be conducted today. McManus and newly installed DA Joe Gonzales said they will continue the investigation and additional arrests and charges are possible. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | cdowns@mysa.com | @calebjdowns A federal judge has denied a request from a San Antonio real estate agent to intervene in a lawsuit the government filed to seize properties here worth more than $6 million. Federal authorities claim the four homes in an affluent Northeast Side subdivision and other property were bought with money embezzled by a former governor of the Mexican state of Aguascalientes. Ruben Solis, who with his wife owns Unique and Distinctive Homes Inc., filed a motion in late December to intervene in the 5-year-old forfeiture lawsuit. In addition to the homes, the government seized a pair of vacant land parcels west of town and commercial office space on the North Side. Solis was the buyers agent on the four homes for Luis Armando Reynoso Lopez, the son of Luis Armando Reynoso Femat, who was governor of the central Mexican state of Aguascalientes from 2004 to 2010. U.S. federal agents had been investigating Reynoso Femat over allegations that he sent $5.5 million he embezzled from Aguascalientes to U.S. banks so his son could use it to purchase the real estate here, court records show. Solis was also the agent for the sellers of the vacant lots and the commercial property. As part of a deal so Reynoso Lopez would buy those three properties, Solis agreed to discount their price by deferring his 7 percent commission, in exchange for a 7.32 percent owner/investor interest in the future, according to court records. Reynoso Lopez and Solis formed a limited partnership, R&S Investments International LP, with Solis having a 7.32 percent ownership interest. The three properties, which were bought in 2009, were not put in R&S name until 2017. The suit was filed in 2014. Solis court motion said neither he nor his company, UDH, had any idea there was civil litigation over the properties until informed of the pending settlement by Reynoso Lopezs lawyer, David Dilley, in late November. The motion aimed to protect Solis and UDHs interest in those three properties only. But it came after the feds and Dilley told Senior U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth on Dec. 11 that they had reached a settlement in principle, which may involve the sale of all seven properties and the division of the proceeds. In a ruling late Wednesday, Lamberth said the request from Solis and UDH because it came very late in the litigation and would prejudice and undermine settlement negotiations. The ruling said Solis and UDH should have known much earlier about the litigation because federal agents questioned Solis in 2015 about the properties and his partnership with Reynoso Lopez. Also, had they checked public records, they would have found the feds put civil liens on the properties. The Express-News also published stories about the suit and allegations, the ruling noted. Messages seeking comment were left Thursday for Solis at UDH and their lawyer, Clint Buck. Whether or not intervenors knew specifically that a forfeiture action had commenced, they at least knew that Mr. Reynoso Lopez and the properties were part of an investigation by law enforcement and potentially at risk, Lamberth wrote. Yet, instead of taking any affirmative steps to try to determine whether their interest in the properties through R&S LP was in danger, it appears intervenors adopted an ignorance-is-bliss mentality. The judge noted his ruling doesnt leave Solis without recourse to recover his cut because he had a contract with Reynoso Lopez. Defense lawyer Dilley has said Solis cut would come out of the final settlement. The ruling allows the settlement negotiations to proceed. The U.S. criminal investigation, meanwhile, appears to have dwindled as Reynoso Femat was sentenced in 2017 in his own country to more than six years in prison for embezzlement. U.S. prosecutors never have charged anyone criminally in the case. Dilley said U.S. prosecutors have acknowledged that they closed their criminal investigation against his client, Reynoso Lopez. He said Reynoso Lopez denies any wrongdoing and maintains he bought the properties with money from legitimate sources. Reynoso Femat has not filed any claims to the properties nor responded to the allegations here. He was sentenced in 2017 to more than six years in prison in his own country for embezzlement, but later was released on appeal. Guillermo Contreras covers federal court and immigration news in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland When I say America, its Canada all the way to South America. Being that you have indigenous blood in you you have more right to be here than me! Because youre indigenous already. Its your country first, he continued. McAllen,Texas Taking the shutdown fight to the Mexican border, President Donald Trump edged closer Thursday to declaring a national emergency in an extraordinary end run around Congress to fund his long-promised border wall. Pressure was mounting to find an escape hatch from the three-week impasse that has closed parts of the government, cutting scattered services and leaving hundreds of thousands of workers without pay. Trump, visiting McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande to highlight what he says is a crisis of drugs and crime, said that "if for any reason we don't get this going" an agreement with House Democrats who have refused to approve the $5.7 billion he demands for the wall "I will declare a national emergency." Some 800,000 workers, more than half of them still on the job, were to miss their first paycheck on Friday under the stoppage, and Washington was close to setting a dubious record for the longest government shutdown in the nation's history. Those markers along with growing effects to national parks, food inspections and the economy overall left some Republicans on Capitol Hill increasingly uncomfortable with Trump's demands. Asked about the plight of those going without pay, the president shifted the focus, saying he felt badly "for people that have family members that have been killed" by criminals who came over the border. Trump was consulting with White House attorneys and allies about using presidential emergency powers to take unilateral action to construct the wall over the objections of Congress. He claimed his lawyers told him the action would withstand legal scrutiny "100 percent." But such a move to bypass Congress' constitutional control of the nation's purse strings would spark certain legal challenges and bipartisan cries of executive overreach. "We're either going to have a win, make a compromise because I think a compromise is a win for everybody or I will declare a national emergency," Trump said before departing the White House for his politically flavored visit to the border. He wore his campaign-slogan "Make America Great Again" cap throughout. It was not clear what a compromise might entail, and there were no indications that one was in the offing. Trump says he won't reopen the government without money for the wall. Democrats say they favor measures to bolster border security but oppose the long, impregnable barrier that Trump envisions. No negotiations were taking place at the Capitol. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said at one point that he didn't "see a path in Congress" to end the shutdown, then stated later that enough was enough: "It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier." Visiting a border patrol station in McAllen, Trump viewed tables piled with weapons and narcotics. Like nearly all drugs trafficked across the border, they were intercepted by agents at official ports of entry, he was told, and not in the remote areas where he wants to extend tall barriers. Still, he declared, "A wall works. ... Nothing like a wall." He argued that the U.S. can't solve the problem without a "very substantial barrier" along the border, but offered exaggerations about the effectiveness of border walls and current apprehensions of those crossing illegally. Sitting among border patrol officers, state and local officials and military representatives, Trump insisted he was "winning" the shutdown fight and criticized Democrats for asserting he was manufacturing a sense of crisis in order to declare an emergency. As he arrived in Texas, several hundred protesters near the airport in McAllen chanted and waved signs opposing a wall. Across the street, a smaller group chanted back: "Build that wall!" In Washington, federal workers denounced Trump at a rally with congressional Democrats, demanding he reopen the government so they can get back to work. On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the president of engaging in political games to fire up his most loyal supporters, suggesting that a heated meeting Wednesday with legislators at the White House had been "a setup" so that Trump could walk out of it. The partial shutdown would set a record early Saturday, stretching beyond the 21-day closure that ended on Jan 6, 1996, during President Bill Clinton's administration. A woman was taken into custody Thursday following a traffic stop where authorities say she fled and once in custody bribed a trooper with money to avoid arrest. Hailey Marie Akin, 22, of Conroe, was charged with a felony for evading arrest with a vehicle and misdemeanors for bribery and driving while intoxicated second offense. Akin fled as a trooper approached her vehicle during a traffic stop on Interstate 45 northbound at River Plantation Drive, Texas DPS Sgt. Erik Burse said. The Friday Quickly is a veritable cornucopia of information that provides the solution to the twin disasters of the government shut down and the boondoggle that is a border wall. Using the sage advice of the United States Coast Guard and the minority of American (63 million) people that voted for Donald Trump, we can have a bake sale to fund the wall and reopen the United States Government. We only need $90.63 per Trump voter to get $5.71 billion dollars for his wall. That is the equivalent of selling one box of Girl Scout Cookies each day for one month. Trump and his minions get their wall, 800,000 government workers go back on the payroll, and a million of Americans get a sugar high. WIN WIN WIN WASHINGTON - After an intense lobbying campaign by the mortgage industry, the Treasury Department this week restarted a program that had been sidelined by the partial government shutdown, allowing hundreds of Internal Revenue Service clerks to collect paychecks as they process forms vital to the lending industry. The hasty intervention to restore the IRS' income verification service by drawing on revenue from fees - even as 800,000 federal employees across the country are going without their salaries - has intensified questions about the Trump administration's unorthodox efforts to bring certain government functions back online to contain the shutdown's impacts. Critics, including many former IRS officials, described the move as an act of favoritism to ease the burden on a powerful industry. "It seems crazy to me that a powerful bank or lobby gets to bring their people back to do their work," said Marvin Friedlander, who served as a senior IRS official in the mid-2000s. "How about the normal slob who can't even pay his rent?" Administration officials said they are simply seeking to minimize the harm caused to the public by the budget standoff, which on Saturday will become the longest in modern U.S. history. Because of the shutdown, the IRS was unable to process a key form that lenders use to confirm borrowers' incomes before they can grant home loans - a roadblock that threatened to bring the mortgage industry to a halt. The IRS said it was able to restart the program by using fees paid by companies that provide the transcripts to lenders. "We were advised by various parties that the shutdown of [the program] was creating significant issues for certain borrowers," the Treasury Department said in a statement. "We are pleased to help taxpayers by ensuring this service continues despite the lapse." Craig Phillips, a counselor to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, was among the officials who heard the concerns of the mortgage industry directly, but he said in an email to The Washington Post, "This action was not taken to benefit the industry. It benefits the consumers that have made loan applications." The IRS clerks, who are paid $13-$18 an hour, process 400,000 tax transcripts a week - helping potential home buyers verify their incomes and the $1.3 trillion mortgage banking industry earn millions of dollars in fees. The effort to restart the processing of those transcripts came after direct appeals by the trade association that represents credit reporting companies and top mortgage industry officials. The lobbying was led by Robert Broeksmit, chief executive of the Mortgage Bankers Association, who took the matter to Phillips, Mnuchin's senior adviser. "I said, 'Look, this is starting to be a problem for the lending industry,' " Broeksmit said. His group, one of the most influential trade associations in Washington, represents 2,300 mortgage companies, brokers, commercial banks and other financial institutions. Broeksmit said he asked whether the IRS clerks could come back to work, saying: "Could you make these guys essential?" Phillips declined to comment on their exchange. The answer came the next day, Broeksmit said: The IRS employees would be called back to work. After hearing concerns that the program had gone dark, top Treasury officials called senior officials at the White House Office and Management and Budget to consult on a solution, according to people familiar with the discussions. On Monday, 400 furloughed IRS clerks in Fresno, California, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Missouri, and Ogden, Utah, were called back to work, according to employees and union officials. "I'd like to take some credit," Broeksmit said, adding: "Our direct request got quite rapid results." Unlike the vast majority of the 420,000 federal employees who have been required to work during the shutdown because they are essential to national security or public safety - among them airport screeners, food inspectors and Border Patrol agents - the IRS clerks are being paid, to their surprise. Their salaries - normally funded by congressional appropriations - are being financed by industry user fees, an unorthodox strategy that the administration is also using to put some National Park Service employees back on the job. Some legal experts questioned the IRS maneuver. "They're only allowed to keep open essential activities, and processing mortgage applications is valuable and appreciated, but do not rank with air traffic controllers," said Charles Tiefer, a former deputy general counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives. "The administration is playing fast and loose with the shutdown to prevent it from becoming unpopular with their own base." Tiefer, a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, said he believed the Trump administration would lose a lawsuit on the issue if someone could find standing to bring a case, which he said was unlikely. The Office of Management and Budget approved shifting the fees to the IRS's salary account because those funds are designated for a variety of agency operations, a senior administration official said. In announcing the return of IRS employees who process the tax transcripts, the IRS also said it was restarting other fee-based services, including one that provides letters certifying residency for taxpayers in the United States. "There's nothing unusual about it, because the account has this flexibility," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions. "We are doing whatever we can, consistent with the law, to keep government programs running as long as possible under the lapse." Some agreed, saying the IRS, unlike other federal agencies, has broad leeway. "It appears that the IRS has quite a bit of legal flexibility to use money it raises from user fees," said Timothy Westmoreland, a professor at Georgetown Law who has studied federal budgets and legislation. "I can't say for sure, but it looks like there's legal ground for this." Still, some former IRS officials called the workaround a handout to an influential interest group. "How do you justify that?" said John Koskinen, who served as IRS commissioner from 2013 to 2017. "There are a lot of things that are inconvenient for people to have. It's about the law. You can't incur obligations or take actions unless you're protecting life or property." In recent days, the Trump administration has sought ways to keep some government services going as the shutdown has dragged on, directing furloughed employees to extend food stamp benefits, provide flood insurance, maintain parks and reinstate other services that were prohibited during past shutdowns. "Every time you turn the corner around here, they are finding another way to somehow appease their pressure points by finding these gimmicks," said William Hoagland, who was Republican staff director for the Senate Budget Committee during a shutdown in the 1990s. Under federal law, the government is not allowed to spend money that has not been appropriated by Congress, and agencies are allowed to retain only employees who perform essential functions critical to public health or national security. That means the IRS has been largely shuttered. The tax agency sent home about 90 percent of its workforce without pay. Call centers used by taxpayers across the country are closed. Audits have been halted, according to the agency's shutdown contingency plan. There's no training for thousands of employees to prepare for this year's tax filing season, which is expected to be particularly complicated as the new tax law fully takes effect. This week, the administration announced it would bring back furloughed employees who process early tax refunds, but they are not being paid. The IRS' contingency plan, which was updated in December, requires staffers in the income verification program to be furloughed in the event of a shutdown, as they were during a similar 2013 budget impasse. One employee who was told to come in said the agency was bending the rules. "I don't feel like this is a national security issue or falls into any of the guidelines of operating under a government shutdown," said the clerk, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation for speaking out. "It's just wrong," the clerk added. "If the American people knew that a small group of people was getting paid just to benefit big corporations, I think they'd be pretty mad." Shannon Ellis, president of Local 66 of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents 4,300 IRS employees in Kansas City, said she was "happy our employees are getting paid," but noted "this one little area is the only area in the agency where it's happening." Across the industry, there was relief that the transcripts were moving again. Leonard Ryan, founder and president of the mortgage compliance firm QuestSoft, said his company would have had to lay employees off without a fix. "We had a severe backlog - now it's down to two days," Ryan said. "It's kind of amazing what they've done to get back up. . . . They've figured a workaround - but that's what the mortgage industry does." Broeksmit said he was hours into his Christmas week beach vacation when he began getting emails on his phone from members of his mortgage bank trade group nervous about the closing down of the tax transcript program. Back in Washington, Broeksmit said, he took the matter up directly with someone he knows well at Treasury who serves as a senior adviser Mnuchin. He declined to name the official, but the Treasury Department confirmed it was Phillips, the liaison to the banking industry. Boeksmit said Treasury officials were not aware that the IRS' closure was causing problems for mortgage lenders, in part because tax transcripts are now required far more often than before the recession. Members of the Mortgage Bankers Association originate the vast majority of loans in the real estate financial market, valued last year at $1.6 trillion. The group spent $2.2 million on lobbying in 2018, according to lobbying records filed with the House Clerk's Office. Broeksmit was not the only one in the industry to lobby the Trump administration to get the program restarted. Top Treasury and IRS officials also heard from the Consumer Data Industry Association, which represents credit reporting companies, according to one of the group's members. "We are communicating with multiple federal agencies during the shutdown to make them aware of issues negatively impacting consumers and our customers," Jacob Hawkins, a spokesman for the credit rating agency Equifax, which buys transcripts from the IRS to provide to lenders, said in an email. Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., a member of the House Oversight Committee, said he is likely to seek an investigation into why the IRS restarted the tax-transcript program: "We now have government by carve-out, and the carve-outs are apparently determined by how powerful and influential you are." --- The Washington Post's Anu Narayanswamy and Damian Paletta contributed to this story. An older woman used hand sanitizer to disinfect her entire seat, tray table, and armrest (or so she thought, anyway). An overweight man oozed from his seat into the one next to him, causing a female passenger to sigh and pretend their bodies were not touching. A young girl chomped away loudly on a piece of gum that didnt stand a chance. WASHINGTON - Before Corey Soignet had hundreds of lives in his hands, hour after hour, in the airspace above Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, he spent years guiding military aircraft. He had joined the Air National Guard with an eye toward becoming a pilot, but he found being an air traffic controller such meaningful work that he made it his career. He's learned the "hyperfocus" needed to help guide aircraft through night skies and brutal storms. On Thursday, Soignet - with 22 years of experience working for the military and Federal Aviation Administration - got a look at his wages for the past two weeks of work helping keep U.S. skies and travelers safe. His net pay? $0.00. As one of the hundreds of thousands of federal employees working without pay during the government shutdown, Soignet knew it was coming, but it was jarring nonetheless. "In all that public service, this is the first time I've received a pay stub with zero on it for work completed," Soignet said. And there's no sign of when that will change. "Now I don't know how much I can put toward that credit card. Do I pay half my water bill? Do I have enough money for 30 days or 60 days or six months? You can't ask people to budget like that." It was an experience shared by air traffic controllers across the country, who visited employeeexpress.gov to find their latest payroll updates. There, along with the mundane health and withholding information on their Department of Transportation Earnings and Leave Statement is a small box with the words "Net Pay" highlighted in blue. And under it: "$0.00". Most federal employees are paid every two weeks. This is the first payday without a check for air traffic controllers. More than 24,000 FAA employees are working without pay, since their positions are considered vital for "life and safety." Another more than 17,000 have been furloughed, told to stop doing their jobs, including the vital training work to bring air traffic controllers into the workforce after years of retirements have thinned the ranks. Air traffic controllers describe an extraordinary pride in their work, tied to the stakes of what they do. Soignet says he thinks of his family flying. "It has to be the right decision at the right time. If it's a bad decision, the risks are tremendous," he says. So when he puts on his headphones, even after the deeply discouraging image of an earnings statement without earnings, he said he will not let his mind wander to questions about cash. But it will haunt his crucial rebuilding time when he's home, he said. "You're taking that time you can decompress and now there's another external factor: When am I going to get paid?" Soignet said. "It puts a tremendous amount of stress in a system that doesn't need any more stress," said Andrew LeBovidge, a regional vice president with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Soignet, who also serves in the controllers union, said there are many federal employees who are worse off than his family, since his wife's income will help cushion them for some time. But he thinks of the single-parent controllers who live on one now-absent income, or the Transportation Security Administration workers at the airport he saw on his way to press the controllers case in Washington. Many of those TSA employees earn less than air traffic controllers but also must still work, he said. He's put money aside for years. But with spending on a relocation, medical bills and life expenses, "I don't have savings for six months of my income," Soignet said. With President Donald Trump insisting on billions of dollars for a border wall, and top congressional Democrats voting to reopen the government without it, Washington remains at an impasse. Soignet would not publicly take a position on that question, or say who he thinks deserves blame. "When it comes to border security, it's a discussion that needs to be had. But federal employees shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip," he said. Michael Minasi/Photographer The 2-year-old child of a Montgomery County Sheriff's Office deputy was shot at home near Conroe on Thursday, police said. The child was rushed to Montgomery Fire Station 53 along Walden Road around 6 p.m. after being shot, according to Texas DPS Sgt. Erik Burse. The toddler is expected to be OK. Juan David Ortiz, the Border Patrol agent accused of killing four women and assaulting another in September, pleaded not guilty Thursday to capital murder and other charges during his arraignment hearing. Texas law says that a defendant in a capital felony case in which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty cannot waive a trial by jury. With his hands and feet shackled and led by three sheriff's deputies, Ortiz was on his way back out of the courtroom when Cristina Benavides, mother of Melissa Ramirez, who was found slain Sept. 3, yelled out in Spanish, "Maldito asesino!" READ ALSO: Laredo Border Patrol agent indicted on capital murder charge, DA to seek death penalty "Maldito" means damned or an evil person. "Asesino" means assassin. The packed courtroom filled with a tense silence as a bailiff called for order in the court. "Mr. Ortiz is presumed innocent at this time," Joel Perez, Ortiz's new San Antonio-based attorney, said after the hearing. "He has the right to demand that the state prove each and every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. He has a right to a fair trial with a jury of his peers." Perez made an oral motion to request San Antonio attorney Raymond E. Fuchs as a second chair in his defense team. Perez said he and Fuchs have worked together on similar death penalty cases. 406th District Court Judge Oscar J. Hale Jr. set an initial pre-trial hearing for April 25. A second pre-trial hearing was set for Oct. 3. "Typically, all other criminal cases have an informal conference," Hale said. "I don't want to have an informal for this one. I think everything needs to be on the record." Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz attended Ortiz's arraignment hearing. "(Ortiz) is considered to be innocent until we are able to prove through competent evidence that he is in fact guilty of these charges," Alaniz said. "If he is found guilty by the jury, then we will proceed through the punishment where we will be seeking the death penalty." Since this is a complicated case, Alaniz said it might not go to trial until 2020. "We still haven't received ballistic reports," he said. "(The evidence) has been preserved all this time, but we will slowly start to see the scientific and forensic evidence getting tested and turned over to the defense." Perez said he is only beginning to get acquainted with the case. READ ALSO: Things to know about the alleged Border Patrol serial killer "I don't know any of the facts other than what is in the media," Perez said. "Every case is different. I've handled many cases like this one. Each case is unique. I don't want to begin guessing about the defense without having all of the information. I've spoken with Mr. Alaniz and he is going to start giving me documents as soon as possible." Ortiz was indicted in December on one count of capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint and evading arrest. The assault and unlawful restraint charges stem from Ortiz allegedly pointing a gun a woman in his pickup truck. The woman, Erika Pena, escaped from the vehicle and notified a nearby Texas trooper, law enforcement said. Following his arrest Sept. 15, Ortiz confessed to killing Ramirez, 29, Claudine Luera, 42, Griselda Alicia Hernandez, 35, and Nikki Enriquez, 28, over a 12-day period, according to an affidavit filed by law enforcement. Authorities said the four victims were sex workers. Ortiz would pick them up on San Bernardo Avenue, drive them outside city limits and shoot them in the head, according to court records. Alaniz has said Ortiz told investigators he was "doing a service" by killing the women and that he didn't think law enforcement was doing enough to curb prostitution. Ortiz remains behind bars, held on a $2.5 million bond. Colette Mireles, Luera's youngest sister, said Thursday she keeps in contact with Benavides, Melissa Ramirez's mother. "I try to lift her spirits and letting her know that justice will prevail," Mireles said. Seeing Benavides cry out in court was heartbreaking, Mireles said. She said she can only imagine the pain a mother feels in losing her daughter in the way that it happened. RELATED: 'I'm dumbfounded:' Border Patrol agent's alleged killings stun city leaders, officials "Because just knowing they suffered, that hurts the most," Mireles said. Mireles and her family have been through a roller coaster ride of emotions. "When everything happened, we were trying to process it being that it was a Border Patrol agent (arrested in connection with this crime)," she said. "I felt bad for him. But these last two court dates that I've been present at, he shows no remorse," Mireles added. Attending the hearings pushes Mireles to want justice even more, not only her sister, but for the other families and the other women, she said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Maria Salas may be reached at 728-2580 or msalas@lmtonline.com It is unacceptable that the political leadership does not exist to find common ground so that basic government operations can fully and effectively be provided for the benefit of all Americans, he said in a statement. Can they be used to create a school police force, put up traffic gates or barriers, purchase airport type scanners, cameras, etc., he said. Can we hire more counselors, mental health therapists and social workers to provide supports to children in our schools. Furthermore, after running two referendums locally, there is a cost to running a referendum campaign to educate the public on what the school district would do with those referendum monies and how those monies would make schools safer. Adele By Leila Slimani Penguin Books. 204 pp. Paperback, $16 --- Here is a window into how the world of book publishing works: Last fall, while on book tour, I received a note from an editor at Penguin Books asking if I might read a forthcoming novel and, if I liked it, provide an endorsement (or, in common parlance, a "blurb".) I said I would take a look. An advance copy of Leila Slimani's "Adele" arrived three days later, along with a prospective deadline to deliver the endorsement. I was excited to read "Adele." I'd read and enjoyed "The Perfect Nanny," which was published in the United States last year. "Nanny"had captured the imagination of so many for its spare writing and merciless observations, as well as for the stark subject matter, starting with a dead baby and touching on race, class and gender divides. I thought - I hoped - "Adele," Slimani's first novel, which was published in French in 2015 and won Morocco's Prix La Mamounia, might be similarly enjoyable. The premise, about a married woman in the grips of extramarital sexual compulsion, squarely fit within the parameters of the dark crime stories I most like to read. A few pages in, I knew I would not send in a blurb for "Adele." I kept reading, in hopes my mind would change, but it did not. I could not endorse a novel I so disliked. A few months later, I wonder at the roots of this response. My standard rejoinder, when asked if I don't like a book, is that it's "not to my taste." Slimani's novel, however, took me somewhere deeper, more primal. This was no cerebral reaction, but a visceral one. Compare "The baby is dead," the first line of "The Perfect Nanny," with "Adele has been good", the first line of "Adele." The former is a stunner, a system shock. Why is the baby dead? How did the baby die? It's so plainly stated. Of course you want to know more. The latter, however, is more passive. It stops the narrative. It invites a response of, "so what?" because the reader has no context to care why this woman was bad, or if she was bad, or why her emotions even matter. The opening is unfortunately a harbinger of what ails the rest of this novel. We are expected to believe that a person like Adele - outwardly successful, with her marriage to a well-to-do surgeon husband, an ascendant career in journalism, adorable children - has an inward void that can only be slaked, temporarily, by random sexual encounters. This dichotomy is meant to be transgressive, all the more for the lack of explanation for Adele's extramarital desires. It's not. The encounters, as they accumulate, grow tedious. Perhaps this is Slimani's point, that sex won't solve problems, that indulging in base desires can make you miserable. If so, it's a point made countless times before in fiction (and in memoir) with far more emotionally resonant results. Adele glides through the narrative on a numb-inducing wave, the kind far better executed in Pauline Reage's "The Story of O" or Elizabeth McNeill's "Nine and a Half Weeks" or the complete works of Anais Nin. Adele isn't likable, but that's also irrelevant. She's barely a character, so there is little for the reader to react to. Worse, all the other characters - her husband to her children, a paramour who can't stay casual - are paper-thin constructs. Reading "Adele" - such a far cry from "The Perfect Nanny" - was like being in the middle of a blocking exercise in a play rehearsal. Move her here, move him there, see what happens, if anything happens at all. I'm all for novels that transport me somewhere surprising and fresh - and someplace erotic certainly counts. Sexual congress reveals so much about character, whether rooted in romance, hatred, awkwardness, even humor. There is nothing more thrilling than when a writer, through her unique voice and sentences, gets at deep emotional truths through the connection of two humans with their hearts, minds and bodies. Pleasure in text transforms to pleasure in the reader's mind, and that's empowering, though often equally discomfiting. Immediately upon finishing "Adele," I put the book down, picked up "Nine and a Half Weeks" and reread it for the dozenth time. Then I promptly reread "The Perfect Nanny" to see if my opinion of that novel had diminished. It had not. Perhaps, in time, readers will see "The Perfect Nanny" as Slimani's actual first effort, and forget "Adele" existed. --- Weinman is the author of "The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel that Scandalized the World" and the editor of the "Women Crime Writers" series. The Great War in America: World War I and its Aftermath By Garrett Peck Pegasus. 432 pp. $29.95 --- World War I fundamentally reshaped America's sense of itself and its relation to the world; it also helped form our modern understanding of citizenship, democracy and the role of the state. But in the American popular imagination, the war is a blank, a situation without a story. President Trump's decision not to attend a wreath-laying at the Aisne-Marne cemetery on the 100th anniversary of the armistice may have met with fierce criticism, but it's undeniable that the centenary passed in the United States with far less ceremony or public reckoning than in the other combatant nations. Now that this landmark has come and gone, World War I is poised to recede again into its vague mist of sacrifice and service, a European fight that matters only as the prelude to World War II. Any American history of World War I published today therefore has not just an opportunity but an obligation to help readers understand what happened and why it matters. Garrett Peck, in his concise new history, "The Great War in America," makes a decent attempt at the first task but unfortunately fails badly at the second. The book gives us a serviceable trot through the buildup to war, the long controversy over America's involvement, the mobilization and fighting, and the disastrous peace process. But there's little in the way of analysis or judgment. The story traces America's journey from geopolitical isolation to engagement and back to a more committed isolation - a retrenchment that, like Woodrow Wilson, Peck considers a mistake (although he makes that case only tentatively). Along the way, Peck shares plenty of details worthy of their own histories: the tale of Herbert Hoover's extraordinary relief efforts on behalf of Belgian refugees; the German sabotage of the munitions depot at Black Tom Island in New Jersey, which shattered windows in Brooklyn and damaged the Statue of Liberty; and the Anti-Saloon League's campaign to capitalize on wartime anti-German (and hence anti-brewer) prejudice to shove through its fundamentalist version of Prohibition. But amid a parade of other facts, these details too often feel included but not incorporated, their significance hard to judge. The overall sense is of the war as a mass of coincidence rather than one with clear causations. Peck is a member of the advisory council at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington (D.C.), and he takes pains to clarify that his book is neither a biography of Wilson nor a defense of the man's politics and policies. But as any historian of America in World War I well knows, neutrality is a difficult and delicate balance to hold. In his introduction, Peck describes how a Facebook friend "chimed in dismissively" on his project with the judgment that Wilson was "a bigot and a racist," a comment that Peck calls "playing the race card" - a dismissal of its own and a much less forgivable one. Wilson's racism was far from unique for his time. But to present it as a character flaw and not a worldview prevents an honest reckoning with his legacy as a whole, including the parts that Peck admires: his idealism and his commitment to peace and a world "made safe for democracy." Peck quotes Wilson, in early 1917, telling his private adviser Edward House, "We are the only one of the great white nations that is free from war today, and it would be a crime against civilization for us to go in," and a few pages later warning his Cabinet that "getting involved in the war would weaken the white race, in particular against the 'yellow race' like the Japanese" - but he merely calls this latter statement of Wilson's "rather surprising." It is no more surprising than Wilson's refusal to meet with William Monroe Trotter, a black civil rights activist, after giving what Peck calls his "Gettysburg Address" at the Suresnes military cemetery in May 1919. It is the historian's responsibility to connect these dots, to interrogate what "civilization" and "peace" mean to a man for whom "greatness" and "whiteness" are so self-evidently intertwined. Domestically, World War I represented a prolonged test of what constituted American citizenship and patriotic loyalty, and the country's entry into it on the side of the Allies was by no means certain. German Americans were the largest ethnic group in the United States before the war, and Irish Americans were likewise no supporters of the British. The specter of divided loyalties loomed over American attitudes toward the war, leading Teddy Roosevelt to denounce what he called "hyphenates," those whose ethnic identities made them unreliable citizen-subjects. Wilson later adopted the same rhetoric, exposing the vicious undercurrent of the assimilation sunnily encouraged in wartime propaganda, which presented military service as a way of erasing one's troublesome ethnic origins and becoming securely American. World War I saw Americans struggling more profoundly than at any time since the Civil War with the question of who they were - and who they were not. That struggle reverberated in numerous arenas, including the victorious fight for women's suffrage. But it also spurred a crackdown on dissent that targeted German Americans, labor organizers, radicals and socialists, many of them Jewish, and that vastly expanded the state's power over the lives of its citizens. It helped drive the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan and the vicious racial violence that flared nationwide as African-American servicemen returned home. The battle to define American-ness in expansive and inclusive terms is as urgent now as it was a century ago. It deserves to be central to any analysis of what World War I means, then and now, to a country that prefers not to think about it. --- Scutts, a literary critic and cultural historian, is the author of "The Extra Woman: How Marjorie Hillis Led a Generation of Women to Live Alone and Like It." The Dreamers By Karen Thompson Walker Random House. 320 pp. $27 --- To Herodotus and Homer, dreams were divine prophesies to be interpreted by priests. Then psychoanalysts saw them as the quickest route to the unconscious. Now, science tells us that our reveries are more or less meaningless - a kitchen junk drawer, the brain's information-dump at the end of the day. In "The Dreamers," Karen Thompson Walker's second novel, dreams are something else entirely - both more dangerous and more powerful than the Greeks could have ever imagined. These augmented dreams are the result of a sleeping epidemic that starts in the fictional college town of Santa Lora, in California, then quickly spreads. It starts on an ordinary dormitory floor: A few weeks into the fall semester, a girl fails to wake up after a night of drinking. Her roommate, the painfully shy 18-year-old Mei, becomes a dorm pariah for failing to roust her before she slips into fatal unconsciousness. But this isn't a mere case of hitting snooze. Soon another student falls into a permanent sleep, and another and another, until the students remaining on the floor - including Mei - are quarantined in a nearby gymnasium. Doctors rushed in to examine the patients find them with eyelids fluttering, a sign of REM sleep. They're dreaming, but not the way people typically do. Something incredible is happening: "There is more activity in these minds than has ever been recorded in any human brain - awake or asleep." Yet the essence of the dreams remains locked inside the brains of the comatose patients. The virus inevitably spreads, felling the town's citizens as they relay the sickness through the ordinary contact of everyday life - touch, breath, proximity. The interconnectedness that is so essential to being part of a community also makes the townspeople fatally vulnerable. "This is how the sickness travels best: through all the same channels as do fondness and friendship and love," Walker writes. Walker's last novel, the best-selling "Age of Miracles," featured similarly apocalyptic themes. Its protagonist was a young girl living in a future dystopia triggered by the slowing of Earth's rotation, which wreaked havoc on the planet in unforeseen ways. Walker's omniscient narrator follows several sets of people weathering the crisis in Santa Lora, including Mei, who is the heart of the book. There is also a young academic couple with a newborn baby, a doctor far from home and the biology professor, whose partner is in a nursing home. Most captivating is a paranoid doomsday-prepper who lives with his two young daughters - and has been waiting for a day like this. Walker uses evocative language to describe the almost bewitching nature of contagion: "seventeen pairs of lungs breathing the same air, seventeen mouths drinking from the same two shot glasses," she writes about the college students unwittingly infecting one another in a dorm room. The novel reads like a thriller, with every chapter - sometimes every scene - ending on a cliffhanger. Meanwhile, slumbering bodies pile up at the small local hospital - casualties, too. The government orders a military-enforced shutdown of the town, preventing anyone from coming or going. One thing does creep in, however: chaos. And then, some of the sleeping start to wake. The patients' relief of being conscious is painfully short-lived, as their lives have been irrevocably altered. As the confusion falls away, they must confront their incredible visions, and find themselves caught in a dilemma worthy of Descartes, who posited dreams and reality cannot be separated. The people of Santa Lora who sleep no more face a choice: struggle to find a way back to themselves or remain in thrall to the beguiling, comforting, sometimes terrifying visions that held them captive. Hope, said Aristotles, is a waking dream. --- McClear is a New York journalist and author. Texans who busted their holiday budgets can at least take comfort at the gas pump prices for a gallon of fuel are on average 34 cents below what they were a year ago. The statewide average for regular unleaded gas is $1.92 per gallon earlier this week, significantly below the national average is $2.23, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. With demand at its lowest point since February 2017 and the fact that the global crude market continues to be oversupplied, retail gasoline prices continue falling in many areas, AAA Texas said in a written statement. The bad news:analysts dont expect the low prices to last. OPEC recently announced plans to tighten global supplies, the organization said. The move is likely going to cause oil prices to increase this year and eventually gasoline prices will likely increase, as well. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for gasoline price-tracker GasBuddy, attributed the decline in demand to normal weakness brought on by colder weather and the end of the holiday travel as well as a degree of economic uncertainty. The stock market has tumbled, and it's possible motorists are not feeling as upbeat, and so they may be driving less or staying closer to home, he said. I expect gasoline demand will rebound this spring, however, as temperatures begin to warm. He said overall U.S. gasoline demand is currenty at about 370 million gallons per day, compared to about 400 million to 420 million gallons per day during the summertime peak. According to AAA, drivers in Midland are paying the most in the Lone Star State, an average of $2.48 a gallon. Drivers in Amarillo and Lubbock are paying the statewide low of about $1.82 a gallon. San Antonio drivers are paying about $1.86 per gallon, down 29 cents from this time last year. But thats up 3 cents from a week ago. The regions motorists have gotten used to low gas prices since mid-November, when prices below the $2 mark prompted the kind of lines typically seen during shortages. Lynn Brezosky is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering trade, agriculture and the economy. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lbrezosky@express-news.net | Twitter: @lbrezosky An icy town in Newfoundland is dealing with some surprise visitors: a pod of around 40 harp seals. The seals are stuck 4 to 5 miles (6 to 8 kilometers) from the ocean, according to local fishing guide and bar owner Brendon FitzPatrick, who shared photographs of the animals on Twitter. The animals likely swam into inland bays and streams chasing fish and got disoriented, FitzPatrick wrote on Twitter, adding that this is the highest number of seals seen on shore in the area. "In the beginning, they were kind of aggressive," Sheila Fitzgerald, the mayor of Roddickton-Bide Am, told NPR. As the days have dragged on and the fish in the town's brooks have become less plentiful, the seals have become more lethargic, Fitzgerald added. See more Roddickton-Bide Am is a town of just under 1,000 people situated near the northern tip of Newfoundland. The area is a common wintering site for harp seals. Officials from Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DPO) told the newspaper The Northern Pen that there is little offshore ice near northeastern Newfoundland this year, possibly part of the overall trend of major Arctic melting. With limited sea ice to rest on, the seals may be hauling out closer to the coast, which makes them more vulnerable to following streams inland and getting stuck when streams and bays ice over. DPO officials are now in town to respond to the seal crisis. The grayish-white animals blend in with snowy roads, the mayor told NPR, and two have already been hit by cars. Locals can call the DFO to relocate seals that are in precarious positions or to report humans harassing the lost seals, the agency announced on Twitter. Originally published on Live Science. The ongoing government shutdown has put a halt to some food safety inspections, but that doesn't necessarily mean that your salad or sushi is any more risky to eat than before. On Wednesday (Jan. 9), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said on Twitter that due to the shutdown, the FDA has postponed its routine inspections of domestic food facilities. The agency typically conducts about 8,400 routine food inspections per year, and over this past week, there could have been "a few dozen" inspections that didn't take place due to the shutdown, Gottlieb tweeted. Although FDA inspection delays certainly don't help with food safety, it's important to keep in mind that the agency is just one of many entities that help keep food safe there are other federal, state and local agencies that have yet to be impacted by the shutdown. [Top 7 Germs in Food That Make You Sick] Removing FDA food inspections "is certainly not a good thing in my mind," said Benjamin Chapman, an associate professor and food safety specialist at North Carolina State University. But Chapman added that, right now, he thinks food on American tables is likely as safe to eat as it was before the shutdown. "Inspections are just one part of the food-safety system puzzle," Chapman told Live Science. Other entities, including the food industry and state and local folks, "are doing their best to keep things as safe as possible." However, if the shutdown was to stretch for months or years, "the infrastructure and support to the food industry could start to impact the safety of the food we are eating." Food inspections Within the federal government, both the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversee the country's food safety. The USDA inspects food facilities that handle meat, poultry and some egg products, while the FDA inspects all other foods everything from raw produce to packaged foods. During the shutdown, USDA employees are still conducting inspections of meat, poultry and egg facilities, although these workers are not getting paid, according to Vox. The FDA is also still conducting inspections of imported foods, Gottlieb said. Domestic food inspections have been postponed, but according to Gottlieb, the agency plans to resume inspecting "high-risk" food facilities as soon as next week. High-risk foods make up about a third of the FDA's total inspections and include foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, prepared salads, soft cheeses, and seafood, Gottlieb said. But the vast majority of food inspections done in the U.S. are conducted by state employees, Chapman said. "There are hundreds of thousands of state-inspected food facilities nationally," Chapman said. Indeed, the FDA is able to inspect only a small fraction of U.S. food facilities. Helena Bottemiller Evich, a senior food and agriculture reporter at Politico, noted on Twitter that while the FDA typically inspects about 50 high-risk food facilities per week, there are more than 20,000 such facilities in the country. Chapman also said that food prepared at restaurants and in grocery stores is regulated at the state and local level. And while it's unclear exactly how much the shutdown has impacted people's risk of foodborne illness over the last week, the situation is affecting activities done by food safety workers at the state and local level, Chapman said. For example, state and local food-safety employees often consult and collaborate with federal experts on many projects to make food safer. "From what I understand, many of those activities are in limbo," Chapman said. Chapman added that the management of food recalls at the state level has become more tedious, because the number of federal staff members available to answer state agency questions has been reduced. "So, what might have taken a few minutes before the shutdown is taking hours or days. This could delay market removal [of recalled foods], which isn't good," Chapman said. Originally published on Live Science. Maggots can be creepy, crawly and medicinal? In a new effort to heal wounded people in war zones, the U.K. government is sending maggots to places like Syria, Yemen and South Sudan, according to The Telegraph. Once these larvae often those of green bottle blowflies are connected with patients, they get right to work, keeping wounds contamination-free by gulping down dead human tissue and spreading their antibacterial saliva. This macabre treatment may sound unusual, but it's actually a remedy that dates back to ancient times. For instance, the Australian Aboriginal peoples used maggots to clean wounds. And during World War I, soldiers in trenches also used the critters. [Coffee to Maggots: Top 10 Bad Things That Are Good For You] Now, this therapy may help people with festering wounds stay free of infection. The $250,000 project may even help wounded people keep their limbs, as secondary infections from injuries and operations can lead to amputations. "People living through conflict and humanitarian crisis are still dying from wounds that could so easily be healed with the right access to care," U.K. Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt, who is also a member of Parliament, told The Telegraph. To roll out "project maggot," the U.K. will have field hospitals raise maggots on location. Once the fly eggs are laid, they will be sterilized and then incubated for a day or two. At that point, the maggots are ready for prime time, when they can be put directly into wounds or placed in BioBags, which are then wrapped around injuries, The Telegraph reported. Sterile maggots are very valuable in places that have limited or basic medical treatment. These bug babies can digest dead and damaged tissue from the wound, according to a 2012 report in the Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery. Maggots can even cleanse wounds faster than surgeons can, Live Science previously reported. However, to prevent the spread of disease, these maggots can't be used twice. So, researchers have directed that the larvae be disposed of in clinical containers after each use. If some escape into the wild, it shouldn't be a problem, as maggots undergo a sterilization process when they become flies, The Telegraph reported. If the plan works, field hospitals will be breeding maggots within a year, providing enough hungry larvae to treat 250 wounds per day, Frank Stadler, a research fellow at Griffith University in Australia, whose group provided the science for the project, told The Telegraph. Moreover, by 2021, the team hopes to have created a do-it-yourself maggot starter kit, so people in remote communities can raise the fly babies themselves. Originally published on Live Science. The mighty Tyrannosaurus rex's bite was far less impressive for its body size than the bite of a much smaller modern dinosaur a tiny Galapagos finch. Researchers recently crunched the numbers to evaluate crunching strength in the bites of hundreds of animals living and extinct. They used supercomputers to evaluate bite force and body mass, and to track evolutionary changes in jaw power in animal groups that included mammals, reptiles and birds. When the calculations were done, the scientists found that finches living dinosaurs, as are all birds packed a bite that was unexpectedly powerful for such a small creature. In fact, if a finch were scaled up to T. rex-size, the bird's bite would then be 320 times stronger than that of its extinct cousin, the scientists reported. [Image Gallery: The Life of T. Rex] These new findings don't suggest that T. rex didn't have a devastating bite. Rather, they indicate that the force of a T. rex bite is unsurprising when evaluated in light of the animal's body mass and the bite strength of its ancestors, according to the study. Bite force is measured in Newtons, with 1 newton (N) representing the amount of force that can accelerate an object weighing 1 kilogram to a speed of 1 meter per second. T. rex weighed about 8 tons, and had a bite force of 57,000 newtons, which sounds pretty impressive. By comparison, a finch's bite force is only 70 newtons, but its body mass is just about 1 ounce (33 grams). For T. rex and most of the other species that the researchers examined bite force came about through gradual evolution over time and drew its strength from the animal's mass, so bigger animals would be expected to have strong bites, lead study author Manabu Sakamoto, a biological scientist at the University of Reading in the U.K., told Live Science in an email. But there were exceptions, the scientists discovered. In some species, such as the finch, bite force "was not as expected from their body sizes," Sakamoto said. This hinted that in Galapagos finches, evolution "sped up" to increase their bite strength out of proportion to their mass, since the bite strength of their finch ancestors about 1 million years ago was much weaker relative to body mass, according to the study. In other words, "the finches bite harder relative to expectations than a tyrannosaur," Michael Habib, an assistant professor of integrative anatomical sciences with the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, told Live Science in an email. Habib, who was not involved in the study, explained that bite-strength expectations are typically scaled for size, "so Galapagos finches are quite mighty for a small animal, while Tyrannosaurus rex was more or less as powerful as one would expect such a big animal to be, when it comes to bite force," he said. However, even with an "average" bite, T. rex had no trouble taking down its prey, as large predators can usually generate sufficient bite force "just by being large," the researchers wrote. "Tyrannosaurus rex was most likely capable of pulverizing bones simply owing to its colossal size," the researchers reported. The findings were published online Jan. 9 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Original article on Live Science. Since the indictments, Snyders attorneys have made repeated attempts to show that federal investigators erred in reviewing emails between the mayor and his attorneys ahead of his indictment. They argued that the communication fell under attorney-client privilege and advocated for the dismissal of prosecutors on the case and of some of the charges. Like a mountain looming over a calm lake, it seems the universe may once have had a perfect mirror image. That's the conclusion a team of Canadian scientists reached after extrapolating the laws of the universe both before and after the Big Bang. Physicists have a pretty good idea of the structure of the universe just a couple of seconds after the Big Bang, moving forward to today. In many ways, fundamental physics then worked as it does today. But experts have argued for decades about what happened in that first moment when the tiny, infinitely dense speck of matter first expanded outward often presuming that basic physics were somehow altered. Researchers Latham Boyle, Kieran Finn and Neil Turok at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, have turned this idea on its head by assuming the universe has always been fundamentally symmetrical and simple, then mathematically extrapolating into that first moment after the Big Bang. [Big Bang to Civilization: 10 Amazing Origin Events] That led them to propose a previous universe that was a mirror image of our current one, except with everything reversed. Time went backward and particles were antiparticles. It's not the first time physicists have envisioned another universe before the Big Bang, but those were always seen as separate universes much like our own. "Instead of saying there was a different universe before the bang," Turok told Live Science, "we're saying that the universe before the bang is actually, in some sense, an image of the universe after the bang." "It's like our universe today were reflected through the Big Bang. The period before the universe was really the reflection through the bang, Boyle said. Imagine cracking an egg in this anti-universe. First, it would be made entirely of negatively charged antiprotons and positively charged anti-electrons. Secondly, from our perspective in time, it would seem to go from a puddle of yolk to a cracked egg to an uncracked egg to inside the chicken. Similarly, the universe would go from exploding outward to a Big Bang singularity and then exploding into our universe. But seen another way, both universes were created at the Big Bang and exploded simultaneously backward and forward in time. This dichotomy allows for some creative explanations to problems that have stumped physicists for years. For one, it would make the first second of the universe fairly simple, removing the necessity for the bizarre multiverses and dimensions experts have used for three decades to explain some of the stickier aspects of quantum physics and the Standard Model, which describes the zoo of subatomic particles that make up our universe. "Theorists invented grand unified theories, which had hundreds of new particles, which have never been observed supersymmetry, string theory with extra dimensions, multiverse theories. People just basically kept on going inventing stuff. No observational evidence has emerged for any of it," Turok said.[5 Elusive Particles Beyond the Higgs | Quantum Physics] Similarly, this theory would offer a much simpler explanation for dark matter, Boyle said. "Suddenly, when you take this symmetric, extended view of space/time," Boyle told Live Science, "one of the particles that we already think exists one of the so-called right-handed neutrinos becomes a very neat dark-matter candidate. And you don't need to invoke other, more speculative particles." (Boyle is referring to a theoretical sterile neutrino, which would pass through ordinary matter without interacting with it at all.) The scientists say this new theory grew out of a dissatisfaction with the bizarre add-ons proposed by physicists in recent years. Turok himself helped develop such explanations but felt a deep desire for a simpler explanation of the universe and the Big Bang. They also say this new theory has the benefit of being testable. Which will be crucial in winning over doubters. "If someone can find a simpler version of the history of the universe than the existing one, then that's a step forward. It doesn't mean it's right, but it means it's worth looking at," said Sean Carroll, a cosmologist at the California Institute of Technology who was cited in the paper but was not involved in the research. He pointed out that the current favorite candidate for dark matter weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs haven't been found and it might be time to consider other options, including possibly the right-handed neutrinos Boyle mentioned. But, he said, he's a long way from being persuaded and calls the paper "speculative." The Canadian team understands this and they will be using the model to propose measurable, testable elements to see if they are correct, they said. For instance, their model predicts the lightest neutrinos should actually be devoid of mass altogether. If they are right, it might reshape how we see the universe. "It's very dramatic. It completely runs counter to the way that physics has been going for the last 30 years, including by us," Turok said. "We really asked ourselves, could there not be something simpler going on?" Originally published on Live Science. Evidence, interviews and other aspects of the case will continue to be actively worked and we are making every effort to come to a resolution in this case, but we are taking care to see to it that the quality of work is consistent with the speed of work in order to ensure a just and airtight outcome, Martin said. The first Google Doodle came out in August 1998 with a blue outline of the Burning Man effigy over the logos second o. Company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin put in on the main page while they were off to the Nevada festival. Major was charged on the felony counts and taken into custody in late October. She was initially charged on the same counts in 2012 in the slaying of Carl Griffith Sr. of Portage, but after a key witness in the case was murdered, the state dismissed the charges against her. TWO Limerick plays are to make their American premieres at a New York theatre festival which is dedicated to Irish playwrights. Origin 1st Irish, the worlds only festival devoted exclusively to producing the plays of contemporary Irish writers, started this week and features Alone It Stands by John Breen and The Morning After the Life Before by Ann Blake. Breens Alone It Stands re-enacts Munsters famous 1978 win over the All-Blacks, while Blakes The Morning After the Life Before is a new work and a personal tale that reflects on the seismic events of the marriage equality referendum and its aftermath. The Limerick womans play is also directed by Paul Meade, a fellow local. The Origin 1st Irish festival was also founded by a Limerick man in George C Heslin, who created it to showcase Irish theatre in New York. Speaking to the Leader on a recent return visit home, Heslin, who founded Origin Theatre Company to offer American audiences the chance to see work by new and emerging European playwrights, said the festival was delighted to be working with Ann and Limerick artists in general. It is called the 1st Irish festival because it is the first and only festival in the world dedicated to playwrights from the island of Ireland, explained George, who said the stars had aligned to present Alone It Stands in New York, where it boasts an Irish cast that are rehearsing in the Big Apple. Blakes The Morning After the Life Before, which also stars Lucia Smyth as well as the playwright herself, has been performed in the UK and Montreal - where it was described as an an absolute cannot-miss - but the Origin 1st Irish show will mark its US premiere. It is unbelievable, it is huge and the festival itself is a really prestigious one that champions Irish work, so to be selected and programmed is fantastic, said Ann. It is very special because of the Limerick connection with George as well. But for myself, it is huge to go from putting a show on in Limerick to a year and a half later premiering in New York. While celebrating the historic vote for marriage equality, the play is one that, in Blakes words, is a personal, entertaining tale of weddings, coming out and arguments over who takes out the bins. It is an Irish story but it is an international one as well, so we are really looking forward to seeing the American take on it, she says. Certainly it is a very confident, smooth show now - there is nothing like doing a show over 40 times to make it a much more solid thing, she explains of her creation. I do feel it is a storytelling show really and it is what we do as Irish people, it is a huge part of who we are and I think this is a personal story that connects with people on a day to day level. I am really excited and looking forward to meeting US audiences and seeing their reaction and connecting with that. PRO-choice activists are on high alert for pro-life protests at Limerick clinics that are providing abortion services, this newspaper has been informed. This is in response to a controversial picket that took place at a clinic in Galway last week, just days after abortions became legal in Ireland. University Maternity Hospital Limerick, local family planning clinics and a number of GP clinics have signed up locally to provide services. Women seeking an abortion can go about the procedure through a GP up until the ninth week of pregnancy. Women who are between nine and 12 weeks pregnant must have the abortion carried out at a maternity hospital. As clinics in Limerick are likely to be receiving referrals this month, some members of the public and groups are offering to be escorts to any woman or girl seeking an abortion and buffer them somewhat, according to one of these activists. This woman, who did not wish to be named, said she hopes the legislation for exclusion zones will be signed into law. She said the protests will not stop one abortion and that they are being held to shame and humiliate women who are easy targets. Ironically, the very people who opposed freedom of movement and freedom of information are now shouting about free speech and freedom of conscience, she added. A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said that an area for pregnancy terminations has been designated within UMHLs emergency unit and the antenatal ward. There is a long-term plan for a new build adjacent to the main hospital building which would accommodate a new Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit, ambulatory gynaecology services and termination of pregnancy services. These plans are at a preliminary stage and would be subject to the usual approvals around planning, capital funding etc, he said on Wednesday. A LIMERICK man who received more than 16,000 in social welfare payments which he was not entitled to was fined 400 and ordered to continue repaying the money. Limerick District Court was told Sean Grimes of Hyde Road, Prospect, Limerick, failed to notify the Department of Social Protection that he had secured employment on an oil rig off the Scottish coast. The defendant pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to the overpayments. Outlining the facts, solicitor Aileen Mee, prosecuting, said he was in receipt of Disability Allowance while working for a named company during various periods in 2014, 2015 and 2016. She said he did not notify the department of his change in circumstances and that he received a total of 16,356 which he was not entitled to. While some monies have been repaid in recent months, there is an outstanding balance of 15,961. Judge Marian OLeary was told a standing order which was set up by Mr Grimes last year was cancelled for a short time but that Mr Grimes is now repaying 40 a week to the department. Solicitor Darach McCarthy said his client, who has no previous convictions, is a young man who works hard. He said working in the oil and gas industry is not a life for everybody and that his client found working off the Scottish coast to be a tough existence. Mr McCarthy said Mr Grimes accepts he should have de-registered each time he secured work and that he intends to repay all of the monies. It was an administrative oversight, he said asking the court to note his clients cooperation and his guilty plea. Noting that a standing order is now in place, Judge OLeary imposed a 400 fine giving the defendant 12 months to pay. UL HOSPITALS management has commenced discussions into arranging nurse staffing for the national day of strike action at the end of the month. This Tuesday afternoon, the INMO announced that its members across the country would engage in a 24-hour strike on January 30, following its dissatisfaction surrounding pay and staffing. The union has forewarned the Government that if they do not come up with a solution, INMO members could stage up to five days of additional strike days in February. In a statement to the Limerick Leader, the UL Hospitals Group said: UL Hospitals Group and the INMO are currently engaging in discussions on contingency arrangements on nurse staffing for the scheduled industrial action. We are meeting with the INMO this Wednesday afternoon where the matter will be progressed." INMO spokesperson Mary Fogarty said a Government solution needs to be meaningful and robust. Nurses want to nurse and midwives want to practise midwifery. They dont want to be on strike. They want to be able to be facilitated to do the job they were educated to do. But unfortunately over the last decade now, that situation has deteriorated for them. Theres no light at the end of the tunnel presently to address that and to turn that around. She said that it is not their objective to have members out on strike. They lose wages. Our objective is to have this matter resolved. What else does a worker do when it comes to this level after a number of years of engagement? Ms Fogarty added: The core issue is pay. They need to acknowledge that there is a recruitment and retention difficulty and they need to start implementation of equity of pay for our members in terms of other allied healthcare professionals working alongside them. Why should a nurse or midwife make 7,000 a year less than her colleagues working with her or him? There is no rationale for that. Its unfair. Its wrong and it is causing our members, our nurses and midwives to leave this country. If the situation is not resolved, strike action will resume on February 5 and 7, and for three days from February 12 to 14. INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: The ball is in the governments court. This strike can be averted. All it takes is for the government to acknowledge our concerns, engage with us directly, and work to resolve this issue, in a pro-active manner. PLANS for a new sewerage scheme for Askeaton could be ready and at planning permission stage by the end of March, Askeaton councillor Kevin Sheahan said this week. And he broadcast what he called the good news at Tuesdays meeting of Adare Rathkeale councillors, a forum where he acknowledged he had created rumpus and noise about the urgent need for a new treatment plant in the town because of raw sewerage going into the Deel. I have met with people from Irish Water and they are physically doing the drawings, he said. They expect them to be ready for submission for planning permission before the first quarter of this year. Cllr Stephen Keary welcomed Cllr Sheahans news, but stressed the location of the treatment plan was of crucial concern. The towns primary treatment plant, Cllr Emmett OBrien agreed, was substandard. What was being discharged into the Deel, which I swim every year in the Deel Swim, was not always raw sewage, he pointed out. Sometimes it was. But, he cautioned, the information coming to them about the scheme was third-hand. Are we going to be informed on a formal basis? he asked. Following the meeting, Cllr OBrien contacted Irish Water who told him: Irish Water are progressing the design of an upgraded sewerage scheme for Askeaton. We are currently finalising the preliminary design and would hope to progress the necessary land acquisition and planning applications during 2019. Commenting on this, Cllr OBrien told the Limerick Leader: While I welcome any progress in the delivery of the Askeaton Sewage Scheme, I think we should be accurate and fair to the people of Askeaton in the manner our information about this scheme is communicated to them. To suggest that there would be significant progress in the first quarter, or three months of 2019, seems, according to Irish Waters response to me, to be at best wide of the mark. I certainly would not like the people of Askeaton to be offered a false dawn especially in view of the repeated promises over the years about the upgrade of their sewage scheme. I look forward to the Council and Irish Water making an official announcement and seeing their preliminary design, which is a welcome first step." Garda technical experts continue to examine the scene of a fire at the former Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey today. The fire, which "had the potential to cause serious damage," is understood to have broken out at about 7.45pm yesterday evening when a security guard on site raised the alarm. Supt Kevin English, Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station, who is leading the investigation, told the Leitrim Observer that units of the Fires Service from Mohill and Strokestown quickly attended at the scene and brought it under control. Gardai are treating the fire as suspicious but are keeping an open mind pending the findings of the preliminary investigation. Had the fire gone unchecked for much longer, Supt English said, "it had the potential to cause serious damage." Supt English said thankfully no one was injured. Traffic restrictions were put in place at the time but they have now been lifted. Supt English is appealing for assistance from the public. Anyone in the Rooskey area who saw any person or vehicle acting suspiciously between 5.30pm and 8pm yesterday (Thursday) is asked to contact Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station on 071-9650510. Meanwhile, local politicians have reacted to the events with Martin Kenny TD condemning the attack. "This appears to be an arson attack on the Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey and it needs to be condemned by all," he said. "It is a great disappointment for the local community that this hotel has been closed for many years and now for it to be burnt out is a greater catastrophe for the area," he said. "It is very alarming to consider this could be an arson attack carried out by people with a racist or anti-immigrant agenda; such attitudes are very dangerous and wrong. "Arson attacks, threats or racism have no place in Rooskey. "There has been a lot of concerns regarding the possibility of the Shannon Key West Hotel being used as a direct provision centre. The direct provision model is not a good model for the taxpayer or the unfortunate refugees seeking asylum. "The decent people of Rooskey and surrounding areas are generous and welcoming people and would not want to be associated with this type of behaviour or racist agenda," he said and called on anybody with with information on the incident to assist the Gardai with their enquiries. Local councillor, Sean McGowan and Supt Kevin English pictured at the scene this morning. Photo: Brian Farrell Eugene Murphy TD also condemned the fire attack in Rooskey but said the Government must take responsibility for a lack of judgement on the location for asylum seeker accommodation. "If, in fact, it proves to be the case that the fire was started deliberately then I would condemn such action out of hand. It is not representative of the Rooskey area and people are outraged," said Deputy Murphy. I understand that a security man was in the premises when the fire broke out so there could have been a potential loss of life which is extremely serious," added Deputy Murphy. The Fianna Fail TD went on to say however that the Governments attitude to the people of Rooskey had been nothing short of scandalous. "The village of Rooskey is particularly close to my heart as I have lived close to the Roscommon side of the village all of my life and I acutely aware of how removed the people of the area feel from this whole process. I had been given a commitment that the Department would meet with the people of Rooskey in relation to this issue just as they met with people in Moville in Co Donegal but then the Department backed down. "There has been an extremely poor process of consultation and engagement with the community in Rooskey. We cannot continue to operate the present system of direct provision and dealing with asylum seekers by railroading them into small rural villages around the country where there is simply no proper infrastructure in place to meet their needs. "The Governments approach of pushing refugees and asylum seekers into small towns around rural Ireland is simply not working- many of these small rural towns are already on their knees and the necessary infrastructure from a transport, educational and health aspect are just not in place and the Government needs to take responsibility for the lack of judgement in relation to this whole approach," said Deputy Murphy. "Everybody was hopeful that the former Shannon Key West hotel in Rooskey would have been opened as a commercial hotel as it would have provided a much needed injection of hope and been a significant vote of confidence in the area, concluded Deputy Murphy. Emergency services at the scene of the fire last night. Commenting on the matter, Michael Fitzmaurice TD said, "The community of Rooskey has completely condemned the alleged attack on the premises, which was due to reopen as a hotel and as potential accommodation for asylum seekers. "Genuine concerns had been highlighted in recent weeks that the area itself and the hotel would not be suitable for those vulnerable people due to a lack of primary services. But one thing needs to be made very clear, the community of Rooskey would never condone last nights suspected actions," he said. The fire is also a sickening development for the group of investors who were expected to take over the hotel in the near future, Deputy Fitzmaurice added. "It was hoped that the hotel would reopen once again and provide much-needed employment in an area which has seen a number of factories close down through the years. "The community and public representatives in the area had pointed out their desire to increase tourism to the area, and the reopening of the hotel would have been a step in the right direction in that regard. "The people who were willing to invest money in the project must also be acknowledged for their positive thinking. Hopefully the investors will continue to push ahead with their plans to open the hotel once again. "One thing is for sure, the actions of whoever carried out last nights suspected arson attack serves nobody and must be condemned, he concluded. And Senator Frank Feighan also expressed concern at the damage caused to the former hotel. "I am very disappointed to learn that the hotel has been damaged by fire but thankfully no-one was injured. "I will be working with all stakeholders to ensure that the best outcome is achieved in relation to the future of this building. "I also want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the emergency services who responded so quickly to the incident last night," he said. The price of a cup of coffee, lunch,a hotel room and even a haircut has cost you more in the past week than it did in December. The increase in the hospitality VAT from 9% to 13.5% means you have much less coppers to worry about in your pocket when you get your change back. The pain of this increase, like many Government imposed changes impacts Leitrim much more than urban areas according to local businessmen Joe Dolan of The Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon and John Kelly from The Clubhouse, Dromahair. Carrick-on-Shannon Joe Dolan called the VAT hike nonsensical and counter productive adding that while some items in his hotel will increase, we have to absorb a lot of it ourselves. He said with contracts and bookings already in place, they couldn't increase many events. In a lot of ways we are not in a position to pass it on to customers. He said passing on the full VAT rate could also push them out of the competitive market. Joe Dolan of The Bush Hotel Mr Dolan said the VAT and wage increase along with insurance and utility bills rising is also overshadowed by the worry of Brexit. He added that the tax increase will mean he and other businesses will not be able to invest in the future. On the domestic market he acknowledged that increases in price could make a trip to Leitrim more expensive than a budget trip to Europe. Joe Dolan is on the Brexit Rapid Response Committee and is part of a negotiation team meeting in London regularly. He said UK tourists account for 60% of overseas visitors in the border counties. In Kerry that number is as low as 20%, in Leitrim they are our bread and butter. Mr Dolan said there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to help businesses prepare for Brexit but this is not foot and mouth or the volcano ash, it is not something you can take a hit on for a few months, this will be long term and we are in un-chartered waters. The high profile hotelier said while Ireland Inc is selling well it is inequitable and that same growth is not visible in the border region. Dromahair John Kelly owner of The Clubhouse Bar and Riverbank Restaurant in Dromahair said the VAT increase while it may look small is actually a 50% hit for businesses. We have passed on some of the increase and absorbed it in other places, if we put up all our prices we wouldnt be competitive. Mr Kelly said they took a number of Communion and Confirmation bookings at the end of 2018 and they will absorb the VAT hit on those. 80-85% of our trade is food, as people dont drink alcohol as much now with more checkpoints and no taxis available. Mr Kelly said it is worrying times for the hospitality industry in Leitrim. He said it was another hit to rural Ireland following a huge slump in pub trade over Christmas. It is unfair to be hit with the same increase as Dublin hotels, they can charge what they like but we have a much smaller pool. The Clubhouse, Dromahair The hike is actually stunting growth and development where it is most needed. Mr Kelly revealed they were considering providing accommodation in Dromahair from their Clubhouse building We were looking at making ten rooms available, there is a big demand for accommodation in North Leitrim, but now we are looking at it again and wondering if it will be viable. It is a shame the increase has come now. He agreed it will stunt growth around Leitrim and many other businesses thinking of adding more tables or taking on more staff will now be forced to reconsider. The Clubhouse owner says it does get an increase in UK and Northern Ireland visitors in the Summer months and they are unsure how this will be hit if Brexit continues. Weddings It is understood some local couples who have booked their weddings for this year and paid deposits were informed before Christmas they must pay their wedding in full before January 1, 2019 or pay the increased price. Hairdressers have also increased their prices as part of the VAT increase. So no matter which way you turn, your pocket will be hit this year, but if people cut back on spending the real threat of job losses in Leitrim could be seen by Summer. Also read: Leitrim's SPARK Programme is looking for businesses to get involved in 2019 Donohoes SuperValu Ballinamore, Co Leitrim is leading the charge in energy conservation following significant investment to complete a series of energy upgrades to their store, greatly reducing their carbon footprint. Now boasting strong sustainability credentials, Donohoes SuperValu invested heavily to fit state-of-the-art LED lighting throughout the store as well as installing new more energy efficient refrigeration units with doors. These measures focused on reducing their energy consumption, which will not only bring down the cost of their energy bills by 28,000 year on year, but also highlights their passion for greener operating practices. These new Donohoes SuperValu Ballinamore energy upgrades were all part of a wider community suitability scheme in association with the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland), which saw stores such as Donohoes SuperValu and others across the country invest both time and money as part of their endeavours to build sustainable communities around Ireland. This national retrofit programme upgrades store and community buildings and facilities to meet high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, with an aim of reducing energy costs, fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions year on year, as well as significantly improving the comfort of these homes and buildings. National charity, Enable Ireland were on the receiving end of substantial financial contribution amounting to 203,000 as a result of the scheme and the stores notable efforts. This enabled the charity to carry out all-important energy upgraded to their facility, putting money back into the pockets of this very worthwhile cause due to reduced yearly energy bills, and also resulted in cosier and more comfortable conditions for those with disabilities using their centre. Darren Donohoe, Owner SuperValu Ballinamore, spoke passionately about this project and all of the work that has been completed, We were delighted to be involved in such a worthy project this year and to see our energy bills reducing already makes it all the more rewarding. "Everywhere you go these days you see slogans and advertising about protecting our planet for future generations and this sentiment is something that I wholeheartedly agree with. We wanted to upgrade our store to not only give our customers the best possible service but to do so in a way thats more energy efficient and so we installed the new LED lighting and new refrigeration. "At Donohoes SuperValu, community is at our core and we strive to add value in our local communities, both with our in-store offerings but also through community projects such as this SEAI synergy. Enable Ireland provides essential services in the heart of our local community, helping those in great need, so were a perfect partner for us. We hope that our contribution, and that of the SEAI, who we are delighted to partner with, helps Enable Ireland make much needed savings to continue their fantastic work, Donohoe concluded. "Awareness of energy and environmental issues is now more integral than ever, and in order to create and maintain sustainable communities, each and every one of us must play our part, explained John Randles, Head of Delivery with SEAI. "SEAI works with communities by offering grant support for much needed energy upgrades. This brings businesses such as Donohoes SuperValu and the broader community together in a positive way that results in warmer and more energy efficient homes and buildings. As well as these tangible benefits, those involved are playing an important part in protecting the planet for future generations. This project is a great example of businesses reaching out to help charities in their community and we congratulate all who participated." SuperValu serves over 2.6 million customers every week and has 219 stores nationwide. Together with its retail partners, SuperValu employs approximately 14,500 colleagues, making it one of the States largest private sector employers. 75% of everything on SuperValus shelves is sourced in Ireland. SuperValu continues to source locally wherever possible which helps to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy. For more information on SuperValu, their green efforts, or other fantastic work in the local community go to www.supervalu.ie or check out Facebook\SuperValuIreland. It gives me a chance to see the people, evaluate people, and helps me negotiate the case with the goal that they not get in trouble again, he said, adding it also allows his office to make sure cases are dispatched as quickly as possible. A man appeared at Naas District Court last Wednesday, January 9, charged with theft of a sandwich from Dunnes Stores in Maynooth. Gerard Beirne, 31, with an address listed as 31 The Vale, Woodfarm Acres, Palmerstown, Dublin 20 was apprehended at Manor Mills Shopping Centre on October 9, 2017. He had left the shop having paid for some items, but not for others. He still owed 10.38, which was the value of a sandwich and a drink. He was, his solicitor David Powderly explained, homeless at the time. Mr Powderly explained that the defendant had had a difficult past, having previous convictions for drugs, theft and fraud and road traffic matters. He had served a lengthy prison sentence and having been released from prison, was not reconciled with his family at the time. However that situation has improved since then and he is making progress with his life. He only has one previous conviction for a similar theft matter. Judge Desmond Zaidan applied the Probation Act. An initiative to help returning emigrants start and develop businesses in Ireland is looking for participants from Kildare to apply before the deadline of Friday, January 25. One past participant is well-known blogger Niamh OSullivan who said she would urge others to apply for the programme. Niamh had been working in New York as a Social Media Manager for a footwear and handbag company and returned to Ireland in September 2017 and runs her successful food, fitness and wellness Cinnamon Soul blog. This programme has literally changed the direction of my life for the better. I have no doubt it will encourage others to move home & follow their dreams. Ive never been happier, says Niamh. Back for Business is specifically designed for recently returned emigrants who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned in the last three years. Those planning to return in the near future will also be considered. The Back for Business entrepreneur mentoring programme runs over six months and there is no charge for those selected to participate. It is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was launched before Christmas by Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development Ciaran Cannon. Many potential entrepreneurs returning home can often bring with them significant advantages of starting a business such as a strong network of international contacts, proficiency in foreign languages and a greater understanding of export markets. The programme was run on a pilot basis last year to support entrepreneurial activity among those recently returned or planning to return to live and set up business in Ireland. The call is open for applications for the 2019 programme, which will run from February to July 2019. Those interested in learning more can download a brochure and register their interest in receiving an application form from www.backforbusiness.com. TD for Kildare North James Lawless has welcomed news that Intel has begun preparations for significant expansions to their Leixlip site. Deputy Lawless was commenting on a reports in the Irish Times which detailed the works. According to the report the US microchip manufacturer, is to begin preparatory work at its base in Leixlip this month as part of a significant expansion in capacity there. Although the company has made no formal announcement about its plans, it is understood that it will move to increase manufacturing capacity at the Leixlip plant, with thousands of construction jobs created initially and hundreds of technician roles once the new facility is built. In December, the company announced plans to expand its global manufacturing capacity to meet increased demand for its microchips. Deputy Lawless said It is very welcome news to those employed and living in Kildare North that Intel are about to begin to take the next steps to commence a possible expansion of their base in Leixlip. With two caps on, as a TD for the area and my party spokesperson on Science and Technology, I have regularly engaged with the microchip manufacturer. I am well aware of their commitment to our area and this will be another significant act of this assurance. I believe the plans are part of a wider global manufacturing move by Intel. I am aware they see Ireland playing a significant role in this. While the details are not yet announced, and this may be a multi-year project, Intel recently announced an investment of 4.3 billion at its Israel plant last year. Something similar could be expected here in Kildare." SEE ALSO: End of Kildare M7 roadworks in sight Laois County Council is to honour the work done to promote Laois for tourism by local people, by holding two Civic Receptions this January. Durrow Development Forum committee is to received the honour on Thursday January 17, at 7,30pm. The forum, supported by hundreds of local volunteers, puts on the nationally successful Durrow Scarecrow Festival every August, and has used proceeds to help revitalise the village green. It is also in the process of creating a new community hub. At a later date, not yet confirmed, Tom Treacy is to be recognised for his contribution to Laois tourism, The publican and restaurateur from The Heath worked for Laois Tourism for many years, retiring last year. He is delighted at the honour, proposed by Cllr Tom Mulhall. It is a nice honour, I am looking forward to it, Mr Treacy told the Leinster Express. Mr Treacy has been organising the Laois section of the Gordon Bennett Rally since 2003, which brings vintage car drivers on a historic route around the midlands. He said 2019 will be its biggest year yet, with 70 vintage cars and owners coming from England to stay locally in Laois for five days, and some staying in Ireland for a fortnight to tour around. We are looking at setting up other scenic driving routes around Laois, and I am working with Laois Tourism on that, said Mr Treacy (pictured below). Laois woman Emma Fogarty who spoke on the Late Late Show on December 21 about her painful skin condition, has thanked everyone who rallied in support and helped her reach her fundraising target for the Debra Ireland charity. Emma, 32, has Epidermolysis Bollosa (EB), a rare incurable and debilitating skin condition. Together with actor Colin Farrell she told Ryan Tubridy about her condition and the charity Debra Ireland, for whom Emma is the Patient Ambassador. Emma had described how she would be in tears that night by the time she got home to Ballyroan, with the pain of travelling to Dublin and doing the interview. I put a smile on but inside Im crying, she had said. Emma confirmed to the Leinster Express how the day took its toll. It was a very difficult journey home. I had to take lots of medication just to get me home, I did sleep for a little while but it was the following days that I struggled the most. I told Ryan that I probably wouldnt get up until Christmas Day and every word of it was the truth. The next day was really hard. I slept a lot but the pain I endured was inexplicable. I cried a lot. Im still trying to recharge my batteries. But being on The Late Late Show was so worth it, she said. Her mother Patricia and her sister Catherine were in the audience watching in support. It was an amazing opportunity to get EB and Debra Ireland highlighted. Emma did an extraordinary job and her whole family are very proud of her, Patricia said. Emma and Colin had asked the public to make a 4 text donation to help raise 60,000 to pay for carers to change the bandages for sufferers. Bandage changes cause patients hours of excruciating pain. They hope that parents can be spared the task and instead be the ones to hold their childs hand and comfort them. The reaction to their request was great Emma said. The public reaction has been unbelievable. Weve had so many positive comments and for the first time we were the talk on social media. It was very special to see and be a part of, she said. Weve done very well and the public were very generous. Thank you to everyone who donated, Emma said. Debra Ireland have confirmed that over 60,000 was raised. We did indeed go over the 60,000 and there was a big jump in donations on the back of the Late late Show, the charity told the Leinster Express. Donate 4 by texting Butterfly to 50300 A senior Laois director is leaving Laois County Council to take up a similar post in Waterford County Council. Laois man Kieran Kehoe from Killenard near Portarlington has worked for 17 years in the local authority. For the past six years he has served as a Director of Services for transportation, emergency services, planning and economic development and special projects. Mr Kehoe is also the Town Manager for Portlaoise municipal district. He is to leave his council post at the end of January, and is moving with his family to Waterford where he will take up a post as director in the local authority there. A GAA supporter, Mr Kehoe has served as chairman of Killenard GAA. The engineer began his career at SIAC Butlers steel plant in Portarlington. Cllr Aidan Mullins is among the first to wish Mr Kehoe well ahead of his departure. "Kieran will be a big loss to the county. We need more people with his competence and drive in the Council. Best wishes in your new career path Kieran. I know you will be successful," Cllr Mullins said on his social media page. A young woman repeatedly raped by her father has given evidence to the Court of Appeal that she was manipulated into visiting him in a Portlaoise prison by his relatives shortly after the trial. Last February, the 47-year-old man was found guilty of sexually assaulting and raping his daughter in various ways in Co Mayo and abroad on dates between 2006 and 2010 when she was aged between seven and eleven. Their details must not be published to protect the victims identity. The Central Criminal Court heard that the first rape took place shortly after the death of her mother. He referred to her by her dead mother's name and continued to do so during subsequent attacks, the court heard. Describing his offending as depraved, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment with the final year suspended. The man had pleaded not guilty to all offences and continues to maintain his innocence. The Court of Appeal has heard that the young woman visited her father in the Midlands Prison shortly after the trial. In an affidavit, the father said he was overjoyed to see his daughter at a non-screened visit in the Midlands Prison and that he did not blame her for what happened. It was highly emotional and his daughter was at all times affectionate and referred to me as dad. We spoke of all the good times we had together. He said his daughter hugged him, kissed him and repeatedly said she was sorry. She allegedly told him, he stated, that Im going to get you out of here dad; its all my fault and its going to be alright. The victim appeared via video link from the Vulnerable Witness Suite in the Criminal Courts of Justice building in Dublin. She told the Court of Appeal that she was manipulated into visiting her father in prison by his relatives on the basis that he was starving himself to death and was on his death bed. Giving evidence to Alex Owens SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, she said her fathers relatives were sending her messages after the trial making it out that his life was in my hands". She recalled one message which said: "your dad is going to die and you're the only person who can stop that from happening. In another message, she was told "your dad has not much time left". Her father has told the Court of Appeal that he assumed the purpose of her visit was "to say sorry. In response to this, she said: why would I say sorry to him. Ive no reason to say sorry to him. She said her father hugged her in the prison visitors rooms and that the prison visit lasted 30-40 minutes . "It all happened so fast. I still don't know exactly why I went to visit him. "This man believes his children were abducted from him for no reason and they were given drugs by social workers. He asked me to join forces with him and sue the state and it would make me a wealthy woman". In a subsequent sworn affidavit, she stated I did not say he was not a rapist and I did not say he did not do those things to me. Under cross examination from the mans barrister, Micheal P OHiggins SC, the woman said she told her father in prison that she would withdraw her statement because she believed he was on his deathbed and would die in prison. She agreed she said yes because at the end of the day, he was her father and I wanted to believe what happened (the abuse) didnt happen at all. "I cried for the whole [prison visit]. I didn't really talk. I didn't know what I was doing. I couldn't believe it... It wasn't me." I went into that prison as one girl and left as the girl I am now. "It was my first time in prison. Even though he had been in prison plenty of times when we were young, I didn't visit." Referring to her father, she told Mr OHiggins: Your client asked me to cancel the charges. I told him I would. Did I? No." "The fact I'm even back here one year on, losing sleep over your client (her father) I don't know. I've nothing to hide, she said to Mr OHiggins. When asked if she doubted herself about the abuse, she said: "Of course I doubted myself, I didn't want it to be true but 12 people randomly selected gave me the answer I needed to get on with my life... And here I am again." She said her father's family were "brainwashing a girl who had just conquered her fear ... brainwashing me to manipulate me". Mr OHiggins asked if she was claiming she had been lured or pressurised into visiting her father in prison Theres proof of that Mr OHiggins, she said referring to messages from her father's family. Mr OHiggins put it to her that: the reason you said what you said to various people and the whole fact of you visiting the prison, was entirely consistent with you feeling guilty about having told untruths at the trial. She said she had already explained herself. When it dawned on you, you may now face exposure to criminal prosecution you decided to recant, Mr OHiggins put it to her. I was entirely manipulated, the victim said. She said she had "zero recall" of a three-way telephone conversation between herself, her father and her father's partner. The phone call was made from prison to the man's partner in Mayo, who was on another phone to the victim. The phone call was made in the days after her prison visit. A recording of the three-way call was subsequently played to the court. The hearing continues before Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Maire Whelan and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy later this month. Under cross examination from Alex Owens SC, for the DPP, the man agreed the prison visit was an emotional event which lasted about 35 minutes. A couple of days prior to the visit, he said it was indicated to him by his partner that his daughter may be coming in to see him. He denied absolutely that the purpose of the meeting was to try to influence his daughter and pull at her heart strings to get him out of prison. "I wanted to see her; I was concerned for her welfare. He said he was positive it wasnt the other way around. You were persuading her to drop everything, Mr Owens suggested. My view of the situation was I didnt deserve to be in prison, the man said. She enquired how she could get me out of there. Mr Owens put it to him that his daughter came to see him because she believed he was on hunger strike and on his last legs. "Absolutely not. She came to me because she was full of remorse and guilt". There was "never a hunger strike", he said. He said there were various reasons for her daughter to visit him in prison. "She told me she was sorry. I told her I forgave her and she was forgiven, that she wasn't at fault. When asked what he hoped to achieve from the meeting, he said he wanted to tell her I forgave her; alleviate the guilt she must be carrying; tell her I love her. He said he knew of a proposal for his daughter to go to a solicitor for the purpose of telling the truth. When it was put to him that his daughter denied having taken part in a three-way telephone conversation days after the prison visit, he said his daughter was a pathological liar. Love will be in the air as First Dates Ireland swings into the RTE Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy this week. The restaurant doors have swung open once again on RTE with a new series to bring singletons from all over the country together in the hope of finding love. Ryan catches up with some of the new contestants, as well as checking in on previous First Dates couples; including Dubliner Shannon and Monaghan farmer Ciara who bonded over their love of club classic Maniac 2000. Fresh from presenting an award at the Golden Globes, Saoirse Ronan leads the star-studded line up on the first show of 2019. The 24-year-old Carlow star has an illustrious career, with three Oscar nominations already under her belt. Saoirse joins host Ryan Tubridy to look back at her journey from The Clinic and Proof to the dizzying heights of Hollywood stardom, and discuss her new movie, Mary Queen of Scots. Actor John C. Reilly and comedian Steve Coogan will be chatting to Ryan about their new biopic, Stan and Ollie, which follows the fame and friendship of comedy icons Laurel and Hardy, as they embark upon their final tour of Ireland and the UK. Earlier this week Padraig Harrington was unveiled as European Captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup having vice-captained the last three. The three-time major winner joins Ryan to discuss his plans for continued European domination of the competition and how recovery is coming along after breaking a bone in his wrist in December. Ryan will be asking four of Irelands most successful young people about life in your twenties in Ireland today. Michael Conlan, the former Irish Olympic boxer who recently won the first title of his professional career; Barry Keoghan, the Irish actor who is one of two Irish people to make the BAFTA Rising Star shortlist; Ellen Coyne, a senior journalist at The Times Ireland and Rosie Connolly, one of Irelands leading fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers. Also joining Ryan is spoken word artist Natalya O'Flaherty, and therell be music from The Academic, and The 2 Johnnies, Irelands favourite comedy podcast duo. The Late Late Show, RTE One, Friday, January 11 at 9.35pm Thanks to its 62,000 solar panels, one of Warren Countys biggest employers will have more power than it needs, which could set it up for future growth. A 46-acre expansion unveiled and ceremonially activated on Thursday triples the size and output of the DSM Nutritional Products solar field around the companys vitamin-manufacturing operation just outside Belvidere. The 20.2-megawatt solar installation will help as the company considers expanding its operations at the site, possibly including a whole new enzyme manufacturing plant, DSM North America President Hugh Welsh said after a tour of the solar field for staff and media. DSM's vitamin-manufacturing operation currently employs 270 full-time workers at the facility, Welsh said. The company's North American headquarters is in Parsippany. DSM has expanded the solar field at its Warren County vitamin plant. There are now more than 62,000 solar panels over 66 acres generating 20 megawatts -- more than the Belvidere facility currently consumes. DSM says it is the biggest net-metered solar installation in New Jersey, and the second largest on the East Coast.Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com Workers and dignitaries gathered in the Warren County plants cafeteria late Thursday morning to hear company brass and lawmakers laud the expansion of the solar field, located between Manuka Chunk Road and Water Street in White Township, just outside the county seat. According to DSM, the entire 66-acre field contains more metal than the Eiffel Tower, 3.2 million feet of wire and will provide almost 23,500 megawatt-hours a year, enough to power 2,614 homes for a year. Power generated at peak times will exceed what the plant needs -- anticipated annual excess of about 3,500 megawatt-hours will be sold back to the power grid. That, the company says, makes it the largest net-metered solar installation in New Jersey and the second largest on the East Coast. DSM North America President Hugh Welsh says the company's expanded solar field at its Belvidere plant puts the Warren County facility into consideration for expansion. (Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com)Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com Statistics provided by the company state that the panels will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 38.4 million pounds annually, the equivalent of emissions from nearly 2 million gallons of gasoline. DSM also said it produced its own non-reflective coating for the solar panels that it says increases efficiency up to 3 percent. Welsh and others said one of the goals of the 117-year-old company -- founded as a coal-mining operation in the Netherlands -- is to push for renewable energy where possible. Its a January day. Its cold. Its snowing, Welsh said. What better thing to do than open a solar field. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter@SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Findlehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Authorities say a naked man who led law enforcement on a chase through Delaware and Pennsylvania has been charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance. The News Journal of Wilmington reports Delaware State Police began pursuing a wrong-way driver Wednesday night who was later determined to be 29-year-old Kyle R. Merena. Authorities say Merena fled into Pennsylvania where police had laid out spike strips to help stop him. Pennsylvania State Police say Merena's car hit the strips and its tires were deflated, but the car only stopped when it crashed into a trooper's cruiser near the Philadelphia International Airport. They say a naked Merena then fled the car and was arrested. Hes also charged with reckless endangerment among other offenses. Its unclear if he has a lawyer. Watley and Posadas were working Monday on separate cars outside an AutoZone store on Chicago's South Side when Watley allegedly drove his pickup truck into Posadas, pinning him against a car before driving over him. Northampton Countys public defender said shell announce her candidacy for Northampton County District Attorney next week. Nuria DiLuzio plans to launch her candidacy at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at the Blue Grillhouse in Bethlehem Township, according to a news release. She has practiced law for over 20 years, her news release says. She was appointed Northampton Countys first-ever female public defender in January. She is a Democrat. Her decision to become a candidate has come from personal reflection and her desire to use her experience to serve her community, her news release says. DiLuzio is the wife of Bethlehem police Chief Mark DiLuzio. John Morganelli announced in November he wont seek another term as Northampton County district attorney. Hes the longest tenured district attorney in Pennsylvania. He was first elected to the post in 1991. He announced earlier this month hed run for Northampton County judge. A first for Northampton Countys solicitor, public defender So far only one other candidate has announced his intention to run for district attorney: Republican Tom Carroll. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim will step down Feb. 28 after 26 years on the job, he said Thursday in a letter to county Executive Phillips Armstrong. I have been offered a very interesting opportunity and I am up for the challenge, Grim wrote, without being specific about what will come next. The 59-year-old said he will leave behind one of the best coroners offices in the Commonwealth and the United States. The Lehigh County Coroners Office was the first in Pennsylvania and the second in the nation to be accredited by the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, he said. Ninety percent of Grims staff are nationally certified as medicolegal death Investigators and four years ago, we opened a state of the art forensics center" he wrote. Lehigh County will be in good hands. But, in addition to helping the public understand how and why people die, there are the daily interactions with suffering families that helped mold Grim. It has been such an honor to serve the wonderful people of Lehigh County, Grim wrote. Being coroner, this position has given me such a perspective on life, which I will hold very close to my heart. The coroners office handles complex death investigations from major events such as the natural gas blast that killed five several years ago in Allentown or the suicide car explosion that killed three earlier this year in the city. But it also touches families throughout the county in explaining the death of loved ones from natural causes, falls, accidents or overdoses. In Lehigh County, the position of coroner is an elected office which, the Morning Call reports, will be temporarily filled until an election can be held. Over the past 26 years, the ride has been wild and wonderful! Grim wrote. The memories, good, bad, happy and sad, will be with me until the very end. I may be leaving the office but Ill be around. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your coroner. I am very blessed. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter@TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A K9 officer helped Bethlehem police find a man who allegedly broke into a South Bethlehem elementary school. Officers were dispatched to Donegan Elementary School due to a burglar alarm at 1:19 a.m. Thursday, according to a news release from Bethlehem police. Police found a broken window on an exterior, ground-level door, then brought a K9 dog inside to search for an intruder in the school at 1210 E. Fourth St., the news release says. The K9 named Blaze and police officers found Long Chen of Flushing, N.Y., inside the building, the release says. The release doesnt say why Chen was in the building. No one else was found in the building, the release says. No school district employees or children were in the building at that hour, police said. Chen surrendered without incident, the release says. He was charged with criminal trespass and criminal mischief, then sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of bail, the release says. The building was secured by Bethlehem Area School District personnel and classes were held without interruption Thursday, the release says. him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. The Flying Egg in Bethlehem is no longer just serving up breakfast and lunch. The Main Street boutique-diner announced on Facebook Thursday afternoon that it is adding dinner and bar service. Dinner will be available Thursday through Sunday beginning at 4 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the restaurant will close at 9 p.m. and on Thursday and Sunday doors will shut at 8 p.m. The menu features an assortment of large plates, like truffled mac-n-cheese, seared salmon, mussels and roasted cauliflower flatbread, as well as some vegan and gluten-free options. The regular menu will continue to be available. The Flying Egg is proud to announce new dinner hours! Join us Thursday through Sunday beginning at 4 p.m. to enjoy our... Posted by The Flying Egg Bethlehem on Thursday, January 10, 2019 Weve heard some guests say they wish it was open later for after work and school as well as a quiet place on Main Street for early birds. We will have musical entertainment on weekends from 6 to 9 p.m. co-owner Cara Paredes said. We always had ideas for larger plate dishes at The Flying Egg and we wanted to launch for dinner, hoping people would love the idea. In November of 2017, The Flying Egg officially opened its doors at 451 Main St., the former location of the jewelry and gift shop Artfully Elegant. It joins a growing local empire from business partners Juan Carlos Paredes, Cara Paredes and Chef Rafael Palomino that already includes Tapas on Main, Mesa Modern Mexican, Cachette Bistro and Creperie, Urbano Mexican Kitchen and Bar and Peculiar Wine and Beer Shop. The team has plans to venture into the South Side by turning the dive bar Your Welcome Inn, at 325 S. New St., into a new spot call The Clock Pub. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatulloand Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Pocono Brewery Company is bringing its wood-fired pizzas and craft brews to a new tasting room at the Lehigh Valley Malls outdoor shopping center. The 70-seat taprooms grand opening is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 18, in space that was once home to Ann Taylor and is now next to the relocated Apple store. The Vitiello family opened its main brewery in June 2017 at 2092 Route 611 in the Swiftwater section of Pocono Township and it brews 90 percent of its beers there, marketing and event manager Graceann Horstman said. At the 2,200-square-foot Whitehall taproom, there will be about 20 beers on tap, the majority Pocono Brewery creations, but there will be guest taps as well, Horstman said. We have four staples that will always be on tap and then we will have a lot of seasonal beers, she said. The taproom will serve a more limited menu than the Swiftwater location. It still feature about 15 signature wood-fired pizzas made in an oven from Napoli, imported meat and cheese boards, six salads, nachos and lighter fare like that, Horstman said. We have always believed that simplicity is bliss. Its not about mixing and matching complicated flavors and constructing elaborate menus, the brewerys website states. Our philosophy is about finding those few key, quality ingredients and letting the flavors come together into a tasteful masterpiece. At the Swiftwater restaurant and brewery, the menu features wood-fired pizza, American pub staples and fresh cut pasta, according to the brewery website. When the weather warms up, visitors to the taproom will be able to sit outside on a new 90-seat patio space tucked on the edge of the building. Expanding to the Lehigh Valley seemed like a natural next step for the Vitiello family after seeing great success in the Poconos and growing demand for the beer, Horstman said. Owner Silvio Vitiello operated Luna Rosa restaurant in Polk Township until it was destroyed in a 2014 fire. He then turned his sights to the Pocono Brewery building, which had been there for 30 years, but never operated as an on-site brewery, Horstman said. He teamed up with his son and head brewmaster Jean-Luc Vitiello to undertake an 11-month renovation, which transformed the space, she said. Pocono Brewery strives to highlight local ingredients in its craft brews, like local pine trees, fruit from Heckman Orchard and coffee from Morghan Rake Coffee Roasters, Horstman said. Beers are made with custom-designed Italian brewing equipment and theyre named after pieces of regional history and family recipes. Rather than purchasing flavor extracts, we are bringing the Poconos into PBC by extracting the flavors straight from the source. This idea was first hatched with the Pocono Pines Pilsner when we wanted to try making a holiday beer that didnt have the traditional holiday flavors. Inspired by our Christmas tree, a locally grown Pocono pine, we got to work crafting our flavor profile, according to the website. Upon tasting the beer, we discovered it was less of a holiday brew and more of a year-round drink and immediately decided to make it one of our staple craft beers. On Jan. 18, CAT Country will be doing a remote broadcast from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce will be there from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and hold a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Jeff Crosson Acoustics is taking the taproom stage at 5 p.m. and Beth Goldwater will perform at 7 p.m. A Lehigh Valley Mall spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatulloand Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. UPDATE: School bus driver expected to recover after Bethlehem crash The driver of a school bus involved in a crash Thursday afternoon in Bethlehem appeared to be experiencing a medical emergency and was taken by ambulance for treatment, according to city police. There were 24 students on the bus at the time of the crash, emergency radio broadcasts from the scene indicated. The bus struck a tree about 3 p.m. at West Fourth Street and Brodhead Avenue on South Side Bethlehem, police said. The city fire department and emergency medical services also responded, as did Bethlehem Area School District transportation officials. Police could not immediately provide the driver's condition. West Fourth Street remained closed for more than an hour between Brodhead Avenue and Broadway, police said. "Students on the bus at the time of collision are being released to parents on scene or being transferred to another bus for the resumption of the bus route," police Sgt. Jon Buskirk wrote in a news release sent out about an hour after the crash. The incident remained under investigation, police said. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Findlehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. - The recent elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now a reference point for opposition politicians in Nigeria - Opposition candidate, Felix Tshisekedi, was announced as the winner of the presidential election in the DRC recently - Former APC chieftain, Comrade Timi Frank, says the feat will be repeated in Nigeria when the general elections are held Former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has expressed confidence that there would be a repeat of the defeat of the ruling party in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the forthcoming presidential election in Nigeria. Comrade Frank said Africans all over the continent are tired of all dictators as leaders, hence the defeat of Joseph Kabila's preferred candidate in DR Congo at the just concluded presidential election. In a statement sent to Legit.ng on Friday, January 11, the Bayelsa-born politician commended the people of Congo for their courage and strong desire in the face of intimidation by the government of Kabila-led ruling party, expressing confidence that Nigeria will experience a similar feat in next months presidential election. READ ALSO: Why southeast APC leaders are afraid to campaign for Buhari - Ohanaeze Youth Council According to Comrade Frank, the outgoing President Kabila was far brutal than President Muhammadu Buhari, but the will of the people defeated him and sent his party packing. He, however, warned INEC to emulate the electoral body in Congo by refusing all forms of pressure from the APC and cabals in the presidency to rig the forthcoming elections. It is obvious that the ruling APC will lose the coming presidential election and that is why the party is not bothered on the reasons to campaign. Although left for Buhari, he would have preferred returning to Daura peacefully but being a man who is not always in charge of anything, the cabals had to force him into a strange democratic path. We are using this medium to warn INEC and all those who might be thinking of doing anything contrary to the will of Nigerians to drop it now because the majority of Nigerians will reject the cabals in Nigeria in the coming presidential election through the ballot, Comrade Frank stated. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) has said the defeat of ruling partys candidate in the DRCs presidential election was another pointer to the impending defeat of President Buhari . The director, media and publicity of the organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the statement on Thursday, January 10, in a congratulatory message to Tshiekedi for his victory at the just concluded election. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Bashir Ahmad, the personal assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on new media, alleged that Senator Saidu Umar Kumo, the campaign director to PDP presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress. Senator Kumo who is from Gombe state is the north-east director general of the PDP's presidential campaign coucil. His unconfirmed defection is coming on the heels of the defection of a former youth leader of the PDP in Nuku- Sabon Gari ward of Abaji Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Peter Yandu, and 157 other members to the APC. READ ALSO: Breaking: Masked policemen storm Melaye's hospital, move him to unknown location The former youth leader said he and other members had been in PDP since 1999 but were later abandoned by the party they worked for. Speaking on Wednesday, January 9, Yandu said since the party had abandoned them, they decided to pitch tent with the ruling APC after series of consultations with some of his former PDP members in the area. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that the Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that some hoodlums are planning to disrupt the Jos campaign rally of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The Plateau state PDP chairman, Damishi Sango, in a statement on Friday, January 11, alleged that the party had gotten credible reports that sponsored thugs were preparing to harass, intimidate and attack PDP officials at a scheduled rally on Saturday, January 12, at the Polo Field, Jos. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Enugu APC chairman, Ben Nwoye, says former Senate president, Ken Nnamani, is not proud to be a member of the ruling party - Nwoye accuses Nnamani of failing to address allegations that he is siding with the opposition ahead of the general election Ben Nwoye, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu state, has accused a former Senate president, Ken Nnamani, of siding with the opposition ahead of the general election. Nwoye said he had been proved right by his claims that the former Senate president who serves as the APC presidential council director south region was not proud to be a member of the ruling party, Vanguard reports. READ ALSO: Presidency reportedly in fresh moves to ease Magu out of EFCC In any case, respect in a party is earned through responsible membership and not by fiat. If the party doesnt feel the impact or imprint of such a high profile personality, would it be wrong for the party to say so? We assure Senator Nnamani of our respect at all times, subject to his being an exemplary party man, Nwoye said. The APC chairman stated that he has at no time insulted Ken Nnamani, or spoke in a manner that would suggest insult against the former Senate president. Nwoye said that by failing to address allegations that he was siding with the opposition, Nnamani had proved that he was not proud to be a member of the APC. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of violating the constitution and the Electoral Act 2010, by allegedly deploying state resources and apparatuses for the 2019 presidential campaign. The Punch reports that Atiku, in a statement on Thursday, January 10, by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, said the alleged action was contrary to the claims of Buhari and the APC of not abusing state resources. Legit.ng gathered that he said the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, had in December 2018, warned incumbent office holders against using state resources for campaigns, or deploying same against opponents. Atiku, however, noted that the Buhari administration and the APC had allegedly been illegally using state resources to their advantages for the election. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Why President Buhari May Not Defeat PDP In 2019 - Agbor Residents Speak | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng News - The NAF Base Makurdi runway is now open to civil operations - The repair work at the Makurdi military airfield which started late last year were aimed at improving flight safety in accordance with global best practices - The NAF Works Centre Abuja, which had executed the project through direct labour, was congratulated for doing a good job The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has opened the NAF Base Makurdi runway to civil operations, which repair works started late last year. NAF had informed members of the public that the repair activities were aimed at improving flight safety in accordance with global best practices, and promised that the project will be completed in January 2019. Legit.ng gathered that it was declared open by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Thursday, January 10, during his operational visit to the 21 Quick Response Wing (21 QRW) NAF Base Agatu, Benue state to assess facilities as well as the state of readiness of the troops of the wing to deal with threats within the area. Before declaring the Runway open to civil flight operations, the CAS was conducted on an inspection tour of the completed works by the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Oladayo Amao. The CAS listening to AVM Amao during his inspection of the runway. Photo credit: NAF Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Troops arrest wanted Boko Haram terrorist (photo) According to AVM Amao, the scope of the rehabilitation work covered refreshing of the sealant for the concrete slab joints on the runway, taxiways and apron as well as the resurfacing of cracked portions of the manoeuvring area, re-marking of the runway and erosion control, amongst others. Speaking after the inspection, the CAS commended the AOC TAC for effective supervision of the project and also congratulated the NAF Works Centre Abuja, which had executed the project through direct labour, for doing a good job. He added that the repairs, which had necessitated the closure of the Airfield to civil flight operations, as published in relevant Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS), were aimed at improving flight safety in accordance with global best practices as well as in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations. He further stated that a NOTAM had also been promulgated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to reopen the airfield for normal operations. In Agatu, the CAS was received by the traditional ruler of Agatu, Chief Dr Godwin Ngbede Onah, who conveyed the appreciation of his people to the NAF for its immense contributions to the return of normalcy in the area. The CAS was thereafter conducted on a tour of some facilities at the 21 QRW Base by the Commanding Officer 21 QRW, Squadron Leader Victor Ajeye, who also briefed him on the activities of the Wing since its activation in October 2019. Speaking after the brief, Air Marshal Abubakar expressed satisfaction with the level of the facilities so far, while promising that immediate action would be taken to meet the additional needs of the unit. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news updates He thanked the troops for their hard work, diligence and commitment, which had ensured that peace was maintained in Agatu community, thus allowing the people to pursue their legitimate aspirations. He urged them to remain focused on their tasks while eschewing overtures from any quarters to get involved in duties outside their purview. Meanwhile, the federal government plans to spend at least N27 billion in the 2019 budget on the acquisition of three thunder aircraft and support equipment for Nigerian troops fighting insurgency and banditry in many parts of the country. Details of the allocations are contained in the 2019 budget breakdown recently released by the government. According to the fiscal document, the federal government also intends to acquire an unmanned aerial vehicle with the sum of N666.7 million and allocate another N1 billion for the purchase of troop carriers for the military. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) is now-> Legit.ng. We have updated to serve you better. NAF Lays Five Heroic Servicemen To Rest | Legit TV Source: Legit Trinity Baptist Church: 1831 Virginia St. All month long the Youth Department will collect coins as part of its "Raise the Roof" drive. On Monday, the Youth Ministry Book Club will be discussing "Never Too Young," by Chester & Ollette Washington at Tillman House, 1825 Virginia St., and the Youth Ministry will hold Bible Bowl lessons from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesdays. The church will host its first Youth Summit, starting at 9 a.m. on Jan. 19. Presenters include representatives from the Gary Community School System, Lake Ridge Schools, Merrillville Community Schools, Edgewater, the Division of Family & Children Services, the Lake Co. Juvenile Justice Dept. and Love for Jaylin Foundation. Please bring your children for this life-changing event. Sign up: 219-702-4150. This is a free event. - Reverend Abraham Okunade has urged Nigerians to pray for a free, fair election - The chaplain of Gray International College said only prayers could prevent violence - The religious cleric urged all stakeholders to support INEC Reverend Abraham Okunade who is the chaplain of Gray International College, Osogbo in Osun has called on Nigerians to pray for free, fair and credible elections come February 16 and March 2. Okunade made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, January 11 in Osogbo. He said the present situation in the country necessitated the prayer for the peaceful conduct of the general elections. According to him, only fervent prayers of the righteous would help prevent any form of violence or distractions. READ ALSO: Presidency reportedly in fresh moves to ease Magu out of EFCC The cleric commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the preparations made so far to ensure that the elections are successful. He called on all relevant stakeholders to support the electoral umpire towards achieving peaceful and free elections. I want to appeal to security personnel, journalists, academicians, corps members among others who would play key roles in the coming elections to kindly support the electoral umpire in achieving credible and peaceful elections," Okunade said. He equally appealed to various political parties to take the outcome of the general elections in good faith, adding that politics was not a do or die affair. Meanwhile, the minister for environment, Alhaji Sulaiman Hassan, on Thursday, January 10, expressed optimism that the people of Gombe state would vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections. Hassan gave the assurance in Kaltungo town of Kaltungo local government Area of Gombe state during the flag -off of the APC campaign, state chapter. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app I am assuring Mr President that APC will sweep positions at all levels through fair and credible elections in the state. The crowd you have seen are true reflection of what will be obtainable during the general elections. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. I married four wives, built houses under Buhari's regime - farmer boasts| Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Well, it is not a new year until Daddy Freeze fires at Nigerian religious leaders for 'ill-practices'. Social media users are getting used to the fact that Freeze is a thorn in the flesh of many pastors in Nigeria. The leader of Free The Sheeple movement and controversial media personality has come for the head of general overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and this time, it is about 40-day fasting and praying mandated for all his church members. In a clip shared on his Instagram page, the self-proclaimed leader of the Free Nation in Christ questioned why Pastor Adeboye asked his church members to fast for 40 days when in the bible, Jesus only did so at the point he was to be tempted by the devil. He claimed that such practice is against the teachings of the scriptures which states that Jesus has overcome temptation on our behalf and suffering again is time wasting and energy zapping. READ ALSO: Kizz Daniel fires his manager after he was allegedly slapped by Davido "Adeboye must also explain this his 40day fast that coincides with first fruit. Christ fasted for 40days because he wanted the devil to tempt him so he could overcome temptation on our behalf. READ THE SCRIPTURES!" he said Watch below: Just recently, Daddy Freeze challenged Daddy G.O to a debate. He stated that If he doesnt want a debate, they can sit over a beer and discuss the scriptures and he will teach him the real truth about Christ for free. Did you know? NAIJ.com (naija.ng) is now-> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Daddy Freeze on Nigerian Pastors and British Royals on Legit TV: Source: Legit.ng - A leader of the National Union of Transport Workers, MC Oluomo, who was stabbed at the APC rally in Lagos, may be flown abroad for further treatment - A close aide said Oluomo will be flown to the US, where he is a citizen, for better treatment - A source at the hospital where Oluomo is currently being treated also disclosed that there are three police vans providing security at the facility Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, a leader of the National Union of Transport Workers (NURTW), may be flown abroad for further treatment. According to Punch, a close aide of the union leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, on Thursday, January 11, disclosed that plans had been concluded for his treatment by a specialist in the United States where he is a citizen, and he is expected to travel anytime soon. READ ALSO: Saraki's loyalists occupying fed govt positions will soon be removed - Lai Mohammed Legit.ng learnt that there is tight security in the hospital where MC Oluomo is currently receiving treatment and security operatives screen everyone going in to see him. MC Oluomo was allegedly stabbed in the neck and side, at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign at the Sky Power Ground, Ikeja, on Tuesday, January 8. NURTW rival factions had clashed at the event and three journalists also sustained gunshot injuries. The aide reportedly said: He was stabbed in the neck and by the side with what they call makanje (poisoned knife). He is a citizen of the United States, so there cannot be any problem with his medical treatment abroad. "In fact, he will be flown out in a few days for better medical care. Contrary to what they are saying, Baba (MC Oluomo) is not dead. A source at the hospital also reportedly stated: "Top politicians have been coming to see him. The level of security is high. Three police vans are here. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Lagos state Police Command arrested two suspects and declared wanted a chieftain of NURTW, Mustapha Adekunle aka Seigo, over the disruption of the APC rally in Lagos on Tuesday, January 8. The commands spokesperson, CSP Chike Oti, said in a statement, that the two persons arrested in connection with the incident were helping the police in their investigation. Oti said that Siego and his entourage had gained entrance to the rally ground as supporters before his group suddenly attacked MC Oluomo. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! APC is the worst party in Nigeria, i regret being a member - on Legit TV: Source: Legit - The PDP campaign organisation says an impending defeat is awaiting President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 presidential election - Kola Ologbondiyan, the director, media and publicity of the PDP campaign, notes that the opposition victory in the in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)s presidential election is a confidence booster for Nigerians on Atiku Abubakars victory - Ologbondiyan says Nigerians should not also forget that in March 2018, opposition candidate in Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio defeated the ruling partys candidate The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) has said the defeat of ruling partys candidate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)s presidential election was another pointer to the impending defeat of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 presidential election. The director, media and publicity of the organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the statement on Thursday, January 10, in a congratulatory message to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) president-elect, Felix Tshiekedi, for his victory at the just concluded election in that country, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. READ ALSO: Breaking: Buhari makes crucial appointment ahead of general elections "It is instructive to note that the people of DRC asserted their power of control and prevailed in enthroning the leadership of their choice, noting that such determination is inevitable in the Feb. 16, presidential election in Nigeria," he said. The victory of opposition candidate and particularly the relegation of the ruling party to third position in the election in spite of the daunting challenges is a confidence booster for Nigerians on Atiku Abubakars victory, he said. Ologbondiyan added: Nigerians should not also forget that in March 2018, opposition candidate in Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio defeated the ruling partys candidate. In December 2017, opposition George Weah defeated the sitting Vice President Joseph Boakai of Liberia while in December 2016, opposition partys candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo defeated the incumbent President of Ghana, John Mahama. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Those relying on rigging to shortchange Nigerians on Feb. 16 should therefore be reminded, that as demonstrated in the DRC, the power of the people remains greater than the power of this nepotistic few. Ologbondiyan called on all Nigerians to remain resolute in the national resolve to vote in the PDP candidate, Abubakar, as the next president to restore good governance, national cohesion and economic prosperity in the land. Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says President Muhammadu Buhari is trustworthy and honest enough for the job of the president of Nigeria beyond 2019. Osinbajo said this on Thursday, January 10, during the All Progressives Party (APC) governorship campaign launching held at Kaltungo in Gombe state. According to him, Nigeria needs a man of Buharis qualities for the job of presiding over the country. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng News - Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria needs a man of Buharis qualities for the job of presiding over the country - Osinbajo states that Buhari is a president that means well for the country and kind of leader that Nigeria needs at this moment - The vice president notes that the next level for Nigeria is President Buhari, so that he can consolidate on the gains of his first tenure Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says President Muhammadu Buhari is trustworthy and honest enough for the job of the president of Nigeria beyond 2019. Osinbajo said this on Thursday, January 10, during the All Progressives Party (APC) governorship campaign launching held at Kaltungo in Gombe state. According to him, Nigeria needs a man of Buharis qualities for the job of presiding over the country. President Buhari is a trustworthy and honest man for the job beyond 2019. READ ALSO: Emir of Lafia Isa Mustapha Agwai dies at age 84 I have worked with him and I can tell you that the president is a man that means well for the country. This is the kind of leader that Nigeria needs at this moment. The next level for Nigeria is President Buhari, so that he can consolidate on the gains of his first tenure. Contrary to claims that the APC is a mono-religious party, APC is the party for all, and President Buhari is the president for all Nigerians, the vice president said. While presenting the APC flag to Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, the APC gubernatorial candidate for Gombe State, Osinbajo urged the people of the state to vote for APC at all levels of governance. Governor Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa said that the people of the north-east were indebted to President Buhari for the improvement in security in the sub-region. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 21 prominent chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including a serving senator from Gombe south, Senator Joshua Lidani, who defected to the APC, were received into the party at the event. Governors Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi, Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa, the secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, Senator Ali Ndume and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff were among those in attendance. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has said it is now free of corruption because all its corrupt leaders have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party during a political stakeholders forum organised by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Ikeja, Lagos, also accused the APC of being the mother of corruption, The Punch reports. A representative of the party, Kunle Okunola, told the political gathering that the PDP practiced internal democracy in the selection of aspirants for political offices. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Nigeria Latest News: Father Mbaka On Buhari, Atiku In Nigeria Election 2019 | Legit TV Source: Legit - President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub as his senior special assistant on National Assembly (House of Representatives) - El-Yakubu's appointment followed the resignation of Kawu Sumaila from the position - It was gathered that Sumaila resigned to contest for House of Reps seat in the forthcoming election Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub has been appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as his senior special assistant on National Assembly (House of Representatives). Daily Trust reports that the appointment, according to a statement by the presidents special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, followed the resignation of Kawu Sumaila as the senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives). READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Legit.ng gathered that Kawu, who was appointed as SSA in August 2015, resigned to contest for the Sumaila/Takai federal constituency seat in Kano state under the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported ,that o state, was a member of the House of Representatives in 1998 and 2003-2007, representing Kano Municipal federal constituency. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Nigeria's minister of state for foreign affairs resigned her appointment to run for elective positions in the 2019 general elections. Ibrahim would be running for Damaturu/Tarmuwa/Gujba/Gulani federal constituency of Yobe state in the National Assembly. It was reported that she confirmed to some State House correspondents that Wednesdays Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was going to be her last, shortly before the commencement of the meeting. READ ALSO: 2019 election: Saraki will suffer humiliating defeat - Kwara APC chairman NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. We are honestly tired of Buhari and Atiku | - on Legit TV Source: Legit - Buba Marwa, said President Buhari will win Adamawa state in 2019 presidential election - Marwa, chairman, central working committee of the Women and Youth Presidential Campaign team, made this known in Abuja - He vowed to visit former president Olusegun Obasanio in Otta, Ogun and Former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, Niger in their door-to-door campaign The chairman, central working committee of the Women and Youth Presidential Campaign team, Buba Marwa, said President Muhammadu Buhari will defeat People Democratic presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in his home, Adamawa state. The former military governor of Lagos state who made this known in Abuja said President Buhari will defeat Atiku in his home town in Adamawa. Marwa said: President Buhari will win Adamawa state. I am not going to disclose our strategy for doing that, but you can go to the bank that Buhari will defeat Atiku in his home town in Adamawa. He will not only win him in the state but also at the national level. READ ALSO: EFCC reveals how much physical cash Nigerians can carry to avoid arrest We will visit everybody in our door-to-door campaign including visiting Obasanio in Otta and Babangida in Minna. But if we go and knock and somebody refuses to open his door, in democracy, it is the people that ultimately have the final say. This is what we are out to promote. It is also wrong to conclude that all the retired generals are against him. Yes, some are not in support but many of them are with him. The drivers of the campaign from the BMO to other affiliates are voluntary. Ours is not driven by money movement. There will, of course, be donations like the N100 from individuals, but for the government of President Buhari to dip his hands inside government coffers, will never happen. Everyone has the confidence that it is the fact. The bulk of our funding will come from voluntary donations. Asked how the campaign team intends to confront Nigerians with the impression that there is too much hunger in the land, Marwa said: What we should understand is that it takes years of maturity for crops to bear fruits especially when the soil needs to be nurtured. Because of what the present government met on ground, many Nigerians will know that the situation did not come from President Muhammadu Buhari. He is building the foundation and by the time he comes back to consolidate, we are going to enjoy the harvest. Some states have taken fundamental steps to ginger the economy. For instance, we used to be a mono-cultural economy country but we have diversified now to agriculture, solid mineral and we dont import rice again. The farmers in their teeming millions are beneficiaries; our foreign exchange is conserved. No president has faced the common man like the vice president did, moving around the markets, mingling with the traders and giving out money. It has never happened before. PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda What of the school feeding programme where over 300,000 are engaged. We also look at the credit facilities which are areas that have imparted on Nigerians. We will also remind them of the social investment programme. ''These are the areas we will demonstrate in our door-to-door campaigns that efforts have been made to lay the foundation and show that something has been happening. President Buharis integrity is the key selling point. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that a former governor of Niger state, Babangida Aliyu, assured that the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, will defeat President Buhari in the forthcoming 2019 election if there is no rigging. Aliyu said Atiku would win the presidency if the 2019 election is free and fair. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! The next president of Nigeria: Who will win the 2019 elections? - on Legit TV: Source: Legit Nigeria - Ex-militant leaders in Niger-Delta, under the aegis of Ex-Agitators Leadership Forum, have expressed concern over illegal arms stockpile - Godstime Ogidigba, the group's spokesman, reveals locations of the stockpile - The spokesman alleged the aim of the stockpile was to unleash terror against political opponents Some ex-militant leaders in the Niger-Delta region have expressed worry over illegal arms stockpile by politicians in the area ahead of the February general elections. This was contained in a statement by the groups spokesman Godstime Ogidigba, which was made available to newsmen in Benin on Thursday, January 10, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. READ ALSO: 2019 elections: We didnt endorse Atiku - Ohanaeze Ogigbas group, under the aegis of Ex-Agitators Leadership Forum, said it had information on some locations where the arms were allegedly kept. It said the aim of some politicians was to unleash terror and mayhem against political opponents; and also to rig the elections. The ex-agitatorss spokesman, however, advised all ex-militants in the region not to allow themselves to be used as thugs by desperate politicians to undermine the elections. Ogidigba noted that what the region currently needed was sustainable peace and development. He said: Most politicians have used the festive period as an avenue to smuggle in illegal fire arms and ammunition into the region as part of their evil plans for the 2019 general polls. We have resolved to carefully trace the locations where they are kept, and after thorough information gathering, we will expose the politicians behind the criminal act to the whole world. We want to use this medium to advise our brothers in the Niger-Delta region, especially the ex- agitators and those who surrendered their arms to the federal government, but are yet to be captured in the amnesty programme to be patient. They should not allow themselves to be used as political thugs during the forthcoming elections as there is still room for them to be absorbed into the scheme. We urge Niger Delta politicians and stakeholders to abide by the rules of the Electoral Act to ensure hitch free, fair and credible elections in the region. As the ex-agitators leadership forum in the Niger Delta cannot afford the continued to loss of lives of our brothers and loved ones during elections as was the experience in previous elections. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that an attack by a militant group was carried out on Friday, January 4 on Conoil facility, with a group named Koluama Seven Brothers claiming responsibility and saying it is just a warning. The group said it would "launch a strike to shut down Conoil if their demands were not met. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: We have updated to serve you better! Can Nigeria solve its power problems? Top engineers offer solutions | Legit TV Source: Legit Linda Ikeji is the number one blogger in Nigeria, who always talk about everything and everyone. Recently, Linda Ikeji's life took an unexpected turn she had a baby! It was especially impressive, considering that Linda did not have an official boyfriend or husband. Nobody knew the father of her little son for a really long time until Linda decided to reveal his name to the public one day. Here, you will read everything you always wanted to know about Linda Ikeji son and baby daddy! Photo: premiumtimesng.com Who is Linda Ikeji's baby daddy? For a long time, the identity of Linda Ikejis baby father was nothing more than just speculations. Many Nigerians who follow this celebritys popular blog and are interested in her posts were wondering who the father of her baby is. As for Linda Ikeji herself, she was not too keen on disclosing the identity of the man who made her pregnant. However, when Linda has finally posted a photo together with her little son, the confirmation of peoples speculations has come true. The father of Linda Ikejis baby turned out to be Sholaye Jeremi, who is a businessman and socialite. He is known to be a very influential man in the business world of Nigeria. Sholaye Jeremis birthday is on the 8th of July. He was born somewhere in the late 1970s. He is from Delta State. Sholaye Jeremi is not a public person, which was proven when the fans of Linda Ikeji had trouble telling if he was really her boyfriend at the time, as there was barely any proof of their relationship. Currently, Sholaye Jeremi resides in Ikoyi, Lagos. He is very closely associated with a lot of major Nigerian business tycoons. For example, there are rumors about him being behind a lot of successful contracts made by Dr. Kachukwu Ibe, the Minister of Petroleum. They are reported to have a close professional relationship. Aside that, Sholaye Jeremi was often spotted at business conferences together with the oil magnate Femi Otedola. Rumors have it that this famous magnate often uses the service of Sholaye Jeremi to make his business operations easier. Linda Ikejis baby daddy is also closely linked to the Delta State billionaire Ayiri Emami, who is based in Warri. He also became famous for his oil businesses, in particular, A&E conglomerate specializing in logistics, construction, oil and gas. As Ayiri Emami stated, Sholaye Jeremi is like a brother to him, and he was one of the first famous business people to congratulate him on the birth of his son. Finally, Sholaye Jeremi is also known to be acquaintances with Aliko Dangote. Although there are no confirmed joint businesses between them, they meet at the business conferences quite often. The private matters of Sholaye Jeremi have remained under wraps before Linda Ikeji came into his life. Nowadays, his name has become famous mostly because of the controversy with his famous ex-girlfriend and mother of his child. So, what happened between the famous blogger and businessman? Photo: lailasnews.com Linda Ikeji and Sholaye Jeremi: the story of their relationship One of the latest on Linda Ikeji blog was the post, where she introduced her son to the world. In this post, Linda Ikeji disclosed the information about her romantic involvement with Sholaye Jeremi. First of all, she denied the information that has surfaced on the Internet, about her ex-boyfriend being married to another woman. She said that he was a single man and that she would never get together with someone who is already married. Their romance started all of a sudden. Sholaye and Linda met in December 2015. Their meeting was unexpected since they usually would not hang in the same circles. It was the day after Christmas, and Linda Ikeji together with her friends were having dinner in the Wheatbaker Restaurant, Ikoyi. The celebrity was preparing to move into her new home, which is in Banana Island. Somewhere during the evening, Sholaye Jeremi walked into the bar, and he and Linda quickly noticed each other. It was a major turn-on for Linda that he did not know who she was because usually, all the men she knew were acted like fans around her. As Linda reminisced on her blog, she almost immediately fell in love with this man. The infatuation was real on both sides. Linda Ikeji started to visit her boyfriends house in Lekki quite often, even though it was a long drive from her own house. Usually, she took her laptop with her, so she could work and spend time with Sholaye at the same time. To her, he was a very funny, charismatic and romantic man, and she has never felt for anyone the same way before. It was quite easy to fall for him, and Linda believed that there was a mutual feeling. They were already planning to have a future together only a few weeks after they met, and Sholaye was calling his girlfriend Linda Ikeji Jeremi. Then, something happened, as Sholaye suddenly stopped calling and responding to Lindas messages. The blogger was really confused why it was over all of a sudden. Later, Sholaye got in touch and confessed that Lindas public lifestyle scared him off because he was more used to leading his businesses in privacy and did not want the excess attention. Linda told him that she understands, and they have separated. They reunited some time later in 2016 and tried to amend their relationship, but it did not work out, so they remained friends. By 2017, both were single, and they decided to come back to each other. Linda Ikeji stated that their romance was intense, and they once again started planning their future. Sometimes, she was unable to figure out where their relationship even leads, because she considered them to be from completely different worlds. Many times, Linda walked away. However, due to her fame and publicity, it was easy for Sholaye to keep chasing her, and she would end up coming back to him, simply because she had trouble finding someone else. Photo: withinnigeria.com Very soon, Lindas pregnancy happened. According to her, the baby was not planned, and it was a sudden revelation for her, even though she and Sholaye were joking once about having a billionaire baby. As the blogger confessed, after it came to light that she was carrying a child, things became difficult between Linda and her boyfriend. As her post indicated, there were frequent mood swings on his side too. They talked normally about pregnancy and plan the future of their child and Sholaye even suggested that Linda go to Dubai to have the baby. He promised her a traditional wedding, which they were planning together. However, the other days he would not talk to her at all. He was been on good terms with Lindas parents and even messaged her father every day. Still, things changed very soon: as Linda remembered, Sholaye became aggressive and hateful towards her. He went back on his promise about the wedding and became an absolutely different man. This was the main reason why Linda and her family had to cut off communication with him. Nowadays, Linda Ikeji calls Sholaye Jeremi a completely closed chapter, and she is not considering the opportunity of letting him back into her life. There are no comments on their relationship from Sholaye Jeremi yet. He never publicized his own version of the events. The controversy has affected his rather private lifestyle, but he still is trying to go along with it. READ ALSO: Linda Ikeji built a house for parents: how does it look? Linda Ikeji and her son The little son of Linda Ikeji is named Jayce Jeremi, this is how the public found out about the identity of Lindas baby father. The celebrity blogger gave birth to her baby boy on September 17th, 2018. It was only two days before Lindas 38th birthday. She delivered her baby in Atlanta, United States. At first, she referred to him as just Baby J, until she decided to post another picture with him, where she shared his full name to her followers. According to Linda Ikeji, the amount of love she feels for her little boy is truly immeasurable. When she looks at him, she has tears in her eyes and wonders why it took her so long to become a mother. Linda calls her son her biggest blessing and navigating him through all the life obstacles and challenges are the most important mission for her. Linda Ikeji remembered that her son was her biggest strength through difficult times. The last months of her pregnancy were gentle as if he wanted to go easier on his mother. Lindas delivery was very easy, as she spent only thirty minutes in the labor room. After giving birth, she got in shape very quickly in about three weeks. She calls Jayce her little soldier. Even though Linda is a confident career woman and says that relationships are not the most essential part of her life, she would still want to find someone in the future and her son to grow in a loving home. As for now, she gives him all the love herself. Photo: kemiashefonlovehaven.com READ ALSO: Linda Ikeji gives birth to a baby boy Source: Legit I really believe applications for charter schools are done without proper due diligence to determine whether they (have a) good education financial plan in place, Lux said. What they were making on paper were promises without any proof that they could fulfill (them). Unbridled expansion of charters is just being done for the sake of creating them. New Delhi, January 11: While efforts to look for the 15 trapped miners are underway in the rat-hole mine in Meghalaya, the Supreme Court on Friday told the government to carry on with the rescue operations as 'miracles do happen'. Asked the government about the status of the rescue operations, the top Court said, 'what is being done about persons operating illegal mines & the officials who allowed illegal mines to go on?' According to a tweet by ANI, a bench headed by Justice AK Sikri said, "Carry on with your rescue efforts, what if all or at least some are still alive? Miracles do happen." Meghalaya Mining Tragedy: 28 Lakh Litres of Water Pumped Out of Rat-Hole Mine but No Change in Water Level, Says Navy. On Thursday, agencies used high-powered pumps and managed to drain out 28 lakh litres of water from the main shaft. According to Navy divers, there is no change in the water level in the mine to resume search operation. According to a PTI report, the rescuers are using pumps from Coal India Ltd, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and the Odisha Fire Service. What Is Rat-Hole Mining? 15 Meghalaya Miners Trapped in Illegal Mine Waits for Help From Government. So far, the muti-agencies have managed to pump out 2.1 crore litres of water from the mines. Earlier, the divers couldn't dive in as the water inside was chilling cold and this is making it difficult for the rescue team to carry out their operation. According to a report by PTI, at least 200 rescuers from the Navy, NDRF, the Odisha Fire Service, State Disaster Response Fund, states Fire service and others from CIL and KBL are involved in the multi-agency rescue operations. Earlier, the top Court had expressed strong dissatisfaction over the rescue efforts to trace the miners and had asked the state government to bring them out dead or alive. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 11, 2019 01:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi [India], Jan 11 (ANI): Underlining that no third country can provide "further dialogue" between India and Pakistan, Norway on Friday said it has not been asked to mediate between the two countries nor has it offered to do so. Norwegian Ambassador to India Nils Ragnar Kamsvag, in an interview to ANI, said India and Pakistan should have a "good dialogue" between themselves to reduce tensions. At the same time, he said if anyone approached Norway over any issue, then it would take a call on the same. He also clarified on Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg's remarks, where she had said at an event in the national capital that Oslo could mediate in facilitating peace talks between India and Pakistan if asked for. "No, that was not what she had said. These two countries (India and Pakistan) need to talk together but what she said was a general comment. We made it clear that Norway has not been asked to mediate, neither have we offered to. Our approach is clear. If anyone needs assistance, we will consider it," Kamsvag said. Commenting on the India-Pakistan ties, the Norwegian diplomat said the first and foremost approach to tackle the problem is to have a good dialogue to build confidence on both sides. "The first and foremost approach is when you see India and Pakistan or any other country, it is important to have a good dialogue between the countries. That is the only way you can build confidence on both sides of the border. I don't think when it comes to India and Pakistan, any third party can provide a further dialogue. That dialogue must come from Pakistani side," he elaborated. "In the long run, the issues should be solved through dialogue and they should have open dialogue as well." In November last year, former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik paid 'surprise' visit to separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, which raised eyebrows. The central government later clarified that it was not involved in organising the visit and meetings of Bondevik to Jammu and Kashmir, and that he was on a private visit to India. Responding to the visit, Kamsvag said that Bondevik visited Kashmir in personal capacity and did not travel on behalf of the Norwegian government. Speaking on Solberg's recent visit to India, Kamsvag said the Norwegian Prime Minister was happy with broad agreements on key issues. He said the key outcome in the visit was the Ocean Dialogue which Norway has been formalising with India and the starting of a joint force of blue economy. "We are happy with the meetings and a very warm welcome she got. We are happy with broad agreements on key issues. The key outcome was ocean dialogue which we have been formalising with India and the start with a joint task force of the blue economy. We think it's important for development of economies of Norway and India. Also, we can assist India in using much of their untapped resources present in oceans," he said. Underlining that ocean is a common global good, the diplomat expressed concerns about pollution in seas. Talking about the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Kamsvag lauded India's efforts in focussing and moving forward to achieve its goals. "This is the most important agenda and it is important for a strong international committment for this goal. We are impressed with the way India is focussing on those goals in their policy formation. This is also a typical area where we can jointly discuss to see how can we find policies which most efficiently can help us to reach these goals. It is very important for the global well-being of this century," he said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sonnys Express, which opened in September, had just one routine health inspection last year, during which nine areas of non-compliance were noted, according to the inspection report. Two of these were related to documentation of certain policies and proof of a certified food service sanitation manager, while others involved food temperature issues, improperly labeled deli meat, a hand-washing sink blocked by a bag of ice and employees without proper hair restraints, the report said. Albany County Attorney Peggy Trent provided an update in December about the investigation concerning the fatal police shooting of Robbie Ramirez. She convened a grand jury this week to decide whether to indict Derek Colling over the shooting. Phil Gruber is the news editor at Lancaster Farming. He can be reached at 717-721-4427 or pgruber@lancasterfarming.com. Follow him @PhilLancFarming on Twitter. Rome, January 11 - The Council of State, Italy's highest administrative court, on Friday came out against the transfer of the tourism portfolio from the culture ministry to the agriculture ministry. It said its opinion on the move "can only be perplexed". It said the move was a "copy and paste" job without any "overall strategic vision". Rome, January 11 - An alliance between the European People's Party (EPP) and 'sovereignist' parties is "not on the agenda" after the European elections in May, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani told an ANSA Forum on Friday. "The sovereignists will not get the result they expect, it's only propaganda," he added, speaking of the Italian situation. Deputy Premier and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio's support for the French Yellow vests protest movement is "in favour of subversion," said Tajani, who is also deputy president of Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party. Tajani said Premier Giuseppe Conte "wants to reinforce his position but the Italian government doesn't count in Europe if another deputy premier (Di Maio) sides with those who devastate cities, the Yellow Vests, in favour of subversion". Taxing bodies are allowed to ask for more than [they need] by the state, including the new developments, Baron said. One thing is to say no, you cant do that. You work with the money you have and allow the tax base to be bigger. Were not going to cut taxes, but lets slow down the growth. The other thing on a village level is look at everything we do and really analyze it. With tax increment financing district funds, [we used] $6 million to build the District 97 administration building [in 2016]. What does that have anything to do with the quality of education in the classrooms? Rome, January 11 - Deputy Premier and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio's support for the French Yellow vests protest movement is "in favour of subversion," European Parliament President and centre-right Forza Italia (FI) Deputy President Antonio Tajani told an ANSA Forum Friday. Tajani said Premier Giuseppe Conte "wants to reinforce his position but the Italian government doesn't count in Europe if another deputy premier sides with those who devastate cities, the Yellow Vests, in favour of subversion". Rome, January 11 - Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli on Friday claimed credit for helping drive down migrant arrivals in Italy saying the anti-migrant League would have done "nothing" without his help. He stressed that government choices had sharply reduced the entrance of migrants in Italy and that he had been fundamental in this. "If I had not been there," he said. "The League could not have done anything if I and (League leader, deputy prime minister and interior minister Matteo) Salvini had not worked together. I am in charge of the security of sailing from the time the vessels weigh anchor until they dock in the port and he is in charge after that, for the disembarking and public order." Toninelli added that in 2018, "thanks to only 7 months of the 'government of change', there has been a 90% drop in migrant landings in Italy. What does this mean? How many fewer deaths?". Rome, January 11 - The lack of a solution to Rome's trash crisis is "depressing", Rome Auxiliary Bishop Msgr Paolo Lojudice told Radio Vaticana Italia Friday. "I, as a simple citizen, ask myself a simple question: how on earth is a great city unable to solve the problem of rubbish?", he said. "Is it so impossible? Is there really no solution? This is what people are asking, you feel bitter, depressed". Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi has been criticised for allegedly failing to solve the capital's trash woes. Rome, January 11 - The deputy mayor of Trieste, Paolo Polidori, has been fined 100 euros for throwing the blankets and clothes of a homeless Romanian rough sleeper in the trash. He had boasted of the act on Facebook. "I went to the police myself," he said, and "I have already paid" the fine. Trieste citizens rallied to help the man providing him with fresh bedding and clothes after the incident. Rome, January 11 - The League's attending a rally in favour of the Turin-Lyon high-speed rail (TAV) line in Turin Saturday is "not a problem", Premier Giuseppe Conte said Friday. Conte is close to the other government partner, the 5-Star Movement, which unlike the League is against the TAV project. The government is set to say whether the TAV should go ahead based on a cost/benefit analysis which early reports say has turned out negative. Conte said the government's decision would be "transparent". I think you begin by having that conversation with community members and businesses that look to expand, Thomas said. You have to ask them what are their needs, listen to what they want and work as elected officials to support those needs. I dont think Ill walk into this conversation with all of those answers, and it would be [improper] to believe that I do. I will work to make sure I can support those local businesses that want to come here and those that want to expand. Appropriation bills need to be agreed upon and passed by the beginning of the fiscal year as required by law. There should be no need to shut down the government to work out differences when they should have been worked out prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. As the firstborn Fieseler child, my parents didn't know what to do with me or my situation because as is the nature of raising a first child they lacked a foundation of experience to inform their parenting decisions. In the absence of such a foundation, as is common, they turned to other parents for advice, who tended to parrot the normative point of view about raising a moral kid. My parents loved me very much, but they were nervous about doing a good job and not coddling or spoiling me by offering exceptions or accepting excuses or taking me off the normal kids route. Naperville resident Elizabeth Reimer, a sophomore who is majoring in peace, justice and conflict studies and the Bible and religion, was named to the deans list at Goshen College in Goshen, Ind., for the fall semester. POLSON - Authorities have released details on what led to a car crashing into the back of a ranch supply store on Jan. 8. Lake County Sheriff Don Bell says on the afternoon of Jan. 8, a 76-year-old man was driving with a 57-year-old passenger. The driver, identified as Mervin Payne, apparently suffered a heart attack while driving and the car veered across Highway 93, through a field and into the back of the Murdoch's store. Payne died of "natural causes" likely due to the cardiac event, Bell says. His passenger, Crystal Anderson, was taken to the hospital where she also died of a heart attack. Payne's dog survived the crash and was taken care of by Murdoch's staff while responders came to the scene. The dog, Babe, is under the care of Life Savers Animal Rescue. They're working to transport the dog to Payne's family in Washington, according to a post from the nonprofit. "The Lake County Sheriffs Office would like to thank the staff at Murdochs of Polson for caring for a dog who was involved in the crash, while responders tended to the victims and the scene and Lifesavers animal rescue, who are facilitating care and transportation of the dog to the owners next of kin, who live out of state. We also wish to extend our condolences to the Payne and Anderson families." Stockman Bank is offering furloughed federal employees assistance on loan payments as day 19 of the partial government shutdown continues. Montana based Stockman bank is taking customer service to a new level. "It's really an offering to our customers that are impacted by the government shutdown," Stockman Missoula branch president Bob Burns said. "It's really important for us to react and do things that we can do to help our customers during this difficult time." Burns adds Stockman bank operates at 34 branch locations across the state, and if you're a federal worker, Stockman's is here to help. "If we have loans with these customers, we're willing to offer some deferred payment plans, some restructuring of loans, anything that we can do within our power to get them through this time," Burns said. The special offering isn't just during the shutdown, Burns says their customers can even get help after the battle over the border wall ends. "We'll reassess, I think a lot will depend on the length of the shutdown, and each customer is going to have a unique situation as to how they're impacted," Burns said. "We're willing to assist them through the end of this, and even afterwards to make sure the financial impact is a minimal as we can make it." Stockman Bank also offered assistance to federal workers back in 2013, during the Barack Obama Administration shutdown. Burns said to visit any of their branch locations and ask for a consumer lender to see options available. He said helping customers has always been their number one priority. "I think it's important for Montanans to know that Stockman Bank is committed to the communities and its customers to get them through difficult times such as this," Burns said. Missoula Federal Credit Union announced Wednesday afternoon they will also help furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown. Click here for more information. A new bill will be presented during the legislative session to insure firefighters who get cancer and other illnesses on the job. A few firefighters are currently volunteering their time in Helena right now fighting to get the bill called 'Montana Firefighter Protection Act 2019', passed. Cameron Abell is the political action chairman for Billings Firefighters Local 521. He said the firefighters that are in Helena are spending this week in meetings and building relationships and inform the legislators what the bill is about so the legisators can make an informed decision. Abell explained what the bill consists of. "The Montana Firefighter Health and Safety bill is a bill to help firefighters that get cancer from the job," Abell said. "There are a few other diseases that we've included such as Hepatitis, as well as other communical diseases as well as cardiac events related to a firefighting event. But these are diseases and illnesdes that we get on the job and that are not covered under workers comp. 47 other states have bills to protect firefighters that get these illnesses on the job and we're trying to get caught with the rest of the nation right now." Abell said there may be some opposition on the bill in Helena, stating concerns about the rate of workers compensation. He said workers comp rates that have passed the same bill in other states have gone down significantly. After more than 15 years of trying to get a bill passed to cover firefighters who get cancer from the job, Abell is hoping this year will be the year. The Montana State Council of Professional Firefighters hope to get the bill presented as early as next week. If the government does not re-open by Saturday, this will become the longest shutdown in U.S. history. So far the shutdown has lasted 20 days. KULR-8 spoke to the family member of a furloughed worker to see how they are being effected by the shutdown. "When this happens what people don't understand is that this is not a vacation, I think the general public thinks this is a vacation, and it's not," said Jacqie Hanes. Jacqie Hanes's husband has worked as a federal special agent for more than thirty years, with three different agencies. 15 of those years have been with his department in Billings. Hanes said this isn't the first shutdown the family has experienced, but this is the first agency he's worked with where he's been deemed non-essential. Jacqie is speaking for her husband, who does not have permission to speak with media at this time. We also cannot say what agency he works for. "Just how frustrated he is that this is happening and that he can't go to work, that is his biggest thing. It's hard enough to not get paid and go to work but for him he's highly trained he's been going for over thirty years in law enforcement," said Hanes. She says her husband believes they're asked to do a job, and while on furlough, he and others in his agency can't do their meaningful work. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more work he and other furloughed employees will have to do once they do return to their jobs. "When it's all said and done everybody is saying, 'oh good everybody's back to work they're going to get paid.' Well now he's stuck with a month or three weeks or two weeks of extra stuff that he didn't even know was happening until now," Hanes explained. Hanes says the furloughed workers are amazed by how long the shutdown is lasting. They say politics aside, it's time for congress to do their job. "We just feel that congress should be held accountable the same way that his job is and do your work, do it well, figure it out, get it done," Hanes said. She said her husband is nearing retirement and the family should be able to handle the shutdown's financial impact. But she said for others who are just starting their career, she isn't sure how long they will be able to last on furlough. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 21 days back in 1995 under President Bill Clinton. Officers were called to the store about 7:15 p.m. in response to the two incidents involving the same suspect, police said. The first occurred about 2:30 p.m. when a man left the store without paying for a $79 pair of headphones. Three and a half hours later, the same man was stopped by Walmart crime prevention employees as he was walking out with a $278 television, police said. The accident happened about 2:35 a.m. on Nov. 23, 2016, on Naper Boulevard, south of Ogden Avenue, police said. Vera lost control of the SUV he was driving, The vehicle left the road, rolled over and struck a tree. He and Dokken were taken to a hospital, where Dokken died from multiple injuries, Assistant States Attorney Mike Fisher told Judge Jeffrey MacKay. Wake Up Call will show a life-size exhibit of a teen's bedroom with more than 20 red flags that can signal drug or alcohol use. A resource fair with local support services will follow so parents can seek additional information and assistance. Woman, baby located in Skamania Co. after Clark Co. deputies ask for help finding them 'Sparrow Club teaches Portland-area students to have compassion for peers in need Photo provided to FOX 12 of Carl Rainey at wedding, on left. On right, Carl Rainey in court Thursday. Portland bar sues for $115K, says bartender was drunk on the job We are also imploring the person who struck our victim to do the right thing and come in and see us, he said. We understand the crash was not on purpose. We understand it was an accident, but you struck someone and you need to talk to us. Bernie Sanders apologizes to women on his 2016 campaign who were 'harassed or mistreated' Fair brought the girl to a local hospital and initially said she had fallen and hit her head, although he later admitted to police that he had shaken her really hard, and beaten her as punishment for spilling the juice, Scheller said. At the time of his arrest in 2011, Pieri was the highest ranking member of the Highwood Fire Department, the husband of a sitting alderman and the son of a former alderman. He was placed on administrative leave, but continued to draw his $66,000 a year salary until the fall of 2013, when the Highwood Fire and Police Commission suspended him without pay. Reported confession of JonBenet Ramsey killing going viral is not what it seems, police say ST. LOUIS (AP) A prosecutor said Friday that he won't seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing a woman and sexually assaulting two others inside a suburban St. Louis religious supplies store. Alleged Catholic Supply killer charged in separate sexual assault of elderly woman The man accused of sexually assaulting and murdering a woman inside a St. Louis County Catholic Supply store is now a suspect in an assault of an elderly woman in rural Jefferson County, according to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department. Wesley Bell, who took over as St. Louis County prosecutor this month, told The Associated Press in a statement that although he won't seek capital punishment for Thomas Bruce in the Nov. 19 attack, he will work to ensure that the one-time minister spends the rest of his days behind bars. "These are horrific crimes," Bell said. "I will use all the resources of the State of Missouri and my office to see to it that the person who killed Jamie Schmidt and violently sexually assaulted two other victims at the Catholic Supply Store will spend the rest of his life in prison with no possibility of parole." Bruce, 53, is charged with first-degree murder, sodomy, kidnapping and other crimes. Authorities say Bruce, who was armed with a gun, forced Schmidt and the other two women who were in the store near the suburb of Ballwin into a back room and that he shot Schmidt in the head when she refused his sexual demands. Schmidt, who had been shopping at the store, was a 53-year-old married mother of three. James G'Sell, a deacon at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church who was speaking on behalf of Schmidt's family, said her husband, Greg Schmidt, supports Bell's decision. "Greg thinks in many ways that the death penalty is easier, too generous on Thomas Bruce, because he needs to suffer the consequences of his actions, think about what he did every day for the rest of his life," G'Sell said. Wife of accused killer Thomas Bruce distraught and very sorry, friend says On Monday, detectives were back at the Imperial home of accused killer Thomas Bruce gathering more potential evidence. Bell, who expressed his opposition to capital punishment while campaigning, ran unopposed in November after defeating longtime incumbent Bob McCulloch in the Democratic primary. Although the attack happened while McCulloch was still in office, the hardline law-and-order prosecutor said it would up to Bell to determine whether to seek the death penalty against Bruce. Bruce, who was from another St. Louis suburb, Imperial, had no criminal record at the time of his arrest, but police are looking into whether he could be connected to unsolved sexual assaults. Investigators said they don't think he knew Schmidt or the other victims in the November attack, which terrified the area before his arrest two days later. Bruce claimed to be a Navy veteran on his LinkedIn page. The Missouri secretary of state's office identifies him as the operator of a nonprofit church formed in 2003 and dissolved in 2007. David Fitzgerald, a Missouri pastor, told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Bruce was a pastor at Calvary Chapel of Cape Girardeau during that time. Authorities do not believe there was a religious motive for the attack. Missouri has executed 88 men since the death penalty was reinstated three decades ago. But the state's last execution was in January 2017 and just one person was sentenced to death in Missouri last year. This Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, photo released by the Wyoming, Pa., Police Department shows a booking photo of Ashley Keister. Police in Pennsylvania said Keister smashed her way into a closed police station looking for an officer she'd been sexually harassing ever since he arrested her. Police said Keister, of Nanticoke, used a large cigarette butt receptacle to smash glass doors into the West Wyoming police building on Monday. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (KMOV.com) -- St. Louis City police were involved in a pursuit Thursday afternoon with suspects they believe to be related to the murder of a St. Ann shop owner last week. Police say the pursuit began around 11:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Ann when a detective spotted a vehicle involved in a St. Ann homicide investigation. The detective pursued the vehicle into St. Louis city where St. Louis Metropolitan Police assisted and captured the suspect's vehicle. The pursuit ended in the 1500 block of Gano in the College Hill neighborhood of north St. Louis. According to police, two suspects, a male and a female, were taken into custody. Investigation continues after St. Ann auto shop owner dies after being shot in the face A shop owner who was shot in the face at an auto shop in St. Ann Friday morning has died. The investigation was launched after 32-year-old Talmadge Smith was shot in the face at T&R Pit Stop on St. Charles Rock Road last week. Smith, the shop owner of T&R, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and later died. During the incident at T&R, at least one car was stolen from the property, and three other cars sustained bullet damage, according to police. No word yet from police if the stolen car was the one involved in the police pursuit Thursday afternoon. This is a developing story. News 4 will continue to update this story as more information is made available. JOHANNESBURG, Jan 11 (Reuters) - South African gold mining company Sibanye-Stillwater said on Friday that its lenders had agreed to extend its debt covenants at the upper limit of its facilities. The company has been on an spending spree in a bid to diversify away from gold including making an all-share offer for London-listed Lonmin in 2017 in a deal worth 285 million pounds ($363 million). Sibanye said the 13 South African and international banks comprising its U.S. dollar and rand revolving credit facilities had agreed to retain the upper limit of its credit facilities and the same terms for a further 12 months. "The headroom resulting from the extension provides sufficient financial flexibility and should provide the market with additional confidence, Chief Executive Neal Froneman said in a statement. ($1 = 0.7854 pounds) (Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; editing by Jason Neely) Messaging: tanisha.heiberg.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. (Kitco News) - While gold may be considered the king of all metals to some, one emerging nonprofit sees a new metal as much more precious one that saves lives, literally. Humanium Metal is a metal derived from melting down seized illegal firearms and is part of an initiative by IM Swedish Development Partner (IM), a development organization focused on fighting poverty, violence and social exclusion. We take scrap metal and convert it into the most valuable metal on Earth, Peter Brune, a senior policy advisory for the initiative, told Kitco News in a phone interview. You cannot measure the life of a human being in gold but with this metal, we can save lives. The initiative was born in 2016 while Brune was working in the Central American Small Arms Control (CASAC) program an initiative involving the destruction of illegal firearms in Latin America. The scrap metal coming from these melted weapons was being dumped into the Pacific Ocean and that is when Brune realized something needed to be done. Working with IM, Brune launched the demo product, the Humanium Metal ingot, initially selling 100 bars at a price tag of roughly 5,000, he said. The ingot corresponds, in its weight, to one AK-47, he explained. That is its symbolic value. How does the Humanium Metal process work? Brune and his team are partnered with the government of El Salvador, which supplies them with the firearms to produce the metal. In return, IM partners with brands that use the metal in products, which includes everything from watches, jewelry to even tech gadgets like earbuds. The proceeds are then invested back into El Salvador. We are trying to gain access to more countries to give us Humanium Metal as a donation because we will never buy firearms for this purpose, Brune said. We will only get seized firearms that authorities have destroyed, have them make a donation to us and we commit ourselves to reinvest the premium generated back into their countries. In El Salvador, the initiative has taken over 4,500 firearms off the hands of the government over the last three years, Brune explained. Currently, the initiative has six brand partners, including Stockholm-based innovation lab Yevo, that have committed to produce items with the new metal. The first company was a Stockholm-based watchmaker called TRIWA an acronym for Transforming Industry of Watches and when Sweden held the presidency of the UN Security Council, all the members got watches that were labeled Time for Peace, Brune said. What is next for Humanium Metal? According to Brune, there are three main avenues in which this initiative will push forward. Brune and his team have to deal with the challenge of having a constant supply of Humanium Metal by partnering with more governments that are seizing illegal firearms. We are negotiating with other countries like Honduras and Brazil at the moment, he said. Second, they are exploring new applications for the metal. We dont sell the ingots any longer. That was for demo purposes, Brune said. Instead, the steel from firearms is now being turned into powder form, and brands are using it to create products via 3D printing, Brune explained. However, Brunes main goal now is to partner with global-reaching brands. While he disclosed he is in negotiations, he said he cannot reveal the names yet. This is not just a campaign. It is a long-term initiative, he said. Humanium is a commodity for peace. By Tom Daly BEIJING, Jan 11 (Reuters) - China's refined zinc production saw its steepest plunge since 2013 last year amid tight raw material supply, longer maintenance periods and the relocation of the country's top smelter, according to Antaike, the research arm of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association. But a recent spike in treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) in China, the top producer of the metal used to galvanise steel, could lead to a rebound this year, some analysts expect. The country's zinc output came in at 4.53 million tonnes in 2018, according to a survey of smelters by Antaike released on Friday. That marked a fall of 4.6 percent, or 218,000 tonnes, from 2017. December output slipped by 4.4 percent on a daily basis from November to a monthly total of 393,000 tonnes as Zhuzhou Smelter Group , the country's top producer, went ahead with a planned relocation within southern China's Hunan province. The company, a unit of China Minmetals Corp , said on Dec. 28 its new 300,000 tonnes per year smelter in Changning had started up and its older facility in Zhuzhou had shut down. Explaining the steep annual drop, Antaike noted that Zhuzhou had started to reduce output in the second half of 2018, while smelters were also losing money because of low treatment charges, faced tighter funding and environmental constraints and saw new capacity launches delayed. With overseas mine supply recovering in late 2018, however, treatment charges - paid by miners to smelters to process ore into refined metal - have now reached $180 a tonne, the highest since December 2015. The increase "could see smelters raise run rates and weigh on prices", brokerage Marex Spectron said in a note. Zinc was the worst performer in the base metals complex in 2018, posting a 25.7 percent drop on concerns of oversupply. It is up 0.6 percent so far this year. (Reporting by Tom Daly Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) Trump imposed the measures last May, citing national security. Canada condemned the move and initially suggested it would not ink a new continental trade pact with the United States and Mexico unless the sanctions were lifted. Trudeau, who did end up signing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement last November, said the government was trying to change Trump's mind as the United States prepared to start the ratification of the pact. "We have already been working with members of Congress, with governors, with business interests who are being affected negatively by these tariffs ... to put pressure on the President that in the process of ratification, they (the United States) should remove those steel and aluminum tariffs," he said. Trudeau made his remarks during a televised question-and-answer session with an audience in Regina in the western province of Saskatchewan. Asked why he had signed the USMCA with the tariffs still in place, Trudeau said securing the deal "at a time of unpredictability and protectionism in the United States was a massive priority for all Canadians". Canada sends 75 percent of all its goods exports to the United States. Trudeau and Trump discussed the tariffs on Monday but no talks on lifting the sanctions are planned, a Canadian source familiar with the matter said. U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said on Wednesday the measures would have to be lifted in order to get agricultural interests to support congressional approval for the USMCA. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) UPDATE: Elaine Lieb is listed in critical condition at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. FREEBORN COUNTY, Minn. - An Albert Lea man died and a female passenger in the vehicle suffered life-threatening injuries during a one-vehicle crash Thursday on Interstate-90. The Minnesota State Patrol said 76-year-old William Studer suffered an unknown medical emergency and drove a 2002 Honda CRV off the roadway at around 3:32 p.m. Studer was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle continued through a farm field before vaulting over Freeborn County Rd. 30, according to MSP. The vehicle continued, going over Freeborn County Rd. 46 before it rolled multiple times. The female passenger, 80-year-old Eliane Lieb, of Albert Lea, was ejected from the vehicle and was taken via ground ambulance before being flown to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. The accident occurred on I-90 east of Hayward. OLMSTED COUNTY, Minn. - Authorities want the public to keep an eye out for a stolen vehicle and a person allegedly casing houses. The Olmsted County Sheriffs Office said deputies were called to the 3400 block of Hidden Hills Lane NE Havorhill Township for a suspicious circumstances call. A 64-year-old woman says an unknown male rang her doorbell and she could see he was walking around her home before leaving in a black SUV. The womans husband arrived home when the vehicle was leaving and was able to take down the license plate number. The black SUV, a new Toyota Rav 4 with Minnesota plates ACR-060, was reported stolen from a St. Paul burglary on Jan. 7. The suspect, who claimed he was at the residence after responding to a Craigslist ad, is described as a black male, around 6-foot and 25-30 years old. Anyone who sees the vehicle is asked to call 911. WASHINGTON (AP) House Republicans are criticizing a fellow GOP lawmaker for making what they say are "racist" comments. Rep. Steve King of Iowa was quoted in The New York Times as saying: "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization how did that language become offensive?" Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the third-ranking House Republican, tweets that King's remarks are "abhorrent and racist and should have no place in our national discourse." And Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan says: "This is an embrace of racism, and it has no place in Congress or anywhere." King later tweeted that he regards white nationalism and white supremacy as "evil." He's already in line to face a primary challenger in 2020. Randy Feenstra, a Republican state senator, announced on Wednesday that he plans to run against King. The student initially told school officials the teachers aide had showed her a video on his phone of him committing a lewd act, according to the police report. The report also said the student at first told school officials that the teachers aide then asked her to take her phone into a school bathroom and make a similar video. According to police, during a followup interview with the states attorneys office, the student recanted part of the story, telling police she was not asked to make a video and that the teachers aide did not hand her the phone, instead saying she had taken his phone off the table. AUSTIN, Minn. A woman accused of writing thousands of dollars in bad and forged checks is pleading not guilty. Dixie Lou Denhof, 39 of Austin, is charged with issuing a dishonored check, 5th degree drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and check forgery. She was arrested the evening of December 17, 2018, after Austin police were called to Runnings about a woman writing bad checks. Police say store employees pointed out Denhof as a woman who had previously written $576.99 worth of checks to the store that had been returned for insufficient funds. Police say when they attempted to speak with Denhof, she ignored them. When officers arrested her, they say Denhof started yelling and swearing and threatening suicide. Police say a search of Denhofs purse found a small amount of heroin, a methamphetamine pipe, and two forged checks for $1,900. Officers say when Denhof was questioned, she admitted writing three other forged checks totaling $1,882.35. Denhof entered not guilty pleas Thursday. Her trial is scheduled for July 8. FOREST CITY, Iowa Stealing mail and dealing drugs will not be sending a Leland man to prison. Carl Douglas Werstein, 36, pleaded guilty in Hancock County to ongoing criminal conduct and in Winnebago County to a controlled substance violation. Melissa Albertson Melissa Albertson Authorities say he stole over $1,000 of items from 12 different rural mailboxes in Hancock County between December 2017 and March 2018. Law enforcement says a search of a Winnebago County home where Werstein was living with Melissa Albertson found marijuana, a scale, and multiple forms of drug paraphernalia. Werstein has now been ordered to spend five years on probation. Albertson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deliver marijuana and got five years of probation and a deferred judgment, which means this conviction will be removed from her record if she successfully completes her probation. FOREST CITY, Iowa A second Minnesota man is sentenced for a Winnebago County drug bust. Jonah Pedar Remker, 24 of Owatonna, MN, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver marijuana and was ordered Friday to serve five years on supervised probation and pay a $750 civil penalty. Remker received a deferred judgment, which means this conviction will be removed from his record if he meets all the terms of his probation. Remker and Isaiah Craig of Apple Valley, MN, were arrested after a March 2018 search of a Forest City home where police said they found 41 grams of marijuana and $1,865 in cash. Craig previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony and was also given a deferred judgment and five years of probation. HIBBING, Minn. (AP) Authorities say an Aurora man found dead on a snowmobile trail in Hibbing was blindfolded, marched into the woods and shot twice in the face for allegedly pursuing another man's 17-year-old girlfriend. The body of 33-year-old Joshua LaValley was found Sunday along the Mesabi Trail. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports 18-year-old Deshon Bonnell and 20-year-old Anthony Howson were each charged Thursday with second-degree murder, kidnapping and robbery. They're jailed in lieu of $1 million bail and are scheduled to appear in court Jan. 17. The teenage girl faces the same counts in juvenile court. All three suspects are from Hibbing. FOREST CITY, Iowa A trial is set for a man accused of threatening to burn down a womans house. Bradley Allen Rauk, 40 of Altoona, is charged with threat-explosive or incendiary device. Authorities say he sent text messages to the victim in November 2018, stating he would burn down her house and set her car and other belongings on fire. According to court documents, Rauk sent the Forest City woman over 95 text messages and called her more than 25 times in a 20 day period, despite there being a no-contact order in place. Law enforcement also says Rauk put a for-sale sign at the end of the victims driveway with his phone number on it. His trial is now scheduled to begin on February 27. ROCHESTER, Minn. A jury has found a Rochester man guilty of burglary and rape. Merwin Andrew Coleman, 30, was charged in June with 1st degree burglary and 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct. Authorities say that after a party in Stewartville on June 3, 2018, he returned to the home, crawled into bed with a woman, and raped her. According to court documents, Coleman claimed the woman sent him social media messages inviting him to have sex and claimed he gave her high-dosage Xanax pills in exchange for sex. Colemans trial began Tuesday and a guilty verdict was returned on Thursday. His sentencing is set for March 25. Coleman remains held without bond in the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center. ROCHESTER, Minn. - Now that the government shutdown is a few weeks in, it is hitting too close to home for people in Southern Minnesota as approximately 1,600 federal employees are getting required to work without pay. This hits too close to home for some employees -- like Heidi Wiplinger, a Correctional Officer at the Federal Medical Center and Union Steward for Local 3947. She is pinching pennies to make ends meet without a steady paycheck. "Every purchase, everything is starting to become more of a budget and analyzing every purchase before you make it," Wiplinger said. Wiplinger has triplets and says buying the necessities like groceries is difficult. "I was thinking about the things we are gonna need to get milk and bread and staying on top of those things," Wiplinger said. Ultimately, she has one request: an end already or else she will have to resort to other means. "If we get to a point which it will happen, I'm gonna have to swallow my pride and ask for help," Wiplinger said. She is also thinking of putting her house on the market since finances are tight. FOREST CITY, Iowa - It's a technique that is proven to save lives: CPR. But only about 3 in 10 adults in the U.S. have up-to-date training on how to perform it. But if you're among those who don't, a new tool at the Forest City YMCA could help you understand its importance. CPR instructor Ree Pederson is teaching Waldorf student Ricardo Magana how to use a new interactive mannequin, named Big Red. With each chest compression, Magana is able to see the blood flow up through the neck and into Big Red's brain, as well as showing a pulse, thanks to LED lighting. He says using the new mannequin has taught him more than those he's attended in the past. "With this one, I can actually tell that I was doing it sometimes wrong in practice, but I just learned a lot right now." Classes will soon be offered to the public so that they can practice on Big Red as well, and Magana encourages anyone to attend and have the knowledge. "You just gotta know how to accept and how to put your hands on...and loosening up the fear of I'm going to break his ribs or I'm gonna do something...it's not hard to learn." CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - The FDA inspects around 75% of the food we get from the grocery store. But after the start of the partial federal shutdown, routine inspections of domestic food processing facilities ceased. However, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb plans to resume reviews of high-risk foods as soon as next week, as it makes up around 31% of all domestic inspections. Imported food products will still be inspected, as well as monitoring for critical events such as food poisoning. Despite this announcement, it doesn't sit well with those who want routine checks of all food products to restarted. A woman, who asked to be anonymous, has been floored three times by gut-wrenching food poisoning from chicken, and now, she does her research when it comes to shopping for groceries. "As a consumer and as a parent, you want what's best. You don't want your kids coming down with sickness or E. coli or any of that. Every step that you can take I think is a very good measure." With the shutdown ongoing, she's hoping routine inspections resume soon. "It's very concerning because some, even though they're keeping the strict standards, something still might fall through the cracks because they don't have enough staff to cover." Bruce Malwitz grows a lot of his own food, but is also a regular at Randy's Neighborhood Market in Clear Lake. While he also wants regular inspections to resume, as they are a necessity, he trusts the distributors and suppliers the store uses. "I've been shopping here for years, and haven't had a problem, outside of overeating." Store bookkeeper and office manager Sharon McDonald trusts their vendors as well. "We're real stringent about ours as far as the produce, we get from the same supplier and we know his product. Most of our cheeses are name brand, so they're inspected more at the factory. I don't think there's a big danger if you know the company that you're buying from." Denouncing big money in politics is fast becoming a rallying cry for Democrats hoping to win over the party's progressive voters ahead of the 2020 presidential election. But some of the party's fundraisers and strategists say those candidates may have little power to rein in the party's big elite fundraisers and donors, who are eager to raise and spend whatever it takes to topple President Donald Trump. 2016 Presidential election Barack Obama Campaign finance Cory Booker Elections (by type) Elections and campaigns Elizabeth Warren Government and public administration Government organizations - US Hillary Clinton Political Action Committees Political candidates Political donations and fundraising Political Figures - US Political organizations Politics US Congress US Democratic Party US Federal elections US political parties US Presidential elections US Senate US Senate elections Swearing off super PACs headed into 2020 is "like bringing a butter knife to a gun fight," said Dallas lawyer Marc Stanley, who raised money for President Barack Obama and 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Stanley also helped create a super PAC that attacked Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz on the airwaves during the 2018 Senate campaign, despite Democratic nominee Beto O'Rourke disavowing such groups. "I would prefer that we had public funding of campaigns or just small donors funding campaigns," Stanley told CNN this week. "But it's just not reality. We need to be prepared to fight. The consequences of this election are just too great." A number of likely candidates are renouncing super PACs and direct donations from corporate political actions committees. For example, former House and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, who is scheduled to announce his 2020 plans on Saturday, recently pledged to refuse PAC contributions and has challenged other Democrats to do the same. O' Rourke, who is mulling his own bid, rejected all PAC money in his unsuccessful Senate campaign and still raised a staggering $80 million, powered, in part, by his online supporters. This week, aides to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who recently kicked off a presidential exploratory committee, upped the demand that Democrats reject super PACs and self-funding candidates, blasting out a campaign email that urged rivals "to show some moral backbone." Early super PAC activity But some Democratic super PACs already have begun to amass large sums to prepare for a protracted battle for the party's nomination and to confront a President who raised an unprecedented $106 million for his re-election before even hitting the two-year mark of his first term. Steve Phillips, a prominent San Francisco donor, said he has secured $4 million in pledges for Dream United, a super PAC he recently established to support a potential presidential bid by New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker. He said he's hopeful he can raise $10 million by the end of March, the first fundraising quarter of the election cycle. Super PACs are a powerful weapon in politics because they allow political operatives to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from virtually any source as long as they do not coordinate their spending decisions with candidates. Phillips himself staged an independent effort that spent $11 million to back Obama's first presidential campaign in 2008, even though Obama never endorsed the move. He said his new group will provide a vehicle for well-off donors, particularly those from racial and ethnic minority groups, to show their support for Booker, the first African-American elected to the US Senate from New Jersey. "Cory, like Obama, inspires people across the full economic spectrum," Phillips said. He said Booker built relationships with low-income New Jersey residents during his tenure as Newark mayor but also has "enthusiastic supporters in the 1%." Booker has not endorsed Phillips' effort. Booker spokesman Jeff Giertz told CNN that the senator still is weighing whether to seek the presidency. "There has been no activity on his part or that of his team to organize or endorse the creation of a super PAC," Giertz said in an email. But Phillips said his work will continue, likely focused on promoting Booker's candidacy in the states that follow Iowa and New Hampshire in the nomination process, including South Carolina, Nevada and possibly California, which recently moved up its primary to March. Another super PAC, Priorities USA Action, and its nonprofit arm already are working to build an operation to target Trump and defend Democrats' eventual nominee. Priorities, created to help Obama win a second term in 2012 and deployed again to aid Hillary Clinton in 2016, has secured pledges totaling $74 million, said its executive director Patrick McHugh. That's nearly twice what it had raised at the same point in the last presidential cycle, he said. "We agree that Citizens United should be overturned to get big money out of politics," McHugh said, referring to Supreme Court ruling that helped pave the way for unlimited corporate spending in candidate races. "But we already are facing an onslaught of money from the other side, and we've got be prepared for the general election when it comes." Self-funders Warren, a Harvard professor turned consumer advocate, already has a vast base of small-dollar donors. More than $6 out of every $10 she collected from individuals for her 2018 Senate re-election came in amounts of $200 or less -- one of the highest proportions of small-donor support among members of Congress considering White House campaigns, federal campaign-finance records show. Within days of announcing her exploratory committee, Warren fired warning shots at moneyed interests, criticizing both super PACs and the wealthy businessmen who are considering funding their own campaigns for the Democratic nomination. "No to the billionaires," Warren said earlier this month on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show," asking Democrats to "link arms" in support of grass-roots funding. This week, one billionaire -- former hedge-fund manager Tom Steyer -- took himself out of the running for president. But others, most notably former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, are considering bids. Bloomberg, speaking Friday in Texas, said using his own money to fund his three successful campaigns for New York mayor guaranteed he was not beholden to contributors. He said he would self-fund a White House bid if he runs. "I think not having to adjust what you say and what you worked on, based on who financed your campaign, is one of the things that the public really likes," Bloomberg said. Another independently wealthy businessman, former Maryland congressman John Delaney, has been running for president for nearly two years, primarily off money he has personally given to his long-shot campaign. "I don't think it is a negative at all to invest your money in yourself and campaign," said Delaney, who also raised money for Clinton in 2016. "I have more respect for the American people than that and I think they, when you are running for President, the candidates who are good, whether they are self-funders or not, will rise to the top." In an interview with CNN, Delaney acknowledged that the rise of digital fundraising makes large-dollar donations less important. "It has to be that. The question is to what degree," he said. "The fact there is a whole new way for people to raise money, by definition, means that traditional fundraising is a smaller part of the pie. But that doesn't mean it's not important." Steve Elmendorf, a veteran Washington lobbyist who raised money for Clinton and served as a senior aide in Democrat John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, said pragmatism, rather than lofty principles, likely will govern how much candidates rely on super PACs and the fundraisers who "bundle" together campaign donations. "If you are a senator or a governor who has no proven record of raising online money, you're going to need some bundlers to get you going on the ground in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada." "Not to be cynical, but I think people adjust to the situation at hand," Elmendorf told CNN. "Elizabeth Warren doesn't need a super PAC. She's a proven online fundraiser. Some other people may." We must never forget her name, Habun said. Our theme is a reminder that we will be measuring ourselves, our city leadership and who we are as a community as we honor Dr. King. We are in a time of challenge and controversy and justice must take presence over comfort. Nurses and midwives at St Lukes General Hospital and the Carlow-Kilkenny Community Services will strike at the end of this month. Members of the Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation in Kilkenny are set to take part in a series of nationwide 24-hour strikes - with the first strike on January 30. There will be further 24 hour strikes on February 5 and 7, and then again on February 12, 13 and 14, if the dispute is not resolved. The INMO announced the series of strikes on Tuesday in response to concerns about staffing levels and pay rates. The INMO argues there is a serious shortage of nurses across the health service which is impacting both on patients and and staff. The union is also calling for a 12% pay increase to bring them into line with other health professionals, to attract and retain nurses. Nurses and midwives voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action when they were ballotted before Christmas. Some 95% of those who voted supported strike action. Pickets will be placed outside St Lukes during the strike action, it has been confirmed. The INMO will now begin liaising with services and management on the arrangements for emergency, life saving cover during the strike. As well as St Luke's Hospital, Carlow Kilkenny Community Services will be affected - these include public health nurses and RGNs in the community. This will be only the second time in the INMOs hundred-year history that its members have taken national strike action, the last time in 1999. The Psychiatric Nurses Organisation has also voted for industrial action. They will refuse to work overtime on 31 January and 1, 5, 6 and 7 February. They will then escalate their industrial action to full strikes on 12, 13, and 14 February. New funding has been announced to help small businesses across Kilkenny city and county to develop their online capabilities, Fine Gael Junior Minister, John Paul Phelan, has confirmed. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment backed Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS) will support small/micro businesses throughout the county in developing their ecommerce capabilities through the provision of training, advice and grant assistance of up to 2,500, subject to match funding. The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is essential to helping small business across Kilkenny adapt to the changes and increase further productive growth and job creation. In 2018, the government supported 39 local businesses here in Kilkenny with funding as part of the Scheme. Fine Gael in government will continue developing commerce and job creation, both nationally and regionally. Minister Richard Bruton said: There is a digital revolution taking place which is transforming how businesses are interacting with their customers. We must support small businesses in keeping pace with this rapidly changing environment. Irish consumers spent approximately 7.8bn online in 2018, with this figure expected to exceed 10bn by 2020. It is of critical importance that small Irish businesses are well positioned to take a share of this market. The Trading Online Voucher Scheme provides much needed support in this regard and I am delighted that at least 3,000 small businesses will avail of it in 2019. Since launching in 2014, over 5,000 businesses have been granted funding and 12,000 supported with training through the scheme. Forestry growers in Kilkenny have benefitted from the 2019 Forestry Premium payments, it was announced this morning (Friday, January 11). Growers in Kilkenny have received a total of 1,077,118. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle, T.D., today announced the commencement of the 2019 Forestry Premium payments totalling some 26.1 million to almost 5,000 forest owners, across Ireland. These payments are paid to applicants who apply online for their annual premium payment. Welcoming the first payment run, Minister Doyle commented that; I am delighted to see the commencement so early in the year of these forestry premium payments. This is part of our commitment to those who plant under the afforestation scheme and an average payment 5,200 to each farmer and landowner is a significant cashflow boost at this time of year. Premium payments will continue to be issued on a weekly basis throughout the year and I would encourage all participants under the scheme to consider applying online if they wish to avail of the earlier payment. The Minister added; Todays payment is a reminder of the opportunity which the forestry schemes offer for diversifying farm income with a guaranteed payment for 15 years. The schemes can offer grants to cover the cost of establishing forests and woodlands and annual Premiums of up to 680 per hectare for 15 years. A total of 103.5m has been made available by the Government for the continued development of Irelands forest resource and forestry sector in 2019. There are a range of schemes under the current Forestry Programme to suit all scenarios and circumstances and I encourage landowners to examine the various options and discuss with their agricultural adviser. Further information on the supports available to landowners under the afforestation schemes can be found at can be found on the Departments website www.agriculture.gov.ie/ forestservice. Teagasc are a running an upcoming nationwide series of 39 advisory clinics for farmers where one-to one advice is available for farmers from an experienced Teagasc forestry adviser. For clinic dates and contact details see www.teagasc.ie/forestryclinics What amenities does Gallery 611 offer? A private venue with banquet chairs and tables for up to 100 guests, tons of parking space, changing room, holding kitchen and a small bar. The great thing about our venue is you can tailor it to your needs. We partner with local businesses like Startistry LLC to host painting and crafting parties as well as organizations like Immanuel Lutheran School, who host nonprofit events here. Making a sandwich is easy, right?. You take a couple slices of bread, slap something in between them and call it lunch. But making one of those life-changing sandwiches, one where the bread, fillings and condiments all work in perfect harmony, is no small feat. The Daily Meal tracked down the best sandwich in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. (Dan Myers, The Daily Meal) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A Portland bar is suing one of its bartenders for $115,000, claiming that's the amount of money it will lose when its taps run dry because the bartender broke Oregon Liquor Control Commission rules. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the suit claims Gunnar Hokan Jorstad was drunk while serving customers last Jan. 13 at the Barrel Room. According to the suit, that caused the liquor commission to yank the bar's liquor license for three weeks, starting Jan. 20. The Barrel Room wants Jorstad to pay about $5,500 per day for 21 days. The suit says Jorstad admitted to Portland police that he drank on the job. Commission spokesman Matthew Van Sickle says a police officer noticed Jorstad in a highly intoxicated state outside the bar and that police later were called to remove him from the bar. Jorstad couldn't be reached for comment. SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Vaping among kids in the county is above state and national averages, Lane County officials said. Health officials said vaping use is lighting up in the area. They said nearly 14 percent of juniors have vaped, which is a 250 percent jump from 2013 to 2017. They said 8 percent of eighth graders use vaping products. Officials said that is up 230 percent, and it's double the national average for eighth graders. Some vape pens have nicotine content that could be the equivalent of two to three cigarettes, health officials said. The law in Oregon is that no one under the age of 21 years old can buy or use any products for smoking and vaping. KEZI 9 News spoke with Eric Pinnell, the owner of Oregon Vape Society. He believes the data may be skewed but said he doesnt want anyone under the legal age to use vaping products. "Whether or not you think vaping, or smoking, doesn't matter, Pinnell said. They both contain nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance. Don't start an addiction when you're in eighth grade." EUGENE, Ore. -- A nonprofit in Eugene is fearing the worst after their mailbox was pried open over the weekend. The Oregon Horse Rescue offices are located in west Eugene off of Pacific Avenue. Pictures show that their locked mailbox, along with other mailboxes from nearby businesses, was pried open, and the contents were taken. Programs director Lea Brayton said it's especially challenging because they receive mailed donations for their rescue work at that address. "The timing is especially bad because we just completed a big year-end fundraising campaign and have still been getting lots of mailed responses," Brayton said. Co-founder David Kelly said they were still receiving donations up until last Thursday, and he's not sure if someone else was able to get their hands any other checks. "We really hold sacred the privacy of donors interaction with Oregon Horse Rescue," Kelly said. "Their name, their address and any other information." Oregon Horse Rescue is reaching out to all of their donors to let them know about the theft. In an email sent to donors, they said nothing is more important to them than ensuring that all sensitive information and donor funds are accounted for. They are urging donors to reach out to them to see that their checks haven't been cashed, but Kelly is worried about any new donors. "Or people who were writing to us about horses that needed surrendering to the rescue or a horse they wanted to adopt." Kelly said despite the theft, they'll keep their doors open. He's encouraging anyone who donates to do it online if they can. The damaged mailboxes have since been replaced. Hours before 32,000 educators were set to walk off the job, the Los Angeles teachers' union postponed its strike -- saying it wanted to give everyone more time to prepare for a mass exodus. United Teachers Los Angeles said it will delay the strike, originally set to start Thursday, to Monday "in order for clarity and to allow members, parents, and our communities to plan." "We know there are tough decisions ahead for the more than 600,000 students and their families impacted by a strike," the union said Wednesday. The four-day delay also buys more time for UTLA and the Los Angeles Unified School District to reach a deal on the main issues dividing them: how much money to put toward reducing class sizes, boosting salaries and hiring more counselors, nurses and other staff. Union members say they want LAUSD to pull from its $1.86 billion in reserves to increase school staffing and to boost teachers' salaries by 6.5%. But the school district says all that money is already earmarked for education spending. In fact, the school district is facing years of projected deficits, LAUSD said. Latest developments County officials intervene: The Los Angeles County Office of Education agreed that the school district is running out of money -- and that it's "failed to adequately address" its deficit spending. The state-funded office is responsible for helping ensure local school districts, including LAUSD, are financially responsible and not in debt. So, county schools Superintendent Debra Duardo on Wednesday ordered a team of fiscal experts to work with the city's school district to "eliminate deficit spending and restore required financial reserve levels." But that doesn't mean the county is taking the district's side on the strike. "To be clear, LACOE has no position on ongoing negotiations with United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), though we clearly hope that a strike can be avoided," the county agency said. The union slams the school district (again): UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl said Wednesday's negotiations with the school district went nowhere. He accused LAUSD of misleading the public when it announced an offer to fund about 1,000 new teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians -- when, in fact, those new hires would only be guaranteed for the 2019-2020 school year. School district officials ask the state for help: LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner and Board President Monica Garcia went to Sacramento on Wednesday to make their case for more state funding. While meetings with state leaders didn't lead to immediate, drastic results, "We are building support at the state level to find more resources to help our students," Beutner said. The union president chastised Beutner for going to the capital instead of meeting with the union Wednesday to negotiate. But the superintendent said the district was represented by other senior officials. Beutner has 2 months to create a plan for more money: Facing increased financial scrutiny, school board members ordered the superintendent come up with a three-year "enterprise plan" to get more revenue. The board gave him a March 18 deadline "for creating a plan that could include parcel tax and school bond measures, as well as strategies for increasing enrollment," the school board said Tuesday. Both sides will head back to the negotiating table: The union and school district will meet again Friday for another round of negotiations, Caputo-Pearl said. If no deal is reached by Monday, he said, 32,000 teachers and staff members will strike. If that happens, the district's 600,000 students should still go to school, LAUSD said. The district says about 400 substitute teachers and more than 2,000 reassigned administrators will fill in for protesting teachers. The union president said he would love to see parents join teachers on the picket lines, if the strike happens. "While every family will make their own decision on whether to send their child to school in the event of a strike, having many parents and allies on picket lines will be powerful and transformative," he said. A newly hired police officer was shot dead in a northwestern Louisiana home as she prepared to start her shift, officials said -- and investigators are trying to find out who killed her. Shreveport police Officer Chateri Payne, who'd graduated from a police academy just two months ago, was in uniform and getting ready for work when she was shot on Wednesday evening, police Chief Ben Raymond said. No one had been arrested in the shooting as of Thursday, and it was too early to know what led to the killing, Raymond said. "We will follow every lead (to) ... apprehend the coward or cowards" who killed her, Raymond told reporters. Witness questioned and released Officers responding to a 911 call found Payne wounded at the Shreveport home at about 8:20 p.m. CT, officials said. She was rushed to a hospital, where she died within hours, Raymond said. A witness at the home initially was detained for questioning, police said. But Raymond said that no one was in custody as of Thursday morning. A child was also at the home, but it's unclear whether the child witnessed anything, the chief said. Raymond said he didn't know whose home it was. 'This was the job that she was meant to do' Payne was hired in July as an academy cadet and graduated in November. "I handed her diploma to her and shook her hand. ... I saw firsthand the excitement in her eyes as she embarked on their chosen career to serve others." The department is mourning, with many of her academy classmates taking her death particularly hard, he said. "Although I did not know her well, she was a very professional officer," Raymond said. "She was intelligent, her classmates spoke highly of her. "This was the job that she was meant to do. She enjoyed serving." Gov. John Bel Edwards conveyed his condolences on Twitter. "This is a tragic loss not only for the Shreveport community, but for all of us who rely on police officers to keep us safe," Edwards' tweet reads. Ashley Judd's multi-pronged legal battle against Harvey Weinstein came to a bit of a crossroads on Wednesday. US District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez dismissed Judd's sexual harassment case against the movie mogul, stating in the ruling obtained by CNN that Judd's legal team had "not adequately alleged that her relationship with Defendant was covered by the statute." But Gutierrez ruled that Judd could move forward with her defamation case against Weinstein, in which she claims he derailed her career after she denied his alleged sexual advances in the 1990s. Gutierrez's ruling said Judd's claims for defamation, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage and violation of California's unfair competition law could proceed. But he said she did not make the case for sexual harassment under the civil code that was in effect when her suit was filed, noting, "The Court makes clear that it is not determining whether Plaintiff was sexually harassed in the colloquial sense of the term. The only question presented by the current motion is whether the harassment that Plaintiff allegedly suffered falls within the scope of the California statute that she has sued under." That code was amended in September 2018 to include relationships between directors and producers, but Gutierrez's ruling concluded that the change could not be applied retroactively. Weinstein's attorney in this case, Phyllis Kupferstein said in a statement to CNN, "We have said from the beginning that this claim was unjustified, and we are pleased that the court saw it as we did. We believe that we will ultimately prevail on her remaining claims." Judd's attorney Theodore Boutrous appeared to be optimistic about the judge's decision. "Nothing about today's ruling changes that Ms. Judd's case is moving forward on multiple claims," he said, adding, "While we respectfully disagree with the Court's decision as to the one claim it ruled on today, we look forward to pursuing the three claims for relief that the Court has already ruled can move forward." Judd's suit was filed in April. In it she claimed that she lost out on multiple film roles because of Weinstein, including one in "The Lord of the Rings" franchise. She says Weinstein told director Peter Jackson and his producing partner, Fran Walsh, not to work with Judd on the films, a move that not only "torpedoed" her opportunity to star in the Academy Award-winning franchise, but also cost her additional work. Weinstein has denied those allegations. Judd filed her lawsuit after Jackson said in a December 2017 article to New Zealand news website Stuff that Weinstein had made those claims to him about Judd. Judd appeared in "Frida," which was distributed by Weinstein's company Miramax in 2002, and starred in "Crossing Over," which was distributed by The Weinstein Company in 2009. Judd was among the first women in Hollywood to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct in a series of reports published by The New York Times and The New Yorker last October. Since then, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of varying degrees of misconduct, including harassment and rape. He has denied all allegations of "nonconsensual sexual activity." Weinstein is awaiting a pretrial hearing in March in a New York criminal case. He faces five felony charges: two counts of predatory sexual assault, one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree and one count each of first-degree rape and third-degree rape. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty. 23K Shares Share I have been a neonatologist for 30-plus years. Throughout my career, nurses and neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) have guided me, assisted me and comforted me through difficult patient care issues that arose. Even more importantly, they allowed me to leave the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) without worrying about how my patients were being taken care of. I am writing this because our profession (MDs and DOs) continue to devalue these professionals despite the quality care they provide to our patients in our absence. I have personally witnessed during my tenure practicing in the hospital setting how physicians poorly treat nurses, speak condescendingly to them and often demean them amongst themselves, telling off-color jokes or making lewd comments about their appearance. Nurses and NPs are not medicine lite. The vast majority, especially after the 1990s, did not go into their respective professions because they couldnt get into medicine or used their nursing careers as stepping stones to enter medical school. That may have been a more common phenomenon a few decades back, when women in medicine were a rarity and nursing was seen as a pseudo-profession. This is obviously not the case anymore. Now, both men and women, decide on a career in nursing because it is their passion. Those that choose a nursing career understand the difference between how physicians and nurses practice and what both professions offer to patient care. Essentially and simply put, doctors mostly diagnose while nurses administer care. Yes, one could say that without physicians, nurses could not administer care. However, without the nursing profession, patients would not get the care the physicians order. It is the above experiences that I have personally witnessed, which drives me to explain why this continues to happen and how we, as physicians, can and should change the culture. I believe that the origin of treating nurses as inferior to doctors resulted from, in the distant past, nurses practicing without needing a bachelors degree. Students were allowed to go to nursing school after high school, graduating with a degree in nursing. This has completely changed over at least the last 30 years. Nurses not only are required to have a bachelors degree, but many are encouraged to pursue a masters. Those nurses that go on to receive an advanced practice degree now receive a doctorate, either as a PhD or as DNP (doctorate nurse practitioner). The past discrimination against the nursing profession due to what some believed to be inadequate education can no longer be used to discredit this noble profession. Yet the stigma of poorly educated continues to be used as a trump card. I believe that the elitism that continues to be taught in medical school feeds this discriminatory pattern of interaction with nurses, despite the common knowledge that nurses now practice with at least a bachelors degree if not more. It is imperative that we as physicians be tasked with assisting nurses to become empowered within their profession. By empowering nurses to be an equal partner in the health care team, studies have shown that nursing job satisfaction rises, leading to improved patient care. Isnt that what we, as physicians want? So how do we stop this type of discriminatory behavior and elitism? How can we help support the nursing profession so that they begin to be treated as the equal partners of a health care team that they truly are? That, of course, is a difficult question to answer as it requires a change in culture, which requires the perpetrators of poor behavior to change said behavior. More importantly, those who require changing their behavior need to acknowledge and accept that their behavior is wrong before they can accept the need to change it! Education is the key to change. I believe educating new physicians in training whether in medical school and/or residency of the value nursing brings to the health care team, will be the key to help them understand and treat nurses with the equal respect they deserve. Furthermore, it needs to be emphasized to these young doctors, that the knowledge nurses possess include not only how to care for patients but also their understanding of the pathophysiology behind the disease process and treatment plan. Moreover, the skills they have are as important towards the healing of a patient as are those of the MDs. To assist physicians who are in the middle of their career or even later, to learn how to treat nurses as their equals within the health care team, the education needed to accomplish this may be more difficult to impart. Many may not understand that their perception, and therefore treatment of nurses is wrong and needs to change. This particular groups mindset is that they, the physicians, can talk down to the nursing staff because of their continued belief that nursing training is inferior to theirs. How could nurses ever be considered as equal members of the health care team? These group of physicians, will require intense new education, education not too dissimilar to learning about EMRs, HIPAA, IRBs, etc. Learning may need to be accomplished through CME courses and should be required by health care corporations as well as hospitals so that physicians can be allowed to continue to practice. Certainly we, as physicians, put limitations on our own profession, when standards for safe practice are not met. Why would learning how to interact appropriately with nurses be any different? After all, if nurses are treated poorly patient care suffers. Therefore, I would like us, as a group, to begin the journey towards understanding the strengths that nurses within the health care team possess. Lets celebrate these strengths daily. In this way, patient care can be impacted positively, and outcomes improve across the board. Cristina Carballo-Perelman is a neonatologist and can be reached at her self-titled site, Cristina Carballo-Perelman, and on Twitter @ccperelman. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Donahue said he and other council members want to know why Vargas never informed them that the two vehicles were allegedly registered to the city, or that the mayor allegedly signed a check for $76,899 to the city. During his time as sheriff, Kaupas oversaw the expansion of the Will County Jail. During his final campaign for sheriff in 2010, Kaupas pointed to his investment in investigating crimes against senior citizens as one of his accomplishments. Its beginning to look a bit more like, yes, collusion. Court documents submitted by Paul Manaforts lawyers accidentally revealed that, while serving as Trump campaign chairman, Manafort handed over internal campaign polling data to Konstantin V. Kilimnik, a Russian businessman linked to the intelligence agency GRU. Kilimnik, in turn, reportedly handed the data over to two Ukrainian oligarchs with close ties to the Kremlin. Manafort allegedly lied to the Mueller investigation about all these actions. An American presidential campaign chairman handing over of internal polling data to a corporate associate of a foreign power is unusual, at best. But, added to everything already known about contacts between Trump associates and Russian individuals all of which initially were denied this raises multiple red flags. For one, also this week, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District here in New York indicted Natalia V. Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer who met Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner in Trump Tower in June 2016 to discuss acquiring dirt on Hillary Clinton. Prosecutors claim that, in a money-laundering case involving New York real estate, Veselnitskaya lied about her links to Russian intelligence. The program is funded with $50,000 each from the City of Omaha and the Salvation Army. Stothert plans to include funding for the program in next years budget, too. The $100,000 will help pay for a program manager (roughly $60,000, including benefits), participant wages (about $20,000) and administrative and other costs. There were an estimated 1,389 homeless people in Omaha and Council Bluffs as of January 2017, according to data by the Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless. About 300 people were classified as chronically homeless. When participants arent working, they will receive help and access to training and services, such as counseling. Thompson said those running the program hope to teach participants skills that help them find long-term employment. City Parks Director Brook Bench said a successful participant could end up with a part- or full-time job with the city. And workers could help other city departments as the program grows. Omahas program is modeled after one in Albuquerque, New Mexico. But Stothert said she thinks that Omahas will be even better because of the additional services . UPDATE: KEARNEY Heather Love of Kearney must post a $15,000 bond to be released from jail after suspected drugs and a weapon were seized Thursday from her Kearney house. Love, 36, is charged in Buffalo County Court with being a felon in possession of a firearm, felony distribution of marijuana, four counts of felony child abuse, felony possession of concentrated cannabis and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child, both misdemeanors. She was arrested Thursday after police served a search warrant on her house at 606 W. Ninth St. after officials at Horizon Middle School found a bomb threat in a school locker. A 13-year-old male was being held at Boys Town in Grand Island Friday after being cited for felony terroristic threats at the school. Late Friday no formal charges had been filed against the teen. Court records outline the case against her: Around 8 a.m. Thursday officials at HMS at 915 W. 35th St. reported a bomb threat to Kearney police. A notebook was located in a students locker that contained what appeared to be threatening information, said a city of Kearney news release. Records indicate 10 of the 11 charges against the man involve an alleged victim who is at least 12 years old, but less than 16. alley of the district and who were such owners at the time the ordi- nance creating such district was published, shall file with the City Clerk within twenty (20) days of the first publication of this Notice writ- ten objections to the improvements of said district, said work shall not be done in said district under said ordinance and said ordinance shall be repealed. If objections are not filed against said district in such I wanted a part-time (chief), he said. Since Kurtz was going to have their own staff and everything, I didnt see the need to be paying $80,000-$90,000 for a full-time fire chief when I was gonna also have to be paying for an administrative person that was going to be there administering all the paperwork of that. By JEFF BAENEN and GRETCHEN EHLKE , Associated Press BARRON, Wis. (AP) A 21-year-old man shot a Wisconsin couple to death at their home in a scheme to kidnap their teenage daughter, then held the girl captive for three months before she managed to escape in an isolated north woods town, authorities said Friday. Jayme Closs, 13, was skinny, disheveled and wearing shoes too big for her when she approached a stranger and pleaded for help Thursday in the small town of Gordon, where Jake Thomas Patterson lives. Patterson was apparently out looking for her when he was arrested and jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said. The news that Jayme was safe set off joy and relief 60 miles (96 kilometers) away in her hometown of Barron, population 3,300, ending an all-out search that gripped the state, with many people fearing the worst the longer she was missing. "My legs started to shake. It was awesome. The stress, the relief it was awesome," Fitzgerald said, describing the moment he learned Jayme had been found. Jayme told one of the neighbors in Gordon who took her in that she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held captive. "She said that this person's name was Jake Patterson, 'he killed my parents and took me,'" said another one of the neighbors, Kristin Kasinskas. "She did not talk about why or how. She said she did not know him." The sheriff said investigators are trying to figure out what happened to Jayme during her captivity and why she was seized, and gave no details on how she escaped except to say Patterson was not home at the time. He said there is no evidence Patterson knew Jayme or her family or had been in contact with her on social media. "I know all of you are searching for the answer why any of this happened," Fitzgerald said. "Believe me, so are we." The sheriff said that he did not know if Jayme had been physically abused but that she was hospitalized overnight for observation and released after an exam. Investigators were still interviewing her, and she was "doing as well as circumstances allow," he said. Kasinskas called 911 to report the girl had been found after another neighbor out walking her dog encountered Jayme and brought her to Kasinskas' house. Minutes later, Patterson was pulled over by a sheriff's deputy based on a description of his vehicle Jayme provided, authorities said. He was scheduled for an initial court appearance Monday. It was not immediately known whether the unemployed Patterson had an attorney. Jayme's grandfather, Robert Naiberg, said he had been praying for months for the call he received about his granddaughter. "I thought, 'Good for her she escaped,'" he said. Jayme disappeared from her home near Barron after someone broke in and shot her parents, James and Denise Closs, on Oct. 15. The sheriff said investigators believe Patterson killed them in order to abduct the girl. Patterson tried to avoid leaving evidence at the scene of the killings, taking such steps as shaving his head beforehand, the sheriff said. A shotgun similar to the one used was recovered from the home where police believe Jayme was held, the sheriff said. Property records show that the cabin belonged to Patterson's father at the time of Jayme's disappearance. Patterson worked for one day in 2016 at the same Jennie-O turkey plant in Barron as Jayme's parents, Jennie-O Turkey Store President Steve Lykken said. Patterson quit the next day, saying he was moving from the area, Lykken said. But the sheriff said it did not appear Patterson interacted with them during his brief time working there. Patterson had no criminal record, according to the sheriff. He graduated in 2015 from Northwood High School, where he was on the quiz bowl team and was a good student with a "great group of friends," said District Superintendent Jean Serum. Kasinskas said she taught Patterson science in middle school, but added: "I don't really remember a ton about him." "He seemed like a quiet kid," she said. "I don't recall anything that would have explained this, by any means." The woman who first spotted Jayme on Thursday, Jeanne Nutter, said she was walking her dog along a rural road when a disheveled girl called out to her, grabbed her and revealed her name. "I was terrified, but I didn't want to show her that," Nutter, a social worker who spent years working in child protection, told The Associated Press. "She just yelled, 'Please help me! I don't know where I am! I'm lost!'" Nutter took her to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinskas. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Peter Kasinskas said. Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon, a town of about 644 people in a heavily forested region where logging is the top industry. From what she told them, they believed she was there for most of her disappearance. After Jayme vanished, detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches. Officials recruited 2,000 volunteers for a huge ground search Oct. 23, but it yielded no clues. Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was 14 when she was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002. Smart was rescued nine months later after witnesses recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode. Smart said in a telephone interview that Jayme's story is "why we can never give up hope on any missing child." "It was only a few months ago that we as a community gathered to pray for Jayme's safe return at Barron High School," Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright said at a news conference. "God has answered those prayers." MEDFORD, Ore. Friday, Jan. 11, 6:30 p.m. UPDATE: Anthony Anderson faced a judge for the first time Friday afternoon, after police say he tried to push his way past the TSA checkpoint while armed and without a ticket Thursday. Police say he had 4 guns, extra ammuntion, and refused to show identificatation. Today a judge raised Anderson's bail to $100,000. He's facing four charges: unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possessio of a firearm, resisting arrest, and criminal trespass in the second degree. He'll scheduled to be back in court January 18. ORIGINAL POST: A tense incident at the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport on Thursday ended when police officers confronted an armed man a man who they later confirmed had carried four loaded guns to the airport with him. According to Lt. Mike Budreau with the Medford Police Department (MPD), dispatch received a call from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel at the airport around 1:20 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. TSA told police that a man who was openly carrying a handgun was requesting to go through security to board a plane even though he did not have a ticket, would not identify himself, and was quite obviously armed. "Upon our arrival, officers learned that the unknown suspect was still at the TSA checkpoint to enter the secure area armed with a handgun in a shoulder holster and requesting to board an airplane. He would not produce identification or a boarding pass," MPD said in a statement. The man was later identified as 33-year-old Anthony James Anderson of the 700-block of Gilman Road in Medford. Witnesses at the scene said that most people at the airport did not realize that anything was wrong until airport security personnel cleared the area around Anderson of bystanders but did not approach him directly or attempt to address him. "Those in the airport were directed to safer areas," said the Jackson County Airport Authority in a statement. "The security checkpoint was temporarily closed." It wasn't until officers from the MPD arrived that the confrontation escalated. The officers tried to talk to Anderson but found that he still refused to identify himself. Eventually, they resolved to take him into custody. "One of the officers, trained in hostage negotiations attempted to speak to the suspect without success. Ultimately, the suspect was asked to leave and he refused. Officers attempted to take the suspect into custody for trespassing, and the suspect resisted," MPD said. When the officers approached, Budreau said that Anderson fought them. After a physical struggle between officers and the man, the officers eventually wrestled the man to the floor. "They just jumped on him and wrestled him to the ground, and he was yelling and kicking and fighting," said Michelle Freeman, who witnessed the incident. Freeman had gone to the airport to pick up her parents, who were flying in on Thursday. She was among those ushered away from Anderson by airport security. "During the struggle, the suspect reached for his firearm but officers were able to pull his hand away from the gun and get him into custody," MPD said in a statement. Once the officers had the suspect on the ground, Freeman said that they began searching him, flinging items from his pockets. "A gun went flying first, and then a knife and several magazine clips," Freeman said. A statement from MPD did not mention a knife, but a thorough search of Anderson and his bag found a total of four loaded handguns, plus additional ammunition on his person. Although Budreau could not yet confirm the fact, he said that Anderson's behavior suggested some sort of mental health crisis. Anderson has been lodged in the Jackson County Jail on multiple charges including Attempted Assault 1 and Attempted Assault 2, "based on his attempt to obtain his firearm during the struggle with the officers," MPD said. His bail has been set at $30,000. According to the Airport Authority, the only impact on their operations was an 8-minute delay for Alaska flight 2092. The incident lasted about a half hour from beginning to end. (This article has been updated with additional information from Medford Police and the Jackson County Airport Authority) The Kansas City Police Department is investigating if impairment was a factor in a head-on, wrong-way, rollover crash that happened this morning. One driver died and the other has minor injuries. In freezing conditions, the victims are believed to have lit a fire inside the hut where the mother was made to sleep and died from suspected smoke inhalation. According to organizers, the march is scheduled to step off at 10:30 a.m. from South Third and James streets and head south to the Geneva Metra train station where it will end. One of the most convenient voting methods is voting by mail, Cunningham said in a press release. Voting by mail is fast and easy. With a simple request to the clerks office, you can apply to receive the ballot mailed to your home and avoid having to wait in line to vote on Election Day. During the holidays, it became very clear to me that one person kept coming back to the top of my list (of replacements) probably one of the most respected persons in the community. Thats Greg Padovani, Hayes said. Greg is so highly respected, involved in so many different community activities. It was a clear choice by not only me. It was clearly unanimous when I consulted with the village board. Two top former Kosovo guerrilla commanders will be questioned Monday by a Hague-based international court probing war crime allegations during a 1990s war with Serb forces, their lawyer said. Rrustem Mustafa, 47, and Sami Lushtaku, 57, were commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in two key zones and will be interviewed separately, their lawyer said. We should be there on Sunday evening before an interrogation the following day, Arianit Koci said, without specifying if his clients had been summoned as witnesses or suspects. Created in 2015 following a report of the Council of Europe, the special court tasked to try crimes committed by KLA members has yet to announce its first indictments. The court, which operates under the laws of Kosovo, was set in The Hague to ensure that witnesses are protected. The Kosovo war was the last in a series of bloody conflicts that followed the break up of the former communist Yugoslavia in 1990s. It claimed more than 13,000 lives, of whom 11,000 were Kosovo Albanians. Some 2,000 Serbs and 500 Roma were also killed. According to local media, the tribunal has so far summoned a dozen former KLA members who fought for independence against Serbian security forces. The tribunal probes alleged crimes committed by the Kosovo rebels against Serbian civilians but also against Roma and fellow Albanians considered political opponents or Serb collaborators. Former Nazi labour camp guard Jakiw Palij who was stripped of his US citizenship and deported in August, has died in Germany aged 95, the US ambassador in Berlin announced Thursday. Former Nazi prison guard Jakiw Palij has died in Germany, Richard Grenell tweeted. Removing the former Nazi prison guard from the US was something multiple Presidents just talked about but President Trump made it happen, he added. Palij had been living in a retirement home in the northwestern German town of Ahlen, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reported on its website. In August Germany, citing its moral duty, took Palij in after he was stripped of his US citizenship. Palij had concealed his Nazi past from immigration agents when he moved to the United States in 1949, the US Justice Department said. He became American in 1957. Washington had tried for several years to expel Palij, who had lived in Queens, New York since 1949. Palij admitted to US federal officials in 2001 that he was trained at the Trawniki forced-labour camp in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II in spring 1943. In court documents, the US government said men who trained at Trawniki participated in implementing the Third Reichs plan to murder Jews in Poland, code-named Operation Reinhard, the statement said. On November 3, 1943, more than 6,000 men, women and children incarcerated at Trawniki were shot to death in one of the largest single massacres of the Holocaust, the US Justice Department said. By helping to prevent the escape of prisoners, Palij played an indispensable role in ensuring that they met their tragic fate at the hands of the Nazis, Eli Rosenbaum, then director of the Justice Departments Office of Special Investigations, said at the time. Palij denied the allegations. Berlin had long refused to accept him as he did not have German nationality. The last alleged Nazi war criminal deported by the US to Germany before Palij was John Demjanjuk, who served as a guard at the Sobibor extermination camp in occupied Poland, in 2009. A German court sentenced him to five years in prison in 2011. He died the next year. German justice has been criticised for its treatment of Nazi war crimes, accused of handing out lenient sentence too late to perpetrators. JUSTICEINFO.NET IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS Valerie Cabanes International lawyer, defender of human rights and nature Lawyer and activist Valerie Cabanes has seen situations on all the worlds continents where peoples fundamental rights are being undermined by harm to their natural environment. Here she describes some of these situations, analyses recent environmental pressure on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and proposes an international legal structure putting as its priority the respect of the global ecosystem to restore security and peace. JUSTICEINFO.NET: In your book Un nouveau droit pour la Terre Le Seuil 2016 (Rights for Planet Earth, Natraj Publishers 2017), you propose that seriously damaging the environment be included as a crime in an expanded system of international criminal law. How did you come to that idea? VALERIE CABANES: My experience is mainly in the humanitarian sector. In the 1990s, I worked as programme director for several NGOs on health and food security issues in Burkina Faso, Afghan refugees in Pakistan, handicapped peope in Uganda and social rehabilitation for women prostitutes in Cambodia. Then I studied international law and human rights so as to have more understanding of fundamental guarantees for the suffering people that I had met, and I led international programmes against human trafficking for six years. I then wanted to continue my studies by doing a law and anthropology thesis on an indigenous people, the Innu people of northern Quebec. They were confronted earlier this century with the construction of a big dam on the Romaine River, along which they live. In the course of my research I was able to attend their negotiations with the industrialists and see how they were being manipulated to hide the very harmful impact this project would have on the local ecosystem on which they depend. Given the situation, it was impossible for me to remain neutral, so I decided to stop doing my thesis and join their cause. Having become aware of these issues, I also became active around 2010 for a similar situation: that of the Kayapo people who were facing the big Belo Monte dam project on Rio Xingu, in Brazils Para state. There I realized the direct link that exists between major damage to a local ecosystem and human rights violations against a population that relies on it for survival. I realized the direct link that exists between major damage to a local ecosystem and human rights violations against a population that relies on it for survival. The Kayapo live by fishing. The Innu used the river as a highway to reach their hunting grounds. These people live as part of the ecosystem. If the movement of animals and people on the river is blocked, their survival is under threat. They can no longer live as they have done for thousands of years, their culture is destroyed in a process that ethnologist Robert Jaulin calls ethnocide , and there is a big spiritual impact. At Belo Monte, there has also been massive displacement of the population: 20,000 people living along the Rio Xingu were rehoused in buildings that cracked after three months. The social and environmental study by the construction company said this displacement was necessary. People were not forced, it was more or less formally accepted, but on the basis of false promises of jobs and quality housing. In addition, the Kayapo people had only three days to give an opinion on a 50,000-page study that had not even been translated into their language. This process was accompanied by the arrival of thousands of single men come to work on the dams, destabilizing the social fabric of these regions and fuelling sexual exploitation. In October 2014, British lawyer Richard Rogers filed a communication on behalf of a group of victims with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), claiming that a massive land grab by a ruling elite in Cambodia was taking place in order to develop real estate or agricultural activities, resulting in the destruction of millions of hectares of natural habitats that hundreds of thousands of Cambodians depend on for their livelihood. Those who resist are subjected to murder, forced population transfers, illegal imprisonment. According to the complaint, this amounts to a widespread or systematic attack against the civilian population constituting a crime against humanity. How do you view that? The situation in Cambodia is changing if not the law then the practice of the ICC on environmental issues. In addition to the communication you mention, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda received a letter of support for victims signed by 40 international NGOs at the end of 2014. In 2017, Richard Rogers estimated that 850,000 people, or 5% of the Cambodian population, had been forced to move due to major agricultural, industrial or real estate projects. The phenomenon is so widespread that in her policy paper on case selection and prioritisation published in 2016, the Prosecutor announced her intention to investigate the destruction of the environment, the illegal exploitation of natural resources or the illegal dispossession of land in peacetime that potentially constitute crimes against humanity. This is a major step forward because, in the ICCs founding Rome Statute, damage to the natural environment is so far only mentioned in Article 8 defining war crimes. Since early 2010 the ICC has been seized of these types of cases combining environmental destruction and human rights violations. But this progress is not only due to the Cambodian situation. In fact, since early 2010 the ICC has been seized of these types of cases combining environmental destruction and human rights violations. An emblematic complaint was filed in October 2014 by an association representing 30,000 victims of pollution caused by oil exploitation that Texaco (now merged with Chevron) carried out in Ecuadors Amazonian forest between 1964 and 1990. As well as destroying their environment, the victims also pointed to massive humanitarian consequences (premature deaths, diseases) that they still suffer today, calling this an attack on the civilian population of the Ecuadorian Amazon, carried out in full knowledge of the facts by the companys managers who, at the time, were informed of the environmental and health impact of their activity. In March 2015, the ICC announced that it could not take up the case because, whilst the consequences are ongoing, the acts causing the pollution happened before July 2002 and were therefore outside the courts jurisdiction. The ICC spokesperson said at the time that the court could only consider environmental crimes if they were part of one of the four crimes in its mandate: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or aggression. Meanwhile, after a long civil case lasting nearly 25 years, Ecuadorian courts ordered Chevron to pay $9.5 billion to repair the destroyed ecosystems and compensate the affected population. But in September 2018 the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, acting as arbitrator between Ecuador and Chevron, overruled this decision. In this destruction of environments where people live, you seem to be blaming economic actors rather than political leaders I am saying above all that the ICC has not so far given sustained attention to the economic responsibilities involved in serious violations of human rights. Not even in the Cambodia situation where, whilst ruling elites seek to enrich themselves, multinational companies are involved and are at least exerting pressure to get construction markets from these elites. But as the case of Chevron in Ecuador shows, the victims of environmental destruction by businesses have few jurisdictions they can turn to in order to get the crime recognized, even less to get sanctions and reparations. The channels of recourse are actually tending to become less. Since the turn of the century, the multinationals have increasingly taken refuge behind private arbitration tribunals which, when faced with States calling for responsibilities to be established, tend to issue decisions that are favourable to the companies [see Frank Mulder, Eva Schram and Adriana Homolova, Les hommes derriere lISDS et leur vision du monde , multinationales.org, 14 March 2016]. The victims of environmental destruction by businesses have few jurisdictions they can turn to in order to get the crime recognized. In recent years there has been a treaty under negotiation at the UN to regulate the activities of multinational companies with regard to human rights. There are also European decisions on the liability of European companies for serious human rights violations in third countries, and a French law on the duty of vigilance of parent companies towards their subsidiaries or subcontractors established abroad. But under international law, a chain of criminal liability has yet to be established for companies. At the top of such a chain a company director could say to his shareholders demanding profitability: No, I cannot overexploit natural resources to the point of destroying the vital environment of an entire population. I do not have the right, and criminal liability prevents me from doing that. You seem to be saying that destroying natural habitats can be legally categorized as a serious violation of human rights. But that is far from the case today Indeed, this is lacking and yet there is a scientific basis on which to request this categorization. That is the theoretical framework of planetary boundaries, established in 2009 by a team of 26 researchers under the direction of Johan Rockstrom of Sweden and Will Steffen of Australia, then in charge of the Stockholm Resilience Center and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGPB) respectively. The planetary boundaries define nine processes that together regulate the stability of the Earths ecosystem: biological diversity, climate, acidity levels in the ocean, forests, nitrogen and phosphorus in soils and oceans, fresh water quantity, stratospheric ozone layer, atmospheric composition and the overall good state of the food chain. For each of these nine parameters, there is a limit not to be exceeded in order not to threaten the living conditions on which our societies depend. These parameters have been fairly stable over the past 10,000 years but have been disrupted since the emergence of the industrial revolution and the consumer society. Today, four of these nine thresholds have already been exceeded: the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has reached 411 ppm [parts per million] for a maximum threshold of 350 ppm; biodiversity erosion affects 100 species per year for a maximum threshold of 10 species per year, etc. Rockstrom and Steffen explain that these planetary boundaries are interconnected, that exceeding one of them has consequences for the others, and that crossing all of them would lead us to a tipping point characterized, in the end, by a process of extinction of countless species and a massive threat to human life on Earth. Ban Ki-moon, when he was UN Secretary General, called for these planetary boundaries to be made part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN in September 2015. Based on this scientific framework of planetary boundaries, it is justified to ask that the ICC recognize a fifth international crime of ecocide. Based on this scientific framework, it is easy to show that the destruction of a natural environment in one part of the planet has, beyond its local humanitarian implications, dramatic consequences for the Earths entire ecosystem and therefore for all humans. This justifies asking, as British lawyer Polly Higgins has been doing since 2010 and as I have done since 2014 on the basis of a proposal drafted with other lawyers in the End Ecocide on Earth movement, for the inclusion of a fifth crime of ecocide in the body of international crimes recognized by the ICC. Exceeding planetary boundaries is a serious threat to human security and peace. To be precise, Polly Higgins defines ecocide as environmental damage that is widespread (several hundred square kilometres), long-term (several months) and severe (causing significant damage to human life, natural and economic resources). We propose, based on the theory of planetary boundaries, that it be characterized by severe damage to any part or system of the global commons, or an Earths ecological system. Do you have some examples ? In a globalized economy that over-exploits natural resources, recent examples of ecocide, are unfortunately many. It has been proven that the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 would not have occurred if the leaders of [Japanese electricity company] Tepco had followed the recommendations of a report recommending construction of a sufficiently strong perimeter wall at least 15 metres high instead of the ten-metre wall that surrounded the plant at the time of the tsunami. Similarly, several years before the rupture of the Bento Rodrigues dams on Rio Doce, Brazil, in November 2015, the managers of mining company Samarco (a subsidiary of multinationals Vale and BHP Billiton) had been alerted several times by employees and outside experts about critical cracks that were appearing in the structure. In both cases, the pollution generated spread over several thousand square kilometres on the land, making it infertile for at least several decades, before discharging into the ocean. Locally, only twenty people died on the banks of the Rio Doce. But a leader of the Krenak people living along the Rio Doce, said: The Rio Doce was killed, our culture was killed. In a globalized economy that over-exploits natural resources, recent examples of ecocide, are unfortunately many. And globally, the environmental and health consequences are endless. I and my colleagues at End Ecocide on Earth are calling for Article 30 of the Rome Statute to be made more flexible so that the condition of intent to commit a crime be less strict and that knowledge of the crime, mentioned in its paragraph 2, may prevail in this type of case. Knowledge, within the meaning of this Article, is when a person is aware that a circumstance exists or that a consequence will occur in the normal course of events. Twenty deaths from negligence, can that be called a grave violation of human rights? Although only 20 people died in November 2015 in the torrent of toxic iron mining sludge when the dam broke, how many people had to leave their homes without hope of return? How many premature deaths will occur as a result of the widespread pollution in this region? What part does this ecocide play in global environmental degradation, whose victims now number millions each year from air pollution, violent weather phenomena or cancers linked to the ingestion of toxic materials? That is why we are also proposing that international criminal law should now explicitly protect future generations for example Ecuadorian children born to poverty or sick parents because of Texaco oil pollution in the Amazon, or children born deformed from the spread of Agent Orange by the US military in Vietnam, and who have no jurisdiction to turn to. It is not just a matter of sanctions and reparations. Above all, it is now necessary to legally prevent these crimes, which affect both nature and human beings. But it is not just a matter of sanctions and reparations. Above all, it is now necessary to legally prevent these crimes, which affect both nature and human beings. One way of doing this at national level could be to recognize natural ecosystems such as rivers or forests as legal entities with human guardians indigenous peoples living along a river, for example -, who would be responsible for representing them legally. And, at the international level, raising planetary boundaries to the level of binding standards on which a judge could determine whether an economic activity is detrimental to global security and the safety of the planet or not. Ideally, this could be done in advance in a preventive way, by imposing protective restrictions on an industrial project, for example. Or at worst, after the fact, criminal punishment. A focus on economic responsibilities, introducing the planetary boundaries as a binding legal norm, the ICC recognizing ecocide and so on What you advocate is becoming clearer at a time when, paradoxically, victims and responsibilities in this damage we are talking about are becoming less clear. In your opinion, are the recent climate claims against the State in the Netherlands or France a way of legally addressing these diffuse responsibilities? Absolutely, but with two facts to keep in mind. Firstly, a State has a duty to protect its population, and that is one of its primary sovereign duties. This is one of the main arguments that Dutch foundation Urgenda used, in a country historically threatened by floods, to get an order against the Dutch government in June 2015 that it should implement policies to cut the countrys greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% in 2020 compared with 1990 levels. Secondly, especially in rich and highly CO2-emitting countries, the State often has an important economic role to play both as investor and regulator, as well as funder of subsidies. Its decisions have a major impact on greenhouse gas emissions. In a democracy, we can hope that this citizens engagement for the climate will herald changes in the law to reconcile nature and human beings, or that law be introduced recognizing the principle of interdependence between them. In 2015, the International Monetary Fund reported that $5.3 trillion in subsidies, equivalent to more than twice the GDP of France, had been allocated to fossil fuels around the world, through governments or banks. To legally attack these policies is to attack ecocidal policies. But I cannot speak objectively about the French complaint because I am a founder member of one of the four associations that filed it: Notre Affaire a Tous, which initiated the appeal. I can only note its public success 2 million signatures of support to date. I also note that such actions are now on the increase, with more than 900 climate-related lawsuits filed against public actors around the world. In a democracy, we can hope that this citizens engagement for the climate will herald changes in the law to reconcile nature and human beings, or that law be introduced recognizing the principle of interdependence between them. Interviewed by Benjamin Bibas / La fabrique documentaire. VANCOUVER AND FUJIAN, China, Jan. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Nevsun Resources Ltd. (TSX: NSU) (NYSE AMERICAN: NSU) ("Nevsun") and Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. (SH:601899, SEHK:2899) ("Zijin") today announced that following the take-up and payment of 286,347,562 common shares ("Nevsun Shares") of Nevsun Resources Ltd. ("Nevsun") pursuant to the previously announced offer by Zijin's wholly-owned subsidiary, 1178180 B.C. Ltd. (the "Offeror"), to purchase all of the issued and outstanding Nevsun Shares (the "Offer"), the Offeror has mailed today a notice of compulsory acquisition (the "Notice of Compulsory Acquisition") to all the Remaining Shareholders (as defined below) in accordance with the compulsory acquisition provisions in the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) ("BCBCA") (the "Compulsory Acquisition"). Under the terms of the Compulsory Acquisition, and subject to the terms of the BCBCA, the holders of all the remaining Nevsun Shares not currently owned by, or by a nominee for, the Offeror or its affiliates ("Remaining Shareholders") will be entitled to receive the same consideration per share as paid under the Offer, being C$6.00 in cash per Nevsun share. Further details are provided in the Notice of Compulsory Acquisition, filed under the Nevsun's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. In order to receive payment for their Nevsun Shares, Remaining Shareholders must submit the letter of transmittal circulated with the Notice of Compulsory Acquisition along with all certificate(s) and/or DRS Statement(s) representing their Nevsun Shares to Computershare Trust Company of Canada. The Offeror intends to pay the cash consideration for the remaining Nevsun Shares on or about March 12, 2019. Remaining Shareholders are requested to complete and return the letter of transmittal before March 12, 2019. Nevsun Shares are expected to be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange American on or about March 8, 2019. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements and information in this press release, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to the anticipated completion of a compulsory acquisition. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. While Nevsun may elect to update the forward-looking statements at any time, Nevsun does not undertake to update them at any particular time or in response to any particular event, other than as may be required by applicable securities laws. Investors and others should not assume that any forward-looking statement in this press release represent Nevsun's estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release. About Nevsun Resources Ltd. Nevsun Resources Ltd. is the 100% owner of the high-grade copper-gold Timok Upper Zone and 60.4% owner of the Timok Lower Zone in Serbia. The Timok Lower Zone is a joint venture with Freeport-McMoRan Exploration Corporation ("Freeport") which currently owns 39.6% and upon completion of any feasibility study (on the Upper or Lower Zone), Nevsun Resources Ltd. will own 46% and Freeport will own 54%. Nevsun generates cash flow from its 60% owned copper-zinc Bisha Mine in Eritrea. About Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. Formed in 1993, Zijin is based in Fujian, China and is a leading global mining company specializing in gold, copper, zinc and other mineral resource exploration and development. It manages an extensive portfolio, primarily consisting of gold, copper, zinc, and other metals through investments in China and overseas across nine countries. Listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Zijin has a market capitalization of approximately US$10 billion. NEVSUN RESOURCES LTD. "Xian Jian Guo" Xian Jian Guo Chief Executive Officer ZIJIN MINING GROUP CO. LTD. Lan Fusheng President & Vice Chairman TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galane Gold Ltd. (Galane Gold or the Company) (TSX-V: GG; OTCQB: GGGOF) is pleased to announce that during 2018, the Company produced 35,528 ounces of gold at its Mupane property which represents its best annual output since 2013. Galane Gold CEO, Nick Brodie, commented: This represents a strong year for the Mupane operations with production from Tau underground contributing to exceptional operating results. Work is still ongoing at Galaxy with first production still expected in April 2019. Production at Galaxy will ramp up slowly in line with the current mine plans so that the full capacity of the new plant will only be filled in 2020. With both operations running in 2019, we are targeting a combined production in excess of 40,000 ounces with over 8,000 of such ounces coming from Galaxy.(1)(2) About Galane Gold Galane Gold is an un-hedged gold producer and explorer with mining operations and exploration tenements in Botswana and South Africa. Galane Gold is a public company and its shares are quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GG and the OTCQB under the symbol GGGOF. Galane Golds management team is comprised of senior mining professionals with extensive experience in managing mining and processing operations and large-scale exploration programmes. Galane Gold is committed to operating at world-class standards and is focused on the safety of its employees, respecting the environment, and contributing to the communities in which it operates. Notes (1) The deposits at the Mupane mine are supported by a technical report entitled Independent Technical Report on the Mupane Gold Mine dated May 10, 2011, a copy of which is available under the Companys profile on www.sedar.com. (2) The deposits at the Galaxy mine are supported by a technical report entitled A Technical Report on the Galaxy Gold Mine, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa which was issued January 4, 2016 with an effective date of September 1, 2015, a copy of which is available under the Companys profile on www.sedar.com. This technical report satisfies the requirements to be a pre-feasibility study. Cautionary Notes Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Companys future financial position and results of operations, strategy, proposed acquisitions, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words believe, expect, aim, intend, plan, continue, will, may, would, anticipate, estimate, forecast, predict, project, seek, should or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Companys expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to: the Companys dependence on two mineral projects; gold price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Companys mining activities in Botswana and South Africa; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to the Companys exploration, development and mining activities being situated in Botswana and South Africa; risks relating to reliance on the Companys management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Companys inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks arising from the Companys fair value estimates with respect to the carrying amount of mineral interests; mining tax regimes; risks arising from holding derivative instruments; the Companys need to replace reserves depleted by production; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; lack of infrastructure; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; health risks in Africa; the Companys interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Companys ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; risks related to restarting production; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; development of the Companys exploration properties into commercially viable mines; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; risks related to the market perception of junior gold companies; and litigation risk. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. Information of a technical and scientific nature that forms the basis of the disclosure in the press release has been approved by Kevin Crossling MAusIMM, Pr. Sci. Nat. and Business Development Manager for Galane Gold, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information please contact: Nick Brodie CEO, Galane Gold Ltd. + 44 7905089878 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.GalaneGold.com Summerville, SC (29483) Today Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High 88F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear skies. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. SAN DIEGO It seems nearly everyone wants to give Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a scolding. But what we should really do is give her a break. Much of the criticism is driven by fear. The worlds of media and politics are largely controlled by old white men, and a 29-year-old Puerto Rican congresswoman from New York doesnt check any of those boxes. Some of it is fueled by jealousy. I cant think of another freshman member of Congress who was sought out for an interview by CBS 60 Minutes or who gets mobbed by tourists asking for selfies. Whatever drives the backlash, its obvious and undeniable that the political novice is being singled out for criticism and held to an unfair standard. Put simply, shes being picked on. Her most unforgivable sin? Standing up for herself, and hitting back whenever she gets punched by the right or the left. In this divided country, conservatives and liberals finally have something they agree on: Ocasio-Cortez needs an education. Not just on the ways of Washington, but on the ways of the world. This is the Republican legislator's lot in the Trump era -- trying to provide ex post facto justifications for absurd presidential choices. The border "crisis" did not break because of some tragedy caused by a porous southern border. It did not result from some serious determination of national security priorities. The whole GOP strategy and all the arguments they are using are really backfill for an intemperate choice made by a president in response to media coverage. It is a dynamic we've seen again and again. Trump announced a summit with Kim Jong Un because, well, for the hell of it. Then the whole government had to backfill a policy and process to fit his wrongheaded announcement. Trump announced the withdrawal of American troops from Syria on the spur of the moment, perhaps to assert himself against the influence of his now-departed Defense Secretary James Mattis. Then the whole defense and national security establishment has to scramble to backfill the details of coherent policy (which they still haven't really done). Another pro tip for getting what you want: Don't loudly and publicly take personal responsibility for negative consequences that would result from a breakdown of negotiations. With television cameras running, Trump boasted that everyone should blame him for a shutdown. Polls show this is exactly what the public has done, and Trump's numbers will surely get worse as the effects of the shutdown on families and communities become more dire. The Democratic proposal -- fund the government while continuing to debate border security and the wall -- is eminently reasonable. But Trump is scared. He went back on the original deal after the far-right commentariat went ballistic. The president must realize that having failed to get funding for the wall when his party had control of both chambers of Congress, he is less likely to get it following a blue-wave midterm election that gave Democrats the House. But Trump doesn't want Limbaugh, Coulter, et al. wailing to his base that their hero has surrendered to the snowflakes and given up on "the wall," which from the beginning was more of a rallying cry than a serious proposal. Trump's approval numbers have always been underwater, but as long as he retains overwhelming support among Republicans, he can expect GOP senators to worry that crossing him would amount to political suicide. A one-act play by a local playwright has local activist groups asking why the local arts community is presenting and promoting the play now. Hate Out of Winston and Winston-Salem Democratic Socialists of America say the play Our Time: A Conversation in Black and White whitewashes local history surrounding the removal of a Confederate statue and promotes white supremacy. But Lynn Felder said her play is not about the statue and doesnt defend white supremacy. But environmentalists and other critics are skeptical. They argue that having no synthetic liner beneath the ash thats left in place means the hybrid approach would not do enough to protect nearby groundwater. Duke Energy estimates that it would cost roughly $478 million to excavate all 12 million tons of ash stored in the Belews Creek basin and rebury it in a newly built, lined landfill nearby in a process that would take about 16 years to complete. The hybrid option would cost an estimated $135 million and take about 10 years to finish, the utility says. Residents gathered around easels Thursday to look at maps and other information about Duke Energys closure plans, but sentiment seemed to run pretty strongly against the hybrid concept. I really do believe that the only way to make it work efficiently and effectively long term is to move it out of there to a lined landfill, said Stokes resident Katherine Gambill after making the rounds of DEQs various easels. Cleanup costs will be borne by Duke Energys customers who would cover the costs through increases in their power bills. The National Weather Service has issued a winter-storm watch for the Triad, and a winter-storm warning for Northwest North Carolina. The watch will be in effect for Forsyth, Guilford, Davie and Davidson counties from tonight through Sunday afternoon, the weather service said. The warning will be in effect from 1 p.m. today to 7 p.m. Sunday in Ashe, Alleghany, Surry, Stokes, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. A winter storm will bring up to 1 inch of snow and sleet and nearly two-tenths-inch of ice to the Triad, the weather service said. The storm will bring 2 to 3 inches of snow, sleet and freezing rain to the Northwestern counties. The wintry mix is expected to cause slippery roads and highways in both regions, the weather service said. Driving conditions will be hazardous. Brandon Locklear, a weather service meteorologist in Raleigh, said that forecasters expect the bulk of the winter weather Saturday night through noon Sunday. Todays forecast in Winston-Salem calls for a high temperature near 37 degrees with a 30 percent of snow. It will be around 30 degrees tonight with a 90-percent chance of rain, freezing rain and sleet. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Musica, Musica, Maximo Musica: 9:30 a.m. today and Jan. 15-18; 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Jan. 19; 3 p.m. Sunday and Jan. 20. Kaleideum North, 400 W. Hanes Mill Road. For more information, go to www.kaleideum.org. Cardio Splash: 10 a.m. today at the Sticht Center, Wake Forest Baptist Health Main Campus, Medical Center Blvd. The cost is $50 per month. For more information, email avisser@wakehealth.edu or call 336-713-8082. Live Country Music: 7 p.m. today at the Midway Event Center and Music Hall, 11141 U.S. 52, Suite 10. For more information, call 336-793-4218. Dance Hall Daze: 7:30-10:30 p.m. today and Saturday at VFW Post 5352, 612 Edgewood St., Kernersville. Admission is $10. Dance to live bands. It is a family-friendly event, no smoking or drinking. All levels are welcome. No partner is required. For more information, go to www.dancehalldaze.com. Countdown to Kindergarten: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Kaleideum North, 400 W. Hanes Mill Road. Staff from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system will help families of rising Kindergartners navigate the process of registering for school. For more information, go to www.kaleideum.org. Community Free Clinic: noon-4 p.m. Saturday at Christ Center Assembly, 2721 W. Mountain St., Kernersville. There will be free screenings by doctors and nurse practitioners of vision, blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure. Transportation is available. For more information, call 980-329-4946. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. President Donald Trump speaks as he tours the U.S. border with Mexico on Thursday in McAllen, Texas, as Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, left, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, listen. For a better experience on our website and avoid any trouble, we strongly recommand to activate Javascript ( click here ). Hello and welcome to Journal des Palaces You are a communication or the PR manager? Click here You are an applicant? Check out our questions and answers here ! In the past, the party has pointed the finger of shared blame for inaction at Republican governors, Downstate conservatives, fragile coalitions requiring bipartisanship and at grandstanding outsider Democratic governors such as Rod Blagojevich and Pat Quinn. That accusation often had some merit. And voters seemed to buy it, seeing that 58.8 percent of them cast votes for Democratic state House candidates in November and 54.5 percent for Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, who will be sworn into office Monday. Allen K. Baker, 74, Stark City, MO, entered into rest on June 13, 2021, at his home, following an extended illness. Allen was born October 31, 1946, in Stella, MO, and was a graduate of Midway High School. He entered the United States Air Force in 1966 and served until his retirement in 1986 Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register As opportunities in employment, job training and union membership opened up nationwide, particularly in the civil rights revolution of the 1960s, black leaders found it made more sense to ally with other ethnic groups to try to expand opportunities for everyone. Black Americans did not invent what is often called identity politics today. They only found ways to turn it into a tailwind for progress instead of a headwind against their aspirations. Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado. Scene Editor Billy Arnold covers arts and entertainment. He apprenticed as a sound engineer at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio before making his way to Jackson, where he has become a low-key fan of country music. Funeral services for June Ann Leadbetter Arnold will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in the Chapel at Boren-Conner Funeral Home, Jacksonville with Bro. George Folmar officiating. Burial will follow at the Jacksonville Old City Cemetery. June was born April 15, 1932 in Hidalgo, Te Trump decided to pull American troops out of Syria after talking on the phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. One outcome of that call was an intent to outsource Americas fight against the Islamic State to Turkey, the same country bent on annihilating the one fighting force in Syria that did the most damage to Islamic State. As many as 30,000 ISIS fighters may still be at large in Syria and neighboring Iraq. According to the New York Times, Pentagon officials are deeply skeptical that Turkey has the ability or desire to launch counterterrorism missions against Islamic State fighters. Some National Park Service sites are open but others are partially or fully closed. Many DC museums are off limits while others are open. Here's a guide. Telstra has announced that it has signed exclusive deals with unspecified companies to offer 5G smartphones to its customers in the first half of the year. The company's chief executive, Andrew Penn, told a media conference at the CES technology show in Las Vegas on Thursday, that these would be some of the "world's biggest brands". Last year, Telstra said that the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson would be its main partner in the rollout of its 5G network. The 5G revolution is now very real. More than 200 Telstra 5G mobile base stations are now online across the nation and our customers will very soon be among the first in the world to experience the possibilities this revolutionary technology can deliver, Penn said. Much faster downloads, high-resolution video streaming with less buffering and mobile gaming on the go are just the start of what 5G is capable of delivering. This is the year of 5G and, as a world leader in the testing and development of 5G, we have been working closely with numerous global manufacturing and industry partners to make this revolutionary technology real-world ready. These strategic relationships are now paying off directly for our customers, who will soon have exclusive access to 5G enabled devices on the nations largest and fastest mobile network*, and other devices will also soon hit our stores. Ithaca, NY (14850) Today Sunny skies. High near 70F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 47F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Irene Jaehne Mouser beloved mother, grandmother, and friend went home to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 93, in Huntsville, Tx. on June 9, 2021. Irene met her husband Leroy Mouser while working at the Houston Police Department. In 1947, Leroy and Irene were married, had three sons, How to gauge whether Pritzker will operate independently? One big clue will be the way he concludes contract negotiations with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Union leaders think they got Pritzker elected, and therefore he owes them. In fact, Pritzkers fiduciary responsibility is to all Illinoisans. High state and local taxes are discouraging job growth and driving the exodus. Rauner refused to increase labor costs, negotiating contracts that froze wages for other unions. Will Pritzker show resolve in his dealings with AFSCME or will he cave? Guest Column What Does the Arakan Army Bring to Rakhine State? Arakan Army chief Gen. Twan Mrat Naing attends a cadet graduation ceremony in Kachins Laiza Township, where the armed groups headquarters is situated. / Arakan Army Info Desk A small, roofless light-truck loaded with large loudspeakers drives around the town of Sittwe, capital of Rakhine State. The truck is surrounded by youths who walk by house after house holding silver bowls for the collection of money. The gigantic speakers are playing songs in the Arakanese language on repeat. One of the songs called People Who Sacrificed praises those who have given up their lives for the fatherland. Many such groups of self-motivated youths have independently organized fundraising drives to collect money for the people recently displaced by fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) in four townships of northern Rakhine. They receive many in-kind donations and send them up to groups of internally displaced persons (IDPs) via local networks. The networks are frequently facing deterrence from local authorities along the way. But their actions amount to much more than raising fundsthey are conveying messages which they cannot openly speak. What are the messages they are bringing? How do local Arakanese interpret those messages? And the authorities? How do people from other parts of Myanmar take their message heard through mainstream media? What will the implications be? The recent outbreak of conflict in Rakhine State indicates an increasing trend of political violence. The AA, with steadily increasing mobility, is expanding geographically in Rakhine State with the intention to consolidate its bargaining power through rising public support which it gains through a systematic psyche-war on social media. So far, 4,500 locals have been displaced from their homes due to the recent clashes. What message is the Arakan Army bringing? The AAs messages, rhetoric in style, are heard across social media, the tool of free speech. Over the last year, the AA has been gaining momentum with their crafty use of social media in spreading an online campaign called Arakan Dream 2020. This flagship strategy drew many sympathizers, not only among poor rural youths but also from the educated and the politicians. And the AA has succeeded in mobilizing youths from the region which has been engulfed in poverty and inequality for decades. Arakan Dream 2020 is an initiative, according to AA chief Gen. Twan Mrat Naing, that 2020 will be the start of struggles in the name of The Way of Rakhita, a concept with self-determination at its core. There has not yet been any explicit mentioned of how The Way of Rakhita will be materialized but the AA is positioning itself as a leading agency for carrying out the movement. One extreme interpretation of The Way of Rakhita could be that the Arakanese are pursuing an independent state and this provokes concern among the Burmese elite who largely hold onto a paternalistic view on guarding sovereignty. In the deep psyches of many Arakanese, stories of the Burmese occupation of the once mighty Arakanese Kingdom in the late 18th century are still vivid. It may be felt that they remain enslaved in terms of their lack of self-determination and their marginalization from political processes. The notion of Rakhita is re-evoking that psyche. Historical facts are carried as hurtful and painful experiences. In that sense, the Arakan Dream is not a new concept but rather a revival of the wishes of their ancestors to rebuild a sovereign state. An ethnic Rakhine scholar once wrote, They arent inspired by the words of Aung San Suu Kyi on catching up with other countries (Singapore). They dont trust Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaings speeches on peace. But they do care about every word spoken by Gen. Htun Mrat Naing. His speeches inspire the Rakhine public. Arakanese people are excited about Rakhita. Why do the Arakanese hold so tightly these messages? This historical grievance, the Burmese occupation of Arakan, has never been fully put to rest by successive governments. Upon that, the Arakanese construct their racial identity that narrowly encompasses the Buddhist Rakhine. In his latest book, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment political scientist Francis Fukuyama argues that liberal democraciesas in the nominal democracy of Myanmarhave not fully solved the problem of thymos, a term referring the part of the soul that craves recognition of dignity. In the case of the Arakanese people, they have both isothymia, the desire to be respected equally to others, and megalothymia, the want to be recognized as superior. Similar to other ethnic groups, the prevailing argument of the Arakanese is that they have economic inequality and are lagging behind in development despite having plenty of natural resources. A political transition in Myanmar creates uncertainty. Populists have used the transition and the democratic election to gain strength. They reawaken the dream of greatness. They raise Arakanese concerns that they are neglected and their dignity is disregarded. When intercommunal violence broke out in 2012, the Rohingya community, which had been facing severe human rights violations, received the sympathy of the international community. Support from the international community mounted when the fresh exodus of refugees occurred in 2017. When the central government tries to steer a conflict situation, the Arakanese are not able to meaningfully participate. A perception of exclusion takes root. This perceived voicelessness has been made stronger by recent political developments. The NLD government refused to share executive power at state level after the Arakan National Party won a majority of votes in Rakhine State in the 2015 election. The Arakanese repeatedly complain that their proposals in parliament are frequently rejected or not addressed. At the Rakhine state parliament, members of parliament are not influenced by any actions of the government. The only success has been the removal of a state minister on the grounds of poor performance. Apart from that, all they can do is denounce the governments actions. In addition to that, weak leadership and internal conflicts within the leading Arakan party upsets the public. There is a vacuum of leadership in Rakhine politics. Negative sentiment towards the central government, weak local political leadership and no visible improvement in the daily lives of the Arakanese have all converged. Arakanese trust in democratic institutions has sharply fallen. The AA is making a timely emergence, even under the democratic government, as an aspiration for the Arakanese. While this is a real opportunity for the Arakanese, it is also an option borne out of what they see as a failing democratic system. If democracy cannot provide them with better options, they cannot be blamed for wanting to do something about it. Addressing economic issues will not guarantee a resolution yet. It is still too early to say whether leaders from the AA will lead Rakhine politics, but it is difficult to deny that they are going to play an important part. How do the government and other Myanmar citizens interpret the situation? Any violent fighting is unwelcome but the people will fight with words which hurt less than bullets and bombs. The Independence Day attack drew the attention of the publicmainly the Burmese majorityand cried out for being attack police posts on this special day. Government is also promptly responded by branding the AA as a terrorist group. U Zaw Htay, spokesperson for the Presidents Office warned the Arakanese not to support the AA and this drew backlash from the Arakanese. U Zaw Htay blamed the AA of taking advantage while the military and government are trying their best to protect Rakhine from terrorists and international pressure. This comes from many people from Myanmar thinking of the Rohingya community as outsiders and that the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) is a legitimate threat to national sovereignty and territory. Most of the mainstream media also reflects the majoritarian view. U Zaw Htays speech ignited public reprisal at a local level but drew popular support from the majorities who see themselves as thinking on behalf of the pyidaunsu, or the Union. This pulls an already divided society apart along the racial line. There are deep divisions between the Arakanese and other majority ethnic groups. Both sides point fingers at the other. Words do hurt people to some extent. The government also interpreted, as authoritarian regimes have done in the past, that the situation must be responded to with more forces and troops. Even Ma Ba Tha, a nationalist Burmese group with strong anti-Muslim sentiments, denounced the AAs attacks. The escalation of conflict will benefit no one. If political leaders believe that peace is not just the signing of a truce but cohesive living between different segments of society, they should refrain from the use of words and physical forces. The Arakanese should think twice before going to war or supporting armed groups because war itself brings destruction. Civilians in the war zone have already suffered. Burmese hegemonic views should also be self-critical rather than easily falling to the trick of words. They should be willing to listen to the minority rather than supporting militarization. This situation also calls for a speedier and more inclusive peace process which reforms power structures and ensures equal rights and respect. If not, history will repeat itself. We dont want the vicious cycle of civil war unfolding in new locations. News Two Years After U Ko Ni Assassination, Key Witnesses Yet to Testify Three suspects in the ongoing trial on the murder of NLD legal advisor U Ko Ni at Yangons Northern District Court on January 11, 2019. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy YANGONA number of key witnesses surrounding the assassination of National League for Democracys legal advisor U Ko Ni are yet to testify in court despite the 100th hearing having taken place on Friday. The 63-year-old lawyer was gunned down at Yangon International Airport two years ago this month. So far, four suspectsKyi Lin, Aung Win Zaw, Aung Win Tun and Zeya Phyohave been arrested and brought to trial though Aung Win Khaing, believed to be the mastermind behind the conspiracy, remains at large. He was last seen in Naypyitaw in February 2017. Since the beginning of the trial in March 2017, almost all witnesses for the plaintiff have testified in court. Despite witnesses for the defendant beginning their testimonies in July 2018, some key witnesses are yet to testifyincluding the police colonel who was chief of airport security at the time U Ko Ni was gunned down. Another is the wife of the accused Zeya Phyo. Police Col. Win Min Thein, deputy chief of the Yangon Police Force, has yet to appear in court despite being summoned three times, each time giving the excuse that he is too busy to attend court. One of the accused, Aung Win Zaw, revealed in his testimony last year that he and his brother, Aung Win Khaing, had met with the police colonel for some business shortly before the lawyers assassination on Jan. 29, 2017. In Fridays hearing, another three witnesses submitted by Zeya Phyo didnt appear in court, causing the judge to remove their names from the witness list. If the remaining major witnesses, including Win Min Thein, fail to show up for hearings in the coming weeks, they are also likely to be dropped from the list. If there are no more witnesses to testify, counter-claims from both sides will be heard before a verdict is reached. One of the plaintiff lawyers U Nay La told the media that he expected the case will be concluded within the next month. As for Aung Win Khaing, the suspect still at large, plaintiff lawyer U Khin Maung Htay said that if the suspect is arrested later he would testify separately. News Confederation the Only Option for Arakanese People, AA Chief Says AA Chief Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing in Pang Seng, the capital of Wa Special Region in northern Shan State in 2015. / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe political objective of the Arakan Army (AA), an Arakanese ethnic armed group currently clashing with the Myanmar Army, is to obtain confederate status for Rakhine State, AA chief Major-General Tun Myat Naing told The Irrawaddy. We prefer [a confederation of states] like Wa State, which has a larger share of power in line with the Constitution, said Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing, referring to the status of the AAs ally, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), adding that a confederation is better than federalism. And we think it [a confederation] is more appropriate to the history of Rakhine State and the hopes of the Arakanese people, he said. In a confederation, we have the authority to make decisions on our own. But there would be a common defense system. And there would be cooperation on market regulation and foreign affairs. To have control over our own destinyself-determinationis the aspiration of every ethnic group. We can try, he said. Resource-rich Rakhine State is home to a number of strategic projects, but the Arakanese people do not benefit from them and live in poverty, he said. The armed group has come under the spotlight after staging deadly attacks on border police outposts in Rakhine States Buthidaung Township on Jan. 4, prompting the Presidents Office to instruct the Defence Ministry, which oversees the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw), to launch attacks on it, including air strikes if necessary. Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing said the AA, which has won popular support among the Arakanese people both inside and outside Rakhine State, upholds the general policy drafted by the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), a bloc of seven ethnic armed groups based on Myanmars northeastern border and led by the UWSA. The FPNCC has put forward its general policy as an alternative to the government-proposed Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement as an instrument for joining the peace process. It details 15 demands and proposes a confederate system as the future structure of the state. It calls for allowing ethnic states to maintain their own armies, whereas the Tatmadaw insists there can only be one army. It also calls for granting complete authority to local governments regarding independent jurisdiction, legislation, resource exploitation and taxation. Regarding the AAs operations in Chin States Paletwa on the Myanmar-India border, Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing said he is working to reassure the Indian government that it need not be concerned by its activities. Ethnic affairs analyst U Maung Maung Soe said, It is true that ethnic armed groups like the Wa and Mongla have autonomy. They think they will be able to develop their areas if they have such autonomy. The armed clashes will intensify if the Tatmadaw refuses to accept the confederate goal of the ethnic armed groups, he said. The Wa and Mongla are existing problems. If the same problem occurs in a new place, I think heavy fighting will recur. I dont want to comment on whether it is right or wrong. Everyone has his own opinion about federation versus confederation, he said. Daw Aye Nu Sein, the vice chairperson of the Arakan National Party, declined to comment on the political objective of the AA. However, she pointed out that when the ANP submitted a paper detailing the demands and aspirations of the Arakanese people to the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference, it was criticized as having exceeded the boundaries of federalism. We have abundant resources we can utilize to develop our region. But due to the [current] system of government, Rakhine State is the least [developed] among the 14 regions and states, Daw Aye Nu Sein said. IS IT unreasonable to have hoped to get through the first week of 2019 without two women being brutally murdered? We are so regularly exposed to the killing of, and violence against women, its a concern that it becomes a part of background noise something that is undeniably tragic, but also a fact of life, writes Alison OConnor. There are a number of groups and organisations highlighting the related issues of violence against women and domestic violence, and no lack of media coverage of the shocking killings and attacks, not least the details subsequently released in court cases, but it just seems to gruesomely grind on. This week Elzbieta Piotrowska a 57-year-old mother of two, was decapitated with an axe at her home in Ardee, Co Louth. Originally from Poland she lived in in the town with her husband, who was at work at the time of the incident, for a number of years. Neighbours described her as a lovely woman. Meanwhile Jasmine McMonagle, a mother of two young children, was describes as a caring woman who always put others first. The 28-year-old was buried after being killed at her home in Killygordon, Co Donegal from suspected knife wounds last Friday. Shortly before her death she had called gardai for help. Reading the reports, it appears as if her young children aged seven and 18 months were in the house at the time of the incident, and remained there for a number of hours afterwards as gardai had been refused entry to the house. What they must have witnessed does not bear thinking about. Just days previously, at the start of January, Womens Aid had welcomed the commencement of the provisions of the new Domestic Violence Act 2018. Domestic violence is a crime that affects one in five women in Ireland at some point her life. Towards the end of last year Womens Aid reported in its annual Femicide Watch that 225 women have died violently in Ireland since 1996, an average of ten per year. A further 16 children were killed alongside their mothers. In well over half of those cases the perpetrator was an intimate partner of the victim, while an additional 11% of victims were killed by a male relative. A further 20% were killed by a man known to them. In November, I wrote a column listing what appeared to be an extraordinary litany of cases reported in the media involving violence against women over just a two week period that month. It involved everything from the alleged rape of a 75-year-old woman in a car park in Co Clare, to the news of 32-year -old mother of two Amanda Carroll being discovered dead at her home in Cabra after being strangled while her two sons slept nearby. Her partner, Sean Nolan, was remanded in custody after he was charged with murdering Ms Carroll in her apartment. Her funeral heard that at 33 she was the same age as Christ when she died, and would give away her last shilling. There was also Limerick woman Simone Lee, aged 39, and the court reports of how she was attacked in 2016 by her former boyfriend Colin Ryan. She suffered a brain injury, broken bones, burns to her face, neck, trunk, eyelids and was stabbed in the back. She lost some of her hair in the attack and now wears a wig. So bad were the injuries gardai initially believed she had been subject to an acid attack. She was put in an induced medical coma for three weeks and had to learn to walk again because of her injuries. Ryan was given a seven-and-half-year jail term at Limerick Circuit Court for the attack. On bad days, it does feel as if there is a neverending litany of cases involving violence against women with subsequent light sentences that do not appear to justify in any way the harm done. Its a very important development that Womens Aid has begun a project where it monitors the sentences given to perpetrators of domestic violence. There is also huge shame for the victims of domestic violence, but another positive recent change is the number of women coming forward to describe their own experiences. One of those is Jessica Bowes who begged for her life during an extraordinarily violent beating by her partner Jonathan McSherry in 2015 outside her Dublin home. It takes a strong stomach to listen to her describe that savage beating, where her eye sockets, face and skull were fractured, which she did on RTEs Prime Time in February of last year. That clip of the mother of three young children went viral and has been viewed millions of times. McSherry received a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence. Our new legislation, the Domestic Violence Act 2018 Act, includes important measures such as the extension for eligibility for safety orders to young women who experience abuse in dating relationships; recognition of an intimate relationship as an aggravating factor in domestic violence cases and recognition of the new crime of coercive control. Quite incredibly Womens Aid figures show that intimate partners are sentenced, on average, to three years less prison time compared to other men convicted of killing women, suggesting that an intimate relationship is seen as a mitigating rather than an aggravating factor. Among other provisions are out-of-hours special sittings of the district courts to provide for orders in emergency situations are to be introduced, as well as the prohibition of electronic communication with victims. Speaking about the new laws, Margaret Martin, director of Womens Aid, said women must feel change quickly, and it must make them and their children feel safe from abuse. It is crucial that the changes are properly resourced. But a key element in all of this, as highlighted by Womens Aid and the National Womens Council of Ireland is the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. This, according to NWCI director Orla OConnor, would mean a strategic approach to tackling violence against women, bringing about systematic and institutional change, moving on from the current weak State response. According to the Department of Justice the first quarter of 2019 should see the ratification of that crucial convention by Ireland. Weve heard an awful lot about how Brexit is due to take up a lot of Dail time this year, but this convention, part of a criminal law bill due to conclude its passage through the Oireachtas in the next few months, must be prioritised. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has said he wants to send a strong message that the Government takes violence against women very seriously and he is looking for all party support. Its too late for Jasmine and Elizabeth and for Amanda and Simone and Jessica and all those other women. But changes have to be made before we see too many women added to a list that already has two names on it. In early 2018, fighting intensified along the frontline between the cities of Taiz and Hodeidah by Ansar Allah troops and forces supported by the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition, writes Agnes Varraine-Leca. The coalition-backed forces advanced on the strategic port of Hodeidah, on the Red Sea, before launching an attack on the city on 13 June 2018. In an effort to prevent the advance of the coalitions ground troops, thousands of mines and improvised explosive devices were planted across the regions roads and fields. The principal victims of these lethal hazards have been civilians, many of whom have been killed or maimed for life after unwittingly stepping on an explosive device. Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) set up a hospital in the city of Mocha, in Taiz governorate, in August 2018, where its teams perform emergency surgery on people injured by mines one-third of them children. MSF urges the authorities as well as specialist organisations to step up mine clearance operations to reduce the number of people killed and injured by explosive devices in civilian areas. MSF hospital in Mocha, December 2018. A bell sounds in the yard of the tented hospital, signaling the arrival of yet more patients. A pick-up truck armed with a rocket launcher screeches to a halt and unloads four patients in front of the emergency room. Two are children covered with hastily applied bandages; the other two are already dead. Just a few hours earlier they had been with family members in fields in Mawza, some 30 km away, when someone stepped on a mine. Like them, 14-year-old Nasser was wounded when a mine exploded. A scar on his left hand shows where his thumb was amputated after he was hit by a bullet some years ago. Standing up on his crutches for the first time, he tries to get his balance. Nasser stepped on the mine on 7 December while he, his uncle and cousin were watching over the familys sheep in a field in Mafraq Al Mocha in Taiz governorate. Later that day, Nasser was operated on in MSFs surgical hospital 50 km away in Mocha. Part of his right leg was amputated below the knee. With a thumb missing, its hard for him to use the crutches. MSF physiotherapist Faroukh helps him to take a few steps between the 10 beds in one of the hospitals three inpatient wards. The bone was completely shattered so there was nothing to left to save, says Faroukh. Map cities and frontlines Since the accident, Nassers father, Mohammed, has been very apprehensive about walking in the fields around Mafraq Al Mocha. We know mines have been planted around the town, but the problem is we dont know exactly where, he says. With only a handful of signs indicating the presence of mines and only a few red-painted stones showing where its safe to walk, every day a muffled bang signals that yet another explosive device has been triggered. Nasser (centre) and his father Mohammed (left) in one of the inpatient wards at MSFs surgical hospital in Mocha. Punished not once, but twice Before the war, the area between Mocha and the frontline was agricultural. Since the fighting started, towns and villages near the combat zones such as Hays and Mafraq Al Mocha, where MSF provides support to advanced medical posts have seen many of their inhabitants flee. The surrounding fields have been mined to prevent the advance of military troops, making them impossible to cultivate and depriving the local population of their livelihood. A 45-minute drive from Mocha, Mawza district has seen its population halve. People who live here are punished not once, but twice. The mines not only blow up their children but also prevent them from cultivating their fields. They lose their source of income as well as food for their families, says Claire Ha-Duong, MSFs head of mission in Yemen. Between August and December 2018, MSFs teams in Mocha admitted and treated more than 150 people wounded by mines, improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance - one third of them children, who had been playing in fields. Disabled for life, they face an uncertain future. By creating generations of maimed people, mines have far-reaching repercussions not only for individual families, but for society as a whole, as their victims are likely to be more dependent on others at the same time as being more socially isolated. The mines also prevent people in agricultural areas from cultivating their fields, which takes a heavy toll on the families who rely on the income. Inadequate mine clearance Thousands upon thousands of explosive devices will endanger the lives of people in Yemen for decades to come. UK-based organisation Conflict Armament Research pointed in a recent report to Ansar Allahs large-scale mass-production of mines and improvised explosive devices, as well as its use of anti-personnel, vehicle and naval mines. According to the Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre, the Yemeni army cleared 300,000 mines between 2016 and 2018. Managed almost exclusively by the military, mine clearance is focused on roads and strategic infrastructure, with little heed paid to civilian areas. Specialist mine clearance organisations and the authorities must step up their efforts to demine the region in order to reduce the number of victims, says MSF head of mission Claire Ha-Duong. As well as demining strategic areas for military, civilian areas urgently need to be cleared of all types of mines and explosive devices not only from places where people live, but also from agricultural land so that people can access their fields again in safety. Late meeting his friends, Ali ran across a field and stepped on a mine, which exploded, seriously injuring his right leg. With his right leg amputated and his left leg weakened by polio contracted as a child, walking with crutches is not easy. Ali comes to MSFs hospital in Mocha for physiotherapy twice a week. Medical wasteland Not a day goes by without war-wounded people like Ali and Omar arriving at MSFs hospital in Mocha from the frontlines between Taiz and Hodeidah. Aden, where MSF opened a specialist trauma hospital in 2012, is 450 km from Hodeidah. Although there is medical care available in Aden, most Yemenis dont have the money to pay for treatment or the transport to travel there. It takes six to eight hours to drive to Aden from Hodeidah. The area between the two cities has become a medical wasteland for the people who live there. MSFs hospital in Mocha is the only facility in the region with an operating theatre and the capacity to perform surgery. A child injured by a mine in Mawza in Taiz governorate receives treatment in the emergency room of MSFs hospital in Mocha. Three of his relatives were wounded in the explosion two were already dead when they arrived at the hospital. With mine fragments lodged in his skull, arm and face, the child was taken to Aden for an MRI scan. The coastal region between Hodeidah and Aden is rural and extremely poor. People have no access to medical treatment and our hospital is the only place they can go when they need surgery, says Husni Abdallah, a nurse in the operating theatre. Theyre essentially patients with war wounds. Some dont manage to get to Mocha in time and die of wounds that could have been treated. Or theyre pregnant women who die during labour due to a lack of adequate medical care. MSFs hospital in Aden. Eighteen-year-old Youssef was wounded in a car when an anti-vehicle mine exploded. The war-wounded often get to Mocha very late and many are in a critical condition. They contract infections because on the frontline they arent always stabilised as well as they should be. Mines cause particularly severe injuries, so we see complex fractures that are difficult to operate on. Patients often have to have amputations and then require months and months of rehabilitation, says Husni Abdallah. Injured at the same time as his nephew, Nassers uncle had fragments from the exploding mine in his eyes. He was taken straight to MSFs hospital in Aden, 270 km from Mocha, for the specialist treatment he needed. Since MSF opened its hospital in Mocha, its staff have provided more than 2,000 emergency room consultations and performed around 1,000 surgical procedures. In 2019 and beyond, we should support companies that hold themselves to the highest ethical standards, writes Dave Troy. Anything else is just a recipe for disaster. Every few days, we hear another story about how technology companies have failed us with data breaches, lax policies around user data protection, bad internal practices, and executives who seem either oblivious or openly antagonistic to any critique. Its almost as if encouraging a cult-like worship of money in a generation of young people might be having negative side-effects on everyone else. Okay, perhaps thats a bit unfair, but its past time that we start to ask some important questions about how and why we build tech companies. And its especially urgent that those of us in the technology field take a look in the mirror and ask whether we are part of the problem. In late 2016, I started to research Cambridge Analytica and the role that they played in Brexit, in the Trump campaign, and elsewhere. What became clear to those of us who were trying to make sense of what had happened was that Facebook was well aware of the vulnerabilities that were being exploited at least as early as 2014. And, to be fair, they took action to close some of the holes by May 2015. However, it would take until March 16, 2018, for Facebook to publish a terse Friday-night news dump acknowledging the situation with Cambridge Analytica, and attempting to frame the problem in extremely limited terms; it is understandable that they would aim to downplay the problem. But it took the company several years to publicly acknowledge the many problems with data misuse that had been reported by staff. And it wasnt just Cambridge Analytica, there were dozens of companies just like it, harvesting data, trading it on open exchanges, setting up fake identities on Facebook pages, and attempting all manner of social engineering for both politics and profit. The early pioneers of the internet were mostly hippies. Fans of Tolkien and science fiction, people such as John Perry Barlow (see his Declaration of Independence of Cyber Space) envisioned a kind of free-spirited online world that would be free of constraints imposed by governments and powerful corporations, where free thinkers could self-organise and associate in global communities. And this vision was right, for a while. But some important ideas got lost in the handoff between generations. Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg looked at Barlows vision and saw a way to make a lot of money, and the prescription was dangerously simple: Make the world more open and connected. And it seems naive now just add more people to the network (and the advertising-driven bottom line) and good would somehow be magically manufactured. Zuckerberg would have done well to stay at Harvard a while longer and take some history classes. Any student of 20th-century history would have concerns about how platforms such as Facebook and Twitter could be used to drive both misinformation (false information) and disinformation (intentionally misleading information). I was 12 1984 when my father and I would tune into Radio Moscow and listened to their English-language news broadcast. I was struck immediately that they were saying things that werent true, and that put America in a very bad light. This was, of course, the height of the Cold War. I asked my father: Why are they lying like that? And now our information landscape has been activated in service of a full-throated hybrid information war. One can have a valid discussion about exactly who in this war is right or wrong and about what. The bigger concern is that we are surprisingly defenceless against information and data-driven warfare. American business culture in particular places profits above all considerations; couple that with powerful, young executives who are naive, mostly well-meaning, undereducated, surrounded by people who are mostly young and male and similarly motivated, and it becomes easy to control them. Why did Zuckerberg (and Sandberg) not dig into the Russian interference sooner? Because it would open them to liability and affect the bottom line. Ultimately, Facebook has had to up-end major parts of their advertising business which has had a major negative effect on revenue and profits. On July 26, 2018, Facebooks stock lost 20% (or $120bn) of its value in a single day, as the full implications of the Cambridge Analytica story began to become clear. It has dropped an additional 21% since then. We are also vulnerable because our populations are susceptible to fake news; every day we see a flurry of incorrect, strongly biased, outdated stories and propaganda fly across our social networks, reinforcing cognitive bias and helping to sharpen and define our ingroups and outgroups. It is impossible in 2019 not to know what team you are on, because you have been told who you belong with and you know who youre against. And our political discourse has taken on the character of rooting at a rugby match. Real listening is not only impossible, its simply unnecessary. To address this state of affairs, we need to hold business accountable to higher ethical standards. It is unconscionable that we should have allowed a giant multi-billion dollar fraud of a company such as Theranos to get as far along as it did, but such is the mythos of the American entrepreneur. Elizabeth Holmes managed to convince people she was the next Steve Jobs by replicating his piercing stare and wearing black turtlenecks. It shouldnt be that easy. We will need to make progress in our educational system; maybe more founders should be graduates, not dropouts. And maybe our curricula shouldnt try to lean on the Stem (or even the febrile and sad Steam) fads and instead aim to produce well-rounded thinkers familiar with humanities, history, ethics, and philosophy. In fact, this is exactly what the intelligence community is clamouring for: humanities majors with engineering competence. I attended a forum at Georgetown University last autumn and the biggest demand that employers cited was for well-read analysts who could understand not just numbers, but culture. Western countries will need to learn lessons from Ukraine and the Baltic states, which have become accustomed to dealing with Russian propaganda. As Ukraine became a testing ground for Vladislav Surkovs (Putins theatre-master in Crimea) surrealistic all sides war propaganda, they have become better at spotting such Active Measures. In Latvia, there is a weekly television show in a prime time slot that reviews the weeks most ludicrous Russian propaganda. And of course, its not just Russia that we have to be concerned with. China, Iran, North Korea, and others are getting into the business as well. Democracies can be remarkably fragile, especially with elections that rest on a razor-thin 50/50 majority vote. Just a few thousand votes one way or another can sway the outcome. Fans of the television series The Wire (set in my home town of Baltimore) may remember that one episode was titled All the Pieces Matter. Truly this is the case here. Entrepreneurs, politicians, historians, philosophers, and technologists need to start working together to build a livable and ethical future. Just connecting people to the internet and selling ads is not only insufficient, its dangerous. In 2019 and beyond, we should support companies that hold themselves to the highest ethical standards. Anything less is a recipe for disaster. Dave Troy is a serial entrepreneur and community activist in Baltimore, Maryland. He is CEO and product architect at 410 Labs, maker of the popular e-mail management tool Mailstrom.co. He has been acknowledged by the founding team at Twitter as the first developer to utilise the Twitter API, with his project ,Twittervision, which was featured in the 2008 MoMA exhibition Design and the Elastic Mind. His crowdsourced project, Peoplemaps.org, uses social network data to map cities. He is also organiser of TEDxMidAtlantic and is passionate about data, cities, and entrepreneurship. He is one of the speakers at the Nimbus Research Centres Beyond IoT 2 on January 21 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork. The danger has been apparent for some time, but our leaders have not impressed on the public the urgency of the challenge. A recent draft report of the Presidents National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee said it is one the United States simply must enduringly address as a matter of national strategic imperative. The panel urged a major effort, akin to the 1960s effort to land astronauts on the moon, to make the internet safe and secure for the functioning of government and critical services for the American people by 2028. (CNN) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a major speech outlining the Trump administration's Middle East policy on Thursday that took aim at two of the Trump administration's main foes: President Barack Obama and the Iranian regime. In lengthy remarks at the American University in Cairo, the U.S.' top diplomat invoked Obama's speech in the same city a decade ago to offer a point-counterpoint assessment of the two administration's policy moves. Pompeo accused the former President of laying out "fundamental misunderstandings" in his 2009 speech. "He told you that radical Islamist terrorism doesn't stem from ideology. He told you 9/11 led my country to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East," Pompeo said. "He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed 'a new beginning.' And the results of these misjudgments have been dire." Pompeo cataloged a series of alleged missteps by the Obama administration: underestimating "the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islamism," a failure to act against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad after his use of chemical weapons, silence "as the people of Iran rose up against the mullahs in Tehran in the Green Revolution." "What did we learn from all this?" Pompeo asks. "We learned that when America retreats, chaos often follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds. And when we partner with enemies, they advance." Pompeo declared that "the age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering. Now comes the real 'new beginning." "In just 24 months, actually less than two years, the United States under President Trump has reasserted its traditional role as a force for good in this region, because we've learned from our mistakes," he claimed. "We have rediscovered our voice. We have rebuilt our relationships. We have rejected false overtures from enemies. And look at what we have accomplished together." Those accomplishments included the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the re-imposition of sanctions, the move of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and the military strikes on the Assad regime -- an action that Pompeo warns the U.S. is willing to repeat if necessary. With respect to Iran, Pompeo spoke extensively of the U.S. "campaign to stop Iran's malevolent influence and actions against this region and the world." "The nations of the Middle East will never enjoy security, achieve economic stability, or advance the dreams of its peoples if Iran's revolutionary regime persists on its current course," he said. "America's economic sanctions against the regime are the strongest in history, and will keep getting tougher until Iran starts behaving like a normal country. The 12 demands we stated in May remain in force, because the regime's threat to the region endures." Pompeo stressed that the U.S. would remain a partner in the fight against terrorism in the region, but noted that the U.S. expects allies to "shoulder new responsibilities." "Let me be clear: America will not retreat until the terror fight is over," said Pompeo, who reiterated the claim that the U.S. withdrawal from Syria was not "a change of mission." "We remain committed to the complete dismantling of the ISIS threat and the ongoing fight against radical Islamism in all its forms. But, as President Trump has said, we are looking to our partners to do more in this effort going forward. For our part, our airstrikes in the region will continue as targets arise. We will keep working with our partners in the Coalition to Defeat ISIS," he said. Silence on human rights While the secretary of state touched upon the issue of religious freedom, a broader discussion of human rights was notably absent from his address -- he did not use the phrase "human rights" in his remarks. "In Yemen, we will work for a lasting peace," Pompeo said, but did not mention the humanitarian crisis in that nation. 14 million are on the brink of starvation, aid groups estimate, and the US has been warned that its support for the Saudi and United Arab Emirates-led coalition could contribute to the famine. Humanitarian aid was mentioned briefly in the context of Iraq and Yemen, but a long-term vision for that aid or the potential impact it could have on capacity building and the fight against extremism was not. National Security Action, an organization helmed by former Obama administration officials, slammed Pompeo's speech in a release prior to its delivery. "That this administration feels the need, nearly a decade later, to take potshots at an effort to identify common ground between the Arab world and the West speaks not only to the Trump administration's pettiness but also to its lack of a strategic vision for America's role in the region and its abdication of America's values," it said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Pompeo rebukes Obama and takes on Iran in Cairo speech." Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders apologized Thursday to women who say they were harassed while working on his 2016 presidential campaign. "The allegations that I have heard, that you have heard, speak to unacceptable behavior that must not be tolerated in any campaign, or in any workplace in our country. To the women in our campaign who were harassed or mistreated, I apologize," Sanders said during a news conference on Capitol Hill. "Our standards, our procedures, out safeguards were clearly inadequate." Sanders, who said his 2018 re-election campaign to the U.S. Senate enacted more stringent and efficient policies to deal with sexual harassment, added that there needs to be a "cultural revolution" in America to fundamentally change the way women are treated in the workplace. "Every woman in this country who goes to work today or tomorrow has the right to make sure that she is working in an environment that is free of harassment, which is safe and which is comfortable. And I will do my best to make that happen," Sanders said. To the women on my 2016 campaign who were harassed or mistreated, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for speaking out. I apologize. We can't just talk about ending sexism and discrimination. It must be a reality in our daily lives. That was clearly not the case in 2016. pic.twitter.com/eJtCAGjHZu Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 10, 2019 The apology comes a day after Politico published a story on allegations of sexual harassment made by a female staffer against Robert Becker, the man who oversaw Sanders' Iowa campaign operation. Becker has denied the allegations against him, telling Politico: "I categorically deny these allegations of improper and unprofessional conduct," saying the alleged assault is "at odds with my recollection of a late evening filled with many hugs and kisses and tears and conversations about whats next." The New York Times also reported earlier this month on the allegations of sexism from female staffers that worked on the Senator's 2016 campaign against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Sanders again Thursday denied knowledge of the alleged harassment, but top officials from his campaign have acknowledged that the gender make-up of any future campaign would need to look sufficiently different to address systemic sexism. "Speaking generally about 2016, was it too male? Yes. Was it too white? Yes," former Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said in a statement after the allegations surfaced. "Would this be a priority to remedy on any future campaign? Definitely, and we share deeply in the urgency to make the necessary changes. In 2016, as the size of our campaign exploded we made efforts to make it a positive experience for people. That there was a failure pains me very much," Weaver added. Sanders staffers have been actively discussing the need for significant differences in the gender makeup in the leadership of any future presidential campaign. Part of those changes include Weaver not returning to his role as campaign manager in any future Sanders presidential bid. Sanders himself has not yet made a decision on whether or not he will run for president in 2020, but released an e-mail late last year with the subject line "If I Run." "Whenever I am asked about running for president in 2020, I answer that if I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump, then I will probably run. That is the truth," Sanders wrote in the fundraising pitch. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Brahma Chellaney examines how indigenous tribes are coming under increasing danger as the modern world refuses to let them live how they choose. The remote, coral-fringed North Sentinel Island made headlines late last year, after an American Christian missionarys covert expedition to convert its residents the worlds last known pre-Neolithic tribal group ended in his death. The episode has cast a spotlight on the threats faced by the worlds remote indigenous groups, which are already on the brink of disappearance. The Sentinelese people targeted by evangelist John Allen Chau are probably the most isolated of the worlds remaining remote tribes, and they are keen to stay that way. They shoot arrows to warn off anyone who approaches their island, and attack those, like Chau, who ignore their warnings. It was not always this way. When Europeans first made contact with the Sentinelese, the British naval commander Maurice Vidal Portman described them in 1899 as painfully timid. But the profound shift is not hard to explain. Tribes such as the Sentinelese have learned to associate outsiders with the ghastly violence and deadly diseases brought by European colonisation. British colonial excesses whittled down the aboriginal population of the Andaman Islands, which includes North Sentinel Island, from more than two dozen tribes 150 years ago to just four today. The tribes that escaped genocide at the hands of the colonisers did so largely by fleeing to the deepest and most inaccessible parts of jungles. That was the story in North Sentinel, which Portman and his forces raided, abducting the few children and elderly who failed to flee into the dense rainforest in time. As a 2009 book by Satadru Sen notes, Portman used members of Andaman tribes as subjects in his supposed anthropometry research, forcibly measuring and photographing their bodies. The research, according to Sen, reflected a perverted fascination with male genitalia. After the decimation of indigenous peoples under colonial rule, the countries where isolated tribes remain including Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, India, and Peru have pursued a no contact policy toward these groups. This policy is anchored in laws that protect indigenous peoples rights to ancestral lands and to live in seclusion, and reinforced by an international convention obligating governments to protect these communities lands, identities, penal customs, and ways of life. It is illegal and punishable by a prison sentence for outsiders to enter Indias tribal reserves. Yet Chau dodged Indian laws and coastal security, according to his own diary accounts, to make repeated forays into North Sentinel over three days an arduous effort that was facilitated by a Kansas City-based missionary agency, which trained him for his journey. The Sentinelese killed him only after he ignored repeated warnings to stop trespassing. But the threat to the Sentinelese people and, indeed, all isolated tribes is far from neutralised, as some have taken Chaus death as an opportunity to argue that we should reverse policies that protect isolated tribes. And while some have good intentions to provide access to modern technology, education, and healthcare others do not. For example, Brazils new far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has threatened to repeal constitutional safeguards for aboriginal lands in order to expand developers access to the Amazon, the worlds largest rainforest. Whatever the motivation, connecting with remote tribes would amount to a death sentence for them. The first waves of European colonisation caused a calamitous depopulation of indigenous societies through violence and the introduction of infectious diseases such as smallpox and measles, to which the natives had no immunity. In Brazil, three-quarters of the indigenous societies that opened up to the outside world have become extinct, with the rest suffering catastrophic population declines. Over the last five centuries, Brazils total indigenous population has plummeted from up to 5m to fewer than 900,000 people, with the introduction of constitutional protections for indigenous territories in the late 1980s aimed at arresting the decline. Indigenous communities combined share of the world population now stands at just 4.5%. As Bolsonaros promises underscore, indigenous societies have been pitted directly against loggers, miners, crop planters, ranchers, oil drillers, hunters, and other interlopers. In the last 12 years, according to satellite data, Brazils Amazon Basin has lost forest cover equivalent in size to the entire Democratic Republic of Congo, the worlds eleventh-largest country. Indigenous people are an essential element of cultural diversity and ecological harmony, not to mention a biological treasure for scientists seeking to reconstruct evolutionary and migratory histories. The least the world can do is to let them live in peace in the ancestral lands that they have honored and preserved for centuries. - Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research. Coombe Hospitals theatre company in residence is to stage WOMB , a play which imagines birthing 100 years from now, writes Marjorie Brennan MEDICINE and the arts may not appear to be natural bedfellows the reflective and imaginative nature of creativity at odds with the often intense and proactive practice of healthcare. However, in recent years, many hospitals have seen the positive impact of incorporating artistic practice in a medical setting, with patients, staff and the surrounding community all benefitting. Outlandish Theatre Platform, founded by Maud Hendricks and Bernie OReilly, is the first theatre company in residence at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin. As part of this years First Fortnight Mental Health Art and Culture Festival, it is staging a production called WOMB, an experimental piece exploring birthing and womens rights in an imagined Dublin 100 years from now. They have been working with the Coombe for three years and according to Hendricks, it has been a unique and rewarding experience. It is such an amazing and exciting place to be, as birth is one of the most life-changing experiences, she says. The Coombe hospital has been in existence since 1823 and is very much rooted in the community from which it takes its name, a historic and vibrant part of Dublin city, now home to a diverse population. Hendricks says this very much informs their collaboration with the hospital; WOMB features two professional performers and five community participants. One in three babies in the Coombe are born to non-Irish-born mothers its the birthing ground of the new Ireland. Being in the Coombe is lovely, because you experience that diversity and all the different experiences. Every week, Outlandish hosts an open theatre practice for people from the hospital and those from the wider Dublin 8 community. Its a performance-making workshop of about an hour and a half and we have people who have worked on previous projects as well as those who have heard about our work by word of mouth, says Hendricks. A maternity hospital is not the most natural place for arts practice, but it makes for an interesting dynamic. The issues around reproductive rights and birth which WOMB examines have been much discussed in Ireland in recent years, largely due to the referendum on the eighth amendment. The dystopian treatment of the topic is also a familiar theme, thanks to the TV adaptation of Margaret Atwoods novel The Handmaids Tale. [This piece] touches on birth control in the future, theres planetary change and potential birth restrictions in place to save humanity. Putting the story in the future is a way to distance ourselves slightly from the reality and... maybe find a new perspective to discuss this in a wider context of society, says Hendricks. While there are obviously complex issues involved in such work, she says their aim is to explore these rather than come to any conclusions. Obviously, my womb is very much a part of my personal body and I dont think anyone has a right over it. [But] we frame ourselves as a theatre of inquiry, our process is about finding questions rather than making a moral statement. We have our personal beliefs about choice and theyre clear among the people weve developed the concept with, but were also trying to ask searching questions, questions we dont know the answers to. Don't forget we also have Workshops working on themes in WOMB as part of @firstfortnight taking place 16 & 18 January. Book here https://t.co/jTFDUFyV2x pic.twitter.com/NZVZR6KBqY Outlandish Theatre Platform (@outlandish_t_p) January 8, 2019 While artistic therapy is now more common in healthcare, Hendricks says that the theatrical practice that Outlandish espouses has different aims. Thats not our focus, but most people would feel it has a large therapeutic benefit for them. Definitely, there are therapeutic factors, and people do have revelatory experiences, but thats not our area of expertise. Were not therapists were facilitators, professional theatre-makers trained in performance. For the production of WOMB, OReilly and Hendricks engaged in a long process of research and development, interviewing midwives and other staff members of the Coombe. Its a conversation, there is a lot of sharing involved, says Hendricks. One of the staff members involved in the process was midwife Shelley Carlisle, who extols the benefits of having a theatre in residence in the Coombe. For staff, it is an excellent outlet for what can be a stressful job. [Maternity] is a very emotive medicine, we have such highs and lows. Any form of art is beneficial, but especially theatre because you are able to play out scenarios. People probably see medicine and the arts as being opposed and they might scoff at bringing in theatre but it has worked really well in the Coombe, where a lot of the staff are involved in the arts. Hendricks says they are very aware of the pressure under which staff at the hospital operate. What we do is a very gentle entering into the hospital sphere itself, it is about tracking the pressure staff are under and when we do something we want to contribute to their experience or give something back. Outlandish Theatre Platform, in partnership with First Fortnight Europe and the Coombe Hospital, presents WOMB, Jan 14-19, 8pm, Dance Studio at Samuel Beckett Centre. Matinee, 2pm, Saturday, Jan 19. Tickets: 15/12 https://bit.ly/2DTO0MO Carolyn Moore on why Tracee Ellis Ross is the fashion icon we deserve in 2019 and how we can all learn from the example of Diana Ross daughter. Its impossible not to love Tracee Ellis Ross. To paraphrase Ryan Goslings cheesy pickup line from Crazy Stupid Love, Tracee Ellis Ross 2018s undisputed style superstar wears clothes like shes doing them a favour. Its been no surprise to see magazine editors tripping over themselves to get her on their covers this year; most notably, she was resplendent in pink on the cover of InStyles November issue, celebrating their annual style awards. Best dressed, the cover reads. Style secrets of the coolest women. And its the coolest woman of 2018 who towers over the copy. And its apt that theyve used the word woman, for this is no ingenue, no reality TV teenager whos hired a stylist to make her the next It Girl. This is Tracee Ellis Ross actress, feminist, style icon; the daughter of Diana Ross, coming into her own at 46 years of age. Sometimes you gotta spread your wings, she captioned a photo of herself at the InStyle Awards, rapturously flapping her vast feathered sleeves, and Ellis Ross is now soaring. As InStyle noted, she is that rarest of birds, a woman in Hollywood ascendant after 40. And how. Her Golden Globe-winning performance as Dr Rainbow Johnson in zeitgeist-capturing comedy Black-ish put her on the radars of fashion fans years ago, but arguably, 2018 was her breakout year. Now, shes not just relishing her time in the spotlight, shes using it to shine a light on the activism and advocacy that defines her every bit as much as her famous mother, her madcap comic stylings, and her unapologetic penchant for pink. With a reputation as one of the red carpets most daring dressers, as Ross explains it, her style hasnt changed over the years, but her courage has. While many women internalise the message that we should age gracefully into black (all the better to help you disappear, my dear), Tracee Ellis Ross isnt going anywhere. Child-free and defiantly single (she delivered a barnstorming speech at the 2017 Glamour Women of the Year Summit where she revealed shes not here for your dated definitions of womanhood, thank you very much), she lives by the mantra My life is mine, and neither her life nor her fashion choices are made with anyone elses approval in mind. Not everybodys gonna get it, and it really doesnt matter I dress for my own joy, she told Vanity Fair last month. Comfortable in her own skin, here is a woman who can rock a ballgown and a tracksuit with equal aplomb; a powerful voice in the #MeToo movement, and a vocal advocate for women and girls, who walks the walk while eloquently talking the talk. She recently hired an all-female management team and fought for pay equity with her on-screen husband, but her outspoken refusal to be defined by her relationship status, came, she says out of advocating for myself. Being asked about it all the time presented this idea that without marriage or kids, I couldnt be whole, she said. So, I wanted to talk about it clearly: Did it happen because I wasnt good enough, or because I hadnt chosen it? And I feel pretty clear that I am the chooser. As InStyle declared, Tracee Ellis Ross is living her best life, and shes living it for herself, entirely on her own terms. Thinking about turning over a new leaf in 2019, we women should consider just tearing one out of the Tracee Ellis Ross playbook. Every era gets the style icon it deserves, and in these tumultuous times, Tracee Ellis Ross is not just the style icon we deserve, shes the style icon we need. Because this is no empty vessel, and with Tracee, its not just about the clothes, its about how and why she wears them, and how she speaks about and through them. Style is how you do things, not what you wear, she told Vanity Fair last year, and style is also what you choose to communicate with your fashion choices. With her innate understanding that fashion can be used to express both the personal and the political, and her determination to visibly revel in her love of fashion and the joy it brings her, Ellis Ross is a gloriously potent reminder that you can be politically engaged in gold lame sweat pants; you can be a powerful advocate for change while kitted out in couture; and you can own your own power while finding your joy in a pink puffy ballgown. Along with great hair and incredible bone structure, fabulousness is in her DNA, but while she jokes that she came out of her mothers womb asking wheres the beads? like her famous mother, Tracee Ellis Ross is more than just a clothes horse. If she inherited Ross love of glamour, then she also learned from her mother how to wield fashion as a tool of self-expression. Whether shes accessorising her #MeToo black dress with warpaint red lips, a turban, and a pointedly raised fist on the Golden Globes red carpet, or advocating for female empowerment in a sheer blouse and an unfashionably comfortable training bra, Tracee Ellis Ross understands the power of small gestures. It was watching Diana transform from doting mother into her playful, sexy, joyful stage persona that gave young Tracee her understanding of fashion as a conduit for identity. I saw them as two different people, and she actually had two different perfumes Mom had a perfume and Diana Ross had a perfume, she has said, explaining that in her mother she had a role model who was in charge of her own identity, who had agency in her life, and it was all connected to the glamour and her power. It shaped Ellis Ross attitude to life and fashion, and the ways in which the two intersect. Attired in a suitably regal ensemble when the Times Up movement blacked out the Golden Globes red carpet last year, shes become the queen of a new Hollywood sisterhood who have repurposed the red carpet as an arena for political statements. When she presented the American Music Awards in October, it was not just a 10- outfit fashion tour de force; Ellis Ross leveraged her visibility to highlight the work of black designers. I strongly believe in using my platform to shine light in directions I believe in, and I believe in, love, and celebrate my people, she explained on Instagram. Being photographed with her mother prepared her for what she calls the uncomfortable experience of being on the red carpet, but wearing both her fashion choices and her-larger than-life personality like an armour, she ensures that discomfort never shows. Shes as liable to break into guffaws of laughter as she is to hold a pose, but by deftly deploying both her comedic sensibility and her sense of style as weapons of mass destruction, she always manages to steal the show. And if she can hijack the conversation and use it to signal boost an issue shes passionate about, then shell grab that opportunity with both hands. Likewise, her disarming lipstick-meets-slapstick combination of goofy and glamorous keeps her 5.4m Instagram followers endlessly entertained, but her social media output mixes fashion, politics, activism and comedy to ensure important messages filter through her channels. As a child, she would spend endless hours playing dress up in her mothers closet, play acting and inventing characters, so it was through fashion that she found her calling in life. If shes having a bad day, shell still retreat to her closet to indulge in some fashion fantasy. I used to create all these amazing outfits and no one would get to see them, she told Vanity Fair. Now people get to see them! She storyboards outfit ideas, pulling inspiration from myriad sources, and as her star continues to rise and her time becomes more precious, shes enlisted the help of super stylist Karla Welsh to do the leg work and swirl [her inspirations] into clothing that exists. The result has been a stellar run of red-carpet hits, from the outlandish to the everyday, and still you get the sense that shes only just hitting her stride. As her star continues rise, 2019 could well be the year we find ourselves asking not whether Tracee Ellis Ross is the style icon we deserve, but what we ever did to deserve Tracee Ellis Ross. Traveller rights groups have called on housing minister Eoghan Murphy to intervene and ban Traveller evictions until the accommodation crisis is over. It comes as five families, including 28 children, face eviction from an old school site in Balgaddy, Clondalkin in Dublin where they have been living since last year. The families have said that there is nowhere else for them to go. The families have been living on the site since late last year but were told by South Dublin County Council just before Christmas that they had to vacate the area. Council officials and gardai were present on the site yesterday. The local authority has said they are there without permission and, as they are not from the county area, it has no duty of care to them. The Council has pointed out that the families have been served with valid notices to quit and that moves to enforce the removal of this illegal encampment before Christmas was postponed on the understanding that the families would leave yesterday. The site has no electricity, toilets or running water. The families have said that they have come from the Dublin City Council (DCC) and Clare County Council areas due to overcrowding and conflict with other families. Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre has now called on housing minister Eoghan Murphy to intervene in the issue. Director of Pavee Point Martin Collins said an independent review of Traveller accommodation law is currently underway through the Department of Housing and is due to be published in April. Twenty years of failed accommodation policies has resulted in this crisis for Travellers. There has been an underspend of 55m on Traveller accommodation since 2000. In this context, evictions are inhumane. Ongoing evictions by local authorities and other public landowners is causing Travellers unnecessary hardship and suffering, he said. Director of the Irish Travellers Movement, Bernard Joyce, also called on South Dublin County Council to give more time to the families due to be evicted and said that local authorities need to work together across different counties in a more holistic approach. "They (the families) are trying to be proactive, the stick approach they (local authorities) are using is not going to work," he said. Such an approach was just moving the issue somewhere else. This is a crisis that needs a response on a humanitarian side," he told RTE. Mr Joyce said the families involved are asking that they be allowed to remain in Clondalkin until greater supports are in place. When asked about a feud involving the families, he said that was 15 years ago, it is not relevant to this situation". Local authorities need to work more proactively together, they need to work across counties, to have a more holistic approach," he said. Mr Joyce said there were no new halting sites and still no provision for Travellers. He also pointed out that Travellers are locked out of the rental sector and are 50 times more likely to experience discrimination by landlords. "The families involved feel they have no alternative," he said. Sharing personal information with strangers to gain new followers is a risk teenagers are taking on an app with similar features to Tinder. A study of teen use of Yubo (formerly Yellow) found 15-year-olds were particularly blase about protecting their own privacy, for the chance of reward such as boosting follower numbers. The study, by Dublin City University (DCU,) found teens more concerned with creating new online friendships than the risks associated with sharing personal information publicly. Liam Challenor, doctoral researcher at the National Anti-Bullying Centre at DCU, said they had chosen to study Yubo after parents contacted the centre to raise concerns in relation to sexual content. While use of sexually suggestive or sexualised images on profiles was very rare, use of half of the eight most frequently used emojis were categorised as having a sexual meaning. These included tongue emojis taken to represent oral sex, a water emoji taken to represent bodily fluids or a fire emoji to represent sexiness, he said. Yubo has over 15m users who send in excess of 3m messages per day. Like Tinder, Yubo users connect with new friends by swiping left on a users profile. It allows for the live streaming of video and chat, both one-on-one and to groups. Another area of concern, Mr Challenor said, was that 7% of the 298 profiles studied had shared their Snapchat details publicly before ever matching on Yubo. This was because they had embedded their username or snapcode in their bio or on profile pictures, so anyone could see their details without ever swiping or matching. A stranger can see personal details the user posts to their profile which in some cases included a Snapchat username and public Instagram profile, Mr Challenor said. The study also found that 80% of users had integrated Instagram profiles. Mr Challenor said while a lot of teens were growing more aware of the need to protect their privacy, 15-year-olds were found to be giving away more information than any other age group and were the most prevalent users of Yubo, representing almost one third of the overall sample. They are the ones we are concerned about because they are at the stage of development where they should be more cognisant of the dangers. It appears to be the case that they are taking risks with their own privacy in favour of creating new online friendships, Mr Challenor said. The study, An observation and analysis of profiles among adolescents on the Yellow (now Yubo) application found the split between male and female users was 54% male to 46% female. 60% were between the ages of 13 and 16, 40% were 16 or 17. Mr Challenor said it was important that parents and teachers are aware of how the app works and what sort of activity is going on on it. The State is to seek a leapfrog appeal before the Supreme Court against a key ruling in a case brought by Graham Dwyer. The State wants the Supreme Court to hear its appeal against a High Court ruling in favour of Graham Dwyer which forms part of his bid to overturn his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. Brian Murray SC for the State told Mr Justice Tony O'Connor this morning it intends to apply to Supreme Court to hear "a leapfrog appeal" of the finding that the Cork-born architect is entitled to certainly limited declarations concerning provisions of Ireland's data retention laws. The State's decision to seek an appeal before the Supreme Court means that the appeal of the High Court decision could be heard sometime in the next 12 months. The State is appealing Mr Justice O'Connor's decision last month that sections of Ireland's retention laws concerning information generated by telephones contravene both EU law and findings of the European Court of Human Rights. Ireland's data retention laws provide for an indiscriminate retention regime, the Judge said. As well as being an important ruling in respect to Dwyer's appeal against his conviction the State had argued the action also had major implications in relation to the authorities' ability to retain, access and use information generated by mobile phones in the investigation of serious criminal activities The case was briefly mentioned before the High Court this morning when the Judge was due to hear submissions on the wording of the declaration in regards to retained telephone data. Mr Murray SC, appearing with Sean Guerin and David Fennelly Bl for the State said that the sides had agreed most of the wording and that in addition to the appeal the state was seeking a stay on the High Court order. Remy Farrell SC for Dwyer said his client had come to an agreement with the State over the declaration and would not be objecting to any stay pending the outcome of the appeal. Mr Justice O'Connor adjourned the case to this afternoon when he will formally rule on the wording of the court's declaration and on the application for a stay. Dwyer, who denies killing Ms O'Hara, claimed that data gathered from his phone, under the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act, should not have been used at his 2015 trial before the Central Criminal Court. The data, which was generated by Dwyer's work phone, placed the phone at specific places at particular times and dates. That data was used to link Dwyer to another mobile phone the prosecution told the jury during his high profile trial that he acquired and used to contact Ms O'Hara, whom he had an affair with. The use of the data, Dwyer claimed, was unconstitutional and breached his rights under the EU Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights, including his right to privacy. Dwyer's lawyers argued the Act was introduced to give effect to a 2006 EU directive concerning the retention and use of data. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) found in 2014 that the directive was invalid and that position was further strengthened in subsequent rulings by that court in 2016. He claimed the 2011 Act suffered from the same flaws identified by the ECJ. The state opposed his arguments and said Dwyer's application was misconceived and should be dismissed. It argued the laws that allow the authorities to access and utilise retained data, are extremely important in the detection, prevention and investigation of serious crime. in what was a detailed and lengthy judgement Mr Justice O'Connor said he was satisfied that the 2011 Act provides for an indiscriminate retention regime. The ECJ, the judge said, had found that such regimes are prohibited under Articles 7 and 8 of the European Charter, and the court said it is prepared to make declarations that sections of the 2011 Act are inconsistent with EU law. He said the ECJ had found that the fighting of serious crimes cannot justify the general and indiscriminate retention regime. The Judge added that practices of how Garda apply for and obtain mobile phone data were not enough to satisfy the decisions of the European Courts in regards to access. The sections of the 2011 Act concerning access to retained data contravene EU law and the European Court of Human Rights because there was no prior review by a court of administrative authority for access to telephone data. A 32-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his mother, Elzbieta Piotrowska, aged 57, whose body was found in her home in Ardee, Co Louth, on Tuesday morning. Tomasz Krzysztof Piotrowski, with an address at Cherrybrook, Ardee, is charged with the murder at Clonmore, Ardee, on January 8. Environmental groups and the public are being left in the dark over the Governments plans to manage Skellig Michael, according to Irelands largest environmental coalition. The Environmental Pillar has made the claim in the wake of last months launch by the Government of a public consultation process on a management plan for the island. The management plan is required by Unesco and the consultation process is intended to guide and inform the content of the management plan. However, in a letter sent this week to Heritage Minister Josepha Madigan, the group warned that the consultation is fundamentally flawed as the only document available for review is the old plan which expired in 2018. As there is no draft of the next plan available, the Environmental Pillar outlined to the minister that in essence, we are in the dark about the governments proposals for the heritage site. The group said that if there is no further consultation on the actual draft plan proposed, it is absolutely unacceptable. It said that best practice should see the draft plan subjected to a six- to eight-week public consultation. This should be followed by workshops with key concerned groups, and then the publication of the draft final plan along with the required environmental assessment. Environmental Pillar spokesperson Charles Stanley Smith said the increase in visitor numbers to the island as a result of it appearing in the Star Wars franchise needed to be carefully managed. The success of Star Wars is largely positive in terms of local tourism but in terms of visitor numbers is putting undue strain on Skellig Michael as a leading Irish Unesco site and on the islands birds habitats. The Environmental Pillar, however, would condemn any increase in landings and rather look for improvements of Skellig-related tourism projects on the mainland. Despite the clear importance of further debate on this issue, the Government decided that it was best to sneak in a public consultation at the end of December when most people are on leave for the Christmas and new years break, he said. The deadline for the public consultation process is January 18. A Dublin family has had to temporarily move out of their home after a learner driver drove into their sitting room. The car smashed through the front wall of the house in the Castletymon area yesterday afternoon. Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan has defended the length of time it will take for the completion of the new National Sexual Violence Prevalence Study. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) will commence work shortly on the study which comes 17 years after the last report of its kind (the SAVI report) was published. This is an important piece of work, thats why there is this time frame. Over 5,000 people will be interviewed, he told RTEs Morning Ireland. Orla OConnor of the National Womens Council said that it was important that the State was taking responsibility for data, but in the end it will have been 21 years for the updating. We believe the State can do better. Is it a question of resources? Thats a long time to wait. Mr Flanagan said that the time frame was the estimate of the CSO, but that the issue of the length of time could be reviewed. He said that as Minister it was important that he be fully informed by best practices and the only way he could do so was with the proper data. He added that he believed sexual violence had been underreported which was why a number of reviews were ongoing. One of the reasons for under reporting, he said, was because of the off putting experience of going to court. He had commissioned a report from Tom OMalley of UCG which he expected to receive in a few weeks that will have recommendations that will not require legislation. Earlier on Newstalk Breakfast the Minister said that sexual violence was a scourge on society. It was as important as legislators to make every effort to ensure the scourge is tackled. We need information to do that. The study by the CSO will involve hundreds of questions being asked in a sensitive manner of 5,000 people, he said. Once the framework is established similar studies can be done every decade. For instance, political leaders can draw attention to the needs of others in their campaign speeches and speeches on the House or Senate floor. They may talk about the need to care for certain people in need or implore people to have a heart for the plight of others. Often, leaders allude to the deserving nature of the recipients of government help, outlining how circumstances are beyond their control. The government has confirmed it will continue supporting students applying to universities in the United Kingdom as well as Northern Ireland pupils wishing to study here after Brexit. Pupils from Northern Ireland expressed concern over whether they will be treated as non-EU students after the UK leaves the European Union in March, meaning they would have to pay much higher fees. Minister for Education Joe McHugh has clarified the government's position saying that it will continue to support university students planning to study in the UK and for UK nationals wishing to attend colleges in Ireland. It means that eligible Irish and EU nationals, who want to study in the UK for the 2019/20 academic year, will be able to avail of SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) grants. UK students who enrol for the 2019/20 academic year will be eligible for free fees and student grant schemes. This includes the student contribution fee for Irish and EU citizens which currently stands at 3,000 for the 2018/19 academic year. This means that the student grant and tuition fee arrangements currently in place will continue to apply for those students entering higher education in the 2019/2020 academic year. The government said it will review its position before the 2020/2021 academic year. Mr McHugh said: "I am pleased to be able to announce this decision at this time. "It provides certainty for prospective students applying before the CAO (Central Applications Office) closing date of February 1. "I continue to work closely with my colleague Simon Coveney, to bring longer term clarity for both Irish students wishing to study in the UK and UK nationals wishing to take up studies in Ireland. It is vital that both Ireland and the UK continue to build on the strong and valuable co-operation which currently exists. There are currently 10,070 Irish students studying in the UK, while 1,319 Northern Ireland students attend universities here at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Over 1,100 students from the rest of the UK study in Irish universities Ministers McHugh & Mitchell OConnor have announced a decision to continue supports for prospective higher education students wishing to study in the UK & UK nationals wishing to take up studies in Ireland for 2019/2020 academic year https://t.co/cThTQtj5MX education.ie (@Education_Ire) January 11, 2019 Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O'Connor said: "I am delighted to be able to provide certainty for prospective students applying for college places in Ireland and the UK. "In accordance with the commitments given in the government's Contingency Action Plan for Brexit, my officials are working on amendments to the Student Support Act 2011. "These amendments will ensure that eligible Irish and UK students continue to receive grant supports for the 2019/20 academic year." PA & Digital Desk Planners have given the green light for two residential towers in Corks docklands - a decision which brings the value of approved private sector projects in the docklands close to 500m. Target Ark Ltds plan to build two slender apartment towers - one 10-storeys tall and the other a six-storey structure - on a strategic site off Victoria Road, behind the under-construction Navigation Square office precinct, is set to add renewed impetus to the expansion and rejuvenation of the citys docklands eastwards. It the latest large-scale docklands project sanctioned by planners. Others have been appealed to An Bord Pleanala. The towers, designed by James Bourke Architects to reflect the areas industrial heritage, will have 19 apartments - six one-bed, 10 two-bed and three three-bed apartments, and the towers will be linked by pedestrian walkways. The scheme will include the renovation and redevelopment of an historic and listed 19th century warehouse next to Goldbergs Bar and fronting Victoria Road, as a restaurant. And the developers also plan to create a new pedestrian walkway from Victoria Road into the Navigation Square campus, which is being developed by OCallaghan Properties the first phase of which, it is hoped, will open next month. Pending a possible appeal on Cork City Councils decision, it is hoped that work could start on site before the end of the year and take up to two years to complete. The decision came as the developers behind The Prism, which has been appealed by An Taisce to An Bord Pleanala, defended the project. The council approved the 15-storey, 20m triangular-shaped office tower last year for a small site near the city's bus station. Proposed by Tower Holdings, and inspired by the iconic 22-storey 1902 Flatiron building in New York, The Prism will deliver 60,000 sq ft of office space. Reddy Architects said An Taisce concerns about its height are simplistic and do not address the positive urban design merits of the project. This proposal is a deliberate attempt to fill an urban void in the centre of the east end of the city island with a tall, elegant, light-filled and transparent iconic piece of architecture that will signal the location of the burgeoning Cork city office district and to transition from the low lying city centre to the docklands," it said. Meanwhile, construction on OCallaghan Propertiess Navigation Square project on Albert Quay in the south docks is nearing completion. Its four signature buildings will provide 360,000 sq ft of fourth generation office space. JCD has started site clearance and preparation work on its 125m Penrose Dock scheme on a 1.8-acre riverside site on the citys northern docks at Penrose Quay, close to Kent train station. Two large office blocks, with some 250,000 sq ft of office space, will be built to accommodate over 2,200 employees. The historic 12,000 sq ft Penrose House will be retained. BAM and Clarendon Properties are developing their 160m mixed-use HQ scheme on a site immediately downstream at Horgans Quay, in conjunction with landowners CIE. The HQ scheme includes 237 apartments for the letting market, a hotel, and 390,000 sq ft of offices. The project is likely to take four years to complete. The decision to grant planning to Dublin company Tetrarch Capital for a 162-bed seven-storey budget hotel at 7-9 Parnell Place, previously occupied by Flor Griffin and Mahers, has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala. Other developments planned Gardai are investigating threats which were made over Facebook to one victim in a child sexual abuse case. Last March, a jury convicted a 38-year-old UK businessman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victims, of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexually assaulting two girls at addresses in Dublin and Louth between December 3, 2010 and March 10, 2011 when they were aged 10 and 12 years old. The man had groomed the children while in the UK and would regularly sexually assault and rape both girls in bed at night. When UK social services began to investigate the children's welfare, the man took the children to Ireland. In December 2010, the man and the older girl travelled to Dublin and got caught up in the snowy weather at the time. They ended up staying the night in a hotel and the man sexually assaulted and raped the girl in the room that night. At the Central Criminal Court sentence hearing in July, Mr Justice Michael White noted that the man still maintains his innocence and disputes the verdicts. Today, Pauline Walley SC, prosecuting, told the judge that the man allegedly set up false Facebook accounts claiming his innocence. She said it was also alleged that he threatened one complainant via Facebook accounts created on dates last April. She said the matters are being investigated by gardai and that the US and UK authorities are assisting gardai with their investigations. She told the court that it is being taken very seriously by gardai and the DPP. She said there were three separate incidents of threats made and that Facebook has been requested to take down the offending material. She said that whoever set up the Facebook accounts and made the threats had gone to considerable lengths to anonymise them and that gardai are carrying out a painstaking investigation. Mr Justice White adjourned the matter to April 12 next. Last July, the judge imposed a 14-year custodial sentence. He suspended the final two years on condition that the man participate in the Better Lives treatment programme for sex offenders. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has requested a business case for increased staffing at specialist crime bureaus, including a unit tasked with combating the financing of terrorism. The development has emerged following revelations in the Irish Examiner this week that there are only two gardai attached to the Terrorist Financing Intelligence Unit. The TFIU is part of the Financial Intelligence Unit, which is based within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. The staffing complement has not changed despite repeated calls from an international inspection body for the unit's resources to be increased. The inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force also called on the State to more actively pursue prosecutions in the area. The FATF said the level of prosecutions to date (with just one conviction) was not consistent with Ireland's risk profile. In its report in September 2017 the body said it had been reassured during its visits that it was a priority to hire further garda analysts and financial experts. The FIU received 21,682 suspicious transactions reports (STRs) from financial institutions in 2016, up from 12,390 in 2012. During that time period, the TFIU received a total of 4,419 STRs potentially linked to international terrorism, rising from 683 to 948. The FATF said the high number of STRs to the TFIU "may overburden" the unit. The Irish Examiner understands that despite competitions resulting in additional staff going into the GNECB that the bureau, including the FIU, have lost and equal number of officers through retirements, promotions and transfers. Sources have said that the bureau is in need of extra numbers at all ranks. In addition, it recently lost highly experienced senior officers, including Detective Superintendent Alf Martin and Detective Inspector Maureen McGrath. The superintendent position is still vacant. Some sources have indicated the overall strength of the GNECB stands at around 50, of which around seven staff are seconded to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. This figure is significantly lower than numbers provided in ministerial responses to parliamentary questions, which put the strength of the bureau at 73 as of July 2018, up from 66 in 2017 and 53 in 2016. Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan said it was absolutely essential that staffing at the TFIU and the FIU and the wider bureau be increased. In response to a query regarding staffing levels at the GNECB (including the FIU and the TFIU), Garda HQ issued a statement. Commissioner Harris has requested a comprehensive business case for staffing in units in Special Crime operations including Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (which includes the Terrorist Financing Unit)," it said. It is absolutely essential that staffing at a specialist Garda unit tasked with assessing intelligence on the financing of terrorism is increased, Fianna Fail has said. The partys justice spokesman, Jim OCallaghan, was responding to an article in the Irish Examiner which revealed that only two gardai were attached to the Terrorist Financing Intelligence Unit. Security expert Edward Burke said that while An Garda Siochana was still dealing with the legacy of serious cuts, improvements in intelligence services were not moving fast enough. The Terrorist Financing Intelligence Unit is part of the Financial Intelligence Unit, which is staffed by 11 gardai and sits within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. The staffing levels are unchanged despite repeated calls from an external inspection body for the resources of both units to be increased. The Financial Action Task Force called on the State to actively pursue terrorist financing prosecutions saying the amount to date (one case) was not consistent with Irelands risk profile. The Financial Intelligence Unit, received 21,682 suspicious transactions reports from financial institutions in 2016, up from 12,390 in 2012. The Terrorist Financing Intelligence Unit received 948 suspicious transactions reports potentially linked to international terrorism in 2016, compared to 683 in 2012. The Terrorist Financing Intelligence Unit sent 90 reports to Garda Security and Intelligence for investigation in 2016, compared to 76 in 2012. Mr OCallaghan said that, in 2016, the Government stated the force would get the necessary resources to enhance counter-terrorism. Its clear that one crucial aspect of those efforts is not being properly supported to gather and share intelligence, he said. Dr Burke, director for Conflict, Security and Terrorism at Nottingham University, said it was taking An Garda Siochana a long time to recover, but thought it was turning a corner. He said this was due to various reasons, including calls by Commissioner Drew Harris and Security and Intelligence assistant commissioner Michael OSullivan for more resources and their willingness to take in civilian expertise. He said the Financial Action Task Force and the European Commission were pushing this issue as a priority here. As a result of the Policing Commission report, he said the Government was setting up a national security co-ordinator and a new Strategic Threat Analysis Centre. Work is to start before the end of the month on a full clean up of a site on the northside of Cork city where there has been persistent illegal dumping. Huge volumes of household waste have been discarded at Ellis's Yard in Blackpool with local politicians raising fears about the health and safety impact on nearby residents, as well as the environmental damage in the area. Previously, Cork City Council spent more than 500,000 between 2003 and 2014 on large-scale clean-ups at the site, with several other initiatives, including CCTV and new signage, employed since. It is understood that the new works will include a full clean-up of the site, including the removal of all waste, and the erection of protective fencing bordering the site boundary to prevent future dumping. The works come under the remit of the housing directorate at Cork City Council. Brian Geaney, the head of the council's housing department, said work will begin before the end of the month. We have invited tenders to carry out the works. It is expected that these works will get underway in the coming weeks," he said. No budget has been allocated for the clean-up but it is understood that discussions have taken place between Cork City Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning regarding funding. In recent months, the issues at the site had been reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A spokesperson for the EPA said it had been directly contacted in September and November 2018 and had engaged with Cork City Council on the matter. Media reports last summer also shone a light on the dumping issues. "The EPA requested updates from Cork City Council on the investigation and actions taken regarding the issues being raised about the site in July and November 2018," a spokesperson for the EPA said. "More recently, Cork City Council informed the EPA that its housing department has received funding for a clean-up of the site. Cork City Council stated that this work is due to commence in January 2019 and will also include the erection of protective fencing bordering the site boundary." Issues such as fly-tipping, illegal dumping and the burning of waste are the responsibility of the relevant local authority, as is any potential enforcement relating to such actions, the spokesperson added. The EPA's role is largely supervisory and can include carrying out assessments of environmental performance and providing advice or recommendations. The rubbish at Ellis's Yard has frequently been the target of fires with the fire brigade called there on 90 occasions in 2018. There has already been three callouts this year, according to local councillor Kenneth O'Flynn. A Cork audience will this month get an exclusive first view of landmark TV series The Irish Revolution, which airs on RTE in February. The three-part documentary has been made with the University College Cork team behind the best-selling Atlas of the Irish Revolution, and is narrated by local actor and one-time UCC law student Cillian Murphy. Cillian Murphy: Peaky Blinders star is narrator of The Irish Revolution series. Picture: Brian McEvoy President Michael D Higgins will attend the January 29 screening of an episode at Cork Opera House, with proceeds from sales of the 5 tickets going to the charity Cork Penny Dinners. The programme producers Create One and Tyrone Productions have brought in Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy to narrate the series. He is already familiar with elements of the story of the Irish revolution since his lead role in the award-winning film, The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Atlas of The Irish Revolution features contributions from more than 100 historians and other experts on the period. It was edited by UCC historians Donal O Drisceoil and John Borgonovo, and John Crowley and Mike Murphy from the universitys geography department. The books editors will be represented on a panel discussion following the Opera House screening, to be moderated by broadcaster and historian John Bowman. The question and answer session will be recorded for broadcast on RTE Radio One on St Patricks Day. The new TV programme features new 3D-CGI mapping as part of the many dramatic visuals and rarely seen images. Such images illustrated the 5kg Atlas of the Irish Revolution, in which hundreds of original maps based on archival research help to provide new angles for understanding of events in Ireland a century ago. The digitisation of many of these maps for television gives them a new vibrancy, and the visual imagery and archive film footage will supplement the book, said UCC director of cultural projects Virginia Teehan. She is an executive producer of The Irish Revolution on behalf of UCC, along with head of RTE Cork Colm Crowley. Cork University Press said sales of its Atlas of the Irish Revolution have reached more than 28,000 worldwide, including over 2,000 in the US, and the book is now in its fifth print run since launching in September 2017. It is one of the most successful projects initiated and developed by the university, and its key success has been making scholarship available to the widest available audience, said Ms Teehan. Like the book on which it is based, the producers of The Irish Revolution said the TV series tells the story of the period as it has never been told before. As well as better-known events and personalities, other elements are examined in more detail. Terence MacSwiney and family, in images that features in The Irish Revolution TV series. Picture: Jim Maher/Cork Public Museum From the inspiration of Irish rebels by the revolutionary spirit sweeping the world in the early 20th century, the series will also show the global impact of events in Ireland, as they in turn inspired millions around the world to demand their right to equality and freedom. - Tickets for the screening of The Irish Revolution on January 29 are available from the Cork Opera House website: corkoperahouse.ie Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and current Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin are to speak at the Killarney Economic conference next week. Both will speak on the challenges Brexit presents for this country. Last years inaugural conference heard from Arlene Foster. This year, British and European politicians and academics will address the issue, including a former special advisor to Michael Gove and former minister of state for European affairs Lucinda Creighton. Legal issues in the wake of the UK leaving the economic union, the future of the political relationship between the two islands and the challenges posed by business are some of the topics. The speakers are drawn from a variety of backgrounds including media, think-tanks in Europe and the UK, and leading universities. Our conference this year takes place in a critical and historic week and there is still so much uncertainty, said conference organiser and historian William Sheehan. Speakers include Dr Catherine Barnard, senior fellow in the Changing Europe Think Tank and professor of European Union law, Cambridge. Also speaking will be Peter Bellew, chief operating officer of Ryanair. Mr Bellew has strong local connections having first ventured into the aviation industry at Kerry Airport in 1993. International terrorism challenges will be addressed by leading expert Edward Burke, a director of the Centre for Conflict, Security and Terrorism at the University of Nottingham. The conference will take place at The Brehon Hotel next Thursday and Friday. The combined gala dinner and conference ticket costs 295. A male beauty therapist who failed to keep a job at a Dublin beauty salon has lost his discrimination claim that he was let go because he is a man. In the case, Niall Fitzgerald commenced work at MudPie Beauty Cottage at Dundrum Town Centre last June but was let go on his sixth day after his nail work wasnt deemed up to standard. The multi-award winning beauty salon is owned and operated by one of Irelands best known models, Sara Kavanagh and at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing into the case, the salon absolutely refuted the proposition that Mr Fitzgeralds employment was terminated due to him being a man. Mr Fitzgerald brought his unsuccessful discrimination case under the Employment Equality Acts and he claimed that he was indirectly discriminated against by Mudpie Beauty Cottage as it didn't make allowance for the fact that as a man, he would not be as familiar with certain applications he believes women perform as a matter of course. Mudpie Beauty Cottage told the hearing that it was a commercial decision in letting Mr Fitzgerald go as his experience was not a match for the particularly fast paced salon. Mr Fitzgerald told the hearing that it was totally unfair to give him just six days before terminating his position stating that he is a beauty therapist whose expertise had not even been tapped into. Mr Fitzgerald told the hearing that he didnt after all apply for the position of nail technician. Mr Fitzgerald also told the hearing that his nail standard was perfectly good and emphasised that his real skill-set lay in facials and skin treatments. He further argued that he was discriminated against on the grounds of his gender as it was unfair of Ms Kavanagh to expect him to have an enhanced skill for manicures and shellac applications in circumstances where he was a man and therefore would not have been self-administering files and polishes. However, the salon pointed out that these are professional qualifications obtained through skill and diligence and at the outset of the interview process for the job, the salon made it clear to Mr Fitzgerald that nails, manicures and shellac treatments would have to be part of his skillset if Mr Fitzgerald was to achieve a position with them. Mr Fitzgerald assured the salon that he was good and experienced in this area though he admitted to not being too confident with French manicures. At hearing, the salon stressed the importance of any of its therapists to be competent in nail care when showing that nail treatments are by far the most commonly sought treatment in the salon with up to 1,900 treatments in any six month period. The WRC report records that Mr Fitzgerald is a recently graduated Beauty therapist, has the highest level of accreditation and was the only male out of 18 to apply for a post at the salon. WRC Adjudication Officer, Penelope McGrath said that judging by the documented exchange with Ms Kavanagh, Mr Fitzgeralds gender made him a more exciting candidate for the job. Ms McGrath reported that during the interview process, the job interviewers were very taken with Mr Fitzgerald who had a good manner and a real interest in the product and operation of beauty therapies. The salon assessed the other competencies Mr Fitzgerald had and deemed him to be a good fit for the salon and were willing to give him a position. Mr Fitzgerald was not designated a senior therapist and was on a rate of pay of about 11 per hour. However, problems quickly emerged during Mr Fitzgeralds induction days and salon staff told the WRC hearing that the work being performed by Mr Fitzgerald was not up to scratch and was taking too long. In the course of the next few days, Mr Fitzgerald was provided with some limited opportunity to upskill himself in the area of the application of shellac and manicures. However, his former employer told the hearing that Mr Fitzgerald simply did not meet the minimum standard required to be allowed perform unsupervised nail treatments. In her findings, Ms McGrath said that she accepted that MudPie Beauty Cottage needed to assess Mr Fitzgerald in the area most lucrative to the business - nails - before considering his suitability for other areas further down the line. By June 27 last, the salon had assessed that whilst Mr Fitzgerald had shown improvement, the salon could not afford the time required to bring him up to the standard required. It stated that there was simply too much training required to bring him up to that standard and he was let go. The salon denied that ending Mr Fitzgeralds employment had anything to do with him being a man citing many occasions where it had previously let go Beauty Therapists that werent performing good enough work quickly enough. Ms McGrath stated that Mr Fitzgerald very ably represented himself at the hearing. However, throwing out Mr Fitzgeralds discrimination claim, Ms McGrath said that she was bound to conclude that Mr Fitzgerald has not established facts which give rise to the presumption of discrimination on the part of MudPie Beauty Cottage Ltd. Mudpie Beauty Cottage has been contacted for comment on the outcome of the case. Management at the Abbey Theatre are to meet with representatives of actors who have raised concerns about the direction of the national theatre. Earlier this week, the government announced it was withholding funding for the theatre in the wake of the controversy. Company to showcase its integrated IoT Services and partner product OPERA MES in January 2019 at leading Internet of Things technology event Cambridge, MA 1/7/2019 aizoOn USA and OPERA MES announced today that they will be showcasing their IoT Services and an innovative MES solution that integrates perfectly with the IoT world at the IoT Evolution Conference and Expo being held January 29 February 1, 2019 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward Country Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. IoT Evolution is the leading event for education on the technologies, solutions and impact that the IoT will have on the enterprise, smart cities, healthcare and manufacturing. The conference program will take a deep dive into the emerging and growing disciplines of blockchain and edge computing and the impact these technologies will have on advancing AI, industrial and vertical market IoT applications, autonomous vehicles and more. Visit aizoOn USA and OPERA MES at IoT Evolution at booth 1612 to learn more about how aizoOn and OPERA MES can help manufacturing and distribution businesses increase their performance with digital transformation. IoT Evolution will feature a robust exhibit floor, powerful keynotes, case studies, live demos, unique sessions, certifications, special events, networking opportunities and much more. OPERA MES is the perfect example of a light, agile Manufacturing Execution System that solves Digital Transformation of Manufacturing for discrete manufacturers. The new bottom-up approach enables rapid deployment and quick ROI says Rob Dolci, President aizoOn. aizoOn supports manufacturing and distribution businesses increase their performances with digital transformation and is a certified OPERA MES partner for North America. OPERA, Manufacturing Execution System, is an integrated system for manufacturing management and supervision. It delivers real time information enabling the optimization of all manufacturing operations such as Production, Quality, Material Management and Maintenance, with more than 5000 installed licenses and 40 partners worldwide. Rob Dolci, President aizoOn, will also speak at the panel presentation on Thursday 1/31/2019 at 9.30 AM on IoT, Machines & AI. Registration for IoT Evolution is now open. For the latest IoT Evolution news, updates and information follow the event on Twitter at @IoTEvolution. About aizoOn USA and OPERA MES: aizoOn is an international technology consulting company that focuses on all facets of Internet of Things, from Industry 4.0 in discrete and process industries, to Precision Farming and Digital Health, and does so with a big Cybersecurity support. aizoOn USA is a Certified Partner of OPERA MES for the North America region. OPERA, developed by MES Vendor Open Data, is an advanced MES product for the management and control in real time of the factory, a highly configurable solution to implement Smart, Digital & Intelligent Factories. For more information about aizoOn USA and OPERA MES and how we can support you, please visit www.aizoon.us and www.operames.it/en/. About TMC: Global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. This presents branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities for vendors/sellers. TMCs Marketplaces: Unique, turnkey Online Communities boost search results, establish market validation, elevate brands and thought leadership, while minimizing ad-blocking. Custom Lead Programs uncover sales opportunities and build databases. In-Person and Online Events boost brands, enhance thought leadership and generate leads. Publications, Display Advertising and Newsletters bolster brand reputations. Custom Content provides expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. Comprehensive Event and Road Show Management Services help companies meet potential clients and generate leads face-to-face. For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit www.tmcnet.com. About Crossfire Media: Crossfire Media is an integrated marketing company with a core focus on future trends in technology. We service communities of interest with conferences, tradeshows, webinars and newsletters. Crossfire Media has a partnership with Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) to produce events and websites related to disruptive technologies. Crossfire Media is a division of Crossfire Consulting, a full service Information Technology company based in New York. Media and Analyst Contact: Diana Stein Director, Digital Marketing & Engagement 203.852.6800 ext. 122 dstein@tmcnet.com Edited by Ken Briodagh Gothenburg, Sweden - January 11, 2019 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The IoT analyst firm Berg Insight today released new findings about the market for Electronic Monitoring (EM) of offenders. The number of participants in EM programmes on a daily basis amounted to around 36,000 people in Europe and around 155,000 people in North America in 2017. The market value for EM including equipment, software and services in Europe was 170 million in 2017. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11 percent, this number is expected to reach 285 million by 2022. The North American market for EM is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 6 percent from US$ 580 million in 2017 to US$ 785 million in 2022. Berg Insight is of the opinion that the market for EM equipment and services is in a growth phase which will continue throughout the forecast period. Electronic Monitoring can have major benefits for offenders, relatives and for the society as a whole. The aim of EM programmes is to increase offender accountability, reduce recidivism rates and enhance public safety by providing an additional tool complementing traditional methods of community supervision. Policy makers, corrections authorities and private sector service providers also advocate the use of EM programmes as a way to decrease total correctional system costs and reduce the prison population. There are two major technologies used in electronic monitoring programmes RF and GPS. In North America, around 75 percent of the devices used are based on GPS and cellular technology. In Europe, RF is the still the dominant technology and GPS-based systems account for less than 10 percent of all systems used. Attenti (formerly 3M Electronic Monitoring) is among the few EM providers with a truly global presence. The company is the world's largest provider of EM equipment and the company holds a significant market share on both the European and North American markets. G4S is the world's largest security service company and is a leading provider of EM equipment on the European market. BI Incorporated, a subsidiary of GEO Group, is the largest provider of EM equipment and services on the North American market. Additional leading solution providers in North America and Europe include Track Group, Satellite Tracking of People (STOP), Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Buddi, Comp and Geosatis. In recent years, the leading providers of EM solutions have focused on developing more advanced software and analytical tools to help officers prioritize and manage alerts more effectively. Today's systems are easier to use and allow officers to be in full control of their entire caseload, says Martin Backman, IoT Analyst at Berg Insight. The latest solutions released on the market also have extended functionalities. Offender monitoring systems today can not only show offenders' real-time location but also analyse behavioural and travel patterns which can be used to identify and prioritize high-risk offenders, concludes Mr. Backman. Download report brochure: People Monitoring and Safety Solutions About Berg Insight Berg Insight is a dedicated M2M/IoT market research firm based in Sweden. We have been specialising in all major M2M/IoT verticals such as fleet management, car telematics, smart metering, smart homes, mHealth and industrial M2M since 2004. Our vision is to be the most valuable source of intelligence for our customers. Berg Insight offers numerous market reports, detailed market forecast databases and advisory services. We provide custom research tailored to your requirements including focussed research papers, business case analysis, go-to-market strategies and bespoke market forecasting. We have provided analytical services to 900 clients in 72 countries on six continents to date. Our customers range from many of the world's largest mobile operators, IT companies and telecom vendors, to venture capitalists, technology start-ups and specialist consultants. For additional information, please contact: Johan Fagerberg, CEO E-mail: johan.fagerberg@berginsight.com Phone: +46 31 711 30 91 Twitter: www.twitter.com/berginsight TechSectorStocks.com - investing ideas in tech stocks - mobile payments, social media, AI and Robotics, Drone Stocks, GPS, Internet of Things (IoT) Like Tech Stocks? View our Tech Stocks Directory Get News Alerts on Tech Stocks More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp President Donald Trump threatened this week to withhold money to help California cope with wildfires after Gov. Gavin Newsom asked him to double the federal investment in forest management. Trump again suggested poor forest management is to blame for Californias deadly wildfires and said hes ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to stop giving the state money unless they get their act together. Fire scientists say climate change, not poor forest management, is the driving contributor to Californias increasingly destructive wildfires, many of which have not been primarily in forests. FEMA could not immediately comment because of the government shutdown. Trump has previously threatened to withhold wildfire payments but never followed through. Hours after Trumps tweet, the states emergency operations agency said FEMA is extending its deadline for victims of deadly November wildfires to seek assistance. Newsom, a Democrat who took office Monday, said Californians affected by wildfires should not be victims to partisan bickering. Several Republican lawmakers who represent the town of Paradise, which was leveled by a fire in November that killed 86 people, said Trumps tweet was not helpful. These are American citizens who need our help, U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa said. But Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of California, defended Trumps comments on forest management and did not criticize his threat to withhold funding. McCarthy said hell propose more money for forest management as part of Democratic spending bills this week to reopen the government. But Republicans ultimately dont plan to back the spending bills. Newsom and Govs. Jay Inslee and Kate Brown of Washington and Oregon, respectively, on Tuesday sent a letter to the president asking him to double federal funding for forest management. California has pledged $1 billion over the next five years to ramp up its efforts, which include clearing dead trees that can serve as fuel. Lawmakers approved that money last year, and Newsom said Tuesday hell add an extra $105 million in his upcoming budget for wildfire-related spending. More than half of Californias 33 million acres of forest are managed by the federal government, and the letter noted the U.S. Forest Services budget has steadily decreased since 2016. State and local governments own just 3 percent of forests and the rest is owned by private owners and Native American tribes, according to the University of California. Our significant state-level efforts will not be as effective without a similar commitment to increased wildland management by you, our federal partners, the letter read. Newsoms office didnt immediately respond to requests for comment about how much money the state has received from FEMA following recent wildfires. Most FEMA money goes directly to victims through disaster assistance. The agency approved more than $48 million in individual and household assistance related to deadly wildfires in November, according to its website. In a Tuesday event on wildfire safety, Newsom had praised Trump for always providing California with necessary disaster relief funds. Newsom and Trump toured the fire devastation in Paradise together in November. At the time, Trump made a head-scratching comment about Finland minimizing its wildfire threat by raking and cleaning forests. Finlands president said he had talked to Trump about wildfires in November but didnt recall discussing raking. Ill defend him on that a little bit, Newsom said Tuesday. I think what he was talking about is defensible spaces, landscaping, which has a role to play. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire A federal class action lawsuit alleges that Lloyds of London and its affiliated insurance brokers steered Hawaiian homeowners throughout the state away from comprehensive home insurance coverage established by the state, and that as a result many of these homeowners were left with policies that had lava exclusions. The lawsuit states that Lloyds and its agents deceived consumers, offering Lloyds surplus lines insurance without performing the due diligence required under Hawaii law to place surplus lines insurance. According to the suit, Lloyds and its agents knew that they were not allowed to place surplus lines insurance unless other insurance was not available and the insurance coverage amounts exceeded the coverage available through traditional insurance carriers, including the government-established insurance coverage offered through the Hawaii Property Insurance Association. Consumers could have qualified for HPIA-sponsored insurance, but Lloyds artificially inflated coverage limits beyond the $350,000 dwelling coverage limit offered through HPIA, the suit alleges. In addition, the lawsuit alleges that insurance brokers received kickbacks from Lloyds for steering [homeowners] to the Lloyds surplus lines policies in the form of increased commissions. The complaint, filed Dec. 21, 2018, alleges that Hawaiian homeowners were steered into purchasing Lloyds surplus lines homeowners insurance to insure their homes against peril. According to the suit, these Lloyds surplus lines insurance policies contained numerous exclusions, including a lava exclusion. Many homes on Hawaii were damaged or destroyed by lava flows in June 2018 when Kilauea volcano erupted. After the flows it was unclear whether homeowners were covered. A Lloyds spokesman issued the following comment: It would be inappropriate for Lloyds to comment on specific legal proceedings. However, policyholders can be sure that the Lloyds market is always committed to meeting its obligations and that Lloyds underwriters review all claims as swiftly as possible. So far, the Lloyds market has paid $84m in respect of homeowners claims in Hawaii and hard work is going into resolving all other outstanding claims. The Lloyds market has approached all these claims in good faith. This approach has included paying claims where there is no or limited cover, as well as providing indemnity for damaged contents and additional living expenses. Only a small number have been declined and only for legitimate reasons. The case is Aquilina and Lane v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds London et al. A complaint filed on Dec. 21 does not state the amount of damages being sought. Related: Topics Lawsuits Excess Surplus Homeowners Lloyd's The family of a 14-year-old Texas Boy Scout who was killed when a tree fell on his tent at a Georgia Scout camp is suing the Atlanta-area group overseeing Scouts programs. News outlets report Elijah Knights parents, Stephen and Courtney Knight, filed the wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday in state court in Cobb County, where the Boy Scouts Atlanta Area Council is headquartered. Elijah died in June. The suit says adults on the trip ignored weather warnings and failed to direct the Cypress boy and others to shelter. Elijahs father, Stephen Knight, says in a statement that the family hopes safety improvements are made to protect other lives. Council representatives werent available for comment. The Knights are asking for a jury trial and damages to be paid, but dont request a specific amount. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Georgia Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Complete Benefit Alliance, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1997, Complete Benefit Alliance (CBA) is a full-service benefits enrollment and communications firm serving large and mid-sized, public and private sector employer groups across the United States from its home office in Birmingham, Ala., and regional office in Phoenix, Ariz. Steven R. Griffin and his team will continue to operate from their current locations under the direction of John Neumaier, head of Gallaghers Great Lakes employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 35 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Topics Mergers Alabama A.J. Gallagher In its 2018 Biennial Report, the Texas Department of Insurance has recommended that lawmakers delete from state statute references to classification relativities as an alternative basis for workers compensation rates. The department noted that Classification relativities are designed to establish the relative risk of job classifications in terms of workers compensation costs. This information can then be used by workers compensation insurers to help set rates for an insured business. However, TDI said, only about 3 percent of the workers comp market uses them for establishing rates. Currently, in addition to classification relativities, an insurer can choose from two other bases for setting rate: its own independent company-specific relativities, which no companies have filed with TDI; and loss costs determined by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). NCCI loss costs are filed annually with TDI, are subject to review, and are used by around 97 percent of the workers comp market, TDI said. Because classification relativities are obsolete and little used, they should be eliminated, the department said. Texas is the only state that allows them as a basis in workers comp rate setting, TDI noted. Eliminating them as a basis for establishing rate will make more efficient use of state resources with minimal impact on the market, the department said. The regular session of the Texas 86th Legislature convened on Jan. 8. Topics Texas Workers' Compensation Kansas Commissioner of Insurance Ken Selzer has issued a warning about a potential auto insurance telephone scam. According to information from insurance officials, the caller uses the following introduction: Hi this is Abigail and Im with the consumer insurance association and Im calling about your car insurance payments. How are you doing today? The phone number that shows on Caller ID is (216) 810-1881. Consumers are urged to block that number and not answer the call. It is highly unlikely that an insurance company would call about a payment, Selzer said in the insurance departments. Normally they will send out your statement and, if payment is not received, a followup notice. Your agent might be notified, but the company is not going to call to demand payment over the phone. Consumers who encounter this phone situation should call the Kansas Attorney Generals Office or talk to a Kansas Insurance Department consumer representative by calling 800-432-2484, Commissioner Selzer said. Source: Kansas Insurance Department Topics Auto Kansas Cyber attackers in Iran could be behind a wave of hacks on government and communications infrastructure that will require a coordinated global response to repel, according to cyber-security firm FireEye Inc. FireEye researchers have identified attacks on dozens of internet sites belonging to entities across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and North America, the firm said in a report published Thursday. The actor or actors have a nexus to Iran, it said. By hijacking Domain Name Servers effectively the webs version of an address book hackers compromise the underlying technology that governs how the web functions to exploit weaknesses in site domain names. In executing a DNS hijack, hackers are able to insert themselves between a victims Internet site and any user of that site collecting all information the user had inputted into the site. The information would give the attacker access to the users emails and a route into the users own network said Alister Shepherd, the Dubai-based Middle East and Africa director for Mandiant, a unit of FireEye. This gives attackers their initial foothold, he said. They are collecting information that provides both immediate espionage benefits and potentially, longer term, it gives a foothold that could be a precursor or pre-positioning for other types of attacks, be they disruptive or destructive. FireEye has moderate confidence that the attackers are from Iran, as its researchers see overlap with previous Iranian cyber attacks, Shepherd said. That overlap is not negligible, he said. We have seen attacker activity from this IP space over a period of time that would indicate that it is being used consistently by Iranian attack groups. Bloomberg News faxed requests for comment to Irans Ministry of Information, Communications & Technology and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, which is a weekend day in Iran. Neither office responded immediately. Global Effort The scale and nature of the current wave of so-called DNS attacks will require a coordinated worldwide effort to address, Shepherd said. The Internets system of domain names is a core element in its functioning and security, he said. Individual victims would also have to address the security breaches of their networks and related data, he said. He declined to identify any victims, citing his firms policy of shining light on attackers and not their targets. Iran has been rapidly developing its cyber capabilities, according to a 2016 report by the World Economic Forum that alleged Iranian hackers were behind a prior attack on the national oil company of Saudi Arabia, Tehrans chief regional rival for influence in the Middle East. The 2012 incident nearly obliterated Saudi Aramcos corporate IT infrastructure and brought it close to collapse. Saudi authorities blamed unidentified people based outside the kingdom for the attack. Global action to confront Iran over evidence of hacking could further isolate a nation already weakened by the return of broad U.S. economic sanctions under President Donald Trump. European powers have vowed to salvage the landmark 2015 nuclear deal that underpinned Irans hopes for an economic recovery, but recent allegations of Iranian attempts to target opposition groups based overseas have strained ties. Mandiant alleged in 2013 that Chinas military might have been behind a group that had hacked at least 141 companies worldwide since 2006. The U.S. eventually issued indictments against five military officials who were purportedly members of that group. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber The $100 million lawsuit that Mondelez, the maker of Oreos and Cadbury chocolate, has brought against Zurich Insurance Group shows that governments should be more careful about identifying the would-be culprits in putative cyber-wars: Such claims can have unintended consequences, and can sometimes harm businesses. In June 2017, a malware program dubbed ExPetr or NotPetya wreaked havoc at Danish shipping giant Maersk, U.S. pharma titan Merck, Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft and a number of other big corporations, including Mondelez. NotPetya used an exploit known as EternalBlue, created by the U.S. National Security Agency and leaked earlier in 2017. In February 2018, the U.K. officially blamed Russia for the unusually powerful cyber attack. The U.S., Canada and Australia quickly followed as part of what was revealed later to be a coordinated diplomatic action. The official statement from the White House called the malware part of the Kremlins ongoing effort to destabilize Ukraine and said it demonstrated ever more clearly Russias involvement in the ongoing conflict. Cyber-security companies found that the attack had first struck in Ukraine. The official attribution to Russia by Western governments fits the naming-and-shaming pattern established in recent years. They dont feel compelled to provide any proof: Thats unnecessary if the idea is to tell Russia, We know what youre doing. Russia invariably denies involvement, so the consequences are usually limited to a publicity blast. But not in this case: The Mondelex-Zurich dispute could set a nasty precedent, raising the question of whether the rules of business need to be changed to take into account the Brave New World of cyber attacks. Mondelez claimed $100 million on its insurance policy because it believed the permanent damage to 1,700 of its servers and 24,000 laptops, inflicted by NotPetya, plus the theft of thousands of user credentials, unfulfilled customer orders and other losses fell under the provision of its insurance policy that covered physical loss or damage to electronic data, programs, or software caused by the malicious introduction of a machine code or instruction. In June 2018, Zurich countered that NotPetya fell under an exclusion in the policy covering hostile or warlike action in time of peace or war, which meant the insurer didnt have to make good on the claim. Mondelez sued, asserting that Zurichs application of the exclusion to a cyber attack or, indeed, to anything but conventional warfare was unprecedented. The burden of proof in a case like this is with the insurance company. Cyber attacks are notoriously difficult to attribute, and even evidence collected by cyber-security companies may not be convincing to a court. In this particular case, however, Zurich can refer to a number of official statements by Western governments describing NotPetya as part of a Russian hostile action against Ukraine. But, as is usual with disclosures from intelligence agencies, no proof was offered to back up the accusation. The lawsuit raises the question of whether the claims from official sources should be admissible as evidence, even when they lack substantiation. The U.S. and other governments should think hard about whether the questionable benefits they get from the public accusations are worth the potential fallout: What if courts and lawyers actually start believing the cyberwar narrative and acting as if any damage caused to Western companies is uninsurable war damage? Does the language of war really provide a good description of the current cyberspace rivalries? What will happen to the insurance of cyber risks if any attack could potentially be declared part of a war? The cyber-war narrative is titillating, but its also rather pointless. Perhaps its time to tone it down, or at least think twice before using such strong language. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics USA Cyber Policyholder Russia Hub International Ltd., the Chicago-based insurance broker, announced it has acquired Forum Risques et Assurance Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Forum is a boutique insurance brokerage and risk management firm founded by Francois Jean and Alain Giroux. Forum is known for its creative solutions and expertise in high-risk industries, such as technology, manufacturing and construction, which complement and strengthen Hubs existing specialty solutions. Jean, Giroux and their team will join Hub Quebec and report to Robert Dunn, vice chairman and executive vice president of Hub Quebec. By joining Hub, we are providing both our clients and colleagues with a strong network and invaluable resources, while maintaining a highly personal approach to advising clients, said Jean. Hub has an exceptional construction practice, and we are excited by the opportunity to contribute to the growth of Hubs capabilities in this specialty sector, said Giroux. Source: Hub International Ltd. Topics Mergers The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) has fined Arch Insurance Company and National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Penn., a combined total of $2.2 million in fines and ordered the insurers to provide a combined $8 million in retroactive rebates for violations of New York Insurance Law. Separate DFS investigations found that both insurers failed to satisfy required minimum loss ratio standards in blanket accident and health insurance policies issued to hundreds of New York volunteer firefighter districts, departments and companies, and National Union Fire charged premium rates that were not filed with DFS. The violations resulted in the New York volunteer firefighter companies being overcharged premiums in the aggregate amount of nearly $8 million. Insurers doing business in New York must comply with New York insurance laws and regulations, and those who dont will be held accountable for their actions, said DFS Superintendent Maria T. Vullo. DFS is holding both Arch Insurance Company and National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Penn., responsible for their respective compliance failures, which directly resulted in New York volunteer firefighter companies paying insurance premiums for coverage that did not bear a reasonable relationship to the benefits provided under the policies. A DFS investigation found that between 2011 and 2017, Arch issued 3,332 blanket accident and health insurance policies to 628 New York firefighter companies and failed to comply with the minimum loss ratio standard required by New York insurance regulation, which provides that the premiums must be reasonable in relation to the claims paid under a policy. As a result, the volunteer firefighter companies were overcharged premiums in the aggregate amount of $5.3 million during the period. Under the consent order signed January 10, Arch will pay DFS a fine of $1 million and provide retroactive rebates to each affected New York firefighter company reflective of the companys portion of the $5.3 million minimum loss ratio shortfall. In addition, Arch will provide to DFS an up-to-date, detailed summary of corrective actions taken and will report to DFS by May 1, 2019, for the next five years containing experience data for each blanket accident and health policy form issued to New York volunteer firefighter companies during the prior calendar year. DFSs investigation of National Union Fire found that from 2015 to 2017, National Union Fire also failed to comply with the minimum loss ratio standard required by New York insurance regulation, which provides that the premiums must be reasonable in relation to the claims paid under a policy. In addition, from 2015 to 2018, National Union Fire charged premium rates on its blanket accident and health policies issued to New York firefighter companies that were not filed with DFS. National Union Fires failure to maintain minimum loss ratios in compliance with Insurance Law resulted in certain New York volunteer firefighter companies being overcharged premiums in the aggregate amount of $1,571,704. The insurers failure to use the premium rates on file with DFS resulted in certain firefighter companies being overcharged premiums in the aggregate amount of $1,213,640. Under the consent order, National Union Fire will submit blanket accident and health policy forms and premium rates for DFSs review and approval that will replace all existing coverage issued to New York volunteer firefighter companies, send notice to the impacted companies of their retroactive rebates and by March 15, 2019, provide proof to DFS that each affected volunteer firefighter company has been provided retroactive rebates reflective of the companys portion of the $1,571,704 minimum loss ratio shortfall. In addition, National Union Fire will pay DFS a fine of $1.2 million and provide retroactive rebates to each affected New York firefighter company reflective of the companys portion of the $1,213,640 for the use of unapproved premium rates. National Union Fire will also provide to DFS an up-to-date, detailed summary of corrective actions taken, and will report to DFS by May 1, 2019, for the next five years containing experience data for each blanket accident and health policy form issued to New York volunteer firefighter companies during the prior calendar year. Source: New York State Department of Financial Services Topics Carriers Legislation New York A former Dartmouth College student has sued the school, saying he was unjustly expelled over a sexual assault allegation. New Hampshire Public Radio reports the complaint filed Monday in federal court alleges a consensual encounter between the student, identified anonymously as John Doe, and another student, identified as Sally Smith, last spring. Does lawsuit says Smith complained to Dartmouth. Doe alleges Dartmouths disciplinary process unfairly favored her story over his. His lawsuit cites a recent proposal from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to overhaul the way colleges handle sexual misconduct allegations, adding protections for students accused of assault. Doe suggests that, had the proposed new rules been in place last year, his outcome may have been different. A Dartmouth spokeswoman said lawsuits related to its student sexual misconduct process are uncommon and deeply personal and difficult situations. Information from: WEVO-FM Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings (R&Q) has announced the completion of a transaction to assume the workers compensation liabilities of a Vermont-based self-insurer by R&Qs wholly owned carrier, Accredited Surety & Casualty. The transaction provided full finality to the self-insurer and will allow the ultimate dissolution of its workers compensation trust. It was R&Qs sixth transaction with a self-insurer over the last two years. The company has also announced the novation of reinsurance policies issued between 2002 and 2009 by a Cayman-domiciled group captive. The policies were novated into R&Q Bermuda (SAC) Limited, an R&Q-owned segregated account company. The group captive provided workers compensation coverage to its members throughout the US. Dickenshied Cravillion, established 1872, serves about 10,000 individuals and businesses in Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, providing both insurance and financial solutions. We are pleased to have the Dickenshied Cravillion team join our family of companies., said Seeman Holtz president Marshal Seeman. They are the kind of high-quality insurance agency that we want to build with. The Midwest is a focus for our growth. Our business model thrives on high quality relationships with our clients, staff and carriers, added Seeman Holtz executive vice-president Eric Holtz. It is our experience that our Midwestern clients and carriers love our model and are looking to grow with us too. We look forward to building on the many quality relationships that Dickenshied Cravillion already has. A release said that Seeman Holtz will continue to look for high-quality independent agencies to expand its geographic footprint across the US. In a release, Foster Law Offices stated: Lloyds and its agents knew that they were not allowed to place surplus lines insurance unless other insurance was not available and the insurance coverage amounts exceeded the coverage available through traditional insurance carriers, including the government-established insurance coverage offered through the HPIA (Hawaii Property Insurance Association). According to the Hawaii-based firm, residents could have qualified for HPIA-sponsored insurance, but Lloyds and its agents deceived them by artificially inflating coverage limits beyond those provided under non-surplus lines insurance. Citing data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the Centre for Insurance Policy and Research, Foster Law Offices said Lloyds syndicates wrote approximately US$52 million in surplus lines premium in Hawaii in 2017. Meanwhile the 60-page class action complaint, which is demanding a jury trial, alleges that insurance brokers received kickbacks from Lloyds in the form of increased and unwarranted commissions. It also cites policy exclusions which insureds claim render the Lloyds offering essentially useless. By wrongfully steering plaintiffs and the class into surplus lines insurance, defendants have been able to deny coverage to plaintiffs and many class members impacted by the recent eruption of the Kilauea Volcano on the basis of the lava exclusion, read the court filing seen by Insurance Business. In the absence of defendants unlawful scheme, plaintiffs and the class would have been offered more comprehensive insurance, including insurance through HPIA, which provides for coverage against 16 perils, including fire and volcanic eruption. The lawsuit asserts that class members discovered in the aftermath of this tragedy that they unknowingly were sold virtually worthless homeowners insurance that did not provide coverage for the losses they have suffered. The JP Morgan Asset Management alumnus, who also sits on the Prudential Plc board as an executive director, will be dividing his time between Nashville, Tennessee and Lansing, Michigan. Meanwhile Stowe, who was pleased to be handing the reins to Falcon, will remain as an adviser to the group until his employment ends on December 31, 2019. In a new statement, Prudential Plc said Stowes salary, pension, and certain benefits will continue to be paid or provided as is, until that date. However, he will not receive a bonus for this year nor will he be given a long-term incentive award in 2019 or any subsequent year. Mr Stowe will receive an annual bonus for 2018 which will be determined based on performance achieved when the 2018 results are known, noted the insurer. But three years after the report, Lambert said its very frustrating that other than tightening up on certification of fire systems in high-rise buildings, the NSW government has failed to act on nearly 150 of his recommendations, The Guardian Australia reported. According to the Lambert report, the incidents of building defects is significant and the incident appears higher in NSW than elsewhere, although the author wasnt able to be clearer on the findings, due to the lack of audits of buildings to assess whether they meet the required standards. The Opal Tower is likely the tip of the iceberg, Lambert told the publication. There are hundreds of smaller projects, mainly medium-rise in the suburbs, that will have problems. Problems outlined by Lambert in his 2015 report included fragmented responsibility within government, multiple agencies that were under-resourced, no requirements on certifiers those checking building work to have proper qualifications, and a lack of any audits to see whether certifiers were doing their job. Lambert told The Guardian Australia that he had tried in vain to progress the report with two successive ministers for trading and innovation, Victor Dominello and current minister Matt Kean, but he claimed that the bureaucrats dont want change and ministers do not seem motivated to push change. One key recommendation involved making one minister take responsibility for building regulation, though this change has still not yet been implemented despite governments agreement in 2016 to the proposed move. Other proposals that have languished since 2015 included the establishment of a high-level committee of regulators as well as a consultation committee to help fast-track the reforms. Asked about the slow progress of the reforms, Kean, who became minister in Oct. 2017, disagreed. Michael Lambert was asked to review laws regulating certifiers, Kean told Guardian Australia. In October, I passed nation-leading certification reforms, implementing Michael Lamberts key recommendations, with serious penalties for certifiers who do the wrong thing. The Lambert Review was superseded by the Shergold Weir report that was initiated by the federal building ministers forum. NSW has led the nation in implementing the recommendations from this report. Kean is set to deliver his response to the Shergold Weir report before the next building ministers forum in February, the report said. One third to one half of health-fund members will be receiving letters indicating some change. There will be inclusions as well as exclusions, Rachel David, Private Healthcare Australia chief, told News Corp Australia. Many of the benefits being trimmed relate to natural therapies, with Medibank also slashing some weight loss and fertility treatments, prompted by the governments withdrawal of the 25% tax rebate. Anything which makes private health insurance more expensive or less value for money will continue the exodus from insurance and build up the stress on the public system to the detriment of patients on long-waiting lists, Tony Bartone, Australian Medical Association president, told News Corp. The report said the Irish unit will be in charge of international risk and reinsurance, with the XL division responsible for the move from the UK. It will be mostly people taking the way UK-Ireland, the news agency quoted AXA chief executive Thomas Buberl as saying on Thursday. Since the former hub is in France, we will have to take some jobs from France as Irish regulators will ask functions to be handled there. AXA XL highlighted that it has created a number of new positions in Ireland to support the move with some already filled and others expected to be filled during the rest of 2019. It stated that there are a handful of additional roles that may need to be created in Dublin when AXA Corporate Solutions merges into XL Insurance Company SE but this is subject to further discussion and would only be a very small number. The firm currently has 60 people in Dublin and expects to expand that to around 75 this year, with further roles to be added as and when needed. Meanwhile those who will remain based in London will continue to look after AXAs businesses in the UK post-Brexit. Its important to acknowledge and validate dementia caregivers feelings and needs, and to connect them with resources that can help, especially during the holiday season. Corey Stewart is leaving politics at the end of the year and will not be seeking a fourth term as at-large chair of the Prince William Board o Vienna officials are pressing the owner of the former Marco Polo Restaurant, which was destroyed by arsonists Oct. 14, 2018, to demolish and remove the building's charred remains. (Photo by Brian Trompeter) Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. The Latest from Barchart Sign up to receive your Watchlist or Portfolio sent to you by email up to 4 times a day; available at market open, mid-day, market close or end-of-day. Premier Members can also receive the results of custom Screeners - alerting to price or trend changes during and after each trading day. Sign up for a risk-free 30-day Barchart Premier trial. Microsofts priorities for TypeScript for the first six months of 2019 are to enhance the core type system, boost productivity, and improve linting. Microsofts TypeScript roadmap is not a commitment to feature delivery, the company noted. Core type system For TypeScript and the core system, the goal is to statically model patterns in JavaScript in a reasonable way while enforcing correctness and snagging bugs. The features being added to the ECMAScript specification underlying JavaScript mean TypeScript has to evolve with it. Priorities for TypeScript and the core system include: Enablement of popular JavaScript patterns in a type-safe manner. Increased expressivity. Proving of relationships between types. Implementation of ECMAScript features. Stricter settings. TypeScript beyond TypeScript With the user base now including the JavaScript ecosystem as a whole, TypeScript is no longer just for TypeScript. With this in mind, Microsofts priorities include: A smoother transition to TypeScript. Understanding more dynamic patterns. Improving JavaScript editing. Automation for adding JSDoc types. Productivity tools integration For productivity space, goals include: Proactive quick fixes. Declaration file fixes and refactorings. Easing migration to TypeScript and typed JavaScript. Bread and butter fixes and refactorings, referring to a class of code modifications and fixes applicable to most developers. ESLint versus TSLint Also under consideration are enhancements for linting, with plans calling for using the ESLint pluggable JavaScript linting utility over the TSLint static analysis tool for TypeScript code. Microsoft plans to contribute to ESLints TypeScript support to bring it to parity with TSLint. TypeScripts repository will switch to ESLint. Speed and scalability For speed, stability, and scalability, priorities include: Addressing performance issues, including tracking and fixing regressions, such as emit-time regressions and performance concerns in the Visual Studio IDE. Automatic unloading of projects in the TSServer standalone server for TypeScript. Continued improvements to composite projects, for building colocated projects for scenarios such as monorepos and serverless apps. Support is planned for automatically swapping projects in and out to save memory. For the command-line experiences, surfacing language service operations on the command line is under consideration. Users have asked for ways to trigger operations like organize imports and to automatically apply code transformations used by quick fixes and refactorings. Error and type display UX The error user experience in TypeScript provides a way for developers to comprehend what the type system is doing. But the UX has not kept up with advances to the system. Plans call for prioritizing misleading error messages that users file and rethinking scarier messages. Also, error messages could be more approachable in editors, with users seeing a full explanation of an error on demand. United States-based frac sand miner Vista Proppants has signed a long-term offtake deal for its fine-mesh prop sand, suggesting that out-of-basin sand still has a place in the oil extraction market in the US state of Texas. Vista will supply high crush strength, 100-mesh sand from its mine in Cresson,... By Sunder Singh Chinese authorities made an unexpected move in the first week of January by issuing new guidelines for the export of rare-earth minerals exported from the country. The guidelines were jointly released by the Ministry of Industry & Information Technology and 11 other government agencies, and are expected to further restrict the East Asian countrys exports of rare-earth minerals. Under the released guidelines, authorities will strengthen their oversight of the mining, refining and exporting of rare-earth materials. They will follow the specified procedures strictly and "check every batch of rare earth exports." And there will be production shutdowns if companies are found to be in violation of export rules. "The move is about cracking down on rare-earth smuggling rather than controlling exports. China is currently not putting a cap on rare-earth exports," Chen Zhanheng, vice secretary-general of the Association of China Rare Earth Industry (ACREI), said. Global supply of rare-earth minerals is heavily dependent on China, and supply volumes are expected to be further squeezed by the application of the new guidelines. Chinas grip on rare-earths supply is so strong that, earlier this decade, a number of nations felt it necessary to ask the World Trade Organization (WTO) to force the nation to export more such minerals to global markets. According to a US Geological Survey report published in January 2018, global reserves of rare-earth metals are estimated at a total of 120 million tonnes, and China alone has 37% of these, or 44 million tonnes of reserve. Brazil and Vietnam jointly occupy second position, with 22 million tonnes of reserve each, followed by Russia with 18 million tonnes. India, Australia and the United States rank fifth, sixth and seventh with 6.9 million tonnes, 3.4 million tonnes and 1.4 million tonnes respectively. Despite the availability of resources in these countries and recent discoveries of rare-earth resources in Japan, China will continue to play a significant role in the strategic rare-earth market for the foreseeable future. The Chinese government drastically limited domestic production of rare-earth minerals during the second half of 2018. Following an announcement in August 2018, domestic rare-earth production was restricted to 45,000 tonnes for July-December. The countrys authorities had reduced the quota for rare earth separation and smelting by about 36% compared with the first half of the year. The semi-annual quota had been raised to 70,000 tonnes for the first half of 2018, 40% higher than in the first half of 2017, but this move was intended principally to satisfy domestic market demand. ACREI denied claims that the reduction was an attempt to control the export markets. In a recent press release, it said: "Despite the lower production quota in the second half [of 2018], production for the whole year rose sharply. The lower production quota for the second half of the year was due to huge production in the first half. "It is true that the production quota for the second half was lower than that of the first half, but production in the first half was the largest [six-monthly volume] in five years," it added. The annual quota for rare earth production for 2018 had been raised to 120,000 tonnes from 105,000 tonnes. This was the highest level since China began to set a quota for rare-earth production in 2006. Separately, a number of issues concerning Australian rare-earth producer Lynas have created further jitters in rare-earth consuming industries. Operations run by Lynas in Pahang, Malaysia, have been under scrutiny by activists and environmentalists for some time. And a planned shutdown in December, which Lynas had warned about, also caused alarms in rare-earth consuming industries. Lynas began the processing of rare earth in Malaysia with materials sent from Australia in 2012. There have been a number of recent reports that the current Malaysian government, which came to power in May 2018, has frequently expressed concerns about operations at the plant. The MIT Sloan School of Management recently announced the creation of the Ambition, Innovation & Motivation Scholarship for graduates of the MIT Sloan Fellows MBA Program, which promises to make social impact in India. The scholarship has been funded and instituted by Shweta Aprameya, an Indian current MIT Sloan Fellow. (MIT Sloan photo) President Donald Trump speaks with Reggie Singh the brother of Fijian Indian American police officer Ronil Singh, who was killed on Christmas night by an undocumented immigrant during a traffic stop during his visit to the U.S. Border Patrol McAllen Station in McAllen, Texas, on Jan. 10. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) In October 2017, the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System-1 (Pan-STARRS-1) in Hawaii announced that it had discovered an interstellar object inside our solar system. Over a year later we still don't know exactly what it is. Images courtesy: NASA Oumumua (officially named 1I/2017 U1), was closely followed by scientists around the world after its discovery. For the most part, they were all trying to figure out whether it was a comet or an asteroid. We never really reached a conclusion on that debate; instead, other scientists postulated a third theory. They speculated that Oumuamua could in fact be an alien probe. In November last year, two researchers from the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) released a study titled 'Could Solar Radiation Pressure Explain Oumuamua's Peculiar Acceleration?' In it, Shmuel Bialy and Professor Abraham Loeb cite a few reasons for their theory. Firstly, Oumuamua has a strangely elongated shape, one not very common for floating objects in our system. Then there's the fact there was no outgassing, which is what happens to comets when they get close to a star. Since they're mostly ice, they heat up and melt to emit gases, also causing them to speed up in the process because of the mass lost. Oumuamua surrounded by trails of stars that smeared as telescopes tracked it Oumumua was different, however. It didn't show outgassing and its speed remained constant on approach. On the other hand, it did speed up while leaving our solar system, contrary to everything we know about comets and asteroids. It's because of this that Bialy and Loeb suggested Oumuamua's acceleration was due to solar radiation. And the only time that can happen is if it had a solar sail. This is a propulsion method still being theorycrafted, one we are years, maybe decades, away from building. So, it could very well be possible, they say, it was sent by aliens as a sort of probe, just like we've done with New Horizons. Also Read: NASA Scientist Claims Aliens May Have Visited Earth, And We Are Just Too Dumb For Our Own Good Additionally, Loeb is part of another recent study, this time with CfA fellow John Forbes called 'Turning up the heat on Oumuamua', which suggests that this object may not be the first of its kind in our vicinity, and that interstellar objects regularly enter our solar system and fall into our Sun. When the rock was first discovered, scientists judged from its trajectory that it was extra-solar in origin, and was already on its way out of our system. On top of that, it's also still unclear over a year later just what it was. So to some scientists, the idea that it is alien in origin isn't impossible. And if we accept that this could be an alien probe, it's not necessary this is even the first one or the last. "The discovery of 'Oumuamua allows us to calibrate the abundance of interstellar objects of its size, based on the survey time and sensitivity of the Pan STARRS telescopes," the study says. "There should be roughly a quadrillion such objects per star in the Milky Way. A small fraction of these objects pass near Jupiter and kick it enough to get trapped in the Solar System." Also Read: Scientists Say Oxygen On Alien Planets Doesn't Mean It Will Automatically Have Intelligent Life "We have found that such objects collide with the Sun once every 30 years, while about two pass within the orbit of Mercury each year. We identified preferred orientations for the orbits of interstellar objects and concluded that at least one of the known Solar System objects is extrasolar in origin." Thanks to this new knowledge, Loeb says, other telescopes are more likely to discover more objects like Oumuamua in our vicinity. Which could mean we could finally put this question to rest once and for all, and at the very least possibly learn more about the universe beyond our solar system. When the threats fell on his deaf ears, they tried to lure his conscience with money, but nothing worked. With the help of his Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) cell, he busted over 60 Pre Natal Gender Screening aka ultrasound centres. Here the sex of the unborn children was being determined and the successful raiding of these centres helped prevent scores of illegal abortions in past three years. This is the story of Dr Adarsh Sharma, the District Family Welfare Officer (DFWO) of Sonepat district in Haryana who played an instrumental role and helped improve the districts sex ratio from an abysmal 830 per 1000 boys in early 2015 to a respectable 925 at present. IndiaTimes Dr Sharma spearheads Beti Padhao Beti Bachao campaign in Sonepat and is now a terror for those who are involved in prenatal sex-determination in the district and surrounding areas. Not only Sonepat, but Dr Sharma and his team have also work as far as Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut, Saharanpur, Amroha, Rohtak and other areas where they conduct raids with the help of local administration. Dr Adarsh has busted 45 odd ultrasound clinics, apart from 15 odd cases of Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVP) aka illegal abortions carried out by doctors. afp Its a crime but people are still doing it which explains to what extent the girl child is unwanted in the society. We are trying our best to stop it but unless people change their thinking, nothing is going to help, said Dr Adarsh. IndiaTimes went to Sonepat to learn more about Dr Adarshs story but had to wait for a while as the doctor had gone to the district court attending one such case as a witness. Busting a racket is the beginning of the whole process and after that, the law takes its own course and there too we have played our part as witnesses. But I am contented that I am doing my job, added Dr Adarsh. Nabbing people and busting a racket isnt a one-man job and neither did Dr Adarsh claim all the credit. Its a team job and right from an Asha at the local PHC centre in the villages to the DC of that particular district where that ultrasound centre is located - all are involved. I just managed the resources including police and the decoy client we use as the bait, added How does it work? 1. Ashas zeroing on the potential targets We have sex-ratio of all villages at the district level and we select 50 such villages where the sex ratio is abysmally low. And then we ask Asha (Accredited Social Health Activist) working on respective PHCs to inform us about families that are expecting their second or third child with girls being their first and second child. Because usually, people dont go for sex-selection in the first pregnancy. 2. Facebook scanning After zeroing on the potential customers of the ultrasound centres, Dr Adarsh, based on the information provided by Asha check the Facebook and other social media profiles of the people. It helps us to know them because it has been seen that the poor and the lesser educated dont go for sex-selection and by using the social media, we filter to potential targets, added Dr Adarsh. 3. The decoy client At any given time, we have a decoy client ready; some of them are from previous raids who we assure to protect from the law if they help us nab these centres. We give them money to give to the centre. After identifying a centre, we just follow the decoy client and as soon as she comes out of the centre we raid it with police, added Dr Adarsh. The decoy client gets an award of Rs 1 lakh after busting of one centre. 4. The synergy of tech and men Dr Adarsh has an tablet which helps him do all the discreet work that ultimately results in busting the racket. We give the decoy client a phone with an internet pack and we track her location through GPS because following the decoy client grows suspicion. The moment we enter a particular district, we inform the DC to send the team of nodal officers. As soon as the decoy client comes out the centre, we along with police raid the clinic and seize the machine and other equipment apart from arresting responsible people. It seems easy but takes an enormous amount of planning and almost flawless execution, explained Dr Adarsh. Serving the people Most doctors who serve in government hospitals have their personal clinics as well, but Dr Adarsh who is a paediatrician, is an exception. When he isn't raiding illegal clinics, he attends patients in the Civil hospital OPD. afp/IndiaTimes He remains available for the patients even after OPD timings. The permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service says the targeted sea lions must have been observed eating at least one steelhead near Willamette Falls between Nov. 1 and Aug. 15 or have been observed in the same stretch of river on two consecutive days in that period. East African country, Rwanda, has officially banned skin lightening and bleaching products. The Rwandan government is now sending officials across the country to enforce the ban. The country is leading a campaign against skin bleaching and substandard cosmetics, particularly products that include hydroquinone. "It is being implemented by the Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority and the Rwanda Standards Board," Simeon Kwizera, the public relations and communications officer for the board told CNN. "Operations are being conducted by technical people," he said. "The police is there to oversee only and make sure that all operations are being conducted in a safe way." Getty Images Back in November 2018, President Paul Kagame spoke about the need to ban the sale of skin "whiteners". Kagame called the bleaching creams unhealthy on Twitter in a response tweet to woman user calling for a crackdown on skin bleaching. According to media reports, Rwandan police said they have seized more than 5,000 banned bleaching products -- including lotions, oils, soaps and sprays -- from beauty shops across the country last month. What India can learn? With the number of skin lightening products available in the market and the billions spent on the advertisement of such products, theres little doubt that India is obsessed with fair skin. The Indian fairness cream industry is worth around $450 million. The BBC once reported that in South Asia more skin lightening creams are sold than bottles of Coca Cola. Flickr Having a whiter skin in India is an aspiration for many. Young boys and girls grow up with lower self-esteem and self-confidence, often impacting their personal and professional success. Creams, pills and injections that promise to lighten skin colour are immensely popular among the youth of the country. Perhaps, with time Indians will not hold fairness in such high regard and accept their race and the genes they are born with. Ranbir Kapoor is a thorough charmer. RK is a ladies man and once again he has proved it. Well, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor were in Delhi along with other Bollywood actors to meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After the meeting, they were heading back to Mumbai but got mobbed by the fans. The fans obviously went berserk to see their favorite celebs in their town and insisted of clicking pictures. Ranbir was seen extremely protective for girlfriend Alia; he was guarding her and wrapped his arm around her and walked her through the car. Well, chivalry should be his middle name. Instagram Not only Ranbir, even our Gully Boy Ranveer Singh is overprotective for his wifey Deepika. He has time and again happily turned bodyguard for her.. Our B-Town men are cheer gentlemen. Agree? Talking about the new IT couple Ranbir and Alia, there are rumours that they might get engaged after finishing their shooting for their first film Brahamstra. Alia seemed to have won all the hearts of the Kapoor family; she has been spotted hanging with the Kapoor family quite often. Even Alias parents are super happy with their relationship. Mahesh Bhatt in an interview had said, they are lovers and are deeply in love. Now we are waiting for the couple to take their relationship to the next level. Private donor commits $300,000 for halfway house at tribal crossroads By Kevin Abourezk SIOUX CITY, Iowa Efforts to improve conditions for those struggling with alcohol, addiction and homelessness in Sioux City, Iowa including a disproportionate number of Native people got a significant boost recently when a private donor committed $300,000 to pay for a halfway house. The donation for the Hope Street project will provide funds for startup costs and six months worth of operational expenses for the halfway house, said Matt Ohman, executive director of the Siouxland Human Investment Partnership , which supports health and human services programs in Sioux City. Ohman said the Hope Street project will be able to house as many as 10 men at a time. He said men who complete detox typically have to wait 45 days until they can start a treatment program in Sioux City, which is a crossroads for tribal people from around South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. During that time, many men relapse and never begin treatment, he said. Its just a vicious cycle that continues to repeat over and over, he said. Hope Street will provide those men with housing among other sober men, he said. Just 2 percent of Sioux Citys population is made up of Native Americans, though they make up a disproportionate percentage of those suffering from alcoholism. In 2017, 52 percent of those arrested in Sioux City for public intoxication were Native American. Local leaders have also begun exploring the possibility of building a new detoxification center in Sioux City. Frank LaMere, director of the Four Directions Community Center, speaks at a June 2018 conference to discuss construction of a new treatment center for Native people in Sioux City. Photo by Kevin Abourezk In June 2018, the Siouxland Street Project an organization focused on reducing homelessness in Sioux City hosted a conference for Indian Health Service officials, Sioux City leaders and Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) to discuss the need for a detox center in Sioux City. This week, a committee made up of representatives from Sioux City health and human services agencies met to discuss efforts to improve conditions for Native people suffering from alcoholism, addiction and homelessness. The Community Initiative for Native American Children and Families (CINCF) met inside the Ho-Chunk Centre , a 10-story office building owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Frank LaMere, director of the Four Directions Community Center , talked about ongoing efforts to construct a detox center. He said he and two others, Ohman and Erin Binneboese, also of the Siouxland Human Investment Partnership, traveled to Gallup, New Mexico, recently to tour a treatment center that was established in 1992 to address public intoxication in Gallup. The Na'Nizhoozhi Center provides residential substance abuse treatment, primarily to Navajo people. LaMere said the center employs eight law enforcement officers who are charged with picking up intoxicated people around Gallup and bringing them to the center. Theyre dedicated officers who go out and do this work, he said. Gourd dancing starts at 12 noon on Monday, December 31 New Year's Eve at Miyamura High School! Posted by Na'Nizhoozhi Center, Inc. on Sunday, December 30, 2018 The Na'Nizhoozhi Center is located in Gallup, New Mexico, and provides services to the Indian community there. He said IHS officials consider the Gallup detox center an effective model and suggested LaMere and members of CINCF visit the center in order to get ideas about how a new detox center in Sioux City might be designed. The Na'Nizhoozhi Centers treatment programs incorporate Native American culture, including a sweat lodge and Native American Church ceremonies. The center costs nearly $800,000 a year to operate and serves 24,000 people annually, though only about 21,700 people live in Gallup. The center receives state and federal grants, as well as revenue derived from a packaged liquor excise tax in McKinley County, which includes Gallup. If they can do that, I know we can do that, LaMere told members of CINCF this week. He said one of the most impressive aspects of the Na'Nizhoozhi Center is how it treats those it serves. Rather than call them clients or patients, center employees call them relatives, LaMere said. And the center focuses on attempting to identify and address the traumas those relatives have experienced in order to help them recover from their addictions, he said. Before the opening of the Na'Nizhoozhi Center, Gallup struggled with a significant population of homeless and addicted men and women. The center now provides law enforcement and medical professionals in Gallup a place to send people who have nowhere else to go, LaMere said. At this weeks CINCF meeting, LaMere lamented the loss in 2007 of a treatment center for Native people in Sioux City. He said IHS closed the center because it wasnt compliant with state and federal health and safety standards. The program lost its state certification, and then IHS cut funding for it. The funds for the program were diverted to two other programs the Nebraska and South Dakota urban Indian health coalitions. The funding was later diverted to Jackson Recovery Centers in Sioux City and was meant to be used for assessments for Native people and treatment at an urban Indian program in Omaha. LaMere said IHSs decision to end funding for the Sioux City treatment program meant Native people struggling with addiction have had nowhere to turn for more than a decade. They unilaterally took money from your community and didnt ask you, he said. He said Congress would have to approve appropriations for a new detox center in Sioux City. But LaMere said Sioux City leaders also should consider seeking grants to pay for the detox center, and he suggested hiring a grant writer to do so. He said he plans to host another meeting of local, state and regional stakeholders in three months in Sioux City to discuss the detox center proposal. Thats what were going to do this year, he said. Well be bold. Join the Conversation Related Stories The Bawarchi Indian Grill wants to help anyone impacted by the government shutdown. As of Thursday, Jan. 10, the government shutdown is in its 20th day and many federal employees will miss their first paycheck Friday. Many are concerned about how they are going to pay rent and other bills. Praveen Tummala, owner of Bawarchi Indian Grill, said he feels for these people and in response is offering free meals to unpaid government employees and their families. I have just heard more and more stories and people who are not getting paid, Tummala said on Thursday. This is a big day because they wont paid tomorrow. Government employees can eat free at the restaurant by showing their government ID. The free meals will be offered until the end of the shutdown. Bawarchi Indian Grill is located at 10099 Weddington Rd. Ext. in Concord. 2019 was only four days old when we got the announcement the U.S. Supreme Court was going to hear arguments on North Carolinas redistricting lawsuit in March. Once again, our state will be in the political spotlight. In addition to being surprised, how should we interpret this announcement? Plaintiffs rejoiced, believing the highest court in the land was once and for all going to reaffirm that gerrymandering elective districts so as to favor one party over another disenfranchised voters who belonged to the minority party, thus unconstitutionally dictating election outcomes by violating the First and 14th Amendments, as well as portions of Article 1 of the U. S. Constitution. They want specificity of what is and isnt unconstitutional gerrymandering. The State represents the defendants, our legislature and the were equally happy, convinced the court would once and for all declare that gerrymandering, so long as it wasnt racial gerrymandering, was permissible. Last year, the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that new congressional districts be drawn in our state, but the Supreme Court declared that the 2016 maps be used, since the verdict was handed down close to the November 8th election. For 82 years I have lived in this country, I dont think I can ever recall a time when there is so much hate. The source of the disease is hard to determine because it seems to be coming from every direction, but there is enough finger pointing that no one wants to admit personal ownership but eager to place it on the other. The Republicans blame it on the Democrats and vice-versa and the executive branch would like to put it on congress and the reverse. The only thing that is certain is that no one seems to give in and admit they are all wrong for not stopping this impasse and seeking a solution and set their personal hate aside for the good of this country. For once do something constructive and let the rest of us have something to brag about-- something being accomplished in Washington. President Donald Trump has dialled down expectations he is close to declaring a national emergency to secure the money he wants to build his long-promised US-Mexico border wall. Meanwhile, some 800,000 federal employees, more than half of them still working, missed their first wage packet under a stoppage that tied a record for the longest government shutdown. It should be payday for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. But thanks to Trump, many are actually getting pay stubs like this. He's treating them like the countless contractors he stiffed throughout his business career. pic.twitter.com/ww06FBjzrT Tim Kaine (@timkaine) January 11, 2019 Lawmakers tried to reassure federal employees that Congress was aware of the financial hardship they are enduring. By a vote of 411-7, the House passed a bill requiring that all government workers receive retroactive pay after the partial shutdown ends. The Senate approved the bill unanimously on Thursday. The president is expected to sign the legislation. Mr Trump visited McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande on Thursday to highlight what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime along the border. He suggested that if he cannot reach an agreement with House Democrats on funding the border wall, he would declare a national emergency. This afternoon, President Trump hosted a roundtable discussion with State, local, and community leaders, who spoke on how the crisis at the border is negatively impacting communities across our Nation. pic.twitter.com/GSwFen4Z69 The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) January 11, 2019 But speaking to state and local leaders on Friday, Mr Trump said he was not ready to do that just yet. He said lawmakers can also take that step, even though there is no indication they would. The easy solution is for me to call a national emergency but Im not going to do it so fast, Mr Trump said. Bypassing Congress constitutional control of the nations purse strings would lead to certain legal challenges and bipartisan charges of executive overreach. Mr Trump said his lawyers had told him the action would withstand legal scrutiny 100%. This is common sense. Congress must pass a bill that ends the crisis at our border. pic.twitter.com/wD0PPKfpNM The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) January 11, 2019 The wall was the central promise of Mr Trumps winning campaign in 2016. Supporters have tried to convince him that an emergency declaration is the best option to end the shutdown and would give him political cover to reopen the government without appearing to be caving on his pledge. But not everyone in the administration is on board. Senior aide Jared Kushner, who travelled with the president to Texas, is among those said to be urging caution on the declaration. Mr Trump is growing more frustrated as the shutdown drags on and is complaining that his aides are not offering him an exit strategy. In the meantime, the administration has taken steps to lay the groundwork should Mr Trump issue the declaration. The White House has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to comb through its budget in search of money for the wall, including looking at 13.9 billion US dollars in unspent disaster relief funds earmarked for areas including hurricane-damaged Puerto Rico, Texas and more than a dozen other states. Representative Mark Meadows, who has a close relationship with the president, discounted that option, saying it was not under very serious consideration. US Defence Department officials had already been poring over data on more than 10 billion dollars in military construction projects to determine how much of it would be available for emergency spending this year. Expand Close People showed their backing for Mr Trumps wall pledge during his visit to Texas (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People showed their backing for Mr Trumps wall pledge during his visit to Texas (AP) On Friday, officials in Puerto Rico said diverting disaster money to the wall was unacceptable and that the island was struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria, the Category 4 storm that hit more than a year ago and caused more than 100 billion dollars in damage Governor Ricardo Rossello said the wall should not be funded on the pain and suffering of US citizens who have faced tragedy after a natural disaster. It was not clear what a potential compromise between the White House and Congress might entail. Efforts at negotiating a broader immigration deal involving immigrants brought to the country illegally as children collapsed with little progress. Republican senator Lindsey Graham said at one point that he did not see a path in Congress to end the shutdown, then stated later: It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier. Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW. Build a wall NOW. Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 11, 2019 Vice president Mike Pence visited the Washington headquarters for US Customs and Border Protection and pledged that the administration will keep fighting for the border wall. Just as you fight every day to keep our nation safe, this president and this administration will keep fighting to build the wall and give you the resources and reforms you need to do your job, Mr Pence told several dozen unformed agents. Thats my promise. US president Donald Trump is edging closer to declaring a national emergency to fund his long-promised southern border wall. Pressure is mounting to resolve a three-week impasse over the issue which has closed parts of the US government, leaving hundreds of thousands of workers without pay. Some 800,000 staff are set to miss their first pay cheque under the stoppage on Friday, and Washington is coming close to setting a dubious record for the longest government shutdown in American history. Those markers along with growing effects on national parks, food inspections and the economy overall have left some Republicans on Capitol Hill increasingly uncomfortable with Mr Trumps demands. Asked about the plight of those going without pay, the president shifted focus, saying he felt badly for people that have family members that have been killed by criminals who came over the border. Mr Trump spoke during a visit to McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande on Thursday to highlight what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime. He said that if for any reason we dont get this going meaning an agreement with House Democrats who have refused to approve the 5.7 billion dollars (4.4 billion) he is demanding for the wall I will declare a national emergency. Mr Trump is consulting with White House lawyers and allies about using presidential emergency powers to take unilateral action to construct the wall over the objections of US congress. Expand Close Mr Trump talks to US customs and border protection officers (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mr Trump talks to US customs and border protection officers (AP) He claimed his lawyers told him the action would withstand legal scrutiny 100%. Such a move to bypass US congress constitutional control of the nations purse strings would spark certain legal challenges and bipartisan claims of executive over-reach. A congressional official said the White House has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to look for billions of dollars earmarked last year for disaster response for Puerto Rico and other areas that could be diverted to a border wall as part of the emergency declaration. Were either going to have a win, make a compromise because I think a compromise is a win for everybody or I will declare a national emergency, Mr Trump said before departing the White House for his visit to the border. He wore his campaign-slogan Make America Great Again cap throughout. Expand Close People showed their backing for Mr Trumps wall pledge during his visit to Texas (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People showed their backing for Mr Trumps wall pledge during his visit to Texas (AP) However, there does not appear to be any compromise on the table. Mr Trump has said he will not reopen the government without money for the wall. Democrats say they favour measures to bolster border security but oppose the long, impregnable barrier that Mr Trump envisions. Visiting a border patrol station in McAllen, Mr Trump viewed tables piled with weapons and narcotics. Like nearly all drugs trafficked across the border, they were intercepted by agents at official ports of entry, he was told, and not in the remote areas where he wants to extend barriers. Still, he declared: A wall works. Nothing like a wall. In an ominous sign for those seeking a swift end to the showdown, Mr Trump announced he was cancelling his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, scheduled for later this month, citing Democrats intransigence on border security. The partial shutdown would set a record early on Saturday, stretching beyond the 21-day closure that ended on January 6 1996, during Bill Clintons administration. A doctor examined an Arizona woman who is in a vegetative state less than nine months before she gave birth, but did not find that she was pregnant, it has emerged. Medical experts have said it is possible the 29-year-old woman displayed no outward signs which workers who cared for her every day would have noticed. Police who are looking for her rapist said it appears none of the staff members at the Phoenix long-term care facility owned by Hacienda HealthCare knew about the pregnancy until the baby was born on December 29. The notion has been met with some scepticism, but the patient, who is described in a medical report as having tubes to feed her and help her breathe, may not have had a swollen belly, according to a doctor. Foetal medicine expert Dr C Kevin Huls said that while some factors remain unknown, such as how far along she was in her pregnancy, someone who is fed the same amount from a tube every day might not show any dramatic changes that would be noticed, especially by staff who do not work with pregnant patients. The mother could actually lose weight in other places like her face or arms if a foetus is consuming nutrients, Dr Huls added. "A good way to understand it is that really, the baby's going to continue to grow even at the expense of the mom's nutrition," Dr Huls said. "So, her weight may not change because she's not taking in additional calories. There may be changes to her body that are going to go undetected in a chronic care condition or at a facility like this." Read More The revelation that an incapacitated woman was sexually assaulted inside a care facility has horrified advocates for people with disabilities and the community at large. The provider's CEO resigned this week, and Arizona state officials said the centre has made safety changes. A doctor examined the woman on April 16 and found "no change" in her health, writing that the examination was external only, according to Maricopa County superior court documents. Her mother submitted the results of the physical examination as part of an annual report required of legal guardians under state law. Phoenix police learned of the situation when they received a call on December 29 about a newborn in distress at the Hacienda HealthCare facility. Officers launched a sex crime investigation when it was determined that the mother was in a vegetative state, Arizona police spokesman Tommy Thompson said. He added: "She was not in a position to give consent to any of this." The woman and her child are recovering at a local hospital. Her family, who are members of the San Carlos Apache tribe in south-eastern Arizona, said in a statement through their lawyer that they will care for the baby boy. Phoenix police, meanwhile, have not ruled out any suspects in the sexual assault. They are gathering DNA samples from the facility's male staff and have appealed to the public for any information. It remains unclear to investigators if the woman was raped more than once. A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed actress Ashley Judd's sexual harassment claim against movie producer Harvey Weinstein but said she could proceed with a defamation claim against him. Judd had accused Weinstein of defaming her in 1998 after she refused what she said were his sexual advances a year earlier. In her lawsuit, filed in April 2018, the 'Double Jeopardy' actress accused Weinstein of smearing her reputation by discouraging director Peter Jackson from casting her in his blockbuster movie franchise 'The Lord of the Rings'. Judd, one of the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct, had accused the Hollywood movie mogul of sexual harassment in violation of a California law barring such conduct by a person in a "business, service or professional relationship" with another. In a footnote to his ruling, US District Judge Philip Gutierrez said he was not determining whether Judd was sexually harassed by Weinstein "in the colloquial sense of the term". But Gutierrez said Judd's relationship as an actress with the film producer was not covered under the California statute she had sued under, nor under a 2019 amendment. "We have said from the beginning this claim was unjustified, and we are pleased the court saw it as we did. We believe we will ultimately prevail on her remaining claims," Weinstein's lawyer, Phyllis Kupferstein, said. But Judd's attorney, Theodore Boutrous Jr, said the ruling does not upend Judd's complaint. "Nothing about today's ruling changes that Ms Judd's case is moving forward on multiple claims." Weinstein is to stand trial in May in New York on five charges, including rape, involving two other women. The disgraced Hollywood producer of movies including 'Shakespeare in Love' has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women. He has denied the accusations, saying any sexual encounters were consensual. Mindful that the next election begins nearly as soon as the last one ends, Democrats announced this week that 10th District Rep. Brad Schneider, who represents the suburbs north of Chicago, will be one of the co-chairs of the DCCCs Frontline program, designed to defend the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the House. While the specific districts and members will not be announced for several weeks, Underwood is likely to be included, considering that Democrats will target districts won by less than 5 percentage points and highlight those that flipped from red to blue. Twenty-four Democrats in the freshman class, the party said, were elected by 5 points or fewer. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a "roundtable discussion on border security and safe communities" with state, local, and community leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 11, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis U.S. President Donald Trump addresses state, local, and community leaders as he hosts a "roundtable discussion on border security and safe communities" in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 11, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis US public sector workers missed their first payday of the year on Friday as anxieties about mortgage payments and unpaid bills deepened. An estimated 800,000 government employees missed their wages for first time since the shutdown began three weeks ago. Employees posted pictures of their blank payslips on Twitter and vented their frustration as the stand-off entered its 21st day. This weekend, it will become the longest shutdown in US history. Some Democrats seized on the empty payslips as a way to renew criticism of President Donald Trump, who triggered the shutdown over his demands for funding for a border wall. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia tweeted: "It should be payday for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. But thanks to Trump, many are actually getting pay stubs like this. He's treating them like the countless contractors he stiffed throughout his business career." Roughly 420,000 federal employees were deemed essential and are working unpaid. An additional 380,000 are staying at home without pay. While furloughed federal workers have been given back pay in previous shutdowns, there is no guarantee that will happen this time. Expand Close U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a "roundtable discussion on border security and safe communities" with state, local, and community leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 11, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a "roundtable discussion on border security and safe communities" with state, local, and community leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 11, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis Government contractors, who have been placed indefinitely on unpaid leave, do not get compensated for lost hours. The typical federal employee makes 37 US dollars (29) an hour, which translates into 1,480 dollars (1,153) a week, according to the US Labour Department's data. Many workers live payslip to payslip, despite the strong economy and the ultra-low unemployment rate, and would struggle if their wages or salaries were interrupted. A Federal Reserve survey in May found that 40% of Americans would have to borrow or sell something to make a 400 dollar (311) emergency payment. Government workers are scaling back spending, cancelling trips, applying for unemployment benefits and taking out loans to stay afloat. Some are trying to land second jobs. President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable on immigration and border security at U.S. Border Patrol McAllen Station, during a visit to the southern border. AP Photo/ Evan Vucci US President Donald Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress, if he cannot reach a deal with Democrats to fund his promised border wall. He spent most of the day in Texas near the US-Mexico border to draw further attention to his case after negotiations with politicians stalled. The partial government shutdown dragged into a 20th day with hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job or working without pay as the wall fight persisted. Asked about a national emergency declaration, Mr Trump said as he left the White House: "I'm not prepared to do that yet, but if I have to I will." Expand Close President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he visits the banks of the Rio Grande River with Senator John Cornyn, Senator Ted Cruz and US Customs and Border Patrol agents in Mission, Texas, January 10, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he visits the banks of the Rio Grande River with Senator John Cornyn, Senator Ted Cruz and US Customs and Border Patrol agents in Mission, Texas, January 10, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis He contends such a declaration would allow him to direct the military to begin wall construction. "So we're either going to have a win, make a compromise, because I think a compromise is a win for everybody, or I will declare a national emergency," he said. In perhaps an ominous sign for those seeking a swift end to the showdown, Mr Trump announced he was cancelling his trip to Davos, Switzerland, later this month, citing Democrats' "intransigence" on border security. He was to leave on January 21 to attend the World Economic Forum. It was not clear what a compromise might entail. Mr Trump says he will not reopen the government without money for the wall. Democrats say they favour measures to bolster border security but oppose the long, impregnable walling that Mr Trump envisions. He is asking for US$5.7bn for wall construction. Mr Trump's comments came a day after he walked out of a negotiating meeting with congressional leaders, "I said bye-bye", he tweeted afterwards as efforts to reopen the government fell into deeper disarray. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the president of engaging in political games to fire up his base. "I think the meeting was a set-up so he could walk out," she said. Affected federal workers face lost pay cheques on Friday, and more people are touched every day by the rollback of government services. In McAllen, Texas, Mr Trump visited a border patrol station for a roundtable discussion on immigration and border security and got a briefing. But he had expressed his own doubts that his appearance and remarks would change any minds as he seeks money for the wall that has been his signature promise since his presidential campaign. Rally "A wheel works and a wall works," Mr Trump said, mocking Democratic criticism of his plan. "Nothing like a wall" Sitting between border patrol officers, local officials and military representatives, Mr Trump insisted that he was "winning" the shutdown fight. McAllen is located in the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest part of the border for illegal border crossings. Several hundred protesters were chanting and waving signs opposing a border wall next to the South Texas airport where Mr Trump was set to arrive. Across the street, a smaller group of protesters shouted back, chanting, "Build that wall!" And in Washington, US federal workers denounced Mr Trump at a rally with congressional Democrats, demanding he reopen the government so they can get back to work and receive their pay cheques. Putting the standoff in personal terms, the president tweeted before leaving for Texas: "The Opposition Party & the Dems know we must have Strong Border Security, but don't want to give 'Trump' another one of many wins!" The White House meeting in the Situation Room ended after just 14 minutes. Democrats said they asked Mr Trump to reopen the government but he told them if he did they wouldn't give him money for the wall. Republicans said Mr Trump posed a direct question to Ms Pelosi: If he opened the government, would she fund the wall? She said no. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Mr Trump slammed his hand on the table. But Mr Trump, who handed out sweets at the start of the meeting, disputed that characterisation. He said he "didn't smash the table" but "should have". One result was certain: The shutdown plunged into uncharted territory with no endgame in sight. On Saturday, Washington appears certain to set an ignominious record for the longest government shutdown in the nation's history. The Democrats see the idea of the long wall as ineffective and even immoral. Mr Trump sees it as an absolute necessity to stop what he calls a crisis of illegal immigration, drug-smuggling and human trafficking at the border. Mr Trump says Republicans are "very unified", but his party's senators have been publicly uneasy as the standoff ripples across the lives of Americans and interrupts the economy. He has discussed the possibility of a sweeping immigration compromise with Democrats to protect some immigrants from deportation but provided no clear strategy or timeline for resolving the standoff, according to senators who attended a private lunch with him on Wednesday. Outing: US President Donald Trump speaks during his visit to the US Border Patrol Station in McAllen, Texas. Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump said he would "100pc" declare a national emergency to build a wall as he visited the Mexico border last night. The US president said he would "almost definitely" do so if Democrats continued to refuse to give him $5.7bn (4.95bn) for the wall. Expand Close Michael Cohen. Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Cohen. Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images Large parts of America's government have been shut down for 20 days as politicians in Washington failed to agree funding for the proposed barrier. Mr Trump last night cancelled his planned trip to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum on January 22. Arriving in McAllen, Texas, the president, casually dressed, was greeted by border guards who gave him a security briefing. McAllen is located in the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest part of the US-Mexico border for illegal crossings. Moments before Air Force One touched down, it emerged that at least 20 bodies had been found, 17 of them burned, following a gang battle in a town just over the Mexican border. Outside the US Customs and Border Protection station in McAllen, supporters of Mr Trump chanted "Build that Wall!" while protesters set up a "Trump Baby" blimp. One local supporter of the wall said: "I guarantee everybody out here locks their doors at night." Sister Norma Pimentel, a nun who runs a church in McAllen where illegal immigrants seek refuge, was set to meet Mr Trump. She hoped he would "better understand the whole reality". Calling a national emergency would open up new powers for Mr Trump, potentially allowing him to use the defence budget, and military personnel, to construct the wall without approval from Congress. However, the move would almost certainly be challenged in court by his Democrat opponents, who would accuse him of executive overreach. Mr Trump said: "I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency. "The lawyers have so advised me. I'm not prepared to do that yet. But if I have to, I will. I have no doubt about it, I will. I would almost say definitely. "If you don't have a steel barrier or a wall of some kind - strong, powerful - you are going to have human trafficking, you are going to have drugs pouring across the border, you're going to have the gangs coming in." Mr Trump dismissed reports that a steel barrier prototype had been easily cut through with a saw during testing, saying that prototype had been designed by a previous administration. He also denied ever saying that Mexico would "write a cheque" to pay for the border wall, insisting the country would now pay "indirectly" through his renegotiated trade agreement. It comes as it emerged Mr Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before Congress next month. Cohen said in a statement he had accepted an invitation by the panel's Democratic chairman, US Representative Elijah Cummings, to appear publicly before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," Cohen said in the statement. Cohen's testimony before the House Oversight and Reform Committee will be the first major public hearing for Democrats, who have promised greater scrutiny of Mr Trump. Cohen is a pivotal figure in investigations by special counsel Robert Mueller into potential co-ordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, and by federal prosecutors in New York into campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments to two women who say they had sex with Mr Trump. Mr Trump has denied it. Cohen has pleaded guilty in both investigations and was sentenced last month to three years in prison. When asked about the development, Mr Trump told reporters in Texas that he's "not worried about it at all". Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] 'Mr Romero did not elaborate on his alleged impropriety at that meeting, which was largely run by another pastor, Steven L Anderson' (stock photo) A Baptist minister in Texas who came to national attention in 2016 when he praised the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, resigned from his ministry last week after allegedly using drugs, gambling and paying for sex with prostitutes. Donnie Romero, who founded the Stedfast Baptist Church in Fort Worth in 2014, told congregants at a church meeting on January 2 he had not "been ruling my house well". "I have been a terrible husband and father," Mr Romero said in a video of the meeting that was posted to the church's official YouTube channel. "This is the best decision - for my family and my church - to make." Mr Romero did not elaborate on his alleged impropriety at that meeting, which was largely run by another pastor, Steven L Anderson. Mr Anderson told congregants "the Lord says" Mr Romero was "disqualified" to lead them. Later, in a video he posted to YouTube, Mr Anderson expanded on what he called the pastor's "major sins". "Basically, the major sin involved was being with prostitutes and then there were also marijuana and gambling that were also discovered," Mr Anderson said. He added no one else at the church had been "tainted with any of this or were involved". ( Independent News service) Jake Thomas Patterson, who allegedly kidnapped Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed, was found alive in the rural town of Gordon, Wis (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP) Jayme Closs , who went missing in October, has been found alive (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP) Jake Thomas Patterson, of the Town of Gordon, Wis., who has been jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges in the October killing of a Wisconsin couple and abduction of their teen daughter, Jayme Closs. (Barron County Sheriff's Department via AP) A man has been detained over the deaths of a US couple he killed because he wanted to kidnap their teenage daughter, investigators said, a day after the girl approached a stranger on a rural road saying she had been abducted in October and held against her will. Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, was taken into custody shortly after 13-year-old Jayme Closs sought help from a woman walking her dog in a rural, heavily wooded Wisconsin neighbourhood near the small town of Gordon, about 60 miles north of Barron. Jayme disappeared from her family home in Barron when her parents were killed on October 15. During a news conference, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said Jayme was taken against her will. He said investigators do not believe Patterson had any contact with the family. Mr Fitzgerald said investigators believe Patterson killed Jayme's parents because he wanted to abduct her, and that Patterson "planned his actions and took many steps to hide his identity". The sheriff said investigators believe the girl was "the only target". Expand Close Jayme Closs Photo: Facebook / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jayme Closs Photo: Facebook Mr Fitzgerald said Jayme was taken to hospital but has since been medically cleared and released. She was being interviewed by law enforcement officers, he added. A woman said she was walking her dog along a rural road on Thursday afternoon when a dishevelled teenage girl called to her for help, grabbed her and told her she was lost. Only then did the girl reveal her name. Jeanne Nutter said on Friday that Jayme told her she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held captive not far from Ms Nutter's home. "I was terrified, but I didn't want to show her that," said Ms Nutter, a social worker who spent years working in child protection. "She just yelled 'please help me, I don't know where I am. I'm lost'." Expand Close Jake Thomas Patterson, who allegedly kidnapped Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed, was found alive in the rural town of Gordon, Wis (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jake Thomas Patterson, who allegedly kidnapped Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed, was found alive in the rural town of Gordon, Wis (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP) Ms Nutter said she did not want to take Jayme to her nearby home because it was too close to where she had been found, and she did not want them to be alone. She said: "My only thought was to get her to a safe place." The two went elsewhere in the neighbourhood, to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinskas. Jayme was skinny and dirty, wearing shoes too big for her feet, but appeared outwardly OK, the neighbours said. Expand Close Jayme Closs , who went missing in October, has been found alive (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jayme Closs , who went missing in October, has been found alive (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP) "I honestly still think I'm dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost," Mr Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "My jaw just went to the floor." Mrs Kasinskas said Jayme told them she did not know why she was targeted. She added she does not really know Patterson even though he lives three doors down from her. She said she taught him middle school science but only remembered that he was quiet. Mrs Kasinskas said she did not see Patterson during the months Jayme was missing. Jayme went missing after police discovered someone had broken into the family's home outside Barron and shot her parents, James and Denise Closs. Jayme was nowhere to be found. The Barron County Sheriff's Department said the girl had probably been abducted. Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on October 23, but it yielded no clues. During the 20 minutes Jayme was in their home, Peter and Kristin Kasinskas said they tried to make her feel more comfortable. They offered her water and food, but she declined both. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat", Mr Kasinskas said. Jayme told the couple she did not know where she was or anything about Gordon. From what she told them, they believed she was there for most of her disappearance. Sue Allard, Jayme's aunt, told the Star Tribune she could barely express her joy after learning the news on Thursday night. "Praise the Lord," Ms Allard said between sobs. "It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait." The chair of the Treasury Committee has criticised the Government for burying its head in the sand over protecting small businesses from being exploited and mistreated by banks and other lenders. The House of Commons Treasury Committee in October called on the Government to create a financial services tribunal to provide redress for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from being unfairly treated by financial services firms. SMEs accounted for 99.9% of all private sector businesses at the start of 2018 and 60% of all private sector employment. They had a combined annual turnover of 2 trillion and accounted for just over half of all private sector turnover, according to the Department for Business. In its report on SME finance, the committee previously said commercial lending to small firms was mostly unregulated under the current regime, which was failing businesses. However, the Government said it does not believe that there is a clear case for bringing SME lending into regulation, as there would be a number of direct and indirect costs associated with such a move, adding that the financial services industry has changed significantly since the period following the financial crisis. In response to the committees report, the Government said it prefers an ombudsman-style approach rather than a tribunal as an ombudsman applying a fair and reasonable test on the circumstances of a case is more likely to lead to better outcomes for SMEs than a tribunals more legalistic approach. The Government has therefore backed the Financial Conduct Authoritys planned expansion of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) to include small businesses and micro-enterprises, as well as the banking industrys commitment to create a voluntary ombudsman scheme to address complaints from SMEs that have annual turnover of up to 10 million. But Nicky Morgan MP, chair of the Treasury Committee, said there is cross-party support to regulate commercial lending and that she is disappointed that the Government has refused to the committees recommendations. She said: The Treasury Committee has argued that loans to SMEs should be regulated. Whilst the FCA has noted that it is reasonable for Government and Parliament to assess what it regulates, the Government has flat-out and wrongly refused to bring commercial lending into regulation. Committee members believe that any legislative change in the regulatory perimeter would attract support across the House of Commons and is something that the House could constructively pursue now. The FCA must be given the powers to provide protection to SMEs now. If the Government continues to bury its head in the sand, scandalous events such as those at RBS GRG could re-occur. Royal Bank of Scotlands (RBS) now-defunct Global Restructuring Group (GRG) was accused of pushing small businesses towards failure in order to pick up assets on the cheap. Ms Morgan said: The committee also called for the introduction of a financial services tribunal for SMEs to settle disputes with their bank that will be too complex for the FOS under its new remit. There is cross-party support to provide enhanced protections and improved access to justice for SMEs, so its disappointing that the Government will not pursue our recommendations. This was echoed by Nikki Turner, director of lobby group SME Alliance, who accused both the Government and the City watchdog of betraying British firms. She said: The Government and the FCA are betraying British businesses, while acknowledging they are the backbone of this country, because they are unwilling to take on the big banks. Instead of putting in place regulation that would protect businesses and create a truly independent tribunal system to deal with disputes, they are allowing the big banks to run their own mechanism, which is on their terms, effectively letting the banks mark their own homework. This has created a farcical situation where SMEs become too big to regulate because the banks are too big to challenge. Yet again business owners have been denied access to justice. Ms Tuner said just because banks are not behaving as badly as they did a decade ago was like inviting Hannibal Lecter to dinner because he hasnt killed anyone recently. Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun says she is fleeing abuse by her family (Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun/Human Rights Watch via AP) An 18-year-old Saudi woman's flight from what she said was an abusive family has rallied opposition to the kingdom's male guardianship system, still a major constraint on women despite the conservative Muslim country's efforts to open up. Some freedoms have been granted under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who ended a ban on women driving, eased restrictions on gender mixing, and championed firsts such as allowing women to serve in the armed forces. Yet those changes have been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, including the arrest and alleged torture of some of the activists who campaigned for decades to improve women's rights - as well as Muslim preachers who opposed them. Many activists are calling for an end to the guardianship system, which has been chipped away at slowly over the years but remains in force. Expand Close Ms Alqunun is seeking asylum in Australia (Immigration police via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ms Alqunun is seeking asylum in Australia (Immigration police via AP) Under the system, every Saudi women is assigned a male relative - often a father or husband but sometimes an uncle, brother or even a son - whose approval is needed if she is to marry, obtain a passport and travel abroad. The plight of Rahaf Mohammed al-Qanun, who slipped away from her family last weekend during a holiday in Kuwait, recalls the cases of other Saudi women who fled mistreatment only to be forcibly returned to the kingdom and never heard from again. Amid global outrage at Saudi Arabia over last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Qanun's tweets from Bangkok airport sparked an online campaign. She barricaded herself inside a hotel room for hours until the Thai government reversed its decision to send her home. In some countries, her adult age would have prevented the authorities from telling her family anything about her. In Saudi Arabia, her gender meant she was her father's ward. "Remove guardianship and we won't all migrate" trended this week on Twitter in Saudi Arabia. Mai, who identified as a 36-year-old physician, said she was embarrassed to have two children and a degree from Harvard University but still be viewed as a minor. "I am trusted to make life and death decisions for patients, trusted to raise kids ... but not trusted to make my own decisions regarding MY life. The irony! #EndMaleGuardianship," she tweeted. Qanun was also attacked on social media for shaming her family and renouncing Islam, highlighting the delicate balance Prince Mohammed must strike in reforming Saudi society without destabilising it. Guardianship's status between law and custom makes it a thorny issue for Prince Mohammed, who indicated last year he favoured ending the system but stopped short of endorsing its annulment. "If I say yes to this question, that means Im creating problems for the families that dont want to give freedom for their daughters," he told U.S. magazine The Atlantic. Without a codified system of law to go with the texts making up sharia, or Islamic law, the Saudi police and judiciary have long cited social customs in enforcing certain prohibitions on women. Many aspects of guardianship stem from informal practice rather than specific laws. Saudi Arabia, one of the worlds most gender-segregated nations, is ranked 138 of 144 states in the 2017 Global Gender Gap, a World Economic Forum study on how women fare in economic and political participation, health and education. Expand Close Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun (Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun/Human Rights Watch via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun (Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun/Human Rights Watch via AP) Activists launched the "I Am My Own Guardian" campaign in 2016 demanding legal representation. King Salman issued an order the following year allowing women to benefit from services such as education and healthcare without the consent of a male guardian, though rights groups say this is being implemented only on a limited basis. Other challenges remain. There is no formal bar on women buying or renting property but it can be difficult for them to do so without a male relative, according to rights groups. Authorities have removed restrictions on women in the labour code and ended formal requirements for them to obtain a guardian's permission to work, but some employers still demand this and are not penalized for doing so. The kingdom also ended requirements that a woman bring a male relative to identify her in court, and women can obtain a licence and drive cars without their guardian's approval. Mohammed al-Issa, a former justice minister who sits on the kingdom's top clerical body, told Reuters last year there was no reason why women should be barred from obtaining a passport or travelling without the consent of a male guardian but it may take time for society to accept that. Some Saudi women do not want to wait. "We have the right (to) be treated as adults since we're above 18 years," a woman named Fatin wrote online. "This guardianship is no more than modern enslavement system!" An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, as Thai officials confirmed the teen was en route to Toronto. Trudeau told reporters that United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse. "Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for womens rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.s request, he said. A Korean Air flight carrying Qunun left Bangkok for Seoul on Friday night at 11:37 p.m. Bangkok time (1637 GMT), an airport official told Reuters. Qunun will board a connecting flight to Toronto from Seoul's Incheon airport. She is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning. "It was her wish to go to Canada," Thailand's immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters. Expand Close Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, a Saudi woman who claims to be fleeing her country and family and is currently in Bangkok, Thailand, is shown in this undated photo obtained by Reuters from social media. @rahaf84427714/via REUTERS / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, a Saudi woman who claims to be fleeing her country and family and is currently in Bangkok, Thailand, is shown in this undated photo obtained by Reuters from social media. @rahaf84427714/via REUTERS "She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be traveling back tonight as well ... They are disappointed." Qunun has accused her family of abuse, and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia. Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday and was initially denied entry, but she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had "escaped Kuwait" and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia. Within hours, a campaign sprang up dubbed #SaveRahaf, spread on Twitter by a loose network of activists. Following a tense 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter the country and has been processed as a refugee by the UNHCR. Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families. Qunun's flight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing unusually intense scrutiny from its Western allies over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Instanbul in October and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen. Around midday on Friday, Qunun posted on her Twitter account that she had "bad and good news!" But the account went offline shortly after. A Twitter user known as Nourah, whom Qunun has referred to as a friend, tweeted that Qunun "received death threats and for this reason she closed her Twitter account". Iran will put two satellites into orbit in coming weeks using domestically made missiles, President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday, a week after Washington warned it not to pursue three planned space rocket launches. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Tehran against pursuing launches that he said would violate a UN Security Council resolution because they use ballistic missile technology. The United States is concerned that the long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit can also be used to launch warheads. Iran, which considers its space programme a matter of national pride, has said its space vehicle launches and missile tests were not violations and would continue. "In the coming weeks, we will put two satellites into space using our Iran-made missiles," Mr Rouhani said, Iranian state TV reported. He gave no further details about the satellites. Mr Pompeo had said Iran planned to launch in the coming months three rockets, called Space Launch Vehicles (SLV), that he said incorporate technology "virtually identical" to that used in intercontinental ballistic missiles. Under the UN Security Council Resolution that enshrined Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers - which Washington pulled out of last spring - the country is "called upon" to refrain from work for up to eight years on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons. Tehran and Washington have been at loggerheads since the US pullout in May, followed by President Donald Trump reimposing sanctions that were lifted under the multinational agreement in 2016. Iran launched its first domestically built satellite, the OMID (Hope) research and telecoms satellite, in 2009. Earlier yesterday Mr Pompeo delivered a scathing rebuke of the Obama administration's Middle East policies, accusing the former president of "misguided" and "wishful" thinking that diminished America's role in the region, harmed its longtime friends and emboldened its main foe: Iran. In a speech to the American University in Cairo, Mr Pompeo unloaded on Mr Trump's predecessor, saying he was naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the Middle East, including Egypt, beginning in 2011. Mr Pompeo laid the blame notably on a vision outlined by President Barack Obama in a speech he gave in Cairo in 2009 in which he spoke of "a new beginning" for US relations with countries in the Arab and Muslim world. "Remember: It was here, here in this very city, another American stood before you," Mr Pompeo told an audience of Egyptian officials, foreign diplomats and students. "He told you that radical Islamist terrorism does not stem from ideology. He told you 9/11 led my country to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East. He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed 'a new beginning.' The results of these misjudgements have been dire. "In falsely seeing ourselves as a force for what ails the Middle East, we were timid about asserting ourselves when the times - and our partners - demanded it," Mr Pompeo said, without mentioning the former president by name. Mr Pompeo's speech during a Middle East tour aimed at reassuring Arab partners that the Trump administration is not walking away from the region amid confusion and concern over plans to withdraw US forces from Syria. Houthi rebels used an explosive-packed drone to target Yemen's military leaders at an army parade yesterday, killing six soldiers and wounding several senior officers. The Iranian-backed rebels detonated the drone above a ceremonial dais, spraying Yemeni officers with shrapnel and causing the ceremony to dissolve into chaos. The attack showed a surprising level of sophistication for the Houthi rebels and is likely to further undermine UN efforts to broker a peace deal to end the Yemen's brutal four-year war. Video of the attack showed the drone screeching down from the cloudy sky and exploding a few metres above the dais where Yemeni officers were watching the military parade. Six soldiers were killed in the blast. Ahmed al-Turki, governor of Lahj province, was wounded in the attack along with several senior military and intelligence officers. The attack took place near the al-Anad airbase outside Aden, deep inside government-held territory in southern Yemen. Nick Waters, an analyst with Bellingcat investigative website, said the Houthi drone appeared to be based on an Iranian Ababil T drone. It was not clear if the drone was supplied by Iran or constructed by the Houthis based on an Iranian design. "This appears to have been a well-planned and well-executed attack," he said. The drone was likely brought down using GPS co-ordinates, rather than being steered by an operator. The family did not know Preckwinkles campaign was making the commercial, he said, until staff reached out before it aired to show him the video. Hunter said he was not asked explicitly whether he was OK with it but got the sense that Preckwinkle would not have run the ad without his consent, which he gave. Hunter also said he would vote for Preckwinkle. French authorities are preparing to deploy around 80,000 police officers across the country on Saturday ahead of a ninth straight week of yellow vest protests. The nationwide demonstrations were initially triggered by the rising cost of fuel but have since morphed into a broader anti-government revolt. Frances President Emmanuel Macron has so far struggled to find a solution to the crisis as he faces a plethora of demands. Expand Close French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a three-month national debate (Ian Langsdon /Pool Photo via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a three-month national debate (Ian Langsdon /Pool Photo via AP) The protesters demands range from the re-introduction of Frances wealth tax, called the ISF, on the countrys richest people to the implementation of popular votes that allow citizens to propose new laws. One protester, Claude, who is currently unemployed after being fired by a major European transport company said of the president: Hes doing nothing in the short-term. He continued: In December when he spoke on TV, if he had announced the re-introduction of the ISF, it would have been a strong signal. Mr Macrons latest idea of a three-month national debate as a way for the government to hear and to respond to the movements central complaints is being mocked by some protesters. Expand Close Protestors wearing yellow vests stand in a makeshift camp on a roundabout near Senlis, north of Paris (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Protestors wearing yellow vests stand in a makeshift camp on a roundabout near Senlis, north of Paris (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) I dont believe in this big debate, said Michel, a 61-year-old wearing a hat with the acronym RIC, for Citizens Initiative Referendum, the popular vote he wants to be introduced. Getting the RIC would be wonderful. Many of those protesting say they feel neglected and abandoned by politicians. Over the years, they have voted across the political spectrum, from Marine Le Pens extreme right party to the far left. And every time, they have been disappointed. The RIC could be a solution, Tristan said. I dont want Macron to leave. It would not change anything. What we want is to be listened to, not just every five years when the presidential election takes place. Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called for an alliance with populists in Poland and elsewhere during a visit to Warsaw, setting the stage for a showdown with the EU establishment at European Parliament elections in May. Mr Salvini, who leads the nationalist, anti-immigrant League party, pledged to create a "new European Spring" and to work with Poland's ruling populists. It was his latest attempt to recruit Eurosceptic allies in a growing confrontation with the likes of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He vowed to forge a "new equilibrium" that would challenge the traditional pro-EU axis between Paris and Berlin. "The Europe that will be born in June will have a different pace compared to the one of today, which is guided by bureaucrats," said Mr Salvini, who is also Italy's interior minister, speaking alongside his Polish counterpart, Joachim Brudzinski. "In Europe, one has always spoken about a French-German axis. "We are preparing for a new equilibrium and a new energy in Europe. "And Poland and Italy will be the protagonists of this new European Spring, of this rebirth of true European values." Echoing nationalist populists such as Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to US President Donald Trump, he said that some EU leaders tried to deny Europe's "Judeo-Christian origins". Mr Salvini arrived in Warsaw wearing a jacket with the word 'polizia', or police, on the back, two days after he was reprimanded by a union representing Italian firefighters for his penchant for donning firefighter and police uniforms at public events. He has much in common with Poland's populists, including opposition to accepting migrants and criticism of the way in which Brussels imposes rules on national budgets. But there are differences, too - notably Mr Salvini's admiration of and support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Grzegorz Schetyna, Poland's main opposition leader, described Mr Salvini's party as a "nationalist, radical and pro-Russian party". During his visit to Poland, Mr Salvini was highly critical of a deal reached during the day to allow 49 migrants to disembark from two NGO rescue ships in Malta. The migrants have been stranded at sea, suffering from seasickness and dehydration, for nearly three weeks amid wrangling between Italy and Malta over who would accept them. Under the deal, they will be resettled in eight EU countries: Italy, Germany, France, Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The migrants, including a baby and several children, were rescued by the NGO ships on December 22 and 29 while attempting the dangerous crossing from Libya to Europe. There were ecstatic cheers on board the Sea-Watch 3 when a crew member told them "we have a safe port, it's over", according to a video tweeted by the German NGO Sea Watch International, which operates one of the vessels. But Mr Salvini said that he was opposed to the EU-brokered deal, saying that it would only encourage people smugglers in Libya to put more migrants to sea. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] 'Russia said last month it was launching an investigation into the BBC in response to pressure it said London was applying on a Kremlin-funded broadcaster's operations in the UK' (stock photo) Russia's state communications regulator said yesterday the BBC had published material that propagated the ideas of a terrorist group and that it was investigating whether the BBC had broken Russian law. Russia said last month it was launching an investigation into the BBC in response to pressure it said London was applying on a Kremlin-funded broadcaster's operations in the UK. The broadcasters have been drawn into a bitter row that erupted last year over the poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England. Britain said Russian agents made a botched attempt to assassinate Skripal. "Checks are underway into whether the BBC's internet sites... comply with Russian law. To date, material has been uncovered which transmits the ideological principles of a terrorist group [Isil]," the regulator said. South Korea's president yesterday pressed North Korea to act over denuclearisation and break an ongoing diplomatic deadlock with the US. But Moon Jae-in also suggested Washington consider "corresponding measures" to encourage Pyongyang toward nuclear disarmament, in part by declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War with a peace treaty replacing the existing armistice. He spoke during an annual televised address following North Korea leader Kim Jong-un's surprise trip this week to Beijing to meet Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, during which Mr Kim reportedly renewed a pledge to denuclearise. Chinese media indicated that Mr Xi had given his blessing for a second summit between Mr Kim and US President Donald Trump. A snake has been found in garden pool in Queensland, Australia, with 511 parasitic ticks biting into its skin. The carpet python was caught in Coolangatta by snake catcher Tony Harrison, who said he has never seen anything like it in 26 years as a professional. Here in Australia you often will see an animal, a dog or a cat, with one tick, but here is a snake that has 511 of them so its amazing theyre still in one piece, the 51-year-old told the Press Association. It was horrifying, mate, because Ive got a bit of a phobia of those ticks to start with. Mr Harrison said the snake, which he nicknamed Old Nike in reference to the tick in sports brand Nikes logo, was in the water of the pool to try and drown some of the ticks. Expand Close (Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/Facebook) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/Facebook) Expand Close (Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/Facebook) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/Facebook) The snake is now at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital being treated for blood loss and infection caused by the parasites, some of which were toxic paralysis ticks, which carry neurotoxins that can paralyse their host. Mr Harrison, who has played with snakes since he was six years old growing up in Sydney, says there are good times and bad times with the job. Another gross photo of those ticks... ewww now my skin is crawling Posted by Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher on Thursday, January 10, 2019 The bad times is the fact its seven days a week and we often dont have a full nights sleep for example, last night I got woken up six times, said Mr Harrison. I had breakfast at nearly 5pm this evening because I was so busy today. Another bad point is Ive nearly died three times. The snake catcher has been bitten by the re-bellied black, rough-scaled and Eastern brown breeds, some of which are regarded as the deadliest in Australia. Definitely not a morning noodle.. The lady who i removed this guy for was trying to pat it as i took this photo...she... Posted by Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher on Sunday, May 7, 2017 Red-bellied black caused intense pain, Eastern brown I barely felt anything but I nearly died and had seizures and blood cots on the brain, said Mr Harrison. The rough-scaled I suffered from anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction, and so couldnt breathe chest tightened and my whole body puffed up. But Im lucky in the way that I do (snake catching) with my son and my other half. Mr Harrison works and lives with his partner Brooke Smith, 27, with whom he has a young son. All three of us do it so were not missing out on anything, he said. Whereas others can be doing it for 10 hours or 15 hours a day while their other half is at home. Its also good in the way people love you when you turn up and remove the unwanted visitor from their yard. They really think youre a bit of a god because the fact is youve just saved their life. Mr Harrison broadcasts many of his snake catches live on Facebook and said producers from the Discovery channel and National Geographic have previously approached him to film, but the deals have fallen through. Expand Close (Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/Facebook) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/Facebook) If youd like to see more from Mr Harrison and his familys work, visit their Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher Facebook page. Amazons Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie at last years Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Photo: REUTERS Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, was forced to announce his divorce ahead of a tell-all story about his eight-month affair with a former television presenter, it was reported yesterday. The 'National Enquirer' said it had tailed the billionaire for four months across five states as he engaged in trysts with Lauren Sanchez. The magazine claimed to have obtained an embarrassing exchange of texts between Mr Bezos (54) and one-time Fox presenter Ms Sanchez (49), who is married to Patrick Whitesell, a Hollywood talent agent. It claimed to have contacted Mr Bezos informing him of its investigation 48 hours before he publicly announced he was divorcing wife MacKenzie. The pair have been married for 25 years and have four children. Ms Bezos, who is a novelist, is expected to become the richest woman in the world after their divorce settlement. Expand Close Bezoss new love, Lauren Sanchez. Photo: Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bezoss new love, Lauren Sanchez. Photo: Getty Images Mr Bezos has an estimated net worth of $140bn (120bn) and under divorce laws in Washington state, where the family live, couples without an existing agreement split any assets down the middle. Exotic According to the 'National Enquirer', Mr Bezos has been using his private jet for secret meetings with Ms Sanchez, taking her on exotic trips, sending her explicit text messages and even sexual images of himself. The liaisons included one romantic getaway at the very same hotel in Boston, where the Bezos family stayed when attending an event at their son's university, the magazine claimed. Mr Bezos is thought to have met Ms Sanchez through her husband, who represents stars including Matt Damon, Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, and the two couples have reportedly socialised for a few years. Ms Sanchez and Mr Whitesell are thought to have separated in the autumn, but have not formally filed for divorce. According to one source, Ms Sanchez was hired to work on Mr Bezos's space-launch firm. In one message, it was claimed Mr Bezos wrote: "I love you, alive girl. I will show you with my body, and my lips and my eyes, very soon." A lawyer representing Mr Bezos told the 'Enquirer' that it was "widely known" the businessman and his wife had been "long separated". Asked about the divorce yesterday, Donald Trump, the US president, a vocal critic of Mr Bezos, told reporters "it's going to be a beauty". Mr Bezos has been a regular target of the president, in part due to his ownership of the 'Washington Post', which frequently criticises the current administration. In 2005, Nano Nagle - the founder of the Presentation Sisters - was voted 'Ireland's Greatest Woman'. Today, such has been the relentless focus on the minority of nuns who betrayed their vocation and inflicted abuse on those in their care, it's hard to know whether she would even make it to a shortlist. The 18th-century nun left a remarkable legacy in Ireland and throughout the world. Growing up under the harsh Penal Laws, her well-to-do Catholic family had remarkably managed to hold on to their land. She was educated in France and was part of high society in Paris before entering a convent there. She soon returned to Cork and opened a network of schools that prioritised the education of indigent boys and girls in the city. She became the first woman since St Brigid to found a congregation of women religious in Ireland. Nano herself died of TB in 1794, but her charisma spread far and wide and there were soon schools all over Ireland, North America, India, Australia and New Zealand. Years before the State saw fit to provide free secondary education in 1968, the Presentation Sisters were pioneers - particularly in the education of girls. Nano was not alone: Mary Aikenhead founded the Religious Sisters of Charity and some of her earliest followers died having contracted infectious diseases from the poor people they worked with. Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy as a corps of social workers to care for the forgotten poor all over Ireland. In 1800, there were just 120 nuns in Ireland. By 1900, there were 8,000 working in communities all across the country - the vast majority of them doing nothing but good. Notwithstanding the horrendous and heart-breaking abuse revealed in recent years, religious congregations made an incalculably positive contribution to the people of Ireland and formed those who would go on to take up leadership positions in the fight for emancipation and Independence and in the nascent state. But if you were a visitor from Mars watching Irish television, you'd be forgiven for thinking that nuns were a nasty cult rivalled for brutality only by the British. I never expect too much from RTE historical dramas. They're usually well-produced and acted, but rarely do justice to complex history. Take 'Resistance' on Sunday night, which takes on to tell the story of the post-Easter Rising fight for Independence. It wasn't bad overall, but couldn't resist the temptation to throw in nuns in the role of pantomime villains, taking a baby from a young woman and selling the child to wealthy Americans. The scene prompted one prominent journalist to observe on social media: "Brutal Brits, rotten bankers, saintly rebels and nasty nuns. No cliche left unturned." The cliche of the nasty nun or deviant priest is now a staple of Irish cinema and television. Some of this is inevitably justified, the history of the Church in Ireland hasn't been all great and too many men and women betrayed their commission and abused and neglected those in their care. But, when was the last time you saw a priest or a nun portrayed in a positive light? This is despite the fact that it is self-evident that the overwhelming majority of clerics and religious lived lives of heroic self-sacrifice and brought immense good and consolation to those they served - often in difficult circumstances. Our nearest neighbours have been better at the balancing act. The BBC adaptation of 'Les Miserables' portrays the priest as not only good but saintly. Similarly, the new 'Poirot' is revealed as a former cleric who distinguished himself in wartime Belgium. Add to that the charming nuns in 'Call the Midwife', and Britain has more than enough positive portrayals of religious life to balance the bad eggs. One of the reasons why history remains so contentious is that it informs the present. Just a few years ago, it would've been entirely uncontroversial to say that the good the Church has done in Ireland far outweighs the negatives. Today, many people would likely dispute that claim despite the clear evidence. I've been in Killarney this week where I've spent a few days with the priests of the Kerry Diocese looking to the future. I experienced, to a man, a bunch of dedicated, committed and humble priests. As well as their usual round of duties, they spend their days visiting the sick, comforting the dying, consoling the bereaved and talking down the suicidal. So much of their ministry is hidden from view since very often people never see the value of a priest until they need one. The priests I met are tired. Many of them are being pulled from pillar to post serving ever-greater geographical areas with fewer men coming after them. They're also tired of negative caricatures of themselves and other religious sisters and brothers in the media. They are as let down and horrified as anyone at the rotten behaviour of some of their confreres and the Church's cover-up and obfuscation. But, they're also sick to their stomach about the constant negative portrayal of what they do. People in the pews are, too. Catholics know all too well that the priests and nuns that they know are selfless people who desire nothing other than to serve the people and try to make the world a better place. In the midst of our ongoing crisis in homelessness, it's not for nothing that the names that immediately come to mind are Sister Stan, Brother Kevin and Fr Peter McVerry. It's high time that we corrected the balance sheet in Ireland and stopped scapegoating the vast majority of good and decent priests and nuns. Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Brexiteer Tory MP has been described as yearning for the past. Photo: Reuters In the last quarter of the 19th century, British foreign policy was dominated by Lord Salisbury, who pursued a policy known as 'splendid isolation'. The English Channel alleviated, to some extent, the need for agreements or alliances. Economically, Britain, the 'workshop of the world', was almost completely self-sufficient. Britain's navy 'ruled the waves'. Many British people regarded Europeans with a mixture of condescension and contempt. Queen Victoria maintained that "we are the only honest people and therefore our task of dealing with others who are not so is dreadful". These factors, combined with Britain's lack of real territorial ambition in Europe, enabled her to pursue the policy of 'splendid isolation'. It was a policy of non-interference or non-commitment in the affairs of Europe. Britain was, however, prepared to collaborate or to intervene when she perceived her interests were in danger. Ian O'Doherty (comment, Irish Independent, January 8) wrote: "While it would be inaccurate to dismiss all Leave voters as 'Little Englanders', that unappealing trait has risen to the fore, with the flames gleefully stoked by the likes of Jacob Rees-Mogg. Rees-Mogg has been doing his best to frame this as the old trope of plucky little Albion defending itself." O'Doherty describes this as a Tory civil war and says they voted to leave out of their own self-interest. Perhaps Rees-Mogg and other Tory grandees should abandon their nostalgia for the past. Geraldine Groarke Drumraney, Co Westmeath Women in four counties are still forced to travel Last May, the Irish people voted decisively in favour of allowing women to terminate a pregnancy without having to travel to another country. The legislation has now been implemented, but there are still four counties where women will be forced to travel because, up to this week, no hospitals or GP practices in the counties of Sligo, Leitrim, Carlow and Offaly have agreed to provide the service. This is especially concerning due to the requirement of a three-day waiting period - so a woman from one of these counties would have to travel not once, but twice. One of the issues that was raised prior to the referendum was that of aftercare in the case of complications following an abortion. Would a woman from these counties feel comfortable seeking follow-up care knowing that no medical practitioners in her area support her in the choice she has made? Marianne McDonald Grange, Co Cork Church needs real leaders to stand up to secularism Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, referring to public protests against abortion in Ireland, says, "you can't absolutise" ('Archbishop warns against abortion protests near GPs,' Irish Independent, January 7). A first-year philosophy student will know that this is self-contradictory. Dr Martin is also quoted as saying: "I'm not a person personally for protest." It's just as well that his prestigious precursor St Patrick wasn't quite so mealy mouthed in making a stand for right against brutality. St Patrick made a strenuous protest against the deprecations of Coroticus against Patrick's sons and daughters, and demanded that all Catholics were to boycott Coroticus and his underlings until "they should repent in tears and make satisfaction for their wrongs". Cardinal John Henry Newman writing about those in Holy Orders, including archbishops, quoting St Paul, says, "He (Christ) has appointed (clerics) - men, like you, exposed to temptations, to the same temptations, to the same warfare within and without; with the three same deadly enemies - the world, the flesh, and the devil; with the same human, the same wayward heart"; and ends the discourse by imploring that his listeners "pray for them (priests), that they may gain the great gift of perseverance, lest, perchance, after they have preached to others, they themselves become reprobate". The media appear to be fixated on the "flesh" aspect of temptation; I suggest more attention be given to "the world" and "the devil" aspects. Perhaps, then, Irish Catholicism can get good leadership and recover the spirit of St Patrick, and make a real stand against an aggressive and brutal secularism. Micheal O'Cathail Dun Laoghaire, Dublin Protests outside hospitals like a return to dark days This country overwhelmingly voted that the best-placed person to manage a woman's fertility is that woman herself. Anything else is patronising, paternalistic and controlling. What message then are the anti-choice harassment cordons, springing up at Irish hospitals and medical centres, trying to send? That women accessing abortions are incapable of making decisions about their own bodies? It's like something from the dark days of the Magdalene Laundries. Even Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has called for exclusion zones, and said that these protesters would be better off spending their time elsewhere. Of course, if these anti-choice harassment artists really wanted to prevent abortion, they would be out campaigning for greater access to contraception and better sex education in schools. But no, they are outside our hospitals and medical centres, hissing and curtain-twitching at potentially vulnerable women. Those of us who campaigned to Repeal the Eighth are sadly not surprised. Susan Burke Trehy Douglas, Co Cork A British exit from the EU by any other name... Watching the unfolding of the Brexit debacle in the UK, I suggest the word Brexit will soon be replaced by Brisaster. Aidan Hampson Artane, Dublin 5 'Dancing with the Stars?' I always vote with my feet 'Dancing with the Stars' always helps my fitness levels - amazing the distance one can cover in a two-hour walk in the fresh air around 6.30pm on Sundays. Tom Gilsenan Beaumont, Dublin 9 Not for nothing was Boris Johnson elected Mayor of London twice. Ever the showman, he entertained at this conference in Dublin, beginning early on with a quip about how the Conservative Party whips gladly excused him from duty at Westminster - even suggesting he should be in no hurry back to continue opposing their efforts to get Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal passed. But this Irish appearance by the former UK foreign minister was at best a sideshow. The real Brexit politics of the day continued grinding onwards in Belfast, where Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney met the DUP, and in London, where Theresa May continued to do battle. Mrs May's case in the London parliament was reinforced by a visit from the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who urged avoidance of a no-deal Brexit. There were also serious warnings from car makers about job losses in that sector if Brexit goes wrong. The second ad features made-for-TV footage of McCarthy meeting with people and standing in an office, reminding voters of his track record on crime. The heart of the ad references the fact that the city saw a drop in homicides not seen since the late 1960s while he served as Mayor Rahm Emanuel's police superintendent in 2013 and 2014. (CNN) A prominent Rwandan model found dead in her parent's home may have been killed by a domestic worker, according to police. Alexia Mupende, 35, was found dead with stab wounds on Tuesday at her family's home in Kigali, Rwanda's capital. "It was around 7.30 p.m. local time, her body was found on the bed. The suspect is the family's domestic help or house boy, his name is Niyireba Antione. Police are still looking for him," police spokesman John Bosco Kabera said. Kabera said the suspect fled the home that night, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Mupende was due to get married next month, according to local media reports. Tributes have poured in for Mupende who was described as a warm and hardworking person. Hundreds of fans gathered outside her parents' house to pay their respects. Mupende had lived in Kenya and Uganda before moving back to her native Rwanda, where she studied business information and technology, the reports said. In a poem paying tribute to the model, Hope Azeda, the founder of a local arts group with which Mupende had collaborated for years, described the her as "beautiful and eloquent." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Rwandan model may have been killed by domestic worker, police say." Amid the constant reminders that we are edging ever closer towards a catastrophic Brexit in March, it is important to recall how important the Anglo-Irish relationship has been to Ireland in the EU. The work to replace the UK-shaped hole in our address book has been ongoing. Ever since David Cameron announced the in-out referendum in 2013, much consideration has been given to what would happen if the UK left. Alliance building is but one component of the overall picture of Irish influence in the EU. We have diplomatic representation in every European member-state capital and the Government intends to increase the number of diplomats. That is a necessary first step. Yet alliance building matters for a number of reasons. Since the big-bang enlargement of the EU in 2004, coalitions have been relied on to ensure that like-minded states can work together to advance their interests ahead of, and within, council meetings. The coalitions that are well known are the Nordic-Baltics (known as NB6), the Visegrad Four, Benelux and of course the Franco-German alliance. These alignments are often based on regional proximity rather than thematic considerations. That presents a difficulty for Ireland which is left without a natural geographic hinterland post-Brexit. The Irish response so far has been to concentrate on an alliance of eight countries forged in the Netherlands with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte that includes the Nordic and Baltic states. This is sometimes referred to as the New Hanseatic League after a trading formation from the 14th century. Its members share geographic proximity, being largely from 'Northern Europe' and, on the policy side, a commitment to openness and free trade. It has recently been expanded to include the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In March 2018 a letter was issued from the finance ministers of the eight which was taken as a rebuke to French President Emmanuel Macron's ambitious agenda for reform of the Economic and Monetary Union. An Tanaiste Simon Coveney, speaking in the Netherlands in April, said that the Hanseatic League would be heard with increased frequency and effect. Detractors argue that the league is too diffuse on the policy side. Some members are in the eurozone, some in Nato and some are net contributors to the EU budget and some net recipients. Also, it is more an initiative of finance ministers than foreign ministers, which creates tensions within member states. For Ireland, over-playing the Hanseatic League risks alienating important partners, in particular France. Moving beyond seeking out alliances there are five ways in which we can mitigate the UK departure and ensure a high level of Irish influence in the EU27. First, we need to remember that the most important coalition is the coalition of 27. This has been demonstrated to great effect in the way in which the EU in Article 50 formation has stood foursquare behind Ireland in the negotiations over the last two years. This will continue to be the most effective coalition in the face of external issues like trade wars, climate change and migration. Secondly, Irish voters and political parties need to take the European Parliament elections next May very seriously. The two extra seats generated by Brexit will help but we need to avoid protest or single-issue candidates and send the strongest possible representation to the parliament. A study by VoteWatch Europe in 2017 ranked Ireland's MEPs as among the least influential in the parliament. A third related point is the low level of scrutiny of EU legislation in the Oireachtas. Out of 455 EU proposals 'considered' by the Oireachtas in 2017, just seven reports were produced. The UK's interpretation of the implications of EU legislation for a common law jurisdiction will come to an end and the Oireachtas will have to raise its game here. Fourthly, we need to address the chronic lack of Irish representation in the EU institutions. Less than 10pc of Irish people working in the commission are under 40. In effect, we are ageing out and that will mean a dramatic loss of influence. Now is the time to promote working in the European institutions among our graduates and civil servants. Finally, we need to continue to form alliances on thematic issues and be flexible enough to adapt to issues as they emerge. You often hear diplomats quoting Henry Temple that there are no such things as permanent alliances, just permanent interests. The recent submission by the Government on digital tax with Finland, the Czech Republic and Sweden accords with this approach. The near success of the campaign to host the European Banking Authority suggests Ireland can still pack a punch but important choices made now will have an impact on the influence we enjoy in the future. People who carry too much weight around their middle have smaller brains, scientists have found for the first time. Researchers from Loughborough University and University College London discovered that people with a high body mass index (BMI) and high waist-to-hip ratio had brains that were 12 cubic cm smaller than people of a healthy weight. Dr Mark Hamer, professor of exercise as medicine at Loughbourough, said it could explain why people who are overweight are more likely to develop dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. "Our research looked at a large group of people and found obesity, specifically around the middle, may be linked with brain shrinkage," he said. "While our study found obesity was associated with lower gray matter brain volumes, it's unclear if abnormalities in brain structure lead to obesity or if obesity leads to these changes in the brain." Garda Siochana forensic officers at scene of the accident in Dungloe where Dawn Croke lost her life. (North West newspix) Dawn Croke who was fatally injured at Dungloe. A young teacher heroically saved the life of a young child just seconds before she was knocked down. Mother-of-two Dawn Croke died instantly when she was struck by a jeep in the grounds of St Crona's National School at 6.30pm on Thursday night. Expand Close Garda Siochana forensic officers at scene of the accident in Dungloe where Dawn Croke lost her life. (North West newspix) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Garda Siochana forensic officers at scene of the accident in Dungloe where Dawn Croke lost her life. (North West newspix) Ms Croke, who was in her early 30s, had been in the grounds of the school with her partner Paddy McHugh and Mr McHugh's six-year-old daughter. Tragedy struck, however, when a white Ford Ranger which had been parked nearby travellled n the direction of Ms Croke and the young girl. It is not clear what caused the vehicle to move. It is believed the heroic teacher managed to push the child away from the vehicle but took the brunt of the impact herself. Ms Croke died instantly and the child was rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital. She is being treated for a broken pelvis and a foot injury but she is expected to make a full recovery. Garda forensic investigators were at the scene of the tragedy in the heart of the West Donegal town at first light on Friday morning. Expand Close Dawn Croke who was fatally injured at Dungloe. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dawn Croke who was fatally injured at Dungloe. The investigation will centre on what caused the Ford Ranger to travel forward and collide with Ms Croke and the young girl. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community of Dungloe and across the county of Donegal. Ms Croke was from a very popular local family who was steeped in the local community and the local music scene. Ms Croke and her father Tony are both teachers in the local Rosses Community School. The school remained closed on Friday as a mark of respect to the grief-stricken family. Respected Ms Croke was a highly-respected teacher and recently brought a group of students on a trip to Dail Eireann in Dublin. Members of the local Mary from Dungloe organisation last night paid tribute to Ms Croke who was the 2008 Dungloe Mary. A spokesperson for the Mary from Dungloe committee said: "We are asking committee members and Marys past and present to join us for a guard of honour at Dawns funeral." Colleagues of the tragic school-teacher offered their love and support to her family. The school has issued a statement offering their support to Dawn's family including her partner Patrick and her two sons Jason and Calum. It says: "Our school community wish to offer our sincerest condolences on the tragic death of our colleague and friend, Ms Dawn Croke. "We offer our condolences to her father and staff member Tony Croke, his wife Anne, our student Emily, past pupils Aaron, Ethan and Adam, her partner Patrick, and her sons Jason and Calum on the sad passing of our wonderful teacher and friend Ms Dawn Croke. "Our school wish to send our love and support to the family, school and local community at this sad time. "We, the school community, remember with love and fondness our colleague Dawn. We pray for the family and friends at this sad time." Sympathy Pat the Cope Gallagher TD, who is a personal friend of the Croke family, expressed his profound sympathy following the tragedy. Mr Gallagher said: "Dawn Croke was an exceptionally gifted individual with a massive personality and warmth that radiated from her on each occasion you met her. "I knew Dawn well, she is a member of a well-known and much respected Dungloe family. Just last month in December she visited me in Dail Eireann with a class from Rosses Community School. "She later brought the class to meet Brother Kevin Crowley and visit the homeless centre in Dublin to present a cheque of 1,000, which she and the class had successfully raised for the charity," Gallagher said. "I have spoken earlier today to brother, Kevin to convey news of the tragedy; he recalled her visit and was greatly saddened by the tragic news. "She was dearly loved by her students and her work colleagues all of whom are devastated at the news of her untimely death." Dawns wake will begin at 10am on Saturday in her parents home on Quay Road, Dungloe. Her funeral will be held on Monday January 14, at 11am in St. Crona's Church, Dungloe with burial afterwards in Maghery cemetery. The Rosses Community School will remain closed on Monday. An investigation is underway after a fire which broke out at a hotel earmarked for accommodation for asylum seekers last night. Firefighters were called to the scene of the blaze at the former Shannon Key West Hotel in the village of Rooskey on the Roscommon/Leitrim border. Gardai confirmed they were called to the building at around 8pm and units from the local fire service were also on the scene. A cause for the fire has not yet been established. Expand Close The Shannon West Hotel in Roosky. Photo: Tony Gavin 11/1/2019 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Shannon West Hotel in Roosky. Photo: Tony Gavin 11/1/2019 Superintendent Kevin English of Carrick-on Shannon-garda station said they are treating the incident as "suspicious". "Were treating it as a suspicious fire. We have our own technical experts at the scene and we are waiting for their findings to determine how the investigation will progress," he told Independent.ie. When asked about reports people were seen deliberately pouring flammable liquid on the premises, he said: "That has not been confirmed. Nobody was seen entering or pouring flammable substances. There was an on-site security guard who raised the alarm after discovering the fire but he did not encounter anybody. "There is a certain degree of charring around the reception area and extensive smoke damage. Again we are waiting on a full appraisal of that damage." Last November it emerged that the hotel - which closed in 2011- was in line to become a reception centre for up to 82 refugees. Asylum seekers were set to be accommodated at the former hotel as early as this month, but the property is also at the centre of a sale dispute before the High Court. Expand Close Garda superintendent Kevin English outside the Shannon West Hotel in Roosky. Photo: Tony Gavin 11/1/2019 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Garda superintendent Kevin English outside the Shannon West Hotel in Roosky. Photo: Tony Gavin 11/1/2019 It was due to be sold to new owners this week. Gardai have confirmed that a security guard was on the premises when the fire broke out and raised the alarm. "The hotel had recently contracted with my Department to provide accommodation for 80 asylum seekers who have come to our country to seek protection, many of whom have experienced conflict and trauma and are vulnerable," Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said on Friday morning. "The final preparations were being made in the hotel for their arrival. Thankfully, there were no residents in situ when the fire broke out. A security guard who was on the premises was not injured and managed to raise the alarm. "The investigation into the cause of the fire must now take place and I do not wish to speculate at this point. "It is also too early to say when the hotel might be ready to accept residents. All of the necessary assessments, certifications and any remedial works required must be carried out before we have a clearer timeframe." Expand Close Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Sean McGowan, outside the Shannon West Hotel in Roosky. Photo: Tony Gavin 11/1/2019 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Sean McGowan, outside the Shannon West Hotel in Roosky. Photo: Tony Gavin 11/1/2019 Local Sinn Fein councillor Seadhna Logan described the incident as "shocking", saying its a "sad state of affairs that a very small minority would rather see a building lying empty than for it to be used to house refugees." "Overall I would say the community was quite welcoming to the idea but there was a small minority viewing it negatively," he told Independent.ie. "People here are very concerned about the lack of resources and there has been a lot of decline here over the last few years. That hotel had been lying idle for almost a decade. "People need to take a step back and see how this [refugees moving into the area] could be a positive thing for the area. "Its very disappointing but luckily nobody was hurt and the emergency services did their best to minimise the damage. "Its a sad day for the Ireland of a thousand welcomes when something like this looks like it was deliberately started." Sean McGowan, Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, said "Rooskey could have done without this". "I dont know whats going to happen with the premises now. Theres quite extensive smoke damage done inside. "Locals had hoped it was going to reopen as a hotel to put a bit of life back in the community. It has suffered greatly here, we had a serious fire at a meat plant here a number of years ago and we lost upwards of 600 jobs. Expand Close Independent councillor Enda Stenson outside the Shannon West Hotel in Roosky. Photo: Tony Gavin 11/1/2019 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Independent councillor Enda Stenson outside the Shannon West Hotel in Roosky. Photo: Tony Gavin 11/1/2019 "The people here would prefer to see it used as a hotel. Theyre very decent people here and no maliciousness, they would welcome asylum seekers but the Department of Justice needs to look at the lack of facilities here." Independent councillor for Carrick-on-Shannon Enda Stenson said some of the people in Roosky were concerned about the lack of resources in the area and dont believe it is suitable to accommodate asylum seekers. "Theres nothing in the village, theres no places in the school, what else are those people going to do here, he said. "Theres nothing for them here. Theyd have to be bussed to Longford or Carrick-on-Shannon. "The people here would be willing to help and welcome the people but there was no coordination. Thered be nowhere for them to go. "But the thought that someone would start this fire deliberately is very worrying," he added. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he condemns the attack if it transpires to be a deliberate act. "Im currently in Africa visiting Irish aid projects and havent been briefed on this matter. I condemn it if it transpires that the fire was a deliberate act of violence," he said. "I am sure a full investigation will now take place. Im awaiting further information on it." Mr Varadkar was speaking following a visit to the Mai-Aini refugee camp in the Tigray region of Ethiopia on the final day of the visit. During a tour of the camp he met with families who have crossed the border from Eritrea - many of whom want to travel on to Europe in the hope of a better life. Speaking before news of the fire on Roscommon had reached him Mr Varadkar said that Ireland had been generally welcoming of refugees more so than in many places Europe but said that people who have concerns about migration should not be dismissed. People do have concerns and dismissing them would be a political mistake he said. He said migration is a good thing which has benefited Ireland enormously, but said migration needed to be managed. The Taoiseach also defended Ireland's record when it comes to addressing the refugee crisis and said Ireland would continue to contribute in three ways: border security, accepting refugees and investing in international aid. In a separate incident in Donegal last month, a hotel due to house around 100 asylum seekers was targeted in a suspected arson attack. Gardai are appealing for anyone in the Roosky area between 5.30pm and 7.30pm yesterday evening who may have witnessed anything suspicious around the Shannon Key West area to get in contact with Gardai on 0719650510. Dont delay: Dr Kevin Kelleher of the HSE urged parents of babies who are eligible to avail of the vaccines for meningitis. Photo: Gareth Chaney, Collins Thousands of parents whose children missed out on a free vaccine to combat against the deadly B strain of meningitis will have to pay 280 to get the jab privately. The death of three people from killer strains of meningitis in the past two weeks, after a spike in cases of the lethal bug, has led to calls on parents to be at heightened alert for symptoms. However, the HSE roll out of the vaccine to protect against the B strain of meningitis only began in 2016 and it just applies to babies born since October that year. Older children lost out and the HSE decided not to provide a catch up. GPs reported they were inundated by calls from anxious parents yesterday inquiring about the how they could get the vaccine against this strain, but were shocked at the cost. Pharmacist and Fianna Fail spokesman on primary care John Brassil said it is time for the HSE to consider making it available free to older children. "It was a welcome development in 2016 when the lifesaving meningitis B vaccine was made available free of charge for infants up to the age of 12 months," he said. "However, for other children there is a cost of some 280 for the two shots required. "For a family with several children such a cost could be prohibitive. It could also be life threatening. "We need to examine what we can do to make it free for all children. "The HSE must urgently consider providing it free to children in areas at risk." The HSE said yesterday it does not decide on policy. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee, made up of experts in a number of specialties, make recommendations on vaccines. HSE public health specialist Dr Kevin Kelleher urged parents whose babies are eligible for free vaccines to protect against various strains of meningitis to avail of the jab. There has been a fall-off in the take-up of the vaccine. A vaccine that protects against the C strain is given at six months and at 13 months. The vaccine against the B strain is given at two, four and 12 months of age. Adolescents are routinely offered the meningitis C vaccine in the first year of secondary school. Older teenagers and young adults up to the age of 23 who never received a meningitis C vaccine are recommended to get the vaccine. Dr Kelleher said immediate medical attention is needed if someone displays symptoms. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said meningitis cases have been reported in Dublin and other regions. The HSE declined to say what counties are affected on the grounds of patient confidentiality. Those affected range from infants to the elderly. Diane McConnell, regional director of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said anyone with questions or concerns can call the helpline at 1800 41 33 44. Siobhan Carroll, chief executive of ACT for Meningitis, said anyone who wants to speak to its family support officer can call 091 380058. Mental health services risk being plunged into chaos if psychiatric nurses strike over pay next month. Emergency cover will be provided but thousands of vulnerable patients will see clinics cancelled. The 6,000-strong Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said its campaign will begin with a ban on overtime and escalate to strike action. They will not work overtime on January 31 or February 1. The same ban is planned for February 5, 6, and 7, but they will strike on February 12, 13, and 14. PNA general secretary Peter Hughes said: "The recruitment and retention crisis in psychiatric nursing is escalating on a monthly basis. With a 40pc increase in vacancies from November 2017 to September 2018, the level of vacancies is totally unsustainable. "The recruitment and retention of nurses within the Irish healthcare system needs to be addressed with realistic proposals from Government." Earlier this week the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said it would strike on several dates, beginning on January 30. Disability Minister Finian McGrath has broken ranks with the Government to say he is "sympathetic to the nurses' plight". He said the action should be avoided but insisted that he appreciated the "feeling among nurses" about pay and conditions. The minister made his views known to Government in recent days. "We need to listen to the concerns of the unions, but we also need to be aware of the terms of the public service pay agreement. "I am not going to be member of a government that brings the public finances over a cliff again," he added. Resistance: Health Minister Simon Harris is facing anger from obstetricians over the January 1 abortion service deadline that was imposed. Photo: Gareth Chaney, Collins It's more than a week since the new abortion law came into effect - and delivery of the new service by maternity hospitals remains uneven across the country. Obstetricians who are in the frontline to deliver the new service met this week and their dissatisfaction at what they saw as the undue haste to introduce the wider availability of termination was made clear. These are a group of specialists who have felt under siege in recent years as the cost of medical negligence claims in obstetrics has soared. Between 2010 and 2014, the average medical negligence payout rose by 44pc but in maternity cases it has increased by 80pc. Several were also involved in the fallout from the CervicalCheck controversy. Some obstetricians have been even been running a Twitter campaign to highlight their work under the title "we are delivering". It meant that the decision to impose the January 1 deadline for the start of the new abortion service was inevitably going to stir resistance. Many units are still taking a cautious approach. As of now, some nine maternity hospitals across the country are listed by the HSE as providing the new service. They include the National Maternity Hospital and the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. In the midlands, there is Mullingar Hospital and in the north-east, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda. In the west, it lists University Hospital Galway and Mayo Hospital. Limerick University Hospital is the centre in the mid-west and in the south and south-east it names Cork University Maternity Hospital and University Hospital Waterford. There are 19 maternity units in the country. However, it was learned this week that while Mullingar Hospital is on the list it is not yet ready to deliver the service. Resources required are currently being put in place and it is hoped it will begin the service from February 1. Work is also under way at maternity units in Wexford and Kilkenny hospitals to provide abortion care. Women who are referred to a maternity unit for a medical termination, after between nine and 12 weeks of pregnancy, also face a long journey depending on where they live. A woman in Kerry may end up being referred to the maternity unit in Waterford. This would mean a six-hour round trip. A spokeswoman for the south and south-west hospital group said Cork University Maternity Hospital and University Hospital Waterford will provide medical terminations at nine to 12 weeks. There are referral pathways in place to both from University Hospital Kerry and South Tipperary General Hospital, she said. Dr Cliona Murphy, chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, has now called for a national co-ordinator to oversee the running of abortion services . It is likely to be some time yet before more maternity units come on board. But the likelihood is that some will opt out permanently. They will leave it up to one or two hospitals in their group. An Garda Siochana and the Health and Safety Authority have launched separate investigations into the tragedy. Stock Image A farmer was killed when the shed he was demolishing fell on top of him in Ballindine, Co Mayo. Father-of-three Gerard Naughton (50), from Killeen, Ballindine, Co Mayo, was killed instantly on Wednesday. Mr Naughton is survived by his wife Ann Marie and three children, two girls and a boy. Among those to express condolences were representatives of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) of which Mr Naughton was a longstanding and valued member. Roy O'Brien, the organisation's regional organiser, said: "Apart from being a lovely man with a heart of gold, Gerard was regarded as the best farmer in the parish. "He worked hard at his dairy and suckler enterprise but always found time to help out his neighbours whenever they needed assistance." A post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death is being held at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar. An Garda Siochana and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have launched separate investigations into the tragedy. Allen said theres no fraud at play. He said there was no mysterious change in the number of Browns signatures ruled valid during the record review. Many of Browns signatures face challenges for more than one alleged problem for example, that several names were signed by the same person and that the signor wasnt registered at the listed address and so names that initially appear to be OK can later be found to be invalid, he said. As pressure mounts to find ways to eliminate single-use plastic, two innovative students may have found one answer after developing a way of turning food waste into cutlery for everyday use. It was just one of the many futuristic ideas on show as thousands filtered in and out of the RDS for day two of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. Aoife McMahon (15) and Rachel Ingle (14), from Santa Sabina Dominican College in Dublin, had the idea to turn food waste into bioplastics. "We used starch-based food waste - mainly potatoes - to create our own 'plastic' and we tested for biodegradability and it is 100pc biodegradable," Aoife explained. The ingredients used were also proven to be waterproof, with the main food waste used including vinegar, vanilla extract and potato peelings. Upon turning this into plastic, this can be initially used as packaging and when this is melted down and recycled can be turned into cutlery. The pair are hoping to come together with their school canteen to provide bioplastic cutlery. Another pair of innovative students, Oisin Brady Halmschlag and Kevin Lawlor from Colaiste Chiarain in Limerick, have devised a plan using a hydroponic system to grow plants on the moon - in order to sustain human life there. The system will avoid the transport of heavy compost. "If we manage to set up a habitat on the moon, it would be a huge step for mankind and also a stepping stone for getting to Mars," said Oisin. A study entitled 'Shut Your Mouth' by Edel Connolly, Rebecca Harring and Nell Coppinger, from Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai, Cork, has found exercising by breathing through your nose is far more beneficial than through your mouth and speeds up recovery time much quicker. Expand Close Aoife McMahon (13) and Rachel Ingle (14) from Santa Sabina Dominican College, Dublin, with An investigation into making food waste into bio plastic. Photo: Damien Eagers / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aoife McMahon (13) and Rachel Ingle (14) from Santa Sabina Dominican College, Dublin, with An investigation into making food waste into bio plastic. Photo: Damien Eagers Meanwhile, Anna O'Connor (17), from St Angela's College in Cork, has put together a solar-powered device for use in the education of children in developing countries. "It doesn't need any electricity or wifi to work and it uses a solar panel and a lead acid battery from an alarm," Anna said. Fifth-year student Maeve Kenny, from Scoil Mhuire in Trim, Co Meath, said a wearable memory device she has created will help decrease issues of anxiety among people who worry about forgetting basic things on a daily basis. The necklace can be flipped when you undertake your action, to prevent second guessing across the day. Feedback she has received from the Living Well with Dementia group in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown was the device "would be very useful". Among all the school children presenting their projects and checking out the exhibits were a host of politicians. Among them was Climate Action Minister Richard Bruton, who was well aware that almost 20pc of the projects on show related directly to his portfolio. "It's young people who will tell older people, not just politicians, but all of the people who have to change their lifestyles, how this can be done," he said. A young woman repeatedly raped by her father has given evidence to the Court of Appeal that she was manipulated into visiting him in prison by his relatives shortly after the trial. Last February, the 47-year-old man was found guilty of sexually assaulting and raping his daughter in various ways in Co Mayo and abroad on dates between 2006 and 2010 when she was aged between seven and 11. Their details must not be published to protect the victims identity. The Central Criminal Court heard that the first rape took place shortly after the death of her mother. He referred to her by her dead mother's name and continued to do so during subsequent attacks, the court heard. Describing his offending as depraved, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment with the final year suspended. The man had pleaded not guilty to all offences and continues to maintain his innocence. The Court of Appeal has heard that the young woman visited her father in the Midlands Prison shortly after the trial. In an affidavit, the father said he was overjoyed to see his daughter at a non-screened visit in the Midlands Prison and that he did not blame her for what happened. It was highly emotional and his daughter was at all times affectionate and referred to me as dad. We spoke of all the good times we had together. He said his daughter hugged him, kissed him and repeatedly said she was sorry. She allegedly told him, he stated, that Im going to get you out of here dad; its all my fault and its going to be alright. The victim appeared via video link from the Vulnerable Witness Suite in the Criminal Courts of Justice building in Dublin today. She told the Court of Appeal that she was manipulated into visiting her father in prison by his relatives on the basis that he was starving himself to death and was on his death bed. Giving evidence to Alex Owens SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, she said said her fathers relatives were sending her messages after the trial making it out that his life was in my hands". She recalled one message which said: "Your dad is going to die and you're the only person who can stop that from happening. In another message she was told "your dad has not much time left". Her father has told the Court of Appeal that he assumed the purpose of her visit was "to say sorry. In response to this, she said: why would I say sorry to him. Ive no reason to say sorry to him. She said her father hugged her in the prison visitors rooms and that the prison visit lasted 30-40 minutes . "It all happened so fast. I still don't know exactly why I went to visit him. "This man believes his children were abducted from him for no reason and they were given drugs by social workers. He asked me to join forces with him and sue the state and it would make me a wealthy woman". In a subsequent sworn affidavit, she stated; I did not say he was not a rapist and I did not say he did not do those things to me. Under cross examination from the mans barrister, Micheal P OHiggins SC, the woman said she told her father in prison that she would withdraw her statement because she believed he was on his deathbed and would die in prison. She agreed she said yes because at the end of the day, he was her father and I wanted to believe what happened (the abuse) didnt happen at all. "I cried for the whole [prison visit]. I didn't really talk. I didn't know what I was doing. I couldn't believe it... It wasn't me. I went into that prison as one girl and left as the girl I am now. "It was my first time in prison. Even though he had been in prison plenty of times when we were young, I didn't visit." Referring to her father, she told Mr OHiggins: Your client asked me to cancel the charges. I told him I would. Did I? No." "The fact I'm even back here one year on, losing sleep over your client (her father) I don't know. I've nothing to hide, she said to Mr OHiggins. When asked if she doubted herself about the abuse, she said: "Of course I doubted myself, I didn't want it to be true but 12 people randomly selected gave me the answer I needed to get on with my life... And here I am again." She said her father's family were "brainwashing a girl who had just conquered her fear ... brainwashing me to manipulate me". Mr OHiggins asked if she was claiming she had been lured or pressurised into visiting her father in prison Theres proof of that Mr OHiggins, she said referring to messages from her father's family. Mr OHiggins put it to her that: the reason you said what you said to various people and the whole fact of you visiting the prison, was entirely consistent with you feeling guilty about having told untruths at the trial. She said she had already explained herself. When it dawned on you, you may now face exposure to criminal prosecution you decided to recant, Mr OHiggins put it to her. I was entirely manipulated, the victim said. She said she had "zero recall" of a three-way telephone conversation between herself, her father and her father's partner. The phone call was made from prison to the man's partner in Mayo, who was on another phone to the victim. The phone call was made in the days after her prison visit. A recording of the three-way call was subsequently played to the court. The hearing continues before Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Maire Whelan and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy later this month. Under cross examination from Alex Owens SC, for the DPP, the man agreed the prison visit was an emotional event which lasted about 35 minutes. A couple of days prior to the visit, he said it was indicated to him by his partner that his daughter may be coming in to see him. He denied absolutely that the purpose of the meeting was to try to influence his daughter and pull at her heart strings to get him out of prison. "I wanted to see her; I was concerned for her welfare. He said he was positive it wasnt the other way around. You were persuading her to drop everything, Mr Owens suggested. My view of the situation was I didnt deserve to be in prison, the man said. She enquired how she could get me out of there. Mr Owens put it to him that his daughter came to see him because she believed he was on hunger strike and on his last legs. "Absolutely not. She came to me because she was full of remorse and guilt". There was "never a hunger strike", he said. He said there were various reasons for her daughter to visit him in prison. "She told me she was sorry. I told her I forgave her and she was forgiven, that she wasn't at fault. When asked what he hoped to achieve from the meeting, he said he wanted to tell her I forgave her; alleviate the guilt she must be carrying; tell her I love her. He said he knew of a proposal for his daughter to go to a solicitor for the purpose of telling the truth. When it was put to him that his daughter denied having taken part in a three-way telephone conversation days after the prison visit, he said his daughter was a pathological liar. A High Court ruling on the retention and use of mobile phone data, which boosts Graham Dwyer's bid to appeal against his murder conviction, is to be appealed by the State. The High Court heard today that the Garda Commissioner and other State defendants in the action would be seeking a "leapfrog" appeal to the Supreme Court. Last months ruling was significant for Foxrock-based architect Dwyer (46), who plans to challenge his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara in the Court of Appeal. Mobile phone data obtained by gardai had a large bearing on the investigation of her murder. But Mr Justice Tony OConnor found the provisions set out in Section 6 of the 2011 Communications Act, which allowed gardai of chief superintendent rank and above to request user data from telecommunications providers, contravened EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights. Mr Justice OConnor found that the retention of data was general and indiscriminate. He said there was no prior review by a court or an independent administrative authority for access to data and no adequate legislative guarantees against abuse of such data. Today, Mr Justice O'Connor heard both sides consented to a stay being put on declarations arising from his ruling taking effect until the determination of the appeal. Earlier, Remy Farrell SC, counsel for Dwyer, told the court his client had brought the proceedings on a defined point and for a limited purpose. He said his client intended to argue against the retention and access of data in his conviction appeal. While last months ruling could potentially have implications not just for Dwyers appeal, but other criminal cases as well, it does not automatically mean that any convictions will be quashed. In his ruling last month, Mr Justice OConnor said Dwyer would be obliged, in his appeal, to address rules regarding admissibility of evidence. The judge referred to a Supreme Court case know as JC, which related to the admissibility of evidence. In that case the Supreme Court ruled that evidence obtained in breach of an accuseds constitutional rights does not necessarily have to be excluded at trial if the breach involved was not conscious and deliberate. Dwyer met 36-year-old Elaine OHara online. She disappeared in August 2012 and her remains were found in September 2013 in a forest at Killakee in the Dublin Mountains. In his trial, the prosecution argued Dwyer stabbed his victim to death for his own sexual gratification. A solicitor has told a court that he has "serious concerns" about the mental health of a man charged with the murder of his mother. Tomasz Piotrowski (32) said "no comment" after he was charged with killing married mother-of-two Elzbieta Piortrowska. The 57-year-old, who was originally from Poland, was attacked with an axe and killed in Ardee, Co Louth, on Tuesday morning. Judge John Cheatle remanded Mr Piotrowski in custody at Drogheda District Court yesterday to appear before Cloverhill District Court on Thursday. The judge also ordered that the accused receive the appropriate medical attention after his solicitor Paddy Goodwin told the court that he had "serious concerns about his client's mental health". Mr Piotrowski, of Cherrybrook, Ardee, must apply to the High Court for bail on a murder charge. He is charged with the murder of his mother at her home on the Clonmore Estate in Ardee. Ms Piortrowska's body was found by a neighbour in the hallway of her home at around 11am on Tuesday. Yesterday, Sergeant Jim McCumiskey told the court that Mr Piotrowski was charged at Drogheda garda station shortly after 9.20pm on Wednesday. Sgt McCumiskey said the accused was handed a true copy of the charge sheet, and in reply after caution he said "no comment". Mr Goodwin said the accused was unemployed and on social welfare, and Judge Cheatle assigned him on free legal aid. The accused, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, did not address the court during the short hearing. A 24-year-old man will be sentenced later as part of an investigation into a major money-laundering operation during which over 350,000 was stolen from Maynooth University. Gamiya Muftau, formerly of Whitestown Way in Tallaght, Dublin is one of several people currently before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in relation to the offence. At a sentence hearing today, the court heard that in the summer of 2015, university staff engaged the construction firm Rhatigans to carry out development work on campus. Someone claiming to be from Rhatigans phoned the university accounts department and said the company's account details had changed, so university staff duly paid the money they owed the contractor into this new account. When Rhatigans sought payment for their work, it emerged that the university had been given a fraudulent account number into which it had unwittingly transferred a total of 362,810. Detective Garda Michael Kilfeather from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement said this fraudulent bank account was not in the name of the accused, but under a different name. The detective said the money was then transferred via 15 transactions to multiple bank accounts, one of which belonged to the accused, Gamiya Muftau. Muftau pleaded guilty to possessing 18,100 as the proceeds of crime at AIB, Capel Street, on August 25, 2015. The university was left at a total loss of 362,810. A victim impact statement on behalf of Maynooth University was handed in to court but was not read aloud. Det Gda Kilfeather told Grainne O'Neill BL, prosecuting, that the accused was arrested in December 2016 and gave two false addresses for himself before eventually admitting that he was squatting. Mutauf met gardai by appointment and said he was a full-time student and had opened his bank account in 2009 or 2010. He said a friend of his asked him to use his bank account to receive a sum of money, but didn't say what the money was for. Muftau said he was surprised when he checked his account and saw the sum of 18,100 there. He said he went to the bank to withdraw the money for his friend, but the bank refused and said they needed to investigate. Muftau told gardai that at that stage he began to be suspicious about where the money had come from. He told gardai that he was sorry, that he hadn't realised the money was stolen and would not have let the money be transferred into his account if he had known this. He has seven previous convictions, six of which are for road traffic offences and one for possession of a false driving licence. Det Kilfeather agreed with Briain Larkin BL, defending, that the accused did not access any of the money and had accepted that he had been reckless in accepting it. Mr Larkin said Muftau had come to Ireland alone from Africa at the age of 14 under great hardship, and had been accepted under the Separated Child Asylum Scheme. He said Muftau had done very well in his Leaving Cert and was offered a scholarship to Tallaght Institute of Technology which he accepted. Mr Larkin said that when Muftau turned 18 he was transferred to the adult asylum scheme and was moved to hostel accommodation, which he left and is now squatting with various friends around the country. Det Kilfeather agreed that Muftau had submitted a very early plea of guilty which had been of material benefit to investigating gardai. Judge Melanie Greally said that notwithstanding the fact that Muftau had pleaded guilty by way of recklessness, it must have been clear that use of his bank account for such a large sum must have led him to believe that the money was of criminal origin. The judge ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing until March 14 next. Artist Robert Ballagh has stood by his claims that "outsiders" are heading up Irish cultural institutions while Irish "need not apply" - but insists he is not 'xenophobic'. Dublin artist and political activist Ballagh wrote a letter criticising the fact that Scottish, English and Welsh people are holding the highest ranking positions in cultural institutions here. The comments came in the wake of an open letter from actors claiming the Abbey Theatre has had an apparent run of up to five months without any Irish actors being directly employed. Ballagh wrote: "I was not at all surprised to read the open letter signed by more than 300 Irish practitioners... expressing their deep concern and dissatisfaction with the direction that the Abbey Theatre has taken in recent times. "However, I was surprised that the letter did not raise an obvious question: why is the Irish National Theatre, which has an obligation to reflect Irish cultural values, currently being run by two Scotsmen? "I suppose if this disconnect was simply a problem for the Abbey Theatre, the situation would not be so serious, but at this moment in time practically every national cultural institution is being managed by an outsider." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Sarah Glennie, director, National College of Art and Design. Photo: Peter Houlihan Photography Director of The Gate Theatre Selina Cartmell. Photo: Caroline Quinn Abbey directors Neil Murray and Graham McLaren Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, Sean Rainbird. Photo: Mark Condren Virginia Teehan, director of the Hunt Museum. Photo: Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sarah Glennie, director, National College of Art and Design. Photo: Peter Houlihan Photography The artist told the Irish Independent that he wasn't criticising any of the individuals based on their nationality, but was simply making a point. "Anyone who knows me, knows I'm not racist or xenophobic, I'm not personally criticising any of these people running these institutions," he said. "Some people who aren't Irish and who ran our institutions over the years have been fantastic, but why are so many being run at this moment in time by people from outside the country? "Can you imagine if someone who spent a career working in theatre in Ireland, who learned all the difficulties, trials and tribulations of theatre in Ireland, had been appointed director of the Abbey, do you think they'd dare not employ an Irish actor on stage for five months? "That would be inconceivable... they'd understand the plight and this is not about me not liking British people or whatever, some of my friends are (British), it's an important debate, it must be wider than the Abbey. It's about a failure to support the arts in this country and it shouldn't be deflected to be about nationality." Culture Minister Josepha Madigan expressed her "regret" that the "nationality of the directors" of the Abbey Theatre was been raised by the artist. A spokesman for Ms Madigan stated that she acknowledged the concerns of the practitioners in respect of the Abbey Theatre, but "she very much regrets that the nationality of the directors has been highlighted in this way". "The assertion that 'at this moment in time practically every national cultural institution is being managed by an outsider' is incorrect," the spokesperson added. In response Ballagh told the Irish Independent: "I've no time for spin or distortion of the fact from the minister. "The whole problem is the lack of official support for the arts in Ireland. The Abbey is a symptom of what's wrong. "It's literally impossible to earn even a modest income working in the arts in Ireland and this Government is the worst for the arts in the history of this State. "If [the minister] can't convince the Government to raise the level of support for Irish arts, she should resign," he added. Ms Madigan did not wish to make further comment. The Arts Council refused to comment and the Abbey Theatre, also did not respond to the issue yesterday. Ballagh penned his original comments in a letter to the 'Irish Times' yesterday. "For example, the director of the National Gallery of Ireland is an Englishman, the new director of the Hunt Museum in Limerick is a Welsh woman, the director of the National College of Art and Design is an Englishwoman, and the director of the Gate Theatre is an Englishwoman. "It seems that when it comes to our cultural institutions that warning experienced by our emigrants in the past still holds sway: "No Irish need apply." The Irish Independent contacted all the institutions mentioned but did not receive responses. Fianna Fail's arts spokeswoman Niamh Smyth said: "We have a wealth of Irish talent and there's no reason an Irish person couldn't be a director off any of these institutions, so why do we always have to feel we haven't the capacity or talent?" she said. Fiona Bruce has been praised for her deft and assertive handling of panellists on the new-look Question Time. The experienced newsreader appeared to take little time to settle into the frequently fiery debate show. Brexit was the first and primary topic of discussion and interruption on the first Question Time since the Christmas break, and Bruce was praised for pressing guests on the Brexit deal, Conservative leave strategy, and alleged Labour electioneering over the EU. Within the first few minutes of the show, Bruce asserted her authority, firmly questioned Conservative deputy chairman James Cleverly over the Governments apparent lack of control over the Brexit process. Here is the first picture of Fiona on the set! Join us tonight from 10:45pm on @BBCOne and @bbc5live as Fiona brings you the first Question Time of the year. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/QXajD3T2CZ BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) January 10, 2019 In an exchange with the senior Tory, she said: If this is the Government being in control, what does out of control look like?. She added later on Brexit plans: Does anyone have any idea what the plan B is, literally anyone? Receiving no answer after forceful questioning, she asked the audience in pantomime fashion, have I missed it? One impressed viewer welcomed the robust and insistent style of the new presenter, saying: Fiona Bruce is destroying everyone and I love it. Another viewer at home added: Fiona Bruce is excellent. Probing, not putting up with waffle, asking follow ups to get an actual answer, straight to the point. Bruce took over from David Dimbleby who had presented the often-heated debate show for 25 years. The show had received some criticism for recitations of various party lines, and sometimes angry clashes. The new-look show was filmed in the Jeremy Corbyn heartland of Islington in north London, and featured voices from both sides of the divisive Brexit debate. Fiona Bruce is gonna be good at this job and more power to her Bruce robustly questioned Labour stalwart Emily Thornberry, and halted stormy exchanges between the Corbyn loyalist and deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson. Talking to Ms Thornberry, Bruce said that people were laughing at the Labour frontbencher when she claimed there was a better deal available for the UK with a Corbyn-led government. Ms Thornberry made appeals for a general election during the show. The new presenter also welcomed journalist Melanie Phillips, and comedian Nish Kumar. The pair clashed over the comedian accusing Phillips of being a bigot, after the journalist asked whether he had read a report into police racism. Bruces performance on the show was praised by viewers, who were impressed with the hosts directness and determination to get straight answers. One viewer commented on Twitter, saying: I loved David Dimbleby but must say Fiona Bruce is proving herself incredibly capable of not just chairing the #bbcqt panel but enforcing actual responses to questions and ensuring flow between responses. Another said the show was now much calmer & more orderly, while one concluded: Fiona Bruce is gonna be good at this job and more power to her. Bruce made a home on the BBC Six OClock News, with experience on News At Ten, becoming its first female presenter. She has also presented Crimewatch and The Antiques Roadshow. RTE presenter Sharon Ni Bheolain has been hailed a "true pro" by social media users for continuing a news report after a bluebottle fly landed on her face. The newsreader was hosting the Nine O'Clock News when she started swatting at a huge fly that was circling around her. What a pro pic.twitter.com/es1wDbcacr Joe Molloy (@MolloyJoe) January 10, 2019 Social media users praised her professionalism as she continued to read her lines, despite not looking at the camera screen. Joe Molloy, presenter of Off The Ball, shared a clip of Ni Bheolain's response with the caption: "what a pro". Others took the opportunity to use all the fly puns the internet has to offer. @rtenews need to issue one of Judge Judys special fly swatters to all presenters pic.twitter.com/5hZ4zSV4QK Eamonn Murray (@littleredvanman) January 10, 2019 "I'd hate to be the floor manager. I'd say she'll let it... fly" one person said. "RTE are calling in a SWAT team," said another. She didn't miss a beat!!...and in tomorrow's news we examine the impact of climate change with the emergence of flies in January john Walsh (@johnpatwalsh34) January 10, 2019 The RTE news presenter moved from her position as Six One news anchor during a reshuffle of the programme last year. The journalist was at the helm of the news broadcast for 13 years alongside Bryan Dobson. Mr Dobson crossed paths with Brexiteer Boris Johnson at the Pendulum Summit yesterday, who labelled the Morning Ireland presenter as "this man Bryan". When I was growing up, Laurel and Hardy were still a thriving cultural currency. Decades after their deaths, they were everywhere: their classic short comedies were constantly shown on television, there was a cartoon series, and the boys even had a posthumous top 10 hit in the mid-1970s with Trail Of The Lonesome Pine. These days, it's entirely possible that there are people under the age of 30 who've never heard of them. They're never on TV, aren't feted in retrospectives like Chaplin or Buster Keaton or the Marx Brothers, and some critics have even gone so far as to dismiss their comedy as simplistic slapstick. Big mistake because, at their best, Stan and Ollie were nothing short of sublime. Expand Close Steve Coogan and John C Reilly have the comic duos idiosyncrasies down to a T / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Steve Coogan and John C Reilly have the comic duos idiosyncrasies down to a T They had a comic chemistry that verged on the poetic, the pratfall routines orchestrated by Stan Laurel were note-perfect absurdist ballets, and there was something oddly touching about the way the boys, battle though they might, ultimately depended on each other. This elusive magic is beautifully captured by Steve Coogan and John C Reilly in Jon S Baird's Stan & Ollie, a witty and warm-hearted biopic that finds the boys in the twilight of their careers. No prizes for guessing who plays who. It's 1952, their glory days are long gone, and Laurel and Hardy have arrived in northern England to begin a concert tour. In a prologue we discover how the duo fell out in the 1930s over a contract row with their miserly studio boss Hal Roach: they worked apart for several years, but without each other, the magic was gone. Now they're uneasily reunited, and the carrot at the end of this gruelling live tour is the possibility of a new Laurel and Hardy feature film based on the legend of Robin Hood. Stan (Coogan) is full of new ideas for the movie, but Ollie (Reilly) seems tired and easily out of puff: his heart is dicky and his partner is beginning to wonder if an arduous tour is really the best thing for him. The crowds are initially disappointing too, but as the old pros get into their stride, public enthusiasm grows, and by the time they reach London, they've sold out a string of nights at a West End theatre. Trouble brews when their wives (Shirley Henderson, Nina Arianda, both excellent) arrive in London, and proceed to bicker their way around the plush confines of the Savoy Hotel. And meanwhile, Stanley is worried that their film's supposed producer isn't returning his calls. Nicely pitched, if understandably sentimental, Stan & Ollie is slightly plotted and relies heavily on the quality of the two central performances. In this regard, Coogan and Reilly faced a complex challenge: not only had they to catch the clownish subtleties of the Laurel and Hardy routines, but they also had to give us some idea who the men who performed them really were. Reilly plays Oliver 'Babe' Hardy as the easy-going southern gent he was, and has all his wonderful stage ticks down to a T - the delicate hand gestures, tie fiddles, infuriated glares towards the audience and that magnificent 'hmmh!' sound he used to make whenever Stan's idiocy had particularly exasperated him. Babe was a charmer alright, but also a chronic people-pleaser whose need to be loved didn't always help the duo's cause. Stan Laurel was the brains behind the double act's success, a deep-thinking Lancastrian who'd sailed to America on the same boat as Charlie Chaplin and earned his stripes in Vaudeville before heading west to Hollywood. It's his tenacity that keeps the act together through the ups and downs of the British tour, and all the time he's thinking up new routines. "That's funny, isn't it?" he says to Hardy after enchanting him with a brilliantly simple routine involving a pair of shoes and a curtain, but his sense of physical comedy is so good that he shouldn't need to ask. Coogan inhabits the character beautifully, catching Laurel's quietness and physical grace, but also the steely inner resolve that got him to the top in the first place. When he and Reilly break into one of Laurel and Hardy's endearingly daft dance routines, it's genuinely moving and, in the end, this film is a sort of love story. When the real Oliver Hardy died, Stan was too upset to go to his funeral, and years later was still dreaming up routines for a double act that no longer existed. Woodie's DIY owner Grafton Group said it expects to report earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITA) slightly ahead of the top end of analyst expectations for 2018. Compiled analyst forecasts show consensus EBITA for 2018 of 185.1m (205m), with the top end of the range 188.5m (208.6m), the group said in a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2018. The company, which generates the biggest share of its revenue and profits in the UK, reported revenue of 2.95bn (3.26bn) for 2018, an increase of 8.7pc from 2.72bn (3bn) in 2017. Revenue growth in constant currency was 8.4pc, and average daily like-for-like revenue increased by 4.3pc. The rate of growth moderated in November and December, which the group expected, following above trend growth in September and October. In Ireland, where Grafton owns merchanting businesses including Chadwicks and Heiton Buckley, revenue grew 9.3pc in the merchanting division over the 12 month period. "We are pleased with the strong performance over the year, with contributions from both organic growth and the Leyland SDM acquisition," Gavin Slark, CEO of Grafton Group, said. "The group continues to benefit from its exposure to multiple geographies and its diverse customer base. The group's cash generative businesses, strong balance sheet and low level of net debt support our development strategy for the year ahead," he added. During the year the group also disposed of two small non-core UK businesses which contributed revenue of 40m and EBITA of circa 1.4m in 2018. It is amazing to me that we can find $40,000 to incarcerate one individual, but we cannot find sufficient funding for our schools and then we complain about crime, Enyia said to applause. There is a root cause to crime in this city, and it is directly related to investment. Preventative measures mean children have to have options, both in school and in training, so they can function in the economy legitimately when they leave. If we do not provide that infrastructure, which is the citys responsibility, then we cannot wonder why young people are doing carjackings. Defence lawyers for Nissan ex-chairman Carlos Ghosn said they will seek his release on bail after Tokyo prosecutors indicted him on Friday on two new charges of financial misconduct. The former executive - once lauded for rescuing a near-bankrupt Nissan - was charged with aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to the automaker in 2008, and for understating his compensation for three years through March 2018, prosecutors said. The charges were widely expected after Ghosn's arrest for those allegations last month. Under Japanese law, suspects can be held for 23 days before being formally charged. Prosecutors on Friday also indicted Nissan Motor and former Representative Director Greg Kelly for under-reporting Ghosn's income for those three years. Kelly was arrested in November and released on bail on Christmas Day. Ghosn, Kelly and Nissan have already been indicted for under-reporting Ghosn's income for the five years through 2015. "This second indictment for Kelly comes as no surprise as it merely makes what was a five year period for the first into eight years," said Kelly's lawyer Yoichi Kitamura. Kelly, who was hospitalised for treatment of a neck problem immediately after his release, cannot leave the country without special permission. He has denied the allegations. Kitamura said he expects Ghosn and Kelly to be tried together on the two charges and that he will work closely with Ghosn's legal team to prepare for the trial. In a court hearing on Tuesday, Ghosn denied the allegations, calling them "meritless" and "unsubstantiated". Ghosn in court said he had asked Nissan to temporarily take on his foreign exchange contracts after the 2008-2009 financial crisis prompted his bank to call for more collateral. He said he did this to avoid having to resign and use his retirement allowance for collateral. Motonari Otsuru, the head of Ghosn's legal team, said on Tuesday that Nissan had agreed to the arrangement on condition that any losses or gains would be Ghosn's. Ghosn said the contracts were transferred back to him and that Nissan did not incur a loss. BAIL In response to the charges, Nissan said in a statement that it "takes this situation extremely seriously and expresses its deepest regret for any concern caused to its stakeholders." It said it would "continue its efforts to strengthen its governance and compliance, including making accurate disclosures of corporate information." As for Ghosn's alleged shifting of investment losses to Nissan, the company said it "does not in any way tolerate such misconduct and calls for strict penalties." Otsuru said on Friday his team would apply for bail for Ghosn. However, it is uncommon for defendants in Japan who deny their charges to be granted bail ahead of trial. Otsuru earlier this week said Ghosn would likely be held until the trial, which he said could begin in about six months. Even if bail were granted, Ghosn would not likely be released until Tuesday given that Monday is public holiday, and all banks will be closed through the long weekend. The boards of Nissan and its French 43.4pc owner, Renault, met on Thursday for an update on the Ghosn investigations, with Nissan later saying it remained committed to an alliance which has been strained by the case. Also on Thursday, Ghosn's wife, Carole, issued a statement on his continued detention, asking Japanese authorities for more information on her husband's health after he ran a fever, saying she was worried about his recovery. Irish consumers are more inclined to switch motor insurance than most other types of financial services, but a recent study has suggested that switching activity is declining, and also that many are hazy about who their provider is. Amid the recent collapse of another foreign motor insurer that traded in Ireland under what is called a 'freedom of services' basis, a study by the Central Bank highlights the need to be clearer about who your insurer is and whether or not they are regulated here - whether you are switching or not. The study, published last November, showed that just 42pc of us switched motor insurance providers, but also revealed that 16pc of respondents could not name their insurer, and of the 76pc who could, a quarter of them cited the name of the broker who sold them the policy rather than the actual insurer. The research comes after the high-profile failure of Maltese-based Setanta Insurance firm in 2014, and its publication coincided with the collapse of Qudos, a Danish insurer that, like Setanta, traded here on a freedom of services basis and sold around 50,000 policies in Ireland through brokers. There was also the collapse in 2016 of Enterprise Insurances, a firm registered in Gibraltar. So aside from the 1,500 or so claims involving Qudos that are reportedly in limbo as a result of its failure, the situation with the Danish insurer has again raised fears that Irish insurance customers will be hit with the cost of unpaid claims via levies - as seen with the collapses of Setanta Insurance and Quinn Insurance. When it came to where their insurer was located, less than half (49pc) of the respondents to the Central Bank study said it mattered to them, with 45pc of these saying that if the insurer was located outside the State, it might change their decision. Younger consumers were more likely to consider using foreign insurers' products than older ones. So if you are not sure who your underwriter is and whether or not they are regulated by the Central Bank, Cathie Shannon, director of general insurance at Brokers Ireland, recommends contacting your broker. "The first port of call for motorists with queries in relation to motor insurance should be their insurance broker who will be in a position to provide best advice on an appropriate policy, outlining the range of options available and addressing any queries the motorist might have. "Brokers Ireland urges the Central Bank, which regulates this area, to develop better guidelines to govern insurance undertakings operating in Ireland on a freedom of services basis." A spokeswoman for the Central Bank says it has encouraged brokers to make clear to customers the identity of their insurer and where it is located at the point of sale. Tough deal According to the CSO, motor insurance premiums have fallen by over 7pc over the past 12 months. This is, of course, good news and the trend should continue given that motorists endured sharp rises in premiums over the three-year period up to 2018. However, younger drivers are still getting a tough deal thanks to limited competition in the first-time driver market, according to Jonathan Hehir of online insurance broker Coverinaclick.ie. "Young drivers are vulnerable when it comes to motor insurance as a lack of knowledge, experience and a limited budget are all combining to make insurance a very expensive business for them." This means that switching is still essential to find the best value. "By going direct to only one insurer you are limiting the number of options open to you, and therefore your chances of getting the best value around," said Hehir. As well as age, the other factors that have the biggest influence on the quotes you get are: (a) the number of years you have been claim-free and the type of licence you have, and (b) the type and age of the vehicle. So if you have recently passed your test, or have accumulated five years NCB (no claims bonus), or want to add or remove a named driver, or plan to change your car, these are all good reasons to seek out a better deal. If you and your spouse have your own cars, adding each other as named drivers on your policies will discount premiums on both cars. Other tips include keeping your car parked on a driveway or in a garage if you have one, and fitting an alarm. Using the same provider for your house insurance can help, too. How to switch... motor insurance STEP 1 Get a quote online from a broker like Chill.ie, Quoteme,ie or CoverinaClick.ie, which provide quotes from a range of firms. Alternatively, contact a broker you know. You could get quotes directly from insurers but this could take some time. Also, given that the amount of detail you are asked to input for a quote can vary a lot and thereby affect the final price, you may save yourself a bit of time by picking up the phone to insurers instead of obtaining online quotes. STEP 2 Contact your current firm. See if they can match your best quote. If not, then it could be time to switch. STEP 3 Switch. To switch you'll need to complete an online or offline application form, and send on a copy of your driving licence and existing no claims bonus (NCB) letter, which you should get from your existing insurer, and your payment details. Potential savings: 1,300 Total time: 30 minutes Thousands of homeowners face a massive hike in their property tax bills unless sweeping changes to the unpopular levy are made. Some families could be hit with annual hikes of almost 500 because property prices have soared since the tax - based on the market value of the home - was introduced in 2013. Back then, the 'average' cost of a home nationally was just under 150,000, which incurred a bill of 225. However, the latest house price data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows this national average has since increased to 256,000, which means bills for 'average' homeowners will rise to 495 - an increase of 270. Among those hardest hit will be families living in Clifden, Co Galway, where an average home was priced at 52,500 in 2013 but has since soared to 305,000. Under the existing system, the tax will rise from 90 a year to 585. Other areas facing high increases are Dublin 7, where bills could rise from 225 to 650; Newbridge in Co Kildare, where rising prices mean average bills could increase from 90 to 495; and Dublin 14, where families could face a rise from 585 to 956. The Local Property Tax (LPT) is assessed at 0.18pc of its market value. It is designed to fund local services, and replaces direct exchequer funding for local authorities. For properties valued at over 1m, the first 1m is based on a 0.18pc multiplier and the balance at 0.25pc. But since 2015, local authorities have been free to adjust the rate up or down by a maximum of 15pc. In Dublin, three of the four councils have reduced it by 15pc, with Fingal reducing it by 10pc for this year. This means homeowners in these areas pay a lower rate. Conversely, those living in other counties which increased the rate pay more - Waterford City and County Council increased it by 2.5pc, Limerick City and County by 7.5pc, Wexford and Laois by 10pc, and Longford by 15pc. While the Government has insisted that any increases will be modest, it has yet to set out how it intends levying the charge without unduly affecting family and local authority finances. It has faced calls to ditch the tax or extend exemptions to cover property owners who may be asset-rich but cash-poor. "I know people feel that because house prices have gone up a lot in the last four or five years that it means their property tax will go up by that amount," Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said last month. "We are going to make sure that doesn't happen. We want to make sure that the amount of revenue collected by the local authorities from property tax is roughly the same and that would mean making sure nobody faces a sudden increase in their property tax." While a review of the LPT is underway, there is as yet no date for its publication, the Department of Finance said. In the meantime, families face growing uncertainty as to what their bills for 2020 will be. Fianna Fail housing spokesman Darragh O'Brien said the Government needed to outline its proposals as soon as possible. "We made a detailed submission to the review on the basis of ensuring there are no significant increases for homeowners," he said. "Homeowners and local authorities need certainty. I don't understand the delay. We made a submission in advance of last summer and it should be relatively simple to do. "For planning purposes, it needs to be [done] before Easter at the very latest. We need to see what's in and if we agree with it. It has to be open for scrutiny in the Dail." Analysis of 'average' selling prices for homes, based on 130 Eircodes, shows that under the existing system, few areas will enjoy a reduction. There are eight areas in Dublin, Cork, Cavan, Monaghan, Tipperary, Kerry and Limerick where prices have fallen, resulting in a lower bill. The sharpest drop has been in Rush, Co Dublin, where bills would fall from 675 to 445. There are 15 areas in Clare, Cork, Donegal, Kildare, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Tipperary where prices have remained relatively stable, meaning no change to tax bills. However, in the remaining 107 areas prices have risen - paving the way for higher bills unless changes are made. The Government has ruled out the introduction of a site value tax, which some experts believe is a fairer way to tax property because it is based on the value of the land rather than the building. Among the options being considered is reducing the rate of the levy below 0.18pc, which would limit the tax burden on families while protecting council finances. An exemption for those who bought or built their own home since 2013 will no longer apply, which is expected to result in an additional 10,000 households being liable. ARYZTA chairman Gary McGann said he doesn't know if he would have assumed the role of chairman at the baked goods company had he known how bad its problems were. Mr McGann, a veteran of the Irish business scene with a career including years as chief executive of Aer Lingus and Smurfit Kappa, became chairman of Aryzta in 2016, and recently oversaw the raising of 800m from shareholders. Speaking at day two of the Pendulum Summit in Dublin yesterday about taking the Arytza role, he said: "I'd like to think I'd be brave heart and go in but, honestly, I don't know." Billions in shareholder value has been wiped out at Aryzta since Mr McGann was elected chairman at an agm in December 2016. He inherited a difficult situation with the company having been in a negative spiral well before then. He brought in former DAA boss Kevin Toland as chief executive to implement a turnaround plan - which saw the controversial 800m fundraising narrowly approved by shareholders. The funds were designed to make debt repayments, with an asset sales programme not delivering as much as the company would have liked. "There is still plenty of work to be done. It has been a muti-year problem and it will be a multi-year turnaround, but at least we have the basis for that now," he told the Irish Independent. "It is a business with a very strong history and there are some great people and some fantastic assets. "The raw material is there and we have put a team together that are very committed and driven, but it's a challenge - that is no doubt." Mr McGann is also Paddy Power Betfair chairman and insisted that the bookmaking industry was "clued into" the changes that are facing the sector amid increasing regulation. "All businesses face challenges; in the world of PaddyPower Betfair the challenge is trying to understand what the regulator is trying to achieve, the context in which the regulation is put in place and to work with it, and certainly Paddy Power Betfair is very clued into that," he said. "The only way to have a long-term sustainable business is to work within the norms and the standards that are required to be successful, and regulation is part of that." Mr McGann also acknowledged the company's potential for expansion in the United States, where last year there was a relaxation of the gambling laws. "Certainly for the industry the US has huge potential, it has a sports-mad population it means it's an enormous business opportunity. However, there are a lot of players and a lot of mouths to feed, and a lot of complexity." Mr McGann, a former non-executive director at Anglo Irish Bank, said yesterday that he believes that governments are bad shareholders in a company from a management perspective. "You don't know if they will be around in three or four years," he said, adding that this is too short a time frame and governments are regularly "held captive" by unions. He said that Anglo's board could have used more "deep industry knowledge" of the banking sector. On the outlook for the Irish economy, he warned that unless the funding model for third-level education is addressed, standards will decline. "I find it a total paradox that we have among the best businesses in the world here... and we can't house people, we can't put hospital beds in for the ill and the aged, and we haven't a funding model for third-level education." Tesco had its best Christmas in a decade in the UK Tesco posted flat like-for-like sales in Ireland in the 19 weeks to January 5, having been impacted by intense competition. The British retailer said there had been 'intense' couponing activity, and that sales last year had been strong meaning there was a tough comparison for this year's figures. "In a more competitive market ... customers responded well to our Christmas offer with positive volumes across key fresh categories," Tesco said. Aldi issued a more upbeat Irish update, saying it had its busiest Christmas ever, with the week before the festive season seeing sales jump 10pc year-on-year. The German discounter said it had an extra 350,000 shoppers through the door in the run up to Christmas. UK retailers have endured their worst Christmas trading season in a decade. High street names from Halfords to M&S reported challenging conditions as consumers kept a tight rein on their finances. Shares in Halfords plunged as much as 25pc as it warned of difficult conditions and cut its profit forecast. Tesco fared better than most in the UK, but it still cited tough trading conditions. Still, it had its best Christmas in 10 years in the UK, with like-for-like sales rising 2.2pc in the six weeks to the beginning of January. Marks & Spencer saw its like-for-like sales fall by 2.2pc in the 13 weeks to December 29. Like-for-like sales at Debenhams in the 18 weeks to January 5 tumbled 5.7pc. Debenhams said it's now in talks with lenders to strike a refinancing deal. Shares in the embattled chain plummeted more than 12pc, giving it a market capitalisation of just 60.6m (67.1m). With Britain heading for a potentially messy exit from the European Union at the end of March, consumer spending is drying up, exposing the weakness of many major retailers which are having to sacrifice profits in the quest for sales. The brutal conditions come as the industry struggles to keep pace with consumers moving online, meaning many are weighed down with excess and costly store space as they invest in distribution centres and logistics. Additional reporting Reuters An intensifying cash crunch at ailing UK regional carrier Flybe has seen its board approve a takeover of the airline by a newly-formed group owned by Stobart Group, Virgin Atlantic and US private equity firm Cyrus Capital Partners. The new entity, Connect Airways, will also acquire Dublin-based Stobart Air just prior to completing the purchase of Flybe. Stobart Air, which has its roots in Aer Arann, operates the Aer Lingus Regional service on a franchised basis for the larger carrier. Aer Lingus is part of the IAG group that also owns British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Level. Stobart Air will continue to operate under its Irish air operators certificate. Aer Lingus declined to comment on the Flybe transaction, which will be effected by ways of a scheme of arrangement. The purchase will value Flybes equity at just over 2m (2.2m), with the buyers having pledged to plough as much as 100m (111m) into the airline to keep it flying. Flybe, whose chief executive is former CityJet boss Christine Ourmieres-Widener, went on the hunt for a buyer in November as it faced a bleak winter with falling cash reserves. The sales process was initiated just months after the carrier pulled the plug on talks with the UK Stobart Group, which owns Stobart Air, that would have seen the airline being bought out. A Luxembourg firm wholly owned by funds managed by Cyrus has a 40pc stake in Connect Airways. Stobart Aviation owns 30pc and Virgin Travel Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Atlantic, owns the remainder. Virgin Atlantic, the airline founded in 1984 by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, is now majority-owned by US airline Delta, with a 49pc stake. Mr Branson sold a 31pc stake in Virgin Atlantic to Air France-KLM in 2017, and retains a 20pc holding in the airline. Stobart Group chief executive Warwick Brady said the acquisition of Flybe and the amalgamation of the airline into Connect Airways along with Stobart Air, would enable the businesses to compete effectively in a tougher market. The board of Stobart Group believes that bringing Stobart Air together with Flybe and partnering with Virgin Atlantic and Cyrus Capital is the best way for us to play an active role in UK regional flying, he said. "The combined entity will be a powerful combination with sufficient scale to compete effectively in the UK and European airline markets, added the former Easyjet executive. It will allow us to continue to work with Flybe and provides an excellent opportunity to continue to grow passenger numbers at London Southend Airport." Stobart owns London Southend Airport and last year secured a significant coup when it announced that Ryanair will establish a base at the gateway from this summer, operating 13 routes to eight countries. Stobart confirmed that Flybes finances have been increasingly squeezed in recent weeks. The company's card acquirers normally pass on cash for credit card bookings for future flights, less a proportion retained as security, Stobart said regarding Flybe. However they are contractually entitled to retain enough cash to ensure that they are fully secured. The company's card acquirers have recently begun to retain significantly more cash against their exposure and this change in position has materially and rapidly weakened the company's unrestricted cash position. Flybe said its directors have weighed risks inherent with successfully executing its business plan versus the opportunity that a cash bid and offer of funding for the business provides. The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School was the big winner in the $29.47m donated to 352 organisations and projects here and across the world by the American Ireland Funds (AIF) in 2017. Documentation provided to the US tax authorities by the AIF show that the graduate business school received a donation of $10.63m (9.23m) from the fund in 2017 - by far the largest single donation made by the AIF that year. The grant will support the Smurfit Graduate Business School through helping to fund a state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility - The Centre for the Future of Learning Capital Project. The project is part of a planned 65m spend over five years as part of UCD's Vision 2020 for the university's College of Business. The AIF report on the donation shows that $1.75m of the grant had been spent by August 14 2018. The AIF documentation shows that the now departed CEO of the AIF, Kieran McLoughlin, received $699,000 in pay, including a 100,000 bonus in 2017. Mr McLoughlin stepped down as CEO last October and served in an advisory capacity to the fund before leaving the organisation on December 31 last. In 2017, Mr McLoughlin enjoyed a 15pc rise in his basic pay from his 2016 pay of $462,915 to $535,000. Mr McLoughlin stepped down ahead of his contract coming to an end after it emerged that a former AIF female employee is alleged to have embezzled $579,000 from the organisation. The AIF returns for 2017 show that Barnardo's received $79,525 for a Family Support Service while the Gaelic Players' Association (GPA) received $80,000 to fund a leadership programme for GAA players. IRELAND lagged the European average for R&D spending in 2017, according to new figures from the EU's statistics agency. Just 1.05pc of this country's GDP was spent on R&D, compared to an EU average of 2.07pc. The figures account for R&D spending by business, government, educational institutions, and charities. The disparity between Ireland and other countries will inevitably give rise to concerns about this country's future competitiveness. It follows a number of high-profile warnings about R&D activity here. Ireland's National Competitiveness Council recently said it was "concerned" about a decline in "research intensity" here, saying this posed a threat to productivity growth. "There is further scope for establishing deeper linkages between the indigenous and foreign sectors as a means of boosting diffusion of knowledge and technology and therefore increasing the competitiveness and productivity of indigenous firms," it said. The Council said "strong productivity" in a small number of companies was disguising under-performance elsewhere. In addition, the former head of the IMF's operation in Dublin recently warned that Ireland needed to massively ramp up innovation capability, with R&D a major driver of innovation. Ashoka Mody said the Irish economy needed to become more productive in order to insulate itself from changes to international tax rules. He pointed to OECD statistics that, similarly to the European figures, showed Ireland lagging on R&D spending. "Ireland has a unique vent for growth through its relationships with US multinationals. And if that vent for growth goes away then Ireland is stuck," Mr Mody told an audience at the Institute of International and European Affairs. "The one feature in which Ireland is very much like what used to be called the eurozone periphery is it's got a very low internal innovation capability. "And growth will belong in the next half century to those who have internal innovation capacity," he added. He said redressing the problem will require "extensive investment in education" and "creating an economic environment in which domestic companies invest 2pc-3pc of GDP" in R&D. Ireland's figure of 1.05pc of GDP being spent on R&D was far below the strongest performers. Sweden came in at 3.33pc, Austria at 3.16pc, Denmark at 3.06pc and Germany at 3.02pc. The so-called "leprechaun economics" factor, where multinational activities with no real impact on Ireland nevertheless boost GDP, may play a factor in explaining why Ireland's figure is so low. But the EU statistics show that the contribution businesses make to R&D spending here is actually above the EU average at 71pc versus 66pc. Warning: Gary Gensler with Minister of State at the Department of Education Mary Mitchell OConnor. Photo: Jason Clarke Ireland's use of low corporate tax rates to retain US multi-nationals is at risk and we need to give them other reasons to stay, according to a leading US financial and academic figure, who looked after the finances on Hilary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Gary Gensler told a conference in Dublin on the future of work that every US presidential campaign looked at how profits from US firms were sitting offshore. US President Donald Trump has changed tax rules in the hope of bringing companies back, and Mr Gensler said while Ireland had not seen that much less activity as a result, the country was "at risk". Predicting that "it won't last for another 20 years", he said Ireland needed to create "more value added" and give the multi-nationals "another reason to stay". Mr Gensler said apart from being considered a low-tax economy, advantages enjoyed by Ireland included being an English-speaking country, with a highly educated workforce and a trusted legal system. He was among the speakers at a conference jointly organised by the Higher Education Authority and the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management, a new initiative expected to lead to further collaboration, including research projects, between MIT and higher education in Ireland. The focus of the event was the impact of technological advances, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and how changes in management practice and in the global political and financial worlds will effect change. MIT is one of the world's leading universities, particularly in the area of future technologies, and Mr Gensler is senior adviser to the MIT Media Lab's Digital Currency Initiative and the Ethics and Governance of AI project. John Van Reenan, a professor of economics and management at MIT Sloan, said that digital technologies did not cut jobs, but created new tasks. However, he cited data showing that since 1979 in the US, while technology created more higher and lower skills jobs, the "middle skills" share of the market shrank from 61pc to 43pc. He also pointed to the challenge for Ireland in building capacity at management level. Irish companies rate average in the World Management Survey. He said good management was critical to exploiting new technologies to raise a firm's performance. Danny McCoy, CEO of the employers' organisation Ibec, said a lot of home-grown management talent was sucked out of the country by the multi-nationals. Alan Barrett, director of the ESRI, suggested tax breaks similar to those allowed for pension AVCs, to encourage employees to continue learning throughout their career. Digicel has said 98pc of relevant bondholders have accepted a swap deal which will see the bonds paid off at a later date. The company, owned by businessman Denis O'Brien, said 97.9pc of holders of bonds due in 2020 have agreed to be paid off in full in 2022. They have swapped their old bonds for new bonds. In addition, 97.9pc of holders of bonds due in 2022 have agreed to be paid off in full in 2024. Any bondholder who did not accept the deal will still have their payment due on the original date, but because of the majority approval of the deal, these bondholders will see covenants stripped away and will be subordinated in the company's capital structure. The deal has come to fruition after months of negotiations as bondholders sought to improve the terms of the original offer. Digicel launched the swap offer to try and give it more breathing room on its debt repayments. Its total debt pile is some $6.7bn (5.8bn). The bond swap pushed out repayment dates on around $3bn of debt. After a cancelled stock-market listing in 2015, which would have reduced its debt, Digicel was been hit by strengthening of the US dollar. Digicel borrows on the markets in US currency, but makes its money in a mix of local currencies in the markets where it trades. As well as the bond exchange, the company has embarked on an operational restructuring to cut costs and has sold off assets to reduce debt. Mr O'Brien is acting as interim CEO of the business, stepping into the role that was held by Alex Matuschka von Greiffenclau, who died suddenly while holidaying with his family in Germany last month. "No words can adequately express our sadness at Alex's passing or our gratitude for having worked with him. Digicel has lost a committed, hard-working and exceptional chief executive. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know him on a personal level have lost a dear friend," Mr O'Brien said. The female driver, about 40-years-old, was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. A 29-year-old man was stabilized at the same hospital, according to the Chicago Fire Department. SHARES of drinks group C&C rose more than 5pc yesterday, after the company released its latest trading forecasts and said it was well positioned to deal with the political uncertainty of Brexit. The company saw its earnings rise 20pc. C&C bought UK distributor Matthew Clark and the Bibendum wine business in 2018. The remainder of C&C's business includes major brands such as Bulmers and Magners. "Operational delivery and customer service at both Matthew Clark and Bibendum have been very strong and ahead of plan," the company said in a statement. "We therefore anticipate that their combined financial contribution will be as guided at our half-year results on 25 October 2018." The stock was trading at 3.11 after the statement and the company is rated "outperform" by Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland. "Firstly, C&C's core business has returned to growth driven by a combination of volume and price gains," Darren McKinley, senior equity analyst at the firm, said in a research report. "Secondly, unlike with previous acquisitions we believe that C&C management have added significant value via acquiring Matthew Clarke and Bibendum." At a time when the British economy is suffering from the uncertainties surrounding Brexit, C&C said it could deliver on its plans. "In Scotland and Ireland our combination of leading brands and distribution assets is highly resilient, cash generative and delivering growth. "With a strong balance sheet and normalised cash flow conversion of 60-70pc of EBITDA we are poised to provide enhanced shareholder returns." Bank of Ireland have placed restrictions on the debit cards of a number of their customers amid fraud fears. The bank has said that there is currently "heightened precautionary activity due to the increase in third party data breaches, for example Ticketmaster and Marriott Hotel Group data breaches". Online and contactless functionality has been removed from an undisclosed amount of cards but customers affected can still use their existing card for chip and pin transactions via ATM or at a shop terminal. Affected customers were contacted by the bank via a "proactive care message" to make them aware of the actions being taken. New cards are currently being issued to the homes of those affected, a process that will take up to five working days. A bank spokesperson said that a risk of fraud can arise, for example, if an ATM is tampered with or through a third party data breach. "Receiving one of these precautionary messages does not mean that your card has been used fraudulently," the spokesperson said. "We understand that this is an inconvenience however it is temporary and implemented in order to protect the customer from fraud." The country's national sheep flock is expected to decline this year, despite hogget prices reaching a five-year high last year. Bord Bia Sheepmeat specialist Declan Fennell said that the extreme weather of 2018 and Brexit uncertainty impacted the sheepmeat industry which had almost 3m throughput last year. He pointed out that the number of spring lambs were down due to the weather last year. The extreme weather of 2018 presented challenges for our sheep farmers particularly around the time of lambing. Losses were incurred and costs of meal increased and this was further compounded due to lack of grass growth in the summer and increased supplementation and meal, he said. The cold spring and difficult summer led to more protracted contraction from hoggets to new season lamb and the critical mass of new season lamb was up from June but average hogget prices reached a five year high of 0.68c/kg more than last year. Some 432,000 head came from Northern Ireland to be processed last year which Mr Fennell said would be a concern if WTO tarrifs of 80.5c/kg per animal are imposed. He also said he expects the national flock to decline this year. Pigs The seminar also heard that the forecast for pigmeat is expected to stabilise for 2019 despite pressure and low production prices. Bord Bia Pig and Poultry specialist Peter Duggan told delegates at its Meat Marketing seminar that production prices were down 13pc last year, so the value of our exports have fallen by 6pc. "African Swine Fever is a big issue in China, 600,000 pigs have been culled and are washing up on shores. This has led for strong growth for poultry consumption in China. Giras Robert Brown highlighted how poultry prices in China reached an all time high in 2018 due to the turn away from pigmeat as a result of African Swine Flu. Rescue of 39 bulls from an overturned articulated cattle lorry on the Cavan Road in Newtownbutler in Co Fermanagh, close to the Irish border early on Friday morning. PA Wire Some 39 bulls have been rescued from an overturned lorry by firefighters. It took around over three hours to complete the rescue effort on the Cavan Road in Newtownbutler. Three bulls did not survive. Firefighters from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) rescued the remaining 39 animals from the overturned articulated cattle lorry. In a statement the NIFRS said they received an emergency call at 6.22am on Friday about the incident in which one vehicle had been involved. The service's Large Animal Rescue Team from Omagh Fire Station as well as fire crews from Lisnaskea and Enniskillen Fire Stations in Co Fermanagh were involved in the rescue. Expand Close Rescue of 39 bulls from an overturned articulated cattle lorry on the Cavan Road in Newtownbutler in Co Fermanagh, close to the Irish border early on Friday morning. PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rescue of 39 bulls from an overturned articulated cattle lorry on the Cavan Road in Newtownbutler in Co Fermanagh, close to the Irish border early on Friday morning. PA Wire In total, there were 42 bulls trapped in the overturned lorry. "Firefighters stabilised the vehicle and used hydraulic cutting equipment to release 39 bulls assisted by farm workers - three bulls died in the incident," the NIFRS said in a statement. The driver of the lorry was described as a man in his 40s. He was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel. The NIFRS said the rescue operation was completed by 9.49am. "A local vet also attended the incident. When released, the bulls were contained in a nearby field," the NIFRS added in its statement. This 203ac farm at Moorepark, Garristown, Co Dublin was the biggest farm sold at auction in 2018. Under the gavel of Thomas Potterton it made 2m or 9,800/ac Land prices remained steady in 2018 despite a year of severe weather events, fodder shortages and cashflow problems, not to mention the spectre of a no-deal Brexit. The national survey of the 153 published auction results shows 8,025ac changed hands realising 91.04m for an average price per acre of 11,345. These figures represent a marginal increase (1.5pc) in the amount of land sold, a marginal decrease (1.95pc) in the amount of money generated and a decrease of 3.4pc in the price per acre. There were some exceptional features including a 70pc increase in the amount of land sold at auction in Connacht/Ulster. This resulted in an increase of 47pc in the amount of money generated at auctions in the region. And the price of land in Munster has raced ahead of the rest of the country after a spate of strong sales in 2018. The average price per acre in Munster reached 14,292/ac across 29 auctions - a 25pc rise on last year's price and well ahead of the national average. Munster also hosted the most spectacular sale of the year where a 101ac residential farm on the outskirts of Cork City at Douglas sold under the hammer of Michael Barry for 5.8m or 58,000/ac. Expand Close This 203ac farm at Moorepark, Garristown, Co Dublin was the biggest farm sold at auction in 2018. Under the gavel of Thomas Potterton it made 2m or 9,800/ac / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp This 203ac farm at Moorepark, Garristown, Co Dublin was the biggest farm sold at auction in 2018. Under the gavel of Thomas Potterton it made 2m or 9,800/ac This sale has been excluded from the calculations given that the land, while currently farmed, is viewed as development ground. Hotbed Elsewhere in Munster, Tipperary was the hotbed of high prices with up to 26,000/ac being paid under the hammer. The overall amount of land sold at auction in the province declined by 18pc from 1,630ac in 2017 to 1,334ac in 2018. Nevertheless the amount generated by these sales increased by 2.45pc from 18.6m to 19.065m. In South Leinster sales remained strong with an average of 13,558/ac, up 6.5pc on last year. Over the 55 auctions quoted in this survey, land volumes sold at auction in the region were up by 13.6pc going from 2,519 in 2018 to 2,870 in 2018. The amount of money generated came to 33.9m, representing an increase of 21pc on the previous year. Neighbouring North Leinster was not as fortunate where the amount of land sold under the hammer in a total of 42 auctions dropped by 17.5pc on 2017. The amount of money generated by auctions in the region went down by a significant 33.5pc with the per-acre price dropping by 21pc from 12,229/ac in 2017 to 9,860/ac last year. A total of 27 auctions in Connacht/Ulster saw an increase of 70pc in the amount of land sold in public in the region. This resulted in an increase of 47pc in the amount of money generated compared to 2017, however the per-acre price dropped from 7,621 to 6,566 in 2018, a drop of 14pc. Aside from the sale of the Douglas farm in Cork, the most significant sale in the province of Munster was the auction of Bengurrah House near Cahir which sold under the gavel of Pat Gannon making 2.86m or 26,000/ac. Out of a total of 29 auctions held in the province, seven saw land make more than 20,000/ac while at 22 auctions land made more than 10,000/ac. Tipperary was home to the busiest and most lucrative auction rooms in the region with 16 of the 29 auctions happening in the Premier county. Kilkenny auctioneer Pat Gannon sold land in both South Leinster and in Tipperary and describes 2018 as 'a right good year' and he remains very positive about the year ahead. "Brexit or no Brexit, land will hold its value. The people buying it are serious customers with serious businesses, especially in dairy." However, he cautioned against high expectations in relation to price. "The bread and butter of land sales are the plots that make between 8,500 and 10,000/ac. These sales happen every day and I wouldn't like people to get the impression that all land will make the 13,000 and 14,000/ac we see at these headline auctions where fancy land is making a fancy price. These are great sales but they are exceptions," he said. Brexit Connacht Ulster also had a good year with 1,400ac sold at auction netting 9.2m in sales marking a 70pc increase in the amount of land sold and a 47pc increase in the amount of money spent at auctions. Many of the headline sales were confined to the stronger farming areas of Co Roscommon where John Earley saw a real boom in land sales this year saying farm transactions made up a major part of his business. Maynooth auctioneer Willie Coonan describes the land market in 2018 as 'steady', despite all the year's challenges. He is not surprised that prices in Leinster are within a few percentage points of where they were last year. "We sold everything we had on our books, including a farm we sold on Christmas Eve. I am confident land prices will hold, even in the face of Brexit," he said. Mr Coonan believes that Brexit could be good for land prices as farmers will have to respond to increased demand for food from the UK. This 150ac farm at Grange, Fourmilehouse in Co Roscommon sold at auction in October making 830,000 Farm sales in Connacht and Ulster were more than buoyant with all indicators on the ascendant apart from the average per acre price that fell somewhat. A total of 27 successful auctions saw 1,400ac of land change hands in published auctions, marking a huge increase of 70pc on last years volume. Sales generating 9.193m, an increase of 47pc on the previous 12 months. However, while the per acre price of 6,566 marked a drop of 14pc on 2017 the market that year was somewhat skewed by two unusual sales. The most expensive piece of property sold at auction in the region in 2018 was a 10ac parcel of grazing ground at Teermore, Roscommon that made 13,200/ac under the gavel of Property Team Smith Kelly. Read More The largest farm to sell was a 168ac grass farm with an excellent range of farm buildings at Fourmilehouse, Roscommon. This made 1.8m or 10,714/ac at an auction conducted by John Earley. The next biggest sale was also handled by the same auctioneer and saw another Fourmilehouse farm sell under the gavel. The 150ac holding made 830,000 or 5,500/ac. Among the higher prices paid for land in the region, an 8.5ac parcel of ground at Carrowmore sold by Headford Marts in Galway made 90,000 or over 10,000/ac. A 50ac non-residential farm at Elphin in Roscommon came within a whisker of 10,000/ac when it made 493,000 or 9,900/ac while a 20ac non-residential property at Carrickcreeny, Cavan was sold for 191,000 or 9,550/ac. Ivan Connaughton of Athleague had a significant sale when he sold a 126.4 acre farm on his doorstep for 805,000. Read More Sligo auctioneer John Murphy described the year as good enough saying that while the land market might not have been as active as he might have wanted the floor for land prices is being maintained at 4,000 to 4,250/ac by forestry sector. Even people inheriting land who may not wish to dispose of it are looking at forestry as an option, he said. Its a reasonable alternative generating an annual return of 250/ac tax free, he added. Across the border in Co Roscommon John Earley has had a busy year. We sold 2,000ac of land in 2018 and it made around 15m. In the context of our overall business last year the land sales stood out, he said. The UK buyer is still important in his region but, he says, there was strong farmer and local interest this past year. As regards finance he believes the banks appeared to loosen their purse strings as the year went on. Read More Part-timers Karl Fox in Ballina had a good year but he observed that full-time farmers are quite absent from the market. I sold a 65ac residential farm in lots towards the end of the year and while there was a full attendance and lively interest in all the lots there wasnt one full-time farmer in the room, he said, the part-timers or the non-farmers are the main buyers of land. He agrees with John Murphy in neighbouring Sligo that forestry provides a floor for land prices, however, he says there is growing opposition to forestry and applications are increasingly attracting objections. Decent land near a main thoroughfare will sell, and there is always a customer for smaller parcels. Bigger holdings in isolated areas are a different proposition, he said. Between 20,000 and 40,000 less cattle will be slaughtered in 2019, according to Bord Bias Latest forecast on the meat sector. Speaking at the Bord Bia Meat Marketing Seminar, Meat Specialist Joe Burke told delegates that 51,000 additional cattle were slaughtered last year largely due to the difficult weather conditions farmers faced. He said that this level of throughput is unlikely to happen this year if weather and conditions are stable. In terms of throughout, for 52 weeks in 2018 there was a 3pc increase in throughput or 51,000 additional cattle. There was a 4pc increase in young bulls and 5pc more heifers and 6pc more cows, many of those were from a dairy background during the difficult summer period and had slightly lighter carcass weights, he said. In 2019, we expect to see a slight decline in cattle throughput. This is based on recent analysis on the amount of current cattle that are already in the national herd base. We expect to see a slight decline of 20,000-40,000 hd in this years slaughter levels and that will depend on the number of cull cows that come out during the year and grazing conditions and so on. He explained that an increase in live exports will lead to a scarcity in cattle for throughout as the year progresses. Exports last year to Spain were up 80pc, however there was a decline of 58pc to Turkey due to political issues there. He pointed out that the suckler cows that went for slaughter saw no decline in weight but that were was a 50,000 decrease in the suckler herd last year which was matched by a 50,000 increase in the dairy herd. In 2019 there will be a net decline of 1.7pc in beef production in the EU. He said Irish R3 steers failed to match the UK equivalent of 4.03/kg in December but did exceed it for some parts of the year. Farm organisations and meat processors have called for a resumption of talks to end a 'work-to-rule' protest by temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) which is seriously disrupting operations at slaughter plants. Meat factories claim the dispute is continuing to curtail the processing of animals for slaughter - particularly pigs - and concerns have been raised that cull cow disposals will be impacted from next week. The vets voted for work to rule last May when the Department of Agriculture attempted to change their employment conditions from normal employee status (paying tax and welfare contributions on their work) to casual employee status. Vets were also concerned that retiring TVIs were not being replaced. Veterinary Ireland chief executive Finbarr Murphy claimed this week that the sector was down some 200 positions which have not been filled by the Department. Compromise proposals worked out by former chairman of the Labour Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey, before the Christmas break were broadly accepted by both sides. However, a late intervention by the Department of Public Enterprise and Reform, saying the deal contravened public sector pay and recruitment guidelines, scuppered this initiative. Cormac Healy of the processors group Meat Industry Ireland (MII) told the Farming Independent that meat processing - especially pig processing - was feeling the effects of the industrial action. "Disruption to normal pig processing will quickly lead to animal welfare issues at farm level," he warned. Resumption The IFA in a statement demanded an immediate resumption of the conciliation talks with a view to a quick end to the dispute. "The work to rule is affecting the pig factories in particular and the IFA understands that slaughtering of cull cows will be stopped at the factories later this week," an IFA spokesman said this week. "It is totally unacceptable that farmers are being used as pawns in a chess game between the vets and the Minister for Agriculture." ICMSA livestock chairman Des Morrison said it was "hard to believe and harder to accept" that a resolution to the dispute remained elusive. Similarly, ICSA president Patrick Kent said that it was time to reach an agreement between the parties, especially now with only 90 days remaining on the Brexit clock. The Department said it would "continue to engage with all the relevant parties to resolve the matter as soon as possible so that the meat processing industry can operate as normal and that animal welfare issues are avoided". There was fresh turmoil in British politics as the car-crash debate on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal continued for a second day in Westminster. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn claimed at an event with party supporters that the only way out of the "political chaos" is a general election. In the House of Commons senior Conservative minister Michael Gove branded Labour's position on Brexit as "b******s". Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - in London for talks with Mrs May - urged MPs to back her deal. He said "the whole world" wants Britain to avoid crashing out of the EU. Mrs May's Withdrawal Agreement with the EU - including the controversial backstop to avoid a hard Border in Ireland - is set to be voted on by MPs on Tuesday. It faces massive opposition from Labour, some in the Conservative Party and the DUP, who Mrs May relies upon to stay in power. Expand Close Under fire: Theresa May with British army officer major general Benjamin John Bathurst as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receives a military guard of honour in London. Photo: Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Under fire: Theresa May with British army officer major general Benjamin John Bathurst as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receives a military guard of honour in London. Photo: Getty Images She once again called on MPs to support her plan. In somewhat garbled remarks she said: "The only way to avoid no deal is to have a deal and to agree a deal, and the deal that is on the table, the deal that is the deal that the EU has made clear, is the only deal." In Northern Ireland, Tanaiste Simon Coveney rejected suggestions that defeat of Mrs May's Withdrawal Agreement is inevitable, insisting there is no majority in Westminster for a no-deal scenario. Elsewhere, Communications Minister Richard Bruton said a no-deal Brexit would be of "immense concern" and warned of potential disruption to the single electricity market in Ireland. He also said Ireland depends on the UK for supplies of oil and gas but insisted the Government has been "doing a lot of contingency planning" on these issues. He said the Government respects the British people's decision to leave the EU. But he added: "It is upsetting to see the difficulty in Westminster in defining that clear way forward so that we can know what direction this is going to go. Hopefully we can reach a decision because a crash out by the UK would do immense damage, not just to us, but to British citizens [and] businesses". Mr Corbyn, speaking at an event in Yorkshire, said his party doesn't have confidence in the British government and added: "The political chaos cannot go on. The only way out of it would be a general election." He confirmed his party will call for a vote of no confidence if the Brexit deal is voted down in a bid to force an election. He said Labour would campaign on a platform of opening fresh Brexit negotiations with Brussels on a potential deal involving a customs union and single market relationship. Mr Corbyn suggested there would need to be extra time for these talks and so seeking an extension on the UK's March 29 departure date from the EU would be a possibility. He said Labour doesn't have enough MPs to win a confidence vote on its own and MPs across the house should vote with them to "break the deadlock". Speaking in the House of Commons, environment secretary Michael Gove claimed that Labour's Brexit stance is "b******s". He referred to reports alleging that Labour shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner had made similar remarks. Mr Gove said: "There are some distinguished citizens in this country who have put on their cars a poster or sticker saying 'b******s to Brexit' - but we now know from Labour's own front bench that their official Brexit position is b******s." Mr Gove said compromise was inevitable with any Brexit deal and insisted Mrs May's agreement "honours the referendum result" and protects British interests. The prominent Brexit supporter also defended the backstop for Northern Ireland. During the debate the night before, Cabinet Office minister David Lidington - Mrs May's de facto deputy - warned of security tensions in Northern Ireland and the risk that it could leave the United Kingdom in the event of a no-deal Brexit. He said "moderate" Nationalists are becoming more "hard-line" and questioning Northern Ireland's constitutional status in the UK. "Their consent... to the Union seems to me to be hugely important to preserving the Union, which I passionately want to do." Mr Lidington also said: "We should not underestimate the importance of the guarantee of no hard Border on the island of Ireland and no customs border in the Irish Sea." The wine list, created by partner and sommelier Eduard Seitan, is a fascinating selection of mostly Old World wines, enhanced by a few wines from Israel, Lebanon and Morocco (and there are some real bargains in that group). If you dont find any recognizable names among this small-producer list, fear not; expert advice is usually steps away, and every server I encountered knew at least enough to steer customers in the right direction. One hundred extra young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are to gain experience on board tall ships and other vessels. Extra funding for Sail Training Ireland (STIRL) was announced on Friday by Irish defence minister Paul Kehoe. It will benefit young people from disadvantaged areas, including travellers and people with disabilities. Mr Kehoe, accompanied by Minister with disabilities minister Finian McGrath, announced the provision of a grant of 85,000 euro (76,000) in 2019 and again in 2020. STIRLs youth ambassador Dylan Nelson, 24, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, says he would love to see more young people get involved. The word I use most is equality, and everyone aboard the ship no matter what ability you have is equal, he said. I was once caught in a storm on board during a voyage. I flew out of my wheelchair which was strapped in during gale force winds. So, yeah, Ive had a few eventful moments. But on board, theres no difference between me and you, whether its early starts, sailing itself or washing the dishes. Id like to see more young people, it doesnt matter where you come from, get in touch with Sail Training Ireland and well get you out sailing. In 2018, Sail Training Ireland placed 341 young people on training vessels. More than 90 percent of them were from disadvantaged backgrounds and over 25 percent of those placed on voyages had a disability. In some instances, the opportunities provided by Sail Training Ireland have allowed young people to turn their lives aroundPaul Kehoe Trainees are selected by nominating organisations, including HSE, Garda Diversion Projects, Tulsa, Irish Wheelchair Association and the Irish Refugee Council. A total of 37 nominating organisations provided trainees for placement in 2018. In terms of gender balance, of the 341 trainees in 2018, 185 were male with 156 female. Trainees have come from over 25 counties in Ireland which includes five in Northern Ireland. Speaking on board the Brian Boru vessel at Poolbeg Yacht Club in Dublin, Minister Kehoe said: Many of the young people that will be selected for these projects have experienced significant difficulties and hardships in their lives. In some instances, the opportunities provided by Sail Training Ireland have allowed young people to turn their lives around. Minister McGrath believes the initiative is be a model for other sporting groups to follow. He said: This is all about creating a more inclusive society. Sail Training Ireland have shown their commitment to working with people with a disability and work to teach new skills and develop young peoples self esteem. Gardai attended the scene of a fire at a hotel in Rooskey, Co Leitrim on Thursday night (Niall Carson/PA Wire) A fire broke out at a hotel earmarked as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers. Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene of the fire at the Shannon Key West Hotel, Co Leitrim at about 8pm on Thursday night. The scene has been sealed off by gardai pending further investigations. The former hotel in Rooskey was identified in November as a possible direct provision centre. It was due to open this month and it was expected to house about 80 refugees. Gardai said nobody had been injured in the incident. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. In a separate incident in November a hotel in Moville, Co Donegal that was due to house around 100 asylum seekers was targeted in a suspected arson attack. Theresa May is losing control of her cabinet. As ministers jostle to succeed her, the cabinet appears to have split three ways. Here John Rentoul looks at the factions within the government, the bookmakers on ministers taking the top job and the percentage of support they have among Conservative Party members. The Brexity bunch Michael Gove, environment secretary Odds on becoming PM: 12/1 Party membership support: 4% Did a better job than the PM of selling her deal in the Commons this week. Cant risk plotting after doing in his friend David Cameron and his ally Boris Johnson in quick succession. But reported to be trying to persuade Penny Mordaunt to run on a joint ticket even though she still has her eye on the top job for herself. Penny Mordaunt, international development secretary Odds: 25/1 Support: 1% Seen as the hardest-line Brexiteer in the cabinet, more so than Gove, but a weak performer on TV. Possible supporters: Liam Fox, Chris Grayling, Stephen Barclay, Natalie Evans (Baroness Evans, leader of the Lords) The cabinet ministers who voted Leave in 2016; probably happiest in theory with Gove as leader, but could live with Javid or Hunt. The pragmatic mainstreamers Sajid Javid, home secretary Odds: 13/2 Support: 8% Attracting hostility as the cabinet frontrunner. An enemy told journalists he referred to himself in the third person as The Saj; and Philip Hammond, the chancellor, caught him out in cabinet by pointing out a no-deal Brexit, which Javid had hinted at supporting, would stop him sending migrants back across the Channel. Jeremy Hunt, foreign secretary Odds: 9/1 Support: 6% The other candidate often named by mainstream Tory MPs and ministers, he too has been mocked for his obvious ambition, comparing the European Union to the Soviet Union at party conference. Gavin Williamson, defence secretary Odds: 50/1 Support: less than 1% Another minister whose ambition has been embarrassingly obvious, but in his case seems to have outrun his prospects. Possible supporters: David Lidington, Matt Hancock, Damian Hinds, David Gauke, James Brokenshire, David Mundell, Alun Cairns, Karen Bradley, Jeremy Wright, Brandon Lewis The largest group, 10 out of the 23 cabinet members. Mostly realistic about their own prospects (although Hancock may harbour long-term ambitions). Keen to avoid the leadership falling into the hands of Johnson or Rees-Mogg. The soft Brexit brigade Amber Rudd, work and pensions secretary Odds: 18/1 Support: 5% Vigorous and articulate May loyalist but also an unapologetic Remainer. May be waiting to throw her support behind another candidate (even Johnson?) in return for becoming first female chancellor. Possible supporters: Philip Hammond, Greg Clark Now pushing hard to persuade the prime minister to extend Article 50 rather than to allow a no-deal Brexit: would prefer Rudd as leader but could settle for Javid or Hunt. And they are all under pressure from outside the cabinet... The hard-Brexit outsiders Boris Johnson Odds: 13/2 Support: 20% Most popular with party members, but unpopular with fellow MPs, having failed to use the freedom of the back benches to set out a credible alternative Brexit policy. That means he may not make the shortlist of two, chosen by MPs. Dominic Raab Odds: 9/1 Support: 7% Short-lived Brexit secretary and therefore a fairly unmarked candidate with few enemies. Jacob Rees-Mogg Odds: 25/1 Support: 15% Another darling of the grassroots with even less chance of being chosen by fellow MPs for the final run-off. David Davis Odds: 25/1 Support: 8% Long-serving Brexit secretary seen as a hard Brexiteer but also one who achieved little in his two years at the new department. Sources: Oddschecker; ESRC Party Members Project/YouGov survey of 1,215 Conservative Party members, 17-22 December 2018 They present themselves as the X-Men of child exploitation: anonymous, civic-minded vigilantes prepared to go the extra mile to help bring paedophiles to justice. But while paedophile hunters may have some public benefit, this is more than outweighed by the serious legal and moral problems their actions too often pose. The latest injustice has been exposed on the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme which this week revealed that eight men have committed suicide after being labelled child abusers on social media. Some of these men killed themselves after conviction in court, the programme reported, in which case one could argue that they at least received due legal process. But others did so long before trial. Michael Duff, whose case the BBC focused on, reportedly took his own life just two days after a video of him being confronted by a self-styled paedophile hunter was uploaded to Facebook. The video apparently showed Duff waiting in park to meet a 15-year-old girl he allegedly contacted online. Duff was subsequently interviewed then released by police, the programme reported. As such any criminal prosecution against him was likely to be in its infancy. His daughter Lesley quite rightly said: The reality is that he may not have committed any crime at all. As a solicitor who has represented many people accused of serious sexual offences, I know from experience that these matters are rarely cut and dried. Prosecution cases which appear on first glance to be watertight are revealed on proper examination to be so full of holes as to be worthless. This is generally never more so than when prosecution evidence is gathered by paedophile hunters. The reality is that the evidence these un-vetted and amateur groups gather generally falls far below professional law enforcement agencies standards. Often it is obtained via entrapment a deeply problematic tactic which police officers are correctly barred from using. The overall result is that paedophile hunters can actually damage the cause of child safety they claim to champion. More than one paedophile hunter has been arrested for blackmail. One was accused of giving inaccurate and misleading evidence in court. There is also a fear, as voiced by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), that these groups may actually put children at risk. This can happen if a suspect, having been confronted by vigilantes, acts to ensure further evidence of his offending remains hidden. Paedophile hunters have no way of safeguarding child victims, the NPCC rightly points out. The potential problems run even deeper. In 2013 the Association of Chief Police Officers said one of our worst fears is that groups such as these are infiltrated by the very people they are trying to identify. Despite all this, the official attitude towards paedophile hunter groups remains, to my mind, worryingly ambiguous. NPCC internal guidance tells officers that it is not recommended in any way to endorse the activities of vigilante groups. However, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the organisations lead for child protection, has indicated that he is open to working with them. I believe it is time for ministers to decide whether its safer to create a framework for regulating vigilantes or to adequately resource the police. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events On top of this we should not overlook the role of social media in cases such as Duffs. According to the BBC account of his case, highly damaging, prima facie evidence of a crime was uploaded to Facebook where it was viewed not only by his friends and family, but also, potentially, by billions of people worldwide. The social media giants claim that they differ from broadcasters and publishers in that they bear little legal responsibility for material uploaded onto their platforms. To my mind this seems hard to justify. It is time to ask not only whether paedophile hunters are the right people to investigate serious crime; but whether we want them to be able to publicise their allegations worldwide at the click of a button. The rule of law depends on punishing the guilty according to the law. We should stand up for the principle that everyone is entitled to due process no matter how abhorrent the allegation. Jenny Wiltshire is Head of General Crime at Hickman & Rose solicitors. Today is the start of the new conversation our country desperately needs one that will urgently confront the political and social crises we are in. Most of us are sick and tired of the apparently endless political infighting, procedural technicalities and mind-numbing ambiguity of Brexit. So I am joining people from all over the country for an emergency Convention today on what really matters now. Parliament has asserted its control of Brexit this week and it feels as though a Peoples Vote is within reach. So today is about setting the tone for what lies ahead and hearing new, hopeful perspectives on what our shared future could be like. Because its going to take hope to move things forward. In 2016, project fear threatened people with rising prices and falling wages if they dared vote for Brexit. The architects of the Remain campaign didnt get that, for millions of people in the UK, life was already so desperate they felt like they had nothing more to lose. In an insecure, unequal and frankly rigged system, where choices in life are a luxury for the rich and powerful, take back control was a lifeline. Vote Leave offered people an opportunity to reject the status quo and give the establishment a good kicking its no wonder so many took it. Yet we have a Brexit deal that will make life harder, especially for those already struggling the most. One that does nothing to address the reasons people demanded such drastic change. That is an unforgivable betrayal and one that a Peoples Vote and Final Say campaigns must start to put right. If Britain simply voted again tomorrow, the demographics of this country would already have shifted in favour of staying in the EU. But thats not enough. This isnt just about winning in a final say at the ballot box. Its about what kind of country we want to be and winning a different kind of shared future. To do that we must urgently learn the lessons of the past. The mistakes of the Remain campaign must not be repeated. Britain Stronger in Europe was seen as defending the status quo, with the political elite pulling the strings. It utterly failed to inspire any kind of connection with, or love for, the EU as something worth staying in, defending and changing too. If we are to stand any chance of delivering a fairer society, we have to abandon the vapid centrism that has failed so many people. And we need a referendum campaign that compellingly sets out what kind of EU we want an EU of the people, an EU of solidarity. We need a vision that galvanises people to stay and fight, not walk away. We should speak proudly about who we are as a country our ambition and our courage. It was these values that helped create the European Union, and helped us to emerge from the rubble and destruction of the Second World War into lasting peace with our neighbours a miracle few would have dreamed possible when the bombs were raining down. As a former MEP, I know first-hand that the EU isnt perfect. It is at times a highly political, top-down, opaque and technocratic set of institutions. But its undeniably the greatest international venture for peace, prosperity and freedom in history. Where in the world has there ever been a better example of collaboration in pursuit of such values? That astonishing achievement ought to be front and centre of the Brexit conversation and its up to those of us who believe in staying and fighting for that legacy to both make the case for reform and set out the reasons to remain. We must speak proudly too of the social and environmental protections secured across 27 countries, and the remarkable gift of free movement that precious right to travel, work, live and love across Europe. We should defend the role of the EU as the good angel sitting on our shoulder when it comes to upholding human rights, the friendships across borders, the cultural opportunities, the life without fear and the solidarity. For the 2016 Remain campaign to have reduced all that to an argument about the cost of a trolley load of shopping was such a tragedy. In this moment, we must think and act anew. I hope todays Convention which rightly puts young people front and centre marks the beginning of the UKs social and political renewal. Another vote is possible and when people come together and reach for a bigger future, we can change the course of history. Caroline Lucas is co-leader of the Green Party and MP for Brighton Pavilion Hundreds of flights across Italy are due to be affected by a national Air Traffic Control (ATC) strike on 11 January. The strike, which is due to take place between 12pm and 4pm GMT (1-5pm local time), is the first of 2019, following 30 ATC strike days in 2018. Workers at Air Traffic Control centres in Rome, Milan and Brindisi will be participating in the strike action, which is expected to affect both domestic and international flights to and from the country. Staff based in Catania, Turin, Genoa, Perugia and Pescara are also anticipated to join the industrial action. Airline lobbying group Airlines for Europe (A4E) has called for an improved continuity of service for passengers. The organisation has proposed a series of solutions to the ongoing strike action, including a mandatory 72-hour individual notification period for staff wishing to strike, and protection of overflights. A4E also argues that developments are required in technology, processes and human resources in order to accommodate the increasing volume of traffic in European airspace. Thomas Reynaert, managing director of A4E, has called on European policymakers to prioritise the issue. There is a clear increase in the frequency and duration of ATC strikes in Europe, with 30 days of strike in 2018 compared with 24 days in 2017. This is a trend which cannot continue we urge national and EU politicians to address the situation immediately. European aviations reputation is at stake, Reynaert said. Pawel Niewiadomski, president of the European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Association (ECTAA), agrees: We acknowledge the right to strike, but this cannot be at the expense of travellers in Europe. We join A4E in their call to national and European regulators to address the issues as a matter of urgency to avoid continuous travel disruptions for business travellers and holidaymakers, he said. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events EasyJet has published guidance on its website advising passengers to attend the airport as planned, despite cancellations and potential delays being expected. The airline says that passengers on affected flights will be contacted by text or email. British Airways refers passengers to its website for regular updates regarding flights. Passengers planning on travelling to and from Italy over the next 24 hours should check their airlines website for updates. If travellers flights are cancelled due to the strike, they will not be entitled to claim for compensation, in accordance with EU261 regulations, says easyJet. Every so often, Jack Sheldon from Jacks Flight Club selects a flight deal from the UK for Independent readers that you cant afford to miss. This week: return flights to Hong Kong from 390 return. If Hong Kong is on your travel bucket list for 2019, check out these great fares from flag carrier Cathay Pacific. All of these routes fly non-stop and come with your checked bag included in the price. Traditional fares to Hong Kong are around 750, so anything less than 400 is hard to ignore. How to book Recommended What to do in Hong Kong Head to Google Flights and enter your preferred departure airport along with Hong Kong as the destination. You may want to add a non-stop or Cathay Pacific only filter to help you find the best dates in this deal. Use Google Flights calendar tool to help you highlight the best travel dates (theyll show up in green). Once youve selected your travel itinerary, either proceed to book the itinerary directly on the airlines website or, for the lowest fares, go to Skyscanner, re-enter your itinerary to see which travel agent is offering the flight at the best price, and book with the agent of your choice. To Hong Kong (HKG) From London (LHR) 392 London (LGW) 390 Manchester (MAN) 398 When to fly The lowest fares are scattered between February and November, excluding Easter and peak summer dates. When to book These fares should last until the 16 January, although some dates may go sooner. Pro tips Hong Kong is famous for being urban, but 40 per cent of the territory is country park and there are brilliant beaches too. The area of Sai Kung, less than an hour away from the heart of the city, has many smaller islands with a clutch of white-sand beaches, which makes a welcome break from Hong Kong's craziness. The drone attack on Gatwick has dented the airports performance for 2018 cutting the expected rise by one-quarter. Unauthorised drone activity closed the Sussex airport for 33 hours shortly before Christmas, causing around 1,000 flights to be cancelled and wrecking the travel plans of 150,000 passengers. Gatwick Airport has been growing rapidly over the past few years, but in 2018 the increase in passengers slowed to just 1.1 per cent. Growth would have been 1.4 per cent were it not for the drone attack. Gatwick is the busiest single-runway airport in the world. In 2018 it handled 46.1 million passengers, making it second-busiest in Britain. Its London rival, Heathrow, reached a milestone in 2018, handling 80 million passengers for the first time. The increase of 2.7 per cent on last year was achieved by the use of larger and fuller aircraft. Heathrow is one of only seven airports in the world to achieve this milestone. The regions that saw the most passenger growth were Africa and Latin America, up 9.3 per cent and 7 per cent respectively. UK domestic flights declined very slightly. The airports chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said: We are on track to deliver an expanded Heathrow in the early years of Brexit, which will keep Britain as one of the worlds great trading nations. Drone activity was responsible for closing one of Heathrows two runways for almost an hour on Tuesday evening, delaying many flights. Police appealed to the public for help in identifying the perpetrators. Britains third-busiest airport, Manchester, saw passenger numbers grow 1.7 per cent to 28.3 million. Manchester Airports Group also includes Stansted, which expanded by 8.2 per cent to 28 million passengers. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The chief strategy officer, Tim Hawkins, said much of the growth was thanks to the European Unions single aviation market, adding: It is vital that UK and EU negotiators commit to agreeing a new open skies aviation deal. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, flights on UK airlines to the European Union would be capped. London remains well ahead of every city as world capital of aviation. Once Stansted, Luton, London City and Southend are added to Gatwick and Heathrow, the total passenger numbers for 2018 rise to 175 million. Two months after Flybe put itself up for sale, the loss-making regional airline is to be rescued by a consortium involving Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic has a 30 per cent stake in the venture, as does Stobart Group whose Irish-based airline, Stobart Air, already operates some of its flights under the Flybe brand. A hedge fund, Cyrus Capital Partners, has the remaining 40 per cent share in a group called Connect Airways. However, Flybe will be renamed after Sir Richard Bransons airline. Virgins chief executive, Shai Weiss, vowed to bring Virgin Atlantic service excellence to Flybes customers. The parlous state of Flybe is revealed in a purchase price of just 2.2m valuing each share at one penny. The buyers will provide an immediate injection of 20m to provide liquidity and keep the heavily loss-making carrier afloat. They will also make up to 80m available in further funding. After Flybe floated in 2010, at a share price of 295p, the airlines market capitalisation briefly reached 250m. Recommended Why Virgin Atlantic and Flybe would make for an odd couple One hundred shares in the airline in 2010 were worth the cost of a return flight to New York. When the markets closed on Thursday, the same holding would buy a return train ticket from Southampton Airport to Bournemouth. After the takeover was announced, the shareholding would not even buy a cup of tea at the airport. Flybe is currently losing 7,000 per hour, as it heads to predicted full-year losses of 12m. The chief executive, Christine Ourmieres-Widener, blamed high fuel costs, currency fluctuations and significant uncertainties presented by Brexit for the airlines performance. By combining to form a larger, stronger, group, we will be better placed to withstand these pressures, she said. We aim to provide an even better service to our customers and secure the future for our people. The acquisition statement made no promises about the future route network, saying only: Flybe will continue to serve customers and communities across the UK and Ireland. The carrier began life as Jersey European in 1979, and continues to serve as the main airline between the Channel Islands and Britain. If the takeover goes through, these links as well as Flybes core mainland British network are likely to continue. The airline operates from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow to Manchester, East Midlands, Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton and Exeter. It also has a busy network to and from Belfast City. But some of Flybes non-core routes such as Cardiff to Milan, Doncaster to Alicante and Leeds Bradford to Dusseldorf may not survive a cull if the new owners continue the current shrink-to-success strategy. Pilots have expressed concern about the future, and say they were not consulted about the takeover. Brian Strutton, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association called for guarantees of job security, saying: Were pleased to see the previous uncertainty of the company is at last starting to clear but the hard work has just begun. We urgently seek to talk with all parties to get further information and clarity over what this will mean for pilots and other employees. Virgin Atlantic revealed as possible buyer for cash-strapped Flybe Flybe feeds Virgin Atlantic flights at Heathrow and Manchester, and the new venture is promising improved connectivity to the long-haul airline. Virgin Atlantic ran a domestic operation called Little Red from 2013 to 2015, connecting Heathrow with Manchester, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. It folded after heavy losses. Stobart Aviation, which owns Southend Airport, will exploit its stake in the venture to foster expansion at the Essex gateway. Flybe has some valuable slots at Heathrow. It will begin a four-flight-a-day link between Heathrow and Newquay, using remedy slots surrendered by British Airways, in late March. "When a tsunami or earthquake hits, current rescue vehicles can only deliver first responders to the edge of the debris field," John Suh, Hyundai vice president and head of Hyundai CRADLE, said in a statement on the company's website. "They have to go the rest of the way by foot. Elevate can drive to the scene and climb right over flood debris or crumbled concrete." Barely a year after it was rolled out as the airline to attract millennials, Air Frances Joon brand is to be axed. The cabin crews smart casual attire for a flying experience thats both stylish and relaxed failed to make an impression, even when they were serving vitamin-filled smoothies made of 100 per cent fruit. The route network was leisure-focused, connecting Paris Charles de Gaulle with Cape Town, the Seychelles and the Caribbean island of St-Martin, but there are also business routes such as Cairo and Mumbai. The new Canadian boss of Air France, Ben Smith, revealed the demise of the airline billed as the new generation of travel in something of a coded message. The French airlines newsroom put out a tweet late on Thursday afternoon announcing the signing of a pay deal, in response to the concerns of flight attendants, which improves working conditions. As a result: Air France will be able to deliver better service to our customers. A settlement is quite an achievement given the appalling labour relations prevailing a year ago when the French airline was heading for 15 days of strikes over several months. But deeper into the announcement, you learn that the project for Joons future is to bin the whole silly idea. Joon was an abject failure. The brand was difficult to understand from the outset for customers, for employees, for markets and for investors, Air France concedes with admirable honesty. The plurality of brands in the marketplace has created much complexity and unfortunately weakened the power of the Air France brand. Mr Smith now plans to convert the planes so expensively rebranded to Joon back to Air France-ness. Network airlines such as Air France have a shocking failure rate at setting up offshoots. They mostly do it to try to cut costs, in a bid to compete with newer, leaner low-cost rivals. The concept is simple: routes where the full-service airline cannot make money are transferred to the low-cost offshoot, which cuts out the frills and makes the services viable. But aviation history is littered with the scrapped brands and business plans of failed budget subsidiaries. In the 20th century, United tried Ted and Shuttle by United; Continental Lite came and went; and with considerable song and dance, Delta launched Song which turned out to be a no-hit wonder. Air Canadas Rouge brand is surviving perhaps because the Canadian carrier has had so much practice in setting up budget offshoots. In 2002 I flew (on non-Lite Continental) to Calgary to see the launch of Zip, set up by Air Canadas then-boss, Robert Milton, to provide employment opportunities for some of our surplus staff and compete with WestJet, just across the runway. It lasted two years. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Real successes are harder to find. Qantas has done well with Jetstar, while BAs parent, IAG, can count three low-cost elements: Aer Lingus, Vueling and Level which, like Joon, is aimed at millennials. As far as I can see, the French efforts only significant innovation was Cosy Joon converting some economy seats to couches so that families could have somewhere to lie down. It involves detaching cushions from head rests and using them to extend the length of the seat, but even that concept was borrowed from Air New Zealands Economy Skycouch. Air Frances Manchester-Paris route, operated three times a day, is due to be converted to Joon on 31 March this year. It is not clear if this will go ahead. The main beneficiaries of the whole miserable business appear to be cabin crew hired for Joon on pay about 40 per cent below Air France. They will now be upgraded to mainline pay scales. The US military has begun withdrawing troops from Syria as part of a planned pullout triggered by President Trump last month. Mr Trump announced the full and immediate withdrawal of US forces from the country in December, surprising Washingtons allies in the fight against Isis and raising the prospect of renewed conflict in the countrys northeast. Senior US officials have since indicated that the withdrawal would be much slower than first expected and that is has already started. Colonel Sean Ryan, a spokesperson for the anti-Isis coalition, said on Friday that the US had begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements, he told The Independent. A convoy of around 10 armoured vehicles was seen leaving from the Syrian town of Rmeilan and heading towards Iraq on Thursday night, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Khaled Alawi stands with his daughters in front of his home in an informal settlement for Syrian refugees in Akkar, northern Lebanon Richard Hall/The Independent Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures A Syrian refugee child looks from his makeshift shelter at Qab Elias Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa valley EPA Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Children play in front of a shelter in Akkar Richard Hall/The Independent Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Syrian refugees Jose Ahmad al-Jessi, a mother of eight in her 50s, and her daughter Raghad, stand in the doorway of a shop warehouse, where they fled to when their tent flooded on Tuesday Richard Hall/The Independent Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Khaled Alawi surveys the damage to his shelter in Akkar Richard Hall/The Independent Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Syrian refugees sit inside their makeshift shelter in the Bekaa valley EPA Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures A young boy stands in front of his shelter in Akkar Richard Hall/The Independent Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures A Syrian refugee child plays with snow outside their makeshift shelter in the Bekaa valley EPA Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Richard Hall/The Independent Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures A Syrian refugee shovels mud in front of a makeshift shelter follwoing rain storms in the Bekaa valley AFP/Getty Images Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures A shelter in Akkar Richard Hall/The Independent Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Syrian refugee children play with snow outside their makeshift shelter in the Bekaa valley EPA Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures A Syrian refugee family pumps water after heavy rain in the Bekaa Valley AP Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures Syrian refugee children play outside their family tents after a heavy rain at a refugee camp in the town of Bar Elias, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley AP Lebanon storm hits Syrian refugee camps in pictures A flooded road leads to an informal settlement for Syrian refugees in Akkar Richard Hall/The Independent The troop movements on Friday have added another layer of confusion to the pullout, which has been plagued by criticism from allies and from within Trumps own administration. The US has some 2,000 troops in the country who have fought alongside the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces against Isis. Ankara views the SDF as a terrorist group for its links to the Kurdistan Workers Party, a militant group in Turkey. Mr Trumps decision prompted his defence secretary, Jim Mattis, to resign. Mr Mattis claimed that by leaving Syria so abruptly the US would be abandoning obligations to its Kurdish allies. The group has said a US withdrawal would imperil those gains and leave it open to attack from Turkey. Earlier this week, White House national security adviser John Bolton appeared to walk back on Mr Trumps timetable of 30 days for the withdrawal, making the pullout conditional on assurances from Turkey that it would not attack the SDF. We dont think the Turks ought to undertake military action thats not fully coordinated with and agreed to by the United States, Mr Bolton said ahead of a trip to Turkey. But that statement prompted a rebuke from Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who called it a very serious mistake, adding that Turkish forces would take action against the group very soon. While US troops were heading for the exit on Friday, Turkeys defence minister, Hulusi Akar, inspected troops on the Syrian border ahead of the planned military operation in northern Syria. Terrorists here will be buried in the trenches they have dug, similar to previous operations, when the time comes, he said. Our only target is terrorists. Every rational person knows we do not have any problems with our Kurdish brothers, with whom we have always been very close. The US pullout appears to be confusing even its rivals. Russias foreign ministry said on Friday that the US was not serious about withdrawing from Syria, and that Washington is looking for a reason to stay. A Palestinian woman has been shot dead by Israeli forces in Gaza during protests on the border fences, according to local health authorities, as the Israeli military said its aircraft struck two Hamas positions in response to violent rioting. Ashraf al-Kidra, a spokesman for Gazas Health Ministry, said Amal al-Taramsi, 43, was shot in the head during the rallies, which have been held regularly since last March. Mr al-Kidra added that a further 25 Palestinians were wounded by gunfire. A witness to Fridays killing, the first of the year, said that Ms al-Taramsi, from Sheikh Radwan north of Gaza city, was standing about 150 metres away from the fence when she was gunned down. She took a flag from a youth and before she moved, three gunshots rang out ... she fell down, Umm Yazan said, speaking from Gazas main al-Shifaa hospital. Recommended Christians fear shrinking community will disappear in Gaza The Israeli military said 13,000 people participated in several demonstrations along the fence on Friday which turned violent. It said there were three incidents of Gazans breaking through the border fence and that its airforce retaliated with airstrikes on positions belonging to Hamas, the militant group that runs the enclave. In response to the violence aircraft targeted two Hamas military posts. The [Israeli army] holds Hamas responsible for all violence that emanates from the Gaza Strip, they said in a statement. There were no reports of casualties from the airstrikes. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have marched towards the fences with Israel each week since last March demanding the end of a crippling 11-year Israeli-enforced blockade and the right to return to the lands they were forced from during the 1948 conflict which surrounded the creation of Israel. More than 220 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the protests, according to Gazas health ministry. The Israelis have defended their use of force saying demonstrators, encouraged by Hamas, have repeatedly attempted to break through the fences and have taken to flying burning kites and balloons tied with explosives towards Israel, endangering lives. The escalating violence pushed both sides to the brink of war on numerous occasions last year. Egypt repeatedly stepped in to broker ceasefires and is still hammering out a long-term peace deal. On Friday, two senior Egyptian security officials left the territory after meeting with officials from Hamas, as part of Cairo-led efforts to reconcile the Islamist group with its rival in the West Bank, Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. Tensions reached breaking point earlier week when forces loyal to Mr Abbas and his Palestinian Authority (PA), withdrew from the Rafah border crossing in Gaza, accusing Hamas of interference. Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Show all 23 1 /23 Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A ball of fire above the building housing the Hamas-run television station al-Aqsa TV in the Gaza Strip during an Israeli air strike AFP/Getty Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli Iron Dome anti-missile systems firing toward missiles fired from the Gaza Strip near the southern city of Sderot, Israel. Israeli army report that approximately 300 missile launches were identified from the Gaza strip toward Israel. Dozens of launches were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli soldiers take cover near the Israel Gaza border AP Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A bus set ablaze after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip. Israel's military said it was carrying out air strikes "throughout the Gaza Strip" on Monday after rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave towards its territory AFP/Getty Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Palestinians inspect a rubble of a destroyed internal security building of Hamas interior ministry after Israeli air strike in Gaza City EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A Palestinian girl walks up the stairs of her family house that was damaged in an Israeli air strike REUTERS Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Fire and smoke billow following Israeli air strikes targeting Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, near the border with Egypt AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Missiles from Israel's Iron Dome air defence system in the south of Israel destroy incoming missiles AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli security forces and firefighters gather near abuilding set ablaze after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli town of Sderot AFP/Getty Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A ruble of a destroyed building of Al-Aqsa channel belonging to Hamas movement EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli security forces and firefighters gather near a bus set ablaze after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave AFP Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Relatives of Mohammed Ouda, killed in an Israeli air stike the previous day, mourn during his funeral in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Missiles from Israel's Iron Dome air defence system in the south of Israel destroy incoming missiles fired at Israel from the Palestinian enclave AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli soldiers sit atop a Merkava tank stationed along the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Black smoke rises as an Israeli airstrike hits a residential building in Gaza City AP Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Palestinians look out of their house that was damaged in an Israeli air strike REUTERS Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Palestinians hold placards and the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Gaza, in the West Bank city of Hebron EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures An Israeli policeman inspects the damage in a building caused a day earlier by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A Palestinian boy inspects the rubble of a destroyed residential building after Israeli air strike in Gaza City EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures REUTERS Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures AP The crossing is the only way for Palestinians to leave the enclave without going through Israel. Egypt has prevented Gazans from leaving the enclave since PA staff left. The Egyptians were also in Gaza to discuss the ongoing peace efforts between Gaza and Israel. A Palestinian official said Egypts message was that Israel sought no escalation. Factions here are also committed to calm as long as the Israeli occupation abides by it, the official told Reuters. The relatives of two German citizens detained in Egypt over alleged links to Isis deny that they have any extremist sympathies, as one was deported and the other remains in prison. On Friday, dual German-Egyptian citizen Mahmoud Abdel Aziz was deported for attempting to join terrorist Isis groups in Sinai, where the army has been trying to put down an armed insurgency. Another dual citizen, Issa al-Sabagh, remains in detention on similar accusations, having been arrested on 17 December. An Egyptian security source, who requested anonymity, told The Independent that Abdel Aziz was deported to Germany as so far he didnt commit any crimes and has given up his Egyptian nationality. The mentioned individual established contact with an Isis member and attempted to join the group, the source said, adding that the deportation was coordinated by officials from the German embassy. The embassy in Cairo is yet to release a statement. Recommended Germany investigating disappearance of two citizens in Egypt The 23-year-old student was detained upon arrival in Cairo from Saudi Arabia on 27 December, his family told The Independent. Mahmouds brother Malik denied the accusations his brother had any fundamentalist or political affiliations. Both brothers are students at the Islamic Studies University at Saudi Arabias Medina. We entered the country with our German passports and were headed to visit our grandparents but were held at the passport section for three to four hours, Malik told The Independent, adding that officials later released him and informed him that Mahmoud would not be allowed to enter Egypt and would be sent back to Saudi Arabia. But he has not heard from his brother since. In a separate incident, another young man, Issa al-Sabagh, an 18-year-old high school student from Giessen in Germany, arrived in Luxor on 17 December and was taken into custody. Fabricating the evidence to show my son is a terrorist is an immoral act Mohamed al-Sabagh, father of deported German-Egyptian citizen He is currently detained pending investigation on accusations of also attempting to join Isis groups in North Sinai. The privately owned Egyptian news website Sada Al-Balad, which is known for its close connections to the police apparatus, reported that al-Sabagh had maps of North Sinai and a compass. The authorities have yet to produce any evidence for their claims, in either case. But al-Sabaghs father Mohamed denied that his son ever wanted to join a militant group and says he was in the country to visit family. Fabricating the evidence to show my son is a terrorist is an immoral act, he said. However he expressed relief to even find out that his son was alive, almost a month after he went missing. He is just a kid. He knows nothing about politics, but I am glad that he is alive. Ever since he was detained, we have been thinking of that Italian student who they kidnapped and was later found dead, the father told The Independent, speaking from Germany. Italian student Giulio Regeni disappeared in Cairo in January 2016. His body was discovered more than a week later. He had been tortured to death. The Italian government has accused members of Egypts National Security Agency of being behind Regenis killing, a narrative rejected by Cairo, which claimed a gang targeting foreigners had killed the Cambridge University student. Issa wanted to visit Cairo on his own as well as visit his 93-year-old grandfather, he said adding that he grew concerned when he tried to call his son after his flight was due to land, and Issa did not answer his phone. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty I kept calling him and someone picked up the phone but no one said anything. Then I contacted EgyptAir, and they told me that he checked in but didnt board the plane to Cairo. I knew then that something was wrong, the father added. Several Egyptian media outlets have published mugshots and the passport images of both young men, and video footage of Abdel Aziz at the Lufthansa Airlines desk. Al-Sabaghs father told The Independent that his son had gone to Egypt for a two-week vacation in Cairo. Issa opted to book a cheaper ticket that would land in Luxor instead of Cairo, the father said. We often hear about families breaking down when their sons are in detention, but I never thought I would be put in this situation, he said. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi denies his country holds political prisoners On Monday, Christofer Burger, the German foreign ministry spokesman, said that his country is taking both cases very seriously. Rights groups in Egypt claim that the tactic of enforced disappearances has become an unofficial security policy of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis military government in response to economic instability and an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai. In the five years since Sisi came to power in a military coup, Egyptian security forces have arrested or charged at least 60,000 people, according to Human Rights Watch. Torture of political detainees has become widespread and endemic, and no opposition to the government is tolerated, it says. However, Sisi, his government and supportive media organisations have denied his country holds any political prisoners. Vox, an ultra-conservative Spanish political party gradually growing in prominence, has agreed to join Andalusias new coalition government. The far-right nationalist group dropped its controversial demands that the southern province expel 52,000 illegal immigrants from North Africa and repeal legislation on domestic violence and gender equality in order to form a majority in partnership with the right-wing Peoples Party (PP) and more centrist Citizens Party. Vox found itself in a position to play kingmaker after taking 12 seats and 11 per cent of the vote in local elections on 2 December, the first time it has entered regional parliament. The Andalusian Socialist Party meanwhile slumped to its worst-ever result following a year-long corruption scandal embroiling two of its former leaders. The incoming rightist coalition marks the end of 36 years of socialist rule in Andalusia and the deal has caused consternation among many, who fear Voxs inclusion risks legitimising xenophobia and setting back progress on womens rights. A spokesman for the socialist government of prime minister Pedro Sanchez has expressed regret for the radicalisation of the PP and Citizens following their deal with the far-right. Spanish MEP Ana Miranda from the Galician Nationalist Bloc meanwhile told Euronews the group pose a danger to women and LGBT+ persons. Who are Vox? Vox (its name Latin for voice) was formed in December 2013 as a splinter group from the PP, with members defecting to the new party after growing frustrated at the PPs fiscal policy and failure to take a harder line on the separatist group ETA. The party is led by Santiago Abascal, a 42-year-old former Basque Parliament member known to shout Spain first! at rallies, taking inspiration from American, British and French right-wing populist movements. Like Donald Trump in the United States, we want to make Spain great again, general-secretary Javier Ortega has said. Though Trumps politics may not necessarily be right for Spain, [we admire] his defence of American liberty, his defence of the nation against international deals that have seriously damaged the country and the effective border control he is creating in the face of illegal immigration. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The party has been endorsed by Steve Bannon, the US presidents ex-chief strategist and former Breitbart editor, after he met Rafael Bardaji of Vox in Washington, the latter once an adviser to PM Jose Maria Aznar, who supported George W Bushs Iraq War, launched in 2003. What are the partys polices? Mr Abascal has called out supremacist feminism and gender totalitarianism while his party is opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage. Like other hard-line populist movements across Europe, Vox is critical of Islam, multiculturalism and mass immigration. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The party favours centralised government, believing the 17 autonomous communities the country has been divided into since 1975 and the death of General Franco should be abolished, as well as greater protection for traditional Spanish institutions like bullfighting, hunting and Holy Week celebrations. It also wants to change Andalusias regional day from 28 February to 2 January to commemorate the Christian reconquest of Spain after the fall of Granada in 1492, a victory that ended centuries of Moorish rule. Britain has called on the leader of Myanmar to investigate whether due process was followed in the case of two Reuters reporters who were sentenced to seven years in jail over claims they broke the countrys official secrets act. We are very worried about due process in this case, British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC when asked about the case. We urge Aung San Suu Kyi to look at whether that due process happened and to recognise that, as someone who fought for democracy in Burma, she should be taking a personal interest in the future of these two brave journalists. Earlier on Friday a court in Myanmar rejected the appeal of Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, who were convicted in September amid international outcry after the judge said the reporters lawyers failed to submit enough evidence to prove their innocence. It was a suitable punishment, Judge Aung Naing said , referring to the seven-year prison term meted out by the lower court. Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Show all 30 1 /30 Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women and children wait in line for a food distribution of super cereal at Action Against Hunger Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees gather near the fence in the "no man's land" zone between Myanmar and Bangladesh border AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women cry as they shout slogans during a protest rally to commemorate the first anniversary of Myanmar army's crackdown AP Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A Rohingya Muslim child holding an umbrella while under the rain AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees cry as they pray during a gathering to commemorate the first anniversary of Myanmar army's crackdown which lead to a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh AP Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Police stand near the checkpoint at the Shwe Zar village in Maungdaw township, Rakhine State, western Myanmar EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A group of Rohingya refugee children stand at a makeshift camp EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugee Juhara, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, poses for a portrait at the Kutapalong refugee camp near Cox's Bazar in southern Bangladesh. Juhara passes her days carting water with difficulty to thirsty bricklayers working in a bustling corner of Cox's Bazar. She has just one hand - the other was cleaved off in a raid on her village after the August 25 clampdown started last year. Her husband and parents were killed. The 40-year-old said she ran for her life but was hunted down and savagely attacked AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees walk on a road along a makeshift camp in Kutubpalang EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees are seen outside of their makeshift tent in the Kutupalong camp in Cox's Bazar Reuters Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Thousands of Rohingya refugees staged protests for "justice" on August 25 on the first anniversary of a Myanmar military crackdown that forced them to flee to camps in Bangladesh AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A Rohingya refugee child looks through a window at a makeshift camp in Teknuf EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugee women hold placards as they take part in a protest at the Kutupalong refugee camp Reuters Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A young Rohingya boy waits in line for a food Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees shout slogans during a protest march AFP/Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugee girl with other children at a makeshift camp in Teknuf in Cox's Bazar EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women protest on the first anniversary of the Rohingya crisis Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women and children receive super cereal at Action Against Hunger Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya girls share a laugh in Kutupalong, the largest refugee camp housing the Rohingya Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees gather near the fence in the "no man's land" zone between Myanmar and Bangladesh border AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees attend a ceremony organised to remember the first anniversary of a military crackdown that prompted a massive exodus of people from Myanmar to Bangladesh AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rashida Begum, a Rohingya refugee woman walks on the Kutupalong camp in Cox's Bazar Reuters Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A Rohingya refugee bursts into tears as she shouts slogans during a protest march AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugee baby Nur Sadek two years old undergoing treatment at a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital in Teknuf in Cox's Bazar EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees protest Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees perform prayers AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rashida Begum, a Rohingya refugee woman bathes her son in the Kutupalong camp Reuters Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees protest Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees walk on a muddy road EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women and children wait in line for a food distribution of super cereal at Action Against Hunger Getty The defence has the option of making a further appeal to the countrys supreme court, based in the capital Naypyitaw. Todays ruling is yet another injustice among many inflicted upon Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. They remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth, said Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen J Adler in a statement. Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmars commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt. In their appeal arguments made last month, defence lawyers had cited evidence of a police setup and lack of proof of a crime. They told the appeal court the lower court that tried the case had wrongly placed the burden of proof on the defendants. The defence also said prosecutors had failed to prove the reporters gathered and collected secret information, sent information to an enemy of Myanmar or that they had an intention to harm national security. The judge said on Friday it was not acceptable to say that the defendants had acted according to journalistic ethics. It cannot be said that it was a setup, he said. Save the Children release animation using Rohingya children's drawings The conviction of the two journalists has drawn condemnation from rights groups, western governments and global press associations and has raised questions about press freedom in Myanmar as it transitions from a decades of military rule. Before their arrest, the reporters had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys by security forces and Buddhist civilians in western Myanmars Rakhine state during an army crackdown which began in August 2017. The military operation sent more than 730,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, according to United Nations estimates. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events European Union ambassador to Myanmar Kristian Schmidt, who attended the hearing, described the ruling as a great disappointment and a missed opportunity to correct a wrong that has been committed against the two journalists. It casts serious doubts on the independence of the judiciary of Myanmar and for peoples right to information and learning the truth, he said. He called for Myanmars president to have the journalists released immediately and unconditionally. Additional reporting by agencies A Saudi teenager granted United Nations (UN) refugee status after fleeing her family has deleted her Twitter account after receiving death threats, a friend has said. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrived in Thailand last Saturday and refused to leave her Bangkok hotel room, insisting her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia. The 18-year-old used Twitter to publicise her case, and was on Wednesday placed in the care of workers from the UNs refugee agency, UNHCR. But around midday on Friday, her Twitter account, @rahaf84427714, went offline after she posted she had bad and good news!. The account reappeared briefly about an hour later but went offline again within minutes. A Twitter user known as Nourah, whom Ms Al-Qunun has referred to as a friend, tweeted that Ms Al-Qunun received death threats and for this reason she closed her Twitter account. The teenager, who is staying in Bangkok at an undisclosed location and was not available for comment, had earlier said on Twitter she had been receiving death threats from a relative on the social media platform. Ms Al-Qunun arrived in Thailand a week ago on a layover between Kuwait and Australia, but was initially detained by Thai authorities. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events She soon started tweeting from the transit area of Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport, saying she had escaped Kuwait and her life would be threatened in Saudi Arabia. Within hours, a campaign, dubbed #SaveRahaf, sprang up and spread on Twitter by a loose network of activists. Ms Al-Qunun said she had renounced Islam known as apostasy and punishable by death in Saudi Arabia and that she feared her family would kill her as a result. Having won refugee status, she is now awaiting a decision on where she might be granted asylum. Sophie McNeill, an Australia Broadcast Corporation journalist who has had direct contact with Ms Al-Qunun, said the teenager was safe and fine but was taking a short break from Twitter. 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 Shes just been receiving a lot of death threats, Ms McNeill said on Twitter. Australian foreign minister Marise Payne said on Thursday Australia was assessing whether to grant Ms Al-Qunun asylum. While Ms Payne said there was no timeframe for a decision, Thailands immigration department chief, Surachate Hakparn, said it should become clear by Friday evening where Ms Al-Qunun would be granted asylum. Her physical and mental heath is good, Mr Surachate told reporters. We should know by this evening which country shell be going to. Additional reporting by AP Despite more than a year of international engagement and promises of economic reform by North Korea's leaders, the human rights situation in the isolated country remains dire, a top UN rights official said on Friday. Blocked by the government from visiting North Korea, UN special rapporteur for human rights in North Korea Tomas Quintana visited South Korea this week as part of an investigation that will be provided to the UN Human Rights Council in March. Noting that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has embarked on an effort to improve living conditions by focusing on economic development, Mr Quintana said his preliminary findings showed those efforts had not translated into improvements in the lives of most people. "The fact is, that with all the positive developments the world has witnessed in the last year, it is all the more regrettable that the reality for human rights on the ground remains unchanged, and continues to be extremely serious," he told reporters at a briefing in Seoul. "In all areas related to the enjoyment of economic and social rights, including health, housing, education, social security, employment, food, water and sanitation, much of the country's population is being left behind." North Korea denies human rights abuses and says the issue is used by the international community as a political ploy to isolate it. Human rights were noticeably absent from talks between Mr Kim and the leaders of South Korea and the United States last year, over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. But in December, the United States imposed sanctions on an additional three North Korean officials, including a top aide to Mr Kim, for serious rights abuses and censorship. North Korea's foreign ministry warned in a statement after the December sanctions were announced, that the measures could lead to a return to exchanges of fire and North Korea's disarming could be blocked forever. North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits Show all 16 1 /16 North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, portraits of former supreme leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are required by law to be hung in the home, the classroom, the factory and all manner of other private and public places Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the classroom AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the living room AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the maternity ward of the hospital Alamy North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On board the ship Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits At the ballot box Mannen av bord North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the office AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On the bridegroom Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On the Pyongyang subway Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On a government building Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the teacher training facility AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the home AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits At the military parade Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the hall Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits At the Chinese border AFP/Getty While noting he had "no specific information" on whether international sanctions were hurting ordinary North Koreans, Mr Quintana said the sanctions targeted the economy as a whole and "raised questions" about the possible impact on the public. He cited a reference by Mr Kim in his New Year message to the need to improve living standards, saying it was a rare acknowledgement of the economic and social hardships faced by many North Koreans. Still, the United Nations has confirmed the continued use of political prison camps housing "thousands" of inmates, Mr Quintana said, quoting one source as saying "the whole country is a prison". He said witnesses who recently left North Korea reported facing widespread discrimination, labour exploitation and corruption in daily life. There is also a "continuing pattern of ill-treatment and torture" of defectors who escaped to China only to be returned to North Korea by Chinese authorities, Mr Quintana said. Reuters Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has attacked the countrys Catholic bishops in a furious speech, as his war on drugs attracts increasing criticism from the church. Only I can say bishops are sons of b*****s, damn you. That is true, the controversial leader said in remarks delivered during a groundbreaking ceremony for a school north of Manila. Most of them are gay, he said. They should come out in the open, cancel celibacy and allow them to have boyfriends. Mr Duterte did not mention any particular reason for his criticism of the church but has previously called God stupid and described the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as silly. Some sectors of the church have become increasingly vocal about his crackdown on drugs, with calls for justice and offers of sanctuary to drug users. The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Show all 9 1 /9 The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On killing drug addicts These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, dont go into that, even if youre a policeman, because I will really kill you. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Message to China I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, Kill me AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Christmas message to law-breakers If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On sex life I was separated from my wife. Im not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On the drugs trade None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, kill him'" AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting the Pope We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Joke about rape I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first AFP/Getty The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA Around 5,000 people have been killed in shootouts with the police during Mr Dutertes bloody campaign, which began when he came to power in June 2016. He remains hugely popular in the Philippines but doubts are growing about his approach to drugs. Police have rejected accusations the killings were executions. Authorities maintain that officers acted in self defence and claim that drug dealers and users died in shootouts. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The Catholic Church is facing clerical sexual abuse scandals in various parts of the world, although there have been no major cases in the Philippines where around 80 per cent of the population are Roman Catholic. Francis Lucas, an official with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, attempted to play down the presidents criticism. We have to be more sensitive to the sensitivities and sensibilities of others out of respect, he said. Mr Duterte is not a regular churchgoer. Additional reporting by agencies Carlos Ghosn, the former chairman of Nissan, has been hit with further criminal charges. The star executive was charged with breach of trust on Friday, according to the Tokyo District Court, having been re-arrested over the claims in December. Following his initial arrest on 19 November last year Mr Ghosn, 64, was charged with falsifying financial reports by underreporting his income by about 5 billion yen ($44m, 35m) over five years up to 2015. Mr Ghosn, fellow Nissan executive Greg Kelly, and Nissan as a legal entity were charged on Friday with additional underreporting of income between 2015 and 2017. Mr Ghosns lawyer said he would request his client be released on bail. His detention period for the breach of trust allegations was due to expire Friday. Recommended The Japanese criminal justice system is in the dock with Carlos Ghosn Mr Kelly and Nissan were not charged with breach of trust, an allegation which centres on Mr Ghosns handling of investment losses and payments made to a Saudi businessman. Mr Ghosn denies the charges. Criminal suspects in Japan are often held for months until trials start and prosecutors in Tokyo say Mr Ghosn, a Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese ancestry, is a flight risk. Earlier this week Mr Ghosn told a Tokyo court he was innocent in his first public appearance since his arrest, and appealed for his detention to end. But the court rejected the request. I have a genuine love and appreciation for Nissan, Mr Ghosn told the court. In all of my efforts on behalf of the company, I have acted honourably, legally and with the knowledge and approval of the appropriate executives inside the company. He said the compensation was never decided on, the investment deal never resulted in any losses to Nissan, and the payments to the Saudi businessman was for legitimate services related to dealers and investments in the Gulf. Mr Ghosn, who appeared much thinner than before his arrest, came down with a fever the day after his court appearance, but has since recovered, his lawyer Motonari Ohtsuru said. His wife, Carole Ghosn, issued a statement overnight from Paris, expressing concern over his sickness. I am pleading with the Japanese authorities to provide us with any information at all about my husbands health. We are fearful and very worried his recovery will be complicated while he continues to endure such harsh conditions and unfair treatment, she said. Apart from prosecutors, only embassy officials and Mr Ghosns lawyers are allowed to visit him. Such visits were cancelled on Thursday but resumed on Friday. Before his sudden downfall, Mr Ghosn was a respected figure in the global auto industry, having rescued the Japanese carmaker from near-bankruptcy and built its sales operations and profits and pioneered ecological vehicles. Nissan says an internal investigation began middle of last year after whistleblowers came forward. Ethics officials at Nissans alliance partner Renault SA of France concluded this week that financial compensation to members of the French automakers executive committee in 2017 and 2018 was fraud-free. The review was initiated after Mr Ghosn was arrested. Mr Ghosn remains CEO of Renault. Roberta Koubek, a Berkeley Heights, N.J., resident who said she's "regularly" the victim of unwanted calls, tried to inform the government on Thursday about a concerning spam call she received. On the other line of an unrecognizable 1-800-number, a voice kept repeating: "Your Social Security number is going to be blocked," Koubek recalled. But she couldn't reach anyone at the FTC on account of the shutdown. "It was clearly intended to frighten whoever was on the other side of this," she said of the call. Republican congressman Steve King has previously compared immigrants to dogs, retweeted a Nazi sympathiser and implied that immigration involving Muslim children may stop Americas civilisation from being restored. But the Iowa representative sparked more controversy on Thursday after the publication of an interview in which he questioned why the language of white supremacy was offensive. White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization how did that language become offensive?" Mr King said, according to The New York Times. "Why did I sit in classes teaching me [sic] about the merits of our history and our civilization? The comments were met with anger on both sides of the aisle in Congress and were swiftly condemned. 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 "These comments are abhorrent and racist and should have no place in our national discourse," Liz Cheney, chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, tweeted. Multiple Democrats also attacked Mr King. "FYI this is one reason you get bad search results when people type your name in Google," Congressman Ted Lieu tweeted. Mr King later posted a statement online attempting to clarify his remarks. "I reject those labels and the ideology they define," the politician said in reference to white nationalism and white supremacy. He added: "It's true that like the Founding Fathers I am an advocate for Western Civilization's values, and that I profoundly believe that America is the greatest tangible expression of these ideals the world has ever seen. "Under any fair political definition, I am simply a Nationalist." Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr King, despite his many controversies, remains an influential Republican politician and an ally of US president, Donald Trump. Guards in some of Americas most dangerous prisons are warning that escapes and riots could be coming if the partial government shutdown continues to drag on with no end in sight. Many of those deemed essential to government work, such as prison officials, are having to work without pay, leaving some worried that gaps could become rife if guards are pushed away by the instability, or call in sick. The shutdown, sparked by the struggle over border wall funding between President Donald Trump and Democrats in congress, is already into its 21st day. Jose Rojas, a 24-year-veteran of the Prison Bureau, said that he is worried that a lengthy government shutdown could exasperate an already delicate situation at the Coleman Federal Prison Complex where he works in central Florida. Youre going to have riots. Youre going to have predatory inmates pick on the weaker inmates. Youre going to have rape. Youre going to have violence towards the staff. Youre going to have escapes, Mr Rojas told The Independent, describing what he sees as a possibility if the government shutdown lasts for months and drives guards away. They dont realise whats happening right now, he said of the politicians in Washington arguing over the border wall. We have a lot of MS-13, Latin Kings, we have the worst of the worst. If we dont have anyone to watch the inmates, were going to have riots, were going to have escapes. With child care costs, medical bills, and mortgages to pay, many workers have been told to plead with creditors and landlords for respite as the wait for the shutdown to end. While some workers have been simply furloughed, essential workers have been instructed to come to work even though they will not get paid, or face potential professional repercussions if they do not. To make up for the lost income, some are being forced to work extra hours moonlighting odd jobs to keep food on the table. For Mr Rojas, it is driving for Uber The fact politicians in Washington are willing to risk guards safety by adding extra stress on top of an already dangerous and demanding job has left many frustrated, with the shutdown approaching the longest in history. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mr Rojass experience and perspective is not unique for the contingent of prison guards and workers who are in charge of making sure violent offenders including the types of criminals with gangs like MS-13 that Mr Trump so frequently cites as a reason for the border fight stay locked up and away from the general population. We are 100 per cent the front line for the individuals who are incarcerated and the public. If it werent for us, those people wouldnt stay in prison, Roger Ware, a prison worker in West Virginia and the vice president of the local 420 chapter of the AFGE, said. Mr Ware has begun working on the weekends in construction to help pay his mortgage, keep food on the table for his five children, and to make sure he and his wife another worker at the United States Penitentiary in Hazleton can even afford the gas to make the daily 120-mile round trip trek to the prison job where they are not getting paychecks and have no idea when they will. The federal government shut down after Mr Trump decided that he would not sign government funding bills to that do not include $5.7bn to erect a physical barrier on the US-Mexico border that he says is essential to keeping the US safe. Democrats have rejected that request, offering $1.3bn in funding for border security but refusing to spend money on a wall that critics say would have limited impact on immigration and smuggling issues the president says shows it is necessary. On Wednesday, any ongoing talks between the president and Democrats appeared to break down when Mr Trump abruptly ended a meeting in the White House after Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi refused to promise to negotiate border wall funding. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Meanwhile, federal workers including those in US prisons have been told to reach out to their creditors to tell them of their situations and hope that they will be given some relief. Some banks have offered zero interest loans to help those workers get by, but that appears to be the exception to the rule. Justin Tarovisky, the executive vice president of local 420 in West Virginia, said that instructions to federal workers to ask for charity from landlords and banks is a slap in the face, especially considering the difficult conditions he and his colleagues face on a daily basis. When I leave the prison, when I leave those walls behind me, I gotta go and I gotta pay my bills. I gotta pay for daycare. I gotta pay for gas. I gotta pay for my cellphone, Mr Tarovisky said. He continued: When youre being told that you are not going to be paid, thats a slap in the face of the hard-working blue collar workers, federal workers, who go inside these walls to keep America safe. A suspect has been shot after an shooting inside Cascade Middle School in West Eugene, Oregon. His condition is not yet known. No students have been injured, according to the police. "There was a shooting inside the building. I can't give you more details at this time," Eugene Police Lt. Jennifer Bills said. "The Interagency Deadly Force Investigation Team will be coming to take over this investigation." The police are recommending parents to stay at home and suggested to contact their child by phone or text. The middle school is on lock down with children locked in their classrooms. No one will be allowed inside the premises. Several police units are on-site. "We got a report of a dispute here at the school. Officers arrived and were dealing with a suspect," Ms Bills told KVAL. The arrival of Interagency Deadly Force Investigation Team (IDFIT) suggest an officer used deadly force at some point during the incident. In Oregon, IDFIT investigates all police-related uses of potentially deadly force. The identities of the suspect and officers involved are unknown. The treatment of Monica Lewinsky during the Bill Clinton scandal was an "American tragedy" that would not be repeated in the wake of the #MeToo movement, according to the lawyer whose investigation into the ex-president thrust her into the limelight two decades ago. Ken Starr suggested the mean-spirited ways in which the White House and the media sought to demean Ms Lewinsky when her affair with Mr Clinton was exposed would be viewed now as unconscionable. Mr Clinton faced impeachment for obstruction of justice and perjury in 1998 after evidence compiled by the lawyer showed the president had lied under oath about his relationship with the former White House intern. Asked about Ms Lewinsky's treatment at the time, he told ABC News: We live in a very different era, especially in terms of the way we treat human beings. "The treatment that was afforded by the Clinton White House - and by the president himself - to women who had come into his orbit, into some kind of relationship with him ... to demean and to challenge and to attack them in these very mean-spirited ways was a part of, I think, the American tragedy that we experienced in the 1990s." Mr Clinton was later acquitted in the Senate, while Ms Lewinskys name was dragged through the mud as the presidents team tried to discredit her story. She was referred in media coverage as a vixen, predatory and a little tart, while Fox News ran a poll asking viewers if they thought she was an average girl or a young tramp looking for thrills. Sidney Blumental, Mr Clintons senior adviser and friend, is suspected to have passed stories to the media the discredit the investigation. He also testified to a grand jury that Ms Lewinsky had been stalking the president. 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 "These were all total fabrication. Total lies," Mr Starr said. The lawyer suggested the shifting culture and growing conversation around sexual harassment, consent, and abuse of power would mean a similar scandal would now be treated differently. "I don't think that could happen again without there being a call to account," he said. "This kind of pattern of conduct, of the abuse of women, both verbally and otherwise, I think would be viewed now as unconscionable." Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Starrs 1998 report on the scandal was criticised at the time for going into lurid detail about sexual encounters involving the president, who was also accused of sexually harassing a state employee while governor of Arkansas. The lawyer said last year he saw "eerie echoes" of Mr Clinton's administration in the way Donald Trump's team has handled investigations into alleged collusion between his election campaign and Russia. Mr Trump has also been accused of paying hush money to two women to cover up alleged affairs. Close Test for Trumps steel wall prototype proves it can be sawed through Thousands of federal workers missed their first pay cheque of the year on Friday as the US government shutdown neared an ignominious record for the longest in the nations history. More than 800,000 public sector staff are either furloughed or have been working without any guarantee of pay since the current impasse began on 22 December. Donald Trump had threatened to declare a national emergency to bypass congress and force through the spending plan at the centre of the dispute, which includes $5.7bn (4.5bn) funding for the presidents controversial border wall contested by Democrats. But on Friday, the president said he would not declare on "right now". The government shutdown will become the longest in US history on Saturday, surpassing the 21-day deadlock seen between December 1995 and January 1996 during Bill Clintons presidency. The easy solution is for me to call a national emergency. I could do that very quickly, Mr Trump said during a White House event on border security. I have the absolute right to do it. But I'm not going to do it so fast. Because this is something Congress should do. Mr Trump spoke after legislators had left Washington for the weekend, precluding any possible action until next week. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said President Trump needs to make the next move to end the impasses. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin When the president acts, we will respond to whatever he does, Ms Pelosi told reporters at a ceremonial event following congressional passage of legislation guaranteeing that federal employees will receive back pay once government agencies reopen. To see how the day unfolded follow our live blog below Please allow a moment for the live stream to load A paraplegic climber is helping protect the celebrated Joshua Tree National Park, one of thousands of individual action as the government shutdown, triggered by the failure of Donald Trump and Democrats to reach an agreement over border funding heads for the record books. As up to 800,000 federal employees more than half of them still working missed their first pay cheque as a result of the funding freeze, the president was reportedly edging closer to declaring a national emergency to obtain the border wall he has demanded, without congressional support. He insisted he did not want to do so and called upon Democrats in Congress to help reach a simple solution. With no sign a compromise in sight, across the nation the pain caused by the shutdown began to bite harder. Many affected by the stalemate have reportedly taken to other work, such as baby sitting and part-time driving. The shutdown is due to enter its 22nd day a new record at midnight on Friday. Included in the impacts of the shutdown has been the closure of all, or part of, 388 of the nations 737 parks, historic sites, and national monuments. Californias Joshua Tree National Park was due to be closed for maintenance after people cut down the famed trees, threw rubbish, and went off-roading across the previously pristine desert. Among those who came to the aid of the park was Rand Abbott, a 55-year-old military veteran, who lives there and is known as a keen rock climber, despite having lost the use of his legs. Recommended Thousands of workers miss payday as shutdown ties for longest ever I tell people that were the guests here, Mr Abbott told The Independent, speaking from Joshua Tree National Park, a day after working with visiting students from New York who had helped collect seven bags of rubbish. He said he had seen conditions worsen in the park after the shutdown come into effect at midnight on 22 December, with most of the National Parks Service (NPS) staff that look after its 1,200 square miles, being told to go home. I went out there and picked up trash. I did so on my own, to start with, he said, adding that other people also volunteered. He even collected rubbish on Christmas Day. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Abbott said he also saw people camping on protected parts of the park, and trying to burn a Joshua tree, the famed yucca-type tree from which the park takes its name. I saw them putting a Joshua tree in the fire ring and told them they were protected. They said Were cold, he added. Joshua Tree superintendent David Smith told National Parks Traveller. We had some pretty extensive four-wheel driving around the entire area to access probably our most significant tree in the park. It had been expected the park would be shut entirely this weekend. However, as images of the damage to the park were shared on social media, triggering outrage, NPS officials said they had been able to use revenue from recreation fees to avert the closure. In addition, recently closed areas of the park will once again be accessible to visitors starting January 10, the NPS said in a statement. Meanwhile, in Washington, Mr Trump said he would not yet declare a national emergency to obtain the funding for a border wall "right now", a day after he flew to Texas to meet border agency staff and community leaders and defended the need for such a barrier. We want congress to do its job, Mr Trump said during a White House event on border security, adding that Democratic politicians should come back and vote. 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 were not looking to do right now is national emergency, he said. I dont want to do this. As hundreds of thousands worry about how to make ends meet without pay, on Capitol Hill politicians scrambled to try and alleviate some pressure. By a vote of 411-7, the House of Representatives passed a bill requiring that all government workers receive retroactive pay after the partial shutdown ends. The Senate approved the bill unanimously on Thursday. The president is expected to sign the legislation, it said. Tom OKey, a Joshua Tree activist and astronomer, told the Los Angeles Times: There needs to be a constitutional amendment protecting our cherished public landscapes. Because right now, the worst among us are trampling the best weve got. Mr Abbott, who said he served for ten years in the Marine Corps and moved to Joshua Tree National Park after losing the use of his legs following surgery, said his clean up in the park was not a political statement. Asked for his views on the shutdown and Mr Trumps demand for a border wall, he said such a conversation would probably take five hours. But he added: The national parks should not be a pawn. The parks cannot be replaced. There is one Joshua Tree, one Yellowstone, one Yosemite. You have to take that into account. And if you do something that results in this situation, you have to find a solution. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has apologised to female staffers who have alleged that they were harassed by a male aide while working on his 2016 presidential campaign. The liberal senator, who is reportedly mulling a second bid for the White House for the Democrats, apologised for the mistreatment during a news conference to discuss prescription drug prices. It appears that as part of our campaign, there were some women who were harassed and mistreated I thank them from the bottom of my heart for speaking out, Mr Sanders said. What they experienced was absolutely unacceptable and certainly not what a progressive campaign or any campaign should be about. Mr Sanders was responding to a question about a Politico report containing allegations that Robert Becker, an operative who worked for the Sanders campaign in Iowa and Michigan, forcibly kissed a subordinate who had previously worked with him. Mr Becker denies the allegations against him. When we talk about and I do all the time ending sexism and all forms of discrimination, those beliefs cannot just be words," Mr Sanders said. "They must be based in day-to-day reality and the work we do, and that was clearly not the case in the 2016 campaign. Earlier this month, Mr Sanders had expressed regret over a New York Times report in which several female employees from the 2016 campaign alleged sexual harassment, disparities in pay and a workplace environment they described as either uncomfortable or inappropriate Mr Sanders mounted a surprisingly successful campaign for the Democratic nomination in 2016 against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who went on to win the nomination but lose in the general election to President Donald Trump. 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 Two years after that election, Mr Sanders is reportedly considering another run for the office to try and see his progressive politics implemented from the White House out. But, a second run for the White House would see Mr Sanders joining a much larger pool of candidates running for the Democratic nomination, including candidates who appear closer to his politics than Ms Clinton was in 2016. Justin Trudeau has confirmed that Canada will grant asylum to a Saudi Arabian teenager fleeing alleged family abuse. Thailands immigration police chief earlier said that Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun had left Bangkok on a flight to South Korea, with a final destination of Toronto. That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for womans rights around the world, Mr Trudeau said. I can confirm that we have accepted the UNs request. Ms al-Qunun was stopped last Saturday in Thailand, when immigration police seized her passport and refused her entry. She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and launched a social media campaign, drawing global attention to her desperate pleas for asylum. 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty The teenager said that she escaped during a trip to Kuwait and that her life would be in danger if she was forced to return to her family in Saudi Arabia. The viral campaign caused Thai officials to temporarily admit the teenager to the county, under the protection of UN officials. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees granted Ms al-Qunun refugee status on Wednesday. Officials in Bangkok said that several countries, including Canada and Australia, had earlier been in talks with the UN to accept the young woman as a refugee. She chose Canada. Its her personal decision, Thailand police chief Surachate Hakparn said, adding that Ms al-Qunun thanked everyone who had helped her. She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be travelling back tonight as well ... They are disappointed, he said. The teenagers case has once again highlighted the lives of women in Saudi Arabia, a deeply conservative country where they have limited rights. Several Saudi women attempting to flee abuse from their families have been caught and returned home. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Canadas decision to offer Ms al-Qunun asylum could further damage the countrys links with Saudi Arabia. Relations between the countries have deteriorated after Canadas Foreign Ministry tweeted support for womens right activists arrested in the kingdom. In response Saudi Arabia expelled Canadas ambassador to the kingdom and sold Canadian investments. Additional reporting by agencies A Muslim family says staff at a Virginia hospital told them they looked scary and requested they leave when they tried to visit a newborn family member. According to the newborns aunt, Arwa Zahr, who spoke to News4, the family was confronted by a security guard when they arrived at the Inova Fair Oaks Hospital birthing centre in Fairfax, Virginia, who told them they were not allowed to be there. He screams and he says: Youre not allowed to be here! And then he said: You know, you look scary, she recalled. I was shocked, like, Did he say that? The reason they were turned away, the family believes, was because of the niqabs the women were wearing - which only show their eyes. After returning back downstairs, the newborns father, Ahmed Zahr, attempted to intervene - at which point the guard summoned the head nurse. Recommended Amazon selling toilet covers with Islamic scripture amid complaints According to Zahr, as his mother tried to explain their side of the story, the head nurse told her: Close your mouth or Ill kick you out and nobody wants you here. The head nurse then called police. The family spoke with the police, who they said were helpful, and then left shortly after the incident - at which point they filed formal complaints against Inova. In a statement, the hospital told the Associated Press it is reviewing the familys complaint. The Independent has contacted Inova Fair Oaks hospital. Another migrant caravan is forming in Honduras, with plans to set out next week on a journey that will once again test the immigration policies of Mexico and the United States. In much the way last years Central American caravan originated, a flier is circulating on Honduran social media. Were looking for refuge, it says. In Honduras, we are being killed. It advertises a 5am departure on 15 January from the northern city of San Pedro Sula. The Mexican government says it is preparing for the groups arrival. We have information that a new caravan is forming to enter our country in mid-January, Olga Sanchez Cordero, the interior minister, said at a news conference Monday. We are already taking the necessary steps to ensure the caravan enters in a safe and orderly way. When the previous caravan reached Mexico in October, Mexican authorities closed one of the main border crossings but allowed thousands of migrants to swim across the river separating the country from Guatemala. The migrants then continued north through Mexico, most of them travelling without documents. This time, Sanchez Cordero said, the government will place guards at 370 illegal crossing points and the border will be controlled to prevent the entry of undocumented people. But she suggested that members of the caravan could be allowed into the country legally if they apply for visas. We dont know how many people this will be, but its a lot, said Walter Coello, a taxi driver from Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, who helped organise the last caravan and is playing a similar role once again. With this caravan, the goal is to give them a chance to work and have a better life, be it in Mexico or the United States. Last years group, with about 7,000 people, was dwarfed by the roughly 400,000 people who were apprehended at the US border in 2018, as well as the more than 100,000 who applied for asylum in that period. But it became a major focus for President Donald Trump, who attempted to use the spectre of an invading caravan to rally his supporters. On Thursday, Trump deployed similar rhetoric about the new group. There is another major caravan forming right now in Honduras, and so far were trying to break it up, and so far its bigger than anything weve ever seen, and a drone isnt going to stop it, and a sensor isnt going to stop it, but you know whats going to stop it in its tracks? he said. A nice, powerful wall. For Central Americans, who typically depend on expensive and unreliable smugglers to travel to the United States, caravans offer a cheaper, safer way to migrate. So, despite Trumps opposition, experts say it is likely that they will continue to form. Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Show all 23 1 /23 Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants climb the US border fence in Tijuana AFP/Getty Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants cross the dried up Tijuana river AFP/Getty Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Mexico police emerge from a cloud of tear gas Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Mexico police work to keep migrants from getting over the border with the US AP Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border US border patrol agents stand guard as migrant seek to cross the border at Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Adults help a child over the US border fence AFP/Getty Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants near the US border in Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants climb the US border fence in Tijuana AFP/Getty Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants clash with riot police as they near the US border in Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A migrant is detained by US border patrol officers after illegally crossing the border Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants cross the dried up Tijuana river Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Tear gas is deployed at the border Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants make their way to the US border fence Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A migrant man wears a homemade gas mask Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants stand on the banks of the Tijuana river opposite the US border fence Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants cross the Tijuana river Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants gather at the border crossing in Tijuana AP Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Tear gas is fired by border police to deter migrants EPA Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A migrant covers his face as tear gas surrounds him Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrant families seek to cross the US border at Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Mexico police try to stop migrants from crossing Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants force their way through the border fence at Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Reuters The caravans are an opening for people, said Karen Valladares, executive director of the National Forum for Migration in Honduras. Every day, people leave, but this way they feel more secure. There is more solidarity in going with groups. They dont have the fear that they are going to be the victims of organised crime. Thousands of members of the previous caravan are still waiting in Tijuana to begin their asylum applications. A U.S. policy shift in November requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their claims are being processed has not yet been implemented, but it could delay their entrance into the United States even further. Yet in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, where pockets of extreme violence persist and economic opportunities are still limited in many places, there is a widespread perception that the earlier group succeeded. Many people see the last caravan as a success in that people were able to travel safely, and they were well taken care of, Valladares said. Glen Munos, 18, from the Honduran city of Choloma, plans to travel with the next group this month. Its not just employment or that Honduras is dangerous, he said in a telephone interview. Im young, and I want to know another place. Munoss brother, 36, travelled with last years caravan but split off from it in northern Mexico and crossed the border illegally in Texas. Honduras is dangerous and Im not having him stay there. I want him next to me working, not there, he said of his younger brother in a text message. He spoke on the condition of anonymity now that he is living illegally in the United States. Karla Riviera is also considering travelling with the new caravan. She travelled with the last one from Honduras to the Guatemala-Mexico border. But in southern Mexico, immigration officials took her to a makeshift detention centre, she said, first claiming they were offering her shelter and later returning her by plane to Honduras. They treated us like criminals. They tricked us, jailed us and deported us, she said, speaking by phone. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Back in Honduras, she said shes still receiving rape and death threats from the father of her niece, whom she reported for sexually abusing the child, from macho men who insult her because shes gay, and from the father of her partners children. Right now, I dont leave my house much. I have to hide. Im still worried about my life, she said. She saw news about the coming caravan on WhatsApp and asked her partner whether she was interested in going. We are talking it out, she said. I guess my alternative is to live and hide. Washington Post "We have no comment for the time being. Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based," it continued. Wisconsin authorities say they believe 13-year-old Jayme Closs was the only target of a 21-year-old man suspected of kidnapping her and killing her parents in October. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald identified Jake Thomas Patterson as the man arrested by authorities after a three-month search for Jayme. Mr Patterson has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder over the killing of Denise Closs, 46, and her husband James, 56, Mr Fitzgerald said in a news conference on Friday. The couple were found shot dead on 15 October. Mr Patterson has charged with one count of kidnapping their daughter from the home in Barron, which police believe was the suspects original intention. Mr Fitzgerald said Mr Patterson took many steps to hide his identity. The 13-year-old victim was found in Gordona remote town 70 miles from her home88 days after she disappeared. She walked away from a cabin where she was held and asked a woman walking her dog for help. Mr Patterson was arrested based on the description of his vehicle Jayme gave sheriffs. Mr Patterson is unemployed and has no criminal record in Wisconsin, authorities said. The sheriff said he was not sure whether Mr Patterson and Jayme knew each other. Jayme managed to escape from the home where she was confined, a feat that Mr Fitzgerald called unthinkable. That is the will of a kid to survive, he said. Jeanne Nutter, who was the one walking her dog, said Jayme told her she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held captive not far from Ms Nutters home. I was terrified, but I didnt want to show her that, said Ms Nutter, a social worker. She just yelled please help me, I dont know where I am. Im lost. 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 Ms Nutter said she did not want to take Jayme to her nearby home because it was too close to where she had been found, and she did not want them to be alone. She said: My only thought was to get her to a safe place. She was taken to the Kristin Kasinskas. Ms Kasinskas, and her husband Peter, heard Ms Nutter pounding on the door, shouting: This is Jayme Closs! Call 911! The teen kidnapping victim was described as unkempt, and allegedly said she was locked up or hidden, according to Ms Kasinskas. She didnt express any fear, she told a NBC-affiliate station on Thursday. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The search for Jayme began in October 2018 after Barron County Sheriffs Department received a 911 call and went to her home and found her parents shot dead. The police arrived at their home about four minutes after the 911 call was made with the 13-year-old nowhere to be found. The door was kicked in and no weapon was found. Immediately after news broke of her disappearance, the authorities received thousands of tips from across the country. None of them were considered credible at the time. The search for Jayme galvanized about 1,500 people, close to half the Barrons 3,400 propulation, to join in. Place searched included wooded areas in suburban Minneapolis, about 90 miles west of Gordon. But for now, Kelly Engelhardt, Jaymes aunt, is grateful that her niece was found alive. Im shocked, Ms Engelhardt told NBC affiliate KARE. Its what weve prayed for every single day. A teenager who went missing in October after her parents were murdered in their home has been found alive, officials say. Jayme Closs, 13, had not been seen for nearly three months and her disappearance sparked massive searches, involving 1,500 volunteers scouring woods and fields in suburban Minneapolis, and the offer of a $25,000 (20,000) reward for her safe return. But on Thursday evening she was found near the small village of Gordon, Wisconsin, by a dog-walker, just a one-hour drive from her familys home in Barron, northwest Wisconsin, where her father and mother, James and Denise Closs, were found murdered in October. The 13-year-old seemed malnourished and dirty and was wearing shoes that were too big for her, but otherwise seemed in good health. One of the locals who found the teen and called 911, Peter Kasinkas, said he was astonished. Recommended Teenager Jayme Closs still missing after search offers no clues I honestly still think Im dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost. My jaw just went to the floor, he told Minneapolis newspaper the Star Tribune. Jayme refused offers of food and water and seemed quiet and emotionally flat, he said, adding that she did not know where she was. The local police chief, Barron county sheriff Chris Fitzgerald, said in a statement a suspect in the case had been taken into custody but released no other information ahead of a press briefing later on Friday. 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 We do not any other details at this time as this is a very fluid and active investigation, Mr Fitzgerald said. Finally, we want to especially thank the family for their support and patience while this case was ongoing. We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfil that promise. Unconfirmed local reports have suggested Jayme was found after managing to escape from a home near Gordon where she is believed to have been held. The village is in a remote rural part of northern Wisconsin and only has a few hundred residents. Mr Fitzgerald told reporters at the time of the teenagers disappearance he was convinced she was still alive and she was added to the FBIs top missing persons list. The girls disappearance has remained big news in the region, and the very last post on the Barron county sheriffs department Facebook page, just three hours before they announced Jayme had been found, was a debunking of rumours she had been spotted in another part of Wisconsin, some 300 miles away. The girls aunt, Sue Allard, told the Star Tribune she was overjoyed at the news. Praise the Lord, she said. Its the news weve been waiting on for three months. I cant wait to get my arms around her. I just cant wait. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The mayor of Barron, Ron Fladten, said: A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. Its just a great result we got tonight. Its unbelievable. Its like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again. I hope that shes in good shape. Shes no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future. When Jameek Lowery started filming inside a New Jersey police station, he was panicked and afraid. As he waited for an ambulance, he told officers he was paranoid and insisted they were trying to kill him. Two videos he streamed live to Facebook depict a frantic Lowery, 27, asking viewers for help and calling out to the Paterson, New Jersey, police officers for water. Then he turned the camera towards himself. Ma, Im sorry, he said. Theyre going to do this to me. Theyre going to kill your baby boy. About 10 minutes later, Mr Lowery, a father of three, was unresponsive. Two days after that, he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The Passaic County prosecutor is now investigating Mr Lowerys death, as protesters continue to press for an explanation of what happened during the time he was in transit from the police station to the hospital. Recommended Jeff Sessions sharply limits powers to curb police abuses We plan on continuing and increasing our actions until we get justice, said Zellie Thomas, 34, a teacher and community organiser from Paterson. While officials held a public meeting about Mr Lowerys death inside Patersons City Hall earlier this week, a rally outside turned chaotic, with participants reporting on social media that police used pepper spray on protesters. Mr Lowery first called 911 in the early hours of Saturday morning. He told dispatchers he had taken ecstasy and was paranoid, according to the Passaic County prosecutors office. An ambulance took him to a nearby hospital, but he left sometime after becoming erratic, the prosecutors office said. Then, around 3.45am, Mr Lowery called 911 again and said people were trying to kill him. After making that call, he walked into Patersons police headquarters asking for assistance. Officers called for an ambulance. While he was waiting, he began recording. In the footage on Facebook, officers kept their distance as Lowery repeated that he believed they were trying to kill him. As he filmed, Mr Lowery told the officers he would not harm them. Im good, he said. Im just paranoid. Youve got to breathe, one of them responded. A protester tries to block the camera as they face Paterson police officers during a rally on 8 January 2019 (AP) Throughout the videos, which lasted more than five minutes, officers responded by telling Lowery they did not want to kill him. Mr Lowery is heard repeatedly asking for water, but is told officers are not allowed to give him anything; one officer said he would get water in the ambulance or at the hospital. He appeared to be sweating profusely, with chapped lips. All right, he said to the officers just before the footage ends, go ahead and kill me. Patersons mayor, Andre Sayegh, said in a statement that Lowery walked to the ambulance on his own. The prosecutors office said Lowery had to be restrained during the mile-long trip and officers used physical force and compliance holds to secure him. Officials said they are awaiting toxicology and autopsy reports from the medical examiners office, and a cause of death had not been determined. On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters gathered for a march outside City Hall to call attention to Mr Lowerys death, according to Mr Thomas. But protesters instead headed towards the police station, Mr Thomas said, and at least one officer used pepper spray on the crowd. Patersons police director, Jerry Speziale, and its police chief, Troy Oswald, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Mr Sayeghs office declined to comment. The New York Times A physician who called himself Dr Marijuana has been suspended from practising medicine for indiscriminately prescribing medicinal cannabis. Anthony Anzalone has been told by New Jerseys board of medical examiners that he must shut down his practice after he was found to have authorised the use of the drug for over 3,000 patients without adequately examining them. The 66-year-old was one of the first doctors to register with New Jerseys medical marijuana programme in 2012. He met patients in large groups in conferences held at hotels. The board said he charged an initial consultation fee of $350 (273) followed by quarterly fees of $100 (78) for continued authorisation of the drug. It alleges he engaged in fraud, gross negligence, and professional misconduct. It said: In order to expand his patient base and increase his revenues, Dr Anzalone routinely registered patients who would not qualify for the MMP because they lacked a debilitating condition as defined by regulations, or fabricated debilitating conditions to qualify them." Dr Anzalone, who advertises as NJGreenMD, prescribed the drug to 3,250 patients after registering with the state's programme. We allege that Dr Anzalone exploited his patients and the MMP for his own gain, completely disregarding the regulations meant to protect patients and promote the efficacious use of medicinal marijuana, Paul R Rodriguez, acting director of the division of consumer affairs, said. Where cannabis is and isn't legal Show all 10 1 /10 Where cannabis is and isn't legal Where cannabis is and isn't legal UK Having been reclassified in 2009 from a Class C to a Class B drug, cannabis is now the most used illegal drug within the United Kingdom. The UK is also, however, the only country where Sativex a prescribed drug that helps to combat muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis and contains some ingredients that are also found in cannabis - is licensed as a treatment Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal North Korea Although many people believe the consumption of cannabis in North Korea to be legal, the official law regarding the drug has never been made entirely clear whilst under Kim Jong Uns regime. However, it is said that the North Korean leader himself has openly said that he does not consider cannabis to be a drug and his regime doesnt take any issue with the consumption or sale of the drug MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/Getty Images Where cannabis is and isn't legal Netherlands In the Netherlands smoking cannabis is legal, given that it is smoked within the designated smoking areas and you dont possess more than 5 grams for personal use. It is also legal to sell the substance, but only in specified coffee shops Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal USA Although in some states of America cannabis has now been legalised, prior to the legalisation, police in the U.S. could make a marijuana-related arrest every 42 seconds, according to US News and World Report. The country also used to spend around $3.6 billion a year enforcing marijuana law, the American Civil Liberties Union notes AP Photo/Ted S. Warren Where cannabis is and isn't legal Spain Despite cannabis being officially illegal in Spain, the European hotspot has recently started to be branded, the new Amsterdam. This is because across Spain there are over 700 Cannabis Clubs these are considered legal venues to consume cannabis in because the consumption of the drug is in private, and not in public. These figures have risen dramatically in the last three years in 2010 there were just 40 Cannabis Clubs in the whole of Spain. Recent figures also show that in Catalonia alone there are 165,000 registered members of cannabis clubs this amounts to over 5 million euros (4 million) in revenue each month Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Uruguay In December 2013, the House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill legalizing and regulating the production and sale of the drug. But the president has since postponed the legalization of cannabis until to 2015 and when it is made legal, it will be the authorities who will grow the cannabis that can be sold legally. Buyers must be 18 or older, residents of Uruguay, and must register with the authorities Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Pakistan Despite the fact that laws prohibiting the sale and misuse of cannabis exist and is considered a habit only entertained by lower-income groups, it is very rarely enforced. The occasional use of cannabis in community gatherings is broadly tolerated as a centuries old custom. The open use of cannabis by Sufis and Hindus as a means to induce euphoria has never been challenged by the state. Further, large tracts of cannabis grow unchecked in the wild Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Portugal In 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to decriminalize the use of all drugs, and started treating drug users as sick people, instead of criminals. However, you can still be arrested or assigned mandatory rehab if you are caught several times in possession of drugs Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Puerto Rico Although the use of cannabis is currently illegal, it is said that Puerto Rico are in the process of decriminalising it RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images Where cannabis is and isn't legal China Cannabis is grown in the wild and has been used to treat conditions such as gout and malaria. But, officially the substance is illegal to consume, possess and sell Getty By temporarily suspending Dr Anzalone from practising medicine, we are making it clear that we will not allow unscrupulous doctors to enrich themselves at the expense of the safety and welfare of their patients and the public. Dr Anzalones lawyer, Jef Henninger, said the doctor insisted he was innocent. He said that his client was "a very popular doctor that takes great care of his patients." He added that Dr Anzalone was "a trailblazer in this industry", and that he "maintains his innocence and looks forward to having his license reinstated at the conclusion of this matter. Medical cannabis is to become available on prescription in the UK The New Jersey Department of Health will provide assistance to any patients affected by the suspension, the statement said. Attorney general Gurbir S Grewal said: State legislatures may relax their laws against marijuana and many already have but there are limits to what state law allows, and the public should know that we vigorously enforce those limits to protect public safety and prevent unlawful distribution. At least seven people have died and five critically wounded after a bus crashed in eastern Cuba. A British couple in their 70s are understood to be among those injured, according to Sky News. However, they are not thought to be seriously hurt. The bus was carrying 22 tourists from the UK, Holland, France, Mexico and Canada, as well as 18 Cubans when it crashed on a road between the cities of Baracoa and Guantanamo, according to state media. The driver told local station Radio Guantanamo that he lost control of the bus on a wet and winding road when it crashed. The names of those killed have not yet been released. There were 750 deaths and 7,999 injuries in 11,187 traffic accidents in Cuba last year. Traffic accidents are the fifth leading cause of death in the country, and the top cause for young people aged between 15 and 29 years old. 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 Thursday's crash was the fourth major bus accident in a month. Last week, a collision between a train and a bus left 12 people injured, with the driver in critical condition. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The accident occurred in the city of Bayamo last Monday when the bus carrying Cuban passengers hit a train at a crossing. A frantic 911 call between members of an Arizona care facility and an emergency dispatcher, has revealed staff scrambling to save a baby born to a woman in a vegetative state and yelling: The babys turning blue! The recording involves staff at the long-term facility in Phoenix, apparently expressing shock that the 29-year-old woman, who has been incapacitated since the age of three, was pregnant. One of the patients just had a baby and we had no idea she was pregnant, a nurse says during the call. We were not expecting this. The emergency dispatcher asks how the mother of the newborn is doing. Staff at the care centre, respond: Is the baby breathing? The baby is not breathing; baby is blue. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The staff then reveal that somebody has performed CPR on the newborn baby to save it. The babys breathing! The babys breathing! Oh my God. Thank God. The publication of the recording, obtained from police by KPHO-TV, is the latest turn in the story of the young woman at the care of Hacienda HealthCare, whom police say was sexually assaulted. They have ordered DNA samples from all male staff at the facility amid national outrage over the incident. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events She was not in a position to give consent to any of this, police spokesman Tommy Thompson said of the attack on the woman. So if anyone can understand that, this was a helpless victim who was sexually assaulted. CBS said Hacienda HealthCare serves infants, children and young adults who are medically fragile or have developmental disabilities. It has been the subject of numerous complaints dating back to 2013, it said. Since it emerged that the young woman had given birth after being assaulted and impregnated, the CEO of the facility has resigned and authorities have put in place new regulations. The woman, who has not been identified, and the baby boy have been recovering at a hospital. Their conditions have not been released. Her family, who are members of the San Carlos Apache tribe in southeastern Arizona, said in a statement through their lawyer that they will care for the infant boy and have asked for privacy. Three people including a relative of Robert Mugabe have appeared in court charged with stealing a suitcase containing $150,000 (117,000) in cash from the former Zimbabwean president. The suspected thieves are alleged to have spent the money on a house, cars and livestock including pigs and cattle. Constancia Mugabe, 50, a relative of the deposed leader, is among the accused. She is alleged to have given keys to Mr Mugabes house in rural Zvimba district to co-conspirators Johanne Mapurisa, 50, and Saymore Nhetekwa, 47, giving them access to the case. The theft occurred sometime after 1 December, Chinhoyi magistrates heard. State prosecutor Teveraishe Zinyemba told the court that Ms Mapurisa, a cleaner for Mr Mugabe, bought a Toyota Camry car and a house for $20,000 (16,000). Mr Nhetekwa, also a cleaner, spent his share of the cash on a Honda vehicle, pigs and cattle. The three defendants were bailed to return on 24 January. Police are hunting a fourth suspect. According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, the chief prosecution witness in the case is a manager at a charity run by Grace Mugabe, the former presidents wife. Mugabe resignation celebrations in pictures Show all 7 1 /7 Mugabe resignation celebrations in pictures Mugabe resignation celebrations in pictures Zimbabweans celebrate in the morning sun after President Robert Mugabe resigned in Harare Reuters/Mike Hutchings Mugabe resignation celebrations in pictures Zimbabweans celebrate in the streets of Harare, after President Robert Mugabe resigned in Harare AP Mugabe resignation celebrations in pictures People and soldiers celebrate after the resignation of Zimbabwe's president AFP/Getty Mugabe resignation celebrations in pictures People holding Zimbabwean flags celebrate in the street after the resignation of Zimbabwe's president. Car horns blared and cheering crowds raced through the streets of the Zimbabwean capital Harare as news spread that President Robert Mugabe, 93, had resigned after 37 years in powe AFP/Getty Mugabe resignation celebrations in pictures Zimbabweans celebrate in Harare after the resignation of President Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says he is resigning immediately and voluntarily in order to have a "smooth transfer of power" after 37 years in charge AP/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Mugabe resignation celebrations in pictures Zimbabweans celebrate in the streets after hearing that President Robert Mugabe has resigned in Harare AP/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Mugabe resignation celebrations in pictures Zimbabweans celebrate after hearing about the resignation of President Robert Mugabe in Harare AP/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Mr Mugabe, now 94, was forced out of office by Zimbabwes military in 2017. During his 37-year reign, he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle while presiding over an economic crisis. He has suffered from ill health since being deposed and has spent several months in Singapore for treatment. It is unclear if he was at home during the theft. Parliament has the power to block a no-deal Brexit, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has admitted. The cabinet minister said it was "highly unlikely" that MPs would not find a way to thwart a disorderly exit from the European Union if they wanted to, after Theresa May suffered a string of Commons defeats this week. In a dramatic intervention, Mr Hunt also warned that voting down Ms May's deal next week could actually prevent Brexit, saying it would bring in "Brexit paralysis" with the "possibility in sight" of the UK remaining in the EU. Recommended May calls union bosses in desperate bid to find Brexit backing It comes as MPs geared up for the third day of Commons debate ahead of the critical vote on Ms May's Brexit deal next Tuesday, which the government is widely expected to lose. Mr Hunt admitted the parliamentary arithmetic was "challenging" for the vote and took aim at John Bercow for allowing a parliamentary bid to speed up the Brexit process, saying the Speaker was "willing to frustrate the government at every opportunity". The prime minister has been scrambling to win support for her Brexit blueprint by reaching out to union leaders and Labour MPs in a last-ditch attempt to get it over the line. Speaking about no-deal, Mr Hunt said: "We've seen from this week that parliament has the ability to assert itself and to shape outcomes. I think after this week the idea that parliament is going to do nothing at all is highly unlikely." He said thwarting Brexit would be "potentially very damaging" and warned that it was now a choice between Ms May's deal and no Brexit. This marks a shift in tone, as the prime minister has repeatedly set out a choice between her deal and no deal. "If this deal is rejected, ultimately what we may end up with is not a different type of Brexit but Brexit paralysis," he told the Today programme "And Brexit paralysis ultimately could lead to no Brexit. "I'm saying this would be an incredibly damaging breach of trust and it would also be very bad for Britain's reputation abroad, having decided to leave the EU, if we in the end for whatever reasons found that we weren't able to do it." Downing Street challenged the interpretation of Mr Hunt's words soon after, saying that the minister had commented only that parliament would "try very hard" to rule out a no deal, which was not the same as stopping it. The prime minister's spokeswoman said: "All I can do is point out the facts and that is if the deal is not voted for, the default position is that the UK will leave without one." Pro-EU MPs seized on Mr Hunt comments as a boost to their cause, claiming he had effectively admitted the prime minister's no-deal warnings were a "false threat". Labour's David Lammy, who supports the Peoples Vote campaign, said: Jeremy Hunt has confirmed publicly what more and more of his colleagues are saying in private - that if MPs cant agree on Theresa Mays deal next week, the only way forward is to give the public the final say on Brexit through a Peoples Vote. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The idea that if MPs vote down the deal, we head to no deal has always been a false threat and the Foreign Secretary has now effectively admitted it. There is no Brexit deal that fulfils all the promises made in the last referendum - or one as good as the deal weve already got inside the EU. Instead of embarking on another fruitless effort of renegotiation, it is time to hand this crucial decision back to the people. It comes as work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd became the latest cabinet minister to refuse to rule out resigning from the cabinet in the event of a no deal Brexit, echoing the business secretary Greg Clark. During an interview with the Today programme, Ms Rudd three times declined to say whether she would remain a member of the government if it opted for a chaotic exit. Cabinet members who oppose a no-deal Brexit have a duty to resign if Theresa May fails to abandon the policy, a senior Conservative MP has said. Dominic Grieve, who backs a Final Say referendum, also branded the idea of crashing out of the EU without an agreement as committing national suicide. At least six cabinet members are known to strongly oppose a no-deal departure, including Philip Hammond, the chancellor, Greg Clark, the business secretary, and Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary. Mr Grieve said the prime minister, after an expected defeat for her deal next week, must immediately pursue an extension of the Article 50 process, while striking the 29 March exit date from domestic legislation. And, on what should happen if she refused, he added: If a cabinet minister feels the government is doing something they cant accept, it is probably their duty to resign. Recommended Top Brexit donors predict Britain will stay in EU If you cant take a collective decision to do something, you shouldnt remain in government. David Gauke, the justice secretary, and David Mundell, the Scottish secretary, have also strongly hinted they would resign to stop a no-deal Brexit while David Lidington, the de-facto deputy prime minister, has warned it could destroy the Union. A mass cabinet walk-out is seen by some as the most plausible route for stopping a crash-out, if Ms May keeps running down the clock, as critics see it. Mr Grieve said he believed the EU would be willing to stop the clock on Brexit, although Brussels has signalled this might only be for a fresh referendum or a general election. I believe the EU will extend Article 50 for us but I think they would only do it in a very limited number of circumstances ... and we need to explore what those circumstances may be, he told the BBC. He added: I hope the prime minister will listen carefully to what members of parliament and members of her own government are saying to her. Speaking at an emergency convention, in London, to push for a second EU referendum, Mr Grieve predicted defeat for the prime ministers deal. The unpleasant truth for her is that it can satisfy no one, the former attorney general said. There is only one way out. When the prime ministers deal is defeated, what else can we possibly offer to the British public which has any chance at all, but to go back to ask them to reconsider their decision. Theresa Mays chances of delivering Brexit on 29 March are fading fast after senior ministers privately admitted more time is needed even if her deal wins the backing of parliament. Senior Tories have accepted that the sheer amount of legislation parliament must pass to prepare for Brexit regardless of whether Ms Mays plans are approved, makes a withdrawal on the agreed date almost impossible. One cabinet minister told The Independent that in the unlikely event the prime ministers deal is actually approved on Tuesday, then a couple more weeks would still be needed if as expected it is not, then a longer delay of Brexit looks inevitable if a no-deal scenario is to be avoided. Despite the admission from within the cabinet, Downing Street attempted to play down the chances of any extension to the Article 50 negotiating period on Friday by saying that it is not government policy. Ms May looks set for a historic defeat when she puts her deal to the House of Commons on Tuesday, with some estimates suggesting she will lose by more than 200 votes. The delay in determining the countrys path would also push back the ability of parliament to pass around six essential pieces of legislation, making a 29 March exit unlikely despite Number 10s claims. But the inevitability of a delay to Brexit was highlighted by one cabinet minister who told The Independent that a short extension of Article 50 would probably be required to implement a deal that is approved. The frontbencher said: It will be difficult to pass the legislation by the end of March, even if the deal goes through. "Brexit betrayal" march in London Show all 43 1 /43 "Brexit betrayal" march in London "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester holds an anti-BBC sign Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator holds a sign in the picket line Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester carrying a noose at the "Brexit betrayal" march. The man carrying it told a reporter: "That's what the traitor May deserves." AP "Brexit betrayal" march in London Pro-brexit supporters hold a sign opposed to Nigel Farage Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Protesters carry a defaced British flag on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Tommy Robinson addresses a rally after taking part in a Brexit 'betrayal' march in central London PA "Brexit betrayal" march in London Police officers attempts to keep rival protesters from clashing at the Brexit 'betrayal' march in London Victoria Jones/PA "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester holds an anti-Theresa May sign Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator and his dog Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator at the protest Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit sign at the rally Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Pro-brexit demonstrators endorse UKIP Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A Brexit 'betrayal' march protester wearing a Make Britain Great Again hat in London on 9 December 2018 Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty "Brexit betrayal" march in London Brexit 'betrayal' marchers gathering on Park Lane ahead of a protest Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London The "Brexit Betrayal" march passes through Central London Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Tommy Robinson tells protesters to join Ukip via their mobile phones on stage next to leader Gerard Batten (right) at the Brexit 'betrayal' march Gareth Fuller/PA "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester speaks thorugh a megaphone on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator walks in the picket line Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit anti-May sign at the rally Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester carries a Union Jack on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator wrapped in the Union Jack Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit anti-May sign at the rally Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Pro brexit demonstrators move through Central London Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator marches with sign Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator holds a rude sign in the rally Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London The march passes down Victoria Street near Parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A festive protester marches near Parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester holds a mock noose as the march passes down Victoria Street towards Parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester wrapped in the Union Jack marches down Victoria Street towards Parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester makes some noise on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester dressed as a dinosaur holds a sign rallying against "Davocracy" - in reference to the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester holds a pro-brexit sign on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London The march approaches parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester distributes pro-brexit lapel badges Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A demonstrator wears an anti-EU poster and holds an anti-BBC sign Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A smoke bomb is deployed in Parliament Square as the march comes across the counter-demonstration Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A flag bearing the Arms of Plantagenet flies in theprot Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Protesters on the Brexit 'betrayal' march in London on 9 December 2018 Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Protesters on the Brexit 'betrayal' march in London on 9 December 2018 Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Brexit 'betrayal' marchers gathering on Park Lane ahead of a protest on 9 December 2018 Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Brexit 'betrayal' marchers gathering on Park Lane ahead of a protest on 9 December 2018 Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent But no one is going to object if we need a couple more weeks. They argued that both the EU and Brexiteers were unlikely to object to a short delay as long as the UKs withdrawal was absolutely guaranteed. The government must pass a series of bills including those relating to trade, immigration and agriculture to ensure the country has the legislative framework in place come Brexit day. Until now Downing Street has been adamant that it would be possible to get all the new laws passed, even if it meant cancelling a commons break for half-term in February and having MPs sit at the weekends. As late as Friday morning the prime ministers official spokesman told reporters any delay to Brexit is not government policy. But the admission that more time will be needed even if the PM wins the vote, let alone if she loses as expected, means Brexit could be knocked back deep into 2019. MPs have power to stop no-deal Brexit, says Jeremy Hunt Earlier on Friday, a senior minister told the Evening Standard: The legislative timetable is now very very tight indeed. Certainly, if there was defeat on Tuesday and it took some time before it got resolved, its hard to see how we can get all the legislation through by 29 March. Mr Hunt appeared to pull the rug from under Ms Mays warnings that MPs voting against her deal were pushing the country closer to a no-deal Brexit, when he said it was highly unlikely that MPs would not find a way to thwart a disorderly exit if they wanted to. In a dramatic intervention, the foreign secretary also warned that voting down Ms Mays deal next week could actually prevent Brexit, saying it would bring in Brexit paralysis with the possibility in sight of the UK remaining in the EU. Amber Rudd refuses to rule out resigning if government pursues a no-deal Brexit Speaking about no deal, Mr Hunt said: Weve seen from this week that parliament has the ability to assert itself and to shape outcomes. I think after this week the idea that parliament is going to do nothing at all is highly unlikely. He said thwarting Brexit would be potentially very damaging and warned that it was now a choice between Ms Mays deal and no Brexit. This marks a shift in tone, as the prime minister has repeatedly set out a choice between her deal and no deal. Government insiders are expecting some kind of extra help for Ms May from the European Union by Monday, which they hope will allay some of the concerns that her critics have about the Irish backstop. But it is unlikely to be a legally binding guarantee that the UK can exit from it unilaterally, which is what many Tories and Ms Mays DUP partners in government want. Either way one BBC analysis estimates the government is heading for defeat on Ms Mays withdrawal blueprint by a crushing margin of 228 votes next week. In that even she would have to come back to parliament within three days with a plan for what she does next, with MPs in a cross-party coalition aiming to put forward proposals at that point for other potential options. A: Lamperts ESL has said it will strive to keep Sears in business if it wins the bid. But even if the company liquidates, the Sears Home Services business or brands like Kenmore and DieHard could live on. ESL also has said it would bid on some pieces of the business individually. Its also possible that someone could buy Sears intellectual property and try to bring the brand back online or in bricks-and-mortar stores. The Northern Ireland secretary has been accused of using the peace process as a bargaining tool, after linking a 300m grant to the passing of Theresa Mays Brexit deal. Labour said the suggestion the money could be lost if MPs inflicted a defeat was proof that Karen Bradley would do anything to push through the prime ministers botched deal. As Northern Ireland secretary, she should be ashamed, said Labour MP Tony Lloyd, her shadow. She needs to publicly guarantee funding for the peace process irrespective of the PMs deal and apologise for such reckless and damaging comments. The controversy blew up after Ms Bradley announced a 300m package to support peace in Northern Ireland, including 109m from the EU, up to 2027. Called PEACE Plus, the programme is the post-Brexit successor to a cross-border peace-building initiative that started in 1995. However, in a newspaper article, Ms Bradley wrote that the funding flows from our joint commitment within the EU in the withdrawal agreement. It is a clear example of the certainty that the withdrawal agreement provides to the people of Northern Ireland and why it should be supported, she said. Current PEACE funding is only guaranteed until 2020, suggesting the future package was in jeopardy if MPs throw out the prime ministers deal in next Tuesdays showdown vote. Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Show all 11 1 /11 Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray (left) and a pro-Brexit protester argue as they demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A pro-Brexit protester argues Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police surround the pro-Brexit protester after he confronted Steve Bray, a pro-European protester Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A leave supporter is spoken to by a police officer as he argues with a remain supporter, Steve Bray, outside Parliament PA Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament MPs in Parliament are to vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal next week after her December vote was called off in the face of a major defeat Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A leave supporter is spoken to by a police officer PA Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police look on as anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament. Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police hold back a leave supporter PA Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A police officer speaks with anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police surround a pro-Brexit protester after he confronted a pro-European protester Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Conservative MP David Davies, wearing a gopro camera, speaks to anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray Getty Images Asked if that was the case, Mr Bradley told reporters: The legal basis upon which this can be delivered is the withdrawal agreement. It is set out in there and, if we leave the European Union without a deal, we will have difficulties in finding a way that the EU and Irish government can spend money jointly with the UK government in Northern Ireland on these important projects. She added: As a government, to spend public money you need to have a legal basis to do so. The withdrawal agreement sets that out. Thats why we should vote for the withdrawal agreement on Tuesday in the House of Commons. Mr Lloyd said: Karen Bradley is showing that she will do anything to push through the prime ministers botched deal. She is willing to use the peace process in Northern Ireland as leverage and some kind of bargaining tool. The row comes after the Democratic Unionist Party, which has 10 MPs, rejected Ms Mays plea to rethink its determination to vote against the deal on Tuesday. Because Sinn Fein refuses to take its seats at Westminster, no other Northern Ireland party will have a vote despite polls suggesting strong public support for the controversial Irish border backstop. The funding would enable work to continue on the construction of almost 1.8bn worth of projects in both Northern Ireland and Ireland. Theresa May took the unprecedented step of reaching out to trade union leaders this week as she made a desperate last-ditch bid to secure fresh backing for her Brexit deal. The prime minister spoke with Unite leader Len McCluskey and GMBs Tim Roache to try to win them over ahead of next weeks Commons vote on the proposed agreement. But almost all of the UKs trade unions have been highly critical of the prime ministers Brexit plan, and her advances were never likely to have much of an effect. Boris Johnson received a 20,000 interest-free loan from the company owned by top Tory strategist Sir Lynton Crosby, official documents reveal. The former foreign secretary, who is widely thought to be planning a leadership bid, received the sum from CTF Partners, which Sir Lynton jointly owns. The firm also donated 3,000 to Mr Johnson that was earmarked, like the loan, for "office and staffing costs", according to the latest edition of the parliamentary register of interests. The loan was received on 20 December and must be repaid by 20 January, the document says. MPs receive official funding for staff and office space relating to their parliamentary work, so the loan from CTF will fuel speculation that Mr Johnson is plotting a leadership bid. The MP and Sir Lynton have remained close since Mr Johnson's time as mayor of London. The strategist ran his two successful mayoral campaigns, in 2008 and 2012, before moving on to lead the Tories' 2015 general election campaign under David Cameron. He also worked closely with the Conservatives during the 2017 election campaign, which saw Ms May squander her Commons majority. The Australian is a divisive figure whose campaigning methods have been hotly contested. He is an advocate of strict message discipline and a fan of the so-called "dead cat strategy", which involves making a dramatic or shocking statement to distract from another issue that is deemed to be damaging. Mr Johnson resigned as foreign secretary last July over the government's Brexit plan and has been a vocal critic of the proposed withdrawal agreement. He is seen as highly likely to run to succeed Ms May as Conservative leader. Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Show all 11 1 /11 Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray (left) and a pro-Brexit protester argue as they demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A pro-Brexit protester argues Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police surround the pro-Brexit protester after he confronted Steve Bray, a pro-European protester Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A leave supporter is spoken to by a police officer as he argues with a remain supporter, Steve Bray, outside Parliament PA Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament MPs in Parliament are to vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal next week after her December vote was called off in the face of a major defeat Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A leave supporter is spoken to by a police officer PA Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police look on as anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament. Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police hold back a leave supporter PA Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A police officer speaks with anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police surround a pro-Brexit protester after he confronted a pro-European protester Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Conservative MP David Davies, wearing a gopro camera, speaks to anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray Getty Images It is unclear why the loan was needed, and Mr Johnson's team declined to comment. The Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP has a significant income, earning 275,000 a year as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph and many thousands of pounds more in royalties from his books. In November he was paid 95,000 by a US asset management company for a two-hour speech. He also earns 77,000 from his role as an MP. Labour MP Owen Smith, a supporter of the Best for Britain campaign for a fresh Brexit referendum, said: The surest indicator that we are winning the argument for a final say referendum is that the true enemies of the people people like Johnson and Crosby are getting ready their war chest to fight it. Brexit was always just a means to seize power for Johnson, Farage and the rest of them and there are always plenty of money men in the shadows ready to help them buy it. Amber Rudd has refused to rule out resigning from the cabinet if Theresa May decides to pursue a no-deal Brexit. The work and pensions secretary said she was "committed" to ensuring that the UK does not crash out of the EU without an agreement. As ministers clash over the government's "plan B" for Brexit, she refused three times to say she would stay in the government should Ms May decide to settle for no deal if MPs vote down her proposed agreement next week. The Commons is widely expected to reject the deal, with one BBC projection suggesting the government could lose the vote be a margin as big as 228. Cabinet ministers are split on how the government should respond if the vote is lost. Some are pushing for a no-deal exit while others insist this would be disastrous for the country and instead want the prime minister to opt for a softer Brexit. Asked whether she agreed with the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, that the UK would "thrive and prosper" if there was a no-deal Brexit, Ms Rudd told BBC Radio 4's Today: "This is a strong and great country, we will find a way to succeed, but I do not think that no deal would be good for this country and I'm committed to making sure that we find an alternative." She said it was "right" for the government to make preparations for a no deal, comparing it to "having a seatbelt on when we're driving a fast car". But she said: "I intend to work with colleagues to make sure we avoid it. I am committed to getting the best outcome for this country, which is supporting the prime minister's deal." It comes after Greg Clark, the business secretary, also suggested he could resign if the government opts for a no-deal Brexit, while David Lidington, Ms May's deputy, said such an outcome would cause "irreversible damage". He told the Commons: "I oppose a no-deal exit not just because of the economic harm but because I actually believe that a no-deal exit would cause profound and possibly irreversible damage to the Union of the United Kingdom. The tensions in Northern Ireland and in Scotland resulting from such an outcome would be severe." Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Show all 11 1 /11 Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray (left) and a pro-Brexit protester argue as they demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A pro-Brexit protester argues Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police surround the pro-Brexit protester after he confronted Steve Bray, a pro-European protester Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A leave supporter is spoken to by a police officer as he argues with a remain supporter, Steve Bray, outside Parliament PA Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament MPs in Parliament are to vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal next week after her December vote was called off in the face of a major defeat Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A leave supporter is spoken to by a police officer PA Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police look on as anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament. Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police hold back a leave supporter PA Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament A police officer speaks with anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Police surround a pro-Brexit protester after he confronted a pro-European protester Getty Images Police separate clashing Brexit protesters outside Parliament Conservative MP David Davies, wearing a gopro camera, speaks to anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray Getty Images The public sparring between rival ministers, many of whom are eyeing up Ms May's job after she was forced to say she will not fight the next general election, has infuriated No 10. Robbie Gibb, the prime minister's director of communications, wrote to government special advisers to tell them to stop quietly campaigning on behalf of their ministers. In a letter seen by the Daily Mail, he wrote: "No 10 worked incredibly hard and deliberately starved out the Downing Street weekend grid to give the launch of PM's NHS plan - its biggest ever cash injection - the best possible coverage. "But because of briefings and articles by ministers in Sunday papers, attention was diverted elsewhere. To add to our frustration, No 10 had no warning of two ministerial op-eds and there was a briefing on a policy change we did not approve." Insisting that "the situation cannot continue", he added: "Let me remind you that all government special advisers work for the prime minister as well as your own secretary of state. Your duty is to promote the government's message, not just your own minister's." Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Ms Rudd also confirmed that she will scrap the retrospective two-child limit for people on Universal Credit. The policy restricted benefits to a recipient's first two children, even if they had exceeded the limit before the policy was introduced. She said: "I don't think that's reasonable. I want to make sure our welfare system is compassionate and that seemed like a good example of making sure that we don't introduce that." A legal challenge against fracking firm Cuadrillas environmental permit to drill for shale gas in Lancashire has been rejected by the High Court. Environmental charity Friends of the Earth said the Environment Agency (EA) had failed in its duty to promote the best available techniques to reduce the impact of controversial gas extraction at the Preston New Road site. It argued the permit granted to the oil and gas exploration and production company was not based on sufficient evidence that it would effectively deal with contaminated waste fluid. The group said the EA should have considered other techniques that produce less waste when it considered the firms application in 2017. Instead of existing measures, the campaigners said the EA should have required a technique for dealing with water known as flowback, which results in less water use and less waste. Recommended Activists launch legal challenge against Cuadrilla fracking permit However, the judge did not uphold the challenge and suggested that it should have been made when the original permit was granted two years previously. Were obviously disappointed that the judge has not upheld our challenge. However we will continue to scrutinise the fracking industry closely, said Tony Bosworth, a Friends of the Earth campaigner. The government claims that fracking has gold standard regulation but there are many examples of shortcomings in the actual regulations and problems in their implementation. Mark Lappin, technical director at Cuadrilla, said: We welcome this judgment in our favour. We will continue to operate within the permits and regulations in place at our shale gas exploration site in Preston New Road. An Environment Agency spokesperson said the ruling "affirmed that we correctly made our decision to approve changes to the environmental permit for hydraulic fracturing operations at Preston New Road". Fracking at Preston New Road is expected to continue this year after gas was extracted there towards the end of 2018. The site has been a target for protesters, and drilling has been brought to a halt repeatedly after earth tremors at the site exceeded legal limits. How fracking works and where it could happen Show all 2 1 /2 How fracking works and where it could happen How fracking works and where it could happen 02-FrackingHowItWorks.jpg How fracking works and where it could happen 02-FrackingMapWeb.jpg There have already been two unsuccessful attempts to stop proceedings at the site by groups unhappy about the local and environmental impacts of fracking. The government supports drilling for shale gas, arguing it is essential to ensure future fuel security for the UK. However, many MPs and local councils including Conservatives have been vocal in their opposition. Greater Manchester announced last week it would essentially ban fracking altogether. Vivienne Westwood joins anti-fracking protest outside Courts of Justice Besides the fear of excessive water consumption and contamination, environmental groups say investing in fracking will lock the country into a future of fossil fuel use. With scientists warning that there is little time left to get on top of climate change, the government is backing the wrong horse in supporting fracking. The future lies in clean, renewable energy, said Mr Bosworth. A British hacker who launched a cyberattack inadvertently knocking out the internet across the whole of Liberia, has been jailed for two and a half years. Daniel Kaye was hired in 2015 by Cellcom, a telecoms company, to launch a series of debilitating cyberattacks on rival firm Lonestar, a Liberian phone and internet provider. The self-taught hacker was paid 30,000 by the company to disrupt Lonestars services between October 2016 and February 2017. Britains National Crime Agency (NCA) said the attack overwhelmed the Liberian firms computer network and cost it tens of millions of dollars as it fought the distributed denial of service (DDoS) assaults on its computer network In November 2016, the impact of the attack disabled internet connections across Liberia, in what is thought to be the first ever instance of a single hacker disabling an entire nations internet access,. 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 Hundreds of thousands of internet-ready devices are in effect taken away from their usual use, prosecutor Robin Sellers told Blackfriars Crown Court. Kaye carried out his plan by adapting a powerful computer virus into a botnet, which turned thousands of devices connected to the internet into zombies, the court heard. A botnet is a collection of computers that have had malicious software installed on them, thereby allowing someone to direct them as a group from afar. Incredibly high traffic resulting from the botnet caused the internet outage in Liberia. The 30-year-old launched the cyberattacks from Cyprus, where he was living at the time. A European Arrest Warrant was issued for Kaye and when he returned to the UK in February 2017, he was arrested by NCA officers, following an investigation involving the NCAs German counterpart, the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA). Sentencing, Judge Alexander Hugh Milne QC said Kaye had pursued a large scale unlawful attack on Lonestars computer systems. You were paid by a rival company to disrupt and undermine the legitimate business of Lonestar, he said. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events He said Kayes actions were a cynical and financially-driven attack upon a legitimate business enterprise. Daniel Kaye was operating as a highly skilled and capable hacker-for-hire, Mike Hulett of the NCA. His activities inflicted substantial damage on numerous businesses in countries around the world, demonstrating the borderless nature of cyber crime. Investigators in Britain, Germany and Cyprus were involved in the effort to jail Kaye, who wept during his sentencing hearing on Friday. Agencies contributed to this report Nothing was done to prevent the London Bridge attackers using a hire vehicle and knives to launch the atrocity despite the same tactics being used months before in Westminster, an inquest has heard. A lawyer representing victims families said they want answers as to why barriers were not erected on bridges in the capital in the wake of the deadly attack outside the Houses of Parliament in March 2017. A hearing at the Old Bailey was told bereaved relatives also want to know why rental companies did not introduce security checks following the use of hire vehicles in a series of Isis-inspired atrocities across Europe. Gareth Patterson QC, representing several victims families, told the court: Protective security is of real significance the issues that emerged in Westminster appear to have resulted in nothing by way of additional regulations. The Westminster attack, in March 2017, saw Khalid Masood plough a hired 4x4 into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer to death. An inquest into that attack heard that authorities did not consider bridges to be a specific target, and so did not increase security. The day after the London Bridge attack, however, work started on erecting metal barriers on all major bridges in the capital. There had also been calls to introduce security checks for people attempting to hire vehicles, following Isis propaganda on how to use them to commit atrocities. Nothing was done from the Westminster attack in March to this one over two months later, Mr Patterson told journalists after the hearing. Businesses are renting out vehicles that can be used as lethal weapons, weve had them used in terrorist attack after terrorist attack. The pavements of London Bridge were left wide open. Met police officer describes taking on the London Bridge terrorists The inquest will also consider how ringleader Khuram Butt was able to attack despite being under MI5 surveillance as a known Islamist extremist. The fact that Butt was able to plan and launch this attack while under active investigation is a very troubling and significant issue, Mr Patterson said. On 3 June 2017 Butt, Moroccan-Italian Youssef Zaghba and Moroccan Rachid Redouane ploughed a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge before crashing and going on a knife rampage in Borough Market. The terrorists had loaded the van with petrol bombs, the inquest heard, but they were not used and did not explode on impact. They killed eight victims on what had been a busy Saturday night in the area, as Londoners and tourists filled pubs, bars and restaurants. Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquests, said they would be considering what authorities knew about the three attackers before the atrocity. The inquests will consider how Xavier Thomas, Christine Archibald, James McMullan, Alexandre Pigeard, Kirsty Boden, Sebastien Belanger, Sara Zelenak and Ignacio Echeverria Miralles de Imperial died and what can be done to prevent another atrocity in the future. London Bridge Terror Attack Show all 16 1 /16 London Bridge Terror Attack London Bridge Terror Attack Armed police on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Police Officers outside the Barrowboy and Banker Public House on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Armed police on Borough High Street as police deal with a 'major incident' at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Emergency services near the scene of the incident Screengrab London Bridge Terror Attack People run down Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge Reuters London Bridge Terror Attack Emergency services arrive at the scene near Borough market at London Bridge Carl Court/Getty Images London Bridge Terror Attack Emergency personnel on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack Police sniffer dogs on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge PA London Bridge Terror Attack A second helicopter lands on London Bridge as police are responding to three incidents in the capital, amid reports that a vehicle collided with pedestrians on London Bridge, Scotland Yard said. Officers are dealing with reports of stabbings in Borough Market, where armed officers attended and shots were fired. They are also at an incident in the Vauxhall area PA London Bridge Terror Attack Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London REUTERS London Bridge Terror Attack Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain Reuters London Bridge Terror Attack A police officer escorts members of the public to safety at London Bridge Getty Images London Bridge Terror Attack Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain Reuters London Bridge Terror Attack Police attend to an incident near London Bridge in London, Britain Reuters A separate inquest will be held afterwards into the deaths of the three attackers, who were shot dead by armed police and may have taken steroids. Recommended London Bridge attackers may have taken steroids before rampage The chief coroner of England and Wales, Judge Mark Lucraft QC, said the inquests would begin on 7 May and are expected to take about two months in total. He refused an anonymity application by a relative of Butt, but said that if the man is called as a witness he may request special measures to protect aspects of his identity. The inquests will be broadcast via video link to victims relatives who live outside the UK and transcripts of hearings will be published on a public website. Fresh claims against serial killer Levi Bellfield are to be investigated after several women came forward to allege they had also been attacked by him. They came forward after watching the ITV drama Manhunt which was based on the memoirs of the police officer who eventually saw Bellfield jailed for life for the murders of 13-year-old Milly Dowler, 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell and French student Amelie Delagrange. Martin Clunes played dogged detective chief inspector Colin Sutton. A spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police said the women who have come forward following the show will "be assessed by officers from the child abuse and sexual offences command. DCI Sutton, who has retired since the case, said he personally, had been approached by three women on Twitter, to say "I was attacked by Levi Bellfield and I never reported it to police". He said: "Ive made contact with them ... and Ive made arrangements to speak to those who want to be spoken to and to try and help them." He added: Its not a complete surprise, to be honest. We just dont know what the boundaries of this mans offending were. He has previously claimed that police had evidence Bellfield had committed more crimes than those he was convicted of. Last month, a report by Hillingdon Council in west London which linked Bellfield to a local paedophile grooming gang was published for the first time by The Sunday Times. A National Crime Agency report leaked two years ago, also connected the serial killer to at least 24 violent assaults against women over 20 years before he was imprisoned in 2008. Marsha McDonnell, one of the women murdered by Levi Bellfield (PA) Martin Clunes as Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton in ITVs drama Manhunt (ITV) These included six rapes of teenage girls, three rapes of older women, an attempted murder, one kidnap, an indecent assault and three hammer attacks. Both McDonnell and Delagrange were murdered by Bellfield by being beaten over the head with a hammer or other blunt instrument. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In 2016, 10 police forces across Britain spent months looking into unsolved rapes and murders which Bellfield had reportedly confessed to in prison. However, the investigations were ended after detectives concluded there was no evidence to link him to any case for which he has not already been convicted. A planet near our own could support primitive life, scientists have announced. The nearby world orbiting around Barnards Star, the second closest star system to our own is known as a super-Earth and has the potential to serve as a home for simple alien life, researchers have said. The planet is probably very cold, at minus 170 degrees centigrade. But it could be a better home than we had realised when it was discovered: if it has a big iron and nickle core and geothermal activity, as scientists predict, it might be able to harbour primitive life. That is according to Villanova University astrophysicists Edward Guinan and Scott Engle who announced their findings at a major meeting of astronomers. The researchers suggest that the planet, known as Barnard b, might be surprisingly habitable as a result of the processes that are happening underneath its surface. Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427 more commonly known as WR 124 and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region Geothermal heating could support 'life zones' under its surface, akin to subsurface lakes found in Antarctica, Guinan said. We note that the surface temperature on Jupiters icy moon Europa is similar to Barnard b but, because of tidal heating, Europa probably has liquid oceans under its icy surface. Scientists announced the discovery of Barnard's b in November, but it was described as being very hostile to any possible life: it is an icy desert, without liquid water, where the sun shines only dimly and the temperature is cold enough to kill any life that might flourish. But the suggestion of heat flowing from underneath its surface could make it a better home than they thought. The planet has a mass just over three times that of the Earth, and goes around its star every 233 days, at roughly the same distance that Mercury orbits the Sun. Researchers now hope they can look more at the planet in an attempt to understand its "atmosphere, surface, and potential habitability". It is very faint in the sky, but future large telescopes could allow us to get a better look at it. Whatever they find in the future, the planet has already shown us that such planets might be more common than we'd realised, suggesting that yet more of them are waiting to be found. The most significant aspect of the discovery of Barnards star b is that the two nearest star systems to the Sun are now known to host planets. This supports previous studies based on Kepler Mission data, inferring that planets can be very common throughout the galaxy, even numbering in the tens of billions, Engle said. Also, Barnards Star is about twice as old as the Sun about 9 billion years old compared to 4.6 billion years for the Sun. The universe has been producing Earth-size planets far longer than we, or even the Sun itself, have existed. The NHS is failing children and young people with mental health conditions by rejecting them for not having severe enough symptoms and then leaving them to reach crisis point, MPs have warned. Currently only three out of 10 children are getting the treatment they need, and those that do access support face unacceptably long waits, a report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said. The committee found that children who are denied NHS support are currently not kept track of and are not routinely directed to other services that could help them. NHS services are turning away many children and young people because their condition is not considered severe enough to warrant access to overstretched services, even though it can later deteriorate to a point of crisis, the report warns. NHS plans set out in the Forward View for Mental Health committed to boost treatment by 2022 but would still leave two thirds (65 per cent) of those with a diagnosed mental health condition unsupported, MPs said. On Monday the NHS published its long-term plan for revolutionising services over the next decade, including a commitment for an additional 350,000 young people to access counselling. However, the report warn action is needed immediately and these ambitious plans are hamstrung by a workforce roadblock and the inability to recruit mental health nurses made worse by the removal of the nursing bursary. Children and young people with mental health conditions are being failed by the NHS, Labours Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the PAC, said. NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Show all 25 1 /25 NHS in Crisis march: in pictures NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Protesters call on the government to reverse cuts to the NHS. Rex NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators dressed as an undertaker and carrying a fake coffin. Getty Images NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators gather on Gover Street in central London ahead of a march towards Downing Street to protest against underfunding and privatisation of the NHS and demand an end to the winter crisis in the health service. Rex NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Health workers and NHS campaigners march through London to a rally outside Downing Street. Rex NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Thousands of protesters marched during the demonstration organised by 'The People's Assembly Against Austerity' campaign group that called for better funding for the National Health Service (NHS) to end the 'winter crisis' in the national health care system. EPA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A Boris Johnson impersonator lies in a makeshift hospital bed next to an effigy of Theresa May during a People's Assembly demonstration against the Conservative government's health policy. Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A demonstrator in a mobility scooter carries a placard. Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators take part in a emergency NHS 'Fix It Now' protest demanding an end to the funding crisis in the Health Service. Rex NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators take part in pro-NHS march and protest towards Downing Street in Central London. EPA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A protestor carries a placard featuring Britain's Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures The demonstration is focused on the current crisis in the National Health Service. Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators hold placards and set off flares . Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A demonstrator carries a cardboard skeleton wearing an ambulance uniform . Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators hold placards during a People's Assembly demonstration against the Conservative government's health policy Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures The Government will be urged to provide more beds, staff and funds to ease the problems facing the service. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Protestors gather calling for an end to the "crisis" in the NHS. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth M joins people taking part in the march. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A placard reading 'Nurses with fight for the NHS'. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Protestors carry placards and shout slogans. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures People march through central London. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures People take part in a march in London in support of the National Health Service. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures People hold up a sign in support of the National Health Service to demand an end to the "crisis" in the NHS. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Protestors carry placards featuring Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and Britain's Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures People take part in a march in London in support of the National Health Service. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators carry placards . Getty Provision is far below required levels and many people who do get help face long waits for treatment. This can be devastating for peoples life chances, their physical health, education and work prospects. We will be keeping a close eye on the real-world impact of the measures proposed in the governments 10-year plan for the NHS. Anne Longfield, Childrens Commissioner for England, said the government must be more ambitious about mental-health funding because too many children are failing to receive any support at all. She added: The NHS 10 year plan will improve access to CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) for more children, but until the government can guarantee that all children will get the specialist help they need, every year thousands of children will still miss out on treatment. The family of a girl who is suspected to have died from air pollution has been given permission to apply for a fresh inquest into her death. Ella Kissi-Debrah died in 2013 after battling severe asthma and seizures for years. She lived just 25 metres from Londons South Circular road, a notorious pollution hotspot. The original inquest into the nine-year-olds death concluded she died from acute respiratory failure, but an expert who has examined the case believes the illegally high levels of air pollution she was forced to breathe caused her fatal asthma attacks. After launchig a campaign including collecting 100,000 signatures in a petition Ellas mother has persuaded the attorney general to give her permission to apply to the High Court for a new inquest. No one has ever officially died from air pollution before and lawyers for the family said the development marks an important step. For me, this case gives an opportunity for those people in public office protecting our health to be asked questions and to be held to account and to come up with solutions so we can move towards cleaning up the air as quickly as possible, Jocelyn Cockburn, a human rights lawyer who represents Ellas family, told the BBC. Ellas mother, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, said the decision would allow society to begin to get to the bottom of the how air pollution was damaging the health of young people. Hopefully if we are successful, national government, local government and individuals have to do something about cleaning up the air. It is unacceptable that children in Britain today die from asthma." Ella Kissi-Debrah, who suffered a fatal asthma attack aged nine, and her mother Rosamund (Evening Standard) The attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, said new evidence presented by Ellas family proved a new inquest could alter the substantial truth of Ellas death. New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels Show all 14 1 /14 New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels India's Rashtrapati Bhawan is partly visible due to smog as traffic plies on Rajapth. Smog levels spike during winter in Delhi, when air quality often eclipses the World Health Organization's safe levels AP New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels Cooler air traps pollutants -- such as from vehicles, building sites and farmers burning crops in regions outside the Indian capital -- close to the ground AP New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels A man wearing a protective mask walks amidst smog in the early morning in New Delhi Reuters New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels Indian people receive treatment for respiratory problems at a hospital in New Delhi AFP/Getty New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels Buildings shrouded in smog Reuters New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels A combination of pictures showing people wearing face masks to protect themselves against air pollution AFP/Getty New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels Indian workers are seen in the morning smog as they clean a lane littered with remains of firecrackers AP New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels Smog envelopes the horizon in New Delhi AP New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels Motorists on a busy road amid heavy smog AFP/Getty New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels A man cycles past a government building amid heavy smog AFP/Getty New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels Commuters are seen amid heavy smog in New Delhi AFP/Getty New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels An Indian shepherd walks along his herd of sheep amidst heavy smog AFP/Getty New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels A train moves through heavy smog EPA New Delhi toxic smog pushes air pollution to peak levels A pedestrian crosses a road near the Indian President's house AFP/Getty I am therefore able to give my permission for an application to the High Court to request a new inquest, based on the evidential test being met. Although Mr Cox does not have the power to order a new inquest himself, it is likely the High Court will follow his lead and begin new coronal proceedings. Ella often walked to school along the South Circular, spending up to 40 minutes among the traffic fumes on the heavily congested route. The nine-year-old was not born with asthma, but after experiencing a coughing fit in 2010 her health quickly deteriorated and she was admitted to hospital 27 times in the next three years. A report by Professor Stephen Holgate, an expert on asthma and air pollution from University Hospital Southampton, concluded last year there was a real prospect that without unlawful levels of air pollution, Ella would not have died. There was a striking association between when the girl was admitted to hospital and spikes in the most dangerous air pollutants recorded by government monitoring stations near her home. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events At the time, Professor Holgate said: Nobody wants to see a young child die. If we can just establish a strong case for causality then it adds another reason for why we have to protect young children against ambient pollution, which obviously in some points of London and other cities is very serious. In 2017, London's air was so dirty it breached the annual limit for pollution just five days into the year, researchers from King's College London found. One site on Brixton Road, close to where Ella lived, broke the hourly limits for nitrogen dioxide concentrations 24 times over in the same five days. The pollutant mostly comes from diesel engines in car and lorries. Manufacturing output fell for a fifth straight month in November, helping to drag the rate of GDP growth down to just 0.3 per cent. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that the sector contracted by 0.3 per cent in the month, with poor performances by the car industry and pharmaceuticals highlighted. Construction grew by 0.6 per cent and services by 0.3 per cent in the month, strengthening slightly from October. However, the quarterly rate of GDP growth fell to 0.3 per cent, the weakest in six months. Analysts expect overall growth in the final quarter of 2018 to collapse to 0.2 per cent or 0.1 per cent, down from the 0.6 per cent expansion recorded in the third quarter. It is possible that growth will slow further in Q1 as that is presumably when the Brexit uncertainty will be greatest, said Paul Dales of Capital Economics. What happens next depends on Brexit. Mike Jakeman of PwC said: The clear loss of momentum in the UK economy since the summer is as expected, given the ongoing lack of clarity on Brexit. For as long as this remains unclear, businesses will continue to defer major investment plans and households will reconsider making big-ticket purchases. The most recent survey of manufacturers showed a pick-up in activity in December, but this was driven by stock-building by firms ahead of a possible no-deal Brexit in March. Fifth month of contraction Separately on Friday, the ONS reported that the goods trade balance in the three months to November came in at 34.6bn, broadly similar to the previous three months. Goods exports were up 1.7 per cent and imports 1.1 per cent higher. The UK car industry announced a slew of redundancies this week, with Jaguar Land Rover announcing 4,500 cuts, predominantly in the UK, and Ford reducing staff across Europe. And Honda announced it will pause production at its Swindon plant in April in anticipation of possible border disruption on 29 March. The ONS said there was a 4.3 per cent fall in the production of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers in November. The sector has been hit by Brexit uncertainty but also the China slowdown and the slump in diesel vehicle demand. Varun Bhanot had been working at Hubble, a startup that helps businesses find office space, for four years when he decided to start his own venture selling clothes for the homeless. It had been a good year for Bhanot. He had asked his long-term girlfriend to marry him in an elaborate proposal involving a helicopter and a crop circle, and she had said yes. The couple felt lucky that their lives had turned out so well and wanted to do something to help others less fortunate. Anisha Seth, Bhanots fiancee, had been involved in diversity initiatives at EY, where she worked as a tax advisor, and volunteered outside work. In October, after almost a year of planning, they launched Unhoused.org, an online retailer where for every item bought, another is donated someone without a home. People sometimes suffer from fatigue, where there are so many opportunities to give but you never see where it ends up going and how it helps people, Bhanot says. So we thought why dont we build this transparent process where you can follow your donation to the end. Homelessness in the UK has increased every year since 2012 to hit a record high in 2017, with 170,000 people suffering destitution, according to the charity Crisis. Cuts to mental health and addiction services, alongside the rollout of universal credit and the housing shortage have created a crisis which has contributed to 12,300 rough sleepers double the amount in 2012. Yet many homeless people find that passersby have no change to give as the use of cash decreases. More than 250 free cash machines are disappearing a month, according to the network co-ordinator Link, while cash transactions are expected to drop from 40 per cent in 2018 to as low as 21 per cent in 2026. A growing number of enterprises are emerging, harnessing contactless and other technologies to fill in the gaps. In London, the mayor has supported TAP payment points around the city where people can make a small donation of 3 which is distribute to a coalition of charities. Other enterprises, like Unhoused.org, are founded on the notion that people want to see what happens to money they donate. Bhanot and Seth have been hand-delivering donated socks, vest and hoodies to three charity partners in east London and posting photos of the handover on their Instagram and Twitter feeds. So far Unhoused.org, which is a not-for-profit, has donated everything from hoodies, packs of unisex socks and smart white shirts that can be used for job interviews. Givers who dont want to buy one of the items listed on the website can still donate, Bhanot says: Customers can order haircuts, Christmas jumpers, and Starbucks coffees. He adds: Luckily our partners have been really honest and they recognised that people want that feedback loop, people want to feel good and know they have impacted someones lives. In August, a social innovation project in partnership with Oxford University called Greater Change introduced a QR code, similar to the codes issued for online tickets, for homeless people to accept contactless payments. Givers with no change can swipe the code using their phones to make an online payment that goes into an account managed by a local charity, where someone works with the homeless person on achieving their goals. Greater Change also offers givers a window into the lives of the people they are trying to support. Scanning the QR code brings up the story of the person in need, including their goals and why they ended up on the streets. Beam, a crowdfunding platform for the homeless launched in 2017, works on the principle that donations are more powerful when they are put together towards training and employment, helping someone off the streets for good. Founder Alex Stephany said his model stops homeless people from becoming an object of pity by offering givers the change to invest in someones future. Recommended Campaign launched to get homeless people back into work The beauty of the model is we are able to raise funds to spend on employment training or barriers like childcare for a single mum, or a hard hat for someone who wants to get into construction, Stephany says. As people donate it sends a message to the members that people care and they want them to succeed. Its new financial capital, but also new social networks with people. Some say the use of this kind of tech humanises the homeless. But little research has been done into whether all those in precarious living situations want to share their stories, or whether those who give want to know more. I so rarely hear the voice of homeless people. We hear from the corporate voice, Marloes Nicholls, head of programmes at the Finance Innovation Lab, which supports entrepreneurs, told Wired in August. Often, ventures to help the homeless are started by people far removed from the situation, who may be looking to assuage guilt on the part of the giver rather than addressing the original need. By Christmas 2018, Unhoused.org was approaching 1,500 orders. So far, Bhanot and Seth have delivered every order by hand. Its really humbling, Bhanot says. To be honest it can be scary, you dont know how people will receive it. Some people arent so open to taking things as others are. But when we said this was just one batch and theres more, people were really happy. Unhoused.org currently works with three local charities including Sewa UK, an organisation supporting the Hindu tradition of giving. Bali Bhalla, the secretary of Sewa Week, says they were delighted to work with Unhoused.org. We always hear of cool technology businesses in the news, but the problem is that charities tend to be the last to benefit from these innovations, he says. Its these kinds of fresh business ideas that will probably end up shaping our future. Remember the days when youd just step on a simple analog scale and watch where the needle went? If only modern life were so simple. Buying a bathroom scale now entails sifting through a bewildering batch of options, from hi-tech gizmos that analyze fat, bone, water and muscle mass and sync with smartphone apps, to design-led appliances crafted from bamboo or twinkling with rhinestones. How on earth are you supposed to choose? When testing the markets myriad offerings, we put front and center the principle reason for buying a scale: accurate weight readings. We did this by stepping onto each scale several times at five-minute intervals to check consistency, and compared measurements with those recorded at our local health club. We then took into consideration the price, ease of set-up, aesthetics, and true value of bells and whistles (do you really need your bathroom scales to provide a weather report?). Ultimately, the right scale for you depends on your goals: do you want to minutely track every aspect of your health day in, day out? Or do you just want to keep an eye on how much you weigh? This list includes scales to suit everyone from the most tech-savvy health nut to the everyday luddite. 1. EatSmart GetFit, $39.95, EatSmart Its not the most complex model, but EatSmarts GetFit digital scale packs enhanced functionality (body composition analysis), large memory (stores data for up to eight users) and sleek design (slim profile, black glass platform) into one affordable, unfussy package. Four AAA batteries and two simple touchscreen commands are all thats required for set-up, and it was one of only two scales tested to return exactly the same weight readings on every try (body composition stats were consistent within 0.2 of a percent). Composition analysis relies on an electrical pulse sent through the lower half of the body to estimate percentages, based on how fast the pulse travels (an electrical pulse flows more quickly through water and muscle than bone or fat). EatSmarts user guide was one of only two to readily admit this has limitations (the other was Weight Watchers/ConAir), and provides suggestions for increasing its accuracy (such as paying attention to hydration and room temperature). Points against include that it only works on hard surfaces and the composition analysis renders it unsafe for pregnant women or people with pacemakers. But as one of the cheapest and most accurate scales we tested, the Best Buy label is well-deserved. Buy now 2. QardioBase 2: $149.99, Qardio If youre set on a fancy smart scale, the QardioBase 2 is most impressive, if also most expensive. It works on carpet as well as hard floors, runs on a rechargeable battery with USB charging cable included, and looks particularly slick: the glass, circular design includes a hidden display that only appears when in use, and comes in Arctic White or Volcanic Black. QardioBase 2 also includes safe modes for pregnant users and those with pacemakers. Yes, you have to go through the rigmarole of syncing it with the Qardio app, but this is fairly straightforward and online troubleshooting was fast and helpful when tested. Once youre synced, the app logs all your weigh-ins, shows you where your BMI is on a scale ranging from underweight to obese, and can integrate with Apple Health. The scale logs information for up to eight users, and returned weight readings consistent within a couple of ounces. Bits we could do without: the digital smiley face that winks every time you get on, and the whirring sound accompanying each weigh-in. Buy now 3. Conair TH100s: $39.99, Amazon If even a digital scale is too techie for you, the TH100s is a good pick for analog fans. The large, 65 diameter dial allows users to read measurements easily (give or take a couple of pounds), and the one-paragraph instructions for use make a welcome change to smart scale syncing. Still, it can only be used on a hard surface and we get the feeling the painted silver finish could chip. Accuracy of readings depends how close an eye you keep on the needle - it can jump backwards or forwards at the smallest provocation (such as moving the scale very slightly or standing on a creaky floorboard). But when we started the needle precisely on 0 (using a super-low-tech adjustment wheel at the base), the TH100s gave weight readings consistent with smart scales. That said, it costs about the same as our Best Buy pick, a digital scale, so seems a tad overpriced. Buy now 4. Aria 2: $129.95, FitBit One for fitness obsessives, the Aria 2 syncs to the FitBit app (as well as FitBit watches and wristbands), so your weight and BMI measurements will be saved alongside exercise tracking, food logging and goal-setting, and you can even compete with other FitBit users for motivation. Itll also track trends with charts and graphs. FitBits MO is to make fitness an all day, everyday pursuit as opposed to a few hours in the gym - so if that sounds like hell, avoid. If, however, your body is a finely-tuned temple, and you want to track your every move and earn achievement badges, Aria 2 is for you. Design-wise, the scales wouldnt look out of place on a spaceship - the porthole-like display is fresh and slightly futuristic, and you can choose between a black or white finish for the polished glass platform. Itll save readings for up to eight users, but for such a high-spec brand, Aria 2 is a bit behind the times: it needs AAA batteries, requires a hard surface, and isnt suitable for pregnant users or people with pacemakers. Also, our weight recorded slightly differently each time we used it, varying by a few pounds. The FitBit app is beautifully designed, though, and we liked the animated feet icons on the display that prompt you when to get on and off. Buy now 5. Weight Watchers Body Analysis Scale : $39.99, Weight Watchers (Weight Watchers (Weight Watchers) Perhaps not the prettiest, but, like the EatSmart, this Weight Watchers effort delivers useful functionality at a good price. Users need only tap the glass with their foot to wake up the scales, and use four simple buttons to customize settings: pregnant women and people with pacemakers should use the weight only option, while others can track water, fat, muscle and bone percentages, together with BMI scores. The scales are capable of storing data for up to four people. The booklet also includes a handy guide to what body composition analysis percentages actually mean, according to age and gender. Not so great is that the blue LCD display and chrome/stainless steel accents on glass look a bit dated. But weight readings were consistent within a couple of ounces. Buy now 6. Nokia Body+: $99.95, Nokia Health Finnish communications and IT giant Nokia expanded into digital health products last summer, launching with an app, blood pressure monitor and this Body+ scale. The clean, glass-topped design is slightly bulkier than the Qardio and the Aria, but still pulls off stylish and contemporary; plus, it comes with attachable carpet feet, so it works on different surfaces. Syncing took a little longer than with other smart scales, but once set up, users can personalize what the scales measure (so you can get rid of the needless weather forecast and track everything from BMI to step count). We like that as well as logging measurements in the Nokia app (which offers wellness programs for weight, sleep, activity, pregnancy and healthier heart/blood pressure), the scales are compatible with other apps like MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper. Theres also a pregnancy mode and even a baby mode for weighing infants. However, no two measurements we took on this scale were the same, with both weight and composition percentages fluctuating slightly. On the other hand, this is the cheapest of our picks in the smart scale category. Operates on AAA batteries and stores measurements for up to eight users. Buy now 7. Renpho Smart Scale: $29.99, Amazon This one's an absolute steal! It looks, works, and feels like something a lot more expensive, but it's not! The same price as the EatSmart basic digital scale, but it comes with all sorts of goodies. 13 essential body measurements, phone connectivity, and is a great pair to any of your apps. This is the type of purchase you feel smart about afterwards. Buy now The Verdict: EatSmart GetFit Though the smart scales offer all kinds of functionality, this premium-looking body composition scale is around a quarter of the price, and just as accurate (if not more so). IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing. The first trailer for a brand new horror film expected to storm Sundance Film Festival has arrived and its as creepy as fans of the genre would hope. Directed by Irish filmmaker Lee Cronin, The Hole in the Ground produced by powerhouse indie studio A24 (Lady Bird, Eighth Grade) is set to receive its world premiere at the festival later this month. The synopsis reads as follows: "Trying to escape her broken past, Sarah ONeill (Seana Kerslake) is building a new life on the fringes of a backwoods rural town with her young son Chris (James Quinn Markey). A terrifying encounter with a mysterious neighbour shatters her fragile security, throwing Sarah into a spiralling nightmare of paranoia and mistrust, as she tries to uncover if the disturbing changes in her little boy are connected to an ominous sinkhole buried deep in the forest that borders their home. Expect word-of-mouth to trickle out upon its first screening at the Utah event ahead of its UK release in March. Could it be this years Hereditary? Ari Asters acclaimed horror, which stars Toni Collette, premiered as part of the festivals Midnight section in 2018, leading to feverish excitement in the following months. The 65 best movie insults of all time Show all 65 1 /65 The 65 best movie insults of all time The 65 best movie insults of all time Avengers Assemble (2012) "This is my bargain, you mewling quim." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) "Hey, where'd you get those clothes, the toilet store?" DreamWorks Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) "How could you sleep with Fat Bastard? No, I mean, literally, how could you do it? He's so fat, the sheer mechanics of it are mind-boggling." New Line Cinema The 65 best movie insults of all time Bad Moms (2016) "Well, you look like a bag of d***s" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Bad Santa (2003) Youre an emotional f***ing cripple. Your soul is dogs***. Every single f***ing thing about you is ugly. REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Blade: Trinity (2004) "You c*ck-juggling thunderc***!" New Line Cinema The 65 best movie insults of all time The Breakfast Club (1985) "Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?" Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) "If staying here means working within 10 yards of you, frankly, I'd rather have a job wiping Saddam Hussein's arse." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Bull Durham (1988) "From what I hear, you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a f***ing boat." Orion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Burn After Reading (2008) "I have a drinking problem? F*** you, Peck. Compared to you we all have a drinking problem." Macall Polay The 65 best movie insults of all time The Campaign (2012) "You know what the difference between your momma and a washing machine is? When I dump a load in a machine, the machine doesn't follow me around for three weeks." Warner Bros Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Casino (1995) "You horse manure smelling motherf***er, you." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time The Cat in the Hat (2003) "Do you know how hard it is telling people were related?" DreamWorks Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Closer (2004) "Go f*** yourself, you WRITER!" Columbia Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Clueless (1995) "Youre a virgin and you cant drive." Paramount Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Con Air (1997) "You're somewhere between a cockroach and that white stuff that accumulates at the corner of your mouth when you're really thirsty." Buena Vista Pictures Distribution The 65 best movie insults of all time The Death of Stalin (2017) "You smell like rendered horse, you burning a**hole." eOne Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Donnie Darko (2001) "You can go suck a f***." Pandora Cinema The 65 best movie insults of all time Duck Soup (1933) "He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don't let that fool you he really is an idiot." Paramount Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Easy A (2010) "Don't you think it's a little strange that your boyfriend is 22-years-old and still in high school?" Screen Gems The 65 best movie insults of all time Erin Brockovich (2000) "That's all you got, lady - two wrong feet and f***ing ugly shoes." Columbia Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Escape Plan (2013) "You hit like a vegetarian" The 65 best movie insults of all time The Favourite (2018) "You look like a badger." Fox Searchlight Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time A Fish Called Wanda (1988) "To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people." The 65 best movie insults of all time Full Metal Jacket (1987) "You climb like old people f***, Private Pile." ColumbiaCannonWarner The 65 best movie insults of all time Gangs of New York (2002) I dont give a tuppeny f*** about your moral conundrum, you meat-headed s*** sack. Miramax Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) "You're in more dire need of a blowjob than any white man in history" Buena Vista Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time The Hangover (2009) "You are literally too stupid to insult." Warner Bros. Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time His Girl Friday (1940) "Listen, you insignificant, square-toed, pimple-headed spy!" Columbia Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Home Alone (1990) "You're what the French call: 'les incompetents'." DON SMETZER/20TH CENTURY FOX/The Kobal Collection/WireImage.com The 65 best movie insults of all time In Bruges (2008) "YOU'RE AN INANIMATE F***ING OBJECT!" Universal Studios/Focus Features The 65 best movie insults of all time In the Loop (2009) "Allow me to pop a jaunty little bonnet on your purview and ram it up your a*** with a lubricated horse c***." IFC Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) "I should have had you wear double condoms. Well, we shouldn't have done it in the first place, but if you ever do it again, which as a favour to women everywhere, you should not, but if you do, you should be wearing condom on condom, and then wrap it in electrical tape. You should just walk around always inside a great big condom because you are s***!" CBS Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) Perry: "Look up 'idiot' in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?" : "Look up 'idiot' in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?" Harry: "A picture of me?" Perry: "No! The definition of the word idiot, which you f***ing are." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Knocked Up "Your face looks like Robin Williams' knuckles. The 65 best movie insults of all time The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) "Were you always this stupid or did you take lessons?" The 65 best movie insults of all time The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) "My great aunt Jennifer ate a whole box of candy every day of her life. She lived to be 102 and when she'd been dead three days, she looked better than you do now." Warner Bros. The 65 best movie insults of all time Matilda (1996) "Your mummy is a TWIT." TriStar Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time The Mist (2007) Ill tell you what. The day I need a friend like you, Ill just have myself a little squat and s*** one out. REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries." EMI Films The 65 best movie insults of all time National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d***less, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey s*** he is." The 65 best movie insults of all time Parenthood (1989) "I wouldn't live with you if the world were flooded with piss and you lived in a tree." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Phantom Thread (2018) "Are you a special agent sent here to ruin my evening and possibly my entire life?" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Point Break (1991) "You're a real blue flame special, aren't you, son? Young, dumb and full of cum. What I don't know is how you got assigned here. Guess we must just have ourselves an asshole shortage, huh?" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time The Princess Bride (1987) "I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon." Vestron Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Roxanne (1987) "Is that your nose or did a bus park on your face?" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Say Anything (1989) "I got a question: if you guys know so much about women, how come you're here on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?" The 65 best movie insults of all time Scarface (1983) "Even if I were blind, desperate, starved and begging for it on a desert island, you'd be the last thing I'd ever f***." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time School of Rock (2004) "You're tacky and I hate you" The 65 best movie insults of all time Sexy Beast (2000) "You're the f***ing problem you f***ing Dr White honkin' jam-rag f***ing spunk-bubble!" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time She's All That (1999) "To everyone here who matters, you're spam. You're vapour. A waste of perfectly good yearbook space." Miramax Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Short Circuit (1986) "Hey laser-lips, your mother was a snowblower." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Shrek (2000) "You dense, irritating, miniature beast of a burden." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time The Silence of the Lambs (1991) You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube. A well scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste. Good nutrition has given you some length of bone, but youre not more than one generation from poor white trash, are you, Agent Starling?" Orion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) "Why, you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder." 20th Century Fox The 65 best movie insults of all time Step Brothers (2008) "You're not a doctor. You're a big fat curly headed f***." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time There Will Be Blood (2007) "You're just the afterbirth, Eli, slithered out on your mother's filth. They should have put you in glass jar on a mantelpiece." Paramount Vantage/Miramax Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Three Amigos (1986) "You dirt-eating piece of slime. You scum-sucking pig. You son of a motherless goat." Orion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Toy Story (1995) "You are a sad strange little man, and you have my pity." Buena Vista Pictures Distribution The 65 best movie insults of all time Wayne's World (1992) "Benjamin is nobody's friend. If Benjamin were an ice cream flavour, he'd be pralines and d***." Paramount Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Whiplash (2014) "You are a worthless, friendless, piece of shit whose mommy left daddy when she figured out he wasn't Eugene O'Neill, and who is now weeping and slobbering all over my drum set like a f***ing nine-year old girl." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time The Witches of Eastwick (1987) "In the short time we've been together, you have demonstrated every loathsome characteristic of the male personality and even discovered a few new ones. You are physically repulsive, intellectually retarded, you're morally reprehensible, vulgar, insensitive, selfish, stupid, you have no taste, a lousy sense of humour and you smell. You're not even interesting enough to make me sick." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Withnail & I (1987) "Monty, you terrible c***." HandMade Films The 65 best movie insults of all time The Wizard of Oz (1939) "You clinking, clanking, clattering collection of caliginous junk!" Loew's, Inc. The 65 best movie insults of all time The Women (1939) "You wanna see a bad facelift? Helen Danvers, two o'clock. She looks like she's re-entering the Earth's atmosphere." REX Either way, itll be a great springboard for what looks to be yet another win for the genre thats been having an extremely successful few years, both critically (The Witch) and commercially (A Quiet Place, The Nun, Netflix smash Bird Box). The Hole in the Ground which co-stars James Cosmo will be released in the UK on 1 March. Combating poverty requires more than wells and schools and clinics. It requires entrepreneurs who spy opportunity where there are no apparent customers and respond with innovations that generate jobs and profits. In his new book, The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty (2019, Harper Business), Harvard Business School professor Clayton M. Christensen, with co-authors Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon, explains how the components of healthy economies--infrastructure, institutions, even cultural change--are "pulled in" by market-creating innovations. In this edited excerpt, the authors describe the impact of a humble new food. Perhaps the most beloved consumer product in Nigeria is also one of the humblest: Indomie instant noodles. Sold in single-serving packets for the equivalent of less than 20 U.S. cents, the brand enjoys near-universal name recognition in the country, maintains a 150,000-member fan club with branches in more than 3,000 primary schools, and sponsors Independence Day Awards for Heroes of Nigeria to celebrate the accomplishments of exemplary Nigerian children. You may not have heard of it, but Indomie is a household brand name in Nigeria. In 2016, I was honored to speak at the annual conference of Harvard Business School's Africa Business Club. With approximately 1,500 attendees, it is the largest student-run conference on business in Africa in the world. In my talk, I referenced Tolaram, a fascinating company we had been studying, only to receive blank stares in the auditorium. But when I said, "These are the guys that make Indomie noodles," the crowd went wild. Why would noodles cause a crowd to erupt in raucous cheers? And more important, what in the world does that have to do with development and prosperity? What Tolaram, through Indomie noodles, has done in Nigeria is astonishing. Since its entry into Nigeria in 1988--when Nigeria was still under military rule--Tolaram has invested more than $350 million to create tens of thousands of jobs, developed a logistics company, and built infrastructure including electricity and sewage and water treatment facilities. In addition, Tolaram has built educational institutions, funded community organization programs, and provided millions of dollars in tax revenue. Perhaps the most visible evidence of this strategy is that the company has taken a lead role in developing a $1.5 billion public-private partnership to build and operate the new Lekki deep-water port in the state of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital. Without overstating it at all, Indomie noodles is development. Tolaram has shown that out of very little, a market can be created--and with the birth of a market come the attendant benefits that can lead to development. Indomie noodles are so woven into Nigerian society that it might even surprise Nigerians to recall that noodles are not among their traditional foods. Tolaram has only been selling the product in the country for about 30 years. The company's growth track turns the conventional wisdom about development on its head. In 1988, the year Tolaram began selling Indomie noodles in Nigeria, the country was far from an investment magnet: Nigeria was under military rule; life expectancy for its 91 million people was 46 years; annual per capita income was barely $257 (approximately $535 today); less than 1 percent of the population owned a phone; only about half had access to safe water; just 37 percent had access to proper sanitation; a staggering 78 percent lived on less than $2 a day. But even in these dismal circumstances, brothers Haresh and Sajen Aswani saw a huge opportunity to feed a nation with an affordable and convenient product. For them, this represented an enormous market-creating opportunity. Indomie noodles can be cooked in less than three minutes and, when combined with an egg, can be a nutritious, low-cost meal. But, in 1988, the vast majority of Nigerians had never eaten or even seen noodles. "Many people initially thought we were selling them worms," recalls Deepak Singhal, currently the CEO of Tolaram Africa. The Aswani brothers were convinced, however, that they could create a market in Nigeria because of the country's growing and urbanizing population, and the convenience their product offered. Instead of focusing on Nigeria's unfavorable demographics, they focused on developing a business model that would enable them to create a noodle market. The decision to target the needs of average Nigerians who were very poor compelled Tolaram to make long-term investments in the country. In 1995, the company made the decision to shift noodle manufacture to Nigeria to better control its costs. In order to do so, Tolaram had to pull infrastructure such as electricity, waste management, and water treatment into its operations. "I run a food company, but I know more about electricity generation than food," Singhal says now. Tolaram also got into the "education" business, through company-sponsored training in electrical and mechanical engineering, finance, and disciplines relevant to the business. Tolaram had to make these specific investments because the underlying infrastructure in Nigeria was either nonexistent or subpar. So Tolaram "pulled" them in instead. And that, in turn, created more opportunity for prosperity to begin flourishing. Consider, for example, what happens when Tolaram pulls a recent graduate from a local university into its operations and provides employment and training for the new employee. First, the company increases the productivity of its own operations and, by extension, that of the region. Second, it reduces unemployment and, as a result, indirectly reduces crime, since people with jobs are less likely to engage in criminal activities to try to meet their basic needs. Third, it contributes additional income taxes and consumer spending. All of these things might have been core regional development objectives, but for the executives at Tolaram, they were just the natural result of operating their growing business. WeWork is getting into the superfood business. The co-working startup recently invested in a $32 million private funding round for Laird Superfood, a natural food company co-founded in 2015 by big-wave surfer and fitness entrepreneur Laird Hamilton. WeWork declined to disclose the amount of its investment, but Laird co-founder Paul Hodge says that the funding round involved fewer than a dozen investors. Sisters, Oregon-based Laird Superfood makes a variety of vegan and gluten-free health food products, including powdered coconut water and "nutrient-dense" creamers for coffee, tea, and smoothies. WeWork will soon offer Laird Superfood products to its members and employees at select locations in New York City, and will sell the products in WeMrkt retail stores and Honesty Markets, the company's snack and beverage self-serve kiosks. After selling its products primarily online for its first two years, Laird Superfood has expanded into more than 1,000 U.S. grocery and retail locations. The 70-person company declined to share revenue data, but grew sales by more than 260 percent between 2017 and 2018, according to Hodge. The private funding round brings Laird Superfood's total investment capital raised to $43 million. The company's products are designed to be more affordable alternatives to products like bottled coconut water and healthy juices. "A bottle of coconut water might be $3 to $6," Hodge says. "We're able to freeze-dry the product in its natural state, and the serving cost is 70." Hamilton and Hodge launched the company after Hamilton's friends began asking for his homemade recipes for energy supplements. One of the main challenges the co-founders identified during the formulation process was to come up with nutrient-rich products that would still have mass-market appeal. "You're not going to get somebody who's consuming high amounts of sugar on a daily basis to go drink some Himalayan lichen that tastes like a bandage," Hamilton says, adding that coconut sugar has the good taste and health appeal to become a mainstream alternative to traditional sugar. Hamilton and his wife, professional volleyball player and TV personality Gabrielle Reece, previously founded Extreme Performance Training, a fitness and lifestyle program that includes water workouts. The Laird Superfood investment is not WeWork's first health-related move. Last July, the company committed to a global meat-free initiative, telling its 6,000 global employees it would no longer purchase red meat or poultry for company events or allow workers to expense meals including meat. Millions of small business owners will be in uncharted waters this tax season as they try to determine if they qualify for a deduction that could exempt one-fifth of their income from taxes. Five months after the IRS issued guidelines to help business owners and tax advisers understand how the complex deduction works, accountants and tax attorneys still have questions. Even those who have attended seminars and workshops about the new law have come away scratching their heads, especially about a section that bars service providers like doctors, lawyers and consultants from claiming the deduction. Some of these company owners have businesses that don't easily fit into the IRS guidelines or proposed regulations the agency has also issued. "There's a lot of conflicting advice out there," says Jeffrey Berdahl, a CPA with RLB Certified Public Accountants in Allentown, Pennsylvania. "It's going to be like the Wild West." The Basics The deduction is aimed at giving tax breaks to sole proprietors, partners and owners of S corporations; these businesses are known as pass-throughs because company income "passes through" to owners' 1040 forms, where it is reported to the IRS. Before the law was enacted, many of these owners couldn't get the more favorable tax treatment enjoyed by traditional corporations, those known as C corporations. The new law allows many owners to deduct 20 percent of what's called qualified business income. They can get the full deduction as long as their taxable income doesn't exceed $157,500 for an individual and $315,000 for a married couple filing jointly. But taxable income includes owners' and spouses' earnings from outside the business -- for example, being employed in a different field or industry -- and earnings from investments. If taxable income is above the $157,500 or $315,000 threshold, owners may get a partial deduction. There are two critical factors that can limit the size of the break. The first involves the company's W-2 wages, or how much it pays employees, and the value of some of its property; complex calculations go into assessing the impact of wages and property on the deduction. The second factor affects owners who are in what's called a specified service trade or business -- for example, health providers, attorneys, accountants or consultants. They have no deduction if their taxable income is more than $207,500 for an individual or $415,000 for a married couple. The IRS spells out the conditions for taking the deduction on its website. Visit https://bit.ly/2RbxOtc . More Than One Activity or Business Owners whose businesses involve a variety of activities may find that income from some qualify for the deduction while others don't, says Angela Dotson, a CPA with Aprio in Atlanta. An optometrist who treats patients may not be able to claim the deduction for that work. But the same optometrist who also sells eyeglasses and contact lenses may be able to use the deduction for that income. Another example: A graphic designer who consults with clients but also creates websites. "You're consulting, but also selling a product," Berdahl notes. There might be some unpleasant surprises when owners in such situations get to their CPA's offices. The new law requires separate records for the different types of work. "They might find their books may not be in good shape for tax reform -- they may not show the data CPAs will need to know," Dotson says. In that case, either the owner has to go back and change the books, or pay extra to have their tax advisers do the work. Owners who have more than one business with employees may be able to aggregate, or combine the qualified business income of the companies, and lower the impact of W-2 wages on the deduction, says Miguel Farra, a CPA and tax attorney with MBAF in Miami. But the businesses must be in a related industry. "If you are a real estate developer and somebody that owns real estate as investment property, you probably can aggregate," Farra says. But someone who owns a cleaning service and an auto servicing shop wouldn't be able to aggregate their income. Questions Awaiting Answers The guidelines the IRS issued in August aren't set in stone although the agency said taxpayers could rely on them in compiling their 2018 returns. The agency has issued proposed regulations, and tax professionals have already asked the IRS to clarify a number of issues, including which service providers can claim the deduction. For example, the New York State Bar Association, which asked the IRS for multiple clarifications, said many taxpayers, including those who and rent a small number of real estate properties, may be uncertain about whether the deduction applies to them. Many of Ed Reitmeyer's clients don't like to get extensions of the filing deadlines for the returns. But the uncertainty about the new law is a good reason to get an extra six months to complete and submit returns, he says. "It may be wise to do so with more clarity coming from Congress or Treasury," says Reitmeyer, a CPA with Marcum in Philadelphia. However, he says, "with the government shutdown, and the political atmosphere surrounding tax policy, it may take well into the summer to gain any clarity at all." (The Center Square) Like many other service-sector industries, rideshare companies such as Lyft and Uber are looking to pick up where pre-pandemic business left off, and part of that means continued expansion into downstate Illinois communities. (CNN) New evidence shows that three Russian journalists killed in the Central African Republic last year were victims of a well-planned ambush involving a senior police officer with shadowy Russian connections -- and they were tracked from the moment they arrived in the country. The three journalists -- Kirill Radchenko, Alexander Rastorguyev and Orkhan Dzhemal -- went to CAR in July 2018 to investigate the activities of Russian private military contractors. Their intention was to find out how the contractors were involved in exploiting the CAR's mineral wealth. The trio were shot dead after the vehicle in which they were traveling was attacked on a remote road in the volatile country. Their fate has cast a spotlight on a growing Russian presence in Africa, involving the Kremlin, private companies with ties to to President Vladimir Putin and large shipments of weapons. The official explanation of their death is that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, victims of bandits or rebels. But that story never quite added up. Nothing of value was taken from their vehicle, their driver survived unscathed, and investigations remain incomplete. Now, six months later, there is evidence that far from being the victims of a random attack, the murder of the trio was carefully planned. The day they were killed, their driver was in regular communication with a senior CAR police officer, according to call logs seen by CNN. That officer followed the journalists in another vehicle as they drove north from Bangui, the capital of CAR. A major in the national gendarmerie, the officer is closely connected with Russian contractors working in the country, many of whom work closely with both the Russian government and Russian companies active in CAR. CNN has approached the CAR national gendarmerie for comment; it has yet to respond. The journalists were in CAR on a trip sponsored by the Center for Investigation -- a now-closed online news outfit funded by exiled Russian businessman and Putin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky. "I want the people who were involved in this tragedy to be interrogated and charged," Khodorkovsky told a news conference in London on Thursday. "We believe that the Russian authorities should do this. They have every opportunity to interrogate people in Russia and also people in the CAR." A fatal mistake The trio arrived in CAR from Casablanca on July 28. Two days later they set out from Bangui in a blue-gray Mitsubishi 4 x 4 with a local driver. They were planning to visit a goldmine near Bambari that had recently been taken over by a Russian company -- some 400km away. By dusk they'd only reached the town of Sibut -- about halfway there. But instead of continuing east towards Bambari, they headed north towards a town called Dekoa. Just why they took that road, and why they travelled after dark, against the advice of local officials, is still unknown. Whatever the reason, their detour proved fatal. The UN says their vehicle was ambushed and they were shot dead in a remote area some 25km from Sibut. An independent autopsy carried out in Moscow found that one of the journalists, Orkhan Dzhemal, was shot a total of five times. According to local officials, the driver claimed the vehicle had been stopped by men wearing turbans and speaking Arabic -- even though the area is far south of any Arabic-speaking region. Khodorkovsky's staff in London, who launched an extensive investigation into the circumstances of the murder, say that most of the journalists' equipment, including fuel and backpacks, was left untouched. The driver was briefly interviewed by CAR authorities and Russian investigators, but neither CNN nor Khodorkovsky's staff have been able to locate him. Khordorkovsky's Dossier Center, which is based in London, gained access to phone records showing regular calls between the driver and the police officer. They show frequent calls on the day the journalists were murdered -- about an hour apart -- and the last came from Sibut. According to a source familiar with the police officer's background, he had attended a camp run by Russian military trainers on the border with Sudan, and maintained regular contact with Russian contractors after his training. Shortly before the journalists arrived in CAR, he had obtained a new cell phone and SIM card. Phone logs show he was in the vicinity of Bangui airport when the journalists arrived on a flight from Casablanca on July 28. Khodorkovsky's staff have also shared phone data with CNN which shows frequent communications between the police officer and one Russian in particular. According to documents seen by CNN, the Russian was a specialist trainer in counter surveillance and recruitment in Central Africa. In an apparent effort to disguise his communications, the Russian trainer had registered his mobile phone under a fake American name, using a forged passport, according to the Dossier Center's investigation. In reality he was working with one of the Russian military contractors that has a presence in CAR -- Wagner. CNN has seen his Wagner ID. Wagner has been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for its activities in Ukraine, as has the man who runs the company, Dmitry Utkin. Someone of the same name is listed as a senior executive with a St. Petersburg company, Concord Management and Consulting -- a sprawling corporation owned by an oligarch with links to the Kremlin: Yevgeny Prighozin. Prighozin denies any links to Wagner -- but he too is under U.S. sanctions for financing the Internet Research Agency, which generated fake social media accounts intended to influence the 2016 US election. CNN has contacted Concord for comment but has not received a reply. Prigozhin's interests have extended from Ukraine and Syria to African countries like Sudan, CAR and Libya, recently attending a meeting at the Ministry of Defense in Moscow with Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar. His activities demonstrate how a combination of state power and oligarchs are driving Russian ambitions in Africa. Russia's Africa play Russia stepped up its presence in CAR at the beginning of last year, after being given permission by the UN Security Council to supply weapons to the country's security forces. As part of the arrangement, Russia also sent some 170 military trainers to the CAR. Almost all were contractors. A source knowledgeable about the deployment says they were "high quality," with active links to the Russian security services. Government forces control only about one-fifth of CAR territory, with about a dozen rebel factions active across much of the country. Russia has avidly courted CAR president Faustin-Archange Touadera, who was invited to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum last year, where he met with President Putin. Weeks after the Russian military trainers began arriving in early 2018, Touadera appointed a Russian, Valery Zakharov, as his special security advisor. According to diplomatic communications in Bangui seen by CNN, an aide to Zakharov took charge of the investigation into the journalists' deaths. A communication, sent by the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs on September 19, 2018, asks the aide how the Russian embassy in Bangui should respond to questions it has received from the victims' families. Repeated efforts by CNN to reach Zakharov and his office in Bangui have been met with silence. Zakharov has said that he worked in conflict resolution for Russian intelligence in the restive Russian republics of Chechnya and Dagestan in the 1990s. He recently took CAR citizenship and last September applied for a Russian visa. On his application, he listed his sponsor as M-Finans, one of several Russian companies active in CAR. (It is not clear why Zakharov decided to become a citizen of CAR, nor why as a Russian passport-holder he wanted to use a passport issued by CAR to travel home. ) M-Finans is a St. Petersburg entity which was run by Yevgeny Khodotov until June last year, when he sold it to his wife. Company documents describe its main activity as the "extraction of precious stones." CNN has found that M-Finans' registration data lists an email address with the same domain as Concord Catering, part of the Prigozhin empire. Khodotov used to work as a police officer in St. Petersburg's organized crime investigation unit. Many of the unit's former employees have gone on to work in security roles for Prigozhin, according to Denis Korotkov, a reporter for St. Petersburg newspaper Fontanka.ru, who has been investigating Wagner activities since 2013. Soon after the Russian training mission in CAR began, several Russian companies began operations at mines that had been closed by the fighting between rebels and government forces. Some of those mines are in territory held by rebels, but Russian officials have established a relationship with several of the groups even while training government security forces. In August 2018, Russia convened a meeting of four of the rebel groups in Khartoum, capital of neighboring Sudan. France criticized the meeting as disrupting a dialogue led by the African Union. There are also dueling missions to train a new army in CAR -- an EU-funded effort as well as the Russian initiative that began in January last year. Russia signed a military cooperation agreement with CAR in August last year. The head of the UN peacekeeping force in CAR, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, has publicly supported Russia's role. He told the Russian news agency Sputnik last year that "it's a very good thing, and we expect that soon there will be a face-to-face dialogue between the government and the armed groups." France, the former colonial power, has been much less enthusiastic. The mission of the 13,000-strong UN peacekeeping force in CAR was extended last month but only after heated arguments between France and Russia in the Security Council. The United States is also wary of Russian ambitions in Africa. U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said in December that "Russia, for its part, is also seeking to increase its influence in the region through corrupt economic dealings. Across the continent, Russia advances its political and economic relationships with little regard for the rule of law." President Putin, in his end-of-year news conference, took a rather different view. He said companies like Wagner had "every right to work and promote their business interests anywhere in the world." As for the murdered journalists, Putin said it appeared that "some local groups are behind this attack." "Unfortunately," he added, "there is no reliable information yet." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Murdered journalists were tracked by police with shadowy Russian links, evidence shows." Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation2@journalnet.com for help creating one. We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation@idahopress.com for help creating one. We're always interested in hearing about your Opinion. Let us know yours. Submit As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. In 2006, the war in Iraq was moving in a bad direction, with hundreds of Iraqis and dozens of American soldiers being killed weekly. As violence escalated and defeat seemed imminent, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stubbornly clung to a strategy of withdrawing American troops. When the hour was darkest, an unlikely set of heroes emerged. Retired generals - Paul Eaton (Army) and Gregory Newbold and Anthony Zinni (Marine Corps) - began to speak publicly against Rumsfeld's leadership of the war in Iraq. The "Revolt of the Generals," as Time termed the criticism, was a rarity in American history; it may well have contributed to the Republicans' losing control of both the House and the Senate in the 2006 midterm elections. After what he described as an electoral "thumping," President George W. Bush fired Rumsfeld and replaced him with Robert Gates, who implemented the president's troop surge into Iraq - a complete reversal of his predecessor's policy. With a new commander, Gen. David Petraeus, in charge, violence in Iraq dropped by two-thirds over the next 18 months. The retired generals who spoke out likely helped change the course of a war, saving thousands of lives, giving Iraq a chance at freedom and preventing it from becoming a terrorist haven. Today, there are increasing signs that the nation's security is again in great peril, and retired military leaders - all of them with four-star distinction - are again sounding the alarm. This time it is not the defense secretary whose policies and inclinations are perceived as the problem, but his boss: The commander in chief. These military leaders' expressions of dismay and alarm have been uncoordinated but earnest. The first came from retired Adm. William McRaven, the Navy SEAL who commanded the 2011 mission that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. In August 2018, McRaven wrote a Post op-ed in the form of a letter to President Donald Trump, saying, "Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation." In late December, Stanley McChrystal, retired Army general and former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, said in an ABC News interview that the president was both immoral and less than honest. Also at the end of December, retired Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly, who had served as the president's chief of staff for 17 months, told the Los Angeles Times that he was proudest during his White House tenure of the things that he prevented Trump from doing. Retired Adm. and former NATO commander James Stavridis wrote for Time on Jan. 3 of a "sense that the President's moral structure was, shall we say charitably, unconventional to the military mind." Much of this commentary followed the Dec. 20 resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, a retired four-star Marine general. Mattis's accomplishments leading the Pentagon included persuading Trump not to withdraw the United States from the NATO alliance. (Breaking up NATO has been a dream of Russia, and before that, the Soviet Union.) In his resignation letter, Mattis suggested that the president was harming U.S. alliances that have kept America and the world safe. Although Trump apparently at first did not understand the implications of Mattis' letter, he soon seemed to grasp the criticism and ordered Mattis to leave before his replacement had been found. The country was thus deprived of a farewell ceremony that might have given Mattis an opportunity to sound an even clearer warning about the threats to the nation, without once mentioning the president by name. But Mattis' resignation letter, and his resignation itself, spoke volumes. The letter dovetails with the public statements by the remarkable array of American military leaders cited above, men who devoted their careers and risked their lives in the nation's defense. They are not afraid of much, but they are deeply concerned by what they see and know about the president. During the war in Iraq, when the retired generals assailed Rumsfeld's leadership, they were saying in public what their friends still in uniform were saying in private. Then, the generals were worried about saving democracy in Iraq; today, the former military leaders speaking out are worried about something far more important: Preserving the liberal world order. I would not be surprised if they have acted on behalf of their serving peers in an effort to save American lives and honor. I know for an absolute certainty that when these four-stars speak, we should be paying attention. Nagl, headmaster of the Haverford School outside Philadelphia, is a retired Army officer who served in both Iraq wars and is the author of "Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice." Like millions of Americans, I recently took some time off to enjoy the holidays with friends and family. While this should have been a time of joy and celebration, a black cloud hung over me and my co-workers. I am a federal employee and like around 800,000 other people, I was not sure what the government shutdown would mean for me. Would I continue to work after the holidays or be forced into an involuntary vacation? And if my work was lucky enough to be exempted from the furlough, when would my next paycheck come? The fact is many of us federal employees do our jobs because we believe in what we do. I know I could make more money in the private sector. Instead, I have spent the last seven years of my life working on NASAs Commercial Crew Program trying to return our astronauts to the International Space Station on an American-made spacecraft. This is not just an interesting job. It serves the interests of the United States by saving the taxpayer dollars we currently have to pay the Russians for this service, and it helps guarantee access to the unique national laboratory in low-Earth orbit while spurring development in a fledgling industry. Whether you are for or against the wall, this is the wrong way to resolve it. Many federal employees will spend that forced vacation worrying about when their next paycheck will come to pay their bills. An assumption, perhaps a dream, that they will eventually get paid provides little solace when rent and food bills go unpaid now. Beyond inflicting pain on so many people, many whom are living paycheck-to-paycheck, taxpayers should also be outraged at the waste. The Office of Management and Budget estimated that the 16-day government shutdown in 2013 cost American taxpayers $2 billion in lost productivity. During the shutdown, the Securities and Exchange Commission cant process mergers or Initial Public Offerings. The Federal Aviation Administration cant approve commercial space launches. The billions in dollars the president has promised American farmers hurt by the trade war with China go undistributed. For small companies like Texas-based Exos Aerospace, which had to delay its inaugural launch, the federal shutdown can make or break a business. Some businesses are offering free or discounted services to furloughed employees, which is great for the community but reduces the businesses bottom line, and likely will come back to hurt everyone in higher prices. Standard & Poors estimated that the 2013 closure cost the U.S. economy $24 billion. Some estimates have the current shutdown costing around $6 billion dollars a week. People like me and my co-workers are starting to think about delaying major purchases and deferring car repairs. Others are worrying about how they will pay for child care. Scientific research is also being impacted. Hundreds of federal employees who were going to attend and contribute to the annual American Meteorological Society meeting were forced to cancel their trips. The threat posed by climate change, the increased flooding it brings, should have Houstonians worried that meteorologists important work will be interrupted. Hundreds of astronomers likewise were forced to cancel their attendance at the American Astronomical Society meeting this week. This does not even take into account the psychological impacts. I am fortunate enough to work at NASA, ranked in 2018 as the best place to work in the federal government. But I still wince when year after year politicians call federal employees lazy or unnecessary. The current administration and some members of Congress express clear disdain or outright hostility toward a variety of federal employees, including climate scientists, State Department staff and intelligence workers. Adding to this negativity, treating civil servants as pawns in the budget process is downright demoralizing. I would anticipate, especially if the shutdown continues on much longer, that many people will look elsewhere for employment. Without a doubt many of the younger people who are needed to refresh the ranks of retiring workers will think twice about pursuing opportunities in the federal workforce. President Trump came to office in 2016 claiming that he had a mandate for a border wall. Yet even when Republicans held all three branches of government, he was unable to get funding for a physical barrier. Democrats captured the House in the midterm elections due in part to opposition to the wall. Public opinion polls routinely show that a clear majority of the nation does not want the wall. So what should the president and Congress do? First, they need to stop holding public servants hostage and immediately approve the spending bills that were passed by the Senate last year and by the House this year. They should also provide back wages for those who were furloughed. Then, the appropriations process needs to be revamped so that the government stops lurching along on continuing resolutions and shutdowns, using its own citizens as a bludgeon for special interests. Dempsey works on NASAs Commercial Crew Program. Dont mess with Texas! People around the world are familiar with that slogan. They know its an expression tied to the Lone Star States long history of defying outside interference and cherishing the days when cowboys herded cattle on the open range. Dont Fence Me In remains a popular song among Texans of a certain age. So whats with those Texas politicians who in blind political loyalty to a Republican president wont stand up against his plan to build a wall on the Mexican border that will require Texans to give up their property rights? Yes, were talking about Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, who accompanied President Donald Trump for a photo op Thursday in McAllen to promote the flawed wall idea. When we see politicians go on TV and say the borders secure and there is no crisis, they are ignoring reality, Cruz said. Too bad he and Cornyn werent taking advantage of their time with Trump to persuade him to end the government shutdown he has orchestrated to get Democrats and some moderate Republicans to bow to his wishes. Conservatives who accused President Barack Obama of acting like a king are ignoring Trumps abuse of power to get his way on the wall. At least some Republicans representing border districts are speaking up. Rep. Mac Thornberry, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said he opposes an emergency declaration to build the wall. Rep. Will Hurd, whose district includes 820 miles along the border, has repeatedly spoken out against the wall. Were waiting for Cornyn to join their ranks. Some people want to just talk about walls or barriers, but of course unless there are people there when people come over the barrier or through it or under it, thats not going to work, and really technology is the force multiplier here, he said last year. Even recently Cornyn noted that the idea of a wall is somewhat off-putting to a lot of people. A lot of those people are Texans. Trumps assertion that a border wall is needed to keep criminals out was disputed by El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, who told a CNN interviewer, This is the safest city in the United States. We have families on both sides, commerce takes place on both sides. We have 50,000 employed because of our relationship with Mexico. Cruz and Cornyn arent expressing the same outrage over Trumps need to acquire private land to build his border wall as they did when the Obama administration tried to take Texans property in the Red River Valley that the federal Bureau of Land Management said rightly belonged to the public. Gov. Greg Abbott demanded that the BLM end this unconscionable land grab. Cruz and Cornyn introduced a bill in Congress to stop the BLM. Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an amicus brief that said the borders of any state are a fundamental expression of its sovereignty. The brief was related to lawsuits settled in 2017. Why isnt Paxton screaming about state sovereignty now? Why isnt he standing up for Eloisa Cavazos, whose land alongside the Rio Grande sits on the route a border wall would take. Cavazos says he wont sell his property to the government. You could give me a trillion dollars and I wouldnt take it, he said. Its not about money. If Cavazos remains defiant, his land could be taken by the Trump administration invoking eminent domain authority. Where will Cruz, Cornyn, Abbott and Paxton stand if that happens? With Texans? Or with a president who insists on building a wall even where it wouldnt improve border security? There is already fencing in the heaviest traveled areas along the border. More border patrol personnel, improved communications equipment and drones would likely provide a much better deterrent to illegal border crossing than any wall. Yet Trump insists on a wall, while paying lip service to other security measures that would be effective. It is an obsession that, if Trump gets his way, threatens to leave Houston less safe in the face of the next hurricane. The White House has started planning on issuing a national emergency to justify redirecting money from the Army Corps of Engineers to fund the big, beautiful border wall, the Washington Post reported Thursday. This potentially includes $4.5 billion not yet spent on projects on Texas. Houston cant seem to get all the federal funds necessary to build the Ike Dike, a third reservoir and the totality of flood prevention infrastructure our sprawling region needs to build a true resilience. Local taxpayers have been compelled to dip into our own pockets with a billion-dollar county bond to jumpstart the funding. Now Trumps scheme might mean we get even less for Harvey recovery. Maybe we should have asked Mexico to help us pay for it. Cornyn put up an impressive legislative fight to deliver recovery dollars after Harvey and it would be an utter insult to the state of Texas and his efforts if those funds are directed to a wall. How many times must it be said: The border is not a crisis. Harvey was a crisis. But Trump couldnt care less about whether our city survives the next hurricane season, whether the oil and gas infrastructure at the Port of Houston is ready for a worst case scenario. He just cares about his political ego. Houston can drown. Federal employees can go without their paychecks. But for Trump, the show must go on. Its time for the theatrics to stop and for Texas politicians to stop playing roles on Trumps stage. Hes been a reality show actor for so long he doesnt know when to end. Cruz, Cornyn, Abbott and Paxton can help him. So could Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who skipped the first day of the legislative session to visit the White House. Trump says Patrick offered Texas help to build the wall. If he did, he betrayed all those Texans who built this state on a foundation of standing with each other. Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may, Sam Houston once said. Apparently an exception has been made for Trump. AUSTIN Between jokes about Californians and playful swipes at political discord, Speaker Dennis Bonnen on Thursday dug his heels into his commitment to prioritize school funding this year, adding that lawmakers who say they care about kids cant wait and let generations go unprepared. "If there is a school that is failing, why are we not more willing to fix it? Bonnen, R-Angleton, told several hundred attendees at a breakfast in downtown Austin hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. Committing more state money to education promises to be one of the most difficult and possibly contentious challenges that lawmakers will face this year. Bonnen, 46, who has been a member of the Texas House for more than two decades, joked that his love for the House is rooted in how debates there are akin to middle school food fights. Its not bad to disagree, he said. Its not bad to have a discussion about our beliefs and our philosophies and our thoughts on why, how we want to improve our education system and our finance system and how we may have slightly different thoughts on how to do it. But that cant be the reason we dont get it done. More Information A call for more education funding Texas is responsible for educating 5.4 million students, about 10 percent of the nation's schoolchildren. While students here are graduating at some of the highest rates in the country and out-performing peers in all but eight other states on the most recent National Assessment of Education Progress, Texas is lagging in other areas. The state's shortfalls are evident early and continue through college. About 4 in 10 children are unprepared when they start kindergarten. Texas has slipped to 46th in the nation in fourth-grade reading. And just 28 percent of graduating seniors earn a post-secondary degree or credential in six years. To put further stress on the public school system, the state's population is swelling. Public schools are teaching 770,000 more students than they did a decade ago - the equivalent of more than three Houston ISDs. Roughly eight in 10 of those additional children come from low-income families and four in 10 are English language learners. Both require more resources to teach. See More Collapse Bonnens remarks Thursday were a marked departure from earlier appearances in a legislative kickoff week marked by tightly scripted speeches and pledges to steer the 2019 Legislature toward solving the problems of Texas instead of spotlighting red-meat social issues that appeal to the fringes. Related: Bathroom bill in 2019? New House Speaker says Texas doesnt need that distraction The first new House speaker in a decade, Bonnen is working to get buy-in for significant change in how the state funds education amid scattershot outcomes for children. For example, high school graduation rates are soaring in Texas, but the state has slipped to No. 46 in national rankings for fourth-grade reading. Texas once funded about half of the bill for public education, but now pays about 38 percent. Bonnen has already stocked the legislative members lounge with Styrofoam cups inscribed with The Time Is Now on school finance to remind legislators of their task. A strong education system will produce taxpaying citizens, Bonnen told the audience largely of conservative Republican lawmakers and thought leaders gathered at the Hilton Austin. Top state leaders, who are working to show a united front, say school funding will be a priority this year along with property tax reform. Some education advocates worry school funding could take a back seat to lawmakers wanting to say they gave voters property tax breaks. Lawmakers are likely to be at odds about how to fix both. For subscribers: Gov. Abbotts tax break for homeowners would sap billions in school funding Yes, I think its fair to put additional dollars into education but I think we need education to be more responsive, said Bonnen. While the education system is strong in many parts of the state, he said, other pockets are struggling. Lawmakers cant be kind and sweet and wait for schools to turn around, he added. Thats not caring about kids. Bonnen, who is dyslexic, also talked about how little help there was for children like himself when he was in school. If you were dyslexic 40 years ago, what do you think our education system had to offer? My mother could tell you, pretty much zero, he said. The reality is my mother was tenacious in ensuring that I had the opportunities to have the education I needed. But the reality of it is we today, in my opinion, are unwilling but we must become willing to go into our education system and say, Youve got to take care of these kids and educate them. You have to. Lawmakers have until May 27 to devise policies to address school funding, property taxes and address thousands of bills that will be filed this year. In underscoring the job state lawmakers have to represent 28 million Texans, Bonnen joked that about 1 million of them are Californians and we dont have a duty to represent them, drawing laughter and applause. We have a duty to convert them to true Texans and we need to remind them why they moved to Texas because they didnt like California. Bonnen, a bank executive who lives in his hometown of Angleton with his wife and two sons, said he wants to leave Texas better than he found it an effort that includes both better funding for schools and his habit of picking up trash he spots in the hallways of the Capitol. Texas is already good, Bonnen said, but lawmakers have a chance to make it better, absolutely sterling. RICHLAND HILLS Shahid Shafi will retain his role as vice-chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party despite a push from a small faction of precinct chairs to remove him from his post because he's Muslim. Shafi, a trauma surgeon and Southlake City Council member, said after the vote that the last several months had been hard on him and his family. But he said he holds no animosity toward people who backed the failed motion to recall him and that he was proud to be an American and a Republican. "As an immigrant to this great country, I am honored and privileged to receive the support of my fellow Republicans," Shafi told members of the press late Thursday. "We need to learn to trust each other so we can create a more perfect union everyday." Shafi came to the U.S. in 1990 and became a naturalized citizen in 2009. The attacks on his religion, however, came shortly after Easton appointed him to a leadership role within the county party in July. The formal motion to oust him failed in a 49-139 vote, said county party spokesman Mike Snyder. Those who were in favor of Shafi's removal said he's unequipped to be vice-chairman because he doesn't represent all Tarrant County Republicans due to his religion. They've also said Islamic ideologies run counter to the U.S. Constitution an assertion many Texas GOP officials have called bigoted and Shafi himself has vehemently denied. Following news that Shafi would retain his vice-chairman role, Snyder read a prepared statement from Tarrant County GOP Chair Darl Easton which said the vote reaffirmed Tarrant Republicans' commitment to the state party platform and the U.S. Constitution. "While tonight's vote brings an end to this unfortunate episode, it also demonstrates we are a Party that respects the right of those who disagree on an issue to have a seat at the table and their voices heard," Easton, one of Shafi's defenders, wrote. "Religious liberty won tonight, and while that makes a great day for the Republican Party of Tarrant County, that victory also serves notice that we have much work to do unifying our party." Former Tarrant County precinct chair Sara Legvold did not vote on the motion to recall Shafi, but sat outside Thursday's closed-door meeting wearing a burqa to "represent the Islamization of our county, our state and our country." "You already see it in the workplace where Muslims demand they're able to wear their hijab and demand they get a prayer room," she said. "When was the last time a Christian was allowed to have a separate place to say their prayers?" Dorrie O'Brien, one of the precinct chairs leading the charge against Shafi, previously said her support for ousting him stems not from his religion, but whether he is connected "to Islamic terror groups," the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. The failed attempt to oust Shafi drew national attention as well as condemnation from some of the state's top Republicans, including Gov. Greg Abbott. Republican Land Commissioner George P. Bush saluted the vote in a tweet late Thursday. And in a prepared statement after the measure failed, Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey said the state party platform clearly supports religious freedom and non-discrimination. "We look forward to working with all Republicans to fight for lower taxes, quality education, and to continue our booming economy through Republican leadership," Dickey said. Though the movement to reconsider Shafi's appointment was afoot well ahead of last year's midterm elections, Thursday's vote comes just months after Tarrant County considered the most conservative urban county in the country narrowly flipped in favor of Texas Democrats' star senatorial candidate, Beto O'Rourke. In Tarrant County and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth region, several Texas Senate and House seats went to Democrats, including the district previously held by conservative state Sen. Konni Burton of Colleyville. Tripp Bryant, a State Republican Executive Committee representative from Senate District 22 that includes part of Tarrant, said it was "appalling" members of the Tarrant County party were being divisive over someone's religion months after Republicans in the area made nail-biters of races that had once been safe wins. He noted that Republicans U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Ron Wright lost in the county. "In my personal opinion, they need to pull their heads out of their fourth point of contact and they need to focus on winning elections and stop pointing the finger at Muslims," Bryant said. Another precinct chair called Thursday's motion "bullshit." The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. "I'm a Jewish precinct chair," John Seidenstein said, "does this mean I'm next?" Legvold, meanwhile, complained that Shafi's opponents had been vilified. "They've said nothing but horrible things about us that we're bigots and Islamophobes and white supremacists when we're just patriots who care for our country," she said. Read related Tribune coverage Tarrant County GOP set to vote on whether to remove vice-chairman because he's Muslim In Texas' third largest county, there's a campaign to oust the local GOP's vice-chair because he's Muslim The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Two people were arrested in the shooting of a 13-year-old girl at her home in the Aldine area Thursday. Steven LeBlanc Blanco, 28, and Allison Strong-Matyas, 19, were arrested late Thursday after a brief pursuit, hours after the teen was shot while she sat on her bed in her home in the 14500 block of Maeline Drive, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The gunfire came from a truck, the sheriff's office said. The girl was shot in the chest but is expected to make a full recovery, police said. RELATED: Teen girl, 13, shot in chest as gunman fires at her north Houston home Blanco is accused of firing the weapon, but both suspects face charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon because Strong-Matyas was in the vehicle at the time, police said. Blanco faces an additional charge of felon in possession of a weapon. The shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m., when the girl and her sister heard a "pop and glass breaking," police said. The sister told police her wounded sibling slumped forward with a small trickle of blood on her upper chest, police said. Deputies then began searching for a white truck and suspected gunmen that matched witnesses' description. Witnesses said they saw a man shoot one time into the residence. The release did not specify whether Blanco intended to shoot into the home. After police circulated a photo of the truck from video surveillance images, a witness reported seeing the vehicle around 10 p.m. at the intersection of Greens Road and Aldine Westfield in a convenience store parking lot. Blanco fled in the vehicle with Strong-Matyas and led police on a brief pursuit, police said. Both suspects bailed out of the truck in the 3000 block of Greens Road and fled to Houston Fire Station 64 nearby. A brief search uncovered Blanco hiding in a storage container on the property. Meanwhile, Strong-Matyas was found along a side street. 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 | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message President Donald Trump and his administration continued Thursday to cast the situation at the southern border as a security and humanitarian crisis that only his long-promised wall the cornerstone of his campaign could fix. On Day 20 of the government shutdown, as federal workers prepared to miss their first paycheck, Trump briefly visited McAllen to press his case. "This is a national emergency, he told reporters, continuing to insist he could invoke rare presidential powers to proceed on construction without Congress a controversial move that would likely end up in court. If I have to, I will, Trump said. But the the crisis he has repeatedly tried to portray dangerous migrants pouring across the border, bringing massive drugs and crime does not exist. Illegal crossings drops The number of migrants caught crossing the border illegally is at a historic low, having dropped from a peak of 1.6 million in 2000 to a record low of about 303,900 after Trump took office in 2017. Apprehensions rose slightly last year to about 396,600, but almost twice as many immigrants 606,926 came here legally and overstayed their visas in 2017. In part, thats because of a steep decline in migration from Mexico as its economy has grown and birth rates have fallen. Another factor, though, is more aggressive border enforcement after 9/11. Annual funding for the two enforcement agencies Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement more than doubled, to $19.3 billion, from 2003 to 2016. In 2006, each Border Patrol agent at the southern border apprehended an average of 97 immigrants a year, compared to only 18 in 2017, said Sarah Pierce, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington D.C. Immigrants are definitely not pouring across the southern border, she said. Drug-smuggling patterns Trump and his administration have repeatedly and falsely tried to connect illegal immigration at the southern border with the surge of heroin and fentanyl deaths in the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, in a USA Today op-ed Wednesday, suggested the increased smuggling of fentanyl, a powerful opioid, is related to border security. In fact, most fentanyl is shipped from China via the U.S. Post Office. Trump, in his first televised Oval Office address, said Wednesday night that 90 percent of heroin comes across the southern border, implying a wall is necessary to prevent taking far too many American lives. Though most heroin does come from Mexico, almost all of it is trafficked through legal ports of entry and only a small percentage was seized in between them the areas where a wall would make a difference according to a 2018 Drug Enforcement Administration report. Most cocaine and methamphetamine also come across this way, mainly hidden in vehicles, and it is primarily only marijuana that is smuggled between ports of entry. The president, who launched his 2015 campaign calling Mexicans criminals and rapists, has consistently characterized immigrants as a danger to Americans. He emphasized that theme again this week, listing several Americans who were killed by immigrants here illegally. How much more American blood must we shed before Congress does its job? he asked. Multiple studies have found that immigrants are far less likely to commit crimes than are native-born Americans. A 2014 Northwestern University analysis of crime statistics and county records found essentially no correlation between immigrants and violent crime. Gang connections Trump has often railed against MS-13 gang members crossing the border. Between 2012 and 2017, about 4,940 immigrants with suspected or confirmed gang affiliations were apprehended at the border, about 900 a year, according to Border Patrol Chief Carla Provosts Senate testimony in 2017. And though U.S. officials encountered almost 17,000 people convicted of crimes in the United States or abroad in fiscal 2018, 63 percent of them arrived at ports of entry, including airports. They would not have been impacted by a wall. Of more than 8,530 migrants with criminal records apprehended by Border Patrol agents in 2017 for crossing illegally, about half had convictions for illegal entry and re-entry after being deported. Only three had been arrested for homicide. The administration has also falsely suggested that thousands of terrorists are flooding across the southern border, though a 2017 U.S. State Department report found "no credible evidence" of that. In a document sent to Congress this month, the White House claimed more than 3,750 known or suspected terrorists on government watch lists were blocked from entering the United States in fiscal year 2017. The administration later clarified that most had tried to come by air, not across the southern border. In the first half of fiscal 2018, Customs and Border Protection agents stopped only six immigrants at ports of entry at the southern border whose names were on such watch lists, according to data provided to Congress in May 2018 and reported by NBC News. The administration has said that more than 3,000 special interest aliens were encountered at the southern border last year. The broad category includes people from any country that has ever promoted terrorism, such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, and does not mean they have ever been suspected of a crime. Fear mongering There is no wave of terrorist operatives waiting to cross overland into the United States, Nicholas Rasmussen, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center until 2017, wrote this week on the online site Just Security. Anyone in authority using this argument to bolster support for building the wall or any other physical barrier along the southern border is most likely guilty of fear mongering and willfully misleading the American people. What has changed creating a genuine crisis for federal officials is who is coming and why. The number of immigrant families crossing the border, mostly from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, reached record levels over the past four months. More than 27,500 turned themselves in or were apprehended by Border Patrol agents between ports of entry in December. It was the third month that more families than single adults have come a significant change from decades of migration patterns and families now make up about 60 percent of all apprehensions at the border. The surge has overwhelmed some federal processing facilities along the border, and two Guatemalan children died last month after being taken into custody. Trump this week called the arrival of so many families a crisis of the heart and a crisis of the soul. The administration has criticized a 2008 anti-human trafficking law and a 1997 federal settlement protecting children in detention for forcing it to release most families after three weeks in detention. Long waits for processing A record backlog of nearly 800,000 cases in the civil immigration courts means many migrants can wait years before their deportation cases are processed. By then, some have disappeared into the fabric of American life and critics say such a free pass encourages more to come. The surge in families is in part because many are fleeing crippling gang violence, poverty and corruption. Trumps policies are also partly to blame, said Pierce, the migration analyst. There is a direct relationship with the president threatening very harsh policies and a bit of a rush to our southern border, she said. Trump rescinded his controversial family separation policy last June, spurring a sudden rise in families coming here. He has also attempted to limit how migrants could qualify for asylum, although the policy was halted by a federal judge. The administration also announced it would force asylum-seekers to wait out their cases in Mexico though that hasnt happened yet. We think those (announcements) likely incentivized people to come in as quickly as possible, Pierce said. Border agents have also limited how many asylum seekers can ask for refugee protection at legal ports of entry. Weeks-long waits in dangerous border cities have spurred some migrants to cross illegally instead. Any extension of current border fencing would not stop families from coming here. Most are turning themselves into Border Patrol agents and asking for asylum, not running away. Adding asylum officers and immigration judges to more quickly adjudicate their claims would make a far greater difference, Pierce said. Trumps most recent request would allocate $563 million for 75 more judges and support staff. If Democrats agree to allocate $5.7 billion for about about 250 more miles of border fencing, its likely to be largely a symbolic gesture. Much of the area at the epicenter of illegal crossings the stretch of the Rio Grande west of Brownsville is private land that would have to be seized through eminent domain. More than a decade after passing the 2006 Secure Fence Act, the government is still tied up in lawsuits over some land seizures in the Rio Grande Valley. lomi.kriel@chron.com @lomikriel The criminal probe into a Houston-area priest is on pace to go to trial, which could become the regions highest-profile clergy sex abuse case in more than two decades. The priests lawyer, Wendell Odom, made the prediction Thursday afternoon after his client, Manuel La Rosa-Lopez, was rushed out of the Montgomery County courthouse through a back door after a status hearing. This is such a high-publicity case, in all probability, I think this case is going to go to trial, Odom said. The clergy investigation, which expanded last fall with a fourth search warrant at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston headquarters in downtown Houston, has produced a hefty load of evidence for authorities to examine. The three prior searches happened at the Shalom Center in Splendora, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe and La Rosa-Lopezs most recent assignment at St. John Fisher Church in Richmond. La Rosa-Lopez last appeared in court in October. He was arrested Sept. 11 on four counts of indecency with a child for claims that he molested a boy and a girl at the Conroe parish from 1998 to 2000. A grand jury has not yet been established to formally indict him on the charges, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Tyler Dunman said after the hearing. This is going to be a long haul, Dunman said. If we get to trial this year, it will be later this year at the earliest. On Thursday, La Rosa-Lopez emerged from a narrow corridor to enter the 435th District Court only after a bailiff called his name. He whispered to his attorney and repeatedly glanced back at four rows of journalists as Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon and Judge Patty Maginnis sorted through an unrelated case. The priests case was quietly reset to March 28 without La Rosa-Lopez having to step up to the front of the courtroom. A team of lawyers escorted him out of the building through a winding hall and staircase before reaching the street where a car was waiting for him. He did not respond to shouted questions. He cant practice. I imagine hes in a situation where hes agonizing over it and hoping it will end shortly, Odom told reporters. Im sure hes doing a lot of praying. This is very difficult for him. Theres very little he can do at this point other than let the process take its course. The process has been sluggish, which is normal, Ligon said. He attributed the pace to the large volume of evidence thats up to only a handful of investigators to sort through. A document filed soon after La Rosa-Lopezs court appearance referenced the workload: Still working on discovery. Ive got two guys working at something that (Houston Police Department) would put 20 guys on, Ligon said. As far as we are concerned, everything is proceeding on time as usual. La Rosa-Lopezs lawyer declined to comment on the claims against the priest including allegations from a third accuser until he is able to comb through the same evidence from prosecutors. The state has seized a lot of records and then they have to turn stuff over to us. Were just waiting for them to give us information, Odom said. A 37-year-old Army veteran became the third accuser to step forward with molestation claims against La Rosa-Lopez soon after his arrest in September. He contends La Rosa-Lopez, then a seminarian, abused him in 1993 when he was a 12-year-old altar boy at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston. We still want to see the documents, Odom added. We barely know who the third accuser is except from what we read in the papers. Dunman said investigators, including the Texas Rangers, are communicating with the Harris County District Attorneys Office about whether the latest claim will amount to additional charges. The third accusers police report stemmed from dozens of tips that surfaced after La Rosa-Lopezs arrest and it went straight to Dunman. Some of the tips, Dunman said, included claims that investigators have disproved. Several witnesses identified in sworn statements by their initials have been interviewed for information, but will not result in charges, Dunman added. The last Catholic priest in the Houston area to face a trial on sex abuse charges was Fernando Noe Guzman, who pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child in 1992 just as the jury was seated. The Grimes County District Attorney accepted the plea bargain only after consulting with the victim, who was 13 when the abuse took place in Navasota. The Houston Chronicle reported at the time that the victim reluctantly agreed to testify. The charge stemmed from allegations that surfaced during a failed civil suit against Guzman and the then-Diocese of Galveston-Houston. nicole.hensley@chron.com cdominguez@hcnonline.com Prison guard Brian Shoemaker was patrolling the halls of Lee penitentiary in southwestern Virginia Friday when an inmate tried to squeeze past him into a restricted area. Seconds after Shoemaker told the prisoner to turn around, the inmate lunged at him, punching him in the shoulder. Shoemaker did not sustain a major injury. But it did not escape him that he is working without a paycheck at one of the most dangerous federal jobs in America during the partial government shutdown. Fears for his other prison staff members' safety are escalating as 16-hour shifts become routine as a growing number of guards call in sick in protest or to work side jobs to pay their bills. "I don't think we should be subjected to that kind of thing and not receive a paycheck," said Shoemaker, 48, a 17-year veteran of Lee penitentiary."I'm walking in here and doing my job everyday, and it's very dangerous." Shoemaker is one of 36,000 federal prison workers nationally deemed "essential employees" by the federal government, which means he is expected to report for work during the shutdown even though he will not get paid until after the government reopens. Even though these employees are supposed to work, union officials at 10 prisons reached by The Washington Post, including Lee, say the number of employees who are not showing up for work has at least doubled since the shutdown began. As a result, those showing up are routinely working double shifts, correctional officers and other prison staff members say. Secretaries, janitors and teachers are filling in for absent officers. At least one prison - Hazelton Federal Correctional Complex in West Virginia - has seen the number of assaults on officers increase since the shutdown, according to a union official there. "There has been a rise in people calling in sick and taking leave during the shutdown," said Richard Heldreth, president of the corrections officer union at Hazelton prison in West Virginia. "The staff who are showing up are dealing with this violence, long hours and extra overtime with the uncertainly of when we will be compensated." The Federal Bureau of Prisons, which houses nearly 180,000 inmates, did not respond to repeated requests for comment, nor did they respond to written questions. Several wardens also declined to comment, directing questions to the bureau. The public affairs office for the bureau said they would not be commenting "due to the government shutdown." There are numerous reasons that correctional officers - commonly called prison guards - are unique among federal employees. They are in the rare position of risking injuries, even their lives, every time they report to work. Prison staff members also are among the lowest paid of those working in federal law enforcement, with average annual salaries of between $40,000 to $50,000. Many work in remote rural towns where there is no mass transit and commutes are often an hour or more each way. The prisons are frequently the lifeblood of these rural towns. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, whose district includes a federal prison in Lisbon, said the safety conditions of the prisons were already tenuous due to staffing shortages but the dangers have spiked since the shutdown. "I do know the anxiety level is going up and the stress levels are going up. It's been building for some time. This is putting gasoline on the fire," said Ryan, who toured the prison Tuesday. The tense nature of the situation is evident at Hazleton, the high-security facility where crime boss Whitey Bulger was killed by inmates in October. Union and prison officials say seven officers have been attacked in three separate incidents since Friday. None of the officers received serious injuries. The high-security prison typically sees that many assaults over the course of a month, said Heldreth. Prison officials acknowledged the three incidents took place, but did not provide further comment. The number of officers and other staff members calling in sick has quadrupled at the prison, Heldreth said, citing data providing to him by the prison - rising from an average of 15 to 20 employees a day to about 80 a day. Officers are being asked to work 16-hour shifts once or twice a week as opposed to once or twice a month, Heldreth said. Staff members who are not law enforcement officers are being told to leave their desk jobs to backfill for absent guards on nearly a weekly, as opposed to a monthly, basis. At the time of their hiring, these workers receive three weeks of training at the Federal Bureau of Prison's academy in Georgia. That was 20 years ago for 52-year-old Opal Brown, a secretary in the prison's education department. Since the shutdown, Brown has worked two shifts as an officer, once in the high-security penitentiary patrolling inmates who she never encounters during her regular job. "I have no rapport with them. They know you are not an officer, and they want to push you to see how far they can go. It's very dangerous," Brown said. One particularly humiliating aspect of the shutdown for prison guards has been that inmates are aware of the shutdown - and of the fact that the guards are not getting paid. On New Year's Day, prisoners even received special meals like steak or Cornish game hen, which was served by officers who were not receiving pay. Sensing their insecurity, the prisoners are taunting officers and even testing them to see if they can be bribed, union leaders and staff members say. "Inmates know about the shutdown; they know we aren't getting paid. They play on that stress," said Shoemaker, the correctional officer in Virginia. Meanwhile, few things have changed for prisoners, who continue to receive food and medical care out of a fund that has already been appropriated for the year by Congress. Several officers said inmates openly gloated on Friday when they received their paychecks for the work they perform at the prison. If an officer didn't hear about it from an inmate, they saw the telltale sign of payday when inmates lined up at the commissary to buy their weekly supply of snacks, stamps and soda. Prisoners perform various jobs - mostly to maintain the facilities - for between 12 cents to $1 an hour, plus the occasional bonus. Inmates aren't making much money, but their paychecks felt like a slap in the face, said Shane Fausey, the local union president at the prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania. Fausey said they are funded through commissary profits. "We are risking our lives, but we aren't getting paid," Fausey said. "We are paying the guys who molest our kids and steal from the elderly."" At a prison complex in Lompoc, California, correctional officer Ryan Enos said that since the shutdown began, two inmates have taunted him about not being paid and one tested him to see if he was susceptible to be bribed. Enos works in a place called "the hole," where inmates who are being disciplined are locked in their cells 23 hours a day. The first taunt, Enos said, came last week as Enos was walking an inmate in restraints back to his cell after his one-hour break. "He said, 'Hey are you getting paid yet? That's why you should work for the cartels, they never close,' " Enos recalled. "They are always looking for an angle," he said. "Anytime anyone shows any type of weakness, they will use that to their advantage." Several prison workers said there is widespread anger directed at Washington, especially since President Donald Trump and members of Congress are still receiving pay during the shutdown while they are failing to resolve the budget impasse. They also said they feel abandoned by Trump and Congress. "These are honest, hard-working people who are paying the price for this game of political cat and mouse," Fausey said. "They just want to go home safe and sound and be able to take care of their families. I think the government needs to show them some loyalty and pay them for a good day's work." At a news conference with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Wednesday, the national president for the union that represents correctional officers said Trump's argument about the wall is disingenuous. "What does it serve America, the public, to shutdown the government in the name of border security and neglect our internal security and the fabric inside our federal prisons?" said Eric Young. "We are the faces behind this shutdown. . . . If something happens to any of our professionals behind this distraction, blood will be on your hands. Stop playing chicken with our lives." WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen has agreed to testify in a public hearing next month before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, panel Democrats announced Thursday. Cohen agreed to the Feb. 7 appearance voluntarily, committee chairman Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., said in statement. "I want to make clear that we have no interest in inappropriately interfering with any ongoing criminal investigations, and to that end, we are in the process of consulting with Special Counsel Mueller's office," Cummings said, promising that the panel would announce more information about the hearing in the coming weeks. Special counsel Robert Mueller III is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether anyone in Trump's campaign participated in those efforts. Cohen was sentenced last month to three years in prison for financial crimes and lying to Congress about work he did on behalf of President Trump before he took office. At his sentencing, Cohen said that had felt a "blind loyalty" to Trump that compelled him to cover up his former client's "dirty deeds," and that he was sorry to have done it. Cohen promised to continue to cooperate with Mueller's investigation. Democratic lawmakers have wanted to call Cohen back to Capitol Hill since the special counsel determined Cohen lied during his previous testimony - lies that formed at least part of the foundation of a controversial investigative report that House Intelligence Committee Republicans released last year, concluding there was no evidence of links between Trump's campaign and Russian officials. On Thursday, Cohen said in a statement that he had accepted Cummings' invitation to testify "in furtherance of my commitment to cooperate and provide the American people with answers." "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," he continued in the statement. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who sits on the oversight panel, accused Democrats Thursday of making "a political decision, not an oversight decision" in calling Cohen to testify. "Democrats complained about every single witness we called before the task force for 18 months almost, saying that we shouldn't interfere with the Mueller investigation until it's complete," Meadows said, referring to the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees' joint investigation of FBI and Justice Department officials' conduct during their probes of Trump and Hillary Clinton. "Right out of the bat, the very first witness they want to call is Michael Cohen, because they think it supports their narrative," Meadows continued. "If we're going to bring in Michael Cohen, let's bring in Rod Rosenstein." Before they lost the majority, House Republicans had wanted to interview Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, about reports he suggested secretly recording Trump in an attempt to remove the president from office. A session with the leaders of the Judiciary and Oversight panels was organized, but later canceled and never rescheduled. Rosenstein is expected to depart the administration if Trump's nominee for attorney general, William Barr, is confirmed. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said in a statement Thursday that he welcomed Cohen's upcoming public testimony, but added that Cohen would need to speak to lawmakers in a private setting as well. "Mr. Cohen has expressed an interest in telling his personal story in open session, and we welcome his testimony before the Committee on Oversight and Reform," he said. "It will be necessary, however, for Mr. Cohen to answer questions pertaining to the Russia investigation, and we hope to schedule a closed session before our committee in the near future." A person who dreams of air boats and floodwaters. Children who climb into bed with their parents every time a storm comes. Recovering addicts whove suffered a relapse trying to cope with the trauma of Tropical Storm Harvey. All offer anecdotal evidence of the lingering impact of the devastating flooding event nearly 1 years ago. To counselors with the Spindletop Center, they suggest that post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors in Southeast Texas is more widespread than people will acknowledge. The centers Healing Effectively After Loss, or HEAL, program is expanding its outreach to reach more people with free group counseling meetings across the region. The program, started four months ago, is funded by the Mental and Emotional Healing After Hurricane Harvey grant from the American Red Cross. The response has not been as robust as we hoped, said Dexter Phillip, the program lead for the grant. So many people are suffering from PTSD, even a year after Harvey, and they may not even know it. More Information Mental health These monthly Coffee Talks provide group support for Harvey survivors who might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Lumberton: First Monday of the month, Parkway Life Church, 1865 FM 3513 Vidor: First Tuesday of the month, First United Methodist Church, 501 N. Main Port Arthur: Second Tuesday of the month, Greater True Vine Church, 4004 Memorial Anahuac: Third Thursday of the month, First United Methodist Church, 600 Washington More information: Contact the Spindletop Center, 2750 S. 8th St., Beaumont. (409) 839-1000; spindletopcenter.org See More Collapse Phillip said the monthly Coffee Talks are a way for certified and licensed professional counselors to identify those who may need more structured help, like one-on-one therapy, and to teach participants how to identify and address the signs of trauma in themselves, their loved ones and others. We had someone who was dreaming of flooding in their house and air boats, Phillip said. It ties right back to the storm. We hear about kids wanting to sleep with their parents during a storm because it reminds them of the time they lost everything, and thats what were wanting to help them with. For many, the stress of Harvey triggered a relapse in drug or alcohol addiction, and Phillip said the program aims to help them as well. The monthly meetings take place in churches around Southeast Texas and the grant allows Phillip and his team to train church staff how to conduct such meetings once the program officially ends. The program is scheduled to continue until the end of August, but it might be extended if needed. Its really good for outreach and letting people know these services are out there, Phillip said. As part of the grant requirements, Phillip said the center is required to partner with other recipients of the grant to help victims. We realize some of these people need more than just emotional help, Phillip said. We want to take a holistic approach to healing. Maybe some of their anxiety is because they have repairs they need to do from the storm, so well partner with builders to fix their house. He said the referrals go both ways. When a program funded by a Red Cross grant is working with someone, say repairing their home, and they notice the signs of PTSD, they will refer that person to the Spindletop Center. Phillip attributes the lower-than-expected turnout in part to the stigma associated with seeking treatment for mental health issues. He hopes that changes soon. Theres nothing wrong with needing help, he said. You go to a mechanic when your car is acting up, because youre not a professional mechanic. Getting help with you emotional and mental health shouldnt be any different. For those seeking help with issues not related to Harvey, Spindletop has professional counseling available at prices based on income. In some cases treatment is completely free. haley.bruyn@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/HaleyWrites_BE Less than two weeks into the new year and there's already a big restaurant closing to announce. Montrose's Pax Americana, 4319 Montrose, which opened to great acclaim in 2014, hosts its last service Saturday, Jan. 12. Formerly hailed as one of Houston's best restaurants, Pax Americana claimed a spot on Houston Chronicle food critic Alison Cook's annual Top 100 Restaurants ranking every year since its debut. ONLY AT HoustonChronicle.com: Is 4DX the future of moviegoing? The good news: half-priced cocktails. The restaurant announced that "all alcohol will be 30 percent off tonight, 40 percent off tomorrow the 11th, and 50 percent off on Saturday the 12th!" Still, Houston food fans surely noted the major staff shuffles that recently plagued the establishment. The first major departure was nearly two years ago, when the restaurant's founding chef, Adam Dorris, left to lead the kitchen at the Heights' Presidio. Early last year, up-and-coming chef Martha de Leon also left Pax's kitchen for another venture. Since then, some diners said the restaurant hadn't regained its footing. Owner Dan Zimmerman, who also owns the cocktail bar next door, Bar Victor at 4321 Montrose, released this statement on Instagram: "Houston, the time has come to close Pax Americana and allow the team to move onto new projects. We are thankful first and foremost to the Montrose neighborhood and our guests for their support over the years. The adventure wouldn't have been possible without our dedicated staff, farmers, ranchers, fisherman, and suppliers for the commitment to providing wonderful service and products. We remain thankful for all of the positive accolades received by the local media during our tenure. Our last day of service will be January 12th, we apologize for the short notice, we opted to allow our staff to find new roles and spend much deserved time with their families." Zimmerman and his brother and father are also busy renovating their other neighborhood place, the La Colombe d'Or Hotel, 3410 Montrose, which is temporarily closed while undergoing construction. We've reached out to Zimmerman to ask about the next concept at 4319 Montrose, we'll update here with any new information. What a difference a decade makes. At one point in 2008, U.S. oil production fell to its all-time low of about 3.8 million barrels a day. Today, the Permian Basin alone produces 3.8 million. Once the epitome of Texas wildcatting and strike-it-rich oil exploration, the West Texas oil field is now the home of big corporations bringing industrial efficiency to the production of crude. And thats increasingly true with each passing day as the big players buy out the smaller ones. The countrys top energy companies Exxon Mobil, based in Irving, and Chevron have made the Permian their global focal points. And European supermajors such as Royal Dutch Shell and BP are making moves to keep growing in West Texas. Late last year, Exxon Mobil planted its flag as the most active driller in the Permian with 38 drilling rigs running in the region, which extends into southeastern New Mexico. That jumped Exxon past the Midland company Concho Resources 34 rigs, which rapidly expanded last year through the $8 billion acquisition of rival RSP Permian. Chevron, headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., isnt far behind in the region with more than 20 rigs. For comparison, all of California counts about 10 active drilling rigs versus almost 500 rigs just in the Permian. Chevron recently boasted that its Permian production spiked 80 percent within a year up to about 340,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day. Chevron developed its holdings slowly, but has recently kicked up production. It was almost walking before youre ready to run and now, as you see in our results, were running, said Chevron Vice President Jeff Gustavson, who oversees Permian production, in a recent interview. We call it a factory or manufacturing model. Likewise, Exxon Mobil has bragged that it plans to surpass 600,000 barrels a day in the Permian by 2025. The top Permian firms including other independents like Houstons Occidental Petroleum and Dallas Pioneer Natural Resources both produce either a bit more than or just below 300,000 barrels daily these days. But the leading independent companies, while still representing huge operations, cant match the scale and diversification of the global supermajors. With oil prices having plunged since early October, companies like Exxon and Chevron can still lean on their refining and petrochemical profits, helping to offset the losses in oil. The independents cant quite claim the same. The diversification advantage when oil prices are lower also accrues to BP and Shell. Last year, BP shelled out $10.5 billion to acquire the Texas shale assets of Australias BHP Billiton, including a large swath of acreage in the Permian. Now, Shell, which has a modest Permian presence, is eyeing more growth. One target is Midland-based Endeavor Energy. The privately owned firm is on the selling block for at least $8 billion, and deep-pocketed Shell, Exxon Mobil and Chevron reportedly are among the top bidders. New Shell Oil President Gretchen Watkins declined to comment on Endeavor, but expressed interest in more growth in the Permian, where Shell is increasing production by about 30 percent per year. The Permian is certainly an area of focus for us, Watkins said, and one where I can see us expanding over the next little bit here. jordan.blum@chron.com twitter.com/jdblum23 The Houston region attracted a record amount of capital in 2018 as shopping centers remained largely full with the exception of some troubled retailers. The Houston area closed out 2018 with the addition of 2.7 million square feet of new retail space, roughly matching the previous year, commercial real estate firm Weitzman said. The regions occupancy rate slipped one percentage point to 94.0 percent in 2018. That compares with 95.8 percent in Austin, 92.4 percent in Dallas-Fort Worth and 94.0 percent in San Antonio. Occupancy levels remained strong even as struggling retailers such as Toys R Us and Sears vacated space. For the year, Toys R Us closed 18 stores totaling 675,000 square feet. Sears closures included its 200,000-square-foot Memorial City Mall store, its 152,000-square-foot store at San Jacinto Mall and its Midtown location. Randalls closed seven grocery stores, some of which are being filled by tenants such as El Rancho Supermercado and Star Furniture. New and expanding retailers included Gordmans, a discount department store operated by Stage Stores, Urban Air Adventure Park, Salons by JC, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Xscape Theaters, Floor & Decor and Life Time Fitness, Duluth Trading Co, PGA Tour Superstore, H-E-B, Kroger, Joe Vs Smart Shop, H Mart, Aldi, 365 by Whole Foods Market and Costco. New retail space is projected to decline in 2019 after recently peaking at 3.4 million square feet in 2016. Weitzman tracks a total inventory of 160.5 million square feet across the Houston region. On the investment side, it looks like Houston will hit record retail sales volumes in 2018. Houston is anticipated to rank fifth in the nation for retail deal volume in 2018, according to research firm Real Capital Analytics. The total, which reflects Brookfields acquisition of General Growth Properties in addition to individual property sales, would eclipse the previous record of $2.1 billion in 2007. Dallas ranked ahead of Houston for investment in 2018, and behind top-ranked Los Angeles, Manhattan and Chicago, Real Capital Analytics said. Brookfield added Baybrook, Deerbrook, First Colony, The Woodlands and Willowbrook malls to its retail portfolio. Among the notable deals, Asana Partners of Charlotte, N.C., bought Heights Mercantile and three other retail redevelopments from Houston developer Radom Capital. Investors purchased H-E-B stores in Tanglewood and Bellaire in two separate transactions last year. In recent deals, Houston-based Williamsburg Enterprises boosted its portfolio to 1.1 million square feet across 31 retail properties, all in the Houston area, after several transactions in October. Williamsburg purchased the 156,190-square-foot West Oaks Shopping Center, at 14409 Parkhollow Drive, from BET Investments. Simultaneously, Williamsburg sold the adjacent 96,500-square-foot Burlington Coat Factory, at 14411 Westheimer, to Alief ISD. The transaction included a $3.5 million donation to the school district, which plans to redevelop it as a multipurpose center. It acquired two properties from Brixmor Property Group: Klein Square, an 80,836-square-foot center at 16812 Stuebner Airline at Louetta Road in Spring; and Plantation Plaza, a 98,141-square-foot center at 101 Dixie Drive at Plantation Drive in Clute, near Lake Jackson. Scott Henard of Matthews Shopping Center Division represented the seller. Williamsburg is planning to renovate both centers, which were under 50 percent leased at the time of sale. The company purchased a 46,000-square-foot center at 9411 North Freeway at West Mount Houston Road from David F. Bolger Revocable Trust with assistance from Matthew Berry at CBRE. In other transactions, Gessner Plaza, a 51,400-square foot center at 8703 W. Bellfort, recently changed hands. Marcus & Millichap represented a Houston-based partnership in the sale. katherine.feser@chron.com twitter.com/kfeser Traffic jams at the Houston Ship Channel caused by extra-large container ships are putting growing exports of crude oil, refined products, natural gas liquids and other petroleum products at risk, an executive with Houston pipeline and storage terminal company Enterprise Products Partners said Thursday. The companys senior vice president Tony Chovanec, speaking at a Thursday luncheon hosted by the Greater Houston Port Bureau, said demand from Asia and other foreign markets resulted in a record $141 billion of crude oil, refined products, natural gas liquids and other petroleum product exports from the United States in 2018. Those exports are expected to grow to $330 billion by 2025. And with two-thirds of those exports coming from the Houston Ship Channel, Chovanec warned that recent traffic jams caused by an extra-large container ships threaten that growth. Container ships more than 1,100 feet in length reduce the normal two-way traffic in the channel to one-way traffic meaning that all the rest of the ports customers must sit and wait until given clearance to move their ships. Enterprise, one of the nations largest exporters of crude oil and petroleum products, made a $1.3 billion profit on $9.6 billion of revenue during the third quarter. All of this is at risk, if we cant keep two-way traffic, Chovanec said about his industrys exports. Were very concerned about that constraint. Port Woes: Energy companies fret Houston Ship Channel container traffic Enterprise Product Partners, Kinder Morgan, Targa Resources and four other companies that have invested billions of dollars of invested in export facilities along the Houston Ship Channel. They formed the Coalition for a Fair and Open Port to put the pressure on port officials to limit one-way vessel traffic to one pre-scheduled time per week. The coalitions executive director John Rutherford noted that 90 percent of the Houston Ship Channels traffic comes from the ports energy and industrial customers while 10 percent comes from its container business. Rutherford compared the large container ships using the 530-foot wide channel to using an 18-wheeler to deliver packages to a home on a residential street. This is the number one industrial and energy port in United States and its totally reliant on two-way traffic, Rutherford said. Enterprise and other coalition members, he said, were informed about the potential one-way traffic situation in the late summer and the first incident happened in August followed by a couple others. Citing safety concerns, the Houston Pilots, a group that guides ships that arrive and depart the port, limited extra-large container vessels to daytime use of the ship channel and traffic to one-way when they enter or leave the waterway. Since many types of petroleum product shipments are also limited to daytime traffic, Rutherford said the situation creates nightmare traffic jams. It would be like shutting down IH-10 and Loop 610 for three hours a day, Rutherford said. Era of Supertankers: Race is on to build Texas first offshore oil export terminal A spokeswoman for the Port of Houston said the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports has created a working group to address the issue and that it has given coalition members a seat at the table. The issue is not being ignored, she said. In a previous interview, Port of Houston Chief Port Infrastructure Office Rich Byrnes said that one out of every three containers exported from Houston have some sort of plastic resins meaning that energy companies are also benefiting from container traffic. The bottom line is that every individual company wants to optimize its own economics, Byrnes said. And so if theyre getting delayed by something, theyre going to point that out. But everybody is on board with the bigger picture, which is that the ship channel needs to get widened ASAP. Troy Ave appeared in court earlier today for charges stemming from the fatal Irving Plaza shooting that left his bodyguard and best friend dead. The hearing, which was meant to address scheduling, was pushed back due to health problems his lawyer is dealing with. The rapper caught up with Vulture shortly after to give an eccentric interview about his love for fishing, his fashion choices, and vintage newspaper clippings. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images While the rapper's court appearance was brief, he gave an interesting interview to the publication discussing a variety of topics. The rapper donned coyote vest -- he, apparently, wears fur coats to all court hearings -- and an "ushanka-esque sable hat" with a raccoon tail during his hearing. He explained that the inspiration behind the attire. "Its in honor of Ed Norton in The Honeymooners, the Raccoon Lodge, he said. Adding that his fashion sense derives "from my personality and where I live. I live in a cold place. The rapper later revealed that he had asked the court for permission to travel to Alaska or Cape Cod to fish, adding that he "loves fishing." He also revealed the time his friends tried to force him to hunt bear, but he believes killing an innocent animal is "innocent." Troy Ave did speak on his legal situation, but not too extensively. When asked if he wants his case to go to trial, he responded, "I wanna do what my lawyers advise." He continued to insist that someone else fired the first shot that night and he simply shot back after getting the gun from the murderer. During a visit to the press room at the 100 Centre Street courthouse, the writer pointed out that Troy Ave was particularly interested in the old newspaper clippings on the wall. She specified that a New York Post cover from 1980 that read, "POLICE HIDE LENNON KILLER FROM FANS" resonated with Ave. That could have been me, He said. I could have been a dead celebrity. Peep the whole interview here. It's pretty easy to spot Nicki Minaj out of a crowd. She commands the attention of the room wherever she goes. Usually, she's wearing an obnoxiously-colored wig or one of her famous latex suits. When she's wearing a color as bright as yellow, there's no chance that you'll miss her in the street. The rapper showed off her curves while in New Zealand, rocking an all-yellow get-up and looking extremely fierce in the process. After her performance in New Zealand, Nicki let her Australian fans know that she was on her way to go see them next. She did so in an eye-catching ensemble, matching a yellow satin robe with a BDSM-inspired yellow bodysuit and choker. She posted up for some photos so that she could revisit just how wild the outfit truly was, addressing her supporters and saying, "Everything I do, they do- yea I putem up awn it, awn it." Minaj got a little crazy on social media the other day, revealing to the Barbs that she's already picked out baby names with her boyfriend Kenneth Petty. She also told them just how often she's been having sex, averaging about three or four times on a nightly basis. At that rate, Nicki doesn't even need to go to the gym to keep her physique looking right. Back in October, Lauren Jauregui dropped off her first solo track since splitting from girl group Fifth Harmony titled "Expectations." Today she's followed up on the beat with something even better titled "More Than That" produced by none other than Murda Beatz. The cover art sees her lounging in a field full of flowers, which ties into the theme based on Aphrodite - the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Lauren told her fans on Instagram that the goddess has been her form of inspiration. "Shes very sensual. Shes about love. Shes about the connection with pleasure and self [] and that was really important to me." she added. Lauren previously chatted with Rolling Stone about her upcoming debut album and explained how she's taking the proper time she needs. Its just a matter of creating each little world right now, and making sure that each one has the thought and nurturing put into it that it needs, she said. I dont want to put out commercial-ass quick shit. When people see or hear my stuff, I want them to resonate to some degree. Hate it or love it, I want them to feel something. Quotable Lyrics If my man know, there's gon' be some issues But take my number down, I just might hit you No, I'm just playing, I'm so deep in love But the way you talkin' might just have me actin' up The Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University announced more than $129,000 in awards to support the summer projects and research of 56 Princeton undergraduates. Although all first-, second- and third-year student-artists are eligible to apply, for many of... Kodak Black may be a "suburban dude" living in Calabasas but when he's with his son, the Florida comes back out of him. The rapper has spoken at length about his struggles in his music, getting real on Dying To Live. From fraud to robbery to other crimes, Kodak has been in and out of jail for years but it finally looks like he may be ready to turn his life around. Instead of bringing real guns with him to the store, he's toting water guns with his son as little King Khalid Kapri performed a "stick-up" at Domino's Pizza. The little boy banged on the door when he tried to get the attention of an employee to let him in. Finally, he walks up to the window and points a water gun right at the employee. The man plays along, putting his hands up before King Khalid demands to be handed a telephone for some reason. The phone conversation is inaudible but something cracks up the employee before the child goes into full robbery mode, pulling the trigger a few times only for nothing to come out. "Take that phone out yo hand," asks King Khalid after handing it to the man. Hopefully, Kodak teaches his son that there are more viable means to get your money up. With Bill K. Kapri turning his life around, he should be a better role model for his son these days. CupcakKe never ceases to amaze with her imaginative lyrics about sexual exploits and crude humor. The young Chicago rapper continues to display her penchant for everything explicit with her latest single "Squidward Nose." Even those who have never watched Spongebob Squarepants know Squidward due to his starring role in some of the most popular memes on the planet. Cupcakke uses Squidward's nose to give listeners a vivid comparison to something that she really loves. Cupcakke's single comes just days after she posted a suicidal message on social media. She was taken to the hospital, where she received help, stating, "Ive been fighting with depression for the longest. sorry that I did it public last night but Im ok .I went to the hospital & im finally getting the help that I need to get through , be happy , & deliver great music." Quotable Lyrics My eyelash flew off When I saw that dick was too soft (What the fuck?) Need a dick like Rick Ross Or Dora the Explorer get lost Cardi B's 2018 was filled with highs and lows. The birth of her daughter and the success of her debut album were nothing but blessings, but a fan beatdown during the 2018 Met Gala found her drawn into more legal troubles. Earlier today, she was handed lawsuit papers over the incident while making her way onto the set of her upcoming Netflix show. The Blast caught Cardi B walking in to the set where she's filming her upcoming Netflix series, Rhythm + Flow. Cardi was seen walking into SOB's in New York City's South Village area while she was swarmed by photographers. Cardi's heard telling the photographers to edit pictures of her properly if they're going to be taking pictures of her in the first place. However, once she pulls up to the door, a man's hand pops out into the frame. The man holds out a small stack of papers and drops it in front of her while referencing a "lawsuit." Cardi seemingly ignored the papers and continued to walk through the doors. CardiB and Offset are both involved in the lawsuit. The two were accused by the alleged victim Giovanni Arnold of trying to dodge the lawsuit. At the time, he said that he didn't serve Cardi B the lawsuit after filing it out of respect to her seven months pregnant at the time of the assault and, out of respect and consideration for her and her babys wellbeing, as well as that of her finance, Offset, I chose not to immediately serve" the couple." 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the iconic Air Jordan 4 silhouette which means Jordan Brand will be releasing a ton of classic and all-new colorways over the course of the next 12 months. Among the Air Jordan 4s slated to drop is a "Pale Citron" (aka "Light Crimson," aka "Hot Lava") colorway, which is tentatively scheduled to arrive on March 2nd. It is believed the kicks will be available in sizes for the whole family, with men's sizes retailing for $190. The official color code is listed as: "White/Black-Light Crimson-Pale Citron." As seen in the early images provided by sneaker source @Zsneakerheadz and @HanZuYing, the "Pale Citron" Air Jordan 4s are built on a white leather upper accompanied by a contrasting black that appears on the inner lining, heel tab, wings, mudguard and laces. Additional details include vibrant light crimson accents that appear on the outsole and tongue lining, as well as the scribble design on the black wings and mudguard. Check out some more photos of the Pale Citron colorway in the IG posts embedded below. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Press Release 11 January 2019 Phoenix, AZ -- In 2018, Best Western Hotels & Resorts introduced the travel industry to "Today's Best Western," a year-long campaign representing Best Western's rich and colorful past while celebrating the excitement and vibrancy of the brand today. The initiative included a special "Behind the Brands" series, which raised awareness about Best Western's contemporary, diverse brand portfolio and offered travelers a look at the evolution of this powerhouse brand. Today, Best Western announced that "Today's Best Western" will be back in 2019 with a new series entitled "Every Guest Has a Journey". This campaign is a unique opportunity to celebrate the valued guests who have been with Best Western throughout our brand's evolution, while demonstrating that today's Best Western is a go-to travel solution for guests across all segments. A preview of the initiative can be Seen In This Video. Advertisements Throughout 2019, Best Western will dive deeper into the human side of hospitality and travel, showcasing the personal journeys of its guests by shining a spotlight on travelers from all walks of life - for example, sharing the incredible stories of road warriors, and examining what life is like as a millennial traveler staying with today's Best Western. The "Every Guest Has a Journey" series will explore the different guests that help make Best Western the diverse brand it is today. "Best Western has been on a journey of transformation over the past several years," said David Kong, President and CEO of Best Western Hotels & Resorts. "While the extraordinary results of our transformation can be seen through our dynamic portfolio of brands, expanding presence in key markets and unrivaled industry recognition, it's truly the guests behind the brand that define today's Best Western. Today's Best Western is something very special and we look forward to a new year of continued innovation, bringing the company into a new era and sharing our journey with travelers." Best Western proved its commitment to modernization this past year with a recognition from Fast Company as one of the world's Most Innovative Companies. The company also dedicated itself to diversification, as the first in the industry to introduce a pair of boutique brands - Sadie HotelSMand Aiden HotelSM that compete in the upscale and upper-midscale segments, respectively. Best Western also, in 2018, continued to make valuable enhancements to its award-winning loyalty program, Best Western Rewards, offering more rewards and recognition for Elite members and generous promotions for members of all levels. The award-winning loyalty program earned a spot as a top innovator in the industry, achieving a top-five ranking for the sixth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report's 2017-2018 Best Hotel Rewards Programs, among many other accolades in 2018. "As we continue to be flexible and think strategically in the year ahead, we will continue delivering on the expectations of today's travelers and our hotel owners," said Dorothy Dowling, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. "Looking ahead to a new year, we will remain hyper-focused on elevating our brand perception through initiatives like the 'Every Guest Has a Journey' series, driving even more revenue to our hotel owners, and providing only the best customer care to our guests." Best Western's new "Every Guest Has a Journey" series launches in February with "Every Road Warrior Has a Journey," sharing the stories of today's business travelers and highlighting members of the Best Western Business Advantage Program. Later in the year, the company will offer an inside look at the journeys of Best Western Rewards members, families, couples, pets, road trippers, AAA members and every generation from millennials to retirees. For more information, please visit BestWestern.Com or BestWesternDevelopers.Com. About Best Western Hotels & Resorts Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,200 hotels in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 13 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier, Vib, GLo, Executive Residency by Best Western, Sadie HotelSM, Aiden HotelSM, BW Premier Collection by Best Western, and BW Signature Collection by Best Western, as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStayHotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection by Best Western. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 66 percent of the brand's North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award in 2018, Business Travel News ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands, and Fast Company honoring Best Western Hotels & Resorts with a spot in the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality category. Best Western has also won nine consecutive AAA/CAALodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand's commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA/CAA's nearly 58 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in J.D. Power's 2017 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study - ranking first in breakfast (food and beverage category) for midscale; and second in overall guest satisfaction. Over 35 million travelers are members of the brand's award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western-branded hotel worldwide. Best Western's partnerships with AAA/CAA and Google Street View provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels. Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline. ** All Best Western and SureStay branded hotels are independently owned and operated. Press Release 11 January 2019 The European hospitality sector is bringing its services up to date and rethinking the core of its offer. Its unique goal: to anticipate and meet the expectations of the customers. Skift decodes this innovative momentum in its "European Hospitality's Creative Renaissance" report, created in partnership with AccorHotels. Advertisements When it comes to innovation, says Gaurav Bhushan, global chief development officer at AccorHotels, European hospitality has centered on refreshing a few essential offerings. "While there's innovation going on all over the world, where we have had particular success in Europe is in reinventing the core offer, which is focusing on design and employing food and beverage in creative ways." Associate professor of International Hospitality Management at University College of Northern Denmark in Aalborg, Anders Justenlund adds, "Europe has always had a higher percentage of independent hotels than other markets, partially due to geography. We have more countries, more cultures, and we don't want the same things." Hence, the phenomenon of in-country chains, which Justenlund prefers to describe as "hotel groups looking to do things differently." Examples of such groups include Jaz in the City and CitizenM, which started in The Netherlands, Mama Shelter, which sprang up in France, 25hours Hotels from Germany, and Generator Hostels in England. Another reason Europe is ripe for new concepts is because it is, well, ripe. According to Bhushan, "Europe is a great market for niche hotels because it's such a mature market. In a well-developed market, where the basics are taken for granted and the market is more sophisticated, you have to provide different experiences to meet guest expectations at all levels." Continue reading... Press Release 11 January 2019 The Gyle at Edinburgh Park, Premier Inn, has become the UK's first battery-powered hotel in a bid to improve energy efficiency, secure power supply and enable energy cost savings on-site. Advertisements In a UK-first, Whitbread-owned Premier Inn is trialling a new 100kW lithium-ion battery at the 200-room site in Edinburgh, to help the hotel better manage its energy consumption. The innovative battery, which is 3m3 in size and weighs approximately five tonnes, functions by drawing power from the National Grid during off-peak periods. It has capacity to run The Gyle hotel - including powering meals cooked at its Thyme bar and grill - for up to three hours. The battery takes two hours to fully charge and will be used for at least 2-3 hours per day on-site, depending on the needs of the National Grid. The Gyle at Edinburgh Park was chosen as the first site to trial the battery in part because Scotland is a large producer of renewable power, such as wind power, which can be prone to volatility. At such times, the battery will help the National Grid by reducing demand from the system. As well as powering the Edinburgh-based hotel, the trial of the new battery storage system allows the Premier Inn site to avoid increased peak-time energy costs and generate revenue by offering energy support services to the National Grid - in essence, by being paid in exchange for taking power off the grid. The installation is expected to save the hotel 20,000 per year in energy savings alone. Project partner E.ON has supplied and installed the battery technology and will be remotely managing the battery's workload and efficiency from its energy management centre in Glasgow. Premier Inn is already the industry's widest adopter of solar panels*, and the trial of the battery storage technology at its Edinburgh Park site marks another step towards meeting parent company Whitbread's commitment to cut carbon emissions in half by 2025. The hotel chain joins companies including B&Q and Veolia, which both installed lithium-ion battery power systems earlier this summer. Cian Hatton, Whitbread's Head of Energy and Environment, said: "Batteries are of course everyday items, more commonly associated with powering small household goods, like the TV remote control, so it's incredibly excited to launch the UK's first battery-powered hotel - an innovation which will save money, ensure security of supply and support the transition to a more flexible grid". Richard Oakley, Customer Accounts Director at E.ON, added: "The Gyle at Edinburgh Park is already an energy efficient hotel thanks to the remote monitoring and management of its systems from our control centre in Glasgow. By adding the flexibility of battery storage we can also help Whitbread to upgrade to the full-board option of drawing electricity from the grid when prices are low, storing that energy for use at peak times and having the ability to sell it back to the grid to help balance supply and demand on the network. "Premier Inn is showing how hotel chains and large power users can further save money, reduce their carbon footprint and support the development of a lower-carbon, smarter energy grid in the UK." If successful, the trial could be extended more widely across the Premier Inn estate. *Premier Inn has more sites with solar panels than any other hotel chain in the UK, 169 in total. About Whitbread Whitbread PLC is the owner of the UK's favourite hotel chain, Premier Inn as well as restaurant brands, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Bar + Block, Table Table and Cookhouse and Pub. Whitbread is committed to being a force for good in the communities in which it operates. It's sustainability programme, 'Force for Good' is focused on enabling people to live and work well and is built around three pillars of Opportunity, Community and Responsibility. Whitbread has committed to a science-based carbon target (SBT), putting it on course to reduce carbon emissions intensity by 50 per cent by 2025 and as much as 88 per cent by 2050. In the year ended 2 March 2017, Whitbread PLC reported an 8.2% increase in Group Revenue to 3.1 billion and Underlying Profit before tax of 565 million up 6.2%. Whitbread PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100. It is also a member of the FTSE4Good Index. About E.ON E.ON is an international energy supplier focused on energy networks and customer solutions. Our business is built on these foundations because we believe they are the building blocks of the new energy world. We provide solutions for this new energy world - decentralised, green, and interconnected - and we make sure that everything we do has a single focus: our customers, whether they are individuals or families, big or small businesses, or even entire towns and cities. Press Release 11 January 2019 London UK/Spokane WA - At Magnuson Worldwide, America's fastest growing hotel brand, we are proud to announce the addition of the Colonial Inn Ellsworth in Ellsworth, Maine to the By Magnuson Worldwide Collection. Advertisements The Colonial Inn Ellsworth is a 5-minute walk from the Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary and is 7.7 miles from Mount Desert Island and 15 miles from Acadia National Park. Rooms offer free Wi-Fi and cable TV and suites and upgraded rooms have kitchenettes and/or sitting areas with sofa beds. Children aged 11 and under stay at no charge with a parent. Additional amenities at the propertly include complimentary parking, a heated indoor pool and a hot tub. There's also a casual Thai restaurant featuring a terrace for guests who want a delightful on-site dining experience. Thomas Magnuson, CEO of Magnuson Worldwide says: "We are delighted to be welcoming the team at the Colonial Inn Ellsworth to the Magnuson family." Press Release 11 January 2019 HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee The U.S. hotel industry reported mixed year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 30 December 2018 through 05 January 2019, according to data from STR. Advertisements In comparison with the week of 31 December 2017 through 06 January 2018, the industry recorded the following: Occupancy: -0.4% to 48.8% Average daily rate (ADR): +5.6% to US$130.69 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): +5.2% to US$63.79 Among the Top 25 Markets, Phoenix, Arizona, reported the largest increase in RevPAR (+13.7% to US$67.06), due primarily to the second-highest rise in occupancy (+8.6% to 57.8%). Miami/Hialeah, Florida, posted the largest lift in ADR (+14.0% to US$320.24). New Orleans, Louisiana, experienced the highest jump in occupancy (+9.4% to 68.8%). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-New Jersey, reported the steepest declines in each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy (-24.1% to 41.1%), ADR (-11.9% to US$108.01) and RevPAR (-33.2% to US$44.40). Houston, Texas, saw the only other double-digit drop in ADR (-10.9% to US$80.71) and the second-largest decreases in occupancy (-19.2% to 40.6%) and RevPAR (-28.0% to US$32.79). Download STR's weekly U.S. hotel review. Appointment 11 January 2019 Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE: HGV) announces the appointment of Tim Loughman as East Coast area vice president of resort operations. In his new role, Loughman will be responsible for overseeing and driving all aspects of resort operations for 15 HGV resorts on the East Coast, including Florida, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and New York City. Loughman joins HGV from Hilton, where he served as vice president, luxury and lifestyle, overseeing resort openings, guest experience technology and service, culture, training and brand standards for more than 80 hotels and resorts across Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Canopy brands worldwide. Prior to his time at Hilton, Loughman was founder of and senior consultant for Offshore Hospitality Solutions, where he provided senior-level luxury hotel project management expertise specializing in the Caribbean and Latin American markets. Loughman also spent the early part of his career with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and held general manager positions at flagship properties in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles. Loughman holds a bachelor's degree in business and hotel administration from Cornell University. Appointment 11 January 2019 PM Hotel Group, an award-winning leader in the hotel management industry, today announced Lance Mion as Executive Chef and Drink Lead Enthusiast of the Canopy by Hilton Washington, DC Bethesda North located at Pike & Rose. The Canopy brand offers a fresh, lifestyle experience to its guests through hotel properties that are designed as a natural extension of their neighborhood, delivering thoughtfully, local experiences. Mion will be responsible for food and drink operations at Canopy Central, the hotel's restaurant, as well as lead the hotel's banquet services. The Canopy offers a variety of private event spaces that can accommodate up to 350 guests in its 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. Mion has more than 25 years of food and beverage operations experience which includes creating and launching new restaurant concepts and wine and beverage programs, designing menus, and driving positive results in guest and employee satisfaction. Mion previously spent 17 years with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in food and beverage positions at the Westin Georgetown Hotel, St. Regis Hotel, Westin Grand Hotel and the Jockey Club Restaurant. Prior to that, he spent six years as an on-call chef at the White House under Executive Chef Walter Scheib, assisting with state dinners, private dinners for the first family in the residence and other special culinary events. More recently Mion was the Executive Chef at the Georgetown University Hospital managing the kitchen team for feeding more than 300 patients daily, as well as supervising food operations for three revenue generating outlets and daily, internal catering events. PM Hotel Group operates a diverse and growing portfolio of luxury, lifestyle, full and select-service hotels across 15 states from New York to the Pacific Northwest. An approved operator for the Hilton, Marriott and IHG brands, PM Hotel Group currently manages two of the first four Canopy by Hilton hotels in the U.S., located in North Bethesda and Portland Pearl District. Appointment 11 January 2019 Timber Cove Resort, located just off California's Highway 1, welcomes David Ahern as general manager. The Sonoma Coast boutique resort was most recently recognized among the top 10 resorts in Northern California by Conde Nast Traveler's 2018 Readers' Choice Awards. In his role Ahern oversees day-to-day operations of the property, which includes 46 guest rooms and suites and a regionally-driven food and wine program at Coast Kitchen, the on-site restaurant and bar. Ahern has held several management positions throughout his 20-year career, most recently serving as director of operations at the iconic Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood. His past experience also includes other director and managerial roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Los Angeles and Boston, The Dorchester Collection in Los Angeles and with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in Miami, Boston and Saudi Arabia. Industry Update Appointment 10 January 2019 Franck Huan Appointed Head of Development, China At Rosewood Hotel Group in Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR) Franck Huang has been appointed head of development, China for Rosewood Hotel Group, which currently operates 14 hotels spanning its trio of brands - Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, New World Hotels & Resorts and penta hotels - in China. Huang brings with him 15 years' experience in the luxury hospitality industry and he was most recently vice president of development China at Marriott International. The hospitality veteran has also held senior development roles at Starwood, where he spearheaded partnerships and deals for hotel brands such as Aloft, W Hotels and St Regis. Franck Huang has been appointed head of development, China for Rosewood Hotel Group, which currently operates 14 hotels spanning its trio of brands - Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, New World Hotels & Resorts and penta hotels - in China. Huang brings with him 15 years' experience in the luxury hospitality industry and he was most recently vice president of development China at Marriott International. The hospitality veteran has also held senior development roles at Starwood, where he spearheaded partnerships and deals for hotel brands such as Aloft, W Hotels and St Regis. Rosewood Hotel Group Rosewood Hotel Group, one of the world's leading hotel companies, encompasses four brands: ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in North America, Caribbean/Atlantic, Europe, the Middle East and Asia; contemporary deluxe New World Hotels & Resorts in China and Southeast Asia; neighbourhood lifestyle pentahotels in Europe and Asia; and KHOS, a dynamic global business lifestyle hotel brand. more information Recent Appointments at Rosewood Hotel Group Robert Sulatycky - Executive Chef 17 May 2021 Robert Sulatycky has been appointed Executive Chef at Rosewood Sand Hill, the luxury five-star hotel set in Menlo Park, California. In his new role, Sulatycky will oversee all F&B outlets at Rosewood Sand Hill, providing strategic direction to the property's culinary team and its three dining establishments, including Madera, the hotel's famed Michelin-starred restaurant, The Library & Bar and the seasonal Pool Garden Terrace. read more Yannick Augy - Director of Food & Beverage 30 April 2021 Rosewood Miramar Beach, Southern California's most luxurious oceanfront resort, is pleased to announce the appointment of Yannick Augy as director of food & beverage. In this role, Yannick is responsible for the overall operation and direction of the resort's food and beverage programs and its distinct dining venues and bars. read more Pipeline 11 January 2019 BEI San Francisco, formerly the Holiday Inn San Francisco-Civic Center, will officially reflag from the former on January 11.The top-to-bottom $30 million renovation will reveal the newest independent lifestyle hotel in the quickly growing Mid-Market neighborhood this spring. An investment by CapBEI with a sister property in Beijing, BEI offers 396 guest rooms, and will soon offer two dining options and 10,000 square feet of co-working, meeting, and event space. Designed by iu + bibliowicz Architects, LLP and Steinberg Hart, BEI will include 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space in addition to several intimate coworking spaces inspired by the forward-thinking offices found throughout San Francisco and Silicon Valley. BEI aims to answer the increasing demand for integrated living and workspace in San Francisco by offering seven completely remodeled room categories, each averaging 350-square-feet. Most notable will be BEI's "Stay Work Play" rooms that feature beds that tuck away to transform living space into working space with an additional outdoor terrace for breakout meetings and sessions. In addition, BEI offers 3,000 square feet of traditional meeting space that can become three breakout rooms, and 7,000 square feet of flexible space, which includes the lobby, game room, gallery and fourth floor outdoor terrace. A new 800 square foot fitness center will be located near the outdoor terrace to complement the classes and wellness programming that BEI plans to implement in spring. BEI will open in Spring 2019 with two new food and beverage concepts on the ground floor. Sum, the restaurant and bar, will be a casual dining concept, open for breakfast and dinner, featuring paired shareable plates and classic cocktails, craft beer and wine. Ren, will be an on-the-go daytime dining option with freshly made pastries, specialty deli items, and will feature coffee creations from West Coast favorite, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, beer and wine. The menus and design of both concepts will be announced in the coming months. Situated only 20 minutes from San Francisco International Airport, BEI San Francisco offers instant access for guests to walk and experience many of the city's beloved neighborhoods such as Hayes Valley, SOMA, and Fillmore District; as well as iconic attractions and event venues, such as the Orpheum Theatre, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco Opera, Moscone Center, and SFJAZZ Center. Rebranding 10 January 2019 Melia Hotels International announces today that Tryp Lima Miraflores has rebranded to INNSIDE Lima Miraflores, joining the INNSIDE by Melia portfolio. The property has undergone renovations to update its facilities and attributions to the recently renewed standards expected of the INNSIDE by Melia brand. The INNSIDE Lima Miraflores is now open to Lima's visitors and locals alike, making it the second INNSIDE property in the Americas region, together with the INNSIDE New York NoMad. The INNSIDE by Melia brand currently operates 21 properties in 6 countries. The rebranded property features 140 guestrooms, a signature restaurant, business center, 24-hour fitness center, chic pool, and rooftop bar. The hotel is located in a prime location in the district of Miraflores, a step away from the best places to enjoy varied cuisine, culture and fun. In addition, being close to financial and business centers, the hotel adapts to the dynamic and modern style of travelers seeking new experiences, in an urban and vibrant environment, while still feeling at home. The guestrooms at INNSIDE Lima Miraflores adapt to each type of traveler. They boast a contemporary and urban design that caters to the bleisure traveler. Additionally INNSIDE Lima Miraflores is an ideal option for families with family rooms offering a king-sized bed and a bunk bed for children to sleep comfortably. INNSIDE by Melia hotels are functional and perfectly adapted to meet the needs of modern city visitors, offering a combination of business lifestyle, cutting-edge design, smart technology within the guestrooms and meeting spaces as well as personalized, simple and efficient service. INNSIDE Lima Miraflores features a signature restaurant 352 Gastrobar with diverse and healthy options from an exquisite international menu with Peruvian flair. Guests and locals can also indulge in a variety of signature cocktails at OVERGROUND, the refreshed rooftop bar. Additionally, INNSIDE Lima Miraflores has a 24-hour fitness center located next to the property's pool on the top floor of the hotel. Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the country's arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is preserved, it's a lively metropolis and one of South America's largest cities. It is the center of culture with a booming art scene, architecture with rich culture and an ever-developing food scene. Lima is often the start of many individuals quest to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, making it an admirable destination. Enter the Once Upon A Child Spring Style Sweepstakes today for the chance to WIN! Refresh your child's wardrobe! You could be the LUCKY WINNER of $200 in Store Cash! Just scan and upload a photo of your completed "news story" and you'll be entered for a chance to have your story published. Click here to find out where to get a COVID-19 vaccine or test. To find out how many local residents have been vaccinated for COVID-19, click here. Use the map to find numbers for individual counties. Find detailed statistics about COVID-19 tests, cases and deaths by county and for the state as a whole on the Indiana State Department of Health's online dashboard. Lima, OH (45805) Today Mostly sunny. High 77F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear skies. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. (CNN) U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that his oft-made 2016 campaign promise that he would build a wall and Mexico would pay for it didn't mean it would be a direct payment, despite outlining just that scenario during his campaign. "When during the campaign, I would say 'Mexico is going to pay for it,' obviously, I never said this, and I never meant they're gonna write out a check, I said they're going to pay for it. They are," he said as he prepared to depart the White House for the southern border. But in April 2016, Trump's campaign outlined the steps he would take to compel Mexico to pay the U.S. "$5-10 billion" to fund a border wall -- a plan that relies largely on threatening to bar undocumented Mexican immigrants in the United States from wiring money to relatives in Mexico. "It's an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5-10 billion to ensure that $24 billion continues to flow into their country year after year," the memo said. Using a broad interpretation of the post-9/11 USA Patriot Act, Trump wrote in the memo that he would threaten to issue new regulations that would compel money transfer companies like Western Union to verify a client's identity and legal status before authorizing a wire transfer. Trump now claims his renegotiated trade deal with Mexico and Canada would result in Mexico "indirectly" paying for the wall. But the US-Mexico-Canada trade deal has not yet been approved by Congress and even the perceived benefits of its passage would not amount to a Mexican -- direct or indirect -- payment of the border wall. Whatever economic benefits the trade deal delivers would be reflected in financial benefits to companies and higher wages for some individuals, not in any immediate financial boon to the U.S. government. And White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney noted Sunday that border wall construction "requires appropriation" of federal funds from Congress, even if financial benefits from the trade deal help cover the cost. Nonetheless, Trump claimed: "Mexico is paying for the wall indirectly, and when I said Mexico will pay for the wall in front of thousands and thousands of people, obviously they're not gonna write a check. But they are paying for the wall indirectly many, many times over by the really great trade deal we just made." The prospect of Mexico paying for a wall became a 2016 campaign rallying cry for his supporters, but has come under fire in the second year of his presidency as Trump seeks $5.7 billion in border security funding, which includes funding for the construction of a wall or steel barrier. Mexican officials have consistently rebuffed the idea that their government would pay for a wall. Remarking on the trade deal's prospects for congressional approval, Trump predicted Thursday that Democrats could hold up its passage. "It's a trade deal, it has to be approved by Congress. It probably will be other than maybe they even hold that up because they want to do as much harm as they can only because of the 2020 presidential election," he said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Trump claims 'obviously' Mexico isn't going to write a check for a border wall." Copyright 2018 at Sun Newspapers/ APG Media of East Central Minnesota. Digital dissemination of this content without prior written consent is a violation of federal law and may be subject to legal action. You bet - Ill be there all weekend. I plan to be there at least part of the time. Im still a little leary because of the crowds. Vote View Results How to get Mexico to pay for (some of) the wall M ove over millennial pink. Living Coral is the trend for 2019, according to the American colour coding company Pantone, whose meticulously numbered swatches are the reference point for designers worldwide. A lively shade somewhere between orange and peach, Living Coral is, says Pantone, sociable, spirited and life-affirming and will pop up in fashion, beauty, art and interiors throughout the year. However, it is not a favourite with design TV presenter Michelle Ogundehin, writing on the Dezeen website. This shade is simply too saccharine, bright and ripe to be remotely relaxing, she argues. Instagram, however, loves it though the posts favour fashion, flowers and make-up rather than walls and sofas. Model Gigi Hadid was an internet sensation when she recently wore coral head to toe in New York in a risque, bosom-baring outfit. A robust riposte comes from Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux (dulux.co.uk). Living Coral is a lovely, arresting colour, she says. She concedes perhaps its better suited to fashion: It jumps off a magazine page, you might not want that for walls. So maybe use it for painted furniture or velvet cushions, though the brave and confident are using strong, saturated colours more and more. Living Coral Reef Pattern Wallpaper, 36 per square metre (muralswallpaper.co.uk) Also banging the drum for coral is Martin Waller, celebrating his empires 40th anniversary with the landmark Andrew Martin shop in Walton Street, Chelsea (andrewmartin.co.uk). Living Coral is a celebration of life, says Waller. It exudes warmth, energy and playfulness at home but makes us aware of the changing seaworld. Perhaps if we act now we can bring back the colour there. His Pelham velvet in 26 shades includes coral and clementine. At 43 a metre it is hard-wearing for upholstery and a good drape for curtains. Just along Walton Street is the delightful fabric boutique of Nina Campbell, decorating doyenne of Londons high society (shop.ninacampbell.com). Pattern mixing is her forte. Layer coral in graded shades, she suggests. Or use it to warm up greys or to make chocolate smart. See how adeptly she works her looks in a new book, Nina Campbell, Interior Decoration: Elegance and Ease, by Country Life interiors editor Giles Kime. Find flashes of coral in patterns and textured plains on chairs, cushions, curtains and rugs. At John Lewis inventive customers are already using coral with millennial pink and terracotta for a tonal scheme, or to liven up greys. Their designer Melanie Archer suggests Little Greenes Orange Aurora as a paint shade (johnlewis.com; littlegreene.co.uk). Shades of the seaside: panelling painted in Inkwood by Sanderson, from 28, at stylelibrary.com Not surprisingly coral works best on fronded designs of coral itself, where the pattern breaks up the intense colour, for example in a pretty undersea affair from Murals Wallpaper (muralswallpaper.co.uk). And fashion maestro Matthew Williamson typically adds fantasy to his Coralino wallpaper design, where stems of coral catch treasures from a sunken Spanish galleon (osborneandlittle.com). Use it in a downstairs loo and add vibrant coral towels. Thanks to Instagram and Pinterest, customers are getting bolder, says Charlie Marshall, founder of Loaf, the London upholstery specialists (loaf.com). He adds: Living Coral has a pleasant softness, unlike some strident fleeting colours of the moment. Ikea is updating its 40-year-old classic Poang armchair with a frame and covers in graded shades of coral, priced 85 (ikea.com). Get that tropical Miami vibe, suggests Clotilde Passalacqua, UK interior design leader. Use coral with shocking pink, lime, turquoise and lots of white. Or downplay with brass and copper tones for softer glamour. Oozing heritage, Bronte by Moon, famous for signature plaids, herringbones and tweeds, has chosen coral mixed with mint and aqua to update its latest cushions and throws (brontebymoon.co.uk). On July 26, 1944, Technician Fourth Grade Hoichi Bob Kubo stepped from the jungle on the northern tip of Saipan and strode toward eight Japanese riflemen guarding the mouth of a cave that held more than 100 civiliansmen, women and children. The battle for the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands was over, but the solo action that would earn Kubo the highest honor of any Japanese-American soldier in the Pacific had just begun. Born on Maui in 1919 to first-generation Japanese immigrants (Issei), Kubo was studying agriculture at the University of Hawaii when drafted in June 1941. Six months later he watched from Oahus Schofield Barracks as Japanese planes strafed the island, triggering the Army to group Kubo and other Nisei soldiers in Hawaii into the 100th Infantry Battalion and ship them to Camp McCoy, Wis. In June 1942 Military Intelligence Service recruiters came seeking Japanese linguists. Kubo was chosen one of more than 6,000 Japanese-Americans who supported U.S. and Allied uniformed services as translators and interrogators. In the summer of 1944 Kubo was attached to the 27th Infantry Division, interpreting captured documents and questioning prisoners on Saipan. After U.S. forces secured the island on July 9, thousands of surviving enemy soldiers either committed suicide or retreated into Saipans cavern-laced interior. Kubo was among several Japanese-American cave flushers tasked with coaxing surrenders from the holdouts. On the morning of July 26 he was on patrol with an infantry platoon when a pair of civilians reported they had escaped from a cave at the base of a nearby cliff where Japanese soldiers had been holding more than 100 hostages for 10 days. Kubo volunteered to lobby for the captives release. Armed with only a .45-caliber pistol, his pockets full of K rations, Kubo rappelled more than 100 feet down the cliffside and searched for the cave. The enemy soldiers branded Kubo a spy until he identified himself as an American negotiator. Curious why he wore a U.S. uniform, the soldiers invited Kubo to sit with them around a pot of rice. Kubo spoke of his grandfathers, who had served in the Japanese army during the 190405 Russo-Japanese War. When asked why he fought against Japan, the Nisei quoted a 12th-century Japanese proverb, If I am filial, I cannot serve the emperor. If I serve the emperor, I cannot be filial. The soldiers understood his allegiance was to the land of his birth. For nearly two hours Kubo spoke with the soldiers, gaining their trust as he urged them to not disgrace Japan by killing noncombatants after battle had ceased. Kubo then scaled the rope back to his anxious platoon. At 2 p.m. the first of the 122 hostages crawled over the ledge, eventually followed by the eight surrendering Japanese. In January 1945 Kubo received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Armys second highest valor award. Kubos heroism, noted his citation, prevented casualties among our troops and undoubtedly saved the lives of the civilians, who would have perished had it been necessary to dynamite the cave. Kubo went to Okinawa, where he watched the Japanese surrender party board an American aircraft for Manila. After the war he became a successful grocer in San Jose, Calif., where he died in 1998. His heroic action is captured in Cave Flushing, a sculpture in the National Museum of American History exhibit A More Perfect Union, which explores the Japanese-American experience in World War II. Justices set high bar for public figures claiming press defamation SCOTUS 101 LAYPERSONS TEND TO VIEW Supreme Court decisions in terms of winners and losers. However, the justices often find the most contentious aspects of a case to involve explaining the reasons for favoring the victor and devising a formula that will tell lower court judges how to handle similar cases. No case illustrates this better than New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 decision that, the Times editorialized on its 50th anniversary, instantly changed libel law in the United States and still represents the clearest and most forceful defense of press freedom in American history. Sullivan arose over two principles in conflict: the right of the press to publish without government interference and the right of individuals to use the governmentthat is, the courtsto obtain recompense when defamed. It was obvious from the moment that the justices agreed to review an Alabama Supreme Court decision ordering that the Times pay an astonishing libel judgment of $500,000 that the High Court was going to give the publication some relief. The question was how broad that relief was going to be. The politicians who brought the case claimed to have been libeled not in a news story or an opinion piece, but by a paid advertisement run in the paper on March 29. 1960. The full-page ad lauded the nonviolent civil rights demonstrations Negro students, in the ads language, were staging around the South. The copy in the ad decried the unprecedented wave of terror meeting those demonstrators, and solicited donations to support the students, assist in aiding blacks to vote, and provide legal help to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The ad was signed by 20 Southern clergymen and 80 celebrities ranging from Eleanor Roosevelt to Jackie Robinson and including such show business luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Shelley Winters. One paragraph of the ad copy focused on actions against protesting students in Montgomery, Alabama. The ad named no individual official. However, L.B. Sullivan, the Montgomery city commissioner who oversaw the municipalitys police department, claimed that the mention unfairly cast aspersions on his job performance. Sullivan sued the Times and local ministers who had signed the ad. Alabama Governor John Patterson and other elected officials later joined Sullivans action. The ad did contain misstatements, bolstering the plaintiffs case. For example, the ad said protesting students had gathered at the Alabama statehouse and sung My Country, Tis of Thee when in fact they had sung the National Anthem. The ad claimed that Dr. King had been arrested seven times on such minor charges as loitering; in fact, police had arrested him four times. The errors substance stopped mattering when the trial judge ruled that the standard libelous per se would applythat is, that any factual errors, no matter how trivial, are presumed to harm a subjects reputation. In setting damages jurors could assume plaintiffs had been injured, without requiring proof. The justices had not heard a libel case in 20 years, but they knew this judgment could not stand. After the Alabama high court OKed the $500,000 judgment against the Times, so many Southern politicians sued the press for libel that state courts had $300 million in claims pending. These kinds of cases provide a method to put newspapers out of business, Hugo Black said as he and colleagues privately discussed the case. Yet justices hesitated simply to say the trial judge was wrong to call the contested ad libelous per se. States make the rules for libel litigation, and in Alabama that harsh standard was the rule. The justices were not about to impose an overall national standard on run-of-the-mill libel suits. Those who sat through oral arguments in the case expected the justices to dispose of the case by the easiest means. That would have been to limit their opinion to this particular dispute, holding that no jury reasonably could conclude that the ads authors had aimed their statements on police actions directly at the officials claiming to have been libeled. But afterwards, conferring privately on the case, the justices saw the need for a broader ruling. Justice John Harlan cut to the core. This case presents a classic illustration of how the First Amendments protection of the public interest in discussion must be accommodated against private rightsincluding the private right not to be defamed, Harlan said. We must lay down new constitutional rules for state libel laws. The justices felt that, rather than send the case back to lower courts to be tried under any new standard, the court had to apply those new rules to the Times case. All thought returning the case to Alabama would be disastrous. Jurors there were likely to be hostile to the Times and disinclined to parse any instructions legal niceties, especially since the original judge consistently had ruled against antisegregation efforts and in his courtroom made blacks and whites sit separately. The solution for balancing the rights of the pressand the publics need to be informed about governments workingsagainst the rights of those claiming to have been libeled first was enunciated in the justices conference by Justice Tom Clark. I would separate private libels from those on groups or in public affairs or government, Clark said. In private libels, I would allow a less onerous burden of proof. That was not a radical idea. Courts in 16 states had narrowed public officials right to bring libel cases even when stories about them were false, as long as those publishing the stories had a reasonable belief that the articles contents were true and had acted without malice. The justices had no trouble embracing a two-tier approach, but did struggle over criteria for lower courts to apply in assessing public officials claims of libel. Clark suggested that the writing under challenge had to relate directly to the official claiming injury, not merely to a policy that that official was pursuing. Chief Justice Earl Warren wanted the standard to be whether the contested article in its totality amounted to fair comment on a topic of public interest. Justice Harlan wanted a very high bar for any plaintiff; namely, to present clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidencethe standard in denaturalization cases involving efforts to revoke the citizenship of an immigrant who had been granted it. Justice William Brennan suggested plaintiffs should have to prove actual malice. Brennan was assigned to write the opinion for the court. Seeking a middle ground among his brethrens divergent views, he wrote six drafts before producing an opinion that most would acceptthat to win a libel case, a public official had to prove either that the publisher had made the false statements knowing them to be untrue or had done so with a reckless disregard to gauging their accuracy. The ruling was a green light for the press to report aggressively on any public figure, since the Court in 1967 extended the Times standard to such persons. However, while agreeing on the need to void the judgment against the Times Justices Black, William O. Douglas, and Arthur Goldberg wanted a more absolutist rule. They read the Constitution as barring any libel action by a public officialagainst the press or citizensbecause even the threat of such action could inhibit the robust debate vital to democracy. The White House is reported to be preparing the ground for Donald Trump to declare a national emergency and has instructed the armys corps of engineers to look into its appropriations for unspent money to fund the presidents wall, which he pitched in a Thursday visit to the border. Negotiations with Democrats are stalemated, a compromise package mooted by a group of Republican lawmakers has failed to find traction with the White House, and with few other proposals on the table, talk of a national emergency has gained ground, especially among Trumps allies. Trump himself is not averse to it as he has made clear over the past few days, but he has sought to demonstrate a preference for resolving the stalemate through negotiations, even as he walked out of the last round, ending it with a perfunctory bye-bye because it was a total waste of time. Im prepared for anything, he told reporters in a visit to the southern border in McAllen, Texas. We can declare a national emergency. During the border visit, he sought to drum up support for the wall by doubling down on a narrative of a humanitarian and security crisis, which has been called out repeatedly for exaggeration and misrepresentation of facts, and through emotional endorsements from relatives of a victim of crimes by illegal immigrants. Also read: Trump talks of crisis of heart and soul at the southern border The way he was killed, what my familys going through right now, I do not want any other family law enforcement person to go through, said Reggie Singh, brother of Ronil Singh, the Fijian American police officer of Indian ancestry killed by an illegal immigrant in California on Christmas Eve. Singh was 33. It breaks my heart and no one should ever ever have to go through that, Singh added and expressed his support, and his familys, to any effort and initiative to prevent these incidents. Also read: We are with you, Trump tells brother of Indian-origin cop killed by immigrant Trumps border visit, however, did not help his case in Washington DC, where Democrats controlling the House of Representatives remained opposed to the wall and Republicans who control the Senate, saw their compromise package rejected by the president before it got off the starting block. Time for President @realDonaldTrump to use emergency powers to build Wall/Barrier, Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally and a prime mover of the failed Republican bid for comprise, wrote on Twitter shortly after it became clear his compromise initiative was doomed. I hope it works, he added, ominously signalling the potholes ahead. Also read: United States detained over 50,000 illegal immigrants in December The White House request to the Pentagon is focussed on money already allocated, but not obligated to the engineering corps for projects meant to minimise the impact natural disasters on Puerto Rico, Texas and some other areas that are still dealing with the aftereffects of recent catastrophes. Opposition on humanitarian grounds, questioning how money could be diverted from helping victims of natural catastrophes, has already started. And legal challenges in courts are expected to follow. New figures released on Friday revealed that the United Kingdoms goods exports to India in the year to November 2018 were up by 27.3 %, amounting to 5.4 billion during a political climate marked by uncertainty due to Brexit. The Office for National Statistics said India was among the top two non-EU markets where UK goods exports grew during the year, after Nigeria, where exports grew by 29.2%. The overall worth of UK exports (goods and services) during the year was 630 billion, it said. India is among key countries with which the UK is keen to forge a free trade agreement (FTA) after Brexit. The UKs exit from the European Union is scheduled for March 29, after which formal talks for FTA are expected to take place between London and New Delhi. International trade secretary Liam Fox said: As the UK takes control of its independent trade policy for the first time in 40 years, markets such as India will provide exciting export and investment opportunities for UK companies. These statistics show that UK companies are beginning to take advantage of these opportunities. My International Economic Department stands ready to drive trade between our two countries and I would encourage any Indian company that wants to do business with the UK to contact our regional trade commissioner, Crispin Simon. In December, the Department for International Trade revealed that Indian investment in the UK went up: The greatest growth from any country has come from Indian investors, rising by 321% to 8 billion. Total trade in goods and services (i.e. exports plus imports) between the UK and India was 19.6 billion in year to end 2018 Q2, a 20.0% increase from year to end 2017 Q2. A court jailed an exiled Russian artist Thursday for setting fire to the facade of a French central bank building, a performance that was filmed and circulated on social media. Pyotr Pavlensky, 34, received a one-year jail term and two years suspended for the stunt, but should walk free, having already served 11 months in custody. His former partner, Oksana Shalygina, received a two-year sentence, 16 months of which were suspended. But Pavlensky was also ordered to pay 21,678 euros ($25,000) in damages to the Banque de France. Never! he said in Russian. Pavlensky fled to France and was given asylum in 2017 after several provocative protests drew the ire of Russian authorities, not least one in which he nailed his scrotum to Moscows Red Square. In France, Pavlensky kept up his work. In October 2017 he and Oksana Shalygina torched the front door of the Paris Bastille branch of the Banque de France. Locating it on the Place de la Bastille, where the French Revolution began in 1789, was historically shameful, he argued, adding: Bankers have taken the place of monarchs. They were convicted of dangerous destruction of property. Shalygina had been freed ahead of trial in January 2018, but the court at first deemed Pavlensky a flight risk and ordered him held in custody. He was eventually released last September. After making global headlines with his Red Square scrotum performance titled Fixation in 2013. 2016, a Russian court fined him after he doused the doors of Russias FSB secret police headquarters with petrol and set them on fire. Pavlensky has also sewn his lips together to protest the jailing of members of the feminist Russian punk group Pussy Riot, wrapped himself in barbed wire, and chopped off part of his ear. In December 2016 Russian authorities said a theatre actress had accused Pavlensky of sexual assault, charges he denounced as fabricated. He says he risks 10 years in a prison camp if returned to Russia. A Myanmar court on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of breaking the Official Secrets Act, saying the defence had not provided sufficient evidence to show they were innocent. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were convicted by a lower court in September in a landmark case that has raised questions about Myanmars progress towards democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates. It was a suitable punishment, said high court Judge Aung Naing, referring to the seven-year prison term meted out by the lower court. The defence has the option of making a further appeal to the countrys supreme court, based in the capital Naypyitaw. Todays ruling is yet another injustice among many inflicted upon Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. They remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth, said Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J Adler in a statement. Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmars commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt. In their appeal arguments made last month, defence lawyers had cited evidence of a police set-up and lack of proof of a crime. They told the appeal court the lower court that tried the case had wrongly placed the burden of proof on the defendants. The defence also said prosecutors had failed to prove the reporters gathered and collected secret information, sent information to an enemy of Myanmar or that they had an intention to harm national security. The judge said the defendants did not follow journalistic ethics and that the court could not determine whether the arrest of the reporters was a trap. Khine Khine Soe, a legal officer representing the government, told the appeal hearing that the evidence showed the reporters had collected and kept confidential documents. He said they intended to harm national security and the national interest. Before their arrest, the reporters had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys by security forces and Buddhist civilians in western Myanmars Rakhine State during an army crackdown that began in August 2017. The operation sent more than 730,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, according to United Nations estimates. President Donald Trump wished Amazon Inc. founder Jeff Bezos luck in his divorce from his wife MacKenzie, predicting the proceedings will be a beauty. I wish him luck, the twice-divorced Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday as he departed for a trip to the US border with Mexico. Its going to be a beauty. Bezos and his wife announced they would divorce on Wednesday. Later in the day, the National Enquirer -- whose chairman and chief executive, David Pecker, has been a close Trump ally -- reported that Bezos has been having a relationship with Lauren Sanchez, a former TV anchor and helicopter pilot and the wife of Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell. The Enquirer said it had been actively investigating the relationship between Bezos and Sanchez for four months. The New York Post also reported the relationship and said Whitesell and Sanchez are separated. Trump has a history of publicly attacking Bezos and his company. The president has criticized coverage of his administration by the Bezos-owned Washington Post, and hes pressured the US Postal Service to raise the prices it charges Amazon to ship its packages. Read more| The Jeff Bezos divorce: $136 billion and Amazon in the middle Pecker is cooperating with federal prosecutors who are investigating so-called catch-and-kill payments the Enquirer made ahead of the 2016 presidential election to at least one woman who alleged she had an affair with Trump. The Enquirer secured the rights to the material, assuring the allegations wouldnt be shared with other media, then never published the story. China has imported dozens of new drugs including cancer medicines for government hospitals while it engages New Delhi in long-drawn negotiations to allow Indian pharmaceuticals access to the country. Hundreds of thousands of batches of foreign-made drugs are now available in government hospitals across the country to ease the cost burden of patients, state media reports said. The latest 17 cancer drugs included in Chinas national basic medical insurance program in October are now available in more than half of all major hospitals in China, the national health commission was quoted by the state-controlled China Daily newspaper on Friday. Many of these drugs are imported, the report said, but did not mention the countries of import although it was learnt that none were from India. The 17 drugs are part of a list of 48 new ones allowed last year, many for cancers and other rare diseases. These drugs are cheaper than alternatives available in the Chinese market. Indian drugs especially cancer-fighting drugs are in demand in China where the cost of treating the deadly disease is prohibitive thats where cheaper and effective Indian drugs could fill the demand. Its early to say whether Chinas decision to import drugs from other countries shuts the window of opportunity for Indian companies here, but it certainly narrows it. Discussions between officials of the two countries have failed to ease the entry of generic drugs made in India into China. The access is also meant to cut down the India-China trade deficit. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in July that China and India were in sound communication on opening the Chinese market to drugs from India and conducting cooperation between the two sides pharmaceutical industries. Relevant departments have formulated specific measures on promoting China-India pharmaceutical trade cooperation and granting greater access to drugs from India, Hua had then said. That was when the movie Dying to Survive based on the true story of a Chinese cancer patient smuggling in made-in-India cancer drugs to China was making waves. That wave has subsided, the demand for cheaper drugs has remained and India-China talks on pharma havent apparently picked up pace. As of early January, 1,257 tertiary hospitals and 129 cancer hospitals in all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on the Chinese mainland had bought at least one type of the drugs, with more than 600,000 boxes of drugs being used by patients, the newspaper report said. Many patented drugs, including cancer drugs, are sold expensive here because of reasons such as higher circulation costs and lack of research and innovation ability among domestic producers. The report added that the 17 cancer drugs, many of them imported, treat major cancers such as lung, rectal and kidney cancers, and are in high demand by patients in China. Given the arithmetic in the House of Commons and the Theresa May government suffering two defeats this week, the chances of Brexit not happening at all are rising, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Friday.. If the withdrawal agreement is voted down on Tuesday, May and others have stated that the United Kingdom will move into uncharted territory. MPs have used parliamentary devices to dig into the Brexit process to curb the May governments powers. As debate continued in Parliament on Friday, in an unprecedented step, former MI6 chef Richard Dearlove and former chief of defence staff Charles Guthrie wrote to the Conservative party, calling the agreement a bad one for national security and urged its MPs not to vote for it. Hunt, whose comments on morning BBC radio were interpreted as trying to scare rebel Conservative MPs from voting against the agreement, said if Brexit did not happen on March 29, it would have serious implications for peoples trust in politics. He said: The parliamentary arithmetic is challenging. But, also, the choices are very clear. And I think after this week, things have changed. Up till now I think people have quite rightly been worrying about the prospects of no deal. Now there is another possibility coming into sight, which is actually no Brexit. And why is that? We have a government that is committed to delivering Brexit. But it doesnt have a majority. If this deal is rejected, ultimately what we may end up with is not a different type of Brexit but Brexit paralysis. And Brexit paralysis ultimately could lead to no Brexit. A no-Brexit situation, according to him, would be an incredibly damaging breach of trust, besides adversely affecting Britains international standing: If we were, as a political class, not to deliver Brexit, that would be a fundamental breach of trust between the people and the politicians. I think that is something that we would regret for many, many generations. This week showed that Parliament had the ability to assert itself and shape outcomes in the Brexit process, Hunt said. The government lost when two amendments sponsored by Brexit rebels across parties passed in the House of Commons. One amendment curbed the governments financial powers and the other made it mandatory for May to return to Parliament with a Plan B within three days of the withdrawal agreement being voted down on Tuesday. The Nationalist Congress Partys (NCP) state president Jayant Patil on Thursday alleged Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had secretly met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in a Mumbai hotel two days ago, hinting that both parties were holding alliance talks despite public posturing of there being a tussle between them ahead of the 2019 polls . He (Uddhav Thackeray) went to meet CM Fadnavis late night in a hotel at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) despite making claims that he doesnt care about forging an alliance with the BJP, said Patil, adding that both the ruling parties will come together for the election. Patil was addressing a public meeting in Mahad in Raigad district as he kicked off the NCPs campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. While the Sena called the NCP comments immature, the BJP refused to comment. I would say this is an immature statement made by the state NCP president. Uddhavji doesnt need to meet CM Fadnavis secretly. We are an alliance partner of the BJP in the state and at Centre. Also, Fadnavis is the chief of the state and Uddhavji can meet him whenever he wants to, said senior Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut. BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said they dont see a need to react on comments like this. Our stand over alliance with Shiv Sena has not changed, Bhandari said. The NCP through its Niradhar Parivartan Yatra will cover all the 23 constituencies that it plans to contest in the next 30 days. The NCP will contest the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Congress. The NCP kicked off the yatra with a visit to Raigad fort of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji and Chavdar Tale, a lake in Raigad district, made famous by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, who led a satyagraha of Dalits here in 1927, to open up public water tank for the untouchables. The decision to start the yatra in Mahad is a show of respect to two of the foremost visionaries of the state, said NCP leaders. While NCP chief Sharad Pawar , who was to address the meeting was not present, the entire second-rung leadership of the party including Patil, former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, senior leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Sunil Tatkare were present. We have come here to take blessings of Chhatrapati Shivaji who was the first person to start a successful movement against the then rulers. Our yatra is also aimed at bringing change in Maharashtra as well as at the Centre, said Ajit Pawar at Raigad Fort. Senior NCP leader Bhujbal slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over instances of violence against Dalits and minorities. Where is law and order left in the country? Not only common people, even police personnel are not safe in the BJP government. A police officer, Subodh Kumar, was brutally killed in Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh) by a mob over cow killing, he said while addressing the meeting. Referring to the Rafale jet controversy, Bhujbal said, Sell tea, but do not sell the country. Both the Congress and NCP are preparing to launch a joint election campaign from February. The joint election campaign is likely to be kick-started through a joint rally that is likely to be addressed by both Congress president Rahul Gandhi and NCP chief Pawar. Going by the NCPs plan, the leaders will hold two to three public rallies in each Lok Sabha constituency they plan to contest in, in a bid to reach out to the masses. The yatra will conclude in Mumbai to cover Mumbai North East parliamentary constituency after covering all the regions in the next one month. However, after covering Konkan region, the leaders will split into two groups one will head for Marathwada and another for North Maharashtra as they have to cover all 23 Lok Sabha constituencies in a month. With the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) staff strike motoring along for a third day without any apparent end to the stalemate between labour unions and the management, a group of Mumbaiites on Thursday wrote to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, urging them to intervene and end the strike. The citizens also suggested ways for the government and BEST administration to improve bus services. Nearly 29 lakh regular BEST bus commuters the second largest mode of transport in the city have been facing a harrowing public commute after the unions began their strike over better pay, among other demands, from Monday midnight. The governments relief measures such as more state buses, permission for private buses to ferry passengers and extra suburban services have not been enough to relieve commuters of overcharging autorickshaw and taxi drivers, crowding in trains or traffic snarls. The citizens, who have formed the Mumbai Mobility Forum, have asked Fadnavis and Thackeray to introduce citizen and environment-centric measures before the 2019 elections that could lead to its earlier ridership of 44 lakh passengers a day. The forum stated that the state needed to strengthen road-based public transport the same way as it did with the Metro and suburban local train networks. The steps for improving BEST operations included operating every second BEST bus as an AC one, with 50% higher fares; dedicated bus lanes; 75% faster buses; increased frequency of buses from 40 seconds to 1.5 minutes; 500 more buses and ensure there are matching numbers of drivers, conductors, along with enhancing employee benefits, fuel and revenue, which would lead to passenger productivity. The other suggestion was for the management to make bus systems as essential citizen services and treat BEST as an important department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), clear arrears of staff, consider the demand for bus of the employees and the union agreeing to reduce the absenteeism and increase the ratio of employees have been mentioned in the suggestions. The letter was signed by transport experts Ashok Datar, A V Shenoy, Sonali Kelkar and others. Banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal died Friday after a brief illness. Sanyal, 57, had joined the Aam Aadmi Party after quitting her job as the country chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, and contested a Lok Sabha election in 2014. I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of Meera Sanyal. The country has lost a sharp economic brain and a gentle soul. May she rest in peace! You will forever remain in our hearts. Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) January 11, 2019 AAP leader and Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia confirmed her death in a tweet, saying the country has lost a sharp economic brain and a gentle soul. In her 30-year-old banking career before surprising all by plunging into politics, the Kochi-born Sanyal had also served as the head of corporate finance and chief operating officer for ABN Amro for Asia. She unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Mumbai south constituency. Condolences poured in, with Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo, Arvind Kejriwal tweeting that he was extremely sad to hear about her demise. No words to express. Extremely sad to hear this. No words to express... https://t.co/YslA8TddvU Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 11, 2019 Commuting woes of around 25 lakh Mumbaiites will continue on Friday as the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses will stay off the roads for a fourth consecutive day. Efforts to end the staff strike failed on Thursday even after a four-hour-long meeting following Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackerays intervention. The ruling party and BEST administration are responsible for the delay in ending the strike, said Shashank Rao, president of BEST Workers Unions. The administration has so far not given us any counter-proposal in response to our demands. Rao is heading the agitation launched by a joint action committee of BEST unions. The talks were held at the Mayors Bungalow after Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar called for a meeting as Thackeray, whose party rules the BEST as well as its parent body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), intervened. With Sena being at the receiving end of criticism, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis-led state government has chosen not to intervene. While Thackerays mediation failed, Fadnavis remained silent, although Rao said the unions have already submitted a representation to the government. The BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS), joint action committee of the unions, has called a meeting of the workers on Friday to discuss the future course of action. The unions have called the strike to demand better wages and other benefits for 35,000 workers of the BEST undertaking, which runs the BEST bus service and distributes electricity in the island city. With strike set to continue on Friday, it will be the longest stir of BEST employees since 1997, when they had gone on strike for three days. Earlier on Thursday, despite the running of 82 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses, private buses along with autorickshaws and taxis, commuters continued to be inconvenienced. Transport officials had deployed 11 flying squads to curb overcharging by taxi and auto drivers. I had to wait for 20 minutes with no share autorickshaw in sight, said Shweta Chavan, an Andheri resident. Regular autorickshaws are charging Rs20. I would typically reach my workplace for Rs10 by a BEST bus. The government is doing nothing about the strike. Since Tuesday, the suburban railways have been operating 16 additional services four on Central line and 12 on the western line. The Central Railway (CR) added two more services on the harbour line during non-peak hours on Thursday, bringing some relief to the commuters. Ashish Kumar Singh, principal secretary, transport department, said they were collaborating with transport authorities from Thane, Navi Mumbai and the state transport department to ensure that their buses are run at full capacity to give respite to passengers. We have also asked all traffic inspectors to be on the field to prevent taxi and auto drivers from fleecing commuters. We have received a few complaints in Mumbai and action was initiated against them. Meanwhile, hundreds of family members of BEST employees held a protest march at the Wadala bus depot on Thursday morning, after the BEST administration had issued notices to 2,000 employees to vacate their official quarters if they fail to report to the duty. A group of BEST employees also met MNS chief Raj Thackeray, apprising him of their demands. It is a conspiracy by the ruling parties to take over the lucrative BEST land, said Thackeray, adding that if you remain united, MNS will support the agitation. The Municipal Mazdoor Union, a main labour union in BMC, also threatened to go on a strike in support of the BEST employees. In a letter, the union stated that if no concrete decision is taken they will join the strike. The demands made by the BEST employees are just, and so we believe that if the administration and the Sena is not able to resolve their issues, then we too will join the strike from Saturday midnight, said Govind Kamtekar, spokesperson of the Mazdoor union. A day after a contractor and two labourers died inside a manhole in Kalundre, around 3km from Panvel, while cleaning it, the Panvel city police have registered an FIR against the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) administration and the contractor for alleged negligence. On Wednesday, the labourers, Santosh Waghmare and Praful Vedak, lost their consciousness while cleaning the 20-feet deep manhole, most likely after inhaling toxic fumes, police and fire brigade officials said. The contractor, Vilash Mhaskar, 55, who worked for Cidco, then entered to help them, but also collapsed inside it. They were declared dead in a city hospital. According to the post-mortem report of the deceaseds bodies, the men died out of suffocation. Nilesh Rajput, sub-inspector, Panvel city police station, said, Firstly, Mhaskar did not take precautionary measure by providing safety guard to the labourers. Secondly, the Cidco administration should also have been concerned about the safety of the people who work for them. We have booked both the contractor and the Cidco administration under sections 304a (causing death by negligence) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. The officer added the police will find out the Cidco officers responsible for the incident and take legal action against them. Priya Ratambe, public relations officer of Cidco said, By registering the FIR, the police are doing their duty. Cidco has also started an internal inquiry after the accident and it will take some time to find out who was actually at fault. The second labourer, 25-year-old Vedak, a native of Odisha, was identified on Thursday. The deceaseds bodies were handed over to their families after the post-mortem was conducted at Panvel sub-divisional hospital, Rajput said. Dr Nagnath Yempalle medical superintendent of the hospital said, We have sent their viscera and blood samples to the forensic lab in Kalina for further analysis. The analysis of their blood samples will reveal if there was any poisonous element inside the manhole. In a snub to the Congress, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said that not more than two seats would be left for the party in the SP-BSP alliance plan for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. We will leave two seats for Congress but wont say anything on whether it will be on board or not, the former chief minister said. He was speaking in Kannauj at #ChaupalOnTwitter, an initiative to encourage conversation between leaders and the community. Twitter India and several leaders have partnered to launch the initiative. The Congress has been out of power in the state for the past 29 years, gradually ceding space to the two regional parties SP and BSP. With the two Uttar Pradesh parties set to announce their alliance in Lucknow on Saturday, the SP leader played down the role of the Congress, which seems to be gearing up for a solo show in the state. As of now the alliance is only of SP and BSP. Roles of any other will be decided later, the former chief minister said. Read more| We finally got our math right, Akhilesh Yadav on SP-BSP alliance Mayawati and Yadav are in the final stages of forging an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls leaving out the Congress. Earlier, SP vice-president Kiranmoy Nanda had said his party, together with the BSP, is strong enough to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in 2019 and there is no need of an insignificant force like the Congress to make it happen. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, upbeat after winning Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, exuded confidence about his partys prospects in the state and said that the Congress had the ability to surprise people with results in Uttar Prdaesh. In a recent interview to Gulf News, he said, There are very interesting things that the Congress party can do in Uttar Pradesh... the Congress idea is very powerful for Uttar Pradesh. So, we are very confident of our ability in Uttar Pradesh and we will surprise people, he said. The politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. In the last parliamentary elections in 2014, the BJP won 71 seats, Samajwadi Party got five while the BSP did not win any seat. The Congress registered wins on two seats.significant force like the Congress to make it happen. Read more| To underestimate Congress in Uttar Pradesh will be a mistake, says Rahul Gandhi Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav all but announced an alliance with one-time arch-rival Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, saying the coalition will get the math right and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A formal announcement is expected at a press conference by Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati in Lucknow on Saturday. As of now, the alliance is only between two parties. The role of any other party will be decided later, Akhilesh said in an event organised by Twitter in Kannauj. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the BJP had strengthened because it joined hands with regional parties, and that his party was also gaining strength by forming a coalition. Our [BSP and SP] coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress, Yadav said.We will leave two seats [Rae Bareli and Amethi] for the Congress but wont say anything more on Congress if it will be on board or not, he added. Rae Bareli is the constituency of United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Amethi of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. When Yadav was questioned about his partys topsy-turvy history with the BSP, Yadav said, I have full faith in Mayawati ji. The alliance has been in the works since March last year, when the two parties came together to defeat the BJP in its pocket boroughs of Gorakhpur and Phulpur. We experimented with it in three Lok Sabha by-elections and one state assembly bypoll. The BJP lost all the four seats and we won all, Yadav said. The SP-BSP alliance can be a formidable opposition to the BJP, which won 71 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Two other seats went to its ally Apna Dal. The SP won five, the Congress two, and the BSP none. The alliance may prove to be a game changer, damaging the BJPs prospects in Uttar Pradesh, said political analyst Badri Narayan. The Congress said it would be a mistake to underestimate the party in UP. Nobody should underestimate the Congress with its reach, presence and support base in Uttar Pradesh. Congress is an established party in the state, said senior leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi. State health minister Sidharth Nath Singh said the alliance would make no difference to the BJP . The BJP is rather thinking why the alliance did not happen soon after 2017 assembly elections. Those who are weak are coming together for their own survival, said Singh. BSP leaders refused to comment . Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party chief and rebel SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav said any alliance formed to defeat the BJP should have other like-minded parties in it instead of having only two parties. Alliance should not be show of only two-parties, he said . A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the doors of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are always open for its old friends in Tamil Nadu, the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) firmly ruled out such an option, while the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) appeared indecisive about it. The DMK will never have an electoral pact with the BJP. I want to make this crystal clear, DMK president MK Stalin said in a hard-hitting statement Friday. The DMK has already formed a strong, secular coalition comprising the Congress, Left, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), and believes it is ahead of its rivals in the race for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Not only that, Stalin was the first to endorse the candidature of Congress president Rahul Gandhi for prime minister. During his interaction with party workers in Tamil Nadu by video conference on Thursday, Modi had referred to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayees role in successfully ushering in coalition politics. We cherish our old friends and our doors are always open for parties, he had said. The comment drew a stinging response from Stalin. Neither is Modi Vajpayee nor is the present NDA the same as the previous one which represented the plurality of the nation. Modi comparing himself to Vajpayee is indeed strange and ironic, he said. However, the AIADMK is yet to make up its mind, though there are positive hints from chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy CM O Panneerselvam. Which way the AIADMK will swing is not clear, according to analysts. As Panneerselvam has been projecting himself as a friend of BJP... he would certainly be interested in bringing both together. But EPSs remark is indicative of an indecisiveness as the section against a tie-up with the BJP is apprehensive of double anti-incumbency falling upon the AIADMK. However, this might possibly change and the AIADMK would eventually fall in line in the weeks to come, Aazhi Senthilnathan, a political analyst, told HT. Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) chief Mayawati have called a joint press conference in Lucknow on Saturday where they are expected to formally announce their alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. National secretary of SP, Rajendra Chaudhary as well as BSPs, Satish Chandra Mishra issued a statement today about the joint press conference. Yes, what else could the joint press conference will be about since the alliance has been in works since March last year, said an SP leader when asked about the event. The two parties first publically spoke about the alliance in March last year and then experimented with it in three Lok Sabha bypolls and one state assembly bypolls. The BJP lost all those seats to the alliance. The SP-BSP alliance can be a formidable opposition to the BJP which won 71 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2014. Akhilesh is also likely to call on Mayawati on Friday. The two leaders, in a recent meeting in Delhi, discussed the modalities of seat sharing for the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, according to sources The talks, sources said, did not account for the Congress. It was proposed that both parties will equally distribute between them 78 Lok Sabha seats. They wont field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, the Lok Sabha constituencies of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi, respectively, sources added. Akhilesh and Mayawati have so far ruled out Congress as a partner of the alliance, because the grand old party is looking at contesting more than a dozen seats, which the SP and the BSP are not ready to concede, said another leader familiar with negotiations. When asked to comment, Congress president Rahul Gandhi in an interview to Gulf News said that the party has the ability to surprise people with results in UP. There are very interesting things that the Congress party can do in Uttar Pradesh... the Congress idea is very powerful for Uttar Pradesh. So, we are very confident of our ability in Uttar Pradesh and we will surprise people, he said. In preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Himachal Pradesh Congress has decided to invite applications for four seats in the state, amid reports that the top leadership has given its nod for return of leaders, who were ousted from the party ahead of 2017 elections for breach of discipline. Congress will invite application from aspirants for the four Lok Sabha seats including Shimla, Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi. The aspirants can submit their application along with Rs 25,000 fee to the block or district committees or can directly approach Rajiv Bhawan, the party headquarters, in Shimla. The decision came following a meeting between former state party chief, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and All India Congress Committee (AICC), president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday. The partys state general secretary, Rajni Patil and AICC secretary Gurkirat Kotli accompanied Sukhu for the meeting. In the meeting that lasted for over an hour, Rahul Gandhi discussed the strategy and preparation of the state Congress for the Lok Sabha elections. Earlier, he had separately met leaders from the state, including leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri. Senior Congress leaders under the chairmanship of Rajni Patil had gone into huddle at the party headquarters in New Delhi, regarding the poll strategy. Opposition leader Mukesh Agnihotri, Congress leader GS Bali and HPCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu discussed details about the election preparations and the party decided to constitute a committee to oversee election arrangements in the state.The party will constitute a coordination committee, state election committee and campaign committee comprising senior party leaders. Former chief minister Virbhadra Singh is likely to head the campaign committee, while Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu will lead the election committee that plays a vital role in finalising the tickets. Congress former general secretary, Kuldeep Rathore is likely to head the publicity committee. Aspirants begin lobbying for seats Aspirants in the party have already begun back-door lobbying and are shuttling between Delhi and Shimla to get support for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Congress state secretary, Amit Nanda is keenly vying a ticket from Shimla, while a section of leaders are backing former Lok Sabha member, KD Sultanpuris son Vinod Sultanpuri, who had lost elections from Kasauli by 26 votes. Besides, former social justice minister, Dhani Ram Shandils name is in reckoning along with former legislator Sohan Lal. Former CM Virbhadra Singh had recently shown keenness after block Congress committee in Rampur Budshar had thrown up Shimla rural legislator Vikramadityas name. Other names in the reckoning are that of senior Congress leader Budhi Singh Thakur and former health minister Kaul Singh Thakur. Covertly, congress leaders from Mandi are keen to support field power minister Anil Sharmas son Ashray Sharma, who is now in BJP. Congress faces an uphill task for searching candidate in the Kangra district. Former urban development minister, Sudhir Sharma and his arch rival former transport minister GS Balis names are doing rounds, besides Vijay Chambhiyal. The Ram temple issue echoed and resonated at the Bharatiya Janata Partys national council meeting here on Friday with party president Amit Shah emphasising the commitment to build a grand Ram temple at the same place. Over 10,000 BJP workers briefly interrupted Shahs opening speech and raised slogans of Jai Shri Ram even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders watched. Shah managed to control the crowd by raising, in return, the Bharat Mata ki Jai slogan thrice. Shah also equated the upcoming general elections with the third battle of Panipat between the Marathas and Afghan King Ahmed Shah Abdali. The defeat of the Marathas led to India facing slavery for 200 years, Shah added. Until then, they had won 131 battles, he pointed out, but lost the decisive one. At the BJP conclave, the last such meeting before the parliamentary election, Shah said the summer election will be a battle of ideologies and will have a lasting impact for centuries, much like that battle. In the course of Day 1 of the conclave, the party passed two resolutions, one on agriculture, and the other on the poor. Agrarian distress could be one of the BJPs big challenges in the coming elections according to political analysts who consider it to be one of the factors that played a part in the partys recent defeat in elections in three Hindi heartland states, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. In the agriculture resolution, the party reiterated its commitment to double farm income by 2022, and accused the Congress of misleading farmers with the promise of loan waivers. Home Minister Rajnath Singh moved the resolution, listing out details of measures that the government has taken in the past four years to address issues in the farm sector. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seconded the resolution. BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav said it was for the first time proper MSPs (minimum support prices) were offered for several crops. The national council appealed to the farmers to repose their trust in the leadership of Narendra Modi and elect him as the prime minister again in 2019 , Yadav said. In response to a question on whether farm distress led to the partys defeat in the assembly elections, he said there were several reasons for partys performance and that the BJP is analyzing them. The BJP second resolution at the meeting highlighted the pro-poor schemes of the Narendra Modi government, and claimed that these have changed the lives of the poor. Moved by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, the resolution spoke about 10 % reservation for the economically weak in the general category. It also highlighted government schemes on electrification, the Ujjwala scheme (subsidised cylinders for poor households), food security, Ayushmaan Bharat (the health insurance scheme) and Jandhan Yojana (the financial inclusion scheme). Analysts also say the BJP could face pressure from some of its own affiliates and associates over the issue of the Ram temple. The matter is in the Supreme Court and we want an early disposal of it.but the Congress is creating a hurdle, Shah said on the temple issue. But, do not have any confusion in your mind. We were committed to building a Ram temple through constitutional way and we remain committed to it, he added. The Supreme Court on Thursday, deferred a hearing in the Ayodhya case after Justice UU Lalit, one of the five judges of the Supreme Court constitution bench, recused himself after a lawyer pointed out that he appeared in a related case two decades ago. A new bench will be constituted before the next hearing on January 29, which will basically decide a schedule for the hearings. In an interview to news agency ANI early this month, Prime Minister Modi said an ordinance for temple can be considered only after the judicial process is over. Shah described Modi as the worlds most popular leader and also the BJPs tallest leader whose leadership was a big advantage that the party has over its rivals. Shah said rivals who once refused to meet face to face have now come together, as they know that they cant defeat Modi individually -- a reference to the grand-alliance-in-the-making. We won 73 seats out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh. This time it will be 74, and not 72, Shah said, adding that grand alliance of opposition will have no impact in the national election. His comments came a day ahead of a press conference called by the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party in Lucknow during which they are expected to announce their alliance in Uttar Pradesh in the forthcoming parliamentary polls. Shah tried to dismiss Congress president Rahul Gandhis graft charges against the Modi government and said the issues he has raised on the Rafale aircraft deal are baseless. Shah said somebody must have told Gandhi that the Congress could not face elections without levelling charges against the prime minister whose image, he added, remains unblemished. Mocking Gandhi for his dare to attack the government on the issue of corruption, he said he and his mother Sonia Gandhi are out on bail in a case of graft, a reference to the National Herald case. Referring to fugitive economic offenders Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya, he said they were in comfort during the UPA rule but were forced to flee when the Modi government came to power. Chowkidar will bring all the thieves. It is only a matter of time. They will have to return the money pending against their names, he said. During the 2014 election campaign, Modi likened himself to a chowkidar (watchman) who would ensure there was no corruption. He also felicitated Prime Minister Modi for two important decisions in less than a week 10% quota for economically weaker sections in government jobs and college seats and the GST Councils decision to double the limit for exemption from payment of goods and services tax (GST) to Rs 40 lakh, a move that will benefit small businesses. A quota for young people from the upper castes is one of the most important amendment in the constitution after it was made, Shah said. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using a teleprompter for delivering speeches in English. People think he speaks good English. But does he speak it? He simply reads out written speeches with help of teleprompter, said Banerjee from the dais of a government programme to lay the foundation stone of Banerjees pet Kanyashree University, a varsity for women, in Nadia district. The venue was full of students. You people should know about teleprompter. A transparent glass is placed in front of him. People cannot see it but the media persons know everything about it. We all know. One can simply read out from written speeches. We do not indulge in such practice. We speak impromptu, doesnt matter whether we speak well or poorly, the Trinamool Congress chief said. Mamata has been targeting Modi over several issues in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. On Thursday, alleging that the Centre is using the picture of Modi in Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme for poor to take credit for a jointly-funded project, she announced that her government has decided to stop paying the states share. We are withdrawing from the Ayushman Bharat scheme. My state will not contribute 40% of the funds for the scheme, said Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee at a public meeting in Krishnagar in Nadia district, where she accused the Prime Minister of taking unilateral credit for the project. The Centre is printing the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the official communication of the scheme for publicity. The logo has also been designed to resemble the party symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party, she alleged in a rhetoric-laden speech of about 30 minutes. As the deadline set by chief minister Yogi Adityanath to rid Uttar Pradesh roads of stray cattle expired on Thursday, cow-catchers stepped up their efforts under the supervision of senior state administration officials, but not a single district appeared to have even reached halfway close to the target. In Gorakhpur, the chief ministers home town, municipal officials were left staring at the mammoth task of catching 2,000 stray animals on the last day. They managed to catch only 50. Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation officials said only 600 of approximately 2,600 stray cattle could be caught in the last 79 days. In the absence of a cow shelter, the animals had to be shifted to Maharajganj. Such a facility is being constructed on a nine-acre plot on Gorakhpurs outskirts at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore, they said. Kashi misses deadline An official in the veterinary department of Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC), who did not wish to be named, said from clerks to pharmacists to veterinary doctors, all were engaged in the cattle-catching drive. Fifty-two stray animals were caught on Thursday, he said, adding that VMCs veterinary department had only two vehicles and required at least five more. We have a shortage of staff and do not have proper infrastructure, he said. Lucknow crosses 1,000-mark About 60 cattle-catchers caught 1,156 stray animals in Lucknow from January 3-10, an official said. We caught 123 cows on Thursday, which takes the total to 1,156 stray animals in a week, he said, adding that some cow-catchers were injured in the process of dragging the animals and herding them into waiting vehicles. A cattle-catcher said senior officials, including the district magistrate (DM), had personally supervised the drive. Bundelkhand shelters In Bundelkhand region, district officials struggled to catch lakhs of stray animals which destroy 30%-35% crops every year. There were reports of clashes between villagers and officials. Several government buildings in villages were turned into temporary cow shelters, officials said. The animals were kept even at mandis and in open spaces around overhead water tanks. Mahoba DM Sahdev was seen personally catching stray animals for the last three days. The district has about 1.56 lakh stray cattle. Sahdev said his team had taken 50,000 animals to 300 temporary shelters. Workers of Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) catch stray cattle near old Hanuman Temple at Aliganj in Lucknow on Thursday. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT PHOTO) Kanpur slaughter-houses With Kanpur facing a shortage of space to keep cattle, its closed slaughter-houses were put into use. DM Vijay Vishwas Pant said, The two closed slaughter-houses of the Kanpur Municipal Corporation in Bakarmandi and Colonelgunj have been turned into shelters. Cows are being shifted there. The move has upset the Jamiatul Qureish, an organisation representing the cause of meat-sellers. Dubbing the decision unilateral, it said the administration could not use the Colonelgunj facility as it was a Muslim waqf property. Bareilly struggle Officials of Bareilly Nagar Nigam (BNN) struggled to catch stray cattle amid protests from several people. On Wednesday, a group raised a ruckus at Delapeer police outpost and freed 18-20 cows after a team of officials had caught the animals. Similar incidents were reported from other parts of the city. Municipal health officer Abbas Ali Ansari said, I have written to the district magistrate and the senior superintendent of police to ask for adequate police forces during the drive. DM Virendra K Singh said action would be taken against those trying to create trouble. Prayagraj shifts focus Having failed to meet the cattle-catching deadline, Prayagraj district administration officials have shift focus to constructing new sheds, for which the chief minister has given two months time. According to Dheeraj Goel, a veterinary officer at Prayagraj Municipal Corporation, 12 teams had been deployed to rid city roads of stray cattle. Seven teams from the veterinary department officials are working during the day to catch stray cattle in different localities. Five teams are working at night in the old city areas, he said. Prayagraj DM Suhas LY has directed sub-divisional magistrates of all eight tehsils to get one-two gaushalas constructed in every development block. Meerut damper Claiming that no relief from the cattle menace was visible on the ground in Meerut, Jagdish Singh, head of Chabaria village, said: All efforts seem to be only on paper. Nothing concrete has happened so far to effectively tackle the problem. A farmer of Chilora village, Gopi Chaudhary, said putting up barbed-wire fences to block the entry of stray cattle was not a solution as he only recently buried three cows who starved to death. Farmers said the state government should come up with a pragmatic scheme to tackle the problem. Braj menace Although stray cattle menace in the Braj region, comprising Agra, Mathura and nearby districts of Aligarh division, is among the worst, no major cattle-catching drive was carried out in Agra on Thursday. The Supreme Court on Thursday proposed the creation of a three-member panel to devise a mechanism to minimise malpractices in online exams for government jobs. A bench of justices SA Bobde and Deepak Gupta suggested this after advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that cheating in such exams has increased in the recent years and honest students and candidates end up losers. Bhushan called for the courts intervention and asked the judges to look into the larger issue. The court was hearing the counsel in a matter related to the alleged leak of papers of the 2017 Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examination, which is held for selection of candidates for various central government jobs. The court has already restrained the government from declaring the SSC results and has favoured cancelling the exam. It has given time to the Centre to come back with its view on holding the test afresh either by the National Testing Agency or CBSE. Researchers found a promising tiger population between 2015 and 2017 in the upper reaches of the Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, the highest range in the Indian part of the eastern Himalayas at almost 12,000 feet, surprising wildlife biologists and researchers. And on January 6, a Bengal tiger was spotted on a camera trap set by the forest department in the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim at an altitude of 9,500 feet, the first ever tiger sighting in the state. A snow leopard was also captured on camera near the same spot on January 2. Wildlife biologists and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) are pleasantly surprised by these sightings in high altitude areas, far away from the known tiger range in India, but its too early to say what could be causing the beasts to trek up to these areas. One theory is that tigers may have always migrated to high-altitude regions in the Himalayas, but are only now being documented through the installation of camera traps. Tigers do cover long distances. The first tiger sighting at a very high altitude happened in Bhutan almost a decade ago. Then there was another sighting in Nepal. We cannot say that they are being seen in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim because their range has expanded or that they are being driven out of their habitat. It could be just that camera traps are there so they are being photographed now, said tiger expert and wildlife biologist Ullas Karanth. Private institutions and government bodies are setting up camera traps so monitoring has improved. Of course, its interesting that they are seen moving so high up. But we have known that they move through mountain passes and even breed at about 7,000 to 8,000 feet in the Nilgiris and other parts of the Western Ghats. There is case of a tiger walking 300 km. So moving large distances is not surprising. Karanth added. Dipankar Ghose, director, species and landscapes programme, WWF-India, also cautioned against making any inferences based on these two cases in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. There is historical data to show there were tigers in Sikkim. In fact there is a rock carving very close to the Pangolakha Sanctuary by a labourer who spotted a tiger in the early 90s. Tigers were in Neora Valley also in Kalimpong. They may be looking for new territory but its too early to say why. Ghose recommends protection of the area from intrusions by external elements like tourists and matching the photograph of the tiger captured in Sikkim with the tiger database at NTCA. NTCA has started documenting tiger landscapes outside known tiger areas and wildlife sanctuaries. We have started monitoring tigers at a landscape level which includes high-altitude areas. We will document and study the case in Sikkim, said Amit Mallick, inspector general of NTCA. According to Sanjay Gubbi, wildlife biologist and author of Second Nature: Saving Tiger Landscapes in the Twenty-First Century, its always heartening to find new records of wildlife species, including the tiger, in locations where they had not been documented by visual evidence. From the camera trap picture the individual looks like a large adult male, hence it may not be a transient animal but possibly a resident with its home range that includes Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, he added. Since its also close to the Bhutanese border this individual tiger may have its territory across the two countries. This depicts the importance of cross-border cooperation for conservation. Finding tigers in cold regions is not surprising as they are habitat generalists and live in subzero temperatures in the Russian Far East to the hot tropical forests of Rajasthan. Tigers in India were known to be limited to the tropical deciduous forests. In forests with high prey density, the range of an adult male tiger is usually 20 to 25 sq km but in the Russian far-east an adult male can have a range of as much as 500 sq km. Experts said the larger ranges in high-altitude areas makes documentation difficult. In Uttarakhand, researchers have earlier documented a tiger at 12,500 ft. The spatio-temporal overlap of tigers and snow leopards is interesting and possibly recorded for the first time in India, Gubbi said. The last National Tiger Census in 2014 had estimated that India had about 2,226 tigers; another census started in 2018 and the results are likely to be published this year. Compared to 9, 700 cameras used in the 2014 Census, the 2018 estimation will use nearly 15, 000. In an effort to widen the reach of its publications and increase book sales, the Sahitya Akademi will go for online sale of booksboth physical and electronicthrough Amazon. This will be for the first time in its 65 years of history, that Sahitya AkademiIndias premier literary institution working with the Ministry of Culture will be selling books published by it in 24 Indian languages online. The Akademi, which has registered itself as vendor with Amazon, will begin with selling ten English titles, which will be available online from January 20. For electronic books, the Akademi has already had preliminary talks with Amazon teams from India and Singapore and will enter into partnership with for the production and sale of electronic books. The partnership is likely to happen soon. Our aim is to sell physical books via portals and also launch sale of electronic books.This is part of our commitment to carry best of Indian literature in different languages to masses. We will soon start selling printed books through our website and also Amazon for a wider reach and very soon e-books will follow, Dr K Sreenivasa Rao the Akademis secretary told HT. On January 20, 2019 we will launch the sale of printed books through Amazon. First up will be 10 English titles. By March 31, 2019, we plan to sell 100 English and 50 Tamil titles. Hindi will follow soon. Our target is to sell at least 750 Akademi publications in different languages. By mid 2020, we plan to launch about 100 electronic books in partnership with the Amazon, he added. Among the titles, which will be available are popular books such as Parva: A Tale of War, Peace, Love, Death, God and Man by S.L. Bhyrappa, Bharata: The Natya Sastra by Kapila Vatsayan, Myths, Legends and Literary Antiquities by Manoj Das, History of Indian English Literature by M.K. Naik, A Most Truthful Picture and Other Stories by Ashokamitran, Tales of Tomorrow by Rana Nayar, and Indian Short Stories 1990-2000 by E.V. Ramakrishnan. The Sahitya Akademi publishes about 500 books annually in 24 languages and covers almost all the genres of literaturepoetry, short stories, novels, anthologies, criticism, biographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias and histories. Most of Akademis gross annual turnover of upto Rs 3 crore is through direct publishing via book fairs, exhibitions and stalls. Alok Verma quit on Friday without spending even a day at work as director general of fire services, civil defence and home guards, using his resignation letter addressed to C Chandramouli, secretary in the ministry of personnel, to complain bitterly that he had been denied natural justice by a high-level panel that removed him from the helm of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) one day ago based on a report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) . It was an unceremonious exit for the Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, who was stripped of his powers as CBI director and sent on forced leave by the government on the intervening night of October 23-24, reinstated conditionally by the Supreme Court on January 9 and two days later ousted from the agency and reassigned to the new job by the three-member selection committee, headed by the Prime Minister, which chooses the CBI chief. The Selection Committee has not provided the undersigned an opportunity to explain the details as recorded by the CVC before arriving at the decision, Verma wrote in his resignation letter. Natural Justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of Director, CBI. Verma, 61, was to retire on January 31, 2019 from his fixed-tenure, two-year stint as CBI chief although he would have retired on July 31, 2017 in the normal course. He noted in his letter that he was no longer CBI director and had already crossed the superannuation age for the role to which he had been shifted. Accordingly, the undersigned may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today, Verma concluded. A senior official of the ministry of personnel said Vermas resignation is under consideration but may not be accepted immediately. Verma and his deputy, CBI special director Rakesh Asthana, were both divested of their powers and sent on leave by the government on the advice of the CVC after an internecine feud between the two men played out in public, roiling the agency. The CBI under Verma registered a first information report against Asthana in October and the latter wrote to the cabinet secretary in August, each accusing the other of corruption. The CBI chief challenged his removal in the Supreme Court, which on Tuesday ordered his reinstatement on condition that he not take any policy decisions, and asked the three-member selection committee, comprising the PM, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) or his nominee and the leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha, the Congresss Mallikarjun Kharge, to decide on Vermas continuation within a week after considering the CVCs probe report against him. PM Narendra Modi and CJIs nominee justice AK Sikri opted on Thursday night to remove Verma, a decision opposed by Kharge, and appointed M Nageswara Rao as interim director for a second time until a replacement for Verma is found. Verma wrote in his resignation letter that the committee had not considered the fact that the CVC report, on which the panel based its decision, was premised on charges alluded by a complaint who is presently under investigation by the CBI. He said the complainant a reference to CBI special director Rakesh Asthana never appeared before retired justice Arun Patnaik, who supervised the enquiry against him (Verma). Also, justice Patnaik has concluded that the findings/conclusions of the report are not his , wrote Verma. Watch: Sacked CBI chief Alok Verma resigns, refuses transfer as fire service chief He added: Institutions are one of the strongest and most visible symbols of our democracy and it is no exaggeration to say that the CBI is one of the most important organisations in India today. The decisions made yesterday will not just be a reflection on my functioning but will become a testimony on how the CBI as an institution will be treated by any government through the CVC, who is appointed by majority members of the ruling government. This is a moment for collective introspection, to say the least. Principal opposition party Congress agreed with Alok Verma that the PM-led panel should have heard him before taking a decision. The principle of Natural Justice demands that the High Powered Committee should have given a hearing to the reinstated CBI Director, Shri Alok Verma, provide him a hearing and then take a decision. Instead, the Committee removed Shri Alok Verma from the post of CBI Director without even listening to his side of the story. This was done, even as Leader of Opposition, Shri Mallikarjuna Kharge pleaded for the same, said party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Singhvi added that the CVC is neither the appointing authority nor the removing authority for the CBI director. Hence, CVC report is not gospel truth to form the entire and sole basis for the Committee to remove Shri Verma. The Committee should see the nature of the superficial and subjective charges in the CVC Report, said Singhvi. BJP spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao criticised the opposition for its stand. Rahul Gandhi is crying more than Alok Verma in CBI matter. The real investigation that is going on in the CBI is AgustaWestland and other defence deals. They (Congress) are worried that the CBI is getting at the truth and thats the reason Congress wanted to intervene in CBI debate. As Verma gave up his new post, interim director Nageswara Rao cancelled all the number transfer orders the former issued at the CBI in the two days between his court-ordered reinstatement and ouster. The fresh order declared all the orders issued by Verma as non est and added: ..Consequently all actions in pursuance thereof by all concerned are also hereby declared as null and void. In other words, status-quo ante as on January 8, 2019 stands restored. Vermas orders first resulted in changing the complexion of team of officials probing Rakesh Asthana but on January 10 CBI clarified that two supervisory officials joint director V Murugesan and deputy inspector general Tarun Gauba will continue to monitor the probe in the Asthana case which was registered on October 15 and the Delhi high court on Friday refused to quash it. Rao took charge of the agency at 9pm Thursday, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement. The baby, whose body broke into two parts, had its legs fractured and liver ruptured as the two untrained male staff at a government community health centre in Rajasthans Jaisalmer district attempted to deliver him, an autopsy has revealed. Amritlal and Junjhar Singh of the health centre in Ramgarh, who the boys father has alleged were drunk at the time of the delivery on January 6, are yet to be arrested. They have been suspended and the officer in charge of the health centre Dr Nikhil Sharma has been removed from active duty. Also read: Unborn baby decapitated in botched-up delivery Dr Surendra Duggar, who conducted the postmortem examination at Jawahar Government Hospital in Jaisalmer on Friday, said while speaking to the Hindustan Times that he got the body in three pieces: head, torso and placenta. In order to bring the baby out, the nursing staff applied so much force that it not only broke into two parts but also caused multiple fractures in legs and liver got burst. We also have carried out a floating test of lungs which revealed that the baby was dead, he said. However, Dr Duggar said he was not able to ascertain the cause of death. It could be due to the pull by nursing staff with much force or any other reason which can be ascertained with the sonography report before the delivery, he said. Dr Duggar said he has handed over the autopsy report to the police. The two men even deposited the lower part of the foetus in the hospitals mortuary and asked the family of the woman to take her to Jaisalmer. The mother, identified as Dikhsha Kanwar, was taken to Jawahar Government Hospital, and the health centre staff informed the doctors there that they had finished the delivery but left the placenta in the womb. Dr Ravindra Sankhla, a gynaecologist at Jawahar Government Hospital, said he realised something was wrong while attempting to take out the placenta. He said after stabilising the mother, they referred her to Ummed Hospital in Jodhpur. Kanwar is fighting for her life. Dr Usha Duggad, the principal medical officer at Jawahar Government Hospital, said it was a rarest of the rare case she has come across for the first time in her career of 30 years. It is quite unusual that nursing staff had applied so much force that baby broke into two parts and got multiple fractures. They should have avoided using force when the baby was stuck in the womb, the senior gynaecologist said, adding they should have sent the mother to a hospital better equipped to deal with such a case. According to chief medical and health officer in Jaisalmer Dr BL Bunkar, Amritlal and Junjhar Singh who conducted the delivery were not trained birth attendants. According to the government norms, only skilled birth attendant can conduct deliveries. A skilled birth attendant and a doctor were available at the Ramgarh hospital but they did not inform them and conducted the delivery on their own, Dr Bunkar said. Dr Bunkar said state health minister Raghu Sharma had sought the detailed report of the incident after which joint director reached Jaisalmer and started an investigation into the matter. Minister Sharma said a committee has been constituted to probe the death of the baby. Strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible. It is a serious incident. The government has zero tolerance policy for such kind of irresponsibility, and it will not be tolerated in any circumstances, he said in a statement. The boys family refused to bury him on Friday as they called for the arrest of the two staff. They were later assured by the administration of quick action against those guilty. On Wednesday, when the Rajya Sabha cleared the bill to amend Indias Constitution to allow 10% reservation for the poor in the general category, it equalled a 25-year-old record for the fastest disposal of such an amendment in Parliament. In 1994, the 76th amendment of the Indian Constitution was also cleared in two days flat, parliamentary and legal records show. Coincidentally, that amendment too concerned reservation. After the Supreme Court mandated that reservation cant exceed 50% in educational institutions, Tamil Nadu, which already allowed 69% reservation, held a special session November 9, 1993 and unanimously called upon the Union government to take remedial measures. Then Union minister Sitaram Kesari moved the Constitution (Seventy-sixth Amendment) Bill on August 24, 1994. Kesaris bill too was passed by the Lok Sabha on the same day and the Rajya Sabha the following day. The passage of the 124th Constitution amendment bill (now the 103rd amendment) saw protests by opposition over the Centres perceived haste in clearing the bill. Many leaders, while supporting the idea behind the legislation, suggested that it be sent to a parliamentary panel for review. But, the government pushed the bill through in two days. Ideally, such important bills need to go through a long process of review and evaluation. But the speed with which the latest Constitution Bill was passed is rare, said former parliamentary affairs secretary Afzal Amanullah, one of the longest serving secretaries in the parliamentary affairs ministry. In the past 15 years, since the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power in 2004, almost all Constitution amendment bills faced extensive scrutiny. These include amendments to Article 15 by introducing reservation for other backward classes in 2006. In the National Democratic Alliance era, the Constitutional amendment to roll in the Goods and Services Tax missed many deadlines as Opposition parties demanded more amendments and reviews. Some bills such as the 71st amendment to include Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali in the 8th schedule were passed in a single day. According to Chaksu Ray of PRS Legislative Research: The passage of the 124th Constitution Amendment bill...was certainly the fastest in the recent history. During Emergency, however, amendments were made even in a few hours. Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party and Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party are set to formalise their alliance on Saturday. At a meeting of party workers, BJP president Amit Shah on Friday came up with a reason why he thinks Uttar Pradeshs two bitter rivals will join forces. Because, he told them, the opposition knows that it is impossible to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Live updates. Once upon a time, it was the Congress versus all. Now, it is Modi versus everybody else, because they know that removing Prime Minister Narendra Modi is impossible. This is an acceptance of Modis might, he said. Underlining the significance of the 2019 polls, Shah compared them with the third Battle of Panipat and warned BJP workers that consequences of some battles are felt for centuries. The Marathas lost this one battle after winning 131, but had to pay a heavy price and we face 200 years of colonial slavery, he said. The Third Battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between the Marathas and Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali, in which the Marathas were defeated. The BJP chiefs comments come a day before Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party are expected to announce an alliance for 2019 polls. Shah was confident that the SP-BSP alliance wont affect BJPs chances in Uttar Pradesh and the party would improve its 2014 tally of 71 seats in Indias most populous state. Watch: Amit Shah: BJP committed to build Ram temple, Congress causing hurdles On the Ram temple issue, he said that the BJP has always been committed to it. BJP wants Ram Mandir to be constructed at the earliest. We are trying in the Supreme Court that the case reaches its conclusion but it is the Congress which is trying to create obstacles, he said. Shah, who was addressing thousands of BJP workers at the partys two-day national council in New Delhi, said the parliamentary polls will be fight between two ideologies. He said the BJP stands for the poor whereas the opposition is getting together only for power. The BJP chief also targeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi for alleging corruption in the Rafale aircraft deal. Both mother and son are out on bail, but they hurl charges at PM Modi. Shah claimed that Rahul Gandhi was frustrated that the Congress has been out of power at the Centre and so he was talking about the Rafale at every public platform even when there isnt any scam in the deal. The BJPs national conclave, possibly the last such event of the party before the elections, is being organised on the backdrop of the party losing the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the national council, which meets once a year, on Saturday. Indias concerns about Pakistans role in backing the Taliban figured in US special representative Zalmay Khalilzads discussions with his interlocutors in New Delhi on the US-backed peace process in Afghanistan, people familiar with developments said on Friday. Islamabads push for talks with the Taliban against the backdrop of a planned US troop drawdown in Afghanistan has been causing anxiety in New Delhi, especially since Pakistans efforts appeared to be aimed at minimising Indias influence in the war-torn country. Simultaneously, Afghan leaders have been hinting they would prefer India to take on a larger role in shaping the peace process. The people cited above said Indias concerns were raised during Khalilzads meetings with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday and foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale on Friday. US, Indian and Afghan officials have accused Pakistan of providing safe haven to the Afghan Taliban leadership and of supporting the group. Asked during a weekly news briefing whether Pakistans role in the emerging peace process was raised in the meetings, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar declined to go into details. However, he added, This is something we have articulated time and again, about the destabilising role which Pakistan plays. He said both sides had shared perspectives on peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Khalilzad briefed Swaraj and Gokhale on how the US is trying to achieve peace. From our perspective, we again made it very clear that peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan should be Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled, he said. Against the backdrop of Indian Army chief Gen Bipin Rawats comments that New Delhi too should engage the Taliban without any precondition in view of Indias interests in Afghanistan, Kumar said, Our position on Afghanistan has been very clear and very consistent. We have said in the past that India supports the peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. We also have said we support the process towards achieving this goal which is inclusive, and there has been no change in that position. The people cited above said the army chief had made the remarks in a personal capacity and there had been no change in Indias stand of not having direct talks with the Taliban. India, they said, had participated only in a non-official capacity in a round of talks in November under the Moscow format at which the Taliban were also present. Minister of state for external affairs VK Singh told reporters on Thursday: We have got nothing to do with the Taliban. India slammed Pakistan on Friday for its statement that New Delhi was not responding to its peace overtures, saying there was no seriousness in Islamabads offer for talks as it continued to extend explicit support to terror organisations and was now trying to mainstream them. Indias sharp reaction comes days after Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan accused it of not responding to his peace overtures. Responding to Khans comments, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, I dont understand these statements. Even before Imran Khan became Prime Minister, our Prime Minister had called and congratulated him on his election win. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also wrote to their counterparts and congratulated them after they assumed office, he said at a media briefing. Kumar also posed questions to Pakistan to hit out at the country for supporting terrorism and allowing terrorists to use its soil for targeting other nations. When they say they are ready for talks, then why do their ministers share platform with internationally designated terrorists. There have been many instances in the past few months when their ministers have shared a platform with such people, Kumar said. He cited some instances such as Pakistans religious affairs minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri sharing a public platform with Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed on September 30 where both of them made vitriolic anti-India statements and the terror organisation opening centres in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In December, Pakistans interior minister met representatives of the JuD terrorist organisation and openly pledged support to them, Kumar said. If Pakistan is ready for talks then why no action has been taken against terrorists involved in the Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks. Always the matter is brushed aside after talks, he said. JuD and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) are no longer on the list of proscribed organisations after an ordinance banning them lapsed, he said. It is clear that the explicit support that banned organisations used to get from Pakistan is still continuing. There has been no change in that, he asserted. The more serious thing is that they are trying to mainstream terror organisations, Kumar said. Islamabad wants to deflect attention from its own financial problems and it is doing that by giving statements about other countries, he said. So this statement that they want to have talks, there is no seriousness in it and this should be backed up by some action, the MEA spokesperson said. On Khans statement on treatment of minorities in India, Kumar said, Pakistan should be the last country in the world to lecture us on the topic of plurality and inclusive society. We and the world are fully aware how the minorities are treated in their country. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Barring the last minute entry of a dark horse, the race for the top post in the Central Bureau of Investigation has narrowed down to four Indian Police Service (IPS) officials of the 1984 batch National Investigation Agency chief YC Modi, Border Security Force chief Rajni Kant Mishra, external intelligence agency R&AW special secretary Vivek Johri and Central Industrial Security Force chief Rajesh Ranjan, said officials familiar with the development. All four have them served in the CBI earlier, which goes in their favour, said a senior government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The government is likely to speed up the process of appointing a new CBI director after the ouster of Alok Verma, who was transferred out of the agency as director general of fire services, civil defence and home guards. He decided to resign instead of joining the new assignment. UP police chief OP Singh, a 1983 batch IPS official, and Mumbai police commissioner Subodh Jaiswal, a 1985 batch IPS official too are being discussed as possible contenders but they have never served in CBI earlier, which might prove a handicap in their appointment. The Union home ministry sent a list of around 18 IPS officers belonging to 1982, 83, 84 and 85 batches to the ministry of personnel, that will be pruned further according to suitability of the officials in terms of integrity, seniority and experience in handling corruption cases. The pruned list of three to four officials will then be sent to the selection panel. The selection panel meeting may be called by the end of this month, said the official cited in the first instance. Read more| Alok Verma quits: Full text of IPS officers letter to the government Because of our PMs strong will everyone has a bank account today: Sushma Swaraj When we came to power in 2014, 1/3 of population didnt have bank account.When Prime Minister Narendra Modi noticed it,he ordered banks to go to people and open a zero balance bank account. Its because of our Prime Ministers strong will that everyone has a bank account today, says External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Measures include 10 % reservation for economically weak in general category The measures under the resolution include 10 % reservation for the economically weak in the general category. Electrification, Ujjwala scheme, food security, Ayushmaan Bharat, Jandhan Yojana happened to be the other schemes that were highlighted. BJP moves a second resolution on the welfare of the poor The BJP moves a second resolution on the welfare of the poor. BJP passes agriculture resolution at partys National Executive Council Meet BJP passes the agriculture resolution at the partys National Executive Council Meet. Farmers have contributed a lot towards nations growth: Rajnath Singh Farmers have contributed a lot towards the nations growth, says Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Grand alliance of opposition parties brought together by their greed of power: Shah The proposed grand alliance of opposition parties are a desparate group with neither a leader nor any policy and have been brought together by their greed of power, says Amit Shah. PM Modi left no stone unturned to nail corruption: Amit Shah Prime Minister Narendra Modi left no stone unturned to nail corruption, says BJP chief Amit Shah. 40 lakh migrants identified under NRC system: Amit Shah NRC is a system to identify illegal migrants in India. In Assam alone, 40 lakh such migrants were identified in the first stage, says Shah. We brought a sea change in the country: Amit Shah From Triple Talaq to Haj subsidy, GST to demonetisation, we brought a sea change in the country, says Amit Shah. Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Jains were harassed in neighbouring countries: Shah Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Jains were harassed in neighbouring countries and were treated as infiltrators here, says Amit Shah. All the charges were raised without any proof: Amit Shah All the charges were raised without any proof. Our Defence Minister gave a befitting reply to the opposition in the Parliament, says Amit Shah. Rahul and company not concerned about national security: Shah Rahul and company created a hue and cry on Citizenship Bill because they are not concerned about the national security. They only want votes. Their policies were paralysed, says BJP chief Amit Shah. We are duty bound to build the temple: Amit Shah The BJP wants Ram Mandir at the same spot. We are duty bound to build the temple and still are. It is the Congress that is causing hurdles in the process. But we are trying to expedite the case which is currently tabled in the Supreme Court, says Amit Shah. BJP wants Ram Mandir to be constructed at the earliest: Shah BJP wants Ram Mandir to be constructed at the earliest. We are trying in the Supreme Court that the case reaches its conclusion but Congress here also is trying to create obstacles. This Chowkidar will not spare any thief: Amit Shah I want to assure the people of this country that this Chowkidar will not spare any thief. We have such effective laws that we will catch and bring them back, says Amit Shah. 2019 is a decisive battle for BJP: Amit Shah 2019 is a decisive battle for BJP. Marathas won 131 battles but lost one in Panipat and had to go through 200 years of slavery, says Amit Shah. Rahul Gandhi making allegations of corruption in Rafale deal without any proof: Shah Out on bail in corruption case, Rahul Gandhi levelling baseless allegations of graft against Modi government; people are wiser than him. Rahul Gandhi making allegations of corruption in Rafale deal without any proof, says Amit Shah. Want Ram temple by constitutional path: Amit Shah Ayodhya case is going on in Supreme Court. We want the case to end as soon as possible. BJP wants grand Ram temple at that spot. Congress leader Kapil Sibbal tried to delay the case. We want Ram temple by constitutional path, says Amit Shah. Country was unsafe under the previous regime: Amit Shah We have avenged the Uri attacks with surgical strikes. We have countered bullets with bullets and terror attacks have reduced under the Modi government. The country was unsafe under the previous regime, says Amit Shah. Amit Shah accuses Congress of leading the country to corruption Congress gave loans to Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. All of them felt secured during their regime, which is why, they only left the country after the Modi government came to power, says Amit Shah. Each citizen of India will be provided with a permanent house by 2022: Shah Each citizen of India will be provided with a permanent house by 2022. We implemented the OROP to the Defence forces and as many as fifty crore Indians have already been benefited by the Modi governments Ayushman Bharat project, says Amit Shah. Government has built over 9 million toilets: Amit Shah In the last four and a half years, the government gave the women of this country the right to live with honour without shame by building over nine million toilets, says Amit Shah. India has joined US and Israel which are expert at surgical strikes: Shah There were only two countries which were expert at surgical strikes- US and Israel. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, we have joined them, says Amit Shah. Till 2014, 60 crore people did not even have bank accounts: Amit Shah Those who are roaming around under the umbrella of mahagathbandhan, what did they do for the last 55 years. Till 2014, 60 crore people did not even have bank accounts. PM Modi gave then bank accounts, gas cylinders, toilets, etc. in only four and a half years, says Amit Shah. Modi government has worked to ensure the security of the country: Shah The Narendra Modi government honoured the soldiers by giving one rank, one pension. Modi government has worked to ensure the security of the country, says Amit Shah. Security of our country is important: Shah We have done a lot of work for the welfare of the poor. The security of our country is also important. Before 2014, the soldiers of the country were killed, every other day infiltration was reported. We had taken over the country under these circumstances, says Amit Shah. Impossible to remove PM Modi: Amit Shah Once upon a time, it was the Congress versus all. But, now, it is the BJP versus everybody else, why? It is because they know that removing Prime Minister Narendra Modi is impossible. This is an acceptance of Modis might, says Amit Shah. PM Narendra Modi is now nucleus of politics like Congress once was: Shah Oppositions alliance an acknowledgment of our strength.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now nucleus of politics like Congress once was, says Amit Shah. Earlier, the BJP ruled in six states, but that has gone up to 16 now: Shah Earlier, the BJP ruled in six states, but that has gone up to 16 now. We are even ready to form a government in West Bengal. The Modi government has done the best work for the poor compared to the past 70 years of ignorance, says Amit Shah. Election of 2019 is very important for the poor of India: Amit Shah The election of 2019 is very important for the poor of India. This election matters to the youth. This election matters to millions of Indians who want to see India shine, says Amit Shah. It is Modi government which has changed the entire worlds perspective towards India: Shah It is the Modi government which has changed the entire worlds perspective towards India, says Amit Shah. The people who couldnt face each other have today come together in the fear of defeat: Shah The people who could not face each other have today come together in the fear of defeat. They know that it is not possible to defeat Narendra Modi alone, says BJP chief Amit Shah. Lok Sabha polls battle of two ideologies: Amit Shah Lok Sabha polls battle of two ideologies; BJP stands for cultural nationalism, poor, while rivals together merely for power, says Amit Shah. This election will be fought by PM Modi and an alliance without a face: Shah This election will be fought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an alliance without a face . This is the first government with an absolute majority after 30 years of coalition governments, says Amit Shah. 2019 elections are essential for Vikas: Amit Shah 2019 elections are essential for Vikas. BJP will continue to form government under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership this year, says Amit Shah. We will get 74 seats in Uttar Pradesh: Amit Shah In Uttar Pradesh, I am in constant touch with the state unit and I can confidently say that the number of seats we win this time can become 74, but will not decrease to 72, says Amit Shah. 2019 elections will be Modi versus all: Amit Shah 2019 elections will be Modi versus all. The war of 2019 is going to leave an impact for centuries and that is why I believe that winning is very important: Amit Shah Atal Bihari Vajpayee shone like a pole star in politics: Amit Shah Since the days of Jana Sangh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee shone like a pole star in politics. I dont think anyone has worked as hard as Vajpayee and Advani to take BJP in every corner of the country, says BJP chief Amit Shah NDA will definitely form government in 2019: Amit Shah NDA will definitely form government in 2019, says Amit Shah. There is no leader as popular as Narendra Modi in the entire world: Shah There is no leader as popular as Narendra Modi in the entire world, reports news agency ANI. Efforts on to reduce price of goods and simplify GST: Amit Shah Since GST has been implemented, in every GST council meeting, one has been always working to reduce the price of goods and simplify GST, says Amit Shah. Hardwork done by Atal ji and Advani jis jodi to strengthen BJPs reach in every corner was enormous: Shah This is the first national convention after BJPs foundation that Atal ji is not here. The hardwork done by Atal ji and Advani jis jodi to strengthen BJPs reach in every corner was enormous, probably not done by any other partys leaders, says Amit Shah. Making every effort to make Vivekanandas imagination of India a reality: Shah We are making every effort to make Vivekanandas imagination of India a reality under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says Amit Shah 2019 elections important for people waiting for development: Amit Shah 2019 elections are extremely important for BJP as well the country. It is important for the youth. It is important to millions of people in the country waiting for development, says BJP chief Amit Shah. Traders who accept composition plans with turnover of up to 1.5 million will have to pay only 1% tax: Shah Traders who accept composition plans with turnover of up to 1.5 million will have to pay only 1% tax. This is a big decision for millions of small businessmen and small industries, says BJP chief Amit Shah. Registration for small traders with annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh not necessary: Shah In a GST council meet chaired by finance minister Arun Jaitley, it was decided that the registration for small traders with annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh was not necessary, says Amit Shah. The 2019 election is very much important for the people of the nation: Shah The 2019 election is very much important for the people of the nation, says BJP chief Amit Shah. We will win in the upcoming election. Atal Behari Vajpayee had great contribution towards building the Bharatiya Janata Party: Shah Atal Behari Vajpayee had great contribution towards building the Bharatiya Janata Party, says Amit Shah. Economically backward youth had a demand for years. Our government solved their problem: Shah Economically backward youth had a demand for years. Our government solved their problem. We are grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this momentous step, says Amit Shah Quota Bills passage is a historic move: Amit Shah Two major decisions have been taken in one week. Quota Bills passage is a historic move. Indias youth needed quotas. On behalf of all volunteers I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says BJP chief Amit Shah Amit Shah delivers inaugural address at BJP National Convention BJP chief Amit Shah gives inaugural address at BJP National Convention at Ramlila Maidan. PM Modi and Amit Shah arrive at Ramlila Ground Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah arrive at Ramlila Ground to attend the two-day BJP National Council meeting. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, EAM Sushma Swaraj, Senior BJP leaders Murali Manohar Joshi and LK Advani also present, reports nerws agency ANI. BJP to counter grand alliance plans The BJP will seek to counter the Oppositions attempts to form a grand alliance by highlighting how it could push the country into a state of political instability again. Read more: We finally got our math right, Akhilesh Yadav on SP-BSP alliance BJP to highlight economic growth The BJP will also try to dismiss criticism on the economic front by focussing on how India has attained the status of the worlds sixth largest economy last year. It will highlight how India will soon become the fifth largest economy, party strategists said. BJP strategy BJP insiders say the partys strategy for the conclave and afterwards is two-fold. It will attempt to set a positive narrative for the party by again showcasing the impressive size of beneficiaries of central schemes. BJP to step up organisational preparedness The BJP will try to step up preparedness on the organisational front by roping in talent from across the country for specific election-related jobs. More district-level leaders in attendance this time A BJP leader said a meeting of the national council, in which district-level leaders have been invited on such a scale, has been called for the first time. The council meets once a year with roughly 3,000 leaders in attendance. Amit Shah, Narendra Modi to address party leaders BJP president Amit Shah will address at least 10,000 members of the council and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will talk to them on Saturday. Meeting in backdrop of losses in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh The conclave, possibly the last such event of the BJP before the Lok Sabha elections, is being organised after it lost the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to Congress. BJP national council meet to begin soon Thousands of members of the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) national council will meet soon at Ramleela Maidan in New Delhi for two days ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre and the Meghalaya government to take help of experts and continue efforts to rescue the 15 miners trapped in a coal mine in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills since December 13 last year. Carry on with your rescue efforts, what if all or at least some are still alive? Miracles do happen, a bench headed by Justice AK Sikri said, reports ANI The judges also asked what the government was doing about persons operating illegal mines and the officials who allowed them to go on. At least 200 rescuers from the Navy, NDRF, the Odisha Fire Service, State Disaster Response Fund, states Fire service and others from CIL and KBL are involved in the multi-agency rescue operations. They are trying to drain out water from the flooded mine, but Navy divers on Thursday found no change in the water level in the rat-hole mine to resume search operation, officials said. Rescuers using pumps from Coal India Ltd, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and the Odisha Fire Service have managed to pump out 2.1 crore litres of water from the mines, including the main shaft and the abandoned ones in the nearby which might be interconnected to it, till Thursday, they said. But, still there has been no significant drop in the water level in these mines, leaving rescuers clueless where and how to look for the diggers, they said. The accident has brought into focus the presence of illegal coal mining using unsafe and unscientific rat-hole methods despite the National Green Tribunal ban since 2014. Shah Faesal, the 2010 IAS topper from Jammu and Kashmir who recently resigned from bureaucracy, called for reimagining mainstream politics in the restive state and bringing the vocabulary of azadi and plebiscite into the mainstream discourse. In our political discourse, there are certain taboo words like we should not talk about. Azadi or right to self determination or plebiscite. I think let mainstream politics open its eyes to this vocabulary and re-imagine and own it up, Faesal said in his first press conference after his resignation, in Srinagar. The 35-yearold, who hails from Kupwara district, became a household name after he became the first person from Jammu and Kashmir to top the IAS exam in 2010. Stating that he wouldnt join any political party now, he said will contest the upcoming elections in the state. He said when it comes to resolution of political dispute of Jammu and Kashmir, mainstream political parties have not been able to represent the peoples sentiment correctly. Somebody has been saying that it is developmental issue, somebody said it is a religious issue, somebody said it is an issue about jobs, somebody said that it is because youngsters are drug addicts. This is the kind of narrative which has been fed to the rest of the country. We need to change this and tell truth about Kashmir to rest of the country, he said. New Narrative Talking about anger in the Valley over how mainstream has conducted itself, he said he wanted create a niche outside the existing narrative. My narrative is that there is a sentiment in Kashmir and that sentiment needs to be respected and represented correctly to the rest of the country, he said. We need to re-imagine and we need to tell the truth. As of now, I dont have any plans to join any existing mainstream party. I plan to go to the field, listen to the ground whispers, talk to youngsters. I will be very happy to contest upcoming elections, he said. In fact I believe that Parliament and legislative space is a very important space and we need well meaning and right people there. I wish to use Parliament as an important source of connection and engagement for brining solutions for our state, he said. Act of Defiance Faesal talked about his resignation as his small act of defiance to remind the central government of its responsibilities towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He went on to talk about how lack of a credible political initiative from the Centre and denial of justice to the people of Kashmir has resulted in massive escalation of violence in the Valley due to which lot of lives have been lost in the recent years. He also blamed the government for its failure to facilitate the homecoming of Kashmiri Pandits. Wrong to Dismiss Hurriyat Role Faesal said he did not want to join Hurriyat as he was a man from the system and my specialisation is in governance. I am not essentially trained to be in politics. I will be happy to do something in an institution where I can use my skills as a governance administrator. I wish I could do that elsewhere as well. Because Hurriyat doesnt give me that kind of opportunity, very rightly, because they dont believe in electoral politics, I may not be able to do that, he said. However, he did not dismiss Hurriyat as having no role in the state. I think it will be very wrong to presume that Hurriyat have no role to play in our state. We should be able to judge the representative character of the Hurriyat when you give them an opportunity to fight elections, he said. Faesal said he would be happy to do a retake of what Imran Khan and Arvind Kejriwal did if the youth allowed him to do so. He also praised National Conference leader Omar Abdullah for guiding him from time to time. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan should back up his talk about wanting better ties with India by acting against terror groups based in his country whose leaders have been hobnobbing with ministers, India said on Friday. In an unusually strong reaction to Khans remarks about India rebuffing his peace overtures, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: There is no seriousness in his statement about wanting to hold talks and it must be backed up with action. Kumar rubbished the Pakistani premiers comments about Indian minorities not being treated properly and said, I think Pakistan should be the last country in the world to lecture us on the topic of plurality and inclusive society. We and the world are fully aware about how the minorities are treated in their country. Bilateral ties hit a fresh low after India called off a planned meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries last September over terror-related concerns. There has been no formal dialogue between the two sides for a decade since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. During an interview with Turkish state-run television, Khan said he believed the Indian government had rejected his offers for talks because of upcoming elections. Since the elections are coming in, I feel the anti-Pakistan rhetoric gets votes for the BJP I have to say Im disappointed but again I reiterate two nuclear-armed countries should never think of sorting out their differences through war, he said. Pakistan, the external affairs ministry spokesperson said, is talking about a dialogue only to deflect attention from its internal problems, including its financial woes. He said Pakistan should address certain issues before proposing talks. The first thing is when they say they are ready for talks, why do their ministers share platforms with internationally designated terrorists? Kumar said. On September 30, religious affairs minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri shared a stage with Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and both made very vitriolic anti-India statements, he said. In December, minister of state for interior Shehryar Afridi met representatives of Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) and stated the governments support for Saeed and his organisation, he added. If Pakistan is ready for talks, why is no action being taken against terrorists responsible for the Mumbai and Pathankot terror attacks? If they are serious about talks, why do they allow their territory to be used by terrorists and groups that are targeting India and other countries, Kumar said. The JuD and Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), both fronts for the LeT, are no longer on Pakistans list of banned groups, and JuD recently inaugurated centres in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir along with prominent PTI leaders, he said. It is quite clear the explicit support that banned organisations used to get, they are still getting. There has been no change. The more serious issue is the way they are trying to mainstream terrorist organisations, he said. While several reviews said there was nothing accidental about Accidental Prime Minister starring Anupam Kher and Akshaye Khanna, politicians read more into the film based on former prime minister Manmohan Singh. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the timing of the release of the film which is based on a book by Sanjaya Baru, hinting at the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. In a sharp swipe at current PM, Narendra Modi, she said, If there is a movie on Accidental Prime Minister then there should be a movie titled as Disastrous Prime Minister. This will be made in the future. No one will be spared. Banerjee said the Anupam Kher-starrer distorted facts and remarked that All are accidental prime ministers. The Accidental Prime Minister is based on a book of the same name written by Sanjaya Baru on Manmohan Singhs term as prime minister from 2004 to 2014. Baru was Singhs media adviser when the latter was the prime minister. The film hit the screens on Friday. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav also targeted Prime Minister Modi, calling him confused. We have never seen such a confused prime minister ever. Be it demonetisation or GST, what came out of it? Nothing. And they call someone else accidental PM, he said. He was speaking on the CBI probe against him into the sand mining scam in 2012-2013 while he was the chief minister and mining minister of UP. Apart from the political jibes, in Delhi, the youth wing of Shiromani Akali Dal urged cinemas not to show the film, saying it would defame both Manmohan Singh and the country across the world. Ramandeep Singh, president of Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi, Youth Wing, said that such films are a serious attack on the minorities by the anti-minority forces such as RSS. The film deliberately demeaned the image of Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, who is a world-renowned economist. The film will not only defame Singh but the country as well across the globe, he said. He also said that Manmohan Singh is shown as a weak Prime Minister in the film. In Siliguri, Kolkata and Ludhiana, the film faced disruption from Congress activists. In Indore, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists created a ruckus outside a multiplex. The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea challenging the January 7 order of the Delhi High Court which had disposed of a petition seeking to ban the trailer of upcoming movie, The Accidental Prime Minister. Organisers of the controversial Elgar Parishad event in Maharashtras Pune on December 31, 2017, have decided to rename the event and pare down its scale this time. The event, which is now called Yuvak Jagar (youth awakens) Parishad is being held on Saturday at the Sane Guruji Smarak. The Elgar Parishad grabbed headlines in June, when Pune (urban) police alleged the December 31 event was responsible for stoking violence in Bhima Koregaon the next day. One man was killed and at least 40 people were injured when clashes broke out during the bicentennial celebration of a British-era war. Police conducted raids in several cities and arrested 10 prominent activists for alleged Maoist links, who have been charged with sedition, among other statutes. Petitions against the arrests are pending before the Supreme Court. This year, however, the organisers former SC judge PB Sawant and ex-Bombay high court judge BG Kolse Patil say they have invited local and state-level groups to speak on the theme of Save the Constitution. Apart from Sawant and Patil, the main speakers will be socialist activist Baba Adhav, and members of the Maharashtra Andhashradda Nirmulan Samiti founded by the late rationalist Narendra Dabholkar. A number of socialist, left-leaning, Dalit, Muslim and Maratha organisations have been called. Many of the speakers from last years event such as Jawaharlal Nehru Universitys Umar Khalid, Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani or activist Radhika Vemula havent been called. Also missing is the left-leaning Dalit group, Kabir Kala Manch, one of whose members has been arrested. City police maintained they had not received any application seeking permission for holding the event. The Delhi high court on Friday refused to quash a bribery and extortion complaint registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the agencys special director Rakesh Asthana in October, saying the allegations against him cannot be conclusively ruled out at this stage. Justice Najmi Waziri said the first information report (FIR) registered when Alok Verma was CBI director was not illegal and irregular and added that prior sanction to prosecute a government officer under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) is not required when a cognizable offence is being made out. In view of the above, the petitions are dismissed, the judge said in a 39-page order, directing the CBI to complete the investigation in the case within 10 weeks, possibly opening the doors for the arrest of Asthana, who had sought the quashing of the FIR. Both Verma and Asthana were stripped of their powers and sent on forced leave by the government on the intervening night of October 23-24 after they accused each other of corruption in a feud that became increasingly public, splitting the CBI down the middle. Verma was conditionally reinstated by the Supreme Court on Tuesday but removed from the agency again on Thursday. The CBI booked Asthana on October 15 on the basis of a complaint by businessman Sana Satish Babu. Babu had been facing a probe in a 2017 case of tax evasion and money laundering involving controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Babu alleged that Dubai-based brothers Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad claimed that they were acting on behalf of the CBI special director and allegedly struck a deal for 5 crore to protect him (Babu) in a case that the agency registered against Qureshi in 2016. The complainant, Sana, has alleged coercion, threat and extortion of money, albeit for an offence under Section 7 of the PC Act as well, but such acts by a public servant cannot be said to be in the discharge of his official function or duties. Therefore, in the present case, the approval (of prosecution) under Section 17A of the Act would not be necessary, the court added. The ruling was delivered in the process of disposing of pleas filed by Asthana, deputy superintendent of police Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad to quash the bribery and extortion FIR against them. The court stated that Babus complaint does not mention any direct interaction with the accused CBI officials which needs to be ascertained. The court said the role of the CBI officers needs a further probe. While dismissing the pleas, the court said that law treats all equally. The law does not entertain personalities. It treats all equally. India is a country governed by the Rule of Law.., the judge said. The single-judge bench also stated that Asthanas contention that FIR has been back-dated and documents have been fabricated to falsely implicate them is not borne out from the records. The judge also rejected Asthanas claim that the CBI could have laid a trap to catch him red-handed when Babu had first recorded a statement. The court said that it is not mandatory for an investigating agency to lay a trap. Amit Anand Tiwari, the lawyer for Asthana, requested that status quo be extended on the case. However, the court did not pass a formal order on the request. The court had reserved the order on December 20 after hearing arguments from all sides, including Asthana, Verma, Devender Kumar and the agency. The Supreme Court collegium has cleared the names of Chief Justice of Karnataka high court Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Sanjiv Khanna of the Delhi high court for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court. According to the resolution posted on the SC website, while recommending the names of justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna, the collegium has taken into consideration combined seniority on all-India basis of chief justices and senior puisne judges of high courts, apart from their merit and integrity. The collegium has also kept in mind the desirability of giving due representation on the bench of the Supreme Court, as far as possible, to all the high courts. What is significant is that last year Justice J Chelameswar had criticised the chief justice of the Karnataka HC for initiating an inquiry against a district judge, who was cleared for elevation by the collegium, allegedly at the Centres behest, and suggested that he was more loyal than the king. In a letter dated March 21, sent to then CJI Dipak Misra with copies to all the judges of the Supreme Court, Chelameswar also questioned why the Karnataka HC chief justice Dinesh Maheshwari did not inform the CJI about the probe. Samajwadi party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav today took a swipe at the Congress, insisting that he wasnt worried about a CBI probe against him because his family had gone through such a probe when the Congress-led UPA was in power. There has been speculation that the CBI may launch an investigation against former Akhilesh as part of its probe into the sand mining scam in 2012-2013. Akhilesh was the CM and mining minister during that time. The CBI raided 14 locations across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh last Saturday A CBI probe will not be not be the first time for us. It happened once against all of us -- Netaji, Dimple and me. It happened in Congress time. We are thankful to Congress because of that experience all our paperwork were in place and maintained, Akhilesh said while speaking in Kannauj at #ChaupalOnTwitter. Watch: BJP following in Congress footsteps: Akhilesh Yadav on CBI probe The Yadavs emerged unscathed in the earlier CBI probe that began in 2007 where Mulayam Singh Yadav was investigated for alleged disproportionate assets. In September 2016, the Supreme Court dismissed a fresh plea seeking another CBI probe into Mulayams assets. He was then the Samajwadi Party chief. Akhilesh also poked fun at a possible CBI probe. From time to time probe should happen, it helps in updating papers, documentation, and helps in preventing mistakes. All of us are ready to be questioned. Question us asap so that now we can get busy with polls. He accused the BJP-led NDA of forming an alliance with the CBI and using the institution like many others. And who will carry out the CBIs probe? There is so much infighting in the CBI, he said. The SP chief also put Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his line of fire, calling him confused. We have never seen such a confused prime minister ever. Be it demonetisation or GST, what came out of it? Nothing. And they call someone else accidental pm. After tying up with the Congress for the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections where both the SP and the Congress got a drubbing, Akhilesh had been warming up to Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The two leaders are expected to announce the alliance to take on the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Lucknow on Saturday. Akhilesh and Mayawati have so far ruled out Congress as a partner of the alliance, because the grand old party is looking at contesting more than a dozen seats, which the SP and the BSP are not ready to concede, said another leader familiar with negotiations. In a recent meeting in Delhi, Akhilesh and Mayawati discussed the modalities of seat sharing for the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, according to sources. The talks, sources said, did not account for the Congress. It was proposed that both parties will equally distribute between them 78 Lok Sabha seats. They wont field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, the Lok Sabha constituencies of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi, respectively, sources added. A day after a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report pointed out alleged irregularities worth crores of rupees in Madhya Pradesh state government departments in the past few years, chief minister Kamal Nath on Friday announced a detailed inquiry. The way financial irregularities, weaknesses in financial management and loss of crores of rupees to the government have been highlighted in the CAG report tabled in the state assembly, it has established how a nexus was working in the previous [BJP] regime and indulged in corruption. We will have a detailed inquiry into all the matters and take strict action against the guilty, the CM said. Jayant Malaiya, who held the finance portfolio in the previous BJP government, denied all corruption allegations. The CAG report is just an observation. There is a well-laid system to look into the report. It goes to the public accounts committee (PAC) which calls the secretary concerned of the department to seek an explanation. If the PAC is not satisfied it may give its recommendations, he said. India has granted UK consular access to Christian Michel, a British national arrested for his alleged role as a middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter case, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Friday. I can confirm that he has been granted consular access. A second secretary-level officer from the British high commission has met Christian Michel based on the request we had received last month from the high commission, Kumar told a weekly news briefing. The access was granted on Thursday. The spokesperson of the British high commission said in a brief statement: Our staff are supporting a British man who is detained in India, and have visited him to check his welfare. The British mission had sought consular access to Michel after he was arrested in the first week of December following his extradition by the United Arab Emirates in connection with the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland deal. Asked about Michels plea to a special court on Thursday to be allowed to make phone calls to his family, friends and lawyers abroad, Kumar said, We have shared in the past that he has been allowed to communicate with his family members. I have not seen the plea which he has entered on this matter. Read: Was Rafale deal held up because of Michel mama?: Modi attacks Congress People familiar with developments said authorities would consider any formal request from the British high commission for Michel to be allowed more communications with his family. Michel, 57, had said in his application to the special court that he should be permitted to made international calls in order to collect materials needed to prove his innocence. He is currently being held at Tihar Jail. The Enforcement Directorate has alleged in its charge-sheet that Michel received 30 million euros from AgustaWestland for acting as a middleman in the deal to supply VVIP helicopters worth 556.262 million euros. Michel has denied the charges levelled against him. The money was nothing but kickbacks paid by the firm to execute the 12 helicopter deal in favour of the firm in the guise of genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country, according to the charge sheet. Michel is one of the three middlemen, being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal. The British High Commission in India has got consular access to alleged middleman in AgustaWestland case Christian Michel, who was brought to Delhi from the United Arab Emirates on December 4. Our staff are supporting a British man who is detained in India, and have visited him to check his welfare, the High Commission said in a statement, according to ANI. The UK had requested for consular access to Michel,57, the allegedly middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP chopper deal signed and scrapped by the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. The deal has now turned into the subject of a political fight between the opposition party and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is one of the three middlemen, being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. Michel has denied the charges. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. The money was nothing but kickbacks paid by the firm to execute the 12 helicopter deal in favour of the firm in the guise of genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country, according to the charge sheet. Thousands of members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s national council will meet on Friday in New Delhi for three days ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha election to be held later this year. The conclave, possibly the last such event of the party before the elections, is being organised after the BJP lost the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh to Congress. BJP president Amit Shah will address at least 10,000 members of the council and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will talk to them on Saturday. A party leader said a meeting of the national council, in which district-level leaders have been invited, on such a scale has been called for the first time. The council meets once a year with roughly 3000-plus leaders in attendance. ... a couple of resolutions covering economics, politics and other relevant subjects [will be passed at the conclave], another leader said. The BJP will try to step up preparedness on the organisational front by roping in talent from across the country for specific election-related jobs. BJP strategists said the partys strategy for the conclave and afterwards is two-fold. It will attempt to set a positive narrative for the party by again showcasing the impressive size of beneficiaries of central schemes. The party will also try to dismiss criticism on the economic front by focussing on how India has attained the status of the worlds sixth largest economy last year. It would highlight how India will soon become the fifth largest economy, the strategists said. It would seek to counter the Oppositions attempts to form a grand alliance by highlighting how it could push the country into a state of political instability again. The proposal to provide the economically weaker sections 10% quota in educational institutions and government jobs will be hailed at the conclave. Two Indian army personnel, including a Major, were killed on Friday in the deadliest attack along the Line of Control with Pakistan in nearly three months. The attack came even as the Pakistani establishment signalled it was open to peace talks, though people in the Indian defence establishment the army chief being the most recent have seen such attempts as being hollow. A spokesperson did not confirm the identities of the casualties, but according to multiple officials in the army and intelligence agencies, the attack involved two explosions and the Major was killed in the second one when he went to rescue a soldier hit by the first blast. Today (Friday) at about 3pm, an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion took place near LoC in Nowshera Sector in which an army officer and a soldier got grievously injured. Immediate resuscitation and medical aid was provided to them. However, they succumbed to their injuries, said Lt Col Devender Anand, defence spokesperson. Three other soldiers were injured by the blast. An army porter was also killed by Pakistani snipers in the same district but during a separate incident. While officials did not give details of the identity of the attackers, such incidents near the LoC routinely involve a specialised Pakistani squad called the Border Action Team (BAT), which is believed to comprise Pakistani army regulars as well as militants. Earlier this week, Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan accused India of rejecting its peace offer. India was offered to take one step towards and we shall take two. But India rejected Pakistans offer for talks several times, he told Turkish news agency TRT World. On Thursday, army chief General Bipin Rawat there has been little change in the Pakistani militarys approach. Pakistan has been making a lot of noise about better relations with India but on the ground we do not see any difference, he said. According to officials in the intelligence, who asked not to be named, some of the other soldiers injured were in a critical condition. Referring to the death of the porter, the spokesperson said the attack took place in Sunderbani sector. Army porter Hemraj was shot at and grievously injured. The individual was provided immediate resuscitation and medical aid. He, however, also later succumbed to the gunshot wounds. The Army authorities have promised all possible assistance to the family of martyred army porter, Lt Col Anand added. The porter was carrying supplies for the army posts on the LoC in Laam area when he was hit, according to officials in Jammu who did not want to be named. On October 21, three soldiers of Jammu and Kashmir light infantry regiment and two heavily-armed infiltrators, believed to be members of BAT, were killed in Sunderbani sector. On September 19, roughly a month after Khan took over as Prime Minister, a jawan of the Border Security Force was dragged over to Pakistani territory and killed, with his body bearing signs of mutilation. On January 8, the Indian National Congress appointed Apsara Reddy as the national general secretary of its womens wing, the All India Mahila Congress, headed by Member of Parliament Sushmita Dev. Since then, the 35-year-old has had little sleep. Wednesday, in particular, was a long day for Reddy by the time the Hindustan Times met her, she had already given 26 interviews. Curling up on a sofa, and sipping a cup of black coffee to stay alert, Reddy spoke on a range of issues, from her personal journey to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) bill, 2018, to the abuse and harassment faced by women and transgender persons, and womens unemployment. I was born into a conservative South Indian family. Dad was an alcoholic, and there were many issues at home. My mother was my greatest hero, and best friend, says Reddy. But, every incident in my life, even the hardships, really motivated me, she adds. Even so, getting her mother to acknowledge her gender identity involved a series of very difficult conversations. I never really identified as gay, and knew very early on that I am a woman. I was very determined to convince (my family), and not run away from home, or tell them that you know nothing about me, she adds. Her mother, says Reddy, came on board, but her father and other relatives, didnt. My mother and I were not economically independent, and the larger family was very judgemental towards my mothers support for me. I remember once my relatives invited us for a wedding, and said, dont bring him. By this time, I had already transitioned. Does she feel the burden of having to speak on transgender issues in particular, given that she is the first transgender national general secretary of All India Mahila Congress. I am glad you asked. Just because I belong to a particular community, I dont want to be limited to being a champion of only that community. As a citizen of this country, every policy affects me, whether it is on infrastructure, health, or taxation. I want to be part of a larger discussion on policy that affects women and children and transgender individuals. This is also the only way that mainstreaming can happen, she says. In her new role, Reddy must reach out to women across demographics through workshops or conferences. This will include reaching out to transgender womens groups too, she says. Ive been given a mandate to identify women who think as leaders and to empower them. I will conduct locality-wise, district-wise, block-wise workshops with the Mahila Congress unit in each state on public speaking, vocational training, and even the importance of voting to show women how every decision of the government affects them. While political parties have begun to recognise the importance of women voters in the recent Madhya Pradesh state assembly election, for example, the Bharatiya Janata Party released a separate manifesto for women, while the Congress manifesto had promises directed at women they still need to confront the issue of representation. If there was adequate representation, chances are public policies and programmes would look different. Which is why, Reddys appointment in a national political party is important. As a transwoman, Reddy is no stranger to the numerous hurdles in asserting ones gender identity. She recounts meeting a counsellor at age 15, who told her that people like her are stoned to death. She scared the living daylights out of me, says Reddy. She also speaks about the abusive comments that her interviews on YouTube receive, which range from lies someone commented that he had seen me beg for money in a train to death and rape threats. She narrates her ordeal to correct her gender identity on her passport, which was finally sorted out in the court. Ive had the most humiliating experiences in airports. Even after transitioning, I would be sent to the male line, (and the guard) would touch every part of my body while screening me, she says. In a few hours, she will catch a flight back to Chennai, where she is based. There needs to greater sensitivity all round, she says. Nine out of 10 Indians do not secure children with seat belts while travelling in four-wheelers or ensure they wear helmets on two-wheelers, according to a study, which Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari cited on Friday while describing safety on Indian roads as a failure of his department. Gadkari, who launched the Rear Seat-Belt Usage and Child Road Safety in India report, pointed out that almost 90% Indians also face safety risks by not using rear seat belts. The report, conducted by Nissan India and a non-profit, Save LIFE Foundation, is based on a survey conducted in 11 major cities with 6,306 respondents. The report also said that 98% of the respondents were not using rear seat belts. It also noted that 80% respondents do not buy helmets for their children. This, despite the fact that nearly two-thirds (64%) of the parents surveyed said they considered city roads unsafe for children and child safety laws are needed. This report documents, for the first time in India, the concerning state of child safety on our roads and the publics perception and expectation regarding the usage of rear seat belts. It is high time that basic provisions such as child helmets, safety measures in school zones, child seats, special training for school bus and van drivers, and adult accountability be made mandatory. We will also request the minister to include the issue of child safety in the Bhartiya Janta Partys election manifesto, said Piyush Tewari, CEO, SaveLIFE Foundation. Fifty-three accidents and 17 deaths occur every hour due to road accidents, according to the transport ministrys data for 2017. Road safety is the most important subject in our country. Each year, we have 5 lakh accidents and 1.5 lakh deaths. It is very unfortunate that it is the highest in the world...even with police protection and a red beacon car I faced an accident and hence Im very sensitive about it, Gadkari said. We have reduce road deaths by 4% this year, but we noticed in some states accidents and deaths have increased. Even though it is not good for me, we have decided to publish the report of every state to show the people of India. In my own ministry, we have had a lot of success stories but this is one where I always feel that this is a failure for me, I dont have any hesitation to expose my own department regarding the statistics..., he added. The minister said that the transport ministry is also working towards eliminating black spots, and the government has already spent more than ?20,000 crore for this. Black spots are spots in different cities where road accidents are common. We have also taken many preventive measures in automobile engineering. It will be mandatory to include a seat-belt alert system soon ...Regarding driving licenses we need some serious approach, it is the easiest thing in India to get a DL [driving licence]. We need training institutes and work on elimination of duplication of DLs , Gadkari added. The Supreme Court appointed monitoring authority set up to oversee investigations into 18 cases of alleged fake encounter in Gujarat between 2002 and 2006 has disclosed to the top court that in three instances it probed, the allegation of custodial killings have been made out. The chairman of the monitoring authority, retired Justice HS Bedi of the Supreme Court, in his report has recommended prosecution of the nine Gujarat Police officers on the charges of murder. Justice Bedi in his report, which was submitted to the top court in February last year, said He applied two tests while evaluating evidence in these case. First, where the police version seemed deeply suspicious and difficult to believe and second, where the evidence was of quality that in case a trail was held there was a reasonable chance of conviction. The chairman, in his report, has said in the case of the killing of Sameer Khan Pathan alleged to be a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative and suspected to be attempting to carry out the assassination then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was fake. Sameer Khan Pathan was killed in custody in October 2002 in Ahmedabad and the police had then narrated a story that he had received training in Pakistan and was a JeM operative. Justice Bedi, says that there was something drastically amiss in the death and investigation into the death of Sameer Khan Pathan. Similarly in the cases of Kasam Jafar, allegedly a dreaded member of Mumbais Irani gang and Haji Ismail, a smuggler from Jamnagar, the authority has come to a conclusion they are custodial deaths. Marvel Studios broke a million hearts last year when they reduced half the Avengers and other MCU heroes to dust in Avengers: Infinity War. Peter Parkers nervous face as he died in Tony Starks arms, still haunts many in their dreams. However, a more positive and uplifting fan theory has emerged to keep fans in a good mood until April when Avengers: Endgame hits theatres. The new theory shared on Reddit says that perhaps when Thanos snapped his fingers in Infinity War, it did not decimate half the universe but rather split it in two, something he didnt realise either. After the snap, a parallel universe was created in which the half that had died in Infinity War, continued to live. However, in that universe, the ones who made it alive were the ones who disappeared. Which means both the sides mourned the loss of loved ones. Reddit user ofersadan also shared a helpful chart and timeline of events to better explain how the universes split will affect the Marvel movies that are to come, which is that it will not affect them at all. In Avengers: Endgame, Ant-Man Scott Lang will figure out a way to make a bridge between the two universes using the Quantum Realm and bring the dead population back to the original universe. The biggest twist, however, was posted as a comment on the post. OP, thats a great idea, but you are making one key assumption that may prove to be the undoing of this theory. There is nothing to confirm that Stark and Nebula are on the same side of the split as the rest of the OG Avengers, wrote a Reddit user. What it means essentially is that there is no way to know that in this case, the universes shown on Titan and back on Earth are the same. Perhaps in the original world, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Star Lord and Drax survived the snap and returned to Earth to meet Captain America, Hulk and others. Meanwhile, Tony and Nebula survived in the universe which witnessed the deaths of Captain, Hulk, Thor and others while Black Panther, Groot and others managed to survive. Sounds complex but actually isnt if you pay attention. Whether this theorylike all the crazy ones that arrived before itis true, we will learn when Avengers: Endgame releases on April 26. The film is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and will mark the end of the first phase of MCU. Follow @htshowbiz for more The New Year brings along a lot of things including that cake, the alcohol and the resolution that you vouch for at least a few weeks and hitting the gym is one of the most common among all. If you are planning to hit the gym, you need to keep in mind a few things. According to an article published in the Insider written by Jim Edwards called 3 truths about lifelong fitness that personal trainers will never tell you, a person is highly likely to stop going to the gym after just few months. Jim Edwards in his article states three truths about your idea of going to the gym and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. Go to the nearest gym to you, not the nicest gym you can afford, stated the article published in the Insider. The article states that you are more likely to go to a gym regularly if it is nearby. Do the exercises you enjoy doing, and dont bother with those you hate, is the second point mentioned by Jim Edwards in the article. If you do the exercise you enjoy, you are more likely to enjoy your time at the gym and do it as an activity than a chore. Edwards in his article published in the Insider stated that giving up on the workout is easy, however, remember that you are in it for a long haul and therefore, Go to the gym even when you feel tired and dont want to. He reiterates the fact that feeling tired is not good enough reason to not go to the gym. It is about lifelong fitness and health and therefore, going to the gym becomes an essential part of your lifestyle. He asserts that not going to the gym will just be taking a step back. However, according to an article Your Fitness Resolution Might Be Easier If Youre Rich by Richard Florida, who is the co-founder and editor at large of CityLab and a senior editor at The Atlantic, published in Citylabs cites the example of the United States reveals that there is a clear divide in the countrys fitness opportunity based on key attributes of where a person lives. Richard Floridas article in the Citylabs states that the metropolitan cities that have the best fitness-venue availability, measured as the concentration of fitness-centre employees across the metro area, are mainly affluent, smaller metros-a combination of outdoorsy sports-oriented places and college towns like Grants Pass and Bend, Oregon; Bremerton, Washington; Missoula, Montana; State College, Pennsylvania; Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo, California; Burlington, Vermont; Boulder, Colorado; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Florida also states that wealthier areas of the city have more fitness centres as income, education, and occupation are major factors. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Sonam Kapoor looked absolutely stunning in a red gown that she donned for a friends wedding in Goa on Wednesday. The Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga actor was also drenched in a casual diamond choker that looked perfect teamed with her round sunglasses; her choice of accessories added a very retro feel to Sonam Kapoors wedding look. It has been more than a month, since Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas had two spectacular weddings in Jodhpur and multiple receptions in Mumbai and Delhi. And Sonams latest look from the Goa wedding festivities will remind you of the plunging neck red Dior gown Priyanka wore to the wedding reception that reportedly followed her and Nicks marriage at Umaid Bhawan Palace on December 2. Sonam Kapoor and Priyanka Chopras bright red gowns featured thin straps, a plunging sweetheart neckline and a full, floaty skirt. Both Sonam and Priyankas ball gowns put a modern spin on volume, creating contemporary silhouettes, romantic drama, and show-stopping features that any bride would be proud to flaunt at her wedding festivities. While Priyankas custom red tulle ball gown exudes a touch of whimsy and playfulness with a frilly voluminous skirt and corset inspired bodice, Sonams gown is unconventional and striking in its simplicity, thanks to its pleated skirt. Like Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra had worn a gorgeous diamond choker with her princess gown cut in a classic A-line ballgown style. Both actors pulled their hair back into elegant buns. Priyanka paired her custom tulle gown with sixteen carats of Chopard jewels, including a large diamond maangtika on her forehead, an extravagant choker necklace, and delicate drop earrings. At the wedding festivities in Jodhpur, Priyanka Chopra also wore bridal red and white bangles stacked on both wrists and her dazzling diamond engagement ring, and sported traditional elaborate mehendi designs on her hands. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Alia Bhatts wardrobe continues to wow us. After arriving in style in a little white dress at the Gully Boy trailer launch with actor Ranveer Singh, in Mumbai on Wednesday, Alia switched gears on Thursday. The Brahmastra actor wore a traditional Indian ensemble, as she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Alia really upped the stakes, when she wore a stylish baby blue Manish Malhotra suit for the talked-about meeting, along with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor and a group of Bollywood stars, including filmmaker Karan Johar and actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Vicky Kaushal. Alia Bhatts long-sleeved, below-the-knee kurta paired with a matching churidar is sweet but not too sweet, fitted but still flowing, and done in the most beautiful blue weve seen in a long time. Plus, the fact that Alia Bhatt wore this ethereal suit for a meeting with the Prime Minister, makes this look all the more special. With its modest round neck, a flared skirt and a light blue dupatta that shimmered with embroidered gold embellishments, Alia Bhatts Manish Malhotra ensemble feels classic. Probably because it is a classic. By pairing the Manish Malhotra look with a sleek ballet pink handbag by fashion designer Alexander McQueen and handcrafted wedges with detailed zardosi embroidery by footwear designer Aprajita Toor, Alia Bhatt made her ethnic Indian look modern and fresh. With her brown hair in loose curls, rosy cheeks, and glossy lips, Alias look is perfect for a festive get together. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be interacting with students, teachers and parents on January 29, 2019 at 11 am on the ways to reduce examination stress, under the Pariksha Pe Gharcha 2.0 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi. For selecting the students/teachers/ parents for physical interaction with the Prime Minister, a contest is being organized for them, on the MyGov lndia Portal (https://auth.mygov.in/user/login?destination=oauth2/authorize#myqov surveyjumo). The selected participants will get an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. The Catchy Caption Contest and My Success Mantra Contests are being organized for students from graduate and under graduate classes, below 25 years of age. Under the Catchy Caption Contest, the students will be required to give a caption, not exceeding 150 characters, for the image provided in the Pariksha Pe Charcha 2.0 contest, reads a circular issued by Prof Rajnish Jain, secretary, UGC. Under the My Success Mantra Contest, the students can give their inspiring entries for motivating other exam facing students, in the form of a video (upto 60 seconds duration, recorded and link sent on You Tube) or text (upto 500 characters), reads the UGC circular. In a letter sent to all the vice chancellors of the university, UGC asked officials to encourage the students and teachers from the university and affiliated colleges along with their parents to participate in the contest. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked educational institutions across the country, to facilitate live telecast of Pareeksha Pe Charcha Prime Minister Narendra Modis interactive programme on January 29, 2019 with students to de-stress them before exams. The vice chancellors were asked to inform UGC with regard to the number of students and teachers who have viewed- the programme on January 29, 2019 along with photographs and videos may be uploaded on the University Activity Monitoring Portal of UGG latest by 5 pm on January 29. Modi has been stressing on the need to make exams fun. He has penned a book called Exam Warriors, which was released. In January 2017, in an episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister spoke about exam stress. Delhi police on Thursday said they arrested a 37-year-old man who allegedly killed his nephew and buried him in the balcony of his rented house in southwest Delhis Dabri nearly three years ago. The accused Bijay Kumar Maharana, a human resources manager with an engineering firm, was arrested from Hyderabad on Sunday. Police believe jealousy may have been the motive behind the crime. Additional deputy commissioner of police Rajendra Singh Sagar said the skeletal remains of the victim, 26-year-old Jai Prakash Maharana, were discovered last October. Our team reached the building in Chanakya Place 1, at 25 Foota Road and found that the boundary wall of the balcony on the third floor of the house had been demolished for renovation. Labourers and house owner said human remains were visible from under the soil. The skeleton was found wrapped in a blue jacket and a green shirt which had been covered using a bed sheet, a blanket and a mattress, Sagar said. In 2015, the house owner had rented the place out to Bijay who shared it with his nephew . The landlord told us that in February 2016, Bijay informed him that his nephew had gone out with his friends but did not return. He said Bijay got a missing complaint registered on February 12, 2016. The landlord also said that at around the same time, Bijay had sought permission to plant flowers in the balcony. He said Bijay got layers of soil piled in the balcony and planted saplings, the officer said. Two months later, Bijay vacated the flat. The landlord said some other people also lived in that house on rent until October 8 last year when he demolished the wall of the balcony to replace it with a see-through iron grille, and found the skeleton, said Sagar. While investigating the murder, police said they could not find Bijay. During questioning, accused Bijay allegedly told police about a woman friend of his, who got friendly with victim Jai (pictured) too. (Delhi Police) His whereabouts were not even known to his family members. His phone was switched off and he had quit the job he had then. He had withdrawn money from all his bank accounts and had made no transactions thereafter, the additional DCP said. In December, police received a tip-off that Bijay was possibly in Vishakhapatnam or Hyderabad. He was arrested on January 6 and was brought to Delhi on transit remand. During questioning, Bijay allegedly told police about a woman friend of his, who got friendly with Jai too. The woman used to meet Bijay at his flat. Bijay said he did not like Jai and the woman talking to each other over phone and text messages. During the early hours on February 7, around 2 am, Bijay smashed Jais head with the motor of a ceiling fan, Sagar said. Bijay then allegedly buried the body in the balcony. Two days later Jais mother called Bijay to inquire about Jai as her calls had gone unanswered. He told her that Jai went out to party with friends but did not return. He said she forced him to lodge a missing complaint, said Sagar. Two months after the police complaint Bijay vacated the flat and shifted to Nangloi for a while before moving to Hyderabad. Bijay hails from Odisha and shifted to Delhi to work at a call centre in Noida. In 2018, Delhi Polices crackdown on drugs saw it seize almost four times the heroin that it seized the previous year. Delhi police officers said that last year, the city police seized 197 kg of heroin, compared to 51 in 2017 and 24 kg in 2016. According to the annual crime data, 662 persons were arrested for smuggling or consuming banned drugs. This too is a record high in the last decade. It showed that last year, 491 persons (the previous highest) were arrested. In 2016, the number of arrests was 370. There has been a concerted action against drug trafficking, which has resulted in the recovery of huge quantity of narcotics substances. Anti-narcotics squads have been set up in all districts across the city for action against drug traffickers, said deputy commissioner of police Madhur Verma, who is also the police spokesperson. Police said they are focusing on big cartels that smuggle drugs into the country. One such cartel was busted in October last year, when police arrested two men. Packed in tea packets, the heroin was transported to the northern plains of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and metropolitan cities from Myanmar and parts of Thailand. In September, three foreigners were caught with heroin at a market in south Delhi. Police investigation revealed the three had smuggled the drug from Afghanistan and had built a large clientele in Delhi and other cities. Another increase in seizure was that of marijuana the most commonly used drug in the city. According to police data, last year police recovered over 4,200 kilogram of marijuana, almost double what the police seized in 2017. Police said they are on the lookout for gangs using all types of modus operandi to smuggle drugs such as marijauana. Last week, Delhi police busted a gang and arrested two men, who imported drugs online via dark web and paying through cryptocurrency from the US and other countries, to distribute in the city. The dark web is popular among drug traffickers because the websites are accessible only through networks such as Tor (the onion routing project) and I2P (invisible internet project). The complicated system makes impossible to reproduce the node path and decrypt the information layer by layer. Due to the high level of encryption, websites are not able to track geo-location and IP of their users. As the world grapples with the consequences of fake news, a Belgian icon and timeless hero of many a journalist, Tintin, celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday. It was on Jan. 10, 1929 when the first of the adventures of the intrepid international reporter were published in Le Petit Vingtieme newspaper supplement in Brussels. Created by Belgian artist Herge, the adventures of the fictional character -- with his customary blue sweater, rolled pants and flipped copper hair -- took him and his faithful dog Snowy across the world, building an image of journalists as do-gooders. The comic-book hero serves as reminder of an era when reporters were portrayed as seekers of the truth, holding those in power to account, instead of being depicted as the enemy of the people, as U.S. President Donald Trump has called them, accusing them of spreading fake news. With more than 250 million copies of Tintin comics sold worldwide -- in multiple languages -- Moulinsart, the exclusive manager of Herges estate, also known as the Herge Foundation, has decided to mark the 90th birthday of the character with a year-long celebration, starting with the young journalists expedition in the former Belgian colony of Congo. Moulinsart announced on Thursday that a digital edition of Tintin in the Congo re-masterised in color will be released via the application Les Aventures de Tintin. The comic is probably one of the most controversial works of Herge, regularly attacked for racism -- including in court -- for its depiction of the natives of the Congo, and banned in the libraries of several countries. Coincidentally on Thursday, the Democratic Republic of Congo announced the first-ever win by an opposition presidential candidate. By Chance For Moulinsart, its pure happenstance -- like with the re-release of Tintins adventure in the former Soviet Union. We started in 2017 with the Soviets, strangely it was the 100th anniversary of the Russian revolution; today is the election in Congo and in two years by chance well have Tintin in America, when Trump is up for re-election, Yves Fevrier, head of digital at Moulinsart, told reporters in Brussels yesterday. Other celebration initiatives include the opening of the first official Tintin store in Shanghai in February, the launch of a collection of Tintins model cars in France and Belgium, a commemorative five-euro coin, a series of documentaries and podcasts and a potential sequel to Steven Spielbergs 2011 3D movie. Incidentally, it took 25 years for Spielberg to convince Moulinsart to film the first one. Even without new material since 1976, Tintin continues to live on in the collective imagination, and Moulinsart plans to keep the journalists image alive, solely based on Herges 24 scenarios. 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Uri Director - Aditya Dhar Cast - Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Yami Gautam, Kriti Kulhari, Rajit Kapoor, Mohit Raina, Swaroop Sampat Rating - 2/5 Rajit Kapur plays the Prime Minister in Uri. Best remembered as truth-seeking sleuth Byomkesh Bakshi in the long-running television serial of the same name, the veteran actor finds a basic, bearded grace and stays understated as he chews thoughtfully on decisions about war and about the mothers of his soldiers. It is this man who signs off on everything, you see. In a movie about a successful military operation released in an election year, this celebration of credit cannot quite be considered coincidental. Little, in fact, is left to chance in debutant director Aditya Dhars film, a slick war feature about a revenge mission that never appears to pose a challenge. There is a combat sequence around every corner they may well have titled it Call Of Desi Duty but the Indian Army are depicted as so valorous and well-prepared that the cartoonishly hook-nosed evil enemy never stands a chance. Watch the Uri trailer here Take Vicky Kaushal, playing gung-ho Major Vihaan Shergill, a well-built jawaan with a perpetually puffed chest, who not only decides strategy, outthinks intelligence agents and leads men into battle, but finds time to engage in one-on-one fighting with terrorists of all stripes. He moves with an oddly fey swing of the hips like a GI Joe action figure who has worn out the rubber-band at his spine yet fights like a heroic wrestler, all brave moves and war cries. His head may be weighed down by traditional genre tropes of ill mothers and widowed sisters, but on his lips are either orders or screams. Paresh Rawal is competent as national security advisor. Meanwhile, Paresh Rawal discusses artillery attacks with the tenderness of a ghazal-loving uncle instructing novice chefs about slow-cooking a leg of lamb. Halke halke badhaate rahiyega, he says about increasing firing across the line of control, playing a character visibly modelled on current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Rawal makes him a canny, cellphone-breaking man of action, one who spots very talented interns and gives them far too much to do, but the reliably fine actor makes it seem natural, even lines like Son, you may have just won us the war. Watch: Raja Sens Movie Review of Uri: The Surgical Strike | Vicky Kaushal | Yami Gautam Uri is a decent looking film though the cinematographer appears to have been told to highlight the lens-flare in every single shot of nighttime combat and while the action is convincing, the proceedings are unmistakably dull. The film doesnt thump its chest as hard as the ones made by JP Dutta, but merely keeping its shirt on doesnt make this an actual movie. There is no tension to be found here, and any attempts to manufacture breathlessness are childish. There is, for instance, a scene involving a Pakistani soldier who captures an Indian drone only to believe its a toy. Uri may be a boring movie but it provides drama by showing the efficacy of the army. While watching Uri, I kept wondering about the point of such a self-congratulatory film. The performances are mostly solid the square jawed Mohit Raina and the lovely Swaroop Sampat stand out and the action looks okay, but this is an uninteresting depiction of a best-case scenario. Then, as the Indian soldiers donned bright green night-vision goggles and strafed expertly outside a terrorist compound, it became clearer. This might be a boring film, but it provides drama simply by showing Indian audiences that our military can be competent. The target is unprepared, outnumbered and out of bullets. The Pakistani police, like our cops throughout the history of Indian cinema, arrive late to the scene. The Indian army, on the other hand, has everything under control. That efficiency may feel fantastical to an Indian audience, and Uri becomes therefore less a feature film and more an advertisement. Fantasies are about wish-fulfilment. Uri made me wish that Rajit Kapur, this soft-spoken man with no resemblance to Vivek Oberoi, was indeed our Prime Minister. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Accidental Prime Minister Director: Vijay Ratnakar Gutte Cast: Anupam Kher, Akshaye Khanna Rating: 1/5 Ive been thinking about a film called Ramgarh Ke Sholay. Made in 1991, it was a tacky, no-budget parody inspired by The Three Amigos, where Amjad Khan, gamely reprising his role as Gabbar Singh from the classic Sholay, was surrounded by various Hindi movie lookalikes from a duplicate Dev Anand to an artificial Anil Kapoor as they tried to save the titular village. Vijay Ratnakar Guttes heavily publicised new film, The Accidental Prime Minister, based on the book by Manmohan Singhs former media advisor Sanjaya Baru, feels rather improbably like that Sholay spoof. All is unsubtle, everyones a lookalike. The barrier to entry, however, is substantially lower than the film that starred professional duplicates. Here if you have a beard, you can play Vir Sanghvi. Have white hair? You can play Naveen Patnaik, chief minister of Odisha. Many of these folks, chosen mostly on the basis of their hairlines, outperform the man in the lead: Anupam Kher who stars as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Raja Sen: The Accidental Prime Minister Review Khers version of Singh speaks like a freshly bitten squeaky-toy, slides inconsistently in and out of a Punjabi accent, and, every now and then, remembers to move his hands jerkily, as if urgently (yet discreetly) trying to dry nail-paint. It is a profoundly, disappointingly silly caricature from a veteran surely capable of better. Accidental? In an attempt to laugh at the subject, Kher portrays him as a slightly mental Prime Minister. He routinely breaks off conversations at his desk, mid-thought, to stand pensively at the window, like it were a teleprompter. (Perhaps it was.) Khers version of Singh speaks like a freshly bitten squeaky-toy. Dr Singh was mocked for his silence, but his staunchest political rivals wouldnt have called him lacking in dignity. Here, in a film where irony dies a million deaths, Kher chides his ally by saying Please dont be overdramatic, and then prances out of the room walking like a marionette. The clumsiness of this performance is thrown into sharper focus when the film set from 2004 to 2014 haphazardly splices in actual news footage featuring Dr Singh, showing us both how far Kher has fallen short, and how unwilling the actor is to let his version of the former PM smile. Kher wreathes his character in a state of constant helplessness, a one-note riff that never lets the character feel alive. An actor would have spent longer preparing. Gutte appears to be trying to make an episode of Yes Minister with a Priyadarshan-style background score, where lines arent allowed to remain dry and every eyebrow is arched with innuendo. There is amateurishness at every bend: shots cut off abruptly, some fade randomly to black, some characters speak without their lips moving at all, and the boom mic makes at least two appearances. The only things in the films favour are the lavish palatial rooms, and the smashing shirts worn by the man playing Singhs aide. The Accidental Prime Minister is made by people in no danger of knowing too much. Akshaye Khanna plays Sanjaya Baru by frequently breaking the fourth-wall and speaking to the audience as if hes letting us in on the joke. It is he who has the films few finely honed lines Its been a while since we had a Prime Minister who didnt have family members in real estate, he smiles but so drunk is Khanna on smugness that it feels like somebody told him, before the shoot, that this film is already a monster success. Hes the most unbearable kind of know-it-all: one who really doesnt see whats going on. Early on, there is a hint of some cleverness afoot. The actor playing Rahul Gandhi speaks to the actress playing Sonia Gandhi in Italian, as if he needs a secret language to communicate with his mother in front of her venomous entourage. This is a film transparently motivated to point out how lethal dynasty politics can be, and comes to us a few months before a general election. The one-sided intent of The Accidental Prime Minister may have appeared more insidious had it felt like an actual motion picture. Instead, we have an apparently political film that borrows its background score occasionally from Kal Ho Na Ho. With all its hamhanded recreations and incessant news-channel roundups, this resembles an episode of Savdhaan India. Akshaye Khanna plays Sanjaya Baru by frequently breaking the fourth-wall and speaking to the audience as if hes letting us in on the joke. Yet what is it warning us about? We are shown a purportedly weak man in power who, nevertheless, believes in facing press conferences without hesitation, tells his advisor not to pass judgement, and declares that his is not a one-issue government. Hmm. It is a film where names like Swaraj and Sibal are muted by the censors, but Dr Singh himself is not known to have voiced any objection. The existence and unimpeded release of this film is one in his win column, and hopefully it will give rise to genuinely powerful and incisive political cinema in this country. As the band strikes Que Sera Sera, it is apparent The Accidental Prime Minister is made by people in no danger of knowing too much. Agitprop, for them, may simply be a way to describe Mona Darling. The opening credits, featuring the words directior assistant, announce as much. This is propaganda by people who cant spell. Interview: Performance of my life: Anupam Kher on The Accidental Prime Minister Disclaimer: One of the films four screenwriters, Mayank Tewari, writer of Newton, is a close personal friend of the critic. Follow @htshowbiz for more Breaking News Updates Would you like to receive our Breaking News updates? Signup today! Calendar Updates Would you like to receive our weekly Calendar updates? Signup today! Deals Updates Would you like to receive Deals updates? Signup today! During the same interview with the newspaper, Beatrice Sampayo Davila, Christopher Davila's mother, said that she believed her grandson was still alive. But on Thursday, McManus alleged that the 65-year-old had been the one who drove Torres to the gas station so that she could pretend to abduct King Jay and dispose of the car seat. In addition, he said, Torres told authorities that Beatrice Davila had disclosed to her that King Jay had been severely injured by the baby's father. Both women now face charges of tampering with evidence. Christopher Davila has also been charged with evidence tampering, McManus said. He had previously been arrested for child endangerment on Saturday, on the grounds that he had left the Dodge's engine running and the doors unlocked while he was in the convenience store. (He was released on bail the next day.) While in jail, he conducted an interview with local news station KSAT in which he argued that authorities should be not be focusing on interrogating him but searching Rodriguez Park, where the Dodge Dart was found hours after he reported the kidnapping. "Since day one, the police have been doing the same thing and they are not getting anywhere," he said. Two people were convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery in Iredell County Superior Court after an attack in November, but they wont spend time in prison. Statesville police said around 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 9, Christine Nichole Eye, 32, and Matthew Martin Alexander, 41, smashed a bottle over a 53-year-old mans head, stabbed him in the back multiple times and stomped his face while he was on the ground. The two were convicted in Iredell County Superior Court on Dec. 19 after entering Alford pleas, meaning they assert their innocence but acknowledge there is enough evidence to convict them. Superior Court Judge Julia Gullett gave both defendants credit for time spent in jail and placed both on supervised probation for 30 months. "Based on the evidence (including conflicting statements by the victim and text messages between the victim and Ms. Eye), this was the most appropriate resolution," District Attorney Sarah Kirkman said. Ken Darty, whose law firm represented both defendants, said he was pleased with the outcome as well. The two had no intent to rob the victim before the altercation occurred, he said. Opponents and supporters of a proposed gun range in Alexander County were piling in to the Alexander Central High School auditorium for a public hearing on the range Thursday night. Ahead of the meeting, some supporters and opponents shared their views on the range. Guy Mundy is a board member of Hands of a Sportsman, an organization that organizes hunts for disabled people, veterans and young people. The gun range to me will be something we can partner with them on like a youth day and teach the kids gun safety, teach them the proper way to use a gun and I think it will be great for the community, Mundy said. Connie Sigmon lives on Teague Town Road near the site of the proposed range. Sigmon said she is opposed to the range because of the noise. I dont want the animals to be scared, Sigmon said. I dont want my grandkids to be scared. More information will be published online tomorrow morning and in the Saturday print edition of the HDR. Kevin Griffin is the City of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Part of the mission of Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the economically poor, especially women, children, and elderly, by supporting social service organizations that have systemic impact and empower those without a voice, said Jane Earnest, executive director of Family Care Center. Our full-time social worker, whose salary will be partially funded by this grant, helps families create and implement a realistic plan for securing income and permanent housing. We are very grateful for the support received from the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation. This financial assistance will have an important impact on our homeless families as they work towards becoming self-sufficient. The overwhelming majority of those who spoke during the public hearing were opposed to the plans. Opponents brought up a range of objections to the project, from harm to property values to lead contamination. The most common concern was noise. Some said the noise would disrupt the tranquility of the area, which was the reason they said they came to the area in the first place. For others, the noise is a health concern. Church Road resident Brenda Hallman told the commission about a traumatic brain injury she suffered that causes her to have seizures if she experiences sensory overload. Hallman said approval of the range would prevent her from enjoying the outdoors on her property. I will have to remove myself from the outside and I will become a prisoner inside my own home, Hallman said before tearfully asking the commission to reject the plans. Several opponents of the plans also added that they were not totally opposed to the idea of a shooting range in the county but did not think the proposed location was a good one. Opponents also made their presence known with red pieces of paper with the word Against printed on them. (JNS)If the West Bank was part of the Hashemite Kingdom up to 1967, how did it suddenly become the Palestinians long-yearned-for homeland which, up until then, they were submissively willing to cede to an alien potentate? Not since the time of Dr. Goebels, head of the Nazi propaganda machine, has there ever been a case in which continual repetition of a lie has born such great fruits... Of all the Palestinian lies, there is no lie greater or more crushing than that which calls for the establishment of a separate Palestinian state in the West Bank.From Palestinian Lies, by former far-left Meretz Education Minister, Professor Amnon Rubinstein, July 30, 1976. As the new elections approach, the Palestinian problem is once again likely to dominate much of the inter- (and intra-) party debate. To demonstrate this, imagine for a moment that the 1967 Six-Day War never took place. Imagine that Israel had not been compelled to launch a preemptive strike in self-defense to thwart the Arabs openly proclaimed aim of total genocide that resulted in it taking over Judea-Samaria, which the Palestinians now contend is their long-yearned for homeland. Then ask yourself: If that war had not occurred, where would Palestine be? After all, but for this war, the West Bank would not have fallen under Israeli administration. Surely then, the Palestinians would have no grievances against the Jewish state and there would be no charges of Israel occupying Palestinian lands and dispossessing the Palestinians from their homeland. Sadly, this is not the case. Charges of occupation of Palestinian land and dispossession of the Palestinians were widespread long before Israel had control of a square inch of the West Bank. Indeed, as early as March 8, 1965, over two years before the Six-Day War, Gamal Abdel Nasser, president of Egypt, proclaimed his bloodcurdling intent: We shall not enter Palestine with its soil covered in sand, we shall enter it with its soil saturated in blood. But what Palestine was he referring to? It certainly was not the West Bank and Gaza, which were under Jordanian and Egyptian rule respectively. It could only be the territory within the pre-1967 borders of Israel. Similarly savage sentiments were expressed by Ahmad Shukeiri, Yasser Arafats predecessor as chairman of the PLO. Indeed, only days prior to the outbreak of the Six-Day War, in a somewhat premature flush of triumph, he crowed: D Day is approaching. The Arabs have waited 19 years for this and will not flinch from the war of liberation... Ominously, he threatened: This is a fight for the homeland; it is either us or the Israelis. Here again, Shukeiris use of the words liberation and homeland is revealing and damning for current Palestinian claims. After all, they clearly did not apply to the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, since both were under Arab rule and certainly not considered the homeland toward which Palestinian liberation efforts were directed. The true significance of these terms emerges with stark clarity from the text of the original version of the Palestinian National Charter formulated in 1964, a full three years before the West Bank fell under Israeli administration. Article 24 stipulates precisely what was not included in the homeland of Palestine and where sovereignty was not sought to be exercised. Indeed, it unequivocally forswears Palestinian claims to any territorial sovereignty over the West Bank in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Gaza. It is difficult to imagine a more authoritative source for exposing as bogus the Palestinian claim that the West Bank and Gaza comprise their ancient homeland. This, of course, creates the remarkably anomalous situation we have today. On the one hand, the Palestinians profess that they are willing to forego all the territory they claimed as their pre-1967 homeland, but on the other, obdurately demand for their post-1967 homeland a completely different territory, which they explicitly excluded from their previous homeland demands. This is not a trivial matter. For a sense of nationalism is driven by a sense of belonging, inextricably associated with geographical sites in the homeland, where great events took place that generated a distinct national historical memory and consequent coherent national identity. But if such nation-generating sites were located in pre-1967 Palestine, what such sites could there possibly be in post-1967 Palestine that could generate a sense of nationhood since the Palestinians themselves conceded that, up to 1967, it did not constitute part of their homeland? Indeed, if the West Bank was part of the Hashemite Kingdom up to 1967, how did it suddenly become the Palestinians long-yearned-for homeland which, up until then, they were so willing to cede submissively to an alien potentate. Clearly then, the aspirations of the Palestinians have nothing to do with their attachment to the land, but everything to do with driving the Jews from any portion of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Indeed, even within the pre-1967 lines, long before todays alleged occupation and settlements were part of the discourse, much less facts on the ground, Israel was condemned as a colonial, fascist, expansionist power. The pre-1967 implication is clear. To remove enduring tension and turmoil in the region, their source (Israel) must be removed. Clearly then, the only conceivable plain English translation for the liberation of the homeland must be the annihilation of Israel. The 1964 Palestinian National Covenant was replaced by a 1968 version, which, in the guise of the liberation of Palestine, continued to advocate the destruction of Israel as a necessary precursor for Mideast peace in blatantly explicit terms. Article 22 states that the liberation of Palestine will destroy the Zionist and imperialist presence and will contribute to the establishment of peace in the Middle East. Any thoughts that this reference was to the post-1967 occupied territories is quickly dispelled by Article 19, which declares: The partition of Palestine in 1947, and the establishment of the state of Israel are entirely illegal, regardless of the passage of time... Article 20 delves even further back into history, to 1917, to deny the validity of Jewish statehood in any portion of the Holy Land: The Balfour Declaration, the Palestine Mandate System, and all that has been based on them are considered null and void. The claims of historic and spiritual ties between Jews and Palestine are not in agreement with the facts of history and the conception of what constitutes statehood. So, going back to our mental experiment and the original question it posed: If the 1967 Six-Day War had never taken place and the West Bank had remained under the rule of the Hashemite Kingdom, where would Palestine be? The inevitable answer would be: Wherever the Jews are... Is it too much to hope that simple truths will determine attitudes in the next election? Martin Sherman is the founder and executive director of the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies. Whenever my wife and I travel overseas we always listen for the sounds of Jewish! Our latest adventure began on the Friday before Christmas when we boarded a cruise ship destined for the Southeast Carribean Sea. Since the cruise began a few days before Christmas, and Chanukah had already passed, we were not sure if the passenger manifest would contain a significant number of Jewish people to create a meaningful Shabbat service on board our cruise ship. Compounding our uncertainty, the ship was scheduled to depart late Friday afternoon, only an hour after boarding was completed. The time for Shabbat candle-lighting quickly was approaching and most passengers were not quite settled in their cabins or recovered from their long journeys from their distant homes to our port of embarkation in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. As soon as my wife and I were processed and aboard ship we checked the ships Daily Planner and were pleased to see that it already contained information for the time and location on the ship for Shabbat services. Our hope was that enough Jewish passengers would check the Daily Planner and be interested and organized enough to attend before the first seating for dinner. Happily and much to our surprise, when my wife and I arrived at the large meeting room designated for the services, we were met by a roomful of Jewish people from all over the U.S. and from many countries around the world including Jews from Mexico, Argentina, U.K., South Africa and Israel. It turned out that there were more attendees than there were prayer books (which were provided by the ship, along with challahs and wine for Kiddush). Everyone shared their prayer books. What made the service even more meaningful was that no denominational identity was required or requested. It was purely and simply, a pluralistic service of Jews coming together to celebrate Shabbat on the high seas. The services were led by a very knowledgeable self-appointed female congregant accompanied by a more traditional congregant who sang the prayers in Hebrew using traditional melodies, joined by most of the congregants despite their respective religious backgrounds. Later that evening we bumped into several of the more traditional members of the tribe, who indicated they were also trying to put together a Saturday morning minyon. This was a first for me, since it had been my experience on prior cruises that Jewish cruisers were more apt to attend Friday night services, and less interested in Shabbat morning services which competed with ship-board activities and with land excursions when in ports-of-call. Nonetheless, I was more than happy to lend my support and promised to attend the Shabbat morning service. Unfortunately, when I arrived in the morning, we were still two congregants short of the 10 necessary to conduct a full community service. The prayer books used the previous night were nowhere in sight. Apparently, no one had thought to ask guest services to make the prayer books available for a morning prayer service. I took it upon myself to see if I could recover the prayer books for the morning service. In my search for a member of the crew, I opened a door to another area of the ship. I never found a crew member or the prayer books, but I did find an individual Jew, decked in tallis and siddur sitting alone and praying. He had been unable to find the room where services were held the night before; and he was unaware of his co-religionists praying nearby. Telling him we had an almost minyon in the other room I invited him to join the others to which he happily agreed. I never found the prayer books, but as he followed me into the room where the others were praying, I exclaimed, I didnt find the prayer books, but better yet, I found another Jew! If you wish to comment or respond you can reach me at melpearlman322@gmail.com. Please do so in a rational, thoughtful, respectful and civil manner. Shabbat Shalom and Happy New Year! Mel Pearlman holds B.S. & M.S. degrees in physics as well as a J.D. degree and initially came to Florida in 1966 to work on the Gemini and Apollo space programs. He has practiced law in Central Florida since 1972. He has served as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando; was a charter board member, first Vice President and pro-bono legal counsel of the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida, as well as holding many other community leadership positions. (JNS)Imagine that you are a Jewish doctor in a Nazi concentration camp. About 100 of your fellow inmates suffer from diabetes, and you only have a limited supply of insulin, with no guarantee of more on the way. Do you give each patient the same amount regardless of individual need, knowing that all of them will likely die within a month? Or do you reserve your supply for those with a greater chance of survival, meaning that those with severe diabetes will die much sooner as a result? Or imagine that you are the Greek Jewish teenager from Salonika whos picked up enough German from polishing the boots of the Nazi officers occupying your city that when you are eventually deported to Auschwitz, your linguistic abilities land you a low-level clerical job, instead of a spot in the gas chamber. In the camp administrative office, you have access to the index-card system that assigns each prisoner to a different slave-labor brigademost of which involves punishing physical work in the freezing outdoors, with the risk of frostbite, pneumonia, beatings or even execution for those deemed by the guards to be slacking off. One of your fellow prisoners, who is near death, begs you to sneak his card into the box of a different brigade, one with lighter duties. As long as your Nazi overlords dont catch you, its in your power to do that. But if you decide to help your friend, then you have to switch his card out with that of another person from the same brigade, and then that person spends his or her days facing snow, ice and death from starvation. What do you do? And, come to think of it, how on earth did you end up in this position? The above documented examples are what many Holocaust scholars and educators like to describe as choiceless choicesappalling moral dilemmas faced by a people that were systematically dehumanized by the Nazi regime, and who knew that they faced death at any second. They formed part of an intense, enriching four days that I spent with a small group of other writers and journalists at Yad Vashem. We were there to study and discuss many aspects of the Holocaust but we did so from a starting point that the way we teach younger generations about the Nazi attempt to destroy the Jews of Europe and North Africa is changing radically. Holocaust survivors have all reached advanced ages. There wont be any in-person testimonies to listen to within a few years (even if we are left with their accounts captured on video, holograms or other forms of visual reproduction.) Since 1945, countless other genocides have wreaked havoc in the Balkans, much of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, while a few of those that occurred beforethe Herero nation slaughtered by German colonists in southern Africa, the Armenians annihilated by Turkeyto this day remain under-recognized. Is the Holocaust any more important than these other demonstrations of inhumanity in the world? And theres more, much more. In countries like Lithuania and Ukraine, wartime collaborators with the Nazis are now being lionized as anti-Communist heroes. The Israeli government walks along an undignified diplomatic tightrope with these states, having to balance present-day bilateral relations with guardianship of the Holocausts truths. Elsewhere, some Holocaust-commemoration activities are so fixated with a universalist approach that basic facts about the Jewish character of the genocidelike the young diarist Anne Frank having been Jewish, and being deported because she was Jewishare buried in a bid to be meaningful to everyone. Meanwhile, in Western Europe and the United States, social protest movements, like the Yellow Vests in France and the Womens March in America, have been penetrated by Holocaust-deniers, anti-Semitic conspiracy-mongers and advocates of Israels elimination. And thats not to mention those who dont deny the Holocaust, but who do delight in invoking the Nazis as a metaphor for Israeli policies towards the Palestinians or go the whole hog by making fun of it in front of receptive crowds in theaters. In the recent past, perhaps the key Holocaust debate was why the Allied powers did so little to stop it. During our groups exchange with Avner Shalev, the chair of Yad Vashem who pioneered its renewal over the last two decades, he related the story of guiding President George W. Bush around the institutes impressive museum. When they reached the exhibit about President Franklin D. Roosevelts response to the Holocaust, Bush turned to his then national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and asked: Why didnt FDR bomb the camps? He should have. But that burning question has been superseded by an even more vexing one: Why should we seek to educate about the Holocaust in a world where the phrase Never Again sounds farcical to many people? There are many answers, and to my mind, there are three key ones. First, there are still some survivors of the Holocaust. I think specifically of a man named Albert de Leeuw and 150 other former child laborers in the Amsterdam ghetto, who have still not received proper compensation from the German government, and who continue fighting for that recognition in the twilight of their lives. To abandon them now would be shameful. Second, however much people believe politics has changed with the rise of populism on left and right in the last several years, the Holocaust remains a truly foundational moment of our era and the source of many of the international institutions that, for good or ill, manage international relations today. Look back and you will see that the Holocaust changed a good deal more than we realizefor example, how we look at art and music, or our relationship with technology and our agonizing about inclusiveness in our society. As we prepare to mark the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, expect much more reflection on all that. Thirdly, if we are to teach our children the basic facts of the Holocaust, they can be boiled down like this: Six million Jews died because they were dehumanized for being Jews. Many of them resisted, in a variety of ways. And far too many were faced with the choiceless choices that symbolize the reality of the Holocaust. Ben Cohen writes a weekly column for JNS on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His writings have been published in Commentary, the New York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications. (JNS)In 2019, a team of Israelis will make history when an unmanned spacecraft they built will launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., destined for the moon. SpaceIL, an Israeli nonprofit organization, has teamed up with defense giant Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to build the spacecraft. When it touches down on the lunar surface, Israel will join an exclusive club consisting of the United States, Russia and China, which have sent spacecraft to Earths nearest neighbor. This is a major source of pride, Ofer Doron, general manager of IAIs Space Division, told JNS. If the small State of Israel can do this through a civilian mission, then the sky and space are not the limit. Israeli children can dream about reaching the moon and taking on the next challenge. This is a story of initiative and Israeli daring, which allows us to do the unbelievable. Its a highly complex technological mission, with many challenges, he added. The story of Israels journey to the moon began in 2010, when Google announced its Lunar Xprize for the first team that would land a spacecraft on the moon. The contest spurred three young engineersYariv Bash, Kfir Damari and former IAI employee Yonatan Winetraubto build, launch and land an unmanned lunar spacecraft, and founded SpaceIL. SpaceILs other stated goal is to inspire the next generation in Israel and around the world to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The NGO then attracted a $100 million donation by Morris Kahn, a philanthropist and businessman, as well as donations by Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, and others. Israels Science and Technology Ministry contributed 7.5 million shekels (nearly $2 million) to the project. SpaceILs educational programs have reached approximately a million Israeli pupils so far. At the same time, engineers from IAI and SpaceIL got to work building the spacecraft at IAIs Space Division. Infrastructure and technological know-how are needed for this project, said Doron. The unique cooperation between a startup NGO, whose business model is based on donations, and a large defense corporation enabled the project to literally take off. Once on the moon, it will conduct scientific experiments No team that entered Googles competition managed to get a spacecraft to the moon in time for the deadline, but that has not stopped the Israeli initiative. The Israeli craft is due to launch in the first quarter of 2019 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to an altitude of 60,000 kilometers. From there, it will enter a series of widening orbits, which will land it on the moons Sea of Tranquility region after two months. We have calculated the precise route that will take it on a lunar orbit, said Doron. Once on the moon, it will conduct scientific missions with the Weizmann Institute of Science [based in Rehovot, Israel], checking the moons magnetic fields. The lunar spacecraft has also recently been fitted with a laser reflector that will allow NASA to have a precise reference point on the moon. We think it will be active for a few days, before intense heat overcomes it, said Doron. But the spacecraft will also have a more enduring mission after being fitted with a time capsule that will remain on the lunar surface indefinitely. It consists of three discs, each containing hundreds of digital files, including national symbols, like Israels Declaration of Independence, the Bible, Israels national anthem and the Israeli flag. It will also contain cultural objects such as paintings, collected over many years from the public for sending to the moon; dictionaries in 27 languages and encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia, to reflect knowledge accumulated by all of humanity thus far, Israeli songs, the Wayfarers Prayer and photographs of Israeli landscapes. With no plans to return to Earth, the spacecraft and information within the time capsules disks will possibly be found and distributed by future generations, said IAI. This is another step on our way to the moon, said Ido Anteby, CEO of SpaceIL. Inserting the disks into the spacecraft, which is a real time capsule, indicates the spacecrafts readiness to blast off from the launch site in a few weeks. SpaceILs crews and IAI have completed testing of the spacecraft and its systems, and are preparing for the beginning of the amazing and complex journey that exemplifies innovation, creativity and courage. Yonatan Winetraub, one of three SpaceIL founders, placed the time capsule into the spacecraft on Dec. 18. This is a very emotional moment. We do not know how long the spacecraft and the time capsule will remain on the moon, he said. It is very possible that future generations will find this information and want to learn more about this historic moment. The spacecraft, which weighs only 600 kilograms, will be the smallest to land on the moon. Most of this weight is fuel, and it will number only 150 kilograms when it lands. Its maximum speed will exceed 36,000 kilometers an hour. Doron concluded that ultimately, this is a badge of honor for Israels space capabilities. (JTA)Earlier this week, NASAs New Horizons spacecraft flew by what it says is the most distant object ever explored by a spacecraft. But calling the trans-Neptunian object by its official designation of 2014 MU69 was cumbersome and boring for NASA scientists, who considered some 34,000 names as part of a public competition in 2017. Ultima Thule, a name that was nominated by 40 people, won the public poll. It comes from classical and medieval literature and means any distant place located beyond the borders of the known world. NASA apparently did not realize that Ultima Thule [pronounced TOO-leh) was a term used by the forerunners of the Nazi Party and is still used by some extreme right groups as part of their own mythology. Newsweek first made the connection in a March article. In Germany, extreme right occultists believed in a historical Thule, also called Hyperborea, as the ancient homeland of the Aryan race. The Thule Society, founded in 1918 around this and other occultist beliefs, later became the Nazi Party. Mark Showalter, a planetary astronomer at the SETI Institute and investigator on the New Horizons mission who led the naming contest, told Newsweek that Ultima Thule has a long history and that Nazism is not the first thing that people associate with the term, which he admits he never heard until the naming contest. The primary association of Thule and Ultima Thule are with travel and exotic places and cold placesits associated with travel gear, its associated often with distant places in Greenland, he told Newsweek. Beyond the limits of the known worldthats such a beautiful metaphor for what were doing this year. Twitters ambivalence about the name was captured in a tweet by Jacob Aron, a deputy news editor for New Scientist magazine and the grandson of Holocaust survivors. I had no idea Ultima Thule had Nazi connotations, he wrote. On the one hand, it has a clear, non-Nazi historical meaning, similar to terra incognita. On the other hand, it would be nice to go more than one day in 2019 without thinking about Nazis. At least two bandsin Estonia and in Swedenare named Ultima Thule, and four albums by European bands have the name, too. It is the name of a poetry collection by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and a short story by Vladimir Nabokov. There is a town in Arkansas called Ultima Thule and a creek in Australia. After New Horizons has had a chance to get closer to the object, to determine more about its characteristics, NASA scientists will decide on a permanent name. It must be approved by the International Astronomical Union, which oversees all names in space. Ultima Thule reportedly does not fit the unions criteria. (JNS)-Republican Rep. Russ Fulcher, 56, defeated Democratic nominee Cristina McNeil in Idaho's 1st Congressional District in the 2018 midterm elections to replace Republican Rep. Raul Labrador, who unsuccessfully ran for governor of the state. JNS talked with Fulcher by phone. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Q: What is your overall stance on the U.S.-Israel relationship? A: I get that America and Israel have a very unique relationship based on shared cultural-religious histories. Most importantly, there's common values that our nations share: freedom, liberty, democracy. I've been there on numerous fronts, and I don't think that America has a more important ally. Certainly, when you consider the volatility in the Middle East-and the situation that Israel is in and the value that Israel brings to America in terms of intelligence-gathering and overall support for that region-I think they're an incredibly important ally. I will continue to stand in support of positive American-Israeli relations. Q: When were you last there? A: It's been several years. I used to be in the technology industry, and I work for a memory component manufacturer, Micron Technology, which is one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world. We had some technical partners in Israel, and I know Intel has a large facility there. I've also been on a biblical tour through the region. Q: Do you mind elaborating on the biblical tour? A: I'm an evangelical Christian, so part of my interest on that front is to be able to see and understand better the history firsthand, and the role that the nation has played in history, in my faith, and something that is a personal interest as well. Q: What's your reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that troops will leave Syria? A: I don't know the ramifications of that. If you give me a little time after being sworn in, where I can understand some of the deep ramifications, then I'd be better equipped to answer that question. I would like to hear what Israel's response is to that, and that will tell me a lot. Q: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he talked to Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Netanyahu said that it's "America's decision." A: Sounds like a tentative response there. I simply don't know the ramifications of [a withdrawal]. Q: What's your reaction to some of the anti-Israel verbiage coming from fellow new Democrats Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? A: I never fully understood the whole reason behind anti-Semitism. It's clearly been a factor throughout the course of history, but why are the Jewish people being singled out on that front? Anytime that takes place, frankly, it just needs to be stopped, and by the way, that's not just unique to the Jewish people. If someone has a bias or discrimination against anyone, I think it's dangerous. The fact that it has manifested itself over time to be more prolific with the Jewish people is something I don't fully understand. There's just no room for that in society. Q: What is your stance on the 2015 Iran deal and overall Iranian threat? A: The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action should've been sent to the Senate as a treaty, not an agreement. There's a couple of problems [with the deal] that stand out. The first thing is that it tolerates Iran's long-term desire for a nuclear weapon. They've proven they're not responsible on that front, and I don't think it's in anyone's best interest for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. The other thing is it does nothing to curb Iran's aggressive behavior. We know that many of the security issues that America has faced have come from that region, and the JCPOA doesn't really do anything to thwart that. From the perspective I got, it appears to be a bad deal. Q: What is your stance on BDS? A: It not only is harmful to the State of Israel, but I think it's also harmful to innocent Palestinians because it has a negative impact on economic activity and some of the employment opportunities for the Palestinian people. It's backfired on what its initial intent was to be. It's not a good effect. Q: What are your thoughts on funding for Israel's military, especially in the aftermath of the latest conflicts against Hamas and Hezbollah? A: You're talking to someone who hasn't been sworn in yet, so understand the perspective I'm coming at you from. I'm not normally a huge supporter of a lot of exporting of money. However, in the case of security assistance-and that's what this would be-that the U.S. sends to Israel, you can make a strong case that more funds come back as a result of what goes out in the first place. That's a function of intelligence and the benefit that has come as a function of that. Q: What is your stance on U.S. funding for the Palestinian Authority? A: The situation with the Palestinian people, quite frankly, I'm a little less familiar with. However, if there's going to be peace in that region, everybody-and in this case, especially the Palestinians-needs to identify and at least acknowledge Israel's right to exist. They really haven't done that. We should be supportive of everyone, but at least from the vantage point I have right now, that's kind of the catalyst for the unrest ultimately. I don't know that it's as reasonable to reward that behavior. Q: Are you familiar with the Taylor Force Act and the P.A.'s "pay to slay" program? A: Only by name, not the details. Q: Do you support U.S. funding that goes toward Palestinian security forces that work with Israel? A: I can't comment. I don't know enough about it. Q: What was your reaction to the U.S. embassy moving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? A: Good move. Q: Do you mind elaborating? A: That was something, I believe, that enhances Israel's identity on that front and America's commitment to Israel. This has been something a number of administrations over the course of time had said or wanted to do, and the current administration did it. That was advantageous to the leadership in Israel. Q: What is your response to those who said that moving the embassy doesn't advance the cause of peace? A: I'm sure you can make that case in more directions than one. From what I understand, that was something that was desired by the Israeli leadership, which is our primary partner, and I for one would tend to be sympathetic to their counsel as opposed to naysayers. Q: What is your reaction to national and international anti-Semitism? A: I'm not supportive of it anywhere. As I mentioned earlier, I never really fully understood why it continues to raise its head. Look at it this way: If Jewish people can be threatened, if they can be discriminated against and be targeted, so can any other body of people. There's just not room for that, and we shouldn't stand for that; we shouldn't allow that to transpire. We should use at least whatever influence we have to discourage it. Q: Are you familiar with reports of young evangelicals being targeted by anti-Israel, anti-Semitic propaganda? A: Yeah, and evangelicals in general. That's part of the discriminatory movement. I guess I'm not as intelligent as a historian I need to be, but to me, those have to be rooted in motivations that are simply not healthy. Everyone should take offense to that. Everyone should be alarmed when those types of things take place. If not, anyone can be a target. That's just not good for society. Q: How do we stop that hatred? A: You attempt to find the root, and you don't reward [negative] behavior. If there is support, whether that be through foreign aid or positive trade relations, you discourage it. Easier said than done, but in terms of a policy perspective, it needs to be discouraged. Q: Do you have any specific plans in Congress regarding the U.S.-Israel relationship, such as introducing relevant legislation? A: There's going to be ongoing efforts that are promoted by AIPAC, by different organizations that are supportive on that front. Once I'm sworn in, once I get an opportunity to get more intelligence on the specifics of what's going on, I think it will be more clear the pathway I need to take. Before I jump in and try to launch legislation independently, I need to be more educated. I need to understand the efforts that are underway now and potentially try to aid on that front. If it turns out there is a gap that needs to closed or something that needs to be done, then I'm not shy about being the one to steer those types of things. Q: Do you plan on going on AIPAC's annual trip to Israel for legislators in the summer? A: I'd like to. I don't know any details. Some colleagues have mentioned that there is potentially going to be one. Assuming that the ethics issues aren't breached or anything like that, then I would say that's a high probability. Q: Are you familiar with the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act? A: No. Q: Is there anything else our readers should know about you? A: Upon taking office and being a member of Congress, I anticipate being an outspoken proponent of positive relations between the U.S. and Israel, and I say that for the reasons you and I have already talked about. For one thing, we don't have a stronger ally in the region, and I believe the result of that alliance, in part, has been that America has suffered less in the areas of terrorism and being a target on the terrorist stage. Israel is a postage stamp in the middle of a lot of conflict with a lot of people who want to take them out. That, in and of itself, should be a red flag to people. It's not like they've got massive natural resources that are coveted. It's something more than that, and that is problematic. This is our Middle East ally, this is one we need to stand with, and I anticipate that as I get more educated and engaged, then I'll be more outspoken and active in that effort. WASHINGTON (JTA)Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., reintroduced pro-Israel legislation that did not get passed in the last Congress. Rubio, together with Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, on Thursday, the first day of the new Congress, combined a number of Middle East-related bills into a single bill, jump-starting the process. First item the Senate will take up in the new Congress will be our bill to deal with the crisis in #Syria & support our allies in the Middle East, Rubio said on Twitter. Among the items is the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act, named for the Republican Florida congresswoman who just retired and who tried to shepherd the bill through the last Congress. The bill would codify the 2016 deal between the Obama administration and the Netanyahu government that guarantees Israel $38 billion in security assistance over 10 years, protecting the assistance from the whims of any current or future president. Ros-Lehtinen garnered massive bipartisan support and got the bill through the House. Allies led by Rubio secured a majority in the Senate, but Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who opposes foreign aid, used the senators prerogative to block it. Groovy! Ros-Lehtinen said Thursday on Twitter when JTA posted the news. Im no longer in Congress but my bills live on! Also included in the Rubio bill is a version of a bill that languished in the last Congress that would establish federal legal protections for states passing laws divesting pension funds from groups that boycott Israel. That section of Rubios bill is called The Combating BDS Act of 2019, referring to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. It is separate from a more controversial anti-BDS bill that also failed to make the cut in the last Congress that would have established criminal fines for joining Israel boycotts. A number of Democrats shied away from that bill, citing free speech concerns, inhibiting its advancement in Congress. Its authors, Sens. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, have indicated they would make another try this Congress. Rubios bill also includes sections that would enhance Syria sanctions and reaffirm a defense alliance with Jordan. Separately, in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., reintroduced legislation that would set a 90-day deadline for the administration to name an international anti-Semitism monitor. That has bipartisan backing. Jewish groups and lawmakers have decried President Donald Trumps failure to fill the position left vacant since he took office. The position that is congressionally mandated under a 2004 law, also authored by Smith. Now is the time to fill this position and provide all the support necessary to carry out this all-important mission, Smith said in a statement. The eyes of the world are looking to us to be the leader in the fight against anti-Semitism. Rep. Hank Johnson speaks to members of the 642d Regional Support Group attending a cake cutting Ceremony, Decatur, Ga., Apr. 8, 2017. The cake cutting ceremony was held to honor and celebrate the Army Reserve's 109th Birthday. (JNS)-Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) compared U.S. President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler this week during a sermon he delivered at Atlanta's Friendship Baptist Church. "The Jewish people know a thing about tyranny," said Johnson at the Atlanta NAACP event to commemorate the 156th anniversary of the implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation, which ended slavery in the South during the Civil War. "Hitler did not start the Nazi Party, but he took over the party with charisma and leadership. The Nazis and Hitler became synonymous," he continued. "Much like how Hitler took over the Nazi party, Trump has taken over the Republican Party. It's now known as the Trump Republican Party." "Americans, particularly black Americans, can't afford to make that same mistake about the harm that could be done by a man named Hitler or a man named Trump," he added. Johnson, who has compared Jews to "termites" in the past, bashed the president's supporters. "Americans elected an authoritarian, an anti-immigrant, racist strongman to the nation's highest office," he said. "Donald Trump and his 'Make America Great Again' followers, who want to return America back to a time where white men and white privilege were unchallenged, and where minorities and women were in their place. These folks now control the highest office in the land." "Donald Trump's supporters are older, less educated, less prosperous, and they are dying early," he added. "Their lifespans are decreasing, and many are dying from alcoholism, drug overdoses, liver disease or simply a broken heart caused by economic despair." Johnson expressed no regrets after comparing Trump to the one responsible for the deaths of 11 million people-6 million of whom were Jews. "I wanted to make the point that our democracy is under severe threat, that freedom is threatened, and that if we are not vigilant we can allow tyranny to set in," he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I made the point that this threat to democracy is a trend across the world, and we can't let this happen in our country." 'Unconscionable and uncalled for' Jewish scholars and organizations criticized Johnson for his remarks. "Way over the top," Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt told JNS. The Emory University professor pointed to her June 2018 piece in The Atlantic, warning about comparing Trump's family-separation policy at the U.S.-Mexico border to the Holocaust: "Using historically invalid analogies gives those responsible for these outrages a chance to wriggle out from the avalanche of justified attacks on their policies. It gives them the opportunity to shift the conversation to the appropriateness of the comparison and the precision of the parallel." "Congressman Johnson is an embarrassment to the people of Georgia and a master of offensive remarks," said Republican Jewish Coalition executive director Matt Brooks in a statement. "[He] continues to demonstrate his defective understanding of reality with his latest outburst. His remarks about President Trump are unconscionable," he added. "The fact that Johnson serves on the Judiciary Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee-and may be a judiciary subcommittee chairman in the new Congress-is mind-boggling." The Anti-Defamation League responded tepidly in a statement: "We appreciate Rep. Johnson's strong stance against anti-Semitism and his focus on the need to treat all people with dignity. As we've said before, we believe all people must be extremely careful in drawing comparisons to the Holocaust or the Nazi regime in whatever context. The lesson that should be reinforced from that dark time is that all good people need to speak out clearly and quickly when morally abhorrent actions are taken by those in power against any group." However, Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center did not mince words. "Dealing with a seasoned politician" like Johnson, Cooper told JNS, making these remarks in a church makes it "all the more concerning" and is a "way to get media attention" that "comes with a price." "Tying up an emotional package," he said, the comparison was "unconscionable and uncalled for." (JNS) Honduras will be moving ahead with plans to open its Israel embassy in Jerusalem, and Israel is in talks to open its Honduran embassy in Tegucigalpa, following a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo on Tuesday. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the inauguration of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. According to reports, Israel will upgrade its Honduran consulate to a full-fledged embassy and provide Honduras help on cyber security, water and agriculture technology, and law-enforcement assistance. Israel will also open its market to Honduran coffee imports. Israel and Honduras agreed to pursue a plan of action, which includes meetings in their three respective capitals, to advance the process of the decision to open embassies in both Tegucigalpa and Jerusalem, according to a joint statement from the three countries released by the U.S. State Department. The U.S., Israel and Honduras are uniting as Strategic Allies, committed to the development and security of their peoples, Hernandez said in a tweet. The alliance will be great results and positively impact the Honduran people. In connection with the meeting, Israel issued a statement noting that Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and Sara Netanyahu, wife of Israels prime minister, discussed the advancement of a Honduran embassy in Jerusalem by phone last month when she was in Guatemala. Guatemala and the United States are currently the only countries whose embassies are in Jerusalem. Brazils new president has also expressed interest in relocating its embassy there. Last year, Honduras was one of just eight countries that opposed a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning President Donald Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. (CNN) Mohamed Kassaf, 32, was in his tent with his four children when a storm hit. The river outside Hoor refugee camp overflowed. Rain and sewage water seeped through the tent's tarpaulin sheets. "The water went from tent to tent. We kept moving from room to room until I couldn't take it anymore. I had the kids sent somewhere else," recalls Kassaf. He spent the night in his bed soaked and waiting for the storm to pass. The water rose to nearly half a meter at many of the Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley this week. Aid workers in the area say that some 600 refugee families were forced to evacuate their homes, braving rain, sleet and strong winds to find shelter. They trudged through sewage water that burst through the drainage system to get to shelter. Rahma Mohammed Ali, 60, is visually impaired and lives in a tent on her own. When the storm that meteorologists called Norma struck on Monday, her neighbors helped her get out. "It was chaotic and completely humiliating. And the smell of the sewage was just deadly," says Ali. The storm covered much of Lebanon's mountains in snow, damaged some of the capital's largest bridges and washed over its seaside towns. In its low-lying areas, such as the Bekaa plains, near-freezing temperatures came with floods. As with every Lebanese winter since the start of the Syrian war in March 2011, Syrian refugees were the hardest hit. The camps speckle the Bekaa plains as well as the Arsal Mountains near the borders with Syria where the tents are blanketed with snow. Storm Norma, aid workers and refugees say, is the worst they endured in years. "We always used to joke that the people of the Bekaa plains were demanding that the government give us a beach," says Meshaal Hammoud, operations manager at the local organization SAWA for Development and Aid. "Well, now the sea has come to us." "This storm was an absolute disaster," says Hammoud, himself a Syrian refugee. Though many of the more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon have lived in the country for the last seven years, their dwellings appear to have been made for a short stay. The tents of the refugee camps are made of tarpaulin and wooden planks. The refugees try to prop up their shelters with extra fabrics and nylon, but little can protect them from extreme weather, a yearly occurrence in Lebanon. "There is a terrible infrastructure where the camps are and because these aren't permanent structures, we face the same issues every year," says SAWA for Development and Aid director Rouba Mhaissen, who has been leading a fundraising effort to help affected refugees. The group raised more than $40,000 on the day the storm hit and helped evacuate more than 20 Syrian refugee camps, providing the evacuees with shelter, food, mattresses and blankets. It is a hard-fought effort to counteract a decrease in aid for Syria's refugees. In May, the United Nations warned of a "critical gap" in funding for Syrian refugees in 2018. Only 18-22% of required funds were met, according to the UN. In Lebanon, 12% of the Syrian refugee aid program was funded in 2018. As Syria's war quietens, aid workers warn, the plight of its refugees endures. "The misery is increasing in the camps, because the aid is decreasing," says Mhaissen. "Even though the war has diminished in intensity, still the refugees can't go back because they have other concerns." Refugees remain concerned about conscription in the Syrian army, the lack of habitation in a country devastated by war, and fear political vengeance against those who sided with Syria's opposition in its fight against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "I've never received less aid than I did this year," says Fatima Saleem al-Khalife, 30, as she cradles her toddler Ahmad. "I have to pay LL100,000 ($66) a month for the land this tent is on ... and I still need to get fabric to cover my house." Ahmad came down with the flu during the storm, and nearly choked on her breast milk because of his nasal congestion, she says. "Wherever you went there was wind and cold and wetness," she says as she gestures at the nylon sheets covering her home. Mohammed Kassaf wears rain boots and wades through the puddles that submerge the floors of his tent. He lays out wooden planks and rocks that visitors ill-equipped for the weather can walk on to stay dry. Sitting on the only bed in the tent, with piles of mattresses wrapped together on a high shelf, he waits out the end of the storm so his children can return. "What did the kids do to deserve this? They ask me when they're coming back to the tent because they were born in the tent," says Kassaf. "They don't know that we are displaced people, refugees living under tarpaulin." "In the summer, the sun burns us, and in the winter, as you have seen, the water floods. We don't know where to go and who's going to receive us." This story was first published on CNN.com, "'The sea has come to us:' Syrian refugees hardest hit in 'worst storm' to hit Lebanon." The Congregation Sinai Sisterhood will host their 10th annual fashion show on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, at Gabbys Banquet & Events Facility in Clermont, Florida. More than 230 women from the Orlando and Central Florida community are expected to attend this major fundraiser event. Doors will open at 10 a.m. for the fashion show and luncheon that will begin at 11 a.m. The Magic of Music Fashion Show will be presented by Janet Carr of Accessories & More. An array of chic and unusual new womens fashions will be modeled on the runway, while all of the clothing and accessories will be available for immediate sale. Numerous door prizes will be given out. Donations from local Lake County and Orlando businesses and professionals have been generous. There will be two grand prizes valued at over $600 each plus two baby grand prizes valued at over $200 each. A variety of valuable gift baskets have been donated by members of the Sisterhood. Special additional raffles include jewelry, artwork and a quilt; all handmade by talented Sisterhood members. There will also be door prizes for many lucky winners. Prizes will be available to all guests by raffle. Fun and whimsical centerpieces featuring Magic & Music created by Caren Weiss will be donated to several childrens organizations in the area. Proceeds will go to assist those in need in our area, while concentrating on women, children, families, education and for Congregation Sinai. Music will be provided by Bob Miller and Bob Simontacchi. Groveland Mayor Evelyn Wilson will be there as an honored guest for this event. Gabbys Banquet & Events facility is located at 699 South Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34711, call 352-394-0768. For tickets and more information about this Fashion Show & Luncheon, contact Karen Mandel at KarenBMandel@GMail.com. The Congregation Sinai Sisterhood will host their annual Tu Bshvat holiday celebration service starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, Jan. 18. Congregation Sinai will host a special Rebbes Table service welcoming Shabbat with a special focus on Tu Bshvat. This open participatory service will be filled with music, special foods and a celebration. Everyone is welcome. Tu Bshvat is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat each year; Tu Bshvat is also called Rosh HaShanah LaIlanot, literally meaning New Year of the Trees. In contemporary Israel, this holiday is celebrated as an ecological awareness day and trees are planted in celebration. Tu Bshvat officially begins at sundown on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. Tu Bshvat is one of four New Years mentioned in the Jewish Mishnah. The 15th of Shevat was marked as the new year for calculating the age of trees for tithing. In ancient days, there was a custom of planting a cedar tree for a baby boy and a cypress tree for a baby girl. As the children grew, they tended the trees, so the trees would grow along with the children. When they married, they often used the tree wood for the poles in their wedding chuppah. This carried the tradition for loving trees from generation to generation in a concrete and loving way. Congregation Sinai has been serving the Jewish Community of Central Florida since 2003. Most Sinai members live in the Clermont, Minneola and Groveland areas. Joe and Lynn Goldovitz provide unique spiritual leadership. This organization serves as a house of prayer, assembly and study in which the spectrum of Jewish expression is cultivated, protected and nurtured. With student education programs for children, adult education, Bible study groups, bar/bat mitzvah study programs and group tours to Israel; they strive to educate adults and children in Judaisms rich heritage with contemporary significance, while sharing Jewish culture, rituals, traditions and values. They hold Shabbat Services every Friday Night with Torah readings as well as ongoing Bible & Bagel Study Workshops and Healing Services. They also hold many very creative service events for every major Jewish Holiday. Sinai has a very active Sisterhood and Mens Club with numerous special events. They also host various womens outreach programs inviting all area churches. Congregation Sinai regularly supplies donations of food and supplies for the local schools as well as food and clothing for Puerto Rican and U.S. Virgin Islands Relief Fund. While the local Jewish Community attends prayer services and special events, they have opened their doors to the entire community, regardless of faith. They hold ongoing food drives for the needy and interfaith activities to promote understanding among our different cultures. They welcome all with open arms and hearts to their services. They provide a warm spiritual environment for observance of Jewish holidays, traditions and celebration of our members life cycle events. For more information about Sinais Friday night Tu Bshvat service and all other holiday services, membership and special events, call 352-243-5353. Email info@congregation-sinai.org. Visit http://www.congregation-sinai.org. Congregation Sinai is located at 1200 West Broad Street, Groveland, FL 34736. Affordable annual memberships are available. (JTA)Israeli police want him to be indicted in three separate corruption cases. Hes embattled from left and right for his attacks on Gaza and his policy in the West Bank. Hes made a point of cozying up to controversial right-wing nationalist leaders, from Brazils Jair Bolsonaro to Hungarys Viktor Orbanand especially to President Donald Trump. Many American Jewish leaders say his policies are driving away Diaspora Jews. And if the upcoming Israeli election were to be held today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would almost definitely win for the fourth time in a row. Probably in a landslide. Why? In a sentence, its because enough Israelis trust him with their security. To his voters, everything else is commentary. They think that if he may have received bribes or played with Israels telecom market to have personal gain, this has nothing to do with the way he confronts Iran or the way he handles things in Syria, said Israeli political journalist Tal Schneider, referring to some of the corruption allegations against Netanyahu. I think in Israel, you win elections on security issues only, she said. Its very easy to speak to peoples fears because in Israel, fears are real. Its in peoples lives on a daily basis. Polls ahead of the April 9 election have Netanyahus Likud party holding a wide lead over a growing group of competitors in the opposition. Likud is slated to win around 30 seats in Israels 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, putting Netanyahu in the best position to form a ruling coalition. His closest opponents would get half that number. Its the security, stupid Netanyahus international criticsthe United Nations, the European Union, the former Obama administration, liberal American Jewish groups, leading liberal newspapershave portrayed him as too aggressive in Gaza, too cavalier with the lives of Palestinian civilians and unwilling to make peace with the Palestinian Authority. Thats not to mention the protests over his policies on African asylum seekers, religious pluralism in Israel or the status of Arab Israelis. But in Israel, polls show that most Jews think Netanyahu is not aggressive enough in Gaza. In November, his defense minister resigned, complaining that Netanyahu was too risk-averse in deploying the military. When it comes to the army, his centrist rivals have only tried to talk tougher than the prime minister. In 2014, following a war in Gaza that saw Israel pilloried in international forums, a left-leaning group of former generals praised Netanyahu for his level-headed leadership. Jewish Israelis tend to see their fighting in Gaza as a necessary response, not a war of choice. On the diplomatic front, both Israelis and Palestinians have despaired of any hope for a peace accord anytime soon. The other topicsfrom minority rights to religious policygenerally dont even register as election issues in Israel. Security is pretty much always the number-one issue for Israeli voters, and it comes before the diplomatic front when Israelis rank their priorities in polls, Lahav Harkov, a senior contributing editor for The Jerusalem Post, wrote to JTA. He keeps the focus on security and his credentials as an expert on that front, as much as possible. Its true that two former Israeli generals, both chiefs of staff, have founded new parties this year specifically aiming to oppose Netanyahu. But so far, neither is attacking Netanyahu directly on security issues. Moshe Yaalon, one of Netanyahus former defense ministers, said his party would represent the good, values-based, clean-handed land of Israel. Benny Gantz, a former general, has only begun to open up about his platform. In a television interview Thursday, he said he would leave several West Bank settlement blocs in place but that an agreement with the Palestinians would bolster Israels security. We need established, ongoing efforts, in light of any challenge, to reach a diplomatic accord, with the understanding that this is part of our resilience, this is part of our security, Gantz told Israels Channel 16. There needs to be a real diplomatic effort, without being suckers and without being irresponsible. A fragmented opposition A chorus of other candidates has also failed to match him at the polls. Yair Lapid, a one-time news anchor and finance minister who leads the centrist Yesh Atid party, has a strong base but hasnt been able to broaden his appeal. The once-robust Labor Party, headed by former telecom executive Avi Gabbay, is mired in the single digits. If anything, the multiplicity of new parties may only help Netanyahu by fragmenting his opponents. The past few elections have seen several new parties spring up, all competing for the same bloc of voters. Meanwhile, the right has remained relatively united around Netanyahus leadership. Netanyahus opponents say the only way to beat him is by joining together. Ehud Barak, Israels most recent left-wing prime minister, said Netanyahu would be defeated only if, in the center-left camp, a bloc comes together. He called for Yaalon, Gantz and several other opposition parties to unite. But only the opposite has happened: A center-left alliance, the Zionist Union, split in dramatic fashion this week. The center-right is competing to lead the state, while the center-left is competing in an internal primary to see who has the most power within its camp, Ovad Yehezkel, a former centrist Israeli government official, wrote on the Israeli news site Ynet. In that sense, the fragmentation of parties helps the center-right win elections. And paradoxically, the center-left rolls out the red carpet to the Prime Ministers office for its rivals. Corruption fatigue Netanyahus main problems of late have been the potential indictments against him and a growing aura of corruption. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (he ended up going to prison) resigned even before police recommended that he be indicted. But that has already happened for Netanyahu and he shows no signs of backing down. He has vowed to remain prime minister even if he is formally charged with a crime. Will that cost him the election? Probably not, Harkov said. Netanyahu frequently demonizes the Israeli press (and, like Trump, often claims that negative articles are fake news). At this point, Harkov said, Israelis are just tired of the back-and-forth. Netanyahus opponents, as well as government watchdogs, have called his decisions dangerous to Israels democracy. But if Israelis are feeling squeamish, it isnt showing in the polls. Theres so much news about Netanyahus investigations that they dont take it seriously anymore, Harkov wrote. Yes, there are corrupt politicians who go to prison, but enough people seem to be willing to shrug the latest things off as just champagne and cigars or point to the incessant leaks to the media as a sign of bias by both the press and the police. Netanyahus last election campaign, in 2015, also was plagued with scandalthough he was not indicted. Leading up to Election Day, it appeared he could lose. But he pulled off a comeback victory, emerging in a stronger position than before. And the longer he stays in power, Schneider said, the more inevitable his victories seem. In Israel, there are no term limits. The people of Israel dont see anyone else in Israel who can do it, she said. With the time passing, hes getting stronger and stronger because when you sit in that chair, youre the incumbent. You can use all the facilities to keep promoting yourself. RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA)-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gained pop star status among Brazilians during a five-day visit to the country to attend the inauguration of the country's new president, Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil's most influential prime time newscasts Jornal Nacional and Fantastico dedicated several minutes to coverage of the first sitting Israeli prime minister to visit Brazil. The warm feelings between Israel's right-wing prime minister and Brazil's most right-wing president in decades played out in public events and social media. They contrasted with the previous 16 years of tension between the two country's under Brazil's left-wing regimes. "This visit is unique, historical, a turnover in the relationship between Israel and Brazil. It's a great start of year 2019," Israel's ambassador to Brazil, Yossi Shelley, told JTA. Rio was the starting point for Netanyahu, his wife Sara and son Yair. After landing, the prime minister headed straight to the Copacabana fort, where he was surprised to be awarded by Bolsonaro the National Order of the Southern Cross, Brazil's highest national honor for high-ranking guests. "We will be starting a difficult government from January. In order to overcome the obstacles, we'll need good allies, good friends, good brothers. Like Benjamin Netanyahu," Bolsonaro said about the only foreign leader he met prior to being sworn in. Bolsonaro also joined Netanyahu at a ceremony Dec. 28 at the Kehilat Yaacov synagogue in the heart of Copacabana, Rio's most heavily Jewish neighborhood. Some 500 members of the local 30,000-strong Jewish community attended the ceremony at he Orthodox synagogue, shouting "mito" (Portuguese for myth or legend) at Bolsonaro, and Netanyahu's nickname, "Bibi." "We can't understand that we had to wait over 70 years for an Israeli prime minister to visit Brazil. It's not just friendship, not a pact of interest, it's also a pact of brothers," Netanyahu said in Hebrew, calling Bolsonaro "yedidi" (my friend) and "mitos." "It is with great honor that today I meet the man that is to me an example of patriotism, austerity and work for his people," Bolsonaro said. "I have always mentioned Israel as an example. Look what they don't have and see what they are. Look at Brazil, look what we have and see what we don't have. We'll be more than just good partners, we'll be brothers." Back at their hotel, the Netanyahus held a private Friday evening Shabbat ceremony, where Freddy Glatt, the 90-year-old president of the Brazilian Association of Holocaust Survivors in Rio, offered the Kiddush blessing. "His visit is very positive to show Brazilians the good things about Israel. Despite the leftist people who are usually harsh on him, he is very nice and surprisingly behaved with simplicity," Glatt told JTA. Like most Cariocas, or Rio natives, the Netanyahus chose the beach to enjoy the 95-degree weather on Saturday morning. While Yair, 27, took a helicopter and went on a yacht ride at a pristine island off Rio, the prime minister and wife took a stroll that drew the attention of locals and tourists. A scene of the pair eating at a seafront restaurant fueled a media spectacle. When someone in the crowd of on-lookers yelled "Free Palestine," Netanyahu immediately added, "from Hamas." On Sunday, the couple was escorted by Rio state governor Wilson Witzel and his wife for a visit to Sugarloaf Mountain, a city landmark. They headed for the Christ the Redeemer statue that tops the mountain, but the prime minister couldn't leave the car for security reasons. At night, the statue was lit up with the blue-and-white colors of the Israeli flag . The Israeli prime minister met with Jewish officials from several Brazilian states. At a press conference, he highlighted Israel's innovation and high technology contributions to the world. "President Bolsonaro said he'll move the embassy to Jerusalem. It's not a matter of if, but when," Netanyahu told the audience about the Brazilian leader's promise during the campaign. "President Trump said the same thing, he moved the embassy. And President Bolsonaro will move the embassy as well." Israel also offered assistance to Brazil in domestic security-a key part of Bolsonaro campaign in the crime-ridden country-including what Haaretz called the sale of drones with facial recognition technology. Bolsonaro's pro-Israel stance during his campaign and Netanyahu's eagerness to embrace the new leader Israel has earned mixed reactions at home. During a briefing with an unnamed "senior Israeli political officer" during the visit, reporters noted that Bolsonaro has denigrated women, the LGBTQ community and minorities. "Netanyahu has his own positions and no one can diminish them, both regarding women and regarding gays," the official replied, according to Haaretz. "He is liberal in these matters, and it's not just political correctness.... But our relations with countries like Brazil is important. We do not have the privilege of hunkering down in our fortress of purity." Later, Netanyahu was joined by Witzel and Rio mayor Marcelo Crivella at a meeting with several evangelical Christian leaders who, fiercely pro-Israel, played a pivotal role in supporting Bolsonaro's election. Brazil has the world's second-largest Christian population and the largest Catholic population. "We have no better friends in the world than the evangelical community, and the evangelical community has no better friend in the world than Israel," Netanyahu said. "You are our brothers and sisters and we protect the rights of Christians." "President Bolsonaro's first name in Hebrew is Yair, which is also the name of our son. It means he who brings light. And I think that we have now an opportunity together to bring a lot of light to the people of Brazil and the people of Israel. This is an alliance of brothers," he added. During the event, the Brazilian state of Amazonas launched a commemorative stamp with a picture of the prime minister on it, also honoring Israel's 70th birthday. New Year's Eve was a day to meet businesspeople who flew to Rio from all corners of Brazil. In the next morning they flew to Brasilia for Bolsonaro's inauguration. "Let's unite the people, value the family, respect the religions and our Jewish-Christian tradition," Brazil's president said during his speech in the Brazilian congress on Jan. 1 after being greeted by the Netanyahus. In the capital city, Netanyahu held separate meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera and the president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, who recently expressed his willingness to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Netanyahu said Bolsonaro has accepted his invitation to visit Israel in March, weeks before Israel is slated to hold national elections. "Until a few months ago Brazil was the unattainable goal of Israeli diplomacy. Overnight, it has turned from hostile to sympathetic," Netayahu said. "This is a partnership that has been meaning to happen, meant to happen, and we're going to make it happen very fast." (JTA)-Alfred Bader, a refugee who escaped Nazi-occupied Vienna as a young teen in 1938, and later became a chemist, businessman, philanthropist for Jewish and other causes, and an influential art collector, has died. Bader's charitable giving established a legacy for Jewish education in Milwaukee, including for its day schools. He died Dec. 23 at his home in the Wisconsin city. He was 94. Bader and his family foundation donated millions of dollars to social, medical and cultural institutions in Milwaukee, along with Queen's University in Ontario, Canada-his alma mater-and institutions in Great Britain and Israel, where his foundation funds research, treatment and care-giving innovations for people with Alzheimer's disease. Bader was born in 1924 in Vienna, the son of a Jewish father and a Catholic mother, from an aristocratic Hungarian family. After his father died when he was 2 weeks old, he was adopted by his father's sister and raised as a Jew. He later converted to Judaism, according to the Journal Sentinel. At 14, he escaped via the Kindertransport to England. In 1940, he was among other war refugees deported to Canada. There he was held for nearly two years at a detention center before he was taken in by Martin Wolff, a Jewish railway engineer in Montreal and a historian of Canadian Jewish life. Wolff welcomed Bader as part of his family and encouraged him to complete his education. Bader's aunt died at the Nazi concentration camp at Theresienstadt. Facing discrimination against Jews in higher education, Bader eventually was accepted at Queen's University and earned dual degrees in chemistry and history. In 1950, on a scholarship, Bader completed his doctorate in organic chemistry at Harvard. A year later, while working as a researcher for Pittsburgh Plate Glass company at their plant in Milwaukee, he co-founded Aldrich Chemical company. It filled a void for researchers who needed a consistent source for hard-to-find, high quality chemical compounds. From the niche market, he built that company and several others into some of the world's largest, according to industry publications. The Jewish Federation of Milwaukee oversees the Helen Bader Scholarship Fund, which provides $500,000 annually to families to expand accessibility for children to attend area day schools, according to the Bader Philanthropy website. The scholarship, which has donated more than $7.5 million since 1992, also established a $10 million day school endowment. The fund is named for Bader's first wife, a convert to Judaism, according to Bader's obituary in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The couple had two sons before divorcing in 1981. Bader then married Isabel Overton, his first love, who he met in 1949 and with whom he has pursued philanthropic giving. In 2009, Bader Philanthropies began supporting Israeli social service organizations and researchers to tackle issues of aging, with a focus on the Jewish state's diverse cultural population, according to the philanthropy website. Among the programs it supports are a collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and programs at Israel's Melabev-Community Clubs for the Elderly. The scope of Bader's philanthropy reflects his lifelong array of interests in science, history and art-subjects he mastered against the odds of the upheaval and challenges of his early life, which he and others have said inspired him to do good and leave a mark. "He had an incredible life," his son Daniel, who oversees Bader Philanthropies, told the Journal Sentinel. "He built an incredible dynasty with his business accomplishments. He has a legacy in three different areas-in art, chemistry and philanthropy." His lifelong devotion to collecting led him from an early interest in stamps to a keen eye and passion for art, notably 17th- century Dutch masters, including Rembrandt. Over decades, the Baders donated hundreds of artworks, including their enviable private collection of Dutch and Flemish Baroque art to the Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queen's University, considered a transformative gift to the museum. The Baders also funded the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, which opened in 2014, and donated a 15th-century castle in England to Queen's University that serves as the school's international learning center. Bader, who wrote two autobiographies, is survived by his wife, two sons and seven grandchildren. (JTA)Georges Loinger, a member of the French Resistance during World War II who saved hundreds of Jewish children from the Nazis, has died. Loinger died on Friday in Paris at the age of 108, Frances Holocaust Memorial Foundation confirmed on its website. Loinger, who was Jewish but looked Aryan with his blonde hair and blue eyes, smuggled at least 350 Jewish children whose parents had been killed or sent to Nazi concentration camps in small groups across the Franco-Swiss border, the French news service AFP reported. The children he saved were in the care of the Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants, or OSE, a Jewish childrens aid society founded in St Petersburg in 1912. He was awarded the Resistance Medal, the Military Cross and the Legion of Honour by France. He was taken prisoner by German armed forces in 1940 while serving with the French army, and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Germany. He was able to escape and return to France where he worked with the OSE, according to AFP. He was a cousin of the mime artist Marcel Marceau, who was a fellow Resistance fighter. In commemoration of International Holocaust Day, on Jan. 27, there will be a presentation by Holly Mandelkern, author of "Beneath White Stars-Holocaust Profiles in Poetry" at the Winter Park Public Library, located at 460 E New England Ave., in Winter Park. The event, a partnership with The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center, will be held from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. On this date in 1945, Soviet troops liberated the concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland. International Holocaust Day pays homage to the memory of the lives lost with an historical tribute, along with poetry, artwork, and lyrical dance. This event is free but enrollment is required. Sign up by calling 407-623-3300, ext. 3. You must have reservation...limited seating. In his new book, We Want Mashgiach NowTales From A Kosher Cop, Allan Lieberman tells whats really going on behind the kitchen doors in the Kosher food service business. Lieberman, a South Florida mashgiach (Kosher Food supervisor) has put together a witty and entertaining account of some of his on-the-job experiences. Always humorous, sometimes irreverent and often educational, each chapter tells the story of incidents that occurred at Kosher restaurants or events and in kitchens of Kosher caterers (names have been withheld to protect the perpetrators). Chefs can be very temperamental and behave badly, states Lieberman. One chapter, called Psycho Chef, tells of such a chef who revels in intimidating others with his 12 butchers knife. His anti-social behavior featured a twisted sense of humor. He found it amusing and couldnt stop chuckling when the mashgiach suffered second degree burns as a result of spilling hot oil on his hand. The author explains that communications in the kitchen can be difficult when English is the second language. Once I asked a Haitian dishwasher to wash the sink which was used for washing and rinsing vegetables so they could be checked for bugs relates Lieberman. Shortly thereafter he returned to find the sink unwashed and the dishwasher sitting in a chair beside it. He thought I asked him to WATCH the sink, not WASH it Lieberman explains. Readers who are unaccustomed to Kosher terminology will learn why many religious Jews will only drink mevushal (cooked) wine and why baked goods must be Pas Yisroel (oven cannot be lit by a non-Jew). A glossary is included which explains all terms. We Want Mashgiach NowTales From A Kosher Cop is available on Amazon.com or can be bought directly at http://www.koshercop.net. Uniontown, PA (15401) Today Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High 73F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 47F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Staff reports The Herald-Mail Lawmakers should get tougher on DUI: What is it going to take for our legislators to develop enough backbone, intestinal fortitude, will, common sense or whatever it is they lack to enact laws that make the first DUI so uncomfortable, expensive and time consuming that a second one would become unthinkable. Perhaps, they need to stand beside the casket of their own loved ones, who were victimized by someone given a third chance to drink and drive. Barbara Wagner, Hagerstown About hush money: I was just wondering, since Nancy Pelosi is back in charge, I guess we can look forward now any day for a list of sex abuse cases and the hush money that was paid out on all these men in the Senate and Congress that we shouldve had before the election. I guess Dianne Feinstein and ... will join in with her, and well finally find out who all paid this hush money out. Well, Ill tell you what, Nancy, I wont hold my breath because you must enjoy whats going on. Bob Keller, Middletown, Md. The wall should be built: Do the people of Hagerstown realize that there are at least 78 countries that have walls built on their borders? So, this situation in California and Mexico is not unique. The wall should be built. I am an immigrant and I came in legally. And I say, yes, the wall needs to be built. People have to be screened before they enter this country or its an invasion. Olga Amatucci, Hagerstown On Sunday alcohol sales: According to an article in the paper a couple weeks ago, someones requesting that Sunday sales of alcohol be started sooner, two hours earlier. And, Im asking, please let the lawmakers know if you object to Sunday sales of alcohol two hours earlier. Jane Taylor, Hagerstown A thank-you to unforgettable caregivers: I wish to thank the people at the Williamsport Retirement Home and Nursing Home. Dr. Rowe and Megan Shifler and everybody who helped my wife, Betty Stine, to survive for four years and three months. A special thanks to the girls on the third floor. God bless you all. I will always remember you. Emmert P. Stine, Williamsport They will only try to take down a duly elected President Trump : I would like to wish every liberal Democrat, President Trump-hater out there a very happy new year. And, yes Mr. Guessford, youre exactly right for the first time in your Feedback comments. I will excoriate that American-hating, illegal alien-loving Pelosi, every chance I get. On Obamacare, you Democrats failed to admit that President Obama took $500 billion out of Medicare for the welfare insurance plan, Obamacare, where hardworking Americans are paying high Obamacare premiums for these lazy Americans and illegal aliens to have health insurance. And for the Republicans not doing zip for eight years, we will see what the power-hungry liberal Democrats will do for the American people nothing. They will only try to take down a duly elected President Trump all because he beat the chosen one, Hillary Clinton. Bill Utterback, Rohrersville Is CNN biased?: Just an observation. On Monday, Dec. 31, Im watching Fox News for two hours and I watched CNN for two hours. Fox News reported the police officer in California being killed by an illegal immigrant with gang affiliations. CNN never mentioned it once on the ticker tape below or during their news report. So, my question is, whether you like President Trump or not, is their news biased? The Herald-Mail even reported that this officer was killed by an illegal immigrant. Bill Middlekauff, Frederick, Md. How the mighty have fallen: Did anyone else, Democrats or Republicans, miss seeing Paul Ryan on TV on Jan. 3, 2019? I read that the former speaker of the House left Washington, D.C., sometime in late December and didnt even have a going away party and not even President Trump or Senator McConnell said goodbye to him. How the mighty have fallen. Daniel Moeller, Rohrersville Mike Lewis mlewis@herald-mail.com HANCOCK Hancock hired a new police chief Wednesday, minutes after its mayor responded to criticism from the man who previously held that job. The town council unanimously elevated Richard Cook from sergeant to chief. Tim Smith, a councilman who also serves on the towns police commission, said Cook has done an outstanding job. Mayor Ralph Salvagno, after the meeting, said he was very, very happy with the move. Cook was promoted from officer to sergeant in October at the recommendation of former chief Rich Miller, who resigned effective that month. At the time, Miller said he was stepping down for personal and family reasons. But this month, in a letter submitted to the Hancock News and shared with town officials, Miller accused the town manager of having a stranglehold on Hancock. Among other issues, Miller wrote that he wound up operating the department while Town Manager David Smith controlled the funds. This policy was questionable but acceptable at the time. Over the course of the year I found myself not being able to manage the police department effectively. On occasions, I was force(d) to follow the direction of the town manager due to the fact that he had control of the money, Miller wrote. Miller also wrote that the budget, solely developed by the town manager, did not include money for replacing an officer who left the force. Salvagno responded by reading a written statement during Wednesdays meeting. Mr. Millers references to policy are actually provisions of the town charter that the mayor and council follow as part of their duties to the citizens of Hancock, Salvagno wrote. Salvagno said the charter stipulates that the town manager is to direct all town departments, including the police. The manager also is to act as clerk-treasurer, preparing the budget and controlling all expenditures to assure that budget appropriations are not exceeded. The current charter was written in 1973 and the wisdom of our predecessors was to provide the opportunity for the police department to focus on protecting the lives and property of our citizens rather than be burdened by administrative work, Salvagno wrote. Salvagno also said a review of the town budgets in recent years clearly documents that the police department has been funded at full staffing. None of the four councilmen spoke on the issue. After the meeting, the town manager declined to comment on Millers letter, as did the new chief. I actually was hired by Rich, Cook said. I want to take the police department and go forward with it. Cook joined the Hancock force in October 2017. He previously worked for the Hagerstown Police Department and the Shepherdstown (W.Va.) Police Department. He also has worked as a certified police canine handler and as a private contractor in Iraq. Don Aines daines@herald-mail.com When a person withdraws their consent during a sexual encounter, no means no, a judge told an 19-year-old Hagerstown man accused of raping a teenager. Kenneth Dominick Burks, 19, of no fixed address, had been charged with second-degree rape in a May incident involving a 17-year-old girl in an apartment on North Potomac Street. The case was resolved Thursday with Burks pleading guilty to second-degree assault. Washington County Circuit Court Judge Daniel P. Dwyer sentenced Burks to 10 years in prison with all but 18 months suspended, which he will serve in the county detention center. Burks was given 196 days credit for time served since his arrest. When a woman withdraws her consent, even in the middle of a sexual act, no means no, Dwyer told Burks. The judge noted that Burks could have gone to trial and been found not guilty by a jury, but could also have been convicted of second-degree rape and faced up to 20 years. This really does come down to the word of the victim against the word of the defendant, Deputy States Attorney Gina Cirincion told the judge. Assistant Public Defender Amy Taylor told Dwyer that the state would have to show that Burks continued sexual intercourse through the use of force or threat of force. The incident happened on May 25 and 26, but the victim did not report it to Hagerstown police until May 28. She provided police with a garment she was wearing that night and submitted to a sexual assault forensics examination, the charging document said. The victim identified Burks by name and cried when she picked his picture from a photo array, the document said. The victim told police she went to a friends apartment, where Burks and another male were, the document said. They walked to Wheaton Park, during which time Burks flirted with her and tried to get her to touch his genitals, the girl told police. Back at the apartment she and Burks began kissing and eventually she consented to having sex with Burks, the document said. Shortly after they began having intercourse the victim began experiencing pain and told Burks approximately 30 times to stop. The victim told police Burks did not assault her, but held her down by the shoulders as he continued to have sex with her, the document said. Burks later had sexual intercourse with her again and she again tried to stop him, but could not, the document said. The victims friend told police she later came into the living room and saw the victim and Burks on the floor, the document said. Burks was asleep and the victim told her friend he raped me, according to the charging document. Burks will be on probation for five years following his release. Dwyer ordered that he undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations and submit to any treatment ordered by probation officers. The Herald-Mail The week between Christmas and New Years, we traveled to Louisiana to spend time with my husbands side of the family. Its a long way to journey in a car, about 17 hours, so we split the driving over two days. These car trips dont seem as long now that our children are grown. Theres not much fussing, and having four drivers is a bonus. We look forward to being with family, catching up with everyone and playing with all the little ones. My husband is the youngest of eight children, so there are a lot of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His brothers and sisters live about halfway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and we try to make it into one of those cities during our annual visit. In Baton Rouge, we have shown the kids our old stomping grounds at Louisiana State University, The Morning Advocate office where I worked in graduate school and the state capitol steps where their father proposed to me. In New Orleans, we have toured a Mardi Gras museum and taken a dinner cruise on the Mississippi. We have explored the French Quarter, but the kids didnt remember much from that experience, so we decided to visit there again. It was the morning of New Years Eve, and I thought it would be great to have some cafe au lait (half hot coffee and half hot milk) and beignets (fried fritters, covered with powdered sugar) at Cafe du Monde, the French Market coffee stand that has been a mainstay in the city since 1862. Apparently, everyone in the city that day thought Cafe du Monde (French for coffee of the world) would be a wonderful first stop. The line when we arrived was about a block long, which made a great Snapchat for my oldest to send to his girlfriend. Look how popular these little doughnuts are We moved on and decided to find some Cajun or Creole food later for lunch. While we had debated earlier whether to attend a show or tour a museum or take a riverboat cruise, we ultimately decided that the sights of the city would suffice for the new year. In the French Quarter, street performers are numerous and varied. Human statues painted in gold or silver adorn the pedestrian pathways. We saw one that was so authentic we didnt realize he was a real person until we noticed his abdomen slightly rising and falling as he breathed. Some of the performers stay in statue mode until change is tossed in their collection containers. When that occurs, a statue will bow or nod or perform a special movement. When my daughter placed some coins in one performers container, the woman took a slight bow, opened her purse and handed my daughter a slip of paper which contained an inspirational message. There was a magician performing amazing sleight-of-hand tricks. When the magicians show ended, a group of guys hanging out on and around a bench casually picked up some instruments and broke into a rousing version of When the Saints Go Marching In, almost as if it was timed to begin when the previous performer was done. At the waterfront, we saw the ferry, and my mother-in-law shared with my children how she rode the ferry when she was living and working in New Orleans, just out of high school. One night she was at a dance and met the man who would become their future grandpa. The downtown hotels are worth a walk-through. The Ritz-Carlton featured a trolley car turned into a gingerbread house, and The Roosevelt New Orleans Winter Wonderland consisted of thousands of glittering lights. The displays were quite amazing. Later, we found a restaurant that was featuring fried catfish and white beans and rice. We stopped, of course, and savored every bite. To others, our day in the city might have seemed unplanned, unstructured and unconventional. Thats okay. We have no problem with those who buy tickets, make reservations and have a set schedule on vacation. We had a great time just being together and exploring. It was a wonderful, relaxing way to spend our last day before returning to our Western Maryland home, 17 hours away. Lisa Tedrick Prejean writes a weekly column for The Herald-Mails Family page. Send email to her at lprejean@ herald-mail.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lisa Prejean. Provo, UT (84601) Today A few passing clouds. Low 64F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 64F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. BRISTOL, Tenn. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation fined the owner of the former Raytheon building $492,048 on Tuesday, for hundreds of thousands of tires that are stored on the site without a permit. An order and assessment from Shari Meghreblian, commissioner of TDEC, issued on Jan. 8 orders Cox and his company, RRI VT Bristol LLC, to immediately stop disposing of any solid waste on the property and that he pay the fine plus $2,187.50 in damages incurred by TDECs Division of Solid Waste Management within 31 days. He must also remove at least 33,333 tires from the site for disposal at a proper facility within 30 days, and then continue to remove at least an additional 33,333 tires every 30 days. Over a year, all tires must be removed. If Cox continues to add more solid waste, whether its tires, wooden pallets or anything else or fails to meet the removal quotas he could face further action, include TDEC cleaning up the site and sending Cox the bill. Cox told the Bristol Herald Courier on Thursday that his company is looking into options. The company has several avenues of compliance and is assessing all of the different avenues to determine with the legal system, what is best to do to move forward, Cox said. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} After traveling a short distance, Georgia authorities said the vehicle stopped in the middle lane of the interstate in Catoosa County. Occupants inside the vehicle were being held at gunpoint while police ordered the driver to exit, authorities said. Georgia State Patrol said the driver was observed to have a gun in his lap and refused to follow commands. As the situation progressed, a trooper observed that both passengers were females, one being a child, Georgia State Patrol said. Neither of the passengers appeared to be a threat. The trooper also observed a possible crossfire situation which would endanger the passengers and officers on scene. The trooper was eventually able to remove the driver from the vehicle, and he was placed in custody. The suspect's daughter and wife were the passengers in the vehicle and the subjects of the kidnapping, Georgia State Patrol said. Deel had been armed with two firearms, trooper said. Myzall said the mans wife and daughter were taken to a safe place by Georgia law enforcement officials. She added that Chattanooga Police have warrants for Deel charging him with felony evading arrest, two counts of felony reckless endangerment and theft over $1,000. BRISTOL, Va. Police in Bristol, Virginia, on Thursday were processing more than a dozen weapons, illegal narcotics and cash they found while serving warrants at a city residence. Sgt. Dave Slagle said officers from the vice and narcotics unit, as well as the SWAT Team, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virginia State Police executed a search warrant Wednesday evening at a home on Second Street. Earl Harold McCoy Jr., 43, faces multiple drug and weapons charges after police said they found illegal narcotics, firearms and cash in the home. Slagle said officers from multiple agencies had been investigating the residence for some time after receiving information that illegal narcotics might be present. While executing the warrant, the SWAT Team and Virginia State Polices tactical team used various tactics, including flash bang stun grenades, to enter the residence. Inside, officers said they found an ounce of methamphetamine, with a street value of $2,800, and a half-ounce of heroin, with a street value of $1,500. The officers also found three loaded pistols and an AK-47 type of pistol, Slagle said. Several pieces of drug paraphernalia, including plastic bags and smoking devices, were also found in the home. Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email customercare@heraldandnews.com for help creating one. Dr Kevin Kelleher has urged parents of babies to avail of the free meningitis vaccines if they are eligible Thousands of parents whose young children missed out on free meningitis vaccines will have to pay 280 for a private jab. The recent death of three people from meningitis B has led to urgent calls for parents to be on the lookout for symptoms. The HSE rollout of the vaccine to protect against the deadly strain of meningitis began in 2016 and only applies to babies born since October that year. Older children lost out and the HSE decided not to provide a catch-up. GPs were yesterday inundated with calls from anxious parents enquiring about the availability of the meningitis vaccine. Most were shocked at the high cost of the jabs. Pharmacist and Fianna Fail's primary care spokesman, John Brassil TD, said it is time for the HSE to consider making the vaccine available free to older children. "It was a welcome development in 2016 when the life-saving meningitis B vaccine was made available free of charge for infants up to the age of 12 months," he said. "However, for other children, there is a cost of some 280. For a family with several children, such a cost could be prohibitive. It could also be life-threatening. We need to examine what we can do to make it free for all children. "The HSE must urgently consider providing it free to children in areas at risk." The HSE said yesterday that it does not decide on policy. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee, made up of experts in a number of specialties, makes recommendations on vaccines. Eligible Meanwhile, HSE public health specialist Dr Kevin Kelleher urged parents whose babies are eligible for free vaccines to avail themselves of the jab. There has been a fall-off in take up. A vaccine that protects against the meningitis C strain is given at six months and at 13 months. The vaccine against the B strain is given at two, four and 12 months. Adolescents are routinely offered the MenC vaccine in the first year of secondary school. Older teenagers and young adults up to the age of 23 who never received a MenC jab are recommended to get the vaccine. Dr Kelleher said immediate medical attention is needed if someone displays symptoms. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said meningitis cases have been reported in Dublin and other regions. The HSE declined to say which counties are affected because of patient confidentiality. Those affected range from infants to the elderly. Diane McConnell, the regional director of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said anyone with questions or concerns can call the helpline on 1800 41 33 44. Siobhan Carroll, of ACT for Meningitis, said anyone who wants to speak to a family support officer should telephone 091 380058. Meanwhile, more children are expected to be struck down with flu, which has already claimed six lives this winter. The return to school will increase the spread of the virus among children, said Dr Kelleher. Flu is now circulating more intensely and is expected to worsen, posing a threat for the next six to eight weeks. It has led to 29 patients being admitted to intensive care so far and has led to four outbreaks in which it has spread from one person to another. Swine flu is the main strain circulating. Dr Kelleher said no children or pregnant women were among the flu fatalities, although both were susceptible to swine flu. However, flu is impacting on the city's trolley crisis which took a turn for the worse this week. Garda Doyle said CCTV footage was viewed which showed the defendant pocketing the money. (stock photo) A man was rushed to hospital after he was attacked by a gang of teenagers as he walked home from work. Up to four thugs were involved in the senseless attack in the Lucan area of Dublin. The 31-year-old victim was walking through the Castle Riada area, near the Penny Hill pub, when he was set upon by the gang at 4.30pm on Wednesday. He was repeatedly punched in the face before the gang ran away. Emergency services were alerted and the man was taken to Connolly Hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery. Gardai are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them at Lucan Garda Station. Local councillors said they are being contacted regularly by concerned residents who fear the number of attacks carried out by teenagers is on the rise. "It's not the only attack to have happened in the area over the past week," said Independent councillor Liona O'Toole. "It's frightening to see these incidents escalating in the area. "We need more measures in place to diminish and reduce the number of incidents we're experiencing now." Cllr Paul Gogarty said he had heard reports of gangs from outside the area coming in and carrying out assaults on local residents. "Attacks on teenagers are on the rise in the area," he told the Herald. "There was an attack on a bus recently, and an attack on teenagers waiting for a bus. burglary "It's worth pointing out that a while back in Palmerston there were roaming gangs. "The community guard at the time said these gangs weren't actually from the area, but were coming from outside the city." In a separate incident, gardai in Lucan are investigating an attempted burglary at a house in the Meile an Ri estate on Tuesday night. A gardai spokesperson said Ronanstown Garda Station was investigating the incident, which occurred shortly after 4am. Gardai attended the scene. It is understood nothing was taken, no arrests have yet been made and gardai are continuing investigations into the incident. A grandfather whose house was damaged by fire has revealed his shock after learning his home was insured with failed Danish firm Qudos. David O'Hanlon has been left more than 18,000 out of pocket after flames swept through his home in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on November 7. Although the house was seriously damaged by the fire, all seven occupants - who had been asleep at the time - escaped unharmed. Unlucky Retiree Mr O'Hanlon (57) said he believed he was insured by Patrona through the broker, First Ireland, and put in a claim. "I remember reading about the Qudos thing in the paper and thinking how unlucky those people were," he told the Herald. "I was shocked when I realised I was one." Mr O'Hanlon said he was first offered 20,000 to cover the costs arising from the fire, but was then told he would be given 25,000. To his horror, he was then informed there was a problem with the claim and that the contractors would stop work on the house. Unknown to Mr O'Hanlon, Qudos - which collapsed last month - was responsible for the policy. "I've been paying my premiums every year so it shouldn't be my problem," he said. "Nowhere did it mention anything about Qudos on the insurance documents. "In the meantime, I've had to rent another house in the village which is costing 3,000 a month. Understandably, I'm starting to get worried." Mr O'Hanlon said he has had to pay more than 18,000 out of his own pocket for rent and new furniture. "I'm lucky that I'm retired and I can manage, but think about all those people making claims stuck in limbo now who don't know what to do." About 1,400 Irish people have claims outstanding with the Copenhagen-based insurer. Although Danish authorities are likely to pick up the tab, many claimants remain in the dark. First Ireland did not respond to a request for comment when contacted by the Herald. Patrona said it was unable to comment on individual cases. "In relation to Qudos household claims, we expect these claims will be handled and administered via the Danish Guarantee Fund. "Regrettably, we currently will not be able to make any offer of settlement until further instruction is received from the Danish Guarantee Fund," it said. "Settlement offers were made in good faith prior to the bankruptcy event. "However, due to the current stated position we are prohibited from issuing payments until we receive further instruction from the fund." Tomasz Piotrowski has been charged with the murder of his mother, Elzbieta Piotrowska A solicitor has told a court that he has "serious concerns" about the mental health of a man charged with the murder of his mother. Tomasz Piotrowski (32) said "no comment" after he was charged with killing married mother-of-two Elzbieta Piotrowska. The 57-year-old, who was originally from Poland, was found dead at her home in Ardee, Co Louth, on Tuesday morning. Judge John Cheatle remanded Mr Piotrowski in custody at Drogheda District Court yesterday to appear before Cloverhill District Court next Thursday. Body The judge also ordered that the accused receive the appropriate medical attention after his solicitor Paddy Goodwin told the court that he had "serious concerns about his client's mental health". Mr Piotrowski, of Cherrybrook, Ardee, must apply to the High Court for bail on a murder charge. He is charged with the murder of his mother at her home on the Clonmore estate in Ardee on January 8. Mrs Piotrowska's body was found by a neighbour in the hallway of her home at around 11am on Tuesday. Yesterday, Sergeant Jim McCumiskey told the court that Mr Piotrowski was charged at Drogheda Garda Station shortly after 9.20pm on Wednesday. Sgt McCumiskey said the accused was handed a true copy of the charge sheet, and in reply after caution he said "no comment". Defence solicitor Paddy Goodwin said the accused was unemployed and on social welfare, and Judge Cheatle assigned Mr Goodwin on free legal aid. The accused, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, did not address the court during the short hearing. He had been supplied with an interpreter who sat beside him in the dock. Mr Goodwin said there was consent to Mr Piotrowski appearing before Cloverhill District Court via video link next week. Mrs Piotrowska's body was removed from her rented home to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda earlier this week. A post-mortem on her body was scheduled to be conducted at that location by Dr Michael Curtis. He talked about why the mayor was the hero in the movie Jaws and how the light- saber in Star Wars was invented in London, while explaining how the last episode had been filmed in Ireland. However, Boris Johnson didn't give away much about why he thinks Brexit will be the success he claims it will be. He even talked about how his plane to Dublin had been delayed because they were loading 600 ducklings that were being exported from Britain to Ireland. Limelight Returning to Star Wars, he asked the audience if they knew where in Ireland it had been filmed, apparently unaware of the Skelligs himself. Before a crowd of around 3,000 people at the Pendulum Summit yesterday, he was interviewed by RTE's Bryan Dobson. Nobody was allowed to film his presentation. However, he posed for photos with "diamond ticket" holders and appeared to enjoy the limelight. Later, Dobson put it to him that he had "flip-flopped" in his views on the European Union. The RTE man pointed to comments by the former foreign minister on BBC radio and television in 2012 when he strongly backed the UK staying in the EU and availing of its single market free trade and tariff-free customs union membership. Boris said he had been a news correspondent based in Brussels from 1988 until 1995. He said he was "quite ideal- istic" about the then-European Community at the start of his work, but he gradually became "very sceptical" about it, especially its moves towards political union. Mr Johnson pointed out that RTE's Tommie Gorman was a correspondent in Brussels during his own time there. "Ask Tommie whether I was ever a Euro enthusiast," he said. When Dobson tried to get him to explain how a hard border might affect someone who manufactures and exports widgets, Boris cut in, beginning an example of how it might affect someone who imports orange juice from California. Later, comedian John Cleese took to the stage for his own presentation on why creativity is so important. Asked if he had any advice for the audience, he said: "Don't have children - you worry yourself sick about them, they cost a fortune, then they grow up like their mothers." Speaking to the Herald afterwards, he said he believes nobody knows what is going to happen with Brexit. He revealed that he quit the UK on November 1 because he was "disgusted" by what is happening there. He said he is now living happily in Nevis in the Caribbean, where life is "safe and beautiful". Free access for current print subscribers As a home delivery subscriber, you get free unlimited digital access to premium content on HenryHerald.com, including local news, local sports, obituaries, legal notices, local features, and the e-edition. All you need is your print subscription account number and your last name. Don't know your subscription number? Email access@henryherald.com with your delivery address. Activate your account now. 10-year plan highway contains no new projects for county The N.C. Department of Transportation on Thursday unveiled a draft 10-year transportation plan for 2020-2029 at the monthly Board of Transportation meeting in Raleigh. The 10-year plan includes no major new projects in Henderson County, the largest county in the 10-county Division 14. The draft 2020-2029 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) includes 12 new highway projects in Division 14. The division consists of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Polk, Swain and Transylvania counties. The department's 10-year plan is updated every two years. Projects scheduled in the first five years of the plan are considered committed and are not re-evaluated when the new plan is developed. But projects in the final five years of each 10-year plan are prioritized again for consideration in the next plan. The Board of Transportation is expected to consider final approval of the draft plan this summer. The 12 new highway projects for Division 14 include: Modernizing U.S. 276 from U.S. 19 to Interstate 40 in Haywood County by upgrading shoulders and turn lanes to current standards, construction starts in 2024. Modernizing U.S. 23/74 from Balsam View Drive to Old Balsam Road in Haywood and Jackson Counties by constructing a climbing lane and upgrading shoulders, construction starts in 2026. Improving U.S. 23/441 from West Piney Mountain Road to U.S. 441 Gateway in Jackson County by improving intersections replacing a bridge and upgrading and interchange, construction to start in 2025. One project is being accelerated in the draft plan. Priority needs pushed the construction of a median and access control measures on U.S. 64/276 from Fortune Cove Road to Caldwell Street in Transylvania County from 2024 to 2022. Projects with schedule adjustments include: Upgrading N.C. 143 from West Buffalo Creek to N.C. 143 Business in Graham County with construction delayed from 2024 to 2025 to assist in balancing funds; Widening U.S. 64 Business from U.S. 64 to Main Street in Clay County with right of way delayed from 2019 to 2020 to allow additional time for planning and design. The addition of 12 new projects to our plan for Division 14 reflects the need for new and safer transportation infrastructure in the western mountains, Division 14 engineer Brian Burch said. Were seeing a continuation of good projects being selected by our partners, planning organizations and local governments that are going to bring value to the traveling public and our communities. The draft STIP includes projects across all transportation modes and in all 100 counties in the state. The list includes 1,266 highway projects, 86 aviation, 235 bicycle and pedestrian, six ferry, 23 public transit and 47 rail projects selected on statewide, regional and division levels. The projects were prioritized based on technical data as well as input from local officials and residents. The draft plan includes about 500 changes in major highway projects from the current STIP. Half of the changes include new road projects. Also, there were about 200 projects where a schedule was changed for planning or budgeting needs, and 10 projects whose schedules were accelerated. Another 24 projects on the current STIP didnt score high enough this time to remain in the new draft plan. A statewide list of these major highway changes can be found on the NCDOT STIP web page. Projects that did not score high enough in the evaluation process to be funded at the statewide level rolled over to the regional level for consideration. Projects that were not funded at the regional level could still be considered at the division level. This cascading aspect of the process helps ensure that local input plays an important role in prioritizing projects for funding. More information about the STIP and how transportation projects are funded is available on the NCDOT website. Division 14 will host an in-house public comment session Feb. 25-March 1, during normal business hours. It will be a chance for interested residents to review maps and handouts about projects, ask questions of local staff, and submit comments. There will also be an opportunity for residents to submit comments online, with those details being announced later. Study identifies key step in spread of drug resistance, opportunity for intervention Spotless surfaces in hospitals can hide bacteria that rarely cause problems for healthy people but pose a serious threat to people with weakened immune systems. Acinetobacter baumannii causes life-threatening lung and bloodstream infections in hospitalized people. Such infections are among the most difficult to treat because these bacteria have evolved to withstand most antibiotics. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have figured out a key step in the transmission of antibiotic resistance from one Acinetobacter bacterium to another, insight that sheds light on how antibiotic resistance spreads through a hospital or community. The findings, published online Jan. 9 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, open up a new strategy to safeguard our ability to treat bacterial infections with antibiotics. The research indicates that the effectiveness of current antibiotics may be somewhat preserved by curtailing the spread of antibiotic-resistance genes. The problem of superbugs that are resistant to all antibiotics is bigger than just Acinetobacter, said senior author Mario Feldman, associate professor of molecular microbiology. What are we going to do when antibiotics dont work anymore? We can look for new antibiotics, but bacteria will always find a way to develop resistance again. We have to stop resistance from spreading, too. Acinetobacter strains carry the genetic blueprints for drug resistance on small loops of DNA called plasmids that come in two sizes. Big plasmids, which are prone to accumulating ever more antibiotic-resistance genes, carry the genetic instructions to build a needle-like appendage to insert copies of themselves into nearby bacteria. Small plasmids, which contain resistance genes against a single but important group of antibiotics known as carbapenems, lack their own distribution tools so they invade new bacteria by tagging along with the large plasmids. Plasmids want to take over the world, Feldman said. Plasmids are selfish genetic elements that just want to procreate as much as possible, and they co-opt bacteria to do that. That is scary for us because the plasmids are very efficient at collecting antibiotic resistance. So as they reproduce and infect more bacteria, they spread drug resistance. The plasmids reproductive strategy requires close contact between two bacteria. But that raises a question: How do two bacteria ever get near enough to transmit plasmids to each other? Most Acinetobacter guard against strangers with a system that injects lethal proteins into any unrelated bacteria that approach too closely, thus reducing the changes of spreading antibiotic-resistance genes. Feldman, along with first author and postdoctoral fellow Gisela Di Venanzio and colleagues, mutated the plasmids to find out how they get around such bacterial defenses. Their work was supported in part by Washington Universitys Faculty Diversity Scholars Program, which encourages recruitment of underrepresented minority scientists. Feldman and Di Venanzio are both from Argentina. The researchers found that plasmids disable bacterias self-defense systems so that plasmids can inject copies of themselves into neighboring bacteria, conferring drug resistance on the unwitting bacterial neighbors. By forcing the bacteria in which they reside to lay down their weapons, the plasmid ensures that nearby bacteria arent killed before the plasmids can infect them. The researchers found that mutating plasmids so they could not interfere with the bacterias defenses or mutating the bacteria so the defenses could not be lowered prevented plasmids from spreading. These findings provide a novel opening to interrupt the spread of drug resistance, the researchers said. The genes involved have been identified. Now researchers have to find compounds that prevent plasmids from disrupting bacterial-defense systems. If we found an inhibitor, we could clean hospital surfaces with it and prevent the dissemination of drug resistance, Feldman said. This is an out-of-the-box idea, but its what we need. If we just find new antibiotics, the bacteria will just become resistant again. We need to find therapies that dont kill the bacteria but prevent it from becoming drug-resistant, so we can continue using our antibiotics into the future. Di Venanzio G, Moon KH, Weber B, Lopez J, Ly PM, Potter RF, Dantas G, Feldman M. Multi-drug resistant plasmids repress chromosomally encoded T6SS to enable their dissemination. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Jan. 9, 2019. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1812557116 This work was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant number R01AI125363, and the Department of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Washington University School of Medicines 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, ranking among the top 10 medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare. Originally published by the School of Medicine Scientists have taken a key step towards improving an emerging class of treatments for Parkinsons disease. The advance could markedly improve a next generation of therapies for the condition, which affects around one in 350 people in the UK. It could aid development of the promising treatment-; known as cell replacement therapy -; which was first used in a clinical trial this year. Experts hope the approach, which involves transplanting healthy cells into parts of the brain damaged by Parkinsons, could alleviate symptoms such as tremor and balance problems. The latest development addresses limitations in the treatment in which, over time, transplanted tissue can acquire signs of disease from nearby cells. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have created stem cells which have the ability to transform into any cell type -; that are resistant to developing Parkinsons. They snipped out sections of DNA from human cells in the lab using advanced technology known as CRISPR. In doing so, they removed a gene linked to the formation of toxic clumps, known as Lewy bodies, which are typical of Parkinsons brain cells. In lab tests, the stem cells were transformed into brain cells that produce dopamine a key brain chemical that is lost in Parkinsons-; in a dish. The cells were then treated with a chemical agent to induce Lewy bodies. Cells that had been gene-edited did not form the toxic clumps, compared with unedited cells, which developed signs of Parkinsons. Researchers say the advance could be most beneficial to younger patients living with Parkinsons and those with an aggressive form of the condition, but that the advance had to be tested in human trials. The study, published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, was funded by the UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, the pharmaceutical company UCB Biopharma and The Cure Parkinsons Trust. Dr Tilo Kunath of the Medical Research Councils Centre for Regenerative Medicine at The University of Edinburgh, who led the study, said: We know that Parkinsons disease spreads from neuron-neuron, invading healthy cells. This could essentially put a shelf life on the potential of cell replacement therapy. Our exciting discovery has the potential to considerably improve these emerging treatments. Dr Simon Stott, Deputy Director of Research for the Cure Parkinsons Trust said, Cell replacement therapy represents one experimental approach to regenerative medicine for people with Parkinsons. This new research by Dr Tilo Kunath and his team at the University of Edinburgh provides another advancement in the development of this treatment. The Cure Parkinsons Trust is thrilled to be associated with this inspiring and innovative research The UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology in Edinburgh is funded through a grant from BBSRC. BBSRC However the situation is less clear where an employee is unsuitable for a role, is the wrong cultural fit, or their performance is less than optimal. The unfair dismissal and general protections regime in the Fair Work Act provide a range of protections for employees which can make termination complex. In this context, it is worth exploring an alternate strategy to achieve a separation, alongside a performance management or other process. So what approach should businesses take? When we have a business approach us for advice on how to exit an unsuitable employee, we sit down and must determine a basis upon which that can be validly done with minimal risk. So often well get asked cant I just make the employee redundant? Or the employer will say that they have taken too much time on sick leave, or theyre a poor performer, or they drank too much and touched someone up at the Christmas party. And we say: Okay weve got a whole range of issues here. Which (if any) of these grounds is a legitimate basis for terminating the employee? What strategy will be the most appropriate vehicle to achieve an optimal outcome for the business, and provide an opportunity for the employee to separate with dignity? That is to say, that prior to considering approaching an employee for a resignation, its essential to determine whether there is a legally valid reason for termination, and to ensure that the business has met any procedural fairness requirements. Particularly for employees falling within the unfair dismissal jurisdiction (currently $145,400), or employees who have clear grounds to make a general protections claim, its a very high risk strategy to just ring them up and say: This isnt working So we always say [to employers] identify an appropriate reason for termination, run that process to its conclusion and then hold a without prejudice discussion alongside a legitimate show cause meeting. If a without prejudice offer to separate on the basis of resignation is rejected in the face of a proposed termination for a valid reason, the employer can at least proceed to termination with (somewhat) less risk. The strategy that an employer adopts should differ for high income employees or those currently in a probationary period. Crucial to any such strategy is a requirement that the employee execute a comprehensive deed of release, containing confidentiality requirements (although recent cases such as Seven Network (Operations) Limited v Amber Harrison [2018] NSWSC 633 demonstrate that such agreements are far from water-tight). Havre High School choir member Raelie Stamper-Windy Boy, alto 1, has been selected to perform in the 2019 NAfME All-Northwest mixed choir performing group in Portland, Oregon. Stamper-Windy Boy, who studies choir with Havre High teacher Danielle Stoll, will meet the more-than 1,000 other participants of the All-Northwest high school bands, orchestras and choirs in Portland Feb. 14-17. The performers will rehearse and perform in concert under the direction of world-renowned conductors. The All-Northwest musicians were selected from more than 4,370 students who auditioned to participate in... Montana State University-Northern will host guest speaker Ken Robinson at Cowan Hall Tuesday to talk about the civil rights movement in Montana. Northern Multicultural Center Director Cristina Estrada-Underwood said while the talk will be inspired by the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, it will not just be strictly about his life. She added that the talk will focus primarily on what was happening in Montana during the Civil Rights movement. Its always MLK which is OK, but I feel like this can be learned from different angles, she added. From the historical angle, from... Press release The Montana Association of Clerk and Recorders is again sponsoring two scholarships for graduating seniors who will be attending an in-state college or university. The first-place scholarship is for $1,000 and second-place scholarship is for $500. The last day of acceptance of applications is March 15. Application forms are available from the guidance counselor at schools or from the Hill County Clerk and Recorders offices. People with questions can call 265-5481 ext. 2323. Local application forms must be received by Hill County Clerk and Recorder Susan Armstrong no... Maranna Allen stands by her husband, Tom, as he accepts a Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from Lions Jim Rowlatt and Gregg Carlson. Press release For Lionistic year 2018-19, The Havre Lions Club recently presented Lion Tom Allen a Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Melvin Jones founded Lions Club International in 2017, with the organization celebrating its centennial in 2017-18. "What if these men," Jones asked, "who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and ambition were to put their talents to work improving their communities?" Thus, at his invitation, delegates from men's clubs met in Chicago to lay the groundwork for such an organization and June 17, 2017, Lions Club International was born. As recogn... If you are old enough to remember the hit comedy movie of 1980, Caddy Shack, then you will recall that a gopher infestation was threatening a golf course in Nebraska. The somewhat deranged groundskeeper was tasked with getting rid of the pest. His efforts at eradication include shooting, f By Emily Mayer The Havre Chamber of Commerce was getting ready for its annual meeting for the following week. A lengthy article ran on The Havre Plaindealers Jan. 11, 1919 front page. Citing the end of the war, the destruction and reconstruction of Europe, and Havres role in its aftermath and how we could prosper were the subjects of the meeting, to be held the evening of Jan. 15 at City Hall chambers. The areas ability to grow various crops was cited in the article, Havres position on the Great Northern railroad and opportunities to market products were to be discussed as well... The name, the For the People Act, has an elegant simplicity. The number, HR 1, doe Published on 2019/01/11 | Source Advertisement Army musical Shinheung Military Academy top billed by active duty soldiers Kang Ha-neul, Ji Chang-wook and Kim Sung-kyu has finally completed its run. The musical held its final show at 2 pm KST on Sunday, January 6, 2019 at Keimyung Art Center in Daegu. Shinheung Military Academy premiered in September 9, 2018 at National Museum of Korea's Theater Yong in Seoul. This was followed by a successful and well received national tour that opened in Seongnam on October 6. Weekend performances in Andong, Mokpo, Jeonju, Ulsan, Daejeon, Gangneung, Busan, Ansan, Suwon, and Daegu took place thereafter. Set in the early 1900s when Korea was under Japanese occupation, Shinheung Military Academy is an unforgettable and touching tale about patriotism, loyalty, and friendship among the youth who willingly gave up their lives to regain their country's independence and make a new world governed by the common people, regardless of social standing. The musical boasts of a solid story by playwright Lee Hee-jun, magnificent music by composer Park Jung-ah, excellent direction by Kim Dong-yeon and a brilliant casting lineup led by actors Kang Ha-neul and Ji Chang-wook, Infinite member Kim Sung-kyu and theater performers Oh Jin-young, Lee Jeong-yeol, Im Chang-min and Lee Tae-eun. Most of the cast members are soldiers who are currently serving in the army. Shinheung Military Academy commemorates the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Korean armed forces in 1948. It was produced by ShowNote in cooperation with the Republic of Korea Army. By Michelle Photo: Tourism Mexico Tamaulipas, Mexico As we move into mid-January many Okanagan residents are looking south for a rejuvenating holiday. But Mexico has become increasingly violent over the past several years. Thursday - Mexican authorities say the death toll in a drug cartel shootout in the northern border state of Tamaulipas has risen to 24 with the discovery of the bodies of three more men. Experts originally counted 21 bodies, many found in twisted piles of charred corpses in a field near burned-out vehicles. But a Tamaulipas state official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said Thursday that continued investigations located three more bodies. The killings occurred Wednesday in the township of Miguel Aleman. The town is about 80 kilometres west of McAllen, Texas, where U.S. President Donald Trump visited Thursday to push for a border wall. In November the Canadian Government issued this travel advisory for parts of the country. They advise Canadian travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico due to high levels of criminal activity, as well as demonstrations, protests and occasional illegal roadblocks throughout the country. However Mexican authorities also indicate that most resort areas are safe and not impacted by these type of violent incidents. -with files from Canadian Press (CNN) China's ambassador to Canada has accused his host government of "Western egotism and white supremacy" over their handling of the case of Huawei executive Meng Hongwei, amid an escalating dispute between Ottawa and Beijing. In an op-ed Wednesday, Lu Shaye contrasted Canada's statements over the detention of its citizens in China with the December arrest of Meng in Vancouver at the request of the U.S. over alleged violations of Iran sanctions. "Recently, China's competent authorities took compulsory measures in accordance with the law against two Canadian nationals who are suspected of engaging in activities that endanger China's national security. Some Canadians and some in the Canadian news media, in disregard of China's judicial sovereignty, accused China of arbitrary detention and demanded their immediate release," Lu said. "However, on the prior groundless detention of Chinese citizen Meng Wanzhou by Canada at the behest of the United States, these same people made utterly different comments ... It's understandable that these Canadians are concerned about their own citizens. But have they shown any concern or sympathy for Meng after she was illegally detained and deprived of freedom?" Since Meng's arrest, 13 Canadian citizens have been detained in China, according a report by the Globe and Mail. Guillaume Berube, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada told the Canadian news organization last week that eight of those detained have since been released. The amount of detentions is largely in keeping with previous years. Last week, China's chief prosecutor said there was "no doubt" that two detained Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, had broken the law and were being investigated on suspicion of "activities that endangered China's national security." The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday that Canadian consular officials met with Spavor this week for the first time, almost a month after his December 13 detention. While the country's ambassador met with Kovrig shortly after this detention, Canadian officials have had no further access, they told the newspaper. Under the Vienna Convention, consular officials should be given access to citizens detained or imprisoned "without delay." "I have recently heard a word repeatedly pronounced by some Canadians: bullying," Lu said in his op-ed. "They said that by arresting two Canadian citizens as retaliation for Canada's detention of Meng, China was bullying Canada. To those people, China's self-defence is an offense to Canada." He continued that, "the reason why some people are used to arrogantly adopting double standards is due to Western egotism and white supremacy." "In such a context, the rule of law is nothing but a tool for their political ends and a fig leaf for their practicing hegemony in the international arena. What they have been doing is not showing respect for the rule of law, but mocking and trampling the rule of law," Lu added. The Meng arrest has poisoned traditionally strong relations between Ottawa and Beijing. Canadian government officials have asked for, and received, additional security at their diplomatic outposts in China, while Canadian companies that do business with China are bracing for lower sales and even a boycott of Canadian products. That the decline has come as a result of Canada responding to a U.S. request has made it all the more awkward for Ottawa. Speaking to U.S. President Donald Trump Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Washington to pressure China over the detention of its citizens. "The Prime Minister thanked the President for the strong statements of support by the United States in response to the arbitrary detention of two Canadians in China," Trudeau's office said in a statement. "The two leaders agreed to continue to seek their release." This story was first published on CNN.com, "China's ambassador accuses Canada of double standards, 'white supremacy' over Huawei." Xiaomi has pushed MIUI 10 to over two dozen smartphones, but now it is time to look forward. The company kicked off development of MIUI 11 which is said to be a new and unique OS, compared with the incremental updates that have been coming in the past two years. The company held the Xiaomi MIUI Core Experience Annual Meeting, where Liu Ming, head of the product planning department, gave an inspiring speech and officially launched the MIUI 11 preparations. According to some photos from the presentation, MIUI 11 will be even faster than MIUI 9 and even AI-smarter than the current interface. There will be more features that simulate human interaction and will allow easier use of the device. No actual specs were discussed, but the company showcased inspiring stats like more than 300 million current users on over 40 different devices. Source (in Chinese) | Via Two Huawei employees had been arrested in Poland over allegations of spying for the Chinese government. This is the second incident after Huawei's CFO got arrested in Canada. Now the Polish counterintelligence agency believes it has hard evidence of Huawei's employees' wrongdoings. One of them is Polish while the other one is Chinese. The Chinese national is a sales director while the Polish is a former high-ranking official at Poland's internal security agency. Both of them will remain in custody for the next three months and could face up to 10 years in prison. Huawei, on the other hand, said that it's aware of the situation but denies comments for now. The company has been fighting on several fronts for the past year. It all started when US carriers stopped selling Huawei smartphones and the government prohibited officials from using devices from the company. The USA then asked the rest of the world to ban the use of Huawei equipment and some countries like Australia and the UK listened. Source (in Polish) These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. A committee on the contested election for the state House seat representing Stratfords 120th District will handle the issue like a court case, lawmakers agreed on Friday. During a 20-minute meeting of the House Committee on Contested Elections, its first since a similar case in 1985, members said they would ask for the submission of evidence and seek testimony from witnesses. While state Rep. Phil Young was narrowly elected in November and took the oath of office Wednesday, the results could be upended and another election with GOP challenger James Feehan could result. Its not lost on me ... the significance of what we need to do today and going forward, said Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, one of the committees four members. This body potentially is the last stop for recourse for anybody not just the voters in the 120th district, but both candidates. The committee asked Young and Feehan to offer evidence and a list of witnesses by Tuesday evening. On Jan. 18, Young and Feehan will have the opportunity to give opening statements. The panel then plans to call on witnesses, and at some point to hold a hearing for the general public. Young and Feehan will be able to give closing arguments, before the committee drafts a report with its findings and recommendation. The committee has already received a formal, written complaint from the Feehan campaign about the election, said state Rep. Michael DAgostino, D-Hamden, during the meeting in the State Capitol complex. The two other members of the commission are Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, and Rep. Gregory Haddad, D-Storrs. The committee has until Feb. 4 to decide whether a new election should be held. On Election Day, there was an apparent mix-up at the Bunnell High School polling place, which served voters from two adjacent House districts. The issue was contested in Superior Court, then moved to the state Supreme Court, which said it was a matter for the state House of Representatives to decide. DAgostino said Friday that despite the two previous court proceedings, the committee would provide Youngs and Feehans campaigns their first opportunity to present their own evidence about the election, in a hearing. The four committee members emphasized in opening remarks Friday that their work should be careful to avoid the perception of partisanship, and that they should be mindful of the precedent their work may set. However, in a straight vote on the issue, House Democrats, with a 92-59 majority, could easily push through Youngs victory. DAgostino said a new election should not be ordered lightly, because it is impossible to recreate the circumstances of a previous election, like campaign momentum or voters motivation. Quoting from a 1999 Connecticut Supreme Court case, he argued that a new election is always a different election. An election is essentially and necessarily a snapshot, DAgostino said. The snapshot can never be duplicated. emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Since the Hearst Connecticut Editorial Board has discarded the presumption of innocence in its Jan. 8 editorial, let me provide some balance and a possible path forward. Michael Skakels wrongful conviction for the murder of Martha Moxley is now finally overturned. Michael was freed from prison in 2013 because a credible non-family witness confirmed he was miles away when Martha was killed 43 years ago in 1975. The State of Connecticut has the option to go to trial once again. But the states circumstantial case has evaporated. Michaels alibi is now rock solid. Their star witness deceased heroin addict Greg Coleman has been fully discredited by his own family attorney and his confession allegations proven false. The deceitful PowerPoint media at closing arguments that falsely linked Michaels recorded voice with gruesome crime scene photos is not going to work against a competent defense attorney. Its time for the state to come clean about the forensic evidence in its possession and face the reality that forensic science can and should solve this case with certainty. Prior to the 2002 trial, prosecutors demanded DNA samples from Michael hoping to make a media spectacle of him stonewalling. When he agreed they quickly withdrew the demand, knowing that the only genetic evidence they had at the time two non-Caucasian hair samples found at the crime scene did not belong to Michael. Both the state and the media ignore this critical evidence and the fact that a match has never been found. Yale professor David Cameron wrote an Op-Ed in May calling for a re-investigation of all the physical evidence in this case using touch DNA, which can reveal skin cells left behind on clothing. Dozens of cold cases have been solved across the country since Camerons article in what is being calling the biggest crime-fighting breakthrough in decades. A Boston case nearly 50 years old was solved in November. The unexplained hairs that do not belong to any Skakel and the physical evidence including Marthas clothing must be re-examined using these DNA advances to seek a match. DNA advances have definitively solved cold cases this past year in Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington. Why not Connecticut and why not this case? We know of at least three teenagers who visited the Belle Haven neighborhood on the day Martha was killed but have never been interviewed by police. Martha mentions one of them multiple times in her diary. Unlike Michael, all three are a potential match with the hair evidence. Why not use the advances in forensic science that are readily available and producing stunning results in many other states and let the evidence bring closure and an outcome that can be trusted? John Skakel is one of Michael Skakels brothers and lives in Portland, Oregon. Photo: The Canadian Press Jayme Closs, who was discovered missing Oct. 15, 2018, after her parents were found fatally shot at their home in Barron, Wis. A Wisconsin teenager missing for nearly three months after her parents were killed in the family home was found alive barely an hour's drive away, by a woman who stumbled across the 13-year-old girl and pounded on a nearby home's door shouting: "This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!" Jayme was skinny and dirty, wearing shoes too big for her feet, but appeared outwardly OK when she was discovered Thursday afternoon near the small town of Gordon, the neighbours said. "I honestly still think I'm dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost," Peter Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "My jaw just went to the floor." Authorities said a suspect was in custody, but otherwise didn't give any additional details ahead of a planned Friday news conference in Barron, in northwestern Wisconsin. Jayme went missing on Oct. 15 after police discovered someone had broken into the family's home outside Barron and fatally shot her parents, James and Denise Closs. Jayme was nowhere to be found, with the Barron County Sheriff's Department describing her as likely abducted. Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23, but it yielded no clues. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was 14 when she was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode. "I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive," Fitzgerald said at the time. He was right. The Star Tribune reported that Town of Gordon resident Kristin Kasinskas heard a knock on her door Thursday afternoon. It was her neighbour, who had been out walking her dog when Jayme approached her asking for help. The woman, who declined to be identified, said she was pretty sure who the girl was, but any doubt was erased when Jayme gave her name. During the 20 minutes Jayme was in their home, Kasinskas and her husband, Peter, tried to make her feel more comfortable, they said. They offered her water and food, but she declined both. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Peter Kasinskas said. Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon. From what she told them, they believed she was there for most of her disappearance. Gordon is about 40 miles (64.4 kilometres) south of Lake Superior and about 65 miles (104.6 kilometres) north of Barron, Jayme's hometown. Gordon is home to about 645 people in a heavily forested region where logging is the top industry. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed on its website that Jayme was found in the town at 4:43 p.m. Thursday, and that a suspect was taken into custody 11 minutes later. The Associated Press couldn't confirm the Kasinskases' account; the sheriff's office's non-emergency line rang unanswered Thursday night, and Sheriff Thomas Dalbec didn't respond to an email. SCA website / Contributed photo Robert Dubac is bringing his latest show, The Book of Moron, which skewers what he sees as the decline of civilization, to Stamfords Palace Theatre Friday, Jan. 18. Working in the biting satirical style of Mark Twain, Dubac is the comedian behind shows like The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? and Sex, Politics and Other Headaches. Photo: The Canadian Press An Aphria worker inspects cannabis oil in an undated handout photo. Marijuana producer Aphria Inc. says chief executive Vic Neufeld and co-founder Cole Cacciavillani will be leaving their executive roles at the company, but will remain on the board. Marijuana producer Aphria Inc. announced Friday that chief executive Vic Neufeld and co-founder Cole Cacciavillani will be leaving their executive roles at the company, but will remain on the board. "Thanks to their vision, energy and passion, Aphria has become a global player in an industry that didn't even exist five years ago," Aphria chairman Irwin Simon said in statement. "I look forward to working with them to further build Aphria's leadership team and continue driving long-term value for our patients, customers and employees into the future." Neufeld said he and Cacciavillani will begin the transition process immediately and step down from their executive positions "at the appropriate time." Aphria faced allegations in December by short-sellers questioning the company's acquisitions in Colombia, Argentina and Jamaica. Shares in the company plunged in the wake of the report by Quintessential Capital Management and Hindenburg Research. The company has denied the report, but established a special committee of independent directors to review the deals. Aphria also received a hostile takeover offer late last year from Ohio-based Xanthic Biopharma Inc., which does business as Green Growth Brands, that it rejected as being too low. The change in the executive suite came as Aphria reported revenue totalled $21.7 million in what was its second quarter as Canada's legal recreational market began. The total was up from $8.5 million a year ago. Analysts on average had expected revenue of $37.9 million, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon. Aphria earned a profit of $54.8 million or 22 cents per share for its quarter ended Nov. 30 compared with a profit of $6.5 million or five cents per share for the same period last year. The company attributed the increase in profit to gains on its long-term investment portfolio, primarily divestitures of positions in Hiku Brands and Liberty Health Sciences. Support local journalism We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story. John Hoods discussion of selection and confirmation biases (Second Opinion, Evidence ought to shape public policy, Jan. 6) would have had more effect had he remained consistent throughout. Hoods education and experience should tell him that a topics number of peer-reviewed studies is irrelevant, as a single well-documented study often demolishes many less-rigorous ones. In particular, studies finding no correlation between advanced degrees and teacher effectiveness have little utility unless they explore why correlation is absent. Understanding that why encourages professors to improve class content, teaching effectiveness and student research topics. Almost inevitably, the same News & Record edition contained a Charles Davenport commentary (Ideas, Integrated schools are not the answer for underperforming students) built on selection and confirmation biases, again invidiously comparing the Washington, D.C., school system with other schools. Previously, Davenports comparisons castigated Washingtons school system for spending more than conservative states, always neglecting to mention the Districts rising scores or his preferred states falling scores. While Trump spoke calmly and rationally from behind the Resolute Desk, the Democratic leaders accused him of pounding the table and having a temper tantrum. While Trump told human stories, they complained about process. They accused him of arguing that the women and children at the border were a security threat when he had just explained to the American people that they were victims, too. They charged him with using the backdrop of the Oval Office to manufacture a crisis, stoke fear and divert attention from the turmoil in his administration. They were partisan and petty, while Trump came across as reasonable and even compassionate. To normal Americans watching in the heartland, and who are not steeped in Trump hatred, the president must have seemed like the adult in the room. And, most important, Pelosi and Schumer failed to use the one word that millions of Americans were longing to hear compromise. But Trump did. That is why the president won the night. Schumer and Pelosi appealed to their base, while Trump made an effective appeal to persuadable Americans. Until now, Trump has owned the 18-day government shutdown that prompted this address, because hes the one who started it. But if Democrats continue to attack him, and wont entertain any compromise, soon the shutdown will be all theirs because theyre the ones who have refused to end it. Follow Washington Post columnist Marc A. Thiessen on Twitter, @marcthiessen. More at greensboro.com: Thiessen on Trumps worst moments of 2018. Friday afternoon, Fitzgerald said that a gun was recovered as well as a shotgun, which authorities believed was used to enter the Closs home. I can tell you the suspect planned his actions and took many proactive steps to hide his identity from law enforcement and the general public, Wright said. Fitzgerald said Patterson has no criminal history in Wisconsin or the Gordon area and was not on our radar. Patterson does have ties to Barron, Fitzgerald said, but did not say what those ties were. Patterson is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. The sheriff said officials are not looking for any other suspects at the time. Diane Tremblay, the superintendent of the school district where Jayme attended class, told the news gathering, There is so much love and hugs in our district today. Its just insurmountable. We want to thank Jayme for being so courageous and finding the opportunity to come back to us. What an extraordinary young lady. Jayme had not been seen or heard from since her disappearance in the wee hours of Oct. 15. Several intensive searches took place in the area in the days that followed, but none yielded any valid clues, and for weeks Fitzgerald kept saying authorities had no new leads. ELON Elon Universitys provost will step down at the end of 2019, the university announced Friday. Steven House has worked at Elon for nearly 20 years and has served as provost the universitys second-ranking official since 2009. House will remain provost until Elon finds his replacement, a process that will take at least until years end. After that, he will stay at the university as an executive vice president through June 2021. In a news release, Elon President Connie Book called House one of the chief architects of Elons development as a national institution. Former President Leo Lambert hired House in 2001 to be the founding dean of Elon College, the College of Arts & Sciences. In his eight years as dean, the number of professors at the college grew by 50 percent, and the percentage of Elon students majoring in the liberal arts increased from 37 percent to 50 percent. Abuzuaiter said Wednesday that Bassnectar bringing his own medical team is like condoning the use of illicit drugs. She feels like that told patrons that it's OK to overdose because doctors would be there to take care of them. "I appreciate him reaching out to me," Abuzuaiter said of McQuaid's note. "If we know there is a known entity that will tax our public safety, our ER, the coliseum staff, it becomes a major concern." Councilwoman Sharon Hightower said Wednesday she knew nothing about the concert or the concerns until she received McQuaid's email. She called him after reading it and forwarded the email to the council, asking for an investigation. Hightower said she wants to know who knew what ahead of the concert and why the city approved an event with a reputation for having illicit drug activity. "You are telling me that you are supporting a venue where they have to bring in emergency personnel as a standby in case of medical emergencies and overdoses, not because of heart attacks or older people, but drug activity," Hightower said. "I think in my mind that that is supporting a culture we have a problem with. According to High Point police investigators, the suspect would contact a female victim on Instagram by direct message and tell her about a modeling opportunity referring her (and sometimes other females recruited by the initial victim) to Kayla at one of two email addresses. Kayla would then provide the victim with fictitious modeling shoot information and request her height, weight, measurements, sizes, and the like before asking for photographs, including topless or nude images, to be submitted. Once a victim sends the photographs, the scammer reveals that the modeling opportunity is a scam and Kayla is a male who is going to send the photos to everyone the victim knows unless she gives him her Instagram information, including the password. The suspect also warns victims it is no use to call police, saying he would not be caught. Some 7,000 people participated, according to Agency. Plan2Plays recommendations reflect their values and expectations, McCray said. One key recommendation is to transform existing facilities and neighborhood parks into community hearts with place-making features and distinct activities that give locations singular identities and draw in neighbors. The consultants explored the idea of revitalizing Nocho Park and the area around Windsor Recreation Center, both off Gate City Boulevard, to attract more people to the area. Thats only one example. The city has more than 100 smaller, neighborhood parks and a dozen recreation centers. One of the biggest takeaways I had was that the city has already invested in this great network of neighborhood parks. There was really great access to parks and recreation across the community, said Brie Henshold, principal and co-founder of Agency. Plan2Play ratchets that up a notch and looks to develop these community hearts with more amenities, more community gatherings, and events across the city. The plan also looks at needs for new facilities and programs, based on projections of population growth and changing demographics. Photo: The Canadian Press Two of Canada's largest mobile phone services are being targeted by a social media campaign launched by Remind.com, a San Francisco-based company that provides a free two-way texting service for teachers, students and parents. Remind is calling on its Canadian users nearly one million individuals, according to the company to pressure Rogers and Bell to reverse a recent price increase that makes Remind's texting service uneconomic in this country. "Beginning on Jan. 28, parents and students in Canadian classes who normally get Remind texts will no longer receive messages if they have wireless plans with Rogers, Bell, or their respective subsidiaries," the company says. It goes on to ask users to reach out to Bell and Rogers through social media to ask them to reverse the fee. The free version of Remind's app has a variety of uses including notifying groups about class assignments, schedules of emergencies as well as two-way communications between individual teachers, students and parents. Rogers and Bell say they don't have a direct contractual relationship with Remind which accesses their networks indirectly through two intermediary companies but they are willing to discuss a compromise. "We know how important it is for educators and parents to stay connected," Rogers spokeswoman Sarah Schmidt said in an email statement. "Last year we reached out and made every effort to work out a more than fair agreement with them that would have met their SMS needs on our network. Unfortunately, they were not satisfied." Bell spokesman Nathan Gibson said in an email that Bell doesn't directly charge either its own customers or Remind to send or receive text messages on their mobile phones. But Bell did begin to charge an intermediary company, called Syniverse, a "very nominal fee" for each message delivered over its network as of Dec. 1 in response to a higher volume of spam text messages. "We were contacted by Remind for the first time last week about the increased costs they're facing. We are talking to them and Syniverse about what can be done to address their concerns." Syniverse is an intermediary that bridges the gap between the world's wireless communications networks. In this case, it has relationships with Bell, Rogers and Twilio, another intermediary used by Remind. None of the companies' representatives would disclose the per-message fees involved. But Remind chief executive Brian Grey said its annual costs would jump from "tens of thousands of dollars" to "hundreds of thousands of dollars" and the increase is unsustainable for the company at this stage of its development. Grey said Remind doesn't use its platform as a method for distributing advertising and its revenue comes from the sale of a large-scale version of the service to schools and districts, a practice launched in January 2017 in the United States. "Longer term, our plan would be to bring that to Canada and other markets. But we're just not there yet," Grey said. Photo: Contributed Allan Schoenborn A Merritt man who killed his three children was the target of a murder plot by fellow patients at a Metro Vancouver forensic psychiatric hospital. During a B.C. Review Board hearing Thursday, CTV News reports Allan Schoenborn's psychiatrist told the board two patients had conspired to harm or potentially kill Schoenborn, before staff discovered the plot. Schoenborn killed his three children in his Merritt mobile home in 2008, but he was found not criminally responsible in 2010. He has remained under supervision at a psychiatric hospital since then. His B.C. Review Board hearing was held at Coquitlam's Colony Farm forensic psychiatric hospital, where he is currently held. Mike Clarke, the uncle of the three children, attended Schoenborn's review hearing Thursday. "I dont wish him any harm, personally. I wish hed realize what hes done and how hes changed my family, our family," Clarke told CTV News. While Schoenborn is currently allowed to be escorted out of the hospital at the discretion of the hospital's director, that has yet to happen. The Crown plans to ask for that privilege to be revoked. While Dr. Marcel Hediger, Schoenborn's psychiatrist, said Schoenborn is taking his medications and his delusions are under control, he is still quick to anger and can become paranoid. If Mr. Schoenborn is in the community, with staff, and he is recognized, and there is negative reaction, I dont have confidence that Mr. Schoenborn would manage that appropriately," Dr. Hediger said. with files from CTV Vancouver Tax increases... who didnt see that coming? I dont mind paying taxes when it is for something that is useful and important to my city, but putting a roof over the heads of addicts? No way! To all you seniors over there in that neighbourhood, I say dont pay taxes. You can defer them, let the city try and spend that. Why should we sit by and have our money be spent on something we have no agreement with? They put them in housing, then they get welfare and free drugs. Where is the incentive to go clean? We are producing a bunch of no good human beings. You want to help, then no tolerance for drug dealers, and detox for anyone who wants free housing. Heather Hamilton Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Photo: Penticton Indian Band Penticton Indian Band members braved the cold at a Kamloops rally Wednesday in support of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation. Three members of the Penticton Indian Band travelled to Kamloops Wednesday to support a northern B.C. First Nation fighting to deny access to their land for a pipeline. The Kamloops rally coincided with a town hall visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Penticton Indian Band communications coordinator Dawn Russell, member LaVerne Jack and council member Joan Phillip, wife of Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, travelled to Kamloops in support of the rally when they heard about it the night before. "Our chief said, 'We have to do something,'" said Phillip. "We had to at least show up and show some support for them from the band. Penticton has always been known for the protection of our title and rights, and we really appreciate any and all support that we have had in the past. So we thought we'd better go up there." The Wet'suwet'en Nation in northern B.C. saw 14 protesters arrested this week as they attempted to block access to their traditional territory. The Penticton Indian Band responded by calling the RCMP's behaviour "disgusting." "The governments of Canada and the Province of B.C. are blatantly ignoring the landmark Supreme Court Decision and the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which states that Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories," reads a statement from the PIB. Phillip said the efforts of those protestors deserved support, which is why she and others made the trip to Kamloops. "They've been defending that site for so long, in the cold, particularly now that it's winter, and it was the very least that we could do to let them know that they're not standing alone," Phillip said. "I think that wherever there's any kind of injustice anywhere, we have to let the people know that we stand beside them in their efforts to protect their territory." She said the mood at the rally was mostly respectful and peaceful with just a few hiccups from unruly attendees. "By and large, we were there to celebrate the efforts of the Wet'suwet'en people to protect their title and rights," "And to condemn the police intimidation of the Wet'suwet'en defenders. Canada has got to start standing up. We have a right to have a say in what happens within our traditional territories, and that sometimes requires our consent." Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation@skagitpublishing.com for help creating one. Photo: The Canadian Press Audience members yell during town hall meeting at TRU. RCMP confirm two people were arrested during a heated visit to Kamloops by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Two men were arrested Wednesday during protests outside the Coast Hotel, where Trudeau was speaking. The men in their mid-fifties were from separate protest groups, says RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. One of the suspects may face criminal charges; the other was released without charge. Also Wednesday, things got heated during Trudeau's town hall event at Thompson Rivers University. First Nation members of the audience voiced their anger and frustration, loudly interrupting the prime minister to condemn recent arrests at a pipeline blockade in North-Central B.C. Hecklers called him a liar and weak leader. Goshen, IN (46526) Today A few clouds from time to time. High around 80F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low 49F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Actually, theres nothing false or defamatory about saying that Assange stinks. Or that the Erik Wemple Blog stinks. Or that President Trump stinks. Or that Jane Doe or John Doe stinks. We can do this in America, thanks to our laws. Its highly unlikely saying someone stinks is defamatory, notes Clay Calvert, a University of Florida professor frequently cited in this space. Theres no objective, factual measure of what constitutes good or bad hygiene or when someone smells bad. Its merely a persons opinion that someone smells bad. Opinions are amply protected under First Amendment law. Which means that theres no way to put Assange to the smell test. Lets use Assanges own standards as a guide. According to this new email, There is a pervasive climate of inaccurate claims about WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, including purposeful fabrications planted in large and otherwise reputable media outlets. Consequently journalists and publishers have a clear responsibility to carefully fact-check from primary sources and to consult the following list to ensure they are not spreading, and have not spread, defamatory falsehoods about WikiLeaks or Julian Assange. PAUL BILODEAU/Staff photo. Christopher Brayton-Tedesco, 28, of 6 Prospect Court in Gloucester stands in the dock during a dangerousness hearing in Gloucester District Court. Charges of abuse of a YMCA camper made against him may be moved to Superior Court. You asked. We listened. Your daily crossword, Sudoku and dozens of other puzzles are now available online. Play them or print them here. Play now Courtesy photo/Manchester police, from left, Chief Edward Conley, Lt. Todd Fitzgerald and Officer Ryan Machain receive the department's certification by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission last February. The three lead the department's work over the last year to become accredited. Britain 'Combat Ready' With New Supersonic Jet Amid "Resurgent Russian Threat" Sputnik News 14:22 10.01.2019(updated 14:23 10.01.2019) UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is visiting the home to the F-35B Lightning and Tornado jets since the 1970s in Norfolk, England to announce the readiness of F-35s to launch combat missions. The UK Royal Air Force has reportedly achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC) of F35-Lightning II a stealthy, supersonic, multirole fighter jet which will be the latest addition to the RAF's fleet. The latest addition is expected to be announced by the defence secretary in time to counter what was described as a "resurgent Russian threat". Confirmed by Williamson back in November 2017, the F-35 programme was "set to bring an immense boost of 35 billion into the British economy", and it will be "welcome news to the UK firms that many more jets are now set for production." Branded an affordable next generation fighter, the F-35, is set to replace a wide range of aging fighter and strike aircraft currently in the inventories of the US Air Force, and allied defence forces. The so-called "Russia threat" narrative has been previously employed by the Ministry of Defence to boost the argument for increased funding demands. In May 2011, Gavin Williamson accused Russia of "aggressive actions" and called on the UK government to increase funding for Royal Navy's modernisation. The UK has pledged to spend $11.6 billion (9.1 bn) programme and purchase 48 of the jets by 2025, reaching a total 138, jointly operated by Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots. Sputnik In crushing blow to May's Brexit plan, Parliament allows alternative scenarios Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:30AM The British parliament has approved a crucial amendment to Prime Minister Theresa May's deal to take the country out of the European Union (EU), allowing MPs to come up with their own alternative plans. In a break from long-standing rules, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow allowed MPs on Wednesday to vote on an amendment that forced May to prepare a Plan B within three days if her existing deal with the EU gets rejected next Tuesday. The amendment, brought by former Tory leader Dominic Grieve, also authorized all MPs to attach their own proposed Brexit plans when the PM's new way forward comes up for vote, raising the possibility for a range of alternative options from softer Norway-style Brexit to a new EU referendum. The original Brexit process gave May three weeks to return to the parliament with a new plan. The MPs' proposals, although not legally binding, will give a better understanding as to what kind of agreements with the EU would stand the highest chance to get passed. The government, despite having the parliamentary majority, failed to block Grieve's amendment as pro-EU rebels within the ruling Conservative Party joined forces with Labour to pass it in a 308-297 vote. The critical loss showed that the embattled PM's had failed to muster support for her deal after delaying the original Brexit vote last month. This was the second significant defeat for May in the parliament over the past two days. On Tuesday, lawmakers voted to block possible preparations for a no-deal Brexit by curtailing the government's powers to amend laws that would allow smooth taxation after a disorderly divorce from the EU. Bercow's decision to authorize the Wednesday vote prompted harsh criticism from pro-government lawmakers. Chief Whip Julian Smith one of May's closest allies accused Bercow of "throwing centuries of precedence in the bin to thwart the referendum result." Bercow, however, remained defiant and defended his position. "I'm trying to do the right thing and make the right judgments. That is what I have tried to do and what I will go on doing," he told heckling Tory benches. UK defense chief says F-35 jets are 'ready for operations' Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 07:04PM British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson has officially announced that the costly US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets are "combat ready" and will soon be deployed on operations. Williamson made the announcement on Thursday while unveiling nine Royal Air Force's (RFA) F-35 Lightning fighter jets. He said Britain will begin a "new era" in its military activities by becoming more committed to the "world stage" following its planned withdrawal from the European Union in March. "We are setting our sights on the next 100 years. Our nation is moving into a new era outside the EU and our huge achievements in air capability make our commitment to a role on the world stage clear to both our allies and our enemies," said Williamson speaking at RAF Marham, in east of England. Williamson said the unveiling of the F-35 Lightning would lift Britain's military position "to even greater heights" than the past. However, the comments come as many have criticized Britain's massive contribution to the US-owned F-35 program, dubbed by the experts as the largest and most expensive military project in history. The British government has contributed tens of billions of pounds to the project. UK companies are producing 15 percent of the components of over 3,000 of the F-35s planned to be produced in the US in the comings years. The unveiling of the jets on Thursday came after months of infighting in the British army on what type of the American jets Britain should import. A long-running row between the RAF and the Royal Navy on the issue reportedly ended after top commanders in the two forces were replaced under pressure from the government, which sought to please Washington with the purchase of costlier F-35s. Turkey Refuses to Cancel S-400 Purchase as Precondition for US Patriot Deal Sputnik News 13:06 10.01.2019 ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkey is ready to consider US proposal on deliveries of Patriot air defense systems, but refuses to abandon the S-400 deal with Russia as a potential precondition for the Ankara-Washington agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday. "Turkey may buy Patriot systems in the future. But it will be impossible if abandoning S-400 will be one of the conditions for the purchase," Cavusoglu told the NTV broadcaster. The statement followed last week's report by the Anadolu news agency, saying that a US delegation in Ankara had made an official offer to Turkey to purchase Patriot systems. The media has not revealed any details on whether the US offer envisaged a precondition to cancel S-400 missile systems purchase from Russia. Earlier, a Bloomberg report cited two sources familiar with the discussions as saying that Turkey had allegedly suggested US technical experts delve into the S-400 systems in order to "control damage" in relations with Washington. Commenting on this report, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar categorically rejected these claims, saying that Ankara never suggested US technicians should study the Russian-made S-400 missile system. Ankara signed a loan agreement with Moscow envisaging the deliveries of the Russian-made S-400 air defence systems to Turkey last December. The US government has repeatedly expressed concern over Turkey's decision to go on with the purchase of Russia-made missile defence systems, threatening to block the delivery of F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets to Ankara. Recently, a US delegation made an official offer to Turkey to purchase US-made Patriot air defence systems, according to the Anadolu news agency. Four AN/MPQ-65 radars, 10 antenna-mast units, 20 M903 launching stations, and test equipment were listed in the offer. Sputnik Photo: The Canadian Press A man tries to retrieve items from a clothing donation bin in Vancouver. The Salvation Army is now adding warning labels on its donation bins after people across the country have become trapped and died in similar bins. Two people have been found dead inside recently, one in Vancouver, another in Toronto. There are six Salvation Army thrift stores in the Okanagan, two in Kelowna, two in Penticton and two in Vernon. National director of communications for the Sally Ann John McAlister says there are no donation bins in the Okanagan, however. None of these stores utilize donation bins in the community, he said. We accept donations directly at these stores during our regular hours of operation. Other areas across Canada that do use donation bins are receiving caution labels as an advisory to the public. McAlister says this is being done in an effort to educate and raise awareness about the improper use of the bins. Turkey Stands By Deal To Buy Russian Missiles, Attack Kurds In Syria By RFE/RL January 10, 2019 Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Turkey may buy U.S. Patriot missile systems if conditions are right, but insists such a deal would be impossible if Washington forces Ankara to cancel its agreement to purchase S-400 antiaircraft missiles from Russia. In an interview with Turkey's NTV on January 10, Cavusoglu said his NATO-member state will not accept the United States imposing conditions in regard to its deal to buy the Russian-made surface-to-air defense systems. Meanwhile, in another sign of deteriorating relations between Ankara and Washington, Cavusoglu said a military operation Turkey was planning against U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in northern Syria did not depend on a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. Cavusoglu told NTV it was not realistic to expect the United States to collect all of the weapons it had supplied to Syrian Kurdish fighters who are viewed by Ankara as terrorists. U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement in late December that he planned to withdraw some 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria stunned U.S. allies and led to the resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. But U.S. national security adviser John Bolton told Turkish officials in Ankara on January 8 that Turkey's assurance it won't attack the U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters was a "condition" for the withdrawal. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Bolton of making "a very serious mistake" with the demand. "We cannot make any concessions in this regard," said Erdogan, who vowed that "those involved in a terror corridor" in Syria "will receive the necessary punishment." The U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units form the backbone of the opposition Syrian Democratic Forces and have been fighting alongside U.S. troops against Islamic State militants in northeastern Turkey. But Ankara insists those Syrian Kurdish fighters are linked to the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), a group that is banned in Turkey and has been considered a terrorist group by the United States since 1997. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and NTV Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-stands -by-deal-to-buy-russian-missiles-attack- kurds-in-syria/29701320.html Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. Turkey will start offensive in Syria if US troop pullout stalled: Cavusoglu Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 02:23PM Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says his country will launch an offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, in case the United States delays the planned withdrawal of its troops from the war-torn Arab country. "If the (pullout) is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this decision," Mevlut Cavusoglu told Turkish-language NTV television news network on Thursday in an exclusive interview. The top Turkish diplomat then underlined that the Ankara government would go ahead with its incursion plan. "We are determined on the field and at the table ... We will decide on its timing and we will not receive permission from anyone," Cavusoglu said. He also said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's announcement that the Turkish military was preparing for an offensive against Syrian Kurdish forces came well before his US counterpart Donald Trump's decision to bring home American troops from Syria. Cavusoglu said Ankara would fight the YPG whether or not US soldiers pulled out of Syria. Trump said last month that he was bringing home the American troops deployed in Syria -- some 2,000 -- alleging they had succeeded in their mission to defeat the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. His abrupt move sparked concern among officials in Washington, prompting Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to step down in protest. On Tuesday, Erdogan censured as "unacceptable" and a "grave mistake" latest comments made by US National Security Adviser John Bolton about YPG militants. "It is not possible for us to accept and stomach the message Bolton gave from Israel. "Regarding this matter, Bolton has made a serious mistake and whoever thinks like this has also made a mistake. It is not possible for us to make compromises on this point. Those who are part of the terror corridor in Syria will receive the necessary lesson. There is no single difference between the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), YPG, PYD (Democratic Union Party) and Daesh," Erdogan told lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) at parliament in the Turkish capital Ankara. The Turkish leader pointed out that his country had largely completed its preparations for a military offensive against Daesh in neighboring Syria. "In compliance with the agreement we reached with Mr. President (Donald Trump), we have largely completed our preparations for a military offensive against elements of Daesh, who are still active in Syria. At the same time, we are determined to take steps against terrorist organizations such as [the] PYD and YPG along with Daesh. We will mobilize to neutralize these terrorist organizations in Syrian land very soon," Erdogan stated. Last week, Bolton outlined conditions for a US troop departure from Syria. Those "conditions" appeared to contradict Trump's insistence that the withdrawal would be immediate and without conditions. One of those provisions is that the government of Turkey guarantees the safety of YPG forces in Syria. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist organization and an extension of the outlawed PKK, which has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984. Xi's recent address on Taiwan changes status quo: U.S. senator ROC Central News Agency 2019/01/10 13:19:11 Washington, Jan. 9 (CNA) U.S. Senator Cory Gardner said Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping's () recent speech on Taiwan changes the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and is a warning to the United States. When asked by Taiwan media about Xi's Jan. 2 address after a seminar held by a Washington-based think tank, Gardner, chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity, also said the U.S. should adhere to its commitment to Taiwan. Gardner noted that the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 contains significant language dedicated to the U.S. relationship with Taiwan, including provisions to ensure U.S. arms sales and facilitate high-level visits to Taiwan from the U.S. and "We will continue to pursue those commitments and protections ... Our commitment to our relationship with Taiwan is stronger than ever." Asked whether he will encourage President Tsai Ing-wen () to visit Washington, Gardner did not give a response, saying only that he met with Tsai when she made transit through Los Angeles last year, and he hopes similar arrangements can be made in the future. Gardner had tweeted on Xi's recent Taiwan policy speech and Tsai's response, saying that he will soon re-submit the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act (TAIPEI Act) to Congress. It authorizes the U.S. Department of State to downgrade U.S. relations with any government that takes adverse action regarding Taiwan, including suspending or altering foreign assistance, such as military funding. Xi's speech on Taiwan marked the 40th anniversary of a message Beijing sent to Taiwan in 1979 calling for unification and an end to military confrontation. In the speech, Xi defined the "1992 consensus" as "the two sides of the strait belonging to one China and working together to seek the unification of the nation." The "one country, two systems" formula is the best approach to achieving unification, he said. In response to his speech, President Tsai said she has never accepted the so-called "1992 consensus" and will never do so since that phrase has been defined by China as the 'one country, two systems' mechanism which leaves no room for interpretation. (By Chiang Chin-yeh and Evelyn Kao) Enditem/AW U.S. tells China to stop coercion, resume dialogue with Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 2019/01/10 13:32:11 Taipei, Jan. 10 (CNA) The United States has made it clear to China it should stop coercion and resume dialogue with Taiwan, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan said Thursday, after Chinese President Xi Jinping () recently reasserted China's right to use force against Taiwan. "The United States has a deep and abiding interest in cross-strait peace and stability. Any resolution of cross-strait differences must be peaceful and based on the will of the people on both sides," American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) spokesperson Amanda Mansour told local media when asked to comment on Xi's speech. "The United States has made clear to Beijing that it should stop its coercion and resume dialogue with the democratically-elected administration on Taiwan," she said, without giving further details as to when and where such communication took place. "As we have said many times before, Taiwan is a democratic success story, a reliable partner, and a force for good in the world," she added. AIT represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties. Mansour's comments came after Garrett Marquis, spokesperson for the National Security Council under the White House, made a similar statement supporting Taiwan in a tweet Monday. Xi's warning was delivered on Jan. 2 during his address to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China's "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan." Xi said in his speech that China is willing to talk with any party in Taiwan to push forward the process of peaceful unification on the basis of the "one China principle." However, "we make no promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means" to that end, Xi said. China will not target compatriots in Taiwan but focus on the interference of external forces as well as the small number of Taiwan independence activists, he added. (By Joseph Yeh) Enditem/AW UN Warns Against Mass Return of Syrian Refugees From Lebanon By Lisa Schlein January 10, 2019 The United Nations says conditions are not right for the safe, orderly return of large groups of refugees from Lebanon to the homes they fled in Syria, although fighting in that war-torn country has largely subsided. Syria is nearly eight years into a crisis that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and generated 5.6 million refugees and another 6.2 million internally displaced people. Neighboring Lebanon is hosting the highest number of refugees per capita, with about 1 refugee for every 4 inhabitants. The presence of some 1.3 million Syrian refugees is a huge burden in a country suffering from political instability, a dire economic situation and extremely high joblessness. The U.N. resident coordinator for Lebanon, Philippe Lazzarini, said conditions for both the indigenous and refugee populations remain extremely precarious and bleak. He says tensions between the host communities and refugees are high, especially over competition for low-skilled jobs. He says the return of the refugees to Syria is one of the main concerns of the Lebanese people. Lazzarini said the refugees are in no rush to go home. Last year, he said between 16,000 and 17,000 people went back to Syria. He told VOA every voluntary return is controlled and on an individual basis. "Internal security in Lebanon are transmitting the names of the people who want to go back to Damascus. Then, in Damascus, these names are vetted and once they are vetted or cleared, the response comes back to Lebanon and that is when the return is taking place," Lazzarini said. Once the process is completed, Lazzarini said the U.N. refugee agency helps organize the return of the individual to his or her home in Syria; but, he stresses the voluntary returns are limited. He says no large-scale repatriation operation will take place until the U.N. deems the refugees can return to Syria in conditions of safety and dignity. Storms and snow in Lebanon worsen plight for Syrian refugees 10 January 2019 - Storm-force winds and snow across Lebanon have worsened the plight for tens of thousands of Syrian refugees who've been forced from their homes by nearly eight years of conflict, a top UN humanitarian official said on Thursday. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Philippe Lazzarini, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, said that refugees had been moved from shelters - including in the exposed Bekaa valley where wintery conditions are especially acute - to safer facilities, after Storm Norma hit at the weekend. "Some of the settlements have been completely flooded, very cold, it's extremely inclement conditions, and to describe daily life, it's just miserable," he said. Although the number of Syrian refugees officially hosted by Lebanon is more than 900,000, registration ended in 2014, and it is estimated that the real figure is between 1.2 and 1.3 million. Around 70 per cent live under the poverty line, Mr. Lazzarini said, noting that this was in fact an improvement on 2017, when the number was even higher. This high ratio of refugees to nationals around one in four would be "unthinkable and unacceptable" anywhere else, the UN official said, before playing down "tensions" between host Lebanese communities, 10 to 20 per cent of whom live below the poverty line. Rejecting suggestions that the refugee situation alone was responsible for discontent within the country, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator noted that its leaders have been in "deadlock" and unable to agree on a power-sharing arrangement for effective central governance, despite elections last year. "Today I would say there is an atmosphere of anxiety in the country which is very much related to the political deadlock," he said. "The inability to put in place a cabinet, the inability to decide and put in place the long-overdue reform, combined with the economic situation, combined with the geo-politics in the region and the refugees." International support and solidarity for the Lebanon situation remains strong, Mr. Lazzarini insisted, amounting to up to $1.5 billion per year since 2015. Nonetheless, he cautioned that eight years into the crisis, humanitarian funding "might have reached a ceiling" and that other longer-term development funding may need to be found, notably for education projects requiring a minimum four-year investment. For returnees, 'trust' paramount Asked about how many Syrian refugees have chosen to return to their war-scarred country, the UN official explained that only 16,000 to 17,000 registered with authorities in Damascus during 2018 a slight increase on the previous year, when no more than 13,000 went home. Suggestions that the UN had prevented people from doing so were incorrect, he insisted, noting that the organization ensured that returnees had all the "necessary documentation" they needed, such as birth and marriage certificates, to avoid difficulties reintegrating back into Syrian life. "Ultimately people will decide if yes or not, if they are confident enough to return," he said. "What's important is, if returns are taking place, it takes place in an environment where people feel confident enough to go back and where you have the necessary trust." Latest UN figures indicate that there are more than 5.6 million Syrian refugees outside the war-torn country; Turkey hosts most, at 3.6 million. Next is Lebanon, at more than 900,000, followed by Jordan (670,000), Iraq (250,000) and Egypt (130,000), while North Africa shelters 35,000. France Reveals Terms of Its Withdrawal From Syria Sputnik News 12:12 10.01.2019(updated 12:24 10.01.2019) The statement comes a few weeks after the White House announced that the US had begun removing its forces from Syria, but stressed that it did not mean the end of the US-led international coalition's fight against Daesh* terrorists in the Arab country. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has pledged to withdraw French troops from Syria as soon as "a political solution" is clinched. "There is our [military] presence in Iraq, [and] we have a scanty presence in Syria", he told France's C-News television. Le Drian argued that it is Russia which is responsible for the political resolution of the Syrian conflict. According to him, Russia "bears political responsibility so that Syria has a political, not a military solution [of the conflict] to avoid the use of chemical weapons", he said. Le Drian's remarks came after France's European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau said in an interview with C-News on 20 December that France will "for now" maintain its participation in the coalition fighting Daesh forces in Syria. In separate development, advisers to French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly met with Kurdish militants representing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and assured them of future support from Paris. On 23 December, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that the US began withdrawing troops from Syria, but that it did not mean the end of the US-led international coalition's fight against Daesh. Earlier that month, Washington announced that it will be withdrawing its troops from Syria within the next 60 to 100 days. US President Donald Trump justified the move by stating that the American forces had achieved their goal of defeating Daesh in the Arab state and can now return home. *Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State), a terrorist group banned in Russia and a spate of other countries Sputnik Pompeo: U.S. Wants 'Every Last Iranian Boot' Out Of Syria By RFE/RL January 10, 2019 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States is seeking to "expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria despite Washington's decision to withdraw troops from the war-ravaged country. "It's time for old rivalries [in the Middle East] to end, for the sake of the greater good of the region," Pompeo said in a January 10 speech on Washington's broader Mideast objectives in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. He also said that the United States "will use diplomacy and work with our partners to expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria and will bolster efforts "to bring peace and stability to the long-suffering Syrian people." Pompeo was in Egypt as part of a nine-nation Middle East tour aimed at reassuring America's Arab partners that Washington is not abandoning the region despite U.S. plans to withdraw troops from Syria. Iran, along with Russia, has given President Bashar al-Assad's government crucial support throughout the Syrian conflict, which began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011. The conflict has left more than 400,000 people dead, displaced millions, and devastated many historic sites across the country. Troop Withdrawal 'To Go Ahead' In his speech titled A Force for Good: America Reinvigorated in the Middle East at the American University in Cairo, Pompeo said the United States was a "force for good" in the Middle East region and remained committed to the "complete dismantling" of the threat from the extremist group Islamic State (IS) despite its decision to withdraw troops from Syria. "When America retreats, chaos follows," Pompeo added. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif mocked Pompeo's comments by writing on Twitter: "Whenever/wherever US interferes, chaos, repression and resentment follow." Pompeo also took aim at former President Barack Obama without naming him. He accused President Donald Trump's predecessor of sowing chaos in the Middle East, and said he "grossly underestimated the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islamism." Earlier in the day, the secretary of state said that the U.S. troop withdrawal announced by Trump last month will go ahead despite widespread criticism. "President Trump's decision to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that," Pompeo told a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. While confirming the decision to withdraw troops from Syria, Pompeo said Washington would continue to finish the battle against the IS group, adding that the United States will remain a steadfast partner in the Middle East. Pompeo arrived in Egypt on January 10 after visits to Jordan and Iraq. Pompeo said on Twitter following talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that "the U.S. stands firmly with Egypt in its commitments to protecting religious freedom and in the fight against terrorism that threatens all of our friends in the Middle East." From Egypt, he plans to continue on to Gulf Arab states. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pompeo-u-s- wants-every-last-iranian-boot-out- of-syria/29701848.html Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. Five British soldiers killed in Daesh rocket attack in Dayr al-Zawr: Report Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 07:34AM Syrian media say at least five British soldiers have been killed in a rocket attack by Takfiri Daesh terrorists in Syria's troubled eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr. Syrian Arabic-language newspaper al-Watan reported on Wednesday that several soldiers were also injured during the attack which targeted al-Shaafah village in Abu Kamal district of the province. Dayr al-Zawr is located 450 kilometers (280 miles) northeast of the Syrian capital, Damascus. The UK is yet to comment on the report. If confirmed, this would be the second Daesh attack on British troops in Syria in days. British media reported on Sunday that two UK soldiers were injured and one member of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Western-backed coalition of mainly Kurdish militants, was killed in a similar attack in Dayr al-Zawr on Saturday. The SDF, militarily led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), has been accused of colluding with Daesh Takfiri militants. The British soldiers were part of the US-led coalition, which has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate. The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of achieving its declared goal of destroying Daesh. Syrian government forces have frequently discovered US- and Israeli-made bombs and weapons, some of which were extremely rare in the Arab country, during the ongoing anti-terror campaign across the country. Damascus has, for several times, written to the UN to complain that the US was flagrantly violating its sovereignty. The US supports militants fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad and has repeatedly attacked Syrian army positions. Meanwhile, the SDF announced on Wednesday that it had in its custody a total of 13 British nationals who it says were members of Daesh or their dependents. Citing Kurdish sources, the Daily Telegraph reported that a mother and her two daughters, described as being "in their late 20s," fled the town of al-Shafaah last week amid the fighting. They were interned at the al-Hawl detention camp in northeastern Syria, joining another British woman suspected of having links to Daesh, the report said. Estimates suggest that hundreds of UK nationals have joined Daesh over the past years while the group has been wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria. Experts have blamed the migration of terrorist from Britain on loose controls, saying Britain is faced with a huge security threat from those nationals once they return home. Mnuchin: Treasury to Be Vigilant in Ensuring EN+, RUSAL Meet Commitments Sputnik News 00:46 11.01.2019(updated 01:51 11.01.2019) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Department of Treasury will monitor closely whether En+ Group PLC (En+), United Company RUSAL PLC (Rusal), and EuroSibEnergo (ESE) adhere to the requirements for sanctions relief, Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin said in a statement on Thursday. "They [the entities] have committed to provide Treasury with an unprecedented level of transparency into their dealings to ensure that Deripaska does not reassert control," Mnuchin said in the statement. "Treasury will be vigilant in ensuring that En+ and Rusal meet these commitments." Mnuchin added if the companies breach these terms, they will face very serious consequences and the sanctions will be restored. The US Treasury issued the statement in advance of a classified briefing with senior leaders in Congress, where some Democrats in the House of Representatives oppose a decision by Treasury to remove sanctions on the three companies. Lawmakers demanded the briefing so that Mnuchin could explain the Treasury's planned rollback of sanctions on the three Russian firms. The Treasury secretary said he was committed to providing members of Congress with a full briefing that addressed all of their questions and concerns. "En+, Rusal, and ESE were designated for sanctions solely because they were majority-owned or controlled by Deripaska," Mnuchin said. "These entities are undergoing significant restructuring and governance changes that sever Deripaska's control and significantly diminish his ownership." Deripaska, the founder of one of Russia's largest industrial groups and a separate charitable foundation, remains subject to US sanctions, Mnuchin added. "One of the goals of sanctions is to change behaviour, and the proposed delistings of companies that Deripaska will no longer control show that sanctions can result in positive change," Mnuchin said. The Trump administration has sanctioned 272 Russian-related individuals and entities, of which 256 are subject to sanctions administered by Treasury, Mnuchin said. The Treasury Department announced last month that it would lift the sanctions on Rusal, EN+ Group and EuroSibEngergo in January after the companies agreed to undertake structural reforms to reduce the ownership of businessman Oleg Deripaska. Since the announcement, Democrats in Congress have indicated that they will use the powers of Congress to seek to block the rollback of sanctions, and have filed draft resolutions that would reject the proposed delisting of EN+, Rusal and EuroSibEnergo. But media reports in recent days have said that Democratic lawmakers do not have enough support from President Donald Trump's Republican allies in the Senate to block the move. Republican Party leaders have not publicly challenged the Treasury's move, the Wall Street Journal noted. The Treasury's decision, which it announced on December 19, is due to go into effect after 30 days on January 18 if Congress does not block the move. Sputnik In a televised speech Tuesday night, President Donald Trump argued the wall was needed to resolve a security and humanitarian crisis, blaming illegal immigration for what he said was a scourge of drugs and violence in the U.S. and asking: How much more American blood must we shed before Congress does its job? US to Lift Sanctions Against 3 Russian Companies By VOA News January 10, 2019 Three Russian companies have cut ties to a sanctioned oligarch and will no longer be under U.S. sanctions themselves, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday. Mnuchin appeared before the House of Representatives, where a number of Democrats want the Trump administration to postpone lifting sanctions against the three firms. In a statement issued before the meeting, Mnuchin said Oleg Deripaska would remain under U.S. sanctions, but the three companies he controlled aluminum giant Rusal, its parent firm En+ and energy company EuroSIbEnergo would not. "They have committed to provide Treasury with an unprecedented level of transparency into their dealings to ensure that Deripaska does not reassert control," the statement read. Mnuchin assured lawmakers that the Trump administration would keep a close watch on the firms, promising that if they failed to comply with the terms to end the sanctions, they would face "very real and swift consequences, including the reimposition of sanctions." Treasury placed sanctions on Deripaska in April 2018 for what it called Russian "malign activity," including election meddling and crimes by Deripaska himself, which consisted of allegations of bribery, extortion, murder and links to organized crime. Deripaska has denied all the charges. "One of the goals of sanctions is to change behavior, and the proposed delisting of companies that Deripaska will no longer control shows that sanctions can result in positive change," Mnuchin said. Statement by Secretary Mnuchin on Congressional Briefing on Russia Sanctions U.S. Department of the Treasury January 10, 2019 Washington U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin issued the following statement today in advance of a bipartisan, classified briefing for Members of the House of Representatives on the sanctions against Russian oligarch and Specially Designated National Oleg Deripaska and three companies he controlled at the time sanctions were imposed, En+ Group PLC (En+), United Company RUSAL PLC (Rusal), and EuroSibEnergo (ESE): "I was pleased to accept the invitation from Speaker Pelosi and several committee chairs to discuss our Russia sanctions program with the new Congress. It is my hope that today's briefing will provide lawmakers with an overview of Treasury's proposed actions with respect to these sanctions targets. "This Administration has sanctioned 272 Russian-related individuals and entities, of which 256 are subject to sanctions administered by Treasury. This includes 150 individuals and entities under Ukraine/Russia-related sanctions authorities codified by the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). "Oleg Deripaska will remain sanctioned, his property and interests remain blocked, and any companies he controls are also sanctioned. Treasury recently designated Viktor Boyarkin, one of Deripaska's close business associates. Under CAATSA, any person who knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for or on behalf of Deripaska faces secondary sanctions. "En+, Rusal, and ESE were designated for sanctions solely because they were majority-owned or controlled by Deripaska. These entities are undergoing significant restructuring and governance changes that sever Deripaska's control and significantly diminish his ownership. They have committed to provide Treasury with an unprecedented level of transparency into their dealings to ensure that Deripaska does not reassert control. As a result, these entities will no longer be designated for sanctions. "Treasury will be vigilant in ensuring that En+ and Rusal meet these commitments. If these companies fail to comply with the terms, they will face very real and swift consequences, including the reimposition of sanctions. "One of the goals of sanctions is to change behavior, and the proposed delistings of companies that Deripaska will no longer control show that sanctions can result in positive change. "I appreciate Members' interest in these important national security issues. I am committed to providing a full briefing, answering their questions, and hearing their concerns. I look forward to working closely with both the House and Senate." #### Russian Military Base May Appear in CAR - Defence Minister Sputnik News 09:23 10.01.2019(updated 15:58 10.01.2019) ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - A Russian military base may appear in the Central African Republic, the framework agreement envisions such a possibility, but the issue has not been discussed so far, CAR Defense Minister Marie-Noelle Koyara said in an interview with Sputnik. "We have not yet discussed this. Everything will be done within the framework of the military treaty that we signed. This treaty is the basis of all our initiatives Much still needs to be done, but there will be discussions between the supreme commander-in-chief (the president of the republic) and his colleagues. And the ministers will enforce it," Marie-Noelle Koyara said. She said that when a Berengo training centre had been established for military personnel, people began to talk about turning Berengo into a Russian military base, but this was speculation, as it could not be considered a Russian military base. "Our population perceives Russia very well. When the talk is about Russia, people understand that this is a full-fledged partner that may change the country's future. And it is this human support, so to speak from the masses, that suggests that the word 'partner' is fully applicable to Russia," Koyara added. The authorities and armed groups of the Central African Republic are ready for a meeting on settlement under the auspices of the African Union, they expect to be notified of the date and venue, Marie-Noelle Koyara added. "Armed groups are ready for a meeting, we are ready for a meeting, all interested parties are ready for a meeting, and now we are waiting for the response from the African Union as a coordinator, when and where it should take place," Koyara said. The meeting on settlement of the conflict in the Central African Republic under the auspices of the African Union should result in the development of a road map, Marie-Noelle Koyara said. "The elected president chose the path of dialogue to return to peace, after which the African Union decided to aggregate all the proposals to develop a road map to implement this path. And now the role of the African Union is to send expert representatives to a joint meeting with representatives of the CAR government," Koyara added. After the disarmament of Anti-balaka and Seleka in the Central African Republic, the armed groups may join official security structures, Koyara stressed. "The main goal of this dialogue is to bring these groups to disarmament. After that, they have, in fact, two paths Those who want may join security agencies. These are the police, the army, the gendarmerie and those involved in forestry," Koyara said. Others, she said, may return to peaceful life as part of public projects and social programs. "One of the recommendations that we heard at the international forum in Bangui was that due to the fact that there was such a huge number of crimes, we cannot afford a full total amnesty. Those who committed crimes must answer for them. Therefore, our Justice Ministry has much work to divide [people] into those who may be pardoned and those not worthy of it, who may not be pardoned," Koyara said. Arms Supplies to CAR The United States and France consider the UN Security Council's embargo on Russian weapons supplies to the Central African Republic to be technical, work is underway to remove the existing issues, Marie-Noelle Koyara said. "Three weeks ago, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited the Central African Republic, and we discussed this situation, among other things. It was said that the embargo problem was more of a technical nature if the Security Council lifted it, then the issue would be resolved. And he advised how to present our position for the embargo to be lifted," Koyara said. She said the US side had also confirmed that the embargo was technical. The Central African Republic has been destabilized by a violent conflict between Christian anti-Balaka militia, Seleka faction and the government since 2012. Since 2014, the country has been divided between the three groups. In late August, Seleka and anti-Balaka militia signed a Declaration of Understanding after a Russia-brokered peace meeting in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. Sputnik US, Lockheed Kill Croatia's F-16 Deal With Israel Sputnik News 00:49 11.01.2019(updated 00:51 11.01.2019) Croatia and Israel cancelled a deal for a dozen used Israeli F-16 aircraft on Thursday over issues about who would pay to uninstall Lockheed Martin's intellectual property on the aircraft concerns voiced by the Trump administration. Officials on both sides of the failed transaction confirmed the deal was dead following a meeting between officials in Zagreb. Israeli Director-General of the Ministry of Defense Udi Adam blamed the deal's breakdown on "problems that could not have been expected and are not under the control of the countries," according to a statement carried by the Jerusalem Post. "Israel has officially informed us that it cannot get an approval from the United States for delivery of the planes to Croatia," Croatian Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic told reporters Thursday. Problems arose over "who will pay for the conversion, because the US and its contractors Lockheed Martin have to do the work because they're the ones who own the technology and intellectual property I'm not involved in the negotiations, and I don't think they [Israel and Croatia] have a choice, because this is intellectual property of Lockheed Martin, and they need to get [Lockheed Martin's] approval to do the transfer," US Ambassador to Croatia Robert Kohorst said in December. Croatian media reports said US defense companies complained the aircraft had received Israeli upgrades, thus stripping Lockheed of the opportunity to modernize the planes and perform maintenance on them, according to Reuters. The US State Department has contract rights and can prevent third-party transfers of the aircraft without its sanction. It's not clear if the State Department was responsible for telling the Israelis the deal is off or some other US government conduit. Just last month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pinned the deal's potential breakdown on ex-Defense Secretary James Mattis, saying, "I'm in favor, but Defense Secretary Mattis is against [the sale] it's him who is blocking it." But Mattis is no longer a member of the Cabinet. He resigned following Trump's announcement that the US would be withdrawing troops from Syria and has been replaced by Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan. Croatia, a NATO member, has sought replacement aircraft for its MiG-21s, which entered service in 1959, according to Israeli media reports. The arms deal, agreed to in January 2018, would have been worth approximately $500 million. It would have been Croatia's biggest arms purchase since becoming a separate nation following the breakup of Yugoslavia. US officials have privately complained that Israel would unfairly profit from the sale, Israeli officials have said on the country's Channel 10 TV network. Sputnik Iraqi special forces deployed in Kirkuk after Kurdish flag raising triggered tensions Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 04:24PM Iraqi Special Operations Forces have been deployed in the Arab country's Kirkuk after the flag of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was raised over a political party headquarters, which revived tensions more than a year after Baghdad seized the disputed northern city from the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. The stationing of troops on Thursday came two days after supporters of President Barham Saleh's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) held a rally in the city, waved KRG flags and hoisted one of them over the party's headquarters. The demonstration was dispersed by Iraqi security forces as Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi spoke by telephone with President Saleh, who was on a visit to Qatar, complaining that flying the KRG flag above the party headquarters in Kirkuk was "a violation of the constitution." Kirkuk Governor Saeed al Jabouri on Wednesday reportedly called on Baghdad to send troops to the city in order to defuse the emerging tension. A day earlier, he had called for calm after reports of clashes between police and pro-PUK demonstrators. Jabouri had reportedly urged local residents to refrain from any act that could further aggravate tensions. "We have directed the security forces to address the situation with a view to safeguarding the city's security and stability," he was quoted as saying. Jabouri, however, requested that the Iraqi government send military reinforcements to Kirkuk "to thwart those who would attempt to undermine security." Meanwhile, Iraq's counter-terrorism chief gave the PUK until noon on Friday to lower the red, white, green and yellow flag of the semi-autonomous region. Tensions flared up between Iraq's Kurdish region and the central government in Baghdad after the KRG held a highly controversial plebiscite on independence on September 25, 2017, despite strong opposition from Baghdad, the international community, and Iraq's neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Iran. The vote, which was initially meant to be non-binding, saw more than 93 percent of Kurds back secession, and the KRG characterized it as binding after the results were released. Infuriated by the so-called independence referendum held in the three provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan and some other areas, the federal government strongly rejected the poll as "illegal," imposed economic penalties, seized the Kirkuk oil fields and halted exports. Following the vote, Baghdad also imposed a ban on direct international flights to and from the Kurdish region. The KRG at the time described the measures as "collective punishment." In October 2017, Iraqi federal forces retook control of Kirkuk and many disputed territories from the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in response to the referendum. Kirkuk has not been one of the three provinces that have made up the Kurdish region since 2003. However, Kurdish militants used a vacuum created when government troops were fighting against Daesh terrorists to overtake the oil-rich city. In December that year, however, Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan announced a deal to resume oil exports from Kirkuk. Iran's Army Air Force begins annual military maneuvers in Isfahan Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 09:02AM The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) has launched two days of military exercises, involving bombers, drones and missiles, with the aim of testing its capabilities in protecting the country's airspace against possible enemy threats. The eighth edition of the annual drills, dubbed Defenders of Velayat Skies, began at Shahid Babaei Air Base in the central province of Isfahan on Thursday following days of preparations. The maneuvers will put to test dozens of bombers, hunter and interceptor jets as well as transport, refueling, reconnaissance and patrolling aircraft besides unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The war games would feature Sukhoi Su-24, F-4 and F-7 Phantoms, MiG-29, F-14 jets, Being 707 and 7047 aerial refueling planes and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, along with drones equipped with precision strike missiles and long-range smart bombs. Domestically-manufactured rockets and bombs as well as laser-guided, anti-radar and thermal missiles will be put to test during the exercises. The drills' spokesman, Second Brigadier General Alireza Angizeh, said in addition to Shahid Babaei, other air bases across the country would contribute to the maneuvers. In the course of the drills, Iranian air forces will practice air-to-air shooting and shooting against aerial targets as well as using smart, indigenous and upgraded bombs, he added. Over the past years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite sanctions and economic pressures on the country. Iran-made rockets will take new satellites into orbit in coming weeks: Rouhani Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:36AM Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says domestically-manufactured rockets will carry two new satellites into orbit "in the coming weeks." Rouhani made the remarks during a ceremony held to commemorate the second passing anniversary of former president and chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in Tehran on Thursday. Rouhani said, "Missiles are our defensive tool and we are proud of it," adding, "In the coming weeks, we will send two new satellites into space using our domestically-built rockets." He also described Iran's defense power and technology achievements as relics of Ayatollah Hashemi. Last November, Deputy Defense Minister General Qassem Taqizadeh announced that Iran would launch three satellites into space "on various orbits" within a few months. Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that Iran's planned launch of space rockets and missiles breaches Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed Pompeo's claim, saying Washington has already violated that resolution and thus cannot "lecture" Tehran on it. The top Iranian diplomat was referring to Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in defiance of international objections. Since its JCPOA exit, the administration of US President Donald Trump has unleashed its "toughest ever" sanctions against Iran. It has also warned of severe penalties for companies that evade the bans and engage in business dealings with the Islamic Republic. Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said recently that new Iranian satellites had successfully passed pre-launch tests. "A satellite with the resolution of 1,000 meters was due to be manufactured through international cooperation 10 years ago, but they (international partners) didn't cooperate with Iran," he tweeted. "The program was changed and the production of a domestically-made satellite with a 25 times higher resolution was prolonged, but it was made to serve in agricultural, environmental and water management fields," he added. Iran's Zangeneh tells countries not to comply with US sanctions Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 04:38PM Iran's Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zanganeh says US sanctions against Tehran are "fully illegal," calling on countries during a visit to Baghdad not to comply with them. "We believe that we should not comply with the illegal sanctions against Iran," he said at a joint conference with his Iraqi counterpart Thamer al-Ghadhban on Thursday. Iraq relies heavily on Iranian gas to feed its power stations, importing roughly 1.5 billion standard cubic feet per day via pipelines in the south and east. Iraq has extensive trade ties with Iran, with officials saying the two neighbors have sharply increased their trade exchanges in recent months despite the US sanctions. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has said his country "will not be part of the sanctions regime, as it will not be part of aggression against any country." Iran's Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi said last November trade between the two countries was on track to reach $8.5 billion this year, and Iran hoped to expand bilateral trade to $22 billion annually. Last month, the US extended for 90 days a waiver granted to Iraq from sanctions against Iran but pledged to work with the country to end its dependence on Iranian natural gas. The Trump administration reimposed sanctions on Iran's energy exports in November, but has granted waivers to several buyers provided that they reduce their liftings and find new sources. Amir Hossein Zamaninia, Iran's deputy oil minister for trade and international affairs, said this month that Tehran has found new customers for its oil in spite of the US sanctions. "Despite US pressures on Iranian oil market, the number of potential buyers of Iranian oil has significantly increased due to a competitive market, greed and pursuit of more profit," he said without naming them. Zanganeh also stressed on Thursday that Iran would not discuss the volume or destination of its oil exports while it remained under US sanctions. The sanctions imposed in November to target Iran's lifelines in the oil, energy and shipping sectors have led to a drop by several hundred thousand barrels per day in oil exports. Meanwhile, Iraq has moved in to fill the vacuum from Iranian cuts in oil exports because the Arab country's grades are similar to Iran's. In India where major refineries are adjusted to Iranian grade, Iraq replaced Saudi Arabia last August as the top oil supplier after imports of Iranian oil fell by a third. Both Iraq and Saudi Arabia as well as Russia dashed to ramp up oil production in the run-up to an early November deadline set by US President Donald Trump to sanction Iran's oil sector, leading to a collapse in prices. Baghdad has been averse to cutting production, with Ghadhban telling media in late October that pumping more oil was a top priority for the country of 38 million. On Thursday, Ghadhban said a decline in global oil prices had stopped and that he expected them to rise gradually. He said his discussions with Zanganeh had touched on energy issues, describing mutual economic and trade relations as "good and expansive," but that they had not yet reached an agreement to develop joint oilfields. Zanganeh said, "We have discussed today how to improve cooperation with Iraq on different aspects, especially on oil issues." Zarif scolds Pompeo: Wherever US goes, chaos follows Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 07:18PM Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has countered US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's claims that "when America retreats, chaos often follows," saying actually the opposite is true. "Whenever/wherever US interferes, chaos, repression, and resentment follow," Zarif tweeted on Thursday in response to Pompeo's remarks in Egypt which raised eyebrows in the United States and abroad. Pompeo described the US as a "force for good" in the Middle East in a speech at the American University in Cairo, which contradicted President Donald Trump's announcement last month to pull troops out of the region. Pompeo accused former US president Barack Obama Democratic of having sowed chaos by abandoning the Middle East. "We learned that when America retreats, chaos often follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds. And when we partner with our enemies, they advance," he said. "The good news is this: The age of self-inflicted American shame is over. And so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering. Now comes the real new beginning," Pompeo added. Trump last month announced that he had ordered staff to execute the "full" and "rapid" withdrawal of US military from Syria. While that decision's timing is unclear, it is widely seen as abandoning the region. Pompeo, however, said the US withdrawal from Syria was not "a change of mission." "Let me be clear: America will not retreat until the terror fight is over," he said, adding, "For our part, our airstrikes in the region will continue as targets arise," he added. Pompeo's speech drew immediate criticism from Middle East experts as well as officials who served under Obama. "It feels a little bit as if the approach is to 'talk loudly and carry a small stick,'" said Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East program at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. In his rambling speech, Pompeo also spoke extensively of the US "campaign to stop Iran's malevolent influence and actions against this region and the world." He said US economic sanctions against Iran were "the strongest in history, and will keep getting tougher until Iran starts behaving like a normal country." In his Thursday tweet, Zarif said, "The day Iran mimics US clients & @SecPompeo's 'human rights models' be it the Shah or current butchers to become a 'normal' country is the day hell freezes over. Best for the US to just get over loss of Iran." Iran was a key ally of the US in the Middle East before the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the Pahlavi monarchy led by Mohammad Reza Shah. Earlier during a press conference in Cairo, Pompeo said, "America has always been a liberating force, not an occupying power, in the Middle East. We've never dreamed of domination." He said Washington would work with allies to "expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria. Iran has been lending military advisory support to the Syrian government in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists. The United States, however, has been in Syria since 2014 under the pretext of confronting the Daesh terrorist group without the request of the Syrian government or a UN mandate. Damascus considers the US and its allies as invaders with ulterior motives, saying they are in fact assisting terrorists and destabilizing the country. 'We Cannot Accept it': Ban on Gay Sex in Indian Army to Remain in Place - Chief Sputnik News 20:02 10.01.2019 New Delhi (Sputnik) - Despite India's apex court striking down a colonial-era law that criminalised homosexuality, the Indian Army says it strives to maintain its conservative approach in terms of not allowing gay sex in the ranks of its forces. Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat has said that despite the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the country, the ban on gay sex among soldiers will remain in place. In response to a specific query raised by a reporter in the annual press conference in Delhi, General Rawat said that the Indian Army has its own laws regarding homosexuality. "The Indian Army is very conservative. [A] Soldier on the border cannot be worried about his family back home. The same is on the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] issue. In the army we cannot accept it," the Indian Army chief argued. In September 2018, the Supreme Court of India struck down part of the 158-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalised consensual unnatural sex, ruling that it violated rights to equality. Sputnik I do support border security not because I want to keep certain ethnicities out of our nation, but because I support enforcing our laws. I do not care if you come from Canada, France or Honduras, if you break our laws, there should be consequences. But it has become almost impossible to have a reasonable conversation along those lines. That's in part why I laid out my agenda on civility, fairness and opportunity on Thursday on the floor of the Senate . Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) Around 3,000 workers of Korean shipmaking firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) Philippines are at risk of losing their jobs after the company filed for corporate rehabilitation at a regional court in Olongapo City. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Friday said Hanjin Philippines filed a petition on Tuesday to initiate voluntary rehabilitation, due to slowdowns in the global shipping industry. "Manghihingi na po sila ng tulong sa korte upang makausap nila ang mga bangko [They will ask help from the courts to talk to banks] on how they can move forward in paying their debt," Atty. Wilma Eisma, SBMA Chairperson and Administrator said. Eisma clarified however, that Hanjin is not yet ceasing operations. "Wala pa po silang nami-miss na bayad sa utang, bayad pa po sila sa interes, wala pa pong default 'yung mga utang nila. And they are being responsible for filing the rehabilitation before that happens," Eisma said. [Translation: They have not missed in paying debt, they have paid interest, they have not yet reached credit default.] The SBMA said Hanjin currently has $2.3 billion in foreign direct investments, but the company owes $412 million in outstanding loans from Philippine banks. At the peak of demand, Hanjin was able to employ more than 30,000 personnel. In 2018, 7,000 were laid off due to worsening conditions of the shipbuilding industry. Eisma says they are now down to 3,000 employees. "Depende po sa kung ano ang mangyayari sa receivership and rehabilitation petition, maaari po silang magtanggal ng additional 3,000," the SBMA added, saying that at worst Hanjin will only keep 300 to 400 workers to continue operations in the ship repair facility. [Translation: It depends on what will happen on the receivership and rehabilitation petition, they may lay off an additional 3,000.] The SBMA is coordinating with the Department of Labor and Employment, as well as the Department of Public Works and Highways to address the possible layoffs. India will receive S-400 systems without delay: Russia Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:53AM Russia says India will receive "without any delays" the advanced Russian-built S-400 air defense missile systems under a contract signed between Moscow and New Delhi some four months ago. "Our commitments under the contract will be fulfilled. India will receive the systems on time, at the agreed date and without any delays," said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov at a press conference on Wednesday. The senior diplomat also stressed that the missile systems one of Russia's most advanced anti-aircraft weapons would significantly strengthen India's air defense capability. During a visit to India on October 5 last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a contract with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver five regiment sets of the S-400 systems worth 5.43 billion dollars. Moscow and New Delhi had signed an intergovernmental agreement on the sale of five units of the air defense systems during the 17th India-Russia summit back in October 2016 in the Indian coastal region of Goa. Citing an unnamed military diplomat, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Wednesday that India would receive its first regiment set in the fall of 2020. Last week, the Indian government told Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's bicameral parliament, that it would begin receiving the air defense systems from Russia from October next year and that the deliveries would be completed by April 2023, the NDTV reported on Wednesday. The S-400 system, whose full name is the Triumf Mobile Multiple Anti-Aircraft Missile System (AAMS), is an advanced Russian missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy planes, drones, or missiles as far as 402 kilometers away. The advanced system, which went into service in 2007, can also be used against ground objectives. The US has already voiced dissatisfaction with the Russo-Indian S-400 deal. In August, a senior Pentagon official said that the US might impose sanctions against India if the purchase occurred. Under its current unilateral sanctions against Moscow, the US could impose sanctions against New Delhi under Washington's Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which targets countries that buy arms from Russia. The so-called bill was enacted in 2017. Ryabkov, the Russian deputy foreign minister, said Russia opposed such unilateral measures. "We want to be immune to arbitrary unilateral measures undertaken by some countries against a very legitimate form of international cooperation," he said. He also said that, despite having been under Western sanctions for several years, Russia's defense cooperation with other countries, including Turkey and China, "is not falling apart, it is progressing." "If it [the United States] makes such decisions, then it will tarnish its own image not only in Russia but also in other countries that want and will cooperate with us," Ryabkov added. Turkey, a NATO ally of the US, and China have already bought Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems in defiance of Washington. China Says Trade Talks are Making Progress By Bill Ide January 10, 2019 China's Commerce Ministry says that the United States and Beijing made progress in discussions about structural issues such as forced technology transfers and intellectual property rights during trade talks this week. But the lack of details from both sides following the meetings highlights the uncertainty that remains, analysts say. The talks, which were originally scheduled to wrap up on Tuesday stretched to the evening and into Wednesday. U.S. officials have said the talks are going well, a point Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng echoed on Thursday at a regular briefing. "The length of the meetings shows that both sides were serious and sincere about the talks," he said. "Structural issues were an important part of this round of talks and there has been progress in these areas." Gao did not comment, however, on whether he was confident that the talks could be wrapped up in the 90-day period laid out by President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping. Also, he did not say when the next round of talks might be held or who might attend, only that discussions between the two sides continue. In early December, Washington and Beijing agreed to hold off on raising tariffs and to try and reach a deal before the beginning of March. Structural issues and concerns about barriers to investment in China are seen as some of the biggest obstacles to the deal. On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told the U.S cable news Fox Business Network that the administration is expecting something to come out of the talks. "We are moving towards a more balanced and reciprocal trade agreement with China," she said, adding that no one knows yet what that agreement will look like or when it will be ready. The U.S. Trade Representative's office gave only a few details about the talks in Beijing, noting in a statement that the discussions "focused on China's pledge to purchase a substantial amount of agricultural, energy, manufactured goods, and other products and services from the United States." At the briefing, Gao did not provide any details about what further purchases China might make. Darson Chiu, an economist and research fellow at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, said the pledges China made looked similar to those it had offered earlier last year. He said it was hard to be optimistic about this first round of talks. "It looks like short-term compromises have been made, but it remains to be seen if both superpowers are able to resolve their [structural] conflicts," Chiu said. He said that if more compromises are made when Chinese Vice Premier Liu He meets U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, an official who is viewed as being more hawkish on trade with China, the crisis will only be halfway averted. "I don't think the U.S. will easily remove tariffs that have been imposed on Chinese goods. This is what China has wished for, but I think the U.S. will wait and see," Chiu said. Issues such as intellectual property enforcement are very difficult and complex, notes Xu Chenggang, a professor of economics at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. China can say it will do more, but it already has laws for intellectual property protection. "Really here the key is the reality," Xu said. "It's the enforcement of the law and the enforcement of the law is an institutional issue," which depends on the independence of China's judiciary system. Washington has given Beijing a long list of changes that it would like to see from intellectual property rights protection enforcement to industrial subsidies and other non-tariff barriers. The United States has said that any deal with China must be followed up with ongoing verification and enforcement. If the two sides are unable to reach a deal by March, President Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods to 25 percent and to possibly levy additional tariffs that would extend to all imports from China. Joyce Huang contributed to this report. China Deploys 'Ship-Killer' Missiles in Wake of US Ship's South China Sea Tour Sputnik News 18:48 10.01.2019(updated 19:09 10.01.2019) Earlier this week, a US guided-missile destroyer conducted a "freedom of navigation" mission in the Paracel/Xisha Islands, which Beijing said amounted to trespassing in China's territorial waters. The Chinese military has mobilised its new DF-26 nuclear-capable anti-ship intermediate-range missiles to the remote northwest plateau, presumably in response to the US destroyer's passage, the Global Times has reported, citing national broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV). It was not clarified exactly when the missiles were mobilised nor and whether their deployment was permanent or part of a training exercise. In any case, as the Global Times emphasised, the missiles are now deployed and "capable of mobile operations across the country." Commenting on the matter, a military observer who asked to remain anonymous explained that "even when launched from deeper inland areas of China, the DF-26 has a range far-reaching enough to cover the South China Sea." On Monday, the US Navy conducted another "freedom of navigation" mission in the South China Sea, sailing the US guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell near the Paracel Islands, also known by the Chinese as the Xisha Islands and by the Vietnamese as the Hoang Sa islands, a string of islands, reefs and banks in the South China Sea, contested by China and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan. The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) commissioned the DF-26 in April 2018, and has repeatedly shown off the missiles, nicknamed the "Guam Killer" for its theoretical ability to strike the US Navy base at Guam, in military parades in Beijing and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The solid-fuelled missiles have an estimated operational range of 4,500 km. Sputnik China's military major force in maintaining world peace, stability: expert People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:00, January 10, 2019 BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese military is an important force in maintaining the world's peace and stability, a military expert said on Wednesday. At a press briefing, He Lei, former vice president of the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said military relations between China and the United States could serve as the stabilizer of China-U.S. relations. He said the two militaries should show sincerity and treat each other as friends, and the U.S. side should be positive on China's development as well its military. "They should uphold the principles of 'no conflicts and confrontations, not stir up troubles, and adhere to the one-China principle and the three joint communiques as well as the consensus reached by the two heads of states," he said. Zhang Junshe, a researcher from the Naval Research Academy of the PLA, echoed He, saying "the Pacific Ocean is vast enough to accommodate both China and the United States." Calling freedom of navigation in the South China Sea a "pseudo-proposition," Zhang said over 100,000 ships passed through the water every year, including those from countries that have disputes with China. "It is China's consistent stance to respect all countries' navigation freedom in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," Zhang said. "A total of 31 Chinese naval fleets have escorted more than 6,600 ships in the Gulf of Aden over the past 10 years, of which more than a half are foreign commercial ships and those from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. "The Chinese military is taking more and more international responsibilities. All other countries should view the development of the Chinese military in a correct way." He Lei said: "The Chinese military has always been committed to safeguarding national sovereignty and security and maintaining world peace." China launches preparation for 2019 conscription campaign People's Daily Online By Zhang Donghua, Liu Guoshun (China Military Online) 08:42, January 10, 2019 BEIJING, Jan. 9 (ChinaMil) -- The Conscription Office of the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China recently released the Notice on Advancing the Preparation for the 2019 Conscription Campaign, setting up instructions for the enlistment campaign this year. According to the Notice, all relevant areas throughout the country should accomplish this year's recruitment tasks effectively and agreeably. The national conscription network will begin operation on January 10th for online military service registration, enlistment registration, policy consulting, and other affairs. The Notice also calls for maintaining the trend with college students as the primary source of enlistment, endeavoring to achieve the goal of significantly enhancing the overall quality of new recruits, and steadily increasing the proportion of college graduates, so as to provide more quality new recruits for building a world-class military. Additional overseas PLA bases 'possible' People's Daily Online (China Daily) 09:16, January 10, 2019 China will consider setting up new overseas support bases for its military if there are such needs, a senior People's Liberation Army strategist said on Wednesday. Lieutenant General He Lei, former vice-president of the PLA Academy of Military Science, said at a Beijing news conference hosted by the State Council Information Office that whether China establishes new overseas military bases will depend on two factors. "This matter is primarily determined by whether a new base is needed to help China better fulfill missions given by the United Nations," he explained. "Second, it depends on the approval of the nation where a new base should be located." Given these two preconditions, "it is possible for China to build new overseas support bases", said the officer. He emphasized that the main role of a Chinese overseas base is to provide logistical support to Chinese units operating overseas, and not to field Chinese military forces in other countries, so people should not overinterpret this matter. Currently, the Chinese military has one overseas facilitythe Djibouti Logistics Support Base, which was put into operation in August 2017. The base, in Djibouti City, capital of the nation in the Horn of Africa, is tasked with supporting the Chinese military's naval escort, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in Africa and western Asia, enabling the nation to better protect the safety of international strategic maritime passages with other countries, said the PLA Navy. It is expected to help China improve its capabilities in international military cooperation, joint exercises, emergency evacuations and overseas rescues, according to the Navy. The United States, France and Japan also have military bases in Djibouti. Senior Captain Zhang Junshe, a high-ranking researcher at the PLA Naval Research Academy, said at Wednesday's news conference that the Djibouti base is helpful to the Chinese Navy's escort mission, which was requested by the UN. "An overseas base can conveniently resupply ships with fresh food and fuel. It also facilitates logistical work. In the past, when we had no base, our Navy had to transport components from China to replace bad parts on a ship, and it was not easy for our sailors to rest," he said. Regarding China's plans for its aircraft carrier force, Zhang said the country needs at least three carriers, and that it will gradually develop its carrier force in accordance with its road map. The PLA Navy now has one carrier in active service and is testing a second one, which is expected to soon be commissioned. A new carrier, larger than the previous two, is reportedly being built. Belarusian Leader Warns Russia Over Energy Dispute By RFE/RL January 10, 2019 Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has warned Russia that it could lose its ally if Moscow fails to offer Minsk compensation for higher oil prices. "If the leadership of Russia chooses such a path and the loss of its only ally in the Western direction, it's their choice," Belarus's state news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenka as saying on January 10, amid an energy dispute that has marred close ties between the two neighbors. Belarus has long benefited from buying subsidized oil products from Russia and reexporting them, but Russia now plans to charge higher prices for crude to lessen the burden on its economy. Belarus estimates that Moscow's plan will cost Minsk $11 billion in lost revenues over the next six years and has called on Russia to offer compensation. Lukashenka on January 10 threatened to route Belarus's trade in oil and oil products exclusively through the Baltic states. He proposed the option of purchasing oil jointly with Baltic countries, refining it at the Novopolotsk refinery in Belarus, and exporting the products. The Belarusian leader also sought to dispel media speculations that Moscow wants to use the issue to try to push Minsk into agreeing to integrate into Russia. "There is no question of uniting the two states," he said. Russia and Belarus have signed a union agreement that envisaged close economic, political, and military ties. Lukashenka met twice with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end of 2018, but the meetings failed to resolve the energy dispute. A previous dispute with Russia in 2010 prompted Belarus to import Venezuelan oil via ports in Ukraine. Lukashenka has ruled the ex-Soviet nation of some 10 million with an iron fist for nearly a quarter-century, while running the economy largely along Soviet lines. With reporting by AP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/lukashenka-warns-russia- over-energy-dispute/29702211.html Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. 'Move The Muscles, Bones': China's Jade Rabbit-2 Rover 'Wakes Up' From Nap Sputnik News 03:55 11.01.2019 China's Jade Rabbit-2 rover awoke from its extended nap on the moon on Thursday, taking to social media to inform space enthusiasts that it's headed back to work after its five-day hibernation. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the lunar rover told its followers on China's Twitter-like social media platform, Weibo, this week, "At the end of the noon break, get up and move the muscles and bones." The message, a reference to a past Chinese office tradition, was quickly met with joy as several netizens wished the rover luck on it endeavors on the far side of the moon. Some even requested that Jade Rabbit-2, also known as Yutu-2, send a space selfie, according to the Herald. The 308-pound rover, part of China's Chang'e-4 mission, initially went on a standby mode on Saturday to protect itself from the heat on the moon's surface, which can reach upwards of 390 degrees Fahrenheit, the Chinese space agency's China Lunar Exploration Program explained in a statement. The Daily Mail reported that prior to its period of rest, the rover sent out a message on Weibo, saying, "Ya, it's getting hot here. Right now, the back of the moon has entered the day time, there is no atmosphere to block the heat and the temperature will reach 200C. In order to protect important parts and avoid extreme condition, I have to take a siesta for a while." A siesta, indeed. Reports suggest that the rover may need to take a second "nap" to protect itself when the lunar night commences. Temperatures could fall to an estimated 292 degrees Fahrenheit. The lunar rover, which is named after the pet rabbit of Chinese moon goddess Chang'e, began exploring its new landscape some 13 hours after its lander touched down on the lunar surface on January 3. Equipped with instruments developed by scientists from Sweden, Germany and, of course, China, the Chang'e-4 probe is set to study the lunar environment, cosmic radiation and interaction between solar wind and the moon's surface, Xinhua reported. This latest space project from China is the second to land a probe on the moon, with the first taking place in 2013 with the Jade Rabbit rover. Sputnik Protests, Anger Predicted After Congo Names Surprise Election Winner By Anita Powell January 10, 2019 Election officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have sparked surprise and outrage by naming opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the winner of the nation's presidential election, after counting delays and a poll marred by irregularities, rampant suspicions and chaos. Corneille Nangaa, head of the Independent National Election Commission, or CENI, said early Thursday that Tshisekedi had won with more than 7 million votes, or 38.5 percent of the total vote. But the man predicted to win by pre-election surveys -- political newcomer and opposition coalition candidate Martin Fayulu -- immediately cried foul. Fayulu has previously accused the electoral commission, which is known to be loyal to longtime President Joseph Kabila, of playing favorites. "This attitude from the electoral commission raises various legitimate suspicions that fuel political tension throughout the country," Fayulu said. The influential Catholic Church, which sent more than 40,000 observers to the polls, also disputed the official result, saying, "the results of the presidential election as published by the CENI do not correspond to the data collected by our observation mission from the polling and counting stations." Late entry, surprise winner Tshisekedi's victory comes as something of a surprise. The son of the former opposition leader was a late entrant to the poll. He was part of an opposition coalition that chose Fayulu as the opposition candidate, only to reverse course weeks later and enter the race. However, analysts say they see a logic in this announcement because of the clear failure of the ruling party candidate to endear himself to the population. Kabila, who had agreed to step down after this poll, pushed Shadary, his handpicked successor. However, Shadary was so clearly unpopular, analysts say, that the electoral commission could not have plausibly anointed him as the winner. "The electoral victory of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is highly surprising, but the decision makes sense in the context of DRC's political dynamics," EXX Africa Business Risk Intelligence wrote in a report shortly after results were released. "Outgoing President Joseph Kabila will be able to influence Tshisekedi, who now owes his ascendancy to power to Kabila's control of the electoral commission. At least initially, Tshisekedi will be dependent on the political favor of Kabila, who seeks immunity from prosecution and protection for his family's substantial business interests." Few analysts believe the poll was free, fair or transparent. On election day, electoral materials arrived late, voters couldn't find their names on the rolls, and polling machines failed or were too complicated for voters. Provisional results were delayed, raising rumors and suspicions. "Kabila did not want to risk announcing Shadary as the winner, which would have triggered violent protests and international condemnation," the report continued. "Instead, he chose to split the opposition by creating a power-sharing deal with Tshisekedi." 'Captured for a very long time' A spokesman for Tshisekedi confirmed that his camp had been negotiating with Kabila long ahead of the handover, further sparking suspicions that this result was manipulated by the electoral commission. Analyst Claude Kabemba, who leads the Johannesburg-based Southern Africa Resource Watch, says the real power is, and always has been, behind the scenes. "Oh, Joseph Kabila, we said, directly or indirectly, is going to stay in power," he said. "And I think we might have a prisoner in the presidency. And for me, that is scary, unless I am wrong, but judging from what has been happening behind the scenes -- and if Tshisekedi cannot rise to the occasion, we will be captured for a very long time." Analyst Richard Moncrieff of the International Crisis Group predicts Fayulu's supporters will not take the official result lying down. "There will be a lot of anger. That anger will spill over into the streets, I'm quite sure. A lot of people -- a lot of his supporters -- will agree that he won, and will see a result for Tshisekedi as a stolen result, so that's very dangerous." Amos Wangwa contributed to this report from Nairobi. Pompeo Calls for New Spirit of Cooperation Between US, Arab Allies By Edward Yeranian January 10, 2019 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Egyptian leaders Thursday on the third stop of his nine-nation tour of the Middle East. The top U.S. diplomat said his country was pulling out of Syria, but remained steadfast in its determination to fight terrorism. In a speech at the American University in Cairo, he maintained that the U.S. was a "force of good in the region," and "never set out to occupy anyone," unlike Iran. He urged America's Arab allies, however, to shoulder more responsibility in the fight against terrorism. Pompeo's visit comes nearly 10 years after former U.S. President Barack Obama's much-heralded foreign policy address to students at Cairo University which some say set the stage for the Arab Spring popular uprisings that ended mostly in disillusion and bloodshed. During his speech at the American University of Cairo, Pompeo criticized Obama for standing by and taking little or no action as revolutions convulsed the Arab world and the Iranian government repressed popular protests. "What did we learn from all of this? We learned that when America retreats, chaos often follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds. And when we partner with our enemies, they advance. The good news, the good news is this: the age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering." Fighting extremist ideologies Earlier, Pompeo told a press conference that the Trump administration was adopting a more consensual approach with its allies and sought their cooperation in the battle against extremist ideologies. "The U.S. under President Trump will remain a steadfast partner in the region for Egypt and others. We urge every country to take meaningful action to crush terrorism and denounce its ideological roots... Our robust battle against ISIS, al-Qaida and other regional groups will continue. Egypt and the United States are also working together to solidify the Middle East Strategic Alliance, as a means for advancing regional peace, security and prosperity." Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry insisted that Egypt was doing its best to combat terrorist groups and their ideologies, alongside the U.S. "Despite the fact that the capabilities of ISIS or Daesh have been degraded to a very large extent, the network of terrorist organizations goes far beyond that... operating under various names in Syria, in Iraq, in Libya and in West Africa: Boko Haram, Ahrar al-Sham, al-Nusra, the Muslim Brotherhood. They are all associated with the same ideology of fundamentalism, extremism, exclusion and they resort to violence and terrorism... this is a threat that we all face and one that we are determined to fully eradicate," said Shoukry. Proposed strategic alliance Secretary Pompeo urged U.S. allies in the region to take part in the Trump administration's new strategic initiative, called the Middle East Strategic Alliance, or MESA. U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has reportedly set up a meeting of U.S. allies during Secretary Pompeo's upcoming stop in Oman, to discuss MESA. Neither Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi nor Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry hinted at Egypt's intentions over the proposed alliance. Hilal Khashan, who teaches political science at the American University of Beirut, tells VOA that he is pessimistic about the chances of the new alliance succeeding. He said the Middle East is "neither Europe nor Japan," where the U.S. began as an occupying power after World War II, helped rebuild those regions, then withdrew, leaving a system of alliances, like NATO, in place. "Even if [MESA] does in fact come into existence," he argues, "it will remain ineffective." Iran, he says,"has a clear and steady regional policy [while its opponents] do not... No country in the region," he says, "is wiling to go to war against Iran or make a serious effort to stop it." A UMBC spokeswoman said Patterson was a student as of Friday, but it was unclear whether the university had taken any disciplinary action against him since then. Pompeo Pledges Continued Islamic State Fight After US Troop Withdrawal By Nike Ching January 10, 2019 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that although the United States is withdrawing its forces from Syria, it remains committed to fighting Islamic State militants and preventing the group from growing. "We are going to do it in a way in one particular place Syria differently," Pompeo said. "The United States' decision President Trump's decision to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that." He spoke to reporters alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry after the two held talks in Cairo. Pompeo pledged that the United States "will remain a steadfast partner in the region for Egypt and others," and urged every country to take action to "crush terrorism." He also continued U.S. pressure on its allies to take action to push Iran to change its actions. "We discussed the need to counter the greatest threat of all in the Middle East, the Iranian regime and its campaigns of terrorism and destruction," Pompeo said. The top U.S. diplomat also met Thursday with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, and afterward pledged U.S. commitment to protecting religious freedom and fighting terrorism in the Middle East. Pompeo is due to give an afternoon speech about the U.S. relationship with the Middle East in the Trump era, with what the State Department says is a focus on "commitment to peace, prosperity, stability, and security" in the region. He is on a week-long trip to the Middle East, where in addition to urging governments to try to make Iran alter its behavior he is also giving reassurances about U.S. counterterrorism efforts as the United States prepares to withdraw its troops from Syria. Iraq visit Before traveling to Egypt, Pompeo made unannounced visits Wednesday to Irbil and Baghdad in Iraq. "A common understanding that the battle against Daesh, to counter Daesh, and the fight to counter Iran is real and important," Pompeo told journalists before leaving Irbil, referring to Islamic State militants. Pompeo met with top officials from the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government after his meeting with senior leaders of the Iraqi government. "Real progress has been made since the elections in Iraq, which I think will put this country and this region in a far better place," Pompeo said, adding the United States would continue to work with all parties to ensure democracy in Iraq. The State Department said the United States emphasized its commitment to "addressing Iraq's security challenges, including the continuation for our security partnership with Iraqi Security Forces." Bolton in Turkey Pompeo's visit to Iraq followed U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton's visit to Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refused to meet with Bolton. Erdogan dismissed Bolton's calls for the protection of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as a precondition to a U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria. The YPG is a crucial ally in Washington's war against Islamic State militants, but Ankara considers it a terrorist group linked to an insurgency inside Turkey. US troop withdrawal from Syria On Wednesday, Pompeo said Washington and Ankara continued to have conversations about the U.S. troops withdrawal while completing "the mission of taking down the last elements of the [IS] caliphate before we depart." While acknowledging the threat that Turkey is facing from terrorists, Pompeo said the United States wanted to make sure the Syrian Kurdish fighters are protected. "It's important that we do everything we can to make sure that those folks that fought with us are protected and Erdogan has made commitments," said Pompeo, adding Erdogan has used "the language that he has no beef with the Kurds." Pompeo's trip comes after U.S. President Donald Trump's abrupt announcement last month that he will pull all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, causing alarm among U.S. allies in the region. Shift in US strategy A recent report by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) pointed out the U.S. National Defense Strategy under the Trump administration had outlined a move from counterterrorism measures against non-state actors like al-Qaida and Islamic State to security and economic competition with states like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. The report, led by its director of Transnational Threats Project, Seth Jones, said that while these countries present legitimate threats to the United States, declaring victory too quickly against terrorism and then shifting too many resources away from counterterrorism would be very risky. Pompeo began his trip Tuesday in Jordan where he pledged to redouble diplomatic and commercial efforts "to put real pressure on Iran" to change what the Trump administration has said is a number of malign behaviors in the region. Other stops on Pompeo's trip include Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait. 'Refrain from violence' UN chief urges, as presidential election result is announced in DR Congo 10 January 2019 - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed for all parties to "refrain from violence" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), following the announcement of the provisional results of the long-delayed presidential election. The vote initially scheduled to take place two years ago if upheld, marks the vast central African nation's first democratic transfer of power since independence nearly 60 years ago. According to news reports, the preliminary results announced by the independent electoral commission, known by its French acronym, CENI, which declared opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi the winner of the 30 December election, do not tally with the unofficial figures gathered by independent poll observers. According to CENI, Mr. Tshisekedi took more than 38 per cent of the votes cast, ahead of rival presidential hopefuls Martin Fayalu and ruling party candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. Mr. Fayalu immediately rejected the result, said agency reports. "The Secretary-General calls on all stakeholders to refrain from violence and to channel any eventual electoral disputes through the established institutional mechanisms in line with the DRC's Constitution and relevant electoral laws," said Mr. Guterres in a statement released by his Spokesperson, late on Wednesday evening in New York. In a direct call to CENI, the Constitutional Court, the Government, political parties and civil society, Mr Guterres urged them to "each live up to their responsibility in preserving stability and upholding democratic practices" in the DRC. And as the country prepares to enter a new era without President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since the previous incumbent, his father, was assassinated in 2001, the Secretary-General reiterated "the continued support and commitment" of the United Nations. Together with regional actors and international partners, the UN will work "for the consolidation of peace, stability and development" in the DRC, Mr Guterres insisted, his comments coming amid an acute humanitarian crisis made worse by sporadic conflict involving dozens of armed groups in parts of the huge country. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 12.8 million people are now food insecure in DRC, including 4.3 million malnourished children, of whom 1.3 million face severe malnutrition this year. This is despite the country's huge natural riches, seen as a source of illicit wealth by armed groups who continue to hamper access for aid teams, which are also tackling endemic cholera which threatens two million people - combined with a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease in North Kivu and Ituri. Update: air strikes against Daesh The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Syria. 10 January 2019 The UK continues to demonstrate its world-leading air capability in the campaign against Daesh's last major territory, Hajin, with 10 successful air strikes in 19 days over the Christmas period. A combination of Typhoon and Tornado jets, as well as Reaper drones, supported Syrian Democratic Forces on the ground, as Daesh continue to be pushed underground. British aircraft have also been lending assistance to the Iraqi security forces, to prevent the terrorists from regaining a foothold within the country. Summary Wednesday 19 December Tornados destroyed a truck-bomb concealed inside a building south-east of Hajin in Syria. Friday 21 December a Reaper engaged a group of Daesh extremists south-east of Hajin, whilst Tornados struck two workshops making IEDs. Saturday 22 December a Reaper hit a terrorist heavy weapon and its crew to the south-east of Hajin, and Tornados bombed three Daesh strong-points including a heavy machine-gun position. Monday 24 December Tornados attacked two Daesh-held buildings south-east of Hajin. Wednesday 26 December Typhoons and Tornados struck five terrorist-held buildings and cratered a road south-east of Hajin to prevent Daesh moving along it. Thursday 27 December Typhoons and Tornados hit three Daesh positions south-east of Hajin. Friday 28 December Tornados destroyed a terrorist stockpile of weapons hidden underground in the western deserts of Iraq. Monday 31 December Typhoons bombed a tunnel north of Baghdad where terrorists had taken up residence. Tuesday 1 January a Reaper engaged a small group of extremists south-east of Hajin. Sunday 6 January a Reaper struck terrorists in eastern Syria, to the north of Abu Kamal. Detail Royal Air Force aircraft have continued to fly daily armed reconnaissance missions over eastern Syria in support of the Syrian Democratic Forces offensive against Daesh around Hajin, as well as lending assistance when requested by the Iraqi security forces to prevent the terrorists from regaining a foothold within the country. With the SDF pushing south-east from Hajin, Tornado GR4s provided close air support on Wednesday 19 December. The SDF encountered a truck-bomb concealed inside a building, and took cover whilst the Tornados dealt with the threat. A single Paveway IV guided bomb, on target, allowed them to continue their advance. Further support was rendered on Friday 21 December by a Reaper and another flight of Tornados. The Reaper's crew successfully used a Hellfire missile against a small group of Daesh as they moved across country, whilst the Tornados destroyed two workshops which were producing improvised explosive devices. The following day, a Reaper spotted terrorists manning a heavy weapon and engaged them with a Hellfire which scored a direct hit. The Reaper then provided surveillance support to a coalition air strike on a Daesh-held building nearby. Tornados were also active south-east of Hajin, conducting Paveway IV attacks which destroyed a heavy machine-gun position and two other Daesh strong-points. Further targets were identified on Monday 24 December, when Tornados, as ever supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, bombed two terrorist-held buildings in the path of the SDF advance. With Daesh continuing to lose ground, it was necessary to prevent them moving men and equipment, most particularly their favoured truck-bombs, along a road towards the SDF; a pair of Typhoons cratered the road with Paveway IVs on Wednesday 26 December. The Typhoons then joined a Tornado flight in destroying three Daesh-occupied buildings: the Typhoons dealt with one target, the Tornados struck the other two. The Tornados remained on station to provide further assistance if required by the SDF, and subsequently attacked a further two buildings from which the terrorists were firing. On Thursday 27 December, Typhoons bombed two more buildings held by Daesh, whilst Tornados hit a third. Coalition aircraft remain available to support the Iraqi security forces as and when required, to ensure Iraq remains free of Daesh. Intelligence established that a terrorist stockpile of weapons was concealed deep in the western deserts of Anbar province, and two Tornados were tasked with its destruction on Friday 28 December. This was accomplished using a pair of Paveway IVs. A number of terrorists were meanwhile tracked to tunnels hidden beneath an extensive palm grove some twenty miles north of Baghdad; Typhoons carried out a successful attack, again with two Paveway IVs, against the tunnels and the terrorists within. Operations continued south-east of Hajin on New Year's Day, with a Reaper providing overwatch for the SDF. Surveillance support was given to a coalition air strike on a Daesh strong-point, and the Reaper's crew then tracked terrorists as they attempted to take up new positions, engaging them with a Hellfire missile. With the SDF pushing further to the south and east of Hajin, along the road to Abu Kamal, a Reaper again flew overwatch for them on Sunday 6 January. The Reaper tracked a Daesh group to a compound some miles north of Abu Kamal, and provided targeting support to coalition fast jets as they subsequently delivered an attack. Two terrorists attempted to take up a new position after the compound was bombed, but were successfully engaged by the Reaper, using a Hellfire missile. Previous update On Friday 23 November, Syrian Democratic Forces attacking Daesh positions to the north and north-east of Hajin came into contact with several groups of terrorists in the open desert. Two Tornado GR4s and two Typhoon FGR4s provided close air support to the SDF; a blanket of cloud covered the area, but close coordination with the SDF and the precision of the Paveway IV bombs allowed our aircraft to conduct strikes through the cloud on seven Daesh targets, all successful, despite the often close proximity of the SDF to the enemy. Two Daesh armed trucks and a heavy machine-gun position were amongst the targets reported by the SDF to have been hit. Similar close support was provided on Saturday 24 November, when the continuing difficult weather conditions did not prevent a flight of Typhoons from striking five groups of terrorists caught in the open, and a Tornado reconnaissance mission hitting a sixth. No further targets required prosecution by RAF aircraft until Monday 3 December, when the SDF encountered Daesh positions a couple of miles to the north of Hajin. A pair of Tornados supported them, delivering two attacks in rapid succession. The first attack simultaneously targeted an armoured bulldozer and a group of Daesh in the open; although dropped through cloud, both Paveways were reported by the SDF to have struck their targets accurately. The same was true of the Paveway IV released shortly afterwards in the second attack, against a tunnel in which a number of terrorists were concealed. On Wednesday 5 December, Typhoons supported an SDF advance north-west of Hajin. The SDF came into contact with two Daesh positions, but heavy cloud gave the terrorists no protection and both targets were successfully struck with Paveway IVs. Typhoons conducted a further strike in the same area the following day, accounting for a further terrorist position. A Tornado flight was directed onto a group of terrorists, along with a number of vehicles, north-west of Hajin, on Friday 7 December. Once again, persistent cloud complicated the attack, but a Paveway IV was guided accurately onto the group and their vehicles. North of Hajin, the SDF reported being in a firefight with two Daesh defensive positions; Typhoons worked closely with the SDF to eliminate the threat from both targets, hitting them with Paveways. Two more Daesh positions nearby were bombed by Typhoons on Saturday 8 December. On Sunday 9 December, Typhoons used a single Paveway IV to destroy a Daesh-held building on the northern outskirts of Hajin. With the SDF having now advanced into Hajin itself, a Reaper provided prolonged close air support to them on Monday 10 December. Its crew conducted three attacks with the Reaper's Hellfire missiles against Daesh terrorists engaged in often close-quarters combat with the SDF, and provided surveillance support to four attacks by other coalition aircraft. These included attacks by a pair of RAF Typhoons which destroyed two Daesh strongpoints. Another Reaper continued to support the SDF on Tuesday 11 December; its crew identified a group of Daesh with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, firing at the SDF, and engaged them with a Hellfire missile. The Reaper's crew then observed another group of terrorists repositioning after a firefight with the SDF, and caught them in the open with a second Hellfire. Meanwhile, a coalition surveillance aircraft had identified a Daesh mortar team operating under cover of trees, and was able to direct the Reaper onto this target, which was successfully attacked with a GBU-12 guided bomb. Reaper support to the SDF continued into Wednesday 12 December. Several terrorists were spotted in a treeline, and successfully targeted with a GBU-12. The Reaper's crew then observed extremists loading a truck with weapons and ammunition; they and the vehicle were struck with a Hellfire missile. Two more Hellfire attacks were carried out during the patrol, one hitting a group of terrorists firing at the SDF, the other striking a number of terrorists as they held a meeting behind the front line. Tornados were also active over Hajin, as the SDF advanced ever further into the town, and they carried out a successful attack with three Paveway IVs against a Daesh operating base. Tornado and Typhoon flights provided close air support to the SDF as they fought to clear Daesh from areas of eastern and southern Hajin on Thursday 13 December. Very close coordination was required between our aircraft and the SDF since the latter were engaged in close-range combat with the terrorists; two attacks by the Typhoons accounted for five Daesh defensive positions, whilst three attacks by the Tornados dealt with a further four terrorist strongpoints. On Friday 14 December, with the main town of Hajin reported to be largely liberated, a Reaper supported the SDF as they consolidated their control. Its crew conducted two successful attacks with Hellfire missiles against groups of terrorists observed south of the town. To the south-east, Tornados meanwhile assisted the SDF as they advanced down the main road towards Abu Kamal; Paveway IVs were used to eliminated a Daesh sniper team and a strongpoint, as well as cratering a road to prevent the terrorists moving up truck-bombs to attack a newly liberated area. Typhoons also provided close air support to the SDF, conducting attacks which struck six Daesh strongpoints, all of which had been firing on the SDF, as well as an armoured ZSU-23-4 anti-aircraft vehicle. The SDF continued to push south-east from Hajin on Saturday 15 December: a Reaper supported a coalition airstrike, then employed Hellfire missiles to engage three groups of terrorists, including one group loading weapons and equipment onto a truck. A GBU-12 guided bomb was also used to target terrorists who were sniping at the SDF from a building. Tornados also patrolled the area, and bombed a Daesh position south of Hajin. The following day, a Reaper spotted a large group of extremists advancing towards the SDF. The Reaper helped disrupt this attempted attack with a series of three Hellfire and one GBU-12 engagements among the targets struck was a light machine-gun team firing on the SDF and also provided surveillance support to other coalition aircraft. A second Reaper worked with a pair of Typhoons over a nearby area; the Reaper struck a number of Daesh with a Hellfire, whilst the Typhoons conducted two attacks, hitting four Daesh-held buildings. Typhoons conducted further attacks south-east of Hajin on Monday 17 December. The SDF advance ran into a series of Daesh defensive positions, but in the course of three separate Paveway IV attacks, the Typhoons were able to strike accurately through heavy cloud to hit five Daesh-held buildings, as well as a group of terrorists caught in the open. In each case, the weapons had to be delivered with great care and precision given the proximity of the SDF to the targets, with which they were engaged in firefights. Drone Attack on Military Parade Kills at Least 6 Yemeni Soldiers - Source Sputnik News 14:27 10.01.2019(updated 18:39 10.01.2019) CAIRO (Sputnik) - At least six Yemeni servicemen were killed and 14 more injured as a result of a drone attack on a military parade at the Al Anad military air base in Yemen's governorate of Lahij carried out by the Houthi rebels, a source in the administration told Sputnik. "According to preliminary data on the Houthis' explosive-laden UAV attack, six soldiers were killed and 14 injured," the source said Thursday. The source also added that Lahij Governor Ahmad Abdullah Turki and other military commanders were among those injured in the incident. The comments come after earlier on Thursday, Al Masira, a broadcaster run by the rebel Houthi movement, reported that the Houthis' unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had conducted an attack targeting "invaders" and "mercenaries" at the Al Anad military air base. Following the reports, a source in the administration of Lahij Governorate told Sputnik that Chief of Staff of Yemen Abdullah Nakhi, his deputy Saleh Zindani as well as the head of the military intelligence of the country, Mohamed Tamah, were injured in the attack. Commenting on the attack, Mukhtar al-Rahbi, an adviser to the Yemeni minister of information and former press secretary to Yemen's president, told Sputnik that it demonstrates that Houthis seek an escalation of the crisis. "The Houthis have [taken responsibility for] the attack. The Houthis declare that they do not want calm but escalation. The United Nations and the international community must condemn this terrorist act," al-Rahbi said. The minister's adviser confirmed that a number of military leaders present at the parade had only received minor injuries during the drone attack. "The attack targeted military leaders of the Yemeni army, headed by General [Abdullah] Salem al-Nakhi, chief of staff of the Yemeni army, deputy chief of staff and governor of Lahij and military leaders. According to the confirmed information, the leadership suffered minor injuries," al-Rahbi said. The attack took place almost a month after a round of UN-led consultations on the peace settlement process in Yemen took place in Sweden, resulting in an agreement on various humanitarian measures. The agreement included a proposal for the exchange of prisoners, a ceasefire in the Yemeni port city of Al Hudaydah, and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in the area. Sputnik Pompeo: US Troops to Withdraw From Syria, Continue Anti-Daesh Fight Sputnik News 14:43 10.01.2019(updated 20:05 10.01.2019) On 19 December, US President Donald Trump announced victory over Daesh in Syria, adding that the fight against the terrorist group was the only reason the United States remained in Syria. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo commented at a joint press conference in Cairo on the US troops withdrawal from Syria and Washington's plans in the Middle East. America is a "force of good" in the Middle East, Pompeo said. He also claimed that "when America retreats, chaos follows." "For those who fret about the use of American power, remember: America has always been a liberating force, not an occupying power, in the Middle East. We've never dreamed of domination. Can you say the same of the Iranian regime?" the US secretary of state said. He added that the United States will withdraw its troops from Syria while continuing to finish the battle against Daesh terrorists. "The threat from radical Islamic terrorism is real. ISIS continues, we fight them in many regions around the country. Our commitment to continuing to prevent Daesh* growth is real We will continue at that. We're going to do it, in a way, in one particular place Syria differently. The United States' decision, President [Donald] Trump's decision, to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that," Pompeo said at a press conference in Egypt. Mike Pompeo stressed that the US will continue to carry out airstrikes in the Middle East as targets arise. "Our airstrikes in the region will continue as targets arise," Pompeo said in a keynote address in Cairo, according prepared remarks released by the the State Department. He added that Washington remained a steadfast partner in the Middle East. Withdrawal of US Troops From Syria Earlier in December, media reported that Trump had ordered the Pentagon to develop a plan to withdraw about half of the 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan, coinciding with the president's announcement that 2,000 American military personnel were set to leave Syria. According to US officials, the pull-out of the US troops, with their number exceeding 2,000, will take from 60 to 100 days. However, Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria was criticised by several US officials and resulted in two high-profile resignations US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis, who announced that his views were no longer aligned with Trump's, and Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the US coalition in Syria. *Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia Sputnik Parliament Debate On Macedonia Name Change Delayed Until January 11 By RFE/RL's Balkan Service January 10, 2019 The Macedonian parliament's crucial debate on the country's name change was delayed until January 11, as Prime Minister Zoran Zaev scrambled to secure the required majority. Lawmakers on January 10 were set to resume the debate on renaming the country the Republic of Northern Macedonia in order to resolve a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece and open the way for NATO and European Union membership. But the start of the debate was delayed several times before being rescheduled for noon local time the following day to give Zaev more time to negotiate with lawmakers. A two-thirds majority in parliament is needed to pass a constitutional amendment on the name change. Speaking at the start of the debate on January 9, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev urged lawmakers to vote in favor of the name change. "This is a historic and patriotic choice. We can be the generation that has made a bold decision," Zaev said. If parliament passes the name change, Greece has promised to stop blocking Skopje's efforts to join NATO and the European Union. Zaev doesn't have a two-thirds majority in the 120-member parliament. That means he and his party need lawmakers from the opposition VMRO-DPMNE to back the effort. That happened in November, when the name-change process began. The debate was initially scheduled to begin during the early afternoon of January 9 but was postponed for several hours while several hundred nationalist protesters demonstrated in front of the parliament against the name change. The protesters say their demonstration was aimed at defending Macedonia's name, identity, and history, as well as the traditions of the Macedonian people, against what they called "the greatest national treachery." The protesters said they would gather again on January 10. The agreement with Greece was signed in June 2018. The deal has met with opposition in both countries, with critics saying it makes too many concessions to the other side. Athens argues that use of the name "Macedonia" implies territorial claims on Greece's northern province of the same name, and on its ancient Greek heritage. Even if the Macedonia approves the name change, it still needs to be cleared by the Greek parliament. With reporting by AFP and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/macedonian -lawmakers-to-resume-crucial-debate-over -name-change/29701163.html Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Syria Will Happen, Pompeo Says January 10, 2019 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria announced by President Donald Trump last month will go ahead despite widespread criticism. "President Trump's decision to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that," Pompeo told a joint press conference in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on January 10. Pompeo is in Egypt in the latest stop of a nine-country Middle East tour aimed at reassuring the United States' Arab partners that Washington is not abandoning the region. While confirming the decision to withdraw troops from Syria, Pompeo said Washington will continue to finish the battle against the Islamic State group, adding that the United States will remain a steadfast partner in the Middle East. Pompeo arrived in Egypt on January 10 after visits to Jordan and Iraq. Pompeo said on Twitter after talks with President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi that "the U.S. stands firmly with Egypt in its commitments to protecting religious freedom and in the fight against terrorism that threatens all of our friends in the Middle East." He is also to deliver a speech on Washington's broader Middle East objectives. From Egypt, Pompeo plans to continue on to Gulf Arab states. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pompeo-in-egypt-amid-concerns- over-u-s-plans-in-middle-east/29701261.html Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. Several Saudi-backed militants killed in Yemen's retaliatory drone raid Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 08:15AM Yemeni armed forces, led by the Houthi Ansarullah movement, have launched a retaliatory drone attack against a gathering of Saudi-backed militants loyal to the ex-regime in the country's southern province of Lahej, killing several of them. Yemen's Arabic-language al-Masirah television network said the attack targeted "the leadership of the invaders" on Thursday. It said several militants were killed in the raid, without specifying the number. Saudi-owned broadcaster Al-Arabiya said five were killed and several others injured when the combat drone struck a military base in al-Anad district, where a military parade was taking place. Some 12 more Saudi-backed forces were also wounded in the retaliatory attack, according to the report. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing the former Riyadh-backed government back to power. The invaders have, however, failed to achieve their objective in the face of strong resistance by Yemeni Houthi fighters and allied armed forces. Over 30,000 flee Boko Haram violence in northern Nigeria: UN Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:08AM The United Nations (UN) has warned about growing violence by Boko Haram militants in northeastern Nigeria, saying tens of thousands of people mostly women and children have fled their homes in the conflict-ridden area over the past weeks. The international body raised the alarm on Wednesday following heavy clashes between Nigerian government forces and armed militants from the Takfiri terrorist group in Baga Town, on the shores of Lake Chad, about 200 kilometers north of the Borno State capital, Maiduguri. "More than 30,000 internally displaced people have arrived in Maiduguri, mainly from Baga, in recent weeks. The majority of these people have arrived since December 20, 2018, often after arduous journeys with young children," said the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon. He said a clash on December 26 triggered a "massive displacement" of civilians, causing men, women, and children to flock to already-overcrowded camps in Maiduguri and struggle with a lack of "humanitarian assistance, notably shelter, food, water and sanitation." The UN report said a second attack on Monguno, a garrison town southwest of Baga, on December 28 had also led to the arrival of some 20,000 people at one camp in Maiduguri, stretching its capacity beyond the limit. "The impact of the recent fighting on innocent civilians is devastating and has created a humanitarian tragedy. It is heart-wrenching to see so many of these people living in congested camps, or sleeping outside with no shelter. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict and the United Nations is extremely concerned about the impact that violence in northeast Nigeria, especially in Borno State, is having on civilians," Kallon said. The UN official further said "some 260 aid workers" had to withdraw from three local government areas in northern Borno State near Lake Chad since November, citing possible attacks by Boko Haram militants. Kallon said the withdrawal the largest since the international response to the violence increased in 2016 had affected the delivery of humanitarian assistance to "hundreds of thousands of people." Boko Haram's nine-year militancy is estimated to have killed more than 27,000 people and forced 1.8 million others to flee their homes, also triggering a humanitarian crisis in Nigeria. In 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's security record has become a campaign issue ahead of a February election in which he is seeking a second term. Buhari, a former general, came to power in 2015 on a platform of stamping out Boko Haram; but despite retaking swathes of territory from the group, Boko Haram continues to stage attacks targeting both civilians and military personnel. Buhari's government maintains that the militancy is close to defeat. Pompeo vows US will withdraw troops from Syria Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 03:29PM US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has vowed that President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from Syria will go ahead despite criticism from some US and Arab officials. The top US diplomat was speaking Thursday at a joint press conference in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukry on the third leg of a Middle East tour. "President Trump's decision to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that," Pompeo said. Pompeo also delivered a scathing rebuke of former US President Barack Obama for his Mideast policies, saying his administration's "misguided" and "wishful" thinking diminished America's role in the region. "In falsely seeing ourselves as a force for what ails the Middle East, we were timid about asserting ourselves when the times and our partners demanded it," Pompeo said, without mentioning the former president by name. Pompeo blamed the previous administration for the rise of the Daesh terror group in Iraq and Syria, as well as the growing influence of Iran in the region. Iran and Russia have been supporting the Syrian government in its anti-terror operations at the request of Damascus. Last month, Trump declared victory against Daesh terrorists in Syria and announced to pull out American troops from the country, saying that US troops cannot stay in Syria "forever." Trump tweeted Monday that his plans to withdraw US troops from Syria are "no different" than originally announced. Last week, Trump's national security adviser John Bolton set conditions for a troop departure that could take months, contradicting the president's insistence that the withdrawal would be immediate and without any conditions. The US Defense Department has rejected any timetable for withdrawing the roughly 2,000 US troops from Syria. During his speech, Pompeo praised the Trump administration's actions across the region for cementing ties with traditional, albeit authoritarian regimes and for imposing new sanctions against Iran. In May 2018, Trump withdrew his country from the 2015 landmark Iran nuclear deal and decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran. Under the deal, reached between Iran and six major powers -- the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China -- Tehran agreed to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions. Because Taneytown was quite isolated from Frederick Town, it was hard to get news about the rest of the state. The only way citizens could communicate with each other was at public meetings, usually in taverns, churches, and mills. The Maryland General Assembly sponsored the creation of several taverns along main roads for use by the public. Communities used these taverns as a means of getting information from travelers or for public postings of new laws the General Assembly passed for the Royal Crown. Many would later serve as assembly points for the militia. Although there is no documentation to show the General Assembly sponsored the creation of the taverns located in Taneytown, we do know that Jacob and Adam Good were both active in the political arena and both were tavern owners. New combat drone used in airstrike against Saudi mercenaries: Yemeni Army Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 04:45PM The spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces says army troopers and allied fighters from Popular Committees made use of a new domestically-developed combat drone in their air raid against Saudi-backed militiamen loyal to former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi at an air base in the country's southwestern province of Lahij. Speaking during a press conference in the capital Sana'a on Thursday, Brigadier General Yahya Saree said Yemeni soldiers and their allies had attacked Saudi mercenaries at al-Anad Air Base with a Qasef K2 (Striker K2) drone. He added that the new drone could strike its designated targets from 20 meters away, and that it could carry a large payload of explosive materials. Saree further noted that dozens of high-ranking Saudi-paid militiamen were killed or injured in the aerial attack, noting that the injured mercenaries were transported by helicopter to Aden German International Hospital in the port city of Aden. He pointed out that Saudi mercenaries were now in a state of panic and terror as a result of the high-precision military operation, stressing that their commanders would no longer be able to escape unscathed if they continued to serve the aggressors. Yemeni snipers shoot dead nine Saudi mercenaries Meanwhile, at least nine Saudi-backed militiamen have been killed when Yemeni army soldiers and fighters from Popular Committees launched separate attacks in Saudi Arabia's southern border region of Jizan as well as the northern Yemeni province of al-Jawf. The media bureau of Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement said Yemeni forces and their allies fatally shot five Saudi mercenaries in the Wadi Jarrah area of the region, located 966 kilometers south of the Saudi capital Riyadh on Thursday evening. Two other Saudi-sponsored militiamen were killed when Yemeni forces targeted them east of the mountainous Jabal al-Doud district. Elsewhere in the Khabb and Sha'af district of Jawf province, Yemeni sharpshooters killed two Saudi-backed militiamen. Also on Thursday, Yemeni army soldiers and fighters from Popular Committees carried out offensives against the positions of Saudi mercenaries in the Tabishia'a area of Yemen's southern coastal province of Ta'izz, killing and injuring scores of the Saudi-paid militiamen in the process. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing Hadi's government back to power and crushing the country's Houthi Ansarullah movement. According to a new report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, the Saudi-led war has so far claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis. The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN has already said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in more than 100 years. A number of Western countries, the US and Britain in particular, are also accused of being complicit in the ongoing aggression as they supply the Riyadh regime with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance. Dozens killed as Taliban attack troops in four provinces Iran Press TV Thu Jan 10, 2019 05:41PM Taliban militants have killed at least 32 members of security forces and pro-government militias during a series of coordinated attacks on checkpoints in four Afghan provinces. Officials said the attacks took place in the northern provinces of Kunduz, Baghlan, and Takhar, and in the western province of Badghis early Thursday. In Kunduz, at least 10 soldiers and police were killed and 11 others wounded in the clashes which also left 25 Taliban fighters dead, a local official said. In neighboring Baghlan and Takhar provinces, local Afghan officials said the Taliban killed 16 members of pro-government militias, but also suffered heavy casualties. In Badghis, six members of security forces were killed and 10 others wounded, spokesman for the provincial governor Jamshid Shahabi said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement, saying dozens of Afghan troops had been killed and a large amount of ammunition and weapons seized. On Monday, more than 20 Afghan security forces were killed as Taliban militants stormed security checkpoints in Badghis. The attacks come even as the Kabul government has stepped up efforts to convince the Taliban to end the 17-year militancy amid Washington's failures on the battleground. US State Department's special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has said he had held "productive" meetings in Abu Dhabi with Afghan and international partners "to promote intra-Afghan dialogue towards ending the conflict." Khalilzad said the Taliban seek an agreement on the withdrawal of foreign forces, while the US wants assurances from the militant group that its forces would not be attacked. The talks are the latest in a flurry of diplomatic efforts aimed at putting an end to the war in Afghanistan which began with the US invasion 17 years ago. The United States invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 after the September 11 attacks. US forces have remained bogged down there through the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and now Donald Trump. Taliban militants have pledged to step up their attacks unless US forces fully withdraw from Afghanistan. Amphibious Warfare Tactics Instructors Come Together for first Re-Blue Event Navy News Service Story Number: NNS190110-11 Release Date: 1/10/2019 2:39:00 PM By Lt. Brianna Frazier, SMWDC AMW Division Public Affairs JOINT EXPEDITIONARY BASE LITTLE CREEK-FORT STORY (NNS) -- Graduates of the Amphibious Warfare (AMW) Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) program participated in the inaugural AMW WTI re-blue event at the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center's (SMWDC) AMW Division on board Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., from Jan. 8-10. The event focused on SMWDC AMW WTI initiative since its inception in 2016. The event provided WTIs with an updated AMW WTI curriculum review; highlighting how the course has grown from a twelve-week pilot into a fifteen-week course of instruction. The course now includes a two-week "Battle Problem" that synthesizes all course material, allowing students to execute their newly developed skills in a tactical planning environment. WTIs in attendance also discussed AMW Division's role throughout Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercises, and updates to AMW related doctrine and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP), which include the soon to be released update to the dual Navy and Marine Corps Ship-to-Shore Movement publication. "Amphibious Warfare is a complex fight," said Rear Adm. Dave Welch, commander of Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC). "Having top-notch officers dedicated to mastering this warfare area is critical to the future of our Navy. The WTI program is a great provider of quality instruction and Fleet support to ships and staffs, ensuring they remain tactically proficient and able to execute the mission." SMWDC Re-Blue events provide a venue to bring together WTIs with their warfare community and divisions which include AMW, Anti-Submarine/Surface (ASW/SUW), Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) and Mine Warfare (MIW) - to exchange lessons learned, doctrine, and TTP updates from the Fleet while building camaraderie within the cadre. "This event signifies the importance of the growth of SMWDC's AMW Division; and SMWDC as a whole," said Capt. Darren Nelson, SMWDC's AMW division director. "Re-blues allow us to maintain the pulse of the Fleet and get valuable feedback from the graduates of the program. The discussions held this week will directly contribute to future fleet support and further curriculum development and refinement." Surface Fleet leaders at all levels and in any fleet concentration area interested in fleet outreach from senior SMWDC staff and WTIs can email the WTI Program Managers at SWO_WTI@Navy.mil to arrange a visit. Ship visits include a discussion of the SMWDC mission and how SMWDC provides support to ships at an individual and enterprise level, and how junior officers are supporting this significant effort. SMWDC is a subordinate command of Commander, U.S. Naval Surface Forces, and is headquartered at Naval Base San Diego with four divisions in Virginia and California focused on IAMD, ASW/SUW, AMW, and MIW. U.S. Air Force Accepts First Boeing KC-46A Pegasus Tanker Aircraft SEATTLE, Jan. 10, 2019 The U.S. Air Force has accepted the first Boeing [NYSE: BA] KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft, setting the stage for the aircraft's delivery to McConnell Air Force Base, in Wichita, Kan., in the coming weeks. "The KC-46A is a proven, safe, multi-mission aircraft that will transform aerial refueling and mobility operations for decades to come. We look forward to working with the Air Force, and the Navy, during their initial operational test and evaluation of the KC-46, as we further demonstrate the operational capabilities of this next-generation aircraft across refueling, mobility and combat weapons systems missions," said Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "I want to thank the men and women of the Air Force and across the Boeing tanker team who made this happen." During extensive flight testing, six KC-46 completed more than 3,800 flight hours and offloaded more than four million pounds of fuel to A-10, B-52, C-17, KC-10, KC-135, KC-46, F-15E, F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft. The Pegasus has been rigorously tested throughout all aspects of the refueling envelope and in all conditions, including day, night and covert. With the signing of what's known as the DD250 paperwork, the delivery activities can proceed. McConnell Air Force Base will receive the first four KC-46 aircraft, all of which are ready for delivery, with four subsequent aircraft destined for Oklahoma's Altus Air Force Base, beginning as early as next month. Boeing is on contract for 52 of an expected 179 tankers for the Air Force. Beyond the first aircraft that was accepted today, nine aircraft are undergoing customer acceptance testing with the remaining aircraft of the contracted amount in production. "This is an exciting and historic day for the Air Force and Boeing, as we hand over the first of many KC-46 tankers," said Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg. "I'm proud of the dedication and commitment by our enterprise-wide team, and we're honored to provide this valuable and capable aircraft to our customer. We look forward to continuing to build and support the KC-46 for the Air Forceand other customers across the globefor decades to come." The KC-46, derived from Boeing's commercial 767 airframe, is built in Boeing's Everett, Wash., facility. # # # Contacts: Charles Ramey KC-46 Tanker Program Mobile: +1 206-851-4147 charles.b.ramey@boeing.com Ecuador Believes Assange Should Surrender to UK Authorities Foreign Minister Sputnik News 02:45 11.01.2019 MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Jose Valencia suggested that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has found shelter at Ecuador's embassy in London, should surrender to the UK authorities. The whistleblower has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy since 2012. The UK authorities have maintained a warrant for Assange's arrest, issued after he breached bail conditions linked to an investigation in Sweden. The Swedish authorities have since dropped their investigation. Assange is fearing potential extradition to the United States, as WikiLeaks has published a number of classified documents, allegedly leaked from US government agencies. "We see two options for Mr Assange: to remain for an indefinite period [at the embassy] or to surrender, and this option, we believe, is the most positive for him," Valencia said, as quoted by the Foreign Ministry. The foreign minister reiterated calls on Assange to comply with a protocol for his stay at the embassy. Last year, the Ecuadorian authorities introduced the home rules, restricting Assange's visits and communications. The whistleblower's lawyers challenged the decision in the court saying the restrictions violated Assange's rights. Moreover, Assange has suggested that he has been spied on in the embassy. However, Assange's appeal was dismissed by an Ecuadorian court in December. Sputnik Kaspersky Spotted Leak NSA Missed as Spy Agency Lacks 'Good Handle' on Security Sputnik News 03:56 11.01.2019(updated 03:57 11.01.2019) On Wednesday, Politico reported that Moscow-based Kaspersky Labs, which is banned on US government computers over spying fears, helped uncover in 2016 perhaps the single largest theft of US intelligence in history. Sputnik spoke with Kim Zetter, the author who broke the ironic story, about what happened. Researchers at security software company Kaspersky Labs received some strange messages on Twitter in August 2016, messages that seemed connected to a huge theft of sophisticated US National Security Agency (NSA) hacking tools. After Kaspersky investigated and discovered the identity of the sender and reported their findings to the NSA, a subsequent search of the man's home uncovered two decades' worth of stolen data amounting to 50 terabytes' worth of classified material from NSA and other government offices. Harold T. Martin III had a top secret national security clearance and had worked for defense and intelligence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton and other contracting companies since the late 1990s. His career included jobs at the NSA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as well as a Defense Department office, Zetter noted in her article. However now, as Martin is set to go to trial, the US government had been far from grateful to Kaspersky. Instead, Washington accused Kapersky of colluding with Russian intelligence to steal and expose classified NSA tools and banning the use of its services from US government computers. This, despite the fact that Kaspersky helped the NSA catch a colossal data theft its own security protocols had systematically failed to detect for decades. Zetter, a prolific journalist who has contributed to Politico, the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN, NPR and other outlets, is also the author of the book "Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World's First Digital Weapon." She spoke with Radio Sputnik's Loud and Clear Thursday about the ironic situation. "Kaspersky didn't actually know that when they contacted the NSA," Zetter told Sputnik. "They didn't know that the contractor, Harold Martin, had 50 terabytes of government data in his home and car. All they knew was that there was something suspicious about him reaching out to them." "So, back in August 2016, on August 13, one researcher at Kaspersky received two messages from an account that was later connected to Martin it was an anonymous account, they couldn't tell who it was initially and it was a strange message, because it started like as if they were in the middle of a conversation or as if they'd been talking previously, and it said, 'thinking about arranging a conversation with Yevgeniy present,' and Yevgeniy presumably refers to Eugene Kaspersky, who's the CEO of Kaspersky Labs. It was quickly followed up by a second message that said, 'shelf life three weeks,' implying that whatever this person wanted to discuss had a limited window of opportunity for it." "And that was it. The researcher didn't initially see the messages," she explained, because the researcher didn't follow the account, so the message was sorted into a "request" folder you have to purposefully access in order to see. So the researcher didn't find it for three days. Just 30 minutes after those messages were sent, though, a group called "Shadow Brokers" started posting classified NSA hacking tools online, Zetter told hosts John Kiriakou and Brian Becker. Three days later, the researcher quickly put two and two together and did some online sleuthing. "They discovered the identity of the sender of these messages, who they could tell was working in the intelligence community," Zetter said. "That triggered an alarm for them," she said. "Maybe this guy had some connection to the Shadow Brokers who were leaking NSA tools." However, that connection has never been proven. Upon receiving the relevant information from Kaspersky, the authorities "obtained a search warrant for his [Martin's] Twitter account and his home, and when they got to his home they found an estimated 50 terabytes of classified data at his home and [in his] car." However, Martin has only ever been charged with 20 counts of unauthorized retention of government data never espionage. The close timing of the messages and the Shadow Brokers file drop was something Zetter couldn't dismiss, although she noted that "he doesn't offer them anything, he doesn't say he has anything in these messages to give them, and then as soon as the Kaspersky researcher replied, saying, 'do you have a PGP encryption key and email address that you want to chat over,' the guy blocked him," and that was the end of their communication, she noted. "So we don't really know what the intention of that correspondence was. A judge ruled that it was certainly suspicious, the timing of it and the nature of it, that it warranted a search warrant." However, Zetter noted that perhaps all wasn't settled even in the question of who sent the messages in the first place. Perhaps Martin's account had been hacked by Shadow Brokers, she wondered? "It kills two birds with one stone," she said. "You start leaking NSA tools, and then you also out an NSA worker at the same time." However, Zetter noted that there's no evidence Martin's lawyer is taking that defense. The defense is, however, arguing that Martin is an obsessive hoarder. "They called him 'a voracious reader' and 'someone who is committed to excel at his job,'" Zetter noted, painting a picture of "someone who was narrow-mindedly focused on learning a lot of information that was of interest to him without really thinking through the consequences of this. He did this for 20 years." Zetter wrote in her Politico article: 'It's irony piled on irony that people who worked at Kaspersky, who were already in the sights of the US intelligence community, disclosed to them that they had this problem,' said Stewart Baker, general counsel for the NSA in the 1990s and a current partner at Steptoe and Johnson. It's also discouraging, he noted, that the NSA apparently still hasn't 'figured out a good way to find unreliable employees who are mishandling some of their most sensitive stuff.' 'We all thought [Martin] got caught by renewed or heightened scrutiny, and instead it looks as though he got caught because he was an idiot,' he told Politico. She told Sputnik this was because of the huge number of contractors used by the NSA and other intelligence agencies, a volume of comparatively transient workers who, like Martin, come and go regarding their need for access to sensitive or classified information. "It's clear the NSA, and the government in general, doesn't have a good handle on securing, or even tracking" the removal of data, Zetter said. Sputnik Indian Army Nabs Suspected Spy for Passing On Crucial Military Intel to Pakistan Sputnik News 20:31 10.01.2019 NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - Nirmal Rai, the alleged spy, earlier worked in Dubai where he came into contact with a Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operative who advised him to work as a porter for the Indian Army to spy on the force, according to media reports. The Indian Army has claimed to have arrested a Pakistani spy from Dichu in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China. Sputnik confirmed this development with a senior police official who said that the arrested person is currently in police custody and is being interrogated. "Yes, a Pakistani spy was arrested by the Military Intelligence and then he was handed over to the Anjaw district police for further investigation. Anjaw police are questioning him to get more detailed information," Dorjee Wangdi Thongon, superintendent of police in Lohit, Arunachal Pradesh, told Sputnik on Thursday. Sputnik also contacted the superintendent of police of Anjaw but he refused to divulge further information. "Since the investigation is still going on and the matter is sensitive I cannot say more than that," the Anjaw police official told Sputnik. Nirmal Rai, the alleged spy, was working for Pakistani intelligence and was found to be relaying secret information back to his handlers, says a report in the Hindustan Times. According to media reports, Nirmal Rai is suspected to have passed on sensitive information related to the deployment of army units and artillery guns in the border province to his Pakistani handlers. He also shared information on the location of helipads and military infrastructure development along the Line of Actual Control. Mr. Rai is an Indian citizen who originally hails from Ambikapur in the Tinsukia district of Assam. He was working as a porter in Kibithu and Dichu in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Relations between India and Pakistan have been historically tense, with both sides accusing one another of ceasefire violations on the disputed border in Kashmir, a territory that both countries claim as their own. The territory of Kashmir has been disputed since 1947, when India and Pakistan gained independence from the British rule. Sputnik A fifth candidate and a fourth Republican has entered the ring to be the next Mesa County Commissioner representing District 3. Reliance Jio launches POS device for merchants: Report News oi-Priyanka Dua Reliance Jio has added 10.5 million mobile phone users in October, followed by State-run telecom operator BSNL, as per the data released by TRAI. Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Jio is reportedly moving to get into the point-of-sale (PoS) segment with merchants in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune ET reported. According to report initially merchants have to deposit Rs 3000 to get hold of the device, however, for debit/ credit transactions of up to Rs 2,000 in value, the telco will offer a merchant discount rate of zero. In addition to that Jio is joining hands with Hindustan Unilever Limited for acquiring merchants. Meanwhile, Reliance Jio has added 10.5 million mobile phone users in October, followed by State-run telecom operator BSNL, as per the data released by TRAI. To recall, a report by Global Market Insights, India POS Terminals Market share is poised to surpass $3 billion by 2024 and the shipments are set to grow at over 10 percent CAGR over the forecast timeline. It said the demonetization drive to curb black money has led to significant growth in the digital transactions and infrastructure required to support these payments across several modes, from cards to wallets and bank transfers. Card transactions at POS terminals have hit 60 percent post demonetization, up double from 30 percent in 2016; this is anticipated to drive the India POS terminals market growth over the forecast timeline. In order to maintain the rise in digital transactions, the RBI has proposed a significant cut in Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges on debit card transactions. Furthermore, India connected POS terminals market will witness a huge demand owing to the advantages offered by technology such as enhanced security, free floor space, and minimized customer waiting time. Moreover, the demand for these machines is majorly coming from small business across retail and restaurants as the technology is becoming more affordable and approachable Connected terminals help in inventory management and provide consolidated of the card payments. In India, POS terminals have significant penetration in Tier 1 cities, whereas Tier 2 cities and rural areas are picking up progressively. Several initiatives such as Micro ATMs, Aadhaar-enabled systems, and Jan Dhan Yojana are surging the demand in the rural areas impacting the India POS terminals market size. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Here's how Jeff Bezos divorce with MacKenzie will affect Amazon News oi-Karan Sharma Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the world's richest person has been reported to separating with his wife MacKenzie. This divorce will affect the company. E-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos, who is the world's richest person has been reported to separating with his wife MacKenzie after 25 years. Amazon shares were down 0.5 percent after the announcement. "After a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends," according to a tweet Wednesday that both of them signed. The couple got married in 1993 and after a year of marriage, Bezos founded Amazon. According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bezos is worth $137 billion and comes under the ranking of the world's 500 wealthiest individuals. This divorce will reshape the wealth ranking because the couple has to split equally. This will leave Mackenzie with $69 billion, which will make her the world's richest woman. After this separation, Microsoft Corp, co-founder Bill Gates will again become the planet's richest person. "will be divided equitably by the court if the couple cannot negotiate an agreement," according to the website of McKinley Irvin, a family law firm in the region. According to Peter Henning, a securities law professor at Wayne State University Amazon don't give its founder's shares greater voting rights. If MacKenzie Bezos is given a large block of shares, then she might have a major role in the company. The New York divorce lawyer Bernard Clair said that judge will determine MacKenzie Bezos' share of Amazon based on her contribution towards the success of the company. This will include important business decisions, raising their children and more. All the contributions will be considered in this case. Source Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Delhi Police arrests 3 for defrauding 4,500 people with fake smartphone offers News oi-Karan Sharma Delhi police have arrested a gang of three men defrauding 4,500 people in India. All you need to know about this fraud business. There are many frauds going on in the country where people are receiving messages stating that smartphones from Apple, OnePlus and Samsung at just Rs 4,550. If you receive such message then, the first thing to know is that is a fake message. The greed for cheap smartphones has proved very expensive for people of New Delhi. Delhi police have arrested a gang of three men in this fraud business. The arrested men include a Delhi University graduate from Shahdara's West Jyoti Nagar. The accused are identified as Sanjay Panchal, Nikhil Soni and Kunal. According to police, all the three accused was organising daily lucky draw in which they were offering expensive mobiles at a cheaper price. Out of the three accused Panchal was pursuing a correspondence course from Delhi University. Delhi police receive the information about the fake call centre in east Delhi on December 22, 2018. The accused were diping people from this call centre in the name of lucky draws. "The accused offered costly mobiles at "throwaway" prices but sent empty packages to unsuspecting customers," said G Ramgopal Naik, Deputy Commissioner of Police. The accused has also created a fake website to convince the customers by offering smartphones and devices from brands like Apple, OnePlus, Samsung and more. According to Zee News, they have also hired a delivery boy for Rs 4,550 who use to drop the package. The packages would either be empty or contain a dummy phone. In dime cases, it was also filled with stones. According to the police report, the three accused have cheated around 4,500 people in India. Police have also recovered 30 mobile phones, a computer, an empty parcel and other documents from them. Currently, it's not mentioned how much money they have made. This incident gives us a lesson of not rushing to buy anything at a discounted price from some random seller or unauthorised e-commerce websites. Source Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Xiaomi Redmi 6A flash sale begins at 12 noon on Mi.com and Amazon.in today News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The base variant with 16GB storage will be selling for Rs 5,999 and the 32GB storage variant will be retailing for Rs 6,999. When it comes to budget smartphones, Xiaomi is no doubt one of the top brands in India. The company has released a whole lot of affordable smartphones back in 2018 in the country and all of them were quite well received by the masses. The budget Redmi 6 series is also a popular lineup in India which was launched back in September 2018 and it comprises of Redmi 6, Redmi 6A and Redmi 6 Pro. The Redmi 6A is the widely popular entry-segment Xiaomi smartphone which has already been up for grabs via numerous sales. Now, the smartphone is again going live on sale starting 12 noon today. The Xiaomi Redmi 6A regular variant with 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage is going for sale on Mi India website and Amazon India website. The Amazon listing reveals that the base variant will be retailing for Rs 5,999 during the sale. On the other hand, the high-end variant of the Redmi 6A which comes with 2GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage will be selling for Rs 6,999. Besides, there are also some no-cost EMI offers along with some exchange and other offers which will be available on the purchase of either variant of the Redmi 6A. The offers on Mi.com includes Rs 2,200instant cash back along with 100GB of additional 4G data courtesy Reliance Jio. Additionally, users will also be able to avail three months of free Hungama Music subscription. There are also exchange bonus offers on Mi.com. So, if you are in the market to buy a new affordable smartphone and Redmi 6A is your choice then make sure you visit Mi.com and Amazon.in. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Vivo Y91 could be launched in India next week for Rs. 10,990 News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Vivo Y91 is believed to be one of the cheapest smartphones with a waterdrop notch display. Recently, Vivo launched a new smartphone called Vivo Y93 in India priced at Rs. 12,990. Now, it looks like the company is in plans to launch yet another model in the country. As per a recent report by 91mobiles, the upcoming Vivo smartphone is believed to be the Vivo Y91 and it is said to be priced at Rs. 10,990. Back in November 2019, the Vivo Y91 was announced in a few countries. Now, the report citing its retail sources claims that the device will be launched in India by January 20. The company is also expected to announce an official statement regarding the smartphone sometime soon. Vivo Y91 specifications Except for the change in the processor, this smartphone is believed to be similar to its international counterpart. As per the report, the Vivo Y91 that was launched with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 SoC in the global markets will use a MediaTek Helio P22 SoC in India. Besides this, the device is said to be launched only in one variant with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage space in the country. Otherwise, this soon to be launched Vivo smartphone features a 6.22-inch Halo FullView display with a HD+ resolution of 1520 x 720 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9. In addition to the 32GB storage, it will have a microSD card slot for expandable storage space. For imaging, this smartphone will use a dual camera module comprising 13MP + 2MP sensors. At the front, it flaunts an 8MP selfie camera. Running Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box topped with FunTouchOS 4.5 UI, this Vivo smartphone gets the power from a capacious 4030mAh battery that can offer a considerable battery life. In the global markets, it is available in two color options - Ocean Blue and Starry Black. If it appears to launch at Rs. 10,990 as speculated by the report, then the Vivo Y91 slated for launch next week will be among the cheapest smartphones to be launched with a waterdrop notch display. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications MIUI 11 announced: List of smartphones that might receive MIUI 11 update in India News oi-Vivek MIUI 11 stable update is likely to roll out in Q3 of 2019 MIUI 10 is the current custom OS from Xiaomi based on AOSP (Android Open Source Project). Most of the Xiaomi smartphones run on the MIUI 10 based on different Android OS versions, except for the Android One series. And now, the company has officially unveiled MIUI 11 at MIUI Core Experience Annual Meeting by Liu Ming, head of product planning department of Xiaomi. The stable MIUI 10 update is available for 40+ Xiaomi smartphones (Including Mi, Poco, and Redmi smartphones), and the company is most likely to develop MIUI 11 for the majority of Xiaomi smartphones running on MIUI 10. As confirmed by Xiaomi, smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 will not receive the MIUI 11 update. MIUI 11 - A new and unique OS According to the report, the MIUI 11 is expected to offer a new style of user-interface based on AOSP. Flagship smartphones like the Poco F1, Mi 8, Mi MIX 3 will be the first set of smartphones to receive MIUI 11 update in the coming days (as a beta build), and the stable rollout is likely to happen in the Q3 of 2019. The company is most likely to offer iOS-like UI with redesigned notification shade with support for additional customizations. The company is most likely to improve the overall UX of the MIUI 11 compared to the MIUI 10. Beta testing Considering Xiaomi's traditions, the company is most likely to roll out a beta build of the MIUI 11 for the select users, especially for the popular smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro and the Poco F1. As of now, there is no official confirmation on the exact time frame for the rollout of the MIUI 11 update. Here is a possible list of smartphones which might receive MIUI 11 upgrade in the coming days. List of smartphones that might receive MIUI 11 update in India Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Galaxy S10 design leaked online accidentally by Samsung News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Samsung recently posted an article in which it was explaining its upcoming One UI interface and while doing so the company had also accidentally posted the images of Galaxy S10. Samsung Galaxy S10 series is the most awaited premium smartphone lineup which is expected to be released this year. The Galaxy S10 has been suggested numerous times over the web revealing the variants and some key specifications which this lineup will include. With the release date of the device approaching, more and more leaks and rumors are making their way on the web. Samsung has recently revealed that it will be launching its next flagship offering the Galaxy S10 at an event which will be held on February 20 in San Francisco, California. Now, the device has been leaked once again over the web revealing the design which it will feature. This time, Samsung itself has accidentally leaked the Galaxy S10 smartphone online. Apparently, the company recently posted an article in which it was explaining its upcoming One UI interface and while doing so the company had also accidentally posted the images of Galaxy S10. A Reddit user called "qgtx" was first to spot the article and had revealed all the design details of the smartphone. As per the user, the Galaxy S10 will come with a punch hole display panel which is what the leaks and rumors have been suggesting. Samsung was also quick in realizing the mistake it had made and had removed the images and updated the article shortly after it was posted. Besides the design, the leaked images do not reveal anything specific. As for the rumored specifications, the Samsung Galaxy S10 will feature a punch hole display panel at the front to accommodate the front camera. The display panel will be a 6.1-inch panel and will have thin narrow bezels surrounding it. The device might incorporate an in-display fingerprint scanner for device security. Backing up the smartphone will be the latest flagship Snapdragon 855 chipset. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Galaxy M20 listed on Samsung's official support page News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Galaxy M20 listing on the official support page does not highlight any key specification or feature which the smartphone will pack. We all know that Samsung is working towards its upcoming mid-range smartphone lineup which is the Galaxy M series for the masses. The Samsung Galaxy M series which is said to consist of three different models named as the Galaxy M10, Galaxy M20, and the Galaxy M30 smartphone. Similar to every other upcoming smartphone, the Galaxy M series have also been leaked numerous times over the web revealing various details regarding the specifications and features which the smartphones will offer. The Samsung Galaxy M series is expected to be launched in India by the end of January this year and just ahead of its official launch the Galaxy M20 is listed on the company's official website. The upcoming mid-range Galaxy M20 has recently been spotted on Samsung's official support webpage. This is not the only smartphone in the M series which has been spotted on the support page, earlier, the Galaxy M10 was also live on the same support page by Samsung. Notably, the Galaxy M20 listing on the official support page does not highlight any key specification or feature which the smartphone will pack and the listing only confirms an imminent launch. As for the rumored specifications and features, the upcoming Galaxy M20 is expected to flaunt a 6.2-inch AMOLED display panel that will offer 1080 x 2340 pixel screen resolution and will have an aspect ratio of 19:5:9. The display might come with a waterdrop notch on top. In terms of optics, the device is said to sport a dual-lens rear camera setup comprising of a 13MP primary sensor paired with a 5MP secondary sensor. Up front, there might be an 8MP camera for selfies and video calls. The internals of the device will include an Exynos 7885 chipset which will be clubbed with 3/4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The internal storage on the smartphone will be further expandable up to 256GB via microSD card slot. The device is speculated to be backed by a mammoth 5,000mAh battery unit Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation is still looking into an officer-involved shooting in Gillette on Nov. 13. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Ikea has announced its flagship store will be in Auckland but people from across New Zealand will have access. The announcement last year that the Swedish company would be hitting the shores of Aotearoa was welcomed by many Kiwis. No specific details were revealed, but the classic big-box store will be coming in the "next few years". In the meantime, a pop-up store will be set up "to give consumers a taste of what's to come". An online service will be initally available for the rest of the country, but Ikea will look to "swiftly" move to the South Island. A number of Auckland locations are being explored, but it is too early for a specific area to be announced. Several hundred jobs are believed to be created when the company hits New Zealand, and the head of Massey University's retail degree, Professor Jonathan Elms, said a store will have a significant impact on the local economy. Friday's reveal was made by the company's global chief executive, Jesper Brodin. Sweden's ambassador to New Zealand also spoke at the announcement. "Were really looking forward to bringing the full Ikea experience to New Zealand, working in partnership with the local community to make Ikea a part of Kiwis life at home, starting with Auckland," said Mr Brodin. A "Bring Ikea to NZ" Facebook page received more than 19,000 likes, and has now changed its name to "Ikea is coming to NZ". Prof Elms said he doesn't believe the hype around the store will die down when it reaches New Zealand but will change how Kiwis shop. He said no one in the United Kingdom was interested in flat-pack furniture before Ikea arrived, but "that has become the norm and I think that will be the same for Kiwis". There are 367 Ikea stores in 30 different countries, including Malaysia, Taiwan and Australia, and Kiwis can look forward to access to 7000 products from the brand. Rumours in 2011 that an Ikea store would open at Auckland's Westgate turned out to be unfounded. Ikea was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad, when he was just a teenager. He was once estimated to have a fortune of more than 30 billion. Newshub. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. A roofer moves sheets of shingles into place above the EconoLodge in Morehead City Tuesday. (Dylan Ray photo) Taking into account the percentage of adults with a high school diploma, the percentage with some college and the percentage with a bachelor's degree or more, Corvallis scored No. 1 on the TitleMax scale. Corvallis also ranked No. 1 for the percentage of adults with at least a high school diploma (97.95 percent) and second for the percentage of people with a bachelor's degree or higher (57.11 percent). We know what you're thinking: That No. 2 ranking on the bachelor's degree scale is an outrage! What city dares to score higher than Corvallis on this measurement? The answer is Boulder, Colorado (64.2 percent). We know what else you're thinking: Which city was named the least-educated city in the United States? Here's the answer: Dalton, Georgia. And now, Corvallis, it's important to keep in mind the immortal advice Han Solo gave to Luke Skywalker in "A New Hope:" "Great, kid! Don't get cocky." The police investigation into a December brawl in downtown Corvallis that hospitalized a known neo-Nazi is still continuing, prosecutors said Thursday. Yamhill County District Attorney Brad Berry, who is handling the case following the Benton County District Attorneys Offices recusal because of a potential conflict of interest, said he's still waiting on written police reports, security video from nearby businesses and other records before making decisions about how to move forward. Following the brawl, Corvallis Police Department officers arrested Bart Bolger, 64, a longtime Veterans for Peace activist who lives in Corvallis; Anya Grigorov, 22; Julia Orduna, 23; and Ava Butler, 19. The latter three reportedly identify as transgender women and have female chosen first names. James Marr, whom the Southern Poverty Law Center calls a fixture of the white supremacist movement in Oregon, was hospitalized after the brawl with a medical emergency. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Cameron Green, a lawyer who said he has been representing Bolger, Grigorov, Orduna and Butler, said Thursday was the scheduled first appearance for his clients, but the prosecutor did not file any charges and no hearing was held. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Emerald Isle Police are warning beachgoers to avoid the venomous Portuguese man-of-war that have washed up along the beach. (Contributed photo) News Galveston water rates likely to rise 7 percent next month kelseywalling / KELSEY WALLING/The Daily News Derreck Scott, right, takes out a water meter while Genny Kovacevich prepares to obtain information in Galveston on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Kovacevich said they can retrieve data from the meter to check on residents usage. kelseywalling / KELSEY WALLING/The Daily News Genny Kovacevich obtains usage information from a water meter in Galveston on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. The Galveston City Council discussed raising water rates for the city to pay for a number of capital improvement projects for water and wastewater projects. GALVESTON Residents could see water rates increase by 7 percent as early as next month to help pay for $35 million in capital projects meant to enhance water and wastewater services. Residents could be facing an increase in combined water and wastewater rates of about 4 percent to 6 percent a year over the next four years in a move by the city to pay for 10 water projects and six wastewater projects. The city council is expected Jan. 24 to vote on issuing debt necessary for those projects. The proposed rate increases also would help cover a September water rate increase by Gulf Coast Water Authority, which supplies municipalities and industries in Galveston, Brazoria and Fort Bend counties. City officials estimate the rate increase will generate an additional $1.55 million in fiscal year 2019. A 7 percent water rate increase, with a 4 percent increase overall, is going to carry us all the way through fiscal year 20, rather than fiscal year 19, Finance Director Mike Loftin said. The last time the city raised water rates was in 2015, when it started charging more for commercial and irrigation rates, Mayor Jim Yarbrough said. People were not happy, Yarbrough said. Over time, theyve come to accept it. I hope they appreciate the improvements were making to the system. The planned improvements include updating aging infrastructure and increasing storage capacity, officials said. The city needs to plan for a scenario in which the island is cut off from mainland water sources, City Manager Brian Maxwell said during a Wednesday afternoon discussion about the proposed rate increase. When something like that happens, were done, Maxwell said. We have what we have in the tank and thats it. West Enders are in favor of improved water infrastructure, but the rate increase cant be unreasonable, said Jerry Mohn, president of the West Galveston Island Property Owners Association. Property owners werent happy about the most recent rate increase, he said. We thought we were kind of singled out because we have a lot of sprinklers on the West End, Mohn said. The latest rate increase doesnt sound so bad, but he wants to see the infrastructure improvements delivered on, he said. This could be a reality residents will have to get used to, District 3 Councilman David Collins said. Water is the oil of the 21st century, Collins said. Its cost is not going to go down. Its not going to get cheaper. Its not going to get more plentiful. The city needs to counteract this with more conservation efforts, he said. The city council is scheduled to make a final decision on these rates Jan. 24. Graveside services for Ruby Mae Brackeen, 93, of Gainesville, are set for 10:00 AM Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at the Fairview Cemetery in Gainesville with Bro. Gary Carter officiating under the direction of the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home. A visitation will be held at 7:00 PM Monday, J The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is urging Virginians to prepare for the first snow storm of 2019 this weekend. The department issued a release Friday encouraging residents to plan ahead for winter weather threats including slippery roads, power outages, downed trees and the potential to have to be self-sufficient for days before all services are restored. The National Weather Service has placed the region under a winter storm watch starting Saturday afternoon and extending through Sunday morning. Snowfall accumulations of 5 inches or more are possible in Fredericksburg and surrounding counties. The forecast Friday evening said the best chances of snow are from Saturday night through mid-afternoon Sunday. Virginia Department of Transportation crews pretreated Interstate 95 and ramps and primary highways in the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula on Thursday and warned motorists stay off the roads once snow begins to fall. VDOT is monitoring weather reports, and staff will be staging equipment and treatment materials for quick deployment in the event winter weather affects travel, a news release issued by the department states. Local Weather Get the daily forecast and severe weather alerts in your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Caffeine and Cocktails: Sweetleaf, founded by a Queens native, has two LIC locations: the original site in a 19th-century building with a vinyl records room in the back and a waterfront store that transforms into a bar (with alcoholic coffee beverages) after 5 p.m. If you've grown immune to multiple espresso shots, Etto Espresso Bar amps up the jolt with the bulletproof latte, an espresso drink mixed with Kerrygold butter and high-octane brain oil. For coffee with a cause, order a cup of COFFEED, which donates a percentage of sales to a local charity. At LIC Landing, which serves the locally roasted beans, the money goes to Hunters Point Parks Conservancy. You won't be the first - or last - person to walk past Dutch Kills, a speakeasy with discreet signage. Hint: Look for the blinking "BAR" sign above. Inside the former warehouse, the bar is replete with dark wood and brownout lighting. Order a drink from the menu, which looks as if it were banged out by a frustrated novelist, or drop a few key words like "ginger" and "don't like the taste of alcohol" and the bartender will whip up a drink that fits your low (or high) tolerance for booze. The Long Island City Brewery Tour features four stops, including Big ALICE Brewing, which occupies a former Bible storage facility. The brewery has more than a dozen beers on tap and emphasizes local ingredients, such as the cold brew blend from a Queens roaster that appears in Date Night, Bro? (The donuts-and-coffee-flavored beer was inspired by a friendly interaction with a policeman outside a launderette.) Fredericksburg looks to get its first substantial snowfall of 2019 this weekend. As is typical for snow events, the buzz about this weekends storm has been bouncing around media / social media for several days. The fact that theres snow in the forecast Saturday and Sunday shouldnt come as a surprise. But, first there is todays (Fridays) weather to talk about. After a chilly start in the teens and mid-20s today, temperatures will climb into the low 40s under sunny skies. A gusty northerly wind will make it seem cooler during the morning hours but those breezes will subside during the afternoon. Then clouds will fill in overnight as the complex storm system approaches the Fredericksburg vicinity. This system will tap into the cold Canadian air that has streamed into the area, but the structure and timing of the various pieces will be stretched out rather than coalescing into a major storm system. After a cloudy and cool morning, light snow will spread across northern Virginia Saturday afternoon thanks to an upper level short wave that wont have a lot moisture to work with. Accumulations tomorrow afternoon will be less than an inch in and around Fredericksburg. One speaker asked who in the audience was not descended from an immigrant. Another speaker giving welcome to the numbers of Hispanic Americans in the audience spoke in Spanish giving rise to the first rumble from the audience, a yell to speak English. Rumbles have usefulness but fear is not useful. About The Great Green Goat LLC The Great Green Goat, founded in 2017 by Maryland couple Kristen Hoffman and Alan Flickinger with the guidance of their business partner, is the dream shop for those looking for an alternative to the stereotypical rasta-themed, tie-dyed, patchouli reeking smoke shop. The dynamic duos vision is to break the mold and rewrite the formula for the standard smoke shop by combining qualify merchandise at affordable prices with a rockin aesthetic and a dedication to supporting and promoting local bands, arts and designers. BARRON COUNTY, WI (FOX Carolina) - Deputies with the Barron County Sheriff's Department in Wisconsin say 13-year-old Jayme Closs, missing since October 2018, has been found alive. According to a Facebook post from the department on Thursday evening, the Douglas County Sheriff's Department in Wisconsin indicated they found Closs alive. BCSD says a suspect was taken into custody regarding the case, but BCSD says they have no details due to the fluid and active nature of the investigation. BCSD also says they have federal and state support in the investigation. Closs went missing in October after both of her parents were found shot to death at their home in Barron, Wisconsin. BCSD is holding a presser Friday morning at 10 a.m. CST/ 11 a.m. EST to provide more details on Closs's return. Previous coverage of the Jayme Closs case follows: One month missing: Hunters asked to be on the lookout for clues on Jayme Closs Wisconsin authorities are urging hunters to be on the lookout for clues related to missing 13-year-old Jayme Closs, whose parents were found fatally shot last month in their home. When Buchanan arrives on the Yard this summer, it will be part of a complete turnover of top academy leadership. Vice Admiral Walter E. Ted Carter Jr., currently the academy superintendent, is set to end his tour this summer as well. A new superintendent has not been named. WALHALLA, SC (FOX CAROLINA) - The Oconee County Sheriff's Office says they are looking for a suspect during the investigation of a shooting that happened this afternoon on Timber Ridge Lane near Shiloh Road in Seneca. TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (AP) The road to this years Westminster Kennel Club dog show passed through a pandemic and a major change of date and venue. The road also proved dangerous for one of the nations best known dog handlers. His wife and fellow star handler said Saturday that Bill McFadden wa The Clark County School District said Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara announced several changes within the school board's key cabinet positions. Las Vegas police said an elderly man was in critical condition are being stuck by a vehicle in the southeast valley on Jan. 4, 2019. A company that donated $25,000 to a reward for the return of Wisconsin teen Jayme Closs says it will give her the money now that she has been found. MOBILE, Ala. -- Search efforts entered a third day Friday for two fishermen who disappeared Tuesday night. On Thursday searchers were able to find their capsized boat and the net they were using in Mobile Bay. From sun up to sun down Thursday, search efforts for 83-year-old fisherman Floyd Nelson and his deckhand, 49-year-old David Stegman, were underway. The efforts began again at daybreak Friday. "Right now we're more than 48 hours into it so you're looking at the weather temperature the water is 55 degrees and that's very challenging to survive in and the air temp has dropped to near freezing at night," said Colonel Scott Bannon, Director of Alabama Marine Resources Division. "So it is a very difficult condition for somebody to survive in, it's not impossible it's just very very difficult" The boat was found capsized in the water north of Gaillard Island, a man-made island just east of the Theodore Ship Channel. The net the men were using was nearby on the island. Boaters helping out Thursday were able to recover the net and return it to Nelson's family. Bannon says divers also went underwater to see if the men were in the boat, but there was no sign of Nelson nor Stegman, in or around it. "It's a routine event for them. As I said me Nelson is almost 84 years old and I've known him my entire career. He's a very good fishermen a mentor to other fishermen. So this is not a new environment for them so it looks like some unexpected weather may have gotten to them," Bannon said. Officials say the boaters were fishing between the Theodore Ship Channel and Gaillard Island but haven't been seen since. "Something ain't right. We don't know what it is," said Gus Anderson, Nelson's step-son. Anderson along with other family members watched as search crews went out this morning. "He stays busy all the time, been fishing his whole life. That's what's so puzzling about this whole thing you know, he's just been on the water and he's been missing here almost 2 days," Anderson explained. He says his mother, Nelson's wife, is taking this especially hard. Officials say it's unlikely that the two men are still alive, yet during these uncertain times, Anderson is still hopeful. "Oh yeah, I think he's sitting out on the beach somewhere waiting for somebody to come pick him up," he explained. The United Cajun Navy is looking for volunteers to assist in the search. If you'd like to help, meet them at the Theodore Ship channel at 7 a.m. Friday. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) After hitting record lows in the third quarter of 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte's trust and performance ratings have slightly increased in December, an independent pollster reported. A Pulse Asia Survey conducted December 14 to 21 and released Friday showed the President gained a 76 percent trust score and an 81 percent performance rating in the last quarter of 2018. This was up four percent and six percent from his 72 percent and 75 percentage scores in September 2018-when Duterte posted his lowest survey ratings so far in his tenure. Seven percent of the respondents said they disapproved of the President's performance, while 13 percent remained undecided. READ: Duterte's trust, approval ratings hit record low - Pulse Asia The poll has a 2.3 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo received stable scores in the two categories. Robredo's performance score slightly improved from 61 percent in September to 62 percent in December. Her trust score, on the other hand, remained steady at 56 percent. 16 percent of the respondents said they disapproved of the Vice President's performance in the last quarter, while 21 percent were undecided. Duterte still the most trusted official; respondents still critical of House Speaker Duterte remained the most trusted government official, the pollster added. Only six percent of the respondents said they have little to no trust for the chief executive. Malacanang said the survey results only serves as a message to detractors who "don't see or refuse to see the good in whatever the Chief Executive (Duterte) does and says." "The Pulse Asia survey was conducted from December 14 to 21, 2018, coming at a time when Congress approved the third extension of martial law in Mindanao and PRRD's approval of his economic managers' recommendation to proceed with the implementation of the P2 hike in fuel excise tax and the arrest of partylist members in Davao del Norte, as among the developments that preoccupied our people's mind during the survey data gathering period," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement. Panelo added the performance rating will not stop Duterte from "excelling" and performing his duties as President. "His heart and mind will be focused (on) performing his constitutional duties faithfully and courageously," the spokesman added. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar added the improvement in the President's ratings is a "testament to how this administration (is) attuned to the needs of the greater majority." "This government will continue to focus on the goal of giving a "comfortable life for all" rid of hard drugs, criminality and corruption," Andanar said in a statement. Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III also garnered the trust of majority of the Filipinos with a 66 percent rating in December. A huge chunk of the respondents remained critical of the work done by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the last quarter of 2018. Forty-five percent of respondents nationwide expressed little to no trust for the former President. Majority of Metro Manila respondents (52 percent) voiced out distrust for Arroyo. But the House Speaker said these ratings were "not new to her." "Remember I was pilloried very much when I was President so I haven't done much to overcome that because I just have to do my work," Arroyo said in an interview in Pampanga Friday. "I already said it the last time, I am not a stranger to those kinds of ratings." Approval and trust ratings also remained steady for the legislative and judiciary branches, Pulse Asia added. The Senate received the highest performance approval rating at 69 percent, while the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court got 66 percent and 64 percent, respectively. The poll was conducted through face-to-face interviews. It included a sample of 1,800 adults from around the country. In partnership with the newly, established African American Genealogical & Historical Society of Mobile, the Mobile Public Library will host a free genealogy workshop in Bernheim Hall at the Ben May Main Library. Professional genealogist, Mary Jones-Fitts will present two sessions. Morning session includes information on accessing Birth Records, Delayed Registrations of Birth Information, Marriage and Death Certificates, and Divorce Records. Afternoon session addresses the topic, Finding Vital Records in Genealogy Databases. A light lunch will be provided. Registration is required. For more information or to register, please call 208-7094. MOBILE, Ala. -- The Coast Guard and local agencies are searching Thursday morning for two people from an overdue vessel in Mobile Bay. Officials have confirmed that they recovered an overturned boat but there has been no sign of the missing fishermen. They say divers are in the water searching. Missing are Floyd Nelson, 83, and David Stadman, 40. The USCG reports that watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday of an overdue 22-foot white Jon boat with both men aboard. A family member of one of the two men reported the men were planning to fish between the Theodore Ship Channel and Gaillard Island Tuesday evening and were supposed to return by 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Coast Guard. Involved in the search are: Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter air crew Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew Mobile County Sheriffs Flotilla Daphne Search and Rescue Mobile Police Department Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew Alabama Marine Resources Anyone with information about the two men and overdue vessel is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector Mobile at (251) 441-6211. FOX10 News will continue to follow this developing story. What happened Shares of Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES) (NYSE: HES-A) dipped 24.8% in December, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Last month was a volatile stretch for stocks, with major U.S. indexes posting their biggest percentage-based declines across a December period since The Great Depression. Hess' valuation was also pressured by industry headwinds and a potential roadblock to one of its key growth avenues. The energy company has partnered with ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) to drill for oil in recently discovered reserves in Guyana, but Exxon announced on Dec. 24 that it temporarily ceased operations off of the country's coast following a confrontation with Venezuela's navy. Falling oil prices also weighed on Hess stock in December. So what ExxonMobil discovered oil off the coast of Guyana in 2015 and has partnered with Hess to extract it. Venezuela, which borders Guyana, ordered Exxon's research ship to turn around because it believed the ship crossed into its territory. Exxon complied with the request, but officials from Guyana have since stated that the ship stayed within Guyanese waters. Exxon's ships have yet to return to the disputed area. Crude oil prices also sank below $50 a barrel and hit a 14-month low in December, and along with a trek into bearish territory for the broader market, helped send Hess' shares tumbling last month. Now what Hess Corporation stock has rebounded in 2019, with shares trading up roughly 26% in January so far. As my colleague Matthew DiLallo has detailed, Hess has promising growth prospects as it ramps up drilling on the Bakken Shale and moves toward beginning offshore Guyana production in 2020. The company expects that it will be able to increase its total production at a 10% annual rate through 2025 thanks to these catalysts. Along with forecast pricing trends and low operating expenses in Guyana, Hess anticipates that it will be able to increase cash flows at roughly 25% annually across that stretch. Check out the latest Hess earnings call transcript. The partial shutdown of the United States government affects far more than the 800,000 federal workers who are either furloughed or working without pay. The impact of the shutdown is radiating throughout the economy, and some areas of government that remain open will soon run out of funds. There's no clear end in sight for the shutdown, with President Donald Trump insisting he won't sign any spending bill that does not include funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Democrat-controlled House, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been equally resolute, saying it won't pass funding bills that include money for a border wall. For the American people, the cost of this impasse is enormous -- and growing by the day. The ongoing shutdown could cost as much as $13 billion a month, or $430 million a day, according to new analysis by The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. That figure includes unpaid wages for government workers and federal income assistance programs that may soon run dry. "I was definitely surprised by how large the figure was," said The Ascent research analyst Kamran Rosen in a statement. "Our estimates are looking at just two sources of economic activity, not even including lots of smaller agencies and offices that are fully or partially shut down." Here comes the pain? If you're not a federal worker, the impact of the shutdown may not be obvious to you. That will change if the shutdown continues. The next major hit will come in February when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) runs out of money. SNAP, which falls under the Department of Agriculture, provides food assistance for low- and no-income Americans (mostly families with children). If it can't meet its obligations in February, many of the 40 million people it serves will go hungry. "For SNAP benefits alone we're looking at a loss of over $5 billion a month nationwide," Rosen said. In addition to the nation's poor, small-business owners are likely to be hit hard by a prolonged shutdown. If Americans who count on federal aid don't receive it, consumption will decrease nationwide. The housing market could also feel the pain: Unpaid federal workers may miss mortgage payments, and the processing of new loans through the Federal Housing Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs will likely slow down. "I think while many Americans understand on a conceptual basis the government shutdown will affect them, the size of the economic impact has gone largely undiscussed," Rosen said. What can you do? Whether you are directly or indirectly affected by the shutdown, there's very little you can do. If you're experiencing a loss in income because of the shutdown, you should certainly communicate with anyone you have a financial relationship with. Mortgage and credit card companies prefer proactive customers. You can generally make a better deal or stave off negative consequences if you communicate instead of ignoring the problem. If you are unaffected by the shutdown, it's important to be sympathetic toward those that are. Having $13 billion taken out of the economy in this fashion will tax non-profits trying to help, and many were struggling before this latest blow. Consider how you might help your neighbors. That could mean shopping in an area that normally caters to now-furloughed workers or donating to area charities. It could be as simple as having someone over for dinner to show your support during what will be a tough time for far more Americans than the 800,000 federal workers directly impacted. It's also important -- even if it feels futile -- to let your representatives in Congress know how you feel and how you're being affected. You can find the contact information of the lawmakers who represent you on websites such as NationalPriorities.org. While one person may not change anything, the voices of hundreds of thousands of voters will be heard. Check out all our earnings call transcripts. By continuing to browse our site you agree to our Privacy & Cookie Policy. > Privacy & Cookie Policy I Agree The small disadvantaged business that has the printing contract. The janitorial contract. Where those individuals are the least able to absorb this particular loss, and may not be made whole by the time its all over with, she said. In the meantime, these are the families having to make decisions right now about what theyre going to do to ensure their stability. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brought the Trump administration's anti-Iran message to Gulf Arab states on Friday. Cairo: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brought the Trump administration's anti-Iran message to Gulf Arab states on Friday, arriving in Bahrain to continue a nine-nation tour of West Asia aimed at reassuring America's partners that withdrawing troops from Syria does not mean Washington is abandoning the region. Pompeo was traveling to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates where he will call for increasing pressure on Iran and push for unity among Gulf neighbours still embroiled in a festering dispute with Qatar. He'll also be promoting a US-backed initiative to form what some have termed an "Arab NATO" that would bring the region together in a military alliance to counter threats from Iran. In Bahrain, the UAE and later Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, Pompeo will also be making the case as he did on previous stops in Jordan, Iraq and Egypt that President Donald Trump's decision to pull US troops from Syria is not a sign Washington is retreating from the fight against the Islamic State group. The trip came as a US military official announced on Friday that the withdrawal had begun, though he declined to comment on specific timetables or movements. US partnerships with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council "are critical to achieving shared regional objectives: defeating ISIS, countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies, and rolling back Iranian aggression," the State Department said in a statement released as Pompeo departed Egypt for Bahrain, which is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet. But the now two-year-old crisis between GCC members Saudi Arabia and UAE and Qatar has hampered US attempts to forge a unified front against Iran. Washington's efforts to ease the dispute, begun by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have thus far failed and took another hit this week when the former general tasked to broker a solution stepped down. "A united GCC is the backbone for regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability, and is essential to countering the single greatest threat to regional stability: the Iranian regime," the State Department said. At each of his stops in the Gulf, Pompeo will be urging progress on creating the Middle East Strategic Alliance, which would join GCC militaries with those of Egypt and Jordan to serve as a counter-balance to Iran, which they all accuse of fomenting unrest and rebellion throughout the region. Pompeo told Fox News before departing from Cairo that there would be an international conference on Iran and the Middle East in Poland on 13-14 February. Pompeo during his trip will also call for boosting efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling Iranian-backed rebels in what the UN says is now the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the department said. UN-led peace efforts in Yemen, along with attempts to broker a political solution to the war in Syria that "expels every last Iranian boot from the country" and promoting reconciliation in Afghanistan will also be high on Pompeo's agenda, the State Department said. Pompeo kicked off the Gulf portion of his tour after a stop in Cairo, where he delivered a scathing rebuke of former President Barack Obama's West Asia policies that Obama had outlined in a 2009 address to the Arab and broader Muslim world. In a speech entitled "A Force for Good: America's Reinvigorated Role in the Middle East," Pompeo accused the former president of "misguided" thinking that diminished America's role in the region while harming its longtime friends and emboldening Iran. He unloaded on the Obama administration for being naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the West Asia, including Egypt, beginning in 2011. And, he said the Trump administration was taking action to repair the damage. "The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering," Pompeo said in the speech, which was itself denounced by former Obama administration officials for pandering to autocrats, ignoring human rights concerns. "That this administration feels the need, nearly a decade later, to take potshots at an effort to identify common ground between the Arab world and the West speaks not only to the Trump administration's pettiness but also to its lack of a strategic vision for America's role in the region and its abdication of America's values," National Security Action group, a group of former officials, said in a statement. Pompeo blamed the previous administration's approach to the Mideast for the ills that consume it now, particularly the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and Iran's increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, since rescinded by the Trump administration, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal. He said Obama ignored the growth of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon to the detriment of Israel's security and not doing enough to push back on Iran-supported rebels in Yemen. Since withdrawing from the nuclear deal last year, the administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Tehran and routinely accuses the nation of being the most destabilizing influence in the region. It has vowed to increase the pressure until Iran halts what US officials describe as its "malign activities" throughout the Mideast and elsewhere, including support for rebels in Yemen, anti-Israel groups, and Syrian President Bashar Assad. By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin insisted on Thursday that the Trump administration would keep tight control on Russian companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, despite last month's decision to ease restrictions on the firms By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin insisted on Thursday that the Trump administration would keep tight control on Russian companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, despite last month's decision to ease restrictions on the firms. "Treasury will be vigilant in ensuring that En+ and Rusal meet these commitments. If these companies fail to comply with the terms, they will face very real and swift consequences, including the reimposition of sanctions," Mnuchin said in a statement released before a closed-door briefing for the House of Representatives. Democrats earlier this week asked Mnuchin to conduct a briefing for the entire chamber on the sanctions decision, one of their first actions since the party took control of the House last week. The newly appointed Democratic leaders of seven House committees wrote to Mnuchin on Tuesday expressing concerns about the sanctions decision. They cited their committees' responsibilities to conduct oversight of Russia's attempts to interfere in U.S. elections and other "hostile actions." Mnuchin served as the national finance chairman for President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. Democrats have made clear they plan to investigate Russia and its possible links to the 2016 presidential election thoroughly now that they control one house of Congress. Mnuchin had not been a focus of congressional probes. In their letter, the committee chairmen and women also asked that implementation of the decision to ease the sanctions be postponed. There was no immediate indication that the administration would do so. The Treasury announced on Dec. 20 that it would lift sanctions imposed in April on the core businesses of Deripaska, including aluminum giant Rusal <0486.HK>, its parent En+ and power firm EuroSibEnergo, watering down the toughest penalties imposed since Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea. The companies agreed to restructure to reduce Deripaska's stakes and the oligarch remains on the sanctions list. "One of the goals of sanctions is to change behavior, and the proposed delistings of companies that Deripaska will no longer control show that sanctions can result in positive change," Mnuchin said. Lawmakers could try to pass a resolution of disapproval of the Treasury's decisions, but its passage would require the approval of both the Democratic-majority House and the Senate, where President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans hold a majority of the seats and are unlikely to break with his policy. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Susan Heavey and Tim Ahmann; editing by James Dalgleish and Dan Grebler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Su, 71, was a human rights lawyer and co-founder of the DPP during the former martial law era under the Nationalists, who shifted their government from China to Taiwan after defeat by the communists on the mainland in 1949. Taipei: Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen appointed a close political ally Friday as premier during a Cabinet reshuffle following the ruling Democratic Progressive Party(DPP)'s heavy losses in local elections. Su Tseng-chang took charge of the Cabinet amid tense relations with China, which threatens to use force to take control of the island it claims as its own. Beijing responded to Tsai's 2016 victory by cutting all contacts with her government and has ratcheted up economic and diplomatic pressure on the self-governing democracy. The Opposition Nationalist Party, which favours closer ties with Beijing, won 15 of 22 major seats in the 24 November elections, including in the DPP's southern stronghold of Kaohsiung. Soon after, Tsai resigned as chair of the DPP, which rejects China's demands for unification with the mainland. Analysts attributed the DPP's election losses to disappointment with the performance of Tsai's government, which had won a broad mandate, including seizing a majority in the legislature from the Nationalists for the first time since full democracy was attained three decades ago. China's pressure campaign has increased Taiwan's international isolation, reducing its number of diplomatic allies to just 17, excluding its representatives to international gatherings, and forcing international companies to designate Taiwan as a part of China. Chinese president Xi Jinping renewed the threat of invasion in a 2 January address, saying the ruling communists "made no promises to abandon the use of force." The island's high-tech economy continues to grow at a sluggish pace, and salaries for graduates have remain flat, increasing the lure of opportunities in China. Efforts at pension and fiscal reform have also been unpopular. Su, 71, was a human rights lawyer and co-founder of the DPP during the former martial law era under the Nationalists, who shifted their government from China to Taiwan after defeat by the communists on the mainland in 1949. He previously served as premier in 2006-07, as well as party chairman, legislator and county magistrate. By Khalid Abdelaziz KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who marched after noon prayers in the capital Khartoum on Friday as protests against President Omar al-Bashir's 30-year-old rule widened. By Khalid Abdelaziz KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who marched after noon prayers in the capital Khartoum on Friday as protests against President Omar al-Bashir's 30-year-old rule widened. Anti-government protests first flared last month and have posed the most serious challenge yet to Bashir, a former army general who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in the Darfur region. At least 22 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in the protests, which were sparked by anger over rising food prices and cash shortages but quickly turned against Bashir's government. The crackdown drew a rare rebuke from the state-funded human rights commission. Friday's protests appeared to have drawn more people than before and were more widespread. In previous weeks the protests began only after sundown. Reuters witnesses said security forces used tear gas against dozens of demonstrators in al-Halfaya Bahri in the south of Khartoum and against a separate demonstration by dozens of people emerging from Sayed Abdel Rahman Mosque in Omdurman, which sits on the other side of the River Nile from the capital. Security forces chased the demonstrators into side streets but there were no immediate reports of casualties, the witnesses said. In Omdurman, army forces on mini-trucks with automatic guns were seen guarding a petrol station. "DEEP CONCERN" In a separate incident, witnesses said hundreds of demonstrators emerged from a mosque known to be affiliated to Bashir's government in the Jabra district of southern Khartoum chanting: "The people want the fall of the regime." Footage posted on social media showed a stream of demonstrators pass by the mosque while chanting derogatory slogans against Bashir's Islamist-based administration. The authenticity of the recording could not immediately be verified. North of Khartoum, demonstrators blocked the main road linking the capital to the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, witnesses said, without giving any further details. Three demonstrators were killed during protests on Thursday and Amnesty International accused security forces of chasing injured victims into the Omdurman hospital. Authorities said they had set up a commission to investigate the incident. In a strongly-worded statement, Sudan's National Commission for Human Rights slammed the attack on the Omdurman hospital and called for a swift investigation into the deaths of citizens. "We look with great regret at the use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians...," it said. "We also express deep concern over the use of tear gas within the confines of the Omdurman hospital which has led to harming the patients, those accompanying them and of health practitioners." Sudan's economy was crippled when the south seceded in 2011, taking away much of its oil resources. The crisis has deepened since last year, when the country saw some brief protests over bread shortages. The United States lifted 20-year-old trade sanctions on Sudan in October 2017, but many investors continue to shun a country still listed by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism. Bashir came to power in a 1989 coup and has won successive elections that his critics say were neither fair nor free. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz and Omar Fahmy in Cairo; writing by Sami Aboudi, Editing by Angus MacSwan and Gareth Jones) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax (Reuters) - A 21-year-old Wisconsin man was charged on Friday with holding a 13-year-old girl captive for three months after murdering her parents, one day after the teen managed to escape and was discovered by a woman walking her dog. Thousands of volunteers and hundreds of law enforcement officers had searched around the clock around the small town of Barron after Jayme Closs' parents were found shot dead in their home, the front door open and the girl gone. By Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax (Reuters) - A 21-year-old Wisconsin man was charged on Friday with holding a 13-year-old girl captive for three months after murdering her parents, one day after the teen managed to escape and was discovered by a woman walking her dog. Thousands of volunteers and hundreds of law enforcement officers had searched around the clock around the small town of Barron after Jayme Closs' parents were found shot dead in their home, the front door open and the girl gone. Relying on what Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald called "the will of a kid to survive," a disheveled Closs escaped a house in the tiny town of Gordon where she had been held captive, about 60 miles (100 km) north of Barron, and found a woman with her dog on Thursday afternoon. The woman and Closs hurried to a neighbour's house on Thursday to call authorities. "This is Jayme Closs!" the woman said when the neighbour opened the door, according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. "Call 911!" Both the woman and the neighbour recognised the teen immediately due to the enormous public campaign after her disappearance, Fitzgerald said. Less than 15 minutes later, Jake Patterson, 21, was in custody, after police pulled over his vehicle, based on Closs' description. Patterson, an unemployed resident of Gordon, has been charged with murder and kidnapping. James and Denise Closs were discovered shot dead in their home on Oct. 15. More than 200 law enforcement officials were on the ground around the clock in the days after Jayme's disappearance, sifting through thousands of tips but finding little to go on. The search that stretched across cornfields and wooded areas drew 1,500 volunteers, nearly half as many people as the entire 3,400-person population of Barron, which sits about 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Minneapolis. Hundreds of locals had attended a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Riverview Middle School, which Jayme attended, in her honour last month. The "tree of hope" was decorated with messages and lighted in blue, Jayme's favourite colour, and green to symbolize missing child awareness, the Star Tribune reported. Authorities have released few details about Patterson, who has no previous criminal record in Wisconsin, saying they were unsure whether he knew Closs. She was the "only target" in the crime, Fitzgerald told reporters on Friday. Attempts to reach Patterson's relatives and neighbours on Friday were unsuccessful. Closs is not the first kidnapping victim to survive months in captivity. Closs was speaking to investigators on Friday after spending a night in the hospital for evaluation. Authorities said they did not know details about the conditions of her captivity or how she managed to escape. She was due to be reunited with her extended family later Friday. "I just cried ... lots of happy tears," Jen Smith, the girl's aunt, told ABC's "Good Morning America" programme. (Reporting by Joseph Ax and Gabriella Borter in New York, Additional reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Scott Malone and Jeffrey Benkoe) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A Myanmar court on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of breaking the Official Secrets Act. A Myanmar court on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of breaking the Official Secrets Act. The journalists were charged under the stringent Act over their investigation of atrocities committed against the Rohingya Muslims. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were convicted in September in a landmark case that has raised questions about Myanmars progress towards democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates. The duo were arrested in Yangon in December 2017 and later sentenced to seven years in jail for violating the state secrets act, a charge supporters say is trumped up. At the time of the arrest they were probing a massacre of 10 Rohingya. The two men have insisted they were the victims of a police set-up, pointing to testimony from a serving officer who said a superior ordered others to entrap them. The trial was widely regarded as a sham and seen as punishment for their probe, sparking outrage around the world including from US Vice President Mike Pence. Outside the country, the two men have been hailed as heroes and jointly named Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2018, alongside other persecuted and slain journalists. But they have gained little sympathy within Myanmar. The violent military campaign in 2017 forced more than 720,000 Rohingya across the border to Bangladesh, with refugees bringing accounts of murder, rape and arson. UN investigators have called for top generals to be investigated for genocide and singled out civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for criticism for failing to stop the crackdown. The image of the formerly renowned champion of human rights has been further damaged by the Reuters trial, and she has yet to speak up in their defence. Speaking to AFP just before the verdict was due, Reporters Without Borders representative Daniel Bastard said it would be "utterly devastating" if the court upholds the verdict. "The message that Myanmar authorities would send is absolutely dreadful: seven years in prison, this is the price you'll have to pay if you dare investigate subjects we don't want you to." With inputs from agencies The 2016 SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after a deadly terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir that year, India expressed its inability to participate in it. New Delhi: Nepal on Friday strongly pitched for convening of the SAARC summit, saying differences should be resolved through dialogue and the grouping should collectively deal with terrorism and other key challenges facing the region. Nepalese foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali also cited 2018's historic talks between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore, saying dialogue was the only way to address differences. "If Trump and Kim can meet, then why not (leaders of) other countries," he asked during an interaction with a group of foreign policy experts and reporters. It is Pakistan's turn to host the summit. However, India, citing continued support to cross-border terrorism by Pakistan, has been maintaining that it is difficult to proceed with the summit. The 2016 SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after a deadly terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir that year, India expressed its inability to participate in it. The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the meet. Maldives and Sri Lanka are the seventh and eighth members of the grouping. "There is no alternative to sitting together and mitigating differences. The problems we (the region) are facing cannot be resolved alone. We need to put collective efforts to deal with various key challenges like climate change and terrorism," Gyawali said. The Nepalese foreign minister, who held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday, said his country has been raising the issue of the SAARC summit with India. "I am hopeful the summit will be held soon," Gyawali said. SAARC summits are usually held biennially, hosted by a member state in alphabetical order. The member state hosting the summit assumes the chair of the association. The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Nepalese foreign minister also said he has requested the Indian government to replace Rs 7 crore worth of old Indian currency notes with new ones. Following the demonetisation exercise in India, people in Nepal deposited the old notes in banks in Nepal. Indian currency is extensively used by Nepalese people and businesses. The Nepalese government in December 2018 asked its citizens to refrain from keeping or carrying Indian bank notes higher than Rs 100 denomination. On Nepal's ties with China, Gyawali said Nepal has very close ties with India and it will be unfair to compare his country's relationship with India to that of China. "We have a wonderful relationship with India. I do not want to compare it with our ties with China. We have a good relationship with China and I do not want to compare it with India," he said. The minister also said the Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations was finalising its report covering all aspects of the bilateral ties and asserted that there was no difference of opinion between the two sides on the issue. The EPG was formed in January 2016 with the mandate to review various aspects of the bilateral relations including Nepal-India Friendship Treaty 1950. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, however, former Afghanistan president Karzai backed the US presidents contention that India should do more. Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, is an enigmatic man. He shares historical links with Pakistan and talks of a duality in the nature of bilateral relations; he shared an uneasy relationship with the US during his tenure in office; he acknowledges Indias deep and persisting efforts in Afghanistan but nevertheless wants India to do more. As it happens, the Indians are a little touchy over the issue. New Delhi is increasingly wary of the turmoil on the horizon as the US moves inevitably towards the endgame in Afghanistan but of immediate interest is the spark provided by Donald Trump when he recently appeared to belittle Indias role as Afghanistans partner for stability and peaceful development. At a long-winded news conference at the White House last week, the US president seemed to mock the Indian prime minister on the quality and quantity of Indian assistance, suggesting that Afghanistan has no use of a library that India has built and prodded India to do more. Though no one really knows which library project he was referring to and Trump couldnt care less the general impression in India was that the US president was putting pressure on New Delhi to send some boots on the ground. This added heft to retrenchment theory and solidified the impression that at least a partial drawdown of US presence is imminent. The White House has been at pains to deny media reports to this effect but there is no denying the bipartisan nature of popular opinion in the US that the war in Afghanistan has gone on for too long without any end or solution in sight. Trumps jibe met with resistance and outrage in India. The government responded by clarifying that India has no policy of sending troops to other countries except for UN peacekeeping missions and released a dossier through the media of its developmental activities in Kabul, pointing out that it has committed $3 billion as assistance towards rebuilding the country since 2001. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, however, former Afghanistan president Karzai backed the US presidents contention that India should do more. I think Trumps comments generated a lot of unnecessary media hype. He was seeking a larger role for India in Afghanistan. Thats exactly what Afghanistan wants too, the former president said on Wednesday during the conference on geopolitics convened by the ORF and Ministry of External Affairs. Instead of Indian military presence though, Karzais stress was on the continuity and intensity of Indian presence a pointer perhaps to the reality of thinning American interest in persisting with the unwinnable war. Karzai sees the Indo-Afghan relationship as exceedingly romantic and he felt managing the level of expectations in such a relationship becomes difficult. The India-Afghanistan relationship is amazing, romantic. This romance raises expectations at an unrealistic level. We want India to do more detached from other countries. We want India to be on board in all the processes that bring peace, stability and development. The unstated reference is clearly to the shifting US policy on Afghanistan, which seems geared more towards an honourable exit than staying the course and continuing to act as the security umbrella for regional stability. While American military presence since September 2001 attacks has worked to Indias benefit and allowed it the necessary space to execute projects without looking over the shoulder, that chapter is nearing its end and India might be forced to rethink its policy or options. Karzais comments, in this context, could be interpreted as an encouragement to New Delhi to stick with its Afghanistan policy regardless of the churn in Washington. US special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, who set the ball rolling for direct talks with the Taliban, is incidentally on an India visit and attended the session where Karzai made his observations. Though the prospect of a reduction in US military presence has caused a fair bit of unease and consternation in Kabul (add the fact that the first round of US-Taliban talks kicked off without Afghan government playing a part in it), Karzai doesnt believe that the US will pull out of Afghanistan. He remains convinced that Afghanistan is strategically so important that the US will never really abdicate its responsibilities. The Americans are not going to leave Afghanistan, said Karzai. According to him, they will stay at least in the form of a bilateral security agreement or in a way that is beneficial to the war-torn nation. On the Taliban though, Karzai was clear that their participation in the process is necessary for peace to arrive. Taliban are Afghans. They are sons of the soil. Talibans participation is inevitable for the peace process to succeed, said Karzai. The former president stressed on the duality of Afghanistans relationship with Pakistan. As much as we love Pakistan people, we are unhappy with the government and the military in Pakistan. They behave the opposite way. They support extremism, terrorism and have gone to the extent of destroying Afghanistan. Denying its children education and destructing infrastructure. And yet Karzai recognises Pakistan as the closest of all neighbours and wants it to play a supportive role in the peace process. For India, the signs are clear. Afghanistan is keen that New Delhi takes up a quantum of responsibility commensurate with its role as the anchor of regional stability. Yet there is not much clarity in India about what that is. By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen said on Thursday he had agreed to testify publicly before a congressional panel on Feb. 7, as U.S. By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen said on Thursday he had agreed to testify publicly before a congressional panel on Feb. 7, as U.S. House of Representatives Democrats began kicking off numerous investigations of Trump, his business interests and his administration. Cohen said in a statement he had accepted an invitation to testify from Representative Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," Cohen said. Cummings said the committee has no intention of interfering in ongoing criminal probes. He said, "To that end, we are in the process of consulting with Special Counsel Muellers office." Special Counsel Robert Mueller for many months has been investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, possible collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign and potential obstruction of justice. Russia has denied U.S. intelligence agencies' findings that it meddled in the 2016 campaign, while Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and called Mueller's probe a "witch hunt." The investigation has clouded Trump's presidency. Cohen was sentenced in December to three years in prison for his role in making illegal hush-money payments to two women to help Trump in 2016 in violation of campaign laws, and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia. Cohen once said he would take a bullet for Trump, who called his former close confidante a "Rat" on Twitter in mid-December. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said he hoped to schedule a closed-door hearing with Cohen later to discuss the Russia probe. "Mr. Cohen has expressed an interest in telling his personal story in open session, and we welcome his testimony before the Committee on Oversight and Reform," Schiff said in a statement. After Cohen was sentenced, Lanny Davis, an attorney who has been advising him on his media strategy, said Cohen wanted to speak publicly about Trump. "I look forward to assisting Michael to state publicly all he knows about Mr. Trump - and that includes any appropriate congressional committee interested in the search for truth and the difference between facts and lies," Davis said in a statement at the time. Cohen, Trump's self-described longtime "fixer," pleaded guilty to the campaign finance charge in August and to making false statements in November. At a hearing last August in federal court in New York, Cohen testified that Trump had directed him to commit a crime by arranging payments before the 2016 election to two women who said they had engaged in extramarital affairs with Trump. Adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 and former Playboy model Karen McDougal was paid $150,000 by Cohen. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball, Nathan Layne, Ginger Gibson, Doina Chiacu and Makini Brice; editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Jonathan Oatis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. US president Donald Trump has no escape route from Americas government shutdown of his own making than to declare a national emergency so he can funnel funds from his own government departments to build his promised border wall along the US Mexico border. New York: US president Donald Trump has no escape route from Americas government shutdown of his own making than to declare a national emergency so he can funnel funds from his own government departments to build his promised border wall along the 1,954 mile long US Mexico border. For the moment though, he's walking back his on-again, off-again threats to declare an emergency, saying "the easy solution is for me to call a national emergency ... but I'm not going to do it so fast." If Trump waits for the Opposition to cave, it's not only because he is afraid he'll be sued for declaring an emergency, it also means the wall is proving to be what it always was - a totem for racial discontent, not a real thing that needs to be built but a construct that can drive a cultural schism only as long as it's not a real edifice. The partial shutdown will set a record early Saturday, stretching beyond the 21-day closure that ended 6 January, 1996, during Bill Clinton's administration. If Trump declares an emergency, Trump will be making it official that every time he cant round up all his toys and walk away is an emergency. The National Emergencies Act of 1976 was passed in response to Watergate and presumes the White House acts in good faith. The way the Act is written, Trump has broad leeway to declare an emergency whether one exists or not. At last count, 31 emergencies are in effect, past presidents have invoked emergencies more than 40 times and Trump himself has declared three so far including one about sanctions on Russia for interference in the 2016 election. Whats different about this one, if it happens, is this: Trump will be doing this only to run circles around the Congress and spend funds without Congressional approval to serve his political agenda. If youre up against a concrete wall, go through it, go around it, get to the other side somehow. I have so many people Ive seen over the years, who, if they had fought just a little harder, would have accomplished their goals. So, dont give up!, Trump says in a 2004 video thats come back to the headlines this week. Trump is demanding billions for his wall that Democrats won't give him. In the meantime, 800,000 federal workers are missing paychecks Friday. They have not been paid since 22 December. Trumps executive action could come any moment now with all negotiations at a standstill and both sides dug in. In his public comments, he has left all options open - a typical Trump shtick. He has said I can absolutely declare an emergency if I want to, he has said, I can compromise, he has put the odds of his taking this action at maybe definitely. If Trump follows through, he will be re-ordering relations between the branches of government and will set off an immediate scramble of legal action by House Democrats. Not just that, if he plans to use the same emergency powers to seize private land in places where his wall needs to be built through locals' residences and farms, owners of those lands can go to court too. Each piece of the legal battle will take months or maybe years to solve, the wall isn't going to get built magically before Trump's term runs out, so what does Trump want out of this Godzilla size stunt? During comments at another freewheeling press gaggle, Trump gave us yet another glimpse of what's really driving the wall emergency. Responding to reporters' questions about whether he empathizes with workers struggling without pay cheques, he said we should instead feel sorry about all those people who have been killed by immigrants, for wives who have lost husbands and husbands who have lost wives and for children who have lost parents. Trump is right, this wall - his wall - has never been about concrete or steel or even about illegal immigration, it's been about all the people who he doesn't want in America, people who don't look like him. "Good behaviour is not a rule written down for the US president, right? It's just expected and he isn't doing what's expected. That's why we have democratic process, that's why we have elections. I agree with (James) Comey, Trump needs to be ousted in a landslide", says Ian Reid, a UK born US citizen living in New York. Reggie, the brother of slain Indian-origin police officer Ronil Singh, said his family fully supported Donald Trump's efforts to bolster border security. Washington: Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin police officer Ronil "Ron" Singh killed in California and described a "national hero" by Donald Trump, has said his family fully supported the President's efforts to bolster border security so that others do not experience what they have been going through since the tragedy. Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, of the Newman Police Department was shot and killed, allegedly by an illegal immigrant, during a traffic stop on 26 December. During a high-profile visit to the southern border state of Texas on Thursday to push for his controversial US-Mexico border wall plan, Trump attended a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, where Reggie Singh was seated next to the president. "I watched a family right around Christmas time... suffer and I'd like to ask Reggie, maybe you could say a few words about your incredible brother, the job he was doing. He was so beloved by the people of the department and beyond the department," the US president said. To this, Reggie Singh told Trump, "The way he (Ronil Singh) was killed, what my family is going through right now, I do not want any other family, law enforcement person to go through that." "Whatever it takes to minimise... put a stop to it, my family fully supports it," Reggie Singh said. In the last few days, Trump has made it a point to mention the killing of Singh by an illegal immigrant to build a strong case in favouur of a stronger border security to prevent entry of illegal immigrants. "We are deeply moved to have with us Reggie Singh, whose brother, Ronil Singh, incredible guy. I mean, I watched, and I've rarely felt worse and watching news of our nation than watching your family and the love that you have for your brother," Trump said. During the roundtable meeting, Reggie Singh said he and his brother are originally from Fiji. "He (Ronil) always wanted to be in law enforcement. So legally we migrated to America to fulfill his dream of joining the law enforcement, he said. "English is our second language. He worked on that, got his education, applied for law enforcement agency and he was asked to get his citizenship. He worked towards that and he became a cop, K-9, Corporal K-9," Reggie Singh said. "At 33, Ronil Singh was cremated and I had to pick up his remains. It breaks my heart and no one should ever go through that. Seeing a five-month-old baby looking for his dad, no one should ever go through that on Christmas Day," he told Trump. The president replied, "We are with you. You know that, right." "That was a tough one, too. That was a tough one for a lot of people, not only the family, for a lot of people in this country. That was a tough thing to watch," Trump said. "I can see that, the way it came through. It came through loud and clear. And there are so many other people who have the same, nobody covers them, nobody talks about how unfair it is to the victims of these brutal killings," he said. On Tuesday, Trump said America's heart broke the day the young officer was "savagely murdered" in cold blood by an "illegal alien". "America's heart broke the day after Christmas when a young police officer in California was savagely murdered in cold blood by an illegal alien (who) just came across the border. The life of an American hero was stolen by someone who had no right to be in our country," Trump said. The Californian police have arrested 33-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico identified as Gustavo Perez Arriaga on charges of killing Singh. Trump has demanded $ 5.7 billion from Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers' money. The sharp differences between the Trump administration and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday, making it the second-longest in history after the 21-day shutdown in 1995-96. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled a planned visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, later this month amid a shutdown of the federal government, signaling he was prepared for the political showdown to stretch into late January Washington: US president Donald Trump on Thursday cancelled a planned visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, later in January amid a shutdown of the federal government, signaling he was prepared for the political showdown to stretch into late January. It was unclear whether the partial government shutdown, now in its 20th day, would end before the start of the global economic meeting, which is scheduled for 22 to 25 January. Trump and congressional Democrats are in a battle over the funding for the government and Trump's long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border. "Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," Trump wrote on Twitter. The president had told reporters at the White House earlier on Thursday that he intended to speak at the forum but would not attend if the shutdown continued. The cancellation quashes any opportunity for Trump to meet with other world leaders about economic issues, including trade. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin still planned to go to Davos, leading a small US delegation, said a source familiar with the planning. The Trump administration is engaged in trade talks with the European Union and China, among others. China and the United States have agreed to a 90-day pause in implementing tariffs in order to hammer out a trade deal. China's vice president, Wang Qishan, was expected to attend the Swiss meeting, but it was unclear whether any talks had been planned between him and Trump. tech2 News Staff Black holes are perhaps the most mysterious things in the universe; science fiction scenarios that use a black hole as a portal to another dimension are always exciting and full of wonder. The birth of one might have happened in a sudden flash last summer. A very unusual flare which was spotted in the night sky last summer, on 16 June 2018, stunned and excited scientists, and they're wondering now that the explosion might have just given birth to a black hole or a neutron star. The flash has been named as "the Cow" because the auto-generated name was AT2018cow ("The Cow" has the same last three letters from the official name). The Cow, according to NASA, is unlike any celestial outburst ever seen in history. The flare was registered by astronomers using the ATLAS or the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System. ATLAS is a robotic astronomical survey and early-warning system for detecting smaller near-Earth objects, which is funded by NASA. It was developed and is being operated by the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy, The flare occurred near a star-forming spiral galaxy known as the CGCG 137-068, which is 200 million light years away from us, which is relatively close to us, according to astronomers. Just as fast as it appeared, it also vanished. So what is "the Cow" more than just an unusual flare? Currently, two groups are working on their respective papers to provide explanations for what "the Cow" truly is and its origins. NASA says that the two groups are using data from multiple missions. One of the two papers says that it is "monster black hole shredding a passing star." The second paper wonders that it is a "supernova, a stellar explosion, that gave birth to a black hole or a neutron star." Monster black hole shredding a passing star According to one of the research teams, the Cow is a star that has been ripped apart. This phenomenon is scientifically known as the 'tidal disruption event.' It occurs when a star gets close enough to a supermassive black hole that it is pulled apart by the black hole and shredded. Here's a video of what scientists think happens when a black hole tears apart a hot, dense white dwarf star. The paper was co-authored by Amy Lien, who is an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "We've never seen anything exactly like the Cow, which is very exciting," said Lien. Lien along with her team think that the shredded star is roughly the size of the earth, and was making its way to reach the final state of stars. Birth to a black hole or a neutron star A team at the Northwestern University, on the other hand, through their investigation think that the incredibly bright object that burst in the northern sky might actually be a black hole or neutron star. We think that The Cow is the formation of an accreting black hole or neutron star. We know from theory that black holes and neutron stars form when a star dies, but weve never seen them right after they are born. Never, said Northwesterns Raffaella Margutti, who led the research. Nimish Sawant Lenovo has launched an all-in-one in its Yoga lineup called the Yoga A940, which seems to have set its eyes on Microsofts Surface Studio. The Yoga A940 is one of the first all-in-ones under the Yoga branding and it comes with a couple of unique features on board which I will elaborate on. At a starting price of $2,349 the Lenovo Yoga A940 caters to a very niche set of users, especially the ones considering the Surface Studio and it will start selling from April onwards. The first thing that will strike you when you lay your eyes on the Yoga A940 is this protrusion from its left-hand edge. Called the Lenovo Precision Dial, this is the cylindrical dial which has two rotating circles and a button on the outer edge. The Lenovo Precision Dial will basically help you pair certain functions for the Dial when you are using creative software such as Adobes Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator or Autodesk Maya. You can also set certain features or settings for the Dial in certain programs. This seems like Lenovos take on the Microsoft Surface Dock, which also lets creators deal with contextual menus when working in their creative applications. The Lenovo Yoga A940 comes with a 27-inch (optional) 4K display which is touch sensitive and can also work with the Lenovo Pencil. You can also opt for a 2K display. The display has a dual hinge mechanism at the back, which lets you tilt the display to a 25-degree angle. Artists, illustrators can make use of this flexibility to get their work done. The display is also adjusted for Dolby Vision support and is complemented by Dolby Atmos supported speakers at the bottom edge of the display. In terms of internal specifications, the Yoga A940 has features which will appeal to the enthusiast crowd. An 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor paired with up to 32 GB of RAM. In terms of storage, you have a fast 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB SSD options, which can be paired with 1 TB or 2 TB hard drive. Then there's AMD Radeon RX580 discrete graphics solution to take care of your multimedia needs. There's support for the Lenovo Smart Assist feature as well. One of them functions similarly to Windows Hello, letting you log in to your device by recognising your face. Then there are four far-field microphones on the A940 to help out with Cortana or Alexa on PC support. There's another feature called 'Snap Window' which Lenovo said lets you move content from your A940's display to a connected monitor by just turning your head. Lenovo is taking a huge bet here with the A940 which is trying to woo a class of customers who may already be or are looking to invest in the Apple (5K iMac) or Windows (Surface Studio) ecosystem. This is a niche market in itself and the A940 will certainly have to shine in benchmarks to stand a chance. But so far, it sure looks interesting. And creators have another choice. Disclaimer: Tech2 was invited to CES 2019 by Lenovo. All expenses related to travel and accommodation have been borne by Lenovo. CES 2019: To catch up with all the announcements from the world's largest consumer electronics show, head here. tech2 News Staff In the past five months, WhatsApp has spent over Rs 120 crore in India on print, television, and radio advertisements, in order to fight its pestering problem of fake news, Economic Times reports. And now, in its second phase of advertisements, which is scheduled to kick off by end of March 2019, will reportedly see an even larger investment in the campaign. This already alarming issue has been made more urgent by the upcoming general elections in India, that are expected to be held sometime in April or May. To top that, the Indian government has also proposed an IT draft bill, according to which, apps and websites that are unable to monitor the spread of fake news and child pornography content, maybe penalised with a shutdown. Last month, the IT ministry also met with senior executives of Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and few other companies to discuss the proposed changes in the Information Technology (IT) rules, where they were told that if the proposal is approved, the tech companies will be required to deploy tools to "identify" and curb unlawful content as well as follow stricter due diligence practices. While the problem of fake news has unquestionably to be dealt with, the Indian government has now also proposed for regulation of users content. To this, companies like Facebook and Twitter are apparently gearing up to push back. Reuters Poland has arrested a Chinese employee of Huawei and a Polish national involved in cyber business on allegations of spying, Polish media reported on 11 January, deepening the controversy over Western criticism of the Chinese telecoms equipment maker. US intelligence agencies allege Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is linked to Chinas government and that its equipment could contain backdoors for use by government spies. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims. But the criticism has led several Western countries and companies to look into whether they should allow Huaweis equipment to be used in their telecoms networks, straining relations with Beijing. Polish public TV channel TVP said security services had searched the local offices of Huawei, as well as the offices of telecoms firm Orange Polska, where it said the Polish national works. Chinas foreign ministry said it was greatly concerned by the reports, and urged Poland to handle the case justly. We are aware of the situation, and we are looking into it. We have no comment for the time being, Huawei said in a statement. Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based, it added. Orange Polska said in a statement the security agency had on 8 January gathered materials related to an employee, whom it did not identify. The company added it did not know if the investigation was linked to the employees professional work, and that it would continue to cooperate with the authorities. TVP said the security services also searched the offices of Polands telecoms regulator, the Office of Electronic Communications, but the regulator denied this. Tensions In December, Canadian authorities arrested a top Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, at the behest of US authorities as part of an investigation into alleged violations of US trade sanctions, raising tensions with China at a time when Washington and Beijing are engaged in a broader trade war. The Wests security concerns surrounding Huawei, and fellow Chinese telecoms equipment firm ZTE Corp, centre around Chinas National Intelligence Law. Approved in 2017, the law states that Chinese organisations and citizens shall, in accordance with the law, support, cooperate with, and collaborate in national intelligence work. This has sparked fears Huawei could be asked by the Chinese government to incorporate backdoors into their equipment that would allow Beijing access, for spying or sabotage purposes. Some experts also see a risk that Chinese intelligence may develop an ability to subvert Huaweis equipment. Norway said on 9 January it was considering whether to join other Western nations in excluding Huawei from building part of the countrys new 5G telecoms network. The Chinese national is a businessman working in a major electronics company ... the Pole is a person known in circles associated with cyber business, Maciej Wasik, the deputy head of Polands special services, told state news agency PAP. The arrested pair will be held for three months, PAP reported, citing the spokesperson for Polands head of special services. TVP said the Polish national was a former agent of the internal security agency. The agency did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Reuters Two shareholder lawsuits filed this week accused the board of Google parent Alphabet Inc of playing a direct role in covering up sexual misconduct claims against two former executives over the last five years. The company declined to comment. Both of the lawsuits seek to force Google to change its governance and oversight to stop future workplace conduct issues. They also call for Alphabet directors to pay damages to Alphabet for allegedly breaching their fiduciary duties and engaging in corporate waste. The allegations stem primarily from large severance payments to Andy Rubin, who led Googles Android mobile operating division until 2014, and Amit Singhal, head of Googles search unit until 2016. Company investigations into both men had found accusations of sexual harassment against them to be credible, according to the lawsuits. Rubin and Singhal have denied the allegations. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai apologized last year to employees for the companies' past handling of sexual misconduct cases and vowed to improve practices. One of the two lawsuits in San Mateo County Superior Court in California cites minutes from Alphabet board and board committee meetings where the executives situations were discussed. Plaintiff James Martin obtained the documents through a shareholder inspection demand, according to the lawsuit. Google provided them on the condition they not be published, according to his attorneys, and details from the minutes are redacted across at least eight pages in the 82-page lawsuit filed on Thursday. Martins attorney, Frank Bottini, said his team plans to show that Google suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages including payouts made to executives accused of sexual misconduct, lost productivity from employees around the world walking off the job briefly in November to protest the payouts and hits to its brand reputation. The employee demonstrations followed a New York Times report in October that said Google in 2014 gave a $90 million exit package to Rubin, who said the terms of his departure were mischaracterized. Employee organizers said they welcomed the lawsuits as they continue to push for further changes, including an employee representative on Alphabets board. The lawsuit calls for Alphabet to add at least three independent directors to its board and move to a one share, one vote stock structure to increase shareholder oversight of management decisions. Alphabet executives currently hold voting control through shares with 10 votes each. Wed like to see ... meaningful change in the tone at the company, the policies, the treatment of women, the reporting of sexual harassment and other issues, Bottini said. The second case, brought on Wednesday by Northern California Pipe Trades Pension Plan and Teamsters Local 272 Labor Management Pension Fund, cites company filings and media reports. They are represented by the law firm Cohn & Millstein. The Accidental prime Minister's release has been termed 'convenient' by many who feel the film was released prior to the 2019 Lok sabha elections in order to influence audiences The issues surrounding The Accidental Prime Minister somehow do not seem to end. The film, featuring Anupam Kher in the lead as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was released in theatres on Friday. Reports state that West Bengal Congress has held protests outside film theatres in Kolkata demanding the screenings be halted with immediate effect. Videos of Congress supporters burning effigies of PM Narendra Modi were also captured. The protests were held outside Hind Cinema in Kolkata. Despite protesters thronging outside the theatre chanting slogans, the audiences inside the theatre remained unhurt as the Kolkata Police tried to contain crowds. As per reports in CNN News18, the protest was an isolated incident of rebellion rather than a coordinated series of events. Though the protests have for now ceased, reports state that Hind cinema presently has significant policemen on site to avert any kind of disorder for the upcoming screenings of The Accidental Prime Minister in the theatre. Kolkata# Congress Protest against the release of Accidental Prime Minister movie .They want it to be withdrawn from the Cinema hall and multiplexes pic.twitter.com/erz5QBQim4 Shabana@ANI (@ShabanaANI2) January 11, 2019 Other places where the Congress seems to have created an obstacle are Raipur and Ludhiana, added reports. While a Ludhiana mall faced protests during The Accidental Prime Minister's screening, in Raipur, youth wing of Congress opposed the screening at 36 multiplexes. All shows in Raipur city currently stand cancelled due to the fear of disruption of order. Ever since the release of The Accidental Prime Minister's trailer, the video has received considerable backlash as many considered it Bharatiya Janta Party's (BJP) ploy to influence audience opinion before the imminent Lok Sabha elections. The top leadership of both the parties had met in New Delhi recently to discuss broad parameters of an alliance to take on the BJP unitedly in the Lok Sabha elections Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati will address a joint press meet in Lucknow on Saturday, amid talks of seat sharing for Lok Sabha polls from which the Congress seems to be out. This was announced on Friday by SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary and Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary SC Misra. The top leadership of both the parties had met in New Delhi recently to discuss broad parameters of an alliance to take on the BJP unitedly in the Lok Sabha elections. The joint press conference at a posh hotel will be the first after the parties gave contours of an electoral alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The two party chiefs had given their "in principle" approval to the alliance, which has shut its doors to the Congress in the state. Sources said that both SP and BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 on offer in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two, Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for the Congress. Smaller parties like the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the Nishad Party are also likely to be in the alliance. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and its allies had won 73 of the 80 seats in UP. Last year, Yadav and Mayawati decided to bury their differences and pool in their resources to contest three bypolls and won all. It gave them hope that if they team up, they can pull voters away from the BJP. The mahagathbandhan arithmetic had worked in the bypolls as a consolidation of OBC, Dalit and Muslim votes powered joint opposition candidates to victory in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana in 2018. If they try to replicate their success in the 2019 national polls, it could might upset the apple cart of the BJP, which recently lost three major state elections. As with an new relationship, Nita Whaley says forming a bond with Cape Corals sister city in Baise, China, will take some work. I feel like it will take time, said the chair of the delegations formal welcome committee. But in the end, it will be a great relationship. Four high-level delegates from the Baise Municipality Guangxi Zhuang will visit Cape Coral for the first time next month. City Council on Monday allocated $10,000 for the visit. Whaley says she hopes the relationship builds business interests and investments and, hopefully, increases tourism. Theyll see the beaches, she said. The water and the city. They are coming here to look for investment opportunities and well introduce them to local businesses. Coming from a town in Indiana with 10 sister cities, Whaley says she is excited to learn about the culture and establish a possible connection. Delegates from Cape Coral plan to visit Baise as well, with a team of perhaps six city officials, plus pay-their-own-way business partners, to go in April or May. We are building this for a long-term relationship, Whaley said. Baise delegates will visit Cape Coral from Feb. 24-27. They will tour local businesses and engage with city officials and learn more about the city that in 2017, Forbes Magazine dubbed the fastest-growing municipality in America. Cape Corals Economic Development Office is coordinating the visit with the local business community through the creation of a formal welcome committee. A news release says welcome committee members include representatives from key sectors in the community such as education, healthcare and private sector businesses. The goal is to showcase the best of Cape Coral, offer key business and educational tours, while still allowing time for quality cultural and business discussions. This visit is the beginning of a business and cultural exchange that will ultimately benefit both Cape Coral and Baise, said Mayor Joe Coviello. We are honored to host these delegates and look forward to showing them what makes Cape Coral a great place to live, work and invest. Whaley envisions multiple visits between the two parties once a relationship is established. The committee has been conducting planning sessions since early November. Preparations began moving into high gear after the delegates accepted the citys formal invitation. Planned tours include the Cape Coral Hospital, the citys charter school system and Ecological Laboratories, which currently has a manufacturing facility in China. Whaley says the delegation was very interested in the citys health care system since many students from China visit Southwest Florida to earn their college degree and participate in student exchange programs. They were also eager to learn more about charter schools, she said. They dont have a lot of charter schools in China, Whaley said. They are very interested in how the charter school system works. Since Ecological Laboratories has a building in China and employees from China, it seemed like a natural choice for the delegation to visit the company. Whaley said the delegation is also interested in learning more from Ecological Laboratories about purification and pollution. Baise and Cape Coral may not appear to have much in common at first. Baise is over 20 times the size of Cape Coral with 12 counties and 135 townships. However, the two cities share similar climates and are both a hub for tourism. Like Southwest Florida, Whaley says they are also known for their mangoes. Local business owner, JoAnne Killion, helped make the sister city arrangement possible. Killion, who also provides educational student exchange programs, initiated the plan to find a sister city in China more than two years ago. The opportunities for both countries are so strong, Killion said in a news release. The future could hold cultural, student, and medical exchanges as well as enriching business and commerce ventures. I am very excited to see this come to fruition. Discussing the Congress' poll preparedness, Bakshi said the party has an organisation and is getting ready for an election. 'We will be all set for the polls soon,' he added. Lucknow: The Congress is ready to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections, a senior state leader said on Friday as speculation about an SP-BSP seat-sharing alliance spiralled with the two parties announcing a joint press conference of their chiefs. The Congress already has 45 seats in the Lok Sabha, more than any other regional player, said the party's media coordinator Rajiv Bakshi. His comments came as the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party announced that their leaders, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, would jointly address a press conference on Saturday, signalling a 'gathbandhan' excluding the Congress. "We are a political party and are ready to fight the coming elections alone in Uttar Pradesh," Bakshi said. "We alone have 45 seats in the Lok Sabha, and it is much more than the regional players... a 'mahagathbandhan' in the Lok Sabha elections need to be built around the party having a national face," Bakshi said, "We are ready to take along like-minded parties and they can come together with us," he said. Discussing the Congress' poll preparedness, Bakshi said the party has an organisation and is getting ready for an election. "We will be all set for the polls soon," he added. Another senior leader added that talk on a 'mahagathbandhan' had been going on for a while but Congress members in the state were of the opinion that the party should it go alone as it has an independent identity among the people. "A decision on who to join hands with always rests with the party high command, but we will apprise them that workers and supporters want the Congress to go alone in Uttar Pradesh where it still has its own identity which is different from these parties," he said. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, when, too, the situation seemed against the Congress, the party got 21 seats in the state, paving the way for the return of the UPA government at the Centre, he said. Party leaders in Lucknow said the central leadership did not respond to the statements of Akhilesh Yadav or Mayawati during the recent Assembly elections in five states, making it clear that it might prefer to go it alone. They also said party president Rahul Gandhi had made it clear that the Congress cannot be underestimated. In an interview to Gulf News ahead of his visit to UAE on 11 January, Rahul said the Congress idea is very powerful in Uttar Pradesh. "We are very confident of our ability in Uttar Pradesh and we will surprise people," he was quoted as saying. Rahul's comments were the first indication of the party's Plan B after the regional players seemed to have deserted it. Sources in the Congress said Rahul will soon meet UPCC president Raj Babbar and AICC in-charge of party affairs in the state Ghulam Nabi Azad to deliberate on the matter. "There are chances that Rahul will set up a committee to finalise issues concerning elections," a party leader said. The Congress on Friday opposed the seat-sharing formula of the grand alliance in Bihar, saying that the party was confident of a win in at least 20 out of 40 seats in the Assembly. The Congress on Friday opposed the seat-sharing formula proposed by Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The Congress said that the party was confident of a win in at least 20 out of 40 seats in the Assembly. Reportedly, the Left parties also demanded 11 seats, but said they were willing to compromise on seats to defeat the NDA alliance in the state. According to reports, the RJD which emerged as the largest party in the last Bihar Assembly elections with 81 MLAs proposed the seat-sharing formula for the Opposition parties. CNN-News18 reported that the RJD prescribed 18 seats for itself, 10 seats for Congress, four seats for the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and Left parties, two for Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and one each for LJP and Mukesh Sahni's Vikasheel Insaan Party. However, the arrangement is speculated to have been planned under pressure as the 'mahagathbandhan' had made no headway on the issue of seat-sharing until January even as the ruling NDA alliance declared their allotments on 23 December. BJP president Amit Shah had announced that the party would contest on 17 Lok Sabha seats as part of the NDA alliance in the state, while an equal number of seats will go to Janata Dal (United). Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Jantantrik Party (LJP) will contest on six seats. Opposition parties forming the grand alliance met at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's residence on 7 January. News18 reported that the grand alliance's meeting was marked by "broad discussions on the respective number of seats to be fought by each constituent, and identifying constituencies best suited for each alliance partner." The report said, "They, however, added that a final agreement may be deferred till the release of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, serving sentences in fodder scam cases." ANI quoted a party source as saying, "Lalu isn't easily available for all parties (of the potential allies) to discuss each and every issue." The issue has been compounded because of the Congress' improvement on the electoral front after it wrested power from the BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. A Congress source said, "We are strong at national level now, considering the way we performed in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. So why should we compromise." CNN-News18 reported that senior leaders in the alliance were relying on RJD chief Lalu Prasad to settle the differences regarding seat-sharing. On Lalu's behalf, his younger son Tejaswi is managing the party's politics but considering the seat-sharing talks, he is junior in front of leaders of the Congress and other potential allies like CPI and CPM, the source noted, according to ANI. The report also said that two crucial issues face the 'mahagathbandhan', which are: How many seats are to be allotted to which party, and which constituencies are allotted to them. With inputs from agencies Critics have said that Sheila Dikshit's old age will place a challenge to revive the Congress' relevance in Delhi. Sources in the Congress as well as the AAP said chances of an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections have increased following Dikshit's appointment. On Thursday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi appointed former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit as the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief, overlooking younger ministers such as Devender Yadav, Haroon Yusuf, Arvinder Singh Lovely and Rajesh Lilotia. Yadav, Yusuf and Lilotia: all of whom have instead been appointed to assist her with her duties. Congress banks on tried and tested leaders The Congress appointing Dikshit, one of the longest-serving chief ministers of Delhi, as DPCC president is consistent with its reliance on tried and tested leaders in states. According to reports, Rahul wanted to put an experienced leader at the helm of the national capital, as he did with Rajasthan (Ashok Gehlot) and Madhya Pradesh (Kamal Nath). However, according to PTI, critics have said that Dikshit's age will pose threat to the Congress' relevance in the national capital, especially since the party failed to win any seats in both the previous Assembly and general elections. For her part, Dikshi said: "I have no message for BJP or AAP, I just want to say that now, Congress will be revived." It is also of note that if younger ministers like Yadav, 46, and Lilothia, 49, were chosen in her place, they could play a key role in garnering the support of young voters, who sided with the AAP in 2015, a party leader told Hindustan Times. In the same vein, there is worry that Dikshit's appointment as DPCC chief will not resonate with younger voters, one of Congress' key vote banks. "I will not comment on it and only time will tell," she told PTI, when questioned about critics pointing fingers at her age. Alliance with AAP under spotlight Business Standard quoted sources in the Congress and AAP as saying that the chances of an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections have increased following Dikshit's appointment. According to NDTV, Dikshit taking the reins is seen as a signal of the party's seriousness about its prospective alliance with the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP. Dikshit has been in favour of the alliance, unlike her predecessor Maken, who bitterly criticised the AAP over issues of governance and corruption. However, when asked about the possibility of the alliance, Dikshit said it was for the top leadership to decide and that she would not question their decision. "I have no opinion just now that I would like to share. Let me get involved and understand the situation from top to downwards and then only I will react to it," she said. Meanwhile, the AAP said Dikshit's return to politics is suggestive of a serious deficit of leadership in the Delhi Congress. AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj, listed out the Congress' poor performance in the Assembly and municipal corporation elections, even as he maintained that appointing its state president was an internal matter. "In 2013, Sheila Dikshit was the chief minister when she lost her own seat to Arvind Kejriwal. Then, Congress got zero seats in the 2014 Parliament elections. It then changed two state presidents and even then got zero seats in the legislative Assembly polls in 2015," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying. "She was later made the chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh, which also Congress lost. Bringing her back means a serious leadership deficit in the Delhi Congress. We wish her good health," Bhardwaj said. Maken congratulates Dikshit Sheila Dikshit will replace Ajay Maken, a 54-year-old former minister in Dikshit's cabinet, who stepped down as the DPCC president on 4 January after serving as the party unit head for about four years. His resignation sparked rumours that he will be assigned a new central role, and that he may even contest the Lok Sabha election. Maken congratulated Dikshit on her new role, saying that under her leadership, the Congress will play the role of a powerful Opposition against the governments in the national capital and at the Centre. : ! , ! ,+ ! pic.twitter.com/lFxuG2ScRE Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) January 10, 2019 According to reports, Maken's resignation officially on ground of health could be because of the party's growing inclination to ally with or have a seat-sharing arrangement with AAP. Maken previously strongly opposed such an alliance, alleging that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party is working with the BJP to make a dent in Congress' vote share. BJP leader Vijender Gupta claimed that Maken stepped down as Delhi Congress president for the same reason. With inputs from agencies Amit Shah will inaugurate the meeting, the biggest ever for its national council with the party expecting participation of close to 12,000 members. Narendra Modi will deliver the concluding speech on Saturday. New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government's "social justice" plank with its outreach to Dalits, backward classes and general category is likely to be a key theme at the BJP's two-day national council meeting starting Friday afternoon, as the party looks to set the tone for its Lok Sabha poll campaign. BJP president Amit Shah will inaugurate the meeting, the biggest ever for its national council with the party expecting participation of close to 12,000 members. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the concluding speech on Saturday, laying down the agenda for the general elections. Sources said the council may pass three resolutions, highlighting the government's "successes" on various fronts ranging from economy to social justice and also dwell at length on the prevailing political scenario. Senior BJP leaders were tight-lipped on whether the Ram temple issue will find a mention in the meeting but some delegates said that the party may refer to it amid demands by Hindutva organisations, including its ideological parent RSS, for a law to construct a temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. The party has invited its all elected members, ranging from those in local elections to its MPs, besides organisational leaders from across the country, for the meeting. A meeting of BJP general secretaries chaired by Shah was held Thursday to deliberate on the party's agenda for the council's meeting. Parliament's approval of a bill providing 10 percent reservation in jobs and education for economically weaker sections in the general category has boosted the saffron party's morale after it suffered a blow in the recent Assembly polls where it lost power in all three states it ruled. The BJP believes that the bill, which will come into force after getting the President's nod a mere formality will consolidate its core vote of upper castes in the Hindi-speaking states and also strengthen its appeal among political significant communities like Jats, Patidars and Marathas, among others. A section of the party believes that anger among upper castes played a role in its loss in the recent state polls. Party sources said the Modi government's measures, like granting constitutional status to the OBC Commission and strengthening the law on atrocities against Dalits and tribals, are likely to be highlighted and projected as part of its "social justice" project. "The Modi government has empowered every section of society. The party will naturally talk at length about it," they said. The council is also expected to hit out at the Congress over its "falsehoods", including those on the Rafale deal, and refer to the Supreme Court's order that rejected demands for a probe into the matter. The government's measures for farmers, besides various schemes for the welfare of the poor and economic growth will also be discussed, they said. Shah has often asserted that the BJP will win more seats than the 2014 polls, when it had won its first ever majority, bagging 282 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats. BJP's rivals believe that the party is facing a resurgent Congress in several states while the expected alliance of the Samajwadi Party and the BSP will dent its prospects in Uttar Pradesh, making the likelihood of its repeat of 2014 feat challenging. Amit Shah, in his inaugural address at the National Council meet at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, spoke at length about the so-called mahagathbandhan. A day ahead of the formal announcement of an alliance between the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party by Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, BJP chief Amit Shah dismissed their alliance and exhorted party leaders and workers in Uttar Pradesh to prepare to fight for a vote share of more than 50 percent. Shah spoke about an emerging Modi versus the rest situation in the upcoming parliamentary polls, and asserted that such a scenario would ultimately benefit the party, as people would see the negatives of the Opposition parties' game. On Saturday, Yadav and Mayawati will, for the first time, share a dais to put forward their "remove Narendra Modi" agenda. Speculation on such an alliance had been going on for months, and this speculation is expected to turn into reality on Saturday, when the two will address the media at Lucknow. The Congress, however, does not feature in this coalition. It has been left to fend for itself alone. The only consolation for the Congress will be that Mayawati and Yadav will not field any candidate against Sonia Gandhi in Raebareli and Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. That essentially means that the Congress' fate in almost all the seats in Uttar Pradesh, except Raebareli and Amethi, has already been sealed. The BSP-SP coalition poses a big challenge to the BJPs current hegemony, both at the Centre and in the state. While the BJP has been gearing up for such a situation, it was important for Shah to reformulate his party's strategy and keep up the morale of party workers. The meeting of the BJP National Council, where 12,000 delegates from across the country have arrived, gave Shah a good opportunity to talk about the possible challenges that the SP-BSP coalition could pose. While the actual strategy would be formulated behind closed doors after due deliberations with a select group, and quietly unveiled on the ground, it was important that Shah addressed the issue directly. The BJP chief sought to instill confidence among party workers that they constitute a better fighting force and are better placed than the leaders of the mahagathbandhan. However, going by the strength of the SP and BSP and their vote share in previous elections, it is clear that their alliance will be a formidable force. Shah, in his inaugural address at the National Council meet at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, spoke at length about the so-called mahagathbandhan. He termed the grand coalition a dhakosla (sham), and said that it involves some state leaders coming together, without one having any presence or influence in other states. Earlier, at a News18 conclave, Shah had said that the mahagathbahdan holds meaning only in Uttar Pradesh, where it poses a major challenge to the BJP. However, speaking at the partys conclave, Shah said, I am in regular contact with the party workers and leadership in Uttar Pradesh. Shah expressed confidence that the party's tally in Uttar Pradesh would go up from the current 73 to 74. He said, "Now, bua and bhatija (Mayawati and Yadav) are going to fight against us. It is not for the first time that parties that did not see eye to eye earlier have come together to keep themselves relevant, and to somehow escape from the existential crisis that they are facing. This is because of the popularity of Modi and the strength of the BJP." The BJP chief recalled that during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party and Congress had come together, and the BJP had contested alone. In that election, the BJP won 325 seats. Shah suggested that the SP-BSP coalition would meet the same fate. Shah spoke in detail about the Modi government's decision to grant 10 percent reservation to economically weaker sections. The BJP appears to be seeking the support of the upper castes with renewed hopes. During his address, Shah asked all the persons present, including the people on the podium and those in the audience, to stand up and cheer for Modi. Shah also mentioned the Kumbh in Prayagraj, and asked his party workers to take a dip at the River Ganga there, and work during the elections with renewed vigour. The Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh has thrown all its might into making this edition of the Kumbh a great success, in terms of preparedness as well as popular participation. BJP president Amit Shah on Friday projected the Lok Sabha polls as a clash of ideologies and likened it to the 'decisive' third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the Afghan army, saying the election results will be equally significant for the country. BJP president Amit Shah on Friday projected the Lok Sabha polls as a clash of ideologies and likened it to the "decisive" third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the Afghan army, saying the election results will be equally significant for the country. In his inaugural address at a party convention in Delhi, he dismissed the proposed grand alliance of opposition parties as a "sham", saying they are a disparate group with neither a leader nor any policy and have been brought together by their greed of power. He also asserted that the BJP wants Ram temple to be constructed at the earliest in Ayodhya, drawing huge applause from thousands of party members, and accused the Congress of creating hurdles in the issue's early resolution in the Supreme Court. Targeting the opposition, Shah said its proposed alliance has no nationwide relevance and the BJP had defeated each of them in 2014, claiming that the party is sure to come back to power with a bigger majority. It had won 282 of 543 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls. Amid a challenge from the likely opposition unity and the BJP's defeat in the recent state polls, Shah sought to reassure the party cadres about its prospects, describing Modi as an "invincible warrior" he has known since 1987 and under whom not a single election has been lost. The party has the "world's most popular, visionary, transparent and hardworking" leader in Modi with the opposition having no match to him, he asserted, asking thousands of BJP delegates to go with the pledge of bringing the government back to power. That rival parties are joining hands against the BJP is their admission of Modi's strength, he said. In his over an hour-long speech, Shah emphasised on a number of government's measures- especially those related to security, curbing corruption and welfare programmes for the poor and farmers- and attacked the Congress for the dare to target Modi on the issue of graft when its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi are on bail in a "case of corruption". With Modi and other top leaders on dais, he gave the party war cry to win the next polls, claiming that people like the BJP want a "majboot sarkar" (strong government) and the opposition wants a "majboor sarkar" (helpless government). "Nobody other than Modi can give a strong government," Shah said. "Two ideologies are facing off during the polls. We stand for cultural nationalism and antyodaya (poor's welfare). On the other hand, there is neither a leader not policy, only a disparate group of selfish parties brought together by their greed of power," he said. He said rivals find it "impossible" to defeat Modi, who has emerged as the "nucleus" of politics like the Congress was for many decades, claiming that people stand behind the prime minister like a rock. Underlining the poll's significance, he said battles are of different kinds; consequences of some are felt for a decade or so while of some others are felt for centuries. "I believe the 2019 battle is going to be like this. That is why it is important to win. For 70 years the poor and deprived got nothing and the BJP government has made a successful attempt to provide for them. This battle is for them," he said, drawing a parallel with the third battle of Panipat. Under king Shivaji, Marathas had started freeing different parts of India and won over 131 battles under various kings before losing the third battle of Panipat in 1761. "It was not merely a loss in one battle... India was sunk in slavery for 200 years and the English ruled us for two countries. It was a decisive battle," he said. He also claimed that the party is on its way to win more than 50 per cent votes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliance's tally will increase to 74 seats from 73 it had won in 2014 out of the state's 80. Mocking the "bua-bhatija" alliance of Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's BSP, he said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the BJP's fear. Dismissing Rahul Gandhi's allegation of corruption against the Modi government on the Rafale issue as baseless, he said the prime minister's image is unblemished and referred to the Supreme Court's order that rejected demands for a probe. When "chowkidar" (watchman) came to power all thieves ran away, he said, referring to fugitives like Vijay Mallya, claiming they will be held to account. Referring to the passage of a bill in Parliament to give 10 percent quota to the general category poor, Shah said the government has "fulfilled" dreams of crores of youths, describing it as one of the most important legislations passed by Parliament. For 30-40 years, upper castes' youths felt neglected and did not get a level playing field, he said. Shah said India had developed and its global prestige has enhanced under Modi and also made a reference to surgical strike. With this, India joined the ranks of the US and Israel, he added. Under the UPA, "aaliya, maliya and jamalia" would infiltrate into India and target security forces but the country gave a befitting reply under Modi and secured its borders, he said. Attacking "Rahul baba and company", he said they spoke for illegal infiltrators on the issue of National Register of Citizens in Assam as if they considered them as their "mausere bhai" (cousins). He said infiltrators were hollowing out the country like termites and the BJP would identify each of them. He also touched on issues of triple talaq and conviction of those accused in anti-Sikh riots cases. Shah also emphasised that the BJP wants the Ram temple in Ayodhya to be constructed at the earliest, and accused the Congress of putting "hurdles" in the resolution of the issue. Shah's reiteration of the party's stand on the issue in his inaugural address drew the most enthusiastic response from thousands of its members at Ramlila Maidan, underscoring its resonance with the saffron party's rank and file. "The Bharatiya Janata Party wants the Ram temple constructed at the earliest at the same site. Let there be no doubt," Shah said. He asserted that the party is making all efforts to ensure that the matter is resolved in the Supreme Court as soon as possible. The court is adjudicating on the Ram temple title case and has fixed 29 January as the next date of hearing. Accusing the Congress of creating hurdles in early resolution of the matter in the court, Shah asked the opposition party to make its stand clear on the matter. In presence of top party leaders at the convention including Modi, Shah said the BJP wants the issue to be resolved constitutionally. Hindutva organisations, including the RSS, have repeatedly expressed their frustration at the "delay" in the case and have demanded that the Modi government bring a law to pave the way for the temple's construction at the site in Ayodhya, considered to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. With inputs from PTI The removal of ousted CBI chief Alok Verma was approved by two members of the three-member Selection Committee. The removal of ousted CBI chief Alok Verma was approved by two members of the three-member Selection Committee that consisted of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice AK Sikri of the Supreme Court, who was nominated by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. While Modi and Justice Sikri agreed on Vermas transfer from the post, Kharge has vehemently dissented the decision. A detailed scrutiny of the objections and points raised by Kharge in favour of Alok Verma shows that the dissent is guided more by his role of political opposition to the government than any sound legal reasoning. Before getting into the rebuttal of Kharge and Congress points of dissent, it is important to note Kharge had earlier dissented the appointment of Verma as CBI chief by the same Selection Committee which has now removed Verma. Further, the argument made by Kharge and Congress that Verma should have been given a chance to represent his case before the Selection Committee falls flat on legal and procedural grounds. Verma has been transferred and not dismissed from his service. Kharge, to substantiate his point, needs to show which service rule provides for an officer to be given a chance to present his/her case against his/her transfer before the competent authority decides so. Also, it should be noted that the meeting of the Selection Committee was not akin to that of a trail by the court of law, where new witnesses and testimonies can be allowed. In the highest appellate court of the land, the Supreme Court also, a case is decided on the existing evidence and witnesses. And in this case, the Selection Committee was the final authority to decide Vermas case and not a trail court that could have given Verma a fresh chance to present his case. According to Section 4B which states the terms and conditions of service of the CBI director the director shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the rules relating to his conditions of service, continue to hold office for a period of not less than two years from the date on which he assumes office, and the director shall not be transferred except with the previous consent of the committee that consists of the prime minister, Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India. In this case, the said committee has given its consent. The fact is that the LoP should take into account that Selection Committee based its decision on the recommendations of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) that carried out the probe under the supervision of Justice AK Patnaik, who was appointed by the chief justice itself. On Tuesday, when the Supreme Court reinstated Verma to his post, Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi lauded Supreme Court for the decision. If seen from a wider perspective, it is the vote of the Supreme Court only that led to the ouster of Verma. A point that everyone will agree on is that it was the casting vote of Supreme Court judge AK Sikri that swung the decision of the panel against Verma, which otherwise would have drawn a totally different result. It was obvious that the prime ministers vote would be against Verma and Kharges vote would be cast in favour of the ousted CBI chief. It was Justice Sikris vote (the representative of the judiciary) that was to decide Vermas fate. Now questioning the Committees decision is akin to raising questions on the judiciary also the same judiciary which was heaped with praises on 8 January by the Congress whose leader in Lok Sabha happens to be Mallikarjun Kharge. In his dissent note, Kharge had pointed out the fact that in the report submitted by the CVC to the apex court, CVC does not arrive to any conclusive or substantial findings with respect to the various allegations against Shri Alok Verma." Out of the 11 allegations he has cited in the dissent note, in four cases, allegations have not be substantiated. It is stated that further inquiry is needed. In one case, the allegation is partially substantiated and re-investigation by a different branch of CBI is recommended. In one case, allegations are substantiated and in another, it is said that allegations have been found true. In four cases, allegations have been categorically said to be not substantiated and no further inquiry is recommended. In one case, the allegation is substantiated and is stated that it amounts to serious misconduct and warrants disciplinary and other actions. The case in which the allegations are partially substantiated and requires re-investigation pertains to failure to take action in gold smuggling case at IGI Airport. The case in which allegations were found to be substantiated pertains to attempts to induct tainted officers in CBI. The case in which allegations require further investigation pertains to undue interference in CBI cases against ED officials. The case in which allegation is substantiated and amounts to serious misconduct and warrants disciplinary and other actions pertains to exclusion of suspect from being named as accused in FIR IRCTC case. The case in which allegations are found to be correct pertains to inordinate delay in finalizing investigation report in bank fraud case against main accused, indicating favoritism towards the main accused. In the dissent note, Kharge points out that in criminal charges, the case should be proved beyond reasonable doubt. True, but this is not a case which is being heard in a court of law nor has Verma been convicted of corruption. It is a case of alleged corruption and consequential disciplinary action. And when bereft of politicking, anyone would agree that all procedures were followed in deciding on Vermas transfer. Even if the case is treated as a criminal trial, there are numerous cases to prove that circumstantial evidence has been taken into consideration in awarding harshest punishment. The dissent, to a great extent, suggests that a decision will be acceptable and appreciated only if it is in accordance with the wishes of LoP without any regard to established law and procedure. The review gives the reader ten reasons for not reading Krishnan's book and the author breaks it down point by point suggesting that the 'writer of this piece makes several assumptions about consent and has extrapolated the implication of certain sentences.' Invisible Men, an extensive work that traces the transmasculine networks in India has come under fire on social media following a scathing review by Gee Imaan Semmalar. Authored by journalist and writer Nandini Krishnan, the book has been described by Semmalar as offensive, and as 'being a thinly veiled ethnographic account replete with caste prejudices and transphobia' in a report published on The News Minute. The author has also been called out on claims of weaving an upper caste narrative of the work that portrays one religion in particular as the saviour of the trans community. Krishnan took to social media on 10 January to elucidate her take on the issue, following "a week of my enduring constant tags on social media, threatening and abusive phone calls in various languages from various numbers, and exhausting WhatsApp conversations." Very clever of Nandini Krishnan @k_nandini to use "it" as the gender neutral pronoun for a kothi and then place the onus on unnamed "trans women" for her own problematic decision to misgender in the name of Hijra rituals apart from using "it". https://t.co/1vAtpbAZXq Arpita (@_arpi_ta) January 4, 2019 Semmalar's review criticises the Foreword to the book by Manu Joseph as being steeped in Hindu mythology written with the 'audacity of a cisgender, dominant caste heterosexual man.' @manujosephsan you owe trans people , specifically trans men an apology for your transphobic and voyeuristic introduction to us in the book "invisible men" by Nandini krishnan. You won't get away with this, you troll. pic.twitter.com/9n9TG6rKXA Gee (@geeimaan) January 2, 2019 It gives the reader ten reasons for not reading the book and Krishnan, in her article titled, No one who has ever loved a book could burn another, breaks down the review point by point suggesting that the "writer of this piece makes several assumptions about consent and has extrapolated the implication of certain sentences." In the third point, titled transphobia, Semmalar compares the author to 'a character in a bad Manoj Night Shyamalan film' who conjures up images that violently deny the community their identities, trapped as she is in the binaries of the gender system. The review also describes Krishnan's references to surgeries and treatments as her obsessions. Deeming these statements as extrapolations, Krishnan writes, "A book cannot be called transphobic because it speaks about surgeries. Surgery and medical transition cannot be ignored in a book about transpeople." The review has also accused Krishnan of deeply saffronising the issue of transmen, and the book as one that is steeped in Brahminism with a section accorded to 'three cis Brahmin women saviours.' The review attempts to question why conversations on the community should happen in the absence of transmen. "None of these three women including me has been identified as either a Brahmin or a saviour," Krishnan points out. In her writing on the trolling and the review, Krishnan reiterates that the book contains testimonies of members from the community that has been read by the interviewees and published without any objections raised by them. The author had previously encountered few of the transmen that appear in her book in 2006 while shooting a documentary. The author had reached out to the reviewer while the book was in its nascent stages however Semmalar declined stating, as Krishnan notes in the work, that a cisperson playing the role of conduit for stories that were not her own was in keeping with a history of knowledge production that has always been exclusionary. Furthermore, several members from Manipur's transmasculine community have also taken offence to the chapter in the book on the Nupa Maanba, the indigenous name for transmen in Manipur. A News18 report quoted the trans activist Santa Khurai from the State as saying, "...in the book, Nandini Krishnan tries to paint us as part of the dominant Hindu community." Claiming that Hindu mythology is irrelevant to them, Khurai questions why the chapter on the community in Manipur begins with references to Chitrangada and Arjuna from Mahabharata, characters that the people from that region do not know of and ignores the indigenous narratives of the tribes in the state. Santa Khurai and the Manipuri transgender community demands a formal response from the publisher of Invisible Men, @PenguinIndia, to either review or ban the book. pic.twitter.com/pF7mOR2SxY cecil thounaojam (@cecilthojm) January 10, 2019 A video of the book being burnt in a bid to ban its distribution has also surfaced on Twitter. Krishnan writes that the copy she gifted to the All Manipur Nupi-Maanbi Association was set on fire by MSAD, SSUM, ETA and AMANA. She adds, "It says a lot more about the person who lit the fire than about the book itself." Some two hundred years after they were executed, many of these paintings have found their way to collectors Shilpa and Praful Saha, founders of the TAPI Collection, and are now the subject of curator and art historian JP Lostys catalogue of the same, Indian Life and People in the 19th Century: Company Paintings in the TAPI Collection, published by Roli Books. As the British East India Company began to take root in South Asia, a distinct new technique of painting evolved across the region in the late 18th and 19th century. Influenced by European aesthetics and catering to the tastes of their British patrons, Indian artists developed what later came to be known as the Company style. Moving away from their own artistic traditions of the time, Indian artists began to integrate techniques such as shading, perspective and the use of watercolours, while retaining their proficiency in rendering the details of subjects a combination that made them appealing to the expanding numbers of European connoisseurs in the country. This shift also marked a departure from the courtly, elite and formal subjects of miniature paintings of the time, as the focus shifted to common people, artisans and everyday professions. Much of this particular change came about from the desire of the Britishers, far away from home and the familiar, to capture what they witnessed in their everyday lives in India, and share it with the folks back home. Some two hundred years after they were executed, many of these paintings have found their way to collectors Shilpa and Praful Saha, founders of the TAPI Collection, and are now the subject of curator and art historian JP Lostys catalogue of the same, Indian Life and People in the 19th Century: Company Paintings in the TAPI Collection, published by Roli Books. The catalogue, with an introduction by historian John Keay (India: A History), traces the origins and evolution of the genre of painting, while highlighting works from the major regions where such paintings were produced Murshidabad, Calcutta, Patna, Lucknow, Delhi, Punjab, Kutch, Tanjore, Trichinopoly, Madras, Kerala and the Andhra Coast. Gracefully and meticulously put together, the catalogue explores the subjects commissioned by officials of the Company, such as occupations, customs, dress, bazaars, festivals and daily life of ordinary people. The Shahs with their collection here are not so much interested in the history of art as in what these paintings reveal about the people of India two centuries ago, how they lived and went about their daily lives and what they wore doing it. Nonetheless, the catalogue does provide a fair share of history and context for the paintings. In his introduction, Keay recounts the seminal contributions of art historians and curators William and Mildred Archer toward cataloguing and subsequently orchestrating the surge of interest in the Company style during the mid and late 20th century. For defining and rewriting an almost forgotten chapter in the history of Indian art, the art world remains deeply indebted to the Archers, he writes. Keay also traces the commissioning history of these artworks and how, geographically, the market for this particular style of painting was (for the most part) following the flag. The princely state that weren't under the direct control of British produced little Company art, while important centres like Delhi and Agra only became so after the British arrived there in the early 1800s. Losty, in his own introduction to the catalogue, touches upon how the Company paintings have been treated over time. ...the prevailing view of Company painting has been that it is historically decadent as the product of a colonial society, and asthetically unexciting as a mixture of eastern and western artistic styles. Indeed that has been the predominant view in India itself, largely perhaps since most of the best paintings left India with foreigners who commissioned them, he writes, although noting that such a negative attitude, fortunately, did not hinder a select number of dealers and collectors from discovering or acquiring them. Over the centuries, Indian artists have always been receptive to influences of external styles, and it was only natural for them to pick up on the European techniques to address their new patrons concern regarding naturalism in paintings, something that was missing in the Hindu and Islamic asthetics. These patrons included not only high ranking officials, but also army officers, wealthy visitors, travellers, among others. These painting collections were especially of great interest and importance to hence, patronised in good number by the women who wanted to collect the records of local life while their husbands were away on official duties. But it was the men who outnumbered them when it came to commissioning the artworks. Often lonely in their postings, and without wives, many well-educated men dedicated themselves to finding out more about their surroundings and even publishing these findings in an effort to advance their careers, Losty notes. Indian Life and People shines a fresh light on many of these collections or albums, and individual works, of the time. The catalogue itself is divided into sections based on the region or city that particular paintings were produced in, with a brief introduction for each, providing the reader with context and historical background for the paintings, its patrons and artists. It also introduces the reader to the individual albums, sets or collections of paintings reproduced here in vivid details. Turning through the lively pages, and the often animated subjects of the paintings of the collection, one gets a sense of traversing through a time somewhat familiar but largely unknown in a visual context. Discovering the lives, traditions and professions of largely common people across the country through the eyes of artists experimenting with new ideas and techniques can be a fascinating exercise. For those even mildly curious about the Company paintings or art in India during the 18th and 19th century, the catalogue offers much to explore and learn. A beautiful and engaging record of the history of every day, uniquely captured. JP Lostys Indian Life and People in the 19th Century: Company Paintings in the TAPI Collection is published in India by Roli Books. Murders, rapes and other crimes in Uttar Pradesh recorded a downward trend in 2018 in comparison to 2017 figures, UP top cop OP Singh said on Friday. Lucknow: The crime graph of Uttar Pradesh has recorded a downward trend in 2018 in comparison to 2017 figures, UP top cop OP Singh said on Friday. "Certainly, graph of key crimes has seen a downward movement in the state in past two years. Maintaining law and order is top priority of the present government and we have succeeded in instilling confidence among the people with effective policing and prompt action," the DGP told PTI. As per official figures, key crimes including rape, murder, kidnapping and loot have come down in 2018 as compared to 2017. While there were 4,272 rape cases in 2017, the figure came down by 7.63 percent to 3,946 cases in 2018. Similarly, murder cases have come down by 7.08 per cent from 4,324 in 2017 to 4,018 in 2018. There were 251 dacoity cases in 2017 which drastically came down by 42.63 percent to 144 in 2018. Loot cases also came down in this period by 22.1 percent. There were 4,131 loot cases in 2017, which came down to 3,218 in 2018. Cases related to kidnapping for ransom came down by 30.43 percent from 2017 to 2018. Other cases like road hold-up, dowry deaths, clashes also went down, as per the official figures. The number of FIRs registered in this period has seen an increase by 10.15 percent. A total of 3,10,810 FIRs were registered in 2017, while it rose by 10.15 percent to 3,42,355 in 2017. This rise is being credited to availability of e-FIR and other facilities. "After the Yogi Adityanath government came to power in 2017, the police has been given a free hand. Many hardened criminals have been nabbed. This has helped in checking the crime rate," BJP spokesman Shalabh Mani Tripathi said. As per official figures, since March 2017, 7,502 criminals were nabbed in police action while 72 of them were killed in such encounters. As many as 522 policemen were injured and four killed in these 'acts'. A total of 931 criminals were injured in these police actions. SP leader and MLC Rajpal Kashyap, however, termed the data as "mere eyewash". "There is no law and order in the state. People of the state are fed up with the BJP government and they will give a befitting reply in the coming Lok Sabha polls," Kashyap said. Speaking to newspersons in Siddharthnagar earlier, the DGP had announced a slew of policing initiatives in the state, including a dedicated police application and recruitment of nearly one lakh constables. The DGP said the police is taking assistance from institutes like IIT Kanpur and BITS Pilani to control cyber crimes. "A police application has been launched and now FIRs could be lodged through it. In a week, 50,000 people have downloaded the application. Cases are also getting registered through the police number 100," he said. The DGP said the target is to recruit one lakh constables and at present 42,000 are being recruited while 50,000 more would be recruited soon. He said lost children are being returned to their homes under operation "Muskan", also under which women are being given self-defense training. "Similarly, vulgar literature is being destroyed," he added. Singh spoke in appreciation of the work of the police and said future operations would depend on technology and efficiency. He urged youngsters to look at the police force for jobs as there were a number of opportunities. Two Army personnel have lost their lives in an IED blast in Jammu and Kashmir's Naushera. More details on the attack are awaited. Two Army personnel have lost their lives in an IED blast in Jammu and Kashmir's Naushera. More details on the attack are awaited. Earlier on Friday, militants attacked a CRPF bunker in Srinagar by hurling a grenade, but there were no reports of loss of life, police said. Militants hurled a UBGL grenade towards a CRPF bunker near Palladium Cinema in city centre Lal Chowk this evening, an official said. An Army porter was critically injured when Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations for the fourth consecutive day along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts, prompting the Indian Army to retaliate on Friday, officials said. He has been hospitalised, the officials added. Indian troops guarding the borderline retaliated strongly, resulting in an exchange of firing on both sides, they said. In another incident of terror on Friday, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and a soldier were injured in an IED blast along the LoC in the Rajouri district, PTI reported. An improvised explosive device was planted by suspected militants in a foot-track along the LoC to target Army soldiers patrolling the borderline in Laam sector of Rajouri district. The blast resulted in injuries to two soldiers, including a JCO, officials said, adding they have been hospitalised. With inputs from PTI The Tripura government Thursday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the violence at Madhabbari in West Tripura district on Tuesday and extended the ban on SMSes and mobile internet services in the state Agartala: The Tripura government Thursday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the violence at Madhabbari in West Tripura district on Tuesday and extended the ban on SMSes and mobile internet services in the state. At least seven people were injured when protesters opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill clashed with police on Tuesday. Police Thursday said situation in Madhabbari and adjacent areas is normal but prohibitory order under section 144 of CrPc would be further extended for another 48-hours. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb told a press conference in Agartala that a magisterial inquiry was ordered to look into how the incident took place and under what circumstances did the police open fire. The state government on Tuesday had banned SMSes and mobile internet services for two-days apprehending law and order problem following the clashes. Deb said the ban would continue. "I am also facing problem. When the suspension is lifted would depend on situation," he said. Deb said, "Police are supposed to open fire below the knee. One Sumit Debbarma, who received gun shot on his shoulder...maybe he was in such a posture that the bullet entered through his shoulder and came out of his waist. Everything would be inquired into, including that how the situation turned violent." Deb said Debbarma was shifted to Kolkata after his condition deteriorated and is now being treated at the RN Tagore hospital there. His condition was reported to be improving, he said. The North East Students Organisation (NESO) had called an 11-hour Northeast bandh on Tuesday to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The chief minister, who also holds charge of the Home department, said supporters of Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), a tribal party in the state, was "involved" in the incidents of road blockade at Madhabbari. "We have received police report that the supporters of INPT were behind blocking the road and involved in the incidents of pelting stones and bottles on police," Deb said. State Revenue Minister NC Debbarma, who is also the president of Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), an ally of ruling BJP, was present in the press conference. When asked, if Twipra Student Federation (TSF), the student wing of IPFT had organised the road blockade to protest the Citizenship Amendment bill, he declined to comment. Deb, who is also the president of the Tripura unit of BJP, said the bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims, including Hindu, Sikh and Buddhists, from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. "Those non-Muslim people...they are marginalised there. We think the bill was passed with a positive thinking. Tripura has also a long tradition of giving shelter to the refugees. The last king of Tripura gave shelter to many refugees in Tripura," he added. The chief minister said if any person or organization or political party wants to oppose anything they should do it in a democratic manner, but anybody taking the law into their own hands would not be tolerated. Meanwhile, SP (West Tripura) Ajit Pratap Singh said prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPc in Madhabbari would be extended for another 48-hour from Thursday evening. The prohibitory order was clamped on Tuesday evening immediately after the incident. "The situation in Madhabbari and adjacent areas are normal, but a huge deployment of police and paramilitary contingents is there. We are keeping a close watch on the situation. Section 144 CrPc would be further extended for another 48-hours," Singh said. Concession schemes run by the government to subsidise fertilisers and pesticides for farmers have resulted in the lack of application of organic manures leading to the reduction of carbon content in the soil and the consequent stagnation of agricultural productivity. In the last 20 years, nearly three lakh farmers have committed suicide, according Indias National Crime Records Bureau. In 2015 alone, 12,602 people employed in the farming sector committed suicide a grave consequence of the agrarian crisis of India. While experts, politicians and media talk of MSPs, debt and crop failure, few have ventured to look at soil pollution. One way to think of soil pollution is to think about soil health, explains Dr Jagannath Pathak, director of the soil department at the Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, The quality of every harvest is dependent on the soil. Prem Singh a progressive organic farmer and founder of the Manveey Shiksha Sansthan, an agrarian research institute of Banda, explains, There are three important elements to fertile soil: microbes, carbon and humus. When these three are found in a balanced manner in the soil, we say it has become fertile, and that it will give a bountiful yield. The government has estimated a food grain production of 272 million tons in 2016-2017, but this estimate has not taken soil health into account . The demands of a rising population has increased the pressure on limited agricultural land in India, which has made soil degradation a real threat to the 147 million hectares of cultivable land in the country. The basic problem for all farmers is that even the government doesnt know about this, claims Singh, They may talk about soil health but they only focus on the factors that have resulted in reduced productivity. Soil pollution has consequences beyond affecting agricultural yield it could affect health of animals, plants and humans, contaminate air and water, and change the very structure of soil itself. One of these three elements of fertile soil is particularly affected. Right now, carbon dioxide in the air is increasing because the carbon in the ground is evaporating at a rapid rate and as we all know, increased amounts of carbon dioxide is said to be poisonous, explains Singh. He elaborates on the global nature of this atmospheric imbalance, Six million tonnes of carbon is absorbed by the soil every year, but 6.5 million tonnes is evaporated into the atmosphere every year. And data shows the status of organic carbon in the soil in most of UP is low. The first aspect of polluted soil is that its appearance and structure would be different, says Dr Pathak, crouching down and running his fingers through the loose uppermost layer. He explains, Soil is usually fertile till six inches below the surface. Below that, soil doesnt have the capacity to grow things. And if it is polluted, the fertile land of the upper layer, appears to be worn off. He then points to some white particulate matter in the soil and adds Sometimes youll see a white powder formed on top. This white powder tells you that the soil has now accumulated many inorganic acid salts which have risen to the surface because of water. The most easily identifiable sign he explains is colour: Healthy, normal soil looks brown, but sometimes with pollution one can just look at the soil and know that its unhealthy because its colour is so off. But if there are so many visible signs of polluted soil, why isnt this issue being paid more attention? The lack of information and resources among farmers, who are often uneducated, is a strong reason, according to Dr Pathak. Although there are 180 soil testing labs in UP alone, the states soil health card isnt available online. Singh identified two ways to bring back carbon into the soil. The first method is photosynthesis, which is the process through which all green plants convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen. The carbon goes down into the soil through the root system, he says. But he emphasises the importance of the second method: the use of compost. Compost is said to increase organic matter and nutrients in the soil and improve its soil structure. Singh adds with disappointment, The Indian government has not been effective in the provision of compost to farmers. Instead, concession schemes run by the government to subsidise fertilisers and pesticides for farmers have resulted in the lack of application of organic manures what Singh refers to as composting which even the governments Department of Fertilisers has recognised as the cause for the reduction of carbon content in the soil and the consequent stagnation of agricultural productivity. Dr Pathak agrees that the health of the soil has been continuously worsening. There are many reasons, lists Dr Pathak, like the continuous use of only one kind of fertiliser which makes the soil either acidic or alkaline, deforestation, pollution caused by air or water, imbalanced use of fertilisers, using too many chemicals indiscriminately, especially insecticides and pesticides. Attempts have been made even within the government to address the degradation of soil health. A report by the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture, for instance, found that in 2016 the consumption ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) is 6.7:2.4:1 against their desirable ratio of 4:2:1; in Uttar Pradesh, it was 25.2:8.8:1. They suggested that the Union Ministry of Agriculture subsidise or incentivise organic fertilisers. Were clearly living in a world with imbalance, and the only way to recover it, is to use the method of composting, reiterates Singh. Dr Pathak is optimistic that there is hope for improvement, starting with the appropriate and balanced use of fertilisers and chemicals. If we manage all of these factors, then our soil health can improve, along with of course, our farmers yields. Khabar Lahariya is a women-only network of rural reporters from Bundelkhand. Two women who made history by becoming the first in centuries to enter the Sabarimala hill temple in Kerala are in hiding after threats by hard-line Hindu groups. The temple has been the site of tension since the Supreme Court ruled in late September to end a ban on women of menstruating age entering it. Kochi/New Delhi: Two women who made history by becoming the first in centuries to enter the Sabarimala hill temple in Kerala are in hiding after threats by hard-line Hindu groups. The temple has been the site of tension since the Supreme Court ruled in late September to end a ban on women of menstruating age entering it. There have since been sporadic outbreaks of violence between the authorities and protesters attempting to prevent women from entering, setting off a cultural battle. Bindu Ammini (40), a law lecturer at Keralas Kannur University and Kanakadurga (39), a civil servant, told Reuters they were determined to enter despite threats of violence. A lot of people tried to dissuade us and make us turn back police officers, our friends because they knew we were facing a lot of backlash, Kanakadurga said. After the Supreme Courts judgment, the women made an unsuccessful attempt to enter the temple on 24 December, before finally succeeding on 2 January. A third woman aged 46 has since entered the site, the office of the chief minister of Kerala said on 4 January. We felt no fear. We had only one aim: We wanted to go to that shrine, Bindu said. Their entry sparked widespread protests and a day-long strike in Kerala led in part by members of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This BJP government has a duty to regulate and control their members, Bindu said. The women speaking in an undisclosed location on the outskirts of Kochi say they have since faced threats from protesters, but that they trusted the authorities to keep them safe and plan to return home next week. I always say that I trust the police personnel, the state government of Kerala and also our democratic society of Kerala, Bindu said. Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that his party will grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh if voted to power in the upcoming general elections. Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a two-day visit, addressed a gathering of Indian workers at the Labour Colony in Dubai. Dubai: Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that his party will grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh if voted to power in the upcoming general elections. Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a two-day visit, addressed a gathering of Indian workers at the Labour Colony in Dubai. "As soon as our government comes to power, we will give special status to Andhra Pradesh," Gandhi said. Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh state on 2 June, 2014. "You helped India, Indian states and the poor people and you worked to make this city of Dubai, which is great in the whole world. I want to say thank you heartily," he said. Hailing the development of the UAE, Gandhi said all the "massive developments you see here, tall buildings, large airports and metro, wouldn't have been built without your contribution". "You have given your sweat, blood and time for the development of this city and you have made Indians of all backgrounds proud," he said. Gandhi reiterated what he told a group of party workers protesting at Jantar Mantar in March in 2018 for Andhra Pradesh's special status."We will give special category status to Andhra Pradesh. It's the first thing we will do after coming to power in 2019," he had told the workers. "I am confident that if we stand together we will convince the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that what is due to the people of Andhra Pradesh should be given to them," he said. The general elections are due to be held between April and May 2019. The report detailed the instances of violence that have erupted across Kerala over the Sabarimala row, and said that the state suffered a loss of Rs 2.3 crore during the 3 January hartal alone because of Sangh groups' actions. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday submitted a report to state governor P Sathasivam on the ongoing Sabarimala row, saying that of the 10,561 accused of inciting violence in the state, 9,489 of them belong to the Sangh Parivar. The report detailed the instances of violence that have erupted across Kerala, and said that the state suffered a loss of Rs 2.3 crore during the 3 January hartal alone because of Sangh groups' actions, CNN News18 reported. The report also stated that in the violence around Sabarimala and other places when the temple was opened, police registered 2,012 cases. According to the report submitted by Vijayan, "When the temple was opened, initially about 30 women were stopped by protesters of which five were women journalists. This is a violation of the Supreme Court order. About 17 media personnel were injured while covering the protests and 25 people have been arrested in seven police stations across the state in relation with this." The document submitted to Sathasivam also stated that there is a conspiracy to create communal tension, a report from News18 said. The news channel said that pictures that tried to promote enmity between different groups, as well as information circulated on social media, were also submitted. Kerala has witnessed violent outbreaks ever since the 28 September Supreme Court verdict, which allows women between the ages of 10 and 50 to enter the Sabarimala shrine. Tensions rose further after two women in their forties, Bindu and Kanaka Durga, offered prayers at the temple on the intervening night of 1 and 2 January. Protests subsequently broke out in the state, with Hindu groups calling for the 3 January hartal. BJP and CPM workers also clashed over the issue, with homes of both parties' leaders being attacked. Bindu and Kanaka Durga are currently in hiding after threats by hard-line Hindu groups. The women speaking in an undisclosed location on the outskirts of Kochi say they have since faced threats from protesters, but that they trusted the authorities to keep them safe and plan to return home next week. "I always say that I trust the police personnel, the state government of Kerala and also our democratic society of Kerala," Bindu said. With inputs from agencies The health centre in Rajasthan's Ramgarh also lied to the gynaecologist at Jodhpur Umaid hospital and said that they have finished delivering the baby. The hospital staff left the placenta in the womb. Ramgarh: A shocking dereliction of duty has come to light from a hospital in Ramgarh district of Rajasthan. A male nurse working at a government medical centre has "decapitated a baby while pulling too hard during a difficult birth". Jaisalmer: A premature baby's head was left inside the womb when the nurses at a Ramgarh's health centre allegedly pulled the baby too hard during delivery. The woman was later referred to a hospital in Jaisalmer & then to Jodhpur where head of the baby was removed from the womb. pic.twitter.com/aqFKjhLbCg ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 The mother is said to be battling for her life after the incident. During the time of the delivery, the nurse pulled the foetus so carelessly that it resulted in splitting the body of the baby into two parts. After the incident, the nurse along with a colleague deposited the lower part of the foetus in the centre's mortuary and asked the family of the victim to take her to Jaisalmer for further treatment. The Ramgarh health centre also lied to the gynaecologist at the hospital and said that they have finished the delivery. The hospital staff left the placenta in the womb. Later, a team of doctors headed by Dr Ravindra Sankhla operated the victim again and found that the foetus' head is in the womb. The doctors then informed the victim's kin about the incident. ANI quoted Dr Sankhla from Jaisalmer's Jawahar Hospital as saying that: "The reports from the Ramgarh health centre stated that delivery had been done. Also, the family didn't inform that the head of the baby was inside the womb. On examining her I found the placenta to be hard and referred her to Jodhpur." The woman's husband has lodged a complaint against the Ramgarh hospital staff but the police is yet to arrest them. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the incident and sought a report from Jaisalmer SP and CMHO, ANI reported. The state government told a bench of Justices AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer that one crore litre of water has been pumped out so far from the illegal mine but seepage form nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. New Delhi: The Meghalaya government informed the Supreme Court on Friday that the Indian Navy has deployed five remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) in the operation to rescue 15 miners trapped inside an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district since 13 December. The state government told a bench of Justices AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer that one crore litre of water has been pumped out so far from the illegal mine but seepage form nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. The bench sought to know from the state's counsel as to whether any action had been taken against those indulging in illegal mining activities there. The counsel told the court that the person running the illegal mine where the incident took place had been arrested. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the court that every possible step has been taken for the rescue operation and the Indian Air Force has deployed planes and helicopters for airlifting requisite equipment and manpower. The bench has posted the matter to 18 January for further hearing. The apex court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Aditya N Prasad who has sought urgent steps to rescue 15 miners trapped in the illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. A prime witness in the case, Sayeb, who managed to haul himself up with the help of an iron chain hanging inside, thanks God for choosing to save him from the 320-feet water-filled rathole mine. Shillong: Twenty-one-year-old Sayeb Ali from Assam doesnt have a lot to do these days. He wakes up late in the mornings, visits the paddy field where his brother Kasem grows rice, and sits in a corner, watching him staking and hauling the crop, as the harvesting season has started. Otherwise, he can be found regaling other residents of Panbari in Chirang district with his incredible survival story. Sayeb, after all, is the lone survivor among the 15 miners trapped in Ksan coal mine of Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills since 13 December, even as the fate of the others continues to remain uncertain. On Wednesday, victims families were handed compensation cheques. Survivor recalls tragedy A prime witness in the case, Sayeb, who managed to haul himself up with the help of an iron chain hanging inside, thanks God for choosing to save him from the 320-feet water-filled rathole mine but his brow is furrowed with worry thinking about the future. My family wont allow me to go back to coal mining but I have nothing much to do in the village either. Perhaps, I will move to town and try to get some work at a construction site. The money, however, wont be as good as earlier, he says, sitting on a bench in the courtyard of the house of Moinul Islam, a fellow miner who wasnt as lucky as him. Sayeb keeps his phone off these days, as suggested by his fellow villagers. The Khliehriat police (under whose jurisdiction the incident site falls) call me up at times. They want to record my statement, but my neighbours have warned me that if I go there the cops will lock me up for illegal mining. I am not scared though. Someday, I will go to the police and tell them everything I know, he says. A bloody history At a distance of 55 km from the district headquarters of Chirang, Panbari is a village panchayat located in Borobazar block and is infamous for militant activities, extrajudicial killings by security forces, custodial deaths and wood smuggling. This is the place from where three men identified as Amir, Saher and Moinul in their 20s and early 30s left for mining coal in Ksan in the East Jaintia Hills and never returned. One in every three men, aged between 15 and 50, is engaged either in wood business or coal mining. We know its illegal, but what to do? We have to survive somehow, says Shah Alom Shaikh, headman of Bogidara No.1 village in Panbari. Panbari has a mix of Bodo tribe people and Bengali speaking Muslims. Militants from the National Democratic Front of Bodoland demanding money from villagers is a common sight here. The extremist outfit has been fighting for a separate state out of Assam comprising Chirang and three other neighbouring districts and is notorious for engaging in murder and extortion. The last incident of killing in Panbari by the militants was reported in 2014. Iman Ali from Bogidara village was killed for failing to pay up, recalls Nurkamal Shaikh, 45, a villager who is a former coal mine manager. Iman was into the wood business. The militants knew he had money. Nurkamal, who used to work in a mine adjacent to Ksan coal mine, is Amir and Sahers uncle. Panbari doesnt have many employment opportunities. Some villagers are into rice and jute cultivation, some into the wood business, while others sell vegetables. Till the early 2000s, the boys used to work in stone-crushing facilities in Delhi and Haryana. But most came back after contracting tuberculosis, he says. Risk of getting caught doing illegal mining is less However, no one in Panbari wants to elaborate on the wood business. The abundance of trees in the foothills of Bhutan Hills has led well-armed timber mafias from the region to join hands with corrupt law enforcement officers to illegally log and smuggle timber across the northeastern states. The wood business is facing losses thanks to alertness from the Bhutan side. Bringing the wood down to the villages where the timber mills are, too, is risky. Hence the attraction for coal mining, as the risk of getting caught is less. It makes our boys more willing to go to Meghalaya. Just four months of hard work helps them to earn enough to run their households for a year, says Abdul Miya, 60, Sahers father. Families torn apart At least 40 people from Panbari, excluding the three trapped youths, are still working in various coal mines of East Jaintia Hills, despite the tragedy, rues Shah Alom Shaikh. Sahers wife Sajeda Khatun, 23, says, The last I spoke to him was two days before the accident. He wanted to wrap up work soon to return home for the New Year... I hope I can at least get his body back to perform janaazaah (Islamic burial). Sajeda, who only studied till Class 5 and married Saher when she was 14, must now single-handedly bring up the couples three children. Abdul Miya feels that the Meghalaya government should raise the compensation to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 1 lakh, as the boys were their families breadwinners. Why would the boys engage in a life-threatening illegal activity? Because the Assam government failed to provide sufficient employment opportunities. Hence, its the states responsibility now to undertake an initiative to at least properly rehabilitate victims families, he adds. A newbie miner can earn Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 a day, while an experienced one can make up to Rs 4,000. A daily wage labourer in Assam, on the other hand, can only make Rs 300-400 daily. Its apparent that mining offers good money. It starts from September and ends by February or March, as there is no rain in this period, explains Nurkamal, who has decided never to go back to it after losing his nephews. Nurkamal, however, doesnt know the name of the owner of the mine he used to supervise, only that the owner had contested in the 2017 Assembly election in Meghalaya. It is an unwritten rule not to ask the mine owners name; miners only know their Sardars name. And even if we do know the name, we are not supposed to reveal it to others, as we all know what we are doing is illegal and it can land us in trouble, he says. Azad Zaman, the Congress legislator of Rajabala constituency in West Garo Hills, the hometown of seven of the trapped miners, says, It is an open secret in Meghalaya that the coal mines are owned by politicians. But they take it in another persons name. Till the mining continues, labourers from Assam will keep flocking there. The author is a Guwahati-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul considered the response filed by the Union Health Ministry which said that a compensation scheme has been formulated by it to ensure proper compensation to the victims of faulty hip implants by Johnson and Johnson New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday closed the case seeking action against US-based pharma major Johnson and Johnson for implanting faulty hip implants into patients here, saying that steps have been taken by the Centre to provide compensation upto Rs 1.22 crore to them. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul considered the response filed by the Union Health Ministry which said that a compensation scheme has been formulated by it to ensure proper compensation to the victims of faulty hip implants. Disposing of the PIL filed by one Arun Goenka, the top court asked the Centre to widely publicise its compensation scheme to ensure that all the victims of such implants seek help for their grievances. Earlier, the Centre had informed the apex court that the report of its panel on alleged "faulty" hip implants, made by the pharma major was ready and would be filed within a week. The PIL had alleged that "faulty" and "deadly" hip implants have been fitted into the bodies of 4,525 Indian patients who had undergone replacement surgeries since 2005. Lee County government is collaborating with Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida for Good to Go, a drive-up, drop-off and drive-away donation event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 18, at the Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers. The event is open to the public; donations are welcome. This is the fourth time the county has partnered in this successful event. Donations of new or gently used clothing and household goods can be brought to the downtown Fort Myers library drop-off point; enter at Richmond Street on the south side of the library between Lee Street and Royal Palm Avenue. In addition to household donations, Goodwill will provide a secure document drop-off bin for those who need documents shredded. A prescription drug drop-off is also part of the event. Individuals can get rid of unused, unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications at the same location for proper disposal. It is crucial to dispose of unused and expired prescriptions in a responsible and safe way. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, 66 percent of those abusing prescription opiates get them from family or friends. In addition, if flushed down a drain, medications can also end up in local waterways. The Fort Myers Police Department will collect the prescriptions to be destroyed. Donations for Lee County Domestic Animal Services will be accepted at the event. Suggested donation items include blankest, sheets and towels. Other items include dry and canned dog and cat food, cat litter, 13- and 15-gallon trash bags, small dog biscuits, bleach wipes, facial tissue, paper towels and bleach. Also requested are Nylabones, a brand-specific chew toy for dogs. Good to Go is designed to make it easy for people to donate by offering a drive-thru experience. Drivers will not need to get out of their vehicle. This one-day event is part of Lee Countys commitment to United Way and its partnering agencies. Donations go toward helping people with economic disadvantages who are veterans and residents of Lee County. Each donation is turned into vouchers, based on weight, to benefit the clients of Human & Veteran Services. The donations also assist Goodwill with its mission to help people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering employment opportunities. Although all household goods and gently used clothing will be accepted, some items will not be taken, including mattresses and box springs, televisions, which can be left at home for curbside pickup. Household supplies that constitute hazardous materials, such as paint, can be taken to another Lee County site: Solid Wastes Household Chemical Waste Collection Facility, 6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers. Call 239-533-8000. Should more scientists and the general public in India crusade against the onslaught of silly pseudo-scientific claims and the disregard for science that might threaten its viability, integrity, legitimacy and utility in the international arena? The recently concluded 106th Indian Science Congress (ISC) with its impressive list of attendee scientists, including Nobel laureates from 60 countries had the fantastic focal theme of Future India: Science and Technology, spanning topics from agriculture, veterinary and fishery sciences, chemical and material sciences, ICT, medical and physical sciences, to anthropology and archaeology. But just when there was widespread admiration for the hard work and planning that had gone into organising the ISC, something shocking transpired. Its fallout included one of our most respected and internationally acclaimed scientists Bharat Ratna Prof CNR Rao disassociating himself from the ISC. The incident was a talk on 5 January, during which Andhra University vice chancellor Prof G Nageswara Rao (a professor of inorganic chemistry) claimed that the Mahabharata's Kauravas were born out of nearly 1,000-year-old stem cell research and a test tube fertilisation process "that this country had known thousands of years ago. The audience comprised mainly children. Rao also referred to the 24 different types of aircraft that Ravana was supposed to have possessed, and claimed that Sri Lanka at that time had airports. He challenged Darwinian Theory, saying the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu were much more advanced in explaining Evolution. During the same session, another scientist a Dr KJ Krishnan declared that Newton and Einstein had little knowledge of Physics and misled the world with their theories. Krishnan claimed that his own theory of gravitational phenomenon would provide a better understanding of gravitational waves, which he suggested should be renamed Narendra Modi Waves. He recommended that gravitational lensing should be known as the Harsh Vardhan Effect [after the minister for Science and Technology]. Exactly a year ago, Indian scientists had been left embarrassed when Satya Pal Singh, then minister for Higher Education, proclaimed that Darwins theory was scientifically wrong and how evolution was taught needed to change in school and university curricula. He noted that our ancestors, in written or oral form, did not mention that they saw an ape turning into a man. In late 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself declared at the opening ceremony of a hospital in Mumbai that modern medical achievements like plastic surgery, cloning and in-vitro fertilisation were all practiced in ancient India. While many Indians just laughed it off, the Indian science community has been deeply upset with such pronouncements. Do we call these pronouncements pseudo-science or brush them aside as 'crackpot science'? We know that they're both equally wrong, and while the latter has no scientific pretensions, pseudo-science is careful to present its claims draped in all the trappings: lab coats, test tubes, instruments, etc. In fact, people are often misled by pseudo-science because it looks very much like real science. We might have the occasional laugh about these statements and the gullibility of those who believe them. But there seems to be a growing wave of such sensational pseudo-science news' which is often presented as valid science. As scientists or believers in science, assuming that truth exists and is worth searching for, and that science is our most reliable tool in that search, how do we combat fake or pseudo-science effectively? Today, the Indian government seems to show scant regard for the development of a scientific temper and the spirit of inquiry and reform. And the most disturbing aspect of the pseudo-scientific public proclamations is, that of late, they seem to be on the rise both in perception and reality. The Indian scientific community is facing a real crisis. We are seeing an alarming escalation in the number of such claims. The problem in India for science and evidence-based policy seems to be that politicians and other political actors are out to discredit (or bend) the science on which a conclusion is based, to support their policy position. Also read Indian Science Congress: What allusions to ancient aircraft, 'Krishnanian Physics' reveal about Hindutva insecurities Such 'bending' of science comes in a variety of forms: cherry-picking studies and experts that support the governments perspective; harassing scientists via cuts in funding or investigations whose conclusions weigh against policies the government prefers etc. The majority of the scientific community in India (like their peers elsewhere) is searching for the truth, sometimes at great personal cost. They are trying to work on solving scientific problems with great humility, and as true scientists, their reticence to speak in absolutes distinguishes their work from pseudo-science. A few hundred years ago, scientists had a challenge on their hands when it came to convincing people of the validity of their research. Today, things are different: people are more scientifically literate and tend to retell every research story they hear even the ones that are only worthy of sharing on April Fools' Day. But, in India, in spite of this generalised positive view of science, the public does not know much about the specifics of how science occurs, which includes a lack of awareness about the scientific research that is conducted in the country. Scientists are worried that given this scenario, this lack of knowledge leads to expectations for quick solutions to difficult problems, and hampers peoples ability to distinguish well-founded scientific claims from their opposite. This combination institutional challenges to respecting the scientific community and their work and the governments disregard for scientific evidence on a variety of matters has broad and ominous implications beyond how science informs national policies. Should more scientists and the general public in India join the crusade against the onslaught of silly pseudo-scientific claims and the disregard for science that might threaten its viability, integrity, legitimacy and utility in the international science and technology arena? Remember what Richard Feynman said: Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. I am sure none of us want to be fooled! Aruna Dhathathreyan is an Emeritus scientist and Professor at CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, India. Her fields of work and research include biophysics, biophysical chemistry, and surface sciences. The opinions expressed by the author in this column do not reflect those of her organisation. The MEA spokesperson cited some instances such as Pakistan's religious affairs minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri sharing a public platform with Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed on 30 September where both of them made 'vitriolic' anti-India statements and the terror organisation opening centres in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. New Delhi: India slammed Pakistan on Friday for its statement that New Delhi was not responding to its peace overtures, saying there was "no seriousness" in Islamabad's offer for talks as it continued to extend "explicit support" to terror organisations and was now trying to mainstream them. India's sharp reaction comes days after Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan accused it of not responding to his peace overtures. Responding to Khan's comments, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "I don't understand these statements. Even before Imran Khan became Prime Minister, our Prime Minister had called and congratulated him on his election win." Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also wrote to their counterparts and congratulated them after they assumed office, he said at a media briefing. Kumar also posed questions to Pakistan to hit out at the country for supporting terrorism and allowing terrorists to use its soil for targeting other nations. "When they say they are ready for talks, then why do their ministers share a platform with internationally designated terrorists. There have been many instances in the past few months when their ministers have shared a platform with such people," Kumar said. He cited some instances such as Pakistan's religious affairs minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri sharing a public platform with Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed on 30 September where both of them made "vitriolic" anti-India statements and the terror organisation opening centres in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In December, Pakistan's interior minister met representatives of the JuD terrorist organisation and openly pledged support to them, Kumar said. "If Pakistan is ready for talks then why no action has been taken against terrorists involved in the Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks. Always the matter is brushed aside after talks," he said. JuD and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) are no longer on the list of proscribed organisations after an ordinance banning them lapsed, he said. "It is clear that the explicit support that banned organisations used to get from Pakistan is still continuing. There has been no change in that," he asserted. The more serious thing is that they are trying to mainstream terror organisations, Kumar said. Islamabad wants to deflect attention from its own financial problems and it is doing that by giving statements about other countries, he said. "So this statement that they want to have talks, there is no seriousness in it and this should be backed up by some action," the MEA spokesperson said. On Khan's statement on the treatment of minorities in India, Kumar said, "Pakistan should be the last country in the world to lecture us on the topic of plurality and inclusive society. We and the world are fully aware of how the minorities are treated in their country." Illicit coal mining has been continuing on a much larger scale at a remote corner of Assam for the past several years. While the focus of illegal coal mining seems to be on Meghalaya following the disappearance of 15 miners who crawled inside a rat-hole mine, the illicit activity has been continuing on a much larger scale at a remote corner of Assam for the past several years. Every evening, trucks loaded with coal are seen moving out of Ledo-Margherita to different destinations in the Northeast and beyond the region to other states. The spot is located about 600 km east of Guwahati along the border of Arunachal Pradesh. A report compiled by Assam Police last year identified Ledo, Lekhapani, Tirap and Tipong at Margherita Circle of Tinsukia district as being impacted by the racket. It added that the illegal transportation of coal was being facilitated with support from the police, local politicians and officials of Coal India Ltd. The report was forwarded by the police to the state home department. Extraction of coal in Ledo-Margherita is done along the foothills of the Namdang hills using a range of techniques. Locals from the neighbouring villages and migrant daily labourers dig out coal with sharp tools which are carried in gunny bags and deposited at specific locations. Coal is also extracted through rat-holes similar to the practice adopted at the mines in East Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. Of late, excavators have also been spotted around the mines believed to have been deployed by the mafia for faster extraction of coal. Collieries in Ledo-Margherita began to be set up from 1885 and were placed under the administrative control of the Assam Railways and Trading Company. According to a government official, the extraction and supply of coal from the mines have increased in the last three months due to increased demand. This explains why excavators are now being used in the mines. The chances of these equipment being confiscated are less since a large number of influential people are involved which also include a section in Guwahati, he said, adding that the activities in the region began at least three decades ago. But the quantum of extracted coal was much less earlier and they were supplied to buyers within the state. Now, labourers come from far-off destinations to get engaged in these mines, said the official. North Eastern Coalfield (NEC), which is a unit of Coal India Limited, has written several letters to the police and district administration suggesting measures to check the illicit activities. On some occasions, joint inspections were carried out in the mines which resulted in the closure of many rat-holes, unauthorised mines and apprehension of thieves. Last year, a petition submitted by R Sreedhar before the National Green Tribunal alleged that there had been a proliferation of illegal mining activities in the Ledo-Margherita region. It said that about 600 tonnes of coal were being extracted everyday through the rat-holes and surface mining which were facilitated by a nexus of coal mining operators and the operators of coke oven plants. The petition raised an alarm over the environmental degradation in the region due to the mining activities. The tribunal had directed the Assam Pollution Control Board and the deputy commissioners of Tinsukia and Tirap (Arunachal Pradesh) to inspect and initiate immediate action if illegal mining was being carried out in the region. Keralites were in a two-day celebrating mode after the nationwide hartal declared by the national co-ordination committee of trade unions. Keralites were in a two-day celebrating mode after the nationwide hartal declared by the national co-ordination committee of trade unions. The hartal went on almost completely peacefully, barring some stray incidents in the northern districts of Kerala. Interestingly, just a few days in 2019 and Kerala has already lost three days due to hartals one called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi and two days over the trade union strike. In 2018, the state lost 97 working days due to the hartal call by various political parties and organisations at state, district and regional level. According to data compiled by the 'Say NO to Hartal' movement, 33 strikes were called by the Sangh parivar, especially BJP, 27 by Congress- led United Democratic Front (UDF) and 16 by the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). In 2017, the state had witnessed 98 strikes. In Kerala, all the hartals have been big successes, though they are called by political parties/organisations with meagre presence in the state. Openly, almost all Malayalees oppose hartals, arguing that there is a huge loss to the states economy, especially industries like tourism and trade. According to the views of Kerala Vyapari Vyavsayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES), the largest organisation of traders, there would be a loss to the tune of Rs 20-25 crore to the small and medium business community of the state due to a day-long hartal. Likewise, the academic scene loses roughly 60 working days in a year. So, even though most of the people are vehemently opposing strike calls publicly, daily life comes to halt across the state. This is a situation totally different from other states in the country. Now the question arises: how do the hartals create a bandh-like situation in the state, stalling public life? The answer is simple. The people are in the mood for holiday and close shops, establishments and make the hartal a big success. The local saying goes hartal adichupolikkunnu or 'celebrating hartal'. This time, trade union leaders of the state were a bit scared as seven days were already lost due to hartal on the Sabarimala issue. Hence, they were cautious as strong resistance evolved among the general public, especially traders and hoteliers, against the lightning hartal calls on the Sabarimala issue. It was promised that there would not be forceful closing of shops and no hindrance to vehicular traffic. It was also said that the workers could participate in the strike if they sympathised with the causes. So, there was a strong belief that normal life will be retained on Tuesday and Wednesday, but it was all in vain. More than 90 percent of the shops and establishments, all the educational institutions are closed today. Public transport system is not working. In short, the strike became a bandh across the state. Wednesday witnessed a similar situation. On the penultimate day of every hartal, there is a huge rush in all the markets of the state as people are busy storing products for the next day. This is more obvious in petrol bunks, all the 270 plus outlets of the State Beverages Corporation and chicken shops. The daily sales of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) is almost double in these days as against Rs 30 -35 crore on a normal day. Moreover, many families enjoy a day out in various tourist locations, pilgrim centers etc and this trend goes up when the strike is for 48 hours. Because people themselves make it a big success, a very small organisation can easily stall the public life of the most literate state of India. Two years back, Kerala witnessed a hartal which was announced by somebody through social media. According to a study by the Kerala wing of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the state incurs a loss to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore due to hartal. The states exchequer will lose almost Rs 100 crore, according to Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce. Tourism industry is the most affected industrial vertical due to frequent hartals. Recently, the British High Commission and the US had cautioned their citizens to be more cautious when travelling to Kerala due to violent incidents in the wake of Sabarimala issue. And the problem is more serious since the state had witnessed a mahapralayam (flood)' that seriously injured the economy. The total loss due to the flood, according to the state government comes up to Rs 55,000 crore. It happened during the second and third week of August and normal life has still not been restored in some parts of the state. In December 2018, 55 organisations jointly decided to observe 2019 as anti-hartal year. The traders in some parts had tried to open their shops on 2 January on BJP's hartal day. The day had ended with untoward incidents in towns like Kozhikode. BJP-RSS workers tried to close shops in Mittai Theruv (Sweet Mint Street) in Kozhikode town, and this created serious law and order issues. The police were inactive and traders suffered huge loss. It is interesting to note that there is a high court ban on hartal as a full bench declared hartals illegal in 1997. In 2000, the high court reaffirmed this. The high court on Monday pronounced a ban on flash hartals and ordered the issuance of a notice for invoking a hartal at least seven days in advance. The interim high court order was in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). The Kerala government also decided to take action against those who destroy private properties in the wake of hartals. There will be life-long imprisonment for those who destroy public property. The government will soon introduce an ordinance in this regard, according to the chief minister. Despite all the efforts by anti-hartal movements, court orders and enactments, Kerala has become hartal's own state. It has become the mindset of the people to accept hartals as a time of enjoyment, which gives the courage to political parties to call hartals frequently. Army Chief General Bipin Thursday said India cannot be left out of the 'bandwagon' when a number of major countries reaching out to Taliban, noting that the engagement was necessary to pursue New Delhi's interests in the war-torn country. New Delhi: Army Chief General Bipin Thursday said India cannot be left out of the "bandwagon" when a number of major countries reaching out to Taliban, noting that the engagement was necessary to pursue New Delhi's interests in the war-torn country. He said India should not be out of the "high table" where key players are engaging with the Taliban to explore ways to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan. "A number of countries are talking to the Taliban. The issue we should address is do we have an interest in Afghanistan. If the answer is yes, then you cannot be out of the bandwagon," he said during a press conference. In his address at the Raisina Dialogue on Wednesday, General Rawat backed dialogue with the Taliban in Afghanistan. "Our thinking is that yes we have an interests in Afghanistan and if we have interests, and if other people are saying that there should be talks, we should also become its part. May be directly or indirectly. We cannot be left out," he said. Gen. Rawat said there has been a feeling that things have improved in Afghanistan. "In some of the areas development has happened. There is a people's voice emerging to say that we want peace. Therefore, some nations decided that lets start talks with Taliban and see whether they can also be brought in the system of governance," he said. "Unless you are not sitting on the high table you will not know what is happening... I did not say take the lead and talk," he said. The Army Chief's comments Wednesday on engaging with Taliban were first such public remarks by a senior functionary of the government. Major powers like the US and Russia have been reaching out to the Taliban as part of efforts to push the stalled Afghan peace process. India has been a key stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. In a significant move, India had sent two former diplomats in "non official" capacity to a conference on Afghan peace process in Moscow in November which was attended by a high-level Taliban delegation. The conference organised by Russia was attended by representatives of Afghanistan as well as from several other countries including the US, Pakistan and China. India has been maintaining a policy of not engaging with the Taliban and pressing for an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace initiative to bring peace and stability in the war-ravaged country. The badly-mutilated body of a 16-year-old resident of Manpur Patwatoli locality of Gaya, was found in the field, barely 700 meters from her house, on 6 January, after which residents of Gaya organised protests to condemn police inaction. Gaya: Gaya erupted in protests after a minor girl was brutally raped and killed. Two huge candle marches were organised in the city on 9-10 January reminiscent of the fury witnessed during the Nirbhaya protests of 2012 in Delhi. Gaya Police, however, picked up the victim's family on suspicion of honour killing. The badly-mutilated body of a 16-year-old resident of Manpur Patwatoli locality of Gaya, was found in the field, barely 700 meters from her house, on 6 January, after which residents of Gaya organised protests to condemn police inaction. The girl, second of four siblings (all girls), went missing on 28 December, 2018. She had left home to go to the local market. A family member of the victim had approached local police after frantically searching for her for two days but the police kept dilly-dallying and did not register an FIR. It was finally registered when family members approached the local media. Patwatoli is also known as the Manchester of Bihar. Around 1,000 power looms operate in the area dominated by Patwa weavers. The locality is also known for producing IIT-ians as several students from Patwatoli invariably feature in the list of successful IIT-JEE aspirants. Power looms also protested the brutal killing and remained shut for third consecutive day. As reported by local media, Buniyadganj police registered an FIR on 4 January, but maintained a nonchalant attitude towards probing the whereabouts of the girl. "We kept searching for her at our level. On 6 January, someone in the market told us that the CCTV cameras installed in the market could have some clues. We were downloading the footage in question in a flash drive when I got a call saying that a body has been found by the owner of a construction material retailer in bushes in Baksariya Tola. By that time police had also reached the spot," the victims father was quoted as saying by local media. According to reports, the body was found in a badly mutilated condition. The head, that had been hacked off and found some distance away, was burned by acid, making it impossible for a visual identification. The blue sweater she was wearing was torn, revealing the half-naked torso with deep wounds on the upper half. "Second among four siblings, she was a Class IX dropout but used to take private tuition in the evening after work. Hailing from a family of meager resources and living in a cramped 400 square feet home, the total household income was 8,000-9,000 a month, hardly enough to feed the mouths of a six-member family. She and her elder sister, suffering from cleft palate, also used to work along with their parents," said Rakesh Patwa(name changed), a neighbour. The third child is differently-abled, the neighbour further added. While the family and Patwa community claims that the police's lackadaisical approach led to the murder of the minor, the case took an interesting turn when police, on the basis of a statement given by the youngest of the siblings (who is six-year-old), claimed that the girl had eloped with someone on 28 December and returned on 31 December only to be killed on 6 January. Labelling it as a case of honour killing, Buniyadganj police picked up the family of the victim, including the minor siblings, and seven others on Thursday evening. "In fact, the family was in such dire straits that funeral of the girl took place only after the owner of the power loom where she used to work, donated Rs 10,000 to the family to make the arrangements. As far as we knew, the girl used to keep to herself and was never seen going out with any boy. Why would a family, which is so poor that it was not able to even afford the funeral of the girl would indulge in an act like honor killing? said Sarvesh Kumar, an activist from the Patwa community. Gaya SSP Rajeev Mishra said that the father of the victim and his friend have been detained for interrogation. The girl's elder sister's statement has also been recorded in a local court under Section 164 of CrPC. "The girl's elder sister said that the girl had returned home on 31 December. Her father and his friend thrashed her for eloping with a neighbour. On 4 January, the victim's father's friend came to Panahi (Patwatoli) house and left with the girl for an unknown destination. Two days later, the girl's beheaded body was found, the SSP revealed. On 28 December, the girl was seen shopping at a mall near Panahi park in Gaya district headquarters town, police has claimed. "The post mortem report is awaited," Mishra added. Magadh range deputy inspector general Vinay Kumar said prima facie the incident appeared to be a case of honour killing. "Scientific evidence is being collected to substantiate the charges levelled against the family and acquaintances. In no case, an innocent person will be prosecuted," the DyIG said. The local police is trying to cover up their failure and trying to suppress the incident by labelling it as a case of honor killing and avoid the matter becoming an issue in the election year. The condition in which the body was found suggests rape but the police have ruled out the same even before the autopsy report has released. This itself shows the great hurry they are in to solve the case. Local media is also showing scant concern for the incident by tip-toeing the official line and bowing to political pressure," Sarvesh added. Meanwhile, Saurabh Ranjan(name changed), who organised the candle march from Patwatoli to Gaya chowk on Thursday, has cut off all contacts after receiving death threats. "This incident is the fallout of the situation which has been in making for almost two years now. Off late, young boys hailing to different communities and areas have been roaming around in Pawtatoli locality, brandishing guns. While no one resisted them so far, this one incident and local polices open patronisation of them by releasing the suspects shows how deep the rot runs, said Ranjan. Gaya had earlier witnessed several incidents of heinous crimes against women crime. In June last year, a minor girl and her mother were gangraped after the girl's father was tied to a tree. The shocking incident took place when the family was returning to Guraru Bazar from Gaya on a motorbike. Gaya had also hogged the limelight when Rocky Yadav, son of a Janata Dal(United) MLC Manorma Devi, shot dead a Class XII student Sachin Sachdeva in a road rage incident on 7 May, 2016. Authors are freelance writers and members of 101Reporters.com Senior Congress leader and former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi said he would break Section 144 of the CrPC and court arrest if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was not withdrawn by the Centre. Guwahati: Senior Congress leader and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said he would break the prohibitory order and court arrest if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was not withdrawn by the Centre. "By prohibiting all sorts of protests, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Assam government has been curtailing the democratic rights of people and running the state in an autocratic manner," he said. "I will violate (section) 144 (of the Code of Criminal Procedure) if you (Centre) do not withdraw the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. I will lead people and shout slogans. I will go to jail, a jail bharo (movement)," Gogoi told reporters. In view of protests on a daily basis against the bill, the Guwahati police had on Thursday banned all sorts of agitations, demonstrations, processions and slogan-shouting in large parts of Guwahati under section 144 of the CrPC. Terming the passing of the Bill by Lok Sabha on Tuesday as a "Black Day" for Assam and the country, Gogoi had accused the BJP government of polarising the country on the basis of religion. Gogoi, who was a former three-time chief minister of the state claimed that "Assam is burning. BJP wants to destroy Assam and push the future of the youth to darkness". Five tribal political parties have called a dawn-to-dusk bandh in Tripura to protest against unprovoked police firing during Citizenship Amendment Bill protests at Madhabbari earlier this week. Agartala: Five Indigenous political parties have called a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) on Saturday to protest against unprovoked police firing at Madhabbari in West Tripura district earlier this week. The TTAADC area comprises two-third of the state's territory and is home to tribals, who constitute a third of the population of Tripura. The parties, who have called the bandh, are Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT-Tipraha group), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), Twipra State Party (TSP), National Conference of Tripura (NCT) and Tripura Peoples Party (TPP). At least seven people were injured on Tuesday in West Tripura district when police and paramilitary jawans resorted to lathicharge and fired in the air to disperse Citizenship Bill protesters. In a joint press conference on Thursday night, the leaders of the said parties announced their decision to call a bandh. Their demands include resignation of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, inquiry by a sitting judge of Tripura High Court, Rs 25 lakh compensation to all the injured activists of the TSF or a government job for them and withdrawal of cases against the leaders, who participated in the protests. General Secretary of INPT Jagadish Debbarma said, "Police opened unprovoked firing and we have demanded judicial probe by a sitting high court judge so that truths are unveiled." The Tripura government on Thursday had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the violence at Madhabbari in West Tripura district and extended a ban on SMS and mobile Internet services in the state. Police on Thursday said that the situation in Madhabbari and adjacent areas is normal but prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPc would be further extended for 48 hours. Chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb told a press conference here that a magisterial inquiry was ordered to look into how the incident took place and under what circumstances did the police open fire. Earlier on Thursday, Mevar Kumar Jamatiya, the state Tribal Welfare minister and General Secretary of ruling IPFT in a press conference alleged that the opposition CPI(M) and INPT had aggravated the situation at Madhabbari and misguided the movement. The Tribal Student Federation (TSF), a constituent of North East Student Organisation (NESO), had demonstrated by blocking the road on Tuesday to protest the citizenship amendment bill, 2016. General secretary of TSF, Sunil Debbarma, said his organization would support the bandh to make it a success. The opposition CPI(M) has appealed to the political parties to withdraw the bandh as it feels it would not help solve the problems. We have appealed to the parties to withdraw the bandh, because it could further aggravate the situation in the state, CPI(M) Central Committee member and former state Secretary Bijan Dhar told reporters on Friday. BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said his party would oppose the bandh as its organizers were trying to aggravate the situation and create an atmosphere of turmoil. "Opposition CPI(M) was inducing different quarters to create an atmosphere of turmoil in the state. We oppose the bandh," Bhattacharya told reporters. The Supreme Court gave its nod to ongoing projects under the government's ambitious Chardham development plan, which proposes to provide all-weather connectivity to the four holy towns of Uttarakhand. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday gave its nod to ongoing projects under the government's ambitious Chardham development plan, which proposes to provide all-weather connectivity to the four holy towns of Uttarakhand. The top court, however, said the stay on stalled projects under the plan would continue till further orders. A bench of Justices RF Nariman and Vineet Saran asked the Centre to file its affidavit on a plea seeking a stay on the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had cleared the projects and set up a committee to oversee it. The Chardham project intends to connect four towns of the hilly state, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, by all-weather roads. The top court had on 26 November sought the Centre's response on why it should not stay the NGT order clearing the project. Advocate Sanjay Parekh, appearing for the petitioner NGO, Citizens for Green Doon, had said that if the project was allowed to go on, an irreversible damage would be done to the ecology which would be equal to damage done by 10 hydro power projects. He had added that mountains in Uttarakhand were very fragile and if environment concerns were not taken care of, a tragedy like the Kedarnath flash flood of 2013 can happen again. The Kedarnath area in the state had received unprecedented rainfall between 14 to 17 June in 2013 and the Chorabari Lake there had collapsed due to cloudburst resulting in a major flash flood. Several roads, buildings and other structures were washed away and, according to the state government, the estimated death toll was around 10,000, with more than 3,000 persons missing. On 26 September, the green tribunal had constituted a committee to monitor the ambitious road project while giving its nod with some safeguards in view of larger public interest and the country's security. The committee headed by former Uttarakhand High Court judge Justice UC Dhyani will oversee the implementation of the Environment Management Plan (EMP) of the project. The petitioner NGO had said that the environment clearance was must for the project and the ongoing work was "blatantly illegal". The Environment Ministry had earlier informed the NGT that it had received no proposal for environmental clearance for the project and hence the question of an environment impact assessment (EIA) study of such a project did not arise. The ministry also said that under the 2006 EIA notification, only new national highways and expansion of highways over 100 km needed to get prior environmental clearance. The NGO stated that the 900-km project in the hilly state was being carried out without any environment impact assessment. It also contended that the Centre had allegedly deliberately broken the road project into small stretches to do away with the requirement for obtaining environment clearance. It had alleged that the road widening work to connect Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarakhand was being carried out in violation of environmental laws. The Union government has decided to give a fresh impetus to the department of the National Population Register (NPR) under the Registrar General of India. New Delhi: The Union government's fight against illegal immigrants will soon get a national canvas as it has decided to give a fresh impetus to the department of the National Population Register (NPR) under the Registrar General of India. The division had turned almost non-functional after Aadhaar gained supremacy in the NDA government's agenda in late 2014. According to top sources in the government, data for NPR was collected in 2010 along with the house-listing phase of the Census. However, the main task assigned to the department for the creation of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) had been shelved by the government. If a final go-ahead is given by the government, an exercise will be carried out for the creation of two databases. The NPR's main task is to generate the NRIC. The rest will automatically become National Register of Residents or NRR. It is called a filtering process, and involves field verification as well as scrutiny of documents, sources said. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Assam and the subsequent releasing of the data appears to have provided a much-needed push for the NRIC project. Since the idea of the NRIC was first mooted during NDA-I, the deliberation within the government to revive the crucial department to identify and provide identity cards to Indian citizens is being seen as a last-ditch effort to contain the influx of illegal immigrants. Over 40 lakh people were left out of the Assam NRC in July, and after claims and settlement, a final list will be released. During Lal Krishna Advanis tenure as home minister, the NPR division was working in full swing. The idea was to issue Multi-Purpose National Identity Cards (MPNIC) to citizens. A pilot project at 13 places was also carried out successfully, after which the project was to be launched at the national level. But after the UPA came to power, the proposal was abandoned. Subsequently, the UPA decided to go ahead with Aadhaar, and the NRIC was given a quiet burial. When NDA came to power, there were talks about reviving it, but somehow, that didnt happen, informed government sources said. It is learnt that the pilot project for the NRIC was conducted at Kathua in Jammu, Narela in Delhi, Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh, Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu in 2003. There was a change of the government when a completion report along with comments from the NPR division was submitted. However, no further direction from the top was received by the department, sources said. Although the department continued functioning in a condensed form and Aadhaar was given the task of capturing the biometric data, an arrangement was made for sharing records with each other. Following the Assam NRC, BJP leaders expressed the need for a nationwide exercise to weed out illegal immigrants. The leadership of the ruling party has made it clear that if it returns to power, the proposal to carry out the NRIC will be implemented. In July 2015, a cabinet note was prepared for the NRIC, but the proposal was subsequently shelved. The proposal had highlighted that data entry of more than 119 crore persons was already completed and seeding with Aadhaar for biometric data was in process. MPNIC Proposal First Moved In 2000 The Group of Ministers' (GoM) report after the Kargil war had suggested that the government must identify citizens and non-citizens, and both should be given different identity cards. "Illegal migration has assumed serious proportions. There should be compulsory registration of citizens and non-citizens living in India. This will facilitate preparation of a national register of citizens. All citizens should be given a Multi-Purpose National Identity Card (MPNIC) and non-citizens should be issued identity cards of a different colour and design. This should be introduced initially in the border districts, or maybe in a 20-kilometre border belt and extended to the hinterland progressively," the GoM report had said. The process for the NRIC has been envisaged in the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 which said, For the purposes of preparation and inclusion in the Local Register of Indian Citizens, the particulars collected of every family and individual in the Population Register shall be verified and scrutinised by the Local Registrar, who may be assisted by one or more persons as specified by the Registrar General of Citizen Registration. During the verification process, particulars of such individuals, whose citizenship is doubtful, shall be entered by the Local Registrar with appropriate remark in the Population Register for further inquiry and in case of doubtful Citizenship, the individual or the family shall be informed in a specified proforma immediately after the verification process is over. India on Thursday launched a program to rein in dangerous pollution levels in more than a hundred cities that the government said it expected to improve air quality significantly. New Delhi: India on Thursday launched a program to rein in dangerous pollution levels in more than a hundred cities that the government said it expected to improve air quality significantly. But the plan drew immediate criticism from environmentalists, who said it lacked a clear framework to tackle toxicity levels that have led to millions of deaths. India is home to the worlds 14 most polluted cities, according to the World Health Organization. Toxic air claimed 1.24 million lives in 2017, a study in Lancet Planetary Health showed in December. The National Clean Air Program (NCAP) aims to cut pollution in the 102 worst affected cities by 20-30 percent by 2024. Launching it, Environment minister Harsh Vardhan said he believed it would substantially improve air quality. We need to ensure that we give clean air to our children and the generations to come, he told a news conference. The plan aims to push through cuts in industrial emissions and vehicular exhaust fumes, introduce stringent rules for transport fuels and biomass burning and reduce dust pollution. It will also upgrade and increase monitoring systems. Its launch, put back from last year due to bureaucratic delays, coincides with the annual peak of pollution levels in northern India, including New Delhi. Since October, residents of the capital, home to more than 20 million people, have struggled to breathe under a thick smog. Last week pollution surged to emergency levels, as the Central Pollution Control Boards air quality index of poisonous particulate matter hit 440, more than 12 times the US governments recommended limit. Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner with environmental group Greenpeace, welcomed the launch of the program but said it lacked focus and ambition. We hoped that the NCAL would be much stronger, would provide sector-wise targets, specific targets for the cities and mention a strong legal backing to take action against non-implementation, he said. We hope that the environment ministry shows more seriousness in implementing and strengthening the plan. As pollution spiked in New Delhi in October and November, the government adopted measures ranging from a temporary ban on construction activities and garbage burning to a clampdown on coal-fired power stations. But the measures were inadequate and poorly implemented, largely because of a lack of resources and political will. Alok Verma asked the government to treat him 'deemed superannuated' with immediate effect, while the Delhi HC denied relief to CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana. The turmoil in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) shows no signs of abating, as both the agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana and former chief Alok Verma remained under a cloud of controversy on Friday. Verma submitted his resignation a day after he was removed from his post by a high-powered committee, while the Delhi High Court refused to quash the FIR against Asthana on bribery charges. Verma asked the government to treat him "deemed superannuated" with immediate effect. Refusing to take on his new assignment as director general, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, Verma wrote to the secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, stating the Selection Committee has not provided him an opportunity to explain the details as recorded by the CVC before arriving at the decision of transferring him. Meanwhile, interim CBI director M Nageshwar Rao on Friday reverted all transfer decisions taken by Verma, restoring the position of officials as on 8 January, officials said. Verma alleges denial of 'natural justice' Verma, in his resignation letter, wrote: "Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of Director, CBI. The Selection Committee did not consider the fact that the entire CVC report is premised on charges alluded by a complainant who is presently under investigation by the CBI." This was a reference to Asthana, who had alleged misconduct by Verma in August 2018. Verma's allusion to "natural justice" being scuttled was on similar lines as the dissenting opinion of Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who was part of the Selection Committee along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Justice AK Sikri. Kharge had written that Verma should "be allowed to explain himself before this Committee, along with the charges made against him, prior to any decision being taken." "The decisions made yesterday (on Thursday) will not just be a reflection on my functioning but will become a testimony on how the CBI as an institution will be treated by any government through the CVC, who is appointed by majority members of the ruling government. This is a moment for collective introspection to state the least," he also said. Asthana had filed a complaint against Verma, accusing him of interfering in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation corruption case involving family members of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad. Delhi HC denies relief to Asthana Even as Verma submitted his resignation, there was no relief in store for Asthana either. The Delhi High Court refused to quash the FIR lodged against him on bribery allegations and vacated its interim order granting him protection against criminal proceedings. The high court directed the CBI to complete the investigation in the case against Asthana and others within 10 weeks. It further said that the allegation of "mala fide" raised against then CBI director Alok Verma has not been made out. The high court dismissed the petitions filed by Asthana, CBI deputy superintendent Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad, challenging the FIR lodged against them. Asthana was booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct under sections of Prevention of Corruption Act. Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, had alleged having paid bribe to get relief in a case. Sana had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractice against Asthana. Opposition castigates Centre over imbroglio The Congress minced no words in its reaction to the high court verdict, terming Asthana "Modiji's blue-eyed boy." We welcome the Delhi High Court's decision to continue investigating bribery charges against Rakesh Asthana. We can only imagine the skeletons that will be revealed after an independent investigation by the CBI on Modiji's blue-eyed boy! Congress (@INCIndia) January 11, 2019 Earlier in the day, party leader Kapil Sibal had reacted to Verma's removal from his post, saying, "The committee ensured the caged parrot did not fly away, fearing the parrot might spill the beans by parroting the goings on in the corridors of power. The caged parrot will remain caged." Ironically, the "caged parrot" reference to the CBI was made by a Supreme Court judge during the UPA government's tenure, when the court was hearing a case on alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks. It is a further irony that the Congress, which is now batting for Verma, had actually opposed his appointment to the post of CBI director in the first place. At the time, Kharge had written a note of dissent against his appointment, arguing that he had no experience of working with the premier investigating agency, as reported by The Telegraph. This led Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday to quip: Indeed, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge is a man of amazing consistency. When Shri Alok Verma was appointed CBI chief by the selection committee, he dissented. Now, when Shri Alok Verma has been removed by the same Selection Committee, he has dissented. Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) January 10, 2019 Meanwhile, TMC supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee joined the Congress in taking aim at the Centre over the imbroglio at the CBI. On Friday, she remarked, "The CBI has been repeatedly misused by the BJP, which is trying to use the probe agency for political gains and turn it into 'His Master's Voice'... The BJP is destroying institutions like the CBI and the RBI." Notably, West Bengal is one of the state governments which has withdrawn general consent to the CBI to investigate cases, the other two being Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. All three states have non-BJP governments in place. M Nageshwar Rao takes charge, again The Union government on Thursday evening gave the charge of the agency to Additional Director Nageshwar Rao, who was also in charge for 77 days when Verma and his deputy Asthana were on forced leave. The Supreme Court had stopped Rao from taking any major policy decisions. However, no such condition applies on his present tenure. Verma, after being reinstated by the Supreme Court on 8 January, had undone all the transfers done by Rao. He had also appointed a new investigation officer to probe the case against Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Rao has now reverted all the transfer decisions taken on 8 January. With inputs from PTI The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana's plea to quash an FIR filed against him on allegations of bribery, according to several media reports. The court's verdict on the plea of the agency's second-in-command comes soon after Alok Verma was removed from the post of CBI director by a Selection Committee, a process that was prescribed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The Delhi High Court on Friday also ruled on the petitions of CBI deputy superintendent Devender Kumar, and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad. CBI additional director, M Nageshwar Rao, who had been serving as the interim director of the agency, assumed charge as CBI director on Friday, ANI reported. On 20 December 2018, Justice Najmi Waziri had reserved the judgment on the petitions after hearing submissions of the counsel for CBI, the Centre, Asthana, Kumar, CBI director Alok Verma and Joint Director AK Sharma. Additional Superintendent of Police SS Gurm had also filed a plea in the court to be impleaded as a party. Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged against Asthana and who had alleged to have paid a bribe to get relief in a case, had also filed a similar plea seeking to be heard in the case. However, he did not press for his plea and had said that he would cooperate with the CBI whenever called for the investigation. Kumar on Thursday moved the high court seeking direction to the probe agency not to allow Verma and other re-transferred officers to deal with the bribery FIR lodged against him. The application, filed in the main petition, is likely to be heard on Friday. Asthana and Kumar's counsel had argued that the FIR was antedated and it reached the magistrate 52 hours after registration, whereas, as per law it should be placed before the magistrate within 24 hours. They had contended that there was no allegation of demand and acceptance of illegal gratification against Asthana and he cannot be made an accused for the alleged offence under the PC Act. CBI had said there was no merit in the petitions of the two officers and the agency was bound to probe the matter thoroughly. Verma, who was made a respondent in the petitions, had earlier maintained that all mandatory procedures of law were followed while registering an FIR against Asthana on bribery allegations. Sharma, who was one of the respondents, had argued that the FIR was not lodged exclusively under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the provisions of IPC, including, forgery, extortion and criminal conspiracy, which means sanction to prosecute the government official was not of much importance. The Centre's counsel had said that ordinarily it is required to take prior sanction to prosecute a public servant but as this matter was not referred or brought before the government, she cannot say anything. The court had earlier, in an interim order, directed the CBI to maintain status quo regarding proceedings against Asthana. Kumar, who was arrested on 22 October, was granted bail on 31 October. Prasad was arrested on 17 October, 2018 and he was granted bail on 18 December as the CBI could not file the chargesheet against in the case in the stipulated time of 60 days. Verma had said in the affidavit that there were sufficient incriminating documents and evidence against all accused Asthana, Kumar and middleman Manoj Prasad with the CBI, and that the FIR was lodged after the PE disclosed cognisable offences. He had claimed that Asthana's plea is misconceived, premature and not maintainable as investigation in the matter is at a nascent stage. The Supreme Court on Tuesday had reinstated Verma but directed him not to take any major policy decision till the high-powered committee gave its findings. Verma had challenged before the apex court the Centre's decision to divest him of all powers and send him on leave. Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of Sana who had alleged to have paid bribe to get relief in the case. Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractices against Asthana. Let's examine the stand of some of the world's major powers on homosexuals serving in the military On Thursday, Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat sparked a row when he declared that there was 'no place for homosexuals' in the ranks of the armed forces. While the Supreme Court decriminalised same-sex relationships between consenting adults in September 2018, it seems as if for the 'conservative' army Rawat's own words changes will not be in the offing anytime soon. Let's examine the stand of some of the world's major powers on homosexuals serving in the military: United States The US military barred homosexuals from serving in the armed forces for a long time. The "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy banned openly gay and lesbian personnel. But in 2010, then president Barack Obama signed the "Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act" making way for spousal and family benefits for homosexuals who were married. A law subsequently came into force in 2011 preventing the discharge of personnel who identified as being homosexual. United Kingdom The United Kingdom lifted a ban on homosexuals serving in the armed forces in 2000. The country's Ministry of Defence had in fact issued an apology in 2007 to all gay service personnel who faced persecution and discrimination before the ban was lifted. Phil Sagar, who ran the armed forces' joint equality and diversity training centre, was quoted saying, "Of course we're sorry for anyone who's suffered personal trauma," in a BBC Radio broadcast. Germany Germany's armed forces banned homosexuals from serving until the year 2000. Today, tolerance towards all sexual orientations is considered part of German military duty. The German armed forces also welcome transgender personnel. In fact, Anastasia Biefang became the country's first openly transgender military commander. Israel In Israel, homosexuals are allowed to join the armed forces. They serve in special units and are given additional rights, for example: the right to take a shower alone, if they so choose. New Zealand New Zealand topped the first ever global ranking of countries by inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) service members in the armed forces released by the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS). It has been legal for persons of all sexual orientations to serve in the military since the implementation of the New Zealand Human Rights Act, 1993. Netherlands Netherlands sits at second position on the HCSS list, along with the United Kingdom. The Dutch military has allowed homosexuals to serve since 1974. India While the Supreme Court decriminalised same-sex relationships between consenting adults in September 2018, the country's million-strong army and other armed forces are governed by their own laws. Unsurprisingly, there are no figures on homosexuals in the armed forces. Those found guilty of conduct of a "cruel, indecent or unnatural kind" under Section 46 of the Army Act, 1950, face up to seven years in prison. Section 45 of the Army Act, 1950, also talks about the "unbecoming conduct" of officers. The sections imply offences under the British-era Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. But there is a ray of hope. In the recently concluded Winter Session of the Parliament, BJP's Jagdambika Pal introduced a bill seeking amendments to the Army Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957 and Air Force Act, 1950 with a view to give equal rights and opportunities to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to serve in the armed forces. With inputs from agencies An Army major and a BSF jawan were injured as Pakistani troops shelled forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday. Jammu: An Army major and a BSF jawan were injured as Pakistani troops shelled forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday. The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire for a third consecutive day on Thursday, inviting a strong retaliation from Indian forces, they said. "One Army major and a constable of BSF were injured as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Tarkundi forward area of Balakote sector late on Thursday," an Army officer said. Both of them were shifted to 166 Military hospital at Jammu and their condition is stated to be stable, the officials said. The incident happened in forward post of '3 BUMP' at around 1 pm. According to sources, the duo was reportedly injured in sniping. On Wednesday as well, Pakistani troops had fired on and shelled the Kalal forward area in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district twice, the officials said. The continuous shelling and firing on villages has set in a fear psychosis among the border dwellers. With the latest incident, Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in Poonch seven of first 10 days of the new year. The Pakistani army fired on forward posts along the LoC Poonch district on Tuesday as well. Despite repeated calls, made during Indo-Pak flag meetings, for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquillity, the Indo-Pak border areas witnessed shelling and firing. The chief of northern commander, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, had on Monday visited forward areas along the LoC and reviewed security situation in Jammu and Rajouri districts, officials said. Accompanied by White Knight corps commander Lieutenant General Paramjit Singh, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh visited forward posts of Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors to review the operational preparedness and the prevailing security situation, they said. A three-member committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday removed Alok Verma as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director, merely a day after he had resumed office on Wednesday Former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi on Thursday said that Verma's sharp reaction to his removal was "not in good taste". Verma has claimed that he was transferred on the basis of "false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations" made by only one person who was inimical to him. Breaking his silence over the issue, Verma termed it "sad" that he was transferred to another post pursuant to the orders of the committee on the basis of "false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations made by only one person, who was inimical to him". "I don't think Alok Verma's statements are in good taste. If the PM and a senior Supreme Court judge, after seeing the CVC report, gave a decision, then its not fair for Verma to say the decision is bad. The government should have settled this earlier. It has spoiled the name of the agency and the CBI," Rohatgi told ANI. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy told CNN-News18, "I am shocked... I do not know whether Alok Verma was given an opportunity to rebut the charges made by the CVC." Earlier on Thursday, Swamy had said that Verma cannot be removed merely on the basis of a CVC report, without the government hearing him. He had asked the prime minister to not to listen to "bogus legal brains" in the government who had given wrong advice and landed the government in such a situation. Swamy had gone to the probe agency's headquarters to meet Verma, who resumed his duties on Wednesday. According to PTI, he told reporters that the CVC report was based on the version of another officer who gave a "false report". "It has to be investigated. I don't think it can be done (Verma can be removed). If Verma is removed problem will get only worse not better. I would like the prime minister to take steps to see that this episode becomes history," he said. Swamy, however, said he was not at the probe agency's office regarding this issue. CPM leader D Raja, reacting to the development, told India Today that this decision proves that the credibility of CBI is completely lost. Whereas, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told CNN-News18 that he was sorry to hear this, adding that it was sad to see that a person who had 15 to 20 days left in the job was suddenly removed. He later tweeted that it is a case of "innumerable skeletons tumbling out of the government's dirty cupboard" as the BJP and Narendra Modi could not "tolerate him for 20 days". Instead of giving him compensatory 77 days additional tenure, he is summarily removed. CVC office totally compromised. Mere adjectives, absolutely no proof in the CVC report," he tweeted. how comm decd wo Natural justice wo calling #alokverma for a hearing? How removed on mere allegations found in #cvc report. Cvc provided shoulder 4govt 2fire gun, completely compromising his office. SC judges in comm do nt exercise judl powers & r reviewable as any othr decision. Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) January 10, 2019 #alokverma 6 of 10 allegations nt made out; the 4relied upon have no findings; mere adjectives like behaviour nt upto mark, suspicion etc; if mere allegations were enuff wld #PM or #Amitshah step down on surmises &allegations. Remove CBI director wo hearing wo finding wo proof! Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) January 10, 2019 Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan also tweeted to express his resentment against Verma's removal. He called the move government's "desperation to prevent any investigation". Breaking! So, a day after he resumed charge as CBI Director, the Committee headed by Modi again transfers out Alok Verma post haste, w/o even hearing him, fearing the prospect of his registering an FIR against Modi in the Rafale scam! Such desperation to prevent any investigation Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) January 10, 2019 Reacting to the development, the Congress said, "By removing Alok Verma from his position without giving him the chance to present his case, Narendra Modi has shown once again that he's too afraid of an investigation, either by an independent CBI director or by Parliament via JPC." Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma alleged that the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) "had lost credibility and was compromised". Whereas, Union Minister Piyush Goyal pointed out to Kharge's double-standards as he called out the Congress leader for having dissented even when Verma was appointed as the CBI chief and now again when he was removed. Indeed, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge is a man of amazing consistency. When Shri Alok Verma was appointed CBI chief by the selection committee, he dissented. Now, when Shri Alok Verma has been removed by the same Selection Committee, he has dissented. Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) January 10, 2019 Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticised the "hurried" move saying that it shows Modi's "desperation". Priyanka Chaturvedi,Congress on #AlokVerma: Hurried decision shows desperation level to ensure he gets out of the way as he was going to probe Rafale scam. In his dissent note,he(Kharge) has mentioned the loopholes in the manner in which constitutional norms were bypassed by Govt pic.twitter.com/RdTqDeZgBO ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2019 Congress leader and Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said that he senses a "conspiracy" behind the decision. Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister on #AlokVerma transferred: There is something murky going on which needs to be investigated, the Congress party has already objected to it. Something very suspicious about all this pic.twitter.com/lEjEoJFs5a ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2019 The CBI chief and his deputy Special Director Rakesh Asthana were sent on a forced leave two months ago to stop the "Kilkenny cat fight" between them after they had publicly accused each other of corruption. Verma returned to his office after a 77-day exile following the Supreme Court setting aside a controversial government order divesting him of all powers on 23 October, 2018. In its order on Tuesday, the Supreme Court set aside Verma's forced leave but restrained him from taking any major policy decision till the CVC probe into corruption charges against him is over. After taking over, Verma had revoked most of the transfers done by M Nageshwar Rao, who was appointed as the interim CBI chief in his absence. Meanwhile, ahead of the meeting on Thursday, Kharge had said he has sought documents, including an enquiry report by the CVC into the matter. He had said that Verma should also be given an opportunity to appear before the committee and represent his case. Earlier, Congress President Rahul Gandhi had also attacked the government ahead of the crucial meeting and said Modi is in a "tearing hurry" to "sack" Verma because of the Rafale deal. With inputs from PTI Did the Congress and Verma's other backers know they had a weak hand? Alok Verma will forever have the ignominy of being the first CBI chief in the institution's 55-year history to be removed on charges of corruption and impropriety. That too, when he and his backers were in a celebratory mood. Worse, Verma was removed after a months' long process of each step being vetted by the Supreme Court, either by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India or by his nominee and the Central Vigilance Commission examining various allegations against Verma; being sent on leave by the government on recommendations of CVC; the Supreme Court examining the veracity of those allegations and the government's decision to send him on leave; the Supreme Court nominating retired apex court judge AK Patnaik to supervise the investigation process of the CVC so that a fair and impartial probe could be conducted; the Supreme Court reinstating Verma on technical grounds with a cease and desist order with respect to policy matters; and CJI nominee Justice AK Sikri on a three-member high-powered committee concurring with CVC findings and approving Prime Minister Narendra Modis position. Those backing Verma would like the public to believe he was thrown out of CBI by a desperate and panicked Prime Minister Narendra Modi because he was about to register an FIR on the Rafale deal. They conveniently forget two points: First, that the Supreme Court has already given a verdict on Rafale endorsing the governments position and dismissing allegations of foul play. Second, Verma was sacked because Supreme Court nominee on the panel Justice AK Sikri was convinced Verma could not be allowed to continue as CBI director. The position of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was already known: Kharge challenged the government's decision to send Verma on leave. The PM's position was clear: the government wanted Verma out. Thus, Justice Sikri's opinion mattered most. Sikri, a sitting judge, was the SC's representative on the panel and thus Verma's ouster bore the apex court's stamp of approval. The Opposition's behaviour raises questions. How did Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and Prashant Bhushan anticipate that the high-powered committee would oust Verma? On 9 January, soon after the news of the PM calling the committee meeting on Wednesday night broke, Bhushan tweeted: Seems that the government is so desperate to prevent the restored CBI director Alok Verma from filing any FIR in the Rafale case, that they are calling a meeting of the high powered committee within a day or two to disable him. Why such desperation to avoid any investigation? https://t.co/cuUWGEENxn Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) January 9, 2019 Ahead of the second committee meeting on Thursday, Rahul tweeted: 1. Why is the PM in such a tearing hurry to sack the CBI Chief? 2. Why will he not allow the CBI Chief to present his case in front of the selection committee ? Answer: RAFALE Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 10, 2019 Rahul and Bhushan should happy been happy that the government was rather speedily convening a meeting of the committee comprising the PM, Chief Justice of India (or his nominee) and Leader of Opposition the day after the Supreme Court verdict, even though the apex court had given the Centre a week to do so. Did Congress and Verma's other backers know they had a weak hand and Verma who was on a sticky wicket had to go? If not, they should have welcomed governments promptness. Another point to be noted: Kharge had his dissent note prepared. Minutes after he emerged from the meeting, his six-page note was all over social media, digital media and broadcast media. Surely, Kharge couldn't possibly have prepared such a voluminous dissent note during the meeting. Even a cursory look at the six-page note suggests long hours and a great deal of deliberation went into preparing the note. The question is: What made Kharge believe the CJI nominee would endorse the CVC and PMs position? Unless of course, he and his party knew they were backing a person whose 'karma' wouldn't allow him to remain at that critical post. New Delhi has neither the purse nor the clout to single-handedly support the Palace at a time when a large group of countries which includes Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are determined to oust Ghani and his circle. It seems Afghanistan is the flavour of the week in New Delhi, at least in terms of diplomatic footwork. At a seminar by a prominent think-tank, former president Hamid Karzai was heard saying Afghans had perhaps unrealistic, but huge expectations of India. His main point was that New Delhi should do more on its own, without waiting for others to play catch up. He also emphasised that India should be part and parcel of the peace process that seems to be unfolding somewhat faster since the Donald Trump administration stepped up the pace. Listening in the audience was veteran US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been given the singular task of bringing the peace process on track, to allow US withdrawal somewhere down the line. Significantly, Khalilzad has, so far, visited almost all other countries involved, including Russia and Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and the UAE among others. India was not part of those first whirlwind visits. It seemed Karzai was talking directly to Khalilzad in backing the role of India and also Russia as part of the process and as countries who cannot be left out. India has been lauded for its development aid, which includes not only large infrastructure projects, but also recent years, has begun to filter down in terms of community projects across the country. Influence has been built up quietly with training programmes for Afghan public servants, providing schools that educate their children, and medical facilities that keep them healthy. Quite a few Afghan leaders, including Karzai, have been educated in India, while others have their families in Delhi. It is unsurprising therefore, that Afghans by and large, view Indians in a positive light. And as the former president pointed out, the Taliban are also Afghans. Its not unusual for Taliban leaders to quietly curse the Pakistani yoke and call for greater Indian assistance. Khalilzad seems to have kicked off his four-nation tour from India, following which he is to go to China, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This grouping is important, in that it recognises both India and China as important players in a game where each is closely allied with one or other of the main players: Pakistan and Afghanistan. While Chinas long relationship with Pakistan is well known, less apparent has been the equally long and more trusted India-Afghanistan relationship. Indias public position has been consistent: that Kabul should be part of discussions, and that Afghans should decide on their own lives. This position has not wavered even in the covert sphere. Despite enough opportunities, New Delhi has not directly supported or encouraged this or that Taliban leader. In the Moscow talks, where members of the Taliban were present, New Delhi chose to send only retired diplomats, thus officially continuing its stated position. It is against this reality that the US outreach to India should be viewed. Notwithstanding President Trumps slighting reference to a library made by India, the point is that he expects Delhi to contribute more. Reportedly Prime Minister Modi also received a call from the president just before the Khalilzad visit, and there is no doubt whatsoever that some demands disguised imperfectly as requests would have been made. One likely demand is to lean on the Afghan government to provide what Khalilzad himself called a "broad, inclusive and influential" team that is seen as credible and capable of talking to the Taliban. President Ghanis dislike of sharing power has long been the subject of dispute. The recent appointment of the highly-knowledgeable and hardline Amrullah Saleh as Interior Minister means Delhi will be expected to first get him on board. A second issue likely to be discussed arises from Khalilzads former appointment in RAND corporation where he authored many a detailed paper on Afghanistan and other issues. Recently, the influential think-tank produced a detailed document on the outlines of a possible peace agreement. This document called an Agreement on a Comprehensive Settlement of the Conflict in Afghanistan was leaked in part to the press. Available information seems to envisage among other things, a new constitution, an 18-month transitional period, and a rotating chairman and several vice-chairmen. This is what Khalilzad means when he says inclusivity, which means that everyone gets a turn at the top. Presidential powers are also to be reduced over time. Ghani and his team are not going to be happy with such an arrangement. Arm-twisting by Delhi in this direction will mean a loss of Delhis clout in Kabul. A second proposal is to set up an Afghan Support Team made up of select members of the international community and focussing on counter-terrorism. Since this is a core concern of India, the inclusion of New Delhi in this group could be a sweetener. The paper also envisages an eventual withdrawal of US forces over a tentative 18-month timeframe, though complete withdrawal remains unlikely. It is against this possible withdrawal that speculation arises on whether India would be asked to send troops on the ground. This remains unlikely. The CIA in particular knows full well that inclusion of Indian troops will risk the tentative cooperation that the Pakistan intelligence is providing in terms of pushing the Taliban towards talks. Barring a certain hardline and lacklustre circles, Indian policymakers are against any such deployment, which has much against it, including jeopardising New Delhis biggest asset: the confidence engendered by the fact that it is the one country among more than a dozen whose soldiers have never set foot in Afghanistan. These are all as yet tentative proposals, and may not fully bear fruit. That the Afghans are uneasy about the proposals that are being considered is apparent in Karzai advising India to go it alone and do more. Its difficult to see what the former president has in mind. Delhi has neither the purse nor the clout to single-handedly support the Palace at a time when a large group of countries which includes Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are determined to oust Ghani and his circle. Not to support them would mean a loss of support at a critical time. Its a tough call. One option is to reach out to former allies and friends in the neighbourhood. History has a habit of coming full circle and it's as well to be prepared. There is no infighting over the reservation quota when there arent enough jobs to go around. For the last few days, there is a ruckus in Parliament and outside over the hurriedly introduced general quota job reservation bill for the economically weaker sections. The questions we keep hearing are: Does the proposal for 10 percent quota stand the test of social justice and legal scrutiny? Isnt it nothing but a political gimmick by a panicking BJP ahead of 2019 elections? There have been heated exchanges in Parliament over the relevance and validity of the Bill. But, the question that would be actually worrying the job-seeking Indian youth, whether they belong to the upper or lower castes, would be something else. In an economy that hardly produces any jobs and is actually witnessing a steady decline in the number of jobs, arent talks on reservation nothing but a cruel joke? Where are the jobs? The state of unemployment in India is a highly disputed subject. In the nearly five years of Narendra Modi-governments rule, the government has consistently played down reports of unemployment and has often chosen to cherry-pick methodology (EPFO numbers, for instance) to show better employment figures. But most economists have so far refused to buy this argument. Now, separate studies/surveys confirm that unemployment is on a disturbingly rising trend in the country, particularly after the poorly thought-out demonetisation of 86 percent currency in circulation in the month of November, 2016. These figures are hard to counter as politically motivated or cherry-picked as all the three are broad-based in nature and collected from primary sources. A Business Standard report on 2016-17 Labour Bureau's Sixth Annual Employment-Unemployment Survey shows that unemployment in India rose to a four-year high in 2016-17 at 3.9 percent as against 3.7 percent in 2015-16 and 3.4 percent in 2013-14. Assuming the findings of this report is true (the government hasnt released the data yet), we have a serious problem in hand. It confirm the fears that note ban indeed took the breath out of cash-intensive industries and forced several small shops to shut down. How did demonetisation punch such a big hole in the employment scene? The above mentioned figures also corroborate with the findings of the recent National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper authored by four economists including the current IMF chief economist, Gita Gopinath. The working paper from NBER titled Cash and the economy: Evidence from Indias demonetisation authored by Gabriel Chodorow-Reich, Gita Gopinath, Prachi Mishra, and Abhinav Narayanan tells us that demonetisation indeed lowered the GDP (gross domestic product (GDP) growth by at least 2 percent in the near-term post-demonetisation. "Our results imply demonetisation lowered the growth rate of economic activity by at least 2 percentage point in the quarter of demonetisation, the paper said. The economists said their study suggested a decline in nightlights-based economic activity and of employment of 3 percentage point or more in November and December of 2016, which translates into a decline in the quarterly growth rate of 2 percentage point or more. Nightlight intensity refers to low-light imaging data collected by satellite and filtered to measure the quantity of artificial (i.e. human-generated) light in an area. Demonetisation repercussions Narendra Modi announced his decision to invalidate Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on 8 November, 2016 in search of black money, fake currency and as a shock treatment to cash-based corruption. This exercise, which was executed keeping the countrys central bank on the sidelines, instantly sucked out 86 percent of the currency in circulation from Indias cash-intensive economy. The move hit the informal economy particularly hard since cash plays a dominant role in making daily transactions seamless. Supply chains were broken and small shops were shut. The impact on unemployment and rural economy became more visible in the period that followed. The speculated gains of note banwidening taxpayer base and push for digitalisationare much less compared to the pain the exercise inflicted upon the economy. The Modi-government has been on the defensive with respect to note ban. But, the NBER report clearly tells us what demonetisation did to the economy in the short-term. Also, look at the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) report that throws even more disturbing statistics on unemployment. In his piece, Mahesh Vyas of CMIE wrote that India lost 11 million (1.1 crore) jobs in 2018 alone. The count of unemployed has been increasing steadily. Over the year ended December 2018, it increased by a substantial 11 million. Correspondingly, the count of the employed is declining. In December 2018, an estimated 397 million were employed. This is nearly 11 million less than the employment estimate for December 2017, Vyas said. One critical aspect the CMIE report points out to is the fall in employment began some 13 months backin November 2017. Employment declined in each of the nine months between November 2017 and September 2018. Employment is estimated to have fallen by 10.3 million during this period. And, in the volatile last four months, it fell by another 2.2 million, the report said. Educated, not employed When a country produces educated youth who arent welcome in the employment market (lack of skills or opportunities), it indicates a major problem. In August last year, some 93,000 candidates, including 3,700 PhD holders, applying for peon jobs made headlines. What does this mean? India is stepping into a zone where there is an oversupply of qualified youngsters but not enough jobs to accommodate them. As matter of fact, even the general quota bill for 10 percent reservation for economically weaker sections wouldnt stand of the constitutional test as legal experts have argued. According to Anshul Prakash, partner, Khaitan & Co, the Bill wouldnt stand the test of law as it will face multiple hurdles. Prima facie the amendment in its present form appears to be contrary to established judicial precedents on reservation as it purports to make the pool of opportunities for the general category even narrower. With a constitutional challenge pending before the Supreme Court, it needs to be seen whether this move of the current government is able to withstand the acid test of the highest court in the land, said Prakash. But, as mentioned earlier, reservation issue isnt what we should be discussing now. Whats the point of fighting over the reservation anyway when there arent enough jobs to go around? Hard data doesn't lie and unemployment is no fake news. At best, the upper caste reservation lollipop is a clever distraction from the actual problem; an unfolding unemployment crisis in Asia's third largest economy. (Data support from Kishor Kadam) To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. | BY Lynchy | MullenLowe Malaysia will change ownership following a management buyout in which Adrian Sng, CEO of MullenLowe Malaysia (pictured) obtains full ownership of the business. Moving forward the agency will be known as MullenLowe Sng & Partners Malaysia Sdn Bhd, effective immediately. There will be no changes to the current staff of MullenLowe in Malaysia, who currently work with brands including Tesco, MarryBrown, Dominos, F&N, Iskandar Investment Berhad, Malaysia Airports Berhad among others. Gavin Teoh and Nizfaraz Noor will lead the agencys brand teams with Eddy Nazarullah and Alvin Kor leading the creative department. The team at MullenLowe Sng & Partners can look forward to a dynamic environment where the local management will make fast decisions based on the current needs of the market. The culture within the agency will remain the same, as a challenger brand, constantly striving to punch above its weight, to listen harder and fight smarter. MullenLowe Malaysia will remain part of the MullenLowe Group network as an affiliate business partner. The agency will retain access to the networks global tools and expertise, as well as remain involved on all global client business, and will continue its commitment to MullenLowe Groups hyperbundled approach at the core of every MullenLowe office around the world. Sng explained his commitment to building on the agencys progress in 2018, Not only are we not making any changes to the current teams within MullenLowe Malaysia but we are looking to add key personnel within our ranks in 2019 to give us that additional fire power to ensure that we stay relevant and at the cutting edge of the market. I am very excited for the opportunity of this buyout as it gives us the ability to chart our own path towards where we see the agency heading in the coming years and beyond. The flexibility will give us the opportunity to change our business model as we navigate the industry whilst staying true to the one thing that makes us different; our passion for creativity and always striving to come up with work that impacts our clients business and moves consumers in meaningful ways, he continued. Vincent Digonnet, CEO MullenLowe Group APAC commented, MullenLowe Malaysia will always play an important part in the MullenLowe Group family, and will remain a close partner as we continue to deliver an unfair advantage for our clients across Southeast Asia. The fast-evolving Malaysian market demands a degree of local agility, and their new independence will allow Adrian and the team to make forward steps. Adrian is a more than capable business leader and I wish him and the team every success for the future. By Mark Hosenball, Sarah N. Lynch and Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - William Barr, nominated by President Donald Trump to become U.S. attorney general, plans to recuse himself from a major antitrust case, according to people who spoke with him on Thursday, as he navigates possible conflicts of interest presented by about $37 million in assets he amassed as a private-sector lawyer. By Mark Hosenball, Sarah N. Lynch and Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - William Barr, nominated by President Donald Trump to become U.S. attorney general, plans to recuse himself from a major antitrust case, according to people who spoke with him on Thursday, as he navigates possible conflicts of interest presented by about $37 million in assets he amassed as a private-sector lawyer. Barr is scheduled to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee next week for two days of confirmation hearings. Ahead of that, he has submitted financial disclosure forms, as required. Some of the forms, seen by Reuters, describe sizeable investments in stocks, bonds and real estate. Among his holdings are $1.2 million worth of shares in telecommunications and media company AT&T Inc . He served on the board of Time Warner, which was acquired by AT&T last year, from 2009 until 2018. The Justice Department, which Barr would lead as attorney general, fought and lost a court battle to block the $85 billion deal and has appealed the decision. Barr told Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar he would recuse himself from that effort if he were confirmed, Klobuchar said. "He told me he was going to recuse himself from the Time Warner-AT&T appeal because he was involved in that, the Time Warner side," Klobuchar told reporters after meeting with Barr. She added that she plans to review his financial disclosures more carefully over the weekend. A Justice Department official, familiar with Barr's confirmation preparation, confirmed that he plans to recuse himself from the matter. Barr is set to face tough questioning in the confirmation hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday from Democrats who have raised concerns about his past criticism of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Senators who will vet his nomination will likely closely examine the disclosures, which trickled in later than usual on Thursday due to a partial government shutdown which has furloughed many of the government's ethics attorneys. According to the documents, Barr owns about $16 million worth of stocks and bonds, as well as another $8 million in private investments and $4.2 million in real estate. As of Dec. 14, he held $2.8 million worth of Dominion Energy Inc stock, his largest holding. Barr served on Dominion's board of directors, as well. Under federal ethics rules, Barr will be required to divest certain holdings if they conflict with particular matters he is working on at the Justice Department. Presidential nominees also must sign an ethics pledge that spells out how potential conflicts will be managed. Other stocks in his portfolio include tobacco company Altria Group Inc and drugmakers Merck & Co Inc and Pfizer Inc . Reuters could not immediately determine which assets, if any, he may need to divest, but the same Justice Department official said government ethics lawyers are working on a divestment plan. Barr will also be required to disclose some details about which clients he or his law firm have recently represented in order to avoid potential conflicts. In his questionnaire to the Senate, he disclosed he represented construction machinery and equipment maker Caterpillar Inc in 2017 in connection with a Justice Department grand jury probe and recently was retained to provide regulatory advice for the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management [CBS.UL]. Other possible conflict questions that could come up include the fact that his daughter and both of his sons-in-law currently work at the Justice Department. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, Mark Hosenball and Andy Sullivan; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Bill Rigby) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The meeting will deliberate on the challenges confronting the ATT sectors and the key takeaways should help in potential policy reforms for these industries. Mumbai: For the first time, India will chair the aviation, travel and tourism governor's summit at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this year, which begins from 22 January through 25. The meeting, scheduled for 24 January, will deliberate on the challenges confronting the aviation, travel and tourism (ATT) sectors and the key takeaways should help in potential policy reforms for these industries, and will be chaired by SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh, Spicejet said in statement on Thursday. Singh is the first Indian to chair the prestigious meeting and he will hold the position through 2019, the statement added. The ATT board hosts 15-18 members which include the heads of leading airlines, hotel chains and online travel companies, among others. Carsten Spohr, chairman of Lufthansa; Arne Sorenson, president of Marriott International; Fred Lam Tin-Fuk, chief executive at Airport Authority of Hong Kong; Grandhi Kiran Kumar, GMR Group chairman; Luis Maroto, president of Amadeus IT Group; Mark Okerstrom, president at Expedia and Thomas Klhr, chief executive of Swiss Air, among others are some of the global leaders attending the meeting. The session will focus on developing multilateral synergies towards sustainability of these sectors, reducing the carbon footprint in line with the Paris Accord among other issues and challenges. As per the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the aviation sector contributes 2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This, however, is expected to increase amid expansion of the industry that has set ambitious targets to mitigate carbon emissions from air transport. Singh said he is honoured to chair the board and is looking forward to working closely with the rest of the members to address critical issues facing them and their customers. To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. In a circular issued to all mutual funds and asset management companies, SEBI said an index used for equity ETFs or index funds should have at least 10 stocks as its constituents. New Delhi: To help mitigate portfolio concentration risks in equity exchange traded funds (ETFs) and index funds, capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Thursday asked fund houses to have a wider basket of stocks while keeping in check the weightage of top stocks of the index. In a circular issued to all mutual funds and asset management companies, SEBI said an index used for equity ETFs or index funds should have at least 10 stocks as its constituents. For a sectoral or thematic index, no single stock can have more than 35 percent weight in the index, while this cap would be 25 percent for other indices. Besides, the cumulative weightage of top three constituents of the index cannot be more than 65 percent, SEBI said. The regulator further said the individual constituent of the index should have a trading frequency of at least 80 percent and an average impact cost of 1 percent or less over previous six months. SEBI said any ETF or Index Fund seeking to replicate a particular index has to ensure that such index complies with these norms, which the regulator said aims to address the risk related to portfolio concentration in ETFs and Index Funds. The funds would need to evaluate and ensure compliance to these norms at the end of every calendar quarter and make public on their website the updated constituents of the indices at all points of time. The issuers of all existing equity ETFs and Index Funds would need to comply with the new norms within three months. The new funds would need to submit their compliance status to SEBI before being launched. By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude prices edged higher on Thursday, supported by comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman that lifted equity markets, but a more than week-long oil rally slowed as optimism surrounding U.S.-China trade talks faded. By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude prices edged higher on Thursday, supported by comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman that lifted equity markets, but a more than week-long oil rally slowed as optimism surrounding U.S.-China trade talks faded. Brent crude futures rose 24 cents, or 0.4 percent, to settle at $61.68 a barrel. The global benchmark posted its first consecutive nine-day winning streak since September 2007. West Texas Intermediate crude ended 23 cents, or 0.4 percent, higher at $52.59 a barrel, also its ninth straight day of gains, that beats a 2010 record. Earlier in the session, both benchmarks hit their highest in nearly a month. WTI hit a session high of $52.78 per barrel and Brent rose to $61.91 a barrel. Global financial markets have climbed recently on hopes that Washington and Beijing would avert an all-out trade war. The two superpowers concluded three days of talks on Wednesday. But the rise in global markets began to dwindle after the world's two largest economies issued vaguely positive statements that lacked concrete details. Comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday helped boost riskier asset classes, including oil, late in the session. Powell said the U.S. central bank had the ability to be patient on policy, but that the Fed would shed significantly more assets than it already has. "It was a mixed message from him, but I think it was sufficiently accommodative," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital Management. "It's a continuation of that shift towards easier policies and more assistance to the underlying economy which helped boost crude oil prices." U.S. equity markets broadly rose after the comments. Recently crude futures have tracked closely with Wall Street. However, investors remained worried about a potential slowdown in the global economy, with disappointing data from China overnight adding to concerns. China's producer prices in December rose at their slowest pace in more than two years, a worrying sign of deflationary risks. Market participants also were paying close attention to global crude supply, particularly a shale boom in the United States. U.S. crude oil production has held around a record high of 11.7 million barrels per day since early November, according to government data. To counter rising U.S. output, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, including Russia, reached a deal to rein in supply that officially began in January. Barclays forecast that Brent will remain range bound at $55 to $65 per barrel as inventories build in the coming months, while it expects "the market will return to a balanced state" by the second half of 2019. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Thursday U.S. sanctions against his country were "fully illegal" and Tehran would not comply with them. The OPEC deal had hung in the balance on concerns that Iran, whose crude exports have been depleted by U.S. sanctions, would receive no exemption and block the agreement. U.S. oil production, drilling & storage levels: https://tmsnrt.rs/2GVNTmb (Additional reporting by Stephanie Kelly and Scott DiSavino in New York, Noah Browning in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the GST Council's decisions relating to small businesses will greatly help MSMEs, traders and the service sector and the government is committed to a simple and people-friendly GST New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the GST Council's decisions relating to small businesses will greatly help MSMEs, traders and the service sector and the government is committed to a simple and people-friendly GST. "Commendable decisions taken by the GST council, which will greatly help MSMEs, traders and the services sector. We remain committed to a simple and people-friendly GST," Modi tweeted. The GST Council, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprising his state counterparts, at its meeting on Thursday doubled the exemption threshold for businesses under GST to an annual turnover of Rs 40 lakh. The council also decided that the GST Composition Scheme, under which small traders and businesses pay 1 percent tax based on turnover, can be availed by businesses with a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore, against the earlier Rs 1 crore, with effect from 1 April. Also, service providers and suppliers of both goods and services up to a turnover of Rs 50 lakh would be eligible for the composition scheme under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and pay a tax of 6 percent. Under the composition scheme, traders and manufacturers can pay taxes at a concessional rate of 1 percent, while restaurants pay 5 percent GST. There are over 1.17 crore businesses which have registered under the GST, which was rolled out from 1 July, 2017. Of these over 18 lakh have opted for the composition scheme. While a regular GST taxpayer has to pay taxes on a monthly basis, a composition supplier is required to pay taxes quarterly. To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. The steel ministry in August announced stringent import rules for some high-grade steel products that are sourced by carmakers from countries such as Japan and South Korea but not yet manufactured in India. New Delhi: Indias steel ministry is putting pressure on automakers to use locally made steel by refusing to back down on tougher import rules despite warnings that the new regulations could disrupt the production of cars, government and industry sources said. The steel ministry in August announced stringent import rules for some high-grade steel products that are sourced by carmakers from countries such as Japan and South Korea but not yet manufactured in India. Indias auto industry, which includes companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor Co, Honda Motor Co and Ford Motor Co, is staring at production stoppages if new tougher rules on steel imports are not relaxed, a federal minister warned in a letter. The shipments of the auto component industry have started getting impacted which possess significant risk of production stoppage of the whole automobile industry in the immediate future, Anant Geete, heavy industries minister, said in the 4 January letter to steel minister, Chaudhary Birender Singh. There is also a risk that if the import of steel (raw material) is restricted, then the industry may go for import of the components itself which may affect the government initiative of Make in India, Geete said. The new rules are expected to come into effect on 17 February. The letter and the internal discussions at the steel ministry have not been previously reported. Reuters has reviewed a copy of the letter. Despite the warning from the auto industry, the steel ministry is unlikely to back down, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. This week the ministry called the countrys biggest steel producers such as JSW Steel and Tata Steel, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) for a meeting with carmakers including Maruti, Hyundai, Honda and Ford. In the meeting, which was held two days after Geetes letter to Chaudhury, the officials continued to push carmakers to work with steel companies to manufacture high-grade automotive steel locally and even form joint ventures, if needed, five sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. We have told the auto companies that we need to step up local manufacturing and they need to sit with the local steel companies here to let them know the specifications because our companies are well-equipped, a senior government official with direct knowledge of the discussions said. A spokesman for the ministry said talks were ongoing with foreign companies to make value-added steel in India. Imports rise The steel ministrys push is the latest from Modis administration which is desperate to check imports and show the success of its manufacturing programme, aimed at building a domestic industrial base and boosting jobs and growth. India remained a net importer of steel during April-November after exports dropped over 30 percent. The auto industry will, however, face disruption if the import of some of these crucial steel products comes to a standstill, Vinnie Mehta, director general at the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India, told Reuters. The steel ministry has already granted a two-month exemption to carmakers on new quality control rules for imports which were originally due to come into effect on Dec. 18. Auto companies want an extension until the end of 2019. Carmakers continue to rely on imports because they say local steel companies are unable to match the quality, consistency and price, three company sources said. An Asian carmaker which failed to source stainless steel exhaust pipes locally has instead decided to import the entire fuel exhaust system, said Sugato Sen, deputy director general at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, a trade body. There are fears that other carmakers will do the same, which will hurt local manufacturing and jobs, he said. Some suppliers are reluctant to go through the trouble, while others who are doing it have found there to be delays in getting clearances, Sen said. JSW Steel, Tata Steel, SAIL, Maruti, Hyundai, Honda and Ford did not reply to a Reuters email seeking comment. To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. By Laurence Frost and Ritsuko Ando PARIS/YOKOHAMA (Reuters) - One of Renault boss Carlos Ghosn's senior executives received an additional six-figure salary unknown to the carmaker's board via the Dutch joint venture overseeing its alliance with Nissan, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters. Ghosn and Nissan senior director Greg Kelly, who are at the centre of a financial misconduct scandal engulfing the carmaking alliance, approved payments totalling 500,000 euros ($572,000) to Renault General Secretary Mouna Sepehri, who is responsible for corporate governance in her role as board secretary By Laurence Frost and Ritsuko Ando PARIS/YOKOHAMA (Reuters) - One of Renault boss Carlos Ghosn's senior executives received an additional six-figure salary unknown to the carmaker's board via the Dutch joint venture overseeing its alliance with Nissan, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters. Ghosn and Nissan senior director Greg Kelly, who are at the centre of a financial misconduct scandal engulfing the carmaking alliance, approved payments totalling 500,000 euros ($572,000) to Renault General Secretary Mouna Sepehri, who is responsible for corporate governance in her role as board secretary. There is nothing to suggest that the payments by Renault-Nissan BV (RNBV) were illegal or violated Renault-Nissan rules, but they highlight governance issues and potential conflicts of interest. Sepehri did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. "Individual compensation, while entirely justified, is not publicly disclosed, in accordance with the law," a Renault spokesman said in a statement. "Renault would be outraged by any publication of an identified executive's pay, which constitutes personal information." Sepehri currently sits on the RNBV board with nine other Renault and Nissan executives, and is the only director who drew a compensation package directly from the subsidiary, according to the documents and a senior alliance executive. She received 200,000 euros in 2013 and 100,000 euros annually from 2014-16 in addition to her Renault pay, according to statements addressed to her each year and the minutes of a 2013 meeting at which Ghosn and Kelly ordered the payments "for the performance of her duties as a management board member". "It's important as a general rule that board secretaries avoid allowing themselves to be influenced by a CEO who might promise them remuneration through a subsidiary," said Loic Dessaint, head of Proxinvest, a prominent shareholder advisory firm based in Paris. "If Ms Sepehri has been paid by RNBV, it is a conflict of interest situation," Dessaint said. "At a minimum, Renault directors should have known about it." In a subsequent statement, Renault said an internal review had concluded that the remuneration of its executive committee members, including Sepehri, was "compliant and exempt from any fraud" in the 2017 and 2018 financial years. The company said the review process would continue with respect to previous years. Ghosn and Kelly have been charged in Japan with failing to disclose $43 million in additional compensation for 2010-15 that Ghosn had arranged to be paid later. They deny that the deferred compensation agreements were illegal or required disclosure. UNDISCLOSED PAY The finances of RNBV and other alliance subsidiaries are under scrutiny in the Nissan investigation that led to Ghosn's November arrest and ouster as the Japanese carmaker's chairman. The French government, Renault's biggest shareholder, has also demanded that the carmaker provide information about RNBV payments to its executives. Sepehri is among a small group of alliance executives who have previously attempted to find legal ways to pay Ghosn undisclosed income through RNBV or other shared finances, Reuters reported on Dec. 19. In 2010, she and Kelly worked on proposals to create an additional source of CEO compensation through RNBV, but later dropped the plan after concluding it would not avoid French legal disclosure requirements. She and a handful of top managers were also involved in a 2017 project to pay out millions of euros in undisclosed bonuses via a new Dutch service company. The plan, of which Ghosn was the main beneficiary, was scrapped after Reuters revealed https://reut.rs/2R5zQ1j its existence in June of the same year. Both efforts, which Renault has confirmed, were designed explicitly to keep the company's board and shareholders in the dark about significant compensation to the CEO, while working within the law and Renault-Nissan rules. The scandal surrounding Ghosn and Kelly has strained Nissan's ties with 43.4 percent-owner Renault - which has maintained Ghosn as chairman and CEO, with his deputy Thierry Bollore as an interim stand-in. Members of the Renault board, which includes French state representatives, say they have yet to be given full access to Nissan investigation findings shared with company lawyers reporting to Sepehri. Her role gives her control over communications, legal and public affairs, as well as the flow of information to the board. The access restrictions are required for judicial confidentiality, Renault said. The carmaker dismissed questions about a potential conflict of interest for Sepehri. "Ms Sepehri occupies a typical general secretary function," Renault said, adding that the company was "relying on the opinion of its lawyers and advisors" in dealing with the Nissan investigation findings. Three years after joining the French carmaker as deputy legal director, Sepehri helped negotiate the 1999 acquisition of near-bankrupt Nissan, where Ghosn - then Renault's second-in-command - led the lightning turnaround that made his name. As their alliance deepened, Renault-Nissan BV was founded in 2002 as a jointly funded management organisation. GOVERNMENT PRESSURE France's left-wing CGT union, which has a seat on Renault's board, said recently it had contacted Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to denounce RNBV's "opaque workings", citing payments to an executive it did not identify. In response, the government demanded details of any undisclosed executive payments by the Dutch holding, in a Jan. 4 letter to Renault. "I want to know who these payments were made to, whether they were disclosed, whether they correspond to work carried out and whether the Renault board and shareholders were informed about them," Le Maire said on CNews television. Ghosn and Kelly agreed on March 26, 2013 that RNBV would pay Sepehri 125,000 euros immediately, and monthly payments thereafter amounting to 100,000 euros per year, according to the minutes of their decision. The two men were meeting as the RNBV board's "governance, appointments and remuneration committee". Its third member, Sepehri, had recused herself, the same document notes. Four annual statements issued by RNBV confirm the subsequent payments, with a Dutch withholding tax deducted. While all RNBV directors were salaried Renault or Nissan managers, Sepehri was alone in receiving additional compensation for her board role. In its response to Reuters, Renault said RNBV's board of directors - who also include Ghosn, Bollore and Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa - was informed about members' compensation. "The RNBV management report, which is approved by the board and auditors, includes information about its executives' pay," the company said. However, Sepehri's fellow directors of unlisted RNBV were not told who received the 100,000 euros mentioned only as compensation to "board members", according to a senior alliance executive who has seen the annual reports. He spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. "There was no official board decision on this compensation," he said. Other alliance executives and RNBV directors declined to comment when approached by Reuters. For Proxinvest, which advises large financial investors on how to vote at shareholder meetings, the RNBV board process also raises concerns. "Good governance requires that a committee proposal should be approved by the full board," CEO Dessaint said. "And the fact you have only one member receiving payment is very troubling." ($1 = 0.8732 euros) (Reporting by Laurence Frost and Ritsuko Ando; Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume; Editing by Mike Collett-White) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Most brokerages are expecting Infosys' revenue in constant currency (CC) terms to come in between 1.3-2.2 percent, India's second largest IT services firm Infosys will release its financial results for the third quarter of FY19 on Friday. According to Moneycontrol, the company is expected to report marginal growth in profitability. However, revenue growth could be an average of 1.5 percent. Brokerage houses are expecting profit growth in the range of negative 3.8 percent to positive 5.2 percent, the report said. Most brokerages are expecting Infosys' revenue in constant currency (CC) terms to come in between 1.3-2.2 percent, Business Standard said. Infosys had said that its board would consider a buyback programme and payment of special dividend, among other proposals, at its meeting on Friday. "...the board of the company will consider proposal(s), including but not limited to, buyback of fully paid-up equity shares of the company, payment of special dividend, for implementation of the capital allocation policy at its meeting to be held on 11 January, 2019," Infosys said in a BSE filing on Tuesday. Infosys had reported a 10.3 percent growth in its consolidated net profit at Rs 4,110 crore for the quarter ended September 2018. The Bengaluru-based firm's revenue grew 17.3 percent to Rs 20,609 crore in Q2 as compared to Rs 17,567 crore in the same period of 2017-18. In April last year, Infosys board had said it had identified an amount of up to Rs 13,000 crore to be paid to shareholders. This was done through a special dividend of Rs 10 per share that was to result in a payout of about Rs 2,600 crore in June 2018. With inputs from PTI To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. TCS will automate and maintain digital platform on the cloud for an estimated 3,00,000 chartered accountants and 8,00,000 students in India alone. If India's IT industry is like a Formula One car race, stock market analysts can sometimes be mistaken as people who confuse pit stops with a halt in the run. As Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys, India's no. 1 and 2 in software service exports respectively, reported results for their October-December third quarter, it has become clear that while the number-crunchers may precision-price the stocks by quibbling on earnings margins measured in decimal points, for broader industry watchers, the news could be in the fact that the industry has found a new momentum despite some lingering obstacles -- which, in fact, may be hiding opportunities. While TCS reported revenues and earnings margins below some analyst forecasts its net profit for Q3 was an all-time record at Rs 8,105 crore, up 24.1 percent, aided by non-core "other income " no doubt but showing a 12.1 % revenue growth -- the highest in 14 quarters. Considering the large base in which annual revenues have crossed Rs 123,000 crore, you could say its momentum is more than significant when you consider that both European and US economies have just been clawing out of a slowdown. In a range of industry customer segments including energy, media retail, TCS's revenue growth has been in the double digits. Interestingly, Infosys reported a 12 percent quarter-on-quarter decline in net profit in its Q3 but its revenue grew by 4 percent ( 2 percent in dollar terms), which is higher than TCS growing at 1.8 percent in constant currency terms over the period, suggesting a robust rebound under CEO Salil Parekh, up from at least two years of boardroom tumult under his predecessor Vishal Sikka. Profit margins are holding constant, which is another positive sign. Its share buyback is best read as an indicator of optimism. The deeper implication for both the giants lies in the broader "digital transformation" story in which everything from content creation, design and e-commerce facilitation to use of advanced software involves creative combinations of service work. Digital revenue grew year-on-year at 52.7 percent for TCS, which overall won deals worth nearly $6 billion in the last quarter alone. Infosys saw a 33.1 percent year-on-year growth in digital business. Digital transformation is a new growth paradigm for the IT giants. It is best imagined as a combination of IT-style hard engineering and BPO-style IT-enabled processes with higher skill sets. For instance, TCS will automate and maintain digital platform on the cloud for an estimated 3,00,000 chartered accountants and 8,00,000 students in India alone. Infosys earlier this month announced a collaboration with Finland's Nokia to use artificial intelligence and machine learning skills for digital transformation. The technologies have changed, and so have the skill sets, but what remains constant is a capacity to constantly evolve new-age services. Profit margins may waver but if you look back at the virtual collapse of advanced economies a decade ago, you get a better picture of the path ahead. Wipro, Infosys and TCS have all been making acquisitions to enable digital services, and this should build up capabilities that assure strong future order pipelines going well beyond the coding and package implementation projects that they were famous for in the first two or three decades of their prime. The irony could be in some analysts expecting a talent shortage to fulfil emerging demand. We have to look at how these IT giants re-skill existing staff and alter pricing models for digital projects, in which profits and revenue growth would not follow the linear cost-based path of the previous phase of their growth. With India a confirmed base for all for everything from research to minor tweaks in IT, staff attrition will remain a concern. The point to note is that digital transformation is a multi-faceted activity with global potential, because the technological revolution is global in character, going beyond the early days of automation to drive productivity. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and new challenges such as cyber-security will create both downs and ups for the IT giants, but it is difficult to imagine anything but growth. As a senior executive of the industry association, Nasscom said recently, even a downturn in the US economy may not be bad news for Indian IT because potentially, India's software service companies can play the transformational opportunity on one side and a traditional cost-cutting one through outsourcing services to India on the other. TCS now has a market value larger than that of global giant Accenture, which is symbolic. But then a lot would depend on hiring, retraining and retaining staff. That is a space that would be consistently watched in the coming days. US President Donald Trump's visa obstacles are as much an opportunity as a challenge because business happens both on-site and offshore. (The writer is a senior journalist and commentator. He tweets as @madversity) To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. Infosys has dropped plans to sell Panaya and two other subsidiaries Skava and Kallidus after it failed to find any potential buyers New Delhi: Infosys has dropped plans to sell Panaya and two other subsidiaries Skava and Kallidus after it failed to find any potential buyers. In April, Infosys had announced its plan to sell Panaya -- the Israeli firm whose acquisition became a contentious issue between the founders and the erstwhile management led by Vishal Sikka -- along with Kallidus and Skava. It expected the sale to be completed by March 2019. "During the quarter ended 31 December, 2018, based on an evaluation of proposals received and progress of negotiations with potential buyers, the company concluded that it is no longer highly probable that sale would be consummated by 31 March, 2019," Infosys said in a regulatory filing. Accordingly, Panaya and Skava have been de-classified from "held for sale", it added. Infosys now plans to re-purpose Skava's micro services-based business and re-focus Panaya's suite of products. Infosys said upon de-classification, it has recognised additional depreciation and amortisation expenses of $12 million and a reduction of $65 million in the carrying value for Skava. A whistleblower report in 2017 had alleged wrongdoings by Infosys and some officials in the $200 million acquisition of Israeli automation technology firm Panaya by the Bengaluru-based IT services firm. An internal audit committee set up by Infosys found no evidence supporting the whistleblower's allegations. However, Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy had demanded that the full report by Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher on these whistleblower allegations be made public. Later in October 2017, the Infosys board -- under its new chairman Nandan Nilekani -- gave a clean chit to the controversial Panaya acquisition, saying there was no merit in the allegations of wrongdoing. It had also said that after a "careful re-consideration" it has concluded that putting out more details of the probe would "inhibit the company's ability to conduct effective investigations into any matter in the future". Infosys, in its Friday filing, also said the board has approved divesting the entire minority investment made by Infosys in Vertex Ventures US Fund I, LP for a total consideration of about $5 million, subject to fulfilment of necessary closing conditions. Infosys had invested in Vertex Ventures US Fund I, LP during the financial year 2015. To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. | BY Kim Shaw | Legendary typographer and art director, the late Mike Chandler, was inducted into the Campaign Brief Hall of Fame in 2004. In Campaign Briefs The Work 04 annual of that year fellow Hall of Famer Lionel Hunt paid tribute to a master: The first time ever I saw his face. The first time I clapped eyes on Mike Chandler was at Leos Spaghetti Bar in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda in Melbourne. This venerable institution was, as luck would have it, dead opposite The Campaign Palace so naturally we had to pay it a daily visit. I was introduced to Mike by Ron Mather and we were all to have a fine lunch. The usual please, three grilled flounder and three bottles of Nastro Azzuro. Nasties we used to call them as they did have a tendency to make you a little aggressive with account people in the afternoon. Ron was, I noticed, a little in awe of Mike, which was a bit unusual for him. I soon found out why. Within minutes it became obvious that Mike could put away more food, beer and wine more quickly, and with less obvious effect than even Ron and I. This was to be the first of many hundreds of ever so slightly excessive lunches and dinners that Ive had with Mike in the twenty odd years since. At the time Mike bore a striking resemblance to a certain famous, portly, black-bearded tenor. (Hes far more svelte, now.) Shortly after, Ron and I did an invitation/poster for a talk Mike was giving to the Melbourne Art Directors Club. I remember it well Mike dressed in a dinner suit, with a big floppy white handkerchief with the headline: The Pavarotti Of Australian Type In His Only Melbourne Appearance. The body copy (yes, body copy even in a poster) went on to say that Michael Chandler was the only man ever to get a hard-on over Bembo Bold. In the years that followed I have got to know Mike very well. I know for instance that he very much likes food, beer, wine, restaurants, cooking, travel, fishing, shire horses and boats. I cant for the life of me work out why we get on so well. Oh yes, I nearly forgot, and he absolutely loves great print ads. When I looked at his selected examples of his work I was struck by the fact that I remembered every one. That I still loved them every bit as much as I did years ago. That there wasnt a sans-serif face in sight. And that each had the unmistakable touch of the master. Now, Mike would be the first to say that in each case there was also a very talented art director involved (I detect the hand of Rob Tomnay, Phil Atkinson and Vic Waterhouse to name but three) but nevertheless when you put a great art director with Mike Chandler you always got magic. At best as I remember there werent many, if any, great print ads in Australia before 1970. And when they started to arrive it was mainly out of Melbourne, due in no small part to art directors like Gordon Trembath and the aforementioned Ron Mather and Rob Tomnay. Sydney was fairly bereft of great print work until Mike arrived in 1978 and started Face, The Type Workshop. This very quickly became the pre-eminent typography, typesetting and artwork studio in Australia and Mike, with his involvement in ads like you see here, went on to become the most awarded creative individual in the history of AWARD. And the credits go on. He was Vice Chairman of AWARD for three terms. He was a founding member and Chairman of the Australian Type Directors Club. He has won countless awards including Gold at the ATDC, The One Show, The London International Awards and seven silvers at AWARD. He then sold Face to Show Ads then freelanced for a while before joining me and Graham Watson at Lowe Hunt, so it all came round full circle. Mike retired in 2003 but is still available to make your print ads look wonderful through his new company The Crystal Goblet. I know Im going to sound like a boring old fart but I recommend to all young art directors to have a look at the ads on this page and learn about how to make copy-based ads immensely readable. Thats if they ever see any copy-based ads. As Lowe Worldwide Creative Director Adrian Holmes says, The sooner we get back to The Queen Anne style of print ads the better. And thered be no-one better to help you do that than Mike Chandler. Mike now lives in Walsh Bay, with his boat bobbing up and down outside, and his lovely wife Barbi and various children, and grandchildren bobbing up and down inside. Mike Chandler? A very fine type indeed. Lionel Hunt IT major Infosys on Friday said its net profit declined by nearly 30 percent to Rs 3,610 crore during the December 2018 quarter, even as it announced a share buyback plan of up to Rs 8,260 crore New Delhi: India's second largest IT firm Infosys on Friday reported a 30 percent drop in its December quarter net profit on higher expenses even as it approved a Rs 8,260-crore share buyback -- the second in less than 13 months' time. Its net profit slumped to Rs 3,610 crore in October-December 2018 from Rs 5,129 crore in the same period a year ago, the company said in a statement. In spite of the drop in quarterly profit, the company raised its revenue growth forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2019 to 8.5-9 percent in constant currency terms, from 6-8 percent previously. Revenue from operations rose 20.3 percent to Rs 21,400 crore. During the third quarter, expenses surged over 26 percent to Rs 17,021 crore on the back of higher depreciation and amortisation charge and reduction in carrying value of Skava. Infosys said it will buy back 10.32 crore shares, or 2.36 percent, for no more than Rs 800 per share -- 17 percent higher than the closing price of Rs 683.70 per share on the BSE. This is the second share buyback in the company's history. The first was in December 2017. A company can hold a share repurchase programme only once a year. Infosys also declared a special dividend of Rs 4 per share. In its maiden buyback, Infosys had returned around Rs 13,000 crore to the shareholders by purchasing the stock at Rs 1,150 per piece. The share buyback and the special dividend are part of Infosys' capital allocation policy outlined in April 2018 for returning the surplus of about Rs 13,000 crore to shareholders. Payment of special dividend would entail a payout of about Rs 2,107 crore and another Rs 8,260 crore would be spent on share buyback. "With increased client relevance, we saw double-digit (10.1 percent) year-on-year growth in Q3 on a constant currency basis," Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said. Parekh -- who has completed a year in his role -- said the company also had another strong quarter in its digital business with 33.1 percent growth and large deals at $1.57 billion, which gives it confidence entering 2019. Sanjeev Hota, AVP Research at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas, Infosys' performance surprised positively with strong top-line growth for the quarter, though margin performance missed the mark. "Increase in revenue guidance and better exit rate for FY19 provides comfort on double-digit growth in FY20. Buyback quantum seems to be below than expectation, however, will support the stock performance in medium term," he added. Larger rival, Tata Consultancy Services had posted 24.1 percent growth in its December quarter net income at Rs 8,105 crore (its highest ever), and guided towards a healthy 2019 saying it has a "strong" order pipeline. Revenue rose 20.8 percent to Rs 37,338 crore in the said quarter. Other IT services players like Wipro, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra will announce their third-quarter financials in the coming weeks. Infosys added 7,762 employees in the December quarter, taking its total headcount to over 2.25 lakh. Its annualised consolidated attrition was at 19.9 percent. The company said it was "no longer highly probable" that the sale of its units Kallidus, Skaya and Panaya would be completed by March 2019. Among other decisions, the board of Infosys re-appointed Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as the lead independent director for a second term from 1 April, 2019, to 22 March, 2023. Parekh, in a post-earnings press conference, said the confidence to raise revenue forecast comes from the fact that individual segments are growing well. "Also, our core services is growing. And that's where we make a difference in the market," he said. "We have an extremely competitive offer and we are putting a lot of artificial intelligence into it. That's attractive for our clients." The share of digital services like cloud computing, automation and analytics have been increasing in the company's revenue share and growth returned to legacy businesses like financial services. Digital services now contribute 31.5 percent to its revenue. Infosys added 101 clients during the quarter -- one in the $50-million-plus band, nine in the $20-million-plus category and 18 at more than $1 million. Interim Chief Financial Officer Jayesh Sanghrajka said reclassifying Skava and Panaya from assets 'held for sale' impacted margin by 40 basis points while new acquisition impacted margin by 20 basis points. To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has agreed to a settlement worth about $800 million to resolve claims from the U.S. Justice Department and state of California that it used illegal software that produced false results on diesel-emissions tests, but still faces an ongoing criminal probe. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has agreed to a settlement worth about $800 million to resolve claims from the U.S. Justice Department and state of California that it used illegal software that produced false results on diesel-emissions tests, but still faces an ongoing criminal probe. The hefty penalty is the latest fallout from the U.S. government's stepped-up enforcement of vehicle emissions rules after Volkswagen AG admitted in September 2015 to intentionally evading emissions rules. The Fiat Chrysler settlement includes $311 million in total civil penalties to U.S. and California regulators, up to $280 million to resolve claims from diesel owners, and extended warranties worth $105 million. It covers 104,000 Fiat Chrysler 2014-16 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee diesels, the Justice Department said. Regulators said Fiat Chrysler used "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests in real-world driving. Fiat Chrysler said in a statement that "the settlements do not change the Companys position that it did not engage in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat emissions tests." The company did not admit liability. "You wouldn't pay $311 million total dollars to the federal government in civil penalties if there were not a serious problem," U.S. assistant attorney general Jeff Clark told a news conference. The settlement also includes $72.5 million for state civil penalties, and $33.5 million in payments to California to offset excess emissions and consumer claims. German auto supplier Robert Bosch GmbH [ROBG.UL], which provided the emissions control software for the vehicles, also agreed to pay $27.5 million to resolve claims from diesel owners. Owners will receive an average of $2,800 to obtain software updates as part of the emissions recall, Fiat Chrysler said. Elizabeth Cabraser, a lawyer for the owners, said the "substantial cash compensation" will ensure that consumers get the recall fix. Bosch, which also provided diesel emissions software to Volkswagen, also agreed to pay $103.5 million to settle claims with 47 U.S. states that said the supplier "enabled" the cheating and should have known its customers would use the software improperly, the New York Attorney General's Office said. Bosch said in a statement it did not accept liability or admit to the factual allegations, but that the settlement reflects "Boschs desire to move forward and to spare the company the very substantial costs and the burden on the companys resources that would be required to litigate these issues." The Justice Department said the settlement does not resolve an ongoing criminal investigation into Fiat Chrysler's conduct, but officials declined to discuss the status. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is also investigating. 'DON'T CHEAT' U.S. regulators are also investigating Daimler AG for alleged excess emissions in Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles, but the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency declined to comment on the status of the probe - and would not say if any other automakers are under scrutiny. Daimler declined to comment Thursday but has acknowledged it faces investigations in Germany and the United States. In October, Daimler said operating profit would fall by more than 10 percent, blaming "government proceedings and measures in various regions" in referencing diesel emissions issues. U.S. regulators said the industry was getting a tough message. "Fiat Chrysler deceived consumers and the federal government by installing defeat devices on these vehicles that undermined important clean air protections," said Andrew Wheeler, acting administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Todays settlement sends a clear and strong signal to manufacturers and consumers alike - the Trump administration will vigorously enforce the nations laws designed to protect the environment and public health." Wheeler said the settlement message is simple to automakers: "Don't cheat." The case dragged on after the Justice Department filed suit in May 2017 and the sides remained far part. At one point, the Justice Department sought $1.4 billion in civil penalties from Fiat Chrysler - or about a $1 billion more than the company ultimately paid, two people briefed on the matter said. The Justice Department said Fiat Chrysler must work with one or more vendors of aftermarket catalytic converters to improve the efficiency of 200,000 converters that will be sold in the 47 U.S. states that do not already require the use of the California-mandated high-efficiency gasoline vehicle catalysts. That is estimated at $50 million to $70 million, officials said. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement, "Fiat Chrysler tried to evade these standards by installing software to cheat emissions testing. The company not only violated the law and our trust, but did so at the expense of our environment." U.S. Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio said at a news conference that automakers were on notice: "If you cheat our emissions tests you are going to get caught." Fiat Chrysler has agreed to an enhanced whistleblower program and the company must implement corporate governance, organization and technical process reforms to minimize the likelihood of future Clean Air Act violations and must hire a compliance auditor to oversee and assess the reforms. With the Fiat Chrysler settlement, the U.S. Justice Department's total civil fines for both Fiat Chrysler and Volkswagen are now valued at around $2,500 per vehicle. In total, Volkswagen agreed to pay more than $25 billion in the United States for claims from owners, environmental regulators, states and dealers, including spending as much as $15 billion to buy back about 500,000 polluting U.S. vehicles. The company pleaded guilty to three felony counts to resolve the criminal probe. Fiat Chrysler shares were up 1.6 percent at $16.03 late on Thursday in New York. The settlement will be open for public comment for 30 days before a federal judge decides whether to approve the agreements. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Matthew Lewis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. While Jet Airways founder and chairman Goyal has been discussing a deal with Etihad Airways, talks with the foreign partner stalled over the latters demand that he step aside from his management role, sources said. Naresh Goyal-led Jet Airways is likely to approach Tata Group again for stake sale consultations as the debt-laden airline's financial condition has worsened, said media reports. While its founder and chairman Goyal has been discussing a deal with Etihad Airways, talks with the foreign partner stalled over the latters demand that he step aside from his management role, sources said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private, a report in The Economic Times said. However, both Jet Airways and Tata Sons did not comment In November 2018, Tata Sons had put up a condition at its board meeting to acquire Jet Airways stakes that the deal would be possible only if Goyal relinquished his board position, said a report in Business Standard. The diversified Tata Group owns majority stakes in two airline joint ventures Vistara and AirAsia India. Tatas has 51 percent stake each in full service airline Vistara a joint venture with Singapore Airlines and budget carrier AirAsia India -- where 49 per cent is with Malaysia's AirAsia Berhad. Media reports suggest that the parent company of Vistara, Tata-Singapore Airlines, was looking at all-stock merger with Jet Airways as part of the Tata group's plans to board Goyal's full service carrier. In an exchange filing, Jet Airways described the media reports as speculative. In October 2018, reports appeared that Tata Sons was mulling to purchase stake in Jet Airways and that the plans were at a very early stage. When asked about reports that Tata Sons is in discussions with Jet Airways for purchasing stake, an airline spokesperson said the information is "totally speculative". On 2 January, crisis-hit Jet Airways had defaulted on loan repayments to banks, according to a filing. The full service carrier has been grappling with financial woes for quite some time now and has been making delayed salary payments to staff. "Payment of interest and principal installment due to the consortium of Indian Banks (led by State Bank of India) on 31 December, 2018 has been delayed due to temporary cashflow mismatch," the company said in a regulatory filing. Jet Airways had to cancel over a dozen flights in December 2018 after some pilots reported "sick" over their unpaid salaries. The loss-making airline has been defaulting on the payment of salaries to its senior management, pilots and engineers since August due to a severe cash crunch. With PTI inputs To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. Tokyo: Nissan's ex-chairman Carlos Ghosn was charged Friday with breach of trust in the latest blow for the star executive, according to the Tokyo District Court. Ghosn was detained on 19 November. Earlier, he was charged with falsifying financial reports in under-reporting his income by about 5 billion yen ($44 million) over five years through 2015. Ghosn, Greg Kelly, another Nissan executive, and Nissan as a legal entity were charged on Friday with additional under-reporting of income, from 2015 through fiscal 2017. Ghosn's lawyer said he would request Ghosn be granted release on bail. His detention period for the breach of trust allegations was due to expire on Friday. Kelly and Nissan were not charged with breach of trust. Those allegations center on Ghosn's handling of investment losses and payments made to a Saudi businessman. Ghosn, 64, says he's innocent. Suspects in Japan are routinely held for months until trials start. Tokyo prosecutors say Ghosn, a Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese ancestry, is a flight risk. Earlier this week Ghosn told a Tokyo court he was innocent, in his first public appearance since his arrest, and appealed for his detention to end. But the court rejected the request. "I have a genuine love and appreciation for Nissan," Ghosn told the court. "In all of my efforts on behalf of the company, I have acted honorably, legally and with the knowledge and approval of the appropriate executives inside the company." He said the compensation was never decided on, the investment deal never resulted in any losses to Nissan, and the payments to the Saudi businessman was for legitimate services related to dealers and investments in the Gulf. Ghosn, who appeared much thinner than before his arrest, came down with a fever the day after his court appearance, but has since recovered, his lawyer Motonari Ohtsuru said. His wife Carole Ghosn issued a statement overnight out of Paris, expressing concern over his sickness. "I am pleading with the Japanese authorities to provide us with any information at all about my husband's health. We are fearful and very worried his recovery will be complicated while he continues to endure such harsh conditions and unfair treatment," she said. Apart from prosecutors, only embassy officials and Ghosn's lawyers are allowed to visit him. Such visits were canceled on Thursday but resumed on Friday. Before his sudden downfall, Ghosn was a respected figure in the global auto industry, having rescued the Japanese automaker from near-bankruptcy, building its sales operations and profits and pioneering ecological vehicles. Nissan says an internal investigation began middle of last year after whistleblowers came forward. Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa has denounced Ghosn, accusing him of using company money and assets for personal gain. Ethics officials at Nissan's alliance partner Renault SA of France concluded this week that financial compensation to members of the French automaker's executive committee in 2017 and 2018 was fraud-free. The review was initiated after Ghosn was arrested. Ghosn remains CEO of Renault. To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal for a $75-billion bilateral swap arrangement between India and Japan, a move aimed at enhancing the RBI's ability to manage exchange rate volatility New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal for a $75-billion bilateral swap arrangement between India and Japan, a move aimed at enhancing the RBI's ability to manage exchange rate volatility. In a release, the government said the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for entering into an agreement for the bilateral swap arrangement (BSA) between India and Japan. The arrangement authorises the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to sign the agreement for bilateral swap arrangement between the RBI and the Bank of Japan for a maximum amount of $75 billion. "The swap arrangement is an agreement between India and Japan to essentially exchange and re-exchange a maximum amount of $75 billion for domestic currency, for the purpose of maintaining an appropriate level of balance of payments for meeting short-term deficiency in foreign exchange," the release said. On benefits of the arrangement, it said the BSA is a good example of mutual cooperation between India and Japan for the strategic objective of assisting each other in times of difficulty and for restoring international confidence. This facility will enable the agreed amount of capital being available to India on tap for use. Also, with this arrangement in place, prospects of Indian companies would improve in tapping foreign capital as there would be greater confidence in the stability of a country's exchange rate. "Availability of such swap line to tide over difficulties arising out of balance of payment (BOP) would deter speculative attacks on the domestic currency and greatly enhance the RBI's ability to manage exchange rate volatility," the release said. The arrangement, it added, is "another milestone" in mutual economic cooperation and special strategic and global partnership between India and Japan. The arrangement was announced during Modi's visit to Japan in October last year. To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The Brazilian government on Thursday said it would allow a proposed tie-up between planemakers Embraer SA and Boeing Co to go forward, capping weeks of uncertainty in which President Jair Bolsonaro expressed his hesitation. The deal still must be approved by shareholders and regulators, but winning the backing of Brazil's government was its biggest hurdle SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The Brazilian government on Thursday said it would allow a proposed tie-up between planemakers Embraer SA and Boeing Co to go forward, capping weeks of uncertainty in which President Jair Bolsonaro expressed his hesitation. The deal still must be approved by shareholders and regulators, but winning the backing of Brazil's government was its biggest hurdle. Under the proposed deal, Embraer will sell 80 percent of its commercial plane division, its most profitable, for $4.2 billion. The deal is seen as part of a reshaping of the global aviation market for mid-sized planes. It follows a similar deal by Boeing's rival Airbus which bought Bombardier Inc's commercial plane division that competed with Embraer. Embraer's private shareholders now must vote to approve or reject the deal within 30 days. Shortly after assuming the presidency on Jan. 1, Bolsonaro, a former army captain, had expressed concern that Boeing might end up owning all of Embraer if the deal was approved under the terms proposed. But on Thursday, a statement from his office said his government had analyzed the proposal and found that it "preserves (Brazil's) sovereignty and the national interests." (Reporting by Marcelo Rochabrun; Editing by Brad Brooks and Lisa Shumaker) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Marcelo Rochabrun and Maria Carolina Marcello SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Brazilian government on Thursday said it would allow a proposed tie-up between planemakers Embraer SA and Boeing Co to go forward, capping weeks of uncertainty in which President Jair Bolsonaro expressed hesitation. The approval maintains the terms of the deal as previously proposed, with Embraer selling 80 percent of its commercial plane division, its most profitable, for $4.2 billion to Boeing, which will have total control of the new venture. But one thing was new: the government said in a press release that the two planemakers would 'maintain the current jobs in Brazil,' a move that might appease union workers and politicians who had raised concerns that, if the deal went through, Boeing would then try to slash jobs. By Marcelo Rochabrun and Maria Carolina Marcello SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Brazilian government on Thursday said it would allow a proposed tie-up between planemakers Embraer SA and Boeing Co to go forward, capping weeks of uncertainty in which President Jair Bolsonaro expressed hesitation. The approval maintains the terms of the deal as previously proposed, with Embraer selling 80 percent of its commercial plane division, its most profitable, for $4.2 billion to Boeing, which will have total control of the new venture. But one thing was new: the government said in a press release that the two planemakers would "maintain the current jobs in Brazil," a move that might appease union workers and politicians who had raised concerns that, if the deal went through, Boeing would then try to slash jobs. The companies had previously been noncommittal on the issue. The tie-up between Embraer and Boeing is seen as part of a reshaping of the global aviation market for mid-sized planes. It follows a similar deal by Boeing's rival Airbus which bought Bombardier Inc's commercial plane division that competed with Embraer. The deal still must now be voted on by Embraer's private shareholders within the next 30 days, but winning the backing of Brazil's government was its biggest hurdle. If approved by shareholders, the companies will then have to seek regulatory approval. The deal also faces legal challenges in Brazil. Workers and left-wing politicians obtained court orders blocking the deal in December, but the injunctions were quickly reversed. The tie-up could face future injunctions as the cases remain pending. Minority shareholders have also filed legal complaints that have yet to be resolved. Embraer and Boeing said in a statement they expect the deal to obtain final approvals before the end of 2019. Shortly after assuming the presidency on Jan. 1, Bolsonaro, a former army captain, had expressed concern that Boeing might end up owning all of Embraer if the deal was approved under the terms proposed. But on Thursday, a statement from his office said his government had analyzed the proposal and found that it "preserves (Brazil's) sovereignty and the national interests." (Reporting by Marcelo Rochabrun in Sao Paulo and Maria Carolina Marcello in Brasilia; Editing by Brad Brooks and Lisa Shumaker) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The promoter company, which owns 45 percent in the publicly traded Eveready, is said to have mandated Kotak Mahindra Bank for the potential sale. BM Khaitan Group, which controls its flagship company Eveready Industries India Ltd, is reportedly planning to sell the batteries firm as part of a group-level rejig to pare debt, a media report said. According to The Times of India, the promoter company, which owns 45 percent in the publicly traded Eveready, is said to have mandated Kotak Mahindra Bank for the potential sale. Ideally, they would like to sell around 30 percent stake and retain 10-15 percent, a source familiar with development was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The company is witnessing slowdown in its dry-cell battery division due to cheap imports and changing technology, The Times of India said. On Friday, shares of Eveready Industries India surged over 15 percent. In December 2018, Eveready Industries sold its land in Chennai to an Olympia Group firm for a consideration of Rs 100 crore. For over the last five decades, its battery manufacturing facility was located on the said land, Eveready said. "However, the factory became economically unviable, which led to it becoming idle for some time. This had no impact on the operations of the company," the company had added. Eveready MD Amritanshu Khaitan said the sale transaction would help reduce debts of the company and further improve the balance sheet. "The closure of the factory, in any case, is positive to the profitability of the business on account of cost savings," he had said. In November, the dry cell battery maker reported a net profit of Rs 24.66 crore for the quarter, down 32 percent from the same period last year. Net sales of the company for the September quarter were Rs 383.49 crore, a slight drop from the Rs 398.25 crore reported in the same quarter last year. The company, in October, had said that it would focus on the lighting and appliances business to drive its growth and expected these two segments to contribute almost half in its turnover in the next 4-5 years. At present, the Kolkata-based company's total torch and battery business accounts for 70 percent of its turnover. "Torch and battery business has been growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 2-3 per cent over the last few years. We are focusing on other categories to grow our business or topline," Anil Bajaj, senior vice-president for sales and marketing, Eveready, was quoted as saying by PTI. It had clocked a turnover of Rs 1,450 crore last fiscal, of which torch and batteries accounted for Rs 950 crore while lighting business contributed Rs 300crore, the company said. The appliances segment accounted for Rs 100 crore and its packet tea segment contributed Rs 70-75 crore. Eveready is estimated to have a 55 percent market share in batteries in terms of volume and 65 percent share in value terms. In torch category, it holds over 80 percent of the total market pie. The battery market is estimated to be Rs 1,300-1400 crore, of which the company's share is Rs 750 crore. In terms of volume, Eveready sells 1.2 million batteries of the total around 2.2 to 2.3 billion batteries market per year. --With inputs from PTI Asian Development Bank committed $3.03 billion in sovereign loans to India in 2018 New Delhi: Multilateral funding agency Asian Development Bank Friday said it will scale up its India funding to $4.5 billion (about Rs 31,500 crore) in 2019. The agency also projected Indian economy to grow at 7.3 percent in the current fiscal, and will improve further to 7.6 percent next fiscal as investments pick up and GST stabilisation adds to revenues. "The funding (to India) could increase to roughly $4.5 billion in 2019," ADB India Country Directorate Kenichi Yokoyama told reporters in New Delhi. He further said $3.5 billion would be towards sovereign side, while $1 billion will be for the private sector, he said. ADB committed $3.03 billion in sovereign loans to India in 2018, the highest ever annual lending commitment, he said, adding that $557 million loan was for the private sector. The funding depends on the readiness of the projects in the country, Yokoyama added. ADB Senior Economics Officer Abhijit Sen Gupta said the growth will pick up further in 2019-20. ADB growth projection for the current fiscal is a tad higher than the 7.2 percent estimated by the Central Statistical Organization. It is, however, lower than 7.4 percent growth projected by the RBI. In the first half (April-September) of the current fiscal, the economy grew by 7.6 percent. In the recent issue of Asian Development Outlook (ADO), ADB had projected India's growth for 2019-20 at 7.6 percent. Gupta further said the disruptive effects of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation are over and decline in oil prices will boost household expenditure. He also highlighted limited fiscal space and escalated trade tensions as risks to growth. ADB forecast current account deficit (CAD) to be around 2.5 percent of GDP in the current fiscal, which will be financed by stable capital flows. To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. The latest bill that has granted 10 percent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) among the upper castes raises many critical questions on its method of eligibility . The latest bill that has granted 10 percent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) among the upper castes raises many critical questions on its method of eligibility . Above and Below Poverty Line (APL/BPL) is the established method of assessing eligibility to get government support, especially subsidised food items. Poverty is the criterion. In India, the rate of poverty assessment came into being in 1962. The Planning Commission constituted a Working Group in 1962 to find out a desirable minimum level of income for the population. The Working Group recommended that the national minimum consumption expenditure for a household of five persons (four adult consumption units) should not be less than Rs 100 per month or Rs 20 per capita per month in terms of 196061 prices. For urban areas, this figure was Rs 125 per month or Rs 25 per capita per month. The basic criterion was the calorie intake of a person. It was V M Dandekar and Nilakantha Rath who defined a method to calculate calorie intake in both rural and urban areas to measure poverty. Based on the National Sample Survey data, the duo defined calorie intake of 2250 for both rural and urban areas as the measure of poverty. So a rural household with an annual per capita expenditure of Rs 170.80 (or equivalent to Rs 14.20 per capita per month) at the 1960-61 prices was considered above the poverty line. The corresponding figures in the urban area were Rs 271.70 and Rs 22.60 at 1960-61 prices. In 1979, another task force by Y K Alagh estimated the calorie norm as 2400 kcal per capita per day in rural areas and 2100 kcal per capita per day in urban areas. In 1993, the Lakdawala Committee report came up with different criteria for the poverty estimation. The Lakdawala committee's method showed that poverty was declining in the country and it was the agenda of the government to show that the poverty rate was coming down. However, it needs a continuous efforts by the government to show the declining trend. In 2009, the Expert Group by Tendulkar adopted the officially measured urban poverty line of 200405 based on Expert Group (Lakdawala) methodology and converted this poverty line (which is URPconsumption based) into MRP-consumption. However, the findings of the committee raised many objections and the government had to appoint another panel headed by C Rangarajan to revise the number and the method of assessing poverty. The Rangarajan committee assessed that the Monthly Percapita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) of Rs 972 (554+141+277) in rural areas and Rs 1407 (656+407+344) in urban areas which constituted as the new poverty lines. For a five member familyRs 4,860 in rural and Rs 7,035 in urban. The average calorie requirement works out to 2155 kcal per capita per day in rural areas and 2090 kcal per capita per day in urban areas. The calorie intake is the criteria for assessing the number of poor, so the income also matters. Here is the importance of officially neglected Arjun Sen Gupta Committee reports findings in the context of income based reservation. According to the committee report, 92 percent of the country's workforce is employed in the informal or unorganised economy (i.e. those who work in the unorganised sector plus the informal workers in the organised sector). It is but natural that there is a high congruence between the poor and the vulnerable segments of the society (who may be called the common people). In 200405, the Extremely Poor constituted 6.4 percent, the Poor 15.4 percent, the Marginally Poor 19.0 percent. These three constituted 41 percent of the population. If the vulnerable are added to this group, the total accounts for 77 percent of the population, i.e., a majority live with between Rs 20 and Rs 34 day. The Arjun Sen Gupta Report was completely dismissed and neglected by the government and political parties. The Left parties often refer this report for political purpose. Every political party except All India Muslim League and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen opposed the Bill. Their opposition was on the importance of reservation among Muslims which was strongly recommended in Sachar Committee reports. So, those who endorse the reservation for the economically weaker class must revise the poverty line in the country and ensure that all poor are eligible for reservation and subsidies. All parties agree that Rs 8,00,000 as the benchmark while for the structurally excluded poor have to limit their income at Rs 4,860/ in Rural and Rs 7,035 for urban to get the support of social security. This is injustice. There is no foolproof method to identify the poor. It is the responsibility of the ruling party and those who support the bill to explain how the method of assessing income limit is estimated? What is the difference between Rs 8,00,000 and Rs 4,860/ in Rural and Rs 7,035 for urban areas in getting government support? One argument could be that the economic reservation for getting jobs only and not for subsidies. If we agree to this argument, Parliament should explain why they are not amending the calorie intake norms for poor and why there are high margins for other weaker middle class. (The writer is Assistant Professor, Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences) To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day. | BY Ricki Green | CB Exclusive After two years with R/GA, Bob Mackintosh, regional VP executive creative director APAC is departing the agency and is set to take time out from the industry in the name of adventure. Hell be leaving the company in late January and traveling round the globe with his family for the rest of the year. Prior to R/GA the multi-award-winning Mackintosh spent 11 years at Host Sydney before departing in November 2016. As Host ECD Mackintosh oversaw celebrated campaigns for Air New Zealand, Coca-Cola, LEGO, Pizza Hut, IKEA and Virgin Mobile. His work has been recognised by global and local competitions including Cannes Lions, One Show, D&AD and AWARD, where hes also served as a judge. Prior to Host, Mackintosh was digital creative director of Tequila / TBWA Sydney, overseeing global campaigns for New Line Cinema, Nissan, Absolut and Sony Playstation. Says Sean Lyons, global CEO, R/GA: Were sad to see Bob go and more than a little bit envious of his plans, but hes leaving the creative teams and work in very capable hands. Bob has built and led our creative leadership in the region and done so with wit and grace. Says Bob Greenberg, founder, R/GA: Fearlessness and curiosity are two of the qualities that we most cherish in our people, and stepping away from a job you love into the great unknown takes both. Its a rare opportunity that Bob has seized, and he leaves with everyones best wishes and an inkling that, as is often the case at R/GA, our paths may converge again in the future. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 11, 2019) - Pure Nickel Inc. (TSXV: NIC) (the "Company") provides the following corporate updates. Mr. R. David Russell has been appointed as CEO and President of the Company. Mr. Russell has over three decades of executive experience in the mineral exploration and development industry. From 2002 to June 2010 he was President, CEO and a director of the former Apollo Gold Corporation (now First Majestic Silver). Mr. Russell's previous positions included Vice-President and CEO of Getchell Gold Company/Placer Dome Gold, General Manager, US Operations, LAC Minerals Ltd. (purchased by Barrick Gold Corporation), Manager, Underground Mining, Independence Mining Company, Project Manager, Hecla Mining Company, Manager, Lincoln Project FMC/Meridian Gold. Mr. Russell graduated from the Montana School of Mineral Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mining Engineering. He has been a director of Pure Nickel for over twelve years and as its new CEO will bring a new strategic direction to the Company. The Company thanks David McPherson for his dedication to Pure Nickel and the Company's board and management wish him well in his future endeavours. At the Company's Annual General and Special meeting of the Shareholders ("AGM") Grant Thornton LLP was reappointed as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year, and the directors were authorized to fix their remuneration. The following incumbent directors were re-elected: Thomas Kofman, David McPherson, R. David Russell and W.S. (Steve) Vaughan. A majority of the votes were withheld from the directors and upon conclusion of the meeting David McPherson resigned as director and the board accepted his resignation effective immediately. The remaining directors of the board will work quickly with R. David Russell to identify new opportunities for the Company and a new director to replace Mr. McPherson. Overall composition of the board will also be considered. About Pure Nickel Inc. Pure Nickel is a mineral exploration company with a diverse collection of gold, nickel, copper and platinum group element exploration projects in North America. Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, expectations, plans, and objectives of Pure Nickel are forward-looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause Pure Nickel's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of future exploration activities and cash flows, and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Pure Nickel undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Neither the 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. For further information: Pure Nickel Inc. David McPherson T. (416) 644-0066 info@purenickel.com www.purenickel.com Current Division President Mike Neeb to Retire HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) today announced John Reay will become president of HCA Healthcare UK, which includes six leading private hospitals in the United Kingdom. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005444/en/ John Reay appointed president of HCA Healthcare UK (Photo: Business Wire) Reay, who currently serves as president of operations of HCA Healthcare UK and CEO of The Wellington Hospital, will replace Mike Neeb, who is retiring after a 27-year career with HCA, effective April 1, 2019. "John is a seasoned hospital operator who is deeply familiar with the private healthcare environment in the UK as well as the HCA Healthcare culture," said Jon Foster, president of HCA Healthcare's American Group. "This background as well as his leadership skills will serve him well in his new role." Reay joined HCA Healthcare UK in 2000 as CEO of London Bridge Hospital and is credited with rapidly developing its services and facilities. He later became CEO of The Lister Hospital and added his current responsibilities as president of operations of HCA UK in 2016 while retaining his hospital CEO role. In 2017, he became CEO of The Wellington Hospital. Neeb has led HCA Healthcare UK since 2007. Before that he served in several multi-hospital chief financial officer roles, including CFO of HCA Healthcare UK. Neeb joined HCA Healthcare in 1991. "Under Mike's leadership, HCA Healthcare UK has grown its operations through the addition of new facilities and services as well as innovative partnerships with other healthcare providers," said Foster. "We appreciate his numerous contributions and years of service to the company, and we wish him the best in retirement." HCA Healthcare UK is the country's largest provider of privately funded healthcare, with more than 800,000 annual patient visits. HCA Healthcare UK includes London Bridge Hospital, The Portland Hospital, The Harley Street Clinic, The Lister Hospital, The Princess Grace Hospital and The Wellington Hospital, as well as several primary care and urgent care locations. In addition, HCA Healthcare partners with The Christie, one of the largest cancer centers in Europe, and University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to treat patients with cancer and blood disorders. About HCA Healthcare Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, comprising 178 hospitals and approximately 1,800 sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44 percent. HCA Healthcare is a learning healthcare system that uses its more than 28 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives. Please click here to connect with HCA Healthcare on social media. All references to "Company" and "HCA" as used throughout this document refer to HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005444/en/ Contacts: INVESTOR CONTACT: Mark Kimbrough 615-344-2688 MEDIA CONTACT: Ed Fishbough 615-344-2810 This news release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2019 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (PX:TSX-V; OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") announces that further to press releases dated November 12, 2018 and December 18, 2018, its previously announced private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to $675,000 is expected to be oversubscribed. To facilitate the additional demand, the Company has received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange for an extension of the duration of the Private Placement to February 11, 2019 and to increase the size of the Private Placement to up to $750,000. Closing of the offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Any offering made will be pursuant to available prospectus exemptions and restricted to persons to whom the securities may be sold in accordance with the laws of such jurisdictions, and by persons permitted to sell the securities in accordance with the laws of such jurisdictions. About Pelangio Pelangio acquires and explores large land packages in world-class gold belts in Canada and Ghana, West Africa. In Canada, the company is focusing on the 25 km2 Birch Lake Property located in the Red Lake Mining District and the Dalton Property located 1.5 km from the Hollinger mine in Timmins. In Ghana, the Company is focusing on two 100%- owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo Property, the site of seven recent near-surface gold discoveries, and the 264 km2 Obuasi Property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine. Ghana is an English-speaking, common law jurisdiction that is consistently ranked amongst the most favourable mining jurisdictions in Africa. For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact: Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO Tel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com Forward Looking Statements Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Private Placement generally, the proposed use of proceeds and the Company's exploration plans. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about our ability to close additional tranches of the Private Placement in a timely manner, if at all, and the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the ability of the Company to meet the conditions of closing, our ability to conduct our exploration programs as planned, changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/532439/Pelangio-Announces-Extension-of-Private-Placement-Financing World-Famous Illusionist Captivates Sold-Out, Star-Studded Audience During Grand Opening Performance LAS VEGAS, Jan. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, world-renowned illusionist Criss Angel marked his return to his original Las Vegas home by celebrating the highly-anticipated grand opening of Criss Angel MINDFREAK, in the newly-renamed Criss Angel Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Debuting never-before-seen sequences - including 75 of Angel's iconic signature illusions - the state-of-the-art theatrical production featured countless fully immersive special effects, transporting audience members into Angel's mystical world of MINDFREAK. Additionally, The Criss Angel Theater welcomed guests to Las Vegas' first high-tech experiential lobby with cutting-edge interactive elements, and a fully reimagined stage outfitted with the most sophisticated technological production the world of entertainment has ever seen. The visual feast includes more than 500 million pixels of video on over 90 surfaces, more lights than any show on the planet, custom-made fire & pyrotechnic effects, and advanced 3D holographic and immersive technology. Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8479651-criss-angel-mindfreak-planet-hollywood-las-vegas/ The evening began with a star-studded red carpet to commemorate the monumental reveal and welcome MINDFREAK to Planet Hollywood. Angel's family, celebrity friends, guests and colleagues were seen sharing their excitement and posing for photos ahead of showtime, including Gary Oldman, Academy-Award winning actor, Jonathan Davis, lead vocalist and front man for KORN, Lance Burton, renowned magician and former Las Vegas headliner, Vegas legend Wayne Newton, celebrated performer and Las Vegas headliner, Jonathan & Drew Scott, stars of Property Brothers on HGTV, Mark Davis, owner and managing general partner of the Oakland Raiders, Randy Couture, TV personality and 6X UFC Champion, Flavor Flav, rapper and television personality, Kevin Olusola, beatboxer/bass for Pentatonix,Lita Ford, former lead guitarist for the Runaways, Carrot Top, stand-up comedian and Las Vegas headliner, Lala Kent, star of Vanderpump Rules, Randall Emmett, film and television producer, DJ Paul, founding member of Three 6 Mafia, Paul Kemsley, property developer and television personality, Jeff Timmons, founding member of 98 Degrees, and Mike Hammer, Las Vegas comedian and magician. Following Angel's 15-years-in-the-making signature levitation finale - hailed by his peers as the greatest illusion of all time - and multiple standing ovations, Angel was met on stage by executives from Caesars Entertainment and BASE Entertainment who surprised him with a $10,000 donation to Angel's Johnny Crisstopher Children's Charitable Foundation. After reveling in the excitement, guests were treated to a private after party thrown for Angel by Robert Earl, Founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood, where they sipped on libations, danced to beats by DJ Josh Bliss, and congratulated Angel for the evening's overwhelming success. Named "#1 Magician on the Planet" by the Las Vegas Sun, Angel thanked those who attended and continued to enjoy the gala saying, "Opening MINDFREAK at Planet Hollywood has been a conceptual dream for 20 years and I'm so honored to experience this journey alongside those who have supported me from the start. MINDFREAK is a show designed to overload the senses and I would not have been able to create such an insane, monumental production without the incredible work of the entire MINDFREAK team, the best partners in the business, friends and family far and wide, and of course my loyal fans." The Criss Angel MINDFREAK residency performs in the Criss Angel Theater, Wednesday - Sunday at 7 p.m. with select dates including an additional performance at 9:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, please visit CrissAngel.com, Ticketmaster.com/crissangel, the Criss Angel Theater box office or by calling (855) 234-7469. Criss Angel MINDFREAK was created, directed, and produced by Criss Angel for APWI and is presented by Caesars Entertainment and BASE Entertainment. Criss AngelMINDFREAK - A show like no otherAre you ready? About Criss Angel For more than a decade, Criss Angel has dominated the world of magic as the biggest name on the planet. From his role as star, creator, executive producer and director of Criss Angel MINDFREAK on A&E, to countless critically acclaimed television specials, best-selling books, top-grossing retail products, sold-out touring shows and more, Criss is the most influential and imitated magician of the modern era. His acclaimed series MINDFREAK on A&E is the most successful magic show in television history, resulting in more hours of magic during prime time than any magic show ever. His decade-long live show residency at Luxor Las Vegas was hailed as the "#1 Best-selling Magic Show in Las Vegas" (Extra) and "The #1 Magic Show of All Time!" (Las VegasReview-Journal) and generated $150 million in revenue in 2010 as reported by Newsweek. Angel is also the most watched magician in television and internet history, a YouTube sensation. His "Walk on Water" clip has generated over 60 million views alone, and all of his clips combined have generated more than 300 million views. Criss has the largest social media following of any illusionist, with over six million followers. In 2017, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Criss with the 2,615th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star was dedicated at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard next to the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and across the street from the star of Houdini. Criss has been named "Magician of the Year" an unprecedented six times, was the youngest magician inducted into the International Magicians Society Hall of Fame, was named the first recipient of "Magician of the Decade," as well as "Magician of the Century" and "Innovator of the Decade." Most recently, Angel was given the highest honor in the magical arts - the Lifetime Achievement Award from the largest and most prestigious magic organization in the world (the nearly one hundred-year-old International Brotherhood of Magicians). It has only been given five times in the IBM's history, and Criss is the youngest artist ever to receive it and the only magician performing today that has been presented with this award. For more information, visit CrissAngel.com or follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @CrissAngel. About BASE Entertainment BASE Entertainment develops, creates, and manages live entertainment productions and venues in North America and worldwide from offices in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Houston. In addition to Criss Angel MINDFREAK, BASE's current productions in Las Vegas include Magic Mike Live Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel and Nitro Circus, coming to Bally's Hotel & Casino in the summer of 2019. Past productions in Las Vegas include Absinthe, Rock of Ages, Million Dollar Quartet, Jersey Boys, Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular, Peepshow, Wayne Brady and Stomp Out loud, among others. Current productions from BASE Hologram, a new division of BASE Entertainment which combines holographic film and AR technology with live performers and other production stagecraft to deliver worldwide touring concerts and theatricals/spectacles and museum and location-based residencies, including Roy Orbison - In Dreams, Callas in Concert, and Jack Horner's World of Dinosaurs. BASE Entertainment's founders and partners include industry veterans Brian Becker and Scott Zeiger and Beverly Hills-based private equity firm Clarity Partners. For more information please visit BASEentertainment.com. The "Telcos' Managed Security Services Market Opportunity in Europe" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Telcos' Managed Security Services Market Opportunity in Europe provides an executive-level overview of the Managed Security Services (MSS) opportunity in Europe. It analyses key trends and delivers insights into the Managed Security Services (MSS) market opportunity for telcos. The Managed Security Services (MSS) market size in Europe is expected to grow by a CAGR of 9.9% between 2017-2022, rising from US$24.5 billion in 2017 to US$39.3 billion in 2022. From a global perspective Europe is expected to maintain its place as the second largest region throughout the forecast period, expanding at a relatively strong growth rate. Telcos in Europe, especially in Western Europe, have a relatively well-developed Managed Security Services (MSS) offering, given their strong network management skills, cloud infrastructure and growing relationships with enterprises. Telcos have an inherent advantage in offering Managed Security Services (MSS). Infrastructure security services tend to be closer to a telco's traditional B2B offerings. In addition, telcos are able to leverage their in-house network security expertise, gained by managing their own telecom networks, to launch Managed Security Services (MSS) targeting different enterprise segments. Many European telcos have teamed up with global security platform vendors, software giants and other telcos to respond to the growing number of cyber security threats. There is potential for telcos to capitalize on the opportunity in applications security by leveraging their in-country sales channels and staff, customer relationships, and knowledge of local market dynamics. In order to gain a strategic advantage and market expertise, telcos could seek out and develop partnerships with a globally-renowned security vendor. Companies Featured KPN DearBytes BT Telefonica Orange Deutsche Telecom Proximus ION-IP Topics Covered Section 1: Taxonomy and Market Context Managed Security Services (MSS) Definition MSS Value Chain Section 2: Telcos' MSS Market Opportunity Europe MSS Market Size in a Global Context Europe MSS Market Size by Vertical and Business Size Europe MSS Opportunity in Applications Security Europe MSS Opportunity in Infrastructure Security Europe MSS Opportunity in Cyber Security Section 3: Key Findings and Recommendations For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/pxqnvv/telcos_managed?w=4 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005385/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Related Topics: IT Security CHASKA, MN / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2019 / Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors without Borders plays a critical role in providing humanitarian support throughout many regions afflicted by war or endemic diseases around the globe. Last year, MedSource Labs, a medical manufacturing firm, donated more than 40,000 medical supplies to the international, nonpartisan organization. Some of these supplies included I.V. sets, wound care and infectious control products, and respiratory and airway units. 'We are committed to providing the staff and volunteers of Doctors Without Borders with some of the medical supplies they need to help fulfill their mission of providing medical care to people in distress, including victims of political violence and natural disasters,' said Todd Fagley, CEO, MedSource Labs. "With our support, Doctors Without Borders will be able to use our medical supplies to reach thousands of people that need lifesaving aid and emergency supplies.' We have always remained committed to providing humanitarian assistance in highly-impoverished areas, such as Haiti, where we've had our staff and families work with other volunteers to assist locals with gaining access to water in remote areas. 'As an organization, it is imperative that we assist those in most need in every way possible,' concluded Fagley. About Us MedSource Labs is a leading medical product developer and supplier specializing in high-quality products and innovative medical product development. By delivering top-quality products and solutions at cost-effective prices, MedSource Labs has been helping improve patient outcomes since 2002. The privately held company, headquartered in Chaska, Minnesota, serves health care professionals including emergency medical providers, hospitals and surgical centers, veterinarian and dental providers, and government agencies. CONTACT: Aimee Rishavy arishavy@gomedsource.com Tel. 952-241-8344 SOURCE: MedSource International, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/532382/MedSource-Labs-Donates-More-than-40000-Medical-Supplies-to-Mdecins-Sans-FrontiresDoctors-Without-Borders NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, HONG KONG, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PRESS RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR WOULD REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR OTHER MEASURES BESIDES THOSE REQUIRED BY SWEDISH AND SWISS LAW. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS APPLY, PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THE PRESS RELEASE Press release, 4 January 2019 The final result of Cavotec SA's ("Cavotec" or the "Company") rights issue shows that 12,637,400 shares, corresponding to 80.5 per cent of the shares in the offer, were subscribed for with subscription rights. The remaining 3,069,800 shares have been allotted to investors who have subscribed for shares without subscription rights, of which 1,827,131 shares were subscribed for by Bure Equity AB in its capacity as guarantor of the rights issue. In total, through the rights issue, Bure Equity AB increased its shareholding in Cavotec by 5,810,089 shares to 25,724,935 shares, representing an ownership in the Company of 27.3 per cent after the completion of the rights issue. Through the rights issue, Cavotec raises gross proceeds of approximately MSEK 204 before transaction costs. Allotment of new shares subscribed for without subscription rights has been made according to the principles outlined in the prospectus published on 6 December 2018 and such subscribers will be notified separately. Shareholders with nominee registered holdings receive confirmation of the allotment in accordance with the procedure of the respective nominee. Notificaton regarding the allotment of shares will be sent only to those who have been allotted shares. As a result of the rights issue, Cavotec's share capital will increase by CHF 20,105,216 from the current CHF 100,526,080 to CHF 120,631,296, through the issuance of 15,707,200 new shares. After the rights issue, the number of shares in Cavotec will amount to 94,243,200 shares. The last day of trading in paid subscribed shares ("BTA", Sw. betald tecknad aktie) on Nasdaq Stockholm is expected to be on or around January 9, 2019. Trading of the new shares subscribed for with subscription rights is expected to begin on Nasdaq Stockholm on or around January 11, 2019. Financial and legal advisors ABG Sundal Collier is acting as Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner in connection with the rights issue. Vinge is acting as legal advisor in relation to Swedish law and Bar & Karrer SA is acting as legal advisors in relation to Swiss law to Cavotec. For more information, please contact: Johan Hahnel, Investor Relations Manager | Telephone: +46 70 605 63 34 | Email: johan.hahnel@cavotec.com This information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out above on 4 January 2019 at 19:30 CET. About Cavotec Cavotec is a leading engineering group that designs and manufactures automated connection and electrification systems for ports, airports and industrial applications worldwide. Cavotec innovative technologies ensure safe, efficient and sustainable operations. To find out more about Cavotec, visit our website at cavotec.com. Important information The information in this press release does not contain or constitute an offer to acquire, subscribe or otherwise trade in shares or other securities in Cavotec. No action has been taken and measures will not be taken to permit a public offering in any jurisdictions other than Sweden and Switzerland. Any invitation to the persons concerned to subscribe for shares in Cavotec will only been made through the prospectus that Cavotec published on 6 December 2018. The information in this press release may not be released, published or distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and provinces, every state in the United States and the District of Columbia), Canada, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which such action is subject to legal restrictions or would require other measures than those required by Swedish and Swiss law. Actions in violation of these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. No shares or other securities in Cavotec have been registered, and no shares or other securities will be registered, under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or the securities legislation of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States and no shares or other securities may be offered, sold or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, except under an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act and in compliance with the securities legislation in the relevant state or any other jurisdiction of the United States. Attachment Pierre-Andre Terisse Named Chief Financial Officer Luc Volatier Named Chief Global Supply Officer Gianni Pieraccioni Named Chief Operating Officer, Consumer Beauty Coty Inc. (NYSE:COTY) today announced a series of executive leadership changes to support its ongoing transformation and future growth. First, Pierre-Andre Terisse has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Executive Committee, effective February 1, 2019. Pierre-Andre has nearly 30 years of public company finance experience, including in business turnarounds, treasury and finance integration. He spent the majority of his career at Danone, most notably as Group CFO of Danone for seven years and was General Manager of Danone's Africa Division for three years, where he designed and implemented the division's strategy, operational foundations and innovation pipeline. Pierre-Andre will be based in London. Second, Pierre Laubies, Coty's CEO, will assume leadership for the formulation and implementation of the strategic vision for the Consumer Beauty division. He will be supported by Gianni Pieraccioni who joins Coty as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Consumer Beauty, and as a member of the Executive Committee, effective January 14, 2019. Gianni will lead the Consumer Beauty in-market organization, e-commerce and supply chain, focusing on commercial operations and will be based in New York. He served as President, Revlon Consumer Division and served as COO of Revlon Inc. until 2017, and brings more than 30 years of international business experience with consumer goods companies including J&J, PepsiCo and P&G. In connection with the continuing transformation of Consumer Beauty, Laurent Kleitman has decided to pursue other opportunities and will be leaving Coty. During the past 20 months at Coty, Laurent has built a strong leadership team and commercial organization that will help the continuation of the business transformation. Third, Luc Volatier has been appointed Chief Global Supply Officer and a member of the Executive Committee, effective January 14, 2019, and will be based in Geneva. Luc joins Coty from Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) where he served for seven years as EVP Operations with responsibility for Supply and R&D. He successfully led the transformation of the JDE manufacturing and logistical footprint following the spin-off from Sara Lee and the subsequent merger with the coffee division of Mondelez. Luc led the cost and cash program to fuel JDE growth, backed by a network of top-tier supply partners. Luc has nearly 30 years of experience in procurement, R&D and supply chain optimization. He will be replacing Mario Reis, who is departing his position as Chief Global Supply Officer. Finally, Esra Erkal-Paler, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, has decided to leave Coty to pursue other opportunities. As a result, the Corporate Affairs function will be integrated into Coty's three divisions and functions. Pierre Laubies, Coty's CEO, said, "Today's organizational changes are important steps in supporting our ongoing transformation, as we complete the P&G Specialty Beauty Business integration and design our strategic roadmap for future growth. Pierre-Andre Terisse joins Coty as our new CFO and I look forward to working with him as we focus on deleveraging and improving our financial performance. Since my arrival in mid-November, I have spent extensive time with the divisional, regional and functional teams to assess Coty's strengths and opportunities. From my preliminary assessment, Consumer Beauty and Supply Chain are areas that require an immediate step-change in capabilities, the latter being necessary to leverage further the significant footprint optimization implemented over the last two years. Consequently, I will assume personal responsibility for the Consumer Beauty division so that I can oversee the continuing transformation of this business. Gianni Pieraccioni joins Coty as COO, Consumer Beauty, and will focus on commercial operations. Secondly, I am delighted to welcome Luc Volatier as Coty's new Chief Global Supply Officer. I look forward to providing more details on my full assessment and future vision for Coty during our upcoming earnings calls. Pierre-Andre, Luc and Gianni will be great additions to the Executive Committee as we embark on the next chapter of Coty's transformation. I'd like to thank Mario, Laurent and Esra for their valuable contributions to Coty. We wish them each the best in their future endeavours." About Coty Coty is one of the world's largest beauty companies with over $9 billion in revenue, an iconic portfolio of brands and a purpose to celebrate and liberate the diversity of consumers' beauty. We believe the beauty of humanity lies in the individuality of its people; beauty is at its best when authentic; and beauty should make you feel happy, never sad. As the global leader in fragrance, a strong number two in professional salon hair color styling, and number three in color cosmetics, Coty operates three divisions: Consumer Beauty, which is focused on mass color cosmetics, mass retail hair coloring and styling products, body care and mass fragrances with brands such as COVERGIRL, Max Factor, Bourjois and Rimmel; Luxury, which is focused on prestige fragrances and skincare with brands such as Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Hugo Boss, Gucci and philosophy; and Professional Beauty, which is focused on servicing salon owners and professionals in both hair and nail, with brands such as Wella Professionals, Sebastian Professional, OPI and ghd. Coty has 20,000 colleagues globally and its products are sold in over 150 countries. Coty and its brands are committed to a range of social causes as well as seeking to minimize its impact on the environment. For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005169/en/ Contacts: Media Relations Jennifer Friedman +1 917-754- 8399 Jennifer_Friedman@cotyinc.com Investor Relations Christina Frank +1 212-389-6802 christina_frank@cotyinc.com Olga Levinzon +1 212-389-7733 Olga_Levinzon@cotyinc.com BENGALURU, India, January 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- 10.1% CC YoY Revenue Growth in Q3 Leads to Upward Revision in Guidance "With increased client relevance, we saw double digit (10.1%) year-on-year growth in Q3 on a constant currency basis," said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD. "We also had another strong quarter in our digital business with 33.1% growth and large deals at $1.57 billion which gives us confidence entering 2019", he added. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg ) 8.5%-9.0% Revision in FY 19 Guidance in CC terms 2.7% QoQ revenue growth in CC terms 33.1% YoY Digital revenue growth in CC terms $1.5 Bn+ Large deal signings 22.6%* Operating margin *Includes additional depreciation and amortization impact of 0.4% due to reclassification of assets of Panaya and Skava from "Held for Sale." Q3 19 revenues grew year-on-year by 8.4% in USD terms; 10.1% in constant currency terms Q3 19 revenues grew sequentially by 2.2% in USD terms; 2.7% in constant currency terms Digital revenues at $942 million (31.5% of total revenues), year-on-year growth of 33.1% and sequential growth of 5.0% in constant currency terms (31.5% of total revenues), year-on-year growth of 33.1% and sequential growth of 5.0% in constant currency terms 9 months revenues grew by 7.4% in USD terms; 8.1% in constant currency terms FY 19 revenue guidance in constant currency revised upward to 8.5%-9.0%; Operating margin guidance retained at 22%-24% Announces buyback under open market route of ?8,260 crore at a Maximum price of ?800 per share Announces a special dividend of ?4 per share 1. FinancialHighlights- ConsolidatedresultsunderInternationalFinancialReportingStandards(IFRS) For the Quarter ended December 31, 2018 - Revenues were $2,987 million, growth of 8.4% YoY and 2.2% QoQ - Operating profit was $675 million, growth of 0.9% YoY and decline of 2.6% QoQ# - Basic EPS was $0.12, decline of 33.9% YoY@ and 13.6% QoQ# For nine months ended December 31, 2018 - Revenues were $8,740 million, growth of 7.4% YoY - Operating profit was $2,038 million, growth of 3.7% YoY - Basic EPS was $0.37, decline of 11.3% YoY##@ # Includes additional depreciation and amortization expenses of $12 million for Panaya and Skava. Additionally, Basic EPS includes reduction in fair value of Skava which together resulted in a reduction in EPS by $0.02. #Includes additional depreciation and amortization expenses, reduction in fair value and carrying value of Panaya and Skava, respectively which resulted in a reduction in EPS by $0.03. @Includes impact on account of conclusion of an APA with the US IRS which has led to an increase in EPS of $0.05 for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2017. "Volume growth was strong and revenue productivity was stable despite Q3 being a seasonally weak quarter. We had good growth across geographies and large business segments," said Pravin Rao, COO. "Attrition declined during the quarter and we are continuing on the path of increased interventions and employee engagements to reduce it further." "We saw significant currency volatility during the quarter and managed it effectively by our hedging strategy," said Jayesh Sanghrajka, Interim CFO. "Cash generation was strong during the quarter. Executing on the capital allocation strategy announced in April 2018, we have announced a share buyback program and a special dividend." 2. Capital Allocation Policy The Board in its meeting held today approved the following: Buyback of Equity Shares, from the open market route through the Indian stock exchanges, amounting to ?8,260 crore (Maximum Buyback Size) (approximately $1,184 million ) at a price not exceeding ?800 per share (Maximum Buyback Price) (approximately $11.46 per share), subject to shareholders' approval by way of Postal Ballot, and ) at a price not exceeding ?800 per share (Maximum Buyback Price) (approximately per share), subject to shareholders' approval by way of Postal Ballot, and A Special Dividend of ?4/- per share (approximately $0.06 per share) that would result in a payout of approximately ?2,107 crore (approximately $302 million ) (including dividend distribution tax) After the execution of the above, along with the special dividend (including dividend distribution tax) of ?2,633 crore ($386 million) already paid in June 2018, the Company would complete the distribution of ?13,000 crore, which was announced as part of its capital allocation policy in April 2018. As the USD/INR* exchange rates have moved from April 2018 when the capital allocation policy was announced, the total capital allocation in US$ terms amounts to $1,872 million (comprising $1,184 million pertaining to buyback as mentioned above, $386 million towards special dividend paid in June 2018 and $302 million towards special dividend to be paid to shareholders in January 2019). *US$ 1= ?69.78 as at December 31, 2018 3. Assets Held for Sale The company had earlier classified its subsidiaries Kallidus & Skava (together referred to as "Skava") and Panaya as "Held for Sale". During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, based on evaluation of proposals received and progress of negotiations with potential buyers, the Company concluded that it is no longer highly probable that sale would be consummated by March 31, 2019. Accordingly, Panaya and Skava have been de-classified from "held for sale" in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 5. On de-classification, the Company recognized additional depreciation and amortization expenses of $12 million and a reduction of $65 million in the carrying value for Skava. The impact of the same on the Basic Earnings Per Share was a decrease of $0.02 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018.The Company plans to repurpose Skava's micro services based business and refocus Panaya's suite of products. 4. Board Update Based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the Board approved the re-appointment of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as the Lead Independent Director from April 1, 2019 to March 22, 2023, subject to shareholder' approval. "I am delighted that the Infosys Board of Directors has unanimously recommended Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for reappointment as the Lead Independent Director," said Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of the Board. "Kiran has been a pillar of strength to the board, especially over the last eighteen months as we steered the company to stability and growth. As chair of the Nominations & Remuneration Committee, she played a critical role in the CEO and CFO selection process. Her continuity, experience and insights are greatly valued by the Board as it guides the company in executing its strategy in the coming years," he added. AboutInfosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 45 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over three decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. SafeHarbor Certain statements mentioned in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. These filings are available at www.sec.gov . Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law. Infosys Limited and subsidiaries Audited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as at (Dollars in millions except equity share data) December 31, 2018 March 31, 2018 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 2,357 3,041 Current investments 1,407 982 Trade receivables 2,130 2,016 Unbilled revenue 688 654 Prepayments and other current assets 776 662 Derivative financial instruments 60 2 7,418 7,357 Assets held for sale(4)(5) - 316 Total current assets 7,418 7,673 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 1,817 1,863 Goodwill 514 339 Intangible assets 108 38 Investment in associate - - Non-current investments 650 883 Deferred income tax assets 174 196 Income tax assets 932 931 Other non-current assets 259 332 Total non-current assets 4,454 4,582 Total assets 11,872 12,255 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Trade payables 219 107 Derivative financial instruments - 6 Current income tax liabilities 247 314 Client deposits 5 6 Unearned revenue 434 352 Employee benefit obligations 229 218 Provisions 83 75 Other current liabilities 1,190 1,036 2,407 2,114 Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale(4)(5) - 50 Total current liabilities 2,407 2,164 Non-current liabilities Deferred income tax liabilities 76 82 Employee benefit obligations 6 7 Other non-current liabilities 63 42 Total liabilities 2,552 2,295 Equity Share capital- ?5 ($0.16) par value 4,800,000,000 (2,400,000,000) equity shares authorized, issued and outstanding 4,347,938,160 (2,173,312,301), net of 20,709,738 (10,801,956) treasury shares as at December 31, 2018 (March 31, 2018), respectively 340 190 Share premium 268 247 Retained earnings 11,252 11,587 Cash flow hedge reserve 5 - Other reserves 385 244 Capital redemption reserve 9 9 Other components of equity (2,947) (2,317) Total equity attributable to equity holders of the company 9,312 9,960 Non-controlling interests 8 - Total equity 9,320 9,960 Total liabilities and equity 11,872 12,255 Infosys Limited and subsidiaries Audited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the (Dollars in millions except equity share and per equity share data) Three months Three months Nine months Nine months ended ended ended ended December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenues 2,987 2,755 8,740 8,134 Cost of sales 1,956 1,773 5,660 5,208 Gross profit 1,031 982 3,080 2,926 Operating expenses Selling and marketing expenses 161 136 464 405 Administrative expenses 195 177 578 555 Total operating expenses 356 313 1,042 960 Operating profit 675 669 2,038 1,966 Other income, net(3) 105 149 317 413 Reduction in the fair value of Disposal Group held for sale(4) - - (39) - Adjustment in respect of excess of carrying amount over recoverable amount on reclassification from "Held for Sale"(5) (65) - (65) - Share in net profit/(loss) of associate, including impairment(6) - - - (11) Profit before income taxes 715 818 2,251 2,368 Income tax expense(7) 213 22 633 453 Net profit 502 796 1,618 1,915 Other comprehensive income Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: Re-measurements of the net defined benefit liability/asset, net (4) 2 (3) 3 Equity instruments through other comprehensive income, net 8 - 10 - Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: Fair valuation of investments, net 6 (4) (3) 2 Fair value changes on derivatives designated as cash flow hedge, net 8 1 5 (6) Foreign currency translation 295 229 (634) 182 Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax 313 228 (625) 181 Total comprehensive income 815 1,024 993 2,096 Profit attributable to: Owners of the Company 502 796 1,618 1,915 Non-controlling interests - - - - 502 796 1,618 1,915 Total comprehensive income attributable to: Owners of the Company 815 1,024 993 2,096 Non-controlling interests - - - - 815 1,024 993 2,096 Earnings per equity share(8) Basic ($) 0.12 0.17 0.37 0.42 Diluted ($) 0.12 0.17 0.37 0.42 Weighted average equity shares used in computing earnings per equity share(8) 4,347,673,46 4,564,373,54 Basic 6 4,550,149,608 4,347,130,342 2 4,352,731,38 4,568,574,98 Diluted 7 4,552,763,140 4,352,705,150 4 NOTES: The auditedcondensed consolidated Balance sheet and Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three months and ninemonths ended December 31 , 2018 have been taken on record at the Board meeting held on January 11, 2019 . A Fact Sheet providing the operating metrics of the Company can be downloaded fromwww.infosys.com . Other income for three months and nine months ended December 31, 2017 includes interest on income tax refund of $31 million and $41 million respectively. In the three months ended March 2018 , Kallidus and Skava (together referred to as "Skava") and Panaya, were classified as "Held for Sale". Consequently, a reduction in the fair value amounting to $18 million and $39 million in respect of Panaya was recognized for the year ended March 31, 2018 and three months ended June 30, 2018 , respectively. During the three months ended December 31, 2018 , based on evaluation of proposals received and progress of negotiations with potential buyers, the Company concluded that it is no longer highly probable that sale would be consummated by March 31, 2019 . Accordingly, Panaya and Skava have been de-classified from"Held for Sale" in accordance with IFRS 5. On such reclassification, the Company recognized additional depreciation and amortization expenses of $12 million and an adjustment in respect of excess of carrying amount over recoverable amount of $65 million in respect of Skava during the three months ended December 31, 2018 . During the nine months ended December 31, 2017 , the Company has written down the entire carrying value of $11 million in its associate DWA Nova LLC. During the quarter ended December 31, 2017 , on account of the conclusion of an Advance Pricing Agreement ("APA") with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), the Company has reversed income tax expense provision of $225 million which pertains to previous periods which are no longer required. Previous period share numbers and EPS have been adjusted for September 2018 bonus issue in accordance with IAS 33, Earnings per share IFRS-INR press Release:https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2018-2019/Q3/Documents/IFRS-INR-press-release.pdf Factsheet:https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2018-2019/Q3/Documents/fact-sheet.pdf Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) President Rodrigo Duterte said the United States should not expect the Philippines to get into any arms and military equipment deals with them amid their threats to sanction countries engaging in trade with Russia. In a speech before government forces Thursday evening, the President added the U.S. was also against the Philippines trading with China. "Pagka bumili ka sa [If you purchase from] China o maybe Russia, magsali ka sa [you will join the] (arms) embargo, you cannot trade with America. So para kang inipit doon sa ano. Eh sabi ko naman sa [I told] --- your superiors and the civilian leaders, with that kind of arrangement, do not expect me to buy arms from the United States," Duterte said. Instead, the Philippines will look to allies from Israel and South Korea to supply arms, Duterte added. "I will not agree to buy. Pangit tingnan. Hindi maganda. [It looks bad.] It does not sit well with the Filipino na ganunin ka tapos pasunod-sunod ka na lang [that they will do something like that and you will just follow]," he said. But Duterte clarified he is not mad at the United States, saying they started it with the sanctions and the heavy criticism against his administration's war on drugs. Duterte's statements come a month after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that government is eyeing the purchase of 16 U.S.-made Sikorsky Black Hawk combat utility helicopters worth $240 million. U.S. President Donald Trump on August 2017 signed a law levying new sanctions on countries and entities engaging in transactions with Russia's defense and intelligence agencies. Trump signed the law in light of Russia's occupation and annexation of the Crimea peninsula, as well as allegations for interfering in the U.S. 2016 presidential elections. Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 11, 2019) - NexTech AR Solutions (CSE: NTAR) (OTC Pink: NEXCF) (FSE: N29) (the "Company" or "NexTech") is pleased to provide this first shareholder update since its listing date of October 31st, 2018. NexTech AR Solutions has emerged as an early adopter and market leader of augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) and has been growing quickly with 21 employees with three offices located in Toronto, Dallas and NY. 1/10/19: Cash position $2,700,000 10/31/18: Listing price $0.25 1/10/19: Closing price $0.82 +227% 1/8/19: Entered into an agreement to acquire AR Ecommerce, LLC ("AR Ecommerce") in consideration for two million common shares of NexTech. AR Ecommerce is a leading eCommerce business which generated approximately $2,650,000 (USD) in revenue (unaudited) and $275,000 (USD) in EBITDA for 2018 (unaudited) for the period from January 1st 2018-December 31st 2018. AR Ecommerce has been in business since 2011 and has served hundreds of thousands of customers over the years. This acquisition brings in house a substantial eCommerce business which NexTech plans on using as a showcase for its augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology stack as well as a foundation for additional strategic acquisitions. 1/3/19: Integrated the Experience API (xAPI) into its patent pending web enabled AR eCommerce platform. xAPI integration enables the tracking of micro-behaviors throughout the AR experience creating a valuable sea of data for eCommerce sites. 12/27/18: Began integrating IBM Watson's Machine Learning (ML) algorithms into its patent pending web enabled AR platform. With this integration NexTech is quickly building out a next generation, industry first, artificial intelligence (AI) based AR eCommerce solution. With AI the platform will now be able to offer scanning of the body, hands, and feet as well as facial features, to understand an individual shopper's style, sizes and preferences, as well as creating AR holograms acting as personal shopping assistants. The AR eCommerce platform is expected to exit beta and have a commercial launch in January 2019, with AI features beginning to rollout in February 2019. 12/20/18: Launched a new Unity plugin developer-focused program called the "ARitize Studio". ARitize Studio is a publishing platform available for the creation and distribution of AR-first and AR-native experiences for iOS, Android and NexTech's patent pending Web enabled AR platform. With this launch NexTech has built a powerful suite of tools which makes the creation of engaging Augmented Reality experiences simpler and more efficient for the Unity developer community. 12/20/18: CEO Evan Gappelberg bought $250,000 or 500,000 shares of NexTech common shares. He acquired the shares at $0.50/share through the exercise of his $0.50 warrants. This investment is a follow on investment to his $125,000 purchase which he made in May 2018. 12/11/18: Successfully integrated its patent pending web enabled AR eCommerce solution with Shopify, WordPress, and Magento. With this integration all Shopify merchants, Magento merchants and WordPress sites which together comprise about 90% of eCommerce, will have the ability to easily integrate AR shopping experiences into their sites. 12/5/18: BTV- Business Television came by the NexTech AR Toronto office to chat with our CEO Evan Gappelberg about our latest additions to the ARitized Ecomm platform. LINK: http://www.nextechar.com/2018/12/btv-new-listing-alert/ 12/4/18: Acquired "edCetra" a premier eLearning on demand platform. Since signing an exclusive license agreement in May 2018, NexTech has been working on integrating augmented reality ("AR") into the "edCetra" platform which is now complete. The company is preparing the eLearning platform for a re-launch in January 2019, with the added augmented reality feature. NexTech sees education and training as another substantial opportunity where augmented reality can transform an entire industry. 11/29/18: Filed a comprehensive provisional patent application for its recently announced web enabled augmented reality eCommerce solution and is in the process of filing a fast-tracked non-provisional application over the next 60 days. NexTech's patent allows for an efficient way of integrating augmented reality and mixed reality experiences across all platforms without having to install an app. 11/26/18: Released a beta version of its web enabled augmented reality eCommerce solution. With a web enabled AR solution, NexTech has eliminated the biggest friction point of AR, which was that a consumer first had to download an app to experience AR eCommerce. Over the next few weeks NexTech will be working with its partners to install its embed code into their websites and ARitize their products enabling online AR shopping. 10/31/18: Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") has approved the listing of the common shares of NexTech. NexTech's shares are expected to begin trading on the CSE on October 31, 2018 under the trading symbol "NTAR". About NexTech AR Solutions Corp. NexTech is bringing augmented reality (AR) to the masses by creating an AR ecosystem featuring eCommerce solutions for websites, AR learning and education as well as AR live streaming for events. The company has filed a patent around its AR web-enabled eCommerce platform which has been integrated with Shopify, Wordpress and Magento. The AR can "go live" on any ecomm site with just a few lines of embed code creating a highly scalable platform. The global eCommerce industry is a $2.8 trillion-dollar marketplace and growing. NexTech has acquired its e-learning platform "edCetra" which has been used by Fortune 500 companies such as Imperial Oil, Bombardier and Staples, as well as the Library of Congress and others to educate and train employees. NexTech has added augmented reality ("AR") training and education options into the platform and expects to launch in 2019. The company is also working on bringing forth its AR live streaming platform for shows and live events. All of the company's platforms run off of one CRM which allows for its AR ecosystem to rise up. NexTech launched its ARitize app in August 2018, which is capable of hosting many brands 3D objects and augmented reality experiences. NexTech also owns a large and diverse revenue generating App Portfolio that is deployed on the iTunes and Google play store which it intends to ARitize. On behalf of the Board of NexTech AR Solutions Corp. "Evan Gappelberg" CEO and Director For further information, please contact: Evan Gappelberg Chief Executive Officer info@nextechar.com The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be", "looking forward" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the Company increasing investors awareness are based on the Company's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of NexTech to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. NexTech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 11, 2019) - Hydro66 Holdings Corp. (CSE: SIX) (OTCQB: HYHDF) ("Hydro66" or the "Company") a leading provider of ultra-efficient, green and cost-effective data center services is pleased to announce that the OTC Markets Group has approved the trading of the Company's shares on its OTCQB Venture Market and will commence trading under the symbol "HYHDF" on January 11, 2019. The Company's common shares will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "SIX" and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "5CR". Additionally, the Company is also in the process of applying for eligibility to the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), to facilitate electronic settlement of transfers of its common shares in the United States. DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation ("DTCC") and manages the electronic clearing and settlement of securities of publicly traded companies in the United States. DTC eligibility will simplify the process of trading and is expected to enhance the liquidity of the Company's common shares on the OTC market. Anne Graf, CEO, commented "The US-based cross-listing will help Hydro66 to access a broader range of institutional and retail investors and will provide US investors with access to the Company's securities through a recognized US marketplace." For further information please contact: Anne Graf Paul Morrison Jason Atkinson CEO Chief Commercial Officer Director, Corporate Development Anne.graf@hydro66.com Paul.morrison@hydro66.com Jason.atkinson@hydro66.com About Hydro66 Hydro66 owns and operates a colocation data center In Sweden specializing in High Performance Computing ("HPC") hosting. The Company hosts third party IT infrastructure, utilizing 100% green power, at amongst the EU's lowest power prices and within an ISO27001 accredited facility. The Company is continuing to expand its footprint, with a growth plan in place to expand the current facility from 19.2 MW to 40 MW. Hydro66 is uniquely positioned to capitalize on opportunities in blockchain infrastructure as well as the traditional enterprise colocation data center market. The Company provides truly green power at a leading price, purpose-built space and cooling, telecoms, IT support services and 24/7 physical security in their facility in Boden, Sweden. Revenues are generated from colocation data center services to hashrate service companies and traditional enterprise companies as well as digital currency self-mining (GPU and/or ASIC). Combining the above provides steady, diversified revenue with strong margins. A flexible and rapid build-out schedule will allow Hydro66 to rebalance between business lines as market conditions evolve. Hydro66 is run by a team with decades of technical expertise in data center facility design, construction, operation and more recently blockchain infrastructure and hashrate services. Please find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Instagram Forward-Looking Information Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. 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", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals.Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. "Father of Direct Marketing" Created a Trillion-Dollar Industry NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Lester Wunderman, chairman emeritus and founder of Wunderman, the original and largest direct marketing advertising agency, passed away on January 9, 2019 in New York of natural causes. He was 98 years old. A trailblazer in the advertising industry, Mr. Wunderman launched a new kind of advertising agency in 1958-one that focused on delivering sales for its clients. That agency concept caught on and led to the creation of today's trillion-dollar direct marketing industry. The visionary marketing techniques he conceived and perfected over his long and brilliant career transformed the advertising industry and continue to shape the interactive marketplace. Mr. Wunderman is fondly remembered by Sue, whom he married in 1975, his son Marc and daughter Karen and three stepchildren, Patrick, James and Thomas. He is also remembered and revered by the thousands of people who work for the agency that bears his name. While he left the helm of Wunderman in 1998, he reported to work every day at the agency's offices, where he often visited with clients, executives and interns alike. A New Yorker throughout his life, Mr. Wunderman was born in 1920 in the Bronx. After an apprenticeship served at several agencies, he joined Maxwell Sackheim & Company in 1947, where he became executive vice president. In 1958, he founded Wunderman, Ricotta & Kline, now known as Wunderman. In 1967, in an address at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Wunderman identified, named and defined Direct Marketing which led the theoretical and practical growth of the industry ever since. As a result of that speech, he was named "The Father of Direct Marketing." Mr. Wunderman received many awards and tributes from the direct marketing industry, including inductions into the Direct Marketing Association's Hall of Fame in 1983, and the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame. In the July 23, 2001 issue of Time, Mr. Wunderman (along with David Ogilvy and Sergio Zyman) was heralded as "Great Pitchmen over the Years." Most recently he was awarded the Golden Apple from the Direct Marketing Club of New York in recognition of over 50 years of contributing to the direct marketing community and Marketing EDGE's Lifetime Achievement Award. His book Being Direct was published by Random House in January 1997 and reissued in 2004 with new information, including the first-ever Consumer's Communications Bill of Rights, and his views on the Internet. In 2010, it was translated and published into Chinese. An earlier book, Frontiers of Direct Marketing, was published in 1981, and his speeches and articles have appeared in publications worldwide. Mr. Wunderman's achievements do not, however, fully describe the impact he has had on our industry. In 1967, he served at the behest of President Lyndon Johnson to champion usage and acceptance of the fledgling U.S. Postal Service's Zip Code. A passionate believer in the arts, Mr. Wunderman collected the artwork of the Dogon tribe of West Africa. Mr. Wunderman made two visits to the region including spending time living there. Mr. Wunderman donated his collection to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Dapper Foundation in Paris, which is now part of the Louvre. Mr. Wunderman became fascinated by photography many years ago, studying at The New School in New York City and working privately with several well-known photographers. Long ago, he met regularly with Cornell Capa, Karl Katz and Jacqueline Kennedy to discuss the possibility of a professional school of photography. And so, the International Center of Photography was born, and has thrived ever since. His photographs have been on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in association with his collection of Dogon sculpture, and 50 photographs remain in its permanent collection. As the head of Wunderman, he served as an inspiration and visionary, providing thoughtful counsel and valuable insight. "Lester possessed the curiosity of a scientist, an artist's eye, the soul of an author and the heart of an entrepreneur," said Mel Edwards, CEO, Wunderman. "Lester was a true visionary with a lifelong commitment to innovation and creativity," said Mark Read, CEO, WPP. "He will be remembered and respected for his achievements and revered as a friend and colleague." In Lester's own words, "If there is a lesson to be learned, I believe it is to not do anything half-heartedly. If you are going to do it at all, give it all that you have to give." Our thoughts are with his family. About Wunderman Wunderman is a global digital agency whose mission is to inspire people to take action. It is Creatively Driven. Data Inspired. In 2015, industry analysts named Wunderman a leader in marketing database operations as well as a strong performer in customer engagement strategy and its creative work has won numerous awards globally. Headquartered in New York, the agency brings together 9,200 creatives, data scientists, strategists and technologists in 200 offices in 70 markets. Wunderman is a WPP company. For more information, please visit www.wunderman.com and follow us @Wunderman. SpendEdge, a global procurement market intelligence firm, has announced the release of their Global Public Relations Services Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005074/en/ Global Public Relations Services Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report. (Graphic: Business Wire) To sustain in the hyper-competitive market, major end-user industries such as automotive, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and IT are exhibiting an incremental expenditure on PR services. This is resulting in substantial category growth. Companies are also resorting to the PR services on various social media platforms to widen their access to a broader customer base and to improve communication with them. This will significantly accelerate the category spend momentum in the years to come. Read the free sample of this public relations services procurement research report. A sub-segment of the PR services, the lobbying services are increasingly being adopted by pharmaceuticals, BFSI, and oil and gas industries in the US to gain favorable legislation for their business. This is exerting a significant influence on the category spend momentum. The emergence of new-age FinTech companies and tech start-ups will create a huge demand for PR services in APAC, who is predicted to gain the highest market share eventually. South America will witness a marginal increase in their market share because of the rise in investments by leading PR service agencies in Brazil and Argentina. This market intelligence offers the necessary inputs that will guide both buyers and suppliers to devise an optimum procurement strategy. This procurement research report identifies the regions that are exhibiting substantial category growth prospects which helps in making informed decisions in the market. Our procurement experts also recommend category pricing strategies that are suited to the dynamics of the market. Want to learn more about the category pricing strategies that can be tailored to your business goals? Get a free customized version of this market intelligence report. "PR services providers are expected to have sound knowledge on the industry that they are catering to, markets, geographies, and demographics involved to understand the target audience and direct branding efforts accordingly," says SpendEdge procurement expert Sumit Yadav. This public relations services procurement research report has estimated the following cost drivers to influence the category growth in the coming years: Growing demand for PR services from the FMCG industry will drive the market growth Rising labor costs pose significant risks in this market Purchase the full market intelligence report on public relations services here! SpendEdge is now offering limited-time discounts on report purchases. Buy two reports and get the third one for free SpendEdge's procurement market intelligence reports for the marketing category provide detailed supply market forecasts and cost drivers that impact category growth. Such information will help procurement managers as well as the suppliers to determine the total cost of ownership and change their procurement strategies accordingly. Additionally, SpendEdge's reports provide category management insights and information on the procurement best practices for the category. Report scope snapshot: Public relations services Category pricing insights Pricing outlook Total cost of ownership analysis Supplier cost structure Interested to know more about the scope of our market intelligence reports? Download a FREE sample Cost-Saving Opportunities Supplier-side levers Buyer-side levers Quantifying cost savings by negotiation strategies Want customized information from the public relations services procurement research report? Get in touch Category ecosystem Competitiveness index for suppliers Buyer power Supplier power score To view the table of contents of this market intelligence report, Download a FREE sample Do you purchase multiple reports in a year? Our subscription platform, SpendEdge Insights, provides ready-to-use procurement research reports for multiple categories. Now access latest supplier news, innovation landscape, markets insights, supplier tracking, and much more at the click of a button. Start your 7-day FREE trial now Related Reports: Global Media Planning and Buying Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report Global Marketing Automation Software Category- Procurement Market Intelligence Report About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more, https://www.spendedge.com/request-free-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005074/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us LONDON, January 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The competition launches as Appear Here experience demand for shop space grow by 296% in the UK during 2018 Space for Ideas will provide the chance for 4 aspiring entrepreneurs to win a two-week free store in the centre of London , Paris , New York or LA Competition is backed by iZettle and Horizn Studios Appear Here, the leading marketplace for short-term retail space, has announced the launch of its third Space for Ideas competition. Space for Ideas mission is to discover and launch the next big retail idea, challenging entrepreneurs, emerging brands and young designers everywhere to turn their ideas into reality. Appear Here will provide winners with a free store, design and mentoring from industry experts. The top four ideas will each receive a two-week flagship store space in one of the world's top retail destinations: London, Paris, New York and new for 2019, LA. Plus, they'll receive the mentorship, design advice and budget to bring their ideas to life. The competition comes amidst a stellar year from Appear Here that saw demand for space grow by 296% in the UK. Amidst accusations by some of the 'death of the high street', the Appear Here community has consistently bucked the trend, proving that there's still a fundamental place on the high street for great ideas and small businesses. The judging panel includes some of the most disruptive, innovative names in retail, fashion, technology and media, including fashion and commerce powerhouses Diane Von Furstenberg (founder of DVF), Natalie Massenet (founder of Net-a-Porter) and Dylan Jones (Editor GQ). The competition is backed by iZettle and HoriznStudios. The greatest challenge many entrepreneurs face is finding affordable retail space and raising the funds to bring their ideas to life, so Space for Ideas gives emerging brands and young designers the leg up they need to get started. Ross Bailey, Founder & CEO of Appear Here, said: "I truly believe that the right idea, given the right space to grow, has the power to change the world. As retail undergoes a period of unprecedented change, providing a platform for transformational ideas has never been more important. "In the UK this year Appear Here saw a 296% growth in demand for our space, people are yearning for an outlet for their creativity and we're eager to provide the destination. "I want to see ideas that embody the need for human experience and showmanship. At Appear Here we believe that a store is more than the sum of its parts, It has the power to be the heartbeat of a community. Retailers are defined not by what they sell, but by the experience they promise, and we want the winning ideas to reflect that." Net-a-Porter Founder, Appear Here investor and Space for Ideas judge Natalie Massenet said: "In my experience, the greatest challenge many entrepreneurs face is turning an idea into a reality. Great ideas deserve to be seen, and Space for Ideas delivers this opportunity. "Appear Here are giving aspiring entrepreneurs across the world the chance fulfil their dreams. The flagship store cities of London, Paris, New York and LA, sit at the forefront of the retail sector and provide the ultimate springboard for the lucky winners." Edward Hallett, Managing Director at iZettle UK added: "Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the backbone of the economy and create a world full of choice and diversity. They are what's keeping the high street alive and they're changing the future of retail. We're thrilled to partner with Appear Here on this competition and look forward to giving the winners the tools they need to grow their business." How it works Starting today, January 10th, through midnight on 18th February, brands can enter through the Space for Ideas website appearhere.co.uk/spaceforideas. NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES and SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwood Capital, LLC ("Rockwood"), a private real estate investment firm, today announced that it has added two senior professionals to its Capital and Client Strategies team: Tara McCann, as Managing Director, and Injong Kim, as Director. Both will be based in Rockwood's New York City office. Ms. McCann will manage Rockwood's client relations and fundraising initiatives on a global basis and will sit on the firm's Investment Strategy Committee. Mr. Kim will focus on client relations and fundraising in Asia. Ms. McCann and Mr. Kim will both be responsible for the development and execution of capital strategies and investment products for domestic and international investors. Ms. McCann has over 20 years of experience in real estate finance. Prior to joining Rockwood she held senior roles in strategy development, investor relations, acquisitions, and investment banking. Most recently she was a Managing Director at USAA Real Estate where she led strategy development and capital raising for the firm's affiliate, Square Mile Capital. "We are delighted to welcome Tara to Rockwood," said Tyson Skillings, Managing Partner. "Her leadership skills and deep industry experience, including capital raising, strategy development and transaction underwriting, make her ideally suited for this role." Mr. Kim has over 11 years of experience in real estate finance. Prior to joining Rockwood, Mr. Kim was a Senior Portfolio Manager for the National Pension Service of the Republic of Korea ("NPS") where he focused on global real estate investments and portfolio management. His responsibilities at NPS included direct investments, fund investments, joint ventures, co-investments and other private portfolio equity. "We are very pleased that Injong has joined the team," said Walter Schmidt, Senior Managing Partner. "We believe that we will benefit greatly from his expertise, investor mindset and relationships with real estate professionals all over the world." About Rockwood Capital Rockwood Capital, LLC (Rockwood) is a real estate investment management firm founded in 1995 that provides equity capital combined with real estate operating expertise for the repositioning, recapitalization, development and redevelopment of residential, office, research and development, retail and hotel space in key markets throughout the United States. Rockwood and its principals have invested on behalf of their clients approximately $28.9 billion of real estate through commingled funds and separate accounts. Rockwood is a 76-person organization with offices in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Los Angeles, CA that manages a portfolio of approximately $3.6 billion of net equity value in approximately $7.1 billion of gross real estate value as of 9/30/2018. Rockwood's investors include sovereign wealth funds, public and private pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, funds of funds, high net worth individuals and family offices. NEW YORK and TORONTO, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), a Canadian listing exchange recognized as a Qualified Foreign Exchange in the U.S., Kapoor Kapital, and OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, announce that they will co-host the exclusive Canada Cannabis House at 64 Promenade in Davos, Switzerland taking place January 22-25, 2019. With the rapidly advancing global expansion of cannabis legalization, this iconic international location will convene industry leaders and senior executives from publicly-traded cannabis companies influenced by the Canadian listing and trading experience. With support from lead sponsor Canaccord Genuity, the leading investment bank to the global cannabis industry, the exclusive Canada Cannabis House will be situated at the center of all activity in Davos. Among the events taking place at Canada Cannabis House, senior executives from CSE, OTC Markets Group and Canaccord Genuity will join leading cannabis industry associations, industry thought leaders and C-suite executives representing the expanding roster of private, U.S.-quoted, and Canadian-listed cannabis companies. Confirmed participants include: Acreage Holdings (OTCQX: ACRGF, CSE: ACRG.U) Alvit LCS Pharma CannaTech Global Canndoc Ltd. Cura Cannabis Solutions iCAN | Israel Cannabis Kannaswiss Plena Global Holdings Inc. TheraCann International Radient Technologies Inc. (OTCQX: RDDTF) This unique four-day event will provide a comprehensive overview of trading, cross-listings and related capital raising options for the global portfolio of early-stage, growth-oriented, innovative and entrepreneurial cannabis companies. A series of panel discussions will cover topics such as: Cannabis in the Capital Markets - What's Getting Funded Next? How to Capitalize on the US Cannabis Opportunity - Navigating Regulatory Uncertainty The Next Investment Opportunities in Global Cannabis Expansion Exporting Cannabis Innovation to the World from Israel Richard Carleton CEO of the CSE, outlines the many reasons why this is the ideal time to share the CSE's value proposition to the global audience in Davos: "The CSE is pleased to showcase Canada's leadership position in the development of the global cannabis industry to the Davos community. Canadian companies have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the corporate finance and policy development as well as the technologies that optimize the cultivation, extraction and delivery of cannabis and hemp-based products. As the home to the greatest number of public cannabis and hemp-related companies, the CSE is in a unique position to provide a forum for these companies to share their capabilities with peers from around the world". OTC Markets Group, a regular collaborator with the Canadian Securities Exchange, specifically on international endeavours, adds the following: "Our alliance with the CSE continues to present today's innovative cannabis companies with a streamlined approach to enhance their North American profile and gain secondary access to the broad pool of U.S. investors through cross-trading," said Jason Paltrowitz, Director, OTC Markets Group International Ltd. and EVP of Corporate Services at OTC Markets. "OTC Markets Group is proud to be at the forefront of the conversations taking place at Davos surrounding cannabis and the exponential growth in publicly-traded securities from this sector." As of December 31, 2018, there are 446 cannabis-related securities trading on OTC Markets Group's OTCQX, OTCQB, and Pink Markets with a total market cap of $20.75bn. MedMen Enterprises Inc. (OTCQX: MMNFF), Green Thumb Industries Inc. (OTCQX: GTBIF) and MariMed Inc. (OTCQB: MRMD) are among the top 5 cannabis-related companies traded on OTC Markets based upon market cap. The CSE also ended the year with a total of 124 cannabis-related issues, representing an enterprise value over $25bn. For more information on the Canada Cannabis House, please visit https://www.thecse.com/en/about/event/canada-cannabis-house-at-davos About CSE - Canadian Securities Exchange The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) is home to more than 460 uniquely listed issues covering a broad range of industry sectors. The exchange provides trade execution, smart routing, risk management, compliance and market information services for Canadian listed securities. Recognized as an exchange by the Ontario Securities Commission, the CSE is designed to facilitate the capital formation process for public companies through a streamlined approach to company regulation that emphasizes disclosure and the provision of efficient secondary market trading services for investors. Learn more at www.thecse.com About OTC Markets Group Inc. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com. OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed About Canaccord Genuity Canaccord Genuity is the global capital markets division of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc., offering institutional and corporate clients idea-driven investment banking, merger and acquisition, research, sales and trading services from offices in North America, UK & Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Our diverse team of capital markets and advisory professionals has deep industry and transactional expertise in key growth sectors of the global economy. We are committed to providing valued services to our clients throughout the entire lifecycle of their business and operating as a gold standard independent investment bank - expansive in resources and reach, but targeted in industry expertise, market focus and individual client attention. We are driven by your success. More information is available at www.cgf.com Media Contacts OTC Markets Group Inc.: +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com CSE - Canadian Securities Exchange: (416) 367-7360, richard.carleton@thecse.com Kapoor Capital: 001416-602-6396, Kapoorvik@gmail.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/322662/otc_markets_group_logo.jpg LONDON, January 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- -Former UK foreign secretaries Jack Straw and Lord William Hague, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad, and members of the Lai Dai Han community to address an event in the British Houses of Parliament- Jack Straw, former UK foreign secretary and international ambassador for Justice for Lai Dai Han (JLDH), will chair an event on ending sexual violence in conflict in the British Houses of Parliament on 16th January. JLDH represents the 'Lai Dai Han', the thousands of dual heritage Korean-Vietnamese children born during the Vietnam War. The event will bring together campaigners for the prevention of sexual violence and parliamentarians into a discussion on what steps need to be taken to end it for good. Members of the Lai Dai Han community will address parliamentarians on the social stigma faced by survivors of sexual violence and how to provide justice for victims. Other speakers include: Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, UK Secretary of State for International Development and Minister for Women and Equalities; Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the UK Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations; Lord William Hague, former UK foreign secretary and co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative; and Nadia Murad, Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2018. The event is sponsored by Wayne David MP, the Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Vietnam. Jack Straw said: "The Vietnamese victims of sexual violence and their children, the Lai Dai Han deserve recognition and an opportunity for closure. "We must demonstrate to the world the importance of following through on commitments to end sexual violence in conflict for good." To read Jack Straw's remarks in full, please visit: http://www.laidaihanjustice.org/press-releases/ ABOUT THE LAI DAI HAN Justice for Lai Dai Han gives a voice to the victims and their children and campaigns for South Korea to recognise and investigate the allegations of widespread rape and sexual violence. Justice for Lai Dai Han works with policy makers, writers and artists to ensure this injustice is finally recognised, alongside fundraising efforts on behalf of the Lai Dai Han and their families. Our work seeks to raise public awareness, to allow political and community leaders to connect with the victims of sexual violence to understand their suffering first hand, and to create public art as a permanent reminder of the plight of the Lai Dai Han. http://www.laidaihanjustice.org 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. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2019 /On January 6, 2019, the 4th China CEO New Year Summit Annual Awards Ceremony was grandly opened in Beijing. The Chinese CEO New Year Summit has been held for the fourth time, helping the outstanding entrepreneurs who are constantly striving for the economy to take off. Carrying forward the entrepreneurial spirit in the new era, the conference arranged a review of 2018 and empowering the future, the venture capital market, new technology by blockchain, the roundtable forum, China Brand Economy Research "2018 new economic field most creative CEO" , dinner and other topics. That night, CCTV hostess Liu Shuyuan announced the winners of awards. Liao Wang, founder and CEO of the Atoshi, "The Most Creative CEO for New Economy in 2018". Liao Wang said: Atoshi will use the blockchain to empower the world. As the most creative CEO, in May 2018, Liao Wang made a famous assertion at International Blockchain Economic Conference held at the Dubai Marriott Marquis Hotel: "The cryptocurrency will replace the US dollar as an international currency and foreign reserve" After Bitcoin rises to 1 million US dollars, it will fall into 1 US dollar." And he launched a new project called Atoshi, aim to be the currency to be used between countries. Liao Wang believes that the currency used between countries should not be issued by one country, but should be issued by the blockchain network, allowing the people of the world to control themselves through blockchain technology. Atoshi is based on the excellent cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin. The more decentralized POD algorithm is used by atoshi to solve the problem that the bitcoin computing power is controlled by mining pool which may lead the Bitcoin network to be attacked. This new POD algorithm is an innovative concept. The POD algorithm is named by Atoshi, which is the abbreviation of Power Of Device. The user have to contribute twice computing power as he needed from the network to get free transaction fees. The more user, the more computing power, the faster the transfer will be. Each user is a node, so there is no limit to TPS, far more than Bitcoin's 7TPS, Ethereum's 15TPS. Each user contributes idle computing power, so it is more decentralized and avoids the existence of huge mining pool. Atoshi will have the advantages of bitcoin and solve the shortcomings of bitcoin. It has the same advantages as bitcoin without the disadvantage of gold. With times passing by, Atoshi will become a dominant currency for transactions between countries, and the Nobel Prize winner in economics, Hayek's vision"Denationalisation of Money" will be fulfilled. Atoshi aim to send money everywhere in the world under a second with 0 transfer fee. And the efficiency of international payments is increased from the current 3-5 working days to 1 second. This increase in efficiency will help to increase the productivity of the entire world with subversive changes. "Let the world have a better cryptocurrency" "Empower the world." Sincerely hope this great project will be even brighter in the future. liao@atoshi.org SOURCE: Atoshi View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/532411/ATOSHI-CEO-Liao-Wang-won-award-The-Most-Creative-CEO-in-China LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2019 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 131,029 incentive stock options and 130,870 deferred share units to certain directors of the Company as non-cash directors' fees for Q4 2018 (the "Director Grant"). All incentive stock options issued under the Director Grant are exercisable for a period of ten years at $0.34 per share and vest immediately from the date of grant. As of the date hereof, a total of 24,750,126 common shares of the Company are reserved for issuance under the Company's incentive stock plan, representing 5.3% of the issued and outstanding share capital. 2,933,603 common shares of the Company are reserved for issuance under the Company's deferred share unit plan. For information on this press release, please contact: Dragos Tanase President & CEO Phone: +44 7799 469694 dt@gabrielresources.com Richard Brown Chief Commercial Officer Phone: +44 7748 760276 richard.brown@gabrielresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Further Information About Gabriel Gabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal focus has been the exploration and development of the Ro?ia Montana gold and silver project in Romania ("Rosia Montana Project"). The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license ("License") for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Ro?ia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Ro?ia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company. It is anticipated that the Rosia Montana Project would bring over US$24 billion (at US$1,200/oz gold) to Romania as potential direct and indirect contribution to GDP and generate thousands of employment opportunities. Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group (as defined below) focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. In this press release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the uncertainties associated with: the ICSID Arbitration, actions by the Romanian Government, conditions or events impacting the Company's ability to fund its operations (including but not limited to the completion of further funding noted above) or service its debt, exploration, development and operation of mining properties and the overall impact of misjudgments made in good faith in the course of preparing forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 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, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "is of the view", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward- looking statements. Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation: delay or extension to the duration of the ICSID Arbitration; required disclosure, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration against Romania; changes in the liquidity and capital resources of Gabriel, and the group of companies of which it is directly or indirectly parent ("Group"); access to funding to support the Group's continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future; equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of new or existing securities in part or in whole to Common Shares; the ability of the Company to maintain a continued listing on the TSX Venture Exchange or any regulated public market for trading securities; the impact on business strategy and its implementation in Romania of: unforeseen historic acts of corruption, uncertain fiscal investigations; uncertain legal enforcement both for and against the Group and political and social instability; regulatory, political and economic risks associated with operating in a foreign jurisdiction including changes in laws, governments and legal regimes and interpretation of existing and future fiscal and other legislation; volatility of currency exchange rates, metal prices and metal production; the availability and continued participation in operational or other matters pertaining to the Group of certain key employees and consultants; and risks normally incident to the exploration, development and operation of mining properties. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in the Company's affairs since the date of this press release that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with or furnished to the relevant securities regulators or documents presented on the Company's website. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to the Company's disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies which can be viewed online at www.sedar.com. ENDS SOURCE: Gabriel Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/532410/Issuance-of-Incentive-Stock-Options-and-Deferred-Share-Units COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT 11 JANUARY 2019 TRADING UPDATE FOR THE THIRD QUARTER ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 Financial highlights YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP (YNAP) and Watchfinder.co.uk (Watchfinder) consolidated in the Group's accounts since 1 May and 1 June 2018, respectively Sales in the quarter increased by 25% at actual exchange rates and by 24% at constant exchange rates compared to the prior year period Excluding YNAP and Watchfinder, sales rose by 6% at actual exchange rates and by 5% at constant exchange rates - Growth in most regions, with a double digit increase in mainland China compensating decreases in the Middle East and Europe - Increases across all distribution channels and most business areas October-December 2018 m October-December 2017* m Change at constant exchange rates versus prior period (%) Change at actual exchange rates versus prior period (%) Sales by region Europe 1 147 854 +35% +34% Asia Pacific 1 389 1 182 +17% +17% Americas 801 561 +41% +43% Japan 344 294 +14% +17% Middle East and Africa 234 236 -3% - Sales by distribution channel Retail 2 049 1 924 +6% +7% Online retail 694 59 - - Wholesale 1 172 1 144 +1% +2% Sales by business area Jewellery Maisons 1 985 1 829 +8% +9% Specialist Watchmakers 790 781 - +1% Online Distributors 638 - - - Other 525 517 +1% +1% Inter-segment eliminations -23 - - - Total Sales 3 915 3 127 +24% +25% * Prior period comparatives have been re-presented to include royalty income received within total sales. Review of trading in the three month period ended 31 December 2018 at constant exchange rates versus the prior year period With the consolidation of YNAP and Watchfinder regrouped for the first time under the newly created Online Distributors business area, Group sales grew by 24%. YNAP posted double digit growth across all regions with solid performances across all its business lines. Watchfinder's sales expanded more moderately. In order to provide meaningful comparisons to the prior year period, the comments below relate to current period sales excluding YNAP and Watchfinder. Sales grew in all regions, with the exception of the Middle East and Europe. During the latter part of the quarter, sales in Europe were affected by social unrest in France which negatively impacted tourism and led to store closures for six consecutive Saturdays. The disposal of Lancel in June 2018 also weighed on the year-on-year comparison. A 10% increase in sales in Asia Pacific reflected double digit sales growth in mainland China and good increases in other main markets. Sales growth in Hong Kong slowed, primarily due to the strength of the Hong Kong dollar versus the renminbi that resulted in lower tourist spending. Sales in the Americas rose by 9%, benefitting from good performance by the Jewellery Maisons and the Other business area. In Japan, a 7% expansion in sales was driven by continued domestic and tourist spending as well as the impact of newly opened directly operated boutiques. Unfavourable currency movements and a strong basis of comparison weighed on sales in the Middle East and Africa, which decreased by 13% over the period. The retail channel posted a 5% increase in sales, with growth slowing in December due to the above mentioned temporary store closures in France and a strong comparative base for high jewellery. The wholesale channel registered a 1% growth in sales, reflecting ongoing cautious watch inventory management and distribution optimisation initiatives. The 8% sales progression at Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels was driven by jewellery and watches. Specialist Watchmakers' sales were in line with the prior year period, with lower wholesale sales offset by higher sales in the Specialist Watchmakers' directly operated boutiques. The 1% sales increase in the Group's other businesses included the impact of the disposal of Lancel. Excluding this impact, sales rose by a mid-single digit rate. The Group's net cash position at 31 December 2018 amounted to 2.3 billion (2017: 5.1 billion) with a gross cash position at 6.6 billion following the 4.0 billion corporate bond issued in March 2018. Trading in the nine month period ended 31 December 2018 Sales over the nine month period to December increased by 23% at actual exchange rates and by 24% at constant exchange rates, broadly in line with the positive trend seen in the first six months of the financial year. They are presented in Appendix 1a. Excluding YNAP and Watchfinder, sales for the nine month period rose by 6% at actual exchange rates and by 7% at constant exchange rates. Corporate calendar The Group's results for the current financial year will be announced on Friday, 17 May 2019, and its annual general meeting will be held on Wednesday, 11 September 2019 in Geneva. About Richemont Richemont owns a portfolio of leading international 'Maisons' which are recognised for their distinctive heritage, craftsmanship and creativity. The Group operates in four business areas: Jewellery Maisons, being Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels; Specialist Watchmakers, being A. Lange & Sohne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Officine Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; Online Distributors, being YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP and Watchfinder; and Other, including Alfred Dunhill, Azzedine Alaia, Chloe, Montblanc and Peter Millar. For the financial year ended 31 March 2018, Richemont reported sales of 10 979 million, operating profit of 1 844 million and profit for the year of 1 221 million. Richemont 'A' shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont's primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index ('SMI') of leading stocks. Richemont South African Depository Receipts are listed in Johannesburg, Richemont's secondary listing. Contacts Media enquiries Sophie Cagnard pressoffice@cfrinfo.net; +41 22 721 3507 richemont@teneobluerubicon.com Analyst enquiries James Fraser investor.relations@cfrinfo.net; +41 22 721 3003 Investor enquiries Sophie Cagnard investor.relations@cfrinfo.net; +41 22 721 3003 Further information available at www.richemont.com/investor-relations (http://www.richemont.com/investor-relations) www.richemont.com/media-cfr/company-announcements (http://www.richemont.com/media-cfr/company-announcements) Disclaimer The financial information contained in this announcement is unaudited. This document contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Richemont's forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's business and performance, the economy and other future conditions and forecasts of future events, circumstances and results. As with any projection or forecast, forward-looking statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Group's control. Richemont does not undertake to update, nor does it have any obligation to provide updates of or to revise, any forward-looking statements. Appendix 1a: Sales for the nine months ended 31 December 2018 April-December 2018 m April-December 2017* m Change at constant exchange rates versus prior period (%) Change at actual exchange rates versus prior period (%) Sales by region Europe 3 218 2 491 +30% +29% Asia Pacific 3 937 3 357 +19% +17% Americas 2 014 1 452 +41% +39% Japan 878 773 +14% +14% Middle East and Africa 676 674 +2% - Sales by distribution channel Retail 5 606 5 153 +10% +9% Online retail 1 653 123 - - Wholesale 3 464 3 471 +1% - Sales by business area Jewellery Maisons 5 439 4 993 +10% +9% Specialist Watchmakers 2 340 2 308 +3% +1% Online Distributors 1 531 - - - Other 1 460 1 446 +2% +1% Inter-segment eliminations -47 - - - Total Sales 10 723 8 747 +24% +23% * Prior period comparatives have been re-presented to include royalty income received within total sales. Appendix 1b: Foreign exchange rates Average exchange rates against the euro April-December 2018 April-December 2017 United States dollar 1.17 1.15 Japanese yen 129 129 Swiss franc 1.15 1.13 Renminbi 7.80 7.72 Actual exchange rates for the period are calculated using the average daily closing rates against the euro. In terms of sales at constant exchange rates, average exchange rates for the year ended 31 March 2018 are used to convert local currency sales into euros for the current three month period, the current nine month period and comparative figures. Exchange rate translation effects are thereby eliminated from the reported sales performance. Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA 50, Chemin de la Chenaie | Case Postale 30 | 1293 Bellevue | Geneva | Switzerland Telephone +41 (0)22 721 3500 www.richemont.com (http://www.richemont.com) NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Danske Bank A/S ("Danske" or the "Company") (OTC MKTS: DNKEY). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Danske and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here to join a class action] On September 5, 2017, Reuters reported that Danske had hired the former head of Denmark's intelligence agency to help it in its effort to counter money-laundering claims. Then, on September 21, 2017, the Company issued a press release revealing that it had "expand[ed] its ongoing investigation into the situation at its Estonian branch." Two months later, on December 21, 2017, Reuters reported that Danske "had been fined 12.5 million Danish crowns ($2 million)" by Denmark's Financial Supervisory Authority (the "DFSA") "for violating anti-money laundering rules in relation to the monitoring of transactions to and from correspondent banks," and that Danske was "examining whether its Lithuanian and Latvian branches had been involved in money laundering, expanding an investigation beyond its Estonian operations." On May 3, 2018, Reuters reported the DFSA issued a report stating it had identified "serious weaknesses" in Danske's governance and that the Company "was exposed 'to significantly higher compliance and reputational risks than previously assessed.'" On July 18, 2018, Danske stated that it wished to pay back approximately $230 million earned in connection with its alleged role in an international money laundering scheme involving illicit funds from Russia, Azerbaijan, and Moldova, calculated based on profit from Danske's Estonian office. On this news, Danske's American depositary receipt price fell $1.43, or 9.42%, to close at $13.81 on July 18, 2018. On September 14, 2018, The Wall Street Journal disclosed that a whistleblower had approached the SEC at least two years earlier, and, as a result, U.S. law enforcement agencies had begun investigating the scandal. On October 23, 2018, the full extent of the Company's misconduct was releveled when The Wall Street Journal published an article disclosing that in 2013 the whistleblower had alerted Danske's senior executives and that Danske sought to silence the whistleblower for years. Upon the full revelation of the Company's misconduct and the extent to which it relied upon the illegal profits, the price of the Company's American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") had plummeted approximately 54%, from a high of $20.90 on February 16, 2018, to a low of $9.50 on October 23, 2018. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 888-476-6529 ext. 9980 A few days, Income Tax raid at the residence of Sandalwood actor and producers came across as a shocker. In the 3-day-long raid, Puneeth Rajkumar, Shivarajkumar, Yash and Sudeep were interrogated. Following the raid, it was revealed that Yash has a loan of Rs 30 Crores from two different banks and the offcials reportedly acquired diamond, platinum and gold at the KGF star's residence. According to Filmibeat Kannada's reports, the Income Tax officials conducted a raid at Yash's auditor's office yesterday! Apparently, the IT officials visited Yash's auditor Basavaraj's office to look into documents regarding the actor's property and assests. The raid took place last night. Also, Yash has received a notice for further verification. He will have to go to the Income Tax office in Bengaluru to provide details associted with the records acquired during the raid. Not only Yash, but actor Sudeep is also reported to be visiting the IT office today. Previously, Puneeth Rajkumar and his brother Shivarajkumar were called in for further verification. Puneeth, who spoke to media after meeting with the officials, refused to give out any detail regarding the procedure. Simlar to Puneeth, Shivarajkumar too was hesitant to talk about the raid. Durig an interaction with the media after the raid, Shivarajkumar said, "I am only an actor and I am not much aware of the procedure. My manager and accountant will be looking into it" MOST READ : Ellide Illeethanka's Haripriya Shares Pictures From Her Haldi Shastra! Bride-to-be Looks Radiant According to the news reports, about Rs 109 Crores worth of unrecorded property and assets were found collectively during the raid. However, they are yet to reveal how much of the total property belongs to each actor and producer. Nata Sarvabhouma Grabs More Attention Shivanna's fans are highly excited about Kavacha's release next week. But, seems like Puneeth's fans are already celebrating Nata Sarvabhouma prior to its release. Going by the social media trend, it can be said that the hype surrounding Puneeth's film is way more than Kavacha. Will this affect Kavacha's success? Well, we need to wait and watch. Action Vs Crime Power Star Puneeth's Nata Sarvabhouma is an action film with original storyline. This alone creates a curiosity factor among the fans. Though, Shivarajkumar's Kavacha has already grabbed a lot of attention, it is a remake of Malyalam movie Oppam. So the viewers would have an idea about the story line. Puneeth's Songs Are Trending Kavacha has some beautiful tracks. The songs have already received lot of view on YouTube. But, Nata Sarvabhouma songs have gone viral ever since their launch. Especially, the song Open The Bottle written by Yograj Bhatt has become the anthem of the mass. Will Vasu's Directorial Impress Fans? Kavacha is G.V.R Vasu's directorial debut. Though the movie is a remake of Malyalam film, the director said about 50 % of the script has been altered to meet the needs of Kannada audience. The experimentation on the story somewhere makes the fans apprehensive. Mahesh Bhatt's daughter, Pooja Bhatt, who is returning to the silver screen after a gap of 18 years with Sadak 2, had said goodbye to acting but then it pulled her back. She believes women start blooming in their forties but somehow they are not represented correctly on the screen whereas men continue to play characters half their age. "I had said bye-bye to acting in a way but once an actor always an actor. Life has got other plans for me. Like I did not want to be an actor, I wanted to be an architect or astronaut and 'Daddy' happened and the rest is history. "I felt I was happy being in the back, launching people like Sunny Leone, repackaging Richa Chadda, John Abraham but life had other plans and it includes 'Sadak 2' and a web series," Pooja told PTI in an interview. Known for her films such as Daddy, Sadak and Zakhm, Pooja will reprise her role in the sequel of Sadak, that marks the return of her filmmaker father Mahesh Bhatt to direction. Emraan Hashmi Changes Name To 'WHY Emraan Hashmi' On Social Media Pooja, whose last film as an actor was "Everybody Says I'm Fine" in 2001, will also be seen in a web series based on Abheek Barua's book called 'A City of Death'. Set in Kolkata, the story revolves around an alcoholic female cop in her 40s, who is sent to investigate a crime of passion. Sadak 2, Sanjay Dutt and Pooja will be seen playing the older couple while Pooja's younger sister Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur are the young pair. "I am glad when I am coming back to acting I am getting to play my age," Pooja said. "One thing I do not see happening is women of certain age being represented correctly. We have to evolve conceptually. Men don't age in India. Women who are younger then them are suddenly playing the role of a mother," she said. Varun Snapped Leaving For Next Schedule Of Kalank Varun Dhawan was snapped at the private airport in Mumbai, leaving for his next schedule of Kalank in Gwalior. Varun was last seen in the movie Sui Dhaaga' alongside Anushka Sharma, and was highly praised for his performance in it. Varun and Alia, a much loved on-screen pair, will be seen together once more in Karan Johar's big production, Kalank. Doesn't He Look Cool? Varun looked absolutely snazzy in a blue t-shirt and denims. His brown leather jacket stole the show, making him look totally cool. Just a day before, Varun had been snapped with Alia and other popular young talent from Bollywood, heading to New Delhi to meet PM Modi. Varun was suited up for the occasion and he looked dapper. Alia Joins Varun At The Airport Alia Bhatt joined her co-star from Kalank at the airport today, as they headed to Gwalior to shoot for Kalank. All eyes are on Alia Bhatt who has raised the bar for herself and other actors in the film industry, dishing out one wonderful performance after another. Alia's next release Gully Boy's trailer just came out and it has got everyone super excited. We all can't wait to see her deliver yet another awesome performance! Grabbing Eyeballs With Her Cute Sweatshirt Known for her preference for comfy airport looks in the recent past, Alia upped the style quotient a little by going casual-cool today. Her grey sweatshirt with a big heart on it grabbed eyeballs at the airport. She put together her look with a pair of denims, white platform sneakers, and cool old-fashioned sunglasses. What do you think of her airport look? Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas had a dream wedding in December 2018. The couple later hosted a grand reception for their friends and colleagues in Mumbai as well as New Delhi that saw the whos who of B-town in attendance. The couple has been holidaying together ever since. First they were in Switzerland with Nicks brother Joe Jonas and his fiancee Sophie Turner and a couple of days back, they headed to the Caribbean for some alone time. View this post on Instagram Palm trees, Ocean breeze... AAAAAAAAAAaAAAAiAAAAAA A post shared by Team Priyanka Chopra (@team_pc_) on Jan 10, 2019 at 8:56pm PST Weve gotten hold of a few pictures and a video from their time there. Nick and PeeCee seem to be having quite a time there. The couple is seen posing together for a picture looking super stylish and a video shows PeeCee swinging with excitement as Nick captures the perfect moment on a selfie video.Check out their palpable joy for yourselves... Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Gov. Jim Justice, somewhat belatedly, has come around to admit that the states vaccination effort has hit a wall and that, at its current pace, we will not reach herd immunity anytime soon. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Nine primary schools have won farm-related prizes after entering a UK-wide education competition organised by the NFU. The union has announced the winners of its national STEM competition, Farmvention, which encouraged children to design a tractor and a new snack made from British ingredients. The winners will be showcasing their designs at an exhibition at the House of Commons during British Science Week, where the overall champion will be decided. The competition, launched in September, asked children at primary schools to submit entries that solved one of three farming-related issues using Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, referred to as STEM subjects. The NFU received more than 1,000 entries for the competition. The overall champion will win the grand prize of having their school turned into a farm for the day. NFU President, Minette Batters said: This is the NFUs first national competition for primary schools and there has been an incredible amount of enthusiasm from both teachers and pupils. With more than a thousand schools entering their designs, the competition clearly demonstrates that food and farming has a place in education; not only to engage young children in STEM subjects, but to develop their understanding about rural life and where their food comes from. Competition winners KS1 Tractor of the future: Settle C of E Primary, Settle, North East KS2L Tractor of the future: Afeefa Haroon Ronald Ross Primary School, London, South East KS2U Tractor of the future: Tracticians Armitage C of E Primary School, Manchester, North West Healthy Hens KS1: Class 2H Glascote Academy, Tamworth, West Midlands Healthy Hens KS2L: Oscar Brownmoore - St. Aidan's VC Primary School, London, South East Healthy Hens KS2U: Emily Bailey Bridgewater Primary School, Northampton, East Midlands A Great British Snack KS1: Dosbarth y Gleision Ysgol Bro Idris, Dolgellau, Wales A Great British Snack KS2L: Toby Barribel Wonersh and Shamley Green Primary School, Guildford, South East A Great British Snack KS2U: Team Fruity Flow St John Fisher, Catholic Primary School, Coventry, West Midlands The Scottish Government have performed a partial u-turn on funding for the country's remote hill farmers, retaining less favoured area support at 80 percent for both 2019 and 2020. Earlier this week, the Scottish Government published changes to funding for the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS), stating: LFASS support will be retained at 80% in 2019 and 40% in 2020. But speaking in a debate on future rural policy and support in Scotland, Scottish Government's Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, partially reversed this position and instead announced that this funding will remain at 80% of the current level for both 2019 and 2020. He said: I am acutely aware of the continuing importance of LFASS for farmers and crofters operating in the most remote and marginalised areas. Unlike England and Wales, who discontinued their equivalent schemes some years ago, Scotland continues to provide this additional financial support that acknowledges the difficulties for some farmers, particularly in hill and upland areas, and crofters. The continuing uncertainty over Brexit is not helpful. We are having to transition out of LFASS without being able to create a new system to move into. The sheep sector have heavily criticised the cuts to hill farming support, with NFU Scotland calling the budget slash unacceptable. LFASS payments are seen as a vital vital financial boost to those farmers who are trying forge a living out of some of the hardest land in the country. However, compulsory changes to EU regulations mean such payments must drop by 20% this year, but the SNP-led Government has been criticised for going further. 'Catastrophic impact' Donald Cameron, Scottish Conservative shadow secretary for the rural economy, welcomed the u-turn, saying Mr Ewing was well warned of the catastrophic impact cuts will have to Scotland's hill farmers. The Chair of the Scottish Crofting Federation, Russell Smith, said just yesterday that Reducing the Less Favoured Areas support to 80% of current rates for 2019 sends out a very negative message, but we can live with it but to then cut it to a mere 40% for 2020 will be ruinous, he said. Hill farmers will still face a 20% cut over the next few years and that will have serious effects on farmers and crofters in less favoured areas. Going forward, the Cabinet Secretary must ensure that those farming on less favourable land are properly supported. Mr Cameron added: Once again the SNP government has been dragged to a sensible funding position kicking and screaming. Mr Ewing has discussed the possibility of further flexibilities in the proposed regulation when he met the EU's Agricultural Commissioner Phil Hogan, and has lodged proposed amendments. A 64-year-old livestock market in Dorset is now closed and will shortly be demolished to make way for a supermarket, despite campaigner pressure to keep it open. The final sale at Shaftesbury Cattle Market, founded in 1955, finalised its operations at 3.15pm Thursday (10 January), ending a long, local tradition. The cattle market site saw a steady decline in recent years, according to North Dorset District Council (NDDC). The site is now being sold to Lidl. The District Council owns the land, which was leased to Southern Counties Auctioneers since 1967. But cattle sales were in decline and auctions were held fortnightly rather than weekly. The NDDC eventually agreed in April 2018 to sell the livestock mart despite local campaigner pressure to keep it open. However, the campaigners lost their legal bid to stop the council in October 2018. Michael Roake, North Dorset District Council's cabinet member for environment, said of the market's sale: A new supermarket for the town will attract more visitors to Shaftesbury, boosting the economy and creating more jobs. Dorset was once the home of Sturminster Newton market, one of the largest calf markets in the UK, but that closed in 1997. A livestock market also ceased to operate in Dorchester. Shafestbury Cattle Market was the last livestock market to exist in Dorset. An agri-tech company looking to progress vertical indoor farming has secured 1 million in their efforts to feed the world's growing population. The UKs innovation agency, Innovate UK, has awarded LettUs Grow a grant of 399,650 to lead a 700,000 project, alongside a further 90,000 grant from the Green Challenge and several additional research grants. The Bristol-based startup also raised 460,000 from ClearlySo, Bethnal Green Ventures, and the University of Bristol Enterprise Fund II. This funding has allowed the company to scale operations and drive forward product development to access the rapidly growing global market for sustainable farming technology. The Bristol-based startup said it wants to help increase food resilience and security in the face of climate change. By 2050, humanity must increase food production by 70% to feed over 9 billion people. The company says existing methods of agriculture will not be enough to feed this global population with 25% less farmland, degraded soil quality, and an unstable climate. Alongside this, most fresh produce is imported out of season, often travelling hundreds of miles to reach consumers and resulting in colossal waste throughout the supply chain. Aeroponics To help solve this problem, LettUs Grow has designed a patent-pending aeroponic system that has shown growth rate increases of over 70% compared to existing solutions for leafy greens, salads and herb production. In aeroponics, instead of using soil, plant roots are suspended in a nutrient-dense mist. This results in faster growth rates than conventional hydroponics, consistent and predictable yields, and a 95% reduction in water usage versus open-field farming. LettUs Grow doesnt use pesticides, and seeks to reduce its environmental impact of delivering food from farm to fork by siting farms in rural and urban locations. Charlie Guy, co-founder and Managing Director of LettUs Grow: This injection of private and public funding into the company enables us to accelerate our innovative products to market and build one of the most technically advanced facilities for indoor growing in the world. The global agri-tech industry is very exciting right now, all stemming from the necessity to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of food production. We are fielding enquiries from all around the world from food producers and farmers who want to experience the benefits of our technology across a growing range of crops, he said. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Since 2016, Teeka Tiwari has trumped the stock market. His investment recommendations have each averaged 281%. Thats 17 times the S&P. And 112 times the average investor, according to JPMorgan! However, one investment Teeka just uncovered could top them all It involves former President Biden, billions of dollars, several large banks, and a super-rich family. As well as a MAJOR potential upgrade to our credit cards. Teeka, who ended up correctly picking the last investment of the decade, is declaring this his top pick for the 2020s. Walker & Dunlop, Inc., through its subsidiaries, originates, sells, and services a range of multifamily and other commercial real estate financing products and services for owners and developers of real estate in the United States. The company offers first mortgage, second trust, supplemental, construction, mezzanine, preferred equity, small-balance, and bridge/interim loans. It also provides multifamily finance for manufactured housing communities, student housing, affordable housing, and senior housing properties under the Fannie Mae's DUS program; and construction and permanent loans to developers and owners of multifamily housing, affordable housing, senior housing, and healthcare facilities. In addition, the company acts as an intermediary in the placement of commercial real estate debt between institutional sources of capital, including life insurance companies, investment banks, commercial banks, pension funds, CMBS conduits, and other institutional investors, as well as owners of various types of commercial real estate. Further, it advises on capital structure; develops the financing package; facilitates negotiations between its client and institutional sources of capital; coordinates due diligence; and assists in closing the transaction. Additionally, the company offers property sales brokerage, underwriting and risk management, and servicing and asset management services. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Read More Some people binge watch Netflix Huluor HBO shows. And some people turn their downtime into cash. James made $2,275 in just 19 minutesall thanks to something called The 15 Minute Workday. The average trade makes 12% in just 5 days (factoring winners and losers) which is out of this world. Loncor Resources Inc., a gold exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal projects in the Ngayu greenstone belt in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The company also explores for platinum deposits. The company's flagship project is the Adumbi project that consists of 6 mining leases covering an area of 361 square kilometers located in the Archaean Ngayu Greenstone Belt. The company was formerly known as Nevada Bob's International Inc. and changed its name to Loncor Resources Inc. in November 2008. Loncor Resources Inc. is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More FAIRFIELD Beginning in September, more students from the Early Childhood Center will be split between the programs current location at Fairfield Warde High School and Stratfield Elementary School. The decision is a short-term solution to address the increasing number of students at the ECC, a number that has doubled over the last nine years. According to a presentation from Superintendent Toni Jones and Executive Director of Special Education Robert Mancusi, there were 161 students at the end of the 2017-18 school year. There are currently two pre-kindergarten classes from the ECC at Stratfield because there is not enough room at the facility at Fairfield Warde. The Board of Education unanimously approved Jones recommendation to have part of the ECC held at Stratfield Elementary at its Jan. 8 meeting. At the meeting, Jones confirmed the board members had gone on tours of the proposed facilities to house half of the ECC program. Almost all of the board members went on tours, Jones said. A concern that board members had was adjusting bus times and we were able to do that in the morning so that (ECC students) could arrive a little bit later. Parents and ECC staff members, dating back to September, have pushed back on the Board of Educations plans to decentralize the program though enrollment of students keeps steadily increasing. Jones emphasized that divvying up the ECC between the high school and Stratfield Elementary was a short-term solution, a time lapse that could range from five to 10 years. Board member Trisha Pytko noted that a long-term solution for the ECC was of foremost importance, and that there would be special meetings on Feb. 20 and 27 regarding other facilities like the elementary schools where parents have voiced concerns about inadequate air conditioning and other factors. There are a lot of things to consider like modeling some facilities to meet the criteria that we need, Pytko said. We have such big decisions to make and we are scheduling meetings to have those conversations. ... We dont take any of this lightly. Other board members said though splitting up the program was not a permanent solution, they plan to look at other ways to address the issue throughout the rest of the year. We are going to be dealing with this in great detail, and I dont want this to slide to be a short-term to a permanent solution, Jeff Peterson said. I have a lot of confidence that this is a good short-term solution and have high hopes that children will flourish at that location. Board Chairman Christine Vitale thanked the ECC and Stratfield staff. The sentiment is to discuss a long-term solution and how that fits in a long-term plan for our district, Vitale said. Keep on advocating to us and other town bodies and share your thoughts with us. humberto.juarez@hearstmediact.com FAIRFIELD After a miscommunication hindered what had been scheduled as a Dec. 4 update, the Board of Finance finally heard from the first selectman and town attorney regarding the lawsuits involving Julian Enterprises on Tuesday. We are simply changing the forum for this case, Town Attorney Stanton Lesser said about the decision enter an arbitration agreement with the company, adding that not commenting on pending litigation is standard procedure for his clients, including the town. An arbitration hearing is scheduled to take place Feb. 13-15 at the Cohen and Wolf law firm offices in Bridgeport, according to court documents. The town sued Julian back in May of 2017 for breach of contract, claiming the company had violated its agreement to reduce a fill pile on Richard White Way from 2013 to 2016. Julian, shortly after the town sued, filed its own lawsuit against Fairfield claiming defamation. When board members inquired if the arbitration hearing itself would be public, Lesser said he wasnt sure but that such happenings are typically held in private. The conversation, at times, got heated, developing into a back-and-forth between the town attorney and some members of the finance board. Board of Finance Chairman Tom Flynn alluded to Article 9 of the town charter that states the Board of Selectmen can direct the decision of pending litigation, claiming the decision to go into binding arbitration had not been brought up to that board. All were doing is changing the forum for this decision to be made, Lesser said. He added that the board of selectmen could, until an arbitrator renders a decision, opt to settle the case, though he also noted that at this point, there are no settlement talks. Finance board member Jim Walsh suggested if the arbitration hearing were to be held privately, there should be efforts to make transcripts or decisions public. I cant believe that this matter with the public interest of this town with serious allegations being made on both sides cant be public, Walsh said. If this is to be public, let this be public. Lesser said there is no intention to keep the results of the hearing private. Selectman Ed Bateson, who attended the meeting and was privy to an executive session on the lawsuit along with Tetreau and fellow selectman Chris Tymniak, expressed his concern on the matter. The inquiry of the general public is pretty important here, Bateson said. Im struggling, too, with when should have the Board of Selectmen been notified about how this went to binding arbitration. Even though the attorneys say (the arbitration hearing) doesnt change the case, it changes the way we hear about it and thats concerning. The last time a financial update was presented in early October to the Board of Selectmen, Department of Public Works Director Joe Michelangelo said the fill pile and legal costs amounted to nearly $800,000. Chief Fiscal Officer Rob Mayer, at the Jan. 8 meeting, said the town had received a bill for around $4,000 in December, upping the total costs. humberto.juarez@ hearstmediact.com Etihad Airways has cancelled its order for ten Airbus A320neo aircraft which were to be delivered to equity partner Air Serbia. Deliveries were initially due to begin last November. However, Airbus' latest backlog revision has revealed that the order has been scrapped. They were set to completely replace Air Serbia's existing fleet of A319s and A320s. The Serbian carrier secured the narrow-bodies as part of a major fleet order by Etihad at the 2013 Dubai Air Show, for up to 117 Airbus aircraft. Etihads outstanding Airbus commitments, at the end of December, comprised of 22 A350-1000s and forty A350-900s, as well as 26 A321neos. Its first A350-1000 is currently in final assembly. The delivery of the neos to Air Serbia was originally slated between late 2018 and 2020. A previous deposit payment made by JAT Yugoslav Airlines for eight A319s in 1998 was credited against the pre-delivery payment for the neos. Upon making the order in November 2013, Air Serbia said, "The new fleet of Airbus A320neo aircraft is a key part of our strategy to re-position the airline as best in class with the most modern and comfortable single aisle aircraft. These aircraft will offer our guests the best cabin in the sky. With these A320neo jets we will set the benchmark in both product and service excellence as we extend our network to more destinations across Europe". In 2013, Sinisa Mali, who was at the time the Adviser for Economy and Finance to the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, and who today holds the post of Finance Minister, said the government had agreed with Etihad Airways to take the aircraft for Air Serbia. "This is good for Air Serbia and the people of Serbia, because both have benefited from economies of scale resulting from Etihad Airways' very significant order with Airbus. With the delivery of these ten new aircraft between 2018 and 2020, Air Serbia will be the first airline in the region to have a modern fleet of new Airbus aircraft. The last delivery of a new jet to Jat Airways, the former national carrier, was in 1988", Mr Mali said. He added, "Furthermore, through our partnership with Etihad Airways, a previous deposit payment made by Jat Airways, has been credited against the pre-delivery payment for these aircraft. This is a very good result for the people of Serbia". Air Serbia itself has ignored all inquiries regarding the A320neo order from various media outlets over the past several months. The 2013 Transaction Framework Agreement between Etihad Airways, the Government of Serbia and Jat Airways, states: "Without limitation, the GoS (Government of Serbia) undertakes to: fund, and assume all liability for, any costs and liabilities associated with the JAT 1998 purchase contract with Airbus, in relation to which Etihad shall seek to assist JAT and/or the GoS in any discussions/negotiations that JAT and/or the GoS may have with Airbus with a view to reducing JAT's exposure to such costs or liabilities. For the avoidance of doubt, if at any time while the Management Services Agreement is in force, JAT and Airbus reach an agreement to purchase aircraft under the terms and conditions of the 1998 purchase contract then theGoS shall not be liable for the purchase price for any such aircraft;" The people who didnt want television networks to cede prime-time Tuesday night to the president of the United States were implicitly giving Donald Trump a credit that he does not deserve. There is a kind of silver-tongued orator who can persuade in any situation, who like Caesars Mark Antony can find a crowd leaning one way and leave them stirred up for the opposite cause, who is legitimately dangerous when given a rostrum or a soapbox or a prime-time speech. But that is not our president. His rhetoric is a bludgeon, and what we saw Tuesday night was just an attempt to club his enemies and critics with the same arguments he has made a thousand times before. Trumps immigration bludgeon was effective once for two reasons that played out in surprising ways across the 2016 campaign. First, Trump-the-candidates dire warnings about criminals and terrorists crossing the southern border dovetailed with two 2016-specific trends the spike in violent crime after decades of decline, and the rash of Islamic State-inspired attacks on both sides of the Atlantic. Second, the extremity of his rhetoric persuaded skeptics of mass immigration, long burned by politicians of both parties, that Trump would not betray them. In a political landscape where every year seemed to bring a new bipartisan push for amnesties and immigration increases, his xenophobic style was an effective political marker for anyone with inchoate anxieties about immigration. But the world of 2019 looks different from the world in which he campaigned. The crime rate did not keep rising, the pace of terror attacks has not quickened, and fate has given him an immigration crisis that is substantially different from the crisis of murderers and terror plotters that he invoked in his campaign rhetoric a humanitarian crisis, a crisis of families and children, in which the problem is not the people that we cant catch crossing the borders but the people who surrender willingly, hoping to exploit our overstrained asylum system and disappear with their kids into the American interior. A more supple strategist and orator than our president might have been able to adapt his tough-guy proposals to this complicated new reality and in the process to exploit the Democrats core vulnerability their difficulty figuring out exactly what kind of deportation policies, if any, their base will allow them to support. Such an adaptation would have involved making two arguments in parallel. First, Trump could have argued that 15 years of increased spending on border security walls and fencing and other barriers very much included has played a big role in reducing the old kind of illegal immigration, in which single young men cross the border looking for work. Then, he could have explained the new challenge of family migration, admitted to mistakes (I know, imagine that) in the child separation policy of 2018, and emphasized that he is asking for more money and various legal and administrative changes to ensure that inhumane conditions can be improved, that families can be kept together, that the system can adjudicate, process and deport without last years performative cruelty. He could have even talked about the attempts at deal making with Mexico, the attempt at a bilateral arrangement that our southern neighbor would keep migrants on its territory while they applied for asylum on ours. If you parsed Tuesday nights 10 minutes of presidential words carefully enough you could find fragments of these arguments but only fragments, shored around an argumentative edifice that was just the same old 2016, vintage Trumpian warnings about how (to quote Voxs Dara Lind) immigrants are coming across the border to kill you. And this argument just does not match up with the news that most Americans consume. There is no rising immigrant crime wave at the moment, no wave of terror attacks by border jumpers, the immigrant caravan did not end in bloodshed, and the dominant images from the current border crisis are pictures of exhausted parents and frightened, incomprehending kids. So what we heard from the president was a play to people deep in the Trumpian bubble, a pledge to his electoral rump that he is still fighting the fights he promised two years ago even if the facts on the ground require a somewhat different strategy. Where the rest of the country was concerned, including many voters a more effective president would be trying to win over or win back, it was almost certainly just a waste of breath. The president of the United States just delivered a clear, thorough, and compassionate explanation of exactly why America needs true border security. President Trump accurately identified the rampant illegal immigration on our 1,954 mile southern border as a humanitarian crisis, a crisis of the heart, and a crisis of the soul. He recounted the stories of some of the thousands of innocent Americans who have paid with their lives for their governments failure, decade after decade, to stop violent criminals with no right to be in this country from slipping into our communities. The President highlighted the economic victims, disproportionately black and Hispanic Americans, who are driven out of jobs and cheated out of good wages by the unchecked flow of cheap illegal labor. He expounded on the greatest American tragedy of this generation: the tens of thousands of people who are dying every year from illegal drugs that are constantly being trafficked across our unsecure southern border. Opioid addiction is a national tragedy, and the border crisis is its greatest enabler. President Trump also took care to point out the related tragedy of the exploitation, abuse, rape, and murder that illegal immigrants many of them poor women and children risk at the hands of organized transnational criminal gangs that profit from transporting illegal immigrants across the U.S. border. The president has been extraordinarily attentive to this crisis and has a firm grasp on what needs to be done to solve it, as he demonstrated with his visit to a stretch of border in Texas just two days after his Oval Office address. Yet among the many cogent points he made during his address, one phrase stuck with me the most: common sense. A commitment to ending the scourge of illegal immigration is plain old-fashioned common sense, just as the most effective means to do so, a permanent physical barrier, is common sense. Democratic voters recognize this, even if their elected officials dont a recent poll found that 71 percent of Democrats consider illegal immigration a problem. Thats also a fairly common sentiment among legal immigrants. Even though America allows more legal immigration than any other country in the world, there are still millions of people waiting patiently for the chance to come here legally, and those who do make it generally have to undergo an expensive and time-consuming process, leaving them resentful of illegal immigrants who skip both the hassle and the line. Our brave Border Patrol agents and law enforcement officials tell us a wall is essential to achieving true border security. The historical experience of democratic nations such as Israel and Hungary confirm that walls, when manned by committed men and women, can quickly end even the most violent of border crises. The success weve had with our own walls, built along limited sections of the southern border, also prove they can cost-effectively strangle the flow of illegal immigration. Both our own experience and the advice of experts demonstrate that building a wall must be a fundamental element of any comprehensive plan to secure the border and end this crisis, just as it was in each of the bipartisan border security policy pushes over the last 20 years. Until recently, even national Democratic leaders such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have enthusiastically supported border walls of exactly the sort that President Trump and national security professionals are now seeking. Unfortunately, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are willing to extend the partial government shutdown indefinitely rather than provide funding for even a single foot of wall. President Trumps address framed the illegal immigration crisis in stark and moving terms, making a compelling case that we can no longer afford to ignore the ongoing legal and humanitarian crisis at our border. Until other politicians join the president in embracing common sense over petty partisanship, however, the national crisis on the border will continue. Brad Parscale is the campaign manager for Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. A plaque glorifying the Confederacy that has been hanging in the Texas Capitol since 1959 is finally coming down two years after Democratic lawmakers first made an issue of it. The State Preservation Board, made up of five Republicans officials and one citizen, voted unanimously in a three-minute meeting Friday to remove the Children of the Confederacy Creed plaque. The marker has long drawn criticism and outrage because of its historically inaccurate claim that the Civil War was not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery. Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Rep. Jeff Leach and citizen representative Alethea Swann Bugg cast their votes Friday and quickly left the room without comment. Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, who is black, has been pushing for the plaques removal since 2017, and said he was pleased with the boards decision but frustrated that it took two years of complaints and a ruling from the Texas attorney generals office. I cant escape the feeling that this isnt a time for backslapping or high-fiving, Johnson said following the vote. The reality is the plaque should have never gone up in the first place. Johnson said he was struck by how emotionless the board members seemed throughout the brief proceeding. Related: Lawmakers inch toward removing Confederate plaque from Texas Capitol The decision comes two months after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton settled, in a way, questions over who had the power to take it down. Paxton issued an opinion that the plaque could be removed by the Legislature, the State Preservation Board or the Texas Historical Commission. The opinion had been requested by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, who was working with Johnson on the matter. During a debate in the summer, Abbott, who is chairman of the historical preservation board, said he thought it was up to the Legislature to do it. It was the way for us to get a concrete answer of how we can finally get rid of this thing once and for all, Moody said. Moody also didnt mince words on why there was such a long delay, despite agreement from legislators that it should be removed. I do really think that there is fear within conservative circles that you cant take a vote to take this thing down because there are people whose support you will lose, Moody said. Its just beyond me why you would want that support. Abbott has previously advocated against the removal of confederate monuments, saying in 2017 that removing them wont erase our nations past and doesnt advance our nations future. Patrick said in 2017 that lawmakers shouldnt rewrite history by removing evidence of people or events that we can learn from. The reversal of opinions from Abbott and Patrick comes down to a change in the way the conversation around the plaque was handled, Johnson said. I realized a while back that emotional arguments werent the way to go about this, and I started to appeal it in a more legalistic way, he said. Its not accurate and at some point it just became difficult to defend its continued existence. Now that its removal has been approved, its unclear when the plaque will be taken down and where it will go following its removal. Christopher Currens, director of special projects for the State Preservation Board, said the plaque was deeply anchored in the wall, but Capitol workers were already weighing options on how to take it down. He also said no decision had been made on where the plaque should go. With the plaques fate determined, Johnson said the vote should be taken as an opportunity to discuss the value of the roughly one dozen Confederate monuments that remain on the Capitol grounds. I dont think its a conversation we should be afraid to have, not in 2019, in America, in Texas, Johnson said. Back in 2003, Art Hall was the promising young hope of the City Council. A 32-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer and investment banker, Hall made history in San Antonio as the first African-American elected to the council outside of the East Side and the first person of color to win a council seat on the Northwest Side. Hall made it to City Hall that year on an ethics agenda that included municipal campaign-finance reform. At a time when the city was reeling from the 2002 indictments of two council members on federal bribery charges, Hall offered a clean slate. There seemed to be no limit to Halls political potential back then. OnExpressNews.com: Brockhouse explains journalism to journalists On Thursday, Hall made it back to City Council. He is now 48, a little thinner on top and slightly thicker around the middle. He returns, not as the councils promising young hope, but as its seasoned placeholder, someone who will keep the East Side District 2 seat warm for four months and then step aside. The councils task on Thursday was to find a replacement for Cruz Shaw, who gave up his District 2 seat only 18 months into his tenure to become an associate judge for a state district court. Thirteen candidates applied for the District 2 seat, several of them young and earnest, just like Hall was in 2003. I was particularly impressed with Michele Bailey, a Columbia grad who teaches special-ed at Douglass Academy and also serves as a fitness instructor. As proof of her problem-solving abilities, Bailey talked about creating a breakfast club for the parents of her students, to help them understand the new ways in which math is taught. Bailey impressed the council members, but they expressed concern about whether shed be able to balance the demands of her teaching job with the work requirements of a council position. She didnt have a ready answer for that question. For its three finalists, the council picked a grassroots community activist (Jada Sullivan), a veteran neighborhood association leader (Aubrey Lewis) and a former council member (Hall). Sullivan, a military veteran, demonstrated great passion and commitment. She emphasized children, calling for etiquette schools, cheer academies and an art school on the East Side. Sullivan, however, also showed some policy shortcomings. When Councilwoman Ana Sandoval sought her views on how the city should address climate change, Sullivan suggested setting up hydration stations at parks and providing air conditioners to local residents. Lewis offered unsatisfying generalities to many of the council members questions. His most detailed answer, to a question about homelessness in San Antonio, suggested that he viewed the homeless as an eyesore that embarrassed the city in front of tourists and were a nuisance to local businesses. OnExpressNews.com: Split vote means delay in former San Antonio councilman taking new seat Hall carried his own question marks, namely his roots or lack thereof on the East Side. He purchased his East Side residence only three years ago and continues to own a home in his old Northwest Side district, the property for which he claims a homestead exemption. Also, because he previously served two terms, at a time when the City Charter limited council members to no more than two terms, Hall appears to be ineligible to run in this years municipal election. In his Thursday presentation to the council, Hall offered the ready-on-day-one argument the same strategy that Hillary Clinton unsuccessfully employed against Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential race. He answered questions ranging from climate change to homelessness with smooth, lawyerly nuance, always talking about the need to balance competing interests. Riffing on the dizzying array of lessons to be learned by a new council member, Hall recalled, It took several months, if not longer, just to figure things out. Pointing out that the next District 2 council member would soon have to vote on a replacement for retiring City Manager Sheryl Sculley, he asked whether it would be reasonable to expect any council neophyte to make that choice. The council took that question to heart and gave Hall the appointment by a 7-3 vote. Hall had once again made local history, this time as the first council member since the city adopted single-member districts in 1977 to represent more than one council district. In 2003, City Council looked like a stepping stone on the path to political stardom for Hall. Now, it looks more like a bookend to a disappointing political career. In 2008, Hall finished third in a field of three candidates in a Democratic primary for railroad commissioner. Eight years later, he finished fourth out of six Democratic candidates in the race for Texas House District 120, garnering only 12 percent of the vote. Halls forthcoming council stint will be short, but it will provide him with an odd, trivia-quiz distinction. He can always say that he is the only person ever to serve on the San Antonio City Council both B.S. and A.S. before and after Sculley. NASA engineer Holly Griffith can hardly stomach the thought of borrowing money as she braces for a missed paycheck Friday courtesy of the government shutdown -- but what's even worse is the thought of borrowing money from her mom, who supports President Donald Trump. "I'm 40 and I've been working since I was 22 or 23 [years old] full time, and so it's just weird because I'm used to always being able to take care of myself," said Griffith, a safety engineer for life support systems on Orion the spacecraft being built to take humans back to the moon. "I really don't want to take a loan from [my mom] but its free money. You do what you've got to do." It's a mantra likely on repeat in the minds of many at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The shutdown, which started Dec. 22 and shows no signs of ending, has put 94 percent of the 3,055 federal employees out of work as Trump holds firm on his demand that Congress fund a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. And those workers will undoubtedly miss their first paycheck Friday. SEEKING ONLINE HELP: NASA employee starts GoFundMe for hurting federal workers "I just feel like it's so unnecessary, ya know? Why can't we reopen the government and then have this discussion about the wall?" Griffith said. "I'm not saying there's ever a good reason to shut down, but this is probably the stupidest reason to shut down the government." Johnson officials will be hosting an open house Friday to answer questions about the furlough, including what unemployment benefits are available, what loans can be applied for through the JSC Federal Credit Union and what food banks and utility assistance can be accessed. The open will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday in Johnson's Gilruth Center Alamo Ballroom. The Houston center is home to the nation's astronaut corps, where human space flight research and training take place. It also is home to the International Space Station's mission operations and the Orion program. The about 200 federal employees still working at Johnson primarily are there to ensure the astronauts aboard the International Space Station stay alive. Griffith and her husband, an assistant principal at a local high school, think they can avoid -- albeit barely -- borrowing money this time around: the result of a combination of scrimping, staying indoors and dipping into their savings. But if it stretches on much longer, she said they won't have another option. "The mortgage isn't due until the end of the month, so we'll probably be OK missing this one paycheck," Griffith said. "But once the big bills come due, then we might start having to borrow money." Griffith knows she's in a better spot than most. Her husband doesn't work for the government, she said, and they don't have kids. For many of her coworkers, both spouses are out of work with mouths to feed. At HoustonChronicle.com: Federal employees in Houston squeezed as payday comes without paycheck NASA safety engineer Johanna Petrocelli is trying to help people who fall into that category. On Monday, she started a GoFundMe page to raise money for fellow federal workers hurting the most. "I'm a federal employee in Houston, TX and I just want to help my fellow community," Petrocelli wrote. "So I set up this GoFundMe as a means to help anyone (affected) by the furlough pay specifically for medical/child care/animal care bills." She had raised nearly $1,500 as of Thursday afternoon, surpassing her goal of $1,000. Petrocelli was not available for comment Thursday, but her GoFundMe page states she will provide money to federal workers who contact her. "My plan is to withdraw the funds once we reach the goal and transfer it to every federal employee who reaches out to this campaign requesting a need for money (pending confirmation of the federal employee/contractor status)," she wrote. Though 3,055 federal workers are employed at Johnson, a total of about 10,000 people work there when contractors are included in the count. A fair number of contractors still are working, but a recent tweet from one contractor in mission control suggests they'll begin feeling blows as well. "The #GovernmentShutdown is starting to affect me as a contractor," the employee tweeted Wednesday. "No more comp time and forced holidays (MLK) in order to stretch what little funding we have left as long as possible." Byron Williams, Houston area labor representative for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said the 150 or so contractors he represents on site will be fine for about another week. At that point, money will start running out, he added, and people will be out of work. "It's sad the government is holding employees and their livelihoods hostage over internal funding," Williams said. While Griffith and her husband prepare to ask their loved ones for help, Susan Anderson gears up for a part-time job hunt starting in February. Anderson is a protocol officer at Johnson, meaning she represents the center director's office for VIP tours. She was on leave when the shutdown began and didn't plan on returning to work until Monday. NEEDS SOME HELP: Main camera on Hubble Space Telescope goes down as shutdown nears 3-week mark That obviously didn't happen. For now, Anderson will change how she pays her bills in the hopes that the shutdown will end soon. She made sure to pay the mortgage and her credit card bills, she said, but if the bill wasn't due until the end of the month, she held off. "I hope we see an end to this so we can get back to work on Monday," she said. "We're getting pretty tired of it." Anderson's husband, Clayton Anderson -- a retired astronaut who now works as a part-time professor at Iowa State University, has written several books and is on the speaker's circuit can pick up the monetary slack while she isn't getting paid. But if she wants to avoid drawing money from her retirement, that will only last until February. "I have another person with an income I can lean on so I have a little more flexibility," she said. "Here in the Houston area, a lot of people, even if it's a two-income family, both people work for the government so it's going to be a strain. I'm lucky I'm married to someone who's not working at NASA." Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey. McALLEN - With funding for his border wall stymied by opposition in Congress, President Trump brought his lobbying campaign to far South Texas for a few hours Thursday, hammering on arguments that a barrier is needed to end what he calls a crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border. A lot of crime in our country is caused by what's coming through here, Trump said during a whirlwind visit to McAllen and the Rio Grande. Whether it's steel or concrete you don't care. We need a barrier. Before returning to Washington, Trump repeated his threat to declare a national emergency over border security if congressional Democrats continue to deny $5.7 billion in extra funds he has requested for a border barrier and other border security items. We shouldn't have to, Trump said. This is common sense. OnExpressNews.com: Trump presses border crisis in McAllen, but reality is different Such a move, to which Trump said Thursday he had an absolute right, arguably would allow him to pay for wall construction with defense or other spending. It's widely expected to be challenged in Congress and the courts. In all, Trump spent around four hours on the border, including a few minutes viewing the Rio Grande at a county park that fronts the river. Across the narrow stream lies Reynosa, a violent city that's a center for illegal trafficking in humans and narcotics into the U.S. Before his brief visit to the actual border, the president spent about an hour listening to several residents and Texas Republican politicians including Republican U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz praise him for pushing for the wall. To emphasize what they said was a need for the barrier, Border Patrol and Customs officials explained a display of weapons and narcotics near or at the border. That says it all, Trump said. But much of the contraband on display was seized at international bridges, perhaps undercutting the president's argument for an urgently needed barrier between such legal points of entry. The presidents budget had called for $1.6 billion in new wall funding, matching last years funding, a figure that was acceptable to most Democrats and Republicans. The impasse began before Christmas when he upped the amount to $5.7 billion. Some new fencing already is funded. Construction is scheduled to start next month on 14 miles of 18-foot-high steel bollard fencing in the Valley, at a cost of more than $300 million. The presidents trip this week has the feel of a bull in search of a china shop, said Antonio Tony Garza, who served as the second Bush administrations ambassador to Mexico and grew up in the border city of Brownsville. Like many other border residents and elected officials, Garza argues that enhanced border security is best achieved by limited fencing combined with more enforcement boots on the ground, smoother processing of asylum-seekers and other migrants and greater surveillance technology. If he keeps his eyes and ears open to folks who really know the region, he might realize theres a better, smarter more responsible way of getting to the safe, secure and efficient border we all want, Garza said. OnExpressNews.com: Texas politicians promise property tax reform, just don't expect lower taxes But neither migrant advocates nor elected local officials most of whom don't support new wall building and bristle at descriptions of their bustling cities as in crisis, were not invited to speak. Several thousand protesters lined the few miles of streets and avenues where Trump's motorcade passed, shouting either support of opposition for him and the wall. A large helium blimp in the president's likeness hovered above protesters across the road from the Border Patrol station where Trump met with the officials. Build the wall, one group chanted. No more wall, countered another. Few seemed particularly incensed. Residents along this border have been accustomed to being in the vortex of Washington debates about immigration, narcotics trafficking and other issues. Though presidential visits are rare, other politicians and officials flock here regularly attempting to drive home messages for a national audience. In recent years, the Lower Rio Grande Valley, which runs along the border from downstream of Laredo to the Gulf of Mexico, has become the primary crossing point for illegal immigrants, including thousands of Central American families with young children coming to request asylum. Nearly half of the 304,000 undocumented migrants detained along the U.S. border in fiscal year 2017 were caught in the sector. Overall border apprehensions have plummeted for years, from a high of almost 1.7 million arrests in 2000. Since then, the U.S. has more than doubled the size of the Border Patrol and spent tens of billions of dollars on fencing and other security measures. You know why we've been in the news? asked Eddie Zamora, a gray haired Trump supporter and Navy veteran. Because McAllen is now ground zero for illegal immigration. Though many if not most oppose new wall construction, all residents on this stretch of border are keenly aware of the security threats across the Rio Grande. McAllen and other border cities rank among the safest U.S. cities in terms of violent crime - with murders here routinely in the single digits annually - but communities across the river have growing increasingly insecurity As gangland violence has spiked in Reynosa and other Mexican border cities in the past dozen years - many people have stopped crossing the Rio Grande to shop or enjoy a night out in once popular restaurants and bars. Mexican officials said at least 21 people were killed Wednesday in a shootout between suspected rival trafficking gangs in the border town of Miguel Aleman, about 50 miles upriver from where Trump visited. The city sits between turf controlled by gangs that control much of that stretch of the border. The level of fear is higher than when I grew up. But a crisis? No, said Thelma Molano, 56, a school nurse raised in Granjeno, a small village just downstream from where Trump viewed the Rio Grande. To me the wall represents the anti-browning of America. They don't want Hispanics here. Next door to Molano's house, unemployed truck driver Andres Diego was sticking American flags into a front yard, to show support for Trump, who he hoped would pass through the village on the way to the riverfront. A native of the borderlands, Diego, 41, and a father of six, said illegal immigration has hurt his own economic prospects because he's had to compete for jobs with undocumented migrants. He echoed other Trump supporters in complaining about the cost to taxpayers of educating and providing health care for the immigrants. Diego argued that the surge in Central American families crossing the border in order to seek asylum threatens to put still more pressure on education and health services. That, he said, merited Trumps branding the issue as a crisis. I feel a wall is going to help the Border Patrol. We need it big time, Diego said. Finally we have a president who supports us, the lower middle class. Because of its ambitious plan to combat climate change, San Antonio will join two dozen other U.S. cities as winners of the prestigious Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will announce today from Plaza de Armas. The cities will be part of an accelerator program aimed at assisting cities working to address the warming climate. Cities are helping to keep America moving forward on climate change despite the lack of leadership from Washington, and this challenge was designed to help innovative mayors reach their goals, Mike Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action, said in a statement provided exclusively to the San Antonio Express-News. We were looking for cities with ambitious and realistic plans to cut emissions in ways that improve peoples lives, and mayors committed to getting the job done. The value of the award is expected to approach $2.5 million, as Bloomberg Philanthropies will deploy two full-time experts to San Antonio, where theyll work in tandem with city staffers on implementing plans to reduce greenhouse emissions, targeting those from buildings and vehicles. The city will also have access to research and subject-matter experts, including the worlds leading climate scientists, Nirenberg said. This is operational support for planning we need to be doing already, Nirenberg said. The science is indisputable and the sentiment from the public that we want to ensure a quality of life for our children and grandchildren is indisputable. This is about not being penny wise and pound foolish in investing in our future, and in this case were getting the support from the Bloomberg Philanthropies. The citys success is an extension of the first action Nirenberg pushed the City Council to take in the summer of 2017, on the day the council was sworn in. The body approved a resolution in support of the Paris climate accord. Addressing climate change, protecting quality of life and the environment and ensuring that natural resources are protected for future generations have been the underpinning of Nirenbergs political career. On ExpressNews.com: Council approves resolution favoring Paris climate accord The city applied for the award and hosted several members of Bloombergs selection committee for a site visit when the group was working to determine which municipalities would be accepted. San Antonio had been encouraged to enter the fray because Nirenberg is a member of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a program that has assembled cohorts of 40 mayors from around the world for intensive leadership training. Bloomberg in general has paved the way for our participation and this was a program that we were encouraged to apply to and participate in, Nirenberg said during an exclusive interview with the Express-News. Doug Melnick, the citys chief sustainability officer, said the Bloomberg initiative will help San Antonio plan for the future and work on immediate changes that will manifest across the city in coming years. The initiative will help the city better plan for extreme weather events and target methods for reducing greenhouse emissions. For example, San Antonio will meet its municipal electricity demand with 100 percent renewable resources, increase the number of electric vehicles in the citys fleet and grow the number of charging stations for electric vehicles. The Bloomberg initiative will work with San Antonio to reduce energy consumption in both public- and private-sector buildings and offer assistance as local leaders continue to develop ConnectSA, the transit plan that is expected to go before voters in 2019 or 2020. Melnick acknowledged that discussions about climate change seem lofty, but the work San Antonio is undertaking will affect residents, businesses and institutions. At the end of the day, the science is out there that our climate is changing, and its being caused by human activity, he said. When we look at what we should start working on to address climate, they arent sort of independent things in and of themselves. Its things weve been doing for years. On ExpressNews.com: Heat map shows San Antonio areas most affected by climate change Climate change is increasing the number of hot days and lowering the number of cool nights in San Antonio, he said, which affects poor people who cant afford increasing electricity costs. Melnick predicted that the private sector would support making existing buildings more efficient and building new facilities to operate more efficiently because it would ultimately help bring down their cost of operations. And in the big picture, he said, business can be adversely affected by climate change. Melnick pointed to the impact of Hurricane Harvey on supply chains, including the gasoline shortage. The reason why Bloomberg is focusing on buildings and transportation thats the biggest source of greenhouse emissions, he said. Some 85 percent of San Antonios emissions come from buildings and transportation. Nirenberg said when the city completes its work with Bloomberg in a couple of years, we will be smarter on investing in infrastructure, addressing flooding and other extreme weather events, handling drought, and more. I think we intrinsically know where some of this is headed. We already have started to invest in a more diversified and renewable energy portfolio. We know the benefits to our pocketbook in having a more efficient transportation system, he said. We understand the ways the flooding maps are changing, but this will allow us now to delve more deeply into the data, to be more efficient and to implement strategies and communicate those strategies before we reach crisis levels with all of those issues. 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 The City Council whittled down a list of 23 candidates for the city managers job to eight, including all six internal applicants. The eight will undergo additional interviews early next week. By late Tuesday, the field will be reduced to two or three candidates, who will be interviewed again Wednesday. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the council will select a lone finalist to replace City Manager Sheryl Sculley after the second round of interviews. Sculley announced that she was retiring soon after the Nov. 6 election, when voters overwhelmingly approved a proposition that sets a salary cap and tenure limit for future city managers. While the proposition doesnt affect her, it was widely seen as a referendum of Sculleys compensation. With a $475,000 base salary and up to $100,00 in performance-based bonus, she is the highest-paid city manager in the nation. During her 13-year tenure, Sculley worked for four mayors and oversaw an organization of about 12,000 employees and a budget of about $2.7 billion. She is credited with improving city finances and services; she has stewarded three massive bond projects, implemented the Pre-K 4 SA program thats hailed as a model and brought a budgeting approach that has enabled the city to maintain a triple-A bond rating, among numerous other accomplishments. But her critics saw an overpaid manager who wielded too much power and mishandled relations with the fire union by hauling it into court. Nirenberg said the eight candidates are a diverse group that includes national and even international candidates. We know its a high-profile and highly attractive position from within the industry, so its no surprise that weve got qualified candidates internally and externally, he said. We feel like we have a good pool of candidates to select from. The six internal candidates are deputy city managers Erik Walsh and Peter Zanoni and assistant city managers Carlos Contreras, Maria Villagomez, Lori Houston and Rod Sanchez. The only two external candidates to make the cut are retired Las Vegas Deputy City Manager Orlando Sanchez and Dallas Assistant City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry. The latter previously served as San Antonios public works director before going to Dallas, where he now works for another former San Antonio assistant city manager, T.C. Broadnax. On ExpressNews.com: Council expected to tap a Sculley deputy for city manager position Councilman Rey Saldana said its no surprise that all six internal candidates were invited to the next step in the process. Nirenberg and others have said Sculley was pushed years ago to build a succession plan. In doing so, she gave opportunities to her assistants to take on major issues, Saldana said. It should be no surprise to anyone who follows the city of San Antonio that weve got a strong slate of candidates who are internal, he said. In fact, he said, those six could vie for any big-city manager position that opened up anywhere in the country. Its a testament to Sheryl Sculleys preparation for succession planning, he said. The candidates Walsh is widely seen as the leading candidate. He began his career with the city nearly 25 years ago as a budget analyst and has overseen the highest-profile departments, including police and fire, and has handled collective bargaining negotiations and high-profile contracts for years. His portfolio includes nearly a third of the citys $2.8 billion annual budget. Zanoni, also a deputy city manager, previously served as an assistant city manager and budget director. A native of Mexico, Maine, Zanoni has worked for the city since 1997. Contreras, a lawyer, noted in his cover letter that hes a second-generation San Antonian who has worked in both the private and public sectors. Hes been seen as one of Sculleys trusted go-to assistants, someone who can handle difficult situations. Villagomez, a certified public accountant, underscored in her letter to the council that she has deep experience in handling the citys finances. Her career in San Antonio began in 1997. Houston started as a municipal intern in 2002 before landing a full-time job with the then-Public Works Department in 2004. Shes since worked her way through the ranks and was named an assistant city manager in July 2015. Rod Sanchez, now an assistant city manager, made a name for himself serving as the director of the citys Development Services Department, which stayed in his portfolio when he was promoted. He joined city staff in 1993 as a budget and management analyst and notes in his cover letter that hes a native San Antonian. Al-Ghafry has ties to San Antonio, though hes currently an assistant city manager in Dallas, where he oversees the water department, public works, transportation, sustainable development and construction and other infrastructure-related areas, including high-speed rail, according to his resume. From 2008 to 2013, Al-Ghafry oversaw San Antonios public works department, which was folded into whats now known as Transportation and Capital Improvements. He then served as an assistant city manager in El Cajon, Calif., before landing the job in Dallas. Orlando Sanchez, the retired Las Vegas deputy city manager, held that position for 12 years, during which time he oversaw fire and rescue, public safety, municipal courts, public works, parks and recreation, human resources and other city departments. The process After the finalist is made public, city officials will begin working with the candidate to do public outreach, including a public symposium that will allow interaction with residents, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 23. Nirenberg expects the council will vote on the next city manager Jan. 31. Sculley has said she would stay on as long as necessary to ensure a smooth transition, though she wont stay past June 30. On ExpressNews.com: Council settles on San Antonio city manager search process If the council opts for one of the internal candidates, the transition likely wont take as long. The appointment of the next city manager will require a super-majority vote, meaning that at least eight council members must vote in favor of the candidate. Art Hall, the interim District 2 councilman, will be on the dais for that vote. Though he was appointed and sworn in Thursday, he received seven affirmative votes, which means he cant take his seat on the dais for 10 days. However, the council now plans to vote Monday to change the effective date of his appointment so he can participate in the manager interview process. Nirenberg said Friday that he expects a super-majority of the council to approve the measure, as required by city code. 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 The setting was a peaceful, rustic community of winding roads and upscale homes. Inside one of those homes, Bexar County sheriffs officials found a scene of horror. A woman and two girls believed to be in their teens had been shot to death. Another person living at the residence in Anaqua Springs Ranch, a gated development of luxury homes near Boerne in the countys far Northwest Side, found their bodies when he returned home around 9 a.m. Thursday. Sheriff Javier Salazar said the two girls appeared to be homicide victims. He would not speculate on whether the woman, believed to be in her 30s, died as a result of a suicide or a homicide. The medical examiner will make that final determination, Salazar said. Family members who gathered at the neighborhood identified the woman as Nichol Olsen. Authorities had not confirmed that name or identified the other victims late Thursday. Salazar confirmed the three were family members, but did not specify how exactly they were related. Public records show that Nichol Leila Olsen, 37, has a state license to work as a cosmetologist. Social media accounts show Olsen worked as a hairstylist. She was just a very good person, said Cathy Muniz of San Antonio, a former client of Olsens reached by the San Antonio Express-News. Its just too much of a shock. I dont even know what to think. It doesnt even make any sense. She was always so positive. Read also: San Antonio police believe missing 8-month-old boy is dead Muniz confirmed that Olsen had children and expressed disbelief that she would have anything to do with the shootings. I just cant see that she would do that to herself or her children because they were everything to her, Muniz said. The residence where the shootings occurred sits on 2.7 acres of land, spans 4,500 square feet and is valued at almost $1 million, according to Bexar County Appraisal District records. The homeowner, a man who purchased the house last year, did not respond to the Express-News requests for comment Thursday. Salazar said the three shooting victims lived at the home in the 11300 block of Anaqua Springs with the man who found their bodies. That man had stayed elsewhere Wednesday night, but Salazar could not provide further details on where or why. The man was romantically involved with the older victim in her 30s, Salazar confirmed. He was being interviewed by sheriffs detectives Thursday. Its way too early to tell whos a suspect and whos a witness, the sheriff said. All three victims suffered gunshot wounds to their upper bodies. Sheriffs officials declined to say in which rooms of the house they were found or if anyone had left a note explaining the events. Shootings are not a typical occurrence in the neighborhood. Its just a shocking thing that you would never expect to happen here, said Laura Rendon, who lives in the neighborhood. Its a very peaceful, quiet neighborhood and nothing like this has ever happened before. Later in the day, several relatives and friends of the victims arrived at Anaqua Springs Ranch. Some solemnly, and others frantically, made their way to the front gate, where they were halted by security guards who blocked their access. Related: Violent and property crime rates declining in San Antonio At least one man jumped the fence and ran inside, while several others found alternate routes or were permitted entrance. Almost all of them declined to comment on the slayings. Later Thursday night, the sheriffs office escorted a 2013 Ford pickup being towed away from the neighborhood. That vehicle is registered to the man who owns the house where the shootings occurred, public records show. Authorities found records showing sheriffs officials made four visits to the home last year, a spokesman said. Three of those visits were attempts to serve court papers, while a fourth visit was to document a reported theft. The agency did not immediately locate any reports of gunshots in the area Wednesday night or early Thursday, but there may be good reasons for that. Theyre multimillion dollar homes, very big lots and the homes are probably very well constructed, Salazar said. So its quite possible nobody heard anything. He asked anyone who saw or heard anything unusual Wednesday night or Thursday morning to call the sheriffs office at 210-335-6000. He also requested that nearby homeowners with outward facing video surveillance equipment, such as doorbell cameras, check their footage for signs of anything unusual. If it seems like its something out of the ordinary, wed like to know about it, Salazar said. Naturally, this is not a common area for us to see this sort of activity, but it just goes to show that crime really knows no boundaries, geographic, socioeconomic or otherwise. It can happen anywhere, literally. cdowns@mysa.com Staff Writer Jacob Beltran contributed to this report. The father and grandmother of an 8-month-old boy reported missing last week were arrested Thursday in connection with the case, according to Police Chief William McManus, who disclosed for the first time that police believe the infant is dead. Christopher Davila, 34, and his mother, Beatrice Sampayo Davila, 64, both face a charge of tampering with evidence in the disappearance of King Jay Davila. A cousin, 45-year -old Angie Torres, who is already in custody on unrelated charges, is accused of the same crime. We believe that they participated in staging the kidnapping to hide King Jays body so that we could not find it to determine what happened to him, McManus said. We have statements from multiple witnesses that unfortunately lead us to believe King Jay is deceased. On Jan. 4, Davila initially told police that his son, King Jay, was in the back seat of a Dodge Dart which was running, while he visited a convenience store. While he was inside the store, a woman was seen on surveillance video entering the car, which was unlocked, and drove off with King Jay strapped into his car seat. Thirty minutes later, police found the car without King Jay or the car seat inside. Hours later, police charged Christopher Davila with child endangerment. He was released on bail for that charge Sunday. Related: Asked where missing San Antonio child is, grandfather says: 'Only God knows.' In a news conference Monday, McManus announced the arrest of Torres, whom he identified as the woman seen driving off in the car, and that police believed the abduction was staged to cover up foul play. King Jay was never inside the car, the chief said. McManus said at a news conference Thursday evening that Torres identified King Jays paternal grandmother, Beatrice Sampayo, as the woman who dropped her off near the convenience store in the 300 block of Enrique Barrera Parkway. Torres described to police the route they took to dispose of a car seat that the woman can be seen carrying away in security camera footage. Angie also said that she learned from Beatrice that Christopher had severely injured King Jay, McManus said. We are still actively looking for King Jay, because we seek justice for him. In an exclusive interview with the Express-News on Monday, several of Christopher Davilas family members, including his mother, insisted he was innocent. Since King Jays disappearance, the family has been critical of the polices focus on Christopher in their investigation. When asked how she knew her son was innocent, the response of Beatrice Davila, who has battled cancer for years, was barely audible. Hes my son, Beatrice Davila said. To kill someone? I dont know. I dont know. Police have several locations that they will be searching for King Jay, but McManus said he could not disclose them during Thursdays press conference. He urged the public and media to stay out of the way as they examine the locations. Related: Police: Father of missing infant in San Antonio staged kidnapping to cover up 'foul play' McManus noted that detectives and FBI agents have been working in shifts, handing the case off to one another to keep things moving. The detectives have done a great job sorting out fact from fiction and working out the maze of lies that theyve been told, McManus said of their investigation. We will not be satisfied until we find King Jay, he said. McManus said new charges could arise for the trio in custody, and that others could be arrested in the case as their investigation continues. King Jays mother, Jasmine Gonzales, is still under investigation, McManus said. I will again tell anyone who has information that your time is running out to come forward and talk to us, McManus said. If youve already lied to us, then we are going to charge you, too. Now that the body of a missing 8-month-old infant has been found, investigators are increasing the pressure on the boys family to discover how exactly he died and who knew about it. Christopher Davila, 34, changed his story after first claiming that his son, King Jay Davila, had been kidnapped, a plot that police discredited quickly. Now, he says King Jay died after the car seat holding the boy fell off a bed and hit the floor. On Thursday, he led police to the place where he buried the body. Officials hinted Friday that they do not believe Davilas latest account either. He said King Jay's death was an accident, Police Chief William McManus said Friday. He panicked and did not call 911. Davila, who has a lengthy criminal record and was once in prison, was charged Friday with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission, a first-degree felony, along with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. He already faced two other charges in connection with King Jays disappearance, including child endangerment and tampering with evidence. Hes being held in the Bexar County jail on a $1.25 million bond. Davilas mother, Beatrice Sampayo, 64, and his cousin, Angie Torres, 45, also face charges of tampering with evidence for their roles in trying to cover up the death, police said. Investigators have requested arrest warrants for the two women on charges of injury to a child. On ExpressNews.com: Police believe missing 8-month-old boy is dead The charges Friday came after Davila led police to an empty field on San Antonios Northeast Side and pointed out the area where he had buried King Jay, after he had placed the body in a backpack. It was less than a mile from the home Davila shares with King Jays mother, Jasmine Gonzales. Police said Friday that Gonzales, who is pregnant with Davilas seventh child, is still being investigated. Michael Fisher Dozens gathered near the site Friday to leave flowers and balloons and hold hands to pray. McManus said the death gripped the city due, in part, to the fact that it involved a young child. It shocks the conscience to think that someone could do this to an 8-month-old, let alone his own child, McManus said. The results of an autopsy of King Jay, which was expected Friday, will be significant in determining what happened to the boy. McManus and recently elected Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales, flanked by other law enforcement officials and an FBI agent, said the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests and charges are possible. Both applauded investigators who worked tirelessly to unravel the kidnapping plot and find King Jay. Davila, who stands 5-foot-3 and wears the tattoos of a gang member, comes from a large, close-knit family, with several generations living together. Sampayo, who is only 4-foot-11, the mother of four children, said she is dying of cancer. In an interview with the Express-News before her arrest, Sampayo said her son was innocent and was being targeted by police for his past gang affiliation. Hes my son, she said. To kill someone? I dont know. I dont know. An accident Davila told police that on Jan. 3 he was playing video games in his room while Jasmine Gonzales was at work. King Jay was in his baby car seat, which was placed on top of a bed. When he sat down on the bed, Davila said, the car seat fell off. Davila told police King Jay hit the floor with his face and may have struck the front of the dresser on the way down. He saw a large bump over the boys eye. Instead of immediately requesting medical assistance, Davila told police he tried to keep the boy from falling asleep. He checked on the child a few hours later and discovered King Jay had died. In an arrest affidavit, this is what police say happened: At some point that night, Davila called his mother, Beatrice Sampayo, and told her what had happened. A witness overheard the conversation and later told police Davila had talked about the baby falling and being injured. A different witness who was at Davilas home said he heard King Jay crying the night of Jan. 3. The next morning, between 9 a.m. and noon, he saw Davila leave the home with King Jay in the car seat. Davila went to his parents house on the West Side. When he arrived, the witness who had overheard the phone conversation between Davila and Sampayo greeted him and asked to see King Jay. Get the (expletive) back in the house, the witness recalled Davila saying. Around the same time, Torres, Davilas cousin, looked into the car with a shocked look on her face. The witness saw Davila and Sampayo visibly upset and crying in the driveway. The two hugged, which was unusual because they do not normally hug, he said. Torres, Sampayo and Davila then conspired to cover up the boys death. On ExpressNews.com: Asked where missing child is, grandfather says: Only God knows About 7 p.m., Davila drove his parents 2016 white Dodge Dart to the Friend's Food Mart on Enrique M. Barrera Parkway to buy water and lottery tickets. Before he went inside, he checked twice to make sure the driver door to the car was unlocked. Moments after he went into the store, Sampayo pulled up to the gas station with Torres. Torres got out of the car. A survelliance video shows she walked directly to Davilas vehicle without hesitation, opened the drivers door, entered the vehicle and drove away. When Davila came outside, he said he saw the car was missing, as was his son. He called police to report it. Police rushed to the scene and established a quadrant around the area, searching for the car. They found the Dart a short time later parked near Rodriguez Park, but King Jay was no where to be found. The car seat also was missing. Investigators questioned Davila and he told them King Jay had been staying with Sampayo since Dec. 31 and that he had picked the child up on Jan. 4 to take him home. But when detectives showed him the video from the gas station, Davila clammed up and refused to cooperate further. Police arrested him on a charge of endangering a child on Jan. 5. Meanwhile, Torres drove the Dart to Rodriguez Park, where Sampayo met her. Torres took the car seat with her and got into Sampayos car. Torres later told investigators that she and Sampayo drove to the 700 block of South Acme Street, where Sampayo dumped the car seat at a donation shed. They drove off, only to return a minute later to retrieve the car seat and leave it three blocks away at Guthrie and S.W. 41st Street. Officials say security camera video from the area confirmed Torres story. At a press conference Monday, McManus told reporters that King Jays kidnapping was a ruse to cover up foul play. The next morning, police arrested Torres on an unrelated robbery charge. On ExpressNews.com: Police: San Antonio woman who helped stage infants kidnapping robbed store two days later On Wednesday, Torres requested an interview with police from her jail cell and allegedly confessed to the staged kidnapping. Her confession led to the arrest of Sampayo and rearrest of Davila, who had bailed out of jail the week prior. During interviews with police Thursday night, Davila confessed to police and agreed to show them where he had buried the boys body. When his story started to unravel...its when he broke down, McManus said. His story weakened and he figured he wasn't going to get away with it. Thats when he revealed the burial site. After digging, investigators located a black backpack with what appeared to be an infants body wrapped in a blanket placed inside, the affidavit states. Police then secured an arrest warrant for Davila on a charge of injury to a child by omission because he intentionally and knowingly failed to seek medical attention for the serious injuries King Jay suffered. Authorities also requested the warrants for Sampayo and Torres. Many questions regarding King Jays death remain, including how many people knew of his death and went along with the staged kidnapping. This is not the finish line, in fact, the hard part of the investigation is just beginning, McManus said. The investigation won't be finished until we can answer how exactly King Jay died, who knew it, and when they knew it. Billy Calzada /Staff file photo In the November election, Bexar County experienced a blue wave at the Justice Center, with Democrats taking most of the Republican seats that were contested. This year, incumbents were re-elected in just 10 of 32 judicial races. Twelve district judges werent on the ballot this year. While not common, cases of children dying under mysterious circumstances with parents claiming scenarios that absolve them of involvement have happened before in the San Antonio area. In 2013, Joel Soto, then 55, pulled his 1988 Chevy pickup over to the side of a street in a West Side neighborhood. He told authorities that smoke was coming out from under the hood. The vehicle at some point erupted in flames. First responders found his Sotos 2-year-old grandson, Jeremy, dead in the passengers seat. An investigators determined that Soto intentionally set the fire in that seat, and an autopsy found the childs body had methamphetamine and other drugs, including antidepressants, allergy medicine and cough syrup. A prosecutor said at Sotos trial in July 2017 that Soto set his grandson on fire to hide the fact that hed died from ingesting drugs the grandfather had left around the home. He was found guilty and was sentenced to 60 years in prison for manslaughter, injury to a child and arson. Getting help To report suspected child abuse or neglect call: 1-800-252-5400 Visit www.txabusehotline.org The Children's Shelter of San Antonio: 210-212-2500 See More Collapse On ExpressNews.com: Police find missing San Antonio baby King Jay Davila's body in buried backpack More than 12 years ago, a mother, Valerie Lopez, 19, killed her two small children and hid them in trash bags underneath a wood-frame house where they lived on the far Southwest Side. Lopez later admitted to beating her 14-month-old daughter, Sariyah, to death on Christmas Eve in 2006 after she wouldnt stop crying, then hiding her body. She maintained that her 4-month-old son, Sebastian, died accidentally when she rolled onto him in her sleep in February 2007. She hid his body under the house next to his sisters. Lopez pleaded guilty to two counts of capital murder in exchange for life in prison without parole. Her boyfriend, Jerry Salazar, 29, received a life term, for injury to a child by omission causing serious bodily injury. On ExpressNews.com: Asked where missing San Antonio child is, grandfather says: Only God knows. In 2011, 18-month-old Joshua Davis Jr. disappeared from his home in New Braunfels on a cold night in February as his parents had a party. Mother Sabrina Benitez and father Josh Davis Sr. told police they had no idea how their son disappeared but feared hed been abducted by a stranger. An extended search failed to find any trace of the 2-foot tall, 30-pound child. To date, no one has been charged in his disappearance. Five years later, New Braunfels police spokesman David Ferguson said the family, while cooperating with police after their son went missing, hadnt told the whole truth about that night. Ferguson, who said the family took time to dispose of illegal drugs in the home before contacting authorities, said police believe it was highly unlikely that a child that young wandered away on his own. Police investigators deemed Joshuas disappearance suspicious and theorized he was possibly injured, removed from the house and was likely dead. Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | mstoeltje@express-news.net | Twitter: @mstoeltje Update: On Friday, police announced they had found the body of 8-month-old King Jay Davila and filed additional charges in connection to the case. Read the latest story here. Thursday story: The father of an 8-month-old boy reported missing last week and the mans mother have been arrested in connection with the case, according to Police Chief William McManus, who publicly disclosed for the first time Thursday that they believe the boy is dead. Christopher Davila, 34, and his mother, Beatrice Sampayo Davila, 64, both face a charge of tampering with evidence. A cousin, Angie Torres, who is already in custody on unrelated charges, was also charged with tampering with evidence. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox McManus said at a news conference Thursday evening that it was King Jays paternal grandmother, Beatrice Sampayo, who dropped off Torres at the convenience store where Davila first reported that his car, along with his baby inside, were taken. Police said Torres is the woman seen on the video who drove away with the car. McManus has said the baby was not in the car when Torres drove away with it. Angie Torrres heard from Beatrice that Christopher had severely injured King Jay, McManus said. Statements from multiple witnesses unfortunately lead us to believe that King Jay is dead. Davila told police that he had left the boy in his Dodge Dart, which was running, while he walked into a convenience store. During that time, a woman entered the car, which was unlocked, and stole the vehicle in which King Jay was strapped into his car seat in the back seat. RELATED: Where is King Jay Davila: A timeline of events A couple of hours later, police found the car without King Jay or the car seat inside. Christopher Davila was charged with child endangerment shortly after the incident. In a news conference several days later, McManus announced the arrest of the woman seen driving off in the car and said police believed the abduction was staged to cover up foul play. Britain has never been known for its affinity with other languages in schools and now concerns are growing about international education activities after Brexit.Almost half of state primary schools offer no international education activities and only a third of secondary schools offer international pupil exchanges which has prompted the British Council to call for change.The organisation, which represents British cultural and educational interests globally, wants all young people to be given the chance to build their international experience. It points out that language skills and cultural awareness will be vital for the post-Brexit economy.But 45% of state primary schools offer no international education activities beyond the basics of language teaching, according to British Council research in 692 primary schools and 785 secondary schools in England.Of the secondary schools offering international exposure, trips abroad are the most popular form of international experience, with the vast majority, some 81%, offering excursions overseas.However, pupil exchanges offering deeper experience in other cultures have declined. Only a third of secondary schools offer exchanges, partly due to funding pressures and greater child protection requirements. But there are other ways, such as virtual partnerships with schools overseas, in which students can build these important connections with other languages and cultures.Pupils do not need to go on expensive trips abroad to have international awareness. International partnerships and projects in schools allow pupils of all backgrounds to experience other cultures and develop their intercultural skills. This is vital for a generation growing up in an increasingly connected world, said Vicky Gough, schools adviser at the British Council.An example of where it works is Reay Primary school in Lambeth, London, which has seen the impact of international activities on their pupils enthusiasm for language learning and their understanding of the world.The school has worked with educators and experts in Spain, Zimbabwe and Portugal. Their international activities enable pupils to more confidently communicate with people from other cultures.Indeed, Reay was recently accredited with the British Council International School Award for its excellent international curriculum and has moved from a good rating to an outstanding Ofsted rating.Government figures show that lack of foreign language skills is costing the UK economy around 48 billion a year, or 3.5% of GDP. Cultural awareness is also crucial to trading, to effectively target products and lead negotiations.The decline in international experience in our schools is regrettable as international awareness and skills are more vital than ever as the UK leaves the European Union, Gough added. this news is not available PHILADELPHIA--The increase in opioid prescriptions for people over the past decade may have been paralleled by an increase in opioid prescriptions for pets, according to a study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine. The findings, in this first-ever study of veterinary opioid prescriptions, suggest that there is also an increased demand for veterinary opioids, driven by complex procedures performed in veterinary medicine, as well as a heightened awareness of the importance of pain management. Given that opioid prescribing in veterinary medicine is not as heavily regulated as medical prescriptions for humans, it is possible that misused veterinary prescriptions could contribute to the ongoing opioid epidemic. The results are published today in JAMA Network Open. In the study, researchers reviewed all opioid pills and patches dispensed or prescribed for dogs, cats, and other small animals at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) from January 2007 through December 2017. The results show that the quantity of these prescriptions, as measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MME), rose by 41 percent during the period annually, while the annual number of visits rose by only about 13 percent. As a veterinary tertiary care facility, Penn Vet's unique caseload requires particular attention to and treatment of pain in veterinary species, which may account for increased opioid utilization in the study. "As we are seeing the opioid epidemic press on, we are identifying other avenues of possible human consumption and misuse," said study senior author Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine and the director of Medical Toxicology at Penn Medicine. "Even where the increase in prescribed veterinary opioids is well intended by the veterinarian, it can mean an increased chance of leftover pills being misused later by household members, sold or diverted, or endangering young children through unintentional exposure. The results of this study suggest that by assessing the rate of veterinary opioid prescriptions, we can develop strategies to reduce both human and animal health risks associated with increasing use." The current opioid crisis in the United States causes tens of thousands of overdose deaths every year--roughly 50,000 in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The crisis began in the late 1990s and was fueled largely by a steep increase in prescriptions for opioid pain relievers. Tightening regulations including prescription drug monitoring programs have helped reduce the number of opioid prescriptions from their peak in 2011. Although prescription opioid overdose deaths are now exceeded by those due to illegally obtained heroin and fentanyl, the former still account for nearly 20,000 fatalities annually. Since opioid prescribing in veterinary medicine is not as comparatively regulated, concerns are raised that opioids prescribed for pets could be misused by humans. The researchers reviewed pharmacy records at the Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital during the 10-year study window, and analyzed trends for the four opioids prescribed or dispensed to animal patients -- tramadol, hydrocodone, and codeine tablets, and fentanyl patches. The animals in the study included dogs (73.0 percent), cats (22.5 percent), and assorted others including rabbits, snakes, and birds (4.5 percent). "We found that the increased quantity of opioids prescribed by our hospital was not due to increased patient volume alone. It is likely that our goal of ensuring our patients are pain-free post-operatively, particularly for those requiring complex and invasive procedures, has driven our increased prescribing practices during this period," said lead author Dana Clarke, VMD, an assistant professor of Interventional Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine "At the national level, we don't know the potential or extent of prescription diversion from animals to humans, and what impact this could have on the human opioid crisis." Anecdotes about veterinarian-prescribed opioids being used by people have already prompted some states to add restrictions to veterinary prescribing. In Pennsylvania, state legislators are working with the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) to determine the most effective course of action for opioid dispensing by the state's practicing veterinarians. Two states, Maine and Colorado, now require background checks on animal owners' opioid prescription histories before a veterinarian can write an opioid prescription. Alaska, Connecticut, and Virginia now limit the amount of opioids any one veterinarian can prescribe to a single patient/animal. Twenty states now require veterinarians to report their opioid prescriptions to a central database, just as medical doctors do. At Penn Vet, efforts currently in practice to reduce opioid prescribing include preference of local anesthetics for post-operative pain, pain scores to guide administration of opioids, and monitoring of patients requiring long-term opioid use, such as dogs with chronic coughing requiring hydrocodone. The authors say it is important that the potential problem of diverted veterinary opioids be studied further to determine its scale, and should be addressed by extending the opioid stewardship measures that already affect medical physicians to veterinary doctors, in all states. ### Co-authors on the study include Kenneth Drobatz, DVM, of Penn Vet, Chloe Korzekwa, of Trinity College in Dublin, and Lewis S. Nelson, MD, of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise. The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $405 million awarded in the 2017 fiscal year. The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital - the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare. Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2017, Penn Medicine provided $500 million to benefit our community. Funding by private foundations is inadvertently changing the international journalism it supports, according to a new study led by the University of East Anglia (UEA). Researchers found that journalists change the ways they understand, value and carry out their work when supported by organisations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation. This is not because foundations deliberately try to influence editorial decision making at the news organisations they fund. Few do, and maintaining editorial independence is very important to both journalists and foundations. However, the nature of foundation funding does cause three important changes to international reporting. First, in order to secure and retain foundation funding, journalists carry out new marketing and administrative tasks. This often takes a significant amount of time away from their editorial work, leading to a reduction in news output. Second, foundations often require news outlets to provide evidence of the impact of their work. This incentivises journalists to produce longer-form, off-agenda content aimed at influencing specialist audiences, rather than shorter, timelier pieces for wider audiences. Third, foundation funding usually supports coverage of specific thematic areas, such as Global Development. However, this encourages journalists to focus on a relatively narrow range of topics that broadly align with the priorities of the most active foundations. Publishing their findings in the journal Journalism Studies, the researchers conclude that foundation funding unintentionally reshapes international journalism to favour outcome-oriented, explanatory reporting in a small number of niche subject areas. Between 2011 and 2015, foundations awarded grants worth more than $US1.3 billion annually to media and journalism, according to Media Impact Funders. It has even been suggested that foundations may offer a partial solution to journalism's economic crisis. The study was conducted by Dr Martin Scott of UEA's School of International Development, Dr Mel Bunce from City, University of London, and Dr Kate Wright at the University of Edinburgh. Lead author Dr Scott said: "Foundations support a significant amount of important international journalism. Without it, very few of the non-profit news outlets we spoke to would survive. But we are concerned that the nature of this journalism - and the role that it plays in democracy - is inadvertently being shaped by a handful of foundations, rather than by journalists themselves. "For journalists collaborating with foundations, one of the key implications of the study is to consider not just how to protect their independence, but also to reflect on what kinds of journalism they want to produce." ### The study, which was funded by the UK's Arts and Humanities Research Council, involved 74 interviews with representatives from the most active foundations funding international non-profit news, intermediary organisations and the journalists they support. 'Foundation funding and the boundaries of journalism', Martin Scott, Mel Bunce and Kate Wright, is published online in Journalism Studies on January 11. 1.5 million from Barts Charity has been awarded to brain tumor researchers at Queen Mary University of London to extend their successful lab-based research into clinical trials with patients Barts Charity has awarded 1.5 million to brain tumour research The grant will allow researchers to extend successful lab-based research into clinical trials with brain tumour patients 16,000 people are diagnosed with a primary or secondary brain tumour each year Case studies available Brain tumours kill more people under the age of 40 than any other cancer and less than 20% of those diagnosed survive beyond five years, compared to 50% of all other cancers. New funding from Barts Charity will help researchers get closer to a cure. 1.5 million has been awarded to brain tumour expert Silvia Marino, Professor of Neuropathology at Queen Mary University of London and Edward McKintosh, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust. Professor Marino has pioneered research in her field and has gained international recognition. She's also the first female President of the British Neuro-Oncology Society. This grant will help Professor Marino and her team of researchers to build upon the success in basic science of the Brain Tumour Research Centre which is funded by the charity Brain Tumour Research and to work with clinicians to develop a clinical platform to facilitate taking their discoveries to patients. Working with Rachel Lewis, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Barts Health NHS Trust, this grant will be used to create infrastructure within the Trust's hospitals to run clinical trials with brain tumour patients. This will vastly enhance the research into brain tumours that can take place and brings the translation of laboratory findings to patient treatments ever closer. It will also mean a significant increase in the amount of experimental treatments available to patients. Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours, meaning that funding by the charities has played an important role. Previous seed funding from Barts Charity and substantial support by Brain Tumour Research has allowed research projects to get up and running and attract larger funders. East Ham MP Stephen Timms will today tour the research facilities with Professor Marino. He was joined by one of his constituents Lydia Fenny, who lost her friend Phil to a brain tumour (case study available). Professor Silvia Marino from Queen Mary University of London says: "I am thrilled to have been awarded this funding from Barts Charity, which complements the support we are receiving from Brain Tumour Research and other sources. It will allow us to move faster from the bench to the bedside and offer more experimental treatments to brain tumour patients." Fiona Miller Smith, Chief Executive of Barts Charity says: "Professor Marino is a world-leading researcher in this important and underfunded area. By making this significant award, the Charity is supporting the extension of her laboratory work to accelerate the translation of beneficial scientific discoveries into patient care." Sue Farrington Smith Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Research says: "We are proud to have provided the seed funding for this vital research. This grant by The Barts Charity represents an important step towards increasing the national investment for research into brain tumours to 30 - 35 million a year and brings hope to the thousands of patients diagnosed with a brain tumour each year, as well as their families." ### Barts Charity Barts Charity is a healthcare innovation funder, which funds extraordinary healthcare for 2.5m people in east London, and beyond. Working alongside the Barts Health NHS Trust's group of hospitals and Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (part of Queen Mary University London) we fund world-leading research, state-of-the-art equipment and innovative healthcare projects which go above and beyond what the NHS can provide. In the year to March 2018, the Charity's funding awards totalled 30million. Visit bartscharity.org.uk or contact comms@bartscharity.org.uk or 020 7618 1720 for more information. Queen Mary University of London Queen Mary University of London is a world-leading research-intensive university with over 25,000 students representing more than 160 nationalities. A member of the prestigious Russell Group, we work across the humanities and social sciences, medicine and dentistry, and science and engineering, with inspirational teaching directly informed by our research. In the most recent exercise that rated research in the UK, we were ranked 5th in the country for the proportion of research outputs that were world-leading or internationally excellent. We offer more than 240 degree programmes and our reputation for excellent teaching was rewarded with a silver in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) awards. Queen Mary's history dates back to 1785, with the foundation of the London Hospital Medical College. Our history also encompasses the establishment of the People's Palace in 1887, which brought accessible education, culture and recreation to the East End of London. We also have roots in Westfield College, one of the first colleges to provide higher education to women. Barts Health NHS Trust With a turnover of 1.5 billion and a workforce of around 17,000, Barts Health is a leading healthcare provider in Britain and one of the largest NHS trusts in the country. The Trust's five hospitals - St Bartholomew's Hospital in the City, including the Barts Heart Centre, The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, Newham University Hospital in Plaistow, Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone and Mile End Hospital - deliver high quality compassionate care to the 2.5 million people of east London and beyond. Brain Tumour Research Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours, and we are a leading voice calling for greater support and action for research into what scientists are calling the last battleground against cancer. We are building a network of experts in sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence whilst influencing the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more nationally. We want research funding parity with breast cancer and leukaemia. We are calling for a 30-35 million investment every year for research into brain tumours in order to fund the ground-breaking research needed to accelerate the translation from laboratory discoveries into clinical trials and fast-track new therapies for this devastating disease. Just like doctors seek to scan deeper into the body with sonograms, CT and MRI, and astronomers seek to look farther out into the universe with space-based telescopes, adaptive optics and different wavelengths of light, neuroscientists pursue new ways to watch brain cells at work deep inside the brain. Three-photon microscopy recently emerged to give them a deeper look at brain cells than ever before. Now, based on a substantial refinement of the technology, scientists at MIT have conducted the first-ever study of stimulated neural activity in an awake mouse through every visual cortex layer and notably the mysterious "subplate" below. "By optimizing the optical design and other features for parameters for making measurements in the live brain, we were able to actually make novel discoveries that were not possible before," said co-corresponding author Mriganka Sur, Newton Professor of Neuroscience in the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory. The paper's co-lead authors are postdocs Murat Yildirim and Hiroki Sugihara. The other corresponding author is Peter So, professor of mechanical engineering and biological engineering. "The concept has existed, but the question was how do you make it work," Sur said. In the study, published in Nature Communications, the team showed that as mice watched visual stimuli, their human observers could measure patterns of activity among neurons in all six layers of visual cortex and the subplate, providing new data about their role in how mammals process vision. Moreover, through a series of careful experiments, the researchers were able to show that the light they sent in, as well as the light that came back out, neither damaged, nor even altered, the cells they measured. In all, the paper describes a new three-photon microscope optimized to deliver rapid, short, low-power pulses of light capable of reaching deep targets without causing any functional disturbance or physical damage, and then to detect the resulting fluorescence emitted by cells with high efficiency to produce images with sharp resolution and a fast frame rate. "We were motivated to show what we could do with three-photon microscope technology for an animal in an awake condition so we could ask important questions of neuroscience," Yildirim said. "You could think you have the best microscope in the world, but until you ask those questions you don't know what results you are going to get." Femtoseconds and nanojoules The theory behind multi-photon microscopy dates back to the 1931 doctoral dissertation of Maria Goeppert-Mayer, whose work showed that a simultaneous combination of lower-energy photons could excite an atom or molecule to a higher energy state just like a single higher energetic photon could. In 1990 Cornell University scientists applied that insight to biological imaging in the two-photon microscope and again in 2013 with a three-photon scope. These allowed neuroscientists to see deeper into the brain because lower energy, higher wavelength photons are less susceptible than higher-energy, shorter-wavelength photons to being scattered by cellular molecules like lipids. Sur and So's labs at MIT have joined in pushing the frontiers of multiphoton microscopy. In the new study they show they've now taken it far enough to study live neural activity. To do that, the team sought to refine many different parameters of both the laser light and the scope optics, based on meticulous measurements of properties of the brain tissue they were imaging. For instance, they not only measured the energy at which cells started to show overt damage (about 10 nanojoules), but also measured the power at which cells would start to behave differently, thereby producing data influenced by the measurement (2 to 5 nanojoules). With precision and purpose to deliver lower energy levels, the scientists optimized the scope to emit incredibly short pulses of light lasting for a "pulse width" of only 40 femtoseconds, or quadrillionths of a second, and painstakingly arranged the optics to maximize the collection of the light that molecules, excited by the incoming laser energy, would emit back. Unprecedented neuroscience After carefully validating that the optimized three-photon scope's measurements agreed with those of two-photon scopes (in shallower layers of the cortex) and electrophysiology (which can go deeper, but blindly), the team set out to do some unprecedented neuroscience - direct visual observation of neural activity in all cortical layers of awake, behaving animals. In the lab they showed mice some grating patterns in 12 different rotated orientations and two directions of motion across a screen. With their optimized three-photon scope, they watched neurons in each layer of the cortex - going more than a millimeter deep - to see how the cells reacted to this standard visual input. They could see the activity of the cells because they had engineered them to glow upon elevated calcium activity, using a label called GCaMP6s. They could see other tissues like blood vessels and white matter via a phenomenon called "third harmonic generation." With the capability to see the deepest layers they observed that layer 5 neurons are "broadly" tuned for orientation, meaning they respond to a wide variety of orientations, rather than just one or 2 specific ones. Layer 5 neurons also had more spontaneous activity than cells in other layers and more connections to deeper parts of the brain. Meanwhile, layer 6 neurons had somewhat sharper orientation tuning than neurons in other layers, meaning they are more specific in their response to distinct orientations. Subplate surprise Their most surprising finding was that the subplate, a thin layer of mostly neural "white-matter" fibers, was home to a population of neurons with patterns of activity that were weakly and broadly tuned to the visual input. The finding was revelatory, the researchers said, in that many neuroscientists believed that subplate neurons were mostly only active during development. The layer is also too thin, Yildirim said, to be measured with electrophysiology. "So far, subplate neurons in the mature brain have not been studied at all due to the technical challenges of imaging these cells in vivo," the researchers wrote. Sugihara recalled the first time Yildirim showed him that subplate neurons were active in the mature mice. "What are they doing there?" he recalled asking in surprise. Now they are continuing to use their new scope to answer that question. ### The National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, a Picower Institute Engineering Collaboration Grant and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative supported the research. Hundreds of surrogate "fish" will be put to work at dams around the world through an agreement between ATS - Advanced Telemetry Systems - and the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to improve operations and increase sustainability. PNNL developed the Sensor Fish to understand what happens to fish as they pass through turbulent waters and turbines at hydroelectric facilities. The Sensor Fish is a small autonomous device filled with sensors that analyze the physical stressors that fish, such as juvenile salmon, experience when passing through or around dams. The technology was recently licensed to ATS through a process known as technology transfer, which enables federally-funded research to be made commercially available. The sensors provide dam operators and fisheries researchers with accurate, physical measurements such as acceleration, pressure, rotational velocity and orientation, which convey what real fish experience during downstream passage. Each sensor provides roughly 2,000 measurements per second and typically takes less than two minutes to pass through the dam due to the water's velocity. "The vast majority of juvenile salmon and steelhead passing through the turbines survive without injury in the Columbia River Basin," said Daniel Deng, a Laboratory Fellow at PNNL. "Still, we want to understand more about the injuries and mortality that do occur from abrupt pressure changes in dam turbine chambers. The Sensor Fish provides information to help engineers design more fish-friendly turbines going forward." Once the Sensor Fish comes out on the other side of the dam, an automatic retrieval system brings it to the surface. Radio signals and flashing LED lights from the Sensor Fish will then allow them to be collected quickly from boats stationed nearby. The Sensor Fish has demonstrated its value in many field studies, for which Deng's team has built individual Sensor Fish in their lab at PNNL. Now, with the technology licensed to ATS, the manufacturing process can be streamlined, and more hydropower operators and researchers will be able to put it to use. "There is a big need for the type of data provided by the Sensor Fish," says ATS president Peter Kuechle. "Mature hydropower industries in the U.S. and Europe hope to modify operations in order to help fish survive. In Europe, regulations insist on testing for this information, and certainly there's a need for the data in emerging hydropower projects globally." ATS has also licensed two other fish technologies developed at PNNL. The Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System (JSATS) and its advanced decoder software that can track fish passage through dams and beyond, and also monitor fish behavior. PNNL developed the JSATS transmitters and battery to be so small it can be injected into young fish -- eliminating the need to surgically implant a tag, which puts extra stress on a fish. The JSATS includes the smallest acoustic transmitters in the world. PNNL has also recently developed an even smaller tag technology that allows for research on the tiniest fish including juvenile eel and lamprey. "This new acoustic fish tag meets the Army Corps of Engineers' JSATS specifications and weighs less than one one-hundredth of an ounce," said Kuechle. "The JSATS technology is complementary to our long history offering innovative and cost-effective wildlife tracking products and we're proud to have supplied the devices to the Army Corps this year for an important study on the lower Snake River." PNNL also has developed bigger, rugged tags with larger batteries to enable research on large and long-lived species such as sturgeon. PNNL is working to develop a self-powered tag that would enable long-term monitoring. PNNL's tracking and sensing technologies are applicable to a wide range of species, research goals, commercial applications and locations. The laboratory has validated its tracking and sensing technologies with more than 100,000 fish in the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Germany and East Asian countries since 2007. They are also applicable to a wide range of species, research, locations and commercial applications. They are available for testing with small mammals and amphibians. The development of these technologies was funded over many years by the Army Corps of Engineers, DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Electric Power Research Institute. ### Chemical engineers in Ohio create ammonia from nitrogen, water; could lead to smaller ammonia processing plants powered by alternative energy CLEVELAND--Ammonia, a compound first synthesized about a century ago, has dozens of modern uses and has become essential in making the fertilizer that now sustains most of our global food production. But while we've been producing ammonia at a large scale since the 1930s, it has been accomplished mainly in hulking chemical plants requiring vast amounts of hydrogen gas from fossil fuels--making ammonia among the most energy-intensive among all large-volume chemicals. A pair of researchers at Case Western Reserve University--one an expert in electro-chemical synthesis, the other in applications of plasmas--are working on fixing that. Researchers Julie Renner and Mohan Sankaran have come up with a new way to create ammonia from nitrogen and water at low temperature and low pressure. They've done it successfully so far in a laboratory without using hydrogen or the solid metal catalyst necessary in traditional processes. "Our approach--an electrolytic process with a plasma--is completely new," said Mohan Sankaran, the Goodrich Professor of Engineering Innovation at the Case School of Engineering. Plasmas, often referred to as the fourth state of matter (apart from solid, liquid or gas), are ionized clouds of gas, consisting of positive ions and free electrons, which give it the unique ability to activate chemical bonds, including the rather challenging nitrogen molecule, at room temperature. Renner, a Climo Assistant Professor in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, added that because this new process doesn't need high pressure or high temperature or hydrogen, it makes it scalable--"the ideal kind of technology for a much smaller plant, one with high potential to be powered by renewable energy." The results of their two-year collaboration were published this month in the journal Science Advances. History lesson: The Haber-Bosch process Virtually all commercial ammonia is made from nitrogen and hydrogen, using an iron catalyst at high temperature and pressure. German physical chemist Fritz Haber received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1918 for developing this process, which made manufacturing ammonia economically feasible. But the process became more economically profitable when industrial chemist Carl Bosch (who also won a Nobel Prize in 1931) brought the method into a large-scale system. The process was further propelled by a second innovation: the development of steam methane reforming that made hydrogen more accessible and less expensive. So, what became known as the Haber-Bosch process became the go-to global method for fixing nitrogen and hydrogen to make ammonia. But Haber-Bosch was never the only approach to nitrogen fixation, it was just the turn-of-the-century winner. A new, old method rises Renner and Sankaran have resurrected an element from a little-known Norwegian method that predated Haber-Bosch (the Birkeland-Eyde process) which reacted nitrogen and oxygen to produce nitrates, another chemical that can be used in agriculture. That process lost out to Haber-Bosch mostly because it required even more energy in the form of electricity, a limited resource in the early 20th century. "Our approach is similar to electrolytic synthesis of ammonia, which has gained interest as an alternative to Haber-Bosch because it can be integrated with renewable energy," Sankaran said. "However, like the Birkeland-Eyde process, we use a plasma, which is energy intensive. Electricity is still a barrier, but less so now, and with the increase in renewables, it may not be a barrier at all in the future. "And perhaps most significantly, our process does not produce hydrogen gas," he said. "This has been the major bottleneck of other electrolytic approaches to forming ammonia from water (and nitrogen), the undesirable formation of hydrogen." The Renner-Sankaran process also does not use a solid metal catalyst that could be one of the reasons ammonia is obtained instead of hydrogen. "In our system, the ammonia is formed at the interface of a gas plasma and liquid water surface and forms freely in solution," Sankaran said. So far, the "table-top batches" of ammonia produced by the duo have been very small and the energy efficiency is still less than Haber-Bosch. But with continued optimization, their discovery and development of a new process could someday lead to smaller, more localized ammonia plants which use green energy. ### How well we breathe as adults may depend on the amount of fat mass and lean body mass, or muscle, we have as children, according to a new study led by scientists from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation. This research has been conducted as part of the Ageing Lungs in European Cohorts (ALEC) project, coordinated by Imperial College London. The study, published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, reports that boys and girls with more muscle mass in childhood and adolescence have higher lung function. The researchers also found that boys, but not girls, with more fat mass have lower lung function. Previous studies had looked at the association between overall body mass and lung function, but they found contradictory results. "Some studies related higher body mass with higher lung function while others found higher body mass related to lower lung function," said Judith Garcia-Aymerich, senior study author and head of Non-communicable Diseases and Environment at ISGlobal. "We hypothesized that previous contradictory results could be attributed to the fact that overall body mass does not account for the different contribution of fat and muscle mass." In the current study, the authors combined body measurements and measurements produced using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to distinguish between muscle mass and fat mass. Using common lung function tests, the researchers also measured lung function in children at ages eight and 15 and calculated the growth in lung function during that time. The study had 6,964 participants from the UK population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort, also known as the Children of the 90s longitudinal study. Specifically, the study found: In boys and girls, higher muscle mass was associated with higher levels and lung growth rates of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), the total amount of air a person can exhale taking the deepest breath possible; Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), the amount of air a person can forcefully exhale in one second; and Forced Expiratory Flow at 25-75 percent (FEF25-75), a measure of the speed that air comes out of the lungs. In boys and girls, higher fat mass was associated with lower levels of FEV1/FVC, a measure of airflow limitation often used to help diagnose asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In boys, but not girls, higher fat mass was associated with lower levels and lung growth rates of FEV1 and FEF25-75. The researchers adjusted their analysis for a number of factors that might have biased results, including birthweight, maternal smoking during pregnancy and the age of the children at puberty, as well as lung function levels at age eight. The authors believe their study has important research and public health implications: "Our results highlight that body composition, and not just overall body mass, should be assessed when studying the health effects of weight in children", said Gabriela P. Peralta, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study. "We believe that body composition in childhood and adolescence may play a role in future respiratory health", she added. "Public health strategies promoting healthy lifestyles may improve lung function and reduce respiratory morbidity in adult life," Judith Garcia-Aymerich said. "Such strategies should aim not only reduce body weight but also reduce fat and increase muscle mass." ### This study was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme. Support for ALSPAC comes from the UK Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust and the University of Bristol. Reference Gabriela P. Peralta, Elaine Fuertes, Raquel Granell, Osama Mahmoud, Celina Roda, Ignasi Serra, Deborah Jarvis, John Henderson, Judith Garcia-Aymerich. Childhood body composition trajectories and adolescent lung function: Findings from the ALSPAC study. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. About ISGlobal The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, is the fruit of an innovative alliance between the "la Caixa" Foundation and academic and government institutions to contribute to the efforts undertaken by the international community to address the challenges in global health. ISGlobal is a consolidated hub of excellence in research that has grown out of work first started in the world of health care by the Hospital Clinic and the Parc de Salut MAR and in the academic sphere by the University of Barcelona and Pompeu Fabra University. The pivotal mechanism of its work model is the transfer of knowledge generated by scientific research to practice, a task undertaken by the institute's Education and Policy and Global Development departments. ISGlobal a member of the CERCA programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya. About 'Children of the 90s' Based at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, the Children of the 90s study (also known as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children or ALSPAC) is a long-term health-research project that enrolled more than 14,000 pregnant women in 1991 and 1992. It has been following the health and development of the parents and their children in detail ever since and is currently recruiting the children and the siblings of the original children into the study. It receives core funding from the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and the University of Bristol. WASHINGTON, D.C., January 11, 2019 -- The American Institute of Physics (AIP) announced today that it has awarded the 2018 John Torrence Tate Award for International Leadership in Physics to Italian physicist Fabiola Gianotti. Named after the celebrated American physicist John Torrence Tate, the Tate medal was established in 1959 and is awarded every two years to non-U.S. citizens for their leadership, research contributions, and service to the international physics community. The award consists of a certificate of recognition, a bronze medal and a $10,000 prize. Previous winners include Edoardo Amaldi, Yu Lu, Jean Tran Thanh Van and last year, Neil Turok. Gianotti will receive the award at the American Physical Society (APS) April meeting in Denver, Colorado. The 2018 Tate Medal Selection Committee wrote that the medal was awarded "in recognition of her leadership as Spokesperson of the ATLAS international collaboration and as Director-General of CERN in promoting science as a vehicle for broad international cooperation." Gianotti was born in Rome, Italy, and earned her doctorate in experimental particle physics from the University of Milan. She has worked as a research physicist at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, since 1994, and in 2016 became CERN's first female Director-General. Gianotti has worked on a number of CERN experiments, including the UA2, ALEPH, and ATLAS experiments, and from 2009 to 2013, she served as the project leader, or "Spokesperson," of ATLAS. ATLAS, a particle detector experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) accelerator, is illustrative of Gianotti's international leadership: Roughly 3,000 physicists from some 40 countries participate in the project. On July 4, 2012, on behalf of their collaborations, Gianotti and the Spokesperson of CMS, Joe Incandela, announced the discovery of the Higgs boson, which was observed simultaneously by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the LHC. The Higgs boson was, until then, a purely hypothetical part of the standard model, the theory that describes elementary particles and their interactions. "Being Spokesperson of an experiment like ATLAS was a great privilege and a great responsibility," Gianotti said. "It was an exceptional time for physics, with the start of the LHC operation and a couple of years later the discovery of the Higgs boson. I particularly enjoyed the very strong teamwork and the enthusiasm and dedication of the Collaboration. The discovery of the Higgs boson has rewarded more than 20 years of hard work by thousands of scientists from all over the world!" "We are delighted to award this prize to Dr. Gianotti in recognition of her place as a leader in the international physics community," said AIP CEO Michael Moloney. "Her many impressive accomplishments, including teaching, supervising, and lecturing worldwide and serving as the current director of CERN, a physics facility of global importance, have influenced and inspired thousands." Gianotti's interest in physics stems from a rich multidisciplinary background. "In high school I studied humanities, and in parallel music at the conservatory," Gianotti said. "I was a curious child and I was intrigued by the big questions. I wanted to understand the building blocks of the universe, I wanted to know how things worked at the most elementary level. I thought physics would be something that would allow me to find answers to the questions I had been asking myself." When she was 17, she read a biography of Marie Curie. "I was fascinated by her personality, her courage and determination. She had a lab in her house, and science was an integral part of her day by day life," said Gianotti. In past interviews, Gianotti has noted the need for dissolving the artificial walls between the arts and sciences, and advocated to improve diversity in the sciences. CERN has a variety of outreach and professional development programs aimed at improving diversity in physics, including initiatives to support women in science. "Being Director-General of CERN has exposed me to many different activities," Gianotti said. "From scientific and technical aspects to financial matters and relations with CERN's Member States and other countries. It's an extremely enriching and varied job." Gianotti is a foreign associate member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Italian Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences and others. She has also served on several international committees, including the Scientific Advisory Board of the U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. Over the course of her career, Gianotti has received numerous honorary doctorates, and has co-authored over 550 publications in international journals. In addition to her celebrated contributions to research and work as a global leader in physics, Gianotti has been included among the "Top 100 inspirational women" by The Guardian and Forbes, and ranked 5th personality of the year 2012 by Time Magazine. ### ABOUT THE TATE MEDAL Named for John Torrence Tate in honor of his service to the physics community, the Tate Medal recognizes non-US citizens for international leadership in physics, with an emphasis on leadership, statesmanship, and service to the physics community, as opposed to research achievement. Awarded every two years, it consists of a certificate, a bronze medal and a $10,000 cash award. For more information, see https:/ / www. aip. org/ aip/ awards/ tate-medal . ABOUT AIP U.S. to host Iran-focused global summit next month The United States plans to host a global summit focused on the Middle East, particularly Iran, next month in Poland, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News in an interview to air on Friday. The United States plans to host a global summit focused on the Middle East, particularly Iran, next month in Poland, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News in an interview to air on Friday. INTERNATIONAL GATHERING WILL BE HELD FEB. 13 Pompeo told Fox the international gathering would be held Feb. 13 to Feb. 14 in Poland to focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence. U.S. President Donald Trumps top diplomat is visiting a number of Middle Eastern countries this week in an effort to shore up support in the region amid a number of ongoing fronts, from the U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria to the Saudi-Qatar rift to the killing of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Pompeo, in the midst of his eight- day trip through the region, has said that the United States is redoubling its efforts to put pressure on Iran and sought to convince allies in the region that it was committed to fighting the Islamic State despite Trumps recent decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. US TO REIMPOSE SACTIONS ON TEHRAN Pompeo told Fox News the summit would include representatives from countries around the world to address Irans regional influence as the Trump administration has sought to pressure Tehran. Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord and moved to reimpose sanctions on Tehran, even as other partners in the deal, including China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom, have sought to maintain the deal. In a shift earlier this week, the European Union moved to impose some sanctions on Iran. US begins withdrawing military equipment from Syria US military takes steps to withdraw troops amid uncertainty over the timetable for leaving. The first US military ground equipment has been withdrawn from Syria in recent days, signaling the beginning of the drawdown ordered by President Donald Trump, according to an administration official with direct knowledge of the operation. A Pentagon official said the removal of "some of the equipment" had begun. He declined to elaborate on the type of military equipment involved or where it was removed from due to security concerns. "Some cargo has already moved," the official told CNN. The official quoted by CNN would not describe exactly what the cargo was or how it was being transported. They also did not mention what part of Syria it came from. The CNN report added that officials it had previously spoken to said the Pentagon wants to signal to the president it is working towards his goals following his withdrawal decision last month. BOLTON HAD SAID US WON'T LEAVE White House national security adviser John Bolton had said this week that the US wouldnt leave Syria until Turkey promised not to target the USs Kurdish partners/YPG terrorists. Trump's surprise announcement on Dec. 19 that he was withdrawing all 2,000 American troops from the conflict-wracked Middle Eastern country concerned allies and prompted the resignation of his then defense chief Jim Mattis. Trump cancels planned Davos trip as shutdown continues Trump canceled a planned visit later this month to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, signaling he was prepared for the political showdown over the partial federal government shutdown. It was unclear whether the shutdown, now in its 20th day, would end before the start of the global economic meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 22 to 25. Trump and congressional Democrats are in a battle over funding for the government and Trumps long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S SHUTDOWN Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, Trump wrote on Twitter. The president had told reporters at the White House earlier on Thursday that he intended to speak at the forum but would not attend if the shutdown continued. The cancellation quashes any opportunity for Trump to meet with other world leaders about economic issues, including trade. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters after a briefing with lawmakers on Capitol Hill that he was talking with the White House about whether he would still make the trip to Switzerland. My guess is if we do continue it, it will be in a scaled-back version, Mnuchin said. I am a retired Naval Officer and small business owner, outside of my work at the News & Eagle. My wife Tammy and I enjoy serving together at church and attending Gaslight and ESO. We have two daughters, three dogs and little free time. Follow James Neal | Religion/Health Reporter Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The services celebrating and honoring the life of Jerry Richter, 93, of Enid, are pending under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family online at www.Brown-Cummings.com/. Mrs. Lura Lee Swanner Andrews, 92, of Athens, Alabama, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, June 14, 2021. Mrs. Andrews was born September 9, 1928, in Limestone County to Eugene Lee Swanner and Hattie Lee Edwards Swanner. She was born and raised in the Elkmont area and was the only gradu Havana, Jan 11 (efe-epa).- Seven people were killed and 33 others injured when a bus carrying mainly tourists flipped over on a highway in the southeastern province of Guantanamo, Cuban media said. The accident occurred Thursday night on a notoriously dangerous stretch of road between the cities of Baracoa and Guantanamo. The three fatalities who have been identified were all Cuban citizens, while the injured include 22 travelers from Spain, Argentina, the United States, France, the Netherlands, Canada and Mexico, Cuba's official ACN news agency reported. One of those hurt was a 3-year-old Spanish boy who is listed in guarded but stable condition at Agostinho Neto hospital in Guantanamo, where all of the injured were taken. Five of the injured are in critical condition, ACN said. Passengers told ACN that the road was wet and slippery when the bus flipped over while the driver was trying to pass another vehicle. The bus was on its way to Havana from Baracoa with 40 passengers at the time of the accident, the second major transportation incident in eastern Cuba in less than a week. A dozen people were hurt on Jan. 8 when a bus collided with a passenger train in the province of Granma. Traffic accidents are the fifth-leading cause of death in Cuba, killing an average of one person every 12 hours in 2018 and more than 4,400 in all since 2012. Effingham, IL (62401) Today Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) can now recommend to the Chief Executive the filing of criminal charges against his appointees suspected of committing illegal acts. President Rodrigo Duterte amended the executive order creating the PACC to give the body power to recommend the filing of criminal complaints before the the Ombudsman or the justice department. Previously, the PACC could only recommend to the President administrative penalties and preventive suspension of officials suspected of wrongdoing, or refer cases to the Ombudsman and the appropriate disciplinary authority. Duterte also granted the PACC power to recommend to the Anti-Red Tape Authority the investigation of cases of possible violation of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007. It would also perform "such other functions or duties as may be assigned by the President." At the same, Duterte said that nothing could prevent him from investigating or authorizing other offices under him to conduct an investigation or take over the probe on cases being investigated by the PACC. The PACC is currently looking at corruption complaints against Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, former Customs Commissioner and now Technical Education and Skills Development Authority head Isidro Lapena, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples chair Leonor Quintayo. Since its creation in 2017, the PACC has recommended the preventive suspension of Assistant State Prosecutor Michael John Humarang, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Rassendel Gingoyon and former Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan who cleared high-profile personalities of drug charges. Editors Note: Associate Editor Christina Samuels covers special education. This analysis is part of a special report exploring pressing trends in education. Read the full report: 10 Big Ideas in Education. The year was 1975, and President Gerald Ford was ambivalent about the law he was about to sign, guaranteeing that students with disabilities are entitled to education in the public schools. He said so in what was then an infrequently used presidential optiona signing statement. No one could argue against the laws goals, Ford wrote. But the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was underfunded, promised too much to families, and was burdened by complex technical requirements, he said. Fortunately, he said, the law wasnt scheduled to be fully implemented until 1978. There is time to revise the legislation and come up with a program that is effective and realistic, Ford wrote. That was optimistic. Over 43 years later, others still hold Fords concerns, and they arent opponents of the law. Rather, people who have spent their professional careers or personal lives deeply involved in the cause of educating students with disabilities are the same ones who are troubledpublicly and privatelyabout special education as functional law and as a process intended to get students the education that they need. What is now the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was the culmination of decades of activism all over the country. Now that the law is here, it will take a revival of that same spirit to fix what is broken in the implementation. And that implementation is broken in some fundamental ways. Here are a few: Children with disabilities arent always identified for needs when they have them. When they are identified, what happens in the classroom is hit-or-miss. And, as Ford and countless school officials, advocates, parents, and teachers have said since 1975, theres not enough money in the law to accomplish all that it requires. Lets take a look at the process of identifying children with disabilities, one of the underpinnings of the IDEA. School districts have to seek out and evaluate any child in their boundaries that may have a disabilitya process that the special education law calls child find. But the process of identifying children with certain disabilitiesdyslexia, for exampleis exquisitely sensitive to human pressure and to public policy. After years of growth, the overall special education population dipped in the early 2000s. Why? Its not clear. There could be a policy driver: The 2000s saw many schools adopt response to intervention, an educational process intended to steer students to appropriate interventions before they fall too far behind academically. But those same policies can also be used to keep children out of special education who should qualify for it. Texas was called out earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Education for failing to identify and evaluate its students properly, thus keeping its special education enrollment numbers artificially low. State officials say the price tag for providing additional special education services could be more than $3 billion over the next three years. Another twist to the identification issue: Recent research shows that minority children are actually less likely than their white peers to receive special education services, upending years of other studies. The pushback against those findings has been fierce. And then there is what happens once students are identified. Response to intervention was rolled out to schools with great fanfare and is now used in some form in more than 70 percent of school districts. But a major goal of RTI is to keep children out of special educationan acknowledgement that some children are receiving services who should not really need them, and that other students need extra academic help who arent identified with a disability. Does RTI work? One large study in 2015 showed that students in the program who were supposedly receiving targeted interventions actually performed worse than virtually identical peers who were not in an RTI process. RTI supporters say the problem is poor implementation that needs simplification. But if RTI is currently too complicated for most schools to implement well, what does that mean for the teachers and principals who are working so hard to put it in place, or for the students who are enrolled in it right now? And then, theres the money. Congress never funded the IDEA for the full amount that was authorized when the law was first signed. At that time, Congress estimated that it cost states twice as much to educate a student with disabilities as it does to educate a general education student, and the law authorizes the federal government to give up to 40 percent of that excess cost to states. Congress has never come close to that mark; its $12.3 billion contribution in fiscal 2018 is more like 15 percent of the excess cost. But we dont have a good idea nationally of how much is spent on special education, or if its still correct that special education students cost school districts twice as much to educate. The last national spending numbers are more than 20 years old. And even if more money was poured into the system, would it flow to where its needed? A 2014 report by New America, a Washington-based think tank, asserted that the out-of-date, complicated formula that the federal government uses to distribute money to states has resulted in small districts getting more federal money per student than larger districts, and shrinking school systems receiving more federal dollars than school districts that are growing. Right now, advocates have been in something of a defensive crouch over the law, which is nearly 10 years overdue for reauthorization. A new Congress might have a new attitude, however. And when and if it picks the law up again, heres some questions that need answering: How much does it really cost to educate students with disabilities? The numbers often cited dont take into account changes such as the growth of students with autism or impairments such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the rise of inclusion, or the increasing availability of interventions outside of the formal structure of special education. Should special education be provided primarily by special education teachers? Most children with disabilities spend most or all of their time in the general education classroom. Given the chronic shortage of special education teachers, it may be time to make all teachers learn the fundamentals of what special education entails. This is already happening in some places. For example, at Syracuse University, any undergraduate student who wants to be an elementary teacher has to take coursework in inclusive education. Students are recommended for certificates in both general and special education. Special education comes with a long list of rights that parents have, but are those rights reasonably available to everyone? Advocates hailed the 2017 Endrew F. v. Douglas County School Board U.S. Supreme Court ruling that established more-ambitious expectations for special education students. But its important to note that the parents in that caselike most parentslost at every step of the process: at the administrative judge level, at the district court level, and at the appeals court level before prevailing at the high court. They had resources to carry on the fight that few parents possess. Schools and districts are afraid of lawsuits, even though they win the vast majority of them. But parents also have fears that their children are not getting the appropriate education to which they are entitled. In the vast majority of cases, parents are not unreasonable, nor are special educators lazy. Everyone is working hard, and in good faith. But the landscape in 2018 is far different from the educational landscape in 1975. The IDEA made a fundamental change in access to education for students with disabilities. Now its time to make that access meaningful. PERSPECTIVE Q&A: How to Expand Special Education Services Disability civil rights pioneer Judith Heumann has been at the forefront of trailblazing legislation to support people with disabilities, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, first passed in 1975, and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. A former assistant secretary of education for special education and rehabilitative services, Heumann says the future of this country relies on valuing every child and adult. What will it take for the nation to have an aha moment about the state of special education? The nation needs to recognize that education for all will not occur with a one-size-fits-all model. To get there, we must train all administrators and all teachers to teach all children. We must educate the average American that our ability to be competitive in the global economy rests on having a highly educated workforce, and we cannot afford to believe that any one group of children cannot benefit from a robust educational system. And finally, special education should not be seen as a place but rather a service. How would you ensure that teachers have the training and support they need to be effective? The U.S. Department of Education and state education departments need to ensure that appropriate standards (with accountability measures) are developed and implemented. States need to support teacher-preparation colleges that offer dual-licensure, that are taught by faculty who have successfully worked in inclusive classrooms, and offer meaningful clinical programs. Future educators should learn principles of universal design for learning, differentiated instruction, and co-teaching. Funding should come from the federal and state governments. Scholarships should be more available so that students are not fearful of debt that they will not be able to pay back. Additionally, one would know that the teacher programs are effective when administrators are satisfied with the people they are hiring and graduates feel they have the knowledge and confidence to work in diverse classrooms. What are the federal, state, and local levers you would pull to effectively educate students with disabilities? Quality education ensures a strong democracy. In our schools every day, we understand that students lives are impacted not only by what is happening in the classroom, but by poverty, health care, safety, employment, and housing, for example. We must develop high standards for administrator and teacher licensure, provide sufficient funding to support our schools, and provide grants and loan forgiveness for educators. We must work with local, state, and national businesses to understand the future of work and the kind of learning that must be going on in our schools every day. We cannot afford to squander one childs life. Our efforts will be measured by reduced dropout rates, significant reduction of juveniles entering our prison systems, and ultimately producing a society where we have demonstrated the value of diversity in our communities. This means that no child or adult should be devalued because of disability or any other marginalizing label. (Photo: Popetawadros.org)President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi congratulates Pope Tawadros II with the opening of the Cathedral of the Nativity. Photo: Popetawadros.org President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated Egypt's largest church and mosque in the country's New Administrative Capital on Jan. 6, the eve of Coptic Christmas in the predeominantly Muslim country. The move was a message of tolerance in the predominantly Muslim country, Reuters news agency reported. "This is an important moment in our history," Sisi said in a speech as he opened the cathedral. "We are one and we will remain one," he added, referring to Egyptian Christians and Muslims. "On this day we see you have fulfilled this promise and here we are witnessing a great opening on this grand occasion," the head of the Coptic church Pope Tawadros II said. He will preside over midnight mass later in the evening with Sisi in attendance. Located about 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Cairo, the cathedral hosted its mass under heavy security, a day after a bomb near a Coptic church in Nasr City, an eastern suburb of Cairo, killed a policeman. The cathedral can accommodate 8,000 worshippers and the mosque twice as many. Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population. More than 100 Copts have been killed in attacks since December 2016. The head of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb said that this was a momentous occasion and "an embodiment of the soul of brotherhood and love." Pope Tawadros II said: "This is a day of joy as we see our beloved country write a new page in the history of civilization. We pray for our unity to continue as the world witnesses such tolerance and love in our country, God bless you all, long live Egypt." Copts have in recent years faced a growing number of attacks by Islamist extremists including the group calling itself Islamic State, which is fomenting conflict in the north of the remote Sinai Peninsula. Among foreign dignitaries and officials were Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit who stood next to Sisi at the opening. Gheit said that the inauguration of El Fattah El Aleem Mosque and the Nativity of Christ Cathedral in the New Administrative Capital at the same time will be etched in Egypt's history. He expressed Christmas greetings to Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark Diocese, and said that this demonstrated to the whole world the Egyptians' unity, Egypt Today reported. Gheit said he is keen on offering Christmas greetings to Pope Tawadros in real appreciation of his great religious and national role. A Brand's Guide to Digital Shelf Analytics | eBook What can you do to improve your digital commerce game? The first rule of the digital shelf is to make sure your products can be found. Some might say its mission impossible. Unless, of course, you use digital shelf analytics (DSA). Get the eBook Today! A new year means a fresh start, but it doesn't mean that old threats will go away. In fact, in the world of cybersecurity things could get far worse before they get better. Cybercrime continues to increase, as it allows nefarious actors to operate at a safe distance from victims -- and more importantly, law enforcement. Because it rarely is violent in nature, cybercrime often doesn't get the same response from international law enforcement as other types of crimes. It is far from victimless, however. It is a threat of enormous magnitude, with the potential to affect nearly every company in the world. It even ranks as one of the biggest problems plaguing mankind. On a global basis, cybercrime will cost US$6 trillion annually by 2021, double the toll of 2015, according to the Official 2019 Annual Cybercrime Report from Cybersecurity Ventures. This is the largest amount of money generated by illicit means, and it could represent the greatest transfer of economic wealth in history. Cybercrime soon will be more profitable than the global trade of all major illegal drugs combined! Cybercrime is not one thing. It is many -- and fighting it requires understanding the various shapes it comes in. Following is a look at the various types of cybercrime, and things that can be done to fight it. Phishers Continue to Cast Their Lines One of the original cybersecurity threats hardly has evolved, but it is unlikely to go away anytime soon. "Phishing will always continue as long as it works," warned Satya Gupta, CTO of Virsec, a developer of data security software. In 2019 we can "expect it to become more targeted and specific to organizations," he told the E-Commerce Times. "Phishing is here to stay because it's simple, it's cheap, and it will work as long as people continue to read their emails," noted Matan Or-El, CEO of Panorays, a provider of third-party security management. "Users should be on guard against downloading applications from untrusted sources," warned Will LaSala, director of security solutions at OneSpan. "Phishing remains an easy mechanism to harvest logins and email addresses and potentially passwords, and users should continue to adopt multifactor authentication for all their accounts to help protect against phishing attacks," he told the E-Commerce Times. This is among the biggest cybersecurity threats, but it also could be one of the easiest to stop, as it relies on human error to work. It is typically just social engineering, rather than complex coding. "Companies should train their employees on the risks of phishing attacks and how to avoid them," said Mike Bittner, digital security and operations manager for The Media Trust, a firm that provides real-time security for digital properties. "This type of training should be part of creating a culture that makes cybersecurity a strategic imperative across the organization," he told the E-Commerce Times. Ransomware on the Rise Tied closely to phishing scams is the growing threat of ransomware, which can lock a user, or even an organization, out of a computer or network. Even more concerning, it may not be just computer systems or networks that are at risk. "Ransomware isn't going away; in fact, we will probably see even more of it targeting consumers in 2019," said Hank Thomas, CEO of Strategic Cyber Ventures. "This will be ransomware at scale, targeting a wider swath of middle class Americans that are equally eager to make the problem go away with a quick payment as corporate America was," he told the E-Commerce Times. Corporate targets likely will remain in the crosshairs of those who find this an effective illicit business strategy, and due diligence may not be enough to stop all the threats. "Healthcare remains, by far, the No. 1 target for ransomware, with more than half of all attacks targeting healthcare directly," warned Pravin Kothari, CEO of cloud security software company CipherCloud. "Ransomware will also continue as long as there are underprotected systems with data that hasn't been adequately backed up," said Virsec's Gupta. "However,ransomware threats are increasingly being used as red herrings to distract from other types of attacks on critical infrastructure," he added. The greatest danger of ransomware, once again, isn't that it will block user access to data, but that it could make the leap to any connected device -- from automobiles to smart homes. The Internet of Things has opened a brave new world for hackers to lock users out of! "Businesses need to begin to secure their IoT mobile and Web applications with the same controls that are being deployed for other markets, like multifactor user authentication, and application shielding and secure user onboarding," said OneSpan's LaSala. So far that hasn't happened, and many users may not expect that their cars, thermostats and doorbells need the same level of security as their PCs. "People have already been affected by IoT and automobile exploits, but so far there isn't big money to be had from it, so the scale of this activity remains small," noted Jim Purtilo, associate professor in the computer science department at the University of Maryland. "We'll see just how weak are IoT protections, just as soon as it is in the interests of an aggressor to trigger chaos," he told the E-Commerce Times. Here is where healthcare could face a one-two punch. "In the case of healthcare, many medical devices are also IoT devices," CipherCloud's Kothari told the E-Commerce Times. "They have closed operating systems, proprietary code, and wireless connectivity," he added. "These devices are essential to healthcare operation and are likely to be targeted as the cyberwar on hospitals escalates." Protecting the Cloud The movement of more and more data off site to cloud-based services could direct cybercriminals to the cloud as well. Because their data is off site, many businesses wrongly may assume that it is secure, but that faith may be unwarranted. Choosing a cloud provider should come down to the level of security it provides, and its track record in keeping data secure. "The cloud is really more like a swamp of data, and it's not this idealistic place of security rainbows and data unicorns," warned Strategic Cyber Ventures' Thomas. "Nobody really wants to trudge through it, but you know it's where the best treasure probably is," he added. "So it just might be worth it to spend a lot more time there, since the security is often really just a bunch of annoying mud, mosquitoes and thorns that are more of a nuisance than real security." The question now is whether enough really is being done to keep data secure. The cloud holds treasures comparable to those of Fort Knox, but in many cases it lacks the same level of security. "Effective cloud security requires strong protection at the application layer, particularly with externally facing Web, mobile and API application assets," suggested Franklyn Jones, CMO at Cequence Security, a venture-backed cybersecurity software company. "These are prime targets for the growing number of automated bot attacks," he told the E-Commerce Times. "These attacks are nearly impossible to detect with traditional security tools because they involve the use of legitimate user names and passwords, not malware or APTs," Jones added. "Therefore, cloud security architectures need to include tools that can detect the underlying behavior and intent of application transactions, which is essential to stop malicious automated bots." The Rising Threat of Digital Ad Fraud One of the lesser-known types of cybercrime is one few people know much about, but one that affects more and more people each year. Digital ad fraud makes it difficult for online content publishers to generate revenue. Advertisers lose an estimated $19 billion to fraudulent activities each year -- equivalent to $51 million daily -- according to a report from Juniper Research published last year. More worrisome is the forecast that ad fraud could reach $44 billion by 2022. The bulk of fraudulent ads affect video, but all content providers online, including newspaper publishers, are potential victims of ad fraud. This has reached a point where law enforcement is taking it seriously. The Department of Justice last year announced a 13-count indictment against eight men for various cybercrimes, including what the FBI identified as the biggest-ever ad fraud investigation. The group, which has been dubbed "3ve" (pronounced "eve"), included six Russian nationals and two Kazakhstani citizens. "In digital advertising, the most common scams take the form of malicious or hijacked ads redirecting Internet users to phishing pop-ups that enable bad actors to commit identity and credit card theft," said The Media Trust's Bittner. "In such attacks, bad actors pose as legitimate advertisers and use a compromised site to propagate phishing scams," he said. "All organizations are vulnerable to these attacks, which can have multiple phases as the first attack opens up the organization to later ones." The (Crypto) Currency of Cybercrime It is now probably safe to say that 2018 didn't exactly become the year of cryptocurrency -- at least to the degree many had suggested. However, it was the year that cryptocurrency became a key tool in many ransomeware schemes -- including the threats that personal data would be released online unless the hacker was paid. That particular threat turned out to be bogus, but it highlighted the fact that bitcoin and other digital currencies could offer a less-traceable way for criminals to be paid -- at least in theory. "Cryptocurrencies remain the exchange mechanism of choice for cybercriminals who need whatever direction they can get while fleecing victims," suggested University of Maryland's Purtilo. However, bitcoin and its rival digital currencies aren't the perfect solution for cybercriminals -- at least not yet. "Rampant use of cryptocurrencies for illicit use is a glaring misconception," explained Strategic Cyber Ventures' Thomas. "Bitcoin, the most widely used and secure cryptocurrency, is pseudonymous and easily traceable -- making cash a much more logical choice for many criminals," he added. "Other more privacy-centric cryptocurrencies do exist and can be used for these purposes. However, privacy is never entirely rid of traceability, and attribution is often inevitable." There are other reasons cybercriminals may shy away from bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. "Many of these are faced with illiquid markets, making cashing out to fiat currency incredibly difficult and costly," said Thomas. The bigger threat in cryptocurrency might not be in how it is used, but rather how it is created -- as in "mined." Bitcoin and other currencies are created by having computers solve complex mathematical equations, and this is dubbed "mining." Criminals often remotely control computers or computer networks to take on some of the computer processing. This ties to other nefarious threats, such as phishing or ad fraud, in which users are directed to an illicit website that runs Javascript on a webpage that then turns a user computer into a remote miner. "Cryptojacking attacks played a very major role in cybersecurity last year," said The Media Trust's Bittner. "Cryptojacking has surpassed ransomware as a pervasive digital threat in many countries. Although cryptocurrency has failed to reach the critical mass many had earlier predicted, malicious actors will continue to use cryptojacking for its stealth and relative ease," he warned. "The fact that cryptojacking requires no interaction with the unknowing victim makes attacks easier to deliver and possible to repeat," Bittner said. "Cybercriminals may draw from the well again and again." The Next Thing in Cybercrime A pressing concern with cybercrime and cybersecurity is not what criminals are involved with today, but what they might target tomorrow and beyond. "The scams I would worry about the most are the ones the good guys haven't dreamt up and prepared for yet," said Thomas. "The scenarios are essentially limitless, with the number of criminals and intelligence services around the world constantly looking to gain access to Western enterprises and users," he added. "Consumers -- average-Joe Americans without much of any real security -- will remain most vulnerable, but aren't the biggest target," noted Thomas. "Lucrative business and government targets will keep that honor in 2019. Phishing will continue to be a popular and efficient avenue of approach to gain entry to both consumer and business targets." It appears that what works today, sadly, will continue to work for cybercriminals as 2019 unfolds. Peter Suciu has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2012. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile phones, displays, streaming media, pay TV and autonomous vehicles. He has written and edited for numerous publications and websites, including Newsweek, Wired and FoxNews.com. Email Peter. Tenth anniversary of the euro in Slovakia Speech by Yves Mersch, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the International Conference to mark the tenth anniversary of the introduction of the euro in Slovakia, Bratislava, 11 January 2019 I am honoured to be in Bratislava today and to speak before such a distinguished audience. This conference marks the tenth anniversary of the euro in Slovakia, which in fact is a double anniversary as it coincides with twenty years of the euro. What could be a better anniversary gift, or a clearer symbol of the vitality of our single currency, than Slovakias success since the introduction of the euro on 1 January 2009? Slovakia has achieved an impressive real convergence of living standards towards the EU average. The key ingredients of this success have been the countrys willingness to grasp the opportunities offered by EU membership and the adoption of the euro. Indeed, on the economic side fundamental institutional reforms allowed Slovakia to transition to a vibrant market economy and adopt a highly successful export-led growth model, which underpinned real convergence. Reforms rather than continued devaluation or requests for financial assistance is the recipe for success. Nevertheless, this should be no reason for complacency, as the next stage of convergence is bound to be harder. Neither EU membership nor the single currency offer an autopilot for strong economic growth. I will therefore argue that relentless efforts in the pursuit of institutional quality and good governance are essential in order to raise the countrys long-term growth capacity. The drivers of Slovakias success Within just three decades, Slovakia has made a remarkable economic transition from a centrally planned economy to a market economy that is closely integrated into the Single Market. The significant efforts made during the transition have clearly paid off. Having all but doubled since the early 1990s, Slovakias real GDP per capita stands at just over 80% of the EU average.[1] Equally impressive has been the pace of economic convergence, which exceeded expectations based on the initial level of Slovak national income.[2] Slovakia has managed to achieve a per capita GDP level above that of most other countries in central and eastern Europe (CEE), and close to catching up with that of Slovenia and the Czech Republic (Chart 1). Much of this success is rooted in the countrys remarkable institutional transformation in the context of joining the EU. Slovakias accession to the EU gave momentum to its convergence efforts and provided it with an external institutional anchor. Fundamental reforms such as the establishment of a clearly defined system of property rights, effective economic law enforcement and institutions to curb fraud and anticompetitive behaviour were crucial in allowing Slovakia to operate in a market economy and to cope with competition and market forces. Access to the Single Market and adoption of the acquis communautaire have contributed to Slovakias success in two ways. First, the removal of trade barriers and application of European-wide standards considerably reduced the cost of doing business across borders, fostering trade and encouraging the countrys participation in European value chains.[3] Second, a more stable and predictable legal and regulatory environment improved investor security and contributed to a rapid inflow of foreign investment, providing the economy with the necessary foreign capital, know-how and technology to increase its competitiveness. The Slovak economy became deeply integrated into the Single Market, with an export share of almost 100% of GDP, well above that of other CEE economies (Chart 2), and almost 20% of jobs depending on EU exports to the rest of the world.[4] The resulting significant economic convergence eventually paved the way for the introduction of the euro. Many saw the loss of an independent monetary policy and the inability to respond to external shocks as the most significant cost of joining the euro area. However, Slovakias high degree of openness had made it difficult for its national central bank to manage the business cycle in the face of volatile capital flows. The exchange rate had more often become a source of shocks rather than a shock absorber.[5] So the benefits of adopting the euro were compelling. One immediate benefit was the stabilisation of Slovakias exchange rate with key trading partners and the elimination of currency conversion costs. Research shows that euro adoption thereby contributed to a 12% increase in Slovakias exports to the euro area.[6] A further advantage of the introduction of the euro was the strengthening of Slovakias macroeconomic institutions. Adopting the euro gave further impetus to institutional convergence and allowed Slovakia to anchor its macroeconomic institutions in a stronger European framework. In the run-up to euro adoption, numerous amendments to the Slovak institutional framework were made to ensure convergence with EU requirements, which were closely monitored by the European institutions as in the ECB Convergence Report.[7] High standards were required for the independence of the central bank, particularly for the personal independence of executive board members.[8] Safeguarding institutional independence is crucial when European monetary policy coexists with national financial and labour market policies and where interests may not always be aligned. The embedding of Slovak institutions in a stable European institutional framework therefore contributed to macroeconomic stability during the crisis and increased investment and trade. Indeed, in comparison with the Czech Republic, which has very similar economic structures, Slovakia has experienced faster economic growth since 2009. Although the Czech Republic was able to pursue an independent monetary policy during the crisis, Slovakia managed to maintain a 0.9 percentage point advantage over that country in terms of average annual GDP growth between 2009 and 2016.[9] As a result, the gap between Slovak and Czech GDP per capita narrowed from 21% in 2008 to 13.8% in 2017. The importance of institutional quality for long-term convergence May Slovakias success continue for many years to come. In the long run, though, it cannot be taken for granted that Slovakias growth model will continue to deliver strong growth; convergence with EU countries could slow. Slovakia risks falling into the so-called middle-income trap, whereby middle-income economies tend to follow a lower growth trajectory. Much of the countrys growth depends on its ability to attract foreign investment, skills and technology to raise productivity. However, the country has now started to experience a slowdown in foreign investment, technology diffusion and labour productivity.[10] For Slovakia to avoid the middle-income trap, it could be useful to develop new strategies focused on domestic innovation. Above all, this would lead to more productive firms, more private capital and more skilled labour to spur long-term growth. Such improvements, however, often depend on setting the right institutional conditions. Indeed, institutional quality has proved to be an important factor in achieving higher incomes in the long run.[11] Factors such as inefficient public administration, weak control of rent seeking, tax evasion and corruption hamper competition and economic inclusion. Slovakia ranks below the euro area average in some of these areas, as measured by the most commonly used institutional governance indicators. More importantly, while most other new euro area countries showed some improvement over the past decade, reform momentum in Slovakia appears to have slowed after the euro was adopted (Chart 3). By improving in two key areas, Slovakia could help foster the right domestic conditions for businesses to thrive. One area is improving the business environment. According to the World Banks Doing Business Indicator, Slovakia ranks below the new euro area countries, in particular in areas such as starting a business, protecting minority investors or dealing with construction permits (Chart 4). Moreover, 55% of entrepreneurs perceived corruption as a problem for doing business in the country, according to the Eurobarometer in 2017. [12] Another area for potential improvement is the judicial system. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the integrity of the legal system and independence of the judiciary are perceived as insufficient (Chart 5).[13], Improving the independence and transparency of the judicial system could help in the fight against corruption and increase public confidence in the state. Addressing these issues would also create the conditions for national businesses to fully exploit the potential of the Single Market and contribute to sound and inclusive growth. Conclusion As we celebrate ten years of euro adoption, Slovakia has become a success story for the convergence process in the EU. The country can be proud of having achieved impressive economic and institutional convergence in such a short time. Slovakias success shows that EU accession and the adoption of the euro can create considerable opportunities opportunities that can be seized, or wasted. Slovakia is a positive example of a country that has seized the opportunities of European integration through fundamental institutional reforms. Nevertheless, continued efforts in the pursuit of institutional quality and good governance are needed in all euro area countries in order to reap lasting benefits from Monetary Union. This includes strict compliance with the doctrine of central bank independence. For Slovakia, further improving the business environment and judicial system would help promote continued economic success over the next ten years. Im confident that sound domestic and European institutions will support sustainable growth and contribute to maintaining confidence in the euro and the European project. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Andover - Sidney H. Wicker, 89, of Andover and formerly of Haverhill, died Friday, June 11, at High Pointe House, Haverhill. He was born in Haverhill, July 15, 1931, son of the late Louis and Rose (Zeeburg) Wicker. Educated in the Haverhill school system, Mr. Wicker earned his bachelor's deg Where are the best places to shop? Who gives the best haircut? Who cooks the best burger? Join our readers in selecting the "Best of Windham." Make your picks! Readers Survey As our valued readers, we want to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out the survey below. - Thank you, Eastern Arizona Courier Click Here Sydney startup VAPAR has developed a new cloud platform technology that will save local Council engineers time and money. Founded by civil engineer Amanda Siqueira and mechatronic engineer Michelle Aguilar, VAPAR is transforming the way Australian councils maintain their stormwater and sewerage assets thanks to a $25,000 Minimum Viable Product Grant from Jobs for NSW. Ms Siqueira said: This grant helped us develop our platform and expand our technology to water utility customers, including Northern Beaches Council, our partners in developing our prototype. She said the technology was designed to save time for engineers who spend hundreds of hours manually reviewing pipe CCTV inspection footage to identify problems. As an intern I spent eight hours a day watching this footage just looking for faults, a time consuming and fatiguing process. Michelle and I thought up a better way of reviewing the footage that used Michelles background in enterprise automation and machine learning. The technology will allow local councils and water utilities to upload pipe CCTV inspection footage directly to the cloud platform for automatic analysis. Ms Aguilar said: Our system cuts a two day process down to two minutes, reducing inspection costs by 30 per cent and allowing on site repair work to be carried out straight after the inspection. With over 200,000 kilometres of gravity pipelines in Australia alone and $450 million spent each year maintaining sewerage networks, early detection and repair of faults in pipelines avoids the expensive process of digging up pipes once they are broken. Jobs for NSW CEO Nicole Cook said the NSW Government was committed to investing in the best and brightest startups and fast-growing SMEs. Jobs for NSW supporting businesses like VAPAR is a great example of this commitment, she said. VAPAR has also been selected to take part in a 12-month incubator program, run by Fusion Labs and supported by the NSW Government. The program will develop business opportunities in the Indian market. Our technology has huge potential not only in Australia but globally. In India we will be talking with IT providers and government asset managers to learn as much as we can to develop business strategies for that market, Ms Siqueira said. For more information about VAPAR visit https://www.vapar.co/ Some 37,000 nurses belonging to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, including approximately 1,400 INMO-affiliated members in Louth, will strike across the country for 24 hours on January 30. The strike will see INMO members withdraw their labour for one day, providing only lifesaving care and emergency response teams. And if the dispute goes unresolved INMO members have warned there will be further 24-hour strikes on 5 and 7 of February, and then the 12, 13 and 14. A spokesperson for the INMO said: The dispute centres on safe staffing in the public health service. The HSE has not been able to recruit and retain enough nurses and midwives on current wages. The number of staff nurses fell by 1,754 (6%) between 2008 and 2018, despite an ageing, growing population making the health service busier. INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: Going on strike is the last thing a nurse or midwife wants to do. But the crisis in recruitment and retention has made it impossible for us to do our jobs properly. We're not able give patients the care they deserve under these conditions. We're calling on the public to support us. Nurses and midwives are always there for you when you need help. Now we need your help. Local Cllr Ruairi O Murchu said: We (Sinn Fein) met with INMO North East representative David Miskell before Christmas and will arrange another meeting soon. We hope that the Government listen to the concerns of the INMO regarding staffing and rentention issues. It's an issue that really needs to be looked at. The Psychiatric Nurses Association has also announced that some 6,000 of their members will strike in February following a dispute over pay and staff shortages. The psychiatric nurses say they will refuse to work overtime on 31 January and 1, 5, 6 and 7 February and plan to escalate their industrial action to full strikes on 12, 13, and 14 February if their demands are not met. Local Fianna Fail Councillor Emma Coffey has spoken out against anti-abortion protestors who are gathering outside Irish clinics and GP offices where abortion services are being carried out and has called for the Government to urgently introduce exclusion zones. The local councillors comments came following the news that a group of six anti-abortion individuals held a protest outside Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda last Monday, January 7. The protestors held signs relaying messages such as: Warning: Killing in Progress and Let him (or her) be born. The Government has plans to introduce exclusion (or buffer) zones outside clinics that are providing abortion services but there is still no date for when these measures will be introduced. Speaking about the protestors Cllr Coffey said: They call them peaceful protests but I think it's morally wrong for people to be holding up placards like that when people are taking children in. It causes added stress not only to the women in crisis situations but also for other patients, the staff and people passing by. People in rural areas might feel intimidated or even discouraged from going to their GP or clinic if faced with protestors. It could make women feel like it would be easier to hop on a plane to the UK [where exclusion zones have already been introduced]. "The public voted overwhelmingly for abortion services to be introduced in Ireland in the referendum. These people need to let patients at these healthcare facilities go about their business." Cllr Coffey added: These protestors are trying to make life difficult for people. It's not acceptable. The exclusion zone legislation needs to come in sooner rather than later. However I can't see these zones being introduced before the end of the year, logistically speaking with local elections and Brexit this year. POTTSBORO [ndash] Thelma Irene Toney passed away on June 11, 2021, in Denison, Texas. She was born on Feb. 28, 1924, in Francis, Oklahoma to John Franklin and Essie Akins Scroggins. She attended grade school at Cedar Grove School and then attended and graduated from Francis High School. She A historical element has boosted development in downtown Ashford, and now officials are turning to the Houston County Commission for even more enhancements. The City of Ashford, the Ashford Chamber of Commerce, and the Ashford Downtown Redevelopment Authority have petitioned the county for help to resurface the parking lot of the Ashford Historic Train Depot. Additionally they have asked for some resurfacing of a portion of Midland Street, which connects to the parking lot, said Barkley Kirkland, Houston Countys chief engineer. The project would cost about $51,000, but the city has agreed to help the county on other projects to help offset some of those costs. Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said the commission enters partnerships with cities to provide paving assistance at various times. District 2 Commissioner Doug Sinquefield, whose district includes Ashford, said the municipality uses the depot and surrounding areas for several events that promote a sense of community. Additionally the city has gained momentum with some sidewalk projects and other efforts, making the request for assistance more viable. Weve seen a lot of progress with the sidewalks and some of the buildings there, he said. We want to help them resurface the parking lot and the surrounding area. DALE COUNTY A burglary went bad in Dale County thanks to an observant Ozark Police officer, resulting in the arrest of two men. Jeremiah Rumph, 25, and Jayln Jackson, 18, are charged with third-degree burglary and first-degree theft of property. On Thursday, Jan. 10, an Ozark Police officer observed two suspicious males standing on the porch of a residence on Alabama Hwy. 105 near the Ozark City limits. The officer also noticed the suspects vehicle parked behind the residence. Once the officer attempted to make contact with the subjects, they fled on foot into the woods located behind the residence, said Dale County Chief Deputy Mason Bynum. A perimeter was set up with K9 units from the Dale County Sheriffs Office and the Alabama Department of Corrections. Assistance was also provided by the Wiregrass Aviation Support Program. One subject was located in the wood line near the home, and the other suspect was captured about three hours later. During the pursuit, deputies located the items stolen from the residence. Get Breaking News Alerts Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Donegal TD and Leas Cheann Comhairle of the Dail Pat the Cope Gallagher has paid tribute to the teacher who died after being struck by a car in Dungloe on Thursday night. Dawn Croke was a teacher at Rosses Community School in Dungloe. The former Mary from Dungloe contestant died after being struck by a car close to St Cronas National School at 6.30pm. Dawn will be waked at her parents home on Quay Road, Dungloe. Her funeral will be held on Monday at 11.00am in St Cronas church, Dungloe with burial afterwards in Maghery cemetery. Deputy Gallagher expressed his profound sympathy. Dawn Croke was an exceptionally gifted individual with a massive personality and warmth that radiated from her on each occasion you met her, he said. He said the PE teacher had brought a class from the school to Dail Eireann just last month. She also brought the class to meet Brother Kevin Crowley and visit the homeless centre in Dublin to present a cheque of 1,000 which she and the class had raised. She was dearly loved by her students and her work colleagues all of whom are devastated at the news of her untimely death, Deputy Gallagher said. I wish to express my deepest sympathies and my profound personal sadness to her parents, her sons, her siblings, to her work colleagues in the Rosses Community School and her wider circle of family and friends. There is a deep sense of shock and disbelief within our community that such a freak and tragic accident occurred, and the cloud of sadness is even greater when it has taken the life of one that had contributed so much to our community and that was so widely loved and respected by all those who knew her and worked with her. The woman who died in last nights fatal road traffic collision in Dungloe has been named locally as Dawn Croke. Ms Croke was fatally injured when she was struck by a car at Chapel Road, Dungloe at 6.30pm close to St Crona's National School. A six-year-old girl was injured and was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital where her condition is not known. Ms Croke, who was in her 30s, was a teacher at Rosses Community School. Rosses Community School, where her father Tony is also a teacher, is closed today as a mark of respect. The school offered condolences to the family of "our colleague and friend" and said she would be remembered with love and fondness. The popular teacher represented Dungloe in the Mary from Dungloe competition in 2008. Festival director Joe O'Donnell said last night: "I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of the late Dawn Croke who sadly passed away today. Dawn was the Dungloe Mary in 2008 my thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this difficult time. "We are asking committee members and Marys past and present to join us for a guard of honour at Dawns funeral." Alok Verma shunted out of CBI, appointed DG Fire Services A day after the Supreme Court reinstated exiled Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Alok Verma, the selection committee consisting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Supreme Court Judge A K Sikri and leader of the largest party in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday shunted him out of the post and appointed him as the DG of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. CBI Additional Director, M Nageshwar Rao, who was in charge during Vermas exile, will continue to look after the duties of the director, CBI till the appointment of a new director or until further orders, according to sources. The decision came after a two-hour meeting of the prime minister-led selection committee in New Delhi, during which Modi and Justice Sikri, the second most senior judge of the apex court, voted in favour of removing Verma and Kharge opposed the move. The selection committee meeting on Wednesday night failed to take a decision as the meeting remained inconclusive. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed Verma as DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards and issued necessary orders. Verma and his second-in-command Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has also been suspended pending investigation, were sent on the forced leave over two months ago in October 2018 after differences between the two came into the open. The two traded allegations and counter-allegations of corruption for weeks, leading to an all-out war, following which the Centre cracked the whip and sent both the officers on leave. Verma moved the Supreme Court challenging his "forced leave" and the top court on Tuesday ordered his reinstatement, although with curtailed powers. Verma has been asked to desist from taking any major policy decision till a high-powered committee considers the issue of "divestment of power and authority". "We deem it proper to direct that Verma, Director CBI, upon reinstatement, will cease and desist from taking any major policy decisions till the decision of the committee permitting such actions and decisions becomes available within the time frame indicated," a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said. Asthana too had approached the Delhi High Court for quashing of an FIR registered by the CBI, reportedly at the instance of Verma, in an alleged corruption case. A decision in this regard is pending in the high court. A 1979-batch IPS officer, Verma's two-year fixed tenure as CBI director was to end on 31 January 2019. Six states to sign agreement for Renukaji multipurpose dam project Six northern states - Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand are set to sign an agreement for construction of the Renukaji multipurpose dam project that will augment water availability in these states, 10 years after an agreement on water sharing was signed on 28 August 2008. The agreement will be signed in the presence of union minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, road transport and highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari. All the six chief ministers will also be present on the occasion. The occasion will also see the signing of a concession agreement for Namami Gange projects for the city of Prayagraj, under hybrid annuity mode and `one city one operator concept. The Prayagraj agreement will be signed between UP Jal Nigam, NMCG and Prayagraj Water Pvt Ltd. Under the Renukaji multipurpose dam project, three storage projects are proposed to be constructed on the river Yamuna and two of its tributaries - Tons and Giri - in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh of Upper Yamuna Basin. These include Lakhwar project on river Yamuna in Uttarakhand, Kishau on river Tons in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and Renukaji on river Giri in Himachal Pradesh. These three projects have been identified as National Projects in 2008 under which 90 per cent funding of the cost of irrigation and drinking water component will be provided by the central government as central assistance and the rest 10 per cent cost of the irrigation and drinking water component will be borne by the beneficiary states. Chief ministers of these states - Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and NCT of Delhi - signed an agreement in respect of sharing of cost and benefits of Lakhwar MPP amongst basin states on 28 August 2008. A similar agreement is scheduled to be signed today for the implementation of Renukaji Dam Project. Renukaji Dam project has been conceived as a storage project on Giri River (tributary of river Yamuna) in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. The project envisages construction of 148 metre high rock filled dam for supply of 23 cusec water to Delhi and other basin states. The project will also generate 40 MW of power during peak flow. The project is proposed to be executed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL). The live storage of Renukaji MPP is 0.404 MAF and total submergence area is about 1,508 hectares in the territory of HP. After the construction of the said dam, the flow of river Giri will increase about 110 per cent, which will meet the drinking water needs of Delhi and other basin states up to some extent in lean period. Stored water of Renukaji Dam will be used by UP, Haryana and NCT of Delhi from Hathnikund Barrage, by NCT of Delhi from Wazirabad Barrage and by UP, Haryana and Rajasthan from Okhla Barrage. Investigation works in respect of Renukaji dam project was started in 1976. But, due to some unavoidable reasons, construction works could not be started. The total cost of the project was estimated on 2015 prices at Rs4,596.76 crore, out of which the cost of irrigation/drinking water component is Rs4,325.43 crore and the cost of power component Rs277.33 crore. About 90 per cent cost of irrigation/drinking water component of the project, ie, Rs3,892.83 crore, will be provided by the central government and the remaining 10 per cent, ie, Rs432.54 crore, will be provided by the basin states of Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand, HP, Rajasthan and NCT of Delhi in the proportion as allocated in MoU dated 12 May 1994 signed by the CMs of the basin states for the allocation of surface water of river Yamuna up to Okhla Barrage. The shares of these states, viz, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand, HP, Rajasthan and NCT of Delhi are 47.82 per cent, 33.65 per cent, 3.15 per cent, 9.34 per cent and 6.04 per cent, respectively. Govt. of NCT of Delhi has agreed to fund 90% of the cost of power component of the said project. The centre has released Rs446.96 crore for investigation and land acquisition of the project. The Delhi government has released Rs214.84 crore and Haryana government has released Rs25 crore till date. All the mandatory clearances in respect of Renukaji dam project except Stage-II forest clearance, invest clearance and approval from CCEA have been obtained. The trans-Ganga/Yamuna areas in Prayagraj (namely Naini, Phaphamau and Jhunsi) currently do not have any sewage treatment facility and thereby pollute rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Prayagraj town already has a comprehensive sewerage network and sewage treatment facilities. However, these are with different operators and without long term sustainable mechanism for operation and maintenance (O&M). Accordingly, two projects have been sanctioned for sewage management in the trans-Ganga/Yamuna areas and O&M of existing sewerage assets costing Rs908.16 crore. These two projects are under One City One Operator concept for implementation on Hybrid Annuity based PPP mode for the sewerage management of the town in sustainable and accountable manner and improve governance. These projects would lead to creation of new capacity of 72 MLD, rehabilitation of 80 MLD, operation & maintenance of existing STPs of 254 MLD capacity and 10 Sewage Pumping Stations. Tata Motors Group global wholesales fall 14% in Oct-Dec quarter The Tata Motors Group global wholesales in December 2018, including Jaguar Land Rover, declined by 13.9 per cent to 100,551 units year-on-year, on the back of a major slump in Chinese demand. Global wholesales of all Tata Motors commercial vehicles and Tata Daewoo range in December 2018 were 14 per cent lower at 40,653 units, over December 2017. Global wholesales of all passenger vehicles in December 2018 stood at 59,898 units, lower by 14 per cent, compared to December 2017. Global wholesales for Jaguar Land Rover were 45,474 vehicles (JLR number for December 2018 includes CJLR volumes of 5,007 units). Jaguar wholesales for the month were 14,088 vehicles, while Land Rover wholesales for the month were 31,386 vehicles. CJLR is a JV between JLR and Chery Automobiles and is an unconsolidated subsidiary for JLR Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover, meanwhile, is reported to be set for a massive job cut involving about 5,000 jobs in the marketing, management and administration roles The iconic British carmaker, which employs more than 40,000 people in Britain, was hit by a slump in Chinese sales, a downturn in diesel vehicle sales and fears about Britain's competitiveness after Brexit. Jet Airways back on the table for stake sale talks with Tatas: report With Jet Airways set to run out of cash in about a month and lenders demanding more than a stake reduction for a $900 million revival package, the Naresh Goyal-promoted airline is now looking to restart stake sale talks with Tata Group, say reports. While its founder-chairman Naresh Goyal has been discussing a deal with lenders and its partner Etihad Airways PJSC, after talks with Tatas deadlocked, all of them have demanded Goyels exit from the airlines board as the main condition for injecting cash into the loss-hit carrier. The Beleaguered carrier, which had its credit rating cut to default this month, is weighing a resumption of talks with Tata Group for the proposed stake stale, say reports. Tatas had in November held preliminary talks with Jet Airways, though no proposal was made. The group, which already is into two airline joint ventures one with Malaysias Air Asia and the other with Singapore Airlines can hope to dominate Indian skies by acquiring Jet Airways business. Creditor banks led by State Bank of India (SBI) have, meanwhile, proposed a $900 million turnaround plan for Jet Airways, involving $450 million in fresh equity and $450 million in loans after Goyal and Tony Douglas, chief executive officer of Etihad, which owns 24 per cent in the Indian carrier, met SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar several times to explore ways to keep the airline afloat. Creditors are open to lending up to $500 million to Jet Airways if Goyal and Etihad inject a similar amount into the company, people familiar with the developments said. However, a decision on injecting cash into the airline will be made only after a forensic examination being conducted into the airlines books is completed. The Tata Group and lenders to Jet Airways have been in touch on the progress of discussions with Etihad, the people said. The Indian carrier missed an interest and principal repayment at the end of last year, giving it about 90 days to clear the dues and avoid becoming a non-performing asset. There is, however, no word from either Jet Airways or Tata Sons. Jet Airways reported its third straight quarterly loss in November as liabilities surged. It has fallen behind on payments to staff and lessors. If Jet Airways, which has overdue debt and payments to staff, lessors and airports, fails to find an investor or financier, the airline could go the Kingfisher way. Rival SpiceJet Ltd, which almost collapsed four years later ago avoided a calamity after its founders returned to gain control and revive the company. Infosys offers Rs10,000-cr buyback and dividend after profit fall Infosys Ltd today announced a Rs8,260-crore share buyback and a special dividend of Rs4 per share, after Indias second-largest information technology firm reported a 29.62 per cent drop in consolidated net profit to Rs3,610 crore for the December quarter. Infosys had posted a Rs5,129-crore net profit in the corresponding quarter last year, the company said in a BSE filing. Net sales for the quarter, however, jumped 20.3 per cent YoY to Rs21,400 crore. On a sequential basis, sales grew 3.8 per cent in rupee terms and 2.7 per cent in constant currency terms. Revenues for the quarter grew 10.1 per cent year-on-year in constant currency terms and by 20.3 per cent in rupee terms. Revenues grew 2.7 per cent in constant currency terms and by 3.8 per cent in rupee terms, sequentially. Digital revenues at $942 million, formed 31.5 per cent of total revenues, and recorded year-on-year growth of 33.1 per cent and sequential growth of 5.0 per cent in constant currency terms. For the first nine months of the financial year 2018-19 Infosys revenues grew 8.1 per cent in constant currency terms and 16.6 per cent in rupee terms. Infosys also revised upward its FY 19 revenue guidance in constant currency terms to 8.5-9.0 per cent, and said it expects operating margin at 22-24 per cent. Infosys proposes to buy back shares for not more than Rs800 apiece, a premium of 17 per cent as per todays closing price, as the cash-rich firm rewards shareholders for the second time in two years. The repurchase will be worth Rs8,260 crore, according to its exchange filing. Infosys also announced a special dividend of Rs4 per share and fixed 25 January as the record date, and 28 January as the payment date. The payout will be worth about Rs2,107 crore. As of 30 September, the company had cash and cash equivalents of Rs17,851 crore and current investments worth Rs7,580 crore, according to its filings. Infosys had announced a payout of Rs 13,000 crore (about $2 billion) through buyback and dividend at the start of financial year 2019 as part of its policy to return 70 per cent of free cash flow. The company announced its first-ever buyback worth Rs13,000 crore in December 2017 and completed it in February 2018. It had then repurchased 113 million shares at a pre-bonus price of Rs1,150 apiece. The scrip went 1:1 ex-bonus in September last year. Infosys also revised its FY19 revenue guidance in constant currency (CC) terms to 8.5-9 per cent. The guidance for operating margin (OPM) is retained at 22-24 per cent. With increased client relevance, we saw double digit (10.1%) year-on-year growth in Q3 on a constant currency basis, said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD. We also had another strong quarter in our digital business with 33.1 per cent growth and large deals at $1.57 billion which gives us confidence entering 2019, he added. Consolidated attrition declined to 19.90 per cent in Q3FY19 from 22.20 per cent in the previous quarter. Volume growth was strong and revenue productivity was stable despite Q3 being a seasonally weak quarter. We had good growth across geographies and large business segments, said Pravin Rao, COO. Attrition declined during the quarter and we are continuing on the path of increased interventions and employee engagements to reduce it further, said Rao in a release. Subscriber content preview Photo by Pacific Eagle Holdings [enlarge] Pacific Eagle Holdings has sold the landmarked downtown Dexter Horton Building, at 701 Second Ave., for $151 million to an LLC related to CIM Group of Los Angeles. . . . Subscriber content preview Image by Equity Residential [enlarge] Ankrom Moisan designed the project, which kept the facade of a landmarked 1931 Art Deco building. The per-unit price was about $423,000. The 174-unit Mark on 8th, at 285 Eighth Ave. N., has sold for a little over $74 million, according to King County records. . . . Subscriber content preview DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The head of the leading association for airlines around the world has warned of possible disruptions to air travel if Britain crashes out of the European Union on March 29 without a deal. Though Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of International Air Transport Association, said the risk to traffic flow is partly under control after recent guidelines, he voiced concerns about the possibility of some disruption in the months after a so-called no-deal Brexit. . . . To understand the geopolitical characteristics of the EU it is not enough to consider the financial resources at its disposal and how these are used. Indeed, the EUs ability to take action is filtered through a host of texts, be they treaties, regulations or directives, the large majority of which, a priori, have no financial content. The EU creates law. This was referred to as community law until the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2007, when the title European Community was superseded by European Union. It has since been more accurately referred to as Union Law. The latter encompasses different areas that we must decipher if we are to address an essential question : is Union Law an extra layer added on to the domestic regulations that each State is free to define for itself, or can it impose itself on the latter ? In other words, does the EU by right determine decisions in addition to the sovereign rules of the Member States or is it a supranational power that overrides the latter ? A similar question applies to the Unions budget. Is the aim of the budget to finance activities common to the countries or missions of a federal nature ? I. Union law and budget : is the Union geopolitically federal or confederal ? We should begin by examining the geopolitical balance between power stemming from EU law and power linked to the fact that the Parliament of each Member State is a national legislator. The primacy of Union Law Union Law has two tiers : primary and secondary. Primary law embodies the founding treaties and basic standards. It includes, firstly, the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). This corpus sets out the main principles, objectives and values of the EU, determines the division of competences, the institutions and their role, and the decision-making procedures. Though the Treaty on the European Constitution was rejected in 2005 by negative referendum outcomes in France and the Netherlands, these texts are the de facto equivalent of a quasi-Constitution. Another source of primary law is the Charter of Fundamental Rights, drafted in the first years of the millennium and, on a par with the Treaties, carrying the full force of law since December 2009, with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. A number of protocols have been annexed to the core texts. These address specific issues or individual countries. For example, the UK and Poland secured the insertion of protocol n 30 relating to the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in their respective countries. Also, the Accession treaties are part of Primary Law, which also includes jurisprudential decisions, specifically those of the EU Court of Justice, which, over the years, spells out what jurists call the General Principles of European Union Law. The instruments of secondary law basically fall into two categories : binding and non-binding. The former are the regulations, a term which, in practice, equates to laws insofar as, once adopted by the European Council and Parliament, they are directly and mandatorily applicable in all member States. The second type of binding instrument, directives set an objective that each legislator in a Union member country is required to transpose into their own national framework, but with leeway as to how this is done. Decisions form a third and final body of binding instruments, an example being a European Commission decision sanctioning a company that broke competition rules. As for the non-binding instruments, these are recommendations and opinions formulated by Union instances on specific issues but that may not be invoked in court. This legal arsenal has two essential characteristics that identify the geopolitical nature of the EU : the primacy of Union Law and the principle of direct applicability. Primacy means that Union Law prevails over the law of individual Member States. It is not embodied in the treaties but is derived from the jurisprudence (i.e. the General Principles) set in stone by a 1978 judgment by the EU Court of Justice. The principle of direct applicability means that EU law directly assigns rights to individuals, bypassing national legislation. However there is still discussion about what EU law actually is. Insofar as it prevails over national laws and even constitutions, despite the latters theoretical superiority over treaties, it is seen by some as the implicit creation of a European federation, even a European state, cancelling out each countrys specific legislation. Others see it nothing more than international law that the sovereign states jointly decide or accept as EU members. This question was discussed in Germany, where the Federal Constitutional Court was asked to consider whether the country could ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, in other words, whether the latter was not incompatible with the Grundgesetz or Basic Law of 1949, foundation stone of the German Constitution. On June 30, this Constitutional Court declared the treaty compatible, but on condition that ratification be preceded by the implementation of a law whereby the German Parliament was entitled to take part in the legislative procedure and amendment of the treaties. Thus, the balance of power within the Union is also subject to the law. Is the EU budget big or ridiculously small ? The Union budget, initially proposed by the European Commission, is then negotiated with a view to adoption by the Council (unanimous vote) and the European Parliament within the framework of joint decision procedures. Though voted each year, it has, since 1988 (then mandatorily since the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon), been part of a six-year Multiannual Financial Framework (MMF) (2007-2013, 2014-2020) which sets legally binding expenditure ceilings. The difficulties encountered in the setting out of the MMF are largely explained by the asymmetrical relations between the member countries : some are net contributors (the money they received from the EU budget is less than what they put in via the EUs different income mechanisms) ; others, on the contrary, are net beneficiaries, receiving more of the Union budget. Inevitably, Member States do not share the same viewpoints and interests, depending on whether they are net contributors or beneficiaries, the latter being mainly EU countries located in southern and eastern Europe. The most striking characteristic of the Union budget is its amount : 1% of the EUs gross national income, i.e. a far lower level than the budgets of the Member States. Its second characteristic is that it is subject to the principle of equilibrium and must be voted balanced each year, in other words its role is not to act on the EUs economic situation of the moment. Some advocate a far higher EU budget that would be more than a common budget. They refer notably to the works of a group of experts, mandated by the Commission of the European Communities and chaired by Donald MacDougall. Back in April 1977, this groups report estimated that tighter EU integration and the adoption of monetary union would require a federal budget of 2 to 2.5% of GDP in a pre-federal period, 5 to 7% in a second period and 25% if the EU became a fully federal union like the USA . The counter-arguments point out that the EU is not a unitary state, that its role does not consist of managing public services, as each Member State has to do, and that the administrative burdens engendered by EU regulations and directives are assumed financially by each State on its territory. In other words, the EU budget essentially assumes missions and not, like each State, management tasks. Moreover, applying its decision to coordinate national budgets for the purpose of budgetary policy, as per Article 121 of the TFEU, the Union does, to a certain extent, have a budgetary policy. This was bolstered by the European budgetary pact, officially called Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance (TSCG), signed on March 2 2012 by 25 of the 28 Member States, to create a mechanism paving the way towards economic union via tighter budgetary discipline for the eurozone countries. WHAT IS THE BRITISH REBATE AND HOW DOES IT WORK ? In 1984, the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, negotiated a budgetary concession based on three arguments : firstly, given its small agricultural area, compared with the other member States, the UK was paying a disproportionally high contribution to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which at the time accounted for 70% of the EU budget. The second argument was based on the fact the biggest source of EU revenue was VAT, high in the UK. Thirdly, in 1984, the UKs Gross National Income (GNI) was around 10% below the average for the community members. Mrs Thatcher coined the famous demand I want my money back. It is in this context that the UK obtained a rebate, funded by the other member States, calculated pro rata of their share of community GDP. In this way France preserved the Common Agricultural Policy. Time has passed and the initial reasons advanced for the rebate no longer hold water : the CAP as a share of the European budget has diminished sharply ; TVA now makes a marginal contribution to European budget income ; and the UK has caught up its development deficit : today, it is the only country whose contribution to the EU budget is lower than its income. Over countless discussions, notably with France the country which makes the highest contribution to funding the British rebate the method used to calculate the latter has been revised, thereby, for example, gradually raising the UKs contribution to the cost of enlargement. In 2013, the rebate was nonetheless maintained as part of negotiations leading the UK to accept to pursue the CAP, while refusing to become the first net contributor to the budget, a strong eventuality were the rebate to be abandoned. Expenditure centred on two policies In the EUs 2014-2020 MFF, payments amounted to 1,024 bn euros, up by 10.7% on the previous period (2007-2013). The MFF is broken down into five categories of expenditure or headings. The most important, entitled Smart and inclusive growth, represents nearly half of the MMF (47%), and breaks down into two sub-headings. The first, concerning regional policy, entitled Competitiveness for growth and jobs, is the biggest budgetary item, accounting for 40% of the total. As such, we shall examine it in more depth below. The second sub-heading, entitled Economic, social and territorial cohesion accounts for 13.1% of the MMF. Its aim is to address the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy in favour of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Thus, it covers investment in research, leading-edge technology and infrastructures. According to EU documents, its ambition is to guarantee the industrial leadership of the EU in various domains, such as information technologies and communication, nanotechnologies, and space biotechnologies. Another goal is to meet social challenges, in lifelong health and wellbeing, sustainable energy, efficient use of resources and climate change. On a more tangible level, it includes the European Research Council, which is duty-bound to allot funds to projects on the basis of the sole evaluation criterion [] of excellence. It also includes a mechanism for interconnection in Europe, to fund trans-European networks in the fields of transportation, energy and digital networks. The second most important heading, amounting to 38% of the MMF is entitled Sustainable Growth : Natural Resources. It essentially encompasses the Common Agricultural Policy, the E.U.s second budget item. Security and citizenship is the title of the third heading, amounting to 1.6% of the MMF. This funds, for example, the Court of Justice, the Frontex agency responsible for migratory control and the European Asylum Support Office. The fourth heading, Global Europe, accounts for 6.1% of the MMF. It primarily finances the European External Action Service (EEAS), in charge of the EUs action on major planetary issues such as climate change, poverty, drug control, crisis prevention and management and armed conflict. However the burden of operations with military implications or in the defence sector lies with individual member countries. Finally, heading n 5 of the MMF, accounting for 6.4% of the budget, covers Administration expenses. II. The Common Agricultural Policy, a federalised policy Historically, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was the first major policy introduced by the European Community. In 1980, it was still swallowing up over 80% of the Unions budget. Having reached its objectives, it has been reformed several times, most recently for the period 2014-2020. But why exactly was it introduced ? The reasons for a speedy implementation In July 1962, in the wake of the creation of the Common Market, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), formally planned by the 1957 Treaty of Rome, was introduced. France was particularly proactive, driven by the idea that developing its powerful agribusiness sector could offset the industrial power of Germany, given that French businesses in the secondary sector feared German competition as soon as customs barriers between the two countries were abolished. The CAP consequently had four goals. The first was to safeguard food supply to the European population, a situation that was particularly uncertain among the common market countries at the end of the 1950s, as, to compensate for the chronic deficit of food products, they imported massively to feed their population. Against the backdrop of the Cold War, the six founder members could only aspire to sovereignty if they had a self-sufficient food supply. The second goal was to offer farmers an equitable standard of living relative to the other sectors of the economy. The third goal was to stabilise the markets, in terms of both supplies and prices, to protect European consumers from variations in the cost of their food. Finally, the fourth goal was to increase agricultural productivity in order to reduce the workforce in farming, thereby meeting the labour needs of industry, during what Jean Fourastie called the trente glorieuses (the thirty glorious years), while catering to the need to supply food to towns and cities whose populations were growing under the twofold impact of the rural exodus and the post-war baby boom. To meet these goals, the CAP would run on two main principles. The first was the single market. In the framework of Common Market Organisations (CMO), set up in each main production sector, the price of agricultural produce was harmonised on the scale of the EEC in which free circulation of good was introduced. European farmers were thus protected from fluctuations in prices and could therefore invest in equipment and modernise their farms, confident in the knowledge that the changes would be sure to bring greater productivity. Until the early 1990s, the CAPs second overarching principle was that of community preference, which meant that member countries were to source their food firstly from within the common market. This was enabled and encouraged by the implementation of a common customs policy that taxed agricultural products imported from the rest of the world, when these undercut European prices. Conversely, European farmers selling products outside the EEC at prices below European rates received a subsidy called export restitution. Financial solidarity between countries was the third principle underpinning the CAP. All countries contributed to CAP-related expenditure within the framework of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), the main engine of the CAP implementation, fulfilling two missions. The first was to guarantee farmers a sale price for their produce that would ensure them a decent income. When the market price fell below the guaranteed price, the EAGGF made up for the difference in the form of compensatory allowances paid to the farmer. Secondly, the EAGGF contributed to the modernisation of agriculture by encouraging investment and vocational training for young farmers, while helping them to adapt to health and environmental standards. Success creating internal and external geopolitical tension It is hard to deny the success of the CAP. In the early 1960s, the EEC was a substantial importer of agricultural produce, and self-sufficiency was a long way off. By the end of the 1970s, helped by considerable progress in agricultural productivity, stemming from mechanisation, a six-fold increase in the size of farms and the creation of vertical agribusiness processes, it had become an exporter. The CAP was also starting to feel the effects of a success that generated geopolitical tension of two kinds, one inside the EEC and the other in relations with the rest of the world. At community level, the CAP created growing divisions between Member States. As from the 1960s, each devaluation by a member country sent ripples of unfair competition through the EEC. Thus, in 1969, in the wake of devaluation of the French franc, monetary compensatory amounts (MCA) were established to offset exchange rate differentials between currencies. The MCAs disappeared in 1999 with the advent of the single currency. The major cause of geopolitical tension lies in the way the CAP is funded, an arrangement that is, above all, advantageous to France and the southern European countries, where some agricultural sectors are lagging. Meanwhile, between 1975 and 1990, the cost of the CAP was multiplied by 4.5, partly because of the accession of Greece, Spain and Portugal. The fifth enlargement in 2004 brought the CAP under stronger fire as it doubled the EUs agricultural headcount and increased farming land by 40%. Thus, until 2013, the ten entrants were only able to benefit gradually from the CAP, for want of a sufficient community budget. Further tension is created by the considerable surplus of dairy and meat products and even citrus fruits. This destabilizes the markets and causes a rise in intervention expenditure by EAGGF that has no alternative but to cut back its guaranteed price while at the same time expensively stockpiling cereals, butter, milk powder and meat. In 1984 it set dairy production quotas. The CAP is also sometimes accused of unfairness with claims that 80% of expenditure benefits just 20% of European farmers. Finally, the productivist model also involves heavy consumption of chemicals that seep into and pollute groundwater. The second kind of geopolitical tension caused by the CAP arises in the EUs relations with the rest of the world. Negotiations within the framework provided by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and more specifically during the Uruguay round (1986-1994), have concerned the equitable development of international trading of agricultural produce. This is because many GATT countries consider that EEC aids skew internal competition. Agricultural issues have often been obstacles in subsequent commercial negotiations with the World Trade Organisation. Under the twofold effect of internal and external tensions due to the CAP, the latter has been periodically revised (1992, 1999, and 2003) with a number of goals : cost reduction, control of produced quantities (excess production destabilizes markets), quality and the use of agriculture as an instrument for sustainable rural development, necessarily calling into question the productivist blueprint. The system of price guarantees has been largely dismantled and aid has been decoupled, in other words no longer correlated with quantities. The alternative : a cheaper CAP, a greener CAP or no CAP at all ? In the years since 2010, the previous revisions of the CAP having failed to eliminate recurrent sources of tension, there have been three scenarios. The first, championed by the UK, would consist in doing away with the CAP completely, while hanging on to a few features as part of the European Regional Policy. Were this to happen, what would be the consequences of the end of one of the EUs rare federal policies ? Most probably, in a CAP-less EU, each member country would go back to deploying its own domestic policy to defend the interests of its farmers and their production. The end of solidarity on agricultural questions could lead to the return of significantly distorted competition inside the EU. The recreation of agricultural borders could even usher in the dismantling of the EU altogether. Thus, in September 2012, the President of the Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, pleaded in favour of maintaining the CAP, declaring : European funding makes the system less costly than 27 national agricultural policies. An alternative would be to make membership of the CAP optional, like that of the Schengen zone or the eurozone. In other words, the only members would be those who consider it advantageous. Consequently, this slimline CAP would no longer have enough financial resources to operate. Hence, the preferred third option : the pursuit of a CAP capable of addressing the key internal geopolitical issues : reduced budget, looser regulation of agricultural markets and reallocation of credits to the maintenance of landscapes, the preservation of natural resources and a balanced use of rural environments between population, employment and sustainable environment. Meanwhile, the British rebate, brushed under the carpet, survives. The 2014-2020 CAP introduces environmental criteria, reflected in crop or livestock farming methods that are friendlier towards ecosystems and biodiversity. This is the so-called greening of the CAP. It is characterized by a cutback of around 7% of the EUs agriculture budget, notably affecting cereal growers and large landowners. Three quarters of the CAP goes to direct payments to farmers, a fifth goes to rural development and the remainder essentially to support for exports, enabling farmers to be competitive faced with cheaper imports from Africa, Latin America and Asia. In other words, farming methods are not there just to produce in order to safeguard food supplies for the Unions populations always subject to risks such as prolonged droughts, flooding or pest infestations but also to contribute to protecting the environment. Finally, a simplified CAP regime, addressing a need to be more easily understood, is now applicable to small farms. A cursory macro-economic glance at the CAP might suggest that it focuses undue attention on the CAP, given that in fact agriculture only directly accounts for less than 2% of the EUs GDP, less than 5% of direct jobs and less than 7% of exports ; but these figures fail to reflect economic reality. Given the increasing degree of technical complexity of todays farm and the distribution and marketing networks as a whole, the wealth and employment actually created by agriculture account for far higher percentages. This, in addition to the need to safeguard food availability and the environment, explains why so much importance is attached to agriculture in the EU budget. III. Federal regional policy and equitable territorial development Why is cohesion policy, the EUs second-ranking budget item so important ? The goals of territorial cohesion policy Regional policy was embodied at the outset in the Treaty of Rome, the preamble to which states that the six signatory states are Anxious to strengthen the unity of their economies and to ensure their harmonious development by reducing the differences existing between the various regions and the backwardness of the less favoured regions. From the start, regional policy pursued three goals : the first concerned solidarity between countries, given that at the end of the 1950s, this was of particular interest to Italy, at the time the poorest of the Six and, within Italy, its southernmost part. The second goal of community regional policy was to strengthen economic and social cohesion between the European territories to dispel the fear that the populations living in the poorest territories felt neglected. The third goal of regional policy is to contribute to an integrated community space replacing juxtaposed territories in different member countries. While the EEC introduced the free circulation of persons, capital and goods within the European community, this could only be effective if it acted on two levels, that of the different borders between Member States and that of the whole territory formed by the EEC countries. Because the first level consists in facilitating cross-border exchange, regional policy assumes the task of promoting Euroregions, namely regions spanning territories under the sovereignty of several EU Member States. The aim is to facilitate cross-border exchange, for example, by financing the construction of transport networks, and stimulating economic cooperation by financing cross-border zones for cooperation between universities and in culture, an example being the Saar-Lor-Lux Euroregion. An example of a Euroregion : SaarLorLux SaarLorLux is the portmanteau name of a cross-border cooperation zone introduced in the 1990s spanning territories in four EU member countries : the Lorraine region of France, French and German-speaking communities in Belgium (including the Belgian Province of Luxembourg, one of the five provinces of Wallonia), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the German Lander of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate. The EU and Germany refer to this zone as the Great Region. Of all Europes transboundary regions, the Great Region is the one with the biggest number of cross-border workers, notably commuting from Lorraine to Luxembourg, but also to Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate. The second level, the organisation of an open community area, assumes that infrastructures are constructed to enable mobility on this scale, such as rail and motorway Eurocorridors funded with the support of the common regional policy. Over the years, the focus on territorial development at this level led to the publication in 1999 of a European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), with the aim of offering equal access for the whole of the population of the EU countries, irrespective of their home region, to material and immaterial communication networks. The budget allocated to regional policy is managed according to the type of aid received from structural funds - ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) for major infrastructures and innovation set up in 1975, ESF (European Social Fund) set up in 1958, FEADER (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, partial successor of the EAGGF) or by the Cohesion Fund, created in 1994 for countries with a GDP per capita not exceeding 90% of the community average. The pace of evolution dictated by enlargement Over the years, the evolution of regional policy has been essentially moulded by issues traceable back to the enlargements and to the globalization process that has become particularly pronounced with the creation of the World Trade Organisation on January 1 1995. Effectively, since 1981, date of the accession of Greece to the EEC, successive enlargements have brought in regions with lower GDP. Regional policy consequently aims at redistribution so as to help regions in difficulty or lagging in terms of development to catch up. Typically these regions include Mittelgebirge (low mountain range) regions, regions north of the 62nd parallel, low-density rural regions, islands suffering from the effects of territorial discontinuity and Outermost Regions (OMR) or those that have to handle difficult economic transitions (former industrial regions in the process of redevelopment and former Communist countries). However, regional policy is not just a scheme of free handouts. It runs under the principle of additionality : the EU does not take the place of states or regional governments, it is there to top up national and local initiatives. To avoid aid from being sprinkled willy-nilly, these initiatives must be part of regional development programmes compatible with the ESDP. The goal is ultimately to give each territory the same potential to enjoy growth and development, but leaves each territory the task of making optimal use of this potential. It is not easy to comprehensively assess the achievements of the EUs regional policy, but three aspects do stand out. Firstly, it has enabled the completion of public infrastructures : water supply, sanitation, electricity and road networks, for example in the Italian Mezzogiorno. Secondly, access to numerous regions has been opened up with links to European transport networks, notably by the construction of motorways. European funds have contributed to many developments, such as the modernisation of Irish universities, the motorway network in the Iberian Peninsula and the extension of airports in outermost regions ; like the one at Saint-Denis-Gillot on Frances Reunion Island. Consequently, the EUs territories are more closely integrated into the transport networks that crisscross the EU. Moreover, regional policy has transformed political frontiers into areas where interchange and cooperation are propitious to better development of cross-border regions. Another tangible proof of the importance of regional policy is the presence in Brussels of offices representing the European regions, even if the most visible are those of the German Lander, such as Bavaria, unsurprisingly, given this countrys federal framework. Furthermore, the regions have become go-to players in the functioning of the European institutions, notably via the European Committee of the Regions. There are of course residual inequalities, regional development being also dependent on each countrys domestic policies, while the execution and enhancement of projects funded by EU regional policy depends to a great extent on the quality of territorial governance. Moreover, the EUs regional policy cannot rub out domestic inequalities within nations, be they between large metropolises and surrounding regions (for example between Prague and the rest of the Czech Republic), or within urban territories marked by social and spatial segregation. Refocused and better governance of regional policy Just like the CAP, the Regional Policy for the period 2014-2020 is the result of a rethink that conserves three slightly refocused thrusts and introduces some hopefully innovative features. The first feature to survive in the 2014-2020 Regional Policy is the continued investment in all the EUs regions, towns and cities. This enables regions in the more developed Member States to continue to be eligible for funds. However, the less developed regions continue to receive at least 70% of the funds, the main beneficiary being the Polish regions, ahead of Italy, especially its southern half. Among the senior Member States, the UKs westernmost territories are also considered to be less developed regions. The second survivor is cross-border cooperation, in fact enlarged to enable regional policy to also contribute to multinational actions for interstate or interregional cooperation such as the Danube basin or the Baltic Sea. The third surviving feature in the 2014-2020 version of regional policy is the adaptation of the level of support and the national contribution (rate of joint funding) based on level of development, distinguishing three types of regions : less developed (GDP < 75% of the EU average) ; transition regions (GDP between 75% and 90% of the average) ; and more developed regions (GDP > 90% of the average). The new goals for 2014-2020 are to simplify and encourage better governance. The budget for regional policy is to be earmarked for key growth sectors : investment in research and innovation, information and communication technologies, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) competitiveness and low-carbon economy. The ESF has to deal with nearly a quarter of the cohesion policy budget for investments dedicated to financing education and training, reduction of poverty and the promotion of social inclusion, as well as help for job-seeking. As for the Cohesion Fund, its role is to finance the priority links in the trans-European transport network and environmental infrastructure projects. As for improved governance, the Member States will be required to present the goals that they hope to attain using the available funds and to explain precisely how they will measure the progress actually achieved. A better appreciation of the results of funded projects can only be helped by clearly stated, transparent and measurable goals and by the assessment of the latter. Still on the subject of governance, the multiplicity of the existing funds introduces a complexity that should partially be overcome by reinforced coordination, notably to prevent overlap. The red tape, especially cumbersome for small territories or towns, is to be rationalized. Further, and this is one of the most controversial new features of 2014-2020, regional policy may be used for goals that are not territorial in the strict sense. Indeed, the 2014-2020 framework enables the Commission to invoke the clause of macroeconomic conditionality to ask Member States to modify programmes in order to support key structural reforms or, as a last resort, suspend the payment of funds in the event of serious and repeated failure to implement economic recommendations. In other words, the aim is to pre-empt situations where investments in territories have had practically no effect because the general economic environment of the country is so bad or if the procedures or systematized corruption effectively prevent the allocated funds from reaching their proper destination. EU law therefore has supranational importance because, on one hand, of the regulations that equate to federal laws and, on the other, the jurisprudence set by the EU Court of Justice, which, except in extremely rare cases, rules in favour of the primacy of EU law. The plethora of the EUs defining documents is illustrative of the EUs liking for standards. The result is that conflicts within the EU are often largely of a juridical nature. In particular, the position of the German Constitutional Court, assuming it is to last, is a major geopolitical roadblock to the ambitions of the advocates of a European state that would gradually supersede the different components states, either in the form of a totally unified European state, or as part of a Europe of regions, in other words an EU in which the states would become defunct, replaced, as the political stratum immediately below central political power, by the regions. As for the EU budget, over two thirds are devoted to common policies in a MMF. So will the 2014-2020 framework go the distance ? Some think not, but can it be totally overhauled, given that it takes several years of discussions to work it out and because the EU, with its predilection for imposing standards and its complex legislative and budgetary procedures, has the manoeuvrability of a supertanker ? However, European integration is not just about EU law and budget. It also includes two types of European expenditure that are not controlled by the EU. The first type includes quasi-community expenditure engaged by organisations within the EU sphere of influence, such as the European Space Agency (ESA) or the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The second, intergovernmental expenditure, is engaged by a number of EU Member States to fund organisations managed totally independently from any European institution. Manuscrit clos en 2015. Gerard-Francois Dumont, Pierre Verluise, The Geopolitics of Europe. From the Atlantic to the Urals, (translation Alan Fell), Diploweb.com 2016-2017. ISBN : 979-10-92676-09-9. Copyright 2016-2017-Dumont-Verluise/Diploweb. Highlights: Samsung has announced the launch date of its Galaxy S10 lineup. The phones will be launched on February 20, 2019. The company might also announce its foldable phone at the same event. The Consumer Electronics Show 2019 is in full swing and while smartphones are not hogging much spotlight at the event, Samsung has announced the dates on which its Galaxy S10 series will be launched. The announcement comes via the companys official social media portals and the next iteration of Samsung Galaxy S series phones will be unveiled at the companys Galaxy Unpacked event on February 20 in San Francisco. The phone manufacturer will be live streaming the event via its newsroom and other official media channels. Wall Street Journal reports that Samsungs foldable phone will also be officially debuted at the same event. The event is said to commence at 11 AM PT (12:30 AM IST) at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Additionally, Samsung is hosting its Unpacked event five days ahead of the Mobile World Congress 2019 trade show, which is not surprising since it did the same last year. It seems like Samsung doesnt want any other device or company to hog the limelight and going by the reports about the upcoming phones design and features, the company has a lot invested in the tenth anniversary Galaxy S handsets. Welcome to the next generation. Galaxy Unpacked on February 20, 2019. #SamsungEvent pic.twitter.com/M1Gh0F9Fs5 Samsung Mobile (@SamsungMobile) January 10, 2019 In another announcement, Samsung posted an article about the One UI user interface that will be soon replacing the older Samsung Experience UI, on its newsroom. However, the redditor qgtx claims that the device used to show off the new UI had a punch-hole camera in its display and later, the image was changed. We checked the Internet Archive to verify this but unfortunately, the page was not saved there. While the image posted by the Redditor does hint at the upcoming Galaxy S10 handsets design, we suggest you take it with a pinch of salt since theres a chance that the image could be photoshopped. Old image in the Samsung article on top vs new image on the bottom The company is speculated to launch the Galaxy S10 Lite, a standard Galaxy S10 and an S10 Plus smartphone. The Galaxy S10 Lite is reported to feature dual rear cameras and an Infinity-O display with one punch-hole for the front camera. The standard and the S10 Plus models could feature triple rear cameras, along with single and dual front-facing shooters respectively. There are also reports two more variants in the S10 lineup that could come with 5G capabilities. Related Reads: Samsung Galaxy S10 line-up battery capacity and display size surface in yet another leak Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+ might pick up Galaxy A8's animation, gestures for punch-hole front-camera Highlights: Samsung Galaxy S10 5G may have 5000mAh battery. Alleged Galaxy Fold may have two batteries of 3100mAh capacity each. Samsung is unveiling the Galaxy S10 on February in San Francisco. Just when Samsung confirmed that it will launch the Galaxy S10 on February 20 at an UNPACKED event in San Francisco, a media report has come up with information regarding the battery capacity of the phone. The report by a Netherlands-based tech platform GalaxyClub also mentions the battery capacity of the foldable smartphone, allegedly called the Galaxy Fold, which the South Korean company teased at the annual Samsung Developers Conference (SDC) in San Francisco in November. GalaxyClub states that the 5G variant of the Samsung Galaxy S10 is expected to have a 5000mAh battery. It is assumed that 5G networks will draw more power to deliver high-speed internet and to give the phone enough juice to run other applications, a higher battery capacity is needed. In October, a report mentioned the concerns related to high power consumption and noted that International Telecommunication Union is aiming for greater energy efficiency as far as the 5G technology is concerned. The report quotes Emil Bjornson, an Associate Professor at Linkoping University in Sweden saying, Just as computer processors become vastly more efficient over time, the analog and digital circuits that are used in base stations become more efficient. The first generations of 5G hardware will be all about delivering all the new features to the market, but then there will be time to refine the hardware, as well. As far as the battery capacity of the Samsung Fold is concerned, it is expected to have two batteries of 3100mAh capacity each. This means that the alleged Galaxy Fold will have 6200mAh battery setup, which seems befitting given the 7.3 inch Infinity Flex Display that offers 1536 x 2152 pixel resolution and 4.2:3 aspect ratio in the unfolded state. In the folded state, the 4.58-inch cover display delivers a resolution of 840 x 1960 pixels with 21:9 aspect ratio. The 3100mAh battery is said to be the same battery capacity that the most affordable model of the S10 lineup, the Galaxy S10 Lite, is expected to have. Earlier this month, famous tipster Ice Universe claimed that the regular variant of the S10 will house a 3500mAh battery and the S10 plus may sport a 4000mAh pack. Samsung is expected to launch multiple models of the S10 phone, which some reports claim could be four to five. Related Read: Samsung Galaxy S10 5G variant confirmed to launch in the U.S. this Summer Highlights: Nokia 6.1 successor may be called the Nokia 6.2. It may launch with 6.2-inch display and Snapdragon 632 SoC. It may hit Chinese markets in January end or early February. As the biggest mobile phone-centric show MWC in Barcelona nears, smartphone makers are gearing up to prove their mettle by introducing different types of innovation in their offerings. HMD Global, the Finnish company that sells Nokia-branded phones, is no exception and it could launch the successor to the Nokia 6.1. Allegedly called the Nokia 6.2, the device could launch in the run-up to the MWC or at the event itself. The mention of the smartphone comes from a tweet by Nokia_Leaks claiming that the Nokia 6.2 (Nokia 6 2019) may launch with a 6.2-inch display with punch hole in it to incorporate a selfie shooter. It should be similar to what we have seen in the Samsung Galaxy A8s and the Honor View 10. The could be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 SoC and come with either of the 4GB or 6GB RAM. In the camera department, the smartphone is said to sport a dual-camera setup on the back with Zeiss optics and 16MP sensors. The first market to get the phone could be China and the phone may launch in January end or early February. The tweet also mentions that the phone could have OZO Audio, which Nokia says is an advanced spatial audio tech that allows sound to be captured and played back just like real life. The news comes a few hours after detailed 5K renders of a Nokia phone that has a punch-hole display were revealed. Reportedly, the phone is called the Nokia 8.1 Plus and may have an almost edge-to-edge display with thin bezels on the sides and a thick chin. The smartphone is reported to have a 6.22-inch display with a punch-hole panel. It is expected the display will have a FullHD+ resolution. The Nokia phone also seems to have a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port, and a dual camera unit along with an LED flash on the back. The renders show this Nokia phone sporting a physical fingerprint sensor on the rear glass panel, which also has the Android One branding on the bottom. The leaked phone has a design similar to the recently-announced Nokia 8.1, but the leaked phone seems to have a matte-finish black frame instead of the stainless steel chamfers. Related Read: Nokia 8.1 First Impressions: Maximum Nokia, pure Android Highlights: Bose QuietComfort Road Noise Control (RNC) sound management system announced at CES 2019 The tech is said to reduce noise inside a vehicle by using hardware-based audio sensing devices and the companys own algorithm Bose is well known for its audio solutions that also spans into the automotive segment and the company has announced its latest QuietComfort Road Noise Control (RNC) sound management system at the ongoing CES 2019 trade show. The new tech makes use of the companys advancements in its QuietComfort technology, which is used in Bose headphones, and is aimed at reducing the noise inside a vehicle by analysing and cancelling out the outside noises. The QuietComfort RNC will be available for global vehicle manufacturers and joins the companys other offerings like the Bose Engine Harmonic Cancellation (EHC) and Bose Engine Harmonic Enhancement (EHE) systems. The new tech is aimed at reducing the noise inside the cabin of vehicles like cars, trucks, and SUVs. It works by employing a bunch of devices like accelerometers, the companys proprietary signal-processing software, mics, and the vehicles audio system to electronically control unwanted sound. Boses algorithm continuously measures vibrations that cause noise with the help of accelerometers mounted on the body of a vehicle. This data is used to calculate an acoustic cancellation signal, which is then delivered via speakers inside the vehicle for reducing the targeted noise. Mics are placed inside the cabin and note remaining noise levels. This is said to enable the tech to adapt to the control signal for calibrated performance for different road surfaces, while adjusting over time as the vehicle ages. For years, weve been asked why we cant simply adapt our noise cancelling headphone technology to vehicle cabins for a quieter driving experience, says John Feng, Manager at Bose Automotive, Active Sound Management Solutions. But we know its much more difficult to control noise in a large space like a car cabin compared to the relatively small area around your ears. However, through research advances and our relentless efforts to solve tough problems, weve achieved a level of road noise reduction that sets Bose apart from competitive offerings. Bose will custom-engineer QuietComfort RNC in automobiles by working with manufacturers during the vehicle development process. Alongside cars with Bose sound systems, the technology will also be available for cars that have a standard sound setup. QuietComfort RNC is expected to be made available in production models by the end of 2021. Related Reads: Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Review Uri: The Surgical Strike, Is Sure To Impress Even The Toughest Of Cynics Movie: Uri: The Surgical Strike Rated: 4.0/5.0 Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Yami Gautam Director: Aditya Dhar From Paramanu to Airlift, Bollywood has recently been on an overdrive to put the glorious chapters of Indian defense system on the celluloid. While most of them cash in on the patriotic sentiments and are able to register new box-office records, they are almost inevitably, critiqued by a school of thought who find the tone of the films aggressive. Is Uri aggressive? Yes. But is it problematic? Perhaps, for once, no. The wounds of the Uri attack are so fresh in our memories and the rage so present, that its impossible to find salvation in the narrative of the film. Whatever room is left for doubt is taken care of by a film that is makes us as proud about the craft of filmmaking as our soldiers. Aditya Dhar, who I seriously cant believe is making his debut with this one, has developed a film that taut, gripping, amazingly well shot and a absolute winner in all aspects. To talk about the performances, Vicky Kaushal is truly the miracle of nature. His hard work and training is visible in every step he takes, every combat moves he makes, every angle of his ammunition handling. Also, every actor who ever thought that looking beefed up and excelling in combat and action scenes is all it takes, let Vicky Kaushal prove you wrong. Sometimes even in the same frame he is stoic yet vulnerable. He screams in passion and anger, and breaks down but not for a second goes out of his character. Honestly, I neither have the capability nor the vocabulary to comment on his performance. Yes, it is that superlative. The rest of the cast, gives the exact amount of support that was needed. Paresh Rawal, Yami Gautam, Mohit Raina, Mansi Parekh, Swaroop Sampat , Kirti Kulhari and of course Rajit Sharma delivers perfectly in their given space. Even Rukhsaar Rehman, in a very small role, leaves an impact. The screenplay of the film is another superlative element. From the first frame to the last, there isnt a single second where you are not gripped by the narrative. Sub plots, which might seem a little irrelevant to some, is also done with so much conviction that it does not slows down the pace of the film. More than anything else, it is an extremely taut thriller. The fine balance between action and drama never goes off and as a result the impact super powerful. Despite all the technical details, the right amount drama makes sure that it does not feel like a documentary. Uri succeds exactly where Omerta failed. Director Aditya Dhar, has truly got to great lengths to research the entire incident and got into the minute details of the inner workings of bureaucracy and army. It is for this reason, even when the patriotic sensibilities are pitched at the slightly higher note, it does not look out of place or problematic. Because the whole film is from the point of men in uniform, it justifies the pitch and aggression. The film also greatly benefits from the excellent cinematography. Despite being shot extensively in Serbia, they are able to convince that it is indeed the crisis Indo-Pak border. The sweeping panoramic shots or the high octane action sequences, things look uncomfortably real and thus have a great impact. It is not easy to mount a film on this level about one of the most sensitive diplomatic decision the country has ever taken. Forgetting the intellectual debate on the implication of the decision, for once, fades into the background, simply because Dhar has a vision that is resolute and a craftsmanship that translates to an Indian film that we are incredibly proud of, both as film lovers and Indians. While Kapil Sharma's Show Gets TRP Boost, Sunil Grovers Kanpur Waale Khuranas To Go Off Air! Actor-comedian Sunil Grovers Star Plus show Kanpur Waale Khuranas will go off air soon. The actor, however, says the shows ratings are not to be blamed. In an interview to Pinkvilla, Sunil said that the show was intended as a mini series that would air for eight weeks. It is because of me. I had signed the show for 8 weeks ONLY because my dates were locked for Bharat, the movie. I had made this clear even during the press conference and interviews that I could only accommodate this much time. I am kickstarting the last leg of shoot for Bharat from today, and I just want to thank the team who made this show happen including the channel and the guests who accommodated dates because of my schedule, he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sunil Grover (@whosunilgrover) on Jan 9, 2019 at 12:41am PST Many stars came earlier then they started promotions because I had limited days. It is a month and a half schedule for Bharat, hence we shot the 8 weeks show in the span of one month. I was missing television and hence I took up this show in between, when I had the month gap, he added. Sunil will soon be seen with Salman Khan in Bharat. It is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and also stars Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Tabu and others. He was also recently seen in Vishal Bharadwajs Pataakha. When asked about being compared with rival Kapil Sharma, Sunil says let them compare and that it doesnt bother him. I am doing what I know. I enjoyed doing the show. I love humour as a genre. It was a great journey for, day and night we were working on funny one liners, developing a character, working as a team. Making two episodes a day is not easy, no one can do it in this genre, lining up artists and more. If you look at it, it was quite unachievable what this team has been able to achieve. Kudos to the team, Preeti, Neeti, Hemant and everyone, who made this happen, he said. Kanpur Waale Khuranas also starred Ali Asgar, Upasana Singh, Sugandha Mishra and others who had previously been a part of The Kapil Sharma Show. The actors all walked out of the show when Kapil physically abused Sunil on a flight in 2017. After their exit, the shows rating took a nosedive and the channel decided to take it off air. Now, Kapil has also returned to the television with a new season of the show. SALT LAKE CITY A judge on Friday declined to reduce bail for one of two sisters charged in the 2009 death of a Native American spiritual leader and Purple Heart veteran. Jerah Jean Santos-Ramirez, 30, of Las Vegas, is accused of strangling 62-year-old Lester Janise with belts after they argued over her decision to leave her children at Janise's Midvale home over several days. Defense attorney Samuel Hanseen said Friday his client has seven children and is a locksmith whose employer could help her move to Salt Lake City and could post her bail if it were reduced from $1 million to $100,000. "I don't think she's a danger to the community, looking at the criminal history and looking at the evidence of this case," Hanseen said. The only evidence against her is a police interview with her sister, 29-year-old Victoria Bigcrow Clown, he said, and while officers found DNA at the scene, it didn't belong to his client. Salt Lake County prosecutor Morgan Vedejs said Santos-Ramirez's prior criminal history in other states including for DUI, fleeing police and impersonating someone else to deceive law enforcement suggests she is a flight risk. "I do believe shes a danger to the community and I also do have concerns she's a danger to herself," Vedejs said. Santos-Ramirez has made it clear to family members "she didn't see any reason to keep going on with life," Vedejs said. Third District Judge Linda Jones declined to reduce bail, saying it's a concern to her that Santos-Ramirez has no family or other ties in Salt Lake County and she has not proposed details of where she would live and work if released from jail. Janise, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, was a spiritual leader, police have said. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and earned two Purple Hearts, including one after he was injured by a land mine explosion that nearly took his life. In November, authorities announced prosecutors had filed murder charges against Santos-Ramirez and Clown in his death. After the Unified Police Department absorbed the Midvale Police Department, new detectives began investigating the case in 2014. According to court documents, the sisters had told officers in 2009 that Janise had given them permission to drive his van back to South Dakota and he was alive when they left his apartment on Christmas Day. On Jan. 13, 2009, police were called to 7895 S. Candlestick Lane (80 East) to perform a welfare check on him after newspapers began collecting on his porch, according to charging documents. Inside, officers found two belts around Janise's neck, the charges state. Family members told police that Janise, a family friend of the women, had traveled to South Dakota in December 2008 and returned to Utah with the sisters and their children. Santos-Ramirez left for four days, leaving her four young kids in the care of Janise and Clown, charging documents state. When she returned, Santos-Ramirez fought with Janise for over an hour, Clown told investigators, before she heard "scuffling and fighting noises" and Santos-Ramirez said they needed to go. Janise was lying on his side on the couch when they left, according to court documents. Both are charged with murder, a first-degree felony, aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony. Both remain in Salt Lake County Jail and are next due in court March 19. LAYTON A teenager allegedly participating in the "'Bird Box' Challenge" caused a two-car accident when she attempted to drive while her eyes were covered, police say. A 17-year-old girl was driving on the Layton Parkway just before 5 p.m. Monday when she allegedly decided to pull her beanie hat over her eyes and continue driving, said Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman. "It didn't take long for her to lose control," he said. The girl, traveling about 35 mph, began to swerve back and forth, eventually overcorrecting, and went into oncoming traffic where she sideswiped another vehicle on the driver's side, Lyman said. The impact from that crash spun the girl's pickup truck into a light pole and a concrete barrier. The challenge was created on social media after the Netflix movie "Bird Box" was released. In the movie, Sandra Bullock's character is forced to do many activities while blindfolded, including running through a forest and taking a boat on a lake. Similar to the dangerous "In My Feelings" car challenge and the Tide Pod eating challenge, the "Bird Box" Challenge became the latest internet craze that even officials at Netflix have publicly tried to discourage. People participating in the challenge attempt to do activities while blindfolded. Neither the man in the car that was hit in Layton, nor the teenage driver or her 16-year-old male passenger were injured. The incident has police shaking their heads in disbelief. "It's just outrageous that somebody would think to do that. This one, luckily, didn't end in any injuries but easily could have. The stakes are just way too high to do something like that while you're driving," Lyman said. When Layton police first investigated Monday's crash, they weren't sure what caused the accident. "Initially we were told she was just talking to her passenger and got distracted," Lyman said. But the driver who was hit wasn't convinced. Lyman said the driver decided to do some of his own detective work. "He just could not understand why her car was doing what it was doing," he said. "It was actually through some help and work on the other driver's part to try and make sense of why she was driving the way she was based on what he had seen (that the challenge came out)." The driver talked to someone who had overheard what the teen girl was really doing. After passing that information along to police, detectives reinterviewed the girl and she admitted she had tried the challenge, Lyman said. Police are expected to hand the case over to prosecutors to be screened for a potential charge of reckless driving. SALT LAKE CITY Elizabeth Smart said Friday it was a miracle that Jayme Closs was found alive after missing for three months. What happened: Smart, who was kidnapped in 2002 and has since become an advocate for kidnapping victims, posted on Instagram: "What a brave, strong, and powerful survivor!!!! No matter what may unfold in her story lets all try to remember that this young woman has SURVIVED and whatever other details may surface the most important will still remain that she is alive." Context: Smarts reaction came one day after Closs was found in Gordon, Wisconsin. She had been missing since Oct. 15, 2018. Authorities said a suspect has been taken into custody. A nationwide search for Closs began after authorities found her parents shot dead in their Barron, Wisconsin home. At a press conference Friday, authorities said they charged a 21-year-old man with murder and kidnapping, according to CNN. Bigger picture: Smart, who was captured in 2002 by Brian David Mitchell from her home in Salt Lake City and found in 2003, told USA Today in a recent interview that she will always be an advocate for victims of kidnapping. GREEN RIVER, Emery County Two men died in a head-on crash on U.S. 6 just outside of Green River on Friday, according to police. The crash happened near the junction to I-70. Just before 7:30 a.m., a Ford F-150 and a Toyota Camry hit head-on, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. The driver of the Camry, Jim R. Nelson, 37, of Price, died at the scene. The driver of the truck, William James T. Palmer, 33, of Moab, later died at a local hospital, troopers said. "Fog was moderate at the time of the crash and likely contributed to the crash. Investigators are using a drone to diagram the scene. This will help us better reconstruct what actually happened to cause this awful crash," according to a statement from UHP. Both directions of U.S. 6 were closed Friday morning as the crash was investigated. SALT LAKE CITY Sen. Ted Cruz said a rabbi gave him a pretty cool compliment about his new beard. Cruz, R-Texas, tweeted Wednesday that a friend in Israel who is studying at yeshiva a Jewish educational institution focused on the study of religious texts told him his rabbi said the senators facial hair had geopolitical significance. His rabbi told him he liked my beard, elaborating 'It gives Cruz a Talmudic & Rabbinic look & presence that will put the fear of the Lord into Israels enemies & promote Middle East peace, Cruz tweeted. Pretty cool: A good friend is studying in Yeshiva in Israel. His rabbi told him he liked my beard, elaborating It gives Cruz a Talmudic & Rabbinic look & presence that will put the fear of the Lord into Israels enemies & promote Middle East peace. Wow. Perhaps a bit much.... Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 9, 2019 The Texas senator seemed surprised by the comments, describing them both as pretty cool and a bit much. Cruz has been vocal about his support for Israel in the past, including his move to introduce a bill to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem just days before Donald Trump was sworn into office. That decision was controversial among Jews, with 47 percent of American Jews opposing the move, according to the poll by the American Jewish Committee. What rabbis are saying Rabbi Avremi Zippel, program director of the Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, said beards have a special significance in the Jewish tradition. Jewish Mysticism speaks at great length how a beard is deeply connected to G-ds 13 Attributes of Mercy, and as such, the beard is a strong representation of Divine kindness and peace, he wrote in a text message to the Deseret News. I hope that Senator Cruz, Congressman ORourke and any others trying it out, indeed find the blessing of the beard in their life. (The custom of substituting the word "God" with G-d in English is based on the prohibition in Jewish law against destroying or erasing the name of God. Many Jews substitute "God" with "G-d" so that they can erase or dispose of the writing without showing disrespect to God). Rabbi Zippel, who has a beard himself, said he hopes the trend also catches on with clean-shaven leaders in Washington. I think Jared Kushner needs to try the beard on next, to truly test its effectiveness in the Middle East! he said. "As to the fashion element, Ive a lifetime believer that beards are the way to go! Rabbi Sam Spector of Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City said the tweet didn't offend him. I have bigger things to be offended by, he said. None taken. But other rabbis across the country had a more critical response: No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Also I have a Rabbinic look, not you. Also no. Also, in addition: No. https://t.co/FjFaASQ5LO Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@TheRaDR) January 9, 2019 If you ever read the Talmud, you'd find out that it covers topics such ensuring that low-wage employees don't get trampled on by their bosses, just stewardship of communal & personal resources, creating a criminal justice system that ensures dignity of all, and moral integrity. https://t.co/QxxtEkAPy7 Rabbi Jill Jacobs (@rabbijilljacobs) January 9, 2019 In my opinion, the best response to the @tedcruz's rabbinic beard is from the rabbis: "Do not look at the vessel, but rather what is inside of it." M. Pirkei Avot 4:20 https://t.co/l010y43yUW Rabbi Josh Yuter (@JYuter) January 9, 2019 What the beard buzz is all about This isnt the first time Cruzs beard has made headlines. The Texas senators beard went viral after he started growing it out over Thanksgiving. I havent grown a beard since law school. I figured, if nothing else, it will drive the Twitter trolls crazy, Cruz said during an interview on BlazeTV in December. Senator Ted Cruz's beard has its own Twitter handle now. He told me what's up with the beard and some ridiculous fake news ... Posted by Eric Bolling on Thursday, December 6, 2018 He was right Twitter was quick to take notice. Someone even created an account devoted to the beard. I have no soul (patch). Ted Cruz's Beard (@cruzs_ted) November 27, 2018 Both Slate and Esquire published articles saying how great the beard looks on the senator. Cruz showed up in the Senate with a filled-out salt-and-pepper beard, giving his face a defined jawline and its first-ever hints of ruggedness and affability, the Slate author wrote. Cruz was re-elected to the Senate in 2018, narrowly defeating Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke by a margin of 50.9 percent to 48.3 percent in the most expensive Senate race in United States history. Marvin Oliveros, Cody Belgard's stepbrother, Mike Belgard, Cody Belgard's father, and other family members are joined by members of Utah Against Police Brutality in a sit-in to demand a meeting with Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski at her office at the City-County Building on Thursday. Cody Belgard, a popular rap artist in the Glendale area, was shot and killed by Salt Lake police on Nov. 9, 2018, after police say he was uncooperative with them, rammed a patrol car and fled. When police found him about 30 minutes later, they say he ignored commands to put his hands up and get on the ground. Oliveros has stressed that his brother was unarmed, was not making any threatening movements, and that the officers, who also had a police K-9 on scene, had him surrounded and could have used less-than-lethal force to arrest him. West Valley police are conducting an independent investigation into the shooting. See the world through the eyes of award-winning photojournalists. Click through the gallery above to view the unique images our visual storytellers captured today. Follow the official Deseret News Instagram account for more photographs and videos from the staff. SALT LAKE CITY A member of the Utah State Board of Education called into question Thursday significant numbers of people hired to teach in Utah public schools who do not have teaching licenses nor are they enrolled in programs to earn teaching credentials. Each month, the board considers temporary authorizations of people hired by school districts and charter schools who are "underqualified," have expired teaching licenses or they are certified out of state, or the state's licensing agency is awaiting university paperwork to verify their educational attainment, or other issues. Board member Linda Hansen said she is particularly concerned by the number of people in Utah teaching classrooms who are not only underqualified but not attempting to obtain teaching credentials. "We've had parents come before us before saying, 'We've got someone with no experience at all teaching our special ed kids,'" said Hansen. As she has delved into it further, school districts or charter schools report that they were unable to find candidates who are licensed school teachers, or "this is the best candidate we could find" so that's who was hired, Hansen said. "I don't know what the answer is, but it is concerning because I believe that parents believe that all the teachers are qualified that are teaching their kids. I don't think they would ever believe that they weren't. The fact that we're approving teachers that aren't is a little scary to me, " she said. Among the 3,676 temporary authorizations approved by the State School Board since October, one-third or 1,230 were employees categorized as "underqualified not enrolled in program." Another 1,079 were categorized as "underqualified enrolled in appropriate program." The State School Board has no oversight on the hiring decisions of school district or charter schools but it does oversee educator licensing and some board members wondered aloud if not approving the authorizations was an overreach. "I wonder if we're stepping on toes," said board member Lisa Cummins. Board member Cindy Davis, who has taught in the Alpine School District and served as school principal, said public schools struggle to find qualified candidates when there is an upturn in the economy and workers have more options for employment. "In a poor economy, you really don't have this problem because there are a lot of licensed teachers to hire and in a good economy, you're begging people," she said. Board member Alisa Ellis said small, rural schools are hard-pressed to find qualified candidates for teaching openings and the state board needs to respect that they followed the state's requirements as best as they could to meet their staffing needs. The board's vice chairwoman, Brittney Cummins, said school districts and charter schools "followed our current structure" in hiring employees so the board should approve the authorizations. However, Brittney Cummins said the board should bring the issue back at a later time to discuss the implications of current policy and a new licensing rule set to go into effect in the 2020-21 school year in which the board will not be asked to approve authorizations, but they will act when teachers seek renewals of local education agency licenses granted by school districts and charter schools. Board member Jennifer Graviet, a licensed school teacher who teaches junior high English and creative writing, said she understands that charter schools and school districts need personnel, but "at what risk?" "I really think that when a parent sends a child to a classroom, they believe it's a licensed educator, it's somebody with experience. I've been in the classroom and I know we get teachers who have no experience and there are a bunch of kids, I think, that are put at risk. I do think this is a bigger issue we need to talk about but it feels like if we're going to say we approve, we're taking a big risk," Graviet said. The board voted to approve the authorizations submitted by 10 school districts and 10 charter schools. Correction: A previous version incorrectly stated the Utah State Board of Education met Friday. It met Thursday. SALT LAKE CITY When pioneer settlers first arrived in Utah, a herd of bighorn sheep lived on Antelope Island but disappeared over time. Then in 1997, the Division of Wildlife Resources, along with Utah State Parks, reintroduced 29 bighorn sheep to the island to create what the division calls a nursery herd, to help start new populations throughout the state and bolster existing ones, said DWR spokesman Mark Hadley. "Up until this point, they've done really, really well," Hadley explained. But in mid- to late November, a ram that had a radio tracking collar on it died, and another died soon after, signalling that something was wrong, he said. The DWR found that the herd had somehow contracted a devastating respiratory disease. Last year, about 150 animals were counted among the herd. On Wednesday, biologists flew in a helicopter at a low elevation to look over the island and found four rams, 20 ewes and two lambs only 26 sheep left in the herd. "This disease has taken all of the sheep," Hadley said. And there are no vaccinations or medications that can treat it, according to the division. Hadley said though the disease is not common, it's not unusual. Bighorn sheep pick it up from domestic sheep and goats. "We just don't know for sure how it got into the herd," Hadley explained. There are no domestic sheep and goats on the island that officials are aware of. As a result, the DWR is working with Utah State Parks to try to figure out how the sheep contracted the disease. "Wild bighorn sheep, they're really strong, hearty animals. They're really tough," Hadley said. "But one thing that they're really susceptible to" are respiratory diseases, he said. And when one gets into a herd, it can do a lot of damage. He said it causes a slow, painful death. DWR officials say that after careful consideration, they decided those that are left need to be put down. The sheep that are still alive will be shot with a rifle from a helicopter that's the most efficient and effective way, Hadley said. "In this situation, we would rather end an animal's life as fast as we can than allow it to suffer a slow, painful, agonizing type of death." However, "It's something that we hate to do," he said. "Being able to start new populations and see animals thrive is what brings us joy." The DWR also needs to remove the animals to place a new herd. Though some of the sheep might survive the disease, if they mingle with new sheep on the island, they will spread it, Hadley said. He said a new herd could potentially be started on the island as soon as fall. "It'll take a lot of years to build it back up, but we're excited to be able to start that herd up again at some point in the future," Hadley said. It will take at least a few years to establish the new population before officials will be able to move the animals to other locations, he added. But eventually, "we're pretty confident that we'll be able to have a good herd out there again and be able to move some sheep," Hadley said. He said the disease is confined to bighorn sheep and does not pose a threat to other wildlife, people or pets on the island. The last time sheep from the Antelope Island herd were moved to other areas was in January 2018 and those sheep were tested and free of disease, Hadley said. LEHI Remember back in the early 2000s when the Palm Pilot was going to revolutionize the world? Well, it didn't quite happen. But while personal data assistants (the precursor to smartphones) were still the rage, entrepreneur April Feller and her husband saw an opportunity for innovation and launched some of the first products designed to protect portable electronic devices. This week Feller was honored with an award from advocacy group Women in Consumer Technology at the behemoth Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Feller, who is now chairwoman of the board of Lehi-based BGZ Brands, received the Carol Campbell Inspiration Award for her pioneering work in leading a company that now spans multiple brands, including the flagship Bodyguardz smartphone protectors. Feller said a lot has changed since the launch of her company, with a single product designed to keep the trusty Palm PDA safe from harm. "It was back in 2002 when we released our first screen guard for the Palm Pilot," Feller said. "Our first big client was Dell and, at that time, there really weren't that many companies doing what we did." That, of course, has changed dramatically, and Feller said now, when her company releases a new idea at forums like the Consumer Electronics Show, they can count on dozens of companies showing up the following year with copycat products. "To tell you the truth, it's become a pretty tough market," Feller said. "Things move very quickly now, compared to when we launched, and one of the reasons we're still around is we've always been very quick to adjust." That, and being able to continually innovate. Feller's company has won multiple awards for being on the cutting edge of its corner of the consumer electronics market, including creating the first glass screen protector and the first shatterproof glass screen protector. While the company has grown significantly since its launch through both product development and acquisitions, Feller said the company's startup days were an enormous challenge that included working out of the basement of her home and self-financing growth, long before the term "bootstrapping" became a thing. Part of the secret to the company's years of success, Feller said, has been a "family" approach to doing business. "We truly believe that we are not only a family-owned business but a family company," Feller said. "We've built a reputation in the industry as a company that you can trust, and part of that comes from recognizing our employees as our biggest asset. "Our employees, and our customers, know that we have the integrity of always doing what we say." TABIONA, Duchesne County A Duchesne County man died Thursday in a house fire, authorities said. Just before 8 a.m., a passing driver saw smoke and flames coming from the house of Rickey Evin Wilberg, 66, at 3789 N. 38200 West in Tabiona, Duchesne County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Monty Nay said in a news release. "As Tabiona firefighters began trying to put out the fire at the front of the house, Nay said he tried to enter the house through a back door in an effort to find Wilberg. Thick smoke, however, prevented him from making it into the house," according to the release. Wilberg died in the fire, officials said. Tabiona, Duchesne and Fruitland fire departments battled the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office. SALT LAKE CITY January can be a tough month: the holidays are over, the inversion has set in and life can feel cold and dreary. But luckily, there are more than enough things going on around town this weekend from the Salt Lake City Home Show to Bohemian Rhapsody singalongs to get you out of the house and maybe even interacting with other humans. Salt Lake City Home Show The Salt Lake City Home Show offers inspiration for all your decorating needs. Remodeling tips, home improvement products and expert advice are all available at this three-day expo. Celebrities such as Kevin OConnor from PBS show This Old House and Brett Tutor from TLCs Trading Spaces will also be appearing. Jan. 11-13, 2-9 p.m., Mountain America Expo Center, 9575 S. State, Sandy, $12 for adults, free for children under 12; save $2 by getting tickets online (saltlakehomeshow.com). A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder at Hale Centre Theatre Tony-winning musical A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder makes its regional debut at Hale Centre Theatre this weekend. Actor Dallyn Vail Bayles plays a total of eight roles in this musical comedy. Bayles told the Deseret News, I have to really build up my stamina to play this role it is exhausting (but) it's a thrilling race. Jan. 11-March 16, times vary, 9900 S. Monroe St., Sandy, $36-$44 for adults, $18-$22 for ages 5-17 (801-984-9000 or hct.org). Salt Lake Symphony Soar Salt Lake Symphony celebrates all things winged in its family concert "Soar: Fantastic Flying Friends." Everything from majestic birds and dragons to less celebrated insects are recognized in this performance. University of Utah School of Dance will also perform alongside the musicians in this lofty concert. Jan. 12, 2 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, 1375 Presidents Circle, $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, tickets available at door (877-425-1537 or saltlakesymphony.org). Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Finals Hundreds of dancers from ages 9-19 will perform this weekend in the Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Finals. These talented, young bunheads are competing for scholarship opportunities to top dance schools and companies throughout the world. Jan. 11, noon-9:30 p.m.; Jan. 12, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m, The Hayes Christensen Centre, 330 S. 1500 East, $10 for general, free for youths ages 21 and younger (yagp.org). Bohemian Rhapsody singalong Its hard to listen to Queens hits without wanting to join in. Sandy's Megaplex theater invites the audience to do just that at its "Bohemian Rhapsody" singalong showings. The film follows Queens rise to fame with plenty of performances of their iconic songs. Whether it's your first, second or 10th viewing, this is the perfect excuse to stomp along to "We Will Rock You." Jan. 11-17, Megaplex Theatres at Jordan Commons, Sandy, 9335 S. State, Sandy (megaplextheatres.com). THE UPSIDE 3 stars Bryan Cranston, Kevin Hart, Nicole Kidman, Julianna Margulies, Tate Donovan; PG-13 (suggestive content and drug use); in general release; running time: 125 minutes SALT LAKE CITY The Upside wont turn January into spring, but it might just be able to give your winter a blast of sunshine. Based on a true story, Neil Burgers The Upside is the American adaptation of the French film Les Intouchables. The story follows an unlikely friendship between an ex-con and a wealthy quadriplegic. After a quick prologue hints at the high jinks to come, The Upside flashes back six months to fill in some backstory. Dell (Kevin Hart) is an ex-con in search of a job and a repaired relationship with his son Anthony (Jahi DiAllo Winston). Prison hasnt quite reformed Dell, certainly not enough for Anthonys mother Latrice (Aja Naomi King) to trust him, and Dells court-mandated efforts to find employment are minimal by design. Things change quickly when Dell shows up at a swank Manhattan penthouse by mistake, thinking he is interviewing for a janitorial job. Instead, almost through sheer accidental force of personality, Dell gets hired as the personal caretaker for a wealthy quadriplegic named Phillip (Bryan Cranston). Phillips problems go deeper than his disability, which was the result of a parasailing accident. Phillip is still mourning the loss of his wife Jenny (Genevieve Angelson), who died of cancer, and nothing not his fabulous wealth or his doting business manager Yvonne (Nicole Kidman) can get through to him. Phillip senses a kinship with Dell, however, and soon The Upside is off on an enjoyable, if mostly predictable, ride as the two slowly help each other with their demons. At first, Dell plays the fish out of water, stunned by his generous newfound salary but horrified to discover the kind of intimate services i.e., replacing catheters that will earn said salary. Eventually though, Dell and Phillips friendship penetrates deeper levels as Phillip encourages his rookie caretaker to realize his potential (which leads to a hilarious transaction with a snooty neighbor played by Tate Donovan), and Dell pushes his client to get back on the dating wagon with a pen pal named Lily (Julianna Margulies). Not everything goes as smoothly as hoped, and The Upside follows Phillip and Dell through some modest twists and turns as the reality of Phillips condition periodically comes storming to the surface. But what Burgers film lacks in plot, it makes up for in charm. Hart and Cranston are perfectly matched to their roles. Not so much because either is breaking new ground in terms of performing though Cranston is limited to acting from the neck up throughout the film but more because each actors strengths enhance the characters needs. The Upside isnt exactly a comedy, but it is often genuinely funny thanks mostly, as you might expect, to Hart, who manages to riff constantly on his surroundings without ever distracting too much from the story. Without having seen Les Intouchables, its difficult to fully contextualize Burgers effort, but it is worth noting that The Upside manages to be discreet during scenes that might have been played up for their vulgarity in other films. Burgers final product is still in PG-13 territory and it does play some scenes of illegal drug use for laughs but it also understands the value of subtlety, and though the pieces dont always connect, the chemistry between Hart and Cranston will cover a multitude of sins. The Upside will make you smile. Rating explained: The Upside is rated PG-13 for the aforementioned drug use, some scattered profanity, adult dialogue and some suggestive content. President Trump is right, there is a crisis at the border. But not the one he's focused on. And he doesnt need questionable statistics to sell the idea, as he used during Tuesday evenings prime time address. Exaggeration gets in the way of the actual crisis and demonstrably hurts the chances of Congress compromising on immigration reform and finding a reasonable path forward to fully fund the government. The truth can and should speak for itself, unhindered by hyperbole, and the truth alone ought to be enough to rally the countrys lawmakers around principles of security, order and compassion. Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency show a marginal number of annual border apprehensions in recent years, roughly 400,000. Compare that to the 1.6 million apprehensions in 2000. Numbers probably tapered off from a mixture of increased deportations and poor economic times. President Obama deported about 3 million illegal immigrants, whereas the Bush administration deported 2 million. Deportations recorded for 2016 are slightly higher than those in 2015. Nevertheless, that still means hundreds of thousands of immigrants are trying to enter the United States each year through the southern border, and the majority of those apprehended at the border are not from Mexico, according to Pew Research Center. Incidents of illegal immigrant violence and crime often make news, but studies continue to confirm immigration does not correlate with increased crime. In fact, immigrants are more likely to be the victims of crime. So when President Trump declares Women and children are the biggest victims, by far, of our broken system, hes right, and that is the crux of the crisis at the border. Family migration has increased dramatically in recent years, flooding border personnel and infrastructure with more women and children than at any time since the U.S. started monitoring such statistics. Family units now account for a third of all border apprehensions, according to Pew, and 136,000 family members were detained by border agents in 2018. Resources cant handle the influx. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told a congressional committee in December that the infrastructure is not compatible with the new makeup of migrants. Everyone who comes to the border deserves fair treatment and, if they are seeking asylum, quick processing. That isnt happening. The situation at the border is unstable, and every lawmaker should be able to agree that delaying action continues to hurt families. Unfortunately, the message, once embraced by all parties, has been tangled up in political posturing and divisive rhetoric. Judging from most analyses, the presidents speech, followed by a rebuttal from Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., did little or nothing to sway public opinion about the need for a wall along the southern border or the potential for declaring a national emergency to unilaterally build the impediment. The two speeches may have energized party bases, but that only makes compromise harder. The administration must not get lost in its own rhetoric if it is to lead out on its immigration plans, and Congress must not take disagreement as an excuse for inaction. America is healthier, safer and more compassionate when truth governs action. Its time for Washington to pull back the curtain and see clearly whats at stake. The Watchdog: How secrets of the old Denton County Klan were discovered by four UNT history students It will cost more to drive the Pennsylvania Turnpike in 2019, just as it's been every year for the past 11 years. Chester wants to install parking meters along Walnut street adjoining the Widener University campus, as well as many other areas on the perimeter of the campus. featured opinion The Wall isn't about immigration, it's about politics Ever heard of stages erected inside cinema halls and marriages solemnised as the movie is screened? It happens only in Tamil Nadu and only when Rajinikanths movie opens in theatres. On Thursday, two die-hard Rajinikanth fans got married inside cinema halls in Thanjavur and Chennai as the eternal superstars latest movie Petta opened to a full house in theatres across the globe. This was not the end of Rajiniism that was on full display outside theatres in Chennai as a group of five fans flew all the way from Japan to catch the first day first show of Petta. And, as the trailers said, Chennai got Rajinified on Thursday with early morning shows and garlanding of giant cut-outs. The crowd only swelled as the day progressed since the review of the movie was good the good-old Rajinikanth clad in a stylish outfit, whose mere presence on the screen electrifies the theatres was back after a long gap. Anbarasu and Kamatchi, both Rajinikanth fans, chose the auspicious day of Petta release to get hitched. We have been seeing each other for more than a year and we decided to get married today as Thalaivars movie got released. There is no auspicious day than today for me as a Rajinikanth fan, Ambarasu said. The couple, who will be living in Padapai on the outskirts of Chennai, tied the knot at a specially-erected stage at the Woodlands Theatre in Royapettah in the heart of the city. At the Shanti Theatre in Thanjavur, Jothiraman tied the knot with Usha as the movie opened to a full house the couple were gifted household items worth Rs 1.5 lakh by other fans. I thank the fans of Thalaivar for making my wedding memorable, he said. By now, Yasuda and Satsuki, a Japanese couple, are quite popular in Chennai as they have made three trips in seven months only for the 'first day first show pilgrimage' Rajinikanth movie. I have been coming to Chennai to watch the first day first show of Rajinikanth movies since 2002. I came here to watch Baaba, Kabali, Kaala, 2.0 and now Petta. I and my wife come here only to watch the movie, he said. This time, the couple were accompanied by their friends. We cannot get such an experience anywhere in the world. These three screens are the best for watching a Rajinikanth movie on the first day, she said. Rajinikanth commands massive fan following in Japan, where his 1996-movie Muthu was an instant hit and ran in theatres for one full year. Till Thursday morning, Muthu was the couple's favourite Rajinikanth, but Kaala changed everything. As the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) reiterated its commitment to build a suburban railway station within its boundary, a massive road connectivity upgrade was unveiled on Thursday: Expansion of the Trumpet Interchange and the Main Access Road leading to its terminals. The Main Access Road (MAR) will be closed for widening by March-end. From April 1, all vehicles heading to and from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) will be diverted to a new South Access Road (SAR), branching out of the first junction after the Trumpet Flyover. Running parallel to the MAR, this 3-km long, four-lane secondary access road is almost ready, as BIAL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hari Marar informed. The MAR will be widened in phases to 10 lanes (5+5) from the existing four lanes (2+2). The Trumpet Interchange will be expanded with two lanes on either side to and from the city. Since the railway line to Chickaballapur passes under the Interchange, BIAL has obtained in-principle approval from the South Western Railways. Work will begin by June-end, according to Marar. The Airport Metro line, entering the KIA premises through the Trumpet Interchange, will pass along the MAR as an elevated line. Two Metro Stations have been proposed on this alignment. A flyover has been proposed at the first junction. To accommodate the growth of cargo traffic, BIAL will also widen the North Cargo Road to four lanes from the existing two lanes. A taxi and bus staging facility will be developed adjacent to the SAR. A Multi-Modal Transport Hub on the forecourt area of the upcoming second terminal (T2) is also in the pipeline. Suburban rail station BIAL had first proposed to build a suburban railway station five years ago, reminded Marar. If the State government and the Railways agree, the station can come up at the North Western corner of the KIA boundary, through which the line to Chickaballapur passes. Marar said BIAL was ready to introduce continuous shuttle buses between the station, the existing terminal and the upcoming second terminal T2. We had even prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and submitted it to the government, he elaborated. On the Airport Metro line, Marar said BIAL was not averse to funding the two stations proposed within the airport boundary. Bengaluru-based, IT giant Infosys, has clocked a net profit of Rs 3,610 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, down whopping 29.6%, compared with Rs 5,129 crore for the corresponding quarter last year. On a sequential basis, the companys bottomline declined by 12% from Rs 4,110 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. The hit on the profit came from the revaluation of Panaya and Skava, which the company has put on sale but is unable to sell. The company has depreciated the value of Skava by a whopping Rs 451 crore. The company has also given up on the hopes of selling both entities by the March-end deadline. The company also saw the impact of Advanced Pricing Agreement, signed in December 2017 quarter, getting negated. Hence the company saw massive jump in its tax expenses, that touched Rs 1,522 crore, as against Rs 152 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. "During the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2017, on account of the conclusion of an Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Company has, reversed income tax expense provision of Rs 1,432 crore which pertains to previous periods which are no longer required," the company said. The gross profit of the company increased to Rs 7,384 crore, as against Rs 7,328 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. While the revenues of the company jumped by 20.3% to Rs 21,400 crore, from Rs 17,794 crore. The operating margin of the company clocked 22.6% during the quarter, which is the lowest in past 10 quarters. The company attributed 110 basis points decline in its margins to Skava revaluation on Skava revaluation and the new acquisition. On a sequential basis, however, the company revenues went up by only 4% amid a strengthening rupee. The companys stocks closed 0.58% up on BSE on Friday, at Rs 683.5 per scrip. The digital business contributed 31.5% of the companys revenues. During the quarter, the company clocked $1.5 billion new deal wins. The company has also been able to tame its industry-high attrition level by 2 percentage points to 17.8%. The company, during the quarter, hired 18,773 new workers, while 11,011 people left the IT major. The company has however seen a decline in its revenue per employee to $54,300 from $54,700 in the previous, and according to the company chief operating officer UB Pravin Rao, it may impact the companys hiring plans going forward. On the geographical front, all the major geographies for the company have seen growth during the year. While revenues from North America grew by 2.4% sequentially, the revenues from Europe grew 2.9% during the quarter. North America (60.4%) has been the biggest contributor to the companys revenues in the quarter, followed by Europe (24.2%), and India (2.6%). Based on the client industry vertical, Banking and Financial Services, Insurance (BFSI) segment grew by 3% during the quarter. Manufacturing and the energy vertical were best performing verticals for the company, with the increase of 6.9% and 7.2% respectively. With increased client relevance, we saw double-digit (10.1%) year-on-year growth in Q3 on a constant currency basis, Salil Parekh, CEO and MD, Infosys said. The company has also acquired 101 new clients in during the quarter, taking its total client base to 1,251, as against 1,222 in the previous quarter. We also had another strong quarter in our digital business with 33.1% growth and large deals at $1.57 billion which gives us confidence entering 2019, Parekh added. On the estimates front, the company set its revenue guidance at 8.5%-9.0% from 6%-8% in constant currency. However, operating margin guidance retained at 22%-24%. President Donald Trump recognizes Reggie Singh, brother of slain California police officer Ronil Singh at roundtable on immigration and border security at US Border Patrol McAllen Station, during a visit to southern border on Thursday. (Photo: AP) Washington: Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil "Ron" Singh killed in California and described a national hero by Donald Trump, has said he supported the US president's efforts on border security so that others do not experience what his family has been going through since the incident. Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, of the Newman Police Department was shot and killed during a traffic stop on December 26 allegedly by an illegal immigrant. During a visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for his controversial US-Mexico border wall plan, Trump attended a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, where Reggie Singh was seated next to the president. There the US president said, "I watched a family right around Christmas time... suffer and I'd like to ask Reggie, maybe you could say a few words about your incredible brother, the job he was doing. He was so beloved by the people of the department and beyond the department." To this, Reggie Singh told the president, "The way he (Ronil Singh) was killed, what my family is going through right now, I do not want any other family, law enforcement person to go through that." "Whatever it takes to minimize... put a stop to it, my family fully supports it," Reggie Singh said. In the last few days, Trump has made it a point to mention the killing of Ronil Singh by an illegal immigrant to build a strong case in favour of a stronger border security to prevent entry of illegal immigrants. "We are deeply moved to have with us Reggie Singh, whose brother, Ronil Singh, incredible guy. I mean, I watched, and I've rarely felt worse and watching news of our nation than watching your family and the love that you have for your brother," Trump said. During the roundtable meeting, Reggie Singh said he and his brother are originally from Fiji. "He (Ronil) always wanted to be in law enforcement. So legally we migrated to America to fulfil his dream of joining the law enforcement, he said. "English is our second language. He worked on that, got his education, applied for law enforcement agency and he was asked to get his citizenship. He worked towards that and he became a cop, K-9, Corporal K-9," Reggie Singh said. " At 33, Ronil Singh was cremated and I had to pick up his remains. It breaks my heart and no one should ever go through that. Seeing a five-month-old baby looking for his dad, no one should ever go through that on Christmas Day," he told Trump. The president replied, "We are with you. You know that, right." "That was a tough one, too. That was a tough one for a lot of people, not only the family, for a lot of people in this country. That was a tough thing to watch," Trump said. "I can see that, the way it came through. It came through loud and clear. And there are so many other people who have the same -- nobody covers them..., nobody talks about how unfair it is to the victims of these brutal killings," he said. On Tuesday, Trump spoke with the family members and law enforcement colleagues of Singh, a native of Fiji who joined the force in July 2011 and said America's heart broke the day the young officer was "savagely murdered" in cold blood by an "illegal alien". Trump has asked for USD 5.6 billion from the Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers' money. The sharp differences between the Trump administration and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday, making it the second-longest in history after the 21-day shutdown in 1995-96. BORDERLAND BEAT The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. General Mail Box: borderlandbeat@gmail.com Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter for Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send us an email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. Though the religious minorities are in principle included in the new category, as far as educational opportunity goes, they cannot take advantage of it because under Article 29 of the Constitution, 50 per cent of the seats in minority-run institutions are reserved for them. (Photo: DC) About a decade ago, at a former young colleagues wedding in New Delhi, the priest in an informal chat said, We (the Brahmins) need an Ambedkar today. It was a stunning revelation that reflected the unfathomable complexity of an ancient civilisation like India, especially north India, where the future clashes with the past, the psychedelic contours change colours rapidly under the neon lights of the present. Faced with this mind-boggling reality, politicians who pretend to be master manipulators seem to be reduced to the status of the manipulated. The BJP-NDA government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which finds itself at the end of its tether as it completes its five-year term in office and gears up for the general election in the summer, is indeed using the new reservation policy as an electoral gambit, and a senior BJP leader has admitted that there is no escape from reservation politics in the Indian context. But there is an also an attempt to understand the need for the creation of the new reservation category. The BJP brains trust is still groping for reasons, and it has come out with the vaguely interesting theory that farming communities like the Jats in Haryana, the Sikhs in Punjab, the Marathas in Maharashtra and the Patidars in Gujarat are in need of the proposed affirmative action because the young among these communities are moving away from agriculture and they have not made any progress in acquiring education and chalking out alternative careers and professions for themselves. The BJP also seems to calculate that the upper castes among the Hindus like Brahmins, Rajputs and Banias will not make use of this new provision because they are doing well on the educational front and seeking their fortunes abroad. So the BJP believes that the Jats, Sikhs, Marathas and Patidars need a helping hand, and it goes without saying that it hopes to garner the votes of these communities as well. It is also a strange response from the BJP to the simmering farm discontent across the country. It is made to appear that the latest pre-poll move by the Central government is a response to the emerging social crisis in the farming communities. On the face of it, it is a far-fetched argument because the people who need to move out of agriculture are the landless labour, and not the owners of the land. At the beginning of its term in 2014, the government wanted to amend the land acquisition law brought in by the Congress-led UPA government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the contentious argument that farmers do not want to remain farmers, and therefore the terms of alienation of the land should be more flexible. But the BJP could not carry the day and the issue was buried six feet deep. In the last five years, no one from the Narendra Modi government has even mentioned it in passing. The party and the government also seem to believe that they will circumvent the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations mandated by the Supreme Court in its ruling in cases relating to the Mandal recommendations of reservations for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) because the new category will not be touching on the castes and communities covered by Article 15(4) and Article 16(4) of the Constitution with regard to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other socially and educationally backward classes in terms of admission to educational institutions and in terms of employment respectively. The argument for the new category of reservation is on the universal principle of equality of opportunity inscribed in the Preamble of the Constitution. The ostensible purpose of the new reservation measure is to help the poor, and as the poor in the other categories of SCs, STs and OBCs are already covered, among the open category of the people, but the political cunning behind it is to reach out to the influential farming communities who are in the process of being losing their economic clout and slipping into the category of the economically weak or vulnerable class. It is indeed a mighty sleight of hand. The BJP is quite confident that the Congress Party would not oppose it for the same political compulsions as that of the BJP, and the poor label in the new measure will strike the pro-poor Communists like lightning and they cannot oppose it. Though the religious minorities are in principle included in the new category, as far as educational opportunity goes, they cannot take advantage of it because under Article 29 of the Constitution, 50 per cent of the seats in minority-run institutions are reserved for them. The issue is complicated at many levels and the BJP will be caught in the coils of its own cleverness, and every other party that subscribes to reservations of any kind. But as the country moves into the future and the economy diversifies and prospers, the states affirmative action policies are going to get obsolete because the state will not be able to offer jobs on any significant scale, and it cannot mandate that the private sector implement the reservation policy. But the private sector, both organised and unorganised, is sure to absorb people from all classes, poor and rich, educated and uneducated, skilled and unskilled, because a thriving economy needs all hands on the deck. The state will remain a passive spectator despite the delusions of politicians that they will determine the fortunes of the people at large. The economy cannot keep out people on grounds of religion, caste, class and education because it needs producers and consumers across the board. So the argument that private sector is elitist will not wash. Nearly every newspaper around the world covered the history-making event. On Thursday, January 3, 2019, two Muslim-American women were sworn into the United States House of Representatives. Together, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib became the first Muslim women in the history of the US to become two of over 400 House representatives. Cameras followed the two everywhere, from the moment they arrived in the capital, to the time they along with their families celebrated after the oath of office was administered. One wore a colourful Somali headscarf, in a nod to her Somali-American roots; the other, Rashida Tlaib, wore a maroon Palestinian thobe. Such was the excitement about her thobe that a Twitter hashtag, #showyourthobe, asked other Palestinian-American women to also display their own embroidered traditional garments. Many did. This, however, was not how the hubbub over Rashida Tlaibs swearing-in would end. The cameras that had been trailing the newly elected representative followed her to a reception held that evening by the progressive organisation MoveOn.org, which has long opposed President Donald Trump and his policies. When asked to take the microphone, representative Tlaib recounted a conversation she had previously had with her son. Bullies dont win, her son had told her. Tlaib said she responded with, Baby, they dont. And were going in there and were going to impeach the (expletive). Applause followed and Tlaib quickly gave up the microphone. No sooner had the clip featuring Representative Tlaib hit the contentious airwaves of American cable news that it went viral. Millions watched it on the social media and on television. Republicans, eager to find a reason to castigate the now winning and gloating Democrats particularly a brown, Muslim and very progressive Democrat were quick to denounce the language used by Tlaib. The House minority leader immediately demanded an apology, using strong language to criticise Tlaib. The House majority leader, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, said she would not have used such words herself but that Tlaibs words were certainly nothing worse than (what) the President has said. Other Democrats, particularly those belonging to the prim and trite when they go low, we go high Obama-Clinton camps, who have long insisted that they must stand for civility and not bow to the depths Trump plunges to, were also critical. For her part, Tlaib refused to apologise. She stood by her words; she had said exactly what she had intended to say, and what she had meant to say. Many agreed with her; a hashtag echoing her call for impeachment trended on Twitter for hours as angry Democratic supporters rallied in favour of Tlaib, noting that she had finally said what so much of the country has been thinking and saying. The Tlaib episode is notable for several reasons. For starters, while she may have been criticised by certain news media outlets and Republican politicians, she did not face any actual consequences for her use of indecent language. She was not officially censured; the US government did not begin any proceedings against her. Threatening Republican mobs did not gather outside her house, and while Trump did say that her comments were highly disrespectful and that she had dishonoured herself when specifically asked, he too was powerless to actually stop her from using similar language in the future. These facts are notable because they are uncommon ones in other places where Muslim women hold office; in most Muslim-majority countries, not only would a woman be criticised for using what is deemed inappropriate language, the feeble protections that safeguard freedom of expression would readily be mowed over. Through one or another rule or agency directive, she would face immediate consequences, likely even losing the power of her elected position. Far less noxious language used by Muslim women in political office in Muslim-majority countries has resulted in far greater consequences. The freedom afforded to Tlaib in America is not a freedom she would enjoy in many parts of the Muslim world. Tlaibs statement also reveals the turn that Muslims in America will have to take in the years to come. Muslim-American organisations, many that balk at giving women, particularly women who do not cover their heads, leadership positions within their own organisations and boards, have been eager to embrace the two new emblems of Muslim-American leadership. Tlaibs use of inappropriate language is far beyond the narrow codes of decency that are viewed as permissible to most. And, yet, it is just such an expression of Muslim rage that is admissible given the bans, surveillance and demonisation that Muslim-Americans routinely face in Trumps country. Given their roles within the Democratic Partys progressive caucus, both Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar are slated to be the most liberal voices in Congress, a fact that is also likely to push once-conservative Muslim-America further to the left. It is not something that Muslim-American organisations (beyond those with a political and civil-rights bent) are inwardly enthusiastic about; it is, however, what they will regularly have to celebrate. Not only will the face of Muslims in America be female, it will be very outspoken and unafraid, and willing to fight a President who has made Islam the most suspiciously viewed religion in America. President Trump has used some of the filthiest and profanity-laced language for women. Many of the more than 100 American women elected to the House last week would have liked to give to the President a dose of what he has been dishing out to everyone else. Few, Muslim or non-Muslim, would have guessed that one of the two new Muslim-American representatives would be the first to do so. That, however, is how it is and in uttering the words, uncivil as they may have been, Rashida Tlaib has shattered more stereotypes than many generations of Muslim women put together. By arrangement with Dawn If there was any ambiguity created on Wednesday by Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawats remarks at the Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi, it was dispelled the following day at his annual press conference. Nevertheless, it does seem that the soldier has needlessly stepped into slush. Gen. Rawats widely reported first observation was that there should be talks with the Taliban in the context of Afghanistan, but these should be without preconditions. If this seemed like gobbledygook, since the Taliban have set no preconditions in talking to any international partner of Afghanistan, the Army Chief was more direct at his press conference on Thursday, where he observed: Do we have an interest in Afghanistan? If yes, then we cant be out of the bandwagon... Should we in some way be a part of the talks? We should not be left out. Over the years, since the time of President Hamid Karzai, the Taliban have refused to deal directly with the Afghan government. Their position is that Afghanistan is an occupied country and the Kabul government is a puppet of the United States. As such, while refusing to hold talks with the Afghans, the Pakistan-based extremist faction has had no hesitation negotiating with the Americans, or engaging any foreign country, including Russia, China, and Iran. On the other hand, India was the only major regional player that had preferred not to talk to the Taliban. New Delhis consistent position was that international engagements with the Taliban should be Afghan-owned and Afghan-led. This formulation wasnt going anywhere. The various rounds of discussions between the Taliban and others at various times the US, China and recently Russia, to say nothing of some Europeans (like at Chantilly in France) over time have appeared to be Pakistan-owned and US-led. This is a reality that India too eventually has had to accept. Late last year, New Delhi despatched a non-official delegation comprising two former ambassadors for the Moscow talks since the Afghan government had also sent a non-official delegation. Its clear by now that India has come around to the position of being non-formulaic on talks with the Taliban. This is indicated by New Delhis participation in the Moscow discussions. Therefore, it is hard to fathom why Gen. Rawat got himself into the subject of Afghanistan at all. If he hadnt, he might not have got himself into a pickle over Kashmir, whose leading politicians have predictably asked him why New Delhi wasnt engaging the separatist Hurriyat Conference in talks while it was busy advocating talks with the Taliban and espousing the cause of autonomy for the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka. Indisputably, India has entered the last lap of the most confrontational years between two parliamentary elections, and the early indications are that this will be the most rancorous polls ever. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly told his core team in 2013-14 that the middle class has a memory of just three months, and whatever has to be done to enlist this demographic group should be done in the last quarter. This explains the new narrative he has begun weaving with the passage of the quota bill for the not so poor in the general category. There are expectations that he would, in the time available before the Model Code of Conduct kicks into effect when the dates of the election are announced likely in first week of March like last time, announce a slew of schemes and promises. The shower of largesse is likely to be aimed at farmers, the urban poor, youth and possibly women, all sections which had expected a lot from this government but are disillusioned, especially since the later part of 2017. The governments urgency to evolve a new narrative is evidence that the verdict of 2014, described by Mr Modi as an occasion when India won, did not lead to the fulfilment of the hopes it had generated. Instead, the past five years was characterised by what Amit Shah immortalised in the Indian political lexicon jumlabaazi. It will, consequently, be judged by future historians not for what it delivered, but for the deficit in expectations. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, however, know that the election will not be determined by historians of the future but by people whose opinion can still be shaped by last-minute handouts. This explains why the political campaign directed against adversaries is being backed by government decisions like the quota bill, made a law in less than 72 hours. This government can be decisive, but only when its goose is about to be cooked. Incumbents taking desperate measures is nothing new, but there is less ground for disenchantment when the expectations were few. This is not the case with this government, as with his much-hyped promises in 2014, Mr Modi had raised the hopes of people like never before. Achche din may have been a mere election slogan for the BJP, but people actually believed the yarn that UPA-2 was marked by policy paralysis and that Mr Modi was the redeemer of their futures. Because there has been no dramatic improvement in the lives of people, the government is forced to stress on incremental gains toilets, gas cylinders, Jan Dhan accounts, etc, in a bid to obfuscate the fact that people do not have what they need most cash in hand or ready jobs. As a result, the India of 2019 is dramatically different from that of five years ago. By early 2014, there was a certainty across the country that Mr Modi would be the next Prime Minister. Much needed to be formally done, and although officially anointed by his party, he was yet to mount a campaign that would enable him to take an unbeatable lead. Mr Modi is aware of the limitations of an incumbent, and while he weighs various options to turn the sense of insufficient deliveries, he has so far built an electoral campaign based on negativism. In fact, this marks the fundamental difference between the two elections, as both the ruling party and the Opposition are focused more on delegitimising the adversary than on seeking a positive vote. While the contest in 2014 was between the Modi-personified optimism and the despair typified by Dr Manmohan Singh and the rest of the Congress leadership, the dominant sentiment this time is of fear. Both the BJP and the Opposition parties are peddling varieties of horror or worry. The Narendra Modi-led BJP is depicting a nightmare that would be Indias fate if an unstable, non-ideological coalition is placed at its helm. On the other hand, the Opposition is sounding the alarm that yet another mandate for Mr Modi would herald the death of the republic. In 2014, Mr Modi secured support from people who were not part of the BJPs core voter base because of his promise of reforms and development. This section, including the ideological middle India, disregarded the reality that Mr Modis narrative was embedded in Hindutva. This time, however. the equilibrium is getting increasingly skewed in the reverse direction. The governments possible decisions over the next few weeks would establish where Mr Modi positions himself between being the Hindu Hriday Samrat once again and the man whose heart bleeds for the last person in the line. Regardless of whether Mr Modi rediscovers the magical weave over peoples perception or whether the Opposition is successful in converting dissatisfaction into anger, like in Chhattisgarh recently, the events over the past five years presents people with an opportunity to assess their experience with dominant leaders. There is a need to examine if the nations socio-economic compositeness is more secure under governments dependent on continued support of the people because they have not been handed a runaway mandate. From past experience, the answer is in the affirmative. There is little reason to be worried at the prospect of a weak coalition coming to power in the summer of this year. There is little doubt that the elections this year will be the most important one since 1977. Just as Indira Gandhis Emergency regime attempted a major departure from democratic principles, this government has tried to deviate from the commitment to social inclusiveness. Dogged pursuit of the Citizenship Bill by the BJP demonstrates acceptance of the Muslim Leagues two-nation theory. People this time face the challenge of side-stepping emotive issues. Instead of being propelled by worries over the absence of alternatives, people need to make choices on the basis of their aspirations and not on superimposed ideas. This will be Indian democracys true test this time. Chennai: Asserting that the DMK would never enter into alliance with the BJP under Narendra Modi, party president M K Stalin mocked at the Prime Minister for comparing himself with late statesman A B Vajpayee. A day after the Prime Minister said his party cherished its old friends, seeking to rope in outfits for the NDA, Stalin said people would not forget that it was under Modi's rule that Tamil Nadu's rights were snatched away, something unseen before. I would like to make it categorical again that DMK will never forge an alliance with the BJP led by Narendra Modi, he said in a statement, hitting out at Modi for not doing anything to strengthen India's integrity. Political observers were quick to read between Stalin's lines to raise the question whether he would not mind a post-poll alliance with the BJP if the saffron brigade chooses someone other than Modi as its PM candidate. Some have also referred to persistent gossip in the party corridors that the BJP top brass is against poll pact with the AIADMK, considering the internal divisions and the serious corruption charges, and would prefer the DMK as partner since it remains a cohesive and disciplined political force even after the demise of its patriarch M Karunanidhi. But then, Stalin seems determined, at least for now, that he would have nothing to do with the BJP-under Narendra Modi. Accusing the PM of treating with disdain values like secularism, social justice and federalism in his rule, the DMK chief said, Modi is not Vajpayee. While Vajpayee had stitched together a healthy alliance during his times, Modi's NDA had failed in this. Accusing the PM of not protecting and practicing pluralism, Stalin said it was strange and comical that Modi was comparing himself with Vajpayee, whom the late DMK leader Karunanidhi, his father, had described once as the right person in the wrong party. The DMK had joined the Vajpayee Government (1999) only to ensure growth through a stable government and because the NDA agenda was inclusive and not divisive, he said. Chennai: Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Friday said the AIADMK would support, in the coming Lok Sabha elections, only a party whose rule at the Centre protests the interests of Tamil Nadu. As far as we are concerned, our stand is that whoever does good for the people of Tamil Nadu, that party should come to power at the Centre, Palaniswami said at a party event here, sharing dais with Deputy CM O Panneerselvam. We will not accept anyone who betrays the people of Tamil Nadu. This is our stand, the CM stressed. He was obviously referring to the remarks made by PM Modi at his video interaction with BJP booth-level workers on Thursday that the BJP cherished its old friends just the way its famous statesman Vajpayee had done in forging his NDA (1999). The PM was responding to a BJP member's question whether the party would join hands with the AIADMK, the DMK or Rajinikanth for the coming Lok Sabha polls. And in doing so, Modi had left wide open the question if by old friends he meant the DMK or the AIADMK as the BJP's NDA had included both the Dravidian parties at one time or another, though not together. It may be recalled that the AIADMK under Jayalalithaa had joined hands with the BJP to face the 2004 LS elections but the alliance could not win even a single seat while the DMK-Congress team swept the polls. A decade later, the AIADMK Amma chose to go it alone and scored a stupendous sweep winning 37 of the 39 seats in the 2014 Parliament poll. In that poll, the BJP joined hands with five smaller parties such as the DMDK, PMK and MDMK and won one seat for Pon Radhakrishnan while PMK's Dr Anbumani Ramadoss bagged Dharmapuri. Hassan: The BJP is reportedly keen on Congress leader, A Manju returning to it and fielding him from Hassan should the constituency go to the JD(S) for the coming Lok Sabha poll in the seat sharing by the coalition partners in the state goverment. Mr Manju, who was a BJP MLA in 1999, joined the Congress in 2004. The saffron party sees him as a good bet for Hassan as he succeeded in narrowing the victory margin of JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda from 2.91 lakh votes in 2009 to a mere one lakh votes in the 2014 parliamentary poll, when he contested against him on a Congress ticket. Going by BJP sources, Mr Manju has been contacted to re-join it, but he hasnt taken a decision yet as Congress leaders have advised him against quitting their party. As for Mr Manju himself, he says he had every chance of winning from Hassan against Mr Deve Gowda in 2014 as the contest was close. A difference of around 52,000 votes would have led to a different story in Hassan. The Congress can field anyone for the constituency in the coming LS poll. But if it finds no one suitable, I am ready to contest again, he told the Deccan Chronicle. However, should the Congress decide to give Hassan to the JD(S), Mr Manju feels it should demand Mandya in exchange. If one of these seats is not given to the Congress party, what presence will we have in the old Mysuru region which is dominated by the Vokkaligas? he demanded. A film has been released suddenly ahead of the elections...Accidental PM! Everyone is accidental PM. I fail to understand the meaning of accidental PM, said CM Mamata Banerjee. (Photo: File) Kolkata: Apparently standing by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the controversial depiction of his role in the Bollywood film, The Accidental Prime Minister Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the BJP of making a "drama" ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Without taking the name of present PM Narendra Modi she predicted that another film 'Disastrous PM' would be made on him in the future also. Describing PM Modi as "Gabbar Singh" the Trinamool Congress supremo bantered that he neither smiles nor can speak well. Addressing a programme at Barasat in North 24 Parganas CM Banerjee said, "A film has been released suddenly ahead of the elections...Accidental PM! Everyone is accidental PM. I fail to understand the meaning of accidental PM." She added, "Those who are making a drama on accidental PM they should watch another film: Disastrous PM. If a film can be made based on accidental PM then Disastrous PM has to be shown also. Remember, it will be made in the coming days. No one will spare anyone." Her warning came after the Congress activists' massive protests which erupted outside the cinema halls in the city where the film 'The Accidental Prime Minister' was being screened after its release. Alarmed by the angry demonstrations by the Congress supporters who shouted slogans with party flags and burnt the effigy of PM Modi, the police stopped the screening of the film in at least two halls. One of the two is INOX in central Kolkata while the other is Indira Hall in Bhowanipore. In an oblique reference to PM Modi the Trinamool chief alleged, "You will also have to see like you are showing now. Look at your face on the mirror properly. You can not even smile. You can not even talk properly. The people get panicked seeing him. They say: Gabbar Singh is coming, Jabbar Singh is coming." The BJP core committee will meet in Delhi before the January 13 session with Mr Shah. Bengaluru: Is the state BJP involved in a secret operation to dethrone the H.D. Kumaraswamy government? Political circles are abuzz with such reports after BJP national president, Amit Shah summoned state party chief, B.S.Yeddyurappa and all 104 legislators, MPs and MLCs from Karnataka to Delhi on January 13 to discuss the coming parliamentary elections. Speaking to reporters here, Mr Yeddyurappa said Mr Shah was keen on winning 22 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state and was expected to assign responsibilities to party legislators and MPs to achieve the target. However what is surprising is that all legislators have also been invited to Delhi when only top leaders are usually involved in discussions on parliamentary polls. The BJP state chief and the party's Lok Sabha convener for Karnataka, Aravind Limbavali, had met Mr. Shah in Delhi on January 8 to discuss the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections and was instructed to come again with legislators and MPs, according to sources . "Mr Shah was supposed to address party MLAs, MLCs and MPs in Bengaluru on January 9, but he has cancelled his trip owing to the parliamentary session and has asked the entire BJP state unit to come to Delhi instead," they explained. The BJP core committee will meet in Delhi before the January 13 session with Mr Shah. The party's Karnataka in charge, Muralidhar Rao, will chair the meeting. Over 10,000 BJP workers are also expected to attend the party's national convention for the Lok Sabha polls on Friday and Saturday and receive instructions on their responsibilities. However, denying rumours that the BJP was drawing up a strategy to destabilise the Kumaraswamy government, a senior party leader said with the Lok Sabha elections approaching, this (any toppling attempt) would have a negative impact on its prospects. New Delhi: BJP president Amit Shah on Friday projected the Lok Sabha polls as a clash of ideologies and likened it to the decisive third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the Afghan Army, saying the election results will be equally significant for the country. In his inaugural address at a party convention here, he dismissed the proposed grand alliance of Opposition parties as a sham, saying they are a disparate group with neither a leader nor any policy and have been brought together by their greed of power. He also asserted that the BJP wants Ram temple to be constructed at the earliest in Ayodhya, drawing huge applause from thousands of party members, and accused the Congress of creating hurdles in the issue's early resolution in the Supreme Court. Amid a challenge from the likely Opposition unity and the BJP's defeat in the recent state polls, Mr Shah sought to reassure the party cadres about its prospects, describing Mr Modi as an invincible warrior he has known since 1987 and under whom not a single election has been lost. The party has the worlds most popular, visionary, transparent and hardworking leader in Modi. Chennai: The Madras high court relaxed its restriction on distributing Pongal festival cash gift of Rs 1,000 to a section of ration card-holders on Friday. Two days ago, the court restricted distribution of the cash gift to only ration card holders belonging to below poverty line and low-income group only. When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, a division bench of Justice M. Sathyanarayanan and P. Rajamanickam modified its interim order passed on December 9 and permitted the state to extend the cash gift to sugar card-holders also. Advocate-general Vijay Narayan on Friday submitted that most of the families in NPHH-S category (Non Priority House Hold only for Sugar) also belonged to economically weaker background. And number of such families cannot be arrived at this juncture as the economic indices are not available, as the government is issuing the family cards on the basis of residential proof only. Of 10,11,330 NPHH-S card holders as on Thursday, 4,12,558 card holders have received the gift. The balance card holders under this category, most of whom are also from below poverty line category, are affected and are highly disappointed by non-receipt of the benefit. The bench said Since a responsible officer has submitted through a sworn affidavit that those with non-priority household only for sugar (NPHH-S) cards also fall under the below poverty line category, we are permitting the government to distribute the to balance 5,98,772 falling under this category. Chennai: In a major setback to former TN minister Balakrishna Reddy, convicted and sentenced to under go 3 years RI in a 20-year-old riot case, the Madras high court dismissed his petitions which sought to suspend his conviction and sentence. This court is of the considered view that the charges against the appellant/accused are too serious for which he was convicted and it would not be in the fitness of things to suspend the sentence for the present and much less suspending the conviction to enable the appellant/accused to retain his membership notwithstanding his deviant conduct, culminating in the conviction by the court of law, said Justice V.Parthiban while dismissing two criminal miscellaneous petitions from Balakrishna Reddy. The judge directed the registry to post the present criminal appeal against an order of the special court for cases related to elected Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu, in the first week of February. The effect of the present order refusing to suspend both sentence and conviction is Balakrishna Reddy has to approach the Supreme Court against this order. In his order, the judge said from the materials and the pleadings placed on record, it could be seen that the participation of the appellant/accused in the unlawful assembly, was not denied. Although the prosecution examined 28 witnesses, no evidence was let in on behalf of the defence in order to deny the participation of the appellant/accused. His further participation in the criminal offences attracting the provisions for which he was charged with would have to be seen from the oral evidence. In this case, there were large number of accused persons involved in rioting and it might be possible to have too many witnesses to identify so many accused for their active involvement or otherwise. In this case, admittedly, each one of the witnesses examined on the prosecution side, has identified the persons involvement in rioting etc and also for causing extensive damage to the public and private property, the judge added. The judge said the prosecution witness-11 (head constable)s evidence was very clear on that aspect where he identified the involvement of the appellant/ accused in commission of the offences. The trial court on the basis of the cogent evidence given by PW-11 and also on the basis of several other witnesses on the prosecution side, has convicted all the accused including the appellant herein. Merely because there was only one witness who deposed against the appellant and therefore, such evidence need not be given any credence, was not an acceptable submission for the simple reason that the evidence given by him was clear and cogent and that was prima facie enough for coming to the conclusion against the appellant. It cannot be gainsaid that there was no evidence at all, as made out by the senior counsel for the appellant as there exist prima facie evidence through prosecution witness-11 to unequivocally implicate the appellant for the offences charged against him, the judge added. The judge said the charges against the appellant were quite serious in nature, particularly, with reference to his position in the society today. He was part of the unlawful assembly which let loose violence on the police who were sent to the scene of occurrence to maintain law and order. Further, the mob had given vent to their anger by burning five buses belonging to the state and also set fire to the police jeep and further caused damage to the private vehicle. Such incident would have definitely undermined the public order and peace in the locality. Whatever be the reasons for their assembly, it was not open to the appellant or any other members of unlawful assembly to exhibit intolerance and unruly conduct, the judge added. New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Friday projected the Lok Sabha polls as a clash of ideologies and likened it to the decisive third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the Afghan Army, saying the election results will be equally significant for the country. Targeting the Opposition, Mr Shah said its proposed alliance has no nationwide relevance and the BJP had defeated each of them in 2014, claiming that the party is sure to come back to power with a bigger majority. It had won 282 of 543 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls. The party has the worlds most popular, visionary, transparent and hardworking leader in Mr Modi with the opposition having no match to him, he asserted, asking thousands of BJP delegates to go with the pledge of bringing the government back to power. Rival parties joining hands against the BJP is their admission of Mr Modis strength, he said. In his over an hour-long speech, Mr Shah emphasised on a number of governments measures- especially those related to security, curbing corruption and welfare programmes for the poor and farmers- and attacked the Congress for the dare to target Modi on the issue of graft when its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi are on bail in a case of corruption. With Modi and other top leaders on dais he gave the party war cry to win the next polls, claiming that people like the BJP want a majboot sarkar (strong government) and the opposition wants a majboor sarkar (helpless government). Nobody other than Modi can give a strong government, Mr Shah said. Two ideologies are facing off during the polls. We stand for cultural nationalism and antyodaya (poors welfare). On the other hand there is neither a leader not policy, only a disparate group of selfish parties brought together by their greed of power, he said. New Delhi: Former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Alok Verma, ousted by a high powered committee, on Friday asked the government to treat him deemed superannuated with immediate effect. Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the director CBI. The selection committee did not consider the fact that the entire CVC report is premised on charges alluded by a complainant who is presently under investigation by the CBI, Verma said in a veiled reference to Special Director Rakesh Asthana. He said it may be noted that the CVC only forwarded a purportedly signed statement of the complainant (Asthana), and the complainant never came before Justice (Retd) A K Patnaik who is supervising the enquiry. Also, Justice Patnaik has concluded that the findings and conclusions of the report are not his, the 61-year-old said. He said institutions are one of the strongest and most visible symbols of the democracy and it was no exaggeration that the CBI is one of the most important organisations in India today. Students of Valliammal College for Women celebrate Pongal all dressed in traditional half-sarees. They use firewood and mud pots to celebrate Pongal the traditional way. CHENNAI: There were 800 students and teachers who had Pongal special feast at Thiru. Vi. Ka Higher Secondary School in Shenoy Nagar on Friday. But they left zero inorganic waste. To put this in perspective, it took them at least 40 huge bags to carry the used paper plates and empty water sachets after the same event last year. It was a rather simple idea that made it happen: they all brought their own plates and tumblers. This small initiative by the government-aided school may hold the lesson for avoiding plastic waste generation at the schools across the state. For the last two years, the school has been celebrating "Samathuva Pongal" on the school campus. During the celebrations, they would serve food for all the students, conduct competitions besides holding cultural events. While planning this year's Pongal celebrations, the teachers have encountered a problem. Due to the plastic ban enforced from January 1, they could not get any paper plates or water packets. "When we learnt that paper plates or cups won't be available due to the ban, we came up with this idea," said K.John, headmaster, Thiru.Vi.Ka Higher Secondary School, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai. On Friday, except for a few students, almost all the students and teachers brought their plates and tumblers. Some students even brought tiffen boxes. For those who forgot to bring them, the school has served plates kept for the NCC and NSS students to keep the environment clean. During the feast, the students were served with sweet pongal, bread halwa and vegetable biryani. "We bought over 800 paper plates and 1,600 water sachets last year. For disposing of them we bought 40 huge carry bags as well. Several drums of waste also been generated and disposing of those waste has become an issue. But, this year, as soon as the students had their lunch washed the plates and left the school campus," he said. After the event, the entire school premises were free of plastic wastes. "We have realised that it is possible to conduct a bigger event without generating any non-degradable waste. We will adopt such measures in future to make the school campus free of plastics," a teacher said. The entire event was organised by collecting money from the teachers and non-teaching staffs. "Each of us donated Rs.2,200 for the event and non-teaching staff donated Rs.1,000. Totally, we have collected nearly Rs. 50,000 and organised this event," another teacher said. For a change, the school teachers performed before the students. The male teachers played tug of war while female teachers showcased their skills in filling tumblers with water in their bare hands. To keep with the tradition, the students were given a "Silambattam" performance as well. Chennai: As part of the ongoing initiative since the AntiHuman Trafficking Club was set up in the city about a month ago, a young boy was rescued from a railway station on Friday. The boy was seen crying near Park railway station by Solomon, convener and a social worker from the International Justice Mission (IJM). Solomon alerted club members and also the railway police who came to the boy's rescue immediately. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Solomon said that he saw the boy going under one of the stairs and crying quietly. When they approached him, he seemed to cooperate, he said. He was begging and being scolded for it. Insulted, he was crying a lot. The club members alerted Childline- 1098 services who also rushed to the spot. The boy was taken to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) after which he has been temporarily placed in a childrens shelter home in Royapuram, Solomon said. He did not speak much but told us that he was from Amaravati and that he wanted his mother. He also told us that his father was a construction worker and his mother was a maidservant. The boy also said that he came to Chennai selling samosas on a train from Amaravati and has stayed since then. The next step is to ensure the boy is comfortable before asking him if he wants to go home or stay at the shelter home, Solomon said. The AHT clubs are a part of creating awareness on human trafficking. It is the third largest crime in the world after drug smuggling and illegal arms deals but most people, even the youth are blissfully unaware, Mohammad Shamshuddin, student convener of the AHT Club and a student of the Madras School of Social Work said. New Delhi: Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge on Thursday gave a dissent note during a meeting of the high-powered committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against its decision to remove Alok Verma as CBI director. "It would be grossly unfair not to restore Alok Verma to the full extent of the authority enjoyed by the office of the Director CBI and compensate him by extending his term appropriately to accommodate for the loss of 77 days caused by the illegal orders of the CVC and DoPT on October 23, 2018," he said in his dissent note. As the panel based its decision on a report submitted by the Central Vigilance Commission, the dissent note put up by Kharge flagged how the main allegations against Verma were unsubstantiated. The note that included a summary of the vigilance report revealed that six out of the 10 allegations levelled against Alok Verma were found to be unsubstantiated or false with four of them being found to be in need of further investigation as an inconclusive finding has been arrived at. Four of the charges are found to be prima facie substantiated and on the basis of circumstantial evidence, found to be unflattering to Alok Verma". The main allegation of bribery - raised by Verma's deputy Rakesh Asthana - is not substantiated. "No evidence of payment of bribe; further investigation required for verifying circumstantial evidence," the CVC report said on the charge that Verma took Rs 2 crore from a businessman being investigated by the CBI. On allegations that Verma did not take action on certain intelligence inputs, the report said, "Allegation not substantiated". On the charge of "illegal gratification in ongoing preliminary enquiry against land acquisition in Haryana", the findings said, "Allegation not substantiated, further inquiry will be required." However, the allegation of exclusion of a suspect from being named as an accused in a First Information Report in the IRCTC case was "substantiated and amounts to serious misconduct and warrants disciplinary and other actions," the report had said. Another allegation of failure to take action in gold smuggling case at the Delhi airport was partially substantiated. The charge of inducting tainted officers in the CBI was found to be substantiated. The 3-member panel decided to shunt Verma out with the opinion that being the head of a very sensitive organisation, Verma was not functioning with the integrity expected of him. However, Kharge disagreed and said an inquiry into the conclusions by the Central Vigilance Commission should continue further but in parallel, he should not be denied his tenure and also should be given back his powers. Apart from PM Modi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Justice A K Sikri was the member of the panel. Sikri, who was a nominee of the Supreme Court Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, sided with the government over the removal of Verma. 'Take help of experts to rescue the trapped miners', Supreme Court told Centre and Meghalaya government. (Photo: File | AP) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Meghalaya government to continue with their efforts to save miners trapped in a coal mine saying miracles do happen. The apex court reiterated that the Centre and Meghalaya government should take help of experts to rescue the miners, news agency ANI reported. "Carry on with your rescue efforts, what if all or at least some are still alive? Miracles do happen," a bench headed by Justice A K Sikri told the state government. The Navy has deployed five remotely operated vehicles in operation to rescue the 15 miners trapped in illegal mine since December 13, the state government informed the court. The state government told the court that one crore litre of water has been pumped out so far from the illegal mine but seepage from nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. The top court further asked the state government about steps being taken by it against those running the illegal mines and also the officials who have allowed the operations of such mines. One person involved in running illegal mines where the incident took place has been arrested, the Meghalaya government told the court. The bench has posted the matter to January 18 for further hearing. At least 15 miners are trapped in a 370 foot-deep illegal coal mine at Khloo Ryngksan area of Nongkhlieh elaka under East Jaintia Hills district since December 13 last year. At least 200 rescuers from the Navy, NDRF, the Odisha Fire Service, State Disaster Response Fund, states Fire service and others from CIL and KBL are involved in the multi-agency rescue operations. The grave accident at the mine has brought to light the presence of illegal coal mining using unsafe and unscientific rat-hole methods despite the National Green Tribunal ban since 2014. (With PTI inputs) Last week, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati held a meeting in New Delhi and have reportedly moved closer to finalise a seat-sharing formula leaving the Congress out of the coalition fold. (Photo: File | PTI) New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, who are in talks of forging an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, have called a joint press conference tomorrow. The two leaders are expected to make an announcement of their alliance to take on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh in the general polls due in May. Last week, both the leaders held a meeting in New Delhi and have reportedly moved closer to finalise a seat-sharing formula leaving the Congress out of the coalition fold. It was proposed that both parties will equally distribute between them 78 Lok Sabha seats, reports said. However, the SP-BSP combo has reportedly decided not to field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, the seats represented in the Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi respectively. The Congress party, which is expecting a snub, has been speaking about going alone. The party has also gained confidence after it managed to win in the recently-concluded Assembly elections. However, what can give a major headache to the Congress is that parties in other states can also try to replicate SP-BSP formula and keep it out of the alliance. In 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal managed to win 73 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 parliamentary seats, while the BSP, SP and the Congress were decimated. A high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed Alok Verma as CBI chief on Thursday on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: A day after Alok Verma was removed as CBI director by a high-powered panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the officer resigned from the Indian Police Service on Friday. Verma, who was ordered to take charge as the Director General Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard, had claimed that he was transferred on basis of "false, frivolous and unsubstantiated allegations" made by only one person who was inimical to him. In his resignation letter, Verma claimed that he was not given the opportunity to explain the details as recorded by the CVC before arriving at the decision. He said that "natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the Director." He further added, "The decisions made yesterday will not just be a reflection on my functioning but will become a testimony on how the CBI as an institution will be treated by any government through the CVC..." "This is a moment of collective introspection," he said. "Also, it may be noted that the undersigned already superannuated as on July 31, 2017 and was only serving Government as Director, CBI till January 31, 2019, as the same was fixed tenure role. The undersigned is no longer Director, CBI and has already crossed the superannuation age for DG Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards. Accordingly, the undersigned may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today," Verma added in his letter to Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training Friday. On Thursday, Verma was removed as CBI director in a split verdict after the high-powered committee, comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Justice A K Sikri and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, met in the national capital to decide his fate. According to officials, there were eight charges against Verma in the CVC report presented before the panel which included alleged attempts to induct tainted officers, compromising probe in the case related to controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi, IRCTC scam among others. Special Director Rakesh Asthana, with whom Verma had a public feud, had given a complaint against him to the Cabinet Secretary in August which was referred to the CVC. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) The Pasay City Prosecutor's Office has charged opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV with grave threat for allegedly threatening the life of a Labor undersecretary. In a case filed before the Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 47, Assistant City Prosecutor Janette Herpas-Baggas said Trillanes "creat[ed] fear and anxiety on the mind" of Labor undersecretary Jacinto "Jing" Paras when he told him, "Yayariin kita. Mercenaryo ka. Yayariin kita," which the Labor executive qualified in his complaint as "to kill." The case stems from a complaint filed by Paras, a former Negros Oriental representative and a member of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), who claims to have been threatened by Trillanes when they faced off in the Senate premises in 2018. Under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, a threat to kill a person is punishable by prision correccional or a jail term of six months and one day to six years. The charge is a bailable offense, where the accused may post a P36,000 bail, according to the 2018 Bail Bond Guide from the Department of Justice. Trillanes' arraignment is set on February 15. Reacting to the charge against him, Trillanes said justice under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has been "turned upside down." "Siya (Duterte) itong pinapatay mismo ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino, pinapa-rape ang mga babae sa mga sundalo, pinapa-kidnap at torture ang mga [Commission on Audit] auditors at pinapa-holdup ang mga bishops, tapos ako ang pinakasuhan nya ng grave threats sa mga bata nya? Baliw talaga," Trillanes said. [Translation: He is the one who is killing ordinary Filipinos, orders soldiers to rape women, wants Commission on Audit auditors kidnapped and tortured, and urges priests and bishops to be mugged, and then I'm the one who is being sued for grave threats by his minions?] But just the same, the senator said he would face the "harassment cases" against him squarely. He has denied the supposed threats, which Paras claimed stemmed from the inciting to sedition case he and other VACC members filed against the senator for supposedly encouraging soldiers to shoot President Rodrigo Duterte if it is proven that he has hidden wealth. Trillanes made the statement in a November 11, 2017 privilege speech, where he accused Duterte of having undeclared bank transactions amounting to P2 billion from 2006 to 2015. The supposed call to shoot the President stems from a dare from Duterte himself that anyone who finds his supposedly hidden wealth should shoot him. READ: Ombudsman junks Trillanes' plunder case vs. Duterte Section 11, Article VI of the Constitution grants lawmakers immunity from prosecution for anything they say in debates and speeches in Congress. The grave threat and inciting to sedition charges against Trillanes are only some of the many legal battles hounding the staunch critic of President Duterte. The President revoked the senator's 2011 amnesty, reviving the already-junked rebellion and coup d'etat charges against him, and Duterte's son, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte sued Trillanes for libel. READ: Makati court denies Trillanes' plea over rebellion case The VACC has filed several complaints against known Duterte critics, such as Trillanes and detained Senator Leila de Lima, and ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. In January, Paras was appointed to the Labor Department while VACC founding chair Dante Jimenez was appointed to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission. CNN Philippines Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this story. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's recovery from surgery to remove malignant nodules from her left lung is "on track," a Supreme Court spokesperson said Friday, but she will continue to work from home and miss oral arguments at the court next week. "Her recovery from surgery is on track. Post-surgery evaluation indicates no evidence of remaining disease, and no further treatment is required," said spokesperson Kathy Arberg. In November, Ginsburg was hospitalized after suffering fractured ribs from a fall in her office at the court. Tests done during that trip to the hospital led to the incidental discovery of the nodules on her lung, which were removed in December. She was discharged less than a week after the pulmonary lobectomy, which she underwent at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and was home on Christmas Day. She didn't attend oral arguments immediately following the surgery, marking the first time she missed a scheduled public session due to illness in her career over a quarter of a decade on the high court bench, a court spokeswoman said. The update from the court comes amid reports that the White House is looking into potential candidates for the court in the event Ginsburg retires. Her health problems have generated speculation in Washington that she might need to step down. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Rating: Director: Aditya Dhar Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Yami Gautam, Kirti Kulhari, Swaroop Sampat, Mohit Raina and Rajit Kapur. URI - The Surgical Strike is based on the 2016 Indian Army's surgical strikes on Pakistan Administered Kashmir as retaliation for the Uri attack. Directed by debutant Aditya Dhar, the movie is a harrowing adventure behind the headlines that is at once a riveting procedural and, at the same time, a bracing political statement on the war based on terror. The movie succeeds in generating enormous tension by dramatizing a recent historical event in spite of the fact that everyone knows how it will end. On 18 September 2016, four heavily armed militants attacked on Indian security forces near the town of Uri in Jammu and Kashmir. Film URI chronicles the events of the surgical strike. The fictional story based on this true event recounts the fatal operation which was carried out in 2016. The movie is divided into five chapters that lead to the finale of surgical strike. Major Vihan Singh Shergill (Vicky Kaushal), a brave and determined officer, is grappling with personal tragedy. Govind (Paresh Rawal), an Indian intelligence & law enforcement officer, appoints Vihan for the highly secretive operation of surgical strike thats planned under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi (Rajit Kapur). It's up to Vihan and his special team force to accomplish this daredevil mission. Will they succeed? A still from the film. URI is a remarkable and engaging piece of filmmaking considering the outcome of the story is already well known. We know how it all turns out; yet remain mesmerised by familiar details, filmed with a harrowing sense of urgency. That shows debutant Aditya Dhar's skill as a director. The movie is realistic in general, but in some parts the amount of action and the dose of machoism with dialogues such as unhe Kashmir chaihye, humein unka sar tells us it's not a completely real war environment recreated. Nonetheless, the incredible visuals throughout the movie are captivating from start to finish showing the horrors that befall soldiers at war. Almost a biography of the soldier, it shows the differing attitudes of soldiers in and out of war zones and their motivations for being there. The film appeals to fans of action movies, and the fact that it is based on true events complements to that appeal. It's an odd-duck movie in that the ending is never in doubt; only the path to the goal. Yami Gautam in the still from URI. Lauding heroism in war movies is an easy sell to mass audiences but URI stays clear of jingoistic grandstanding or flag-waving patriotism. The screenplay manages to gives us a sense of the ups and downs, the mistakes and good fortunes of those involved. It's a mystery, a thriller and finally a stunningly photographed military raid. The combat sequences, mostly set in the unsettling dark, are nicely choreographed. The background score and the clever use of silence at certain moments successfully dials up the intensity. Even though the depiction of war is gruesome and gory, it just had to be that way. The violence is brutal, bloody, and well crafted. The central premise is what keeps the movie standing out from the rest of the genre. Seldom is a war movie driven by interesting plot when it's usually a random series of events, typically battle scenes, which hold these movies together. In URI, the premise is simple, yet effective adorned with the layer of emotions. Our protagonist, a doggedly determined Major played by Vicky Kaushal, never loses sight of his goal in spite of repeated setbacks and bouts of personal loss. In the lead performance, Kaushal initially feels like an odd choice to play a Major but Kaushal is fine. He nicely portrays a man with a plenty of inner turmoil despite his confident persona. For all intents and purposes, he delivers a competent performance. However, the script does not lay out much to the supporting characters and most of them read like stereotypes and serviceable to the narrative. While Kirti Kulhari and debutant Mohit Raina leave the mark in their limited appearance, other actors like Paresh Rawal, Yami Gautam, Rajit Kapur, Swaroop Sampat fall short to leave necessary impact thanks to their sketchily written roles. In the end, URI is a solid action/political thriller and one that has a lot of great moments with Dhar showing mastery in storytelling, control in creating intensity and a great performance from the lead, Vicky Kaushal. Movies like this are not to be missed. Major Bollywood stars such as Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan landed in the capital city for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Major Bollywood stars such as Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan landed in the capital city Thursday for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting comes weeks after the PM met Bollywood producers and discussed issues faced by the industry, which led to the reduction in GST on film tickets by the government. "There is a meeting happening with PM today with people from the film industry, including actors," sources close to the development told PTI. The insider, however, did not disclose the agenda of the meeting. The delegation, which is a mix of directors and actors, has been organised by filmmaker Karan Johar, the source added. The line-up from Bollywood also includes director Rohit Shetty, Rajkummar Rao, Vicky Kaushal, Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar and Sidharth Malhotra. After the December 19 meeting with PM drew flak on social media for not having any female representation on the panel, inclusion of names such as Alia and Bhumi is a step up. Actors-producers Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Sidharth Roy Kapur, Ritesh Sidhwani and others were censured by internet users for not including any women in the panel. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. As the Transformers civil war between the good-guy Autobots and the evil Decepticons for the distant planet Cybertron continues, this origin story, set in the late 1980s, reveals how Bumblebee came to Earth and befriended a troubled teenage girl. Still mourning the death of her mechanic father, feisty 18-year-old Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), who loves repairing automobiles, yearns for a car of her own. Spying a faded yellow, 1967 Volkswagen Beetle in a San Francisco Bay-area junkyard, Charlie brings it home, determined to restore it. While shes tinkering, the Beetle suddenly morphs into an enormous alien robot. Terrified at first, gearhead Charlie soon realizes she has a new, badass buddy and, together, they enthusiastically indulge in merry mischief. But then nefarious Decepticons Shatter and Dropkick (voiced by Angela Bassett and Justin Theroux) arrive, convincing the gullible U.S. military that theyre peaceful visitors, searching for a dangerous, intergalactic traitor. Yet not everyone is fooled. As suspicious Sector 7 Agent Jack Burns (John Cena) notes, Theyre called Decepticons! For those unfamiliar with the backstory, Autobot leader Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) dispatched warrior B-127 (voiced by Dylan OBrien) on a scouting mission so that, in the future, other Autobots can relocate and protect Earth. But a fiery crash-landing and a losing battle with Decepticon Blitzwing (voiced by David Sobolov) quickly sends severely damaged B-127 into hiding until Charlie finds him and dubs him Bumblebee. Their relationship becomes quite endearing. Working from a coherent, coming-of-age, Spielbergian script by Christina Hodson (Unforgettable), animator-turned-director Travis Knight (Tito and the Two Strings) and his VFX team recapture the inventiveness of Michael Bays 2007 action franchise original, adding sentiment and style. And for those who associate Bumblebee with the more muscular Chevrolet Camaro just wait! On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, Bumblebee is a bittersweet 7. Its sci-fi with a heart. I am writing because I believe that voting should be easy and convenient for everyone in Virginia. If that were the case, election results would truly reflect all voting groups and past election results might have been different. A recent study from Northern Illinois University ranked Virginia as the second-hardest state to vote in, coming behind only Mississippi. One reason is that if you want to register to vote online, you must do it a month before the election or you cant vote. I personally think it should be as easy as possible to vote. One way to make it easier is to vote in our state is to make Virginia a state that allows people to re-register at the polls if theyve moved within the state. Another way is to let people make corrections to their voter ID up to Election Day. This way, theyll be able to vote right away and not be put on hold. According to an article in Atlanta magazine, 70 percent of the people who were told they couldnt vote in the past election were minorities. In Charlottesville, equal rights for all are being discussed a lot right now. Plus, African-Americans and other oppressed groups have fought hard throughout history for equal rights. Freedom comes and goes in waves, but each wave crests higher and each trough sinks a bit less than the previous one. That's the analysis of Fraser Institute fellow Fred McMahon, and it provides a hopeful note to the awful news that freedom seems to be on the wane worldwide. We hope this analysis is true. Regardless, however, the current trend ought to set off alarm bells. The 2018 version of the Human Freedom Index shows that despite world history being filled with evidence of the awful things that accompany it, despotism is on the rise. Authoritarian leaders, promising enticing visions of law and order, efficient government and a return to some imagined past glory, seem to be popping up all over. Russia, Hungary, Turkey, Greece, Argentina and Egypt have seen notable declines in freedom. The countries at the top and bottom of the list are no surprise. New Zealand and Switzerland are the world's freest. Venezuela and Syria bring up the rear. But the United States comes in a troubling 17th although that represents a step up from previous surveys. The report is important because it measures freedom, or the lack of coercive constraint, by 79 different indicators. One of its large subcategories is religious freedom, which has become an acute concern worldwide. Moreover, Danovitch says, paid donation would substitute for voluntary donation rather than adding to it. Why give your dad a kidney if you know one can be bought for him? All valid concerns. But Frank McCormick calls our attention to another concern: the tens of thousands of people who are dying each year for want of a kidney. An economist by training, McCormick argues that if you keep ratcheting up compensation, eventually you'll find a price that will clear the kidney "market." McCormick is one of the authors of a recent editorial in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology that estimated a staggering toll for that backlog: Of 126,000 people diagnosed annually with end-stage renal disease, only 20,000 will eventually receive a donated kidney, either from donors who have been declared brain-dead or since people can live a normal life span with only one kidney from live donors who have accepted a relatively small chance of complications in exchange for a high chance of saving someone's life. Patients who need a kidney but can't find a donor generally end up tethered to a dialysis machine every other day. But dialysis is a poor substitute for a functioning kidney, and five years after starting treatment, only a third of hemodialysis patients are still alive. The Green Leaf Grill in downtown Waynesboro will finally open again to the public at 4 p.m. Wednesday after being closed for the past year because of the pandemic. Theres no reason to think that the result would be any different, especially under a very short timeline, Hamilton said. Not if they act in the same stubborn fashion theyve been acting in, Payne responded. Attorneys for the House GOP said the court should reject Grofmans efforts because in order to undo racial gerrymandering, Grofman, too, was allowing race to guide his decisions. The case centers on a metric known as BVAP, or black voting age population. During the 2011 redistricting after the 2010 census, House Republicans used a 55 percent BVAP threshold to redraw a dozen districts, most of which were represented by African-American lawmakers. Republicans have said they were trying to comply with civil rights laws in place at the time that prevented retrogression in black voting power that might prevent minority communities from being able to elect candidates of their choice. If Republicans used the 55 percent BVAP target as a floor, the House GOPs attorneys said Thursday, Grofman seemed to be using the same number as a ceiling by attempting to keep his redrawn districts below 55 percent black voting age population. I think our overall governance is very important, he said. Pinkston plans to unveil more of his campaign at an official launch in February. Hall Hall graduated from Texas A&M in 1974 with a degree in biology. He said he attended medical school at UVa and worked at the UVa medical center in the 1980s before starting a medical company in Kansas City, Missouri. Hall said council lacks vision and leadership. He wants to address homelessness and affordable housing by connecting people with job opportunities to improve their lot in life. In an interview at The Daily Progress on Thursday, Hall touched on several topics, but he wants to keep some of his ideas close until later in the campaign. He discussed the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and said the city needs to remove an orange fence around it and focus on healing. He also spoke against a proposed city charter amendment that would allow city councilors to increase their pay outside of state guidelines. Albemarle County Public Schools is expecting to have $1.2 million left over from a $35 million bond referendum that voters approved in 2016. Most of the four major projects included in the referendum are nearly complete. Staff recommended that the School Board use the remaining funds to plan and purchase furniture for all first-grade classrooms. Board members will vote at a later meeting on how to allocate the funds, and the Board of Supervisors also would have to approve the request. Thursday was the School Boards first meeting of the year. Board members elected Jonno Alcaro, the at-large board member, as chairman and Graham Paige, from the Samuel Miller District, as vice chairman. In 2019, the board will continue to meet on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Steve Koleszar, who represents the Scottsville District, told board members that hes not running for re-election this year after six terms. Koleszar has served on the board since 1996. Twenty-four years is a long time, he said, adding that he was proud that the divisions drop-out rate has decreased under his tenure. In the 2016-17 school year, less than 1 percent of the divisions seventh-through-12th-graders dropped out, according to state data. I only buy one kind of stock. 37 of these cash cows are in my portfolio right now... and for every dollar invested in them they are sending us 69 cents in dividends. That's an effective yield of 69% a year-every year. All without leverage, options, or gimmicks. Generac Holdings Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells power generation equipment, energy storage systems, and other power products for the residential, and light commercial and industrial markets worldwide. The company offers engines, alternators, transfer switches, and other components fueled by natural gas, liquid propane, gasoline, diesel, and bi-fuel; and batteries and inverters. It also provides residential automatic standby generators ranging in output from 7.5kW to 150kW; air-cooled engine residential standby generators ranging from 7.5kW to 24kW; liquid-cooled engine generators with outputs ranging from 22kW to 150kW; and Mobile Link, a remote monitoring system for home standby generators. In addition, the company offers various portable generators ranging in size from 800W to 17.5kW; engine driven power washers; water pumps; outdoor power equipment, such as trimmers and brush mowers, log splitters, lawn and leaf vacuums, and chipper shredders; and clean energy solution under the PWRcell and PWRview brands. Further, it provides light towers, mobile generators, and flameless heaters; light-commercial standby generators ranging from 22kW to 150kW and related transfer switches providing three-phase power for small and mid-sized businesses; and industrial generators ranging in output from 10kW up to 3,250kW used as emergency backup for healthcare, telecom, datacom, commercial office, retail, municipal, and manufacturing markets. Additionally, the company sells aftermarket service parts and product accessories to dealers. It distributes its products through independent residential dealers, industrial distributors and dealers, national and regional retailers, e-commerce partners, electrical, HVAC and solar wholesalers, catalogs, equipment rental companies and distributors, and solar installers; and directly to end users. Generac Holdings Inc. was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Read More Thinking of buying options? DONT- Read this first (Ad) Options traders place high-risk trades, hoping for a big payout. But they lose... a LOT! That's why Jim Fink flips options trading on its head, making money over 85% of the time. His personal strategy guide could help you unlock as much as $67,548 in extra income. Click here for the dirty details Since 2016, Teeka Tiwari has trumped the stock market. His investment recommendations have each averaged 281%. Thats 17 times the S&P. And 112 times the average investor, according to JPMorgan! However, one investment Teeka just uncovered could top them all It involves former President Biden, billions of dollars, several large banks, and a super-rich family. As well as a MAJOR potential upgrade to our credit cards. Teeka, who ended up correctly picking the last investment of the decade, is declaring this his top pick for the 2020s. Vermilion Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in North America, Europe, and Australia. It owns 81% working interest in 642,300 net acres of developed land and 87% working interest in 376,700 net acres of undeveloped land, and 613 net producing natural gas wells and 3,034 net producing oil wells in Canada; and 96% working interest in 248,900 net acres of developed land and 91% working interest in 222,100 net acres of undeveloped land in the Aquitaine and Paris Basins, and 325 net producing oil wells and 3.0 net producing gas wells in France. The company also owns 49% working interest in 930,000 net acres of land and 51 net producing natural gas wells in the Netherlands; and 36,900 net developed acres and 965,900 net undeveloped acres of land, and 61 net producing oil wells and 8 net producing natural gas wells in Germany. In addition, it owns offshore Corrib natural gas field located to the northwest coast of Ireland; and 100% working interest in the Wandoo offshore oil field and related production assets that covers 59,600 acres located on Western Australia's northwest shelf. Further, the company holds 138,000 net acres of land in the Powder River basin, and 136.6 net producing oil wells in the United States; and 951,200 net acres of land in Hungary, 244,900 net acres of land in Slovakia, and 2.4 million net acres of land in Croatia. Vermilion Energy Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 10) President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said guards in Malacanang have witnessed him beating up people, as he touted his efforts to eliminate corruption in the government. "For the first time itong mga sundalo na gwardya sa Malacanang... for the first time nakita nila dito sa panahon ko talagang nambubugbog ako ng tao," Duterte said in a speech during the groundbreaking of a school in Bulacan. The President, however, did not elaborate. [Translation: For the first time guards in Malacanang witnessed that I really beat up people.] "Talagang ikaw kapag hangol ka sa pera bantay ka kasi pakain ko talaga yung pera sayo," he added. [Translation: If you're really greedy for money I will make you eat money.] Duterte vowed that he will continue to dismiss more officials if corrupt practices continue in his office. "Ilang Cabinet members na (A number of Cabinet members already), all of them were my friends, all of them worked for my election, all of them spent sleepless nights kaya pagdating doon sa Cabinet sabi ko (so when it comes to my Cabinet), 'I welcome all of you, but ito lang ang hihingin ko, 'wag lang sa corruption (it's the only I'll ask, not in corruption)," he said. "If you do it (corruption) then it's goodbye, and it has come to pass na ganon talaga ang nangyari (that it's what happened) and there will be more if they will not behave in the Executive department," he said. Duterte had dismissed several public officials for corruption and replaced them mostly with former military men. To Any American Who Owns a Cell Phone (Ad) If you own a cell phone, then mobile service providers hope you never get to see this video that could soon go viral. His experiment could strike a bad chord with mobile phone companies. But youve got to see what this man discovered and what it means for phone users in the weeks ahead. Click here to see this video before it's removed Ad Legacy Research New this week - 1,255 interested To Any American Who Owns a Cell Phone If you own a cell phone, then mobile service providers hope you never get to see this video that could soon go viral. His experiment could strike a bad chord with mobile phone companies. But youve got to see what this man discovered and what it means for phone users in the weeks ahead. MainStreet Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for MainStreet Bank that provides various banking products and services for individuals, small to medium-sized businesses, and professional service organizations primarily in Northern Virginia and the greater Washington, the District of Columbia metropolitan area. The company offers demand, NOW, money market, savings, and sweep accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; business and consumer checking, interest-bearing checking, business account analysis, and other depository services; and cash management, wire transfer, check imaging, remote deposit capture, and courier services. It also provides commercial loans, including government contract receivables, plant and equipment, general working capital, contract administration, and acquisition loans; commercial real estate, real estate construction, and residential real estate loans; and consumer loans comprising car loans, term loans, credit cards, and overdraft protection. In addition, the company provides payment service and deposit insurance solutions; remote deposit of checks; and internet bill payment, online cash management, and online and mobile banking services. It operates through a network of seven branches located in Herndon, Fairfax, Fairfax City, McLean, Clarendon, and Leesburg, Virginia, and one branch in Washington, the District of Columbia; and provides automated teller machine transaction services at approximately 55,000 locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. MainStreet Bancshares, Inc. was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group: 360 Connect S.A., [email protected] Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U. Portugal Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU, Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB, Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG, Vodafone Erste Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Vodafone Espana S.A.U., Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited, Vodafone Euro Hedging Two, Vodafone Europe B.V., Vodafone Europe UK, Vodafone European Investments, Vodafone European Portal Limited, Vodafone Finance Limited, Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Finance Sweden, Vodafone Finance UK Limited, Vodafone Financial Operations, Vodafone Financial Services B.V., Vodafone Fixed Ltd, Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A, Vodafone Ghana Mobile Financial Services Limited, Vodafone Global Content Services Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E., Vodafone Global Network Limited, Vodafone Global Network Limited Slovakia Branch, Vodafone Global Services Private Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Services GmbH, Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited, Vodafone Group Services Limited, Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited, Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited, Vodafone Hire Limited, Vodafone Holding A.S., Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited, Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U., Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Receivables Pty Limited, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited, Vodafone India Digital Limited, Vodafone India Limited, Vodafone India Services Private Limited, Vodafone India Ventures Limited, Vodafone Institut fur Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH, Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited, Vodafone International 1 S.a.r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone International 1 S.a r.l., Vodafone International 2 Limited, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Vodafone International Holdings Limited, Vodafone International M S.a r.l., Vodafone International Operations Limited, Vodafone International Services LLC, Vodafone Investment UK, Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Investments Australia Limited, Vodafone Investments Limited, Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited, Vodafone Ireland Ltd., Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited, Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited, Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited, Vodafone Italia S.p.A., Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited, Vodafone Jersey Finance, Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings Unlimited, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field Services GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH, Vodafone Kenya Limited, Vodafone Leasing Limited, Vodafone Libertel B.V., Vodafone Limited, Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K., Vodafone M-Pesa S.A, Vodafone M.C. Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V.. Vedanta Limited operates as a diversified natural resources company in India. The company explores for, develops, extracts, produces, processes, and sells oil and gas, zinc, lead, silver, copper, aluminum, iron ore, steel, and power. It is involved in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas; and exploration, mining, and processing of iron ore, pig iron, and metallurgical coke. The company also operates a thermal coal-based commercial power facility of 600 megawatts (MW) at Jharsuguda in the State of Odisha in eastern India; two 300 MW thermal coal based power plants at Korba; 1,980 MW (three units of 660 MW each) thermal coal-based commercial power facilities; 274MW of wind power plants; and a power plant situated at Mettur Dam in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. In addition, it manufactures and supplies billets, TMT bars, wire rods, and ductile iron pipes; engages in the mechanization of coal handling facilities and upgradation of general cargo berth for handling coal at the outer harbor of Visakhapatnam Port on the east coast of India; and provides logistics and other allied services inter alia rendering stevedoring, and other allied services in ports and other allied sectors. Further, the company is involved in manufacturing glass substrates in South Korea and Taiwan. It also has operations in South Africa, Namibia, Ireland, Australia, Liberia, and the United Arab Emirates. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is based in Mumbai, India. Read More Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment offers deposit and credit products; individual life, and individual and group long-term care insurance; and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. It also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, portfolio and mutual fund management, mutual fund dealer, life and financial reinsurance, and fund management businesses. Additionally, the company holds and manages oil and gas properties; holds oil and gas royalties, and foreign bonds and equities; and provides investment management, counseling, advisory, and dealer services. Manulife Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Footasylum plc engages in the retail and wholesale of footwear, apparel, and accessories in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company sells fashion streetwear and sportswear for men, women, and kids under approximately 300 brands, such as Nike, Adidas, Pre London, Society Sport, and Gym King; and owns brands comprising Kings Will Dream, Condemned Nation, Alessandro Zavetti, and Zavetti Sport, as well as retail brands, including Footasylum, Drome, and SEVEN. It operates through approximately 65 stores; and an online platform. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Rochdale, the United Kingdom. Read More 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. Read More remaining of Thank you for supporting local, independent journalism! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. This Is By Far My #1 Income Stock (Ad) This company owns the bestselling drug in the world, which brought in $19.9 billion in revenue last year. And today, I want to give you the name, the ticker symbol and my full analysis completely free - no strings attached. Click here to get it. Vocera Communications, Inc. provides secure, integrated, and intelligent communication and workflow solutions that empowers mobile workers in healthcare, hospitality, retail, energy, education, and other mission-critical mobile work environments in the United States and internationally. The company's communication solution integrates with other clinical systems, including electronic health records, nurse call systems, and patient monitoring, as well as to provide critical data, alerts, alarms, and clinical context that enable workflow. It also offers Vocera Communication and Workflow System, a software platform, which connects communication devices, such as hands-free, wearable, and voice-controlled Smartbadge and badges, as well as third-party mobile devices; and Vocera Care Experience, a hosted software suite that coordinates and streamlines provider-to-patient and provider-to-provider communication and clinical rounding to enhance quality of care, patient and staff experience, reduce care provider's risk, and improve reimbursements, as well as Vocera Ease, a cloud-based communication platform and mobile application to enhance the patient experience by enabling friends and family members to receive timely updates about the progress of their loved one in the hospital. In addition, the company provides professional, software maintenance, and technical support services; and classroom training, distance learning, or customized courseware for systems administrators, IT and industry-specific professionals, and end-user educators. As of December 31, 2020, the company provided its solutions to approximately 1,900 healthcare facilities, including large hospital systems, small and medium-sized local hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, and aged-care facilities. It sells its products through direct sales force, resellers, and distributors. The company was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. Read More Ad Legacy Research New this week - 880 interested Wall Street Legend Who Picked Bitcoin in 2016 Shares #1 Pick for the 2020s Picking the right investment of the decade can transform your life Microsoft in the 80sAmazon in the 90sApple in the 2000sBitcoin in 2016... Any one of these could have made you a millionaire many times over. Today, the Wall Street legend who picked the last investment of the decade The following companies are subsidiares of Anthem: 1-800 Contacts, AIM Specialty Health, AMERIGROUP Community Care of New Mexico Inc., AMERIGROUP Corporation, AMERIGROUP Maryland Inc., AMERIGROUP New Jersey Inc., AMERIGROUP Ohio Inc., AMERIGROUP Tennessee Inc., AMERIGROUP Texas Inc., AMERIGROUP Washington Inc., AMGP Georgia Managed Care Company Inc., ATH Holding Company LLC, America's 1st Choice of South Carolina Inc., America's Health Management Services Inc., American Imaging Management Inc., Americas 1st Choice, Amerigroup, Amerigroup Delaware Inc., Amerigroup District of Columbia Inc., Amerigroup Health Plan of Louisiana Inc., Amerigroup IPA of New York LLC, Amerigroup Insurance Company, Amerigroup Iowa Inc., Amerigroup Kansas Inc., Amerigroup Mississippi Inc., Amerigroup Oklahoma Inc., Amerigroup Partnership Plan LLC, Amerigroup Pennsylvania Inc., Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company, Anthem Financial Inc., Anthem Health Plans Inc., Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky Inc., Anthem Health Plans of Maine Inc., Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire Inc., Anthem Health Plans of Virginia Inc., Anthem Holding Corp., Anthem Innovation Israel Ltd., Anthem Insurance Companies Inc., Anthem Kentucky Managed Care Plan Inc., Anthem Life & Disability Insurance Company, Anthem Life Insurance Company, Anthem Partnership Holding Company LLC, Anthem Services Company LLC, Anthem Southeast Inc., Anthem UM Services Inc., Anthem Workers' Compensation LLC, Applied Pathways LLC, Arcus Enterprises Inc., Aspire Health Inc., Aspire Healthcare Corp, Associated Group Inc., Beacon Health Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin, Blue Cross of California, Blue Cross of California Partnership Plan Inc., CareMarket Inc., CareMore Health Plan, CareMore Health Plan of Arizona Inc., CareMore Health Plan of Nevada, CareMore Health Plan of Texas Inc., CareMore Health System, CareMore LLC, Cerulean Companies Inc., Claim Management Services Inc., Community Care Health Plan of Louisiana Inc., Community Care Health Plan of Nevada Inc., Community Insurance Company, Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation, Crossroads Acquisition Corp., DBG Holdings Inc., DeCare Analytics LLC, DeCare Dental Health International LLC, DeCare Dental Insurance Ireland Ltd., DeCare Dental LLC, DeCare Dental Networks LLC, DeCare Operations Ireland Limited, Delivery Network LLC, Designated Agent Company Inc., EHC Benefits Agency Inc., EasyScripts Cutler Bay LLC, EasyScripts Hialeah LLC, EasyScripts LLC, EasyScripts Westchester LLC, Empire HealthChoice Assurance Inc., Empire HealthChoice HMO Inc., Federal Government Solutions LLC, Freedom Health Inc., Global TPA LLC, Golden West Health Plan Inc., Greater Georgia Life Insurance Company, HEP AP Holdings Inc., HMO Colorado Inc., HMO Missouri Inc., Health Core Inc., Health Management Corporation, Health Ventures Partner L.L.C., HealthKeepers Inc., HealthLink HMO Inc., HealthLink Inc., HealthLink Insurance Company, HealthPlus HP LLC, HealthSun Health Plans, HealthSun Health Plans Inc., HealthSun Holdings LLC, HealthSun Management LLC, HealthSun Physicians Network I LLC, HealthSun Physicians Network LLC, Healthy Alliance Life Insurance Company, Highland Acquisition Holdings LLC, Highland Holdco Inc., Highland Intermediate Holdings LLC, Highland Investor Holdings LLC, Imaging Management Holdings LLC, IngenioRx Inc., Legato Health Technologies LLP, Legato Health Technologies Philippines Inc., Legato Holdings I Inc., Legato Holdings II LLC, Living Complete Technologies Inc., Matthew Thornton Health Plan Inc., Memphis Supportive Care Partnership LLC, Meridian Resource Company LLC, Missouri Care Incorporated, NGS Federal LLC, Nash Holding Company LLC, National Government Services Inc., New England Research Institutes Inc., Optimum Healthcare Inc., Park Square Holdings Inc., Park Square I Inc., Park Square II Inc., Pasteur Medical Bird Road LLC, Pasteur Medical Center LLC, Pasteur Medical Cutler Bay LLC, Pasteur Medical Group LLC, Pasteur Medical Hialeah Gardens LLC, Pasteur Medical Holdings LLC, Pasteur Medical Kendall LLC, Pasteur Medical Management LLC, Pasteur Medical Miami Gardens LLC, Pasteur Medical North Miami Beach LLC, Pasteur Medical Partners LLC, Resolution Health Inc, Resolution Health Inc., RightCHOICE Managed Care Inc., Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service Inc., SellCore Inc., Simply Healthcare Holdings, Simply Healthcare Plans Inc., Southeast Services Inc., State Sponsored DM Services Inc., The Anthem Companies Inc., The Anthem Companies of California Inc., TrustSolutions LLC, UNICARE Health Plan of West Virginia Inc., UNICARE Illinois Services Inc., UNICARE National Services Inc., UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company, UniCare Specialty Services Inc., Valus Inc., WPMI LLC, WellCare of Nebraska Inc., WellPoint Acquisition LLC, WellPoint California Services Inc., WellPoint Dental Services Inc., WellPoint Health Solutions Inc., WellPoint Holding Corp., WellPoint Information Technology Services Inc., WellPoint Insurance Services Inc., WellPoint Military Care Corporation, Wellmax Health Medical Centers LLC, Wellmax Health Physicians Network LLC, and Wisconsin Collaborative Insurance Company. Ad Legacy Research New this week - 2,931 interested Man Who Picked Tesla, Bitcoin Makes Next Pick of the Decade" Picking the right investment of the decade can transform your life Today, the Wall Street legend who picked the last investment of the decade months (even years) before his peers will finally reveal his new #1 pick for the 2020s. Its not 5G, artificial intelligence, EVs, or clean energy. The answer will surprise you. AbbVie Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in the worldwide. The company offers HUMIRA, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune and intestinal BehAet's diseases; SKYRIZI to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults; RINVOQ, a JAK inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients; IMBRUVICA to treat adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), mantle cell lymphoma, waldenstrAm's macroglobulinemia, marginal zone lymphoma, and chronic graft versus host disease; VENCLEXTA, a BCL-2 inhibitor used to treat adults with CLL or SLL; and MAVYRET to treat patients with chronic HCV genotype 1-6 infection. It also provides CREON, a pancreatic enzyme therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Synthroid used in the treatment of hypothyroidism; AndroGel for males diagnosed with symptomatic low testosterone; Linzess/Constella to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation; Lupron for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis and central precocious puberty, and patients with anemia caused by uterine fibroids; and Botox therapeutic. In addition, the company offers ORILISSA, a nonpeptide small molecule gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist for women with moderate to severe endometriosis pain; Duopa and Duodopa, a levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel to treat Parkinson's disease; Lumigan/Ganfort, a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension; Ubrelvy to treat migraine with or without aura in adults; Alphagan/ Combigan, an alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist for the reduction of IOP in patients with OAG; and Restasis, a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant to increase tear production. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in North Chicago, Illinois. Read More Dont Buy Options. Follow My #1 Rule Instead. (Ad) Most Options traders lose 7 out of 10 trades. This investing legend has flipped options trading upside down... making money on 85% of his trades. Hes agreed to share his secret with a small group of investors. It could help you make as much as $185 a day on average in as little as 9 minutes a week Get the full details here Man Who Picked Tesla, Bitcoin Makes Next Pick of the Decade" (Ad) Picking the right investment of the decade can transform your life Today, the Wall Street legend who picked the last investment of the decade months (even years) before his peers will finally reveal his new #1 pick for the 2020s. Its not 5G, artificial intelligence, EVs, or clean energy. The answer will surprise you. Click To See This #1 Pick. I only buy one kind of stock. 37 of these cash cows are in my portfolio right now... and for every dollar invested in them they are sending us 69 cents in dividends. That's an effective yield of 69% a year-every year. All without leverage, options, or gimmicks. Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A. provides various banking products and services to individuals, small and medium enterprises, and corporate customers in Brazil and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Commercial Banking and Global Wholesale Banking. It offers deposits and other bank funding instruments; debit and credit cards; digital pre-paid solutions; payment platform; loyalty programs; employee benefit vouchers; payroll loans; digital lending and online debt renegotiation services; mortgages; home equity financing products; consumer credit; and local loans, commercial and trade finance, guarantees, structured loans, and cash management and funding solutions, as well as on-lending transfer services. It also provides funding and financial advisory services related to projects, origination and distribution of fixed-income securities in the debt capital markets, financing of acquisitions and syndicated loans, other structured financing arrangements, and subordinated debt and energy efficiency transactions; advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, and equity capital markets transactions; and stock brokerage and advisory, equity, and equity research services. In addition, the company structures and offers foreign exchange, derivative, and investment products for institutional investors, and corporate and retail customers; and provides market making services. Further, it offers instant payment services; range of products and services focused on the agribusiness sector; microfinance services; and online automotive listing and digital car insurance solutions, as well as digital trading platform. The company provides its financial services and products to its customers through multichannel distribution network comprising branches, mini-branches, ATMs, call centers, Internet banking, and mobile banking. Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A. was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in SAo Paulo, Brazil. Read More Alliant Energy Corporation operates as a utility holding company that provides regulated electricity and natural gas services in the Midwest region of the United States. It operates in three segments: Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations, and Utility Other. The company, through its subsidiary, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), primarily generates and distributes electricity, and distributes and transports natural gas to retail customers in Iowa; sells electricity to wholesale customers in Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa; and generates and distributes steam in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Alliant Energy Corporation, through its other subsidiary, Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), generates and distributes electricity, and distributes and transports natural gas to retail customers in Wisconsin; and sells electricity to wholesale customers in Wisconsin. As of December 31, 2020, IPL supplied electric and natural gas service to approximately 495,000 and 225,000 retail customers respectively; and WPL supplied electric and natural gas service to approximately 480,000 and 195,000 retail customers, respectively. It serves retail customers in the farming, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, chemical, and packaging and food industries. In addition, the company owns and operates a short-line rail freight service in Iowa; a barge, rail, and truck freight terminal on the Mississippi River; and a rail-served warehouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as well as offers freight brokerage and logistics management services. Further, it holds interests in a 347 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired electric generating unit near Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin; and a 225 MW wind farm located in Oklahoma. The company was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Read More According to one Wall Street Legend, "for those who take early action, it could make 2021 one of your best years ever". Albert Technologies Ltd. provides autonomous cross-channel artificial intelligence marketing platform in Israel and internationally. The company offers artificial intelligence-based software to brands and advertising agencies using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. It develops and deploys algorithmic solutions to provide marketers with a self-driving solution for cross-channel campaign execution, testing, optimization, analysis, and insights. The company was formerly known as Adgorithms LTD and changed its name to Albert Technologies Ltd. in July 2017. Albert Technologies Ltd. was founded in 2010 and is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Read More 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., 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.. Ad Resource Stock Digest New this week - 1,925 interested Could This Be the Biggest US Gold Discovery in Years? See how this tiny, unknown gold company secured a prime land package right next door to the worlds two largest gold producers in Nevadas famed Carlin Trend where 84 Million gold ounces have already been extracted. Best of all, investors can still get in well below US$0.50 per share. I only buy one kind of stock. 37 of these cash cows are in my portfolio right now... and for every dollar invested in them they are sending us 69 cents in dividends. That's an effective yield of 69% a year-every year. All without leverage, options, or gimmicks. Wells Fargo Advantage Funds - Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. It is co-managed by Wells Capital Management Incorporated. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in below investment grade debt securities, high-yield debt securities, loans and preferred stocks rated Ba or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or BB or lower by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Merrill Lynch High Yield Index. It was formerly known as Wells Fargo Advantage Funds - Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund. Wells Fargo Advantage Funds - Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund was formed on February 26, 2003 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More Walmart Inc. engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications. The company offers grocery products, including dry grocery, snacks, dairy, meat, produce, deli and bakery, frozen foods, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, as well as consumables, such as health and beauty aids, pet supplies, household chemicals, paper goods, and baby products; and health and wellness products covering pharmacy, over-the-counter drugs and other medical products, and optical and clinical services. It also provides gasoline stations and tobacco; home improvement, outdoor living, gardening, furniture, apparel, and jewelry, as well as tools and power equipment, housewares, toys, seasonal items, mattresses, and tire and battery centers; and consumer electronics and accessories, software, video games, office supplies, appliances, and third-party gift cards. In addition, the company offers fuel and financial services and related products, including money orders, prepaid cards, money transfers, and check cashing and bill payment. It operates approximately 11,400 stores and various e-commerce websites under 54 banners in 26 countries. The company was formerly known as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and changed its name to Walmart Inc. in February 2018. Walmart Inc. was founded in 1945 and is based in Bentonville, Arkansas. Read More Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans. The company's Global Wealth & Investment Management segment offers investment management, brokerage, banking, and trust and retirement products and services; and wealth management solutions, as well as customized solutions, including specialty asset management services. Its Global Banking segment provides lending products and services, including commercial loans, leases, commitment facilities, trade finance, and commercial real estate and asset-based lending; treasury solutions, such as treasury management, foreign exchange, and short-term investing options and merchant services; working capital management solutions; and debt and equity underwriting and distribution, and merger-related and other advisory services. The company's Global Markets segment offers market-making, financing, securities clearing, settlement, and custody services, as well as risk management products using interest rate, equity, credit, currency and commodity derivatives, foreign exchange, fixed-income, and mortgage-related products. As of April 15, 2021, it served approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,300 retail financial centers; approximately 17,000 ATMs; and digital banking platforms with approximately 40 million active users. The company was founded in 1784 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Read More Six Tech Stocks That Could Double (Ad) 5G blockchain electric vehicles There are enough tech opportunities out there to make your head spin! But which ones should you own for the coming tech boom? Louis Navellier the analyst who found Microsoft at .38 cents just released a new report detailing six tech stocks to own today. Dont miss your chance to get his latest picks ticker symbol and all completely free of charge. Click here to get your free report today. 16 hours ago | June 15th | 2021 7:40 AM Does Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) Have What It Takes To Be A Winner In 2021? Though Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) stock was cut in half during the dark days of February and March of last year, Wall Street quickly realized that convenient fast food would probably be towards the bottom of the list of things to be cut by hard-hit consumers who were tightening the proverbial belts. So back the stock roared and since this time last Legend Who Bought Amazon In 1998 Says: Now Is The Time (Ad) Wall street legend Chris Rowe says theres a huge stock market event looming - and hes revealing his #1 pick for free. Click here to find out more. Atlantis Japan Growth Fund Limited aims to achieve long term capital growth through investment wholly or mainly in listed Japanese equities. The Company may invest up to 100% of its gross assets in companies quoted on any Japanese stock exchange, including the Tokyo Stock Exchange categorized as First Section, Second Section, JASDAQ, Mothers and Tokyo PRO, or the regional stock exchanges of Fukuoka, Nagoya, Sapporo and Osaka Securities Exchange. The Company may also invest approximately 20% of its Net Asset Value (NAV) at the time of investment in companies listed or traded on other stock exchanges but which are either controlled and managed from Japan or which have a material exposure to the Japanese economy. It may also invest approximately 10% of its NAV at the time of investment in securities, which are neither listed not traded on any stock exchange or over-the-counter market. Tiburon Partners LLP is the investment manager of the Company. Read More Two Reuters journalists jailed for seven years while investigating atrocities committed against the Rohingya in Myanmar had their appeal dismissed Friday, dismaying colleagues and tearful family members who had held slim hopes they would walk free. Reporters Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in Yangon in December 2017 and later jailed for violating the state secrets act, a charge Reuters said was trumped up to muzzle their reporting. Prosecutors say the two had classified information regarding security operations in Rakhine state, from where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled during an army-led crackdown the United Nations has described as "ethnic cleansing". Aung Naing, a judge at the Yangon Regional High Court, said the original verdict was a "reasonable decision" delivered in line with the law. "The court decides to dismiss the appeal," he said. The reporters' wives cried after the decision, which condemns the pair to continue their incarceration at Yangon's notorious Insein prison, where they have been held for the last 13 months. "I feel really sad that what we hoped for did not happen," a stone-faced Chit Su Win, who is married to Kyaw Soe Oo, told reporters outside the court. Wa Lone's wife Pan Ei Mon -- who has given birth to a baby girl since her husband was put behind bars -- was similarly despondent. "I don't want to talk about the decision today as it is not good news," she said. The two men -- who were not present for the decision -- have insisted they were victims of a police set-up, pointing to testimony from a serving officer who said a superior ordered others to entrap them. At the time of the arrest they were probing the extrajudicial killing of 10 Rohingya at Inn Din village in northern Rakhine state. "They remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth," Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen J Adler said in a statement Friday. The original trial was widely regarded as a sham and seen as punishment for their investigation and a warning shot to other media. Outside the country, the two men have been hailed as media freedom heroes and jointly named Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2018, alongside other high-profile journalists. But they have gained little sympathy within Myanmar. The violent military campaign in 2017 forced more than 720,000 Rohingya across the border to Bangladesh, with refugees bringing accounts of murder, rape and arson. UN investigators have called for top generals to be investigated for genocide and singled out de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for criticism for failing to condemn the operations. The image of the formerly renowned champion of human rights has been further damaged by the Reuters conviction. In her most comprehensive comments on their case in September, Suu Kyi denied the pair had been jailed "because they were journalists" and endorsed the court decision that "they had broken the Official Secrets Act". Options are dwindling for the two young men. The legal team can lodge an appeal with Myanmar's Supreme Court but some see a presidential pardon as another way out, even though the president Win Myint is a Suu Kyi loyalist. Reacting to the verdict outside the court the European Union ambassador to Myanmar Kristian Schmidt said he looked to the president to "correct the injustice". Speaking on the BBC, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt urged Suu Kyi "to look at whether that due process" was followed in the case, calling on the fallen rights icon to take "a personal interest in the future of these two brave journalists." Myanmar's army gets 25 per cent of parliamentary seats unelected under a constitution it wrote and runs all defence affairs without input from the civilian government. The following is the chronology of events leading up to the Delhi High Court refusing to quash an FIR lodged against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana on bribery allegations. The high court also refused to annul FIR against the agency's Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad. - April, 2016: Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana appointed Additional Director of CBI. - Dec 3: Asthana made interim CBI director after retirement of then chief Anil Sinha. - Jan 19, 2017: Alok Kumar Verma appointed CBI chief for a tenure of two years. - Oct 22, 2017: CBI appoints Asthana as Special Director. - July 12, 2018: While Verma was abroad, CVC calls a meeting to discuss promotions, seeks to know who will attend it. CBI responds Asthana has no mandate to represent Verma. - Aug 24: Asthana complains to Cabinet Secretary, alleging misconduct by Verma. Matter referred to CVC. - Sep 21: CBI tells CVC Asthana was facing probe in six cases of corruption. - Oct 15, 2018: CBI lodges FIR with bribery allegations against Asthana, Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar, Dubai-based investment banker Manoj Prasad and his brother Somesh Prasad. - Oct 16: CBI arrests middleman Manoj Prasad. - Oct 20: CBI raids Kumar's residence and office at its headquarters, claims to have seized his mobile phones and iPads. - Oct 22: CBI arrests Kumar alleging he "fabricated the statement" of businessman Sathish Sana, facing probe in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, and had paid bribes to get relief. - Oct 23: Kumar moves HC seeking quashing of FIR against him. Hours later, Asthana too moves high court seeking quashing of FIR against him and direction to CBI not to take coercive steps against him. -- Delhi HC orders status quo regarding Asthana, seeking response of CBI, Verma on both pleas. - Oct 26: Alleged middleman Manoj Prasad, arrested in connection with bribery allegations involving Asthana, moves HC seeking quashing of an FIR registered against him. Oct 29: HC orders CBI to maintain status quo on proceedings against Asthana, who was sent on leave by government, till November 1. - Oct 29: HC seeks CBI's response on middleman Manoj Prasad's plea seeking quashing of FIR against him in the bribery case involving Asthana. - Nov 1: CBI tells HC that the FIR on bribery allegations against Asthana and others shows cognisable offences. - Nov 1: HC extends till Nov 14 its order asking CBI to maintain status quo on proceedings against Asthana. - Nov 28: HC allows then CBI Director Alok Verma and Joint Director A K Sharma to inspect in the CVC's office the case file relating to FIR against Asthana. - Nov 28: HC allows Verma and Sharma to inspect in the CVC's office the case file relating to FIR against Asthana. - Dec 7: Asthana claims in court that prior government nod was needed for lodging FIR against him and DSP Devender Kumar, a submission which was vehemently denied by his senior. - Dec 11: HC seeks CBI's response on plea by Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, a complainant in the FIR, seeking to be heard in the matter - Dec 20: HC reserves its verdict on pleas of Asthana and others seeking quashing of FIR against them. - Jan 10, 2019: Devender Kumar moves HC against Verma's decision to reverse transfer orders of various officers. - Jan 11: HC refuses to quash the FIR lodged against Asthana, Kumar and alleged middleman Prasad. Vacates interim order granting protection from criminal proceedings. Samsung Electronics Co. said on Friday it will roll out its next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S10, here late in February. Samsung said it will host an Unpacked event at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on February 20 to showcase the new Galaxy model, with a separate event scheduled for London, Yonhap news reported. The gathering will bring together 3,000 journalists and officials from Samsung's global partners, it said. Samsung's planned rollout of the new Galaxy model is about a week earlier than usual. The tech giant has usually released its new Galaxy smartphones at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in late February. It will also be Samsung's first Unpacked gathering in San Francisco, close to the headquarters of arch-rival Apple Inc. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S3 in London and hosted Unpacked events for the Galaxy S4 and S8 in New York. This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on January 11 shows a teaser poster for Samsung's "Unpacked" event for its upcoming flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S10. A Class-IV boy was killed after being run over by a tractor when he was on the way to his school near Kushabata under the Bari police limits in Jajpur district on Friday. The deceased was identified as Shatrujit Jena (12) of Golakuntha village under Saikhand Panchayat in the district. Sources said that while Shatrujit was going to school by his bicycle and crossing an embankment of river Brahmani, the driver the tractor that was engaged for a repair work on the embankment lost control of the vehicle, which ran over him. The boy died on the spot. The tractor driver fled from the spot leaving the vehicle. Acting on a tip off, Ranchi police have arrested three PLFI members including an area commander while they were planning to commit crime in Lapung- Itki area located on the borders of Ranchi and Khunti districts. Among the nabbed extremists are area commander Kunwar Oroan alias Jainath, Mangra Oroan and Tausif Anwar. A 9 mm pistol, a country-made weapon, cartridges, mobile sets, stolen bike, dresses and other materials were recovered from them. Rural SP Ashutosh Shekhar informed that the arrests were made in a joint search operation of Ranchi and Khunti police. As the police team neared them during the operation, the PLFI members hiding in a forest started fleeing away. Three of them were caught after a chase while remaining members of the squad managed to escape taking advantage of thick forest cover. The arrested extremists have admitted their involvement in several crimes including murder, loot and extortion. They informed that the squad had gathered in the forest to extort money from government schemes. Police said that Kunwar Oraon, a resident of Lapung in Ranchi district, was involved in murder of a person named Babu Khan under Nagri police station area in October 2018. He was also accused in the killing of Sukra Oroan, a former PLFI member. A total of seven cases were registered against him with Nagri, Itki, Lapung and Karra police stations under various laws including IPC, Arms Act and CLA. It may be noted here that since the beginning of the year Ranchi police are carrying out intensive anti-extremist operations in the sensitive areas of the district. The famous Dhanu Yatra festival, touted as the largest open-air theatre in the world, began in the western Odisha town of Bargarh on Friday. During the festival, the district headquarters town of Bargarh is transformed into Mathura. The river Jeera becomes the Yanuna and Amapali, the village located on the other side of the river, is seen as Gopapur. For 11 days, the entire town is transformed into an open-air theatre where everyone behaves like an actor. Kansa rules the town during these days and the residents become his obedient subjects. The rule of Kansa, his death and the exploits of Lord Krishna are enacted in various places of Mathura and Gopapur during the festival. An elephant, horses and a camel, specially brought here from Allahabad for the festival, have added to the beauty of the procession of King Kansa. The entire town has been colourfully illuminated with 20 attractive arches in different places. This year 170 cultural troupes from different parts of the country will perform their best cultural programmes during the festival. A Bangladeshi cultural troupe has confirmed to participate, the president of the organizing committee, Sureswar Mishra told The Pioneer. On the sidelines of the yatra, a State-level handloom and handicrafts exhibition, trade fair and Pallishree Mela are also being organised. Massive police arrangements have been made for the smooth running of the festival with deployment of two Superintendents of Police, eight DSPs and 15 Inspectors in the town. Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday inked an agreement with Chief Ministers of six states of Haryana, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for the construction of Renukaji multi-purpose dam project on Giri River, a tributary river of Yamuna in the Upper Yamuna Basin. Besides Nitin Gadkari, those who signed the agreement included Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal, Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Arjun Ram Meghwal and Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Satya Pal Singh were also present on this occasion in New Delhi. Gadkari, while interacting with the mediapersons during the signing of agreement, Gadkari said that adequate water resources are available in the country. He said that it is the priority of the Centre Government to execute the proposed projects for the utilization of available water as per the states requirement adding that as a result of the three water storage dam projects to be constructed on Yamuna and its tributaries on Upper Yamuna Basin, adequate irrigation and drinking water would be available in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and National Capital Region Delhi. Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that with the construction of three water storage dam projects namely Lakhwar multi-purpose Dam project, Renukaji Multi-purpose Dam project and Kishau Multi-purpose Dam project, Haryana would get 47.82 per cent water as its share. Notably, 148 meter high Renukaji Dam project would be constructed on Giri River (tributary of river Yamuna) in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh over 1508 hectares and at a cost of Rs 4596.76 crore. Out of total project cost, the cost of irrigation/drinking water component is Rs 4325.43 crore and the cost of power component is Rs 277.33 crore. The 90 per cent cost of irrigation/drinking water component of the project that is Rs 3892.83 crore will be provided by the Central Government and rest 10 per cent that is Rs. 432.54 crore will be provided by the basin States of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand , Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and National Capital Region of Delhi and the shares of these states are 47.82 per cent, 33.65 per cent, 3.15 per cent, 9.34 per cent and 6.04 per cent respectively. The project is proposed to be executed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (HPPCL). The live storage of Renukaji Multi Purpose Project is 0.404 MAF and would ensure water supply of 23 cumec water to basin states. After the construction of the said dam, the flow of river Giri will increase about 110 per cent. The project will also generate 40 MW of power. The Government of NCT of Delhi has agreed to fund 90 per cent of the cost of power component of the said project. The Central government has so far released Rs. 446.96 crore for this project while the Delhi Government has released Rs 214.84 crore and Haryana Government has released Rs 25 crore. HRY CM condoles demise of freedom fighter Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has expressed grief over the sad demise of freedom fighter, Bhaleram who passed away at his native village Hasangarh in district Hisar. He was 99 years old. In a condolence message issued here today, Manohar Lal described Bhaleram as a great freedom fighter who served in the Indian National Army (INA) of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Manohar Lal conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty that the departed soul might rest in peace. AAP demands Rs 3 crore per yr for MLALAD Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday demanded allocation of MLALAD to the MLAs of Punjab on the line of MPLAD allotted to the members of parliament. Senior leader and MLA Sunam, Aman Arora wrote a letter to Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh demanding Rs 3 crore per year for the MLAs for integrated development of constituencies. In his letter, Arora said the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi has already raised the existing amount of Rs 4 crore to ten crore per MLA. CISF to hold walkathon Chandigarh: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) of Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat here will hold a 10 km Walkathon for its Golden Jubilee year 2018-19 on January 13. A spokesman of CISF said that the golden jubilee year of CISF is being celebrated in different parts of the country. The Walkathon would be participated by about 150 officers and soldiers of this unit of CISF and various armed security forces. BJYM invites HM for Town Hall program Chandigarh: BJYM Chandigarh State President Gaurav Goel alongwith National Executive Member Amit Rana and State Secretary Abhinav Sharma met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence in New Delhi. On this occasion, Gaurav Goel invited Rajnath Singh for BJYMs State Town Hall program, which the Home Minister accepted and assured to be part of the event. Chandigarh BJYM leaders also thanked Home Minister on behalf of city residents for getting approved the long pending of housing scheme for U.T. employees from Union Cabinet. MLAG seeks Medical Injury Compensation Bill Chandigarh: Medicos Legal Action Group (MLAG) has petitioned the Prime Minister to introduce a Medical Injury Compensation Bill. Dr Neeraj Nagpal, Managing Trustee of the Group said, doctors are the only professionals who have been unjustly and excessively targeted under the Consumer Protection Act. He said, an act meant to recompense consumers for unfair practices of traders was imposed on the medical fraternity by the honourable Supreme Court in 1995. FSC inaugurates India Food Grid Chandigarh: Future Supply Chain Solutions (FSC or the Company), countrys leading third party integrated logistics service provider, will launch India Food Grid, a network of 38 Integrated Food Distribution Centres (IFDC) across the length and breadth of the country that will provide pan-India reach. Food & FMCG Supply Chain is highly inefficient and complex. Based on a comprehensive study, FSC has identified 38 locations across the country, which will be developed into large food and FMCG distribution centres with envisaged investment to the tune of 1,000 crores. HBSE to conduct exams from March 7 Chandigarh: Haryana Board of School Education, Bhiwani will conduct the Secondary and Senior Secondary (Academic, Re-Appear and Open School) examinations from March 7, 2019. The date-sheet of these examinations has been uploaded on the Boards websitewww.bseh.org.in. A spokesman said that the Secondary (Academic, Re-Appear and Open School) examinations would be conducted from March 8 till March 30 and Senior Secondary (Academic, Re-Appear and Open School) examinations would be conducted from March 7 till April 3. The timing of one session has been fixed for the examination that is from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm. 9.97 lakh quintal sugar produced in Haryana Chandigarh: The cooperative sugar mills in Haryana have so far produced over 9.97 lakh quintals of sugar by crushing 111.96 lakh quintals of sugarcane during the current crushing season. A spokesman said that the Cooperative Sugar Mill, Shahabad has produced a maximum of over 1.86 lakh quintals of sugar by crushing 19.99 lakh quintals of sugarcane. Cooperative Sugar Mill, Rohtak has produced over 1.58 lakh quintals of sugar by crushing 18.60 lakh quintals of sugarcane, followed by Cooperative Sugar Mill, Kaithal which has produced over 1.18 lakh quintals of sugar by crushing 12.90 lakh quintals of sugarcane and Cooperative Sugar Mill, Karnal, has produced over 1.07 quintals of sugar. Notice will be issued to all those candidates of Chhattisgarh State Assembly election 2018 by concerned District Electoral Officers for non-submission of election expenses details as Thursday was the last date of submission. As per the directive of Election Commission of India, all the candidates who contested polls were to submit the incurred expenditure during the assembly election by January 10, 2019. Those candidates who not having submitted the account of poll expenditure would be issued notice by the concerned District Electoral Officers. As per the rule, those candidates who have not submitted the account details can be barred for three years from contesting the election. Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo said that under Representation of the People Act, 1951, Section 78, each candidate has to submit the election related expenditure accounts within 30 days. The candidates have to submit the accounts within 20 days of receipt of notice issued by District Electoral Officers. The reply of candidate and comment of DEO is considered by Election Commission for taking final decision, he said. If the ECI is not satisfied with the reply then under section 10 (A), the order is issued against the candidate, debarring him/her from fighting election for next three year and is published in Gazette, he pointed out. With eyes firmly set on the upcoming general elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is all set to blow the poll bugle this fortnight with its convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal embarking upon constituency-wise meetings of party workers till January 16. Addressing the gathering of party workers from South Delhi Lok Sabha seat, Kejriwal asserted his party will fulfil its duty of defeating the ruling party at the Centre on all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi. The Chief Minister also said that a vote for Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha election will mean victory of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). Kejriwals assertion has come amid a speculation that the Aam Aadmi Party may ally with the Congress to challenge the BJP in Parliamentary polls due this year. Kejriwal asked the workers to explain the arithmetic of coming polls to voters. In the last Lok Sabha election, (in Delhi) BJP got 46 per cent votes and AAP obtained 33 per cent and Congress 15 per cent votes, he said. The surveys reveal BJP is going to lose 10 per cent of its vote share this time and you need to tell people that if these votes are polled by AAP, it will win all seven seats in Delhi by scoring 43 per cent votes. You have to explain to people that voting for Congress means victory of BJP, Kejriwal told AAP workers. He asserted Congress faced defeat in 2014 because of the unity of all and now is the time to remove the autocracy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah from the country. Convener of Delhi AAP Gopal Rai said the office-bearers will be given responsibility of polling booths. For every 10 households, a Vijay Pramukh will be appointed for direct connect with voters. The AAP has already announced party in-charges for all the seven Lok Sabha constituencies. The issue of alliance remains unsettled so far with both AAP and Congress not officially rejecting its possibility. Rai had said the Political Affairs Committee of AAP will take a decision on it later. Speculations over an alliance between these two parties intensified after Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) former President resigned citing ill health. Former three times Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who has been appointed as new president of the grand old partys Delhi unit, had earlier said that she will accept the Congress high commands decision on a tie-up with the AAP. The Delhi Police on Friday claimed to have arrested 27 year-old Afghan national and 30-year-old Ivory Coast national on the charges of supplying heroin in the national Capital and Northern India. Police have recovered 8 kg heroin from the possession of the accused, estimated to be around Rs 32 crore in the international market. The accused have been identified as Asadullah (27), an Afghan national, presently residing at Hauz Rani, Delhi and Moussa Zie (30) and an Ivory Coast national, presently residing in Nihal Vihar, Delhi. According to Pramod Singh Kushwaha, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Special Cell, in view to deal with the smugglers indulge in smuggling drugs suspects indulge in supply of heroin in Delhi and north India were identified when specific inputs were received regarding one of the accused Asadullah who would be coming near Geetanjali Bus Stop in Malviya Nagar area to supply consignment to a person. A police team laid trap and the accused was apprehended with 6 kg of heroin in his possession. On his instance, a receiver Moussa Zie was also nabbed by police with 2 kg of heroin in his possession, said the DCP. During interrogation the accused Asadullah disclosed that he used to visit India on medical visa and smuggled consignments of heroin in Delhi from Afghanistan and handed over the same to many African nationals, one of whom is Moussa Zie. He further disclosed that many other Afghans are also involved in smuggling of heroin in India by swallowing heroin filled capsules. In the past, many Afghan nationals with this modus operandi were arrested by the various law enforcement agencies, said the DCP. During interrogation, Moussa Zie has disclosed that he arrived in India in July 2017 on a tourist visa for a period of 6 months but did not return even after the expiry of visa. He was lured by a Nigerian national for smuggling heroin and he acted as carrier of heroin for him for 6 months. Thereafter he developed his own network and since then has been smuggling of heroin independently, said the DCP. He also disclosed that various persons of North India were involved in supplying drugs and frequented Delhi to receive supplies from him. He also further revealed to have supplied the heroin to other countries including Canada, England, France and South Africa through courier companies, said the DCP adding that further efforts are being made to identify other persons involved in this racket. Starting from January 11 from 7 pm to 11.30 pm at fine dining restaurant Bayleaf at Courtyard Marriott, Bhopal the seven course Culinary Journey will showcase some of the best vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes at the 10-day Culinary Journey. Cooked by Hotels newly appointed Executive Chef Ravish Mishra over his 12 years of kitchen journey in renowned Indian, American, Mexican, Italian and French Hotels, will prepare the dishes. While talking to media here on Friday Chef Ravish said, This Culinary Journey will give one of a kind experience to food lovers. It would be an essence of my collective experience, from the barbecue and grill technique from US, the molcajete, dry roast and sous-vide from Mexico and fry & steam cooking from Indian kitchens. The menu will have handpicked popular Indian dishes. These dishes would be cooked using traditional and nouvelle culinary techniques without losing their authenticity. Chef Ravish further said that food is one part of experience while mood, atmosphere, music, feeling, and eye pleasing plating take it to another level. We would take care of all these elements to make dining experience memorable, he said, adding that during his culinary journey he and his team would be serving dishes like Bedmi aloo, Khandvi, Broccoli and green pea shorba, Kozhi rasam, Bharwaan mirch, Bhuna murg vadai, Kaale chane ki galouti, Gosht ki galouti, Kala khatta sorbet, Wasabi paneer tikka, Charcoal murg tikka and fish tikka, Bharwaan Kashmiri morels and Chettinadu chicken. Chairman of RERA Antony DeSa has said that the Acts intention cannot be fulfilled without making the clients aware of it for those the RERA Act was introduced. It is a social obligation that fulfils the dreams of the needy persons. Law specialists have an important role in this work and their involvement is also essential. DeSa was inaugurating a two-day workshop at Renaissance University, Indore, on 'RERA and its implementation and effectiveness' on Friday. DeSa said that the RERA Act is citizen-oriented but not against builders. He said that with this change, the builders will get more buyers from the market as demand will increase. At the same time, the buyer will be able to get his choice of house on time with his hard-earned money. DeSa said that real estate is the second most important component contributing to the Indian economy. RERA Head DeSa said that for the success of the real estate sector all components connected to should follow the rules of RERA. He said that all the projects must be registered so that the benefits of the Act reach the common man. So far, 2105 projects have been registered in RERA. Authorities are determined to register the remaining incomplete projects. According to the scheme, information of unregistered project unregistered by any informer can be sent through whatsapp on mobile number 8989880123 or via mail at RERA.REWARD@gmail.com. The workshop was also addressed by RERA Judicial Member Dinesh Kumar Nayak and Technical Member Aniruddha Kapale. Vice Chancellor of the University, Swapnil Kothari also shared his views. Law specialists in a large number including CAs, engineers, architects connected with real estate attended the workshop. Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load With the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) all set to announce the composition of the Uttar Pradesh political alliance on Saturday, the Congress is ready with its plan to walk alone. AICC sources said the party chief Rahul Gandhi, after due consultation with the State unit leaders, is prepared to go it alone in the politically crucial State. Amid talks of seat sharing for Lok Sabha polls from which the Congress seems to be out, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati will address a joint Press meet at Lucknow on Saturday. The top leadership of both the parties had met in New Delhi last week to discuss broad parameters of an alliance to take on the BJP unitedly in the Lok Sabha elections. Sources said both the SP and the BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two, Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for the Congress. Smaller parties like the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the Nishad Party are also likely to be in the alliance. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and its allies had won 73 of the 80 seats in UP. Akhilesh and Mayawati decided to bury their hatchet and pool in their resources to contest three bypolls and won all raising their hopes that if they team up, they can pull voters away from the BJP. The mahagathbandhan arithmetic had worked in the bypolls as a consolidation of OBC, Dalit and Muslim votes powered joint Opposition candidates to victory in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana last year. A senior Congress leader said talk on a UP mahagathbandhan had been going on for a while but Congress members in the State are of the opinion that the party should go it alone as it has an independent identity among the people. Rahul in an interview to an international newspaper on Thursday said the Congress idea is very powerful in Uttar Pradesh. So, we are very confident of our ability in Uttar Pradesh and we will surprise people, he was quoted as saying. The Gandhi scions comments were the first indication of the partys Plan B after the regional players seemed to have deserted it. Rahul is expected to meet UPCC president Raj Babbar and AICC in-charge of party affairs in the State Ghulam Nabi Azad to deliberate on the matter on Sunday evening. A decision on who to join hands with always rests with the party high command, but we have already shared that workers and supporters want the Congress to go it alone in UP where it still has its own identity which is different from these parties, said the leader. He recalled that in 2009 Lok Sabha polls, when the situation was apparently against the Congress, the party got 21 seats in the State, paving the way for the return of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. The more indicative of the Congress mind is the fact that Rahul had made it clear that the Congress cannot be underestimated. Congress has 45 seats in the present Lok Sabha which is more than any regional players. A mahagathbandhan in the Lok Sabha elections need to be built around the party having a national face. We are still open to take along likeminded parties and they can come together with us, said AICC leader. He said the party is over century old and has an intact organisation that could be revived by going alone in the polls. However, sources said the Akhilesh-Mayawtai combine could field weak candidates on nine Parliamentary seats where maximum number of the Congress contestants can sail through while on rest of the 80 Lok Sabha seats the grand old party will field candidates who could cut into the BJP vote bank. . The Congress returned to power in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan seeking support from BSP and SP after the party fell short of majority and later both Akhilesh and Mayawati expressed reservations in the Congress attitude by ignoring their legislators. Both the former UP CMs had questioned the attitude of Congress when they were looking forward for an alliance in MP, Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh were assembly elections concluded last month. In a major blow to CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, the Delhi High Court on Friday ruled that he will be investigated in the ongoing bribery case and no prior sanction was required to prosecute him, implying he enjoys no protection against a possible arrest. Justice Najmi Waziri said that the allegation of mala fide raised against then CBI Director Alok Verma has not been made out. Rejecting a clutch of petitions for quashing of the FIR filed against Asthana, CBI DSP Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad, the HC set a 10-week deadline to complete the investigations in the case. The court held that permission for prior sanction to prosecute Asthana was not required considering the facts of the case. Asthana is likely to challenge the HC verdict before the Supreme Court. The HC gave its verdict while dismissing the petitions filed by Asthana, Kumar and Prasad challenging the FIR lodged against them. Asthana was booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct under the relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act. Verma and Asthana were embroiled in bitter feud for several months and had levelled charges of corruption against each other. Both were divested of their power and sent on leave on the night of October 23. Verma, who was ousted as CBI Director by a three-member high powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a 2-1 decision on Thursday, asked the Government to treat him deemed superannuated with immediate effect. Vermas two-year tenure as CBI chief was to end on January 31. Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, on whose complaint the FIR against Asthana and others was lodged, had alleged having paid bribe to get relief in the Moin Qureshi case. Justice Waziri had reserved the judgment on December 20, 2018 on various petitions after hearing submissions of the counsel for CBI, the Centre, Asthana, Kumar, Verma and Joint Director AK Sharma. Kumar, arrested on October 22, was given bail on October 31. Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of Sana. Prasad was arrested on October 17, 2018 and he was granted bail on December 18 as the CBI could not file the chargesheet against him within the stipulated 60 days. Verma had in an affidavit said that there were sufficient incriminating documents and evidence against all the accused -- Asthana, Kumar and Prasad -- with the CBI, and the FIR had been lodged after the Preliminary Enquiry (PE) disclosed cognisable offences. He had claimed that Asthanas plea is misconceived, premature and not maintainable as investigation in the matter is at a nascent stage. Elections are also much about chemistry than arithmetic. Given that she certainly has a past history of working magic with Delhi, her big challenge will be consolidation of votes The first thing that 93-year-old Mahathir Mohamad said when voted back as Malaysian Prime Minister was, Yes I am aliveand the countrys youth voted for me. The grand patriarchs return by an electorate, 40 per cent of which is young, was an endorsement of his past experience as a robust builder who had made modern Malaysia as the world knew it, enough to overlook the ghosts from his past. Voters may not have forgiven his autocratic and monolithic ways of functioning but realised he was still worth placing a bet on for the greater good. This analogy perfectly fits the return of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as president of the state Congress to steer it in mission mode for the general elections. Yes, she is 80, in good health having recovered from her heart condition, and is back in the familiar saddle. Of course, she has the Mahathir advantage if one may call it that. Having been the Delhi Chief Minister for 15 years, winning three rounds of elections between 1998 and 2008, she is undoubtedly responsible for reshaping Delhi as a world capital with her brand of development politics. In fact, much of the template of Delhis governance has frankly been reset by her. Whether it is road safety, which she pioneered with the wear the seat belt campaign, clean air, which she committed to by changing the citys traffic fleet to CNG, the engagement and stakeholdership with locals, which she started with the Bhaagidari scheme, prioritising education in government schools and improving their performance, cleaning up the city and taking advantage of the Delhi Metros progress, she did give the city a reloaded version of the post-Asiad makeover. Her grandmotherly image cut across sections of society. To the lesser privileged, she appeared as one they could commiserate and share their burdens with, to the upper crust, she was the erudite thinker who could rationalise her priorities and to the young, she was the aunt who could be trusted to address their concerns and more importantly, had the farsightedness to factor in their future. And despite the faction fights and competitive voices in her party unit, she did manage to hold it all together. Even earn a tacit acknowledgement from the Opposition parties then. Whatever the shortcomings in her last term, it is this legacy that has held her in good stead, enough to be called back to the only political turf that worked for her. Track record shows she could do it with elan. While current AAP Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal laments how his hands are tied in executing his vision and his public spats with the LG are common knowledge, Dikshit wrapped her head around partial statehood issues with equanimity. She conducted herself without making a public spectacle of her problems but working within limitations. As she writes in her memoirs, This cumbersome process of requiring so many levels of approval was unique to Delhi. But the bottomline was that full statehood or not, to the people of Delhi, the Chief Minister signified the face of governance. They would not have much patience for a chief minister trying to explain an underwhelming report card by enumerating all the areas that fell outside her jurisdiction. There are two ways of dealing with such situations. One can throw up ones hands and say it is impossible to perform under these circumstances or negotiate ones way through innumerable minefields in the belief that the primary aim is to deliver on the promise of governance. True, Dikshit had not seen success as a politician in UP, where she was aided by her illustrious father-in-law and veteran Congress leader Uma Shankar Dikshit. But the aura never worked for her electorally. Till she sought to rescue it in 1998 with Delhi. Within the state unit, she had to do a tough balancing act with several aspirant leaders. Many claimed that she survived because she had the party high commands endorsement and never quite heeded the grassroots cadre. But even that relationship, though some might have taken for granted, has had a rocky run with highs and lows. Yet Dikshit was able to get beyond her gubernatorial assignments post-defeat and find her way back to relevance, with the party naming her as chief ministerial candidate for the Uttar Pradesh polls. But sensing she could be a scapegoat here given the Congress dismal voteshare and saffron tide, she was wise enough to bow out of the race. This time she has the trade winds in her favour. The recent victories of the Congress in the Assembly elections in the three crucial heartland States have proved again that leaders with a depth of grassroots experience, deft political management and readiness to plunge deep can deliver the goods. Even make the Young Turks sit up and take notice. Besides, Dikshit has an added advantage. Delhi voters, tormented by the endless power tussle between the AAP government and the Centre, are now tired of the stasis when it comes to civic issues plaguing the city. Many neutral voices have even compared the present scenario with the better times of Dikshits Delhi. So she has an edge in perception, something that she had worked on in the early years with deft media management. This time, Dikshit too refuses to be a foregone conclusion and is itching to claim her relevance. But there is the shadow of corruption charges over the conduct of the Commonwealth Games during her regime. And had it not been for the scale of the scam, where Central party leaders like Suresh Kalmadi were directly implicated while she managed to stay inside the ring of fire without singing herself too much, Kejriwal would not have spiralled to legitimacy the way he did. Little wonder then that soon after the announcement of her anointment as Delhi Congress chief, Kejriwal raked up her tainted past, saying the party clearly had a leadership deficit. However, Dikshit is up for the challenge. Yes, theres the Kejriwal barrage, his claims of slum development and reducing power bills, but the more important one is tying up the party together. Present party president Ajay Maken may have bowed out citing ill-health and publicly given her the vote of confidence but Dikshits job will be to keep him in the scheme of things, considering he did helm the party during troubling times and solidify an anti-AAP narrative. She needs him and other stalwarts to pull up the Congress votebase, make an electoral difference and at least get a bargaining advantage. There is a lot of talk in the power corridors about Congress and AAP having a broader understanding to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. Maken has been a known opponent of this formula for short-term gain and hates risking a long-term revival of the party. And though many predict that Dikshit has been brought in to ease this arrangement, considering the combined voteshare of both parties can indeed squelch the BJP for Lok Sabha, she herself has been blowing hot and cold over AAP given her own tumultuous history with it. However, she is known to fall in line with the high command and given the AAPs irrelevance outside Delhi and the resurgent Congress in states, this may not yet be a priority. Dikshits big challenge will be consolidation of votes. Can she break into the larger community of businessmen, traders and Poorvanchalis, which is strongly in the BJPs grip? Can she, most importantly, win back the crucial Dalit and Muslim votes, which have happily migrated to the AAP? Can she broom them back and become the mohalla queen? If we go by the 2017 municipal polls, AAPs vote share is down to 26 per cent while the Congress is up to about 22 per cent. But elections are also much about chemistry than arithmetic. And Dikshit certainly has a past history of working magic with Delhi. Besides, she is not alone in surviving and winning. Octogenarians around the world, from politics to performing arts, are delivering and still going strong. So much so that trend forecasters are wondering if 80s are the new 40s for 2019. (The writer is Associate Editor, The Pioneer) Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communications and Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated the enhanced passenger amenities and conveniences at Haridwar station Atul Kumar Bansal launches Elite CIO Council for the chief information officers, non-profit global association of technology leaders. This council currently has over 8,900 technology leaders globally from various domains Kumar Rajesh Chandra took over as the Director General, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) succeeding Surjeet Singh Deswal, IPS on Friday. A post-graduate in Economics from Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi, Kumar Rajesh Chandra is an IPS officer of 1985 Batch of Bihar Cadre Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VM, ADC, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) reviewing Guard of Honour during his visit to NCC Republic Day Parade Camp 2019, Delhi Cantt on Friday. Lt Gen PP Malhotra, VSM, DGNCC is also seen Under its CSR-SD Scheme, NHPC Limited, Indias premier hydropower company in association with BK Hospital, Faridabad and Batra Hospital, Delhi and Centre for Sight, Faridabad organised a free medical camp at Primary Health Center, Palla, Faridabad on Friday Airports Authority of India (AAI) has entered into an agreement with Pebbles Infra-Tech Private Ltd. for Development of Multi Level Car Parking with Integrated Commercial facilities on DBOM Basis (construction cum license to operate & maintain) at Pune Airport in Maharashtra on Blended Financing Mode. Currently, Pune Airport handles more than 6.7 million passengers annually Yes, sometimes we too hate shape-shifting serpents slithering on the screen of our television sets, or a hero living life king-size in his third reincarnation! So, Pakistan not wanting to see Indian television content is kind of understandable. But can anyone please explain to us in all good humour just what feminist content is? Read it to believe it. (Photo: Twitter) According to reports, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued a warning this week, asking all channels to respect the existing media guidelines and refrain from airing content that does not depict a picture of true Pakistani society. The regulatory body has, apparently, received a number of complaints. So, whats the issue? Hear it from PEMRA: Majority of the scripts revolve around women, having same story pick, plot of purpose. These dramas depict hackneyed image of women and have confined themselves to feminist issues only, therefore, ignoring children, teenagers, and men. The script writers are confined to saas bahu vendetta, extra-marital affairs, divorce and infidelity. Well, so heres what we learn: Feminism is apparently a 'hackneyed' idea in Pakistan Pakistani men want to be represented in serials (Havent men always hated women for watching television serials?) But not through extra-marital affairs, divorce and infidelity. Because if these are the core issues of Pakistani soaps, we are sure there is enough representation of men. Pakistani children and teenagers watch television soaps. So, they want their issues to be highlighted as well. Intimate moments between couples should not be glorified because thats not a reflection of "true Pakistani society". Heres a reality check. Too bold to handle! (Photo: Posters of Baaghi and Khudgarz) In 2017, Baaghi became one of the most watched and discussed television serials of Pakistan. It was a biographical series based on Qandeel Baloch, who was murdered by her brother in the name of honour in 2017. Saba Qamar essayed the role of Qandeel. But apparently, such boldness is not what the Pakistani audience is up for, according to PEMRA, which has already prohibited Discoverys Naked and Afraid, an American reality series chronicling the lives of two contestants (one man, one woman) who meet for the first time and are given the task of surviving in wilderness naked for 21 days. How shocking! A bed! Values are crushed! (Scene from Agar Tum Saath Ho: Courtesy Dawn) So, what does the Pakistani audience prefer? Though PEMRA has also warned morning shows to watch their content, which mostly deals with "matrimonial issues, wedding, dances, fashion, personal life", it didn't mention much explicitly. Well, we will tell you what PEMRA thinks Pakistani audiences love to watch. They are comfortable being taught a tutorial on how to brighten the face of an apparently 'dark' bride. For this, a Pakistani model will appear with Blackface a makeup form to look darker generously applied on her face! As far as Indian content is concerned, it is a judicial matter which ensued in 2016, following the Uri attack, after which Pakistani artists were banned from performing in India. And as PEMRA instructed, we are not touching judicial issues, even from across the border. But the next time you see a bed on a Pakistani television serial, just don't stretch your imagination much! Also Read: How can an aalu-anday dish solve the India-Pakistan crisis? This Pakistani video tells us all VALLETTA, Malta (AP) - Maltese military vessels will soon take ashore 49 migrants who have been stranded aboard private rescue vessels since last month and the asylum-seekers will be distributed among eight European Union nations, Malta said Wednesday. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced a deal, brokered by the EU, to end the uncertainty over the migrants who are now aboard two aid vessels. The eight countries that will take them in include Italy, whose anti-migrant interior minister, Matteo Salvini, had vowed for days that none would reach Italian soil. The other countries are Germany, France, Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Luxembourg and Netherlands. Early in the stalemate, Muscat had also struck a defiant note, saying his tiny island nation wouldn't let the 49 to set foot on Malta unless the deal included agreement for fellow EU countries to take many of the 249 migrants that Maltese military ships had rescued in its search-and-rescue area in late December. The deal announced on Wednesday meets his condition: most of the 249 migrants, rescued from Libya-based smugglers' unseaworthy boats, will be taken to other EU countries, while some will remain in Malta. The Germany-based aid group Sea-Watch, whose vessel Sea-Watch 3, had rescued 32 of the migrants in waters off Libya on Dec. 22, welcomed the decision. The Sea-Watch rescue ship waits off the coast of Malta, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2018. Two German nonprofit groups are appealing to European Union countries to take in 49 migrants whose health is deteriorating while they are stuck on rescue ships in the Mediterranean Sea. Sea-Watch and Sea-Eye representatives told reporters in Berlin on Tuesday that drinking water was being rationed on their ships and some migrants had trouble eating due to illness. (AP Photo/Rene Rossignaud) "After 19 days at sea, our guests finally have a safe haven," Sea-Watch tweeted. "It is a testament to state failure; politics should never be played at the cost of people in need." Earlier this week, Sea-Watch said some of those aboard, distraught about the stalemate, which left the boat at the mercy of rough seas for many days, were refusing food to protest the stalemate, and the migrants' physical and psychological health were deteriorating. Malta last week allowed the boats to shelter near its coasts from the bad weather but wouldn't let them disembark the migrants. "We were not the responsible authority, and we were not the nearest safe port" for the two rescue vessels, Muscat said in a statement Wednesday as a way of explaining why the government refused to let the 49 migrants directly disembark in port. Italy's populist government split over the fate of those aboard Sea-Watch 3 and another private vessel, Sea-Eye, with Premier Giuseppe Conte saying that Italy was willing to take children and their parents, even as Salvini remained defiant. The migrants involved in the EU-brokered deals are part of waves of people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa, Asia or the Middle East, who have risked their lives aboard smugglers' boats to try to reach European shores in recent years. On Wednesday, in Spain, police there said they broke up a gang that smuggled people and drugs by boat from Morocco into Spain, charging migrants up to 2,000 euros ($2,300) a trip. The European Union's border agency Frontex says about 57,000 migrant crossings were detected last year in Spain, double the figure for 2017. The numbers reaching Spain have surged as Italy's crackdowns on private rescue vessels saw the number of boats and migrants heading across the central Mediterranean toward Italian shores dropping sharply. ___ AP writers Frances D'Emilio in Rome, David Rising in Berlin and Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, contributed to this report. Some of the 17 people rescued in the Mediterranean Sea sit aboard the German rescue ship Sea-Eye afloat off Malta, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Two German nonprofit groups appealed to European Union countries Tuesday to take in 49 migrants who are stuck on rescue ships in the Mediterranean Sea, warning of the passengers' deteriorating health. (AP Photo/Rene Rossignaud) Burkina Faso's army Chief Oumarou Sadou has been replaced Burkina Faso's army chief was sacked on Thursday as the armed forces struggle to put a stop to jihadist attacks in the west African nation. Major General Oumarou Sadou was replaced by General Moise Minoungou, according to a presidential decree read on public television. For three years Burkina Faso has faced increasingly frequent and deadly jihadist attacks. The country lies in the heart of the sprawling, impoverished Sahel, on the southern rim of the Sahara. The region became a hotbed of extremism after chaos engulfed Libya in 2011, followed by an Islamist insurgency in north Mali and the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Jihadist attacks began in northern Burkina Faso in 2015 but then spread to the east, near the border with Togo and Benin. Burkina has declared a state of emergency in provinces within seven of the country's 13 administrative regions, after 10 gendarmes were killed near the border with Mali. The capital Ouagadougou has been hit three times, leaving 60 people dead. In March 2018 Twin attacks on the French embassy in Burkina Faso and the country's military headquarters left dozens dead or wounded. China's Yutu-2 is the first lunar rover to land on the far side of the moon China's lunar rover got back to work on the far side of the moon Thursday after waking from a five-day hibernation, its official social media page announced. "Afternoon nap is over, waking up and getting moving," the Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2) posted on the Twitter-like Weibo. The rover on Saturday went into standby mode to protect itself from temperatures reaching towards 200 degrees Celsius (390 degrees Fahrenheit), the China Lunar Exploration Program under the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said. The 140-kilogram (308-pound) rover has since resumed activities, which will include taking a picture of the front side of the lander and exploration missions. The Chang'e-4 mission -- named after a moon goddess -- made the world's first soft landing on the moon's far side on January 3. The rover, named after the moon goddess's pet rabbit, successfully separated from the lander and drove onto the moon's surface last Thursday. Beijing is pouring billions into its military-run space programme, with hopes of having a crewed space station by 2022, and of eventually sending humans on a lunar mission. This is the second Chinese probe to land on the moon, following the Yutu (Jade Rabbit) rover mission in 2013. China's space agency has said the mission "lifted the mysterious veil" from the far side of the moon, which is never seen from Earth, and "opened a new chapter in human lunar exploration". Unlike the near side of the moon that offers many flat areas to touch down on, the far side is mountainous and rugged. The moon is "tidally locked" to Earth in its rotation so the same side is always facing Earth. The Chang'e-4 probe is equipped with instruments developed by scientists from Sweden, Germany and China to study the lunar environment, cosmic radiation and the interaction between solar wind and the moon's surface, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Chang'e-4 landed within the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, the largest and deepest impact crater in the solar system. Scientists have said it is a key area for solving several unknowns about the moon, including its internal structure and thermal evolution. Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz called for a rally against hate speech after online disputes between the country's ethnic groups Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on Wednesday called for the west African country to root out hate speech as he headed a rally aimed at dampening ethnic tensions. "The people who are behind this speech are a minority, but we have to put an end to their toxic behaviour for the sake of the future," the president said at the march in the capital Nouakchott. He also warned he would use a law adopted last year to crack down on "hateful, racist or violent speech". A conservative desert country with a populaton of 4.4 million, Mauritania is wrestling with tensions between communities of Arab-Berber and sub-Saharan African descent. Marchers carried banners promoting ethnic cohesion and chanted "no to hate, no to extremism and inciting violence" at the rally, which organisers said was attended by hundreds of thousands of people. Mauritanians were given the day off with pay on Wednesday for the march, the first led by Aziz since he came to power in a coup in 2008. He called for the gathering in response to ongoing combative disputes on social networks, including Whatsapp, between the country's Arab-Berber community and the Haratines, former slaves and their descendants. Slavery remains deeply entrenched in Mauritania, the last country in the world to abolish the practice in 1981, after light-skinned Berber-Arab Moors enslaved local black populations when they settled there centuries ago. Aziz said he recognised the country had "social and economic disparities, like everywhere in the world where there are rich and poor," but the "remedy for this lies in education". The opposition declined an invitation to the rally, saying "this march cannot not be a solution" to the problems justifying it and calling for a national dialogue to find "sustainable solutions". Roseanne Barr was removed from her own TV series following a racist tweet, but that didn't stop John Goodman from missing his former co-star. The 66-year-old comic actor admitted that he 'really missed' Roseanne after she was given the boot while appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers. The slimmed-down funnyman gave the comedienne props for allowing The Conners to continue without her. Still has fond feelings: John Goodman, 66, admitted that he 'really missed' Roseanne after she was given the boot while appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers The Monsters, Inc. star praised Roseanne selling off the rights to her intellectual property. 'She gave up a lot so that we could do that show,' he said. 'She gave up all the rights to it so we didn't have to call ourselves the 'Monners,' or the 'Chonners,' or invent new characters. She'll always be missed.' Roseanne had creative and financial rights and control over the original series, which she signed off to producer Tom Werner in order to allow the rest of the cast to continue as The Conners. Major sacrifice: She gave up a lot so that we could do that show,' he said. 'She gave up all the rights to it so we didn't have to call ourselves the 'Monners,' or the 'Chonners,' or invent new characters Seth asked the Kong: Skull Island actor if Roseanne's death on the new spin-off was permanent. John famously died at the end of Roseanne's original run, but was miraculously resurrected for the 2018 reboot. 'That's pretty permanent. I mean, when I died on the show they just brought me back,' he joked. 'They're not going to remember, nobody was watching toward the end!' Roseanne's removal from the series bearing her name came amidst a political reversal for the comedian and actress. Over time her politics shifted from the left to the right. Roseanne ran for the Green Party presidential nomination in 2012, but by the 2016 election she had shifted to supporting Donald Trump. She was fired after a racist tweet about the former advisor to President Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett. Roseanne also engaged in conspiracy theories about the teenage survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting in Parkland, Florida. Roseanne was fired after a racist tweet about the former advisor to President Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, and she also made conspiracy theories about the Parkland Shooting survivors; pictured in Burbank, California in March Later on the broadcast, Seth cited The Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona as two of his favorite John Goodman films. The actor mentioned that fans' favorite line to quote from The Big Lebowski is, 'Shut the f*** up, Donny,' which he shouts at Steve Buscemi's character in the film. Seth suggested fans must come off as a bit aggressive when they shout the catch phrase. 'It's not as bad as when [Steve] Buscemi gets it on the street.' Mr. Hogan claims to be aware of the gravity of climate change as an economic and public health issue. However, gestures like his highway widening project and his infamous cancellation of the Red Line have me and many others questioning whether or not he really knows what it takes to seek sustainability and resilience on a regional level. I hope that when it comes time to vote on the Clean Energy Jobs Act Governor Hogan realizes that, in respect to climate change, its not enough to just perceive. Matthew McConaughey, 49, and Anne Hathaway, 36, stepped out together to promote their new film Serenity in Marina Del Ray, California on Friday. The duo posed for photos at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and showcased their stylish and chic ensembles. Anne stood out the most thanks to her pink power suit. She means business: Anne Hathaway stunned in a salmon colored power suit alongside Matthew McConaughey to promote their new movie Serenity on Friday in Los Angeles The Oscar winner opted for a salmon-hued power suit with a blouse of a similar color for the photo call. Her trousers were high waisted and she completed the look with a pair of dark teal suede heels. The Ocean's Eight actress kept her accessories simple with a watch and bracelet s well as a pair of dainty earrings. Gorgeous: Anne's trousers were high waisted and she completed the look with a pair of dark teal suede heels Beauty: Anne's glam was kept simple with blushed cheeks, lash extensions and a matte nude pink lip Anne's glam was kept simple with blushed cheeks, lash extensions and a matte nude pink lip. The Princess Diary actress had her brunette tresses kept shoulder length and tousled to one side into soft waves. Matthew also dressed up for the event in a lilac shirt and a tan colored suede jacket over the top. Man of the hour: At one point the pair were joined by film director, Steven Knight Dapper: Matthew also dressed up for the event in a lilac shirt and a tan colored suede jacket over the top He opted for black pants and black/brown leather shoes and belt. The Dallas Buyers Club star had his curls styled back and sported a clean cut complexion with minimal stubble. At one point the pair were joined by film director, Steven Knight. Premise: The film serenity follows a fishing boar captain, Baker Dill (Matthew) who is approached by his ex-wife Karen (Anne) to murder her new husband Picture ready: The Dallas Buyers Club star had his curls styled back and sported a clean cut complexion with minimal stubble The film serenity follows a fishing boar captain, Baker Dill (Matthew) who is approached by his ex-wife Karen (Anne) to murder her new husband. Uma Therman was initially set to play Matthew's new love interest, but was later replaced by Diane Lane due to scheduling conflicts. Serenity was set to be released in September 2018, then October 2018, before being further pushed back to January 25, 2019. The movie will be released in UK cinemas and on Sky Cinema on March 1. She may only be five-years-old, but she's already following in mom Kim Kardashian's footsteps. And this deemed to be true once again when North West was seen sporting her reality star mom's heels on Friday. The 38-year-old took to social media to share a snap of her eldest daughter walking around in her $1,100 flaming Prada heels. Like mother, like daughter: Kim Kardashian proved five-year-old daughter North West was following in her steps on Friday, sharing a photo of her wearing her $1,100 Prada heels 'North in my closet,' she captioned the shot on Twitter. The five-year-old daughter of Kanye West opted for one neon orange shoe and a hot pink shoe of the same style. Kim's sister and North's Aunty Kendall Jenner has also previously been seen rocking the statement shoe. Best friends: Kim frequently shares photos of North being her mini-me on social media Style tips from Kendall! Kim's sister and North's Aunty Kendall Jenner has also previously been seen rocking the statement shoe And it's not the first time the sister of Saint and Chicago has shown signs of following in Kim's footsteps. North was recently seen sitting in the hair and makeup chair getting her glam on while using her mom's team in the process. 'She's coming for me and stealing my glam squad,' she captioned the shot. Loves getting her glam done: And it's not the first time the sister of Saint and Chicago has shown signs of following in Kim's footsteps Starting her young: North was recently seen playing with mom Kim's makeup collection The news comes after it was recently reported that North will be becoming a big sister once again with Kim and Kanye expecting their fourth child, a boy, via surrogate in the Spring. A source told People on Friday that the duo were in 'nesting mode' and were currently buying all brand new items for the new arrival. 'They don't really do hand-me-downs, so each baby is like their first,' the source revealed. 'They're buying everything they need for him, and Kanye insists they go top-of-the-line for everything. So they've been shopping.' The reality star and rapper are already parents to North, five, Saint, three, and daughter Chicago, who turns one next week. She stars in the upcoming Apple show about the competitive, high-stakes world of morning television. And Jennifer Aniston got straight to work as she was pictured on the set of the untitled Morning Show series in Los Angeles on Thursday. The actress, 49, was spotted outside her trailer wearing her hair in an updo, before emerging ready for her time to shine. Top of the morning! Jennifer Aniston got straight to work as she was pictured on the set of the untitled Morning Show series in Los Angeles on Thursday Initially Jennifer was bundled up in a violet scarf, black coat, and olive blouse with sunglasses propped on. But it wasn't long until the actress was transformed, looking camera ready. The star's perfectly styled loose waves were pinned back with a cream clip, and she now wore a nude blouse. Jennifer appeared to have a script in hand, which she used to shade herself from the sun. Stunning: The star's perfectly styled loose waves were pinned back with a cream clip, and she now wore a nude blouse The new Apple show is loosely based on the book Top Of The Morning, Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV, which gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the highest rated morning shows. Jennifer stars opposite Nestor Carbonell, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the new series. This new show marks Jennifer's return to television, 15 years after the end of her wildly successful sitcom Friends. Aside from working on the new morning show drama, she has also been busy promoting her new film Dumplin'. The Netflix comedy debuted on December 7. Bethenny Frankel and Kyle Richards go way back. And the 48-year-old Real Housewives Of New York star proved that as she shared several vintage images of the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star. The occasion: Richards, who is the aunt of Paris and Nicky Hilton, turned 50-years-old on Friday. The good ole days: Bethenny Frankel and Kyle Richards go way back. And the 48-year-old Real Housewives Of New York star proved that on Friday as she shared several vintage images of the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star The occasion: Richards, who is the aunt of Paris and Nicky Hilton, turned 50-years-old on Friday. Also seem with them is Kyle's husband Mauricio Umansky The New York native caption the set of images, 'Happy birthday to one of my oldest (and youngest) friends.' In another snap, the two brunette bombshells are at a large group dinner. Bethenny is in white as a man puts his arm around her. And Kyliue is on someone's lap as she has on black. Manga: In another snap, the two brunette bombshells are at a large group dinner. Bethenny is in white as a man puts his arm around her. And Kyliue is on someone's lap as she has on black Cheers: Another image sees the two women in more recent times. They have on Minnie Mouse ears as they hold up their cocktails which have salt on the rim and limes on the sides Two good: The ladies are seen here on another night of partying. They have a lot in common as they both work for Bravo Another image sees the two women in more recent times. They have on Minnie Mouse ears as they hold up their cocktails which have salt on the rim and limes on the sides. The two look almost as if they could be sisters. This comes after Frankel posted a sweet photo of herself as a young girl who loved to hit the skating rink. The television personality shared a throwback photo of herself at Hot Skates Roller Rink in Lynbrook, New York, where she had her 'first kiss.' Throwback: Frankel was once just a young girl who loved to hit the skating rink on Saturdays and Sundays In the photo, Frankel donned a sequin-covered black, green, and purple top with a shiny black skirt. She had a light purple boa wrapped around her neck and her brunette locks were filled with feathers. The now entrepreneur donned white roller skates in the picture, and sported gold hoop earrings. 'I spent all day every single Saturday and Sunday at Hot Skates Roller Rink for much of my childhood,' Frankel began her caption. Adding, 'I was literally there when John Lennon got shot and had my first kiss to Marc Rosenbloom there in 6th grade.' The photo follows her post from Wednesday where she shared an image of herself in Mexico. South of the border: The photo follows her post from Wednesday where she shared an image of herself in Mexico Frankel has been enjoying a number of tropical vacation recently, starting with one to the Domincan Republic with new boyfriend Paul Bernon, then heading to Mexico for the new year. In an image she shared from Mexico, she showed off her taut stomach in matching top and skirt, and captioned the photo, '#nomakeupmexico.' The two-part white ensemble featured colorful stripes and fell off both shoulders of the The Real Housewives of New York City star. She has been presenting British game show Countdown for a decade. And to commemorate the milestone, Rachel Riley shared a selection of the rudest words which have ever come up on the board during the programme. The 33-year-old maths whizz treated her followers to some of the cheekier words which have been picked at random over the years on Instagram on Friday. Cheeky: Rachel Riley shared a selection of the rudest words which have ever come up on the Countdown board during the programme Amusing: The 33-year-old maths whizz treated her followers to some of the cheekier words which have been picked at random over the years on Instagram on Friday The words, which were usually accompanied by a less than impressed expression from Rachel, included orgasmed, bumh**e, erection and vibrator. Other more ruder words included a**e, s**t, p**s, gobs***e, t**t, leaving Rachel and the contestants slightly red-faced at the embarrassing mishaps. Several other phrases which also made it into Rachel's countdown of the worst words were phallus, no**ed, 'ok I squirt', horniest and cottager. Naughty: The words, which were usually accompanied by a less than impressed expression from Rachel, included orgasmed, bumh**e, erection and vibrator The Essex native left her fans in hysterics after sharing the amusing snaps on her Twitter page, where followers praised the 'best post ever'. Another said: 'I remember the Clit one when it aired, and did your best not to crack up. Happy anniversary Rachel.' A third said: 'My favourite ones are when the letters are picked and put up like that. Everyone's reactions are always so hilarious.' Red faced: Other more ruder words included a**e, s**t, p**s, gobs***e, t**t, leaving Rachel and the contestants slightly red-faced at the embarrassing mishaps What a joker! The Essex native left her fans in hysterics after sharing the amusing snaps on her Twitter page, where followers praised the 'best post ever' Rachel joined the show in 2008 after she took over from Countdown icon Carol Voderman and was an instant hit with viewers after filling Carol's very large shoes. She was a recent Oxford graduate when she joined the show and the tenth anniversary episode of her joining aired on Friday. Rachel, who began dating Strictly professional Pasha Kovalev when they met on the show five years ago, revealed that she was about to celebrate ten years as the letters and numbers guru on Countdown. But added that she likes being a bit more naughty on its evening mash-up with 8 Out Of 10 Cats during an appearance on Lorraine. Rachel, who began dating Strictly professional Pasha Kovalev (pictured) when they met on the show five years ago, revealed that she was about to celebrate ten years as the letters and numbers guru on Countdown 'It was supposed to be a one-off and we've done over 100 now, it's brought it to a new audience,' she said. 'The comedians, they're just amazing, I just get a front row seat to comedy shows every time I'm working. 'I have been through my collection of naughty countdown words and I'll be posting some filth to celebrate my 10th anniversary.' It comes as 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown will compete for the National Television Award for Best Quiz Show, but Rachel admitted she will not be attending the ceremony. She said: 'I could choose between the NTA's, a Manchester United event or going to government to speak about antisemitism about holocaust memorial day. 'I've been doing this 10 years, I hope I've banked enough credibility for people to know this is a serious thing that needs a bit of light shown on it. I've shown so much support, the attempts to discredit us are elaborate.' Fans will get to see Rachel's 10th Anniversary Countdown episode on Friday, and the star added that as the episode was pre-recorded, she took the entire cast out for dinner afterwards to celebrate. She never fails to turn heads when she's out and about. And Winnie Harlow was certainly a show stopper in Milan, Italy, on Friday as she delivered three separate looks while enjoying Men's Fashion Week in the city with P Diddy's son Quincy Taylor Brown, 27, in tow. The Canadian model, 24, was effortlessly stylish as she attended the Ermenegildo Zegna show with the actor and some other friends. Winnie Harlow, 24, was effortlessly stylish as she attended the Ermenegildo Zegna show with QuincyTaylor Brown and some other friends She donned a black, one-buttoned blazer and matching trousers for the occasion, slinging a small bag over her shoulder. The beauty added height to her frame with a pair of black stilettos and accesorised with golden bracelets. Showing off her posing abilities, Winnie worked the camera alongside Quincy and American Honey actor McCaul Lombardi, 24, and other guests. The group later sat in the front row of the show, with the model letting her locks hang loose down her shoulders. Pose: In one look, Winnie dazzled in a black, turtle-kneck jumper with rolled up sleeves Style: Winnie Harlow looked stylish as ever after she touched down in the city early on Friday Later in the evening, Winnie and Quincy went for a meal at La Bullona restaurant in the city. The former America's Next Top Model contestant rocked another look for the night, dazzling in a black, turtle-kneck jumper with rolled up sleeves. Earlier in the day after just touching down in the city, Winnie turned heads in a sand coloured knitted jumper, showing off her toned abdomen by tucking the lower half behind her. Fashionista: The model donned a black, one-buttoned blazer and matching trousers while sitting front row at a fashion show, slinging a small bag over her shoulder Group: Showing off her posing abilities, Winnie worked the camera alongside Quincy and American Honey actor McCaul Lombardi, 24, and other guests She paired it with matching tracksuit bottoms and box-fresh white trainers. The beauty added to her ensemble with a faux-fur knee-length coat. Wearing her brunette locks poker straight, Winnie accessorised with a Gucci hat and a matching waist bag, topping off the look with a pair of shades. Winnie, who was born Chantelle Brown-Young, recently defended herself over comments she made about her time as a contestant on America's Next Top Model. Front row: Winnie was radiant as she enjoyed the show with her friends Fashion: The Canadian model, who was joined by P Diddy's son Quincy Taylor Brown donned a sand, patterned jumper, showing off her toned abdomen by tucking the lower half behind her Speaking on Watch What Happens Live, the model told how she felt the show did not do anything for her career. Winnie was famously discovered by host Tyra Banks on Instagram in 2013, and she went on to place sixth in the 21st cycle of The CW modeling competition. After receiving backlash for her comments, Winnie insisted she was not being 'ungrateful' towards Tyra. Setting the record straight: Winnie, who was born Chantelle Brown-Young, recently defended herself over comments she made about her time as a contestant on America's Next Top Model 'After being on the show no one would book me and no agency would sign me because of the reality TV stigma,' the former Wild 'N Out team captain wrote on Instagram. 'It has nothing to do with being ungrateful, and more over nothing to do with "shade" to Tyra. 'She was the first person of higher status to make me feel like I could be a model and not only am I grateful for that, it's something I'll never forget.' Last week she spent time with husband Kanye West in Miami at their brand new $14 million condo he surprised her with. But on Friday morning, Kim Kardashian shared a racy Instagram post while posing in just bikini bottoms and a crop top at home. The 34-year-old reality star flashed a hint of her hips, legs and midriff in the sizzling post while lounging in her bed. Stunning: Kim Kardashian shared a racy Instagram post while posing in just her bikini bottoms and a crop top on Friday morning She captioned it simply with: 'Good morning.' Kim donned a skintight white ribbed crop top with high-waisted string bikini bottoms. The KKW Beauty founder had a pillow in front of her so her 124 million Instagram followers were only able to see glimpse of her toned frame. The mother of three styled her dark brunette hair in waves and center parted, with dark mauve lipstick on her pout and kohl lined lids. Incredible: The 34-year-old reality star flashed a hint of her hips, legs and midriff in the sizzling post while lounging in her bed She also shared an Instagram story soon after as she did her morning workout, which she revealed consisted of sprints and abs. On Thursday night, Kim showed off luxury items sent to her from Virgil Abloh from his Louis Vuitton collection. She received an array of items from his first collection for the luxury label, including handbags and heels in bold hues. On the move: She also shared an Instagram story soon after as she did her morning workout, which she revealed consisted of sprints and abs Wow factor: On Thursday night, Kim showed off luxury items sent to her from Virgil Abloh from his Louis Vuitton collection Amazing: She received an array of items from his first collection for the luxury label, including handbags and heels in bold hues; her daughter North, five, wearing her shoes she received Kim tweet a snap of her daughter North, five, wearing one pink heel and one orange heel she had received from the designer; she added: 'North in my closet.' Hours earlier, Kim revealed that she was sick but going to do her Thursday workout session. She had posted an snap to her Instagram stories with the caption: 'I'm so sick! Everyone around me has the flu but I'm up and gonna attempt a good workout to get my mind right.' Pushing through: Hours earlier, Kim revealed that she was sick but going to do her Thursday workout session Last week, Kim was spotted sharing a steamy PDA moment with husband Kanye West while at their new $14 million luxury condo in Miami, Florida, which he bought for her as a present. The condo was a Christmas surprise for Kim, according to TMZ. The outlet's insider revealed that the lovebirds, who have been married since 2014, want to split their time between the new Miami condo and their home in the exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood of Hidden Hills. The stunning 4,700 square foot luxury condo is located in the 18-story Faena House building, also known as the Billionaire Beach Bunker. Wow: Last week, Kim was spotted sharing a steamy PDA moment with husband Kanye West while at their new $14 million luxury condo in Miami, which he bought for her as a surprise present; pictured on her Instagram account on Wednesday The multi-million dollar beachfront property has four bedrooms with five-and-a-half bathrooms and a huge terrace. The stars are reportedly expecting a baby boy in May via their surrogate, the outlet reported; They are parents to three children: North, five, Saint, three, and Chicago, 11 months, according to TMZ. They welcomed Chicago on January 15, 2018 via surrogate as well. TMZ revealed that they are using another surrogate for baby number four because their previous surrogate was unavailable. 'They had one male embryo left and are thrilled it worked out,' E! News' insider explained. Kim had difficult pregnancies with North and Saint due to her condition: Placenta Acrreta, which is life threatening. The serious condition occurs when the placenta grows too deep into the uterine wall; upon delivery of the child, the placenta fails to detach, which can lead to severe blood loss, according to the Mayo Clinic. Breaking Bad fans have long begged for a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed show. Bryan Cranston, 62, addressed the possibility in jest during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night. However, Walter White devotees shouldn't break out their Heisenberg hats just yet. Rumor has it: Bryan Cranston addressed rumors of a Breaking Bad movie in the works during a visit to The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night 'I heard a rumor that there might be a Breaking Bad movie,' Jimmy asked the Emmy winner. 'Let's put it to rest,' Bryan began. 'I can say and announce tonight in front of your audience exclusive announcement - that I can confirm there is a Breaking Bad movie rumor that is making its way.' The actor appeared to get a kick out of tormenting the audience with the big lead up to the joke as he laughed with the late night host. Ultimately the star was mum on the prospect of returning to his famed character of a chemistry teacher turn drug lord. 'I can say and announce tonight in front of your audience exclusive announcement - that I can confirm there is a Breaking Bad movie rumor that is making its way.' In November, EW confirmed through sources that series creator Vince Gilligan was working on a 'two-hour movie based on his beloved Emmy-winning AMC drama.' The outlet reported that it wasn't clear if the project would be for film or television. According to the Albuquerque Journal, production was scheduled to start at the end of 2018 in New Mexico under the title Greenbrier. Reboot? In November, EW confirmed through sources that series creator Vince Gilligan was working on a 'two-hour movie based on his beloved Emmy-winning AMC drama.' Tv royalty: Breaking Bad aired on AMC for five seasons from 2008-2013 '[Greenbriar will] follow the escape of a kidnapped man and his quest for freedom' suggesting it might focus on Jesse Pinkman (Paul) following the events in the Breaking Bad series finale, which aired in 2013,' the Journal reported last year. Adding: 'How Cranston's meth king character Walter White would factor into such a story is unclear (as White died in the finale).' Breaking Bad aired on AMC for five seasons from 2008-2013. The series boasts 16 Prime Time Emmy wins and 58 nominations as well as two Peabody Awards. Accolades: Bryan Cranston took home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times For his role, Bryan Cranston took home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times and co-star Aaron Paul earned three Emmy's for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Cranston was on The Tonight Show promoting The Upside, which he has taken criticism for due to playing a disabled character. 'We live in the world of criticism,' the said in response to critics during a news conference, Sky News reported. Promotions: Cranston was on The Tonight Show promoting The Upside, which he has taken criticism for due to playing a disabled character 'If we're willing to get up and try something, we have to also be willing to take criticism. We're very aware of the need to expand the opportunities for people with disabilities.' The Oscar-nominated performer said that 'being cast in this role as a quadriplegic really came down to a business decision.' During Cranston's segment on Fallon, he performed in a skit as a nerdy high school student with the host and To All The Boys I've Loved Before breakout star Lana Condor. Loose Women viewers lambasted Gloria Hunniford during Friday's show, after she repeatedly referred to transgender women as 'he/she.' The Irish broadcaster, 78, used the derogatory term during a heated debate about whether transgender patients should be placed in separate NHS hospital rooms, with many viewers branding her language 'appalling' and 'transphobic.' Meanwhile many viewers also praised Stacey Solomon, 29, who insisted that everyone should be able to identify as whatever gender they wish. Shocking: Loose Women viewers lambasted Gloria Hunniford during Friday's show, after she repeatedly referred to transgender women as 'he/she' During the heated debate, Gloria repeatedly referred to trans women as men, and also panellists, Stacey, Andrea McLean and Nadia Sawalha: 'If a man still has his willy and all his tackle then as far as I am concerned he-she is a man.' But Stacey quickly countered: 'Just because someone who identifies as a women but hasn't had the operation, which is a really extreme operation... because it's quite extreme and a lot to go through. 'However for all their lives they have felt like a woman or a man and feeling like they are inside the wrong body. 'For me I feel if you wouldn't want to be on a ward with the opposite gender, then these women, who identify as women, feel exactly the same as you. 'They do not want to be on a ward with men because they have always felt they are a woman.' Controversial: Meanwhile Stacey Solomon was praised for defending the transgender community, with many branding her views 'a breath of fresh air' Her words sparked outrage from many viewers, who complained that she was using the wrong terminology to describe the transgender community. One furiously wrote: '@loosewomen tell Gloria the correct terminology would be 'they.' Not he/she #supporttransrights.' Another added: 'What Andrea McLean and Gloria Hunniford have essentially said is 'I'm happy for you to be what you want to be, just as long as it's not in my face.' A third also pointed out: 'Your discussion today on transgender people in the NHS was appalling. The intro itself by Andrea included nothing but negative connotations and words. And then @nadiasawalha asked why trans people cant just have a pvt room?? Thank goodness for @Stacey Solomon as always.' Heated: Gloria used the term during a panel discussion about whether transgender patients should be placed in separate NHS hospital rooms Angry: Gloria's words sparked outrage from many viewers, who complained that she was using the wrong terminology to describe the transgender community And among outraged viewers was RuPaul's Drag Race and Celebrity Big Brother star Michelle Visage, who suggested that they invited a member of the transgender community onto the show as a way to justify their views. She posted: 'Here's an idea @loosewomen how about you have a TRANS woman on there to speak rather than be spoke ABOUT? no one is equipped for this conversation and that's NOT fair.' A viewer also replied in agreement: 'Literally!!! Four women commenting on how a trans person feels. Invite a trans person to explain their feelings instead.' Do this! Among the viewers was RuPaul's Drag Race and Celebrity Big Brother star Michelle Visage, who suggested they invite a member of the transgender community onto the show Meanwhile Stacey's words were inundated with praise from viewers who welcomed her calm and balanced approach to the issue. One person wrote on Twitter: 'Thank you Stacey for standing up for the transgender community... you were the only one on that panel who really seemed to get it.' Another also wrote: 'Loving @StaceySolomon on @loosewomen today speaking about trans rights, so well spoken and compassionate. Why do we as a society feel the need to devalue somebodies rights and ignore something as simple as Equality.' 'Well done Stacey! Need more people like you supporting trans peoples rights. A trans man is a man, a trans woman is a woman.' Important: Meanwhile Stacey's words were inundated with praise from viewers who welcomed her calm and balanced approach to the issue One viewer also posted: 'The support @StaceySolomon was giving the trans community on @loosewomen this morning was a breath of fresh air. Thank god for empathetic people like her on daytime TV.' Another also tweeted: '@Stacey Solomon speaking with wonderful integrity and compassion on @loosewomen about #trans matters within the @NHSuk and #hospitals #bravo.' Eventually the matter was put to rest by lead host Andrea, while Nadia added that she agreed with 'everybody's views.' She told her 12.2 million fans earlier in the week that she was suffering from the flu. But that didn't stop Lily Collins from sticking to her daily workout routine. The 29-year-old actress was spotted out and about on Wednesday following a sweat session in Los Angeles. Health first: Lily Collins showcased her fit and healthy physique as she headed to the gym on Wednesday in Los Angeles, amid suffering from the flu Lily kept warm in a black tank and a matching pair of tights that hugged her fit physique. She teamed the look with a grey hued Tna for Aritzia Super Puff jacket and kept a low profile with some round shades. The To The Bone star star had her brunette tresses styled out straight and appeared to be wearing no makeup. Off-duty: She teamed the look with a grey hued puffer jacket and kept a low profile with some round shades Low profile: The To The Bone star star had her brunette tresses styled out straight and appeared to be wearing no makeup Lily's appearance comes after she took to social media to share a gym selfie with her fans. 'Working up a sweat to work off the flu...' she captioned the shot. The daughter of UK artist Phil Collins had her dark tresses styled up and drew attention to her perfectly arched brows and long lashes. Staying fit: 'Working up a sweat to work off the flu...' she captioned the shot Latest role: Lily is currently starring in the BBC mini-series, Les Miserables as Fantine, a young orphaned girl in Paris who becomes pregnant by a French student Lily is currently starring in the BBC mini-series, Les Miserables as Fantine, a young orphaned girl in Paris who becomes pregnant by a French student. After he abandons her, she is forced to look after their child Cosette on her own. Based on the 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, it tells the tale of Jean Valjean who vows to change his destiny, as he is saved by a random act of kindness after years of imprisonment. Told under the veil of the French Revolution, the series will show how Valjean encounters and adopts a young Cosette, as she falls in love with Marius along with the troubled Eponine. Premise: Based on the 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, it tells the tale of Jean Valjean who vows to change his destiny, as he is saved by a random act of kindness after years of imprisonment It has been adapted by television heavyweight Andrew Davies, who is also well known for his 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice - which starred Colin Firth is his breakout role - and 2016's War and Peace. The first episode premiered in December with the series consisting of a total of six episodes. The series stars Dominic West as Jean Valjean while Olivia Coleman portrays Madame Thenardier. Runs in the family: Lily is the daughter of UK musician Phil Collins I would hope Mr. Miller, House Speaker Michael Busch and Gov. Larry Hogan can now see fit to ensure during this legislative session that Maryland state retirees will be able to continue on with their prescription drug program that was promised to them as a condition of employment and not be forced to sign up for Medicare D as was planned for this calendar year thanks to Gov. Martin OMalley. He enjoyed the festive season in his native Scotland. And Gerard Butler resumed his movie star filming duties, as he shot intense scenes in Shoreditch, East London on Thursday. The actor, 49, looked in his element as he filmed the action packed scene which saw him running for his life as he was chased by photographers. Action packed: Gerard Butler, 49, resumed his movie star filming duties as he shot intense scenes in Shoreditch, East London on Thursday Clad in an all grey ensemble, Gerard was in character as he sprinted down the street while continuously turning around to see the distance between him and the photographers. The filming crew were seen driving parallel to the star along with motorcycles as scenes where filmed for the unidentified movie. This comes after Gerard recently touched down in Scotland where he shared breathtaking views of his homeland to the delight of his US fans. After a tough year, the star filmed himself against the backdrop of a loch, while mentioning: 'Scotland. Ach, it's good to be home.' Chase scene: The actor looked in his element as he filmed the action packed scene which saw him running for his life as he was chased by photographers Star: Clad in an all grey ensemble, Gerard was in character as he sprinted down the street while continuously turning around to see the distance between him and the photographers Cameras rolling: The filming crew were seen driving parallel to the star along with motorcycles as scenes where filmed for the unidentified movie Gerard was born and raised in Paisley, Renfrewshire and was a law student at the University of Glasgow before he moved to London to become an actor. The video has received more than 231,000 views on the film star's Twitter account with many of his fans saying they now wan to book a trip. One wrote: 'Oh my heavens...that is a gorgeous countryside! I hope to set foot on Scotland soil someday, bucket list goal.' Another said: 'So beautiful. Would love to see it for myself...one can dream.' Scenery: This comes after Gerard recently touched down in Scotland where he shared breathtaking views of his homeland to the delight of his US fans Difficult: Gerard's stay in Scotland comes after a tough few months. Butler was one of a host of celebrities whose home was affected by the fires which spread rapidly across California (Pictured November) Home: Gerard was born and raised in Paisley, Renfrewshire and was a law student at the University of Glasgow before he moved to London to become an actor While others took the opportunity to send the actor a flirty message, with one fan writing: 'Looks gorgeous...so does Scotland.' The actor trip back home came hot on the heels of a recent trip to Haiti where he highlighted the work of Mary's Meals who feed school children from some of the poorest country's in the world. Gerard's stay in Scotland comes after a tough few months. He was one of a host of celebrities whose home was affected by the fires which spread rapidly across California. On November 10 he returned to his home to find it damaged by the fast-moving Woolsey fire. Where it all began: After a tough year, the star filmed himself against the backdrop of a loch, while mentioning: 'Scotland. Ach, it's good to be home' Fans: The video has received more than 231,000 views on the film star's Twitter account with many of his fans saying they now wan to book a trip. He shared an Instagram of the devastation as he stood in front of the remains of building and his burned out truck. The 48-year-old captioned it: 'Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California. 'Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you @LosAngelesFireDepartment. ' And he ended with a heartfelt plea saying: 'If you can, support these brave men and women at SupportLAFD.org. Trip: The actor trip back home came hot on the heels of a recent trip to Haiti where he highlighted the work of Mary's Meals who feed school children from some of the poorest country's in the world Gerard was also admitted to a private health centre in the capital of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic in November, according to local reports. While doctors suspected appendicitis, further tests and an MRI revealed that Gerard was suffering from diverticulitis, it has been claimed by publications Pop & Arte and Graficas.com. Diverticulitis is a digestive condition which prompts small bulges or pockets to develop in the lining of the large intestine, causing it to become inflamed or infected. Candice Swanepoel has a swimwear line called Tropic Of C and every week she treats her fans to new images of her designs on social media. On Thursday the 30-year-old Victoria's Secret alum posted a photo where she was in a skintight light green swimsuit that did little to hide her figure. The siren - who welcomed her second child, Ariel Swanepoel Nicoli, in 2018 - said in the caption that she had 'wanderlust.' Flawless lady: Candice Swanepoel has a swimwear line called Tropic Of C and every week she treats her fans to new images of her designs on social media. On Thursday the 30-year-old Victoria's Secret alum posted a photo where she was in a skintight light green swimsuit that did little to hide her figure The lingerie model's full caption read, 'New day, new week...#thec #sage #wanderlust.' The star was in a desert setting as she flaunted her 5ft10in frame. She is as lean as can be and has said she is an impressive 119lbs. The suit was from resort 2019 as is called The C. It costs $150 and the product description reads as follows: 'a classic one piece silhouette in a matte fabric. designed with a low scoop neckline, skinny elastic cording straps in matching color and pearl edging. featuring high cut legs to elongate the body.' Her vive: The siren - who welcomed her second child, Ariel Swanepoel Nicoli, in 2018 - said in the caption that she had 'wanderlust' Earlier this month she wore a color she called 'sage.' She had on a low cut one piece swimsuit that fell of her tanned shoulders. The suit also made the most of her long, lean legs as she added a smart wide-brimmed hat on. And she was also seen in a two piece that fit her perfectly. She looked every inch the lingerie model as she sizzled in a skimpy bikini during her scintillating seaside frolic. Lovely to look at in swimwear: Leggy Swanepoel is seen here in a light blue two piece suit in December Toned to perfection: Her tummy was put on display making it obvious she has been working out nonstop since welcoming her second child Her toned tummy and sculpted abs were on center stage as she posed on big boulders. Candice walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - which aired this months - after welcoming her son in June. The model - who also has son Anaca, two - has revealed the secrets to her pre-show preparations, saying she combines a strict fitness regime with the everyday stresses of parenting. A little 1950s vibe: She had on a low cut one piece swimsuit that fell of her tanned shoulders. The suit also made the most of her long, lean legs as she added a smart wide-brimmed hat on Candice quipped: 'Taking care of two kids will get you in shape real quick.' On top of looking after her children, the South African star also did about three to four workouts per week - which included training with ankle weights and doing squats - in preparation for this year's show. Candice is now a veteran of the runway and even though deep breathing techniques have helped to calm some of her nerves, she still feels anxious before a big show. One of the most elegant models in the business: The pinup wore large double hoop earrings and elegant makeup with red lips She told E! News: 'I'm a ball of nerves before the show. I feel like each year I get more and more nervous - I don't know why. 'But nerves are healthy. You need a little adrenaline to really kill it.' Meanwhile, Candice previously admitted that raising two young children is 'pretty intense' - but it's also an experience she's relishing. Her pride and joy: Here is a photo of her two children that are relatively close in age She said: 'It's pretty intense, but it's amazing. To see the love between them is amazing. It's a lot, I'm not gonna lie. The second one is a lot easier, but the situation of having two makes it harder.' Despite the challenges, Candice insisted she dreams of one day having a 'bunch of kids'. She said: 'I don't plan too much into the future. 'I believe a lot in destiny and that what happens - you can try to manifest certain things, but I definitely do want to continue having a great career and building my family as well because I'm really loving that. I definitely want to have a bunch of kids.' Catwalk time: Candice walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - which aired this months - after welcoming her son in June. The model - who also has son Anaca, two - has revealed the secrets to her pre-show preparations, saying she combines a strict fitness regime with the everyday stresses of parenting Georgia Fowler's famous figure was on display at the Stella Artois Polo Welcome Dinner on Friday. The Victoria's Secret model posed for photos at the launch of the prestigious Portsea Polo, held along Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. The 26-year-old turned heads in an unusual white dress which consisted of sheer, mesh panels in a crisscross pattern. It's all white! Georgia Fowler cuts a slender figure in a see-through mesh dress at the prestigious Portsea Polo welcome dinner in Victoria Fanning out in parts, the design offered glimpses of the beauty's toned, tanned legs. A delicate bust design featured a sweetheart neckline and a panel of sheer fabric in a grey tone. Marbled detailing featured throughout the dress, in fine lines that brought to mind a geological motif. Chic: The 26-year-old turned heads in an unusual white dress which consisted of sheer, mesh panels in a crisscross pattern All smiles: Georgia wore her hair back off her face but for wavy, brunette tendrils hanging down gently The beauty added a pair of black heels in a matching crisscross pattern and a pointed design. She kept her accessories minimal put for a pair of statement earrings in a pale pink tone. Georgia wore her hair back off her face but for wavy, brunette tendrils hanging down gently. Pretty: She opted for a neutral makeup palette consisting of a dusty rose nude lipstick and lined eyes with a peachy eye-shadow She opted for a neutral makeup palette consisting of a dusty rose nude lipstick and lined eyes with a peachy eye-shadow. Also at the event was actor Luke Bracey, who looked dapper indeed in a dark blue jacket with white shirt underneath. He added a pair of beige slacks and matching canvas boat shoes a pair of sunglasses resting in the collar of his shirt. Their romance was extremely turbulent before an acrimonious split in 2017. Yet Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks appear to be putting their woes behind them as they prepare for the forthcoming series of Celebs Go Dating, in which they will both look for love on-screen in a controversial double casting. The 26-year-old former TOWIE star, who started dating when she entered the show in 2016, looked at ease with her former beau who was puffing a cigarette. Happy days: Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks appear to be putting their woes behind them as they prepare for the forthcoming series of Celebs Go Dating, in which they will both look for love on-screen in a controversial double casting Megan and Pete's romance was first rocked in 2016 when he was outed for texting an ex-girlfriend leading to an explosive confrontation on a Marbella beach. She first joined TOWIE in March 2016, following stints on CBB, Ex On The Beach and Britain's Got Talent, after which she immediately became involved with Pete in a flurry of dates and romance. The duo began dating and became one of the Essex 'It Couples', although Megan was left heartbroken when she discovered in September of the same year that Pete had been sexting his ex Jacqui Ryland. Megan's appeaarance on the show come a month after she addressed her break up from Mike Thalassitis as she confessed it was 'pretty awkward'. Here they come: The 26-year-old former TOWIE star, who started dating when she entered the show in 2016, looked at ease with her former beau who was puffing a cigarette Out and about: The duo were chilling out with their co-star Sam Thompson Glam: She first joined TOWIE in March 2016, following stints on CBB, Ex On The Beach and Britain's Got Talent, after which she immediately became involved with Pete in a flurry of dates and romance Mike confirmed their split in July after he was seen moving his belongings out of Megan's home before she deleted all trace of him on Instagram. Although insisting 'everything happens for a reason', the High Heeled Shoes hit maker stressed she was keeping 'very busy' to help heal her heartache. Megan revealed she had been on holiday to Ibiza just shortly after the break up and she had been focusing on her music to 'clear' her head. Back for good: Megan and Pete's romance was first rocked in 2016 when he was outed for texting an ex-girlfriend leading to an explosive confrontation on a Marbella beach New pastures: The former couple are looking for love on the all-star dating show Rage: The duo began dating and became one of the Essex 'It Couples', although Megan was left heartbroken when she discovered in September of the same year that Pete had been sexting his ex Jacqui Ryland She elaborated: It's pretty awkward, I do think everything happens for a reason, I've been away, I've cleared my head, I'm very busy I'm doing my music. I'm working on an album. I just feel like everything does happen for a reason, the path I'm going on right now... The reality star couple had been known for documenting their lavish holidays and romantic date nights together on social media. Sparks first started flying when they were dating in March, with their romance immediately taking off with a holiday to Barbados together. However, two months later the pair had unfollowed each other on social media and they were seen in a fierce row in the street following a night out. She has jetted to the Far East for a whirlwind promotional tour. And Miranda Kerr proved to be her best spokesmodel as she put on an angelic appearance at a promotional event for her Kora Organics skincare range in Tokyo on Friday. The supermodel, 35, showed off her glowing skin and lithe frame as she posed up fo the cameras in a floaty pastel pink gown. Angelic: Miranda Kerr proved to be her best spokesmodel as she put on an angelic appearance at a promotional event for her Kora Organics skincare range in Tokyo on Friday The Vogue coverstar's elegant gown featured a high-neck with keyhole detail, and cinched in at her slender waist. Billowing sleeves added drama to the look, with an A-line skirt completing the outfit. Cutting high on her toned legs, the star boosted her statuesque frame with white and rose print stilettos, with a rose gold tip. Her dewy complexion was enhanced with peachy blush, mascara and bronze shadow, completed with a slick of rose lipstick. Supermodel chic: The supermodel, 35, showed off her glowing skin and lithe frame as she posed up fo the cameras in a floaty pastel pink gown The beauty wore her brunette tresses sleek and straight in a middle parting. Miranda welcomed her second son, Hart, in May 2018 with husband, Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel, 28. The couple tied the knot in an intimate backyard ceremony at the billionaire businessman's home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles in May 2017, in front of just 45 family and friends. Miranda and Evan made their debut as a couple in June 2015 after first meeting at a Louis Vuitton dinner in New York City in 2014. Smitten: Miranda welcomed her second son, Hart, in May 2018 with husband, Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel, 28 The former also has a son Flynn, eight, with her ex-husband, Pirates Of The Caribbean star Orlando Bloom, 41, who she was married to from 2010 to 2013. Miranda recently spoke out about encouraging women to be positive about their bodies after childbirth. Speaking in an interview with the January issue of Marie Claire magazine, she said: 'It's really important that we're gentle with ourselves and don't feel like we have to snap into shape after a baby. 'I took nine months - well, 10 months - to grow a beautiful child and it might take 10 months to feel good in a swimsuit again. Or longer. Or never.' She failed to win the heart of Richie Strahan on season four of The Bachelor. But Olena Khamula has had her happy ending after all, becoming engaged to her boyfriend of just over two years, Rodney Maroun. The 26-year-old took to Instagram stories on Friday to share a video of the romantic proposal, showing off her ring and declaring, 'I said yes!' 'I said yes!' The Bachelor's Olena Khamula (left) is engaged to her boyfriend of two years Rodney Maroun (right)... after reaching the final three in Richie Strahan's season A series of clips also included the pair flying in a sea plane to a romantic destination, with Rodney surprising the Ukrainian beauty with the trip. The Sydney-based makeup artist shared a photo of the pair together in the the plane, the blonde oblivious to what was coming next. Next, Rodney is seen on a small, red rowboat, taking his future fiancee across the water. Over the moon! The 26-year-old took to Instagram stories to share a video of the romantic proposal, showing off her ring and declaring: 'I said yes!' What's in store? A series of clips also included the pair flying in a sea plane to a romantic destination, with Rodney surprising the Ukrainian beauty with the trip Surprise! Rodney is seen on a small, red rowboat, taking his future fiancee across the water Once the pair arrived at a waterside restaurant, they held hands over the table, the sparkler visible. Rodney looked visibly overjoyed at getting a yes, beaming for the camera as Olena showed off the sparkler. The couple have been dating been dating since October 2016, with things getting serious after a vacation to Greece in 2017. So happy: The couple have been dating been dating since October 2016, with things getting serious after a vacation to Greece in 2017 Smitten: The former reality star gushed over her new found love, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'I'm really happy I've found the one for me' Earlier that year, the former reality star gushed over her new found love, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'I'm really happy I've found the one for me.' 'It's going well, everything's been going great and we have a very good connection,' she added. The model had previously been concerned that no man would date her, due to her intimidating father, Andriy, a former champion boxer. 'I am going to be single for the rest of my life with my dad in the picture. [Guys] are so scared of him' she told Fairfax at the time. She has been busy filming scenes for her upcoming film, Last Christmas. And Emilia Clarke was clearly feeling the chill as she resumed shooting for the comedy romance in London on Thursday night. The former Game Of Thrones star, 32, was seen outside a pub as she desperately tried to keep warm while holding a hot water bottle while clad in a leopard print coat and pink scarf. Winter shooting: Emilia Clarke, 32, was clearly feeling the chill as she resumed shooting for the comedy romance Last Christmas in London on Thursday night While she cut an incredibly stylish figure, Emilia was clearly freezing as she gripped the hot water bottle close to her chest. Her statement animal print outerwear was teamed atop floral print midi-dress. Emilia's height was boosted with a pair of lace-up block heels, adding a slight grunge touch. She boasted a glamorous coat of make-up, which complemented her short blonde locks. Cold: The former Game Of Thrones star was seen outside a pub as she desperately tried to keep warm while holding a hot water bottle while clad in a leopard print coat and pink scarf Emilia plays the movie's leading role, a girl named Kate, with the movie set in the capital and centred around a holiday romance. She is set to star alongside Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Goulding, who plays her love interest Tom. Last Christmas follows Emilia's character Kate, who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop and is prone to making bad decisions, and her relationship with Tom (Golding) a guy she meets and immediately seems 'too good to be true'. Feeling the chill: While she cut an incredibly stylish figure, Emilia was clearly freezing as she gripped the hot water bottle close to her chest It's a busy time for Emma who is also currently filming her new drama Years & Years in Manchester. Emma will play a charismatic celebrity-turned-politician in the upcoming BBC and HBO drama from Doctor Who's Russell T. Davies. The story follows one British family, the Lyons, over 15 years, starting in 2019, through political instability, technological advances and a changing economy. Rory Kinnear, Russell Tovey and Jessica Hynes also star. Role: Emilia plays the movie's leading role, a girl named Kate, with the movie set in the capital and centred around a holiday romance She kicked off the New Year on quite the celebratory note, excitedly announcing her engagement to billionaire partner Doug Barrowman. And Michelle Mone, 47, has revealed that her relationship with Doug marks a return to romantic happiness, after enduring an acrimonious divorce from her ex-husband Michael Mone a period which she has branded 'the worst time in [her] life'. In an interview on ITV's This Morning, the Ultimo founder said: 'I'm very, very happy after my divorce. It was the worst time in my life...' Scroll down for video Romantic bliss: Michelle Mone gushed about her relationship with new fiance Doug Barrowman during an appearance on ITV's This Morning on Friday Michael the father of her three children left her in 2011 after 19 years and started a relationship with Samantha Bunn, a close family friend and senior employee. Then, after a bitter divorce that cost Michelle 24million to buy Michael out of the familys Ultimo lingerie business, he announced he was setting up a rival firm with Samantha as his chief lingerie designer. Recalling how she weathered the resulting storm, Michelle explained on Friday: 'You just don't know what to do, but you've just got to dig deep and try your best to turn your life around. Much to celebrate: She kicked off the New Year on quite the celebratory note, excitedly announcing her engagement to billionaire partner Doug Barrowman 'I'm just a human being like everyone else. Every day is a school day. I'm not perfect, I just do my best everyday and try my best.' Michelle recently spoke exclusive with MailOnline about Doug's romantic Christmas Eve proposal and plans for their wedding, admitting she's 'scared' about her upcoming hen party. The Scottish beauty who on Wednesday launched 'Connect 2 Michelle Mone', a free app for those seeking advice, guidance and inspiration opened up about how Doug asked her to become his wife. Michelle explained: 'It was Christmas Eve. The night of Christmas Eve, and I was running around organising presents and everything else. 'And then, Doug said he wanted to talk to me in the drawing room. The whole family were in the house, so he closed the double doors. The worst time: The Ultimo founder branded her acrimonious divorce from ex-husband Michael Mone 'the worst time in [her] life' 'We were in front of the big Christmas tree and he said: "I want to tell you something," and I went: "Oh no, what is it?" - I thought it was something bad that he wanted to tell me. Fearing the worst, Michelle explained that her trepidation grew as he asked her to sit down on the sofa. 'I sat down and he said: "I just want to tell you that I love you so, so much," and I thought: "What else are you gonna tell me?" 'He went, "Well, I want to ask you something?" and I thought: "Oh no, what is it?" and then he went down on one knee and asked me to marry him.' 'I had my hand over my mouth and my face, and I was going: "Oh no, oh no, oh no," until he said: "What's your answer? Hurry up, you've not given me your answer."' Happy love life: The Scottish beauty, 47, was all smiles as she gushed about her happy love life Dazzling diamond: Her dazzling diamond ring was on prominent display on Friday morning After finally composing herself, Michelle managed to give Doug her response. She said: '"I'm sorry, yes of course. I'm just in complete shock." And that was it.' With no ring in his hand, Michelle explains that he pointed her to the 'horrible' Christmas card which he'd given her earlier on. 'He got me a really romantic Christmas card, but he got me this other, really horrible one of an ape holding a beer. 'He said: "You know the horrible Christmas card that you hate. Go and look behind the card," and I looked behind it and there was a big box. 'He said: "Lift the box and open it," so I did and there was the most incredible ring. It was absolutely perfect. He knew my size was M after my name.' Doug proposed with a sparkling eight carat diamond placed on a silver band surrounded by smaller diamonds. Michelle revealed that none of their family members knew that the proposal was coming, saying: 'No-one had a clue. Chat: The businesswoman sat down with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford for her interview Politics: The baroness, who is a mother of three, also spoke about her life as a parliamentarian 'My daughter was in the house, so we went and told her, and then we told his dad who was in the house. And then we phoned my mum and dad and all of our other kids.' The businesswoman admitted that wedding planning hasn't begun, but that she has her eye on the pair marrying 'at the end of this year' at the earliest. She said: 'We need to plan it. Big, small, Scotland, London, abroad? Right now, both of us don't have a clue. But we need to decide. There are no plans whatsoever. 'It's definitely going to be towards the end of this year, because we need time to plan. So it'll definitely be at the end of this year, at least - maybe even the beginning of next year.' And, as she looks forward to their big day, Michelle revealed that she's terrified of what her hen party will entail. Strike a pose: Before exiting the London studio, she posed for a snapshot with her interviewers The Ultimo founder said: 'I think my friends will organise it, I'm actually scared. The majority of my friends are Irish and they're mental. I'll have to do on a detox after it. 'My daughters will definitely be coming on the hen party though, definitely.' And, regarding Doug's stag-go, Michelle has a fairly laid-back approach, saying: 'He can do whatever he likes, within reason.' The blonde beauty opened up about the first time she met her beau, revealing that they ended up out in a London club until 4.30am. 'We both invested in the same tech company. We met at a share holders dinner. I was only going along for a quick drink. I couldn't be annoyed with anything that night. Stylish: She cut a stylish figure, stepping out in a semi-sheer lacy top with fitted black trousers 'I got talking to Doug and he convinced me to stay with them for dinner. I stayed for dinner and then the two of us, on a school night, ended up going to Tramp nightclub in London, which I've never been to in my life. 'I'm into nightclubs at all. We stayed there until like 4.30 in the morning, and then he dropped me home. We met at 6.30, and we ended at 4.30, so ten hours of talking. 'So after that we became friends. We were friends for a while before we actually went out.' The successful pair, who came together through business, have much more in common that meets the eye, according to Michelle. 'We've got so, so much in common. We're both creatives, both entrepreneurs. I really look up to Doug as an entrepreneur. He teaches me a lot as well. Covering up: As she departed, she threw a smart black coat over her eye-catching ensemble 'It's no nice that we've got a lot in common. We have so much fun as well, and we love spending time with our families.' 'Him growing up, me growing up in the same part of Glasgow. That whole culture thing brings us together.' The pair share seven Children between them, and Michelle says that 'hey all get along great. So it makes it all so much nicer.' And despite constant travel, with speaking engagement all over the world, the bra mogul says that they don't actually spend much time apart. Handbag: Standing tall in a pair of black heels, she accessorised with a taupe leather handbag 'We tend to go away together. Doug is a very very busy guy. But if I've got a big speaking event in Singapore, for example, he'll say: "Well why don't we go together and spend a few days there." 'We're very very rarely apart. It's only sometimes during the week that we might be apart.' Just a week after their engagement, the businesswoman launched her new app Connect 2 Michelle Mone, which is free to download. She explained: 'The app isn't just for entrepreneurs. It's for everyone who's looking for motivation or inspiration. So you can be working for someone else, or be unemployed at the moment, or have a business, or you want to start a business. 'The app is there to really help people and motivate people in different sections. It's taken 14 months to make the app and create the videos, and hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment, that has not been government backed. It's all been funded by myself. Exciting plans: Michelle recently spoke exclusively to MailOnline about Doug's romantic Christmas Eve marriage proposal 'And hopefully the app will grow and we can have events, and bring everyone together and it can be a real network for people. 'I always have thousands of people asking for my help and it's difficult to give one-on-one advice, so hopefully this app can help. There's nothing really out there like this.' Michelle revealed that if she could have given her younger self any business advice, it would have been to have more confidence. She said: 'I wish I wasn't as nervous. I wish I wasn't as scared. But you know, it's those ingredients that make you hungry and make you determined. 'I'm a lot more relaxed now than I've ever been and I suppose that's down to being more mature and learning a lot about business, and real life experience. I'm an oldie now,' she laughed. They tied the knot in July 2014 and are now doting parents to daughters, Dusty Rose, two, and Gio Grace, 11 months. And Behati Prinsloo has now gushed over her romance with husband Adam Levine as she admits it was 'love at first sight' after they finally met following a slew of email exchanges. In the interview with NET-A-PORTERs digital magazine, PorterEdit, the Namibian model, 30, also candidly discussed her battle with postpartum depression after giving birth to her first daughter Dusty. Candid: Behati Prinsloo, 30, has gushed over her romance with husband Adam Levine, 39, as she admits it was 'love at first sight' after they finally met following a slew of email exchanges Behati has been happier than ever with Adam ever since they exchanged vows at the picturesque Flora Farms in Mexico in front of a 300 strong guest list including Robert Downey Jnr, Jason Segal and Jonah Hill. And reflecting on the beginning of her relationship with the Maroon 5 frontman, the catwalk queen admitted she first shared a 'natural correspondence' with him over email. 'I met my husband through a mutual friend. Adam was looking for a girl for a music video that could do some action stuff, and our friend was like, "You should meet Behati because shes a total tomboy and down for anything." 'So he emailed me asking if I could do it. I ended up not doing it, but we kept emailing each other. It was such a natural correspondence that we kind of fell in love over email,' Behati gushed. Honest: In the interview with NET-A-PORTERs digital magazine, PorterEdit , the model also discussed her battle with postpartum depression after giving birth to her first daughter Dusty Love: Behati and Adam exchanged vows at the picturesque Flora Farms in Mexico in front of a 300 strong guest list including Robert Downey Jnr, Jason Segal and Jonah Hill The Victoria's Secret model admitted that month later she went to LA for a job where she met him in person. 'Then he took me for dinner and we talked for hours and had the best time. It was love at first sight, it was crazy. 'We broke up for two months, realised that it was the worst decision, then got back together, got engaged and got married. It was a wild ride!' Behati gushed. However, not everything has been smooth sailing as she reflected on her suffering from postpartum depression after her first child. Beginning: Reflecting on the beginning of her relationship with the Maroon 5 frontman, the catwalk queen admitted she first shared a 'natural correspondence' with him over email 'It was love at first sight': The Victoria's Secret model admitted that month later she went to LA for a job where she met him in person 'It was difficult to get back into normal life, but after the second one everything felt so much easier; it was easier for me to workout, breastfeeding was easier,' she admitted. Known for runway prowess, Behati returned to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2008, a mere eight months after giving birth to her second child. 'I felt so empowered. I was like, "I can do this, I have two kids. It was a beautiful journey; I loved being pregnant and I enjoyed getting back to work.' 'Difficult to get back into normal life': However, not everything has been smooth sailing as she reflected on her suffering from postpartum depression after her first child 'I felt so empowered': Known for runway prowess, Behati returned to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2008, a mere eight months after giving birth to her second child She also reiterated the fact that she didn't feel any pressure to go back to work and get back into shape after having children. 'Ive been modelling for 15 years and when I got pregnant I didnt want to do anything, I wanted to enjoy my time. I really liked being pregnant and not working. 'No one pressured me to return to work, not even Victorias Secret, who I was under contract with they never asked me when I was going to be back.' Behati was only 16 when she was discovered while on holiday in Cape Town and made her Victoria's Secret debut in 2007. To see the full interview, read PorterEdit and/or download the Net-A-Porter app for iPhone, iPad and Android. He was appearing on the breakfast favourite to talk about the return of his show Tin Star. But many viewers have taken to Twitter to slam Tim Roth's interview on Lorraine, as they insist he looks 'bored' and 'doesn't want to be there.' The 57-year-old actors interview - which was riddled with lengthy pauses - also saw the star admit he would never recommend anyone pursue a career in acting, branding it 'a nightmare.' Not good: Lorraine fans have taken to Twitter to slam Tim Roth's most recent interview, as they insisted he looks 'bored' and 'half asleep' During the chat, Tim was tight-lipped about his character's fate in the second series of Tin Star, after the last installment saw him battling for life in the snow. He said: 'Well it's tricky, it's such a bonkers character that the journey from the beginning to the end of this season is very very rocky very bumpy.' The Reservoir Dogs star also said that he got on well with his co-stars, adding: 'Actors always lie about that they generally say I love working with so and so and you think yeah right, but this lot... yeah.' Candid: The 57-year-old actor was appearing on the breakfast favourite to talk about the second series of his drama Tin Star Opinionated: Tim also described his character in the drama as 'bonkers,' but added that he enjoyed working with his co-stars Funny: He added: 'Actors always lie about that they generally say I love working with so and so and you think yeah right, but this lot... yeah' Strange: Many fans took to social media following the interview to insist he looked 'bored' Odd: As Lorraine introduced the show during Good Morning Britain Tim also appeared alongside Grantchester star Tom Brittney Many fans took to social media following the chat saying that it was 'uncomfortable' to watch, as many added that Tim looked 'bored' and half asleep. One viewer wrote on Twitter: 'Tim Roth clearly hates being interviewed,' while another added: 'Tim Roth, half asleep and wondering what he's doing on this 's***.' A third also posted: 'I've never seen anyone look so uncomfortable on that sofa #lorraine... he's far too cool to be sat there.' Bizarre: While one viewer pointed out Tim must 'hate being interviewed,' another said host Lorraine also looked 'bored' Open: Also during the interview Tim said he would never recommend anyone pursue a career in acting, branding it a 'nightmare' Funny: He also said it was harder now to land roles as there's 'only a few jobs going around' However others defended the veteran actor, instead saying he was very 'laid back' and 'down to earth' during the chat. One wrote: '#lorraine isn't Tim Roth really laid back. A chilled out odd character.' Another posted: 'Tim Roth is just too cool, favourite actor of all time.' Supportive: However others defended the veteran actor, instead saying he was very 'laid back' and 'down to earth' during the chat Iconic: Tim has spent almost 30 years in the acting spotlight, and has also worked with director Quentin Tarantino Back soon: He will next be appearing in Tarantino period crime caper Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, which along with a star-studded cast will be released in July 2019 Tim also admitted he would never recommend anybody pursue a career in acting, despite his son Jack, 34, following in his footsteps, playing Tim Staffell in Bohemian Rhapsody. 'Yeah he's doing alright isn't he? I would never encourage anybody to get into acting, it's a nightmare, you get lucky there's only a few jobs to go around,' he said. 'I love the whole, what's happened with TV, I love it, my kids watch stuff they have a while night and they go through it, right now they're watching the Sopranos.' Jovial: Despite the viewers responses Tim still appeared to be in good spirits throughout the interview With the stakes so high, we had hoped that the process for selecting Baltimores next police commissioner would involve community members even before a nominee was named as was done recently in San Diego and as is being done now in neighboring Baltimore County. To date, however, the process in Baltimore City has been inexplicably closed. This closed process is partially to blame for Joel Fitzgeralds tanked nomination, and it renders statements about embracing city residents as full public safety partners mere rhetoric. Now that another nominee has been announced, we hope the process will, at the very least, include multiple opportunities for community members to meet the nominee, question him and offer feedback to their elected representatives before the City Council decides whether to confirm the appointment. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) Panata is a word I kept hearing on Jan. 9 as I combed the streets of Manila during the annual Traslacion. The event, a day-long procession to move the Black Nazarene from Intramuros to Quiapo Church, attracts millions of devotees each year from nearby locales like Tondo, Baclaran, Sta. Ana, and Sta. Mesa, and neighboring cities like Quezon City, Caloocan, Mandaluyong, and San Juan their chapter names and hometowns printed on the backs of their maroon and yellow shirts. Panata means to make a vow, or more accurately, a vow of gratitude. But for some devotees, expressing this gratitude means more than traversing just the six kilometers from the Quirino Grandstand to the Basilica, but rather, as far as 100 kilometers from their hometowns. Following the procession, I walked along the route to talk to such devotees and learn why they make the journey out each year. For 41-year-old Joy Sapasap, she joins the procession to thank the Black Nazarene for her eldest child's good health. When he was younger, he was so sickly that he would end up in the hospital almost every week. Her father, a longtime devotee, advised her: Sabi ng tatay ko, ipampanata mo. Her eldest is now 23 years old, and as we speak is making his way to the andas, or the carriage, to join thousands of others in an attempt to touch or wipe a towel on the image an act that is said to bring good luck and healing. Nitong year na to, ang daming sakit, says 41-year-old Joy Sapasap. Pero naka-survive kami ... Yun bang, yung sa pagsubok na yun, [thankful] kami [sa Nazareno] kasi naka-survive kaming lahat. Photo by JILSON TIU Fourteen years old pa lang siya sumasampa na siya. Hinihintay na lang namin sila. Kaya parang nag-picnic kami dito, she says pointing to their spot on the sidewalk where several of her children nap on a blanket, each one with a VIVA NAZARENO headband tied around their foreheads. Sapasap grew up in Tondo and spent her childhood attending the procession with her father. Moving to Cavite with her husband did not deter her from returning, and has since continued the tradition with her own children. Hindi pa rin nawawala sa amin yung kultura namin at saka yung panata namin, she says. This year, she says that she and her family arent asking for much from the Black Nazarene, rather, they are here to give thanks for getting through the year. Nitong year na to, ang daming sakit. Ilan ang anak kong nagka-dengue? Dalawa. Bukod pa ako, says Sapasap. Pero naka-survive kami ... Yun bang, yung sa pagsubok na yun, [thankful] kami [sa Nazareno] kasi naka-survive kaming lahat. May hinihiling pa rin ako, pero hindi na [katulad] nung noon. Marami rin kaming blessing kasi. When Aiza Veldad's son contracted measles and pneumonia in 2013, her husband Frederick attended Traslacion in order to bring home a blessed towel, which the family believes helped him get better. Today, his wife, children, and mother-in-law join him for their first procession. Photo by JILSON TIU Nearby, seated on a tarp laid out on an island, are Aiza Veldad and her family, who live in Santa Rosa, Laguna. They too are here to give thanks to the Black Nazarene for saving their child, whom they have also brought along with them. Itong batang to, muntikan nang mamatay, says Aiza pointing to her son, who had contracted measles and pneumonia in 2013. Noong unang-unang punta [ng asawa ko] dito, kapapasok lang ng ospital. Siya lang pumunta [sa Traslacion] nung taon na yun, Aiza continues. Yung dala niyang towel pagpunta niya dito, inilatag lang namin doon sa higaan niya sa ospital. [Pagkatapos nun], lumaban siya. Pacita Lopez travels from Magalang, Pampanga each year to give thanks to the Black Nazarene for blessing her with a daughter. [Itong baby ko] nilimos namin dito, she says. Kaya lumaki na siya dito. Photo by JILSON TIU Further up the route, dozens of devotees seek shade at a jeepney terminal. Many also have their children in tow some as young as toddlers. Worshippers are advised not to bring young kids to the procession for their safety. But just like Sapasap and Veldad, they believe that the Black Nazarene is the very reason their children are alive. The same goes for Magalang, Pampanga resident Pacita Lopez. Lopez is a staunch devotee, commuting from Magalang to Manila not only for Traslacion, but for the fiesta of Tondo and Holy Week as well. She has been attending Traslacion since 1998, when she first asked the Black Nazarene to grant her with a child. Over 10 years later, she finally conceived a baby girl. Lopez has not stopped attending even after the birth of her daughter. Instead, she has made it a point to bring her along each year. [Itong baby ko] nilimos namin dito, she says of the eight-year-old girl beside her. Kaya lumaki na siya dito. *** Iba ang pakiramdam namin dito. Parang faith na po talaga namin na sumama dito, says Lemery, Batangas residents Aivan Balatar on why he, his aunt Jessica Avecilla, and their entire clan and neighbors have been attending the procession for 10 years. Photo by JILSON TIU Of all the people I spoke to, perhaps Jessica Avecilla and her nephew, Aivan Balatar, hailed from the farthest hometown. Coming from Lemery, Batangas, which is about three to four hours away from Manila, the two boarded a truck at midnight and arrived at Quirino with all their relatives and neighbors at around 4 a.m. Avecilla tells me that they are about 50 in total. Halos lahat ng pamilya namin nandito, says Balatar. Buong barrio po namin nandito. Si [Nazareno] po kasi dumarating sa amin every year, adds Balatar. Kasi tabing-dagat po kami. Then pag dinadala siya, maraming huli ng mga isda sa amin. Despite the yearly visits to their town, it has become their familys custom to make the trip out to Manila. This is their 10th year in attendance. When asked why they keep coming back, Balatar says, Iba ang pakiramdam namin dito. Parang faith na po talaga namin na sumama dito. Retired police officer Jun Odiver has been a devotee of the Black Nazarene for 30 years. Ipinamamana ko na sa kanila [ang tradisyon,] he says of his family, who started accompanying him five years ago. Photo by JILSON TIU At around noon somewhere near Carriedo, 60-year-old Jun Odiver makes his way towards the procession, which is now inching its way through Binondo. Coming from Bacoor, Cavite, Odiver left his home at 7 a.m., and had just arrived moments earlier. Odiver has been a devotee of the Black Nazarene since he became a policeman some 30 years ago, when he first joined the procession alone. He attributes his getting the job to his devotion, and continues to attend even long after he has retired. Nowadays, he no longer attends alone. He is joined by his family, whose good health he also thanks the Nazarene for. They have been accompanying him for years now, their attendance their devotion a family tradition of sorts. Siguro mga limang taon [na nila ako sinasamahan dito], says Odiver. Noon, ako lang mag-isa. Eh, syempre ngayon, [dahil matanda na ako] nahihirapan na tayo. Ipinamamana ko na sa kanila. Gwyneth Paltrow recently revealed that she was joined by her ex Chris Martin and his girlfriend Dakota Johnson while holidaying with her new husband Brad Falchuk. And 29-year-old actress Dakota looked relaxed and refreshed as she stepped out solo in Beverly Hills on Thursday, days after returning from the Maldives getaway. The Fifty Shades Of Grey star looked casually cool in a grey top under a black jacket, which she teamed with faded jeans and black patent platform shoes. Solo: Dakota Johnson was spotted stepping out solo in Beverly Hills, California, on Thursday Toting a claret red suede Gucci bag, the screen beauty let her dark, long locks fall beyond her shoulders with a centre parting, while she hid her eyes behind a pair of stylish sunglasses. Her outing came after Gwyneth, 46, revealed that she and her new husband Brad, 47, spent the holidays in the Maldives with her ex-husband Chris, 41, and his new love Dakota, their respective children, and Gwyneth's best friend and her family. 'It was a very modern honeymoon,' actress and lifestyle guru Gwyneth laughed as she was interviewed on Live With Kelly And Ryan on Wednesday. Casually cool: The Fifty Shades Of Grey star looked casually cool in a grey top under a black jacket, which she teamed with faded jeans and black patent platform shoes Modern: Her outing came after Gwyneth Paltrow revealed that she and her new husband Brad Falchuk spent the holidays in the Maldives with her ex Chris Martin and his new love Dakota Gwyneth explained: 'We just took our honeymoon in the Maldives and we had a big family honeymoon over Christmas. So, my new husband and his children, my children, my ex-husband, our best family friends. It was a very modern honeymoon.' She said the trip was far from awkward, despite the dynamics at play, adding: 'Oh, just great conversation and lots of kids. It was great. We had such a good time.' The actress and Glee producer Brad, who married in September, celebrated their union with a whirlwind tour of Europe's most romantic spots. So for their tropical break, they were more than happy to bring along a crowd. Amicable: Hollywood actress Dakota is in a relationship with British musician Chris Martin, left, who maintains a good relationship with Gwyneth and her new husband Revealtion: On Live With Kelly And Ryan on Wednesday, Gwyneth revealed the many others who joined her and Brad on their sun-kissed vacation to the Maldives While they have both now found love a second time round, Gwyneth and Coldplay rocker Chris have stayed in close contact since the 2014 end of their 10-year union. As well as spending Christmas in the Maldives, they were also together for Thanksgiving along with their offspring, daughter Apple, 14, and son Moses, 12. 'We just wanted to minimise the pain for the kids,' she explained. 'They just want to see their parents around the dinner table, basically, so we try to keep that.' Goop founder Gwyneth is making the media rounds this week to promote her newest cookbook, The Clean Plate, and was also on Good Morning America on Wednesday morning, where she talked of her love for Brad. When asked how they were finding marriage she said: 'I love it. Everything is great.' Snaps: During the trip, Gwyneth shared a number of snaps of her adventures on social media Sean Ward has revealed he was driven to the brink of suicide as he battled depression, addictions to drink, drugs and pornography and the trauma of being out of work. The former Coronation Street actor, 30, admitted he survived on two hours of sleep a night for six months, and would fall asleep 'sobbing into a bottle of vodka', after a vicious cycle of smoking cannabis and watching sex online. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: 'I nearly took my own life I'd think about it every day. I did actually plan how I was going to do it but I suppose I was too scared.' Brave: Sean Ward has revealed he was driven to the brink of suicide as he battled depression, addictions to drink, drugs and pornography and the trauma of being out of work Sean said his life began to spiral out of control around a year ago, when he returned home from filming Our Girl, and was rejected from around 50 auditions- rendering him out of work for nine months. Hitting rock bottom, he wrote a letter alluding to his death, which was discovered by his then girlfriend. His family then staged an intervention and the actor has now been sober for three months, and believes he is finally on a path to happiness. He said: 'It wasn't a suicide note but there were a few quotes in it that made her sit up and alarm bells were ringing,' he says. 'I had written that if people won't celebrate me in life, then maybe they will in death.' Sean, who played drug dealer Callum Logan in Coronation Street for one year from 2014, said he became a recluse and smoked 'thousands of pounds' worth of cannabis as his self-esteem and finances plummeted. Battle: The former Coronation Street actor, 30, admitted he survived on two hours of sleep a night for six months, and would fall asleep 'sobbing into a bottle of vodka', after a vicious cycle of smoking cannabis and watching sex online (pictured in 2016) Rise to fame: The star rose to fame in Corrie in 2014, where he played villainous drug dealer Callum Logan He said: 'I don't think I slept for six months I was surviving on two hours a night. I'd drink until I fell asleep, sobbing, with a bottle of vodka.' He was previously in an eight-month relationship with Corrie and Strictly star Georgia-May Foote, with the couple going their separate ways shortly after the show ended in 2015. It was when he began dating a new girlfriend his problems reached their height. He said he would start his day by smoking a joint and would drink to excess if he knew his girlfriend would be working away as a result of loneliness. Sean admitted that his addictions and battle with depression took its toll on his intimate life, saying not loving himself meant he couldn't love his partner. Months of drinking and drugs took its toll on his looks, with his hair falling out as a result of alopecia and the star losing weight. To cover his hairloss, he used his mother's mascara. Heartbreaking: Speaking to The Mirror , he said: 'I nearly took my own life I'd think about it every day. I did actually plan how I was going to do it but I suppose I was too scared' (pictured in 2017) Sean said his spiralling depression meant he could no longer do the job he loved, because he was unable to portray any characters due to a lack of emotion. After writing the troubling letter, Sean's girlfriend and mother Deborah, 49, intervened and he sought medical help. He was diagnosed with mild ADHD and prescribed anti-depressants which made him realise he needed to beat his addictions. He went 'cold-turkey' and got off social media. Sean split from his partner in September because he needed to 'be on his own' to work on himself. Speaking about his rise to fame on Corrie and then Our Girl, Sean said he was plagued by loneliness. He chose to speak openly about his depression and addictions in a candid Instagram video earlier this month as he wanted to show people that he 'struggles too.' Sean said he had been overwhelmed by the support he has received, as well as other people admitting their addictions to porn. The star now feels stronger than ever before and is ready to get back into acting, in particular theatre work. He has been working on the set of drama Peaky Blinders, making tea and organising the extras as he eases himself back into work. He said being on-set had reignited his passion for acting. The interview comes a day after the actor spoke about his addiction battle during a candid chat on Thursday's episode of Loose Women. The actor bravely opened up about his depression and his determination to give up alcohol, cannabis and porn to combat the condition, after previously revealing all in a hard-hitting Instagram video posted on Sunday. The actor revealed that his addictions and mental health had caused physical ailments such as his hair falling out and weight loss. Speaking out: The interview comes a day after the actor spoke about his addiction battle during a candid chat on Thursday's episode of Loose Women Speaking about the height of his depression, Sean admitted to Loose Women it stemmed from loneliness when he spent seven months away from home filming BBC drama Our Girl, which he has starred in since 2014, last year. 'I was away from my partner, my family, you get lonely you realise who your friends are,' he admitted, revealing he started secretly watching porn on set. The actor also admitted that as he grew more famous he felt more lonely, explaining: 'You do get lonely and realise who your friend are. That's when it all unravelled at that point. The more people I met when I got in Corrie the lonelier I felt.' Honest: The actor opened up about his determination to give up alcohol, cannabis and porn to combat the condition, after previously revealing all in an Instagram video posted on Sunday He added that he realised both who his true friends were and the extent of his problems during one night with pals. 'I had friends come up from London, it was who you spend time with. All they did was bring vodka to my house, so I lost it and said get out.' When asked if his addictions had always been there or as a result of being on Corrie, he said: 'Half and half. I think any creative in this industry has ups and downs. 'I was living next door to Justin Bieber in South Africa one minute and living in Westbury another minute.' Loneliness: Speaking about the height of his depression, Sean admitted to Loose Women it stemmed from loneliness when he spent months away from home filming Our Girl last year 'It was a massive shift in my consciousness, when I can't continue on this path, I didn't want to start on anti-depressants, I was offered them, but I think I had to look inside to see what I was filling this void with.' Revealing his addictions affected his relationship, Sean continued: 'I had to leave the relationship I was in, I wasn't looking after my ex's needs which was one thing I realised.' He started experiencing physical effects too, explaining: I started getting alopecia and had no actual energy, I started losing weight. If somebody is at home feeling depressed and you have to trick your mind, and you just have to say I love myself. Fame game: The actor also admitted that as he grew more famous he felt more lonely, explaining: 'You do get lonely and realise who your friend are' Villain: Sean's Corrie character, drug dealer Callum Logan was first introduced in 2014, but was killed by Kylie Platt the following year Hair loss: He started experiencing physical effects too, explaining: I started getting alopecia and had no actual energy, I started losing weight' He added he has a nifty trick to disguise the bald patches in his facial hair - using his mum's mascara to colour it in. Sean has dug deep to get to the root of his problems, admitting one major factor was the lack of progression in his career, pointing out 'I wasn't getting any work, I did 50 auditions last year and didn't get one job, I was becoming bitter.' 'For starters, finding out what my addictions were, and finding out where I was going wrong and you have to admit to yourself you are on a bad path. Before you take something like an anti-depressant, you should at least try and battle.' For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details. Single: Revealing his addictions affected his relationship, Sean continued: 'I had to leave the relationship I was in, I wasn't looking after my ex's needs' They juggle being proud parents to their two daughters, James, four, and Inez, two, with their busy film careers. And Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds looked every inch the stylish couple as they attended a private screening of Mary Poppins Returns at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City on Thursday night. The actress, 31, looked typically elegant in a white silk flowing dress with delicate pinstripes, teamed with a $3,000 navy asymmetric mac from Monse's pre-fall 2019 collection. Cute couple: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attended a private screening of Mary Poppins Returns at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City on Thursday night The A Simple Favour star teamed her chic ensemble with scarlet velvet platform heels with a dazzling diamante toe cap. The mother-of-two wore her honey-coloured locks in tumbling waves and accentuated her stunning features with natural make-up and a slick of bold berry lipstick. Ryan, 42, certainly didn't let his wife down in the style stakes, and looked dapper as can be in an impeccably tailored navy blue three-piece suit. The Deadpool star teamed his ensemble with a crisp white shirt, a matching tie, tan leather brogues and thick-rimmed specs. Chic: The actress, 31, looked typically elegant in a white silk flowing dress with delicate pinstripes, teamed with a $3,000 navy asymmetric mac from Monse's pre-fall 2019 collection Suited and booted: Ryan, 42, certainly didn't let his wife down in the style stakes, and looked dapper as can be in an impeccably tailored navy blue three-piece suit Support system: The private screening was hosted by Mary Poppins leading lady Emily Blunt, 35, who is a close friend of the couple The private screening was hosted by Mary Poppins leading lady Emily Blunt, 35, who is a close friend of the couple. Blake and Ryan have been spotted out with the British-born star and her actor-screenwriter husband John Krasinski, 39, on multiple occasions. The Hollywood power couple met on the set of Green Lantern in 2010, and started dating the following year. Blake and Ryan tied the knot at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in September 2012. The former Gossip Girl star and the Deadpool actor welcomed daughter James, four, in 2014 and second girl Inez, two, in 2016. Eat your heart out, Cinders! The Gossip Girl star told her Instagram following she was going for a 'Cinderella post stepsisters tearing up her gown because they hate her' vibe to her look Dressed to impress: The A Simple Favor star teamed her chic ensemble with scarlet velvet platform heels with a dazzling diamante toe cap Natural beauty: The mother-of-two wore her honey-coloured locks in tumbling waves and accentuated her stunning features with natural make-up and a slick of bold berry lipstick Star-studded line-up: Emily, Blake and Ryan also mingled with actor Mike Meyers and singer and composer Harry Connick jr inside the event Talented group: (L-R) Blake, Ryan, Emily, Ben McKenzie and Morena Baccarin Emily and John also have two daughters of the same age; Hazel, four, and Violet, two. The Mary Poppins screening comes as Emily was a surprise snub at the BAFTA nominations earlier this week, despite having won critical claim for her titular role in the movie and a host of other awards season nods. Mary Poppins Returns only received nominations in the technical categories for BAFTA, with three nods in total for Best Film Music, Best Production Design and Best Costume Design. Emily was expected to compete in the Leading Actress category, but instead Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born), Glenn Close (The Wife), Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Viola Davis (Widows) will go head to head. The BAFTA snub was a huge shock as up until now Emily has been included in all the major 2019 awards nominations, including the Screen Actors Guild Awards (where she received a double nod for Mary Poppins and A Quiet Place) and Critics Choice. Double date: Blake and Ryan have been spotted out with the British-born star and her actor-screenwriter husband John Krasinski, 39, on multiple occasions (pictured in March 2018) BFFs: Emily and John also have two daughters, Hazel, four, and Violet, two, who are both of the same age as Blake and Ryan's girls Cheers to that! The couple celebrated the movie's success with producer John DeLuca (centre left) and director Rob Marshall (centre right) She's been quite the busy bee following her recent appearance on BBC's The Cry. And Jenna Coleman was on hand to continue supporting the hard-hitting drama, as she attended a BAFTA film screening of it in New York, on Thursday. The actress, 32, was sure to make heads turn as she stepped out in a quirky dress that had a clashing patterned design. Striking: Jenna Coleman turned heads in a quirky clash print dress as she attended a BAFTA screening for BBC drama The Cry in New York on Thursday Her ensemble consisted of a red ribbed top, while the sleeves were made from grey material and the skirt was a dark navy blue. Featuring a daring front slit, the bizarre dress also featured a PVC-style underskirt which had a burnt orange floral pattern across the front. Jenna protected herself from the cold in a black quilted coat, while she wore heavy duty boots to boost her height. The Victoria star pulled her brunette locks into a messy bun with her fringe framing her face, and she accentuated her natural features with light touches of make-up. Quirky look: Her ensemble consisted of a red ribbed top, while the sleeves were made from a grey material and the skirt was a dark navy blue Cody: Jenna protected herself from the cold in a black quilted coat, while she wore heavy duty boots to boost her height Stylish: The Victoria star pulled her brunette locks into a messy bun with her fringe framing her face well, and she highlighted her pretty features with a natural palette of make-up BBC One mystery drama The Cry is adapted from the novel of the same name, written by Helen FitzGerald. In the series, Joanna (Jenna), who is married to Alistair, travels from Scotland to a town in Australia, to fight for custody of Alistair's daughter, Chloe, against his ex-wife, Alexandra. As they drive from Melbourne to Geelong, their baby son Noah goes missing suddenly from the side of the road. In the aftermath of the tragedy, under public scrutiny, their marriage collapses and Joanna's psychology disintegrates. Story: BBC One mystery drama The Cry is adapted from the novel of the same name, written by Helen FitzGerald, and produced by Claire Mundell (pictured) Dramatic: In the series, Joanna (Jenna, pictured with Patrick Connolly), who is married to Alistair, travels from Scotland to Australia, to fight for custody of Alistair's daughter, Chloe Emotional: As they drive from Melbourne to Geelong, their baby son Noah goes missing suddenly from the side of the road Jenna's appearance comes after her ex Richard Madden won a Golden Globe award for his role in BBC's Bodyguard series as Sergeant David Budd. The Scottish actor, 32, took home the best actor in a TV drama gong at Sunday's star-studded ceremony in LA. Richard paid tribute to the BBC hits cast and crew as he collected his prize, including co-star Keeley Hawes and writer Jed Mercurio. He said: 'I didnt see this coming at all, I wouldnt be here at all if it wasnt for the amazing cast and crew who worked really hard. 'Thank you to Keeley Hawes, who is the best actress I could ever work with, who is amazing and generous.' He added: 'Mum and dad, who flew all the way from Scotland, I wouldnt be here without you.' Intense: In the aftermath of the tragedy, under public scrutiny, their marriage collapses and Joanna's psychology disintegrates They starred together in the blockbuster superhero movie Black Panther. And Lupita Nyong'o and Michael B. Jordan are clearly the best of friends. On Thursday night, both were back in New York after attending Sunday's Golden Globes in LA for a special screening of their hit film hosted by Variety. Co-stars: Lupita Nyong'o and Michael B. Jordan attended a special screening of their hit film Black Panther in New York on Thursday night Jordan, 31, wore a black and white check jacket over a white shirt and paired with dark trousers. The actor stepped out in black bovver boots with blue socks. Nyong'o, 35, stood out from the crowd thanks to her choice of an eye-catching silver ensemble. She chose a dress with silver bodice and long sleeves that was belted at the waist and its silver and white striped skirt fell to mid-calf. The actress added silver chunky heeled sandals with platform soles and diamond earrings. Close: The two stars were all smiles as they posed for photos together Chatted about the movie: The two stars took part in a Q&A at the screening and their chemistry was palpable Had a good time: They laughed and flirted their way through the event The two stars took part in a Q&A at the screening and their chemistry was palpable. They laughed and flirted their way through the event. Later, they left together with Jordan walking slightly ahead of the actress. Nyong'o bundled up against the chilly night air with a silver bomber jacket. She completed her look with a splash of color provided by a hot pink linen scarf wrapped around her neck. Natty dresser: Jordan, 31, wore a black and white check jacket over a white shirt and paired with dark trousers. The actor stepped out in black bovver boots with blue socks Shiny star: Nyong'o, 35, stood out from the crowd in a long-sleeved silver dress that was belted at the waist and she added added silver chunky heeled sandals with platform soles Nyong'o bundled up against the chilly night air with a silver bomber jacket. She completed her look with a splash of color provided by a hot pink scarf wrapped around her neck Big pals: Jordan and Nyong'o put on a playful show as they arrived at the Golden Globes last Sunday in Los Angeles Fans of the pair had been delighted to see them acting playfully on the red carpet at the Golden Globes. Later, they joined up with their Black Panther co-star Danai Gurira to film a hilarious short video for InStyle's Golden Globe elevator series. The three created a love triangle story line which began with Gurira, 40, walking to the elevator in her stunning red gown. As she approaches, the doors open to show Jordan and Nyong'o locked in a passionate embrace. The startled 'lovers' give the Walking Dead star a 'deer in headlights' look once they realize they've been caught. As she enters the elevator, Guerira pushes Jordan aside to lock lips with Nyong'o for a dramatic twist. Improv: At the awards show, they joined up with their Black Panther co-star Danai Gurira to film a short video for InStyle's Golden Globe elevator series. The three created a love triangle story line which began with Gurira, 40, walking to the elevator in her stunning red gown Oops: As Gurira approaches, the doors open to show Jordan and Nyong'o locked in a passionate embrace Discovered: The startled 'lovers' give the Walking Dead star a 'deer in headlights' look once they realize they've been caught On Wednesday she revealed that she plans to one day take time off from acting to spend more time with her three-year-old daughter, Ivy. But on Thursday, it was business as usual for Claire Foy, with the 34-year-old busily promoting her latest film, First Man, on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The star of Netflix series The Crown rocked a low cut white cardigan for the talk show appearance. Back to work: On Thursday, it was business as usual for Claire Foy, with the 34-year-old busily promoting her latest film, First Man, on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The English beauty paired the garment with a pair of casual blue jeans and white sneakers. Slung across her body was a small Chanel purse. Claire wore her brunette tresses in a short bob cut and her eyes were highlighted by heavy eyeliner. White on! The star of Netflix series The Crown rocked a low cut white cardigan for the talk show appearance Best foot forward: The English beauty paired the garment with a pair of casual blue jeans and white sneakers After a busy few years, Foy revealed that she's taking time off from acting to be with her three-year-old daughter, Ivy, in a very candid interview with WSJ. Magazine. The actress went on to discuss The Crown pay gap controversy and her 'debilitating anxiety' which she has had since a young age. Talking about her well-deserved time off with her three-year-old daughter Ivy, who she shares with her ex-husband Stephen Campbell Moore, the couple split in February after four years of marriage. She said: 'I am very confident in saying I deserve a rest. Its lovely, completely self-indulgent. I only have a year left with her. I just cant bear it.' She added: 'I just didnt get life until I was 32. Now I am just awake. It is that thing that you suddenly have your eyes opened to the way you are living your life, who you are, the healthy way you are supposed to.' The eyes have it! Claire wore her brunette tresses in a short bob cut and her eyes were highlighted by heavy eyeliner Claire rose to global stardom as Queen Elizabeth II in the award-winning series The Crown, starring alongside Matt Smith who played her on-screen husband The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Talking about the pay gap in the Netflix-original drama, she said: 'I was being paid less than Matt. 'It was a short, sharp initiation into people wanting you to have an opinion about something youre involved in. You want to make sure you are saying something beneficial for a huge number of people, something that is not reductive and that you believe in, but you dont really know enough about.' The production company have since issued an apology, although Claire admitted that reports she was 'back paid $250,000' were false. She added: 'People have decided all sorts of numbers that are not right, but I dont think its helpful to go into that. I dont think I need to. It is not important to anyone else.' She's been widely lauded for her role as the titular character in Mary Poppins Returns making her recent BAFTA nominations snub decidedly shocking. But Emily Blunt, 35, pressed on with celebrating the success of her role as the iconic nanny as she attended a private screening of the Disney film in New York City with a host of celebrity pals including Blake Lively on Thursday. The British beauty stepped out in sophisticated style, sporting a green Cushnie ensemble under a woollen camel coat to the star-studded event, which was held at popular Manhattan venue Feinsteins/54 Below. Stunner: Emily Blunt, 35, stepped out in style for a private viewing of Mary Poppins Returns at New York City's Feinsteins/54 Below on Thursday evening The mother-of-two, married to John Krasinski, arrived in a chic tailored camel overcoat that featured couture cuffs and an intricately embellished collar. She swathed her enviably svelte figure in a striped green sweater that was tucked into a pair of elegant high-waisted, flared trousers. Her trademark sandy blonde tresses were left long and loose as they rested on her shoulders, while she accessorised with an array of dazzling diamonds. Happy days: At the bash, she cosied up to Blake Lively, who looked delighted to see her So chic: The British beauty stepped out in sophisticated style, sporting a green Cushnie ensemble under a woollen camel coat to the star-studded event Showstopper: The mother-of-two, married to John Krasinski, arrived in a chic tailored camel overcoat that featured couture cuffs and an intricately embellished collar. Autograph: The actress signed autographs for fans gathered outside the Manhattan venue Snub: Her outing came a day after it was revealed that she had missed out on a Leading Actress BAFTA nomination for her performance in Mary Poppins Returns At the event, she was joined by a host of celebrities, including Blake and her husband Ryan Reynolds and Morena Baccarin and Ben McKenzie. Harry Connick Jr., who arrived with his daughters, and Mike Myers were also among the guests. Her outing came just a day after it was revealed that she'd missed out on a Leading Actress nod for her performance in Mary Poppins Returns, despite receiving a Golden Globe nomination and praise from critics for her take on the character. Fans pointed out that Emily, who has also been picking up accolades for A Quiet Place, previously received BAFTA nominations for the critically panned The Girl On A Train and her brilliant but arguably brief performance in The Devil Wears Prada. In fact, Mary Poppins Returns only received nominations in the technical categories for BAFTA, with three nods in total for Best Film Music, Best Production Design and Best Costume Design. On the list: Blake attended the exclusive event, slipping her famous physique in a unique black jacket dress that cut high on her thighs Standing tall: The actress posed for photographers as she stood tall in a pair of colourful heels The whole gang: Blake and Ryan posed with Rob Marshall and John DeLuca Emily was expected to compete in the Leading Actress category for the awards on her home turf, but instead Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born), Glenn Close (The Wife), Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Viola Davis (Widows) will go head to head on February 10. The BAFTA snub is a huge shock as up until now Emily has been included in all the major 2019 awards nominations, including the Screen Actors Guild Awards (where she received a double nod for Mary Poppins and A Quiet Place) and Critics Choice. Last month, Emily and her husband John revealed how they've managed to become Hollywood's 'couple of the year' after the smash success of A Quiet Place, in which Krasinski was surprised his wife agreed to star in alongside him. Dapper gent: Ryan Reynolds cut a dapper figure in a sleek blue suit while sporting retro frames Happy days: Matthew Morrison 'It was like she was proposing to me,' he said about Blunt signing on to the horror film. 'It was one of the greatest moments in my career. I screamed out, "Yes!"' he told The Hollywood Reporter. And Blunt knew the opportunity was one she couldn't miss, even if she had to defy her strict work schedule discipline. 'I have a minimum of a five-month rule between projects, other than A Quiet Place,' she explained. 'I broke the rule for him and him alone.' And even though Blunt was about to embark on the highly anticipated Mary Poppins Returns, the actress fell in love with the role. Co-star: Ryan's Deadpool co-star Morena Baccarin and her partner Ben McKenzie looked loved up as they arrived at the event together We are family: Proud dad Harry Connick Jr. posed with his pretty daughters Kate and Charlotte 'I was about to go into this enormous project. I was like, "I can't even." I couldn't imagine the thought of letting someone else play the part,' she said after reading the script. As parents to daughters Hazel, four, and Violet, two, Emily and John were up for the challenge of playing a fearless family. 'I didn't want it to be like, "Oh, how adorable. They're working together,"' the actress explained. 'It was the only idea that had come our way that seemed bigger than our marriage. 'The narrative of our marriage was not going to overwhelm this movie and this amazing opportunity for him as a director, as a filmmaker, as a writer. I knew this was a big swing for him.' Their movie-making partnership paid off as A Quiet Place went to earn $341 million and has been mentioned for Oscar consideration. Proud papa: Comedian Michael Myers was seen arriving with one of his children in his arms She just enjoyed a jaunt to Mammoth Lakes in California with sister Kendall Jenner. But on Thursday Kourtney was back in Los Angeles hanging out with her family. The 39-year-old reality star chose a somewhat demure ensemble for her familial outing. Mom time! On Thursday Kourtney was back in Los Angeles hanging out with her family The mother-of-three opted for a black velvet coat, which she paired with black trousers and black leather combat-style boots. Her raven locks were parted in the middle and were allowed to fall straight down past her shoulders. The eldest Kardashian sister adorned her youthful visage with a smokey eye, subtle blush and pale maroon lipstick. She walked hand-in-hand with son Mason, who at age nine, is now almost the same height as his five-foot-tall mom. Low-key: The mother-of-three opted for a black velvet coat, which she paired with black trousers and black leather combat-style boots The son of Scott Disick wore a tan camouflage shirt, grey shorts and a white sock blue trainer combo. He had a bag slung over his back, and several gold chains dangling around his neck. Penelope, aged six, was also present for the excursion, though was carried by a family friend. Assistance required! Kourtney just returned from a trip to wintry mammoth, which saw her and Kendall receive help fitting snow chains to their SUV The little girl's outfit was a simple black sweater and grey sweatpant combination. Black high-top sneakers with a white accent design rounded out her casual look. Kourtney just returned from a trip to wintry mammoth, which saw her and Kendall receive help fitting snow chains to their SUV. The duo posted several snaps of the incident to Instagram. Oscar winner Mahershala Ali reunited with his onscreen leading lady Carmen Ejogo at the True Detective season three premiere in Los Angeles on Thursday. The NoCal native - turning 45 next month - sweetly embraced the British 45-year-old inside the Directors Guild of America. In the anthology series, Ali plays Arkansas Detective Wayne Hays, who investigates missing children taught by Ejogo as schoolteacher Amelia Reardon. Glam: Oscar winner Mahershala Ali reunited with his onscreen leading lady Carmen Ejogo at the True Detective season three premiere in Los Angeles on Thursday Nic Pizzolatto's eight-episode, time-hopping drama is set in the Ozarks circa 1980, 1990, and 2015; and it premieres this Sunday on HBO. 'As we head into tonights LA premiere of @truedetective Id like to give thanks for the work of our extraordinary crew,' Mahershala (born Mahershalalhashbaz) wrote to his 447K Instagram followers. 'Never have I witnessed a group of people work with such love and pride for the craft as I did in my seven months in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Thank you to everyone...from PAs to producers for the impact that you have made on my life. Love you. Congratulations.' The NYU Tisch School grad looked GQ smooth in his zig-zagging black Dzojchen suit featuring a sash belt and Nehru collar, which was selected by stylist Van Van Alonso. Affectionate: The NoCal native - turning 45 next month - sweetly embraced the British 45-year-old inside the Directors Guild of America Catching up: In the anthology series, Ali plays Arkansas Detective Wayne Hays, who investigates missing children taught by Ejogo as schoolteacher Amelia Reardon Premieres this Sunday on HBO! Nic Pizzolatto's eight-episode, time-hopping drama is set in the Ozarks circa 1980, 1990, and 2015 Mahershala wrote on Instagram: 'As we head into tonights LA premiere of @truedetective Id like to give thanks for the work of our extraordinary crew' And the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse star was groomed by Simone for the glitzy red carpet festivities. Joining Ali at the True Detective screening was his wife of five years, Chicago actress-producer Amatus Sami, in sapphire booties and a patterned dress. Mahershala and Amatus will celebrate their daughter Bari Najma's second birthday next month. For his role in Green Book, the former Prince Ali rapper will next compete for the best supporting actor trophy at the 25th Screen Actors Guild Awards, which air January 27 on TNT/TBS. Werk! The NYU Tisch School grad looked GQ smooth in his zig-zagging black Dzojchen suit featuring a sash belt and Nehru collar, which was selected by stylist Van Van Alonso Pearly whites: The Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse star was groomed by Simone for the glitzy red carpet festivities Fancy feet: Joining Ali at the True Detective screening was his wife of five years, Chicago actress-producer Amatus Sami, in sapphire booties and a patterned dress 'Wrapped!' Mahershala and Amatus will celebrate their daughter Bari Najma's second birthday next month (pictured August 8) Airing January 27 on TNT/TBS! For his role in Green Book, the former Prince Ali rapper will next compete for the best supporting actor trophy at the SAG Awards Ali will have to face off against Beautiful Boy's Timothee Chalamet, Blackkklansman's Adam Driver, A Star is Born's Sam Elliott, and Can You Ever Forgive Me's Richard E. Grant. Meanwhile, Carmen showed a hint of cleavage in her blue long-sleeved Hellessy midi-dress and silver peep-toe heels selected by stylist Cristina Ehrlich. The Independent Spirit Award nominee rocked a pair of blue drop earrings to match her frock and she let her natural beauty shine through. The Mensa member amicably co-parents her two children - son Elijah and daughter Juno, 13 - with ex-husband #2 Jeffrey Wright, whom she divorced in 2014. Modest: Carmen showed a hint of cleavage in her blue long- sleeved Hellessy midi-dress and silver peep-toe heels selected by stylist Cristina Ehrlich Fantastic Beasts stunner: The Independent Spirit Award nominee rocked a pair of blue drop earrings to match her frock and she let her natural beauty shine through 'Separate paths now, but we made two humans that we love together': The Mensa member amicably co-parents her two children - son Elijah and daughter Juno, 13 - with ex-husband #2 Jeffrey Wright, whom she divorced in 2014 Ali and Ejogo made sure to pose with their castmate Stephen Dorff, who plays Arkansas State Investigator Roland West, 'whose career has been influenced by a baffling crime.' The 45-year-old nineties heartthrob rocked a silvery goatee and he looked dapper in his Tarantino-esque black suit, tie, and white top. Matthew McConaughey rolled up to the party in a grey patterned blazer over a black V-neck, cuffed jeans, and a matching jaunty scarf. The 49-year-old Oscar winner famously portrayed the gifted yet troubled Detective Rust Cohle in the first season of True Detective, which aired to much acclaim in 2014. Trio: Ali and Ejogo made sure to pose with their castmate Stephen Dorff, who plays Arkansas State Investigator Roland West, 'whose career has been influenced by a baffling crime' Bachelor: The 45-year-old nineties heartthrob rocked a silvery goatee and he looked dapper in his Tarantino-esque black suit, tie, and white top Alright alright alright! Matthew McConaughey rolled up to the party in a grey patterned blazer over a black V-neck, cuffed jeans, and a matching jaunty scarf Alum: The 49-year-old Oscar winner famously portrayed the gifted yet troubled Detective Rust Cohle in the first season of True Detective, which aired to much acclaim in 2014 Maestro: True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto opted for a unique color scheme with a brown suit, maroon tie, and pink silk top. True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto opted for a unique color scheme with a brown suit, maroon tie, and pink silk top. Mamie Gummer - who styles herself - looked chic in a roomy gold baby-doll dress featuring a full skirt and pockets, which she paired with black stilettos. The 35-year-old daughter of Meryl Streep portrays Lucy Purcell, a mother-of-two who finds herself involved in a crime during the third season. Two more men in black included castmembers Michael Greyeyes and Ray Fisher, who play Brett Woodard and Henry Hays, respectively. Golden girl: Mamie Gummer - who styles herself - looked chic in a roomy baby-doll dress featuring a full skirt and pockets, which she paired with black stilettos Runs in the family: The 35-year-old daughter of Meryl Streep portrays Lucy Purcell, a mother-of-two who finds herself involved in a crime during the third season Dapper dudes: Two more men in black included castmembers Michael Greyeyes and Ray Fisher, who play Brett Woodard and Henry Hays, respectively. Girls Trip actress! Deborah Ayorinde - who plays Becca Hays - went bra-less beneath her grey blazer mini-dress and black pumps selected by her stylist Jazmine Blonde ambition: Sarah Gadon (L, who plays Elisa Montgomery) donned a single-strap black jumpsuit while Lauren Sweetser (R, who plays Isabele) looked plush in plunging pink velvet Girls Trip actress Deborah Ayorinde - who plays Becca Hays - went bra-less beneath her grey blazer mini-dress and black pumps selected by her stylist Jazmine. Sarah Gadon (who plays Elisa Montgomery) donned a single-strap black jumpsuit while Lauren Sweetser (who plays Isabele) looked plush in plunging pink velvet. Richard Meehan - who plays Frankie Boyle - showed off his growing locks in a dark navy suit sans necktie. Little Lena McCarthy - who plays Lucy's (Mamie Gummer) daughter Julie - sparkled in her gold-sequin jumpsuit and tiny kitten heels. Who needs a necktie? Richard Meehan - who plays Frankie Boyle - showed off his growing locks in a dark navy suit Disco doll! Little Lena McCarthy - who plays Lucy's (Mamie Gummer) daughter Julie - sparkled in her gold-sequin jumpsuit and tiny kitten heels Gentlemen: Scoot McNairy (L, who play Tom) sported a seventies-style striped tie while Rhys Wakefield (R, who plays another Henry Hays) gave his navy suit a boost with a pocket square At the helm! One of the two directors for season three, Daniel Sackheim, turned up in his translucent glasses and patterned necktie Lovely ladies: Emily Nelson (L, who plays Margaret) looked fab in floral while Jodi Balfour (R, who plays Lori) opted for a black and silver ensemble Major Crimes star: Jon Tenney - who plays Alan Jones - covered his grey polo shirt with a dark gingham blazer Scoot McNairy (who play Tom) sported a seventies-style striped tie while Rhys Wakefield (who plays another Henry Hays) gave his navy suit a boost with a pocket square. One of the two directors for season three, Daniel Sackheim, turned up in his translucent glasses and patterned necktie. Emily Nelson (who plays Margaret) looked fab in floral while Jodi Balfour (who plays Lori) opted for a black and silver ensemble. Major Crimes star Jon Tenney - who plays Alan Jones - covered his grey polo shirt with a dark gingham blazer. Suited up! The Bangles co-founder Susanna Hoffs was twinning with her husband of 25 years, Fair and Balanced filmmaker Jay Roach Attendees: Westworld's Angela Sarafyan (L) took the plunge in a black sparkly dress while The Blacklist's Mozhan Marno (R) stood out in a red double-breasted blazer Out and about! Also there from the extended HBO family was Big Little Lies actor James Tupper showing a hint of chest hair in his white top beneath a black blazer The Bangles co-founder Susanna Hoffs was twinning with her husband of 25 years, Fair and Balanced filmmaker Jay Roach. Westworld's Angela Sarafyan took the plunge in a black sparkly dress while The Blacklist's Mozhan Marno stood out in a red double-breasted blazer. Also there from the extended HBO family was Big Little Lies actor James Tupper showing a hint of chest hair in his white top beneath a black blazer. She's best known to many of her fans for her role as Sloan McQuewick in the hit HBO comedy-drama series Entourage. Now Emmanuelle Chriqui hopes to take her career to new heights with the brand new Fox drama The Passage. And on Thursday the brunette beauty made 43 look like the new 30 at the show's premiere party in the Santa Monica neighborhood of Los Angeles. Debut: Emmanuelle Chriqui attended the premiere party for her new Fox Drama The Passage The Canadian born actress absolutely stunned under the bright lights of the red carpet in a red sleeveless jumpsuit that showcased her toned figure. For added color, the design had a touch of orange fabric that covered her ample assets. Keeping with the fashion theme, the 5ft 3in stunner carried a matching orange clutch purse and rocked a pair of red open-toed pumps. On this night, she wore her raven tresses long, with added volume, and a part to the slight right. Sleek: The Entourage alum wore her raven tresses long and flowing to the middle of her back Striking: The petite beauty, 43, showed off her figure in a red jumpsuit and red pumps Co-star Brianne Howey opted for an elegant look in a strapless black sequined dress for the event. The 29-year old matched it with a pair of open toed heels and styled her golden blonde tresses with added some added waves and a left part that including pulling hair back behind her left ear. Leading man Mark-Paul Gosselaar looked handsome in a dark blue two-piece suit. He's best known for his role in the hit sitcom Saved By The Bell from 1989-1993. At one point he was joined on the red carpet by his wife Catriona McGinn, who looked amazing in a black spaghetti-strap dress. Stylish: Brianne Howey opted for an elegant look in a strapless black sequined dress Gorgeous: The actress styled her blonde tresses with added some added waves and a left part The Passage focuses on Project Noah, a secret medical facility where scientists are experimenting with a dangerous virus that could lead to the cure for all disease, but also carries the potential to wipe out the human race. Gosselaar plays Brad, a federal agent tasked with bringing a young girl named Amy in to Project Noah be a test subject; while Chriqui has the role of Dr. Lila Kyle. 'The dynamic between Brad, Lila, and Amy is the heart of the show,' she revealed in an interview with The Knockturnal. 'So I think people are going to be invested because Amy is an orphan, Lila and Brad have lost a daughter, and they form this family. People want them to succeed because its devastating.' The Passage pilot airs Monday, January 14 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. Leading man: Mark-Paul Gosselaar looked handsome in a dark blue two-piece suit; he is best known for his role in the hit sitcom Saved By The Bell that aired from 1989 to 1993 Adding insult to injury, he has said he is doing so because doing otherwise would make him look weak in the eyes of his political faithful. He says so while claiming that most of those workers not getting their paychecks support him on demanding the wall, without an iota of evidence. She may be a global fitness sensation today, but Tammy Hembrow was once just another aspiring model from the Gold Coast. Daily Mail Australia has uncovered photos of Tammy aged 18 which first appeared on the website of now-defunct online fashion retailer Leanne Leger in 2012. Tammy looked remarkably different in the throwback pictures, displaying more rounded facial features, less defined cheekbones and thinner lips. Scroll down for video My, how you've changed! Tammy Hembrow looks almost unrecognisable in teenage modelling photos from before she was famous. Pictured left: in 2012, and right in December 2018 The Leanne Leger pictures also showed what Tammy looked like before she underwent a breast augmentation. Tammy decided to go under the knife after breastfeeding her two children: son Wolf, four, and daughter Saskia, four. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Tammy Hembrow for comment. Throwback: Daily Mail Australia has uncovered photos of Tammy aged 18 which first appeared on the website of now-defunct online fashion retailer Leanne Leger in 2012 Early days: Tammy displayed more rounded facial features, less defined cheekbones and thinner lips in the 2012 modelling photos There has been much speculation about Tammy's changing appearance over the years. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr Randal Haworth told Daily Mail Australia last year that she may have invested in a nose job, liposuction and dermal fillers. 'Based on what I presume to be filtered photos, she has undergone a striking transformation of not only her facial features but also of her facial shape,' he said. Hmm! There has been much speculation about Tammy's changing appearance over the years Hot mama! Tammy underwent a breast augmentation a few years ago after breastfeeding her two children, Wolf and Saskia According to Dr Haworth, Tammy's lips have almost certainly been enhanced due to their 'overly plumped' appearance. 'Like Kylie Jenner, Tammy has been originally inspired by the Angelina Jolie lip variety,' he observed. 'But paradoxically, lips oversized for a face can mature the visage beyond its years.' It's summer, the sun is shining and the year has only just begun. And with no work tying them down, it's not surprising that Sylvia Jeffreys and Peter Stefanovic were making the most of their newfound freedom on Friday. The couple, only recently let go from the Today show, were spotted filling up their car at a service station near Picton, 80km south-west of Sydney. No work, no worries, let's take a holiday! Sylvia Jeffreys (pictured) and husband Peter Stefanovic have gone on yet ANOTHER getaway after being axed from Today show Sylvia, 32, was spotted doing the honours at the petrol bowser husband while Peter sat the car. Wherever the couple's destination, the blonde beauty was stylishly dressed for it. Sylvia wore a loose-fitting black T-shirt tucked into a pair of retro-styled white shorts, and black sandals. Open road: And with no jobs tying them down, it's not surprising that Sylvia and Peter were making the most of their newfound freedom on Friday She accessorised her outfit with a khaki fedora hat, large black tote bag and elegant round-framed sunglasses. With her blonde locks pulled back into a ponytail, she no doubt wanted to keep cool on what could have been a long drive ahead. Husband Peter was perhaps on navigation duty in the passenger side of the car, which would explain his absence from the bowser. Driving force: The couple, only recently let go from the Today show, were spotted filling up their car at a service station on the Hume Highway near Picton, 80 km south-west of Sydney Pump action: Sylvia, 32, was spotted doing the honours at the petrol bowser husband while Peter sat the car Cool contrasts: Wherever the destination, the blonde beauty was stylishly dressed for it. Sylvia wore a loose-fitting black T-shirt tucked into a pair of retro-styled white shorts, and black sandals The power couple would be wise to escape the rigours of city life for a while, especially after the Channel Nine staffing 'bloodbath' from December last year. Peter, 37, was dropped by the network altogether. Newsreader Sylvia lost her role on the Today show, but remains contracted to Nine. In the mood for adventure: She accessorised her outfit with a khaki fedora hat, large black tote bag and elegant round-framed sunglasses Great escape: With her blonde locks pulled back into a ponytail, she no doubt wanted to keep cool on what could have been a long drive ahead The journalist did not seem too fazed by the developments at work, as she was seen smiling serenely during the service station stopover. Sylvia has a lot to be happy about, after all - she still has a job at Nine and a big project is in the works for her. In a recent statement, Nine's new Director of News and Current Affairs, Darren Wick, said: 'Sylvia Jeffreys is a huge part of Nine's plans for 2019 and beyond. She is contracted with Nine until the end of 2020. 'Any reports or speculation that she is leaving Nine are incorrect. She is a gifted, hard-working journalist and presenter and we look forward to continuing to work with her.' I took one look at the splodge on a platter at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts LA Tea Party and declared to no one in particular (although many heard me) that this was Not Right. The chefs at the Four Seasons Hotel had arranged a colonial take on the traditional English tea, opting to go for the Devonshire version of serving scones: cream first, jam last. Cant abide it that way myself. Left, Olivia Colman, who portrays two British monarchs Queen Anne in The Favourite and Elizabeth II, and right Joan Collins with Timothee Chalamet So I consulted with Olivia Colman, who portrays two British monarchs Queen Anne in The Favourite and Elizabeth II in the third and fourth series of The Crown and who was last weekend crowned best actress at the Golden Globes. Somebodys going to be upset with me because Devon and Cornwall, they do it the opposite way round, dont they? Colman said. I always put the jam on first, so that I can have so much cream on the top, she told me as her eyes lit not on the scones, but the sandwiches, which she tucked into with relish. If you have cream first, you squash it down with the jam, she continued. Its wrong. Sorry. I reckon the Queen likes it jam first. Well, this Queen does. 'The chefs at the Four Seasons Hotel had arranged a colonial take on the traditional English tea, opting to go for the Devonshire version of serving scones: cream first, jam last' Joan Collins, Dame of the British Empire, was busy chatting to heart-throb actor Timothee Chalamet, star of Beautiful Boy, at the tea party so we didnt get to talking about scones. But when I bumped into her later, at Craigs restaurant in Beverly Hills, I asked her view on the great cream and jam debate which, by the way, was raging away on my Twitter feed with input supporting the jam-first view from Dawn French and John Challis, while others (actor Michael Xavier) insisted it was the other way round. Collins looked me up and down as if I was bonkers and proclaimed that you put the cream on first, and then the jam. Thats the proper way, isnt it? I politely begged to differ and went off and downed a cranberry juice with a teardrop of orange. No alcohol. My supper of truffled honey chicken with mashed potato and salad arrived, but my appetite was off. I looked over at Joan, happily eating and laughing with husband Percy and their two guests, unaware of her great cream tea betrayal. So I say: Queen Olivia rules. Viggo Mortensen was explaining how the story in the film Green Book still resonates today. Its about an unusual real-life friendship between his character Tony Lip Vallelonga, a nightclub bouncer, and classical pianist Dr Donald Shirley, who hires him to drive to venues in the segregated Deep South in the Sixties. I do think its true that the best way to beat ignorance is through direct experience, Mortensen said of the film, which is directed by Peter Farrelly. Its not like Tony becomes Gandhi or something. Hes still himself, but hes opened his mind a little bit. So has Doc, I think that Dr Shirley [portrayed by Mahershala Ali] comes to see, with time, that Tony has a code of ethics. Hes a man of his word, and has a measure of discretion. Theres an inherent decency in him, the actor, pictured, told me over lunch, hosted by James Bond star Daniel Craig, at Patsys Italian restaurant in New York a fabled eaterie graced by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand. 'Viggo Mortensen (pictured) was explaining how the story in the film Green Book still resonates today' I saw Green Book at the Toronto International Film Festival and enjoyed it tremendously. More than that, I was deeply touched by it. I enjoyed it even more when I caught it a second time on Wednesday the same day it received several Bafta nominations, including best picture and recognition for Mortensen and Ali. Last Sunday it won a best picture (musical or comedy) at the Golden Globes. Its now, clearly, firmly in the Oscar race: against Roma, A Star Is Born, The Favourite and BlacKkKlansman. The real Tony Lips two sons, Frank and Nick Vallelonga, were at the lunch and were moved by the speeches. Nick said he sheds tears every time he sees Linda Cardellini, who portrays their mother Dolores. Ms Cardellini was seated next to him, so he was in floods most of the time. It was great, too, to hear testimony about Dr Shirley both he and Tony died in 2013, within months of each other from the musicians friends and fellow professionals. Michiel Kappeyne, Dr Shirleys executor, said that the doctor was a gift to the world and described Green Book as a gift to his legacy. Id say that goes for both men. The film opens in the UK on February 1. She has been wowing audiences with her colorful and ambitious Las Vegas residency since last summer. But Gwen Stefani appears to getting in a little rest and relaxation during a brief hiatus from her Sin City show Thursday. During her break from the spotlight, the superstar songstress was seen leaving a popular nail salon in Los Angeles, rocking her usual unique sense of style. Just a Girl: Gwen Stefani was spotted leaving a nail salon in Los Angeles on Thursday Always looking fashionable, Gwen looked casual-cool dressed in dark blue denim jeans with a grey top and a green cargo jacket. She added a pair of ankle-high boots that were adorned with a healthy dose of fringe around the top as she carried a black bag that appeared to bear the name of her old band, No Doubt. On this sunny Southern California day, the Orange County native added retro white and red round sunglasses, and had her trademark platinum blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun near the top of her head. And of course, she had on her signature red lipstick. One of a kind: The 49-year old star showed her unique style even with a casual-cool ensemble Stefani has been enjoying a little down time after wrapping up the latest leg of her Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood on New Year's Eve. The career retrospective, that kicked off last summer, picks back up February 27 with nine shows until March 16. She will also have dates in July and October before concluding November 2, 2019. Viva Las Vegas: Gwen is currently enjoying a brief hiatus from her Las Vegas residency, but it picks back up in February 27 'The show is nostalgic, bringing people through the long journey Ive been on with music and sharing that and exchanging the love I have with people,' she shared when it kicked off back in June. 'Its really just that same journey again, but in a new Vegas-y way.' The mom-of-three, who shares sons sons Kingston, 12, Zuma, 10, and Apollo, four, with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, has been dating country crooner Blake Shelton since October 2015. Its hard to say which moment summed up Fiona Bruces first episode as presenter of Question Time best. Or worst... The anodyne non-event of her opening words that marked the start of her new era: tonight were in Islington, North London. Welcome to Question Time, she said blandly - an announcement that didnt receive even polite applause from the audience, just silence. Its lovely to be here, she then told us, which it probably was (for her) although lovely wasnt something we associated with Question Time or really wanted from the countrys most prestigious political debate show. Fiona Bruce's performance on her first episode confirmed that when it came to dynamic, relevant, television, Question Time was basically an antique, writes JIM SHELLEY Then there was her attempt to demonstrate her authority early on, by forcing journalist Melanie Phillips to commit to a politician she endorsed to be an alternative to Theresa May as a Prime Minister who could deliver Brexit. This back-fired when Phillips simply shrugged: no, you cant push me, at which point Bruce simply moved on. Her predecessors David Dimbleby, Peter Sissons, and Sir Robin Day would not have folded so easily if at all. Equally, when Tory MP James Cleverly described a panelists opposing view as b******s, Fiona Bruce said...nothing. She ignored it totally, thereby missing a golden opportunity to show she had the wit and the scorn that the role of presenter on Question Time required: shooting the panellists/politicians down when needed (i.e. as often as possible). Bruces best moment was the disbelief in her voice when she stopped Cleverlys dissembling by exclaiming: you said you were going to tell us the governments Plan B for Brexit! and then laughingly asked the audience have I missed it? So to be fair to Fiona, she gamely tried. But she always looked like someone playing the part of a Question Time presenter not the real thing. She interrupted Cleverly early on twice when he rambled away about Brexit, repeating the audience members question (yes but have you lost control of it?) and then interjecting never mind that... She carped to Emily Thornberry: yes but Im not talking about that! and countered the Labour shadow foreign secretary by scoffing: Look! People are laughing Emily! Bruces cardinal sin was not bringing in the audience enough and allowing the politicians to waffle away, enjoying the sound of their own voices. Bruces best moment was the disbelief in her voice when she stopped Cleverlys dissembling by exclaiming: you said you were going to tell us the governments Plan B for Brexit! and then laughingly asked the audience have I missed it? When she did point to the woman in the yellow jacket, the lady concerned gave such a thorough, devastating, answer to Bruces question why she herself had no truck with the popular view that we should feel sorry for Theresa May you felt she would make a better presenter of Question Time than Bruce. After all, for large parts of her career Fiona Bruce had essentially been a newsreader and was still most famous as the face for a Sunday evening programme that couldnt be more tame. Then again, perhaps Fiona Bruce was perfect. She has really done nothing to revive what has for years now been a lifeless, pointless, exercise in political PR and public prejudices. And her performance on her first episode confirmed that when it came to dynamic, relevant, television, Question Time was basically an antique. He thanked Satan for giving him inspiration to play the role of Dick Cheney in the film Vice. And on Wednesday, Golden Globe winner Christian Bale showed once again how he's managed to shed the more than 50 pounds he'd packed on to portray the former Vice President on the big screen. The actor, 44, looked toned and slim as he walked to a waiting vehicle in a dark t-shirt and knee-length baggy shorts. Laid back: Christian Bale, 44, looked toned and slim in a dark t-shirt and knee-length baggy shorts on Thursday as he spent a relaxed day in Los Angeles He went sock-less in dirty white trainers that were without laces and the bearded star carried his smartphone as he walked. On Sunday night, he had taken home the trophy for best actor in a comedy or musical for Vice at the annual Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. 'Thank you to Satan for giving me inspiration for playing this role,' he said after being presented with the award. He had also joked that the film's director Adam McKay, who he worked with on The Big Short, because of the resemblance between the two men. 'He said, 'I have to find somebody that can be absolutely charisma free and reviled by everybody, so we wanted Christian Bale,' the actor explained. Fit: The actor went sock-less in dirty white trainers that were without laces. The bearded star carried his smartphone as he walked Plump: Bale managed to shed the more than 40 pounds he'd packed on to portray the former Vice President Dick Cheney on the big screen Unconventional: On Sunday night, the star won best actor in a comedy or musical for Vice at the Golden Globes, thanking Satan for inspiring him in the role of Cheney Bale previously told The Hollywood Reporter that despite repeated attempts and even enlisting some of Cheney's friends, he never got to meet or even speak with the former vice president. 'I would greatly have liked to have met with him, if only to have him insult me and kick me out of his house. To me, that's honorable,' the British actor said. 'I spoke with some [of Cheney's] friends who would say, 'Let's get Dick on the phone,' and they would call. And the phone would be ringing and I would be thinking, 'I'm about to speak with Dick Cheney,' and then it would go to voicemail. And then, unfortunately as is the case with everything, lawyers ruined it,' he explained. Cheney's lawyers told Bale that he was not to attempt to contact Cheney who is now 77 and lives in the suburbs of Washington, DC. 'I would like to be able to sit and look Cheney in the eye and say why I feel like it's justified to tell his story. And I hope I will do it one day,' Bale added. She's the popular fitness model who boasts a huge social media following of 1.3 million. And to celebrate her birthday on Friday, this Instagram sensation shared a fun photo from her old school days. In the image, the then teen is seen pulling a funny face with a gal pal while dressed in their school uniforms. Guess who! She's the fitness model known for her super fit figure and clean-living lifestyle... so can you recognise her from this throwback photo? Fast forward several years and the stunner is now the co-founder of her very own health and fitness brand Keep It Cleaner, and also recently got engaged to the man of her dreams. So can you guess who it is? The fresh-faced school girl is none other than Steph Claire Smith, who has turned 25-years-old. Steph wrote alongside her Instagram post on Friday: 'Half way to 50'. 'Thank you everyone for your Birthday wishes and all of your support,' she added. 'Half way to 50': The fresh-faced school girl is none other than Steph Claire Smith, who turned 25-years-old on Friday Successful! The Melbourne-based model has been modelling professionally since she was a teenager and when her Instagram following started to grow in 2013, she also took on the role of wellness and fitness blogger Following her school years, Steph went on to become an incredibly successful fitness entrepreneur The Melbourne-based model has been modelling professionally since she was a teenager and when her Instagram following started to grow in 2013, she also took on the role of wellness and fitness blogger. She now runs wellness blog Keep It Cleaner with her best friend Laura Henshaw where they discuss all things health and beauty. Defiant: Meanwhile, Steph recently shared a message to body shamers telling her to 'stop sharing photos of her abs because they set unrealistic standards' And at the age of 22, the successful entrepreneur became the proud owner of a brand new house - something most twenty-somethings can only dream of. Meanwhile, Steph recently shared a message to body shamers telling her to 'stop sharing photos of her abs because they set unrealistic standards'. In defiance she shared a photo of herself flaunting her toned abs, which she accompanied with a lengthy caption. 'I apologise if I ever offend anyone with these types of posts,' she wrote. 'But I am incredibly happy in my skin and I have always been one to confidently flaunt it. Call me cocky but I call it proud and happy.' Proud: 'But I am incredibly happy in my skin and I have always been one to confidently flaunt it. Call me cocky but I call it proud and happy,' she wrote She continued: 'Believe it or not, but my abs used to be an insecurity of mine in my younger years. I thought they always made me look like a boy and now I love how strong they make me look.' Steph concluded by stating that she will always try to be honest with her Instagram followers, sharing body confident posts but also acknowledging the times when she is not feeling so good about herself. Many of Steph's fans rallied behind her, calling her an 'inspiration' and insisting she has nothing to apologise for. Katie Price's personal website - katieprice.co.uk - has been deactivated. The TV personality's longstanding site - which she has used for over a decade to sell branded products and promote her own work and public appearances - cannot be reached any longer, when users attempt to visit it. Despite Katie, 40, keeping the site's link on her Twitter bio, fans will be met with a lengthy wait, before the connection times out and leaves a blank page. Error: Katie Price's personal website - katieprice.co.uk - has been deactivated Not responding: The TV personality's longstanding site - which she has used for over a decade to sell branded products and promote her own work and public appearances - cannot be reached any longer, when users attempt to visit it According to The Sun, Katie has 'failed to pay to keep the site going'. The publication reports - from an unknown 'tech' source - that Katie 'failed to keep up with the monthly hosting payments' but that she 'will keep control of the katieprice.co.uk address until April this year' after which 'it can be sold on to anyone who wants it' [source unknown]. MailOnline has approached Katie's reps for comment. This comes after she appeared in court this week, facing charges of driving without insurance and driving while disqualified. Failure to launch: According to The Sun, Katie has 'failed to pay to keep the site going' There it is: Despite Katie, 40, keeping the site's link on her Twitter bio, fans will be met with a lengthy wait, before the connection times out and leaves a blank page As it was: The site has been through various makeovers over the years The model was fined 1,100 for the offence, and immediately asked the courts for an extension on the payment deadline, claiming not to be able to afford it in one lump sum. While this marries up with The Sun's claims that she cannot afford to pay for her website any longer, she seems to have contradicted this by posting an image of a new puppy, worth 1k. She took to social media to share a sweet snap of herself cradling the pooch, which the glamour model is said to have splashed out on just three months after buying blue German Shepherd Bear, The Sun reports. She has named the dog Sparkle - and showed off a new set of glossy extensions in the photo to boot. Adorable: Katie shared a sweet snap of herself cradling her new 1,000 puppy after confessing that she couldn't pay a 1,100 fine straight away for driving while banned Banned: The post comes after Katie admitted to a judge that she would need a couple of weeks to get her finances in order before she was able to pay the fine One of Katie's followers asked her 'Is that a new puppy Kate?', in the comments section of her most recent Instagram post. Katie attended Crawley Magistrates Court where she pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and not having third-party insurance for her vehicle, ending up being sentenced to a three-month driving ban and a fine of 1,100 on Thursday. The mother-of-five was spotted driving on the A24 near her West Sussex home on July 25 while a six-month driving ban was still in place. It comes after she pleaded not guilty on Monday to drink-driving after allegedly crashing her 75,000 Range Rover into a parked car while twice the legal limit. Bear: The glamour model, 40, is said to have splashed out on a new puppy just three months after buying blue German Shepherd Bear, The Sun reports Katie's pink 4x4 smashed into a car and a hedge in South East London following her ex-boyfriend's birthday party in the early hours of October 10 last year. At the beginning of December, Katie avoided bankruptcy after coming to an agreement over her tax bill and a close pal allegedly loaned the star 22,000 to bail her out. Katie's case was heard at a specialist insolvency and companies court in Central London, which estimated her total debts ranged from 250,000 to 500,000. She was not at the court for the hearing, which lasted less than two minutes. Adding to her family: Katie shared a snap of her daughter Princess with their dog Bear Loss: Katie's purchase comes just under a year after her beloved dog Queenie was killed by a 'heartless delivery driver in hit and run' (pictured together in 2016) Deputy Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Middleton said: 'This case has been dismissed after the parties concerned reached an out of court agreement. 'Court costs of 881 are to be paid in accordance with the terms of the IVO (Individual Voluntary Agreement).' Outside court, a spokesman for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) added: 'We are not the lead creditors in this case, but we are happy with the agreement. I can't tell you who the other creditors are in this case at the minute. 'We don't have a specific date for the first payment and the amount has not been decided. Katie Price was not obliged to turn up to this court hearing today.' He's left viewers gripped over his new chilling series, in which he plays an unhinged stalker called Joe. And now You's Penn Badgley has been left horrified after Netflix fans have taken to social media and begged the star to kidnap them. The Gossip Gil actor, 32, took to his Twitter to respond to one show watcher who tweeted him saying: 'Kidnap me pls', to which he bluntly replied with: 'No thx.' Scary: You's Penn Badgley has been left horrified after Netflix fans have taken to social media and begged the star to kidnap them A different fan took to the social media site and said: 'Said this already but @PennBadgley is breaking my heart once again as Joe. What is it about him?' To which Penn simply (and hilariously) replied with: 'A: He is a murderer.' While he re-tweeted another follower who revealed that she's scared about the amount of fans who are romanticising over his stalker character. Hilarious: The Gossip Gil actor, 32, took to his Twitter to respond to one show watcher who tweeted him saying: 'Kidnap me pls', to which he bluntly replied with: 'No thx.' Hitting back: While he re-tweeted another follower who revealed that she's scared about the amount of fans who are romanticising over his stalker character To which he jokingly added: 'Ditto. It will be all the motivation I need for season 2.' In the series, which is currently streaming on Netflix, Penn's character Joe becomes obsessed with a girl called Guinevere, nicknamed Beck, after meeting her in the bookshop he works in. The bookseller goes on to stalk her, break into her home and murder any rivals that get in the way of him being with her, including her best friend Peach Salinger - played by Pretty Little Liars' Shay Mitchell. You ends with Joe kidnapping Beck and keeping her locked away in the basement of the bookshop after she discovers his twisted behaviour. Creepy: In the series, which is currently streaming on Netflix, Penn's character Joe becomes obsessed with a girl called Guinevere, nicknamed Beck, after meeting her in his bookshop Watch out!: The bookseller goes on to stalk her, break into her home and murder any rivals that get in the way of him being with her, including her best friend Peach Salinger - played by Pretty Little Liars' Shay Mitchell (pictured centre, right) It concludes with Joe killing Beck as she tries to escape his clutches, but the bookseller is soon left stunned as another ex-girlfriend, who he thought he had killed off, Candace, shows up. The 10-episode series is based on Caroline Kepnes' novel You, while it has since been announced that there will be a second series. Penn rose to fame as Serena van der Woodsen's love interest Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl. You available now to stream on Netflix. He was arguably one of the best James Bonds with his irresistible charm and dashing looks. And Pierce Brosnan proved he's still got it when he was riding solo for a low-key trip to the Country Mart in Malibu, California on Thursday. The Mamma Mia 2 star, 65, kept the slight fourteen degrees chill to the air at a distance with a sweater and a padded jacket. Still got it! Pierce Brosnan, 65, looked suave in a padded jacket as he kept a low-profile in shades in Malibu, California on Thursday Despite the overcast day, Pierce kept a low-profile with a pair of mirrored shades and a hat while on his solo trip to the supermarket. Although the Love Is All You Need star was dressed for comfort, he still showed off his chiseled jaw and dashing good looks. As one of Hollywood's most beautiful actors, of course he is most famous for his hunky portrayal of MI6 agent from 1995-2002. Smooth: The Mamma Mia 2 star, 65, kept the slight fourteen degrees chill to the air at a distance with a sweater and a padded jacket He starred in films GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. With Daniel Craig set to commence filming on the as-yet unnamed Bond 25 film, Pierce recently spoke about the latest generation of the franchise. The actor said Craig's brooding portrayal had to be more serious because the franchise was forced to reinvent the character as 'more muscular' and solemn. Happy days: Pierce is rarely seen without his beautiful wife Keely Shaye Smith, whom he has been married to since 2001 (pictured in 2018) However, in the process, Pierce claimed the series has lost its sense of humour while he spoke about the developments of the franchise over the years. He told The Rake magazine: 'There had to be humour, I felt. It is different now. They had strong competition and they haven't reinvented it but given it a much more muscular, dynamic twist. 'When I played him you have to let the audience in that this is a fantastic joke this man, jumping off a motorcycle and catching up a plane, is completely preposterous. But for me you had to let them in. 'That's what I was brought up with. Sean (Connery) did it, Roger (Moore) did it par excellence.' If the president doesnt care about the workers, maybe he should think about the economic health of the country. People who dont get paid cant keep up on mortgages. With no paycheck people dont go to shopping malls or eat at restaurants or even gas up their cars. The national capitol region, which includes parts of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, is home to 360,000 federal workers and could watch parts of its economy collapse if a solution doesnt come soon. Sen. Chris Van Hollens office says about 26,000 Maryland jobs are affected by the shutdown, but that doesnt count jobs in D.C. or Virginia held by Maryalnders, or an untold number of contract workers, many of whom make low wages to begin with. Thats why Gov. Larry Hogan, the presidents fellow Republican, called for an end to the shutdown this week. Jerry Stiller is 'doing OK' following a health scare on Wednesday night. The 91-year-old Seinfeld actor was rushed to a New York City hospital 'after the person he was with grew concerned about his health', according to NY Daily News. The publication said the comedian was eventually cleared by doctors following an evaluation. Two thumbs up: Jerry Stiller is 'doing OK' following a health scare on Wednesday night. The actor seen here in 2013 'There are no signs of a stroke. Hes resting and theyre going to send him home in a couple days. Hes totally fine,' a source told the Daily News. The star of The King Of Queens is father to fellow funny man Ben Stiller. Jerry's wife -and Ben's mother- Anna Meara, passed away in 2015. The 91-year-old Seinfeld actor was rushed to hospital 'after the person he was with grew concerned about his health', according to NY Daily News. Seen here [R] with Seinfeld co-stars Estelle Harris and Jason Alexander The Brooklyn-born funny man is perhaps best known for playing Frank Costanza on the sitcom Seinfeld, from 1993-1998. Jerry formed a successful comedy duo, Stiller and Meara, with his wife Anna in the 60s and 70s. The pair also shared a daughter, actress Amy Stiller. Don't expect to see Javi Marroquin and David Eason hanging out anytime soon. The 26-year-old Delaware native said that he's wary of Jenelle Evans' gun-toting husband and understands why MTV crew members are reluctant filming Jenelle, 27, because they are afraid of Eason, 30. 'They don't film if David's around, stuff like that,' the Teen Mom 2 personality told Radar Thursday. Scroll below for video The latest: Javi Marroquin, 26, says that he's wary of Jenelle Evans' gun-toting husband David Eason and understands why MTV crew members are reluctant filming Jenelle, 27, because they are afraid of Eason, 30 Asked if he feels crew members are safe, Marroquin said, 'No, I wouldn't go anywhere around [him] - I mean if Jenelle's around, he knows what she's doing, he knows where to find her - I wouldn't go down there at all, I wouldn't even go to the state' of North Carolina, where they live. Marroquin said he's seen the little tantrums Eason throws on social media 'and they're crazy - that dude's got issues.' Marroquin said he tries to avoid Eason out of self-preservation: 'I stay out of it; I don't want him threatening my life, I just stay out of it.' Marroquin said he wasn't sure if the uncomfortable situation should cause MTV to part ways with Jenelle. Staying strong: Javi posed for a shot with girlfriend Lauren Comeau last week Trouble? Eason's affinity for firearms, as depicted in this shot, has some MTV crew on edge Controversial: Eason's predilection for the Confederate flag and past homophobic remarks have raised eyebrows in the past 'I don't know if they should ... without her, she brings a lot of the views,' he said. 'Business is business, you gotta find a way to make it happy.' Javi was married from 2012 to 2017 to Kailyn Lowry, who has also said publicly that she was not comfortable around Eason. After a report from The Ashleys Reality Roundup described the touchy situation involving the crew, Lowry, 25, said in a tweet that she would 'not be attending any type of reunion on the same day or weekend as Jenelle & David for the same reasons.' A source told the outlet, 'There are some people [from the crew] who no longer feel safe going down there anymore because David has made it clear that he does not like the people from MTV, and that he has a ton of weapons.' In response to the disturbing report, Jenelle shot back in indirectly referring to Lowry as a 'dumb c*** tweeting about me again to make herself relevant' via Instagram Stories. The Oak Island, North Carolina native, 27, added a series of messages in defense of her spouse, who MTV fired last year after he sent homophobic tweets. '#RumorAlert MTV doesn't even come to my house to film, where David is. I solely film with my mom at lunches or with the kids and my mom. David is never involved. This was my contract "terms" to begin with. Everyone still has to make a huge deal about David when he isn't involved.' Jenelle brushed off the idea Eason was so volatile he would lose his temper and break the law. 'You think David would risk losing EVERYTHING over "having a bad day?" Lose his family, house, wife, kids .. forever? Get the F*** out of here,' she wrote. Teen Mom 2's new season begins January 14 on MTV at 9/8c. Stan & Ollie (PG) Verdict: Tender and charming Rating: The publicity material for Stan & Ollie claims that by watch-ing it, we can laugh away the January blues. Dont be misled. This is a sweet film of enormous charm, with matchingly wonderful performances from Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel and John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy, but a rib-tickling celebration of the silver screens greatest comedy double-act it most certainly aint. Sure, there are more than a few chuckles in Stan & Ollie, but on the whole it is a rather maudlin, even melancholic account of the pairs 1953 UK tour, the last time they worked together. This is a sweet film of enormous charm, with matchingly wonderful performances from Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel and John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy (left and right) There are more than a few chuckles in Stan & Ollie (pictured left and right are Steve Coogan and John C Reilly in character), but on the whole it is a rather maudlin, even melancholic account of the pairs 1953 UK tour, the last time they worked together Their Twenties and Thirties heyday is long behind them, and they arent exactly warmly embraced by a country itself in the rather colder embrace of post-war austerity. As they trudge from one half-full provincial theatre to the next, they are taunted everywhere at least, as Jeff Popes screenplay tells it by rhapsodies for the new slapstick kid on the block, Norman Wisdom. The film begins, however, with a flashback to 1937, with the pair in their Hollywood pomp. Stan is just divorced for the second time and insists that he wont get married again, hell just find a woman he doesnt like and buy her a house. Its an old gag and a good one, but it made me think for a second that maybe the drama would be compromised by a procession of faintly contrived one-liners. I neednt have worried. With the experienced Pope as writer, and Jon S. Bairds sure direction (oddly, his last film was a raucous adaptation of Irvine Welshs novel Filth), both we and Laurel and Hardy are in safe hands. By 1953, the double-act has foundered, largely on the back of Laurels Hollywood bust-up with powerful producer Hal Roach (Danny Huston). But then comes the offer of a tour in Ulverston-born Stans native land, and the somewhat more seductive suggestion of a new British-funded movie project, based on the legend of Robin Hood. The duo must learn to work together again. But with Ollies health failing and underlying tensions caused by the work he has done without Stan, their mutual respect and deep affection is subject to constant strain. With Ollies health failing and underlying tensions caused by the work he has done without Stan, their mutual respect and deep affection is subject to constant strain. The two are pictured here during their last tour in 1952 It also becomes clear, to Stan if not Ollie (or Babe as he was known to his friends and family), that the Robin Hood picture probably isnt going to happen. A prominent poster for Abbott And Costello Go To Mars offers a further cruel reminder that times and tastes have changed. This story of a brace of great careers gently fizzling out is in danger of becoming just a little too forlorn when everyone, the audience as well as Laurel and Hardy, gets a boost like a surge of electricity with the arrival from America of their wives. Happily, they have both found connubial bliss, and even more happily, the casting of Mrs Laurel, a formidable Russian ex-dancer called Ida, and Mrs Hardy, the devoted Lucille, is as perfect as that of Coogan and Reilly. The former is played, gloriously, by Nina Arianda. It helps that she gets some of the dramas funniest lines, and a jolly running joke in her distaste for the oily impresario running the tour (Bernard Delfont, no less, amusingly played by Rufus Jones). But underpinning both her character and Lucilles (an equally fine performance by Shirley Henderson) is adoration and concern for their menfolk. Indeed, on more than one level, Stan & Ollie is a love story. Its about the love between husbands and wives, and about the love Laurel and Hardy engendered in their audiences, but mostly its about the love they had for each other, all the more poignant for being stretched almost to snapping point. Shirley Henderson stars as Lucille Hardy in the new film (pictured). And as Brian Viner writes on more than one level, Stan & Ollie is a love story. Its about the love between husbands and wives, and about the love Laurel and Hardy engendered in their audiences In this respect I was reminded of a terrific recent TV drama called Eric, Ernie And Me, about Morecambe and Wise and their writer Eddie Braben. It contains a scene in which Eric, just like Stan (and, coincidentally, born just across Morecambe Bay from Ulverston), asserts petulantly that he is the senior partner; that Ernie would never have made it without him. But really Eric knew, as Stan did, that he was one half of a whole. As for the other half, Id love to have seen Reilly win a Golden Globe this week for his loveable, vulnerable turn as Ollie. But in a way that would have been unfair on Coogan, who should also have been nominated (and duly was, in the Baftas shortlist announced this week) and gives the best straight-acting performance of his career. Hes a superb mimic, of course, and captures perfectly Stans slightly nasal, mid-Atlantic vowels. But even more impressively, he captures just as precisely the contrast between the performer and the man. I should add that I have already seen Stan & Ollie twice, the first time with my 23-year-old son, an aspiring comedy writer and performer himself, who brought along his writing partner. They left a little nonplussed, feeling that they have to work a whole lot harder for laughs than Laurel and Hardy did, and in truth the films only slight weakness is that its stage routines notably one involving a hard-boiled egg dont adequately convey the pairs comic genius. But I saw it again with a large bunch of friends of my own age, who grew up as I did watching Laurel and Hardy shorts on Saturday morning telly. They didnt need telling why the duo were so joyously funny, and are also all old enough to understand the impact that the ageing process makes on friendships and careers. So it could be that this heartwarming film is more likely to be cherished by the over-50s, who will consider it a treat to join the trail of the lonesome pine. The Upside (12A) Verdict: Flawed remake Rating: There has been a right old brouhaha about The Upside, in which Bryan Cranston plays Philip, a self-made billionaire left quadriplegic after a paragliding accident, with Kevin Hart as Dell, the unemployed African-American ex-convict hired against all the odds to be his carer. The fuss, tiresomely but predictably, was caused by protests at the casting of an able-bodied actor to play a paralysed man in a wheelchair. Perhaps if Christopher Reeve had still been around, the protestors might have had more of a case, but theirs is a wilfully naive argument which pays no heed to film-industry economics. Cranston is a saleable star. Hes also a very fine actor and entirely convincing in the role. There has been a right old brouhaha about The Upside, in which Bryan Cranston (pictured) plays Philip, a self-made billionaire left quadriplegic after a paragliding accident No, the real downside to The Upside is that its nowhere near as good as the wonderful 2011 French picture that inspired it, Les Intouchables. It strives hard to recapture the thunderous bittersweet charm of the original, but like so many Hollywood remakes of great foreign-language films, it at times feels wincingly artificial and manipulative. Part of the problem is that Hart is miscast. He has the instincts of a clown, and while theres plenty of humour in the story, as Dell tries to reconcile the ritzy Park Avenue lifestyle into which he has been plunged with his own background on the wrong side of the tracks, it needs a less showy performance. Nicole Kidman, by contrast, is given an oddly inert role as Philips uptight assistant. But shes as watchable as ever, as is the always-beguiling Julianna Margulies in a romantic sub-plot. Theres a fair amount to admire in Neil Burgers film, but if you want a proper treat, seek out Les Intouchables. The Front Runner (15) Verdict: Watchable but irrelevant Rating: The Front Runner, directed and co-written by Jason Reitman, is flawed not as a consequence of its performances, which are uniformly strong, nor of a decent screenplay, but simply because it tells a story so overtaken by events that it seems irrelevant. Hugh Jackman plays Gary Hart, the Democratic senator for Colorado who in 1987 seemed likely to become the next President of the United States until a sex scandal derailed his campaign. It wasnt much of a scandal by modern standards. It seems almost quaint in a world in which the current incumbent of the Oval Office has actually boasted about groping women, that a capable, experienced politician should be ruined by mere allegations of an adulterous affair. Reitman tries to make a virtue of this, presenting Harts downfall as a pivotal moment in U.S. history, when politicians became as fascinating to a prurient media as movie stars. But that doesnt entirely wash, so what we are left with is an efficient period drama that never quite justifies its own running time of a shade under two hours, or our viewing time. Colette (15) Verdict: So-so literary biopic Rating: Like Marmite, and Brexit, Keira Knightley divides people. There are those who think her lustrous beauty is outshone only by her prodigious acting ability, and others who consider her, as an actress, not a great deal more than a pretty face. I subscribe to the latter view. All her familiar mannerisms led by the giggle, followed by the pout reduce each part she plays to just another manifestation of Keira. Keira Knightley (right) and Denise Gough (left) both star in Colette. Brian Viner writes: 'Its not too fanciful to see Colette as an antecedent of the #MeToo movement, and in that sense, I suppose, this is a timely release' Of course, plenty of great movie stars are always conspicuously themselves. Sir Michael Caine is their generalissimo. But they radiate a charisma which makes it a strength, not a flaw. I dont think Miss Knightley does. All of which explains why I think this is an interesting film telling a worthwhile, true story that of literary sensation Colette, whose racy novels were all the rage in belle epoque Paris which would have benefited from a stronger actress in the title role (Emma Stone, perhaps, or Carey Mulligan). As for the narrative, our heroine grows up in provincial France until she is whisked off to Paris by a family friend, one Henry Gauthier-Villars (Dominic West), who is himself a novelist, writing under the pseudonym Willy. Her new, much older husband is dashing but serially unfaithful and feckless. It is not his literary efforts but hers, initially published in his name, which bail them out of their financial mess. Gradually, she emerges from Willys considerable shadow and out of the bedroom in which he locks her to force her to write to assert herself professionally, as well as socially and sexually. She takes female lovers, with Poldarks Eleanor Tomlinson luminously miscast as one of them, Georgie a spoilt beauty from Americas Deep South who speaks like molasses-glazed ham might if it could talk. Eventually, she ends up with Missy (Denise Gough), who is what we might now call trans-gender. Indeed, director Wash Westmoreland (whose 2015 film Still Alice bagged Julianne Moore an Academy Award) makes no attempt to suppress the modern parallels. Its not too fanciful to see Colette as an antecedent of the #MeToo movement, and in that sense, I suppose, this is a timely release. She broke the hearts of Shameless fans when she announced that she is giving up her leading role as Fiona Gallagher. And Emmy Rossum has shared the thought process behind her decision in the new issue of Shape magazine, which she has covered. 'I want to leave the show while I still love it, and I know the door is open to come back if that feels right,' the 32-year-old explained. Holding forth: Emmy Rossum has shared the thought process behind her decision to leave the role of Fiona on Shameless in the new issue of Shape magazine Back in 2016, Emmy held out for a higher wage than her co-star William H. Macy, arguing she should get back pay for seasons when she made less than he. 'Im also extremely proud of what I was able to accomplish off-screen, with my negotiation for equal pay and the effect that had on other women in the industry and in general,' the The Phantom Of The Opera star told the new Shape. 'The way I look at it is that the end of one thing is the beginning of something else. I couldnt be more thrilled to spend time writing, directing, and seeing what other characters I want to play. Its both scary and wonderful.' Emmy, who has also directed multiple later episodes of the series, has played Fiona on every single episode of the US version of Shameless since its 2011 premiere. Seen on screen: 'I want to leave the show while I still love it, and I know the door is open to come back if that feels right,' the 32-year-old explained William's alcoholic character Frank Gallagher is a disastrously neglectful father to his several children - so Fiona, the eldest, runs the household and raises her siblings. These are Philip 'Lip' (Jeremy Allen White), Ian (Cameron Monaghan), Debbie (Emma Kenny), Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) and Liam (several actors during the show's run). Developed by John Wells, the Showtime version of the series was adapted from a Channel 4 show in Britain of the same name created by Paul Abbott. Mainstay: Emmy, who has also directed multiple later episodes of the series, has played Fiona on every single episode of the US version of Shameless since 2011 Though that show lasted 11 seasons, the Fiona character played by Anne-Marie Duff was only a series regular on the first two, with a guest role on the last one. Emmy's future projects include a TV miniseries adapted from Gary Baum's The Hollywood Reporter expose of the 1980s kitsch icon Angelyne. The series will be written by Emmy's second and current husband Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot, according to The Hollywood Reporter. When off the red carpet, he is known for his laid-back, casual style. And on Thursday, Matthew McConaughey stayed true to his style when he stepped out in West Hollywood. The Oscar-winning actor was seen looking refreshed and relaxed following a workout session at an LA-area gym. Casual cool: On Thursday, Matthew McConaughey, 49, stayed true to his style when he stepped out in West Hollywood Matthew paired a denim button-down with a set of khaki pants. The 49-year-old's curly hair was brushed back and away from his face. The handsome actor accessorized with a pair of glasses and a watch. The father-of-three carried his gym bag and a coordinating denim jacket in one hand, and a healthy smoothie in the other. Fit: The Oscar-winning actor was seen looking refreshed and relaxed following a workout session at an LA-area gym All-American: Matthew paired a denim button-down with a set of khaki pants Despite his shining star spot in Hollywood, the actor's relaxed style - and personality - could be in part to his southern roots. Matthew was born in the small town of Uvalde, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Radio-Television-Film. The star of The Lincoln Lawyer had previously wanted to pursue a law degree, but changed his mind after showing know interest. His time in his home state surely helped him connect with fellow Texas native, director Richard Linklater. Matthew would later go on to star in his film, Dazed and Confused, which put him on the Hollywood map. Prior to that, the handsome actor was also the lead in Trisha Yearwood's Walkway Joe music video. His family: Matthew is married to model and blogger, Camila Alves, 36. The couple wed in 2012, and share Levi, 10, Vida, nine, and Livingston, six. They are seen in NYC in 2012 Matthew is married to model and blogger, Camila Alves, 36. The couple wed in 2012, and share Levi, 10, Vida, nine, and Livingston, six. Next up for Matthew is a starring role alongside Anne Hathaway and Diane Lane in the dramatic thriller, Serenity. He'll also take the lead in the ensemble cast comedy, Beach Bum and Toff Guys, the latter of which he is currently filming. They're just said to have pushed back their official Christian wedding celebration. And Hailey Baldwin and Justin Bieber looked like they were in serious moods when they stepped out for lunch at Zinque in West Hollywood on Wednesday. The Arizona-born model, 22, was stylish in a pair of frayed blue jeans with a matching top during her trip with her love. Let's do lunch! Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin got together for lunch in West Hollywood on Wednesday Her loose, button-up blouse was slung off one shoulder slightly and she wore her hair down. She added a laid back touch with square black glasses, which Yeezy sneakers covered her feet. Besides her Justin went for ultimate comfort in a pair of Adidas jogging pants, a hoodie from his place of worship Zoe Church and white sneakers. Disguising himself, the Purpose pop star kept his hood up and donned dark sunglasses. Taking their time: Justin and Hailey have reportedly pressed pause on wedding planning, though they're already legally married Jean queen: The Arizona-born model, 22, looked stylish in a pair of frayed blue jeans with a matching top Hold up: Justin gently tugged on the back of his love's shirt as they left the establishment Justin gently tugged on the back of his love's shirt as they left the establishment. Though Justin and Hailey are legally wed, they're said to be slowing down their plans for their official religious celebration of the union. The pair were wed in a secret civil ceremony in New York in September 2018. Though both are devout Christians, sources told People they're still 'figuring out the perfect time' to tie the knot. Timing is everything! Though both are devout Christians, sources told People they're still 'figuring out the perfect time' to tie the knot The insider continued, telling the magazine that while 'they both feel like the sooner, the better,' there are still details to be worked out. 'Theyre working with the schedules of all their friends and family to make sure they can be surrounded by the people they love.' 'Theres no real rush. Theyre already legally married, but theyre very excited about throwing a celebration with their loved ones.' Last year she became the oldest woman to pose for Playboy, at 67. Now, as she approaches her 68th birthday next month, Jane Seymour has again proved shes unafraid to show off her figure. She shared a picture online of herself looking sensational in a bright blue swimsuit on holiday in Hawaii. Looking good: As she approaches her 68th birthday next month, Jane Seymour has again proved shes unafraid to show off her figure by sharing a picture online of herself looking sensational in a bright blue swimsuit on holiday in Hawaii The actress, best known for Bond film Live And Let Die and TV drama series Dr Quinn Medicine Woman, is seen standing on a yacht, teaming the swimsuit with a pair of sunglasses. She captioned the snap: Feeling blue today! Blue skies, blue ocean, and blue swimsuit! Thankful to be out enjoying this beautiful sunshine. Last year she posed in a series of lingerie and swimwear shots for Playboy. Theres this feeling after youre 40 or 50 its over, especially if youre an actress, she said at the time. Im 67, Im not giving up. They shot it in my house, and in the swimming pool. I was thrilled. It got over one billion impressions from all over the world. Jane, who has been married and divorced four times, has four children aged from 36 to 22. She said recently that as an actress she didnt want to have too much cosmetic surgery on her face. Opening up: Jane recently that as an actress she didnt want to have too much cosmetic surgery on her face I need my face to move; if it doesnt move, I cant play the characters, she said. She also said she had had a boob job after her third marriage failed in 1992. I got my breasts done because of the pressure of losing my marriage, I thought maybe thats what I should do, she added. Kelly Dodd is having a happy new year in her new relationship. The 43-year-old reality star took to Instagram on Thursday to update fans on her new romance with Dr. Brian Reagan, a plastic surgeon based out of La Jolla, California. 'Love visiting my main squeeze [Reagan] in La Jolla .. your office is so cute,' the Real Housewives of Orange County star said on the social media site as she paid a visit to one of his businesses, True Beauty San Diego Aesthetic Surgery & Medicine. Scroll below for video Happy time: RHOC star Kelly Dodd, 43, took to Instagram on Thursday to update fans on her new romance with Dr. Brian Reagan, a plastic surgeon based out of La Jolla, California Earlier this week, the reality star, who's been a staple on the show since its 11th season in 2016, traveled with her new beau to Scottsdale, Arizona for a romantic getaway. 'No mystery man here the same one its been for awhile.. showing him my ole stomping grounds in Scottsdale,' said Dodd, a regular on the Bravo reality show the past three years. Dodd and Reagan are on better terms after she took to Instagram Stories last month and indicated that Reagan, who she had not yet revealed publicly as her suitor, had broken things off in the relationship. 'I got dumped last night - I got dumped - my boyfriend dumped me,' she said, later saying via Twitter that she 'didnt' get dumped as Reagan 'came back' to her. Beautiful: The reality star was in style as she posed on the red carpet of an event in Costa Mesa, California in November Courting: The duo had a romantic getaway to Arizona earlier this week Dodd last February finalized her split from now-ex-husband Michael Dodd, prior to an eventful season on the Bravo series - which included allegations of cocaine abuse by her co-star, Vicki Gunvalson. In November, she said that her future on the series depended on how Gunvalson was dealt with after the accusations. 'If they don't do something to Vicki how could I go back I'm not going to sell my soul for this ratchet liar!' she said of Vicki in an Instagram comment. When a user remarked that it was time for Vicki - who has been with the series since the start - and Tamra Judge to depart the show, Dodd said that the two were 'running that show to the ground and hurting people's reputation and [her] brand.' Dodd told People in November that the fallout of the allegation has 'been really horrible' to deal with. 'I dont do drugs. I dont do cocaine. Ive seen it ruin families, Ive seen it affect people close to me,' she said. 'But by Vicki saying that there are all these people out there believing it. 'Now its out there in the universe. You dont think people are going to be like, "Maybe she does do it?" This is my life. This is my name. Its like character assassination. Its really hurt me.' He's close to his 60s. But that did nothing to stop Michael J Fox from getting his very first tattoo this Wednesday. The Family Ties actor, who is 57, used Instagram to share a photo of his body art, which was done at the celeb-beloved studio Bang Bang Tattoos. Late bloomer! Michael J Fox got his first tattoo at the age of 57 on Wednesday. He was inked by artist Mr. K, to his right above) The design: His first piece of body art was of a delicate sea turtle on his forearm His first design was of a delicately drawn sea turtle on his forearm. Michael didn't reveal the inspiration for his design though, simply calling it a 'long story' in his caption. A photo from artist Mr. K's Instagram showed the Back To The Future actor with the aand a friend, who both held onto some Marty McFly memorabilia autographed and gifted by the actor. The studio also shared a photo of Fox laying down while being worked on. Behind the scenes: The studio also shared a photo of Fox laying down while being worked on The idea behind it: Owner of the tattoo shop Jon Bang Bang told Inked that the actor was inspired to get a sea turtle from a transcendent experience swimming with the creatures in Saint John Jon Bang Bang, owner of the tattoo shop, was able to dish about Michael's inspiration in an interview with Inked Magazine out Thursday. 'He was telling me that there was a transformation for him with his career decisions when he was swimming in Saint John,' he said. 'He spotted this turtle with a chunk missing from it's fin and a scar on his face. And that turtle let him swim with him for about a half an hour. He made a transcending decision right after that. So that turtle was pretty significant to him.' Mr. K also wrote about the experience on his social media, sharing a photo of his artwork with a caption that said: 'Represents his life and himself. Cant decide how I feel today @realmikejfox it was an honor #michealjfox #mrktattoo.' Living life: The actor (above in November 2018) has publicly battled Parkinson's since 1998, but first became aware of his condition in 1991 Michael has lived quite the life. The actor has publicly battled Parkinson's since 1998, but first became aware of his condition in 1991. Since then he has become a dedicated advocate for research and treatment of the disease. Bang Bang said that Fox's Parkinson's wasn't a problem at all during his session, telling Inked: 'I think that he did really well. [Parkinson's] is something that can affect him really heavily or not as much, but he had a great day today here.' They may be used to glamming it up for the red carpet. But for now, Ashton Kutcher and his wife Mila Kunis enjoyed a day in their casual wear. The couple were pictured dressed down for a casual outing in Los Angeles on Thursday. Laid back! Mila Kunis and her husband Ashton Kutcher enjoyed a day in their casual wear in Los Angeles on Thursday Mila, 35, rocked a grey sweatshirt, black top, and ripped jeans as she strolled beside her husband, 40. The Black Swan actress wore her black locks down and a hint of makeup upon her complexion. Ashton wrapped up warm against the crisp LA winter with a jean jacket, white T-shirt, black jeans, and a beanie. Strolling side by side, the couple appeared relaxed and in good spirits for their relaxed stroll in the winter sunshine. Sweater weather: Mila rocked a grey sweatshirt, black top, and ripped jeans as she strolled beside her husband Mila and Ashton have been married since 2015 and have daughter Wyatt, four, and son Dimitri, two, together. The couple first met when they starred together on That 70s Show from 1998 to 2006, where a then 19-year-old Ashton was Milas first kiss...although she was just 14. The pair didn't date each other until much later, with the Bad Moms star going on to have a lengthy relationship with Macaulay Culkin, and Ashton marrying Demi Moore in 2005 before their divorce in 2013. Mila and Ashton then reconnected, and originally had planned to keep their relationship as a simple hook up, before realising they had feelings for one another. Recent evidence has shown that offering medication treatment to addicts in prison can reduce state overdose deaths overall. Rhode Island which has had one of the worst per-capita rates of overdose deaths in 2016 began the first and still only program in the nation to screen all inmates for opioid use and provide medications for addiction treatment such as buprenorphine. Overdose deaths among people leaving prison dropped 61 percent, contributing to an overall 12 percent reduction in the states overdose deaths, according to a Brown University study. She is the AFL WAG who is known for her high-end taste. And now Nadia Bartel has revealed the very lavish nursery she has created for her three-month-old son Henley, via her Youtube channel. The 33-year-old fashion blogger gave fans an inside look at the beautifully decorated space, a result of a collaboration with interior decorator, Nicole Rosenberg. Scroll down for video Is this the most stylish nursery ever created? AFL WAG Nadia Bartel has taken fans inside her three-month-old baby Henley's nursery The room features Australiana-themed wallpaper, a spacious wardrobe and a room-sized rug for added cosiness. One of the more extravagant details is a set of personalised coat hangers with Henley's name and initials (HRB for Henley Roy Bartel). Nadia also showed off her favourite space in the room, the corner area complete with a velvet breastfeeding chair. Gorgeous: The room features Australiana-themed wallpaper, a spacious wardrobe and a room-sized rug for added cosiness The emerald green piece with swivel motion is from Globewest, and is valued at $2,065.00. 'It's comfortable,' Nadia said of the chair, 'that's what you want when you've got a baby.' Henley also sleeps tight in a $1000 cot from American children's brand Oeuf. Cute and cosy: Henley also sleeps tight in a $1000 cot from American children's brand Oeuf. The cot is adorned with toys and cushions, features a hand stitched mattress and is available from West Australian brand, Nickle And Co All in the details: One of the more extravagant details is a set of personalised coat hangers with Henley's name and initials (HRB for Henley Roy Bartel). Mum and bub: Nadia her former AFL star husband Jimmy welcomed her second child Henley in October. The cot is adorned with toys and cushions, features a hand stitched mattress and is available from West Australian brand, Nickle And Co. ' Nadia her former AFL star husband Jimmy welcomed her second child Henley in October. The couple married in 2014. In addition to the newborn, they also share three-year-old son Aston. Advertisement The Bulgarian resort of Sunny Beach has been named as offering the best value for money break for UK holidaymakers for a second year running, an annual report has revealed. It was found to be the place where Brits will see their pounds stretch furthest in research which saw the Turkish resort of Marmaris in second place while the Algarve in Portugal is third. However, the most expensive place for a holiday was found to be Mahe in the Seychelles. The Bulgarian resort of Sunny Beach, pictued, which has been named as offering the best value for money break for UK holidaymakers for a second year running in an annual report by Post Office Travel Money The ranking was revealed in the Post Office Travel Money's yearly Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer. To compile the report, the Post Office compares the cost of eight everyday tourist items in 42 cities and resorts worldwide to see where the pound will stretch furthest. The price of the basket of items, which are a meal for two, drinks, sunscreen and insect repellent in first placed Sunny Beach is just 36.03. The well-documented volatility of the Turkish lira explains why Marmaris, Turkey's most popular resort, claimed second as prices have fallen 18.7 per cent since last year to 45.23. Third place the Algarve, a past winner, has seen prices rise by 13.2 per cent to 50.11 while in fourth place is Cape Town, where prices are 50.23. However, a price fall of two per cent to 54.12 has helped Spain's Costa del Sol to move up to fifth place in the table. The well-documented volatility of the Turkish lira explains why Marmaris, pictured, Turkey's most popular resort, claimed second as prices have fallen 18.7 per cent since last year to 45.23 Third place the Algarve in Portugal, is a past winner in the Post Office report. It has seen prices rise by 13.2 per cent to 50.11 The rest of the top ten is made up of Tokyo (55.55), Mombasa (55.87), Prague (56.88), Paphos (65.17) and Bali (69.49). Overall, the report revealed that contrary to expectation that the seesawing value of sterling against major currencies would result in higher prices for UK visitors, the costs for eight tourist staples including meals and drinks has fallen in almost half of the 42 destinations surveyed including six of 12 European ones. Singapore (120.66) and St Lucia (80.09) head the list of 19 destinations where holiday costs have dropped in the past year. Prices in the Chinatown area of Singapore fell by 21.5 per cent and in Montego Bay, Jamaica they went down by 19.6 per cent. The most expensive resort for Brits mentioned in the report is Mahe in the Seychelles, where the basket of eight items adds up to 182.89 The cost of items in St Lucia's was far cheaper than in four other Caribbean islands (Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica and Tobago). And while those falls are the result of cheaper local charges for meals and drinks, a sharp rise in the value of sterling against the Brazilian real explains why prices have plunged in Rio de Janeiro where the barometer basket totals 111.19, a fall of 19.5 per cent. European destinations that also saw sizeable year-on-year price reductions were Malta (Sliema, 12th, 71.41 down nine per cent), France (Nice, 20th, 91.86, down 13.7 per cent) and Greece (Corfu, 21st, 96.06, down 7.8 per cent). Post Office Travel Money expert Andrew Brown said: 'It is good news that prices are down in many destinations this year, but it is still very important to be aware of the huge variation in costs we found across the 42 countries surveyed. 'For example, barometer costs in the six cheapest resorts and cities are less than half those in the 15 priciest destinations. 'That's why we advise holidaymakers to draw up a destination shortlist and do their homework by comparing the prices for meals, drinks and other tourist items before booking. Forearmed is forewarned.' Sorrento in Italy emerged as the most expensive of 12 European destinations after registering a price rise of over 30 per cent. At 119.03, its prices were over twice as high as those in Sunny Beach, Marmaris, the Algarve and the Costa del Sol. However, value choices included the cities of Bratislava and Porto, where local prices are among the lowest in Europe. The hotlist also includes Croatia and Iceland, whose currencies are among 10 showing the greatest sales growth over 10 years. In the past decade Croatian kuna sales have risen 325 per cent, while those for the Icelandic krona have grown by 237 per cent. Meanwhile, Post Office Travel Money added three new destinations Abu Dhabi, India (Delhi) and the Seychelles (Mahe) to the Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer this year. Delhi emerged as cheapest of the three at 104.29, while Abu Dhabi (168.66) and Mahe (182.89) were at least 60 per cent pricier. Advertisement Meet the family of three who sold all of their belongings to live life in a converted military truck - and have been travelling the world for two years. Austrians Leander Nardin and his girlfriend Maria had been living in Salzburg with their son Lennox, now seven, but had always been keen traveling. And two years ago, the couple decided they would sell up their home and buy an old military truck, a Mercedes Benz LA911B, that they would convert into a mobile home. Austrians Leander Nardin, his girlfriend Maria and their son Lennox, seven, pose beside their converted military truck, which is now their home. The family of three are currently travelling the world in the truck. They are pictured in the central Asian country of Tajikistan Two years ago, the couple decided they would sell up their home in Salzburg, Austria, and buy an old military truck, a Mercedes Benz LA911B, that they would convert into their new place to live. They are pictured in Tajikistan The family have always loved travelling and immersing themselves in the cultures of foreign countries. The trio are pictured gazing up at the stunning mountains in Tajikistan Seven-year-old Lennox uses an axe to chop wood while travelling through the Lut desert in Iran. Lennox is home schooled but doesn't follow a standard school programme It took them two years to refurbish the 41-year-old truck, which now boasts two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a toilet and a shower in a space of just 12 square metres. And since the family started their journey in 2017, they have travelled through 24 countries, starting in Austria. They are currently making their way around Australia. Leander, who is a professional photographer, told MailOnline Travel: 'For us, this world trip is not just a journey - it is a way of life. 'My girlfriend and I were travelling all around the globe for more than 10 years together. 'We were always close to nature, interested in foreign cultures and immersing in the everyday life of foreign countries. A feeling that probably only travelers can understand. 'Yet, this feeling always went by too quickly and before we knew it, the everyday life was happening again. Maria makes her way back to the truck during a dust storm in the Lut desert in Iran. The family document their travels by posting pictures on their Instagram and Facebook pages as well as on their blog, called Akela The family sit around a camp fire under the stars after parking up their truck in the Altai region of Russia, which is in southern Siberia Since leaving Austria, the family has travelled south and so far visited 24 countries. They are currently in Australia. Pictured is the truck parked up in the mountains of Tajikistan 'Seven years ago, our son was born. And somehow everything began with him. 'We wanted to spend as much time with our son as possible and bring him closer to the whole world. 'But time is a precious and a rare commodity so we decided it was time to focus on the essentials and time together to discover the beauty of this plane and time to really live. 'We converted and rebuilt the whole truck by ourselves, which took us two years full time. 'Neither of us are technicians and we had a lot of trial and error situations and made a lot of mistakes, which heavily increased the costs of the truck. 'In the end it cost two thirds more than expected and blasted our whole budget.' Once the truck was habitable, Leander, Maria and Lennox began their journey and started by driving south from Austria. One of the favourite places that they have visited on their trip is Kyrgyzstan, pictured. Leander said: 'It's not hard to choose our favourite countries' Father and son Leander and son Lennox enjoy a motorcycle ride through the stunning Iranian desert. Leander explained: 'Lennox is seven now. He really loves traveling in a truck, but there are also difficult moments for him missing his friends or other children' Lennox sits on top of a rock with one of his toys surveying the stunning scene across Charyn Canyon, located on the Sharyn River in Kazakhstan Along the way, they have passed through European countries such as Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Russia, Greece and Turkey. The family then ventured into Asia, travelling into Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazahkstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia before visiting Australia. Leander added: 'It's not hard to choose our favourite countries - it is those in central Asia including Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. The truck now boasts two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a toilet and a shower over a space of just 12 square metres. It is pictured here next to Mount Parnassos in central Greece Sometimes the family sleep outside in tents. Pictured is a sandy beach surrounded by rocks on the Greek island of Crete 'In general this kind of lifestyle or traveling is pretty challenging and exhausting. 'There are lots of language barriers, technical problems and bureaucratic obstacles like visas. 'Borders are in general pretty easy but one of the biggest problems - also financially and the organisation - comes mostly with shipping the truck. 'Lennox is seven now. He really loves traveling in a truck, but there are also difficult moments for him missing his friends or other children. 'But we do home schooling in the truck, although without any standard school programme.' The family document their travels by posting pictures on their Instagram and Facebook pages as well as on their blog, called Akela. Travelling the world means the family get to marvel at stunning views like this one in Iran on a daily basis. Pictured is the desert on Queshm Island The family's truck looks tiny when parked next to the Pamir Mountains close to the Himalayas in Tajikistan - one of their favourite countries While travelling through Greece, the family came across the Grand Meteora Monastery, where Leander captured this mystical image while the peek was surrounded by cloud The world Akela means 'graceful' and 'noble' in Hawaiian and is also the name of the lead wolf in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. The trio intend to continue their travels indefinitely in their truck and are deciding where to visit next. Leander explained: 'We want to bring the diversity of the world closer to our son, extend his and our horizons. 'We want to have the ability to have every day something new to discover and experience and the freedom to keep life in our own hands. 'You need to find out what you really need to be happy. But as the saying goes, "life begins at the end of your comfort zone".' A giant Super-Earth just six light years away could still have the potential to harbor primitive life, researchers have found. Barnard b (or GJ 699 b) is a recently discovered Super-Earth planet orbiting Barnard's Star, making it the second nearest star system to the Earth. The planet is believed to be extremely cold, with temperatures is similar to Jupiter's moon, Europa, at around -150C (-238F). However, researchers say it could have a large, hot iron/nickel core and enhanced geothermal activity, which would allow life to flourish. Scroll down for video A frozen 'super-Earth' has been discovered orbiting Barnard's Star, the closest single star to the sun. Despite surface temperatures of around -150C (-238F), scientists believe pockets of liquid water could lie beneath the ice capable of harbouring life (artist's impression) 'Geothermal heating could support 'life zones' under its surface, akin to subsurface lakes found in Antarctica,' said Villanova University Astrophysicist Edward Guinan at the 223rdmeeting of the American Astronomy Society (AAS) in Seattle, WA. 'We note that the surface temperature on Jupiter's icy moon Europa is similar to Barnard b but, because of tidal heating, Europa probably has liquid oceans under its icy surface.' 'If water is present, geothermal heating (volcanic plumes, vents etc.) could result in liquid water 'life zones' under a possible icy surface,' the pair wrote in their accompanying paper. 'This much like Jupiter's icy moon Europa that is heated by tidal heating rather than from geothermal energy.' 'Barnard's Star has been on our radar for a long time,' Guinan said. 'The most significant aspect of the discovery of Barnard's star b is that the two nearest star systems to the Sun are now known to host planets. 'This supports previous studies based on Kepler Mission data, inferring that planets can be very common throughout the galaxy, even numbering in the tens of billions,' Scott Engle, who co-authored the paper, noted. The newly detected planet, Barnard's Star b (artist's impression), is thought to be rocky and at least 3.2 times more massive than the Earth. It circles a cool red-dwarf star, smaller and older than the sun, completing one orbit every 233 days 'Also, Barnard's Star is about twice as old as the Sun about 9 billion years old compared to 4.6 billion years for the Sun. 'The universe has been producing Earth-size planets far longer than we, or even the Sun itself, have existed.' Barnard's Star b, with a mass just over three times that of the Earth, orbits Barnard's Star, a red dwarf star, every 233 days and at roughly the same distance that Mercury orbits the Sun. It passes near the dim star's snow line. Although very faint, it may be possible for Barnard b to be imaged by future very large telescopes, according to Guinan. 'Such observations will shed light on the nature of the planet's atmosphere, surface, and potential habitability,' he added. Despite surface temperatures of around -150C (-238F), scientists believe pockets of liquid water could lie beneath the ice capable of harbouring life. The newly detected planet, Barnard's Star b, is thought to be rocky and at least 3.2 times larger than the Earth. Its host, Barnard's Star, is six light years from Earth - hardly any distance on astronomical scales - with a luminosity 0.0035 times that of the sun. The only closer star system is Alpha Centauri, which consists of three stars bound together by gravity, around four light years away. The planet's existence was confirmed after two decades of observations using several different ground-based telescopes and instruments. One of them was the new state-of-the-art planet-hunting instrument Carmenes at the Calar Alto Observatory in Spain. Even the most powerful telescopes in use today would not be able to image Barnard's Star b directly. It may look horribly dangerous, and fly for less than half an hour a time, but Russian firm Hoversurf has shown off a working hoverbike. The craft, which has already been sold to the Dubai Police force, is being shown off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It will fly 16 feet (5m) above the ground, reaching a top speed of 60mph (96 km) - although this will be limited to the legal speed in each country. Scroll down for video The Russian built craft, which has already been sold to the Dubai Police force, has been redesigned with a new battery and carbon fiber frame. SCORPION SPECS Carbon fiber frame Four quadcopter blade Will fly 16 feet (5m) above the ground Top speed of 60mph (96 km) Flight time of 10- 25 minutes depending on weather and weight Remote-controlled drone mode offers up to 40 minutes flight time Advertisement The craft has also been updated with a hybrid lithium-manganese-nickel battery, which has a flight time of between 10 and 25 minutes depending on the weather and pilot weight. There is also a remote-controlled drone mode that reportedly offers up to 40 minutes flight time. 'The dimensions of the hoverbike allow it to be rolled in a standard doorway while also having ability to take-off and land from an ordinary parking space,' the firm says. Buyers can preorder a Hoverbike S3 2019 with a US$10,000 deposit, and the full price is set at $150,000, and deliveries are slated to take place within two to six months from your time of reservation. 'The weight of the hoverbike is 114 kg (253 pounds) limited by law, but by reducing the weight of the frame it allowed us to install a more capacious battery,' the firm said. Buyers can preorder a Hoverbike S3 2019 with a US$10,000 deposit, and the full price is set at $150,000, and deliveries are slated to take place within two to six months from your time of reservation The craft can take-off and land from an ordinary parking space 'Our safe flight altitude is 5 meters above the ground (16 feet), but the pilot himself can adjust the limit to their comfortability.' The craft recently passing the US Federal Aviation Administration requirements to be classified as a legal ultralight vehicle, allowing the hoverbike to be operable with no pilot's license. If you're a male budgie, attracting a mate is all about brains rather than brawn, researchers have found. Researchers studying the birds found seeing 'clever behavior' in a male made them irresistible to females. The groundbreaking research is being hailed as a breakthrough in understanding the brain of non-humans. Scroll down for video Chinese and Danish researchers studying the birds found seeing 'clever behavior' in a male made them irresistible to females DARWIN'S THEORY OF SEXUAL SELECTION Since first proposed by Darwin, it has long been hypothesized that more intelligent individuals make preferable partners and that sexual selection for acuity has greatly contributed to the evolutionary development of cognitive abilities in animals. However, the fitness benefits of cognition, as well as the underlying selective mechanics, are not well understood and have rarely been studied outside of the human species. Advertisement Jiani Chen and colleagues tested female preference for problem-solving abilities in males, using the budgerigar - a small Australian parrot, also known as the parakeet. 'Our results suggest that direct observation of problem-solving skills increases male attractiveness and that this could contribute to the evolution of the cognitive abilities underlying such skills,' the wrote in the journal Science. The researchers examined whether female budgerigars altered their preference for males after observing a potential suitor's ability to open puzzle boxes and access the food within. In a series of trials, female birds were paired with two males from which she chose a preferred partner. Then, outside of the view of the female, the non-preferred male was trained to open boxes of food. The researchers examined whether female budgerigars altered their preference for males after observing a potential suitor's ability to open puzzle boxes and access the food within. According to the results, after the females watched the trained bird successfully open the boxes - and observed her non-trained chosen partner fail to do the same - they shifted their preference to the previously non-preferred, clever males. Previous studies on birds have inferred a preference for mates with greater cognitive abilities based on secondary behaviors correlated with intelligence, like song. However, some researchers say the results may not be all they seem. Behaviour experts Georg Striedter and Nancy Burley from the University of California, Irvine, in the US, suggest that while the main result is straightforward, its interpretation is less clear-cut. A Cardiff University professor has been honoured for his ground-breaking research from 1986. Professor Bernard Schutz, 72, is set to receive the prestigious Eddington Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society for his work. The society has decided to honour the scholar for his 'investigation of outstanding merit in theoretical astrophysics'. Previous awardees include the most famed and influential scientist of the 20th-century - the late Sir Stephen Hawking. Scroll down for video Professor Bernard Schutz (pictured) will receive the prestigious Eddington Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society The American physicist currently works for Cardiff University's School of Physics and Astronomy. Professor Schutz explained in his 1986 paper how gravitational waves could be used to measure the cosmic expansion rate. He argued the waves from mergers of two neutron stars or black holes were 'standard sirens' which carried information about their distance to Earth. His theory was realised 30 years later in 2017 when both gravitational and electromagnetic waves were detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), whose creators won a Nobel Prize. Professor Schutz will receive the award, named after English astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington, who made the first empirical test of Einstein's theory, at the National Astronomy Meeting at Lancaster University in July. The prestigious award has previously been awarded to the most famed and influential physicist of the 20th-century - the late Sir Stephen Hawking (pictured) He said: 'The medal is more than a recognition of work done 30 years ago. 'The pleasure of achieving this recognition is a reward for having dedicated much of my career to reaching the goal of opening the field of gravitational wave astronomy. 'Receiving the medal 100 years after Eddington himself provided crucial proof of the validity of Einstein's theory makes it a special honour indeed.' He added: 'The observations we have made so far are just the beginning. 'As detectors improve, and as we go into space with the European Space Agency's Laser Interferometer Space Antenna mission, we will use this tool to answer many questions about the history of the universe.' Florida and Texas topped the list for experiencing most lightening strikes in 2018, according to new research. Though Florida is nicknamed the Sunshine State, it is notorious for thunderstorms and had the highest flash density per square mile, at 9.34. Texas, however had the most cloud-to-ground flash count in 2018 at 2,483,805, while Florida came in second with 1,385,710 lightning strikes. Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska made up the rest of the top five with a combined flash count of 2,776,704, just a little over Texas's year count alone. Scroll down for video Florida and Texas topped the list for experiencing most lightening strikes in 2018, according to new research. Though Florida is nicknamed the Sunshine State, it is notorious for thunderstorms. Here, space shuttle Discovery is seen on the Launch Pad in Florida with a roiling storm visible in the background (stock image) Vaisala is a global lightning detection network, that monitor total lightning activity, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They released their figures at the annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society in Phoenix this week Using data from its National Lightning Detection Network, environmental measurement specialist Vaisala, based in Finland, released its Annual Lightning Report. They released their figures at the annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society in Phoenix this week. According to these figures, lightning strikes actually decreased to 17.8 million during 2018, 11 per cent lower than the ten-year average. 'This marks the third-fewest flashes in the last 10 years and a 1.9 million flash decrease from the 2009 - 2018 average of 19,728,634 lightning flashes across the U.S. annually,' said a spokesman for Vaisala in a statement. The likely reason for the reduction is that there were fewer big storms, according to Ryan Said, a lightning expert at Vaisala. 'Specifically, there were fewer days with very strong air mass contrasts across the Central Plains and Upper Midwest during the spring and summer of 2018, which contributes to the severe weather season,' he added. Texas had the most cloud-to-ground flash count in 2018 at 2,483,805, while Florida came in second with 1,385,710 lightning strikes. Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska made up the rest of the top five. Pictured, a cloud-to-cloud bolt shoots from this tornadic supercell in Pampa, Texas (stock image) TOP TEN 2018 CLOUD-TO-GROUND FLASHES BY STATE 1 Texas 2,483,805 2 Florida 1,385,710 3 Oklahoma 958,925 4 Kansas 928,760 5 Nebraska 889,019 6 Louisiana 854,871 7 Arkansas 768,168 8 Missouri 711,222 9 New Mexico 699,719 10 Georgia 693,776 Using data from its National Lightning Detection Network, environmental measurement specialist Vaisala released its Annual Lightning Report. Pictured, Storms over Amarillo, Texas (stock image) According to these figures, lightning strikes actually decreased to 17.8 million during 2018, 11 per cent lower than the ten-year average. According to experts, the likely reason for the reduction is that there were fewer big storms, Pictured, Lightning at night over Florida (stock image) This explanation is consistent with reports that tornadic activity at the highest Enhanced Fujita scale was also down in 2018. This is the scale at which you measure tornadoes, ranging from 0 to 5 in severity. Florida is so lightning-active because of its unique geography. The state sees around 70 to 100 days a year with at least one thunderstorm. Florida is vulnerable to thunderstorms and lightning because it's on a peninsula and has a tropical climate. WHAT IS 'GROUND TO CLOUD' LIGHTNING Most of the lightning 99 per cent, originates in the clouds and hits the ground. One per cent goes in the opposite direction - from the surface to the sky. These almost always occur in storms and at high-vantage point, such as: telecommunication towers, wind turbines, lightning rods or skyscrapers. Positively charged current from the elevated surface is then attracted to the large amount of negative charge concentrated at the base of the overhead clouds. This attraction then triggers a discharge and a huge spark upwards into the clouds. Advertisement Florida is so lightning-active because of its unique geography. The state sees around 70-100 days a year with at least one thunderstorm. Lightning behind a storm thunder cloud over Miami Beach, Florida (stock image) Florida is vulnerable to thunderstorms and lightning because it's on a peninsula and has a tropical climate and the moisture and heat they experience. Pictured, Lightning strikes a building in Palm Beach (stock image) Due to the moisture and heat they experience, the atmosphere is less stable, making thunderstorms more common there than in the rest of the US. Lightning is one of the most deadly weather hazards in the Sunshine State and clocks up the most lightning related deaths. Vaisala is a global lightning detection network, that monitor total lightning activity, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Scientists have hinted that they might have captured the first ever image of a black hole in the Milky Way. International astronomers have been observing two primary targets including Sagittarius A*, in the centre of the Milky Way, and M87 in the Virgo cluster of galaxies. Observations on these black holes have been conducted by a project called the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a series of telescopes collectively the size of Earth. Astronomers now claim to have captured 'spectacular' data during observations, that may include the first ever image of a black hole's silhouette. Image of the object would become 'one of the most iconic' ever created by scientists, say researchers. Scroll down for video Scientists have hinted that they might have captured the first ever image of a black hole in the Milky Way. International astronomers have been observing two primary targets including Sagittarius A*, in the centre of the Milky Way, and M87 in the Virgo cluster of galaxies (stock image) The EHT Collaboration are in the process of analysing the results from the first full run of data from 2017, which is expected to be unveiled some time this year. A senior scientist on the project hinted to the Guardian that it may include the groundbreaking image, but was unable to comment further when speaking to MailOnline. If the researchers were successful in obtaining a picture it would be one of the most significant breakthroughs in the past 50 years of astronomy. Sera Markoff, a professor of theoretical astrophysics and astroparticle physics at the University of Amsterdam co-leads the EHT's Multiwavelength Working Group. 'If the project succeeds in making an image of a black hole, it would be a really big deal for the fields of physics and astrophysics. Scientists have been working towards this goal for over 20 years,' she told MailOnline. As for all scientific results - relating to the data from Sagittarius A*- they first have to go through the peer review process before being released. Professor Markoff said she could not confirm whether the observations had produced the first direct image of a black hole's silhouette. 'Seeing these black holes in the sky is the equivalent of looking at the head of a pin in New York from where I'm sitting in Amsterdam,' Professor Markoff told Mail Online. The EHT Collaboration are in the process of analysing the results from the first full run in 2017 and are expected to be unveiled some time this year. If the researchers were successful in obtaining a picture it would be a significant breakthrough of the past 50 years of astronomy (stock image) 'We managed to get very high-quality data at the very high resolutions necessary to observe the shadow, if it's really there,' Professor Markoff told the Guardian. Professor Peter Galison, who also works on the project says that if the project was successful, the image will become the most 'iconic images of science'. The image would become one of the most 'significant in the past 50 years of astronomy,' said Professor Galison, who is based at the department of the history of science at Harvard University. Until now, a black hole has never been observed. The main obstacle is that they are so compact that a telescope the size of Earth would be needed to capture an image of the closest one to our planet. From a theoretical point of view scientists already have a very good idea of what it should look like, the earliest predictions of the shape and size actually were done back in the 1970's. Professor Markoff said that Interstellar was very 'ideal' but it's not far from what we expect. Pictured, a still from the film More recently scientists both within the EHT collaboration and in the field have been making complex simulations using supercomputers, in order to predict what a black hole would look like. Here, a still from Interstellar The Event Horizon Telescope, an international collaboration, uses between 15 and 20 telescopic dishes around the world to collectively observe black holes. The telescopes all need to be pointed in the direction of the black hole and measure radio waves, which are stored on banks of hard disk drives. Each telescope is individually observed from each area, spanning the South Pole, Europe, South America, Africa, North America and Australia. The collected radio wave data is then collectively stored on a supercomputer. Professor Markoff said that the film Interstellar includes an 'idealised' venison of a black but it's not far from what she would expect to see. Aside from providing insight into what black holes look like, the data collected from the telescope could provide fascinating insight into how they work. The Event Horizon Telescope, an international collaboration, uses around 15-20 telescopic dishes around the world which collectively observes black holes. The telescopes all need to be pointed in the direction of the black hole and measure radio waves. Pictured, one in Greenland BLACK HOLES HAVE A GRAVITATIONAL PULL SO STRONG NOT EVEN LIGHT CAN ESCAPE Black holes are so dense and their gravitational pull is so strong that no form of radiation can escape them - not even light. They act as intense sources of gravity which hoover up dust and gas around them. Their intense gravitational pull is thought to be what stars in galaxies orbit around. How they are formed is still poorly understood. Astronomers believe they may form when a large cloud of gas up to 100,000 times bigger than the sun, collapses into a black hole. Many of these black hole seeds then merge to form much larger supermassive black holes, which are found at the centre of every known massive galaxy. Alternatively, a supermassive black hole seed could come from a giant star, about 100 times the sun's mass, that ultimately forms into a black hole after it runs out of fuel and collapses. When these giant stars die, they also go 'supernova', a huge explosion that expels the matter from the outer layers of the star into deep space. Advertisement As for many projects that start with prototypes, the EHT team had to continually test and upgrade the system, starting with combining just a few telescopes and eventually building up to the full, Earth-sized array. 'The larger the distance between the telescopes, the more detail you will see,' Professor Markoff said. From a theoretical point of view scientists already have a very good idea of what it should look like, the earliest predictions of the shape and size actually were done back in the 1970's. More recently scientists both within the EHT collaboration and in the field have been making complex simulations using supercomputers, in order to predict what a black hole would look like. The largest dog to ever live was the size of a grizzly bear and hunted in the same way as a modern-day fox, scientists have found. Epicyon haydeni lived 16 million years ago and researchers have found it is related to the very first species of dog, known as Hesperocyon gregarius. Both these canines pounced on prey in the same way that species such as foxes and coyotes do today, CT scans revealed. They discovered this by carefully analysing the skulls of a group of mammals known as carnivorans, which includes modern-day foxes, wolves, cougars and leopards. Scroll down for video Researchers found that the very first species of dog, known as Hesperocyon gregarius (CT scan pictured), pounced on its prey in the same way that species such as foxes and coyotes do today. The largest dog to ever live also hunted in the same way Scientists at the universities of Edinburgh and Vienna used computerised scans of fossils and modern animals to create digital models of the inner ears of 36 types of carnivoran, including six extinct species. Experts found that the size of three bony canals in the inner ear, the organ that controls balance and hearing, changed over millions of years as animals adopted different hunting styles. Faster predators such as cheetahs, lions and wolves developed large ear canals that enabled them to keep their head and vision stable while chasing prey at speed, the team said. According to the research, the inner ear structure indicates whether a species descended from dog-like animals or animals resembling cats. A distinctive angle between two parts of the inner ear is much larger in dog-like animals, the team found. Experts found that the size of three bony canals in the inner ear, the organ that controls balance and hearing, changed over millions of years as animals adopted different hunting styles. A distinctive angle between two parts of the inner ear is much larger in dog-like animals (CT scan pictured) The study is based on research carried out by Edinburgh PhD student Julia Schwab during studies in Vienna. Ms Schwab, of the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences, said: 'For me, the inner ear is the most interesting organ in the body, as it offers amazing insights into ancient animals and how they lived. 'The first dog and the largest-ever dog are such fascinating specimens to study, as nothing like them exists in the world today.' The study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. In furtherance of my commitment to cooperate and provide the American people with answers, I have accepted the invitation by Chairman Elijah Cummings to appear publicly on February 7, Cohen said Thursday on Twitter. I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired. Advertisement China's lunar lander has beamed back stunning images from the far side of the moon. Chang'e-4's 360 lens captured the Yutu-2 - or Jade Rabbit 2 - rover in front of the grey moonscape and reveals the potholed surface and barren expanse of land inside the the mysterious Von Karman crater at the lunar south pole. Pictures posted on Chinese social media also reveal Chang'e-4, and its rover, Yutu-2, have taken images of each other. This celestial photoshoot gives an astonishing look at the tandem of cutting-edge machinery that China is using to explore the previously unknown region. Eternally immortalised tracks left from Yutu-2's maiden voyage away from Chang'e-4 on January 4 can also be seen snaking over the untouched surface. Jade Rabbit 2 entered 'nap' mode after the initial landing in order to survive the blistering 200C (390F) lunar daytime which lasts for 14 Earth days. It was stirred from its forced slumber yesterday as the brutal temperatures subside ahead of the transition to a 300-hour-long lunar night. Footage has also emerged of a first-person look at the final approach of Chang'e-4 as it completed its pioneering landing on the tempestuous terrain of the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, the largest and deepest impact crater in the solar system. Scroll down for video China's lunar probe has sent the first panoramic image (left half, pictured) of its landing site since its historic arrival on the far side of the moon, showing the cratered landscape it is exploring. A camera deployed on Chang'e-4 took a photo that was released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) The panoramic image (right half, pictured) also reveals the Yutu-2 rover and its tracks. The tracks will never be removed from the lunar surface as there is no wind or atmosphere to blow or erode them away The picture shows the grey moonscape, the lander and the rover with the track marks it left behind. The image is a circular, 360-degree shot (pictured), which scientists used to create another wide panoramic picture A statement from the Chinese space agency, CNSA, said: 'Researchers have completed the preliminary analysis of the lunar surface topography around the landing site based on the image taken by the landing camera.' Chang'e-4, the Yutu-2 and the Queqiao relay satellite that beams data back to Earth are all 'in a stable condition, and all work was carried out as planned,' the statement concluded. A post from the Yutu-2 rover's social media account on Chinese microblogging website Weibo on January 11 at 11:22 Beijing time read: 'Would you like to take a 360-degree moon walk? Here is a high-resolution panoramic photo of the moon taken by my fourth sister. 'Just now, my fourth sister looked around and captured the environment around us with a ring-shaped topographic camera, which included me, can you see?' China's communist party has since issued a statement praising the endeavour which marks the first time the secretive government has formally recognised the mission's success. It was reported by China Central Television Station and read: 'The central committee of the Community Party of China, State Council and Central Military Commission send messages of congratulation to the successful completion of the Chang'e 4 moon-probing project.' Pictures posted on social media have also revealed that both the lander, Chang'e-4, and the rover, Yutu-2, have taken images of the other. This celestial photoshoot gives an astonishing look at the machinery China is currently operating on the far side of the moon. Pictured, Chang'e-4 Jade-Rabbit 2 (pictured) was snapped by the much larger Chang'e-4 lander. Solar panels and a small Chinese flag can be seen on the machinery as well as its tracks which reveal it was spun around by its six independently-operated wheels just for the picture A post from the Yutu-2 rover's social media account on Chinese microblogging website Weibo on January 11 at 11:22 Beijing time read: 'Would you like to take a 360-degree moon walk? Here is a high-resolution panoramic photo of the moon taken by my fourth sister' (pictured) Footage has also emerged of a first-person look at the final approach of Chang'e-4 as it completed its pioneering landing on the tempestuous terrain in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, the largest and deepest impact crater in the solar system The newly released footage shows the final approach covering the final five miles (8km) of the mission before it touched down (pictured). The stunning video has been released following formal recognition of the Chang'e-4 mission's success form the communist political party earlier today The mission took a brief hiatus after landing to allow the machinery on Yutu-2 to shutdown and withstand the brutal lunar day. Moon's lunar day lasts for the equivalent of 14 Earth days and the lack of an atmosphere means the heat is relentless and unabated, unlike on Earth. Yutu-2 updated its Weibo account yesterday and the post read: 'Noon nap is over. [It's time to] get up and stretch my legs.' The rover then resumed activities, which included taking a picture of the front side of the lander and exploration missions. China's lunar rover got back to work on the far side of the moon after waking from a five-day hibernation, its official social media page announced yesterday Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit 2, has its own social media account and posted on January 10: 'Noon nap is over. [It's time to] get up and stretch my legs' (pictured) Yutu-2 has a host of instruments and will be powered by solar panels. Unlike the similar probe on-board the Chang'e-3 mission this rover has no robotic arm. It announced afterwards it will be taking a 'nap' to protect against the sun's immense heat on the moon Another Weibo user, a Twitter-like microblogging site used in China, said: 'Your nap is so long.' Another added: 'If you don't get up now, your turnip will be snatched by the aliens.' Twitter is blocked by the Chinese government but microblogging site Weibo is popular in the country and the posts from Yutu-2 have been made there. The social media account followed up the announcement with a flippant tweet yesterday explaining why the stars were not visible in the images of Yutu-2 from Chang'e-4. It read: 'Good evening. These few days I have seen so many stars. 'The moon is a place suitable for star-watching. No matter it's day or night, the sky is always pitch black. Without the interruption of an atmosphere, the stars are light spots that don't twinkle. 'A day on the moon is more than 600 hours (about 27 earth days). It takes a star half a day to travel from one side of the horizon to the other. 'So I can look at one star continuously for more than 300 hours. 'The picture taken by my fourth sister (Chang'e 4), because the light ratio is too high, some details have gone missing. You cannot see the starry sky that I have seen. I'll draw it for you.' The social media account follower up the announcement with a flippant tweet explaining why the stars were not visible in the images of Yutu-2 from Chang'e-4.It read: 'The picture taken by my fourth sister (Chang'e-4), because the light ratio is too high, some details have gone missing. You cannot see the starry sky that I have seen. I'll draw it for you' (pictured) China's space agency has said the mission 'lifted the mysterious veil' from the far side of the moon, which is never seen from Earth, and 'opened a new chapter in human lunar exploration'. Experts say that the craft will not be able to function indefinitely and may only be able to operate for as little as one day. 'Of course, it's never going to leave the Moon, so the question is really how long it can remain operational,' said Professor Ian Crawford from the department of Earth and planetary sciences at Birkbeck College London 'I suspect they will hope for at least one lunar day - 14 Earth days - after which, if it is still working, it will have to hibernate during the 14-day lunar night because it is solar powered, and hopefully wake up again afterwards. 'That is a tall order because the lunar night is so cold - about -180C (-292F).' A post from January 5 at 9:42pm GMT on the official account of the Yutu Lunar Rover explained why the rover went into 'nap' mode for the first time on January 5. It said: 'Ya, it's getting hot here. 'Right now, the back of the moon has entered the day time, there is no atmosphere to block the heat and the temperature will reach 200C. 'In order to protect important parts and avoid extreme condition, I have to take a siesta for a while.' Yutu-2 rover explained how it would survive the harsh conditions on the barren surface of the moon after announcing the need for its rest. 'My masters have given me thick insulating components. My golden jacket could reflect strong light,' it continued. 'There are variable heat conduction pipes, controllable two-phase electric fluidic circuits, etc. and they can control my temperature to under 55C. '(I must feel proud that even the small Chinese flag on my chest can withstand high temperatures! There are no pictures, only an impression drawing. Here it is.) The post also provided some insight about the Chang'e-4 lander which brought the rover to the surface by referring to the much larger lander as its 'fourth sister'. It continued: '[Its] heat control abilities are stronger than mine. She will still carry out a series of surveying works during my siesta. You've been working hard.' Twitter is blocked by the Chinese government but microblogging site Weibo is popular in the country and the posts from Yutu-2 have been made there (pictured). A post from January 5 at 9:42pm GMT on the official account of the Yutu Lunar Rover read: 'Ya, it's getting hot here' Yutu-2's Weibo post explained that during the machine did not actually turn off during the mid-day snooze. It simply entered a standby mode. In this form it was charged up via solar panels, added to its 'diary', sent monitoring footage and provided readers with stories about the moon. The post finished: 'I didn't expect to take a break after working only for one day, but it's an important mission to protect oneself. 'Master, remember to wake me up early when the work starts again.' Zhang Yuhua, deputy chief commander of the mission, told Chinese state media: 'After that, the rover will go to its planned area and start a series of scientific exploration projects in the Von Karman crater as planned by scientists.' Jade Rabbit 2 weighs 308lbs (139kg) and has six individually powered wheels so it can continue to operate even if one wheel fails. It rolled on to the lunar surface from the lander via two ramps and will explore the Von Karman crater in the southern region of the far side of the moon It is expected that after a few days activity the lander will once again engage 'nap mode' to prepare for the lunar night. This period of time lasts for 14 days and can see temperatures plummet to a frigid -180C (-292F). The Yutu-2 - or Jade Rabbit 2 - rover drove off its lander's ramp and onto the exterior of the moon's far side at 10:22pm Beijing time (2:22 pm GMT) on January 3, about 12 hours after the Chinese spacecraft carrying it came to rest. China's space agency later posted a photos online, revealing the lunar rover several yards away from the spacecraft. The tracks it makes on the surface of the moon will be forever immortalised and will never be lost as there is no wind on the moon due to its lack of an atmosphere. By 5pm Beijing time (9am GMT) the three 15-foot long antennaes on Chang'e-4 had also been fully unfurled to enable the low-frequency radio spectrometre to begin work. Jade Rabbit 2 has six individually powered wheels so it can continue to operate even if one wheel fails. It can climb a 20-degree hill or an obstacle up to eight inches (20cm) tall and its maximum speed is said to be 220 yards (200 metres) per hour. The pioneering rover is five feet (1.5 metres) long and about 3 feet (one metre) wide and tall, with two foldable solar panels and six wheels. Yutu-2 and its accompanying lander will carry out mineral, biological and radiation tests ahead of a future base that China hopes to build on the moon. There have been numerous landings on the moon as a result of the 20th century space race between the US and the USSR - including the famed Apollo 11 mission which saw Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans on the moon. After Luna 24 landed on August 18 the next lunar landing was the Chinese mission Chang'e-3 on December 14, 2013. Chang'e-4 is the first spacecraft to land on the far side of the moon The mission is formed of three basic parts - the rover, the lander and the relay satellite. They will work in unison to study, analyse and send information back to the scientists on Earth Results of these experiments could lead to new understandings of the challenges faced by settlers who may one day colonise our natural satellite. 'It's a small step for the rover, but one giant leap for the Chinese nation,' Wu Weiren, the chief designer of the Lunar Exploration Project, told state broadcaster CCTV. 'This giant leap is a decisive move for our exploration of space and the conquering of the universe.' The rover is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments to help it analyse the surface of the moon, including a panoramic and infrared camera, ground-penetrating radar and a low-frequency radio spectrometer. Professor Crawford added: 'While operational, it will rove around studying the composition of rocks, and the sub-surface using its ground-penetrating radar. 'It will just be left on the Moon once it ceases to function, unless one day it is collected and brought back to a museum.' The rover will use its panoramic camera to identify interesting locations and its Visible and Near-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS) will help analyse minerals in the crater. This includes what scientists call 'ejecta' - rocks that have churned up from deep to the surface from impacts meteors. Its Lunar Penetrating Radar (LPR) instrument will take a look down into the depths of the moon with a maximum vertical distance of approximately 300 feet (100 metres). The rover is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments to help it analyse the surface of the moon, including a panoramic and infrared camera, ground-penetrating radar and a low-frequency radio spectrometer A never-before-seen 'close range' image taken by the Chinese spacecraft Chang'e-4 of the surface of the far side of the moon. It appears to take on a reddish hue in some of the images released by China, an effect of the lights used by the probe WHY DID CHINA CHOOSE TO LAND IN THE VON KARMAN CRATER? Chang'e-4 landed in the Von Karman crater in the South Pole-Aitken basin. This is an enormous crater which resides at the very most southern tip of the moon. China opted to study the far side of the moon and has in the process beat all other nations to the landmark moment. The basin is so far the largest known impact basin in the solar system. China's space agency hopes that by exploring the huge divot on the surface of the moon they may be able to shed some light on its history and geology by collecting rocks that have never been seen before. Researchers hope the huge depth of the crater will allow them to study the moon's mantle, the layer underneath the surface, of the moon. The crater is believed to be composed of various chemical compounds, including thorium, iron oxide, and titanium dioxide. It is also hoped that by judging this 8-mile deep scar on the surface of the moon the scientists could find clues to piece together the origin of the lunar mantle. There is also another logistical reason for the choice of landing site, the crater is mostly flat in the south of the basin. This increased the likelihood of a successful landing. Advertisement The Yutu-2 - or Jade Rabbit 2 - rover drove off its lander's ramp and onto the exterior of the moon's far side at 10:22pm Beijing time (2:22 pm GMT) on Thursday, about 12 hours after the Chinese spacecraft carrying it came to rest. China's space agency later posted a photos online, revealing the lunar rover several yards away from the spacecraft Experiments of seeds and plants that were taken to the moon from Earth on-board the Chang'e-4 probe will be done inside the lunar lander itself. Unlike its predecessor, the Chang'e-3 mission, the latest addition to the moon's surface does not have a robotic arm. The lander also has a low-frequency radio spectrometer (LFS) which will be part of a scientific experiment to study space without the constant radio interference from Earth. Being on the far side of the moon shields the equipment from the noise and will allow Chang'e-4 to produce a low-radio wave emission map of the sky. Dr Matthew Bothwell, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge, told MailOnline that this could be a crucial step in the future of space exploration and compared its importance to that of the first telescope. 'The far side of the moon is the only place in the reachable universe that we are able to do this kind of research. WHAT DO THE NAMES OF CHINA'S MOON MISSION MEAN? Chang'e-4 Chang'e is the moon goddess and wife of god Houyi in Ancient Chinese mythology. Houyi is one of the most powerful mythological figures in China. It is said that he shot down nine Suns to make Earth a liveable habitat for human beings. The number four in the name is a more modern-day nod to the space programme. This spacecraft is the fourth of the Chang'e missions. Yutu-2 Yutu (jade rabbit) is the companion of Chang'e in the mythological stories. This is fittingly also the name of the rover on-board Chang'e-4. Yutu-2 is so labelled because it is the successor to Yutu-1 which was deployed from the Chang'e-3 mission earlier this decade. Queqiao Queqiao is the relay satellite and translates to Magpie Bridge. This name also stems from Ancient Chinese mythology. Queqiao, or the Magpie Bridge, is a legendary bridge which appears once a year to connect Niu Lang and Zhi Nv. Niu Lang is a cattle herder on Earth while Zhi Nv, or the Weaving Maid, is a goddess in heaven. The couple met and fell in love when Zhi Nv snuck to the 'human world' in secret to play. Their union enraged the chief goddess, Queen Mother of the West. The couple got banished to live at different sides of the Milky Way. Every year on the seventh day of the seventh month on the Lunar Calendar, thousands of magpies that are moved by the couples' love story will form the Magpie Bridge, or Queqiao, so that Niu Lang and Zhi Nv can meet each other. This relay satellite will allow communication between the moon probe and Earth. Advertisement 'Putting an object as large as the moon between the Earth's constant beaming of radio waves and the antennaes is a fantastic way of filtering out noise from Earth. 'Very long wavelength radiowaves are impossible to study due to their universal beaming of radio waves 24/7 and the emissions from the universe is really faint in comparison.' Dr Bothwell added that there is no way of knowing what this could reveal and the opportunities for discovery are enormous. 'It will provide a new window to look at the universe and we will likely find unexpected things,' he added. Dr Bothwell also said that depending on the success of the data gathered by Chang'e-4, it could lead to a ground-based telescope being installed on the far side of the moon. The far side can't be seen from Earth and is popularly called the 'dark side' because it is relatively unknown, not because it lacks sunlight. As the landing is happening on the dark side of the moon it required its own satellite to be able to send information back. To facilitate communication between controllers on Earth and the Chang'e-4 mission, China launched a relay satellite named Queqiao on 20 May and is now stationed in operational orbit about 40,000 miles beyond the moon. This will be the primary form of communication between Earth and the spacecraft. The probe and explorer will use Queqiao to get their findings back to China. Its descent was also aided by the relay satellite, the Queqiao, or Magpie Bridge. This is positioned at a place in space called L2, a Langraine point. A Lagrange point is a spot in space where the combined gravitational forces of two large bodies are equivalent to the centrifugal force of another body. L2 is a million miles beyond Earth in the opposite direction to the sun and for an object to remain stationary there it depends on a fragile equilibrium between the gravitational pull of the moon, Earth and the Sun. The far side of the moon - colloquially known as the dark side - actually gets as much light as the near side but always faces away from Earth. This is because the moon is tidally locked to Earth, rotating at the same rate that it orbits our planet, so the far side - or the 'dark side' - is never visible from our planet. This relatively unexplored region is mountainous and rugged, making a successful landing much harder to achieve. Beijing is pouring billions into the military-run programme, with hopes of having a crewed space station by 2022, and of eventually sending humans to the moon. The Chang'e-4 lunar probe mission - named after the moon goddess in Chinese mythology - launched in December 2018 from the southwestern Xichang launch centre. It is the second Chinese probe to land on the moon, following the Yutu rover mission in 2013. China announced that in honour of this success the rover on-board Chang'e-4 has been named Yutu 2. Previous spacecraft have seen the far side of the moon, but none has landed on it. A TIMELINE OF HOW CHINA REACHED THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON Chang'e-4 launched from the Xichang satellite launch centre in Sichuan, south-west China at 6:30 GMT on December 7 October 24 2007 - China launches Chang'e-1, an unmanned satellite, into space where it remains operational for more than a year. October 1 2010 - China launches Chang'e-2. This was part of the first phase of the Chinese moon programme. It was in a 100-km-high lunar orbit to gather data for the upcoming Chang'e-3 mission. September 29, 2011 - China launched Tiangong 1. September 15 2013 - A second space lab, Tiangong 2, is launched. December 1 2013 - Chang'e-3 launched. December 14 2013 - Chang'e-3, a 2,600 lb (1,200 kg) lunar probe landed on the near side of the moon successfully. It became the first object to soft-land on the Moon since Luna 24 in 1976. April 1 2018 - Tiangong-1 crashed into Earth at 17,000 mph and lands in the ocean off the coast if Tahiti. May 20 2018 - China launched a relay satellite named Queqiao which is stationed in operational orbit about 40,000 miles beyond the moon. This is designed to enable Chang'e-4 to communicate wit engineers back on Earth. The Chang'e-4 lunar rover is lifted into space from the Xichang launch centre in Xichang in China's southwestern Sichuan province on December 7 December 7 2018 - Chinese space agency announces it has launched the Chang'e-4 probe into space. December 12 2018 - Retrorockets on the probe fired to stabilise the spacecraft and slow it down. December 31 2018 - The probe prepared for the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon. Estimated for 2020 - Tiangong 3,a follow-up mission to the Tiangong-2 Before 2033 - China plans for its first uncrewed Mars exploration program. 2040 - 2060 - The Asian superpower is planning a crewed mission to Mars. Advertisement The probe entered lunar orbit 'to prepare for the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon', the China National Space Administration said at the time. The tasks of the Chang'e-4 include astronomical observation, surveying the moon's terrain, landform and mineral composition, and measuring the neutron radiation and neutral atoms to study the environment on the far side of the moon. Researchers hope the seeds will grow to blossom on the Moon, with the process captured on camera and transmitted to Earth. China aims to catch up with Russia and the United States to become a major space power by 2030. It is planning to launch construction of its own manned space station next year and have its own lunar base by 2036. Dr Bothwell said: 'The success of the landing and of this mission puts china in a very strong position among other nations. 'The co-operation between the space agencies is great for science and is a case of humanity working together to understand more about the mysteries and issues of the universe. 'Possibly the best thing that could happen is another space race similar to the competition between the US and Russia in the 60s and 70s. 'With ESA, Roscosmos and NASA all taking significant steps and the private space race between SpaceX and other firms hotting up, it could bring about a renaissance in space exploration.' Your smart doorbell might be spying you. A new report from The Intercept claims Ring, the smart doorbell company owned by Amazon, allowed its employees to watch live footage from customers' cameras. Ring engineers and executives were reportedly given access to 'unfiltered, round-the-clock' feeds of some users' footage. Scroll down for video A new report from The Intercept claims Ring, the smart doorbell company owned by Amazon, allowed its employees to watch live footage from customers' cameras without their knowledge The unencrypted videos were shared between employees on company servers and included footage from outside and, in some cases, inside users' homes. Ring's lax security practices began with its Ukraine-based research and development team, according to the Intercept. There, employees had access to a folder on Amazon's S3 cloud storage service, which included a list of 'every video created by every Ring camera around the world.' From there, employees could access the footage from anywhere, according to a separate report from the Information. Another database linked every video file with the specific customer that it belonged to. Employees only need a user's email address to view all the Ring videos associated with it. Ring engineers and executives were reportedly given access to 'unfiltered, round-the-clock' feeds of some users' footage. The unencrypted videos were shared between employees on company servers and included footage from outside and, in some cases, inside users' homes Amazon acquired Ring for $1 billion last February and, since then, it has put in place heightened security measures to prevent employees from accessing sensitive customer data All the while, users had no idea that their camera footage was being watched by Ring employees. In some cases, employees would check their coworkers' feeds and tease them whenever they saw them bringing home dates, the Intercept said. Ring also employed a 'video annotation team' to watch camera footage and tag objects, humans and other things in the clips so that its object recognition software could improve. But, at times, those operations went astray as employees would reportedly show their coworkers interesting videos they saw, some of which included people kissing, stealing and firing guns. Amazon acquired Ring for $1 billion last February and, since then, it has put in place heightened security measures to prevent employees from accessing sensitive customer data. WHAT IS RING AND WHY DID AMAZON BUY IT? Amazon acquired home security startup Ring for a reported 700 million ($1 billion). The home security startup sells doorbells that capture video and audio. Clips can be streamed on smartphones and other devices, while the doorbell even allows homeowners to remotely chat to those standing at their door. Ring sells doorbells (left) that capture video and audio. Clips can be streamed on smartphones and other devices, while the doorbell even allows homeowners to remotely chat to those standing at their door Ring promotes its gadgets as a way to catch package thieves, a nuisance that Amazon has been looking to remedy. Amazon late last year unveiled its own smart lock and camera combination called Amazon Key in a move into home security. Key is designed to provide a secure and trackable way for packages to be delivered inside homes when people aren't there. Amazon has bought home security startup Ring for a reported 700 million ($1 billion) Ring's doorbell could work well with Amazon Key, which lets delivery personnel put packages inside a home to avoid theft or, in the case of fresh food, spoiling. California-based Ring first caught the spotlight with a failed quest for funding about five years ago on reality television show Shark Tank. Ring went on to win backing from the likes of billionaire Richard Branson and Amazon's Alexa Fund. Advertisement A Ring spokesperson told The Intercept that its employees only watch and annotate user videos shared through Neighbors, its community app. 'We take the privacy and security of our customers personal information extremely seriously,' the spokesperson told the Intercept. 'In order to improve our service, we view and annotate certain Ring videos. These videos are sourced exclusively from publicly shared Ring videos from the Neighbors app (in accordance with our terms of service), and from a small fraction of Ring users who have provided their explicit written consent to allow us to access and utilize their videos for such purposes. 'We have zero tolerance for abuse of our systems and if we find bad actors who have engaged in this behavior, we will take swift action against them,' they added. Earth's magnetic fields are shifting - and scientists are unsure why. Researchers say the magnetic North Pole is 'skittering' away from Canada, towards Siberia. The problem has got so bad, researchers around the world are scrambling to update a global model of the fields, according to Nature. Called the World Magnetic Model, it underlies all modern navigation, from the systems that steer ships at sea to Google Maps on smartphones. Scroll down for video The charts, known as the World Magnetic Model (WMM), are used to convert between compass measurements of magnetic north and true north WHY ARE THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELDS MOVING? The problem lies partly with the moving pole and partly with other shifts deep within the planet. Liquid churning in Earth's core generates most of the magnetic field, which varies over time as the deep flows change. In 2016, for instance, part of the magnetic field temporarily accelerated deep under northern South America and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Satellites such as the European Space Agency's Swarm mission tracked the shift. Advertisement The most recent version of the model came out in 2015, and it was supposed to last until 2020. However, researchers say the magnetic field is changing so rapidly that they have to fix the model urgently. It was due to be updated on the 15th January, but due to the US Government shutdown, that has already been delayed until the 30th. 'It's moving at about 50 km (30 miles) a year. It didn't move much between 1900 and 1980 but it's really accelerated in the past 40 years,' Ciaran Beggan, of the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh, told Reuters. Beggan said the moving pole affected navigation, mainly in the Arctic Ocean north of Canada. NATO and the U.S. and British militaries are among those using the magnetic model, as well as civilian navigation. The magnetic field is in a permanent state of flux. Magnetic north wanders, and every few hundred thousand years the polarity flips so that a compass would point south instead of north. Beggan said the recent shifts in the north magnetic pole would be unnoticed by most people outside the Arctic, for instance using smartphones in New York, Beijing or London. Navigation systems in cars or phones rely on radio waves from satellites high above the Earth to pinpoint their position on the ground. 'It doesn't really affect mid or low latitudes,' Beggan said. 'It wouldn't really affect anyone driving a car.' 'The error is increasing all the time,' Arnaud Chulliat, a geomagnetist at the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Centers for Environmental Information, told Nature. 'In early 2018, as part of our regular assessment of the WMM, we found that the model exceeded its specification for declination only three years into the five-year WMM cycle,' he told the American Geophysical Union meeting. 'We investigated this error and tracked it down to the combined effect of a global geomagnetic acceleration pulse occurring in 2015-2016, and a fast-changing magnetic field in the North polar area. 'A remarkable manifestation of the field variation is the drift of the North magnetic pole towards Russia, which has been occurring at the unusually high speed of about 50 km per year since the beginning of the 21st century. 'On the contrary, the South magnetic pole drift is very slow (less than 10 km per year) and has not changed much over the past few decades, and hence provided a much smaller contribution to the overall model declination error.' The team say the new model should remain accurate until the next regularly scheduled update in 2020. Satellites such as the European Space Agency's Swarm mission tracked the shift. WHAT IS THE WORLD MAGNETIC MODEL? The charts, known as the World Magnetic Model (WMM), are used to convert between compass measurements of magnetic north and true north and can be found in the navigation systems of ships and airplanes as well as geological applications (such as drilling and mining). The WMM is also part of map applications in smartphones, including the Google Maps App. Researchers from the U.S.'s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintain the WMM. 'Although GPS is a great tool for navigation, it is limited in that it only provides your position,' geodetic scientist James Friederich from the U. S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency explained in 2014. 'Your orientation, the direction you are facing, comes from the magnetic field.' 'Our war fighters use magnetics to orient their maps. 'Your smartphone camera and various apps can use the magnetic field to help determine the direction you are facing,' he continued. 'All of these examples need the WMM to provide your proper orientation.' Advertisement Scientists in recent years have predicted that Earth's magnetic field could be gearing up to 'flip' a shift in which the magnetic south pole would become magnetic north, and vice versa. Such an event could have catastrophic effects, wreaking havoc on the electric grid and leaving life at the surface exposed to higher amounts of solar radiation. While it's previously been thought that these reversals take place at intervals of hundreds of thousands of years, one recent study suggests it could happen in just a matter of centuries. Scientists in recent years have predicted that Earth's magnetic field could be gearing up to 'flip' a shift in which the magnetic south pole would become magnetic north, and vice versa. Earth's magnetic field is illustrated above Scientists estimate Earth's North and South magnetic poles flip every 200,000-300,000 years. But, it's been roughly 780,000 years since the last such event, causing many to suspect we're overdue. When the magnetic poles flip, Earth's protective magnetic field weakens, leaving its inhabitants at higher risk from the effects of space weather. WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO EARTH IF ITS POLES FLIPPED? The Earths magnetic field is in a permanent state of change. Magnetic north drifts around and every few hundred thousand years the polarity flips so a compass would point south instead of north. The strength of the magnetic field also constantly changes and currently it is showing signs of significant weakening. Life has existed on the Earth for billions of years, during which there have been many reversals. There is no obvious correlation between animal extinctions and those reversals. Likewise, reversal patterns do not have any correlation with human development and evolution. It appears that some animals, such as whales and some birds use Earth's magnetic field for migration and direction finding. Since geomagnetic reversal takes a number of thousands of years, they could well adapt to the changing magnetic environment or develop different methods of navigation. Radiation at ground level would increase, however, with some estimates suggesting that overall exposure to cosmic radiation would double causing more deaths from cancer. But only slightly, said Professor Richard Holme. And much less than lying on the beach in Florida for a day. So if it happened, the protection method would probably be to wear a big floppy hat. The movement of the Earth's magnetic poles are shown in this animation at 10-year intervals from 1970 to 2020. The red and blue lines sjpw the difference between magnetic north and true north depending on where you are standing. On the green line, a compass would point to true north. Credit: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Electric grid collapse from severe solar storms is a major risk. As the magnetic field continues to weaken, scientists are highlighting the importance off-the grid energy systems using renewable energy sources to protect the Earth against a black out. 'The very highly charged particles can have a deleterious effect on the satellites and astronauts,' added Dr Mona Kessel, a Magnetosphere discipline scientist at Nasa. I n one area, there is evidence that a flip is already occurring. The increasing strength of the South Atlantic anomaly, an area of weak field over Brazil, is already a problem, said Professor Richard Holme. The Earth's climate could also change. A recent Danish study has found that the earth's weather has been significantly affected by the planet's magnetic field. They claimed that fluctuations in the number of cosmic rays hitting the atmosphere directly alter the amount of cloud covering the planet. Henrik Svensmark, a weather scientist at the Danish National Space Centre who led the team behind the research, believes that the planet is experiencing a natural period of low cloud cover due to fewer cosmic rays entering the atmosphere. Advertisement 'Earth's magnetic field, which has existed for at least 3.45 billion years, provides a shield from the direct impact of solar radiation,' said Professor Roberts from the ANU Research School of Earth Sciences. 'Even with Earth's strong magnetic field today, we're still susceptible to solar storms that can damage our electricity-based society.' In the new study, researchers at the Australian National University analyzed the paleomagnetic record from 107,000 to 91,000 years ago by analyzing a stalagmite from a cave in southwestern China. The team conducted magnetic analysis and radiometric dating on the meter-long sample, revealing the behaviour of the ancient magnetic field. And, they found the magnetic field experienced a rapid shift over the span of about two centuries, decreasing in strength by about 90 percent when a field reversal occurred. In the new study, researchers at the Australian National University analyzed the paleomagnetic record from 107,000 to 91,000 years ago by analyzing a stalagmite from a cave in southwestern China The damage to power grids and communications systems resulting from such a flip in today's society would cause trillions of dollars in damage, the researchers explain. 'Hopefully such an event is a long way in the future and we can develop future technologies to avoid huge damage, where possible, from such events,' Professor Roberts said. The study suggests Earth's magnetic field is a lot more unpredictable than suspected, the researchers say. 'The record provides important insights into ancient magnetic field behaviour,' Professor Roberts said, 'which has turned out to vary much more rapidly than previously thought.' Every year, the CES gadget show brings more devices promising to make life a little bit easier for harried parents. Sure, the kids might love them too: who wouldn't want a computerized Harry Potter wand that also teaches coding? The Las Vegas show's growing 'family tech' sector encompasses products that range from artificially intelligent toys and baby monitors to internet-connected breast pumps. Among the standouts of this year's show was was a device designed to make breast pumping a smoother experience, complete with built-in breast massagers that can slash the total pumping time. Scroll down for video Every year, the CES gadget show brings more devices promising to make life a little bit easier for harried parents. The Smartbeat video baby monitor and breathing monitor are on display at the Smartbeat booth Imalac's breast-massaging device 'Nurture' uses attachable cups to mimic hands-on pumping, according to the company's Kickstarter. 'Nurture will drastically improve the efciency and ease of milk expression when used in conjunction with an electric breast pump,' the firm says. According to Imalac, the device can help to cut pumping time by more than 70 percent, and increase the amount of milk expressed by 30 percent. Their common thread is an appeal to parental anxiety about raising smart kids, occupying their time, tracking their whereabouts and making sure they're healthy and safe. Some also come with subtle trade-offs. 'Technology makes us forget what we know about life,' said psychologist Sherry Turkle, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who studies people's relationships with machines. Imalac's breast-massaging device 'Nurture' uses attachable cups to mimic hands-on pumping, according to the company's Kickstarter She's particularly concerned about robots that seek to befriend or babysit young children. Take the cute, furry Woobo, meant to be a real-life version of a child's imaginary friend that can help set tooth-brushing routines, answer complex questions and play educational games. It's part of a new cottage industry of sociable toys, which includes robots like Cozmo and Sony's dog-like Aibo. A gentle pull at the ears switches the screen-faced Woobo into listening mode. The $149 toy talks in a child-like voice and makes a game out of boring chores that might otherwise require a parent's nagging. According to Imalac, the device can help to cut pumping time by more than 70 percent, and increase the amount of milk expressed by 30 percent The cute, furry Woobo, meant to be a real-life version of a child's imaginary friend that can help set tooth-brushing routines, answer complex questions and play educational games. A Woobo talking robot is on display at the Woobo booth Mary Mendiola wears the Owlet Band pregnancy monitor at the Owlet booth at CES International, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Las Vegas. The device can track fetal heart rate, kicks and contractions Its makers say Woobo doesn't glue kids to its screen because it invites them to go find things in the home, help parents cook dinner or play family games like charades. 'Our focus on the content side is not to replace parents,' said Shen Guo, who co-founded Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Woobo after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design. 'It's to enhance family time.' But its appeal for a child's emotional attachment and nurturing sets off alarm bells for Turkle, who has been warning against what she calls 'artificial intimacy' since the Tamagotchi digital pet craze of the 1990s. Research has shown the benefits of children playing out their inner feelings and worries by projecting them onto inert dolls. The Miku baby sleep and breathing monitor is on display at the Miku booth at CES International But Turkle says that doesn't work when the toys seem real enough to have their own feelings. 'Pretend empathy is not a good thing,' Turkle said. 'Everything we know about children's development is that if you read to a child, what's going on is the relationship, the talking, the connection, the mentoring, the safety, the sense that people love learning. 'Why do we think this is a good idea to give this to some robot?' Talk to makers of the next generation of baby monitors unveiled at CES and you'd be surprised that generations of children survived infancy without artificial intelligence systems analyzing their every breath. A Nanit Plus baby breathing monitor is mounted over a crib at the Nanit booth (shown left). On right, a model wears the Owlet Band pregnancy monitor at the Owlet booth An attendee tests the Miku baby sleep and breathing monitor at the Miku booth at CES International 'Babies want to breathe. Babies want to live,' says Colt Seman, co-founder of Los Angeles-based startup Miku, which promises to monitor breathing and heart rate without letting parents get overly worked up about it. Regulators haven't approved any baby monitors for medical use and instead recommend parents focus on providing a safe sleeping environment. Some doctors worry that such devices create additional stress for parents. The Chronolife connected vest is on display Unlike most past offerings, the latest crop of baby monitors that measure vital signs are 'contactless' - meaning they don't work by attaching some electronics to a baby's sock or chest. Raybaby's device resembles a one-eyed robot that detects breathing patterns using radar technology. The non-ionizing radiation it emits is at low levels, but might still turn off some parents already concerned about keeping their babies too close to smartphones. Most of the other devices rely on computer vision. A camera by Nanit watches a baby from above and measures sleeping patterns by tracking the slight movements of a specially-designed swaddle. It also uses the data it collects to recommend more consistent sleep times. Nanit's Aaron Pollack acknowledges that some parents might still check Nanit's phone app to check breathing data five times a night 'out of sheer anxiety.' 'We're not trying to prevent that,' he said. 'We're just trying to give you some piece of mind.' Two others, Miku and Utah-based Smartbeat, each boast of a level of precision and analytical rigor that could eventually help predict when the baby is going to get sick. Its makers say Woobo doesn't glue kids to its screen because it invites them to go find things in the home, help parents cook dinner or play family games like charades. A man holds a Woobo talking robot at the Woobo booth at CES International, Wednesday, Jan. 9 Raybaby baby sleep and breathing monitors are on display at the Raybaby booth Both have phone alert systems to report worrisome breathing irregularities. Smartbeat's analysis is purely image-based, while Miku also uses radar. Miku's sleeker hardware comes at a cost: It's $399, well above the $250 Smartbeat. Of course, parental anxiety begins even before a child is born - hence Owlet's new $299 pregnancy band that wraps around a woman's abdomen to track fetal heartbeats by taking an electrocardiogram. The idea is to put on the stretchy band before going to sleep starting about three to four months before the due date. It sends a morning wellness report to a user's smartphone app, with details including an expectant mother's contractions and sleep positions - and warnings if fetal heartbeat or movements fall outside acceptable ranges. An owl-faced medallion above the mother's belly gives the band the look of a superhero emblem - and why not? Pregnancy is tough. 'It's really just having that extra piece of mind, between doctor's visits, that everything is OK,' said Owlet spokeswoman Misty Bond. A handwritten letter that sparked the Napoleonic war in 1803 has sold at auction for 11,430 ($15,000). King George III signalled his intent to go to war with France on May 14 ,1803, four days before Britain formally declared war against Napoleon's forces. It was sold at to a private collector who bid for it by telephone, fetching more than 11 times its pre-sale estimate of 500 ($640) to 1,000 ($1,725). A letter written by King George III, dated May 14 1803, which sold for 11,430 at Cheffins auctioneers in Cambridge. The document is dated May 14 1803, four days before Britain formally declared war on France The letter, sold at Cheffins in Cambridge, was written by King George III to Lord Hawkesbury, then Secretary of State. Charles Ashton, a director at Cheffins said: 'This letter is a defining moment of history showing the King's intention to go to war with France and Napoleon.' The King wrote in the letter that he had 'perused the dispatch and private letter from Lord Whitworth', a British politician and diplomat who at the time of the letter was ambassador in Paris. The letter was written by King George III to Lord Hawkesbury, then Secretary of State. This image shows A three quarter length figure of King George III seated in a General Officer's coat with the ribbons and star of the Garter, wearing the Garter around his leg at age 33 'The conduct of France has been equally unfair to the last,' he wrote. 'And though conscious of the Evils that must be entailed on many Countries by the renewal of War. 'Yet the conviction that by the restless disposition of the Ruler of France this event could not long have been kept off, it seems necessary to attend alone to the best modes of repelling the violence with effect, and the attacking those objects which our present means render attainable. 'The King will remain in Town to execute any Steps that the present moment may require.' He signs off the letter as 'George R'. The letter was sold by an anonymous private vendor. Advertisement These two properties for sale have the same asking price of 850,000, but which one would you prefer to buy? The first is a Grade-II listed castle in Wiltshire that dates back to 1835 and comes with six bedrooms. It includes a summer house that overlooks a duck pond and two acres of land, with the nearest neighbour approximately one mile away. With a budget of 850k, would you buy this Grade-II listed castle in Wiltshire that dates back to 1835? Or would you rather buy this modern two-bedroom flat in West London with the same amount of money? But for those who prefer to live in a city, the other option is a modern two-bedroom flat in West London - where values tend to be higher than in the rest of the country. It is on the market with the same asking price of 850,000. The flat is just off Chiswick High Road, in the London borough of Hounslow, and comes with three west-facing balconies and underground parking. We take a closer look inside each of the two properties to help you decide which property you would prefer to buy with a generous budget of 850,000. The two properties have the same asking price but are in different parts of the country The six-bedroom castle in Wiltshire The six-bedroom castle is in the Wiltshire village of West Ashton, and is set back from the A350 behind mature trees at the end of a gravelled drive and backs onto open fields. It is called Long's Park Castle and dates back to 1835, having originally been a lodge for nearby Rood Ashton House. Long's Park Castle dates back to 1835 and is currently on the market via estate agents Town & Country Estates It is perfect for a party with the grand hall able to accommodate a large dining table for plenty of guests There is a spiral staircase that leads up to the first floor of the castle in the Wiltshire village of West Ashton The castle is currently used as a holiday let, but could be transformed into a family home in the countryside. The village of West Ashton has a primary school and a village hall, and is two miles south east of the town of Trowbridge, which has a far greater amount of amenities. The average value of a property in West Ashton is 364,666, according to property website Zoopla. It compares to an average price across the country as a whole of 310,807. The property for sale is currently used as a holiday let and it has the benefit of no onward chain There are period features throughout the castle, including decorative fireplaces and windows Mixing the old with the new: The kitchen has a traditional Aga and cupboards units with a modern granite work surfaces The property comes with two acres of land and a summer house that overlooks a duck pond There are six bedrooms at the castle, providing scope to turn it into a large family home PROS AND CONS OF BUYING THE CASTLE Pros: Living in a unique building that has a history stretching back centuries Being in a spacious environment, with the countryside on your doorstep Being part of a village community, with its own primary school and village hall Cons: An older property can require a greater amount of regular maintenance A larger than average heating bill is likely to come through if you feel the cold Need to travel to get to the nearest town of Trowbridge and its amenities Advertisement The two-bed flat in West London The modern two-bedroom apartment is on the second floor of a block of flats just off Chiswick High Road in the West London borough of Hounslow. There is a spacious hallway leading to the main living room, two bedrooms and the main bathroom. The master bedroom has built-in storage and an en suite bathroom. Both of the bedrooms have south-facing windows, meaning there is plenty of light. There are three west-facing balconies, underground parking and a separate utility room. The modern two-bedroom flat is on the second floor of a block of flats just off Chiswick High Road, in West London There is a spacious hallway leading to the main living room that includes a kitchen and dining area The flat comes with three west-facing balconies, as well as sought-after underground parking The area around Chiswick High Road is undeniably affluent, with leafy green spaces, and plenty of cafes and restaurants. On a summer's day, cafe chairs spill out onto the pavements, with the High Road providing the main shopping area in Chiswick. The average value of a property in West London is 1,005,741, according to Zoopla, with typically prices around Chiswick High Road dipping to a still impressive 720,723. The sale of the pristine city apartment is being handled by Featherstone Leigh in Chiswick Ideal for a professional couple: There are two bedrooms in the second-floor flat There is a separate bathroom as well as a sought-after en suite in the master bedroom Both of the bedrooms have south-facing windows and plenty of space for some furniture The flat is on Kings Place, moments away from the local shops and restaurants on Chiswick High Road Jayme Closs was missing for three months Oct. 15, 2018 - Jayme's parents, James and Denise Closs, found dead at their home in Barron and the teen is reported missing Oct. 16, 2018 - Investigators say they don't consider Jayme a suspect in her parents' deaths Oct. 17, 2018 - Authorities announce that investigators believe Jayme was in her family's home when he parents were fatally shot Oct. 18, 2018 - About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers Oct. 23, 2018 - About 2,000 volunteers from as far as Minneapolis help with another ground search . Several items are found and taken for assessment Oct. 24, 2018 - The FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to Jayme's location. The amount is later doubled to $50,000 by the Jennie-O Turkey Store, where James and Denise Closs worked Oct. 27, 2018 - Funeral held for James and Denise Closs Oct. 29, 2018 - Prosecutors announce they have charged a man with burglarizing the Closs home but say he's not a suspect in the case. Dec. 12, 2018 - Tree of Hope lit as community prays for her safe return Jan. 10, 2019 - After three months Jayme is found alive in Gordon, Wisconsin. A suspect is taken into custody. Jan. 11, 2019 - Police named the man accused of kidnapping her as Jake Thomas Patterson, 21 A teenager remains behind bars after he was accused of murdering another young man in a stabbing at a Sydney hair salon. Fredon Laith Botrus, 18, didn't apply for bail and it was formally refused by Magistrate Robert Rabbidge during an appearance at a Parramatta court on Saturday. The 20-year-old alleged victim Alfredo Isho died hours after he was rushed to hospital following the stabbing at Classico Hair Salon in Bossley Park, Sydney's west. Alfredo Isho (pictured) died hours after he was rushed to hospital following being stabbed at Classico Hair Salon in Bossley Park, Sydney's west The 20-year-old man has died after he was stabbed in the neck at a Sydney hair salon. Pictured, emergency services at the scene Botrus faced court via video link on Saturday after he was arrested on Tallowood Crescent in Bossley Park on Friday afternoon. The teen was previously refused police bail ahead of an appearance at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday. Emergency services were called to the hair salon on Mimosa Road at 12.40pm on Friday, with the man stumbling out onto the street and collapsing. Emergency services were called to the scene at Bossley Park about 12.40pm on Friday The man reportedly suffered a single stab wound to the right side of his chest. Shoppers and business owners in nearby shops heard screams and walked outside to see the victim on the floor. 'I just heard somebody screaming, I walked out and I saw him stabbed on the floor,' Shayna's cafe owner Ninos Tooma told The Daily Telegraph. Witnesses reported a man on a motorcycle with L-plates had pulled up outside the salon about 12.40pm and entered the shop, before dumping the bike. The victim was in cardiac arrest on the pavement outside the salon when emergency services arrived at the scene. The missing teen found alive after disappearing from her home in October has been seen for the first time just hours after her miraculous escape. Jayme Closs, 13, is pictured smiling alongside her aunt in the new image, which was posted on Facebook and taken today, according to a fundraising page. The post by Healing for Jayme Closs reads: 'Nothing makes me happier right now than seeing this photo. Seeing this reunion, seeing that smile! We love you Jayme!' Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, is accused of kidnapping the teen and killing her mom and dad after 'targeting' the 13-year-old girl in their house in Barron, Wisconsin. They confirmed Patterson, from Gordon, Wis., is in custody on two charges of first degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme Closs' parents and one count of kidnapping. Police say the family did not know the accused. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald released additional details Friday evening and said the suspect went to great lengths to alter his physical appearance and hide evidence of the alleged murder, including shaving his head. Police say they have recovered the shotgun used to shoot open door October 15 as well as other guns. Scroll down for video Jayme Closs, 13, is pictured smiling alongside her aunt just hours after her escape Jake Thomas Patterson, of Gordon, Wis., has been jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges in the October killing of a Wisconsin couple and abduction of their teen daughter, Jayme Closs Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old girl who has been missing since mid-October, has been found alive Jake Patterson (right) with mother Deborah (center) in 2015 and sister Katie (left) TIMELINE OF JAYME CLOSS' DISAPPEARANCE Jayme Closs was missing for three months Oct. 15, 2018 - Jayme's parents, James and Denise Closs, found dead at their home in Barron and the teen is reported missing Oct. 16, 2018 - Investigators say they don't consider Jayme a suspect in her parents' deaths Oct. 17, 2018 - Authorities announce that investigators believe Jayme was in her family's home when he parents were fatally shot Oct. 18, 2018 - About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers Oct. 23, 2018 - About 2,000 volunteers from as far as Minneapolis help with another ground search . Several items are found and taken for assessment Oct. 24, 2018 - The FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to Jayme's location. The amount is later doubled to $50,000 by the Jennie-O Turkey Store, where James and Denise Closs worked Oct. 27, 2018 - Funeral held for James and Denise Closs Oct. 29, 2018 - Prosecutors announce they have charged a man with burglarizing the Closs home but say he's not a suspect in the case. Dec. 12, 2018 - Tree of Hope lit as community prays for her safe return Jan. 10, 2019 - After three months Jayme is found alive in Gordon, Wisconsin. A suspect is taken into custody. Jan. 11, 2019 - Police named the man accused of kidnapping her as Jake Thomas Patterson, 21 Advertisement President of the Jennie-O Turkey Store in Barron, Steve Lykken, also said Patterson once worked at her parents' employer before quitting after a single day. He issued a statement Friday saying Patterson was hired one day but quit the next, explaining that he was moving away from the area. An obituary for James and Denise Closs says they worked at the turkey processing plant for 27 years. Unemployed Patterson had no previous criminal history and was not on the radar of police. They say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case. Police believe Patterson - said to have hidden the girl in the home he grew up in - killed the Wisconsin couple because he wanted to abduct their daughter. They say she was 'the only target'. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald say Patterson 'planned his actions and took many steps to hide his identity'. She was kept in a 'home in a remote area' of Douglas County, Fitzgerald said. He said: 'Jayme was taken against her will and escaped from the residence at which she was being held in. We also don't believe at this time the suspect had any contact with the family. We do believe that Jayme was the only target. 'I can tell you that the subject planned his actions and took many proactive steps to hide his identity from law enforcement and the general public. 'It appears he concealed her from other people ... his friends.' He was pulled over by police in his car just minutes after Jayme was found and gave a description of the vehicle. Fitzgerald said he doesnt know if Jayme was abused by her captor and that detectives are now interviewing her about her ordeal. Patterson lived three doors down from the woman who called 911 to report that a missing 13-year-old Wisconsin girl had been found. Teacher Kristin Kasinskas says she taught him middle school science but only remembers that he was quiet. Kasinskas says she didn't see Patterson during the months that Jayme was missing. She added: 'I don't really remember a ton about him. He seemed like a quiet kid. I don't recall anything that would have explained this, by any means.' It comes as another neighbor of Patterson says she and her husband had problems with him siphoning gas years ago. Daphne Ronning told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Patterson's parents moved to Gordon about 15 years ago. She says the parents later moved away but Patterson and his brother continued to use the home. She says she and her husband once caught them siphoning gas. She says her husband spoke with them and they didn't have any further problems. Ronning says she didn't know Patterson was living in the house and hadn't seen Jayme around. Jeanne Nutter was walking her dog near the cabin she owns with her husband Forrest when she found Jayme Closs coming out of nearby woods Jeanne Nutter, pictured Friday, was walking her dog near the cabin she owns with her husband Forrest when she found Jayme Closs coming out of nearby woods Kristin and Peter Kasinskas, pictured, say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her The teen vanished from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day the teenager's parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, (above) were found shot dead inside It has also since emerged that ownership of the remote cabin where she was apparently held was passed to a credit union soon after her abduction. Pattersons father transferred the title of the cabin near Gordon to Superior Choice Credit Union on Oct. 23 - eight days after the attack at the Closs familys home, according to records. Jayme was described as 'skinny and dirty but outwardly OK' by the couple who called 911 after the teenager flagged down dogwalker Jeanne Nutter in rural Wisconsin. FBI Special Agent Justin Tolomeo said: 'In cases like this we often need a big break, and it was Jayme herself who gave us that break.' Fitzgerald says Closs was medically cleared, is out of the hospital and is being interviewed by law enforcement. She was taken from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day her parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, were found shot dead inside. The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme has been located in Douglas County. The board chairman of Gordon said Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home. The teen approached a woman walking her dog, and told the stranger she had been kidnapped and that a man killed her parents. Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home in Barron Dogwalker Jeanne Nutter went with Jayme to her neighbors house and pounded on their door. She says Jayme had walked away from a cabin not far from her place where she had been held. Nutter, a social worker, said: 'I went to her and she just sort of grabbed onto me and she told me who she was. She's a traumatized child. I believe she was just maybe in shock. 'I'm just happy that she's safe. I feel like it's sort of a miracle that she's still alive. I'm glad my dog wanted to go for a walk and we did and there she was. My goal was to get her to a safe place and I did. The police were amazing.' Kristin and Peter Kasinskas say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair, wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her. The neighbor shouted, 'This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!' Kristin told the Today Show: 'She knocked on our door, and then actually opened our door and said call 911. 'I think we recognized Jayme immediately. I mean, her picture has been everywhere around here, billboards and things so we recognized her immediately. 'She seemed kind of in shock and kind of timid, but she did talk to us a little bit, and she came in and sat down in our living room and was able to have a conversation with us.' 'She didn't give us a ton of detail. I had asked her if she knew where Gordon, Wisconsin, was. She did not know where Gordon was, and she didn't know where she was at the time. She was - she did state who she believed had her, and she did give us a little information about the person's car. But other than that she didn't give us a ton of detail about.' Kristin was asked if the person she mentioned was someone she knew in the community. Kristin said: 'I recognized the name when I was told it but not somebody I knew well by any means.' Baron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald holds up a photo of the suspect, Jake Thomas Patterson, as he announces that Jayme Closs was found alive, during a news conference in Baron The home where teenager Jayme Closs lived with her parents before their brutal murder three months ago pictured today The entrance to Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jake Thomas Patterson was arrested in the kidnapping of Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents Patterson lived just three doors down from Kristin Kasinskas, who called 911 to report the girl had been found, in Eau Claire Acres, pictured Kristin Kasinskas told the Today Show: 'She didn't give us a ton of detail. I had asked her if she knew where Gordon, Wisconsin, was. She did not know where Gordon was, and she didn't know where she was at the time. She was - she did state who she believed had her, and she did give us a little information about the person's car. But other than that she didn't give us a ton of detail about' 'She looked thinner than her pictures. We offered her a beverage. We offered her something to eat. She said she didn't want anything to eat or drink,' Kristin Kasinskas, who found Jayme (pictured), said The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme has been located in Douglas County, and an unidentified male suspect has been arrested Asked about whether Jayme told her how she escaped, Kristin said: 'Not really. She kind of talked about being locked up or hidden when this person had to leave, but she did not go into any detail about how she got away. 'She looked thinner than her pictures. We offered her a beverage. We offered her something to eat. She said she didn't want anything to eat or drink. She was comfortable. She just was cold, so we did give her a blanket, but yeah, she didn't want food or anything to drink. I would - I guess I would describe her as looking kind of unkempt. 'I don't know (if she seemed afraid). It wasn't like she was scared of us. She wasn't crying or upset. She was just very calm.' Peter Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Jayme was quiet and showed little emotion. He says she told them she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon, the small town near where she was found. Jayme's name was added to the top of the FBI's Missing Persons list and has been on digital billboards across the nation The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme has been found and a suspect has been arrested The scene on Thursday evening after Jayme was found alive in Douglas County, Wisconsin Kristin Kasinskas neighbor who called 911- Jayme Closs and the dog walker approached the home of Kristin Kasinskas, pictured, and asked her to call 911 The dogwalker went with Jayme to her neighbors house, pictured, and pounded on their door asking for help A thank you sign is displayed in Barron after Jayme was found alive more than three months after she disappeared. It reads: 'Thank you for bringing her home' A 'Welcome Home Jayme' sign is displayed for the teen's return home on January 11, 2019 in Barron, Wisconsin A statement from police said: 'We want to thank the Douglas Co Sheriff's Department and agencies assisting them tonight. We also want to thank all the Law Enforcement agencies across the state and county that have assisted us in this case. 'We also could not have endured this case without the support of the public and I want to thank them for all the support and help. 'Finally, we want to especially thank the family for their support and patience while this case was ongoing. 'We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfill that promise. From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!' Jayme's relieved family have said the teen is 'talking, doing great and getting rest right now'. Her aunt, Kelly Engelhardt, told KARE 11 that the news is what the family has 'prayed for' every day. 'I honestly had faith... I figured if they hadn't found her by now that the person that did this didn't want her dead, so I had hope. Every day there was hope. We had too much love and support around us for us to give up,' her aunt said. Diane Trembley, the superintendent of Barron County, said: 'We want to thank Jayme for being so courageous and for achieving an opportunity to find a way back to us. What an extraordinary young lady.. She confirmed there will be a celebration for Closs, who is a student at Riverview Middle School in Barron, in the community. The teen's uncle, Jeff Closs, said he is shocked and beyond grateful for the outcome they desperately hoped for Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald pictured Friday after the teen was found alive Volunteers cross a creek and barbed wire near Barron, Wisconsin on October 23, 2018, on their way to a ground search for Jayme The teen's uncle, Jeff Closs, said he is shocked and beyond grateful for the outcome they desperately hoped for. 'It was just unbelievable because you hear about you're not sure if she's not going to be found. And when you actually hear it, it's just unbelievable. We're all just so grateful and happy. 'We thought it was going to be a different ending and we're so happy... hopefully she's OK, we don't know what condition. Just she's alive.' Her emotional grandfather Robert Naiber told GMA: 'Wow. Whoopie. I've never been so happy for two months.' The teen's aunt Jennifer Smith added: 'I haven't got to see her yet but I get to see her this afternoon and I hear she is doing great and she's getting rest right now. 'We have her at a hospital and they're getting her checked out and they have a suspect in custody and that's all I know so far. She's talking, yep, and she's doing very well.' The entrance to Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jake Thomas Patterson was arrested over the kidnapping of Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents Jayme Closs, 13, was found alive in Douglas County, Wisconsin, pictured Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart has also paid tribute to Jayme and has offered her support to the 'brave, strong and powerful 13-year-old survivor'. She wrote in an emotional Instagram post: 'What a miracle!!! Jayme Closs has been found!!!! I'm so thrilled to hear the news. What has been such a heart wrenching tragedy finally has some happiness in the story.' Smart said she would expect that Jayme will have to confront the fact that there 'is no going back to the way things were'. She said she recommends that Jayme's friends and family give her space and allow her to make her own decisions. Elizabeth was was 14 when she was held in the woods by Wandaa Barzee and Brian David Mitchell for nine months. Jayme's name was added to the top of the FBI's Missing Persons list and has been on digital billboards across the nation since she vanished four months ago. In December, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald shared troubling details about the crime scene with DailyMail.com. Fitzgerald said the killer was in the Closs home for only four minutes, during which they stepped just five feet into the open plan house, shot James and Denise and took Jayme. Both Denise and James died 'instantly' of their wounds, the sheriff said. Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart has paid tribute to fellow kidnapping victim Jayme Closs and has offered her support to the teen who was found Thursday Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped for nine months in 2002 aged 14 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is pictured in March 2018 Despite a mysterious inaudible 911 call made from her mother's cell at 12.54am, when police arrived at 12.58am, they revealed there was no sign that Jayme resisted her abductor. There was nothing taken and nothing disturbed. In fact, there was no forensic evidence of any intruder at all. Fitzgerald said: 'That's the frustrating part of it. We've had four different lab teams look at the scene before we released it. We were very strategic. When we discovered it was a major crime, we sealed it off immediately. 'But if I'm in your house for minutes and I only step five feet inside your home I'm probably not going to leave a big footprint.' He added: 'It doesn't appear that anything was taken, it doesn't appear that Jayme packed up any clothing.' Fitzgerald said at a press conference in October: 'I'm telling you - Jayme is missing and endangered.' Searches of her social media, cell phone and computer have offered no evidence of a boyfriend or anyone she met anyone online who might have targeted her or her parents. A rural community is mourning the tragic loss of a young mother and her 'fearless' daughter who were electrocuted on New Year's Eve. Juanita Bendel, 39, and Ava Cole, 10, died just after midday on New Year's Eve on a farm at Tumoulin, southwest of Cairns in far north Queensland. It is believed they had been picking vegetables when they touched a wire that had been attached to an electric fence and a trailer. A rural community has been shattered after mother-of-three Juanita Bendel, 39, (pictured with one of her daughters) was killed in a freak accident on their farm Juanita Bendel, 39, (pictured) and Ava Cole, 10, died just after midday on New Year's Eve on a farm at Tumoulin, southwest of Cairns in far north Queensland Ava Cole, 10, (pictured) has been described as a talented and fearless girl who loved helping her parents on the farm Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said it appeared the family had attached a cable from a fence to the bull bar of a semi-trailer to 'stop horses straying into the shed'. A battery charger was then attached to the truck to charge it up, which inadvertently made the whole set up electrified. Ava's four-year-old sister Hannah suffered minor injuries when she went outside to look for her sister and mother. Ms Bendel's husband, Mitchell Cole, found the bodies. He received a 'sizable shock' as he attempted to administer CPR as the area was still live, police said. Family and friends have been left heartbroken since the tragedy. Former show steward and Mareeba Shire councillor Anthony Ball described the as a 'typical Australian country family'. The family lived on a cattle and horse farm in Tumoulin. Ms Bendel ran a childcare cenrte at nearby Ravenshoe. Little Ava, who was the eldest of three girls, had a growing passion for farming. Ava Collins, 10, (pictured) and her mother Juanita Bendel, 39, were electrocuted on a rural cattle property, possibly while fixing a cable to a semi-trailer Ava was remembered for being a cowgirl, and poses as one with friends at the Brahman 50th anniversary Cairns Show She was often seen competing on the show circuit, handling beasts twenty to thirty time her weight. 'Ava was just one of a kind. She was a very special kid,' Mr Ball told the Cairns Post. 'She had a great ability for such a young age she certainly was a great cattle person, just a natural.' Their neighbour Mark Toohey said Ava was 'an active little cowgirl'. 'The family's grieving, we're all grieving,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The chances of this happening are so remote. That's what makes it especially tragic.' Workplace Health and Safety is investigating the incident and police are preparing a report for the coroner. As president pro tem, Klausmeier will fill in for Miller in leading Senate floor sessions in his absence. That involves presiding from a rostrum at the front of the chamber, calling on senators during debate, calling for votes and managing the flow of bills and amendments, with the help of clerks and secretaries. Theresa May was thrown a lifeline last night after a poll showed public support for her Brexit deal has grown among both Tory and Labour voters. The number of Conservative supporters who want MPs to back her deal has risen to 55 per cent up eight points in five weeks. Meanwhile the proportion against it has fallen by seven points to 31 per cent, according to a survey for this newspaper. Some 30 per cent of Labour voters also think MPs should support her deal, a similar eight point increase, with 51 per cent against. The number of Conservative supporters who want MPs (Theresa May is pictured) to back her deal has risen to 55 per cent up eight points in five weeks But the Survation poll is further evidence of the huge task Mrs May faces in rescuing her deal, which seems set for defeat in the Commons on Tuesday. Overall, it is still opposed by 41 per cent to 34 per cent of the public, although opposition has fallen by nine points since December. Worryingly for Mrs May, Labour has also taken a three-point lead over the Tories with the Conservatives on 38 to Labours 41. But the poll which questioned 1,013 adults on Thursday and yesterday shows that despite lacking enthusiasm for the Prime Ministers deal, voters appear to prefer it to the prospect of leaving the EU with no deal at all. Given a straight choice between Mrs Mays offer or no deal, 41 per cent support her deal, compared to 32 per cent who back no deal. Tory voters support for the Prime Minister contrasts with other recent surveys, which have shown Conservative Party members oppose her deal. The Survation poll is further evidence of the huge task Mrs May faces in rescuing her deal Even if her deal is thrown out by MPs next week, voters want her to produce an alternative Plan B instead of leaving the EU without any agreement with Brussels, the poll found. A total of 44 per cent favour a Plan B seen by most as likely to offer a softer Brexit with 32 per cent in favour of no deal. Mrs May was furious when rebel Conservative MPs defeated her in the Commons this week, joining forces with Labour to force her to produce a Plan B in just three days if she loses on Tuesday. But the public backs the rebellion by 42 per cent to 35 per cent and they also support Speaker John Bercows decision to allow it. The survey offers other crumbs of comfort for Mrs May. Asked who they trust to handle Brexit, 34 per cent chose the Prime Minister, with 21 per cent for Mr Corbyn. She defeats Boris Johnson on the question of who is best to handle Brexit by a margin of 34 per cent to 20 per cent. In another blow to Brexit hardliners like Mr Johnson who advocate no deal, when voters were asked to choose between that and staying in the EU, Remain won by 46 to 41 per cent. The survey also provides fresh evidence of the deeply-conflicted views that Brexit has provoked in the public. A total of 45 per cent say Mrs May should resign if she is defeated, with 39 per cent in favour of her staying on. But Tory voters have not given up on her. An overwhelming 66 per cent say she should carry on in No 10 if she loses on Tuesday, with only 26 per cent in favour of her stepping down. A total of 26 per cent of the public say she is bad for EU negotiations, with just 21 per cent stating she is good. But far more, 37 per cent, say whether she stays or goes will make little difference to Brexit. Two of the biggest donors to the Leave campaign say they have given up on Brexit ever happening. Billionaire Peter Hargreaves and veteran hedge fund manager Crispin Odey do not believe Britain will end up leaving the European Union amid the deadlock in Parliament. It came as Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned yesterday that it is more likely than ever that MPs will work to block the UK leaving without a deal. Billionaire Peter Hargreaves and veteran hedge fund manager Crispin Odey do not believe Britain will end up leaving the European Union amid the deadlock in Parliament Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned yesterday that it is more likely than ever that MPs will work to block the UK leaving without a deal Mr Hargreaves, who gave 3.2million to the Leave campaign, said: I have totally given up. I am totally in despair, I dont think Brexit will happen at all. The co-founder of investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown added: They [pro-Europeans] are banking on the fact that people are so fed up with it that they will just say, Sod it, we will stay. I do see that attitude. The problem is when something doesnt happen for so long you feel less angry about it. Mr Odey, who donated more than 870,000 to pro-Leave groups, said that while he does not believe there will be a second referendum, he does not think Brexit will take place either. My view is that it aint going to happen, he said. I just cant see how it happens with that configuration of Parliament. Rudd won't say if she would remain in a no-deal Cabinet Amber Rudd yesterday declined three times to say she would stay in the Cabinet if Theresa May opts for a no-deal Brexit. The Work and Pensions Secretary, who backed Remain during the 2016 referendum campaign, said on Radio 4s Today she was committed to ensuring that the UK does not leave the EU without a withdrawal deal. Amber Rudd (pictured) yesterday declined three times to say she would stay in the Cabinet if Theresa May opts for a no-deal Brexit Miss Rudd said it was right for the Government to make preparations for no-deal, but did not think the outcome would be good for this country. Pressed for a third time by interviewer Justin Webb on whether she would quit if Mrs May went for the no-deal option, Miss Rudd cut him short, saying: Thank you very much, Justin. But asked again later whether she would resign, following a speech on welfare in south London, she said: I am committed to making sure that we get the Withdrawal Agreement through next week. I have been in and out of Cabinet and I find you have more influence in Cabinet. Meanwhile it emerged that former foreign secretary Boris Johnson has received more than 23,000 from Tory election guru Sir Lynton Crosby, in a sign that he may be considering a potential leadership bid. Advertisement Mr Hunt yesterday warned of Brexit paralysis if MPs vote down Theresa Mays Withdrawal Agreement on Tuesday, potentially meaning the UK does not leave at all. In an appeal for Tory MPs to get behind the deal, the Foreign Secretary said the past week has shown they cannot rely on no-deal being the default outcome if the agreement fails to pass. He said Commons Speaker John Bercow has shown that he is willing to frustrate the Government at every opportunity, and it was not possible for the minority Tory administration to control what happened in Parliament. Mr Hunt told Radio 4s Today programme: I think Parliament is very committed to try to stop no-deal, but I think we have to recognise that there is a deal on the table, it does broadly deliver the Brexit people voted for, and if we dont find a way to get this through, we are taking some very big risks. Brexit paralysis potentially leading to no Brexit is something I think would be incredibly damaging for the long-term future of this country. Referendum gamble that paid off... but not for city traders City traders may be paid the big bucks, but its gamblers who saw Brexit coming first. A study has found that those who placed bets on the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum got the Leave result right at around 3am on June 24. But it took traders in the City an hour longer to figure it out, potentially losing them millions of pounds. Based on figures from online gambling firm Betfair, the odds shifted from Remain to Leave between 10pm and 3am. Researchers at the University of Cambridge suggest traders may have been in a bubble, making them less able to predict real voters intentions. It should have been possible to predict the Leave victory at 1am based on election results from regions across Britain. Advertisement Mrs May is expected to spend the weekend in talks with Brussels over last-minute concessions ahead of the Commons vote. She is also set to speak to more trade union and business leaders in a desperate bid to rally support. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday said that every effort must be made ahead of Tuesdays vote to avoid no-deal, which he said would be a catastrophe for both sides. But he said the EU was only willing to offer clarifications on the agreement and this should not be confused with a renegotiation. It is expected there could be an exchange of letters between the EU and UK on Monday with reassurances about how the backstop to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland could only be a temporary arrangement. Downing Street last night dismissed claims that Brexit could be delayed until after March 29 as there is not enough time to pass the necessary legislation. Former attorney general Dominic Grieve yesterday said that if MPs reject Mrs Mays deal, the Government should immediately strike the date from legislation before asking the EU for an extension of the two-year Article 50 process. Meanwhile, in a rare boost for Mrs May, former Labour minister Jim Fitzpatrick said he was close to supporting her deal. The Poplar and Limehouse MP told the Commons: At some point we need to recognise the danger of no-deal is still there and the only real alternative on the table is the Prime Ministers deal. Conservative MP George Freeman, who announced on Thursday with a heavy heart that he would back the agreement, yesterday said he expected as many as 40 other critics to do the same. The National Weather Service says a storm stretching from the nation's capital to Colorado could bring the highest snow totals in several years to sections of Missouri and Illinois. The storm is expected to drop 8 to 12 inches of snow in the St. Louis metropolitan area into eastern Illinois between Friday and early Sunday. Large sections of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana are under winter weather advisories, and hazardous travel conditions are expected through most of the weekend. The storm has been dubbed 'Winter Storm Gia' by The Weather Channel. The National Weather Service says the storm could bring the highest snow totals in years to sections of Missouri and Illinois A video on Twitter shows motorists in rush hour experiencing difficulties on the roads in St. Louis Traffic moves along the I-70 near Lawrence, Kansas, on Friday evening ahead of the expected snow storm. The area is under a Winter Weather Advisory Over 20 million people were in the path of the storm, the Weather Service said. On Twitter @RfM_09 tweeted a video of motorists in rush hour experiencing difficulties on the roads, 'Snow storm in St. Louis! Cars cant get up the highway!' Sally Johnson, a meteorologist in St. Louis, says the storm has the potential to drop the most snow in five or six years. Missouri received 10.8 inches on Jan. 5-6, 2014, and 12.4 inches on March 23-24, 2013. The University of Missouri's flagship campus in Missouri and St. Louis University shutdown Friday afternoon, along with numerous public schools. Johnson said the heaviest amounts are expected along the Interstate 70 corridor from Columbia to St. Louis. The storm is expected to drop 8 to 12 inches of snow in the St. Louis metropolitan area into eastern Illinois between Friday and early Sunday In Indiana snow accumulations of 5 to 7 inches are expected between midnight Friday and 7 a.m. Sunday St. Louis Lambert International Airport spokesman Jeff Lea says airlines are canceling dozens of flights through Saturday morning. Jefferson City officials also announced plans to close city offices early. In Illinois, the weather service snow would begin in southwestern Illinois and spread northeast throughout the evening, reaching the Chicago area by Saturday morning. Snow totals are to taper to the northeast with parts of southwestern Illinois forecast to receive up to 9 inches. The Chicago area is expected to get between 1 and 4 inches and much of central Illinois was expected to receive 6 to 8 inches. And in Indiana snow accumulations of 5 to 7 inches are expected between midnight Friday and 7 a.m. Sunday in portions of central, south central, southeastern, southwestern and west central Indiana. It says locally higher amounts of snowfall are possible. A British ex-public schoolboy is at the centre of a major diplomatic row after being sentenced to 24 strokes of the cane for drugs offences in Singapore. The case has sparked a rift between Singapore and the UK, which traditionally have close ties. It has also prompted the intervention of Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his officials, who made clear they strongly oppose the use of corporal punishment. London-born Ye Ming Yuen, 29, has also been ordered to serve 20 years in jail after being convicted of seven drug offences, including trafficking London-born Ye Ming Yuen, 29, who went to 37,000-a-year Westminster School, will be stripped naked and strapped to a large wooden trestle. Then his buttocks will be flogged 24 times with a 4ft-long rattan cane. His judicial corporal punishment which will be inflicted by a trained caner taught how to cause the most pain possible is the maximum caning sentence that can be handed out in Singapore and could leave him scarred for life. Yuen has also been ordered to serve 20 years in jail after being convicted of seven drug offences, including trafficking. Yuen (pictured at school), 29, who went to 37,000-a-year Westminster School, will be stripped naked and strapped to a large wooden trestle. He was originally facing the death penalty but the capital charge was dropped because the net weight of drugs involved was below 500g. Last night Yuens family branded the caning sentence as barbaric and a form of torture, and begged authorities in the former Crown colony renowned for its no-nonsense approach to law enforcement to grant him clemency. Mr Hunt raised Yuens case with Singapores minister for foreign affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, while visiting the country last week, and since then Foreign Office officials have made representations on Yuens behalf. Human rights groups have condemned Singapores use of the cane, saying it breaches the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Yuen first arrested over drugs offences in August 2016 is being held at Changi prison. According to his family, who live in the UK, the only furniture he has in his cell, where he spends 22 hours a day, is a bamboo mat. He is allowed only two visits from family per month. His younger sister, a 28-year-old development manager, said: Without warning, the prison guards knocked on his cell to impose his caning sentence in early December. Ming exclaimed it was against his human rights. After hearing this, they did not proceed with the punishment. Yuen's judicial corporal punishment which will be inflicted by a trained caner taught how to cause the most pain possible. Pictured is a Changi prison officer using a dummy to demonstrate how inmates are caned The prison guards went to get him again two weeks later. Ming repeated the same explanation, and again the caning did not proceed. The authorities do not give advance warning of caning which is mentally torturous. It could happen any day. Details of Yuens plight are outlined in his handwritten appeal submission, in which he asked for a reduced sentence of eight and a half years and 15 strokes of the cane. Human rights groups say caning in Singapore constitutes torture Human rights groups say caning in Singapore is a violation of international law and breaches the United Nations Convention Against Torture. They insist that although Singapore has not ratified the convention, the prohibition on torture and cruel inhuman treatment is universal, called a jus cogens norm, which means no domestic law can contradict it. In 2015, the International Commission of Jurists, a human rights group, condemned the Singapore Court of Appeal for declining to say caning was unlawful. The court also said caning did not breach the high threshold of severity and brutality that is required for it to be regarded as torture. Caning in Singapore is mandatory in dozens of offences including attempted murder and rape. Only medically fit men aged 16 to 50 are caned. Offenders sentenced to death are not caned. Advertisement A former top club DJ in Singapore, his offences include two counts of repeat drug trafficking one of 69g and one of 60g of cannabis. Another offence included drug trafficking of 15g of crystal meth. In his failed appeal bid, he said: Should a shorter sentence be imposed, it would allow me to remain useful in society. I was misled in my youth, in an environment surrounded by drugs, to fall into the dark lure of addiction, oblivious to the hold it had on me. Before moving to Singapore in 2007, Yuen the son of a marketing consultant from China and a Singapore-born marketing executive was a pupil at Dulwich Prep School in South London and then Westminster School, whose alumni include Nick Clegg, Peter Ustinov and John Gielgud. At Westminster School he gained 11 GCSEs four A*s, six As, and one B. But while at the top public school he got in with the wrong crowd and ended up in trouble with the Metropolitan Police. In 2007, it emerged that Yuen was wanted by Scotland Yard over an alleged forged driving licences scam. A newspaper tracked him down to Singapore, where he reportedly admitted that he manufactured fake documents and sold them to pupils. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: Our consular staff have been assisting a British man and his family since his arrest in Singapore in 2016. We strongly oppose the use of corporal punishment, such as caning, in all cases. A spokesman for the Singapore High Commission in London said: Singapore deals with the drug problem comprehensively with the strictest enforcement coupled with the severest of penalties to protect the welfare of the public and our collective aspiration to live and raise our children in a safe oasis. Thomas Markle Jr was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol early Friday morning. He is seen in his 2017 mugshot Meghan Markle's half-brother Thomas Markle Jr has been arrested for driving under the influence. The 52-year-old of Grants Pass, Oregon was pulled over on a Josephine County highway by state police at 1.33am Friday. According to a police log, Markle Jr was 'visibly intoxicated' and the arresting officer administered a standardized field sobriety test. He was taken to a detox center where he was found to have a BAC level of .11 per cent. Records show Markle's green Chevy Silverado was towed. In an interview with DailyMail.com earlier this month, the window-fitter revealed he and fiancee Darlene Blount will tie the knot in March. The pair have been together for more than two years but have endured multiple alcohol-related incidents that have seen both arrested. Blount, 38, was arrested in late July at the couple's Grants Pass home after she allegedly blacked Markle Jr's eye. The two quickly reconciled and Markle Jr would later state the incident was an 'accident' and begged a judge to lift Blount's no-contact order. Markle Jr told District Attorney Michelle Enfield in November that the couple want to be together and have quit boozing, as well as undergoing therapy. Wedding bells: Thomas Markle Jr, 52, and fiancee Darlene Blount, 38, revealed they will tie the knot in March Meghan Markle remains estranged from her half-brother despite his multiple attempts to reconcile 'I explained to the lady at the DA's office that we've had ups and downs in our relationship, we both have troubled pasts. 'A lot of trauma from our past experiences and that we're both really getting to know each other and sometimes, if we do drink a little bit too much, those buttons get pushed really easy. 'We get in some pretty good arguments and stuff like this happens. But I explained to her, I said we're getting couples' counseling, individual counseling and we've drastically just cut alcohol and beer out of our lives.' In January 2017, Markle Jr was arrested at his Oregon home after pulling a gun on his now-fiancee during a drunken altercation. Blount told cops she had been in fear for her life and he spent two nights in the Josephine County Jail as a result, although the case was dropped the following month. Blount was again previously collared after another drunken argument and bizarrely accused Markle Jr of hitting himself during a 911 call with local cops. One half of the loved-up couple from Saturday Night Live's opening credits has revealed just how they ended up appearing at the start of the popular show every weekend. New Yorker Keren Lerner has the people behind a dating app to thank for her newfound mini-celebrity since season 44 of SNL began in September 2018, when producers caught their lip lock by accident. Lerner explained in a story published by Vulture on Thursday that it wasn't just a passionate pucker featuring actors that a TV audience watches weekly. Scroll down for video New Yorker Keren Lerner and her boyfriend Marc appear kissing in the opening sequence of Saturday Night Live Season 44 which debuted September 2018 Instead the people behind the black-and-white shot sandwiched in between newcomer comedian Chris Redd and the street dancers of Times Square are herself, a web developer, and an attorney named Marc who is now her boyfriend. The pair were on a date after connecting on Hinge, a platform that rivals Tinder but has more Match.com-like depth with the opportunity to filter out the unwanted but avoid the shallowness of choosing who can reach out based on appearance. Lerner met her beau on Hinge a few months before NBC approached them in New York Although they first met a few months beforehand, people from the NBC network approached them in the Big Apple while they were indulging in 'shameless, egregious PDA sessions'. After a production assistant told persuaded them to sign release forms, Marc and Keren didn't think anything would come of a small-screen debut, especially after the woman told them: 'You'll probably end up on the cutting-room floor, but there's a chance we'd use it.' However the SNL team must have seen the pair were the real deal because come 11.30pm on a Saturday night a few weeks later, the duo's smooch was airing across the country after introductions from the likes of Keenan Thomson, Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson and Leslie Jones. 'I like to think the palpable chemistry of our kiss made the cutting-room floor an impossibility, but maybe they were just hard up for filler,' Lerner joked. An assistant told them they were unlikely to use the romantic lip lock but weeks later their intimate moment was broadcast all over the country and is expected to continue weekly Although the brief (0.3476-second) but regular (there are 21 episodes each season through to May 2019) earned Lerner plenty of social media likes, she's also had to deal with more people than she would have hoped squinting to focus on her mouth in the 2018 -2019 sequence designed by Emily Oberman for Pentagram. Lerner added that playful comments such as 'get a room' came alongside the contrasting invested interest of family who wanted to see her kissing her new beau. 'FYI I told my parents about this and my dad has even specifically watched the credits to see what the hype is about,' she shared in the article. 'Even my parents look forward to seeing us get hot and heavy on TV weekly, which I would have found pretty awkward a few years ago, but for some reason now seems fine.' Plaid Cymru AM Steffan Lewis (pictured) died in hospital in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, and is survived by his wife, Shona, and three-year-old son, Celyn Tributes have been paid to one of Wales' youngest assembly members who has died at the age of 34 after a battle with bowel cancer. Plaid Cymru AM Steffan Lewis died in hospital in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, and is survived by his wife, Shona, and three-year-old son, Celyn. Mr Lewis, the youngest member elected in the 2016 Assembly election, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in December 2017. In a tribute, his family said he 'fought his disease with courage, the same courage and determination that he applied to his politics' and continued to serve even when 'he was in great pain and discomfort'. 'To lose Steff is the greatest possible blow to our family and we know that there are people throughout Wales who share our sense of loss,' they said. 'Steff inspired us every day. He was our rock, he was our anchor and most certainly, our hero. Above all Steffan was a loving husband, father, son and brother.' The family vowed to ensure his 'legacy will live on forever', adding: 'Wales will not forget his contribution and his determination to make a difference to people's lives.' Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price paid tribute to Mr Lewis (pictured here in 1997) noting how it was clear he would have big impact on Welsh life when he first addressed a party conference aged just 14 Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price said it was clear Mr Lewis was someone who would have a big impact on Welsh life when he first addressed a party conference aged just 14. 'Steffan was beloved by his friends in Plaid Cymru and we are in a state of shock and grief at losing our very brightest star,' he said. 'He will be remembered as a politician of rare talent who achieved an incredible amount during his time in elected office, which has been cut short in such harrowing circumstances. 'His powers of reasoning and intellect were matched only by his capacity for compassion - even while suffering illness, Steffan persisted in prioritising the welfare of other people by speaking openly about his difficult experiences while all the time continuing to work on behalf of his nation and constituents. 'I cannot begin to express our sense of loss and how much we will miss having Steffan in our lives.' Steffan Lewis is pictured here (third from left in the front row) campaigning in Islwyn. Following his death, his family have vowed to ensure his 'legacy will live on forever' First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, said: 'I would like to express my own deep and personal sorrow at the loss of Steffan Lewis AM, one of the most decent and able politicians of his generation. 'My thoughts and sympathies are with his wife Shona and young son Celyn at this incredibly difficult time.' Fellow assembly members (AM) have also been paying tribute this evening, with Jack Sargeant AM for Alyn and Deeside saying: 'Terrible news this evening that Steffan Lewis has sadly passed away. 'A young politician, who was an example to us all in the way he portrayed himself both in and outside the chamber.' While Carwyn Jones, AM for Bridgend, said: 'Very sad to hear this news. Admired across the parties,people listened when Steffan spoke. 'He would have served Wales well for decades. We all admired the courage he showed with his illness.' A Utah teenager attempting a viral media challenge based on Netflix's hit Bird Box movie is being blamed for a parkway crash involving two cars. Layton Police said that a 17-year-old girl was driving down Utah's Layton Parkway on Monday when she decided to cover her eyes with her beanie to participate in the so-called 'Bird Box Challenge' and immediately lost control of her grey truck. The teen, who is not being named, then crossed over into oncoming traffic, hit a white SUV and crashed into a light pole, police said, according to ABC4. Police said a 17-year-old lost control of her grey truck after she used her beanie to cover her eyes while attempting the 'Bird Box Challenge' as she drove on a Utah parkway The teen crossed into oncoming traffic and struck this SUV before hitting a light pole Police said there were no injuries but are asking that the teen be charged with misdemeanor reckless driving after her failed stunt 'Bird Box Challenge while driving...predictable result,' Layton Police wrote in a tweet that included pictures of the two cars involved in the crash. 'This happened on Monday as a result of the driver covering her eyes while driving on Layton Parkway. Luckily no injuries,' the post continued. The 17-year-old girl was said to have had a 16-year-old male passenger in the truck with her. It's unclear how many people were in the SUV. Police said that the teen initially told authorities that the crash occurred because she was talking to her friend and gotten distracted, KSL reported. The viral media challenge is inspired by Netflix's hit thriller, Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock (shown), in which characters cover their eyes to prevent themselves from going mad The rash of dangerous-looking challenge attempts prompted Netflix to tweet out this warning Additional interviews later revealed that the teen was attempting the viral media challenge inspired by Netflix's hit December flick, Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock, in which characters must cover their eyes to prevent themselves from going mad and killing themselves. The challenge has seen people being filmed doing a variety of every day things blindfolded, including walking into walls and down streets. One YouTube star also filmed himself driving while blindfolded. The challenge prompted Netflix to issue a warning tweet on January 2. 'Cant believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE. We dont know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes,' @netflix tweeted. Authorities are asking the city attorney to charge the teen girl with misdemeanor reckless driving, the Standard-Examiner reported. Three British men have been acquitted of rape in a Spanish court after they were accused of attacking a woman in a group apartment in Benidorm. A hearing at the Provincial Court of Alicante was set to hear the case on December 5, but the alleged victim did not show up, according to local media. The alleged victim had previously told police she had sex with one of the men on October 30, 2011, after going back to his apartment. The incident is said to have taken place in 2011 when the defendants met the woman in a bar in the resort, on eastern Spain's Costa Blanca, and later went back to a flat However, she said she fell asleep and when two others returned they held her down by the arms and raped her. The men denied the attack and said the woman was enraged because they told her to leave so they could go to bed, and threw her shoes out of the room. Prosecutors wanted each of her three alleged attackers to be jailed for 30 years - including 14 years for sexual assault and eight for injuries. One of the alleged attackers admitted in court that he had consensual 'sexual activity' with the woman, but claimed there was no penetration. While the other two men claimed they did not touch the woman but asked their roommate to wake her up as they had nowhere to sleep. They also added that the woman had become angry when they threw her shoes on the balcony - and then threatened to report them to the police and file a false report of rape. The alleged victims absence meant the court could not clarify contradictions in the statements she had reportedly given police officers. Nurses caring for a woman in a coma for at least 15 years were frantic when she suddenly gave birth to a baby boy in her nursing home bed, a 911 call released by police has revealed. They thought the baby was going to die and called emergency services for backup, the call reveals. 'The baby's turning blue, the baby's turning blue,' a nurse tells dispatchers in Phoenix, Arizona. 'We need someone now.' The case, in which a 29-year-old member of the San Carlos Apache native American tribe, gave birth on December 29, has shocked the nation and already led to the resignation of the facility's head. On Friday it also emerged that the woman, who weighed just 112 pounds, had entered Hacienda HealthCare when she was three years old after a drowning incident. Police are now carrying out DNA tests on all male staff as well as others who potentially had access to the woman's room in a bid to find who is responsible. Nurses caring for a woman in a coma were frantic when she suddenly gave birth to a baby boy in her nursing home bed, a 911 call released by police revealed. The unnamed woman, aged 29, gave birth to a boy at Hacienda HealthCare facility in Phoenix on December 29. Pictured: Police officers outside of the main entrance on Friday 'We have a very broad scope,' police spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson told DailyMail.com. He said if anyone refused to have their DNA sample taken the police would apply for a court order. 'At this stage I do not know if anyone has refused,' he said. The mother, who is described as 'incapacitated' and 'unable to make any decisions or give consent', has not been identified and police are treating the case as rape. Family attorney John Micheaels said in a statement: 'The family obviously is outraged, traumatized and in shock by the abuse and neglect of their daughter at Hacienda HealthCare,' 'The family would like me to convey that the baby boy has been born into a loving family and will be well cared for.' In the five minute call, the nurse whose name is redacted in the audio released by police tells the dispatcher: 'We had no idea this patient was pregnant.' When asked if the mother is doing OK, she answers: 'We are not sure.' She then turns to a colleague and asks: 'Were you able to get the baby out? Is the baby breathing? Is the baby breathing?' She reports back to the dispatcher: 'The baby is not breathing. The baby is blue.' The nurse says staff had no idea how far along the mother was in her pregnancy. 'This was a complete surprise, we were not expecting this.' She then says that the baby 'is not responsive.' 'They are still trying to do compressions and they are suctioning the baby.' She said they were doing compressions with two fingers in the center of the chest and one finger below the nipple line. Phoenix Police spokesman Tommy Thompson (pictured) told DailyMail.com if any staff members refused to have their DNA sample taken the police would apply for a court order. 'At this stage I do not know if anyone has refused' The nurse then calls for 'the vitals machine.' 'I want vitals on mom,' she tells her colleagues. 'Mom is doing fine, she's doing fine,' the nurse says. 'We are going to do vitals on her, but so far she looks stable.' Nearly five minutes into the call the nurse tells the dispatcher with obvious relief in her voice; 'The baby's breathing, the baby's breathing, oh my God,' and then faint crying from the tot is heard in the background as the call ends. Phoenix's CBS affiliate, which originally broke the story, said investigators believe the victim was raped several times in her bed. She is described as being in a vegetative state and completely unresponsive following the near-drowning. AZ Central reports that the woman had been living at the facility since she was three years old. Records show the woman's last court-ordered medical examination took place on April 16, 2018 eight months and 13 days before she gave birth. It is not clear when she went into a vegetative state, but according to medical reports, the woman had brain injury, seizures, recurring pneumonia, feeding and breathing tubes. Hacienda HealthCare CEO Bill Timmons resigned this week after more than 30 years at the helm of the not-for-profit organization. His resignation was unanimously accepted by the company's board. Hacienda had tried to test the male staff's DNA but say they had been advised it could breach privacy rules. On Tuesday Phoenix police ordered the tests. Hacienda called the police move 'a welcome development.' 'We had consulted attorneys to determine whether it would be legal for our company to compel our employees to undergo DNA testing conducted through Hacienda or for Hacienda to conduct voluntary genetic testing of staffers,' a facility spokesperson said. 'We were told it would be a violation of federal law in either instance. 'We will continue to cooperate with Phoenix Police and all other investigative agencies to uncover the facts in this deeply disturbing, but unprecedented situation.' Investigators believe the victim was raped several times in her bed. She is described as being in a vegetative state and completely unresponsive following a near-drowning Board member Gary Orman said in a statement the facility 'will accept nothing less than a full accounting of this absolutely horrifying situation.' 'We will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of every single one of our patients and our employees,' Orman added. The woman's former caretaker told the local ABC affiliate the victim was 'non-communicative in every way.' The caretaker, who was not identified by the station said the victim couldn't walk or even use sign language and her nursing home room and a day room where she was taken in a wheelchair were the only worlds she knew. San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman Terry Rambler said: 'On behalf of the tribe, I am deeply shocked and horrified at the treatment of one of our members' 'I can't believe that somebody would bathe her daily for nine months and never know that she wasn't having a period, that she [was] growing in her midsection, that nurses weren't keeping track of her weight,' the caregiver said. 'Those things are shocking to me. The former caregiver said hearing the woman had had a baby was 'like a punch in the gut' especially as the victim could never know who had assaulted her. The woman's family visited every few months, usually in a large group of some 15 people, the caregiver said.. The San Carlos Apache reservation is some 140 miles east of Phoenix. Tribal chairman Terry Rambler said: 'On behalf of the tribe, I am deeply shocked and horrified at the treatment of one of our members. 'When you have a loved one committed to palliative care, when they are most vulnerable and dependent upon others, you trust their caretakers. 'Sadly, one of her caretakers was not to be trusted and took advantage of her. It is my hope that justice will be served.' The Hacienda facility serves infants, children and young adults who are 'medically fragile' or have developmental disabilities, according to its website. The Arizona Department of Health Services said new safety measures have been implemented following the revelation of the woman's rape. They include increased staff presence during any patient interaction, more monitoring of patient care areas and additional security measures involving visitors. San Carlos Apache officials announced Tuesday night that the woman was an enrolled member of the tribe, whose reservation is in southeastern Arizona about 134 miles east of Phoenix. Members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe are seen in a 2014 Facebook photo The state's online complaint database for care facilities shows multiple complaints about Hacienda de Los Angeles going back to 2013. Most of them involve fire drill and evacuation preparation or Medicaid eligibility. But one complaint from December 2013 outlines an allegation that a staff member made inappropriate sexual comments about four patients two months earlier. Nobody relayed the incidents to an administrator. The employee was later fired. Martin Solomon, a personal injury attorney in Phoenix whose clients are mostly vulnerable adult victims of abuse and neglect, said a lawyer representing this woman should call for all pertinent medical records, a list of current and ex-employees and any past litigation involving Hacienda. It would be the police who would lead DNA testing to figure out who fathered the baby, Solomon said. It would be hard for Hacienda to escape any kind of liability in court. 'There's a lot of information we do not have. But things like this don't happen without someone either knowing about it or should have known about it,' Solomon said. 'Whether it's an employee or someone from the outside, the facility has an obligation to protect residents.' Advocates for the disabled say Arizona needs to find a way to monitor allegations of sexual abuse and sexual violence in group settings. Doing background checks isn't enough, said Erica McFadden, executive director of the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. 'I think when you've had somebody who's had multiple allegations from different parties, there has to be some way to track that,' McFadden said. 'If it's the same story from different people, then there's something wrong.' The council recently formed a task force to look at how to improve training for health care workers when it comes to identifying and reporting sexual abuse. 'We don't have a systematic way to train people what's a good touch or a bad touch. We also don't have required training for providers,' McFadden said. 'We really need a lot of work in this area.' Jon Meyers, executive director of The Arc of Arizona, an advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, called the allegations 'disturbing, to put it mildly.' 'I wasn't there. I clearly don't have firsthand knowledge of what happened,' Meyers said. 'But I can't believe someone receiving that level of constant care wasn't recognized as being pregnant prior to the time she delivered. Many federal workers live paycheck to paycheck, Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Baltimore Democrat, said Friday on the House floor. They have mortgages and car loans to pay, day care expenses to cover, and food to put on the table. And even while they struggle to pay these bills, furloughed employees face the stress and anxiety of not knowing whether or not they will be paid when the shutdown ends. The least we can do is to relieve that uncertainty. In the latest wrinkle over the looming Mueller report that has Washington on edge, President Trump's team is demanding an advance look at the document so that they may 'correct' the findings. The regulations governing a special counsel state at the at the conclusion of the probe, the special counsel deliver a confidential report to the attorney general. The document could eventually become public, especially if Congress forces the issues. Democrats in Congress are already raising a fuss, fearful that President Trump's attorney general or acting attorney general may attempt to sit on the information. Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani stated in a new interview that his team will push to get a look at it before it is released or ends up in the public domain. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani says President Trump's team deserves the right to 'correct' any errors in the Mueller report 'As a matter of fairness, they should show it to you so we can correct it if theyre wrong, the former New York City mayor told The Hill newspaper. 'Theyre not God, after all. They could be wrong,' he added. There have been some signals that Mueller may be nearing the end of his probe. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed him, announced that he will be stepping down soon, later clarifying he would stay until Mueller finished his work. Judiciary Chairman Jerold Nadler has said once the report is produced, he will request it and subpoena it to force its release if necessary. It is possible this would set off a battle over any executive privilege claims. Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, right, listens as President Donald Trump speaks to the media before signing anti-human trafficking legislation, Wednesday Jan. 9, 2019. The Trump-nominated acting AG has assumed partial oversight of the Mueller probe Special Counsel Robert Mueller turns over a final report to the attorney general when his probe is finished Attorney General nominee William Barr on his own initiative submitted a brief critical of the Mueller probe Longtime Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is certain to get questioned during Capitol Hill testimony about his role in hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Trump The White House office of legal counsel has been staffing up in advance of any legal tussles. Giuliani also expressed no worry that longtime Trump lawyer Michael Cohen who he has termed a liar, and who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about a Trump Moscow tower project as well as campaign violations related to hush payments to women will be testifying publicly before Democratic-run committees. Big deal! Giuliani said. He also commented on this week's bombshell revelations that former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort passed on campaign poll information to Konstantin Kilimnik, who Mueller's team has linked to a Russian intelligence agency. 'Should he have done it? No. But theres nothing criminal about it,' Giuliani said. The New York state government has fined Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign $1,500 for not having workers' compensation coverage for a month last year. A spokeswoman for the New York state Workers' Compensation Board, Melissa Stewart, said Friday that Ocasio-Cortez's Democratic campaign lacked coverage from March 31 to April 30. She says the fine, first reported by the New York Daily News, has been paid. The coverage is 'vital to ensuring workers are protected for on-the-job injuries,' Stewart added. The 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez made bettering the lives of working people and the poor in her Queens-Bronx district a key component of her successful campaign to upset longtime incumbent Joseph Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary. Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign has been fined $1,500 for not having the required workers' compensation coverage for a month last year A message the Associated Press left with her Washington office wasn't returned on Friday. Workers' compensation is a government-administered disability compensation program that pays workers, or their dependents, when they suffer injuries at work or contract work-related diseases. Every U.S. state has had a program since at least 1948. The concept dates back millenniato the Sumerian empire, in present-day Iraq. According to University of North Carolina orthopedist Gregory Guyton, a 2050 B.C. law provided specific guidelines for how much to compensate workers who lost body parts on the job. Ancient Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Chinese all had similar systems. The laws provided sets of compensation schedules, with precise payments for the loss of particular body parts. 'Under ancient Arab law, loss of a joint of the thumb was worth one-half the value of a finger,' Guyton wrote in 1999. 'The loss of a penis was compensated by the amount of length lost, and the value an ear was based on its surface area.' A Democratic campaign veteran told the Daily News that the fine is 'not a great look' for Ocasio-Cortez. 'This is basic stuff, especially if you hold yourself out to be the champion of workers.' Republicans in Albany piled on. 'Hypocrisy at its finest,' state GOP spokeswoman Jessica Proud said. 'The so-called champion of workers, when given her own responsibility, is not following the law. Its unbelievable.' Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist, campaigned as the champion of blue-collar and downtrodden New Yorkers Ocasio-Cortez is a political neophyte who considers herself a democratic socialist. Fresh from her swearing-in, she proposed to raise the top marginal income tax rate to 70 per cent. The current top rate is 37 per cent. That applies to an earner's income after the first $600,000. Ocasio-Cortez's plan would start applying the 70 per cent rate after the first $10 million. Similarly, Ocasio-Cortez is pushing for a 'Medicare for All' medical insurance overhaul in the U.S., an ambitious plan that would put much of the industry in the hands of government. Vocal critics of the approach say it's an expensive clone of socialized medicine systems found in Canada, Scandinavia and elsewhere. Russian defence chiefs are demanding new laws allowing them to shoot down passenger planes violating the country's laws and posing a threat to lives and strategic facilities. A decree has been drawn up by the country's Defence Ministry for approval by the Kremlin, said a report by Izvestia newspaper. New rules would give explicit permission to the Russian air force to shoot down civilian aircraft suspected of intending a deliberate crash causing a 'massive loss of life', an environmental catastrophe or the destruction of strategic facilities. Aleksandr Bortnikov, director of FSB, next to Vladimir Putin and Sergey Shoigu, minister of defence. Russian defence chiefs are demanding new laws allowing them to shoot down passenger planes 'This will also prevent attacks involving the hijacking of aircraft,' stated the report. The new rules would aim to prevent a situation equivalent to the al-Qaeda attacks on the World Trade Towers in September 2001, it is believed. The move will be seen as controversial since the West has blamed the Russian military machine for the shooting down over rebel-held eastern Ukraine of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 killing 298 people with a BUK missile in 2014. Earlier the USSR downed South Korean flight 007 in 1983 with the loss of 269 lives. The Russian defence ministry says that current rules are ambiguous and need clarifying. Aleksandr Bortnikov, director of FSB, (right) next to Vladimir Putin. New rules proposed by the Defence Ministry and awaiting Kremlin approval would give explicit permission to the Russian air force to shoot down civilian aircraft suspected of intending a deliberate crash Counter terrorism laws permit the downing of aircraft that fails to obey orders to land or change route. But another decree forbids or restricts the shooting down of aircraft with passengers on board. The latter was a response to the 1983 incident which brought international opprobrium on the Soviet Union since the plane was not engaged in spying but had made a navigation error to fly over the USSR's territory. 'The new document should eliminate these contradictions,' said military expert Vladislav Shurygin. The new draft decree meets international standards on such threats, say the Russians. Safeguards are built-in to ensure warnings - radio and visual - to the aircraft, and a system for correcting its route and providing for emergency landings, said Izvestia, citing the draft decree. The West has blamed the Russian military machine for the shooting down over rebel-held eastern Ukraine of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 killing 298 people with a BUK missile in 2014 (pictured) Shooting at the plane would be a last resort. 'The offender will be visually and radio-warned that they will open fire due to insubordination,' stated the report. 'Before the attack itself, planes and helicopters with small arms and artillery weapons will be the last to declare the seriousness of their intentions - they will open warning fire. 'If the offending aircraft does not respond to this, it will be shot down. 'If necessary, the Armed Forces are allowed to use anti-aircraft missile, rocket-artillery and artillery weapons.' Shooting to kill is inly permitted if - after due warnings - 'there is a real danger of massive loss of life, the onset of an environmental catastrophe or an air attack on strategic targets'. If there is no such danger, the aircraft must not be brought down. Debris of the Boeing 777, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which crashed during flying over the eastern Ukraine region near Donetsk, Ukraine, 17 July 2014 Many Western aircraft daily overfly Russia on routings between Europe and the Far East. At the start of the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 there were fears a hijacked plane posed a threat to the opening ceremony hosted by Vladimir Putin. A 'drunk' Ukrainian man who claimed he had a bomb demanded a Turkey-bound plane should fly to Sochi. The pilot tricked the man into believing he was following his wishes but instead landed the plane in Istanbul. Putin revealed last year that he had authorised the aircraft with 110 on board to be shot down if it posed a threat to the opening ceremony. He was informed about the situation by his FSB chief Alesander Bortnikov. 'I asked: "what are you suggesting?" and the answer was the one I expected: shoot it down in line with the contingency plans for such situations,' said Putin. 'I said: "act according to the plan."' Advertisement Protesting Greek school teachers have clashed with police in central Athens during a demonstration against government plans for hiring new teachers. Riot police fired teargas to stop protesters from forcing their way past a cordon outside parliament, and later when demonstrators tried to push away a barrier near Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' office. Teachers' unions are angry at the selection process under which the government - which faces elections this year - has promised to hire 15,000 new state school teachers in the coming three years. When the march stopped outside parliament, some demonstrators removed and damaged a wreath that had earlier been laid at the Unknown Soldier's monument by visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Greek riot police fired teargas on demonstrating teachers. Protesting teachers had gathered in Athens to demonstrate against government plans for hiring new teachers Protesters were seen pushing against a Greek riot police bus in protest to the planned reforms. The Greek Syriza government faces elections later this year School teachers scuffled with riot police during the protest in front of the Greek parliament building in Athens on Friday. The Syriza government has promised to hire 15,000 new state school teachers in the coming three years Fires were lit by protesters in the Greek capital outside the Greek parliament as they held banners and shouted slogans. Two suitcases appear to have been set on fire in a political stunt Riot police, complete with gas masks and body shields, were seen protecting the Greek parliament building during the protest. One protester bangs a drum in front of the building Protesters were dressed in ski goggles, helmets and dust masks as they confronted Greek riot police while waving red flags. Large crowds gathered to protest in the Greek capital on Friday over proposed changes to public sector hiring One protester, holding a red flag, is surrounded by tear gas smoke. Riot police fired tear gas to stop protesters from forcing their way past a cordon outside parliament, and again when demonstrators tried to push away a barrier near Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' office One woman suffered an injury during the demonstration. Teachers' unions are angry at the selection process under which the government - which faces elections this year - has promised to hire 15,000 new state school teachers in the coming three years Demonstrators march towards parliament with banners while one protester bangs a drum to lead the march. Protesting Greek school teachers have clashed with police in central Athens during a demonstration against government plans to hire new teachers Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that if he runs for president, he'll pay for it himself, defending candidates who use personal riches to bankroll campaigns. Bloomberg's comments to reporters in Texas on Friday follow a jab from another top 2020 contender. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren recently decried the Democratic presidential nomination becoming 'one more plaything that billionaires can buy.' Forbes estimates Bloomberg's current worth at $45.2 billion; it most recently calculated that Donald Trump is worth $1.68 billion. But Bloomberg says his riches insulate him from having to curry favor with special interests. 'I ran three times. I used only my own money so I didn't have to ask anybody what they wanted in return for a contribution,' Bloomberg said. 'And, if I ran again, I would do the same thing. I think not having to adjust what you say and what you work on based on who financed your campaign is one of the things that the public really likes.' Decision time: Michael Bloomberg says he will announce if he will run or not by next month. If he enters the field he would dwarf Trump as the richest-ever presidential contender - at a time when the Democratic party whose nomination he is seeking is turning against the richest He added: 'I understand not everybody can be self-funded but those that can, I think, should.' Bloomberg was in Austin to announce that the city had won funding to help combat climate change from his philanthropic foundation. He told reporters he won't make a decision on a possible presidential bid for 'another month or so.' Warren has already formed a presidential exploratory committee and generated excitement with a visit to Iowa last week. She asked recently: 'Is this going to be a Democratic primary that truly is a grassroots movement that is funded by the grassroots and it's done with grassroots volunteers, or is this going to be something that's one more plaything that billionaires can buy?' Warren said on MSNBC's 'Rachel Maddow Show' that Democrats should 'link arms' and take grassroots funding. 'No to the billionaires,' she said. Bloomberg didn't mention Warren by name on Friday, but shortly after his comments, spokeswoman Paige Hill said, 'Mike has met Warren and was impressed by her.' She also offered a statement from Bloomberg senior adviser Howard Wolfson that said 'Mike is somebody who did not grow up with privilege. He made all of his money on his own.' A union that represents thousands of U.S. air traffic controllers filed a lawsuit against the federal government on Friday claiming its failure to pay the workers during an ongoing partial government shutdown could endanger the safety of passengers. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that depriving workers of pay violates their constitutional rights and a federal wage law in a lawsuit in federal court in Washington D.C. 'America wants its air traffic controllers to be laser-focused on landing planes safely and monitoring America's runways, not distracted by financial issues and anxiety of financial instability,' the union said in the lawsuit. The lawsuit is at least the third filed by a union on behalf of federal employees who have not been paid during the shutdown, which began Dec. 22. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that depriving workers of pay violates their constitutional rights and a federal wage law in a lawsuit in federal court in Washington D.C. Protest: Air traffic control union members were among those who demonstrated on Capitol Hill Thursday over going without pay during the shutdown All on the wall: Trump is refusing to sign any bill to fund the government unless it gives him $5.7 billion for his wall The suit came as federal workers received pay stubs Friday with nothing but zeroes on them as the effects of the government shutdown hit home, deepening anxieties about mortgage payments and unpaid bills. All told, an estimated 800,000 government employees missed their paychecks for first time since the shutdown began three weeks ago. Fuming employees posted pictures of the $0 pay stubs on Twitter and vented their frustration as the standoff entered its 21st day. This weekend, it will become the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Some Democratic lawmakers seized on the empty pay stubs as a way to renew criticism of President Donald Trump, who triggered the shutdown over his demands for funding for a border wall. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia tweeted: 'It should be payday for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. But thanks to Trump, many are actually getting pay stubs like this. He's treating them like the countless contractors he stiffed throughout his business career.' Roughly 420,000 federal employees were deemed essential and are working unpaid. An additional 380,000 are staying home without pay. While furloughed federal workers have been given back pay in previous shutdowns, there is no guarantee that will happen this time. The head of the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting Trump, warned employees that financial stress can lead to depression and anxiety. 'Keep an eye out for warning signs of trouble,' Director R.D. 'Tex' Alles wrote in a memo seen by Reuters. Vice President Mike Pence said Trump will sign legislation passed in Congress that will provide back pay to federal workers once the government reopens. 'Your families will get your paychecks,' he told U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the agency's Washington headquarters. Separately, Senator Rob Portman and eight other Republican senators introduced legislation that would permanently outlaw the closing of government operations during budget fights, underscoring the growing frustration in Washington. During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged that Mexico would pay for the wall, which he says is needed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. But the Mexican government has refused and Trump is now demanding that Congress provide $5.7 billion in U.S. taxpayer funding for the wall. Democrats in Congress call the wall an ineffective, outdated answer to a complex problem. Canadian police will now be able to demand breath samples from anywhere, including restaurants, bars and even at home, under a new law. Due to changes to Section 253 of the Criminal Code of Canada, that went into effect in December, police will be able to make people take breathalyzer tests up to two hours after someone has been driving, reported Global News. Officers say it helps them to stop drunk drivers, but citizens argue it removes 'reasonable suspicion' and leaves it up to the accused to prove their innocence. Canadian police will now be able to demand breath samples from anywhere, including restaurants, bars and even at home, under a new law (file image) Art, a 70-year-old resident of Streetsville, Mississauga, in Ontario, told Global News he fell subject to the new law when he was returning bottles to a beer store. According to Art, he visited The Beer Store - a local chain - around noon on Saturday to return 10 wine bottles and three dozen beer bottles, all of which he says his family drank over the holiday season. Less than 10 minutes later, as he was driving home, he was stopped by a police officer. '[The officer] said: 'I saw you at the Beer Store and to me you were taking back, what looked like in my opinion, an excessive amount of bottles",' Art told the news station. The officer demanded Art take a breathalyzer test on the spot. If he didn't, he would have his license suspended, be arrested and face criminal charges. Art told Global News that he took the test and, once the results showed he wasn't driving drunk, he was free to go. 'I felt like I was violated in a way,' he said. 'They shouldn't have that right to pull a person over unless there is a good sign the person is doing something wrong.' Michael Engel, a DUI defense attorney based in Toronto, says the new law is a violation of civil liberties and allows for baseless searches. 'This is a radical departure from previous law, which insulated people against warrantless searches without probable cause,' he told The Canadian Press. Engel said he is also concerned about people potentially abusing the law by calling up police and making false accusations against others as well as the potential backlog in the courts. 'It's a brave new world,' he said. 'This is a wholesale change to the criminal code.' Minister of Justice and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould told The Canadian Press she has 'every expectation' the new law will be challenged in court, but believes it is constitutional. 'Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada,' she said back in December. 'I believe these reforms will result in fewer road deaths and fewer Canadian families devastated by the effects of an impaired driver. 'This is one of the most significant changes to the laws related to impaired driving in more than 40 years and is another way that we are modernizing the criminal justice system.' A serial arsonist who has targeted cars just yards from a primary school, houses and a mosque is being hunted by police after a spate of seemingly random attacks. The man was caught on CCTV dousing a car in Tower Hamlets, East London with an accelerant before igniting it with a lighter and leaving the black vehicle in a fireball on Friday. A similar attack took place in Duckett Street in the same borough days earlier, with a similar result. Residents in nearby streets within a 500-yard radius have reported similar incidents in the past few days, with up to six attacks reported since the turn of the year. Father-of-four Muazzam Hussain, 48, described a 'horrible' attack outside his home to the Evening Standard. He said: 'We thought the whole building was burning. We were lucky no one was killed but it has happened twice now. The hooded arsonist pours flammable liquid over a vehicle before he sets it ablaze Car burst into flames before the arsonist fled the scene as police hunt him and residents worry 'I can't get to sleep thinking of what might happen next. There are so many cameras around but he doesn't care. He needs to be stopped.' Police said they were 'keeping an open mind to possible links' amid speculation that the incidents could be both connected and crime gang related. One theory is that the cars were used in crimes and the arsonist is destroying any possible forensic evidence. A second vehicle also burst into flames after being doused in a flammable liquid The burned out skeleton of one car, a Ford Focus, is still lying on the street where it was destroyed, three days after the attack. A council spokesman told the Evening Standard the attacks were 'concerning' and added: 'We are removing these vehicles from the streets as soon as we can.' Andrew Wood, leader of the Conservatives on Tower Hamlets council added that he is 'very worried' this could spread. Porn users will have to prove their age before they can access images online from April under a new law. Websites which harbour content which is more than one-third pornographic will be obliged to verify the age of UK visitors under the new law. The regulations had previously been delayed as the government needed to iron out underlying issues with the new proposed regulations. The new law is expected to implement age verification checks for anyone wishing to access porn in the UK from April. Websites which harbour content which is more than one-third pornographic will be obliged to verify the age of UK visitors One of the suggested methods to verify the age of viewers would require those trying to access porn to input bank card details to all pornographic websites they visit. Its purpose is to protect children online however some academics have pointed out that the measure may not be effective in preventing minors from accessing porn. The law has also prompted fears over surveillance, cyber security, and blackmail. It has also been suggested that the law could put government ministers and other high-profile figures at risk of blackmail if their embarrassing habits were observed by hackers. Back in November Culture Minister Margot James said she hoped legislation would be in Parliament before the end of the year (2018) but that websites would need time to 'get up to speed' after. She told the Science and Technology Committee's inquiry on November 13, that the impact of social media had taken longer than hoped but 'we have got it right'. Under the current scheme adult websites will have to provide their own verification software, which will then have to meet standards and checks carried out by the British Board of Film Classification. Margot James (pictured in the commons today) said she hoped legislation would be in Parliament before the end of the year but that websites would need time to 'get up to speed' after Ms James said: 'We can expect it to be in force by Easter of next year and I make that timetable through the knowledge we have laid the necessary secondary legislation before parliament. 'I am hopeful of getting a slot to debate it before the end of the year. We have always said that we will permit the industry three months of getting up to speed with the practicalities and delivering the age verification that they will be required by law to deliver. 'We have also had to establish with the British Board for Film Classification, which has become the regulator, and they have had to consult on the methods of age verification. 'So it has taken longer than I would have liked but I would balance by a confidence that we have got it right.' Under the current scheme adult websites will have to provide their own verification software, which will then have to meet standards and checks carried out by the British Board of Film Classification (file image posed by models) Ms James also said a deadline to speed up the removal of harmful content on social media is among the legislative measures being considered by the government in a bid to protect young people. It compels social networking sites to remove illegal content within 24 hours of it being reported, or face fines. When asked by Labour MP Liz Kendall whether the government was considering such a move, Ms James responded: 'Yes, I mean that would be one of the aspects of what may require new law as opposed to the many non-legislative measures that we're still developing.' The minister warned there are some grey areas of what is deemed illegal content and what is not, which it is expected to be addressed in a white paper this winter. Abdurahman Kaabar, pictured, admitted sending 500 to his younger brother when he was fighting in Syria but said he believed it was for a nose job A dental student who amassed and disseminated a 'breathtaking' amount of terrorist-related material has been jailed for eight years. Abdurahman Kaabar, 23, a former student at Plymouth University, also agreed to send 500 to his brother with the help of a friend, Badroddin Kazkaz, in 2016. His brother Mohammed Kaabar was fighting for Jihadists in Syria, Sheffield Crown Court heard. The defendant had told the jury last year that the cash was for medical treatments, including a nose job. Jailing Kaabar on Friday, Judge Paul Watson QC said: 'It was clear that you had wed yourself to a corrupt and corrosive ideology of Islamic extremism. 'The volume of material which you downloaded and kept in your possession was frankly breathtaking and the content of which was horrific.' The judge said he was confident the material distributed by Kaabar was 'intended to encourage others to engage in terrorist activities'. He said one of those in contact with the defendant was Mohammed Awan, another dentistry student whom he jailed for 10 years in 2017 for preparing acts of terrorism. Judge Watson said Kaabar had been found with documents which gave instructions for knife attacks, bomb making, kidnapping and use of poisons, as well one which glorified the Orlando nightclub attack in June 2016, which left 49 people dead. Kabaar, of Martin Street, Upperthorpe, Sheffield, pleaded guilty last year to 15 offences relating to disseminating or possessing material likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing a terrorist attack. Abdurahman Kaabar (left) and Badroddin Kazkaz who have been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court for eight and four years respectively for terrorism related offences He was also found guilty by jury of two counts of terrorist fundraising relating to cash sent to his younger brother in Syria. Mohammed Kaabar had travelled to Syria via Turkey in 2016, reportedly to join the terror group Jabhat al Fateh al Sham - previously known as al-Nusra - who were fighting against government forces. The judge it was not fully clear which group Kaabar's brother was fighting with, but it did not matter; the cash sent abroad was nonetheless to be used 'for a terrorist purpose'. Abdurahman has said he believed Mohammed, pictured, only needed the money for his nose operation because he already had all the 'equipment' he needed from the group he was with in Syria Another defendant - Badroddin Kazkaz, 23, of Cross Myrtle Road, Heeley, Sheffield - pleaded guilty to a similar terrorism funding offence. He was jailed for four years on Friday. Judge Watson said Mohammed Kaabar, who travelled to Syria in 2016, was 'engaged in violent Jihadi activity'. Judge Watson told Kazkaz: 'I'm not sentencing you for the views that you had or even may continue to have. 'The privilege that you enjoy of living in a democratic society, based on democratically passed laws and conventions, is to hold such views.' But he said that privilege ended when someone engaged in acts supportive of terrorism 'designed to undermine those very privileges'. Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Snowden, head of counter-terrorism policing North East, said: 'Kaabar had a radical mindset and an active interest in extremism. He was not only in possession of terrorist material, he was also sharing it and encouraging others to carry out terrorist activity. 'Kabaar and Kazkaz both transferred money to Kabaar's brother, believed to be fighting in Syria. It is highly likely that they would have at least suspected that the money would be used to further the cause of terrorist groups and potentially fund terrorist activity. 'Showing support and providing funds to these types of groups allows terrorism to survive.' Following the guilty verdict, Deb Walsh of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'The prosecution was able to show that Abdurahman Kaabar and Badroddin Kazkaz believed in establishing an Islamic state through the use of violence which they were prepared to fund. 'Kaabar also admitted to having and sharing a number of violent publications. 'He clearly holds an extremist world-view and was prepared to play an active role in terrorism. He must now face the consequences.' Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, Head of Investigations at Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said at the time: 'Kaabar had a radical mindset and an active interest in extremism. 'He was not only in possession of terrorist material, he was also sharing it and encouraging others to carry out terrorist activity. Mohammed, pictured, asked his brother to ask their father, but his reply said: 'You have to prepare yourself that you may not be able to eat some days. That is the life you have chosen' 'Kaabar and Kazkaz both transferred money to Kaabar's brother, believed to be fighting in Syria. 'It is highly likely that they would have at least suspected that the money would be used to further the cause of terrorist groups and potentially fund terrorist activity. 'Showing support and providing funds to these types of groups allows terrorism to survive.' Sheffield Crown Court also heard during the trial that Mohammed Kaabar posted footage of a battle in which he had been involved on Snapchat in August 2016. It showed him coming under fire in a car, footage of explosions and burning buildings and footage of him launching an attack and was described as 'looking like no man's land'. But Abdurahman encouraged him: 'You are there now, its calm. Gotta ride it till da' end. No coming back. Walk the walk.' Mohammed first pleaded for money in October 2016, adding: 'Please be hasty. Winter is coming soon. I need some equipment.' His brother replied, 'understood. I'll do my best', and eventually managed to pass Badroddin Kazkaz 500 in cash in a Tesco car park, which was then apparently transferred using Western Union. The following June he asked for more money, saying: 'I need to buy some gear. Have nasal operation and cover living expenses.' Mohammed asked his brother to ask their father, but his reply said: 'He said you have to adapt to the environment. You are in the motherland of war. 'People die of hunger and thirst. You have to prepare yourself that you may not be able to eat some days. That is the life you have chosen.' He also said: 'This ain't a holiday.' Abdurahman told Mohammed that he could only 'do' 100 to 150 but Mohammed pleaded that he needed money urgently and wanted around 500 'to keep me going for the next couple of months', adding: 'Winter coming soon. Try to convince dad/mum. The route is secure just like the last time nothing to worry about.' Unfamiliar to just about everybody will be when the orchestra performs the Maryland premiere of Argentine composer Eduardo Alonso-Crespo's Concerto for Viola and Strings. This piece was brought to the attention of Mutchnik by violist Julius Wirth, who will be the featured soloist at the concert. Daniel Kaye, 30, of Egham, Surrey, was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday to a total of 32 months in prison A British hacker who masterminded a cyber attack on a Liberian telecoms firm has been jailed for nearly three years. Daniel Kaye, 30, of Egham, Surrey, was paid 30,000 US dollars by a rival company to disrupt the systems of mobile phone company Lonestar between October 2016 and February 2017. He created a botnet called Mirai 14 whose purpose was to trigger a distributed denial of service (DDoS) assault on the business's computer network, causing it to spend 600,000 US dollars (467,000) in remedial action. Kaye pleaded guilty to two offences under the Computer Misuse Act and to one charge of possessing criminal property and was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday to a total of 32 months in prison. The court heard how the virus turned thousands of internet-connected devices into 'zombies' that overwhelmed Lonestar's network and costed it tens of millions of US dollars. Kaye was extradited back to Britain in August 2017 under a European Arrest Warrant following an investigation involving the National Crime Agency's (NCA) German counterpart, the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA). Sentencing, Judge Alexander Hugh Milne QC said Kaye had pursued a 'large scale unlawful' attack on Lonestar's computer systems. 'You were paid by a rival company to disrupt and undermine the legitimate business of Lonestar,' he said. He said that Kaye's actions were a 'cynical and financially-driven attack upon a legitimate business enterprise'. Kaye, who was supported in court by his girlfriend, could be seen weeping as the sentence was delivered. Kaye (ictured in July 28, 2017 during a hearing in Cologne) was earlier convicted in Germany of attempted computer sabotage and given a one-year and eight months sentence, suspended for three years. The hacker had initiated controlled attacks on internet routers that knocked out the internet connections of Deutsche Telekom customers Prosecutor Robin Sellers told the court how Kaye made a rolling arrangement with a third party who worked for the company Cellcom under which he was paid 30,000 US dollars (23,000) between late 2016 and early 2017. The self-taught hacker adapted an existing virus to create a botnet variant called Mirai 14 whose purpose was to trigger DDoS assaults on internet networks. The court heard that the DDoS attack involved the Mirai code searching out devices that connected to the internet to turn them into 'zombies'. 'Hundreds of thousands of internet-ready devices are in effect taken away from their usual use,' Mr Sellers added. The devices became a 'conduit for the attack upon the Lonestar servers' with the effect of 'overwhelming it with the sheer number of connections'. Mr Sellers said Lonestar's servers collapsed and 'couldn't operate properly'. The court heard that the company estimated its revenue dipped from 84 million US dollars (65.3 million) to 17 million US dollars (13.2 million) between October 2016 and February 2017. Kaye was arrested at Heathrow in February 2017 under a European Police Warrant in relation to interference with the systems of Deutsche Telekom. He was found to be carrying 10,000 US dollars (7,800) in cash, which Mr Sellers said he had been paid for his work against Lonestar. A mobile phone was also seized which contained a 'Mirai monitor' that showed Kaye's code connecting to hundreds of thousands of devices. Kaye was convicted in Germany of attempted computer sabotage and given a one-year and eight months sentence, suspended for three years. The hacker had initiated controlled attacks on internet routers that knocked out the internet connections of Deutsche Telekom customers. It also affected the Cologne water treatment facility and other telephony systems. Mitigating, Jonathan Green said the impact of Kaye's cyber attacks had been greater in Germany than in Liberia. 'Nobody died, nobody's life was imperilled, at worst Lonestar customers suffered slow internet speeds,' he said. He rejected Lonestar's estimates of its losses which he claimed were were 'unsupported by any evidence'. Mr Green argued that Kaye was an 'intelligent' young man who had received interest from 'illustrious businesses' and could be a 'valuable' support to the internet technology industry. 'All the best gamekeepers were at one time poachers,' he said. Addressing Kaye, Judge Milne QC said: 'You are an intelligent, talented and skilful young man capable of understanding what your powers can do. 'It makes it even more worrying that you used your abilities for the purposes of this cyber attack.' Kaye's attacks in Germany also affected the Cologne water treatment facility and other telephony systems. He is pictured here during a hearing in Cologne, Germany in July, 2017 Mike Hulett, Head of Operations at the National Crime Agency's National Cyber Crime Unit helped lead the investigation into Kaye. He said after his conviction: 'Daniel Kaye was operating as a highly skilled and capable hacker-for-hire. 'His activities inflicted substantial damage on numerous businesses in countries around the world, demonstrating the borderless nature of cyber crime. 'The victims in this instance suffered losses of tens of millions of dollars and had to spend a large amount on mitigating action. 'Working in collaboration with international law enforcement partners played a key role in bringing Daniel Kaye to justice.' Russell Tyner, from the crown prosecution service, said: 'Kaye was a talented and sophisticated cyber criminal who created one of the world's largest networks of compromised computers which he then made available to other cyber criminals with no consideration as to the damage it would cause. 'The CPS and the NCA together with the authorities in Germany and Cyprus worked closely together in order to bring him to justice.' Kaye was sentenced to 32 months for unauthorised acts in relation to a computer under the Computer Misuse Act. He also received 12 months for a charge of making an article for use in the commission of an offence under the same act, and 12 months for possessing criminal property. The judge ruled that the sentences would be served concurrently. Kaye had previously been charged with blackmail and other offences under the Computer Misuse Act in relation to cyber attacks on the Lloyds Banking Group in the UK, but these were dropped by the prosecution. A wealthy sheikh has won a bitter High Court battle over claims he agreed to pay 35 million to be introduced to his Bollywood 'idols'. Egyptian businessman Ahmed Adel Abdallah Ahmed claimed Sheikh Hamad Isa Ali Al Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family and a distant cousin of the King of Bahrain, exclusively hired him to arrange meetings with 26 Indian film stars. It was said to have included A-listers such as Slumdog Millionaire star Anil Kapoor and former Miss World and Bride and Prejudice star Aishwarya Rai. Ahmed Adel Abdallah Ahmed claimed Sheikh Hamad Isa Ali Al Khalifa (pictured), a member of the Bahraini royal family and a distant cousin of the King of Bahrain, exclusively hired him to arrange meetings with 26 Indian film stars Bunty Walla, Sanjay Dutt, Deepika Padukone and Karishma Kapoor were also reportedly on the wish list. Mr Ahmed argued that they had reached a legally binding agreement in a January 2016 phone call, but Sheikh Hamad denied that any agreement had been reached and said he thought he had a 'genuine bond of friendship' with Mr Ahmed. Giving his judgment in London on Friday, Mr Justice Jacobs dismissed the claim, finding that there were 'simply too many inconsistencies...and improbabilities for the case advanced by Mr Ahmed to be accepted'. The judge said: 'I reject Mr Ahmed's account of the phone conversation on 7 January 2016, and I reject his case that there was any agreement on the terms alleged.' In a statement after the ruling, Sheikh Hamad said: 'I am very pleased with today's judgment. 'It was with a heavy heart that I was forced to defend myself against this claim, since I had considered Mr Ahmed to be a friend whom I trusted, and had always treated him with generosity and kindness. 'Nonetheless, I have never wavered in my belief that the claim was completely unfounded and I am glad that the court has found in my favour and dismissed the claim in its entirety.' The business man claimed the sheikh had drawn up a 26-man list of celebrities he was desperate to meet, including former Miss World Aishwarya Rai At a hearing in November, Mr Ahmed's lawyers said Sheikh Hamad had a 'lifelong passionate interest' in Bollywood and an 'unbridled desire' to meet its stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh and Aishwarya Rai. His barrister Stephen Nathan QC said access to such stars is 'not easily achieved', but that Mr Ahmed and his company CBSC Events & Exhibition and Conference Organisers were able to deliver it 'at a price'. Mr Nathan said photographs of the encounters showed the sheikh 'happy and relaxed' with a star, giving out 'expensive presents' he had bought from Harrods. But, he told the court, 'despite the superficial appearance of good-natured social interaction, these were artificial events that had to be stage-managed and paid for'. Mr Nathan added: 'The claimants had the entrepreneurial ability and contacts to put together a service specially tailored to the defendant's requirements, both as to the stars of Bollywood whom he wanted to meet, and the kind of private encounters that he wanted to have. 'That service replicated ... a casual social gathering in the company of individual Bollywood stars, away from the crowds and in the intimacy of a private suite in a luxury hotel. 'But it was not the real thing and it was not the product of spontaneous friendship - it was a service being provided to him by a businessman for money.' Slumdog Millionaire star Anil Kapoor was also claimed to have been scheduled for a 15-minute one-on-one meeting with the royal Mr Ahmed claimed that, during a phone conversation when Sheikh Hamad was in London in January 2016, they made an 'oral agreement' that he would be paid more than 1 million for each meeting, plus a bonus of more than 350,000 after every third meeting. But Sheikh Hamad contended that the alleged arrangement was 'entirely fictitious', with his lawyers submitting that the idea he had entered into an 'exclusive agreement' with Mr Ahmed was 'absurd, verging on the grotesque'. Andrew Hochhauser QC said: 'Sheikh Hamad regarded Mr Ahmed as one of his friends and someone who was helping him make his dreams come true. 'Sheikh Hamad was, therefore, happy to express his gratitude to Mr Ahmed by giving him large sums of money. 'Whilst Mr Ahmed no doubt continued arranging meetings for Sheikh Hamad in the hope and expectation that Sheikh Hamad would continue to give him very large sums of money (in return for doing very little), there was plainly never any legal obligation on the sheikh to do so.' The barrister submitted that the 'warm and affectionate tone' of text messages between the two men suggests Mr Ahmed also regarded the relationship as a friendship. He added: 'If those feelings of friendship were not reciprocated by Mr Ahmed, then it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Mr Ahmed was simply stringing Sheikh Hamad along.' Mr Hochhauser described Mr Ahmed's claim as 'an unjustified attempt...to exploit the vulnerability and extreme generosity of the defendant by seeking to characterise a relationship of trust and friendship as a cold, commercial relationship between two businessmen'. Teachers in England miss more than 50,000 days a week due to illness, which education unions say supply agencies exploit to 'cream' money away from schools. The National Education Union (NEU) called on the Government to do more to stop supply agencies charging large fees to schools already struggling financially. The Department for Education (DfE) estimates this costs schools up to 75 million a year nationally. The National Education Union called on the Government to do more to stop supply agencies charging large fees to schools In the last academic year, schools lost more than two million days to teacher sickness, according to the latest DfE figures. This equates to 51,000 days a week over the school year. If schools covered every sick day with a supply teacher, on the average daily rate of 124 they would be paying almost 250 million year. And this does not include the 'substantial' and undisclosed fees which agencies charge schools. The National Union of Teachers claimed some agencies charged up to 100 per day. Andrew Morris, assistant general secretary of the NEU, said: 'Supply agencies cream off millions of pounds every year from schools, charging them substantial fees while paying supply teachers appallingly. The National Union of Teachers claimed some agencies charged up to 100 per day 'The DfE is actively supporting agencies when it could be adopting a Northern Ireland model, where a Government-backed scheme puts schools and supply teachers in direct contact, saving schools money and paying teachers more.' According to an NEU survey, 81% of supply teachers now get work through agencies nationally, as opposed to 50% in 2010. Supply teachers are also asked to fill temporary positions at schools, for a contract period of between one and three terms. In 2017-18, 12% of schools were reporting a staff vacancy, and there were 3,046 posts filled temporarily. However, if a school wants to make a temporary teacher permanent, they will have to pay a finder's fee to the agency. Last summer, Education Secretary Damian Hinds launched a website to link schools directly with supply teachers. He said: 'Every pound that's spent on excessive agency fees, or on advertising jobs, is a pound that I want to help schools spend on what really matters.' Schools are also using Airbnb-style apps to dodge expensive agency add-ons. Slava Kremerman, co-founder of supply teacher app Zen Educate, said: 'When I speak to head teachers, they tell me about the long mornings spent on the phone trying to find teacher cover, only to be slapped with massive fees at the end of the day.' He said apps and websites mean 'less time spent on the phone and more money to spend on books, sport equipment and computers'. A DfE spokeswoman said: 'We have launched a national deal to support schools with getting value for money when hiring agency supply teachers and other temporary staff. 'The deal includes a list of preferred suppliers who are open about the rates they charge, and also help schools to avoid finder's fees.' Dr Gareth Byrne (pictured above) mauled one victim and headbutted another three times A junior doctor who gatecrashed a party while 'ten out of ten drunk', attacked two guests and then fought with two policewomen has been allowed to keep his NHS job. Dr Gareth Byrne mauled one victim and headbutted another three times after consuming two bottles of red wine and gatecrashing a party. Despite his behaviour the 25-year-old escaped with a four month suspension after it emerged he had engaged in therapeutic sessions to address his behaviour, which included painting. During the party at the house in Staffordshire, Byrne, who had 'purple stained lips' and slurred speech bragged that he was a doctor and asked other party goers 'don't you know who I am?', as he was pinned to the ground by other revelers who were trying to quell his behaviour. He also fought with two policewomen who had been called to the scene including one who he called a f****** s***, before punching her in the face and kicking her in the back. The policewoman's engagement ring was subsequently damaged in the scuffle, casing 525 of damage. Byrne, a Foundation Year One doctor at Royal Stoke Hospital later said he was 'paralytic' and 'ten out of ten drunk' but claimed he was one of a 'large number of junior doctors who are suffering on a daily basis' and claimed he had endured a 'particular stressful week.' In June last year, he pleaded guilty to two offences of assault by beating and two offences of assaulting a police officer and was fined 1,686 and ordered to pay compensation of 600. On Friday 11 January, Byrne whose girlfriend is also a junior doctor, faced a disciplinary hearing at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester where he was found guilty of misconduct. He escaped with a four month suspension after it emerged he had undertaken ten therapeutic sessions with a psychologist to address his behaviour. He had also given lectures to medical students about standards of behaviour expected of a doctor. Byrne is a in his first year as a foundation doctor at Royal Stoke Hospital, pictured Panel chairman Richard Tutt said striking Dr Byrne off the medical register was 'not in the public interest' and added: 'No significant injury was caused to any of the victims and none of them required medical treatment. 'Dr Byrne was extremely remorseful when interviewed by the police and he has no previous or subsequent disciplinary matters recorded against him. He has reflected deeply on his actions and has sought to develop appropriate and effective coping mechanisms. 'He is more open about his feelings and difficulties he may be facing. He exercises and paints and has improved his work-life balance and is keen to continue with psychotherapy. The Tribunal was impressed by the continued support Dr Byrne enjoys from his senior colleagues, his peers, nursing staff and from his partner and friends. The panel chairman said that Byrne had been 'very remorseful' when he had been interviewed by police 'He had found relevant teaching work and had taught students a session on professionalism and standards of behaviour expected from doctors. The Tribunal was satisfied that the likelihood of Dr Byrne reoffending is low. This period of suspension will have a deterrent effect and will send out a signal to Dr Byrne, the profession and public about what is regarded as behaviour unbefitting a registered doctor.' The incident occurred on May 26 last year after Byrne and a colleague went to the Cherry Tree pub just half a mile from the hospital after his girlfriend went abroad for medical training. After leaving the pub he stumbled across his old house that he had lived in 18 months prior and went inside in a state of 'extreme' drunkenness. A guest tried to eject Byrne from the property but both fell to the floor and the medic ripped the victim's T-shirt and head-butted him three times to the bridge of his nose. He also tried to bite the guest on the arm and bragged about his job. Another guest intervened and took hold of Byrne's wrists but was bitten on his forearm. Byrne (left and right) tried to bite one guest in the arm and had bragged about his job Two policewomen attended and noted Byrne's words were 'very slurred, his eyes were glazed and lips appeared stained purple' and he struggled to get to his feet. He was handcuffed and escorted to a police vehicle but he was said to be struggling to hold his own body weight. At the police station, Byrne lunged towards one of the officers and punched her in the left cheek and called her a 'f****** s***.' He had to be pulled out of the vehicle during a struggle and he tried to bite one of the policewomen. He then used his knees to kick her twice to the back and continued to lash out with his legs and other officer had to be called to restrain him. What hours do junior doctors work? The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) protects the health and safety of doctors by restricting the number of hours an individual can work and imposing minimum rest requirements. For Junior doctors it means: Working hours have been reduced from an average of 56 per week to 48, calculated over a period of 26 weeks. Doctors are entitled to choose to work additional hours if they wish. A period of 11 hours continuous rest a day (or compensatory rest to be taken at another time if this is not achieved). A day off each week, or two days off in every fortnight (or compensatory rest) A 20 minute rest break every 6 hours (or compensatory rest) Under EWTD guidelines, a rest is: A minimum of 11 hours' continuous rest in every 24-hour period A minimum rest break of 20 continuous minutes after every six hours worked A minimum period of 24 hours' continuous rest in each seven-day period (or 48 hours in a 14-day period) A minimum of 28 days or 5.6 weeks' paid annual leave a maximum of eight hours' work in each 24 hours for night workers. Source: BMA Advertisement As he was being booked into police Byrne suddenly 'tensed up' and kicked out at officers and had to be taken to the floor and have his shoes removed. One custody officer shouted at Byrne that he should stop trying to bite him. In a statement one of the officers said: 'I am concerned that Byrne is in a position of responsibility and has some degree of involvement in the care of patients when his behaviour is such as he demonstrated tonight. I would expect someone in his position to behave in a respectable manner even under the influence of alcohol.' The other officer said: 'This incident has left me feeling much more fearful for my personal safety and shocked that someone in such a profession as Byrne should behave in that way. Due to him being of a larger stature than me, I felt intimidated. 'He is of a much larger build and height than myself. I am also very concerned that he has such a responsible role and contact with members of the public, given his erratic and unpredictable behaviour. His behaviour was completely unacceptable and an absolute disgrace to the profession.' Byrne said he had been to the pub with a colleague after a 'long week at work' and said after a meal he continued to drink in the bar area knocking back two bottles of wine. He said he had no recollection of events after he left the pub until he woke up in a police cell. Giving evidence he said: 'I do drink but not very often. That night was in excess of what I would normally drink. It had been a particularly difficult day due to some patients but I am really ashamed of my behaviour and I know it falls short of what is expected of me and I never thought to act that way. I have not been involved in drunken violence or violent situations before, I am not a violent man. 'I asked the magistrates court if I could speak to the victims so I could send them a letter, I just wanted them to know I was genuinely sorry. I am horrified that my actions could do that to someone. It terrifies me that I have ruined the one thing I have worked for and wanted more than anything else. 'On the night of the incident my colleague said they were struggling with large workloads, and without me being at work they will have more work to share around. I pride myself most in helping others when they are struggling. 'I'm very grateful that my colleagues are supporting me and believing in me despite the circumstances. I felt I had let them down and was not what they expected me to be. I had had two very unwell patients in that week and was working longer hours than I was used to. 'When I had a difficult patient at work, rather than discuss it I would go home and shut down and not acknowledge it. It would affect my mood for a few days. Now one of the strategies is to identify the problem and do restarting exercises which have been helpful for me. I do painting or squash to help clear my mind.' Byrne's lawyer Matthew McDonagh said: 'He has risked and jeopardise everything he has worked hard for in an isolated moment of madness. We do not know what triggered him to do this but it was in a situation of intoxication and out of character. 'It was a drunken and intoxicated exchange and he has gone as far as he can to ensure this doesn't happen again - this will make him a better doctor and a better man.' President Donald Trump kept up his rhetorical alarm about the southern border, calling it an 'invasion' following his trip to the southern border. Trump's pronouncement is about more than riling up his base: the administration also could be laying the rhetorical framework for an official declaration of a national emergency, which Trump says he might invoke. That could allow him to try to reprogram funds authorized by Congress for other purposes, if he fails to secure his $5.7 billion demand for funding a border wall through normal appropriations amid a standoff. 'I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion!' President Trump tweeted following his trip to the southern border 'Humanitarian Crisis at our Southern Border,' Trump proclaimed on Twitter Friday on the 21st day of a government shutdown. 'I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion!' he continued. Then he went after his Democratic negotiating partners, having abruptly ended a meeting with them and Republican leaders earlier this week. 'I have been there numerous times - The Democrats, Cryin Chuck and Nancy dont know how bad and dangerous it is for our ENTIRE COUNTRY...The Steel Barrier, or Wall, should have been built by previous administrations long ago.' Trump added: 'They never got it done - I will. Without it, our Country cannot be safe. Criminals, Gangs, Human Traffickers, Drugs & so much other big trouble can easily pour in. It can be stopped cold!' Trump claimed. Trump referenced an 'invasion' at the border Trump also wrote of 'criminals, gangs, human traffickers' and drugs to make his case Trump's claim of a humanitarian crisis at the border comes as total border apprehensions have dropped dramatically since 2000 Border apprehensions are now below their levels from the mid-1970s Trump went after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer on a day when no formal White House meetings were planned. Schumer accused Trump of holding a 'temper tantrum' during their Wednesday meeting, and the president went back to calling him 'Cryin' Chuck. Schumer in 2017 shed tears at a press conference where he surrounded himself with immigrants from Syria and noted his own middle name was Ellis, named for Ellis island. He teared up as he called Trump's immigration orders 'mean-spirited' and 'un-American.' Total border apprehensions have dropped dramatically from 18 years ago, according to Customs and Border Protection statistics. However, they spiked in 2018 compared to the year before. Still, they were under 40,000, compared to 220,000 in 2000. Trump's latest hot rhetoric on a crisis at the border comes after a report that son-in-law Jared Kushner does not favor invoking a national emergency. Trump charged Kushner with negotiating with Democrats to end the shutdown. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he tours the U.S. border with Mexico at the Rio Grande on the southern border, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in McAllen, Texas It also came hours after Trump flashed his softer side on Twitter by touting changes to a high-tech visa program that he said would bring more certainty and a 'potential path to citizenship.' The president said changes to the 'H1-b' program were coming 'soon.' 'H1-B holders in the United States can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship,' Trump tweeted. During his prime-time speech Tuesday, Trump invoked rapes and murders committed by illegal immigrants to make his case for a wall. The famed Joshua Tree National Park was forced to temporarily close its doors this week amid a spate of vandalism and sanitation issues that occurred in perpetuation of the government's now 21 day shutdown. For more than two weeks, dedicated volunteers and a drastically reduced staff-force worked around the clock to keep the park in pristine condition. But day 18 of the shutdown appeared to be breaking point as vandals tore down several of the park's revered Joshua trees. Images of broken branches and dilapidated tree stumps caused an outcry on social media. The Joshua Tree National Park in Death Valley, CA was forced to close its doors temporarily this week, after a concentration of vandalism and littering overran the capabilities of a diminished work force Images of the damaged and destroyed trees have caused an outcry on social media Illegal campers and unruly visitors also destroyed the park's floor by driving off of the designated paths to craft their own roadways - knocking over Joshua trees in the process. 'While the vast majority of those who visit Joshua Tree do so in a responsible manner, there have been incidents of new roads being created by motorists and the destruction of Joshua Trees in recent days,' said spokesman for the park, George Land. Land said the partial government shutdown has left the park's workforce with only eight rangers to cover the 800,000 acre park. Parks nationwide have struggled to deal with similar issues varying from incessant littering and overflowing public restrooms, to the rife vandalism of habitats. 'I've been at a national park for every one of these shutdowns, so I know that there's a possibility they're going to happen and we tried to prepare for them,' David Blacker, the Death Valley Natural History Association's executive director, said. 'We weren't quite prepared for one to last this long.' The park has just eight rangers to patrol the 1,200 mile stretch of the land. Graffiti has appeared throughout the park Illegal campers have also been damaging the park's floor by deviating from the designated roads and crafting their own paths in the delicate landscape Implications of the vandalism could last long after the governments closure, warned David Lamford, a director at the National Parks Conversations Association. Lamford believes the man-made destruction could have a catastrophic knock-on effect. 'The main story has been about poop, but I think there's a much bigger story,' he said to the Washington Post. 'The amount of time it takes to heal can be on the geological scale. 'It's an incredibly fragile landscape that takes generations and generations to grow, and generations and generations to heal. 'The resource impacts could be really dangerous. Were reeling, and were all just kind of hoping that the worst hasnt happened.' Volunteers haul a truck load of trash at the park on January 6 A group dubbed the 'Toilet Paper Angels' have been helping to clear up overflowing restrooms and re-supplying sanitary products across the park The Joshua Tree will remain partially open thanks to third-party donations. Much of the facilities will stay shut until the government reopens A small number of volunteers, dubbed the 'Toilet paper angels' have been working at the park, collecting garbage, cleaning bathrooms and restocking sanitary supplies. On Thursday, the park announced its own partial closure, saying that donations from a non-profit group and two hotels have allowed them to re-open their visitor center and some restrooms. The donations should allow the facilities to stay open through to the end of January, or early February, but much of the park will remain closed. William Bjorge, 58, and his wife Francesca Zonin, 56, had planned to camp in the park for two nights on a road trip from their home in Santa Cruz, California to Savannah, Georgia, but discovered the campsites had bee shut. 'Im hoping that these places that are affected really close down completely, because then it will really show everyone what damage this [shutdown] does,' he said. The park gets its name sake from the iconic Joshua trees found throughout its land. Experts warn the damage caused by the shutdown could be catastrophic Bjorge isn't alone in his opinion either. 'Our national parks deserve better than an improvised patchwork of emergency care,' said Diane Regas, CEO of the Trust for Public Lands, in a public letter to President Trump. 'They need robust funding and full-time protection, or they should be closed.' Last week, Trump announced the government shutdown could last months 'or even years' as he locks horns with Democrats over the funding of a wall to separate the US and Mexico. He had promised to perpetuate the closure until Congress acquiesces to his $5.8 billion demand. Though border crossings into the US have seen a sharp decline in the last few years, Trump stands firm that a concrete - or steel - wall is a necessity for stemming the perceived 'humanitarian and national security crisis' in the region. Democratic leaders in Congress have refused to approve funding for additional border fencing, saying that it is an ineffective way to secure the border. This is the shocking moment a bull flips a man into the air like a rag doll during a bullfighting festival after he turns and desperately tries to run away. The incident took place in the area of Necocli in the north-western Colombian department of Antioquia during a 'corraleja' - a bullfighting festival in the Caribbean region of the South American country. During a corraleja, the public is invited to engage the bulls in the ring and compared to a Spanish-style bullfight, the animals are not killed afterwards and the event is considered much less formal. The man was pictured running away from the charging animal while wearing a red shirt In the video footage, an unnamed man wearing a red shirt and black trousers is seen trying to get the bull's attention with a red and yellow-coloured 'muleta' in the crowded bullring. He succeeds and the large animal, reportedly weighing 400 kilogrammes (881 lbs) charges at him. The heavyset man moves out of the way in time, but the bull continues to give chase and he throws the muleta on the ground and sprints for his life. However, the bull hooks the stocky man and flips him high into the air twice while the audience gasps in shock. The festival took place in Necocli in the north-western Colombian department of Antioquia According to local media, the man was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. During the same event in the borough of Cienaga de Oro, an 18-year-old man also died after being gored by a bull which escaped from a bullpen, according to local media. Netizen 'Liiz Guerrero' commented: 'I love happy endings.' 'Sergio Rendon' added: 'Thousands of animals against one bull...' 'John Mario Herrera' wrote: 'Excellent, I hope it kills another 50 so they stop having fun at the expense of hurting an animal. Damn humanity!' Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd today refused three times to rule out quitting Cabinet if Theresa May tries to take the UK out of the EU without a deal. The close ally of Mrs May has even hinted she could have joined Remain rebels fighting no deal if she was still a backbench MP. Ms Rudd joins a group of ministers including Justice Secretary David Gauke and Business Secretary Greg Clark who are thought to be prepared to quit if the government tried to force no-deal. The suggestions came as Jeremy Hunt warned MPs that killing off Mrs May's Brexit deal could well mean no Brexit as ministers brace to be 'smashed' in a Commons showdown next week. The Foreign Secretary insisted the developments in Parliament over the past few days had shown it wants to block the UK from crashing out without an agreement. Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd (pictured today in London) refused three times to rule out quitting Cabinet if Theresa May tries to take the UK out of the EU without a deal The close ally of Mrs May (pictured in No 10 yesterday) has even hinted she could have joined Remain rebels fighting no deal if she was still a backbench MP The PM has been making increasingly desperate efforts to turn the tide of opinion on her plan - including reaching out to Labour MPs and union leaders. However, senior figures concede that defeat is looking inevitable, with estimates suggesting it could be the biggest ever. Ms Rudd said she was 'committed' to ensuring that the UK does not leave the EU without a withdrawal deal. During a BBC interview this morning, Ms Rudd three times declined to say whether she would remain a member of the Government if it opted for a no-deal Brexit. 'This is a strong and great country, we will find a way to succeed,' she said. 'But I do not think that no-deal would be good for this country and I'm committed to making sure we find an alternative.' Ex-Labour minister admits he might vote for May's deal to avoid no deal An ex Labour minister today admitted he was close to voting for Theresa May's Brexit deal to avoid a no deal. Jim Fitzpatrick made the disclosure in the Commons as MPs continued their lengthy debate on the Withdrawal Agreement. The Poplar and Limehouse MP said: 'I'm talking myself into supporting the Prime Minister's deal next Tuesday against no deal and against further delay. 'I'm not quite there yet but I'm not far away. 'It seems the House isn't yet there at all but at some point we need to recognise the danger of no deal is still there and the only real alternative on the table is the Prime Minister's deal.' Mrs May's deal is expected to be defeated on January 15, with the vote delayed from December in a bid to convince more MPs to offer their support. Advertisement Ms Rudd said it was 'right' for the Government to make preparations for a no-deal Brexit, comparing it to wearing seatbelt when driving a fast car. She added: 'I intend to work with colleagues to make sure we avoid it. I am committed to getting the best outcome for this country, which is supporting the Prime Minister's deal.' Pressed for a third time by interviewer Justin Webb on whether she would quit if Theresa May went for the no-deal option, Ms Rudd cut him short by saying: 'Thank you very much, Justin.' At a speech on benefits changes later, Ms Rudd tried to play down resignation talk -although again she stopped short of ruling it out. 'I am committed to making sure that we get the Withdrawal Agreement through next week,' she said. 'I have been in and out of Cabinet and I find you have more influence in Cabinet.' Asked last night by Sky News if she would be a Brexit rebel were she still a backbench MP, Ms Rudd said: 'Oh, that's very difficult to tell. 'Because I'm in the cabinet, I'm committed to the government policy. 'On Brexit, getting it right is so important for everything I'm doing in my department, and everything the government is doing to try and improve the economy and work with families.' Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (pictured in Downing Street this week) insisted the developments in Parliament over the past few days had shown it could block the UK from crashing out without an agreement Debate on the Brexit plan is resumed in the House of Commons today, with security the theme. Although Mrs May was offered a glimmer of hope yesterday as a couple of wavering MPs backed her deal, the government is still thought to be facing a record defeat on Tuesday. The previous biggest margin was 166 for the minority Labour administration in 1924 - but there are estimates that the PM could lose by more than 200. 'We're going to get smashed,' one government source told the BBC. Conservative MP George Freeman, who announced yesterday that he will back the PM's deal 'with a heavy heart', said he expected as many as 40 other critics of the plan to do the same. However, he predicted that this would not be enough to save the package. Mr Freeman told BBC Radio 4's World at One: 'It's Hobson's choice. It's better than a no-deal crash Brexit, in my view, for my constituents. 'I don't think it's ideal at all but that's the situation we find ourselves in.' The Mid-Norfolk MP said it was 'not too late' for the Government to seek a cross-party agreement on a 'sensible, orderly Brexit'. 'I hope that in the next few weeks, Parliament can show that we are listening to the British people, not just the 52 per cent and not just the 48 per cent, but trying to find a sensible way to resolve this,' he said. A married high school teacher in Michigan has been fired and charged with having sex with two teenage students. Kathryn Houghtaling, 26, a former special education and science teacher at Rochester High School was arraigned on Friday on six counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, reported WDIV. Prosecutors say the alleged acts occurred outside of school hours and off school property with a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old student. At least one time was in a car and another time was in one of the students' homes, and reportedly involved alcohol and drugs. Kathryn Houghtaling, 26, a married special education and science teacher, was fired from Rochester High School in Michigan on Tuesday. She has been accused of having sex with two students, ages 16 and 17 A spokesperson for Rochester Community Schools told DailyMail.com that Houghtaling was employed from August 27 until Tuesday, when she was fired following an internal investigation conducted by the school district. One of the teenage victims was a student in one of her classes, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors also say the alleged incidents took place between November 1 and December 31. It remains unclear who tipped off the school district about the criminal acts, leading to the investigation. Currently, a criminal investigation is underway. The same day Houghtaling was fired, the school district sent a letter to parents that divulged few details but said there was 'inappropriate conduct of a Rochester High School teacher with students after hours'. Houghtaling has been charged with six counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Friday (pictured) Judge Lisa L Asadoorian gave her a $200,000 cash bond. If convicted, she could face up to 15 years in prison for each charge. Pictured: Rochester High School Prosecutors say the alleged incidents occurred between November 1 and December 31, with at least one in a car and another at one of the students' homes During her arrangement on Friday, filmed by WDIV, she pleaded not guilty to all six counts. If Houghtaling is convicted, she could face up to 15 years in prison for each charge. Judge Lisa L Asadoorian gave her a $200,000 cash bond and ordered Houghtaling - if posted - to not contact any party involved in the case and cannot set foot on Rochester Public Schools property. Rochester Community Schools Superintendent Dr Robert Shaner sent DailyMail.com, through a spokesperson the communication that was sent out to parents. A senior Iranian politician has called for a referendum on compulsory hijab, sparking protests across the staunchly Muslim country by women demanding the law is removed without a vote. Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker of Iran's parliament, demanded a nationwide vote on the hijab, adding that he was positive the country would vote for the law to stay. The head scarf has been a mandatory dress requirement for women in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. There has been no indication if the call for a referendum will be turned into an official proposal, and if so, when the vote would be held. Resistance against the forced hijab is not a new phenomenon, but the movement has picked up speed in the past year, with activists encouraging women to take their headscarf off and post their protests on social media. After Motaharis call for a national vote on the hijab, women expressed their outrage at his suggestion that men should once again have a say in how they dress. Video footage from one such protest shows two women on what appears to be a motorbike or moped, not wearing hijabs under their helmets. 'No headscarf, I am the leader, you are the leader! Let's shout for freedom,' they chant as they wave their scarves. 'Our basic rights about our bodies can't be decided by others through a referendum'. Protest: Women took to the streets after it was suggested in Iranian parliament that there should be a referendum on whether to keep the law on Islamic dress code Shouting for freedom: One video shared online shows two women on a motorbike or moped, having removed their hijabs from under their helmets United: Another clip shows a group of women walking through a park without headscarves Another shows a group of women walking through a park, and all taking off their hijabs in public as one. The video, shared by women's rights campaigners My Stealthy Freedom, sees them walking down a down the wide path holding their scarves in the air. Masih Alinejad, founder of My Stealthy Freedom, said today: 'Our movement against compulsory hijab is gaining momentum Iran. 'Women got braver and they practice their civil disobedience everyday, they became their own leader and women went beyond compulsory hijab and in their daily protest they are asking for religion to be separated from politics. 'That is why all the clerics and Islamic republic officials panicked.' Standing tall: A woman is filmed while standing on a box, holding out her headscarf, which has been compulsory for women in Iran since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 The Islamic dress code, in place since the 1979 revolution, considers veiling obligatory for any female above 13 in Iran and says they should cover themselves from head to toe while disavowing any figure-hugging dress. Breaking the rules can result in fines of up to 500,000 rials (17) and up to two months in prison. President Hassan Rouhani, who came to power in 2013 promising a more moderate stance, has previously said it is not the job of police to enforce religious rules such as those forcing women to cover their hair. But in April 2016, officials said there were 7,000 undercover morality police reporting on things like 'bad hijab' - a blanket term usually referring to un-Islamic dress by women. Figures are rarely given, but Tehran's traffic police said in late 2015 they had dealt with 40,000 cases of bad hijab in cars, where women often let their headscarves drop around their necks. These cases generally led to fines and a temporary impounding of the vehicle. Students, even those who will graduate from James McHenry before Ingenuity launches, say the program means people will be forced to quit underestimating kids from their neighborhood. Many are excited for their younger siblings or cousins to enroll. They see Ingenuity as the first step on a promising path: It will help more James McHenry kids get into selective high schools, which will help them get into esteemed colleges, which will set them up for a successful life. Theyll also gain entry to a strong alumni network. A British police officer extradited to Antigua to face a rape charge has been committed to stand trial in the Caribbean island's High Court in late January. PC Lee Martin-Cramp, 25, was flown to Antigua where he is suspected of raping a foreign student while attending a family wedding three years ago. The Scotland Yard officer tried to block the move claiming being detained in the paradise islands notorious 18th-century prison would be inhumane. PC Lee Martin-Cramp (pictured at a passing out ceremony) was flown to Antigua where he is suspected of raping a foreign student while attending a family wedding three years ago But in a legal first, the West Indian authorities convinced a London judge to sign off his extradition with an extraordinary accommodation deal. They have agreed to house Martin-Cramp on a former US airbase with air-conditioning, a fridge and an en-suite bathroom. The set-up will be a far cry from the squalid interior of 1735, Antigua and Barbudas national prison, named after the year it was built. Its harsh conditions, appalling overcrowding and corruption among guards has drawn criticism from the United Nations and US State Department. Martin-Cramp joined the Metropolitan Police in 2014 and was posted to the Wanted Offenders Unit in Wimbledon, south east London. Police on the island said a foreign student based on the island came forward to claim she had been raped during his stay. Cramp is currently being housed on a former US airbase with air-conditioning, a fridge and an en-suite bathroom - instead of the country's squalid national jail Before they could arrest Martin-Cramp he left the island and the authorities began the lengthy legal proceedings to secure his return. According to documents released by Westminster Magistrates Court, Martin-Cramps lawyers said he could not be extradited because of the prison conditions. In February 2017 the countrys chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot agreed, saying they were not appropriate for a suspect who may be held for a lengthy period of time. But during a hearing this summer she reversed her decision after receiving assurances from Antiguas attorney general. They put forward a room on a former US airbase which included air conditioning, a fridge, and an en suite bathroom, she wrote in a ruling. The conditions were satisfactory, to say the least. The Wisconsin man accused of kidnapping Jayme Closs and killing her parents shaved his head to hide evidence as police newly revealed they recovered a shotgun consistent with the one used the night of the double homicide at his cottage prison. Police say Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, 'targeted' the 13-year-old girl who was found alive Thursday after going missing in mid-October. They confirmed Patterson, from Gordon, is in custody on two charges of first degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme's parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, and one count of kidnapping. He will make his initial court appearance January 14. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald released additional details Friday evening and said the suspect went to great lengths to alter his physical appearance and hide evidence of the alleged murder, including shaving his head. Police say they recovered the shotgun used to shoot open the door of the family's home in Barron on October 15, as well as other guns inside his cottage. The sheriff reiterated that no evidence suggested the suspect knew anyone at the Closs home when he allegedly entered and shot dead James and Denise before abducting Jamie. President of the Jennie-O Turkey Store in Barron, Steve Lykken, issued a statement Friday saying Patterson was hired one day but quit the next, explaining that he was moving away from the area. An obituary for James and Denise Closs said they worked at the turkey processing plant for 27 years. During Patterson's brief time at the plant, he was not believed to have had contact with the couple. Police say he was unemployed at the time of his arrest and the family did not know him. Unemployed Patterson had no previous criminal history and was not on the radar of police. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case. Police believe Patterson - said to have hidden the girl in the home he grew up in - killed the Wisconsin couple because he wanted to abduct their daughter. They say she was 'the only target'. Jake Thomas Patterson, of Gordon, Wis., has been jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges in the October killing of a Wisconsin couple and abduction of their teen daughter, Jayme Closs Jayme, a 13-year-old girl who has been missing since mid-October, was found alive Thursday The teen victim is pictured smiling alongside her aunt just hours after her escape Jake Patterson (right) with mother Deborah (center) in 2015 and sister Katie (left) Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in Friday evening that the suspect went to great lengths to alter his physical appearance and hide evidence of the alleged murder, including shaving his head Fitzgerald says Patterson 'planned his actions and took many steps to hide his identity'. She was kept in a 'home in a remote area' of Douglas County, Fitzgerald said. TIMELINE OF JAYME CLOSS' DISAPPEARANCE Jayme Closs was missing for three months Oct. 15, 2018 - Jayme's parents, James and Denise Closs, found dead at their home in Barron and the teen is reported missing Oct. 16, 2018 - Investigators say they don't consider Jayme a suspect in her parents' deaths Oct. 17, 2018 - Authorities announce that investigators believe Jayme was in her family's home when he parents were fatally shot Oct. 18, 2018 - About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers Oct. 23, 2018 - About 2,000 volunteers from as far as Minneapolis help with another ground search . Several items are found and taken for assessment Oct. 24, 2018 - The FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to Jayme's location. The amount is later doubled to $50,000 by the Jennie-O Turkey Store, where James and Denise Closs worked Oct. 27, 2018 - Funeral held for James and Denise Closs Oct. 29, 2018 - Prosecutors announce they have charged a man with burglarizing the Closs home but say he's not a suspect in the case. Dec. 12, 2018 - Tree of Hope lit as community prays for her safe return Jan. 10, 2019 - After three months Jayme is found alive in Gordon, Wisconsin. A suspect is taken into custody. Jan. 11, 2019 - Police named the man accused of kidnapping her as Jake Thomas Patterson, 21 Advertisement He said: 'Jayme was taken against her will and escaped from the residence at which she was being held in. We also don't believe at this time the suspect had any contact with the family. We do believe that Jayme was the only target. 'I can tell you that the subject planned his actions and took many proactive steps to hide his identity from law enforcement and the general public. 'It appears he concealed her from other people ... his friends.' He was pulled over by police in his car just minutes after Jayme was found and gave a description of the vehicle. Fitzgerald said he doesnt know if Jayme was abused by her captor and that detectives are now interviewing her about her ordeal. Patterson lived three doors down from the woman who called 911 to report that a missing 13-year-old Wisconsin girl had been found. Teacher Kristin Kasinskas says she taught him middle school science but only remembers that he was quiet. Kasinskas says she didn't see Patterson during the months that Jayme was missing. She added: 'I don't really remember a ton about him. He seemed like a quiet kid. I don't recall anything that would have explained this, by any means.' It comes as another neighbor of Patterson says she and her husband had problems with him siphoning gas years ago. Daphne Ronning told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Patterson's parents moved to Gordon about 15 years ago. She says the parents later moved away but Patterson and his brother continued to use the home. She says she and her husband once caught them siphoning gas. She says her husband spoke with them and they didn't have any further problems. Ronning says she didn't know Patterson was living in the house and hadn't seen Jayme around. Jeanne Nutter was walking her dog near the cabin she owns with her husband Forrest when she found Jayme Closs coming out of nearby woods Jeanne Nutter, pictured Friday, was walking her dog near the cabin she owns with her husband Forrest when she found Jayme Closs coming out of nearby woods Kristin and Peter Kasinskas, pictured, say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her The teen vanished from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day the teenager's parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, (above) were found shot dead inside It has also since emerged that ownership of the remote cabin where she was apparently held was passed to a credit union soon after her abduction. Pattersons father transferred the title of the cabin near Gordon to Superior Choice Credit Union on October 23 - eight days after the attack at the Closs familys home, according to records. Jayme was described as 'skinny and dirty but outwardly OK' by the couple who called 911 after the teenager flagged down dogwalker Jeanne Nutter in rural Wisconsin. FBI Special Agent Justin Tolomeo said: 'In cases like this we often need a big break, and it was Jayme herself who gave us that break.' Fitzgerald says Closs was medically cleared, is out of the hospital and is being interviewed by law enforcement. She was taken from her home on October 15, the same day her parents, James and Denise were found shot dead inside. The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme was located in Douglas County. The board chairman of Gordon said Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home. The teen approached a woman walking her dog, and told the stranger she had been kidnapped and that a man killed her parents. Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home in Barron Dogwalker Jeanne Nutter went with Jayme to her neighbors house and pounded on their door. She said Jayme had walked away from a cabin not far from her place where she had been held. Patterson was not home at the time she escaped. Nutter, a social worker, said: 'I went to her and she just sort of grabbed onto me and she told me who she was. She's a traumatized child. I believe she was just maybe in shock. 'I'm just happy that she's safe. I feel like it's sort of a miracle that she's still alive. I'm glad my dog wanted to go for a walk and we did and there she was. My goal was to get her to a safe place and I did. The police were amazing.' Kristin and Peter Kasinskas say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair, wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her. The neighbor shouted, 'This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!' Kristin told the Today Show: 'She knocked on our door, and then actually opened our door and said call 911. 'I think we recognized Jayme immediately. I mean, her picture has been everywhere around here, billboards and things so we recognized her immediately. 'She seemed kind of in shock and kind of timid, but she did talk to us a little bit, and she came in and sat down in our living room and was able to have a conversation with us.' 'She didn't give us a ton of detail. I had asked her if she knew where Gordon, Wisconsin, was. She did not know where Gordon was, and she didn't know where she was at the time. She was - she did state who she believed had her, and she did give us a little information about the person's car. But other than that she didn't give us a ton of detail about.' Kristin was asked if the person she mentioned was someone she knew in the community. Kristin said: 'I recognized the name when I was told it but not somebody I knew well by any means.' Baron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald holds up a photo of the suspect, Jake Thomas Patterson, as he announces that Jayme Closs was found alive, during a news conference in Baron The home where teenager Jayme Closs lived with her parents before their brutal murder three months ago pictured today The entrance to Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jake Thomas Patterson was arrested in the kidnapping of Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents Patterson lived just three doors down from Kristin Kasinskas, who called 911 to report the girl had been found, in Eau Claire Acres, pictured Kristin Kasinskas told the Today Show: 'She didn't give us a ton of detail. I had asked her if she knew where Gordon, Wisconsin, was. She did not know where Gordon was, and she didn't know where she was at the time. She was - she did state who she believed had her, and she did give us a little information about the person's car. But other than that she didn't give us a ton of detail about' 'She looked thinner than her pictures. We offered her a beverage. We offered her something to eat. She said she didn't want anything to eat or drink,' Kristin Kasinskas, who found Jayme (pictured), said The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme has been located in Douglas County, and an unidentified male suspect has been arrested Asked about whether Jayme told her how she escaped, Kristin said: 'Not really. She kind of talked about being locked up or hidden when this person had to leave, but she did not go into any detail about how she got away. 'She looked thinner than her pictures. We offered her a beverage. We offered her something to eat. She said she didn't want anything to eat or drink. She was comfortable. She just was cold, so we did give her a blanket, but yeah, she didn't want food or anything to drink. I would - I guess I would describe her as looking kind of unkempt. 'I don't know (if she seemed afraid). It wasn't like she was scared of us. She wasn't crying or upset. She was just very calm.' Peter Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Jayme was quiet and showed little emotion. He says she told them she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon, the small town near where she was found. Jayme's name was added to the top of the FBI's Missing Persons list and has been on digital billboards across the nation The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme has been found and a suspect has been arrested The scene on Thursday evening after Jayme was found alive in Douglas County, Wisconsin Kristin Kasinskas neighbor who called 911- Jayme Closs and the dog walker approached the home of Kristin Kasinskas, pictured, and asked her to call 911 The dogwalker went with Jayme to her neighbors house, pictured, and pounded on their door asking for help A thank you sign is displayed in Barron after Jayme was found alive more than three months after she disappeared. It reads: 'Thank you for bringing her home' A 'Welcome Home Jayme' sign is displayed for the teen's return home on January 11, 2019 in Barron, Wisconsin A statement from police said: 'We want to thank the Douglas Co Sheriff's Department and agencies assisting them tonight. We also want to thank all the Law Enforcement agencies across the state and county that have assisted us in this case. 'We also could not have endured this case without the support of the public and I want to thank them for all the support and help. 'Finally, we want to especially thank the family for their support and patience while this case was ongoing. 'We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfill that promise. From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!' Jayme's relieved family have said the teen is 'talking, doing great and getting rest right now'. Her aunt, Kelly Engelhardt, told KARE 11 that the news is what the family has 'prayed for' every day. 'I honestly had faith... I figured if they hadn't found her by now that the person that did this didn't want her dead, so I had hope. Every day there was hope. We had too much love and support around us for us to give up,' her aunt said. Diane Trembley, the superintendent of Barron County, said: 'We want to thank Jayme for being so courageous and for achieving an opportunity to find a way back to us. What an extraordinary young lady.. She confirmed there will be a celebration for Closs, who is a student at Riverview Middle School in Barron, in the community. The teen's uncle, Jeff Closs, said he is shocked and beyond grateful for the outcome they desperately hoped for Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald pictured Friday after the teen was found alive Volunteers cross a creek and barbed wire near Barron, Wisconsin on October 23, 2018, on their way to a ground search for Jayme The teen's uncle, Jeff Closs, said he is shocked and beyond grateful for the outcome they desperately hoped for. 'It was just unbelievable because you hear about you're not sure if she's not going to be found. And when you actually hear it, it's just unbelievable. We're all just so grateful and happy. 'We thought it was going to be a different ending and we're so happy... hopefully she's OK, we don't know what condition. Just she's alive.' Her emotional grandfather Robert Naiber told GMA: 'Wow. Whoopie. I've never been so happy for two months.' The teen's aunt Jennifer Smith added: 'I haven't got to see her yet but I get to see her this afternoon and I hear she is doing great and she's getting rest right now. 'We have her at a hospital and they're getting her checked out and they have a suspect in custody and that's all I know so far. She's talking, yep, and she's doing very well.' The entrance to Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jake Thomas Patterson was arrested over the kidnapping of Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents Jayme Closs, 13, was found alive in Douglas County, Wisconsin, pictured Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart has also paid tribute to Jayme and has offered her support to the 'brave, strong and powerful 13-year-old survivor'. She wrote in an emotional Instagram post: 'What a miracle!!! Jayme Closs has been found!!!! I'm so thrilled to hear the news. What has been such a heart wrenching tragedy finally has some happiness in the story.' Smart said she would expect that Jayme will have to confront the fact that there 'is no going back to the way things were'. She said she recommends that Jayme's friends and family give her space and allow her to make her own decisions. Elizabeth was was 14 when she was held in the woods by Wandaa Barzee and Brian David Mitchell for nine months. Jayme's name was added to the top of the FBI's Missing Persons list and has been on digital billboards across the nation since she vanished four months ago. In December, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald shared troubling details about the crime scene with DailyMail.com. Fitzgerald said the killer was in the Closs home for only four minutes, during which they stepped just five feet into the open plan house, shot James and Denise and took Jayme. Both Denise and James died 'instantly' of their wounds, the sheriff said. Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart has paid tribute to fellow kidnapping victim Jayme Closs and has offered her support to the teen who was found Thursday Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped for nine months in 2002 aged 14 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is pictured in March 2018 Despite a mysterious inaudible 911 call made from her mother's cell at 12.54am, when police arrived at 12.58am, they revealed there was no sign that Jayme resisted her abductor. There was nothing taken and nothing disturbed. In fact, there was no forensic evidence of any intruder at all. Fitzgerald said: 'That's the frustrating part of it. We've had four different lab teams look at the scene before we released it. We were very strategic. When we discovered it was a major crime, we sealed it off immediately. 'But if I'm in your house for minutes and I only step five feet inside your home I'm probably not going to leave a big footprint.' He added: 'It doesn't appear that anything was taken, it doesn't appear that Jayme packed up any clothing.' Fitzgerald said at a press conference in October: 'I'm telling you - Jayme is missing and endangered.' Searches of her social media, cell phone and computer have offered no evidence of a boyfriend or anyone she met anyone online who might have targeted her or her parents. A burglar who stole a safe from a factory in China decided to return the security box to its owner after failing to open it, according to the police. The culprit, known by his surname Li, also stole a hammer from the factory and hoped to smash open the metal box. After spent an entire night attempting to crack it, Li failed to open the safe and had to give up, reported Chinese news outlet Kan Kan. The 20-year-old culprit Li carries the safe out of the factory's office on the New Year's Day Police said the man also stole the hammer from the factory hoping to use it to crack the safe Li sneaked into a clothing factory in eastern China's Hangzhou city during the wee hours on the New Year's Day, Kan Kan reported citing the local police. The owner of the factory, Ms Jiang, called the police on the same day after finding her safe missing. Ms Jiang said there was only around 1,000 yuan (115) in cash inside the safe. However, she kept three car keys and some 'very important documents about their clients' in the security box. Surveillance footage released by Hangzhou Comprehensive Channel shows a suspect breaking into the factory at about 2am through a window. The suspect made a bee line towards the factory's office. He immediately found the safe, carried it and left the building. The police said the factory had a guard dog but it didn't bark. Therefore, officers suspected that the culprit could be someone familiar with the factory. A picture release by China's Kan Kan News shows the inside of the safe after it was emptied. The box had 115 in cash, three car keys and client information, but nothing was taken Just as the police launched an investigation into the case, Ms Jiang called them the next day to tell them the safe had been left outside the factory's gate unopened. She said nothing had been taken from the safe. The police caught Li, said to be 20, on January 3 at an internet cafe in Hangzhou. It is reported that Li had been unemployed for a while and was in need of money. He decided to steal from the factory which he used to work for. He knew that his boss had the habit of keeping cash in the safe, therefore he took it without a second thought. But after failing to open it, he was afraid of being arrested and imprisoned, so he brought the safe back to the factory. Li has been detained by the police as they carry out further investigations, according to the report. Robin Davie, pictured, has been missing since Saturday when he left France on a 300-mile journey to Falmouth, Cornwall on his yacht An experienced sailor who had not been heard from after six days at sea has told the Coastguard he is 'safe and well'. Robin Davie is expected to arrive back in Falmouth in Cornwall on Saturday afternoon. The 67-year-old was due back at his home port of Falmouth in Cornwall on Tuesday, having set off on a 300-mile journey from Les Sables d'Olonne in western France last Saturday. He had visited the French port to have his yacht, the Rustler 36 C'est La Vie, refitted with a new mast and rigging. But friends were left 'completely flummoxed' after the yachtsman, who has sailed solo around the world three times, appeared to have vanished during his return amid calm sea conditions. The Coastguard said late on Friday that the skipper of the C'est la Vie had 'just reported that he has heard the broadcast action being made by HM Coastguard and that he is safe and well 25 miles south west of the Isles of Scilly'. Falmouth Coastguard issued an alert to all ships in the area on Wednesday morning after Mr Davie's brother, Rick, reported him as overdue. Due to the weather conditions, Mr Davie had needed to tack further to the west, making the leg to the Scillies 'much longer' than anticipated. Out of radio contact range and without mobile phone signal, it was only when he got close enough to land on Friday that he received the Coastguard's broadcast. The experienced yachtsman, pictured on his boat, had sailed around the world several times Mr Davie left France and the coast guard has said they have not received any distress signal before finally hearing from him on Friday Mr Davie planned to sail past Brest before heading across the English Channel Coastguard Controller Dai Jones said: 'We were concerned for the skipper's safety and so we're really pleased that he has been in contact to tell us that he is safe and well. 'Being able to broadcast continuously can pay dividends and in this case it really helped us to locate him. 'We had worked out that the sailor could be somewhere around the Isles of Scilly by considering the weather conditions and what passage he would have been likely to take. It really was a case of putting ourselves in the skipper's shoes.' A Nepali spiritual leader believed by his followers to be a reincarnation of Buddha is under investigation over the disappearance of several devotees, official say. Police raided one of the monasteries of Ram Bahadur Bomjan, dubbed 'Buddha Boy', while investigating the disappearance of four of his followers, looking for human remains, but none where found. Bomjan, 28, became famous in 2005 after followers said he could meditate motionless for months without water, food or sleep in Nepal's jungles. Ram Bahadur Bomjan, dubbed 'Buddha Boy', became famous in 2005 after followers said he could meditate for months without water, food or sleep The 28-year-old guru has a devout following but has been accused of physically and sexually assaulting some of his flock. Special police investigators have begun inquiries after four of Bomjan's devotees - two men and two women - allegedly vanished from one of his ashrams. Their families have not heard from them for two years, CNN reports. 'The police have started investigating these complaints against Bomjan,' Uma Prasad Chaturbedi, a spokesman for Nepal's Central Investigation Bureau, told AFP. 'The investigation is in preliminary stage and we cannot share many details.' The 28-year-old guru has a devout following but has been accused of physically and sexually assaulting some of his flock Bomjan has long been dogged by accusations of abuse in deeply spiritual Nepal, even as thousands of worshippers queued for days to witness his so-called miracles of meditation deep in the jungle. In September last year, an 18-year-old nun accused the guru of raping her at one of his ashrams. Dozens more have filed complaints against him alleging assault. The self-styled godman said he beat them for disturbing his meditation. The Bodhi Shrawan Dharma Sangha, an organisation associated with the guru, recently slammed as baseless a series of fresh allegations made by a local website, Setopati.com, which published reports detailing cases of disappearances, sexual assault and violence in his ashrams. A homeowner has denied he is running a Japanese restaurant out of his home - despite a massive neon sign advertising the eatery. Orlando Williams has displayed a sign emblazoned with his name outside the property as well a dedicated Facebook page to the 'restaurant' - which directs you to his home address. Despite this, Mr Williams insisted his seven-bed property in Norwich, estimated to be worth more than 1million, is not being used as a restaurant. Orlando Williams insisted his seven-bed property, estimated to be worth more than 1million, is not being used as a restaurant The word 'Sakura' is printed above the front door - coincidentally the same name as his previous Japanese restaurant. Angry neighbours said he has been running a restaurant inside his home since last October without permission. Norwich City Council have investigated the premises over an alleged breach of planning restrictions - but have been unable to make a ruling despite numerous visits to the property. Mr Williams denied the allegations leveled against him. The property is said to be doubling up as a Japanese restaurant, much to the annoyance of locals When asked about the sign, Mr Williams said: 'All I do, I have my name on my house. There is no restaurant there.' In response to being asked about whether his property had been used as a restaurant, he added: 'What you are saying to me is wrong.' A Facebook page for the Sakura restaurant showed its location to be at Mr Williams' property. When the phone number on the sign was called, a person who answered the phone confirmed the restaurant was at Mr Williams' address. Neighbour Becky Greengass, 45, said she became aware when Mr Williams invited her to the 'launch party' last year. She said: 'When my husband told me I was just dumbfounded. I could not believe it. We are all up in arms because he didn't get planning permission for it. 'We thought surely we should have been notified. 'Then there is the god awful sign that has been put up. The amount of friends who drive past and ask me "what the hell has opened up next door to you".' Peter Wright, 67, who lives nearby, said he had already complained to the city council. The name 'Sakura' is emblazoned above his front door - which is incidentally the name of his old restaurant He said: 'We just can't understand what is going on. He has no planning permission to be a restaurant. 'I was a bit peeved off because it is a nice residential area around here.' Neighbour Andrew Unwin added: 'The restaurant appeared from nowhere.. It's hardly in keeping with this residential area and there appears to be no planning permission granted.' Norwich City Council said it has made numerous visits to the property, but has not been able to establish whether or not it was being used as a working restaurant. A council spokesman said: 'We're continuing to look into this.' A lawyer has criticised the lack of security barriers before the London Bridge terror attack, saying pavements were left 'wide open' despite a similar atrocity months earlier. Gareth Patterson QC, who is representing six families of victims of the June 2017 attack, set out his key concerns ahead of a full inquest at the Old Bailey starting on May 7. He criticised the lack of barriers on the bridge when a terrorist trio rammed pedestrians in a van and went on a stabbing spree - three months after the Westminster attack in March. He said: 'The pavements of London Bridge were wide open, despite what happened at Westminster.' A lawyer has suggested not enough security measures were in place on the night of the London Bridge terror attack because pavements were 'wide open'. Pictured: A victim is loaded into an ambulance Mr Patterson also said there was an 'apparent failure to have any sort of regulation or security checks by rental businesses where they are renting out powerful vehicles which can be used as lethal weapons'. 'We have had them used in terrorist attack after terrorist attack.' Eight people were killed when three men ploughed into pedestrians in a white van on the bridge, before stabbing revellers in the nearby market with 12 inch blades on June 3 2017. The victims were Canadian Christine Archibald, 30, Frenchmen Xavier Thomas, 45, and Alexandre Pigeard, 26, as well as Sara Zelenak, 21, Kirsty Boden, 28, Sebastien Belanger, 36, James McMullan, 32, and Ignacio Echeverria, 39. Former customer service assistant at Transport for London, Khuram Butt, 27, and Rachid Redouane, 30, ran over victims in a white van before going on a stabbing spree The attackers, Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, were shot dead by police at the scene. The incident came just three months after Khalid Masood mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in a hired car before stabbing a police officer to death. In the autumn, the Westminster inquest was told that no consideration was given at the time to putting up barriers inbetween the two attacks. Yet within a day of the London Bridge atrocity, work began to put up barriers, Mr Patterson said. One of the victims on the bridge was Ms Archibald, who was walking on the pavement with her fiance, having just had a meal, when she was knocked down and killed almost instantly. Youssef Zaghba, 22, was the third among the trio of terrorists who killed eight people on the night of June 3 2017 Mr Patterson pointed out that rental vehicles were also used to cause carnage in Nice and Berlin. The barrister said Butt was under investigation by security services yet was still able to plan and carry out the attack with his accomplices. He said it was a 'very troubling and a significant issue' which he plans to pursue at the inquest. Mr Patterson was speaking following a final pre-inquest hearing at the Old Bailey updating Chief Coroner Mark Lucraft QC on the preparations and police investigation. The London Bridge attack came just three months after Khalid Masood (pictured) mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in a hired car before stabbing a police officer to death During the hearing, Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the coroner, said: 'We understand the families have concerns about the lack of barriers on the bridge, this attack coming after the Westminster attack. 'We can assure (them) this is a topic which will be pursued.' Mr Patterson responded: 'I'm grateful appropriate witnesses will be called, and equally the vehicle rental issue. 'The issues that arose in Westminster seemed to have resulted in absolutely nothing by way of additional measures on rentals by people preparing attacks.' Mr Hough said the counter-terrorism police had taken 2,701 statements and seized 'vast' amounts of CCTV footage of the attacks and the terrorists' movements. Other evidence included body-worn video from police officers and videos from members of the public caught up in the carnage. Mr Hough said extensive work had been done by forensic experts on the attackers' vehicle, the knives used and petrol bombs found in the aftermath. The niece of former double agent, Sergei Skripal, believes her uncle died when he was poisoned last year and his death was covered up by the British government. In an interview with a Putin propaganda TV station, Viktoria Skripal claimed the British authorities may be covering up Sergei's death from the nerve agent, Novichok, to make Russia look bad. She gave an interview on Kremlin mouthpiece RT today in which she said Sergei must be dead because he has not been in contact with any of his family in Russia since he was poisoned in March 2018. British authorities blame Russian intelligence operatives for the failed assassination plot on the former double agent and his daughter. However, The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday Mr Skripal is still alive. The Kremlin denies being behind the attack and has frequently goaded Britain as Putin flexes his muscles in defiance if international pressure. British authorities say Sergei Skripal (right) and his daughter Yulia (left) were targeted by Russian intelligence operatives in a failed assassination plot Viktoria Skripal, niece of poisoned former Russian spy Sergei, claimed on RT the British authorities may be covering up her uncle's death by claiming he survived the attack In the aftermath of the attack in Salisbury, the 45-year-old accountant told the media she was in touch with her cousin, Yulia, who was also left in a critical condition after the deadly agent was smeared on the door handle of Sergei's home. Since Sergei Skripal was released from hospital two months later only Yulia has made a public appearance, giving one short TV interview. Viktoria clams this, along with his diabetes and lack of contact with his sick mother living in Russia, is enough to suspect her uncle has in fact passed away. Earlier this month it was reported by the Telegraph that the pair were still living in the UK, had contact with friends and were given work while being hidden away by a MI5 team as part of the security service's secret resettlement programme. Viktoria told Russian broadcaster RT: 'My version is, however sad it may sound, maybe Yulia is still alive but Sergei Viktorovich is dead for sure. 'He would not survive military agent poisoning because he has type 1 diabetes. He has been on insulin for more than ten years. Viktoria Skripal giving her interview today. Ofcom said in December it had found violations of impartiality rules in seven of RT's shows broadcast relating to the Salisbury nerve agent attack Viktoria Skripal claimed her uncle would not be able to survive a military grade nerve agent attack because he has type 1 diabetes 'If they [Britain] said that Skripal was dead it would mean that they did not manage to treat him which meant that we were not so great.' Kremlin-back media in Russia has been involved in tit-for-tat exchanges with British authorities since the crisis began. Britain's Ofcom said in December it had found violations of impartiality rules in seven of RT's shows broadcast relating to the Salisbury nerve agent attack. In response, Roskomnadzor, the Russian state media watchdog, said it would investigate whether the BBC was breaking the law, today accusing the broadcaster of spreading 'terrorist groups' ideologies via its Russian service. As the war of words continued, the RT broadcast later aired Viktoria Skripal's interview in which she said Sergei stopped calling his mother after the attack. Viktoria told RT: '[I last talked with] Sergei in February last year. It was before the poisoning , around February 27 to 28. He called and said that he would call again on March 8 to congratulate his mother [on her birthday]. Work to dismantle the roof of Sergei Skripal's house in Salisbury began earlier this week after it was boarded up in March last year 'When everything started on March phone calls stopped. He [Sergei Skripal] stopped calling his mother. If he was alive he would find an opportunity [to call]. 'He is well aware that he is the only son of his mother and that his mother is sick. He knew that she has been bed-ridden for a year and has not stood up at all. Viktoria also claimed Yulia had been in contact with her family since March last year. She added: 'On July 24 I talked with Yulia she congratulated her grandmother [on her birthday]. I asked her "Do you plan to come back home?" Her phrase was "yes, as soon as my father gets better I will come back to Russia at once. There is nothing that can hold me here". 'My goal was to preserve her [Yulia Skripal] property if she comes back to Russian so she can live somewhere.' The Novichok poisoning claimed the life of Dawn Sturgess, 44, who fell ill in Amesbury months after the incident. She died in hospital in July after coming into contact with a perfume bottle believed to have been used in the attack on the Skripals and then discarded. Her partner, Charlie Rowley, 45, was also exposed to the same nerve agent but was treated and discharged. Two Russian nationals have been accused of travelling to the UK to try to murder Mr Skripal with Novichok. Evidence gathered by intelligence agencies led the Government to conclude that the men were officers from the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU. The two suspects - known by their aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov - were caught on CCTV in Salisbury the day before the attack. A counterfeit Nina Ricci perfume bottle - which Ms Sturgess handled - is thought to have contained the substance. Lady Tara Wellesley, 56, railed against her family's blue-blooded values and did not see her father, the seventh Earl Cowley, for 26 years before his death aged 81 in 2016 The 'wild child' daughter of an earl has lost her claim to a slice of his 1.3 million fortune after a judge ruled it was her own fault she ended up living in a council house because she led a bohemian drink and drugs lifestyle. Lady Tara Wellesley, 56, railed against her family's blue-blooded values and did not see her father, the seventh Earl Cowley, for 26 years before his death aged 81 in 2016. But after he left her only 20,000 in his will, Lady Tara took the case to court in a bid for a payout so she could buy her council house and begin a career in the art world. Today, dismissing her claim, Judge John Linwood said it was her own fault that she and her father became estranged, citing her bohemian 'drink and drug' lifestyle, which her father loathed. Although Lady Tara, who lives in Gospel Oak, north London, had attempted to reconcile with her father, the estrangement had been 'mutual', he told the High Court. In an outburst at the family home in her 20s - recounted by her step-sister Heidi Iratcabal and accepted by the judge - Lady Tara said she 'hated the aristocratic life' and the family's 'superior attitudes'. He continued: 'I also find Tara did for some time live....a lifestyle of drink, drugs and bohemia. That lifestyle, plus her disruptive influence and behaviour, led to her estrangement from her father. 'He would not accept her rejection of his and (her step-mother) Paige's values and expectations in complying with what he expected in the best interests as he saw them of the wider family. 'I find that the estrangement was due to Tara's conduct alone.' The seventh earl was born in America, where he studied and served in the US Army Counter Intelligence Corps, before carving out a career in finance. He married four times, and Lady Tara had an often stormy relationship with her various step-mothers, the court was told during a hearing in November. She moved out of the family home as a young woman and last saw her father at the wedding of her brother, the eighth earl, Graham Wellesley, in 1990. When he died, her father left the bulk of his estate to Graham, an income for his final wife, Dowager Countess Carola (pictured right), and split the rest between his children. Fighting her claim, her brother, Graham, said Lady Tara had been a 'wild child' and his father was concerned about her lifestyle, as he had an 'abhorrence of drug use When he died, her father left the bulk of his estate to Graham, an income for his final wife, Dowager Countess Carola, and split the rest between Lady Tara's younger step-sisters, Heidi Iratcabal, Hillary Ryan, Sarah Mosier and Johanna Wellesley. Claiming a bigger share of the estate, Lady Tara said her father would have supported her dreams of making a living as an artist if he was still alive. She denied taking drugs, saying she only went to 'the odd nightclub' and insisted she had not been unruly and did not play truant as a child. She said she felt like 'excess baggage' after her father remarried and blamed her brother and step-sisters for the failure to reconcile with her father. Fighting her claim, her brother, Graham, said Lady Tara had been a 'wild child' and his father was concerned about her lifestyle, as he had an 'abhorrence of drug use'. His father had continued seeing his daughter during the 1980s, but meetings were difficult and it would take his father weeks to get over them, he told the judge. He said his father did not leave Lady Tara more due to 'years of wasted assistance'. The main problem was her 'refusal to provide for herself', he said. He said his father was 'ashamed' of Tara and likened her 'to a sponge which kept taking but never giving back'. But Lady Tara - who volunteers at the Tate and for a charity - said her ADHD prevents her from working as it makes her timekeeping poor and she has been left surviving on benefits. Ruling, Judge Linwood said Lady Tara was capable of living within her means and, despite her ADHD, 'there seems to be no reason why Tara could not try to find work'. 'The deceased did not consider he had obligations to his children once they became adults; save Tara, none expected financial or other maintenance after they left home,' he said. Her presence in the family home, when she lived there, was 'disruptive and thereby unacceptable and intolerable to her father', the judge continued. 'The deceased was not in any way vindictive, malicious or unfair towards Tara; indeed the evidence of her brother and sisters which I accept is that he treated them all the same. 'He expected certain standards and, if they did not conform, they would not have the support and loving home which was there for all.' He said that Lady Tara had branded her family 'rich people' being 'mean' to her. He continued: 'I consider this to be another example of Tara blaming others for her misfortunes, which have arisen due to her choices in life or her behaviour, as with blaming her father's wives for not accepting her, and her brother and step-sisters for her estrangement from their father.' He added: 'Tara frequently refers to herself as the 'legitimate' child as if that places her in a better position than her step-sisters. 'It does not, in circumstances where Paige's children were treated as children of the family by the deceased, and likewise Graham by Paige, and Tara could have been but for her actions.' He dismissed Lady Tara's claim for 'reasonable provision' from her father's estate. A former member of the far-right German AfD party has adopted a symbol used by Nazi groups during the 1930s as an emblem for his new political movement. Andre Poggenburg, who founded the AdP this year after resigning from the AfD, has announced that his new party logo will feature a blue cornflower against a German flag background. The cornflower was used as a secret symbol to denote membership of banned National Socialist parties in 1930s Austria before they came to power in 1938. Andre Poggenburg founded the AdP this year after resigning from the AfD because he claimed it had shifted too far to the left The flower has a complicated history and was originally known as German Kaiser Wilhelm's favourite flower. But amid a rise in German nationalism following the First World War, it came to be adopted by Nazi groups. He unveiled the new party logo on Friday, which features a blue cornflower against a German flag Poggenburg is a former businessman who ran for the AfD in the 2016 elections in Saxony-Anhalt, where the party garnered 24.2 per cent of the vote. He was the regional leader for the party before he resigned because of what he called a 'shift to the left' as the AfD sought to become more popular. Branding Turkish people 'camel drivers' and immigrants a 'homeless mob we no longer want', he said the AfD' 'isn't really my political home any longer'. In January this year he founded the AdP, which stands for Aufbruch der deutschen Patrioten, or Awakening of German Patriots. According to The Guardian, he plans to debut the party at the regional elections in eastern Germany this autumn. Poggenburg's political manoeuvring comes amid a surge of support for right-wing, anti-migrant parties across Europe. The cornflower was used as a symbol by Nazis in 1930s Austria so they could recognise each other while the organisations were still banned The AfD, described by political rivals as neo-Nazi, is now the third-largest in Germany and holds 94 seats in the Bundestag. Meanwhile Hungary's Vikor Orban has touted the idea of joining forces with Poland's Andrzej Duda to form an anti-migrant bloc in the east. Amid that backdrop, Europe's premiere globalist Angela Merkel has announced plans to stand down in 2021 with heir-apparent Emmanuel Macron facing plummeting poll numbers and pressure from populist Yellow Vest protesters. He was born George Alvin Leicht 83 years ago in East Baltimores old 10th Ward. He was so proud of his roots he later had 10th Ward tattooed on his right arm. His family lived in public housing before moving to a rowhouse on the northeast side of the city. Mickey dropped out of school as a teenager, served in the Army in the 1950s, came home and bounced through various jobs Good Humor man, Bethlehem Steel and Chessie System worker, installer of storm windows, bartender and bellman. A mother is calling for a new police probe into the death of her 11-year-old daughter and demanding answers over her mysterious death after an inquest failed to explain the circumstances. Joanne Lewendon is calling on Sussex police to re-launch a criminal investigation after Georgia Newnham died on May 15 2017 while in foster care. The young girl was found dead in her bed just before 8am, clutching an aerosol can of Sure deodorant, at her foster home in Peacehaven, near Brighton. In August, East Sussex Coroner Alan Craze recorded an open conclusion after finding her medical cause of death was cardiac arrest and solvent inhalation. Georgia Newnham, 11, was found dead in her bed just before 8am at her foster home in Peacehaven, near Brighton But he was unable to establish the circumstances of her death, saying at a previous hearing: 'Frankly, I cannot make my mind up. This is very rare for me.' Ms Lewendon, Georgia's biological mother, claims the original Sussex Police investigation was not thorough and feels the inquest was not probing enough, leaving her with many unanswered questions. She believes the circumstances may be suspicious and more inquiries need to be carried out. She said: 'The police investigated like she had fallen off her bike. 'I don't feel the investigation answered all of the questions surrounding her death. 'This is my daughter we are talking about. 'She was an outgoing, loving and happy little girl. 'We still don't really know what really happened before she died. 'There are a lot of questions that are unanswered. 'The circumstances were very unusual. 'Something isn't right - I will fight for answers until I find out the truth.' Mother Joanne Lewendon is urging Sussex Police to reinvestigate her 11-year-old's death Ms Lewendon said the lack of conclusive findings was 'not good enough' and she is now seeking legal advice on how to progress her campaign as well as considering reporting the Sussex force to the Independent Office of Police Conduct. In the meantime, she has launched a petition in a bid to build support and is urging people to get behind her campaign. She added: 'I'm doing this to get justice for Georgia but also for other parents out there who may also feel they have been failed by the system in the same way.' The inquest heard conflicting accounts of Georgia's use of deodorant. Her foster mother, Casandra Copping, told the hearing that the young girl was self-conscious about body odour and started using an aerosol but was '100% not abusing solvents' and never put on deodorant under her duvet. Teacher Jane McCaughan, the head of Year 7 at Peacehaven Community School which Georgia attended, said her personal hygiene was 'not of concern' and there was 'absolutely no doubt' she was well-cared for. There was no suggestion that she struggled with substance abuse, she added. Sussex Police interviewed five people in the investigation and no-one was arrested or charged. Officers found that the circumstances of Georgia's death were unexplained and unexpected but not suspicious and there had been 'no sign of a struggle or forced entry to the room'. Georgia was fit and well, did not take medication and had not been to hospital for eight years, the inquest heard. A spokesman said the force carried out a 'thorough investigation, focusing on how she died whilst taking the advice of medical experts'. He said: 'There was no evidence to suggest any suspicious circumstances or the involvement of a third party; her room was initially treated as a potential crime scene and items were seized to ensure that evidential integrity was maintained ahead of any post-mortem and forensic examination.' But police are reporting the circumstances to a child death safeguarding panel to 'ensure all appropriate actions has been taken', he added. A spokeswoman for Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said she was making inquiries about Ms Lewendon's concerns. In the same year as Georgia's death, the force apologised when double killer Robert Trigg was jailed for the manslaughter of Caroline Devlin and the murder of Susan Nicholson after the original police investigation found no suspicious circumstances and it was decided the women died of natural causes. To sign Ms Lewendon's petition visit www.change.org and search 'Georgia Newnham'. In an internal push for restraint, Jared Kushner is urging his father-in-law President Trump not to go to the wall for his border wall. Trump has yet to arrive at a single negotiating strategy for the wall he wants on the southern border. He is demanding Congress fund the $5.7 billion border wall, while also threatening to declare a national emergency to have the military build it. And the administration has floated pulling emergency funds from Army Corps of Engineer disaster response efforts in Puerto Rico, California, and Florida. Jared Kushner, seen departing his home in Washington, D.C., is said to urging caution on President Trump making an emergency declaration to build a wall amid a negotiating standoff with Democrats, who are refusing his demand to pay for it Among those officials Trump has tasked with negotiating a solution are Kushner, as well as Vice President Mike Pence. However Kushner has argued internally against drastic steps, the Wall Street Journal reported. Trump has been floating the use of such extraordinary measures like an emergency declaration amid an ongoing standoff with congressional leaders over the wall. Trump is demanding $5.7 billion, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for spending nothing a border wall, and wants Trump to reopen the government now without it. President Trump is demanding $5.7 billion from Congress to build a wall on the southern border, but also says he may make an emergency declaration to build it without legislative authorization One plan floated would take funds out of disaster programs for Puerto Rico and other areas that suffered disasters Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, seen here with Vice President Mike Pence, also has urged caution Democrats have already said the emergency route would provoke a lawsuit and court battle. Even some Republican lawmakers such as appropriators are likely to reject an end-run around Congress' power of the purse although Sen. Lindsey Graham endorsed the move Thursday. The Journal reports that counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway also doesn't favor the idea, saying it 'let Congress off the hook.' The idea has the political appeal of potentially allowing Trump to say he is still building a wall while reopening the government, although it would also represent a failure in negotiations. When asked about an emergency declaration Thursday, Trump responded: 'I probably will do it, I would almost say definitely' a statement that included a number of qualifiers. House Democrats have threatened both a legislative response and a lawsuit. They could push through a resolution of disapproval against the emergency designation to cut off funds. Several Republicans in Congress have said the emergency idea might be a way to end the shutdown relatively quickly, though Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama also has urged caution. ''It will change the landscape might be for the better, might not be,' he said, the LA Times reported. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio told CNBC: ''We have to be careful about endorsing broad uses of executive power,' adding, 'I'm not prepared to endorse that right now.' 'If today, the national emergency is border security ... tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change,' he said, invoking an issue that a future Democrat might deem an emergency. Cautioned new Utah Sen. Mitt Romney on MSNBC: 'I don't want to see a declaration of national emergency ... I think that's an action that would be taken in the most extreme circumstances, and, hopefully, we don't reach that.' A video captured the moment a woman bravely fends off two armed men who broke into her home in Peru. Shocking video footage shows the moment the suspects reach for the cement cover over a water drainage system at 4.36am local time and throw the heavy concrete into the door of the home in Barrios Altos - a town in the capital city of Lima. The surprised homeowner, who identified herself as Adela, was sweeping the living room area when the men barged inside the house on January 5. Surveillance camera of a home in Lima, Peru, shows the moment a woman defends herself from two armed burglars who broke into her home A suspect (right) escapes with a television set while Adela (top left center) battles with a burglar who is armed with a gun She bravely faces off with the burglars while one of them raises his handgun to her as he tries beat him with the broom. The fearless woman took a swipe at the man three times with her yellow broom. As he tries to retreat from the attack, his accomplice grabs hold of a TV. The men then quickly run out the front entrance. A woman in Peru shows of the broom she used to fight off two men who broke into her home Suspect (left) holds the cement cover of a water drainage system which was used to break down the door A man runs out of a home in Peru with a television that was stolen during a morning burglary The woman told Peruvian news station AmericaTV that when she saw the gun but her quick-thinking took over. 'I saw the weapon. I never thought he was going to shoot me or that he was going to do something to me,' Adela said. 'I thought to simply defend myself. Luckily I hit him hard and didn't break the broomstick.' No arrests have been reported. Caitlyn Jenner, 69, came out as a transgender woman in 2015, after being known as Bruce Vandals have targeted a church sign in California which said 'Bruce Jenner is still a man' and 'homosexuality is still a sin.' Letters were ripped from the board and its plastic covering was damaged, according to Justin Hoke, the pastor of the Trinity Bible Presbyterian Church. Hoke posted an image on his church's Facebook page on December 31 proudly displaying the sign to the world. Local activists saw this as provocation and a protest against 'hate and slander' - the 'Shastina Love Rally' - was organised by LGBT supporters to 'show love' on January 6. Hoke believes they are responsible for damage to the sign and wrote on Thursday: 'I woke this morning to find that our sign had been vandalized. The pastor of the Trinity Bible Presbyterian Church, Justin Hoke, posted the sign on Facebook on December 31 to a mixed reaction Hoke posted this picture of the sign after he was sent proof of the damaged sign by a concerned member of his congregation on Wednesday 'They broke not only the plexiglas and stole some of the letters, they also busted the power box.' Hoke has defiantly repaired his sign and put the same message back up. He wrote to his congregation on Facebook, 'If a conservative mountain farming community is no longer a safe place to call sin, sin. 'Then is anywhere in this country still safe for real Christians?' The activists told the Sacramento Bee they condemn violence and are not responsible for the damage. Hoke giving a sermon in northern California, he is active on social media and uploads recordings of many of his sermons online The LGBT activists say on their Facebook page: 'As a community I hope that we can come together to show our love and support for the LBGTQ community in protest to the hate and slander that is being thrown at them; not only to our community, but world wide.' The organizers - Amelia Mallory, Charolette Kalayjian, and Mishelle Le Guellec - told the Siskiyou Daily, they were all mothers and the pastor's message is not appropriate for children. 'If that sign can make me sad,' Kalayjian told the paper, 'imagine what it could do to a child.' They are planning to hold another rally this Sunday. Caitlyn Jenner came out as a transgender woman in 2015 after dealing with gender dysphoria for much of her life. She was married to Kris Jenner, the matriarch at the center of the popular reality show, 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians,' before their divorce later that year. The 69-year-old former Olympic champion is the father of Kylie and Kendall Jenner. The actions of two heroic deputies who rushed into the burning home of a bedridden 97-year-old woman have been captured in dramatic footage. One officer had to be rushed to the hospital after the daring rescue. Deputy Justin Ball and Corporal Jefferey Brown raced into the home of Maria Logan, 97, in the early hours of Thursday morning, as it became engulfed in flames. Showing little regard for their own safety, the Pasco County officers braved the Port Richley, Florida house just as smoke was beginning to spread. Deputy Justin Ball (pictured left) battled to flames and spoke comforting words to the 97-year-old, before hoisting her into his arms and out of the door. He was later rushed to hospital. Cpl. Brown (right) managed to extinguish the flames Unable to put the fire out right away, with the guidance of her daughter Theresa Mickta, 74, the officers rushed to the bedside of Logan. Ball attempted to beat down the flames with a pillow, while speaking comforting words to the 97-year-old in the bodycam footage. Deciding they needed to get to her to safety, he hoisted Logan into his arms and carried her out of the home. Maria Logan, 97, is bedridden and was unable to escape the flames engulfing her home in Port Richley, Florida Smoke was beginning to fill the house, so officers Ball and Brown acted fast to save her life, showing little regard for their own Officer Ball hoisted the elderly woman into his arms and raced her out of the front door to be attended to by paramedics 'Watch out, watch out, watch out,' Ball can be heard saying, as he hands Logan over to paramedics. 'You okay ma'am?' he asked, before hunching over and coughing consecutively for a number of minutes. A responder asked if he needed help, to which he respondde 'oxygen' before being rushed to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point to be treated for smoke inhalation. During the same time period, Brown puts out the fire with an extinguisher, with the footage from his body camera showing him coughing also. Logan escaped the fire unscathed. Logan's daughter, Theresa Mickta (pictured) alerted the officers to the fire and directed them to her bedroom Pasco County Sheriff's Department praised the bravery shown by officers' at the home on Carnation Way, in Port Richley 'This morning, Pasco deputies responded to a home fire in the 6000 block of Carnation Way in Port Richey,' the Sheriff's Department said in a statement. 'We are very thankful that no one was injured in this fire and for the quick actions of our Deputies.' Logan's daughter, Theresa Mitchka, thanked the deputies for saving her mother's life. 'I am extremely grateful and I hope that the deputy that got the smoke inhalation (who) helped me with her is alright,' Mitchka told ABC Action News. Deputy Ball added that: 'It felt really good to know the other side of being law enforcement.' 'It's not always about arresting bad guys and protecting the community. Sometimes we have to save them in other (ways),' Deputy Ball said. The cause of the fire has not yet been released. Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart has paid tribute to fellow kidnapping victim Jayme Closs and has offered her support to the 'brave, strong and powerful 13-year-old survivor'. Smart wrote an emotional Instagram post after Jayme was located in town of Gordon 70 miles from her home Barron, Wisconsin. She wrote: 'What a miracle!!! Jayme Closs has been found!!!! I'm so thrilled to hear the news. What has been such a heart wrenching tragedy finally has some happiness in the story. 'I'm praying for Jayme and all her family that they can have a joyous reunion and as the rest of the country celebrates alongside this happy occasion we all are mindful to give the family their space and privacy on their road to finding a new sense of normal and moving forward.' Scroll down for video Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart has paid tribute to fellow kidnapping victim Jayme Closs and has offered her support to the teen who was found Thursday Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped for nine months in 2002 aged 14 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is pictured left in March 2018. The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme, right, has been located in Douglas County, and an unidentified male suspect has been arrested Smart went on: 'I have no doubt Jayme and her family will forever appreciate the efforts and prayers of the many thousands of people who contributed and kept them in their thoughts and prayers! I hope we may all continue to support and embrace Jayme as she reclaims her life and comes to terms with the reality of her situation. Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, is in custody on two charges of first degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme's parents and one count of kidnapping. Pictured above in his mugshot 'What a brave, strong, and powerful survivor!!!! No matter what may unfold in her story let's all try to remember that this young woman has SURVIVED and whatever other details may surface the most important will still remain that she is alive. 'May god bless you Jayme Closs and may we all continue to search for every missing child. #miracleshappen #novictimblaming #hope #findingnormal #survivor #strong #brave.' Smart said she would expect that Jayme will have to confront the fact that there 'is no going back to the way things were'. She said she recommends that Jayme's friends and family give her space and allow her to make her own decisions. Jayme was abducted from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day her parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, were found shot dead inside. The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme has been located in Douglas County. Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, is in custody on two charges of first degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme's parents and one count of kidnapping. The board chairman of Gordon said Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home. Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home in Barron The teen vanished from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day the teenager's parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, (above) were found shot dead inside Kristin and Peter Kasinskas say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her The teen approached a woman walking her dog, and told the stranger she had been kidnapped and that a man killed her parents. The dogwalker, who has requested to remain anonymous, went with Jayme to her neighbors house and pounded on their door. Kristin and Peter Kasinskas say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair, wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her. The neighbor shouted, 'This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!' Kristin Kasinskas, who is a teacher, told the Today Show: 'She knocked on our door, and then actually opened our door and said call 911. 'I think we recognized Jayme immediately. I mean, her picture has been everywhere around here, billboards and things so we recognized her immediately. 'She seemed kind of in shock and kind of timid, but she did talk to us a little bit, and she came in and sat down in our living room and was able to have a conversation with us.' Smart is pictured with her two children in this festive snap she shared to Instagram Wanda Barzee is now living two blocks from an elementary school in Salt Lake City, Utah Barzee, is living just two blocks from Parkview Elementary School (pictured) only three months after being released from prison for her part in a teenager's kidnapping and rape in 2002 Jayme's escape comes after Smart spoke out that the woman who helped abduct her when she was a teenager is living in a Salt Lake City apartment a couple of blocks from a school. Wandaa Barzee, 73, is living just two blocks from Parkview Elementary School only three months after being released from prison for her part in a teenager's kidnapping and rape in 2002. Smart spent nine months being held hostage by Barzee and her spouse, street preacher Brian David Mitchell, between 2002 and 2003. Mitchell was a handyman who had been at her home in Salt Lake City. For nine months, they held her in the woods where she was repeatedly raped and drugged before she was rescued on the street. Wanda Barzee (right, pictured with Brian David Mitchell) is living two blocks from an elementary school. Barzee was released from prison in September. She is pictured afterwards, right, in a photograph taken as part of her parole conditions Barzee is pictured leaving court in Salt Lake City in November 2010 Elizabeth Smart with her husband Matthew Gilmour, with their children Chloe, two, James, 10 months and newborn Olivia who was born before Thanksgiving, with her parents Lois and Ed Smart, 31, is now married to Matthew Gilmour, and they share children Chloe, two, James, 10 months, and a newborn daughter Olivia. She praised mother and father, Lois and Ed, last month month for her still being here. Speaking about her children, Smart captioned an Instagram image: 'I just want them to remember the feelings of always being loved, always knowing they're special to someone, and always knowing Matthew and I are here for them. 'I'm alive today because my parents instilled those same feelings in me from the day I was born.' Smart left this emotional caption paying tribute to her parents alongside the image Smart has spoken in the past how she maintained hope by visualizing her parents and memorizing their every feature in case she never saw them again. 'My mom wasn't going to stop loving me because I'd been kidnapped or because I'd been raped. 'I found something to hold onto. I was going to do whatever it took to survive,' she said in April this year. Elizabeth's parents Ed and Lois are pictured speaking with the media in June 2002 after her disappearance Mitchell is still in prison but Barzee was controversially released earlier this year despite protestations from Smart and other kidnapping victims. Smart was just 14 when the pair abducted her from her bedroom Barzee pleaded guilty in 2010, seven years after being arrested. She pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexual assault and was sentenced to 15 years behind bars. Shockingly, in September this year, the parole board granted her attorney's request for the first seven years she spent in prison before the plea deal to be counted as time served. Smart was pregnant with Olivia at the time. She made repeated public appeals to stop Barzee's release but her efforts were unsuccessful. Smart met her British husband in Paris in 2009 during a Mormon mission trip. Over the last 10 years, she has worked as a motivational speaker and author. They live with their children in Park City, Utah. Her parents still reside in Salt Lake City but in a different home to the one she was abducted from. A jilted lover upset that his ex-girlfriend had dumped him held her at gunpoint inside the beauty salon where she worked along with 14 other people. Gaston Machado, 24, visited the young woman at the beauty salon on Thursday shortly after 12pm local time in Montevideo, Uruguay, looking to see if the former couple could get back together. Monica Fernandez, owner of the salon, asked him to leave but he refused, Uruguayan news outlet El Pais reported. He then pulled a gun and held everyone in the salon hostage during a tense five-hour standoff, according to Uruguayan news outlet Pagina 12. Gaston Machado (right) holds his former girlfriend (left) hostage at a beauty salon in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Thursday afternoon. He posted a Facebook video holding a gun and threatening to kill her Machado showed up at the salon shortly after 12pm local time and was immediately told he needed to leave bu he refused and started arguing with his ex-girlfriend An employee sits on the floor while the jilted ex-boyfriend of a co-worker records the moment to holds 14 people hostage A person lays down on the floor during a tense moment in Montevideo, Uruguay. All 14 hostages were freed before Machado turned himself A mother and her daughter escaped through the roof of the beauty salon The jilted ex-boyfriend then took to his personal Facebook account and recorded a live video in which he could be seen waving a gun at the frightened girlfriend and her colleagues as they lay on the floor. Machado accuses the beauty salon worker of having cheated on him with another man and threatened to kill each one of his 14 hostages. 'Here we are with these beautiful people, with this little wh**e who betrays. Look, look, this liar who betrayed me,' Machado said while he pointed his gun at his ex-girfriend. 'And now she is going to die. We're all going to die. Look how we are here. I love this. That's what I didn't want. That's what this bi**h is looking for.' Machado fired three shots when the first responding unit of cops arrived, but no shots were fired by the police officers. One witness told Uruguayan newspaper El Observador that at one point Machado grabbed his ex-girlfriend with one hand while holding his weapon with the other and approached the entrance door. During the standoff, Machado sat on the floor and asked the hostages for forgiveness. Gaston Machado poses with his mother (top center). He shared the photo in Instagram an hour before the nearly six-hour impasse ended by turning himself in. Media outlets in Uruguay reported that a family member entered the beauty salon to help ease the situation Perhaps intending to die, he posted a photo on his Instagram account an hour before entering the salon that showed his mother hugging him and a young girl. 'I will be your Angel and I will forever look over you,' Machado wrote in Spanish. A female employee and her daughter were caught on a cell phone video escaping through the roof of the business. Police negotiators were able to diffuse the situation with the assistance of family members, including his mother and sister. Machado allowed two women to leave the beauty salon after a family member entered the business to talk to him. Moments later, the remaining hostages were freed. Machado stepped out and removed his jacket before placing his hands above his head as cops arrested him. Machado appeared in court Friday and was officially charged with aggravated domestic violence, possession of a firearm and deprivation of privacy. A judge ordered him led for 90 days while the case is investigated. Fernandez told local television station Teledoce that Machado displayed violent mood swings after his ex-girlfriend ended their relationship. She even pleaded to his parents and suggested Machado receive medical attention. A Muslim family says a Virginia hospital told them they couldn't visit a newborn baby because they looked 'scary'. Ahmed Zahr's wife had just given birth to a baby girl in early December at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, where his parents, aunt and uncle went to visit. When they arrived at the birthing center on the third-floor, they were approached by a security guard, reported News4. 'He screams and he says: "You're not allowed to be here!" And then he said: "You know, you look scary",' the aunt, Arwa Zahr, told the station. Ahmed Zahr's parents, aunt and uncle went to visit his newborn baby at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, in early December. Pictured, left to right: Ahmed's uncle, Ahmed's aunt and Ahmed When they arrived at the birthing center on the third-floor, a security guard reportedly told them they couldn't be there because they looked scary. Pictured: Inova Fair Oaks Hospital The Zahr family believes the security guard was referring to the long black veils worn by Arwa and her mother. Both women were wearing a niqab, which is a veil that is worn by some Muslim women for reasons of modesty. The niqab covers the entire face - unlike the hijab, which just covers the hair - leaving an opening slit for the eyes. There is no law in the US that bans the wearing of the niqab, though wearers may be required to unveil their face during a traffic stop, for a driver's license photo or at an airport. Ahmed Zahr told the guard he was being disrespectful after the family was ordered to return to the lobby, according to News4. That's when the guard asked the shift supervisor to intervene, whom the Zahrs said is the head nurse. 'We tried to explain to [the supervisor] our side of the story. He looked at my mother as she was trying to explain what happened, and he told her: "Close your mouth or I'll kick you out",' Ahmed told the station. 'He's telling them: "Nobody wants you here. The nurses don't want you. The doctors don't want you here",' Ahmed Zahr said. Ahmed's aunt, Arwa Zahr (pictured), believes the guard was referencing the niqabs she and her mother were wearing The shift supervisor then tried to kick the family out and called police. The Zahr family had filed formal complaints against the Inova hospital system. Pictured; Ahmed When the Zahrs tried arguing back, hospital staff called the police. Fairfax County officers arrived on the scene and left after speaking to the family, whom then filed formal complaints against Inova. The Zahrs say they feel particularly hurt by the incident because the newborn baby's grandparents, Dr Nabil Zahr and Karima Zohdi, have volunteered as chaplains at another hospital in the system, Inova Fairfax, reported News4. Ahmed said his family has never been the subject of this level of discrimination. 'Just to be treated like that just because of the way you're dressed,' he said. 'We're been living here for, you know, 20-plus years. I haven't witnessed discrimination to this extent.' The hospital says it has offered to meet with the Zahrs, but the family refuses until an investigation has been conducted. Inova did not immediately reply to DailyMail.com's request for comment. However, News 4 received a statement that read in part: 'Inova respects and values our diverse patient community and believes that all patients have the right to a respectful, safe environment, free from all forms of discrimination. 'We hold our team members and contractors to the highest ethical standards, supported by a strict zero tolerance policy against discrimination of any kind. 'We are reviewing the family's concerns and we continue to look for opportunities to better manage these situations in the future.' The two young sisters found dead along with their mother her boyfriend's Texas mansion can be identified. High school cheerleader Alexa Denice Montez and London Bribiescas, 10, were found dead with their mother Nichol Olsen on Thursday morning by Olsen's 31-year-old boyfriend Charles Edward Wheeler in his gated-community home in San Antonio, Texas. He told police he returned to the property at 9.07am after the spending the night elsewhere and found the three of them dead inside. It is unclear where he was overnight or before he found them. Wheeler owns an oil drilling and maintenance company. He bought the home last year for $1million. Police are yet to confirm whether the deaths were the result of a triple murder or double murder suicide carried out by their 37-year-old hairdresser mother. Scroll down for video Alexa Denice Montez (right) and her younger half-sister, London Bribiescas (left) were found shot dead in the home they shared with their mother and her boyfriend on Thursday morning. Alexa was a high school cheerleader and 10-year-old London was in the fifth grade Nichol Olsen, 37, was also found shot dead. Her boyfriend Charles Wheeler, left, told police he returned to the $1million home where they lived at 9am and found the bodies 'It's way too early to tell who's a suspect and who's a witness,' Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said on Thursday at a press conference. All three of them had been shot in their upper bodies but police would not give further detail. 'It's just too early to tell on the third person if that is a murder or a suicide. We'll let the medical examiner take a look at it. 'We're being meticulous about how this crime scene is processed, for certain,' Sheriff Salazar said. On Thursday night, police towed Wheeler's 2013 Ford pick-up from the scene. Now, the girls' fathers' and their relatives are begging for answers. The bodies were found inside the $1million mansion Wheeler bought last year and where they all live. He told police he returned home, found the bodies and called 911 An internal view of the home which is in a gated community in the affluent San Antonio neighborhood The girls and their 22-year-old brother Skylar, who is not thought to have been in the home at the time, all have different fathers, none of whom live with them. On Friday, as news of their death spread, Alexa's father Carlos shared his grief on social media. 'There goes my life,' he wrote. London's paternal aunt, Emma Mancha Sumners, paid tribute to her in another post where she threatened her killer. 'Her name was London. She liked monkeys, painting, and theater. She was going to go to Costa Rica with us this summer, before starting middle school. 'She had her first glass of champagne a week ago, and will never grow up to be who she was supposed to be. The sisters also have a 22-year-old half-brother, Skylar Noble, who was not thought to be in the home at the time London (shown left on New Year's Eve) and Alexa have different fathers. Alexa's father said her death had destroyed his life. London's father is yet to comment 'I know there are people on here who can somehow get this message to the bastard who took her from us. 'So let him know that I'm going to spend every bit of energy and resources I have making sure he rots in jail. Also tell him that you know me, and that I don't make empty threats,' she said. Neither Mr. Montez nor Ms. Manchez Sumners immediately responded to DailyMail.com's inquiries. Police are yet to confirm whether they have any suspects and Skylar Noble, Nichol's oldest child, is yet to comment. Court records obtained by DailyMail.com show that Nichol divorced Skylar's father, James Noble, in 1998 when she was only 17 and Skylar was two. Other records from 2006 detail her divorce from Alexa's father, Carlos. At the time, she was just 25. Nichol never married London's father, 37-year-old Hector Jose Bribiesca, but she sued him for child support in 2013. No gunshots were reported to police on Wednesday night or Thursday morning but Salazar said 'it's quite possible no one heard anything'. Olsen and Wheeler had been dating for at least 18 months. His car was towed from the scene on Thursday night The couple, shown above during a recent trip to San Diego, appeared happy on social media. Wheeler owns an oil rigging and maintenance business He said: 'They're multi-million dollar homes. Very big. Very big lots. And the homes are probably very well constructed. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar would no confirm whether the deaths were the result of a triple murder or a double murder suicide carried out by the mother So it's quite possible no one heard anything.' 'Naturally, it's not a common area for us to see this type of activity but it just goes to show that crime really knows no boundaries, geographic, socioeconomic or otherwise. 'It could happen anywhere, literally.' Olsen was a licensed cosmetologist and appears to have worked as a hair stylist. In March of 2014, she was charged with a domestic assault. The case was dropped when the witness failed to appear in court, however. The attorney who represented Olsen in that case declined to immediately comment when reached by DailyMail.com. James Maloney is pictured leaving Dungannon Court after an earlier hearing A man who became the first person in the UK to be convicted for trying to pay for sex has lost an appeal against his sentence. James Maloney was found guilty in 2016 after approaching a cleaner at a petrol station with a roll of cash and making a sexual gesture. He later returned to the scene at Dungannon, Northern Ireland, in his Audi A3 and repeated the gesture, causing the woman to contact police. The 24-year-old, who claimed the incident was a 'misunderstanding', was sentenced to three months in prison for the crime, which carried a maximum sentence of six months. At an earlier appeal hearing, the victim told the court that she was 'quite surprised' at Maloney's actions, describing him as a 'handsome man'. He had been on bail pending an appeal, with Maloney taken away from the court in handcuffs today to finally begin his sentence. Paying for sex in the UK is only illegal in Northern Ireland, after the country passed the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill in 2015. According to the BBC, the judge told Dungannon Court that the episode was 'a blatant attempt to sexually proposition a vulnerable victim'. He added that the victim was 'simply carrying out an honest day's work and should never have been subjected to this humiliation and degradation'. Maloney was ordered to pay the victim 500 in compensation. The Cumberland Times-News reports that the Federal Bureau of Prison said in a news release Thursday that an inmate acting erratically on Dec. 31 became belligerent and assaulted the staff members. The Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland was subsequently placed on lockdown. Advertisement These jaw-dropping photographs showcase the amazing skill of the pilots in the U.S. Air Force. The pictures, collated by Airman Magazine, the official publication of the Air Force, who describe the images as 'aerial art'. The gallery features recent highlights, include the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, also known as the Thunderbirds, training over Nevada, and performing a pass by New York's Freedom Tower last September. Another stunning shot shows 500 drones performing a choreographed light show against the evening sky during an Independence Day celebration at Travis Air Force Base in California. Airman Magazine describe the photographs as 'aerial art', and explains: 'Since its early days as a service, the Air Force has embraced technological advances in air and space capabilities and played an integral role as a global airpower. ' The collection, including this photo of a C-17 Globemaster III, were collated by Airman Magazine, the official publication of the Air Force, who describe the images as 'aerial art' Showing off: This picture of a F-15E Strike Eagle was chosen as one of the top photos by Airman Magazine The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, also known as the Thunderbirds, perform the Diamond Roll maneuver over the Nevada Test and Training Range during a training flight in February last year. During the training season, each pilot masters their position and maneuvers, while developing trust within the formation A view of the Intel Shooting Star Drone light show at Travis Air Force Base, California, where Travis families were shown the choreographed capabilities of over 500 drones during an Independence Day celebration in July. The drones conducted a show consisting of various designs meant to highlight both the U.S. Air Force's and Travis' history An HH-60 Pave Hawk returns from an exercise mission in July, 2016, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, as part of Red Flag 16-3. The exercise is one of four 'Red Flag' aerial combat training exercises held at Nellis Air Force Base, with this iteration focusing on air, space and cyberspace operations A U.S. Air Force F-15D Eagle flies above the Mariana Islands in support of exercise Valiant Shield, carried out in September. The exercise helps enable real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas The Thunderbirds fly past the Freedom Tower in New York, in September. The Thunderbirds were returning home to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, from New York, where they performed two air shows the weekend before the flyover of the city A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress leads a formation of aircraft including two Polish Air Force F-16s, four U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, two German Eurofighter Typhoons, and four Swedish Saab JAS Gripens over the Baltic Sea, in June, 2016. The formation was captured from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana as part of exercise Baltic Operations 2016 A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft simulates its air to ground capabilities during the 2011 Aviation Nation Open House on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada in 2011 A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon and a Commemorative Air Force P-51 Mustang fly in formation Sep. 6, 2018, while flying over areas of Alabama. This dissimilar formation flight, honoring the Tuskegee Airmen past, present and future, included the 301st Fighter Squadron F-22, 100th Fighter Squadron F-16 and Red Tail P-51. The 100th Fighter Squadron was one of the Tuskegee Airmen squadrons during World War II, a famous all African-American squadron from the 332d Fighter Group, activated on Feb 19, 1942 at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. It was returned to duty in 2007 as a replacement of the Alabama Air National Guard's 160th Fighter Squadron so the state could honor the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen An Air Force Reserve pararescueman from the 920th Rescue Wing jumps out of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter during the second annual Salute to American Heroes Air and Sea Show, in Miami Beach, Florida in May last year Two U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles, a B-52 Stratofortress bomber and two Royal Moroccan air force F-16s fly in a formation during Exercise African Lion April 20, 2018. Various units from the U.S. Armed Forces will conduct multilateral and stability operations training with units from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces in the Kingdom of Morocco. This combined multilateral exercise is designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's tactics, techniques and procedures while demonstrating the strong bond between the nation's militaries The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds practice their performance over Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico in May last year.The Thunderbirds practiced to perform twice over the Memorial Day weekend for the 2018 Cannon Air Show, Space and Tech Fest F-15E Strike Eagles with the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, form up behind a KC-135 Stratotanker with the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, June 15, 2018. The Stratotanker had just finished refueling the Strike Eagles Captain Jonathan Bonilla and 1st Lieutenant Vicente Vasquez, 459th Airlift Squadron UH-1N Huey pilots, fly over Tokyo after completing night training in April, 2016. The 459th AS frequently trains on a multitude of scenarios in preparation for potential real-world contingencies and operations The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) leads a formation of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 ships as Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft and Navy F/A-18 Hornets pass overhead for a photo exercise during Valiant Shield 2018. The biennial, U.S.-only, field-training exercise focuses on integration of joint training among the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps AKC-135 Stratotanker connects with a B-52H Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, during an aerial refueling mission over the Alaskan coastline as part of exercise Amalgam Dart 15-2, which took place in 2015. The annual North American Aerospace Defense Command exercise affords American and Canadian forces field training aimed at improving NORAD's operational capability in a binational environment. The exercise spanned two forward operating locations in Canada's Northwest Territories, two U.S. Air Force bases in Alaska, and a mobile radar site in Resolute, Nunavut, as well as the sky over much of NORAD's area of responsibility Captain Andrew 'Dojo' Olson, F-35 Heritage Flight Team pilot and commander, performs a high-speed pass during the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto in September last year The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform an aerial demonstration during the Cannon Air Show in May, 2016, at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The air show highlights the unique capabilities and qualities of Cannon's air commandos and also celebrates the long-standing relationship between the 27th Special Operations Wing and the local community A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II, P-51D Mustang and VS Spitfire perform a USAF heritage flight during the 2018 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom last July. The RIAT is the world's largest military air show, and last year it celebrated the 100th anniversary of the RAF and highlighted the United State's alliance with the UK U.S. Air Force Major Paul 'Loco' Lopez, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander and pilot, performs during AirPower Over Hampton Roads JBLE Air and Space Expo at Joint Base Langley-Eustis,located adjacent to Hampton and Newport News, Virginia in May last year. The Raptor performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force A KC-135 Stratotanker with the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio refuels an F-15E Strike Eagle with the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina in August last year. The aerial refueling was an exercise to keep pilots and crew proficient and mission ready An E-3 Sentry departs after receiving fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during a refueling mission over Syria in April 2018. The 340th EARS supports various operations in countries such as Iraq and Syria The Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, soar over a sold-out crowd at Las Vegas Motor Speedway before the NASCAR UAW-Dodge 400 Sprint Cup Series race in 2008 A 'honeytrap' beauty who lured an infatuated Sikh TV executive to his grisly death is to become a mayoress just four years after leaving prison. Mundill Mahil invited Gagandip Singh, 21, to her student flat where he was beaten savagely over the head by another man then tied up with electrical cord and trapped in the boot of his Mercedes car which was set on fire. Mahil was sentenced to six years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm in 2012 but was released on licence in 2014. Since her release from jail after serving half her sentence, Mahil has rebuilt her life by becoming a personal trainer and marrying Varinder Singh Bola, a rising star of the Labour Party. Mr Bola this week announced he is mayor-elect of one of London's fastest growing boroughs. Mundill Mahill (pictured) was jailed after luring Sikh TV executive Gagandip Singh, 21, to her student digs where he was beaten savagely over the head by another man then tied up with electrical cord and trapped in the boot of his Mercedes car which was set on fire Since Mahil (left) was released from a six-year jail term for GBH she has rebuilt her life. She has become a personal trainer and married Labour politician Varinder Singh Bola (right) Mahil wed Mr Bola, a rising star of the Labour Party a year after her release from jail, and this week he announced he is mayor-elect of one of London's fastest growing boroughs Mr Bola proudly announced on Twitter that he is mayor-elect of the London Borough of Redbridge, which means that his wife, who served three years for GBH will be mayoress A police mugshot of Mahil was released after she was jailed for her part in the killing of Gagandip. She lured the victim to her student flat in Brighton where he was beaten and tied up before being burned alive in the boot of a car It means Mahil will be free to enjoy all of the perks as well as the pomp and ceremony that her husband's position brings. His distraught family today told MailOnline how Mahil's social climbing is an insult, especially as she only served half her sentence behind bars. His sister Amandip Kaur Singh, 26, said: 'That woman lured my brother to a horrible death and yet served just three years in prison for it. 'She has only been out for four years and is now going to be a mayoress, through her husband, but will be afforded as much respect as him. 'She will be on his arm at official functions, where she'll no doubt launch a charm offensive with the gathered dignitaries. But she doesn't deserve any of it. 'My brother's life was snatched away when it was just about to really begin and as a family we've been struggling to deal with it ever since. 'Yet she's served a meagre prison sentence, married a high-flying politician and is now trying to ingratiate herself into polite society. 'Not once has she ever admitted her guilt or apologised to us. She's moved on and is trying to pretend nothing ever happened.' During her trial at the Old Bailey, Mahil claimed she had no role in the attack on Gagandip (right) and the jury cleared her of murder, but convicted her of causing grievous bodily harm The jury was told that Mahil had 'played God' and lured Gagandip (pictured on CCTV) to his death by inviting him to her student digs in Brighton to get revenge for a sex assault on her In the trial Mahil claimed she had no role in the attack. Harvinder Shoker (left) was convicted of murder sentenced to life while Darren Peters (right) was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter Gagandip's body was later found in the boot of the burnt out wreckage of his Mercedes car, dumped 60 miles away near Greenwich Park, in South East London (pictured) During her trial at the Old Bailey, the jury was told that Mahil had 'played God' and lured Gagandip to his death by inviting him to her flat in Brighton to get revenge for a sex assault on her. Gagandip's body was later found in the boot of the burnt out wreckage of his Mercedes car, dumped 60 miles away near Greenwich Park, in South East London. Mahil claimed she had no role in the attack and although she was cleared of murder she was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm. Another man, Harvinder Shoker, who was also infatuated with Mahil, was convicted of murder and jailed for a minimum of 22 years and a third, Darren Peters, of manslaughter, jailed for 12 years. Sentencing Mahil, Judge Paul Worsley QC said she had 'many outstanding qualities' but was also 'manipulative, vengeful and deceitful'. Since her release, she has trained as a personal trainer, aromatherapist and masseuse as well as getting involved with photography and charity work. She has also sought to desperately erase her past by launching no fewer than five websites, all carrying detailed descriptions of her achievements and strengths. One described her as a 'highly conscientious people's person' but unsurprisingly there is not one single mention of her victim, conviction or time in jail. In 2016 she married Mr Bola, an Ilford councillor who worked as a senior official in the office of Ilford South MP Mike Gapes and who has been pictured with London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Earlier this week, Mr Bola tweeted: 'I'm over the moon to be confirmed as the Mayor-Elect for the London Borough of Redbridge. In 2016 she wed Mr Bola (pictured), an Ilford councillor who worked as an official in the office of Ilford South MP Mike Gapes and who has been pictured with London Mayor Sadiq Khan Since Mahil's release from prison early she has trained as a personal trainer, aromatherapist and masseuse as well as getting involved with photography and charity work Mahil and her husband (left and right) married at Rochester Gurdwara in Kent, near her family home, with Mahil rumoured to have been wearing a bespoke 3000 wedding dress 'It's an incredible privilege to step into the role of Mayor following the incredible Cllr @DebbieThiara and represent the Borough I love and have lived in my whole life.' As his wife Mahil will be free to attend glittering social functions by his side amid the great and the good of Redbridge. The couple were married at Rochester Gurdwara in Kent, near her family home,with Mahil rumoured to have been wearing a bespoke 3000 wedding dress. Afterwards more than 500 guests packed into Cobham Hall in nearby Higham. France is braced for bigger and more violent yellow vest protests this weekend as police warned the demonstrations are gathering steam again as they enter their ninth consecutive weekend. National police chief Eric Morvan told France Inter radio he expected 'a return to a level of mobilisation seen before the Christmas holidays' this Saturday. Tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected to take to the streets around France, including 3,500 in Paris alone, as city police chief Michel Delpuech predicted they would be 'more tempted by violence.' But a planned 'national gathering' in the city of Bourges looked in doubt as marchers were banned amid fears of rioting and looting. French police expect tens of thousands of yellow vests to take to the streets across Europe this weekend - including 3,500 in Paris alone - as the movement regains momentum (file image) Last week's protests were marked by a return of the clashes and destruction seen at the height of the protests in late November and early December. In two particularly shocking scenes caught on video, a group of demonstrators used a forklift to ram the doors of the ministry of government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, and a former professional boxer battered two police officers guarding a bridge over the Seine river. 'Week after week we have observed a drift towards increasingly violent behaviour,' Delpuech told France Inter radio, adding that symbols of state power had become the chief targets. The 'yellow vests' accuse the police of fanning the flames with their liberal use of tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades against demonstrators. They also point to a video showing a police captain in the southern city of Toulon beating demonstrators in support of their claim that the violence cuts both ways. President Emmanuel Macron's government is taking an increasingly tough line with the revolt, which began in mid-November in the rural heartland over fuel taxes and quickly ballooned into a wholesale rejection of the president. The demonstrators accuse 41-year-old Macron and his government of being deaf to the concerns of ordinary citizens and of favouring the rich over the poor in their fiscal policies. Some are intent on forcing Macron from office. Police chiefs have warned the demonstrations will be more violent than previous weeks, as officials in the city of Bourges took the proactive step of banning the demonstrations (file) On Monday, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced that 80,000 security force members would be deployed nationwide on Saturday. 'Those who question our institutions will not have the last word,' Philippe said. He also announced plans for legislation to ban known 'troublemakers' from taking part in demonstrations. Macron tried to take the heat out of the protests in December by announcing a 10-billion-euro ($11.5-billion) package of wage boosts and tax relief for low earners. With that falling short of the mark, the president is now pinning his hopes on a two-month 'grand national debate' on voters' grievances starting Tuesday - a response to the protesters' call for ordinary citizens to have more of a say in the running of the country. But a poll by the respected Cevipof political sciences institute released Friday showed the odds stacked against Macron. The poll found distrust of politicians at an all-time high, with 77 percent of respondents saying they inspired 'distrust', 'disgust' or 'boredom'. The leader of Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, Luigi di Maio, this week publicly backed the French protesters, offering his party's internet platform for direct democracy -- known as 'Rousseau' after a leading thinker of the French Enlightenment -- to help the 'yellow vests' define a programme. While leaderless, the 'yellow vests' mirror movements like Spain's Indignados and Italy's 5-Star, which have sought to upend Europe's traditional political system. 'I am more worried now about the 'yellow vest' protests in France (than Italy),' Karen Ward, chief market strategist for EMEA at JP Morgan Asset Management, told an media briefing. The 'yellow vests' take their name from the high-visibility jackets they wear at road barricades and on the street. Their rage stems from a squeeze on household incomes and a belief that Macron, a former investment banker regarded as close to big business, is indifferent to their hardships. Macron will take heart from a sharp fall in public support for the protesters over the past month. He promises to use the debates to channel their anger and shape new policy via a more participatory democracy. Freshman lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dropped a hammer on Joe Lieberman on Thursday, after the onetime Democratic vice presidential candidate said he feared her brand of high-tax socialism could doom the party's chances for long-term dominance in Congress. 'I certainly hope shes not the future and I dont believe she is,' Lieberman said in a Fox Business Network interview. He retired in 2013 after serving 24 years in the U.S. Senate. The 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez retweeted the 76-year-old's sentiment with a four-word rejoinder: 'New party, who dis?' 'Who dis?' is a common response to a text message from an unknown number. Among millennials in the smartphone generation, the phrase has morphed into a snarky tool for rejecting someone by framing their approach as a mistake. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left, with Rep. Grace Meng) is promoting socialist-leaning policies that make centrist Democrats worry; Ocasio-Cortez, who is 29 years old, doesn't care Former Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Lieberman, a 76-year-old retired U.S. senator, said his party will lose voters in the long term if Ocasio-Cortez's ideas become its bread and butter: 'I certainly hope shes not the future and I dont believe she is' Ocasio-Cortez fired back with a millennial-friendly zinger whose subtext is that she is the Democrats' futureand Lieberman is its past Just a few weeks into the new Congress, Ocasio-Cortez is already causing heartburn among centrist Democrats who are wary of her unapologetic proposal to raise the top marginal income tax rate to 70 per cent. The current top rate is 37 per cent. That applies to an earner's income after the first $600,000. Ocasio-Cortez's plan would start applying the 70 per cent rate after the first $10 million. Lieberman said Thursday that she's too 'left-left' to help the Democratic Party be a sustainable political powerhouse. 'If you look at the majority of new Democrats in the House,' he said, 'they tend to be I say, center-left ... and that is because they had to be center-left to win some of those competitive swing districts that they took from Republicans.' Lieberman made his comments on the Fox Business Network; news of his interview quickly reached Ocasio-Cortez on social media Ocasio-Cortez also advocates for an ambitious 'Green New Deal' that calls for a transition to a 100 percent renewable energy system and the complete replacement of America's power grid as a means of generating jobs and saving the natural environment. Price-tag estimates for carrying out that agenda costs that taxpayers would bear range from $2 trillion to $51 trillion. Similarly, Ocasio-Cortez is pushing for a 'Medicare for All' medical insurance overhaul in the U.S., an ambitious plan that would put much of the industry in the hands of government. Vocal critics of the approach say it's an expensive clone of socialized medicine systems found in Canada, Scandinavia and elsewhere. 'More, please,' a Republican Senate aide told DailyMail.com on Friday. 'Honestly, if the Democrats had 3 more of her, Americans would run away so fast that we'd have a power monopoly until she's Lieberman's age.' Despite Ocasio-Cortez' telegenic approach to self-promotion and her social media star power, Democratic House leaders have sought to sideline her in practical ways that could limit the public's exposure to her less mainstream views. When she made a play this month for a seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, a senior Democrat told Politico that '[i]t totally pissed off everyone. You dont get picked for committees by who your grass-roots [supporters] are.' Veteran Democratic members suspected Ocasio-Cortez was behind a siable online campaign to convince Speaker Nancy Pelosi to give her the plum appointment. And she is expected to loudly advocate for Democratic primary campaigns against some of the middle-of-the-road members of her own party in Congress. Her new chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, told supporters during a November conference call that 'we gotta primary folks.' A man has died after he was stabbed in the neck while getting his hair cut. The 20-year-old man died hours after he was rushed to hospital in a critical condition following the stabbing at Classico Hair Salon in Bossley Park, Sydney's west. Emergency services were called about 12.40pm on Friday, with the man stumbling out onto the street and collapsing. A 20-year-old man has died after he was stabbed in the neck at a Sydney hair salon. Pictured, emergency services at the scene Emergency services were called to the scene at Bossley Park about 12.40pm on Friday Shoppers and business owners in nearby shops heard screams and walked outside to see the victim on the floor. 'I just heard somebody screaming, I walked out and I saw him stabbed on the floor,' Shayna's cafe owner Ninos Tooma told The Daily Telegraph. Witnesses reported a man on a motorcycle with L-plates had pulled up outside the salon about 12.40pm and entered the shop, before dumping the bike. The victim was in cardiac arrest on the pavement outside the salon when emergency services arrived at the scene. Shortly before 5pm on Friday, a man was arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station. A New South Wales Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia no charges have been laid at this time. Police are treating the incident as targeted. A former beauty queen school school teacher has been killed in a horrific car crash which also injured a six-year-old girl. Dawn Croke, who was in her 30s, died instantly when she was hit by a 4x4 in the tragic road accident near St Crona's national School in Dungloe, County Donegal, which is in the Republic of Ireland. The young girl who was also hit by the vehicle was taken to University Hospital Letterkenny. Dawn Croke, who was in her 30s, died instantly in the tragic road accident near St Crona's national School in Dungloe, which is in the Republic of Ireland. The young girl who was also hit by the vehicle was taken to University Hospital Letterkenny Miss Croke was also a former pageant contestant in Ireland's popular Mary From Dungloe International Festival. Today friends and colleagues paid tribute to Dawn, who worked at Rosses Community School where her father is also a teacher. One woman paying tribute on Facebook wrote: 'Heaven has surely gained the most stunning angel of all.' A notice sent to all pupils read 'Rosses Community School will be closed tomorrow due to a bereavement in the school community. Today friends and colleagues paid tribute to Dawn, who worked at Rosses Community School where her father is also a teacher. One woman paying tribute on Facebook wrote: 'Heaven has surely gained the most stunning angel of all' A notice sent to all pupils read 'Rosses Community School will be closed tomorrow due to a bereavement in the school community Ms Croke was killed after she was hit by this Ford Ranger Wildtrak in An Clochan Liath Gardai are investigating what caused the 4x4 Crew Cab to collide with Ms Croke 'Our condolences to the family. The school will be open from 9.30am for support for all members of the school community.' A spokesperson for the Mary from Dungloe committee said: 'I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of the late Dawn Croke who sadly passed away today. 'Dawn was the Dungloe Mary in 2008, my thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this difficult time. 'We are asking committee members and Mary's past and present to join us for a guard of honour at Dawn's funeral.' Ms Croke will be laid to rest following her funeral mass on Monday. A jilted lover stormed a hair salon and took his ex-girlfriend and her colleagues hostage after she dumped him for being abusive. The young man, identified as Gaston Machado, entered the hairdressing salon in the Pocitos neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay on Thursday and took around 10 people hostage for several hours. He reportedly locked the 10 hostages inside the salon and accused his ex-girlfriend of 'betraying' him. Armed with a revolver, the man was said to have fired the weapon when he saw police at the scene - although all the hostages were later released without injury. The young man, identified as Gaston Machado, posted a video on Facebook in which he could be seen threatening his ex with a pistol At one point Machado is heard threatening to kill everyone in the store as he films them cowering on the ground In footage posted on Facebook by Machado, he is heard threatening to kill everyone in the hairdressers. In the footage, he says: 'Well, people, here we are in the Amor Mio (My Love) hairdressers, a beautiful hair salon.' 'People here, people here betray others. 'Look, here. This is the little b*tch who betrays others, do you see her? 'This whore, she speaks with an ugly and horrible guy.' Machado is seen brandishing a gun as he films his anxious ex and the other nervy customers inside the salon. Machado being led away by police on Thursday afternoon after he eventually turned himself in Officers stand guard outside the hairdressers salon in Montevideo, Uruguay after the siege was brought to an end He threatens: 'We all are going to die. Look, there are people here. Look, we are all here! And now look, we are going to die. We are leaving, ciao!' According to Uruguay's Interior Ministry, a 'successful negotiation' over a four-hour period led to the man giving himself up. According to local media, even though the incident ended peacefully, Machado fired his gun at least three times when he first spotted the police arriving on the scene. Two people inside the salon managed to escape via the roof terrace, as seen in the footage. Reports said that the suspect's ex-girlfriend had recently reported him for domestic violence. This is the terrifying moment an AK-47 gets stuck on full auto as a man tests it out at a shooting range. In video footage recorded at Battlefield Shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., a man and two instructors can be seen preparing to fire the gun. However after four steady shots the trigger gets stuck on full auto and dozens of bullets fly from the weapon. At the start of the short clip everything is going to plan and the situation appears to be under control. An instructor at Battlefield shooting range in Las Vegas helps the man, whose name is not known, line up his target, left, before he fires four steady shots, right, at the range One of the instructors gives young man, whose name is not known, advice about how to handle the gun and how to stand. He says: 'Lean forward, as if you're leaning into the gun and it's part of you.' The instructor tells the man it is on semi-auto as he sizes up the target and begins to shoot. After four steady shots the gun starts to rain bullets as it appears that the trigger has gotten stuck on full-auto. The man steps backwards as the bullets continue to fly out of the automatic weapon but manages to keep the gun facing forward. Two instructors rush forward to help the man, with one grabbing his arm and the other pushing his back so he steps towards the range. Another person can be heard nervously giggling from behind the camera as the man, wearing a purple polo top and denim shorts, turns around. One of the experts pushes the man forward to help control the gun, left, after the rifle gets stuck on full auto. Pictured right are bullet casings from other guns at the firing range The man sighs and puts his hands on his hips, clearly surprised at what just happened and relieved the gun is no longer in his hands. However after a couple of seconds the man steps back up to the range and prepares to shoot the target again. The AK-47 originally had a cyclic firing rate of 600 rounds per minute and was adopted by the Soviet military in 1949, reports Britannica. At Battlefield Vegas visitors can fire 25 Rounds for $45 or 50 Rounds for $90. A race row has broken out in South Africa after health officials advertised for 100 new doctors, but did not allow white medics to apply for specialist roles. The health department in the KwaZulu-Natal province expanded its registrar programme for 2019 from 314 to 414, but aimed to fill the new posts with only black candidates. Health bosses said the move was implemented to redress the country's historical racial imbalance of Apartheid that saw most high-ranking positions filed by white doctors. Campaigners and human rights activists have branded the recruitment policy 'discriminatory, unconstitutional and racist'. Leaked documents show the department wanted to train a total of 366 black doctors and had already recruited 32 Indian, 12 white and four mixed race registrars, but need a further 100 black medics to meet employment equity targets. The 2019 KwaZulu-Natal health department registrar programme grew from 314 to 414, but bosses aimed to fill the new posts with only black candidates The registrar programme trains doctors to become specialists over a four-year period. Ncumisa Mafunda, a spokeswoman for the health department, said historical redress was a 'government imperative' and 'the morally and socially right thing to do'. She told TimesLIVE: 'South Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal, remains an unequal society with limited opportunities for self-development for those who were historically oppressed. 'This means 238 posts must be filled with [black] Africans to take the current 128 filled posts to the target of 366. This implies that the 100 new posts must go to Africans in terms of the targets, else if there are no suitable Africans, the posts must be re-advertised. 'After difficulties were experienced in recruiting black African candidates for these posts, a deviation was sought from the accounting officer and, out of a total of 77 registrar posts, 21 posts will be offered to non-Black Africans.' Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and the largest city in the KwaZulu-Natal provonce But Mary de Haas, a member of Medical Rights Advocacy Network (Meran) said that historical redress was necessary, but the policy was discriminatory and unconstitutional, blaming mismanaging of department budgets. She told the newspaper: 'I think it is a very bad way of doing it. It's not really fair to sideline people who have done extremely well. 'It [the health department] spent money sending students to Cuba instead of building local capacity, which would have sorted this out years ago. Dr Imran Keeka, a spokesman for the Democratic Alliance KwaZulu-Natal health said a policy which 'causes the domination of one race over the other by exclusion is nothing more than an aberration of our constitutional values and is racist'. The US Coast Guard has reprimanded an officer in South Carolina for flashing a white supremacy hand sign on live television last year. The man was formally censured for intentionally using the hand gesture similar to the 'OK' sign in Charleston during the emergency response to Hurricane Florence in September. The Post and Courier reported the Coast Guard officer was in the background of a television shot while Capt. John W. Reed, commander of the Coast Guard Charleston Station, was being interviewed on MSNBC. He flashed the hand sign associated with white supremacy. Scroll down for video The US Coast Guard has reprimanded an officer in South Carolina for flashing a white supremacy hand sign during a live MSNBC broadcast on September 14 (pictured in background) The unnamed officer looked into the camera before making the 'OK' hand signal as Capt John Reed talked about the Coast Guard's response to Hurricane Florence The Coast Guard tweeted that the officer was removed from the emergency response team. The Coast Guard refused to publicly identify the service member, citing a privacy exemption that applies to personnel and medical files, but it appears he is still employed by the service. An administrative letter dated October 5 says his actions showed a lack of maturity and an inability to understand the gravity of a weather disaster. Capt Reed wrote that the member of the hurricane response team was 'directly cautioned by a Public Affairs Specialist about the controversy surrounding that symbol just prior to the live interview being conducted,' yet he decided to 'play a game' and flash it on live TV. The incident received national attention and the Coast Guard issued a statement addressing the 'offensive' video, saying the person was removed from the emergency response team. The incident will go on the officer's permanent record and will be taken into account when being considered for a promotion. WHAT IS THE WHITE POWER SIGN? The historic hand sign for OK - touching the forefinger to thumb with other three fingers raised - was adopted by the alt-right and Trump supporters in 2015. Conservative Viner Pizza Party Ben and the alt-right's former pin-up boy Milo Yiannopoulos began making the gesture at various campaign events for Trump in the lead up to the 2016 election. White supremacist Richard Spencer also flashed the sign on election night in 2016 in front of a Trump Hotel with the caption 'Tonight's the night.' The symbol has since come to stand for white supremacy. It is sometimes used by members of the alt-right and white supremacists to signal to others they suspect are in the movement without alerting 'normal' people. Nazis and other extremist groups have often used formerly 'innocent' innocuous symbols as signifiers, such as the ancient religious icon of the swastika - which is now intrinsically linked with the party. Such seemingly innocuous gestures also allow them plausible deniability and many allegations of the symbol being used as a white supremacist signifier, are met with retorts about the 'hysterical' or overly politically correct left. This was used to effect in a February 2017 post on 4chan, a discussion board notorious for its ties to the alt-right, which claimed the gesture's association with white supremacy had been a 4chan hoax operation to trick liberals and the news media into believing it was a racist symbol to show they would believe anything could be racist. However, the post came more than a year after the gesture was associated with white supremacists and seems to be an attempt to mislead the public about the symbol's origins. The symbol has continued to be used, including allegedly by White House intern Jack Breuer in 2017, photographed making the OK sign in his class photo, who claimed he was copying the president's gesture of touching his index finger and thumb while speaking. But authorities are cracking down on the racist symbol and just last year, several members of a police force in Jasper, Alabama were suspended for flashing the OK sign in a group photo. Advertisement The gesture was made on MSNBC's Live with Ali Velshi on September 14 while Captain Reed was giving an update on Hurricane Florence and the response efforts in Charleston, South Carolina. As Reed talked with Velshi, a Coast Guard member in a red shirt sitting at a table behind the captain is seen in the video quickly giving the 'OK' sign, a once innocuous hand signal that is now widely associated with the alt-right. Many people took to Twitter shortly after the segment was aired, demanding that the Coast Guard was fired. '"Removed from response?" I hope this is just the beginning of serious disciplinary action and termination!' Twitter user Dawn Able posted. 'What does this mean? Is he just out of camera shot now? IS he out "helping" black and brown people? Or just his own? Please be clearer,' a Twitter user who goes by the name Don'Beababy wrote. Twitter user Kitty wrote: 'Fire him. or you are also complicit'. But it appears that he has retained his job at the Coast Guard. The Office of the State Fire Marshal said Friday that the fire caused approximately $80,000 in damage to the structure and $40,000 in damages to its contents. The fire marshal has deemed the fire accidental, having began as a result of an electrical issue involving a small refrigerator, according to a notice of investigation. Nearly 400 Coast Guard families showed up at a Massachusetts food pantry set up to help families and members of the only branch of the military that is working without pay during Trump's partial government shutdown. The Massachusetts Military Support Foundation opened up a pop-up food pantry in Boston earlier in the week to provide groceries for hundreds of Massachusetts-based Coast Guard families to help see them through the upcoming paycheck-less period they are facing. Coast Guard members were on hand to offload about 30,000 pounds of groceries, medicine and other sundries from trucks and onto shelves in a cafeteria for people to avail themselves of, according to NPR. Almost 400 families stopped by the Boston-based pop-up pantry organized by the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation during it's first two days of being open 'We've been hit hard with the baby food, the diapers. I mean it's just a tidal wave' of people in need,' Massachusetts Military Support Foundation president Don Cox said. In the first two days of the pop-up being open, Cox said almost 400 families stopped by for supplies. He said that the group's regular Cape Cod pantry has already given out more in two days than it traditionally does in a month's time. The items being given out are said to have been donated by local businesses and foundations, such as Ocean State Job Lot, the Patriots foundation, Shaw's Supermarkets and the Greater Boston Food Bank. Donations to the statewide group's GoFundMe page have also helped. So far, 52,000 pounds of food have been donated. Cox told ConnectingVets.com that with the pantry, Coast Guardsmen and women won't 'have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.' Coasties were on hand to set up 30,000 of the 52,000 pounds of food that has been donated so far to help feed Coast Guard families going without pay during the government shutdown The organization has already given out more food in two days than it usually does in a month The organization's goal is to provide food to the families to help lighten their load during the shutdown when they don't know when their next paychecks will be arriving The food from the pantry will allow the Coast Guard families to use their limited funds for other necessities. One Coast Guard wife said the supplies were 'a little weight lifted off of me' With no guaranteed delivery date for their next paychecks, Cox said, the Coasties will have to shoulder the burden of trying to figure out how they're going to scrape together the funds for car payments, rent and other necessities, but 'we're at least making sure they can take care of their family and can feed their family and take that burden off their plate.' Coast Guard wife and mother of two, Jenny James, told NPR that she was 'blown away' after going to the pantry and seeing the available supplies and that it's 'actually very relieving' to know that they are there for her. She said that she has stopped buying things that aren't crucial for the family, but being able to go to the pantry means that she can save the cash the family has on hand for other necessities. 'It's very comforting to know a little weight lifted off of me having to worry about putting food on the table,' James said. The organization said that it is currently feeding 2,000 families, but that the number could double or triple depending on how long the shutdown continues. The Massachusetts Military Support Foundation also runs a day care center on Cape Cod, which is providing military families in need with clothing, food, diapers, and even pacifiers and rattles, Cox told the Boston Globe. The Coast Guard's suggestions for how its unpaid Coasties should attempt to make ends meet during the partial government shutdown recently made headlines after a tip sheet surfaced telling families to hold garage sales, sell items online, babysit or walk dogs to make money to hold them over. The tip sheet was removed from the Coast Guard Support Program's website shortly after news organizations became aware of its existence. A Coast Guard service spokesperson told the Washington Post that the 'guidance' was removed because its tips did not 'reflect the Coast Guards current efforts to support our workforce during this lapse in appropriations.' The partial government shutdown began on December 22. Friday is the first day that impacted government employees have received zero sum paychecks. Coast Guard salaries are covered by the Department of Homeland Security, unlike the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, which are covered by the Defense Department. An Army officer was killed at a convenience store in Virginia in front of his teenage daughter, in what police are calling a random act of violence. Robert Gooch IV, 34, and his 13-year-old daughter were buying popcorn at a Wawa in Chesterfield County before watching a movie on Tuesday around 7pm. He was suddenly shot several times by George Buschmann, 34, who didn't know Gooch and didn't interact with him before firing his gun, reported the Richmond Times-Dispatch. No motive has yet been provided for the shooting. The father-of-three had multiple wounds was taken via ambulance to a local hospital, where he passed away. Robert Gooch IV (left) was at a Wawa in Chesterfield County, Virginia, buying popcorn with his eldest daughter before watching a movie. He was suddenly shot several times by George Buschmann, 34 (right), who didn't know Gooch and didn't interact with him before shooting The father-of-three was taken to a local hospital via ambulance where he died from his injuries. Pictured: Gooch with his wife Leslie Ortega and their three children The victim's father, Robert Gooch III, told the Times-Dispatch that his son was walking to his car when the gunman began firing. He said his son ordered his granddaughter to 'get down' and call her grandfather. 'He's an Army officer and he understands how to give orders and get things done,' the father told the newspaper. 'He's not somebody who would ever panic. He was calm and in charge.' Gooch III said his son joined the Navy after graduating high school but was commissioned into the Army after graduating college. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and worked on the medical field in the US Army Reserve. According to police, Buschmann fled after the shooting in a 2007 silver Toyota that officers spotted around 1am on Wednesday. Buschmann was allegedly speeding on US 60 in Powhatan when police ordered him to stop. He kept driving, leading authorities on a chase. Gooch's father said his son served multiple tours in Afghanistan and worked on the medical field in the US Army Reserve. Pictured: Gooch (far left) with members of his unit Buschmann is currently being held at the Chesterfield County Jail and a judge has denied bail or a bond. He faces several changed including first-degree murder, grand larceny of a motor vehicle and felony eluding. Pictured: Gooch with his wife and children, left, and Gooch with his children, right Anne Reynolds, crime analyst for the Powhatan Sheriff's Office, told the Times-Dispatch that police eventually deployed spike strips to make the car stop and arrested Buschmann. Buschmann is currently being held at the Chesterfield County Jail and a judge had denied bail or a bond. According to the Times-Dispatch, he's been charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm after being involuntarily committed, transporting a firearm while being subject to a protective order, grand larceny of a motor vehicle and felony eluding. He was arraigned on Wednesday and a preliminary hearing is expected to take place on March 26. This is far from Buschmann's first run-in with the law. He has violated several protective orders filed against him by former housemates and his wife, whom he's estranged from. He was also released from jail in Richmond just last month. His sister, Ruth Buschmann, who lives in Charlottesville, said her brother had mental health issues and was not taking his prescribed medication. Pictured: Gooch (left) with a member of his unit Gooch's neighbors described him as a kind man who was always willing to help others. Pictured: Gooch with his wife Leslie Ortega His sister, Ruth Buschmann, who lives in Charlottesville, told WWBT that her brother had mental health issues and was not taking his prescribed medication. 'Don't ignore it, don't ignore it and take your medicine. He didn't take his medicine right and I didn't make him, and I just let him choose and I just laughed at whatever,' she said. Gooch's neighbors described him as a kind man who was always willing to help others. 'He was the first one to say 'Hey, let me help you out. What do you need?'' Faizan Habib told WTVR. Robert was a fantastic guy. Very helpful, very loving to his kids.' Family friends have set up a GoFundMe page to provide support to Gooch's wife, Leslie Ortega, and their three children. As of Friday, more than $27,000 has been raised out of an initial $20,000 goal. Theresa May won her Tory confidence vote after promising not to lead the party into the 2022 general election. These are some of the leading contenders to replace her: Boris Johnson - 7/2 How did they vote on Brexit? Led the Vote Leave campaign alongside Michael Gove. What is their view now? Hard line Brexiteer demanding a clean break from Brussels. The former foreign secretary is violently opposed to Theresa May's Chequers plan and a leading voice demanding a Canada-style trade deal. What are their chances? Mr Johnson's biggest challenge could be navigating the Tory leadership rules. He may be confident of winning a run-off among Tory members but must first be selected as one of the top two candidates by Conservative MPs. Now rated as favourite by the bookies, Boris Johnson's (pictured leaving parliament last night) biggest challenge will be navigating the Tory leadership rules Dominic Raab - 9/2 How did they vote on Brexit? Leave, with a second tier role campaigning for Vote Leave. What is their view now? Mr Raab was installed as Brexit Secretary to deliver the Chequers plan but sensationally resigned last month saying the deal was not good enough. What are their chances? His resignation from the Cabinet put rocket boosters under Mr Raab's chances, fuelling his popularity among the hardline Brexiteers. May struggle to overcome bigger beasts and better known figures. Newly installed as Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab (pictured on Tuesday) is trying to negotiate Theresa May's Brexit deal Sajid Javid - 5/1 How did they vote on Brexit? Remain but kept a low profile in the referendum. What is their view now? Pro delivering Brexit and sceptical of the soft Brexit options. What are their chances? Probably the leading candidate from inside the Cabinet after his dramatic promotion to Home Secretary. Mr Javid has set himself apart from Mrs May on a series of policies, notably immigration. Sajid Javid (pictured leaving the Houses of Parliament this evening) is probably the leading candidate from inside the Cabinet after his dramatic promotion to Home Secretary Michael Gove - 7/1 How did they vote on Brexit? Leave What is their view now? He has said Theresa May's Chequers blueprint for Brexit is the 'right one for now'. But he recently suggested a future prime minister could alter the UK-EU relationship if they desired. What are their chances? He came third in the first round of voting in 2016, trailing behind ultimate winner Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom. Mr Gove has said it is 'extremely unlikely' that he would stand again. But he popular in the party and is seen as an ideas man and a reformer by many, and he could change his mind if Theresa May is shown the door. Michael Gove appeared to rule himself out of the race in recent days, but he ran last time and is popular among many in the party. He is pictured outside the Houses of Parliament today Jeremy Hunt - 7/1 How did they vote on Brexit? Remain. What is their view now? The Foreign Secretary claims the EU Commission's 'arrogance' has made him a Brexiteer. What are their chances? Another top contender inside Cabinet, Mr Hunt's stock rose during his record-breaking stint at the Department of Health and won a major promotion to the Foreign Office after Mr Johnson's resignation. Widely seen as a safe pair of hands which could be an advantage if the contest comes suddenly. Jeremy Hunt's stock rose during his record-breaking stint at the Department of Health and won a major promotion to the Foreign Office after Mr Johnson's resignation David Davis - 10/1 How did they vote on Brexit? Leave. What is their view now? Leave and a supporter of scrapping Mrs May's plan and pursuing a Canada-style trade deal with the EU. What are their chances? The favoured choice of many hard Brexiteers. Seen as a safer pair of hands than Mr Johnson and across the detail of the current negotiation after two years as Brexit Secretary. He could be promoted a caretaker to see through Brexit before standing down. Unlikely to be the choice of Remain supporters inside the Tory Party - and has been rejected by the Tory membership before, in the 2005 race against David Cameron. David Davis (pictured outside the Houses of Parliament today) is seen as a safer pair of hands than Mr Johnson and across the detail of the current negotiation after two years as Brexit Secretary Amber Rudd - 14/1 How did they vote on Brexit? Remain. Represented Britain Stronger in Europe in the TV debates. What is their view now? Strongly remain and supportive of a second referendum - particularly given a choice between that and no deal. What are their chances? Popular among Conservative MPs as the voice of Cameron-style Toryism, Ms Rudd is still seen as a contender despite resigning amid the Windrush scandal - and she was boosted further by her return to Cabinet as Work and Pensions Secretary on Friday night. She is badly hampered by having a tiny majority in her Hastings constituency and would not be able to unite the Tory party in a sudden contest over the Brexit negotiation. Popular among Conservative MPs as the voice of Cameron-style Toryism, Amber Rudd (pictured leaving parliament this evening) is still seen as a contender despite resigning amid the Windrush scandal Jacob Rees-Mogg - 14/1 How did they vote on Brexit? Leave. What is their view now? Leave and recently branded Theresa May's Brexit U-turn a 'humiliation' which has left her deal 'defeated'. What are their chances? As chair of the European Research Group (ERG) bloc of Tory Eurosceptics he has been urging MPs to replace Mrs May for weeks. Pro-Brexit supporter, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, walks through members of the media and anit-brexit demonstrators as he walks near to the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday Penny Mordaunt - 14/1 How did they vote on Brexit? Leave. What is their view now? Leave and subject of persistent rumour she could be the next to quit Cabinet over Mrs May's Brexit deal. What are their chances? Possible dark horse in the contest, Ms Mordaunt is not well known to the public but is seen as a contender in Westminster. Known to harbour deep concerns about Mrs May's Brexit deal, but has stopped short of resigning from Cabinet. Possible dark horse in the contest, Penny Mordaunt (pictured in Downing Street) is not well known to the public but is seen as a contender in Westminster Andrea Leadsom - 16/1 How did they vote on Brexit? Leave. What is their view now? Ms Leadsom said in late November that she was backing the withdrawal agreement struck with Brussels because it 'delivered' on the referendum result. What are their chances? Leader of the Commons since June, Andrea Leadsom found herself at the centre of controversy in the 2016 leadership campaign when comments she made were interpreted as a claim that she would be a better PM than Mrs May because she was a mother. Asked recently whether Mrs May was the right person to be leading the country, she said she is 'at the moment'. Andrea Leadsom, Leader of the House of Commons, arrives at Downing Street on Thursday last week Gavin Williamson - 33/1 How did they vote on Brexit? Remain. What is their view now? Mr Williamson tweeted today: 'The Prime Minister has my full support. She works relentlessly hard for our country and is the best person to make sure we leave the EU on 29 March and continue to deliver our domestic agenda.' What are their chances? He backed Remain in the referendum and pledged his support for Mrs May in the 2016 leadership contest but has since been mentioned as a potential future Tory leader. A Georgia woman has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of a teenager more than 27 years ago. Sabrina Long, 19, was last heard from in the early hours of August 14, 1991, at her home in Macon, Georgia. Melinda McSwain, 46, who attended the same high school as Miss Long in the year below her, has been accused of kidnapping her 'resulting in Longs injury and death'. Arrested: Melinda McSwain, 46, has been accused of kidnapping Sabrina Long, 19, in Macon, Georgia 'resulting in Longs injury and death' in August, 1991 She is now facing charges of malice murder, felony murder and kidnapping with bodily injury, the Macon Telegraph reports. According to The Charley Project, a website which chronicles cold cases, Long lived with her stepfather from whom her mother was divorced. She was last seen alive by her boyfriend when she returned to the house after finishing her workshift at a nearby factory at around 11pm on August 13. He departed soon afterwards and she later phoned her mother between 12.30am and 1.30am. She told her she was going to a male neighbor's home to help give him advice on a gift he had bought his mother. She was never heard from again. Classmates: McSwain went to the same high school in Macon as the 19-year-old , but was in the year below her Unsolved mystery: Miss Long, whose body has never been found, was last heard of in the early hours of August 14, 1991 Her stepfather returned to the empty house at around 3am, where he found the lights on and her purse and make-up still in her bedroom. It later emerged that Long had lied about the neighbor, who said he had not spoken to her about coming over and he had not bought a gift for his mother. Both stepfather and the neighbor had alibis on the evening and neither they nor the boyfriend have ever been named as suspects. It is not known what new information in the case after 27 years brought on the arrest of McSwain. Miss Long's body has never been found, and her family had her legally declared dead in 1999. A good Samaritan returned a woman's $10,000 that she left in her purse on a New York City subway as she rushed off to Kazakhstan to visit her family. Aiya Tulemaganbetova was boarding a northbound 1 train when she left her Chanel purse on a subway platform at the West 66th and Broadway station on December 20. But by the time she realized it at the next stop and rushed back to go look for it, it was nowhere to be found. 'She was very upset because the money, portion of that money was to buy her children gifts for the holidays. She was in shock when she got on that plane,' said Edward Mermelstein to PIX 11 as he translated for his business partner. Scroll down for video Richard Taverna, (left) a retiree from the Upper West Side, found Aiya Tulemaganbetova's (right) purse containing $10,000 after the woman left the purse on a Lincoln Center subway platform on December 20 But Tulemaganbetova had a guardian angel in the form of retiree Richard Taverna, who found the purse and brought it back to his apartment to check the ID. But he was shocked when he found a lot more than just identification inside the purse. 'It was an envelope and I opened it and saw the $10,000. Needless to say I was shocked,' the Upper West Side resident said. And when he brought the purse into the 20th NYPD precinct the next day, officers couldn't believe it. Tulemaganbetova was headed on a northbound 1 train when she left her Chanel purse at the West 66th and Broadway station Taverna took the money out to take a picture of it but returned it and the purse to the 20th NYPD precinct 'Rich represents the best of the Upper West Side and the best of New York City. And the cops couldn't stop talking about it. It made everyone in this precinct so happy to know there are guys like Rich out there,' NYPD Deputy Inspector Timothy Malin added. The precinct happened to be the same one that the woman had reported her missing bag to. She was elated to learn that the bag and her funds were still intact. 'It was magical to find out when it happened,' Mermelstein said. 'She didn't believe it.' The two met on Thursday after Tulemaganbetova returned from visiting her family in Kazakhstan Tulemaganbetova gave Taverna a golden trophy that represented honesty and made a donation of $1000 to a children's charity in her home country The two finally met at the 20th precinct on Thursday. There, Tulemaganbetova presented her hero with a golden trophy that represented honesty. She also made a $1000 donation in his name to a children's charity back in her home country. Tulemaganbetova borrowed money for her trip after learning that the purse was returned as she was already on her trip. A stray cat caused a bit of chaos at a bank in central China when it fell through the ceiling and landed on a worker. The unnamed bank clerk was sitting in her office at an Industrial and Commercial Bank of China branch in Zhengzhou, Henan province on Monday when the nerve-wracking incident occurred. An employee told reporters the moggy might have slipped into the building via the air-conditioning duct. The bank clerk was sitting in her office at an Industrial and Commercial Bank of China branch in Zhengzhou, Henan province on Monday when the cat (circled) fell through the ceiling An employee told reporters the moggy (bottom right) might have slipped into the building via the air-conditioning duct. The bank is currently investigating the incident on Monday Surveillance footage shows the unsuspecting bank clerk filling out paperwork at her desk when the cat suddenly fell through the ceiling panel and landed on her arm. Freaking out, the worker immediately flung the cat away and sprung from her seat. 'That was so scary! There's a cat! Stop working!' the flustered employee is heard yelling in the video. The moggy, also spooked and frightened, was seen frantically leaping from the desk to the counter before scampering away, looking for an exit. Freaking out, the worker immediately flung the cat away and sprung from her seat 'That was so scary! There's a cat! Stop working!' the employee was heard yelling in the video The video, which went viral on social media, sparked criticisms of security at the branch. It is unclear whether the authorities were alerted. 'What a large cat! It probably saw the mouse next to the computer,' one comment on Chinese microblogging site Weibo read. 'Does this mean that robbers would be able to enter the bank easily?' another user questioned. 'That poor woman, she's just trying to get through work,' one user said. Investigations are ongoing, the bank said, adding that their clients' money is safe, according City Express. The large snake lands on the floor after falling from above as workers look at it in horror This is not the first intruder to cause chaos at banks in China. Last October, an office meeting at a bank in Nanning, Guangxi province was interrupted when a large python fell through the ceiling, prompting employees to flee for their lives. Experts said that the python weighed about five kilograms (11 pounds) and was a first-class protected animal in China. Footy star Billy Slater has started his new career as a racehorse breeder with a flourish after selling a young colt to up-and-coming Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher. Slater, who recently retired from the NRL's Melbourne Storm, sold his Wandjina colt at the Gold Coast's lucrative Magic Millions Yearling Sale on Friday to Maher for $180,000. The sale is the first splash in the horse-breeding market for the fledgling Slater Thoroughbreds company run by the footy legend and his wife Nicole. Footy star Billy Slater (left with auction owner Gerry Harvey) has got his new career as a racehorse breeder off to a flying start after selling a young colt to up-and-coming Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher Slater, (left) who recently retired from the NRL's Melbourne Storm, sold his Wandjina colt at the Gold Coast's lucrative Magic Millions Yearling Sale on Friday to Maher (right) for $180,000 The sale of the Wandjina colt (pictured) is the first splash in the horse-breeding market for the fledgling Slater Thoroughbreds company run by the footy legend and his wife Nicole Maher's purchase of Slater's yearling - which refers to a horse between the ages of one and two-years-old - follows the trainer spending more than $1million on other yearlings on Thursday. Slater and Maher posed for a celebratory handshake following the latter's successful bid for the promising racehorse, which was shared via Slater's company Instagram page. The former rugby league star also posed with the owner of the Magic Millions auction and Harvey Norman co-founder Gerry Harvey at the event on Friday. Slater had said in the build-up to Friday's day of trading his operation was not turning up at the premier event 'just to make up the numbers'. 'We like to be successful and competitive in everything I have done in my life and this is no different,' Slater told the Gold Coast Bulletin. The pair have been closely involved with the Magic Millions Carnival - which takes place every year on the Gold Coast and celebrates all things equine. Slater (left) has long held a passion for horses along with his wife Nicole (right) - with the pair meeting through their shared love of horse racing at a pony club Slater made his polo debut on Tuesday morning (pictured) as he thundered along a Gold Coast beach with some of Australia's top jockeys including Tommy Berry and Corey Brown The pair have been closely involved with the Magic Millions Carnival (sales pavilion on Friday pictured) - which takes place every year on the Gold Coast and celebrates all things equine Slater made his polo debut on Tuesday morning as he thundered along a Gold Coast beach with some of Australia's top jockeys including Tommy Berry and Corey Brown. The former Storm star and his wife Nicole also appeared at the Magic Millions VIP cocktail party on Tuesday - joining the likes of Mike and Zara Tindall and former Olympic swimmer Dawn Fraser. Slater has long held a passion for horses along with his wife - with the pair meeting through their shared love of horse racing. 'I'm not just dipping my toe in - I am passionate about the industry and I want to breed the best possible horses,' he said in the build-up to his 2018 Grand Final swansong. Bethan Roper, 28, pictured, was killed after being struck by a tree branch when she put her head out of a train window to be ill last month A woman who died after suffering serious head injuries while leaning out of a train window to be sick ignored a warning sticker, a report has found. Bethan Roper, 28, died on a Great Western Railway train near Bath last month after being struck by a tree branch while the vehicle was going at 85mph. A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) report subsequently found a yellow sign by the window said 'Caution' and 'Do not lean out of window when train is moving'. The window was in a door and had been fitted so it could open and allow passengers to reach the handle on the other side. Miss Roper was on board the London Paddington to Exeter service while returning to Penarth, South Wales from a Christmas shopping trip with friends. The incident happened at 10.04pm and she was pronounced dead at Bristol Temple Meads station shortly after 10.10pm. Miss Roper worked for the Welsh Refugee Council charity and was chairman of Young Socialists Cardiff. Her father, Adrian Roper, 63, released a statement after her death saying his daughter 'enjoyed life to the full whilst working tirelessly for a better world'. The RAIB said its full investigation would examine the measures in place to 'control the risks from persons leaning out of train windows, including the threat from vegetation'. Speaking at the time, a passenger on board said: 'Everyone in the carriage heard a loud bang and the train came to sudden halt. 'I turned and saw her on the floor, I could see straight away that she had suffered dreadful injuries. A Rail Accident Investigation Branch found charity worker Miss Roper, pictured, had ignored a warning sign on a door when she put her head out of the window Miss Roper's (pictured) father paid tribute to her after the horrific incident and said she 'enjoyed life to the full whilst working tirelessly for a better world' 'There were two medics on board and they gave her CPR but it was futile. The train was travelling at full speed when the accident happened. 'She was with a group of girl friends who were in a state of shock and didn't realise the severity of the situation to start with.' A spokesman for BTP said a day after the incident: 'We were called at around 10.10pm following a report a woman had received serious head injuries while travelling on a train between Bath and Keynsham. 'Officers from British Transport Police attended along with colleagues from Avon and Somerset Police and South Western Ambulance Service, but despite their best efforts the woman died at the scene. 'Our investigation remains at an early stage, but initial inquiries suggest the woman may have been leaning out of a window when she suffered a blow to the head.' Miss Roper, pictured, had been returning home to Wales after a day of Christmas shopping She was pronounced dead minutes after the incident when the train arrived at Bristol Temple Meads station, pictured In August 2016, railway fanatic Simon Brown, 24, was killed while leaning out of the window of a Gatwick Express train near Balham, south London. His head hit a signal gantry at 61mph. In its report, the RAIB noted that a yellow warning sticker on the door was in a 'cluttered environment' among other information signs, and recommended that train companies should do more to stop passengers from putting body parts out of windows. In November, public sector company Network Rail was asked by rail minister Andrew Jones to set out a plan for how it will do more to protect biodiversity during tree felling. This followed criticism over the amount of trees being cut down in some areas. The parents of an army veteran are desperate for help to find him after he disappeared while on a fishing trip. Brock Hewitt, 29, last spoke to his parents on Monday in the northern Perth suburb of Yanchep where he told his mother he was going fishing at Fremantle's South Mole. He was then last seen at Boating Camping and Fishing in Butler about 4.45pm buying an esky and a stubby holder. Brock Hewitt, 29, last spoke to his parents on Monday in the northern Perth suburb of Yanchep where he told his mother he was going fishing at Fremantle's South Mole He was then last seen at Boating Camping and Fishing in Butler about 4.45pm buying an esky and a stubby holder Shortly after, he was also spotted at a nearby service station before travelling in an easterly direction. Now his parents have issued an urgent appeal and are seeking assistance from the public to help find the 29-year-old. The pair are worried as they have never gone this long without contact from him. Parents Jan and Rick told a press conference on Friday they raised the alarm after he failed to respond to their calls. Mr Hewitt, who is a father, suffers post-traumatic stress disorder after he served three years in the Australian army in Afghanistan. He flew home early from his FIFO job and recently separated from his partner, who has custody of their 18-month-old son, Nine News reported. Parents Jan and Rick told a press conference on Friday they raised the alarm after their son failed to respond to their calls Mr Hewitt, who is a father, suffers post-traumatic stress disorder after he served three years in the Australian army in Afghanistan Rick says his son, a keen four-wheel-driver and bushman, is 'not just a son (but) a mate.' 'It's like him being in Afghanistan again... not knowing where he is and what he's doing,' he said. Described as slim, with light skin and dark hair - with 'Hewitt' tattooed on his left arm - Brock was last seen wearing a singlet, shorts and thongs leaving a service station on Yanchep Beach Road. He is believed to be driving a white Nissan Navara ute, registration 1GDR 069, with a roof rack, canopy and several army stickers in the back window. He was heading in an easterly direction towards the intersection of Indian Ocean Drive and Wanneroo Road. Police have asked anyone with information to contact them urgently. Distraught parents have attended the scene of a horrific car crash in Sydney, in which a 17-year-old girl and her 21-year-old female driver somehow cheated death. The driver and her teenage passenger narrowly escaped with their lives after their car split in two around a telegraph pole and caught fire about 8.20pm on Friday. Rescue workers pulled the girls from the Mitsubishi Lancer which was found torn entirely in half with its windscreen shattered and bonnet strewn across the corner of the Cumberland Highway and Percival Road in Smithfield, in the city's west. Scroll down for video Two teenage girls crashed into a telegraph pole, splitting their car in two and narrowly escaping with their lives in Sydney's west The teenagers were pulled from the car by rescue workers (left) and taken to Liverpool Hospital, while distraught parents arrived at the scene (right) The car was found torn entirely in half with its windscreen shattered (pictured) and bonnet strewn across the road on the corner of Cumberland Highway and Percival Road in Smithfield More than five ambulances arrived with dozens of paramedics, fire and rescue workers and police converging on the scene A mother was seen arriving at the crash site and wept seemingly at disbelief at the surrounding carnage and debris. Falling to the ground, the woman needed to be reassured by a emergency response worker and led away from the wreckage. More than five ambulances arrived with dozens of paramedics, fire and rescue workers and police converging on the scene. Both females were rushed to Liverpool Hospital where they are in a stable condition. Distraught parents (pictured) attended the scene after the horrific crash on Friday night The driver of the car was treated for shock and her passenger received treatment for fractures and underwent examinations for possible internal bleeding Falling to the ground, one of the distraught parents (left) needed to be reassured by a emergency response worker (right) and led away from the wreckage Officers from Cumberland Police Area Command are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash Police were told the car lost control and left the road before colliding with a telegraph pole, causing severe damage to the vehicle. The 21-year-old driver of the car was treated for shock by paramedics at the scene. Her 17-year-old passenger received treatment for a fractured nose and underwent examinations for possible internal bleeding, police told Daily Mail Australia. Officers from Cumberland Police Area Command are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. As the spouse of a Coast Guardsman, you expect to move all around the country and to have your husband or wife called into action at a moments notice, Ward said. Our son attended nine schools his entire life. I always say he said goodbye to more friends in his [18 years] than most people do in their entire lifetime. Osazuwa Otote, 32, jumped to his death at Canary Wharf Jubilee Line station on Monday afternoon The first of two men who jumped to their deaths in less than 24 hours at Canary Wharf has been named today. Osazuwa Otote, 32, died on the underground platform after clambering up a glass balustrade at the Jubilee Line station on Monday afternoon. Mr Otote, originally from Benin, west Africa, was a mental health patient who had broken free from his carer on a visit and jumped, a coroner heard today. A second man, a city worker in his fifties, who fell from the fourth floor of the central London shopping centre the following morning has yet to be identified. Paramedics tried to revive Mr Otote, who was known as Phillip, but he was declared dead at the scene from head and throat injuries, the opening of the inquest into his death heard today. Osazuwa Otote, who was known as Phillip, fell to his death at Canary Wharf Underground station, Coroners Officer Sarah Morgan told Poplar Coroners Court. He exited the Jubilee Line, went up the escalators and was witnessed to climb up and glass balustrade next to the escalator and fall to the platform below. The cause of death was injuries to his head and thorax. Philip's death on Monday (pictured) was followed by another at London's key financial centre 24 hours later He had been living in the Signet House high dependency mental health unit in Lewisham, south London. His identity was confirmed by his mother and from fingerprints, the court heard Commuters told of their horror at seeing Mr Otote fall. One witness reportedly heard a 'harrowing thud' behind him before checking the man's his wrist 'to see if he could feel a pulse' before realising he was dead, shortly before 3pm. Another witness said: 'He was lying on the floor with his head towards the Tube doors, as if he had fallen backwards'. A third witness described seeing a body 'laying on the ground surrounded by police'. Another described seeing a person was 'covered in those silver emergency blankets with emergency services around them on eastbound Jubilee Line platform'. Poplar Coroner Mary Hassell adjourned the inquest until July for further investigation. Distraught witnesses revealed how a City worker 'leapt to his death' from the fourth floor of a Canary Wharf shopping centre - less than 24 hours Philip was killed in a similar horror plunge at the banking district's Tube station. The manager of Itsu restaurant in Cabot Place mall told MailOnline the man, described as in his 50s, appeared to send a text message on his phone before falling to his death. Paramedics were seen desperately giving CPR near a set of escalators on the ground floor of the four-storey mall. Despite their best efforts to save his life he died just after 9am this morning. It comes a day after another man, aged 32, also died after falling from some escalators at the nearby Canary Wharf tube station. A man has died after falling from a height inside Cabot Place mall in Canary Wharf less than 24 hours after a commuter was killed in a similar horror plunge at the banking district's Tube station. Paramedics were seen desperately administering CPR near a set of escalators Police remain at Cabot Place where part of the shopping centre has been closed off. It comes a day after another man, aged 32, died at the nearby Canary Wharf tube station - also near a set of escalators - after falling from a similar height Witnesses described hearing a 'ping' and a 'thud' before seeing the grisly scenes on the ground floor below. One told how the man 'disappeared' over the fourth-storey railing. A restaurant worker, who asked not to be named, told MailOnline: 'He was a white man, about 50 years old, wearing a suit. He looked like a banker. 'He was standing by the railing outside Nando's - on the fourth floor. I went down the escalator, I looked up and he had disappeared. 'I heard from screams and I looked down and the man was lying at the bottom of the escalator. He was not moving.' A member of staff at the Halifax bank near to the escalators said: 'I heard a ping and then a thud so I ran out and looked over the side. 'There was a body lying on the floor he had fallen straight past me. I couldn't look anymore, I had to look away. We've been told to keep the doors closed and stay inside'. Canary Wharf resident Justin Fynes, 36, was walking past the ground floor level of Cabot Place by designer store Paul Smith as the man, who appeared to look like a City worker, fell. A member of staff at the Halifax bank near to the escalators said: 'I heard a ping and then a thud so I ran out and looked over the side. There was a body lying on the floor he had fallen straight past me' He said: 'The body appeared to be of a man, dressed professionally like a City worker. There was a bag and phone nearby.' The Cabot Square shopping complex reopened to the public at 11.30am. The four storey area was closed while emergency services tended to the dying man. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the man had died. A spokeswoman said: 'Police were called at 08:44hrs on Tuesday, 8 January by the London Ambulance Service to reports of a man who had fallen from height in Canada Square, E14.' An ambulance and air ambulance were also scrambled but the man was sadly pronounced dead at 9.05am. The Canary Wharf Group said in an earlier statement: 'We can confirm that there has been a medical incident on the Canary Wharf estate. We are supporting the emergency services in their response.' An air ambulance and police officers were rushed to the station in the capital's finance district at around 3pm yesterday. Witnesses said they heard a sickening 'thud' and saw 'blood splattered everywhere'. One witness reportedly checked the person's wrist 'to see if he could feel a pulse' before realising they were dead. In January 2014, a JP Morgan executive threw himself from the roof of the firm's European headquarters following the breakdown of a relationship. Gabriel Magee fell 500ft to his death as horrified workers arrived at the building in Canary Wharf. A day earlier the 'brilliant' IT executive had written 'jump' on his computer. A kayaker was treated to a rare sight when he captured of pod of dolphins during a feeding frenzy off the British coast. The majestic marine animals were caught on camera while feeding in crystal blue waters near Mousehole, Penzance in Cornwall. Rupert Kirkwood, a vet, was paddling in flat and calm conditions when he encountered more than 20 dolphins. A pod of dolphins feed on herring which fly into the air out of the crystal blue waters off the coats off Mousehole, Penzance in Cornwall Footage captured on a GoPro shows the pod of dolphins hunting a shoal of herring and corralling them into a swirling bait bail. Mr Kirkwood sits silently in his kayak and watches as the dolphins breach the water while the surface occasionally bubbles with fish as they try to escape. The sea mammals dip and glide through the water to feed on mouthfuls of the fish which swarm in a tightly packed sphere - a defensive technique used by fish when they are threatened by predators. And the dolphins can be seen dipping under Mr Kirkwood's kayak trying to catch fish who desperately hide under his vessel. Mr Kirkwood even dips his camera into the water where he captures the incredible sight of a mother dolphin swimming with her calf. Seagulls circle overhead screeching, hoping to catch the dolphins' leftovers. A dolphin breaches out of the water. Mr Kirkwood sat silently in his kayak watching the rare sight Herring are thrown into the air and the water surface bubbles with fish as the dolphins feed Mr Kirkwood wrote on his blog: 'Superb encounter with twenty common dolphins off Mousehole. 'I sat and watched a pod of 20-25 Common Dolphins cruising about and herding and attacking a baitball of herring. 'I hardly had to paddle a single stroke during the whole time, because the fish kept trying to take refuge underneath my kayak. 'I always bring my GoPro, just in case, but never imagined being able to use it for underwater shots during the winter. 'It was great to see a mother and calf come past so close. The youngsters stick like glue to mums side most of the time, but occasional shoot off to worry the fish, or hurl themselves out of the water. 'Hard to believe this is in the UK in mid January.' The sea mammals dip and glide through the water close to Mr Kirkwood's kayak to feed on mouthfuls of the fish Rupert Kirkwood (pictured) has explored 1,154 miles of the coast of South west England and notched up more than 20,000 paddling miles in total Mr Kirkwood has explored 1,154 miles of the coast of South west England and notched up more than 20,000 paddling miles in total. But he now concentrates on offshore kayaking in search of extreme sea creatures and has encountered three species of whale, four species of dolphin, basking sharks, Giant Bluefin Tuna, sunfish, seals and a leatherback turtle. And the avid kayaker often documents his encounters with sea life around the Cornish coast. In July, he captured the moment a grey seal pup hopped up onto the front of his kayak attempting to hitch a ride. Advertisement Winter woollies might come in handy over the coming weeks as very cold weather is set to hit Britain from Siberia, bringing heavy frosts and the possibility of snow. Although this weekend is likely to be mild, wet and windy, forecasters predict a change, partly due to the recurrence of a phenomenon which preceded the Beast from the East last winter. A 'sudden stratospheric warming' occurred at the end of last month. Caused by changes in atmospheric jet streams, the event usually takes a further fortnight to have an impact on the weather at ground level. In winter, it often leads to a strong area of high pressure affecting the UK, bringing bitter northerly or easterly winds. This creates potential for snow if an area of low pressure arrives from the west, hitting the cold air. It comes as deadly winter weather continues to wreak havoc across Europe, claiming at least 17 lives as temperatures in Romania plunged to a low of -24C (-11F) this week - while even parts of Greece fell to -23C (-9F). A fisherman collects bait on the beach today in Littlestone, Kent, ahead of a mild, wet and windy weekend A Border Force patrol vessel (left) and HMS Mersey on patrol in the English Channel near Dungeness in Kent today This map shows how the position of the jet stream is bringing mild weather to Britain, but extreme cold to continental Europe In Britain, the winter has been far from severe so far - but the Met Office says there is an 'enhanced risk of snow and more widespread frost' from the end of the month, with only 'a risk of snow over northern hills' before then. Met Office forecaster Sarah Kent said: 'We're not yet sure whether the winds are going to come from the Arctic or Siberia but it could become very cold. 'There's definitely an increased risk of widespread hard frosts and, if any weather systems bump into that cold air, it increases the chance of snow. 'Sudden stratospheric warming gives us a 60 per cent chance of having cold air arriving two weeks after the event. We are watching atmospheric developments.' Conditions will be mild this weekend. Temperatures could reach 12C (54F) on Sunday, against a seasonal average of 8C (46F) The Met Office says the coldest weather is likely at the end of January and into early February. In the meantime, the UK is having a mild interlude, following cold and frosty weather earlier this week - especially in the south. On Wednesday night into yesterday, temperatures at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire fell to -6.4C (20.5F). By contrast, the coldest place in Scotland, Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway, was -0.7C (30.7F) the same night. Miss Kent said: 'There's going to be a change at the weekend, as high pressure slips away from the UK.' Instead, a low pressure is due to bring cloud, with mist and drizzle, and temperatures of 9C to 10C (48F to 50F) today. More cloud with drizzle and showery rain is possible in most areas on Saturday and Sunday. A wall of snow thundered into Hotel Santis in Schwagalp, Switzerland, yesterday burying 25 cars and injuring three people A villager walks through deep snow today in the Disbudak village of Bingol province in Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey A snow-covered car drives along a snow-covered street in the town of Berchtesgaden in Bavaria, Germany, last night A bus is left covered in snow after an avalanche cascaded down a hillside yesterday in Hundwil, Switzerland Winds are set to strengthen, with gusts of 30 to 35mph tomorrow, rising to 35mph in central and southern areas and 45mph in northern England on Sunday. Parts of the Shetland Islands could have 50mph gusts. Temperatures could reach 12C (54F) on Sunday, against a seasonal average of 8C (46F). The best chance of sunshine over the weekend is likely to be in areas east of the Pennines or in sheltered parts of the Welsh Marches. The mild conditions are set to continue into the week, when a frontal system heading across Britain on Tuesday night into Wednesday is due to bring more rain. Colder conditions are then set to follow, although the second half of the week is still due to remain unsettled with blustery showers, including the some wintry ones in northern areas. Tesla boss Elon Musk and his musician ex-girlfriend Grimes were spotted enjoying a hearty meal of lamb hot pot in Beijing on Tuesday during the entrepreneur's trip to China. The pair, accompanied by a group of nine people, were filmed grabbing a bite at Qimen Hot Pot Restaurant in Beijing, savouring the traditional meal which involves cooking pieces of meat and other ingredients in a large pot of soup stock at the table. 'He told me he enjoyed the meal. I'm so happy he picked our restaurant, it's an honour,' the elated owner, Guo Qi, told MailOnline. Tesla boss Elon Musk and his musician ex-girlfriend Grimes were spotted enjoying a hearty meal of lamb hot pot in Beijing on Tuesday during the entrepreneur's trip to China Grimes and Elon Musk The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Benefit last May. The pair was seen enjoying a traditional meal of hot pot together in Beijing on Tuesday The restaurant is located in the capital city's Dongcheng district, a cultural and historical hub popular among tourists. Qi, 45, said he actually didn't recognise the billionaire at first. He was only informed of the man's identity by his colleagues at the end of the 1,000 (115) meal. When asked if Musk would be given a discount on his next visit, the honest owner said: 'No way.' 'We treat all our customers the same; there is no differentiation,' he insisted. 'Our restaurant has been frequented by a lot of celebrities in the past - they didn't get discounts or free meals either.' The restaurant frequented by Musk and Grimes is located in the capital city's Dongcheng district, a cultural and historical hub popular among tourists Cook your own food: The traditional meal involves cooking pieces of meat (usually lamb and beef) and other ingredients in a large pot of soup stock at the dining table The Qimen Hot Pot Restaurant is located in the capital city's Dongcheng district According to The Global Times, the meal is a considerable upgrade from a crepe snack - also a traditional delicacy - Musk had on the street during a visit to China in July. Musk was in Shanghai on Monday for the ground-breaking of Tesla's first overseas factory - a $2 billion Gigafactory - which will allow it to sell vehicles directly in the world's largest market for electric vehicles. On the same day, his ex-girlfriend, Claire 'Grimes' Boucher, tweeted 'Randomly, I am in China' before asking for activity recommendations in Shanghai and Beijing. The high-profile couple reportedly split up last year. During the trip, Musk also met Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday at the Purple Light Pavilion at Zhongnanhai, the office complex of China's top government officials. Li told Musk he hoped the American carmaker can become an 'in-depth participant in China's opening and a promoter of the stability of Chinese-US relations'. During the trip, Musk also met Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday at the Purple Light Pavilion at Zhongnanhai, the office complex of China's top government officials Elon Musk (second from right) performs a dance as he and several Chinese officials announced the beginning of construction at the factory site in Shanghai The Tesla CEO told Li he 'really loves China' and was willing to visit more often - to which Li said he could issue him a Chinese green card, a privilege enjoyed by an elite group of foreigners. The so-called Gigafactory is China's first wholly foreign-owned car plant, a reflection of China's broader shift to open up its car market, even amid a trade war with the United States which has seen a rise in tariffs on cars imported from the US. 'Affordable cars must be made on same continent as customers,' Musk wrote on Twitter ahead of the event. Tesla's new plant in China will eventually have an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles, the California-based company has said, dramatically increasing its output. A female mentor, 29, has been charged with sexual misconduct with a 13-year-old student in New York City. Aylin Canon was arrested Thursday accused of engaging in sexual activity with the teenager for four months, including at Canon's Manhattan apartment and at a public school on the Lower East Side. Canon worked as a mentor doing after-school work for Education Alliance before she was fired in May. She was charged at Manhattan's Central Criminal Court with sex acts, sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Aylin Canon, 29, at her arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of sexual assault on a child According to the Department of Education, Canon sexually abused the child for four months last year The woman allegedly had sex with the child between February and June last year, sources told the New York Post. The law enforcement source told the paper the child told her friends about Canon's conduct and one of those friends told her mother who alerted authorities. 'There is no place in the New York City school system for those who prey on children,' said special commissioner for New York's department of education, Anastasia Coleman. The District of Education emphatically stated Canon had never been employed by them. Canon's mother claims the child has fabricated the story, the New York Daily News reported. 'Its a lie. It was a setup. The girl said she was 17, not 13,' Canon's mom told the paper. She said her daughter was a 'good girl' who would never do such a thing. Canon, who appeared at Manhattan Criminal Court wearing a furry-hooded jacket, was detained on a $35,000 bond. A Saudi refugee who feared her family would kill her for renouncing Islam is bound for Canada, and has been welcomed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, 18, took a flight to Seoul, South Korea, with a final destination of Toronto, in a surprise twist after officials gave heavy hints she was bound for Australia. 'Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world,' Mr Trudeau said. Scroll down for video Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun walks in Bangkok, Thailand after fleeing Saudi Arabia having renounced Islam 'When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant miss (Rahaf Mohammed) al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted.' Canada's ambassador saw her off at the airport, Mr Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy. 'She chose Canada. It's her personal decision,' he said. Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne had earlier met with senior Thai officials in Bangkok, where Ms al-Qunun is currently located, on Thursday. Canada has emerged as a potential new home for Saudi refugee Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (pictured) despite Australia's willingness to consider her application for asylum Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (pictured) previously reacted to news Australia was considering granting her asylum, saying, 'Is it true??? Australia wants me to go there??? I'm so happy' Ms Payne later told reporters that Australia was assessing Ms al-Qunun's request for resettlement but there was no specific timeframe. Thailand's immigration police chief, Surachate Hakparn, told reporters the U.N. was accelerating the case, though he gave no indication of when the process would be complete. Despite having harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation on Friday, she abruptly suspended her account, with friends saying she had received death threats. Thai authorities had initially threatened to deport her after she arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait last weekend. Armed with a smartphone, she hastily opened Twitter account and forced a U-turn from Thai immigration police who handed her into the care of the UN's refugee agency as the #SaveRahaf hashtag case bounced across the world. On Friday afternoon she posted a final cryptic tweet on her profile saying 'I have some good news and some bad news' - shortly after her account was deactivated. Her tweet garnered plenty of reactions on social media, which speculated the reasons for the account deactivation. Ms al-Qunun (pictured at Bangkok airport) ran away from a family trip to Kuwait last week and flew to Thailand in the hope of reaching Australia on a tourist visa 'Rahaf received death threats and for this reason she closed her Twitter account, please save Rahaf life,' @nourahfa313 wrote. 'I understand that there have been death threats against her but I don't know the details,' said Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch. The 18-year-old's swift use of Twitter saw her amass more than 100,000 followers within a week, highlighting her plight and allowing her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or languish in detention centres. Though her asylum case has moved at lightning speed, the mystery over which country will accept Ms al-Qunun remains. Australia seemed the likely destination until news of the UNHCR withdrawing its referral. The 18-year-old was stopped at a Bangkok airport on Saturday by Thai immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport. Ms al-Qunun was set to undergo Australian checks for a humanitarian visa, including character and security assessments The 18-year-old (pictured with her 12-year-old sister Joud) said she had 'escaped Kuwait' and that her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia She made headlines earlier this week after she began tweeting from the transit area of Bangkok airport, saying her life would be in danger if she returned to Kuwait. Within hours, she amassed a huge following on Twitter as she refused to board a flight back the conservative kingdom and barricaded herself inside a hotel room. Thai authorities eventually allowed her to enter the country on Monday evening and the UN refugee agency referred Rahaf to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees eventually granted her refugee status on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs later confirmed they were considering the 18-year-old for refugee resettlement. 'The Department of Home Affairs will consider this referral in the usual way, as it does with all UNHCR referrals,' the spokesperson said at the time. The 18-year-old was detained in Thailand following her arrival in the country. She is pictured having barricaded herself in an airport hotel room in a bid to avoid deportation Ms al-Qunun previously said on her Twitter account that she wished to seek refuge in Australia. She also opened up about living with her family in Saudi Arabia, describing it as difficult as she had no freedom. 'It was so bad. I mean, of course there are good days but they hurt me a lot. 'I have no choice to choose what I want,' she said. The 18-year-old even railed against online trolls who were spreading rumours on social media that she was lying about her situation. 'They don't know about my life and they don't know how my family treats me,' she said. 'I want life. I want to be independent. How can they say this just because I do something they don't like? 'I want to become a strong woman, I want freedom of expression, of religion and politics. I want to live a normal life.' Ms al-Qunun has also claimed her family would kill her if she were sent home to Saudi Arabia, where she has renounced Islam and 'rebelled' against her father. Up to 4,000 civil servants are being redeployed to focus on no-deal Brexit preparations, it was revealed today. Whitehall is stepping up its response amid a mounting political crisis with less than three months left until the UK is due to leave the EU. Officials in the education, defence, international development, justice, and work and pensions departments are said to have been asked to shift to new roles helping the preparations. They will be tasked to areas thought to be most at risk of chaos, including HM Revenue & Customs, the Department for the Environment and local government. According to The Times, civil service chiefs have identified 4,000 no-deal roles that need filling. They will be tasked to areas thought to be most at risk of chaos, including HM Revenue & Customs (HQ in Whitehall pictured) Some will be taken by external recruits, but the overwhelming majority are expected to be internal secondments. Civil servants will work in a new 'command, control and co-ordination structure' at HMRC. A source told the newspaper the MoD would be asked to provide the 'lion's share' of the personnel. The escalation comes amid a mounting political crisis over what will happen in the Brexit process. A no-deal departure at the end of March is the default position unless MPs can agree on a delay or another course of action. But the package Theresa May has thrashed out with the EU is on course for a thumping defeat next week, and not other policy appears to have majority support among MPs. Jeremy Hunt today warned rebel Eurosceptics that killing off Mrs May's plan could well mean no Brexit. The Foreign Secretary insisted the developments in Parliament over the past few days, with stinging defeats for the government, had shown it wants to block the UK from crashing out without an agreement. Accusing Speaker John Bercow of a campaign to 'frustrate' the government, Mr Hunt said there was now a 'possibility in sight' of the country not leaving the EU at all. But he warned that failing to deliver Brexit in the wake of the 2016 referendum would be a 'fundamental breach of trust' with the public. The PM has been making increasingly desperate efforts to turn the tide of opinion on her plan - including reaching out to Labour MPs and union leaders. The package Theresa May has thrashed out with the EU is on course for a thumping Commons defeat next week Madeleine McCann's parents will keep hold of the royalties of Kate McCann's book 'Madeleine' for a 'rainy day' Madeleine McCann's parents will store the royalties from a book sale in a restricted fund for a 'rainy day', it has been reported in The Sun. Royalties of around 84,096, which came from Kate McCann's book 'Madeleine', will help the couple in their search for their missing daughter, with a total 85,899 being transferred to the fund. The money will also help the couple in their legal battle against former Portuguese police officer Goncalo Amaral. The best-selling book was written in 2011 to help raise more funds in the hunt for Kate and Gerry McCann's daughter. A source close to Madeleine McCann's parents told The Sun: 'That money goes into a special account for a rainy day. 'It can be used at a later date in the search for Madeleine or to help her parents fight their on going legal battle against Goncalo Amaral.' Following their daughter's disappearance, Kate and Gerry McCann set up the foundation 'Find Madeleine - Leaving No Stone Unturned' to manage donations given to help find her. This week, according to latest accounts filed this week to Companies House, it was reported the couple had been rewarded with assets to the Maddie Fund of 822 382. This has soared from 727,508 in the last financial year to the end of March 2018 by 94,874. Kate McCann has now donated 84,096 in royalties, taking the firm's private profits to 823,332, reports The Mirror. The money will also help the couple in their legal battle against a former Portuguese officer It has remained a best-seller ever since with thousands fascinated by the mystery of her disappearance from the family's hotel room in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007. The private funds the family have donated to the search are on top of the 11.75million in public money officials have granted them so far. At Christmas the McCanns said they will never give up on her, vowing to continue the search until they find answers. On a Christmas card posted online, the couple of Rothley, Leicestershire, wrote: 'We couldn't let a Christmas go by without passing on a warm thank you to all our supporters for the kind and continuing good wishes, especially at this very busy time of year. At the end of last year the McCann's posted a Christmas card online thanking everyone for their support 'We miss Madeleine dearly. Christmas will never be the same without her, but we will continue to make the best of what we have. 'The investigation is ongoing and our hope remains. May 2019 be a peaceful and positive one for us all.' Next to an image of a sparkling silver tree the couple signed off: 'Thank you. Kate & Gerry.' In November the Home Office agreed to give another 150,000 to detectives investigating Maddie's disappearance. It takes the amount of public money used on the probe to 11.75million. It gives 'Operation Grange' the capacity to continue until at least March 2019. A grieving brother has spent 12,000 ($15,000) turning his basement into the ultimate cat jungle for his brother's pets. Hilton Patton, 28, from Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada, spent all his money and maxed out his credit cards to give Bengal's Benji and Nala the purr-fect play area. It took him more than four months of hanging drywall, putting up shelving, carpeting the walls and installing lights to create the impressive playground. Hilton built the feline fun-house while grieving the loss of his brother Boston, who tragically lost his life to suicide last year at the age of 24 after battling with PTSD. Hilton Patton, 28, pictured, created an impressive cat jungle in his basement in Edmonton, Canada, for his brother's pets Benji and Nala after his younger sibling Boston, 24, died last year Although he had little DIY knowledge, the cats now have everything from walls they can climb, high ledges to race around, scratch posts, snoozing spots and toys. Hilton, a software engineer, said: 'I just knew I wanted to do something for Boston and something he would have loved. 'I wanted to make a jungle thing as Bengal cats are kind of from the jungle and it all went from there. 'Benji likes to climb, which I could tell as Boston's place had lots of holes in the walls, so I put carpet up on the walls so they could do that until their hearts were content. 'I cried when I was finished, it didn't feel like I thought it would, I felt a level of satisfaction thinking how perfect it was. 'The cats love it so much, it's really cool since letting them down there. I can hear them jumping on the shelves, they climb the walls like crazy. The play area has lots of climbing frames and scratch posts for the cats to jump on One of the cats uses its claws to climb up the carpeted walls, left, and the brothers are pictured together, right. Hilton previously promised never to split up Boston's two cats Hilton installed LED lights, left, in the shape of Boston, pictured, on the ceiling of the basement 'I try to spend as much time as I can there, it feels as close as I can be to Boston. 'I wanted the cats to feel that he had a presence there still and that he can look down on them, it would be nice to think he is in the stars looking down on us.' After Boston died Hilton took in his brother's cats, having previously made a vow never to split them up, and set to work on something special in his memory. To ensure animal lover Boston featured in the designs, he installed LED lights on the ceiling that create an outline of his brother from one of his favourite pictures. Hilton set about the task months after his brother passed away in February last year, while still trying to come to terms with the loss. But knowing he had to take care of his brother's cats provided a distraction and positive way to channel his energy and emotion. Hilton said: 'After Boston passed, I didn't want to do anything at all I was in constant pain, but I knew I had to get the cats down there and let them see the place. 'It felt like I was doing something for him, I was just thinking about him all the time.' Hilton did all the work himself apart from having professionals sort out the framing, laying the turf and the electrics. Hilton spent four months renovating the basement into the play area and had professionals sort out the framing, lay the turf and the electrics The software engineer spent 12,000 creating the space, pictured during renovations, but said it was all worth it to do something for his little brother Boston, pictured with one of his cats, was a huge animal lover. Hilton wanted to care for his pets for him and said looking after them was 'a distraction' after Boston's death While he believes it was an 'amateur attempt', friends and the online world are amazed by his work. Hilton said: 'I worked hours and hours, blood sweat and tears down there, I hope Boston would like it and wish I could do more, but thankfully it's all over. 'I hope I did right by Boston, now I go down there to hang out with them, play with them and sometimes I read a book in the hammock, it's good being down there. 'I maxed out all my cards, spent all my money, I spent everything I could but I don't regret it at all. 'When you are in that much pain you don't care about money, your job or anything, this was something for my little brother and I still stand by that.' Reflecting on his brother's battle with depression, Hilton urges anyone with suicidal thoughts to seek help from professionals, family and friends. Additionally, he set up a fundraising page so that anyone can donate to buy cat toys for Boston's beloved Bengal cats. Hilton said: 'If I could talk to Boston again, I would tell him I love him, that I miss him and would give him a hug. I would do anything for 30 more seconds with him. 'I'd like for him to know that I'm doing the best for his cats and that I tell them he loves them every day.' For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit samaritans.org. The EU is working on 'clarifications' to the Brexit deal to avoid the 'catastrophe' of Britain crashing out without an agreement, Jean-Claude Juncker said today. Theresa May has promised to get new reassurances from Brussels on the Irish border backstop element of the divorce deal could not become a permanent solution. The EU has insisted it wants to help her and said it does not want the backstop to be how the deal works forever. But Mr Juncker warned today the clarifications did not amount to 'renegotiation' of the deal - which legal advice says could mean the backstop lasting indefinitely. Few believe whatever the EU offers the Prime Minister ahead of Tuesday's vote will make any difference. Mrs May is confronting the possibility of the worst-ever Commons defeat for a Prime Minister as MPs could reject her negotiation by a landslide majority of more than 200. The EU is working on 'clarifications' to the Brexit deal to avoid the 'catastrophe' of Britain crashing out without an agreement, Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured today in Romania) said Theresa May (pictured last night in No 10) has promised to get new reassurances from Brussels the Irish border backstop element of the divorce deal could not become a permanent solution Mr Juncker said today: 'We are checking with Downing Street what the clarifications could amount to.' He added: 'They should not be confused with a renegotiation.' Speaking in Romania today, Mr Juncker insisted: 'I don't like the prospect of a no deal. It would be a catastrophe.' Mr Juncker's warning came as Jeremy Hunt warned MPs that killing off the Brexit deal could well mean no Brexit today as ministers brace to be 'smashed' in a Commons showdown next week. The Foreign Secretary insisted the developments in Parliament over the past few days had shown it could block the UK from crashing out without an agreement. Accusing Speaker John Bercow of a campaign to 'frustrate' the government, Mr Hunt said there was now a 'possibility in sight' of the country not leaving the EU at all. But he warned that failing to deliver Brexit in the wake of the 2016 referendum would be a 'fundamental breach of trust' with the public. Mr Hunt conceded the Parliamentary arithmetic was 'challenging', and said Speaker John Bercow was clearly trying to 'frustrate the government at every opportunity'. Mr Juncker's warning came as Jeremy Hunt (pictured today on Radio 4) warned MPs that killing off the Brexit deal could well mean no Brexit today as ministers brace to be 'smashed' in a Commons showdown next week 'What is important is for MPs on all sides, Brexiters and Remainers, whatever our disagreements, to say "We are democrats and the most important thing now is to make sure that we really do deliver Brexit",' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Mr Hunt said Mr Bercow had shown that he was 'willing to frustrate the Government at every opportunity', and it was not possible for the minority Tory administration to control what happened in Parliament. 'I think it's now looking much less likely that Parliament would allow a no-deal outcome anyway,' he said. 'We have seen from this week that Parliament has the ability to assert itself and to shape outcomes. 'I think Parliament is very committed to try to stop no-deal, but I think we have to recognise that there is a deal on the table, it does broadly deliver the Brexit people voted for, and if we don't find a way to get this through, we are taking some very big risks. 'Brexit paralysis potentially leading to no Brexit is something I think would be incredibly damaging for the long-term future of this country.' Johnnycake and Edmondson Heights have an innate opportunity that was identified by the committee members the 1-mile boundary thats set around the elementary schools where bus service is not provided are close to each other, so it is likely that some students who currently walk to school would continue doing so if they switched from Johnnycake to Edmondson Heights. A California police officer who had only been on the job a few weeks has died after being shot by a suspect who later turned the gun on himself. Davis Police Department officials say 22-year-old Officer Natalie Corona was gunned down after responding to a multi-vehicle crash in the area of Fifth and C streets near downtown at 6.45pm on Thursday. Corona was rushed to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where she later died. Rookie killed: Davis police officer Natalie Corona (pictured at police academy graduation), 22, was shot and killed in the California city Thursday, after only a few weeks on the job Rookie killed: Davis police officer Natalie Corona (pictured during her swearing-in ceremony with her dad on August 2), 22, was shot and killed in the California city Thursday, after only a few weeks on the job Corona wore her love for the police on her sleeve, as evidenced by her Facebook profile picture showing her posing in a floor-length blue gown while holding an American flag with a blue line honoring law enforcement Following the shooting, police issued a citywide shelter in place order as officers spent hours scouring the city in search of the suspect. The shooter, described as a white male in his 20s, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a house, after an hours-long standoff with police at 1.30am Friday. Officers say the suspect had repeatedly disregarded commands to exit the house with his hands up. Police have not identified the suspect, nor determined what prompted the shooting. Corona, whose father is a 26-year veteran of the Colusa County Sheriff's Office, graduated from the Sacramento Police Department's training academy in July, was sworn in on August 2 and completed her field training just before Christmas, reported the Sacramento Bee. Corona was gunned down after responding to a multi-vehicle crash in downtown Davis (pictured is the scene after the shooting) The patrol vehicle driven by Corona is taken away on a flatbed truck Friday in Davis Flowers lay near the scene where Corona was shot and killed Thursday night in Davis During her swearing-in ceremony, Merced Corona pinned a badge on his smiling daughter's uniform and was quoted as saying that Natalie is excited to join the force and is dedicated to the profession. Corona first joined the police department in 2016 as a community service officer. When the agency ran out of funds for her position, she continued showing up to work as an unpaid volunteer. 'She was a rising star in the department,' Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel said during a news conference Thursday night. 'She just worked like you cant believe.' In early December, Corona was photographed bringing presents to the new home of a wildfire victim from Paradise, California, who had lost everything in last year's deadly Camp Fire. 'We are always proud of the work our officers do, but have a little extra pride today,' the caption read. Corona graduated from the Sacramento Police Department's training academy in July (left). She first joined the police department in 2016 as a community service officer In December, Corona was photographed bringing presents to the new home of a wildfire victim from Paradise, California, who had lost everything in the Camp Fire Corona wore her love for the police on her sleeve, as evidenced by her Facebook profile picture showing her posing in a floor-length blue gown while holding an American flag with a blue line honoring law enforcement. She wrote in a status update in 2016: 'I would like this photograph to serve as my gratitude for all those law enforcement men and women who have served, who are currently serving, and those who have died in the line of duty protecting our liberties in this great country.' Corona is the first Davis police officer to die in the line of duty in 60 years. Dozens of family and friends have offered their 'thoughts and prayers' for the rookie cop. Nancy Reynoso-Williams offered her 'deepest condolences' for the loss of Officer Corona. 'She was a beautiful lady and now a beautiful angel. No words of gratitude can express the ultimate sacrifice of Officer Corona . Know your whole family is surrounded by prayers and love. My heart is broken.' City of Davis Police Department posted on Facebook today: 'On this gray morning, our flags fly at half mast for Officer Corona. Thank you for the outpouring of support for Natalie, her family and our Davis PD Family.' Local council member Angelique Ashby added that the community was stunned by the 'absolutely devastating' news. 'The Davis Police Department has not lost an officer in well over 50 years. This senseless loss is shocking and heartbreaking. Officer Corona wanted only to do good, to serve and to protect,' she said. An Oxford University professor has defended himself against allegations of homophobia after 400 students signed a petition calling for him to be sacked. Students claim John Finnis has 'a long record of extremely discriminatory views' against many people, including members of the gay community. The protest was sparked by an assertion in a paper, published in 1994 and reprinted in his collected essays in 2011, in which he said that homosexuality is 'never a valid, humanly acceptable choice and form of life'. Students claim essays published by John Finnis (pictured), 77, emeritus professor of law and legal philosophy, attack same-sex relations and are discriminatory It is 'destructive of human character and relationships', he wrote, because 'it treats human sexual capacities in a way which is deeply hostile to the self-understanding of those members who are willing to commit themselves to real marriage'. The 78-year-old Roman Catholic, who is emeritus professor of law and legal philosophy at University College, has rejected the criticisms, insisting that he had 'absolutely' no hatred for homosexual people. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the same paper said 'exactly the same thing' about what he termed 'freewheeling heterosexual sex life', such as premarital sex, extra-marital sex and adultery. In a summary included in the 2011 reprint, he said he made clear his view that people who 'accommodate' heterosexual behaviour of this kind but support restrictions on homosexuality were 'morally inconsistent' in a 'deplorable' way. Prof Finnis described the criticisms against him as 'a mixture of muddle and misrepresentation'. The paper in question was a testimony to a 1992 referendum on anti-discrimination laws in the US state of Colorado, he said. 'When I reprinted it, I included a summary right at the end and the summary ends by saying that those people who wink at heterosexual lifestyles of a free-wheeling kind and on the other hand support particular restrictions on homosexuals are morally inconsistent, they are discriminatory, they are unfair, and it's a deplorable view,' said Prof Finnis. Asked if he felt any hatred towards homosexual people, he replied: 'Absolutely not. I have friends and my family have friends. We benefit from them. They are good people and hatred is not on the scene.' His paper angered 400 students at Oxford University, who all signed a petition to have him removed from his position (stock image) In 40 years of university life, he said 'in my private life and my professional life I've been well treated by people of homosexual inclination or living arrangements, very well treated by friends, by colleagues, by members of my faculty, and I've reciprocated'. And he added: 'It's a matter of personal pride for them and for me and a matter of professionalism for them and for me that we don't discriminate in our attitudes, we don't criticise people for their faith.' Rejecting claims that his involvement in teaching at the university was discriminatory to people who would not feel comfortable attending his classes, he said that none of the courses he taught were compulsory. 'It's a mixture of muddle and misrepresentation,' said Prof Finnis. 'I'm no longer employed by the University, but I do teach at the invitation of the faculty in graduate seminars. 'No-one has to do that course or go to the seminars that I do with colleagues in the law faculty.' Jordan Taylor, pictured, 18, was found dead by his mother in a disused railway tunnel near his home after not being seen for three days A grieving mother has revealed the horror moment she found her 18-year-old son's body in a disused railway tunnel after he had not been seen for three days. Jordan Taylor failed to return from from a weekend with friends last Easter prompting a huge search by family and friends. Mother Ann Marie Grocott and other relatives discovered his body covered in mud in the tunnel in Silverdale, Staffordshire, with his shoes and mobile phone on the floor nearby. An inquest heard the teenager had taken ecstasy and cocaine but that the exact circumstances of his death remain a mystery. A coroner heard he suffered from anxiety and depression and had barely left his home in the previous year. Ms Grocott told the hearing he had improved since being prescribed medication, and had started to socialise with friends. He left his home in Sneyd Terrace, Silverdale, on Friday, March 30, intending to stay at a friend's. He sent messages to his mother over the Easter weekend to say he was staying out, but she heard nothing after Sunday lunchtime and reported him missing on Easter Monday. On Thursday, April 5, Ms Grocott and close family members went to look on land off Pepper Street, where the old railway tunnel is. She said: 'We went on the tracks and walked towards the tunnel. I said the police helicopters were out (looking for Jordan) but they wouldn't be able to see in the tunnel. An inquest heard Jordan, pictured, had suffered with anxiety and depression previously and had failed to return from a weekend with friends, sparking a search 'Me and my sister were looking up the sides of the tunnel. I saw his shoe first, up the side of the bridge. Then I heard my name being shouted. I turned and Jordan was there.' It was not immediately apparent how Jordan had died, and Staffordshire Police launched an investigation. Tests revealed Jordan had amphetamine and ecstasy in his system and he had also taken cocaine. Officers interviewed several people who had been with Jordan over the weekend, but found no suspicious circumstances. It is believed he was last seen alive on Easter Monday when a resident of Coppice Avenue, which overlooks the railway line, saw a youth thought be Jordan 'reclined' on top of the tunnel. A post-mortem examination found no evidence that Jordan had been assaulted, and pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar concluded he died from hypothermia. It was also found that Jordan had a previously undiagnosed problem with his insulin levels. Dr Kolar said hypothermia can lead to severe confusion and sufferers can undress themselves believing they are hot - which could explain why Jordan was not wearing his shoes. Police discovered he had taken drugs with friends on the Easter Sunday afternoon, but his family said he was not a regular drug user and believe he would only have taken them as a result of peer pressure. His body was found covered in mud and without shoes in the tunnel. Pictured is the scene near the tunnel after being sealed off by police Dr Kolar said: 'The level of drugs was not toxic, but would have been important in what's taken place. 'Individuals that have taken drugs are more vulnerable to developing hypothermia - they are more likely to put themselves in situations that are not advisable, and drugs have an effect on the way the body regulates its own temperature.' The cause of death was recorded as hypothermia, possibly diabetes-related, with a background of MDMA (ecstasy) and amphetamine use. North Staffordshire coroner Ian Smith recorded a conclusion of misadventure. He said: 'Jordan was a vulnerable, naive young lad in a situation where he did things because others were doing it. I think that's the reason he took the drugs. 'He left the house where he had been on Sunday night. No-one saw him leave. In his drug-affected state he left behind his bag. 'He was seen in the area near his home on Monday. Why, oh why, did he not go home? 'The only explanation is the effect of the drugs and then the hypothermia, which has created this very confused state of mind. He has remained there until his body has given up at some stage.' Four working single mothers have today won a High Court challenge over the Government's controversial Universal Credit welfare scheme they claim forced them to turn down promotions and go to food banks. Lawyers for Danielle Johnson, Claire Woods, Erin Barrett and Katie Stewart said the problem is likely to affect 'tens of thousands of people' claiming Universal Credit. They complained that after being moved to the new benefits system - designed to make it simpler to claim - they were paid wildly different amounts every four weeks. They were sometimes not paid any benefits one month but received double the next or payments were moved to fortnightly without proper warning. Two judges in London announced on Friday that the women - who say they are struggling financially because of the way the system operates - had succeeded in a judicial review action against the Work and Pensions Secretary. The Government's High Court defeat came Amber Rudd promised changes to make Universal Credit more 'compassionate' The Government's defeat came as the minister in charge, Amber Rudd, performed a U-turn on the two-child cap and promised to make it more 'compassionate'. The women argued that a 'fundamental problem' with the scheme means their monthly payments vary 'enormously' and they end up out of pocket. They challenged the method used by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when calculating the amount payable under the Universal Credit Regulations 2013. Lord Justice Singh and Mr Justice Lewis gave their ruling following a hearing in November when they were told the women are struggling to manage their household budgets and some have fallen into debt or had to rely on food banks. It was introduced to replace means-tested benefits including income support and housing benefit. They said the problem arises when claimants are paid by employers on a date which 'clashes' with their assessment period for Universal Credit. For example, they pointed out that if a claimant is paid early because of a weekend or bank holiday, the system counts them as having been paid twice in one month and they receive a 'vastly reduced' Universal Credit payment. The judges said they had concluded that the 'Secretary of State had wrongly interpreted' the relevant regulations. An economic slowdown continued through the autumn as manufacturing shrank, led by a plunge in the strength of car and pharmaceutical firms. As Brexit day nears in March, the economy has been slowing since last summer, new Office for National Statistics reveal today. Over the three months to November, GDP rose 0.3 per cent compared with the previous quarter. This stacks up with growth of 0.4 per cent recorded in the three months to October. The UK economy grew by 0.2 per cent in November compared with a month earlier, according to the ONS. That compares with growth of 0.1 per cent in October 2018. Over the three months to November, GDP rose 0.3 per cent compared with the previous quarter. This stacks up with growth of 0.4 per cent recorded in the three months to October Trouble in the car manufacturing sector was laid bare yesterday as Jaguar Land Rover, Britain's biggest car firm, announced it was cutting 5,000 jobs. The company blamed collapsing sales of diesel cars, the US-China trade war and uncertainty about how Brexit will unfold. Head of national accounts at the ONS Rob Kent-Smith said: 'Growth in the UK economy continued to slow in the three months to November 2018 after performing more strongly through the middle of the year. 'Accountancy and house-building again grew but a number of other areas were sluggish. 'Manufacturing saw a steep decline, with car production and the often-erratic pharmaceutical industry both performing poorly.' In the detail of the figures, month on month, construction growth was 0.6 per cent in November. Manufacturing contracted 0.3 per cent, while services activity rose 0.3 per cent. Production as a whole contracted 0.4 per cent. Jaguar Land Rover has created 2,350 jobs in Slovakia over the past three years thanks to a 110million sweetener offered under EU rules. The car manufacturer has been moving its production of the Land Rover Discovery model from its plant in Solihull, West Midlands to Eastern Europe since 2015. Slovakia offered the firm 110million in state aid to move its operation overseas in a deal that is allowed by the EU, meaning as a member state Britain could not object. It comes as the firm announced that it was axing up to 4,500 British jobs amid a downturn in China and lower demand for their diesel engines. JLR at least partly blamed 'continuing uncertainty' around Brexit for the huge job losses, despite the move to Slovakia being confirmed before the EU referendum. Scroll down for video Workers arrive at Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood Plant in Liverpool shortly after the firm announced plans to cut 4,500 jobs, mainly in the UK Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Telegraph: 'Jaguar Land Rover has 110 million reasons to back the UK's membership of the EU. 'One of the disadvantages of membership of the EU is that it uses our money to move our jobs from the UK to other EU countries. 'They won't get this money once we have left. This sweetener should be looked into and we should consider withholding it from the 39 billion financial settlement.' The 110million grant was investigated by the European Commission, but was found to be compliant with law as the factory is located in a disadvantaged area. JLR said the 4,500 global redundancies will start will voluntary redundancies as unions promised to 'scrutinise the business case' for the cuts. But the firm has promised UK investment with Electric Drive Units to be built in Wolverhampton and new electric Battery Assembly Centre at Hams Hall, North Warwickshire. JLR said the 4,500 global redundancies will start will voluntary redundancies as unions promised to 'scrutinise the business case' for the cuts Most of the cuts are expected to be in the UK, with the savings and 'cashflow improvements' coming over the next 18 months. Ralf Speth, chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover, said: 'We are taking decisive action to help deliver long-term growth, in the face of multiple geopolitical and regulatory disruptions as well as technology challenges facing the automotive industry.' Ford also expected to cut jobs across Europe Car giant Ford has announced plans 'significant' cuts among its 50,000-strong European workforce under plans to make it more competitive and make its business more sustainable. The company started consultations with unions, with details of job cuts not expected until later in the year, although staff based at Warley in the West Midlands will move to Dunton in Essex. Steven Armstrong, Ford's European group vice president, said the company was taking 'decisive action' to transform its European business. He said: 'We will invest in the vehicles, services, segments and markets that best support a long-term sustainably profitable business, creating value for all our stakeholders and delivering emotive vehicles to our customers.' New all-electric vehicles will be offered for all Ford models, while there will be a more 'targeted' line-up of models in the future. Mr Armstrong said Ford was making 'tough' decisions by undertaking a 'complete review' of its European operations. He said the announcement was not directly linked to Brexit, but he added that Ford will have to undertake a further review if the UK leaves the EU without a deal in March. Advertisement The company pointed to a downturn in China and lower demand for the diesels which make up most of its products. In the UK, 'continuing uncertainty related to Brexit' was blamed. Meanwhile, Ford signalled 'significant' cuts among its 50,000-strong European workforce under plans to make it more competitive and make its business more sustainable. Jaguar Land Rover's UK workforce has grown from around 17,000 to more than 40,000 in the last six years, at its sites including Whitley near Coventry, Halewood on Merseyside, Solihull, Castle Bromwich and Wolverhampton. But employees were laid off last year. The firm, owned by Indian conglomerate Tata, booked a 90 million pre-tax loss in the three months to September 30, which compared with a 385 million profit in the same period in 2017. Last year it also cut around 1,000 jobs, shut its Solihull plant for two weeks and announced a three-day week at its Castle Bromwich site. Meanwhile it has been hiring elsewhere. In China it has increased its workforce by 4,000 since 2014. And it recently announced it would move production of the Land Rover Discovery to a new plant in Slovakia with plans to hire up to 3,000 workers. The announcement from the manufacturer is part of plans to cut costs and improve cash flows by 2.5 billion including 'reducing employment costs and employment levels.' JLR was expected to build one million vehicles by 2020, but sales in the first eleven months of 2018 dropped 4.4 percent. Russia's media watchdog accused the BBC Thursday of spreading the ideologies of 'terrorist groups' via online publications of its Russian service, the latest in a tit-for-tat row over media impartiality. Roskomnadzor, the state communications and media watchdog, said it would investigate whether the BBC was breaking the law. This was the latest volley in a wave of rhetoric against the BBC, after Britain's broadcasting regulator Ofcom last year said the Moscow-funded RT channel had broken broadcasting standards. The names of 44 BBC journalists working in Russia were leaked on a Russian social media site this week 'Currently we have discovered materials which transmit the ideologies of international terrorist groups (quotes of terrorist al-Baghdadi)' on the BBC's Russian language website, Roskomnadzor said in a statement. Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi is the leader of the Islamic state jihadist group, also known as ISIS. Russian law does not forbid quoting individuals considered 'terrorists', however any mention of such outlawed groups has to come with the disclaimer that the group is banned in Russia. The watchdog said it would probe whether material broadcast by the BBC 'corresponds with Russian anti-extremism legislation'. The BBC said in a statement sent to AFP that it 'fully complies with the legislation and regulations of every country' in which it operates. The Russian statement did not cite any specific articles or dates. Roskomnadzor also said it had requested documents from the BBC's Russian services to investigate whether it was breaking a new law limiting foreign ownership of Russian media. It comes a month after UK broadcasting watchdog Ofcom announced Russia's state-run network RT could face sanctions over its reporting of the Salisbury spy attack BBC's Russian service is limited to the internet, but it has expanded in recent years and has many top reporters on the team dealing with often sensitive political subjects. Britain's Ofcom said in December it had found violations of impartiality rules in seven of RT's shows broadcast after the Salisbury nerve agent attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. The ruling led Russia to announce it would launch an investigation into the BBC for breaching fairness standards under Russian media law for its reporting of the same incident. In an intensification of the feud, the Sunday Times published a list of names and photographs of eight reporters working for the Moscow-backed Sputnik's UK bureau in Edinburgh. After the Sunday Times leak last month, a list of 44 BBC reporters working in Russia was then published online anyonymously. Moscow said at the time that any proceedings against the BBC were a 'mirror measure' for Britain's 'constant propaganda against RT', a state-owned channel. An American military official says the U.S.-led military coalition has begun the process of withdrawing troops from Syria. Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-coalition fighting ISIS, says the U.S. started 'the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria.' The withdrawal began Thursday night, according to the UK-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The U.S. has started 'the process of deliberate withdrawal from Syria'. Pictured is a convoy of US military vehicles in Syria's northern city of Manbij two weeks ago It said a convoy of about ten armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syria's northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. 'CJTF-OIR has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria,' spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan said in a statement, referring to the US-led anti-jihadist force. 'Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements,' he said. Trump's shock announcement on December 19 that he was withdrawing all 2,000 American troops from the conflict-wracked Middle Eastern country concerned allies and prompted the resignation of his then defense chief Jim Mattis. Since then, however, administration officials appear to have walked back considerably and the current envisaged timetable is unclear. The removal of the equipment in recent days was first reported by CNN, which quoted an administration official with direct knowledge of the operation as saying it signaled the beginning of US withdrawal from the Middle Eastern country. A U.S. soldier, left, sits on an armored vehicle behind a sand barrier at a newly installed position near the front line between the U.S-backed Syrian Manbij Military Council and the Turkish-backed fighters, in Manbij, north Syria in April last year The official quoted by CNN would not describe exactly what the cargo was or how it was being transported. They also did not say what part of Syria it came from, though it is expected the drawdown would begin in the country's north. The CNN report added that officials it had previously spoken to said the Pentagon wants to signal to the president it is working towards his goals following his withdrawal decision last month. Though the removal of troops is not on the cards immediately, withdrawing equipment is a means of showing progress towards this goal, it added. On Sunday, National Security Adviser John Bolton set out stringent conditions for the proposed withdrawal, saying the defense of allies must first be assured. 'We're going to be discussing the president's decision to withdraw, but to do so from northeast Syria in a way that makes sure that ISIS is defeated and is not able to revive itself and become a threat again,' Bolton said when meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Speaking in Egypt Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed the troop pullout from Syria would go ahead as he urged Middle East nations to forge a common stand against Tehran. Chinese authorities are targeting an increasing number of people for posting criticism of the government on Twitter, according to reports. Twitter users in China are facing detention, threats and lengthy interrogations amid an escalating crackdown on online content, even though the social media platform is blocked in the country. One man said he was questioned by Chinese police for eight hours while being chained to a chair, according to a report by The New York Times. Another said he spent 15 days in a detention centre. One family claimed they were threatened by police. He Jiangbing, a Beijing-based financial commentator, told The Washington Post that police came to his Beijing living room to warn about his tweets. Above, He's Twitter profile The aggressive tactics by state censors and cyber-watchers are the latest front in President Xi Jinping's campaign to suppress internet activity, according to the report. Nine Twitter users questioned by police told The New York Times that officers would print out tweets critical of the government and ask them to delete them or their accounts. One human-rights activist, Wang Aizhong, refused to take down his tweets when asked by police. Shortly after, 3,000 of his tweets have disappeared from his profile, according to the report. Huang Chengcheng, the activist who was interrogated for eight hours, told The New York Times that his hands and feet were manacled to a chair while he was questioned by police in Chongqing. After the ordeal, he had to sign a promise to stay off Twitter. People work at an online data processing center, in Nangong, Hebei. Chinese authorities are using harsh methods to target people posting criticism of the government on Twitter Twitter users in China are facing detention, threats and interrogations amid an escalating crackdown on online content, even though the platform is blocked in the country (file photo) Twitter - along with Google, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram - are banned in China, but they could be accessed by workarounds such as a virtual private network (VPN), a software that bypasses firewalls. An estimated 10 million Chinese use Twitter, according to tech-industry watchers cited by The Washington Post. Chinese authorities have kept an eye on the platform but, until recently, rarely intervened and taken direct action against citizens who use it. He Jiangbing, a Beijing-based financial commentator, told The Washington Post that police came to his Beijing living room to warn about his tweets, even though they weren't about politics. Last year, He wrote comments on Weibo and WeChat urging the Chinese central bank to lower reserve requirements for lenders because he believed the Chinese economy was struggling. Twitter - along with Google, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, are banned in China - but they could be accessed by workarounds such as a virtual private network (VPN) He said he fears that the escalating crackdown on Twitter would eliminate the last online venue in China for open intellectual debate. On Wednesday, the China Netcasting Services Association, published a detailed list of 100 types of content that short video platforms must scrub. Political subjects topped the list, including Taiwan independence, criticism of Communist Party leaders, parodying China's national anthem and anything that 'harms religious unity'. The new rules also cover a wide range of other topics, including 'money worshipping', 'alternative' views of marriage and love, superstitious rituals and 'unverified' footage of protests and gatherings. In 2018, Chinese authorities shuttered 26,000 'illegal' websites and deleted about six million online posts containing vulgar content, official news agency Xinhua said on Monday. Poland has arrested a Chinese manager at tech giant Huawei and one of its own ex-counter-espionage officers and charged them with spying on Poland for China. The two men were arrested Tuesday, according to Poland's Internal Security Agency. The development comes as the U.S. is exerting pressure on its allies to block Huawei, the world's biggest maker of telecommunications network equipment, over data security concerns. Canadian officials arrested a top Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, in December at the behest of U.S. authorities as part of an investigation into alleged violations of U.S. trade sanctions. A Chinese Huawei 'director' and a Polish cyber business specialist have been arrested in Poland on suspicion of spying for China, it has emerged (file picture) Polish security agents also searched the Warsaw offices of Huawei and Orange, Poland's leading communications provider, where the former Polish spy recently worked, seizing documents and electronic data. The homes of both men, also in Warsaw, were also searched, according to agency spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn. Huawei is a leader in the development of next-generation '5G' mobile networks and a key player in building them in Europe. But a U.S. dispute with China over its ban on Huawei is spilling over to Europe, the company's biggest foreign market. Canadian officials arrested a top Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou (pictured), in December at the behest of U.S. authorities as part of an investigation into alleged violations of U.S. trade sanctions Some European governments and telecom companies are following the U.S. lead in questioning whether using Huawei for vital infrastructure for mobile networks could leave them exposed to snooping by the Chinese government. Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Poland's Special Services agency, said the operation that resulted in the arrests of the two suspects had been underway for a long time. He said 'both carried out espionage activities against Poland.' Zaryn told The Associated Press that prosecutors have charged the two men with espionage, but that agents are continuing to collect evidence and interview witnesses, including sorting through what was seized earlier this week. Further indictments are expected, he said. 'It's not the beginning of this case but it's also not the end,' he said. He also said no further details would be released now about the case because it is classified and the investigation is ongoing. TVP reported that the men have proclaimed their innocence, but Zaryn said he could not confirm that. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison each. TVP, which is government-controlled media, identified the arrested Chinese man as Weijing W., saying he was a director in Poland at Huawei. It said the man also went by the Polish first name of Stanislaw and had previously worked at the Chinese consulate in Gdansk. A LinkedIn profile for a man named Stanislaw Wang appears to match details of the man described by Polish television. Wang's resume said he worked at China's General Consulate in Gdansk from 2006-2011 and at Huawei Enterprise Poland since 2011, where he was first director of public affairs and since 2017 the 'sales director of public sector.' The resume said he received a bachelor's degree in 2004 from the Beijing University of Foreign Studies. Security agents also searched the Warsaw offices of Huawei and Orange, Poland's leading communications provider, where the former Polish spy recently worked State TV identified the Polish man as Piotr D., and said he was a high-ranking employee at the Internal Security Agency until 2011, where he served as deputy director in the department of information security. Huawei issued a statement from its Chinese headquarters saying it was aware of the situation in Poland and was looking into it. 'We have no comment for the time being. Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based,' it continued. An official at the Chinese Embassy in Warsaw said China attaches 'great importance to the detention' of the Chinese citizen in Poland and that Chinese envoys had met with Polish Foreign Ministry officials on the matter and urged them to 'arrange a consular visit as soon as possible.' Orange Poland told the AP on Friday it was cooperating with Polish security services in the case and had 'handed over belongings of one of our employees' in Tuesday's search of its offices. Orange told the AP it did not know if the suspicions against its employee were related to his work at Orange. Geopolitical tensions over Huawei intensified after its chief financial officer, who is the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei, was arrested Dec. 1 in Canada in connection with U.S. accusations that the company violated restrictions on sales of American technology to Iran. The United States wants Meng Wanzhou extradited to face charges that she misled banks about the company's business dealings in Iran. She is out on bail in Canada awaiting extradition proceedings. Huawei has been blocked in the U.S. since 2012, when a House Intelligence Committee report found it was a security risk and recommended that the government and private companies stop buying its network equipment. The library announced Friday afternoon that the amnesty period would extend from Jan. 4 through the end of the shutdown. Any workers affected by the shutdown who have outstanding fines predating Jan. 4 will not be sent to collections. More than a third of people have not seen a police officer or community support officer on the beat in their area for the past year, according to new figures. The survey of more than 17,000 people in England and Wales also provided the latest indication of public views on police visibility. Research found two in five people in England and Wales believe crime and anti-social behaviour are a big problem in their area. The survey of more than 17,000 people also provided the latest indication of public views on police visibility (stock image) The survey was commissioned by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to assess the public's perceptions of police and crime in 2018. The percentage of people who believe crime and anti-social behaviour in their area is a 'very big' or 'quite a big' problem also rose from 30 per cent in 2017 to 40 per cent last year. Respondents are split as just over half (56 per cent) believe there is not much of a problem, or none at all, the report said. It added: 'Nonetheless, compared to 2017, more people now think that crime and ASB (anti-social behaviour) are a problem. 'This is a trend that can be seen since 2016 when only 26% said that crime and ASB were a problem in their area.' When it comes to seeing an officer or PCSO on foot at least once in the past year, 36 per cent of respondents said they had not. Of those that had, 35 per cent said the frequency of seeing a police office had decreased compared to the previous year. John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said the findings were not surprising 'when you consider our neighbourhood and response teams have been cut back to the bone'. He added: 'Our communities deserve better, and we want to deliver, but in order to do that we need an immediate and significant, centrally-funded investment from the Government. 'Without this my colleagues will struggle to provide the service they joined up to provide.' When it comes to seeing an officer or PCSO on foot at least once in the past year, 36 per cent of respondents said they had not (stock image) Following sustained pressure to provide a cash boost, Home Secretary Sajid Javid last month announced nearly 1 billion of additional police funding. Minister for policing Nick Hurd said: 'I am pleased to see public perceptions of the police have improved over the last year and also that visibility of police officers on the front line has risen. 'The funding settlement we have proposed for 2019/20 is the biggest increase in police funding since 2010 and will see up to 970 million additional funding for policing next year, including money raised through council tax. 'This extra funding will enable police to recruit more officers, better respond to reports of crime, and tackle serious and organised crime, while also meeting the financial pressures they face.' A company director vowed to throw acid in the face of his ex-girlfriend during a stalking campaign after he blamed her for the collapse of their American-themed dessert bar, a court heard. Travis Holness, 30, began harassing Lauren Lockwood after they split up and he was left with debts of 30,000 due to the closure of their pancake and milkshake cafe in Handforth, Cheshire, after just four months of trading. Over four weeks Holness bombarded 29-year old Miss Lockwood with unwanted phone calls in which she said he threatened to disfigure her with corrosive liquid. He also turned up at a trendy hair salon where she was worked as a receptionist shouting: 'You set me up. I'll kick your head in.' On another occasion Miss Lockwood, from Wilmslow, was driving home with her mother when Holness who is thought to have been following her in her Mercedes used his vehicle to block her in then tried to get her car keys from her. Travis Holness, 30, began harassing Lauren Lockwood, 29, after they split up and he was left with debts of 30,000 due to the closure of their pancake and milkshake cafe He was arrested after a tearful Miss Lockwood went to police to report him twice in two days and asked for a restraining order. At Manchester Magistrates Court Holness was convicted of stalking between May and June 2018 after a trial. The court heard the couple who had been together for two years had opened their premises SugarBee in October 2017 after Holness got a 25,000 business loan and borrowed a further 6,000 from his aunt for fixtures and fittings. But the couple split up the following month and the business closed in January last year amid spiralling costs. Holness bombarded 29-year old Miss Lockwood with unwanted phone calls in which she said he threatened to disfigure her with corrosive liquid Miss Lockwood told Manchester magistrates court: 'I had the idea of opening a business together, he said it would sound good and would be something to work on. At the start it was all under Travis' name and eventually he added my name as a director but I took my name off it. 'At the start it wasn't a nice premises, but Travis put a lot of hard work into it to make it what it was. He handled getting people in and all the money invested into the business came from Travis. It was going well in the first few weeks and had potential but the business stopped because Travis couldn't pay and in January last year it closed - it was his responsibility..' She said she was later working at HOB hair salon in Hale near Altrincham when Holness drew up outside in his black Mercedes and was seen pacing up and down outside. Miss Lockwood added: 'He got out the car and he came in and started talking really aggressively. He was saying 'check her phone, she's setting me up'. I haven't got a clue what he meant by that. My manager told me to go round the back. I was backing off because I was scared. 'Later I was taking my mum home when we drove past each other on the main road. I've gone into my estate and he must have gone the opposite way round, he's come driving quite fast behind me and cut me off and blocked me in. He tried to get in the car and take the keys off me. 'He used to threaten to come to my mum's house and he left abusive phone calls. He said he'd come and kick the doors off, he rang the salon twice. He phoned me while I was at work and he said he was going to come and throw acid in my face. 'I was just trying to be civil and the last thing I wanted was for him to get angry or lose his temper. There was time when he rang my phone 48 times.. I know his auntie loaned him some money for the business but he made me lose my job at the salon because I was causing danger to other members of staff. 'He rang off unknown quite a few times because he knew I wouldn't answer to his number. I just used to tell him to leave me alone and move on. The florist told me flowers I was sent were from him, there was a card and I asked the delivery guy and he said Travis sent them. 'On one occasion he asked me as a friend to go out for something to eat with him, if I said no I knew he would get angry about it. But after I went out with him for his birthday I told him I never wanted to speak to him ever again. 'Deep down I did think it was going to be successful business, credit where credit is due he did put a lot of work into it. I don't think anything I did resulted in the business closing down. I walked away from Sugarbee completely - everything was in his name.' Holness of Prestwich, Manchester denied wrongdoing and said: 'She had the idea for the business and she wanted it as a joint partnership, but it was mainly for her and would be something for her to concentrate on. 'She picked out the premise and the funding came from a business loan and it was 25,000. The repayments was about 400 a month and that was for five years but it was just myself on the loan. 'In setting up the business we were OK, I was the director of the business and she was the second director and receptionist. It opened in October and sold pancakes, milkshakes, ice creams, it was mainly a dessert bar. 'But the relationship broke down pretty badly. The main agreement was that when the business was set up she would take control but I wanted to keep the business going. Before it opened we got her brothers friends who were builders to come in and do the work, they did half the work and then we ran out of money. Due to that, because they were family friends, the relationship broke down. 'It closed due to how she was acting. We'd argue and then I'd try to keep my distance, she'd turn up unannounced, I was always busy trying to run the business. I'd fallen into a bit of arrears but an agreement was made with me and the landlord, yet she was kicking off with staff members in the shop and causing trouble. 'The locks had been changed and a member of staff couldn't get in. I tried to lease up the business elsewhere but I couldn't find anywhere. The debts were up in the air, I didn't know what to do or how to pay. 'Between January and April, there was phone calls between us, but it was to see how I was and to see if we could work anything out. It was always civil. I also bought her a dog We were talking about what I was going to do about this debt. She was happy and normal. 'I did go to her place of work but we didn't have an argument - I thought that maybe I could speak to her and she could contribute, I wanted to let her know direct that she needed to contribute to this debt. I wasn't aggressive. It was just 'can I have a word with you?'. 'I didn't block her car in. I was going to meet a friend and she passed me.. We'd not had an argument, we were on good terms. I flashed and she pulled alongside me, I didn't get out of my car. I just wanted to ask about how the debt could be paid off. She was hysterically crying, I didn't want her to get upset so I said 'forget it' and I left. 'I was receiving letters from the bailiff company and from the business group. Legally, she's not responsible for any of the debt but morally yes. I've just been paying it off myself. She's never offered to make any payment to the debt. 'She's made these allegations because of the debt. It doesn't benefit me to get angry against someone who I need to support me. She always called me and was crying down the phone asking if we could get back together. I know legally she doesn't owe me anything. All of this is a concoction.' But prosecutor Mark Pritchard said: 'This was a tale of a man engaging in a campaign against his ex-partner of harassment that amounts to stalking. Even if this was all about business money, that is not a defence. He said there was a moral obligation, but you can't bring that to the court. She never agreed to pay towards the business and never said she would.' Holness will be sentenced later this month. Julian Assange is living in 'conditions akin to a political dissident in Stasi-era Germany' as supporters raise fears about his residency at the Ecuadorian embassy. A visitor of the WikiLeaks founder claimed she had her phone checked and all of their conversations recorded during trip to see him in London. American friend and political commentator Cassandra Fairbanks said going to the embassy was 'more invasive than visiting someone in a federal penitentiary'. She said the pair were forced to 'pass notes' amid fears that their conversations were being taped by the Ecuadorians 'under pressure from the US'. Scroll down for video Julian Assange speaks to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador in 2017 American friend and political commentator Cassandra Fairbanks (pictured) said going to the embassy was 'more invasive than visiting someone in a federal penitentiary' Writing for the Gateway Pundit, she added: After saying hello, we tried to go to another room with less surveillance so we could speak more openly. 'Within minutes, a member of the staff at the embassy came knocking on the door and demanded that we go back. 'As we walked through the hall, I noticed that there was no angle that wasn't being recorded by a forest of menacingly Orwellian black cameras. 'Currently, Assange cannot even have a simple visit with a friend without it being monitored by some shadowy state actor. 'Unable to speak privately, even with a noise machine attempting to muffle the microphones from picking up conversations, we resorted to passing notes.' She said that Assange was in 'good spirits' despite being 'efforts from the US and Ecuador to make his life a living hell'. Fairbanks (shown) said the pair were forced to 'pass notes' amid fears that their conversations were being taped by the Ecuadorians 'under pressure from the US'. Assange, 47, has been holed up under asylum inside the embassy (pictured) since 2012 when he was accused of sexual assault by two women in Sweden It comes as a legal defence fund was launched for Assange amid fears that the is under 'increasingly serious threat'. The Courage Foundation, which offers legal support for whistleblowers, said Assange had become 'isolated' inside the embassy building. Assange, 47, has been holed up under asylum inside the embassy since 2012 when he was accused of sexual assault by two women in Sweden. The Australian denied their claims but refused to travel to Sweden to face them, saying it was part of a ruse to extradite him to the US due to his involvement in the leaking of a huge amount of classified documents in 2010. The Courage Foundation now claims his expulsion from the embassy may be imminent, putting him at risk of extradition to the United States. Mr Assange has long maintained the he faces charges under seal in the US for revealing highly sensitive government information on his website. While the exact charges against Assange remain unclear, WikiLeaks has served as a vehicle for release of thousands of classified US military and diplomatic cables. Former scout master Terence Hamblett, 44, pictured, admitted a series of 'vile and depraved' child sex offences and was jailed for 12 years A former scout leader who called himself 'The Master' has been jailed for 12 years for a 'catalogue of vile and disgusting' child sex offences after being snared by his own spy camera. Terence Hamblett, 44, admitted 20 charges including inciting children to engage in sexual activity via the internet, and making, possessing and distributing hundreds of sick images. He also admitted installing a 'peephole' and hidden camera at a cafe he ran in Stoke-on-Trent to watch young customers use the toilet and get changed. After his arrest, police discovered footage of Hamblett setting up the camera on one of his laptops, along with 12 clips of two teenage boys using the toilet. Over a 14-year era of depravity, Hamblett, a former pub landlord in Runcorn Cheshire, also persuaded another paedophile in Ireland to abuse his own toddler son, aged three, while he watched via Skype. Judge Steven Everett sentenced Hamblett to 12 years in prison, and slammed him for his 'vile, 'depraved' and 'disgusting' offending, stressing that every child in the haul of indecent images was a victim of sexual abuse. He said: 'You described those actions as vile, you say how the public will be horrified and disgusted by that. You say you feel physically sick about what it is you did. These are appropriate descriptions for what you did. 'It was utterly vile, and what you did, any right-thinking person would be sick at the thought of some of the material you downloaded on the internet, sick of the thought of your actions. 'It's hard to understand why any person would consider putting a camera in a toilet and filming people going to the toilet. 'You carried on, having done that, using the material that you downloaded - sending it off to youngsters to persuade them (to perform a sex act).' He added: 'What you did is just so alien to any decent person would even consider as right. 'It's hard to comprehend this behaviour. It's depraved and disgusting.' The former pub landlord was caught after police found footage of him installing a spy camera in the toilets of a cafe he ran in Cheshire Hamblett insisted on being called 'The Master' in what the judge called a 'bizarre' relationship with the other abuser. The two men sent each other nearly 14,000 messages including horrific images over a three-year period. While grooming teenage boys online, serial cyber-pervert Hamblett used the Skype accounts 'bennyboy4900' and 'jordbroomy' to pretend to be a 16-year-old boy with a broken webcam to mask his real age. He then sent them indecent images in exchange for them performing sex acts. Simon Duncan, prosecuting, said Hamblett had sent 566 Category A - the most serious - to young boys. Mr Duncan said the offences took place between 2002 and 2016, and when investigators intervened they discovered Hamblett's laptops contained 922 sick images in total, comprising 233 Category A images including 70 videos, 245 images in Category B with 70 videos, and 444 Category C images with three videos. Officers trawled more than 1.5million Skype messages to uncover the extent of his prolific, long-term offending. Cheshire Police revealed after the hearing that the force began investigating Hamblett in 2016 after a tip from another force. James Coutts, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty to the offences and had no prior convictions. But the judge said his early plea counted for little because the offending had begun so long ago. Mr Coutts said Hamblett still had the support of his partner, with whom he had run the pub until they had to give it up due to the court proceedings. DC Andy Kent, of Cheshire Constabulary's Major Investigation Team, said: 'This was a highly complex investigation involving thousands of images and videos, more than one-and-a-half million Skype messages and the identification of a large number of victims and other offenders both in the UK and abroad. The pervert, pictured, also admitted encouraging a fellow paedophile in Ireland to abuse his child over Skype 'As a result of the work by our dedicated officers we have been able to show that Hamblett is a professional paedophile who used the internet and social media to sexually exploit vulnerable victims for his own sexual gratification. 'He possessed, made and distributed an extremely large number of images and videos of children being sexually exploited and abused and he duped teenage boys into performing sexual acts for him on a webcam by concealing his true age and identity.' Chief Inspector Alex McMillan added: 'This case highlights the fact that people you communicate with on Skype and other forms of social media may not be who they claim to be. 'It also highlights the need for parents and guardians to warn their children of the dangers of communicating with people via social media, to check that they are using those things safely and to keep an eye out for any warning signs of sexual exploitation. 'I hope that Hamblett's conviction encourages anyone who has been subjected to similar offending to report it to the police. 'They should feel confident that they will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers and other support agencies we work alongside. 'All victims will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and the needs of the victim as our main priority.' Judge Everett said the right time to impose a Sexual Harm Prevention Order would be at the time of his release. He placed Hamblett on the sex offenders' register for life and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of his digital equipment. Simon Moores, a father-of-two, was killed when his plane crashed in Spain The estranged wife of Paul Hollywood is 'struggling to cope' after her brother died in a plane crash. Alex Hollywood's pilot brother Simon Moores, 62, and co-pilot David Hockings, of Herstmonceux, died when their aircraft came down near Errezil in the north of Spain on Wednesday. Mr Moores' devastated family confirmed his death from their home on Thursday. A source revealed that Hollywood's estranged wife Alexandra Hollywood, 54, was struggling to come to terms with the loss. 'It hasn't properly sunk in yet,' a source told The Sun. 'She has had a really tough time of it this last year or so, then this happens. It's awful.' The Piper PA-28 plane took off from Cascais, southern Portugal, and was heading towards Hondarribia airfield in northern Spain when it crashed in misty conditions on the 3,500ft Hernio mountain early on Wednesday afternoon. Paul Hollywood's ex Alex is the sister of Simon Moores. She and Mr Hollywood (pictured together) split in November 2017 The two bodies were discovered by Spanish rescuers from her Hernio mountain in the Basque region. Moores was a former Thanet District Council Conservative councillor, while Hockings, 67, ran an aircraft maintenance company called Cristal Air, based in Spilsted Farm airfield at Sedlescombe, near Hastings. An audio recording of the crash emerged of Mr Moores changing the plane's route before the aircraft crashed into a Spanish mountain, killing him and a second Briton. Early indications suggest the aircraft might have had a fault in its altitude equipment meaning the pilot might not have realised how low the plane was. It comes as a recording emerged of what is thought to have been the pilot's last communication before the crash, in which a change of route was discussed with air traffic control. Before his death Simon, who owns an aircraft banner business, was scathing over Mr Hollywood's split with his sister. Alexandra was married to the Bake Off star for 19 years, he is now with a 23-year-old barmaid Summer Monteys-Fullam. Mr Moores said the relationship would 'end in tears'. The last image posted on Simon Moores' Twitter account was on January 9 - the day he died Father-of-two Simon Moores frequently updated friends and family on social media as he flew around the world as a pilot A British pilot and passenger have been killed after their small aircraft crashed on a Spanish mountain in misty conditions. Rescuers are pictured at the scene Pictures from the scene show foggy skies and the charred remains of the British-registered aircraft on the ground, high up in the Basque Region mountain range The Piper plane took off from the Portuguese town of Cascais and was heading towards Hondarribia airfield when it crashed on Mount Hernio at about 2pm on Wednesday. Pictured: Rescuers working at the scene The alarm was raised when an explosion was heard in the area shortly before 2pm on Wednesday. The plane was flying from southern Portugal to northern Spain when it crashed Pictures from the scene show foggy skies and the charred remains of the British-registered aircraft 160ft from the summit, high up in the Basque Region mountain range. Contact is said to have been lost with the plane shortly after 1pm when it was in transit between Bilbao and Hondarribia. A local then raised the alarm after hearing an explosion. One witness told the Spanish press: 'I heard the noise of the plane, followed by a crash and then everything was silent.' Mr Moores, a former 'Technology Ambassador' for the British Government and Vice President of the Westminster-based Conservative Science and Technology Forum was a keen flyer. He regularly updated followers on social media with images both of and from planes. On the day he died, January 9, he posted stunning images from over Spanish mountains. Although he would later encounter dangerous fog and misty mountains the day appeared clear. At 7.24am he wrote about a route alteration. He said: 'Dawn's early light apparently Biarritz make it very difficult to refuel so go to San Sebastian instead.' Another tweet, his final message, followed at 10.02am with the cockpit pictures, captioned: 'Mountains of Mid Spain.' The active father-of-two and husband was also a former councillor in Thanet, Kent. One neighbour of Mr Moores, who didn't want to be named, said: 'Simon is such a lovely man. I can't believe it. I knew he was a pilot. 'My heart goes out to his family.' Simon Moores, 62, was a keen pilot and aviation expert and former technology advisor to the British Government Mr Moores took aerial images from his planes. He took images of the Isle of Wight and Reading festivals, as well as images over Kent A spokesperson for his sister Alex Hollywood said: 'The Moores family respectfully ask for privacy at this difficult time.' A spokesman for the regional Basque Country police force, known as the Ertzaintza, said both victims 'may be British' but added: 'Identification will involve the experts being 100 per cent certain and that is not the case at present. 'One of the bodies was recovered yesterday afternoon and the other today and they were subsequently transported away from the mountain and taken to the provincial capital San Sebastian for autopsies in the city's Institute of Forensic Medicine. 'Specialists in air accidents are still present at the scene of the crash. 'Authorities here are also in contact with British diplomatic officials since Britain is potentially the country of origin of both the people who died in the accident.' He added: 'The plane was heading towards San Sebastian airport which is in a coastal resort called Hondarribia which is about 15 miles from the provincial capital and near the border with France. Rescuers found the wreckage (pictured) on the mountainside amid misty conditions in Spain Emergency crews were forced to abandon their search for the second person on board just after 6pm last night because of a lack of light. The second body was found today 'There were two people aboard the plane who are the two people who were found dead on Mount Hernio. 'It was foggy in the area when the plane crashed so there were visibility problems but the air accident experts will be the ones who will determine what the cause or causes were.' Rescue teams, including firefighters, descended on the scene and a helicopter was called in - but the efforts of the air team were severely hampered by the foggy weather conditions. Ground teams eventually reached the wreckage at 3.45pm and found a body within the wreckage. They were forced to abandon their search for the second person on board just after 6pm because of a lack of light. They resumed this morning and found a body at 10.22am. Rescue teams, including firefighters, descended on the scene and a helicopter was called in - but the efforts of the air team were severely hampered by the foggy weather conditions Hernio mountain is a well known summit in the heart of the province of Gipuzkoa and, at more than 3,500 ft, is the highest peak in the range Hernio is a well known summit in the heart of the province of Gipuzkoa and, at more than 3,500 ft, is the highest peak in the range. The crash site has been cordoned off by investigators and rescue teams were due to continue their search this morning. Although the nationality of the two people on board remains unknown, sources have suggested the two on board the four-seater plane were 'foreign nationals, possibly English'. A Foreign Office spokesman told MailOnline it was 'seeking further information from the Spanish authorities' following the plane crash. An agricultural firm has come under fire after using models to pose in front of their products during Britain's biggest tractor show. Machinery manufacturer Agrifac has now found itself amid a sexism row after encouraging visitors and guests to take selfies with their glamorous models at the Lamma show in Birmingham. During the agricultural show on January 9, the company also posted pictures of competition winners posing with 'grid girls' Bec Quinn and Melissa Sharp. Agricultural firm Agrifac has come under fire after using models to pose in front of their products at the Lamma show in Birmingham 'Grid girls' Bec Quinn and Melissa Sharp posed with visitors and guests during the agricultural show The machinery manufacturer was present at the Lamma Show in Birmingham on January 9 Outspoken critics have now taken to social media to express their frustration at the company's decision to use the 'grid girls'. Manager of Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park, Kate Lord, described the decision to use the models as an 'insult' to the women who work in the industry. On Twitter she wrote: 'Its 2019 for goodness sake. 'What an embarrassment for our industry and an insult to the women who work in it.' Another Twitter user, Jim Clark, wrote: 'Totally agree so outdated and poor judgement from Agrifac wonder what the woman who work for them think.' Kate Christie commented: 'Unbelievable objectifying women. Can't believe this still goes on.' However, others on social media supported the company's decision to use the models. @EvenStephen wrote: 'It's their choice to do the work. Stop attacking them. If thet are confident and happy to work in promotion let them. Lots of men do the same in bars and shows. No issue with that.' Critics took to Twitter to air their frustration at the decision to use the glamorous models at the tractor show While Ben Sockett wrote: 'So a girl who wants to be a model can't be because you don't think it's right? That sounds a little backwards to me...' The criticism comes nearly a year after Formula One announced it would no longer use walk-on grid girls during its tournaments. In a statement in 2018 the racing company said they felt the practice was no longer 'appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world.' However, others Twitter users expressed their support of the company's decision to use the models The decision to ban grid girls by Formula One also came days after the Professional Darts Corporation banned the practice of walk-on girls accompanying darts players during competitions. Commenting on Agrifac's 'grid girls', managing director Zoe Rutherford told the BBC: 'These women are professionals who did a really good job and got a positive reaction from the people who were there. 'The negativity from people, many of whom weren't at the event, has been really unfortunate.' Brexiteer billionaires who gave more than 4million to the Leave battle today said they have given up on Britain ever actually quitting the EU. Peter Hargreaves, the billionaire who was the second biggest donor to the 2016 leave campaign, and veteran hedge fund manager Crispin Odey they now expect Britain to stay in the EU despite their campaign victory in the 2016 referendum. The pair said deadlock in Parliament meant Theresa May's deal would be voted down and MPs would end up cancelling the entire project despite the 2016 vote. Their warning came as Jeremy Hunt warned MPs that killing off the Brexit deal could well mean no Brexit. The Foreign Secretary insisted the developments in Parliament over the past few days had shown it wants to block the UK from crashing out without an agreement. Accusing Speaker John Bercow of a campaign to 'frustrate' the government, Mr Hunt said there was now a 'possibility in sight' of the country not leaving the EU at all. But he warned that failing to deliver Brexit in the wake of the 2016 referendum would be a 'fundamental breach of trust' with the public. The PM has been making increasingly desperate efforts to turn the tide of opinion on her plan - including reaching out to Labour MPs and union leaders. However, senior figures concede that defeat is looking inevitable, with estimates suggesting it could be the biggest ever. Peter Hargreaves (left), the billionaire who was the second biggest donor to the 2016 leave campaign, and veteran hedge fund manager Crispin Odey (right) they now expect Britain to stay in the EU despite their campaign victory in the 2016 referendum Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (pictured in Downing Street this week) insisted the developments in Parliament over the past few days had shown it could block the UK from crashing out without an agreement In interviews with Reuters today, Mr Hargreaves said: 'I have totally given up. I am totally in despair, I don't think Brexit will happen at all. They (pro-Europeans) are banking on the fact that people are so fed up with it that they will just say ''sod it we will stay''. I do see that attitude. 'The problem is when something doesn't happen for so long you feel less angry about it.' Mr Odey added: 'My view is that it ain't going to happen. 'I just can't see how it happens with that configuration of parliament.' Foeign Secretary Mr Hunt conceded the Parliamentary arithmetic around Mrs May's deal was 'challenging' with just days until the vote. 'What is important is for MPs on all sides, Brexiters and Remainers, whatever our disagreements, to say 'We are democrats and the most important thing now is to make sure that we really do deliver Brexit',' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Ex-Labour minister admits he might vote for May's deal to avoid no deal An ex Labour minister today admitted he was close to voting for Theresa May's Brexit deal to avoid a no deal. Jim Fitzpatrick made the disclosure in the Commons as MPs continued their lengthy debate on the Withdrawal Agreement. The Poplar and Limehouse MP said: 'I'm talking myself into supporting the Prime Minister's deal next Tuesday against no deal and against further delay. 'I'm not quite there yet but I'm not far away. 'It seems the House isn't yet there at all but at some point we need to recognise the danger of no deal is still there and the only real alternative on the table is the Prime Minister's deal.' Mrs May's deal is expected to be defeated on January 15, with the vote delayed from December in a bid to convince more MPs to offer their support. Advertisement Mr Hunt said Mr Bercow had shown that he was 'willing to frustrate the Government at every opportunity', and it was not possible for the minority Tory administration to control what happened in Parliament. 'I think it's now looking much less likely that Parliament would allow a no-deal outcome anyway,' he said. 'We have seen from this week that Parliament has the ability to assert itself and to shape outcomes. 'I think Parliament is very committed to try to stop no-deal, but I think we have to recognise that there is a deal on the table, it does broadly deliver the Brexit people voted for, and if we don't find a way to get this through, we are taking some very big risks. 'Brexit paralysis potentially leading to no Brexit is something I think would be incredibly damaging for the long-term future of this country.' The comments highlight deepening splits within the Cabinet about what to do when Mrs May's plan is rejected. One senior minister told MailOnline this week that the PM should just ignore Parliament's efforts to block no deal - as only the government can change the law to prevent the UK leaving in March. More than a dozen Tory MPs have made clear that in the end they would be ready to support a no-confidence vote and force an election in order to avoid crashing out of the EU. However, the Cabinet minister suggested Mrs May could merely use her power to set the date of the election for April 4 - meaning Parliament would be dissolved for the campaign when the UK leaves the bloc on March 29. At least one other member of Mrs May's top team is believed to back the plan, which would trigger a titanic constitutional crisis. Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd today became the latest Cabinet minister to hint that she will quit if Mrs May tries to take the UK out of the EU without any agreement. Justice Secretary David Gauke and Business Secretary Greg Clark are also among those thought to be prepared to quit if the government tried to force no-deal. Debate on the Brexit plan is resuming in the House of Commons later, with security the theme. Although Mrs May was offered a glimmer of hope yesterday as a couple of wavering MPs backed her deal, the government is still thought to be facing a record defeat on Tuesday. How could MPs try to block a no-deal Brexit? WRECKING BILLS To prepare for Brexit, several major laws must be passed between now and March 29 and any or all could be amended by MPs in a bid to stop no deal. CONTEMPT If ministers ignored motions for a second referendum or an extension of Article 50 they could, with the likely connivance of Speaker Bercow, be held in contempt of Parliament. Repeated contempt motions would be difficult, if not impossible, for ministers to ignore. NO CONFIDENCE If the Government repeatedly ignored parliamentary votes and a no deal Brexit appeared close, Labour could table a no-confidence motion, potentially triggering an election. Advertisement The previous biggest margin was 166 for the minority Labour administration in 1924 - but there are estimates that the PM could lose by more than 200. 'We're going to get smashed,' one government source told the BBC. Conservative MP George Freeman, who announced yesterday that he will back the PM's deal 'with a heavy heart', said he expected as many as 40 other critics of the plan to do the same. However, he predicted that this would not be enough to save the package. Mr Freeman told BBC Radio 4's World at One: 'It's Hobson's choice. It's better than a no-deal crash Brexit, in my view, for my constituents. 'I don't think it's ideal at all but that's the situation we find ourselves in.' The Mid-Norfolk MP said it was 'not too late' for the Government to seek a cross-party agreement on a 'sensible, orderly Brexit'. 'I hope that in the next few weeks, Parliament can show that we are listening to the British people, not just the 52 per cent and not just the 48 per cent, but trying to find a sensible way to resolve this,' he said. Ms Rudd said she was 'committed' to ensuring that the UK does not leave the EU without a withdrawal deal. During a BBC interview this morning, Ms Rudd three times declined to say whether she would remain a member of the Government if it opted for a no-deal Brexit. 'This is a strong and great country, we will find a way to succeed,' she said. 'But I do not think that no-deal would be good for this country and I'm committed to making sure we find an alternative.' The PM (pictured at Twickenham yesterday) has been making increasingly desperate efforts to turn the tide of opinion on her plan - including reaching out to Labour MPs and union leaders Ms Rudd said it was 'right' for the Government to make preparations for a no-deal Brexit, comparing it to wearing seatbelt when driving a fast car. She added: 'I intend to work with colleagues to make sure we avoid it. I am committed to getting the best outcome for this country, which is supporting the Prime Minister's deal.' Pressed for a third time by interviewer Justin Webb on whether she would quit if Theresa May went for the no-deal option, Ms Rudd cut him short by saying: 'Thank you very much, Justin.' At a speech on benefits changes later, Ms Rudd tried to play down resignation talk -although again she stopped short of ruling it out. 'I am committed to making sure that we get the Withdrawal Agreement through next week,' she said. 'I have been in and out of Cabinet and I find you have more influence in Cabinet.' Downing Street said the Prime Minister had 'constructive' phone conversations about her Brexit deal with trade union big beast Len McCluskey of Unite, a Brexit supporter and close confidant of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as well as Tim Roache of the GMB. Number 10 also confirmed ministers would 'consider very seriously' moves by Labour MPs to safeguard workers' rights after Brexit in an attempt to win support for her deal, if the backbench amendment was selected by the Speaker. The amendment would keep EU rules on pay and conditions, health and safety issues, and environmental standards. However senior opposition figures rowed back against the overtures, saying it was too little, too late. Amber Rudd (pictured in Downing Street this week) said she was 'committed' to ensuring that the UK does not leave the EU without a withdrawal deal Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, if a no-confidence motion is passed, there is a 14 day period in which the government - or a new administration - can try to establish a majority again Mr Corbyn said Labour did not 'endorse or accept' the initiative, backing union leaders including the TUC's Frances O'Grady, who said the amendment 'makes no change to a bad deal for working people's jobs and rights'. And one of the union leaders who spoke with Mrs May said afterwards he remained in favour of extending Article 50 to allow a second referendum. Mr Roache added: 'After nearly three years I'm glad the Prime Minister finally picked up the phone. 'As you would expect, I was very clear about GMB's position, the deal on the table isn't good enough and non-binding assurances on workers' rights won't cut it. 'If the deal genuinely did the job for GMB members, our union would support it, but it doesn't.' Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry later on Thursday hit out at Tory figures putting out feelers on workers' rights in a bid to get a Brexit consensus. Appearing on the BBC's Question Time, she accused the Government of treating the issue as an 'afterthought' by attempting to discuss it at such a late stage. She said: 'It would be fundamental to what we were doing and we would have it as part of the law that our rights would be in pace with Europe. 'For the Tories to come back at the last minute and go 'oh yeah you know that thing about workers' rights, well you might be able to have the same rights as they have in Spain', it just shows the fundamental difference of approach to this.' A law student who missed her flight decided to make a dance montage to kill time while waiting for the next one - and there's even an appearance from her cat. Katie Gould had to wait for four hours on Thursday but managed to make the most of her time by dancing around HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport. In a video posted on Twitter, Katie shimmys, dances like a robot and does the floss in several areas of the airport to the song You Make My Dreams by Daryl Hall and John Oats. Scroll down for video Katie Gould danced, left, around HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport after she missed her flight yesterday and even got her cat Bowie, right, involved with the moves The law student smiles throughout the video and laughs as she dances at the gate waiting area Some of the clips in the montage even feature Katie's adorable cat Bowie, who looks slightly confused but pleased at being cradled during the long wait. His owner enthusiastically busts some moves at gate waiting areas, an information point and even convinces a member of staff to join in with her moves. Katie jumps and points her toes in front of shops and spins around on the airport tram's poles. In one clip she smoothly shakes her shoulders as she moves along a surprisingly empty moving walkway. Towards the end of the montage Katie is seen grooving while having a drink and something to eat, clearly having worked up an appetite after all the dancing. I missed my flight and it was 4 hours until the next so this is what I did pic.twitter.com/BPHMU9q5km lil hunny (@katiemgould) January 10, 2019 Katie even dances on the airport tram, left, and in front of shops, right, for the hilarious video Katie, right and tapping her foot to the music left, said she's surprised at the attention to her video on Twitter which has now been viewed more than four million times Yesterday Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees protested outside Atlanta Airport over the 20th day of a partial government shutdown. Dozens of TSA employees rallied outside the Domestic North Terminal as the partial shutdown means they are working without pay, reports Fox 5 Atlanta. Thousands of people have commented on Katie's video which has now been watched more than four million times. One person wrote: 'The cat made my day. I mean, this whole video was delightful, but the cat cameo was the best part.' Another said: 'This was awesome to see... When so many view the airport as a place of stress, you turned it into light hearted fun... and Bowie has some great moves.' Katie responded to all the comments saying: 'I really wasnt expecting this. I was just bored at the airport and thought Id laugh at myself and dance a little bit. 'Im so glad so many people laughed along with me. Im overwhelmed. Thank you all. Plz dance, write, love and create more. Life is too short.' Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has called on the Catholic Church to allow priests to have boyfriends. In a shocking speech given at a groundbreaking ceremony for a school near the capital Manila on Friday Duterte claimed 'most priests are gay' as he doubled down on a previous claim that 'almost 90 per cent' of the clergy are homosexuals. 'Only I can say bishops are sons of b*****s, damn you. That is true. Most of them are gay,' he said. Scroll down for video Rodrigo Duterte speaking at the Barangay Summit on Peace and Order with village officials in Manila earlier this week 'They should come out in the open, cancel celibacy and allow them to have boyfriends.' Duterte, who is a practicing Catholic, has previously spoken openly about his childhood abuse at the hands of a priest. It comes just a month after Duterte said in a speech at the Presidential Palace in the Phillippines that Catholic priests are 'useless fools' who should be 'killed'. Duterte's strong remarks are believed to have been made in response to the Catholic church's opposition to his government's ongoing war on drugs, which has left thousands dead. Duterte, who is a practicing Catholic, has previously claimed he was abused by a priest during his childhood According to local reports, Duterte's comments were made during a speech at the presidential palace on December 6. 'These bishops that you guys have, kill them. They are useless fools. All they do is criticise,' Duterte said. He also called the church 'the most hypocritical institution' and said his God is different from the one Catholics worship. The Catholic church has also made their concerns known, following the death of three of its priests since December 2017. However, Duterte has hit back at the church on various occasions about church morality in light of the high-profile international sexual abuse scandals involving priests. Police on guard during president Rodrigo Duterte's visit at a drug rehabilitation center in Las Pinas city during the ongoing 'drug war' This is the moment a man throws a dart with a cup attached and lands a ping pong ball inside in an incredible trick shot. The clip, filmed in Adelaide, south Australia, shows the man sitting in a chair opposite a dart board. He launches a yellow ping pong ball, which bounces twice along the ground before he throws a dart with a red plastic cup attached to it. A man in Adelaide, south Australia, sits in a chair opposite a dart board and launches a yellow ping pong ball Flying through the air, the dart almost lands a bullseye and hits the board in time to catch the ping pong ball in the cup. The man celebrates the seemingly impossible trick shot by throwing his hands up in the air. Posted on Twitter page Gear Up, which creates videos of 'insane trick shots', the clip was captioned: 'I think we've created a new beer pong game!' Users on social media were amazed with the trick shot, while others speculated about how many times it took to film the perfect shot. Flying through the air, the dart almost lands a bullseye and hits the board in time to catch the ping pong ball in the cup One user said: 'The way he leans back in relief you know thats take no.537'. Another user wrote: 'I dont care how many takes this took, its damned impressive'. One user said: 'How long did they sit there until he nailed it?'. Social media users also joked about the new version of beer pong. One user wrote: 'DO NOT PLAY THIS MAN IN BEER PONG'. Another user wrote: 'You know how frustrated & sober I would be playing this'. One user said: 'Ya, first one to actually do it before everyone else leaves to go home/to a better party, falls asleep, or dies of boredom wins.' "Our priority is making sure all county students have the opportunity to get a quality education, said County Executive Steuart Pittman. And, if that means we need to support expanded bilingual services, that is certainly something we will consider along with Dr. Arlotto's other priority requests. A mother who funded her 180-a-day cocaine habit and lavish holidays to Dubai is facing more jail time after embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds from a second company. Married Kerryanne Clarke, 40, pocketed 254,735 from Bell Building Projects in Govan, Glasgow, using her work's credit card and pocketing company cash. The fraudster splurged 2581 on a stay at the Atlantis Palm Hotel in Dubai as well as 3778 for a five star all-inclusive hotel in Tenerife. Married Kerryanne Clarke, 40, pocketed 255,000 from her second job to fund lavish holidays The addict spent 180-a-day on cocaine and bought luxury goods to hide her habit from her husband, she claims. She was jailed for three years in February 2017 for embezzling 372,163 from another company, Elmwood Construction Services Ltd, between September 2010 and July 2014. It was during this investigation that her recent crimes were uncovered. In Christmas 2014, 92 employees were made redundant at Elmwood as a result of her crimes. Clarke, from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, pleaded guilty yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff Court to embezzling 254,735 between July 2014 and January 2017 from Bell Construction. Clarke began working for Bell Building Projects in July 2014 as a financial controller, earning 38,000. Procurator fiscal depute Deborah Carroll said in July 2017, police were called to company to look at their books after suspicious amounts of money had went missing. Ms Carroll said: 'It became apparent money had been embezzled from the company. 'The accused was interviewed by two company directors on January 23 2017 and questioned about the missing funds. 'The accused admitted taking the funds and claimed to have a cocaine addiction. Elmwood Construction Services Ltd, where Clarke stole 372,000 between 2010 and 2014 - which caused 92 people to lose their jobs 'Her employment was terminated and the directors began a detailed examination of accounts and obtained information in relation to the embezzlement that was given to the police.' Clarke spent 16,738 alone on the credit card and pocketed cash that was supposed to go through the books. The court heard in January 2015 she spent money on a stay at Hotel Du Vin and later a holiday to Tenerife at the five-star Hotel Gran Tacande. Ms Carroll said in June 2016, Clarke paid 2581 to stay at the Atlantis Palm hotel in Dubai as well as 'other luxury goods'. She was released early from her prison sentence, and in April 2018 was arrested and questioned by police about her latest crime. She admitted the embezzlement and told them of her cocaine addiction. Ms Carroll said that the company was taken to court by creditors when payments weren't made, but the firm missed the hearing because Clarke had been hiding mail. She has now pleaded guilty to embezzling 255,000 from most recent employers Bell Building Projects Defence counsel Clare Connelly said Clarke admitted this offence before her earlier court case and argued there had been a delay in bringing this case to court. She said: 'During her period in custody she was an exemplary prisoner and it allowed her to fully address her addiction which is what underpinned both episodes.' The court heard she spent around 180 a day on cocaine which her family knew nothing about. The sheriff questioned why she spent the cash funding an extravagant lifestyle. Ms Connelly said: 'She required to provide evidence to her husband of a lifestyle they would have expected to enjoy if she hadn't been spending the money she earned and embezzled on cocaine.' Sheriff John McCormick deferred sentence for reports and continued her bail. He told Clarke: 'This is on any view extremely serious, protracted and substantial embezzlement.' Between September 2010 and July 2014, Clarke transferred funds from Elmwood Construction Services Ltd into her personal accounts in over 360 transactions. She made 'duplicate' payments as a book keeper but instead of paying the intended recipient twice, she transferred cash to her own accounts. Sneaky Clarke kept the name of where the money was meant to be paid but manually changed the account details. In Christmas 2014, 92 employees were made redundant as a result and she was later jailed. The internet has gone bananas after images were posted online of fresh produce selling for 99 cents per kilogram. Eager customers will be rushing to AGA Lakemba in Sydney's south-west after images of the cheap produce started to circulate online. Images have been posted to Reddit of both cucumbers and bananas being advertised for just 99 cents per kilogram. The internet has gone bananas after images were posted online of fresh produce selling for 99 cents per kilo Eager customers will be rushing to AGA Lakemba in Sydney's south-west after images of cheap produce started to circulate online Customers are eager to get their hands on the cheap goods after reporting bigger supermarkets have the same items for more than $3 per kilo. 'That's an excellent price,' one person commented. Another person was surprised they were so low as bananas had previously been so expensive due to weather. 'I remember when they were $11 a kilo after cyclone,' one user wrote. 'I remember when they were over $30 a kilo after the cyclone. Was cheaper to buy the lolly bananas,' another user said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted AGA Lakemba for comment. Mining magnate and ex-politician Clive Palmer has come under fire after his political party sent thousands of unsolicited messages to Australian phone numbers. Mr Palmer's United Australia Party, which was approved to run at this year's federal election last month, sent the texts to people across the country on Friday. Many of those who received the notifications took to social media to share screenshots of the message and vent their fury. Scroll down for video Mining magnate and ex-politician Clive Palmer has come under fire after his United Australia Party sent thousands of unsolicited messages to Australian phone numbers (version sent to Melbourne residents pictured) Twitter users who were on the receiving end of the party's electoral marketing displayed a mix of bemusement and frustration at the texts In Sydney and Melbourne the message focused on the New South Wales transport network, telling residents: 'Make Australia Great. Fast trains for Sydney. One hour to CBD from up to 300kms away. Vote One United Australia Party. Clive Palmer'. Phone users in Queensland and South Australia also reported receiving messages - tailored to Mr Palmer's pledge to cut tax and the party's energy policy respectively. Twitter users who were on the receiving end of the party's electoral marketing displayed a mix of bemusement and frustration at the texts. 'I have never given them (the party) my number nor authorised them to use it - I don't want to ever receive political texts from any party! Why can they do this?' one user said. 'How the HECK did Clive Palmer get my mobile number?' another added. The United Australia Party has insisted it was not breaking any rules by sending out the messages, according to Channel 9. As well as those in Sydney and Melbourne, phone users in Queensland and South Australia also reported receiving messages - tailored to Mr Palmer's (pictured ) pledge to cut tax and energy policy in the state's respectively 'Texts sent to residents were fully compliant under legislation approved by Liberal and Labor governments,' a spokesman for the party said. Criticism of Mr Palmer's party comes after heavy metal band Twisted Sister took aim at the former federal MP for Fairfax - claiming an advertisement by his party ripped off one of their songs. The controversial businessman has claimed the 're-establishment' of a UAP, which former prime ministers Robert Menzies and Joseph Lyons once served under, is a 'significant milestone' in Australian political history. 'We have very strong membership and interest in our party and have formally opened nominations for all 151 lower house seats and all Senate positions,' he said. Diana Good, 62, has attracted widespread acclaim for her criticism of the Prime Minister A Question Time audience member dubbed 'The Woman in the Yellow Jacket' who was praised for a forceful speech on the BBC programme has been identified as a former crown court judge. Diana Good, 62, who was given the moniker by new host Fiona Bruce as she pointed her out, attracted widespread acclaim for her criticism of the Prime Minister, asking the panel: 'Could we get over feeling sorry for Theresa May?' Now, MailOnline can reveal Ms Good is a former litigation and investigations lawyer who is now an adviser to MPs on the Government's International Development Committee. Ms Good was a lawyer with Linklaters LLP for 30 years until she retired as a senior partner, and is now also an advisor to the Campaign for Female Education in Africa. She also worked as a part-time judge in crown courts across London for the Ministry of Justice, hearing criminal cases for 11 years between 2000 and 2011. Her speech last night received rapturous applause and viewers praised her 'eloquent and succinct' words - and the 'best ever comments by an audience member'. Her daughter Frances Good posted a picture of her on the show on Facebook, saying: 'When your mum goes viral on Twitter due to being epic on Question Time! 'Let's get her in power! Haha... when you play board games with her you'll realise she ain't worth messing with, haha.' Ms Good, who was at the back of the audience yesterday in Islington, North London, began: 'Two things. Firstly, could we get over feeling sorry for Theresa May? Bruce, who has taken over from David Dimbleby to host the programme, then interrupted her, saying: 'Hang on, hang on - do you never feel sorry for her?' 'The Woman in the Yellow Jacket' was applauded by fellow Question Time audience members Ms Good delivered a forceful 80-second speech which criticised the Prime Minister last night Ms Good, who was at the back of the audience yesterday in Islington, North London, began: 'Two things. Firstly, could we get over feeling sorry for Theresa May? Bruce, who has taken over from David Dimbleby to host the programme, then interrupted her, saying: 'Hang on, hang on - do you never feel sorry for her?' And Ms Good replied: 'No, I don't feel sorry for her. She is the woman who for many, many years has led the hostile environment for migrants in this country - which resulted in the Windrush generation, it's a disgrace. 'She's the person who created her very specific red lines on immigration in the ECJ which have created the negotiation mess that we're in. She triggered Article 50 when she had no plan. Fiona Bruce was hosting her first Question Time after taking over the role from David Dimbleby Ms Good's daughter Frances Good posted a picture of her on the show on Facebook, saying: 'When your mum goes viral on Twitter due to being epic on Question Time!' 'And as to criticising the EU on this, there are 27 other countries in the EU. They have been completely united on this. We do not even have a cabinet who can unite, and definitely a government that isn't in control of the process. 'They are a body of rules and regulations and they are not going to break that when it's the most successful single market in the world, and all round the world people want to do deals with the EU. 'We are going to lose all of that, and it is ridiculous for us with our hopeless government who cannot get it together, to actually work out what the will of the people is today in 2019 to blame the EU and to go around feeling sorry for Theresa May. I'm sorry.' Ms Good's speech was tweeted by the official Question Time account, and had received 12,000 likes along with more than 4,000 retweets by 8.30am today. Among those praising it was University of Oxford politics lecturer Jennifer Cassidy, who tweeted: 'We will all remember where her were when Fiona Bruce pointed to the audience and said: 'Yes, the woman in the yellow jacket.' 'Yellow jacket woman made more progress, offering more insights in 90 seconds, then Theresa May has done in 31 months.' Clare Wigley said: 'This lady said eloquently and succinctly what many of us are feeling. The audience tonight very well represent the views of the people (in my opinion).' And Linzi Poll, of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, added: 'Best ever comments by an audience member. Well done that woman. Give her a job in government.' But Twitter user Slackaly retorted: 'The funny thing is they don't know what it is like to actually have to work at something for a whole nation as most of their life they have just worked for themselves. 'Anyone who stands up and does a job like Theresa May is much, much more decent than those who moan.' Bruce was praised for her deft and assertive handling of panellists on the new-look Question Time yesterday. The experienced newsreader appeared to take little time to settle into the frequently fiery debate show. Brexit was the first and primary topic of discussion and interruption on the first Question Time since the Christmas break, and Bruce was praised for pressing guests on the Brexit deal, Conservative leave strategy, and alleged Labour electioneering over the EU. Bruce took over from Dimbleby who had presented the often-heated debate show for 25 years. The show had received some criticism for recitations of various party lines, and sometimes angry clashes. The new-look show was filmed in the Jeremy Corbyn heartland of Islington, and featured voices from both sides of the divisive Brexit debate . Ms Good has been approached for comment by MailOnline today. Despite more than a year of international engagement and promises of economic reform by North Korea's leaders, the human rights situation in the isolated country remains dire, a top U.N. rights official said on Friday. Blocked by the government from visiting North Korea, U.N. special rapporteur for human rights in North Korea Tomas Quintana visited South Korea this week as part of an investigation that will be provided to the U.N. Human Rights Council in March. Noting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has embarked on an effort to improve living conditions by focusing on economic development, Quintana said his preliminary findings showed those efforts had not translated into improvements in the lives of most people. Scroll down for video Tomas Ojea Quintana, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Friday Quintana says negotiations on North Korea's denuclearization must also include its abysmal human rights situation 'The fact is, that with all the positive developments the world has witnessed in the last year, it is all the more regrettable that the reality for human rights on the ground remains unchanged, and continues to be extremely serious,' he told reporters at a briefing in Seoul. 'In all areas related to the enjoyment of economic and social rights, including health, housing, education, social security, employment, food, water and sanitation, much of the country's population is being left behind.' North Korea denies human rights abuses and says the issue is used by the international community as a political ploy to isolate it. Human rights were noticeably absent from talks between Kim and the leaders of South Korea and the United States last year, over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. North Korea has denied human rights abuses against its people and says the stories have been cooked up by the international community Kim Jong Un has reportedly embarked on an effort to improve living conditions by focusing on economic development But in December, the United States imposed sanctions on an additional three North Korean officials, including a top aide to Kim, for serious rights abuses and censorship. North Korea's foreign ministry warned in a statement after the December sanctions were announced, that the measures could lead to a return to 'exchanges of fire' and North Korea's disarming could be blocked forever. While noting he had 'no specific information' on whether international sanctions were hurting ordinary North Koreans, Quintana said the sanctions targeted the economy as a whole and 'raised questions' about the possible impact on the public. He cited a reference by Kim in his New Year message to the need to improve living standards, saying it was a rare acknowledgement of the economic and social hardships faced by many North Koreans. Still, the United Nations has confirmed the continued use of political prison camps housing 'thousands' of inmates, Quintana said, quoting one source as saying 'the whole country is a prison'. He said witnesses who recently left North Korea reported facing widespread discrimination, labour exploitation and corruption in daily life. There is also a 'continuing pattern of ill-treatment and torture' of defectors who escaped to China only to be returned to North Korea by Chinese authorities, Quintana said. The dogwalker who found missing Jayme Closs has described the dramatic moment she found the teenager who had been missing since mid-October after her parents were killed in the family home. Jayme was found alive barely an hour's drive away from her home by Jeanne Nutter, who stumbled across the girl and pounded on her neighbors' Peter and Kristin Kasinskas door shouting: 'This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!' Nutter, a social worker, said: 'I went to her and she just sort of grabbed onto me and she told me who she was. She's a traumatized child. I believe she was just maybe in shock. 'I'm just happy that she's safe. I feel like it's sort of a miracle that she's still alive. I'm glad my dog wanted to go for a walk and we did and there she was. My goal was to get her to a safe place and I did. The police were amazing.' Residents in the rural Wisconsin town Gordon have spoken of their shock after finding Jayme, who had been missing for nearly three months. Jayme was skinny and dirty, wearing shoes too big for her feet when she was discovered Thursday afternoon near the small town. 'I honestly still think I'm dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost,' Peter Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. 'My jaw just went to the floor.' Jeanne Nutter, pictured Friday, was walking her dog near the cabin she owns with her husband Forrest when she found Jayme Closs coming out of nearby woods Kristin and Peter Kasinskas, pictured Friday, said she declined food but seemed 'outwardly OK' Safe: Jayme Closs, 13, was described as 'skinny and dirty but outwardly OK' by the couple and their neighbour who found her in Gordon, Wisconsin Kristin told the Today Show: 'She knocked on our door, and then actually opened our door and said call 911. 'I think we recognized Jayme immediately. I mean, her picture has been everywhere around here, billboards and things so we recognized her immediately.' Police said Friday the man accused of kidnapping Jayme is 21-year-old Jake Thomas Patterson. They confirmed Patterson, from Gordon, Wis., is in custody on two charges of first degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme's parents and one count of kidnapping. Scroll down for video Nutter, pictured, said she stumbled across the girl and pounded on her neighbors' Peter and Kristin Kasinskas door shouting: 'This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!' Shock: Kristin and Peter Kasinskas have spoken of how they opened their door to find their neighbor, who had been out walking her dog, with Jayme alongside her Kristin and Peter Kasinskas' home is seen above. Jayme showed up at their door and they called 911 The entrance to Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jake Thomas Patterson was arrested in the kidnapping of Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents Patterson lived just three doors down from Kristin Kasinskas, who called 911 to report the girl had been found, in Eau Claire Acres, pictured 'She seemed kind of in shock and kind of timid, but she did talk to us a little bit, and she came in and sat down in our living room and was able to have a conversation with us.' Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, is seen above in his mugshot Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon. From what she told them, they believe she was there for most of her disappearance. Gordon lies about 40 miles south of Lake Superior and about 65 miles north of Barron, Jayme's hometown. The town is home to about 645 people in a heavily forested region where logging is the top industry. Kristin, who is a teacher, said: 'She didn't give us a ton of detail. I had asked her if she knew where Gordon, Wisconsin, was. She did not know where Gordon was, and she didn't know where she was at the time. She was - she did state who she believed had her, and she did give us a little information about the person's car. But other than that she didn't give us a ton of detail about.' Kristin was asked if the person she mentioned was someone she knew in the community. Kristin said: 'I recognized the name when I was told it but not somebody I knew well by any means.' Asked about whether Jayme told her how she escaped, Kristin said: 'Not really. She kind of talked about being locked up or hidden when this person had to leave, but she did not go into any detail about how she got away. Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home in Barron Peter and Kristin Kasinskas called 911 after Jayme came to their door 'She looked thinner than her pictures. We offered her a beverage. We offered her something to eat. She said she didn't want anything to eat or drink. She was comfortable. She just was cold, so we did give her a blanket, but yeah, she didn't want food or anything to drink. I would - I guess I would describe her as looking kind of unkempt. 'I don't know (if she seemed afraid). It wasn't like she was scared of us. She wasn't crying or upset. She was just very calm.' Jayme went missing on Oct. 15 after police discovered someone had broken into the family's home outside Barron and fatally shot her parents, James and Denise Closs. Jayme was found alive three months after she was kidnapped. Police said Friday the man accused of kidnapping Jayme is 21-year-old Jake Thomas Patterson The teen vanished from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day the teenager's parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, (above) were found shot dead inside The home where teenager Jayme Closs lived with her parents before their brutal murder three months ago pictured today TIMELINE OF JAYME CLOSS' DISAPPEARANCE Jayme Closs was missing for three months Oct. 15, 2018 - Jayme's parents, James and Denise Closs, found dead at their home in Barron and the teen is reported missing Oct. 16, 2018 - Investigators say they don't consider Jayme a suspect in her parents' deaths Oct. 17, 2018 - Authorities announce that investigators believe Jayme was in her family's home when he parents were fatally shot Oct. 18, 2018 - About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers Oct. 23, 2018 - About 2,000 volunteers from as far as Minneapolis help with another ground search . Several items are found and taken for assessment Oct. 24, 2018 - The FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to Jayme's location. The amount is later doubled to $50,000 by the Jennie-O Turkey Store, where James and Denise Closs worked Oct. 27, 2018 - Funeral held for James and Denise Closs Oct. 29, 2018 - Prosecutors announce they have charged a man with burglarizing the Closs home but say he's not a suspect in the case. Dec. 12, 2018 - Tree of Hope lit as community prays for her safe return Jan. 10, 2019 - After three months Jayme is found alive in Gordon, Wisconsin. A suspect is taken into custody. Jan. 11, 2019 - Police named the man accused of kidnapping her as Jake Thomas Patterson, 21 Advertisement Jayme was nowhere to be found, with the Barron County Sheriff's Department describing her as likely abducted. Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23 but it yielded no clues. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an 'America's Most Wanted' episode. 'I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive,' Fitzgerald said at the time. He was right. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed on its website that Jayme was found in the town at 4:43 p.m. Thursday, and that a suspect was taken into custody 11 minutes later. Kidnap victim Elizabeth has also paid tribute to Jayme and has offered her support to the 'brave, strong and powerful 13-year-old survivor'. Smart wrote in the emotional Instagram post: 'What a miracle!!! Jayme Closs has been found!!!! I'm so thrilled to hear the news. What has been such a heart wrenching tragedy finally has some happiness in the story.' Smart was was 14 when she was held in the woods by Wandaa Barzee and Brian David Mitchell for nine months. Sue Allard, Jayme's aunt, told the Star Tribune that she could barely express her joy after learning the news Thursday night. 'Praise the Lord,' Allard said between sobs. 'It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait.' Barron Mayor Ron Fladten said Thursday night he was overjoyed at learning she is alive. 'There was a lot of discouragement because this took quite a while to play out,' Fladten said. Baron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald holds up a photo of the suspect, Jake Thomas Patterson, as he announces that Jayme Closs was found alive, during a news conference in Baron Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped for nine months in 2002 aged 14 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is pictured in March 2018 'A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. It's just a great result we got tonight. It's unbelievable. It's like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again.' He acknowledged that Jayme may not be the same person she was before she disappeared. 'I hope that she's in good shape,' the mayor said. 'She's no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future.' The notification that Jayme had been found came just four hours after Fitzgerald had taken to Twitter to debunk a report that she had been found alive near Walworth County. Douglas County, where Jayme was found, is hundreds of miles northwest of Walworth County. A fisherman has hauled in five bull sharks in just one week from a creek - sparking fears the body of water could be infested with the dangerous breed. Angler Tim Patterson claims to have pulled in the young females from an upstream section of Currumbin Creek on Queensland's Gold Coast. He recorded one of his finds on camera - which he then measured to be a mammoth 86cm bull shark before releasing it back into the creek. While Mr Patterson would not reveal exactly where he was finding the sharks in the creek he said in addition to 'landing' five sharks he lost another four. 'It's safe to say we have an abundance of these young bulls,' he told his followers. He called his string of encounters with the bull sharks 'a great catch and release experience' and added there was no reason for him to fish the shark out. The back-water section of the waterway is rarely frequented by the feisty sharks - who usually swim closer to the ocean but Mr Patterson's spate of catches could signal they are moving into new waters. A fisherman has hauled in five bull sharks in just one week from a creek - sparking fears the body of water could be infested with the dangerous breed (pictured one of his hauls measuring 86cm) Bull sharks are known to be commonplace in the intricate waterway system on the Gold Coast, with anglers in recent years reporting catching as many as 100 of the deadly shark each week (pictured 86cm haul) Bull sharks are known to be commonplace in the intricate waterway system on the Gold Coast, with anglers in recent years reporting catching as many as 100 of the deadly shark each week. While diminutive in size, bull sharks are easily provoked and have been known to unleash fatal attacks on humans. Two people were killed in the region's Miami and Burleigh Lakes in 2002 and 2003. Authorities have been looking to dissuade families from swimming in the bull-shark infested Lake Orr by erecting signs in recent months. A special command police officer has been charged with sexual assault and had an AVO taken out against him. The officer attended Burwood Police Station on Thursday, where he was arrested and charged in relation to an alleged incident in Sydney's inner west on September 24. The incident allegedly happened inside a private home while the police inspector was off duty. The matter was referred to the New South Wales Police Force Professional Standards Command for investigation in November last year. A New South Wales special command police officer has been charged with sexual assault and had an AVO taken out against him (stock image) In addition to being charged with sexual assault, the police officer was served with a provisional AVO. A New South Wales Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the police officer is not on operational duties at the moment while the matter is going through the courts. Depending on the result of the investigation, the police inspector's employment status will be reviewed at a later stage, the police spokesperson said. The man was granted conditional bail to attend Burwood Local Court on January 24. A self-described 'intense and easygoing entrepreneur' has hit back after an 'outrageous' job vacancy for a personal assistant was ridiculed online. Brad Weimert says Australians don't understand his demands because of 'cultural differences' after an advertised part-time position in Melbourne went viral when it was seen on job search site Seek. The position description detailed a long list of duties ranging from content creation to cleaning, 'multiplying effectiveness' and the ability to put up with 'profanity'. Scroll down for video Brad Weimert, (pictured) a 38-year-old self-described entrepreneur, has hit back after an 'outrageous' job vacancy for a personal assistant was ridiculed online. He has said Australians don't understand his demands because of 'cultural differences' The part-time position, which was advertised on job search site Seek (pictured), detailed a long list of duties from content creation to cleaning 'What you're signing up for: The opportunity to look inside the mind of a successful, fast paced, intense, sometimes chaotic, passionate, easygoing, adventurous 38-year old-entrepreneur,' the advertisement read. 'If you want to clock in and clock out of your job - this isn't for you. 'Expect after-hours and weekend calls from time to time. Life doesn't stop when the work day does - high performers work until their tasks are done, NOT just until the clock runs out.' But it later emerged the Seek ad was taken down by the site and appeared nearly identical to one listed in the US for Easy Pay Direct, a payment processing company founded by Mr Weimert. The candidate was required to posses qualities such as being results-driven, reliable, a self-starter, a multi-tasker and someone who 'won't take things personally: it's NEVER about you!' Mr Weimert (above) defended his job listing and simply said those who didn't like it need not apply 'The crazy part and what's made it so funny is that we've got an amazing response to the job post. It seems to be more of a culture difference than anything else,' Mr Weimert said 'We have zero affiliation with Melbourne - it looks like someone has stripped the copy from my ad,' Mr Weimert told news.com.au. However, the entrepreneur defended his job listing, and simply said those who didn't like it need not apply. 'If you don't want this job, don't apply. All the people putting energy into this is a pretty good representation of the people we don't want to apply. 'The crazy part and what's made it so funny is that we've got an amazing response to the job post. It seems to be more of a culture difference than anything else.' Speaking to the person who ripped off his job description, he said: 'More power to you - but unfortunately your culture doesn't like the ad, so I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. I think it's flattering.' The job position was posted on social media, with some describing it as the 'worst job ad ever'. 'Sounds more like a mum to a demanding four-year-old,' another added. Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Weimert for comment. A man has been charged after he allegedly shot a drone which a real estate agent was using to take aerial footage. The 46-year-old man was arrested after police were called to a property at Burrell Creek, on the New South Wales Mid North Coast, about 10.30am on Thursday. A real estate agent was visiting the property on Dickinsons Road to take aerial footage with a drone while the man, an occupant of the property, was present. A man has been charged after he allegedly shot a drone with a firearm on a New South Wales property (stock photo) Police allege the man tried to shoot the drone with a firearm. Officers searched the property and allegedly seized 187 cannabis plants, 20kg of dried cannabis and an undisclosed amount of cash. Another search five kilometres from the property, where police had been directed to, allegedly uncovered an unregistered .22 calibre rifle. The man was charged with eight firearm and drug offences and appeared at Forster Local Court on Friday. The SEC, of course, has endured shutdowns before. Lynn Turner, a former chief account for the SEC, served during a brief shutdown in 1990 but says this time is different. "We were told not to go in for work but people were not as concerned about it then," said Turner, a senior adviser at accounting firm Hemming Morse. "But I don't think there was the level of uncertainty you have today." President Donald Trump is edging closer to declaring a national emergency to fund his long-promised border wall, as pressure mounts to find an escape hatch from the three-week impasse that has closed parts of the government, leaving hundreds of thousands of workers without pay. Some 800,000 workers, more than half of them still on the job, were to miss their first paycheck on Friday under the stoppage, and Washington was close to setting a dubious record for the longest government shutdown in the nation's history. Those markers along with growing effects to national parks, food inspections and the economy overall left some Republicans on Capitol Hill increasingly uncomfortable with Trump's demands. Asked about the plight of those going without pay, the president shifted the focus, saying he felt badly 'for people that have family members that have been killed' by criminals who came over the border. Trump visited McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande on Thursday to highlight what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime. He said that 'if for any reason we don't get this going' an agreement with House Democrats who have refused to approve the $5.7 billion he demands for the wall 'I will declare a national emergency.' About 800,000 federal government employees are finding '$0.00' on their pay stubs on Friday as a partial government shutdown catches up with the payroll calendar for the first time this year President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats are still at a stalemate over funding for his controversial border wall expansion project, a conflict that led to a shutdown three weeks ago Trump was consulting with White House attorneys and allies about using presidential emergency powers to take unilateral action to construct the wall over the objections of Congress. He claimed his lawyers told him the action would withstand legal scrutiny '100 percent.' Such a move to bypass Congress' constitutional control of the nation's purse strings would spark certain legal challenges and bipartisan cries of executive overreach. A congressional official said the White House has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to look for billions of dollars earmarked last year for disaster response for Puerto Rico and other areas that could be diverted to a border wall as part of the emergency declaration. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly. 'We're either going to have a win, make a compromise because I think a compromise is a win for everybody or I will declare a national emergency,' Trump said before departing the White House for his politically flavored visit to the border. He wore his campaign-slogan 'Make America Great Again' cap throughout. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key Trump confidant, concluded Thursday that Trump should declare a national emergency and take control of billions in Defense Department budget money to erect his wall over hundreds of miles between the U.S. and Mexico Trump spoke at the border on Thursday, making a case that Democrats are standing in his way for the sake of politics It was not clear what a compromise might entail, and there were no indications that one was in the offing. Trump says he won't reopen the government without money for the wall. Democrats say they favor measures to bolster border security but oppose the long, impregnable barrier that Trump envisions. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said at one point that he didn't 'see a path in Congress' to end the shutdown, then stated later that enough was enough: 'It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier.' Visiting a border patrol station in McAllen, Trump viewed tables piled with weapons and narcotics. Like nearly all drugs trafficked across the border, they were intercepted by agents at official ports of entry, he was told, and not in the remote areas where he wants to extend tall barriers. Still, he declared: 'A wall works. ... Nothing like a wall.' He argued that the U.S. can't solve the problem without a 'very substantial barrier' along the border, but offered exaggerations about the effectiveness of border walls and current apprehensions of those crossing illegally. Sitting among border patrol officers, state and local officials and military representatives, Trump insisted he was 'winning' the shutdown fight and criticized Democrats for asserting he was manufacturing a sense of crisis in order to declare an emergency. 'What is manufactured is the use of the word 'manufactured,'' Trump said. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are Trump's primary antagonists on Capitol Hill, and have come down on the side of federal workers who aren't being paid Union members rallied on Thursday to call for an end to the shutdown at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington As he arrived in Texas, several hundred protesters near the airport in McAllen chanted and waved signs opposing a wall. Across the street, a smaller group chanted back: 'Build that wall!' In Washington, federal workers denounced Trump at a rally with congressional Democrats, demanding he reopen the government so they can get back to work. On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the president of engaging in political games to fire up his most loyal supporters, suggesting that a heated meeting Wednesday with legislators at the White House had been 'a setup' so that Trump could walk out of it. In an ominous sign for those seeking a swift end to the showdown, Trump announced he was canceling his trip to Davos, Switzerland, scheduled for later this month, citing Democrats' 'intransigence' on border security. He was to leave Jan. 21 to attend the World Economic Forum. The partial shutdown would set a record early Saturday, stretching beyond the 21-day closure that ended Jan 6, 1996, during President Bill Clinton's administration. A 14-year-old boy has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a 12-year-old Virginia boy named Kemon Battle, of Portsmouth. The tragedy unfolded on December 21 just before 11am, and little Kemon died the following day just a month shy of his 13th birthday. Portsmouth police did not identify the juvenile charged Tuesday and they have released few details about what happened except to say the shooting was not a random act of violence. Little Kemon Battle (pictured) was shot and killed by his friend who is 14-years-old, according to police Police are not releasing the teen's name as of yet. He is charged with voluntary manslaughter De'Andre Barnes, a Portsmouth school board member who said Kemon was his cousin said that police haven't told the family exactly what happened. But he said the suspect was a friend of Kemon's. 'This is kind of bittersweet,' said Barnes told the Virginian Pilot. 'Two kids losing their lives at such a young age.' 'They hung together,' Barnes said, adding that the pair were friends. 'They lived in the same neighborhood,' Barnes added. The little details police have released so far is that the shooting was 'not a random act of violence.' The detectives also thanked the community for their 'continued cooperation and support.' A memorial was held for little Kemon on January 2 for family and friends In the boy's obituary it says his favorite video game was Fortnite, and his favorite snacks, strawberry Pop-Tarts and pizza rolls. Following the teen's arrest, Barnes says he believes his cousin's death was a direct result of 'Portsmouth not investing in their children.' He called on the city to spend more money on schools and recreation centers. Kemon was a student at Cradock Middle School. Dramatic footage shows a man being tasered by police as he attempted to steal a car from a Marine Corps veteran at the end of a day-long crime spree. Volusia County deputies in Florida say Anthony Gunther, 34, broke into two vehicles and stole a Jaguar from a car dealership. He then led deputies on an aerial chase that ended with him trying to carjack a man before a deputy used a Taser to stop him. Anthony Gunther (pictured) went on a day long rampage that involved breaking into several cars before police eventually caught him during an attempted carjacking Authorities said the string of crimes began Tuesday at about 4.04 pm in Seville when a woman reported she saw someone trying to break into her vehicle that was parked in her driveway. She got her firearm to scare the man, later identified as Anthony Gunther. When the victim went outside to confront Gunther, he came toward her in an aggressive manner so she fired a shot into the ground to scare him off, according to an affidavit obtained by WKMG News 6. Gunther took a silver bracelet he retrieved by reaching into the victim's open vehicle window and fled the home in a red SUV, which had been reported stolen out of Holly Hill earlier that day, deputies said. Minutes later, at 4:11 p.m., deputies said they got a call that turned out to be a car break-in in progress at a Kangaroo gas station in Seville. In that case, the victim reported a man parked a red SUV next to her 2011 Chevrolet then used a tool to break one of the windows on her vehicle, according to the report. Deputies said Gunther fled in the stolen SUV without stealing anything from the woman's Chevrolet. Police in a helicopter were able to track Gunther's movements after he attempted to steal several cars in the area and did not appear to know where he was going Gunther then parked beside David Final's vehicle and ran towards it before attempting to drive away in the car Deputies said they spotted his vehicle traveling about 90 mph near McBride Road and Lake George Road but lost sight of him going southbound on Highway 17. Volusia County Sheriff's Office helicopter unit followed Gunther as he drove the stolen Jaguar in Pierson. Deputies said Gunther got out of the vehicle and attempted to carjack a man and his friend who were stopped in the area to look at a house boat that was for sale. Gunther got into the driver's seat of the black Ford F-150 and the victim got in the passenger's seat to attempt to stop him, according to the affidavit. The two men struggled for control of the gear until a deputy deployed a Taser on Gunther, at which point Gunther surrendered, the report said. Police finally apprehend Gunther as he attempts to steal David Final's car in Volusia County Police deployed the taser a number of times to stop him when he tried to flee from the vehicle Police tasered the man who told them 'I'm sorry, I just got a crazy drug habit' upon arrival David Final, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, jostled with Gunther as he tried to steal his SUV before police arrived and tasered him. He told Channel 9 he was examining a house boat that he was considering buying Tuesday when he saw the Jaguar car pull up beside his pickup truck. 'He stopped and I saw him starting to bail out. I knew right away he was going for my truck. You picked the wrong person to mess with'. Police handcuffed Gunther and brought him to Volusia County Branch Jail where he faces charges including carjacking, burglary of a vehicle, battery and criminal mischief David Final and his female acquaintance stopped to look at a houseboat when Gunther arrived on the scene and tried to steal his car Final said he ran toward his pickup and fought off Gunther in the cab. 'I'm sorry. I just got a crazy drug habit,' Gunther could be heard saying in video recorded by a deputy's body-worn camera. When deputies searched the stolen red SUV, they found three cellphones, several ID cards, a Social Security card, a laptop and other items that did not belong to the owner of the vehicle. Gunther was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on charges of carjacking, two counts of grand theft auto, burglary of a vehicle, theft, battery, resisting without violence, driving while a license is suspended or revoked and criminal mischief. The elite private Hewitt School in New York city is being sued after it is accused of unfairly expelling a student who says she was only standing up to a bully, and while her father was dying of cancer. Hewitt School, which is an all girls school on the Upper East Side with a tuition of $50,900 yearly, is accused of a 'shockingly callous attitude' toward the girl who was dealing with the painful and 'imminent death of her father caused by a devastating illness,' according to the suit reported by the New York Post. The girl's mother, who filed the suit, also says the school's alleged mistreatment of the student was in part because she is a Palestinian-American Muslim girl, and was targeted by school officials because of her race and religion. Hewitt School (shown), an elite all girls private school in New York is being sued after a student was expelled for allegedly standing up to a bully with no physical altercation taking place The suit claims the girl was a victim of repeated bullying by one classmate in particular and that she had stood up for herself in the situation. According to the suit, the girl told the bully she was 'not afraid of her' and asked if she wanted to fight. Despite that no physical altercation transpired, the girl was expelled just one day after the incident. A she was expelled less than a day after the incident, the suit states. A spokeswoman for Hewitt said that due to the nature of the suit, they are limited in what they can say in regards to it. However, the spokeswoman said the school 'stands behind the decisions we make and the actions we take to protect and preserve the teaching and learning environment for our girls and young women.' Matthew Herrick, 32, spoke out after the Monday hearing in New York City A man whose lawsuit against gay dating app Grinder was dismissed is speaking out after filing an appeal. Attorneys for actor Matthew Herrick, 32, made oral arguments in his case on Tuesday before the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. Herrick had broken up with a man he met on Grindr and deleted his profile on the app when he says 1,000 men began showing up at his New York City home and work between October 2016 and March 2017. As many as 16 men a day would arrive demanding violent sex and drugs, he said. According to court filings, the vengeful ex had created fake profiles of Herrick on Grinder, using screen names like 'Raw Pig Bottom' and 'Gang Bang Now!' Herrick said the fake profiles falsely claimed that he was an HIV-positive Donald Trump supporter who was interested in unprotected sex and bondage, and that he was 'Looking for a group of hung tops to come over and destroy my a**.' Herrick (above) had broken up with a man he met on Grindr when he says 1,000 men began showing up at his home and work between October 2016 and March 2017 'Waiting on all 4's with my a** lubed,' one of the fake profiles read, court filings show. 'It was a horror film,' Herrick told BuzzFeed News in an interview published on Thursday. 'It's just like a constant Groundhog Day, but in the most horrible way you can imagine. It was like an episode of Black Mirror.' The ex, identified in the court filings only as J.C., was arrested on October 23, 2017. He is charged with stalking, criminal impersonation, making a false police report, and disobeying a court order. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $500,000 bond. Herrick's suit against Grindr stated that he logged 50 complaints to Grindr about the fake accounts and filed 14 police reports, but nothing came of them. Grindr only removed the profiles after he filed the complaint and a judge order the company to take action, Herrick's attorneys claim. Herrick says his ex created fake profiles of him on Grinder, using screen names like 'Raw Pig Bottom' and 'Gang Bang Now!'. Herrick is seen above starring in the short-lived series DTLA Herrick posted about his ordeal on his social media sites including Twitter and Facebook In June 2017, Grindr asked a Manhattan federal court judge to toss out Herrick's claims. The company said the Communications Decency Act protected it from liability and Herrick should sue his ex-lover instead. The 1996 law protects online publishers from legal risk over the information provided by users, such as people who post on Facebook or comment on news articles. The law states that 'No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.' Grindr said at the time that it can't be blamed because Herrick got 'mixed up with a tech savvy, judgment-proof individual.' A judge agreed and tossed the suit, leading Herrick to file his appeal. In oral arguments on Monday, Herrick's attorneys argued that Grindr had a responsibility to filter out malfeasance from its platform. Experts say that it the appeals court sides with Herrick, it could have wide-ranging implications, opening the door to similar lawsuits against Facebook, Twitter, and other companies who rely on the Communications Decency Act to shield them from legal liability over user-generated content. Herrick says an ex lover used Grindr to set up fake profiles for him and invited dangerous people to his apartment who he claims tried to rape and kill him Digital rights groups have filed friend of the court motions opposing Herrick's case. In one, the Electronic Frontier Foundation argued that suits like Herrick's 'threaten the ability of all online platforms to offer Internet users robust and open forums for speech.' As for Herrick, he told Buzzfeed that he moved to California shortly after J.C.'s 2017 arrest, and hadn't set foot back in New York before returning for the court hearing on Monday. 'For a long time, I would ask myself, Im a 32-year-old man, how am I a victim of this, how is this happening to me?' he told the outlet. 'And in those words alone there is so much blame and embarrassment in it.' Grindr has said that it is committed to creating a safe and secure environment, and that any fraudulent account is a clear violation of its terms of service. Its staff removes offending profiles as appropriate, the company said. The company did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com early on Friday. Advertisement The U.S. Customs and Border Protection carried out a massive military drill at the San Ysidro Port of Entry with Mexico on Thursday. The brief, 10-minute 'large-scale operational readiness exercise' was conducted as part of the federal agency's continuing enforcement efforts at the border. The agency warned drivers traveling through the port entry to 'be aware of high visibility operations,' according to a statement seen on 10 News. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stand guard on the US side of the U.S.-Mexico border during a 'large-scale operational readiness exercise' on January 10, 2019 A United States Customs and Border Protection agent participates in a drill to practice closing the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego, California on Thursday US Customs and Border Protection agents carry out an 'operational readiness exercises' at the San Ysidro port of entry on Tuesday Officials are pictured marching in military gear as smoke grenades detonated and traffic was halted temporarily The brief, 10-minute 'large-scale operational readiness exercise' was conducted as part of the federal agency's continuing enforcement efforts at the border Officials are pictured marching in military gear as smoke grenades detonated and traffic was halted temporarily. The San Ysidro Port of Entry is the busiest checkpoint on the US-Mexico border. Also on Thursday, President Trump traveled to the southern border in Texas to make the case for his $5.7billion wall. US Military troops return from a test deployment with US Customs and Border Protection agents after the exercise US Military troops prepare for deployment with US Customs and Border Protection agents during a large-scale operational readiness exercise US Customs and Border Protection agents participate in a test deployment exercise The federal government has started surveying land along the border in Texas and announced plans to start construction next month. Trump arrived in McAllen, a city of 143,000 that is on the busiest part of the border for illegal crossings. He toured a section of the border and said 'a lot of the crime in our country is caused by what's coming through here.' A mother has been left heartbroken after her daughter tragically passed away from a deadly disease just 24 hours after her symptoms started to show. Mary-Ellen Hurley was admitted to Palmerston Hospital, in Palmerston near Darwin Harbour, on New Years Eve after she contracted meningococcal disease - but sadly died just three hours later. Ms Hurley, whose mother has said was 'universally adored', had suffered stomach cramps and vomiting early on Sunday morning, but didnt seek medical attention until the Monday evening. Scroll down for video Mary-Ellen Hurley (pictured) sadly passed away after contracting meningococcal disease The type of meningococcal contracted by the 34-year-old has been identified as the W strain, according to reports. Ms Hurleys mother Jocelyn Hurley has since described how her daughters health deteriorated quickly. It was very swift and the most horrible, shocking thing, she told The Northern Territory News. Ms Hurley was sedated and intubated, and despite the best efforts from hospital staff she sadly passed away. Speaking of the moment Ms Hurley passed, she added: All the staff were in tears as well, it was heartbreaking. Ms Hurley (pictured, right) was described as 'one in a million' and 'universally adored' by her friends and family What is meningococcal ? Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can cause death within hours if not recognised or treated In Australia there are five main strains of the disease, all of which now have vaccinations available The most prevalent strains are Meningococcal disease B and W About one in 10 people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose or throat Although the majority of victims will recover fully, 10 per cent of those infected will die, and around 20 per cent will have permanent disabilities Symptoms include high fever, vomiting ,bright lights, drowsiness and a persistent headache Source: Meningococcal Australia Advertisement Mary-Ellen was universally adored. Everybody who met Mary-Ellen never forgot her because she was quite loud and very vivacious and funny, Mrs Hurley said. Since Ms Hurleys sudden and tragic passing, many friends and family have taken to social media to pay tribute to her. Her sister Tess wrote that Ms Hurley, known as Em to her loved ones, wasnt in any pain at the time of her passing. It is important to know that Em was sedated at the time of her passing and was not in any pain. Mum, Jo, her partner Justin and I were all by her side at the time of her passing, she wrote. We understand that you would all have so many unanswered questions about what happened to Em (as do we), however we please ask that our family are given time to process our loss and grieve during this incredibly sad time, Tess added. Since Ms Hurley passed away on New Year's Eve many of her loved ones have paid tribute to her on social media (pictured) (File picture) Symptoms of meningococcal include high fever, vomiting ,bright lights, drowsiness and a persistent headache One friend described Ms Hurley as one in a million. She wrote: Completely heartbroken by this news. So sorry for the worlds loss. Another friend paid her condolences, and wrote: Im so sorry for your loss Tess. Love and thoughts are with you and your family. Ms Hurley is one of two women in Australia to have died from the disease this year. (File picture) A person who contracts meningococcal disease can die within hours if left untreated A Saudi teenager who fled to Thailand fearing her family would kill her for renouncing Islam has claimed to have been granted asylum in Australia, saying: 'I am so happy, I will start a new life.' Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who fled alleged family abuse and has been targeted with death threats, made headlines earlier this week after she began tweeting from the transit area of Bangkok airport. The 18-year-old was stopped at a Bangkok airport on Saturday by Thai immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (pictured today), 18, made headlines earlier this week after she began tweeting from the transit area of Bangkok airport The 18-year-old (pictured with her 12-year-old sister Joud) said she had 'escaped Kuwait' and that her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia At the time, she said she had escaped from Kuwait and that her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia. Within hours, she amassed a huge following on Twitter as she refused to board a flight back the conservative kingdom and barricaded herself inside a hotel room. Thai authorities allowed her to enter the country on Monday evening and the UN refugee agency referred Rahaf to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement. Yesterday Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne was in Bangkok after Canberra said it would consider giving asylum to the 18-year-old. Payne said there was no time-frame for the assessment of the case. But despite having harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation on Friday, the 18-year-old abruptly later suspended her account, with friends saying she had received death threats. On Friday afternoon she posted a final cryptic tweet on her profile saying 'I have some good news and some bad news' - shortly after her account was deactivated. The 18-year-old was detained in Thailand following her arrival in the country. She is pictured having barricaded herself in an airport hotel room in a bid to avoid deportation Ms al-Qunun, pictured at Bangkok airport, ran away from a family trip to Kuwait last week and flew to Thailand in the hope of reaching Australia on a tourist visa Now, in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, Rahaf has claimed her case has been successful - although the Australian government has said they 'will consider' her referral from the UNHCR. 'They accepted me,' she said. 'I am so happy! I will start a new life.' She added that she is not allowed to reveal where she is in Bangkok. 'I'm in a hotel, there is a policemen and guards for my safety,' she said. She can't say when she will be departing for Australia, but said that it will be 'soon.' She also doesn't know where exactly in the country she will be living. 'They told me they gave me an apartment but I didn't ask where,' Rahaf added. 'It's just like for three months.' She described the past few days not knowing her fate as 'so hard.' Ms al-Qunun (pictured) claims her family would kill her if she were sent home to Saudi Arabia, where she has renounced Islam and 'rebelled' against her father Ms al-Qunun's defiant message after her ordeal in Bangkok airport was to 'fight and get your rights' The Saudi teenager posted the caption 'Hey.. I'm happy', alongside a smiling selfie on her Twitter account after the United Nations ruled she was a refugee 'I survived from death,' she said, adding she had narrowly avoided the fate that befell journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 'I'm scared to be killed just like him,' she said. 'From the beginning of Jamal's case, I was thinking about him and sad for him.' Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. More than three months on, his body's whereabouts remain unknown. Turkish and US officials have accused Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of orchestrating the killing - an allegation Saudi authorities categorically refute. Rahaf also opened up about living with her family in Saudi Arabia, describing it as difficult as she had no freedom. 'It was so bad. I mean, of course there are good days but they hurt me a lot. 'I have no choice to choose what I want.' One person she misses is her younger sister Joud, who turned 12 today. 'I miss her, I tried to call her and say 'happy birthday' but she can't access a phone,' she said. She also railed against online trolls who are spreading rumours on social media that she is lying about her situation. 'They don't know about my life and they don't know how m y family treats me,' she said. 'I want life. I want to be independent. How can they say this just because I do something they don't like? 'I want to become a strong woman, I want freedom of expression, of religion and politics. I want to live a normal life.' Rahaf arrived in Thailand on Saturday and had intended to fly on to Australia to seek asylum. Ms al-Qunun was set to undergo Australian checks for a humanitarian visa, including character and security assessments But after she was initially denied entry into Thailand, her savvy use of Twitter sparked a massive campaign with calls from all over the world for her to be granted asylum. Her plight also drew attention to Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male 'guardian' to travel. It also comes as Riyadh is facing intense scrutiny from the West over the killing of Khashoggi and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen. A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Home Affairs said: 'The UNHCR has referred Ms Rahaf Mohammed Al-Qunun to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement'. 'The Department of Home Affairs will consider this referral in the usual way, as it does with all UNHCR referrals,' the spokesperson said. 'The Government will be making no further comment on this case.' Middle school teacher Patricia Cummings was fired from New York City public schools in October after allegedly forcing black students in the Bronx to play slaves, and stepping on at least one student's back A New York City school teacher who was fired for a lesson on slavery gone terribly wrong is planning to sue the city for $1billion. Patricia Cummings, 37, allegedly told three students at a predominantly black and Hispanic school in The Bronx to lie down to illustrate conditions on a slave ship, after which she stepped on their backs to show 'what it's like to be a slave'. Cummings had first been reassigned and then suspended pending termination from Middle School 118 in The Bronx, which became official in October. In a press conference with her lawyer Thomas Liotti Thursday, Cummings said: 'I have no career at this point.' She filed a lawsuit against the city of New York in September, claiming she is the victim of 'reverse racism,' seeking $120 million in damages. It also named the Department of Education, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and several media outlets as defendants. But her lawyer said Thursday they now plan to build a $1billion class-action lawsuit with other teachers who claim to have faced similar discrimination. Liotti said the lesson only became an issue because of Cumming's race, and said other black teachers will testify in her defense. 'That 20 seconds of a teachable moment changed my life,' Cummings told PIX11. 'Anyone who has met me knows I don't have that bone in my body,' Cummings has denied that she stepped on the students' backs. Cummings is planning to sue the city for $1billion in a class-action case with other teachers who claim they were victims of similar discrimination City Department of Education spokesperson Doug Cohen said at the time of her firing: 'Ms. Cummings was terminated based on the results of this investigation and a review of her overall performance as an educator. Cummings reportedly carried out the poorly executed lesson in mid-January 2017 while discussing the infamous Middle Passage: the forced voyage of African captives across the Atlantic Ocean to America as part of the global slave trade. The slave ships were notoriously cramped, filthy and riddled with disease, and a high percentage of the enslaved people died en route to the New World. Speaking to the New York Daily News earlier this year, students said that Cummings had singled out three black children and instructed them to stretch out on the floor in front of the class. She then reportedly asked the trio: 'You see how it was to be a slave? How does it feel?' According to the student, when one of the children said she felt fine, Cummings allegedly put her foot on the girl's back and inquired again, 'How does it feel? See how it feels to be a slave?'. 'That 20 seconds of a teachable moment changed my life,' Cummings said Ms Cummings was removed from the classroom and subjected to an investigation, after which she was suspended pending termination, which became effective on Friday. A spokesperson for the Department of Education said an investigation had found that Ms Cummings used poor judgment, and that her employment had been terminated based on this. 'There is blatant racism and reverse discrimination in the public schools of New York City,' Liotti told the New York Daily News on September 27. 'This is why white parents do not want to send their children there.' He added: 'The Bronx has been described by some as a 'war zone'. White teachers who work there should get combat pay.' City of New York DOE spokesperson dismissed Ms Cummings' lawsuit as 'baseless'. According to her LinkedIn page, Cummings has a Bachelors' degree from Adelphi University and a Master's degree in teaching from the State University of New York College of Old Westbury. She was hired to teach seventh- and eighth-grade social studies at MS 118 in The Bronx in September 2016. The student body at the school is 60 per cent Hispanic and 21 per cent black, and less than 3 per cent of the students are white. A Washington state man was handed a prison sentence of 60 years and 11 months in the bludgeoning murder of two women who he later beheaded and left inside their home he set on fire. Matthew Leupold, 34, of Olympia, Washington, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and one count of arson in the deaths of Theresa Greenhalgh, 31, and Mary Buras, 22, in their Tacoma, Washington, home on January 4, 2017. Greenhalgh, a mother of three, is survived by her sons ages 11, 4 and 2. The lengthy prison term was 10 years more than what was recommended by prosecutors, the News Tribune reported. Superior Court Judge Jack Nevin said it was just the second time in seven years he has made such a determination. 'Justice requires this sentence,' the Judge Nevin said. Court documents say Leupold told police that he heard voices telling him to kill Greenhalgh after he became 'possessed' during a reported binge of methamphetamine and heroin. Matthew Leupold, 34, of Olympia, Washington, received 60 years and 11 months in prison for double murder and arson Theresa Greenhalgh (left), 31, mother of three, was beaten and beheaded while still alive before Leupold beat and decapitated Mary Buras (right), 22, to keep her from reporting him Video courtesy KCPQ He used his fists and a hammer to bludgeon Greenhalgh, then used a knife and a hatchet to decapitate her while she was still alive. He then beat Buras to death and beheaded her as well, afraid she could report him to the police. Lindsey Leupold, 38, Matthew's sister and his 15-year-old nephew were in the house, but did not call for help. They left the house, but returned the next day to help clean up the scene, according to an earlier News Tribune report. Matthew Leupold then enlisted the aid of his nephew two days after his attack to set fire to the home. The nephew eventually pointed the police to backpacks with evidence of the crime including the head of one of the victims. The teen was convicted of first-degree arson and received a sentence of nearly two years. Lindsey Leupold pleaded guilty last year for rendering criminal assistance and received 90 days in jail. The Tacoma, Washington, house of Greenhalgh and Buras that Leupold and his teenage nephew attempted to burn down after the murder of the two women Lindsey Leupold, 38, Matthew's sister, received a 90-day jail sentence last year for helping Matthew clean up the crime scene 'What I did was wrong,' Matthew Leupold told the court before his own sentencing. 'They did not deserve to die. They didn't deserve it at all.' The families of the victims did not believe their loved ones deserved such a fate either. 'She could push our buttons, but she also had the biggest heart,' Sherry Buras, mother of Mary Buras said. 'I don't know what I'm going to do without my little girl.' 'Theresa did not deserve such a tragic end to her life,' Warren Clements, Greenhalgh's stepfather said to the judge. Together the new tenants will take over more than 15,000 square feet of space and bring the complex close to full vacancy, Bramble said. Their storefronts are under construction and he expects them to open later this year. After months of allegations of sexual misconduct made against him, embattled veteran actor Geoffrey Rush is set to return to the big screen in a new feature film. A new adaptation of the 1976 film Storm Boy is due to be released Australia-wide on January 17, with the 67-year-old Rush one of the leading actors. But co-star Jai Courtney, who plays reclusive father figure Hideaway Tom, is concerned widely publicised allegations of sexual misconduct made against Rush could stop people from seeing the film. Scroll down for video Embattled actor Geoffrey Rush (pictured with wife Jane Menelaus) will feature in a new film Co-actor in upcoming film Storm Boy Jai Courtney (pictured) says he hopes allegations of sexual misconduct made against Rush don't affect their film's success Rush did not attend Sunday's premier in Adelaide has not been on the publicity tour for the film, despite playing a central character, according to ABC News Breakfast. The veteran actor is fighting allegations made by female colleagues, accusing him of inappropriate sexual behaviour directed at them. Most recently, Orange Is The New Black star Yael Stone, who was born and raised in Sydney, accused Rush of exposing himself to her backstage, sending lewd text messages and attempting to watch her shower. He has vehemently denied the allegations and said in a replying statement: 'The allegations are incorrect and in some instances have been taken completely out of context.' Orange is the New Black star Yael Stone (pictured) is the most recent colleague to accuse Rush of misconduct, claiming last month he exposed himself to her while working together in 2010 He also says he 'sincerely and deeply' regrets if he had caused Stone 'any distress'. Meanwhile, he is also awaiting the a court's decision in defamation proceedings against the publisher of The Daily Telegraph newspaper and one of its journalists over articles alleging he behaved inappropriately towards colleagues. Rush's lawyer, Bruce McClintock told the court his client's reputation had been 'smashed and destroyed'. Courtney says he hopes that same reputation doesn't affect their film's, saying: 'Let's hope that's not the case, but it is what it is. 'We're just here to stand in front of the project we're really proud of and that we had a great time making.' Courtney starred alongside Rush in Storm Boy, but the pair did not actually act together since their characters exist in different timelines in the story. Sydney personality Danny Lim was confronted by police over a controversial sign on Friday morning, with many fans claiming officers were 'rough' and 'aggressive'. Mr Lim, who is 74, was holding a sign which included the phrase 'smile c***'! why c***?, with the letter v used in place of a u, and an apostrophe used between the n and t. About 9.20am, police issued the man with an infringement notice for offensive behaviour, but also appeared to take his sign and hold his hands behind his back. Three officers were seen, two were holding the elderly man's arms as he yelled: 'please help, please, help' to the crowd of onlookers and the third was seen appearing to pull out handcuffs. A spokesman for NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia: 'Officers spoke to a 74-year-old man and gave him a move-on direction'. 'The man repeatedly refused to comply with the move-on direction and became aggressive towards police. 'The man was then detained and issued a Criminal Infringement Notice for offensive behaviour and released a short time later.' Footage taken of the altercation from a nearby office shows two officers push Mr Lim away from the area, as his screams of 'no' echo through the new development. A third stops and appears to be getting Mr Lim's pet dog, Smarty. Smarty, Mr Lim, and his colourful signs are widely known throughout the Sydney CBD, where man and dog can be seen travelling between suburbs with their often politicised sandwich boards. Mr Lim gained notoriety after he took a $500 fine for offensive behaviour - issued for a sign calling then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott a c*** with an upside down v - to court, and walked away a free man. His appeal was initially denied, but finally granted by Judge Andrew Scotting in August 2017, who found 'c***' had been used by Shakespeare, and was less offensive in Australia than many English-speaking countries. Sydney icon Danny Lim was confronted by police in Barrangaroo on Friday after a complaint was made about the language on his sign Members of the public were astonished when the police arrived, with their reportedly rough actions causing Mr Lim to scream: 'please, help' He was found to have been exercising his right to freedom of speech, and the infringement notice was quashed. Witnesses were distraught at the way Mr Lim was treated on Friday, with many questioning the aggressive movements of the officers involved. One woman, who asked not to be named, said she was sitting at a cafe nearby when the commotion began. She told Daily Mail Australia Mr Lim had been 'sitting there chilling', when she first saw him, but was clearly in distress when she next turned around to find out what all the noise was about. Mr Lim was cleared of a similar notice in 2017, after holding a sign telling then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott to 'smile c***'. A magistrate found the word was not as offensive in Australia as it was in other English-speaking countries 'We turned around and saw him with three officers, all holding him,' she said. 'It was really distressing to see - he was yelling out and screaming... honestly I couldn't believe what I was seeing, the force they were using didn't seem necessary at all.' The woman said Barrangaroo security guards were aware of Mr Lim's presence, but police arrived after a single complaint was made. 'It's ridiculous,' she said. 'There's actually real crime just streets away.' Australia's most famous stretch of road is under threat from erosion and rising sea levels as a new study reveals it could be washed away in just five years. The Great Ocean road is national heritage-listed and a new report commissioned by the Victoria state government has warned that it could be 'compromised' in just five years. Thanks to major beach erosion around the foreshore of Mounts Bay next to Apollo Bay in the last two years, the famous road may need to be realigned in order to survive. The Great Ocean road is national heritage-listed and a new report commissioned by the Victoria state government has warned that it could be 'compromised' in just five years Coastal geomorphologist Neville Rosengren and engineer Tony Miner conducted the report, which they later supplied to The Age, to determine the cause of erosion at Mounts Bay in 2017. The report pointed to a range of problems along the entire stretch of road, including Port Fairy in the south-west to Inverloch and the Ninety Mile Beach and Lakes Entrance to the south-east and east. Apollo Bay beach also suffered five metres of erosion during a June 2018 storm and Mr Rosengren said rising sea levels brought about by climate change were a huge factor in the damage caused. Thanks to major beach erosion around the foreshore of Mounts Bay next to Apollo Bay (pictured) in the last two years, the famous road may need to be realigned in order to survive The report pointed to a range of problems along the entire stretch of road, noting that these were not caused by a 'single, large scale event' While the Great Ocean road was always likely to face challenges given its coastal position, climate change is said to increase the ferocity and frequency of these challenges. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) currently predicts sea levels will rise almost 90 centimetres by 2100, but experts believe this figure will increase significantly when the panel releases its special oceans report later this year. The world famous attraction spans 243km and was built by World War I veterans between 1919 and 1932 as a memorial to those killed at war. Each year it brings in more than five million visitors and state government has spent thousands of dollars 'nourishing' the beaches in the last few years. While the Great Ocean road was always likely to face challenges given its coastal position, climate change is said to increase the ferocity and frequency of these challenges The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) currently predicts sea levels will rise almost 90 centimetres by 2100, but experts believe the actual figure will be significantly larger 'Sea level rise is already considered in our long-term planning for the coast and we've invested more than $33 million to prepare for its impact,' Victorian Climate Change Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said. 'We know that climate change will cause rising sea levels that's why Victoria is on the path to net zero emissions by 2050.' However, Rosengren and Miner said that while this 'nourishment' is a good short-term answer, a longer term solution is necessary. Total realignment of sections of the wall will be a long and costly exercise, but another option of building walls out to sea holds concerns from some that it will spoil the natural beauty of the coastline. Local communities are being consulted on the matter and a decision is yet to be made. The husband and wife who posted so-called 'prank' videos on YouTube of themselves apparently abusing their children have had their probation sentence reduced. On Tuesday, a Maryland judge reduced the probation of Ijamsville residents Mike and Heather Martin from from five years of supervised probation to probation before judgement. The lighter sentence does not include supervision, and allows the couple to seek expungement of their child neglect convictions after three years, according to WUSA-TV. The couple were originally sentenced in September of 2017 after their videos under the now-defunct 'DaddyOFive' account, which had 700,000 followers, sparked online backlash and a criminal investigation. Mike and Heather Martin (pictured) originally received five years' probation in 2017 for a string of YouTube videos that left their children 'mentally or psychologically impaired' The now-deleted YouTube videos, posted under 'DaddyOFive,' made up to $350,000 per year in advertising - but also led to a backlash and criminal investigation In more than 300 now-deleted videos, the couple smashed up their son's XBox, framed him for spilling ink on the floor and pushed him into a bookcase, apparently giving him a bloody nose. Now, the couple are banned from filming the children, who have been in their biological mother's custody since authorities began investigating in 2017. At Tuesday's hearing, Judge Theresa M. Adams reiterated the probation condition, writing: 'Shall not video/upload videos and continue removing them.' During the original sentencing, a neuropsychologist was quoted as saying the Martins' behavior was linked to 'observable, identifiable and substantial impairments of their [children's] mental or psychological ability to function,' the Baltimore Sun reported. The neuropsychologist's claims were entered into court by Frederick County Assistant State's Attorney Lindy Angel. She said the doctor, who worked for Frederick County Child Protective Services, had spoken to 11-year-old Emma and 10-year-old Cody Martin during the investigation. Youngest son Cody (pictured) was a frequent target of the 'pranks', including verbal abuse, smashing up his Xbox and shoving him, apparently leaving him with a bloody nose Cody was a common target in the videos, and was the child who apparently suffered a bloody nose - although Mike Martin later claimed it was fake blood. Both children are biologically related to Mike; Heather is their stepmother. The three other children, who are Heather's biological children and Mike's stepchildren, were not included in the investigation. The Martins each entered Alford pleas to two counts of child neglect in 2017. The pleas allowed them to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that the evidence would likely persuade a judge or jury that they are guilty. As terms of their probation, neither Mike nor Heather are allowed to make contact with Cody or Emma, or their biological mom, Rose Hall, without prior approval by a court. They are also banned from posting videos of Cody or Emma to social media unless it is for 'legitimate family purposes' and must attend mental health treatment. If they violate the terms of their probation, they could go to prison for up to 10 years. Cody and his sister Emma are now in the custody of their biological mom, Rose Hall (left). The Martins maintain their innocence but took a deal that gave them five years' probation Biological mom Rose Hall, who took custody of Cody and Emma, said in 2017 that she was 'glad the case has ended, disappointed with the sentence' according to her attorney, Tim Conlon. Defense attorney Stephen R Tully said his clients had been negligent but not intentionally damaging. He said he would file a motion asking the judge to consider reducing the sentences and expunging the couple's record if they adhere to probation conditions. 'We're in a new era with social media,' he told WTOP after sentencing. 'They have to learn the things that are appropriate and not appropriate, particularly with children.' The DaddyOFive account came under huge public scrutiny in the spring when the videos - some recorded by Cody's older brother - began to circulate. Videos include Martin convincing Cody he had been adopted out to another family, pushing him and bloodying his nose (Martin claimed the blood was fake), smashing Cody's X-box with a hammer, accusing Cody of spraying his room with ink when he didn't and yelling and swearing at him. Often Cody ends up red faced, crying, screaming, or throwing things out of frustration. In one video, Cody threatens to kill himself. 'I hate my life just kill me,' he cries after his father harangues him. An online petition drew more than 20,000 signatures to get CPS to investigate the family. Martin County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina confirmed that a complaint about the videos was lodged October 17, 2016. The Martins (Mike seen telling off Cody for 'spilling ink on his room') cannot communicate with Cody, Emma or Hall without court approval, and their use of social media is restricted If Mike or Heather (pictured with the disappearing ink used to frame Cody) break the terms of the agreement, they could receive up to 10 years in prison On April 22, 2017, the couple uploaded an 'apology video' for an earlier video that caused a huge scandal. In the controversial video, the couple berate Cody for six minutes for 'messing up' his room. Heather is seen screaming 'Get the f**k up here! What did you do?' while Mike threatens to sell off the boy's Pokemon toys. In reality, Heather had smeared disappearing 'invisible ink' on the room. At the climax of the video, Mike tells the boy: 'It's just a prank, brah. You guys got pranked hard.' The the subsequent apology video, Heather said: 'This has been the absolute worst week of our life. We realize we have made some terrible parenting decisions.' 'I understand and acknowledge and respect how everyone feels,' added Mike. 'We put things on the Internet that should not be there and did things we should not do.' The couple, however, still insisted that the kids were in on the 'joke' and eager to see how many views the videos could get. They also claimed the family was in counseling. The couple made approximately $200,000 to $350,000 annually from the channel, according to New York Magazine. Sipping an ice cold beer on a hot summer's day might be a simple pleasure, but it hard to beat. However, with sky-high alcohol prices many beer-lovers could be interested in where they can purchase Australia's cheapest pint. And it seems that a Perth bar has clinched the title after offering drinkers a cool jar of lager for as little as $2.99. The Stirling Arms Hotel, in Guildford, WA, is now serving pub-goers a pint of Uber German lager as part of the pubs New Year offering. Promoting the deal on its Facebook, the company wrote: Were putting our foot down [and] saying enough is enough to overpriced drinks in Guildford! The promotion has gone down so well with punters, it could be a permanent fixture for the pub (stock image) The Stirling Arms Hotel advertised the super saving promotion on its company Facebook page (pictured) $2.99 pints all day every day this January, it read. But it seems the promotion has gone down so well with punters, it could be a permanent fixture for the pub. Brendan Craig, who took over the premises two years ago, said the offer could be extended for the foreseeable future. The offer was originally designed for January, as this time of year can be hit and miss [in terms of business], he told Daily Mail Australia. But it has gone down so well we think well extend it for the next two months and maybe even indefinitely.' The cost-cutting offer comes shortly after Mr Craig completed an overhaul of the property. We spent 18 months renovating the property. 'After the renovation we wanted to think of a way to get customers back in, so we created this offer,' he explained. The pub (pictured) is hoping to extend the offer to locally produced beer in the future The Stirling Arms' promotion has worked wonders for business for the pub, which has been running for over 165 years. The locals are loving it, no one has complained, the venues had more praise than it has had in the last century,' he said. Mr Craig, who is originally from New South Wales, said they are hoping to extend the $2.99 offer to locally produced beer in the future. The deal is part of a loyalty programme the pub has developed for locals. 'Just come in, and ask the bartender to sign you up, it's easy as that,' Mr Craig explained. The teenage son of a Chinese billionaire has been gifted a $17.5million Sydney mansion. Caleb Wang, 17, is now the proud owner of the stunning Darling Point Gothic estate Bishopscourt. The 16-room mansion surrounded by lush greenery was purchased by his father billionaire Wang Qinghui in 2016. Scroll down for video The teenage son of a Chinese billionaire has been gifted a $17.5million Sydney mansion Caleb Wang, 17, is now the proud owner of the stunning Darling Point Gothic estate Bishopscourt Ownership of the property was transferred to the teen in December last year, making it a very merry Christmas for him. The Gothic-style home is one of the great heritage estates of Sydney's eastern suburbs. It features formal reception rooms with detailed ceiling molds and a grand dining room. Mr Wang, 47, bought the 6216-square-metre property through Ray White Double Bay. Mr Wang has featured on Forbes Rich List of China in 2014 as he was one of several shareholders in the Beijing Xining Xinwei Telecom Technology group. The home had previously been home to Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies. The church has owned the property for 105 years. A spokesman for the church Doug Marr told Domain the property was too large and too expensive to maintain, however, they were never sure why Mr Wang had purchased the property. The 16-room mansion surrounded by lush greenery was purchased by his father billionaire Wang Qinghui in 2016 'It's meant for a time when there'd be 10 to 20 servants carrying water around as it was built in the days before bathrooms. The scale was just too much. 'Rumour has it that (Mr Wang) was just using it to display his artworks, paintings and sculptures. It seemed strange, but the fact he's now given it to his son is interesting.' The church had original hoped to sell the property for $25 million. When the church first put the property on the market, the cost of renovations needed were estimated to be around $10 million. The house was built in 1841 for settler Thomas Woolley. The Daily Mail has attempted to contact Mr Wang and his son. The body of eight-month-old King Jay Davila has been found wrapped in a blanket and buried in a backpack on San Antonio's Northeast Side. According to court records, the baby's father, Christopher Davila, led police to a field where he says he buried his child wrapped in blankets inside the backpack after an accident. Davila, 34, told police he had been playing video games when the child fell forwards from the bed where he was sitting in a car seat. He claims he panicked when he saw a large bump on the baby's head, over his right eye, where he thinks King Jay struck a nearby dresser. Hours went by and then Davila noticed his baby had died, a court affidavit recorded. Scroll down for video Angie Torres, 45, (left) King Jay's cousin, and Christopher Davila, 34, (right) his father, are suspected of staging a kidnapping by police Eight-month-old King Jay Davila has reportedly been found buried in a field after he went missing on January 4 Chilling CCTV footage shows a woman, who police say is Torres, carrying a child's car seat away from where she left Davila's car He told investigators he was too scared to call the emergency services, KENS5 reported. So he decided to bury the child in the ground near to Castle Lance, the court records show. King Jay was reported missing after a staged kidnapping to cover up 'foul play' at around 7pm on January 4, police said Thursday night. Davila told police last week that his car with King Jay inside was stolen after he left it running outside Friends Food Mart at 351 Enrique Barrera Parkway. But police say the woman captured on CCTV driving the car off the forecourt was Davila's cousin, Angie Torres, 45, and that King Jay was never inside the vehicle. Torres had been dropped off at the convenience store by King Jay's grandmother, Beatrice Sampayo, 65. In surveillance footage, Torres can be seen wearing a grey hoodie as she quickly walks over to Davila's parked Dodge Dart. Police Chief William McManus had told a press conference: 'We believe that they participated in staging the kidnapping to hide King Jay's body so that we could not find it to determine what happened to him.' He said: 'We have statements from multiple witnesses that unfortunately lead us to believe King Jay is deceased.' Half-an-hour after Davila gave his account of the carjacking to police, they found the sedan abandoned and the child missing, San Antonio Express News reported. Torres was seen on CCTV walking away from the area, carrying a child's car seat down the street. She later told police she joined Sampayo again and they took the car seat away. All three were in custody on evidence tampering charges. According to KENS5, they have now been charged with injury to a child and serious bodily injury by omission. McManus told reporters Torres admitted being informed by Sampayo that Davila had caused serious injury to the baby. McManus says Sampayo, the child's grandmother, is suspected of disposing of the child's car seat and dropping off Torres for the staged kidnapping. CCTV footage shows a woman, believed to be Torres approaching the unlocked car outside the Friends Food Mart located at 351 Enrique Barrera Parkway She enters the Dodge Dart and is able to drive it off the forecourt before she dumped it at Rodriguez Park The baby's mother, Jasmine Gozales, is still under investigation, according to the San Antonio paper. Torres was arrested on Monday after she was picked on suspicion of robbery in an unconnected case, KSAT reported. Davila had initially been charged with child endangerment before his release on bail on Sunday. The suspect has a criminal history of violent crime, including arson and assault. A dog owner has appealed for help to find beloved Australian shepherd puppy Koda who went missing last month. Alisha Campbell believes the eight-month-old pooch was stolen when he went missing in Waterview Heights, north east of New South Wales on December 14. The puppy, who has brown fur with a white chest, was last seen escaping under a fence to follow another dog. While the other dog eventually made his way home, sadly, Koda did not. 'Please let me have my boy back, do the right thing,' Ms Campbell pleaded in a public Facebook post. Australian shepherd puppy Koda (pictured left and right) has been missing from Waterview Heights since December 14 Dog owner Alisha Campbell (pictured left with dog) is pleading for the help of the public to bring Koda back home 'I don't know where you are Koda but I am going to find you and bring you home where you belong. 'There are moments in life where you miss your dog so much you just want to pluck them from your dreams and hug them for real.' The hopeful owner has posted several online notices and pictures of Koda since the day he went missing. She has also announced she will give a reward to the person who returns her puppy. Among the posts were heart-felt tributes referring to Koda as a 'super friendly' dog that means the world to Ms Campbell. 'He is very much loved and extremely missed. I just need him home, 'He is my world and I am absolutely heart broken,' she said. Ms Campbell has posted several notices and and photos of Koda since the day he went missing Ms Campbell's plea for help has attracted tens of thousands of supporters with one post, which garnered up to nearly 50,000 shares. The Australian shepherd is microchipped and was wearing a blue collar with silver dog bone pendant that says Koda. Anyone who has found Koda or has information about Koda's whereabouts can contact Ms Campbell on 0423 686 221. The 13-year-old girl found alive after being missing since mid-October was described as 'skinny and dirty but outwardly OK', by the couple who called 911 after the teenager flagged down a dogwalker in rural Wisconsin. Jayme Closs was abducted from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day her parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, were found shot dead inside. The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme has been located in Douglas County, and an unidentified male suspect has been arrested. The board chairman of Gordon said Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home. The teen approached a woman walking her dog, and told the stranger she had been kidnapped and that a man killed her parents. Scroll down for video Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old girl who has been missing since mid-October, has been found alive Kristin and Peter Kasinskas say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her The teen vanished from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day the teenager's parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, (above) were found shot dead inside Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home in Barron The dogwalker, who has requested to remain anonymous, went with Jayme to her neighbors house and pounded on their door. Kristin and Peter Kasinskas say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair, wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her. The neighbor shouted, 'This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!' Kristin Kasinskas, who is a teacher, told the Today Show: 'She knocked on our door, and then actually opened our door and said call 911. 'I think we recognized Jayme immediately. I mean, her picture has been everywhere around here, billboards and things so we recognized her immediately. 'She seemed kind of in shock and kind of timid, but she did talk to us a little bit, and she came in and sat down in our living room and was able to have a conversation with us.' 'She didn't give us a ton of detail. I had asked her if she knew where Gordon, Wisconsin, was. She did not know where Gordon was, and she didn't know where she was at the time. She was - she did state who she believed had her, and she did give us a little information about the person's car. But other than that she didn't give us a ton of detail about.' Kristin was asked if the person she mentioned was someone she knew in the community. Kristin said: 'I recognized the name when I was told it but not somebody I knew well by any means.' Kristin Kasinskas told the Today Show: 'She didn't give us a ton of detail. I had asked her if she knew where Gordon, Wisconsin, was. She did not know where Gordon was, and she didn't know where she was at the time. She was - she did state who she believed had her, and she did give us a little information about the person's car. But other than that she didn't give us a ton of detail about' 'She looked thinner than her pictures. We offered her a beverage. We offered her something to eat. She said she didn't want anything to eat or drink,' Kristin Kasinskas, who found Jayme (pictured), said The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme has been located in Douglas County, and an unidentified male suspect has been arrested Asked about whether Jayme told her how she escaped, Kristin said: 'Not really. She kind of talked about being locked up or hidden when this person had to leave, but she did not go into any detail about how she got away. Kristin and Peter Kasinskas called 911 'She looked thinner than her pictures. We offered her a beverage. We offered her something to eat. She said she didn't want anything to eat or drink. She was comfortable. She just was cold, so we did give her a blanket, but yeah, she didn't want food or anything to drink. I would - I guess I would describe her as looking kind of unkempt. 'I don't know (if she seemed afraid). It wasn't like she was scared of us. She wasn't crying or upset. She was just very calm.' Peter Kasinskas tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Jayme was quiet and showed little emotion. He says she told them she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon, the small town near where she was found. The Barron County Sheriff's Department, which was first notified by the Douglas County Sheriff's Department of the information after a citizen called, declined to release further details at this time. 'We do not any other details at this time as this is a very fluid and active investigation... we will not be answering any questions or taking calls on this tonight,' the statement said. Jayme's name was added to the top of the FBI's Missing Persons list and has been on digital billboards across the nation The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Thursday evening that Jayme has been found and a suspect has been arrested The scene on Thursday evening after Jayme was found alive in Douglas County, Wisconsin Kristin Kasinskas neighbor who called 911- Jayme Closs and the dog walker approached the home of Kristin Kasinskas, pictured, and asked her to call 911 The dogwalker, who has requested to remain anonymous, went with Jayme to her neighbors house, pictured, and pounded on their door asking for help The home where teenager Jayme Closs lived with her parents before their brutal murder three months ago pictured today A thank you sign is displayed in Barron after Jayme was found alive more than three months after she disappeared. It reads: 'Thank you for bringing her home' 'We want to thank the Douglas Co Sheriff's Department and agencies assisting them tonight. 'We also want to thank all the Law Enforcement agencies across the state and county that have assisted us in this case. 'We also could not have endured this case without the support of the public and I want to thank them for all the support and help. 'Finally, we want to especially thank the family for their support and patience while this case was ongoing. 'We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfill that promise. From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!' The Barron County Sheriff's Department will hold a press conference at 10am on Friday. Jayme's relieved family have said the teen is 'talking, doing great and getting rest right now'. Her aunt, Kelly Engelhardt, told KARE 11 that the news is what the family has 'prayed for' every day. 'I honestly had faith... I figured if they hadn't found her by now that the person that did this didn't want her dead, so I had hope. Every day there was hope. We had too much love and support around us for us to give up,' her aunt said. The teen's uncle, Jeff Closs, said he is shocked and beyond grateful for the outcome they desperately hoped for Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald pictured Friday after the teen was found alive Volunteers cross a creek and barbed wire near Barron, Wisconsin on October 23, 2018, on their way to a ground search for Jayme TIMELINE OF JAYME CLOSS' DISAPPEARANCE Jayme Closs was missing for three months Oct. 15, 2018 - Jayme's parents, James and Denise Closs, found dead at their home in Barron and the teen is reported missing Oct. 16, 2018 - Investigators say they don't consider Jayme a suspect in her parents' deaths Oct. 17, 2018 - Authorities announce that investigators believe Jayme was in her family's home when he parents were fatally shot Oct. 18, 2018 - About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers Oct. 23, 2018 - About 2,000 volunteers from as far as Minneapolis help with another ground search . Several items are found and taken for assessment Oct. 24, 2018 - The FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to Jayme's location. The amount is later doubled to $50,000 by the Jennie-O Turkey Store, where James and Denise Closs worked Oct. 27, 2018 - Funeral held for James and Denise Closs Oct. 29, 2018 - Prosecutors announce they have charged a man with burglarizing the Closs home but say he's not a suspect in the case. Dec. 12, 2018 - Tree of Hope lit as community prays for her safe return Jan. 10, 2019 - After three months Jayme is found alive in Gordon, Wisconsin. A suspect is taken into custody. Jan. 11, 2019 - Police named the man accused of kidnapping her as Jake Thomas Patterson, 21 Advertisement The teen's uncle, Jeff Closs, said he is shocked and beyond grateful for the outcome they desperately hoped for. 'It was just unbelievable because you hear about you're not sure if she's not going to be found. And when you actually hear it, it's just unbelievable. We're all just so grateful and happy. 'We thought it was going to be a different ending and we're so happy... hopefully she's OK, we don't know what condition. Just she's alive.' Her emotional grandfather Robert Naiber told GMA: 'Wow. Whoopie. I've never been so happy for two months.' The teen's aunt Jennifer Smith added: 'I haven't got to see her yet but I get to see her this afternoon and I hear she is doing great and she's getting rest right now. 'We have her at a hospital and they're getting her checked out and they have a suspect in custody and that's all I know so far. She's talking, yep, and she's doing very well.' Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart has also paid tribute to Jayme and has offered her support to the 'brave, strong and powerful 13-year-old survivor'. Smart wrote in the emotional Instagram post: 'What a miracle!!! Jayme Closs has been found!!!! Im so thrilled to hear the news. What has been such a heart wrenching tragedy finally has some happiness in the story.' Smart was was 14 when she was held in the woods by Wandaa Barzee and Brian David Mitchell for nine months. Jayme's name was added to the top of the FBI's Missing Persons list and has been on digital billboards across the nation since she vanished four months ago. In December, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald shared troubling details about the crime scene with DailyMail.com. Fitzgerald said the killer was in the Closs home for only four minutes, during which they stepped just five feet into the open plan house, shot James and Denise and took Jayme. Both Denise and James died 'instantly' of their wounds, the sheriff said. Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart has paid tribute to fellow kidnapping victim Jayme Closs and has offered her support to the teen who was found Thursday Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped for nine months in 2002 aged 14 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is pictured in March 2018 Despite a mysterious inaudible 911 call made from her mother's cell at 12.54am, when police arrived at 12.58am, they revealed there was no sign that Jayme resisted her abductor. There was nothing taken and nothing disturbed. In fact, there was no forensic evidence of any intruder at all. Fitzgerald said: 'That's the frustrating part of it. We've had four different lab teams look at the scene before we released it. We were very strategic. When we discovered it was a major crime, we sealed it off immediately. 'But if I'm in your house for minutes and I only step five feet inside your home I'm probably not going to leave a big footprint.' He added: 'It doesn't appear that anything was taken, it doesn't appear that Jayme packed up any clothing.' Law enforcement officials haven't ruled out that Jayme unwittingly played a part in the crime. Fitzgerald, however, said at a press conference in October: 'I'm telling you - Jayme is missing and endangered.' Searches of her social media, cell phone and computer have offered no evidence of a boyfriend or anyone she met anyone online who might have targeted her or her parents. EuroMillions winner Andrew Clark will finish all of the work he agreed to before his life changing 76million Euro Millions win, he has revealed. The builder from Boston in Lincolnshire had not even realised he had won for six weeks as he drove around working, with the winning ticket stuffed into his sun visor. He has reportedly told friends and colleagues he will honour all of his planned workload. Plumber Gordon Jackson, 68, told The Mirror: 'Andy is a very conscientious bloke... He's going to honour the jobs he's started. 'If it was me, I'd say, 'Look, I'm very sorry but I've won the lottery and I won't be doing the work'. 'But he's going to finish the jobs because he is an honest guy, a good bloke. He's a good lad, dead straight. Fair play to the guy. 'I'm really pleased the money's gone to somebody who works for a living.' It is believed he will call in others to help him finish the jobs before enjoying his huge win. Mr Clark (pictured) carried on working before he was urged to check his stash by his partner Trisha Mr Clark has bought a house, a Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 and a Nissan Qashqai (pictured outside the couple's current home) since he found out he was the winner last week Christmas has come early for Mr Clark and his partner Trisha - but he revealed they would be staying the UK over the festive period and enjoying New Year's Eve in Skegness Mr Clark said he only checked through his tickets after his partner Trisha, left, told him to. He also revealed that he will be sharing his millions with more than 20 people in his family, including Trisha's 14-year-old daughter, who has special needs He and partner Trish Fairhurst, 51, went public over the 76,369,806 win, just days before Christmas, after finding out about the draw which took place on November 2. They splashed out on cars for relatives and said their loved ones would be 'well looked after'. The grandfather-of-three scooped the 12th biggest win ever in the UK after buying the ticket in his local Post Office. Self-employed Mr Clark revealed himself as the winner at a press conference in Grantham Christmas has come early for the 51-year-old, announced he will now be taking early retirement but will be 'managing' his workload first. Referring to himself as 'the man who nearly lost 76 million', Mr Clark revealed he stockpiled lottery tickets in the visor of his van and only checked after Trisha nagged him to. Mr Clark has bought a four-bed house, an 80,000 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 and a Nissan Qashqai since he found out he was the winner last week. He said he and his family will stay in the UK over the festive period and enjoy dinner in a restaurant in Skegness on New Year's Eve. Mr Clark also revealed that he will be sharing his millions with more than 20 people in his family, including Trisha's 14-year-old daughter, who has special needs. For decades the main event of New York City Pride has been its annual dance and music concert usually held in the West Village. But this year Stonewall 50 (aka Heritage of Pride) will be using New York Citys leading gay party producer, Jake Resnicow, to host the annual Pride music festival at the very un-gay Jacob Javitz Convention Center. Via Press Release: Located in the heart of Manhattan, the Jacob Javitz Center is a mammoth 1,800,000 square feet, covering the entire city block between 33rd and 34th Streets, 11th and 12th Avenues. It offers, by far, the largest capacity of all Pride venues. Tickets available now at PrideFestival 2019.com. The 50th anniversary of Stonewall will bring millions of people from all over the world to New York this Pride, explains Jake Resnicow, recently named Most Influential Person of the Year by Out Magazine. PRIDE FESTIVAL 2019 | Saturday Main Event Teaser | WE Party from PRIDE FESTIVAL 2019 on Vimeo. Migrants are heading to northern England and braving a 200-mile Channel crossing from Belgium to evade Calais to Dover patrols. The new route was discovered after four Iranians were caught in Huttoft near Mablethorpe on the Lincolnshire Coast, reports the Sun. It comes after 27 suspected migrants were found in the back of his HGV on the M6 yesterday. The trip, which is ten times the distance of the most common route between Calais and Kent, involved the most northerly landing in a small boat recorded. Home Secretary Sajid Javid used the landing as an example to suggest border patrols being dispatched in places other than the South East coast. Migrants are heading to northern England and braving a 200-mile Channel crossing from Belgium to evade Calais to Dover patrols. Pictured: a patrol along the Kent coastline He told the Commons: 'There was a landing on the coast of Lincolnshire in, I believe, December. That is being looked into closely but we should look more widely than just the South East coast.' The news comes as it was revealed that only one in three failed asylum seekers gets removed from Britain in a system 'rife with abuse' in a damning report. Not only does this corrode trust in the rules, but it also provides an incentive to migrants to try to reach the UK illegally, a former Home Office chief warned. David Wood, head of immigration enforcement until 2015, sets out his findings today in a 74-page report for the think-tank Civitas. The trip, which is ten times the distance of the most common route between Calais and Kent, involved the most northerly landing in a small boat recorded. Pictured: HMS Mersey patrolling the Kent coastline After analysis of Home Office figures, Mr Wood said that between 2010 and 2016, 80,813 people were refused sanctuary or withdrew their asylum applications. Of these, only 29,659 were deported just 36 per cent. There was also a growing backlog of cases where people waited longer than six months more than tripling from 4,081 at the start of the decade to 14,306 in 2017. The former Home Office chiefs report will fuel concerns that Britains asylum regime is being exploited as a soft touch. Mr Wood said: Once migrants reach the UK they are usually here to stay whether they have a valid claim to be here or not. This means that these numbers add to an ever-growing number of migrants in the country who have no lawful entitlement to be here. Furthermore, the failure to deal with this situation provides an incentive to further attempts to come to the UK by people who have no right to be here. Under the 1951 Refugee Convention, those seeking refuge from war or persecution can be granted asylum. UK rules allow unsuccessful applicants to appeal. Fiona Bruce made her BBC1 Question Time debut last night and what a chirpy soul she is. Ping ping, went her smile, and her dazzling gnashers caught the lights and nearly blinded us with their glint. Quite the chipper-in of bons mots she proved, adding ironic little observations here and there. And she undoubtedly has a stronger jawline than jowly old David Dimbleby, whom she succeeded. But she lacked Dimblebys interventional sharpness. She let some of the contributors drone on for far too long. And she could do with mumbling less. One of her bons mots, which made the audience laugh, was so half-swallowed that I missed it, even though I had the telly turned up to nearly full blast. So says this deaf old geezer, anyway. Lovely to be here, she purred with pleasing insouciance at the start of the late-night debate show. The episode came from Islington, North London, the very heartlands of Planet BBC. Fiona Bruce makes her hosting debut on Question Time - and got straight down to business as she jumped on the politicians for answers Fiona Bruce looked comfortable in the hot seat although she said she was nervous beforehand One of the panellists was an Islington MP, Labours Emily Thornberry. Not at her perkiest, was Emily. Shades of Leonid Brezhnev after a night on the marching juice. In the opening shot Bruce was standing next to the audience. We were spared further walkabouts, thank goodness. One of the good things about this new series is that they have not gone mad with innovations. The format is pretty much unchanged. Having a woman in the chair helped the gender balance. Last nights show had four women host Bruce, Thornberry, Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson and newspaper columnist Melanie Phillips and two men. Some things are harder to change (or perhaps they dont want to try). Only two members of the panel were Brexiteers. The old Establishment-Remain bias is deep-set. One hour and just two topics: things became a bit bogged down. We had Brexit, Brexit, Brexit much of it focusing on Thornberry and then a quarter of an hour on knife crime. That choice was presumably down to the editors and producers but Madam Chairman Bruce should be encouraged to become a lot more brutal when it comes to telling people to shut up. That applies to members of the audience, too. A man with a hat became a frightful bore and could have been zapped at the end of his first round of applause. Dimbleby used to let panellists have their opening say pretty much uninterrupted but Bruce jumped in quickly to question Tory MP James Cleverly while he was giving the programmes first answer (to the question has the Government lost control of the Brexit process?). Time and again she chased Cleverly and Thornberry, pinning them down when they were being slippery. Such pursuit of the truth is fine up to a point but you have to let panel members actually make their initial points. As a result of the verbosity and the interruptions it was something like 17 minutes before one of them a stand-up comedian called Nish Kumar actually said a word. The hose clashed with Emily Thornberry over whether Labour should be backing a people's vote Mind you, when he did start spouting forth, one rather felt he might have been better advised to remain completely schtum for the duration. A simplistic, shouty sort. He tried attacking Phillips for criticising the Macpherson report on the police. Bruces best decision of the night was to let Phillips have a counterblast and it produced a scintillating moment when Phillips comprehensively flattened Kumar, asking him if he had read the report. Er, he hadnt. Oops. During one of Thornberrys orations, Bruce pointed out that the audience was laughing at her evasions. During one of Cleverlys flannelings, she intervened to say she was still waiting to hear what his Brexit Plan B was. These added to the saltiness of the programme but they arguably went a little beyond what a proper BBC debate chairman should do. And her sarcasm when she commented on an audience members remark about Brexits sunlit uplands left a faint tang, too. But on the whole this was a pretty decent first bash. She controlled the nerves she must surely have been feeling and she proved a lot more objective and charming at chairing a debate than that bloke Bercow. denied claims that he was involved in death of Jazmine Barnes The defense attorney for the man accused shooting and killing seven-year-old Jazmine Barnes says it's impossible for her client to get a fair trial because of public scrutiny. Attorney Lisa Andrews blasted Houston police union president Joe Gamaldi for 'incendiary tweets' against her client Larry Woodruffe, the second man charged with murder in Jazmine's death. In one tweet, Gamaldi referred to Woodruffe as a 'dirtbag' who 'has no place in our community'. Woodruffe, 24, made his initial court appearance on Thursday after which Andrew claimed he said he was not in the car that shot and killed Jazmine. Larry D. Woodruffe (pictured in court Thursda), 24, who has been charged in connection to the murder of Jazmine Barnes claimed Thursday that he wasn't involved in the attack His attorney, Lisa Andrews, said Thursday that there is too much public scrutiny for her client to get a fair trial, especially after 'incendiary tweets from police union tweets Police union president Joe Gamaldi tweeted calling Woodruffe a 'dirtbag' 'I believe these actions are prejudicing any eventual jury,' Andrews told the judge Thursday. 'I'm concerned, on day one, that my client may not be able to receive a fair trial in Harris County, Texas.' Eric Black Jr, 20, appeared in court Monday (left). Prosecutors told the court the slaying unfolded after Black and Woodruffe mistook the car Jazmine (right) was in for one belonging to individuals they had fought with After the hearing, Andrews said Woodruffe has denied any involvement in the shooting. 'He told police he had no involvement,' Andrews said of the December 30 shooting. Andrews filed a motion seeking to have Woodruffe's trial moved out of Houston, saying social media posts and comments investigators have made could prevent him from getting a fair trial in the city. Prosecutors called the motion premature. Prosecutors have filed capital murder charges against Woodruffe and, Eric Black, 20, who is suspected of driving the SUV. Black made his initial court appearance on Monday. During the hearing, prosecutors said they believe a fight at a nightclub just hours earlier led to the senseless drive-by shooting. Prosecutors told the court the slaying unfolded after Black and Woodruffe mistook the car she was in for one belonging to individuals they had fought with. It wasn't until the next day when they watched the news and saw a little girl had been shot and killed that they realized they had opened fire at the wrong car, prosecutors say. Woodruffe was charged as Jazmine's funeral took place Tuesday afternoon, attended by hundreds of people at a Houston church. It wasn't until the next day when they watched the news and saw a little girl had been shot and killed that they realized they had opened fire at the wrong car, prosecutors say Jazmine was in the family's car with her mother and three siblings when she was gunned down in the drive-by shooting on December 30 The girl's killing prompted an outpouring of support for her family from celebrities and ordinary people across the country. Prosecutors say Woodruffe and Black mistakenly thought they were attacking people they'd fought at a club hours earlier when they shot at Jazmine and her family. The family had initially described the shooter as a white man driving a red pickup truck, prompting concerns that her death was a hate crime. Based on the family's description, the Harris County Sheriff's Office circulated a composite sketch of a white man possibly being the shooter. But the sheriff's office later received a tip from civil rights activist Shaun King that sent the case in a new direction. The tip implicated Woodruffe and Black in the shooting. The sheriff's office corroborated the tip and took Black and Woodruffe into custody on Saturday. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he believes the family's initial description of the shooter was sincere and the man in the red truck was likely a bystander who left the scene of the shooting. While Black was charged on Sunday with capital murder, Woodruffe was held in the county jail on a drug charge while the sheriff's office prepared a capital murder charge against him. Jazmine was remembered during her more than two-hour funeral (pictured) at The Community of Faith church for her sweet spirit, her smile and as a person who always wanted to give hugs and help others Court records show Woodruffe has a long criminal record, including arrests for assault on a family member, drug possession and being a felon in possession of a firearm. In one case, he pleaded guilty in 2017 to trying to choke a woman he was dating. The Harris County District Attorney's Office said it will decide later whether to pursue the death penalty against either Black or Woodruffe. Jazmine was remembered during her more than two-hour funeral at The Community of Faith church for her sweet spirit, her smile and as a person who always wanted to give hugs and help others. Her white casket was draped with purple flowers. Purple was Jazmine's favorite color and many of those at the service were dressed in purple. LaPorsha Washington (center), Jazmine's mother, speaks to the crowd during a community rally outside a Walmart in Houston During the funeral, Jazmine's mother, LaPorsha Washington, read a poem one of her aunts had written from the point of view of the little girl. 'I'm writing this from heaven where I dwell with God above, where there are no more tears, pain or sadness, just eternal love. Please do not be unhappy just because I'm just outside of sight. Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night,' a tearful Washington said as she read the poem. Many of the speakers at the funeral said they hoped Jazmine's death would help fuel efforts to combat gun violence. 'I just want to believe that all of us will be better, that all of us will work harder, all of us will strive to make this world a safer place for our children,' said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. The Four Weddings and a Funeral star said there was nothing inherently offensive about taking on black or Asian roles a practice critics describe as whitewashing Simon Callow has said white actors should not be be prevented from playing ethnic minority characters. The Four Weddings and a Funeral star said there was nothing inherently offensive about taking on black or Asian roles a practice critics describe as whitewashing. Taken to extremes, it would mean you cant play Macbeth unless youre a Scottish king, said the Shakespearean actor. Expecting his comments to cause absolute outrage, the 69-year-old added: I dont think theres anything inherently offensive in changing your pigmentation as an actor to represent someone of a different race. 'I dont think theres anything inherently offensive in carefully imitating someones accent, for example. Three years ago actress Scarlett Johansson was at the centre of a row for playing a Japanese character in a live-action remake of the anime hit Ghost in the Shell. In 2010 Jake Gyllenhaals role as the lead in the film Prince of Persia was criticised as the actor was not of Middle Eastern descent. Callows remarks come in the wake of the debate over Breaking Bad actor Brian Cranston playing a character in a wheelchair in the film Upside. In a letter to The Times, Callow wrote: I realise I am in terrible trouble. In my one-man version of a Christmas Carol, I am playing 37 characters, including an old man, several young men, a very fat man, four or five women of different ages, a giant... and Tiny Tim, as well as his little sisters. The actor, one of the first men to come out as gay in showbusiness, said: Im a big fan of the promotion of diversity but to use the theatre for that purpose seems to me to diminish the theatre. Disability charity Scope said much more needs to be done so that disabled actors can be considered for roles. Police have launched an investigation after a man was caught on CCTV stealing the blue lights from a marked patrol car. The incident occurred on Wednesday December 26 near Sunderland Railway Station in the city centre at around 4.29am. British Transport Police has released a CCTV image of a man they want to trace in connection with the incident. Police have released this image of a man they would like to talk to in relation to their investigation In a statement BTP said: 'Officers believe the man shown in these CCTV images may have information which could help their investigation. 'Anyone who recognises the man, or who has more information about the incident, is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference number 266 of 27/12/18. 'Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.' The Democratic Republic of the Congo appeared on the cusp of its first peaceful transfer of power in 59 years following the surprise victory on Thursday of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi. With no major protests in the capital Kinshasa and limited violence elsewhere in the vast Central African country, the population seemed to be choosing stability over credibility, accepting Tshisekedi's win as ending President Joseph Kabila's long and turbulent rule. However concerns were raised by influential parties including the Catholic Church and the United States after signs emerged that rival opposition leader Martin Fayulu actually won a landslide and observers warned that a court challenge to the results could spin the country into chaos. Supporters of DR Congo's opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi celebrate after he was declared the winner by the electoral commission on Thursday The Catholic Church, which deployed 40,000 observers at all polling stations, said official results did not match its findings, and diplomats briefed on them said Fayulu had won easily. The doubts of the influential Catholic Church will cloud the vote's legitimacy and come as a blow to the country's hopes of peace. The United States also demanded 'clarification' over the result and its statement congratulating 'courageous' Congolese voters stopped short of recognizing the declared winner. DRC's electoral commission allocated Tshisekedi 38.57 percent of the votes from last month's election, which had been plagued by two years of delays. Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has won the long-delayed presidential election, the electoral commission announced early Thursday 'The National Independent Electoral Commission has announced provisional results, but we await clarification of questions which have been raised regarding the electoral count... We urge all stakeholders to remain calm as the process continues,' US State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement. But Palladino also noted the 'importance of President Joseph Kabila's decision to abide by his constitutionally mandated term limits and transfer power to a successor.' Kabila had been due to step down two years ago but held on to power, sparking a political crisis and protests that were bloodily repressed. The announcement of an opposition win was a shock as many had expected the results to be stacked in favor of Kabila's preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. He came a distant third with 23.8 percent of the vote. Runner-up and opposition rival Martin Fayulu, who was awarded 34.8 percent of the vote, immediately called foul on the result, decrying 'an electoral coup.' He alleges that Kabila engineered a backroom deal with the largely untested Tshisekedi to protect his power base in a country with staggering mineral wealth. Outgoing leader Joseph Kabila (left) and opposition candidate Martin Fayulu (right) cast their ballots on December 30 Supporters of DR Congo's opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi celebrate in the capital, Kinshasa, on January 10 after he was declared the winner by the electoral commission An outspoken campaigner against DR Congo's widespread graft - it ranked 161th among 180 countries in Transparency International's latest index - Fayulu denounced the official results as 'robbery', calling on people to 'rise as one man to protect victory.' As night fell, scores of police with automatic rifles and tear gas launchers were positioned along a road in Kinshasa leading to the Kingabwa neighborhood, a Fayulu stronghold. One vehicle was filled with military personnel in combat gear. Some protest violence was reported in Kikwit, another Fayulu stronghold, where police said three people were killed. Police also confirmed 'agitations' in DR Congo's third-largest city, Kisangani, but said they were quickly brought under control. People celebrate outside the Union for Democracy and Social Progress party's headquarters in Kinshasa, DR Congo, after its candidate Felix Tshisekedi was declared to have won last months' election Gleeful Tshisekedi supporters took to the streets in Kinshasa to celebrate and said they were happy to see Kabila step down For the most part, the nation of 80 million remained largely calm despite the heavy security presence. It was not immediately clear whether Fayulu would challenge the election results in court. Candidates have two days after the announcement to file challenges and the constitutional court has seven days to consider them before results are final. Observers appeared to be watching for the reactions of Fayulu's supporters. Two diplomats said all major election observation missions, including those of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, showed similar results to those of the Catholic Church. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. Tshisekedi had not been widely considered the leading candidate. Long in the shadow of his father, the late opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, he startled DR Congo last year by breaking away from the opposition's unity candidate, Fayulu, to stand on his own. Pierre Englebert, a fellow at the Atlantic Council's Africa Center, said Tshisekedi won because he 'positioned himself to bargain with the regime' Fayulu, a former Exxon manager and Kinshasa lawmaker, was a vocal activist during the two-year delay in DR Congo's election, insisting it was time for Kabila to go. He was backed by two popular opposition leaders barred by the government from running. Even before the election announcement, some observers suggested that Kabila's government might make a deal with Tshisekedi as hopes faded for ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. Many Congolese objected to Shadary, suspecting that he would allow Kabila to continue to rule from behind the scenes and protect his vast assets. Several DR Congo analysts agreed that it appeared Kabila made a quiet agreement with Tshisekedi, saying Fayulu would have posed more of a threat. 'If Fayulu and his allies, with their own independent security and financial networks, had taken power they would have changed the power structure of DR Congo and definitively ousted Kabila and his clan,' said Patrick Smith of the newsletter Africa Confidential. 'Tshisekedi, with his weaker network, looks like being the junior partner in his accommodation with the Kabila establishment.' People celebrate after Felix Tshisekedi was named the provisional winner of a long-awaited presidential poll paving the way for the crisis-hit country's first transfer of power in 18 years Pierre Englebert, a fellow at the Atlantic Council's Africa Center, said Tshisekedi would be more malleable and might allow Kabila's network to continue. 'One possibility for today's result is that once the regime saw the catastrophic mistake Kabila had made by nominating Shadary, it scrambled to come up with a Plan B. Enter Tshisekedi,' Englebert wrote in an analysis . Tshisekedi 'has wavered at times in his opposition to the regime and is far from having his late father's intransigence.' By breaking away from the opposition coalition supporting Fayulu, Tshisekedi 'positioned himself to bargain with the regime,' Englebert wrote. 'But if the history of the Kabila regime and its tight control on the state and its security apparatus are any indication, the ... new president-elect is likely to end up on the losing end of this bargain.' A billboard of DR Congo's outgoing President Joseph Kabila that was burned by supporters of the opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi in Limete, Kinshasa Western powers appeared wary. Britain's foreign secretary said he was 'very concerned about discrepancies' in DR Congo's results, adding that the United Nations Security Council would discuss the matter on Friday. France's foreign minister bluntly cast doubt on the official results and Belgium's foreign minister expressed concern. The delayed results, 10 days after the December 30 vote, came after international pressure to announce an outcome that reflected the will of the people, with the U.S. threatening sanctions. The largely peaceful election faced numerous problems as many voting machines that DR Congo used for the first time malfunctioned. Dozens of polling centers opened hours late as materials went missing. Most alarming to many Congolese, some 1 million of the country's 40 million voters were barred from participating, with the electoral commission blaming a deadly Ebola virus outbreak. The difference between Tshisekedi and Fayulu in official results was some 684,000 votes. Some observers said the barred voters could have made the difference. DR Congo's government cut internet service the day after the vote to prevent speculation on social media. It remained off in parts of the country on Thursday. The provisional result announced early on 10 January placed Tshisekedi ahead of the ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary and his rival opposition candidate Martin Fayulu. Fayulu immediately denounced it as an 'electoral coup' Some Congolese, weary of Kabila's 18-year rule, the two turbulent years of election delays and years of conflict that killed millions said they simply wanted peace. Some said they would be happy as long as Fayulu or Tshisekedi won, recalling the violence that followed past disputed elections. Kabila has ruled since 2001 in the troubled nation rich in the minerals key to smartphones around the world. He is barred from serving three consecutive terms, but until he announced last year that he would step aside many Congolese feared he'd find a way to stay in office. Now DR Congo faces a new leader who is little known after spending many years in Belgium and standing behind his outspoken father. The 56-year-old Tshisekedi took over as head of DR Congo's most prominent opposition party in early 2018, a year after his father's death. Gleeful Tshisekedi supporters who took to the streets in Kinshasa to celebrate said they were happy to see Kabila step down. 'This is the coronation of a lifetime,' said the deputy secretary-general of Tshisekedi's party, Rubens Mikindo. 'This is the beginning of national reconciliation.' It might sound like ruff justice, but owning a dog could drive up your electricity bills. Two energy companies in Queensland will no longer allow their workers to enter yards with unrestrained dogs to read electricity meters after a spate of vicious attacks. Not having an accurate meter reading can drive up costs as bills are based on estimates. Ergon Energy and Energex jointly recorded 71 injuries from dog bites as well as 199 near-misses between July 2017 and October 2018. Four workers had to be hospitalised for several nights after being attacked, and one worker said he was 'fed up of being bitten by dogs'. Ergon Energy and Energex in Queensland will no longer allow their workers to enter yards with unrestrained dogs after a spate of vicious attacks The ban will come into effect on January 14 and will apply to dogs of any size. The level of safety before entering a yard will be decided by the energy worker at the time. 'The safety of our employees has to come first and that means if there is a dog on a property that isn't restrained we won't go in to do work of any kind,' Ergon Energy Area Manager Wayne Alderman said. The two businesses jointly recorded 71 injuries from dog bites as well as 199 near-misses between July 2017 and October 2018 A female worker was bitten on her head and dragged along by a dog, while another worker said he was attacked by two large dogs, one of which viciously bit into his back leg In one incident, Mr Alderman said a dog bit a young female meter reader on the back of her head and dragged her along. 'She was hospitalised and had some very serious injuries around her head and ear,' he told The Courier Mail. 'We've had people in the southeast part of the state that have had to go in for surgery to their hands because their tendons have been damaged.' Brisbane Energex worker Roger Peries said he was bitten by a homeowner's dog after they forgot to shut their two animals inside. The ban will come into effect on January 14 and will apply to dogs of all types and sizes Four workers had to be hospitalised for several nights after their attacks, and one worker said he was 'fed up of being bitten by dogs' 'The frightening part was seeing these two dogs charging down the driveway my first instinct was "have I got time to make the gate?",' he told ABC. Mr Peries said one of the dogs stood in front of him while the other went behind him and grabbed his calf. While many are pleased with the introduction of the ban, some have criticised it as 'excessive'. RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty understood the reason for its implementation, but called it 'a bit of an overkill' and stressed pet owners should not restrain their animals for long periods. While many are pleased with the introduction of the ban, some have criticised it as 'excessive' Mr Alderman said options would be discussed with customers for what to do if no one is at home to restrain a dog at the time of a meter reading. 'In some cases where there is a dangerous dog or known access issue, a remote read meter will be installed,' he said. Energex spokesman Rob Mitchell said it would 'work with customers and communities to make the new safety measures work so we have a good outcome for our people and our customers'. Australians love for avocado appears to be slipping as the country's biggest fruit and vegetable producer sees its share prices plunge. Costa Holding Group has taken a $900 million hit with the fruit and vegetable grower's stock plummeting by as much as 40 per cent at Thursday's open. This comes shortly after the company cut its half-year forecast following a weaker demand for tomatoes, berries and avocados over the Christmas period. Australians love for avocado appears to be slipping as the countries biggest fruit and vegetable producer sees its share prices plunge The results were surprising as avocados have arguably been Australia's top choice for produce for a number of years, despite their often steep price tag. The pricey fruit has been used as a symbol for housing affordability and inter-generational tension ever since prominent demographer Bernard Salt wrote a column conflating millenial's inability to enter the housing market with their penchant for expensive breakfasts. Experts are now questioning whether punters have been opting against paying $18 for avocado toast. An earlier than expected finish to the citrus 'off season' also contributed, with the share price falling from $7.37 at Wednesday's close to as low as $4.47. Costa was trading 34.12 per cent lower at $4.85 at 1155 AEDT. The pricey fruit has been blamed for millennial lackluster bank accounts and Australia's housing crisis as millennials opt to enjoy the luxury of smashed avo and feta on toast, instead of saving for property The company said it is expecting a largely flat profit growth for the twelve months to July 2019. They said a continuation of current conditions, together with short term slippage of the commissioning of the Monarto mushroom facility upgrade in South Australia. Weather conditions have also contributed to the challenges facing produce suppliers across the country. A wet wipe that can be flushed down the lavatory without causing blockages and pollution will soon be on sale in stores. Industry trade body Water UK has launched a scheme to identify wipes that will break down without causing any harm. And the first product to meet the new regulations are Natracare's 'Safe to Flush' moist tissues, which will go on sale next month. The wipes will also use the new 'Fine to Flush' logo that has been developed for the scheme. The first product to meet the new regulations are Natracare's 'Safe to Flush' Natracare was founded by Susie Hewson, who has been recognised as a pioneer in the battle against plastic pollution. She said she had been working on a wipe that was both flushable and did not rely on plastics for more than three years. Millions of wet wipes are flushed away every year causing huge problems for sewers and releasing plastic particles to pollute rivers and beaches. Michael Roberts, chief executive of Water UK, said the scheme was 'an important step in the battle against blockages'. Part of the 'Whitechapel fatberg' a 'monster' fatberg weighing more than 10 double-decker buses which is blocking a sewer under a street in east London. 'We've all seen the impact of fatbergs recently, and we want to see fewer of them. 'Improving the environment is at the core of what the water industry does, and the new 'fine to flush' standard that we've created will make it easier for consumers to buy an environmentally-friendly product instead of one which clogs up drains and sewers,' he added. The Marine Conservation Society called for retailers to ensure all wipes have either passed the fine to flush standard and have the logo on the pack, or are clearly labelled with 'do not flush', to help consumers make the right choices. The charity said that, in its annual beach clean in 2018, volunteers found an average of 12 wet wipes per 110 yards (100m) of beach cleaned and surveyed, an increase of more than 300% in the last decade. A no-deal Brexit would cause GDP (gross domestic product) to shrink by up to 8 per cent and put thousands of jobs at risk according to the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) chief Carolyn Fairbairn. The business body has warned that Brexit would have profound economic consequences on the UK and has urged MPs to back Theresa May's deal. The group described the deal as a 'solution' businesses can work with as it delivers a transition period and avoids a 'hugely damaging cliff edge'. It highlighted that if parliament does not agree with Mrs May then it must immediately outline its plan to avert a no deal and secure British jobs. CBI Director General, Carolyn Fairbairn believes MPs should back Theresa May's Brexit deal With the deadline looming for parliamentary approval for the Prime Minister's deal, the CBI is now piling on the pressure to avert a no deal outcome, which it believes would be a disaster for Britain. In a speech on Friday, it's director general, Carolyn Fairbairn is set to call on MPs to 'safeguard the security and prosperity of our country' and put jobs and the economy ahead of politics when they vote on Tuesday. At a meeting of business leaders in Bristol Fairbairn will say: 'Next week, they [MPs] face a test. If they meet it with yet more brinkmanship, the whole country could face a no-deal, disorderly Brexit. The economic consequences would be profound, widespread and lasting. GDP would decline by up to 8%, meaning less money for our public services and those who rely on them. Carolyn Fairbairn has urged MPs to back Theresa May (pictured above) and put the country before politics 'Businesses would face new costs and tariffs. Our ports would be disrupted, separating firms from the parts they need to supply their customers', The Guardian reported. Her plea comes just one day after the car industry revealed its Brexit woes, with the chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover, Ralf Speth having said the company's liquidity would be at stake in a no-deal scenario. On Thursday 10 January Speth said the deal was 'not perfect' but that it was important to avert disaster. He said the company could not stockpile the 25 million components it uses on its UK production lines every day. 'If I miss one part, I cannot produce one car and that means [for] a stoppage of about one day I miss about 80m to 100m,' he told the BBC. Asked if it could result in the company closing, he said: 'Can you imagine if you have losses of 80m to 100m a day, how long the liquidity of the company will last?' Carolyn Fairbairn (pictured above) has previously said the Brexit deal was 'not perfect' This is while Honda announced that it would put production on hold for six days in April due to Brexit and the delays it could cause on the Dover-Calais freight route. With the future of the country at stake, Fairbairn said that the deal was 'too big a gamble to simply hope that parliament 'will blink at the brink'. The UK has not yet left the European Union and the consequences of the Brexit impasse are already pushing through domestic borders. Small to medium-sized businesses have already said they are struggling to cope while farmers have warned they could be hit by a six-month export ban to the EU. The CBI currently represents most of Britain's biggest businesses and has been warning of the uncertainty over the future of Britain's relationship with the EU since the referendum in 2016. Just last month it told MPs that businesses were already triggering no-deal contingency plans with hundreds of millions of pounds of investment being relocated out of the UK. The CBI fears that MPs who intend to vote against May's deal do not grasp the consequences of failing to agree a Brexit plan. During the speech she will also criticise MPs and other public figures who have blamed the nation's problems on migrants and will say that the idea that 'businesses turn to foreign labour because they are too lazy to invest in workers here' is a 'myth that has been gaining currency'. 'I hear politicians say it who should know better and pull them up on it every time because it couldn't be more wrong.' She is set to urge the government to rethink its post-Brexit immigration policy which discriminated against low-income workers who she says 'harvest our food, build our homes, care for us in our hospitals and [in] our old age'. Fairbairn will also address businesses and ask them to 'speak up' and tell the nation about the 'scale of overseas workers' contribution' and not let lies take hold. 'It is up to us,' she will tell business leaders in the audience, 'to explain.' by Vladimir Rozanskij Moscow (AsiaNews) - February 3 is the most probable date in which the head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Epifanyj (Dumenko), could be enthroned in Kiev. The date was hypothesized last January 8 by the protoierej Ivan Sidor, who served at the Cathedral church of St. Sophia in Kiev, which has resumed regualr religious services. That day Epifanyj will celebrate its 40th birthday, "joining together two joyous celebrations", said Sidor in a broadcast of the Ukrainian channel In Diretta, while admitting that the solemn ceremony has not yet been officially confirmed. After the delivery of the Tomos of autocephaly on 6 January, the Patriarchate of Constantinople is completing the procedures to make it definitively valid: on 9 January all the members of the Patriarchal Synod of Constantinople signed the text, publishing exclusive photos of the signing ceremony. Now the document, which had been reported in Istanbul, will return to Ukraine with all the official crismalities. The president of the Ukrainian Senate, Andrej Parubij, has declared in the meantime that the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) has confirmed his intention to visit Ukraine. This trip could take place in the next few weeks. In addition to the synodal confirmations of Constantinople, the Tomos was subjected to the evaluation of the other autocephalous Orthodox Churches, with the patriarch's letters to the primates of the same. In addition to the well-known opposition of Moscow, supported with general statements by the Poles and the Serbs, even the Orthodox Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostom II (Englistriotis), refused to commemorate the head of the new Ukrainian Church during the liturgy. The archbishop is known for his pro-Russian positions, due to Russian support for the polemics against the Turkish "occupation" of the north of the country. Speaking to the local news agency Romfea the archbishop said he had declined the proposal to invite the new metropolitan Epifanyj to Cyprus, made by other members of the local synod. According to his declarations "every independent state has the right to ecclesiastical autocephaly, but for now it does not seem to me that the Ukrainian people have expressed this will". The Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos II (Liapis), head of the Orthodox Church of Greece, has instead considered the Synod judgment on Ukrainian autocephaly insufficient. However he has begun to examine the document sent, urging a pronouncement of the whole ecclesial body, clergy and laity, according to procedures still to be defined. The Ukrainians, however, still trust in the approval of the Greeks, and in that of the Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria in Egypt. The Churches of Albania and Romania appear prudent, but neutral. The patriarch of Antioch John X (Yagizi) very close to Kirill of Moscow and to the Russian "protectors" of Syria is officially opposed. Even the Bulgarians, who together with the Serbs were "liberated" from the Ottoman empire thanks to the Russians, are considered allies of Moscow against Constantinople: the metropolitan of Vidin Daniil (Nikolov), had issued declarations in December against the separation of Ukraine from the territory Canon of the Patriarchate of Moscow, whose annexation had taken place in 1682. According to the Bulgarian bishop, "these decisions can be withdrawn or contested at most within thirty years, not after three centuries". Bulgaria, and even more so Serbia, is also involved in the other issue of autocephaly under way in the Orthodox world, that of Macedonia. After the approval of the Ukrainian autonomy, even in the former Yugoslav republic the hopes of obtaining the same result are revived, as the Macedonian metropolitan Petr (Karevskij) said ato online news agency religija.mkl: "We hope to rejoice within the end of the year as an autocephalous Church, being recognized by the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, since we are in compliance with all the conditions for this ". More cautious, but also optimistic, appears the head of the Macedonian Church, the metropolitan of Skopje Stefan (Veljanovskij); also the Metropolitan of Montenegro Michail (Dedeic) hopes in the autocephaly, and has made declarations to this effect. The concession of ecclesiastical autonomy to Macedonia and Montenegro would almost certainly lead to another break, that between Belgrade and Constantinople. NHS hospitals are routinely allowing men who self- identify as women to share hospital wards with female patients. Male patients do not even need to have started transitioning to be admitted on to a ward as a female, a probe has found. The rules, which would appear to go against Department of Health policy to eliminate mixed sex wards, apply in every NHS trust in England, the Daily Telegraph reported. Male patients do not even need to have started transitioning to be admitted on to a ward as a female, a probe has found. File photo The NHS does not know how many transgender patients are accommodated on wards with the opposite sex because they are recorded in data as their preferred sex. Staff at one trust are even advised to consult with the trans patient if a woman who has been a victim of sexual assault objects to sharing a ward with someone who is biologically and legally male. Official guidance from the Department of Health states: Men and women should not have to share sleeping accommodation or toilet/bathroom facilities. Exceptions are made, however, where it is in the overall best interests of the patient or reflects the patients choice. This gives male patients who identify as female the right to be treated as female, and vice versa for female patients who identify as male Conservative MP David Davies said: Its quite right that a Conservative government made a commitment to end mixed sex wards. People with male bodies should be on male wards. A nurse in one hospital reported that a patient identifying as a transgender woman appeared to become sexually aroused on a female ward, distressing elderly patients. The report, from Freedom of Information requests, creates concerns about the equality impact assessments undertaken by hospitals that are supposed to examine how policy changes affect all groups. Many of the assessments appear to consider only the needs of trans patients and not other groups who are supposed to be taken into account due to other characteristics such as sex or race. The rules, which would appear to go against Department of Health policy to eliminate mixed sex wards, apply in every NHS trust in England. File pic If you arent even considering other groups in your equality impact assessments, your policy cannot be lawful, said Amanda Jones, a barrister at Great James Street Chambers in London. The NHSs interpretation of laws about the rights of transgender patients is a mess, she added. Fewer than two in ten people who identify as transgender undergo reassignment surgery according to the Gender Identity Research & Education Society. Transgender people must live as the opposite sex for two years, be assessed by doctors and diagnosed with gender dysphoria to be eligible for a gender recognition certificate. Official estimates put the UK transgender population at around 0.7 per cent up to 500,000 people. However, only 5,000 certificates have ever been issued and no NHS trust requires a trans patients to have one. Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust said it would allow someone to identify as trans without ever going to see a doctor. Fewer than ten trusts reported complaints or incidents concerning transgender patients. A spokesman for NHS Improvement said: As the guidance on mixed sex accommodation makes clear, decisions should be made in the best interests of all patients and based on the circumstances presented to NHS staff. President Donald Trump has reportedly been briefed on a plan that could divert disaster relief funds from California, Puerto Rico and elsewhere to help pay for a border wall. On Air Force One Thursday morning, Trump discussed the plan with Department of Defense officials to tap into disaster relief funds to pay for the military to construct the wall, NBC News reported, citing three officials briefed on the discussion. The $13.9 billion fund has been allocated but not yet obligated through contracts for a variety of projects in California, Florida, Texas, other states and Puerto Rico, which have experienced hurricanes, wildfires or other natural disasters, a congressional aide told the AP. The money funds a variety of projects, mostly flood control measures to prevent future disasters. President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he visits the U.S. - Mexico border on Thursday. He has reportedly been briefed on using emergency funds to build the border wall A statue of a bear remains in front of a restaurant that was destroyed by the Camp Fire on in Paradise, California in November. Trump is eyeing funds devoted to nearby flood abatement Damaged homes in the Cano Martin Pena communities in San Juan, Puerto Rico are seen in August, a year after Hurricane Maria. Other funds might come from rebuilding projects there Trump is considering invoking emergency powers to build the wall, as his government shutdown standoff with Congressional Democrats drags on over his request for $5.7 billion to build 234 miles of wall. If Trump does declare an emergency, he would be able to tap into the $13.9 billion fund to pay for the Army Corps of Engineers to construct the wall. Under the plan discussed on Thursday, Trump could dip into the $2.4 billion allocated to projects in California, including flood prevention and protection projects along the Yuba River Basin and the Folsom Dam, as well as the $2.5 billion set aside for reconstruction projects in Puerto Rico, which is still recovering from Hurricane Maria, officials said. DoD officials told Trump that with the funding, the Army Corps could build 315 miles of border wall in about 18 months, officials familiar with the planning told NBC. President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with Mexico on Thursday The wall would be a 30-foot bollard-style wall with anti-climbing features, the officials said. The Corps would reportedly focus first on the heavily trafficked border areas along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, in San Diego and El Centro in California, as well as Yuma, Arizona. On Thursday, Trump visited the border with Mexico near McAllen, Texas, where he gave remarks indicating he is getting closer to declaring an emergency. 'We can declare a national emergency. We shouldn't have to because this is common sense,' Trump told reporters during the trip. 'This shouldn't be happening in our country,' he added. Without a wall, he said, 'you'll have crime in Iowa, you'll have crime in New Hampshire, you'll have crime in New York.' Asked about a timetable for declaring a national emergency, Trump said he would see how it goes with Congress. In an interview filmed at the border, Trump told Fox New's Sean Hannity that he 'most likely I will' declare an emergency if Congress doesn't make a deal. 'I can't imagine any reason why not because I'm allowed to do it. The law is 100 percent on my side,' Trump said. Trump dismissed the argument that walls are 'medieval' by saying that wheels are also a medieval technology, and pointing out that the armored personnel carrier has wheels, like all modern vehicles. 'A wall would be so effective,' Trump said. 'It would solve so many killings and so much death and drugs and human trafficking where - they tape up women on their face - they tape them up, and they put them in the back of a car or a van and they drive right through our border.' Two workers were decontaminated and a consulate was evacuated after a suspicious package was delivered. The Consulate General of the Independent State of Samoa, in western Sydney, was evacuated on Friday morning after workers came across a suspicious A4 envelope. Emergency services were called to the building on Scott Street, Liverpool, at about 10am. Two workers were decontaminated and a consulate was evacuated after a suspicious package was delivered (pictured) The Consulate General of the Independent State of Samoa, in western Sydney, was evacuated on Friday morning after workers came across a suspicious A4 envelope The item was seized by Fire and Rescue NSW and placed into a shield before it was handed to Australian Federal Police for further forensic examination. A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said the envelope was unopened. The two people who handled the envelope were decontaminated as a precaution, the spokesman confirmed. The Australian Federal Police said the incident was still being investigated. 'As this matter is subject to further inquiries it is not appropriate to provide further information that may impact on the investigation,' an AFP spokesperson said. The finding comes days after embassies and consulates across Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney were forced into lockdown on Wednesday (pictured) due to delivery of packages containing a quantity of asbestos The finding comes days after embassies and consulates across Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney were forced into lockdown on Wednesday due to delivery of packages containing a quantity of asbestos. Savas Avan, who was arrested at his Shepparton home on Wednesday night, is accused of sending the 38 dangerous articles. The two incidents are yet to be linked. The western Sydney building was reopened at about 11am. A 12-year-old Oregon boy is being held in juvenile detention on suspicion of killing a 92-year-old woman. The Register Guard reported that Emma Burnell was found dead in her Creswell, Oregon home on Monday afternoon after someone called authorities to report an injured person at her address. Authorities described Burnell's death as being 'unexplained' and 'suspicious,' but did not elaborate on the nature of the woman's injuries, according to KMTR. Erma Burnell, 92, was found dead inside her Oregon home (shown) Monday morning. A 12-year-old boy is charged with first-degree murder and burglary in connection with her death Burnell, who is reported to have been blind, was said to have been found in her home by a neighbor who went to check on her. Burnell's neighbor, Samuel Olsen, told KEZI that when his wife went to Burnell's home, she found broken glass and saw Burnell dead in bed from what appeared to be stab wounds. The boy, whose name is not being released because of his age, was taken into custody on Thursday morning and was booked at the Serbu Juvenile Justice Center in Eugene, Oregon, on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree burglary. A neighbor is said to have found Burnell while checking on the elderly blind woman. The neighbor said there was broken glass in the home and that Burnell had stab wounds Authorities said their investigation into Burnell's death lead them to a 12-year-old boy A Lane County Public Health spokesman said that the boy would not be charged as an adult. Authorities have not yet revealed whether Burnell knew the boy or what led to his arrest. The boy will make his first appearance in juvenile court on Friday morning. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Lane County Sheriffs Office at 541-682-4141. The driver who caused the 'world's biggest train crash' in November last year has sued BHP, claiming he was unfairly dismissed. The man, 63, left the cabin of the train bound for Port Hedland in Western Australia for a safety inspection, only to see the 3km long iron ore train set off unattended in the remote Pilbara region. Incredibly, the train travelled for almost 100km at high speed before it was forcibly derailed. According to expert analysts, Channel 9 reported in November last year the total damage from the runaway freight train could be as high at $50 million. Aerial footage shows the damage caused to the tracks when the 268 wagon train was deliberately derailed The train driver was sacked by global mining company BHP on December 18 and then had an appeal dismissed on December 28. Tim Kucera, the driver's lawyer working on behalf of Turner Freeman, said BHP needs to acknowledge their role in the incident, where no one was injured. 'It is a classic case of 'have an accident, blame the worker not the system', he told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'Essentially what we will be saying is that the decision to dismiss was unfair for a raft of reasons not least of which was blaming the worker for the accident when there were significant issues with the systems, [over which he had no control].' A spokesperson from BHP confirmed the fly in fly out driver from Adelaide was sacked in December. 'The driver is no longer employed by the company,' they said. 'Out of respect for the individual and their privacy we are unable to provide further information.' A massive loaded iron ore train has been derailed after it travelled a staggering 92km without a driver (stock image of a Pilbara iron ore train) The 268 wagon train was intentionally derailed about 5.30am on Monday, after it travelled 92km without a driver on the Newman to Port Headland rail line in Western Australia In a statement at the time, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said: 'The driver alighted from the locomotive to inspect an issue with a wagon. While the driver was outside of the locomotive, the train commenced to runaway. 'With no one on board, the train travelled for 92 km before being deliberately derailed at a set of points operated by the control centre, about 119 km from Port Headland (near Turner siding).' Australian researchers are optimistic that a new copper capsule may offer Motor Neurone Disease sufferers hope for a cure. The drug, CuATSM, was trialled on 32 patients in Melbourne and Sydney over 15 years, and appeared to slow the progression of MND by 70 per cent. It is based on the theory that a decrease of copper in the brain may be a factor in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases A new copper drug by Australian researchers has been found to slow the progression of MND 'Copper is just part of the drug,' Professor Ashley Bush, director of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health told The Daily Mail. 'We are working out what the mechanism is now, but the possibilities include delivering a safe amount of copper to where it is needed in the tissue, as well as, mopping up damage to the membranes of neurons, or both.' The breakthrough is particularly exciting as it is the first of its kind which appears to slow the progression of the disease, rather than just treat the symptoms. 'For a disease that is considered irreversible it was remarkable,' said Professor Bush. 'The approach is to try to stop the disease, rather than provide symptomatic benefit.' Professor Ashley Bush is optimistic the findings could pave the way for a cure for MND The study was conducted by researchers from the Florey Institute, the University of Melbourne and the Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology. Findings were presented at at the International Symposium on ALS/MND in Glasgow, Scotland, with a second phase trial scheduled for the second half of 2019. 'Our first study of the drug (which is also currently being tested on patients with Parkinson's disease) was encouraging', said Professor Bush. 'The plan is to take the next step towards a definitive result, which might take two years to complete.' Research was partly funded by AFL legend Neale Daniher's Fight MND Foundation, which contributed $500,000 to the stage 1 trial. The former Essendon player was himself diagnosed with MND in 2013, and has since used his platform to raise funds and awareness of the disease. Advertisement A stunning black and white photo capturing thousands of fish about to swim for their lives has won a young British photographer the 2018 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year. Malaysia-based Tracey Jennings was diving under a jetty in Indonesia when she witnessed the moment - a chase began between predators and prey. Ms Jennings, the first female winner of the competition, didn't even realise what she'd captured on film, as the picture was one of thousands taken during a six-hour dive for the professional photographer, laying untouched on her hard drive for nearly a year. 'When I did finally go through my images, this one jumped out at me,' she said. 'I love how the light plays through the fish, and how it really describes the essence of the feeling I experienced when below the jetty where life and death plays around you.' The intricately beautiful photo is one of many on display as part of the 2018 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, which is hosted in Sydney by the Australian Museum and produced in conjunction with the South Australian Museum. From picturesque landscapes, underwater spectacles and creatures only ever found in Australia, the photos showcase the unique and diverse part of the world we live in. Titled 'hide and seek', this black and white photo taken by British photographer Tracey Jennings captured the moment thousands of fish began to flee from an approaching predator underneath an Indonesian jetty Sean Scott's 'Animal Habitat' shows a pair of sharks leaping in and out of the surf with a third predator looming underneath One of Matthew Smith's many entries for the portfolio prize, 'Luminous' shows the alien-like bluebottle jellyfish A toothless whaler shark washed up in the gentle swell of Duesbury Beach on the south coast of New South Wales Another of Jennings' entries from under the jetty captures thousands of small fish careering through underwater wood posts Photographer Georgina Steytler says she 'fell in love with kangaroos' after taking this photo of two young joeys scrapping Another of Sean Scott's entries captured this turtle dipping its head out of the water, Scott sharing the moment on his social media page as 'some things I will never forget' A sprawling tree spreading its roots along a rock face in Tasmania was captured on film by photographer Nicholas Monk Low-hanging cloud and reflective waters captured a transcendent view of New Zealand's Taranaki Byron Bay-based Craig Parry captured this landscape of rain falling in New South Wales while a rainbow emerges Kim Borg's photography captured this photo of a pair of peregrine falcon's scouring through plastic for nest materials Junior photographer Georgia Poyner captured this family of dolphins frolicking in the waters of New South Wales Shortly after snapping the above photo, Ms Poyner captured a seal and a diving water bird preying of a school of fish Boris Johnson jetted off to Greece for New Year with his ex-Tory aide girlfriend. Mr Johnson was staying at the same villa in South Pelion where he took his four children last summer. The politician and Carrie Symonds, 30 were spotted by locals at a taverna in South Pelion, north of Athens. Boris Johnson spent New Year in a Greek villa with his ex-Tory aide girlfriend The politician and Carrie Symonds (pictured), 30 were spotted by locals at a taverna in South Pelion, north of Athens where he took his four children last summer An expat Brit told the Mirror: 'He was dishevelled. She was smartly dressed and quite sweet.' Mr Johnson and Carrie, who was embroiled in the politician's divorce last year, were staying at his father Stanley's holiday home, Villa Irene. He is believed to have grown close to the former Tory Party director of communications last year as his 25-year marriage to Marina, 54, broke down. The pair enjoyed a fireside pork dish at the taverna which sits within snow-topped mountains. Among those to spot Mr Johnson was former Metropolitan Police Inspector Chris Wicks, 62, his wife Kathryn, 57, and some of their friends. Pro-EU remainer Mr Wicks who worked on the River Thames policing unit told the Mirror 'He had his lady friend with him. He's such a weird character. He said Johnson was very dishevelled, unshaven and wore very tatty clothes. His added Carrie 'was rather smartly dressed and quite sweet'. Mr Wicks confronted Mr Johnson, who has been an avid campaigner for Brexit. He said: 'We're massively strong Remainers. I see everything Brexit-related as a tragedy. I've often thought I'd give Boris a piece of my mind.' Mr Wicks said he introduced and shook hands with Johnson, wishing him Happy New Year at the January 3 encounter. He claims Johnson insisted Britain's EU withdrawal would work out okay. The politician is said to have told him: 'It's going to be all right, you know'. Mr Wicks expressed his dislike of Johnson and told him that when hunters killed a boar near his olive grove last year, he called it 'Boris the Boar'. The pair, pictured leaving the Conservative party Black and White Ball last year, enjoyed a fireside pork dish at the taverna which sits within snow-topped mountains He told him that he then buried its 'rotting, stinking' corpse. Miss Symonds' and Johnson first appeared to be romantically involved in September last year when they were seen together on dinner dates. Mr Johnson was sacked from the Tory front bench in 2004 after lying to then Conservative leader Michael Howard about a four-year affair with journalist Petronella Wyatt. Then in 2013 it was revealed that he had fathered a child through an affair with the art consultant Helen Macintyre. Marina, his second wife, split with Boris and then got back together with him on both occasions. He has also faced allegations that he had an affair with journalist Anna Fazackerley as well as other extramarital affairs. Plans for his divorce from Marina were announced last year. Johnson did not post on Twitter between December 31 and January 6 while he was on his trip. He was back in Parliament this week after the New Year getaway. Johnson and Miss Symonds declined to comment on the Mirror's story. Only one in three failed asylum seekers gets removed from Britain in a system rife with abuse, a damning report has revealed. Not only does this corrode trust in the rules, but it also provides an incentive to migrants to try to reach the UK illegally, a former Home Office chief warned. David Wood, head of immigration enforcement until 2015, sets out his findings today in a 74-page report for the think-tank Civitas. David Wood, head of immigration enforcement until 2015, sets out his findings today in a 74-page report for the think-tank Civitas It comes as Home Secretary Sajid Javid continues to try to get to grips with the dozens of desperate migrants who are making the perilous trip across the Channel in dinghies. The 27 migrants found in the back of a lorry on the M6 on Wednesday are all expected to claim asylum. The group 23 adults and four claimed minors were Eritrean, Ethiopian and Sudanese. The driver was held on suspicion of aiding illegal entry into the UK. The operation to find the migrants saw Staffordshire Police declare a major incident and close the M6 for several hours, causing major tailbacks. Advertisement After analysis of Home Office figures, Mr Wood said that between 2010 and 2016, 80,813 people were refused sanctuary or withdrew their asylum applications. Of these, only 29,659 were deported just 36 per cent. There was also a growing backlog of cases where people waited longer than six months more than tripling from 4,081 at the start of the decade to 14,306 in 2017. The former Home Office chiefs report will fuel concerns that Britains asylum regime is being exploited as a soft touch. Mr Wood said: Once migrants reach the UK they are usually here to stay whether they have a valid claim to be here or not. This means that these numbers add to an ever-growing number of migrants in the country who have no lawful entitlement to be here. Furthermore, the failure to deal with this situation provides an incentive to further attempts to come to the UK by people who have no right to be here. Under the 1951 Refugee Convention, those seeking refuge from war or persecution can be granted asylum. UK rules allow unsuccessful applicants to appeal. Guidelines say that failed asylum seekers should be detained only if deporting them is a realistic prospect.But Mr Wood said more should be done to speed up processing applications and to boost removals of those who are declined sanctuary. Discovery: 27 migrants were found in a lorry on the M6 on Wednesday night He said the initial decision-making process should be streamlined, rather than subjecting every applicant to a lengthy interview. For instance, if it is established that someone is fleeing a warzone, they would automatically be entitled to asylum, leaving officials free to work on more complex cases. Applicants should be made to take lie detector tests to quickly identify areas of their story that might be fabricated, he suggested. It comes as Home Secretary Sajid Javid continues to try to get to grips with the dozens of desperate migrants who are making the perilous trip across the Channel in dinghies More failed asylum seekers should be detained if travel documents can be obtained from their home country, he added, meaning they do not escape. If a nation is refusing to provide paperwork, the failed refugee should simply be put on a flight there to be dealt with by UK consular staff. Mr Wood said: It is an important principle that people fleeing persecution should be given refuge by countries in a position to offer it. But where asylum processes are being used as a way of facilitating economic migration it is essential to be able to quickly and efficiently distinguish between the two, in order to ensure those entitled to help receive it quickly, and to ensure that UK citizens do not lose faith and support for a system that is rife with abuse. Last year removal of failed asylum seekers fell to a near-record low of 5,316. That compared with 18,220 in 2006 when Labour was in power and 10,394 when the Coalition came to power in 2010. Politicians in France claim migrants believe the UK is like the lost city of gold, El Dorado. A Home Office spokesman said: The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it. However, we are clear that those with no right to be in the UK should return home. As part of the new asylum accommodation contracts we will be working with a charity to make sure failed asylum seekers are given information on the voluntary returns scheme, encouraging individuals refused asylum to return home. We will seek to enforce the return of those who do not leave voluntarily. OUR SOFT TOUCH SYSTEM ACTS LIKE A MAGNET Commentary by David Wood, former head of immigration enforcement at the Home Office Britain has a proud record of offering sanctuary to genuine victims of persecution. For decades we have recognised that an effective, compassionate asylum system is an essential pillar of a civilised society. But our countrys asylum process has broken down. Increasingly dysfunctional and overstretched, it no longer serves its humanitarian purpose. As the former head of immigration enforcement at the Home Office between 2013 and 2015, it is unnerving to see how todays crisis-ridden system is abused by economic migrants, exploited by ruthless lawyers, undermined by foreign regimes and weakened by our own government. If any doubt remained, our soft approach was demonstrated last week by the shrill condemnation faced by Home Secretary Sajid Javid after he argued that most of the Iranians who have recently arrived on the south coast by boat are not genuine asylum seekers. But he was absolutely right. The vast majority are not fleeing real oppression but fabricating backgrounds to circumvent immigration controls as they look for a better life. That is the story with most asylum claims, two-thirds of which are rejected by the Home Office. Yet even when those applications are dismissed, our authorities are increasingly failing to deport bogus claimants. As I reveal today in my disturbing report for the Civitas think-tank, just one in three failed asylum seekers are ever deported. Last year, only 5,316 failed applicants were removed less than a third of the total of deportations in 2006. The sorry truth is that once bogus asylum seekers have arrived, they are usually here to stay. Two years ago I warned MPs that the illegal migrant population could be more than one million strong. Little was done, and now that number has likely grown. How did our asylum system become so warped? One central problem is our legal process, which allows illegal migrants to make a claim whenever they like even if they are about to be deported. No less than 20 per cent of those who claim asylum do so on a last-minute whim when they are finally detained for deportation, a clear indicator of the emptiness of their applications. I have even known cases where the migrant actually makes a claim, through his lawyer, while being transferred to the airport after years of staying in this country. Foreign governments, especially in the developing world, can also be an obstacle. Many fraudulent claimants attempt to hide their identities in the hope it will hinder their deportation. Often it works. In some cases, when the Home Office attempts to obtain the correct documentation from their homeland, foreign governments refuse to help. While little can be done to remedy that, there is a more immediate problem closer to home. The past months influx of migrants 40 on Christmas Day alone has shown that we do not have enough Border Force patrols in the Channel. Furthermore, our authorities do not have the resources to track down failed asylum seekers or house migrants in detention centres. And despite the sentimentality of calls for open borders, there is nothing compassionate or progressive about a dysfunctional system. Presenting Britain as a soft touch only encourages perilous journeys in dinghies. There are far more deserving cases for asylum than the recent group of Channel boat users. who are likely to be from the affluent middle-class in Iran. How else would they be able to pay smugglers, who charge as much as 6,000 per person? If they were really fleeing persecution, they would have applied for asylum in the first European country they reached likely Spain, Italy or Greece rather than seeking a golden ticket into Britain. Without rigorous action, public faith in the asylum system will be destroyed. Our government needs to toughen up and deport those migrants who fraudulently claim settlement on our shores. Then we might start to have a system that operates in the interests of both genuine claimants and our nation as a whole. Police are advising shops they may need extra security guards in the event of a no-deal Brexit if there is panic buying. Supermarkets and other shops may face crowd control issues if there are fears over food and goods shortages. It came as Tesco and Marks & Spencer became the latest big names to reveal they are stockpiling packet and tinned foods ahead of March. Tesco chief executive, Dave Lewis, warned it would not be possible to make arrangements for fresh food if we crash out of the EU. Yesterday, police warned that supermarkets may have to up their security and should plan for the eventuality. Police are advising shops they may need extra security guards in the event of a no-deal Brexit if there is panic buying (file photo) In line with similar advice given at a national level to the retail industry, we are suggesting to retailers that they may wish to consider planning for additional security in the event that concerns about shortages of goods leads to a significant increase in customers, a Met spokesman told Politico. We are having these conversations in order to minimize the demands on policing from any resulting large crowds or queues at shops and as part of our regular civil contingency engagement with businesses and partners. However, the spokesman added that they had no information to suggest that looting was a likely outcome of a no-deal Brexit. Shortages caused by potential disruption at ports are one of the main concerns for contingency planners preparing for the prospect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on March 29. Met Police have been giving the advice to retailers in case of panic buying. They added that they had no information to suggest that looting was a likely outcome of a no-deal Brexit (file photo) The food and drink and retail industries have warned of pressure on supply chains if new checks at EU or UK ports lead to long delays for goods crossing the Channel. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick warned late last year that a no-deal exit would cause problems for the police, particularly around security cooperation with the EU and access to law enforcement databases. A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs Council said that police do not expect to be involved in responding to any food shortages. However, the spokesman added: Supermarkets have their own security and procedures but police forces will assess any requests for assistance, and continue working with communities through Local Resilience Forums. We are considering scenarios provided by government to inform our planning. This week the government moved into a new phase of the public information effort to prepare citizens and business for Brexit, with a national radio advert and social media campaign launched on Tuesday. Over 2,000 people have fled Namtu and Hsipaw, two townships in northern Shan state. Refugees found shelter in nine temporary refugee camps in Hsipaw and two in Namtu. Armed men abducted ten villagers from Kyan Kyar Kyaing. Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) Thousands of civilians have fled their homes in Shan State, eastern Myanmar, as a result of forced recruitment and intense fighting between armed ethnic groups. In the past few days, more than 2,000 people have left their homes in Namtu and Hsipaw, two townships in the northern part of the state, as fighting intensified between the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and its ally Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) against the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS). Over 500 people arrived at our camp while in the whole township, there are over 1,400. They are being accommodated at nine locations, said U Tin Sein, head of Nar of the Ma Khaw camp for internally displaced people. Refugees have been allowed to take shelter in nine temporary refugee camps in Hsipaw and two camps in Namtu. They started arriving on January 1, said Sai Yanpyay, a member of the Se Lain Khan Social Welfare Association. When they heard the sound of heavy weapons, they fled. Their meals are being provided by villagers and donors, he explained. At present, There are over 400 refugees in the Man San North Monastery. Over 50 people from Manwa are staying at Namtu Popa Yone Monastery. Some are staying at their relatives houses, he added. Meanwhile, hundreds of people from the village of Kyan Kyar Kyaing have found refuge in Ho Li (Kunlong Township). The villagers said armed men took their village head and ten others, but one of them was able to escape, U Maung Sein said. They arrived at around 9 am on January 6. They said they fled from their village as an armed group came and asked able-bodied men to join them. The armed mean spoke in the Kokang language but their uniforms had no insignia, he noted. The village of Kyan Kyar Kyaing is located near the territory claimed by the MNDAA, a communist-inspired armed group comprised of ethnic Kokang. The group is involved in drug production and trafficking. A leading cancer expert once described by the Duke of Cambridge as an 'inspiration' has died suddenly after a routine yellow fever jab. Martin Gore, 67, passed away after suffering total organ failure shortly after having the injection, which is recommended to anyone visiting Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America and the Caribbean, reports The Times. Serious side effects from the vaccine are very rare, but are more common in those over the age of 60, or in anyone with HIV/AIDS. Professor Gore, who worked as an oncologist for more than 35 years, focused on ovarian cancer, melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. In 2015, he was given The Royal Marsden's Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Prince William. Leading cancer expert Martin Gore, 67, (pictured) has died suddenly after a routine yellow fever jab The Duke of Cambridge said at the time: 'I've found Martin a source of inspiration his infectious enthusiasm and passion for his work, and his obvious compassion and kindness for his patients, their family and friends, reinforces my knowledge that The Royal Marsden is a truly special place. 'He's one of the pioneers of 20th century cancer care, and a friend, colleague and trusted doctor to many.' Just a year later he was an awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his work in these areas. A report in the Journal of Travel Medicine found that between 2007 and 2013, there were just under four cases of serious adverse effects from the vaccine per 100,000 doses. This increased to 6.5 per 100,000 for those aged between 60 and 69, and 10.3 per 100,000 for those aged 70 and above. Martin Gore, pictured left while meeting the Duke of Cambridge, has died suddenly after a routine yellow fever jab Serious side effects from the vaccine are very rare, but are more common in those over the age of 60 (file photo) Serious adverse effects recorded in the study included hospitalization, life-threatening illness, permanent disability and death. Five people died from the jab in this period. Peter Openshaw, an ex-president of the British Society for Immunology, told the Times that there has been a four-fold increase in the risk of side-effects for those 60 and above. But he emphasised that the jab was much safer than exposure to yellow fever, which killed around 78,000 people in Africa in 2013. The Royal Marsden Cancer charity shared the news on Facebook, saying: 'It is with deep sadness that The Royal Marsden announces the sudden death of Professor Martin Gore CBE who died this morning. 'Martin was at the heart of The Royal Marsdens life and work in research, treatment and the training of our next generation of oncologists. 'His contribution as Medical Director for 10 years, a Trustee of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and as a clinician is unparalleled. 'He has been a friend, colleague and mentor to so many people and his loss will be immense.' An American Airlines crew have been taken to the hospital after falling ill on a flight Thursday. Two pilots and three flight attendants on a flight from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale reported an odor before landing. According to the airline, once the plane landed the crew asked to be taken to the hospital as a precaution after complaining of feeling sick. 'No passengers requested medical attention,' American Airlines said in a statement. 'The aircraft is being evaluated by our maintenance team.' Two pilots and three flight attendants on a flight from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale fell ill Thursday (stock) Flight 1897, an Airbus A320, landed at 11am in Florida Thursday with 137 passengers who were not affected. 'I heard one of the security guys walk by, and he's like, ''I need four wheelchairs. We need one ASAP,''' passenger Andrew O'Donnell told ABC 10. 'They just sort of wheeled everybody off and they said they smelled an odor on the plane. And when that happened, they said that they obviously weren't going to let anybody else on,' he added. The crew was taken to Broward Health Medical Center, according to local television reports. American spokeswoman Alexis Coello said late Thursday afternoon that the crew was not admitted and is no longer at the hospital. The cause remains under investigation. She's the subject of a Hollywood biopic and is very much alive, but the White House has been in contact with Senate Republicans about possible replacements for the ailing 85-year old Supreme Court justice. The White House is even working on a short-list of possible nominees to replace Ginsburg, who broke her 25-year streak when she began missing oral arguments on Monday. The White House counsel's office is even trading names with the office of new Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham. Politico published a list of them Thursday. GET WELL SOON! The White House has been working on a potential short list of candidates should there be a vacancy on the Supreme Court. First ever miss: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was not present for a Supreme Court hearing for the first time ever Monday after surgery to remove two cancerous growth last month The short list of potential replacements for the ailing Ginsburg include Seventh Circuit judge Amy Coney Barrett, whose name got floated before Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh. Others identified include Joan Larsen of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Raymond Kethledge of the Sixth Circuit, Britt Grant of the Eleventh Circuit, and Thomas Hardiman of the Third Circuit, who served with Trump's sister, Maryanne Trump Barry. The White House 'is taking the temperature on possible short-list candidates, reaching out to key stakeholders, and just making sure that people are informed on the process,' a source told the publication. Graham is still putting his stamp on the Judiciary panel. He met with Trump's attorney general pick William Barr this week, even as some Democrats complained they couldn't get face time with the nominee. He said he got assurances from Barr that he wouldn't shut down the Mueller probe. In this file photo taken on October 8, 2018, Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg listens during the swearing-in ceremony of Brett Kavanaugh as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court at the White House in Washington, DC Conservatives hold a 5-4 majority on the court. If Ginsburg were to retire, there would be yet another brutal confirmation fight over a Trump-appointed successor who would shift the balance to the right Ginsburg continues to recover after doctors removed two cancerous growths from her left lung December 21. Until Monday, she hadn't missed oral arguments she was confirmed to join the court after Bill Clinton's nomination of her in 1993. Following her initial in November that resulted in fractured ribs, Ginsburg declared herself 'almost repaired,' and immediately got back to an exercise routine. 'Glad to see you are feeling great,' President Trump told her at an event for the late Justice Antonin Scalia. But in initial comments he also brought up a grudge. 'I wish her well. She said something very inappropriate during the campaign, but she apologized for it,' he the president said in November. 'I wouldn't say she's exactly on my side, but I wish her well, I hope she gets better, and I hope she serves on the Supreme Court for many years.' In December, following her cancer surgery, Trump tweeted: 'Wishing Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg a full and speedy recovery!' Theres an oil painting behind the reception desk at New Yorks famed Algonquin Hotel, a portrait of the establishments most important resident his pose and expression both more than a touch regal as he gazes upon guests checking in and out. He has his own Algonquin business card and a staffer dedicated to his every whim, and even his name denotes sophisticated aristocracy: Hamlet. Hamlet VIII, in fact, preceded by a long line of distinguished other special residents of the same name. And theyre all of the feline variety. Because the Algonquin, renowned for its historic hosting of literary and acting legends, has been home to resident cats for almost 100 years. According to legend, a stray who became known as Billy wandered into the hotel in the 1920s, followed not long after by a marmalade-colored cat named Rusty who had free reign of the hotel. Those names didnt impress legendary actor and frequent guest John Barrymore, who suggested again, according to Algonquin lore the Shakespearean moniker of Hamlet. Every male cat since has held that title, while every female has been called Matilda. Scroll down for video The Algonquin Hotel's Chief Cat Officer, Alice Dealmeida, hugs her feline charge, Hamlet VIII - who was rescued from a feral colony on Long Island, marking a true 'rags to riches' story Hamlet VIII is affectionately known as Hammy and is a favorite with guests and visitors The Algonquin, on New York's West 44th Street, is the oldest working hotel in Manhattan Hamlet presides over the lobby and enjoys two treehouse perches - one at the reception desk and one looking out onto the busy New York street through a window The Algonquin cats are so popular that they often receive fan mail and unsolicited gifts - such as this oil painting of Hamlet, which hangs behind the reception desk Dealmeida says: You couldnt have built a better cat ... Ive seen two or three kids at him, and hell just stand there and he wont do a thing We dont know why theres a Matilda, says Chief Cat Officer Alice Dealmeida, a grandmother and animal lover who doubles as an executive assistant when shes not mothering Hammy, as she fondly calls her feline charge. You know, somebody said Waltzing Matilda? That could be it. The Bronx native has been in the role at the Algonquin for 14 years, beginning her cat duties with one of the Matildas. Shed been hired as executive assistant and didnt initially know that the job included feline responsibilities though that came as a welcome surprise to a woman who currently has three cats at home in addition to ferals she feeds outside. I didnt know that I was responsible for the cat, and then all of a sudden, I was here a couple of days, and the assistant said to me, Oh, by the way, you have to answer Matildas because it was Matilda II that was here you have to answer her emails, you know. It just made me very happy. So I started with the emails, and then it kind of like exploded. Hamlet VIII, for example, has his own social media pages, and he receives a ton of messages and fan mail. He gets cards, presents, even proposals and fans of the Algonquin cat have sent toys, replicas and even unsolicited oil paintings, such as the one gracing the front lobby. The offerings come from all over the world; for Christmas, for example, he received six tiny mouse toys he loves to bat around all the way from Australia. Hammy has his own bed and room near the entrance to the hotel on West 44th street, and the lobby area is outfitted with cat doors to facilitate his easy movement. He also loves to perch upon two specialized cat trees, one at the reception desk and one at the front of the hotel, giving him a street view that most New Yorkers would kill for. Cats need vertical area, so that gives him his vertical, Dealmeida says. Also, he can be in the mix but they cant touch him and its the same out front. He gets to see the sun, he gets to see the action, whats going on there. So hes got some places that afford him privacy. Hamlet VIII, shrewd and street smart, seems to know that he's the star of the show - and even high-fives some of his fans when he feels like it The lobby of the Algonquin features a display case with memorabilia and photos of Hamlet VIII's predecessors, who got up to various shenanigans during their respective reigns Dealmeida says of the specialized treehouses: Cats need vertical area, so that gives him his vertical. Also, he can be in the mix but they cant touch him and its the same out front. He gets to see the sun, he gets to see the action, whats going on there. So hes got some places that afford him privacy In addition to his business card and email accounts, Hamlet VIII has social media accounts - which Dealmeida helps him maintain Visitors and guests can also take home stuffed toys and books featuring Hamlet and Matildas Hamlet can also retreat to a private room with a bed, his food and scratching post, and his fondness for snacks or anything edible, really is making him a bit plumper than Dealmeida would like. But it wasnt always this way for the American shorthair ginger. In fact, his journey has been a true rags to riches story, his proud mother, Dealmeida, explains. Hamlet VIII was a rescue cat, she tells DailyMail.com. He actually was a feral cat out in Long Island and he was found on the streets and brought to a shelter. Always in on the action, Hamlet sometimes even dresses up for the holidays to get into the festive spirit The Algonquin had already put out a call to local shelters looking for a new feline resident; the current Matilda was nearing retirement, soon to head out to a farm of a loyal guest. Hamlet then named Chill was a year old when Dealmeida first laid eyes on him, and he had the laid-back personality that makes him a favorite with Algonquin guests. You couldnt have built a better cat, she tells DailyMail.com. Some guy this morning, hes petting him, and the cat is eating and the cat isnt even blinking. Ive seen two or three kids at him, and hell just stand there and he wont do a thing. Long-time doormen like to play with strings with Hamlet, and its pretty obvious, as the cat sashays across the reception desk and up to his perches, that he knows hes a bit of a star. He even enjoys regular reiki sessions with a pet therapist. Hamlet has full reign of the Algonquin, says Dealmeida. Hes the Algon-king. We used to call Matilda the Algon-queen. She adds: People make reservations because of him; he gives the hotel a homey feeling. Kids get all excited and its not like just being in a hotel. Its more like being home with your favorite things. Long-time doormen enjoy playing with Hamlet, bringing him strings and otherwise engaging him in activity; his fondness for treats and anything edible means he needs as much exercise as he can get Some of Hamlet's favorite toys are fake mice he enjoys batting around; for Christmas, he received a present of six from a loyal fan in Australia Dealmeida says: 'People make reservations because of him; he gives the hotel a homey feeling. Kids get all excited and its not like just being in a hotel. Its more like being home with your favorite things In addition to merchandise featuring Hamlet's likeness, the hotel hosts an annual cat fashion show fundraiser, with proceeds going to the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals While Hamlet has a reputation for pleasing children and adult visitors to the Algonquin, he also gets along with animals visiting the pet-friendly hotel, which first opened in 1902 The cat enjoys personalized touches throughout the hotel, though his domain is confined mostly to the lobby The lobby includes a display section of Hamlet and Matilda memorabilia, including old photos of his predecessors. Theres even an Algonquin cat childrens book and stuffed toy that guests and visitors can take home and theres no shortage of stories about the shenanigans the cats have pulled over the years. There are legends all over, laughs Dealmeida. We do know that theres one cat that got in a cab. Theres one cat this area, before it was built up, there were stables here and he fell in love with a barn cat and went after the barn cat. Matilda I used to like to take the food off of guests plates, so you had to be really careful what you did. Matilda III figured out the general manager didnt like her on the sofa, but she figured out if she was sitting next to a guest, he couldnt shoo her off. Matilda II actually meowed into a microphone when we were doing a radio interview Theyre all just so full of personality, and each one has their own little antics. The hotel capitalizes upon those antics and personalities to raise awareness and money for animals in need. In order to keep Hamlet in kibble, and to give back because we believe that rescue should be the only option we have a yearly fundraiser for the Mayors Alliance for NYCs Animals, Dealmeida tells DailyiMail.com. Theyre wonderful; they encompass 150 shelters throughout the five boroughs, and every August Hamlet honors them with a fundraiser and for the price of admission, you get alcohol, hors doeuvres, a feline fashion show an online silent auction, raffles, cat adoption out front. And 100 percent of the profits go to the Mayors Alliance. Its an event and a job which Dealmeida clearly relishes, doting on Hammy and giving the shrewd cat high-fives. I love being the chief cat officer; its like a dream come true, she says. Nobody would even ever imagine that it could be possible. I like the other part of my job, too, but its just not as furry as the chief cat officer part. In addition to his treats, treehouses and other perks, Hamlet VIII enjoys reiki sessions with a pet therapist who comes to the hotel When Hamlet VIII was first rescued and brought to a shelter, he was named Chill for his laidback personality - which is evident to anyone who walks through the Algonquin Previous Matildas also featured in their own personalized book; the most recent Matilda, who retired when Hamlet VIII turned up, went to live on the farm of a loyal guest Hamlet VIII provides a great source of amusement not only for guests but for hotel employees While the Algonquin is a famed haunt of writers and actors, the presence of its cats over the years has been an added attraction Cat doors near the entrance of the hotel allow Hamlet VIII to scoot from a room featuring his food and water, bed and scratch post to his treehouses and the reception area Passersby can often catch a glimpse of Hamlet VIII in the hotel window as he sits in one of his treehouses and surveys the bustling city Horrific footage has emerged of supermarket staff manhandling a boy after he was allegedly caught stealing from the store. Police have confirmed they are investigating the alleged assault that happened around midday in Perth's Bertram on January 9. The boy had allegedly stuffed a four-pack of energy drinks into his bag at a supermarket but when staff approached him he ran out the door and down the street. Three male staff members chased after the boy and allegedly assaulted him on Hero Crescent. Horrific footage has emerged of supermarket staff manhandling a boy after he was allegedly caught stealing from a store The boy had reportedly been caught stealing items from a Perth supermarket this week In the footage, which has been shared on Facebook, a man in a pale blue shirt can be seen his hands around the boy's neck. The boy can be seen falling to the ground for a moment before the man drags him by the ear over to where the two other men are standing. The man puts his hands around the boy's neck once more before pushing him into a bush. The three staff members walk back to the store with the boy's bag in hand. Police are also investigating an alleged stealing offence which occurred at a nearby supermarket earlier in the day. The Daily Mail has approached the supermarket for comment. In the footage, which has been shared on Facebook, a man in a pale blue shirt can be seen his hands around the boy's neck This is the second incident where staff at a Perth supermarket have been accused of punishing alleged shoplifters themselves. On Sunday, December 30, a nine-year-old boy was allegedly locked in a supermarket store room after he was allegedly caught stealing a bottle of coke. The boy was found bleeding from where he had cut himself in an attempt to escape from a small window and released. The supermarket manager was charged with deprivation of liberty and aggravated common assault. The boy is too young to be charged with stealing. Levi Bellfield (pictured above) is set to be quizzed by officers following new allegations Police are set to quiz serial killer Levi Bellfield over new sex attack claims after three women came forward following ITV's Manhunt drama. Scotland Yard is said to be assessing allegations made by a number of women since the show first aired on Sunday 6 January. Since the show, the officer that first nailed Bellfied, Colin Sutton, has revealed three women made contact with him to say they had been targeted by the monster. In a statement Scotland Yard said: 'The Met has been made aware of allegations following recent TV series Manhunt. 'These will be assessed by officers from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences command.' Now retired detective Mr Sutton, played by Martin Clunes in the series, told The Mirror that there was 'little doubt' that some of Bellfield's victims had still not come forward. The ITV drama Manhunt re-tells the events leading up to the serial killer's arrest and stars Martin Clunes as detective Colin Sutton, who has inspired other women to come forward Top detective Colin Sutton details how he nailed Milly Dowler's evil-eyed psychopathic killer The television drama, which ended on Tuesday 8 January was based on Mr Sutton's memoir which detailed his experiences during the case. The programme followed the then Met detective and his team as they linked the 2004 murder of French student Amelie Delagrange, 22, in Twickenham, with the 2003 killing of Marsha McDonnell, 19, and the 2002 murder of Milly Dowler, 13, in Walton-on-Thames. After Manhunt had aired Mr Sutton said Catherine Harvey, 33, told him that Bellfield tried to lure her into his car in 2002 when she was 17. Amelie Delagrange (left) was murdered on the night of August 19, 2004 while Marsha McDonnell, aged 19, (right) died from head wounds in Hampton on February 4, 2003, yards from her home after getting off a bus She said: 'He was really intimidating... I was terrified.' In 2008 Bellfield was convicted of murdering Amelie and Marsha. In 2011 he was found guilty of abducting and murdering Milly. In 2011, Bellfield was found guilty of the murder of Milly Dowler and is one of around 50 British prisoners serving a whole life sentence, meaning he will never be released. It emerged last week that he was part of a paedophile gang which preyed on more than 17 children in care, according to a council review. Scotland Yard is studying the report which reveals links between the serial killer and six men accused of grooming children as young as 13 to be raped. Those men have never faced justice and continue to 'pose a serious threat to children', the report by a respected social worker claims. Bellfield is said to have been a member of a Rotherham-style child sex ring in Hanwell, West London preying on victims from two children's homes. His 'associates', who allegedly used Bellfield's flat as a 'raping room', were never caught. A six-month study of police and children's home records has identified at least 17 potential victims aged 13 to 16, including a girl who told police she was assaulted at the age of 14 in Bellfield's home only days before he killed Amelie Delagrange in 2004. Matthew Oropeza, 24, turned himself into police Thursday after they say his single punch killed a data programmer who asked him to put his pit bull on a leash Philadelphia police have charged a man with involuntary manslaughter after he punched a fellow dog walker who fell to the ground and smashed his head- and ultimately died from the impact. Matthew Oropeza, 24, turned himself into the police on Thursday. Police say he punched Drew Justice, 38, Saturday night around 9.15pm during an argument in which Oropeza was asked to put his pit bull on a leash because Justice was concerned for the safety of his little Shih Tzu. Police say he punched Justice in the face, causing him to fall backward and hit his head on the ground. After Justice hit the ground, Oropeza bolted from the scene. Justice was with his fiancee Kristi Buchholz and were walking their black Shih Tzu at Gold Star Park when they came across Oropeza whose pet pit bull was running free and the argument ensued. Drew Justice, 38 and his fiancee Kristi Buchholz (above) were walking their black Shih Tzu at Gold Star Park when the data programmer confronted the man about not having his pit bull on a leash Matthew Oropeza (left) was charged with involuntary manslaughter in Justice's (right) death Police responding to Saturday night's scene canvassed the area, but Oropeza had already fled Things escalated to the point that the man punched Justice, causing him to fall backward and hit his head on the concrete sidewalk. The suspect fled the scene on foot as witnesses rushed in to help Justice. Police were dispatched to the scene after a neighbor reported hearing someone screaming in the park following the assault. When officers arrived, they found Justice laying on the ground unconscious as another person administered CPR. The victim was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead soon after. His death was officially ruled a homicide on Tuesday. Witnesses said they don't believe the Oropeza intended to kill Justice, but said it was inexcusable that he ran off immediately after striking him. Multiple people tried to resuscitate the victim, but the medical examiner determined he died instantly of 'blunt impact trauma injury to the head'. Justice's neighbor Julie Abruzzese told NBC10: 'I heard the screaming. But it was already done. He was laying on the ground.' 'Him and his fiancee were ready to get married. It's heartbreaking.' Bucholz has not spoken publicly since her fiance's sudden and tragic passing. One neighbor said: '[Justice] and his fiancee were ready to get married. It's heartbreaking' The couple have lived across from the park (pictured) for more than a year and have been described by neighbors as 'enthusiastic' members of the community Justice and Bucholz lived across the street from the park and were described as 'enthusiastic' members of the community, according to Regan Cooper, chair of the Friends of Gold Star Park group. Cooper said in a statement: '[Justice] raked leaves at cleanup days, hung lights for our winter celebration, and was always up for firing up the grill to feed volunteers or raise money for the park. 'He will be greatly missed.' Bucholz has not spoken publicly since her fiance's death. According to a post on the Gold Star Park Facebook page, dogs are required to be kept on a leash at all times. Oropeza is facing the charges of involuntary manslaughter, simple assault and reckless endangerment of another person. A South American teenager who was allegedly part of an international crime syndicate has been extradited from Victoria to New South Wales. Detectives charged Anastassia Saavedra Urzua with two counts of knowingly deal(ing) with proceeds of crime. The 19-year-old was allegedly part of an operation that stole luxury goods, cash, and gold from shops and homes in Sydney and Melbourne in September and October, last year. Ms Urzua is one of eight Chilean natives to be arrested by authorities, but detectives claim that other members of the group, including the ringleader, are still at large. Anastassia Saavedra Urzua (pictured) will face charges in New South Wales for allegedly participating in the crime operation The teenager was escorted by strike force investigators to Mascot Police Station, in the inner-south of Sydney, yesterday where she was charged. She was refused bail and is due to appear before Central Local Court on Friday. In court, police will claim the young woman was sending $75,000 worth of luxury items, stolen from break-ins and shoplifting sprees, overseas. Ms Urzua has already served 30 days behind bars after she pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates Court last month. She is also believed to have been involved in a group that stole Victoria's Secret items from a mall in California. Ms Urzua (pictured) was refused bail and is due to appear before Central Local Court, in Sydney, on Friday Eight members of the group, which is supposedly made up of Chilean tourists and students, were arrested throughout November and December, in Victoria. Police - who were alerted to the group by officers in Canada - have since pressed a further 65 charges against other members of the alleged syndicate. Robbery and serious crimes squad commander Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty said the accused had created a slick and well researched operation. It was very well planned, they were researching the premises, the areas. That is what we will allege in court, he said. In another statement issued last year, he detailed the inner-workings of the criminal operation. The complex operation was uncovered after more than 80 homes were broken into across Sydney during September and October Strike force investigators have been working together with Chilean authorities in an attempt to retrieve the packages with stolen goods (pictured) They had lookouts, they had stories ready to go about why they were in the area. It is a very coordinated criminal group. We still believe there are ones that we cant detect at the moment who might have been in Sydney for some time, he added. Police allege the five men and three women broke into homes in Vaucluse, Rose Bay, Five Dock and Castle Hill and took $1.2 million worth of jewellery, cash and luxury clothing. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Police arrested a 13-year-old student after he took a loaded pistol to his Alabama middle school, setting off a lockdown. A Bessemer City Middle School resource officer was tipped off that the student was carrying a weapon, leading police and school officials to search the boy and find the handgun in his backpack, according to AL.com. The boy has been charged with 'certain persons forbidden to possess a pistol' under Alabama law, according to police. He was held at Bessemer Police Department before being transferred to Jefferson County Youth Detention Center. Bessemer City Middle School was locked down briefly after a 13-year-old student was caught carrying a loaded handgun in his backpack (File Photo) The student was arrested and taken into custody by the Bessemer Police Department before he was transferred to Jefferson County Youth Detention Center (File Photo) 'The thought of a 13-year-old having a gun, and a gun at school, is scary,' said Police Chief Mike Roper about the incident. 'These parents need to check their kids' backpacks.' The arrest initially took place at 12.30pm, but a lockdown was initiated by school officials to search the school further. It was lifted shortly afterwards. No shots had been fired and no injuries were reported. Dr.Keith Stewart, Bessemer City Schools Superintendent told CBS 42 that the principal and staff of the middle school executed the school's safety plan 'to a tee.' The Bessemer City Middle School handbook spells out policy that requires expelling a student 'for a period of not less than one calendar year' for possessing a firearm on school grounds. Thousands of buildings have the same defects that forced the evacuation of Sydney's Opal Tower, an industry expert has warned. The startling claims comes amid revelations taxpayers may foot a potentially multi-million dollar bill to compensate homeowners in the cracked Homebush complex. Michael Lambert, who was appointed by the NSW government to file a 2016 report on building industry standards, said 'there are thousands of Opals out there'. 'The Opal Tower happens to be on a very large scale but there are so many smaller-scale buildings with problems that haven't been in the papers,' Mr Lambert told the Australian Financial Review. Thousands of buildings have the same defects that forced the evacuation of Sydney's Opal Tower (pictured) , an industry expert has warned The startling claims comes amid revelations taxpayers may foot a potentially multi-million dollar bill to compensate homeowners in the cracked Homebush complex 'Defects are cheap if they can be fixed before the building is completed... I hoped that the Opal Tower would be a wake-up call for the government but I'm running out of hope now.' The newly-built tower in Sydney Olympic Park was evacuated on Christmas Eve after cracks found in the building sparked fears it would collapse. Some residents have spent every night since in temporary accommodation awaiting the all clear. Developer Ecove, which has previously said the building is high quality, said on Wednesday remediation work could take weeks. Michael Lambert, who was appointed by the NSW government to file a 2016 report on building industry standards, said 'there are thousands of Opals out there' Tower builder Icon has full liability on the design and construction, meaning it has led the repair works. But it has since emerged the Berejiklian government - not the developer - could be sued by Opal apartment owners because of an obscure land ownership law. The state government's Sydney Olympic Park Authority [SOPA] owned the land on which Opal Tower was built, The Australian reported, meaning any successful compensation claims could be passed on to taxpayers. Construction law experts told the paper the NSW Home Building Act dictates that a developer sued over a building with defects is, by law, defined as the entity which owns the land where it was built. Tower builder Icon has full liability on the design and construction, meaning it has led the repair works It has emerged the Berejiklian government - not the developer - could be sued by Opal apartment owners because of an obscure land ownership law 'If Sydney Olympic Park Authority owned the land during construction, then the government - via SOPA - is definitely on the hook,' construction law expert Paul Jurdeczkaz from Chambers Russell Lawyers said. 'If the position is that Ecove was not the landowner or the builder, it's clear on the current state of the law that Ecove will not have any liability under the Home Building Act.' The land the troubled tower was built on wasn't owned by Ecove, according to the NSW Land Registry Services, but was handed to SOPA at the time of its 2001 establishment. Engineers said on Friday the building is nearly ready for some residents to re-occupy, although other individual units may not be ready for weeks A spokeswoman for Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean wouldn't speculate on liability because the causes of the tower's problems were under investigation. Engineering experts Mark Hoffman and John Carter, who have been commissioned by the state government to conduct an independent investigation, are expected to release their final report on Friday. Engineers said on Friday the building is nearly ready for some residents to re-occupy, although other individual units may not be ready for weeks. The bishops gathered in Synod in Kochi, Kerala. The Indian Church has come under the spotlight for the story of Msgr. Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun. The new "Safe environment policy", bring laity on board. Kochi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Parishes, dioceses and religious houses must be "safe from sexual abuse," states the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church, one of the three rites of the Indian Catholic Church, gathered in Kochi (Kerala) from yesterday until 18 January. The bishops, 55 in all, have established the creation of internal diocesan committees. The goal, they say, "is to create a safe environment for all, including children and vulnerable adults". The debate on sexual abuse within the Church is one of the most controversial issues in recent years. Indeed, Pope Francis has himself called a meeting in the Vatican on "The protection of minors in the Church" for the end of February. One of the organizers is president of the Indian Bishops' Conference, Card. Oswald Gracias. The Indian Church hit headlines locally and globally recently with the story of Msgr. Franco Mulakkal, bishop of Jalandhar (Punjab), accused of raping a nun of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Jesus several times. Arrested in September, he asked the Pope to accept his temporary resignation. After two weeks of detention, the bishop was released on bail and returned to the diocese. Msgr. Mulakkals case was at the center of yesterday's Synod meeting which saw the bishops approve a new " Safe environment policy, aimed at guaranteeing protection from all forms of violence. The initiative also foresees the participation of the laity through the local commissions in charge of handling complaints. A 31-year-old Ohio woman arrived to her court appearance Monday carrying a backpack full of meth, MDMA, prescription pills and drug paraphernalia. Elizabeth Darlene Wilson, of Minerva, showed up to her hearing for drug-related charges at Minerva Mayor's Court knowingly possessing the drugs that officials found during a search. According to Fox 8 Cleveland, Wilson was carrying 0.53 grams of a substance identified as crystal meth and MDMA, 11 blue capsules stamped R 3060, as well as 11 white gabapentin pills. Elizabeth Darlene Wilson (pictured in mugshot) showed up to her court hearing Monday with a backpack full of drugs Also inside the bag, were two pipes, a paper clip with drug residue leftover on it and a plastic bag with marijuana buds inside. Wilson appeared in court for aggravated possession of drugs and one possession of dangerous drugs charges. She now faces other charges, including possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug abuse instruments and possession of marijuana. Other charges include selling, purchasing, distributing or delivering dangerous investigational drugs. U.S. Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz, 35, pleaded not guilty to capital murder and other charges Thursday A U.S. Border Patrol agent in Texas has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and other charges in the September 2018 killings of four women who prosecutors say were sex workers. Juan David Ortiz, 35, entered the pleas Thursday before a judge in the border city of Laredo, Texas. The pleas follow Ortiz's December grand jury indictment on one count of capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint and evading arrest. The charge was upgraded from four counts of murder, as a capital murder pertains to a person 'intentionally or knowingly' causing the death of more than one person, Webb County District Attorney Isidro R. Alaniz said in December, according to NBC News. Ortiz is accused of killing Melissa Ramirez, 29, on September 3 and Claudine Luera, 42, on September 6. Police believe that Ortiz also killed Guiselda Alicia Hernandez, 35, and transgender woman Janelle Ortiz, 28, around September 14. Each woman was shot in the head and left along rural Laredo-area roads. One died of blunt force trauma after being shot. Juan David Ortiz (on January 10) is accused of killing four women - said to be sex workers or have problem with drugs - during a two-week period in September 2018 Ortiz was arrested on September 15 and confessed to killing the four women alleged to be sex workers or have problems with drugs during the two week period, according to an affidavit. Ortiz supposedly told police that he killed the women 'to clean up the streets of Laredo by targeting this community of individuals who he perceived to be disposable, that no one would miss and that he did not give value to,' Alaniz said in December. In addition to allegedly killing the four women, authorities said that Ortiz kidnapped a fifth woman who managed to escape from him and get help. Ortiz served in the US Navy from 2001 to 2009, after which he joined the US Border Patrol, spending time working as part of the highway interdiction team which aimed to stop drug-trafficking vehicles, before being promoted to a supervisor role, according to KGNS. Authorities believe Ortiz killed Melissa Ramirez, 29 (left), on September 3 and Janelle Ortiz, 28, around September 14, 2018 - the day before his arrest Ortiz is also believed to have killed Guiselda Alicia Hernandez, 35 (left), around September 14, and also Claudine Luera, 42, on September 6 A grand jury indicted Ortiz on one count of capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint and evading arrest, upgrading his four murder charges Ortiz was in the US Navy from 2001 to 2009, before joining the US Border Patrol. He was on the highway interdiction team which aimed to stop drug-trafficking vehicles for a time Border Patrol officials said that Ortiz had a clean background while he was an agent and that their background checks are among the most extensive in the country. Alaniz has said he'll seek the death penalty if Ortiz is convicted of capital murder. He remains behind bars, held on a $2.5 million bond. Ortiz is due back in court for an initial pre-trial hearing on April 25 and a second pre-trial hearing is set for October 3, according to the Laredo Morning Times. It's thought that, due to the complexity of the case, Ortiz's trial might not begin until 2020. A teenage girl who was raped and impregnated by a police officer who worked with young people is now suing him for damages. James Paul Blair allegedly befriended the then 13-year-old girl and her brother and then began an inappropriate relationship with her in North Carolina. The girl, now 15, filed a federal lawsuit against Lowell Police department, its police chief and Blair who is now in prison. James Paul Blair (pictured) was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2017 after pleading guilty to statutory rape while he was a police officer in North Carolina She was joined in the lawsuit by her mother, Karen Vaughn, who alleges Blair committed statutory rape because the minor couldnt legally consent to sex. Vaughn said she first became suspicious when Blair started driving by her house and brought her daughter snacks after midnight. Blair had acted in the past as a mentor toward the child who had shown an interest in becoming a police officer, the Gaston Gazette reported. He would visit the girls home and provided her with candy and other food and took her on rides in his police cruiser. He had sex with her when she was 13 and she discovered she was pregnant in 2016. The woman said she pushed her daughter to talk to her and the child said she needed a pregnancy test. James Paul Blair allegedly befriended the then 13-year-old girl and her brother and then began an inappropriate relationship with her The victim's mother Karen Vaughn (pictured) is now raising her daughter's child and is listed as a plaintiff in the lawsuit against Blair and Lowell Police Department She gave birth to baby boy in 2017 who is now being raised by her mother, teh Gaston Gazette reported. Blair, as part of his duties, was a law enforcement mentor who worked with children, it is claimed. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Charlotte, seeks a total of eight claims for actual relief against the three defendants along with a claim for punitive damages. The lawsuit alleges some of those sexual encounters between the two occurred in a Lowell Police Department patrol car while Blair was on duty. The document does not list a dollar amount, but it seeks monetary reimbursement for damages caused to the young woman and money for the care of her young child. The victim's mother became concerned when Blair started driving by her house and brought her daughter snacks after midnight Neither the city of Lowell nor Bates did an adequate job of screening Blair before his hire in December 2007 and then failed to properly train and supervise him, the document states. The lawsuit also alleges the city either knew or should have known about Blairs illegal contact with the young girl. Blair was eventually charged with statutory rape pleaded guilty in 2017 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The family allege Lowell Police Department (pictured) knew or should have known about his contact with the child He has reportedly attempted to contact the teen mom while serving his sentence in prison. Charlotte attorney Scott MacLatchie, who represents the city of Lowell and Chief Bates, said both the town and police chief would deny any liability for the actions of Blair. 'From my understanding, Blair pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting this minor and that incident involved a single act of sexual intercourse that occurred off duty and did not have anything to do with his employment,' MacLatchie said Wednesday. Blair had been suspended without pay at the time of his September 2016 arrest on a statutory rape charge. Charlotte attorney Paul Tharp, who represents the plaintiffs in the case, did not return a message left at this office. Attorney MacLatchie said it could take more than a year before the case would be ready for trial in federal court. China successfully launched a geostationary communications satellite into space from Sichuan Province early on Friday morning. Impressive footage and images show the Zhongxing-2D satellite taking off on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre at exactly 1.11am local time. The satellite has now entered its predetermined orbit and will provide transmissions for Chinese broadcasting services, including the country's radio and television stations, wireless transmitters and cable networks. It also has possible military applications, NASA said. The satellite, developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, has entered the preset orbit. The Chinese-made communication and broadcasting satellite will provide transmission services for the country's radio, television stations and cable television networks. The Zhongxing-2D satellite and Long March-3B carrier rocket were both developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. China launched a record-breaking 39 orbital missions in 2018, and Friday morning's was the 298th mission of the Long March rocket series. John Salter Jr., one of the three infamous faces of the iconic Mississippi lunch counter sit-in, has died aged 84 his family have said. Salter was a sociology teacher and NAACP youth adviser in Mississippi in the early 1960's, working closely alongside Mississippi NAACP leader Medgar Evers. On May 29 1963, Salter joined black and white Tougaloo students, Anne Moody and Joan Trumpauer, during a sit-in to protest segregation at a lunch counter in the Woolworth's store in downtown Jackson. Trumpauer is now the last surviving member of the brave trio. An angry mob of young white men doused them in mustard, sugar and ketchup - and Salter was even attacked with brass knuckles and broken glass. John Salter Jr., 84, (above) died on Monday after a brief battle with illness, his family have confirmed An angry mob pour sugar, ketchup and mustard over the heads of Tougaloo College student demonstrators at a sit-in demonstration at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Jackson, May 1963. John Salter (left) sits alongside students Joan Trumpauer (middle) and Anne Moody (right) Joan Trumpauer Mulholland (pictured left in 2016) described fellow activist Salter as an inspiration to future generations. She is the last surviving member of the Jackson sit-in. The third member, Anne Moody (right), died in 2015 A black-and-white photograph of the protest gained international attention, and it's continued to be synonymous with the civil rights movement ever-since. 'I was burned with cigarettes, hit and had pepper thrown in my eyes,' Salter wrote in an article published in The Guardian, in 2015. 'The women weren't struck, but had their hair pulled. All the while the air was filled with obscenities, the n-word - it was a lavish display of unbridled hatred.' He died at home in Pocatello, Idaho on Monday aged 84, after battling a short illness. The two young women who accompanied Salter in the protest were Anne Moody, an African-American student who would go on to write the memoir 'Coming of Age in Mississippi'; and white Tougaloo student Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. Moody died in 2015, but Mulholland is alive still and living in Alexandria, Virginia. 'I think he inspired a lot of students to realize what we could do to make the word better,' Mulholland said. According to his son, Salter most enjoyed the work he did outside of the classroom. He claims his father lived by the phrase 'an injury to one is an injury to all' Like many civil rights activists, Salter was monitored by people working for the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission in the 1960's - a state-funded spy agency that sought to preserve segregation. Salter grew up in Arizona and worked as a labor union organizer in the U.S. Southwest before moving to Mississippi, said one of his sons, John Salter of Lincoln, Nebraska. After working in Mississippi, the elder Salter worked on voting rights in North Carolina, taught in Iowa, did human rights work for Native Americans in New York and Chicago and taught American Indian studies in North Dakota. 'He never considered himself a career professor,' his son said Thursday. 'His real love was the stuff he did outside the classroom.' John Salter said his father lived by a favorite phrase from the Industrial Workers of the World labor union: 'An injury to one is an injury to all.' Alongside the Rosa Park (pictured) inspired Montgomery bus boycott, the image of Salter at the sit-in cemented the protest as one of the most iconic moments in the civil rights movement Salter was a sociology teacher and NAACP youth adviser in Mississippi in the early 1960's. He was a lifelong professor and remained an activist, his family say Michael O'Brien interviewed John Salter Jr. for his book 'We Shall Not Be Moved: The Jackson Woolworth's Sit-In and the Movement It Inspired.' 'John was a true "radical" in the very best sense of that word,' O'Brien said in a statement Thursday. 'He was a fierce advocate for those without a voice, or perhaps better stated, for those who had not yet discovered their voice. ... John's charismatic blend of political activism and can-do philosophy empowered thousands to begin advocating for their rights and their freedoms. 'In my mind, he was a 'great soul' who felt deeply the suffering of others and who turned that empathy into action,' O'Brien said. Gray is survived by two sons and two daughters. His wife of more than 50 years, Eldri Salter, died in 2015. A man who caught measles from a Thai child visited a gym, a shopping centre and went on a night out to a trendy bar after being infected with the disease. The man, understood to be in his 20s, was unvaccinated and developed the infection nine days after he was first exposed to it. He is the fifth person in New South Wales to have contracted the highly-contagious disease since Christmas. A man who caught the deadly measles disease from a Thai child visited a number of popular locations across Sydney while infected (stock image) He visited locations across the city between January 4 and 9 before he began showing any symptoms. He went to Bungalow 8, in Darling Harbour, a gym in Newtown, a shopping centre in Marrickville and a number of train stations. The man visited locations across Sydney between Jan 4-9 before he began showing symptoms The man's itinerary was as follows: Friday January 4, 7pm to 3am: Bungalo w 8 , Darling Harbour , Darling Harbour Saturday January 5, 7pm to 11.30pm: Train from Newtown to Town Hall stations , time at Albion Place Hotel and a bus to King St Newtown to , time at and a Monday January 7, 5-7pm: A nytime Fitness Newtown Tuesday January 8, 5-6pm: Anytime Fitness Newtown Wednesday January 9, 1.30-2.30pm: Marrickville Metro Wednesday January 9, 1.45-2pm: Service NSW Marrickville Measles can take up to 18 days after initial exposure to show symptoms and NSW Health has warned people to remain vigilant for any signs until January 26. Bungalow 8 (pictured) - a bar in Darling Harbour - was one of the locations visited by the man He also visited Service NSW Marrickville (pictured), as well as Anytime Fitness Newtown 'If you develop symptoms, please call ahead to your GP so that you do not wait in the waiting room with other patients,' NSW Health Communicable Diseases director Vicky Sheppeard said. The MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine is free for those under 52 and Ms Sheppeard said it is quite safe to have another dose if you are unsure if you have already had one. Between January and mid-December last year, NSW recorded 17 cases of measles. Michael (pictured) responded to a Reddit post from a man who was desperate for someone to speak to A man who reached out to a suicidal stranger and spoke to him for hours - saving his life - has been hailed as a hero. Michael, 50, from Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne, responded to a Reddit post from a man who was desperate for someone to speak to. 'I just called Lifeline Australia . . . and I understand that they can't give me their real name, but I felt uncomfortable talking to someone without a name, and so I asked for a fake one, and I got hung up on,' the man posted to Reddit. Michael replied to the message on Thursday, telling the man to give him a call. 'I need you all to know, whoever the f**k Michael is. I called him. He helped. I am still alive,' the man said. Michael, a registered nurse, told Daily Mail Australia he has been responding to similar cries for help online for about nine years. 'I saw a post from someone threatening to top themselves and I said ''No you're not, we're going for a beer'',' Michael said. 'Sometimes everyone gets desperate.' 'I just called Lifeline Australia . . . and I understand that they can't give me their real name, but I felt uncomfortable talking to someone without a name, and so I asked for a fake one, and I got hung up on,' he posted to Reddit After sharing details of his predicament, a fellow Reddit user reached out to help the suicidal man He said being able to tell people his name meant the person on the other end of the line was able to feel comfortable. 'I think it's different because it's quite personal. These are real people,' he said. 'When people are in crisis they need someone to speak to, another human being.' Michael said he was still in contact with the man he reached out to. 'I'm still checking up on him. He's been out for dinner with his parents and is doing better,' he said. 'It was really nice to hear his voice the next day. What he really needed was a real person to talk to . . . to stop him from doing something silly.' Michael has been overwhelmed by the response to his generosity but said he is staying humble. 'Why is it that remarkable? It should be the norm,' he said. 'It's not remarkable, it's not amazing - it's just human.' The man called Lifeline Australia, an organisation which offers counselling to those in need of someone to talk to. Others said Michael deserved further recognition for his efforts to help the man He found the service was not suitable for him, however, as counsellors do not use names over the phone. Michael said Lifeline 'do a fantastic job' at helping people who are struggling with mental health issues. 'They save thousands of lives a year. It was just one traumatised bloke who needed something a bit different,' he said. A fellow Reddit user offered to reward Michael's generosity and efforts with a few beers. 'Well done mate. If you find yourself in Sydney CBD, give me a [message], I'll buy the first four rounds,' he said. Others said Michael deserved further recognition for his efforts to help the man. Another Reddit user offered to reward his generosity and efforts with a few beers 'Vote Michael for Prime Minister bloody Aussie legend right here,' one person said. 'You are a hero. As someone who is depressed, thank you so much for taking the time to help them when they needed it most,' another said. 'I hope that you get lots of good karma and your life is an excellent one.' The post was shared to another section of Reddit with the title 'When Lifeline won't help you, a bro will'. A Lifeline spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia they have a policy in place which prevents callers from identifying themselves. 'Lifeline is built on the premise of anonymity and this policy helps to reinforce that,' she said. 'We don't ask our callers for any information at all, we dont need to know any information from the caller in order to be able to help them; nor do they need to know any information about the crisis supporter in order for us to help them. The suicidal man claimed Lifeline Australia hung up on him when he asked the person he was speaking to for their name (stock image) 'We do regularly review this policy, it is one of those things that there is no 100 per cent right answer as different people respond differently. Some callers are not comfortable using names. 'We strive to be accessible to people in Australia who are experiencing emotional distress, so this policy keeps us accessible to those callers.' The spokeswoman said they are hoping to investigate the incident and have asked the person who made the original Reddit post to contact them. Lifeline - 13 11 14 Child exploitation material was seized from 223 passengers at airports in 2018 as authorities work to crack down on paedophiles. Joint operations between the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force led to the Sydney arrest of two male teachers, aged 33 and 52, amid reports of 17,893 Australian IP addresses allegedly accessing child exploitation material. The numbers more than doubled in the space of a year with less than 9741 reports recorded in 2017, the Daily Telegraph reported. Child exploitation material was seized from 223 passengers at airports in 2018 as authorities work to press down on paedophiles (pictured: Officer questions Timorese man at Perth Airport who was charged over child exploitation material) There were 17,893 reports of Australian IP addresses accessing child exploitation material in 2018 (pictured: Indian nation was removed from Australia after he arrived in Perth with child exploitation material) The Australian National Child Offenders Register lists the names of convicted paedophiles and alerts authorities when the Australian nationals are departing the country. Amid the clampdown on sex rings, the Australia authorities can notify countries known to be child sex destinations such as Thailand and the Philippines about the history of the visitor and they can be denied entry. David McLean, AFP Manager Child Protection and Cyber Operations Commander, said registered child sex offenders were always tracked overseas. Acting Assistant Commissioner Claire Rees from ABF Port Operations Command said ABF continues to work with authorities overseas to close down on child exploitation. 'Child exploitation is a global issue and the ABF actively works with our law enforcement partners investigating these matters domestically and internationally and to prevent any harm to children here or overseas,' she said. The Australian National Child Offenders Register lists the names of convicted paedophiles and alerts authorities when the Australian nationals are departing the country Child exploitation material was found in the bag of a Sierra Leone national at Sydney Airport 'The ABF has a zero tolerance approach to child exploitation and our officers are alert to the threat of travellers of concern and persons who may be seeking to travel with, or send abhorrent material both in and out of Australia.' In 2018 there were 62 people who had their visas cancelled and were deported for offences related to child exploitation, Ms Rees said. Authorities also arrested 20 men aged between 18 and 72, including a primary school teacher, for distributing child abuse material online in clampdown in Victoria and Tasmania in 2018. Some of the material involved babies, police said. One PESCO project, adopted in late November, involves France, Belgium and Cyprus developing a Beyond Line of Sight Land Battlefield missile systems family She hit back at those sceptical at the European Union's PESCO defence scheme rsula von der Leyen said Germany and France are the 'driving forces' of defence The German defence minister has said how a European joint force is 'already taking shape'. Ursula von der Leyen said Germany and France are 'driving forces' in European defence and said the two countries would assist each other in the event of an armed territorial attack. She also hit back at those sceptical at the European Union's PESCO defence scheme activated in 2017, where national armies will co-operate on military projects. German politician Ursula von der Leyen has also proposed to create a special security committee of European parliaments which could be informed about 'crisis scenarios' as they take place [File photo] The PESCO scheme, an acronym for Permanent Structured Cooperation, involves 25 armies working with one another. One such project, adopted in late November, involves France, Belgium and Cyprus developing a Beyond Line of Sight Land Battlefield missile systems family. Another project, adopted in March last year, involves Greece, Italy and Slovakia developing and building a prototype European Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle. She said that 25 countries had joined 'not because were following requirements from Brussels but voluntarily because the benefits are obvious and because its in Europes security interests'. Responding to an article by former German economics minister Wolfgang Clement on European defence, she had written in German newspaper Handelsblat on how reforms brought national armies closer together. She said: 'We are making good progress. Despite Brexit, and the controversial debates us Europeans have among ourselves, Europe remains a unique creation, uniting half a billion citizens in the name of freedom and prosperity. 'This community needs to be able to defend itself.' The PESCO scheme, an acronym for Permanent Structured Cooperation, is a range of military projects which will be used to integrate national forces. One such project, adopted in late November, involves France, Belgium and Cyprus developing a Beyond Line of Sight Land Battlefield missile systems family [File photo] The German politician has also proposed to create a security committee of parliaments in Europe which could be informed of 'crisis scenarios' as they happen. It comes as the German government agreed on the text for an extended Elysee Treaty. The original treaty was signed in 1963 as a friendship pact between West Germany and France. The extended treaty will be signed later this month by Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. A self-described computer whiz has told jurors how he had a nervous breakdown from the stress of cooperating with the FBI to hack into the secure communication system he built for accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. Christian Rodriguez, 32, returned to the witness stand in Brooklyn for the second day on Thursday, as the federal trial of Guzman continued on charges of trafficking drugs to the U.S. as the leader of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. The witness testimonies have given a glimpse into the secretive and often violent workings of the cartel, one of the most powerful drug trafficking operations in the world. Prosecution witness Rodriguez who said he worked for Guzman, 61, from 2008 to 2012 and built a system allowing members of the cartel to communicate securely using private servers, Nokia phones and Blackberries. Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, left, poses with an unidentified man in an evidence photo. Guzman's IT guru returned to court to testify on Thursday Emma Coronel Aispuro (right), 29, wife of accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman leaves Brooklyn Federal Court on Thursday The Colombian-born Rodriguez told jurors he was approached in Bogota in 2011 by FBI agents who told him they knew he worked for Guzman and that he was in 'serious trouble.' Rodriguez said he agreed to cooperate with them the same day. He gave the FBI the passwords to the secure servers he built for Guzman, as well as for software he secretly installed on some of his associates' phones that allowed Guzman to spy on them, Rodriguez has testified. Rodriguez said he handled Guzman's requests to install spyware on about 50 'special phones' he wanted to track. The software allowed Guzman to monitor users' calls and texts, and even to turn on a phone's microphone and record at any time without the user's knowledge. The technician said he heard from associates of Guzman that their boss treated the technology 'like his toy,' often using it to hear what people said about him immediately after he called them. The value of Rodriguez's assistance to prosecutors became obvious this week, as jurors were presented with a slew of Guzman's phone calls and text messages intercepted thanks to his cooperation. Much of the evidence in the trial so far has consisted of spoken testimony from witnesses whose credibility Guzman's lawyers have done their best to undermine. In this courtroom sketch Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, center, sits next to his defense attorney in November. The trial is expected to continue on for several more weeks Emma Coronel Aispuro (right), who was crowned the 2007 Coffee and Guava Queen of Durango, was present in court again on Thursday Guzman's wife did not react in court this week as her text messages with him were read. She is seen leaving the courthouse on Thursday Many of the intercepted communications jurors heard this week, however, appear unambiguously to show Guzman discussing high-volume drug trafficking and bribing officials. Guzman's lawyers have portrayed their client as a scapegoat for what they called Sinaloa's real leader, Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, who also faces U.S. charges but remains at large. Rodriguez said he fled to the United States in fear of his life after learning that Guzman's associates knew he was cooperating with the FBI. He said he later had a nervous breakdown from stress, was hospitalized and underwent electroconvulsive treatment. Under cross-examination by one of Guzman's lawyers, Eduardo Balarezo, Rodriguez admitted family difficulties also contributed to his stress and nervous breakdown. In a move to protect Rodriguez, court sketch artists have been ordered not to draw his face, and photos of him introduced into evidence have been pixelated. Among the cartel communications presented in court this week were Guzman's text messages to his beauty queen wife Emma Coronel Aispuro, in which they fussed over their twin daughters, touched on logistics for drug smuggling and shared encouragement as he fled a raid by Mexican authorities on a mansion in the resort town of Cabo San Lucas, Baja. Recaptured drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is escorted by soldiers at the hangar belonging to the office of the Attorney General in Mexico City, Mexico, January 8, 2016 On the day of the raid, Guzman told his wife about the escape in one in several messages shown to jurors at the trial in federal court in Brooklyn. 'It all happened very fast,' Guzman wrote, according to government translations. 'I saw them pounding on the door next door, but was able to jump out.' Guzman said in the messages that he needed a new set of clothes, shampoo and some black dye for his mustache. 'I love you, love,' he wrote. 'Talk to you soon.' She responded at one point: 'I hope so darling.' In an earlier exchange, Guzman described one of his daughters as 'fearless,' adding, 'I'm going to give her an AK-47 so she can hang with me.' The daughter was then six months old. Coronel Aispuro, who was crowned the 2007 Coffee and Guava Queen of Durango, was present in court again on Thursday. The trial began November 13 and is expected to last a few more weeks. Guzman faces life in prison if convicted. In the preface to the book "Evangelii gaudium con don Bosco", Francis writes that the Salesian is "an optimist by nature, he knows how to look at children with positive realism". "The Salesians - he writes - have trained me in beauty, at work and in being very happy". "They helped me grow without fear, without obsessions". "They helped me to move forward in joy and prayer". Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The Salesian is "an optimist by nature, he knows how to look at children with positive realism", he is "an educator who embraces the fragility of young people living in marginalization and without a future, bending over their wounds and he cares like a good Samaritan ". Pope Francis writes in the preface to the book "Evangelii gaudium con don Bosco", in which he underlines that the proposal proposed by St. John Bosco in the social and existential outskirts was a high measure of Christian life. St. John Bosco, writes the Pope, "was not a saint who had a Good Friday face, sad and long but rather "an Easter Sunday [face]". He was a "healthy bearer" of the "joy of the Gospel", always "joyful, welcoming, despite the thousand labors that besieged him daily". He believed that "holiness consisted in being very happy". Francis writes, Don Bosco had "a revolutionary message in a time when priests lived the life of the people with detachment". And, "as Don Bosco still teaches today, the Salesian recognizes in each of them, even the most rebellious and out of control," that point of access to the good to work with patience and trust ". The Salesian of today, "knows how to look around, sees critical situations and problems, confronts them, analyzes them and makes courageous decisions". "He is called to meet all the peripheries of the world and of history, the peripheries of work and the family, of culture and economy, which need to be healed". Francis also recounts his personal experience when he attended the sixth grade at the Wilfrid Baron de los Santos Angeles College, in Ramos Mejia, an Argentinean city located in the province of Buenos Aires. "The Salesians - he writes educated me in beauty, work and in being very happy". "They helped me grow without fear, without obsessions". "They helped me to move forward in joy and prayer". Republicans in Washington criticized one of their own on Friday, slashing at Iowa Rep. Steve King for making what they said were 'racist' statements in a New York Times interview. Chief among King's latest critics is South Carolina legislator Tim Scott, the U.S. Senate's sole black Republican. 'Some in our party wonder why Republicans are constantly accused of racism it is because of our silence when things like this are said,' Scott wrote in a Washington Post op-ed. 'Immigration is the perfect example, in which somehow our affection for the rule of law has become conflated with a perceived racism against brown and black people.' King, an eight-term lawmaker, was quoted in the Times saying, 'White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization how did that language become offensive?' South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the U.S. Senate's lone black Republican, blasted Iowa Rep. Steve King on Friday; he told fellow GOP members in a Washington Post op-ed that one resaon they're often accused of racism is that they're silent when genuine bigotry among their own ranks rears its head Steve King, an eight-term lawmaker, was quoted in a New York Times interview saying: 'White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization how did that language become offensive?'; he told DailyMail.com that he can't claim the remark was taken out of context He told DailyMail.com on Friday that he regretted speaking to the Times. 'I took a call and made a freshman mistake,' King wrote. 'I can't take the position [that] it is out of context but it doesn't reflect my life or my positions.' King also said he didn't have a recording of the interview. In a House floor speech Friday morning, he complained about being labeled a bigot. 'Labels have been hurled in this country at people like we have never seen in this history of America,' King said. King came under fire in 2016 after a Facebook photo showed a Confederate flag on his Capitol Hill desk 'One of my most strongly held beliefs is that we are all created in God's image, and that human life is sacred in all of its forms.' But his comment to the Times drew denunciations from members of House Republican leadership. Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 Republican, said King's remarks were 'abhorrent and racist and should have no place in our national discourse.' Another Republican, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, tweeted, 'This is an embrace of racism, and it has no place in Congress or anywhere.' King had already said in a statement that he is neither a white nationalist nor a white supremacist. 'I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define. Further, I condemn anyone that supports this evil and bigoted ideology which saw in its ultimate expression the systematic murder of 6 million innocent Jewish lives,' he said. 'Under any fair political definition, I am simply a Nationalist.' Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, also weighed in. 'It's offensive to try to legitimize those terms. I think it's important that he rejected that kind of evil, because that's what it is, it's evil ideology,' he said. In 2014, Scalise apologized after he was found to have addressed a white supremacist group in 2002 founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Scalise said he didn't know of the group's racial views. It's not the first time some Republicans have denounced King, nor the first time King has said his intent is to defend 'Western civilization.' 'We can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies,' he tweeted in 2017. Then he doubled down on CNN, telling the network, 'I'd like to see an America that's just so homogeneous that we look a lot the same.' King's standing in the Republican Party was imperiled even before his latest remarks. Just ahead of last year's midterm elections, the chairman of the House GOP's campaign arm issued an extraordinary public denunciation of him. 'Congressman Steve King's recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate,' tweeted Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers, then the chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee. 'We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior.' Despite the criticism, King narrowly won re-election in November. But he's already facing a challenge from within his own party in the next election. Randy Feenstra, a Republican state senator, announced Wednesday that he plans to run against King in 2020. King has represented the district since 2013. A man who attacked the computer network of a renowned hospital in Boston to protest the care of a teenager at the center of a high-profile custody battle was sentenced Thursday to more than 10 years in prison. Martin Gottesfeld, 34, said he has no regrets for the cyber attacks he orchestrated on Boston Children's Hospital and a treatment home in 2014, which cost the facilities tens of thousands of dollars and disrupted operations for days. Gottesfeld's lack of remorse drew a scathing rebuke from the judge, who called his crimes 'contemptible, invidious and loathsome.' 'It was your arrogance and misplaced pride that has been on display in this case from the very beginning that led you to believe you know more than the doctors at Boston Children's Hospital,' the psychiatrists at the treatment facility and everyone else, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton said. Gottesfeld, a self-proclaimed member of the international hacking group Anonymous who calls himself an 'Obama-era political prisoner,' insists his actions weren't criminal because he says was trying to save the life of Justina Pelletier. In late 2013, Gottesfeld, a Somerville, Massachusetts, resident learned of a custody dispute involving Pelletier. Martin Gottesfeld, 34, received 10 years in prison for orchestrating a cyber attack on Boston Children's Hospital and a treatment home in 2014 Boston Children's Hospital and the treatment home lost tens of thousands of dollars and operations were disrupted for days following Gottesfeld's attack The Connecticut teenager was placed in state custody in Massachusetts after her parents disputed Boston Children's Hospital doctors' diagnosis of their daughter. Pelletier had previously been diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, a disorder that affects cellular energy production, but Boston Children's Hospital diagnosed her problems as psychiatric. The case drew national media attention and ignited a debate over parental rights. Pelletier was later returned to her parents on a judge's order. Gottesfeld, who represented himself at the Thursday hearing, told Judge Gorton that he believes he made a big difference in Justina's life and urged the judge to sentence him to time served. Dana Gottesfeld (left) the wife of Martin was arrested with her husband in 2016 fleeing the country. She said after the hearing that they plan to appeal the sentence Linda Pelletier (left) with her daughter Justina Pelletier, are at the heart of the custody fight with Boston Children's Hospital that allegedly prompted Gottesfeld's cyber attack 'My only regret is that I didn't get to Justina sooner,' he said. 'I wish I had done more.' Gottesfeld's wife said after the hearing that they plan to appeal. 'This was always about protecting a child,' Dana Gottesfeld said. Prosecutors say Gottesfeld launched a distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attack on the treatment facility Wayside Youth & Family Support Network where Pelletier was resided after her discharge from the hospital in March 2014. Later in April 2014, he launched a DDOS attack on behalf of Anonymous that disrupted Boston Childrens Hospitals network for two weeks and interrupted internet services used to treat patients. Gottesfeld was arrested in 2016 after he and his wife fled the country and were picked up by a Disney cruise ship when their sailboat ran into trouble off the coast of Cuba. While awaiting trial, he waged a 100-day hunger strike in prison he said was aimed at bringing attention to the treatment of troubled youths in institutions. The prosecutor asked the judge to sentence Gottesfeld to more than 12 years, describing him as a 'self-aggrandizing menace' who has sought to portray himself as a human rights activist from behind bars. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D'Addio said Gottesfeld put lives in danger, continues to peddle 'lies and conspiracy theories about his prosecution' and is a serious risk of offending again. 'He did not save a girl's life,' D'Addio said. 'He is not a hero. He committed crimes and today is about holding him accountable for those crimes.' Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is moving aggressively toward an expected presidential bid, filling out key staff positions and nearing a choice on the location for a campaign headquarters, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions. The New York Democrat is considering a February announcement, according to one person familiar with the discussions, who cautioned that the partial government shutdown could have an impact on the timing. Still, Gillibrand is filling out important staff positions, including recruiting Meredith Kelly, the former spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, to head her communications efforts, according to the person. Alexandria Phillips, Gillibrand's congressional press secretary and a former Hillary Clinton aide, and Jess Fassler, who served as Gillibrand's Senate chief of staff, will also join the campaign, the person said. Ready to run: Kirsten Gillibrand was sworn in to her second term as New York's junior senator by Mike Pence earlier this month with her husband Jonathan and two sons Theodore (left) and Henry (right) watching Dan McNally, a veteran Democratic operative who managed Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet's campaign in 2016, will also come on board. Gillibrand's team is eyeing Troy, New York, a small upstate city on the Hudson River, as a headquarters, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions. All of the people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The selection of Troy, 150 miles north of Manhattan, could allow Gillibrand to highlight her roots in upstate New York, where she was born and later represented in Congress before being appointed to the Senate. Gillibrand's representatives didn't comment Thursday on her choice of headquarters. If Gillibrand enters the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, she will join a field that could draw dozens of candidates, including many of her Senate colleagues. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has already formed an exploratory committee and is moving quickly with trips across early primary states. California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, are all weighing their own presidential bids and are expected to announce decisions in the upcoming weeks. Former Obama HUD secretary Julian Castro will formally announce he is running Saturday. On Friday billionaire Michael Bloomberg, a former New York mayor, stepped closer to running by saying that he would self-fund his effort. Forbes puts his net worth at $44.6 billion from his eponymous financial information and media company. A number of maverick campaigners have officially registered to run already, among them West Virginia state senator Richard Ojeda who announced this week that he would step down to pursue a full-time campaign. Other Democrats, including billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, have declined to run in 2020. Gillibrand easily won re-election to the Senate in 2018 with more than $10.6 million in campaign money left over that she could funnel toward a presidential bid. In recent weeks, she has worked to expand her fundraising network and to improve her standing among critical voting blocs, including African-American voters. Vigilantes in Mexico severely punished a man suspected of stealing gasoline containers from residents. A shocking cell phone video was posted on social media of two men holding down the suspected thief. Another man stands over the suspect and jams a hot custom iron plate with the phrase 'por rata' in Spanish, or 'for being a rat' over the suspect thief's upper back. WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES A man suspected of stealing oil from residents near Mexico city was punished by vigilantes who placed a hot metal plate over his upper back The suspect fuel thief appears in the video laying face down on a street in Ecatepec, a town north of Mexico City, according to Mexican news outlet Criterio Hidalgo. His head is covered with a black hood and his hands are handcuffed. The suspect lets out a loud moan as the vigilante presses the hot metal plate over his upper back for a period of 18 seconds before the video cuts off. Mexico has been battling a fuel shortage dating back to December, which has been largely blamed on thieves stealing from oil refineries. Gasoline shortages prompted warnings from business leaders that industries, like automobile-making industry, will suffer if the shortfalls persist as lines at gas stations in the capital city and other states has grown. Residents in Mexico used a hot custom iron plate to deliver justice on a man who was accused of stealing oil containers from neighbors The drive to eradicate a crime that has deprived state coffers of billions of dollars is President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's first major move against chronic corruption since taking office on Dec. 1, but risks angering consumers and hurting the economy. Criminal groups have been tapping pipelines and stealing tanker trucks laden with diesel and gasoline in the oil-producing country for years, reselling it illicitly, often with apparent impunity. Declining output at refineries owned and operated by state-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, known as Pemex, is forcing the firm to meet demand by relying more heavily on imported motor fuels, which President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has pledged to cut once more gasoline and diesel can be produced at home. Michael Ford was sentenced to 195 years in prison on a murder charge in the friendly-fire killing of an undercover detective who tried to end the gunman's attack A Maryland cop who claims he tried to kill himself by staging a police shootout, was sentenced to 195 years in prison on Thursday after a cop who was seemingly unaware of the plan shot dead the officer who was defending himself. Michael Ford, 25, got his younger brothers to film the moment he was supposedly to take his own life by falling in the line of fire but the March 2016 incident ended in Officer Taylor Krauss shooting dead innocent Detective Jacai Colson. Michael fired bullets into the Prince George's County police station exterior and two passing vehicles, plus an ambulance, plain-clothes Colson, 28, fired back. But Krauss claims to have mistaken Colson for a threat and shot him dead. Michael told his attorney in court when asked why he started the incident. He said: 'Because I wanted to die. And I knew the police kill black men with no problem.' He said he couldn't pull the trigger on himself when he held a gun to his head that morning, NBC 4 reported. Court heard there was a 30-second delay between the shooting and the shot that killed Colson. After much thinking about the circumstances, Colsons mother cannot come to any conclusion as to why Krauss killed her son other than the fact he was black. Krauss was the only white officer directly involved in the incident. The heartbroken parent said she hasnt even received an apology from Krauss as she expressed disappointment at the sentencing which included 20 years for Michaels brother Malik Ford and 12 years for their sibling Elijah Ford. If true that the incident was staged to carry out a suicide wish, the siblings 'sold their brother down the river out of greed' because he agreed to leave them his car after he died, Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Hill Jr. said. But the sentencing of the pair - who drove Michael to the police station that day - was not enough for Sheila Colson who called Krauss careless and reckless in his actions. Ford did not shoot slain officer Jacai Colson but was found responsible for the killing Jacai Colson's mother Sheila (center) believes her son was killed because he was black. She is pictured March 25, 2016 with the officer's brother Jurea J. Colson (left) father James G. Colson III (right) Mother Sheila said police initially lied to her about the way in which her son died. Pictured his his funeral in March 2016 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland James and Sheila Colson criticized authorities for not seeking criminal charges against the officer who killed their narcotics detective son who was a four-year veteran. She and her husband accused police officials of lying to them about the circumstances of their son's death, misleading them to believe he was caught in a crossfire. 'Not once did I get an, "I'm sorry," from Taylor Krauss. Not once,' she said, fighting back tears. 'To this day, no one can give me an explanation for why my son was shot.' Krauss testified that he never saw Colson hold up a badge or heard him identify himself as a police officer before shooting him once in the chest. Officer Taylor Krauss shooting dead innocent Detective Jacai Colson in the 2016 incident because he thought the plain-clothes officer was a threat. He was not indicted A grand jury declined to indict Krauss on any charges related to Colson's shooting. Colson was a Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, native. He and Krauss worked in the narcotics unit together, seated at connecting desks. Colson's parents sued Krauss and Prince George's County. They have said they believe the Ford brothers were mentally ill and believe they deserved the maximum sentences. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who was the county's top prosecutor when Michael was charged and tried, said she 'spent many hours walking the Colsons through every piece of evidence, walking the crime scene with them, and we answered every question they had.' 'Ultimately a grand jury of 23 Prince Georgians reviewed that evidence and declined to indict Officer Krauss,' Alsobrooks said in a statement. 'I can never begin to understand what they feel as grieving parents, and my thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Colson family.' A total of 28 shots were fired by Michael into the building and he said he didn't intend to harm anybody but himself. In November, a jury convicted Michael of second-degree murder. 'That man does not deserve to be dead. I should be dead,' Ford told Colson's parents. Malik Ford (left) and his brother Elijah Ford (right) filmed the shootout involving a suicidal Michael Ford and they were sentenced to 20 years and 12 years respectively The judge told Michael Ford he has no doubt he tried to kill officers and civilians even if he intended to die himself. A police report said he barely missed officers who responded to his shooting. 'You are responsible for the death of Jacai Colson,' he said. Ford testified he was trying to get himself killed by police when he fired his handgun nearly two dozen times outside the station. He said he didn't intend for anyone else to be harmed. County prosecutor Joseph Ruddy argued Ford's actions created a 'combat zone'. 'That was no suicide mission. That was a mission to kill cops,' the prosecutor had said in the trial's closing arguments. The Ford brothers agreed to film the shooting in Landover, a suburb of Washington, D.C. so footage could be sent to a website known for posting users' violent videos, a police detective testified in 2016. Michael Ford said he should be the one dead. Pictured is the scene where Colson died A total of 28 shots were fired by Michael into the police station. None hit slain officer Colson but hit passing vehicles including an ambulance One of the videos shows Ford screaming obscenities and shouting, 'Do something!' in between shots. Ford, then 22, also dictated his last will and testament on video minutes earlier. Ford said he was hearing voices in his head the day of the shooting. Hill ruled before the trial that Ford couldn't present an insanity defense despite his serious mental health issues. Antoini Jones, Ford's attorney, told jurors that Colson didn't match the gunman's description apart from his race. At the start of the trial, Jones said the evidence would show the detective was shot 'because he was black'. Prince Georgia's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski issued a statement afterward that 'the sentences as rendered today can never assuage the pain, loss and the years of healing that remain before us all.' He didn't address accusations by Colson's parents that police officials had lied to them but directed words to the family and others, saying, 'I wish peace upon the Colson family, this institution, and our community.' A U.S. clothing brand has cut ties with a Chinese company that drew workers from an internment camp holding targeted members of ethnic minority groups. In recent years, authorities in the far west Chinese region of Xinjiang have reportedly detained an estimated one million Uighurs and Kazakhs in heavily-secured facilities. Former detainees have said they are ordered to renounce their language and religion while pledging loyalty to the China's ruling Communist Party. Scroll down for video In this file image from undated video footage run by China's CCTV via AP Video, Muslim trainees work in a garment factory at the Hotan Vocational Education and Training Center In this Dec. 5, 2018, file photo, two layers of barbed wire fencing ring the 'Hotan City apparel employment training base' where clothing manufacturer Hetian Taida has a factory in Hotan Last month, an Associated Press investigation found the Chinese government had also started forcing some detainees to work in manufacturing and food industries. The investigation tracked recent shipments from one such factory, the privately-owned Hetian Taida Apparel, located inside an internment camp, to Badger Sportswear, a leading supplier in Statesville, North Carolina. In a statement posted to its website on Wednesday, Badger said it would no longer do business with Hetian Taida, nor import any goods from the same region 'given the controversy around doing business' there. 'Furthermore, we will not ship any product sourced from Hetian Taida currently in our possession,' the company said, adding that the supplier accounted for about one per cent of Badger's total annual sales. China's state broadcaster released footage of a vocational training centre in Hotan, Xinjiang, in October. Beijing has been accused of using such establishments to detain Muslims In this photo taken on December 5, residents of Hotan, Xinjiang, pass by the entrance to the 'Hotan City apparel employment training base' where Hetian Taida has a factory Repeated calls to Hetian Taida's chairman, Wu Hongbo, rang unanswered on Wednesday. In a previous conversation with the Associated Press, Wu said while Hetian Taida was located in the same compound as one camp that the government calls a 'vocational skills education and training center,' Hetian Taida was not involved in the camp's activities. However, Wu said his company employed 20 to 30 'trainees' from the center as part of the region's efforts to alleviate poverty. Asked about the case, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Thursday that while the ministry doesn't generally comment on individual business decisions, Badger appeared to have been acting on 'misinformation.' The vocational training centers in Xinjiang are 'totally different from so-called forced labour,' Lu said, referring further questions on the camps to statements made by the regional government, which maintains that the centers help poor Uighurs gain employable skills. 'It's a tragedy for that business,' Lu said. A satellite image shows buildings around the Kunshan Industrial Park in Artux in western China's Xinjiang region in September. This is one of the Muslim internment camps in Xinjiang, where up to one million Chinese ethnic minorities are believed to be held In this photo taken on December 5, two layers of barbed wire fencing ring the 'Hotan City apparel employment training base'. It has been revealed that people are made to work inside such establishment without compensation and some of the products are shipped to the U.S. American Universities stocking Badger clothing began pulling items from their shelves and websites after the report appeared in December. Hetian Taida was certified as complying with good business practices by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), which sent an auditor to a different Hetian Taida facility, not the one inside the internment camp. That factory 'is not engaged in the use of forced labour,' WRAP and Badger concluded. But Badger added that 'historical documentation provided by Hetian Taida regarding their prior facility was insufficient to conclude with certainty' that it had met Badger's sourcing standards. WRAP spokesman Seth Lennon confirmed to the Associated Press that the facility they investigated was not the same place the Associated Press wrote about. 'Our model centers around factories approaching us requesting to be audited,' Lennon wrote in an email. 'We do not seek out any factories whatsoever to audit unsolicited.' 'Hotan City apparel employment training base' (pictured) is one of a growing number of internment camps in Xinjiang, where by some estimates one million Muslims are detained Detainees in centres such as the 'Hotan City apparel employment training base' (pictured) are forced to give up their language and their religion and subject to political indoctrination The Washington-based Workers Rights Consortium (WRC), which has agreements with many educational institutions across the U.S. to ensure the products they sell on campus are ethically manufactured, conducted its own investigation and found additional evidence confirming the factory supplying Badger was inside an internment camp. WRC executive director Scott Nova said that Wednesday's announcement reinforced that finding. 'There is nothing in Badger's statement, or WRAP's, that calls into question the conclusion that Hetian Taida used detainee labour while producing for Badger,' he said. Any item that is the product of forced labour is illegal and subject to seizure by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which said in December it was reviewing the reports. A CBP spokesperson had an automatic message on Wednesday that they were unable to respond to emails or telephone calls due to the government shutdown. A young woman whose weekend away with her lover ended in two men being stabbed to death in front of her has spoken for the first time about her regrets from that fatal night. Candice Locke, 29, still struggles to brush her own hair from the injuries she suffered on NRL Grand Final night last year, when a party on a north Queensland beach turned horribly wrong. Now three months on, Ms Locke has found the courage to open up for the first time about what happened that night at Alva Beach before her boyfriend Tom Davy, 27 and a father-of-three Corey Christensen, 37, died in a bloody knife struggle. 'I wish I had a clearer mind that night, maybe if I hadn't been drinking different decisions would have been made,' Ms Locke told Daily Mail Australia. 'I've learned from it and have to use it to better myself.' Scroll down for video Candice Locke, 29, in the first photo of her since she witnessed the stabbing deaths of her boyfriend and another man in Alva Beach, Queensland, on September 30 Ms Locke, sought refuge at the first house she saw, at 2 Topton Street, after breaking her shoulder in a drunken quad bike accident on September 30 Ms Locke and her long-distance boyfriend Tom Davy, 27, travelled to the coastal hamlet for a fishing trip and made fast friends with a group of locals. After a few too many beers, she broke her shoulder in a drunken quad bike accident but said no one would take her injury seriously so she walked off to get help. She sought refuge at the home of Dean Webber, 19, but minutes later, Mr Davy and local father Corey Christensen, 37, ripped the screen door off and stormed in. The two much larger men attacked Mr Webber and he 'blindly thrust a kitchen knife in the dark' to defend himself as Ms Locke cowered a few metres away. Mr Davy and Mr Christensen were stabbed a total of three times and stumbled outside before bleeding to death in the gutter. Ms Locke was in Alva Beach with her boyfriend Tom Davy, 27, who she started dating three months earlier after meeting on a dating app While fishing on the beach that dominates the tiny coastal hamlet of 250 people, they met local father Corey Christensen, 37, (pictured with his wife) The young woman spent about a week in hospital having surgery on her busted shoulder, which now has two steel plates holding it together. 'I'm still having a lot of trouble [with my shoulder], I still don't have full movement but hopefully with physiotherapy I'll get that back,' she said. 'I can't even do my own hair, it's really frustrating.' But Ms Locke knows the emotional scars will take longer to heal, and like everyone else she feels 'terrible' that two people lost their lives. She is seeing a therapist but still has painful memories of the traumatic experience as she tries to move on. 'I was in shock [in the weeks after the stabbing], I can't even comprehend how it happened,' she said. 'It's been hard but I'm slowly getting there. I'm trying to get back into some normality, working hard, trying to keep my head up. A photo taken by police after Dean Webber's arrest shows a deep red hand print on his neck and a gash on his forehead from when three men stormed his home, grabbed him 'round the throat, lifted him off the ground and then threw him to the floor' Speaking for the first time since witnessing the horrific stabbing, Ms Locke revealed how a weekend getaway with her new lover spiraled out of control Three months on, Ms Locke has found the courage to open up for the first time about what happened 'I'm trying to move on but it's really hard, it keeps coming back into my mind. They say time heals everything so hopefully it will. 'I'm very lucky to have had such great support from my family and my friends in Queensland and Sydney.' Ms Locke's father is former North Queensland Cowboys NRL star turned Townsville real estate developer Martin Locke, with whom she stayed after leaving hospital. 'I don't want to be seen as a victim. I was injured, but there's two people whose families will never see them again,' Ms Locke said. Ms Locke and Mr Davy met on a dating app about three months earlier while she was living in Ayr, about 90 minutes south of Townsville, and he in Cairns. They made the 435km journey numerous times to see each other, and decided to go away for the NRL Grand Final long weekend. While fishing on the beach that dominates the tiny coastal hamlet of 250 people, they met Mr Christensen, a local father-of-three. The chain of events started when Ms Locke fell off a quad bike and badly broke her shoulder, and left the group in an effort to call an ambulance Mr Christensen and Mr Davy bonded over their love of NRL and he invited them to watch the match at a party on a vacant block (pictured) next to his home He and Mr Davy bonded over their love of NRL and he invited them to watch the match at a party on a vacant block next to his home. 'I wish that never happened,' Ms Locke said. After several hours of drinking, the trio and a group of Mr Christensen's friends were joyriding quad bikes on the beach - a popular activity among locals. Ms Locke said she fell off one of the bikes and badly broke her shoulder, but received little help or sympathy from Mr Davy or her new friends. 'They refused to help me because they thought I was exaggerating so I went off on my own looking for help,' she said. 'I'd lost my phone and was in a lot of pain. I'd never broken a bone before so I was very upset and wanted to call an ambulance.' After several hours of drinking, the trio and a group of Mr Christensen's friends were joyriding quad bikes on the beach - where Ms Locke broke her shoulder Having lost her phone, Ms Locke took off along this dirt track that led from the beach into town as she tried to find help Ms Locke took off along the dirt track that led from the beach into town and ran to the first house she saw - Mr Webber's home at 2 Topton Street. The apprentice fitter was asleep on the couch with the lights still on when the frantic young woman knocked on the door about 11.30pm begging for help. Ms Locke admitted she was in quite a state at the time due to her injury, but denied reports she was in fear of her life or being chased. 'I felt uncomfortable with those guys because they weren't helping me they were laughing in my face and I'd just met them that night,' she said. Ms Locke is still too traumatised to speak about what happened next, but triple-0 calls by, and police interviews with, Mr Webber outline the tragic events. Minutes later, Mr Davy, Mr Christensen, and a third man arrived and tried to break in while yelling at them not to call the cops, police sources said. The emergency operator told Mr Webber that no police could come to his aid as there was only one officer at the Ayr station, about 20 minutes away, and they couldn't come as they had people in custody. A triple-0 call captured Ms Locke's screams as she watch the violent episode unfold from her hiding spot on the kitchen floor. Mr Davy and Mr Christensen ripped this screen door off its tracks and stormed in, where they were stabbed in self defence by Mr Webber before staggering outside and bleeding to death Instead he was told to turn all the lights off, draw the curtains, and 'see how it goes'. Police would not arrive for another 50 minutes. The men returned about 10 minutes later, ripped his screen door off its tracks, and stormed inside saying 'we've got you now, you little p***k'. Mr Webber told police they grabbed him 'round the throat, lifted him off the ground and then threw him to the floor where all three men set upon him'. As they punched him in the head he stabbed wildly, hitting one man twice in the chest and the other through the armpit, severing a major artery and causing massive blood loss. The triple-0 call captured Ms Locke's screams as she watch the violent episode unfold from her hiding spot on the kitchen floor. Ms Locke spent about a week in hospital having surgery on her busted shoulder, which now has two steel plates holding it together Ms Locke's father is former North Queensland Cowboys NRL star turned Townsville real estate developer Martin Locke, with whom she stayed after leaving hospital Ms Locke doesn't know why the men chased her or what possessed them to charge in and attack her teenager saviour. 'I have no idea what was going through their minds or how it escalated. There's some things we'll never know,' she said. The incident will be the subject of coronial inquest, which Ms Locke hoped would provide answers. Mr Webber is also suffering terribly with the guilt of having killed two people, even in self defence, with police saying it has 'destroyed' him. He was arrested when police arrived at the house too late to save either man, but was released without charge as detectives decided he acted in self defence. Mr Webber is also suffering terribly with the guilt of having killed two people, even in self defence, with the police saying it has 'destroyed' him Mr Christensen's wife Jaye speaks to the media, begging for answers, days after he death The Air Force cadet's uncle Paul Webber admitted his nephew was understandably feeling guilty about what happened. 'He's pretty upset as you'd imagine, our whole family is devastated,' he told Daily Mail Australia days after the stabbing. 'I've only seen him for a few minutes, I gave him a hug and that's about it.' Ms Locke said she had not spoken to Mr Webber, but hoped he was coping and was grateful for the help he gave her. 'I'm sure I'll come face to face with him one day to thank him properly,' she said. Debenhams' shares fell to all-time lows after a dramatic boardroom coup that saw its chairman Sir Ian Cheshire ousted. The embattled retailer's shares plunged nearly 19 per cent as critics suggested chief executive Sergio Bucher is on 'borrowed time'. Analysts said Bucher and the management team are under immense pressure to rescue the business. Debenhams shares plunged nearly 19 per cent as critics suggested chief executive Sergio Bucher is on 'borrowed time' Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley teamed up with another major Debenhams investor to drum up the votes needed to vote Cheshire and Bucher off the board. Debenhams has chosen to keep Bucher on to run the business for the time being with board member Terry Duddy stepping in as interim chairman following Cheshire's departure. Analysts at Jefferies said: 'Bucher is on borrowed time. The company is under pressure to secure stakeholder support to enable a much faster turnaround.' Debenhams is locked in talks with its lenders about refinancing. The High Street retailer has put on hold plans to sell its Danish department store Magasin du Nord, which is thought to be worth up to 250million. Debenhams shares had plunged 18.9 per cent, or 0.91p, to 3.91p by the close yesterday. Fast growing discounter Lidl - the sixth largest supermarket in the UK - tempted shoppers to transfer 58million worth of spending from Waitrose, M&S, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons over the Christmas period. This, coupled with a surge in demand for its upmarket Deluxe range, helped the grocer snare an 8 per cent uplift in sales over the last six weeks. Best sellers from its Deluxe range, up 33 per cent year-on-year, included its brioche burger buns and luxury mince pies. Best sellers from Lidl's Deluxe range included its mince pies, the grocer said today Wine, beer and spirits made a splash too, increasing by a market-leading 18 per cent, and sales of Deluxe turkeys more than doubled. Lidl UK chief executive Christian Hartnagel put the sales growth down to new store openings over the year, as well as the high demand for its premium items. He said: 'We have continued to expand our footprint across the UK over the past year, and it is no surprise that this contributed to more customers than ever before shopping with us in December and over the Christmas period. Lidl UK chief executive Christian Hartnagel 'In the context of a tough trading environment facing all grocery retailers, we are particularly pleased with the performance of our Deluxe premium range of products, which registered strong sales increases and proved a major draw for new and existing customers.' Like its main rival Aldi, Lidl did not disclose a like-for-like sales figure. According to the latest data from Kantar Worldpanel, UK shoppers spent a record 29.3billion on groceries in December, with two in three households shopping at either Lidl or Aldi during the period. While it is unclear what the discounters' comparable like-for-like performance was during the festive period, the incumbents are evidently continuing to pile pressure on Britain's more established supermarkets. 'Aldi and Lidl have acted as major disruptors, and the old guard has been shaken-up,' said CMC Markets analyst David Madden. 'The rise of Aldi and Lidl are hurting the big four and that is why we have seen merger and acquisition activity in the sector. The German supermarkets are on the march, and the British firms will need to keep innovating in order to keep up,' he added. Aldi and Lidl have acted as major disruptors, said CMC Markets analyst David Madden Lidl's numbers came at the end of a busy week of retailer results, which showed sales slipping at Sainsbury's versus a strong showing from market-leader Tesco. Meanwhile, Aldi posted its best-ever Christmas in the UK as sales jumped by more than 10 per cent to nearly 1billion. Since launching in the UK in 1994, Lidl has opened 730 stores and now hires more than 22,000 people. Virgin Atlantic and Stobart Group have agreed to buy Flybe in a 2.2million deal - but the 1p a share offer is at a massive discount to the 16.4p the airline's shares closed at last night. The deal for the Exeter-based regional airline would create a new airline group, in partnership with New York-based investment firm Cyrus Capital Partners. The Stobart Group runs Irish regional airline Stobart Air, headquartered in Dublin, which already operates some of its flights under the Flybe brand. The plan is to combine the airline with Stobart Air in a joint venture called Connect Airways. The 'rescue' bid reflects Flybe's nosedive in fortunes, with the airline valued at about 100million a year ago and 35.5million at the close of the stock market last night. Heavily loss-making carrier Flybe put itself up for sale in November Cyrus will own 40 per cent of the new company, while Virgin and Stobart will take 30 per cent each. The three companies have committed to make a 20million bridge available to provide liquidity and support Flybe's current operations, while an additional 80million will be provided to the combined group in further funding. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell commented: 'Ouch, any Flybe shareholder hoping for a healthy premium from any takeover bid should look away now. 'A paltry 2.2m or 1p per share is being offered to investors in the company's equity as part of the rescue deal unveiled by a consortium which includes Virgin Atlantic and Southend Airport-owner Stobart. 'To put that sum in context it compares with 215m valuation at IPO back in 2010 and even 12 months ago the regional carrier was valued by the market at closer to 100m.' Flybe shares closed above 16p last night before the offer of just 1p a share from Virgin Atlantic and Stobart Group was revealed He added: 'In some respects, the degree to which the market failed to anticipate such a bargain basement price is a surprise given the big profit warning in October which preceded Flybe's decision to put itself up for sale. 'Volatile oil prices, strong competition and the uncertainty around Brexit have seen several failures among smaller airlines in recent times and for Flybe to determine a 1p bid is 'fair and reasonable' it must have been in pretty dire financial circumstances.' Shares in Flybe were still trading above the 1p level this morning, trading at 2.7p at 1045, as investors hoped that a rival bid could be flushed out to force up the price. However, the agreement on the deal makes this seem unlikely. Flybe had been forced to seek a buyer due to higher fuel costs, currency fluctuations and Brexit uncertainty, according to Flybe chief executive Christine Ourmieres-Widener. 'We have been affected by all of these factors which have put pressure on short-term financial performance,' said Ourmieres-Widener. 'At the same time, Flybe suffered from a number of legacy issues that are being addressed but are still adversely affecting cashflows,' she added. Ourmieres-Widener continued: 'By combining to form a larger, stronger group, we will be better placed to withstand these pressures. We aim to provide an even better service to our customers and secure the future for our people.' The airline operates from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow to Manchester, East Midlands, Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton and Exeter. The acquisition statement said that 'Flybe will continue to serve customers and communities across the UK and Ireland.' by Wang Zhicheng The telecom giant has its European headquarters in Poland. The United Kingdom, Germany and France are putting on hold Huawei technologies over allegations of links with Chinas secret services. Companies linked to Huawei are said to have violated the embargo against Iran and Syria. Beijing (AsiaNews) Poland has arrested a Chinese businessman working for Huawei in Poland over allegations of spying. His name has not been released. A Polish national working in the telecom industry has also been arrested in connection with the case. The affair will weigh heavily on the future of Huawei's development in Europe, where several governments are very suspicious of the links between the Chinese telecom giant and the Chinese secret services. For Huawei, the case is that more serious since its European headquarters are located in Poland. Sino-Polish relations have been strong for decades and bilateral economic ties have been boosted in recent years by the Belt and Road project. However, the United States, which has led the charge against Huawei and Chinese security services, banned its products and those of ZTE last summer, followed by Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Even the United Kingdom has warned against the use of Huawei products and has cut back on using the Chinese giants technology to develop 5G connections. Germany and France have equally expressed doubts over the company. Huawei, which has always denied links with Chinas secret services, has been accused in the past of stealing technology from Western firms and undermining rivals with bargain priced products. However, for industry experts, Huawei is currently investing in research and development more than its competitors. The arrest of Meng Wangzhou, daughter of the company's founder, who is accused of violating US sanctions against Iran and Syria, is contributing to greater suspicions vis-a-vis Huawei. Meng and Huawei have steadfastly denied the allegations. Whilst Meng is out on bail in Canada, Reuters has published documents about the company that show the names of two individuals connected to Huawei who have been involved with Iran and Syria. The documents indicate that a high-level Huawei executive was appointed Skycoms manager in Iran. The latter has conducted transactions with Iran and China. A lawyer also noted that Huawei took part in operations in Syria through another company, Canicula. US authorities working on Meng's extradition said that Skycom and Canicula are linked to Huawei. If convicted, Meng Wangzhou could get up to 30 years in prison. HMRC is writing to companies it believes have dodged the diverted profits tax TAX ATTACK Foreign businesses trying to dodge paying their fair share of tax face a crackdown. HMRC is writing to companies it believes have dodged the diverted profits tax a levy also known as the 'Google tax' aimed at firms which shift their earnings abroad through accounting wizardry. BANK WOES Struggling Italian bank Carige could be nationalised to save it from collapse after a failed 360million private fundraising bid, setting the stage for a clash with Brussels. ECONOMY FEARS Recruiter Robert Walters raised fears over the health of the UK economy, as it revealed fee growth in the country was just 2 per cent lower than at any point since the beginning of 2016. The firm was thriving in Europe and Asia. PENSION GUILT An accountant has admitted trying to cover up nine curry houses' failure to give workplace pensions to their staff. Mansoor Nasir falsely told The Pensions Regulator that the Akbar chain of restaurants were paying the right benefits. Nasir, 33, pleaded guilty to providing the regulator with false information at Brighton Magistrates' Court. SHUTDOWN PAIN The Government shutdown in the US is causing a backlog of applications by companies which want to float on the stock market. The Securities and Exchange Commission, America's financial watchdog, partially closed on December 27 and has just 285 of 4,436 staff working. It has left the regulator in partial paralysis as several major tech companies, including Uber and Lyft, are preparing to float. Lawyers have warned applications are starting to back up. BREXIT OFFICE Currency firm Transferwise is to open an office in Brussels so it can continue trading without disruption after Brexit. The firm said it will continue growing at its headquarters in London. UK-authorised investment funds held a total of 1.2 trillion pounds at the end of November Nervous British savers pulled 2.1billion out of investment funds in November as market volatility returned in October. UK-authorised investment funds still held a total of 1.2 trillion pounds at the end of the month, according to figures from industry body the Investment Association. Global funds were the best-selling by region, attracting 140million of savers' cash, while UK and Europe funds saw investors pull out 319million and 426million respectively. Chris Cummings, chief executive of the Investment Association, said: 'Global uncertainty has led to a doubling-down of investor caution in November. 'A combination of international trade tensions, ongoing Brexit uncertainty and the market volatility seen from October onwards have clearly dented confidence.' The global hedge fund industry also ended 2018 in the red. Can you be caught speeding by cameras on smart motorways when there are no variable limits in place? Social media has been awash with rumour this week that cameras on smart motorway sections of the M1 and M25 are operating at all times, not just when a reduced limit is being signaled on overhead gantries. A message doing the rounds on Whatsapp, text messages, Facebook and Twitter - claiming to have been sent to taxi drivers by Transport for London - warns that motorists could be penalised if they exceed the 70mph national speed limit by just 2mph. Highways England states that all smart motorway cameras can be used to catch drivers exceeding the speed limit - even if no variable restriction is being enforced - but the motorways agency told This is Money that it was 'unaware of any changes' being made to the activeness of cameras on these particular routes. Meanwhile, TfL confirmed to us it had not sent any such notification to black cab drivers. Fake news: Social media posts claiming smart motorway cameras on the M1 and M25 are catching drivers 2mph over the national speed limit have been rubbished by transport groups The alert, which some have claimed was sent by Transport for London to taxi firms, alleged: 'All cameras on M1 and M25 go live at midnight tonight [January 7], set at 72mph. 'Auto ticket generating system with 6 point penalty. 'Watch your speed and tell everyone else tonight, any speed over 90mph is instant ban and possible court and custodial sentence order.' The notification has been shared across social media accounts this week - including a tweet by former Chelsea and Leicester City footballer Frank Sinclair, which went viral but has since been taken down - raising concern among drivers. However, TfL rubbished the suggestion it had sent the alert out, telling This is Money that the notification had not been issued by the capital's transport body. We also contacted Highways England, the government agency responsible for all motorways and major trunk roads in the country, regarding the suggestion that the cameras on these roads were in continuous operation. A spokesperson told us: 'Speed enforcement is a matter for the police. However, we are not aware of any changes made on the M1 or the M25.' Highways England had to take to Twitter to answer queries from concerned motorists regarding the rumours AA president Edmund King also commented on the claims to diffuse the fears of motorists. He told This is Money: 'It is amazing how quickly fake news or rumours spread. On Thursday night my 14 year old daughter asked me if it was true there was a new 72mph speed limit on the M25? 'The AA has received loads of questions about supposed new speeding fines and "smart" cameras on M1, M6, M42 and M25 now active and set at 72mph to automatically ticket drivers with six penalty points and hefty fines. 'The part that is true is that most variable speed cameras on the gantries over smart motorways are now active. 'The minimum fixed penalty for speeding is still a 100 fine and three penalty points added to your licence. 'You may be offered a speed awareness course instead of a fixed penalty or have to go to court if you drive way over the limit.' Three types of smart motorway 1. Controlled motorway Multiple lanes, variable speed limits and a hard shoulder for emergencies only. 2. Dynamic hard shoulder Variable speed limits and a hard shoulder that can be turned into a fourth lane when needed. Drivers are told via electric overhead signs to use the hard shoulder during peak hours. 3. All-lanes running Variable speed limits and a permanent fourth lane instead of a hard shoulder. Emergency refuge areas can be found every 2.5km (1.55 miles). The rumours come just months after we revealed the national roads policing chief, chief constable Anthony Bangham, is strongly in favour of a tougher approach to speeding, which would see motorists fined for going 1mph over the limit. Drivers could be punished for going just 1mph over the speed limit under propsals that have reportedly received the backing of Britains roads policing chief Anthony Bangham Edmund King commented: 'Despite the variable speed cameras being active on motorways such as the M1 and M25 there is likely to be more than a 2mph variance as speedometers and indeed cameras aren't always 100 per cent accurate. 'With such low thresholds it could produce a dangerous situation with some drivers concentrating more on their speedometer than the road ahead. 'We believe the police are much more pragmatic when it comes to fair enforcement. 'So if drivers don't want to get caught out by cameras or indeed fake news it is best to stick to the signed speed limits.' Despite these comments, drivers need to remain aware that smart motorway cameras - like all other cameras on major roads - can catch drivers during periods when the national speed limit applies. Misconceptions about smart motorways Smart motorways can notify drivers of reduced limits with electronic signs on overhead gantries. The variable speed restrictions are enforced by smart cameras on the routes, which can catch anyone going over the reduced limits. Many motorists are - wrongly - under the impression that these cameras can only catch them speeding only when one of these reduced limits is in force. Highways England states on its website that 'If no special speed limit is displayed then the national speed limit applies'. It adds: 'A speed limit displayed inside a red circle is legally enforceable. If you don't keep to this speed limit, you are breaking the law. 'Speed cameras are in operation on smart motorways. If you don't keep to the speed limit, you may receive a fine.' Where are the smart motorways in the UK? Controlled motorway M1 - J6a-J10 M1 - J25-J28 M1 - J31-J32 M4 - J24-J28 M6 - J10a-J11a M20 - J4/J5-J7 M25 - J20-J3 M25 - J6-J7 clockwise M25 - J6-J7 anti-clockwise M25 - J7-J23 M25 - J27-J30 M42 - J7-J9 M62 - J28-J29 Dynamic hard shoulder M1 - J10-J13 M4 - J19-J20 M5 - J15-J17 M6 - J4-J10a M40 - J3a-J7 M42 - J3a-J7 M62 - J26-J28 M62 - J29-J30 east M90 - J1a-J3 All-lanes running M1 - J16-J19 M1 - J28-J31 M1 - J32-J35a M1 - J39-J42 M3 - J2-J4a M5 - J4a-J6 M6 - J11a-J13 M25 - J5-J6 M25 - J23-J27 M62 - J18-J20 M62 - J25-J26 M62 - J29-J30 west There are three types of smart motorways - Controlled, Dynamic hard shoulder (pictured) and All-lane running It is the local police force that determines speed enforcement on smart motorways, Highways England said Some motorists also incorrectly assume that the same rules apply on smart motorways up and down the country. In reality, speed enforcement on these roads is decided by the police in the area and not the Government - though all fines go directly to the Treasury. Police in Derbyshire confirmed last year that cameras overseeing smart sections of the M1 in the county were snapping speeding drivers when a 70mph limit was being enforced. An investigation by Derby Telegraph found that four cameras between Tibshelf services and junction 29A at Duckmanton had caught 8,382 drivers over the limit in 2017 - the fastest recorded at 128mph - making it the most profitable section of enforced motorway in the country at the time. It did not confirm at what speed over the 70mph national limit would trigger the cameras to go off. Cameras on smart motorways can operate at all times, catching motorists when no variable limit is in place. Though this isn't the case for all routes An All-running lanes section of smart motorway on the M1 Have you received a speeding fine for being 2mph over the national limit on a smart motorway? Send an email to rob.hull@thisismoney.co.uk Darren Roberts, manager of the Casualty Reduction Enforcement Support Team for Derbyshire police told the Derby Telegraph: 'The cameras are not there to generate money. 'They are there to catch speeders, get reckless drivers off the roads and ultimately lead to a reduction in collisions.' The M1 is just one of a number of routes that have had sections converted into smart motorways, and cameras along the M6, M25, M3, M20 and M5 could also be prepared at all times to catch drivers exceeding the national limit. Two new species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been discovered in the blood of patients in China. Scientists discovered two patients were carrying unidentified species of Enterobacteriaceae that did not respond to penicillin or the cephalosporin group of antibiotics in the lab. Enterobacteriaceae exist in the gut and are usually harmless, however, they can cause meningitis if they enter the blood or pneumonia if they get into the lungs. The scientists worry the emergence of new species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria will make deadly infections harder to cure, with delays in treatment often leading to sepsis. Two new species of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria have been discovered in the blood of patients in China. The species did not respond to penicillin (stock) The scientists, from Sichuan University, Chengdu, were led by Dr Wenjing Wu, from the centre of infectious diseases. The study comes amid growing fears of antibiotic resistance - driven by the unnecessary doling out of the drugs - which has turned once harmless bacteria into superbugs. The World Health Organization has warned if nothing is done the world is heading for a 'post-antibiotic' era. In the US alone, around 2million become infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria every year, resulting in at least 23,000 deaths. Pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea and salmonellosis are among the growing number of infections that are becoming harder to treat. The species - Enterobacter huaxiensis and Enterobacter chuandaensis - were found in two patients while they gave blood samples as part of routine medical care at West China Hospital. They were named after the region they were discovered in and the university behind the research. Genetic analysis of the microorganisms revealed they were 'previously unknown', the scientists wrote in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. As well as their DNA differences, the newly-discovered strains differed from other Enterobacteriaceae species by their ability to break down certain sugars and potassium salts. Thousands more people at high risk of catching HIV in England are to be given a controversial prevention pill, if plans go ahead. Currently, PrEP - branded a 'promiscuity pill' by critics but a 'game-changer' by supporters - is only available for up to 13,000 people signed up to a trial. However, NHS England has today backed calls for it to double in size, allowing 26,000 people considered to be at risk of HIV to access the drug. The announcement follows stark warnings that scores of gay and bisexual men would be turned away from the trial because it was filling up so quickly. Charities have welcomed the move, claiming pre-exposure prophylaxis, as it is known in full, has a 'crucial role' to play in ending new HIV infections in the UK. Currently, PrEP - branded a 'promiscuity pill' by critics but a 'game-changer' by supporters - is only available for up to 13,000 people signed up to a trial PrEP is available on the NHS in Scotland and Wales but the same is not true in England. The researchers behind the ongoing PrEP trial made an official request to the NHS, urging them to increase participation. They said the speed of recruitment and demand for the drug has significantly exceeded initial expert predictions. NHS England has now publically backed the plans, which will be discussed later this month. It said it would fund the additional places. PrEP is a daily tablet called Truvada, which contains two anti-retroviral drugs - tenofovir and emtricitabine. They work together to interfere with an enzyme which HIV uses to infect new cells, slowing down the virus' attack or preventing it altogether. The drug, which costs 45 privately for a month's supply, is designed for people that have not yet been exposed to the virus. John Stewart, director of specialised commissioning at NHS England said it 'will play its part in delivering on the recommendation'. Lloyd Russell-Moyle, an MP for Brighton, was the lead signatory on the letter to public health minister Steve Brine. Mr Russell-Moyle, 32, last month announced in Parliament he has been living with HIV for a decade Debbie Laycock, head of policy and public affairs at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: 'We fully support the request and welcome NHS England's commitment. 'Now every effort must be made by all parties to ensure access to these additional places happens as soon as possible.' She added that PrEP has a 'crucial role to play in ending new HIV infections in the UK'. WHAT IS PrEP? THE HIV PREVENTION DRUG THAT STOPS 90 PERCENT OF TRANSMISSION This drug in particular is fixed-dose combination of two anti-retroviral drugs, tenofovir and FTC, in one pill. They work together to interfere with an enzyme which HIV uses to infect new cells, slowing down the virus's attack or preventing it altogether. The drug is designed for people that have not yet been exposed to the virus to protect themselves against it. Alternatively, people who have been exposed can take PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), a month-long course of drugs started within 72 hours of exposure. Advertisement Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board, also welcomed the news, saying he was 'pleased'. He said: 'The outcome of the trial, which will be the largest single study of its type in the world, will help inform the potential rolling out of PrEP nationwide. 'It is crucial that by the end of this trial next year, a clear process for routinely commissioning and funding PrEP on the NHS is agreed.' In the hope of increasing the trial size, a group of 14 MPs and peers last month penned a letter to health minister Steve Brine urging him to expand it. Lloyd Russell-Moyle, a Brighton MP who recently announced he was HIV positive in Parliament, was among those who signed the letter. The letter warned men are already being turned down in some areas, alongside a report of someone catching HIV after being denied the medicine. It read: 'This is unacceptable and we risk failing other gay and bisexual men if the current situation continues.' Forecasts estimated that the 3,000 places for gay and bisexual men would be full by early 2019. Other at-risk groups made up the remainder of the trial. Yet official figures show a total of 53 per cent of the 4,363 HIV diagnoses in 2017 in England were among gay and bisexual men. Gay and bisexual men are most susceptible to catching HIV because anal sex carries a 10 times higher risk of infection than vaginal. This is due to cells in the anus being more susceptible to HIV, as well as fluid in semen and the anus' lining carrying more HIV than vaginal secretions. Other high-risk people include those with HIV-positive partners. The lethal virus progressively damages the cells in the immune system, weakening the body's ability to fight infections. Left untreated, this leads to AIDS the collective name for a series of deadly infections which the weakened immune system cannot tackle. Figures estimate nearly 37 million adults and children across the world have the lethal virus including at least 100,000 in the UK. The NHS will not hit its target of hiring thousands of extra GPs next year, the Health Secretary has admitted. Matt Hancock said the Government's pledge to employ 5,000 extra family doctors by 2020 could take five more years. In the same interview, he said GPs could receive more generous pensions in a bid to stop them leaving the health service early. GPs currently have to pay tax on any pension savings above 1million but this law could be relaxed to encourage them to work into their 60s. Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock admitted the British Government has failed to fulfil his predecessor's promise to recruit an extra 5,000 NHS GPs between 2015 and 2020 Mr Hancock revealed plans to increase doctors' pension cap and the recruitment delay in an interview with specialist GP magazine Pulse. 'Hard-working GPs and doctors of all kinds have been unfairly hit in recent years by complex regulations and tax changes impacting their pensions,' he said. Mr Hancock, made Health and Social Care Secretary in July last year, added 'many are inadvertently facing huge bills at the end of the year'. He said: 'At a time of plummeting morale across the profession, and amid a deepening recruitment and retention crisis particularly in general practice such charges make taking on extra work, or even continuing to work full-time, an extremely unattractive prospect. 'A growing number of doctors, and not just older medics with years of experience under their belts, are effectively being penalised for working hard.' Loosening the regulations on doctors' pensions could allow them to save more than 1million tax-free for their retirement. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who left to become the Foreign Secretary in July, pledged to increase the number of NHS GPs by 5,000 between 2015 and 2020 HOW WILL THE NHS'S 10-YEAR PLAN SAVE LIVES? THE AMBITIONS IN NUMBERS The NHS and Government say their new 10-year plan, announced in early January 2019, will save up to 500,000 extra lives over the next decade. This is how they hope to do it: Using more high-tech treatments and diagnostic testing, including computers with artificial intelligence, to prevent 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases Putting 100,000 people with heart complaints through healthy living and exercise programmes every year, with a view to preventing 23,000 premature deaths Improving diagnosis to catch 75 per cent of all cancer cases 'early' while they'll still respond well to treatment the figure is currently 50 per cent DNA testing for around 30,000 people who have dangerously high cholesterol due to genetic causes Investing an extra 4.5bn a year in primary and community care, reducing pressure on hospitals Investing an extra 2.3bn a year in mental health services and giving help to an two million more people suffering from anxiety, depression and other mental health problems Advertisement The cap was lowered from 1.25million in 2016, but there is no suggestion of what the figure would return to if Mr Hancock's rule change went ahead. Research by Which? last year suggested a retired couple could live comfortably off a pension of 210,000. The average age of retirement for family doctors is 58, but the number retiring in their 50s hit a six-year low in 2018. Doctors' organisations have welcomed the idea of increasing pension pots but the Government's Treasury is sceptical. The Chancellor's department is unconvinced the pension cap is a reason for early retirement and fears the move would be unnecessary, The Times reports. Mr Hancock also officially admitted that the Government promise of boosting GP numbers by 5,000 between 2015 and 2020 has failed. He said the health service was still committed to the move but does not have a timeframe although he hopes it will be within five years. By March last year there had been a net loss of 1,018 GPs since Mr Hancock's predecessor, Jeremy Hunt, made the pledge in David Cameron's Government. But Mr Hancock claims a drive to train and employ more GPs is 'actually going quite well'. He told Pulse: 'Clearly the timing of that will be slower than was originally envisaged before my time. But what matters is making sure that we get that figure reached.' And he added: The plan is on the basis of five years. I would hope that we can meet the 5,000 goal much sooner than that. 'We haven't put a date on it. We're just getting on with it.' A mother carried a baby who was destined to die so she could donate her organs to other infants in need. Krysta Davis, 23, and her partner Derek Lovett, 26, of Cleveland, Tennessee, were told 18 weeks into her pregnancy that the baby was suffering from the severe birth defect anencephaly, which causes parts of the brain and skull to be missing. After being told doctors could induce the labour early, Ms Davis decided to savour her pregnancy, knowing she could miscarry at anytime or have just a few moments with her daughter. Against all the odds Rylei Arcadia arrived on Christmas Eve, weighing 6lbs, and lived a week before passing away in her parent's arms on New Year's Eve. Her short life gave other babies the chance to live after her heart valves were donated to two infants in need, with her lungs also going to a research foundation. Krysta Davis continued with her pregnancy knowing her baby would not survive. The assistant manager is pictured with her partner Derek Lovett moments after their daughter Rylei Arcadia was born. She arrived with parts of her brain and skull missing, and lived just a week After receiving the devastating news at her 18-week scan, Ms Davis made the difficult decision to donate Rylei's organs to other babies. After being expected to live just a few moments, Rylei (left) defied expectations by surviving a week. She is pictured right with her mother Rylei (pictured in an ultrasound) was diagnosed with the birth defect anencephaly in the womb Speaking of her decision to continue with the pregnancy, Ms Davis said: 'Carrying her to full-term would mean we had the option to donate her organs so other mothers could bring home their babies when we couldn't. 'That sealed the deal for us, for the entire pregnancy the majority of our strength came from her, it was very positive, and we did everything we could like most parents do. 'We found out her favourite band was Fleetwood Mac and did a lot of normal parent things but we also had an extra ounce to cherish that little more.' Throughout the traumatic ordeal, Ms Davis - an assistant manager - worked hard to stay positive. 'I knew I had to be happy throughout the entire pregnancy for her, there was no point putting myself or her through that when we had such limited time together,' she said. The couple were determined to enjoy Ms Davis' pregnancy and appreciated every kick. 'It was amazing feeling her kick, I didn't know if she would move around at all but we found out, as she moved a lot,' she said. 'As we got further along into the pregnancy she moved more and more, I could watch her little feet move across my belly.' And once Rylei arrived, the couple were even more convinced they made the right decision. 'I had nine months to carry her and fall in love but it was nothing compared to holding her and seeing her, I couldn't see anything wrong with her when she was born, I was in love,' Ms Davis said. Ms Davis claims she fell in love with her daughter during her pregnancy but 'nothing compared to holding her and seeing her'. The mother saw past Rylei's disabilities and 'was in love' Pictured left shortly after Rylei was born, Ms Davis cherished every moment with her. She even worked hard to stay positive throughout the pregnancy (right) and appreciated every kick CAN BABIES WITH ANENCEPHALY DONATE THEIR ORGANS? In the US, babies with anencephaly may be able to donate their heart valves, corneas, and sometimes their kidney and liver cells, to infants in need. The most common donation is heart valves, which typically require the baby weigh 6-to-8lbs, be born after at least 36 weeks and have a known time of death. The time of surgery to extract the organs also has to take place within a certain time frame. In terms of donation for research, babies with anencephaly may be able to donate their liver, lung, heart, kidney, pancreas, skin, thymus gland, corneas, retinas and some muscle cells. These babies often need to meet the same criteria as above but without a minimum weight requirement. The situation in the UK is less clear 'due to the complexities of the processes required', Angie Scales, a NHS organ donation and transplantation nurse, told the BBC. She added around 10-to-15 families a year ask about the possibility of donation in relation to their unborn child. Source: Anencephaly.info Advertisement The parents cherished their time with Rylei, arranging for professional photographs and videos to be taken of their family together. Photographer Clarissa Tilley, 27, who took the pictures for free, said: 'I'm a mother myself so to experience that hit me on a deeper level, it could happen to anybody and the thought of that is heartbreaking. 'Rylei was absolutely beautiful, she had her brain exposed but Krysta didn't see disability or her conditions, she saw her daughter and the pure love shone from her.' Ms Tilley was even present for the birth to capture the special moment. 'All the nurses and organ donation team were in there for 45 minutes, sitting there waiting to call time of death and it never happened,' she said. But the happy times did not last long, with the couple being aware they would not have long with their daughter. Despite their grief, Ms Davis is happy other babies have had a chance of life due to Rylei. 'It felt wonderful knowing that because of her two other kids get to go home, that touched us the most,' she said. 'Every time I look at the reminders of her, I treasure the moments, I still get a couple of tears coming down they are perfect moments. 'As hard as it is to give away those organs as it is your child, it makes a huge difference to others' lives who wouldn't have a second chance.' A designer who was left with a rotting foot after being bitten by a bug was saved after doctors used maggots to eat away his dead flesh. Matthew Blurton, 46, was volunteering in The Gambia in December 2017 when his temperature skyrocketed to 39.7C (103.5F) and a nasty blister on his foot left him unable to stand. Thinking he just had sunstroke, Mr Blurton ignored his symptoms until his leg and foot started to swell. After being rushed to hospital, doctors diagnosed Mr Blurton with the bacterial infection cellulitis and sepsis - and told his girlfriend Katie Noble, 36, he was lucky to be alive. Mr Blurton was initially treated at a hospital in Africa before being flown back to the UK, where 400 specially-bred maggots ate away at the dead flesh on his foot, which went all the way down to his bone. Although the treatment was a success, nurses were unable to remove all of the maggots, with 20 being left to decompose in his foot. Matthew Blurton was left with a rotting foot after he was bitten by a bug on his big toe while volunteering in The Gambia in December 2017. Pictured before the ordeal with his girlfriend Katie Noble in Venice, he was saved after doctors used maggots to eat away his dead flesh The bug bite lead to the skin infection cellulitis, which triggered his sepsis. This caused the flesh on his foot to rot down to the bone. Mr Blurton's foot is pictured left in a UK hospital three days after maggots were applied to the wound. Right image shows his swollen leg and foot Mr Blurton, who lives in Doncaster, believes he developed cellulitis and sepsis as a result of a bug bite, such as a flea or small spider, on his toe. 'I've got a puncture hole on my foot and I can only think I've been bitten on my toe by something tiny,' he said. 'I didn't feel it so I'll never know what it was. 'It's so small it was probably a flea or a small spider, but it was so small I didn't feel it when it bit me.' After becoming feverish and waking drenched in sweat, Mr Blurton was rushed to hospital, where he learned his foot was rotting and the dead flesh went all the way down to his bone. 'It wasn't easy, it was quite a shock to see how deep [the dead flesh] had gone down,' Ms Noble said. 'Even though I felt really sorry for him, I felt like it was my fault because I said that he didn't need to go to hospital. 'I thought it was sunstroke and it wasn't. I was feeling really guilty that it was my fault that he was in as much pain as he was.' It was not until Mr Blurton pulled through that he realised how serious his condition was. 'I didn't know how bad it was until afterwards when they told me,' he said. Mr Blurton spent ten days in a hospital in The Gambia receiving antibiotics. He was discharged on Christmas Eve 2017 and shortly after made his way home to the UK for the next part of his recovery. Ms Noble struggled to watch her boyfriend in pain, with her initially telling him his feverish symptoms were likely just sunstroke. After Mr Blurton was diagnosed with cellulitis and sepsis in the African hospital, doctors told Ms Noble he was lucky to still be alive Mr Blurton is pictured left in The Gambia on Christmas Day 2017 - the day after he came out of hospital following a ten day stint on antibiotics. Following maggot therapy back in the UK, doctors used a 'vac pac' (right) to 'suck' his skin to the surface to close his 2cm-deep wound Speaking of the maggot therapy, Mr Blurton - who is a designer for books and magazines - said: 'It wasn't very nice to look at. 'I couldn't look at the photos [of the maggots] to start with. It was strange knowing that that was my foot. 'Some of the nurses hadn't seen this treatment before so they were all coming in to have a look at my foot because it was unusual. 'I could feel them - it was like a little itch. I could feel my veins in my foot and them eating around them.' The unusual treatment was also a shock for Mr Blurton's other half. 'I knew maggot treatments have been around for a long time, but having it done on yourself is different,' Ms Noble said. 'It was like - "what? You're going to put maggots on him?" 'It was painful to watch 400 maggots eating my partner's foot because it was painful for Matthew.' The maggots were eating away at Mr Blurton's flesh so quickly doctors were forced to remove half of them after just two days. 'Taking them out was quite painful because some of them were stuck under the "good" skin,' he said. 'They had to get out the forceps, which was painful.' Nurses eventually decided to leave around 20 hard-to-reach maggots in Mr Blurton's foot when the pain of trying to remove them became too much for him to bear. The remaining maggots are thought to have decomposed in Mr Blurton's foot. After the therapy, Mr Blurton was left with a 15cm-long wound that ran 2cm deep. Doctors then used a 'vac pac' to 'suck' his skin to the surface, before taking a skin graft from his leg to cover the hole in his foot. Although Mr Blurton has recovered, the ordeal has had a lasting impact on Ms Noble. 'I was terrified,' she said. 'I don't think I'll ever be able to look at a blister the same way again. I'm constantly checking his feet to make sure they're alright and that there's nothing untoward.' Mr Blurton has no feeling on the skin on his affected foot but is optimistic the sensation will return. He is speaking out to warn others about the risks of cellulitis - which he is at risk of catching again, as well as to encourage people to 'cover up' when out and about. 'I had never even heard of cellulitis until I got it,' he said. 'You can get it in this country, but it's quite rare to get. 'If I had had walking boots on or long trousers, my chances of being bitten would have been a lot lower. I think when we were walking in the bush and jungle areas a lot I wasn't wearing the right footwear. 'I was wearing sandals and there's a lot of things in the sand that can bite that I didn't know about, such as poisonous spiders. 'If I did go back I would have proper walking boots to keep my feet covered and I wouldn't wear shorts either.' Viewers were outraged by the new series of the BBC's Hospital last night when it revealed the state of a deteriorating hospital in Liverpool. The Royal Liverpool Hospital flooded 10 times last year, while a brand-new one stands empty and unfinished just three miles away. People watching the programme took to Twitter to rage at the Government for letting staff and patients suffer in the outdated facilities. They praised NHS staff working in the poor conditions, calling the situation 'heartbreaking' and 'disgusting', asking 'What is this government playing at?' Scroll down for video The BBC documentary revealed the Royal Liverpool Hospital has flooded 10 times this year as its plumbing system decays, causing delays to patients' care and forcing staff to wear wellies The first episode of the fourth series of Hospital aired on BBC Two at 9pm last night. It showed the story of staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, who have been left working in a crumbling hospital while a new, state-of-the-art one lies empty nearby. Part-built with the lights permanently on and people employed to run the taps, the new facility was abandoned after the Governement's Carillion contract failed in 2018. The 335million building can't be used because construction hasn't finished, but staff have to be employed to turn on its 4,000 taps to stop bacteria build-up. And the lights cannot be turned off because the electrics are incomplete, and warranties on the new equipment are fast expiring. Meanwhile, patients continue to be treated at the Royal Liverpool, where plumbing problems mean staff are forced to work in wellies when it regularly floods. Leading the charge on Twitter was Labour Party's Shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, who vented his fury at the situation. 'Hospital powerfully again shines a light on the reality of pressures on NHS frontline,' he wrote. 'Shocking to see hospital flooded and learn of the shameful impact of the Carillion mess #BuildOurRLH'. One user known only as Hurst said: 'The government should be ashamed of the state the Royal Liverpool is in. They should be ashamed about the whole situation with Carillion.' And Janine Davies added: 'What is this government playing at why cant they step in and help out the NHS?? Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said the collapse of Government contractor has had a 'shameful impact' on the health service Twitter user Hurst said 'the government should be ashamed' of what has happened to the hospitals in Liverpool after the collapse of Carillion Janine Davies said: 'What is this government playing at why can't they step in and help out the NHS??' She was among viewers concerned patients' health was risked by using old facilities 'A brand new hospital building stood empty whilst the hospital next door is flooding and putting peoples lives at risk. #toriesout #NHSfailing. Its heartbreaking.' Although a new construction firm has been appointed to finish building the new Liverpool hospital, it isn't likely to be finished until next year. And, because of the collapse of Government contractor Carillion in January last year, the project is expected to cost an extra 100million. 'SOBBING AT CHARLIE'S STORY': TODDLER'S BRAIN TUMOUR TUGS VIEWERS' HEARTSTRINGS Viewers watching BBC's Hospital last night, as well as being outraged by the state of a deteriorating hospital, had an outpouring of emotion for a three-year-old boy in the nearby Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. Charlie was having advanced brain surgery to try and remove an aggressive tumour. Clips showed paediatric neurosurgeon Conor Mallucci explaining to Charlie's parents, John and Nici, that their son's cancer was spreading fast and he needed to operate quickly. Three-year-old Charlie had high-risk brain surgery at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool to remove a tumour so he could have proton beam therapy in Germany Charlie's surgery, to remove a rare form of brain cancer called an ependymoma was ultimately a success and meant he qualified for the NHS to send him to Germany to have pioneering and potentially life-saving proton beam therapy. Viewers admitted to welling up while watching his story and the NHS has confirmed he has been recovering well since the documentary was filmed. ITV journalist Elaine Willcox said she was 'sobbing at Charlie's story', echoing the emotions of many viewers who were delighted to see his surgery was a success Advertisement Liverpool's own mayor, Joe Anderson, has said the run-down condition of the Royal Liverpool makes him feel 'physically sick'. The BBC documentary showed how one flooding incident last year was followed the next day by an electrical fault which resulted in medical equipment malfunctioning. The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust, which runs the hospital, insisted the incidents were not linked. Twitter user Kevin Pascoe said: 'Hospital is absolutely amazing TV but highlights the obscenity of Carilion leaving a desperately needed 330 million new hospital half built... How can ex-Directors sleep at night'. Kevin Pascoe accused Carillion of having 'screwed the NHS' and said it was 'obscene' the new facility was standing unused while staff suffered in the other dilapidated hospital Penny Bee was one of many Twitter users to praise NHS workers for soldiering on through the Royal Liverpool Hospital's flooded corridors and overloaded A&E department Kristianne Gibbs echoed the sentiments of people complimenting the hospital staff, saying the doctors and nurses are 'absolute heroes' and said the NHS shouldn't be privatised As well as criticising the Government and Carillion, viewers were also quick to praise the NHS staff working at the Royal Liverpool. Scenes in the documentary showed them having to deal with flooded corridors and an overloaded A&E department. Penny Burnard said on Twitter: 'The flooding is terrible but look at the staff just donning wellies and getting on with it, no one having a strop and walking out'. And Kristianne Gibbs added: 'Anyone who thinks the NHS should be privatised needs to watch #hospital to realise just how lucky we are to have free healthcare. The doctors and nurses are absolute [heroes].' Hospital continues next Thursday at 9pm on BBC Two. A 12-year-old girl was given a second chance at life after her mother donated her kidney. Alyse Naquin, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease two years ago. Within that short period, her condition deteriorated so rapidly that doctors told her parents she was in need of a kidney transplant. The family feared they would have to go through months, or even years, of testing before a match was found. But, six months later, Alyse's mother Melissa was found to be a perfect match. Alyse Naquin, 12, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome - a rare, kidney disease - two years ago. Pictured, left to right: Andy Naquin, Alysa Naquin and Melissa Naquin Nephrotic syndrome is a disorder in which the body excretes too much protein in the urine. Alyse was on dialysis 10 hours per day and would swell up so much from water retention that 35 pounds would be excreted in one sitting. Pictured: Alyse, left, and Melissa Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder in which the body excretes too much protein in the urine. It is caused by damage to small blood vessels in the kidneys that filter out fluid and waste. Signs of the disorder include foamy urine, severe swelling in the ankles and feet, weight gain and fatigue. Nephrotic syndrome may be treated with medications such as blood pressure medication to reduce the amount of protein excreted or water pills to reduce swelling and fluid retention. But others may suffer from kidney failure, despite undergoing treatments, and be in need of a transplant. An August 2003 study from University of Washington found the disease to occur between two and seven per 100,000 children in the US every year. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 661,000 Americans are suffering from kidney failure. The disease left Alyse on dialysis for 10 hours per day, reported KLFY. Alyse's mother, Melissa, told the station her daughter would swell up so much from water retention that 35 pounds would be excreted in one sitting. After Melissa and Alyse's father, Andy, were told Alyse needed a kidney transplant, both of them decided to get tested In a rare occurrence, both were found to be match, according to WDSU. After some deliberation, the couple decided Melissa would be the donor. Doctors told Alyse's parents she needed a kidney transplant. Andy and Melissa were tested and, in a rare instance, both were found to be a match and decided Melissa would be the one to donate. Pictured, left and right: Alyse The operation occurred on December 23 at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. Pictured: Alyse with her parents and two sibings 'I gave her life once, and I said: "Why not? We're gonna give her life again",' Melissa said. After the donor's and recipient's blood are proven to be compatible, there are two more blood tests, according to Allina Health. The first is tissue-typing, which looks at the number of antigens, or genetic markers, the donor and recipient share. The second is cross-matching, which is to ensure the recipient will react to the new kidney. These are followed by a physical exam, a chest X-ray, a CT scan of the abdomen, a follow-up blood test within a week of the scan, and a 24-hour urine collection. The operation took place on December 23 at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. Alyse said she is glad to not be on dialysis anymore. 'It's very special that my mom gave me a kidney,' she told WDSU. 'To not be on dialysis at night is awesome and to eat what I want, it's like a whole new life.' Over the last year, the family has been raising money for kidney disease research in the hopes of finding a cure. So far, they've raised more than $25,000. 'There's thousands and thousands of kids who suffer from this, and Alyse has put it in her mind that she is going to raise money to help find a cure for it,' Alyse's father, Andy Naquin, told WDSU. Hundreds of Catholic families from Loc Hung have lost everything. Many are poor, students, former prisoners of conscience and South Vietnamese army veterans. I call on the people of good will, both inside and outside Vietnam, to support the victims of the land seizure in their struggle for justice and dignity, writes the Bishop of Parramatta (Australia). Sydney (AsiaNews) Mgr Vincent Long Van Nguyen, Vietnamese bishop of Parramatta (Australia), sent a message of solidarity and support to the victims of forced seizure in Loc Hung parish, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), highlighting their "struggle for dignity" amid "incredible ordeal". What follows is the letter the prelate sent to Concerned citizens, civil society, human rights groups, religious organizations. My dear people, Through various news outlets, many of our compatriots and I learned with great sorrow of the destruction of your beloved homes and properties by the authorities in Ho Chi Minh City. This area attached to the Catholic Parish of Loc Hung has been the residences and livelihoods of many families and generations of people who migrated here from the communist North at the partitioning of Vietnam in 1954. They are mostly low-income families, students, former prisoners of conscience and amputee-veterans of the South Vietnamese Army. The authorities often resort to the use of force in order to seize properties and land in places which have potential commercial value. This has been a pattern of behavior on the part of the communist government in Vietnam ironically since the so-called doi moi (reform) era, as demonstrated in many incidents throughout the country. For example, in 2008, the authorities attempted to turn the former papal nunciature in Hanoi into a bar and night club, prompting popular protest by Catholic citizens. In 2011, attempts were made also by the government to seize property attached to a Redemptorist Monastery in Thai Ha Parish. In more recent times, similar attempts were made to grab the land owned by the Sisters of the Lovers of the Cross at Thu Thiem. The latest land grabbing exercise on the part of the communist government has caused extensive damage, destruction and hurt to hundreds of families. Many have been left homeless, their livelihoods totally ruined and their lives irreparably damaged. All this has happened on the eve of the Lunar New Year Tet which is considered the most sacred celebration in Vietnam. The reporting of the incident by the state-owned media does not accord with what happened on the ground as testified by the victims. Many of them are left at the mercy of the elements and the support of religious groups such as the Redemptorist Fathers and fellow parishioners. Dear compatriots, As a Vietnamese and a bishop Chair of the Commission for Social Justice attached to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, I would like to express my deep solidarity with you and add my support to your struggle for dignity in the midst of the incredible ordeal that has been forced on you. I pray that you remain committed in your faith and your search for justice. I also urge the authorities to refrain from acts of violence, terror and repression against the people towards whom they have a duty to protect and assist. I call on the Vietnamese government at all levels to respect the human rights of its own citizens, to promote the common good and to ensure justice and dignity for the people affected. I call on the people of good will, both inside and outside Vietnam, to support the victims of the land seizure in their struggle for justice and dignity. Yours sincerely, Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM A fashion magazine has been branded 'shockingly inhuman' after it featured a gas oven in an article about how to emulate Sylvia Plath's style. The feature was originally published in Glamour Espana in November 2017, but has recently gone viral after being shared by Twitter account Humans of Late Capitalism, this week. Social media users said they were outraged at the lack of sensitivity from the magazine, with many social media users accusing them of trivialising suicide. The American poet and novelist died in 1963, aged 30, after putting her head inside the gas oven in her London home. Glamour Espana fashion magazine has been branded 'shockingly inhuman' after it featured a gas oven in an article about how to emulate Sylvia Plath's style (pictured) Plath before her death by suicide in 1963. The feature was originally published in Glamour Espana in November 2017, but has recently gone viral after being shared on Twitter The magazine spread came among a series of profiles called 'And if you were' which also featured Princess Diana, Virginia Woolf and civil rights activist Angela Davis. Each page displayed a range of clothing, accessories and household items inspired by the personal style of the iconic women. Plath's page showed a throw pillow, check coat, Gucci loafers, sunglasses and nail polish, as well as the offending 4,340 (3,877.90) pink gas oven. Text alongside the imagesread: 'The North American poet hid her fragile psychology through a complex and deep literary work and an austere and intellectual style'. Since the spread was shared online it has provoked outrage, with Twitter users branding the magazine 'insensitive' and 'vile'. One person wrote: 'What were they thinking? Shockingly inhuman - no heart, no empathy.' People are outraged at the lack of sensitivity from the magazine, with many social media users accusing them of trivialising suicide Since it was posted online it has gathered mass outrage, with Twitter users branding the magazine 'insensitive' and 'vile' Plath, who is considered one of the best poets and writers of the 20th Century, killed herself in 1963 using a gas oven at the age of 30 Another added: 'This hurts my heart,' while a third wrote: 'People are sick.' Plath, who is considered one of the best poets and writers of the 20th Century, killed herself in 1963 using a gas oven. She was 30. Her marriage with Ted Hughes was the most controversial love affair of 20th Century literature. In letters revealed last year, Plath accused the former Poet Laureate of beating her two days before she miscarried their second child. MailOnline has contacted Glamour Espana for comment. Her baby is due in the next few months, but the Duchess of Sussex shows no signs of slowing down. Pregnant Meghan, 37, who is expecting her first child with husband Prince Harry this spring, is continuing to keep a busy schedule packed with royal engagements. The mother-to-be has already stepped out once in London this week and had her first joint outing of 2019 with Harry scheduled for Merseyside on Monday. Today it was announced the couple will also make an appearance on Wednesday to watch Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM at the Royal Albert Hall, as part of a fundraising campaign for Harry's charity Sentebale. Dedicated: Pregnant Meghan, 37, who is expecting her first child with husband Prince Harry this spring, is continuing to keep a busy schedule packed with royal engagements. Yesterday she paid a visit to the London headquarters of women's charity Smart Works, pictured It comes after a Vanity Fair report suggested Meghan has asked aides to 'fill her diary right up to her due date' and plans to carry out several more engagements over the next few months. The baby's due date has not been confirmed. The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, went on maternity leave on 22 March last year, a month before the birth of Prince Louis on 23 April. Meghan looked radiant as she returned to work yesterday following the festive break, paying a visit to the headquarters of women's charity Smart Works in London. The appearance - announced just hours beforehand - came after the royal was announced as the new patron of the organisation. Keeping busy: Meghan, who is in her third trimester, is reportedly planning to work right up until her due date. Pictured, the royal at a solo engagement in Twickenham last month She was also named as patron of three other charities, including the National Theatre. On Monday the Duchess of Sussex will join her husband, 34, for a number of engagements in Merseyside. The duke and duchess will visit Tomorrow's Women Wirral, an organisation that supports women in vulnerable circumstances. Two days later they will attend their first evening engagement of the year - a charity performance of TOTEM. Night out: Harry and Meghan make an appearance on Wednesday to watch Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM at the Royal Albert Hall, to raise money for Harry's charity Sentebale. It comes after the success of a gala performance of Hamilton in August last year, pictured The evening will mark the second event in a series of 'Sentebale Nights'. The first saw Harry and Meghan attend a gala performance of hit musical Hamilton in August last year. Once again the event will benefit Sentebale, which helps youth affected by HIV in southern Africa. Founded in 2006 by The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso, Sentebale helps the most vulnerable children in Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi the victims of extreme poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic get the support, tools and education they need to lead long, healthy and productive lives. A widower who charmed This Morning viewers last year when he announced he is looking for love returned to the show today to reveal he has still yet to find his perfect match. Dave Vallance, 83, from Ivybridge, Devon, first appeared on the ITV programme in January 2018 after a local news story about his unanswered lonely hearts advert went viral. The TV interview sparked a flurry of responses from interested women but all lived too far away to make a relationship viable, Mr Vallance said on today's programme. Scroll down for video Dave Vallance, 83, from Ivybridge, Devon, first appeared on the ITV programme in January 2018 after a local news story about his unanswered lonely hearts advert went viral. He returned to the show today, pictured, to reveal he has yet to find his perfect match Once again viewers were won over by Mr Vallance's attempts to find love, with some jokingly suggesting he should try dating apps like 'Tinder' to meet more women Once again viewers were won over by Mr Vallance's attempts to find love, with some jokingly suggesting he should try dating apps like 'Tinder' to meet more women. One tweeted: 'This poor little 83 year old man looking for love is breaking my heart :(( the poor soul. Please someone find this man a woman :(.' Retired fireman Mr Vallance first made headlines when he posted a lonely hearts advert on his village noticeboard, explaining he was looking for companionship after losing Doreen, his wife of 27 years, two years ago. His note read: 'Gent in good order. Looking for companionship with a lady, 70 plus, Ivybridge area. Non-smoker and non-drinker. For friendship, days out, etc.' Retired fireman Mr Vallance had the support of viewers, although some questioned his reluctance to date women who lived a little further from home But after six months Mr Vallance had received no replies, and turned to his local newspaper for help. The appeal was seen across the UK - and landed Mr Vallance on This Morning. About 30 women from all over the country got in contact after his last plea but Dave is keen to meet someone closer to his home in Devon. Presenter Eamonn Holmes claimed Dave was being 'fussy'. Mr Vallance, who lost his wife of 27 years two years ago, first appeared on This Morning in January 2018, pictured, and received some 30 responses from interested women He said: 'You're very fussy aren't you. We had you on the TV before and you got inundated with loads of offers and you're still not happy.' But Dave responded: 'I'm not going to go to Scotland over lunch.' If the women who got in touch had been nearby, Dave said he would have got in touch pretty quickly. He said: 'I still drive but I'm not capable of driving in big cities.' Ideally, Dave would like to meet a woman in Ivybridge, or within a 20 mile radius. Speaking to Eammon Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning today, pictured, Dave explained he is keen to meet someone closer to his home in Devon The retired fireman, pictured, also wants to meet a woman who likes dogs and doesn't smoke He continued: 'It would be nice if she liked dogs. Someone who is friendly, likes to chat, likes go out for a meal, or even go on holiday or something. 'Theres someone out there Im certain.' Speaking on the loss of his wife, he said: 'It was very difficult when she passed away. When you lose a partner that's when it (loneliness) hits you. 'She was lovely. I really enjoyed my life with her. We used to go on holidays. We went to Scotland, Wales, you name it.' However in the year after This Morning appearance Mr Vallance has had some luck, meeting a new friend named Michael whom he sees once or twice a week. A heartbroken mother has revealed how she spent nine days living with her dead baby daughter - even singing songs and dancing with her. Heather Jordan, 28, from West Looe in Cornwall, gave birth to baby Maranella in December 2016 at 37 weeks after she suffered an irritable uterus. Tragically, Maranella was stillborn but thanks to a cooling cot, Heather and her husband Lee, 41, were able to spend over a week with their daughter, playing with her and holding her before her funeral. Despite their daughter's death the full-time mother and her taxi driver partner still treat Maranella as one of their three children, buying her presents and making her cakes on special occasions. WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Heather Jordan, 28, from Cornwall suffered an irritable uterus during her pregnancy. She eventually gave birth to stillborn daughter Maranella at 36 weeks but lived with her for nine days while she was kept in a cooling cot. Pictured: Heather with Maranella Heather said: 'Being able to spend time with her meant everything to me. 'From the moment I saw her, my heart filled with love. She was one of the most beautiful children in the world. I was dazed. It was very surreal. She looked like she was sleeping like an angel. 'I want Maranella's memory kept alive. I don't want anyone else going through the same situation to feel as isolated and misunderstood as I did. 'This shouldn't be taboo. She's my daughter and she'll always have a special place in my heart regardless of what has happened.' Heather, who has two other children, is now raising money for a headstone for Maranella and still marks her birthdays as well as including her in Christmas celebrations. Pictured: flowers and tributes at Maranella's grave What is an irritable uterus? Also referred to as uterine irritability, the condition occurs during pregnancy and causes mild, sometimes painful, contractions that feel like a cramping or tightening in the abdomen Since these don't result in changes to the cervix, they are not considered actual labour but can eventually lead to premature birth although it is often harmless Causes can include an infection such as a bladder infection, an overly full bladder or some physical activity Coronation Street's Kym Marsh also suffered from it during her pregnancy with daughter Polly, now aged eight Advertisement Heather had a difficult pregnancy and was diagnosed with an irritable uterus at 32 weeks. After being rushed to hospital at 36 weeks, Heather was given the devastating news that Maranella's heart had stopped beating and she would have to give birth to her stillborn daughter. Heather spent five agonising hours in labour before giving birth to her dead child. She said: 'It was the worst experience I've ever had in my life. Nothing can ever compare to it. 'I was focused on trying to deliver her healthy, despite being told she had died. 'I didn't really believe it until she came out and didn't cry.' After the birth, Heather and Lee were moved to a bereavement suite in the hospital and were given a cold cot. They then spent 24 hours with their daughter in the suite before taking her to the funeral home where she spent her final seven days in a special fridge in order to prevent her skin from deteriorating. Lee and Heather spent 24 hours in a bereavement suite at the hospital before taking Maranella to spend her final seven days in a special fridge at a funeral home. Pictured: Lee holds his daughter's tiny hand They cuddled, held and sang to her, including Paul Weller's 'Wishing on a Star'. Heather said: 'The nurses brought in the cold cot and told us we were able to spend as much time with her as possible. We sung with her and danced with her. 'We tried to make memories and to do the things that any parent would do with their child. We sang Paul Weller's 'Wishing on a Star' which is something I listen to now if I'm especially missing her.' Heather said: 'We went into see her each and every day. We didn't want to take her out the cold cot for too long so we stayed inside with her for most of the time. It was beautiful, savouring every second with her and seeing how she looked. Heather spent five hours in labour, knowing her baby had already died, before giving birth to stillborn Maranella. Pictured: clutching her parents' rings Heather suffered an irritable uterus which can cause the womb to try and get rid of what's inside with symptoms including regular, mild contractions. Pictured: Lee and Heather cuddle baby Maranella 'The people who helped us plan Maranella's funeral went above and beyond to give us everything we wanted for our baby girl. Heather and her husband still mark Maranella's birthday each year and included her in their celebrations this Christmas. Heather said: 'She'll forever be our little girl and we'll love her always.' To donate towards Maranella's headstone, visit https://www.gofundme.com/a-headstone-for-a-beautiful-angel-t?fbclid=IwAR0nV2-pNqYVp8e287P9KTOZDT9DQ8zAE8iYDFFKTMXAJZZLUREk4be3Beg 'The people who helped us organise Maranella's funeral went above and beyond,' said Heather. Pictured: Maranella's small pink casket 'From the moment I saw her my heart filled with love. She was one of the most beautiful children in the world,' said mother Heather. Pictured: minutes after giving birth to Maranella Holly Willoughby has cemented her status as a fashion icon, and it seems that her style is inspiring even her very youngest fans. Hollie Lawlor, three, from Dublin, who already has almost 6,000 followers on Instagram thanks to her copycat celebrity outfits and recently she'[s been paying tribute to the This Morning host in a series of adorable snaps. The youngster copied three of her namesake TV presenter's outfits, including a pussybow blouse, black mini skirt and chunky black boots, identical to a look Holly wore in the jungle. Holly's mum Pamela, who runs the account, told Femail: 'We love Holly Willoughby's personality and style and I was so happy I found some outfits we could copy.' So cute! Hollie, three, twins with Holly Willoughby in a pussybow blouse and black mini skirt Another snap, sees the toddler donning a red ruffle jumper and black skirt, just like Holly's outfit. She also modeled a trendy leopard print skirt and black roll neck in another cute photo. Pamela, 33, captioned the post: 'Hollie twinning with Holly. We couldn't just pick one look coz there's so many we love'. Holly Willoughby is not the only celebrity who got the toddler treatment. The three-year-old fashionista has copied a string of the TV presenter's looks including this red ruffle jumper and skirt outfit The adorable toddler also copied Holly's leopard print skirt look. Three-year-old Hollie is treating her followers to her outfits on her Instagram page The curly-haired tot also copied TV host Ellen Degeneres style in a pair of checked trousers, white shirt and blazer. She even nailed the red carpet pose, putting her hand in her pocket. In another post, she stole model Cara Delevingne's style donning a black suit and tie with a matching hat, similar to the look Cara wore at Princess Eugenie's wedding. She has even copied Olivia Newton John's iconic style as Sandy in Grease in an off-the-shoulder black top. Pamela added: 'One day Hollie and I were looking through a magazine and she saw a picture of a girl all dressed up in a ball gown and said she wanted to be like that when she grows up. 'So then I start showing her photos of bloggers and celebrities on Instagram and she'd say "mammy dress me up like her"' The cute tot has also copied other celebrity styles including this look from American TV host Ellen Degeneres Model behaviour: Hollie steals Cara Delevingne's style in black suit with matching hat. Hollie's mum Pamela set up the account on Instagram to show the show Hollie's love of fashion Iconic: The three-year-old has even mastered Olivia Newton John's look as Sandy in Grease Hollie has always been a fan of dressing up and having her picture taken so Pamela decided to set up the page to show Hollie's outfits and 'bubbly personality'. She said: 'It's something we both enjoy doing together. Hollie loves going shopping. She'll pick out clothes and she'll always spot a bag or a pair of shoes that will match something she has at home.' Pamela's husband and Hollie's dad William, 33, was shocked at how much attention Hollie paid to clothes when he took her shopping. 'He couldn't believe the way Hollie walked around the shops paying attention to all the clothes and commenting on them. He thinks we're both mad,' said Pamela. Meghan Markle is feeling 'miserable' in her new role as duchess while Harry is 'racked with guilt', new reports claim. A royal insider has said Meghan, 37, is finding it hard to juggle being pregnant with dealing with the public backlash, as husband Harry feels responsible for failing to protect her from negativity. This comes amid further comparisons between the American actress and Princess Diana, who experts say endured the exact same negative backlash as Meghan when she first joined the royal family- up until her untimely death in 1997. Last year a source claimed Harry is overly-protective about his wife because 'he couldn't do the same for Princess Diana'. Speaking to US Weekly this week, a royal insider said: 'Meghan has so much on her plate, between being pregnant and dealing with the public backlash and she's finding the whole situation incredibly stressful.' Scroll down for video Meghan Markle, seen with Prince Harry on Christmas Day, is feeling 'miserable' in her new role as duchess while Harry is 'racked with guilt', new reports claim- as her treatment is compared to that of Diana when she first joined the royal family They added: '[Prince Harry is] very frustrated with how little can be done. 'Keeping [Meghan] away from the negativity and harm has been hard for him. It's been his purpose in their relationship to keep her away from the negativity.' And remarking that Meghan was 'morphing' into Diana, royal expert Melanie Bromley told the Express that she is losing her voice. Melanie said: 'Now she is a member of the Royal Family, she's lost her voice and is not able to actually say 'hey, Kate and I are not arguing every Sunday over our roast dinner'. She continued: 'This is what Diana went through. Honestly, the similarities between what she's going through and what Diana went through initially before Diana became a saint in the press. 'When Diana and Prince Charles first got married, it was terrible for Diana. And Meghan is going through the same thing.' Explaining Harry's protectiveness over Meghan to The Sun last year, an insider said: 'It's my opinion that Harry feels he couldn't protect his mother, so he's going all out to protect his wife. This is his way of atoning.' A royal insider has said Meghan, 37, seen at an engagement on Thursday, is finding it hard to juggle being pregnant with dealing with the public backlash, as husband Harry feels responsible for failing to protect her from negativity This comes amid further comparisons between the American actress and Princess Diana, seen in 1989, who experts say endured the exact same negative backlash as Meghan when she first joined the royal family Last week Channel 5 documentary Kate V Meghan: Princesses at War aired, during which Diana's former butler Paul Burrell claimed Buckingham Palace is like a 'minefield' for anyone new and compared the treatment Meghan has received to that experienced by Princess Diana. He said: 'Meghan has married into the most traditional family in the country, the royal family. How is she going to cope? Princess Diana was brought up in a house that was as big as Buckingham Palace, and even she was lost.' Arguing that Diana was 'not treated very kindly', Burrell, 60, explained Meghan would struggle as she is a 'strong and independent woman' who has found herself joining the 'most traditional family in the country'. As well as the reported feud between the couples, Meghan has had to endure regular public outbursts from her half sister Samantha Markle, and her father Thomas. Remarking that Meghan was 'morphing' into Diana (seen in Washington in June 1997- just two months before her death) royal expert Melanie Bromley told the Express how she felt the duchess was losing her voice Rumours of a royal rift between the Meghan and Kate began swirling after news emerged that Meghan and Harry will move away from Kensington Palace to make their home 25 miles away from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Windsor. There were claims that Kate broke down in tears following Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid's dress fitting ahead of Meghan and Harry's wedding in May, as well as suggestions the pair had clashed over staff. Then just weeks ago sources claimed Meghan was 'fed-up' of not being able to 'stand up for herself' as the demands of royal protocol dictate she keeps a dignified silence amid rumours of tension between the sisters-in-law. An insider told Us Weekly the pregnant duchess is finding it 'frustrating and stressful' having 'no voice' - and finds the constraints of royal life 'debilitating'. Rumours of a royal rift between the Meghan and Kate, seen at Sandringham on Christmas Day, began swirling after news emerged that Meghan and Harry will move away from Kensington Palace to make their home 25 miles away from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Windsor Once an outspoken feminist who gave speeches at United Nations forums, Meghan has since shut down her social media accounts as part of her transition from actress to duchess. However, royal insiders have insisted that there has been no falling out between the Cambridges and the Sussexes, but admitted the pair are 'very different people'. A source previously told the Daily Mail's Rebecca English: 'While there are some tensions behind the scenes, Kate is pretty unflappable and nothing has become bad enough to make Harry and Meghan want to move out. 'People are genuinely pleased to see them so happy. The truth is that there simply isn't enough room at Kensington Palace for them and I know they have been looking at Windsor as a possibility since before the wedding.' Sleepwear designer Peter Alexander has hit back after charging plus-size customers $10 more than an identical piece in standard sizes. The label said 'different patterns' are the reason behind the price difference. 'To ensure comfort and that the fit is right, we utilise a different pattern to our regular collection while still maintaining a beautiful garment,' the label told FEMAIL in a statement. It is these different patterns, along with the size of the production run and to a lesser extent fabric consumption, that impacts the price of the styles.' Sleepwear designer Peter Alexander has come under fire for charging plus-size customers $10 more for clothing identical to the standard sizes And now the label has responded to the claims made by customers 'We try and limit this as much as possible, and as the category and production grows, we hope to achieve parity across our collections.' They said they began manufacturing plus-size options two years ago in order to meet demands. The outrage erupted on social media on Thursday after Australian shoppers noticed the difference in price between the standard and plus-size sleepwear range. On further inspection of the website, a pair of plus-size 'Tropical Vibes Mid Short' is on sale for $59.95 while the same style in standard sizes cost $49.95. While sizes XS to XL in the 'Pink Chic Satin Pj Set' cost $109, the same style in the plus-size version is advertised for $119. The comparison illustrates that larger women are paying more to dress in the same sleepwear sold in smaller sizes. Customers have called out the company on Facebook for charging more for plus-size clothing The outrage erupted on social media after Australian shoppers noticed the difference in price between the standard and plus-size sleepwear range Customers called out the company on Facebook for charging more for plus-size clothing, with some accusing the brand of 'fat-phobic'. 'Why is your plus size sleep wear more expensive than your standard sleepwear?' one angry customer asked. Another said: 'Hey PA, I love how size inclusive your stores are but why does your plus size sleepwear cost $10 an item more then non-plus sized sleepwear?' 'You can't use the argument because you 'use less fabric' because if that's the case for your smaller sizes you would be charging less per size! Absolute garbage!'. A pair of 'Windowpane Easy Pj Pant' in plus-size (left) costs $79.95 while the identical one in standard sizes (right) are on sale for $69.95 Despite the differing costs of individual items, there are pyjamas sets on sale with the same price across all sizes, including the 'Magenta Chic Satin Pj Set' for $109 A fashion production expert explained that designers charge plus size shoppers extra because it costs considerably more to produce larger items of clothing. 'It's because there's more fabric used. Fabric is usually sold per metre, so for a size 8 you could make two nighties, but for plus size, you'd only be able to make one nightie out of the metre (fabric),' the designer told The Daily Telegraph. Despite the differing costs, there are some pyjamas sets on sale with the same price across all sizes, including the 'Magenta Chic Satin Pj Set' for $109. Jenna Bush Hager used to get into plenty of mischief with her twin sister Barbara when they were growing up, and now it looks like the mother-of-two is getting a taste of her own medicine. The 37-year-old Today correspondent was chatting with her co-star Hoda Kotb on Thursday morning's show when she revealed her daughters Mila, five, and Poppy, three, had recently locked themselves into her master bedroom while their panicked babysitter waited on the other side of the door. 'My kids got in trouble for the first time, together,' she said of her children's prank, which forced her to lay down the law with them. Scroll down for video Prank: Jenna Bush Hager, 37, revealed on the Today show Thursday that her daughters recently locked themselves into her bedroom while their babysitter waited on the other side of the door Partners in crime: The mother-of-two said it was the first time her daughters Mila, five, and Poppy, three, have gotten in trouble together 'We had a darling babysitter who actually works here at NBC and she's from Texas,' Jenna said. 'She's very kind, and I feel like they witnessed that kindness and they took advantage.' The mother-of-two explained she was at a Teach for Uganda event her sister Barbara was hosting when she looked down at her phone and saw a message from the sitter. Jenna said she was 'furious' to learn that her girls had locked themselves in her bedroom for 45 minutes while their babysitter was left helpless on the other side of the door. 'I dont want them to be disrespectful to a babysitter,' she told Hoda. Yikes! The mother-of-two explained she was at an event when she looked down at her phone and saw a message from the sitter saying the girls had been locked in her room for 45 minutes Bold threat: Jenna told her Today show co-star Hoda Kotb that she had the babysitter put her on speakerphone and told daughters she was going to call the police The former first daughter asked the babysitter put her on speakerphone and hold it up to the door so she could talk to Mila and Poppy. 'I said, "Im going to call the police." Is that overreacting?' she asked. 'Because they unlocked the door.' Jenna then called her husband Henry Hager and asked him how she should go about disciplining their girls. He wisely suggested that she sake some deep breaths so she didn't overreact. When she got home, she saw that her daughters had taken off all of their clothes and put on all of her makeup. Parenting woes: Jenna then called her husband Henry Hager and asked him how she should go about disciplining their girls, and he told her to take deep breaths The story continues: When Jenna got home, she saw that her daughters were running around naked with her makeup all over their faces 'They were running around the house, naked. They had my sound machine on in the room with a song on it. They had put makeup all over [their faces],' she said, noting she has to figure out how to lock her makeup drawer. Instead of flipping out, Jenna followed her husband's advice. 'I took deep breaths. I wasnt livid; I was disappointed,' she said. Hoda, who has a 23-month-old daughter of her own, was eager to know how Jenna handled the uncomfortable situation. Guilty: Jenna said both girls ended up crying, and Mila later admitted that she felt 'so bad' Punishment: Jenna said they stuck to their guns and 'took the toys out of their room' 'I said, "Your toys are going to be taken out of your room,' and they were like, 'No, mama, no!' she said, imitating her daughters. Jenna explained that both girls cried, but Mila wouldn't stop, even though she didn't say she was sorry at first. 'I was like, "Mila it's fine. We'll talk about it tomorrow." I left the room,' she recalled. 'She called me back, and she said, "I just feel so bad." Although her daughter's guilt made her heart melt, Jenna said they stuck to their guns and 'took the toys out of their room.' Loving it: Jenna ended up getting some perspective from her fellow Today correspondent and mom Maria Shriver (far right), who reminded her that it is amazing her daughters are so close 'You did? You really did it?' Hoda asked, but she quickly realized Jenna has no other choice if she wanted her daughters to take her seriously in the future. Jenna said if she was the one who was at home with them and they hadn't locked the door, it would have been a different story, but she couldn't stand for them doing that to their babysitter. After it was all said and done, the mom admitted that she questioned her parenting skills, asking herself: 'Are they mean girls to do this to a babysitter?' Jenna ended up getting some perspective from her fellow Today correspondent and mom Maria Shriver, who reminded her that it is amazing her daughters are so close. 'I love that,' Maria told her. 'Theyre doing that together. How awesome is it that they have, like, a little partner in crime?' At first glance it appears to just be a series of black and white vertical stripes. However, this image has gone viral as people have spotted a hidden optical illusion within the picture. The image, posted to Twitter by New Zealand-based nanotech engineer Dr Michelle Dickinson on Wednesday, requires some effort. If you can't see the animal straight away by shaking your head back and forth, you may need to step further away from your computer or iPhone. Can YOU spot the animal? The latest optical illusion will blow your mind but you have to shake your head to see it 'You can only see this optical illusion if you shake your head (I'm serious),' Ms Dickinson shared online. So can you see the animal hiding behind the lines? Spoiler alert: it's a cat. Twitter users took to the comments section to share their thoughts on the optical illusion baffling them. One wrote 'omg that's amazing' while another found hilarity in shaking their head in the office. 'Here I am shaking my head like a crazy person at my work desk,' they wrote. Another said 'squinting works too' while one suggested 'turning your screen away from you at an angle.' Others, however, claimed they could see the cat 'straight away' without shaking their head. As we edge closer to the end of January parents across the nation are rifling through their filing cabinets and trying to find school stationery lists. The usual number of pens and highlighters are expected - and plain notepads - but more often than not adults are spending exorbitant amounts of money on 'essentials' their child may never even use. One Sydney-based school was slammed online for including hand sanitiser, paper towels, baby wipes and tissues on their yearly list, with some arguing these were more communal, rather than personal, items. Scroll down for video As we edge closer to the end of January parents across the nation are rifling through their filing cabinets and trying to find school stationery lists One Sydney-based school was slammed online for including hand sanitiser, paper towels, baby wipes and tissues on their yearly list, with some arguing these were more communal, rather than personal, items (pictured) It started a discussion on Facebook about what other abstract pieces parents were asked to collect, with one mother even saying she has spent upwards of $3,000 on items so far. 'We have vinegar in our list,' another woman added. A third chimed in: 'My daughter is now in Year 12. All through her primary years we were asked to supply soap, paper towels, tissues and hand sanitiser. The usual stuff like pencils and glue sticks for the table in kindergarten.' One mother said she was given strange looks like the staff at Officeworks when she had to request 21 Bostik brand glue sticks. But others were complimentary of their lists and said the free public school system in Australia warranted they spend a small amount on helping stock the classroom. 'I have no problem buying whatever the school asks for. This year, in addition to the normal book list items, parents are asked to supply tissues, hand towel, pump soap, magic erasers, paper plates and snaplock bags. No issues with it at all,' one person explained. 'I'm happy to buy class resources as I dont pay school fees,' another said. 'I'll buy them jewellery if they want it. Those teachers are going to have my twins all day. What else do you want? Chocolate wine? You will need it!' A third joked. Teachers chimed in to the conversations to thank those parents supporting them, and explained why their help was so needed Teachers chimed in to the conversations to thank those parents supporting them, and explained why their help was so needed. 'As a teacher, THANK YOU!! It makes a huge difference to the way the classroom can run when students come with these supplies. I can also guarantee you that six whiteboard markers do not last all that long considering how much they are used these days,' one lady said. 'The reason they ask for certain brands is because there are some brands that really do not stick. I know the school I work at ask for specific brands, but it's only for that reason. It's easier to have brands that we know will work well.' Another teacher said: 'The students use the whiteboard markers on their own individual whiteboards. You'd be surprised how many parents actually don't buy anything at all. One year I spent close to $2,000 on my students. I feel sorry for the kids who have nothing it's such an embarrassment for them.' Shinzo Abe met Theresa May in the British capital. Many fear a "messy" exit from the European Union. The new deal, which will be worked out over the coming months, is described as ambitious, building on the EU-Japan deal. London (AsiaNews/Agencies) Japan and the United Kingdom agreed to a new ambitious economic partnership that will be signed in the coming months. It will build on the existing EU-Japan deal. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and British Prime Minister Theresa May made the announcement yesterday during a visit by the Japanese leader to the British capital. This gives businesses the stability and confidence to plan for the future, supports jobs and gives more choice and lower prices to consumers, said Ms May. Currently, the British prime minister is negotiating the UKs exit from the European Union. During the talks, Abe told May that the world did not want to see a disorderly Brexit and that he fully supported Mays withdrawal deal from the European Union, which is now facing defeat in Parliament. Some of Japans leading companies in Britain have warned that a no-deal Brexit could spell disaster for their operations. It is the strong will of Japan to further develop this strong partnership with the UK, to invest more into the country and to enjoy further economic growth with the UK, Abe said at a joint news conference with May. That is why we truly hope that a no-deal Brexit will be avoided and, in fact, that is the wish of the whole world, he added. A celebrity-backed maternity label gushed over the Duchess of Sussex after the royal stepped out in one of its designs yesterday. Pregnant Meghan, 37, donned a $218 (170) knit dress by US brand Hatch as she attended her first official engagement of the year in London yesterday. The company, founded by former Wall Street worker Ariane Goldman, already counts Jessica Alba, Natalie Portman and model Lily Aldrige among its fans, but it is clear the Duchess' support is particularly special. Blooming: Pregnant Meghan, 37, donned a $218 (170) knit dress by US brand Hatch as she attended her first official engagement of the year in London yesterday, pictured Delighted: The celebrity-backed maternity label gushed over the Duchess of Sussex's outing in an Instagram post, hailing it the 'best day ever' 'When Meghan Markle steps out in The Eliza Dress, its the best day ever!,' the label posted on Instagram, moments after the royal's outing on Thursday. It was shared alongside four separate images of Meghan in the pared back garment. The mother-to-be, who is expecting her first child with Prince Harry this spring, paired the dress with a 2,600 coat from Oscar de la Renta and 1,600 Victoria Beckham handbag as she paid a visit to the headquarters of Smart Works, a women's charity of which she was announced as patron today. It marks just the second time Meghan has worn a maternity-specific label during her pregnancy, following an outing in an ASOS Maternity dress in Australia in October last year. A-list fan: Jessica Alba, pictured, wore a black, white and nude patterned maxi dress from Hatch while out in Los Angeles while pregnant with son Hayes, now one, in October 2017 Classic cuts: Mother-of-two Natalie Portman sported the Hatch Slouch dress for an interview in Los Angeles while pregnant with daughter Amalia in November 2016 More is more! Victoria Secret Angel Lily Aldridge, 33, who is expecting her second child, owns several Hatch pieces, including the Velvet Ricky Slip Dress, as seen in a recent Instagram snap Now it appears Meghan is following the lead of other high profile mothers and mothers-to-be by choosing Hatch to dress her baby bump. The brand offers women clothing to wear before, during and after pregnancy with founder Ariane - a mother-of-two herself - aiming to make getting dressed feel 'simple and fun'. Victoria Secret Angel Lily Aldridge, 33, who is expecting her second child, is so impressed with the designs that she double-ordered every version of the label's overalls. Ready for business: Pregnant Meghan, 37, opted for a 2,600 coat by Oscar de la Renta and a simple black dress from maternity label Hatch for the visit to the headquarters of women's charity Smart Works in London this morning, pictured with Smart Works CEO Kate Stephens On-trend: Meghan accessorised the outfit with a pair of pumps from Gianvito Rossi featuring on-trend PVC panels along the side and a fashionable mini black leather handbag Versatile: The $218 maternity dress is still available to buy through the Hatch website New mother Kate Hudson, who welcomed daughter Rani in October last year, is among the A-listers who swear by the Hatch Mama Belly Mask - worn on a baby bump - while Khloe Kardashian featured the Hatch Mama Baby Oil on her Instagram. However Ariane appeared to be holding out hope that she might one day see the Duchess of Sussex in her designs. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter last year, the founder jokingly asked: 'Do you know anyone who knows Meghan Markle?' Hatch opened its first brick-and-mortar store in New York in 2017 and a second branch in Santa Monica, California, last year. Birthday surprise! Founder Ariane Goldman, who set up the business in 2011, was thrilled to discover Meghan had worn one of her designs - on the same day she celebrated her birthday A mother-of-two who was left feeling 'like a freak' after developing disfiguring bumps in her arms, sought the help of dermatological surgeon Dr. Sandra Lee to have a staggering number of benign tumors removed. In a recent episode of LA-based Dr. Lee's TLC reality show Dr. Pimple Popper, mother-of-two April, 45, who has a hereditary condition known as familial multiple lipomatosis, undergoes surgery to remove the 68 lipomas that covered her arms. This is an absolute record for me,' said Dr. Lee as she began operating on the tumors. 'Ive never removed this many lipomas from a person in one sitting. My fingers are numb. Shocking: In a recent episode of TLC show Dr. Pimple Popper, April, 45, seeks Dr. Sandra Lee's help in removing a staggering 68 benign tumors from her arms Dr. Lee removed what she called 'a butt' from the mother-of-two, who has a condition called familial multiple lipomatosis - and has a 50 per cent chance of passing it down to her children Dr. Sandra Lee, AKA Dr. Pimple Popper, said she had never removed so many lipomas from a person in one sitting And viewers took to Twitter to express that they were just as shocked with what they were witnessing. One wrote, 'Sat watching Dr Pimple Popper with my mam. She's absolutely loving it and I'm trying my best now to throw up,' while another penned: 'It's alright @dan_htfc and his obsession with Dr Pimple popper has put me off my biscuits.' Someone else added: 'Dr Pimple Popper on TLC...OMG,' followed by a queasy emoji. On the show, April told how she was just seventeen years old when she found her first lump, and after her first pregnancy. they just kept on coming. When I look down at my arms, I feel like a freak,' she explained. Some viewers were put off their food after witnessing Dr. Lee removing April's lipomas 'Like one of those shows in the circus where people pay money to see how weird you are.' 'The lumps make me feel abnormal. They look hideous. I feel like a monster at times. In emotional scenes, April worried her son Hunter, 17, may have inherited the condition from her after discovering his first lipoma in his thigh. 'I feel really bad I've passed this condition onto you,' she said in a tear-jerking moment. But after confirming Hunter didn't need to act yet, Dr Pimple Popper set to work analysing April's arms - and was gobsmacked by what she found. Ive never seen this many bumps on this persons arms,' she gasped. 'There are bumps on top of bumps. You feel more than you can actually see. I cant imagine how many are under there. And it wasn't long before she found out. April's dad, pictured with his daughter, also has the hereditary condition which she described as 'hideous' and admitted made her feel like 'a monster' at times In the episode, which was the first of the second season of the show, April shared her fears that her son Hunter, 17, may also have the same condition after finding a lump in his thigh Dr. Lee removed a record number of 68 lipomas from both of April's arms, a lengthy process that she said left her fingers 'numb' After filling up an entire surgical tray with 38 lipomas from April's left arm alone, Dr Sandra Lee then went on to remove another 30 from her right arm In stomach-churning scenes, Dr Pimple Popper described how you could hear a 'pop,' before lipoma after lipoma surfaced from the slit she'd made in April's skin. What is a lipoma? Lipomas are soft, fatty lumps that grow under your skin. They're harmless and don't usually need any treatment. They can be anything from the size of a pea to a few centimetres across, and may move slightly under your skin if you press them. They often appear on the shoulders, chest, arms, back, bottom or thighs. Advertisement 'This one's little a double booty,' she said. 'It was like a twerk!' After filling up an entire surgical tray with 38 lipomas from April's left arm alone, Dr Sandra Lee then went on to remove another 30 from her right arm. 'I couldn't be happier,' beamed April, once the procedure was over. 'She's instilled confidence in me that I didn't have. Dr Lee really changed my life - and I'm so grateful.' And that wasn't the only gruesome skin-related footage that could be seen in the first episode. Genner, 39, who had flown 14 hours from the Philippines just to be seen by the top professional, spoke of a growth that had been on his nose since 2004. On the same show, a man called Genner, 39, told how what initially started out as a pimple had developed into a skin condition known as rhinophyma - an extreme form of rosacea Genner flew 14 hours from the Phillipines just to see Dr. Lee, having suffered with the lumps on his nose since 2004 Genner told how people would laugh at him whenever he was out in public so he resorted to wearing a mask Following the painful procedure, the family man said: 'I feel so much better not only the skin will heal, but my heart will heal' 'Every time I go to public places people laugh at me,' he explained. 'I don't like being treated like that way. 'Having this burden in my life - I'm falling apart inside.' The growth, which initially started out as a pimple, was not only causing a 'bad odour' but also a lot of pain. Dr Sandra Lee was quick to diagnose the skin condition as rhinophyma - an extreme form of rosacea. 'It's a thickening on the tip of the nose,' she explained to viewers. 'It's like someone has chewed a whole packet of bubblegum and slapped it on his nose.' Using a tool with an electric current which allows a wire to heat up, the dermatologist then sliced through Genner's tissue. 'We use a vacuum to help suck up any of the smoke that's created from burning Genner's skin,' she added in another squeamish moment. Fans of Dr Pimple Popper were delighted to see the new series of the reality show back on their screens 'We want to remove the smell of burnt skin, but also protect us in the room from inhaling it.' As she got into the most gruesome stage of the procedure, the renowned pimple popper highlighted that while the surgery may look 'brutal,' it was in fact quite 'fun.' 'Especially when you come across these pockets of oil,' she explained. 'It's like you're eating salted caramel vanilla ice cream which has little chocolate covered squares of caramel in and you're taking scoops away and you never know when you're going into hit one big square of caramel.' Following the painful surgery, Genner was delighted and compared himself to a snake shedding skin. 'I feel so much better - not only will my skin heal, but my heart will heal,' he said. The new series of Dr. Pimple Popper airs on Thursday nights on TLC at 9pm A woman who thought she would be scarred for life after suffering horrific burns when her pressure cooker exploded has seen her skin completely heal after using an $10 (8) cream. Ashley Short, 28, from Missouri, always had problems opening the kitchen appliance, but when it suddenly blew up in flames, she was left with shocking second degree burns - and an immense amount of pain. She was told by her doctor that the damage to her skin was so severe it was on the verge of third degree burns in some areas. But after using Australian brand MooGoo's Skin Milk Udder Cream, which is sold in both the US and UK, that was recommended by a colleague, her scarring has disappeared completely. She said: 'When I looked on the MooGoo website, I didn't see anything that was specifically for burns but I did find the oncology pack saying it was good for people going through chemo and radiation. 'I decided to give it a try and I am so thankful I did! I actually couldn't believe it!' Ashley Short, 28, always had problems opening her pressure cooker but when it suddenly exploded leaving her with shocking second degree burns, she thought she would be scarred forever After using $10.20 (8) MooGoo Skin Milk Udder Cream that was recommended to her by a colleague, Ashley is scar-free The $10.20 (8) MooGoo Skin Milk Udder Balm, which is available from pharmacies and Whole Foods Market, is commonly used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Speaking of the devastating day the accident took place, Ashley, who luckily had her boyfriend by her side at the time of the frightening explosion, explained: 'The cooker was always hard to open, and this time the pressure wasn't quite off when the lid loosened so it shot up and my dinner of chicken and dumplings went everywhere.' 'A lot of it landed on my right hand and forearm at times the pain was almost unbearable. This $10 (8) milk udder cream, which is available from pharmacies and Whole Food markets, healed Ashley in just over a month 'I slept with ice packs on my arm all night and used an Aloe Vera plant on it before bed. 'I got up the next morning and went to work, going to the doctor later that day where she applied some cream and I was instructed to use the cream and keep it covered. 'I followed up with the doctor three different times to keep an eye on it due to the severity of the burn.' Ashley's doctor warned her to expect some scarring due to the severity of the burn, but when she started using MooGoo Skin Milk UdderCream, which was recommended to her by a colleague, those concerns quickly vanished. After using the MooGoo Milk Udder Cream, her pain and scarring lessened with incredible speed, taking just over a month. 'My friends and family are so amazed at how wonderful my arm looks,' said Ashley. 'I work in an office at a physical therapy clinic and most of the patients ask how I'm doing so they have all heard my success story with the products as well.' 'Most of them, like myself, thought there was no way I would get out of this without having some scars so thanks to my work colleague who first introduced me to this awesome product. After the horrifying incident, Ashley slept with ice packs on her arm all night and used an Aloe Vera plant on it before bed. But it was only when she started using the milk udder cream that she started to notice a difference While Ashley's doctor advised her to expect some scarring due to the severity of the burn, when she started using MooGoo Skin Milk UdderCream, those concerns quickly vanished Speaking of her dramatic healing since using the cream, Ashley said: 'I decided to give it a try and I am so thankful I did! I actually couldn't believe it!' 'I am now going to make a full recovery without any scarring left behind. Aside from a lighter colour due to losing my tan it is difficult to tell I ever had a burn.' Founder Craig Jones created MooGoo in his kitchen 13 years ago after seeing his mother use a cow 'udder cream' to treat her psoriasis. 'Our products are made with all natural, all edible ingredients,' he explained. 'This means that customers with particularly sensitive skin generally have less trouble using our products than they do other brands.' 'We also know that our products have helped so many people going through chemotherapy and radiation because some patients suffer from dry, red, irritated and sensitive skin, which can be uncomfortable and painful. 'We created an Oncology Care Pack to help patients hydrate, protect, soothe and care for their skin during and after treatment.' Summer 2010, and one of the heaviest fighting seasons of the war was under way in southern Afghanistan. My small team had patrolled into a village before first light an area controlled by Taliban insurgents who were terrorising the local population to support their conflict with the British. We were leaving the area when the first contact happened. It hit the team behind me, and I heard RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) as they exploded, severely injuring one Afghan soldier. We continued to get back to base and check for casualties from there, but we came under direct fire again. This time from a building. Miraculously, no one was hit. Johnny Mercer (pictured above) with his team in Afghanistan I knelt down and engaged the enemy to our left. My team had scattered for cover, and before I knew it, I was alone in the middle of a field, without any cover at all. I continued to engage the enemy with my rifle, but to no avail. Seeing me alone, other enemy positions had opened up. I had nowhere to go. I was convinced I was going to get shot. There were radios on my back I could use them and engage with artillery or a nearby British jet. I made myself as small as possible and considered my options. I had no idea who was inside the building and who would be killed if it was levelled with either of these heavy weapons. I could call for a helicopter with a more precise weapon, but that would take at least six minutes to arrive. And I'd almost certainly be dead. But I chose to wait. After nine minutes, a pair of American HueyCobra helicopters arrived and I used their fire as cover to escape to the rest of my team. My colleagues had been trying all the while to lay down fire for me to move, without firing directly into a building where we knew there was a family. The injured Afghan lived and we finished the mission. No one died that day. Fast forward to nine years later. I'm now an MP. This week I sat in the Palace of Westminster as part of a committee of parliamentarians probing how veterans are pursued over historical allegations. I questioned a man named Martyn Day, founding partner of Leigh Day solicitors, who, together with fellow solicitor Phil Shiner, has attempted to prosecute thousands of cases on behalf of Iraqis and Afghans against soldiers. I want to know why and how he does it, because I want to end this farce. I ask him if he thinks my generation of soldiers had such a problem with values that we could have broken international law and executed prisoners. Johnny Mercer questioned Martyn Day (pictured above) He replies: 'Yes.' I contrast this in my mind with the risks we took to prevent loss of life in combat. I remember the huge personal risks I saw my men take as they tried to follow the 'Could I? Should I? Must I?' mantra of 'courageous restraint' before engagements, in order to preserve civilian life. I was lucky, and came back with almost no scars, physically or mentally. I made mistakes, of course, but I was lucky. Johnny Mercer (pictured above) said he was look to come back from the army with no scars My circle of friends has not been so fortunate. Three of my friends have authorised weapon releases that have gone on to kill British servicemen in error. On all occasions it was not their fault, but that doesn't matter when you are sitting with their families explaining what happened. I remember their personal pain. The mental anguish for years afterwards. Another friend did kill some women and children. It destroyed him. Literally. For years. He has never been the same. Contrast these thoughts with the human-rights-lawyer brigade that has shamelessly financed itself by creating an image of an uncaring, unprofessional and corrupt British Army. Even though I was a serial combatant at the height of the Afghan conflict a conflict which saw the British Army engaged in the most intense combat since the Korean War in the Fifties I have not been contacted by them. But they don't go for people like me they are your classic bullies. They go for those who were unfortunate enough to struggle through no fault of their own. Those who can't quite remember, who don't want to remember, those who have moved on. But, mostly, they target those on whom their smoke-filled, obfuscating narrative might have a chance of working. I don't regret for one second telling Mr Day on Tuesday: 'You have been dishonest throughout this process. Do you have any concept of the lives you have ruined, of some of the finest people in this country who have gone on operations? 'You have accused me of coming from a generation of people who could well have committed murder. Are you proud of your role?' My fellow MP Mark Francois a former infantry officer in the Territorial Army summed up the mood when he shouted: 'I do not know how you sleep at night.' Mark Francois (pictured above) was a former infantry officer in the Territorial Army I did nothing special in the military I always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I fought like hell to get out. But some special people did some very special things on behalf of this nation. They were ordinary young men the rare summers we did get together, we went surfing in Cornwall and threw cider at each other at the nearest Chas And Dave concert. But when duty called, they proved extraordinary their courage, commitment, selflessness and patriotism awed those of us privileged enough to watch it. And here, in front of me, was somebody who genuinely thought that there was such a breakdown in law and order in the British Army that, together with Phil Shiner, he would bring more than 3,200 cases against the Ministry of Defence, alleging murder, torture, rape and human rights abuses. Martyn Day doesn't seem to think that everyone I know and served with prided ourselves on the rule of law. The fact is we wanted to be more professional than the man next to us. People risked death to do the right thing, regardless of circumstance. Things go wrong they always have in war. The death of Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa, as well as the 93 injuries inflicted upon him, in British Army custody in 2003 is a stain on our reputation. Baha Mousa (third in) pictured with his family, was beaten and killed while in the custody of UK troops and was the victim of 'an appalling episode of serious gratuitous violence' and a serious breach of discipline, an investigation found These issues must be dealt with in the most stringent way, and have no place in a British Army which, I believe, remains the most professional fighting force on earth. But using these extremely rare cases as a way of trashing the reputation of the UK Military's actions is abhorrent. I regret to say it, but the Ministry of Defence is the most at fault in this sorry tale of prosecutions for historical allegations. Its behaviour throughout has been characterised by weakness and betrayal. But leeches on society such as Martyn Day and Phil Shiner exist in any human system. Johnny Mercer has said that Phil Shiner (pictured above) is a leech on society Behind their apparent regard for human rights, they see an opportunity to earn millions of pounds often displaying supreme piousness with an irony that seems lost only upon themselves. Off the back of some of the most benighted people in the world, destroying some of this country's finest people, they rake in their Legal Aid. Phil Shiner even won a 'human rights lawyer of the year' award in 2004 though it was rightly stripped from him two years ago after he was struck off for his reckless crusade against our troops. I felt only enormous pity for Mr Day, sitting in front of me on Tuesday as a poster boy of the human rights agenda, who is clearly reviled far more than he is loved. But how does it end? The Government must legislate it is the only way. Reducing the impact of human rights law on military operations was in the Conservative Party's manifesto of 2017. As happens in the U.S., we should allow our Armed Forces to self-regulate. Last week, a U.S. Navy Seal went on trial for murder and the case was adjudicated in-house. Such a system is essential for military success. It ensures that proceedings are carried out with a cool head. The actions of lawyers such as Martyn Day are better suited to a horror movie. I've been very hard on the Government over the relentless witch-hunt of our troops and its failure to stand up for them, and I make no apology for doing so. Until ministers act, a self-righteous, pernicious brigade of human rights lawyers will continue to crawl over the actions of those who step up and defend our freedoms. More importantly, our soldiers will continue to be grotesquely persecuted. West Whiteland Two arrested on drug charges after police alerted about suspicious vehicle Economy Chester County gets funding to prepare students for high-growth jobs During the first phase of the Mariner East 2 project, labor workers in steamfitting, construction and other jobs upgraded the former Sunoco refinery complex in Marcus Hook to house the influx of natural gas liquids once the pipeline is in place. From 2.5 million barrels per day of pre-sanctions, it has been reduced to less than one million. Some traditional buyers like Taiwan have blocked trade for "lack of clarity on payments". The Islamic Republic looking for new buyers, but keeps the names hidden. Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Irans crude oil exports are dwindling for the third month in a row due to US sanctions that came into force last November. This is what emerges from the data provided by industry sources, which confirm the critical situation for the Islamic Republic in search of new buyers. Oil exports in November fell below one million barrels a day; previously, the average figure was 2.5 million barrels per day. The figure is similar to that of the pre-nuclear era, between 2012 and 2016, when the sanctions of the Obama era were in force, the architect of the opening towards the ayatollahs. Experts say the collapse in sales which will have a significant impact on the annual budget of the Islamic Republic, is due to the lack of clarity on the quantities that can be bought without incurring American wrath. Only later did Washington grant an exemption for eight traditional buyers, including China, India, Japan and South Korea to prevent a surge in oil prices. However, the provision did not have any concrete effects. In May, US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed by his predecessor, Barack Obama. The US leader followed this with the toughest sanctions in history against Iran. The decision had an immediate negative impact on the Iranian economy noted by studies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) causing a serious drop in oil exports, the main goal of the second part of the sanctions. According to the latest data provided by industry experts, sales of Iranian oil in December remained below one million daily and there are no elements that indicate a possible growth for the current month. Potential buyers included Taiwan, which blocked purchases due to a "lack of clarity on the payment methods". Tehran denies the drop in sales and ensures that they have found new buyers without revealing their names. In addition, the overall figure is better (1.35 million barrels per day) if together with crude oil, the sale of condensate is also considered, a variant of oil (lighter). It should also be added that monitoring Iranian exports from the entry into force of sanctions is more difficult, because many ships switch off localization systems altering the overall figure. Finally, some buyers who had moved away in November seem to have returned; among others there is Turkey, which has resumed imports one month after suspending them at lower than half the price of the period before the sanctions. A former town of Poughkeepsie resident has been arrested in connection with the theft of a city of Poughkeepsie public works truck that turned by Paul Wang Cardinals John Tong, Joseph Zen, auxiliary bishop Joseph Ha, priests from China, Muslim representatives, Buddhists, Taoists present at the Funeral Mass in the Cathedral. The head of the executive, Carrie Lam, also took part. The representative of the Holy See read the telegram from Pope Francis. Msgr. Ma Daqin, bishop of Shangahi under house arrest, recalled Msgr. Yeung in his blog. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Hundreds of people filled the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception this morning to bid a final farewell to the late Msgr. Michael Yeung Ming-cheung who died on 3 January last. The bishop's funeral, presided over by Card. John Tong Hon, apostolic administrator of the diocese, became a moment of unity for Hong Kongs Christian community and wider society. Civil personalities in attendance included the head of the executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor; the general secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the finance secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and others. Also present were representatives of the different religions and confessions present in the territory: Buddhist and Taoist monks, Muslims, Protestants, Orthodox. At the Mass, which began at 10 this morning, many priests participated and above all, next to Card. Tong was Card. Joseph Zen and the auxiliary bishop Msgr. Joseph Ha. In recent days among the Catholics themselves a controversy broke out on the reasons why the Vatican had chosen Card. Tong instead of Msgr. Ha as the temporary leadership of the diocese, fearing that the Holy See is increasingly obedient to China. Both Card. Zen and Mons. Ha had the task of defending the Vaticans decision. At the funeral, Msgr. Ante Jozic, of the Holy See's study mission - a kind of unofficial nunciature for China - read the message of condolences from Pope Francis sent a few days ago. Some priests from mainland China also concelebrated at the Mass. And Msgr. Taddeo Ma Daqin, bishop of Shanghai, who has been under house arrest for almost seven years, recalled the deceased bishop, who was originally from Shanghai, on his blog. In his homily, Msgr. Ha recalled the bishop's motto ("Arise, let us go") and stressed that he has always lived by responding urgently to the needs of society, working for reconciliation of conflicts. Msgr. Ha - who had Msgr. Yeung as a teacher in the seminary - also recalled that he had chosen the situation of young people as his first priority in his pastoral commitment. Msgr. Yeungs niece in her eulogy spoke of her uncle as an extremely diligent and humble person. " I once told him to rest more as he was already a powerful leader with a team that could help with his work. But he said in response that power entailed duties, and that those capable might not be powerful while the powerful might not be capable," she said. The funeral ceremony was streamed live online and many Catholics followed it in their parishes. Yesterday evening, Card. Zen presided over a wake in the cathedral, a few hours after the coffin was brought into the church which was left open for the faithful to pay their respects. Bishop Yeung will be buried in the Catholic cemetery of St Michael in Happy Valley. The following items are based on information provided by officials in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Diane Pineiro-Zucker has been a reporter at the Daily Freeman since April 2013. Pineiro-Zucker worked as a reporter in the Freemans Rhinebeck bureau in the early 1980s, left to become executive editor at Taconic Newspapers in Dutchess County. Paul Kirby is a reporter for the Freeman, covering Kingston politics. He has been at the Freeman since August 1996. This photo from Jan. 18, 2009 shows the Rev. Gerald Gallagher standing in front of the altar at the Church of the Messiah in Rhinebeck. Sydney is arts and culture editor at the Emerald. She likes to read books and write about them. She's also a Virgo, so take that as you will. Follow Sydney Dauphinais Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Laura Marie McDermott Edwards, 52, of Chattanooga passed away Saturday, June 12, 2021 at her home. Laura spent most of her life in Dalton, GA and was of the Christian faith. She was preceded in death by her mother, Beverly Ruth Duncan. Survivors are her daughter, Brittney Rae Edwards (her pa MICHELLE GANASSI michelleg@dailyamerican.com For 20 years state police Trooper Jeff Brock carried a photo of a 10-year-old girl who was kidnapped in 1999 while playing with friends. During a press conference Thursday at the state police barracks in Somerset, Brock struggled to hold back his emotions while talking about how he was finally able to make an arrest. Fifty-year-old Timothy David Nelson Jr., Mullen Street, Cumberland, Maryland, was arraigned Thursday morning on charges of kidnapping, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful restraint, statutory sexual assault and other related misdemeanors. He is in the Somerset County Jail in lieu of a $750,000 bond. Its not about me, Brock told reporters at the press conference. It is about bringing closure to the girls. They move on, they live their lives. I just had a hard time believing they werent thinking: 'Where did he ever go? Is he still alive?' "By getting to this point, now they do know. On Sept. 19, 1999, the 10-year-old girl was abducted in Cairnbrook. Police said Nelson fled south on Route 160. During the trip he produced a gun and threatened the girl. He stopped along the side of the road and sexually assaulted the girl, according to police. The vehicle eventually stopped again along Route 26 in West Virginia. Nelson allegedly forced the girl into sex acts. He abandoned her along the road, where she was found by a passing motorist. State police in Uniontown returned to the scene and collected paper bags that had been thrown from the vehicle. DNA and fingerprints were collected from the bags. At that time the DNA did not match anyone in law enforcement databases. After years of investigating, police were hitting a stone wall. Information came back in 2004 that the DNA profile actually matched other cases prior to ours, Trooper Steve Limani said. A young girl was kidnapped and subsequently raped. Brock said that he contacted the FBI to see if anything additional could be done. An agent used advanced technology to compare the fingerprints, and Nelson was a match, according to court documents. We are here because of her, Brock said of the FBI agent. She said I am going to check these prints one more time. Brock recalled the agent calling him with the news. She first asked if he was sitting down. She said we got a hit on the prints, he said. Brock said he notified the woman, but he declined to elaborate on the exchange. This is going to be very difficult opening up wounds and it's going to be hard for them, Brock said. In the end, it's the closure. If I helped with that, its all worth it. Nelson's DNA also matched DNA from two unsolved kidnappings from 1988 in Hagerstown, Maryland, according to police. Limani said they are not ruling out that he may be involved in other cases. He said that, in his experience, individuals do not stop committing these types of crimes unless they experience a significant life event. He said Nelson did not have any type of lifestyle change. That is concerning, he said. There are several years of inactivity, and that is one of the things were concerned about. Limani said police have not been able to interview Nelson as he works to obtain an attorney. Nelson's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Jan. 23 before District Judge Bill Seger of Windber. Limani said the FBI will likely be taking over the case. He said that law enforcement agencies that have similar unsolved cases should contact their local FBI agent. The Daily American It remains unclear whether Cambria County taxpayers will be forced to reimburse the commonwealth $100,000 for a scoreboard grant. In a letter last summer, Cambria County commissioners Tom Chernisky and William BJ Smith said they confirmed that the Cambria County War Memorial Authority gave a no-bid contract to install a scoreboard at 1stSummit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial to a company co-owned by the son of the authority's then-chairman, Dean Gindlesperger. Their letter was written in response to Our Town investigative reporting on the topic. The project audit was due within 180 days of the grant contract's June 30 closing date. This put the deadline around the end of the year. Department of Community & Economic Development Press Secretary Michael Gerber said this paperwork has not yet been filed. We havent received the completed audit yet, but weve been in contact with the organization and expect to receive the audit for review in the next few weeks, Gerber wrote in an email to Our Town on Jan. 4. In response to questions posed in August, state Department of Community & Economic Development press assistant Sarah DeSantis acknowledged that the scoreboard project was subject to open and competitive bidding per the grantee's contract with the commonwealth. DCED audits all grantees at the conclusion of projects to ensure compliance with contract terms, DeSantis said. If the audit shows a grantee is not in compliance, DCED may require funding to be returned. A Johnstown-based company called Amphype co-owned by the arena authority chairman's son, Ryan was paid approximately $130,000 for the scoreboard purchase and installation. The Cambria County War Memorial Authority and Cambria County commissioners used a loan to finance the project originally, but it was later covered in part by the $100,000 grant obtained by the commissioners. Cambria County solicitor William Gleason Barbin declined to discuss the matter. He noted in an email Jan. 8 that the audit remains in draft form. (Your) questions are premature, Barbin said. Gindlesperger became subject of a Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission investigation last year. The outcome of that investigation has not yet been announced. Dr Christo Thomas Philip worked in a Bihar hospital. In 2016 he was stopped at New Delhis airport and deported to Istanbul. For Mgr Mascarenhas, everyone has the right to freely practice their faith. New Delhi (AsiaNews) In a decision that will likely prove controversial, the Delhi High Court issued a ruling that protects the right to engage in missionary activities in India. The case concerns a Christian medical doctor, Christo Thomas Philip, an American citizen of Indian origin. In 2016 Indian authorities cancelled his visa to work in a Protestant hospital in Bihar. India is a secular country, writes the court. All persons in this country have a right to practice their faith in the manner they consider fit so long as it does not offend any other person. If Dr Christos faith motivates him to volunteer for medical services at a hospital, he is free to do so. There is no such law that stops him from doing so. For Mgr Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, this is great news. He is grateful to "the lawyers who followed the case. The court reiterated three important principles: the first is that everyone has the right to freely practice their faith; the second is the right to put into practice ones faith through volunteering in social fields; and the third is that no Indian law bans this. The Christian doctor had the support of the ADF* India, an association that provides legal support to persecuted Christians. Dr Philips case began on 26 April 2016 when he was stopped at Indira Gandhi International Airport on his way back from a medical conference in Greece, said AC Michael, ADF Indias development sector director. Customs officials told him that he could enter in India, and that he had to go back to Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight since he had just arrived with that carrier. However, after two days in jail, he went to Nepal, where he was joined by his family, so as to be closer to India and follow his court case. He was not allowed into the country because his OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) card had been cancelled. The card is given to people of Indian origin and provides a life long visa for visiting India. It is especially used by people working in the medical field. Dr Christo was born in Kerala in 1982, and at the age of ten moved with his family to the United States. In 2011 he specialised in Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. In 2014 he returned to India to work at the Duncan Hospital in Raxaul, Bihar. In 2016, the Consulate General of India in Houston cancelled his visa because he had indulged in "evangelical and subversive" as well as conversions activities that affected public order. According to Michael, the "Court has proved that government of the day had mala fide (bad faith) intention and was told to behave as per the law of the land. This judgement is very important for those who are going through difficult times practicing their faith freely. The High Court ruling orders the Home Affairs Ministry to re-instate Dr Philips visa, so that he can return to look after the sick. * Alliance Defending Freedom TERRY M. JARRETT The Daily American For those who follow energy policy in the United States, these are intriguing times. A number of significant changes are underway, with natural gas occupying a newfound prominence in electricity generation. Some older coal plants are being retired, too. and more utilities are exploring wind and solar even as nuclear power continues to recede from consideration. The pace of change is somewhat dizzying, given the complexities of maintaining sufficient electricity for a nation of 325 million people. The challenge will be to find a smart, cohesive energy balance across this shifting landscape. For example, California and nine other states are already pursuing new quotas for electric vehicles. Those mandates alone could significantly increase electricity demand across the nations power grid. Can America continue to churn out sufficient baseload power each day? and what role will coal play, now that nuclear power is on the wane? Undoubtedly, coal has lost market share in recent years. A hefty spate of regulations over the past decade saw coal plants close in record numbers. and many of the mines needed to supply them shuttered as well, with more than 62,000 coal miners losing their jobs between 2011 and 2016. Water tends to run to its lowest level, however, and Americas coal fleet has emerged leaner than it was before. In 2017, coal still supplied 30 percent of U.S. electricity, compared with 32 percent from natural gas. What policymakers must consider now is how much more coal-fired power can realistically be retired before the loss of so much around-the-clock, baseload power threatens the reliability of Americas overall electric grid. This should be a pressing concern, since much-touted wind and solar power only work when the wind blows and the sun shines. and as recent events have demonstrated, there are also consequences for being overly reliant on natural gas. For all of natural gas strengths, challenges remain. Utilities are still beholden to a vast, spidery network of pipeline systems that criss-cross the continent, delivering just-on-time gas supplies. Regional grid operator ISO New England has already cautioned about fuel uncertainty for the six states it supplies. Natural gas is prioritized for home heating, and ISO says that high heating demand during unpredictable winter cold snaps could mean very little to no pipeline capacity for electric generators, which creates a number of concerns for the power system. ISO-NE explains that such fuel constraints could sideline thousands of megawatts of natural-gas-fired generation. When that happens, system operators turn to power plants with stored fuelcoal, oil, or nuclearto meet demand. Last winter Boston was forced to import Russian liquified natural gas when the regions over-taxed pipeline network struggled to meet demand. Natural gas has also seen price spikes in recent months due to increased demand and lower domestic storage. Its an issue that bears watching, since Americas exports of natural gas are projected to triple by the end of 2019. The Trump administration has taken criticism for attempting to shore up Americas coal industry. But coal mining employment in the U.S. has stabilized since President Trump took office, and gained roughly 3,000 jobs. Its an interesting turn of events, and it suggests that the nations coal sector is well-positioned to keep supplying the bedrock portion of the electricity generation that Americans need each day. It also confirms the wisdom of a diverse energy portfolio that can supply ongoing power in every season. (Terry M. Jarrett is an energy attorney and consultant who has served on both the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the Missouri Public Service Commission. He contributes regularly to LeadingLightEnergy.com.) Staff reports The Daily American Do you have a box full of unused costume jewelry that has been hidden away for years? Have you inherited jewelry and found that after the precious heirlooms are distributed you still have beautiful necklaces, bracelets and rings remaining. They hold so many memories but you know that you are not likely to wear the pieces because they are just not your style. Does this sound like anything stashed away in your home? A community benefit event is being held on March 29 and 30 called Baubles, Bangles, Beads and More. People will have the opportunity to donate and to buy gently used and new jewelry, watches, scarves and purses. One third of the proceeds from this event is designated for Caring Hands for Cancer, a local organization helping local cancer patients; one third will be given to Service Dogs for Veterans and Children, a service project of Eastern Star providing funds for the training of service dogs; and the other one third will be designated for other local projects and distributed by Meyersdale Eastern Star on a needed basis. The event will be hosted by Meyersdale Eastern Star from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Masonic Temple, 226 Beachley St., Meyersdale. In order for this event to be successful, help is needed. Donations are being accepted now and until March 15 of gently used or new items of jewelry, scarves or purses. People who attend the event will be treated to an afternoon of shopping among colorful displays and will be invited to take a break for a complimentary cup of tea and cookies. Additional food items will also be available for purchase. An idea eight years ago grew from a desire to allow the community as a whole to see unwanted items in use again, enjoyed by others, and more importantly benefit others in need. To arrange for making contributions or to get more information, call Doris Robertson at 814-634-8416. Staff reports The Daily American The AARP Tax Aide Program provides free personal basic income tax form preparation to middle- and low-income tax payers, with special attention to those aged 60 and older. Starting Jan. 14, low and/or middle income senior citizens with basic tax returns for 2018 may call the Area Agency on Aging at 814-443-2681, or 1-800-452-0825 to schedule an appointment with an AARP tax aide volunteer. Calls will be taken between 9 a.m. and noon. Appointments will begin Feb. 5 and run on Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 11. All appointments will be at the Grace United Methodist Church, 320 Felgar Road, Somerset. Seniors who need only the tax/rent rebate forms completed should contact their local senior center to schedule an appointment for this service. In order to allow time for those needing tax returns prepared, the AARP Tax Aide center will only complete property tax/rent rebate forms if a tax return must also be filed. Appointments are needed to avoid long wait times. Photo ID, proof of Social Security number, 2017 tax returns, proof of health care insurance, and all 2018 tax information should be brought to the appointment. New regulations this year require all persons on a joint tax return be present for the preparation. Also anyone signing as power of attorney should bring the documentation of this authority to the appointment. It will not be retained but must be shown to the preparers. Inform the person taking your reservation of all the elements involved with your tax preparation so counselors can prepare accordingly. We've launched a new site for events and entertainment all along the Flight 93 Memorial Highway. Read the latest articles and buzz around town. Keep up to date on upcoming events and submit your own. Visit What's NXT 219 A mysterious handset codenamed Waterdrop has leaked online and the tipster claims that its unlike any smartphone seen yet. With all eyes focused on Samsung and their Unpacked Event scheduled for February 20, where they will announce its next flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S10, some of the other brands tend to get overlooked. Vivo, in 2018, literally disrupted the smartphone market when they previewed the APEX back in early 2018, before officially launching it as the Vivo NEX. The handset came with some unique features that included a pop-up camera, an all-screen display without any notch and an in-display fingerprint sensor. From the looks of it, it appears that the China-based brand is not resting on its past success and will debut a handset this year that boasts a design that we have never yet witnessed. Crazy phone have begun to leak, it is said that this is vivo a mysterious smartphone code-named "The Waterdrop", this phone will subvert people's past perception of smartphones, this is the back of the phone design, play your imagination. Coming soon #CES2019 pic.twitter.com/TNN1ht5NVZ Ice universe (@UniverseIce) January 10, 2019 vivo "The Waterdrop" second photo, side view, what did you find? pic.twitter.com/1XZdPd7xKq Ice universe (@UniverseIce) January 10, 2019 In a series of tweets, @IceUniverse, who has a stellar track record for revealing smartphones that havent been announced yet, has dropped a few bombshells detailing a mysterious device from Vivo thats codenamed Waterdrop. @IceUniverse states, Crazy phone have begun to leak, it is said that this is vivo a mysterious smartphone code-named "The Waterdrop", this phone will subvert people's past perception of smartphones, this is the back of the phone design, play your imagination. Coming soon! The tipster adds, The Waterdrop" is inspired by the cosmic detector in the novel "Three-body" I can guarantee that you have never seen a similar phone design, this is the first time in the history of mobile phones. As of now, from the two leaked images its rather difficult to gauge what the design of the handset will actually be since its just in bits and pieces. However, with @IceUniverse stating that it will be launching soon, we should expect Vivo to introduce the Waterdrop in the near future. Disclaimer: The above report is completely based on online rumours and leaks from the respective sources. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Asian Age and/or other staff and contributors to this website. (Source) WEST HAVEN The citys finance director resigned abruptly Friday. West Haven to get $8 million in restructuring funds from... In a one-sentence letter sent to Mayor Nancy Rossi, Finance Director Ron Cicatelli resigned without warning and left City Hall. Rossi said he didnt give a reason for his resignation. (Its a) tough job because we're dealing with a review board, Rossi said of the finance job. Witnesses at City Hall said Cicatelli, formerly a member of New York Citys finance staff, was escorted out of the building. Within hours of the resignation, Rossi hired a new finance director, whose name she has declined to disclose until Monday when he or she will start the job, she said. Rossi said it happened so quickly because the candidate already was in the pipeline to be hired as an assistant finance director, although qualified to be finance director. Rossi said she can hire as many assistant directors as she wants because of the citys complicated financial position. The finance director position is an appointment that does not require approval by any boards or commissions. When asked whether Cicatelli was escorted out of the office by police, as some witnesses have reported, Rossi said she didn't know because she is on the third floor. Rossi said as far as she knew he was doing a fine job and she was surprised by the sudden resignation and brief letter. Cicatelli started as finance director at the end of September. His wife and 15-month-old son were expected to move with him from the Bronx to West Haven, he said at the time. He served in the Army Reserve for eight years. I think that Ron has an impressive resume. He has municipal experience and he has also served our country, Rossi said in September. Cicatelli was being paid about $120,000 a year, slightly less than his predecessor, former Director of Finance Kevin McNabola, Rossi said, also in September. Working with two fiscal consultants, Cicatelli was leading the citys efforts to get back on firm financial footing. West Haven is under the advisement of the state Municipal Accountability Review Board. The city has met state requirements and earlier this month initiated the process to receive $8 million in municipal restructuring funds expected to provide it with the means to finish the 2017-18 fiscal year in the black, Rossi has said. HARTFORD In a conference room across the hall from his still-undecorated State Capitol office suite, Gov. Ned Lamont and his senior staff worked Thursday afternoon on setting the rhythm and cadence of a new administration and the man who leads it. Wednesday nights will be kept open, time set aside for the new governor to network with legislators and others at the Executive Residence in Hartford, beginning next week. He hopes to split his weekends, some in Greenwich and others in Hartford. His scheduler took note. He is early to bed and early to rise. A surprise, perhaps, to anyone treated Thursday to a video of his dancing the previous night to the Wild Cherry classic, Play That Funky Music. It was posted on Twitter by his legislative director, Chris Soto. At 65 years old and after more than three decades of marriage, Lamont is intent on spending as much time as possible with his wife, Annie, a venture capitalist with a firm in Greenwich. The couple expect to divide their time between Hartford and Greenwich. Again, the scheduler took note. And so it went on the first full day of the Lamont administration. It began with a brunch at the Residence with his wife, their three children and the out-of-town relatives and friends who attended his Inaugural Ball. They are leaning into this thing, said Ryan Drajewicz, his chief of staff. They are staying at the Residence through the weekend and will explore the town, if you will, as a family. The senior staff gathered at 2 p.m. with the governor. They reviewed potential legislation, the likely schedule for rolling out a budget, the mechanics of a governor splitting time between two homes, and his preferences for how to work. The governor-elect, uh, the governor likes the creative white space, Drajewicz said. Creative white space is brainstorming and time for Lamont to pose questions. Drajewicz smiled at his own reference to Lamont as the governor-elect, one of many adjustments being made Thursday. Lamonts senior adviser, Colleen Flanagan Johnson, and his chief operating officer, Paul Mounds, will share an office directly across the hall from the governors suite. On Thursday, there was no desk for Mounds. A worn conference table was pushed toward the door, bound for destinations unknown. But the phones worked. Lamonts staff says the administration of his predecessor, Dannel P. Malloy, prepared a comprehensive transition plan. Mounds updated the governor and staff on the status of hiring new commissioners. Of the 28 state agencies, Lamont has hired eight new department heads and retained 10 from the Malloy administration. There are 10 others whose leadership is undecided. In his initial speech to the legislature, Lamont emphasized economic development as the key to Connecticuts fiscal ills. He promised three things: Growth! Growth! Growth! Lamonts staff has been working on an overhaul of the Department of Economic and Community Development, and the governor hopes to outline the new approach and introduce the person who will lead it in the next week or two, Drajewicz said. The goal is to standardize the approach taken by the state last year, with Lamonts involvement as a volunteer, that convinced Infosys to open a technology hub in downtown Hartford. Business and academic leaders were enlisted in the recruitment. One of Lamonts friends, Indra Nooyi, the former chief executive of PepsiCo, introduced him to a top executive of Infosys. During his State of the State speech on Wednesday, Nooyi sat on a bench in the well of the House with Ray Dalio, the founder of the worlds largest hedge fund, and John Olsen, the former president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. If you look at who was sitting there yesterday, these are people who could be anywhere, Drajewicz said. Lamont is a networker. He has few relationship with legislators, but his approach with them and business leaders will be personal. Hence, the reservation of Wednesday nights for networking. Its critically important to him, Drajewicz said. The question of dividing time between private and public homes was an issue for Lowell P. Weicker Jr., who initially insisted he would stay many nights at Apple Jack Farm, his home in Greenwich. M. Jodi Rell set many Fridays aside as reading days at her antique farmhouse in Brookfield. Malloy sold his Stamford home after his election. Ultimately, Weicker and Rell spent more time in Hartford than they originally anticipated. At least to begin, Lamont will try to schedule meetings on Fridays in Fairfield County. Flanagan Johnson said Lamonts scheduler will consult with Annie Lamonts office, seeing when their jobs can place them in the same locale. Lamont will aim for a Monday-Thursday schedule in Hartford, or at least no later than midday Friday. Flanagan Johnson said he hopes to spend time downstate meeting with business leaders and lawmakers. He has invited new legislators to the Executive Residence next week, but he already has begun his outreach. The national anthem at his inaugural ball was played by Sen. George Logan, a Republican. He is a guitarist who ably covers Jimi Hendrix solos, including the late rockers memorable electric version of the Star Spangled Banner. Lamont heard Logan play it at a charity gala in October in Oxford. Logan said Lamont told him, When I win in November, Ill want you to play it at my inaugural ball. Logan, who supported Republican Bob Stefanowski for governor, laughed at the time, not quite taking him seriously. But Lamont called his cell phone after winning, leaving him a voicemail inviting him to kick off the ball. I thought it was a good gesture, Logan said. So, Logan performed. And Lamonts first words at his inaugural were directed at a Republican: Sen. Logan, I knew Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix was a friend of mine. And senator, youre a kick-ass Jimi Hendrix. BRIDGEPORT The state will help Mayor Joe Ganim keep a promise to open the long-shuttered Congress Street Bridge. Ganims office announced late Thursday that the Department of Transportation has made a commitment to foot half of the estimated $24 million tab for the bridge connecting the downtown to the East Side across the Pequonnock River. The states portion includes $3.7 million previously approved by just-retired Gov. Dannel Malloys administration in December. The original Congress Street drawbridge got stuck in the open position in 1997, during Ganims first administration. He was re-elected in 2015. For some, it became a symbol of stagnation of an old manufacturing city, and the rusty hulk was finally torn down in 2010. The mayors hasty Thursday statement which specified there would a formal announcement Jan. 19 came just a few hours after Hearst Connecticut Media reported that state Sen. Marilyn Moore was leaning toward running against Ganim this year. The news about the Congress Street Bridge shows the advantages Ganim enjoys as an incumbent to announce progress on policies and initiatives over the next few months to prove to voters he deserves another four-year term. But Moore has also played that game. She has an influential role in the states grant-awarding process. And back in December, Moores office beat Ganim to announcing tens of millions of dollars worth of state grants for Bridgeport, including the $3.7 million for the Congress Street Bridge. Ganim in Thursdays announcement added, we appreciate all the work that our state legislators have done to champion this project. He also thanked federal lawmakers who pushed to declare that section of the Pequonnock non-navigable so the city could install a fixed bridge rather than a more expensive replacement drawbridge. HARTFORD With the clock ticking, Access Health CTs latest statistics show they are closing in on last years numbers. As of Friday afternoon there are now 109,126 Connecticut residents enrolled in insurance plans through the exchange. The deadline for enrolling was extended to Jan. 15. Last year 114,000 Connecticut residents enrolled in plans sold on the exchange. The deadline for Connecticut residents to enroll was originally Dec. 15, but it was extended. Coverage starts Feb. 1 for anyone who enrolled in a plan after Dec. 15. On Friday, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy was in Hartford where he was encouraging those who havent signed up yet to enroll. Weve only got a couple days to get the message out, Murphy said at an unrelated event earlier in the day in New Haven before heading to Hartford. Im going to Hartford to try and get the word out. Access Health CT has spent about $4 million in its marketing efforts this year, which is similar to amounts theyve spent in past years. Consumers had an additional month to choose plans as they experience bigger increases in monthly premiums even though the increases approved by insurance regulators were lower. Officials and politicians have been thrown a curveball this year by a Texas judges ruling late last year that threw out the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The judge agreed with a group of 20 Republican attorneys general who felt a change in tax law last year that eliminated the penalty for not having health insurance invalidated the entire law. Former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, whose administration oversaw implementation of the ACA, said the decision defies logic and puts health coverage for millions of people and tens of thousands of Connecticut residents at risk. He said if this decision is allowed to stand people with pre-existing conditions will once again be denied coverage when they get sick. The White House has said they expect the judges ruling to be appealed to the Supreme Court and in the meantime the law remains in place. Connecticut, along with other states, have filed an appeal. Access Health CT has worked hard to let Connecticut residents know that the Texas ruling does not affect their ability to sign up for and use 2019 health insurance plans through Access Health CT. Access Health CT is the official marketplace under the Affordable Care Act in Connecticut and we are committed to upholding the ACA and the support it provides to the residents of our state, CEO James Michel, has said. We will not let this news get in the way of fulfilling our mission to reduce the rate of the uninsured and help Connecticut residents get health insurance coverage for them and their families. Murphy said part of his message in Hartford on Friday would be to reiterated that Access Health and the Affordable Care Act are alive and well in Connecticut. We have to beat back Trumps sabotage campaign, Murphy said. The New Haven Museum will host storytelling as part of the Yale Peabody Museums 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s Legacy of Environmental and Social Justice, on Monday, Jan. 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The New Haven Museum, at 114 Whitney Ave., is steps away from the Peabody Museum, at 170 Whitney Ave. Admission is free. Celebrating King and his efforts to ensure environmental and social justice among all people, the event offers inspirational stories relating to the legacy of African-American slavery and the civil rights movement, with songs of resistance and audience participation woven in, according to a news release from the museum. The program includes Joy Donaldson: Martin Luther King in Word and Song, at 11 a.m., and Waltrina Kirkland Mullins: Remember The Struggle, Remember the Legacy: A Poetry & Song Celebration, at 12:30 p.m. Visitors can also view the New Haven Museums permanent exhibit, Cinque Lives Here: The Amistad Story, which features the most significant collection of material from the Amistad incident (1839-1841). It includes the portrait of Sengbe Pieh/Joseph Cinque, leader of the revolt; the painting of the schooner La Amistad; a letter from Kale, one of the captives; and a letter to the captives from John Quincy Adams, who argued successfully on behalf of the Africans before the U.S. Supreme Court and secured their freedom. Heres a look at other MLK Day events around the state: BRIDGEPORT Bridgeport Has a Dream: MLK Day Performance Created by the Young People of Bridgeport, Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave. Mon 1:30 p.m. Free admission. 203-864-9129. FAIRFIELD Family Focus: Peace & Learning Day, Fairfield Museum and History Center, 370 Beach Road. Mon 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Learn about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how he influenced the civil rights movement. Watch short films about Kings life and create a craft with colorful papers and ribbons that helps to explore the meaning of peace. 203-259-1598. GREENWICH Martin Luther King Jr. Day Winter Family Day, Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. Mon 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Recommended for families with children under 10, this special school-holiday program features hands-on arts projects and live performances that help put in perspective Kings legacy and teachings. $10, $8 ages 65 and older, students age 5-22 with valid ID, free members and under age 5. 860-724-3623. HARTFORD Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Blvd. Sat-Mon 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For this special holiday weekend, center has decided everyone will pay $16.95 kids price for general admission. 860-724-3623. HARTFORD Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Community Day-Mountaintop Vision: Soaring to New Heights, Wadsworth Athenueum Museum of Art, 600 Main St. Mon 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Celebrate Kings legacy through art-making, performances and tours for all ages. Presented in partnership with The Amistad Center for Art & Culture. Free admission all day. 860-278-2670. NEW HAVEN 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s Legacy of Environmental and Social Justice, Yale Peabody Museum, 170 Whitney Ave. Performances, community open mics, and educational activities for visitors of all ages. Sun noon-4 p.m.; Mon 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission to the Peabody Museum is free for both days. 203-736-1053. NORWALK Kids Care: MLK Jr. Service Day Project, Historical Society Museum, 141 East Ave. Sun 1-4 p.m. Create welcome bags for immigrants and refugees settling into Connecticut. Participating families are encouraged to bring individually packaged non-perishable snacks to include in the welcome bags. Along with filling the bags with goodies, children will be able to create cards and decorate the bags. Children also will get the opportunity to create peace doves, heart origami and learn more about Kings mission for peace, freedom and justice for all. Free. 203-846-0525. NORWALK Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, 303 West Ave. Mon 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Museum will be playing a King famous speech throughout the day in the Multimedia Gallery Free with Museum admission. 203-846-0525. RIDGEFIELD Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge. Mon 3 p.m. Includes Spirit of Dr. King award presentation to Lane Murdock, a 16 year-old Ridgefield High School student who helped launch a nationwide school walkout following the Parkland, Fla., school shooting. Free. 203- 438-5795. STAMFORD Family Program Honoring the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the film screening of King in the Wilderness, Ferguson Library South End Branch, 34 Woodland Ave. Sat 2-4 p.m. 203-351-8231. WESTPORT Martin Luther King Day Celebration features keynote speaker James Forman, Jr., 2018 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America, The event will also include performances from the Serendipity Choir and the Regional School of the Arts, Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court. Sun 3-5 p.m. 203-291-4800. In setting its sights on a New York City expansion at the expense of its longtime home in Connecticut, Diageo North America could incur double the rent it pays today in Norwalk an investment the spirits giant sees as worth the cost to increase its chances of recruiting fresh faces in the consumer products industry. On Thursday, Diageo disclosed plans to make New York City the formal headquarters for its North American operations next year, while keeping a satellite office in Connecticut where its main regional office has been in Norwalk and before that Stamford for more than 25 years. The company is getting $6.6 million in incentives from the state of New York, taking a lease at 3 World Trade Center where it will relocate its Midtown Manhattan offices at 530 Fifth Ave., with plans to employ 500 people in the city including some jobs currently in Connecticut. The new office is about a 90-minute commute from Norwalk weekdays during rush hour. A Diageo spokesperson indicated the decision was driven by a desire to have access to a larger pool of managerial talent within Manhattans orbit, with Norwalk job openings continuing to outnumber those in New York City as of Friday. Diageo did not make its North American president Deirdre Mahlan available immediately for details on how the company arrived at the decision, with Mahlan owning a home in Westport. With sales of nearly $5.3 billion in its 2018 fiscal year, Diageo North America would barely miss the Fortune 500 if independent of the global operations of its London-based parent, and would rank among the 20 largest companies in Connecticut based on revenue. A spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont did not provide immediate feedback from the governor on the Diageo move and his thoughts on Connecticut as a home for corporations. In his first state of the state on his inauguration day Wednesday in Hartford, Lamont cited the need for Connecticut to attract companies and millennials, offering few specifics on his plan to do so beyond continuing to improve transportation and urban centers. As one of the first governors who comes from the business world, I will be hyper-focused on job creation, Lamont said Wednesday. My primary objective is to get this economy growing again. ... How do we attract the next generation of talent to Connecticut? Growth. Diageo did not reveal immediately a planned new address in Fairfield County when its lease expires at 801 Main Ave. in Norwalk, with the company having relocated in 2004 to its then-newly built office from Stamford, and in later years freeing up space that has been absorbed by General Electric and its GE Capital division next door at 901 Main Ave. As of Friday, building owner Building & Land Technology had yet to list any available space in the 290,000-square-foot 801 Main Ave., as it signaled a few years ago when Xerox elected to move out of the adjacent Towers office at 45 Glover Ave., with FactSet Research slated to take over much of the building at the end of this year. Entering this year, the head of Cushman & Wakefields Stamford office told Hearst Connecticut Media that several companies are scouting lower Fairfield County for in excess of 100,000 square feet of space, including some in New York City seeking better lease terms in the suburbs. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman Europeans gained the right to ask search engines to delist certain information about them in a landmark ruling. Once the right to be forgotten had been established within the EU, a search engine operator should do all it can to remove entries. (Photo: AP) Google can limit the right to be forgotten to internet searches made in the European Union, an adviser to the blocs top court said on Thursday, backing an appeal by the US search giant against a French fine. European Court of Justice judges typically follow the advice of the advocate general, usually within two to four months, although they are not bound to do so. Maciej Szpunars opinion was welcomed by Google, which locked horns with Frances privacy watchdog after being fined in 2016 for failing to delist sensitive information beyond the borders of the EU. Weve worked hard to ensure that the right to be forgotten is effective for Europeans, including using geolocation to ensure 99 per cent effectiveness, Peter Fleischer, Googles senior privacy counsel, said. Frances CNIL data protection authority said it noted the opinion and restated its view that the right to privacy should apply regardless of the geographical origin of the person doing an internet search. Europeans gained the right to ask search engines to delist certain information about them in a landmark ruling five years ago. If approved, a decision based on a balance between a persons right to privacy and the publics right to know, the content will not appear in search results. Szpunar said searches made from outside the EU should not be affected by this de-referencing of information. The fundamental right to be forgotten must be balanced against other fundamental rights, such as the right to data protection and the right to privacy, as well as the legitimate public interest in accessing the information sought, he said. Once the right to be forgotten had been established within the EU, a search engine operator should do all it can to remove entries, including using geo-blocking in the event that the IP address of a device connected to the internet is deemed to be within the EU, Szpunar added. Google, which estimates that it has removed 2.9 million links under the right to be forgotten, had appealed a 100,000 euro (USD 115,000) fine from CNIL in March 2016 for failing to delist information across national borders, sending the case to the European Court of Justice. In a second dispute between a group of individuals and CNIL, Szpunar said that prohibitions on processing certain types of data should also apply to the operators of search engines. This case involves the CNILs refusal to order the removal of links found in searches using individuals names. These included a satirical photomontage of a female politician; an article referring to one interested party as a public relations officer of the Church of Scientology; the placing under investigation of a male politician; and the conviction of another party for sexual assaults against minors. In its own transparency report on European search removals, Google says that around nine out of every 10 requests come from private individuals. Cases involving public figures vary - for example, Google turned down a request to remove a link to a German newspaper article critical of an artists work. In another, it rejected most of a batch of requests to remove links about a senior manager at a major British company who had received a long prison sentence for fraud. Szpunars views were welcomed by Article 19, a UK-based rights group that focuses on freedom of expression: European data regulators should not be able to determine the search results that internet users around the world get to see, Article 19 Executive Director Thomas Hughes said, adding he hoped the courts judges would back Szpunar. (Source) In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome! The Port of Seattle has announced the official kickoff in support of Governor Jay Inslees Maritime Blue Strategy, which aims to advance the regions maritime-based, blue economy through increased collaboration between its diverse sectors to promote innovation and sustainable practices as well as job opportunities for the future. Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman served as a member of the Maritime Blue Advisory Committee. The Maritime Blue Strategy aims to make Washington State home to a world-class, thriving and sustainable maritime industry by 2050 in partnership with business, academic and research institutions, ports, labor, and community organizations, according to a statement from the port. "I welcome the opportunity to support the development and implementation of Governor Inslee's Maritime Blue Strategy representing the Port of Seattle on the Innovation Advisory Council," said Commissioner Felleman. "The port is committed to creating a competitive maritime gateway, based on industry and labor prospering while decreasing their carbon intensity and environmental footprint. There is no better region in the nation to lead this effort than the Pacific Northwest where our maritime heritage runs deep and the spirit of innovation is part of our cultural fabric." The Maritime Blue strategy calls for a Maritime Innovation Center on port property for research and development and commercialization of innovation technology through public/private partnerships. The strategy also calls for greater electrification of maritime facilities to improve community and environmental health and create more opportunities on the working waterfront. Port of Seattle commissioners included funding plans for both projects in their 2019-2023 budget blueprint, approved in November 2018. The Maritime Innovation Center, be considered for Fishermens Terminal, will house incubation, acceleration, co-working and public meeting space. The center will act as a hub to the many spokes of maritime communities across the state. Commissioners also approved a funding plan to bring shorepower to the current cruise berth at Pier 66, take next steps towards electrifying the Seattle waterfront and to provide shorepower at Terminal 5. The port will also continue its workforce development to train and recruit the next generation of workers, another key component of the Maritime Blue strategy. Since 2015 the Port has tripled the size of its internship program to serve more than 100 high school and college students. In 2019 the Port will invest almost $3 million in workforce development funding to support apprenticeship training and retention and support regional efforts to increase the number of women and minorities on its job sites. Environmental demonstration projects to reduce carbon emissions have also been a key source of innovation at the port. Reduction in emissions by transition into electrification and renewable fuels has been a priority, with shorepower available for cruise ship plug-in at the busiest cruise terminal, and efforts to find alternatives to jet-fuel at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport already underway. The port is also in the process of installing solar cells on several of its buildings and has started a blue carbon pilot project that uses marine plants and shellfish to sequester carbon from the atmosphere and Puget Sound waters. Moving forward, the Port of Seattle said it is poised to fulfill the key tenets of the Maritime Blue Strategy for a growing economy, healthy ecosystems, and resilient communities. Existing partnership programs near Sea-Tac Airport and the Lower Duwamish will continue to engage underserved communities in those areas while growing the labor pool needed for growth in maritime and industrial job sectors. Foxconn said in a stock exchange filing that revenue fell 8.3 percent. The revenue performance for December compared to consolidated revenue of T$675.1 billion in December last year, which then represented a 50 percent year-on-year rise. Taiwans Foxconn, a key Apple Inc supplier, reported a 8 percent fall in its December revenue on Thursday, dampening its performance in 2018 amid tepid demand for electronics. Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, said in a stock exchange filing that revenue fell 8.3 percent to T$619.3 billion ($20.12 billion) in December. It is its first year-on-year monthly revenue dip since February. The revenue performance for December compared to consolidated revenue of T$675.1 billion in December last year, which then represented a 50 percent year-on-year rise. The main reason is that the fall for consumer category products was rather big, a company representative told reporters, explaining the reason for Decembers revenue dip. Foxconn said 2018 sales increased 12.5 percent compared to 2017. Warning signs about the health of the electronics sector have lingered in recent weeks, with Apple Inc cutting its first quarter revenue forecast and attributing its iPhone revenue shortfall primarily to Greater China. On Wednesday, the Nikkei Asian Review reported Apple had reduced planned production for its three new iPhone models by about 10 percent for the January-March quarter. Foxconns chairman Terry Gou said last year the spat between China and the United States was the biggest challenge the company was facing. (Source) To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Please click here to learn how. The Indian establishment nevertheless needs to be more sensitive of Bangladeshi sentiments and aspirations. The average Indian might be dismissive when it comes to neighbouring Bangladesh, which is seen as a desperately poor country exporting hordes of illegal immigrants and nasty Islamist fundamentalists, but Indias foreign policy and security managers have a different view: Bangladesh to them is a key strategic partner and a friendly neighbour. Their continued support to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, who was elected for a third consecutive term last week, is predicated on the view that without her New Delhis Dhaka policy will flounder and sink. The problem is that Bangladeshs political Opposition has been browbeaten, intimidated and broken. Prime Minister Hasinas principal rival, former PM Begum Khaleda Zia, has been found guilty of corruption by the courts and is in jail. Although Begum Khaleda was an implacable foe of India, New Delhi had at one time agreed to support her and her son, Tariq Zia, but had been stabbed in the back and Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was allowed a free run in the country. That betrayal had come as a shock for Delhi and Begum Khaleda was never to be trusted again. New Delhi thus was left with a solitary card in that country: Sheikh Hasina. That, however, cant be an entirely desirable situation. Too much power in the hands of Sheikh Hasina and her party has bred deep fissures and frustrations within the Bangladeshi society and polity. This is an inevitable consequence of virtual single-party rule and the absence of a functioning Opposition. Bangladesh has unfortunately not produced any leader charismatic enough to challenge either of the two ladies at the top. This has served to further constrain New Delhis choices. The Indian establishment nevertheless needs to be more sensitive of Bangladeshi sentiments and aspirations. The rapidly growing Bangladeshi middle class, which shapes the countrys polity and provides the political leadership, has mixed feelings about India. This class resents the negative manner in which they are perceived and treated by Indians. They also believe that New Delhi enjoys inordinate influence in their country and that it influences all aspects of political life here. They are not far off the mark. New Delhi sees no alternative to Sheikh Hasina, who has proved to be a dependable friend sensitive of Indian concerns. It is a partnership that has worked. But the question is for how long? Can a partnership with a single political leader and party endure indefinitely? The question is bound to gain urgency in the near future as Bangladeshs importance is destined to rise. The first set of reasons has to do with economics, the second with geopolitics. The stereotype of Bangladesh as a basket case is fast changing. Buoyed by a strong export economy and political stability, the countrys GDP growth has averaged six per cent annually since 2009. In nine years, the number of Bangladeshis living in extreme poverty has declined from about 19 per cent of the population to less than nine per cent, according to the World Bank. The booming economy has attracted several lakh Indians who work in Bangladesh while several businesses, including garments units, are owned and operated by Indians. As Bangladeshs economy booms, increased opportunities will open up and Indians will benefit only if good relations continue. Else, China will step in as it already has in the strategic sphere. Today, Bangladesh is the second-largest importer of Chinese weapons systems after Pakistan. Dhaka has bought tanks, aircraft and submarines from China, a country, which Prime Minister Hasina believes is destined to play a bigger role in the region. She has eagerly sought Chinese investments in her countrys infrastructure. Of the many big-ticket projects being executed by China, the 6-km $3.7 billion bridge over the Padma river and the upgrading of Chittagong Port are the most talked about. While New Delhi and the capitals media have mostly been focussed on strategic developments in the west, particularly in Pakistan where China operates the Gwadar deep sea port, Beijing is proceeding with even bigger and more significant strategic projects nearer home in the east. Of particular concern are the Chinese strategic projects in Myanmar, which constitutes Indias geopolitical backyard. Less than two months ago, China and Myanmar signed an agreement to build the deep-sea port project in Kyaukpyu town. A Chinese consortium controlled by the government will build the $1.3 billion project (scaled down from $7.2 billion), with 70 per cent of the cash coming from China. A joint venture, where the Chinese will have an overwhelming share, will construct and operate the port. Analysts have pointed out that this deep-sea port will be situated across the Bay of Bengal not far from a submarine base being developed by India near Visakhapatnam. With Kyaukpyu, China will have finished building a series of encircling ports around India, including Gwadar (Pakistan) and Hambantota (Sri Lanka). While Pakistans rising indebtedness and total military dependence on China have transferred effective economic policymaking from Islamabad to Beijing, a slow but similar process is underway in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka in recent years has seen the rise of a powerful pro-China lobby, of which former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a key figure. There can be no mistaking Beijings strategic intentions aimed at encircling and containing a rising India. Not surprisingly, Beijing has been working on Bangladesh as well. A few years ago, China wanted to develop a deep-sea port at Sonadia, south of Chittagong. The terms were dangerous and were clearly part of Beijings debt diplomacy. Bangladesh would have taken the bait had it not been for the Japanese, who proposed a far better and safer project. The Japanese are now building a deep-sea port at Matarbari, near Coxs Bazar, which will also have a huge 1200MW coal fired power plant, LNG terminal and other facilities. This project is touted as comprising part of a broader project to turn the area into an industrial corridor, and an important trade gateway to the rest of Asia and beyond. Japan is providing most of the funding at very favourable terms. Indian interests in Bangladesh were thus rescued by Japan. Dhaka nevertheless is exploring options while the Chinese have shown no hesitation in bribing foreign politicians and officials to push through their agenda. It is time perhaps for India as well to broaden and diversify its political links within Bangladesh. 01/11/2019 Photo via Wikipedia A Royal Caribbean cruise ended early after nearly 300 people reportedly suffered gastrointestinal symptoms. Royal Caribbean confirmed that 277 guests and crew members came down with a symptoms consistent with norovirus, a stomach illness that can be caused by contaminated food or drinks, or by people not washing their hands, according to the CDC. The cruise line stressed that sick passengers accounted for a small percentage of the nearly 9,000 people aboard the Oasis of the Seas cruise. Nevertheless, authorities in Jamaica didnt allow any of the guests to disembark as a precaution. Some passengers complained on social media that many parts of the boat had been cordoned off. They said that most restaurants and bars were closed during the long wait at the Jamaican port. Me and my girl personally saw 3 locations cut off for vomit, one passenger wrote on Twitter. The ships next destination was in Mexico, but it headed back to Florida instead. Royal Caribbean apologized and distributed a letter to guests, offering everyone a full refund for the weeklong trip, which ended a day early due to the outbreak. Royal Caribbeans CEO said last year that norovirus is common on cruise ships because it is easily spread among the close quarters where people stay. He said that passengers need to make sure that they properly wash their hands. As part of the attempt to justify the Speakers rewriting of the parliamentary rulebook, or at least to discredit his critics, David Allen Green (henceforth DAG) yesterday presented a list of alleged constitutional outrages by the May Government. The effect of this is to paint a portrait of a reckless, even lawless executive which left the beleaguered Speaker no choice but to do what he did (which in any event DAG, unlike experts both sympathetic and otherwise, doesnt think is a big deal). Since at the time of writing the top tweet of that thread has received over 8,600 likes, and he has this morning repackaged it as an article in the Financial Times, its worth taking the time to point out that many (although by no means all) of the items he presents dont stand up to scrutiny as charges of constitutional wrongdoing. I already did this on Twitter, but will follow DAG is setting it out more clearly in writing. Lets take a look at the more dubious claims. Quotes are from the FT. The government packed the standing committees (which scrutinise legislation) with Conservative majorities by procedural sleight of hand, despite there being a hung parliament. Not for the last time, DAG conflates things which usually happen with things which ought to happen. The reason that minority governments dont usually manage to secure majorities on standing committees is because they dont usually have the votes to do so. Thanks to its alliance with the Democratic Unionist Party this Government did have those votes. The procedural sleight of hand was building alliances and winning votes in the Commons, which is exactly what minority governments are supposed to do. Nothing in the constitution obliges a minority government to lose votes it can win. Anybody whod like to know more about this particular dispute can read this piece I wrote for ConHome at the time. The government deliberately broke the Commons pairing convention when an opposition MP was on maternity leave so that the government could win a vote. We called for Julian Smith to consider his position as Chief Whip when the story broke about Brandon Lewis breaking his pair with Jo Swinson, so no disagreement here that doing so was very bad form. However, anybody familiar with parliamentary history will know that pairing is an arrangement which has broken down in the past, often to the detriment of the government of the day. James Grahams play, This House, captures its soul-crushing effect on the Callaghan administration particularly well. Pairing is an arrangement struck between MPs, and as we explained in our piece on Smith MPs are both responsible and quite capable of exacting a heavy price from any government, let alone a minority government, which disregards it. George Thomas didnt need to change the rules to punish ministers for breaking pairing, and nor did Bercow. The government repeatedly ignored and does not even participate in votes on opposition motions. As I wrote at the time Opposition Day is theatre, pure and simple. You might count it poor sportsmanship for the Government to sit out opposition motions indeed, it probably is but it does helpfully illustrate their nature as meaningless gestures. Moreover, sources more familiar with this than me suggest that such an approach by the sitting government isnt even without precedent. Most importantly, and this is a theme which runs through a lot of these points, sitting out opposition day motions is not a breach of the rules. The government committed itself to billions of pounds of public expenditure in a blatant bribe to the Democratic Unionist party for support in a supply and confidence arrangement. Of all of them, this point is probably the most ridiculous it actually manages the feat of being a sillier objection to the DUPs relationship with the Government than the idea that it breaches the Belfast Agreement, which to his credit DAG does not advance. However one feels about pork-barrel politics, theres no doubting that such horse-trading is a well-established and perfectly constitutional part of parliamentary life when minority governments are concerned. Again, the dying days of the Callaghan Government illustrate this very well. The government repeatedly seeks to circumvent or abuse the Sewell [sic] convention in its dealings with the devolved administrations. The Sewel Convention provides that the British Government will not normally legislate on matters which have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, or Northern Ireland Assembly. It emphatically does not contrary to some rather strained interpretations say that Westminster will not legislate for devolved competences under any circumstances whatsoever. Furthermore, in strict constitutional terms parliamentary supremacy means that Westminster can quite properly legislate on anything whatsoever it wishes. So on the letter of the law the Government has committed no impropriety. What about the spirit? Well, if the clear provision for legislating in abnormal circumstances baked into the Sewel Convention doesnt cover Brexit, its difficult to see what circumstances could possibly qualify. The government seeks to legislate for staggeringly wider Henry VIII powers so that it can legislate and even repeal Acts without any recourse to parliament. Whatever you think about Henry VIII powers, the crucial wording which renders this point a nonsense is seeks to legislate. That means that the Government is going through the normal legislative method to seek approval from the House of Commons for these powers. MPs are quite able to defeat this effort in the normal way. The government even sought to make the Article 50 notification without any parliamentary approval and forced the litigation to go all the way to the Supreme Court (where it lost). The government employed three QCs to oppose the litigation on whether Article 50 could be revoked unilaterally (which it also lost). Another surreal one. The outcome of the Miller case was far from a foregone conclusion, and the Government was entirely within its legal rights both to fight the case and to appeal. When it lost the case it proceeded to seek (and obtain) parliamentary authorisation for triggering Article 50 as then required by law. For DAGs allegation of impropriety to have any weight, one of two things would need to be true. First, the idea of triggering A50 using the royal prerogative would need to have been obviously unconstitutional. Lord Reeds very cogent dissent in the Miller case puts paid to that idea. Second, the Government exercising its legal right to appeal an adverse judgement and employing QCs to do it! would need to somehow constitute a constitutional trespass itself. Nowhere is a case for that very strange notion made. Here endeth the fisking. As I said above, not every example cited by DAG is incorrect. But spraying out a lot of inappropriate examples of constitutional impropriety paints a false and flattering picture of the context in which the Speaker made his decision. Moreover, we should not forget that MPs have proved more than capable of holding the Government to account on several occasions when it has crossed the line. The Commons successfully forced it to publish the impact assessments, and held it in contempt of Parliament when it tried to hide its legal advice. It also retains the right to no-confidence the executive which remains the actual source of the supremacy of the legislature in our system. But DAG does, in my view, get one other big thing wrong, which cuts to the very heart of his analysis. He advocates for a constitution of ends, rather than of means, and fails to account for the need to check the power of the Commons as well as the Government. At root, a constitution is a matter of process: institutions and conventions, rules and procedures. The constitution is not about what is done that is the business of politics but how things are done. Yet in his analysis, DAG consistently elevates the ends over the means. He attacks as constitutional outrages Government actions of which he disapproves, despite their being within the rules, and defends Bercows shattering precedents in pursuit of a cause which he supports as fine constitutional conduct. Not only is this no way to run an actual system of checks and balances, which requires all the parties it governs to have faith in the clarity and even-handed application of the agreed rules, but it also fails to acknowledge that the executive has legitimate prerogatives of its own and that the Commons is as much in need of being checked and balanced as any other part of the constitution. Morever, once youre so divorced from the rulebook it renders the whole idea of constitutional impropriety essentially meaningless. In sum, therefore, DAGs list of constitutional outrages suggests no greater understanding of parliamentary arcana than he ascribes to those critics whose unhappiness and screaming he doubts and derides. Philip Hammond may have coined the phrase an appropriate use of the term, in this case. No-one voted to become poorer or less secure, he told the Conservative Party Conference in 2016, less than six months after the Brexit referendum vote. As others have taken those words up, the last three have tended to drop off it. But was he right? Obviously, even as senior a Minister as the Chancellor cannot have read the minds of all 17 million plus of those who backed Leave the largest number of people who have ever voted for anything in a British poll. But let us leave the point there, and turn to his own departments forecasts. The Treasurys median long-term estimate is that a WTO-based outcome would reduce cumulative growth over 15 years from about 25 per cent to about 17 per cent. In other words, GDP would, under this scenario, be eight per cent lower than it would otherwise be. It would rise more slowly, not fall. So even the Treasury, the high temple of Remain, doesnt expect us to become poorer but rather, less rich than we would otherwise be. You may counter that this lost growth would mean lost wages and tax receipts, lower spending and higher tax. Or that some short-term forecasts do suggest that we will become poorer this year in the event of No Deal. (The CBI is pushing a very-worst-case scenario today.) We could come back by pouring cold water on all such forecasts, starting with George Osbornes referendum campaign projections of an immediate recession, half a million more people unemployed, and house prices 18 per cent lower than they would otherwise have been. Instead, the economy grew, unemployment fell and house prices rose. But rather than vanish into a statistical snowstorm, we ask our readers to view Hammonds statement from a different angle two angles, to be precise. The first is from the Left. Trident costs the taxpayer roughly 2 billion a year. That money could instead be spent on tax cuts or public services. Very many on the Left (and some on the Right) argue that it should be. They say that we dont use Trident, wouldnt ever use it, shouldnt ever use it. The cash should go instead on schools or hospitals or benefits or childcare. Next, mull an argument from the Right. Overseas aid comes at a price of about 14 billion annually. Again, that money could be spent on public services or tax cuts or, the Right being the Right, on debt repayment. A lot of people on it and a sprinkling on the Left hold that development aid is wasted or stolen and perverts incentives and is subject to the law of unintended consequences. Now stand back from the fray, and ponder a stubborn fact. Voters consistently back Trident and aid. No, thats not quite right. Rather, put it this way: voters consistently return governments committed to both. Then turn to another subject to illustrate the same point. Pro-migration campaigners argue that it makes us richer both overall and per head. Others dispute that claim. Lets assume for the sake of the argument that those campaigners are right. Even if every single voter could be persuaded of this, there is reason to doubt that all of them would come round to wanting higher rather than lower migration. Very many would believe that there would still be costs in some places to higher immigration in terms, for example, of pressure on housing. And then there is the i-word: integration. At which point, it is worth standing back from Hammonds statement, and asking not whether he was right or wrong, but what he actually meant or implied. Who is the no-one in question? Who are those to whom he glancingly refers? Obviously, the British people. But thats a term which invites further thought. In one sense, the British people is a single entity; in another, it is lots of groups of people, breaking down in turn into families and individuals. Many of them help to pay for others. Older people tend not to use schools, but they help to fund them. Younger people use the NHS less than older ones, but they help to pay for it. Londoners, some say, subsidise the rest of the UK. And so on and so forth. Readers will see where all this is going. At each election, we vote to make ourselves poorer, in the sense of becoming less rich than we otherwise would be. We plump for Trident because we worry about our security (to reprise the Chancellors word); or for lower migration because we think it will mean more cohesion, or for overseas aid because of solidarity with those who suffer. We vote to fund public services we dont use and parts of the country we dont live in. Security, cohesion, solidarity: these are intangibles. They cant be touched or smelled or tasted seen or heard. They may lead to material gains, but they are not material themselves. None comes with a price tag, but all have value. Lets end by illustrating the point. John Hume was fond of quoting his anti-sectarian father, who used to say: you cant eat a flag. True and anyone who has tried to do so has presumably been disappointed. But the reverse also applies. No-one, we suspect, has ever sung: I vow to thee, my breakfast. Those intangibles such as self-government, to cite another matter. From one point of view, the desire for the last is a form of solidarity or even for, to use a more EU-ish word, subsidiarity. You can properly reply that self-government and patriotism arent the same thing, or even that they dont overlap at all. So be it. What you cant do, this site believes, is claim that Brexit alone, uniquely, exceptionally, will make us less rich than we otherwise would be (if it does so at all). By commission, by omission, in the ballot booth and out of it, we opt to do this all the time almost without noticing. Gareth Streeter: Three facts which suggest a rise in food bank use is not just down to Universal Credit Gareth Streeter is a councillor in Croydon, a former Parliamentary candidate and charity campaigner. It almost seems a lifetime ago that Universal Credit was heralded as the great white hope of compassionate Conservatism. Hailed as a progressive revelation which would simplify a laboriously complicated system and break a generational cycle of joblessness it even at one stage enjoyed cross-party support. Since its roll-out began however, believers in the innovation have often failed to hold their nerve. Left-leaning media have lambasted the changes as pushing already poor people further into poverty and this narrative has been bolstered by regular figures from the Trussell Trust claiming that since the roll-out began food bank usage has reached a record high. It has been almost a year since the headline figure of a million Brits using food banks first hit the headlines. While Universal Credit is now available in all areas, this year was due to mark the transfer of existing benefit claimants to the new system a process that would be complete by 2023. The Government is best placed to know how equipped it is to make this transfer as seamless as possible. If they have serious concerns about the dangers of the roll out to the cash flow of low-income people, they are wise to delay it. Rome was not built in a day and it is eminently acceptable for the biggest welfare reform in generations to take a decade. The Conservative Party has never been one to celebrate the victory of principle over practice. If Universal Credit fails in its objective of helping people into work, and simply pushes people into food banks in the process, we should withdraw our support for it. But if we do, we should base this decision on fact rather than misplaced fury. In reality, the media reports linking the introduction of Universal Credit to an increase of food bank usage are questionable in fact and devoid of context. Before anyone judges Universal Credit too harshly based on these criteria, it is important to remember three essential points of context. The UK has the second lowest level of food bank usage in the G7 If Universal Credit or any other measure of welfare reform is the main driver of food bank usage in the UK than it would be a uniquely British phenomenon. However, when compared to similarly wealthy countries, reliance on them is relatively low. When Obama volunteered at a food bank late last year it was hailed as a noble gesture which it surely was. But there was no commentary around the fact that far more Americans used food banks under his presidency than Brits ever have under a Conservative Government. Even if we believe the figure that a million Brits used food banks in a single year (and it really is a big if) this equates to about 1.5 per cent of the population. In the USA, an epic 12 per cent of citizens have had the same experience. While this may not be a major shock given Americas reputation as a minimal-safety-net nation, countries with a more socialist bent than Britain also fare worse. Research suggests that 1.8 per cent of people use food banks in Germany and a staggering 5.8 per cent do so in left-leaning France. Japan (0.1 per cent) is the only G7 country to rank below the UK. While no robust research exists as to why these figures are so low, most commentary speculates that Japanese pride is likely to be a major factor in preventing people seeking help. These figures alone should give us extreme caution in putting the blame for any increase in food bank usage on the shoulders of welfare reform. The rise in food banks began under Labour and before welfare reforms For a variety of different reasons, food banks are a relatively recent addition to the social offer in Britain, with the Trussell Trust (the main body behind them in the UK) launching their food bank network in 2004. As a result, food bank usage increased 20-fold in the last years of Labours reign. Was this down to an increase in hunger following the recession? Or was it the result of churches and other community groups heroically mobilising themselves as a result of the increased awareness of poverty that always comes with economic instability? It is very difficult to say. But if Labour has now decided that the food bank phenomena is a direct result of Government policy, they have some probing questions to ask about their own time in office. The rise in food banks probably result in an increase in referrals rather than an increase in hunger Universal Credit has been heavily lambasted for delays that have left people out of pocket. In truth, benefit delays have always been a problem. As we have seen, the rise in food banks begun under the last Labour Government. However, they refused to allow these acts of charity to be part of the solution and banned Job Centres from referring claimants to these potential sources of help. This changed in 2010 when the coalition with a belief in the big society allowed Job Centres to sign-post to food banks, initially by giving vouchers. This is almost certainly the reason that food bank usage has continued to rise. The use of a food bank may not be everyones preferred option to the problem of benefit delays. But it is surely better than the hopelessness offered under Labour. Without being directed toward a food bank, people not able to extract support from friends and family presumably went hungry. These points do not mean that the roll-out has been free from problem, or that Government shouldnt keep a watchful eye and be proactive in fixing errors. It must of course take the time it needs to iron out the kinks. The Trussell Trusts research suggesting that the increase in food bank usage was greater in areas where Univeral Credit had been fully rolled out for a year or more is worth taking seriously (although the sample size is small). However, this research does not explore how much increased awareness of food banks in pilot areas was a factor and crucially, this research was conducted before the introduction of the full advance loan, which is a major game changer. Having spent the time delving into this issue, I am confident that Universal Credit is not at the heart of the problem. But that is not to say that we do not have a problem. People in our country are struggling and it is essential that every aspect of society including government plays its part in understanding and fixing it. What we need now is for Government, charities, faith and community groups and other agencies to come together to understand the underlying causes of food poverty and to work collaboratively to address them. I am committed to playing my small part in this but I am concerned that if we continue to make a scapegoat of welfare reform, we will not only fail to judge Universal Credit on its merits, we will never gain the depth of understanding we need to truly make poverty history. Ben Houchen is the Mayor of the Tees Valley. Life after Brexit means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To the academic Brexiteer it could be the sunlit uplands of Free Trade and Free Speech, while to the arch-Remainer it means a nightmarish hellscape of disorder and scarcity. But to Britons who voted both leave and remain, life after Brexit should mean change. Real, visible, demonstrable change. Whether we leave with no deal or the EUs proposed deal, the onus is on the nations politicians to make life after we leave both visibly different and better than before. The threat to our democracy if we coast along, or worse, ignore the will of the people, is real. Putting blue passports and other changes to international travel aside, making Brexit feel like Brexit means delivering the promises of the referendum. To Conservatives this means or it certainly should mean more freedom for individuals in the immediate term, while looking at how we create a better world for future generations, and do justice to those who came before us. In short, those of us who believe in both Britain and Brexit need to protect the vision that was sold to voters when we won the referendum in 2016 taking back control. We need to clearly demonstrate that politicians have listened, learned and will think and act differently to before. This can be achieved in a number of ways. The UK has one of the lowest youth unemployment rates anywhere in Europe, but there are still hundreds of thousands of under 25s in need of the first step on the career ladder. This is one challenge where an end to unrestricted, unskilled migration may bring change. On top of incentivising companies to hire young people from the UK either through the tax system or otherwise the scarcity caused by restrictions on unskilled labour may well force companies to become more innovative and thus productive. While we can blame free movement for exacerbating our productivity problem, tackling it as a whole rather than relying purely on migration controls is one of the best ways we can grow our economy. Thats why I welcome the Governments plan to introduce an immigration system based on peoples skills, not where they come from. A clear example of demonstrable change. A new trade policy, with an eventual shift from the declining EU to relationships with faster growing economies must be a national priority. One of my flagship policies for the Tees Valley, which I hope the Government will adopt, is the creation of Free Trade Zones in the UK. These would realise the benefits of increased manufacturing and international trade faster than might otherwise happen, through tariff and tax incentives. Sometimes called Free Ports, these zones could help to add billions to the economies of the UKs most deprived regions, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Most fittingly, this policy would bring the benefits of Brexit to areas that voted heavily to leave. Another example of clear, demonstrable change. Closer to home, there are some quick wins the Government can do the day after Brexit to demonstrate it is serious about change. Scrapping the hated Tampon Tax and VAT on energy bills would make the vast majority of Britons better off over night. It might also consider a CANZUK migration deal with Australia, New Zealand and Canada, to strengthen ties with our old friends on the international stage while ensuring we have access to skills from around the globe. The new Shared Prosperity Fund, which will replace EU funding into the regions, is a great opportunity to put areas like mine back in control of our own economic destinies especially if the money is directed by elected Metro Mayors. Some organisations, often big businesses and even bigger public bodies, want business as usual after Brexit, yet these organisations are desperately in need of change, and the ones that will benefit most from it. Many of the challenges faced today are not entirely Brexit related, but more simply the reality of political, economic, and business life in the 21st century. While not a silver bullet, Brexit does however present both the opportunity and an incentive to tackle them now. SUTD pioneers Singapores first undergraduate research programme Moving ahead of the times, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) has reportedly become a pioneer in launching the first undergraduate research programme in Singapore. This course, called SUTD Honours and Research Programme, or SHARP, is a 3.5-year programme which can be done on top of existing coursework for a degree. With the launch of the new premier SHARP, aspiring research scientists, engineers and innovators can now undertake a structured research-oriented programme right from the undergraduate level, said SUTD in a press release. Closely mentored by faculty in fully-funded research projects, students will be schooled in research disciplines that deepen their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, allowing them to innovate and come up with original ideas or solutions to benefit industries and society at large, it added. SUTD Honours and Research Programme, or SHARP, is a 3.5-year programme which can be done on top of existing coursework for a degree. Photo courtesy: Wikipedia SHARP students will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science, with the option to pursue a graduate degree such as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in either Engineering or Architecture, or a Masters in engineering by research at SUTD. Each SHARP student will receive a research grant of SGD15,000, comprising a research project allowance of SGD7,500, and another SGD7,500 to cover research-related expenses, such as conference presentation, research attachments and others. The students will also get to attend a research internship overseas at institutes like Zhejiang University and Carnegie-Mellon University. Under the programme, students will take advanced classes during their first year to deepen their foundation and knowledge in key subjects. As we see increasing interest from students to do research at the undergraduate level, it is timely to introduce SHARP, a premier research programme. SHARP aims to equip students with deep critical thinking and problem-solving skills that help them think out-of-the-box, to come up with original solutions or ideas. SHARP students will not only work closely with a multi-disciplinary research group to fully experience the entire lifecycle of research, but also gain the opportunity to collaborate with international researchers and corporations, said Professor Chong Tow Chong, SUTD President. We also want to give incoming students greater flexibility and ease in pursuing their interests and broaden their knowledge and hands on experiences, be it academically, in entrepreneurship or even in the arts, while de-emphasising the focus on academic grades. We hope the new adjustments to our rigorous curriculum will further enrich students experiences as well as nurture them into industry- and future-ready technically-grounded leaders and innovators who can better the world by design, he added. However, the requirements are stringent as applicants must score at least two A's in a Mathematics and a Science subject at H2 level or the equivalent, to be eligible. Undergraduates must also maintain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 to stay in the programme. Go-Jek at full throttle to overtake Grab in Singapore With the announcement of Go-Jek making its services available to all consumers across Singapore, the ride-hailing scene in the island country have become hot as this Indonesian unicorn aims to take on the market leader Grab. It has already lured customers as the first-time riders will receive two SGD5 vouchers which they can use for two rides within two weeks of signing up, the company added. Go-Jek had made its services available to all DBS/POSB customers islandwide on January 2. However, it made an entry into Singapore on November 29 itself which covered half of the island including the Central Business District, Jurong East, Changi, Punggol, Ang Mo Kio and Sentosa. Go-Jek has made its services available to all consumers across Singapore. Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Customers in Singapore have already been affected by the dominance of Grab in the ride-hailing market as they have to shell out more money in surge pricing. At times, Grab fares can almost be double of Go-Jek. However, Grab justified the high surges in its blog post that its main priority is to allocate a ride to its users as fast as possible. When there are more people booking than the number of drivers available in an area eg. during peak hours, rainy weather, or in more secluded places fares surge or go up to encourage more drivers to head to you. Meanwhile, Go-Jek seeks to further fine-tune its app and user experience based on feedback received from the increased number of driver-partners and riders who will use Go-Jek across the island. Owing to feedback from riders and drivers, Go-Jek said it has enhanced its routing system for more accurate and quicker routes, and to improve riders' waiting time. A heatmap showing areas with higher demand has been added to help drivers pick up more riders and complete more trips. Grab has dominated the ride-hailing market of Singapore since it acquired Ubers Southeast Asian business in March last year. Photo courtesy: Grab Go-Jek is in the middle a major expansion plan beyond its Indonesian base with a focus on Southeast Asia, and has recently introduced services in Vietnam and Thailand. Grab has dominated the ride-hailing market of Singapore since it acquired Ubers Southeast Asian business in March last year. In return, Uber received a 27.5 per cent stake in Grab. However, Singapore's anti-monopoly watchdog fined both Grab and Uber a total of SGD13 million (USD9.61 million) for breaking competition rules during the merger, saying that the deal has led to the substantial eroding of competition in the ride-hailing market. Go-Jek is one of Southeast Asias unicorn startups and has won financial backing from investors including Google, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek and Chinese internet giant Tencent. Go-Jek was last valued at USD5 billion (SGD6.76 billion). Grab is reportedly valued at USD10 billion (SGD13.53 billion) Southeast Asia's ride-hailing market is expected to reach USD20 billion (SGD27.05 billion) by 2025, according to research by Google and Temasek. The Shiv Sena said that the population above 15 years of age is increasing in India by 13 lakh. The party also asked that after providing the quota, how would the government provide jobs for those eligible. Mumbai: Taking a dig at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, the Shiv Sena has asked the government where are jobs. An editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana on Thursday said that those who are in power have failed on the twin fronts of employment and eradicating poverty and they now have to play the reservation card. It has also said that if the decision to provide 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections had been taken for votes, it will be proven costly. The party also asked that after providing the quota, how would the government provide jobs for those eligible. The Maratha community has been accorded reservation but where are the jobs, it asked. The Shiv Sena said that the population above 15 years of age is increasing in India by 13 lakh. At the same time, employing people below the age of 18 years is a crime. Despite that, child labour is continuing.80-90 lakh new job opportunities are needed every year to balance the employment rate in the nation. However, this balance has been unstable these days, the editorial said. Employment opportunities in the last two years have been reduced in the country and 1.5-2 crore jobs have been lost owing to decisions such as demonetisation and GST implementation. The Sena also said that the youth have been disappointed due to unemployment. For instance, 2.8 crore people had applied for 90 lakh jobs in Railways and more than 4 lakh people applied for 1,137 positions in the Mumbai police in 2018. Many of these candidates had more educational qualifications than required: 468 candidates have engineering degrees, 230 people have Masters degree in business administration. More than 1,100 people have postgraduate degrees. Ten per cent reservation for the general category will not lead to a different scenario. It has said that after getting 10 per cent reservation will the eligible youth of the general category be able to gain anything? Unemployment is the Brahmakshaksha. Poverty is Satan, read the editorial. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Video leads to arrest of 3 villagers for dragging, assaulting cat. The viral video shows villagers assaulting the hapless cub and a villager dragging it across the open field and flinging it around. Mumbai: A six-month-old leopard cub recently succumbed to injuries after it was dr-agged around and injured by locals in Gondia, Maharashtra. A video of the incident, which occu-rred at Koylari village near the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve in Gondia forest division of Vidarbha region, has gone viral on social media platforms. According to the state forest department, the se-verely injured cub was rescued on January 6, but it lost its life while getting treated in Kohmara village the next day. We have arrested three persons in connection with the torture of the animal. Some local villagers had dragged the cub by its tail and dumped it in an open area in the forest, the official said. After the torture, the locals clicked pictures and took selfies while the dehydrated cub lying on the ground. The viral video shows villagers assaulting the hapless cub and a villager dragging it across the open field and flinging it around. On receiving information about the leopard cub being thrashed by locals, forest officials rushed to the spot and found it unconscious. We immediately provided medication to the injured cub, which was suffering from diarrhoea, and kept it under observation, Gondia deputy conservator of forest Yuvraj S. said. Officials stated that in the search operation, a sub-adult leopard was also found that aged around one-and-a-half years. The forest department took it under our care and provided necessary medication, after which it was released in the forest. After ascertaining with the videographic eviden-ce, three persons were ar-rested and are now in police custody. The three were identified as Prak-ash Puram, Lokesh Jha-de and Asif Sheikh. They were produced in a local court and sent to police custody till Friday. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. SHOWS February 22, 2021 10.00 am Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. This illustration depicts how the Orbital O2 turbine will look when in the water. An innovative form of ocean energy generation is set to go into commercial production after a crowdfunding round raised 7 million ($8.97 million). Orbital Marine Power, a Scottish engineering company, will use the money to construct a production model of its Orbital O2 2MW turbine, which it claims will be the "most powerful tidal generating platform in the world" when launched. In a statement Thursday, it described the unit as a floating turbine that "can be towed, installed and easily maintained." It is made up of a 73-meter long "superstructure" that supports two 1 megawatt (MW) turbines on each side. The scheme has already locked in several supporting grants in addition to equity funding, with some coming from the Scottish government. Orbital Marine Power's CEO, Andrew Scott, said that the firm was "delighted" with the funding result. "It's a terrific endorsement of our technology and a clear signal that the U.K. public is hugely supportive of seeing tidal energy brought into the domestic and global energy mixes," Scott added. "The whole team at Orbital Marine are excited to be moving forwards with this flagship project and deliver the first O2 unit for costs similar to offshore wind and so provide the basis for a new and sustainable industry." Orbital Marine Power said it was planning to build the turbine over the next 12 months. It will be deployed at the European Marine Energy Centre, in Orkney, next year. The last few months have seen Orbital Marine Power announce a number of agreements relating to its newest turbine. Towards the end of 2018, the company revealed it had signed an agreement to demonstrate its floating tidal technology at the Morlais Tidal Energy Project at Anglesey, an island off the coast of Wales. In 2016, the business launched its SR2000 turbine, which generated more than 3 gigawatt hours of electricity during its initial 12-month test program. The European Commission, the legislative arm of the EU, has described "ocean energy" as being both abundant and renewable. It's estimated that ocean energy could potentially contribute around 10 percent of the European Union's power demand by 2050, according to the Commission. The Chrysler Building is seen from above in New York City. Several Democratic politicians known collectively as "the governors" among elite donors have been in contact with Wall Street's top political financiers as they each consider running for president in 2020, CNBC has learned. The group includes former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, according to business leaders with knowledge of the discussions who declined to be named. The four men are among a large group of Democrats considering whether they should take a shot at trying to unseat President Donald Trump next year. The first primary contests of the presidential election season are a year away, and several possible Democratic candidates are expected to announce their plans in the coming weeks and months. A person close to Hickenlooper, who handed the Colorado governor's office to fellow Democrat Jared Polis earlier this week, said he has been meeting with donors in New York. "I can confirm he has met with top New York donors," this person said. "We meet with a wide range of donors with shared values across sectors." A spokesman for Hickenlooper declined to comment. Crystal Carson, a spokeswoman for McAuliffe, did not deny that the former Virginia governor was in touch with Wall Street and leading Democratic Party donors in New York. "As the governor has said, he is making a hundreds of calls to active donors as he weighs his decision," Carson said in an email. While courting New York's elite donors, Bullock's team has also been reaching out to potential staff in Iowa, a Democratic staffer in the state told CNBC on the condition of anonymity. The Montana governor was elected chairman of the National Governors Association last year and made "Good Jobs for All Americans" his signature initiative. He has denied that he took on the new role to increase his national profile though the possible 2020 contender made at least three trips to Iowa last year. Representatives for Inslee and Bullock did not return repeated requests for comment. While no commitments have been made, the early moves by these governors demonstrate the steep hill some of them need to climb to connect with donors outside of their individual states. The developments also come at a time when many other potential 2020 contenders are reaching out to potential Wall Street backers, including Sens. Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a longtime critic of the Street, has tried to distance herself from any association with big money as a way to appeal to the progressive wing of the party. She has gone as far as shuttering her joint fundraising committee. U.S. officials expect China's top trade negotiator may visit Washington this month, signaling that higher-level discussions are likely to follow this week's talks with mid-level officials in Beijing as the world's two largest economies try to hammer out a deal to end a tit-for-tat tariff war. "The current intent is that the Vice Premier Liu He will most likely come and visit us later in the month and I would expect the government shutdown would have no impact," U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters on Thursday in Washington. "We will continue with those meetings just as we sent a delegation to China." The U.S. government is in the 20th day of a partial shutdown with President Donald Trump, a Republican, and congressional Democrats feuding over funding and Trump's desire for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. People familiar with the talks in Beijing said on Thursday that hopes were mounting that Liu would continue talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Mnuchin. Talks at that level are viewed as important for making the key decisions to ease a festering trade war, which has disrupted trade flows for hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods and roiled global markets. Trump has demanded better terms of trade with China, with the United States pressing Beijing to address issues that would require structural change such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers and other non-tariff barriers. Trump on Thursday said the United States was having "tremendous success" in its trade negotiations with China. A spokeswoman for Lighthizer's office declined to comment. More than halfway through a 90-day truce in the U.S.-China trade war agreed on Dec. 1 when Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the G20 summit in Argentina, there have been few details provided of any progress made. Trump has vowed to increase tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports on March 2 if China fails to take steps to protect U.S. intellectual property, end policies that force American companies to turn over technology to a Chinese partner, allow more market access for U.S. businesses and reduce other non-tariff barriers to American products. The timeline is seen as ambitious, but the resumption of face-to-face negotiations has bolstered hopes of a deal. "We have the two sides back at the table. That's encouraging," said Myron Brilliant, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's head of international affairs, while speaking to reporters at an event on Thursday. Federal government employees, contract workers and other demonstrators march during a "Rally to End the Shutdown" in Washington, January 10, 2019. President Donald Trump has been briefed on a plan that would use the Army Corps of Engineers and a portion of $13.9 billion of Army Corps funding to build 315 miles of barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the briefing. The money was set aside to fund projects all over the country including storm-damaged areas of Puerto Rico through fiscal year 2020, but the checks have not been written yet and, under an emergency declaration, the president could take the money from these civil works projects and use it to build the border wall, said officials familiar with the briefing and two congressional sources. The plan could be implemented if Trump declares a national emergency in order to build the wall and would use more money and build more miles than the administration has requested from Congress. The president had requested $5.7 billion for a wall stretching 234 miles. More from NBC News: Under the proposal, the officials said, Trump could dip into the $2.4 billion allocated to projects in California, including flood prevention and protection projects along the Yuba River Basin and the Folsom Dam, as well as the $2.5 billion set aside for reconstruction projects in Puerto Rico, which is still recovering from Hurricane Maria. Senior Defense Department officials discussed the proposal with Trump during his Thursday flight to the southern border, according to officials familiar with the briefing. Trump was informed that the Army Corps could build 315 miles of border wall in about 18 months, according to officials familiar with the planning. The barrier would be a 30-foot bollard-style wall with a feature designed to prevent climbing, the officials said. The Corps would focus first on the heavily trafficked border areas along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, in San Diego and El Centro in California, as well as Yuma, Arizona. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. A source on Capitol Hill said if the president moves to pull money from Corps of Engineers civil works projects, Democrats in Congress are likely to submit legislation to block the money from being reallocated. Asked about the proposal, a Democratic staffer warned that taking money from civil works projects in the U.S. will put American lives at risk. "Hundreds of thousands of people will be at risk if there is a strong or wet winter in these flood areas and the protection projects haven't been completed," the staffer said. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., said the Democrats would fight "with every ounce of energy we have" to stop the president from using Army Corps funds to build a southern border wall. "It would be beyond appalling for the president to take money from places like Puerto Rico that have suffered enormous catastrophes, costing thousands of American citizens lives, in order to pay for Donald Trump's foolish, offensive and hateful wall," Velazquez said. "Siphoning funding from real disasters to pay for a crisis manufactured by the president is wholly unacceptable and the American people won't fall for it." Slack Technologies Inc is planning to go public through a direct listing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Slack, which operates a popular workplace instant-messaging and collaboration app, is likely to debut in the second quarter and currently expects to do so via a direct listing, according to the report. The plan for direct listing will potentially make Slack the second big technology company after Spotify Technology SA to bypass a traditional IPO, WSJ reported. Slack had hired investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc to lead its initial public offering as an underwriter, Reuters had reported in December. Slack did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. President Donald Trump should not declare a national emergency over illegal immigration in order to bypass Congress to get his long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, Sen. Chuck Grassley, a veteran Republican from Iowa, told CNBC on Friday. Declaring a national emergency could give the president the ability to use the military to build the wall instead of getting Congress to approve funding for it. Trump wants about $5.7 billion for border security, including about 234 miles of new barriers. Democrats, who now control the House, have refused to allocate any money that goes to the building of any more walls or fences along the U.S. southern border. Grassley said in a "Squawk Box" interview that "I believe you're going to find it in the courts almost immediately. And the courts are going to make a decision" if Trump declares an emergency. Grassley said the quicker the Supreme Court could make a decision on the matter should it come to pass the better. "The president is threatening emergency action, a national emergency declaration. I don't think he should do that. I think it's a bad precedent. And it contravenes the power of the purse that comes from the elected representatives of the people," said Grassley, who was elected to Congress in 1974 and the Senate in 1980. On Wednesday, Trump said he will "probably" declare a national emergency if a wall deal can't be worked out. Sen. Marco Rubio, who unsuccessfully sought the 2016 GOP presidential nomination said Wednesday on CNBC that a national emergency declaration by Trump could create a slippery slope. "If today, the national emergency is border security ... tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change," said the Florida lawmaker, referring to climate change as an issue that's near and dear to Democrats and anathema to Republicans. Both Trump and Democrats have been digging in on their wall positions, leading to a partial government shutdown, now in Day 21. On Friday, the shutdown tied the 1995-96 closure during the Clinton administration as the longest ever. Also Friday, more than 800,000 federal workers were starting to miss paychecks. Grassley, who once again takes on the chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee, said, "I don't understand why there can't be a compromise here." He added, "We have so many senators and a lot of House members that have already supported 650 miles of fence" in the past. As recently as 2013, Senate Democrats supported immigration legislation that called for border fencing to be built. That bill was stopped in the then-GOP controlled House. Democrats nowadays said the conditions were different then. "Then you have Republicans supporting something that Democrats want to do, something about the DACA kids. Seems like there's plenty of opportunity here to compromise," Grassely said. In negotiations with Trump to end the current shutdown, Democrats had agreed to some border wall funding as part of an ultimately scuttled deal to protect the so-called Dreamers, people who were illegally brought to the U.S. as children. "You got to negotiate is the bottom line," said Grassely, who has spent more than four decades on Capitol Hill. On the other side, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer certainly agreed with Grassley that a deal needs to be made. But Hoyer, a Democrat from Maryland, told CNBC in a separate appearance Friday that Trump's proposed wall is not immoral, as many of his Democratic colleagues have called it. But he said it would be ineffective and a waste of money. The border wall is "not a question of morality," said the Maryland Democrat. "For me, it's a practical issue. Is it effective? Will it work? Is it the best thing we can do to secure the border? Most of the people I talk to, including on the border, don't think it is." WATCH: Hoyer says the government shutdown is 'immoral' Vikhe-Patil also said that the Sena is threatening the BEST employees to evict the residential houses. Mumbai: Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil warned the authorities against attempts to break the strike by pressurising BEST employees. He also targeted Shiv Sena chief, Uddhav Thackeray, who is on tour of drought-affected Marathwada. Sena is ruling the Brihanmumbai Munic-ipal Corporation (BMC) but still Mr Thackeray cannot do justice to BEST workers. How is he going to help farmers in rural areas, ask-ed the Congress leader. Mr Vikhe-Patil alleg-ed that the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mr Thackeray and BMC chief Ajoy Mehta had been trying to suppress the BEST strike. If they try to take any such step, they will have to bear a big loss, he said. Mumbai Congress-led Kamgar Sanghatana BEST Employees Union member Nitin Bhaurao Patil informed Mr Vikhe-Patil about the strike. He said that the demands of merging the BEST in BMC, im-plementation of wa-ge agreement and minim-um wages to BEST em-ployees should be met. Mr Vikhe-Patil also said that the Sena is threatening the BEST employees to evict the residential houses. Can it be called democracy, he asked. A man walking past a Huawei P20 smartphone advertisement is reflected in a glass door in front of a Huawei logo, at a shopping mall in Shanghai, China December 6, 2018. Aly Song | Reuters Poland's counterintelligence agency has arrested and charged an employee of Chinese tech giant Huawei over spying allegations. According to Polish TV broadcaster Telewizja Polska (TVP), Huawei's sales director and an ex-security agent were arrested on Tuesday by officers of the country's Internal Security Agency, charged with espionage. The Huawei employee is reportedly a Chinese national, while the former security agent is said to be a Polish national who recently worked for the Polish subsidiary of French telecommunications firm Orange. Huawei and Orange's offices were searched and documents seized by the Internal Security Agency, the broadcaster reported. Huawei said the company, which overtook Apple as the world's second-largest smartphone manufacturer last year, is aware of the situation. "Huawei is aware of the situation, and we are looking into it," the firm said in a statement. "We have no comment for the time being." It added: "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based." Orange confirmed an investigation by Polish authorities had taken place and was ongoing. The company's Polish subsidiary said it handed over the belongings of a male employee as a result of "actions" taken by the security services but that it had "no knowledge if there is any relation of these actions to his professional duties." "The Group is following the development of this investigation with interest and will fully-cooperate with any requests for information from the relevant authorities," an Orange spokesperson said. "At this stage, Orange does not have any further information regarding the investigation and cannot make any further comment." The spokesperson added: "The Group will take all necessary measures to protect its interests, and in particular those of its Polish subsidiary and its customers, while ensuring that all due respect is taken with regards to the presumption of innocence." Poland's minister for special services identified the two arrested men as Weijing W., a Chinese national "linked to a Chinese telecommunications company" and Piotr D., "a former public officer." Stanislaw Zaryn, spokesman for the minister, said the full names of the men could not be published in the media under Polish law. "The evidence gathered by the National Security Agency shows that both men carried out an espionage activity against Poland," he said in a statement. "As part of the ongoing investigation, the officers of the Agency have taken the following necessary investigative steps: searches in the suspects' places of residence and evidence preservation." The two men could serve 10 years in prison if convicted under the espionage charges. Both men will be held for a period of three months. Another headache for Huawei The news is likely to be another headache for Huawei, which has become enshrouded in controversy following the arrest of its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou. Meng, the daughter of the company's founder Ren Zhengfei, was detained in Canada on Dec. 1. The U.S. is trying to have her extradited to stand trial on allegations of violating U.S. sanctions. In a part of the world better known for towering skyscrapers and oil than for its startup scene, Gulf Arab entrepreneurs might be seeing bright times ahead. That's according to Fadi Ghandour, executive chairman of Wamda Group, whose venture capital fund invests in tech companies all over the Middle East and North Africa. "For years we've said there is an inverse relationship between how change happens on the regulatory environment and the price of oil -- the lower the price of oil, the faster the change process happens," Ghandour told CNBC's Hadley Gamble on Thursday, pointing to Arab Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates whose economies have historically been dependent on hydrocarbon revenues. Now that oil prices are dramatically down from their October highs, the veteran Middle East investor says the market moves "will definitely be a blessing in disguise" and in that it will force the development of sustainable, knowledge-based economies and jobs. He believes that startups founded five or more years ago are now reaching their maturity stage, meaning there will be more businesses scaling up in the next several years if they can get the necessary support. "These companies born somewhere around 2011, 2012, have raised much more money, they are growing much faster, the region is adopting mobile smartphone technology much faster, they are interacting much faster and at a much larger scale, specifically in Saudi Arabia," Ghandour said. "This is the time when there is size, there is scale, and the big funds globally who don't want to take the risk early on, are going to be looking for entry into a market that they don't have much presence in." He pointed to New York-based global equity firm General Atlantic's investment of $120 million in Dubai-based website Property Finder last November. The Middle East real estate platform was founded in 2007 and has been profitable since 2013. Investments in Middle East and North Africa (MENA)-based startups went up by 31 percent between 2017 and 2018 to $893 million, with 366 deals made, according to Magnitt, a regional data platform for investors. The database also found that more than 155 institutions invested in MENA startups in 2018, 30 percent of which were from outside the region and 47 percent of which had not previously invested in the region. A saleswoman serves customers at a Huawei shop in Beijing, China, December 12, 2018. Jason Lee | Reuters It was another bad week for Huawei: A public relations executive was arrested on spying charges in Poland on Thursday, and the U.S. Commerce Department blocked shipment of the company's equipment back to Hong Kong this week. This is on top of the continuing saga of the December arrest of the company's top finance executive. The U.S. government has shown it intends to take action on more than a decade of accusations against the company at a tenuous time for U.S.-China relations. The moves against Huawei also call into question how the company will be able to expand the reach of its 5G equipment in the West, and how companies it competes with, such as Apple, may be perceived among Chinese consumers. Here are the three big cases involving Huawei this week and what they mean for the company: Arrest in Poland Huawei, long accused of spying, trade secrets theft and sanctions violations by U.S. intelligence, has denied the bulk of these allegations. Part of the company's past arguments have been that its executives have never faced formal charges of spying. That changed Thursday, when Polish law enforcement officials arrested a prominent Chinese Huawei executive in the country, according to The Wall Street Journal. The man, identified by Journal sources as a public relations officer and sales executive, was detained along with a Polish government information technology official. Polish law enforcement arrested the Huawei executive alleging that he colluded with a local official to commit espionage. Polish officials have said that the charges relate to the individual's actions and not those of Huawei. The Chinese firm also denies involvement. Polish authorities also said they are reviewing the country's use of Huawei telecommunications equipment. Equipment in California Huawei's research and development company, Santa Clara, California-based Futurewei Technologies, was blocked this week from shipping telecommunications equipment and software manufactured stateside. The Commerce Department called the equipment a security risk. It's part of a multipronged effort "to ratchet up the pressure on China," said Tom Kellermann, chief cybersecurity officer of cybersecurity company Carbon Black and a former top cybersecurity official for The World Bank. "[The U.S. government's] belief is that the entirety of the Huawei supply chain is compromised." Huawei has excelled in the production of telecommunications equipment, including equipment meant to provide 5G functionality. But pervasive intelligence concerns, which Huawei has long argued are politically motivated, have led to bans in several countries of Huawei's telecom and 5G equipment, including the U.S., Japan, India and Australia. CFO in Canada The U.S. has until the end of January to file a formal extradition request in the highly controversial arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer. In response to her arrest, China has reportedly arrested at least 13 Canadians working in China and has threatened other retaliatory measures should Canada opt to extradite Meng to the United States. Meng has been accused of fraud related to payments allegedly made through international banks between a Huawei supplier in Hong Kong and Iran, a sanctioned country. It is unclear whether the Department of Justice will go forward with the extradition request, or whether Canada will instead try to resolve the matter within its borders. Huawei has denied the allegations against Meng, and most recently, China's ambassador to Canada said Canada's demand for the release of its detained citizens is an example of "double standards" and "white supremacy." President Donald Trump's proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is not immoral, but it would be ineffective and a waste of money, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer contended on Friday. The border wall is "not a question of morality," said the Maryland Democrat. "For me, it's a practical issue. Is it effective? Will it work? Is it the best thing we can do to secure the border? Most of the people I talk to, including on the border, don't think it is." Hoyer joined CNBC's "Squawk Box" as the partial government shutdown entered its 21st day, now tying for the longest shutdown ever in U.S. history. Trump and Democrats, who now control the House, are in a stalemate over whether to fund the president's wall along the southern U.S. border. Trump has demanded that any deal to end the shutdown must include funds toward the construction of the barrier, while Democrats have refused to allocate any money, arguing the wall would be ineffective, unnecessary and not within American values. On Thursday, Trump teased the possibility of declaring a national emergency to build the border barrier without congressional approval, something Republican Sen. Marco Rubio warned on CNBC could create a dangerous precedent for future presidents. Hoyer said Democrats are also concerned that Trump, if allowed funding for a wall, could use the threat of a government shutdown again in his term in order to reach his administration's other objectives. "We have to stop using the shutdown of the people's government as a strategy to obtain our objectives," said Hoyer, who noted that both parties in Congress and the White House have used this method. The wall would be a "waste of money," he said, adding the stalemate also is holding federal workers "hostage." Sen. Chuck Grassley, a veteran Republican from Iowa, told CNBC on Friday in a separate interview that he "doesn't understand why there can't be a compromise here" to end the shutdown. Grassley, like Rubio, said on "Squawk Box" that Trump should not declare a national emergency over illegal immigration in order to bypass Congress to get his long-promised wall built. "I think it's a bad precedent. And it contravenes the power of the purse that comes from the elected representatives of the people," Grassley said. "I believe you're going to find it in the courts almost immediately" if Trump moves on an emergency declaration, Grassley said, adding the quicker the Supreme Court could make a decision on the matter should it come to pass the better. On Wednesday, Trump said he will "probably" declare a national emergency if a wall deal can't be worked out. Hitachi's Horizon Nuclear Power unit has struggled to find investors for its plans to build a plant in Anglesey, Wales, which could provide about 6 percent of Britain's electricity. Japan's Hitachi has yet to decide whether to proceed with its trillion yen ($28 billion) nuclear project in Britain and talks with the government are continuing, the company and government said on Friday. A logo of Japan's high-tech giant Hitachi at an exhibition in Tokyo on October 29, 2013. Hitachi announced its group net profit rose 8.8 percent in the first half of the fiscal year, from a year earlier to 32.77 billion yen as the weaker yen and cost-cutting. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) Japan's Nikkei business daily reported that Hitachi had decided to freeze the project, although it also reported that the board had yet to vote to make it a formal decision. A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said talks with Hitachi were continuing. "On Hitachi, the negotiations on that are ongoing and those are obviously commercially sensitive so I can't comment," the government spokeswoman told reporters when asked about the reports. May met Japanese Prime minister Shinzo Abe this week in London. He told her Japan did not want to see a disorderly Brexit when Britain leaves the European Union in March. Hitachi said in Friday's statement that it had been assessing the project "including its potential suspension and related financial impact." "Should any matter arise which needs to be disclosed Hitachi will announce information in a timely manner," Hitachi said. Nikkei reported that Hitachi had decided to freeze the project, leading to a special loss of 200 billion to 300 billion yen ($1.9 billion to $2.8 billion) for the year ending in March. Hitachi's board would vote on the suspension at a meeting next week, it reported without citing its sources. In Friday's statement, Hitachi said: "These articles aren't based on Hitachi's decision or disclosed information." President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he visits the banks of the Rio Grande River with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents during the president's visit to the U.S. - Mexico border in Mission, Texas, January 10, 2019. Leah Millis | Reuters President Donald Trump once assured enthusiastic crowds that Mexico would pay for his proposed border wall even outlining a "one-time payment" proposal as a candidate. Now he says the wall would be funded "indirectly" through new revenue streams or savings created by a renegotiated trade deal. But despite his new promise, it's far from clear how the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, would pay for a barrier along America's nearly 2,000-mile-long southern border. Big political obstacles and economic uncertainties stand in the way of the outcome Trump is predicting. The USMCA's fate is uncertain in Congress, and there are economic unknowns about how possible revenue streams indirectly created by the deal would be siphoned toward the wall. Meanwhile, a large part of the federal government remains closed after three weeks as Trump continues to insist that Congress approve funding for the wall, while Democrats refuse to budge in their opposition to the barrier. As a presidential candidate, Trump's insistence that Mexico would pay for a concrete wall along the border was a central feature of his rallies. But Mexican leaders have said from the start of Trump's presidency that they would not subsidize the multibillion-dollar infrastructure project, which would take several years to complete and would probably face numerous legal challenges. Trump has argued that the wall is necessary because he claims there is a "crisis" and an "invasion" occurring at the border. In December, Trump tweeted that Mexico would be "paying (indirectly) for the Wall through the new USMCA." He also claimed that it would bring "far more money" to the U.S. than the existing deal, the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump tweet USMCA On Thursday, Trump again tied the wall to the trade deal. "During the campaign, I said Mexico would pay for it," Trump told reporters. "They are paying for it with the incredible deal we made, the USMCA." "Obviously I never meant Mexico would write a check," Trump said. Trade deal still not approved But even if Trump successfully negotiated billions in funding for his wall today, the USMCA wouldn't start paying for it because it hasn't been passed yet. While Trump signed the deal in November, it has to be approved by both chambers of Congress before it can go into effect. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the new Democratic majority in Congress, recently called the deal "a work in progress." The Washington Post reported in October that the USMCA is expected to go into effect in 2020. The deal reportedly leaves intact much of NAFTA, a trilateral agreement that Trump has long excoriated as among the worst ever made. Some of the biggest changes affect U.S.-Canada trade in the auto and dairy industries. New revenue uncertain If the NAFTA update is passed and subsequently ratified by all three countries involved, experts aren't sure how any additional revenue or savings will be used to pay for a wall. "I expect essentially zero change in revenue collected from tariffs arising through the USMCA," Chad Bown, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told CNBC in December. "Under both the existing NAFTA and President Trump's proposed new deal, the United States charges zero tariffs on trade with Canada and Mexico." Mexico's former chief NAFTA negotiator, Kenneth Smith Ramos, said that nothing in the USMCA would redirect money toward a wall. RAMOS TWEET Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, told PolitiFact: "I do not see any scenario under which the U.S. government gets more money from Mexico per se." "Even if the U.S. tariffs had been raised, that would be paid by Mexican exporters, not the Mexican government," she added. The White House and the office of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer have not responded to CNBC's requests to explain how the USMCA is expected to fund the wall. Few options as shutdown drags on As the U.S. government shutdown enters its third week, on the verge of becoming the longest in history, Main Street is getting creative to stay afloat. The partial closure is having ripple effects nationwide on companies that work with and rely on the federal government to do business. Small businesses nationwide are feeling the impact from losing government services all as a result of the standoff between President Donald Trump and Democrats over funding for a southern border wall. A report from Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which was released ahead of the partial shutdown, said nine of 15 federal departments and "dozens" of U.S. agencies would close. As funding runs out, more agencies are closing. And small business owners, some of whom who rely on the government for their livelihoods, are beginning to feel the pinch. Among them is Kimberly Stewart, who runs Stepping Stone Consulting in Oakton, Virginia, which does contract work for federal agencies with a focus on IT program management. She also consults small businesses that contract with the government, a smaller part of her operation. Due to the shutdown 21 days as of Friday one of Stewart's employees was told to hit pause on a project for the Department of Transportation. "Having a shutdown go on for such a long time really does put my business at risk," Stewart said. She added that federal contracts make up a third of her revenue. "This is lost revenue," she said. "For a small business like myself with three employees, it could mean I go out of business. I am hoping it doesn't." Stewart prepared for the closure, which began Dec. 22, by stashing away some cash reserves. During the shutdown, she's shifted focus to consulting opportunities with other small businesses but remains hopeful that Washington can put politics aside and reopen the government quickly. "They need to govern," Stewart said. "They need to figure out how to come together and get the budget in place, take care of their employees, take care of their contractors, get them back to work and fulfill the mission." In Houston, Helen Callier says she's without an important ally in the shutdown the Small Business Administration. Callier runs Bradlink, a 13-person technical services firm that works on facilities design, support services, project management and construction oversight with a focus on the government services sector. Bradlink participates in the SBA's 8(a) program for business development to compete for government contracts, resources she's thankful to have access to both regionally and nationally. A view of Starbucks Coffee at Tsim Sha Tsui on July 26 2018 in Hong Kong, China. Apple shares collapsed earlier this month after warning that iPhone sales would fall short because of weakness in the China economy. Starbucks will be next, according to Goldman Sachs. The firm downgraded the world's largest coffee seller to neutral from buy on Friday, citing "a number of points of caution on China." "The recent AAPL [Apple] announcement (while potentially also product-driven) cited trade concerns/macro, and MCD [McDonald's] acknowledged softer trends in the region at a late November event," analyst Karen Holthouse wrote in a note to clients. "The GS macro team also expects a continued slow down in GDP, at least partially driven by consumption." Goldman also lowered its price target on Starbucks to $68 from $75. The shares fell 0.8 percent in trading Friday to $63.73 following the Goldman call. The U.S. government shutdown has now lasted 21 days, tying for the longest shutdown in U.S. history. If it continues to Saturday, it will be the longest. Much of the shutdown can be attributed to a standoff over President Donald Trump's demands for $5.7 billion in appropriations to fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. In December, Brian Kolfage, a veteran and self-described motivational speaker, launched an ambitious GoFundMe campaign to raise $1 billion for the proposed wall. The campaign, titled "We The People Will Build the Wall," raised $20 million from 337,518 people in 25 days, and has been shared nearly 100,000 times. But Business Insider reports that the funds will now be returned to donors. Bobby Whithorne, a GoFundMe spokesman, told the publication that Kolfage promised donors at the campaign's outset that donations would be used to fund the wall, if the proposed $1 billion was raised. "However, that did not happen," Whithorne said. "This means all donors will receive a refund." "When I created this fundraiser, I said if we did not reach our goal we will refund donors," Kolfage wrote in an update posted to the campaign's page earlier today. "I am honoring that commitment today. If you want a refund for your donation, no need to do anything. You will receive your refund a few weeks after the 90 days expires and GoFundMe will notify you once your refund has processed. If you would prefer a refund now, you can request that here: https://bit.ly/2smynWq." Kolfage writes that he consulted with "politics, national security, construction, and finance" experts and came to several conclusions, including that "The federal government won't be able to accept our donations anytime soon" and "We are better equipped than our own government to use the donated funds to build an actual wall on the southern border." For this reason, Kolfage says that he has now established a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization named "We Build the Wall, Inc." He lists several controversial conservative figures as members of the organization, including former Kansas gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach and Sheriff David Clarke. Kobach has been described as an anti-immigration hard-liner and was revealed to have hired three members of white nationalist group Identity Evropa during his campaign for governor of Kansas. Clarke has repeatedly been accused of advancing racist rhetoric and once told told Glenn Beck "blacks sell drugs and involve themselves in criminal behavior instead of a more socially acceptable lifestyle because they're uneducated, they're lazy, and they're morally bankrupt." Kolfage writes that members of the organization "have provided us with critical guidance on the legal, engineering, contracting, environmental, accounting, maintenance and real estate issues required to build a wall on the southern border." CNBC Make It contacted Kolfage and GoFundMe but did not immediately receive a response. Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube! Don't miss: Centre makes tall claims while state bears 40 per cent cost, says Mamata. Krishnanagar: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced that the state has decided to pull out of the Centres Ayushman Bharat scheme, accusing the NDA government of making tall claims under the health coverage programme. A top government official said that the Trinamul Congress (TMC) government has written to the Centre to notify about its decision to withdraw from the scheme. The ambitious Ayushman Bharat or the national health protection scheme, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August last year, aims to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) by providing health cover upto Rs 5 lakh per family per year. The expenses incurred is to be shared between the Centre and the state in 60:40 ratio. The TMC supremo alleged that the Prime Minister was politicising the health scheme by sending letters about its provisions to every household of the state with his picture and a lotus symbol on top. The Centre is using post offices to dispatch these letters, she said. You (Mr Modi) are sending letters with your photograph on them to every household in the state, making tall claims to take credit for the scheme. Then why should I bear 40 per cent? The NDA government should take the entire responsibility, she observed at a programme here. I have seen the document with the PMs picture and a logo resembling BJPs party symbol. You (BJP government) have already destroyed the banking system with demonetisation and GST implementation. Now, you are using government money to campaign for the party, Ms Banerjee said. According to reports, the Centre is sending out a two-page customised letter, highlighting the importance of the Ayushman scheme, to every beneficiary. In West Bengal, people do not need to pay for treatments. At state hospitals, people from Bihar, Jharkhand and even Nepal and Bangladesh receive free medical assistance. Then why the Prime Minister of the country is playing dirty politics? the CM questioned. She also accused the Union government of making false claims about crop insurance benefits to the farmers, even as the state government was bearing 80 per cent of the cost. Last year, the state has spent Rs625 crore for the purpose, Ms Banerjee claimed. The Centre is making false claims about bearing crop insurance cost of farmers. In reality, the Union government pays just 20 per cent of the incurred cost, the chief minister said. Ms Banerjee claimed that the Modi government was deducting taxes from peoples accounts in the state without doling out adequate benefits to them. You are deducting money from peoples accounts in West Bengal and other states as income tax and customs and using just a percentage of it for their welfare. That is not a favour. Why is Mr Modi acting as dalaal (agent)? I do not favour the politics of cheating people, the TMC chief said. She forecast diluted adjusted earnings per share of between $6.50 to $7 and adjusted automotive free cash flow of $4.5 billion to $6 billion for 2019. The largest U.S. automaker had previously told investors it expected 2018 adjusted earnings of between $5.80 and $6.20 a share and adjusted automotive free cash flow of $4 billion. It now expects to surpass those projections and painted an even better picture of 2019, Barra said Friday. "From a 2018 perspective, it is not only a focus on really capitalizing on the new trucks we have out there, the light-duty trucks, but also the focus on cost reduction so it was across the board. Every element of the company," Barra told CNBC's Phil LeBeau . General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the automaker's full-year 2018 earnings exceeded its previous expectations and 2019 is looking even better, citing strong sales in China and high demand for its truck and utility vehicles in the U.S. Barra also said GM tightened its belt last year, helping to boost earnings. She announced several plant closures and 14,000 job cuts in November. The reorganization is estimated to save about $6 billion by the end of 2020, with about half of those cost savings realized by the end of 2019, the company said at the time. Barra said the job cuts were a "proactive" move in an otherwise strong labor market. "We have been transparent with the [United Auto Workers union], helping them and making sure they understand the business and that customers' preferences are changing," she told reporters on a call Friday morning. GM plans to expand its footprint overseas with a global family of vehicles it is set to launch in China this year, Barra said on the call. She said GM has 20 new or updated products coming out in China. "When you step back and look at China, we have been there for 20 years, we have had tremendous success, we have very strong brands," she told LeBeau. "We think that the trade talks that are going on right now are very constructive, the fact they have extended this round to have even more discussion, the next is already scheduled, we know there is discussion of durable goods stimulus in country that we think will apply to autos." Cadillac will become the company's lead electric vehicle brand, it said. GM is projecting just more than 17 million in total U.S. vehicle sales in 2019 and 27 million in China about flat from 2018. She said annual auto sales in China will eventually climb to 30 million. Correction: GM is the largest U.S. automaker. An earlier version misstated its status. WATCH: CNBC's full interview with General Motors CEO Mary Barra Stocks in Europe saw little change on Friday, as investors tried to navigate through political uncertainty across the globe. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was basically flat at the end of the session, with sectors and bourses pointing in different directions. Autos were the worst performing sector, as former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn was indicted on two new charges of financial misconduct. Shares of Renault, which Ghosn still heads, fell 2.2 percent as Reuters reported that Nissan was expanding its probe to include dealings that took place in the U.S., India, and Latin America. Elsewhere in the sector, Volkswagen said on Friday that its deliveries rose 0.9 percent to a record 10.83 million last year, putting it neck-and-neck with Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi in the race to be the world's biggest vehicle manufacturer. Looking at individual stocks, U.K. housebuilder Taylor Wimpey was among the highest gainers, rising by 4.8 percent after a broker upgrade. The Swiss company Straumann was also among the top performers, gaining 3.2 percent after Reuters reported that its CEO wants to increase sales five-fold within a decade. Stocks in the U.S. were trading lower on Friday as concerns grow over the partial government shutdown, which is now in its 21st day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and the Nasdaq all saw slight losses during the trading session. Meanwhile, the dollar softened on Friday following dovish remarks from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The Fed's Chairman Jerome Powell said on Thursday that he is "very worried" about the ballooning U.S. debt. "It's a long-run issue that we definitely need to face, and ultimately, will have no choice but to face," he said. Back in Europe, there is also a strong focus on politics as the U.K.'s departure from the European Union approaches. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday in London that he hopes both sides will avoid a no-deal. U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Friday morning that there could be Brexit paralysis if lawmakers do not approve departure plans next week. In terms of data, GDP figures showed the U.K. economy slowed down in the three months to November hitting its weakest pace in six months. The Chinese economy is a bigger worry right now than the U.S. economy, according to an investments expert at a private bank. Speaking to CNBC on Friday, Felix Brill, the head of investment solutions at Liechtenstein-based VP Bank, said investors should expect more market volatility due to the ongoing trade war negotiations between Washington and Beijing. Still, he ultimately expressed optimism that China's leaders will keep their economy together. "The Chinese economy is, at the moment, a bigger cause of concern right now compared to the U.S. economy," Brill told CNBC's "Squawk Box." He added that there are "clear signs" that China's economy is slowing in the short term, and there may be more dragging on the nation as it looks to transition its economic model from one led by exportation to a more consumption-driven approach. Adding the tariff battle between the two largest economies just means growth will be "a bit more difficult" for Beijing, he noted. But, Brill said, that doesn't mean China won't be able to push through those challenges. "This is some cause for concern in the short term, but I'm confident that the Chinese authorities, again, will step in and implement additional measures to support the economy," he said. LOS ANGELES Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged that California will provide unemployment insurance benefits for furloughed workers impacted by the partial federal government shutdown. "Let the word go forth: We'll cover you, we'll have your back," the Democrat said Thursday at a press conference where he also unveiled his first state budget. "Come in, we already have EDD on alert that we want to bring those 144,000 folks that may be impacted and let them know that they should be able to pay their rent, come the end of Friday." The website for the state's Employment Development Department contained an online notice as of Thursday evening about some federal workers qualifying for unemployment benefits. It said furloughed federal workers in California who are "in a non-pay, non-duty status" may qualify for benefits but added that those workers must repay any jobless benefits received when or if wages are paid to them retroactively. Nationwide, more than 800,000 federal workers are affected by the shutdown, which went into its 21st day Friday. If the shutdown goes into Saturday, it will become the longest in U.S. history, surpassing that of 1995-96. The standoff, which affects about a quarter of the government and several crucial departments and services, is over President Donald Trump's proposed border wall. The president has refused to sign any government funding measures without money for the barrier, while Democratic congressional leaders have steadfastly refused to allocate taxpayer dollars to pay for it. Trump had said Mexico would pay for the wall. Newsom, who was sworn in Monday as the state's 40th governor, has been critical of the president's wall plan and on the administration's hard-line policies on immigration. Newsom also was critical again of Trump for his tweet Wednesday that threatened to pull federal relief aid to victims of California's devastating wildfires. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1083022011574747137 The governor recalled traveling with Trump when the Republican president visited the state in November to see destruction from the Camp Fire in the Northern California town of Paradise. "I was in the car with the president when a lot of folks were celebrating his arrival," Newsom recalled. "A lot of people had 'Make American Great [Again]' hats on and had flags signs saying 'Trump 2020.' I hope he remembers those images when he considers the next series of tweets." The catastrophic Camp Fire in Butte County destroyed nearly 19,000 buildings and claimed the lives of at least 86 people. Butte is a Republican-leaning county where Trump edged out Democratic rival Hillary Clinton by more than 3 percentage points in 2016. Newsom lost the county in November by more than 6 points to Republican John Cox, a San Diego businessman Trump had endorsed. Some 800,000 federal employees, more than half still on the job, were due to miss their first paycheck Friday under a stoppage that neared a record for the longest government shutdown. With the closure's growing impact on the economy, national parks and food inspections, some Republicans are becoming uncomfortable with Trump's demands. President Donald Trump is edging closer to declaring a national emergency to pay for his long-promised U.S.-Mexico border wall as pressure mounts to end the three-week impasse that has closed parts of the government and deprived hundreds of thousands of workers of their salaries. Lawmakers tried to reassure federal employees on Friday that Congress was aware of the financial hardship they are enduring. By a vote of 411-7, the House passed a bill requiring that all government workers receive retroactive pay after the partial shutdown ends. The Senate approved the bill unanimously Thursday. The president is expected to sign the legislation. Trump visited McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande on Thursday to highlight what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime along the border. He said that "if for any reason we don't get this going" an agreement with House Democrats who have refused to approve the $5.7 billion he demands for the wall "I will declare a national emergency." Trump was consulting with White House lawyers and others about using emergency powers to take action on his own, and over the objections of Congress, to construct the wall. Bypassing Congress' constitutional control of the nation's purse strings would lead to certain legal challenges and bipartisan charges of executive overreach. Trump said his lawyers had told him the action would withstand legal scrutiny "100 percent." The wall was the central promise of Trump's winning campaign in 2016. Supporters have tried to convince him that an emergency declaration is the best option to end the shutdown and would give him political cover to reopen the government without appearing to be caving on his pledge. Trump, they argue, could tell backers that he was doing all he could to fight for the wall, even if his order were held up or blocked in court. But not everyone in the administration is on board. Senior aide Jared Kushner, who traveled with the president to Texas, is among those urging caution on the declaration, according to a person familiar with Kushner's thinking but not authorized to publicly discuss the issue. Trump is growing more frustrated as the shutdown drags on and is complaining that his aides are not offering him an exit strategy. In the meantime, the administration has taken steps to lay the groundwork should Trump issue the declaration. The White House has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to comb through its budget in search of money for the wall, including looking at $13.9 billion in unspent disaster relief funds earmarked for areas including hurricane-damaged Puerto Rico, Texas and more than a dozen other states. That's according to a congressional aide and administration official familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the request. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., a lawmaker with a close relationship with the president, discounted that option, saying it was not "under very serious consideration." "If there's a list of top 10 priorities on where to get money from, that doesn't make the top 10 list," Meadows said. Defense Department officials had already been poring over data on more than $10 billion in military construction projects to determine how much of it would be available for emergency spending this year. On Friday, officials in Puerto Rico said diverting disaster money to the wall was "unacceptable" and that the island was struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria, the Category 4 storm that hit more than a year ago and caused more than $100 billion in damage Gov. Ricardo Rossello said the wall should not be funded "on the pain and suffering" of U.S. citizens who have faced tragedy after a natural disaster. It was not clear what a potential compromise between the White House and Congress might entail. Efforts at negotiating a broader immigration deal involving immigrants brought to the country illegally as children collapsed with little progress. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said at one point that he didn't "see a path in Congress" to end the shutdown, then stated later that enough was enough: "It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier." Vice President Mike Pence visited the Washington headquarters for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and pledged that the administration will keep fighting for the border wall. "Just as you fight every day to keep our nation safe, this president and this administration will keep fighting to build the wall and give you the resources and reforms you need to do your job," Pence told several dozen unformed agents. "That's my promise." During his Thursday trip to the border, Trump insisted he was "winning" the shutdown fight and criticized Democrats for asserting he was manufacturing a sense of crisis in order to declare an emergency. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., accused the president of engaging in political games to fire up his most loyal supporters and suggested that a heated meeting Wednesday with legislators at the White House had been "a setup" so that Trump could walk out of it. The partial shutdown would set a record early Saturday, stretching beyond the 21-day closure that ended Jan 6, 1996, during President Bill Clinton's administration. Until recently, Amazon and Google competed for presence in our homes through their own gadgets: Smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Google Home, TV add-ons like Chromecast and Fire TV and even home security systems like Nest and Ring. But, at CES 2019, that competition was brought to a boil as partners from both companies launched dozens of products that will bring Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant into nearly every aspect of our lives. I've been attending CES for more than a decade, and it's always home to all sorts of new doohickeys, from robots to health trackers and the latest in TV technology. While those things were all on display this year, too, I couldn't help but notice the massive presence of Google and Amazon, two companies that didn't even exist at CES a couple of years ago. That's because their smart assistants, the ones you can control by voice, are being built into almost every category of new product that was introduced at CES, from TVs to ovens even lawnmowers and a toilet. A lawnmower from Bosch that works with Alexa. Todd Haselton | CNBC Google tripled the size of its booth this year, where it even had a roller coaster that brought riders through an experience that explained how you can use Google Assistant throughout the day, from getting directions and traffic information to ordering food and snapping a selfie. Amazon had three different booths. There was one for "Key by Amazon," which showed how you can have packages delivered inside your house, into your car and new this year into your garage. It also had a booth dedicated to Ring, its home security system, that showed off a range of new products like security cameras and lights. Amazon also had an entire room where it had an array of products from its partners, including smart glasses, coffee machines, ovens and more, all with Alexa built-in. Both firms also revealed how widespread their ecosystems are. Google said that by the end of January, more than 1 billion devices will have Google Assistant built-in. That's up from 500 million in May, but a lot of that growth is because Assistant now ships as a standard feature on Android phones. Google Assistant is also built into 10,000 different smart home devices from more than 1,600 brands, the company said. Amazon said there are now more than 150 products with Alexa built directly in which means you can talk right to it without also owning an Echo and more than 28,000 products from 4,500 brands that support it. That means you need an Amazon Echo to control the gadget. Amazon also said it has now sold more than 100 million Alexa devices. WLabs smart countertop oven Magdalena Petrova | CNBC There's a reason the number of products that support the assistants is skyrocketing. Last year, Amazon introduced a developer kit that made it much easier for partners to add Alexa to their devices. It showed this with a proof of concept microwave that it now sells. If a partner decides to add Amazon Dash integration, then it can be used to automatically order more supplies when you run low, like more detergent for your Alexa-powered dishwasher. Google also introduced similar tools for developers. By pure booth presence alone, Google left the biggest impression on me at CES. I've just never seen a roller coaster in a booth. But, and this was clear walking around the show, more brands and products were on display with Amazon Alexa on board. Some supported both. There's an Alexa button which activates a nearby Echo (you need to own an Echo also.) Or you can say "Hey Alexa.." Between the stock market's extreme volatility of late and the three-week-old government shutdown, the IPO market faces plenty of uncertainty in 2019. But for Uber, there's another complicating aspect the company's biggest investor is still waiting for its board seats. When Uber sold a 15 percent stake to SoftBank last January, the ride-hailing company agreed to give the Japanese conglomerate two board positions out of an eventual total of 17. SoftBank said its seats would go to Marcelo Claure, the company's operating chief and executive chairman of Sprint, and Rajeev Misra, the head of SoftBank's Vision Fund. More than a year later, SoftBank is waiting for the U.S. government to give Claure and Misra the go-ahead. SoftBank has its Uber shares, but the broader deal is under review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a unit of the Treasury Department that reviews certain transactions involving overseas investors. The CFIUS process is slow even in normal times, and with the federal government in the midst of a partial shutdown, there's no telling when Uber will get a response. As Uber gears up for a massive IPO, which is expected to come this year, it's doing so without representation from its top shareholder, adding a significant wrinkle to an already complex environment. "Investors would clearly want to be involved in the IPO process because there will be things negotiated with underwriters that will demonstrably affect their securities and the liquidity of their securities," said David Golden, a partner at Revolution Ventures in San Francisco and former head of tech investment banking at J.P. Morgan. Public market investors "are going to want to know who represents corporate governance, given the long history at Uber," he said. The money was set aside to fund projects all over the country including storm-damaged areas of Puerto Rico through fiscal year 2020, but the checks have not been written yet and, under an emergency declaration, the president could take the money from these civil works projects and use it to build the border wall, said officials familiar with the briefing and two congressional sources. President Donald Trump has been briefed on a plan that would use the Army Corps of Engineers and a portion of $13.9 billion of Army Corps funding to build 315 miles of barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border , according to three U.S. officials familiar with the briefing. The plan could be implemented if Trump declares a national emergency in order to build the wall and would use more money and build more miles than the administration has requested from Congress. The president had requested $5.7 billion for a wall stretching 234 miles. Under the proposal, the officials said, Trump could dip into the $2.4 billion allocated to projects in California, including flood prevention and protection projects along the Yuba River Basin and the Folsom Dam, as well as the $2.5 billion set aside for reconstruction projects in Puerto Rico, which is still recovering from Hurricane Maria. Senior Defense Department officials discussed the proposal with Trump during his Thursday flight to the southern border, according to officials familiar with the briefing. Trump was informed that the Army Corps could build 315 miles of border wall in about 18 months, according to officials familiar with the planning. The barrier would be a 30-foot bollard-style wall with a feature designed to prevent climbing, the officials said. The Corps would focus first on the heavily trafficked border areas along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, in San Diego and El Centro in California, as well as Yuma, Arizona. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. A source on Capitol Hill said if the president moves to pull money from Corps of Engineers civil works projects, Democrats in Congress are likely to submit legislation to block the money from being reallocated. Asked about the proposal, a Democratic staffer warned that taking money from civil works projects in the U.S. will put American lives at risk. "Hundreds of thousands of people will be at risk if there is a strong or wet winter in these flood areas and the protection projects haven't been completed," the staffer said. WATCH: Pence says no decision on declaring national emergency Sterling is set for some major volatility next week as U.K. lawmakers vote on the country's planned departure from the European Union. The British Pound could jump as much as 4 percent against all the other major currencies on Tuesday, according to a strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management said. The caveat for this upside is the unlikely approval of the Prime Minister Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement the much-maligned 585-page document that outlines how the U.K. should leave the Union. "The pound is down about 4 percent from that level (when the prime minister came back from Brussels with an agreement) so we will at least recover that on the deal passing," Karen Ward, a chief market strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, said Wednesday at an event in London. But sterling could also lose more than 2 percent against the U.S. dollar if the deal is rejected, according to strategists at Nomura. The British pound has seen some serious weakness since the country voted to leave the European Union in June of 2016. It initially dropped to a 31-year low immediately after the vote and throughout last year the currency lost 6 percent of its value against the greenback. On Friday morning it was trading at around $1.2727. Jane Foley, the head of foreign exchange strategy at Rabobank, told CNBC via email that if the vote passed next week she would expect sterling-dollar to trade back in the 1.30 area. "On a failure I would expect to see 1.25," she said. The tax furor triggered by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has opened debate on a core question for all Democrats: Where should government get more money? Virtually none doubt the need for new revenue. Aside from new programs the party favors, the federal budget deficit is already projected to top $1 trillion in 2019 and keep rising for years. Ocasio-Cortez, the 29-year-old Democratic firebrand who just took her seat to represent the Bronx in the House, has sparked headlines by suggesting rates as high as 70 percent to finance a "Green New Deal." That drew swift derision from House GOP Whip Steve Scalise, who summarized it as "Take away 70 percent of your income and give it to leftist fantasy programs." In fact, Ocasio-Cortez didn't propose taking 70 percent of anyone's income. She suggested applying the rate only to earnings beyond $10 million, meaning those affected would pay a much lower share of their income overall. The top tax rate stood above 90 percent throughout the 1950s. But through deductions and tax avoidance, "taxes on the rich were not that much higher" then, the conservative Tax Foundation noted in a 2017 article. The top rate remained 70 percent as late as 1981, the first year of Ronald Reagan's presidency. The most affluent 1 percent paid a far lower average rate of 30.5 percent, however, according to a Tax Policy Center analysis. By 1989, when Reagan left office, the top rate had been slashed to 28 percent but their average rate dropped only slightly to 27.9 percent. After three decades with top rates below 40 percent, a big hike from today's 37 percent poses risks politically and perhaps economically. Self-described socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders stopped at a 54.2 percent for incomes above $10 million in his 2016 presidential campaign proposal; Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton proposed 43.6 percent for those earning above $5 million. With little prospect of success under President Donald Trump, the new House Democratic majority has avoided the issue in its initial legislative agenda. But the party's gathering field of 2020 presidential candidates won't have that luxury. The only formally declared Democratic candidate, former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, wants to finance infrastructure projects by raising the recently enacted 21 percent top corporate rate to 25 percent. Sen. Kamala Harris of California has proposed curbing income inequality by rolling back all the Trump tax cuts in favor of expanded tax credits for modest earners. "You've got to ask, 'What constitutes a fair share in this economy?'" Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren told me in a recent Speakeasy interview. She conceded that 1950s-era rates "sound pretty shockingly high," but declined to specify what she favors. Betsey Stevenson, a former economic adviser to President Barack Obama, favors other targets: eliminating the "step-up" valuation that lets some inherited assets avoid capital gains taxes, and capping tax deductions for the wealthy. Those two combined would raise more than the $700 billion over 10 years that Ocasio-Cortez's idea would and, she argues, make better economic sense. "Finding new revenue is exactly where Democrats should be," Stevenson explained. But a big top-rate hike "would not be the first thing I would do, it would be the last thing." How much revenue Democrats need depends on what new programs they ultimately pursue. Analysts have priced Sanders' "Medicare for All" plan at $32 trillion; Sen. Sherrod Brown backs a far less expensive Medicare "buy-in" for 55 and over. Republican resistance casts doubts on prospects for new taxes in any event. Former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan, for example, warns a 70 percent top income tax rate would prove a "terrible mistake" by dampening economic activity. As the party of limited government, the GOP opposes most new programs however they're paid for. As deficits balloon following their tax cuts, GOP leaders suggest curbing the massive Social Security and Medicare programs. But the demographic tidal wave of baby boomer retirements will swamp any politically feasible "entitlement reform." The 2019 deficit will exceed the entire Medicare budget, and the government projects the number of Americans 65 and older will jump 50 percent to 77 million in 15 years. That's why Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who advised President George W. Bush, agrees that governments led by either party will eventually need more revenue. He prefers taxing consumption instead of income on economic grounds, though any new taxes will strain America's polarized political system. "We will need all the economic growth we can get, we need to control spending, and we need to raise revenue," Holtz-Eakin said, recounting advice he recently gave House Republicans. "It's going to be ugly." New Delhi wondered why ministers in the Imran Khan government are sharing the stage with terrorists such as Hafiz Saeed. The MEA also said Pakistan was trying to deflect attention from its current financial woes. New Delhi: There has been a significant escalation of anti-India activity throughout the world orchestrated by Pakistans spy agency ISI after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan assumed office, top government sources have said. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) also slammed Pakistan on Friday for continuing to sponsor terrorism aimed at India. New Delhi wondered why ministers in the Imran Khan government are sharing the stage with terrorists such as Hafiz Saeed. Sources told this newspaper that developments being monitored closely by New Delhi indicate that the ISI is masterminding anti-India protests by vested interests in various parts of the world and that an escalation in such activities has been observed after Mr Imran Khan assumed office. When asked about Mr Khans statement on treatment of minorities in India, the MEA spokesperson said, Pakistan should be the last country to lecture to us on the topic of plurality and inclusive society. The MEA also said Pakistan was trying to deflect attention from its current financial woes. The MEA wondered why Pakistan continues to allow its territory or territory controlled by it to be used by terror groups and why it had taken no action against those involved in plotting the Mumbai and Pathankot terror attacks. The partial U.S. government shutdown entered its 21st day Friday, tying the record for longest lapse in federal funding. The dubious distinction comes on the same day hundreds of thousands of U.S. workers start to miss paychecks. About 800,000 federal employees are either furloughed or temporarily working without pay as the closure persists. Lawmakers have failed to fund nine departments, or about a quarter of the government, as President Donald Trump demands more than $5 billion to fund his proposed border wall. The president has threatened to veto legislation passed by the Democratic-held House to reopen the government temporarily, which has deterred the GOP-controlled Senate from passing it. The funding lapse also has an economic cost. The lack of worker paychecks and the shutdown's potential effects on tax refunds, mortgage applications, food assistance programs and consumer sentiment could hit the U.S. economy to the tune of at least $2 billion a week, according to an estimate by Wells Fargo retail analysts. Meanwhile, S&P Global gave a "conservative" estimate that the closure had an economic effect of about $3.6 billion through Friday. The financial services company expects the shutdown to trim about 0.05 percent, or $1.2 billion, off quarterly GDP growth for each week that it goes on. Alex Sherman Cox announced in June it would look into selling its 14 broadcast TV stations Cox's stations include broadcast affiliates in Atlanta, Boston, Orlando and other U.S. cities. TEGNA, Hearst and EW Scripps are all likely to submit a final bid at the end of January. TEGNA, Hearst and EW Scripps are all planning on submitting final offers for Cox Enterprises' 14 broadcast TV stations at the end of January, according to people familiar with the matter. Final bids are due by Jan. 30, said the people, who asked not to be named because the process is private. A deal could fetch more than $2 billion, and possibly close to $3 billion, the people said. Nexstar had also been interested in the stations but has bowed out after announcing a $4.1 billion deal for Tribune in December. Cox, which is privately held, announced its intention to sell the stations in June. Broadcast TV stations have been consolidating for years as owners look for negotiating leverage against pay-TV providers, who pay them retransmission fees for the right to carry their stations. Owning a lot of stations gives owners more negotiating power because they can threaten to black out popular stations, such as NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox, to large swaths of people. TEGNA split from Gannett Co. in 2015 after the media company separated its broadcast TV stations and several websites from its publishing assets. The company, with an enterprise value of $5.6 billion, is one of the largest U.S. broadcast TV owners with 49 stations in 41 states. EW Scripps announced in October it had acquired 15 stations in 10 markets from Cordillera Communications for about $520 million, boosting its total amount of stations from 36 to 51. That deal could make the company less likely to win an auction for Cox, although it shouldn't preclude Scripps from making an offer, one of the people said. Hearst, which is closely held, unlike publicly traded TEGNA and Scripps, owns 32 stations. "It is clear that scale is critical for TV affiliates to be positioned well for the future," Cox Enterprises CEO Alex Taylor said in a statement when the company announced its intention to sell. The stations include Atlanta's ABC affiliate, WSB-TV; Pittsburgh's NBC affiliate, WPXI; Boston's Fox affiliate, WFXT; and stations in cities around the U.S. including Seattle, Orlando and Memphis. Spokespeople for Cox, TEGNA and Hearst declined to comment. A spokesperson for EW Scripps couldn't immediately be reached for comment. 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For more information about NBCUniversal, please visit http://www.NBCUniversal.com. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, smiles at a meeting of the Economic Club of Washington in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 4, 2017. Amazon, Microsoft and Google are in the midst of an intense battle to win business from companies moving their workloads to the cloud. Now, there's brewing competition among them in a very different corner of the cloud market: gaming. Microsoft has long been a gaming powerhouse, having introduced the Xbox console in 2000. In expanding how and where people can play games, Microsoft said in October that it will start testing a cloud gaming offering this year. Its Project xCloud will work on mobile devices. That announcement followed the acquisition last January of PlayFab, a start-up that provides game developers with cloud-based tools. Amazon has kept quiet about its ambitions in the market. But The Information reported on Thursday that the company has held conversations with publishers about releasing games on a new service as early as 2020. That project would build on previous efforts to support game developers. Amazon declined to comment on the report. Google, meanwhile, has started testing a cloud gaming service under the name Project Stream with a limited number of users. It's the latest example of the three massive U.S. infrastructure companies putting their technology to work in a way that lets customers offload their computing and storage needs so they can do more without relying on expensive hardware. But these companies aren't all equal. And when it comes to gaming, Microsoft has a home-field advantage. "Amazon is not a gaming company. Google isn't. Sony is a gaming company, but they don't have a cloud presence," said Steve Perlman, former CEO of cloud gaming company OnLive. "Then you have Microsoft Microsoft has both of those things." Perlman knows the challenges this market presents. He founded OnLive in 2007, and ultimately sold assets to Sony in 2015, a year after Sony announced a game streaming service, PlayStation Now. Earlier in his career, Perlman sold WebTV to Microsoft, and some members of that team worked on Microsoft's Xbox 360 console. Federal workers furloughed by the ongoing partial government shutdown have been bearing the brunt of the political standoff between President Donald Trump and Congress over funding for a border wall. Those federal employees are feeling the squeeze on their wallets. As the stalemate drags into its third week, the impact may soon be felt by the wider U.S. economy. The shutdown, which entered its 21st day Friday, began after Trump and Congress failed to pass a spending bill over the president's demand for $5.7 billion in funds for a border wall. If it continues into Saturday, the shutdown would become the longest on record. In November 1995, a budget standoff between President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich produced a five-day shutdown that ended when Congress passed a temporary spending bill. But the underlying disagreement remained unresolved, prompting a second shutdown that lasted 21 days. The final budget compromise included modest spending cuts and tax increases. The impact of the latest shutdown is already being felt by more than 800,000 furloughed workers, who were supposed to be paid Friday and will not receive paychecks covering the past two weeks. That represents a loss of more than $2.2 billion in consumer spending by workers from a wide range of government agencies, according to data from the Center for American Progress a setback for the economy and for Trump, who has taken credit for the country's economic growth and low unemployment rate. DEWITT [mdash] Jean Gravert, 95, formerly of Delmar, Iowa, passed away peacefully in her daughter's home in Iowa City. Per her wishes, there will be no visitation. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, July 25, 2021, from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. at Grossman Hall in Delmar. Arrangements are Rawat said though his force is not above the law, it will not be possible to allow gay sex and adultery in the Army. New Delhi: Even after the Supreme Court of India decriminalised homosexuality and struck down a colonial-era adultery law, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat on Thursday said that gay sex and adultery will not be allowed in the Indian Army. In the Army, it is not acceptable, Mr Rawat said while replying to a question on impact of the Apex Courts two historic verdicts. Gen. Rawat said though his force is not above the law, it will not be possible to allow gay sex and adultery in the Army. The Army is conservative. The Army is a family. We cannot allow this to perpetrate into the Army, the Army chief said on adultery, adding soldiers and officers deployed along the borders cannot be allowed to be worried about their family. The conduct of the Army personnel is governed by the Army Act. A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court last September unanimously decriminalised part of the 158-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of the IPC which criminalises consensual unnatural sex, saying it violated the rights to equality. The apex court last year had also struck down a 158-year-old colonial-era law which it said treated women as chattel of husbands. In the Army we never thought this can happen. Anything that was thought of was put in the Army Act. It was something which was unheard of when the Army Act was made. We never thought this is going to happen. We never allow it. Therefore it was not put in the Army Act, he said. I think anything what is being said or talked about will not be allowed to happen in the Indian Army, he added. At the same time Gen. Rawat said the Army is not above the law and that the SC is the highest judicial body of the country. The Army has been grappling with cases of adultery and the accused often face general court-martial. In Army parlance, adultery is defined as stealing the affection of a brother officers wife. We are not above the countrys law, but when you join the Indian Army, some of the rights and privileges you enjoy are not what we have, the Army Chief said. Devender Yadav, Haroon Yusuf and Rajesh Lilothia working presidents. Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit being greeted with a bouquet at her residence after being appointed as the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Former chief minister Sheila Dikshit was appointed as the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president on Thursday, days after Ajay Maken resigned from the post citing ill-health. Ms Dikshits appointment as the Delhi Congress president is being interpreted in the party as the partys ploy to project her developmental works during her 15-year-old tenure as the citys chief minister against the works done by BJP and AAP in their four and five year tenures respectively. Making the announcement, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the partys Delhi unit, PC Chacko, said that Ms Dikshit would be assisted by three working presidents Devender Yadav, Haroon Yusuf, and Rajesh Lilothia. This is also the first occasion when the party has appointed three working presidents to assist Ms Dikshit. It is to send a clear message to AAP and BJP that Congress is a strong contender in all the seven Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and that no one should take it lightly in the wake of the humiliating defeat it faced in the last Assembly polls. Mr Chacko, however, made it clear that there were no talks within the Delhi unit about any alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and that the party was fully prepared to contest the parliamentary election on its own. Mr Maken, who had worked as the parliamentary secretary and as a Cabinet minister with Ms Dikshit, congratulated her saying that under her leadership Congress would play the role of a powerful opposition against the governments in the national capital led by Arvind Kejriwal and at the Centre led by Narendra Modi. Delhi Congress spokesperson Puja Bahari also congratulated Ms Dikshit, saying the party will be further strengthened under her experienced leadership and guidance. Ms Dikshit (80) has been a three-time chief minister of Delhi. She had to face a humiliating defeat against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi Assembly seat, following which she said she would not contest any other election. Ms Dikshits appointment as the partys Delhi unit chief is also being interpreted in the party as an effort to bring all warring factors under one roof to take on both AAP and BJP in the national capital. After Congress faced humiliating defeat in the last Assembly polls, former city minister Arvinder Singh Lovely had to step down from the post of the partys city head. Subsequently, the Congress leadership gave the charge to Mr Maken, who had been in-charge of the partys communication unit. He had also represented the party twice in the Lok Sabha. With the Congress leadership giving green signal to its media in-charge to contest the coming Lok Sabha elections, there are indications that Mr Maken may again be entrusted with the job of handling media at the central level. The morning after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's first official meeting with President Donald Trump, multiple headlines proclaimed Feb. 16 that the two-state solution was fast approaching death's door. JNS.org columnist Ben Cohen suggests that those who interpret the outcome of the Trump-Bibi meeting in that manner should dig a little deeper. There is something of a revolution in thinking going on, and what's being overturned is what you might call the "Palestine First" strategy of regional peacemaking. But that doesn't have to mean that a solution involving Palestinian sovereignty has been extinguished, writes Cohen. In the first round of the French presidential election in 2017, nearly one in five voters marked their ballots for Jean-Luc Melenchon, the candidate of the newly formed far-left La France Insoumis, or France Rising party. The result meant that Melenchon missed qualification for the final CLEVELAND, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown plans to make trips in the coming weeks to early presidential states including Iowa, another step toward an actual Democratic run for president. A planned trip to Iowa was first reported in Politico. Brown confirmed he and his wife, journalist Connie Schultz, were organizing trips to the early states which include New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina in an interview with the Washington Post. Connie and I are going to go into the primary states fairly soon, Brown told the Post. Well assess and decide within a couple of months. A person familiar with Browns campaign told cleveland.com an itinerary for an early-state trip isnt set, but details could come next week. Sherrods said many times that hes seriously considering a run for President and of course that includes thinking through what visits to the early states would look like, the source said. Well have more details soon. Politico also reported Sarah Benzing, chief of staff for Browns Senate office, is assembling a campaign team in Iowa. Benzing, a veteran political operative from Iowa who managed Browns 2012 Senate campaign, has reportedly reached out to staffers and party officials. Brown and Schultz have not been shy about the senators interest in jumping into the 2020 contest. Fridays news is the strongest indicator yet that an announcement could be coming soon. The biggest question about a potential Brown 2020 run is whether he could mount the kind of campaign to replicate the electoral success hes had in Ohio against higher-profile candidates with a head start in fundraising and organizing. Brown enters 2020 with lower name recognition and cash on hand than others who have been planning a run since Republican President Donald Trumps surprise successful election in 2016. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has already staffed up in Iowa and visited the state as a presidential candidate. Others like New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and California Sen. Kamala Harris parachuted in during the 2018 election. One of the people Benzing reached out to is Dave Nagle, a former Democratic congressman and state party chair who helped solidify Iowas first-in-the-nation status in the 1980s. Nagle confirmed to cleveland.com that hed talked to Benzing about Brown, but had yet to meet the senator. While he doesnt endorse candidates, he said he encourages those with a good chance of winning to visit the state. That includes Brown, Nagle said. He was especially impressed with the message Brown has carried over since his successful November re-election bid the only statewide non-judicial win for a Democrat in Ohio about the dignity of work. Browns supporters in Ohio have been publicly encouraging him to make a bid for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump, feeling Browns populist economic message will resonate with the working class voters who drifted away from the party and voted for Trump. Trump won Ohio by 8-percentage points in the 2016 election, while Brown won his 2018 contest against the Trump-aligned Rep. Jim Renacci by 6.8 percentage points. Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and former Brown campaign finance chair Michael Wager are co-chairing Draft Sherrod Brown 2020, an independent committee with the goal of laying the groundwork for Brown to run. Were spending a lot of time organizing funding and organizing message and volunteer activities in the state of Iowa," Wager said. "Many of us have been on the phone in consultation with people out there. Nagle said focusing on blue collar issues creates a lane to victory for Brown in Iowa, even if people arent familiar with him right now. Doing well in Iowa would open up a path for Brown to the nomination, Nagle said. For a candidate like him, this is where its at, Nagle said. If you dont do well here If youre not in the top four, a candidate of his nature is not going to fare well. We do have a habit every time of discovering somebody new. COLUMBUS, OhioOhio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper argues the partys poor showing in the 2018 midterms came despite Democrats game plan, not because of it. But David Betras, who heads the Mahoning County Democrats, isnt buying it. What does it mean when a flawlessly executed plan/strategy fails? We all know the answer: it means the plan was fatally flawed in 2018 just as it was in 2016, Betras wrote in a memo sent to his fellow county Democratic chairs. And it means that the people who crafted those incredibly flawed plans cant be left at the helm. Last November, gubernatorial nominee Richard Cordray and the four other Democratic candidates for statewide executive office all lost. However, Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown was re-elected, and Democrats won two Ohio Supreme Court seats and netted five additional Ohio House seats. In a post-mortem analysis sent to Betras and other county Democratic chairs earlier this week, Pepper touted that Democratic voter turnout during last Novembers election was higher than any previous Ohio midterm election except 2006. The problem for Democrats, Pepper continued, was that Republican President Donald Trump clearly motivated his voters to show up in numbers never seen in a midterm election. Betras, in his reply memo, argues that while Ohio Democrats strategy worked well in the suburbs of Columbus and Cincinnati where Democrats flipped four GOP-held Ohio House seats -- turnout wasnt as high as it could have been (or, more to the point, needed to be) in northern Ohio. He specifically noted that while turnout in Democratic-dominated Cuyahoga County was higher overall than in the 2014 midterms, it was still between 7 percent and 45 percent in 276 county precincts. Cordray won them all, many by large margins, but thousands of votes were literally left on the table because although those voters were contacted multiple times, they werent motivated to cast a ballot, Betras wrote. Its easy to see that the ODP knew how to do one thing: put postage and an address on a lit piece, he stated elsewhere in the memo. Heres what they clearly did not know how to do: create a lit piece that convinced people to vote Democratic. In an interview, Betras said Ohio Democrats needed to adopt a less cookie-cutter strategy and tailor different strategies for different parts of the state. At the same time, Betras argued that state party leaders should take a page from Browns playbook and emphasize his economic populist ideas such as protecting American manufacturing jobs. Betras added that it was particularly insulting to him that Pepper tried to take credit for Melody Stewarts victorious Ohio Supreme Court campaign over incumbent Republican Mary DeGenaro. Betras said Stewart won because her last name was Stewart, and DeGenaros was DeGenaro, and they [voters] thought that that was an Italian name it must be a Democrat. Pepper referred comment to Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Kirstin Alvanitakis, who stated in an email Thursday that We appreciate our stakeholders and local leaders who have offered constructive feedback over the past few months." Alvanitakis also took specific issue with Betras comments about what led to Stewarts victory. "Daves dismissal of Justice Stewarts historic win -- which is a credit to her being the strongest candidate in that race and the work of thousands of grassroots volunteers across the state who ensured Democratic voters got sample ballots and voted through the entire ballot -- suggests he doesnt really understand what happened in November and is, quite frankly, sad to see, Alvanitakis wrote in an email. Betras said that party leaders now need to have a hard discussion about whether to replace Pepper as the head of the Ohio Democratic Party. But he said he didnt know who would be a good replacement for Pepper and repeatedly emphasized that he isnt seeking the job himself. Indeed, Betras said that he plans to step down as county chair when his current term ends in 2022. Im finished. I cannot put [in] my energy and my time and my time away from my family and come up loss after loss after loss after loss after loss, said Betras, who has headed the Mahoning County Democrats since 2009. Its just not worth it anymore. Betras has had more on his plate to deal with than just statewide Democrats' strategy. Every candidate endorsed by the Mahoning County Democrats in 2017 lost their primary race. Betras has also supported a presidential run by Michael Avenatti, the scandal-rocked lawyer representing Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who claims she had an affair with Trump. Betras drew national media attention when he voiced similar criticism of the partys message after Trump won Ohio in the 2016 presidential election -- in part because of major inroads the president made within Betras home turf, the traditionally Democratic (and economically depressed) Youngstown area. At the time, Betras complained that Trumps Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, turned off blue-collar voters by appearing to care more about cultural issues such as transgender bathroom access than job creation. COLUMBUS, OhioState Rep. Fred Strahorn announced Friday that he will step down as Ohio House minority leader at the end of the month, amid grumbling from his fellow Democrats about how he unsuccessfully urged them to back the losing Republican candidate in Mondays House speaker election. Strahorn, a Dayton Democrat, didnt say in the release why he was stepping down. But a number of House Democrats this week have been criticizing Strahorn, who urged them to support now-former Republican Speaker Ryan Smith, even though 26 of 38 House Democrats ended up giving Republican Larry Householder the votes he needed to become speaker. House Minority Whip Brigid Kelly, a Cincinnati Democrat who voted for Smith as well, also announced Friday she will resign her post Jan. 31. Strahorn and Kelly each resigned only from their leadership positions -- they will still remain in the legislature. Soon after Strahorns announcement, Assistant Minority Leader Emilia Sykes of Akron -- who voted for Householder as speaker -- announced plans to run for minority leader. One Democratic source told cleveland.com Friday that House Democrats were upset at Strahorn not so much because he lobbied for Smith, but because he did so while representing himself as someone who didnt care who won. In the days leading up to the speakers vote, the source said, Strahorn told Democrats that he had lined up 18-19 Democratic votes for Smith. It didnt turn out that way. I think theres a lot of bad taste in peoples mouths, the source said. He was just trying to play these games. And I think that it eventually just caught up with him. Strahorn, who was re-elected to a third two-year term as minority leader last November without opposition, has sought to overcome record Republican supermajorities by trying to work in good faith with GOP leaders and find common ground. He has praised his working relationship with Smith, who served as speaker since Republican Cliff Rosenberger abruptly resigned last spring amid an FBI investigation. While such a tactic resulted in some bipartisan deals on issues such as redistricting reform, Democrats have had to watch powerlessly in recent years as House Republicans pushed through stricter abortion restrictions, slashed income and business taxes, and attempted to kill green-energy standards, among other things. Many Democrats have said they voted for Householder in hopes that he will run the House in a more bipartisan way or, at least, in a manner more respectful of minority Democrats. Some labor unions -- including the powerful Ohio AFL-CIO, a major contributor to the House Democratic caucus -- also lobbied Democratic lawmakers to back Householder because of his vow not to support anti-union measures such as right-to-work bills. In his statement Friday, Strahorn said his decision to step down was bittersweet, but he said he was proud of the rebuilding and growth House Democrats have experienced under his leadership. After a decade of being denied a seat at the table with Republicans, we changed our direction in the legislature by engaging better with the majority on the official side and working overtime on the political side, which resulted in a net gain of five Democratic legislators in the House, Strahorn wrote. Ultimately, 11.5 million Ohioans have a stronger voice and a more responsive government because of that approach. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is ready to help workers affected by the government shutdown, the organization announced in a statement on Thursday. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank works in six counties: Cuyahoga, Lake, Ashland, Ashtabula, Geauga and Richland. The government shutdown, which has left hundreds of thousands of workers furloughed or working unpaid, began on Dec. 22. The disagreement is over President Donald Trumps proposed border wall along the U.S-Mexico border. Trump refuses to reopen the government until Congress passes spending legislation that includes $5.7 billion to fund the project. There seems to be no end in sight as talks continue explosively in Washington D.C. That leaves employees in a lurch to feed their families. More than 700 accounts have been set up on crowdfunding site GoFundMe related to the shutdown, a spokeswoman told CBS News. The food banks Harvest for Hunger campaign last year showed that many of its clients depend on the food bank in dire situations like these. Of the families who visited Cleveland food bank pantries last year, 60 percent made three or fewer visits, and 36 percent made only one. The statement is below: While the government shutdown continues, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank stands ready to provide support to Northeast Ohioans who may be affected. Federal employees or others may find themselves having to choose between food or other necessary expenses. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is here to help connect people to food and other resources during difficult times like these. If you need help, please call the Food Banks Help Center at 216-738-2067. The Food Bank and our team are committed to providing much-needed assistance and information on other services during this time of uncertainty. For individuals that are receiving SNAP, benefits are currently funded through the month of February. You can visit the Greater Cleveland Food Bank website here. CLEVELAND, Ohio Police say a person was wounded in the stomach Thursday in a shooting in the Central neighborhood on the East Side. The shooting occurred on the 2500 block of Jelliffe Street but the victim was found around the corner on the 3700 block of Mt. Hermon, police say. Police did not release the identity or condition of the victim. It was the second shooting reported by police on Thursday. A 27-year-old man died of his wounds after being shot at about 6 p.m. outside Glenville Grocery Store on East 105th Street near Ostend Avenue, according to police. No other details were released. To comment on this story, visit Thursdays crime and courts comments page. Paswan said many of RJD leaders come from upper castes and would find it difficult to woo voters from their community. New Delhi: Terming the Bill ensuring 10 per cent quota to Economically Weaker Sections as historic, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thurs-day said this measure will being back the NDA to power in Bihar and rout the Rashtriya Janata Dal which has opposed the Bill. Ever since our party was formed in 2000, we had been demanding this, Mr Paswan said. The Lok Janashakti Party chief claimed that the RJDs opposition to the bill may also cause division in the grand alliance led by it in Bihar and added that the BJP-led NDA will benefit from the legislation. Likening the measure to a rather big fish netted by a fisherman, causing jealousy among other fishermen, Mr Paswan said, Opposition parties are envious of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over this big political measure. They dont know how to react. Many of them are questioning it but cant help supporting it as well. He said many of RJD leaders come from upper castes and would find it difficult to woo voters from their community. RJD will not be able to open its account in Bihar in Lok Sabha polls. All sections of society are happy and if people are happy, then it will obviously benefit the NDA. The constitutional amendment Bill which seeks to provide 10 percent quota to EWS over and above the SC/ST and OBC quotas was passed in Parliament with almost all parties supporting it. Among major parties only RJD and AAP opposed it. Questioned on the Ram temple issue, he said his partys stand has always been that the courts verdict should be accepted by all parties concerned. Walter Lee Irvin speaks with his attorneys, including chief counsel for the NAACP and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, during his trial in 1952. Irvin was accused of kidnaping and raping a young Florida housewife and sentenced to death. (Bettmann/Getty Images) Seventy years ago in Groveland, Fla., a white teenager named Norma Padgett accused four black men of kidnapping and raping her in a car on a dark road. Two of the men would eventually be shot dead by the segregationist sheriff of Lake County and his angry mob, and the other two wrongfully convicted of crimes on little evidence. The Groveland Four, as they became known, inspired a Pulitzer-winning book and have been considered for decades one of Floridas most grave injustices and a case study on failed rule of law in the Jim Crow south. And on Friday, the states clemency board voted to posthumously pardon all four men Ernest Thomas, Samuel Shepherd, Charles Greenlee and Walter Irvin. After hearing testimony from family members of the men and Padgett herself, now in her late 80s, newly-inaugurated Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said this case was a miscarriage of justice and that the only appropriate thing to do is to grant pardons. I hope that this will bring peace to the their families and their communities, DeSantis said after the formal vote, which took place after his first cabinet meeting as governor. Within days of Padgetts accusations, Shepherd, Greenlee and Irvin had been jailed and Thomas was dead, shot and killed by an angry mob led by Sheriff Willis V. McCall who had chased him 200 miles into the Panhandle. In Groveland, black-owned homes were shot up and burned, sparking chaos so intense the governor eventually sent in the National Guard. Despite the lack of evidence, a jury quickly convicted the three still alive. Greenlee, just 16 at the time, was sent to prison for life. Shepherd and Irvin, friends and Army veterans, were sentenced to death, but the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned their convictions and ordered a retrial. Before that could happen, though, McCall shot them both. Shepherd died at the scene, but Irvin who played dead survived, and his sentence was later commuted to life in prison. Sheriff Willis V. McCall of Lake County, Fla., is shown following the shooting of two black men, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Lee Irvin, whom he was transporting from the Florida State Prison at Raiford to Tavares, Nov. 7, 1951, for a hearing prior to their re-trial for the rape of 17-year-old Norma Padgett. (AP Photo) Carole Greenlee was in her mothers womb when her father was accused of raping Padgett. He had been in Lake County that day looking for a job, a way to provide for his young family. After his conviction, his wife would bring the infant Carole for visits every Sunday, but eventually the became too difficult. Carole didnt see her father again until he was paroled in 1962. She was a pre-teen. Charles Greenlee did not appeal his conviction, according to PBS, and spent 12 years in prison. He died in 2012 at age 78. Shepherd and Irvin, however, did appeal, and although the Florida Supreme Court initially upheld their convictions, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturned them. They were shot by McCall on their return trip from prison to Lake County, where a new trial awaited them. In his second trial, Irvin was represented by future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, but was once again convicted after a speedy deliberation. They appealed again, but the U.S. Supreme Court denied the case. The governor at the time also rejected a clemency appeal and scheduled Irvins execution. But an emergency stay saved his life, and a newly elected moderate governor commuted Irvins sentence to life in prison after commissioning a report on the case. Irvin was released in 1968 and died two years later, of a heart attack, on a trip back to Lake County for a funeral. In 2016, the city of Groveland and Lake County apologized to the men and their families. A year later, the state of Florida apologized as well. READ MORE: CLEVELAND, Ohio The inmate population in Cuyahoga Countys downtown jail has dropped 13 percent in the 10 weeks since the U.S. Marshals Service reviewed the facility and identified inhumane conditions and severe crowding. The jail population as of Monday, the latest numbers made available to cleveland.com, stood at 2,103. Between Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 of last year, the time of the Marshals Service review, the jail held 2,420 inmates, according to the marshals' report. In response to inquiries from cleveland.com as to what caused the drop in the number of inmates, Common Pleas Administrative Judge John J. Russo provided the following statement: I am aware of concerted efforts being made by all stakeholders in the justice system to review the jail population. Our Court is always mindful of those people we have in custody. However, the Court does not manage the jail or its operations. I cannot speculate on the overall reduction in population. In response to the same inquiry from cleveland.com, county spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan said it is a question best answered by the court." The jail is designed to accommodate about 1,765 inmates, but crowding has been a chronic problem. The average number of inmates in the first week of January was 2,090. Thats less than the daily average of inmates in 2015 and 2016, as well as 2017, when the average was 2,263, according to data from the Sheriffs Office. The marshals reviewed the downtown jail and two satellite jails at the countys request following the deaths of seven inmates in four months. An eighth inmate died Dec. 30. The marshals reported that many inmates were forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor due to a lack of beds. Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Michael Nelson in early October vowed not to send people accused of non-violent crimes to the jail because he believed the facility was no longer safe. Days after the release of the marshals report, Russo asked his 33 colleagues to review the number of people they confined to jail. Each common pleas judge has a list of inmates awaiting trial, sentencing or transportation to a prison or another facility. The list also includes people accused of violating their probation. I am simply asking that we each take a closer look at our individual lists, Russo said in a Nov. 29 letter to the other judges. Russo sent the letter after learning of an impending lawsuit, now filed, that seeks federal oversight of the county jail. AKRON, Ohio -- A 17-year-old Stark County boy died Thursday, several days after he was shot in the head while playing Russian Roulette at a home in Akron. Glenn Miller of Louisville died early Thursday at Akron City Hospital, according to the Summit County Medical Examiners Office. He passed away five days after playing Russian Roulette early Saturday at a home on the 1000 block of Burkhardt Avenue, Akron police said. Miller, a 16-year-old boy from Green and a 20-year-old Akron man were playing the dangerous game of chance with a handgun around 1 a.m. when Miller suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, according to police. He was brought to the hospital in grave condition, police said. The shooting remains under investigation, Akron police spokesman Lt. Rick Edwards said Friday. No one has been arrested in the case. To comment on this story, visit Fridays crime and courts comment section. Cpl. Scotty Moree introduced himself to the students at Foyil High School, many of whom are related to people he went to high school with, as a Foyil graduate himself. Grace Louise Archer, age 90, a resident of Aurora, Colorado, a former resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at Shalom Park, Aurora, Colorado. Grace was born the daughter of Maurice P. Martin, Sr., and Margaret (O'Connor) Martin on October 10, 1930, in Chi Dentists Benefits, Northwest Dentists Merge With The Dentists Insurance Company Dentists Benefits Insurance Company (DBIC) and Northwest Dentists Insurance Company (NORDIC), acquired by The Dentists Insurance Company (TDIC) in February 2017, merged with, and into, their parent company, TDIC, effective Jan. 1, 2019, after final regulatory approval. The merger was approved by the California Department of Insurance (DOI), the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) and the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC). As a result of the merger, DBIC and NORDIC are now united as one company operating as The Dentists Insurance Company. The name and logo have changed and policyholders can expect a smooth transition with no disruption to the service they have come to trust and rely upon. TDIC focuses exclusively on supporting the dental profession by offering a comprehensive suite of professional insurance products to more than 24,000 dentists in 15 states. With this merger, TDIC now extends its exceptional legacy, brand values, financial strength and stability to over 5,000 additional policyholders in five states. In addition to providing DBIC and NORDIC policyholders with the service and support they have come to expect, TDIC has been rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best for 24 consecutive years. Worley Claims Services Acquires Replacement Source of America Worley Claims Services, LLC, a national provider of insurance claims services, announced the acquisition of Replacement Source of America, Inc., a contents services company founded in 1990 specializing in contents loss evaluation and pricing, contents replacement, salvage, and on-site field inventory services for the property insurance market. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction with ReSource is Worleys seventh acquisition since 2015. In July 2015, Worley acquired Fishers, Indiana-based NCA Group, a provider of daily and catastrophe residential and commercial property claims services throughout the U.S. In October 2015, the company acquired Charlotte, North Carolina-based RJMW Claims Services, a regional provider of daily and catastrophe residential and commercial property claims services. In July 2016, Worley acquired San Jose, California-based Summit Independent Claim Services, which provides commercial/GA and residential property loss adjusting services. In August 2016, it acquired Orlando, Florida-based Nexxus Solutions Group, a national managed repair contractor and service provider network serving the property insurance industry in the U.S. and Canada. In June 2017, Worley acquired Massachusetts-based Apex Claims Services of New England, a regional provider of property claims services. Most recently in January 2018, Worley acquired Atlanta, Georgia-based Audit Services Inc., a national claim estimate writing and review supplier for the property and auto insurance markets. Crawford Launches End-to-End Claims Management Solution for Transportation Clients Atlanta-based Crawford & Company, a global independent provider of claims management solutions to insurance companies and self-insured entities, has launched a unique, industry-focused transportation solution. This comprehensive set of claims management services aims to help transportation clients limit risk, assist employees injured on the job, protect cargo, vehicles, and other assets and maintain business continuity. Crawfords transportation solution provides: When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exploded onto the scene last June with a New York primary victory over Rep. Joe Crowley, chair of the House Democratic caucus, many in the media wondered why theyd failed to see her coming. While left-leaning outlets such as The Intercept, Splinter, and The Young Turks had paid attention to Ocasio-Cortezs longshot bid, more mainstream publications had overlooked both her campaign and the radically progressive platform it touted. Abolish ICE and Medicare for all quickly entered the lexicon of the political press. Seven months later, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez fills column inches as a disrupter in Washington. In addition to her agenda, plenty of ink has spilled on her social media game: prominent media and tech writers have lined up recently to hail it as a mini-revolution in political communication. Where Trump, is online, Ocasio-Cortez is Extremely Online, Kara Swisher writes in her New York Times column. Ocasio-Cortezs #relatable video content humanizes her, Swisher adds, whereas Trumps disembodied tweets make him look more and more like a giant cartoon bobblehead. ICYMI: How a problematic NYT article shows how newsrooms are out of touch with the communities they cover The right-wing mediasphere, which had become accustomed to its own viral dominance, has developed an obsession with Ocasio-Cortez. Other top targets, like Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, have rarely dignified its ire with a response, yet Ocasio-Cortez, backed by her many supporters on social media, has proved adept at drowning out the noise with blaring counter-noise. When critics tag a scandal to her, she quickly turns it aroundand scores points with her fans in the process. When, in November, a Washington Examiner reporter shared a picture of Ocasio-Cortez dressed in normal clothes with the caption that dont look like a girl who struggles, he was, as Vice put it, ratiod into oblivion on Twitterreigniting a debate on salaries for incoming lawmakers. Last week, after an Anonymous Q Twitter account shared a video of Ocasio-Cortez dancing in college, she filmed and tweeted an update; this time to the song War (What Is It Good For). This week, the Daily Caller found itself on the end of another Ocasio-Cortez clapback after sharing a hoax nude selfie of her in the bath that had already been comprehensively debunked. Ocasio-Cortez used this episode to draw attention to the heightened scrutiny women face in leadership positions. No wonder they defended [Brett] Kavanaugh so fiercely, she wrote. Responses to these conflagrations represent only a small portion of Ocasio-Cortezs online presence: shes on social media day-in, day-out, sharing everything from serious policy points to cooking tips, using the informality of the latter to boost the appeal of the former. As BuzzFeeds Charlie Warzel (who yesterday announced he is headed to the Times opinion desk) writes, all these posts are agenda-setting. Ocasio-Cortez has not limited herself to social forums: last weekend, she used a high-profile 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper to suggest tax rates as high as 70 percent to fund a Green New Deal; on Tuesday, soon after Trumps Oval Office address to the nation, Ocasio-Cortez went on Rachel Maddows MSNBC show, drawing attention to the separation of families at the border. Taken together, it all begins to seem like one big, personalized, multimedia feedback loop. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Thats quite a lot for a Congresswoman just now wrapping up her first week. Despite being a newbie in Congress, shes been effective in speaking for her colleagues. Last weekend, she told Cooper that she does not see herself as a flamethrower but as a consensus builder. Nonetheless, both her policy platform and communication style show shes intent on burning the status quo. Ocasio-Cortez intends to dominate the conversation, and not let it dominate her. ICYMI: Mainstream media grapples with a left-wing wave Below, more on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: A disrupter: Wireds Antonio Garcia Martinez writes that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a social media marketing genius, and very likely a harbinger of a new American political reality The same way florid, hours-long public oratory (echoed by the newfangled telegraph and newspapers) was the route to power for Lincoln in 1860, the preeningly candid self-display of streaming social media will be the route to power in 2020 and beyond. Wireds Antonio Garcia Martinez writes that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a social media marketing genius, and very likely a harbinger of a new American political reality The same way florid, hours-long public oratory (echoed by the newfangled telegraph and newspapers) was the route to power for Lincoln in 1860, the preeningly candid self-display of streaming social media will be the route to power in 2020 and beyond. On fact-checking: When Cooper fact-checked an old Ocasio-Cortez tweet on Medicare for all, she drew criticism for responding I think theres a lot of people more concerned about being precisely, factually, and semantically correct than about being morally right. Writing for New Yorks Intelligencer, Eric Levitz argues that she has a point. Which truths and falsehoods the mainstream press chooses to spotlightand which it leaves unscrutinizeddoes reflect the ideological biases of the objective press, he writes. While Medicare for Alls proponents are constantly confronted with the fiscal implications of their preferred policy, opponents of dramatically expanding the public sectors role in health care are rarely confronted with the humanitarian implications of leaving nearly 30 million Americans uninsured. When Cooper fact-checked an old Ocasio-Cortez tweet on Medicare for all, she drew criticism for responding I think theres a lot of people more concerned about being precisely, factually, and semantically correct than about being morally right. Writing for New Yorks Intelligencer, Eric Levitz argues that she has a point. Which truths and falsehoods the mainstream press chooses to spotlightand which it leaves unscrutinizeddoes reflect the ideological biases of the objective press, he writes. While Medicare for Alls proponents are constantly confronted with the fiscal implications of their preferred policy, opponents of dramatically expanding the public sectors role in health care are rarely confronted with the humanitarian implications of leaving nearly 30 million Americans uninsured. The status quo: Ocasio-Cortez created a new Instagram account yesterday, blaming House rules for having to mothball her old one. The Members Congressional Handbook doesnt explicitly say that lawmakers are required to make new accounts, but in most cases its easier to separate their government resources and personal ones in order to avoid ethics violations, The Verges Makena Kelly explains. Ocasio-Cortez created a new Instagram account yesterday, blaming House rules for having to mothball her old one. The Members Congressional Handbook doesnt explicitly say that lawmakers are required to make new accounts, but in most cases its easier to separate their government resources and personal ones in order to avoid ethics violations, The Verges Makena Kelly explains. Pulling teeth: Braving a new #relatable frontier yesterday, Beto ORourke broadcast his dental appointment in an Instagram Story. Some people wish he hadnt. A sudden rush of extremely online candidates could leave some politicians oversharing, The Daily Beasts Kelly Weill writes. When everyone is uploading folksy videos from their kitchens, it takes an otherwise questionable Teeth Video to cut through the noise. Other notable stories: ICYMI: How Der Spiegel was deceived by a fabulist Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Majd Daniel wants to tell the stories of his people: Palestinian citizens of Israel. The 27-year-old from northern Israel most likes to interview people who were there in the Nakbathe catastrophe, the Palestinian term for Israels foundingto learn about old Haifa and all the Palestinian villages that were destroyed. When we spoke in November, he was working on a news segment in Haifa about the experiences of Arab students at one of Israels toughest medical programs. Its the kind of angle that Israeli or international media might cover about how the other is integrating, but that for Daniel is about documenting and disseminating the experiences of young people like him. Its our role, Daniel said, describing his obligation to Palestinian citizens of Israel who are underrepresented in the countrys media and its politics. Palestinian citizens of Israelalso called Israeli-Arabs, Palestinians in Israel, 48 Arabs, or Palestinian Arabsmake up about 20 percent of Israels 9 million citizens. Unlike other Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip, and east Jerusalem, this group of Palestinians remained in Israel after its founding in 1948 and has Israeli citizenship. ICYMI: The newspaper that #MeToo missed We are the only ones of all of the Palestinians. . . who are able to visit [places in Israel] and see and do reports. Still, like other reporters who share his status in Israel, Daniels looking for opportunities elsewhere. I dont see much of a future here in the country, he concluded. If I want to continue in journalism, I should get out. Some of these dynamics are starting to shiftbut not, for now, in Daniels favor. The two-state solution is on its last breath, as are hopes for a Palestinian state alongside Israeldynamics that are intensifying as Israelis prepare to go to the polls in April. After decades of violence, Palestinians are increasingly making the fight about civil and human rights and the Israeli public is shifting inward and rightward. A controversial new Nation State law earlier this year downgraded Arabic from an official language and effectively elevated Jewish citizens above non-Jewish Israelis by legislating that the right to exercise national self-determination in Israel is unique to the Jewish people. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The struggle to create a sustainable and independent Palestinian press inside Israel reflects many of the pressures facing these communities. Stories about Palestinian citizens of Israel are often not heard, even though the citizens themselves are a crucial component of the stories others tell. And journalists say there are few good options for Arabic-speaking reporters in the country. Each international channel just wants one person in Jerusalem, Ameer Khatib, 27, a journalist from Haifa, says.. So your options are [Palestinian] Arabic ones, where you get paid nothing, or Israeli ones, where there are political issues and you could get kicked out if you dont use the right language. There are no choices There is no competition, he continues. Historic Palestine under Ottoman and British control had a thriving Arabic press. Today, inside Israel, there are currently more than 200 local news websites serving the countrys Arab villages and cities. But they are mainly personal commercial ventures, full of event photography and hyperlocal announcements that journalists like Daniel arent interested in. The most popular of these sites, Panet, is owned by a prominent businessman; several journalists dismissed its content as yellow news. The most established newspaper for Palestinians inside Israel is Arab 48, which has ties to the Balad Party, the main party representing Arab citizens in the Israeli parliament. Curated Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups, and other social media increasingly serve people their information first, says Nadim Nashif, the Director of the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media (7amleh). Journalists who work in the local Arabic newspapers and websites complained of low pay, poor writing and editing standards, and basically no way to advance. Its limited and their arent many possibilities, Daniel says. The commercial-oriented nature of such sites means they wont come near stories of abuse or corruption, as no journalist or media institution is strong enough to take on the blowback. Funding for Israels Arabic press is particularly political. We are not as economically strong as the Israeli media, says Kholod Massalha, 39, a Nazareth-based journalist and feminist activist. Massalha, who directs the Arab Center for Media Freedom Development and Research (ILam), is also Editor-in-Chief of another larger local website, Bokra. Arabic media doesnt have specialistsjournalists with the time to specialize in specific topics and beats, she laments. One key source of funding for Bokra is Lapam, Israels government advertising agency, says Massalha. Lapam pays Arabic newspapers and websites to publish bundles of advertisements, such as a Ministry of Health reminder for women to get breast-cancer checks. But, a few times, the bundle has included advertisements for national service: all Israeli Jews are required to serve in the military, while Palestinian Arab citizens are encouraged but not obliged to serve in the army or volunteer programs. For Bokra to survive, Massalha says the site cant refuse to publish those ads because there arent many sources of funding, even though the ads anger some readers. I cannot be a Palestinian journalist in a medium that broadcasts the news in this way. Israels national broadcaster, Kan, has an Arabic version, Makan, which employs Arab citizens and offers better salary and resources than many Arabic news outlets in Israel. Makan is quite popular on Facebook and has a large following among Palestinians. But, despite its popularity, young journalists such as Daniel arent interested in working there. I dont want to work with an Israeli channel and use their language, he says. On Makan, terms like occupation and nakba are not allowed. The Israeli narrative totally differs, Daniel says. As a Palestinian journalist [at Makan] I cant be free. When Khatib first started looking for work in Arabic TV, he says the only viable option he found was the Arabic version of i24News, an internationally broadcasted channel focused on Israel. For three years he worked there on news reports in Arabic. But he left last year, feeling he could no longer stay. I cannot be a Palestinian journalist in a medium that broadcasts the news in this way, he says, declining to go into specifics. When I left i24News I was looking for a medium thats talking like me, that has the same point of view, an agenda that I agree with basically. While much of Israels Arabic media is based out of the northern part of the country, Rafaat Abu Aish, 28, a freelance journalist for Arab 48, covers his Palestinian Bedouin community in the negev in southern Israelwhere journalism, he says, is not that developed. Sometimes you see news on Ynet [an Israeli website] that you didnt get yourself from your own village because they [Israeli media] are well connected to the government, said Abu Aish. Both Daniel and Khatib now work for Musawa, the only Palestinian TV channel aimed specifically at those inside Israel through daily and weekly news programs. Both say that Musawa offers them the best working conditions, in terms of pay, resources, and editorial standards. The channel also has a complicated status. Musawa started in 2015 as Palestine 48. The channel began as a project of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which Israel bans from operating outside of parts of the West Bank. Soon after its launch, Israel shut down the channel for its relation to the PA. A few weeks later, the channel relaunched as Musawa. It is now produced by Al Arz Production company, an Israeli company in Nazareth, where the office is based. But in its current form it remains connected to the PA, and is broadcast via Ramallah, where the PA is based. Musawa is the first channel thats talking for the Palestinian people in Israel, Khatib says. And its the first time for me that Im working for the local community and local people. Thats important for me. Daniel says he thinks criticism of politicians is important. On Musawa, he says, you can criticize the members of the Israeli parliament and [Arab] coalition. Its not a big space, but you can. For the PA, however, you cant criticize, says Daniel. He says he would like to report at a place like the BBC, France 24, or DW, where they are not especially to one side, like we learned it should be. For now, however, Musawa offers Daniel the greatest degree of independence. In the end, Im Palestinian Arab, says Daniel, and I prefer to work in a Palestinian channel where I have freedom. ICYMI: Thank you to everyone who cant redact documents properly Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Miriam Berger is a freelance journalist with a focus on the Middle East and international affairs. In 2014, Aude Lalo started a blog about toilets. She called it Les Pisseuses (French slang that literally means pissers, but is used in a variety of contexts). She used the blog, initially, to review public restrooms in her native France. A Lyon bakerysWelcome to Versailles!was among the good ones. A municipal toilet near Vannes train stationWhats this on the dirty floor? Please dont tell me its a used condomwas among the worst. If the blog was initially tongue in cheek, Lalo soon saw the more serious side of the toilet beat. I quickly came to understand that there were really crucial social challenges that you could find around toilets, she says (CJR translated its interview with Lalo). Lalo realized that restrooms, and the act of going to them, could be a prism through which to address topics from health and sanitation to ecology, urbanism, and the social relations between different groupsin Swiss stations, for example, women have to pay a third more than men to use equivalent public facilities. Lalo folded some of this analysis into her blog as it began to get talked about. She also started meeting people from within the toilet ecosystem: bathroom-industry figures enthused by the prospect of a channel dedicated to their products and campaigns. This professional interest, Lalo says, was a game-changer. When we talk about fishing, for example, you can find I dont know how many magazines about it, she says. But with toiletswhich, logically, concern everyonethere wasnt one. She saw an opening to do something new. That something new is Flush magazine, a sleek quarterly which describes itself as about toilets, culture, and society. Flush hit newsstands in mid-November; its official launch followed a week later to coincide with World Toilet Day. Its debut generated some buzz in France. Adverts for the magazine cropped up in restrooms, with brief articles about toilets pasted to the backs of cubicle doorsinforming users, for example, that its illegal to use your newspaper as toilet paper in Turkmenistan. Online, the magazine ran a Flashdance-inspired video (called Flushdance, obviously) drawing heavily on the originals iconic, and punnily convenient, water scene. And French media circles took note: Lalo was invited to TV and radio studios where she patiently explained her product to bemused-sounding hosts. Flush was the magazine some readers had been waiting for. As soon as it came out we received letters from people saying, this is great, I love it, Im a toilet enthusiast, Lalo says. Interestingly, Lalo does not see herself in the same light. It was more the intellectual aspect of it that interested me, she says. Its this approach that differentiates Flush from the countless niche publicationspowered by obsessive readerships or industry ad dollarsthat exist around the world. The concept behind Flush, Lalo says, is journalisme par lobjet, or journalism through the object. Its through the objectthrough the function, in fact, of going to the toilet, of relieving yourselfthat we can say things, she says. Were undeniably in a niche I dont know of any other magazine, at least in France, on this topic. On the other hand, toilets are universal. Sign up for CJR 's daily email A typical issue of Flush consists of four sections, which, together, offer readers a broad, 360-degree view of the world according to toilets. The first section rounds up toilet news from around the world; the second features industry trends, including in restroom design and products (anyone for a $45 matte-black toilet brush?). A dossier in the third section focuses principally on a big social or political themethe debut issue focused on migration, including sanitary conditions in migrant camps, and the next will look at prisons. And the fourth section is dedicated to culture, including a quick interview with a celebrity on the throne, and a look back at a classic movie scene set in a restroom. A typical article from the first issue reflects on urinal etiquette and the concept of masculinity, drawing on the University of Londons finding that 7 percent of men have paruresis, or a phobia of urinating in public. Another features a debrief on World Water Week, an annual event grouping researchers, NGOs, and politicians in Stockholm, Sweden, and the human waste disposal and water-cleaning innovations on the table for 2019. And another looks at how two French citiesParis and Nanteswaged war on peeing in the street, which is, apparently, an ecological catastrophe because, apparently, urine is corrosive. I think the people who bought Flush at the newsstand bought it because they wanted to be surprised, Lalo says of the first issue. Lots of publications talk about migrants, but no one talks about like them like we do. Another surprise for readers was Flushs rich designits stacked with original cartoons, illustrations, and artwork. Lalo sees this aesthetic potential as a perk of print (she stresses that her now-defunct blog and Flush are very different products, even if the former begot the latter). Paper is a quality medium, and for me it was important that this project is quality, because toilets can quickly become a slippery slopeif youll pardon the expression, she says. One of the principal challenges, from an editorial point of view, was to raise the tone, to make something high-range, which wasnt vulgar. Lalo wont reveal the magazines circulation (its too early for the figures to be meaningful, she says). But she will say that the first issue of Flush, which is independently owned, was stocked by over 4,000 newsstands across France. Its sticker price rings in at just under $8, with a years subscription slightly discounted from that rate. To keep fixed costs low, Lalo runs a small shop. The magazine does not have an office, and its 68 quarterly pages are filled by freelancers. If all goes well, Lalo may even consider international expansion one day: Id love to! Flush US, Flush UK, thatd work well with [the word] flush. She laughs, then turns serious. But wed need local editorial staff. You cant just translate content, she says. The relationship with the toilet is very cultural. It changes from one country to another. ICYMI: Trumps America, through the eyes of the French Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. The BJD has been showcasing its drive for 33 per cent reservation for women as its commitment towards women empowerment. Bhubaneswar: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaiks attempt of ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures has received the support of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). NCP president Sharad Pawar has written a letter to Mr Patnaik assuring the latter that the party will support the resolution regarding the reservation when it comes up in Parliament. Mr Pawar also congratulated the Odisha CM for the initiative. BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik had earlier asked partys ministers, MLAs and MPs to meet the leaders of national parties and 15 regional parties in this connection. On December 4, the CM had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the latter to initiate the move to ensure the one-third reservation for women. He had also on December 6 written to chief ministers of all states seeking their cooperation to ensure the reservation for women. Notably, the Womens Reservation Bill, which proposes to amend the Constitution of India to reserve 33 per cent of all seats in the Lok Sabha and in all state legislative assemblies for women, was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014. The BJD has been showcasing its drive for 33 per cent reservation for women as its commitment towards women empowerment. The opposition BJP and Congress, however, have criticized the move saying its a drama on the eve of the elections. Its a drama all together. Will the BJD leadership and Odisha CM clarify if he has given 33 per cent reservation to women in his council of ministers. He must also explain to the people if he the BJD ticket holders in 2014 assembly and Lok Sabha polls had 30 per cent 33 per cent representation of women, said BJP state vice president Sameer Mohanty. MSCI, which provides market indexes and portfolio and risk management services, has a new report on the progress made toward greater representation of women on boards of directors. Its not great news: Of the 2,700 companies on MSCIs All Country World Index, the percentage of firms that had at least one woman director increased only marginally. In 2017, 77.4 percent of companies on the Index had a woman seated on the board of directors; as of October 2018, that percentage was 78.7 percent. Back in 2015, MSCI predicted that by 2027, companies on the Index would reach 30 percent representation of women on boards, but with these new numbers, its more likely that wont be achieved until 2029. However, MSCI does note that the U.S. made "modest progress" last year, increasing the number of women occupying board seats by 89 seats. And in this blog post, MSCIs executive director, Megan Thwing Eastman, noted Californias new law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2019, which requires that all publicly traded companies headquartered in the state have at least one female director by the end of this year and a minimum of three by 2021 for companies with six or more total directors. Information technology companies may be particularly vulnerable, the piece notes; nearly half of companies with all-male boards are in Silicon Valley. But amidst this news, a new national organization, Lead Up for Women, has been established to help better propel women to leadership roles at work, at home, and in their community. The organization targets women who are climbing the corporate ladder, want to reach a leadership position, or want to venture out on their own and create or lead a business themselves. It offers a publishing platform (via Lead Up for Women Magazine), a personal and professional portfolio site, retreats, summits, members-only content, and a members-only online listing. It is also planning a series of in-person educational events across the U.S. to inform, educate, and facilitate networking; the kick-off event will be held in New York City on March 28, 2019. We want to act as a catalyst, support network, educator and resource for women who are looking to take the next step, whether that be rising to the upper rungs of the corporate ladder, launching her own business or living her best life, says Colleen Biggs, co-founder, in a statement announcing the Lead Up for Women organization. Lead Up for Women occupies a unique niche in that it focuses exclusively on attaining and thriving in leadership roles, says co-founder and CEO of Insight International, LLC, Sabina Ramsey. I have been an active participant in many organizations for women, but there are few networks with an exclusive focus on leadership, she says in a statement. We are attracting larger corporate entities that want to empower their employees to be a part of a trusted, national leadership group of women to build their network, community and support. Hopefully, the progress made toward womens representation in leadership will accelerate, and the numbers will look a heck of a lot better next year. Florida, FL (34429) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. SC also asked Meghalaya govt about steps being taken by it against those running illegal mines. 'Take help of experts to rescue the trapped miners', Supreme Court told Centre and Meghalaya government. (Photo: File | AP) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Meghalaya government to continue with their efforts to save miners trapped in a coal mine saying miracles do happen. The apex court reiterated that the Centre and Meghalaya government should take help of experts to rescue the miners, news agency ANI reported. "Carry on with your rescue efforts, what if all or at least some are still alive? Miracles do happen," a bench headed by Justice A K Sikri told the state government. The Navy has deployed five remotely operated vehicles in operation to rescue the 15 miners trapped in illegal mine since December 13, the state government informed the court. The state government told the court that one crore litre of water has been pumped out so far from the illegal mine but seepage from nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. The top court further asked the state government about steps being taken by it against those running the illegal mines and also the officials who have allowed the operations of such mines. One person involved in running illegal mines where the incident took place has been arrested, the Meghalaya government told the court. The bench has posted the matter to January 18 for further hearing. At least 15 miners are trapped in a 370 foot-deep illegal coal mine at Khloo Ryngksan area of Nongkhlieh elaka under East Jaintia Hills district since December 13 last year. At least 200 rescuers from the Navy, NDRF, the Odisha Fire Service, State Disaster Response Fund, states Fire service and others from CIL and KBL are involved in the multi-agency rescue operations. The grave accident at the mine has brought to light the presence of illegal coal mining using unsafe and unscientific rat-hole methods despite the National Green Tribunal ban since 2014. (With PTI inputs) BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav have called a joint press conference tomorrow. Last week, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati held a meeting in New Delhi and have reportedly moved closer to finalise a seat-sharing formula leaving the Congress out of the coalition fold. (Photo: File | PTI) New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, who are in talks of forging an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, have called a joint press conference tomorrow. The two leaders are expected to make an announcement of their alliance to take on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh in the general polls due in May. Last week, both the leaders held a meeting in New Delhi and have reportedly moved closer to finalise a seat-sharing formula leaving the Congress out of the coalition fold. It was proposed that both parties will equally distribute between them 78 Lok Sabha seats, reports said. However, the SP-BSP combo has reportedly decided not to field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, the seats represented in the Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi respectively. The Congress party, which is expecting a snub, has been speaking about going alone. The party has also gained confidence after it managed to win in the recently-concluded Assembly elections. However, what can give a major headache to the Congress is that parties in other states can also try to replicate SP-BSP formula and keep it out of the alliance. In 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal managed to win 73 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 parliamentary seats, while the BSP, SP and the Congress were decimated. 'The preparations for Gaganyaan Mission are underway. It has been a major turning point for ISRO,' K Sivan said. 'The initial training for Gaganyaan will be done in India and advanced training may be in Russia. Women astronauts will be there on the team. That's our aim,' ISRO chief K Sivan said. (Photo: File) Mumbai: The target for Indias manned mission to space is December 2021, ISRO Chief K Sivan said on Friday. The preparations for Gaganyaan Mission are underway. It has been a major turning point for ISRO, Sivan said while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru. The ambitious Gaganyaan project will help India become the fourth nation in the world to independently send humans to space after the United States, Russia and China. ISRO chief also said that the organisation aims to make women astronauts part of the mission. The initial training for Gaganyaan will be done in India and advanced training may be in Russia. Women astronauts will be there on the team. That's our aim, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first made the announcement of the Gaganyaan project on 72nd Independence Day - his fifth and final address ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Last month, the Union Cabinet approved a budget of Rs 10,000 crore for sending three Indian astronauts to space for a minimum of 7 days by 2022 as part of the programme. Prior to the actual launch, the ISRO will have two unmanned missions, and the spacecraft will be fired using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III. The target for two unmanned missions to space is December 2020 and July 2021, ISRO chief said. India plans to call its astronauts "Vyomanauts" (Vyom in Sanskrit means space). WASHINGTON The White House has begun laying the groundwork for a declaration of national emergency to build President Donald Trumps border wall, a move certain to set off a firestorm of opposition in Congress and the courts but one that could pave the way for an end to the three-week government shutdown. The administration is eyeing unused money in the Army Corps of Engineers budget, specifically a disaster spending bill passed by Congress last year that includes $13.9 billion that has been allocated but not actually spent for civil works projects, two people with knowledge of the developments said Thursday. Trump has urged the Army Corps to determine how fast contracts could be signed and whether construction could begin within 45 days, according to one of the people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the preparations. The list includes dozens of flood control projects in areas affected by recent natural disasters, including the Texas coastline inundated by Hurricane Harvey and parts of Puerto Rico battered by Hurricane Maria. The military construction budget is also being eyed as a potential source for unspent funds, with billions more potentially available there. FIRST PRIORITY: Vulnerable Houstonians first in line for Harvey recovery money The federal funds allocated to Texas for Harvey relief come to $4.88 billion. Houston and Harris County officials late Thursday scrambled to figure out how local plans could be affected. More than 90 percent of the Texas appropriation is set aside for projects in the Houston area, including $3.96 billion for a coastal barrier, $295 million for Clear Creek, and a combined $185 million for Hunting, White Oak and Brays bayous. Mayor Sylvester Turner said diverting funds from flood projects to the border is unacceptable. "Have we forgotten the impact Hurricane Harvey had on our region?" he said. "People expect their representatives to build a more resilient region and work to mitigate the risk of flooding. " Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she hopes the president does not purse the proposal further, as local communities remain hurt from Harvey 17 months ago. "We're actively working with our delegation in Washington, D.C., to make sure our disaster recovery funds remain where they belong, in our hardest-hit communities," she said. The White House preparations are taking place with talks at an impasse over Trumps demands for $5.7 billion to construct more than 200 miles of wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats are staunchly opposed, leading to a partial government shutdown that on Saturday will become the longest ever in U.S. history. Some 800,000 federal workers are about to miss their first paycheck since the shutdown began Dec. 22, and problems plaguing shuttered national parks, food inspection processes and other federal services are multiplying. The Senate unanimously passed legislation Thursday that would guarantee back pay to furloughed federal workers once the shutdown ends, although thousands of government contractors who have been furloughed may never recoup their losses. AT THE BORDER: Trump presses border crisis in McAllen, but reality is different, according to HoustonChronicle.com report Trump, who walked out of a White House negotiating session on Wednesday after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., refused to agree to pay for his wall, reiterated Thursday that he may well declare a national emergency if Democrats dont give him what he wants. We can declare a national emergency. We shouldnt have to because this is common sense, Trump told reporters as he visited the border in Texas, accompanied by the commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers. Trump repeatedly has said Mexico would pay for the wall. The president and members of his administration have been depicting a humanitarian and public safety crisis at the border, focusing on drugs flowing into the United States and violence by unauthorized immigrants. There was a significant uptick in border apprehensions in 2018, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, especially of immigrant families, but border apprehensions remain much lower than the high levels seen in the 1980s through the 2000s. Asked about a timetable for a national emergency declaration, the president said he would see how it goes with Congress. Democratic staffers from leadership offices and relevant committees met Thursday afternoon to discuss a potential response. According to an attendee, the meeting focused on undercutting any case that the border situation constituted a national emergency under the legal definition, and highlighting projects that might be put at risk if Trump were to raid other accounts to fund the wall. House Democratic leadership staff has explored the possibility of a lawsuit against the administration. But while no final determinations have been made, the current thinking is that Congress likely would not have standing to sue, according to a leadership aide. State attorneys general or people directly affected by a border wall such as landowners who own property along the U.S.-Mexico boundary would likely have to file the lawsuit, and the House could file an amicus brief. A number of Republicans have expressed qualms or outright opposition about Trump declaring a national emergency, including members of the House Armed Services Committee who object to the prospect of the administration targeting funds within the Pentagons military construction budget. Others cautioned against the administration taking executive action on an issue that should be Congresss purview. Its not the way to do it. I can understand why theyre looking at it, said Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. I dont like the idea of pulling money out of defense and military construction and the Army Corps of Engineers. Thats not a good option. Asked Thursday whether she would support Trump invoking national security powers to start wall construction, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, an Appropriations Committee member in the Senate, replied: No. Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor who is often supportive of Trump, said, Weaponizing a national emergency to achieve a policy objective is usually something that happens in banana republics, not George Washingtons republic. But other Republicans were ready for Trump to take the step. In a statement Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., accused Pelosi of intransigence thats brought talks to an end, and said thatit is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier. I hope it works, Graham added. A woman is suing a Subway franchisee almost two years after her son was gunned down in the restaurant in southeast Houston while protecting her from two armed robbers a crime that gripped the community and prompted an outpouring of support from friends and neighbors. Hilda Vasquez filed the lawsuit through her attorney, Paul Skrabanek, on Tuesday in Harris County Civil Court. The petition names KK Sub LLC, the franchisee of the Subway at 3933 Broadway, as the defendant. Both Vasquez and her son, Javier Flores, were working at the Subway at the time of the robbery. RELATED: Friends remember 'hero' teen slain saving mom in botched Subway robbery The suit claims the franchisee failed to properly train or supervise its employees, failed to maintain a safe work environment and failed to retain a security company despite the apparent risks. Vasquez is asking for more than $1 million in damages. The registered agent of the location could not be reached for comment. A response to the lawsuit was not filed as of Friday afternoon. Skrabanek told Chron.com on Friday that he planned to amend the petition to also target the Subway corporation, which did not respond to an email requesting comment for this story. "We all know Subways get robbed all the time, and they don't train these [franchisees] on how to deal with these situations,"Skrabanek said. Flores was killed on Feb. 22, 2017, after two gun-toting men burst into the sandwich shop on Broadway near the Gulf Freeway roughly an hour before closing time at 9 p.m., according to previous reports in the Houston Chronicle. Flores and his mother were the only two people in the store at the time, police said. Vasquez was cleaning toward the front of the shop, and Flores was behind the counter. One of the gunmen allegedly pointed a gun at Vasquez's face. Then Flores dove in front of his mother as the man pulled the trigger, Skrabanek said. "He did save his mom's life," Skrabanek said. "He got shot in the neck and she held him as he bled to death." RELATED: Man charged in slaying of Subway worker turns himself in to Houston police The day after the shooting, friends, family members and acquaintances showed up to a vigil outside the store to pay their respects. They said he had a good sense of humor and valued his family above all. "I would see him as a hero because he loved his mother," Flores' longtime friend Silviano Rodriguez said at the time. "He didn't want his mother to get hurt." The following May, Jeffery C. Archangel, a 25-year-old resident of Houston's Alief area, was charged with capital murder in Flores' death after turning himself in. His next hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 19 in the 337th Judicial District Court. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. 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 | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message If you ever find yourself in front of daunting red and blue lights, be thankful they don't belong to Houston's top cop like one Houston driver experienced Friday. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo was driving on the Hardy Toll Road when the driver of a Dodge Viper allegedly blew past him at 140 mph, the chief told Chron.com. "It almost took my doors off," Acevedo said describing the moment. He radioed the driver into police dispatch and gave chase in his police Chevrolet Tahoe, topping out around 120 mph, he said. NEW: Houston socialite allegedly harassed for 20 years The Viper eventually pulled over on the side of the toll road, Acevedo said. Acevedo said the man told him he'd been going 140 mph for about 30 seconds, managing to travel a little more than a mile in that time. Acevedo wrote the driver a $304 ticket for the traffic violation. On Twitter, Acevedo noted that he could have arrested the driver but opted to give the driver a ticket instead, citing the "totality of the circumstances, including flow of traffic, etc." His last high-speed ticket went to a driver traveling at 130 mph, he said. "I've been a cop for 33 years," Acevedo said. "It's never too late to experience something new." Acevedo said he's happy to be doing the same work that his officers do day in and day out on the streets of Houston, whether it's helping catch bad guys or solving other crimes. "It's not my first time," he said, "and it won't be my last." Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message Member of the conservative U.S. Pastor Council lent support to President Donald Trumps visit to the southern border during a Thursday press conference, where their leadership reiterated a declaration for a biblical approach to illegal immigration that should include the building of a wall. Our purpose is to reintroduce the principles of the Pastors declaration on border security and immigration that we laid out in 2010, said David Welch, the leader of the organization, with the difference that at this point in time we believe a wall is a legitimate part of a solution. Welch said the group, who included six people at the event at Houston Baptist University, has delineated three principles to tackle the problem of illegal immigration, which he has been kicked down the road too many times in too many directions by too many leaders. The groups declaration seems similar to Trumps agenda and arguments to justify the construction of a border wall. The well established fact that drug cartels, gang members, other criminal elements and now Middle Eastern operatives linked to Islamic terrorism are freely moving across our southern border has created an urgent national security crisis, the declaration reads. Some of those assessments, such as the idea that Islamic terrorists are freely moving across the southern border, have been questioned for lacking factual support. During his presidential campaign, Trump promised his base he was going to build a beautiful, tall wall paid for by Mexico, although his concept has since changed to a barrier fashioned with steel slats and paid for by American taxpayers. Welch said that because people have been willing to come en masse and violate our borders then we have no choice other than to build a wall. He explained that the second point of their proposal to fix illegal immigration is to bring about reforms to the system. The third one is the implementation of a just process to legalize the status of undocumented immigrants who havent committed violent crimes. Welch founded the Houston Area Pastor Council, as well as the Texas and U.S. Pastors Council, groups that have been described by Media Matters and other organizations as ultra-conservatives and not distinguishable from one another. They were at the forefront of efforts to defeat the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) in November in 2015, which included gender equality but which opponents branded as the bathroom ordinance. The group called Annise Parker, Houstons first lesbian mayor, a sodomite and labeled gay people forces of spiritual darkness. Bill Owen, a former pastor with the conservative Coalition of African American Pastors, came from his residence in Nevada to be part of the declaration. He said he was invited to meet with Trump on Friday and that, given the opportunity, will tell the president that the faith community has to step up and we are here to help. Owen added that undocumented workers are Gods people and we should address it, we should not just leave it up to the government. However, Owen added that the group is against illegal immigration. Ilegal is illegal Illegal immigration is illegal, said Owen, who believes that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs from African Americans and minorities. He said back home in Nevada, it is hard to find African Americans in professional positions. I have to look for a black doctor; I have to look for a black worker in the doctors office, (but) they have been displaced, he said. Asked if he believes undocumented immigrants are taking doctors jobs, Owen said: I dont think they are. I think what I am trying to say is (that) African Americans have been displaced, period. Its happening every day. We are still discriminated against. Carlos Salmeron, another pastor at Thursdays event, said he attended only because he received an email invitation and likes to hear different points of view. He said he respectfully disagrees with the groups declaration because a wall is not going to work. The wall will not be useful at all; we have already seen it because if they dont enter from the top they enter from the bottom, said Salmeron. The pastor from Humble said the real beneficiaries of a wall are the people, businesses and contractors that are lining up to make money out of it. mail:olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter.com/oliviaptallet Modi himself had on various occasions hailed the participation of youth in the nation building and has a massive support base among the youth. New Delhi: In an effort to tap the numerically significant youth power, the Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to unleash nearly two dozens nationwide events ahead of the crucial electoral battle through its youth wing, including a Town Hall with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 23 as part of its Vijay Lakshya 2019 campaign. The BJP is also eyeing the nearly 15 crore first-time voters, with a special reach-out campaign from January 12, with a pledge Pehla Vote Modi Ko. The ruling partys youth leaders will also assist these first time voters in availing their voter ID cards. The party has already launched a social media campaign #ModiOnceMore, which it claims is garnering massive support among people of all age groups. Mr Modi himself had on various occasions hailed the participation of youth in the nation building and has a massive support base among the youth. The Modi government had launched many schemes targetting the youth and the BJPs last membership drive received tremendous response from the youth ever since the Modi led government came to power. The Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president and Mumbai North-central MP, Poonam Mahajan, while announcing the initiatives that will be formally launched at the partys national council meeting beginning from Friday, said all programmes are aimed at larger participation of the youth in achieving the government of their aspirations and dreams and a vibrant and participative democracy. Ms Mahajan said that the BJYM will give a call to the youth to come together and support PM Modi and the BJP in its vision, mission and development agenda. After the formal launch of the initiatives, Ms Mahajan herself will interact with 10,000 youth volunteers at more than 100 districts across the nation through video conferencing. The initiatives also include a NamoYuva volunteer network, a pan India network with the party aiming at over 50 lakh volunteers, both in urban and rural areas, covering more than 500 districts in all states and union territories, from January 12. A series of live and recorded online interactions with senior BJP leaders, including central and state ministers and influencers are also lined up along with a campus ambassador network from January 12 onwards. These ambassadors will lead the partys digital and on-ground activities in their respective campuses. Ahead of the national Town Hall with the PM, state town halls will be conducted, where national leaders will connect with the youth and answer to queries on various issues. A Nation with NaMo writers conclave from January 25 to 31 and a Kamal Yuva Mahotsav and a Vijay Lashya Yuva Sammelan from February 1 till 15 are also lined up by the youth wing. The party will also organise a Kamal Cup Khel Pratiyogita and a Yuva Sansad for the youth participation. A Kamal Sandesh motor maha rally on March 2 in every district will cover more than 4000 mandals on the same day to garner support for Mr Modi and the BJP. A few months before Elijah Knight went to a Boy Scouts of America camp last summer in Georgia, he told his mother, Start everything with kindness, and the end will be OK. That message took on a more poignant meaning after a tree fell on the Cypress teens tent during a severe thunderstorm, killing him. More than six months later, amid a wrongful death lawsuit against the national organization and the local chapter that hosted the camp, Knights parents said theyre dedicated to spreading their 14-year-olds example. In losing Elijah, in losing the potential he had to make on the world, were calling on his generation to do it in his stead, father Stephen Knight told the Houston Chronicle this week. Elijah Knight died on June 25 at the Bert Adams Scout Camp near Atlanta after the tree swung into his tent, according to the Knight familys lawsuit filed Tuesday. The death has brought into the open how special their son was, mother Courtney Knight said. After he died, several other parents told the couple that Elijah made their children feel like they were worth something. Hes inclusive, and hes kind and hes generous, said his mother, Courtney. To honor him, we want to make sure we are still encouraging others to turn kindness to action and to not stop just because Elijah is no longer here. Elijah had a lot of interests, his parents said, including inventing, playing the saxophone, volunteering and running cross-country. He was a distinguished student, and he was hoping to become an Eagle Scout. At his memorial over the summer, mourners wrote messages on rocks as a way of remembering Elijah. Many of them wrote, Light, his mother said. Elijah was accepting and believed in accountability and fairness, his father said. He was funny. Once, after taking apart his brothers broken iPhone, Elijah brought the partially reassembled device to school and intentionally dropped it in the hallway, just to provoke a horrified reaction from his classmates. He was more than just a Boy Scout or a musician or an inventor or a Rubiks Cube solver, Stephen Knight said. I guess what weve found in his absence is that he was the light and joy in our family. The parents said they filed the lawsuit so no other parent has to experience what theyre going through. The lawsuit accuses the Boy Scouts of America and the Atlanta Area Council, which runs the camp, of ignoring weather warnings and failing to direct their son and other Scouts to shelter, breaching their own policies. A severe thunderstorm warning was in effect at the time of the death, and Elijah was outside in a canvas tent when the camp should have made him stay inside a structure, according to the suit. Scouting should be adventurous without being life threatening, said Stephen Knight, who is also an Eagle Scout. If (the Boy Scouts) follow their own existing policies or improve the policies that they have in place, it could have led to a different result. In response to the lawsuit, the Boy Scouts of America released a statement offering condolences to Knights family. This is a very difficult time for our Scouting family. We offer our deepest condolences to the victim and his family, and we will support them in any way we can, the statement reads. The safety of our Scouts is our number one priority. Please join us in keeping those affected by the tragic accident during last summers severe storms in our thoughts and prayers. No other Scouts should die at camp, Courtney Knight said. We want it to stop with us, she said. I fully believe it is preventable. Removed on graft charges a day after resuming charge. New Delhi: In a dramatic twist to the CBI versus CBI fight, a high-power committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday removed CBI director Alok Verma from his post on charges of corruption and dereliction of duties, an action taken barely 48 hours after the top IPS officer was reinstated to the post by the Supreme Court after 77-day forced leave. Mr Verma, whose fixed tenure of two years was to end on January 31, is the first chief in the 55-year CBI history to face such an unceremonious exit. The panels decision to remove Mr Verma was based on a majority vote of 2:1 with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge opposing it and Justice A.K. Sikri, appointed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as his nominee, siding with the government, sources said. The panel considered a CVC report which levelled eight counts of charges against Mr Verma, who had been reinstated by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, and cited telephone interceptions by external spy agency RAW. According to a government order issued on Thursday evening, the responsibility to head the CBI has once again been given to additional director M. Nageshwar Rao who was heading the agency during Mr Vermas 77-day forced leave from Oct. 23, 2018, that followed his feud with his deputy special director Rakesh Asthana over corruption allegations. Mr Verma, a 1979-batch IPS officer, has now been posted as director general fire service, civil defence and home guards, under the Union home ministry. Mr Verma, on his return to work on Wednesday three months after being sent on leave by the government in a midnight swoop, took a series of controversial decisions during which he cancelled transfers of 10 officers and transferred five others. The meeting to decide the fate of Mr Verma was held at the residence of Prime Minister Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, at around 4.30 pm. The meeting continued for nearly two hours with Mr Kharge strongly arguing for giving a chance to Mr Verma to present his case before the committee on the allegations levelled by the CVC against him. However, the Prime Minister and Justice Sikri did not agree with his position. Sources said the panel, barring Mr Kharge, felt that investigation, including criminal probe, was necessary, in some cases, and Mr Vermas continuation as CBI director was not desirable, and he should be transferred. The meeting of the committee was earlier convened on Wednesday which lasted nearly 30 minutes but it failed to take a decision. Reacting to the development, the Congress said, By removing Alok Verma from his position without giving him the chance to present his case, PM Modi has shown once again that hes too afraid of an investigation, either by an independent CBI director or by Parliament via JPC. However, hitting out at the Congress over its attack on the Modi government following the removal of CBI director, the BJP called it a sore loser, saying the party has been left to lick its wounds after failing to subvert the central probe agency by joining internal personal battles. Sore loser Congress is licking its wounds after failing to subvert the CBI by joining internal personal battles. The only investigation pending is of The Family that received bribes from Mama Christian Michel in multiple defence deals. Lies of Rahul Gandhi completely exposed, BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said. In a tweet, the BJPs Rajya Sabha MP also added, Shameless Congress lies again. Here are facts: 1) Shri Verma was given an opportunity to present his case before the CVC in presence of Justice Patnaik (retd), appointed by the Supreme Court. 2) Supreme Court also provided a copy of the CVC report to Vermas advocate. Taking a dig at the Congress leader in Lok Sabha, Union minister Piyush Goyal tweeted, Indeed, Mr Mallikarjun Kharge is a man of amazing consistency. When Shri Alok Verma was appointed CBI chief by the selection committee, he dissented. Now, when Shri Alok Verma has been removed by the same Selection Committee, he has dissented. Sources said the eight counts of charges cited against Mr Verma by the CVC included alleged attempts to induct tainted officers, compromising probe in the case related to controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi and IRCTC scam, among others. The CVC claimed that it had found evidence of influencing of probe in the Moin Qureshi case and there were intercepts of RAW that `2 crore had changed hands. The CVC was of the view that his conduct in the case was suspicious and there was a prima facie case against him, and wanted a criminal investigation to be conducted in the case. In the IRCTC case, the CVC felt that it can be reasonably concluded that Mr Verma deliberately excluded a name from the FIR, for reasons best known to him, sources said. The CVC also found instances of wilful non-production of record and fabrication of record. The committee also took note of Mr Vermas attempts to induct officers of doubtful integrity in the CBI. The CVC said that he had been given ample opportunity to present his case before the CVC, in presence of Justice (retd) Patnaik. The apex court had said in its order on Tuesday that any further decision against Mr Verma would be taken by the high-powered committee which selects and appoints the CBI director. The Supreme Court in the Vineet Narayan judgment had fixed a minimum tenure of two years for the CBI director to give him immunity from any political interference. Later, through the Lokpal Act, the process of selecting the CBI director was handed over to a selection committee. A delegation of former ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha along with activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan had met Mr Verma on October 4, 2018, with plea of registering an FIR in the Rafal aircraft purchase deal. Reacting to Mr Vermas removal, Mr Bhushan said on Thursday dubbed this as a desperate move by the Narendra Modi government. mr Vermas removal is motivated by the possibility of a probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal, he said. The move comes ahead of Indias national election due by May and amid rising worries that activists could misuse social media. Social media firms have long battled efforts by governments around the world to hold them responsible for what users post on their platforms. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Global social media and technology giants are gearing up to fight sweeping new rules proposed by the Indian government that would require them to actively regulate content in one of the worlds biggest Internet markets, sources close to the matter told Reuters. The rules, proposed by the Information Technology ministry on Christmas Eve, would compel platforms such as Facebook, its messaging service WhatsApp and Twitter to remove unlawful content, such as anything that affected the sovereignty and integrity of India. This had to be done within 24 hours, the rules propose. The proposal, which caught many holidaying industry executives off guard, is open for public comment until Jan 31. It will then be adopted as law, with or without changes. The move comes ahead of Indias national election due by May and amid rising worries that activists could misuse social media, especially the WhatsApp messaging service, to spread fake news and sway voters. Industry executives and civil rights activists say the rules smack of censorship and could be used by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase surveillance and crack down on dissent. Social media firms have long battled efforts by governments around the world to hold them responsible for what users post on their platforms. US and India lobby groups, representing Facebook and other companies, have sought legal opinions from law firms on the impact of the federal proposal, and have started working on drafting objections to be filed with the IT ministry, four sources in the sector said. The companies cant take this lying down. We are all concerned, its fundamental to how these platforms are governed, said an executive at a global social media company. An estimated half a billion people in India have access to the Internet. Facebook has about 300 million users in the country and WhatsApp has more than 200 million. Tens of millions of Indians use Twitter. The new rules, the sources said, would put privacy of users at risk and raise costs by requiring onerous round-the-clock monitoring of online content. Internet firm Mozilla Corp said last week the proposal was a blunt and disproportionate solution to the problem of harmful content online, and one which could lead to over-censorship and chill free expression. The IT ministry has said the proposal was aimed at only making social media safer. This is not an effort to curb freedom of speech, or (impose) censorship, Gopalakrishnan S., a joint secretary at Indias IT ministry said on Saturday when the ministry ran a #SaferSocialMedia campaign on Twitter. Facebook and WhatsApp declined to comment. A Twitter spokesperson said the company continues to engage with the IT Ministry and civil society on the proposed rules. This will be like a sword hanging on technology companies, said Nikhil Narendran, a partner specializing in technology law at Indian law firm Trilegal. TIGHT REGULATIONS Such regulations are not unique to India. Vietnam has asked tech companies to open local offices and store data domestically, while Australias parliament has passed a bill to force companies to give police access to encrypted data. Germany requires social media companies to remove illegal hate speech within 24 hours or face fines. Nevertheless, the proposal would further strain relations between India and global technology firms. They have been at odds since last year due to federal proposals requiring them to store more user data locally to better assist legal investigations. The new rules, called intermediary guidelines, also propose requiring companies with more than 5 million users in India to have a local office and a nodal officer for 24x7 coordination with law enforcement. When asked by a government agency or through a court order, companies should within 24 hours remove or disable access to unlawful content, they stipulate. The rules also mandate companies to reveal the origin of a message when asked, which if enforced would deal a blow to WhatsApp which boasts of end-to-end encryption to protect user privacy. WhatsApp has battled criticism after fake messages about child kidnap gangs on its platform sparked mob lynchings in India last year. You have created a monster, you should have the ability to control the monster, a senior government official said, referring to WhatsApp. We remain flexible in principle (to suggestions), but we definitely want them to be more accountable, especially the big companies, the official said. Officials at The Woodlands Township are seeking a new transit program manager after long-time leader of the department, Chris LaRue, resigned in mid-December. Don Norrell, president and general manager of The Woodlands, confirmed that LaRue had given two-weeks notice and that his last day of work was on Dec. 20. No replacement has been hired and LaRues duties are being handled internally at the township, Norrell added. Chris resigned and we were all kind of surprised. His last day was Dec. 20, Norrell said in a telephone interview. He gave us the standard notice. Chris has done a good job for us. I was sad to hear him go (to another job). Chris was a great employee. LaRue had recently led the township through a series of transit issues, including the development of an online mobile ticketing app for The Woodlands Express bus service, as well as more recent projects that he proposed to offer more amenities to riders. The recent changes include an extra departure time from the Sterling Ridge Park and Ride lot, a new drop-off stop at the Texas Medical Centers dental building, and an application for federal funds to start a new bus route to the Energy Corridor long Interstate 10. On Friday, LaRue explained why he left his position with the township, saying that while the job leading The Woodlands transit program was one of the best he had in his career and he felt township officials supported him, he needed to think about his familys best interests. Honestly, my time at the township was wonderful. It was the opportunity of a lifetime for me to come in and build something successful, LaRue said. I was sad to go. It was a very hard decision to make. But, Ive got myself to think of myself, my wife, my familyIve got to take care of my family. LaRue has taken a new position at Houston-based AECOM, where he said he is doing similar transit work as he did in The Woodlands, but impacting a large number of people across the region. LaRue began working at the township on Jan. 13, 2014 and led the townships transit program through many changes and improvements, all of which he said he is very proud to have been a part of especially the acquisition of the Woodlands Express by the township. I think the township was supportive of my progressive transit policies. We comprehensively improved the program for the Town Center Trolley service, which increased ridership from 74,000 in 2016 to more than 132,000 in 2018, LaRue explained. We brought new and innovative technology to our transit service such as a mobile ticketing app.things that streamline the service. However, despite LaRues success, several of his presentations on proposed changes in September, October and November were often cut short by township board chairman Gordy Bunch, who during several meetings interrupted LaRue and told him the board did not need to hear the entire presentation he had prepared. LaRue said the interactions with Bunch at the fall meetings had no role in his resignation from the township and that his new job was simply, nothing more than a great opportunity I could not pass up. When you do presentations and appear before public officials, you are going to get roughed up once in a while, LaRue said of the meetings where his presentations were cut short or not heard. Ive testified before Congress and many other entities. It is not personal. Elected officials have a job to do ensuring the publics interests are met. Bunch said he was sad to learn of LaRues departure, and noted that the two had a great working relationship. We have appreciated all the work (LaRue) has done for the township over the past several years, Bunch said. Its my understanding he has been offered an opportunity he couldnt pass up and I wish him nothing but success as he moves forward. Officials are currently seeking a replacement for LaRue, and township spokesperson Nick Wolda said job advertisements will be placed in various publications and websites. Currently, the transit program is being managed by John Powers, assistant general manager for Community Services, with help from Ruthanne Haut, the deputy director of Community Services who was hired in October. jeff.forward@chron.com Two girls believed to be in their teens and a woman in her 30s were found fatally shot inside a multi-million dollar home located in an upscale, gated community in Boerne. Family members at the scene identified the woman as Nichol Olsen. Authorities have not confirmed the name or released the names of the two girls. A man who was dating the woman made the discovery just after 9 a.m. when he arrived at the home in the 11300 block of Anaqua Springs, in the Anaqua Springs Ranch community, officials said. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Authorities pronounced all three dead at the scene. All had suffered gunshot wounds to their upper torsos. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said the women were related to one another but did not specify their familial relationship. Salazar said the two young girls appear to be the "victims of foul play" and that their apparent manner of death was homicide. The woman's manner of death has not been determined. "It's just too early to tell on the third person if that is a murder or a suicide," Salazar said. "We'll let the medical examiner take a look at it." Crime scene investigators are now examining the home where the woman and girls were found. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office has set up a mobile crime lab outside to help process the scene. "We're being meticulous about how this crime scene is processed, for certain," he said. READ ALSO: Contradictions mount between SAPD and family in missing baby case The man who discovered the bodies told authorities he was sleeping at another location the night prior to the slayings, though Salazar didn't detail where and why. Homicide detectives are questioning the man about his whereabouts and what may have led to the killings. "It's just a shocking thing that you would never expect to happen here," said Laura Rendon, who lives in the neighborhood. "It's a very peaceful quiet neighborhood and nothing like this has ever happened before." Later in the day, several family members and friends of the victims arrived at the Anaqua Spring community and, some solemnly and others frantically, made their way to the front gate, where they were confronted by security guards who blocked their access. At least one man jumped the fence and ran inside, while several others found alternate routes inside or were permitted entrance. Almost all of them declined to comment on the killings. SUBSCRIBERS: Asked where missing San Antonio child is, grandfather says: 'Only God knows.' The sheriff's office received no reports of gunshots in the area Wednesday night or early Thursday, Salazar said. That could be due to the nature of the lavish community in which the killings occurred. "They're multi-million dollar homes," Salazar said. "Very big. Very big lots. And the homes are probably very well constructed. So it's quite possible no one heard anything." "Naturally, it's not a common area for us to see this type of activity but it just goes to show that crime really knows no boundaries, geographic, socioeconomic or otherwise," he later added. "It could happen anywhere, literally." Anyone with information on the killings is asked to contact the Bexar County Sheriff's Office at 210-335-6000. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | cdowns@mysa.com | @calebjdowns Almost 640 flights were cancelled in Germany Thursday as security staff went on strike at three airports, meaning disruption for around 100,000 passengers. Members of Germany's Verdi union hold a banner reading "more pay? With security (certainty)" at a terminal during a one-day strike by security staff at Cologne's airport on January 10, 2019. [Photo: VCG] The number of flights blocked was more than half the 1,050 scheduled for Duesseldorf, Cologne-Bonn and Stuttgart. Duesseldorf -- the country's third-largest airport -- said in a statement that 370 of Thursday's 580 planned departures had to be cancelled. Travellers wait for after flight cancellations during a one-day strike by security staff at Stuttgart's airport on January 10, 2019. [Photo: VCG] News agency DPA reported that the walkout, slated to last from 3:00 am (0200 GMT) to midnight (1100 GMT), was expected to affect around 100,000 travellers. At Cologne-Bonn, where 131 of almost 200 flights were cancelled, union Verdi told DPA the security strike was also slowing freight handling. The knock-on effects of the walkout also triggered flight cancellations at Munich airport, which is already grappling with disruptions caused by inclement weather. Representing 23,000 airport security staff across Germany, Verdi is demanding a pay increase to 20 euros ($23.08) per hour. A board displays cancelled flights during a one-day strike by security staff at Stuttgart's airport on January 10, 2019. [Photo: VCG] Wages currently vary nationwide, with workers in some airports in eastern Germany earning around 14 euros hourly, compared with just over 17 euros for their peers in the capital and western parts of the country. Employers' association BDLS meanwhile is offering increases of between two and 6.4 percent. Passengers' first taste of the pay dispute came Monday, when Berlin's two airports Tegel and Schoenefeld suffered "warning strikes" with around 50 departures cancelled. The next round of Verdi and BDLS negotiations will take place on January 23. Texas scientists who developed an effective vaccine for the deadly Ebola virus are now reporting promising results with new medication to better treat full-blown cases of the disease. In a laboratory study published this week, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston showed a single injection of two antibodies successfully treated monkeys infected with all strains of the virus, a significant advance on current treatment options which only cover one strain and require multiple injections. This medication would give doctors an advantage in situations where we dont know which strain of Ebola is going to pop up next, said Thomas Geisbert, a UTMB professor of microbiology and immunology and the studys primary investigator. The fear now, with all our eggs in one basket, is well get burned with the outbreak of a strain theres no protection against. Geisbert said the study results, published Wednesday in Cell Host & Microbe, suggest the medication would be effective even if Ebola viruses evolve over time, and Larry Zeitlin, president of Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., the drug manufacturer, said it should reduce the burden on health-care workers in the field during outbreaks. The broad-spectrum injection killed the virus in 100 percent of monkeys infected with the Sudan and Bundibugyo strains and the particularly lethal Zaire strain, the source of the 2013-2016 West Africa outbreak and the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Unlike mice, monkeys are considered highly predictive of treatment effectiveness for tropical diseases such as Ebola. Ebola is considered one of the worlds deadliest plagues. It caused about 11,500 deaths about 50 percent of those infected in the 2013-2016 outbreak in West Africa, and 377 more in the Congo, where another 101 suspected cases are under investigation. Ebola caused much alarm in the United States in 2014 when Liberian citizen Thomas Duncan developed symptoms during a trip to Dallas. The hospital there only recognized his illness as Ebola during a return appointment, when the course of the disease was very advanced. He was the first U.S. case and death of Ebola. Geisbert said it is unclear if the medication, known as MBP134, could have saved Duncan had it been available then, given how late he was diagnosed. But he said he thinks it would have enabled treatment in Africa of health-care workers who contracted the disease there and had to be evacuated to the U.S. or Europe, where they recovered. He specifically mentioned Dr. Kent Brantly, the Fort Worth medical missionary who became the first American to return to the United States to be treated for the disease. Brantly, who does not complain of lingering symptoms that some others do, was out of the country Thursday and could not be reached for comment. New medications are increasingly being used in the Congo to treat Ebola, most notably ZMapp, which was initially deployed late in the first outbreak. But those medications work only against the Zaire strain and require multiple injections, a challenge in Third World settings. ZMapp, for instance, must be given three times, each a few days apart, and by infusion which takes up to five hours. The single infusion of MBP134 only takes minutes. Thats a huge advantage in chaotic outbreaks or reactive settings where its often difficult to track down and identify patients to give them a second dose, said Dr. Peter Hotez, founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Childrens Hospital. Hotez added that of course, all of this needs to be confirmed in human clinical trials. He said the current outbreak in the Congo looks like a good time for such an evaluation. Geisbert said production of MBP134 could be ramped up quickly whenever health officials want to use it. His team is currently researching whether the medication can be injected in muscle rather than intravenously and whether a lower dose might be just as effective, which would make it less costly to produce. In the study, Geisberts team injected Macaque monkeys and ferrets infected with either the Sudan, Bundibugyo or Zaire strains of Ebola. The human predictive reliability of ferrets, a new disease model Geisberts team is using, is not as well established as monkeys. All 12 monkeys and 12 ferrets gradually got better and were healthy a few weeks later. The treatment was given between four and seven days after the animals began experiencing symptoms, depending on the speed with which the particular strain is known to progress. In the Zaire strain, for instance, the injection was given on the fourth day. The injections took three to five minutes, said Geisbert. Geisbert and a Canadian colleague developed the primary Ebola vaccine being used in Africa. It was introduced late in the West Africa epidemic, perhaps as it was already petering out, and its deployment in the Congo outbreak has been hampered because of ongoing conflict and violence in the region. Vaccines are great, but theyre challenging because of logistics, said Geisbert. What were trying to achieve here is to deal with people with full-blown Ebola. As much as you want to vaccinate, people still walk into clinics sick. todd.ackerman@chron.com twitter.com/ChronMed The man accused of fatally stabbing his supervisor and critically injuring another worker in Waller County on Wednesday was taken into custody after a 15-minutes standoff today, authorities say. Evan Lyndell Parker, 34, is accused of killing 64-year-old Harry Parnell and critically injuring 36-year-old Jose Rangel. They all worked at a manufacturing business, Orizon Industries, according to the Waller County Sheriff's Office. He was charged with murder and aggravated assault in connection with the stabbings, Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith said, adding that investigators had just started to interview him on Thursday afternoon. Smith said multiple people witnessed Parker stab both men around 7:50 p.m. Wednesday at the Orizon Industries building on FM 362 and Wilson Road, north of Brookshire. He said Rangel was part of a group of people who tried to intervene in a dispute between Parker and Parnell. Despite having multiple witnesses, he said one element of the crime remains a mystery. "We have not found a proper motive yet," Smith said. "We don't have anyone telling us [the victims] have had problems before." Smith was apprehended at 2:08 p.m. Thursday at his Harris County apartment complex in the 18000 block of South Parkview, according to a news release. He said police called his name over a loudspeaker for 15 minutes before he walked out and surrendered. CHRON CATCH-UP: Sign up to have Houston's top news stories of the day delivered to your email. Parnell, a night shift supervisor, died at the scene of the stabbing, and Rangel was flown to the hospital in critical condition, police said. Parnell had been with the company for 20 years, said Milo Thibeaudeau, chief operating officer at Spitzer Industries. Orizon is a division of Spitzer. Rangel has been with the company for about eight months. Parker is also an employee in the quality control group of Orizon. There was no known conflict between the victims and the suspect, Thibeaudeau said. "It's a family-oriented company that grew up organically," Thibeaudeau said on Wednesday. "For something this tragic to happen is beyond our imagination." Parker's criminal history involves previous charges of aggravated robbery, assault, resisting arrest and aggravated assault against a public servant, deputies said. 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 | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message Christmas is put away and 2019 is in now fully in place. It always takes a few days for the holiday season to transition to the quiet and boring month of the year. Yet so much psychology is in a word. Calling January restorative and restive changes the nuances of the month of January. Yet Christmas is not to be forgotten with great times among family generations. Patti and Tim Merrifield had a wonderful time hosting children and grandchildren. Denise and Jeff Lochore along with daughter Sara and their son-in-law Caleb Reidlinger traveled to Australia on Christmas Day. They toured the Sydney Opera house and then went diving at the Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately the weather was not ideal and their dives met with a lot of rainy turbulence. Oddly when Mark and I visited there in 1999, it was the same story even though December is the reverse of seasons down under and is the beginning summer there. Jeff did state that seeing Tasmania was incredible especially the odd life forms evolved there such as the aptly named Tasmanian devil. Congratulations go to Ladies Association of Waldens 2019 Woman of the year KYM HARRIS. Kym is a bundle of energy as she runs her own insurance and investment company, volunteers in the Walden Community Church with Childrens Bible Vacations Camp, Halloween Trunk Party, the Choir, and conducting a womens Bible and prayer group. When Walden community was in need with Hurricane Harvey, she coordinated lunch deliveries with the Methodist Church to Walden residents. She has been very active in the Walden Follies both on and off stage and serving as Director and Board member. This year she is the Follies Board President. She organized the Friends in Deed Committee of the Ladies Association into teams which deliver food to fellow members who are in Need with illness, hospitalization or death of a loved one. She makes personal calls to sick and home visits to Association members. She always has time for others. LINDA JACKMAN and her family recently returned from a trip through Europe visiting Paris, Rome, and various other landmark cities. At the end of the holiday, Lindas Fitbit registered 90 miles. Thats a lot of walking. Administrators at Harmony Public Schools are inviting the community to attend a STEM festival and open house this month to show off their students talent. The festival, which features student demonstrations and local vendors, is scheduled for at 10 a.m. Jan. 26 at Harmony Science Academy-Katy in Cinco Ranch at 22400 Grand Corner Drive. During the festival, those interested will have the opportunity to tour the campus and explore additional STEM demonstrations. Harmony School of Innovation-Katy teacher Yavuz Bulut said students at his school have been working hard on short-term and long-term projects in preparation for the festival and open house. One of the focuses of the long-term interdisciplinary projects is connecting STEM curriculum to the humanities through rich, meaningful, and rigorous cross-disciplinary and multi-sensory projects that allow the applications and development of critical 21-st century skills, Bulut said. These projects also contain integrated Social Studies and ELA components, Bulut said. Upon completion of project, students present their findings through their e-portfolios as a short presentation video and web content. Harmony Public Schools believes its important for students to engage in STEM-related projects, Bulut said. Through a Share and Shine program, students become more actively engaged in STEM studies, he added. The Harmony STEM Share and Shine approach makes STEM engagement socially desirable for students, he said. Through this Share & Shine approach, STEM festivals at each Harmony campus have become annual public events to showcase student work and PBL artifacts shared with the entire school community. Harmony Public Schools is a K-12 system that contains 56 Texas public charter schools campuses, 35,000 students; and 4,000 teachers and staff, according to information from its website. Last fall, Harmony Public Schools received a $8 million federal grant from the United States Department of Educations Office of Innovation and Improvement to begin a early-education STEM program for elementary-age students. The programs builds upon the project-based learning STEM model for grade 6-12 students by introducing similar curricula to students in grade K-5, according to a Harmony news release. Harmony was the only school system in Texas to receive an EIR grant for 2018. michelle.iracheta@chron.com After 27 years in the oil and gas industry, Miara Shaw began working full time to help women improve their lives both professionally and personally. On Saturday, Jan. 26, she will host The Hope of Purpose Experience at Microsoft Technology Center in Town & Country Village. The conference and networking event will discuss not only how to set goals for the new year but form clear plans in areas like building a brand, growing a business and improving in relationships and health. January is just a natural space in which people [plan], and you find that there is a natural energy around fresh starts: Going forward, Im going to do it this year, Shaw said. You know all the excitement of a new year, and what happens is all of the statistics show that without clear strategy and accountability partners, etc., about 80 percent dont complete the goals that they set for the year. Shaw said writing down goals is not enough, that structure is required. With an example of someone who wants to lose 20 pounds, she said it is critical to ask detailed questions like when you want to lose it by, how you are going to do it and when you will see your health care provider to get a wellness check. Accomplishing external goals requires hard internal work, Shaw said. This is the fourth year Shaw has done the January conference, but until this year, it was called the Business and Leadership Conference. The event will include a one-on-one interview with Brandice Daniel, CEO and founder of Harlem's Fashion Row. After 14 years in her business, Daniel recently partnered with Nike and LeBron James to design his 16th signature shoe. She plans to share about ways to secure sponsorships and partnerships in business. Looking back, Daniel attributes her success to being relentless in the face of adversity, being willing to make cliff jumps and total reliance on my faith. More Information "The Hope of Purpose Experience" is slated for 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, at Microsoft Technology Center at 750 Town and Country Blvd. "The Hope Lounge" will follow from 3-5 p.m. and will feature special products from the event's sponsors, as well as an opportunity to refresh and connect with others. For more information or to register, visit https://miarashaw.com/hopeofpurpose/. See More Collapse Shaw said she chose Daniel as a guest because she appreciated her genuineness and she knew getting where Daniel is now had to take a lot of hope. I want them to see, you know, real women doing real work and how you do need hope for your purpose, Shaw said. Shaws husband will moderate a group of men on a panel as they discuss relationships from the male perspective. While the event is tailored for female entrepreneurs, Shaw said men are also welcome because anyone can learn from the principles that will be addressed. Daniel has not been to Houston in more than 20 years and said she is excited about taking part in the conference. I love connecting over purpose with people and this event is all about purpose, so I expect that there will be lots of tears, laughs and genuine connection, she said. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com Update: Shake Shack is officially heading to downtown Houston, according to a press release on Monday. The new location at 702 Main, approximately 3,242 square-feet, will offer seating both inside and on an outdoor patio, as well as the New York-based burger chain's menu of classics, from the ShackBurger, a cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato, and house-made sauce, to crinkle-cut fries to hand-spun shakes, plus a selection of frozen custards created in collaboration with local food purveyors. Eco-friendly, the downtown spot will be constructed with recycled and sustainable materials. Booths will be made from lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, while table tops will be made from reclaimed bowling alley lanes. The downtown outpost of Shake Shack is expected to open summer 2019. ______________________________________________________ Shake Shack's expansion plans in Houston may be heating up. After opening a locale in Montrose in December, Shake Shack is hopefully growing its presence in Houston again, this time eyeing the downtown market. The New York-based burger chain filed a building permit Wednesday for renovations to the former Brown Bag Deli at 702 Main, reports Swamplot. The space, which has been unoccupied since the deli closed on December 21, marks the fifth outpost of the casual restaurant, which also has locales at The Galleria, Rice Village, and Minute Maid Park. RELATED: Shake Shack Montrose opening Dec. 20 The counter service joint offers a gourmet take on fast-food burgers, hot dogs and frozen custard ice cream, along with classic crinkle-cut fries, wine and beer. Since the original Shack opened in 2004 in New York City's Madison Square Park, the company has expanded to more than 80 locations in 18 U.S. States and the District of Columbia. Shake Shack is also in more than 50 international locations from London to Dubai to Seoul. Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter specializing in social media, the famous, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message A performing arts group from Friendswood hopes to complete a three-peat when its young thespians compete Jan. 18-21 at the international Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta, Ga. Children from Purple Box Theater were honored both times they competed before, in 2017 and 2018, in competition with groups from across the globe. Those were our first times to compete, said Cathy Holbrook, Purple Boxs founding artistic director and owner. Prior to that, we would go to New York and Disney World for workshops, but once we decided to compete, the kids loved it and we did well. So, they want to go back, she said. They love being around other kids their ages who all like doing the same things they like. JTF Atlanta, which attracts 6,000 participants, takes place at the Cobb Galleria Centre. The energy and vibe of the convention center is electric, said Holbrook. The Purple Box Kids will perform a 15-minute cutting from Disneys Peter Pan Jr., with songs that include Elegant Captain Hook, Follow the Leader, Never Smile at a Crocodile, Walk the Plank, Yo ho a Pirates Life and You Can Fly. The cut includes songs, acting and choreography, said Holbrook, explaining that the youngsters will be judged on storytelling and conveying story and emotion through movement and choreography, style, execution and creativity. The cast of 23 includes students who will be competing at nationals for the first, second or third time. Lily Newsom, 17, a senior at Lutheran South Academy, is featured as Captain Hook. The daughter of Jim and Grace Newsom of Pearland was named to the All Star Team at last years festival, when Purple Box Kids performed a cutting from the musical Shrek Jr., and their presentation was one of only a handful from among 119 entries to be awarded the prestigious Freddie G Award for Excellence in Music. The award is named in honor of Freddie Gershon, the chairman and CEO of Music Theatre International and recipient of an honorary Tony Award in 2012. Other third-year competitors will include Mylana Valdina, Elena Vasquez, Avery Martin, Brianna Rankin, Liam Alonzo, Hannah Brueggeman, Arabella Reyes, Ainsley Whittington and Madi McClellen. Last year, Vasquez earned a spot on the main stage in an event called Broadway Slam. For it, she was given an hour to learn a song and its choreography before performing. This will be the second year for both Clarq Bishop and Jake Cipolla to compete. First-year participants will include Reagan Beaver, Kamille Bishop, Christina Goodwill-Sivley, Savannah Mayfield, Alayna McClure, Emma Murray, Mya Ott, Addison Rosenthal, Haley Smith, Sarah Staples and Kate Wilds. Avery Martin, Brianna Rankin and Mylana Valdina will represent Purple Box Theater in the category of Theater Tech Olympics, which requires students to change costumes, mark the stage and set props from a list, while being timed. Eight of the Friendswood contingent will audition to be cast as dancers in a professional DVD on choreography. In 2017, the group was one of only 13 out of 120 entries to win a Freddie G Award. Their presentation was from Beauty and the Beast Jr. The weekend will feature professional development for teachers, workshops for students and parents and a New Works Showcase of new musical adaptations soon to be released. It will conclude with a grand finale concert, per information at itheatrics.com/jtf. JTF is sponsored by Playbill, Disney Musicals and Music Theatre International. The Haynesville shale natural gas play in East Texas and northwestern Louisiana has roared back to life thanks to higher natural gas prices and a slew of new liquefied natural gas export terminals coming online along the Gulf Coast. Haynesville gas production is at its highest level since the previous 2011 peak and should hit a new record later this year, according to a new report from the Norwegian research firm Rystad. The continental U.S. began exporting LNG in early 2016 when Houston-based Cheniere Energy Sabine Pass terminal came online on the Louisiana side of the Texas border. That terminal has continued to expand since, increasing Haynesville gas demand throughout 2016 and 2017. "We conclude that Haynesville Shale's revival, for the second year in a row, looks sustainable," said Rystad partner Artem Abramov. "Supported by its proximity to a new LNG export terminal, gas production will continue to grow, and achieving new all-time high gas production levels should happen within a matter of months." RELATED: Corpus Christi LNG's first shipment headed to new market in Europe Cheniere just started shipping out LNG from its new Corpus Christi terminal late last year and projects by other companies are coming online later this year, including Freeport LNG in Texas and Cameron LNG in Louisiana. More than 50 drilling rigs are currently running in the Hayneville, according to the weekly count from Baker Hughes, a GE company. Natural gas prices have been higher for the past several months, although they've dipped a bit this January. The demand for U.S. LNG is driven by Asian growth, especially China and India, as well as other emerging markets in the region. Asia will account for 75 percent of global LNG demand by 2030, Rystad estimates. The Haynesville was part of the early shale boom a decade ago, but low natural gas prices halted much of the activity in the region and more shale drilling efforts shifted from gas to crude oil. Longer horizontal well with more volumes of sand and water have made the wells more productive, and a trio of oilfield services companies are dominating about 90 percent of the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, market share in the Haynesville, Rystad said. Those are global industry leaders Halliburton and Schlumberger, as well as Tomball-based BJ Services, which spun out of Baker Hughes a couple years ago. "The Haynesville Shale is truly a different play today than it was in the first growth phase," Abramov said, noting that well productivity doubled from 2012 to 2018. As the Houston Museum of Natural Science proudly displayed its new handcrafted Bolivian boat, the mayors office proclaimed Thursday, Jan. 10, as Bolivian Culture Day. The 10-foot boat is built entirely with reeds from Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, employing methods that are thousands of years old. The Bolivian Consulate originally donated the boat to Archaeology Now, which in turn gifted it to the museum so that others in Houston could enjoy it and learn about Bolivia. This boat is a totora boat that represents the Andean culture, and its floating now not only in a river or sea but in the hearts of the Houston people, said Bolivian Ambassador Rafael Pablo Antonio Canedo Daroca. He said a boat that size takes about three to six months to construct. Before landing on display at the museum, the boat made a whirlwind eight-day trip to nine schools from Sheldon to Rosenberg. Archaeology Now Executive Director Becky Lao said the tour helped 3,600 students from a wide range of backgrounds experience a part of Bolivia face to face instead of just reading about it in a textbook. We saw children in deep poverty, and we saw some of Houstons most elite students. And I think that what we brought to them was special, Lao said. It was the opportunity to see something up close and actually realize that this is thousands of years you are touching 50,000 years of history. The proclamation at the museum also set the scene for a presentation later that evening by Dr. Jo Burkholder, who is an associate professor of womens studies and director of the Pachamama Project at the University of Wisconsin. Pachamama: The Andean Mother Goddess of Earth and Time educated attendees about the cult of a universal mother named Pachamama, which still exists today in the Andean Basin. Burkholder got her archaeological start in Bolivia some 25 years ago. She said the days events and the beautiful boat in front of her made her feel like things had come full circle. For me, this is the past coming to life. Ive seen pictures of boats like this on pottery that go back millennia, so what people were using thousands of years ago to move back and forth across Lake Titicaca, she said. She added that the largest boats would transport huge blocks of basalt, which were used to make monuments in the area. Archaeology Now, the Archaeological Institute of America: Houston Society, was founded 51 years ago by Dominique de Menil, Philip Oliver-Smith and Walter Widrig. They wanted to teach Houstonians about cultures from all over the world. Lao said archaeology is important because it helps us better understand what happened many, many years ago. Historians are working with documents. Documents are ephemeral things. Whats found in the ground oftentimes will end up telling the truth in ways that a document cant, she said. The winners write history, you know, but what you find in the ground is whats there. And it tells the lives of everybody, not only just the elites but the ordinary person. The boat is display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at 5555 Hermann Park Drive. Visit http://www.hmns.org/ to learn more. For more information about Archaeology Now, visit http://www.archaeologynow.org. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com Joshua Tree National Park has stayed open through the government shutdown, despite a lack of funding and staffing. But it reportedly hasn't made it through unscathed. A post by National Parks Traveler details the extent of the damage the park has sustained during the past several weeks. Beyond the overflow of human waste and garbage, visitors have also cut down Joshua trees, left graffiti, and gone off-roading through "pristine desert," according to park superintendent David Smith. In some cases, Joshua trees were reportedly cut down so off-roaders could get around barriers. The spiky-leaved Joshua tree, or Yucca brevifolia, is found in the southern California national park that bears its name, as well as other parts of the American southwest. "We have two new roads that were created inside the park. We had destruction of government property with the cutting of chains and locks for people to access campgrounds. We've never seen this level of out-of-bounds camping," Smith told the nonprofit news organization. "They would just go out into the country, and then once 20 or 30 cars would go over it you would essentially have a new road created in pristine desert," Smith explained. ALSO: Marin County to pay to solve shutdown-induced poop crisis at Point Reyes With far fewer rangers patrolling the park's 1,200 square miles of desert landscape, preventing vandalism and damage has been a challenge. According to National Parks Traveler, only eight law enforcement rangers have been working through the shutdown. "While the vast majority of those who visit Joshua Tree National Park do so in a responsible manner, there have been incidents of new roads being created by motorists and the destruction of Joshua trees in recent days that have precipitated the closure," the park said in a statement announcing it planned to close Thursday morning. But late Wednesday, Joshua Tree changed course and announced the park wouldn't be closing after all. The national park said it had freed enough money from recreation fees to prevent the closure of outdoor areas, although most visitor centers won't operate. Some campgrounds, a road, a trail and a picnic area that were closed due to damage are set to reopen. Authorities say the money will allow them to bring back maintenance staff to deal with problems. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com. Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news. Izakaya Wa is bringing Japanese eats and spirits to River Oaks beginning Friday, manager Reza Nugraha tells Chron.com. The restaurant, located at 2015 West Gray in the space formerly occupied by Fuzzy's Taco Shop, launches with a limited menu in soft opening phase, which gives staff and kitchen equipment a test run before the official grand opening on January 18. More restaurant news: Award-winning Houston restaurant Pax Americana closes Soft openings hours are Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The kitchen at this traditional Japanese pub doles out noodle dishes (think udon and soba), sushi rolls, rice dishes, and skewered meats and vegetables, while the bar serves up sake, shochu distilled liquor, and more. The River Oaks location, 3,000-square-feet, marks the second outpost of Izakaya Wa, owned by Akira Asano who is formerly of Kubo's in Rice Village. The first locale launched in Memorial in 2013. The River Oaks address, in the parking lot behind the River Oaks Theater, has been deemed a "jinxed location." Prior to Fuzzy's Taco, which closed in March after occupied the space for less than a year, it was home to Pesca World Seafood, which shuttered after only eight months in 2013, and to the failed Spanish tapas restaurant, Tinto's. Here's hoping Izakaya Wa can put an end to the streak. Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter specializing in social media, the famous, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message Believe it or not, litigation often rises to the level of literature; regardless of the outcome, theres usually a good story to tell. The cases that unfolded in 2018 were no exception. Some litigation wins made it on this list due to their sheer dollar-value or high-profile nature. Others required extraordinary efforts by the lawyers involved. Some were just important for the people of Texas. This article was first published on NerdWallet.com. Most financial planners advise never tapping retirement savings to pay for your kids education. Even as college costs climb, there are still options to borrow that cash, whereas its often noted that you cant borrow for retirement. Yet about one-third of Americans with kids under 18 say they plan to use retirement savings or could use if needed to help pay for their childrens education, according to a recent survey by Sallie Mae, one of the nations largest student loan lenders. The good news for retirement savings is that number is declining in the 2016 edition of Sallie Maes survey, 39% of parents said they planned or may use retirement savings as a last resort to fund their childrens education. More parents are now thinking twice about using retirement savings to fund college dreams, and heres why their hesitation is warranted. Lost retirement savings could hurt you Paying for school from a tax-advantaged employer retirement account like a 401(k) can hurt you in several ways: A 10% tax penalty on early withdrawals below age 59. A potentially bigger tax bill the year of withdrawal as the money you withdraw is counted as income. Loss of tax-free growth of your savings. Unlike taxable investment accounts, where you may have to pay the IRS annually for capital gains, employer-sponsored retirement accounts can grow tax-free. Less benefit from compounding. Early withdrawals will erode your portfolios growth potential. But if youre going to tap into your retirement savings, experts say the least worst option is to fund a Roth IRA. Unlike qualifying contributions to a 401(k) or traditional IRA, Roth IRA contributions arent tax-exempt. But as a result, there are also fewer restrictions on early withdrawals. You can withdraw any Roth IRA contributions that youve made without penalty, says Crystal Wipperfurth, a certified financial planner with Bronfman Rothschild in Madison, Wisconsin. This is not ideal, because it reduces your retirement savings, but it is an option. Want to start investing? See our picks for the best Roth IRA providers. It could hurt your kids, too Tapping your retirement savings can boomerang to hurt your kids if they need to provide financial help for you in your later years. We see clients want to help their kids through college at the expense of their own retirement, and we always advise against it, says Matt Ahrens, a financial advisor at Integrity Advisory in Overland Park, Kansas. Parents have to understand that sacrificing to help their kids through college may only put more stress on their children when they see their parents struggling financially in retirement. A more immediate blow: Using your retirement funds could hurt your childs ability to qualify for student aid. Why? The cash is considered ordinary income and may put your total wages for the year beyond what qualifies for assistance. Because retirement accounts arent counted when considering if a family economically qualifies, funding your 401(k) or 403(b) is an advantage for college financial aid, says Kimberly J. Howard, a certified financial planner with KJH Financial Services in Newton, Massachusetts. Cash them out, and that exclusion goes away. A 529 plan is the best way to save More Americans tuck college savings into ordinary bank accounts (45%) than a 529 savings plan (29%), according to the 2018 Sallie Mae survey. But 529 plan investments have much more earning potential than an ordinary savings account, which often grows less than 1% a year. Parents of young children should start a 529 fund right away, and add money every month. Every little bit helps, and it will have the advantage of years of compounding, Ahrens says. The first savings a family should make should be into their retirement account at work in order to get their company match. Then the remaining savings can be split between retirement either at work or into a Roth IRA and a college savings plan, like a 529 plan, says Derek Hagen, a certified financial planner with Hagen Financial in Minnetonka, Minnesota. This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press. Kevin Voigt is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: kevin@nerdwallet.com. The article Do Your Kids a Favor: Pick Retirement Savings Over Tuition originally appeared on NerdWallet. This article was first published on NerdWallet.com. When ChingWa Chan opened a brokerage account to start investing, she received a surprise perk: a debit card with ATM fee reimbursements. I didnt really discover that feature until after I opened the account, says Chan, a New York-based associate at the Dutch bank ING and travel blogger. The debit card has become her go-to for ATM withdrawals, especially when she travels. Although its rare, some debit cards have features similar to credit cards and your old checking accounts debit card might not cut it. If youre looking for a new checking account, consider one with a debit card that offers one of these four perks. 1. Traveling fee-free Some banks and brokerages, like Chans, reimburse ATM fees and dont charge any themselves, shaving off costs youd normally pay to get cash when there are no in-network ATMs nearby. And a few dont charge foreign transaction fees. Banks that do charge them tack on about 1% to 3% of an international ATM withdrawal or purchase amount when a currency conversion occurs. When to consider: If you travel often, a debit card that does away with foreign transaction and ATM fees can lower your costs. See several banks that offer no foreign transaction fees 2. Earning cash back Debit card cash back usually refers to free cash withdrawals at a retail store checkout counter. Thats convenient, but its not nearly as satisfying as credit card cash back. You pay using a credit card and receive a percentage of your purchase as credit on your next statement or in your bank account. A few debit cards now offer cash back, credit card style. You can find these at some online banks as well as some community banks that partner with Kasasa, a banking brand known for rewards accounts. When to consider: If youre not able to get a cash-back credit card or prefer to use a debit card, a cash-back debit card might fit well. Check out our list of the best rewards checking accounts 3. Budgeting in real time Analyzing Excel spreadsheets or using apps like Mint or YNAB are decent ways to budget if you dont mind fitting them into your regular routine. Some online banks embed budgeting into your spending experience so you can label debit card transactions, track purchases to see trends and stash extra money for short-term savings on the go. In general, Debit cards can be very helpful when gaining discipline in cash flow or in spending, says Douglas Boneparth, a certified financial planner and president of the financial advisory firm Bone Fide Wealth. Being able to track spending more seamlessly is where these online banks have an edge. When to consider: If you keep putting off budgeting, having a debit card that does it for you might be the answer. See our breakdown of two banks that bring budgeting to your banking 4. Investing as you spend Apps like Acorns and Qapital link investing to debit card spending. When you buy something, each app can round up the purchase and transfer the cents to an investment account. Both let you link an outside checking account, so theres no need to get a new debit card. But they offer cards that come with perks. Acorns, which has a waitlist for its card, enables its debit card round-ups to transfer instantly. When to consider: If investing isnt something you do regularly or you dont have much to invest, these debit cards can help you get started. Explore more options on our list of the best money saving apps Next question: One or two debit cards? Getting a new debit card doesnt necessarily mean throwing away your old one. Theres no rule against having multiple debit cards, though having more than one checking account makes your financial life more complicated. Just make sure your main debit card and checking account the bread and butter of your banking life work for you. Having cool rewards isnt worthwhile if your account lacks the services you need or charges you fees. Rewards are secondary, theyre not the main course, says Boneparth. Spencer Tierney is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: spencer.tierney@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SpencerNerd. The article 4 Reasons to Ditch Your Old Debit Card originally appeared on NerdWallet. Spanish government increases investments in Catalonia But Puigdemont and pro-independents oppose budget (ANSAmed) - MADRID, JANUARY 11 - The Spanish government will increase investments in Catalonia by 18%, for the first time applying the amount provided for in the Statute of Autonomy, to convince the pro-independents of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) in parliament to vote for the budget, according to government sources cited on Friday by Spanish daily El Pais. The executive branch's intention is to have the budget, which was approved by the Cabinet on Friday, bring to completion the Statute of Autonomy, which provides for equating state investments in Catalonia to the weight of the regional GDP on the Spanish economy. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority government has decided to fight to the end in parliament on the battle over budget approval, even without having enough votes. In order to get the decisive backing of the pro-independence parties, the executive branch is waving the spectre of early elections. It warns if that were to happen, the result could be a government made up of the centre-right People's Party (PP), Ciudadanos and Vox, which would harshly apply Article 55 of the Spanish Constitution, allowing the central government to take administrative control of Catalonia. However, Catalan pro-independence parties continue to call for "political gestures" for jailed pro-independence leaders, who have been in pre-trial custody for over a year and a half, in light of their upcoming trial on charges related to organising a referendum on secession. The central government in Madrid said any action on its part in this regard is prevented by the separation of the executive and judicial branches. Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, who is currently in exile in Belgium, met with current Catalan President Quim Torra in Waterloo on Friday. They said they will not support the budget without concrete gestures by the Sanchez government. (ANSAmed). Almost a third of the $2 trillion that U.S. states spend each year comes from Washington, so the partial shutdown of the federal government would seem to spell major financial trouble in Americas statehouses. So far, the impact has been relatively limited, because only about a quarter of the government has been closed and funding for the biggest state-run program, Medicaid, will continue no matter how long the impasse persists. While the president has said hed be willing to keep some of the government shut for months if lawmakers dont agree to fund a wall on the Mexican border, he may seek to circumvent Congress in a bid to end the standoff. But if the closure persists, the impact on states may grow, particularly in those with a large number of federal employees. Heres how: Missing paychecks As some 800,000 employees begin missing paychecks, the impact will ripple through economies with a big share of federal workers, including Virginia, Maryland, Hawaii and Alaska, where about 5 percent of workers are employed by the federal government, according to Fitch Ratings. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat whose state has some 130,000 federal employees, said the 2013 shutdown cost residents in the area around the capital $217 million a day in wages -- a hit that was minimized because Congress decided to pay them back. IN TEXAS: Workers at NASA's Johnson Space Center brace for missing paycheck Friday The lost pay, however, will be felt far beyond the beltway in places like Florence, Colorado, a 3,800-person city home to a federal prison complex where more than 860 people are working without compensation. Nationwide, Moodys Analytics estimates the shutdown will slow economic growth by about 0.04 percentage points for every week that it lasts, which would crimp sales-tax collections for states and cities. Saving safety net The longer it drags on, the more states would be forced to tap their own funds to make up for numerous programs supported by federal grants, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which extends cash payments to the poor. The shutdown has cut off funding for that program, among others, according to the Center for Law and Social Policy. Thats left states relying on federal money from prior year budgets, but theyd need to step in once that runs out, said John Hicks, executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers. "There is no default as to what the response would be by states," he said. Renters at risk While vouchers for poor renters are expected to continue through February, about 1,150 Housing and Urban Development Department contracts with local housing projects that were up for renewal were put on hold this month, affecting 70,000 to 85,000 low-income households, according to the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding. Over a thousand more come up for renewal through the end of February, and some of the developers count on the money to repay municipal bonds that financed the projects. "Youre put in a pretty sticky situation where you have to make debt service but you dont have a significant part of the project income -- so at some point, you might have to opt out and re-tenant the building with people that can pay the rent," said Thom Amdur, executive director of the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association. "There are millions of low-income families living in subsidized housing that are put at risk as a result of this." Subways, trains, roads Public subways, commuter trains and other transit systems rely heavily on federal grants that would be slowed if employees remain idled. Such funding can account for a fifth of some operating budgets, according to Moodys, which warned that a disruption could lead to weaker financial positions, delayed projects and higher debt costs. Problem-plagued New Jersey Transit Corp.s available cash, as of 2017, was only enough to cover about one months operations, the rating company said. The uncertainty about the budget may also slow the pace of work on infrastructure projects because states cant say for sure how much they will get once the budget impasse ends. States are not going to be letting new projects because of the uncertainty associated with the federal program, said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. One state has already done that: Oklahoma officials said theyre delaying new contracts for about 45 upcoming projects totaling more than $137 million because of the shutdown. 'Vicar of Baghdad' ministry hit by Charity Commission inquiry The Charity Commission has launched an inquiry into a charity headed by Rev Andrew White, the 'Vicar of Baghdad', over 'serious regulatory concerns'. White set up CAWRM Ltd, known as Jerusalem Merit, after he left the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East following a Charity Commission inquiry over alleged ransom payments to secure the freedom of girls held as slaves by Islamic State. He was told last year a police counterrorism investigation into him had been dropped. White said on Facebook in November 2016 that the new charity 'will not be a registered charity because that places on us too many restrictions'. Now, however, the Commission has highlighted its concerns over Jerusalem Merit's governance, including 'the charity's funds having been held in the personal bank account of an individual linked to the charity, at a time during which the individual was under police investigation for terrorist financing offences'. It also questions the transfer by courier of 45,000 in cash to the Middle East, the 'unauthorised employment and remuneration of a trustee', 'unexplained large payments to a limited company whose sole director is the individual linked to the charity' and 'the inability to account for the charity's funds before it was registered with the Commission'. A statement by the charity said Jerusalem Merit provided support for Iraqi refugees in Jordan who had no other means of support, education or health care. It said it was 'disappointed' with the Charity Commission's approach, and that ' some of the comments in its press release were 'inaccurate'. It noted that it had asked the Commission many times for 'guidance and leadership' but had only received three answers. 'On each occasion the answer has either been totally unsatisfactory or has conflicted with information that they have provided,' the statement said. 'Whilst we acknowledge that there were some initial shortcomings beyond our control the Trustees are of the opinion that there is now adequate Governance and controls in place,' it said. 'The whole country is a prison': UN slams North Korea on human rights Despite more than a year of international engagement and promises of economic reform by North Korea's leaders, the human rights situation in the isolated country remains dire, a top UN rights official said on Friday. Blocked by the government from visiting North Korea, UN special rapporteur for human rights in North Korea Tomas Quintana visited South Korea this week as part of an investigation that will be provided to the UN Human Rights Council in March. Noting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has embarked on an effort to improve living conditions by focusing on economic development, Quintana said his preliminary findings showed those efforts had not translated into improvements in the lives of most people. 'The fact is, that with all the positive developments the world has witnessed in the last year, it is all the more regrettable that the reality for human rights on the ground remains unchanged, and continues to be extremely serious,' he told reporters at a briefing in Seoul. 'In all areas related to the enjoyment of economic and social rights, including health, housing, education, social security, employment, food, water and sanitation, much of the country's population is being left behind.' North Korea denies human rights abuses and says the issue is used by the international community as a political ploy to isolate it. Human rights were noticeably absent from talks between Kim and the leaders of South Korea and the United States last year, over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. But in December, the United States imposed sanctions on an additional three North Korean officials, including a top aide to Kim, for serious rights abuses and censorship. North Korea's foreign ministry warned in a statement after the December sanctions were announced, that the measures could lead to a return to 'exchanges of fire' and North Korea's disarming could be blocked forever. While noting he had 'no specific information' on whether international sanctions were hurting ordinary North Koreans, Quintana said the sanctions targeted the economy as a whole and 'raised questions' about the possible impact on the public. He cited a reference by Kim in his New Year message to the need to improve living standards, saying it was a rare acknowledgement of the economic and social hardships faced by many North Koreans. Still, the United Nations has confirmed the continued use of political prison camps housing 'thousands' of inmates, Quintana said, quoting one source as saying 'the whole country is a prison'. He said witnesses who recently left North Korea reported facing widespread discrimination, labour exploitation and corruption in daily life. There is also a 'continuing pattern of ill-treatment and torture' of defectors who escaped to China only to be returned to North Korea by Chinese authorities, Quintana said. Methodist, Anglican leaders urge halt to 'anger and vitriol' over Brexit Britain's Anglican and Methodist leaders have called for an end to the 'anger and vitriol' that has characterised public discourse in a reference to the ongoing turmoil over Brexit. After a meeting at Lambeth Palace between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the president and vice-president of the Methodist Conference, Rev Michaela Youngson and Bala Gnanapragasam, the church leaders issued a statement saying: 'Jesus calls us to love one another, and even to love our enemies. In this time of political turmoil we have been shocked at the anger and vitriol that has surrounded so much public discourse, personally, online and via social media. 'Our Christian heritage, along with other global faith and non-faith traditions, calls for us to treat others as we would wish to be treated. This does not mean the absence of passionate difference, but it does call for respect for human dignity.' Two years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, the terms of its exit are no clearer and the government is facing a heavy defeat next week over its EU Withdrawal bill. The Church of England and the Methodist Church have been linked in a 'covenant' since 2003 which has seen them exploring moves to bring the two churches closer together in sharing ministry. During the meeting the church leaders discussed the co-operation of the two churches in mission and evangelism and particularly their partnership in Thy Kingdom Come, the global prayer initiative. German Christian family loses appeal over homeschooling A German Christian family whose four children were taken into care because they home-schooled them did not have their human rights breached, the European Court of Human Rights has said. Petra and Dirk Wunderlich, from Darmstadt, had refused to send their children to school, which is illegal in Germany. Their children were taken into care for three weeks in 2013 after 33 police officers and seven youth welfare officers entered their house by force. The Wunderlichs took their case to the ECHR in Strasbourg claiming their right to respect for private and family life had been breached. However, the court said officials were reasonable in assuming they had 'endangered their children by not sending them to school'. 'Based on the information available at the time, the domestic authorities had reasonably assumed that the children were isolated, had had no contact with anyone outside of the family, and that a risk to their physical integrity had existed,' it said. Dirk Wunderlich told Deutsche Welle accusations against them were 'invented'. He said the children were taught through a Christian distance-learning programme and denied they were isolated, saying they participated in various clubs and organisations. The family has been supported by ADF International. Dirk Wunderlich said in a statement: 'It is a very disheartening day for our family and the many families affected by this in Germany. After years of legal struggles, this is extremely frustrating for us and our children. It is upsetting that the European Court of Human Rights has not recognised the injustices we have suffered at the hands of the German authorities.' 'This ruling ignores the fact that Germany's policy on homeschooling violates the rights of parents to educate their children and direct their upbringing. It is alarming to see that this was not recognized by the most influential human rights court in Europe. This ruling is a step in the wrong direction and should concern anyone who cares about freedom,' said Paul Coleman, ADF Internation executive director. The family is considering an appeal to the ECHR's Grand Chamber. Vietnamese Christians beaten, arrested for refusing to worship Buddha and renounce faith in Jesus Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Several Hmong Christians were beaten and arrested by Vietnamese government officials after they refused to renounce their faith and worship a Buddha statue, a pastor has revealed. Pastor Hoang Van Pa told persecution watchdog group International Christian Concern that government officials threatened 33 Hmong Protestants in Pha Lom village in November if they refused to renounce their Christian faith. Police reportedly gathered personal information about the 33 believers and carried out an open trial before the community. The officers presented an image of the Buddha and tried to force the Christians to abandon their faith and worship the Buddha statue instead. Four of the Christians were arrested and beaten, and government officials continued to harass Protestants in several other raids throughout November and December. As Dzung, the representative of the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team, explained that Vietnam has banned the Protestant Christian faith and seeks to expel those who refuse to renounce their faith in Jesus. In 2018, more than 100 believers were expelled from Yen Bai province and Lao Cai province. Due to its ethnic background and high percentage of practicing Christians, Vietnams Hmong community is often targeted and harassed by both the government and neighboring communities, wrote ICC's Regional Manager Gina Goh. In a Communist country where Christianity is often seen as unpatriotic or a threat to the regime, Hmong Christians constantly face discrimination, harassment, land grabs, torture, and imprisonment. ICC has warned that the persecution of Hmong Christians is expected to continue in 2019. In 2017, police in Vietnam threw stones and beat a group of Roman Catholic priests who were defending a cross erected on church-claimed land in Thua Thien Hue province. Thien An priest Khoa Cao Duc Loi said at the time: "They prevented us from putting it back, and priests held on to the cross while police tore at their shirts and dragged them by their hair." Loi told Radio Free Asia that the local police chief and his deputy were present during the attack. "I knew them because we had met with them several times before," he said. Others, such as a believer by the name of Bao, who works with persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA, revealed last year that he has been risking his life to distribute more than 100,000 children's Bibles. "When I distribute children's Bibles in the big churches, they honor the book not only as a free gift but as material to teach God's Word. They also use this book for evangelism. And I believe that it's going farther, and that its impact will spread wider," Bao said of Open Doors Children's Bible Project. "God's Word must be easy for people to reach. The children's Bible is one of the easiest ways to let different kinds of people know about Him. I believe this is the job of a sower. We continue to sow, and God continues to make it grow." Evangelical leaders slam Airbnb's 'discriminatory' boycott of Jewish properties in West Bank Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A group of evangelical leaders in the United States have condemned Airbnbs decision to delist Jewish-owned properties in the Israeli-controlled West Bank area of Judea and Samaria, accusing the online rental marketplace of discrimination. A letter signed by prominent evangelical leaders was sent to Airbnb leadership on Monday voicing concern over Airbnb's discriminatory act of delisting 200 Jewish-owned apartments and houses for rent in the Israeli settlements that the organization says are "are at the core of the dispute between the Israelis and Palestinians." "Evangelicals represent 25 percent [to] 30 percent of the American population and strongly support the nation of Israel, the birthplace of our own Christian heritage, the letter reads, according to a press release. Some of our leadership were particularly active in the creation of many state laws designed to regulate against commercial discrimination of this nature. We will request of state authorities that Airbnb be added to their list of companies prohibited from any state investment." In November, it was reported that Airbnb was planning to delist the 200 apartments and houses. The organization later suspended plans to implement the policy as it tried to work out an agreement with the Israeli government. As Axios notes, meetings between Israeli and Airbnb officials ended in a deadlock with the company planning to move forward with plans to implement its policy. The letter opposing Airbnbs decision was led by Mario Bramnick, president of the Latino Coalition for Israel. "Airbnb has singled out Jewish persons and the state of Israel for discriminatory treatment, while continuing to list properties in other disputed territories and conflict areas around the globe, Bramnick said in a statement. Moreover, it continues to list Palestinian-owned properties in Judea and Samaria; only Jewish-owned properties have been singled." Other signatories include U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom Commissioner Tony Perkins, who is also president of the social conservative advocacy group Family Research Council; former Minnesota Congresswoman and former Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann; Ralph Reed, chairman of the evangelical grassroots organization Faith & Freedom Coalition; and Bishop Harry Jackson, pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland. Additionally, Bob Vander Plaats, head of the Iowa-based social conservative group The Family Leader; Frank Gaffney, founder of the Center for Security Policy; former San Diego megachurch pastor Jim Garlow; and WallBuilders David Barton, signed the letter. As leaders of national and international Evangelical organizations and communities, we urge Airbnb to rescind their decision to discriminate against Jewish-owned listings in Judea and Samaria, the letter asserts. In a statement, Garlow expressed dismay with Airbnbs actions. Garlow now heads an organization called Well Versed Nations, which is responsible for holding Bible studies for government employees and leaders in both Jerusalem and Washington, D.C. Given the fact that Israel is the only democracy in the entire Middle East, one would think that Airbnb would not succumb to the inexcusable prejudice, blatant intolerance and Israelaphobia demonstrated by their antisemitic stance, Garlow said in a statement. Bachmann called Airbnbs decision as being clearly anti-Semitic. This is blatant racism and bigoted discrimination, she contended in a statement. Algerian Christian convert gets death threats, loses wife, kids and business Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An Algerian man who converted from Islam to Christianity says his unwillingness to recant his faith in Jesus has led to him losing his wife and children and his job. Ahmed Beghal, the 32-year-old convert, told Morning Star News that while he has legal rights to see his 4 and 6-year-old daughters, his wifes family is barring him from seeing them. They took my two daughters to prevent me from seeing them whenever I asked to see my daughters in accordance with the rights granted by the judge, my wifes brothers created impediments and threatened me, Beghal said. This happened to me several times. Beghal converted to Christianity in 2013, and his wife, who wasnt named, committed her life to Christ three months after him. They began attending worship services together in secret, and were baptized in 2015 in the coastal city of Tipaza. After his conversion was made known to their families, Beghal said his family took away all his possessions, including his profitable poultry business. While going to work with others, because I had to support my family, insults and threats fell on me, because the people I was going to work with quickly learned that I was a Christian, a murtad [apostate], he said. It was my family members who first started the news, and it followed me everywhere. Beghal even received death threats. Unable to obtain police protection, he took his family to the city of Chlef. But the problems persisted and in 2017 his wife was summoned to her parents' home and was forced to deny being a Christian. From that moment on she turned against him, Beghal said, and even filed a complaint with his in-laws accusing him of having offended Islam. Several legal proceedings have followed, and while Beghal has not been put in prison over his wifes claims, he's still being prevented from seeing his children. Today I am far from my family, my wife, and my two daughters, without work or home, he said. Such is the lot of a Muslim who converts to Christianity in Algeria today. Algeria is a Muslim majority country, ranked No. 42 on Open Doors USA's World Watch List of countries where Christians face immense persecution. Last year, the government facilitated a number of church closures. While government officials claimed the churches did not "meet the standards required of a place of worship," some observers, such as David Bogosian of Christian Aid Mission, suggested that Algeria is being threatened by the growth of Christianity. "There's one thing that is happening that some believers are thinking might be a cause for the persecution and that is that the second biggest mosque in the Muslim world is about to be launched in Algeria," Bogosian said at the time. "And you know, this has a lot of outside funding and it brings a lot of prestige to the country. So there's definitely an attempt by Algeria to gain prominence in the Islamic world. It's thought that there's a connection between the opening of that mosque and this persecution," he added. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisis actions on fighting violent extremism, protecting religious freedom and promoting peaceful coexistence between religious communities have been courageous, substantive and increasingly effective, and the American people deserve to know that where once a group of dangerous fanatics ruled, we now have a great friend and faithful ally in Egypt. Some in the press certainly arent telling them. While Radical Islamists like the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic State and those ruling Iran continue to support terrorism and promote enmity between religions, the leader of the Arab worlds most populous country is charting a path toward modernity and tolerance that is giving great hope to the countrys religious minorities which have too often been subject to discrimination or worse by extremists. Take, for instance, the irony that on the very same evening that 60 Minutes aired a segment trying to paint the Egyptian president as one of the cruelest despots ever to reign in this part of the world, Mr. el-Sisi was actually inaugurating the largest Christian church ever built in the Middle East. In fact, the idea for building the church was actually Mr. el-Sisis to begin with. In the aftermath of the so-called Arab Spring and the horrific terrorist attacks by Islamists targeting vulnerable Christian communities, the Egyptian President responded in 2015 by increasing security around Christian houses of worship and by doing something of great symbolic importance that no other Egyptian leader had done before him he attended a Christmas Eve service in Cairo alongside the Coptic Orthodox Pope. Keep in mind, that Muslim Brotherhood extremists who briefly ran Egypt (and were in the process of running it into the ground), regularly issued fatwas declaring it immoral for Muslims to even wish Christians a Merry Christmas. It was, therefore, a profound statement for Mr. el-Sisi, a pious Muslim, to stand with the Coptic Orthodox Pope in solidarity as a fellow Egyptian. Yet, this was just the beginning. Mr. el-Sisi also promised when he came to power that his government would rebuild every single church damaged or destroyed by the extremists a promise he has kept. Just stop and think about this: the most radical of the Islamists wanted to eradicate Christianity from the Middle East, something ISIS openly stated when they notoriously beheaded 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya in 2015. The Egyptian President, in turn, responded to these threats by building the biggest church that anyone had ever seen in the region, and then giving it as a gift to the 15 million Christians of Egypt, and doing so the eve of Eastern Christmas this last weekend. This wasnt done in a corner. The inauguration of the Nativity of the Christ Cathedral was broadcast live on national television. Standing at Mr. el-Sisis side was the Coptic Orthodox Pope and the Grand Imam of the worlds most iconic Islamic institution of higher learning, Al-Azhar. We were fortunate to attend as hosts of a Delegation of American Evangelical leaders. Moments before the opening of the Cathedral, the Grand Imam, standing alongside of the Pope and the President, told the entire nation on live television that Islamic Law actually teaches that Christian and Jewish houses of worship should be given the same treatment as mosques. He then wished the President and the Coptic Pope a Merry Christmas. It reminded us of the words written many centuries ago in a document accepted as authoritative by nearly all the Muslims in the world, The Covenant Between the Prophet and the Christian World. That document says that if Christians seek the help and assistance of Muslims in order to repair their churches or convents or to arrange matters pertaining to their affairs and religion, Muslims must help and support them. The opening of the Cathedral in Cairos new capital is one of many such actions taken by this Egyptian president. Consider the fact that in the past 150 years only 2,500 churches were ever legally authorized to operate by the Egyptian government. Yet in the past year-and-a-half alone, under a new church building law signed by President el-Sisi, more than 500 new churches have been granted permits to operate. Whats more, an additional 5,000 churches have been granted permission to lawfully hold worship services even while they go through the permitting process. Our Delegation this past week met at length with some three dozen senior Egyptian Christian leaders, Orthodox and Protestant. They all readily acknowledged that many challenges remain to be solved in their country. But to a person they spoke of their deep admiration for and appreciation of Mr. el-Sisi. They and the people they shepherd feel safer from the extremists. They see their religious freedoms being defended and advanced. They see a spirit of tolerance and peaceful coexistence being modeled from the top. In short, they see in Mr. el-Sisi a leader of bold and decisive action who is also a friend of the regions Christians precisely so because he is such a pious Muslim. How sad and how inexcusable that 60 Minutes would not tell the American people this part of the story. Rev. Johnnie Moore is the President of The Congress of Christian Leaders and a Commissioner on the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom. Joel C. Rosenberg is a noted commentator, Middle East expert and a New York Times Bestselling author. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As you walk through communities in Thailand and India where the sex industry is prevalent, you see young girls some not even teenagers yet standing on the street corners or near bars. This should not be the case. Children should not be for sale. But when their culture tells them this is normal, that its their duty, they feel they have no other choice. The phrase human trafficking often brings to mind girls locked in a shady hotel room or being transported in a dark, dingy tractor-trailer. But many of those working in the booming global sex industry are trapped in an invisible cage a life devoid of choice. Girls in Thailand and parts of India are often taught it will be their responsibility to financially provide for their families. For those who cant afford schooling, that often means a life in the sex industry. Instead of a pimp or madam holding them captive, its their own guilt and sense of obligation that forces them to sell their bodies every night. But boys can be victims of the sex industry, too. If a boys mother is a sex worker, she often has to bring clients to her one-room home. Having strangers in the house puts him in danger of being exploited. Plus, he will slowly come to believe the sex industry is normal, making it more likely that he will become an abuser himself someday. For most of us, hearing about modern-day slavery elicits a sense of powerlessness and despair. At times, the problem can seem so big millions of women and children trapped in an endless cycle of exploitation that we may believe it unsolvable. I know I have felt that way but then I think of the stories of girls like Hamsika, and Im reminded that even in the middle of darkness, we can find hope. As Hamsika visits the village where she grew up, all the little girls stop and watch her. Her head is held high, and her steps are sure. She is different from the others she has gone further in school than any girl in this impoverished village. Hamsika, whose name weve changed for privacy, was once at risk of entering a life in the sex industry. Her parents are poor and thought that if their daughter became a sex worker like many of the other girls in their village, then they could finally be rich. After all, the sex industry is normal among the Banchara people of India. A 500-year-old tradition known as nari matadictates that the eldest daughter of each family must sell her body from a very young age to pay for her brothers marriage dowries. Many other girls enter the industry, too, simply to support their extremely impoverished families. Their cots dragged outside their home or to the edge of the street signal that they are essentially open for business. Hamsika thought she would be just another one of these girls for sale on the side of the road. But thats when freedom came knocking on Hamsikas door. She was given the opportunity to attend a childrens homewhere she could receive an education, nutritious meals, medical care, and learn she had another choice. Every day that Hamsika lived in the safe home was one step further away from her previous destiny. She knew if she had entered the sex industry, it would have done irreparable damage to her physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She is so grateful that she was rescued from a life of cultural slavery. Hamsika is now pursuing a B.S. degree in nursing. Because of her education, shell be guaranteed a job once she graduates. Shell be financially able to take care of her family with dignity. Now when she visits the community of her childhood, peoples heads turn. But instead of the mens attention, its the little girls who watch Hamsika and want to be like her. She has become a role model. Friday, Jan. 11, is the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. On this day, we remember that the fight against human trafficking will not be over until there isnt a single woman or child trapped in modern-day slavery. You can join us in this fight by becoming a child sponsor. Through our child sponsorship program, you can help give another child the opportunities that Hamsika had. You can keep him or her away from the dangers of the sex industry by providing essentials like a safe place to live and learn. And because you can write letters and send photos, you can remind your sponsored child that he or she is loved! What better day to rescue a child from the sex industry than on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day? Merkel says Germany conscious of responsibility for Nazism During second day of two-day visit to Athens (ANSAmed) - ATHENS, JANUARY 11 - German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking on Friday during the second day of a two-day visit to Athens, said Germany is "conscious of its historic responsibility" for "the suffering" inflicted on the Greek people during the Nazi occupation during WWII. Merkel's statements follow those made five years ago by the German president at the time, Joachim Gauck, who publicly asked for "forgiveness in the name of Germany" from the families of the victims of a massacre carried out by the German army during the occupation. According to the German government, the question of damages and reparations has already been resolved as part of international accords. But in Greece, the debate on the topic came up again following the debt crisis of recent years. In the past, a report by Greek national accounting put the value of reparations owed by Germany for the occupation that lasted from 1941 to 1944, and for a forced loan imposed on Athens in 1942, at 162 billion euros. (ANSAmed). Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Trump spoke to the nation last Tuesday from the Oval Office, seeking support for building a wall on our border with Mexico. Democratic Party leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer then responded. From our inception, Denison Forum has been nonpartisan. Our mission is not to endorse political leaders or positions but to apply Gods word to the questions of our day, equipping Christians to change our culture by engaging contemporary issues with biblical truth. As a result, my purpose today is not to offer my opinion on the border wall. Rather, it is to summarize arguments that have been made for and against the project, then to consider biblical principles relevant to this issue and our larger influence in the culture. Arguments for the border wall The southern border shared by the United States and Mexico spans 1,969 miles. Approximately 700 miles of border fencing have been completed as part of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 signed by President George W. Bush. These barriers are mostly near urban areas and international bridges. The US Customs and Border Patrol uses patrols to guard more remote borderlands. It spends $4 billion a year, utilizing 58,000 personnel, 16,875 vehicles, 269 aircraft, 300 watercraft, 300 camera towers, and aerial drones. Despite these efforts, the Government Accounting Office reports that just 44 percent of the border is under operational control. Nearly two-thirds are monitored while the rest are low-level monitored. It also estimates that only 61 percent of those attempting to cross the border illegally are intercepted. Building a secure fence or wall could make it more difficult to cross our border illegally. When a fence was constructed on the San Diego border and patrols were increased, the number of people attempting to cross illegally dropped from 600,000 in the early 1990s to 39,000 in 2015. Illegal drugs flow across our southern border. Some illegal immigrants have committed terrible crimes against Americans. And there is the issue of terrorism. A report from the House Homeland Security Committee (HHSC) released this month documents the urgent problem of terrorists crossing our southern border into the US. This has been a growing issue for years. In 2006, the HHSC noted that an increasing number of illegal immigrants from thirty-five countries known to produce, train, and harbor Islamic terrorists are using our southern border as a gateway to the US. A number of illegal immigrants apprehended that year were found to have confirmed ties to terrorist groups. A 2016 report from then-Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson called for renewed efforts to counter this threat. And smuggling weapons of mass destruction across the southern border remains a threat. Arguments against the border wall Building a wall across our entire southern border would be enormously expensive. Estimates range from a low of $10 billion to a high of $40 billion. Lifetime maintenance costs will likely exceed $50 billion. Critics also note that the wall will require policing since illegal immigrants will attempt to breach, tunnel under, or climb over any fence. And they note that 40 percent of Americas eleven million illegal immigrants came here legally but overstayed their visas. Enhanced border security would not have addressed this issue. The wall faces significant legal challenges from property owners such as Native American tribes and private individuals who control much of borderland property. Water rights are in question along much of the border. And many of the illegal drugs flowing into our country are hidden in vehicles that would not be stopped by a border wall. In addition, border walls negatively impact wildlife, water flows, migratory patterns, and genetic diversity in natural species. Three biblical facts Last nights addresses by the president and his critics highlight the divisive, partisan nature of this issue. However, there are three biblical principles all Christians should embrace, whatever our views on the border wall. (For more, see the chapter on immigration in my book, 7 Critical Issues). One: We are to care for immigrants. Scripture teaches: You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt (Exodus 22:21; cf. Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19; 24:19-22; Ezekiel 47:21-23; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5; Matthew 25:35, 40; Hebrews 13:2). Unless youre a Native American, you or your family came to this country as immigrants. Scripture is blunt: Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow (Deuteronomy 27:19). Two: Border security is a biblical priority. God fixed the borders of the peoples (Deuteronomy 32:8) and delineated the borders of the Promised Land (Numbers 34:1-15; Ezekiel 47:13-23). We are to guard ourselves against those who would harm us (Luke 11:21; Proverbs 25:26; Nehemiah 4:17-18). Three: God calls us to pursue both justice and compassion. We are to be subject to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1; cf. Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 22:21). At the same time, we are to be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32), refusing to dehumanize or condemn any human being. We are to love everyone God loves, and God loves everyone (John 3:16). Balancing these biblical priorities is the challenge, of course. The sojourners of Scripture were not illegal immigrants. The one million children who are illegal immigrants in the US did not choose to be so. And many who come to our country illegally are fleeing horrific violence, drug cartels, gangs, and crushing poverty. Conclusion As I stated at the beginning of this Daily Article, my purpose is not to take a personal position on the border wall but to help us think biblically about Gods priorities. If we seek to obey our Fathers call to harmonize justice with compassion, we can claim his promise: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:5). This is the transforming promise and urgent invitation of God. Originally posted at Denison Forum. Michigan Governor drops religious exemption from pro-lgbt state laws Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a directive that removes a religious exemption for faith-based groups contracting with the government, possibly opening the door to forcing them to endorsing LGBT causes. Gov. Whitmer announced Monday that she had signed Executive Directive 2019-9, an anti-discrimination measure that defines sex discrimination to include gender identity and sexual orientation. The directive also states that it will not alter the right to freedom of worship or religious belief that the People of the State of Michigan have guaranteed under the state constitution. However, it lacks a specific exemption for faith-based groups contracting with the government that former Governor Rick Snyder included in his anti-discrimination directive, which was rescinded upon the issuing of Whitmers directive. This Directive does not apply to an agreement with a contractor, subcontractor, or grant or loan recipient that is a religious organization qualifying as a 501 (c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code, Title 26, United States Code, section 501 (c)(3), stated the previous directive. Chris Palusky, president and CEO of Bethany Christian Services, told The Christian Post on Tuesday that his organization is currently reviewing the Governors executive directive. In recent times, some states have sought to compel religious adoption agencies opposed to homosexuality that contract with the government to refer children to same-sex couples. Last August, Catholic Charities of Buffalo announced that they will no longer provide foster care and adoption services because a New York state law would force it to violate Catholic teachings on homosexuality and marriage. The entity will continue to serve its existing foster families but will not accept new applications until its contract with Erie County Department of Social Services expires in March. In Philadelphia, Bethany Christian Services and Catholic Social Services were informed last year that they must change their policies on same-sex couples in order to continue contracting with the city. While Catholic Social Services filed a lawsuit and has refused to change its policy, Bethany Christian Services of Greater Delaware Valley opted to alter its policy to be in compliance with city anti-discrimination law. Evangelicals urge Trump to save humanitarian aid programs after cutting millions, cite Luke 12:48 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As the Donald Trump administration continues to conduct a review of United States foreign aid spending after cutting aid earmarked for Palestine, Syria, and Pakistan last year, evangelical leaders are calling for the continued funding of crucial U.S. aid assistance programs overseas. Leaders of over 25 leading faith-based groups and nonprofits have signed onto a letter sent to President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and National Security Advisor John Bolton last Friday calling for the protection of Americas development, diplomatic, and humanitarian programs around the world. The letter was signed by prominent figures like leading Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore, former Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd, World Vision President Edgar Sandoval and National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference President Samuel Rodriguez. The lead signatory of the letter is National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson. As Christian leaders from across the United States, we write to share our strong support for our nations efforts to assist our brothers and sisters around the world, the letter, a copy of which was shared with The Christian Post, reads. These vital resources and programs save lives, cure diseases, protect our freedoms, and help millions around the world lift themselves and their families out of poverty and into a brighter, more secure future. The letter comes as the Trump White House has spoken out against a Democrat-led House bill that, among other things, would have provided $12 billion more for international affairs programs than the administration had wanted. The administration complained that the House-passed spending bill, H.R. 21, also included $2.9 billion more for economic and development assistance, including funding for the West Bank/Gaza, Syria, and Pakistan, where our foreign aid is either frozen or under review. Although the faith leaders statement doesnt specifically mention programs or countries by name, it asserts that Americas leadership on the global stage is manifested in investments in longer-term development programs that have helped to reduce by half the number of people living in extreme poverty. The programs, they say, have also reduced infant mortality rates by 50 percent, promote human rights and fight to protect the religious freedom of those persecuted around the world. "Jesus taught us that 'from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked,'" the letter reads, citing Luke 12:48. "Our nation has been richly blessed, and we have the privilege and obligation to share some of those blessings with those in need around the world. We do this through our private missionary, development, and humanitarian programs. But our government also has an indispensable role to play in diplomacy and in poverty-focused assistance programs." As over 68 million people are displaced around the world and millions of others are dealing with severe hunger, the Christian leaders say that that now is not the time to ignore our nations responsibilities to alleviate the suffering of those who are less fortunate. They also say that it is not the time to pull back from our leadership role around the world. The faith leaders argue that the U.S. should instead strengthen and expand upon the achievements made over the last several decades. As Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback recently observed at the first State Department Ministerial on Religious Freedom, We need partnerships in the defense, security, foreign affairs, [and] foreign aid communities [to] help us pursue universal respect for religious freedom, the letter asserts. For one percent of the federal budget, development and humanitarian programs are cost-effective and ensure America remains a beacon of hope for those in need around the world. We pray that as you lead our generous people you will find the way to meet our nations responsibility to those less fortunate. The letter was also signed by leaders such as Mat Staver, founder of the conservative religious freedom nonprofit Liberty Counsel; Kelly Shackelford, president of the religious freedom legal group First Liberty Institute; Star Parker; president for the Center for Urban Renewal and Education; and Saul Anuzis, president of the 60 Plus Association. Last year, the Trump administration scaled back financial support for a United Nations agency providing humanitarian aid to about 5 million Palestinian refugees. In August, the U.S. canceled over $200 million in aid for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, a decision a State Department official said was made at the direction of the president. In December 2017, Trump threatened to cut off financial aid to countries who voted in favor of a United Nations resolution against the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us. Well, were watching those votes. Let them vote against us. Well save a lot. We dont care, Trump said at the time. This isnt like it used to be where they could vote against you, and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars and nobody knows what theyre doing. In September, the U.S. ended all of its funding to the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. A day later, the Trump administration nixed about $300 million in military aid to Pakistan over what he says is the governments inability to take care of terror groups. In a tweet last January, Trump called out Pakistan for giving no appreciation or respect. Also in August, the Trump administration reportedly cut about $230 million in global reconstruction aid to Syria until the United Nations can lead a "credible and irreversible" political process in the civil war-inflicted nation. Congressional Democrat blasts party's 'religious bigotry' over KoC, 'dogma lives loudly' remarks Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Democrat congresswoman considering running for president in 2020 is criticizing members of her own party for their apparent hostility to certain faith convictions, particularly among judicial nominees. In a Tuesday editorial for The Hill, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, argued that some of her colleagues had weaponized religion and are playing a dangerous political game. "Standing up for freedom of religion for all people is as critical now as its ever been hatred and bigotry are casting a dark shadow over our political system and threatening the very fabric of our country," she opined. Gabbard, who is Hindu, highlighted the recent questions that were asked of Brian Buescher, a Catholic nominated to be a judge on the U.S. District Court in Nebraska. While she opposes his nomination, the inquiries made by Senators Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Kamala Harris, D-Calif. were "fomenting bigotry," she said, though she did not mention the legislators by name. Harris and Hirono recently challenged Buescher's suitability for a federal judgeship due to his membership in the Catholic fraternal service organization Knights of Columbus. If he is unqualified because of his religion and his affiliation with a faith-based service organization, Gabbard said, "then President John F. Kennedy, and the liberal lion of the Senate Ted Kennedy would have been unqualified for the same reasons." Hirono claimed the Catholic group has taken extreme positions including affirming belief in traditional marriage, asking Buescher in written questions if he intended to end his membership with the organization to avoid any appearance of bias should he be confirmed. "While I absolutely believe in the separation of church and state as a necessity to the health of our nation, no American should be asked to renounce his or her faith or membership in a faith-based, service organization in order to hold public office," Gabbard said. "We must call this out for what it is religious bigotry. This is true not just when such prejudice is anti-Catholic, but also when it is anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, anti-Hindu, or anti-Protestant, or any other religion." The Hawaii Congresswoman noted that this was not the first time in recent memory where Democrats have displayed hostility to President Trump's judicial nominees on the basis of their faith. During the 2017 confirmation hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who now sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Sen. Dianne Feinstein expressed concern over Barrett's deep faith. "When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and that's of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for, for years in this country," Feinstein said at the time. In her op-ed, Gabbard argued, "No American should be told that his or her public service is unwelcome because the dogma lives loudly within you as Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said to Amy Coney Barrett during her confirmation hearings in 2017 to serve as U.S. Circuit Court judge in the 7th Circuit." "If we can all agree that we do not want prejudice and bigotry to rule our nation, then we must stand united to denounce it whenever it raises its ugly head." Elected officials who bait people with religion "are playing with fire," she added. "They are sacrificing the well-being, peace and harmony of our country to satisfy their own political ambitions for partisan political interests." Her words garnered her praise from across the aisle. "Tulsi Gabbard is right to call out religious bigotry. We dont have to agree on everything in a First Amendment society thats the point," Senator Ben Sasse, R-Neb., commented Wednesday on Twitter. "Three cheers for saying some basic American stuff." Less thrilled was Senator Hirono, who through a spokesperson argued Gabbard had misrepresented the senator's approach to screening potential federal judges. Senator Hirono, asks all judicial nominees particularly those who have expressed very strong personal ideological views in conflict with Supreme Court precedent if they can be fair. She asked Mr. Buescher, who has a clear record of anti-choice activism, whether he could separate his personal beliefs from decisions he would make if confirmed for a lifetime appointment on the federal bench," the spokesperson said, Hawaii News Now reported Tuesday. "Over the past two years, the Senator has been attacked by right wing ideologues for her examination of Donald Trumps ideologically-driven nominees to the courts. It is unfortunate that Congresswoman Gabbard based her misguided opinion on the far-right wing manipulation of these straightforward questions. Arizona law requiring doctors to ask women seeking an abortion their reasons takes effect Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A new law in Arizona that requires doctors to ask pregnant women considering an abortion a series of questions regarding their reason for wanting the procedure has taken effect. Last year, the Arizona Legislature passed Senate Bill 1394, which requires abortion providers to report additional items, including the reason a woman sought to terminate their pregnancy. The law took effect on Jan. 1. Elisa Medina, executive director of Hands of Hope Tucson, a Christian pro-life pregnancy center, told The Christian Post in an interview on Wednesday that she supported the new law. I think any time we can gather good data from women choosing abortion it helps us understand her challenges and provide possible solutions leading to fewer abortions, said Medina. Abortion is a permanent decision. Asking a woman why she is considering abortion could open the door to provide resources that may give her the courage and support to continue her pregnancy. The new law also has its critics, among them Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona Executive Director Jodi Liggett. This mostly is an attempt to intimidate patients from seeking abortion care and to make providing abortion care burdensome administratively, said Liggett in an interview with kvoa.com. Nobody is against having more or better information, but as we do in Democracies, we have to draw a line somewhere around peoples privacy. Regarding the concerns about privacy and being a source of intimidation, Medina told CP that she believed it is irresponsible for medical providers to avoid asking important questions such as, Could this pregnancy be a result of sexual assault?" If the answer is yes, additional support and resources should be provided to her regardless of what she decides about the pregnancy, stated Medina. In the past, Planned Parenthood has been accused of looking the other way when women come to them seeking an abortion after being raped. Last June, for example, the pro-life group Live Action released two new undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood employees at several clinics ignoring claims of statutory rape and advising pimps on how to get abortions for underage prostitutes without having to be reported. One video showcased the organization's sex trafficking investigation in 2011, while another showcased the organization's statutory rape investigation in 2008 that showed clinic workers' willingness to skirt mandatory reporting laws to cover up the rape of minors. Live Action claimed that its undercover sex trafficking investigation found that eight different staffers at seven different facilities in different states were willing to aid and abet sex traffickers." For its part, Planned Parenthood has argued that such undercover videos have been selectively edited and they have countered that they do, in fact, report possible incidents of sexual abuse and trafficking. 10 reactions to Trump's border security address to the nation Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Donald Trumps Tuesday night address to the nation in which he laid out why he believes it is crucial to fund the construction of a steel barrier on the U.S. Southern border and other demands for border security has drawn different responses on social media. While some of his most prominent white evangelical supporters took to Facebook and Twitter to praise the presidents remarks, evangelical and Christian refugee resettlement agencies used the opportunity to again voice their displeasure with Trumps actions. In the following pages are 10 reactions to Trumps address to the nation on border security. When does lack of Bible reading become sinful? Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Theologian John Piper listed several circumstances in which failure to read the Bible becomes sinful for Christians. Diminishing Bible reading and meditation is becoming sinful when it is owing to a loss of desperation for what the Bible alone can give, he warned. Piper, the former pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, was responding to a question asked on Ask Pastor John by someone who was concerned that his friends and other Christians, particularly in the West, are spending little to no time reading the Bible. "When does a lack of Bible reading become sin?" The theologian explained, Wherever diminishing Bible reading is owing to a loss of desperation for seeing God, trusting God, rejoicing in God, and holiness as if those these things dont matter or can be found without the word sin is taking hold. He said that even those who read the Bible not due to faith, but because they are trying to win Gods favor, are committing sin. Reading by faith means reading with a reliance on the great reality that in Christ God is one hundred percent for us. He will incline our hearts to his word (Psalm 119:36). Hell open our eyes (Psalm 119:18). Hell satisfy our souls (Psalm 90:14), he explained. If we dont read by faith, we will be disillusioned. And if diminishing Bible reading is owing to that disillusionment, it is sin. Not reading your Bible also becomes sinful "when the activities that replace it are not experienced as the fruit of it," Piper said, adding that it is right to stop reading the Bible in the morning and go to work if your work is experienced as a fruit of what you saw of God and savored of God in the word. God, he stressed, "designed the Bible as a tree that produces delicious fruit of living for the glory of God and the good of others." And when people stop reading the Bible, they should be gladly experiencing its replacement as the fruit of it. If not, then probably our lives are not the fruit of Gods word, but an alien tree. And our diminishing Bible reading is becoming sinful, he said. Another way failing to engage with the Bible becomes sinful is when Christians stop finding the Gospel more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. Finally, he warned that it is sinful when Christians back away from the Bible due to "recoiling" from their parents' traditions and what they see as hypocrisies in the church. Its a mark of great immaturity in twentysomethings and thirty and forty-somethings to refuse to do something well because your parents did it poorly. This is like refusing to be a doctor because your dad was a quack, or refusing to enjoy dessert because your mom was overweight, or refusing to listen to classical music because thats all they let you listen to when you were a teenager, he said. Thats idiotic. Thats immature. Dont be like that. This includes refusing to read your Bible daily because your dad did it, and he beat your mom. He was abusive, and he read his Bible. That kind of immaturity is a tactical triumph of Satan. You dont want to be Satans lackey and actually be like an immature, adolescent follower of the evil one. According to the American Bible Society's State of the Bible survey in 2017, 32 percent of U.S. adults say they never read, listen to or pray with the Bible. Only 16 percent read it daily on their own. Piper has often preached about the importance of Christians reading the entire Bible from cover to cover. In 2018, he argued that it is not the specific method of how Christians read that is important, but how and why they engage with God's Word. "I think the ultimate goal of every Christian should be to glorify God in your life every day or, to use the words of Philippians 1:20, to magnify Christ in your body, whether you live or whether you die," Piper said at the time. "We exist ultimately on this planet to make God in Christ look magnificent to make Him look precious and valuable, to look like the supreme treasure that He is. Thats the goal of life: make God look like a treasure." Southwest Baptist U launches external evaluation to ensure 'theological integrity is intact' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Southwest Baptist University in Missouri is launching an external peer assessment committee to lead the institution through evaluation and discussion of orthodoxy to ensure that its theological integrity is intact following the firing of a theologically conservative professor. In a statement posted to the university's website, Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar announced the commission of an independent committee that will lead a universitywide dialogue regarding faith and learning. Included within this assessment will be deeper conversations and evaluations regarding orthodoxy, the statement from the four-year private university reads. The commission will be led by David Dockery, the president of evangelical Indiana-based Trinity International University and former president of Union University in Tennessee. We welcome the committees assessment as an integral process to better articulate who we are and to effectively provide a Christian higher education while remaining loyal to our Baptist heritage, the statement explains. We believe that the result will be an SBU that is even more firmly grounded in the core values that have defined us since our inception. The announcement of the review comes just weeks after Clint Bass, a tenured professor in the universitys Redford College of Theology and Ministry, was dismissed with cause on Nov. 28, 2018, after he voiced concerns about the theological views of other faculty members that SBU President Eric Turner claimed was based on hearsay from students and unfounded. Bass also questioned the doctrinal stability of the theology school as it pertains to the beliefs of the Baptist Faith and Message and Missouri Baptist Convention. In a statement provided to The Christian Post through a university spokesperson Thursday night, SBU explained that it originally planned to have conversations on faith and orthodoxy starting in the tall 2019. However, those plans changed after Bass dismissal. Since an employee was given Notice of Dismissal in late November for conduct violating the universitys Faculty Handbook, public discussions have mischaracterized the theological views and stances of certain SBU faculty and the university, which has caused us to move up our timeline, the statement reads. In an effort to ensure that the universitys theological integrity is intact, we have commissioned the peer assessment committee chaired by David Dockery. Bass firing drew a strong backlash from SBU students, who launched a Change.org petition calling for Bass reinstatement. The petition was supported by over 1,300 people and includes letters of support from professors from other theology schools around the nation. Tom Nettles, senior professor of historical theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, wrote in a letter of support for Bass that a close investigation of the doctrinal stance of some other [SBU] professors would be fitting. Bass departure even drew criticism from SBU alumnus and senior fellow in Christian ethics at the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Andrew Walker. Walker suggested that there were serious questions about SBUs actions and that Missouri Baptists should be vigilant about what doctrine is being taught by Redford faculty. SBU says it has been working on a strategic plan for the future of the institution and assures that SBU is and always should remain a Christ-centered community. We believe that the result of this dialogue will be an SBU that is even more firmly grounded in the core values that have defined us since our inception in 1878, the statement concluded. In the schools original statement on the assessment, SBU asserts that it has a history of strong spirit of cooperation and support among Missouri Baptists. The biblical worldview and perspective we provide at SBU matters, the university states. Today, we are as committed to a higher education through this Christian worldview as we were at our founding in 1878. We are confident that these biblical values will continue to serve as a strong foundation for the university. The university, which has an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduate students, has said it will share additional details on the assessment at some point in January. 'Real Talk Kim' shares powerful moment God spoke to her at 'rock bottom': 'My goal is to save others from Hell' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Kimberly Jones-Pothier, popularly known as "Real Talk Kim," knows what its like to hit rock bottom. At 36 years old, she found herself penniless, living in her parents' home with her two young children. Twice divorced, shed seemingly lost everything: Her business, her home, and her marriage. Suffering from feelings of worthlessness, failure, and loneliness, she blamed God for her situation. Depressed, Jones-Pothier refused to get out of bed for nine months: I was a victim in my own story, she admitted during a recent interview with The Christian Post. I was desperate, waiting for a miracle, waiting for God to change my life. One day, I cried out to God, begging Him to take my pain away and allow me to live again. But when she prayed that prayer, something miraculous happened. For the first time in her life, she heard God clearly speak to her. He said to me, Kim, I can't take the pain away from you. You got to get up and walk away from it, she said. That was just a pivotal moment for me because I realized that, in the church world, we do expect God to be a genie in a bottle. We fall on the floor and praise, and then nothing changes. And that's why we're up one day and down the next, because God isnt doing what we want or expect Him to do. That same day, Jones-Pothier decided to start living again: She listened to sermons during her work commute, spent time in prayer every day, and immersed herself in the Word of God. It wasn't long before God began to transform her mindset. I started believing that maybe God did have a purpose for my life that far exceeded anything that I could see, she recalled. Soon, I started preaching. I had my wings. I'd come from a caterpillar to a butterfly. I told the devil, you should've taken me out when you could because I'm going to pull as many people out of Hell as I can. My goal is to save others from Hell. I'm going to love people back to life. I'm going to use my testimony to show people that God is the best redemption on the planet.' Just four years later, Jones-Pothier is a best-selling author and pastors the thriving Church of the Harvest in Fayetteville, Georgia, alongside her husband, Mark. With millions of social media followers, shes quickly become one of the most prolific voices in ministry today. The greatest thing about losing everything is, you don't care after that, she said. You realize you can start all over again. You get so free because, when you hit rock bottom, you find out Who the rock is at the bottom, which is Jesus. As long as you got Jesus, you got everything. Its OK to lose everything because then you can get rebuilt the way God wanted you in the first place. Jones-Pothier draws upon her experiences to encourage others to shut down negative self-talk and seek the peace of God in her new book, When Your Bad Meets His Good: Find Purpose in Your Pain (Charisma House, 2018). In it, she offers practical, step-by-step instructions on how to break free from the bondage of shame and guilt and live a life of freedom in Christ. Weve got to spend time with God and be intentional about our relationship with Him, she said. Get your tail out of bed and get on your knees. Give God the first moments of your day. When you surrender to God, you experience growth. So often, we call ourselves Christian, but we don't spend time in the Word, we don't spend time praying, she continued. And when your heart is not connected to God in that certain way, then we begin to judge others and ourselves. We begin to make people feel bad about where they've been and we have shame about our past. At the end of each chapter, Jones-Pothier also includes prayers and declarations to help readers talk to God when they cant find the words. God is a restorer, she emphasized. He has abundant blessings for you, exceedingly greater than you can imagine. All you have to do is be obedient. Youre going to be so thankful that He didn't save that relationship or that job, because He had better for you. He's so big like that. He's a good father. With re-tweetable messages like God says: I am restoring you as if it never happened! and God is still writing your story ... Stop trying to steal the pen!! Jones-Pothier uses her social media accounts to share the Gospel with her followers. Gods given me a platform, she said. Social media allows you to have your own Oprah Winfrey show, and you need to be intentional about utilizing it. You are winning souls that you could have never touched because you are being obedient and talking about Jesus and giving somebody hope. Jones-Pothier said she hopes When Your Bad Meets His Goodempowers readers to replace negative self-talk with the kind of peace and purpose that only comes from God. If we simply surrender to Him and relinquish control, she said, He will take the bad and shift it for His good. If God can do it for me and restore my life, then He can do it for you, she declared. God has a purpose and destiny for your life. I believe by the time you get down this book, man, you're going to feel like you can conquer any giant in your life. You can step out of the boat and fly. It's never too late for you to get started, ever. PragerU files 2nd lawsuit against Google, YouTube for restricting and restraining conservative speech Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Popular conservative YouTube channel Prager University has filed a new lawsuit against Google and YouTube, which Google owns, for unlawfully restricting and restraining speech. Filed Tuesday in the Superior Court of California for the county of Santa Clara, this is the second lawsuit that Prager has filed against Google and YouTube, the first being filed in federal court. In this latest suit, Prager accuses Google of violating state law in multiple ways, namely unlawfully restraining free speech and expression in violation of Article One, Section 2 of the California constitution; discriminating against PragerU (and other users) based on political, religious or other discriminatory animus in violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Section 51 of the California Civil Code; engaging in unlawful, misleading, and unfair businesses practices in violation of the Unfair Competition Laws of the California Business and Professions Code, and finally violating YouTubes terms of use, Community Guidelines, and other content-neutral filtering policies and procedures. Google/YouTube continue to censor, restrict, and restrain video content based on animus, discrimination, profit, and/or for any other reason or no reason, no matter how arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit noted these restrictions came through YouTubes Restricted Mode, which is a filtering protocol used to block content deemed inappropriate for sensitive audiences; and Advertising Restrictions, a policy that prohibits advertisers from accessing videos deemed inappropriate for advertising. Google/YouTube use these filtering mechanisms as a pretext to justify restricting and censoring PragerUs videos. And Google/YouTube continues to do so, even though the content of PragerU videos complies with YouTubes written criteria, the lawsuit argues. In October 2017, PragerU filed a lawsuit against Google and YouTube in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing them of ideologically-driven discrimination. A Los Angeles-based group that has over 1 million subscribers on YouTube headed by conservative radio host Dennis Prager, PragerU has found many of its videos restricted or blocked due to complaints over its content. For example, in 2016 a PragerU video featuring a pro-Israel British Muslim was labeled "hate speech" and blocked by the video-sharing site for anyone using restricted access standards. Last February, YouTube "restricted" a video on Planned Parenthood featuring pro-life activist Lila Rose mere hours after it was uploaded to the popular video-sharing website. In March 2018, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh dismissed PragerUs federal lawsuit against Google, arguing that Google and YouTube are private entities who created their own video-sharing social media website and make decisions about whether and how to regulate content that has been uploaded on that website. For their part, PragerU has appealed Judge Koh's decision before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Barcelona mayor calls EU migrant policy 'suicide' Colau says weakens EU. On Catalonia, cites 'right to decide' (ANSAmed) - BARCELONA, JANUARY 11 - Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, speaking from city hall, told a group of foreign journalists that the current EU migratory policy is "suicide", and called the migrant crisis "a political crisis of the EU and of democracy". Colau, who has been mayor in Barcelona since 2015, said the situation "is weakening Europe". "Perhaps we should remember that the EU was founded after the Second World War, to not repeat the mistakes and horrors of that war, with fundamental respect for human rights," she said. "But now, the management of migrants is contradicting that. What's more, Europe is the one that receives fewer migrants in the world compared to other continents like Asia, and this isn't said enough. Just as it is necessary to debunk the common view that considers migrants our competitors. In reality, they are an added value, and Riace is an example for all. What was done in that Calabrian town is a success story, and that's exactly why your minister Salvini doesn't like it," she said. Colau said resources must be invested to better manage migrant flows. "It's good to get it in your head that migrant flows won't stop. When a woman with a baby decides to risk her life at sea, getting on a boat without any guarantee of arriving alive, it's because she has no alternatives. They've accused us of being do-gooders because we're in favor of reception, [Barcelona was the one to resolve the stall over the Open Arms last year, welcoming 60 migrants after Italy and Malta refused - Ed.] but we're just pragmatic. If the EU wants to survive to the future, it has to establish responsibilities," she said. On the question of Catalonia, Colau said she's not in favor of independence, but said the region "has the right to decide in a democratic manner, and it is legitimate to proceed with the choice of the referendum". "There needs to be a political solution, not through the courts. I'm convinced the right way to resolve the crisis is another referendum, because, let's remember, the previous one wasn't binding and the result cannot be considered democratic. There needs to be a new consultation in which the two parties, Madrid and Barcelona, find an agreement," she said. She said one solution could be a confederation of states. (ANSAmed). Missouri town to move giant cross off public land after atheist group's complaint Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A large cross contested by atheists will be moved off public land following complaints over a Missouri town's Christmas lights display. Under pressure from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, city officials in Ozark, Missouri, announced last week that the cross that was on display at the Finley River Park will be moved to private land located at the south end of the park to avoid a lawsuit from the atheist group. The land that the cross is being moved to is owned by the Christian County A&M Society and is regularly used by the Finley River Saddle Club Arena. The city of Ozark has been working diligently with our partners to find the best resolution regarding the cross in the Finley River Park, a statement posted to the towns Facebook page reads. In striving to balance the court of law with the court of public opinion, we have identified a solution that will relocate the cross from its current location on city-owned property to a privately owned parcel of property. According to the city, the proposed new location is not on property owned or leased by the city of Ozark in any way. There is no specific timeline for this relocation as the details regarding implementation of this plan are still being determined, the statement reads. FFRF, which advocates for a strict separation of church and state and regularly pressures municipal governments and school districts, sent a letter to the town in November arguing that including the cross (which at night is lit up in blue) in the towns holiday lights display on public property was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In her letter, FFRF attorney Rebecca Markert cited federal court decisions against the display of religious symbols on public property. Such rulings include the 1985 Seventh Circuit ruling in ACLU v. The city of St. Charles, Illinois. Initially, the city responded on Dec. 11 in a statement agreeing with FFRFs assertion that the cross was a violation of the First Amendment and suggested that leaving the cross on public property would result in a lawsuit that we will not win. The city later amended its statement to explain that despite the warning from FFRF, the cross would remain part of the lights display. Ozarks updated statement was issued after citizens voiced their disapproval with the citys response to FFRF. The city maintained that the cross would remain in place until due diligence can be completed regarding this matter. Now that Ozark officials have agreed to move the cross off public property, FFRF is calling it a step in the right direction. From the beginning, weve asked the city of Ozark to remove this cross or direct that it be moved to private property where it would be more appropriately displayed, FFRF attorney Rebecca Markert said in a statement. FFRF is pleased to learn that the city finally agreed to relocate the cross to private property. This is a good step in honoring the separation between state and church and a victory for the Constitution. Some residents voiced their approval with the solution. [T]hank you so much for resolving this issue without totally dismantling the symbol! And thank you to the private land owners!!! one Facebook user, who attends Ozarks Technical Community College, wrote. We the people are so grateful for you! At least one commenter accused the city of caving to outsiders. The cross structure in question was built so that the horizontal arms could be lowed at the end of the holiday light display. According to Springfield News-Leader, the towns immediate solution was to leave the giant cross erected but lower the horizontal arms so that it was not shaped like a Latin cross. Miracle Hill denies turning away Jewish woman from Christians-only foster care program Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Miracle Hill Ministries, a Christian social services agency that runs South Carolinas largest and most respected state-funded foster care program, denied a report that they turned away a Jewish woman as they await an exemption from the Trump administration to keep accessing government funds while having a Christians-only policy. Beth Lesser, a Jewish woman in her 50s, told the Forward, a Jewish-centered publication, in October that she and her husband were turned away by Miracle Hill while participating in a child mentorship program for prospective foster parents. Miracle Hill wont even let a Jewish person take a kid out for ice cream while they wait for a home, Lesser, who has no children of her own, told the publication. What did they think I was going to do, force feed them latkes? In an interview with The Christian Post this week, Sandy Furnell, Miracle Hills, communications director, said her agency does not prevent anyone from becoming a foster parent and did not specifically turn Lesser away. The reality is, Miracle Hills existence does not prevent anyone from fostering. Anyone who wants to foster can do so through their local department of social services that is available to anyone regardless of religion, sexual orientation, whatever the case may be. No religion, whatever. "We are not preventing anyone from becoming a foster family in this state. We are simply adding to the pool. Its our special mission that we have, she said. Its because of who we are and this is what we choose to do according to our faith. Furnell explained that Lesser was trying to become a mentor with a local organization called Fostering Great Ideas which is a Miracle Hill partner. Fostering Great Ideas works to improve the experience for every child in foster care. She said Lesser was trying to mentor, not foster, through Fostering Great Ideas. When she went to the mentoring training at one point the leader of the training divided the participants into different religious groups to assign them to organizations that were in line with their religious values. Lesser said, however, that she felt discriminated against in the program. I was the only Jewish person, she told the Forward. It was humiliating to be told essentially, Christians over here, Jews over there. Furnell added that matching prospective foster parents or mentors with organizations that align with their faith is in line with Fostering Great Ideas mission to improve the foster care experience. We partner with Fostering Great Ideas for mentoring with the kids who are in our childrens home, our boys shelter. In terms of mentors to work with, the kids who are in our childrens homes we do ask that they be like-minded in their faith with us because we are a faith-based organization. We believe people who are mentors or foster parents are in places of spiritual influence in someones life, Furnell said. A spokeswoman for South Carolinas Department of Social Services told The Washington Post that there are 11 child-placement agencies in South Carolina with religious affiliations. Miracle Hill, however, is the only one that insists foster parents share its faith. The social services agency wrote to Miracle Hill in January 2018 and outlined that it breached a federal regulation instituted by the Department of Health and Human Services near the end of President Barack Obamas second term that bans discrimination in all HHS programs. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has sought to get an exemption for Miracle Hill from HHS but the agency has yet to make a decision. An HHS spokesman told The Washington Post the issue was one of religious freedom, and signaled that the federal agency was open to allowing the funding. The request from the governor of South Carolina on religious freedom and foster care agencies has been received by HHS and is currently under consideration, he said. Furnell said that while Miracle Hill is hopeful for a positive outcome, they remain concerned about the future of their foster program which operated without government funding for some 27 years of their 30 year operation. Our ministry has been operating since 1988 and I believe it wasnt until three years ago that we took any government funding at all. So for about 27 years we did not have any government funding. We did foster care completely on our own and the reason why we started to take some funding was because DSS asked us to step up our recruitment efforts and we said Ok, wed be happy to do that, if were able to get a little bit more support because we only have so much funding. But we would love to do more if we could, she said. According to The Washington Post, Miracle Hill received nearly $600,000 in state and federal money in the last fiscal year to support foster care families. Reid Lehman, the ministrys leader, said he would rather drop out of those government programs if they insist on sacrificing their faith-based policy that's been in place since 1988. Furnell said because of Miracle Hills efforts, they were able to greatly increase the number of foster homes in their area. Even if Miracle Hill chose to forgo working with government agencies to help place children with foster families, Furnell said the issue of their operating license would still hamstring the foster care ministry without an exemption from HHS. At this point I think the greater issue is whether we are allowed to exist or not because when Department of Social Services wrote to us, they basically said, this goes against various policies; you cant do this so we wont license you unless you change. And so if we are not allowed to be licensed then we can no longer even participate in the system, she said. Even if we did not take government funding at all, if we are not allowed to be licensed, if the Department of Social Services wont license us because of how we operate, then we can no longer even participate in the process, Furnell stressed. That is getting lost on a lot of people. Do we have a right to even exist as a faith-based foster care program? If were not licensed we cant work with the kids that come with the system. We wont be allowed to, even if we dont accept government funds, she said. She explained that they're operating on a provisional license from the DSS but it will expire on Jan. 27. We are hopeful and we feel confident that DSS will renew another provisional license but we dont know what the Department of Health and Human Services is going to say, she said. Each provisional license is issued for a maximum of six months but Furnell noted that only the DSS can decide how long they will keep issuing a provisional license. We feel that probably [they] would want to because we provide such good service for foster care in our area. So we feel that it would obviously be in their best interest to continue to renew that, she added. We of course would love to continue to serve our families and serve children in this area as long and as much as possible. Of course funding will depend on our community support. We do what we can with the support that is given by our community, she said. For now, Furnell explained, Miracle Hill is hoping the HHS will allow them to continue serving their community according to their faith. We are still awaiting. We have not gotten a response from the Department of Health and Human Services yet. And were not the only organization across the country that need some clarification on this as well, she said. European court rules against Christian homeschool family forced to send kids to school Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The European Court of Human Rights ruled against a Christian homeschool family whose children were removed from the home and forced into a government-approved education program. Europes top human rights court ruled Thursday in the case of Wunderlich v. Germany that German authorities did not violate the rights of the Wunderlich family when over two dozen government agents forcibly removed their four children from the home in Darmstadt in August 2013. At least 33 police officers and seven youth welfare officers stormed the Wunderlich home because the family was choosing to homeschool their children despite knowing that it has been outlawed in Germany since 1918. The family wanted their children to be educated in an environment compatible with the parents religious convictions. Wunderlich previously said that authorities were contacted by a neighbor who alleged that he said he would rather kill his children than send them to school. Wunderlich has denied those accusations. Although four children were removed from the home for a period of about three weeks, they were later returned to the home. Dirk and Petra Wunderlich were able to retain control of custody of their children. But according to Alliance Defending Freedom International, the parents are being required to send their children to a government-approved education program. ADF International, which has supported the familys case along with the Home School Legal Defense Association, has argued that Germanys homeschool policy violates a number of international human rights agreements that Germany is a party to that protect the right of parents to choose the best form of education for their children. However, the court ruled that the enforcement of compulsory school attendance, to prevent social isolation of the applicants children and ensure their integration into society, was a relevant reason for justifying the partial withdrawal of parental authority. [The court] further finds that the domestic authorities reasonably assumed based on the information available to them that children were endangered by the [parents] by not sending them to school and keeping them in a symbiotic family system, the court ruling states. In contrast, having regard to the statements of, in particular, Mr. Wunderlich for example that he considered children to be the property of their parents and on the information available at the time, the authorities reasonably assumed that the children were isolated, had no contact with anyone outside of the family and that a risk to their physical integrity existed. ADF International Executive Director Paul Coleman said in a statement that the ruling ignores the fact that Germanys policy on homeschooling violates the rights of parents to educate their children and direct their upbringing. It is alarming to see that this was not recognized by the most influential human rights court in Europe, Coleman stressed. This ruling is a step in the wrong direction and should concern anyone who cares about freedom. Wunderlich said after the ruling that it was a disheartening day for his family. After years of legal struggles, this is extremely frustrating for us and our children, the father said in a statement. It is upsetting that the European Court of Human Rights has not recognized the injustices we have suffered at the hands of the German authorities. The ECHR ruled that there was no violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in Wunderlichs case. Article 8 states that everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence and that there shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security This judgment is a huge setback but we will not give up the fight to protect the fundamental right of parents to homeschool their children in Germany and across Europe, Mike Donnelly, international homeschooling expert and director of global outreach for the Home School Legal Defense Association, said. According to ADF International, the Wunderlichs will consider taking their case to the ECHR Grand Chamber, the highest level within Europes top human rights court. Episcopal Church head Michael Curry punishes NY bishop who wont allow gay marriage in diocese Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The head of The Episcopal Church has issued a partial restriction on the ministry of a New York bishop who recently refused to allow same-sex wedding ceremonies at his diocese. Bishop William Love of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany released a pastoral letter last year stating his refusal to follow a recently passed resolution mandating that all regional bodies in The Episcopal Church perform same-sex marriages. A spokesperson for The Episcopal Church directed The Christian Post to a statement released Friday by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who supports same-sex marriage and leads the mainline Protestant denomination. During the period of this restriction, Bishop Love, acting individually, or as Bishop Diocesan, or in any other capacity, is forbidden from participating in any manner in the Churchs disciplinary process in the Diocese of Albany in any matter regarding any member of the clergy that involves the issue of same-sex marriage, said Curry. Nor shall he participate in any other matter that has or may have the effect of penalizing in any way any member of the clergy or laity or worshipping congregation of his diocese for their participation in the arrangements for or participation in a same-sex marriage in his diocese or elsewhere. Curry said the restriction will take effect immediately and will remain until the issues surrounding the potential canonical offense of Love's actions is resolved. In the meantime, I or my successor, should this matter continue after my term, shall review the continued necessity of this restriction from time to time and amend or lift it as appropriate, added Curry. Last year, The Episcopal Church General Convention passed Resolution B012, which allows congregations to perform same-sex weddings even in dioceses where leadership objects. The new policy took effect on Dec. 2. While the new resolution still gives clergy the right to refuse to perform same-sex weddings, bishops who oppose same-sex marriage rites must call on another bishop who does not oppose such unions to provide pastoral support for the couple and a clergy for the ceremony. Love took issue with Resolution B012, officially stating in a pastoral letter released last year that the same-sex marriage rites approved "shall not be used anywhere in the Diocese of Albany by diocesan clergy (canonically resident or licensed)." "Jesus is calling the Church to follow His example. He is calling the Church to have the courage to speak His Truth in love about homosexual behavior even though it isn't politically correct," wrote Love. "Sexual relations between two men or two women was never part of God's plan and is a distortion of His design in creation and as such is to be avoided. To engage in sexual intimacy outside of marriage between a man and women, is against God's will and therefore sinful and needs to be repented of, NOT encouraged or told it is OK." Love also said that he believes both his denomination and overall Western society "have been hijacked by the 'Gay Rights Agenda,'" and that pro-LGBT Episcopalians have been "received into believing a lie that has been planted in the Church by the 'great deceiver' Satan." Episcopal Church Expands Gay Marriage to All Dioceses Where Bishops Object Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Episcopal Church's General Convention, led by Bishop Michael Curry, passed a resolution last Friday that expanded the right for gay couples to marry in all dioceses even where local bishops theologically object to same-sex marriage. At its triennial convention in Austin, Texas, the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops and House of Deputies voted to approve resolution B012, allowing gay and lesbian couples to be married by clergy in eight dioceses that had previously not allowed marriage rites for same-sex couples. As the General Convention had previously voted in 2015 to allow clergy to marry same-sex couples, it also gave bishops who opposed gay marriage the right to forbid priests in their diocese from performing same-sex marriage ceremonies. Although the new resolution still gives clergy the right to decline gay marriage ceremonies, bishops who oppose of same-sex marriage rites will have to call on another bishop who does not oppose to provide pastoral support for the couple and the clergy member that will be involved in the ceremony. The move directly impacts dioceses in Albany, New York; Central Florida; Dallas; Florida; North Dakota; Springfield, Illinois; Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The new policy will go into effect on the first sunday of Advent, Dec. 2. The resolution is a compromise of an earlier proposal that would have put the new marriage liturgies in the Book of Common Prayer. "I think this is a really important moment for the church. We do this without there having to be one side wins and one side loses. Very much like the theme of the whole convention, there's a great movement for the church to really be the church in this time," Long Island Bishop Larry Provenzano, who proposed the approved resolution, told the Episcopal News Service. Bishop John Bauerschmidt of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee told The Tennessean that it still remains to be seen how this new resolution would play out in his diocese after he disallowed same-sex marriage in his diocese following the 2015 resolution. "In other words, there is much to work out. It also preserves the ministry of bishops as chief pastors and teachers in our dioceses," Bauerschmidt told the outlet. "We will be working out what it means for our diocese with clergy and congregations in the coming days." According to the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Bishop George Sumner said the debate over expansion of gay marriage rites was like a "family argument" where the progressives tried to reach a compromise that would make the traditionalists in the diocese more comfortable. "We're probably more traditional than other dioceses in the Episcopal Church," Sumner was quoted as saying. "The convention has given us a space to do that." Sumner said he would reach out to neighboring bishops to oversee the marriage ceremonies in his diocese. Activists who pushed the denomination to fully embrace same-sex marriage are calling the resolution a step in a positive direction. "I think it's a wonderful compromise, which respects the dignity of the bishop and his position, but still allows marriage for all in their home congregations," Connally Davies Penley, a member of a Tennessee grassroots group called All Sacraments for All People, told the Tennessean. William Love, the bishop of Albany, meanwhile, argued that the new resolution could possibly trigger a stark backlash similar to what the Episcopal Church faced in 2003 when it began consecrating openly gay bishops. "I'm concerned that when this passes, the floodgates are going to open once again, the bloodshed is going to open once again, the insidious lawsuits are going to continue once again," he said during the debate on the resolution, according to RNS. The Episcopal Church was disciplined in 2016 by the global Anglican Communion after years of pro-gay decisions, including allowing clergy to perform same-sex marriages. It was barred from taking part in Anglican decision-making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity and from representing Anglicans on ecumenical and interfaith bodies for three years. Democrats ban LGBT employment discrimination in the House of Representatives Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The newly-elected Democrat majority in the U.S. House of Representatives wasted no time in adopting rule changes that ban employment discrimination against LGBT people in the lower chamber and requires House members to take ethics training. The House last week voted and adopted a rules package that will govern the Houses operations for the entirety of the 116th Congress. Included in the rules package were three proposals authored by openly gay Rep. David Cicilline, D-RI, who co-chairs the LGBT Equality Caucus. The package includes anti-discrimination protections that Cicillines office says will ensure LGBT House employees are treated equally in the workplace. The provision bans employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. The new requirements closely mirror employment protections that Cicilline has introduced as part of the Equality Act his bipartisan, comprehensive bill to extend anti-discrimination protections to all LGBT Americans, a press release reads. Among other things, the Equality Act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to sexual orientation and gender identity among the social categories that are protected from discrimination under the law. The bill defines sex to include things like sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, and gender identity. The bill also expands the definition of public accommodation. Under the law, the Department of Justice could bring a civil action on the basis of things like being denied equal used of a public facility (like a bathroom or locker room) owned and operated by the state. However, public schools and colleges seem to be exempt from that part of the bill. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has vowed to pass the Equality Act in the new Congress. However, the legislation is likely to face opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate. [P]rotecting the rights of LGBT employees is just the right thing to do, Cicilline said in a statement. After years of Republican mismanagement, Democrats are going to get Congress working again. The bill comes as employment discrimination against LGBT people is not explicitly banned under federal law. However, LGBT employment discrimination is banned under Washington, D.C., law. The rules package will also force members of Congress to take an annual ethics training course that Cicilline says makes it clear that we are serious about rooting out corruption wherever and whenever it occurs. Among the changes is a provision that bans members from serving on the boards of corporations. Government at its best works for the benefit of all Americans, not just the powerful and privileged, Cicilline said. I am pleased that the House wasted no time today moving forward on these commonsense ideas. The rules package has been praised by LGBT activists. David Stacy, government affairs director at the pro-LGBT Human Rights Campaign, called the passing of the provisions a historic moment for our country. For the first time ever, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity will be banned in the House of Representatives, he said in a statement. This action to protect LGBTQ congressional employees from discrimination is the result of millions of Equality Voters going to the polls in November to ensure their voices were heard and demanding a Congress that looks like America. The LGBT Congressional Staff Association also praised the rules package. This historic addition to the House rules will provide crucial job security for LGBTQ staff in the House of Representatives, the association expressed in a press release. This move also sends a powerful message about the importance of diversity within the institution we serve, saying that LGBTQ individuals are welcome on Capitol Hill and that the House of Representatives values and respects the identity and dignity of all LGBTQ people. Many Christian conservatives have spoken out in the past against attempts to codify sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under the law. The Family Research Council, an evangelical Washington, D.C.-based social conservative advocacy group, published an issue brief last month stating that SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) laws are invasive and cause tangible harms. In the case of public employers, such laws at the local and state level have led to large settlements being paid at taxpayers expense, FRC Senior Fellow Peter Sprigg wrote in the brief. In his brief, Sprigg also stated that SOGI laws are not justified in principle. The federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, for example, bars discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion, Sprigg wrote. The first four of these are clearly part of a persons innate identity, with race, color, and sex being biological factors identifiable at birth. A large part of the reason why discrimination on these bases is considered unjust is because these characteristics are indisputably inborn, involuntary, and immutable. Religion is different in that it is voluntary and involves both beliefs and behaviors, he added. However, freedom of religion is explicitly protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which is silent on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. Sexual orientation and gender identity are considerably more complex than these other characteristics and involve a combination of feelings, sense of identity, and outward behaviors. Sprigg concluded that gender identity laws violate the privacy of others. Such laws allow biological males (who claim to be female) to access private spaces like showers, locker rooms, and bathrooms designated for women, allowing them to be nude or in various states of undress even if they have never altered their bodies through gender reassignment surgery, he contended. This could be, and has been, very disturbing to those (especially sexual assault victims, or residents of battered womens shelters) who are coerced into situations where they are exposed to, or find their own bodies exposed before, such individuals. Controversial Baptist pastor Donnie Romero resigns due to adultery, says Ive been a terrible husband and father Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Donnie Romero, an adherent of the New Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Movement and controversial founder of Stedfast Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, resigned due to sex with prostitutes, gambling and marijuana use. I just want to let you guys know that Im stepping down as the pastor of Stedfast Baptist Church, Romero revealed to his church as his voice quivered in a video posted by the church on YouTube on Jan. 2. I havent been ruling my house well. Ive been a terrible husband and father. Im the one at fault in this situation. My wife and my kids they are not to blame. I love Stedfast Baptist Church, love my family. This is the best decision for my family and this church to make, he said as a baby cooed in the background and his congregation listened in silence. Im very sorry for the hurt this may cause people, the discouragement. Im so sorry. I love you guys. I wish I didnt have to get to this point, Romero added before walking off the stage. Pastor Steven L. Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona, who ordained Romero before he went off to start his church and helped walk the congregation through Romeros resignation, said the preacher had disqualified himself from being a pastor because of his sins. While he did not immediately reveal what Romeros sins were in the Jan. 2 video and discouraged the congregation from asking about details, he later revealed the sins in a follow-up video posted to YouTube. When youre in a public position of trust like being a pastor and you commit major sins then it just isnt right to sweep it under the rug. And so these things have to be confronted head-on. Having integrity is important, he said. Basically the major sin involved was being with prostitutes. And then there were also marijuana and gambling also discovered. Romero gained national attention for praising the murder of 49 people at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in 2016. He also became a lightning rod for criticism by LGBT advocates such as the Southern Poverty Law Center. In a video he posted after the attack at the Pulse night club, he said: These 50 sodomites were all perverts and pedophiles and they are the scum of the earth and the earth is a little better place now. The Rev. Chuck Currie, a progressive Christian and director for the Center for Peace and Spirituality at Pacific University Oregon, condemned Romeros views in a post on Twitter. There is nothing authentically Christian about hate. Stedfast Baptist Church is not a church; it is a hate group. Nothing they say or do would be recognizable by Jesus, the Prince of Peace. End of story, he wrote. Romeros church, which was founded in 2014, describes itself as "old-fashioned, has traditional music, and is King James Bible only!" The church adds, "The new evangelical movement in America has been a complete disaster. The worldly, rock and roll, contemporary-style churches are not getting the job done when it comes to preaching the Gospel to every creature, teaching Bible doctrine, and preaching hard against sin. We do not pattern our church after these trendy social clubs. Stedfast Baptist Church stands for the old paths and zero compromise preaching. It is part of the New Independent Baptist Movement, which is not a denomination. Churches associated with it are independent "and each Pastor submits himself to the word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ ... Each Pastor may see things somewhat differently than the other Pastors, resulting in differing beliefs on various minor issues, the movement explains on its website. They all agree, however, on doctrinal tenets such as hard preaching, anti-dispensationalism and anti-worldliness, which includes opposition to lifestyles such as fornication, adultery and homosexuality. In a 2016 sermon in which he preached against sin, Romero revealed that his family was so against being influenced by the world, they did not even own a television. Pastor Jonathan Shelley was ordained on Jan. 6 to replace Romero. City of Denver bans 'conversion therapy' for minors Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The city of Denver recently outlawed what has been commonly referred to as "gay conversion therapy" for minors, the first jurisdiction in the state of Colorado to do so. In a unanimous vote Monday, the city council approved a ban on the practice. "Tonights vote to ban conversion therapy is our city coming together and saying with one voice that we will never allow our LGBTQ+ youth to be the targets of these dubious practices, and that we are here to support them," Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said in a statement his office released. "Who they are is something to be celebrated, not maligned, and Denver will always be there to lift up our youth and ensure that they have the opportunity to grow up safe, happy and healthy. The proposal is aimed at state-licensed therapists in the city who say being gay or transgender is a mental illness. The practice is presently banned for minors in nine states. The Colorado General Assembly attempted to pass such a ban in 2018 and on other occasions but never succeeded. The legislative body is expected to consider a similar proposal this year, local reports say, and it is expected to pass given that Democrats will soon take charge of the state Senate. Others say the move is based on a deceptive premise, framing all counseling care by potential outliers. "Rather than providing compassionate ethical counseling options for youth who have unwanted same-sex attraction, Denver followed a fascist protocol initiated first in California to ban talk therapy for kids who do not want to be gay," said Anne Paulk of the Restored Hope Network, now based in Colorado, in a statement to The Christian Post Thursday. The city is "using scare tactics such as the term conversion therapy to conjure images of aversion therapy used in the 1950s if at all." "Based on that false or outdated information, Denver followed the politically motivated pathway that 20 other American states have rejected. Counseling need not happen only for mental illness; if so, where would marital counseling be?" she said. "Compassionate care should be client directed, not government ordered." Clients should lead their goals, not the government, Paulk stressed. "The city of Denver has joined several other municipalities and states who have passed such counseling room speech intrusion policies and laws. These are currently under review in the courts and may go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in the next few years," she said. The subject of counseling as it is related to same-sex attraction and other sexual issues appeared in the decision of a Supreme Court case last year, NIFLA v. Becerra, a ruling in favor of a network of crisis pregnancy centers in California that sued the state over a law requiring them to advertise for and promote abortion services. Writing for the majority, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas likened the speech of the professionals working at the pregnancy centers to that of counselors, citing Pickup v. Brown and King v. Governors of New Jersey. In those cases, courts ruled that bans on sexual orientation change efforts were not constitutional since the speech of the counselor is classified as professional "conduct" and is not fully protected under the First Amendment. Thomas explained that certain appeals courts "have recognized 'professional speech' as a separate category of speech that is subject to different rules," yet "speech is not unprotected merely because it is uttered by 'professionals.'" Church raises money to help furloughed federal workers during gov't shutdown Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As the partial federal government shutdown moves toward a fourth week, a historic church in Memphis, Tennessee, has stepped in to help their affected members weather an uncertain period of missed paychecks. Pastor Donald Johnson of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church told News Channel 3 that a few of his members work for government agencies such as the IRS. So when he first heard about the shutdown he began proactively looking at ways to help. I just realized people were going to be affected by it, and we didnt want to spend any time just arguing and fighting about what the president is doing," Johnson said. He combed through the churchs database and found eight members who were federal workers. He then collected an offering and had the churchs financial board match what was collected and was able to raise $8,000. The affected workers were asked to stand in church on Sunday and were given nearly $1,000 each. We didnt want to look at them as a handout or people that were asking, but we wanted to be kind of proactive in that area," Johnson said. Church member Janice Bankston who has worked for the IRS for nearly 35 years, told Fox 13 that she survived being furloughed before but this shutdown feels a bit different. She added that the past few weeks have been stressful. The uncertainty of whats going to happen, how soon we can return, dont know how youre going to pay your bills, Bankston told Fox 13. Wall Street Journal opinion columnist Kimberly Strassel noted that unlike other shutdowns like Obama's 16-day shutdown in 2013 in which "the administration immediately furloughed workers and cut pay for private contractors," and shut down Head Start and placed barricades around the World War II memorial President Trump told the Office of Management and Budget to make "this event as painless as possible." "Yet there are no legal fixes for some truly painful effects including Fridays missed paycheck for 800,000 federal workers," Strassel added. While there will be no further payments for food stamps or for the Coast Guard, she noted that under the partial federal shutdown some agencies can continue to function to protect safety and human life and property, "as well as in aid of the presidents fulfilling constitutional duties." As a result, programs such as Social Security and Medicare fall under indefinite appropriations and must continue during the shutdown. For example, even though the Social Security Administration and Treasury Department are both technically shut down, they have to process Social Security checks that operate under continuous appropriations as well as tax refunds. Bankston received her pay two weeks ago and expects to be paid on Friday but said it wouldnt be her full paycheck and she wouldnt have much left after taxes are deducted. Its very scary, Ive been able to get some creditors to put off receiving a payment and some are saying no you have to bring the payment on in, Bankston explained. Its very scary to know youre not going to have any income coming in. Reacting to the assistance from her church, she said: I didnt see it coming, but I am grateful, very grateful. Johnson told Fox 13 that he's hoping other churches will mobilize and help their affected members, and noted that if they have to help affected members financially again, they will. He's praying, however, that the shutdown will end. Well do it again if it goes on. Were praying that things change but if it doesnt, were not going to let them go without, how about that! Johnson said. China creates church-free zones around schools; Communists want Christians to lose faith: believer Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Chinese government is creating church-free zones around schools and is requiring places of worship to submit the names of their youth members. Bitter Winter magazine, which reports on Christian persecution in China, said it recently obtained a copy of the document, titled "Implementation Plan on the Special Governance of Private Christian Gathering Sites" in the northern Shanxi Province. Another document, issued by the Religious Affairs Bureau, declares: All private Christian gathering sites around universities and colleges, as well as on-campus activity sites, are to be shut down in accordance with the law. Criticism and (re)education of participating teachers and students is to be carried out by the school authorities. The church closures affect all houses of worship, including the government-approved Three-Self Church. When talking about the forced closures near schools, government officials have warned that there will be no reversal of the decision in the future. As for the demands that churches hand over a list of university students who attend gatherings, believers have said they're worried the government will use it to affect their employment prospects. Speaking of church meeting venues that were closed in 2018 in Hebei, Shanxi, and Shandong, one believer who wasn't named said: By being so strict in preventing minors from believing in God, the Chinese Communist Party is seeking to sever the roots so that the next generation loses its faith. As various persecution watchdog groups, including International Christian Concern, have noted, the crackdown on churches in China, which extends beyond churches closing near schools, stems from the new Regulations on Religious Affairs that was issued last year. Under these new rules, the Chinese governments control over the religious faith of minors has reached its highest level since the Cultural Revolution, Bitter Winter magazine noted. In addition to forbidding religious facilities near schools, the regulations mandate investigating the beliefs of students and their parents; prohibiting minors from believing in God; and closing Sunday schools. The faith of children has been a particularly controversial subject. In October, World Watch Monitor reported that a trusted local source revealed that more than 300 Christian children at two high schools in Zhejiang have been asked to fill out a form stating that they have no religion. While "it is normal for a school to ask parents to fill out a form which includes questions of faith when a child is first enrolled in school, for many years this hasn't been an issue," the source said at the time. "In this case, however, the children were handed a questionnaire in class about faith, which is not normal. It seems this is part of the new push to identify Christians and give them pressure of one sort or another, the source added. "Children in this part of China would write 'Christian' because of 1) their innocence and 2) they come from families of fervent believers who do not compromise their faith." ANSAmed - Weekly diary from January 14 to January 20 (ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 11 - Weekly diary of the main events in the Euro-Mediterranean area from January 14 to January 20: MONDAY, JANUARY 14 ROME - EU, visit by Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos to meet with Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini. ABU DHABI - World Future Energy Summit 2019 (WFES) (until 17/1) TUNIS - Anniversary of the fall of the regime of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. TUESDAY, JANUARY 15 No major events scheduled. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 ROME - Auditorium Parco della Musica, "Free is My Song - Music of Deported Women", concert for Remembrance Day. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17 BELGRADE - Visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin. VALLETTA - EU, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini participates in Dialogue on Western Mediterranean. (also 18/1). CAIRO - EU, visit by Commissioner Neven Mimica to prepare the presidency of the African Union and discuss regional issues (also 18/1). FRIDAY, JANUARY 18 No major events scheduled. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 MATERA - EU, Commissioner Tibor Navracsics participates at opening ceremony for European Capital of Culture 2019. SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 No major events scheduled. (ANSAmed). Atheist group warns over 1,000 school districts not to take kids to Ark Encounter; Ken Ham responds Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment One of the nations leading atheist legal groups has sent a warning to over 1,000 public school districts telling them not to take field trips to Answers in Genesis' creationist attractions in Kentucky. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which claims 31,000 members across the U.S., announced Tuesday that it contacted school districts in five states warning them that field trips to the Ark Encounter or the Creation Museum would be a violation of the First Amendments Establishment Clause. Public schools and public school staff may not constitutionally organize trips to the Ark Encounter or the Creation Museum or any other religious venue, a letter from the nonprofits co-founders to schools reads. Although the organization previously pressured schools not to organize field trips to either of the Answers in Genesis venues in 2016, FFRF felt the need to send the latest round of warning letters because, it says, Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham continues to encourage public schools to plan field trips to the venues. Ham has been clear about the proselytizing nature of this park from the beginning, the letter reads. Though Ham asserts that the law is on his side, this is untrue. Unquestionably, any field trip facilitated by a public school to either attraction would be unconstitutional. Ham responded to FFRFs announcement through a blog post in which he asserted that it's not unconstitutional for public school districts to hold field trips to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. He added that admission will be free of charge for any public school district that plans to take students on a field trip to the Ark Encounter or Creation Museum. As leading civil rights attorneys will tell you, if classes tour the Ark or museum in an objective fashion to supplement the teaching of world religions, literature, interpretation of history, etc., the field trip is an educational experience," Ham continued. "Now, if students were brought to the Ark or museum and told by their teacher that the religious content should be accepted as truth, then we would acknowledge that the Establishment Clause of the Constitution, as currently being interpreted by the courts, would be violated. Opened in 2007, the Creation Museum in Petersburg is tailored toward a Young Earth Creationist explanation of the universe. Opened in 2016, the Ark Encounter in Williamstown is a creationist theme park that features a large representation of Noahs Ark from the book of Genesis. FFRF's letter also cites the 1971 Supreme Court ruling of Lemon v. Kurtzmanin which the court held that schools must ensure that their programs do not inculcate religion. Specifically, the court ruled in that case that it's unconstitutional for a state to reimburse private schools for teachers' salaries. Taking public school students to a site whose self-professed goal is to convert children to a particular religion and undermine what is taught in public school science and history classrooms would be inappropriate, the atheist group's letter further argues. Public schools may not advance or promote religion. The letter also argues that Ham has in the past admitted that Answers in Genesis' parks have an evangelistic motive. FFRF points to an open letter Ham released before the opening of the Ark Encounter in 2016. Yes, our motive is to do the Kings business until He comes, Hams July 2016 statement reads. Ham added that established law states that the Bible is allowed to be used in the classroom so long as it's used in an objective manner and included as part of a secular curriculum. In the 1963 case of Abington Township v. Schempp, the Supreme Court reasoned that it's permissible for public schools to offer classes in "the study of the Bible" so long as they are "presented objectively as part of a secular program of education. As long as the teacher doesnt express a personal opinion about the Bible, there is no issue whatsoever, Ham wrote. Should FFRF threaten a lawsuit in response to a school districts field trip to the Kentucky attractions, Ham promised that Answers in Genesis has access to constitutional law attorneys who will provide their services free of charge even if that means going all the way to the Supreme Court. Actually, I would like to see a case go to the Supreme Court so that these atheist bullies who have been wreaking havoc on civil liberties all across America can be stopped, Ham said. Everyone needs to be reminded that the FFRF is actually a very small group of atheists who have been increasing their attacks on Christianity in America in an attempt to impose their atheistic worldview on all public schools and, in fact, the entire culture. FFRF regularly pressures school districts and municipal governments to end what the group perceives to be unlawful entanglements between government and religion. Most recently, the group pressured a Missouri town to remove a giant cross structure from public land. The group objected when the cross was lit up in blue and used in the towns Christmas lights display. Late last year, FFRF successfully pressured an Illinois town to cancel a community trip to see the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. Last August, an Indiana school district moved to no longer allow teachers to lead an extracurricular Christian club for elementary school students after FFRF complained. Archaeological discovery: Platform found in Israel may have held Ark of the Covenant Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed a massive man-made platform that could contain clues about the Ark of the Covenant. Israel Finkelstein, an archaeologist at Tel Aviv University, told The Times of Israel that the eighth century BCE shrine was believed to have held the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark is said in the Bible to contain the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses. The Ark is believed to have been kept at Kiriath-Jearim for 20 years, until it was paraded by King David in Jerusalem. Unlike other archaeologists working in the region, Finkelstein said he doesn't believe the Ark actually existed. Still, he insists that the recent discovery could lead to information about the political events in biblical times. The excavations at Kiriath-Jearim shed light on the strength of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) in the early eighth century, including, possibly, its domination of Judah, Finkelstein said. They also illuminate an important theme in the Bible the Ark and its history. The structure researchers discovered, which the Times of Israel described as "game-changing," is an elevated rectangular podium. The archaeologists say "it can be reconstructed to have been circa 150-110 m in size and covering an area of some 1.65 hectares. Created with typical Iron Age walls, 3-m wide and which still stand 2-m high, it is oriented exactly north-south and east-west." The excavation team suggests that the goal at the time was to "legitimate Kiriath-Jearim as the new shrine of the Ark." "Accordingly, in the case of a North Kingdom affiliation, the elevated platform was built in order to accommodate an Israelite administration compound, including a temple, aimed at dominating the vassal kingdom of Judah," it adds. Kiriath-Jearim itself is an important biblical site, with I Chronicles 13, 5-8 detailing the story of King David transporting the Ark to Jerusalem. And David went up, and all of Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God David and all the Israelites played, celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets, reads the passage. Still, Finkelstein says that he doesn't expect to find physical evidence of the Ark having historically resided at the site. I think that the story of the Ark served the ideology of the Northern Kingdom in the time of Jeroboam II, as well as the actual territorial needs which stemmed from the domination over Judah, he said. I suspect that this shrine of the Ark was part of a United Israel (ruled from Samaria) ideology the forerunner of the later Judahite United Monarchy concept. Other archaeologists searching for clues related to the Ark have said that they have a strong religious faith, such as Scott Stripling of the Associates for Biblical Research. Stripling, who in 2017 said that his team was working at a dig in Shiloh searching for clues, insisted at the time that the Bible is "very reliable" when it comes to archaeological work. "We're taking the Bible as a serious historical document," he said, adding "but the evidence is what the evidence is." More recently, claims that the Ark lies inside a church in Ethiopia have been disputed. The claim apparently stemmed from old accounts by late British scholar and historian Edward Ullendorff, who at one point alleged that he had seen the Ark inside the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum during World War II. Tudor Parfitt, who was also a professor at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, told Live Science in December that back in 1941 Ullendorff saw what he believed to be a copy, and not the actual Ark. "What he saw was what you find in any Ethiopian church, which is a model of the Ark of the Covenant," the professor said. Ullendorff decided to make an impression in Ethiopia that he had seen the real Ark, since he continued working in the country after the war, and did not want to hurt the peoples feelings. Tia and Tamara cling to their Christian faith after grandmother dies Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Tia Mowry Hardrict and Tamera Mowry Housley, who are best known for their teenage roles in the sitcom Sister Sister, say they're leaning on their faith after the loss of their grandmother this week. The twin sisters revealed on social media that the matriarch of their family died of cancer. Besides mourning their loss, they shared how their faith in God is helping them get through the grief. Give God your weakness and He will give you His strength. #missyougranny, Housley wrote on Instagram. Grandma Clo You are the strongest person I know. You are the matriarch of our family. Every good thing trickles down from you, Housley wrote. You amaze me every day with your strength and unconditional love. Your obedience and love toward our Heavenly Father is admirable. Love you so so so much. #cancersucks. Housley, who's a co-host on the hit daytime talk show The Real, then shared that her grandmother's battle was long but she's now resting in Heaven. You are with the Lord now. You fought a long long fight, she wrote. Your wish was to be around your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ariah, Aden, Adam and I miss you so much. I love you. Till we meet again. Her sister, Tia Hardrict, also shared her feelings, revealing that their grandmother even prayed over her and got to meet her new daughter, Cairo. Im so happy you got to see her. You prayed for her in my womb and now you got to touch and see her before you transitioned, she shared on Instagram. It was your wish. We miss you already. I love you Clo. The Indivisible actress then thanked God for the moments she got to spend with her grandmother. You went on to see the Lord this morning and Im so happy I got to see you. I thank God, she wrote in another post. I love you grandma, I love you. My heart is broken. Both sisters have always been open about their faith and how it gets them through difficult times. Housley also recently lost her niece, Alaina Housley, who was killed in a mass shooting at a bar in California in 2018. After pleading with people on social media for prayers, Housley and her husband, former Fox News correspondent Adam Housley, released a statement to USA TODAY confirming that Alaina was one of the people gunned down inside the country music dance bar. Texas pastor disowned by Iranian father for leaving Islam says great cost for Jesus is worth it Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A pastor in Texas has shared his story of how his Iranian father disowned him for deciding to leave Islam and follow Jesus Christ, declaring that the great cost is worth it. When I left Islam to follow Jesus, I didnt know what it would cost me, Pastor Afshin Ziafat of Providence Church in Frisco, Texas, wrote in a desiringGod.org piece on Sunday. Ziafat was born in Houston, Texas, to a devout Muslim family and though his family moved back to Iran when he was 2 years old, the Islamic Revolution of the 1970s forced them to return to Texas. He noted that while he was in the second grade a Christian English teacher gave him a copy of the New Testament and shard the Gospel with him, which eventually led to his decision 10 years later to convert to Christianity following other discussions and evangelistic events he attended. After declaring his faith in Jesus at an evangelistic crusade, he admitted he was fearful of telling his Muslim father, who had been the most important person in his life. At first he hid his faith from his family, but eventually his father saw his Bible and began asking questions. Ziafat shared the exchange: Son, whats going on? Theres something different about you. I said, Dad, Im a Christian. He said, No, youre not, young man. Youre a Muslim and youll always be a Muslim. I said, Dad, the Bible says that if I trust in Christ alone for my salvation, then Im a Christian and I do. My dad said, Afshin, if youre going to be a Christian, then you can no longer be my son. Despite his urge to keep his relationship with his father, he proclaimed the words that would lead to him being disowned on the spot: Dad, if I have to choose between you and Jesus, then I choose Jesus. And if I have to choose between my earthly father and my heavenly Father, then I choose my heavenly Father. He said that at the time, he had to lose his father in order to follow Christ. Ziafat said he was led by God to attend seminary which enabled him to attain a college pastor and ministry speaking position through which he has seen other Muslims come to Christ. I have partnered with a ministry that reaches into Iran with the Gospel, and have had the privilege of training and equipping Iranian pastors, helping to spread the Gospel in the same nation from which my family came, he wrote. I now pastor a church in Texas where I get to weekly remind our people to count the cost of following Christ. As a result, we have grown, planted three churches, and sent out several missionaries around the world. Finally, I am thrilled to say that my relationship with my dad has been restored, and I continue to pray for his salvation daily. The pastor said that there is a difference between simply knowing truths about Jesus and being a follower of Christ, urging believers to face up to what it might cost them to follow Him. Christian ministries and church leaders focused on reaching Muslims in Iran also participated in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church in November. Mike Ansari, president of the missionary group Heart4Iran, told The Christian Post at the time that millions are in need of prayers. "Much of today's Islamic world, including Iran, was once Christian. The churches across Iran and Iraq were once great and enduring churches, which sent the first missionaries to China. Yet with [the] emergence of Islam, these communities were marginalized and at times completely destroyed," Ansari told CP. "It seems there is an organic re-emergence of Christianity across Iran, he added of reports of many coming to faith. God is on the move and building His Church. [But] with growth comes persecution, he warned. Joyce Meyer admits her views on prosperity, faith were 'out of balance' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Popular televangelist Joyce Meyer has admitted that her beliefs in prosperity and faith were at times "out of balance." When bad things happen to people, such as the death of a child, Meyer said she now understands that it's not because they didn't have enough faith. I'm glad for what I learned about prosperity, but it got out of balance. I'm glad for what I've learned about faith, but it got out of balance, she said. Every time somebody had a problem in their life, [I thought] it's because they didn't have enough faith. If you got sick it's because you don't have enough faith. If your child died, it's because you don't have enough faith, she added in a clip posted on Instagram. Faith is something God gives you that you need to use and release in your life. It's a powerful force but it's not just an automatic, you put your trust in God, you put your faith in Him, Meyer's said. Throughout her ministry of 33-years, Meyer has frequently been accused of being aligned with the prosperity gospel and word of faith movements. She has denied both claims. The St. Louis, Missouri, native then said a false balance in the areas of faith and prosperity are not in line with Scripture. Well, that's not right! There is nowhere in the Bible where we're promised we will never have any trouble. I don't care how much faith you have, you're never going to avoid having trouble in your life. Jesus said, in the world, you will have tribulation but cheer up, I have overcome the world, she added. Over a decade ago, the U.S. Senate launched an investigation into Meyer's ministry and those of five other pastors. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley raised questions about the personal use of church-owned airplanes, luxury homes and credit cards by pastors and their families. As a result, she made changes in how Joyce Meyer Ministries governs their ministry and set compensation. In 2003, the St. Louis-Post Dispatch also reported that Meyer's ministry owned a $10 million corporate jet, a $2 million home and $107,000 silver-gray Mercedes sedan, which her husband drove all of which she reportedly attributed as blessings from God at the time. Harvest Bible Chapel scraps lawsuit against Julie Roys, bloggers Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Harvest Bible Chapel has dropped a lawsuit against author and journalist Julie Roys and the writers of the Elephant's Debt blog amid public scrutiny for an alleged culture of fear, intimidation, and financial mismanagement. The suit first came about last fall before the publication of Roys' eight-months investigation into Harvest Bible Chapel's financial activities and allegations that longtime Pastor James MacDonald had serious anger issues and had been verbally abusive to many people, including staff and former elders. The Elephant's Debt blog has been writing about these issues since 2012; the site was launched for the purpose of making a public case that MacDonald should no longer serve in his pastoral office. The church sought two motions in court, one for an emergency protective order to seal documents that had been returned during the discovery process. The other was a motion to stay discovery, which would have essentially barred them from conducting any further discovery until spring. Cook County Circuit Judge Diane Larsen denied both motions on Monday. Following her refusal to grant the motions, on Monday the church put out a statement on their website maintaining they still believe that what Roys and the Elephant's Debt blog did was illegal, though they did not mention the parties by name. "Recent events have made it clear that any further private content subpoenaed from third and fourth parties will likely be publicized online," the statement from the executive committee of elders explained. "Case law contains many legal precedents related to restricting these actions, yet the court ruled against our motions in both instances. The result is that even if we filed a motion to reconsider, even if we amended the complaint to exclude private matters sensitive to some third parties, the court appears unwilling to protect our many friends, including those with whom we seek to reconcile. " Harvest Bible Chapel went on to say that they could not in good conscience subject innocent people, in many instances against their will, to a complete subpoena process and therefore decided to scrap the lawsuit altogether. "With this decision, we can again focus our energies on continued growth in personal and organizational faults we have owned, enduring what is false, and striving to mitigate the damage such attacks bring to our church family and friends," the elders concluded. Last week, MacDonald announced that he was removing his Bible teaching program "Walk in the Word" from all television and radio platforms in the coming months and transferring them to digital mediums like podcasts. While he said the move was mostly pragmatic, he admitted that the scrutiny the church was under had been straining relationships with Christian broadcast ministries that had hosted his content. Theres all the upkeep thats going on with all the relationships, MacDonald said at the time. When our church goes through difficult times like of late, that becomes even more of a strain and a burden to carry in a way that none of you would ever even know what goes on behind the scenes. Both Roys and the Elephant's Debt blogwelcomed Judge Larsen's decision on Monday, expressing gratitude the suit was over. "I am heartened that James MacDonald and Harvest Bible Chapel decided to drop the lawsuit, but grieved that both the church and James MacDonald continue to spin lies," Roys said in an email to The Christian Post Tuesday afternoon. "Their statement accuses me and the other four defendants of illegal actions and of publicizing false and distorted information, but nothing could be further from the truth. When Harvest filed the lawsuit in October, I hadn't published anything about the church, but simply had contacted Harvest for its response to allegations made by former elders and staff in the course of my investigation." Harvest Bible Chapel has yet to name anything Roys has reported that is false, she added. "It seems Harvests' decision to drop the suit was motivated by a desire to suppress the truth and maintain its secrets," she said. "This lawsuit was a complete travesty. To make matters right, MacDonald and Harvest need to apologize publicly for bringing this frivolous lawsuit, reimburse all defendants for legal fees, and every church leader who had a hand in this unbiblical lawsuit needs to resign." Likewise in a Tuesday blog post, Scott Bryant and Ryan Mahoney at The Elephant's Debt also urged MacDonald to make amends, repent and publicly apologize for his behavior, and reimburse them for their legal fees so they could in turn reimburse their donor friends who helped them with their legal bills. "[B]arring these public acts of contrition, please understand that your words will not be received as anything other than another cynical ploy to manage your public image," the bloggers wrote. Roys stressed in a WYLL AM radio interview on Monday that this is a case of elders not doing their jobs and a famous megachurch pastor who had structured the church such that he was shielded from any meaningful accountability. The church's bylaws had been revamped to say that the only way a pastor could be removed was if the executive elder committee approved it, and MacDonald was himself a member of that committee. Thus, the only way he could go was if he wanted to leave. "This is about church government, it is about how to hold leaders accountable," Roys explained on Monday, noting that most Christians find the subject uninteresting but that it is nevertheless vital. "Christians, church members, need to pay attention. They need to read those boring bylaws but really look at them because those are important and that's how something like this happens." CP also reached out to Harvest Bible Chapel for further comment on this article, but they declined to be quoted. MacDonald founded Harvest Bible Chapel 1988 which now has several campuses across the Chicago region and one in Naples, Florida. Andy Stanley says Ten Commandments don't apply to Christians Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christians should quit erecting Ten Commandments displays and should instead consider making monuments dedicated to the Sermon on the Mount, popular pastor Andy Stanley said. In a column published by Relevant Magazine, the North Point Community Church pastor argued that the Ten Commandments are the old covenant and no longer apply to believers. "[I]f were going to create a monument to stand as a testament to our faith, shouldnt it at least be a monument of something that actually applies to us?" he posed. Participants in the new covenant (thats Christians) are not required to obey any of the commandments found in the first part of their Bibles, wrote Stanley. Participants in the new covenant are expected to obey the single command Jesus issued as part of his new covenant: as I have loved you, so you must love one another. This new commandment is "a replacement for everything in the existing list. Including the big ten," he maintained. "Just as his new covenant replaced the old covenant, Jesus new commandment replaced all the old commandments." Stanley went on to say that he believed so much of the evils committed by churches over history were connected to them trying to mix aspects of the old covenant with Christianity and that although Jesus was foreshadowed in the old covenant, he did not come to extend it. Dear Christian reader: Why? Why? Why would we even be tempted to reach back beyond the cross to borrow from a covenant that was temporary and inferior to the covenant established for us at Calvary? Stanley continued. The author of Hebrews says it best. Jesus was the guarantor of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22). Later he writes, the new covenant is established on better promises. Besides, you werent included in the old covenant to begin with! So why are we fighting to build monuments to it? Stanley's comments echo the arguments he made in his recent book, Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World, which was released last September. In the book, Stanley spoke about "old covenant leftovers," stating that he believed Christians had "an uncomfortable history and habit of selectively rebranding aspects of God's covenant with Israel and smuggling them into the ekklesia of Jesus." Stanley wrote that while the covenant God made with ancient Israel was "divinely ordained," it was also "temporary," adding, "Careless mixing and matching of old and new covenant values and imperatives make the current version of our faith unnecessarily resistible." Last year, Stanley garnered controversy when he argued in an April sermon that Christians should unhitch themselves from the Old Testament. To justify this, Stanley cited Acts 15, which described how early church leaders decided that Gentile converts did not need to strictly observe Jewish law to become Christians. "[First century] Church leaders unhitched the church from the worldview, value system, and regulations of the Jewish scriptures," preached Stanley. "Peter, James, Paul elected to unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish scriptures, and my friends, we must as well. He argued that what launched Christianity was the resurrection of Jesus, not the Jewish scriptures. Many, including Messianic Jewish author and radio personality Michael Brown, have denounced Stanley's unhitch comments. "A pastor as influential as Andy Stanley needs to distance himself from such heresies, making a public, clear, and unequivocal correction that undoes the confusion he has caused. (He knows that I write this [as] a friend, out to help, not to hurt.)," wrote Brown in a column last year. "He can preach against legalism and against Judaizing, exalting the grace of God and celebrating the newness of the New Covenant, without undermining the very foundations on which that New Covenant is established." Ray Ortlund, senior pastor of Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and the president of Renewal Ministries, also denounced Stanleys views in a speech at the Gospel Coalition's West Coast Conference last October. Preaching from 2 Timothy 1:3-8, Ortlund noted that when the Apostle Paul was writing to Timothy, he stressed his religious heritage through Judaism. "Paul looks back into his own deepest roots. He goes back to David, to Moses, to Abraham. He reveres the faith that came down to him even filtered through Jewish tradition," said Ortlund. "Unlike some preachers today, Paul did not 'unhitch' the Christian faith from the Old Testament And for him personally, Christian conversion did not take his Jewishness away. It made Jesus the Lord over his Jewishness and over his conscience, both of which, he continues to honor." For his part, Stanley explained that critics needed to understand the context, especially since his remarks were more for an audience that is turned off by biblical arguments. "I told my kids growing up, if anyone ever asks you 'do you believe Adam and Eve are real people?' here is how you are to answer: do not say 'yes because the Bible says Adam and Eve were real people,'" commented Stanley in an interview with Michael Brown last July. "You say this: 'I believe Adam and Eve were historical characters because Jesus did. And when somebody predicts their own death and resurrection and pulls it off, I go with whatever they say.'" Christian Mother, Pastor Fear for Their Lives after Attacks in Eastern Uganda Share Tweet NAIROBI, Kenya, January 11, 2019 (Morning Star News) Muslims in eastern Uganda sent a Christian mother to the hospital with injuries from a beating in one village and tore down a church building in another, sources said. Both the woman and the pastor of the destroyed church building fear their lives could be in danger. Deborah Gimbo of Budaka town was attacked the afternoon of Dec. 20 while praying by herself in her home. She prays three evenings a week in her home with two other Christian women, and the assailants told her they did not want them praying loudly in Jesus name, Gimbo told Morning Star News. Today we have come to warn you that you should avoid noisy prayers and the use of Issa [Jesus] in your prayers, the four assailants said as they intruded into her home at 2 p.m., according to Gimbo. A local sheikh (teacher) had instructed the assailants that people who pray in Jesus name should be fought and pressured until they accept only worship of Allah, or else be killed, she said. I said, I cannot stop praying, and more so, Issa is my Lord and Savior, and I will continue praying in His name, Gimbo told Morning Star News. Immediately two of the intruders left the house, and in no time entered the room again with sticks and started beating me. I was hit on my face, and blood started flowing down my face as I started shouting for help. Neighbors arrived and rescued her, taking her to a Budaka District hospital. She was discharged after two days, she said. The intruders were identified as Satiya, Ariziki, Mariam and Yahaya. Neither Gimbo nor her husband, who was away in Somalia on a six-month stint as part of a U.N. peacekeeping force at the time of the attack, are converts from Islam. Some 25 kilometers (15 miles) away in Kibuku District, a former Muslim fears for his life after villagers in the Kibenga area, Lyama parish in Kakutu Sub-County, tore down the building of the church he leads. Simon Mustafa Waseke had turned to Christ in 2017 and soon found he had a congregation to lead after many Muslims accepted his message of repentance from sin and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. Kibenga is a predominantly Muslim area. Having many followers from those who had left Islam, I decided to put up a church building, and many converts from Islam joined the church in just a few months, the number rose to 35 members, Pastor Waseke told Morning Star News. This made the Muslims to be against the church. Villagers led by an imam identified only as Yuba on Oct. 10 pulled down the building of Christian Family Church at 5:30 a.m., he said. A gang of radical Muslims entered the church compound, he said, and pulled down the church building while shouting Allah Akbar [God is Greater, a jihadist slogan], away with this church and Pastor Mustafa Waseke. No more prayers in this place, or else you will all lose your lives, and in no time the church was on its ground. A secret Christian who has contact with the area Muslim community has informed the pastor that the assailants are threatening to kill him unless he leaves the area, so he does not dare bring legal action against them. Even if am given police protection, I am not sure of the security of my members of the church, who are now very fearful, Pastor Waseke said. I am at a crossroads of not knowing what to do. My church members are scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Soon their faith in Christ will diminish, and they will possibly return to Islam. Neither he nor anyone from his congregation goes near the church site, he said. The Muslims are now out to kill me and my family we are having sleepless nights, he told Morning Star News. How long are we going to hide ourselves from our enemies of Christianity? Please pray for us. The attacks were the latest of many cases of persecution of Christians in eastern Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Ugandas population. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Pixabay 33 Vietnamese Christians Are Attacked, Raided after They Refuse to Worship Buddha Share Tweet 33 Vietnamese Christians were terrorized by government officials after they refused to worship Buddha. According to International Christian Concern, Hmong Christians in Pha Lom village, Tam Hop commune, Nghe An province were given an ultimatum by officials renounce Jesus or face consequences. Pastor Hoang Van Pa told the ICC that four of the Christians were beaten and arrested and the village was raided three times, twice in November and then again at the beginning of December. After the raids, the ICC reports that authorities from the Vietnamese Interdisciplinary Inspection Team put 33 of the Christians in the community on public trial where they were asked to abandon their religion and worship the Buddha statue instead. According to Mr. Dzung of the IIT, refusing to denounce Protestantism and convert to Buddhism will result in the expulsion from Vietnam. CBN News reports that early last year, the Vietnamese government passed legislation which gave the communist government greater control over religious practices in the country. The outlet reports that of the one million Hmong people in Vietnam, around 300,000 of them are Christians, many of whom have faced various forms of persecution including, exclusion, harassment, discrimination, loss of property and even violent attack. Photo courtesy: Unsplash/Ashim D. Silva The irony of refusing to swear in on the Bible Christian Post Op-Ed Contributor | 10 January, 2019 by Jerry Newcombe Last week, the first openly bisexual senator was sworn in...and she refused to be sworn in on the Holy Bible, as is customary. She instead opted for a law book with the Arizona Constitution and the U.S. Constitution, because, she says, of her "love for the Constitution." Senator Kyrsten Sinema has a first name that ironically means, in Latin, "Follower of Christ." In addition to being openly bisexual, she is also listed, according to the Pew Research Center for Religion and Public Life, as the "only member of the Senate who does not identify as a member of a religion." Why do we have this system of swearing in public officials in the first place? And swearing in on the Bible? And saying, "So help me, God." which, by the way she did (indirectly, at least)? Who cares about such "antiquated" customs? Do these symbols matter? Well, Senator Sinema has a role in our government, thanks in part to the Bible for the creation of that government. I wrote a whole book about how the Bible played a pivotal role in the founding of America. And the more I study the subject, the more convinced I become of it. Historically, taking oaths is a way to seal one's commitment but to do it with God as a witness. Just as marital vows are oaths before God. George Washington noted in his Farewell Address (1796) that if we undermine religion (in his day, he was speaking to a largely Christian audience), we undermine oaths and fidelity. Said Washington, "Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice?" If there is no God to Whom we shall give an account, we can do whatever we want. When George Washington was sworn in as our first president under the Constitution, he used the Holy Bible. After being sworn in with his hand on the Bible, Washington even bent down and kissed the holy book. Dr. D. James Kennedy once remarked of that action: "Why, that's enough to give the ACLU apoplexy!" I've seen documentary footage where President Truman, our 33rd president, also deferentially kissed the Holy Bible as he was being sworn in. But some people today don't even want to be sworn in on the holy book. Meanwhile, some recent Muslim elected officials expressed an interest in swearing in on Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Qur'an but, as Bill Federer points out, the reason Jefferson got a copy of the Muslim holy book was to try and figure out why Muslims were, without provocation, attacking U.S. ships in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. Early 19th century jihad ultimately led to our Marines being sent "to the shores of Tripoli" to get Islamic attackers to stop stealing our men on the sea and selling them into slavery. One of the key points about America's heritage that is often overlooked is that the Biblical concept of covenant gave rise ultimately to our two key founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They are written agreements, under God, signed by the participants. More importantly, our founding documents are the culmination of about a hundred or so compacts and frames of government created by the Puritans and other Christians, using a Biblical covenant as the model. I once interviewed Dr. Donald S. Lutz of the University of Houston, who has been studying constitutions for decades. He told our viewers, "Without a belief in the Bible, we would not have the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution as we have it." Read more from "The irony of refusing to swear in on the Bible" on The Christian Post. BEIRUT - The US has begun to withdraw its troops from Syria, a spokesman said on Friday. "CJTF-OIR has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," Coalition spokesperson Colonel Sean Ryan said, referring to the U.S.-led military mission against Islamic State (ISIS). In a statement emailed to reporters, he noted that "out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements." The US currently has about 2,000 soldiers in eastern and northern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a convoy of US military vehicles had left Syria and crossed into Iraq through the Fishkhabur border crossing into the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) area. PragerU files 2nd lawsuit against Google, YouTube for 'restricting and restraining' conservative speech 11 January, 2019 by Michael Gryboski , | Popular conservative YouTube channel Prager University has filed a new lawsuit against Google and YouTube, which Google owns, for unlawfully restricting and restraining speech. Filed Tuesday in the Superior Court of California for the county of Santa Clara, this is the second lawsuit that Prager has filed against Google and YouTube, the first being filed in federal court. In this latest suit, Prager accuses Google of violating state law in multiple ways, namely "unlawfully restraining free speech and expression in violation of Article One, Section 2 of the California constitution;" "discriminating against PragerU (and other users) based on political, religious or other discriminatory animus in violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Section 51 of the California Civil Code;" "engaging in unlawful, misleading, and unfair businesses practices in violation of the Unfair Competition Laws of the California Business and Professions Code," and finally "violating YouTube's terms of use, 'Community Guidelines,' and other content-neutral filtering policies and procedures." "Google/YouTube continue to censor, restrict, and restrain video content based on animus, discrimination, profit, and/or for any other reason 'or no reason,' no matter how arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory," the lawsuit states. The lawsuit noted these restrictions came through YouTube's "Restricted Mode," which is a filtering protocol used to block content deemed "inappropriate" for "sensitive" audiences; and "Advertising Restrictions," a policy that prohibits advertisers from accessing videos deemed "inappropriate" for advertising. "Google/YouTube use these filtering mechanisms as a pretext to justify restricting and censoring PragerU's videos. And Google/YouTube continues to do so, even though the content of PragerU videos complies with YouTube's written criteria," the lawsuit argues. In October 2017, PragerU filed a lawsuit against Google and YouTube in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing them of ideologically-driven discrimination. A Los Angeles-based group that has over 1 million subscribers on YouTube headed by conservative radio host Dennis Prager, PragerU has found many of its videos restricted or blocked due to complaints over its content. For example, in 2016 a PragerU video featuring a pro-Israel British Muslim was labeled "hate speech" and blocked by the video-sharing site for anyone using restricted access standards. Read more from "PragerU files 2nd lawsuit against Google, YouTube for 'restricting and restraining' conservative speech" on The Christian Post. Give up, dear Christian Christian Post Contributor | 10 January, 2019 by Joshua Randall Englehart As a pastor, I sometimes can get lost in the pride of my flesh by trying to persuade people through my own way of speaking to give their life to Jesus. I can also say that it is almost instantaneous that after I begin to well up with such pride that the Holy Spirit convicts me and reminds me that I am not the Grower, but simply the planter and waterer, which is nothing (1 Corinthians 3:7). I, as many other Christians I am sure do, try to encourage people as well in their faith. This means not only believing in what you may not see, but sometimes not believing in what you do see in front of you. Life will throw things at you and the devil is a master at deception. So, when I think of deception, I think of something being falsely portrayed. We can so easily think because our marriage is not what it used to be that we are destined for divorce, an illness that has come on us or a loved one means it is death is inevitable, or even a loss of job means poverty and despair for you and your family. Another kind of faith, call it a 3rd variation of it, is what I see as a resignation faith. This kind of faith, in my opinion, more so encompasses the former 2 kinds and is the kind of faith the Lord calls for his followers to have. It is a faith that is rooted in hope and trust in Him. It is the kind of faith that causes a follower to yell in the midst of heartache and pain, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him" (Job 13:15). Continue reading from "Give up, dear Christian" on The Christian Post. First-ever church in modern Turkey to be built starting February Christian Post Contributor | 10 January, 2019 by Stoyan Zaimov Construction for the first-ever church to be built in the modern Republic of Turkey will begin in February, a move Syriac Orthodox believers have long been waiting for. Bulent Kerimo?lu, the mayor of Istanbul's Bakirkoy municipality, said on Tuesday that the paperwork has been completed for the expected two-year construction project. Anadolu Agency noted that when completed, the church will serve Syriac Orthodox believers, which number close to 17,000, living in Istanbul. Yusuf Cetin, the Syriac Orthodox Church's metropolitan for Istanbul and the capital Ankara, hailed the move, saying that "different religions, ethnic roots ... everyone's hearts beat for our Turkey." "We're proud of living under the Turkish flag in this land," he added. Plans for the new church were first revealed in 2015, when Agence France Presse noted that the church would be the first one built since the end of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of the modern republic in 1923. While older churches have been restored and reopened to the public, the planned church will be the first new one in the territory in nearly 100 years. Fides News Agency pointed out that the new church will be built in the Yesilkoy district of Bakirkoy and will have space for more than 700 believers. It suggested that the increase of the Syriac Christian minority in Turkey due to the Syrian civil war is one of the main reasons for Turkey agreeing to build a new church. Turkish authorities had previously set up a refugee camp reserved for Syriac Christians hosting up to 4,000 people. Continue reading about the Republic of Turkey on The Christian Post. Atheist group warns over 1,000 school districts against taking Ark Encounter field trips; Ken Ham responds 11 January, 2019 by Samuel Smith/CP , | One of the nation's leading atheist legal groups has sent a warning to over 1,000 public school districts telling them not to take field trips to Answers in Genesis' creationist attractions in Kentucky. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which claims 31,000 members across the U.S., announced Tuesday that it contacted school districts in five states warning them that field trips to the Ark Encounter or the Creation Museum would be a violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. "Public schools and public school staff may not constitutionally organize trips to the Ark Encounter or the Creation Museum or any other religious venue," a letter from the nonprofit's co-founders to schools reads. Although the organization previously pressured schools not to organize field trips to either of the Answers in Genesis venues in 2016, FFRF felt the need to send the latest round of warning letters because, it says, Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham continues "to encourage public schools to plan field trips" to the venues. "Ham has been clear about the proselytizing nature of this park from the beginning," the letter reads. "Though Ham asserts that the law is on his side, this is untrue. Unquestionably, any field trip facilitated by a public school to either attraction would be unconstitutional." Ham responded to FFRF's announcement through a blog post in which he asserted that it's not unconstitutional for public school districts to hold field trips to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. He added that admission will be free of charge for any public school district that plans to take students on a field trip to the Ark Encounter or Creation Museum. "As leading civil rights attorneys will tell you," Ham continued, "if classes tour the Ark or museum in an objective fashion to supplement the teaching of world religions, literature, interpretation of history, etc., the field trip is an educational experience. Now, if students were brought to the Ark or museum and told by their teacher that the religious content should be accepted as truth, then we would acknowledge that the Establishment Clause of the Constitution, as currently being interpreted by the courts, would be violated." Opened in 2007, the Creation Museum in Petersburg is tailored toward a Young Earth Creationist explanation of the universe. Opened in 2016, the Ark Encounter in Williamstown is a creationist theme park that features a large representation of Noah's Ark from the book of Genesis. FFRF's letter also cites the 1971 Supreme Court ruling of Lemon v. Kurtzman in which the court held that schools must ensure that their programs "do not inculcate religion." Specifically, the court ruled in that case that it's unconstitutional for a state to reimburse private schools for teachers' salaries. Continue reading about the Ark Encounter on The Christian Post. A Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Sector Columbia River medically evacuated an ill man off the motor vessel Garnet Leader 25 miles off Willapa Bay on Jan. 11. Memorial Service for Carol "Sue" Woods will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Hawkins Baptist Church in Alex, OK. Carol "Sue" Woods, of Alex, OK passed away on Saturday May 29, 2021 at the age of 76 in her home surrounded by her family. Sue was born June 15, 1944 in Scipio, Prince Harry and Meghan Markles whirlwind romance caught the world by storm. Millions watched as the American actress and the British royal exchanged vows during a televised ceremony in May 2018 at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. From the moment the pairs engagement was announced, Markle has inspired frequent comparisons to Harrys late mother, Princess Diana. Harry and Markle were the first to bring Diana, who tragically died in a car accident in Paris in 1997, into the international conversation during their engagement interview. Harry, who proposed to Markle with a custom-made engagement ring containing diamonds from Dianas tiara, told the interviewer that his mother would have been over the moon with his bride. Prince Harrys quote about his mother, Princess Diana Oh theyd be thick as thieves, without question, Prince Harry said. I think she would be over the moon, jumping up and down, you know so excited for me, but then, as I said, would have probably been best friendsbest friends with Meghan. Its days like today when I really miss having her around and miss being able to share the happy news. But you know with the ring and with everything else thats going on Im sure shes shes with us, Markle continued, demonstrating how in tune the couple are with each other by finishing Harrys sentence. Sadly, well never know how the ladies would have gotten along. Given how much Markle and Diana have in common, however, we agree that the two ladies would have been best friends. Princess Diana and Meghan Markle are both fashion icons Dianas incredible fashion sense is well-documented. The late Princess of Wales was known to not only recycle outfits, but to repurpose them entirely. From converting a long-sleeved gown into a gorgeous strapless number to wearing a headband as a choker, Diana was one of the biggest trendsetters of her time. Markle is quickly becoming a fashion icon herself, with one of the most-watched wardrobes in the world. Items sell out almost as soon as the new royal is snapped wearing them, as people around the globe try to emulate her style. Whether Markle is donning risque couture for her engagement photos or elegantly dressing her growing baby bump, its no wonder she is compared so often to Diana. Meghan Markle isnt afraid to break the rules, just like Princess Diana From closing car doors herself to engaging in public displays of affection with her husband, Markle already has a reputation for pushing the royal envelope. Even the act of marrying Prince Harry broke royal tradition; Markles race, marital status, and nationality were all firsts for the royal family. Markles fashion choices often land her in hot water, as she chooses to do things that are frowned upon, like paint her nails dark or not wear stockings. Its possible that Markles rebellious streak has rubbed off on her husband, too; Harry also broke royal tradition by choosing to wear a wedding ring. Markles warm interactions with fans have also broken protocol in numerous ways. While the queen limits her physical interactions with the public to a simple handshake, Markle has allowed photos to be taken, granted autographs, and even hugged her fans. Diana would have supported Markles hands-on approach with fans, as she said in 1995, I dont go by a rule book, because I lead from the heart, not the head, and albeit thats got me into trouble in my work, I understand that, Diana said in 1995. Diana famously wrote her own vows when she married Prince Charles, breaking a royal wedding tradition in which brides vowed to obey their husbands. Markle and Kate Middleton also chose not to recite this vow when they married Princes Harry and William, respectively. Damascus conducts air, artillery strikes on Idlib - sources Rockets on Jisr Shughur area by Syrian artillery in Latakia (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, JANUARY 11 - Syrian government forces began air and artillery strikes on Friday on anti-regime militant targets in the region of Idlib, which in recent days was hit by an al-Qaeda offensive, according to sources on the ground. The sources said the area of Jisr Shughur, west of Idlib, was hit on Friday by a series of rockets shot by Syrian artillery in the region of Latakia. Sporadic airstrikes were registered in southern area of the Idlib region. (ANSAmed). Kate Middletons parents are forever linked to the royal family. Not just because their daughter is a duchess, but because their first grandchild is the future King of England. However, unlike members of the royal family, Michael and Carole Middleton do not hold royal titles. Find out why Queen Elizabeth wont give one to them and what Prince Charles plans to do about it ahead. Kate Middletons parents royal titles Despite their daughters legal occupation being Princess of the United Kingdom, Kate Middletons parents dont hold one of the many noble titles given out by Her Majesty. However, once Prince Charles ascends the throne he might do something about it. When Prince Charles becomes King of England, a lot could change for the Middleton family. For example, they might receive an invite to attend Christmas at Sandringham Estate. They might also show face at more formal and family events and could even receive special honors from His Majesty. Some suggest those honors would come in the form of an official royal title. If and when Prince Charles (or, King Charles) grants Kate Middletons parents a royal title, rumors suggest Michael Middleton would become an earl, making Carole Middleton a countess. Why Queen Elizabeth wont grant them a title Queen Elizabeth is a woman of tradition, especially when it comes to granting royal titles. Her Majesty doesnt give out dukedoms or earldoms to anyone even parents of a future queen consort as she has specific protocols that must be met. As it turns out, there arent even that many titles to give out in the first place because many are already taken. So, choosing an appropriate title for Michael and Carole Middleton would be a bit of a challenge. And, on top of that, royal titles are typically bestowed upon individuals involved in the royal family business in some way. Kate Middletons parents have their own lives, separate from the royal family. Sure, they attend royal events (when its related to the family) but other than that, they stay out of Her Majestys business. For that, the queen likely doesnt see them as fit for a royal title right now. However, she could knight Michael Middleton, which would technically count as a royal title. If Her Majesty does so, he would become Sir Michael Middleton. Carole Middleton would likely receive a damehood the female equivalent of a knighthood in return. How do royal titles work? Like most everything in the royal family, there are rules that must be followed when granting royal titles. And, while Queen Elizabeth can technically give anyone in the world such status, she chooses to abide by the guidelines. Here are some of the most common royal title rules she considers. Dukedoms belong to the son or grandson of a monarch As the highest ranking title in the family (aside from king or queen), a dukedom is reserved for the sons and grandsons of a monarch. They are often received once a royal male reaches maturity or marriage hence why Prince William and Prince Harry both received theirs upon their royal wedding days and typically mean that the royal works full time for The Crown. Wives take their husbands titles Similar to sirnames, women in the royal family inherit their husbands titles upon marriage. So, if a male member of the family receives a dukedom, his wife would become a duchess. Thats how Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have royal status. Most royal titles contain geographical references With the exception of knighthoods, most royal titles have a geographical reference to them. Case in point: Prince William is the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry is the Duke of Sussex, and Prince Charles is the Duke of Cornwall. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! In 2019, everyone who follows the media or watches TV knows Fox News is the most-watched cable network. If theres a week when Rachel Maddow and MSNBC upend that narrative, youll hear about it from a number of sources. Of course, the raw numbers only tell part of the story. By now, most Americans are also familiar with Fox News content. To put it gently, hosts tend to heap heavy doses of opinion on top of small servings of news. When youre not hearing Tucker Carlson talk about immigration making the country dirtier, you might catch the Fox & Friends gang discussing marijuanas status as a gateway drug. With these broadcasting choices in mind, you might wonder whos actually watching Fox News on a given day. Looking at the reports from Nielsen, the answer is viewers of a certain age. Its also almost entirely viewers of one race. The median age of Fox News viewers is 65. According to Nielsen ratings, the median age of Foxs audience was 66 in 2016. Following something of a youthful surge the following year, Adweek reported good news for Fox News early in 2018. Over the past year, the median age of the cable channels audience had dropped to 65. Looking at prime-time numbers alone, Fox viewers kicked back up to 66. Getting away from the median doesnt change the picture much. More than half of the Fox News audience is older than 65. If you go by raw numbers, of the 3.3 million households taking in Sean Hannitys show on a nightly basis in 2018, just south of 2 million would have been senior citizens. Looking at in-depth demographics reports from Fox, youll note that just 643,000 nightly Hannity viewers belonged to the 25-54 age group. Nightly news programs from NBC and CBS had about three times that number of 25-54 year-old viewers in 2018. Still, Fox News isnt alone in attracting a mostly senior audience. If you look at MSNBC and CNN demographics, youll find only slightly younger audiences in recent years, and the median age of MSNBC viewers hit 65 in 2017. (Overall, seniors watch the most TV by a significant margin.) But one bit of demographic data separates Fox News from its competitors. The Fox News audience is 94% white. If you caught any Laura Ingraham or Tucker broadcasts over the past year, you might wonder if minority viewers would like the sort of topics being discussed on a nightly basis. For example, before Tucker discussed a dirtier America with more immigrants, Ingraham brought up massive demographic changes foisted on the American people [ones] most of us dont like. In his analysis of Ingrahams broadcast (White Anxiety Find a Home at Fox News), CNNs Brian Stelter noted the racial composition of the Fox News audience, saying it was nearly 100% white. Stelter later published the exact numbers from Nielsen via Twitter. His estimate was close enough: From January through August 2018, Fox News viewers were 94% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Asian, and 1% Black. As you continue hearing which cable-news channel is the most-watched, its always helpful to know exactly how many people that involves, and what they look like. In the case of Fox News during prime-time, its about 1% of the U.S. population, and most viewers are white people over 65. Over at MSNBC and CNN, its quite a different story. MSNBC had the most African-American prime-time viewers of any cable network in 2017. CNN, which features Don Lemon, the only black anchor in a prime-time slot, ranked eighth among all cable networks in African-American viewers that year. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Cleveland State Community College hosted Dr. Natasha Jankowski on campus as the keynote speaker for its spring in-service. Dr. Jankowski serves as director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment and research professor in the department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Jankowski delivered two presentations at CSCC, one to all faculty and staff, Reclaiming Assessment: Capturing Learning Where it Matters Most and one to all faculty, Emerging Trends in the Assessment of Student Learning: A National Landscape. Southern Adventist University welcomes David R. Williams, PhD, to campus for an "eye-opening" talk on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. in Iles P.E. Center. Dr. Williams is the Florence Sprague Norman and Laura Smart Norman professor of public health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and professor of African and African American studies and sociology at Harvard University. Dr. Williams research has enhanced understanding of the complex ways in which socioeconomic status, race, stress, racism, health behavior and religious involvement can affect health. The Everyday Discrimination Scale that he developed is one of the most widely used measures of discrimination in health studies. He and his research have been featured by some of the nation's top print and television news organizations, and his TEDMED talk was released in April 2017. He was also a key scientific adviser to the award-winning PBS film series, Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 423-236-2814. Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada has named Rep. Robin Smith chairman of the newly-created House Life and Health Insurance Subcommittee. With this appointment, Ms. Smith becomes the first freshman lawmaker to lead a legislative committee in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Being selected to serve as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Life and Health Insurance is a humbling honor for me, said Rep. Smith. I am grateful to Speaker Glen Casada for his faith in me personally and for his recognition of the contribution our freshman class is prepared to make toward a better future for all Tennesseans. The House Life & Health Insurance Subcommittee will be responsible for all laws pertaining to life and health insurance. As a former nurse, Rep. Smith brings a unique perspective as she prepares to chair this important committee. Rep. Smiths knowledge and experience on all matters related to the healthcare industry make her the ideal person to lead the House Life & Health Insurance Subcommittee, said Speaker Casada. I appreciate her willingness to serve in this important leadership role and as a member of our General Assembly, and I know Rep. Smith and her colleagues on this committee will be successful. Under GOP leadership, our state has achieved many successes and continues to prosper, said Rep. Smith. I ran to ensure Tennesseans, not just the state government and its operations, do well. As Subcommittee Chair, I look forward to pushing innovative solutions and needed reforms that will lead to more affordable and patient-driven healthcare for everyone. By doing so, we will take an important step to fulfill Speaker Casadas promise to Tennesseans that the House will lead on the important issues facing our state. Rep. Smith will also serve as a member of the House Health and House Insurance Committees, as well as the Facilities, Licensure, & Regulations Subcommittee during the 111th General Assembly. Rep. Smith lives in Hixson and represents Tennessee House District 26, which includes a portion of Hamilton County. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will hold a public meeting Tuesday, Feb. 12, at Pickwick Landing State Park to discuss fisheries management on Pickwick Lake and its tailwaters. The meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the conference center of the state park inn located near Pickwick Dam in Hardin County, 12 miles south of Savannah. A short presentation will be given by TWRA fisheries staff on current management of sport fishing in this area. A question and answer period will be held after the presentation. The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold its first 2019 meeting at the Ducks Unlimited National Headquarters in Memphis. The two-day meeting is set for Jan. 17-18 (Thursday-Friday). Committee meetings will start at 1 p.m. on Thursday. The regular commission meeting begins at 9 a.m., Friday. Among the items on this months agenda, is an update on chronic wasting disease, testing results to date, and the recent public meeting held in Bolivar. Other topics to be discussed will be the CWD response plan and the special new regulations enacted by TFWC that includes a new hunting season in the CWD management zone. A preview of waterfowl and migratory game bird hunting will be presented by Jamie Feddersen, migratory gamebird program leader. Season date changes will be discussed. Changes in the federal framework require the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to update its proclamation each year. There will be a presentation from Ducks Unlimited representative DUs Dave Kostersky. He annually makes a visit to provide an update on the partnership and conditions in Canada. In addition, Dale Hall, who has served Ducks Unlimited as its chief executive officers since 2010 will be recognized. He is currently in the final year of leading a campaign of $2 million for North America wetlands conservation and served the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 31 years, the last four as its director. TWRA Fisheries Chief Frank Fiss will provide an overview of the rules and regulations for fish farming, catch-out operations and bait dealers. The commission will consider four rulemaking changes. The TWRA is establishing rules regarding public record requests and will consider changes to the fees associated with motorized boat registrations. In addition, the TFWC is considering new rules related to operations of non-motorized vessel outfitters. The proposed rule would create a permit for outfitters that would establish minimum operating standards and associated fees. The commissions final rule to consider pertains to Tennessees Native Son license. When initially created, the Native Son license had an expiration date of Feb. 28. The proposed rule change will allow the TWRA to continue selling the Native Son license into the future. The community is invited to Southern Adventist University for an evening of chamber music on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Mable Wood Halls Ackerman Auditorium. The event features three generations: Bruce Ashton, DMA, on piano, with his daughter, Ellen Francisco, on violin and grandson, Nathan Francisco, on cello. They will present works by Finnish composers Jean Sibelius and Toivo Kuulaincluding some piano trioswhich are described by Ms. Francisco as beautiful, lush, and emotional. This event is free and open to the public. Mr. Ashton served as a professor in Southerns School of Music for many years before retiring and continuing as an adjunct professor. He is well known for his piano performances and radio programs on Classical 90.5 WSMC. Ms. Francisco graduated from Southern in 1993 with a degree in violin performance. After teaching at schools across the country, she returned to serve as an adjunct professor of violin and chamber music at Southern. Her son, Nathan, is currently in high school and is passionate about music. He spends his free time in various forms of music-making, including cello, organ, viola da gamba, harpsichord, percussion and music writing and arranging. Every summer the Ashton and Francisco families organize and direct two workshops on Southerns campus for student, amateur and professional musicians. For more information, call the School of Music at 423-236-2880. A small plane missing in Lake Chickamauga since Monday afternoon has been found after a lengthy search. A female passenger was in the plane, and she has been identified by family members as 55-year-old Lynda Marinello, a local teacher. She had been married to Chris Marinello for almost 32 years. Her body was still strapped into the plane. Mr. Marinello said his family had been friends with pilot Frank W. Davey for some two decades. He said he had felt safe with her flying with him. He described her as fun-loving and beloved by her many students from throughout the years. The plane was seen going down at 1:48 p.m. in the vicinity of Camp Vesper Point off Lee Pike. Authorities said the aircraft was located near the vicinity where eyewitness accounts on Monday report the airplane went down just before witnesses lost sight of the aircraft. The aircraft was located in approximately 35 feet of water after search crews used side-scan sonar to locate an anomaly on the lake floor. HCSO Dive Team personnel dove the site and confirmed the wreckage. HCSO Divers located two victims among the wreckage and made recovery. Both victims remains were transported to the Hamilton County Medical Examiners Office. Authorities said the primary objective will now shift to a recovery operation in which personnel will assess the damaged craft in the coming days and how best to recover it. Once the craft is removed from the lake, it will be transported to a secure site and detained for investigators to review the wreckage. The HCSO will work in collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine the cause of the crash. The timeline to remove the aircraft has not been determined and will depend greatly on the weather, water conditions, the time required to conduct a proper assessment of the wreckage, and the location of available resources necessary to lift the plane from the lake, it was stated. Sheriff Jim Hammond said, The HCSO would like to offer our prayers and condolences to the family of the victims as they continue through the difficult grieving process. I want to thank each of our personnel and the many supportive agencies who assisted with locating this aircraft. Thanks to their relentless determination and training, they have been able to locate the wreckage and help bring some needed closure to the family of the victims. He said the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office would like to offer its appreciation to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), TWRA, TVA, Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Franklin County Emergency Services, Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department, STARS, and local members of the community for their continued operational support and expertise. The HCSO would also like to thank all the local organizations, businesses, and private citizens who provided food for the operations. It is not known at this time when the aircraft will be ready for recovery. Entrepreneurs, researchers, and advocates will come together for two days to discuss policy centered around empowerment, health and justice at the second annual Chattanooga Mayors Council for Women Statewide Womens Policy Conference.The conference, Feb. 7-8, is the only event in the state that focuses solely on public policy matters related to health, economic self-reliance, political participation and justice for women.We know that in practically every public policy area, women and girls in America continue to live at a severe disadvantage.If change is going to come, its got to come by us and for us, says Mayors Council For Women Co-Chair and Chattanooga City Councilwoman Carol Berz. Last years inaugural Statewide Womens Policy Conference was a huge success and brought hundreds of amazing visionary women, entrepreneurs, and researchers together for some important conversations about health, justice, economic empowerment, and civic engagement. We are coming back together now to keep learning about how we change our lives for the better.Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke created the Mayors Council for Women to make policy recommendations about issues affecting women in Chattanooga and the region.This conference is about breaking down barriers for women to thrive and make sure women have a seat at the table when it comes to creating policies that affect them, said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke.The second annual Statewide Womens Policy Conference will take place at the Westin Chattanooga, 801 Pine St. in downtown Chattanooga.Speakers include Elyse Shaw, senior research associate for Institute for Womens Policy Research, Ouleye Ndoye Warnock, senior human trafficking fellow for Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Virginia W. Harrison, national president for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. and many others.This years event is powered by title sponsor EPB Fiber Optics and supported by other local businesses.Tickets to the Statewide Womens Policy Conference are limited and the event is expected to sell out. Registration is $135 and includes breakfast, lunch, refreshments and networking opportunities with the speakers and panelists.Registration information and more details may be found at www.WomensPolicyConference.com Tunisia awards first wind power project contracts More licences to be issued this year (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, JANUARY 11 - The Tunisian industry ministry on Thursday awarded the first wind energy concessions to four foreign companies. The companies will be producing 120 MW of wind energy with investment totalling 400 million Tunisian dinars. Germany's ABO WIND AG, the Netherlands' UPC Tunisia Renewables and the French companies LUCIA HOLDING and VSB Energies Nouvelles have had their projects approved by the government for building wind power stations in Mornag in the Ben Arous governorate, Jebel Sidi Bchir, Jebel Kochbata and Batiha, in the Bizerte governorate. The works will begin between May and November 2020 and are expected to create 76 jobs, directly and indirectly. The companies will sell wind energy to the Tunisian power and gas company STEG at prices ranging between 110 million and 135 million dinars per KW/h. Tunisian PM Youssef Chahed said during the ceremony for the signing of the concessionary agreements that renewable energy was a government priority and that the government had put forth significant effort in developing the legal and organizational frameworks of the sector. (ANSAmed). Lt. Governor Randy McNally on Thursday announced state Senate committee assignments for the 111th General Assembly. Lt. Governor McNally was re-elected Speaker of the Senate on Tuesday. Lt. Governor McNally praised his fellow members in announcing the assignments. "This Senate is made up of some of the smartest and strongest leaders with whom I have had the privilege to serve, he said. Each of our senators could serve on any number of our committees and do well. I am grateful to have such a strong membership. I am confident we have assembled the best team to do the peoples business. Former Commerce and Labor Chairman Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and former State and Local Chairman Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston) were recently elected Senate Majority Leader and Senate Republican Caucus Chairman respectively, leaving two committee chair vacancies. The resulting changes will elevate two Senators to chairman and give five committees new chairmen. Mr. McNally also re-appointed Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin) as the Speaker Pro Tempore and Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) as Deputy Speaker. Lt. Governor McNally made the following statements about the Senate committee chairs. Commerce and Labor Committee Chairman Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) Paul Bailey is a business owner and a conservative. He intimately understands the needs of entrepreneurs and employers as well as workers and wage earners. He served with distinction as Transportation and Safety Committee chairman. I am confident he will do the same at Commerce. I am proud to appoint him. Education Committee Chairman Senator Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) Tennessees road to most improved status in education was a tough fight. That fight was led by a colonel. Dolores Gresham has been at the forefront of education reform in this state. She is an experienced legislator and a strong conservative. Her record speaks for itself. I was proud to reappoint her. Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Chairman Senator Steve Southerland (R-Morristown) Steve Southerland has been an exemplary chairman. He understands the subject matter and provides excellent leadership for the committee and staff. I look forward to his continued good work. Finance Ways and Means Committee Chairman Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson) Tennessees outstanding fiscal health is not a matter of luck. It is the work of dedicated public servants making smart and tough decisions. Bo Watson is one of the most critical of those servants. Bos hard work has kept Tennessees fiscal house in order. It will remain in order as long as Bo Watson is the chairman. I am proud to reappoint him. I appreciate the confidence that Lt. Governor McNally has placed in me to continue serving as chairman of this committee, said Chairman Watson. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure Tennessee continues to be among the best financially managed states in the nation. Government Operations Committee Chairman Senator Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield) Kerry Roberts is a strong conservative leader. He is committed to keeping government small, efficient and accountable. Under his leadership, the Government Operations Committee will continue to provide the essential legislative oversight Tennesseans demand. He will be a great chairman. Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City) Rusty Crowes leadership of the Health and Welfare Committee has been outstanding. Rusty's steady hand and experience will continue to keep the committee on course. I appreciate his service and am grateful for his strong leadership. Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville) Mike Bells commitment to judicial accountability and the rule of law is well-known and well-established. His leadership on the Government Operations Committee set new standards for excellence. I am confident he will do the same with the Judiciary Committee. A conservative leader with unquestioned integrity, I know he will be an outstanding chairman of Judiciary. I appreciate the opportunity to head this committee said Senator Bell. There are many important issues that will be heard during the 2019-2020 legislative sessions. I look forward to working with my colleagues to improve public safety and our court system. State and Local Government Chairman Senator Steve Dickerson (R-Nashville) Steve Dickerson has represented Davidson County with great distinction in the Senate. His leadership over the Investigations and Oversight subcommittee has brought increased accountability and transparency to state government. He is a dedicated legislator who always honors his commitment to do whats right. I believe he will make an outstanding State and Local Committee Chairman. I was proud to appoint him. Transportation and Safety Chairman Senator Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) Becky Massey is a compassionate legislator dedicated to representing her constituents. She understands the importance of transportation to our economy and is dedicated to keeping Tennessee citizens safe. Her talents and abilities are perfect for this committee. I know she will do well. Calendar Committee Chairman Senator Ed Jackson (R-Jackson) Ed Jackson is a critical member of our Senate team. He has served his constituents well and made a strong impact on the Senate. He is a respected servant leader. I am grateful he will be serving as our Calendar Committee Chair. Ethics Committee Chairman Senator Briggs (R-Knoxville) A senator of unquestioned integrity, Richard Briggs is the obvious choice for Chairman of Ethics. I know he will continue to do an outstanding job. MADRID - The city government of Madrid is paying tribute to poet Federico Garcia Lorca with an initiative called "Lorca Year", to mark the 100th anniversary of the poet's arrival at the city's Residencia de Estudiantes in 1919. At that time, the 21-year-old student wrote: "I'm continuing happy here in the Residence. Now there are stormy days and I almost don't go around Madrid at all. My room is bathed by the sun from the time it rises to the time it sets, it's large and has magnificent views on Madrid...The living room of this house is splendid. It's where we residents gather in the evening to chat and make music..." The Residencia was an intellectual greenhouse of the generation of 1927, a temple of creation of the Institucion Libre de Ensenanza (The Free Educational Institution), where Lorca would start his training and career as a writer. In the Residencia, the poet met people who were fundamental in inspiring him, his work, and his life, such as Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel, and Pepin Bello. The City of Madrid's "Lorca Year" is a cycle of theatre performances, concerts, exhitibitions and an international conference on the author of "La Casa de Barnarda Alba", a century after his arrival in the capital. It begins with the premiere of "El Sueno de la Vida", a piece written by dramatist Alberto Conejero, starting with the "Comedia Sin Titulo", an unfinished play written by Lorca. The project, appointed in 2016 by the regional assessorate for culture, tourism and sport, with the direction of Luis Pascual, was presented on Friday at the Teatro Espanol, where it will run from January 17 through February 24. One of the big events of Lorca Year will be an international conference in February, in which the world's foremost Lorca experts will take part. In all, there will be 16 conferences divided across six days in some of the places most linked to the poet from Granada: the Residencia de Estudiantes, the Paraninfo Historico of Complutense University, the Real Casa de Correos, the Canal Theatres, and the Cafe Gijon. For theatre lovers, the regional government is also offering a non-stop tribute from May 3-5 at the Canal Theatres, with 12 plays. The Night of Books and the Night of Theatres, on April 19 and March 30, respectively, will have special programmes, and there will also be music and art. BARCELONA - Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, speaking from city hall, told a group of foreign journalists that the current EU migratory policy is "suicide", and called the migrant crisis "a political crisis of the EU and of democracy". Colau, who has been mayor in Barcelona since 2015, said the situation "is weakening Europe". "Perhaps we should remember that the EU was founded after the Second World War, to not repeat the mistakes and horrors of that war, with fundamental respect for human rights," she said. "But now, the management of migrants is contradicting that. What's more, Europe is the one that receives fewer migrants in the world compared to other continents like Asia, and this isn't said enough. Just as it is necessary to debunk the common view that considers migrants our competitors. In reality, they are an added value, and Riace is an example for all. What was done in that Calabrian town is a success story, and that's exactly why your minister Salvini doesn't like it," she said. Colau said resources must be invested to better manage migrant flows. "It's good to get it in your head that migrant flows won't stop. When a woman with a baby decides to risk her life at sea, getting on a boat without any guarantee of arriving alive, it's because she has no alternatives. They've accused us of being do-gooders because we're in favor of reception, [Barcelona was the one to resolve the stall over the Open Arms last year, welcoming 60 migrants after Italy and Malta refused - Ed.] but we're just pragmatic. If the EU wants to survive to the future, it has to establish responsibilities," she said. On the question of Catalonia, Colau said she's not in favor of independence, but said the region "has the right to decide in a democratic manner, and it is legitimate to proceed with the choice of the referendum". "There needs to be a political solution, not through the courts. I'm convinced the right way to resolve the crisis is another referendum, because, let's remember, the previous one wasn't binding and the result cannot be considered democratic. There needs to be a new consultation in which the two parties, Madrid and Barcelona, find an agreement," she said. She said one solution could be a confederation of states. A guide on punishing those jeopardizing public transportation safety was issued recently by the top judicial, procuratorate and public security authorities to better safeguard the public transportation safety and order. Cases endangering public safety have drawn strong attention, especially after a fight between a bus driver and an angry passenger caused a Chongqing bus to plunge into Yangtze River, leaving 15 people dead in October. The Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security analyzed the number of cases that endangered safe driving, the charges, the punishments, the causes and consequences in recent years and drafted the guideline. A safety partition is installed on a bus in Beiing. [Photo: VCG] According to the guide, passengers who grab devices such as steering wheel or gear shift lever, and conduct actions that hamper safe driving such as beating or dragging drivers should be punished for crime of endangering public security with dangerous method. The passengers should not be granted probation even if the actions did not result in grave consequences. If passengers attack drivers with instruments, they should be given severe punishment. For drivers who are unable to resolve disputes with passengers in a sensible way and leave their post to clash with passengers, they should be punished for crime of endangering public security with dangerous method. In order to encourage public transportation staff members and passengers to stand up against criminal offenses and stop actions that could cause serious consequences, the guide lays down regulations on justifiable defense and emergency measure. The guide states that passengers have the right to stop actions that threaten safe driving. If passengers hurt the violator during the process, and the process meets legal condition, it should be considered as justifiable defense. Drivers who face threatening situation and carry out emergency braking or other measures to prevent accident or injury and that results in damage of public transportation or injury, it would be considered as emergency measure if the process meets legal parameters. Thanh Thang receives approval for two additional lines 11 January 2019 Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnams prime minister, has given approval to add two cement production lines (4 and 5), with a capacity of 2.3Mta each, to Thanh Thang Cement Corps plant in Ha Nam. The fourth line is expected to enter operation after 2021 and the fifth after 2025. Both lines with produce cement for projects specifically located on the coast or islands. The countrys Ministry of Construction has been assigned to work with both the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the provincial Peoples Committee to supervise the projects. Published under TEL AVIV - The Israeli attorney general may announce the decision on whether or not to indict Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu on February 20. Netanyahu under investigation for several crimes that the police have already suggested he be indicted for. Corruption charges include the 1,000 Case (gifts in exchange for favors), Case 2,000 (relations between the PM and Yediot Ahronot editor-in-chief Arnon Mozes) and Case 4,000 (suspicions that the controlling shareholder of the telecommunications giant Bezeq, Shaul Elovitch, ordered the Walla news site, which he owns, to grant positive coverage to Netanyahu and his family in exchange for the prime minister advancing regulations benefiting Elovitch). The PM has always rejected all charges and has requested a television face-off with his accusers. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, or activate your access, to continue reading. (ANSA) - Rome, January 11 - Differences on the high-speed rail (TAV) link between Turin and Lyon and a delay to a decree on a basic income and pension reform have kept government tensions running despite a reluctant agreement on rescue migrants. The cost-benefit analysis that the government has commissioned on the controversial TAV link is set to be negative, government sources said on Thursday. Premier Giuseppe Conte's 5-Star Movement-League executive has said the analysis will influence its decision over whether to press ahead with the project, which has come under fire over its cost and environmental impact. The sources said that so far only a "preliminary draft" of the analysis had been handed to the government and stressed that no decision has been taken. Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini reproposed the idea of holding a referendum on the project if the analysis gives it the thumbs down. "I'm in favour of new roads and railways," League leader Salvini told RTL radio. "I'm in favour of the TAV and the project being continued. "If the technical analysis of the TAV were negative, none of us would want to, nor would be able to, stop the request for a referendum". Fellow Deputy Premier and Labour and Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio reiterated that his 5-Star Movement "is against the project". "I haven't read it. It's a preliminary study," he told Radio Anch'io, referring to the cost-benefit analysis. "Let's wait for the official data. The experts will have to talk and say where the project is a good investment". Meanwhile the examination of the decree for the government's 'quota 100' pension reform and its 'citizenship wage' basic income was put off amid the government tension. The decree is likely to be examined next week, sources said. The pension reform, amending an unpopular 2011 reform that raised the retirement age to 67, is the League's pet policy promise while the basic income is the flagship campaign pledge of the M5S. Meanwhile Deputy Premiers Di Maio and Salvini both played down talk of turmoil within the government on Thursday following tension about Italy's decision to take some of the 49 migrants who had been at sea for weeks after being rescued by NGO-run ships in the Mediterranean. League leader and Interior Minister Salvini, who has spearheaded a tough stance that has seen NGO-run migrant-rescue ships denied access to Italy's ports, had said he was against receiving any of the asylum seekers. But at a meeting of senior figures with Premier Giuseppe Conte late on Wednesday, the executive reached an agreement for Italy to be among eight European countries to take a share of the migrants. Around 10 of the people who were finally allowed to disembark in Malta on Wednesday will come to Italy and they will be entrusted to the care of the Waldensian Church at no cost to the State. 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Di Maio said Wednesday's meeting was "very cordial". "You always find a solution with Giuseppe and Matteo," he told Radio Anch'io. Salvini also said the government was not in crisis. "I don't leave anything half done and I don't want to cause any government to collapse," Salvini told RTL radio. "The government is fine. We have done a lot in six months and the two government parties have the confidence of 60% of the Italian people, which is pretty unique". FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org ATLANTA Because of discrepancies between the official preliminary election results in the DRC and the results reported by some domestic observers and parties, The Carter Center expresses concern about the potential for insecurity and conflict and asks all political leaders to call on their supporters to refrain from violence and to pursue any challenges to the election results through legal channels. The Center urges the Congolese government to ensure that security forces exercise restraint and protect the rights of citizens to express their opinions and to assemble peacefully. All Congolese should maintain calm and ensure that their political expression remains peaceful. To foster public confidence and transparency, the Center calls on the election commission to quickly provide detailed polling-station results on its website for both the presidential and provincial legislative races. This information should be released as soon as possible, so that parties, candidates, and observers can review and cross-check the data in time for candidates to prepare any legal challenges within legal and constitutional deadlines. The Center encourages accredited observers to continue to monitor all remaining stages of the electoral process. ### "Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope." A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. (ANSA) - Rome, January 11 - There will be no 'sovereignist' revolution after the European elections in May, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani told an ANSA Forum on Friday. "I can exclude a sovereignist revolution, and their getting a majority in the EP", he said. An alliance between the European People's Party (EPP) and 'sovereignist' parties is "not on the agenda" after the European elections, Tajani said. "The sovereignists will not get the result they expect, it's only propaganda," he added, speaking of the Italian situation. The anti-migrant Euroskeptic League party of Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is looking to set up a European alliance of the so-called sovereignists, rightwing nationalist parties who put national sovereignty ahead of international obligations. He has reached out to France's Marine Le Pen, Hungary's Viktor Orban, and the nationalist government in Poland, as well as Danish and other far-right nationalists. The League's domestic partner, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, has also been described as a national-populist party. Deputy Premier and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio's support for the French Yellow vests protest movement is "in favour of subversion," said Tajani, who is also deputy president of Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party. Tajani said Premier Giuseppe Conte "wants to reinforce his position but the Italian government doesn't count in Europe if another deputy premier (Di Maio) sides with those who devastate cities, the Yellow Vests, in favour of subversion". Do you have an athlete in mind that contributes to the team or sport, holds sportsmanship and team spirit, has epic playmaker moments and/or in general makes the the sports fun? If yes, please make your nominations for our edition of Athlete Spotlight. CLICK TO NOMINATE * Username This is the name that will be used to identify you within the system. Choose wisely! * First name * Last name Your real name will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more! * Email Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. We won't share it with anyone else. * Password Create a password that only you will remember. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in (ANSA) - Rome, January 11 - The government is thinking about reopening Italy's embassy in Syria, Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanese said on Friday. "We are working to assess if and when," he said. "Naturally it is very important that the situation in Syria heads towards a more normal outlook. "Things on this front have not accelerated". comment, editorial It is hard to think of a natural asset more badly managed since European settlement than the Murray Darling basin. One of the world's most complex and environmentally fragile river systems, it brings water to the heart of an otherwise dry and forbidding landscape. With a total area of more than a million square kilometres and individual rivers that stretch up to 2,500km, it encompasses large areas of Queensland, NSW, South Australia, Victoria and the ACT. The basin is home to 80 species of mammals, 62 of which are either extinct or on the way; 55 species of frogs, 18 of which are endangered; 46 species of snakes; five species of tortoises and 34 species of fish, half of which are either threatened or deemed worthy of special conservation efforts. These creatures, which contribute greatly to Australia's unique biological diversity, have had to play second fiddle to the needs of a human population obsessed with endless growth for the best part of two centuries. A delicate balance, worked out over millions of years and that has supported a web of life different to anything else on the planet, has been broken. Dramatic video footage and photographs shot at the Menindee Lakes are clear proof that despite the efforts of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the signing of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on November 12, 2012, an environmental disaster is under way. As many as a million fish, including decades old Murray Cod, are dead as a result of high temperatures, low levels of dissolved oxygen and poor water quality. Sheep, kangaroos and other animals drawn to the parched lakes in search of a drink quickly become mired in bottomless mud and suffer slow and painful deaths. Coming as it does in the wake of allegations of corruption, water theft and managerial incompetence within the basin in recent years, this disaster proves the MDBA's attempts to balance the needs of the environment, through controversial and highly contested environmental flows, and those of the irrigators have failed abysmally. While history shows the farmers will always maintain they are being short changed regardless of what allocation they are given, it is clear more water needs to be sent down the river if the eco system is to survive. If we value this starkly beautiful, but extremely fragile, part of our land we need to reconsider how much water can be devoted to preserving it. This may involve a re-evaluation of what should be grown. Rice and cotton, two of the current favourites, are some of the thirstiest crops known to man. The big problem is the extreme difficulty the six governments involved in the area's management have in reaching agreement on anything. South Australia wants more water at the Murray River mouth. NSW wants more irrigation water and more dams. The ACT wants a limitless water supply to float its never-ending growth spurt. Queensland wants to keep all the water that runs off its mountains and Victoria seems to believe the Murray should be its own exclusive resource. While the squabbling continues the asset over which everybody is arguing is dying before our eyes. We have to save the Murray Darling basin system if anybody, including the environment, is to benefit from it. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/dad596ca-e528-4cd3-bb41-27458f38fb80/r2_0_1021_576_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, crime A former Comcar driver who ran an illegal brothel out of his Braddon flat was on Friday ordered to be on good behaviour for 12 months. Dimitrios Brendas' illicit business was uncovered after police raided other illegal brothels in Reid on September 4 and a sex worker handed officers a note. The note said the woman had worked at Dimitrios' Mort Street address with other girls, and it was also a brothel. Four Thai nationals including that woman were deported following the raids. But before she was deported, one of the women told police in an interview: "There are two girls working [at the Braddon address] for a man called Jimmy, one girl is sick and wants to go home". Following the tip, police raided Brendas' Mort Street flat early on September 11, where they found him alone. They also found evidence of the illegal operation on his phone, copious amounts of cleaning products and a disproportionate amount of linen. The 37 year old was also landlord of a Fyshwick building out of which a legal brothel operated, the court has heard. Brendas pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to a charge of operating a brothel in an illegal place. At a sentence hearing on Friday, the man's lawyer Luke Vozella said Brendas had been sacked from his role at the Department of Finance where he worked as a driver but where he had also recently been promoted. He said the man had suffered shame and embarrassment from the charge and had otherwise been a person of good status in the community. He pointed to media coverage of the case, and said Brendas had become withdrawn and reluctant to leave his home for fear of being recognised. He said the amounts Brendas earned from the illegal operation were small and about $400 per week from two workers for a period of 10 days. But a prosecutor argued the amount of money was irrelevant, the prosecution case was strong and general deterrence was a significant factor. The prosecutor argued against the defence request to deal with the man under a non-conviction order. Magistrate Bernadette Boss declined to make the order and instead convicted Brendas and ordered he be on good behaviour for 12 months. She said that the charge amounted to running an illegal business but while the nature of the business might draw more attention the regulations were in place to protect the community. This included the health of the workers and of their clients, and the protection of the workers who by the nature of the work and community attitudes - though changing - were vulnerable, she said. "It is important that the courts support any regulatory framework, and especially any regulatory framework designed to protect vulnerable workers," she said. Dr Boss said Brendas knew full well there were regulations and he took steps to avoid payment of the proper fees involved with complying with those regulations. It was also important to deter others who might be considering operating a similar illegal business, she said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/da88c2e1-55ee-44e7-8082-a21547a100eb/r0_2_1138_645_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg January 10, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on Venezuela: Today, Nicolas Maduros regime loses any remaining appearance of legitimacy. Having seized power through fraudulent and anti-democratic elections held on May 20, 2018, the Maduro regime is now fully entrenched as a dictatorship. The suffering of Venezuelans will only worsen should he continue to illegitimately cling to power. Together with other likeminded countries in the Lima Group, Canada rejects the legitimacy of the new presidential term of Nicolas Maduro. We call on him to immediately cede power to the democratically-elected National Assembly until new elections are held, which must include the participation of all political actors and follow the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela. In direct response to the actions of the Maduro regime, Canada has imposed targeted sanctions against 70 regime officials and, in collaboration with five other countries in the Americas, referred the situation in Venezuela to the International Criminal Court. Canada has also taken steps to downgrade diplomatic relations and restrict engagement with Venezuela. We will continue to take further, strong actions, as agreed to by Lima Group members when we met last week in Peru. Canada congratulates Juan Guaido, who on January 5, 2019, assumed the Presidency of the National Assembly. As the only remaining democratically-elected institution in the country, the National Assembly must continue to play a crucial role in keeping Venezuelas democracy alive. Canadians stand with the people of Venezuela and their desire to restore democracy and human rights in Venezuela. Quick Facts The Lima Group was established on August 8, 2017, in Lima, Peru, to coordinate participating countries efforts and apply international pressure on Venezuela. Meetings of the group have been regularly attended by representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia. It is committed to closely monitoring events in Venezuela and applying pressure on Venezuelas government until the full restoration of democracy in the country is achieved. Over 3 million Venezuelans have been forced to flee their homes since 2015 in search of food, healthcare, and other basic services. Since 2017, Canada has provided $2.21 million in humanitarian assistance funding to directly help meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations affected by the crisis, both in Venezuela and for those who have fled to Colombia. Canada has imposed three rounds of targeted sanctions to date and continues to coordinate with international partners to pressure the Maduro regime to restore democracy in Venezuela. Associated Links Now that Trump has finally turned to the campaign promise that won him the election build a wall and deport illegals the Democrats, the media and even most Republicans are hysterical. Just remember: They were hysterical about Ronald Reagan, too. You dont change history by being a follower, particularly if the people youre following are unimaginative, go-with-the-flow company men. When President Reagan implemented the strategy that won the Cold War, he was opposed by the entire media, as well as foreign policy experts in both parties. The New York Times and Washington Post produced nonstop denunciations of his dangerous policies. There were propaganda movies like The Day After, terrifying Americans about a Soviet strike on our country. Witless college students demanded cyanide pills be stocked in campus health care clinics, on the grounds that Reagan was going to get us all nuked. Only after Reagans policies succeeded did these same hysterics say, Ho hum, no big deal. We always knew the Soviet Union was a paper tiger. Frantically rewriting history, they claimed Reagan had merely continued the policies of his predecessors. The truth about their eight-year primal scream is helpfully assembled in my smash best-seller, Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism . The Democrats, the media and most of the Republican Party are as fanatically opposed to Trumps ideas about illegal immigration as they were to Reagans ideas about winning the Cold War. Like Reagan, Trump has only the people on his side. Unlike Reagan, he doesnt seem as confident that he is right. So the people need to be louder. All were getting from the media on immigration is an avalanche of lies, neurotically repeated by people citing one another: Polls show Americans dont want a wall! Were a nation of immigrants! Immigrants commit less crime than the native born! Studies show: Black Americans are NOT hurt by illegal immigration. Every one of these claims is a lie, as demonstrated in my book Adios, America . (Also a smash best-seller.) People assume a minimal standard of decency in others and think to themselves, Well, Joe Scarborough wouldnt say that if it werent true. What viewers dont understand is how lazy media personalities are. They are merely quoting what someone told them. They dont know. Their expertise consists of memorizing a set of talking points, like ABBA memorizing the syllables to English words without knowing what they meant. If journalists allowed follow-up questions and you could ask, How do you know that? The answer would be, I heard it from a guy at Vox. The media go to extremely biased sources; they know nothing, so theyre not in a position to challenge them; and even if they were, they wouldnt, because theyre on the same team. After a New York Times reporter tracked me down for a quote about the wall, I gave him the following, but he chose not to run it. Why should the Newspaper of Record present the oppositions side honestly? There are a million reasons we want a wall, but here are five: 1) The Simpson-Mazzoli Act passed almost 30 years ago to the day Trump was elected president came with elaborate promises that it would put an end to illegal immigration. In fact, 30 to 40 million more illegals have poured into our country since then. 2) Notwithstanding the vast number of illegal alien valedictorians, there are also criminals, drunk drivers, drug cartel members and desperately poor people consuming government services meant for the least among us and driving down the wages of our working class. 3) We need a better method. 4) Walls work. See Israel. 5) If we dont get it done now, we never will. Trump is our last chance. But instead of explaining to the Times readers why Trumps promise to build a wall shook the political world to its foundation, the newspaper trotted out campaign adviser Sam Nunbergs boast that he invented build the wall because Trumps mind tends to wander. It was only a dumb talking point, you see, not a serious campaign pledge. This is like claiming you were the guy who invented carrying an umbrella when it rains. Im sorry, Sam, but youre not getting royalties for that. Building a wall is kind of an obvious idea for protecting a border. Not only have walls been used from time immemorial to defend borders, but those precise three words have been used to describe what should happen at our specific border thousands of times before Trump used them, according to a quick Nexis search. The current DNC talking point against a wall is that it is a medieval solution to a 21st-century problem! Turn on MSNBC or CNN right now, and youll hear someone saying it. So are wheels. Are Democrats taking tires off their cars? A roof is a medieval solution. How about Nancy Pelosi replace the one over her house with new technology like a drone! Drones wont keep anything out, but at least she can see whats coming in seconds before it drops on her head. Medievalism: 1; Pelosi: 0. COPYRIGHT 2019 ANN COULTER St. Johnsbury, VT (05819) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable. Staff Writer/Reporter Son, brother, husband, father, friend, writer, beekeeper, gamer, beard growing all around good guy. I cover Wexford County government, cops and courts, CAPS, Pine River Area Schools, the Marion area, some sports and any other stories that come my way. With the Union Cabinet approving one of the first tripartite mergers in the public banking sector on January 2, 2019, Bank of Baroda will become the third largest lender in the country and second largest public-sector bank. The merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank into Bank of Baroda is proposed to be effective from April 1, 2019. The amalgamation emphasises on consolidating and integrating smaller banks with bigger banks. The tripartite amalgamation reflects the government's focus towards consolidation and strengthening of public-sector banking and also to deal with the raising problematic issues like non-performing assets (NPAs) and default of loans. The amalgamation will be made effective by way of share swapping pursuant to which Bank of Baroda will issue shares to the existing shareholders of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank. As per the share exchange ratio approved in relation to the merger, the Bank of Baroda will issue 110 shares of Rs 2 each for every 1000 shares of Dena Bank and 402 shares of Rs 2 each for every 1000 shares of Vijaya Bank. Also Read: BoB merger with Dena Bank, Vijaya Bank: Should you buy the merged entity? Although there are reports of the share swap ratio being lower than the ratio which was earlier anticipated by the shareholders of the merging banks, it appears that this move, in the long run, will only strengthen the banking industry and will give the required boost to the public banking sector. The primary objective of this amalgamation is aimed at improving the customer base, consolidating the public-sector banking and enabling the merged entity to compete at global banking level. Further, such massive consolidation is also expected to reduce the lending cost, the number of NPAs and increase the merged bank's operational stability and profitability. The central government had, previously in 2017 as well, merged six banks into State Bank of India, making it the largest banking conglomerate. Post-consolidation, Bank of Baroda will have business of around Rs 15.4 trillion and advances and deposits market share of 6.9% and 7.4%, respectively. Further, considering the regional widespread presence of Vijaya Banka and Dena Bank, the Bank of Baroda will have pan India presence. Amongst all the highlights, the deal is also likely to face certain hurdles in relation to its implementation process, employee retention etc. Continuity of employees has always been a crucial issue at the time of structuring as well as implementation of a merger. In the present case, post-merger, Bank of Baroda shall become an employer of over 90,000 employees working across 9,500 branches throughout the country. Further, it will also have to integrate data of more than 100 million customers as well. With such mammoth task at hand, the implementation phase of the merger may pose, for some, initial teething issues for the merged bank and the government. Further, multiple nation-wide strikes have been organised by bank employee associations such as All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI). A writ petition is also pending with the Delhi high court, challenging the merger and alleging violations of banking regulations. Amidst such oppositions, the Finance Minister and have recently asserted that pursuant to the merger, there will be no retrenchment and there will be no impact on the service conditions of the employees as well. The sporadic strikes are not only affecting the smooth operational functioning of the banks but are also impacting other industries as well. However, in light of the government's assurances, the fate of such oppositions need to be seen. This amalgamation will present Bank of Baroda as the global conglomerate in the banking sector aiming to achieve the higher working efficiency, financial stability and wider operationality. It will not only facilitate national and global outreach but will also integrate public banking sector in India. Having said that, realisation of such aim -- the success and the efficacy of the consolidation will largely be contingent on the effective and smooth implementation of the merger. Sudish is Executive Partner and Tanya is Joint Partner, Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Read More: Bank of Baroda shares surge 3% on merger deal, Vijaya Bank, Dena Bank stocks nosedive Also Read: Budget 2019: What's on the wishlist and what can the Modi govt offer? The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 ("Bill"), which seeks to replace the long existing Consumer Protection Act of 1986 ("Act"), was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 20, 2018 and now it awaits Rajya Sabha's approval. The Bill has focused on enforcing the consumer rights along with timely and effective administration of consumer disputes. The ambit of the existing Act covers goods and services for consideration excluding free and personal services. The Bill will widen the ambit of the existing Act to cover and regulate goods and services, including telecom and housing construction, and all modes of transactions (online, teleshopping, etc.) for consideration. New concepts such as 'product liability' will address the changing dynamics of the consumer markets. Inclusion of certain new definitions such as 'e-commerce', will broaden the scope of the Act to include the e-commerce sector, which the existing Act does not cover. Interestingly, the explanation attached to the definition of "consumer" has been worded in a way to include the consumers who buys goods or avails services through online platforms such as Airbnb, Quikr and Flipkart. The Bill will govern the consumers of e-commerce platforms along with the traditional consumer who buys or avails goods and services from brick and mortar stores. ALSO READ:Budget 2019: What's on the wishlist and what can the Modi govt offer? Some existing concepts like the 'Complainant' will now include Central Consumer Protection Authority which the Bill seeks to establish, and the parent or legal guardian in case the consumer is a minor. The complainant, in addition to the existing grounds under the Act, can now make a complaint against a trader or a service provider for entering into an unfair contract and can also make a claim for product liability. Moreover, the Bill provides an option to the complainant to file the complaint electronically and to approach the consumer dispute redressal authorities from the place of his residence or business. Perhaps the introduction of 'product liability' provision is one of the most important features of the Bill. The existing Act has no provision in relation to 'product liability'. The Bill introduces the concept of 'product liability' which allows a complainant to make a claim of product liability against a product manufacturer or service provider for any deficiency in a service or defect in the product. The product manufacturer shall be liable in a product liability action if the product contains a manufacturing defect, is defective in design, deviates from the manufacturing specifications or express warranty, or does not contain adequate instructions for usage. Interestingly, the product manufacturer can be held liable even if he proves that he was not negligent or fraudulent in making the express warranty of a product. ALSO READ:Ola overtakes OYO to No. 2 rank among most valued desi startups The liability of a product service provider arises, if the service provided by him was faulty or imperfect or deficient or inadequate in quality, nature or manner of performance or there was an act of omission or commission or negligence or conscious withholding of any information which caused harm or the service provider did not issue adequate instructions or warnings to prevent any harm or the service did not conform to express warranty or the terms and conditions of the contract. In addition to the above, the Bill also provides for the liability of a product seller who is not a product manufacturer in certain circumstances. The Bill further seeks to establish a Central Consumer Protection Authority for efficient and speedier disposal of consumer grievances. In addition to regulatory functions, the Authority is vested with suo motu powers to enquire into any violations of consumer rights. A person aggrieved by any order passed by the new Central Consumer Protection Authority can file an appeal to the National Commission. Moreover, the Bill confers advisory functions on the existing Consumer Protection Councils and provides for the establishment of these Councils at district, state and national level. The Bill introduces provisions which enables mediation to be an alternate remedy. The resolution of consumer disputes through mediation will substantially reduce the burden on the consumer disputes redressal authorities and will make the dispute resolution process less cumbersome. ALSO READ:Infosys Q3 net profit slips 12% to Rs 3,609 crore; board approves share buyback, special dividend The Bill contains a provision which imposes penalty on the manufacturer or service provider who causes a false or misleading advertisement to be made which is prejudicial to the interest of the consumers. The Bill also makes the endorser and publishers of such misleading advertisements liable and provides a penalty of up to Rs 50 Lakh and ban upto 3 years on a subsequent offence. Although, this looks like a positive change, there is a possibility of increased frivolous litigation against the celebrities for pecuniary or personal gain. In addition to the above, the Bill defines a contract as 'unfair' if it causes significant change in the rights of the consumers. Requiring excessive security deposits, imposing a disproportionate penalty for a breach in contract, refusing to accept early repayment of debts, terminating the contract without reasonable cause, transferring a contract to a third party to the detriment of the consumer without his consent or imposing unreasonable charge or obligations which put the consumer at a disadvantage are practices which, if included in a contract, entered between a manufacturer or trader or service provider and a consumer, will be termed as an unfair contract. The State and National Commissions may determine if the terms of a contract are unfair and declare such terms to be null and void. ALSO READ:Cabinet approves two new AIIMS for Jammu and Kashmir, one for Gujarat The Bill has also broadened the scope of the term "unfair trade practice" to include practices such as non-issuance of a receipt for goods sold or services rendered, refusing to withdraw or refund goods or services within 30 days of selling the goods or rendering the deficient services or disclosure of personal information provided by consumer to any other person. A complaint pertaining to violation of consumer rights or unfair trade practices or false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interest of the consumers as a class may be made to one of the consumer dispute redressal authorities. Lastly, the Bill empowers the government to make rules for preventing unfair trade practices in e-commerce, direct selling and to protect the interest and rights of the consumers. This will result in effective resolution of issues arising out of online transactions and emerging e-commerce market. The emergence of the internet driven era and the rise in trade and commerce through online platforms has not only provided better options and opportunities for the consumers but has also paved the way for new forms of unfair trade practices and unethical business practices. The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 is slated to protect the interest of the consumers and to keep the legislative framework of consumer protection laws in pace with the changing dynamics of the consumer market and emerging market trends. ALSO READ:Aircel-Maxis case: Protection from arrest to Chidambaram extended till Feb 1 (The writer is partner at IndusLaw) Barely a day after being sacked from the post of CBI director unceremoniously by a selection panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Alok Verma resigned from the Indian Police Service on Friday. Headed by the prime minister, the high-powered committee comprised Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice A K Sikri, appointed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as his nominee. Verma, who was due to retire on January 31, was told to take charge as DG Fire Services on Friday, but he refused to take the new role and tendered his resignation in protest of his transfer order. The charge of the CBI has been given to Additional Director M Nageshwar Rao, said a government order issued on Thursday evening. Lashing out against the decision, the former CBI chief said that he was transferred on the basis of "false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations". "Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the Director," news agency ANI quoted from a statement issued by him. A 1979-batch IPS officer, Verma had resumed duty as CBI director on Wednesday, a day after the apex court paved his return with some riders and asked the three-member panel that selects the CBI chief to decide on his continuance in a week in the light of charges against him in the report of the Central Vigilance Commission(CVC). According to officials, there were eight charges against Verma in the CVC report presented before the panel which included alleged attempts to induct tainted officers, compromising probe in the case related to controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi, IRCTC scam among others. Also Read: Ram Rahim held guilty in journalist murder case Edited by Chitranjan Kumar India's steel ministry is putting pressure on automakers to use locally made steel by refusing to back down on tougher import rules despite warnings that the new regulations could disrupt the production of cars, government and industry sources said. The steel ministry in August announced stringent import rules for some high-grade steel products that are sourced by carmakers from countries such as Japan and South Korea but not yet manufactured in India. India's auto industry, which includes companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor Co, Honda Motor Co and Ford Motor Co, is staring at production stoppages if new tougher rules on steel imports are not relaxed, a federal minister warned in a letter. "The shipments of the auto component industry have started getting impacted which possess significant risk of production stoppage of the whole automobile industry in the immediate future," Anant Geete, heavy industries minister, said in the Jan. 4 letter to steel minister, Chaudhary Birender Singh. "here is also a risk that if the import of steel (raw material) is restricted, then the industry may go for import of the components itself which may affect the government initiative of 'Make in India',"Geete said. The new rules are expected to come into effect on Feb. 17. The letter and the internal discussions at the steel ministry have not been previously reported. Reuters has reviewed a copy of the letter. Despite the warning from the auto industry, the steel ministry is unlikely to back down, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. This week the ministry called the country's biggest steel producers such as JSW Steel and Tata Steel, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) for a meeting with carmakers including Maruti, Hyundai, Honda and Ford. In the meeting, which was held two days after Geete's letter to Chaudhury, the officials continued to push carmakers to work with steel companies to manufacture high-grade automotive steel locally and even form joint ventures, if needed, five sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters."We have told the auto companies that we need to step up local manufacturing and they need to sit with the local steel companies here to let them know the specifications because our companies are well-equipped,"a senior government official with direct knowledge of the discussions said. A spokesman for the ministry said talks were ongoing with foreign companies to make value-added steel in India. IMPORTS RISE The steel ministry's push is the latest from Modi's administration which is desperate to check imports and show the success of its manufacturing programme, aimed at building a domestic industrial base and boosting jobs and growth. India remained a net importer of steel during April-November after exports dropped over 30 percent. The auto industry will, however, face disruption if the import of some of these crucial steel products comes to a standstill, Vinnie Mehta, director general at the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India, told Reuters. The steel ministry has already granted a two-month exemption to carmakers on new quality control rules for imports which were originally due to come into effect on Dec. 18. Auto companies want an extension until the end of 2019. Carmakers continue to rely on imports because they say local steel companies are unable to match the quality, consistency and price, three company sources said. An Asian carmaker which failed to source stainless steel exhaust pipes locally has instead decided to import the entire fuel exhaust system, said Sugato Sen, deputy director general at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, a trade body. There are fears that other carmakers will do the same, which will hurt local manufacturing and jobs, he said. "ome suppliers are reluctant to go through the trouble, while others who are doing it have found there to be delays in getting clearances,"Sen said. JSW Steel, Tata Steel, SAIL, Maruti, Hyundai, Honda and Ford did not reply to a Reuters email seeking comment. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday said that it would send astronauts to space by December 2021. Addressing a press conference, ISRO Chief K Sivan said that the preparations for Gaganyaan Mission are underway and it will prove to be a major turnaround for India's space agency. In his Independence Day speech last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced about the Gaganyaan project, saying that India would send an astronaut to space in the year 2022."When India celebrates 75th year of Independence in 2022, and if possible even before, an Indian son or daughter will undertake a manned space mission on board 'Gaganyaan' carrying the national flag," the PM Modi had said. If India successfully launch the mission, it would be the fourth nation to do so after the United States, Russia and China. "The initial training for Gaganyaan will be done in India and advanced training maybe in Russia. Women astronauts will be there on the team. That's our aim," ISRO chief was quoted as saying. "We will set up six incubation and research centres across the country. We will bring the Indian students to ISRO. Why do the Indian students need to go to NASA?" said ISRO Chief. ISRO aims to deploy its biggest rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III), to send the astronauts into space from the Sriharikota space port in Andhra Pradesh. Sivan said that the government has allotted Rs 30,000 crore for the organisation's activities of which Rs 10,000 crore has been cleared by the cabinet for the Gaganyaan programme under which three Indian astronauts will be sent to space for up to seven days by 2022. Discussing about the progress of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, he said that the second moon mission will be lunched around March-April this year as it missed the January-February launch window. Also Read: Gaganyaan mission gets Cabinet nod, ISRO to send three Indians into space for Rs 10,000 crore Last year, ISRO completed 16 missions, signing off with 7 successful missions, which included two successful GSLV missions in a single year. The year 2019 promises to be much more challenging to the ISRO community with 32 planned missions (14 launch vehicle, 17 satellite and 1 Tech. Demo. missions), the Chairman had announced in his New Year letter on 2 January. Edited by Chitranjan Kumar 7th Pay Commission: It's been a long wait for the 68 lakh-odd central government employees, not to mention the 52 lakh retirees, who have been demanding a pay hike as well as an increase in the fitment factor beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission report. The government, so far, had now shown any inclination to take up the demand of revising the fitment factor from 2.57 times to around 3 under the 7th Pay Commission, almost a year after it was raised by employee unions. Also Read: 7th Pay Commission: 2.6 lakh employees of this department to get transfer benefits But there seems to be some good news on this front. A senior finance ministry official told Zee Business that the government is sympathetic to the demands of the central government employees so the next cabinet meeting may take up this issue on 7th Pay Commission. What's more, the government may not only decide to increase minimum pay from the current level but also hike up the fitment factor to 3.68 per cent. Another source indicated that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would prefer to please lower rung employees more than the middle-rung staff. The minimum basic pay for central government employees as per the 7th Pay Commission is Rs 18,000 per month, up from Rs 7,000, based on a fitment factor of 2.57 times the basic pay of 6th Pay Commission. But employees that come under pay level matrix of 1 to 5 could reportedly see a salary hike to Rs 21,000 per month. However, ever since the 7th Pay Commission recommendations have been released, the central government employees have been demanding that the minimum pay be raised to Rs 26,000. Read More: 7th Pay Commission: Good news for BSNL employees awaiting pension revision Also Read: Unbelievable! Debt-ridden Air India pays salary to a pilot who is not on the rolls Infosys reported a 12 per cent decline in its net profit on a quarterly basis for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. The company posted net profit of Rs 3,609 crore for the quarter under observation, as opposed to the Rs 4,110 crore registered in the previous quarter. On year-on-year basis, the Indian IT major saw its net profit rise by 30 per cent against Rs 5,129 crore reported in the December quarter last fiscal. Infosys saw its revenue from operations rise to Rs 21,400 crore in the December quarter of this fiscal from Rs 20,609 crore in the September quarter, amounting to a quarter-on-quarter increase of 3.8 per cent. Profit before tax slipped almost 10 per cent on a quarterly basis to Rs 5,192 crore in Q3 FY19. Operating profit also disappointed, as it slipped 1.3 per cent Q-o-Q to Rs 4,830 crore. Infosys posted growth in revenue in US dollar terms remained in line with estimates as they grew to $2987 million, with an increase of 8.4 per cent on a yearly basis. ALSO READ:Buyback And Boost "With increased client relevance, we saw double digit (10.1%) year-on-year growth in Q3 on a constant currency basis. We also had another strong quarter in our digital business with 33.1% growth and large deals at $1.57 billion which gives us confidence entering 2019," said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD on the Infosys Q3 results. Infosys announced a share buyback worth Rs 8,260 crore under open market route at a maximum price of Rs 800 per share. The company will buyback shares from its equity shareholders to implement the Capital Allocation Policy. ALSO READ:Why TCS stock fell in trade today after 24% rise in Q3 net profit "The maximum buyback size does not include any expenses or transaction costs incurred or to be incurred for the buyback," Infosys said in its statement. The company also announced a special dividend of Rs 4 per share. Based on recommendations from the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, Infosys board approved the reappointment of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Based for her second term as the Lead Independent Director. Mazumdar-Shaw will serve in this capacity from April 1, 2019 to March 22, 2023, subject to shareholders' approval, the company said. The Infosys board also approved grant of annual Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) with a value of Rs 3.25 crores to company CEO Salil Parekh and 68,250 RSUs to COO UB Pravin Rao. "I am delighted that the Infosys Board of Directors has unanimously recommended Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for reappointment as the Lead Independent Director," said Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani. ALSO READ:Budget 2019: What's on the wishlist and what can the Modi govt offer? By Nidhi VermaNEW DELHI (Reuters) - India imported 4.8 percent more oil in 2018 to a record 4.58 million barrels per day (bpd) as the country increased purchases to feed its expanded refining capacity, ship-tracking data reviewed by Reuters showed.In December the country's oil imports totalled 4.86 million bpd, an increase of about 15 percent from the previous month and about 11 percent more than a year earlier, the data showed.In 2018 Iraq continued to be the top supplier to India on an annual basis for a second year in a row while Saudi Arabia maintained the second position, the data ... (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co Ltd's Chief Performance Officer Jose Munoz has resigned, a company spokesman said on Friday in an emailed statement to Reuters.Munoz's resignation follows a Reuters report https://reut.rs/2D5ScYl which said that the Japanese automaker was looking into decisions made in the United States by Munoz as it broadened its investigation into the alleged financial misconduct by ousted chairman Carlos Ghosn. Munoz, who is widely seen within the industry as close to Ghosn, was a "person of interest" in the probe and it was not clear whether he would be accused of any ... (Reuters) - Indian shares settled lower on Friday as disappointment over technology giant Tata Consultancy Services missing quarterly margin estimates weighed on the trading sentiment, while investors looked out for results from its rival Infosys Ltd for clarity.The benchmark Sensex closed the session 0.27 percent lower at 36,009.84, while the broader Nifty ended down 0.25 percent at 10,794.95.For the week, however, the Sensex rose 0.9 percent, while the Nifty gained 0.6 percent.Shares of Infosys, scheduled to report quarterly earnings later in the day, closed the session 0.68 percent higher. ... By Laurence Frost and Ritsuko AndoPARIS/YOKOHAMA (Reuters) - One of Renault boss Carlos Ghosn's senior executives received an additional six-figure salary unknown to the carmaker's board via the Dutch joint venture overseeing its alliance with Nissan, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters.Ghosn and Nissan senior director Greg Kelly, who are at the centre of a financial misconduct scandal engulfing the carmaking alliance, approved payments totalling 500,000 euros ($572,000) to Renault General Secretary Mouna Sepehri, who is responsible for corporate governance in her role as board ... By Nidhi VermaNEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's oil imports from Iran fell by 41 percent in December to 302,000 barrels per day oil (bpd), ship tracking data reviewed by Reuters showed, as pressure from U.S. sanctions took effect.The United States introduced tough sanctions aimed at crippling Iran's oil revenue-dependent economy in November but gave a six-month waiver to eight nations, including India, which allowed them to import some Iranian oil.India is restricted to buying 1.25 million tonnes per month, some 300,000 bpd. December imports from Iran were 9.4 percent higher than November when ... By Krishna N. DasNEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's government has recently announced a series of measures to try to win over farmers, small business owners and the less well-off, after the ruling party suffered setbacks in state elections and with a general election due in months.The measures are likely to be a drain on finances in Asia's third-biggest economy, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is trying to stick to a decade-low fiscal deficit target of 3.3 percent of the gross domestic product.But Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised even more ... Crisis talks between cash-strapped Jet Airways and aircraft lessors have failed to ease a row over late payments, prompting some lessors to explore taking back aircraft, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. In what one of them described as an ill-tempered showdown between the airline and some of the worlds leading leasing firms, Jets main lender, State Bank of India (SBI), sought to provide reassurance the carrier is doing all it can to pay its staff, suppliers and creditors. Jet has been delinquent for many months. Nobody wants ... SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Norway's Equinor said on Friday it is setting up an office in India's capital New Delhi partly to support its oil marketing and trading activities.The company expects to appoint a country manager for the office soon, Equinor's spokesman said in an e-mail to Reuters."It will not be a dedicated trading office as such but the office will also support our marketing and trading activities for crude, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and other products towards the Indian market," he said.India is the world's third largest crude oil importer and it overtook Japan as the world's ... COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danske Bank, which is embroiled in a major money laundering case linked to its Estonian branch, may come under formal investigation for a second time in France, it said on Friday.Danske Bank is already under investigation by authorities in Denmark, Estonia, Britain and the United States over suspicious payments totalling 200 billion euros ($229 billion) made through its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015.Bill Browder, founder and CEO of investment fund Hermitage Capital Management, told reporters on Thursday he had asked French authorities to investigate Danske over ... Several Chinese electronics retailers, including Alibaba-backed Suning and JD.com, have slashed iPhone prices this week, after Apple recently blamed poor sales of the smartphone in the country for a rare revenue warning. The discounting, as steep as $118 for the recently launched 64GB iPhone XR, is the latest sign that Apple's weak holiday sales in China. The price cuts on iPhones by Chinese retailers began in the middle of this week, with at least six offering promotions this weekend, according to checks done by Reuters. DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Bharti Airtel has agreed to give part of its stake in Airtel Tanzania to the government, raising the East African nation's holding in the mobile phone operator to 49 percent from 40 percent, the president's office said on Friday.The announcement followed talks in Dar es Salaam between President John Magufuli and Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal to resolve a dispute over ownership of the Tanzanian mobile operator.Bharti Airtel would retain a 51 percent stake in the company, the president's office said, without giving a value for shares being transferred to the ... (Reuters) - Air France said on Friday it had reached a pay agreement for 2019 with unions representing ground staff, as it seeks to move on from labour disputes which weighed on its results last year.The deal will provide for pay increases of 1.8 percent, as well as money to finance individual bonuses and measures to make the payment of overtime easier, Air France said.The airline was hit by a series of costly strikes in 2018, which led to the departure of chief executive Jean-Marc Janaillac in May and his replacement by former Air Canada executive Ben Smith.On Thursday Air France announced ... By Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank BhardwajMUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Monsanto's victory this week in a patent case in India regarding genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds has raised hopes among farmers that the company will now launch its next-generation seeds.India approved Monsanto's GM cotton seed trait in 2002 and an upgraded variety in 2006, helping transform the country into the world's top producer and second-largest exporter of the fibre. But newer traits have not been available since the company withdrew an application in 2016 seeking approval for the latest variety due to a royalty ... BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, declined to comment on a report that it was considering a flotation of part of its Asian operations, adding that it remained committed to its business in the region."In line with our culture, we always look at opportunities to optimise our business and drive long-term growth and we are very committed to our business in the Asia-Pacific region and excited about the potential of this geography," an AB InBev spokeswoman said.Bloomberg reported on Friday that the Belgium-based maker of Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois was ... By Philip Blenkinsop and Julia FiorettiBRUSSELS/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, is considering floating part of its Asian operations, an Asian banking source said on Friday, in a deal that would help to ease its debt burden.The Belgium-based maker of Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois has been discussing a possible multibillion-dollar listing in Hong Kong, the banker said.AB InBev declined to comment on the matter."In line with our culture, we always look at opportunities to optimise our business and drive long-term growth and we are very committed to ... Ahead of the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh this year, the TRS Friday said the Y S Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) can be its 'friend' if it does not align with the Congress or the BJP. On whether the TRS would support the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh where assembly elections are scheduled to be held along with Lok Sabha polls in April-May, TRS spokesperson Abid Rasool Khan said no such decision has been taken. "That's (whether to support YSRCP) a call Mr KCR (Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who leads the Telangana Rashtra Samiti) has to take," Khan told PTI. YSRCP is the main opposition in Andhra Pradesh, where the N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is in power. In last month's elections to the Telangana Assembly, the Congress, the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samiti and the Communist Party of India had formed a pre-poll alliance to take on the TRS but the grouping came a cropper. The TRS returned to power with 88 seats in the 119-member assembly, pushing the Congress to a distant second position with 19 seats. The TDP bagged a mere two seats, while the TJS and the CPI drew a blank. During campaigning, Naidu had come under blistering attack from TRS leaders, who alleged that if the Congress-led alliance were to come to power, he would call the shots and also invoked the "Telangana pride". After the election victory, KCR had said Naidu would get a "return gift", indicating that the TRS is keen to see that the TDP is defeated, but did not elaborate on his party's strategy in this regard. He said the TRS would certainly spread the message that Naidu "cannot be trusted as sometimes he goes with the BJP, and sometimes with the Congress." Khan alleged in the run-up to the December 7 assembly polls, Naidu sought to "interfere in Telangana and create an atmosphere of mistrust among the people and tried to divide them on the lines of Seemandhra, Andhra and Telangana". "...about the policy, whether to contest (in Andhra Pradesh), whether to support somebody, that will be taken by party (TRS) politburo when the time comes," he said. YSRCP did not contest in the Telangana elections but some analysts have said supporters of Jaganmohan Reddy-led party supported the TRS given their "antipathy" towards the TDP. But Khan denied it, saying the TRS received no such backing from YSRCP. Speaking in the context of "national perspective", he said any party which is not with the Congress and BJP, can be "our friends". Asked then if YSRCP is a "friend of TRS", Khan said: "If he (Jaganmohan Reddy) does not align with these two major parties". "Definitely, he (Jaganmohan Reddy) can be our friend and he can sail with us in the larger interest of the country, where KCR has said he is trying to form a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front," he said. Khan rejected the perception in some quarters that KCR's efforts in promoting a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front has not cut much ice with regional parties. Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik's statement that his party would not align with the Congress and BJP is in tune with KCR's "thinking", he argued. "Now Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party chief) said he would not align with the Congress, Mayawati (Bahujan Samaj Party supremo) said she will not align with Congress. This thought (of KCR on federal front) is developing", Khan said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foreign leaders reacted cautiously to the outcome of DR Congo's presidential election Thursday, with many choosing not to congratulate the man declared winner and appealing for disputes to be settled peacefully. Provisional results from the Democratic Republic of Congo's much-troubled election granted victory to opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi. But his opposition rival Martin Fayulu immediately cried foul, branding the results "an electoral coup". The Independent National Election Commission (CENI) gave Tshisekedi 38.57 per cent of the vote, ahead of Fayulu with 34.8 per cent. President Joseph Kabila's preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, came a distant third with 23.8 per cent. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged all sides "to refrain from violence and to channel any eventual electoral disputes through the established institutional mechanisms," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. African Union leader Moussa Faki Mahamat was similarly restrained. "It is important that any disagreement over the proclaimed results, notably that they did not reflect voters' wishes, be resolved peacefully, by turning to the relevant laws and through political dialogue between the parties involved," he said. His statement notably did not congratulate Tshisekedi, whose victory has been met with accusations that he had struck a deal with Kabila. In contrast, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, one of the key players on the continent, urged interested parties to "refrain from speculation and allow CENI to complete the process". The United States demanded "clarification" over the result while congratulating "courageous" Congolese voters. "The National Independent Electoral Commission has announced provisional results, but we await clarification of questions which have been raised regarding the electoral count. "We urge all stakeholders to remain calm as the process continues," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement. He also noted the "importance of President Joseph Kabila's decision to abide by his constitutionally mandated term limits and transfer power to a successor". The European Union said it was waiting for the verdict of election monitors. "We have also noted that these results have been contested by part of the opposition," said EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic. "In the meantime we call on all political actors in DRC to abstain from any kind of act of violence and allow for the democratic process to continue," she said. France however broke ranks to challenge the official result. "It really seems that the declared results... are not consistent with the true results," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told CNews television. "On the face of it, Mr Fayulu was the leader coming out of these elections," he said. The DRC's Catholic Church, he argued, had reached the same conclusion after garnering data from its 40,000 election observers across the country. The church itself has so far only said that the official results did not reflect the data its observers collected from polling stations. It has not published the name of the candidate that, in its view, was the true victor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Squeezed into half its normal 40,000 sq metres, the ongoing World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan here is suffering a visible space crunch with fewer stalls packed into a venue resembling a construction site. High-rise scaffoldings interrupt the viewing and labourers scurry about doing their work as visitors roam around the fair. Organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) in association with the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the fair is being held amid renovation and construction at Pragati Maidan. The number of publishers participating has come down from 800 to 600 and the stalls from more than 2,500 to about 1,350. The exhibition centre, which was inaugurated in 1972 by then prime minister Indira Gandhi, is being re-built into an Integrated Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC). The mega project, according to the ITPO, is expected to be completed by September 2019. "I am coming to this fair after a gap of two-three years. Think I could have easily skipped this one too. It seems as if you are in a construction site that also happens to sell books. This is a World Book Fair. What is the impression we are giving publishers from other countries taking part?" asked 40-year-old Shivani Kalsotra. According to an NBT official, the World Book Fair, usually spread over 40,000 sq metres, was this year allotted only 23,000 sq metres. "Even last year, we got only 32,000 sq metres of area for the book fair because of the construction. The halls we got then were the same as we have now but the three hangars were not possible this time," the official said. Publishers added that some participants did not get the location they wanted. "The World Book Fair is definitely smaller this year with quite a few publishers giving the fair a skip... the fair area has been reduced due to the ongoing construction at Pragati Maidan that did result in some exhibitors not getting the stall location of their choice. "This could've been one of the reasons for a few exhibitors not participating this year," Meenakshi Singh, Head (Marketing) Bloomsbury India, told PTI. While Bloomsbury was lucky to get 12 stalls, what they got last year, others like Penguin, Hatchette, Oxford University Press (OUP) and Pentagon Press managed with fewer stalls than previously. "Last year, we had 26-28 stalls. This time we managed only 16," said Iti Khurana, OUP publicity manager. NBT officials said they tried their best to "accommodate" more publishers. "We understand that some publishers this year might not have got the desired number of stalls. But that was only done to ensure that more publishers get the opportunity to participate in the fair," an official said. "No individual exhibitor, under the same name, was allowed to book more than 16 stalls at one place. Also, like earlier, all stalls were booked through a computerised draw of lots system," she added. The lack of space has also meant a drop in attractions such as book launches and panel discussions. "We wanted to launch our two books here but we didn't get the booking at the Author's Corner," said Khurana. The Author's Corner has been reduced to two from four last year -- one for English and one for Hindi. "Pragati Maidan is now a decrepit structure and the renovation that should have been done in an year or two max has already taken four-five years, and no end in sight. "It's all very well to talk of pitching for a part in the global economy but it is ludicrous that we do not have a first rate exhibition and fair complex," said Thomas Abraham, managing director, Hachette India. Visitors also complained that the dust and pollution was affecting the quality of food on offer. "The importance of a clean environment near food stalls is being neglected here and that is an issue of concern," said Amruta Jain, a concerned customer. The book fair comes to a close on January 13. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IAS officer Shah Faesal, who has announced his resignation, Friday said he was willing to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections but would not be joining any political party "as of now". Addressing a press conference here, he ruled out the possibility of joining separatist Hurriyat Conference saying his experience in governance could not be used there. Faesal, who has been in the limelight since becoming the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exam in 2009, announced his resignation on January 9 through social media to protest the "unabated" killings in Kashmir and the marginalisation of Indian Muslims. In a brief statement on Facebook, the 35-year-old Faesal, who belongs to 2010 batch of the IAS, said his resignation was also to protest "the marginalisation and invisiblisation of around 200 million Indian Muslims at the hands of Hindutva forces reducing them to second-class citizens; insidious attacks on the special identity of the state and growing culture of intolerance and hate in mainland India in the name of hyper-nationalism". "I wish to reiterate that voices of reason in this country cannot be muzzled for long and the environment of siege will need to end if we wish to usher in true democracy," he had said. Faesal, an MBBS degree holder, is likely to join the National Conference and may contest the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla parliamentary seat, political sources said. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah had said his resignation was a loss of bureaucracy and gain of politics. Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also welcomed Faesel's resignation. "Welcome the stand to resign by @ShahFaesal to protest unabated killing of Kashmiris by GOI." "Hope his outrage over killings and his sentiment that #KashmiriLivesMatter guide his choice of politics and gets reflected in representing his people's collective deep driving desire of right to self-determination and their relentless struggle and sacrifice in achieving it - also the reason behind killings and repression on them by the state," the Hurriyat leader had said in his tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after protests were banned in parts of Guwahati, former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said Friday he would violate the prohibitory order and court arrest if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was not withdrawn by the Centre. Addressing a press conference, Gogoi added that if protests or disturbances continue in the state, youths are likely to get attracted towards insurgency. "I will violate (Section) 144 (of the Code of Criminal Procedure) if you (Centre) do not withdraw the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. I will lead people and shout slogans. I will go to jail a jail bharo (movement)," he asserted. The bill will not only affect Assam but threaten the entire country's unity and culture, Gogoi claimed. By completely prohibiting all sorts of protests, the BJP-led government is curtailing the democratic rights of people and running the state in an autocratic manner, the senior Congress leader said. "Before bringing the bill, why was no attempt made to have discussion by the government with all stakeholders? Even after protests started, the government could have talked. (Former prime minister) Indira Gandhi had herself come to talk when the Assam agitation was on," he said. In view of protests on a daily basis against the bill, the Guwahati police Thursday banned all sorts of agitation in parts of Guwahati under Section 144 of the CrPC. The jurisdiction of the order will cover Dispur, where the Secretariat complex is, Bhangagarh, Basistha, Hatigaon, Sonapur and Khetri police station areas, said Deputy Commissioner (East) Ramandeep Kaur. "If protests and disturbances continue, youths will be unhappy and terrorism will rise. Because of such developments like the Citizenship Bill, youths are getting attracted towards insurgency and joining the ULFA. "We had brought them to the mainstream, but the BJP is doing the opposite by taking anti-people policies. The government should not ignore peoples' aspirations," Gogoi said. He also said the BJP is unable to handle the law and order situation and added the home department was "clueless". "That is why, a Bengal cadre officer is brought as security adviser. Why an Assam cadre officer was not appointed? Now they will appoint all officers from outside," he said. Gogoi was referring to the appointment of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Ranjit Kumar Panchnanda as the security adviser to the Assam chief minister. "May be, one day, we will have the CM also from outside. May be, Ram Madhav (BJP general secretary) will become the CM next time. In any case, the government is being run from outside," he claimed. Talking about religious persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, the former CM said in his 15-year tenure, he did not get a single application from anyone about religious persecution in the neighbouring country or political persecution. "If the JPC got information that 31,000 have applied for citizenship under religious persecution, then why did the Centre not take up the issue with the Bangladesh government? In fact, Hindus are living at peace there," he said. Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is trying to create a clash between Hindus and Muslims in Assam on the citizenship issue, Gogoi alleged. "Mizoram, Meghalaya are opposing (the bill). Manipur CM has asked to exclude his state. The alliance of the Tripura government has threatened to pull out if the bill is passed. However, the BJP leadership in Assam is silent and assuring people it will not harm us," he said. Gogoi also vowed to defeat the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election and asked people to ensure that the saffron party's tally comes down to zero. On infiltration, he said, "The BJP itself said that no Bangladeshi came to India in the last 10 years. So, they were not happy and now want to bring Bangladeshis into Assam with the help of the bill. "During election rallies, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi said that 'I brought all foreigners and I won with their votes'. Now, their own spokesperson said that his PM lied and it was a 'jumla'." BJP spokesman Swapnanil Barua on Thursday said there had been no illegal infiltration from Bangladesh into India during the last 10 years, despite making the issue a major poll plank in the 2014 Lok Sabha and 2016 Assam assembly elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar JD(U) chief Bashishtha Narayan Singh said Friday that the state government would take "appropriate decision" with regard to implementing 10 per cent quota for upper castes in state government jobs. "The entire proposal (in the form of Bill giving 10 per cent quota to economically weaker sections among general category) is yet to come. The state government would take an appropriate decision with regard to implementation of 10 per cent quota in state government jobs," Singh told reporters here. The Parliament on Wednesday passed the Constitution Amendment Bill giving 10 per cent quota in education and employment to economically weaker sections among the general category. While speaking to mediapersons at his residence, Singh said Bihar has already taken initiatives in this regard. The Bihar JD(U) chief said that the then Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur gave three per cent reservation in 1977 to economically weaker sections among the upper castes in the state. Singh said that it was his party leader Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) national president, who set up a commission for upper castes. Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, also urged everyone to participate in 'Makar Sankranti' celebrations on January 14 at his residence. Asked whether he would also extend invitation to Tejashwi Yadav and former CM Rabri Devi for the event, he said "if invitation will be sent, then it will be sent to both of them. But so far I have not talked to any leader on phone. Once I have a telephonic talk with them, I will let you (mediamen) know (about sending invitations to them)". Earlier, RJD leader Jageshwar Rai, along with 400 supporters from Vaishali district, joined the JD(U) in the presence of Singh and other leaders. Rai had unsuccessfully contested 2010 Assembly polls on RJD ticket in 2010 from Mahua Assembly seat in Vaishali. Singh welcomed Rai and said that his entry would help further strengthen the party especially in Vaishali and Muzaffarpur districts where he is quite popular. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German car giant Volkswagen said Friday it sold a record number of vehicles in 2018 even as it felt the sting from US-China trade tensions and problems with European emissions tests in the final months of the year. Some 10.83 million vehicles from the 12-brand group rolled out of dealerships last year, up 0.9 percent on 2017, the automaker said in a statement. "We are very pleased about this great result. Especially in the second half, things were not easy for us," said Christian Dahlheim, head of Volkswagen group sales. Strong demand for SUVs contributed to growth in the key markets of Europe, the United States, China and South America. The group's own-brand VW cars, Skoda, Seat, Porsche and Lamborghini all set new delivery records in 2018. The only dark cloud came from high-end Audi, whose sales slumped by 3.5 per cent. Each year, the Wolfsburg-based group is locked in a tight race with Toyota and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi for the title of the world's topselling carmaker. The rivals have yet to reveal their 2018 figures. Volkswagen was plunged into crisis in 2015 when it admitted to cheating emissions tests in millions of diesel cars. But although it remains mired in costly legal woes, customers have stayed loyal to the group. One of the biggest headwinds last year came from the European Union's tough new WLTP emissions tests, which were spurred by the "dieselgate" scandal. A scramble to get ready for the more complex tests from September led to production bottlenecks and a fierce price war to shift non-compliant models at several carmakers, Volkswagen chief among them. VW also had to grapple with "general economic uncertainty" in China, where a tit-for-tat tariffs spat with the US has weighed on growth, particularly in the last half of 2018. "The reluctance to buy on the part of consumers had a negative impact on the entire automobile market" in China, VW said, but the group nevertheless saw a "slight" sales increase there over the full year. VW added that it was looking to the future "with optimism" but warned of challenges ahead. "In view of volatile geopolitical developments, our business will face an equally strong headwind in 2019," said Dahlheim. Fellow German car titan BMW also announced record annual sales on Friday of 2.49 million vehicles worldwide, up 1.1 percent on the previous year. Growth was driven by the luxury BMW and Rolls Royce brands, which both reported their best-ever figures and more than offset a drop in sales at the smaller Mini subsidiary. BMW said it expected sales to grow "slightly" in 2019 even as market conditions would "remain challenging". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) sleuths Friday arrested an assistant and a junior engineer of Rural Works Department on graft charges in Bihar's Patna district, a Vigilance release said. The sleuths caught Assistant Engineer Gore Lal Paswan, and Junior Engineer Nawab Lal red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 80,000 in cash for preparing the measurement book. The Measurement book is a notebook used by any department or agency of construction site, to record the work done by the contractor with all the direction, dimension and quantity with date of execution of work. One Manoj Kumar Singh had lodged a complaint with the Vigilance Bureau that the accused was demanding a bribe of Rs 80,000 for preparing the measurement book. The allegations were found to be correct during the verification carried out by the Bureau, the release said. The two engineers posted in Rural Works Departmet's Paliganj work division were red-handed while accepting the cash from the premises of circle office of Superintending Engineer located on Hardinge road in the state capital. The two accused would be produced before the special vigilance court Saturday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ignoring the Congress in Uttar Pradesh can be a "very dangerous mistake", the party asserted Friday, a day before the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are likely to announce their alliance for Lok Sabha elections in the politically crucial state. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate "autocracy, misgovernance" at the Centre. He, however, accepted that the Congress has "fallen on difficult times". Singhvi's statements came ahead of SP president Akhilesh Yadav's and BSP chief Mayawati's joint press meet in Lucknow Saturday. The presser will be the first after the two parties gave broad contours of an electoral alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. "I don't think anybody should underestimate the strength, extent and reach and vote share, presence and support of the Congress in a state like Uttar Pradesh. "We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake. Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future," he told reporters when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance. "Those who in any manner do not do it will be blamed ultimately by the public, which knows everything. Therefore, it is an obligation on each one of the parties to do so (defeat the BJP)," Singhvi asserted. Asked about Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy saying he was merely a "clerk" and did not have a say in running the state government, Singhvi said the remark might have been made in the heat of the moment and that the two parties were "happily married". On BJP chief Amit Shah's remarks of winning the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the Congress leader said, "These jumlas have become so stereotyped and so repetitive that the party president speaks in almost auto-pilot and no one believes them (rhetoric)." On Shah's remarks about formation of "unholy alliances", Singhvi said it was reflective of the "very grave frustration and fear and absolute chaos" in the ranks of the BJP. He also took a dig at Union minister Piyush Goyal over his remarks against Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging the leader of opposition is habitual to giving dissents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre Friday gave its in-principle nod to the Uttarakhand government's proposal seeking Rs 3,340 crore for implementing an integrated co-operative development project in the state. The in-principle approval was given by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh when Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and the state's Co-operative Minister Dhan Singh Rawat met him in New Delhi, an official releasehere said. Rawat said implementing the project in the state will improve the agricultural economy and will help prevent migrations from remote hilly areas by promoting farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and related activities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump on Friday assured holders, a majority of whom are Indian IT professionals, that his administration will soon bring changes that will give them certainty to stay in America and a potential path to citizenship. Trump on Friday tweeted that his administration is planning an overhaul of US policies on and will encourage talented and highly-skilled people to pursue career options in the US. H1B holders in the US can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the US, Trump tweeted on Friday. Trumps tweet comes as a good news for Indian professionals, especially in the IT sector, who currently have to wait for nearly a decade to get a Green Card or permanent legal residency. In the first two years of his presidency, Trump administration made it tough for the holders over their overstay, extension and issuing of new visa to them. The H1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. ALSO READ: H1-B visa workers may soon get US citizenship, promises Donald Trump Trumps major announcement on H1B visas through twitter, without any further details comes as part of his known preference to attract and retain best talent in the US. In recent weeks, he has been talking about a merit-based immigration system to reduce overall immigration to the US. US President Donald Trump on Friday assured H-1B visa holders, an overwhelming majority of whom are Indian IT professionals, that his administration will soon bring changes that will give them certainty to stay in America and a "potential path to citizenship". Trump on Friday tweeted that his administration is planning an overhaul of US policies on H-1B visa and will encourage talented and highly-skilled people to pursue career options in the US. "H1-B holders in the US can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the US," Trump tweeted on Friday. Trump's tweet comes as a good for Indian professionals, especially in the IT sector, who currently have to wait for nearly a decade to get a Green Card or permanent legal residency. In the first two years of his presidency, Trump administration made it tough for the H-1B visa holders over their overstay, extension and issuing of new visa to them. The H-1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Trump's major announcement on H-1B visas through twitter, without any further details comes as part of his known preference to attract and retain best talent in the US. In recent weeks, he has been talking about a merit-based immigration system to reduce overall immigration to the US. Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told lawmakers that the US should "endeavour to select the very best" among the applicants under the H-1B foreign work visa programme. The number of H-1B petitions routinely exceeds the statutory cap, and among that pool of petitions, we should endeavour to select the very best for the privilege of coming to the US for work, the Homeland Security Secretary said. The Trump administration, she said, has stepped up its measures to detect employment-based visa fraud and abuse, but certain non-immigrant visa programmes need reform in order to protect American workers better. In November, US Citizenship and Immigration Services had proposed major changes in the H-1B application process which it said is aimed at awarding this visa to the most skilled and highest paid foreign workers. Under the proposed rule, companies seeking foreign workers on H-1B visa under the Congressional mandated annual caps -- would first have to electronically register with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during a designated registration period. Trump's tweet, given that his administration had created an image of being anti-H-1B visa, came as a surprise to many and several H-1B visa holders from India took to social media to welcome the move. "We see some hope. President Sir we would be very happy if you can clear the humongous Green Card backlog. You will become the undisputed leader for 1 million citizens in making, Jyotsna Sharma tweeted. "I have been here for 12 years. I came under j1 visa and then, through my scientific contributions, I earned a H1B visa. My green card process is pending for 4 years, and I have several coworkers, in similar situation. We are not criminals. We followed the rules. Help us! one Ronald Herrera said. Thanks a ton for giving a hope and assurance, legal immigrants are contributing to US economy (billion dollar companies, universities, real estate etc.,) and yet waiting for decades on certainty. #MAGA #legalimmigration #H1B, Indian techie Manofjoy tweeted. However, former Obama administration official Leon Fresco, who has been working among H-1B visa holders for the past two years cautioned against too much hope. "Dont get hopes up folks, as we know what has been said about DACA and actually done to DACA recipients, but if something helpful happens, be pleasantly shocked, he tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US military has removed some equipment from Syria, a defence official confirmed Thursday, following a report that the drawdown ordered by President Donald Trump is now underway. "I can confirm the movement of equipment from Syria," the official told AFP. "For security reasons, I am not going to provide further details at this time." Trump's shock announcement on December 19 that he was withdrawing all 2,000 American troops from the conflict-wracked Middle Eastern country concerned allies and prompted the resignation of his then defence chief Jim Mattis. Since then, however, administration officials appear to have walked back considerably and the current envisaged timetable is unclear. The removal of the equipment in recent days was first reported by CNN, which quoted an administration official with direct knowledge of the operation as saying it signalled the beginning of US withdrawal from the Middle Eastern country. The official quoted by CNN would not describe exactly what the cargo was or how it was being transported. They also did not say what part of Syria it came from, though it is expected the drawdown would begin in the country's north. The CNN report added that officials it had previously spoken to said the Pentagon wants to signal to the president it is working towards his goals following his withdrawal decision last month. Though the removal of troops is not on the cards immediately, withdrawing equipment is a means of showing progress towards this goal, it added. On Sunday, National Security Adviser John Bolton set out stringent conditions for the proposed withdrawal, saying the defence of allies must first be assured. "We're going to be discussing the president's decision to withdraw, but to do so from northeast Syria in a way that makes sure that ISIS is defeated and is not able to revive itself and become a threat again," Bolton said when meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Speaking in Egypt Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed the troop pullout from Syria would go ahead as he urged Middle East nations to forge a common stand against Tehran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US is concerned for peace in the strategic Indo-Pacific region, a top American commander said here Friday as he called on Prime Minister K P Oli on the last day of his two-day visit to Nepal. Admiral Philip S Davidson, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, also called on Defense Minister Ishwor Pokharel and discussed ways to strengthen the partnership between the two countries' armies. He said the US government was concerned for peace in the Indo-Pacific region. "Since I have greater responsibility as the commander of the US Indo-Pacific, I am concerned about the peace in the Indo-Pacific region," he was quoted as saying in a Defence Ministry statement. The commander's remarks came amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. The US commander also called on Prime Minister Oli and visited the Birendra Peace Operations Training Center at Panchkhal, it said. During his meeting with Pokharel, Davidson appreciated the Nepal Army's contribution to the world peace, saying it has "helped establish its positive image across the world." Pokharel lauded the joint military trainings being held by Nepal and the US. He urged the US government to assist Nepal in the skill development sector of Nepal Army, upgradation of Birendra Peace Operations Training Center and logistics required for disaster management. Davidson, commander of America's oldest and largest military command based in Hawaii who arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday, also held discussions with Nepal Army Chief General Purna Chandra Thapa on cooperation between the two armies. Thapa will be conferred with the honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army' by President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday. The Army Chief begins his four-day India visit on Saturday during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with top brass of the Indian Army with an aim to further expand bilateral military cooperation. "Such types of high level visits of the two countries will further strengthen military ties between the two countries," Nepal Army said in a statement. Admiral Davidson returned home on Friday wrapping up his two-day official visit to Nepal, it said. Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat was conferred with the title of honourary general of the Nepal Army by Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari during his visit to the country in 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US military has begun moving non-essential gear out of Syria but is not withdrawing troops for now, defence officials said Friday as uncertainty grew over America's planned pullout from the battered nation. President Donald Trump last month claimed the Islamic State group had been defeated in Syria and said all US troops were "coming back now." But in the weeks since he gave the order, and the Pentagon began to implement it, Trump himself and members of his administration have delivered mixed messages about when the withdrawal may actually occur. Trump's national security advisor John Bolton on Sunday announced conditions for a withdrawal that appeared to delay it indefinitely. Adding to the confusion, a military spokesman said Friday the US had already begun "the process of our deliberate withdrawal" from Syria. US defence officials quickly sought to clarify the remark, stressing that the withdrawal was only of certain types of gear, and not troops. "We are not withdrawing troops at this stage," one US defense official said. A second US defence official told AFP the military had conducted a number of preparations for a deliberate withdrawal. "That includes planning for the moving of people and equipment, preparation of facilities to accept retrograde equipment," the official said, noting that no troops had been withdrawn. The Pentagon stressed it would not telegraph its troop movements or give timelines for when they may leave Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported earlier that the US-led coalition in Syria had started scaling down its presence at Rmeilan airfield in the Hasakeh province of northeastern Syria. But the first defense official said this was merely part of a regular troop movement. The US-led coalition has several other bases across northeastern Syria, as well as in neighboring Iraq, where Trump has said American forces will remain. The coalition, which also includes countries such as France and Britain, was formed in mid-2014 to counter IS, which had seized swathes of Iraq and Syria and proclaimed a "caliphate." Fighter jets and special forces have played key roles in efforts to claw back the territory lost to IS. A Kurdish-led group, the Syrian Democratic Forces, is currently flushing the jihadists from the very last pockets of land they control in the Euphrates River Valley. The battle against die-hard jihadists in remote areas along the Iraqi-Syrian border and the hunt for IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the world's most wanted man, could last indefinitely. The start of the drawdown coincided with a Middle East tour by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who insisted in Cairo on Thursday that the withdrawal would go ahead despite widespread criticism. On the same day however, Pompeo said in a speech that "when America retreats, chaos often follows." Bolton's conditions for a pullout included the defeat of IS in Syria and guarantees for the safety of Washington's Kurdish allies, who have been threatened with an imminent offensive by Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labeled Bolton's comments unacceptable and a "grave mistake". The People's Protection Units (YPG), which have spearheaded ground operations against IS, are a Syrian offshoot of the Kurdish PKK which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist movement and has repeatedly threatened to move into Syria to create a buffer zone along the border. The group has already started reaching out to Damascus and its Russian sponsor. Critics of Trump's decision, including within his own Republican party, have said a precipitous withdrawal would shatter US policy in Syria and allow IS to rebuild. They have also argued that it would further allow regime ally Iran to extend its influence across Syria and potentially threaten Israel. Since his surprise announcement last month, Trump has stressed any withdrawal would be coordinated, gradual and "prudent." But observers have stressed that the announcement was having the same impact as the withdrawal itself. "The damage is done," said Fabrice Balanche, a geographer and Syria expert. "On the ground, the announcement of the pullout is as if they were already gone. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Institute of Technology (NIT) will not be shifted out of Shrinagar in Uttarakhand's Pauri district, an official statement said Friday. An agreement to this effect was reached Friday between the state government and the Centre after Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat held detailed discussions with Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on the issue in Delhi, it said. The NIT, Shrinagar, was in the late last year when a large number of students left it en masse overnight in protest against lack of basic facilities. They were demanding a well-equipped permanent campus of the premier institute of its own. A high-powered committee had submitted its report on NIT, Shrinagar, to the Union minister saying the state government had already transferred 300 acres of unencroached land at Sumari village in Pauri district in favour of the institute. The NIT campus in Shrinagar will not be shifted elsewhere and a new temporary campus will be built on land belonging to the ITI and Resham Board, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four key municipal organs of Beijing moved their offices from the downtown area to the eastern suburb of Tongzhou District, the city's sub-center, on Friday. The office building of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress in the new sub-center in Beijing's Tongzhou district. [Photo: VCG] The four organs are the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Beijing Municipal People's Government and the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. A flag raising ceremony is held at dawn on January 11, 2019 in front of the new office building of Beijing Municipal Government in the new sub-center in Beijing's Tongzhou district. [Photo: CCTV] At around 7:36 a.m., a ceremony for raising the national flag was held at a square in the office zone of the sub-center. Cai Qi, secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, said Beijing will strive to turn the sub-center into a model of urban development in a new era and a new landmark for the capital. Residents take pictures of the original plaque of Beijing Municipal Government as it is removed from the government offices former site and sent to the Beijing Municipal Archives for storage on Jan 10, 2019. [Photo: CCTV] Beijing is shifting some of its administrative functions out of the city center into Tongzhou to help address problems including traffic congestion and air pollution. The move is also part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integrated development plan. The sub-center aims to accommodate 1.3 million permanent residents by 2035, according a detailed plan for the sub-center's development approved by the central authorities. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police(NEW YORK) -- The woman who allegedly hit and killed a manicurist after skipping out on her $35 bill has been arrested, according to police. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced that Krystal Whipple, 21, was arrested in Glendale, Arizona, Friday morning after investigators learned about her whereabouts. *CAPTURED* Krystal Whipple, suspected of fatally running over a nail salon worker on December 29, 2018, was located and arrested earlier this morning in Glendale, Arizona. #LVMPDnews pic.twitter.com/lgQLBMoL3n LVMPD (@LVMPD) January 11, 2019 Whipple's mother, Sharon Whipple, and grandmother, Carol Whipple, told ABC News that she was spotted and recognized by a civilian in Arizona, who then called authorities. On Dec. 29, Whipple told workers at the Las Vegas nail salon that she needed to go to her car to retrieve cash after her credit card declined, police said. When victim Ngoc Q. Nguyen, saw Whipple starting the car, she rushed toward the vehicle and was struck, police said. Surveillance video shows Nguyen running out of the salon in an attempt to catch Whipple before she drove off in the black Chevrolet Camaro rental car, police said. Nguyen ran out in front of the car, while her husband ran to the back, and the car accelerated through the parking lot and struck Nguyen, dragging her for about 50 feet, the video shows. Nguyen later died at a local hospital, and the car was found abandoned in a nearby housing complex, police said. Additional details on Whipple's arrest were not released. Sharon Whipple and Carol Whipple told ABC News that she is relieved that her daughter has been located but had hoped she would have "turned herself in" instead. Nguyen is survived by her husband, three daughters and several grandchildren. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Two men suspected to be members of the Deepak Tomar gang were arrested for allegedly killing a person in outer Delhi's Alipur area in December last year, police said Friday. The accused were identified as Pradeep (25), a resident of Jhajjar district in Haryana and Pintu alias Sumit (24), a resident of Rohtak district in Haryana, they added. On December 30, 2018, an unidentified disfigured body of a man having multiple gunshot injuries was found in Singhu drain. Later, the victim was identified as Deepak Pandit, a resident of Barout in Uttar Pradesh, AK Singla, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), said. On Thursday, police received information that some arms suppliers would come near Najafgarh drain in Dwarka on a motorcycle, police said. Subsequently, a trap was laid near Najafgarh drain and at around 9.20 am, two persons on a motorcycle were spotted and they were signalled to stop. However, they tried to escape and sped away the bike towards Najafgarh drain road. After a brief chase, they were nabbed, Singla said. During interrogation, they confessed to the crime and disclosed that they were childhood friends. Pradeep met one Deepak Tomar of Baghpat and joined his gang, Singla said. Pintu had an enmity with one Suman of his village, whom he wanted to eliminate. He asked Pradeep for help and requested him to arrange for firearms. Pradeep asked Tomar and requested for help. Tomar asked them to eliminate his rival Deepak Pandit first and then, he would help them in killing Suman, the officer said. Tomar had told them that Pandit had taken a contract of Rs 5 lakh from rival gangs in Uttar Pradesh to eliminate him. Tomar also provided a stolen bike and a country-made pistol to Pradeep and Pintu after the duo accepted his offer. As planned, on December 21, Tomar, Pradeep and Pintu, along with their associates, gathered at the office of one Manish Khatri in Singhu village and called Pandit there. The accused, who were over drunk, thrashed Pandit and took him to the fields and shot him five times. Later, they threw the body in Singhu drain after pouring acid on his face and body in order to conceal his identity, the officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the arrest of two persons, the Mumbai police have recovered 29 two-wheelers stolen from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai in the last three years, a senior official said Friday. One Harshad Kohli had lodged a complaint with Yellow Gate police station that his scooter was stolen from Bhaucha Dhakka ferry wharf in Mazgaon area here some days ago. Acting on a tip-off, police laid a trap and arrested Meraj Sheikh (19) Sunday from the Yellow Gate area. His interrogation led to the arrest of his accomplice Mustaq Mansuri (19) from Belapur in neighbouring Navi Mumbai. The duo revealed that they had stolen several two-wheelers from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai in the last three years, the official said. Police recovered 29 stolen two-wheelers from their possession and further probe was on, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to be inching closer to imposing a national emergency that could allow him to bypass Congress to fund a controversial wall along the US-Mexico border that has led to a bitter political impasse and a 21-day government shutdown. Trump has asked for USD 5.6 billion from Congress to construct the border wall, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats have repeatedly refused to approve any legislation to fund the wall. The standoff led to the partial government shutdown. During his visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for the wall plan, Trump was asked if he is closer to declaring an emergency -- an action that would likely face legal challenges. "We are. I would like to look it broader. I think we could do this quickly, because this is common sense and it's not expensive. We will save the cost of the wall every year but much more than that," the president said. Trump had on Wednesday said that imposing a national emergency is the last option and threatened to use it if the Democrats did not allocate USD 5.7 billion funding for the wall. The president's inclination towards declaring a national emergency has gained momentum after he walked out of a meeting with top Democratic leaders -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer -- on Wednesday following their refusal to allocate funding. During an interaction with media personnel in Texas on Thursday, Trump said, "I would like to do a much broader form of immigration, and we can do immigration reform. It'll take longer. It's been complex. It's been going on for 30-35 years, they've been talking about immigration reform. But before we do that, we have to create a barrier. That we could do very quickly." Contending strongly for construction of a barrier, concrete or steel, along the southern border with Mexico, the president has been claiming that illegal immigrants cause USD 250 billion drain on the American economy. Republican leaders insist the party stands behind the president, although some Republican lawmakers have spoken out in favour of ending the shutdown. The opposition Democrats, who are now in majority in the House of Representatives have refused to support such a move arguing that building the wall is a waste of taxpayers' money. Referring to his meeting with Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil Singh killed in California recently allegedly by an illegal immigrant during a border patro, Trump said, "Reggie, I got to know him today a little bit. This shouldn't be happening in our country." "This shouldn't be happening. And what you see of the border, that's not as much of a problem as they (illegal immigrants) come through the border and they go out throughout our nation," Trump said. "As hard as we work, and as well as we're doing nationwide on crime, a lot of it is caused by people that come in through the southern border. So, and you know, if we had the barrier, it wouldn't happen," he told reporters. But the Democrats appeared to be unconvinced by Trump's argument of national emergency. "If and when the President does that, you'll find out how we will react, but I'm not going to that place now. But I think the president will have problems on his own side of the aisle for exploiting the situation in a way that enhances his power. But not to go there. Let's see what he does," Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol Hill. Democratic Congresswoman Grace Meng from New York on Thursday announced that a legislation would be introduced in the House of Representatives on Friday to prevent Trump from declaring a national emergency. Some others said that they will file a lawsuit against national emergency. Trump said he is ready for the lawsuit and asserted that he will win it. "I am prepared for anything. The lawyers tell me, like, 100 per cent," he told reporters. As the government shutdown neared the end of its third week, the president left Washington with no additional negotiations scheduled with congressional leaders over a possible compromise that could both provide border security and open the government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has described the "fake new media" as the "Opposition party" and accused them of working with Democrats for regularly referring to the situation at the border as a "manufactured crisis". His remarks came as the Democrats refused to allocate funding for a proposed controversial wall along the US-Mexico border. Trump has asked for USD 5.6 billion from Congress to construct the border wall, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. "Democrats have refused to listen to the border agents and they say this is a manufactured crisis. That's their new soundbite. All over I turned the television--you know, I call it the opposition party. It's called the fake media," Trump said during a border security and immigration roundtable in Texas on Thursday. He was referring to the allegation of the opposition Democrats that Trump has manufactured the crisis on the border to build the wall. Addressing border security officials, Trump said the problem of flow of illegal immigrants cannot be solves without a wall. "If we don't have a barrier, a very substantial barrier of some kind, you're never going to be able to solve this problem. And everybody gets it, he said. Referring to his visit to the border, he said he looked and every single car out there, even the asked really expensive ones that the Secret Service uses and said, "Do they all have wheels?" Yes. Oh, I thought it was medieval. The wheel is older than the wall. You know that? And there are some thing that work. You know what? The wheel works and a wall works. Nothing like a wall." Trump blamed the Democrats for the government shutdown "Plain and simple. And again, more than just the walls. Their open borders agenda threaten all American families, including millions of legal immigrants throughout our nation," he said. The Democrats have repeatedly refused to approve any legislation to fund the wall. The standoff led to the partial government shutdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There's Barbie, of course, and a host of others who have epitomised the glam-to-cute spectrum with their blond tresses for generations of dark-haired Indian children, but when a real-life toddler joins the doll bandwagon, the fun and games acquire a new layer of complexity, say experts and parents. Young Taimur Ali Khan is a doll. And no, this is not just a descriptive for the cuteness quotient of the two-year-old son of Bollywood power couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor but an actual 54-cm plastic fact. A Kerala-based entrepreneur recently took the step to objectify the celeb toddler into a doll dressed in a white kurta, a blue Nehru jacket and blue pants. With role play, gender stereotypes and young girls idealising the impossibly perfect figure of Barbie or the predominantly western look of the dolls they play with, these are the toys that have long been a problematic area, often generating image troubles that often into the teenage years and beyond. And with the Taimur doll, what was just child's play has acquired a new layer of complexity and commodification. According to Nimesh Desai, director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, ethics and morality find no place in this marketplace. It works on the simple formula of "commercialisation" where anything and everything that has demand and can be sold in the market will be "manufactured" no matter what. So, the reality is this - two-year-old Taimur comes out of the car, everyone shouts his name, he gives a quick stare at the flashing cameras and breaks into a smile just on cue, waves 'hi and bye' and is off. The paparazzi's work is done with numerous websites and social media pages eager to grab the photographs and video clips of the pint sized celeb. The toddler, thanks to his copybook cute look, has been making fans and paparazzi go berserk since the day he was born, a fan frenzy that took the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and even Thalaiva Rajnikanth years of work. With Brand Taimur growing by the day, parents and experts ponder troubling questions -- when does fandom cross the line, what are the possible ramifications for the child growing up in the eye of the publicity storm, what is the impact on children playing with such dolls and the big one, how much is too much. "No one can deny the fact that the kid is just too cute to be true and one cannot get enough of his photos or videos. That said, the Kerala guy probably did a bit too much by manufacturing a Taimur doll. Sorry, that is not cute. On the contrary, it seems creepy to me, said Gurgaon-based Prisha Mandavya, the mother of a six-year-old. "I would never want my kid to play with a doll which is a lookalike of another kid. Also, I am really against someone making a business out of an innocent child. The family (Kapoors) should take action against them," she added. Kareena and Saif have maintained in the past that they can't help the attention their child gets. There is apparently a rate card for each celebrity. "They (photographers) get 1500 bucks a photograph for this guy (Taimur)," Saif revealed during a recent episode of the chat show Koffee with Karan. The growth of a new culture of celebrity-hood and saturation media coverage means that older ideas of privacy are no longer valid, said sociologist Sanjay Srivastava. "Celebrities need the media and vice versa. Taimur is a victim of the coming together of celebrity culture, media culture and consumer culture. He has become a commodity," Srivastava told PTI. Unlike in the West, there is very little or no regard for privacy in India, Desai agreed. "Of course, regarding Taimur it is for his parents to decide and certainly moderation is always a good idea. But then I guess the media too to be blamed for overdoing it most of the time, Desai said. "We here simply don't have the the culture where people respect the concept of maintaining boundaries. For example, there is paparazzi in the UK too, but I doubt if the children of the royal family (Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis) are mobbed and bothered by shutterbugs the way we see here," the senior psychologist added. That said, according to industry insiders, the business of encashing on famous celebrity images by having their dolls in the market has not minted much money for toy-makers in India. There have been the occasional forays into celeb dolls, Leo Mattel made a Katrina Kaif Barbie once and film merchandising has sometimes seen star dolls like Hrithik Roshan's superhero avatar from the "Krish" series. "Their business is very short-lived. They just never created the demand like that you see with the likes of Avengers, Captain America, Tom and Jerry," said Satish Sundra, from Delhi's Ram Chander & Sons, which claims to be India's oldest toy shop. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee Friday challenged BJP national president Amit Shah to contest coming Lok Sabha polls from West Bengal. Banerjee, MP, said that people of India are looking up to TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to lead the nation after 2019. He questioned why Shah didn't have the guts to conduct a press conference Thursday when Alok Verma was still CBI chief. "Amit Shah is saying his next target is West Bengal. I want to challenge him if he has the guts he should contest elections from any of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. I would ensure that he loses the election," Abhishek said while addressing a rally in North Kolkata. In an apparent reference to switchover of party MP Soumitra Khan to BJP, Abhsihek Banerjee said the those who have rejected by the TMC are treated as "gems" in BJP. "Those who have been rejected by TMC, who are basically not but garbage on our party, all of a sudden have become gems in BJP. This is the condition of BJP in Bengal. I can assure all of you that BJP won't win even a single seat in Bengal," he said. The BJP leadership has earmarked Bengal as a priority state and it's party president Amit Shah has set a target of winning 22 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. He (Shah) was conducting a press conference Friday if he had the guts he should have conducted it Thursday when Alok Verma was still CBI chief, Banerjee said in a apparent reference to uncomfortable questions that have been raised against BJP over the Rafale fighter jet deal. Banerjee, who is also nephew of Mamata, said the countdown for the "anti people" Modi government has begun. "Mamata Banerjee is the leading light that the people of India are looking at to oust the Modi government at the centre," he said. Mocking the defeat of BJP in three hindi heartland states, Banerjee said BJP for last 4.5 years gave used CBI and ED as a tool to silence political opponents and detractors but has failed to do so with TMC. "The TMC is the only political party which has not surrendered before the intimidation tactics of BJP. The more they threatened us with CBI and ED the more stronger we emerged by defeating all threats and intimidation," he said. TMC party leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay gave the call to ensure that the next government at the centre is formed under the leadership Mamata Banerjee. Bandopadhyay criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving nominal time to the parliament and not delivering a single speech in the winter session of the Parliament. "We have never witnessed such a incident where Prime Minister comes to parliament just for few minutes and doesn't deliver a single speech on any of the issues. Where are we heading to. The people of this country should take a call in the next Lok Sabha polls," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Those who seek votes in the name of cows should also provide fodder to them, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Friday after he was told during his visit to Bawana that the BJP-led MCD has not released funds to a gaushala for two years in the area. The chief minister, accompanied by Development Minister Gopal Rai, visited 'Shree Krishna Gaushala' funded by the Delhi government and municipal corporation in Bawana town in North West district. Talking to reporters after his visit, Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party does not seek votes in the name of cows. Representatives of gaushala told the chief minister that MCD, ruled by the BJP, has not released its share of funds for two years due to which they have to face problems. Kejriwal claimed that the Delhi government has released its share of funds to gaushala, but MCD has not given its share yet. "Those who seek votes in the name of cows should also give fodder to cows. "They get votes in the name of cows, but they refuse to give fodder to cows, which is not right. There should not be over cows," he told reporters without taking name of anyone. Minister Rai said the AAP government recently introduced a policy for birds and animals. A gaushala in Ghuman Hera area will be "modernised", he added. Shree Krishna Gaushala is spread over 36 acres. It has 7,552 cattle against the capacity of 7,740. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The screening of Bollywood film "The Accidental Prime Minister" was stopped at a mall in this city of Punjab Friday following protest by Congress activists. The Congress workers forced the management not to screen the movie. They also raised slogans against the BJP, accusing it of lowering the image of former prime minister Manmohan Singh with the movie. The party also demanded FIR against the director and actors of the movie. Heavy police force has been deployed outside all cinema halls in the city, officials said. Similar protests were held by Congress workers in Jalandhar. The "Accidental Prime Minister" features actor Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh. It is based on Sanjaya Baru's 2014 memoir of the same name and details Singh's relationship with the Congress party's Gandhi family. The movie hit the theatres Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Motors Friday reported 13.9 per cent decline in group global wholesales, including that of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), at 1,00,551 units in December 2018. Tata Motors' group global wholesales in December 2017 stood at 1,16,677 units. Global wholesales of all Tata passenger vehicles last month stood at 59,898 units, lower by 14 per cent from the year-ago period, Tata Motors said in a statement. JLR sales were at 45,474 units. While Jaguar wholesales for the month were 14,088 vehicles, that of Land Rover stood at 31,386 units. The company further said its global wholesales of all Tata Motors commercial vehicles and Tata Daewoo range stood at 40,653 units last month, down 14 per cent from December 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of farmers are protesting outside a sugar mill in Modinagar area in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh, demanding that their arrears be cleared. The protest led by Kisan Sewa Samiti will continue till the arrears of farmers are not cleared by the mill owners, the organisation's chief Ram Asrey Sharma said. District Magistrate Ritu Maheshwari said one of the mill owners is outside the country and his passport will be impounded when he returns. His properties had been attached by the district administration, but he got relief from the Allahabad High Court before they could be auctioned, Maheshwari said. The court has ordered the mill owner to pay arrears to cane growers in installments, Maheshwari added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Normal life was stalled in several districts and ethnic-community pockets in Assam on Friday due to a 12-hour state "bandh" called by the Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) against a bill to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities. The districts affected by the "bandh" included Morigaon, the BTAD districts of Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang and Dima Hasao. In Morigaon district, hundreds of "bandh" supporters blocked National Highway-37 by burning tyres and laying tree trunks, disrupting the road traffic between lower and upper Assam for some hours, the police said. The police and security forces rushed to the spot, arrested over 30 picketers and brought the situation under control. In Kokrajhar district, the "bandh" supporters burnt tyres at different places, including at Athiabari, Salakati, Fakiragram and Kokrajhar towns. There were reports of stones hurled at trucks, causing damage to one of the vehicles. A number of trucks were stranded on NH-36 at Doboka, the police said. The protesters also attempted to block the movement of the Avadh-Assam Express by blocking the railway tracks at Sarupathar in Golaghat district, before they were removed and the train moved onwards, they added. Normal life came to a halt in all the bandh-hit districts with shops and business establishments, educational institutions, banks, financial institutions remaining closed, while vehicles stayed off the roads, the police said. The attendance in government offices was thin due to the absence of public transports in the bandh-hit areas, they added. Essential services like medical, water, milk, electricity were exempted from the purview of the "bandh". Security arrangements were beefed up in view of the "bandh" in Assam, which is also witnessing massive statewide protests over the Citizenship Amendment Bill. The protesters strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government's move to pass the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Amendment Bill, 2019, following a cabinet decision after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 by the Lok Sabha. The CCTOA feared that the Scheduled Tribes Amendment Bill would eliminate the "genuine tribal people" of the state by enlisting the six ethnic groups of Assam as ST. The six ethnic communities proposed to be included in the ST category are Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak and the tea tribes of Assam who form a sizeable chunk of the population of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati will Saturday announce their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, appearing set to keep the Congress out of the pact in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress described this likelihood as a "very dangerous mistake" and said it was ready to fight the parliamentary polls alone in the state. SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary and Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary SC Misra Friday sent out the invitation for a joint press conference at a hotel in Lucknow. Akhilesh Yadav confirmed in a television interview that the press conference is on the alliance in Uttar Pradesh, while parrying questions on seat-sharing with the Congress. At a meeting in Kannauj, he also said, Our coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress." Smaller parties like the RLD and the Nishad Party are also likely to be part of the alliance, but were not mentioned in the announcement on the press conference. RLD's state unit president Masood Ahmed told PTI that the party national vice president Jayant Chaudhary will be in the state capital Saturday and, if invited, could be a part of the joint press conference. His party chief Ajit Singh evaded questions from the media on the two seats expected to be set aside for the RLD, saying the discussions were in an early stage. In Delhi, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate "autocracy, misgovernance" at the Centre. "We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake, he told reporters when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance. Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future," he added. Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi said the party was ready to fight the coming elections alone in the state. "We alone have 45 seats in the Lok Sabha and it is any day many more than the regional players, he said. A 'mahagathbandhan' in the Lok Sabha elections needs to be built around the party having a national face," Bakshi said. The top leadership of the SP and the BSP recently met in Delhi to discuss the broad parameters of an alliance to take on the BJP in the parliamentary elections just months away. After the meeting, the SP said Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati had given their in-principal approval. Sources said the SP and the BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 on offer in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two, Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for the Congress. Congress leaders like PL Punia, who delivered Chhattisgarh to the Congress as its state in-charge, and UPCC chief Raj Babbar are reportedly of the view that the party should seek its pound of flesh in any alliance. They cite the example of 2009 when the Congress romped home with 22 Lok Sabha seats in UP, surprising many. They also say that with party chief Rahul Gandhi getting more "combative against the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress now stands a better chance than before. At a party convention in Delhi on Friday, BJP president Amit Shah mocked the "bua-bhatija" alliance of the parties led by Yadav and Mayawati. He said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the fear of the BJP, echoing remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent rally in Agra. Shah claimed that the BJP is on its way to win more than 50 per cent votes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliance's tally will improve from the 73 Lok Sabha seats it won in 2014 out of the state's 80. Last year, Yadav and Mayawati decided to bury their differences to contest three bypolls. The joint opposition victories in the bypolls in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana was seen as a consolidation of Other Backward Classes, Dalits and Muslim votes, and raised expectations of a similar math working in the 2019 elections. In recent days, Yadav and Mayawati have put out press statements that mention a "gathbandhan". Mayawati's press statement was in solidarity with Yadav amid reports that the CBI might question him in connection with a mining scam that allegedly took place when he was chief minister. "Don't be shaken," she advised him. Yadav returned the favour when he put out a statement to condemn Modi's remarks in Agra on Mayawati "forgetting" an attack on her by SP workers in 1995. "The PM is scared of the alliance," Yadav said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The newly-appointed Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit Friday met with the three working presidents and took stock of the party affairs in the national capital. According to party sources, Dikshit will officially take charge from January 16. She was appointed as the Delhi party unit head by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday. Devender Yadav, Rajesh Lilothia and Haroon Yusuf were appointed as working presidents to assist the former Delhi chief minister. "The meeting focused on setting priorities and fixing responsibilities of office-bearers in view of the approaching Lok Sabha elections. The ways to strengthen the party unit were also discussed in the meeting," the party leaders said. The new team headed by Dikshit is yet to decide on the possibility of alliance with the AAP. Dikshit had after her appointment on Thursday told reporters that she would react on the issue (of alliance) after understanding the situation from top to down. Meanwhile, sources said most of the party leaders believe Congress is "prepared" to challenge the BJP on its own in the upcoming general elections. A final decision on Congress' alliance with other parties will be taken by the committee headed by A K Antony, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif's health condition has deteriorated, his daughter claimed on Friday and alleged that authorities are not letting his cardiologists examine him in the jail here. Maryam Nawaz on Friday said that Sharif, who has been serving a seven-year jail term in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case, is suffering from a pain in his arm, "which is most likely to be angina". A jail spokesman, however, said jail doctors examined Sharif thoroughly and his health is fine. "Nawaz Sharif is in good health," he said. Taking to Twitter, Maryam complained that Sharif's cardiologists "have been trying to get access to him all day but (the) permission (has) not (been) granted". "He needs to be examined by the doctors who are privy to his complicated medical history," Maryam said. Sharif, 69, had undergone an open-heart surgery about three years ago in London. Maryam, who had visited her father in the jail on Thursday, said his father had a "complicate medical history" and he needed special health care. PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif warned that if anything happened to his elder brother, Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Punjab government will be responsible. He demanded the jail authorities to immediately allow Sharif's cardiologist to examine him and provide him the best health facilities. An anti-corruption court in Pakistan on December 24 sentenced the ousted premier to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case, concluding a series of three court cases against the Sharif family in the high-profile Panama Papers case. The Al-Azizia Steel Mill case was about setting up steel mills in Saudi Arabia allegedly with corruption money. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former IAS officer Shah Faesal, who quit the service recently, Friday shared his future plans, saying he would not join any mainstream political parties "as of now", or separatist Hurriyat Conference, but would be happy to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections. The 2010-batch officer said he was deeply inspired by the style of of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, but the "situation" in Jammu and Kashmir would not allow him to pursue their style. "As of now, I do not have any plans to join any existing mainstream political party. I plan to go to the field, listen to the ground, to the youngsters and important stakeholders and then take a decision," he told reporters here. "I am deeply inspired by Imran Khan and Arvind Kejriwal. But, we know we are operating in a conflict zone and it is not very easy for us to work in that space, a space which has lost legitimacy in last few years. "I wish if the youngsters of the state give me that kind of opportunity, I will be happy to do a retake of Imran Khan and Kejriwal," Faesal added. He said he would be holding consultations with all staekholders including political parties before taking the next step. "In Kashmir, we need to come together. We are in a crisis situation. It is not time to do on the graves of the people." Asked if he would be contesting the elections, Faesal said, "I will be happy to contest the upcoming elections. In fact, I believe parliament and legislature are important space and we need well-meaning and right people there." He said that in the recent years, due to the "delegitimising" of the electoral politics because of the way it has been conducted, youths are not attracted to it. "We need to change that. I wish to use Parliament for engagement, for bringing solutions to our problems."On a question about the possibility of him joining the Hurriyat, Faesal said he would not do so as he cannot put to use his expertise in that forum. "I am a man from the system and I have an experience and my specialisation is in governance... I will be happy to do something in the institutions where I can use my experience as an administrator. I wish I could do that elsewhere as well, but because the Hurriyat does not give me that kind of opportunity, very rightly because Hurriyat does not believe in electoral politics. So, I think at this moment I may not be able to do that," he said. However, he said it was wrong to assume the Hurriyat has no role in achieving resolution of the Kashmir problem. He also said phrases like 'azaadi', right to self-determination and plebiscite should not be seen as taboo words in the mainstream politics. "We have this political discourse and there are certain taboo words ... we should not talk about azaadi, we should not talk about azaadi, we should not talk about plebiscite... all these, which are not actually taboo words." "Let the mainstream politics actually open its eyes to that vocabulary and re-imagine," he said. "We have got politicians to deal with municipal problems and military to deal with political problem. I think that is a problem itself. We need to open the space for the politicians and leave other things to those who need to be doing it," he added. In response to a question about the timing of his resignation, Faesal said he did it at the right time. "Resignation is a weapon which can be used only once and I think I have used it at the right time." Faesal said his new initiative of peace-building should not be seen as an alternative to the existing parties, but an addition. He said his resignation from the IAS has nothing to do with the factors within the service but factors external to it and the environment in which he was working there. "The service has given me an opportunity to understand the development problems of the state and serve the people at the grassroots level. I will always be a proud ex-member of the service," he said. He said that over last few years, in the state and rest of the country there have been circumstances that made him realise that this is time to speak up. "By the resignation, I am putting across a small act of defiance to remind the central government of its responsibilities towards the people of JK. I am resigning to protest the lack of political initiative to assuage the hurt feelings of people of Kashmir. Faesal said in recent years, there have been some serious attacks on the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. "The constitutional arrangement which exists between the state of Jammu and kashmir and union of India under articles 370 and 35-A have been constantly invoked for electoral gains". He also accused the Centre of failure to facilitate the homecoming of Kashmiri Pandits, "an important element of our diverse culture". Faesal also spoke about "lack" of initiative for bringing peace to the border residents, especially in Jammu, R S Pura, Poonch and Rajouri". He said the rise of "lynch mob nationalism" in last few years has led to extreme marginalisation of minorities -- both political and religious -- in the country. "The other thing that has led to me being disgruntled is the curbs placed on the free speech of individuals in the country and the culture of hate and intolerance used to win elections." Faesal said that due to the service conduct rules, it would not have been possible for him to speak out. "Today I'm feeling extremely relieved. I'm free now. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the last four years, there have been efforts to actively propagate pseudoscience and anti-scinece perceptions, D Raghunandan of All India Peoples Science Network said, while expressing concern over attacks on critical thinking in educational institutes like JNU. Speaking at a panel discussion on 'Science Movements in India' in the presence of Professor M Jagadesh Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor, Raghunandan said, "There are attacks on critical thinking which is core to the idea of scientific temper. This is happening in institutes of higher learning like JNU, IIT-Madras and Bombay. This will not help either in the task of promoting scientific temper or critical thinking." Kumar, who chaired the event, said, "Scientists and science as such has somehow become isolated. A hierarchical power structure has been created, classifying someone who is not a scientist as 'others'. These others are also called amateurs, lay men." The only way of knowledge transfer is through developing things and later telling people about how it was developed, however this view is not shared by certain scientists, he said. There are efforts to actively propagate pseudoscience, anto-scien'e perceptions and in the last four years we have seen this happening more often, said Raghunandan, referring to the controversy during the recent Indian Science Congress There is lot of talk about rewriting textbooks in pursuit of various agendas, but not enough has been done in terms of actually working on books required to teach science and social science in higher institutions, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking cancellation of a lease awarding 50 acres of land at the Kandla Port to a private firm and asked the NGO, which filed the petition, to move the Gujarat High Court. The apex court dismissed the appeal filed by NGO 'Centre for Public Interest Litigation' (CPIL) challenging the Delhi high court's order on October 1 last year by which it had termed the PIL as not maintainable due to the lack of territorial jurisdiction. The high court had said that no part of cause of action has arisen within its territorial jurisdiction and had granted liberty to the petitioner NGO to approach the appropriate forum in accordance with law. The NGO then filed an appeal in the Supreme Court. "We are not inclined to interfere with the order impugned in the special leave petition as, in our considered view, no prejudice has been caused by requiring the petitioner to move the appropriate jurisdiction i.e. the High Court of Gujarat raising its grievance under the same subject matter before the said High Court. The special leave petition is, accordingly, dismissed," a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul said. The apex court did not accept the contention of lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, that the Delhi High Court wrongly rejected the plea on the ground of territorial jurisdiction. "How is the writ petition maintainable in the Delhi High Court. Just because the the Centre government sits in Delhi, you cannot file the PIL in Delhi. Go to the Gujarat High Court," the bench observed. The high court had said that the tender has been issued from Gandhidham, and the land is situated at Kutch in Gujarat and hence, the high court has no jurisdiction there. It had also rejected the contention of the NGO that the high court had the jurisdiction to hear the PIL as the Central government has a role to play in the working of the Kandla Port Trust. The counsel for the Centre, the FSWAI and the Kandla Port Trust (KPT) had opposed the petition on grounds of lack of territorial jurisdiction. The NGO had alleged that the KPT, now known as Deendayal Port Trust, overvalued the structures set up at the site by the firm, Friends Salt Works and Allied Industries (FSWAI), when it had leased the land in the past, to ensure that only the firm gets the contract. It had claimed that the FSWAI did not have to pay the amount of Rs 207 crore if it was successful in the bid and added that under the earlier lease agreement the KPT did not have any contractual obligation to compensate the firm for its assets. The NGO had sought that if the lease of 50 acres of land at the port awarded to the firm in April 2015 was not cancelled, then the amount of Rs 207 crore be recovered from it. "The introduction of said clause in the tender (to compensate FSWAI) is illegal and arbitrary since it was the responsibility of FSWAI to remove the structures before the expiry of the (earlier) lease. The additional burden of Rs 207 crore on other bidders put them at a significant disadvantage and ensured that the said tender would be awarded to FSWAI," the NGO had alleged in its plea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Friday lifted its stay on certain stalled projects under the government's ambitious Chardham development plan, which proposes to provide all-weather connectivity to the four holy towns of Uttarakhand. The court said the stay will however continue on those projects which are yet to begin under the plan till the clearance is taken by the authorities. The four towns of the hilly state to be connected by all-weather roads are Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The top court also stayed a paragraph in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order passed on September 26 last year which said that these projects did not require Environmental Impact Assessment Approval/ Clearance in terms of the notification of Ministry of & Forests. On October 22 last year, the apex court had stayed the NGT order clearing the entire ambitious Chardham project in Uttarakhand. A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Vineet Sharan said that ongoing projects will not be stayed and the projects which have not yet taken off will be stayed. It said that in case of stalled projects the authorities will follow the usual drill and seek the requisite environmental clearances. The paragraph 46 of the NGT order of September 26 will be stayed, the bench said. The paragraph said: "Accordingly, these projects did not require EIA Approval/Environment Clearance in terms of the Notification of MoEF&CC dated September 14, 2006 and amended on August 22, 2013 vide S.O. 2559 (E)". The bench also asked Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand appearing for the Centre to file an affidavit in eight weeks on the number of ongoing projects. At the outset, Anand along with advocate Balendu Shekhar said that NGT has cleared the project and all due procedure were followed. Advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for NGO Citizen for Green Doon, said that without environmental clearances projects were being carried out. He said that seven landslides have taken place due to the ecologically fragile nature of the hills which are being cut almost vertically. Parikh, appearing for the petitioner, NGO Citizens for Green Doon, had said that if the project was allowed to go on, an irreversible damage would be done to the ecology which would be equal to damage done by 10 hydro power projects. He said that NGT order giving clearance to the project should be stayed as there were gross violation of environmental norms. The bench, however, said that it will not stay the NGT order in entirety. On October 22, last year, the apex court had stayed the order of NGT which had cleared the ambitious 'Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna'. The top court had on November 26 sought the Centre's response on why it should not stay the NGT order clearing the project. On September 26, NGT had constituted a committee to monitor the ambitious road project while giving its nod with some safeguards in view of larger public interest and the country's security. The committee headed by former Uttarakhand High Court Judge Justice U C Dhyani was set up to overseeing the implementation of the Environment Management Plan (EMP) of the project. The petitioner NGO had said that the environment clearance was must for the project and the ongoing work was "blatantly illegal". The Environment Ministry had earlier informed the NGT that it had received no proposal for environmental clearance for the project and hence the question of an environment impact assessment (EIA) study of such a project did not arise. The ministry also said that under the 2006 EIA notification, only new national highways and expansion of highways over 100 km needed to get prior environmental clearance. The NGO stated that the 900-km project in the hilly state was being carried out without any environment impact assessment. It also contended that the Centre had allegedly deliberately broken the road project into small stretches to do away with the requirement for obtaining environment clearance. It had alleged that the road widening work to connect Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarakhand was being carried out in violation of environmental laws. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 18-year-old Saudi asylum seeker who fled her family to Thailand and harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation on Friday abruptly suspended her account, with friends saying she had received death threats. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun's attempt to flee the ultra-conservative kingdom has been embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression. Thai authorities initially threatened to deport her after she arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait last weekend. But armed with a smartphone and a hastily opened Twitter account, she forced a U-turn from Thai immigration police who handed her into the care of the UN's refugee agency as the #SaveRahaf hashtag case bounced across the world. Qunun alleges abuse by her family - who deny the allegations - and rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in conservative Saudi Arabia. On Friday afternoon she posted a final cryptic tweet on her profile saying "I have some good and some bad news" - shortly after her account was deactivated. "Rahaf received death threats and for this reason she closed her Twitter account, please save Rahaf life," tweeted supporter @nourahfa313, who has flanked Rahaf's social media campaign with her own updates on Twitter. "I understand that there have been death threats against her but I don't know the details," said Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch, adding even threats from online trolls need to be taken seriously. Rahaf's swift use of Twitter saw her amass more than 100,000 followers within a week, highlighting her plight and allowing her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or languish in Bangkok detention centres. Though her asylum case has moved at lightning speed the mystery over which country will accept Rahaf remains. Australia has dropped the strongest hints so far after the UN urged the country to accept her but its foreign minister said this week that it was still assessing the request. Thailand's immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters Friday that as far as he knows there are "two or three" countries who could offer asylum. The Southeast Asian country is not a signatory to a convention on refugees and asylum seekers must be referred to a third country. Until that happens she is under the care of UNHCR in Bangkok. She has refused to see her father who travelled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An RTI activist missing since December 27 has been found dead at Shahpur village under Kandhla Police Station in Shamli district, officials said Friday. "Kasim Saifi, 32, was missing from his home in Moradabad since the last week of December. After investigation, Vikas Choudhry, a property deal, was taken in for questioning during which he confessed to killing the RTI activist," officials said. Saifi's body was recovered and sent for postmortem, they added. "Saifi was shot dead by the accused with the help of one Kuldeep on December 27. The crime was motivated by an old enmity. Based on the complaint lodged by the victim's family, we had began investigation," officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court Friday granted eight weeks short term bail to RotomacGlobal promoter director Vikram Kothari in connection with alleged Rs 3695 crore willful loan default case. The CBI had arrested Kothariin Delhi on February 23, 2018 and since then he has been in judicial custody.He is presently admitted in SGPGI. Justice A R Masoodi also asked Kothari to surrender his passport to the trial court before his release and further directed him to inform about his movement in the country during the bail period. It further directed Kothari to surrender soon after expiry of the eight weeks bail period. The court had earlier on November 30, 2018 rejected Kothari's regular bail plea. It had though granted bail to his son Rahul Kothari. The case relates bank loans worth Rs 2,919 crore from 2008 onwards to Rotomac Global Pvt. Ltd. by a consortium of seven nationalised banks, the CBI FIR has alleged. The amount swelled to Rs 3,695 crore, including the accrued interest, because of repeated defaults on payment, it said. The instances were allegedly found where the credit sanctioned and disbursed to the company was used for purposes other than execution of the claimed export orders. The CBI had initiated the action on the complaint of Bank of Baroda, which was a member of consortium led by Bank of India, which had approached the agency fearing that Kothari might flee the country like jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi. The principal exposure of the banks regarding the loan is Bank of India Rs 754.77 crore, Bank of Baroda Rs 456.63 crore, Overseas Bank of India Rs 771.07 crore, Union Bank of India Rs 458.95 crore, Allahabad Bank Rs 330.68 crore, Bank of Maharashtra 49.82 crore and Oriental Bank of Commerce Rs 97.47 crore, it said. Vikram Kothari, his wife Sadhana, and son Rahul were named in the FIR, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh has referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Smriti Irani as "bull, calf and cow", triggering a row. Calling the remarks "undignified", a BJP leader demanded an apology from the RLD chief. During his 'Kisanon se Samvad' (dialogue with farmers) event at Kosi Kalan here Thursday, Singh said it is the virtue of democracy that the people have the right to change a prime minister after five years if they get a "wrong" one. "I read in newspapers these days that your cows, bulls and calves (gai-bail-bachhde) are roaming around a lot," he said in an apparent reference to the stray cattle menace. "You are locking them up in schools and colleges. People call them Modi-Yogi. Is that right?" he added. "Some people also say that a 'hatti-katti gai' (well-built cow) has come. Smriti Irani is also moving around," Singh said. The Union minister recently visited Amethi. The RLD chief led the public in chanting slogans like Modi Haye Haye' and Modi Bye Bye". He held the Modi government responsible for the problems faced by farmers, and businessmen after the demonetisation. Local BJP leader Yogesh Goswami said the RLD chief had insulted the Constitution. "This is a very uncivilised and undignified statement," he said. "The prime minister, the chief minister and the Union textiles minister are political figures holding constitutional posts and making indecent comments on them is like insulting the Constitution," Goswami said. He said it is against Indian culture to make such comments against a woman. It does not behove the chief of a political party to make them, Goswami said, demanding that Singh apologise to the BJP leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Friday said the administration was ready for assembly elections in the state and a call in this direction should be taken by the Election Commission and New Delhi. "Whenever, they (EC) tell us, we are ready for the polls (to assembly)," he told reporters here after the oath-taking ceremony of sarpanch of Jammu region. On IAS officer Shah Faesal's resignation, Malik said he himself was a government employee and did not wish to comment on the matter. The Election Commission (EC) had in November last said fresh elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be held within the next six months, even as the body did not rule out the possibility of holding the state polls before the Lok Sabha polls due this year. "The Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls must be held on the first occasion before May. It could be held before the parliamentary elections also," Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat had said. He said as per the Supreme Court, the outer limit for holding fresh polls after the dissolution of the House was six months, that is May, 2019. It may be recalled that the central government on December 28 told the Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir Governor had no option but to recommend President's Rule in the state as no party or alliance staked claim to form the government. On Tuesday, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the assembly polls should be held "as soon as possible". The National Conference (NC) vice president also took a dig at some politicians and bureaucrats for "creating hurdles" in holding of assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha polls in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The of (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 3 crore on for not complying with directions regarding the 'fit-and-proper criteria' for directors of the The RBI in a statement, however, added that the action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the with its customers. "The (RBI) has, by an order dated January 4, 2019, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 30 million on NA India (the bank) for deficiencies in compliance with the RBI instructions on 'Fit and Proper' criteria for directors of banks," it said. In July 2013, the RBI had issued a "cautionary letter" to for violations of instructions regarding know your customer or anti-money laundering. The US-based Citibank has been operating in India for over 115 years. The bank has 35 branches in India and a network of 541 ATMs, according to the latest RBI data. Congress President Rahul Gandhi Friday reached out to the Indian expatriates in the UAE and assured them to accommodate all their problems in the party manifesto to help find a redressal to the long-standing grievances. Gandhi, who is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a two-day visit, interacted with the Indian workers at Jebel Ali industrial area and enquired about their problems. "I have come here to tell you that i stand by you. You leave your families behind in India, you all toil hard to earn for your families. I am here to assure you that we are with you... I am here to listen to your problems. Whatever help we can extend, we are ready," he said amid a loud applause. Gandhi was accompanied by former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda. While enquiring about their problems in Dubai and their families in India, several workers complained about not getting their full salaries. They also informed him about getting swindled by agents. Gandhi asked them to inform their grievances to Pitroda so that they are accommodated in the Congress manifesto. "Share all your problems and issues with Pitroda, we will have them in our manifesto. We want to know about all your problems and what the Indian government should do to them. Not this government (Modi government) but the one which is coming to power after the elections," he said. "I assure you the government will work for you and your families back in India," he added. Gandhi also interacted with representatives of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), Dubai and met the Punjabi community as part of his global outreach programme ahead of the general elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rahul Gandhi Friday said he had an "excellent meeting" with Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during which the Congress president assured him that he was committed to an even stronger bilateral ties. Gandhi, who is on his maiden visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), discussed with the ruler of Dubai the continued bilateral relations in the 21st century. "This evening I had an excellent meeting with the Vice President & Prime Minister of UAE, @HHShkMohd, the architect of modern Dubai. The bonds between India & the UAE have stood the test of time. I am committed to helping build an even stronger relationship between our countries," the Congress party said in a tweet. During the meeting, the Congress president was accompanied by Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda and party leader Milint Deora. "Vice President & Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai @HHShkMohd presents Congress President @RahulGandhi with copies of his books after their meeting," it said. "Congress President @RahulGandhi meets with Vice President & Prime Minister of UAE @HHShkMohd to discuss continued relations between both countries in the 21st century," the Congress said. Earlier Friday, Gandhi addressed Indian workers and interacted with business leaders here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi has congratulated Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on his return to office and said it is reassuring that the Constitution has prevailed in the country. Gandhi in his message to Wickremesinghe said that political crisis in Sri Lanka was a concern for India, which wish for political stability in the neighbouring country. "It is reassuring that the Constitution has prevailed...The vote of confidence in your favour and the verdict of the Supreme Court are a vindication of parliamentary democracy," he said. The message was released by Wickremesinghe's office. President Maithripala Sirisena on October 26 had sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister, in a controversial move which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. Wickremesinghe was, however, reinstated as the prime minister of Sri Lanka last month, after the Supreme Court ruled that Sirisena's order to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections was unconstitutional. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Protesters burnt tyres and kept tree trunks on roads to block movement of vehicles in Bodoland Territorial Area districts during a 12-hour called by a conglomerate of tribal organisations on Friday. The bandh has been called by the Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) to protest a bill that seeks to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six ethnic communities in the state. The bandh was near total in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) such as Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang, Bongaigaon, besides in tribal-dominated areas of Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai, Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts. Bandh supporters attempted to block movement of vehicles on Highways and other roads by burning tyres and laying tree trunks in the early hours of the bandh, police said. Trucks were stranded on NH-36 at Doboka, they said. Shops, markets, educational institutions, banks, private offices remained closed, while vehicles kept off the road. Attendance in government offices was thin due to absence of public transport in the bandh-hit areas, police said, adding that the bandh had no impact in the state capital. Security arrangements were stepped up in view of the bandh in Assam which is also witnessing massive protests over the Citizenship Amendment Bill. This bandh comes close on the heels of a 11-hour strike called on Tuesday against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Bandh sponsors have criticised the BJP-led Central governments move to pass the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Amendment Bill, stating it would eliminate the "genuine tribal people" of the state. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Amendment Bill seeks to accord ST status to six ethnic groups -- Koch-Rajbongshis, Tea Tribes/Adivasis, Tai Ahoms, Morans, Motoks and Chutia -- was tabled in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The bandh is also supported by Dimasa Students Union, Hmar Students Association, All Biate Students Association, Hrangkhol Students Association, All Dimasa Students Union, Khasi Students Union, Karbi Students Association. Student activists shouted slogans against the use of 'Puneri pagadi', a traditional headgear associated with the city, during the 114th convocation ceremony of Savitribai Phule Pune University here Friday. Police detained at least five students following the protest. Some student organisations had opposed the varsity's decision to replace the cap-and-gown worn during convocation with the traditional kurta-pyjama and Puneri pagadi. They allege that by introducing Puneri pagadi, the varsity is toeing RSS' and Hindu right-wing's agenda. Some leaders have alleged that Puneri pagadi is mainly associated with Brahmins. One of the students who was detained said the varsity has first mandated kurta-pyjama and Puneri pagadi for all the students attending the convocation. "After we objected, they revoked the notification and said only guests at the ceremony will wear Puneri pagadi. But we had warned that if even guests were seen donning the pagadi, a donkey wearing Puneri pagadi will be paraded on the campus," said Akash Zambare Patil of the Nationalist Student Congress, NCP's student wing. "After seeing guests wearing Puneri pagadi, students brought a donkey on the campus and put Puneri pagadi on its head," he said. Asked why they were opposed to Puneri pagadi, Patil said the varsity is named after social reformer Savitribai Phule, who along with her husband Jyotirao Phule opened the doors of to the marginalised masses. "Our demand was if you want to replace the convocation cap, replace it with Phule pagadi (the kind of pagadi Jyotirao Phule wore), otherwise continue with the old dress," he said. Senior police inspector Dayanand Dhome of Chatushringi police station said five or six students were detained for raising slogans. They were released later, he added. A senior varsity official said Puneri pagadi was worn only by the guests on the dais. "The varsity decided to go ahead with kurta and pyjama for students instead of the gown, however, the cap was not replaced. Only guests wore Puneri pagadi," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Trump has canceled his planned trip to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, Switzerland, citing the "intransigence" of the Democrats on his funding request to build a controversial wall along the US-Mexico border. Trump was scheduled to attend the five-day Davos Summit which will begin from January 21. "I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," the president tweeted. Trump has demanded USD 5.7 billion from the Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats who support border security measures, argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers' money. Earlier, Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a visit to the southern border in Texas that he will skip the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos in Switzerland if the ongoing partial shutdown of the government continues. "I intended to go and speak in front of the international community in Davos. That's still on, but if the shutdown continues, I won't go," he had said. Later, he tweeted to cancel his Davos trip. "Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. My warmest regards and apologies to the @WEF!" Trump said. The WEF, an annual gathering of the world's political and financial elite, is typically an event American presidents avoid. Trump was the first president to attend the forum, in 2018, since Bill Clinton attended in 2000, the New York Times reported. The partial shutdown has brought the functioning of several wings of the federal government, including the State Department, to a stand still, leaving more than 800,000 employees without pay. The shutdown will enter its 22nd day on Saturday, breaking the previous record of 21 days of US government shutdown under the Bill Clinton administration in December 16, 1995 to January 5, 1996. Trump said the partial government shutdown could be resolved in 15 minutes, but for the Democrats, who he alleged are not interested in national security. "The buck stops with everybody. They can solve this problem in literally 15 minutes. We could be back, we could have border security. They could stop this problem in 15 minutes if they wanted to," he said. "I really believe now that they (Democrats) don't want to...they don't care about crime," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brought the Trump administration's anti-Iran message to Gulf Arab states on Friday, arriving in Bahrain to continue a nine-nation tour of the Middle East aimed at reassuring America's partners that withdrawing troops from Syria does not mean Washington is abandoning the region. Pompeo was travelling to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates where he will call for increasing pressure on Iran and push for unity among Gulf neighbors still embroiled in a festering dispute with Qatar. He'll also be promoting a U.S.-backed initiative to form what some have termed an "Arab NATO" that would bring the region together in a military alliance to counter threats from Iran. In Bahrain, the UAE and later Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, Pompeo will also be making the case as he did on previous stops in Jordan, Iraq and Egypt that President Donald Trump's decision to pull US troops from Syria is not a sign Washington is retreating from the fight against the Islamic State group. US partnerships with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council "are critical to achieving shared regional objectives: defeating ISIS, countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies, and rolling back Iranian aggression," the State Department said in a statement released as Pompeo departed Egypt for Bahrain, which is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet. But the now 2-year-old crisis between GCC members Saudi Arabia and UAE and Qatar has hampered US attempts to forge a unified front against Iran. Washington's efforts to ease the dispute, begun by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have thus far failed and took another hit this week when the former general tasked to broker a solution stepped down. "A united GCC is the backbone for regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability, and is essential to countering the single greatest threat to regional stability: the Iranian regime," the State Department said. At each of his stops in the Gulf, Pompeo will be urging progress on creating the Middle East Strategic Alliance, which would join GCC militaries with those of Egypt and Jordan to serve as a counter-balance to Iran, which they all accuse of fomenting unrest and rebellion throughout the region. Pompeo told Fox before departing from Cairo that there would be an international conference on Iran and the Middle East in Poland on February 13-14. Pompeo during his trip will also call for boosting efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling Iranian-backed rebels in what the UN says is now the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the department said. UN-led peace efforts in Yemen, along with attempts to broker a political solution to the war in Syria that "expels every last Iranian boot from the country" and promoting reconciliation in Afghanistan will also be high on Pompeo's agenda, the State Department said. Pompeo kicked off the Gulf portion of his tour after a stop in Cairo, where he delivered a scathing rebuke of former President Barack Obama's Middle East policies that Obama had outlined in a 2009 address to the Arab and broader Muslim world. In a speech entitled "A Force for Good: America's Reinvigorated Role in the Middle East," Pompeo accused the former president of "misguided" thinking that diminished America's role in the region while harming its longtime friends and emboldening Iran. He unloaded on the Obama administration for being naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the Middle East, including Egypt, beginning in 2011. And, he said the Trump administration was taking action to repair the damage. "The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering," Pompeo said in the speech, which was itself denounced by former Obama administration officials for pandering to autocrats, ignoring human rights concerns. "That this administration feels the need, nearly a decade later, to take potshots at an effort to identify common ground between the Arab world and the West speaks not only to the Trump administration's pettiness but also to its lack of a strategic vision for America's role in the region and its abdication of America's values," National Security Action group, a group of former officials, said in a statement. Pompeo blamed the previous administration's approach to the Mideast for the ills that consume it now, particularly the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and Iran's increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, since rescinded by the Trump administration, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal. He said Obama ignored the growth of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon to the detriment of Israel's security and not doing enough to push back on Iran-supported rebels in Yemen. Since withdrawing from the nuclear deal last year, the administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Tehran and routinely accuses the nation of being the most destabilising influence in the region. It has vowed to increase the pressure until Iran halts what US officials describe as its "malign activities" throughout the Mideast and elsewhere, including support for rebels in Yemen, anti-Israel groups, and Syrian President Bashar Assad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday urged the Centre to take early decision regarding establishment of permanent benches of Orissa High Court in western and southern parts of the state to fulfil the aspiration of of the people. "I would request you that an early decision regarding establishment of permanent benches of High Court in Western and Southern Odisha be taken by the Government of India to fulfil the aspiration of these regions," Patnaik wrote to Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Patnaik in the letter mentioned that there is an overwhelming public demand for establishment of permanent benches of the high court in western and southern Odisha as people are "persistently" agitating for the same. "The agitation have often affected the functioning of court and other government offices in these regions," he said. Patnaik mentioned that while the state government is aware of various decisions of the Supreme Court as well as the recommendations of the Justice Jaswant Singh Commission for establishment of the Bench of a High Court away from its principal seat, it is also a fact that the Centre has the authority to decide about creation of separate benches of high court other than the principal seat. Patnaik said the state government will provide all support for the purpose. "I would like to reaffirm the commitment of the state government that we will provide all requisite resources for establishment of high court benches in these areas," Patnaik said. The chief minister also reminded the Union Minister regarding his earlier letter in this regard in 2013, 2014 and 2018. "There is more than adequate justification for establishment of permanent high court benches in these regions," Pataik said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Border Security Force (BSF) Friday seized a Pakistani fishing boat in the Indian territory at Vyanvari Creek in Kutch district near the Indo-Pak border, an official said. The fishermen on the boat fled to the Pak side after spotting BSF patrol boats, said officials. Several Pak fishermen have been caught while fishing in the Indian side of the creek in the past. Given the sensitive nature of the area, even Indian fishermen are barred from catching fish in the creek. However, Pakistani fishermen often venture into Indian waters to catch fish and prawns the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani police on Friday said they have arrested five suspects from a separatist Baloch group for the November attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi that killed four people, which they claimed was carried out to "sabotage" the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). At a press conference, Karachi police chief Amir Sheikh said the men arrested confessed to their role in facilitating the three attackers, who were also killed during the November 23 attack on the consulate. He said the detainees were linked to the Baloch Liberation Army, a Balochistan-based group which had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time. Three militants tried to storm the consulate in the city's posh Clifton area but security forces foiled their attempt by killing all of them in a gunbattle. The attack also killed two police officials and two visa applicants. Shaikh claimed that the attack was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) spy agency. "The aim was to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and create the impression in China that Karachi is not safe," he said. There was no immediate reaction from the Ministry of External Affairs to the Pakistani claim. India has opposed the CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The ambitious USD 60 billion CPEC project connects China's northwestern Xinjiang region to Pakistan's Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. India had strongly condemned the terror attack on the Chinese consulate and said such strikes only strengthen the resolve of the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "There can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. The perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement. Shaikh said that police arrested five facilitators and claimed that a probe based on their interrogation and other evidence proved the involvement of India. He said the terrorists spent four to five months in observing the consulate and its working. "They (terrorists) used to sit in the visa section of the consulate to observe when the gates open and other details," he said. He said that the weapons were transported from Quetta to Karachi through train and were hidden in the engine of a boat. Shaikh said the mastermind of the attack, Aslam alias Acho, was reportedly killed in a suicide blast in Afghanistan. However, he said he was not ready to believe it until there was proof of Aslam's death. He said it was an old tactic of militants to show a wanted rebel killed in order to divert the attention of security agencies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistan Army said Friday that it killed two terrorists and seized a huge cache of weapons and explosives during a raid on militant hideouts in the restive southwestern Balochistan province. The operation was conducted by the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) in Kalat, Kharan and Maiwand areas, it said. "Two terrorists have been killed during an intelligence based operation conducted by FC," the Army said. The security forces also recovered weapons and ammunition, including sub machine guns, improvised explosive devices, grenades, mines, rockets and communication equipment, it said. Balochistan has faced low-intensity conflict between security forces and militants belonging to Baloch nationalist groups and radical Islamist outfits. The security forces often carry out intelligence-based operations to foil militants' efforts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The grievance cell of the Jammu and Kashmir administration has resolved over 40,000 complaints registered by it, officials said Friday. Since the imposition of the governor's rule in the state on June 20 till date, the grievance cell has received41,716 complaints, of which 40,457 have been dealt with, they said. These complaints have been forwarded to the quarters concerned for timely redressal, the officials said. According to the officials, 877 complaints are under process. The three advisors to the governor have been regularly meeting and hearing the grievances both at Srinagar and in Jammu, they said. The officials further said the advisors are regularly reviewing the disposal of the grievances pertaining to their respective departments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Curbing organised and cyber crimes, and ensuring safety to women will be the priority areas for the Gautam Buddh Nagar police, district's new police chief Vaibhav Krishna said Friday. Krishna, who took charge as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Thursday night, stressed that police officials need to be more "sensitive" toward the problems of the public and maintain the "integrity" of the institution. In his first interaction with the press at the police headquarters in Surgajpur, the 2010-batch IPS officer, who has previously helmed the police force in adjoining Ghaziabad district, spelled out his priorities for Gautam Buddh Nagar, the western Uttar Pradesh district adjoining Delhi. Krishna, who succeeds IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, stressed that complaints will be dealt with in a fair and transparent manner, and all legal proceedings would be undertaken. "When people approach the police, they should be heard. Nobody should have a complaint or qualms with investigation," he said. The SSP, who held a meeting with police officers up to the rank of SHOs in the district Thursday night, said he has made it clear that counter-FIRs against the complainant in any case will not be encouraged. "Only in situations where it is not clear who is the victim and who the offender, cross-FIRs would be allowed. This is also a priority for us," he said. On the "high number" of cyber crimes case reported here, he said the cyber cell would be made proactive and proficient so that more cases could be worked out and culprits nabbed. "The cyber cell would be made proactive, will also take help from private experts, the police officials will be trained and their capabilities improved," he said. Each police station would have a cyber expert in order to streamline the problem and provide solution at the earlier, officials privy to the Thursday night meeting said. "Otherwise a lot of time of the complainant is wasted in reaching the right office and correct official," the official told PTI. Krishna, who has earlier served in districts such as Ghazipur, Bulandshahr, Etah, Ghaziabad and in the Intelligence Unit of the Meerut Range, warned action against policemen also if they are found involved in any wrongdoings. Asked about the encounter spree with criminals that the district has witnessed in the last couple of years, he said, "This is not a policy matter but a natural process where police retaliate in self-defence." "I am yet to take stock of situation here, but I can assure you that all possible efforts would be made so that the people get a better policing system," he told reporters. On criminals targeting businessmen, he said a "traders' security cell" would be set up and empowered to handle such cases. Notably, the Uttar Pradesh police had in 2017 announced setting up of 'traders' security cell' in each of the 75 districts in the state. He said the police would also strategise policy and work to check public drinking, auto-lifting, drug menace, violence and loot with cab drivers. On manpower shortage in police stations and exhausting duty hours of the policemen, he said a solution for this would also be worked out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nipping organised crime, cyber crimes and ensuring security to women will be the priority areas for the Gautam Buddh Nagar police, district's new police chief Vaibhav Krishna said Friday. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Krishna, who took over the charge Thursday night, also assured working toward ending the road traffic woes of the people in Noida, Greater Noida. In his first interaction with the press at the police headquarters in Surgajpur, the 2011-batch IPS officer, who has previously helmed the police force in adjoining Ghaziabad district, spelled out his priorities for Gautam Buddh Nagar. Krishna, who has replaced IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, stressed that complaints will be dealt with in a fair, transparent manner, and all legal proceedings would be undertaken. "When the people approach the police, they should be heard. Nobody should have a complaint or qualms with the investigation, he said, underlining the police needs to be more sensitive toward the problems of the public and maintain its integrity. The SSP, who held a meeting with all police officers up to the rank of SHOs in the district Thursday night, said he has made it clear that counter-FIRs against the complainant in any case will not be encouraged. "Only in situations where it is not clear who is the victim and who the offender, then only cross FIRs would be allowed. This is also a priority for us, he said. Noting the high number' of cyber crimes here, he said the cyber cell would be made more active, proficient, so that more cases could be worked out, and culprits nabbed. "Cyber cell would be made proactive, will also take help from private experts, the police officials will be rained and their capabilities improved, he said. Each police station would have a cyber expert in order to streamline the problem and provide solution at the earlier, officials privy to the Thursday night meeting said. "Otherwise a lot of time of the complainant is wasted in reaching the right office and correct official, the official told PTI on condition of anonymity. Krishna, who has earlier served in districts such as Ghazipur, Bulandshahr, Etah, Ghaziabad and in the Intelligence Unit of the Meerut Range, warned action against policemen also if they are found involved in any wrongdoings. Asked about the encounter spree with criminals that the district has witnessed in the last couple of years, he said, this is not a policy matter but a natural process where police retaliates in self defence. "I am yet to take stock of situations here, but I can assure you that all possible efforts would be made so that the people get a better policing system, he told reporters. On criminals targeting businessmen, he said a "traders' security cell" would be set and empowered to handle such cases. Notably, the Uttar Pradesh police had in 2017 announced setting up of 'traders' security cell' in each of the 75 districts in the state. He said the police would also strategise policy and work to check drinking in the open, auto-liftings, drug menace, violence and loot with cab drivers. On manpower shortage in police stations and exhausting duty hours of the policemen, he said a solution for this would also be worked out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Venezuela's sidelined opposition-controlled parliament has called for a mass protest against President Nicolas Maduro in a bid to oust the socialist leader in favour of "a transitional government." Maduro, 56, was sworn in for a second term on Thursday, having won a highly controversial election in May that was boycotted by the opposition and branded a fraud by the United States, European Union and Organization of American States. The National Assembly's president Juan Guiado Friday said the constitution gives parliament the right to assume transitional power after declaring Maduro a "usurper," but said it would need military backing and for people to take to the streets to demand change. "Is it enough to lean on the constitution in a dictatorship? No. It needs to be the people, the military and the international community that lead us to take over," said Guiado, speaking to around a thousand opposition supporters in Caracas. Parliament pointedly announced the significant date of January 23 for its mass protest as this was the day in 1958 in which the military dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez fell. The National Assembly, like many foreign countries, has dismissed Maduro's election as illegitimate but parliament has been sidelined by the president's power grab. Having lost control of parliament in 2016, Maduro last year created a rival Constituent Assembly filled with loyalists while his allies at the Supreme Court stripped parliament of its powers. Maduro's swearing in ceremony was even held at the Supreme Court rather than parliament. The hand-picked successor to late strongman Hugo Chaves also has the backing of the military high command, which reiterated its "loyalty" to the president on both Wednesday and Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Two officers - one from Bangladesh and the other from Vietnam - passed out of the Observer School in INS Garuda at the Southern Naval Command here Friday. The officers underwent the 11th foreign observer course at the school, a defence press release said. Commodore RR Ayyar, Commanding Officer, INS Garuda, presented certificates to the officers at a graduation ceremony, the release said. Extending its hand of friendship and assistance across the oceans, the Indian Navy imparted the training to the officers to meet the requirements of the two countries, it said. The officers were trained in basic air navigation, flying procedures - both over land and sea, tactics employed in air warfare and exploitation of airborne avionic systems, the release said. Flying training over sea provided the two foreigners exposure to the officers in maritime reconnaissance, including sea lanes of communication (SLOC) monitoring and search and Rescue, it said. The officers would now be joining the naval aviation wing of their respective countries, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat government Friday said there was nothing wrong in inviting a Pakistani trade body for the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019. The three-day investor summit will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 18 here. "It was GCCI (Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry) which decided to invite global trade bodies and the state government agreed to it. "Karachi Chamber of Commerce is also one of the global trade bodies invited by the GCCI. The government has not sent any invitation. And, there is nothing wrong in it (the invite)," state Chief Secretary J N Singh told reporters here when asked about the invitation to the Pakistani delegation. "GCCI took this initiative and we are happy with it, as we are already having trade relations with Pakistan. We welcome GCCI's initiative. Chambers from 35 countries, including Pakistan, are coming here," Singh added. The Pakistani delegation has been invited to participate in the 'Global Conclave of International Chambers', an event at the three-day summit. In 2013, a trade delegation from Pakistan had arrived in Gujarat to take part in the biennial summit, but it left without attending the main event following tensions on the border. No Pakistani delegation was invited for the summit in 2015 and 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three men have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack on a Delhi-based businessman here after a failed Rs 1.5 crore robbery attempt, police said Friday. The three, who work in a company linked to the businessman in Sector 57 here, was identified after the police scanned footage of at least 18 CCTV cameras and found a modus operandi "rarely" used in Noida, a senior official said. Delhi's Gagan Vihar-resident Sunil Khanna was attacked by the assailants on January 7 near NIB road in the industrial area of Sector 62 at around 4.30 pm with the attackers vandalising his car and opening fire at him, Noida 2nd Circle Officer Rajeev Kumar said. "Khanna, however, escaped unhurt as a crowd gathered at the spot in the busy area and the robbery attempt failed because coincidentally he was not carrying any money that day. The assailants then fled the spot," the official told reporters. Three accused Roopak Kumar, Deepu Balmiki, and Amrendra alias Chhotu, who were tipping the remaining gang about Khanna's involvements, have been arrested, he said. The officer said that Roopak and Deepu work as sanitation workers in the Sector 57-based company in which Khanna is also a shareholder. "During the probe, the accused told the police that they would see Khanna visiting the company often with a lot of cash. Hence they hatched a plan to target him and the process was in the making for at least one-and-a-half-months," the CO said. He said that they were prepared to rob Khanna off Rs 1.5 crore, but coincidentally Khanna was not carrying the money that day. All seven people, including the three held and four absconding, are linked to Baghpat district and knew each other. The four absconding men have also been identified and their involvement in multiple cases of bank robberies in Punjab, Haryana, outskirts of Delhi and the NCR region ascertained, Kumar said. "We have also recovered the Scorpio car that was used in the crime. The car has a registration number of Haryana and we are in touch with our Haryana and Delhi counterparts to nab the four men," he said. A case has been registered at the Sector 58 police station and the accused booked under section 307 (attempt to murder), 427 (mischief causing damage), 393 (attempt to commit robbery), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), he said. The officer said that the case was under investigation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat stated India cannot be left out of the "bandwagon" when a number of countries are reaching out to the Taliban, the External Affairs Ministry Friday said there is no change in the position on Afghanistan and New Delhi supports the process which is "inclusive" towards achieving peace. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also said that India has made it "very clear" to the US that the peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan should be Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled. He said this was conveyed during the meetings US President Donald Trump's special Afghan envoy Zalmay Khalilzad had with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. Responding to a volley of questions on Afghanistan ranging from Khalilzad's visit to the Army chief's comments, Kumar said: "Essentially, both sides, we share perspectives on peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Mr Khalilzad briefed EAM and FS on their aspect as to how the US is trying to achieve peace and reconciliation in the country." On the question whether Pakistan's role in Afghanistan was discussed during the meetings, the MEA spokesperson said this is something which India has articulated time and again -- the destabilising role that Pakistan plays. The situation in Afghanistan was discussed, the Indian side did reiterate its policy on Afghanistan, Kumar said. "This is connected to the comments made by the Army chief. Our position on Afghanistan has been very clear and very consistent. We have said in the past and we continue to do so that India supports the peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan," he said. "We support the process which is inclusive towards achieving this goal and there has been no change in that position," he said. His remarks come just a day after Army chief Gen Rawat, during his annual press conference, said: "A number of countries are talking to the Taliban. The issue we should address is -- do we have an interest in Afghanistan. If the answer is yes, then you cannot be out of the bandwagon." A day earlier, he had also that there should be talks with the Taliban but without "any preconditions". Trump's special Afghan envoy Khalilzad is leading an inter-agency delegation to India, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan from January 8 to January 21. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Indian Information Service officer Nitin Wakankar will be the new Chief Information Officer and spokesperson of the CBI, replacing Abhishek Dayal who has been transferred to the Publications Division, officials said Friday. The change in the agency comes close on the heels of removal of Alok Verma as the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation by a high powered selection committee, they said. ADG (M and C) in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Wakankar has served in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Defence Ministry, headed Mumbai region in various capacities during his career. Dayal, also an IIS officer, who waded the information wing of the CBI through the most severe crisis of the agency during the last four months to the Publications Division, they said. He was transferred to the CBI for a period of three years in 2017. He had earlier served in the Prime Minister's Office, Home Ministry, as AIR correspondent in Colombo before being deputed to the CBI. During his tenure, he tried hard in maintaining careful balance in dissemination of information for the organisation as the then CBI director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana fought bitter battle with each other and leaks from each camp becoming a regular feature in the media. The interim CBI Director Nageshwar Rao has also ordered transfer of about four officials at the Joint Director level. Joint Director Lucknow G K Goswami has been given charge of Anti Corruption-I, while Joint Director Banking Securities and Frauds cell (BSF and C) Sharad Agarwal has been sent to Lucknow. Agarwal will continue to monitor SIT (Manipur fake encounter cases), they said. Joint Director Chennai, Praveen Sinha has been brought to Delhi with additional charge of the Border Security Force and C unit, they said. Joint Director Mumbai Amrit Mohan Prasad has been given additional charge of Joint Director Chennai, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists have developed a novel 3D-printed device that may reduce the side effects of chemotherapy such as hair loss, nausea and heart failure. The device, described in the journal in ACS Central Science, absorbs excess chemotherapy drugs before they spread throughout the body. Doxorubicin, like many chemotherapy drugs, kills more tumour cells when given at higher doses, said researchers, including those from the University of California, Berkeley in the US. However, most patients cannot tolerate large amounts of the drug because it can cause heart failure, among other side effects. The researchers wondered if they could make a device that would filter out doxorubicin from blood at locations outside of the tumour to reduce the likelihood that the drug would harm healthy cells. They used a 3D printer to fabricate tiny cylinders made of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate. Inside the cylinders was a square lattice structure that would allow blood cells to pass through it, with a copolymer coating that binds to doxorubicin. The researchers tested these absorbers in pigs, inserting them into a vein. When they injected doxorubicin into the same vein, the drug flowed in the bloodstream to the device. By measuring the doxorubicin concentration in the vein at a location after the absorber, the researchers determined that it captured about 64 per cent of the drug from the bloodstream. The device could open a new route to help patients fight cancer, enabling reduced side effects or an increased chemotherapy dose, the researchers said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal Army Chief General Purna Chandra Thapa will be conferred with the honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army' by President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday. The Nepal Army Chief begins his four-day India visit on Saturday during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with top brass of the Indian Army with an aim to further expand bilateral military cooperation. The honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army' is being conferred on the Nepal Army Chief following an age-old tradition which is existed between the armies of both countries, defence ministry officials said. Indian Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat was conferred with the title of honourary general of the Nepal Army by Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari during his visit to the country in 2017. Commander-in-Chief Gen Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was the first Indian Army chief to be decorated with the title in 1950. On Gen. Thapa's visit, the Indian Army said, "The visit symbolises the deep-rooted military to military ties and shall be a platform to further strengthen the defence cooperation between the two armies." General Thapa will also be visiting Indian Army formations formations based at Jaipur and Lucknow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Friday sought time to act against minister for backward classes welfare C Puttarangashetty, whose personal assistant was nabbed with unaccounted cash of Rs 25.76 lakh on January 4 at the state secretariat. "Give me some time. I take decisions in accordance with the law. There is no question of patronising anyone. I never believe in cover-up politics in the case of wrongdoing," he said in response to a question from reporters on when he would take action against the minister. The chief Minister declined to comment on Puttarangashetty's move to seek a court injunction to bar the media from publishing reports relating to the seizure. Police said S G Mohan Kumar was arrested on January 4 with Rs 25.76 lakh in cash, which was collected from four contractors. The matter has been handed over to the anti-corruption bureau for investigation. The BJP has demanded that the ministerbe sacked to ensure an impartial investigation. "How can a fair investigation be carried out as long as Puttarangashetty is in the cabinet? He should be removed first," BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa had demanded threedays ago. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Friday suggested that all further proceedings for transfer of assets of crisis-hit IL&FS should take place under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge. The new management of the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) is considering assets sales to bail out the company from its financial mess and pay back to its lenders over Rs 90,000 crore. "As it appears that a process required to be followed, similar to corporate insolvency resolution process, for the purpose of proper resolution of IL&FS and its subsidiaries," said a two-judge bench headed by Justice S J Mukhopadhaya. It added that in such a case, a committee of creditors (CoC) may be required to be formed for determining "viability, feasibility and financial matrix of the plan or offer, if any, given by one or other party for acquisition of one or other group companies or its assets". "In such case, parties are directed to address as to why this appellate tribunal will not direct that while matter to be supervised by a retired Supreme Court Judge," the appellate tribunal said. Meanwhile, the NCLAT also clarified that "ILFS and its board may be allowed to proceed with the matter". The NCLAT also directed IL&FS to submit all details of the arbitration proceedings going against it and its 348 group companies. "IFLS' will provide the details of arbitral proceedings filed by it or by any of its Group Companies or filed against ILFS' or any of its Group Companies by the next date," said the NCLAT. The two-member bench also said that the pending arbitration proceedings against IL&FS and its subsidiaries companies would proceed but the order would be kept in a sealed cover. "So far as the pending arbitration proceedings are concerned, if any pending before one or other Arbitral Tribunal in which the ILFS' or any of its 348 Group Companies are parties, in such case, the Arbitral Tribunal may proceed with to determine the claim and counter claim, if any, made by the parties and may pass the award, and keep it in a seal cover," the appellate tribunal said. It further said: "The arbitral tribunal is also prohibited to pass any order under Section 17 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 against 'ILFS' or any of its group companies. Sealed cover will be kept till the final decision of the petition under Sections 241 & 242 of the Companies Act, 2013 pending before the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench." However, it also added that "if the award is given in favour of the 'ILFS' or any of its group companies, in such case, the award need not be kept in a sealed cover, even during the pendency of the company petition." The NCLAT directed to list the matter on January 28 for next hearing, when it would hear the matter of granting moratorium to IL&FS and group companies. The appellate tribunal was hearing a petition filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and IL&FS. Earlier, passing an order on January 1, 2019, NCLT had permitted the government to reopen and recast the accounts of IL&FS and its subsidiaries, IL&FS Transportation Network Ltd and IL&FS Financial Services, for the past five years. On October 15, NCLAT had stayed all proceedings against IL&FS group and its 348 firms till its further order, over an urgent petition moved by the government. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) had approached the appellate tribunal after the Mumbai bench of national company law tribunal (NCLT) turned down its plea to grant 90-day moratorium. This matter is scheduled to be heard on January 28 for hearing. The NCLT had on October 1 suspended the board of IL&FS on government's plea and authorised reconstitution of the board by appointing seven directors two days later. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Company Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) Friday suggested that all further proceedings for transfer of assets of crisis-hit Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) should take place under the supervision of a retired judge. The new management of the is considering assets sales to bail out the company from its financial mess and pay back to its lenders over Rs 90,000 crore. "As it appears that a process required to be followed, similar to corporate insolvency resolution process, for the purpose of proper resolution of and its subsidiaries," said a two judge bench headed by Justice S J Mukhopadhaya. It further added that in such a case, a Committee of Creditors may be required to be formed for determining liability, feasibility and financial matrix for resolution plan for one or other assets. "Appellate Tribunal will suggest to government and to get matter supervised by a retired SC Judge," the bench added. NCLAT also directed IL&FS to submit all details of the proceedings going against it and its 348 group "IL&FS will provide details of all arbitral proceeding against it and its 348 subsidiaries. We observe that proceeding, if any pending before IL&FS or its 348 subsidiaries may proceed with claims and counter claims," it said. NCLAT directed to list the matter on January 28 for next hearing, when it would hear the matter of granting moratorium to IL&FS and group The appellate tribunal was hearing a petition filed by the (MCA) and IL&FS. Earlier, passing an order on January 1, 2019, NCLT had permitted the government to reopen and recast the accounts of IL&FS and its subsidiaries, IL&FS Transportation Network Ltd and IL&FS Financial Services, for the past five years. On October 15, NCLAT had stayed all proceedings against IL&FS group and its 348 firms till its further order, over an urgent petition moved by the government. MCA had approached the appellate tribunal after the bench of tribunal (NCLT) turned down its plea to grant 90-day moratorium. This matter is scheduled to be heard on January 28 for hearing. The NCLT had on October 1, suspended the board of IL&FS on government's plea and authorised reconstitution of the board by appointing seven directors two days later. (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.) Protesters wearing Nayantara Sahgal masks displayed solidarity with the author whose invite to the event was rescinded by the organisers, at the opening ceremony of an all-India Marathi literary meet here Friday. Three women writers wearing the masks, with photos of the 91-year-old Sahgal on them, were asked to leave the venue by women police personnel. The masks were seized. Addressing the meet, the 92nd Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde conceded that withdrawal of the invite to Sahgal had caused embarrassment to the state. Some protesters at the venue shouted slogans while the minister was speaking. Laxmikant Deshmukh, outgoing president of the Sammelan, said the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Mahamandal, which holds the annual event, had failed to stop the meet organisers from rescinding the invite to Sahgal. At a 'parallel' literary meet at Ambajogai in Beed district, social activist Arundhati Lohiya Patil read a Marathi translation of the speech Sahgal was scheduled to render while inaugurating the Yavatmal meet, which was opened by a farmer's widow instead. Vaishali Sudhakar Yede, resident of village Rajur in Kalamb tehsil of Yavatmal, inaugurated the Sammelan. She works as an anganwadi (government-run child care centre) helper. Her husband committed suicide a few years ago after failing to repay debt. The drought-prone Yavatmal district in Maharashtra is the 'epicentre' of farmers suicides, accounting for the maximum number of agrarian crisis-related deaths in the state. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis did not attend the meet. Mahamandal president Shripad Joshi on Wednesday resigned following the controversy over the withdrawal of Sahgals invitation to the literary meet. Joshi had invited Sahgal as the the chief guest and keynote speaker for the meet. The invitation was revoked on Sunday after some workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) objected to it. Amid flak by opposition leaders and authors over rescinding the invitation to Sahgal, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) had Monday distanced itself from the controversy. Soon after the CMO clarification, Sahgal had said she won't attend the meet now even if a fresh invite were to be sent to her. The CMO said the decision on whom to invite for the meet is taken by the organisers and the state government has no role in it, after opposition leaders alleged the invitation was cancelled at the behest of the ruling BJP. It had said the Mahamandal is an autonomous body and neither the CM nor the state government interfere in its functioning. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP had said the invitation was cancelled "out of fear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi" would not like if Sahgal, niece of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, attended the literary meet. The noted English-language author was at the forefront of the 'award-wapsi' (returning of awards) campaign. In 2015, several writers returned their awards to protest against what they described as "rising intolerance and growing assault on free speech" under the Modi government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Meghalaya government informed the Supreme Court Friday that the Indian Navy has deployed five remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) in the operation to rescue 15 miners trapped inside an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district since December 13. The state government told a bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer that one crore litre of water has been pumped out so far from the illegal mine but seepage form nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. The bench sought to know from the state's counsel as to whether any action had been taken against those indulging in illegal mining activities there. The counsel told the court that the person running the illegal mine where the incident took place had been arrested. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the court that every possible step has been taken for the rescue operation and the Indian Air Force has deployed planes and helicopters for airlifting requisite equipment and manpower. The bench has posted the matter to January 18 for further hearing. The apex court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Aditya N Prasad who has sought urgent steps to rescue 15 miners trapped in the illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Meghalaya government informed the Supreme Court Friday that the Indian Navy has deployed five remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) in the operation to rescue 15 miners trapped inside an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district since December 13. The state government told a bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer that one crore litres of water had been pumped out from the illegal mine, but seepage from nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. The bench sought to know from the state's counsel as to whether any action had been taken against those indulging in illegal mining activities. The counsel told the court that the person running the illegal mine where the incident took place had been arrested. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the court that every possible step has been taken for the rescue of the trapped miners and the Indian Air Force has deployed planes and helicopters for airlifting requisite equipment and manpower. The bench has posted the matter to January 18 for further hearing. The apex court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Aditya N Prasad, who sought urgent steps to rescue the 15 miners trapped in the illegal coal mine. Earlier, the Centre had informed the top court that all appropriate steps were being taken to rescue the miners. Mehta had earlier told the apex court that 71 members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 20 from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 16 Navy personnel and others, including those from Odisha fire service and Coal India Ltd., were working in the rescue operation. The Meghalaya government had filed a status report on the rescue operation and said there were problems like difficult terrain and lack of proper infrastructure at the site which were creating hurdles. The state government, in its status report, had said there was no blue print of the illegal coal mine as it was being run "clandestinely" and rescue operation was extremely challenging as the site was in a difficult terrain where public services, infrastructure and material required were not easily available. It had said that the site was located at Ksan near the river Letein. It was about 3.7 kilometres deep inside a jungle and can be accessed after crossing three streams. The state had said that water was rushing into the mine from the nearby river and it was interlinked with at least 20 other mines there. It had said the site can be accessed only by 4X4 vehicles and there was complete lack of availability of electricity in nearby areas. It had informed the court that fuel required to run generator sets, pumps and vehicles there have to be brought from a distance of one hour and high-powered generator sets have to be brought in there for the rescue operation. On the issue of funds, the state had said, "Advance fund for meeting any emergency arising from natural calamities is placed with the Deputy Commissioner (DC). At the start of the rescue operation, DC had more than Rs 30 lakh at his disposal. On January 3, the government took a decision to place additional Rs 20 lakh with the DC to meet the requirements." It had said the state was getting requisite support from the Centre, the Indian Navy, Odisha Fire Department and other agencies concerned to expedite the rescue operation. The Meghalaya government had said that on December 13, the district administration had received information at around 2 PM that some miners are trapped and the NDRF, SDRF and civil defence services were immediately requisitioned for rescue operation. It had said that on December 28-29, Indian Navy divers reached at the spot and high-powered water pumps were also being used there to flush out the water from the mine. The rat-hole mine, atop a hillock fully covered with trees in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, was flooded when water from the nearby Letein river gushed into it, trapping 15 miners. Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually three-four-foot high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat holes" as each just about fits one person. The apex court had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the Meghalaya government to rescue the miners trapped in the illegal coal mine and had said "prompt, immediate and effective" operation was needed to rescue them as it was a matter of life and death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar over their investigation of atrocities committed against the Rohingya will learn Friday if an appeal against their conviction has succeeded. Reporters Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in Yangon in December 2017 and later sentenced to seven years in jail for violating the state secrets act, a charge supporters say is trumped up. "We hope for freedom for them," Than Zaw Aung, a lawyer for the journalists, told AFP Thursday, adding that the pair will not be present in court. Prosecutors said they had classified information regarding security operations in Rakhine state, from where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled during an army-led crackdown the United Nations has dubbed "ethnic cleansing". At the time of the arrest they were probing a massacre of 10 Rohingya. The two men have insisted they were the victims of a police set-up, pointing to testimony from a serving officer who said a superior ordered others to entrap them. The trial was widely regarded as a sham and seen as punishment for their probe, sparking outrage around the world including from US Vice President Mike Pence. Lawyers representing the young men said the Yangon Regional High Court, in its ruling expected later Friday, could uphold the sentences, reduce the terms or quash the convictions. Kyaw Soe Oo's wife Chit Su Win said she planned on attending and was optimistic about the outcome. "I really feel excited to hear it. I believe the two will be freed," she said. Outside the country, the two men have been hailed as heroes and jointly named Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2018, alongside other persecuted and slain journalists. But they have gained little sympathy within Myanmar. The violent military campaign in 2017 forced more than 720,000 Rohingya across the border to Bangladesh, with refugees bringing accounts of murder, rape and arson. UN investigators have called for top generals to be investigated for genocide and singled out civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for criticism for failing to stop the crackdown. The image of the formerly renowned champion of human rights has been further damaged by the Reuters trial, and she has yet to speak up in their defence. Reporters Without Borders representative Daniel Bastard said it would be "utterly devastating" if the court upholds the verdict. "The message that Myanmar authorities would send is absolutely dreadful: seven years in prison, this is the price you'll have to pay if you dare investigate subjects we don't want you to. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Myanmar judge dismissed an appeal Friday by two Reuters journalists jailed for seven years while investigating atrocities committed against the Rohingya, dashing slim hopes that the pair could be freed early. Reporters Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in Yangon in December 2017 and later jailed for violating the state secrets act, a charge Reuters said was trumped up to muzzle their reporting. Prosecutors say the two had classified information regarding security operations in Rakhine state, from where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled during an army-led crackdown the United Nations has dubbed "ethnic cleansing". Aung Naing, a judge at the Yangon Regional High Court, said Friday the original verdict was "not wrong according to the law" and was a "reasonable decision". "The court decides to dismiss the appeal," he said. Lawyers can now appeal to the Supreme Court in Myanmar, a process that could take an estimated six months. The reporters' wives cried after the decision which condemns the pair to continue their stay at Yangon's notorious Insein prison, where they have been held for the last 13 months. The two men -- who were not present for the decision -- have insisted they were victims of a police set-up, pointing to testimony from a serving officer who said a superior ordered others to entrap them. At the time of the arrest they were probing a massacre of 10 Rohingya. The original trial was widely regarded as a sham and seen as punishment for their investigation, sparking outrage around the world including from US Vice President Mike Pence. Outside the country, the two men have been hailed as media freedom heroes and jointly named Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2018, alongside other persecuted and slain journalists. But they have gained little sympathy within Myanmar. The violent military campaign in 2017 forced more than 720,000 Rohingya across the border to Bangladesh, with refugees bringing accounts of murder, rape and arson. UN investigators have called for top generals to be investigated for genocide and singled out civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for criticism for failing to stop the crackdown. The image of the formerly renowned champion of human rights has been further damaged by the Reuters trial, and she has yet to speak up in their defence. Reacting to the verdict outside the court the European Union ambassador to Myanmar Kristian Schmidt said he looked to the president of Myanmar to "correct" the injustice with a possible pardon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BEST bus strike in Mumbai Friday entered the fourth day with a stalemate prevailing between striking workers and the management of the civic-run transport undertaking. Lakhs of commuters were inconvenienced with autorickshaws, taxis and private transport buses pressed into service proving inadequate to take on the passenger load catered to by the BEST on a daily basis. All eyes are now on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the bus strike in the Bombay High Court. The HC is scheduled to hear the PIL Friday afternoon. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, whose party controls the BMC, the parent body of BEST, Thursday held several rounds of talks with BEST union leaders in the presence of Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and BEST general manager Surendra Kumar but could not break the deadlock. With the 3200-odd bus fleet of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) off the roads, both Western and Central Railways ran extra services and several MSRTC buses were also deployed in the metropolis, said officials. Over 32,000 BEST employees went on an indefinite strike on Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries and merger of the BEST and BMC budgets. The state government has already invoked the stringent Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the striking BEST employees but the move has not been able to force workers to call off their strike. Workers, meanwhile, said they are yet to get salaries for the month of December despite it being ten days into the new year. Commuters appeared at their wits' end as the strike has been among the longer ones that the metropolis has seen in recent times. Rajaram Satpute, a daily commuter from Kurla to Mahul, said, "I have been living in Mumbai for the past 40 years and I have never seen such a long BEST strike." He hit out at parties in the BMC and questioned them about steps taken in the recent past to ensure such crippling strikes do not occur. He also took a swipe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who is currently in Uttar Pradesh. "I want to ask the CM what he is doing in Uttar Pradesh. This is the time when he should be in Mumbai," Satpute said. Other demands of the striking workers include deliberations on a new wage agreement, resuming appointments on compassionate and bonus at par with BMC staffers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Mumbai will come together to pledge to bring the #WheelsofChange and to be more sensitive towards mental health Mpower, a pioneer in Indian mental healthcare from The Aditya Birla Education Trust, is all set to host its fourth edition of 'Ride to Mpower,' a cycle ride to create awareness and stamp out the stigma associated with mental health on 27th January 2019. The initiative aims to bring the #WheelsOfChange in the society by bringing together Mumbaikars and encourage them to increase conversations around mental health. The cycle ride aims to bring together cyclists and fitness champions to participate and lend their support towards this critical cause as they cycle through the streets of Mumbai. These Mumbaikars will pledge to become champions of mental health and become the Wheels of Change. 'Ride to Mpower' marks Mpower's most successful awareness initiatives, it strives to educate individuals on the correlation between physical and mental health toward an individual's overall well-being. Presented by Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited, 'Ride to Mpower' initiative aims to take forward this movement and alleviate all stigma associated with Mental Health in India. The event will be flagged off by Mrs. Neerja Birla. Commenting on this initiative, Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson, Mpower, said, "Mpower - The Movement is all about creating a paradigm shift in the way people think of mental health. Everyone knows that it's important and normal to take care of one's physical health and Mpower endeavours to make people aware that it is just as important and normal to take care of one's mental health. ABHI Ride to Mpower - the cycle ride is our way of reaching out to the community, in order to highlight that a healthy mind is as important as a healthy body. This is the fourth cycle ride we're doing and as participation increases, I hope that it will encourage more people to embrace a more holistic approach to wellness and self-care." Mr. Mayank Bathwal, CEO Aditya Birla Health Insurance, said, "We are happy to partner with Ride to Mpower that aims to encourage conversations around mental health and alleviate the stigma attached to it. We are proud of the efforts that Mpower is putting in to educate the masses and create an impact leading to acceptance of mental health concerns and bring in a change in the society's outlook towards the topic.""This is also in line with our business philosophy of 'health first in health insurance,' adds Mr Mayank Bathwal CEO, Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited. Mpower, the brainchild of Mrs. Neerja Birla, was launched four years ago, and has been at the forefront to affect change and proactively champion the cause of mental health, create awareness, advocate prevention and provide services with a professional, holistic and multi-disciplinary approach in the country. Tickets for the Ride to Mpower event are Live on BookMyShow, the official ticketing partner. The event will also see the support of Aditya Birla Health Insurance as the title sponsor, Khushi Ambient Media Solutions as the Ambient Media Partner and Bright Outdoors as the Outdoor Media Partner. Registrations: Registration Fee: Rs. 499 - 27kms starting from Parsee Gymkhana to Worli Sea Face and back to Parsee Gymkhana (Start time: 6:15 am) Rs. 299 - 15kms starting from Parsee Gymkhana to Haji Ali Junction and back to Parsee Gymkhana (Start time: 6:40 am) Rs. 199 - 7kms starting from Parsee Gymkhana to Chowpatty Seaface and back to Parsee Gymkhana (Start time: 7:00 am) When: Sunday, 27th January, 2019 Where, start of the race: Parsee Gymkhana, Mumbai About Mpower At Mpower, a pioneer in the mental health industry we proactively champion mental health causes, create awareness, advocate prevention and provide services through a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach. Through a rich network of individuals, professionals and organisations, we aim to end stigma and encourage dialogue around mental health. Mpower endeavours to be The Movement to affect change. It aims to create a rich network of individuals, professionals and organisations to empower people living with mental health problems and psycho-social disabilities. Mpower aims to #StampOutStigma in India! For more information, visit: Website: https://goo.gl/d3cvQA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2200520896878373/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mpowerminds Instagram: https://www.instagram. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been making "all efforts" to remove Alok Verma from the post of CBI director for the past two months, sensing that he was to order an investigation into the Rafale fighter jet deal. Verma was removed as CBI Director by a high-powered committee headed by the Prime Minister on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty on Thursday, barely two days after the Supreme Court reinstated him. Earlier, Verma had been sent on forced leave by the government in a late-night controversial order on October 23, 2018 in the wake of a feud between him and his deputy Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Talking to reporters here, Kejriwal said, "If the prime minister had done no wrong, what was the problem in letting the Rafale probe go on?" "Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made all efforts to remove Alok Verma from the CBI for the past two months, which is not right," Kejriwal alleged. Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and many other opposition parties have alleged irregularities in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal with France, a charge denied by the government. He alleged that the BJP government had wanted to purchase 36 Rafale fighter aircraft at a very high price. "The cost of one fighter aircraft is around Rs 600 crore and they (government) want to purchase it at Rs 1,600 crore per aircraft...an additional burden of Rs 36,000 crore to the exchequer," he also alleged. The chief minister said the BJP-led government "unleashed" the CBI and Delhi Police on him "so many times" during the past four years. "I was subjected to raids and inquiries...more than 400 files of Delhi government were illegally seized by the Modi government. I was not afraid at all of these raids and so-called probes since I had not indulged in any wrongdoing, even of a single paisa," Kejriwal said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Friday accused the government of undermining the CBI as an institution and said it was firing "political bullets" from the shoulders of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which it dubbed as a "collaborator in violating the Constitution". Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi alleged that the CVC adopted double standards and condemned its action of ousting former CBI director Alok Verma basing its report on "conjectures, premises and unsubstantiated" evidence, while it was not acting in the Rafale case where a number of documents have been provided to it. He also said the government was indulging in "spin doctrine" and stands exposed in using institutions like the CVC to play hide-and-seek on the issue of CBI director. "Scared of the 'Rafale truth', the Narendra Modi government is in a cowardly fashion taking refuge and firing bullets from the shoulders of the CVC to completely damage and undermine the independence of the premier investigation agency - the CBI. It is extremely alarming, shocking and deplorable that the CVC as an institution is willingly allowed itself to be subordinated in this fashion. "The Congress strongly condemns this tyranny and absolutism whereby credibility of institutions is being bulldozed and institutions like the CVC are being made to surrender in front of a desperate government, which will go to any extent to prevent independent CBI functioning. We are seeing the beginning of the end of the 'One Man, One Rule Era'," Singhvi told reporters. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, a man who cannot take criticism or defeat "used frivolous grounds to prove his point, misuse his power, distort the findings of CVC and misled the nation". Singhvi alleged it is "highly regrettable" that the government is "repeatedly using the shield of the CVC and indeed its shoulder to fire these politically motivated bullets at the CBI". "If mere allegations, surmises, conjectures and the use of subjective adjectives will become the basis for the removal of statutory and Constitutional post holders then the most alarmed persons should be the prime minister and the president of the ruling party, who have constantly maintained that absent adjudication of allegations or strong virtually irrefutable evidence, they would not step down," Singhvi said. Citing the Rafale case, he said the CVC has not acted upon the case, while it has taken action in the Verma case, but did not act against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, against whom evidence has been provided. The Congress leader alleged that there is a complete lack of equivalence and stark contrast between direct physical and documentary evidence of serious wrongdoing in the case of Asthana, including witnesses, FIRs, in contrast to the Verma case. It is significant that the Delhi High Court rejected Asthana's petition to quash the FIR against him, and instead directed the CBI to proceed and complete its investigation in this regard. "We are stunned that the CVC is practicing willful and Nelsonian blindness to such obvious facts," he said. Singhvi said the committee should have at least given a hearing to Verma on the charges against him as it was the appointing and removing authority under the law and not the CVC, on whose report the panel based its decision. Verma, who was to retire on January 31, was Thursday removed from the post of CBI director in a split decision of 2:1 by a high-powered committee comprising the prime minister, Kharge and Justice A K Sikri. He said the former CBI director should have been granted 'natural justice' and this was stated by Kharge. The principle of natural justice demands that the high powered committee should have given a hearing to Verma and then take a decision he said, adding that the committee instead ousted him from the post without even listening to his side of the story. "Why was the CBI director not heard in the committee before a decision to transfer him was taken," he asked. "The CVC office was completely bulldozed in 'save Modi operation'. Hence, the CVC report is not the gospel truth to form the entire and sole basis for the committee to remove Verma. The committee should see the nature of the superficial and subjective charges in the CVC report. "The CVC report can never be a substitute for a due process of law enquiry. The committee has overlooked the fact that the CVC report, which is the sole basis of the committee's conclusions, is based upon charges raised by a complainant (Asthana) who is not only himself under CBI investigation, but also whose petition to stop and quash such investigation has been dismissed today," he said. Singhvi said in light of the "vacuous" CVC report "it is safe to unambiguously state that there is not a speck of evidence or grounds to remove the CBI director". "In its usual disingenuous and spin doctoring manner another fig leaf behind which Modiji and the government is trying to hide is that of Justice Patnaik," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Germany recognises its historical responsibility for crimes committed by the Nazis in Greece, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday on her first visit to Athens since 2014. "We recognise our historical responsibility. We know how much suffering we, as Germany in the time of Nazism, have brought to Greece," she said. "That is why it's a lesson for us to do everything to have good relations with Greece, and to lend each other support for the prosperity of both countries." Tensions linger over wartime reparations for the World War II Nazi occupation of Greece, with Berlin arguing the issue was settled in 1960 in a deal with several European governments. In talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after her arrival on Thursday, Merkel lauded the sacrifices Greeks made during the country's economic crisis of 2010-2014. During her first visit to Greece in 2014, Merkel faced major protests and sought to ease tensions with Athens where Berlin was often blamed for biting austerity and bailouts. Also in 2014, ex-president Joachim Gauck sought public forgiveness in the name of Germany from relatives of those murdered by the Nazis in the mountains of northern Greece. Merkel was to hold talks with conservative opposition New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, an EU parliament ally of her Christian Democrats, and meet President Prokopis Pavlopoulos. She is expected to show support for a name change for Greece's neighbour Macedonia, which is still a divisive issue in Greece. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor-director Pooja Bhatt believes women start blooming in their forties but somehow they are not represented correctly on the screen whereas men continue to play characters half their age. Pooja, who is returning to the silver screen after a gap of 18 years with "Sadak 2", had said goodbye to acting but then it pulled her back. "I had said bye-bye to acting in a way but once an actor always an actor. Life has got other plans for me. Like I did not want to be an actor, I wanted to be an architect or astronaut and 'Daddy' happened and the rest is history. "I felt I was happy being in the back, launching people like Sunny Leone, repackaging Richa Chadda, John Abraham but life had other plans and it includes 'Sadak 2' and a web series," Pooja told PTI in an interview. Known for her films such as "Daddy", "Sadak" and "Zakhm", Pooja will reprise her role in the sequel of "Sadak", that marks the return of her filmmaker father Mahesh Bhatt to direction. Pooja, whose last film as an actor was "Everybody Says I'm Fine" in 2001, will also be seen in a web series based on Abheek Barua's book called 'A City of Death'. Set in Kolkata, the story revolves around an alcoholic female cop in her 40s, who is sent to investigate a crime of passion. "Sadak 2", Sanjay Dutt and Pooja will be seen playing the older couple while Pooja's younger sister Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur are the young pair. "I am glad when I am coming back to acting I am getting to play my age," Pooja said. "One thing I do not see happening is women of certain age being represented correctly. We have to evolve conceptually. Men don't age in India. Women who are younger then them are suddenly playing the role of a mother," she said. The actor said she also played the role of Ajay Devgn's mother in 1999 film "Zakhm" because the role demanded it but she would not play the role of a mother just for the sake of it. As an actor and producer, Pooja said she has always taken risks. "One woman who I think is great is Vidya Balan, her casting in 'The Dirty Picture' was very exciting. Let's break new grounds, let's think beyond the usual. Why can't a woman who plays a mother, also play a lover, or why a lover can't play a villain?" Citing the example of American actor-producer Sharon Stone, Pooja, 46, said why can't writers write about women beyond a certain age. "Where is India's Sharon Stone? How come women in Hollywood come to their own, post their 40s? I feel that's when you actually bloom... Why are men allowed to come to their own at 40s and 50s and women are expected to bury themselves at this age," she added. Pooja said, personally, her 40s have been more exciting than her 30s. "I found my feet in my 40s, got divorced at 40, two years of drinking and then at 42, I became sober. My 30s were the most boring phase. When you are in your 40s, you know your mind, body, you know what you want to do and you are not impressed with the usual bulls**t that the world gives you. You don't care about people's opinion and you do what you want to do," she said. Pooja is currently promoting her film "Cabaret", which has been in the making for sometime and was supposed to release in 2016. It got delayed due to her differences with the producers over its release. "One of our partners wanted to minimise the cost of print and advertising and I was not in agreement with it. We decided to not release it then. The two years time period then seemed difficult, long and dark but the universe was conspiring for us to give it a right platform. At that time if we would have released it in theatres, the film would have come and gone and nobody would have known about it." "Cabaret" is streaming on ZEE5 from January 5 and the actor-producer is happy with it's digital release. "Our standards keep changing. Cinema hall is a cinema hall but it is not the holy grail anymore. My phone has become my cinema hall and we need to understand and respect this new medium. "Who dreamt that 20 years ago, there will be digital streaming? It is like a new dawn. I am glad I am a part of it," she added. Directed by Kaustav Narayan Niyogi, the film revolves around a bar dancer, played by Richa Chadha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre told the Supreme Court Friday that it has to "believe in miracles" and see if the 15 miners, who have been trapped for almost a month inside an illegal rat-hole coal mine filled with water in Meghalaya, come out alive. It said the authorities were making all efforts to save the lives of these persons and the Indian Navy and planes and helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been deployed in the rescue operation. "We have to believe in miracles," Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer, which observed that it was not known if they were still alive. "There is no dispute that you are making efforts. Whether they (miners) are alive today, we do not know. May be somebody is alive there. You have to take them out," the bench told Mehta, adding, "You have to continue making efforts". The apex court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Aditya N Prasad, who sought urgent steps to rescue the 15 miners. The Centre and the Meghalaya government apprised the bench about the steps taken in the operation to rescue the 15 miners who are trapped there since December 13 last year. The bench sought to know from the state government as to whether any action has been taken against those indulging in illegal mining activities in Meghalaya. The state's counsel said the person running the illegal mine where the incident took place has been arrested. He apprised the bench that the Indian Navy has deployed five remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) in the operation and one crore litres of water had been pumped out from the illegal mine, but seepage from nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. Senior lawyer Anand Grover, appearing for the petitioner, said they were happy with the steps taken by the authorities but there was problem of co-ordination among the agencies. He said there was no mapping of the mine as it was illegal but equipment was available in India which can go deep inside the water and help in ascertaining the topography of the site. He gave some suggestions to assist in rescue operation and said the main hurdles were the remote location and difficult terrain, no blue print of mines, water seeping into the mines from unknown source and no knowledge of connection with nearby mines. Grover said the petitioner was in touch with Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Roorkee-based National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and some other private research institutes including Planys Technology, Chennai, which can assist in the rescue operation. He said these institutes are capable of mapping the mines and though under water rovers were available, the equipment has to be airlifted and the Air Force can do the needful. Mehta said the government has already contacted these institutes and requested them for help. He assured the top court that suggestions given by Grover would be taken into consideration and would be acted upon in whatever manner possible. The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on January 18. During the hearing, Grover told the court that the Navy has deployed ROVs in the rescue operation but desired result was not coming out as smaller equipments were required there. He said smaller ROVs were available in India which can go deep inside the mine and take pictures even in muddy waters. Regarding Grover's submission that there was a problem of co-ordination among the authorities, Mehta said additional chief secretary of Meghalaya was co-ordinating with every agency involved in the rescue operation. "No stone is left unturned to rescue these persons," Mehta said. The state's counsel said that though one crore litres of water has been pumped out from the mine, the decrease of water level was only about eight inches as seepage from the nearby river has increased. Mehta had earlier told the apex court that 71 members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 20 from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 16 Navy personnel and others, including those from Odisha fire service and Coal India Ltd., were working in the rescue operation. The Meghalaya government had filed a status report on the rescue operation and said there were problems like difficult terrain and lack of proper infrastructure at the site which were creating hurdles. It had said that the site was located at Ksan near the river Letein. It was about 3.7 kilometres deep inside a jungle and can be accessed after crossing three streams. The rat-hole mine, atop a hillock fully covered with trees in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, was flooded when water from the nearby Letein river gushed into it, trapping 15 miners. Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually three-four-foot high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat holes" as each just about fits one person. The apex court had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the Meghalaya government to rescue the miners trapped in the illegal coal mine and had said "prompt, immediate and effective" operation was needed to rescue them as it was a matter of life and death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bus carrying a team of rescuers from Odisha, headed to aid the operations to trace 15 miners trapped in a rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya, was attacked in East Jaintia Hills district allegedly by people protesting against the citizenship bill, police said Friday. District Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger said while there was no injuries to any personnel when the bus was targeted Thursday night on the National Highway in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, the vehicle was partially damaged. Protests have been reported from several places in the northeast region against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that seeks to accord Indian citizenship on non-Muslims from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. On Thursday night, a group of 14 Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) sponsored a night blockade on highways and hence traffic movement on the National Highway was disrupted, police said. The vehicle carrying the rescuers from Odisha was attacked on the highway in East Jaintia Hills district following which the police escorted it, they said. On Friday too, several groups of citizens staged protest against the Bill and burnt effigies depicting the proposed legislation and the BJP. As many as 15 miners are trapped for almost a month inside the illegal coal mine filled with water in Meghalaya. Even as a multi-agency effort to rescue them is underway, the Supreme Court is hearing a PIL in the matter for urgent action. The Centre Friday told the Supreme Court it has to "believe in miracles" and see if the miners come out alive. The court told the Centre's counsel, "There is no dispute that you are making efforts. Whether they (miners) are alive today, we do not know. May be somebody is alive there. You have to take them out." A senior police officer in Meghalaya said the flow of traffic along the national highways was affected and there were reports of stone pelting on vehicles in West Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills and in Ri-Bhoi districts as well. Some groups in the Garo Hills region continued their protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill by observing a black flag day across the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance cabinet, which has two BJP ministers, has passed a resolution opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, as the saffron party's leadership in the state asserted they were "with the indigenous people" on the proposed legislation. The Cabinet passed the resolution during a meeting on Thursday. The BJP, which has two MLAs in the MDA government, backed the Cabinet decision. "We are with the people of the state. The state cabinet had unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the Bill and we are part of the government," Health Minister and BJP MLA A L Hek said. Asked if he would resign from the BJP on the issue, he said, "No question". "People have voted for me. They have entrusted me with responsibilities as their representative and I will continue to serve in that capacity." The ruling National People's Party (NPP), the United Democratic Party (UDP), the BJP and the Hills State Peoples Democratic Party, as well as the opposition Congress, have voiced their opposition to the Bill, reflecting strong dissent prevailing in the state against the proposed legislation, cleared already by Lok Sabha. The ruling UDP (having nine MLAs) has aired its opposition to the Bill and party president Donkupar Roy slammed the BJP at the Centre for "going against the voices of the people", particularly in the frontier states of the northeast region. Roy, who is also the speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, told PTI, "There is a great danger in accepting the Bill in its current form, and if it's implemented in the frontier states of the North East, particularly in Meghalaya." He said, "The Bill would open the gates for illegal immigrants from Bangladesh to come into the state and in the northeast. We do not want the indigenous population to become a minority in our own state."The speaker demanded the state and the northeast region be exempt from implementing the proposed legislation "going by the sentiments of the indigenous people."National Peoples Party (NPP) president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had said his party will be meeting in the coming days to decide on the future course of action of the party with regards to the Citizenship Bill. The NPP is heading the MDA government and has 20 MLAs in the 60-member House. On Friday, Sangma flew to Itanagar to meet his party leaders in that state. His party is also a part of the ruling government in Arunachal Pradesh. The Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (with 2 MLAs), and part of the ruling MDA government, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday demanding reconsideration of the implementation of the Bill, party MLA Renikton told PTI. He said the party met urgently last Wednesday and expressed concern over the Bill. "The Bill opens floodgates for influx of foreigners into indigenous hill state like Meghalaya. We demand 1971 as the cut-off year for identifying genuine citizens in the country," the letter said. The Bill proposes to accord Indian citizenship on non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. "We earnestly pray that Bangladesh be excluded from the Bill and we assure you that you will get an unstinted support from the people of the North East," it added. The Peoples Democratic Front (having 4 MLAs and is part of the ruling dispensation) will be meeting shortly to decide on how to air its opposition to the Bill. Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma termed the Bill as the "biggest" let down to the indigenous people in the northeast post partition. "This Bill is aimed at crushing the indigenous people here. I condemn it," the senior Congress leader said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five Indigenous political parties have called a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) on Saturday to protest against unprovoked police firing at Madhabbari in West Tripura district earlier this week. The TTAADC area comprises two-third of the state's territory and is home to tribals, who constitute a third of the population of Tripura. The parties, who have called the bandh, are Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT-Tipraha group), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), Twipra State Party (TSP), National Conference of Tripura (NCT) and Tripura Peoples Party (TPP). At least seven persons were injured on Tuesday in West Tripura district when police and paramilitary jawans resorted to lathicharge and fired in the air to disperse Citizenship Bill protesters. Un a joint press conference on Thursday night, the leaders of the said parties announced their decision to call a bandh. Their demands include resignation of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, inquiry by a sitting judge of Tripura High Court, Rs 25 lakh compensation to all the injured activists of the TSF or government job for them and withdrawal of cases against the leaders, who participated in the protests. General Secretary of INPT Jagadish Debbarma said, Police opened unprovoked firing and we have demanded judicial probe by a sitting high court judge so that truths are unveiled. The Tripura government on Thursday had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the violence at Madhabbari in West Tripura district and extended a ban on SMS and mobile Internet services in the state. Police on Thursday said that the situation in Madhabbari and adjacent areas is normal but prohibitory order under section 144 of CrPc would be further extended for 48 hours. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb told a press conference here that a magisterial inquiry was ordered to look into how the incident took place and under what circumstances did the police open fire. Earlier on Thursday, Mevar Kumar Jamatiya, the state Tribal Welfare minister and General Secretary of ruling IPFT in a press conference alleged that the opposition CPI(M) and INPT had aggravated the situation at Madhabbari and misguided the movement. The Tribal Student Federation (TSF), a constituent of North East Student Organisation (NESO), had demonstrated by blocking the road on Tuesday to protest the citizenship amendment bill, 2016. General Secretary of TSF, Sunil Debbarma said his organization would support the bandh to make it a success. The opposition CPI(M) has appealed to the political parties to withdraw the bandh as it feels it would not help solve the problems. We have appealed to the parties to withdraw the bandh, because it could further aggravate the situation in the state, CPI(M) Central Committee member and former state Secretary Bijan Dhar told reporters on Friday. BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said his party would oppose the bandh as its organizers were trying to aggravate the situation and create an atmosphere of turmoil. "Opposition CPI(M) was inducing different quarters to create an atmosphere of turmoil in the state. We oppose the bandh," Bhattacharya told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A team of North East Student Organisation (NESO) on Friday visited members of Twipra Student Federation (TSF) who received bullet injuries during a clash with police diring a Citizenship Amendment Bill protest on Tuesday. The team, led by All Assam Students Union (AASU) Advisor Samujjwal Bhattacharyya, condemned the police firing incident. In Tripura, TSF is a constituent of NESO. At least seven persons were injured on Tuesday at Madhabbari in West Tripura district when police and paramilitary jawans resorted to lathicharge and fired in the air to disperse Citizenship Bill protesters. In a press conference, Bhattacharya alleged that an Emergency-like situation is prevailing in the state. NESO had called North East Bandh on Tuesday to protest the introduction of Citizenship Amendment bill, which was later passed in the Lok Sabha. TSF had set up a blockade on National Highway 8 at Madhbabari as part of the strike. Of the injured, six were TSF activists while one was a Trupura State Rifles official. While five of the TSF activists were being treated in G B Pant hospital, another injured was at Khumulwung hospital near Madhabbari. Bhattacharyya alleged that after visiting the injured at GB Pant hospital they proceeded towards Khumulwung hospital to see the other injured, but police stopped them. "When we were going to the hospital, they stopped us. It is uncalled for and not acceptable to us. An emergency like situation is going on in Tripura. We express our solidarity to TSF and we would come back to Tripura again," Bhattacharyya said. He said that Citizenship Amendment Bill is communal and the student body would continue to agitate on the issue. "We met Home Minister, Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and requested them to visit NE India before placing their recommendations on citizenship bill. None from JPC visited any NE state and submitted the report. It is a half-report and we have rejected it. North East India is not dumping ground for illegal immigrants from Bangladesh," Bhattacharyya said. The NESO chief advisor arrived in Agartala on Thursday evening. He further alleged that an ambulance carrying the wounded protesters was stopped by Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans, who damaged the vehicle and beat up the injured. He appealed the indigenous political parties of the region to clarify stand on the subject. NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa, representatives of the Khasi Students Union, Twipra Students Federation (TSF) general secretary Sunil Debbarma and others were also present in the press conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah Friday projected the Lok Sabha polls as a clash of ideologies and likened it to the third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the Afghans army, saying the election results will be equally significant for the country. In his inaugural address at a party convention here, he dismissed the proposed grand alliance of opposition parties against the BJP as a "sham", saying they are a disparate group with neither a leader nor any policy and have been brought together by their greed of power. The BJP must win the elections to pursue its agenda of cultural nationalism and the poor's welfare, he said. The party has the "world's most popular" leader in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asserted, asking thousands of BJP delegates to go with the pledge of bringing the government back to power. In his speech, which lasted over an hour, Shah repeatedly emphasised the significance of the upcoming polls, stressed on a number of Modi government's measures- especially those related to security, curbing corruption and welfare programmes- and hit out at the Congress for its dare to target Modi on the issue of graft when its president Rahul Gandhi is on bail in a "case of corruption". Modi and other top leaders of the party were on dais as he gave the party war cry to win the next polls, claiming that people like the BJP want a "majboot sarkar" (strong government) and the opposition wants a "majboor sarkar" (helpless government). "Nobody other than Modi can give a strong government," Shah said, adding that it will be an election to give stability to the country's development and the party's expansion. Opposition parties know that it is impossible to "defeat" Modi, who has emerged as the "nucleus" of like the Congress was for many decades, he said, claiming that people continue to stand behind the prime minister like a rock and that the BJP is sure to win under him. Underlining the election's significance, he said battles are of different kinds; consequences of some are confined to win and defeated, of some others are felt for a decade of so while of some others are felt for centuries. "I believe the 2019 battle is going to be like this," he said, drawing a parallel with the third battle of Panipat. "This is an example in history which matches with the situation today," he said, asserting that it is a must for the party to win the polls. Under king Shivaji, Marathas had started freeing different parts of India and won over 131 battles under various kings before losing the third battle of Panipat. "It was not merely a loss in one battle... India was sunk in slavery for 200 years and the English ruled it for two countries. It was a decisive battle," he said. Noting that from six states in 2014, when it came to power at the Centre, the BJP is ruling 16 states now, he said it will rule south India and form its government in Kerala if the Modi government is re-elected. Amid a growing challenge from opposition parties and the BJP's defeat in the recent state polls, Shah sought to reassure the party cadres about its prospects in the general elections, saying he knew Modi since 1987 and not a single election has been lost under him. He also claimed that the party is on its way to win more than 50 per cent votes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliance's tally will improve from the 73 seats it had won in 2014 out of the state's 80. Mocking the "bua-bhatija" alliance of Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's BSP, he said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the BJP's fear. Dismissing "Rahul baba and company's" allegation of corruption against the Modi government on the Rafale issue as baseless, he said somebody told him that the Congress could not face elections without levelling charges against the prime minister whose image, he added, remains unblemished. Mocking Gandhi for his dare to attack the government on the issue of corruption, he said he and his mother Sonia Gandhi are out on bail in a case of graft, a reference to the National Herald matter. Referring to the passage of a bill in Parliament to give 10 per cent quota to the general category poor, Shah said the Modi government has "fulfilled" the dreams of crores of youths and described the constitution amendment bill as one of the most important legislations passed by Parliament. He also asserted that the party wants Ram temple to be constructed at the earliest in Ayodhya, noting that the matter is in the Supreme Court. He accused the Congress of creating hurdles to delay a verdict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah Friday projected the Lok Sabha polls as a clash of ideologies and likened it to the "decisive" third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the Afghan army, saying the election results will be equally significant for the country. In his inaugural address at a party convention here, he dismissed the proposed grand alliance of opposition parties as a "sham", saying they are a disparate group with neither a leader nor any policy and have been brought together by their greed of power. He also asserted that the BJP wants Ram temple to be constructed at the earliest in Ayodhya, drawing huge applause from thousands of party members, and accused the Congress of creating hurdles in the issue's early resolution in the Supreme Court. Targeting the opposition, Shah said its proposed alliance has no nationwide relevance and the BJP had defeated each of them in 2014, claiming that the party is sure to come back to power with a bigger majority. It had won 282 of 543 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls. Amid a challenge from the likely opposition unity and the BJP's defeat in the recent state polls, Shah sought to reassure the party cadres about its prospects, describing Modi as an "invincible warrior" he has known since 1987 and under whom not a single election has been lost. The party has the "world's most popular, visionary, transparent and hardworking" leader in Modi with the opposition having no match to him, he asserted, asking thousands of BJP delegates to go with the pledge of bringing the government back to power. That rival parties are joining hands against the BJP is their admission of Modi's strength, he said. In his over an hour-long speech, Shah emphasised on a number of government's measures- especially those related to security, curbing corruption and welfare programmes for the poor and farmers- and attacked the Congress for the dare to target Modi on the issue of graft when its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi are on bail in a "case of corruption". With Modi and other top leaders on dais he gave the party war cry to win the next polls, claiming that people like the BJP want a "majboot sarkar" (strong government) and the opposition wants a "majboor sarkar" (helpless government). "Nobody other than Modi can give a strong government," Shah said. "Two ideologies are facing off during the polls. We stand for cultural nationalism and antyodaya (poor's welfare). On the other hand there is neither a leader not policy, only a disparate group of selfish parties brought together by their greed of power," he said. He said rivals find it "impossible" to defeat Modi, who has emerged as the "nucleus" of like the Congress was for many decades, claiming that people stand behind the prime minister like a rock. Underlining the poll's significance, he said battles are of different kinds; consequences of some are felt for a decade or so while of some others are felt for centuries. "I believe the 2019 battle is going to be like this. That is why it is important to win. For 70 years the poor and deprived got nothing and the BJP government has made a successful attempt to provide for them. This battle is for them," he said, drawing a parallel with the third battle of Panipat. Under king Shivaji, Marathas had started freeing different parts of India and won over 131 battles under various kings before losing the third battle of Panipat in 1761. "It was not merely a loss in one battle... India was sunk in slavery for 200 years and the English ruled us for two countries. It was a decisive battle," he said. He also claimed that the party is on its way to win more than 50 per cent votes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliance's tally will increase to 74 seats from 73 it had won in 2014 out of the state's 80. Mocking the "bua-bhatija" alliance of Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's BSP, he said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the BJP's fear. Dismissing Rahul Gandhi's allegation of corruption against the Modi government on the Rafale issue as baseless, he said the prime minister's image is unblemished and referred to the Supreme Court's order that rejected demands for a probe. When "chowkidar" (watchman) came to power all thieves ran away, he said, referring to fugitives like Vijay Mallya, claiming they will be held to account. Referring to the passage of a bill in Parliament to give 10 per cent quota to the general category poor, Shah said the government has "fulfilled" dreams of crores of youths, describing it as one of the most important legislations passed by Parliament. For 30-40 years, upper castes' youths felt neglected and did not get a level playing field, he said. Shah said India had developed and its global prestige has enhanced under Modi and also made a reference to surgical strike. With this, India joined the ranks of the US and Israel, he added. Under the UPA, "aaliya, maliya and jamalia" would infiltrate into India and target security forces but the country gave a befitting reply under Modi and secured its borders, he said. Attacking "Rahul baba and company", he said they spoke for illegal infiltrators on the issue of National Register of Citizens in Assam as if they considered them as their "mausere bhai" (cousins). He said infiltrators were hollowing out the country like termites and the BJP would identify each of them. He also touched on issues of triple talaq and conviction of those accused in anti-Sikh riots cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Friday tabled in Parliament a report of experts on drafting a new Constitution in which the foremost place would be given to Buddhism, rejecting allegations by the Opposition that the majority religion will be diluted. Parliament met as the Constitutional Assembly as Wickremesinghe presented the report prepared by the Panel of Experts for the Steering Committee, which is based on the Interim report, six sub-committee reports and representations made by political parties on drafting a new Constitution. "This report consists of proposals made by all parties including the chief ministers of provinces," he said, adding that it was up to Parliament to take the process forward. Wickremesinghe debunked theories put forward by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa-led Sinhala majority nationalists that the Constitution-making exercise will give into the demands of Tamil minority separatists. They have condemned the new Constitution as the one which will grant a federal states to the north, eventually leading to the separation of the island. Wickremesinghe said: "There is no federal proposal in this. All have accepted the unitary character, although they may have different views on its terminology". The Rajapaksa camp has also accused the new Constitution of diluting the Buddhism's foremost position over other religions. The prime minister emphasised that the foremost place given to the majority religion Buddhism has been preserved. Leader of the Opposition Rajapaksa said Parliament has no political moral right to bring in a new Constitution as the ruling party of Wickremesinghe was defeated in local council elections last year. "We demand that a general election be held so that people will be given the opportunity to decide on the new Constitution. We will come up with our own proposals," Rajapaksa said. The Marxist JVP, while blaming Rajapaksa for carrying out misinformation on the new Constitution, said the Constitutional Assembly had not been able to come up with a common draft let alone making a Constitution. "This is now only a time wasting exercise," JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, adding that it has failed to make a draft Constitution over the last four years. Rajapaksa loyalist and senior Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena was more vocal in calling for abandoning the Constitutional Assembly. The main Tamil party leader R Sampanthan recalled the history of failed Constitution making attempts to redress the Tamil community and urged Rajapaksa to stop playing Wickremesinghe stressed that all parties must take the process forward with a debate on the report. No date was fixed for the debate. According to some analysts, the process of formulating a new Constitution faces the danger of being abandoned if Friday's proceedings in the Constitutional Assembly was an indicator. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IPS officer Kumar Rajesh Chandra on Friday took over as the new Director General (DG) of the Sashastra Seema Bal, a paramilitary force that guards Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Chandra, a 1985-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Bihar cadre, took charge from his batch senior S S Deswal who has been holding the charge of SSB DG in an additional capacity since October 31, after the latter was appointed as the chief of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), that is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had issued orders for appointment of Chandra as SSB chief on January 8. Chandra has been serving as the DG of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under the Union Civil Aviation Ministry in Delhi till now. The officer, a PG in economics from the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, will retire from service on December 31, 2021. Chandra has earlier served in the Special Protection Group (SPG) that guards the PM, former PM's and their families and has also worked extensively in his cadre state of Bihar. The SSB, with a strength of about 99,000 personnel, has been tasked to guard the 1,751-km Indo-Nepal border since 2001 and the 699-km Indo-Bhutan border since 2004. It is also designated as the lead intelligence gathering agency on these two open borders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Chairman of Kongu Global Forum A Shaktivel Friday appraised Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu of the need to take up the expansion of the airport here in the originally proposed 625 acres as against the 365 acres now planned. Shaktivel of the forum, working for the development of the region comprising eight western districts of Tamil Nadu, who met Naidu in Delhi, said the reduction of the quantum of land acquisition would affect future requirements of the region as larger and wide-bodied aircraft would not be able to operate owing to lack of infrastructure. Stating that the acquisition proposal was reduced to 365 acres due to various reasons which would not meet the actual requirement for the expansion of the airport, the chairman of the forum said that with the rise in air passenger traffic and cargo potential the airlines would not be able to cater to the region for want of space. The directors of the forum had already represented the case to Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami keeping in view the importance of the issue, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Technology giant Infosys Friday said its board has reappointed Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as the lead independent director for a second term. "Based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC), the board considered and approved reappointment of Mazumdar-Shaw as lead independent director for a second term from April 1, 2019 to March 22, 2023, subject to shareholders' approval," Infosys said in a BSE filing. Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani said Mazumdar-Shaw's continuity, experience and insights are greatly valued by the board as it guides the company in executing its strategy in the coming years. "Kiran has been a pillar of strength to the board, especially over the last 18 months, as we steered the company to stability and growth. As chair of the NRC, she played a critical role in the CEO and CFO selection process," Nilekani said. Mazumdar-Shaw also serves as the chairperson and managing director of biopharmaceutical company Biocon. Infosys' board also approved grant of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) to CEO and MD Salil Parekh and COO UB Pravin Rao. "Grant of annual RSUs having a value of Rs 3.25 crore to Salil Parekh...The grant date for these RSUs is February 1, 2019. The RSUs would vest over a period of three years..." it said. Rao, based on his performance in 2017-18, has been granted 68,250 RSUs. The grant date for these RSUs is February 1, 2019 and these would vest over a period of four years, it added. The board also approved revision of compensation of key management personnel including Mohit Joshi (President), Ravi Kumar S (President and Deputy COO), Inderpreet Sawhney (Group General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer), Krishnamurthy Shankar (Executive VP) with effect from October 1, 2018. Besides, revision of compensation of Jayesh Sanghrajka (Deputy CFO) and AGS Manikantha (Company Secretary) was also cleared by the board. "The revised aggregate compensation of these key management personnel includes fixed compensation of Rs 18.20 crore and target variable compensation of Rs 13.60 crore. Additionally, based on fiscal 2018 performance, 3,72,100 RSUs were granted under the plan," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao plans to perform yet another mega "homam" (ritual), this time to ensure the welfare of the people of the state. KCR, as Rao is popularly called, would perform a five-day 'Maha Rudhra Sahitha Sahasra Chandi Maha Yagam' at his farm house in Erravelli village in Siddipet district from January 21 to 25, party sources said. "The Yagam isto seek blessings from the goddess of Chandi (Durga) for the welfare of the people. Wherever this Yagam is performed, there would not be any distress, untimely deaths and farmers will be blessed with abundant crops. As many as 250 priests would take part in the ritual," they said. Ahead of the December 7 elections, KCR performed a "Raja Syamala Yagam" at his farm house under the guidance of the seer of the Sri Visakha Sarada Peetham for the victory of his party in the polls. Before undertaking a tour to garner support for his anti-congress, anti-BJP front, KCR had visited the seer at Visakhapatnam and sought his blessings. Rao, who has openly admitted that he strongly believed in ancient Hindu customs and rituals, said he was conducting such rituals to ensure the welfare of the state. During the poll campaign, he even dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on his beliefs saying that he will give "prasadam" to the PM if he attended his "Yagam." KCR steered his party to a thumping victory and took over the reins of India's newest state for a second straight term. In the December 7 elections, the TRS won 88 seats in the 119-member assembly. Congress-led People's Front ended up with a tally of mere 21. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Karnataka government Fridayurged the European Investment Bank (EIB) to fund other projects in the state. At the signing of agreement between the Karnataka government and the EIB, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara thanked the Bank for funding 200 million Euros for funding the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited for its Phase-2 Reach-6 project from Nagawara to Gottigere in the city. "While thanking EIB of this, I would like to reiterate our chief minister's request that EIB may consider funding other infrastructure and sustainability projects in the state," Parameshwara told the delegation. This is the second tranche of the payment of 500 million Euros, Parameshwara said, adding that the Asian InfrastructureInvestment Bank (AIIB) has also agreed to lend 300 million Euros. In all, 800 million Euro funding has come for the project, he said. Maria Shaw Barragan of EIB and others were present besidesKarnataka government officials, an official release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senator Kamala Harris, who is eyeing to challenge President Donald Trump in the 2020 elections, has credited her Indian-American "superhero" mother for instilling in her the sense of responsibility that motivates her political career. Harris, 54, is the first Indian-origin Senator in the US. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris immigrated to the US for studies at the age of 19 from Tamil Nadu. She married Donald Harris an African American born in Jamaica in 1938. "It was really my mother who took charge of our upbringing. She was the one most responsible for shaping us into the women we would become. And she was extraordinary," Harris writes in her book 'The Truths We Hold: An American Journey' that hit the stores this week. She said that her late mother empowered her to take personal action to fix problems she encountered -- a theme that she says is influencing her political career. Harris, is being seen as a potential strong contender to get the Democratic presidential nomination to challenge Trump in the 2020 elections. "My mother was barely five foot one, but I felt like she was six foot two. She was smart and tough and fierce and protective. She was generous, loyal, and funny. She had only two goals in life: to raise her two daughters and to end breast cancer," the Senator from California said. "She pushed us hard and with high expectations as she nurtured us. And all the while, she made Maya and me feel special, like we could do anything we wanted to if we put in the work," Harris said. Maya is the name of her younger sister. In her second book for the children 'Superheroes Are Everywhere Harris describes her mother as on top of her list of superheroes. "My mom was a superhero because she made me feel special. She believed in me and that helped me believe I could do anything," Harris wrote in the book. Harris said her mother had been raised in a household where political activism and civic leadership came naturally. "My grandmother, Rajam Gopalan, had never attended high school, but she was a skilled community organiser. She would take in women who were being abused by their husbands, and then she'd call the husbands and tell them they'd better shape up or she would take care of them, she wrote. Her grandfather P V Gopalan had been part of the movement for India's independence, she wrote. "Eventually, as a senior diplomat in the Indian government, he and my grandmother had spent time living in Zambia after it gained independence, helping to settle refugees," Harris said. Harris said her mother inherited her grandmother's strength and courage. People who knew them knew not to mess with either. "And from both of my grandparents, my mother developed a keen political consciousness. She was conscious of history, conscious of struggle, conscious of inequities. She was born with a sense of justice imprinted on her soul," she wrote. Recollecting her childhood days, Kamala Harris said those early days were happy and carefree. Harris said she was also close to her mother's brother, Balu, and her two sisters, Sarala and Chinni. "They lived many thousands of miles away, and we rarely saw one another. Still, through many long-distance calls, our periodic trips to India, and letters and cards written back and forth, our sense of familyof closeness and comfort and trustwas able to penetrate the distance," she said. "It's how I first really learned that you can have very close relationships with people, even if it's not on a daily basis. We were always there for one another, regardless of what form that would take. My mother, grandparents, aunts, and uncle instilled us with pride in our South Asian roots. Our classical Indian names harked back to our heritage, and we were raised with a strong awareness of and appreciation for Indian culture," she wrote. "My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters. She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as black girls, and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud black women," Harris wrote in her book. Harris was the first woman attorney general of California and the first African American to occupy that position. Former US President Barack Obama described her as a "trailblazer". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Seoul court on Friday dismissed a Japanese industrial firm's appeal against an order that it pay a South Korean man 50 million won (USD 45,000) for forced wartime labour, the latest in a series of court rulings to strain ties between the neighbours. South Korea and its former colonial power Japan are both US allies who have to contend with nuclear-armed North Korea and a rising China. But their relationship is soured by issues of past history, including Koreans forced to work at Japanese firms' factories during World War II, and a territorial row over Seoul-controlled islets also claimed by Japan. South Korean courts have made a series of orders against Japanese firms, and Seoul's President Moon Jae-in this week said Tokyo should take a "more humble" attitude to history. The latest ruling came in the case of a 95-year-old South Korean man surnamed Lee, who claimed in 2012 that he had worked at a Hitachi Zosen shipyard and other locations with no pay for about a year. Hitachi Zosen was formerly a shipbuilder associated with the giant Hitachi Group, but is now focused on environmental equipment and incinerators. In 2014 a Seoul court ordered Hitachi Zosen to pay Lee 50 million won in unpaid wages and compensation for emotional distress. The company appealed, but the Seoul High Court upheld the original ruling on Friday, saying the award was not excessively high. Japan says the victims' right to sue was extinguished by the 1965 treaty which saw Seoul and Tokyo restore diplomatic ties and included a reparation package of about USD 800 million in grants and cheap loans. But South Korean courts made a series of recent rulings holding private Japanese businesses responsible for forced labour. South Korea's top court in November ordered Japanese giant Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to pay 80 million to 150 million won to two separate groups of 11 people for forced wartime labour at its plants. Another court earlier this month ordered the seizure of South Korean assets owned by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal in a case involving former wartime labourers or their families, prompting condemnation by Tokyo. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Declaring that India's second Moon mission is planned for mid-April this year, ISRO Friday said it was also gearing up for its maiden human spaceflight programme 'Gaganyaan' by 2021-end that is likely to include a woman astronaut. The space agency had earlier said Chandrayaan-2 will be launched in a window from January-February 16, 2019. "Right now Chandrayaan is scheduled from March 25 to April end. Most probably, the normal targeted date is April middle," ISRO Chairman K Sivan said. The space agency had earlier planned to launch the spacecraft sometime between January and February but it could not materialise because certain tests could not be conducted, Sivan told reporters as he laid out ISRO's programmes. "If we miss April, it will go to June," he said in response to a question about the next launch window available, adding that "but, we will be targeting April". Chandrayaan-2 mission, costing nearly Rs 800 crore, is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission about 10 years ago. It is a totally indigenous venture and comprises an orbiter, a lander and a rover. After a controlled descent, the lander will soft-land on the lunar surface at a specified site and deploy a rover, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The six-wheeled rover will move around the landing site on the lunar surface in a semi-autonomous mode as decided by the ground commands. The instruments on the rover will observe the lunar surface and send back data, which will be useful for analysis of the lunar soil. The 3,290-kg Chandrayaan-2 will orbit the Moon and perform the objectives of remote sensing it. The payloads will collect scientific information on lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water-ice, the space agency said. It might take 35 to 45 days to reach the Moon after the launch, as ISRO plans six-stage orbit raising manoeuvres, Sivan said. Noting that India is nowhere behind China, Sivan said Beijing has landed on the far side of the Moon and "we are going to land at a place where nobody else has gone- the Moon's south pole." "All the landing happened near equator region, in the visible region; nobody has gone to South Pole. We are going there, and scientists feel that the science we are going to get from there is large. "It is unexplored region, lot of water is expected. ..we are also going to create history," he said. Also, gearing up for the maiden human spaceflight mission, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ISRO has set up a new centre to facilitate the manned voyage involving a three-member crew. Terming Gaganyaan as a "major turning point" for ISRO, Sivan said it is contributing to the space agency's expansion in a major way. Gaganyaan has two aspects -- engineering and human science, he said. The engineering aspect includes launch vehicle, crew module and service module on which ISRO has expertise, whereas crew selection, training and creating an atmosphere for crew which is part of life science, is new for ISRO. "To carry out this job we have worked out a new management structure in ISRO, we have been working on this for about a week, and today I'm happy to declare that for the first time in ISRO a major centre for human space programme called the Human Space Flight Centre is being set up," he said. The centre will carry out all the activities of human space programme, Sivan added. The centre will have senior scientist Unnikrishnan Nair as its director, while the project director would be Dr RHutton. Gaganyaan is the "highest priority" for ISRO in 2019, according to the space agency, and the plan is to have first unmanned mission in December 2020 and second for July 2021. Once this is completed, the manned mission will happen in December 2021, he said. The crew members will be Indians and Gaganyaan initial crew training would be done in India, Sivan said. "Our Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) has a system, but advanced training may have to be done outside the country mostly in Russia." Asked about women crew members, he said, "We want women astronauts also should be there. That is our aim. In my opinion, we have to train both men and women."In his Independence Day address last year, Modi had announced that the mission would be undertaken by 2022 using ISRO's own capabilities. "We have resolved that by 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of Independence or maybe even before that, certainly some of our young boys and girls will unfurl the Tricolour in space," he had said in his speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Referring to the remarks, Sivan said "We will be very happy to do that, but it involves training and other things." To a question about selection of astronauts, the ISRO chief said, it would only be done by Indians, and the process will involve the Indian Air Force. "At the final process, we may involve other foreign agency also," Sivan said. The Union Cabinet gave its nod for the Rs 9,023 crore programme recently. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran on Friday said the United States is suffering from "hysteria" over its inability to find alternatives to the landmark nuclear deal it walked away from last year. Washington "pulled out of a comprehensive and legitimate agreement achieved through negotiation, and is now afflicted with chronic hysteria as it can't find an alternative to it", foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said on his Telegram channel. The US pulled out of the 2015 nuclear accord negotiated with Iran in May last year and reimposed punishing economic sanctions on the country. The charge was Tehran's first reaction to anti-Iran remarks made Thursday by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Cairo while on a whistle-stop tour of the region. Speaking at the American University, the top US diplomat said Washington was creating an anti-Iran front -- the Middle East Strategic Alliance -- bringing together Gulf countries as well as Egypt and Jordan. "It's time for old rivalries to end, for the sake of the greater good of the region," Pompeo said. Ghasemi called Pompeo's proposed plan "a path with no benefit for America" and said that it proves the current US administration is the enemy of Iran and its people. Pompeo's tour is aimed at reassuring US allies after President Donald Trump's shock decision to withdraw all 2,000 American troops from Syria. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani police on Friday accused Indian spy agency RAW of being involved in the November terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, a charge rejected by India as "fabricated and scurrilous". Karachi police said they have arrested five suspects from a separatist Baloch group for the November 23 attack on the Chinese consulate that killed four people, which they claimed was carried out to "sabotage" the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). At a press conference, Karachi police chief Amir Sheikh said the men arrested confessed to their role in facilitating the three attackers, who were also killed during the attack on the consulate. Shaikh claimed that the attack was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Reacting to the Pakistani claim, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said, "We have seen statements in the Pakistani media attributed to the police chief of Karachi making false allegations against India for the terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi in November, 2018. We completely reject these fabricated and scurrilous attempts to levy accusations on India. Instead of maliciously pointing fingers at others for such terrorist incidents, Pakistan needs to look inwards and undertake credible action against support to terrorism and terror infrastructure in its territories". Sheikh said the detainees were linked to the Baloch Liberation Army, a Balochistan-based group which had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time. Three militants tried to storm the consulate in the city's posh Clifton area but security forces foiled their attempt by killing all of them in a gunbattle. The attack also killed two police officials and two visa applicants. "The aim was to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and create the impression in China that Karachi is not safe," he said. India has opposed the CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The ambitious USD 60 billion CPEC project connects China's northwestern Xinjiang region to Pakistan's Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. India had strongly condemned the terror attack on the Chinese consulate and said such strikes only strengthen the resolve of the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "There can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. The perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement last November. Shaikh said that police arrested five facilitators and claimed that a probe based on their interrogation and other evidence proved the involvement of India. He said the terrorists spent four to five months in observing the consulate and its working. "They (terrorists) used to sit in the visa section of the consulate to observe when the gates open and other details," he said. He said that the weapons were transported from Quetta to Karachi through train and were hidden in the engine of a boat. Shaikh said the mastermind of the attack, Aslam alias Acho, was reportedly killed in a suicide blast in Afghanistan. However, he said he was not ready to believe it until there was proof of Aslam's death. He said it was an old tactic of militants to show a wanted rebel killed in order to divert the attention of security agencies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has written to Pakistan proposing a visit by its experts to inspect two hydroelectricity projects on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir from January 27 to February 1, which is mandatory under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)between the two countries, sources said Friday. The invitation was extended on Wednesday by India's Indus Commissioner under the IWT to his Pakistani counterpart, sources in New Delhi said. India is yet to receive an official confirmation about the acceptance of the invitation from Pakistan, a senior official said. After the trip by Pakistani experts, Indian officials will also make a reciprocatory trip to Pakistan under the treaty. On Friday, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda termed this as a "major breakthrough" and said that India had "agreed" to allow the inspection of its two hydropower projects on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani experts later this month. "Due to our continued efforts there's a major breakthrough that India has finally agreed to our request for inspection of Indian projects in Chenab basin," Vawda said in a tweet. Sources in New Delhi, however, said it was India which had proposed the visit. During the 115th meeting of the Permanent Commission for Indus Waters (PCIW) held in Lahore from August 29-30 last year, both the commissioners agreed to undertake the treaty mandated tours in the Indus basin on both sides, the official added. The tour was originally scheduled in October 2018 but was postponed because of elections of local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. Under Article VIII of the treaty, both the commissioners are mandated to undertake, once in every five years, a general tour of inspection of the rivers for ascertaining the facts connected with various developments and works on the rivers on both sides. So far, no tour could be held in the current five-year block which ends in March 2020. "As a federal minister I've directed my team to visit and carry out inspection of projects - 1,000 MW Pakal Dul and 48 MW Lower Kalnal - from January 27 to February 1. It's indeed a feather in the ministry for water resources' cap. We welcome this gesture from India and we expect the same spirit for resolution of other outstanding issues," Vawda said. The Pakistan government had earlier said that the design of two under-construction hydroelectric projects of India in the Chenab basin violated the provisions of the IWT. India has said it has the right to build these projects and holds that their design is fully in compliance with a set of guidelines. The PCIW, formed under the Indus Waters Treaty, was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, and it includes Indus commissioners of both countries. The treaty provides for both the commissioners to meet at least once every year, alternately in India and Pakistan. The treaty specifies that the waters of three eastern rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, have been reserved for India while that of western rivers, namely Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, are for Pakistan. However, India claims it has unrestricted rights to develop hydroelectric power projects on the western rivers within the specified parameters of design. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shaid Shafi, an India-born Republican facing removal as Texas county leader for being a Muslim, will remain in office as his party officials have overwhelmingly slapped down a motion to oust him from the post of vice chairman. The Tarrant County Republican Party rejected the motion to strip Shafi, a trauma surgeon and member of the Southlake City Council, at a contentious meeting on Thursday. The committee voted 139-49 in favour of Shafi, with 10 abstentions, Washington-based website The Daily Caller reported. "This vote reaffirms the commitment by a majority of Tarrant County Republicans to our core values and moral compass, a demonstration of our allegiance to the Texas Republican Party Platform and the Constitutions of the United States and Texas, which strictly prohibit religious and racial discrimination of any kind," Tarrant County Party Chairman Darl Easton said. Shafi said he was "honoured and privileged to receive the support of my fellow Republicans" and emphasised that he held no ill will towards those who voted against him. A small but vocal minority of the county's 269 precinct chairs was behind the push to remove Shafi from his leadership position. Shafi received an outpouring of support from Republicans across the state, including from Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Land Commissioner George P Bush, leading up to the vote. Shafi, born in India and raised in Pakistan, travelled to the US to study medicine. He became a naturalised citizen in 2009 and, since then, has been involved with the Republican Party. "Religious litmus tests are wrong, whether they occur in my party or whether its Democratic Senators who have questioned Catholic judges' ability to be unbiased. What matters is a person's character, judgment and values. Shahid Shafi has all three," Bush said on Twitter. Shafi was appointed to the position in July with overwhelming support from Republicans in Tarrant County, which is Texas' third-largest county in terms of population. A sole precinct chair Dorrie O'Brien opposed Shafi at that time and tried to whip up opposition for him in the six months since then. O'Brien cited the Muslim doctor's faith as her reason for opposing him in a Facebook post last month. "We don't think he's suitable as a practising Muslim to be vice chair because he'd be the representative for ALL Republicans in Tarrant County, and not ALL Republicans in Tarrant County think Islam is safe or acceptable in the US, in Tarrant County, and in the TCGOP, and there are big questions surrounding exactly where Shafi's loyalties lie vis a vis Democrat and Republican policies," she wrote. In a January 4 Facebook post, she falsely accused Shafi of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Another precinct chair James Scott Trimm wrote Tuesday on Facebook he would vote against Shafi because he "refused to renounce and repudiate" an endorsement from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Shafi denied any ties to CAIR. In an open letter, he wrote that he believed "much of the hate against Muslims is driven by a fear of terrorism", he said. "Here are the facts. I have never had any association with the Muslim Brotherhood nor (the Council on American-Islamic Relations) nor any terrorist organisation," he wrote. "I believe that the laws of our nation are our Constitution and the laws passed by our elected legislatures I have never promoted any form of Sharia Law. I fully support and believe in American Laws for American Courts. I am honoured to be an American and a Republican," he was quoted as saying by The Texas Tribune. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An issue in HB 2028 is laetrile, also known as amygdalin and vitamin B17. Senior BJP leader and former Maharashtra cabinet minister Eknath Khadse said Friday that he knew who was the "shani" (Saturn) who ruined his political career. Khadse was speaking to reporters after attending the BJP's national convention in New Delhi. "I am not keen on contesting Lok Sabha elections. Raksha-tai (Khadse's daughter-in-law) has done good work and she has not lagged behind in keeping contact with the masses. We expect her to get the ticket. However, whatever is decided by the party will be acceptable to us," he said. The former state revenue minister said he had not decided on whether to contest the Assembly polls. "But after working for many years and winning elections.... I will take a decision on whether to contest or not at the right time," he said. Khadse resigned from the Maharashtra cabinet in 2016 after he was accused of misusing his official powers to facilitate a land deal for his family. He denied all the allegations. "Allegations were made without any reason or fault of mine. There was no truth to them....Staying away from for three years is heart-wrenching, especially when I have worked with honesty," the senior state BJP leader said. Several investigations were conducted but no allegations against him were proven, he noted. It was as if he was suffering from 'shani' (Saturn) in his horoscope, Khadse said. "I know who this shani is... I have started hating now for being sidelined when my party is in power. If doing all of this makes someone happy, I would not contest elections at all," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government should hold robust consultation with stakeholders before finalising the revised rules for social media as a "carefully crafted balance" is needed between security and free expression, according to Twitter and other social media platforms. The proposed amendments to Information Technology (IT) rules aimed at curbing misuse of social media and online platforms ahead of the general elections have sparked concerns among various stakeholders. Against this backdrop, Twitter's Global Vice President (Public Policy) Colin Crowell told PTI that any promulgation of new rules in this area should only come after a robust consultation. "With respect to intermediary liability, there is a carefully crafted balance that needs to be struck between ensuring the safety and security of an experience on any social media platform with respect to content, and protection with respect to privacy and free expression," Crowell said. He noted that this "balance is at risk of being upended" by norms like asking social media platforms to pro-actively monitor content. On condition of anonymity, a senior executive of another global social media platform said it is unclear whether India wants to be a leader in data privacy or mass surveillance. According to him, a mandate for interception and decryption of information would hurt people's ability to have a private conversation online. While the discussions are going on with the government, the executive emphasised that requiring collection of and access to personal data, even when a crime has not been committed, would have serious global ramifications. Among the draft amendments is a proposal that would require 'intermediaries' to enable tracing of originators of information when required by authorised government agencies. Another proposed provision would require social media platforms to deploy tools to "identify" and curb unlawful content. Some industry experts have warned that the planned amendments -- that mandate traceability of "unlawful content" -- could invade personal privacy and free speech. Crowell said Twitter serves roughly 500 million tweets a day and that is around a billion tweets every two days. "Nobody wants a typewriter that edits what you type as you type it, you want to be able to type what you believe and to publish that," he said. In December, the Information Technology (IT) ministry officials held a meeting with senior executives of Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and other companies to discuss the proposed changes to the IT rules. While comments from the public have been sought on the draft rules, a section of the stakeholders has slammed the proposed changes. Mozilla, the not-for-profit entity behind web browser Firefox, had said the move is a "blunt and disproportionate" fix to the problem of harmful online content and would lead to over-censorship. The Opposition said the proposals if implemented would violate privacy of individuals and termed it as an attempt to convert India into a "nanny state". Crowell batted for a wide consultation stating that the process "should not be solely with the largest companies in the space but with a variety of stakeholders -- both in industry and civil society". This is because the rights and responsibilities that are articulated in any intermediary liability regime also go directly to the heart of how individual Indians can express themselves in open society, Crowell explained. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court Friday rejected the bail plea of Khushi Shajwani, an employee of a salon, arrested for allegedly killing her colleague Kirti Vyas. Justice P D Naik, while rejecting Shajwani's bail plea, observed there was prima facie evidence against her. Shajwani, 42, and her partner Siddhesh Tamhankar, 28, also employed with B Blunt salon, were arrested in May last year, nearly two months after Vyas went missing on March 16 last year. According to the prosecution, the duo was unhappy with Vyas after she admonished Tamhankar for not working properly. The duo had claimed that they had met Vyas on the day she went missing near her house and offered her a lift till office. However, Vyas asked them to drop her at the Grant Road railway station in south Mumbai. The prosecution, however, alleged that Tamhankar had strangulated Vyas in Shajwani's car and the duo disposed of the body later in a creek off suburban Wadala area. The body has still not been recovered. In August last year, a sessions court had rejected Shajwani's bail plea following which she moved the high court. Special public prosecutor Raja Thakare, while opposing the bail application, submitted that though the body has not been found, there is circumstantial evidence that shows Shajwani's involvement, including call records and CCTV footage of the day when Vyas went missing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court Friday quashed the detention of 16 accused in a case relating to the gang rape of an 11-year-old hearing impaired girl in Ayanavaram here last year, under the Goondas Act. A division bench of Justices C T Selvam and R Hemalatha passed the order as police failed to pass the detention order within 30 days of arrest. The matter relates to the rape of a minor girl by a group of 17 people working at an apartment complex in Ayanavaram locality here, like plumbers, housekeepers, security guards and lift operators. The girl was allegedly sexually assaulted several times by the accused over seven months. All 17 were first arrested and then detained under the Goondas Act. The Goondas Advisory Board also confirmed the detention of 17 people under the Act. Assailing the detention, 16 accused approached the high court. Claiming that the allegations against them were false, the petitioners said it was "very strange" that the minor girl was still alive despite the claim of her having been "raped" on multiple occasions. Noting that they had no bad antecedents, the petitioners alleged that all of them have lost their jobs and were forced to vacate their house by the landlords. The case came to light after the victim, a class 7 student, narrated her ordeal to her elder sister. The sister informed their parents about it following which the girl's father lodged a police complaint on July 15 last year. The arrested persons were attacked by some lawyers in the court when they were produced on July 17. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Calcutta High Court Friday directed a woman, who wants to terminate her pregnancy due to an anomaly in the foetus' development, to appear before a medical board Saturday for examination. Considering the urgency as the woman is 25 weeks pregnant, Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty directed the West Bengal Additional Advocate General to submit the report of the board on Monday. Petitioning the high court, the woman sought permission to terminate her pregnancy since anomaly tests of the foetus showed that its brain was underdeveloped. The court noted that test reports showed that the brain condition of the foetus was such that there was every possibility of the child being abnormal on birth. It also noted that the report said the continuance of pregnancy may be fatal to the petitioner. The woman and her husband were present in the court room when the order was delivered. Justice Chakraborty directed the petitioner to appear before the medical board through the director of Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (SSKM Hospital) here on Saturday morning for her examination. Additional Advocate General Abhratosh Majumdar earlier told the court that on a request from the Central government to constitute permanent medical boards for such purpose in all states, the West Bengal government has formed such a board at the premier referral hospital IPGMER. The board consists of doctors from the departments of Gynaecology, Pediatrics, Neurology, Pathology, Radiology, Pulmonology and Genetics, Majumdar submitted. The 32-year-old woman approached the high court Thursday seeking permission to terminate her pregnancy owing to an anomaly in the formation of the foetus. The petitioner claimed before the court of Justice Chakraborty that the tests done during various stages of her pregnancy showed that the brain of the foetus is underdeveloped. The reports also showed that the condition of the foetus was deteriorating, her lawyer Amitabha Ghosh submitted before the court. According to the Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971, permission of the high court is required for undergoing abortion if the foetus is more than 20 weeks old, Ghosh said. A medical board is required to be formed to examine the case and give its opinion to the court on whether to allow the termination of pregnancy or not. Ghosh submitted that a gynaecologist had on December 26 prescribed immediate abortion in view of the condition of the foetus. On January 7, the woman was examined by another specialist doctor who told her that a permission of the court be sought for abortion, he said. The woman is a resident of south Kolkata. Her husband works in a private company, Ghosh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Friday said that its strategic partners Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and have signed a MoU to manufacture the industry-made Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). has initiated an action plan to get the PSLV production-ready through the industry, with the Government clearing the proposal. PSLV has been ISRO's workhorse with 45 flights, including India's successful missions to the Moon and Mars. Until now, public and private industries have been supplying devices, components and sub-systems for the PSLV. is taking steps to hand over the entire gamut of launch vehicle manufacturer to the domestic industry by 2020. "Anticipating such a proposal and earlier interactions, the current strategic partners of -- HAL and -- signed a MoU for realising the PSLV stages and supply to ISRO, making use of existing for materials and components and production and integration facilities of ISRO," the space agency said on its website. ISRO Chairman K Sivan said that a consortium has already been created between and HAL and they are ready to take up the production of PSLV. Terming it as a "major milestone", he said "L&T and HAL have already come together. They have signed an agreement. They came and spoke to me yesterday...now in this consortium, other are also going to join." Citing several advanced time-bound projects like the commercialisation of GSLV Mk III, Gaganyaan human space mission and other advanced space exploration missions, ISRO said its limited resources would be utilised for these projects for their timely completion, where a lot of Research and Development is involved. "The regular production of PSLV shall be realised by an industry consortium and ISRO will confine itself to do mission analysis and planning and configuration controls," it said. PSLV, a "versatile" vehicle designed and developed by ISRO, has been successfully deployed for remote sensing, Navigation, communication and deep space missions. According to ISRO, the reliability of the vehicle is as high as 0.97 and the vehicle is gaining importance in the international market as the demand for satellite launches are increasing continuously from customers, in addition to domestic users. "Green Book" screenwriter Nick Vallelonga has apologised for his past anti-Muslim comments that he posted on Twitter during the 2016 US Presidential Elections. The 59-year-old writer, who recently won a Golden Globe for the film, found himself in a controversy after his old tweets resurfaced in which he claimed to have witnessed thousands of Muslims in New Jersey celebrate the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The tweets were in response to US President Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric where he had said that he saw Muslims celebrating with his own eyes, something that was debunked later. "@realDonaldTrump 100% correct. Muslims in Jersey City cheering when towers went down. I saw it, as you did, possibly on local CBS news," Vallelonga wrote. Soon after the tweet resurfaced, Vallelonga's entire Twitter profile was deleted. In a statement, Vallelonga apologised for the comments, especially to actor Mahershala Ali, who plays one of the leads in the Peter Farrelly-directed film. "I want to apologise. I spent my life trying to bring this story of overcoming differences and finding common ground to the screen and I am incredibly sorry to everyone associated with 'Green Book'," he said. "I especially deeply apologize to the incredibly brilliant and kind Mahershala Ali and all members of the Muslim faith for the hurt I have caused," he added. The film is about a black concert pianist Don Shirley and his Italian-American driver Tony Vallelonga, who served as Shirley's chauffeur on a series of concert tours in the largely segregated South. Vallelonga is the son of Tony Vallelonga who is portrayed in "Green Book" by the actor Viggo Mortensen. "I am also sorry to my late father who changed so much from Dr. Shirley's friendship and I promise this lesson is not lost on me. Green Book' is a story about love, acceptance and overcoming barriers, and I will do better," Vallelonga said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has given special attention to stop unutilised water allotted to India under the 'Indus Waters Treaty' from entering Pakistan, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said Friday. Gadkari, the minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, also signed an MoU with six chief ministers for the construction of Renukaji Multi-Purpose Dam project in the Upper Yamuna Basin. The pact was signed with chief minister Yogi Aditynath of Uttar Pradesh, Ashok Gehlot of Rajasthan, Trivendra Singh Rawat of Uttarakhand, Manohar Lal of Haryana, Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi and Jairam Thakur of Himachal Pradesh. Another agreement was signed for Namami Gange projects in Allahabad under Hybrid Annuity Mode and One-City-One-Operator concept by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, UP Jal Nigam and Dilip Pormal from Prayagraj Water Pvt. Ltd. Addressing the gathering, Gadkari said there is enough water available in the country, but the real issue is its effective management. "We have done one thing. The rivers awarded to India under the Indus Waters Treaty....(some portion of) our share still goes to Pakistan. The first thing we did was to arrest the (excess) water and we will take it to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan and Delhi will benefit from it," he said. Under the Indus Waters Treaty, waters flowing in three of Indus tributaries -- the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi -- have been allotted to India; while the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus waters have been allotted to Pakistan. Of the total 168 million acre-feet, India's share of water from the three allotted rivers is 33 million acre-feet, which constitutes nearly 20 per cent. India uses nearly 93-94 per cent of its share under the Indus Waters Treaty. The rest of the water remains unutilised and goes to Pakistan. After the Uri attack in 2016, it was decided to fast track water projects to arrest the unutilised water. The three projects to arrest this water from going to Pakistan, include the Shahpur Kandi dam project, a second Sutlej-Beas link in Punjab and the Ujh Dam project in Jammu and Kashmir. An agreement has been signed on one project and there is a progress in other two projects, Gadkari said. Terming the signing of agreement for Renukaji Dam project a historic moment, Gadkari said that the government will try to get the Cabinet approval as soon as possible. He added that a consensus on Kishau Multi Purpose project on Yamuna river has also been developed and soon an agreement for it will also be signed. He also informed about the Lakhwar Multi Purpose project for which agreement was signed on August 28 among six basin states. Gadkari said that these projects will benefit all basin states and it is a "win-win situation" for everyone. "Delhi will not face drinking water issues for the next 50 years. Rajasthan, which is at the tail end, will also get water for drinking and irrigation." He added that these projects will also ensure more flow in River Yamuna which is the need-of-the-hour. Renukaji Dam project has been conceived as a storage project on Giri River (tributary of river Yamuna) in Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh. The project envisages construction of 148 M high rock filled dam for supply of 23 cumecs water to Delhi and other basin states. The project will also generate 40 MW of power during peak flow and will be executed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (HPPCL). The live storage of Renukaji MPP is 0.404 million acre feet (MAF) and total submergence area is about 1508 hectares in the territory of Himachal Pradesh. Stored water of Renukaji Dam will be used by Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi from the Hathnikund Barrage, by Delhi from Wazirabad Barrage and by UP, Haryana and Rajasthan from the Okhla Barrage. The share of these states is as follows: Haryana, Uttar Pradesh/Uttarkhand and Himchal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi will get 47.82 per cent, 33.65 per cent, 3.15 per cent, 9.34 per cent and 6.04 per cent respectively. Delhi has agreed to fund 90 per cent of the cost of power component of the project. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa government has strongly objected to the Civil Aviation Ministry's circular, which makes it mandatory for people living within 20 kms of Dabolim airport to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from the Navy for any kind of construction activity. Goa's Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai Friday said he would take up the issue with Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu. Following the ministry's circular, South Goa District Collector Tariq Thomas had issued an order in November last year making it mandatory to get an NoC from the naval authorities for constructions around Dabolim airport, located inside INS Hansa naval base. Talking to reporters here, Sardesai said the matter came up for discussion during the Goa Town and Country Planning Board's meeting held on Friday. "We have received a circular from South Goa Collector saying that 20 kms from the aerodrome anything that is constructed or erected...even a tree planted, should come with an NoC from the naval authorities," Sardesai said. "I am aghast that this kind of circular can be issued," he said adding that the board has taken a strong objection to the circular, which will affect a major part of Goa. "South Goa collector has fallen prey to the tactics of the naval authorities and has issued the circular. This is a serious issue," he said. "We are not going to agree to anything of this sort. I also going to take this up with union civil aviation minister because this is an issue of Goa's identity as a state," the minister said. "Goa is not a naval enclave. It is not the case that the Portuguese have gone and the Navy has come to Goa," he added. Sardesai pointed out that in April 2018, the Bombay High Court had cleared height restrictions for Mumbai. "The height restriction in Mumbai is 300 metres. In Goa, the maximum height is 24 metres. If they are clearing 300 metres in Mumbai, what is the issue in Goa? We are condemning this," he said referring to the circular. The circular issued by the collector says, "With respect to Dabolim airport (Goa airport) which is a defence airport, it is to be noted that, haphazard development is taking place around it due to the absence of clarity with respect to the colour-coded maps and adherence by local authority or municipality to ensure that restrictions are adhered to." "In order to ensure safety and as a measure of enforcement...it is necessary that as an initial step for all the areas/villages in Mormugao taluka, in the event that conversion cases are considered, NoC from the Naval Authorities is to be obtained and any conditions given by the Naval authorities are to be incorporated," the circular reads. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German prosecutors said Friday they were looking into allegations that a German national arrested and then deported by Egypt is a jihadist militant. "Based on the information published in the Egyptian media, the prosecution service... is investigating whether there are any indications of criminal offences," the service in the city of Celle told AFP. The 23-year-old student from the university town of Goettingen is one of two German men detained separately last month in Egypt, with an 18-year-old still in custody there on Friday. The families of both men believe their arrests were cases of mistaken identity. However, German public broadcaster SWR reported, without citing sources, that the 23-year-old was known to German police as a suspected Islamist. It said he had been the target of an investigation into the possible "planning of an act of violence against the state". Egyptian security sources said he was detained at Cairo International Airport over suspicions he was seeking to join the Islamic State group in Egypt's turbulent northern Sinai region. Since had not committed any crime under Egyptian law, the authorities decided to deport to Germany, one of the sources said. Germany's foreign ministry confirmed the return on Thursday of the man. It said its Cairo embassy was trying to gain consular access to the younger man, who was reportedly arrested in mid-December after landing in the southern city of Luxor. The 18-year-old was found with maps of North Sinai in his possession and authorities believe he too came to Egypt with the intent of joining IS, Egyptian security sources said. Procedures were still underway for his deportation to Germany. Germany's foreign ministry said it could provide no information on the Egyptian accusation, nor whether they would be questioned in Germany. Egypt has been battling an insurgency in North Sinai, which surged following the 2013 military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. In February, security forces launched a major operation focused on the region, aimed at wiping out an IS affiliate accused of spearheading the insurgency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the apex body of the gems and jewellery industry, has introduced identity card for artisans in West Bengal which will be rolled out nationally later this month. GJEPC is holding advanced talks with the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MoSDE) for national classification of gem & jewellery sector workers/ craftsmen under LMIS (Labour Management Information Systems). This segment-wise classification of workers, craftsmen and artisans will provide additional benefits under relevant MoSDE schemes, it said. The council has also created Swasthya Kosh, a special fund to offer health insurance to identity card holders and their families. The card would benefit the entire gem & jewellery industry and ensure proper authentication for social security purposes, it said. The objective of this project was to create a verified and well-crafted database for gem & jewellery workers to provide them better job opportunities, help find financial support from banks and financial institutions and provide better healthcare services through specially designed smart card, a GJEPC statement said on Friday. Pramod Kumar Agrawal, chairman, GJEPC, said, "The USD 40 billion gem and jewellery industry was heavily dependent on the artisans and craftsmen of India." Today, India has become a global pioneer in the business of diamond processing, only because of these extremely talented and skilled workforce, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday told Indian workers here that he wants to listen to their problems instead of telling his "Mann Ki Baat". Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a maiden visit, was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian diaspora at the Dubai airport Thursday. He lauded the Indian workers here for making the country proud by their hard work in the UAE. The Congress president said his party was aware of the difficulties faced by the labourers and wants to help them. "I realise you face several hardships. You work all day, send money to your family back home. We want to talk to you," Rahul said. "Main yahan apne mann ki baat kahne nahi aaya hun... main yahan aapke mann ki baat sunane aaya hun (I have not come here to speak my mind, I have come to listen to you)," he said in his address at the Jabel Ali labour colony. He was referring to Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat' where he address the nation on various issues. "All these massive developments you see here, tall buildings, large airports and metro, would not have been built without your contribution. You have given your sweat, blood and time for the development of this city and you have made Indians of all backgrounds proud. "You have illuminated the names of every religion, every state and every caste," Gandhi said while praising them. He told them that he is a common man like them and would always stand by them. "The battle has begun... and we are going to win," Gandhi said, hinting at the 2019 general elections in India. Accompanied by Kerala Congress leader Oommen Chandy and Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda, Gandhi was welcomed to loud cheers from the labourers gathered in the camp. Earlier, Gandhi met with the business leaders in Dubai. At his meeting with business leaders and professionals in Dubai, he interacted with prominent UAE businessmen including B R Shetty. At the beginning of the day, Gandhi and Pitroda met with business leaders at a breakfast meeting. The Congress president had a meaningful interaction with members of the Indian Business and Professional Council in Dubai, the Twitter account of the Indian National Congress said in a tweet. He also interacted with the Punjabi community in Dubai. A construction worker from Jabel Ali labour colony said he wants to see Gandhi leading India with compassion and care for all Indians. Gandhi is also set to meet some UAE ministers during his two-day visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Seoni district court in Madhya Pradesh has sentenced a former secretary of a Mandi to four years' imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 70 lakh on him. Special judge Sanjiv Shrivastava convicted K K Rai, the accused, in a 2008 case of disproportionate assets, said public prosecutor Deepa Marskole. Rai, 54, was in-charge Mandi secretary in 2008 when Lokayukta police raided his properties and found assets worth Rs 1.06 crore. Some of the assets were in the name of his wife and son. The investigation found that he had earned at least Rs 65 lakh through illegal means, the prosecutor said. Rai was subsequently suspended and tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former chief statistician T C A Anant has been named as a member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts the prestigious civil services examination to select the country's bureaucrats, diplomats and police officers among others, officials said Friday. Anant was appointed Chief Statistician of India-cum-Secretary, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, in June 2010 for five years. In 2015, he was given extension till January 31, 2018, the date of his superannuation on completion of 60 years of age. Anant, who worked as a Professor in Delhi School of Economics, was also a member of the task force on employment data creation set up by the Prime Minister's Office. He will be administered the oath of office on Monday, the officials said. As per rules, a member of the can have a maximum of six-year tenure or till an incumbent attains the age of 65. The commission has a strength of 10 members, besides a chairperson. After Anant's appointment, the commission will have one more vacancy of member. At present, Arvind Saxena is the chairman of the Saxena worked as the Director, Aviation Research Centre. Former Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi, Prof. Pradeep Kumar Joshi, Air Marshal A S Bhonsle (retired), Sujata Mehta, Manoj Soni, Smita Nagaraj, M Sathiyavathy and Bharat Bhushan Vyas are members of the The commission conducts civil services examination annually in three stages -- preliminary, main and interview -- to select officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. Former BJP MLA Dinanath Pandey passed away Friday due to old-age ailments in a private hospital here, family sources said. He was 85 and is survived by a son and four daughters. Pandey, who had represented Jamshedpur East assembly constituency thrice between 1977 to 1995, was admitted in the hospital on Thursday. Pandey had lost the 1985 assembly poll but won the seat again in the 1990, his son Ram Pukar Pandey said. Pandey will be cremated in Subarnarekha burning ghat on Sunday, he said. In his condolence message, Chief Minister Raghubar Das, who is now representing Jamshedpur East, described Pandey as a strong pillar of BJP and his death would be felt always. "I have lost my guardian in the death of Pandey, who was soft-spoken and could mix with the people easily," Das said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistan government has decided to continue the travel ban on former president Asif Ali Zardari, his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah among other Pakistan Peoples Party leaders, a top minister said. The decision, which prevents them from flying abroad, was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday, Dawn reported. On December 27, the Cabinet placed Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur on the Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent them from flying abroad after they were named in a Supreme Court-appointed joint investigative team probing fake bank accounts. The JIT probe, constituted by the apex court on September 5, focused on "32 fake accounts" which were allegedly used to give massive financial benefits to Zardari, Talpur and several others. However, the Supreme Court on December 31 expressed anger over the government's move placing the names of 172 suspects on the ECL and ordered it to review the decision. The Cabinet then sent the list to a review committee. The review committee recommended the removal of 20 names from the ECL, including those of the PPP leaders. The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the government to remove the names of PPP Chairman Bilawal and Sindh Chief Minister Shah from the ECL. It also ordered that the case be forwarded to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). However, Prime Minister Khan and his team rejected the recommendations and decided that the names of the top leaders of the PPP would remain on the ECL, the Dawn reported. "The federal cabinet has decided not to remove names of Mr Bhutto-Zardari and Mr Shah from the ECL," Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told reporters. He said the names of the PPP leaders would remain on the ECL until a detailed written order of the Supreme Court was received. "After going through the order, we will decide whether the names of the PPP leaders should be removed from the list or the government should file a review petition against the apex court's decision," Chaudhry said. The minister said another committee has been constituted to review the travel ban on the 172 suspects. The committee will present its report to the Cabinet in its next meeting. The names of the 172 suspects were placed on the ECL on the recommendations of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the PPP termed the Cabinet's latest decision as a "dictatorial decision". "The Cabinet decision has not only exposed the 'ugly' face of Imran Khan but the fact that dictatorship is prevailing in the country which does not even accept the decisions of the Supreme Court," PPP leader Nafisa Shah said. She called on the apex court to take stern notice of the government's "rigidness" and alleged that the "puppet" government was "using accountability and the ECL as tools for arm-twisting of political opponents". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Firmenich is proud to have joined RE100, a global initiative of the world's most influential companies, all committed to 100% renewable power. Today, Firmenich manufacturing sites in the U.S. and Europe are operating with 100% renewable electricity, as the Group gets closer to meeting its ambitious goal of 100% renewable electricity across all of its production sites by 2020. Firmenich joins more than 160 major businesses in the global RE100 initiative, which is led by the international non-profit "The Climate Group" in partnership with "CDP". Other members of the RE100 include Google, Lego, Apple and Nike. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/798187/Firmenich_Logo.jpg ) (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/806749/RE100_Logo.jpg ) "With all of our manufacturing sites in the U.S. and Europe currently 100% powered by renewable electricity, I am confident we will reach our goal of 100% for all our sites worldwide by 2020," said Gilbert Ghostine, CEO Firmenich. "It is critical that business partners together to tackle climate change with a sense of urgency, which is why we have joined RE100 and the 160 world-class companies committed to driving the world's economy towards sustainability.""In 2018, 78% of our global electricity came from renewable sources, and we are on our way to reach 90% of renewable electricity globally in 2019," added Jane Sinclair, Head of Legal & Compliance and General Counsel, Firmenich. "Our teams are fully dedicated to fighting the urgent climate crisis and scaling up our actions with other like-minded companies in the RE100 initiative.""By joining RE100 and committing to source 100% renewable electricity by 2020, Firmenich is proving that it's possible for big businesses to set ambitious targets that speed up the global transition to clean energy," said Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100, The Climate Group. "This is the kind of corporate climate leadership that will help us stay below 1.5 degrees global warming and deliver a robust, sustainable economy.""To achieve our goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2020, we are not only relying on the purchase of green electricity, we are also collaborating with our suppliers to develop onsite clean solutions such as wind power and solar energy," commented Neil McFarlane, Senior VP Quality, Health, Safety, Security & Environment, Firmenich. "We look forward to partnering with RE100 and its member companies to push our thinking and help ease the transition towards a more sustainable global economy."In 2015, Firmenich announced its ambitious Environmental Goals for 2020 as well as its vision to become a carbon neutral company. In addition to committing to 100% of electricity from renewable sources or offsets, Firmenich is targeting a 20% reduction in absolute CO2 emissions and a 25% decrease of water use in water stressed areas. Taking its ambitious 2020 environmental goals to the next level, the perfume and taste company is also one of only 149 companies worldwide to have approved science-based targets. In joining the "Science Based Targets initiative" the Swiss company committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 39% and Scope 3 emissions by 20% by 2030. Learn more about Firmenich's 2020 environmental goals and commitments to climate change management in its "Performance and Sustainability Report 2018." To view it, click here. About Firmenich Firmenich is the world's largest privately-owned perfume and taste company, founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895. Driven by its purpose to create positive emotions to enhance wellbeing, naturally, Firmenich has designed many of the world's best-known perfumes and tastes, bringing delight to over four billion consumers every day. Renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its leadership in sustainability, each year, Firmenich invests 10% of its turnover in R&D to understand and share the best that nature has to offer responsibly. Firmenich had an annual turnover of 3.7 billion Swiss Francs at end June 2018. More information about Firmenich is available at http://www.firmenich.com About RE100 Led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP, RE100 is a collaborative initiative bringing together the world's most influential businesses committed to 100% renewable power. Renewables are a smart business decision, providing greater control over energy costs while helping companies to deliver on emission reduction goals. RE100 members, including Global Fortune 500 companies, have a total revenue of over US$4.5 trillion and operate in a diverse range of sectors - from information technology to automobile manufacturing. Together, they send a powerful signal to policymakers and investors to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy. RE100.org | #RE100 | info@RE100. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The overabundance of fast fashion -- readily available, inexpensively made clothing -- has created an environmental and social justice crisis, a study claims. Globally, 80 billion pieces of new clothing are purchased each year, translating to USD 1.2 trillion annually for the fashion industry, according to the study published in the journal Environmental Health. The majority of these products are assembled in China and Bangladesh, while the US consumes more clothing and textiles than any other country in the world, the researchers said. "From the growth of water-intensive cotton, to the release of untreated dyes into local water sources, to worker's low wages and poor working conditions, the environmental and social costs involved in textile manufacturing are widespread," said Christine Ekenga, an assistant professor at the Washington University in the US. "This is a massive problem. The disproportionate environmental and social impacts of fast fashion warrant its classification as an issue of global environmental injustice," Ekenga said. The study shows that negative consequences at each step of the fast-fashion supply chain have created a global environmental justice dilemma, researchers said. "While fast fashion offers consumers an opportunity to buy more clothes for less, those who work in or live near textile manufacturing facilities bear a disproportionate burden of environmental health hazards," they said. Increased consumption patterns have created millions of tonnes of textile waste in landfills and unregulated settings. This is particularly applicable to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as much of this waste ends up in second-hand clothing markets, according to the study. "These LMICs often lack the supports and resources necessary to develop and enforce environmental and occupational safeguards to protect human health," Ekenga said. The aim of the research is to highlight the environmental and occupational hazards during textile production, particularly for those in LMICs, and the issue of textile waste. The researchers said a number of potential solutions, including sustainable fibres, corporate sustainability, trade policy and the role of the consumer should be embraced. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress in Telangana Friday charged the Election Commission with inaction over missing names in the voters' list in the state. Former Congress MLA M Shashidhar Reddy, who heads the state Congress' committee to coordinate with EC, also accused the election authorities in the state of coming under the influence of ruling TRS. Hitting out at Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Reddy, a former vice chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), said he would write to all those leaders whom Rao meets as part of efforts to forge a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front. "After the December 7 polls (in Telangana), the Chief Electoral Officer came out, saying that we apologise... lakhs of names are missing (from voters' lists). He assured that before Lok Sabha elections they will rectify things," Reddy told reporters. "Now, how are we going to believe this man, he is part of the Election Commission. So, the doubts and aspersions are cast on the entire Election Commission and the way it is functioning," he said. Reddy, who has been raising the issue, claimed that he had cited an instance of how 742 names were illegally deleted out of a total of 2,701 falling in three polling booths at a village in Utnoor mandal in Adilabad district. This was noticed during a bypoll in 2017 for the post of Sarpanch, but the CEO and the state election commission did not act swiftly to correct it, he alleged. The Congress met the Election Commission in Delhi last year to point out the alleged errors, following which the state CEO was apprised of it, he said. It is still being verified as to who is responsible for the deletion of 742 names in the village, he claimed. In 2002, a District Collector was suspended in Uttar Pradesh within months after an inquiry when an instance of irregularities in electoral rolls of 20,000 names was taken up with the CEC J M Lyngdoh, he said. "For one constituency, 20,000 names, the district Collector was suspended. Here, we got 68 lakh discrepencies to their notice. They are remaining silent," he alleged. "You are not willing to take any action. This is only because of the pressures from the ruling party. Only they are toeing their line. The Chief Minister has been always behaving as if the Election Commission is in his pockets. The Election Commission is proving the Chief Minister to be right," he said. Noting that the state cabinet had recently passed a resolution thanking the CEO for conducting the Assembly elections (peacefully), he claimed that no state cabinet or the Union Cabinet ever passed such a resolution thanking the CEO or EC. "The state (election) commission, Delhi commission, all are in tacit understanding with ruling party," he alleged. The Congress would not remain silent on the issue, he said. The names of voters who voted in the Assembly polls are missing from Panchayat voters lists (ongoing local body polls), he claimed. Even earlier, names of voters were illegally deleted, he claimed. "It's a conspiracy by the state Chief Minister to resort to this type of illegal deletions," he said. Observing that Congress has failed to "understand the level to which the government has gone," he said it is one of the major factors that contributed to his party's defeat in the Assembly polls. The procedure for preparing intensive revision of electoral rolls is not followed, he alleged. "Totally, today, the number of deleted voters names in CEO website crossed 30 lakh," he said. After facing flak over missing names in voters list in recent assembly polls, the Election authorities in Telangana have launched a unique voter outreach programme of sending letters with reply postcards to one crore people seeking grievances if any. Under the initiative launched a few days ago, over 10 lakh letters with self-addressed reply postcards had already been delivered by the booth-level staff across the state, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar had said. The aim was to cover one crore voters by January 20, he said adding if the voters had any issue regarding the voters list they can record the same in the postcard, addressed to the office of the CEO, and post it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The outcome of DR Congo's tempestuous presidential election appeared to be headed for the courts Friday after the poll's runner-up said he would demand a recount. Martin Fayulu, an opposition candidate tipped by pollsters as the likely winner of the December 30 vote, told supporters, "We will go to the Constitutional Court on Saturday... (to demand) a recount of the vote." He said he would challenge Corneille Nangaa, head of the Independent National Election Commission (CENI), "to produce the tally reports from polling stations in front of witnesses" and Congolese and international observers. Provisional results released on Thursday gave Felix Tshisekedi, a rival opposition candidate, 38.57 per cent of the vote, just ahead of Fayulu with 34.8 per cent. Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the candidate backed by outgoing President Joseph Kabila, came a distant third with 23.8 per cent. The declared result was a surprise to many. The few pre-election opinion polls had flagged Fayulu as clear favourite while Kabila critics predicted an outcome rigged in favour of Shadary. The powerful Roman Catholic church bluntly said CENI's provisional result "does not correspond" with data that its 40,000 election monitors had collected at polling stations. Fayulu's bloc on Friday said he was the true victor, claiming he had garnered 61 percent of the vote. Candidates have 48 hours after the result to file any appeal, and the Constitutional Court has a week in which to deliberate. "We don't expect the election to be annulled, but (a decision in favour of) a recount," Fayulu said. Democratic Republic of Congo has been in the grip of a two-year political crisis triggered by Kabila's refusal to step down when his two-term constitutional limit expired at the end of 2016. Elections to choose a successor were delayed three times before finally taking place on December 30. Polling day unfolded relatively peacefully, but suspicions over the count have deepened. The turmoil has darkened hopes that the country will have its first peaceful handover of power since it gained independence in 1960. International reactions to the results have been guarded. Most leaders issued statements calling for any disputes to be resolved peacefully, but notably lacking any congratulations for Tshisekedi. Competing appeals in the dispute were pitched to the UN Security Council on Friday. CENI chief Nangaa, speaking by video conference, pleaded for "the new authorities to be supported by the international community". Bishop Marcel Utembi, head of the Catholic church's conference of bishops, urged the Security Council to ask CENI to release the records of vote-counting at polling stations to allow for verification. But Russia and China said the UN should stay out of the dispute. Russia said the UN should focus on DRC's stability and the need for a peaceful handover, while China called for "full respect" of CENI's authority. Analysts said it was likely Kabila, 47, had sought to avoid a backlash and international condemnation if Shadary had been declared winner. He therefore struck a deal with Tshisekedi, head of the country's oldest and biggest opposition party, according to this scenario. As a quid pro quo, some commentators suggested, Kabila would gain immunity from prosecution for his iron-fisted 18-year rule, and protection from assets seizure. Thursday's pre-dawn announcement brought thousands of Tshisekedi supporters onto the streets in celebration, while others who had backed Fayulu came out to protest. The authorities late Friday imposed an 8pm-5am curfew in Kikwit, a Fayulu stronghold in the west of the country, city mayor Leonard Mutangu told AFP. Five civilians were killed there on Thursday in a police operation to curb post-election violence, said National Police spokesman Colonel Pierrot-Rombaut Mwanamputu. Seventeen police were injured, he said, denying earlier reports of police fatalities. A relay station of the national radio and television broadcaster, RTNC, was also ransacked, he added. In the eastern city of Goma, at least one person was killed, officials said. In Mbandaka, capital of the northwestern province of Equateur, a Fayulu aide was arrested for calling on supporters to vandalise a vote collection centre and seize records of the ballot count, Mwanamputu said. She was named as Wina Lokondo, a coordinator of Fayulu's Lamuka coalition, who was arrested with three associates. CENI has still to announce the result of legislative elections which also took place on December 30, with more than 15,000 candidates in the running. The result will determine who will hold a majority in the 500-seat parliament for the next five years. The outgoing National Assembly, which took office in 2011, is dominated by Kabila supporters who have already claimed to have won a majority. DRC is a giant, straddling central Africa over an area the size of continental western Europe. Rich in minerals but mired in poverty, the country has suffered two major wars in the past 22 years, as well as bloodshed in elections in 2006 and 2011 that saw Kabila returned to office. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asserting that it would never strike an electoral pact with the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the DMK Friday mocked at him for "comparing" himself with late leader A B Vajpayee. A day after the Prime Minister said his party cherised its old friends, seeking to rope in outfits for the NDA, DMK chief M K Stalin said people would not forget that it was under Modi's rule that Tamil Nadu's rights were "snatched away," something unseen before. "I would like to make it categorical again that DMK will never forge an alliance with the BJP-led by Narendra Modi," he said and hit out at Modi for not doing anything to strengthen India's integrity. Flaying the Prime Minister for allegedly treating with disdain values like secularism, social justice and federalism in his rule, Stalin said,"Modi is not Vajpayee." Crediting Vajpayee with stitching together a "healthy alliance," during his times, the DMK leader said, however, the NDA under the incumbent Prime Minister is not so. Accusing the Prime Minister of not guarding "pluralism," Stalin said it was "strange and comical that Modi was comparing himself with Vajpayee." Stalin recalled that Vajpayee was described as "the right person in the wrong party," by late party patriarch M Karunanidhi. Under Vajpayee the agenda for governance was "not divisive," he said adding his party had joined the NDA (in 1999) under the late leader only for a stable government to ensure growth. Reacting to Stalin, BJP Tamil Nadu unit chief Tamilisai Soundararajan said she does not understand why the DMK leader was interpreting Modi's remarks as an invite to his party. Speaking to reporters at Delhi, she wondered why the DMK, which has a tie up with Congress and having proposed Rahul Gandhi as their pick for the Prime Minister's post should feel that their party was invited. The Prime Minister had only said that Vajpayee had shown the party the way for building successful coalitions. Also, Modi had said that the strongest alliance is one with the people and more than "alliances we have to focus on remaining connected with people," she pointed out. Like the celebrated leader Vajpayee, "Modi is a strong leader," she said adding "I don't know why DMK is reacting as if they were invited.. we know with whom we will go in for an alliance and we have already said we will forge ties with like-minded parties...there is enough time." While the Prime Minister showed civility in his remarks on coalition, she said she doubted if Stalin had it since he had reacted to the interaction her party leader had with their party workers. In an interaction with the party's booth-level workers from five districts in Tamil Nadu on Thursday Modi spoke about Vajpayee's successful bids at building strong coalitions. "20 years ago the visionary leader Atalji brought in a new culture in Indian ..he gave utmost importance to regional aspirations. BJP has followed the way Atalji has shown us," Modi had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Police's Economic Offence Wing Friday arrested the director of a real estate firm from his Noida office for allegedly duping people to the tune of several crores of rupees by inducing them to invest in their pre-launch project, officials said. The director of Big Bull Infrastructure, Yogesh Sharma, was arrested on a secret information, Varsha Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing), said. Yogesh Sharma, along with other directors Chetan and Satyanarayana Sharma, had induced people to invest in their project 'Big Bull Ashiana' situated at Chandwaji, NH-8, Jaipur in Rajasthan, she said. The trio then usurped the money obtained from the investors, the senior police officer said. Investigations revealed that around 13 persons were duped of several crores, the officer added. Yogesh Sharma has been taken into police custody, while other directors of the company, who are accused in this case, have not joined the investigation till date and are absconding, she said. The alleged company had neither developed the said project nor obtained any approval from concerned authorities, the DCP said. An investigation is underway to ascertain the details of the bank accounts and money siphoned off. Police teams have been formed to trace the whereabouts of the other accused directors, she said. A case of fraud under appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code against the accused and other directors was registered on 26 July last year, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Though opposition parties have targeted the Yogi Adityanath government for alleged "lawlessness in Uttar Pradesh", official figures have another tale to tell with the graph of major crimes witnessing a downward trend in 2018 in comparison to 2017. "Certainly, graph of key crimes has seen a downward movement in the state in past two years. Maintaining law and order is top priority of the present government and we have succeeded in instilling confidence among the people with effective policing and prompt action," Singh told PTI here Friday. As per official figures, key crimes including rape, murder, kidnapping and loot have come down in 2018 as compared to 2017. While there were 4,272 rape cases in 2017, the figure came down by 7.63 per cent to 3,946 cases in 2018. Similarly, murder cases have come down by 7.08 per cent from 4,324 in 2017 to 4,018 in 2018. There were 251 dacoity cases in 2017 which drastically came down by 42.63 per cent to 144 in 2018. Loot cases also came down in this period by 22.1 per cent. There were 4,131 loot cases in 2017, which came down to 3,218 in 2018. Cases related to kidnapping for ransom came down by 30.43 per cent from 2017 to 2018. Other cases like road hold-up, dowry deaths, clashes also went down, as per the official figures. The number of FIRs registered in this period has seen an increase by 10.15 per cent. A total of 3,10,810 FIRs were registered in 2017, while it rose by 10.15 per cent to 3,42,355 in 2017. This rise is being credited to availability of e-FIR and other facilities. "After the Yogi Adityanath government came to power in 2017, the police has been given a free hand. Many hardened criminals have been nabbed. This has helped in checking the crime rate," BJP spokesman Shalabh Mani Tripathi said. As per official figures, since March 2017, 7,502 criminals were nabbed in police action while 72 of them were killed in such encounters. As many as 522 policemen were injured and four killed in these 'acts'. A total of 931 criminals were injured in these police actions. SP leader and MLC Rajpal Kashyap, however, termed the data as "mere eyewash". "There is no law and order in the state. People of the state are fed up with the BJP government and they will give a befitting reply in the coming Lok Sabha polls," Kashyap said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil superstar Rajinikanth has expressed "happiness" that "Petta" is being received warmly by the fans and has credited the director for getting the best out of him. The superstar, who arrived here Thursday after a brief stay in the United States, was addressing reporters at his residence. "First, I express my new year and Pongal wishes to one and all. I came to know that the movie is liked by everyone. Very happy for that. The credits should go to Sun Pictures (film producer), Karthik Subbaraj (director) and his unit," Rajinikanth said. The superstar said as an actor, his utmost priority is that his films should deliver on the expectations of his fans. "My job is to make them happy. That is very important. I am happy that they are happy. As I said earlier, the credits should go to Karthik Subbaraj. He made sure that he got the best from me in every shot, every scene." "Petta" hit screens worldwide amid much fanfare Thursday with two couples choosing the occasion to tie the knot. Elated fans danced to drumbeats and poured milk on huge cuts-out of the 69-year-old actor outside theatres across the state, which has become something of a tradition with all Rajinikanth releases. Produced by Sun Pictures, the music is scored by Anirudh. The film's cast also includes Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vijay Sethupathy, Simran, Trisha and actor-director Sasikumar. "Petta", roughly translating into one's local stronghold in Tamil, released along with Ajith Nayanthara-starrer "Viswasam". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expressing happiness over the positive response garnered by his latest flick 'Petta,' Tamil 'Superstar' Rajinikanth said the credit should go to its producer and director. "First, I express my new year and Pongal (harvest festival in Tamil Nadu which falls on January 15) wishes to one and all. I came to know that it (Petta) is liked by everyone. Very happy for that. The credit should go to Sun Pictures (film producer), Karthik Subbaraj (director) and his unit," the 69-year-old actor told reporters at the airport here late Thursday night after returning from the United States. "My job is to make them (fans) happy. That is very important. I am happy that they are happy. As I said earlier, the credits should go to Karthik Subbaraj. He made sure that he got the best from me in every shot, every scene," he added. The actor's 'Petta' hit screens worldwide amid much fanfare Thursday with two fan couples in the State choosing the occasion to tie the knot and another piercing his skin as part of special prayers for the success of the flick. Produced by Sun Pictures, the music is scored by Anirudh. Besides bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqi and Vijay Sethupathy, the film's star cast includes actresses Simran and Trisha and actor-director Sasikumar. 'Petta', roughly translating into one's local stronghold in Tamil, released along with the Ajith-Nayanthara starrer 'Viswasam' directed by Siva. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court Friday recorded the statements of three more witnesses in support of defamation case filed by journalist and politician M J Akbar against his former woman colleague Priya Ramani who had levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against him. The three witnesses -- Tapan Chaki, Manjar Ali and Rachna Grover -- who were associated with Akbar earlier deposed before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal. They said they were extremely "distressed and dismayed" as grave damage has been caused to his reputation due to the allegations. The court has now fixed January 22 as next date of hearing when arguments on summoning would be heard. Akbar, who resigned as Union minister on October 17 last year, had filed a private criminal defamation complaint in the court against Ramani after his name cropped up on the social media when he was in Nigeria, as the #MeToo campaign raged on in India. Ramani has accused Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago, which was denied by him. It had earlier recorded the statements of Akbar and Joyeeta Basu, the editor of Sunday Guardian, in the matter. Akbar had earlier told the court in his statement that an "immediate damage" has been caused to him due to the "scurrilous", concocted and false allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him. Multiple women have come out with accounts of alleged sexual harassment by him while he was working as a journalist. He had termed the allegations "false, fabricated and deeply distressing" and said he was taking appropriate legal action against them. Expressing her readiness to fight the defamation allegations, Ramani had said, "Rather than engage with the serious allegations that many women have made against him, he seeks to silence them through intimidation and harassment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court Friday granted interim protection from arrest in a money laundering case to Manoj Arora, close aide of Robert Vadra, who alleged that the case was foisted on him by the NDA government as a result of "political vendetta". Arora told the court that since the 2019 general elections were approaching, the NDA government was "unnerved" by the recent assembly election results in which Congress emerged victorious. Vadra is son-in-law of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has expressed apprehension that Arora might have fled the country, said that if he was in the country, he should come forward and join the investigation. ED said Arora has not answered the notice served to him and his places have been raided in his absence. The allegations by Arora's counsel were made before Special Judge Arvind Kumar who provided relief to him and directed him to appear before the ED on Saturday at 3 pm. Senior advocate and Congress leader K T S Tulsi, appearing for Arora, was responding to ED's allegations that the accused might have fled from the country. He submitted that Arora, an employee of Vadra's Skylight Hospitality LLP, was willing to appear before the agency if he was protected from any coercive action and "torture" as such actions may lead him to make a "false confession". "There is nothing that I (Arora) have acquired anything... They already have entire record in the case. Further I am willing to give all information I have. "I am willing to appear before ED but I do not want to be be tortured or coerced to make a false confession. They do not to proceed against anybody else because they want to create and falsify evidence. It cannot be said that I am concealing myself. I am appearing before court through my lawyer," the counsel for Arora said. However, the ED refuted the allegations, by asking that "should no authority investigate any political bigwig because that will be called a political vendetta?" "For one month they were aware about the notice, raids. But since an application on NBW was filed by ED, he rushed to the court. We are afraid that you (Arora) have gone out of the country. If you are here, come forward," ED's counsel, D P Singh, said, referring to the application moved by the probe agency which sought an open-ended non-bailable warrant (NBW). An open-ended NBW does not carry a time limit for its execution. According to ED's special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana, the case relates to allegations of money laundering in purchase of a London-based property -- 12, Bryanston Square -- worth 1.9 million pound, which was allegedly owned by Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The ED had told the court that it has lodged a money laundering case against Arora after his role came up during the probe of another case by the Income Tax Department under the newly-enacted Black Money Act and tax law against absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. It said the London-based property was bought by Bhandari for GBP 1.9 million and sold in 2010 for the same amount despite incurring additional expenses of approximately GBP 65,900 on its renovation. "This gives credence to the fact that Bhandari was not the actual owner of the property but it was beneficially owned by Vadra who was incurring expenditure on the renovation of this property," ED said through advocate A R Aditya. It claimed that NBW against Arora was needed for getting a Red Corner Notice issued against him through Interpol since there were apprehensions that he might have fled the country. Arora was a key person in the case and he was aware of overseas undeclared assets of Vadra and was instrumental in arranging funds, it said. In his application seeking anticipatory bail, Arora has claimed that his wife had appeared before the agency for interrogation in the case and through her, ED officials threatened him to implicate Vadra. "Some ED officials visited petitioner's wife and threatened her that unless Arora deposes to the desires of the ED officials, specially to the extent of falsely implicating Robert Vadra, the petitioner would be taken to task and would be treated with their degree methods and the officials would ensure that his future and his family's future is doomed in perpetuity," the accused alleged in the application. He further alleged that his wife was told by the ED officials that if the accused agrees to agency's demands, "then they would also ensure tender of pardon to the petitioner, otherwise the case of the petitioner is already been botched up to an extent that he will never come out of custody". The ED officials had also sought "confessional statement against his employers, including Vadra, to the suitability of the investigation", he alleged. ED had on January 5 urged the court to issue open-ended NBW against Arora, saying he failed to appear for questioning despite repeated summonses in the case. The ED submitted that Arora has been absconding since the search of his premises by the agency. "It is apprehended that the accused might have crossed the boundaries of the country," the agency argued. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court Friday granted bail to former Haryana chief minister O P Chautala in an over Rs 6 crore money laundering case, noting that the by Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not arrest him during investigation. Special judge Kamini Lau granted the relief on an application moved by Chautala after he appeared before the court, which had summoned him as accused on a charge sheet filed by the ED. The court directed him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and two sureties of like amount. However, the court put various conditions on the accused, including surrendering his passport before it. In his application, Chautala said he was not required for custodial interrogation and that the agency itself did not chose to arrest him. The bail application was opposed by ED's special public prosecutor N K Matta who said that further examination of the accused was required for identifying the money trail and other suspected beneficiaries in the case. Chautala is currently serving a 10-year jail term in a separate case related to teachers' recruitment scam. The final report has sought Chautala's prosecution under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED informed the court that disproportionate assets worth Rs 6.09 crore were "illegally generated" by Chautala between May 1993 and May 2006, through corruption and were projected as untainted property by utilising them in the construction and in acquiring movable assets. Chautala is serving imprisonment for illegally recruiting 3,206 Junior Basic Trained (JBT) teachers in Haryana in 2000. The CBI had on March 26, 2010 named Chautala in a charge sheet, indicting him for allegedly possessing assets worth Rs 6.09 crore. The ED had filed a separate case based on the CBI's FIR. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here has closed a sedition case against the Amnesty India, pertaining to a petition filed by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) against the human rights body on August 15, 2016. The complaint relates to an event the Amnesty India had held as part of a campaign to seek justice for alleged human rights violations in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The First Information Report (FIR) in the case mentioned a number of offences, including sedition, unlawful assembly, rioting and promoting enmity. The 8th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) ordered the closing of the case on January 8 after the sub-inspector of the police station concerned filed a "B" report. A "B" report pertains to the winding up of the case. The ACMM also noted that the complainant (ABVP) did not challenge the complaint, though the police had issued a notice to them. "The complainant had refused to receive the notice. Complainant called out absent. Hence, objection for 'B' report taken as not filed. "B report is accepted. Close the case," the ACMM noted. Welcoming the order, the Amnesty International, in a statement, said the ruling vindicated everything the Amnesty India had said from the time this "politically-motivated complaint" was filed. "This was a case that should never have been registered, given previous Supreme Court rulings on what constitutes sedition. "It has been a waste of public money and resources, and a distraction from real issues," Aakar Patel, country head of Amnesty India, said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has granted consular access to Christian Michel, a British national who was brought here from the UAE last month in connection with the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal. The British High Commission had sought consular access to Michel after he was arrested in the first week of December. "He has been granted consular access. A second secretary-level officer from the British High Commission has met Christian Michel based on the request we received last month," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a media briefing. The consular access to Michel was given on Thursday, he said. Asked about Michel's plea in the Delhi court Thursday seeking permission to make calls to his family members and his lawyers abroad, Kumar said, "We have shared in the past that he has been allowed to communicate with his family members. I have not seen the plea which he has entered on this matter (now)." Sources, however, said that if the British High Commission requests that he be allowed more communication, it may be considered. Michel, 57, was brought to India following his extradition by the United Arab Emirates in connection with the chopper deal case. At present, he is lodged in the Tihar jail here. Michel is one of the three middlemen -- the two others Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa -- being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in the case. Michel has denied the charges. The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. The CBI, in its charge sheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The opposition Congress in Odisha on Friday said it will launch women-centric campaigns during the upcoming elections for Lok Sabha and the state assembly. "We will start women-centric campaigns in the upcoming elections," All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) president Sushmita Dev said here. Dev made the announcement after presiding over the executive meeting of the Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress at the Congress Bhawan here. Stating that women constitute 49 per cent of Odisha's population, Dev said the campaigns would highlight the plight of women in the state and in the country. "Government data shows that not more than 13 per cent of the girls go for higher education, and there has been a steady rise in the number of crimes against women, particularly rape, in Odisha," she said. Dev said that there has also been many incidents of women trafficking in the tribal-dominated areas of the state, and livelihood programmes for women have not given the desired results. "Our agenda will be women safety. I have been to the house of the Pipili rape and murder victim. The government has not been able to give justice to her family," she said, adding, the Congress will also give stress to the positive aspects of women welfare. "We will spell out what the Congress government will do for women if it comes to power," Dev said. Apart from digital election campaigns, the Congress will launch door-to-door programmes, too, she said. She also pointed out that public meetings are mostly bereft of women participation. "About 85 per cent of women voters do not attend public meetings." On Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's campaign for 33 per cent seat reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, she said, "Before seeking support from political parties, let the CM have a look at his ministry, the number of women he has inducted and the number of women representing the state assembly." Meanwhile, the Pradesh Mahila Congress will gherao the state assembly during the Budget Session, the AIMC chief said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress was under pressure not to cede any of the nine seats that it had won during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls to alliance partner JD(S) in Karnataka, party's state working president Eshwar Khandre said Friday. "During the last Lok Sabha polls, when there was so called Modi wave, nine our MPs had won against the wave. So there is a natural opinion or demand that these constituencieshave to remain in Congress' fold, I would like to say that itis appropriate," Khandre told reporters here. The Congress MPs are said to have met party high command in Delhi recently and requested the leadership not tocede the seats won by the party last time to JD(S), during the seat sharing discussion. The BJP had won 17 seats, Congress 9, and JD(S) 2, duringthe 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress and JD(S)that had bitterly fought against each other during the last parliamentary election and in May 2018 assembly polls joined hands to form a government in the state, as the election threw up a hung verdict. Seat sharing is expected to be a litmus test for both the parties, mostly in the old Mysuru region constituencies, where JD(S) has emerged as a dominant force in recent past andCongress has its sitting MPs. JD(S) has demanded 12 out 28 seats during the Lok Sabha polls. Pradesh Congress Chief Dinesh Gundu Rao, indicatinghis party's reservation about JD(S)' demand for 12 seats, has already said that seat sharing between the ruling coalition partners will be based on the "merit". Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda maintaining that both parties would go to polls togethersaid that discussions were yet to take place with the Congress on seat sharing. "Congress and we (JD(S)) are together. Ours is a small party. We will have to accept how much they give," Gowda told reporters in Hassan. When pointed out that JD(S) has demanded 12 out of28 seats, he said, "we are yet to discuss this." "Siddaramaiah, the head of the coalition coordination committee and K C Venugopal (Congress General Secretary) will fix the date and discuss in the coordination committee, I'm not part of it. They will discuss there and then it will then go to high command (Congress).. it is too early," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday demanded that the BJP government in the state adopt a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, as has been done by the Meghalaya government. The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, comprising the BJP, Friday passed a resolution to oppose the Bill, as the saffron party leadership in the state asserted that they were with the indigenous people on the controversial legislation. Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Takam Sanjoy asked, "Why the BJP led state government in Arunachal headed by Pema Khandu has remained a mute spectator?" The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. "This Bill will make this tribal sate, protected by Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, a dumping ground of refugees and illegal migrants making the indigenous population minority," Sanjoy said and urged Khandu to take a clear stand on the Bill. He alleged that the Bill was brought in to appease voters on the basis of community and religion, and described it as unconstitutional. "The Bill was passed to appease voters on the basis of community and religion and to spread hatred, communalism and chaos across the country, particularly in the North East India," Sanjoy told a press conference here. It is a move to negate the Assam Accord when the process of finalization of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is on in Assam, Sanjoy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before a House committee next month in a hearing that could serve as the opening salvo of a promised Democratic effort to scrutinize Trump, his conflicts of interest and his ties to Russia. The House Oversight and Reform Committee announced Thursday that Cohen will appear before that panel February 7, a little more than a month after the Democrats took the House majority. The hearing marks the latest step in Cohen's transformation from a trusted legal adviser to the president to a public antagonist who has cooperated extensively against him. Although Democrats say the questioning will be limited to avoid interfering with open investigations, the hearing is still likely to pull back the curtain on key episodes involving Trump's personal life and business dealings, including hush-money payments to women and a proposed Moscow real estate deal, that federal prosecutors have been dissecting for months. Cohen is a pivotal figure in investigations by special counsel Robert Mueller into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign and by federal prosecutors in New York into campaign finance violations related to payments to buy the silence of a porn actress and a former Playboy Playmate who say they had sex with Trump. Federal prosecutors have said Trump directed those payments during the campaign. Trump has denied having the extramarital affairs. Cohen has pleaded guilty in both investigations and was sentenced last month to three years in prison. An adviser to Cohen, Lanny Davis, said shortly after he was sentenced that the former political fixer wanted to testify and "state publicly all he knows." In a statement released on Thursday, Cohen said he had accepted the invitation "in furtherance of my commitment to cooperate and provide the American people with answers." Cohen added, "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired."Trump has denied wrongdoing and sought to minimize Cohen's statements by painting him as a liar. Asked by reporters in Texas on Thursday about Cohen's appearance, Trump said he's "not worried about it at all." Cohen acknowledged in the Mueller investigation that he lied to Congress by saying negotiations over a Trump Tower in Moscow had ended in January 2016 when he actually pursued the project into that June, well into Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. In New York, he acknowledged his involvement in payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The chairman of the oversight panel, Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, said the committee is consulting with Mueller's office about the testimony. He told reporters on Thursday that "there will be limitations" on the topics covered in Cohen's testimony. "We don't want to do anything to interfere with the Mueller investigation absolutely nothing," Cummings said. The panel's top Republican, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, said Cohen's appearance shows that Cummings is using the "committee as a venue for political theater rather than legitimate oversight," noting how Cohen has admitted knowingly lying to Congress and is a witness in ongoing investigations. "This makes clear that Chairman Cummings and the Democrats will do whatever it takes to attack this President," Jordan said in a statement. A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment. Cummings has signaled that his committee is more interested in investigating the president's involvement in the campaign violations to which Cohen pleaded guilty last year. Cummings has sent document requests to the White House and the Trump Organization that seek to determine why Trump, who reimbursed Cohen for the hush-money payments, omitted that debt on his public financial disclosure form. Cummings is also requesting a raft of potentially revealing communications about the payments and other legal services Cohen provided for the president and his company. The oversight hearing may not be Cohen's only appearance. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said he welcomes Cohen's testimony before the oversight panel, but "it will be necessary, however, for Mr. Cohen to answer questions pertaining to the Russia investigation, and we hope to schedule a closed session before our committee in the near future." Cohen testified before the House intelligence panel in a closed-door hearing in 2017, before his role in the federal investigations was fully known and when Republicans controlled the committee. The GOP-led committee later ended its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, saying there was no evidence of collusion or conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia. Schiff wants to restart parts of that probe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two security guards have been arrested from interior Sindh province on the charge of stabbing a Chinese national and stealing Rs 3 million rupees other valuables from him in Karachi. DIG South, Sharjeel Karim Kharal told the media that the guards were arrested on Friday from near the town of Jamshoro. "They had attacked the Chinese national with knives in a neighbourhood of Defence Housing Society and robbed him of Rs 3 million and other valuables on Thursday," he said. Kharal said the guards worked for a private security agency and were detailed at the residence of the Chinese national, Shi Qingpu, who was residing in Karachi while being engaged in private business. The two accused attacked Shi at his residence on Thursday night, stabbed him and made away with the cash and valuables, the DIG said. "The two guards were arrested at Jamshoro toll plaza after fleeing from Karachi," he added. The injured foreigner was admitted to a private hospital in Clifton. Senior police officials met him there and according to Kharal, Shi's condition is stated to be out of danger. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China said Friday it was "highly concerned" by the arrest of a Chinese businessman over espionage allegations in Poland. Poland announced the arrest earlier Friday, with local media identifying the man as a director of Chinese telecom giant Huawei. "China is highly concerned about this," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a faxed statement to AFP. "We require relevant countries to handle relevant cases fairly and in accordance with the law, and earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the person concerned," it said. Huawei said in a brief statement that the company was "aware of the situation" and "looking into it" but had no further comment for now. "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based," the company said. Polish special services said the Chinese man, along with a Polish man who was arrested with him, were suspected of having "worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lawyers for accused Mexican kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman said Thursday they have asked Mexico's government for help obtaining a humanitarian visa for his mother so she can visit him in prison in the United States. Guzman is currently on trial in New York, charged with trafficking 155 tonnes of cocaine into the United States as head of the powerful Sinaloa cartel. "We have asked (the Mexican foreign minister to petition US authorities) for a humanitarian visa for Chapo Guzman's mother, Maria Consuelo, his sister Hermilda and his other sister Bernarda," Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza, one of Guzman's many lawyers, told journalists outside the foreign ministry in Mexico City. "His mother is getting on in years -- she's over 80 -- and is in delicate health and wants to see her son." Guzman, 61, was extradited to the United States in 2017 after staging two spectacular prison breaks in Mexico. He is being held in solitary confinement in a New York federal prison, where the only people currently allowed to visit him -- separated by a pane of glass -- are his lawyers. Guzman's attorneys also said they were contesting his extradition as illegal and said his rights have been violated, alleging irregularities in his trial. Four Guzman supporters demonstrated nearby with signs reading, "Chapo, we love you!" and "Chapo, the people support you." Guzman faces life in prison if convicted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court Friday refused to quash the FIR lodged against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana on bribery allegations and vacated its interim order granting him protection against criminal proceedings. Justice Najmi Waziri also refused to quash the FIR lodged against CBI Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad. The judge said that permission for prior sanction to prosecute Asthana and Kumar was not required considering the facts of the case. The high court directed the CBI to complete investigation in case against Asthana and others within 10 weeks. It further said that the allegation of "mala fide" raised against then CBI Director Alok Verma has not been made out. Verma and Asthana were at loggerheads for several months and had levelled charges of corruption against each other. The high court dismissed the petitions filed by Asthana, Kumar and Prasad challenging the FIR lodged against them. Asthana was booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct under sections of Prevention of Corruption Act. Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, had alleged having paid bribe to get relief in a case. Sana had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractice against Asthana. Justice Waziri had reserved the judgement on December 20, 2018 on various petitions after hearing submissions of the counsel for CBI, the Centre, Asthana, Kumar, Verma and Joint Director A K Sharma. Kumar, arrested on October 22, was granted bail on October 31. Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of Sana who had alleged having paid bribe to get relief in the case. Prasad was arrested on October 17, 2018 and he was granted bail on December 18 as the CBI could not file the charge sheet against in the case in the mandatory 60 days. Verma had in an affidavit said that there were sufficient incriminating documents and evidence against all the accused -- Asthana, Kumar and Prasad -- with the CBI, and the FIR had been lodged after the Preliminary Enquiry disclosed cognisable offences. He had claimed that Asthana's plea is misconceived, premature and not maintainable as investigation in the matter is at a nascent stage. The top court had on January 8 reinstated Verma but directed him not to take any major policy decision. Verma had challenged before the apex court the Centre's decision to divest him of all powers and sending him on leave following his feud with Asthana. The apex court had held that the proper procedure was not followed by the Centre in divesting Verma of his power and sending him on leave along with Asthana as both of them had traded charges of corruption against each other. The top court had asked the high-powered committee which selects the CBI Director to examine the charges against Verma on the basis of the CVC report within a week. Verma, who was to retire on January 31, was on Thursday removed from the post of CBI Director in a split decision of 2:1 by a high-powered committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice A K Sikri. Justice Sikri was the nominee of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. The high-powered committee comprises Prime Minister, leader of the single largest Opposition Party and the Chief Justice of India. Since, the CJI was part of the apex court bench which had delivered the January 8 judgement, he had opted himself out of the committee by nominating Justice Sikri, who is the senior most judge after him in the apex court. The high-powered committee had met on January 9 and 10. Verma, who was Thursday transferred as the Director General Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, resigned Friday. (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 Friday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for political gains. "The CBI has been repeatedly misused by the BJP, which is trying to use the probe agency for political gains and turn it into 'His Master's Voice'," she said, referring to the fiasco surrounding Alok Verma, the former director of the agency who was removed from his position by a high-powered committee on Thursday. "The BJP is destroying institutions like the CBI and the RBI," the Trinamool Congress supremo added. Refusing to take on his new assignment as the Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, Verma on Friday asked the government to treat him as "deemed superannuated" with immediate effect. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBI arrested an enforcement officer of the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) in Vadodara Friday for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs 5 lakhs from a builder, officials said. Enforcement Officer R K Tiwari apparently had demanded Rs 20 lakhs from the builder in Vadodara for passing a favourable order in a case related to not depositing PF of his regular employees, a CBI spokesperson said. He said that Tiwari had also assured the builder of clearing notices issued to him by the EPFO. After negotiation, the accused reduced his demand to Rs 10 lakhs and agreed to accept the first installment of Rs 5 lakhs, he said. The agency laid a trap and caught the accused while accepting the bribe, he said, adding that the agency during searches has recovered Rs 4 lakhs so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada was taking in an 18-year-old Saudi asylum seeker who fled her family and harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation from Thailand. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun was already en route to Toronto late Friday when the prime minister made the surprise announcement, after officials had previously given heavy hints she was bound for Australia. "Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," Trudeau said. "When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted." The move is sure to further strain Canadian relations with the kingdom that went sideways last August over Ottawa's rights criticism of Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador and sever all trade and investment ties in protest. Canada also sparked fury in Riyadh by demanding the "immediate release" of jailed rights campaigners, including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, whose family lives in Quebec. Qunun's attempt to flee the ultra-conservative kingdom was embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression. Thai authorities initially threatened to deport her after she arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait last weekend. But armed with a smartphone and hastily opened Twitter account, she forced a U-turn from Thai immigration police who handed her into the care of the UN's refugee agency as the #SaveRahaf hashtag bounced across the world. Qunun alleged that she was abused by her family -- who deny the allegations -- and rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia. Rahaf first said she was aiming for Australia where officials had suggested they would give serious consideration to her claim for asylum, which was endorsed as legitimate by the UNHCR on Wednesday. But late Friday Thailand's immigration police chief said a smiling and cheerful Rahaf was bound for Toronto and had left on a flight after 11:00 pm (local time). "She chose Canada... Canada said it will accept her," Thai immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters at Bangkok's main airport. "She is safe now and has good physical and mental health. She is happy." Rahaf left from the same airport where her quest for asylum began less than a week ago in a swift-moving process that defied most norms. On Friday afternoon Rahaf posted a final cryptic tweet on her profile saying "I have some good and some bad news" -- shortly after her account was deactivated in response to death threats she had faced, her friends said. "Rahaf received death threats and for this reason she closed her Twitter account, please save Rahaf life," tweeted supporter @nourahfa313, who has flanked Rahaf's social media campaign with her own updates on Twitter. Rahaf's swift use of Twitter saw her amass more than 100,000 followers within a week, highlighting her plight at a time when Saudi Arabia's human rights record is under heavy scrutiny following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. Her deployment of social media allowed her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or languish in Bangkok detention centres. She refused to see her father who travelled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement. Surachate said her father and brother were due to return home on a flight in the early hours of Saturday. Although her asylum case moved fast the final manoeuvres that led to her flight to Canada remain a mystery. Australia had dropped strong hints it would accept her after the UN urged the country to do so and it remains unclear why the resettlement location changed. On Thursday its foreign minister said Canberra was still assessing the request. Thailand's immigration chief Surachate had earlier told reporters Friday that "two or three" countries were ready to offer her asylum. The Southeast Asian country is not a signatory to a convention on refugees and asylum seekers must be referred to a third country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An 18-year-old Saudi asylum seeker who fled her family and armed only with Twitter staved off deportation from Thailand has been accepted as a refugee by Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday. "Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," Trudeau said. "When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant miss (Rahaf Mohammed) al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday told the Bombay High Court that it could not restrain private individuals from making political comments or posts on social media in favour of or against any political party 48 hours before polling day. The commission, through its counsel Pradeep Rajgopal, was responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer, Sagar Suryavanshi. The PIL sought directions to the ECI to prohibit all persons, whether politicians or private individuals, from posting advertisements related to or elections, or paid political content on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, 48 hours before election day. The ECI told a bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice N M Jamdar that there already existed rules prohibiting politicians and political parties from indulging in any form of political advertisement or campaigning 48 hours before polling day. Advocate Rajgopal submitted that Section 126 of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, prohibited public meetings, processions, campaigns etc 48 hours before polls. He told the court the display of advertisements and paid political content through electronic media just before polling day was also prohibited under the Act and social media posts were also covered under these restrictions. "However, if an individual makes a blog post or Twitter post in his or her individual capacity in praise of any one political party or its policies, then how can the Election Commission stop him or her," Rajgopal said. The petitioner's lawyer, Abhinav Chandrachud, however, told the bench that social networking sites such as Facebook had advertising policies in the UK and the USA where all advertisements and paid content were subjected to a strict verification process. He argued that a similar policy must be implemented in India too. The bench directed both parties to submit suggestions on ways to regulate such paid political content on social media before polling day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yesteryear actor Poonam Dhillon, who was appointed the vice president of BJP's Mumbai unit a couple of months back, has said she could now spare time for active politics as her children were grown up. Dhillon had made her Bollywood debut way back in 1978 through Yash Raj Films' "Trishul", which also starred actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar and Shashi Kapoor. She had joined the BJP in 2004, but owing to her family commitments, she could not pursue her political dreams then. Dhillon, 56, was appointed the vice president of Mumbai BJP during Diwali last year. "I am very much aware of the political developments around...although my first tryst with politics was not a long one as I had to take a long sabattical. Fourteen years ago, my children were very young and they needed my attention," she said at a function here on Thursday. "Therefore, I decided to put my social work and political plans on hold as I thought that I could do it even after 50. Now my children are grown up and I am quite free to pay full attention towards serving the people," she said. Dhillon, who is also known for her roles in films like "Noorie", "Dard", "Nishaan", "Zamana" and "Sohni Mahiwal", was speaking on the sidelines of the release of the Urdu version of the book "Aurat: Halaat aur Hal" written by activist and lawyer Abha Singh. Replying to a query whether the Triple Talaq Bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha, would also be cleared by the Rajya Sabha, Dhillon said the political parties or the people who were against it, should weigh its merits. "This Bill is meant for the betterment of the larger section of the society, not for a particular party. Time has now come for the people and the parties to do something for the future of the country. They should set aside their personal interests and agenda," she said. The Lok Sabha has passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill. However, it remained stuck in the Rajya Sabha. To a query over the ban on Indian TV content in Pakistan, Dhillon said, "They can do it in their capacity. I have done a TV programme in Pakistan and found that they have a different line from us. I don't want to comment on their decision, but yes I would definetly say that TV (content) does have an impact and therefore when we produce a content, our responsibility increases." In October 2018, the Pakistan Supreme Court reinstated the ban on the transmission of Indian content on local television channels, setting aside the Lahore High Court orders. Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Wednesday said that the Supreme Court will not allow Indian content to be shown on Pakistani TV channels as it "damages our culture". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court on Friday asked the BEST Workers' Union to "take the first step" towards resolving its dispute with the state and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and end the civic bus service employees' strike, now in its fourth day. The court also asked the union to hold a meeting of its office-bearers in the evening in a bid to break the stalemate. Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told the court that the Maharashtra government had set up a committee, headed by the chief secretary, to hold talks with the union. Secretaries of the urban development and transport departments are also part of this committee, he said. BMC and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) officials will also attend the meeting, he said. Lawyers of the BMC and the BEST said they were open to resolving the issues of the civic bus service employees as long as the union "cooperated" and stopped "holding a gun" to their heads. At this, a bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and N M Jamdar noted that as the authorities had already constituted a committee and were willing to resolve the matter, the union must now make efforts to end the deadlock. "The city has a certain reputation. So many commuters are affected on a daily basis. You can't hold the city to ransom in this manner by withholding essential services," the bench said. "You take the first step now. Call a meeting of all your members and others supporting you and take a decision to create a congenial environment and hold talks with the government," it said. Once the union holds the meeting and takes a "positive decision", its representatives will meet the newly constituted government committee on Saturday morning, it added. Nearly 32,000 BEST employees are on an indefinite strike since Tuesday to press for demands including higher salaries, revision of pay scale for junior employees and merger of the budget of the loss making BEST with that of the BMC. The court was hearing a PIL, filed by lawyer Datta Mane, seeking a direction to the BEST workers to call off the strike immediately. The petitioner argued that the strike had resulted in much inconvenience to over 50 lakh commuters in the city as 3,700 BEST buses had gone off the road. The BMC and the BEST, through their counsels Anil Sakhre and Darius Khambatta, respectively, told the court that the state's laws prohibit employees engaged in providing essential services from going on strike. They said an industrial court had prohibited BEST workers from going on strike, therefore the strike had no legal sanction. They, however, agreed to hold a discussion with the union to come up with "long-term, comprehensive solutions". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Guru Nanak Institute Of Hotel Management (GNIHM) organised fun and frolic activities for the students on 19th December, 2018, carrying forward last year's activities, as part of its endeavour to foster a competitive spirit in a joyous way. The Institute GNIHM, which is a flagship college of the JIS group, organised an engaging session involving the principal, Mr Xavier Gomes along with the staff, students, faculty members and special invitees. The major attraction of the event held in the Agarpara (Kolkata) campus of the institute was the Cake Icing Competition for the Most Innovative and Decorated Christmas Cake of the year. The award was presented to the best one among all entries themed 'Santa's Island'. Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management is a prime hotel management college in Kolkata under the JIS Group Educational Initiatives. GNIHM has one of the best and biggest infrastructures and is affiliated to National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, New Delhi. It offers diverse courses ranging from Hotel Management and Catering Technology to Hotel Operation and International Culinary Arts. Commenting on the event, Principal GNIHM, Mr Xavier Gomes, said, "Academic training along with practical exposure boosts the confidence, presence of mind and skills of the students. As passionate educators, it was very encouraging and inspiring for us to witness the evolution of our students from their initial to greater levels. By organising this event, we could see their potential unfold as they participated in a delightful session competing in a light mood. The presence of celebrity chefs and other well-known professionals further boosted their self-belief and allowed enhanced interactive exchanges. Celebrity Chef Kunal Kapur who was named the Brand Ambassador of GNIHM at the 2017 Competition attended the event along with the other reputed international experts and dignitaries from JIS Group. "Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management was very keen on organising yet another exciting season of Cake Icing Competition like the previous year. This year besides having celebrity chef Kunal Kapur, we had three other judges namely Dr Chef Damodaran K (Chef Damu), Miss Lida Siddons (Culinary Expert from U.K) and Mr John Savage (Expert in Hospitality-Philippines) who made the event all the more colourful and glorious. We believe that such events during the festive time strengthen the bond between faculties, students and staffs alike, which is much needed for their holistic development," stated Mr Simarpreet Singh, Director JIS Group. In addition, to the Cake Icing Competition, Nestle too united and organized a competition named as Nestle Young Chef Competition for JIS University students interested in the culinary section and gave away awards to the winner and the participants. About Guru Nanak Institute Of Hotel Management (Kolkata): Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management is one among the leading private hotel management institutes in India, started its journey on 1st July, 2005. The institute is a flagship college of the JIS group and it provides world-class education, combining the latest Western trends and techniques with the age-old rich cultural heritage of India in all its courses. For more details, visit http://gnihm.ac.in/. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bus carrying personnel of the Odisha Fire Services (OFS) was attacked in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district during the night road blockade by pressure groups to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill, a senior police officer said Friday. The 22-member team of the OFS were involved in the mission to rescue the 15 miners who were trapped since December 13 at a 370-foot-deep coal mine in the district. "The bus ferrying rescuers from Odisha was attacked by unidentified persons Thursday night during the blockade of the National Highways sponsored by at least 14 pressure groups," said Superintendent of Police, Sylvester Nongtynger said. He said the window of the bus was partially damaged and there was no injury to the occupants. The SP said the team was escorted to their place of stay during the night and rebutted reports that the rescuers were injured. A group of about 14 pressure groups led by the Hynniewtrep Youth Council called the night blockade of national highways in the Khasi Jaintia Hills region from 7 pm Thursday night till 5 am Friday morning to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill which was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil "Ron" Singh killed in California and described a national hero by Donald Trump, has said he supported the US president's efforts on border security so that others do not experience what his family has been going through since the incident. Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, of the Newman Police Department was shot and killed during a traffic stop on December 26 allegedly by an illegal immigrant. During a visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for his controversial US-Mexico border wall plan, Trump attended a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, where Reggie Singh was seated next to the president. There the US president said, "I watched a family right around Christmas time... suffer and I'd like to ask Reggie, maybe you could say a few words about your incredible brother, the job he was doing. He was so beloved by the people of the department and beyond the department." To this, Reggie Singh told the president, "The way he (Ronil Singh) was killed, what my family is going through right now, I do not want any other family, law enforcement person to go through that." "Whatever it takes to minimize... put a stop to it, my family fully supports it," Reggie Singh said. In the last few days, Trump has made it a point to mention the killing of Ronil Singh by an illegal immigrant to build a strong case in favour of a stronger border security to prevent entry of illegal immigrants. "We are deeply moved to have with us Reggie Singh, whose brother, Ronil Singh, incredible guy. I mean, I watched, and I've rarely felt worse and watching of our nation than watching your family and the love that you have for your brother," Trump said. During the roundtable meeting, Reggie Singh said he and his brother are originally from Fiji. "He (Ronil) always wanted to be in law enforcement. So legally we migrated to America to fulfil his dream of joining the law enforcement, he said. "English is our second language. He worked on that, got his education, applied for law enforcement agency and he was asked to get his citizenship. He worked towards that and he became a cop, K-9, Corporal K-9," Reggie Singh said. "At 33, Ronil Singh was cremated and I had to pick up his remains. It breaks my heart and no one should ever go through that. Seeing a five-month-old baby looking for his dad, no one should ever go through that on Christmas Day," he told Trump. The president replied, "We are with you. You know that, right." "That was a tough one, too. That was a tough one for a lot of people, not only the family, for a lot of people in this country. That was a tough thing to watch," Trump said. "I can see that, the way it came through. It came through loud and clear. And there are so many other people who have the same -- nobody covers them..., nobody talks about how unfair it is to the victims of these brutal killings," he said. On Tuesday, Trump spoke with the family members and law enforcement colleagues of Singh, a native of Fiji who joined the force in July 2011 and said America's heart broke the day the young officer was "savagely murdered" in cold blood by an "illegal alien". Trump has asked for USD 5.6 billion from the Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers' money. The sharp differences between the Trump administration and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday, making it the second-longest in history after the 21-day shutdown in 1995-96. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin police officer Ronil "Ron" Singh killed in California and described a "national hero" by Donald Trump, has said his family fully supported the President's efforts to bolster border security so that others do not experience what they have been going through since the tragedy. Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, of the Newman Police Department was shot and killed, allegedly by an illegal immigrant, during a traffic stop on December 26. During a high-profile visit to the southern border state of Texas on Thursday to push for his controversial US-Mexico border wall plan, Trump attended a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, where Reggie Singh was seated next to the president. "I watched a family right around Christmas time... suffer and I'd like to ask Reggie, maybe you could say a few words about your incredible brother, the job he was doing. He was so beloved by the people of the department and beyond the department," the US president said. To this, Reggie Singh told Trump, "The way he (Ronil Singh) was killed, what my family is going through right now, I do not want any other family, law enforcement person to go through that." "Whatever it takes to minimise... put a stop to it, my family fully supports it," Reggie Singh said. In the last few days, Trump has made it a point to mention the killing of Singh by an illegal immigrant to build a strong case in favour of a stronger border security to prevent entry of illegal immigrants. "We are deeply moved to have with us Reggie Singh, whose brother, Ronil Singh, incredible guy. I mean, I watched, and I've rarely felt worse and watching of our nation than watching your family and the love that you have for your brother," Trump said. During the roundtable meeting, Reggie Singh said he and his brother are originally from Fiji. "He (Ronil) always wanted to be in law enforcement. So legally we migrated to America to fulfil his dream of joining the law enforcement, he said. "English is our second language. He worked on that, got his education, applied for law enforcement agency and he was asked to get his citizenship. He worked towards that and he became a cop, K-9, Corporal K-9," Reggie Singh said. "At 33, Ronil Singh was cremated and I had to pick up his remains. It breaks my heart and no one should ever go through that. Seeing a five-month-old baby looking for his dad, no one should ever go through that on Christmas Day," he told Trump. The president replied, "We are with you. You know that, right." "That was a tough one, too. That was a tough one for a lot of people, not only the family, for a lot of people in this country. That was a tough thing to watch," Trump said. "I can see that, the way it came through. It came through loud and clear. And there are so many other people who have the same -- nobody covers them..., nobody talks about how unfair it is to the victims of these brutal killings," he said. On Tuesday, Trump said America's heart broke the day the young officer was "savagely murdered" in cold blood by an "illegal alien". "America's heart broke the day after Christmas when a young police officer in California was savagely murdered in cold blood by an illegal alien (who) just came across the border. The life of an American hero was stolen by someone who had no right to be in our country," Trump said. The Californian police have arrested 33-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico identified as Gustavo Perez Arriaga on charges of killing Singh. Trump has demanded USD 5.7 billion from Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers' money. The sharp differences between the Trump administration and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday, making it the second-longest in history after the 21-day shutdown in 1995-96. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The recalled Doug Bracewell and debutant Scott Kuggeleijn starred with bat and ball for New Zealand to beat Sri Lanka by 35 runs in the one-off Twenty20 match in Auckland on Friday. It ended a dismal tour for the Sri Lankans with the drawn first Test followed by a succession of losses in the second Test, three one-dayers and the Twenty20. New Zealand, sent into bat, recovered from 55 for five to finish on 179 for seven with Bracewell (44) and Kuggeleijn (35 not out) the key contributors. Although the target was not daunting, and Sri Lanka easily kept up with the required run rate to be four for 118 after 12 overs. But their last six wickets fell for the addition of only 26 more runs and the innings folded for 144 with 19 balls remaining. Kuggeleijn and Bracewell both took wickets in their opening overs. Kusal Perera, who raced to 22 off 12 deliveries was removed by Kuggeleijn's third delivery while Niroshan Dickwella, who smacked a four and a six from the first two balls of the innings, went for 18 with the first ball from Bracewell. Kuggeleijn and Bracewell also took the catches to dismiss Kusal Mendis (17) and Thisara Perera (43). The first game all tour for Sadeera Samarawickrama was a short-lived affair when he was bowled first ball by Lockie Ferguson. Ferguson finished with figures of three for 21 while Ish Sodhi took three for 30. Sri Lanka did with the toss and put New Zealand into bat with impressive early results. With a more disciplined bowling attack than was seen in the ODIs, and with astute field placements, Sri Lanka ripped through the New Zealand top order to have them four for 27 midway through the fourth over. Ross Taylor, who tormented Sri Lanka in the one-dayers, had to play a more circumspect role. His first 11 runs were all singles from 22 deliveries before he first found the boundary on his way to 33 off 37. Taylor's patience, however, had set the stage for the Bracewell and Kuggeleijn to hit out and give the total some respectability. Bracewell clubbed 44 off 26 balls including five sixes and a four while Kuggeleijn only faced 15 deliveries to be not out 35 with four sixes and a four. New Zealand now prepare to host India in a series of ODIs while Sri Lanka head to Australia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Members of the public watched in astonishment recently as staff at a retailer of the iconic bike manufacturer Brompton arrived to find their store had been hacked'. Reactions of staff and passers-by (watch the video) were captured as the fake store - 3rompton' - opened its doors to the public on the opposite side of the road and subsequently launched a series of cyber attack simulations on the genuine Brompton store in Shoreditch. Common hacking techniques such as ransomware and phishing were brought to life through a series of simulated offline attacks; the real store was boarded up, displaying a ransom note demanding Bitcoin in exchange for re-entry; genuine stock deliveries were diverted to the fake 3rompton' store, highlighting the potential effects of a phishing scam; finally the real Brompton store was flooded with imitation customers overwhelming staff, simulating a denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. According to the insurer, one in three (33%)2 UK small businesses have suffered a cyber breach and this simulation is the latest initiative in its cyber awareness campaign, set-up to highlight this risk. James Brady, Head of Cyber at Hiscox, commented: "The frequency and severity of cyber attacks on UK businesses is alarming. Cyber criminals are swift, sophisticated and consider businesses of all shapes and sizes worthy targets so it's vital that organisations are both aware of these risks and prepared to manage them. "Businesses need to take ownership of their cyber security and put solid preventative measures in place. Unfortunately attacks will still get through and being prepared for those attacks is critical." Robert Hannigan, former Director of GCHQ and Special Advisor to Hiscox, commented: "Cyber crime is one of the biggest security risks facing businesses today but many aren't taking it seriously and many more are underprepared. It's a less tangible risk than burglary or a fire which can make it hard for businesses to grasp, so bringing cyber crime to life with an exercise like this is a useful way of conveying an important message. "The hacking techniques being simulated such as ransomware and phishing are extremely commonplace and have been for many years. At the same time, new types of cyber crime continue to emerge, which makes staying on top of cyber security an ever-evolving challenge." Will Butler-Adams, CEO Brompton Bicycle, added: "Our business is about our bike; the design, function and support we give to our customers over the life of the product. We have spent forty years developing the Brompton brand and continue to take risks to innovate and improve the design. When people copy us, with little understanding of the engineering and care behind the design, they are trying to fool our customers who may go on to buy a potentially dangerous product. We wanted to work with Hiscox to highlight these risks, as it is a serious issue and is not limited to the product but also to online cyber fraud, spam emails and viruses, that hurt businesses and their customers alike." Cyber security incidents cost the average small business 25,7003 a year in direct costs (e.g. the costs of IT experts in response to the incident, lost revenue and replacement systems) but this is just the beginning. Indirect costs such as damage to reputation, the impact of losing customers and difficulty attracting future customers, means the true figure can be significantly higher. Security at Sitamarhi railway station has been beefed up following an anonymous letter threatening to blow up the premises was found on Friday morning, police said. Train services on the Sitamarhi-Darbhanga rail section has been stopped after the letter was found by Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel at around 10 am. "The security of the entire railway station has been beefed up after we received the threat letter to blow up the railway station. Police, Sashashtra Seema Bal, GRP and RPF have launched search operation in and around the railway station," Sitamarhi Additional Superintendent of Police Vijay Shankar Singh said. Sitamarhi District Magistrate Ranjit Kumar Singh, however, said that the threat letter could have been written by a mentally unsound person as it said that the sender had written to the Prime Minister 152 times for resolution of grievance but did not receive any reply from him and hence the decision to blow up the railway station. The letter, however, did not mention the nature of the grievance and why it could not be resolved, Singh said. The DM urged the people not to panic and said a thorough probe will be ordered into the incident. Train services at Sitamarhi railway station resumed around 2.40 pm after a disruption of around 4.45 hours, East Central Railway (ECR) Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Rajesh Kumar said/ He added that train services was stopped as a precautionary measure. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists Friday created a ruckus outside a multiplex here where they had arrived to watch the first show of the film "The Accidental Prime Minister". A BJYM leader said they watched the film with fanfare, because the Madhya Pradesh unit chief of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) had warned theatre owners against screening it. Hundreds of BJYM workers reached the Malhar Mega Mall here, which houses the multiplex, with a band. Before entering the cinema hall, they shouted slogans against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, and got into fracas with the police who were present there anticipating trouble. BJYM's local unit's president Manasvi Patidar said that NSUI had warned cinema halls against screening the film, so "in order to give a befitting reply, we watched the film in this manner". NSUI state president Vipin Wankhede had said in a Facebook post on December 28 that theatre owners will be responsible for the consequences if the film is screened. The Congress has termed the Anupam Kher-starrer film, which revolves around Manmohan Singh's tenure as prime minister, as BJP's propaganda. NSUI spokesperson Vivek Tripathi told PTI that Wankhede's post could be his personal opinion but the Congress government in the state provided adequate security to the theatres. He also alleged that the release of the film before the Lok Sabha polls was a "sponsored game plan of the BJP". Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Minister P C Sharma said, "Manmohan Singh was not an accidental prime minister. He is a renowned economist and gave a new direction to the country's economy. It is Narendra Modi who is an accidental prime minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJPs Telangana unit president K Laxman Friday met Union Ministers Suresh Prabhu, Harsh Vardhan and K J Alphonsin Delhi and urged them to sanction severalprojects to the state, including setting up of an aviation university in Hyderabad. Laxman met Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu and requested him to establish the aviation university in the city, BJP said in a media release here. The BJP leader urged the Union Science and Technology and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan to allot more funds for utilization of services of Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Hyderabad. He also met Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons and proposed developing a 'Buddhist Circuit' in Telangana, the party said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP-led government in Manipur has decided to urge the Centre to exempt the state from the jurisdiction of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the latest voice from the north-east against the proposed legislation. Protesters hit the streets against the bill on Friday. Three persons, including a woman and a police officer, were injured in a clash between students, women vendors and the police at the Khwairamban Bazaar, the main market here, during a mass rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The police had to fire teargas shells to disperse the agitators, who joined the mass rally jointly organised by six students' organisations and the women vendors of the Khwairamban Bazaar. A police officer, who did not want to be quoted, told PTI that some unidentified student agitators threw mineral water bottles at the police personnel, in which a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) got injured on his face and he was hospitalised. Two injured civilians were also admitted to the RIMS hospital here as they were injured after the police lobbed teargas shells. At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the state cabinet on Thursday decided to appeal to the Centre to allow it not to implement the proposed legislation, which was recently passed by the Lok Sabha, a press release issued by the chief minister's secretariat said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is heading a coalition government in the north-eastern state with the National People's Party (NPP), the Naga People's Front (NPF) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). Hence, the reservation expressed by the BJP-led dispensation in the state against a bill proposed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) assumes significance. Many NDA constituents in the northeast -- including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in Assam, the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram, the NPP (heading a coalition government with the BJP in Meghalaya), the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT, a partner in the Tripura government) and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP, heading a coalition government with the BJP in Nagaland) -- have already said they are not in agreement with the saffron party over the sensitive issue. The AGP has even quit the alliance. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill provides for according Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014 after staying in the country for six years, instead of the current 12 years, even if they do not possess any documents. The state cabinet also decided to urge the Centre and the authorities concerned to give assent to the Manipur Peoples' (Protection) Bill, 2018, passed by the state Assembly, the press release added. The state bill passed on July 23, 2018 defines Manipuris and non-Manipuris and seeks to regulate their entry and exit to protect the interests and identity of the indigenous people of the state. According to the bill, "Manipuris" include the Meiteis, the Pangal Muslims, the Manipuri scheduled tribes listed under the Constitution and Indian nationals living in Manipur since before 1951. Those who did not fall under this umbrella were deemed non-Manipuris and given a month to register themselves. Additionally, outsiders visiting the state would have to obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP), a system that is also in place in three other north-eastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. The Manipur unit of the Congress party is also against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. It has demanded the state government convene a session of the Assembly immediately to take a decision on it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP leader Pradip Dutta Friday courted controversy by threatening Assamese speaking students in Bengali dominated Barak Valley that their admission in the Assam University at Silchar would be barred if they protest against the citizehsip bill. Students union of another university in Guwahati filed an FIR against Dutta for his provocative statement. Dutta, a local leader of the saffron party known for making controversial statements, issued the threat after a section of students of the Assam University raised their voice against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. "I warn the Assamese (speaking) students of the university that you study only and don't indulge in politics. Think about the future. We then will be forced to bar admission of Assamese students in the university," Dutta was heard saying in local channels. "I am writing to the vice-chancellor of the university asking him what step he is taking against the students for opposing the bill", Dutta said in Bengali. The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. Cotton University Students Union (CUSU) in Guwahati filed a complaint in Pan Bazar police station here against Dutta for making the communally provocative statement threatening Assamese students in Assam University. The CUSU said in the complaint Assamese students in that University were suffering from insecurity following Dutta's threat and, demanded appropriate action against him. Reacting to the Dutta's statement, AASU General Secretary Luringjyoti Gogoi said, "Such threats are attempts to take away the rights of Assam's students in a democratic country to study in any part of the state. It will not be tolerated". "Because of such divisive statements to polarise the society, five people had lost their lives in Assam recently," Gogoi told reporters. He was referring to the gunning down of five Bengali speaking men in Tinsukia district by suspected ULFA-Independent militants on November 1 last year. Gogoi said, "It is surprising and reprehensible that the government has failed to take any action against Dutta. If there are any reaction to Dutta's threats, the government will be held responsible." Several organisations, including the Students Federation of India (SFI), the students' wing of the CPI(M), have condemned Dutta's threat. A section of students of the University on Thursday came out in support of the Bill, while another had taken out a candlelight vigil on Wednesday to protest against it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Lok Sabha polls approaching, the West Bengal BJP hopes to cash in on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to reach out to the one crore odd Hindu Bangladeshi refugees in the state once the bill is implemented. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to the non-Muslims who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014. According to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, the bill will not only endear them to the Hindu refugees in the state but will also help them counter the allegation of being an "anti-Bengali" party. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and several opposition parties in the state had levelled the saffron party as "anti-Bengali", following the publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) drafts in Assam last year. Mohit Roy, convenor of the BJP's refugee cell, told PTI that the bill would change the future of the one crore Bengali refugees living in West Bengal. "Various political parties have played with the emotions of the Bengali refugees living in the state for the past several decades. Neither the TMC nor the CPI(M), which boast of being champions of refugees, did nothing for the Bengali refugees. It is (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and the BJP which will give them citizenship. This is a historic decision," he said. In the next few days, the party will set up camps and make people aware of the bill, especially in the bordering districts such as North and South 24 Parganas, Coochbehar, Uttar Dinajpur and Nadia which have a very high concentration of Bengali refugees, BJP sources said. These districts account for around 10-12 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The saffron party has identified West Bengal as a priority state and party chief Amit Shah has set a target of winning 22 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the upcoming general election. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill would be one of the top issues in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh told PTI. He said the passage of the bill had exposed the "double standards" of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the TMC, who had played politics with the emotions of the refugees in West Bengal. "The TMC had tried to portray the BJP as an anti-Bengali party when the NRC drafts were published. Now what would they say? We have passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to give rights to Hindus and Bengalis," Ghosh added. He said the BJP did not believe in vote-bank politics like the TMC, which was busy appeasing a specific community in the state. Senior TMC MP Saugata Roy dubbed the bill as "divisive" and "insidious" that went against the basic tenets of the Constitution. State minister and North 24 Parganas president of the TMC Jyotipriyo Mullick told PTI that the people of Bengal were well aware of the kind of development initiatives the Mamata Banerjee-led party had undertaken for the benefit of the refugees in the state. "Unlike the BJP, we do not believe in dividing people on the basis of religion. We do not differentiate between refugees on the basis of religion," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir BJP Friday termed former IAS officer Shah Faesal's remarks at his press conference earlier in the day a "bundle of lies" and motivated. "The press conference of Faesal is a bundle of lies. His statement is not only false but motivated to create a wedge in the peacefully living society,"state BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said. He has chosen to play in the hands of forces inimical to India, Sethi claimed. Faesal, who quit the Indian Administrative Services recently, had told reporters the circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir and in the rest of the country made him realise that this was the time to speak up. "By the resignation, I am putting across a small act of defiance to remind the central government of its responsibilities towards the people of J&K...to protest the lack of political initiative to assuage the hurt feelings of people of Kashmir," Faesal, who had topped the civil services exam in 2010, told reporters. He said he would not join any mainstream political party "as of now" but may contest the upcoming parliamentary election. The state BJP spokesperson responded to his remarks, saying, "It is this great country which gives opportunities to ungrateful persons like Shah Faesal to top prestigious civil services, because here merit is counted rather than belief in religion." "Anybody has right to enter but which has foundation on deceit and misinformation will never pay," Sethi added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The roads around Ramlila Maidan and adjoining areas near New Delhi railway station turned saffron as thousands of BJP leaders from across the country are descending down in the national capital for the party's two-day national council meeting which began here Friday. Leaders of Delhi BJP tasked with preparations for the meet said over 12,000 registrations were made but the gathering was bigger as all top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Amit Shah and Chief Minister's of BJP ruled states were attending the important event before the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. "This time around we made over 12000 registrations of delegates online and each delegate was provided a unique QR code for verification," said Delhi BJP leader Harsh Malhotra. The roads around Ramlila Ground were saffronised with hoardings and posters of party leaders and scores of partymen roaming around to seek information from stalls of each state unit of the party set up near the Civic Centre. Heavy security arrangements were in place in view of the meet.A temporary PMO has been set up at the venue for the Prime Minister and an office has also been prepared for Shah. Delhi BJP general secretary Ravinder Gupta said over 1000 party workers have been deployed for successful completion of the meeting. "Meals keeping taste of partymen from different parts of the country have been prepared for over 12,000 persons. Also, separate arrangements for cooking of food for 500 dignitaries have been put in place," Gupta said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who attended the event on its first day, will conclude it with his valedictory address on Saturday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bid to oust a Republican Party leader in Texas because he is a Muslim has failed after it was put to a vote of the executive committee. Committee members voted 139-49 on Thursday night to retain Shahid Shafi, a trauma surgeon, as the vice chairman of the local branch of the Republican Party. "Religious liberty won tonight," The Dallas Morning quoted Tarrant County GOP chairman Darl Easton as saying in statement. "And while that makes a great day for the Republican Party of Tarrant County, that victory also serves notice that we have much work to do unifying our party," Easton said. After Easton named Shafi as a vice chairman of the county party leadership in July, a campaign began to oust him because of his Muslim beliefs. The effort drew national attention and was denounced by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Shafi, in a statement on his Facebook page, said the past several months had been "extremely difficult" on him and his family. But he said the committee vote had "reaffirmed" his "faith in our party and our country." "With today's vote, we have taken a stand against bigotry... against religious discrimination, and to protect our Constitution and the freedoms offered by our Country," he said. "It is time to put this division to rest," he added. "I have no animosity towards my detractors, they are simply misguided. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defending the controversial citizenship bill, Assam's Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Friday said its implementation is a must for the state to ensure it does not face a Kashmir-like situation in the future. He claimed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill can be an "opportunity" for not just Assam but the entire Northeastern part of the country. Assam and other Northeastern states have been witnessing strong protests over the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's attempt to pass the citizenship bill in Parliament. The bill seeks to grant citizenship to people from minority communities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residence in India even if they don't possess any proper document. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8 but the Rajya Sabha did not take it up in the just-concluded winter session. "People of Assam need to understand that this is not an Assam specific bill and the burden of these refugees will be shared by the entire country. In fact, it will protect 17 important assembly seats of Assam from going to the All India United Democratic Front led by Badruddin Ajmal. We need to win the fight of civilisation as we cannot surrender Assam like we surrendered Kashmir," Sarma, who is also the convener of BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance, said. Accusing the Congress of misleading the people of Assam over the bill, he said nearly 20 lakh of the 40 lakh people left out during the process of National Register of Citizens update were Hindus. Addressing the monthly Vimarsha talk show programme at the Vivekananda International Foundation here, he claimed several Muslim refugees could manage to include their names in the NRC by manufacturing legacy documents due to their common names with Indian Muslims. However, similar opportunities were not available with Hindu Bengalis, he added. "One has to understand why these Hindu refugees came to India," Sarma, who left the Congress to join the BJP in 2015, said. He also said the Narendra Modi government's recent decision to grant constitutional status to clause 6 of the Assam Accord that ensures protection of indigenous Assamese from demographic invasion is a boon for the people of the state. Sarma argued that tribal status given to six communities of Assam will make it a forte of indigenous Assamese people. He also thanked Modi for "transforming" the socio-economic status of the entire Northeast region and improving the much needed infrastructure. "It is during the last four and half years that the entire Northeast region has moved from the periphery to the core of national development agenda. Under the Act East policy, the prime minister has raised new hopes among the people of the region who have otherwise always suffered due to step-motherly treatment meted out by successive central governments," Sarma said at the programme "India's North East: From the periphery to the core". He alleged the Congress's approach towards the Northeast reduced all the states in the region to the lowest level of development. "I have no hesitation to say that since the era of our first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress reduced the Northeast to the lowest level of development. However, it is not the case now and due to Prime Minister Modi, the entire region is among the highest contributors to the country's economy," Sarma claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Exploration Drill Results Report Gold Mineralisation at Officer Hill Melbourne, Jan 11, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The directors of Nova Minerals Limited (Nova or Company) ( ASX:NVA ) ( FRA:QM3 ) are pleased to announce encouraging drill results at the Officer Hill Gold Project in joint venture with Newmont Tanami Pty Ltd (Newmont) (a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation). The Officer Hill Project within EL23150 covers 206km2 and is located 34km south west of the Callie deposit which is part of Newmont's Tanami Gold mine operation. The exploration program is targeting Callie-style mineralisation within EL23150.The best assayed results to date are from diamond drillhole OHD0003 with 4m @ 2.49 g/t Au, including 0.5m @ 12.6 g/t Au. A second intersection below this returned 1m @ 19.69 g/t Au (see Table 1 and Figure 1 in link below).Mineralisation within OHD0003 is quartz-chlorite-pyrite vein hosted. Veins are present within variably bedded sandstone and laminated siltstones. Alteration is dominated by the regional green schist facies metamorphic assemblage.An aeromagnetic and gravity survey was acquired across the entirety of the project area and will be used to assist the geological interpretation.NVA Managing Director, Mr. Avi Kimelman said:"We are encouraged by the initial results returned from the diamond drilling program on the Officer Hill Gold Project."Concurrent with Officer Hill exploration program, Nova is in the process of planning its next stage of exploration and reconnaissance activities for 2019 at the Estelle Gold Project and Thomson Brothers Lithium project operations and corporate development strategy which will deliver a parallel approach to enhance shareholder value across our company's project portfolio."Nova will separately update the market on the current and proposed 2019 exploration and corporate development programs across the company's project portfolio in due course.To view tables and figures, please visit:About Nova Minerals Ltd Nova Minerals Limited (ASX:NVA) (FRA:QM3) (OTCMKTS:NVAAF) is a dynamic explorer and developer of its flagship Estelle Gold district in the Tintina gold belt. Nova's strategy is to substantially increase the current 4.7Moz resource on the Korbel prospect. Subsequently to continue to lock in value through moving Korbel towards production whilst increasing the resource base across the pipeline of targets within the Estelle gold district. Nova Minerals also holds strategic investments in Snow Lake Resources Ltd (Thompson Brothers Lithium Project), Torian Resources Ltd (ASX:TNR) and RotorX Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal died Friday after a brief illness. Sanyal, 57, had joined the Aam Aadmi Party after quitting her job as the country chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, and contested the Lok Sabha election in 2014. AAP leader and Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia confirmed her death in a tweet, saying the country has lost a "sharp economic brain and a gentle soul". "You will forever remain in our hearts," Sisodia said in the tweet. "Extremely sad to hear this. No words to express...," AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal tweeted. In her 30-year-old banking career before surprising all by plunging into politics, the Kochi-born Sanyal had also served as the head of corporate finance and chief operating officer for ABN Amro for Asia. She unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Mumbai south constituency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bahrain on Friday rejected a UN call to release prominent activist Nabeel Rajab, saying he is serving a five-year sentence for "false" tweets "which do not fall within freedom of expression". The remarks by the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Crimes came a week after the UN human rights office called on Bahrain to "immediately and unconditionally release" Nabeel Rajab. Rajab, who played a key role in Shiite-led anti-government protests in 2011, lost his final appeal on December 31 against a five-year jail term for writing tweets deemed offensive to the state. Bahrain's supreme court, whose verdicts are final, upheld the jail term against him. "Nabeel Rajab posted false and malicious tweets which do not fall within the freedom of expression," Bahrain's anti-corruption unit said in Friday's statement. It said Rajab "posted false and malicious tweets harming the civil peace and social harmony". "They amount to legal violations which do not fall within the protections for freedom of expression that are guaranteed by Bahrain's constitution." It accused Rajab of several false tweets and re-tweets including of claims "that hundreds of inmates in the Jaw prison had suffered fractures and hundreds were bleeding from their heads because of physical attacks and torture". The statement came as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to visit Bahrain on Friday on the latest leg of a whistlestop Middle East tour. It was not immediately known if Pompeo would raise human rights issues in Bahrain -- a key US ally that hosts the home base of the Fifth Fleet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Army porter was killed Friday when Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations for the fourth consecutive day along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting the Indian Army to retaliate, officials said. Army porter Hemraj was critically injured when Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Sunderbani Sector of Rajouri district, PRO Defence Lt ColDevender Anand said. He was provided immediate resuscitation and medical aid, but he succumbed to the gunshot wounds, he said. The Army will provide all possible assistance to the family of martyred porter, the PRO said. Pakistan troops also resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in forward areas of the Poonch district, the officials said. Indian troops guarding the borderline retaliated strongly, resulting in exchange of firing on the both sides, they said. The year 2018 had witnessed 2,936 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Indo-Pak border, the highest in the last 15 years. The continuous shelling and firing by Pakistan targeting villages has set in fear psychosis among the border dwellers, the officials said. Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in Poonch eight out of ten days of this month, they said. On Thursday, Pakistan resorted to firing and shelling in two sectors of Rajouri and Poonch resulting in injuries to an Army major and a BSF jawan in the Tarkundi forward areaof Balakote sector. On Wednesday, Pakistan troops resorted to firing and shelling in the Kalal forward area in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district and small arms and heavy caliber weapons besides shelling in Poonch sector, the officials said. Despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquility at Indo-Pak flag meetings, Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire, they said. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh had on Monday visited forward areas along the LoC and reviewed security situation of Jammu and Rajouri districts. Lt Gen Singh accompanied by the White KnightCorps commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh also visited forward posts of Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors to review the operational preparedness and the prevailing security situation, the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Army Major and a soldier were killed in an IED blast along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district Friday, officials said. An improvised explosive device was planted by suspected militants in foot-track along the LoC to target Army soldiers patrolling the borderline in Laam belt of Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, they said. The blast resulted in injuries to two soldiers, including a Major, the officials said, adding they were rushed to a hospital where they succumbed to injuries. Army soldiers have been alerted against IED blasts and attacks by the border action teams (BATs) of the Pakistan Army, they said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Amarinder Singh engaged in a war of words over the Kartarpur corridor issue Friday, with the Union minister accusing the Punjab government of non-cooperation and the chief minister countering her, saying the ball was totally in Centre's court. Badal, the Union minister for food processing industries, charged the Singh-led Punjab government with not being serious about the early opening of the corridor that will facilitate Sikh pilgrims from India in visiting the historic Kartarpur gurdwara in Pakistan. "The central government is doing its best on a war footing to complete the corridor at the earliest," she told reporters in Ludhiana. The Punjab government has been asked to start acquisition of land, she said, adding,"It was sad that the Punjab government was not cooperating the way it should." She said the Punjab government took one and a half months to send the minutes of the high-level joint meeting of central and Punjab government officials on the matter. However, Singh made it clear that the ball was totally in the Centre's court as the state government has sent a reminder to the Ministry of Home Affairs on the matter 11 days ago asking them about further actions required by the state government. Singh said Badal was brazenly playing with sentiments of people to promote the interest of her family members who, he added, were desperate to return to Punjab's political scene. A statement quoting the chief minister said, a meeting was held on December 12, 2018 under the chairmanship of additional chief secretary, department of home affairs and justice, Punjab. Since it was a bilateral issue with wider ramifications, the follow-up meeting was proposed to be held under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Singh made it clear that any move to acquire the land can be initiated only after the approval of the Union government. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, is said to have lived in Kartarpur in Pakistan for 18 years till 1539. The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib is built where he took his last breath. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A seven-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and the principal secretary (home) to provide full proof security to the high court. The bench comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur, justices Vikram Nath, Sudhir Agarwal, Bharti Sapru, Pankaj Mithal, S K Gupta and B K Narayana was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the security of the high court and other courts of the state. The court fixed February 12 as the next date of hearing the matter. During the course of the hearing, the bench expressed its concern for the delay in the establishment of 'gram adalats' (village courts) in the state on which the chief secretary assured the bench that the government will establish them by June 30, 2019, after acquiring land. The court also directed officials concerned to ensure that the boundary walls of all district courts are repaired within six months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Abandoned homes, deserted school, heaps of sand, a lone temple and dried up mangroves. These are the remnants of a once green Ponmana village under the coastal Alappad panchayat in Kollam district in southern Kerala where locals are up in arms against beach sand mining, blaming it for sea erosion eating up their lands. They claim hamlet after hamlet was 'disappearing' from the map due to mining activities by the Indian Rare Earth (IRE), a central Public Sector Undertaking, and state government-owned Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML). Seeking to save their remaining villages, the people of Alappad and nearby hamlets under the banner of Anti-mining People's Protest Council have been on a relay-hunger strike at Vellanathuruthu near here for the past over two months demanding a complete halt to the mining activities. However, an official of the IRE, when contacted, said the company was following all mining norms. The two firms together have been engaged in mineral sand mining along the beach off the Kollam coast since the 1960s. This PTI correspondent saw deserted houses, roads and dried up mangroves in Ponmana village with the protesters claiming this was the scene in several other hamlets too. In Ponmana, only two families remain, a resident said. According to the protesters, a lithographic map decades ago had shown the area of Alappad panchayat as 89.5 square kilometre and it has now shrunk to a measly 7.6 square km due to sea erosion caused by the mining. Alappad is a narrow stretch between Trivandrum-Shoranur (TS) Canal and the Arabian Sea that was commissioned between the 18th and 19th century. Agitators allege that if this strip of land erodes any further, the backwaters would irreversibly merge with the sea and turn the river waters saline. This in turn would damage paddy fields of upper Kuttanad, which is below the sea level and known as the rice bowl of Kerala. "Since ours being a public sector company with strategic importance, there are several monitoring agencies and both the state and the central governments are aware about processes followed by us," the IRE official, who did not want to be named, said. Around 60 industries of strategic importance, including the Travancore Titanium Products and the KMML, were making use of their services, he added. Kollam District collector Dr S Karthikeyan said the government was fully aware of the situation. "We will study whether the apprehensions are correct. Then we will take a look at sustainable mining limit." The district administration had conducted multiple hearings and the government had already given certain suggestions like concentrating on inland mining and reducing sea mining, he said. "In case of sea mining, they should make groynes. The company is also changing their plans accordingly. They are going to do deep mining," he added. A groyne is a rigid hydraulic structure built from an ocean shore or from a bank that interrupts water flow and limits the movement of sediment. K S Sreekumar, a member of the protest council, said nearby villages including Onattukara, Upper Kuttanad and Arattupuzha in Alappuzha district were next in line. "The agitation is not only for ourselves," he said. Prasanth (38) left his job in the UAE and returned to his village years ago after the company assured him a job in exchange for land that it could mine. "The job we got was under a contract that expired after two years. Most villagers have left the area with whatever they got as compensation from the company," he said. Rohini, an interior designer who is an active member of the protest council, said the residents don't want to leave the place where they grew up. "The government has assured us a compensation Rs 10 lakh if we give our land for mining. But we cannot leave as this the place we grew up. This is where our culture is, where our job is. We want our children to grow up here.... We want the mining to stop completely," she said. Sreekumar said if the mining continued, salt water will enter the Pallickal and Achankovil rivers towards the east and ultimately the paddy fields of central Travancore. "We are trying our level best to project our issue above all other brouhaha, including the one over Sabarimala... We have a larger issue here. We are facing eviction from the land where we spent have spent our lives", he said. People from various walks of life were participating in the agitation, he said adding no political party had so far pledged support to their cause. Besides the protest, a social media campaign was also on against mining in the area. However, a local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged the campaign was being promoted by private players who wanted to end the government monopoly over mining in the area and take over the task themselves. Freshwater ecology expert Dr Jayalekshmy V told PTI that the 'uncontrolled' sand mining in Cheriyazheekkal-Alappad area was affecting the ecological stability of Ashtamudi Lake and other associated freshwater fluvial ecosystems. "Non-sustainable extraction of beach sand has led to the destruction of sand banks and widening of the Pallickal river mouth and during summer when the water content is low, it will lead to the influx of marine water into the river," she said. This "unusual intrusion" of marine water would alter the natural niches of aquatic organisms, leading to ecological stress related with biological activities like exchange of respiratory gases, fertility and survival of young ones. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati will Saturday announce their Uttar Pradesh alliance, from which the Congress seems to be out as the parties gear up for the Lok Sabha polls. SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary and Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary SC Misra Friday sent out the invitation for a joint press conference at a hotel here. Akhilesh Yadav confirmed in a television interview that the press conference is on the alliance in Uttar Pradesh, while parrying questions on the Congress. At a meeting in Kannauj, he also said," Our coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress." A Congress spokesperson here said the party is ready to fight the Lok Sabha alone. Smaller parties like the RLD and the Nishad Party are also likely to be part of the alliance, but were not mentioned in the announcement on the press conference. RLD's state unit president Masood Ahmed told PTI that the party national vice president Jayant Chaudhary will be in the state capital Saturday and, if invited, could be a part of the joint press conference. His party chief Ajit Singh evaded questions from the media on the two seats expected to be set aside for the RLD, saying the discussions were in an early stage. Sources said the RLD has demanded six seats in any seat-sharing agreement. The top leadership of the SP and the BSP recently met in Delhi to discuss the broad parameters of an alliance to take on the BJP in the upcoming parliamentary elections just months away. After the meeting, the SP said Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati had given their in-principal approval for an alliance in Uttar Pradesh. Sources said the SP and the BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 on offer in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two, Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for the Congress. Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi said the party was ready to fight the coming elections alone in the state. "We alone have 45 seats in the Lok Sabha and it is any day many more than the regional players, he said. A 'mahagathbandhan' in the Lok Sabha elections needs to be built around the party having a national face," Bakshi said. "We are ready to take along like- minded parties and they can come together with us," he said. Congress leaders like PL Punia, who delivered Chhattisgarh to the Congress as its state in-charge, and UPCC chief Raj Babbar are reportedly of the view that the party should seek its pound of flesh in any alliance. They cite the example of 2009 when the Congress romped home with 22 Lok Sabha seats in UP, surprising many. They also say that with party chief Rahul Gandhi getting more "combative against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress now stands a better chance than before. At a party convention in Delhi on Friday, BJP president Amit Shah mocked the "bua-bhatija" alliance of the parties led by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati. He said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the fear of the BJP, echoing remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent rally in Agra. Shah claimed that the BJP is on its way to win more than 50 per cent votes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliance's tally will improve from the 73 Lok Sabha seats it won in 2014 out of the state's 80. Last year, Yadav and Mayawati decided to bury their differences to contest three bypolls. The joint opposition victories in the bypolls in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana was seen as a consolidation of Other Backward Classes, Dalits and Muslim votes, and raised expectations of a similar math working in the 2019 elections. In recent days, Yadav and Mayawati have put out press statements that mention a "gathbandhan". Mayawati's press statement was in solidarity with Yadav amid reports that the CBI might question him in connection with a mining scam that allegedly took place when he was chief minister. "Don't be shaken," she advised him. Yadav returned the favour when he put out a statement to condemn Modi's remarks at a rally in Agra on Mayawati "forgetting" an attack on her by SP workers in 1995. "The PM is scared of the alliance," Yadav said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Adviser Akhil Gogoi Friday announced that he will hold a 24-hour hunger strike on the coming Magh Bihu festival, of which community feast is an integral part, to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. "I will not celebrate Magh Bihu this time and will not eat anything on 'Uruka'. I will observe a 24-hour hunger strike with other representatives of 70 organisations from afternoon of January 14 to protest against the Bill," he told a press conference. On 'Uruka' night, the first day of the three-day Magh Bihu, people enjoy community feast with new harvest and it is one of the main attractions of the festival. Magh Bihu is one of the three Bihu festivals of the state. The KMSS chief said till the controversial Bill is scrapped, protest will continue as BJP has plans to pass it in Rajya Sabha during the Budget session scheduled to commence on January 31. The KMSS is one the major organisations that was holding protests across Assam against the controversial bill. "The danger of the Bill getting passed is not over yet. We cannot relax. So we will continue our agitation till January 31, when the Parliament will meet again for the Budget Session," Gogoi said. The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Friday informed a Delhi court that the Centre has granted sanction to prosecute five people, including serving and former bureaucrats, accused in the involving Congress leader and ex-Union minister and his son Karti. The then members of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), against whom sanctions have been procured, are the then secretary (economic affairs) Ashok Jha, the then additional secretary Ashok Chawla, the then joint secretary in finance ministry Kumar Sanjay Krishna, the then director in the ministry Dipak Kumar Singh, and the then under secretary in the ministry Ram Sharan. Of the five, three are working with various government departments while two have retired. The submissions were made before Special Judge O P Saini who extended till February 1 the interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram and Karti in the Aircel-Maxis cases filed by the and the ED. The had on November 16 last year, informed the court that similar nod was procured for There are 18 accused in the case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, Friday told the court that the ongoing probe was about to be completed and sought a brief adjournment in the matter. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and A M Singhvi appeared for Chidambarams and sought extension of protection granted to them. The court also adjourned the money laundering case, lodged on the basis of CBI case, for the next date after ED's special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana made the request in this regard. The court had earlier questioned the CBI as to why it had filed the charge sheet without getting the appropriate sanction. "What was the hurry," the court had asked. Chidambaram and Karti were named in the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case on July 19. The agency filed a supplementary charge sheet before the special judge, who had fixed it for consideration on July 31. The CBI is probing how Chidambaram, who was the Union Finance Minister in 2006, granted FIPB approval to a foreign firm, when only the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was empowered to do it. The CBI and ED, in their replies to the anticipatory bail pleas of Chidambarams, had recently told the court that custodial interrogation of both the accused was required since various new materials have surfaced after filing of the charge sheet, alleging that they were not cooperating in the probe. The father-son duo recently denied the allegations of both the agencies that they were evasive and non-cooperative during the probe in the case, and said the allegations against them were "unsubstantiated" and there was no need of their custodial interrogation. The submissions were made in their rejoinder, filed by advocates P K Dubey and Arshdeep Singh, in response to the replies of the probe agencies. filed his anticipatory bail application in May last year. His protection from arrest has been extended from time to time. The agencies have sought the custodial interrogation of both the accused, saying they have not been cooperating and, therefore, making it difficult to complete the investigation in a time-bound manner as directed by the Supreme Court. The senior Congress leader and his son have come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore. In its charge sheet filed earlier in the present case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others, the CBI alleged that P Chidambaram granted FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) approval in March 2006 to Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis. The Maran brothers and the other accused named in the CBI charge sheet were discharged by the special court, which said the agency had failed to produce any material against them to proceed with the trial. The ED is also probing a separate money-laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis matter, in which the Chidambarams have been questioned by the agency and their anticipatory bail is pending. Jan 11, 2019 | By Thomas Researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), led by mechanical engineer Megan Kreiger, recently 3D printed a 32-ft-long reinforced concrete footbridge at Camp Pendleton in Southern California. Kreiger's goal is to 3D print a modern-day version of a Bailey bridge. It would be phenomenal if we could make a bridge that could support a tank, she says. 3D printing the footbridge wasnt easy. When she first arrived, it rained so much there were mud slides. Its hard to print in torrential downpours, she says. It was crazy. And the bridge, her latest research project was successfully printed. The footbridge pilot project wasnt the first successful large-scale 3D printing project that Kreiger has involved. Last year the team completed the 3D printing of 9.5-ft-tall reinforced concrete walls for a 32-ft x 16-ft barracks on site at an army base, in less than two days. The team designed a 3D model on a 10-year-old computer. Once they hit print, the concrete was pushed through the print head and layered repeatedly to build the barracks room walls. Kreiger became aware of 3D printing at Michigan Technological University, where she ran the 3D printing lab during her graduate studies in material science and engineering. She joined the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center in 2015. ERDC also plans to use 3D concrete printers in humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions. As the first military services on site in natural disasters, ERDC is great at providing food and water, but struggle to provide shelter. In many locations, cement is easier to acquire than wood, and the army could quickly print houses, schools and community buildings to replace those destroyed. Kreiger sees huge implications for the limited labor required to create custom concrete structures without formwork. My goal is to establish additive construction as a viable method and introduce the benefits of large-scale 3D printing to military and commercial construction, says Kreiger. I want to push forward and test the limits of the construction industry through 3D printing. Images credit: ERDC Posted in 3D Printing Application Source: ERDC Maybe you also like: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Friday said the AIADMK would support a party at the Centre which would strive to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu post the Lok Sabha polls. The All Indian Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam joint coordinator's comments come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the BJP was open to alliances and that it cherished its old friends, in a hint that the saffron party was looking to strengthen the NDA in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The AIADMK, led by former chief minister Jayalalithaa, had joined hands with the BJP to face the 2004 Lok Sabha polls but the alliance could not win even a single seat while the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-Congress combine swept the polls. "As far as we are concerned, our stand is that whoever does good for the people of Tamil Nadu, they should come to power at the Centre," Palaniswami said at a party event here. "We will support only those who do good for the people of Tamil Nadu," he said. "We will not accept anyone who betrays the people of Tamil Nadu. This is our stand," he added. On Thursday, in an interaction with party booth-level workers from five districts in Tamil Nadu through video conferencing, Modi had recalled the "successful coalition politics" ushered in by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the 1990s and said the BJP's doors were "always open". He was responding to a question from a worker whether the BJP would ally with the AIADMK, the DMK or Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, who is yet to form his political party. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP joined hands with five smaller parties including the DMDK, the PMK and Vaiko-led MDMK. The alliance managed to bag only two of the 39 seats -- one each by the BJP and the PMK. Later, all five parties snapped ties with the BJP. Palaniswami also took a dig at the DMK for "dynastic politics". He said DMK chief M K Stalin succeeded his father and former party president M Karunanidhi and he will be succeeded by his son Udhayanidhi. "When Karunanidhi was alive, he ensured MP's post for his daughter Kanimozhi," the chief minister said. Others from the DMK's first family -- Karunanidhi's elder son M K Alagiri and grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran also rose in the party ranks, Palaniswami said. The AIADMK, however, was a "people's movement" where even a grassroots level worker could rise to great heights, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has reiterated that a vote for Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha election will mean victory of BJP and asserted his party will "fulfil its duty" of defeating the ruling party at the Centre on all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi. Kejriwal's assertion has come amid a speculation that the Aam Aadmi Party may ally with the Congress to challenge the BJP in parliamentary polls later this year. Addressing a meeting of party office-bearers from South Delhi Lok Sabha seat, on Thursday, the Delhi chief minister said, "AAP will fulfil its duty of defeating the BJP on all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi." Kejriwal asked the partymen to explain the arithmetic of coming polls to voters. In the last Lok Sabha election, (in Delhi) BJP got 46 per cent votes and AAP obtained 33 per cent and Congress 15 per cent votes, he said. "The surveys reveal BJP is going to loose 10 per cent of its vote share this time and you need to tell people that if these votes are polled by AAP, it will win all seven seats in Delhi by scoring 43 per cent votes. You have to explain to people that voting for Congress means victory of BJP," Kejriwal told AAP workers. He asserted Congress faced defeat in 2014 because of the unity of all and now is the time to remove the "autocracy" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah from the country. The AAP chief will hold Lok Sabha constituency-wise meetings of Delhi workers till January 16. Convener of Delhi AAP Gopal Rai said the office-bearers will be given responsibility of polling booths. For every 10 households, a 'Vijay Pramukh' will be appointed for direct connect with voters. The issue of alliance remains unsettled so far with both AAP and Congress not officially rejecting its possibility. Rai had said the Political Affairs Committee of AAP will take a decision on it later. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Kerala Police have identified seven more accused in the case of vandalising a State Bank of India (SBI) branch here on January 9, the second day of the 48 hour-long nation-wide trade union strike. The treasury branch of SBI was attacked on Wednesday morning by a group of people, who barged into the manager's cabin, threatened him and the staff, damaged a glass table top and a computer monitor. The strike was called by 10 central trade unions against the Centre's "anti-labour" policies. A local court had on January 10 remanded to custody, two state government employees who had surrendered before the police. The Investigating officer told PTI that the remand report had been submitted to the respective heads of departments of the arrested Non-Gazetted Officers Union members. "We have examined the CCTV visuals and identified sevenc more accused. We have gone to their respective government offices and confirmed their identities. All of them are on leave. They will be arrested soon," police said. They said one of those identified, Suresh Babu, was a state committee member of the CPI(M) affiliated NGO union. Ashokan, a senior accountant at the Treasury Directorate and Harilal, an attender at the Technical Education Directorate, are the two government employees in judicial custody. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four of the nine members of the high-level committee formed by the Centre to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord have declined to be a part of it. Eminent litterateurs Nagen Saikia and Rongbong Terang, both former presidents of premier literary body Axom Xahitya Xabha, and academician Mukunda Rajbongshi have decided to opt out of the committee. The All Assam Students Union (AASU), a signatory of the Assam Accord and which has a representative in the panel, has already said it would not be a part of the committee which would examine the effectiveness of actions since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Clause 6 seeks to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. A six-year agitation by the AASU demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord by the Rajiv Gandhi government and the AASU on August 15, 1985. In a letter to the Joint Secretary (North East) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, member secretary of the panel Saikia said the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was against the secular spirit of the country and Assam would lose its linguistic and cultural identity if it is enacted. The committee has been set up "to appease the people of Assam. I oppose this stand of the government", he said. Saikia, a Sahitya Akademi awardee, also said the AASU has already announced it would be not be a part of the panel and without it, the committee "cannot arrive at decisions for which it has been constituted". Padma Shri awardee Terang also declined to be a part of the committee saying there is no sense in talking about the Assam Accord without the AASU being a part of it. "My conscience does not allow me to be a part of the committee. Besides, I am suffering from cancer and will not be able to attend meetings of the committee regularly," he said. Rajbongshi, who is undergoing treatment in New Delhi, said the formation of the committee by the Centre while going ahead with the citizenship bill is a mockery of the Assam Accord. "The bill has raised many questions on the Centre's intention to protect the interest of the indigenous population and has nullified the provisions of the Assam Accord. In such circumstances, it will not be possible for me to be a part of this committee," he added. Earlier, the AASU has refused to be a part of the panel which the "BJP-led government formed just three months ahead of Lok Sabha polls to seek votes in Assam". Besides these four, the panel has former Union Tourism Secretary M P Bezbaruah as its head, and former IAS officer Subhash Das, senior journalist D N Bezboruah and Advocate General of Assam Ramesh Borpatragohain as other members. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Celebrations for the 352nd Prakash Parv (birth anniversary) of Guru Gobind Singh commenced on Friday at the Takht Harmandir Patna Sahib here, the place of birth of the tenth Sikh Guru. The day was also marked by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laying the foundation stone at Rajgir, about 110 kms from here, of a Gurudwara in the memory of the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev whose 550th Prakash Parv is being observed this year. Sikh pilgrims from war and wide thronged the Takht Harmandir Patna Sahib to pay their obeisance to Guru Gobind Singh besides taking out colourful processions on the adjoining streets which was marked by singing of hymns, playing of devotional tunes by musical bands and display of acrobatics and prowess with the kripan (sword) by Nihang warrior-monks. The three-day festivities would conclude on January 13 and a huge tent city has been erected near the Kangan Ghat along the river Ganges where 5,000 pilgrims can stay. Sikh devotees from across the world had visited the city during the 350th Prakash Parv held a couple of years ago which was also attended by top dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, laying the foundation stone of a Gurudwara at Sheetal Kund in Rajgir, which Guru Nanak Dev is said to have visited five centuries ago Nitish Kumar announced that his government has declared a state holiday on November 12 when Nanak Jayanti will be celebrated. Expressing his reverence for the founders of the Sikh sect, Kumar recited many anecdotes from the lives of Guru Nanak Dev and his disciple Jaitamal, who lived close to the Ganges in Patna. He also highlighted the various measures being taken by his government to develop the spots in Bihar which were closely related to Sikh history. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seventy-nine-year-old Mohan Lal has a last wish: To live the remainder of his life along with "my community" and die in "my homeland". Sitting in his hut at Jagti camp on the outskirts of Jammu city, Lal, who is among the seven lakh-odd Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee Kashmir Valley in the wake of spread of terrorism in 1989-90, says they are living as "refugees in our own country" for three decades but "nothing" is being done for their return and rehabilitation. As Lal's wait for a life "in Kashmir as I used to (live) before 1990" gets longer, his hope gives way to disappointment and anguish. "We have completed 30 years in exile. we still await a call for return from our homeland. I want to live along with my community in Kashmir as I used to before 1990. I want to die in my homeland. Promises made and policies adopted by successive governments for our rehabilitation have fallen flat due to opposition from Kashmir," Lal, who hails from Kulgam district in South Kashmir, told PTI. Lal, along with his family of five members, lives in Jagti camp which houses about 20,000 Kashmiri Pandits. The displaced Kashmiri Pandits say the biggest hurdles in their return to their roots were concerns for their "safety and security" and the government's inability to implement its return and rehabilitation package of 2008 on the ground. Like Lal, 80-year-old Soomawati too want to return home in the border district of Kupwara. She says, "I want to return and die in my home. But nobody is fulfilling my last wish, neither the government nor my family." The general secretary of the All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), T K Bhat, said, "Kashmiri Pandits are at the crossroads. There is uncertainty. The return and rehabilitation policy of the government is on paper and there are no takers for it...Our core concern is safety and security for the community in Kashmir Valley." In 2008, the then Congress-led government at the Centre announced a package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, offering maximum assistance of Rs 7.5 lakh each family for construction of houses. But the then state government led by Omar Abdullah of the National Conference requested the Centre to enhance the package to Rs 20 lakh per family, following feedback from affected families. The plan has not since moved forward. In September 2017, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Srinagar that the central government had decided to construct 6,000 transit accommodations for Kashmiri Pandits. But the plan to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits in three composite townships in North, South and Central Kashmir was opposed by the National Conference and separatists, BJP MLC Surinder Ambardar said. "I feel there is a need to carve out separate homeland for the community," Ambardar said. Even employment schemes for Kashmiri Pandit youths failed to yield desired results. Over 1,900 educated youths were given employments in Kashmir under the prime minister's job package and put up in four different transit accommodations. But they fled following stone pelting on their camps in Kashmir after the killing Hizbul Mujahideen division commander Burhan Wani in July 2016. "These youths were forced to flee to Jammu. The security and safety of Kashmiri Pandits is the primary concern," All Party Migrant Coordination Committee chairman Vinood Panditsaid. As families fled the valley, protection of immovable properties of Kashmiri Pandits became an issue that required government intervention within months. "We want the government to remove massive encroachments of lands and properties of displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the valley. But nothing is being done. I have approached the office of the governor in this regard, but to no avail," Legislator G L Raina said. Their hopes for a return to Kashmir was rekindled after the formation of the PDP-BJP government in March 2015 as the two parties had talked about "protecting and fostering ethnic and religious diversity by ensuring the return of Kashmiri Pandits with dignity based on their rights as state subjects and reintegrating as well as absorbing them in the Kashmiri milieu". "We had high hopes after the formation of the BJP-PDP government. But that has been dashed now. The growing radicalism in Kashmir and government policies to deal with the situation are the biggest hurdles," Vinood Pandit said. Batting strongly for a homeland for displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the valley with union territory status, Panun Kashmir chairman AjayChrungoo said, "An end to terrorism is must for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir Valley. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An estimated 25,000 people have fled escalating violence over the last six months in eastern Syria, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last bastions, the UN said Friday. Much of the unrest has been centred around Hajin in Deir Ezzor province, which had been the last town of note controlled by the Islamic State group in the area until it was taken in December by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The United Nations refugee agency said that clashes and air strikes have forced 25,000 people to run and seek shelter in camps or informal settlements, sometimes after spending several nights in the desert exposed to harsh weather and without access to food or water. The agency also warned over "mounting civilian casualties" in the area, without providing figures. An estimated 2,000 civilians remain trapped in Hajin, where conflict continues, the UN said. The SDF is currently flushing out the very last pockets of land controlled by the jihadists in the Euphrates River valley. The US-led coalition that is supporting them in the area said Friday that it had begun withdrawing its troops, following a shock announcement from US President Donald Trump. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Modi, on Friday told Indian workers in that he wants to listen to their problems instead of telling his "Mann Ki Baat". Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a maiden visit, was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian diaspora at the airport on Thursday. He lauded the Indian workers here for making the country proud by their hard work in the UAE. "You have illuminated the names of every religion, every state and every caste," he said. He said his party is aware of the difficulties faced by the labourers and wants to help them. "We want to talk to you," he said. "Main yahan apne mann ki baat kahne nahi aaya hun..main yayan aapke mann ki baat sunane aaya hun (I have not come here to speak my mind, I have come to listen to your heart)," he said in his address at the Jabel Ali labour colony. He was referring to Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat where he address the nation on various issues. Earlier Gandhi met with the business leaders in the country. A construction worker from Jabel Ali labour colony said he wants to see Gandhi leading with compassion and care for all Indians. Gandhi is also set to meet some UAE ministers during his two-day visit to and The BJP-led government in has decided to urge the Centre to exempt the state from the jurisdiction of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the latest northeast voice against the proposed legislation. In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the state cabinet Thursday decided to appeal to the Centre to allow it to not implement the proposed legislation, which was recently passed by Lok Sabha, a press release issued by the chief minister's secretariat said. The BJP is heading a coalition government in the state with the People's Party, Naga People's Front and the The reservation expressed by the BJP-led dispensation in the state against a bill proposed by the NDA assumes significance. Many NDA allies in the northeast -- including the AGP in Assam, the MNF (ruling in Mizoram), the NPP (heading the coalition government with BJP in Meghalaya), the IPFT (partner in the government in Tripura) and the NDPP (heading coalition government with BJP in Nagaland) -- have already said they were not in agreement with the saffron party over the sensitive issue. The AGP has already quit the alliance. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill provides for according Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, and after six years of residence in India, instead of 12 years currently, even if they do not possess any document. The state Cabinet also decided to urge the Centre and authorities concerned to give assent to the Peoples' (Protection) Bill, 2018 passed by the state assembly, the press release added. The state bill passed on July 23, 2018, defines Manipuris and non-Manipuris and seeks to regulate their entry and exit to protect the interests and identity of the indigenous people. According to the Bill, Manipuri included the Meiteis, the Pangal Muslims, Manipuri scheduled tribes listed under the Constitution and Indian nationals living in since before 1951. Those who didn't fall under this umbrella were deemed non-Manipuris and were given a month to register themselves. Additionally, outsiders visiting the state would have to obtain an Inner Line Permit, a system that is in place in three other northeastern states-- Arunachal Pradesh, and The Manipur Congress is also against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. It has demanded the Manipur government convene a session of the assembly immediately to take a decision on it. In context to the recent safety-related issues faced by P&W engine-powered Airbus A320 Neo aircrafts, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu has said that there is zero tolerance on any violation of the aviation safety guidelines. Answering a question during the Twitter livestream event on "Flying for All: Global Aviation Summit" on Friday, Prabhu said the aviation regulator DGCA has been directed that "... at any cost, safety has to be paramount. (There is) zero tolerance on any violation of safety issues". Recently, India's civil aviation regulator said it would issue an "additional directive" on safety protocols for P&W engines, which power Airbus A320 Neo aircraft. The DGCA's decision to issue additional directive came after the Ministry of Civil Aviation held a meeting with IndiGo, GoAir, engine manufacturer P&W and aircraft maker Airbus on last Tuesday. The government has taken a serious note of the incidents with the aircraft's engines and called the meet to review the safety issues. At present, there are 97 Airbus A320 Neo aircrafts operating in the country which are powered by P&W engines. The meeting follows last week's incident with budget airline IndiGo, when its Kolkata-bound flight had to return to Chennai, and the airline said that it was the result of "technical caution" noted by the crew. --IANS ravi-rv/vin (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jan 11, 2019 | By Thomas Open Bionics, a UK-based developer of low-cost 3D printed prosthetic hands, has raised 4.66m from investors including Formula 1 team Williams. Open Bionics has secured 1.5m from Nottingham-headquartered Foresight Group along with similar amounts from Downing LLP and Ananda Impact Ventures. Founded in 2014 by chief executive Joel Gibbard and chief operating officer Samantha Payne, Open Bionics has made a name for itself with the development of sophisticated bionic arms. The company previously raised money from the venture capital arm of Disney and its first commercial product, Hero Arm, has commercial licences with Disney, Marvel and Pixar. With approval from the FDA and CE Marking, Open Bionics has opened registration for its 3D printed Hero Arm to people across the UK with below elbow upper-limb differences. The fully customized 3D printed prosthetics can be made to fit people as young as eight, allowing them to customise their limb to appear like characters from superhero films. The Foresight Group investment was made via its Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund. Joel Gibbard, CEO, Open Bionics, says: We're thrilled to receive this investment from the Foresight Williams Technology EIS fund. We're excited to have support from Williams on scaling our manufacturing process as we begin serving the United States and other overseas markets. Andrew Bloxam, Senior Investment Manager at Foresight, says: The Funds strategy is to support innovative UK businesses with disruptive technologies. Open Bionics is a great example of engineering innovation and disruptive technology that has potential to grow the market significantly. We look forward to working with the management team as they grow their business and helping with the commercialisation of this life changing technology. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: With the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party set to cement a seat-sharing deal in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress on Friday appeared reconciled to fighting a lone battle in the state. Media coordinator of the party Rajeev Bakshi said: "Congress is prepared to contest the Lok Sabha polls on its own strength in UP". He said in the present Lok Sabha, the party has 45 seats, a figure higher than any regional party. "So, on the one hand we'd like parties to come along, yet on the other, we have the option of going it alone," said Bakshi. The Congress leader suggested that the 'grand alliance' should have a national party as the pivot. He recalled that Congress had a tough time in 2009, yet it succeeded in getting 21 seats on its own in UP and forming the UPA-II government. He said it was for the party leadership to work the wires on alliances with like-minded secular parties to ensure the exit of the Modi-led NDA government. Another leader, not wishing to be named, said most party workers and state leaders were of the view that the Congress should go it alone. The SP-BSP has almost red-flagged the entry of Congress in the alliance, and are ready to leave two seats - Amethi and Rae Bareli -- for the Congress. The party had won only these seats in the 2014 elections when the BJP stormed to power, with 71 of its MPs coming from UP alone. State Congress chief Raj Babbar and veteran leader P.L. Punia are reportedly against any arrangement with the regional satraps. These leaders allude to the SP-BSP's poor show in 2017 Assembly polls when they were decimated, with Congress winning less than 10 seats and the SP coming down from 225-plus to less than 50 seats. Sources, however, say that rebel SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav, who has floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP), could make for 'Plan B' of the Congress and the grand old party could also rope in smaller groups in the state. --IANS md/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On his maiden visit to the UAE, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday reached out to Indian expatriates and assured them of accommodating and redressing their issues in the party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi, who reached here on Thursday night, held talks with UAE business leaders in the day and followed up with an interactive session with Indian workers at Jebel Ali industrial area. Addressing the workers, Gandhi also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his monthly radio programme (mann ki baat), saying "I am not here to say my 'mann ki baat', but I am here to listen to your mann ki baat". "Leaving your families behind in India, you all are here working hard to earn for your family. I am here to assure you that we are with you... I am here to listen to your problems. Whatever help we can extend, we are ready," said Gandhi amid loud applause. Accompanied by former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda, Gandhi interacted with the workers, enquiring about the problems faced by them in Dubai and their families back in India. With several workers complaining about not getting their full salaries and getting cheated by touts, Gandhi asked them to inform their grievances to Pitroda so that they are accommodated in the Congress manifesto. "Share all your problems and issues with Pitroda, we will have them in our manifesto. We want to know about all your problems and what the Indian government should do to them. Not this government (Modi government) but the one which is coming to power after the elections," he said. "I assure you the government will work for you and your families back in India". Replying to a worker from Amravati in Andhra Pradesh, Gandhi assured the state of a special category status if the Congress came to power at the Centre. As part of his global outreach programme ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi also interacted with representatives of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), Dubai and met the Punjabi community. He is also slated to hold talks with UAE Ministers. --IANS and/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian and global leaders on economic policy shall deliberate for two days at the 25h Partnership Summit 2019, which will be inaugurated by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu here on Saturday, an official said on Friday. The global platform for dialogue, debates and engagement among the experts on economic policy and growth trends in India is expected to build new partnerships and explore investment opportunities through high-level exchanges and B2B meetings. It will also showcase India in the present landscape of an emerging 'New India', the 'New Global Economic Address', actively engaging and collaborating within the country and the world. Commerce and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu will preside over the events, South Korean Minister of Trade Kim Hyun Chong, Minister of Economy of UAE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori and Director-General of World Intellectual Property Organisation Francis Gurry shall also speak at the inaugural session. Besides, Prabhu will hold bilateral meetings with Ukraine's First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv, dignitaries from Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Cambodia and British Deputy High Commissioner in Mumbai, Crispin Simon. Some of the sessions would be on topics like Partnering with New India, Reforms and Deregulation - Strategies to Boost Investment, The Infra Expanse - A Super Imperative for Growth and The Inclusion Dynamics - A Digital Wireframe for All. Other critical sectoral series like Innovations, India 4.0: AI, Big Data, Agri and Food Processing, Health Care, Tourism and Hospitality, Defence and Aeronautics and Renewable Energy shall also be covered. The Partnership Summit 2019 is being organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Maharashtra Government and the Confederation of Indian Industry. --IANS qn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US Chamber of Commerce on Friday launched an innovation initiative which will examine economic underpinnings that enable breakthrough innovation and explore how policymakers can harness innovation capital in India and around the globe, the industry chamber said in a statement. The "Fair Value for Innovation" initiative was launched by the US Chamber's Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) at the Raisina Dialogue here, the statement said. GIPC Senior Vice President Patrick Kilbride said in a statement: "The promise of India's innovation ecosystem is real, and the US industry has a stake in it. "We believe India is ideally positioned as a thought-leader and regional economic power to help bring the benefits of innovation in AI (artificial intelligence)," said NITI Aayog Chief Executive Amitabh Kant. The Raisina Dialogue is an annual conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, organised jointly by the Observer Research Foundation and the External Affairs Ministry. --IANS bc/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While welcoming the decision to ensure 10 per cent reservation in jobs to economically backward sections in the general category, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) on Friday expressed doubts over its proper implementation, saying there was a "political motive". "We welcome it. However, I must say the cut-off of Rs 8 lakh per year is pretty high," SDF spokesman and Sikkim's sole Lok Sabha member P.D. Rai told IANS, reacting to the Rajya Sabha clearing the legislation. He said the certification process will also be "highly problematic". "The reservation will be very dynamic in the sense that people will be in and out of the cut-off. Now, consider a case where a person has a job which is within the cut-off, but then he lands another job which is above the threshold. How will the authorities come to know of it?" "Do we keep a monitor? Who will give the certificates?" he asked. Rai, a passout from IIT Kanpur and IIM Ahmedabad, said he was not certain whether the latest reservation decision would withstand judicial scrutiny. He referred to former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi, who has dubbed the move as "directly in conflict" with the Supreme Court's judgement capping caste-based reservation at 50 per cent. "I'm not a lawyer. But I find Justice Ahmadi (who was part of the 1992 bench that put the cap on caste-based reservation) has said that the decision is against the grain of the Supreme Court judgement. Also, legal luminaries have spoken out against it. So I am not sure if it would stand judicial scrutiny," Rai said. According to Rai, after losing Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi might be of the opinion that the reservation decision will be his trump card to win the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "He is entitled to his thoughts, facts can be otherwise," he said. Rai also described as "secretive" the way the Modi government went about the legislation. "Another aspect is the great secrecy with which this was brought up, the secretive way in which it was passed by the Union Cabinet. The opposition was not given adequate time to debate the Bill or get their act together in terms of preparing for the debate. "All these developments taken together are indicative of a political motive behind the decision," he added. In this context, Rai pointed out that the P.K. Chamling government in Sikkim has done much in ensuring an equitable distribution of resources. "We are quite happy that in Sikkim we have done so much by way of social justice. Everyone has got access some way or the other not only to resources, but also on priority basis," he said. --IANS ssp/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump visited the country's southern border with Mexico, where he reiterated his demand to build a wall between the two nations to end the "growing humanitarian and security crisis" in the region. He arrived at the border town of McAllen on Thursday where he listened to tragic stories from people who described violent deaths of siblings and sons, including one woman whose son, a Border Patrol agent, had been killed by an unauthorised immigrant, reports The New York Times. Flanked by Border Patrol officers, as well as Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, and a cache of drugs, cash and weapons seized by the authorities at the border, Trump blamed the protracted shutdown of the federal government, now in its 20th day, on the Democrats. "If we had a barrier of any kind, whether it's steel or concrete," Trump said of tragic stories involving violence and human trafficking, "they wouldn't even bother trying. We could stop that cold". Border Patrol officers used visual aids showing stash houses, road checkpoints and drug caches to emphasise the demand for border security and a wall. Trump repeated his demand for the money from Congress while telling the group that Mexico would somehow provide funds indirectly for the wall, a contradiction of what he said in December when he wrote in a Twitter post, "I often stated, 'One way or the other, Mexico is going to pay for the Wall'." "I didn't say they're going to write me a check for $10 billion or $20 billion," Trump said. "If Congress approves this trade bill, they'll pay for the wall many times over. When I say Mexico's going to pay for the wall, that's what I mean." The new trade deal, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, does not stipulate that Mexico provide funds for the wall, and has not been approved by Congress. Before Air Force One landed in Texas on Thursday, a crowd of supporters with flags and "build the wall" signs gathered near the Rio Grande. But as the government shutdown neared the end of its third week, the President left Washington with no additional negotiations scheduled with congressional leaders over a possible compromise that could both provide border security and open the government. In remarks to reporters later on Thursday, Trump did not rule out declaring a state of national emergency that could allow him to bypass Congress to fund the wall, The New York Times reported. Asked if he would make such a declaration, an action that would likely face legal challenges, Trump said: "If this doesn't work out, probably I will do it. I would almost say definitely." Trump's border visit comes a day after he held a brief meeting with Democrat and Republican leaders in the White House that ended abruptly when he stormed out after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rebuffed his overture to reopen the government in exchange for wall funding. Pelosi and the Democrats have consistently said they would be willing to negotiate border security issues with him if he would reopen the government, even as the House Speaker has held firm to the position that she does not support funding for a wall. On Tuesday, Trump in a prime-time address to the nation appealed to the American people to pressure legislators to fund the border wall and end the government shutdown. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen has agreed to testify publicly before a Congress committee on February 7, according to an official statement. In a statement to CNN, Cohen said on Thursday that he has agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee "in furtherance of my commitment to cooperate and provide the American people with answers". "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," Cohen said. Cohen is likely to face questions about the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between senior members of President Donald Trump's campaign and a Russian lawyer as well. Thursday's announcement comes after Cohen pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December to three years in prison on multiple charges, including two campaign finance crimes tied to illicit payments made to silence women during the presidential campaign. Cohen cooperated with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation after his August guilty plea. Mueller's team in court filings wrote that Cohen provided "useful information concerning certain discrete Russia-related matters core to its investigation". House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said that Mueller cleared Cohen's testimony before it was agreed to, CNN said. "He'll have a chance to tell his side of the story, and we'll have a chance to question him. The American people deserve that," Cummings said. "We don't want to do anything to interfere with the Mueller investigation." Other members of the Trump administration are likely to be summoned to Capitol Hill also. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler of New York is demanding acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker testify this month, and he's threatening a subpoena if Whitaker won't voluntarily appear. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The following in the timeline of the cases of murder, rape and sexual exploitation against Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh: 2002: Anonymous letters written to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High court by two female disciples (Sadhvis) alleging that they were raped and sexually exploited by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. July 2002: Former sect manager Ranjit Singh murdered in July 2002. Singh was murdered by sect activists, allegedly at the behest of its chief "as he knew too much" about activities inside the sect headquarters. Case is under trial with the CBI court. October 2002: Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chandra Chhatrapati shot dead, allegedly by sect supporters, after he wrote about shady activities inside the sect headquarters near Sirsa in his newspaper 'Poora Sach'. Ram Rahim told his aides that Chhatrapati be silenced. November 2003: The Punjab and Haryana High Court orders a CBI probe into the rape and sexual exploitation of the Sadhvis by the sect chief. December 2003: CBI begins investigation into the rape case against the sect chief. July 2007: CBI files charge-sheet against the sect chief in rape case. 2007-17: Nearly 200 hearings of the rape case held over 10 years. The sect chief continued to be on bail granted to him by the trial court (earlier located in Ambala in Haryana). Petitions filed by the sect chief, through his counsels, in High Court and Supreme Court over this period. Leads to delay in case being heard by trial (CBI special court) court. August 2017: Trial court concludes hearing. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh convicted by special CBI court in Panchkula on August 25. Sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment on two counts of rape. January 2019: Special CBI court convicts Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chandra Chhatrapati. Three aides of the sect chief also convicted. --IANS js/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Maoist guerrillas were arrested with weapons here on Friday, police said. The Maoists, belonging to the outlawed People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), were arrested on the border of Ranchi and Khuti districts, Rural Superintendent of Police of Ranchi Ashutosh Shekhar told reporters. He said the arrested Maoists included PLFI area commander Kuwar Oraon alias Jaynath. The others were Mangara Oraon and Tausif Anwar. Police seized a 9 mm pistol, a country-made pistol four mobile phones and three motorcycles from the arrested Maoists. --IANS ns/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen appointed a new Prime Minister on Friday following the resignation of the incumbent over the recent electoral setback suffered by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. The President announced the appointment of Su Tseng-chang to replace Lai Ching-te at a press conference in which both were present, reports Efe news. Lai announced his resignation on Thursday night and made it effective on Friday morning after a cabinet meeting. His exit had been expected since Premiers in Taiwan usually step down after a party's election defeat. Experts believe Su could help garner support for Tsai within the party and boost her chances of re-election in 2020. He was appointed Prime Minister in 2006 by then President Chen Shui-bian but resigned in 2007 to contest the 2008 presidential elections, which he lost to Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang Party. The DPP suffered a resounding defeat in the local elections of November 24, which sparked opposition to Tsai's 2020 candidacy among pro-independence supporters. --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jan 11, 2019 | By Thomas New York based startup Kwambio is exhibiting at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas the second year in a row. This time, the 3D printing company presents the brand new binder jetting based desktop ceramic 3D printer, Ceramo Zero Max ($5,000) and a new industrial 3D printer Ceramo Two ($45,000). Kwambio is primarily known as a manufacturer of ceramic objects on-demand for the design industry. The company ships out over 12,000 objects to customers around the world every year. At last years CES Kwambio presented their first ceramic 3D printer Ceramo One, which is based on binder jetting technology that mixes ceramic or silica powder with a water-based binder, which works like glue. Ceramo Zero Max, the new desktop version of Ceramo One features the same technology at a smaller scale. It prints 4 layers per second, and its build size is 150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm. The resolution is 300 dpi per layer. Kwambios CEO Vlad Usov notes, A smaller ceramic printer is an ideal option for those who print prototypes on a daily basis. With our glass-based powder, the manufacturing process is the shortest possible: its just the printing process, an object doesnt require glazing and firing. It is a way to prototype efficiently. We are inspired to see so many design-oriented women-led businesses on the rise, added Dmitriy Skomorokhov, Kwambios Sales Director. Entrepreneurs in Canada and the United States design stylish smoking pipes and other accessories for smokers. Kwambio prints thousands of them yearly. Many of our clients are considering printing their products in-house with the help of our new and shiny Ceramo Zero Max, and we are here to help them establish a full production on a budget. Specs: Application: Home & Office Automated: Yes Build speed: 4 Layers Per Minute Build size: 150 150 150 (mm) Material options: High-Performance Composite Layer thickness: 0.1 (mm) Resolution: 300 dpi Per Layer Number of printheads: 1 Number of jets: 128 The file format for printing: stl Equipment dimensions: 643 x 550 x 500 (mm) Equipment weight: 60 Kilos Power requirements: 100240V, 500W Network connectivity: TCP/IP Workstation compatibility: Windows XP, Vista, 710 Regulatory compliance: CE, CSA According to Kwambio, the industrial Ceramo Two 3D printer is two times faster with a much bigger printing bed. It has a build speed of 1,000 mm per second and a 400 x 250 x 400 mm build size. Specs: Build speed: 1000 mm/s Build size: 400 x 250 x 400 (mm) Layer thickness: 50-200 m Resolution: up to 600 dpi Printheads: 1 Jets: 500, 1000 File formats for printing: STL Equipment dimensions: 1660 x 970 x 1240 (mm) Equipment weight: 352 kg Power requirements: 100-240 V, 1000W Network connectivity: TCP/IP Workstation compatibility: Windows XP, Vista, 7-10 Regulatory compliance: CE, CSA Kwambio also offers their own proprietary sustainably sourced clay- and glass-based powders, all of which come with a water-based binder. Other optional equipment provided by Kwambio are kiln ($3,000) and Depowderting station ($2,000). This year, Kwambio became a part of Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator in Hartford, Connecticut. "That was a major push in development of a new material: a mix of ceramic powder with aluminum oxide which is used for engineering and metal casting," wrote Kwambio. "It has a higher density and a low firing shrinkage. It can be used in metallurgy, as it withstands contact with melted metal with temperatures up to 1300C (the majority of alloys). It is also a strong dielectric and can be used to manufacture complex leached rods. Both new ceramic 3D printers, the Ceramo Zero Max and the Ceramo Two, are currently available for pre-order on Kwambio.com and are expected to be shipped out to customers in July 2019. Posted in 3D Printer Maybe you also like: Six northern states on Friday signed a MoU to construct a Rs 4,596.76 crore dam in Uttarakhand that will provide water to the national capital and other beneficiary states. The dam, named Renukaji, a multipurpose project, will be built on Giri river in the upper Yamuna basin. The Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh signed the MoU here at an event where Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari was present. The dam will augment water availability for New Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. The project will also generate 40 MW of power during peak flow and is proposed to be executed by state-run Himachal Pradesh Power Corp Ltd (HPPCL). Since 90 per cent cost of the power component is being borne by Delhi, Himachal Pradesh would get about 200 million units of electricity at Rs 0.30 per unit, an official statement quoting Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said. The dam would generate net revenue of Rs 60 crore per annum to the HPPCL and Rs 12 crore to the state government in its first year of operation. The revenue would further increase over a period of time. Thakur said with the flow of investment of more than Rs 5,000 crore, the state's economy would get a boost. The Chief Minister said with the construction of the dam, the flow of the Giri river would increase about 110 per cent. That will meet the drinking water needs of Delhi and other basin states. The project will provide 0.498 billion cubic metre of storage in its reservoir and a firm water supply to the tune of 23 cumecs to Delhi. The 90 per cent cost of irrigation and drinking water component of the project i.e. Rs 3,892.83 crore will be provided by the Central government and rest 10 per cent by the six states. Water from the Renuka dam in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh will be released into the Yamuna river, from where it will flow to Haryana's Hathinikund barrage and finally reach Delhi. The project had hit roadblocks repeatedly since an agreement was signed in 1994 that water from the Renuka dam would be supplied to Delhi. The national status project is located some 250 km from Delhi. --IANS vg/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shah Faesal, the Kashmiri IAS officer who quit the coveted all-India service to join politics, said on Friday he would not join the separatist Hurriyat Conference. Addressing a media conference in Srinagar, Faesal said, "I am a man from the system and would be happy to change the system by remaining in it. "Since the Hurriyat does not subscribe to electoral politics, there is little scope for me to put my administrative skill and experience into practice by joining the Hurriyat," said Faesal. He said recent developments such as efforts to undermine the special status of the state, the growing lynch-mob outside the state, efforts to shrink space for ideological and religious minorities, the culture to undermine institutions such as the CBI and the NIA, had become something he could not stand. "Since the service conduct rules do not permit a civil servant to freely voice his feelings, this became choking for me. Today, as I voice my feelings publicly, I feel greatly relieved," he said. When asked if he has decided to join the Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference, he said it was premature to say that since he would go back to the grassroots and seek ideas as to the best course he should adopt while joining electoral "Due to recent developments, the importance of electoral has been undermined. I strongly believe that electoral politics is the best means to resolving the issues facing the people of the Valley, Jammu, Ladakh and the Chenab Valley which are important constituents of the state. "I shall be visiting all these places to seek people's views on my future course," said Faesal. "Yes, I have decided to fight parliamentary elections, but with which party or as an independent candidate remains yet to be decided", he said. Asked why he cannot float his own party like Imran Khan and Arvind Kejriwal, Faesal said, "I am greatly influenced by the examples set by Imran Khan and Kejriwal, but as you know, we are living in a conflict zone and anybody trying to come forward with a separate party is branded as an agent of the agencies". The first ever Kashmiri to do so, Faesal topped the 2009 civil service exams after which he was allotted the home cadre J&K. He recently returned from America after getting his Fulbright fellowship from Harvard Kennedy School. He had recently tweeted that unabated killings in Kashmir and the lack of any political initiative by the government have forced him to resign his job. Reports here said he met NC Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah, and that in all likelihood he would be joining the NC in the coming days. Same reports said the party would field him as its candidate from north Kashmir's Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. --IANS sq/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday asked what action has been taken against the owner of the illegal coal mine located in East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya in which 15 miners are trapped since December 13. "What you have done against the person who was indulging in illegal mining? What about the officials who were conniving in the illegal mining," asked Justice A.K. Sikri as senior counsel Anand Grover told the court that a number of agencies, both governmental and private, are offering assistance in rescue operations but there is no coordinating authority to take decisions. Other judge on the bench is Justice S. Abdul Nazeer. The court said that it would deal with the aspect of illegal mining later as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the entire operation of illegal mining could not have been without connivance of officials. Grover, appearing for PIL petitioner Aditya N. Prasad, told the court that due to lack of coordination and also some hurdles being faced by the teams engaged in rescue operations and working on the site, the desired results are not there. He said that the Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Roorkee-based National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and some other private research institutions including Chennai's Planys Technology need to be associated in the rescue operations. The court was also told that the Indian Air Force help is needed to lift heavy equipment to the spot hit by tragedy. Solicitor General Mehta told the court that despite their best efforts with the high-power pumps of Kirloskars, Coal India Ltd and that of the Meghalaya government pumping out the water, the water level has gone down by just eight inches as more and more water is coming from adjoining Lytein river. Mehta said all the agencies named by petitioner Prasad have already been contacted by the government and everything possible is being done to augment the rescue operations. The court was told that the operations is facing difficulty as water in the mine is muddy. As the Solicitor General projected the difficulties in pumping out the water, the court wondered how the owner of the mine was handling the problem of pumping out the water. The court listed the matter for January 18 for further hearing. --IANS pk/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Riyadh, Jan 11 (IANS/WAM) Saudi Arabia has granted 2.664 million visas for pilgrims to perform Umrah this year, a 2.79 per cent up over the corresponding period last year, according to official statistics released on Friday. Up till now, 2.250 million pilgrims have entered the kingdom to perform Umrah, a growth of 3.47 per cent over the same period last year, the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah said. Up to 1.9 million pilgrims have already performed Umrah to date and left the Kingdom, an increase of 3.05 per cent over the same period. Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Haj, Umrah can be undertaken any time of the year. --IANS/WAM ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi Court on Friday concluded the recording of complainant witnesses in the defamation case filed by former Union Minister M.J. Akbar against woman journalist Priya Ramani who accused him of sexual harassment. Testifying, Akbar's former personal assistant Rachna Goel, his personal assistant Manzar Ali, a communication consultant and Tapan Chaki defended the journalist and said the former Minister's standing had been was tarnished by Ramani's allegations. "This has damaged his reputation which he has built up over the years of his hard work," Goel told Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal. Goel told the court that during her 10 years of working with Akbar, she found him to be a professional and never heard any complaint of inappropriate behaviour against him. "Akbar has been very professional, very encouraging and has been very helpful in grooming and building up careers," Goel said. Chaki said that Akbar was a gentleman, a hard taskmaster, a man of impeccable credentials and very well mannered. The three witnesses said that they were shocked after reading Ramani's tweet. The court will hear arguments on the issue of by summoning Ramani on January 22. The court was hearing the defamation case against Ramani filed by the former Minister of State for External Affairs, a journalist-turned-politician who is now with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Ramani was the first in a long list of women journalists to accuse Akbar of sexual harassment. The statement of seven witnesses including Akbar were recorded. Akbar's counsel Sandeep Kapur told the court that Ramani's defamatory statements had damaged his image, lowering his esteem in the eyes of the public. A Rajya Sabha member, Akbar has denied all the charges against him as "false, wild and baseless". --IANS akk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday began his two-day maiden visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a breakfast meeting with business leaders here. Gandhi, who reached here on Thursday night, held talks with the business leaders from the country accompanied by Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda. He also interacted with hundreds of Indian workers at a labour accommodation in Jebel Ali. "I am here to listen to what you all have to say," said Gandhi. A part of his global outreach programme ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi will also hold talks with UAE Ministers besides addressing the larger Indian expat community including students. --IANS and/ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill got louder in Meghalaya on Friday with three pressure groups burning the effigies of the NDA government and the legislation. In Shillong, activists of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and Ri-Bhoi Youth Front (RBYF) assembled at Khyndai-Lad observing the 'black flag day' besides chanting anti-Modi slogans and demanding 'Bangladeshis go back.' Senior United Democratic Party (UDP) leaders, including former Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh and Allantry Franklin Dkhar, the political advisor to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma attended the protest rally. The Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress burned the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in front of the BJP office at Tura in West Garo Hills district demanding scrapping of the controversial Bill A brief argument erupted when a police officer took out the black flags tied on the railings surrounding the fountain by the protestors. But the matter was resolved with the quick intervention of district administration officials. The Citizenship Amendment Bill, passed in the Lok Sabha, aims to remove hurdles for eligible migrants of six minority groups from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan from getting Indian citizenship. "We strongly demand the Bill be scrapped immediately in the interest of the indigenous communities across northeastern states," FKJGP president Wellbirth Rani told journalists. Noting that persecuted Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will not flee to India as Indian Christians themselves are facing persecution, Rani said, "The Bill is BJP's political agenda." Supporting the agitators, the political advisor to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Dkhar said, the state government has been opposing the Bill from day one as it does not protect the people of the region. --IANS rrk/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ninth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit themed, 'Shaping a New India', on January 18 as the state gears up for its flagship biennial summit, which pulls in the who's who of the business community, heads of states and policy makers from across the world. Modi will be in Gujarat a day earlier on January 17 when he will throw open the global trade show at the convention centre, Mahatma Mandir, held parallel to the Summit. He will be having one-on-one meetings with the heads of 5 states, Denmark, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, Malta and Rwanda. The Prime Minister will also be visiting the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run VS Hospital in Ahmedabad. In the city itself, Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Ahmedabad shopping festival held on the lines similar to Dubai shopping festival. After inaugurating the summit, Modi will be participating in a round-table conference of the sovereign wealth funds, which is being held in the country for the first time. He will spend an hour to discuss the prospects of huge funds getting invested in infrastructure projects of the country. --IANS desai/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Describing the coming Lok Sabha elections as a "battle of two ideologies", BJP President Amit Shah on Friday hit out at the proposed opposition grand alliance describing it as an "eyewash" and attacked the coming together of the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh because they have realised that they cannot defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi on their own individually. Asserting that 2019 will be a year of expansion for the BJP, he said Modi was leading the NDA that has 35 parties, the opposition does not have either a leader of a policy. Sounding the poll bugle at the inauguration of the party's two-day National Convention, he asked the BJP workers to resolve to bring Modi back to power in the general elections saying the people of the country will elect a "mazboot sarkar (strong government) and not a "mazboor sarkar" (compromising government). Under pressure from the RSS and other members of the 'Sangh Parivar', Shah utilised the opportunity to assert that the government is keen on the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya in accordance with Constitutional norms but accused the Congress of creating hurdles. "This 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) is an eyewash. Everybody is fighting for their survival. We defeated them in 2014 and it is time to defeat them again. is not physics but chemistry in which when two compounds meet they can lead to unintended consequences. They have come together for their self interest and for power. This is a battle that will have a far-reaching impact for centuries to come. It is necessary to win it." Touching upon the proposed alliance between arch rivals in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP President asked "if bua-bhatija' (aunt-nephew) come together what will happen. They did not want to see each other's face a few months back. They cannot sit together." "We are ready to fight the battle to get over 50 per cent vote share in Uttar Pradesh. We will get not less than 74 seats (one more than what the BJP and its allies got in 2014). They have united because they cannot defeat Modi on their own. This is acceptance of our strength, of the strength of Prime Minister Modi," he said. "There was a time when it used to be Congress versus all. Today it is a matter of pride that it is Modi versus all. He is a pole of Indian on the strength of his hard work," he said. Calling upon the BJP workers to take a resolve for the re-election of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, Amit Shah compared the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to the third battle of Panipat. Shah said the party was gaining momentum in Odisha and West Bengal and he was personally keen to see a BJP government in Kerala. Referring to the contentious issue of the Ram Temple, he said it was being said that the party has deviated from its earlier words. "The ideology with which we started in 1950, the journey is continuing in the same direction. The BJP wants that Ram Temple should be constructed at the earliest and a grand temple should be built at Ayodhya. We are trying that the issue is settled soon as per constitutional norms. The matter is pending in the Supreme Court. Congress is creating road blocks. We were and are committed for Ram temple," he said. He laid out the issues that will be the campaign themes of the party in the next three months including upper caste job reservation and welfare measures for the poor including toilets, gas, housing, Ayushman Bharat and financial inclusion. Shah accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of "manufacturing" allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal and talked of surgical strikes and said Modi had enhanced India's stature in the world. Speaking of the rise of the Marathas under Shivaji and subsequent warriors, he said they lost in the Battle of Panipat in 1761 and the country later came under the rule of the British for 200 years. "That was a decisive battle. Today the situation is the same. The country's saw several ups and downs in the last 70 years. The BJP started its journey from Jan Sangh and got full majority in 2014 under Narendra Modi. In 2014 we were in power in six states, today we are in power in 16," he said. He said the Modi-led government was transparent, decisive, sensitive and based on democratic values. "When we went for election in 2014, we had cadre. Today we have nine crore active workers. There are 22 crore beneficiaries of government schemes. Last time people wanted to give Modi a chance, this time we are fighting on the basis of his performance." "We have leadership of the most popular, hardworking, transparent and visionary leader. I am working with him since 1987. He has never been defeated. There is no question of stopping. We will again make a full majority NDA government in 2019." He urged the people to have faith in Modi again and said no one else can give a strong government. He said the Modi government had a "spotless record" and attacked Rahul Gandhi and his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. "Those who are on bail and are facing income tax notices are making allegations of corruption against us. People of the country are not going to believe this." He said the Supreme Court had said that there was no need to probe the Rafale fighter deal and answers were given in parliament but Rahul Gandhi was still making allegations. "What is this frustration. Five years are about to end. If they do not rake up allegations, how will they fight. They (the Congress) has indulged in corruption in every defence deal. If Michel mama is caught, they start sweating." "The history of their four generations is marked by corruption and you are making allegations against us." Referring to fugitive economic offenders Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya, he said they were "in comfort" during the UPA rule but were forced to flee when the Modi government came to power. "Chowkidar will bring all the thieves. It is only a matter of time. They will have to return the money pending against their names," he said. He said India is the fastest growing economy and the government had implemented its promise of giving farmers prices at 50 per cent over their input cost. He talked of efforts to bring justice to various sections including the Sikhs and efforts to empower weaker sections including Dalits, women and tribals. Shah said the NDA had made a difference to the lives of the poor by providing a record number of houses, toilets, banking, electricity and gas connections in the last five years. He made repeated mention of the bill to provide 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward sections among the upper castes in education and government jobs and said the poor among the general categories will get their first opportunity for a slice of the pie of reserved government jobs. --IANS bns-ps/vsc/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Acclaimed historian Sugata Bose on Friday said politicians are abusing history and one should guard against the instrumental use of it. "Many politicians are in fact abusing history and I think what we should always guard against is the instrumental usage of history of purposes of the present," said Bose at the fourth edition of the Tata Steel Bhubaneswar Literary Meet (TSBLM) here. "I think the only way we can combat the abuses that are taking place of history is to delve even more deeply into history and actually understand that history can be a matter of interpretation, but it is never a matter of just opinion," he added. Bose, who talked on 'The Mahatma and Netaji', asked the youngsters to read on the life and work of Subhas Bose. The fourth edition of the Tata Steel Bhubaneswar Literary Meet (TSBLM) was inaugurated here on Friday to a packed audience. The three-day festival was inaugurated by celebrated poet laureate Jayanta Mahapatra, along with Anand Sen, President TQM and Steel Business, Tata Steel and Rajya Sabha member Soumya Ranjan Patnaik. Mahapatra, the feted poet and proponent of Odia Literature who is also the first Indian English poet to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award, spoke about how poetry lets him understand reality. He also talked about how literature is becoming more accessible in the digital age. He encouraged budding authors to draw inspiration from the adversities they face and use the technology now available to them to their advantage to express creativity and imagination. Legendary actress Waheeda Rehman mesmerised the audience as she reminisced on her portrayal of iconic literary characters on screen. She shared her experience about the challenging roles that she played and the memorable moments at the shooting sets. The eventful day concluded on a lighter note with a stand-up performance by comedian Abijit Ganguly. IANS cd/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jan 11, 2019 | By Cameron A 3D printed sponge could absorb excess drugs from entering the bloodstream of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, reducing the side effects of treatment while also allowing for higher dosages to combat more resistant tumors. The toll of cancer doesnt stop at the illness; the treatments come with their own woes. Chemotherapy side effects include nausea, fatigue, hair loss, and ulcers, just to name a few. Most of those side effects are caused by excess drugs making their way to parts of the body not affected by tumors. Chemotherapy and other anticancer drugs are poisonous, and the vascular nature of our biology complicates a doctors task of delivering just enough anticancer drug to the targeted area to affect the tumor without going beyond the dosage limit that would be fatal (or debilitating) to the patient. Steven Hetts, an interventional radiologist at UC San Francisco, and Nitash Balsara, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, collaborated to find a way to catch those excess drug molecules after theyve passed through the target area. Balsara is a chemical engineer who specializes in ionic polymers for batteries and fuel cells. "An absorber is a standard chemical engineering concept," Balsara said. "Absorbers are used in petroleum refining to remove unwanted chemicals such as sulfur. Literally, we've taken the concept out of petroleum refining and applied it to chemotherapy." A 3D printed cylinder with an internal grid is coated in a drug-absorbing polymer; the cylinder is inserted in a vein downstream of the target area, and the polymer binds with the drug molecules as blood carrying the drug flows through the cylinder, filtering the blood. Balsara elaborates, "Surgeons snake a wire into the bloodstream and place the sponge like a stent, and just leave it in for the amount of time you give chemotherapy, perhaps a few hours. 3D printing allows for a very customized cylinder that can be sized specifically to a patients vein diameter and shape, so 3D printing firm Carbon Inc. was consulted for the device. "Fitting the cylinder in the vein is important; if the fit is poor, then the blood with the dissolved drug will flow past the cylinder without interacting with the absorbent," said Balsara. The researchers tested their sponge in the vein of a pig where it absorbed 64% of the compound doxorubicin, an antibiotic used as an anticancer drug. That could mean a 64% reduction in side effects or allow for a stronger dose for an especially aggressive tumor. "This is a first level in vivo validation that yes, this device will bind up drug in the bloodstream," Hetts said. "But extensive animal testing is not the next path; the next path is getting conditional approval from FDA to do first-in-human studies, because it is much more realistic to test these in people who have cancer as opposed to continuing to test in young pigs who have otherwise healthy livers." Thankfully, that may not be too far off, as Hetts continued, "Because it is a temporary device, there is a lower bar in terms of approval by the FDA. The project was designed around treating liver cancer, but the 3D printed sponge system could be applied to most tumors that are on organs that present distinct and accessible upstream and downstream channels. "We are developing this around liver cancer because it is a big public health threatthere are tens of thousands of new cases every yearand we already treat liver cancer using intra-arterial chemotherapy," Hetts said. "But if you think about it, you could use this sort of approach for any tumor or any disease that is confined to an organ, and you want to absorb the drug on the venous side before it can distribute and cause side effects elsewhere in the body. Ultimately we would like to use this technology in other organs to treat kidney tumors and brain tumors." Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Adam wrote at 1/14/2019 3:29:48 AM:Those are some of the worst images I have ever seen to be actually published on a website. The second looks like it was created in Microsoft Paint. Add an element of revolution to your bookshelf with a compelling autobiography of a Dalit activist from Maharashtra; an account of the lives of Bastar's Abujhmadias, a primitive hunter-gatherer tribe; a guide to communicate better in business and in life; and finally, a book from an executive behind the enduring brand of Maggi and its two-minute revolution. The IANS Bookshelf offers you varied fare this weekend. 1. Book: Strike a Blow to Change the World; Author: Eknath Awad; Translator: Jerry Pinto; Publisher: Speaking Tiger; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 282 The book is the translated autobiography of Eknath Awad (1956-2015), a Dalit Mang activist from the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, who fought for the rights of underprivileged communities, irrespective of their caste or religion. Awad describes his rage against the humiliation of the Mangs by the upper castes; and his struggle to overcome caste prejudices as well as extreme poverty to get an education. He revisits his heady days of activism: rejecting caste-based labour and religious practices by cutting the Potraj's dreadlocks; joining the Dalit Panthers; being at the forefront of the Land Rights Movement; battling to rename Marathwada University after Dr Ambedkar; and working with an NGO in Thane that helped free Adivasis from bonded labour. He also recounts the casteism he faced from other Mangs, and his pain and disillusionment after some of them attempted to kill him. Originally published in Marathi as "Jag Badal Ghaluni Ghaav", it was translated in English by writer Jerry Pinto. 2. Book: Bastar Dispatches: A Passage Through the Wilds; Author: Narendra; Publisher: HarperCollins; Price: Rs 499; Pages: 262 Abujhmad is situated in the deep interiors of Bastar, and inhabited by the Abujhmadias, a primitive hunter-gatherer tribe whom British anthropologist Verrier Elwin has called the Hill Murias. Their dialect has no more than 300 to 500 words and they count only up to five. "We do not need more than that," as they put it. The lone ("home" in their dialect) is not inside the hut. The hut is only a shelter for the night, against its elements, animals and spirits who roam it. "We live in the outside; that is where our parentage and affections are centred," they say. Brimming with many such singular insights into a fascinating way of life and based on the author Narendra's over 30 years of association with Abujhmad and its contiguous areas in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, "Bastar Dispatches" provides a compelling narrative of a people at peace with themselves and nature, their dialect, their festivities, their delightful interactions. 3. Book: The Million Dollar Handshake; Author: Catherine Molloy; Publisher: Hachette India; Price: Rs 350; Pages: 263 The guide by communication expert Catherine Molloy, offering to help readers create a lasting and great first impression, claims to revolutionise how they connect and communicate in business and life -- starting with the handshake. First impressions count -- even before one speaks a word, the way they walk, make eye contact and connect with others is revealing. The book offers to teach one how to read non-verbal communication and build rapport using positive body language, identify your behavioural style and enact positive change by working with one's strengths, communicate cross-culturally to secure global deals, and establish meaningful connections in business and in life. 4. Book: The Two-Minute Revolution: The Art of Growing Businesses; Author: Sangeeta Talwar; Publisher: Penguin; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 210 The book is written by Sangeeta Talwar, a pioneering woman executive in the FMCG industry, who established one of the most beloved and enduring brands of India -- the two-minute Maggi Noodles. Drawing from decades of first-hand experience in Nestle, Tata Tea and Mattel, Talwar shares creative and strategic lessons which can help you grow and add value to your business. She prescribes a plan of action that includes tactics such as keeping all the balls in the air, executing to perfection, being consumer obsessed and pivoting on profitability. Insightful and packed with fascinating examples -- from creating and launching Maggi Noodles to spearheading the highly effective Jaago Re campaign for Tata Tea -- this book suggests tried and trusted strategies for building extraordinary brands. Note: This column inadvertently carried "Blue Eclipse and Other Stories" last week. The error is regretted. --IANS sj/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday requested the Central government to take an early decision on the establishment of permanent benches of the High Court in western and southern Odisha. In a letter to Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Chief Minister said the people of these areas are persistently agitating for permanent benches of Orissa High Court. "There is overwhelming public demand for establishment of permanent High Court Benches in both western and southern Odisha and the people of these areas are persistently agitating for the same," said Patnaik. He said the agitations have often affected the functioning of courts and other government offices in these regions. "While the state government is aware of various decisions of the Supreme Court as well as the recommendation of the Justice Jaswant Singh Commission for establishment of the bench of a High Court away from its principal seat, it is also a fact that government of India has the authority to decide about creation of separate bench(es) of the High Court other than the principal seat," said the Chief Minister. "In order to facilitate the government of India to take an early decision on this pressing issue, I would like to reaffirm the commitment of the state government that we will provide all requisite resources for establishment of High Court Benches in these areas," he added. --IANS cd/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pedophiles searching for child pornography on Microsoft Bing get keyword suggestions that lead to more criminal content on the web, according to a latest TechCrunch investigation, coming on the heel of an earlier one that found similar issues with Facebook-owned WhatsApp. Bing's 'Similar Images' feature can suggest additional illegal child abuse imagery to those who search for related content, said the study -- carried out by Israeli online safety start-up AntiToxin on behalf of TechCrunch -- on Thursday. The study came after another TechCrunch report last month claimed that Facebook-owned WhatsApp was being used by traders of child pornography to distribute disturbing content without much of a hurdle. The concerns raised in the latest study was shared with Microsoft following which, the software giant said it assigned an engineering team that fixed the issues. "Clearly these results were unacceptable under our standards and policies and we appreciate TechCrunch making us aware. "We acted immediately to remove them, but we also want to prevent any other similar violations in the future. We're focused on learning from this so we can make any other improvements needed," Jordi Ribas, Microsoft's Chief Vice President of Bing and AI Products, was quoted as saying. Microsoft said it was working on blocking any similar queries as well problematic related search suggestions and similar images. However, AntiToxin -- that is closely supervised by legal counsel -- found that while some search terms from its report are now banned or cleaned up, others still surface illegal content. Microsoft also claimed that it was changing its Bing flagging options to make it easier for people to report "child sexual abuse." Similar searches on Google did not produce as clearly illegal imagery or as much concerning content as did Bing, the research showed. The latest study was commissioned after the investigation last month revealed that in the absence of adequate human moderators, child pornographic material was slipping by the automated systems of WhatsApp that offers end-to-end encryption for its users. AntiToxin also found that several people from India were part of groups that circulate child porn-related content. WhatsApp last week said it blocked and removed over 1,30,000 such accounts to clamp down on child pornography on its platform. "WhatsApp has a zero-tolerance policy around child sexual abuse. We deploy our most advanced technology, including artificial intelligence to scan profile photos and actively ban accounts suspected of sharing this vile content. "We also respond to law enforcement requests in India and around the world. Sadly, because both app stores and communications services are being misused to spread abusive content, technology companies must work together to stop it," a WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement. --IANS gb-na/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav will hold a joint press conference here on Saturday when the alliance between them for the coming Lok Sabha polls is likely to be announced. An invitation, jointly signed by SP General Secretary Rajendra Chowdhary and BSP General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, has been circulated to the media for the press conference at a five-star hotel here. Informed sources said that the two former Chief Ministers might formally announce the formation of the alliance for the Lok Sabha polls and also share the seat-sharing formula. A tactical alliance between SP and BSP - once sworn enemies - helped them defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha by-elections in Gorakhpur and Phulpur last year. The two parties also backed the candidate of RLD-led by Ajit Singh to win the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency. Four-time Chief Minister Mayawati flew into Lucknow late on Thursday and is likely to deliberate with her party leaders on Friday before sealing the deal with SP. A senior party leader said that while the SP and BSP will share 37 seats each, they will leave two for Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). The alliance might also leave two seats, Amethi and Rae Bareli, for the Congress to enable Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to contest from there. These were the only two seats the Congress won in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in which the BSP drew a blank and SP managed to win five seats, again won by members of the Samajwadi Party's 'first family'. The BJP swept 71 seats while its ally Apna Dal got two seats in a four-way contest. If the BSP, SP and RLD join hands, it may emerge as a formidable alliance against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. --IANS team-vsc/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man, who had gone to offer prayer at his daughter's grave, was on Friday gunned down by some unknown criminals in a graveyard here, a police officer said. The incident occurred at around 3.30 p.m when the deceased, identified as Mehfooz, had gone to the graveyard in east Delhi's Welcome area, the police said. "When Mehfooz was offering prayer at the grave of his daughter, a group of three to four unknown criminals started beating him. Later they fired at least half a dozen rounds on Mehfooz and fled the spot," Deputy Commissioner of Police A.K. Thakur told IANS. A resident of Welcome, Mehfooz was later taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead, Thakur said. "Mehfooz also had a criminal background, as he was earlier involved in murder and attempt to murder cases. Prima facie it appears to be a case of personal animosity. We have registered a case of murder against unknown persons," DCP Thakur added. --IANS sp/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Director Kajri Babbar's short film "Khoj" which tells the journey of a teenage Punjabi bride -- from being abandoned and betrayed to the pursuit of redemption -- will release on Lohri on January 13. "Such hard-hitting practices still do exist in the interiors of north India. After researching extensively on it, I was shocked on learning that the issue of wife-abandonment is deep-rooted and widespread. In fact, they have incredibly increased after Brexit and the decline in the British economy," Kajri, niece of actor-politician Raj Babbar, said in a statement. "Most of these girls are teenagers and their entire life is gambled with. 'Khoj' is my initiative to throw light on such unacceptable and unspoken issues," she added. The film in Punjabi and English was shot in Punjab and the UK. Zara Khan, who essays the role of Gurpreet, said "Khoj" is a film that has a strong message which she believed in not just as an actor, but as a human being. "It is my deepest request that when parents and people of all ages see 'Khoj', they understand how serious the situation is. I feel honoured to play the role of Gurri because deep down she was strong, and most importantly working with Kajri was amazing. As young women, we took up the cause and for someone like Kajri to understand the subject and use it in a cinematic way to spread awareness is commendable," she added. She feels that "we have the power of cinema and as new age women, we want to use it for showing whatever we can in the most honest way possible. I hope I can use my craft to give a voice to such unfortunate happenings and do my small bit to bring about change." "Premiering the film on ZEE5 will ensure it reaches audiences far and wide and we couldn't have hoped for a better platform than the digital medium for 'Khoj'," she added. Aparna Acharekar, Programming Head, ZEE5 India, said: "At ZEE5, we consistently aim to provide a range of content for the audience, something that creates an impact and stays with them. "'Khoj' is in line with this and as a young director, Kajri Babbar has been able to skilfully address an important existing issue." "Khoj" had premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2018 and was also a semi-finalist at Student Academy Awards 2018 established by The Academy to encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level. --IANS nn/rb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi met with visiting Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zanganeh over further cooperation in the sectors of oil and energy. According to a statement by Iraqi Prime Minister's office, Mahdi on Thursday hailed the relations between the two neighbouring countries to serve the interests of both peoples, Xinhua reported. Zanganeh also voiced the need to further develop the bilateral relations, saying he hoped more cooperation could be achieved. Zanganeh and his delegation arrived in Iraq's capital Baghdad on Thursday morning, a day after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Iraq. Washington withdrew from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal last May and imposed a new round of sanctions against Iran on Aug 7, 2018. On Nov 5, the United States announced the second package of anti-Iran sanctions covering the sectors of oil, energy and banking. --IANS vin (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre on Friday filed a case of criminal defamation against senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar, currently serving as principal secretary (Home) in the state government. Senior IPS officer Amitabh Thakur has alleged that Kumar had made remarks on him which were "without any basis" and has sought action against Kumar. In his comment as Amitabh's reviewing officer as IG (Rules and Manual) during April 1, 2017 to October 26, 2017, Kumar had written in the IPS officer's performance appraisal report that the "general impression about him is that he is extremely litigious and on many occasions has created embarrassing situations for the government." Calling these words defamatory and alleging that Kumar wrote them without any basis, Thakur has sought criminal action. Registering the case, acting Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Ritish Sachdeva fixed January 21 for recording Amitabh's statement. --IANS md/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and the US on Friday discussed cooperation in defence, foreign policy and the Indo-Pacific region during the course of a 2+2 inter-sessional meeting here on Friday. According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry here, the inter-sessional meeting was set up following the first ever India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held last year to make continued progress on bilateral cooperation on cross-cutting defence and foreign policy issues of interest to both sides. "The two sides also exchanged views on regional developments as partners and stakeholders for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific," the statement said. India, the US, Japan and Australia are part of a quad revived in 2017 that seeks to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, a region that spreads from the east coast of Japan to the east coast of Africa. The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held here in September last year was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. In Friday's meeting, the India side was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs and S Kumaran, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence while the US delegation was led by Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defence. --IANS ab/vin (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has dismissed allegations by Pakistan about playing a role in the terrorist attack on the Chinese mission in Karachi last year saying Islamabad should instead take credible action against support to terrorism. "We have seen statements in Pakistani media attributed to the police chief of Karachi making false allegations against India for the terrorist attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi in November 2018," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Friday in response to queries from the media. "We completely reject these fabricated and scurrilous attempts to levy accusations on India," Kumar said. "Instead of maliciously pointing fingers at others for such terrorist incidents, Pakistan needs to look inwards and undertake credible action against support to terrorism and terror infrastructure in its territories." Earlier in the day, Karachi police chief Amir Sheikh claimed that the attack on the Chinese Consulate was planned in the neighbouring Afghanistan. India's top intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), funded the attack, Sheikh said, according to Pakistani media. At least seven people, including three attackers and two policemen, were killed in the attack. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army. --IANS ab/vin (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Had to walk across town to get more test strips for my sugar tester. Diabetes is no fun, but you dont need fun all the time to have a good life. Right? About -12 below zero and lots of people were out walking everywhere. It was a good walk, we even took a short bus ride to make life more interesting. We ended up at Globus and ate dinner there. Good stuff (We walked about 8 kilometers total.) The tester I use has very limited places to get test strips in Moscow. In the tiny Russian Village no issue to get these strips, but as with some particular items, Moscow has regulations imposed upon certain things. Mainly political/money issues that do not rear their head in the rest of Russia I have said many times, Moscow is not Russia! You have Russia then you have Moscow and the two do not mix all the time.it is interesting to watch and see and deal with.perfect example is these test strips; They are normal stock in the villages, but in Moscow there is literally only one place to get them and no one else will carry them and or care to carry them. We are lucky that the one spot is close by This same type of issue applies to milk, soda, coffee and to make it clear, just about any food items, drugs, tools and well anything I got use to certain items and found no issues in the villages with getting certain drugs and stuff. Once I came to Moscow again. I found that I had to change things, because items are not sold in Moscow that are sold in the villages. This expands to the Moscow area also We have some favorite soft drinks/lemonade available in the Russian small villages and it is unavailable in Moscow We have fantastic sterilized milk that comes from Ryazan, Russia and you could not find it for your life in Moscow, Russia but, I can find it all over the rest of Russia otherwise. Moscow milk is not up to the quality that villagers take for granted and Svetochka and I will buy cases of milk to have in Moscow. The milk from Ryazan is that good Why is this? Dunno, dont care, Moscows loss, is how I look at it We got our strips and ordered 10 more boxes w/100 strips each and they will call when they get in. Time to stock up.by the way, the strips I use are extremely good quality at a extremely good cheap price. The meter was reading almost perfect to what the doctors came up with as they tested my blood sugar levels themselves recently. I cannot say that about all other meters I have used in the past I miss the Tiny Russian Village. Image above reminds me, I have to rebuild the stove this next summer WtR In a first, farm widow Vaishali S. Yede on Friday evening inaugurated the controversy-ridden 92nd Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (ABMSS), amid a protest by a section of invitees. "This is the first time that a non-literary personality who represents the peasantry of this region has been invited to inaugurate the 92nd ABMSS," Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh President Manohar Mhaisalkar told IANS shortly before the inaugural. All eyes were on the ABMSS event since last Sunday when the parent body, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal (ABMSM) abruptly withdrew its invitation to renowned English writer Nayantara Sahgal to inaugurate the 92nd conference. The raging controversy resulted in top Marathi literary figures declining invites to replace Sahgal for the inaugural, other invitees boycotting the ABMSS, culminating in the resignation of ABMSM President Shripad Joshi three days ago. Though the inaugural function, which was skipped by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, passed off without hassles, a group of invitees entered the heavily guarded venue sporting masks of Sahgal and sat in the audience. The security personnel requested them to remove the masks after registering their protest, but when they didn't, they were escored out of the venue before the speeches of the dignitaries started, including the 92nd ABMSS presidential speech by Aruna R. Dhere. Cancelling his earlier plans, Fadnavis stayed away from the inaugural as he was busy with the BJP National Executive in New Delhi, but there are indications he may address the 3-day literary meet later this week. Yede, 28, who was married at the age of 19 into a poor farmer's family of Rajur village which tried to eke out an existence from a small three-acre plot. In 2011, her debt-burdened husband Sudhakar suddenly committed suicide leaving her with two minor sons, and she currently serves in an aanganwadi to support her family. Yede's life story, similar to many other farm-widows of Vidarbha, was featured in a play, 'Tervah' in which she played the lead role, and all other actors were also farm widows. In her inaugural speech, Yede urged the farmers and tribals not to resort to suicides, but to tackle life's challenges headlong, as she had been struggling since her husband ended his life eight years ago, when she had a five-year-old son and pregnant with her second son. Meanwhile, Mhaisalkar said that the ABMSM Vice-President Vidya Deodhar from Telangana will be the new acting President in place of Joshi, till the new chief is elected after three months. --IANS qn/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gauhati High Court on Friday granted interim bail to renowned intellectual Hiren Gohain, activist Akhil Gogoi and journalist Manjit Mahanta, against whom a case of sedition was registered by police. The court has asked the police to submit the case diary on the next hearing on January 22. The police registered a case of sedition against the three and some others who delivered speeches at a meeting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 on January 7. The sedition charge against Gohain and others have triggered anger in Assam. Several groups took to the streets on Friday to protest against the police move. --IANS ah/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Holding him guilty of conspiracy to murder, a special CBI court in Haryana's Panchkula town on Friday convicted Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. Three others, who were close aides of the sect chief, were also convicted by the court. Krishan Lal, a former manager of the sect, Kuldeep and Nirmal, who were both carpenters and followers of the sect, all of who were present in the court, were immediately taken into custody by the police and shifted to the Ambala jail. The judgment was pronounced by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court judge Jagdeep Singh in Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on January 17. Chhatrapati, who edited a newspaper in Sirsa, was shot at five times on October 24, 2002 in Sirsa town in Haryana. He died on November 21 in a hospital in New Delhi after battling for life. Ram Rahim appeared before the court through video conferencing from the Sunaria prison near Rohtak in view of security concerns raised by the Haryana Police and the government. The same CBI judge had convicted the sect chief on two counts of rape on August 25, 2017 and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. Chhatrapati's son Anshul demanded capital punishment for the disgraced self-styled godman. After a special CBI court here convicted Ram Rahim and three others, Anshul told the media: "Such a man is not fit to live in our society. We demand that he should be given capital punishment. "We were hoping for the past 16-17 years that we would get justice. We have got justice today after suffering for so long. "We had to face a lot of difficulties and suffer a lot as he (Ram Rahim) was very powerful. We thank the CBI team that investigated the case and supported us. This man should get the death sentence," said Anshul. Unlike the riots that rocked Panchkula and Sirsa towns in Haryana following his conviction for rape on August 25, 2017, tight security arrangements were made in and around the court complex in Panchkula ahead of the court hearing on Friday. Security forces in Haryana and Punjab will remain on alert in the coming days. Security was beefed up in Rohtak and Sirsa towns in Haryana and some parts of Punjab. Security was increased around the sect's headquarters campus on the outskirts of Sirsa town, around 260 km from here. Sect followers were not allowed to gather in big numbers. Khatta Singh, a former driver of the controversial sect chief, had earlier told the court that Ram Rahim had ordered the killing of the journalist. On Friday, Khatta Singh said that he was satisfied that justice had been done. Ram Rahim, who was patronized by political leaders and parties of Punjab and Haryana for nearly two decades due to his ability to shift votes of his followers, is now lodged in jail following his conviction on two counts of rape of his female disciples. Ram Rahim's conviction had led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana, leaving 41 people dead and over 260 injured. The sect chief is also linked to the murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh (in July 2002). The matter is being heard by the CBI court. Ranjit Singh, who was believed to be privy to wrongdoing in the sect headquarters, was shot dead in July 2003. The sect chief suspected that Ranjit Singh was responsible for complaints of sexual exploitation of female disciples inside the sect campus coming out in the public. --IANS js/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Green Book" screenwriter Nick Vallelonga has apologized for posting a tweet suggesting that American Muslims could be seen cheering 9/11. "I want to apologize," Vallelonga said in a statement issued on Thursday night, reported variety.com. "I spent my life trying to bring this story of overcoming differences and finding common ground to the screen and I am incredibly sorry to everyone associated with 'Green Book.' I especially deeply apologize to the incredibly brilliant and kind Mahershala Ali and all members of the Muslim faith for the hurt I have caused. "I am also sorry to my late father who changed so much from Dr. Shirley's friendship and I promise this lesson is not lost on me. 'Green Book' is a story about love, acceptance and overcoming barriers, and I will do better," he added. The tweet was from November 2015 when at a rally Trump had said: "Hey, I watched when the World Trade Centre came tumbling down. And I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down. Thousands of people were cheering." ABC's George Stephanopoulos challenged Trump on the claim, but the then presidential candidate insisted that he saw Muslims celebrating with his own eyes. On that, Vallelonga had commented: "Donald Trump 100 per cent correct. Muslims in Jersey City cheering when towers went down. I saw it, as you did, possibly on local CBS News." Vallelonga had deleted his Twitter account on Wednesday after the tweet recirculated, reported variety.com. The film's co-financer and producer Participant Media also released a statement, saying: "We find Vallelong''s Twitter post offensive, dangerous and antithetical to Participant Medi's values. We reject it in no uncertain terms." Vallelong's script is based on the experiences of his father, Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), driving concert pianist Dr. Don Shirley (Ali) through the Deep South for a tour in the early 1960s. Shirle''s family spoke out against the film, disputing its depiction of the events of the tour and stating they had not been contacted during production or conception. Director Peter Farrelly, Mortensen, and Vallelonga have defended the film, which won Golden Globes on January 6 for best comedy or musical, best screenplay and supporting actor for Ali. The screenplay was written by Vallelonga, Brian Currie and director Peter Farrelly. --IANS rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to hide sexual harassment allegations against former Google executives, Alphabet's board of directors has approved hefty severance packages for the accused, according a lawsuit filed by a shareholder of the company. Alphabet Inc is Google's parent company. The lawsuit filed on Thursday in California state court accuses the board and executives of breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, abuse of power and corporate waste, CNET reported. The lawsuit makes reference to oversize severance packages that Google reportedly paid to Android creator Andy Rubin, and Amit Singhal, head of Google's search unit until 2016. The New York Times in November 2018 reported that Rubin received $90 million in severance when Google fired him in 2014 over accusations of sexual misconduct that the company deemed credible. Allegations of sexual harassment against the two men were found to be credible by company investigations, according to the lawsuit filed by shareholder James Martin. "Rubin was allowed to quietly resign by defendants Larry Page and Sergey Brin after an internal investigation found the allegations of sexual harassment by Rubin to be credible," according to the complaint. "While at Google, Rubin is also alleged to have engaged in human sex trafficking -- paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to women to be, in Rubin's own words, 'owned' by him." Singhal stepped down as ride-hailing giant Uber's Senior Vice President of Engineering in 2017 after it discovered he had allegedly been accused of sexual harassment while he was employed at Google, said the CNET report, adding that both Rubin and Singhal have denied the allegations. Following the New York Times report in November, Google employees around the world staged a protest against the tech giant's handling of sexual harassment cases. After the reaction to the story in The Times, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sought to reassure employees about the company's stand against sexual harassment. "Over the past two years, we have terminated 48 people, including 13 senior managers and above for sexual harassment," Pichai said. "None of these people received an exit package. And to clarify: in that time, we have also not provided any exit packages to executives who departed voluntarily in the course of a sexual harassment investigation," he added. --IANS gb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Finance Ministry on Friday cleared the proposal for construction of the greenfield airport at Hollongi in Arunachal Pradesh, an official said. The Ministry of Environment and Forest and the Steering Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation had also cleared the proposal for the greenfield airport on December 28. Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the greenfield airport, estimated at a cost of Rs 1,055 crore, will be a state-of-the-art infrastructure which will propel economic development besides improving connectivity for the local population. He said tourism will also see a huge boost with this project. After a detailed discussion, the Public Investment Board of the Finance Ministry approved the land acquisition rate as proposed by the committee and endorsed by the state government. However, the board noted that it would be the responsibility of the state to hand over the land free of all encumbrances to the Airport Authority of India and set a target to have the airport ready within four years. "It is matter of great joy for Team Arunachal that today, a decades-old dream of having our own airport has been realised. I thank Prime Minister Modi and the Central government for their unstinted support in having this project see the light of day," said the Chief Minister. --IANS rkk/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi School of Journalism (DSJ) may start short-term courses for working journalists from the upcoming academic session, as was originally provisioned in the ordinance under which the school was established, an official from the university has said. The newly-established school which is running its second batch for a five-year integrated course in Masters in Journalism, also had among its objectives starting short-term courses for working journalists and students. "Since we are a new college and have just started our second batch, things are bound to take some time. But we are planning to start the short-term courses by 2020 latest, and if we can, we will start the courses from 2019," Manasvini Yogi, Officer-on-Special-Duty for DSJ, told IANS. Among the courses, she said, the school is mulling a course for digital journalism and may conduct classes on weekends for the working professionals. "We will have to see about all that. Too early to talk about the kind of courses we will start. But a course in digital journalism will be there and since these would be for working journalists, the classes may be held on weekends," Yogi said. The school was started in 2017 with a batch of 120 students. At present, there are 218 students across the two batches. --IANS vn/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Youth Wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday wrote to cinema halls urging them not to show "The Accidental Prime Minister" as the film will defame both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the country across the globe. In a letter to cinema halls, Ramandeep Singh, President of Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi, Youth Wing, said that such films are a "serious attack on the minorities by the anti-minority forces such as RSS." "The film deliberately demeaned the image of Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, who is a world-renowned economist. The film will not only defame Singh but the country as well across the globe. The film shows the most critical and important decisions taken by Singh, in the capacity as the Prime Minister on the issues like nuclear deal and Kashmir, were unconstitutional. This will send a very bad picture in the international realm." He also said that Manmohan Singh is shown as a week Prime Minister in the film. "However, everyone knew that all the parties including the BJP and Akali Dal had supported him on the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill. Such a strong PM is intentionally shown a week Prime Minister in this film." The film, released on Friday, was based on a book with the same title written by Sanjaya Baru, former Prime Minister Singh's media advisor. Baru's book was published in April 2014. --IANS nks/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Launching an attack on the Congress at BJPs National Convention, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Congress was "pretending" to be farmers friend though it never cared for them when in power, and added that the opposition was already staring at defeat in next Lok Sabha polls. He underlined that India's growth story could not be written by bypassing the country's villages. "The Congress party is cutting a 'swang' (pretence) of being the champion of the farmers, but it did not look at the Swaminathan Commission report for 10 years of UPA. It was Narendra Modi government that implemented the Commission's recommendation of giving the minimum support price (MSP) to the farmers," he said. "The opposition knows that if the farmers of this country stand up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then nobody can save their boat. Today the public is with Modi. In any case they (opposition) have almost conceded that their boat is going to sink in the coming elections," he added. He said a perturbed opposition had launched a campaign of false allegations to blemish the image of Prime Minister Modi. "But our Prime Minister's life is like an open book. Anybody can read it," he said. He said that after Lal Bahadur Shastri and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi was the only Prime Minister who had taken the agriculture and farmers' issues with seriousness and sensitivity. He said the Modi government had allocated Rs 2.11 lakh crore to agriculture during its tenure which was "unprecedented". He also spoke of various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, neem-coated urea, MSP and farm loans. He claimed in Karnataka, where the Congress-Janata Dal Secular (JD-S) alliance is running the government, farmers were being "arrested" for not repaying their loans. --IANS mak/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British national Christian Michel, the accused middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal and who is now in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate, has been granted consular access, a senior official said on Friday "I can confirm that he has been granted consular access," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to a question at a media briefing here. "A second secretary-level officer from the British High Commission has met Christian Michel based on the request which we received last month from the UK high commission," Kumar said. Michel was extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India in December 2018. --IANS ab/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In this Monday, July 17, 2017 photo, Meg Stern, left, and other escort volunteers lined up outside the EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville, Ky. A federal judge issued an order Friday, July 21, 2017, to keep protesters away from a "buffer zone" outside Kentucky's only abortion clinic, which is targeted by a national anti-abortion group. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan) PHOTO:AP Photo/Dylan Lovan Fetal Heartbeat: New Abortion-related Fight in KY By The Associated Press FRANKFORT - Already mired in three lawsuits over abortion restrictions, Kentucky lawmakers are ratcheting up the stakes with a new bill to ban most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. As a new legislative session opens, the measure appeared to be on a fast track in the Republican-dominated state Senate. The American Civil Liberties Union, the state's adversary in the ongoing courthouse fights, warns the heartbeat bill would prohibit most abortions in Kentucky and would immediately trigger a legal challenge. "It's blatantly unconstitutional," ACLU attorney Brigitte Amiri said Wednesday, a day after the measure was introduced by lawmakers. "This is certainly the most blatant attempt to take aim at Roe vs. Wade. It's extreme. It's yet again anti-abortion politicians trying to push abortion out of reach for women in this state." Kentucky's bill is at odds with the legal standard set by the Supreme Court in its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which prohibits states from banning abortions before viability. But the Kentucky proposal is among a series of measures introduced by abortion opponents who hope the Supreme Court will be more receptive to limiting abortion rights now that Justice Anthony Kennedy, a key vote to preserve abortion rights, has retired. Kennedy was replaced by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Though Kavanaugh's record on abortion is limited, he did vote as a federal appeals court judge in 2017 in favor of delaying an abortion for a pregnant immigrant teenager in federal custody. In Iowa, a heartbeat law was temporarily blocked while a judge weighs whether it is unconstitutional. North Dakota's fetal heartbeat law was struck down as unconstitutional and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the lower court rulings. The effort to prohibit abortions in Kentucky once a fetal heartbeat is detected which is around six weeks of pregnancy would further cement Kentucky's reputation as "one of the most hostile states" to abortion rights in the country, Amiri said by phone. The ACLU attorney added that the "vast majority" of abortions occur after six weeks of pregnancy and called a six-week ban unconstitutional under more than 40 years of precedent. "Most women don't even know they're pregnant at six weeks," she said. "So this is a virtual ban on abortion." The heartbeat bill was introduced Tuesday, opening day of Kentucky's new session, and one of the many sponsors expected it to be heard in committee on Thursday. Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer said he hopes the bill would get a Senate vote this week. It would still have to pass the GOP-led House before it would go to the state's anti-abortion governor, Republican Matt Bevin. After Friday, lawmakers head home for a break before reconvening in early February for the rest of the year's session. If it reaches the governor's desk, the heartbeat bill would give Bevin an opportunity to attach his name to a measure imposing stricter limits on abortions a popular stance with his socially conservative base. Bevin, who has said he'll seek re-election this year, saw his approval ratings drop after he criticized public workers who opposed his efforts to change the state's struggling public pension plans. Kentucky and two other states Louisiana and Mississippi will elect governors in 2019. Embry said the state's legal setbacks in the other abortion cases would not deter Kentucky lawmakers from pushing ahead with an even more restrictive measure. "We're still going right ahead with what we think is the right thing to do," he said. Thayer said the threat of another ACLU lawsuit also wouldn't hold up the bill in the Senate: "It's our job to make laws, to make policy, and that's what we're going to do." Republican lawmakers in Kentucky have aggressively pushed bills to restrict the procedure since consolidating their hold on the legislature starting in 2017, even though two abortion-related laws have been struck down in the courts. Bevin's administration has appealed in both cases. One of those laws, enacted in early 2017, had required doctors to perform ultrasounds and show and describe the ultrasound images to pregnant women, who could avert their eyes. Another legal challenge arose over Bevin's interpretation of another law passed about two decades ago that required a Kentucky abortion clinic to have written agreements with a hospital and ambulance service in case of medical emergencies. Bevin's administration actions had threatened the state's last abortion clinic, EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville. In a third case, lawyers for Bevin's administration and the ACLU argued over a lawsuit challenging a state law aimed at a common second-trimester procedure to end pregnancies. The law remains suspended pending a ruling by a federal judge. Canada's Parliament has announced plans to add more than one million new permanent residents in the next three years, which is nearly 1 per cent of the country's population each year. welcomed more than 286,000 permanent residents in 2017 and projects that number could reach 350,000 this year, CNN reported. "Thanks in great part to the newcomers we have welcomed throughout our history, has developed into the strong and vibrant country we all enjoy," Ahmed Hussen, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), said on Thursday. Hussen, himself an immigrant from Somalia, said the influx will help offset Canada's aging population and declining birth rate while growing its labour force. Canada's friendly stance towards new residents comes as many other Western nations, including the US, are adopting more restrictive policies. is especially dedicated to offering protection to refugees. The UN Refugee Agency reported unprecedented levels of refugees in 2017, with the number of forcibly displaced people reaching 68.5 million. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has pledged $5.6 million to support global resettlement initiatives. As protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 has become the order of the day in Assam, a group of agitators vandalised a BJP office near here, police said on Friday. The agitators belonging to Oikya Sena Asom on Thursday night vandalised the office in Palashbari area. The police said the protesters set fire to the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and also blocked the national highway shouting slogans against the BJP-led NDA government. Later, the police took the agitators into custody. Assam has witness protests since the Union Cabinet on Monday approved the Bill that aims to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for citizenship of India, after a Joint Parliamentary Committee submitted its recommendations to the Lok Sabha. While the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has snapped its ties with the BJP over the Bill and it's three ministers resigned, four members of the Central government nominated high powered committee to implement Clause 6 of Assam Accord have also declined to be participate. On Tuesday, the northeastern states observed a total shutdown in protest. --IANS ah/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 continued in Assam, a group of agitators vandalised a BJP office near here, police said on Friday. The agitators belonging to Oikya Sena Asom on Thursday night vandalised the office in Palashbari area. The police said the protesters set fire to the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and also blocked the national highway shouting slogans against the BJP-led NDA government. Later, the police took the agitators into custody. Assam has witness protests since the Union Cabinet on Monday approved the Bill that aims to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for citizenship of India, after a Joint Parliamentary Committee submitted its recommendations to the Lok Sabha. While the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has snapped its ties with the BJP over the Bill and it's three ministers resigned, four members of the Central government nominated high powered committee to implement Clause 6 of Assam Accord have also declined to be participate. On Tuesday, the northeastern states observed a total shutdown in protest. --IANS ah/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The strokes of his cinematic paintbrush filled up the black and white canvas of "Roma" with the colours of universal emotions in an evocative narrative set in 1970s Mexico, and is winning hearts all over. Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, whose latest film has been sweeping awards one after another, says accolades for a movie such as "Roma" mean a lot for the increasing dialogue on diversity. After a slew of honours and critical acclaim at international film festivals, "Roma" registered a twin win at the Golden Globe Awards over the weekend, and has scooped up seven nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards 2019. It's an Oscar frontrunner in the Best Foreign Language Film category, and the international media is abuzz that it may well change the Academy Awards' 90-year history by becoming the first non-English Best Picture winner. But the wait for Oscar nominations continues. Awards, to Cuaron -- who broke ground as the first Mexican filmmaker to win the Best Director Oscar for "Gravity" (2004) -- as such "mean nothing in the context of history". "Some movies, they are not recognised and later they become masterpieces. Or some films win many awards and are forgotten three years later. "But when a film like 'Roma' is recognised for awards, I feel the importance of that is to open the dialogue for diversity... Diversity in which people are open to embrace a human experience even if it is shown in the form of other people that aren't like you," Cuaron told IANS in an exclusive interview over phone from Singapore. In "Roma", titled after a Mexican neighbourhood, Cuaron dives into his childhood to dig deep into memories of being brought up by powerful women -- a strong mother and a selfless nanny -- in an upper class home, amid politics, social unrest and personal crisis. Yalitza Aparicio's character -- a fluid performance -- as a live-in housekeeper in the film has been modelled on Cuaron's real-life nanny Libo Rodriguez. It's a very personal tale for Cuaron, but one he knew would strike a chord universally -- something that streaming platform Netflix has amplified since releasing it in mid-December last year. "I realised that Mexican reality hasn't changed, but then I realised it's more than just the reality of Mexico. It's more the reality of humanity. There's a strong relationship between social class and race in which the hierarchy comes between love. The hierarchy becomes like walls between bonds of affection... thick walls between the act of love," said the filmmaker. He said whether it is the US, Mexico, India or Europe, "they have this uncompromising relationship between social class and race". Yet, at one point, he said, he felt the story of "Roma" was "so specific that it was not going to transcend". "But after the release of this film at the Venice Film Festival, I was very happy and surprised to see how emotionally the audience reacted to the film. When the film went around the world and people saw it everywhere, then it was like one of those things that you write about your little village and you'll be writing about the world," said the widely lauded director of films like "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Children of Men". As a storyteller, Cuaron has straddled different genres and even time zones. While for "Roma", he went back in history, for "Gravity" he explored outer space, and for "Children of Men", he went into fast forward mode to 2027. Following a set path is not his cup of tea. "Well, I don't do things based upon a career. I do things based upon what I need to do, what I feel like I have to do. And in this case ('Roma'), it was necessary for me to come to terms with who I am from the standpoint of who I was and where I come from. I needed to reconnect with my roots. "Yes, when I was in the process of making this film, people in Hollywood told me it was a very bad career move because I should have gone for a bigger film. But again, I never do things for my career. I do what I do because I love what I do." (Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in ) --IANS rb/sug/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said the ball was totally in the Centre's court regarding the execution of the project for the Kartarpur corridor in Dera Baba Nanak area in Gurdaspur district. Accusing the leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal of "playing games" on the Kartarpur corridor issue, the Chief Minister said that it was the central government which had to take steps and release funds for the execution of the project in Punjab. Countering the claims of Union Minister and senior Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal that the Punjab government was not taking appropriate steps for the project, Amarinder Singh said that the Minister was spreading falsehood. "The state government has already sent a reminder to the Ministry of Home Affairs 11 days ago. Harsimrat had once again put her foot in her mouth without doing her homework on the issue of extreme religious importance to the Sikh community, which she was trying to mislead with her false statements," he said in a statement here on Friday. The Akali Dal is part of the NDA government at the Centre. Harsimrat Kaur, wife of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, is a Union Minister since 2014. "The fact of the matter was that a meeting was held on December 12 under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Home Affairs, and Justice, Punjab, said the Chief Minister. At the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, Border Security Force (BSF), National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Bureau of Immigration and other stakeholders presented their views, based on which four different alignment options were proposed for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, he said. The Chief Minister said the project execution was a bilateral issue between the central and state governments and a response from the Home Ministry was awaited. He made it clear that any move to acquire land for the project can be initiated only after due approval from the Union government, "coupled with the flow of funds to acquire the required stretch of land". "My government, and I personally, are very keen to ensure the completion of the project in time for the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Devji in November this year. The Akali leaders, including Harsimrat, are playing over such a sensitive issue," he said. The Chief Minister said that his government would continue to pursue and pressurize the central government to take the vital project to its logical conclusion by initiating development work at the earliest. "The state government would go all out to support the Centre to ensure the timely completion of the Kartarpur corridor project, which successive Congress governments at the centre and in the state had fought hard, through the years, to realize," he added. The Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara is located around 4 km from Dera Baba Nanak town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. Most of the work of the project has to be carried out inside Pakistan. Sikhism founder, Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539), spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur. A gurdwara is built at his final resting place. --IANS js/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Posters, banners and hoardings dotted the stretch to the Ramlila Maidan, the venue of the BJP's National Convention in the heart of the capital, with "Abki Bar Phir Modi Sarkar" (Modi government again this time) as the party sought to prepare the workers for the battle of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Delegates to the two-day meet which began on Friday also saw hoardings related to the government's pro-poor schemes and the just-passed quota bill that provides reservation to economically backward upper castes and the enhancing of the minimum support price to farmers. Chants of "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" across the Ramlila Maidan electrified as many as 12,000 party workers participating in the mega event. The hour-long presidential speech of BJP President Amit Shah got the maximum response from the party cadres when he spoke about the Ram temple issue. "The BJP wants a grand Ram temple to be built at the earliest. We are committed to it," Shah said, as the audience erupted into dramatic cheers. The issue charged the workers and compelled Shah to interrupt his speech and chant "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" along with the crowd. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was seen smiling as the audience continued to express its enthusiasm. Soon after Shah's presidential speech, breaking security protocol Prime Minister Narendra Modi met some of the BJP office bearers and also shook hands with the party workers. The event which started with the customary flag hoisting and lighting of lamp also saw a Muslim Shabana Rehman singing the Vande Mataran. She also chanted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". While welcoming Modi, Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwary offered a shawl and a lotus flower, the party symbol. Modi was seen admiring it. Many of the party leaders including union ministers later posted their photographs on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag Abki Bar Phir Modi Sarkar. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP's main slogan was "Abki Bar, Modi Sarkar". --IANS aks-bns/vsc/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least three persons, including a police officer, were injured here on Friday in street clashes between students and police over the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The students, members of six student bodies, took out a march condemning the passage of the Bill in the Lok sabha. The bill, which seeks to grand Indian citizenship to six minority groups from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, has met with stiff resistance across the northeast. Police said that most students who took part in the demonstration broke through the police pickets and converged at the women's markets from different sides, all the while shouting slogans against the BJP government in Manipur and the Modi government. Hundreds of women vendors took to the streets in response to the students' call for protest. Police said the demonstrators became unruly and several "mock bombs" were detonated. Some allegedly hurled bottles at the police. O. Joyraj, a police officer in Imphal West district, was injured when a flying bottle hit him. Two students were injured in the police retaliation. Manjit Sarangthem, President of the All Manipur Students Union, said: "There will be more agitations in the coming days if the Bill is not withdrawn. People have very little faith in political parties in the state." Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and some Ministers and BJP MLAs left for Delhi on Thursday to apprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the escalating protests. --IANS il/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a barbaric form of punishment, at least a dozen young boys were caught and allegedly paraded semi-nude inside the premises of a prestigious central government company on January 3, a top police official said here on Friday. The incident came to light on Friday, after a video-clip of the incident went viral, shocking the people and prompting the police to launch a preliminary inquiry into the incident. On January 3, the boys were caught for alleged theft by the security personnel of the Manganese Ore India Ltd (MOIL), a centrally-owned mining company categorised as a "Mini Ratna", with mines spread across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh in central India. The boys were then ordered to strip to their undergarment by the security men who surrounded them and paraded around the company's main gate in chilling single-digit winter temperature. The security personnel in warm protective gears were seen ordering the traumatised boys to do sit-ups, rolling on the cold ground, jumping up with their hands crossed behind, running around in circles and other forms of punishment while some unidentified people were busy filming the episode on their mobile phones. "We have made preliminary inquiries of the incident, the police are questioning the boys to confirm everything and will decide the later course of action in the matter," Bhandara Superintendent of Police Vinita Sahu told IANS. A team from the Gobarwahi Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the MOIL plant is located, was despatched to the factory site to investigate following irate reactions from the local people. Sahu added that depending on the final report, the police would support the boys to lodge a police complaint to enable action against those guilty. However, it was not immediately clear what they were being accused of stealing, when and whether inside the MOIL plant or elsewhere and why the matter was not reported to the police immediately. --IANS qn/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IL&FS Engineering & Construction Co has received a letter dated 08 January 2019 from Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation informing the Company of the decision of the competent authority to terminate the contract for construction of Viaduct Corridor from Interface Point with Gyaspur Depot, i.e. Abutment of Depot to APMC Metro Rail Station to Shreyas Metro-Rail station all-inclusive of elevated Via-duct portion from Chainage (-) 1374.50 to (+) 3246.50 m and Elevated Metro Stations (four Numbers) Viz. APMC, Jivraj, Rajivnagar and Shreyas for Package-1 of North-South Corridor for Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-1. Reason for termination of contract is slow progress and impact thereof will be encashment of BGs provided by the company amounting to Rs 37.46 crore by Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The GST Council in its 32nd Meeting held under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley in New Delhi took the following major decisions to give relief to MSME (including Small Traders) among others 1. Increase in Turnover Limit for the existing Composition Scheme: The limit of Annual Turnover in the preceding Financial Year for availing Composition Scheme for Goods shall be increased to Rs 1.5 crore. Special category States would decide, within one week, about the Composition Limit in their respective States. 1.1 Compliance Simplification: The compliance under Composition Scheme shall be simplified as now they would need to file one Annual Return but Payment of Taxes would remain Quarterly (along with a simple declaration). 2. Higher Exemption Threshold Limit for Supplier of Goods: There would be two Threshold Limits for exemption from Registration and Payment of GST for the suppliers of Goods i.e. Rs 40 lakhs and Rs 20 lakhs. States would have an option to decide about one of the limits within a weeks' time. The Threshold for Registration for Service Providers would continue to be Rs 20 lakhs and in case of Special Category States at Rs 10 lakhs. 3. Composition Scheme for Services: A Composition Scheme shall be made available for Suppliers of Services (or Mixed Suppliers) with a Tax Rate of 6% (3% CGST +3% SGST) having an Annual Turnover in the preceding Financial Year up to Rs 50 lakhs. 3.1 The said Scheme Shall be applicable to both Service Providers as well as Suppliers of Goods and Services, who are not eligible for the presently available Composition Scheme for Goods. 3.2 They would be liable to file one Annual Return with Quarterly Payment of Taxes (along with a Simple Declaration). 4. Effective date: The decisions at Sl. No. 1 to 3 above shall be made operational from the 1st of April, 2019. 5. Free Accounting and Billing Software shall be provided to Small Taxpayers by GSTN. 6. Matters referred to Group of Ministers: i. A seven Member Group of Ministers shall be constituted to examine the proposal of giving a Composition Scheme to Boost the Residential Segment of the Real Estate Sector. ii. A Group of Ministers shall be constituted to examine the GST Rate Structure on Lotteries. 7. Revenue Mobilization for Natural Calamities: GST Council approved Levy of Cess on Intra-State Supply of Goods and Services within the State of Kerala at a rate not exceeding 1% for a period not exceeding 2 years. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Headline shares of the Mainland China equity market advanced on Friday, 11 January 2019, as risk sentiments improved amid signs of progress between the world's two biggest economies and Chinese policymakers continuing efforts to arresting the slowdown in the world's second-largest economy, as further details emerged of measures to ensure credit to small businesses and ease their tax burden. In late afternoon trade, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.1%, or 2.88 points, to 2,537.98. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, rose 0.05%, or 0.70 points, to 1,304.18. The blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.1%, or 2.67 points, to 3,075.36. Chinese policymakers are continuing their efforts to arresting the slowdown in the world's second-largest economy, as further details emerged of measures to ensure credit to small businesses and ease their tax burden. Late Wednesday, the government announced a package of tax cuts for small and micro-sized businesses the backbone of the economy worth 200 billion yuan (US$29 billion) per year over the next three years. That's consistent with a modest increase in the targeted budget deficit for this year and matches the aim of a new targeted funding tool that the central bank announced will start this month. As China and the United States inch toward a possible deal in negotiations over their trade standoff, incoming domestic data have pointed to a sharper slowdown in the first quarter, with even the nation's households tightening their belts auto sales posted their first annual drop in decades in 2018. At the same time, officials are refraining from full-scale stimulus due mainly to concerns over debt levels and financial stability. The decision to cut corporate income tax, value-added tax and other corporate taxes was announced after a State Council meeting Wednesday. It came right after the central bank said its new program to encourage banks to lend to small and private firms would begin later this month. On the trade front, China and the United States made progress on structural issues such as forced technology transfers and intellectual property rights in talks this week and more consultations are being arranged, China's commerce ministry said on Thursday. The three-day talks in Beijing that wrapped up on Wednesday were the first face-to-face negotiations since US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met. NEWS FROM THE PRESS: Trade spat cuts US LNG exports to China -- The number of U. S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels that went to China in 2018 fell by around 20 percent from the prior year as the trade spat between the United States and China heated up. In recent weeks, however, that dispute has cooled somewhat with talks in China this week between Chinese and U. S. trade teams raising hopes additional tariffs can be avoided. As the trade spat escalated during the last six months of 2018, only six LNG vessels went from the United States to China, down from 25 during the same period in 2017. China imposed tariffs on U. S. LNG in September. That happened even though Chinese LNG purchases last year reached all-time highs and the United States sold record amounts of the fuel. China, the fastest growing consumer of the fuel, became the world's second-biggest LNG buyer in 2017 as the government weans the country off dirty coal to reduce pollution. The United States, meanwhile, is on track to become the world's third-biggest LNG exporter by capacity in 2019 as additional export terminals enter service. In total, 24 U. S. vessels went to China in 2018 mostly during the first half of the year versus 30 in 2017. Companies proposing new U. S. LNG export terminals expressed optimism a new U. S.-China trade agreement could help advance their projects. China imported about US$447 million of LNG from the United States in 2017. CURRENCY NEWS: China yuan strengthened against greenback on Friday, as central bank set stronger mid-point rate, underpinned by broad weakness in the greenback in overseas markets. Prior to market opening, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the midpoint rate at 6.7909 per dollar, 251 basis points firmer than previous day's fix. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parliamentary Affairs Minister NS Tomar on Thursday said that the recently concluded winter session of the Parliament will be remembered as historic for the passing of 124th Constitutional Amendment Bill. Speaking to scribes after the culmination of the winter session, Tomar said, "Government was ready to discuss all matters but it couldn't be done. But it will be remembered as a historical session due to the passing of the 124th Constitutional Amendment Bill. It was an aspiration of crores of underprivileged Indians." Sharing details of productivity of both the upper and lower house of parliament, he further added, "The productivity of Lok Sabha was about 47% and that of Rajya Sabha was about 27%." The Parliament on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Constitution to make economically-weaker sections of general category eligible for 10 per cent reservation in education and government jobs. The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 bill was approved by the Rajya Sabha with 165 votes in favour and seven against after a day-long debate, a day after the Lok Sabha passed it with 323 votes against 3 votes. The provision will become law once President Ram Nath Kovind signs it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States Chamber of Commerce's Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) launched a new innovation initiative at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. The initiative, titled "Fair Value for Innovation", will examine economic underpinnings that would enable breakthrough innovation, and explore how policymakers can harness innovation capital in India and around the globe through research, advocacy, partnerships, and programs. "The promise of India's innovation ecosystem is real, and the U.S. industry has a stake in it," said Patrick Kilbride, Senior Vice President of GIPC. "Innovation has revolutionised life in India and pulled millions out of poverty, but India will need to go further and become a disruptive innovator in order to take full advantage of the innovation revolution. As a recognition of this promise, India is the very first market where we're launching this important initiative," Kilbride added. NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant said India is ideally positioned as a "thought-leader and regional economic power to help bring the benefits of innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)". "We want to capitalise on this disruption and innovate for social and inclusive good. Innovative technologies can augment India's capacity in healthcare, improve outcomes in education, develop innovative governance systems for our citizens, and bolster inclusive prosperity," Kant added. During the launch of the initiative, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Francis Gurry noted, "Innovation is a critical component of all competition and intellectual property (IP) is one of the key tools to protect competitive advantage arising from that innovation." "The good news is that India's IP system is aligning with the international IP ecosystem more than ever before, positioning the economy as a promising global innovation hub," Gurry added. The Raisina Dialogue is India's most influential conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, convened by the Observer Research Foundation and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. President of the Observer Research Foundation and Curator of the Raisina Dialogue, Samir Saran said, "The future of work in India is uncertain, but full of opportunities. We are pleased that this discussion explored the enablers of transformative innovation in India-a fine segue to brainstorm policies, programs, and action needed for India to leverage the possibilities of technological disruption, manage associated risks, and enhance its preparedness to compete as a knowledge economy." The discussion helped to define the contours of the Fair Value for Innovation initiative, which will build a coalition of stakeholders to share the story of innovation and creativity from idea to market and will highlight public policy prescriptions that can incentivise transformative innovation for generations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer has agreed to testify publicly before the House Oversight and Reform Committee next month. Cohen, in a statement, confirmed that he has agreed to testify publicly before the panel on February 7, reported The Hill. Cohen also said that he is looking forward "to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired." has been sentenced to three years in prison for a series of federal crimes including two campaign finance crimes tied to illicit payments made to silence women during the presidential campaign he committed while working for the US President. The Democratic chairman Elijah Cummings of the panel in a statement announced, "I thank for agreeing to testify before the Oversight Committee voluntarily," reported The Hill. The Democratic Chairman added, "He'll have a chance to tell his side of the story, and we'll have a chance to question him. The American people deserve that." "I want to make clear that, we have no interest in inappropriately interfering with any ongoing criminal investigations, and to that end, we are in the process of consulting with Special Counsel Mueller's office. The Committee will announce additional information in the coming weeks," he further said. This is the major move by the Democrats to drag in a member of the US President's team connected to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian collusion in Trump's election campaign. "I thank Michael Cohen for agreeing to testify before the Oversight Committee voluntarily. I want to make clear that we have no interest in inappropriately interfering with any ongoing criminal investigations, and to that end, we are in the process of consulting with Special Counsel Mueller's office," stated Elijah Cummings. The United States has started withdrawing its troops from Syria, a US military official confirmed on Friday. The New York Times (NYT) quoted the spokesman for the United States-led coalition against the Islamic State, Colonel Sean Ryan, as saying that the US-led coalition had "begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria." However, the military official denied providing any further details regarding the "specific timelines, locations or troop movements." President Donald Trump, who was on his first trip to visit troops stationed in Iraq in December last year, defended his decision of pulling out armed forces from Syria stating that the US military gains against the Islamic State terror group are the reason he can withdraw 2,000 forces from Syria. President Trump had also stated that the Islamic State (ISIS) has been destroyed and now he wishes to bring the troops back to their homeland. "If anybody but Donald Trump did what I did in Syria, which was an ISIS loaded mess when I became President, they would be a national hero. ISIS is mostly gone, we're slowly sending our troops back home to be with their families, while at the same time-fighting ISIS remnants......," Trump tweeted. The US President's impulsive decision to withdraw troops from Syria was announced on December 19 last year, after declaring the ISIS to have been fully 'destroyed', created a rift between him and the US military. The previous week, Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton announced that the US will withdraw its troops from Syria only after defeating ISIS and ensuring that the Kurds are safe. Bolton, who travelled to Israel to reassure the US ally of the Trump-ordered withdrawal, said there was no stipulated time for the pullout of American forces in Syria, but insisted that it was not an "unlimited commitment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Chinese government has a reputation for its periodic crackdown on all things internet. In the latest effort, Twitter users in China are being interrogated for posting content critical of the government. One Twitter user in China was reportedly interrogated by the police for eight hours, while some users are facing threats and even detention for days after posting critical messages. The users are demanded to delete critical posts or their accounts. As Cnet reports, the crackdown is said to be part of President Xi Jinping's campaign to censor content posted online in the country. Twitter is currently banned in China, however, people use software to access the popular microblogging site. As per estimates, only about 0.4 percent of China's users are hooked to Twitter. However, given the potent nature of the platform, it often fuels political debate and discussion in the country. (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 Friday fired a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that there should be a movie called 'Disastrous Prime Minister'. Banerjee asserted that the Anupam Kher-starrer 'The Accidental Prime Minister' was made with an intention to distort facts and keeping the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in mind. "If there is a movie on Accidental Prime Minister then there should be a movie titled as Disastrous Prime Minister. This will be made in the future. No one will be spared. Those who are indulging in should watch this movie -- 'Disastrous Prime Minister'," Banerjee said at a public meeting here. The political controversy over 'The Accidental Prime Minister' caught media attention after the BJP shared its trailer calling the movie a "riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 years." The recently released trailer of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' also drew a lot of flak from the Congress party. Maharashtra Youth Congress raised objections over the film and demanded its special screening to ensure that none of the scenes is factually incorrect. The film is based on facts chronicled in a book by Sanjaya Baru -- Manmohan Singh's media advisor between 2004 and 2008. It revolves around Singh's life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao instructed officials to organise a full-fledged training programme to the elected Sarpanches and Upa sarpanches in the ongoing village Panchayat elections to provide a total understanding to them in shaping the villages. The Chief Minister also said that proper orientation needs to be provided to them in developing greenery in the villages and on sanitation programmes as well as a clear-cut understanding of the recently-enacted Panchayat Raj Act. He instructed that copies of Panchayat Raj Act in Telugu should be sent to every Gram Panchayat, Mandal and Zilla Parishad officers. Rao also said the newly-recruited Panchayat Raj Secretaries and elected sarpanches should be well oriented with the work so that they work hand in hand and together for the development of the villages. The Chief Minister held a review meeting on the subject of imparting training to sarpanches and village Panchayat secretaries. Chief Advisor to the government Rajiv Sharma, MLAs Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Marri Janardhan Reddy, Kale Yadaiah, CMO special secretary Bhoopal Reddy and others participated in the review meeting. "Currently elections are being held for Village Panchayats. To have a village secretary to every village recruitment of village Panchayat Secretaries is in the process. Their role is crucial in the development of the village as a whole. Towards entrusting responsibilities and providing funds to the village panchayats there might be some unavoidable delay. Since the Government of India is going for vote-on-account budget, the state may also present vote-on-account budget," Rao said. He added, "In the months of April and May, there would be elections to the Lok Sabha. The full-fledged budget will be introduced later after the elections. It would be possible to allocate budget to the Panchayats in the full-fledged budget only. In between that by imparting training to the sarpanches and village Panchayat secretaries they should be shaped as change agents for the integrated development of villages. For imparting the training Telangana Rural Development Institute, Administrative staff college of India, MCRHRD institute of Telangana and similar other organizations are to be involved. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former IAS officer Shah Faesal has ruled out the possibility of joining any existing mainstream political party, and said that he draws inspiration from Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Faesal, who addressed the media to share his future course of action on Friday, said: "As of now, I do not have any plans to join any existing mainstream party," adding that his resignation was a "small act of defiance" to remind the Centre of its duties towards Kashmiris. On being asked about his political beliefs and ideology, Faesal said, "Honestly speaking I am deeply inspired by Imran Khan and Arvind Kejriwal. But we know that we are operating in a conflict zone and it's not very easy for us to work in that space. Space which has lost legitimacy in the last few years. I wish if the youngsters of the state give me that kind of opportunity I would be very happy to do a retake of Imran Khan and Kejriwal in the state." Furthermore, Faesal said he wishes to work with people at the grassroots level and "reimagine the in Kashmir", and also expressed keenness in contesting the upcoming assembly and parliamentary polls. "I will listen to the youngsters and meet the important stakeholders of the Valley or the state. I wish to use the Parliament as the source of connection and engagement for bringing solutions for our place," he added. Dismissing the possibility of joining the separatist Hurriyat Conference, the former IAS officer said: "I am a man from the system and I would be happy to use my skills to change things by being in the system. Hurriyat doesn't give me that opportunity very rightly as they don't believe in electoral " Faesal quit government service on January 9, saying he was protesting against the "unabated killings" in Kashmir and "lack of any sincere reach-out from the Union government." The former IAS officer alleged "insidious attacks on the special identity of the Jammu and Kashmir and growing culture of intolerance and hate in the mainland India in the name of hyper-nationalism." 35-year-old Faesal is the first person from Kashmir to top the civil services examination. He had served in various posts, including those of director of education and deputy commissioner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The U.S. Department of the Treasury is set to remove Russian companies Rusal, En+ and Eurosibenergo (ESE) from its sanctions blacklist, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "En+, Rusal, and ESE were designated for sanctions solely because they were majority-owned or controlled by (Oleg) Deripaska. These entities are undergoing significant restructuring and governance changes that sever Deripaskas control and significantly diminish his ownership," Mnuchin said. He noted that these three companies have committed to provide Treasury with an unprecedented level of transparency into their dealings to ensure that Deripaska does not reassert control. "As a result, these entities will no longer be designated for sanctions," the US official added. At the same time, Mnuchin stressed that Treasury will be vigilant in ensuring that En+ and Rusal meet these commitments. "If these companies fail to comply with the terms, they will face very real and swift consequences, including the reimposition of sanctions," TASS cited him as saying. U.S. Treasury Secretary also expressed readiness to discuss the Russia sanctions program with the new Congress. On December 19, 2018, it became known that the U.S. Treasury was ready to remove sanctions against En+, Rusal, and EuroSibEnergo within 30 days since Deripaska had agreed to reduce his control in En+ from roughly 70% to 44.95%. The senior research fellow at the European Research Centre of the International Relations Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Olenchenko, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the Rusal situation may set an example for other Russian companies placed under sanctions. American sanctions are introduced quite easily, but lifting them is difficult. I suggest that Rusal has studied the conditions for lifting the sanctions and fulfilled all the requirements. At the same time, of course, the question is how the company has changed during the sanction period. In general it can be considered as a precedent for the fact that sanctions can be lifted, and other companies will be interested to study the experience of Rusal," he said. The situation is complicated by the fact that in political terms, the company has to fulfill the requirements of a foreign government. "Of course, En +, Rusal and Eurosibenergo made sufficient concessions to the Americans. Now the whole precedent needs to be carefully examined. That is, the current situation requires caution - one should not immediately apply this experience to all subscription companies. The information that goes to the media and to websites of interested companies says that the Rusal company made concessions, but gives no explanation why this decision was made," Vladimir Olenchenko stressed. The vice-rector of the Academy of Labour and Social Relations Alexander Safonov said that lifting the sanctions was mutually beneficial. "Rusal's influence in terms of aluminium production is great, we shouldn't forget about it. Since Trump has pursued the policy of cheaper resources for the U.S. economy, the anti-Rusal sanctions turned out to be disadvantageous to him, because it would lead to a sharp increase in aluminium prices. Naturally, it would affect the competitiveness of American industry. Therefore, a situation arose in which Rusal managed, through a change in the form of ownership, to achieve the lifting of sanctions and a certain preservation of the status quo in the market," he noted. This experience can be applied to other sub-authorized companies. "The Americans are consistent in their sanctions policy. Of course, there will be many questions for a number of other large industrial enterprises. They will impose sanctions on every company they could," Alexander Safonov said. A special CBI court here will likely pronounce verdict in a journalist's murder case, allegedly involving jailed chief Singh. is accused of orchestrating the killing of Ramchandra Chhatrapati, a Sirsa-based journalist, for openly criticising the Dera chief in his newspaper titled 'Poora Sach'. The Dera chief is currently serving a 20-year prison term in Rohtak's Sunaria jail for raping two of his women followers. Ahead of the verdict, elaborate security arrangements have been made in Haryana and parts of Punjab. Several companies of the state armed police, anti-riot police and commando force have been deployed to combat any untoward situation. Rohtak's Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Tahir Hussain said: "We have heightened the security of chief Singh ahead of January 11 verdict in a murder case against him. We have established four more police posts, five patrolling parties around the jail, PCRs and three more inspectors have been put on the duty." On 25 August 2017, 41 lives were claimed and scores of people were injured after violence erupted in Panchkula and other towns of Haryana following the conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh will appear through video conferencing for the hearing, after the court earlier this week directed the to produce the Dera chief via video conference for the pronouncement of the verdict in the November 21, 2002 journalist murder case. During an earlier hearing, CBI special judge Jagdeep Singh agreed to the application moved by the for an option to produce the Dera chief in the court through video conference. An 18-year-old Saudi girl, Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, who fled from her family in Kuwait to Thailand, has been granted asylum in Canada. According to The Washington Post, Alqunun was admitted to Thailand on Monday where United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees processed her demand for a safe haven. Several nations, including Australia, had welcomed Alqunun as a refugee, but she preferred Canada. Alqunun was stopped by Thai authorities where she had shut herself in her airport hotel room. She had requested for a meeting with representatives of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in order to seek asylum as she was fleeing her abusive family. The Saudi teenager had boarded a plane to Thailand while her family was on a holiday in Kuwait. Upon arriving in Thailand, she claimed that her passport was taken away by a man at the airport on the pretext of getting her a Thai visa. However, the man did not show up, she said. Furthermore, the 18-year-old alleged that the man who took away her passport came with other men who she believes were Thai security officers and a representative of Kuwait Airlines. The men reportedly told Alqunun that her family had filed a missing person report about her and informed her that she had to return to Kuwait on a flight late Monday morning. She had also clarified that she did not run away from home in order to escape her marriage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ayyappa Devotees' Association (NADA) on Friday filed an application in the Supreme Court, seeking video-recording and live-telecast of the proceedings of review petitions, which challenge the apex court's verdict allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala Temple. The Constitution bench is scheduled to hear the review petitions on January 22. Protests and violence have gripped several parts of Kerala ever since three women of menstruating age entered the hilltop shrine recently. Accompanied by police personnel, 40-year-old Bindu and 39-year-old Kanakadurga made history by becoming the first women of mensturating age to enter the temple and offer prayers during the wee hours of January 2. This was followed by 36-year-old Dalit activist Manju, who dyed her hair grey in order to look above her age and entered the temple on January 8. On January 3, a state-wide shutdown was enforced in protest against Bindu and Kanakadurga's entry into the temple. A case was registered against four RSS activists for hurling a country-made bomb at Nedumangad police station during the protests that day. On September 28, 2018, the Supreme Court had lifted the ban on the entry of women between 10 to 50 years into the Lord Ayyappa shrine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal Army Chief General Purna Chandra Thapa will be reaching here on a four-day long visit to India, beginning January 12. During the visit General Thapa shall interact with senior Indian Army hierarchy and visit formations based at Jaipur and Lucknow, Defence Ministry said in a statement on Friday "Chief of the Army Staff, Nepal Army will be visiting India from January 12 to 15, 2019, on his first official bilateral visit after taking over the command of the Nepal Army," said the statement, adding "the visit symbolises the deep-rooted military to military ties and shall be a platform to further strengthen the defence cooperation between the two armies." Based on an age-old tradition existing between the armies of both countries, the Nepal Army Chief will be conferred with the Honorary Rank of 'General of Indian Army' by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 12 at Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. "During the visit, General Purna Chandra Thapa shall be interacting with senior Indian Army hierarchy and shall be visiting formations based at Jaipur and Lucknow," the statement further added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed former Tamil Nadu Minister Balakrishna Reddy's plea for the suspension of his conviction in a 1998 riot case against him. After hearing the arguments challenging a special court's order which sentenced him to four years of imprisonment, Justice V Parthiban passed the order to dismiss his application for suspension of conviction alone. On January 7, special court judge J Santhi found Reddy and 15 others guilty of offences under Sections 147 (rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC and Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of Congress workers, some carrying flag of the party, held a demonstration against the screening of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' movie inside a cineplex here on Thursday. In a video from the incident, the group of protestors can be seen moving around the mall sloganeering against the screening of the movie. The protestors could be heard shouting slogans against actor Anupam Kher, who has played the lead role in the movie. The Congress protest against the screening of the movie occurred during the evening show inside the Quest INOX Cineplex. The protest started during the show time at around 8.20 pm. Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had asserted that the Anupam Kher-starrer 'The Accidental Prime Minister' was made with an intention to distort facts and keeping the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in mind. Firing a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she had also said that there should be a movie called 'Disastrous Prime Minister'. Even before the release of the movie, the trailer of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' also drew a lot of flak from the Congress party. Maharashtra Youth Congress raised objections over the film and demanded its special screening to ensure that none of the scenes is factually incorrect. The film is based on facts chronicled in a book by Sanjaya Baru - Manmohan Singh's media advisor between 2004 and 2008. It revolves around Singh's life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Army personnel were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion that took place near the LoC in Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. According to the Army PRO, an Army officer and a soldier, who got grievously injured, were immediately provided medical aid. however, they succumbed to the injuries. In another incident of unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in Sunderbani Sector, an Army porter named Hemraj was shot at and critically injured. He was provided immediate resuscitation and medical aid; however, he later succumbed to the gunshot wounds. Army authorities have promised all possible assistance to the family of the slain Army Porter. Elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists lobbed a grenade at Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) platoon near Lal Chowk in Srinagar. No loss of life or injury was reported from the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Soon after assuming charge as Interim CBI Director on Friday, M Nageshwar Rao cancelled all the transfer orders issued by ex-Director Alok Verma. "All transfer orders issued by ex-Director Alok Verma have been reversed by interim Director M Nageshwar Rao," CBI sources told ANI. After being reinstated, Verma on Wednesday had withdrawn almost all transfer orders made by Rao. Around 13 CBI officers were transferred by Rao after Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana were sent on forced leave. Rao was first given charge as interim Director after the Centre's October 23 decision, when it had divested him of his powers along with Special Director Rakesh Asthana following a bitter fight between them alleging each other's involvement in corruption. Rao once again took charge of the office of the CBI Director on Friday after Verma was posted as DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards on Thursday, two days after he was reinstated as the CBI Director by the Supreme Court. Rao, 1986-batch Odisha cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, will look after the duties of the Director, till the appointment of a new Director or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Rao took the interim charge after Selection Committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, decided to remove Verma. Chief Justice of India is also a member of the Committee but he was represented by Justice A K Sikri, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court. Asthana has accused Verma of accepting bribe from a Hyderabad-based businessman being investigated by the agency. Verma has also accused Asthana committing the same crime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Friday reiterated its commitment and support to Afghanistan's efforts towards a peace and reconciliation process that is led, owned and controlled by Kabul. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar informed that a meeting took place on Thursday between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and shared their perspective on peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. He said that Khalilzad also met Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale earlier in the day. "He (Khalilzad) had a meeting with EAM (Swaraj). He also met Foreign Secretary Gokhale in the morning. Both sides shared perspective on peace and reconciliation. They briefed us as to how the US trying to achieve peace and reconciliation. We made it very clear that peace and reconciliation in Afganistan should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled." India has been a key stakeholder in Afghanistan's peace and reconciliation process and has been pushing for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process. In November last year, India had participated in talks on Afghanistan in Moscow of which the Taliban were also a part. New Delhi had participated at a non-official level, sending two former diplomats to the meeting. India has a policy on not engaging with the group. During the meeting in Moscow last year, the Taliban had said that the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan was the only way forward for maintaining peace and security in the region. On the issue of the US sanctions on Iran, Kumar said that India is still continuing to import oil from Iran. On the Nepal government's decision to ban the use of high denomination Indian currency notes of Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 in the country, Kumar said that the Nepal Rashtra Bank has sent a communication to India in connection to the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking vitamin D supplements could reduce the risk of deadly lung attacks in some chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, finds a recent study. Conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, the study has been published in the journal Thorax. The findings add to a growing list of benefits for the 'sunshine vitamin'. While vitamin D is best known for its effects on bone health, previous studies have revealed its role in protecting against colds, flu and asthma attacks, and even helping with weight gain and brain development in malnourished children. The latest research found that the use of vitamin D supplements led to a 45 per cent reduction in lung attacks among COPD patients who were deficient in vitamin D. No benefit was seen for patients with higher vitamin D levels. COPD describes a number of lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, where a person's airways become inflamed, making it harder to breathe 1. Almost all COPD deaths are due to lung attacks (termed 'exacerbations') in which symptoms worsen acutely. These are often triggered by viral upper respiratory infections - the type that cause the common cold. The disease affects more than 170 million people worldwide, and caused an estimated 3.2 million deaths in 2015. Lead researcher Professor Adrian Martineau said: "New treatments are urgently needed to prevent COPD attacks. Our study shows that giving supplements to vitamin D-deficient COPD patients nearly halves their rate of potentially fatal attacks. "Vitamin D supplementation is safe, and it costs just a few pence to supplement a person for a year - so this is a potentially highly cost-effective treatment that could be targeted at those who have low vitamin D levels following routine testing. The analysis found that vitamin D supplements, given by mouth, reduced the rate of moderate/severe COPD exacerbations in patients with low vitamin D levels (less than 25 nmol per litre of blood or 10 nanograms per millilitre). Doses of vitamin D ranged from 30 micrograms daily to 2500 micrograms monthly. Supplementation did not influence the proportion of participants experiencing serious adverse events, indicating that it was safe. Giving supplements to patients who did not have such low levels of vitamin D did not reduce their risk of COPD attacks. The researchers therefore highlight that this would need to be a targeted therapy, with doctors first testing vitamin D levels in COPD patients who experience frequent attacks, and then giving vitamin D supplements to those who are deficient. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will lead the U.S. delegation to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 22-25. Other top-level administration figures scheduled to attend include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Homeland Security Secretary Nielson. Trumps daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner also were to attend the forum, Time reported. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier said that hes canceling his trip later this month to a global forum in Switzerland because of the partial government shutdown. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh lashed out at Union Cabinet Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal over her Kartarpur Corridor remark and stated, "She (Harsimrat) is brazenly playing with the religious sentiments of the people in order to promote the vested interests of the Badals, who are desperate". The Chief Minister was responding to a remark made by Harsimrat, that the Punjab government is not commencing the process of land acquisition for the construction of Kartarpur corridor. "She had once again put her foot in her mouth without doing her homework on the issue of extreme religious importance to the Sikh community. In a bid to gain one-upmanship, Harsimrat, along with the rest of the Badal clan, was trying to create confusion in the minds of the people with their blatant falsehoods," said Captain Amarinder Singh. The war of words between the two leaders started after the Punjab Chief Minister on Tuesday alleged that the central government has not provided any funds for the land acquisition for the Kartarpur Corridor, which is why Punjab administration is facing trouble in meeting the deadline for the completion of the corridor. Further speaking on the issue, the Punjab Chief Minister assured that his government would continue to pursue and pressurise the central government to take the vital project to its logical conclusion by initiating the development work at the earliest. "The state government would go all out, to support the Centre to ensure the timely completion of the Kartarpur Corridor project, which successive Congress governments at the Centre and in the state had fought hard, through the years, to realise," he said. On January 10 also, Captain Amarinder Singh launched a scathing attack on Harsimrat Kaur Badal via series of Tweets saying: "Instead of playing games over the Kartarpur issue, you should pressurise your ally at the Centre @HarsimratBadal_ to release necessary funds for the corridor development without further delay. For once, do something that serves the interest of Punjab & Punjabis." "@HarsimratBadal_ I am loyal to both, my state & my party. It is the Badal clan that is devoted only to themselves. For you, neither Punjab & its people nor the Sikh Panth of whom you claim to be guardians, are important, as you are only faithful to your own personal interests," read his other tweet. Last year, the Indian government on the eve of Guru Nanak Gurupurab approved the building and development of Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to India-Pakistan International Border. The Kartarpur route along the India-Pakistan border is three kilometres away from Gurdaspur, Punjab. If opened, it will allow Sikh pilgrims direct access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, where Guru Nanak died in 1539. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brianna Hildebrand, who played the fan-favourite Negasonic Teenage Warhead in the 'Deadpool' franchise, could next be seen alongside John Cena in 'Playing With Fire'. The Paramount Players project is a family comedy which revolves around a group of rugged wildfire fighters who meet their match when they rescue a trio of rambunctious children. According to The Hollywood Reporter, if the deal works out, Hildebrand will be playing the eldest of the orphaned siblings, Brynn. While the script has been penned by Matt Lieberman (The Christmas Chronicles), 'Playing With Fire' will be directed by Andy Fickman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, a judge of Delhi High Court, as judges of the Apex Court. The top court is presently functioning with 26 judges as against the sanctioned strength of 31, leaving five clear vacancies. "This Collegium unanimously resolves to fill up, for the present, two of the five existing vacancies of judges in the Supreme Court. The Collegium has discussed names of Chief Justices as well as senior puisne judges of all High Courts, eligible for elevation to the Supreme Court," the top court said. While recommending the names of Justices Maheshwari and Justice Khanna, the Collegium took into consideration the combined seniority on an all-India basis of Chief Justices and senior puisne judges of High Courts, apart from their merit and integrity. The Collegium has also kept in mind the desirability of giving due representation on the Bench of the Supreme Court, as far as possible, to all the High Courts, said the Apex Court. "We, therefore, recommend that Mr. Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna be appointed as Judges in the Supreme Court of India," the collegium concluded. Justice Maheshwari was appointed as a Judge of the Rajasthan High Court on September 2, 2004, and was transferred to the Allahabad High Court on July 19, 2014. He was elevated as the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court on February 24, 2016, and was thereafter transferred to the Karnataka High Court on February 12, 2018. Meanwhile, Justice Khanna was appointed as a Judge of the Delhi High Court on June 24, 2005, and since then he has been functioning there. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has rubbished allegations made by Pakistan with regard to the Chinese consulate attack which took place in Karachi last year. In response to a question regarding statements attributed to the Karachi police chief of levying false accusations against India, Ministry of External Affairs on Friday termed the allegations as 'fabricated and scurrilous'. "We have seen statements in Pakistani media attributed to the Police chief of Karachi making false allegations against India for the terrorist attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi in November 2018. We completely reject these fabricated and scurrilous attempts to levy accusations on India. Instead of maliciously pointing fingers at others for such terrorist incidents, Pakistan needs to look inwards and undertake credible action against support to terrorism and terror infrastructure in its territories," the statement read. Earlier in the day, Dawn quoted Karachi Police chief Amir Ahmed Shaikh as saying that the terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi in November last year was planned in Afghanistan and carried out with the assistance of Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The Karachi police chief further accused India by stating that the terrorist attack intended to cripple the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and create a rift between China and Pakistan. "They wanted China to believe that Karachi is not [a] safe [city]," Shaikh added. On November 23, an explosion and gunshot were heard near the Chinese consulate in Karachi's Clifton area in the morning, around 9:25 am. Three men possessing hand grenades and other weapons fired near the Chinese consulate in Clifton Block 4, according to eyewitnesses. Two policemen were killed and a security guard got injured after three gunmen tried to enter the consulate around 9:30 am. Nine hand grenades, Kalashnikov bullets, magazines, and explosives were recovered from the possession of the terrorists, Karachi police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a charge sheet against Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in a competent court here in connection with the infamous Saradha scam. The CBI filed the sixth supplementary charge sheet in line with the Supreme Court's 2014 order, featuring the names of Nalini Chidambaram and one company, in connection with the ponzi scam. Charges against Nalini include entering into a criminal conspiracy with Sudipta Sen, the proprietor of Saradha Group of companies, and other accused of committing the offenses of cheating and misappropriation of funds. The Saradha Group financial scandal was a major scam caused by the collapse of a Ponzi scheme run by the conglomerate. The multi-crore-rupee chit fund scam allegedly involves several key leaders. In September 2016, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had first summoned Nalini to appear in its Kolkata office as a witness in the scam. Nalini, who is a senior lawyer, was allegedly paid a legal fee of Rs 1 crore by Saradha Group for her appearances in the court and the Company Law Board. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who has been accused by India of running a terror camp in British Columbia has been elected unopposed to head the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, which has one of the largest memberships in Canada. Nijjar's name was in the list of wanted persons that was handed over to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder during his trip to India in February 2018. He was also briefly taken into custody by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in April 2018 before being released without any charges being filed. Nijjar's appointment reflects that Khalistani extremists are taking charge of gurudwaras in Canada and running the campaign for a separate Sikh country Khalistan. This comes a month after Canada listed Khalistani extremism among the terror threats facing the country. A 2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada has said that the country is facing threat from growing Khalistani extremism in the country. In the reference to Khalistani extremism, the report stated: "Some individuals in Canada continue to support Sikh (Khalistani) extremist ideologies and movements." It mentioned that violent activities in support of Khalistan had "fallen since their height during the 1982-1993 period when individuals and groups conducted numerous terrorist attacks". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader AK Antony on Friday, while acknowledging the need for joining hands with other factions, said the Congress can ally with those political outfits that are ready to cooperate with his party. Addressing Kerala Congress leaders at a meeting here, Antony said that a decision would be taken by the last week of February on the Congress' candidates for the coming Lok Sabha polls. "Rahul Gandhi has grown step by step through his experience. He is not the same as he was previously. He now has the strength to lead India. We can form alliances with parties who are ready to cooperate with the Congress," he said. "Rahul Gandhi wished to bring timely changes. One thing among this is the timely declaration of candidates. This time, before the end of February, the Congress plans to declare its candidates. We have to make timely changes," said Antony, also India's former Defence Minister. Likening 2019 to the year of "Kurukshetra" war, Antony said the only objective for the coming polls is to protect the Constitutional value. "In the last election, people were misled by showering promises and firing religious sentiments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's rule is the RSS rule. Modi was the greatest actor at the time of the last election. In 2019 election, Narendra Modi rule should be ended. That is our ultimate aim," he claimed. Furthermore, Antony claimed that Rahul was an opponent, feared by Prime Minister Modi. "If this RSS-controlled government comes to power again, it would be the Constitution of India which is going to be destroyed first. The government is destroying Constitutional institutions one by one. In many institutions, RSS nominees have entered now. This election is to protect the Constitutional rights of individuals, society, groups and the backward sections of the society," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Anupam Kher's mother has praised Dr. Manmohan Singh after watching 'The Accidental Prime Minister', in which Kher has stepped into the shoes of the former PM. The veteran actor shared a video on social media in which his mother, Dulari Kher, heaped praises on her son as well as the former Prime Minister. When the 'A Wednesday' star asked if she liked Singh, his mother repiled, "Manmohan Singh shareef tha bechara. Lagta tha door se shareef hai, tabhi log shareef ko bewakoof mante hain. Ye nahi pata wo bohot tez hote hain." Praising his acting skills, Anupam's mother also said she could not believe it's her son and exclaimed, "What do you eat, I don't understand!" She further stated, "I really liked the film and I am sure everyone will like it too." Anupam Kher posted the video on Instagram with the caption, "Mother of all Reviews: Dulari Watched #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister and has given her review in a one minute video. Her first sentence was frightening. "Aise koi acting karta hai?" And she almost acted me out." He added, "But what followed was a great endorsement for my performance. Her observation about #DrManmohanSingh is spot on. Her review is my ultimate reward. After all these years mom is relieved that I can act. Jai Mata di. #DulariRocks #DulariReviewsTAPM #FilmReleasesToday" 'The Accidental Prime Minister' is based on facts as chronicled in a book by Sanjaya Baru-- Manmohan Singh's media advisor between 2004 and 2008. It revolves around Singh's life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. The film hits the big screens today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A large number of local residents and political activists carried out massive protests on Friday against the construction of Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The protest was organised by the United Kashmir National Students Organisation, the student wing of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP). The demonstrators raised slogans against the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), demanding an immediate ban on the construction of the power project on rivers - the prime source of water in the region. Locals allege that Pakistan has deprived residents of basic needs, including water. During the protest, one of the activists shouted that, "Pakistan has been enjoying the benefits of electricity generated in PoK region, whose surcharge is paid by them (PoK). Dams are being constructed on their lands, and they are the ones who are facing a water crisis." "This is our water, it is our right and we will fight for our right. If the matter doesn't get solved through mutual understanding, we know the other way out," he added. Another activist, while attacking Pakistan's judiciary, said: "If a project creates a problem for Pakistan, it immediately asks for its closure. But today, when it is the question of survival of lakhs of people living in PoK, then they are just turning a blind eye." He further stated that the people of PoK will not sit quietly and will continue their fight for justice. Of late, a massive water crisis has emerged in PoK, which has forced people to either live in uninhabitable conditions or move to other places. Apprehensive of serious ecological changes in the region, people are demanding an immediate retraction of Pakistan's plans to construct more dams on Neelum and Jhelum rivers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after being shunted out as CBI Director, senior IPS officer Alok Verma resigned from service on Friday, saying "natural justice" had been scuttled. The 1979 batch officer sent his resignation to Home Minister Rajnath Singh after refusing to take charge of the post of Director General of Fire Services assigned to him. Verma, who was Delhi Police Commissioner previously, had a two-year tenure as CBI Director till January 31 this year. Otherwise, he would have retired from service in July 2017 when he attained the age of 60. The decision to remove Verma was taken on Thursday by the Selection Committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. Chief Justice of India is also a member of the Committee but at today's meeting, he was represented by Justice A K Sikri, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court. The Committee was of the view that being the head of a very sensitive organisation, Verma, who is facing corruption charges, was "not functioning with the integrity expected of him," according to sources. In a letter to Chandramouli C, Secretary of Department of Personnel and Training, Verma said, "Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the Director CBI." He said the Selection Committee "did not consider the fact that the entire CVC report is premised on charges alluded by a complainant who is presently under investigation by the CBI. It may be noted that the CVC only forwarded a purportedly signed statement of the complainant, and the complainant never came before Hon'ble Justice (Rtd.) AK Patnaik (supervising the inquiry). Also, Justice Patnaik has concluded that the findings/conclusions of the report are not his." "Institutions are one of the strongest and most visible symbols of our democracy and it is no exaggeration that the CBI is one of the most important organistaions in India today. The decisions made yesterday will not just be a reflection on my functioning but will become a testimony on how the CBI as an institution will be treated by any government through the CVC, who is appointed by majority members of the ruling government. This is a moment for collective introspection, to state the least," Verma said in the letter. In the letter, Verma said he has already crossed his superannuation age for DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. Verma was posted as DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards, two days after he was reinstated as the CBI Director by the Supreme Court. His reinstatement had come about two-and-a-half months after being divested of his powers and sent on leave by the government. "Also it may be noted that I have already superannuated as on July 31, 2017 and was only serving the Government as Director, CBI till January 31, 2019, as the same was a same fixed tenure role. The undersigned (Alok Verma) is no longer Director, CBI and has already crossed his superannuation age for DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. Accordingly, the undersigned (Alok Verma) may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today," Verma concluded. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Construction and assembly work has been completed at the plant for producing gasoline from natural gas in the Ahal region of Turkmenistan, which is ready for tests, State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made a working trip to Ahal region yesterday. He was given an overview of the progress by deputy prime minister Myratgeldi Meredov. The plant's construction project is being implemented by a consortium of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (Japan) and Ronesans Endustri Tesisleri Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (Turkey) Companies. The agreement was concluded during Berdymukhamedov's official visit to Japan in September 2013. The plant's groundbreaking ceremony took place in August 2014, Interfax reported. The total cost of the project is almost $1.7 billion. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) participates in the project's financing. With the commissioning of the plant scheduled for 2019, about 800 jobs will be created additionally. The plant is designed to annually produce 600,000 tons of A-92 gasoline, which meets Euro 5 standards. It is also planned to produce 12,000 tons of diesel fuel and 115,000 tons of liquefied gas per year. Head of the 'Caspian Barrel' Center for Oil Research Ilham Shaban told Vestnik Kavkaza that the introduction of Gas-to-Gasoline technology is one of the leading global trends in modern gas and petrochemical industry. "Basically, this is the lot of gas-rich countries with little oil - they are able to diversify their economies, producing petroleum products from gas, including motor fuel. It is clear that only a producing country with large reserves and developed gas industry can effectively develop such production. For countries such as Iran, Turkmenistan, Russia, it is very profitable to produce fuel from gas. For Azerbaijan it is also a very promising direction," he said. "The fact that Turkmenistan has mastered this technology can only be welcomed. Turkmenistan ranks fourth in the world for natural gas reserves, its gas resources will grow, while it produces only about 10 million tons of oil per year. Due to this, Ashgabat decided to diversify its economy and sell expensive petroleum products produced from natural gas, instead of cheap raw materials. In addition to export, the same synthetic gasoline will be used as fuel in the domestic market," Ilham Shaban added. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge submitted a dissent note before the High Powered Committee, which decided the ouster of Alok Verma as the CBI Director, questioning the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) findings against Verma. Kharge, the lone dissenting voice in the high-powered selection committee in his note argued, why Verma should be restored with "full extent and authority of powers" under his office. Verma was removed as the CBI Director on account of the extremely serious nature of observations made by the CVC against him. The CVC was of the view that being the head of a very sensitive organisation, Verma was not functioning with the integrity expected of him. "CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) report submitted to the Supreme Court doesn't arrive at any conclusive finding with respect to allegations against him," Kharge's note accessed by ANI stated. Kharge also demanded that Verma be allowed to continue as CBI Director for an additional period of 77 days to make up for the days lost when he was sent on leave. "Having examined the contents of the CVC report, it is my considered opinion that Alok Verma be allowed to explain himself before this Committee, along with the charges made against him, prior to any decision being taken," the note further read. A high-powered committee comprising Justice Sikri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kharge met for over two hours on Thursday to decide the fate of Verma, who was reinstated by the Supreme Court earlier this week after he was sent on forced leave by the government. Echoing similar sentiments, another senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal took to Twitter on Friday and wrote, "Alok Verma's removal. The Committee ensured the caged parrot did not fly away fearing the parrot might spill the beans by parroting the goings on in the corridors of power. The caged parrot will remain caged." According to sources, the CVC found evidence of influencing of investigation in the Moin Qureshi case. There was also evidence of Verma taking bribe of Rs. 2 crore, the sources claimed. The CVC was of the view that Verma's conduct in the case was "suspicious," and there was a "prima facie case" against him. The CVC also felt that the "entire truth will come out if a criminal investigation is ordered." In the IRCTC case, the CVC felt that it can be reasonably concluded that Verma allegedly "deliberately excluded" a name from the FIR, for reasons "best known to him," the sources said. The CVC found evidence against Verma in several other cases as well, the sources said, including instances of wilful non-production and fabrication of record. The Committee also took note of Verma's alleged attempts to induct officers of doubtful integrity in the CBI. In response to the "insinuation" that he was not given a chance to be heard, the sources said that Verma was given an opportunity to present his case before the CVC in the presence of Retd. Justice Patnaik. The Supreme Court also provided a copy of the CVC report to Verma's advocate, the sources claimed. The Committee felt that as a detailed investigation, including criminal investigation, was necessary in some cases, Verma's continuation as CBI Director was not desirable, and he should be transferred, the sources mentioned. Verma, a 1979-batch IPS officer, was posted as DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards, two days after he was reinstated as the CBI Director by the Supreme Court. His reinstatement had come about two-and-a-half months after being divested of his powers and sent on leave by the government. In his place, 1986-batch IPS officer M. Nageshwar Rao, who is Additional Director of CBI, will look after the duties of the Director, till the appointment of a new Director or until further orders, whichever is earlier, according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday slammed the BJP for allegedly not doing enough to help out the farmers who are in distress while underlining the need for their upliftment. Yadav through an e-chaupal highlighted how the farmers were not getting a fair price for their produces. "One day I saw 10 trucks on the highway, loaded with cabbage. These trucks were going towards Lucknow instead of Delhi. Later my party workers told me that farmers are getting better prices for their produces in Lucknow now." "There is a dire need for the government to take requisite measures to uplift the farmers and help them to continue growing more crops. The government must provide farmers with free water. The fertilisers should be distributed to the poor farmers on a regular basis," added Yadav. Former Chief Minister Yadav while addressing the public on the occasion took a jibe at the BJP government and claimed that till now no slaughterhouse has been closed in Uttar Pradesh. "The BJP's announcement to close slaughterhouses just created hatred among the people and hurdles for the farmers in selling their old cattle to the butcher house," he said. Yadav also urged the public to exercise their right to vote only after giving it a deep thought in the coming Lok Sabha elections. "Vote for only the party which can develop your region. Think carefully before going out to vote. If you make a mistake, then you have to wait for another five years to rectify it," added the UP's former chief minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi's Patiala House Court on Friday extended the interim protection granted to former union finance minister P. Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram till February 1, in connection with the Aircel Maxis scam-related cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Special CBI Judge O P Saini put up the matter for February 1 after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of CBI, told the court that the ongoing probe was nearing completion and sought some time. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and A M Singhvi, appearing on behalf of the father-son duo, sought an extension of protection granted to the latter. The CBI also informed the court that the requisite sanctions to prosecute certain public servants accused in the case have been obtained. The Aircel Maxis case emerged out of the 2G spectrum cases, pertaining to an approval granted to a Mauritius-based firm, M/S Global Communication and Services Holdings Limited, by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for investment in Aircel. The FIPB approval was allegedly granted in the year 2006 when Chidambaram was the finance minister. According to the rules and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy of the government, Chidambaram was only empowered to give approval to proposals involving a foreign investment amount of up to Rs 600 crore. However, he reportedly approved the foreign investment proposal of Global Communication and Services Holdings Ltd worth Rs 3560 crore approximately. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "I am very clear on 1984 that anybody, regardless of where he comes from, if he has harmed members of the minority community, he should be punished," asserted Congress President Rahul Gandhi while speaking about alleged insecurities among minorities in the country. In an exclusive interview to Gulf News, ahead of his maiden visit to UAE, the Gandhi scion said, "We will punish those who think that they can get away by crushing India. They should not be under the impression that they can crush the weak people. I am very clear on 1984 that anybody, regardless of where he comes from, if he has harmed members of the minority community, he should be punished. The legal system will make sure that the justice is done [in 1984 cases] and we will allow the justice system to work. The legal structure that we have, the laws that we have, are good enough to deal with the problems as long as institutions like the Supreme Court are free to do their work." While talking about alliances for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul exhumed confidence about party's ability in Uttar Pradesh and said that the Congress will surprise people in the state. "Our first aim is to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There are states where we are very strong and we are the primary party and are contesting the BJP directly. There are states where there are possible alliances - Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. where we are working out an alliance formula. There are very interesting things that the Congress party can do in Uttar Pradesh... the Congress idea is very powerful for Uttar Pradesh. So, we are very confident of our ability in Uttar Pradesh and we will surprise people," said Rahul to the Gulf News editor, who came to Delhi for Rahul's interview. Congress President Rahul Gandhi also said that work is in progress to bring opposition together in the Uttar Pradesh and added, "I have heard some statements in the media but we are going to work together and make sure that we defeat Prime Minister Modi. But, I just want to say again - to underestimate the Congress in UP is a mistake." Acknowledging the defeat of 2014 Lok Sabha election, Rahul also talked about having fatigue and arrogance in the party after being in power for ten years. "You can understand that we were ten years in power and frankly there was a certain amount of fatigue, a little bit of arrogance built up and that harmed us," he said. The Congress president also opined that party's model for 2019 is to bring people into the conversation and listen to what they are saying. Accusing the government of destroying the institutional structure of India, Rahul also called for 'allowing them space' to function. He said, "Prime Minister Modi doesn't have respect for experts and he believes that he is the centre of all knowledge. Respect, knowledge and understanding. An institution is a reservoir of knowledge; respect the people in that institution. The Supreme Court, the Reserve Bank of India, Election Commission of India have knowledge that no one has. Listen to them, respect and allow them space. Those are India's assets, not liabilities." While speaking about his personal life, Rahul categorically denied any thought about marriage in the near future and said that as of now he is entirely focused on the political front. "Right now my single-minded focus is that we are fighting an ideological war, we have to make sure that Prime Minister Modi and the RSS do not continue to have their hold on Indian institutions. I like to operate in the present. and right now the present is that there is a political fight taking place. We are working with our allies, making sure that they present a solid narrative and we are putting in place the pieces that are going to defeat the Prime Minister," said Rahul to Gulf News. During the interview Rahul also outlined the absence of direct communication between him and the Prime Minister and said, "Prime Minister Modi doesn't talk to me. He meets and says in monosyllables. he will say 'hello'. The biggest gift that Prime Minister Modi has given me is that I listen now, I listen very deeply." Meanwhile, Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrived in Dubai in the wee hours of Friday for his two-day maiden visit to the United Arab Emirates. He will be interacting with the Indian overseas community and the student community, informed the Indian Congress on Twitter. Gandhi is on two days tour of UAE on January 11 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on January 12. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Time magazine named journalists who faced persecution, arrest or murder as their 2018 Person of the Year, it described them as The Guardians in the War on Truth. It was a forceful rebuke to those who demean journalists as peddlers of fake news and the enemy of the people. But for freelancers who risk their lives in conflict zones, recognition does little to change the fact that they lack steady paychecks and security. 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 US President Trump traveled to the border on Thursday to warn of crime and chaos on the frontier, as White House officials considered diverting emergency aid from storm- and fire-ravaged Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas and California to build a border barrier, perhaps under an emergency declaration. In a sign of growing unease about the partial government shutdown, some Senate Republicans came off the sidelines to hash out a deal that would reopen the government as Congress worked toward a broader agreement tying wall funds to protection for some undocumented immigrants and other ... Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will attend the groundbreaking ceremony at the defence industry factory in Turkey's Sakarya on January 13. The facility will be contracted by BMC Otomotiv. New facility will contain train, truck and bus production facilities of BMC brand name. As expected. the factory will become one of Turkey's biggest defence industry projects of recent years, RIA Novosti reported. US Donald Trump appears to be inching closer to imposing a national emergency that would empower him to build a wall along the to prevent flow of illegal immigrants into the country. During his visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for the controversial wall plan, Trump was asked if he is closer to declaring an emergency. To this he replied, "We are. I would like to look it broader. I think we could do this quickly, because this is common sense and it's not expensive. We will save the cost of the wall every year but much more than that." Trump had on Wednesday said that imposing a national emergency is the last option and threatened to use it if the Democrats did not allocate $5.7 billion funding for his controversial wall plan. The president's inclination towards declaring a national emergency has gained momentum after he walked out of a meeting with top Democratic leaders, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer, on Wednesday following their refusal to allocate a whopping $5.7 billion funding for the border wall plan. During an interaction with media personnel in Texas on Thursday, Trump said, "I would like to do a much broader form of immigration, and we can do immigration reform. It'll take longer. It's been complex. It's been going on for 30-35 years, they've been talking about immigration reform. But before we do that, we have to create a barrier. That we could do very quickly." Contending strongly for construction of a barrier, concrete or steel, along the southern border with Mexico, the has been claiming that illegal immigrants cause $250 billion drain on the American economy. The opposition Democrats, who are now in majority in the House of Representatives have refused to support such a move arguing that building the wall is a waste of taxpayers' money. The sharp differences between the and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday. "We can declare a national emergency. We shouldn't have to because this this is just common sense," Trump said. Referring to his meeting with Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil Singh killed in California recently allegedly by an illegal immigrant, during a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, he said, "Reggie, I got to know him today a little bit. This shouldn't be happening in our country." "This shouldn't be happening. And what you see of the border, that's not as much of a problem as they (illegal immigrants) come through the border and they go out throughout our nation," Trump said. "As hard as we work, and as well as we're doing nationwide on crime, a lot of it is caused by people that come in through the southern border. So, and you know, if we had the barrier, it wouldn't happen," he told reporters. But the Democrats appeared to be unconvinced by Trump's argument of national emergency. "If and when the does that, you'll find out how we will react, but I'm not going to that place now. But I think the President will have problems on his own side of the aisle for exploiting the situation in a way that enhances his power. But not to go there. Let's see what he does," Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol Hill. Democratic Congresswoman Grace Meng from New York on Thursday announced to introduce a legislation in the House of Representatives on Friday to prevent Trump from using a national emergency declaration to fund a wall along the southern border. Some others said that they will file a lawsuit against national emergency. Trump said he is ready for the lawsuit and asserted that he will win it. "I am prepared for anything. The lawyers tell me, like, 100 per cent," he told reporters. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US during a tour of the southern border in asked a law enforcement official how many were arrested early this week trying to illegally enter as he was told that individuals from several South Asian nations attempted to cross the porous border with Trump asked the question when a law enforcement official briefed him on the security situation on the border and listed out the name of the countries whose citizens were nabbed at the border a day earlier. "So far this sector has apprehended folks from 41 different countries. Just yesterday, we apprehended 133 people from countries other than Central and That includes individuals from We apprehended some Pakistanis, Romania," the law enforcement official told Trump. "How many " Trump asked, interrupting the law enforcement official. It was two yesterday, the border security official told the Senator John Cornyn, who was standing there along with Trump, said that nationals of many countries are exploiting the vulnerabilities at the US- border. Senator was also present at the briefing. Trump travelled to the US-Mexico border to have a first hand assessment of the crisis at the border, which has been experiencing a large flow of illegal immigrants, the majority of whom are from Central Asian nations. The ambulance that responded took Mabandlela to the nearest government community health centre, where she was diagnosed with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). As the name suggests, first-line drugs such as rifampicin used to treat the more common, drug-sensitive TB dont work on MDR-TB, from which patients have an increased risk of death and from which they take two years to recover, compared to six months in conventional ... 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 The government is considering raising the minimum selling price of sugar, television news channel ET Now reported on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office was directly examining the proposal, ET Now said quoting sources. The move is likely to help farmers, who are struggling to export their surplus due to fall in global prices and a strengthening rupee. India's sugar exports are likely to be far lower than a 5 million-tonne target set by New Delhi despite a government push for overseas sales, industry officials said. Turkish prosecutors detained 102 former servicemen in Istanbul and Adana province for their alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). In particular, 52 people have been detained in Turkeys Adana province and 50 people in Istanbul. According to the reports, there were one colonel, two majors, one captain and two sergeants among the detainees. All the detainees had close ties with the FETO terrorist organization, Turkish media reported. This year, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) promises to be a little different. Kala Ghoda at 20 seeks to act as a time capsule of sorts, taking one back to 1999, when the iconic fest was first held. One will get a glimpse of how the festival democratised art by bringing it out of intimidating closed spaces and into the neighbourhood and, also how, for nine days ... 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 Former director Alok Verma, ousted by a high powered committee, Friday asked the government to treat him "deemed superannuated" with immediate effect. Refusing to take on his new assignment as Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, Verma wrote to Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, stating the selection committee has not provided him an opportunity to explain the details as recorded by the before arriving at the decision of transferring him. Verma, a 1979-batch IPS officer from AGMUT cadre, was transferred from the position of director to Director General, Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards under the Home Ministry Thursday. The move came after a high powered selection committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Justice A K Sikri and leader of in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, in a split verdict, decided to transfer him 21 days ahead of the completion of his tenure. "Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the director The selection committee did not consider the fact that the entire report is premised on charges alluded by a complainant who is presently under investigation by the CBI," Verma said in a veiled reference to Special Director He said it may be noted that the only forwarded a purportedly signed statement of the complainant (Asthana), and the complainant never came before Justice (Retd) A K Patnaik who is supervising the enquiry. "Also, Justice Patnaik has concluded that the findings and conclusions of the report are not his," the 61-year-old said. He said institutions are one of the strongest and most visible symbols of the democracy and it was no exaggeration that the CBI is one of the most important organisations in India today. "The decisions made yesterday will not just be a reflection on my functioning but will become a testimony on how the CBI as an institution will be treated by any government through the CVC, who is appointed by majority members of the ruling government. This is a moment for collective introspection to state the least," he said. ALSO READ: Alok Verma resigns, says it's a moment of 'collective introspection' The former Delhi police commissioner said he is a career bureaucrat and it is the idea of his integrity that has been the driving force for four decades in public service. "I have served the Indian Police Service with an unblemished record and have headed police forces in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Mizoram, Delhi and also headed two organisations Delhi Prisons and CBI, he said. Thanking officers of the organisations he headed and police officers, Verma said all these organisations reported outstanding achievements, having a direct bearing on the performance of the force and their welfare. "Also, it may be noted that the undersigned would have already superannuated as on July 31, 2017 and was only serving the government as director, CBI till January 31, 2019 as the same was a fixed tenure role. The undersigned is no longer director, CBI and has already crossed his superannuation age for DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. Accordingly. the undersigned may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today," he wrote. ALSO READ: Corruption charges against me false, made by only one person: Alok Verma Kharge, who has opposed his appointment as the CBI director in 2017, had not sided with the other two members of high powered panel in shifting him from the agency. The leader had instead asked for extending his tenure by 77 days, the period on which he was on forced leave besides advocating that Verma should be given a chance to appear before the committee and present his case. With rising subcontracting costs in on-site locations especially in the US weighing on its margins, TCS is looking to execute as much work possible from India, to raise the off-shore efficiency to as high as 90 per cent in addition to hiring locally onsite. Traditionally, the IT outsourcing services industry uses its off-shore base for service delivery to the extent of 70 per cent, while the remaining is executed out of on-shore locations in client geographies. Under its Agile business model, the company has started using its off-shore base up to the extent of 90 per ... Nissan Motor Co Ltd has broadened its investigation into ousted chairman Carlos Ghosn to include dealings that took place in the United States, India and Latin America, three people with knowledge of the inquiry said. In one aspect of their internal probe, company investigators are looking into decisions made in the United States by Jose Munoz who led Nissan's North American operations from 2014 to 2018, the people said. Munoz was recently placed on a leave of absence due to the probe, they added. Nissan said this month that Munoz, its chief performance officer and widely ... The investigation has put together a sequence of events concerning the trip of three Russian journalists - Orkhan Dzhemal, Kirill Radchenko and Alexander Rastroguyev - to the Central African Republic (CAR), where they were killed in July 2018, Russian Investigative Committee Spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said. "The Investigation Management Center (IMC) web project promised a reward of $20,000 to the Russian journalists if they shoot a documentary in the CAR, considered to be one of ten most dangerous countries in the world. Nevertheless, no protection was provided to the journalists who arrived in the country on tourist visas and did not receive credentials," TASS cited Petrenko as saying. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, IMC members contacted Kirill Romanovsky who gave them a telephone number of the so-called fixer named Martin. Romanovsky promised to provide accommodation and a driver to the journalists during their stay in Africa. The spokesman noted that the three arrived in the countrys capital of Bangui on July 28, 2018, which was two days before the planned date, and failed to meet with Martin. Their driver Bienvenue Douvokama testified that he had met the Russian journalists in one of Banguis cafes on the day of their arrival. "Since he knows English and has a pickup truck, the journalists suggested he accompany them on their trips around the country. The fixer named Martin was not involved," Petrenko said, adding that the driver had no connection to the CAR Gendarmerie. "On July 30, 2018, the journalists departed from Bangui to the city of Sibut where they arrived the same night. When they were leaving the city, Central African military servicemen warned them that it was dangerous to travel at nighttime but the Russians continued their trip, saying they were short of time," she continued. The Investigative Committees spokesperson noted that even military patrols preferred to refrain from night trips, given the large number of gangs active in the country. "A group of armed black men who spoke Arabic stopped the car near a village 23 kilometers from Sibut. The attackers ordered everyone to get out of the car and demanded they gave up all of their belongings, photo and video devices. When the Russians refused and tried to resist the attack, they were gunned down, while the driver managed to flee the scene in the car," Petrenko explained. According to her, the investigation sent requests for legal assistance to the Central African Republics law enforcement agencies, which were partially fulfilled. "The car was examined, witnesses who had seen the journalists in Bangui and Sibut were questioned. All the cars passing through that checkpoint in Sibut are also being checked, as well as those that were present in the area on the night of the murder," she said. The investigation is now working to identify the murderers of the Russians. "It must be said that by initiating media reports on the matter, the Investigation Management Center project clearly seeks to justify the mistakes it made during preparations for the trip, this is why it prefers to put forward its own theories and accuse the innocent," Petrenko said. The bodies of three men were found near the city of Sibut (300 kilometers north of Bangui) on July 30. The Russian Foreign Ministry said later that the three had been carrying press cards in the names of Kirill Radchenko, Alexander Rastorguyev and Orkhan Dzhemal. has dropped plans to sell Panaya and two other subsidiaries Skava and Kallidus after it failed to find any potential buyers. In April, had announced its plan to sell Panaya -- the Israeli firm whose acquisition became a contentious issue between the founders and the erstwhile management led by -- along with Kallidus and Skava. It expected the sale to be completed by March 2019. "During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, based on evaluation of proposals received and progress of negotiations with potential buyers, the company concluded that it is no longer highly probable that sale would be consummated by March 31, 2019," said in a regulatory filing. Accordingly, Panaya and Skava have been de-classified from "held for sale", it added. Infosys now plans to re-purpose Skava's micro services-based business and re-focus Panaya's suite of products. Infosys said upon de-classification, it has recognised additional depreciation and amortisation expenses of $12 million and a reduction of $65 million in the carrying value for Skava. A whistleblower report in 2017 had alleged wrongdoings by Infosys and some officials in the $200 million acquisition of Israeli automation technology firm Panaya by the Bengaluru-based IT services firm. An internal audit committee set up by Infosys found no evidence supporting the whistleblowers allegations. However, Infosys founder had demanded that the full report by Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher on these whistleblower allegations be made public. Later in October 2017, the Infosys board -- under its new chairman Nandan Nilekani -- gave a clean chit to the controversial Panaya acquisition, saying there was no merit in the allegations of wrongdoing. ALSO READ: Top Infosys executive Sudip Singh quits amid flurry of exits over last 1 yr It had also said that after a "careful re-consideration" it has concluded that putting out more details of the probe would "inhibit the company's ability to conduct effective investigations into any matter in the future". Infosys, in its Friday filing, also said the board has approved divesting the entire minority investment made by Infosys in Vertex Ventures US Fund I, LP for a total consideration of about $5 million, subject to fulfilment of necessary closing conditions. Infosys had invested in Vertex Ventures US Fund I, LP during financial year 2015. Jet Airways Ltd, India's biggest full-service carrier, has been under dark clouds for the most part of the past year, and several efforts are on to save the sinking airline. While intense pricing competition, weak rupee and rising fuel costs have hurt Indian airlines like IndiGo owned by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd and SpiceJet Ltd, Jet Airways is in a league of its own. Saddled with a debt of about Rs 80.52 billion ($1.14 billion) as of September. 30, Jet is desperately searching for a deal that could help mitigate its severe liquidity crunch. The airline has a market ... Bharti Airtel has agreed to give part of its stake in Airtel Tanzania to the government, raising the East African nation's holding in the mobile phone operator to 49 percent from 40 percent, the president's office said on Friday. The announcement followed talks in Dar es Salaam between President John Magufuli and Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal to resolve a dispute over ownership of the Tanzanian mobile operator. "We have in principle agreed to move forward with a new arrangement of shareholding of 51:49--where Airtel will now drop from 60 percent to 51 percent ... 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 Accenture Plc's Chief Executive Officer Pierre Nanterme is stepping down due to health reasons, the consulting and outsourcing company said on Friday. Chief Financial Officer David Rowland will serve as the interim CEO, Accenture said in a statement. Nanterme, who took the helm in January 2011, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016. Rowland will be replaced by KC McClure, who currently heads Accenture's finance operations. The company said there would be no change to its business outlook for the second quarter and full fiscal year 2019. Dr Dipankar Roy (Pankaj Kapur) strikes a hands-up pose and declares: I surrender! In the climactic scene of Tapan Sinhas National Award-winning 1990 film Ek Doctor Ki Maut, its protagonist finds himself in front of a committee of his peers, who are trying to determine whether or not he has actually discovered a vaccine for leprosy as he claims. Dr Roy makes no bones about the fact that he has no regard for the members of this board. Who among you is a microbiologist? he asks, calling into question their qualification to judge him when they are not even ... More than 40 thousands women in Saudi Arabia have received their licenses since the driving ban was lifted, according to the Kingdoms General Director of Traffic. So far there have been 40,000 licenses issued since the ban was lifted on June 24, 2018, after King Salman issued a royal decree on Sept. 26, 2017, ordering an end to the ban. According a YouGov survey taken in august 2018, 24% of women had applied for a driving license since June 2018 when the ban was lifted, and 61% who hadnt applied, said they would in the future. "We have plans to create 14 driving schools for women in different regions to help ease the waiting list for women to get the license," Arab News cited Mohammed Al-Bassami as saying. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Call it ferry good news for Coney commuters! Coney Island will receive a long sought after stop on the citys ferry service as part of a new South Brooklyn express route to Manhattan, Mayor DeBlasio announced on Thursday. Well connect Coney Island to lower Manhattan, Hizzoner said during his state of the city address delivered on the distant isle. The city tentatively plans to build the dock near the mouth of Coney Island Creek at W. 33rd Street and Bayview Ave., according to Economic Development Corporation spokeswoman Stephanie Baez, who said ferries originating in Coney will stop in Bay Ridge, before sailing to Wall Streets Pier 11 a trip she estimated will take a little less than 40 minutes dock-to-dock. NYC Ferry service to and from the Peoples Playground should begin by 2021, and when it does, the systems current South Brooklyn route which sails from Bay Ridge to Sunset Park, Red Hook, Brooklyn Heights, and Dumbo before heading to Manhattan, with weekend stops at Governors Island will eliminate both the Bay Ridge stop, which will become part of express line between Coney and Manhattan, and the Dumbo stop, which will become part of the East River route. The news is another great victory for Coney Island, according to its Councilman Mark Treyger, who pushed for a local stop since the first batch of citywide routes debuted in May 2017, and said the new boats will ease the commutes of neighborhood residents and summer tourists alike. From day one, I made public transportation improvements a top priority, and the expansion of the NYC Ferry system to Coney Island is a major step forward for Southern Brooklyns students, working families, seniors, and the millions from across New York City and beyond who visit the iconic Peoples Playground and Riegelmann Boardwalk every year, Treyger said. DeBlasios announcement came months after locals last fall demanded the city include Coney in its latest study of where to expand the ferry system, and more than a year after Hizzoner promised residents that officials would look into adding a stop in the neighborhood during a 2017 town hall there. Coney Islanders for years pushed for a local stop, arguing a nautical commute would improve access to jobs and education citywide for residents who otherwise must trek to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue and West Eighth Street-New York Aquarium stations to catch the D, F, N, and Q lines a trip that requires a bus ride for locals living in Coneys West End, where the tentative plan calls for building the new Coney ferry dock. The city first floated launching a ferry service in 2012, when officials suggested creating a Coney Island Creek stop at a derelict fishing pier at Kaiser Park a few blocks east of the newly announced tentative site. But officials ultimately rejected the creek location, saying it was too far from the amusement district. The 2012 study also proposed a stop at W. Eighth Street near the New York Aquarium and Steeplechase Pier, off the Boardwalk near W. 16th Street, which it then called it the ideal mooring location for ferries. But the proposal to dock there came with a couple of conditions, including the construction of a $20-million bulwark at the Steeplechase Pier to control choppy ocean waves, and further study of the site found that even after construction, the operation would hemorrhage money, according to officials. A year later, a group called the Friends of Coney Island Creek Ferry and Landing proposed another dock location deeper inside the creek, at W. 21st Street and Neptune Avenue where they set sail on a test run in a bid to get officials to consider the site, which Borough President Adams endorsed in a December 2017 statement supporting the re-zoning of a nearby block. Local environmentalists, however, argued that the dock should go elsewhere, claiming that the filthy creek is already filled with derelict boats, debris, and toxic waste which they noted would have to be regularly dredged and that a dock at W. 21st Street and Neptune Ave. would interfere with recreational use of the channel. But Adams, who cheered the news of the forthcoming Coney ferry, said he still believes that location is the best spot for the new dock following the mayors announcement. The expansion of NYC Ferry service to Coney Island is a milestone achievement, a common-sense solution that affirms our years of advocacy on behalf of transit-starved residents on the West End and small businesses that depend on tourist activity, the beep said. I will continue conversations with NYCEDC and the Coney Island community on the location of a dedicated landing, which I have called for siting along Coney Island Creek at West 21st Street. 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 Gravesend man may spend the rest of his days behind bars for brutally shooting another man to death during an anti-gun-violence event in a neighborhood park, Brooklyns top prosecutor said. A judge on Wednesday sentenced 36-year-old Raheem Dunaway to 25 years to life in prison for gunning down 30-year-old Daquan Spencer on Aug. 21, 2016 in Scarangella Park amidst the tribute to gun-violence victims which made the murder particularly heinous, according to District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. This was a completely brazen and senseless murder of an innocent man, he said. That it took place during an event meant to honor victims of gun violence, and deter further fatalities, is heartbreaking. Dunaway began confronting and arguing with event attendees before randomly approaching Spencer who suck around in the meadow after celebrating his sons birthday there earlier in the day and firing 20 bullets at him around 1:30 am, according to prosecutors, who said the anti-gun-violence event lasted until the early morning hours. Seventeen of those bullets hit Spencer, in his head, neck, back, chest, stomach, legs, and buttocks, and Dunaway continued to fire at the victim even after he fell to his knees and tried to crawl away, prosecutors said. Following the shooting, Dunaway walked to a vehicle waiting nearby and fled, according to trial testimony. Officers arrested him two-and-a-half months later on Nov. 10 in South Carolina, according to prosecutors, who identified him as the shooter with help from witnesses who gave statements and picked him out in a police lineup. Dunaways sentencing followed his December conviction of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Call them rotten apples. Police are hunting for the two masked malcontents who swiped more than $325,250 worth of Apple products from a Gravesend electronics retailer on Christmas Eve. Surveillance footage authorities released on Wednesday shows the two balaclava-clad crooks break a lock on a basement door of the Avenue W B&H store near McDonald Avenue at 11:45 pm on Dec. 24, after they used ladders to climb down to the lower-level entrance, according to a Police Department spokeswoman. And once inside, the louts bagged several iPads, iPhones, iPods, and Apple Watches, before loading them into a white Ford van and speeding off on McDonald Avenue towards Avenue U, authorities said. The baddies stole their illicit Apple stash from B&H days before a group of four other thieves, whom cops are still searching for, swiped as many Apple Watches from the brands eponymous store in Fort Greene. Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. Latest News REA acquires software provider, adds to broker offering Huge moves in mortgage scene as real estate giant looks to expand AUB announces new self-securitisation New source of funds allows for greater volumes with same turnaround times A central Queensland bank is now operating under the umbrella of MyState Bank as a move to improve the customer experience. The Rock, which has been operating since 1967, became part of the MyState Limited group in 2011. As of 1 December 2018, The Rock took on the MyState Bank brand so that customers could benefit from the millions MyState has invested in modern banking solutions. Existing Rock customers can continue to use their accounts as before but will now be able to download the MyState Bank app and benefit from features such as Apple Pay, Garmin Pay and Google Pay. For customers who have taken out loans with The Rock, they will now benefit from a simpler redraw facility. Huw Bough, group executive and GM of retail and business banking and broker at MyState, said The Rock had been an early adopter of the broker channel, leading it to become a reasonably strong brand. Bough also praised the broker channel for helping MyState Bank grow, saying most customers had come from brokers. MyState has become a successful national player off the back of the broker channel, he said. MyState has been able to grow its business by utilizing brokers, being able to advocate our products and services. Were big believers in providing simple and easy to use products for customers and I think we embrace the broker channel for being able to allow us to do that. Bough said brokers and customers have embraced the transition from The Rock to MyState Bank because of the better offering. He added, I think MyStates in a fantastic position at the moment. We have got great products and services, and I think customers are embracing our proposition. Our NPS last week was +39 and bearing in mind most of our customers are introduced through brokers, it says a lot about the broker advice and the experience to have such a high NPS. London: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has told his British counterpart, Theresa May, the whole world wants to avoid a no-deal Brexit, even as she faces likely defeat when Parliament votes on her plan next week. Following a day of meetings between the two leaders in London, Abe publicly backed Mays agreement and offered her his "deepest respect" for the work she had done in securing an agreement with the European Union. British Prime Minister Theresa May welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Downing Street. Credit:AP "We truly hope that a no-deal Brexit will be avoided and in fact, that is the whole wish of the whole world," Abe said at a press conference in Downing Street on Thursday evening, London time. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would seek maximum progress during his upcoming talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I will visit Russia this month to hold negotiations. However, you always have negotiation partners, so I cannot make any forecasts about the outcome," the Japanese prime minister said during a joint news conference with UK Prime Minister Threresa May in London. "But my hope is to achieve as much progress as possible during the negotiations with president Putin," Bloomberg cited Abe as saying. Kinshasa: In the days after Congolese voters went to the polls late last month, as ballots were being counted, the opposition candidate widely believed to have won the presidency offered assurances to the regime that has long ruled the country. "If I am elected, there will not be revenge," said the candidate, Martin Fayulu. Supporters of Felix Tshisekedi outside the UDPS party headquarters in Kinshasa. Credit:Jerome Delay Fayulu's rival opposition candidate, who was handed victory by Democratic Republic of Congo election officials on Thursday, in a decision that has set the country on edge, may have done Fayulu one better. The president-elect, Felix Tshisekedi, declared that his predecessor, president Joseph Kabila, who agreed to step down only with the utmost reluctance after 18 years, will be an "important partner" in the transition. Tshisekedi's comment reinforced speculation that his campaign had reached some kind of a power-sharing agreement with the Kabila government. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size On October 15, 2015, far-right kingpin Shermon Burgess posted his final video on the popular nationalist Facebook page, The Great Aussie Patriot. In the two-minute clip, which was filmed on a phone and edited with awkward jump cuts, he looked distressed. Gday patriots, he started. Now just letting you know whats going on. Im going to be handing full leadership of the United Patriots Front over to Blair Cottrell. I wont be doing it anymore." Reclaim Australia the series of rallies in 2015 that turned out thousands of anti-immigrant, anti-Islam patriots saw Cottrell as the next golden child. And so did Cottrell. One researcher says he views himself as the sexy Fuhrer: a muscular, blond, articulate leader who has said Jews are a much deadlier enemy than the violent Islamic pillagers, and that to keep women in line you should crack them around the ear every once in a while. Right-wing figure Blair Cottrell addresses a rally in St Kilda. Credit:Darrian Traynor But in his three-year tenure as de facto leader of Australias far-right, the "sexy Fuhrer" has failed. The movement has dramatically weakened since its Reclaim Australia days something that could have been predicted from watching Burgess resignation video three years ago. I wont be making videos and Im taking down my page, he said, before adding: Now its not because of media, its not because of death threats from Islam - even though Ive received many of those. "Its because of the dumb f---ing patriots out there. Advertisement Australia's far-right has cycled through enemies over the years Islam, the media, Jews, the elites, African gangs but with their constant infighting, division, ego and lack of leadership, they continue to ensure their biggest enemy is themselves. After becoming the UPF leader in 2015, Cottrell planned to go mainstream. He announced a political party, Fortitude, which folded after failing to muster enough support to register. He attended other rallies, such as one in Melbourne in mid-2016 about low milk prices, but was booed off the stage soon after taking the megaphone. And while his appearance on triple j's Hack Live a couple of months later launched him as a truly national figurehead, he failed to translate that notoriety into boots on the ground. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Despite his best efforts, the wildly different strands of far-right Australia refused to cooperate. Since Reclaim Australia, the single biggest ideological clash in far-right circles has been whether to be pro or anti-Israel. Some nationalists celebrate Israel, believing it sets a precedent for the emergence of other single-ethnicity states, while others find more ammunition by blaming Jews for faults in the economy and media. When it comes to Jews, Australia's far-right hasn't been able to keep it together. In the extensive field of far-right Facebook pages and groups, the big news at the end of last year was the clash between Neil Erikson and Avi Yemini. If Cottrell is Australia's most well known nationalist, Erikson and Yemini are second and third. Erikson is a self-confessed "troll" who famously harassed former senator Sam Dastyari in a Melbourne pub in 2017, and Yemini is the most prominent member of the only far-right party to contest the recent Victoria state election, the Australian Liberty Alliance (which received 0.6 per cent of the upper house vote). He's also Jewish. In November, Yemini circulated a photo on Facebook of Erikson appearing to do the Nazi salute at a Coburg pub, and Erikson returned serve by publishing a video where he made different accusations against Yemini. As the conflict escalated, Erikson begged his supporters not to vote for Yemini in the upcoming Victoria state election. For Erikson and Yemini, the clash was not just personal, but ideological: Yemini is a pro-Israel Jew, while Erikson was convicted for stalking a rabbi in 2014 and has confessed to once being a neo-Nazi. Advertisement One result of the constant infighting is that since Reclaim Australia, the far-right has rotated through a ferociously high number of groups. Erikson, for instance, has been part of at least 16 different nationalist projects in recent years, including: Cook's Convicts, Patriot Blue, Nationalist Uprising, Australian Settlers Rebellion, Aussie Patriot Army, Ban Islam Party, European Australian Civil Rights League, Generation Identity Australia, Nationalist Republican Guard, Neil Erikson Media, NRG Media, OzConspiracy, Pauline Hanson's Guardian Angels, Reclaim Australia, United Patriots Front - Originals, and UPF itself. Despite their multitude, they amass considerable online followings: Australian Liberty Alliance has 46,000 followers on Facebook, and Erikson, on his personal page, has 23,000. Remnant pages from the Reclaim Australia days have even more reach: the "Stand Up For Australia - Canberra" page, for instance, has 134,000 followers. There are dozens of other groups and pages: far-right media outlets, communities based on geography, pages that spawned from rallies and pages centred on individuals. Loading Fraser Anning, the independent senator who attended the St Kilda beach rally last Saturday, is a rising star on the far-right Facebook scene. His 75,000-follower strong page shares popular posts, including a recent one "Too many pollies and those in the media are out of touch with the legitimate concerns of everyday Aussies" that garnered 13,000 reactions and was shared 3000 times. Julie Nathan, a researcher with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry who publishes an annual monograph on anti-Semitism in Australia (the far-right usually takes up around 100 pages each edition) says new groups emerge due to uncompromising egos and strict ideologies. "If someone else comes along and disagrees with a particular set of ideas, that will often create a splinter within the group and another group will form from that. Often they're quite ideologically tight - you follow the leader or you're out." The far-right is also split on how anti-Semitic they should be in public some far-right groups read Mein Kampf and celebrate white nationalism, but are unsure on whether that agenda should be broadcast. In a Facebook conversation between Cottrell and Erikson a few months after the former started as leader of the UPF, they debated how to approach "the Jewish problem". Advertisement "My personal opinion is stick to the Muslim shit and Cultural Marxism for max support do Jews later you don't need to show your full hand," Erikson said in messages between the two. Cottrell agreed: "Yeah good advice and that's my current attitude as well. It will take years to prepare for the Jewish problem. If any of us came out with it now we would be slaughtered by public opinion." John Safran, a comedian and author who did shots of tequila with United Patriots Front leaders as part of the research for his book Depends What You Mean By Extremist, says any hints of anti-Semitism seriously dampens the far-right's tilt at the mainstream. "When they had this fluke of connecting up with people in Reclaim Australia, they managed to present themselves as normal," says Safran. "It worked because they sounded like Aussie larrikins." A protester issues a Nazi salute at rally in St Kilda. Credit:Darrian Traynor The far-right tried hard to preserve their family feel in 2015. Once, while a Sydney group was travelling to Melbourne for a rally, they realised there were neo-Nazis on the bus with them, so dumped them outside Canberra and continued on their way. But that priority has since faded. Pictures circulated widely this week of a St Kilda rally participant performing the Nazi salute. And much of 2018's far-right media coverage has focused on the more sinister, openly anti-Semitic Antipodean Resistance, a group which splits its time between doing the Nazi salute on camping trips in the Blue Mountains, and taping swastika stickers to universities and synagogues. Erikson blames Pauline Hanson, not the far-far-right, for the movement's decline since Reclaim Australia. "There was a vacuum that wasn't being filled during the Reclaim Australia rallies. After that, politicians and the media starting talking about Islam. Pauline Hanson got in, she took a lot of support," he says. Advertisement Erikson says the "mums and dads" who turned out in 2015 don't want to come to rallies any more because they feel their concerns are being heard by Canberra. He views the arrival of Hanson and Anning in Parliament as a success, but it doesn't explain the movement's uninspiring couple of years: in the United States, and swathes of Europe and South America, once far-right politicians gain power, their parallel grassroots movements thrive. People fly into the air as a vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Credit:AP The clearest example of this was Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 the "Unite the Right" rally drew approximately 500 white nationalists, emboldened by a president who held a weak line on the far-right. European nations with right-wing governments have seen an uptick in white nationalist activity too. Last year's 200,000-strong Polish independence day rally, organised by the country's far-right and sponsored by the government, featured Poland's president marching a hundred metres in front of nationalists shouting "White Poland!". 2015 was a turning point for Australia's far-right. If they had transformed those supporters into an organisation with mainstream credentials, many more than 100 would have turned out to St Kilda beach last week. Instead, far-right leaders attacked one another, started splinter groups, and failed to suppress their neo-Nazi element. Burgess, the former UPF leader, is still around making videos on YouTube, instead of Facebook. In one uploaded last week, Burgess encouraged patriots to attend the St Kilda rally. "There should be three to five thousand people down there on Saturday," he says. "We don't want to see a piss poor turn out of 70 to 100 people." Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Advertisement Tributes have begun to flow for beloved mother Ramaine Meldrum, killed on Friday afternoon in an alleged hit and run. A 45-year old man has been arrested and released pending further inquiries. Known by friends and family as Stay, Ms Meldrum was struck while riding her motorcycle down the Princes Highway, in Wyndham Vale, in Melbourne's south-west. Ramaine Meldrum was killed on Friday afternoon in an alleged hit-and-run. Credit:Facebook One woman took to Facebook to pay tribute to her "beautiful sister". A Nigerian man living in Queensland has been charged after allegedly posing as a United States soldier online and forming a romantic relationship with a woman who sent him $370,000 all in the name of love. Cosmos Emeh, 32, appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday where it was revealed he had also been accused of trying to get the victim to send him a further $170,000 before officers swooped and arrested him at his Durack home on Thursday. The Nigerian man allegedly used these photos of a United States soldier and posed as him to lure a Brisbane woman into handing over hundreds of thousands of dollars. Credit:QPS Media Mr Emeh, who is in the country on a student visa, allegedly received the money over the course of three months from the 34-year-old Brisbane woman, who later contacted police and sparked the investigation. According to his defence lawyer, the accused has been in Australia for two years, has no criminal history, is studying a certificate of urban and environmental planning at Griffith University and already holds a bachelor degree. The owners' strata committee for western Sydney's Opal Tower is urging residents not to return to the cracked building, despite the builder giving most residents the all-clear to move back home. Some residents have been living in hotels for more than two weeks after they were evacuated when the high-rise building suffered cracking on Christmas Eve. Some residents are unsure whether to return home on the weekend. Credit:Nick Moir While building company Icon has told residents those not impacted by the major remedial works can return home on Saturday, the building's strata committee has urged them to resist until they receive written guarantees about the building's safety. "We urge residents NOT to agree to reoccupy the building," the owners' strata committee said in an email to residents on Friday. Gold Logie winning actor Craig McLachlan has been charged with one count of common assault and eight counts of indecent assault. Victoria Police have given the 53-year-old actor a court attendance notice in relation to the charges. A year ago The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, in conjunction with the ABC, revealed that several female co-stars from the 2014 production of the Rocky Horror show accused McLachlan of indecent and inappropriate behaviour. McLachlan, famous for his starring roles in the Doctor Blake Mysteries, Neighbours and Home and Away , was charged on summons to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on February 8, 2019. But the extreme volatility of the markets and its impact on retirees and those about to retire is changing the calculus, and the calendar, for those responsible for crafting retirement solutions. For many people, December's precipitous stock market drop was nothing less than an unnerving and unwelcome return to the emotional turmoil that so many Americans experienced in the fall of 2008 and early 2009. Clearly, people are still struggling to make ends meet, but the recent loss of retirement savings tied up in the markets is the newest element in the cost-of-living debate, one that's beginning to affect people's view of the economy. Over the past month, our Winning the Issues survey found that attitudes about the economy are still positive but have softened. In the December survey, 45 per cent said the US economy was headed in the right direction while 35 per cent said it was off on the wrong track - still a good result. But the trend line is concerning. When asked the same question in the post-November election survey, people were more positive, coming in at 51 per cent (right direction) to 32 per cent (wrong track). But at the end of November, it had slipped to 48 per cent (right direction) to 34 per cent (wrong track), and now to 45 per cent to 35 per cent. Given the recent volatility in the stock market, we asked voters in our December survey to tell us which of the following statements best described the personal impact of the market downturn. Twenty-eight per cent said they had been "personally impacted;" 32 per cent said they had not been affected but were seriously concerned they might be; and 29 per cent called the Wall Street decline seriously concerning but said it would not likely impact them. The US-led military coalition in Syria has begun the process of withdrawing troops, an American military official said. Colonel Sean Ryan, spokesman for the coalition fighting the Islamic State group, said the US had started "the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria". "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements," he said in a statement. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began on Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armoured vehicles and some trucks pulled out from Syria's north-eastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. Confirmation of the first withdrawals comes amid confusion over plans to implement President Donald Trump's pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurds, who have been America's partners on the ground in the war against IS in Syria. There are 2,000 American troops in Syria. Mr Trump's abrupt decision in December to pull them out, declaring in a tweet the defeat of IS, sent shockwaves across the region and led to the resignation of US defence minister James Mattis and the top US envoy to the anti-IS coalition. It also led to major criticism that the US was abandoning its Kurdish allies amid Turkish threats of an imminent attack. On Sunday, US National Security Adviser, John Bolton, said American troops will not leave north-eastern Syria until IS is defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on a tour of the region, has also sought to reassure the Kurds that they will be safe after US troops withdraw from the country. Mr Pompeo said: These have been folks that have fought with us and it's important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected. Russia's Foreign Ministry said the Americans are not serious about withdrawing. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it appears to Moscow that the US "is looking for a reason to stay". She said Russia has not seen public statements laying out the US strategy in Syria and so cannot be sure Washington is serious about leaving. - Press Association German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas will visit Russia in the near future. He was speaking about it at a New Years reception hosted by the German Eastern Business Association. "Relations with Russia are crucial for Europes eastern policy. It is impossible to resolve issues without it [Russia]," TASS cited the top German diplomat as saying. "We seek close and trust-based cooperation with Russia, this is what Europes eastern policy should be aimed at," Maas said, adding that they need honest dialogue and clear principles. Never forget the war bloodshed of WWI and WWII, let us educate our youth to promote peace, love, not war. - - - - - - - D156,00050 D Day 14,00019,000 10,000 4,0009,000 Quick Answer. It is estimated that there were between 14,000 and 19,000 casualties on the initial day of the invasion of Normandy. Allied forces suffered the greatest number with approximately 10,000 casualties. The Germans suffered between 4,000 and 9,000 casualties. __________________________ Codenamed Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of Frances Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and required extensive planning. Prior to D-Day, the Allies conducted a large-scale deception campaign designed to mislead the Germans about the intended invasion target. What was the importance of D Day? A: D-Day was important for several reasons. The most important reason was that it marked the first time in the war that Allied troops threatened Germany's control of Europe. Why is D-Day important? | Reference.com www.reference.com/history/d-day-important-e9f9f75771c Preparing for D-Day anything glorified war - bloodshed of humans - sacrifice - cruelty - should be banned from getting close to young people - as their blood easily got boiling up to fight again. Some evil old men keep following the war flame - trying to set youths on fire up with war - should be condemned. Why?the most memorial was on D-day invasion: "156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of Frances Normandy region." One out of three soldiers lost their life, as predicted ! In the end, How many casualties were at D Day? After World War II began, Germany invaded and occupied northwestern France beginning in May 1940. The Americans entered the war in December 1941, and by 1942 they and the British (who had been evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk in May 1940 after being cut off by the Germans in the Battle of France) were considering the possibility of a major Allied invasion across the English Channel. The following year, Allied plans for a cross-Channel invasion began to ramp up. In November 1943, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), who was aware of the threat of an invasion along Frances northern coast, put Erwin Rommel (1891-1944) in charge of spearheading defense operations in the region, even though the Germans did not know exactly where the Allies would strike. Hitler charged Rommel with finishing the Atlantic Wall, a 2,400-mile fortification of bunkers, landmines and beach and water obstacles. ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website Did you know? The Normandy American Cemetery, overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel, was established on June 8, 1944, as the first U.S. cemetery in Europe during World War II. It holds the graves of more than 9,300 U.S. servicemen who died in the D-Day invasion or subsequent missions. In January 1944, General Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) was appointed commander of Operation Overlord. In the months and weeks before D-Day, the Allies carried out a massive deception operation intended to make the Germans think the main invasion target was Pas-de-Calais (the narrowest point between Britain and France) rather than Normandy. In addition, they led the Germans to believe that Norway and other locations were also potential invasion targets. Many tactics were used to carry out the deception, including fake equipment; a phantom army commanded by George Patton and supposedly based in England, across from Pas-de-Calais; double agents; and fraudulent radio transmissions. A Weather Delay: June 5, 1944 Eisenhower selected June 5, 1944, as the date for the invasion; however, bad weather on the days leading up to the operation caused it to be delayed for 24 hours. On the morning of June 5, after his meteorologist predicted improved conditions for the following day, Eisenhower gave the go-ahead for Operation Overlord. He told the troops: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. Later that day, more than 5,000 ships and landing craft carrying troops and supplies left England for the trip across the Channel to France, while more than 11,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion. D-Day Landings: June 6, 1944 By dawn on June 6, thousands of paratroopers and glider troops were already on the ground behind enemy lines, securing bridges and exit roads. The amphibious invasions began at 6:30 a.m. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture beaches codenamed Gold, Juno and Sword, as did the Americans at Utah Beach. U.S. forces faced heavy resistance at Omaha Beach, where there were over 2,000 American casualties. However, by days end, approximately 156,000 Allied troops had successfully stormed Normandys beaches.According to some estimates, more than 4,000 Allied troops lost their lives in the D-Day invasion, with thousands more wounded or missing. Less than a week later, on June 11, the beaches were fully secured and over 326,000 troops, more than 50,000 vehicles and some 100,000 tons of equipment had landed at Normandy. For their part, the Germans suffered from confusion in the ranks and the absence of celebrated commander Rommel, who was away on leave. At first, Hitler, believing the invasion was a feint designed to distract the Germans from a coming attack north of the Seine River, refused to release nearby divisions to join the counterattack. Reinforcements had to be called from further afield, causing delays. He also hesitated in calling for armored divisions to help in the defense. Moreover, the Germans were hampered by effective Allied air support, which took out many key bridges and forced the Germans to take long detours, as well as efficient Allied naval support, which helped protect advancing Allied troops. In the ensuing weeks, the Allies fought their way across the Normandy countryside in the face of determined German resistance, as well as a dense landscape of marshes and hedgerows. By the end of June, the Allies had seized the vital port of Cherbourg, landed approximately 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles in Normandy, and were poised to continue their march across France. Victory in Normandy By the end of August 1944, the Allies had reached the Seine River, Paris was liberated and the Germans had been removed from northwestern France, effectively concluding the Battle of Normandy. The Allied forces then prepared to enter Germany, where they would meet up with Soviet troops moving in from the east. The Normandy invasion began to turn the tide against the Nazis. A significant psychological blow, it also prevented Hitler from sending troops from France to build up his Eastern Front against the advancing Soviets. The following spring, on May 8, 1945, the Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. Hitler had committed suicide a week earlier, on April 30. Access hundreds of hours of historical video, commercial free, with HISTORY Vault. Start your free trial today. Several people have been detained in Chechnya, Russia, on suspicion of being gay in a throwback to an earlier crackdown, activists said. The reports come a year and a half after more than 100 gay men in the Russian republic were arrested and tortured, and some of them were killed, according to activists. Chechen authorities never admitted their role in the well-documented abuse, and federal authorities conducted a probe that did not produce any findings to back up the reports. Prominent activist, Igor Kochetkov, told the Associated Press on Friday that gay rights supporters have seen a spike in detentions of men and women suspected of being gay since late December. He would not say how many people have been detained or where they are now. He said the activists are preparing a short report to be released on Monday. Independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which broke the news of the crackdown in 2017, earlier on Friday reported renewed persecution of gay people in Chechnya. Russian authorities kept denying the killings and torture took place in the predominantly Muslim region where homosexuality is a taboo, even after one man came forward to talk about the time he spent in detention in Chechnya. Maxim Lapunov said he was detained by unidentified people on a street in the Chechen capital Grozny, and kept in custody for two weeks, where he was repeatedly beaten. He was let go after he signed a statement acknowledging he was gay and was told he would be killed if he talked about his time in detention. Mr Lapunov, who is not an ethnic Chechen and who hails from Siberia, was the first to file a complaint with Russian authorities over the wave of arrests. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe last month called on Moscow to investigate the reports, and Mr Lapunov's case specifically. - Press Association A Saudi teenager who holed up in Thailand after fleeing alleged abuse by her family will leave Bangkok for Canada, according to Thailand's immigration police chief. Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, 18, is leaving on a flight late on Friday evening, said Police Chief Surachate Hakparn. US Police have named the man suspected of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl, who was found alive yesterday. Jayme Closs, from Wisconsin, was kidnapped last October after her parents were murdered. Cristiano Ronaldo's lawyer, Peter S. Christiansen, has said in a statement that it is "very standard" for police to request a DNA sample as part of their investigations. A warrant for a DNA sample from the Juventus star has been issued by police in Las Vegas investigating rape allegations made against the footballer. Curragh trainers John Oxx and Patrick Prendergast have joined forces to form a new partnership ahead of the commencement of the new flat turf season at Naas on March 24. Prendergast will not renew his licence at the end of February and the new operation will continue with Oxx as the named trainer. The news has emerged just a month after Prendergast collected the Flat Achievement of the Year honour at the HRI Awards for his handling of Skitter Scatter throughout a busy juvenile campaign that ended with the filly providing him with his maiden Group 1 success in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh in September. That was the highlight of his best ever season in terms of prize money earned (649,095) and quantity of winners (21), improving on a 2017 term that also set new marks. As a result of his success however, Prendergast, who had previously enjoyed Group 3 victories with Coral Wave and Sugar Boy, is in demand but has limited room for expansion at Melitta Lodge. Now, Skitter Scatter will continue her career under Oxxs name. One of the most successful active trainers in Irish racing, he is just 34 winners short of reaching an astonishing landmark of 2000 winners. The tally of 1966 winners includes 296 group and listed races, with 11 classic triumphs contributing to an accumulation of 37 Group One victories. Champions of the ilk of Ridgewood Pearl, Sinndar, Alamshar, Azamour and the remarkable Sea The Stars flourished under Oxxs astute handling. He has endured a leaner spell since, coinciding with the ending of a long association with the Aga Khan in the midst of the economic downturn, but has worked diligently to rebuild and counts 16 Godolphin horses among his string for the year ahead and a healthy spread of owners generally. This new partnership with near neighbour Prendergast, who uses the same gallops and who he sees every morning anyway, is another step in that growth and confirms his enduring ambition. This proximity of Currabeg Stables and Melitta Lodge is just one of the attractions for both men, who view the collaboration as the best way for them to perform at a higher level on a consistent basis. No jobs will be lost and the owners have all given their backing to the enterprise. We want to have a sufficient number of horses to ensure a strong and viable stable but also a number that is appropriate to the programme in the country, so that we can offer a good service to our owners says Oxx. We both felt this was the best way for us to do that. I have the stable capacity and facilities that Patrick would have needed to grow and I have the staff needed to work it. Therefore, horses andsufficient staff will transfer from Melitta Lodge to Currabeg. It makes sense for us to pool our resources, our facilities, our staff, our horses, our ideas and our experience. We greatly look forward to this. Prendergast is thankful to his owners for their support until now and for backing the new venture. I am deeply appreciative of all the owners that supported me over the years, the likes of Rick Barnes of Grangecon Stud, John OConnor at Ballylinch Stud and the Rogers family at Airlie Stud, and it is great that they are taking the next step with John and me. I cant wait to get going states Prendergast. Splitting the roles will enable us to focus more deliberately on the different elements that are needed in order to provide a more comprehensive offering to our owners. Very little will change for Skitter Scatter. She will work on the same gallops she has always worked on, she will be ridden by the same jockey, Ronan Whelan. The only difference is that there will be an extra set of eyes on her. That those eyes belong to John Oxx is an obvious benefit. Oxx is obviously enthusiastic about working with Skitter Scatter but views the benefits of an amalgamation as long term. I am delighted to have Patrick on board and am most appreciative and grateful to his owners, that they have welcomed the idea so wholeheartedly. Safety works to allow for the reopening of a junction on the N20 Cork to Limerick road are set to get underway within weeks. Cork County Council confirmed yesterday that work on the Waterloo junction to facilitate left-in and left-out traffic only, and to prevent southbound traffic making a right-turn for Blarney, will start before the end of this month and be completed by early February. The junction was closed last summer to facilitate road resurfacing along a stretch of the N20 at this location. But it emerged within days that the local authority was working towards a full and permanent closure of the junction in the wake of a number of serious accidents at the junction, including a double fatality involving two US tourists who were directed by satnav to make a right turn at the junction for Blarney. The Council conducted a safety audit of the junction which outlined three possible options, including a left-in and left-out option. Cork County Council can confirm that works on the N20 Waterloo Junction to facilitate Left In and Left Out traffic will commence before the end of January and are expected to be completed in early February.https://t.co/eqdNPR8y99 Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) January 11, 2019 But full closure was the recommended option and the junction was closed to traffic. The way the closure was implemented sparked an intense local campaign to secure the reopening of the junction. Council engineers have been working for several weeks on the left-in left-out option and confirmed yesterday that work to implement that will start within weeks. Meanwhile, advance works on a major capacity improvement project at the Little Island Interchange are due to get underway in February. John Sisk and Son Ltd, the main contractor for the Dunkettle interchange upgrade works, has been appointed to work on the Little Island scheme. Survey works already underway on site with construction set to start on February 11. Additional slip lanes will be added in a number of areas but the main focus of the works will be on increasing the number of traffic lanes on the interchange overbridge from three to four. Engineers expect the works will be completed by June. A spokesman said: No significant traffic impacts are anticipated in the short term but the interchange overbridge works will be particularly difficult." Separately, the construction of footpaths and road resurfacing in the Silversprings area to regularise traffic lanes on the recently revamped stretch of road will start on January 21, under night-time working conditions and should be finished by mid-February. The general secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, Peter Hughes, says his members do not want to strike, but government inaction is forcing them to do so. The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), which represents some 6,000 nurses, is taking the industrial action over concerns about recruitment and retention in the nursing sector. Its members are to strike on February 12, 13 and 14 and will not be available for overtime on January 31 and February 1, 5, 6 and 7. Mr Hughes told RTEs Morning Ireland that he hopes the issue is resolved before the overtime ban comes into force, otherwise it will have a big impact. The PNA is due to meet the HSE on Tuesday of next week, he said. He criticised the Governments mental health policy in recent years, pointing out that there had been an increase of only 30% in community services while there had been a 70% reduction in beds in the system. We believe the Government has not responded to these issues. Our members dont want to strike, we would welcome a robust proposal," he said. Mr Hughes also said that the Pay Commissions conclusions in relation to pay were incorrect. He pointed out that vacancy rates in the sector have led to a reliance on agency staff and overtime. He said that 1m per week is being spent on agency staff with a further 300,000 being spent on overtime. This should be spent on recruitment and retention claimed Mr Hughes. Recruitment and retention of nurses within the Irish healthcare system needs to be addressed with realistic proposals from Government as a matter of extreme urgency. PNA (@PNA_IRL) January 10, 2019 The PNA carried out a survey in 2017 which found there were 500 vacancies in the service, a further survey was carried out in August 2018 which showed an increase of 40% to 700 vacancies. Month by month the vacancies are increasing, this is going to have an impact on patient safety," he said. The Pay Commission got it wrong. A vacancy rate increase of 40% in less than a year shows thats the case. If overtime and agency spending was instead spent on recruitment and retention it would still be within the pay agreement. A court has found that a man hit another vehicle with an iron rod in an alleged road-rage "showdown" sparked by a reluctance by two motorists to reverse on a West Cork boreen. Jaap Van Hemmem, of Friendly Cover House in Durrus near Bantry, faced two charges, of using insulting or threatening or abusive words and behaviour, and of criminal damage, in relation to the incident which unfolded on the Mine Road near Durrus on April 20, 2018. Bantry District Court heard from Tracy Holt, a 53-year-old originally from the UK but now living in West Cork, that she was driving her Toyota on the Mine Road near Durrus at around 4.20pm that day and encountered a Nissan being driven by Mr Van Hemmem coming in the opposite direction. Judge James McNulty was told that both cars stopped and both motorists looked at each other. Ms Holt said she felt there was nowhere behind her that she could reverse into, and she ultimately got out of the car and asked Mr Van Hemmem to reverse. He did so and she alleged when passing she said to him "see, it wasn't that far for you to go" at which point Mr Van Hemmem slapped her wing mirror. She admitted she then called him "a bastard" and that at that point he produced what she said was an iron bar, hitting her car twice on the driver side. The court also heard that the cars scraped each other as they passed on the narrow road. She said she felt scared and described the encounter as "surreal", adding that she called gardai immediately. The court also heard that Ms Holt's mother had passed away that very week but she denied it had any impact on her behaviour, saying she may have been stressed but she was not acting irrationally. Mr Van Hemmem denied having any iron bar and his solicitor, Ray Hennessy, argued that the cars were in such close proximity while passing that his client would have been unable to strike Ms Holt's car as alleged. Mr Van Hemmem, a 44-year-old father of three, said he had simply shrugged during the initial stand-off and that he did ultimately reverse 250 yards to facilitate Ms Holt when she could have reversed just two car lengths. He alleged she made a remark that "you young guys are always up for a fight", to which he said: "If you are going to drive these roads maybe learn how to drive first." He claimed Ms Holt had then opened her car door onto his car, and he had slapped her wing mirror. Judge McNulty found that Mr Van Hemmem was not guilty of the charge of insulting or abusive words and behaviour and said while Ms Holt was "understandably stressed" and maybe "bolshy", Mr Van Hemmem's comment about driving was condescending and arrogant. The Judge said the criminal damage charge was proven but because of Mr Van Hemmem's good record and lack of any previous convictions he would deal with it by way of conditional discharge on a bond of 5,000, no cash required, provided Mr Van Hemmem keep the peace for the next three years. Recognisance for any appeal was set at Mr Van Hemmem's own bond of 100, no cash required. A district court judge has warned a 51-year-old Dunmanway man that hospital staff have a tough enough job without having to deal with insulting behaviour particularly at the accident and emergency unit. Judge Olann Kelleher addressed his comments to defendant, Oliver White, 51, who now lives at 32B Fair Street, Mallow, County Cork. People in the Mercy and CUH have a terrible time and you refused to stop this behaviour for staff," the judge said at Cork District Court. If this continues in the future you will end up in jail. It is not fair to staff at the A&E who are doing their best in difficult circumstances. For people who cause trouble in A&E the court inevitably sends them to jail. Oliver White, who was represented by Eddie Burke solicitor, asked for permission to address the court directly. It was not my intention to have any altercation, it just happened," he said. "If I may say something else. When things happen and you are in a lot of pain you react in a way you would not otherwise react. You might not have your awareness about you. Sergeant John Kelleher told the court: On Sunday June 3, 2018 following a disturbance at the A&E of the Mercy University Hospital gardai were requested. On arrival, Garda William Hanley observed Oliver White being restrained by two members of security. Mr White was very agitated and roaring abuse at all present. He refused to desist even when released by security. A&E was quite busy at that time and a number of people entered the department and left as Mr White continued to be abusive. The defendant was arrested. While he pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, Eddie Burke solicitor said the accused was not threatening to anyone. While he was abusive there was no threat to any member of staff. There is a subtle difference," Mr Burke said. "He was unable to get off the trolley because of the pains in his feet." The judge imposed a 200 fine on the defendant. Studies at Georgian universities, public schools and kindergartens have been postponed until January 21 due to the spread of flu, according to Georgian Education Ministry. The ministry said that they will observe the situation during the time studies are postponed. It was recommended to the leadership of all public schools to carry out disinfection activities. Head of the National Disease Control Centre Amiran Gamkrelidze said that 254 individuals are infected per 100,000 at present, which means that there is no threat of an epidemic, Agenda.ge reported. "At least 500 people should be infected per 100,000 for us to say that there is a flu epidemic in the country," he said. Update:The government has launched a major initiative with Irish fishermen to tackle marine litter. The Clean Oceans Initiative aims for all Irish trawlers to recover plastic waste from the oceans on every fishing trip. Plastic is the most common waste found in the sea, making up 80% of marine litter, while almost 70% of larger plastic waste in the oceans is fishing related. To tackle plastic in our oceans, the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed launched the campaign is Irelands first coordinated action on land and at sea to collect, reduce and reuse marine litter. The Department of Agriculture is now assembling a team of stakeholders from across the marine industry to focus on solutions for marine litter prevention and removal. Earlier: Government to launch initiative to tackle marine litter The government is set to announce a major new initiative to tackle marine litter today. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed will reveal the plans this morning. It comes as research found that plastic is the most common form of marine debris, with up to 80% of marine waste comprising of plastics. The Clean Oceans Initiative is Ireland's first coordinated campaign on land and at sea to collect, reduce and reuse marine litter. It aims for 100% of Irish trawlers to recover plastic waste from the oceans on every fishing trip. Minister Creed will launch the plans in the Union Hall in west Cork. Gardai have renewed their appeal for anyone who may have information in relation to the disappearance of Deirdre OFlaherty 10 years ago. They resumed excavations at a site in Donegal this morning. "Unfortunately nothing that furthers the search for Deirdre was located during the search," gardai said. "The site is on private property and remains closed to the public. "Today is also the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of Deirdre and our thoughts are with her family and friends." Deirdre O'Flaherty, a doctor originally from Strabane, Co Tyrone went missing when staying in Moville, Co Donegal in January 2009. Three years after she disappeared, the High Court in Belfast ruled that the 46-year-old, from Strabane in Co Tyrone, was dead. The judge said he was satisfied that Dr O'Flaherty had drowned after going into the sea in Co Donegal. An Garda Siochana thanked the public for their patience during the operation and asked for Deirdre's family's privacy to be respected at this time. Anyone who may have information in relation to Deirdres disappearance is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station on 0749320540 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111. A carer has highlighted the chaotic scenes in the Emergency Department (ED) at Cork University Hospital, describing how a vulnerable person spent more than two days on a trolley. CUH has had 300 patients waiting on beds since the turn of the year. Carer Finbarr Murray, from Ballincollig, arrived at CUH on Saturday with the person he cares for, who required medical attention. The patient spent more than two days on a trolley before getting a bed. Finbarr said: The conditions are terrible, unfortunately, but the staff are doing the best they can. Something definitely has to be done, it was mental in there. The weekend was very, very bad. Conditions were crazy. Mr Murray praised the staff for their commitment and support. Theyre just run off their feet, he said. More staff and beds are needed. Its not fair to see elderly people on trolleys and in corridors waiting days for a bed. Meanwhile, Gerry Shine, a regular visitor to CUH with his wife, who has hip problems, also highlighted the problems. I dread it every time she gets sick. I absolutely dread coming up here because you know youre in for the long haul, he said. The staff are brilliant but theres only so much they can do. My wife has hip problems, terrible pain, and she could be waiting 17 hours to be seen but thats not the staffs fault. Its the systems fault, not the staff. Its chock-a-block in there most of the time with no beds available. You just cant get sick, its scary coming in. Nurses and midwives across Ireland are set to hold a strike on January 30, with further days of action planned in February if their issues are not addressed. The strike will see the INMO members withdraw their labour for a 24-hour period over issues such as low wages and failure in terms of recruitment and retention by the HSE. The nurses are great and they deserve to be paid whatever theyre looking for, added Mr Murray. Theyre under terrible pressure in there and I dont blame them for striking. Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) show that 38 patients were awaiting a bed in Cork University Hospital today. CUH has been one of the most overcrowded hospitals in Ireland since the beginning of the year and has seen around 300 patients waiting on trolleys and on wards for a bed. With specialists warning of an increase in the flu in coming weeks, CUH introduced visiting restrictions on Tuesday. Twenty patients tested positive for the flu at CUH this week after two were hospitalised with a strain of swine flu last week. This story originally appeared in the Evening Echo The director of the Irish Traveller Movement has called on South County Dublin council to give more time to the extended Traveller family due to be evicted today from a site in Clondalkin. Bernard Joyce says local authorities need to work together across different counties in a more holistic approach. The extended Traveller family, with 28 children including toddlers, are to be evicted from a site in west Dublin today by South Dublin County Council, which says it has no duty of care towards them. The five families, who have been living in caravans on an old school site in Balgaddy, Clondalkin since late last year, say they have nowhere else to go. The council, however, says, they are there without permission and as they are not from the county area, it has no duty of care to them. It says they have been served with valid notices to quit and that moves to enforce the removal of this illegal encampment before Christmas were postponed on the understanding that the families would leave by Friday. The site has no electricity, toilets or running water. The families have come from the Dublin City Council (DCC) and Clare County Council areas due to overcrowding and conflict with other families, they say. Mr Joyce told RTEs Today with Miriam show that South County Dublin Council should give the families more time to look at their options. They (the families) are trying to be proactive, the stick approach they (local authorities) are using is not going to work," he said. Such an approach was just moving the issue somewhere else. This is a crisis that needs a response on a humanitarian side. He said Travellers are locked out of the rental sector and are 50 times more likely to experience discrimination by landlords. The families involved feel they have no alternative, he said. There is a national Traveller accommodation crisis with Traveller families not being provided with accommodation. Mr Joyce said the families involved are asking that they be allowed to remain in Clondalkin until greater supports are in place. When asked about a feud involving the families, he said that was 15 years ago, it is not relevant to this situation. Local authorities need to work more proactively together, they need to work across counties, to have a more holistic approach. He said there were no new halting sites and still no provision for Travellers. Adam Kelly from Skerries Community College has been named the BT Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year 2019. Adam won for his project, which was entitled 'Optimizing The Simulation Of General Quantum Circuits'. He has received a cheque for 7,500 for winning. Adam will now have the chance to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Bulgaria in September. "I want to congratulate every student that entered, and Adam, our overall winner," said Shay Walsh, Managing Director, BT Ireland. "His work shows terrific initiative, dedication and brilliance in tackling an immensely complex area of modern computing." Judge and Chair of the Chemical, Physical and Mathematics Category, Professor Sean Corish, said the winning entry hugely impressed the judges. "Quantum computing is an emerging technology which represents a potentially significant advance in computing," he said. "Adam developed a tool to select the optimum algorithm for the simulation of particular quantum circuits, which may inform the development of a practical quantum computer, which is still at an early stage. This has implications across many areas, including cybersecurity. "In addition, he used Open Source code to parallelise quantum simulation on graphical processing units that is significantly quicker than other available simulators and this work has already come to the attention of key industry leaders Adams contributions are underpinned by a fluency in what is a highly technical and complex field which hugely impressed the judges. The award for Group winner went to Aoife Morris and Tianha Williams, both aged 16 and transition year students from St Aloysius College Carrigtwohill, Cork. Their project was 'Developing an organic solar cell coating solution to mitigate fossil fuels usage by motor vehicles', which develops an organic solar cell which can be used to partially power an electric car. The students were in the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences Category at Intermediate level. The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition continues tomorrow and is open to the public from 9.30am 5.30pm The media group, Independent News & Media (INM), has opened a voluntary redundancy scheme for its editorial staff. According to the Irish Times, the company will be seeking 35 redundancies, 25 of which will be journalists. INM's titles include the Irish Independent, the Corkman, Irish Daily Star, Sunday Independent, the Herald, Sunday World and Belfast Telegraph titles amongst many more. In the company's 2018 half-year report, INM stated that its digital revenues had been down 2.9% while its profit before tax had been down 22.8% to 11.5m. The report also stated that the Group recorded a charge of 1.9m for legal costs in relation to a Judicial Review, and a further 1.3m for related to restructuring costs, listed as primarily redundancy costs. REGINA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced blunt questions from people at a town hall in Regina including one from a man who fears Canada's immigration policies are putting lives at risk. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a town hall at University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan on Thursday January 10, 2019. Trudeau faced blunt questions from people at a town hall in Regina including one from a man who fears Canada's immigration policies are putting lives at risk. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell REGINA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced blunt questions from people at a town hall in Regina including one from a man who fears Canada's immigration policies are putting lives at risk. The man told Trudeau that Canada's policy threatens freedom, that Islam and Christianity don't mix and suggested that some immigrants want to kill Canadians. It was met with a chorus of boos from the nearly 1,000 people in attendance. "They have openly stated that they want to kill us, and you are letting them in," the man said Thursday at the meeting held at the University of Regina. Trudeau seemed taken aback, but answered that Canadians can have confidence in the system. He said immigrants help bolster the economy and make communities more resilient. "Sir...How am I going to go on this one," Trudeau replied. "Canada is a country that was built on immigration." Another man chided the prime minister for signing the new trade agreement with the United States. Courtland Klein, 38, who works at the Evraz steel fabrication plant in Regina, said the federal government should have walked away from the deal because of U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trudeau said that wasn't possible. "I know here that steel and aluminum are extraordinarily important, but so are agricultural exports, so are the billions of dollars worth of trade that every part of the country does with the United States our most important market every single day," Trudeau said. Klein, who was wearing a "I love pipelines" T-shirt, said afterwards that he had friends outside protesting against the carbon tax and for the construction of pipelines. Some protesters held signs with slogans such as "Canada Needs Pipeline Jobs" and several tractor-trailers honked their horns as Trudeau started the event. Klein has worked at Evraz for 15 years and said his whole family works in the oil and gas industry. He's concerned with the choices Trudeau is making. "He's making decisions that are going to cost me and my friends their jobs," Klein said. The prime minister was also challenged on the carbon tax, which has been met with stiff resistance in the province. Saskatchewan is asking its Court of Appeal to rule on whether Ottawa's plan to impose the tax on the province is constitutional. The case is to be heard in February. Jason LeBlanc from Estevan, Sask., asked Trudeau why he will have to pay the carbon tax. Trudeau responded by saying people will have the choice in this fall's federal election to choose whether they want to be part of creating a solution to climate change. "Or do you want to hide your head in the sand and pretend that there is no problem we have to deal with?" he said. One woman told Trudeau that she has read news articles that he supports Shariah law, that Quebec gets its oil from Saudi Arabia and that Canada is being run by a global government. Trudeau said none of those points are true and urged people to be skeptical about what they read on the Internet. "In the upcoming election I hope that people will question what all politicians say and try to see who might be telling the truth and who might be twisting the truth." The prime minister was also challenged to explain why Canada is honouring a contract to sell light armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia. Trudeau said the federal government is grappling with the details of a complex contract signed by a previous government and will continue to speak up for human rights. Follow @RyanBMcKenna on Twitter Bank of Georgia Group Plc named Archil Gachechiladze as chief executive officer, replacing Kaha Kiknavelidze who will step down at the end of the month, the company said. According to the lender, Gachechiladze will join the company from his current role as CEO of Georgia Global Utilities. He previously was chief financial officer of BGEO Group, Reuters reported. OTTAWA - Federal lawmakers need to make foreign content providers, such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime, pay their fair share into producing Canadian content, Canada's broadcast regulator and its public broadcaster argued this week. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Netflix logo is shown on an iPhone in Philadelphia on Monday, July 17, 2017. Canada's broadcast regulator, and its public broadcaster, want federal lawmakers to ensure foreign content providers, such as Netflix, Youtube and Amazon Prime, pay their fair share into producing Canadian content. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Matt Rourke OTTAWA - Federal lawmakers need to make foreign content providers, such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime, pay their fair share into producing Canadian content, Canada's broadcast regulator and its public broadcaster argued this week. What that share looks like, however, remains uncertain as the federal government moves to tear down and rebuild the country's broadcast and telecom regulations. In written submissions to a seven-member panel, both the CRTC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation also called on Ottawa to create new rules that encourage news content distributors to deliver accurate and trustworthy information to Canadians. The submissions, which were due Friday, are part of a wide-scale review of Canada's Broadcasting Act, Telecommunications Act and Radiocommunication Act that was started last June by a panel of experts chaired by former Telus Corp. executive Janet Yale. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said it's not looking for broad new powers to regulate the broadcast and telecom industries. Rather, said commissioner Ian Scott, the CRTC needs a smarter set of regulations it can use to encourage foreign players to contribute to Canada's cultural landscape. "What we're asking for are new and different powers to regulate in a different way," Scott said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "It doesn't mean more regulation. It means smarter, better, flexible regulation. A new toolbox." The CRTC has asked for explicit statutory authority and flexible mechanisms to regulate audio and video services, both foreign and domestic, including online. That would help the regulator ensure that any service provider making money from Canadian viewers and listeners also somehow pays toward the creation and distribution of Canadian content, as domestic broadcast companies do now. Currently, traditional broadcasters in Canada contribute millions of dollars to bodies including the Canada Media Fund and directly pay for original Canadian productions. But a shift by Canadians to viewing content online has eaten away at funding models that rely on subscriptions and advertising revenue. Scott said regulators need the authority to reach agreements with new digital platforms to ensure they contribute "equitably" to the creation of that content. That doesn't mean a company like Netflix should contribute to cultural programming in exactly the same way as traditional broadcasters, Scott argued. Netflix currently spends millions of dollars itself on creating broadcast productions in Canada, which translates into jobs, tax revenues and economic activity. YouTube also pays content producers directly, based largely on audience size, regardless of where the content is produced. But new regulatory tools could compel digital players to use algorithms, for example, to help Canadians discover home-grown content, Scott suggested. "We're not spelling out a detailed regulatory regime," he insisted. "What we're saying is, the world has changed, the traditional approach ... just doesn't work in the future." The CBC's submission Friday was nearly identical in tone, saying the government needs to ensure that digital companies profiting from the Canadian cultural marketplace also help pay for the creation of Canadian programming. It also called for mechanisms to ensure Canadians have access to "trusted news and information" through entities including Google and Facebook. The CBC also repeated its often-made request for "sufficient, predictable funding" so it can fulfil its role in supporting democracy and Canadian culture. The panel is expected to complete its review by Jan. 31, 2020, three months after the next federal election in October. VANCOUVER - The National Energy Board would require the creation of a marine mammal protection program for the Trans Mountain pipeline in a series of draft conditions it has laid out before it considers the project. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/1/2019 (887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. VANCOUVER - The National Energy Board would require the creation of a marine mammal protection program for the Trans Mountain pipeline in a series of draft conditions it has laid out before it considers the project. The focus of the review is to apply the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the Species at Risk Act to project-related marine shipping, the board says in the document. The conditions mitigate potential risks to the environment and protect the public, it says. Releasing these draft conditions and recommendations is not an indication of the board's forthcoming recommendation to the federal government to either approve or deny the project, it says. The board, which has to have its final recommendations in by Feb. 22, also recommends a number of measures be taken to offset the increased underwater noise and potential risk posed by ship strikes of marine mammals including southern resident killer whales. Terry Beech, parliamentary secretary to the transportation minister, had said earlier the southern resident killer whale is a vital part of Canada's local marine ecosystem. "The survival of this iconic species is a priority of our government and indeed a priority for all Canadians," he said. The Federal Court of Appeal quashed the government's approval of the project in August, citing the energy board's failure to examine impacts on the ocean ecosystem, including B.C.'s endangered southern resident killer whales. It also found Canada failed to meaningfully consult with First Nations during the final phase of discussions. The board is also looking to limit the number of whale watching boats and the amount of time they spend on the water. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, which purchased the pipeline and expansion project for $4.5 billion, ordered the energy board to review the project's marine shipping effects within 155 days. Federal Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Thursday the draft recommendations and conditions are an "important step towards meeting the reasonable timeline that we provided, and the type of progress that Canadians expect to see." "The National Energy Board is an independent regulator and is responsible for overseeing the review on marine shipping," he said. "We will carefully review them and provide comment, as necessary." Trans Mountain said in a statement late Thursday that it has seen the draft recommendations and amendments to the conditions from the NEB. "We will be providing further comments to the National Energy Board within the timeframe established by the board," the company said. The Trans Mountain marine protection plan should be in place three months before it starts operations and should describe how it will incorporate Indigenous traditions and knowledge in developing its programs, the board says. The federal government should review and update its marine shipping oil spill response requirements and look at including Indigenous Peoples and local communities in response planning, it recommends. The pipeline expansion would triple the amount of oil being carried from the Edmonton area to a marine shipping terminal in Burnaby, increasing the number of tankers in Metro Vancouver waters seven-fold. It also would like to see a regulator framework for making enhanced tug escort mandatory in the Salish Sea for oil tankers. The federal government should implement a marine bird monitoring program to better understand impacts of vessel use on avian wildlife including species at risk, it says. Greenhouse gas reduction measures related to marine shipping should be accelerated and implemented, the board recommends. RED DEER, Alta. - A young woman says it felt good to see a former politician who sexually touched her when she was a child being led out of an Alberta courtroom to begin a three-year prison sentence. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Alberta Legislature is shown in Edmonton, Alta., on March 28, 2014. The case of a former Alberta politician accused of sex charges involving a minor is scheduled to be in Red Deer, Alta., court today. Don MacIntyre, who is 63, resigned in February of last year after he was charged with sexual assault and sexual interference. He had represented the central Alberta seat of Innisfail-Sylvan Lake for the United Conservative Party. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson RED DEER, Alta. - A young woman says it felt good to see a former politician who sexually touched her when she was a child being led out of an Alberta courtroom to begin a three-year prison sentence. Don MacIntyre, 63, resigned as a United Conservative MLA in February of last year after he was charged with sexual interference and sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to the first charge in Red Deer on Friday and the second charge was withdrawn. "He's always been in a position of power and it's so good to see that taken away from him," the victim, who cannot be identified, said outside court. She said she's looking forward to going to university and living a normal life. She also said she can move forward feeling happier, safer and more confident. "I know that, in the end, the justice system worked out for me and I don't have to be afraid anymore." An agreed statement of facts read out in court said MacIntyre touched the victim sexually with a part of his body in 2010 and 2011. The touching happened between five to 10 times when the victim was 10 years old. She told her mother in 2015. "He told her that God said that God was OK with the touching," the statement said, adding the victim felt depressed and had suicidal thoughts. Court heard MacIntyre apologized after the assaults, asked for forgiveness and said it was part of "Satan's plan to destroy (the victim's) faith." The victim, with two family members standing behind her, told court she sometimes thought she was imagining things or that it was her fault. When MacIntyre finally apologized, "I was so relieved I was not losing my mind," she said. She described how the abuse made her give up creative pursuits she loved, gave her nightmares and made her sick to her stomach. She said she is still often angry. "I will carry this rage I have for him to my grave." The Crown asked for a prison sentence of between three and 3 1/2 years, while MacIntyre's lawyer asked for two years. Prosecutor Julie Snowdon said MacIntyre's remorse was a mitigating factor, but she suggested that was tempered by his linking his actions to the devil. "It's easy and convenient to deflect blame to an external force such as Satan," said Snowdon, who added that was a further example of the manipulation tactics MacIntyre used on his victim. Defence lawyer Ian McKay argued the immense publicity the case attracted should factor into the sentence. Court heard MacIntyre, who his lawyer said is deeply religious, has also lost the support of his church community. "This is a man who has been punished in so many ways and will continue to be punished until his last breath," McKay said. Queen's Bench Justice Debra Yungwirth said the media attention was not a mitigating factor because MacIntyre ran for public office knowing he'd committed the offences. MacIntyre apologized to the victim from the prisoner's box for the "pain and anguish" he caused. He then wished her a life that is "whole and healthy and happy." MacIntyre had represented the central Alberta seat of Innisfail-Sylvan Lake for the United Conservative Party. He was first elected in 2015 for the Wildrose Party, which merged with the Progressive Conservatives in 2017 to form the United Conservatives. The United Conservative caucus issued a statement Friday condemning MacIntyre. "We hope this disgusting individual faces the full extent of the law in sentencing for his odious crime. Our thoughts remain with the victim and all those affected at this time." The caucus statement said it found out about the charges the day MacIntyre resigned last year. The party said he is no longer a member. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version had prosecutor Julie Snowdon's last name spelling incorrectly Submit your letter to the editor for publication in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Letters should be no more than 300 words and must include the writer's first and last name (no initials), home address and daytime phone number. Submit As of January 1, applicants from most countries no longer need to visit an embassy or consulate in their country to get a visa to travel Kazakhstan. Instead, they can apply online, digitally entering their vital information such as full legal name, birthdate and the purpose of their trip. Approval takes about five business days. As Caspian News writes in the article Kazakhstan Starts Issuing e-Visas, the practice results in the applicant receiving a printable e-visa that must be shown at their port of entry upon arrival. Currently, these e-visas allow entry only through the cities of Astana and Almaty. Foreigners can enter or leave the territory of the territory of Kazakhstan using a valid electronic visa only at checkpoints of the international airports of Astana and Almaty, reads a statement posted on the foreign ministrys website. Citizens residing in 128 countries to get a visa to visit Kazakhstan including citizens of China, India, Iran and other Persian Gulf countries can apply for an e-visa for tourism, business and medical treatment purposes. The electronic visa issuance system is part of a state-run initiative known as Digital Kazakhstan, a $446 million effort to leverage digital technologies to accelerate development in what is Central Asias largest economy. Officials in Astana are also hoping that the e-visa service will help fight illegal migration. Every year, Kazakhstan is visited by almost 5.5 million foreigners; 2.5 million of them stay in the country for study, work, family affairs, treatment, and about three million arrive in Kazakhstan for subsequent transit, Yerlan Turgumbayev, Deputy Minister at Kazakhstans interior ministry said in 2018 when the project was announced. Therefore, the fight against illegal migration is very relevant, he said, according to reports by Caravan. Previously, the Kazakhstani government launched an initiative to issue transit visas for Indians and Chinese workers within 72 hours. Citizens get registered by Kazakhstans border service at checkpoints located across the countrys borders. Since the programs inception, the flow of Chinese through Kazakhstan has increased by 60 percent, with more than 17,000 foreigners having entered the capital. Currently, citizens of 64 countries are all eligible to enter Kazakhstan without a visa for a maximum stay of 30 days. Azerbaijan was the Caspian regions first country to completely lift pre-visit visa application requirements for nationals from 15 countries. They can get a visa to Azerbaijan within minutes upon their arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku. The service is provided by ASAN (meaning easy in Azerbaijani), which is the state agency for public services. At the same time, citizens and stateless persons residing in 95 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Brazil and China, are eligible for single-entry electronic visas to Azerbaijan that can be issued following an online application. The standard option provides for e-Visa issuance within three days, while an urgent e-visas takes only three hours to process. The longest impasse over what to do with migrants rescued in the Mediterranean concluded Wednesday with a patchwork solution that is unlikely to settle urgent questions about European migration policy or make the next rescue operation any smoother. The Washington Post reports in its article European countries reluctantly resolve what to do about rescued migrants until next time that forty-nine migrants had been rescued in late December off the Libyan coast, pulled from flimsy boats by a pair of rescue ships operated by two small German humanitarian groups. Many European countries once routinely accepted such migrants. But former front-line countries most prominently Italy have adopted a harder line against migrants, saying they have shouldered a disproportionate burden. Denied entry to multiple countries, the two rescue ships waited in the Mediterranean for weeks. They zigzagged off the coast of Malta during bad weather. Many passengers got seasick. As European leaders deliberated over what to do, the 32 people aboard the Sea-Watch 3 were stuck in a small cabin with eight beds. If [Europe] cannot tackle this problem with 49 people, how are they going to tackle real problems? Its ridiculous, said Ruben Neugebauer, a spokesman for Sea-Watch, one of the German organizations. On Wednesday, European powers negotiated an end to the standoff that had become emblematic of the continents failure to address basic migration issues. Malta agreed to allow the migrants onshore, where theyll eventually be divided among eight countries: Germany, France, Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Italy. Another 131 migrants who had been rescued earlier by Malta will also be divvied up, according to a statement from Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Muscat said the NGO boats would be asked to leave Maltese waters as soon as the migrants disembarked. He further warned that the small island country was going beyond what is required of us and that this case shall not act as a precedent. Analysts said Wednesday that it is only a matter of time until Europe faces the same problem again, because it has been unable to draw up an agreement on how to handle new arrivals, even as the overall number of people coming from the Middle East and Africa has plummeted. The European Union last year called for a shared effort to relocate and resettle on a voluntary basis migrants rescued in the blocs maritime territory. But nothing has come of that pledge. There is no mechanism in place, said Matteo Villa, a migration researcher at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies. Europe is just making a mess of a very small problem. The fate of the Sea-Watch 3 and a boat from another charity, Sea-Eye, was a consequence of one of the most concrete changes of the past year: the closure of Italian ports to humanitarian rescue vessels. Before Matteo Salvini, the Italian interior minister, demanded those closures, boats tended to be welcomed on Sicilian shores. Italys coast guard also had a large hand in rescue operations. But Italy has ceded rescue authority in the Mediterranean to the Libyan coast guard, which brings migrants back to African shores rather than taking them to Europe. Meanwhile, the number of charity boats operating in the region has dwindled. Countries across southern Europe have impounded the NGO boats or accused the groups of criminal activity. The rate of migration to Europe has declined drastically since the heights of 2015. But the death rate for those attempting the trip across the Central Mediterranean has increased. In 2018, some 23,000 people arrived by sea in Italy, a decline from 120,000 a year earlier. But 1,300 people died making the trip, compared with 2,300 in the year prior. The decline in arrivals to Italy began before Salvinis League party came to power, but Salvini has described his closed-door policy as being central to his Italians First strategy. During the deliberations over the charity boats, the mayor of Naples said it was immoral to keep people drifting at sea and said the city was willing to defy Salvini and open its port to the Sea-Watch. Salvini responded that left-wing mayors should think of their citizens in difficulty, not about [illegal] migrants. The debate over what to do with the 49 migrants had widened a rift in Italys governing coalition. After the deal was reached, Salvini voiced displeasure and said that caving in to pressures and threats from Europe and the NGOs is a sign of weakness that Italians do not deserve. Conditions on the Sea-Watch 3 had deteriorated in the weeks since its Dec. 22 rescue, said Neugebauer, the groups spokesman. At one point, a migrant tried to jump overboard, thinking he might swim to shore. He quickly realized he had no chance and climbed back onto the boat. Frank Dorner, a doctor aboard the Sea-Watch 3, said the past couple days had been very stressful. Were happy about this solution, but it came by far too late, Dorner said. The crew planned to rest and then head back in the direction of the Libyan coast, where it would attempt to conduct more rescues. Once that happened, he said, another standoff could ensue. Dorner said: It may be that we are ending up in a couple days in the same situation. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Education & Career CBSE 12th Date Sheet 2019 Revised, Exams For Seven Subjects Rescheduled The schedule of the examination for all other subjects of Class 12th remains same as announced earlier, the CBSE notification said New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Friday published a Revised Date Sheet of 12th board examination 2019, giving details of seven subjects that have been rescheduled. According to the Class 12 Revised Date Sheet 2019, the Informatics Practice and Computer Science papers have been rescheduled from March 28 to April 2, 2019. Similarly, Philosophy, Entrepreneurship, Human Rights and Studies, Theatre Studies, Library and Info. Science papers have been rescheduled from April 2 to April 4, 2019. "The schedule of the examination for all other subjects of Class 12th remains same as announced earlier", the CBSE notification said. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had on December 23, 2018 released on its website cbse.nic.in the date sheet and time table of Class XII (also known as Class 12th) examinations 2019. According to the CBSE Class XIIth Date Sheet 2019 released today, the CBSE Class 12th exam will begin on February 15, 2019. Candidates can click here to download CBSE Class 12th 2019 Date Sheet. All papers will be conducted in the morning session, from 10.30 am to 1:30 pm. The answer sheets will be distributed to students at 10 am and question papers at 10:15 am, the CBSE said. The CBSE had earlier called for registration of private students who wished to appear for Class 1o and 12 March 2019 board exams. The CBSE had also asked the schools to send details of regular students appearing for the 2019 board exams. Regrading question papers, the CBSE said, "Candidates will be provided question papers in the same medium as filled in the Form. Meaning thereby, if a candidate is opting English as a medium, he will be supplied QP in only English language. If a student opting Hindi as medium, he will be supplied bilingual QP i.e. in Hindi & English. Candidates are therefore requested to fill the correct medium of Question Paper and correct option only to avoid last minute problem. Medium will not be changed later on." Regarding Exam Centers, the CBSE said, "For the CBSE Class 12th 2019 Examination, controlling region for the candidate will be decided by the online system based on the current residential address entered by the applicant. For example: if candidate has appeared in Class XII main examination from Varanasi (under Regional Office Allahabad) and is now filling the address of Jaipur, which is under Regional Office, Ajmer, the examination centre will be allotted under the jurisdiction of Regional Office, Ajmer. However, eligibility for appearing in the examination will be decided by the Regional Office Allahabad." For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App . Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. PR Newswire DALLAS, Jan. 11, 2019 DALLAS, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Trial attorney Laura Benitez Geisler will be sworn in as the 110th Dallas Bar Association president on Jan. 12, becoming the first Hispanic member to lead the organization. The Dallas Bar Association is a 145-year-old professional, voluntary body of more than 11,000 Dallas-area lawyers. The DBA serves as an educational resource for its members as well as a contributor to public service programs in the community. For more information on the Dallas Bar Association, visit www.dallasbar.org. "The Dallas Bar Association is among the strongest and most active in the country, and I'm looking forward to the year ahead," said Ms. Geisler. "I've been an active member of the Dallas Bar my entire career, having served on the Board of Directors since 2006. I am eager to get to work in this new and challenging role." Among her goals as president will be to highlight the importance of protecting the independence of the judiciary through a series of programs on the history and challenges facing an independent judiciary, the development of a "Life Skills for Lawyers" series and a "Legal Incubator" program designed to help young attorneys become successful practitioners. Ms. Geisler has served as president of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers. She was elected to chair the Dallas Bar board in 2015 and served as president of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association in 2003. As the co-chair of the 2014-15 Equal Access to Justice Campaign benefitting the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, she helped raise more than $1.1 million for pro bono legal services for low-income Dallas County residents. Ms. Geisler has 21 years of experience representing clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases. She has achieved multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of her clients. She has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America and Texas Super Lawyers and has earned a National Diversity Council listing among the Top 50 Multicultural Lawyers in Dallas and Top 50 Women Lawyers. The Hispanic National Bar Association also honored Ms. Geisler with its Top Lawyer Under 40 award in 2011. Ms. Geisler recently merged her firm to form Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler. Media Contact Sophia Reza 800-559-4534 [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trial-lawyer-laura-benitez-geisler-begins-historic-dallas-bar-association-presidency-300777048.html SOURCE Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler PR Newswire KANSAS CITY, Miss., Jan. 10, 2019 KANSAS CITY, Miss., Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is pleased to present "Polly Apfelbaum: Waiting for the UFOs (a space set between a landscape and a bunch of flowers)" with an opening reception taking place Thursday, January 24, from 6:008:00 p.m., kicking-off Kemper Museum's twenty-fifth anniversary year. Raise a glass with the artist, with complimentary beer and wine provided by Cafe Sebastienne and cocktails thanks to Tom's Town Distilling Co. of Kansas City. Debuting new works exhibited for the first time in the United States, this major exhibition by internationally-renowned New York-based artist Polly Apfelbaum (American, born 1955), features textiles, ceramics, and works on paper with Apfelbaum's artistic practice branching out into broader social and historical contexts, situated in the legacy of post-war American art. "Apfelbaum is celebrated for her bold and vivid use of color, its vast signification, and the ability to engage space with objects that command the walls, floors, and spaces in between," states Erin Dziedzic, director of curatorial affairs at Kemper Museum. "More recently, her large-scale woven rugs create literal space, activating the notion of gathering and claiming space for artists and women. Their large scale and deep color saturation make them seem like massive paintings, yet their position on the floor gives them greater tactility and accessibility." "Waiting for the UFOs (a space set between a landscape and a bunch of flowers)" has been specially designed for Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, after originating in 2018 at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK, where it was praised as "an extraterrestrial landscape of vibrant ceramics, immersive installations and patterned paintings." (The Guardian, September 20, 2018) The exhibition includes "Life Spirit" (2018), a giant version of Gilbert Baker's original 1978 Rainbow Flag symbolizing gay and lesbian community pride, marking the flag's fortieth anniversary and enveloping the only wall remaining in the adaptable Charlotte Crosby Kemper Gallery; "Kneeline" (2018), in which hundreds of clay glazed beads hang from the ceiling, each on a single string, creating multiple false walls throughout the space; "Sun Targets" (2018), a collection of over 130 ceramic targets individually named after planets or constellations, displayed on an orange and yellow painted frieze the encircles the entire gallery; and "Wallflowers (Mixed Emotions)" (1990/2019), Apfelbaum's very first target work, combining dozens of paper flowers into the circular pattern first explored by the artist nearly thirty years ago. A review of the exhibition by Louisa Elderton celebrates the work as inclusive and political, stating: "The only older work on view is 'Wallflowers (Mixed Emotions)' (1990), featuring now-faded red and beige glittery flowers forming a mandala, or another kind of target, since 'wallflower' is often a gendered term for women who are not seen by men. In Buddhism, the mandala is a symbol of the universe, and here Apfelbaum turns it into a bull's-eye, pulling your stare into its vortex, as if refusing to go unnoticed." (Garage, Vice Media, September 2018) Also present throughout the gallery are a number of vibrantly colored rugs, woven in Oaxaca, Mexico. Titled "Halfpipe" (2018), "Squiggles" (2018), and "Sun Targets (Red, Blue, Yellow)" (2018), the works were created by indigenous women using traditional weaving and dying methods at the direction of the artist. Museum visitors will be provided with shoe coverings and invited to walk on these works, allowing for the fully immersive experience the artist intends to create. Ikon Gallery curator Christine Takengny summarizes the exhibition stating, "'Waiting for the UFOs (a space set between a landscape and a bunch of flowers)' brings to the fore essential formal qualities, especially colour and texture, that has always been key to Polly Apfelbaum practice. At the same time it inspires us as the exhibition title already suggests to question the conventional boundaries between high art and so-called popular culture." (Contemporary Art Society, September 2018) Apfelbaum will be in attendance at the Exhibition Opening, January 24, and give an Artist Talk on Friday, January 25, at 6:00 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public, as are fifteen additional public programs scheduled in conjunction with the exhibition, which runs through April 28, 2019. A complete list of Museum programs taking place in conjunction with "Waiting for the UFOs (a space set between a landscape and a bunch of flowers)" can be found at kemperart.org. Support for Kemper Museum is generously provided by members and donors. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is open 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m., TuesdayWednesday; 10:00 a.m.9:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday; and 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. All exhibitions and public programs at Kemper Museum are free. ### About Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Kansas City's renowned FREE contemporary art museum, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened in October 1994 and draws 100,000 visitors each year. The Museum boasts a growing Permanent Collection that uniquely bridges modern and contemporary works of art featuring artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Keltie Ferris, Helen Frankenthaler, Hans Hofmann, Rashid Johnson, Joan Mitchell, Richard Mosse, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Ursula von Rydingsvard. Special exhibitions, installations, lectures, and workshops, as well as youth, teen, and family programs are regularly hosted at the Museum. For more information about Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art visit kemperart.org. For high-resolution images of select works, please contact: Breeze Richardson Director of Marketing and Communications Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art [email protected] | 816-457-6132 (direct) SOURCE Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art PR Newswire MECHELEN, Belgium, Jan. 11, 2019 With continuing unrest in world markets following the threat of trade wars and upcoming Brexit, C4T is drawing investor attention with their innovative solution that automates customs compliance. MECHELEN, Belgium, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- European tech investor 42CAP has partnered with 10x Group to invest 2 million Euros in Customs4trade (C4T), developers of a comprehensive customs and trade compliance platform. C4T's Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, CAS, enables companies to centralise, automate, and manage both regional and worldwide customs and trade compliance in-house, within one single platform. So far, the company has grown with seed funding provided by founders Pieter Haesaert and Ilse Vermeersch. The founders have also invested a stake in the Series A financing round. The investment money will be used to expand the current C4T product team, further enhance software functionality, and build out a sales and marketing organisation. "The obstacles for companies to structurally deal with customs and trade compliance and effectively manage this domain exposes them to great vulnerability, and the topic has become a key agenda item in the boardroom," said Pieter Haesaert, CEO of Customs4trade. "CAS is designed to empower the customs manager and his or her team to gain visibility and be in control of their processes and flows instead of constantly putting out fires. Enterprises understand very well that customs compliance should be an integral part of business administration but struggle to find solutions that fit their organisation." CAS is a unique solution that integrates the complex mechanics of customs legal requirements with an organisation's ERP or WMS systems and processes via a straightforward user interface. The C4T team embarked on development by rethinking the fundamentals of customs compliancerecognizing patterns, standardising work flows, and simplifying tasks for specific users. The result, CAS, is a scalable, multi-country, multi-language solution that streamlines customs compliance for leading manufacturers including Honda Motor Europe, Isuzu Motors Europe, Agristo, Reynaers Aluminium. "Customs4trade has developed a software solution that is unique to the marketplace and fills a defined need. We see great potential for global expansion and are excited to support their growth," shared Alex Meyer, investor and partner at 42CAP. About Customs4trade Customs4trade's (C4T) unique team of customs experts and best-of-breed technology engineers has developed CAS, a one-of-a-kind software solution that automates customs and trade compliance. CAS is a collaborative hub, designed to manage regional and worldwide customs and trade compliance quickly and accurately, within one single platform. By automating all import and export processes, C4T clients experience faster time to market, eliminate customs duty and administration costs, and gain strategic visibility into their customs operations. Built on the Microsoft Azure platform and delivered as a Service (SaaS), CAS provides clients with continual updates and feature enhancements, including the incorporation of any changes to legislation and compliance regulationsalong with Azure's signature accessibility, scalability, and security. Based on the quality of the solution and its potential to solve a real business challenge for Azure customers, C4T has achieved prioritized status in Microsoft's IP Co-Sell Program. With hundreds of thousands of EU companies bracing for Brexit, forward-thinking customs managers are turning to C4T to prepare their organizations for a seamless transition. Or visit: www.customs4trade.com About 42CAP 42CAP is a European seed-stage investment fund focused on technology companies with the ambition to take their businesses global. Prior to founding 42CAP, its lead investors Alex Meyer and Thomas Wilke built one of Europe's largest SaaS start-ups, eCircle. They sold the profitable company to Teradata (NYSE:TDC) in 2012. Core to 42CAP's investment approach is their "Peers Amongst Entrepreneurs" conviction; working as peers to share their fundamental values. These include their belief in technology- and data-driven business models with sustainable approaches and a true passion for entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.42cap.com. About 10x Group 10x Group is comprised of serial entrepreneurs and technology venture experts that support strong founding teams in second seed-stage companies. 10x Group focuses their funding on companies that have introduced a disruptive technology with proven market acceptance and traction, poised for significant growth. The company's leadership has founded and invested in over 100 early-stage digital and technology start-ups spanning Europe and Silicon Valley. For more information, visit www.10x.group. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Life & Style Conference in Albania on Role of Woman in Modern Society from Islamic Perspective The conference will gather scholars, imams, researchers, students, among others from different countries and cultures of the world Tirana: The Second International Conference on Islamic Studies will kick off Thursday in Tirana, capital of Albania, under the theme of The Role of Woman in Modern Society from the Islamic Perspective. The two-day conference is being organized by the Muslim Community of Albania, Department of Islamic Sciences at University College Beder and World Council of Muslim Communities. The conference will gather scholars, imams, researchers, students, among others from different countries and cultures of the world. They will speak about the role of women in educating society; the rights of women in modern society; gender equality issues; discrimination against women; divorce and domestic violence; and women's education. The participants will also discuss the forms of resistance to patriarchy, the Muslim women and challenges in their integration, women in the Qur'an and Prophetic Tradition, the image of women in the Albanian media, and women's political participation and leadership. Opening speeches are set to be delivered by Chairman of the Muslim Community of Albania Sheikh Skender Brucaj, Deputy Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Dr. Vasilika Hysi, Secretary General of the World Council of Muslim Communities Dr. Mohammed Al-Bashari, and Rector of Beder University Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Gjana. The conference will come to conclusion with the holding of a training session for the students of the Department of Islamic Sciences at University College Beder in Albania. The Abu Dhabi-based World Council of Muslim Communities is an international organization aims to enable Muslim communities across world to integrate into their societies and achieve full citizenship. It also aims to promote cultural pluralism and respect for the cultural and intellectual specificities of the Muslim communities in the world, as well as promoting moderation, dialogue, tolerance, and the civil and political rights of Muslim communities as an inherent human right in accordance with international and national conventions. For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App . Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. PR Newswire KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 11, 2019 KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- After an extensive search, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has named Sean O'Harrow as its next Executive Director. "We are so eager for Sean O'Harrow to bring his vision and enthusiasm to Kemper Museum," stated Mary Kemper Wolf, Chair of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Board of Trustees, and daughter of museum founders, R. Crosby Kemper Jr. and Bebe Hunt. "At this point in our history, it was critical to bring in an Executive Director with solid experience, who embraces artists, staff, community, and fundraising responsibilities alike." Wolf continued, "Sean thinks creatively about how to do things differently in order to make a positive impact for institutions and their communities. He has the unique ability to dream big, thoughtfully assess risk, and make things happen. This will be an exciting and productive chapter for Kemper Museum and our community with Sean O'Harrow at the helm!" O'Harrow currently serves as the director of the Honolulu Museum of Art, an AAM-accredited, AAMD-member civic art museum with an encyclopedia collection of over 60,000 objects and a combined full- and part-time staff of a couple hundred museum professionals. While in this position, O'Harrow's leadership accomplishments have included organizational restructuring that created more collaborative teamwork, more efficient use of resources, and reduction of inefficient expenditures while preserving staff levels and program quality; a greater emphasis on contemporary art exhibitions and programming with a focus on issues relevant to museum audiences; implementation of significant changes in financial management focused on capital expenditure, timeliness, and accuracy; long-range planning and budgeting; the release of $2.2 million in funding from the State of Hawai'i Grants-in-Aid program toward museum expansion; and raising more funds in a single year than in the museum's recent history, including the museum's largest cash gift ever at $4 million. "This year marks a quarter of a century since the Kempers established the museum, and I feel most fortunate and honored to be chosen as Executive Director on this auspicious anniversary," stated O'Harrow. "The world is dynamic, diverse, interconnected, and ever-changing, and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is precisely the right institution to lead Kansas City and the nation forward in exploring how contemporary art can foster understanding of relevant issues and the world around us for another exciting twenty-five years and beyond." Born in Paris, France, and raised in Honolulu, Hawai'i, of parents from the Midwestern United States and Vietnam, O'Harrow was appointed director of the Honolulu Museum of Art in late 2016. Prior to this return to his hometown in Hawai'i, he was director of the University of Iowa Museum of Art and a member of the Iowa Arts Council Board of Directors. While at the university, he organized a worldwide tour of the work of American Abstract Expressionist artists, featuring Jackson Pollock's "Mural"his first commission from Peggy Guggenheim, considered the "genesis" of Modern American art. More recently, this work was exhibited in Kansas City at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to great acclaim. Before arriving at the University of Iowa, O'Harrow led the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa, after serving as an Official Fellow of St. Catharine's College in the University of Cambridge. He received his AB from Harvard University and his PhD from the University of Cambridge, both in Art History. He has received numerous academic awards and grants, including from the Pulitzer and Ford foundations in the United States, as well as the British Academy in the United Kingdom. In order to learn about the "real" world, as O'Harrow puts it, he also spent several years as an executive in the world of hedge funds and technology finance in London. O'Harrow will begin his duties as Executive Director of Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art on Monday, February 11, 2019. Support for Kemper Museum is generously provided by members and donors. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is open 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m., TuesdayWednesday; 10:00 a.m.9:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday; and 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. All exhibitions and public programs at Kemper Museum are free. About Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Kansas City's renowned FREE contemporary art museum, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened in October 1994 and draws 100,000 visitors each year. The Museum boasts a growing Permanent Collection that uniquely bridges modern and contemporary works of art featuring artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Keltie Ferris, Helen Frankenthaler, Hans Hofmann, Rashid Johnson, Joan Mitchell, Richard Mosse, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Ursula von Rydingsvard. Special exhibitions, installations, lectures, and workshops, as well as youth, teen, and family programs are regularly hosted at the Museum. For more information about Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art visit http://www.kemperart.org. For high-resolution images, interview requests, and general media inquiries please contact: Breeze Richardson Director of Marketing and Communications brichardson(at)kemperart(dot)org | 816-457-6132 (direct) SOURCE Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION Villagers Did Not Cook Food When This Crocodile Died! Pulse oi-Syeda Farah Noor There are several cases of human-animal bonds that will make you feel emotional and one such story is that of a crocodile that died due to natural causes and the entire village mourned its death. Check out the details of the crocodile that was a pet of the village for over 130 years and find out how the villagers mourned the death of the crocodile by not cooking food and performing the rituals for it. They believed the crocodile was their protector. Find out more about this beautiful relationship the crocodile and the villagers shared... The Villagers Had Named It Gangaram The villagers had named the crocodile as Gangaram' and the entire village used to worship him as a deity. The villagers noticed that the crocodile had died in the pond. Most Read: This Is The Black Magic Capital Of India The Veterans Did A Post Mortem After the reptile died, the villagers called in the vets to get a post morterm done. The animal died of natural causes, and weighed around 250 kg. The villagers took out a funeral procession for the crocodile. Around 500 People Were Present The villagers were so upset with the death of the crocodile that most of the houses had not cooked food and mourned the entire day. It is reported that more than 500 villagers took part in the funeral procession. The Crocodile Was Harmless Even though crocodiles are considered to be dangerous, Gangaram was calm and poised in its own world. It fed on dal chawal that the villagers used to feed and it never harmed the kids who played in the water. This had built a special bond between the villagers and the croc. Most Read: Village Where Polyandry Is Followed The Villagers Are Planning On Building A Temple According to the village Sarpanch, the villagers are considering building a temple in the memory of the crocodile. They have decided to make a memorial on the bank of the pond where the crocodile was buried. GET THE BEST BOLDSKY STORIES! Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 14:49 [IST] Nurses Pulled The Newborn Baby So Hard It Got Decapitated! Pulse oi-Syeda Farah Noor With so many bizarre cases of medical negligences, this case will leave you baffled. This piece of article is not for those who have a weak heart. This case of a newborn child being decapitated during its birth has left the world fuming. Check out the bizarre case details of this chilling incident... The Incident Happened In Rajasthan The incident happened in a hospital in Ramgarh district of Rajasthan. It is reported that the male nurse who was working at a government medical centre pulled out the foetus so hard that it decapitated the baby instantly. Most Read: A Couple Adopted A Baby & Got A Shock Of Their Life The Baby Was Torn Into Two Pieces! It is believed that during the delivery, the nurse pulled out the foetus so carelessly that the body of the premature child split into two parts. This was a result of nurses pulling the foetus too hard during the difficult birth. The Nurses Hid The Body Once the nurses realised that the body was decapitated, they hid the body in the hospital morgue and sent the woman to another hospital to get treated as they claimed that the delivery was complicated. Most Read: How A Baby's First Picture Is Ruling The Internet The Other Hospital Staff Got A Shock While it took a while for the woman to shift to the other hospital, the medics started her procedure of delivery only to discover the head of the baby left inside the body of the mother. A Case Has Been Registered While the poor woman is said to be battling for her life after the unfortunate incident, her family has registered a case against the hospital. Later, the accused nurses handed over the decapitated body to the family. Most Read: An 8-Year-Old Whose Heart Beats Outside Her Body Hope this is something that we wish does not happen to anybody! What do you think of this? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. GET THE BEST BOLDSKY STORIES! Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 11, 2019, 16:56 [IST] TCN News: The Delhi Youth Welfare Association in collaboration with AFMI (American Federation of Muslims of Indian origin) will hold the 28th edition of its annual awards function on January 13, 2018 (10AM-1PM) at Hindi Bhavan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi, to felicitate the meritorious students of board examinations in class X and XII from 15 schools in Walled City. More than 80 students who have secured 85% and above in their board examinations will be facilitated on that day. They will be given awards in the form of certificates, shields and also cash prizes. Support TwoCircles The prominent guests expected for the event are Dr. Aslam Abdullah (Editor, Muslim Observer and Director Islamic Society of Nevada); Siraj Hussain ( Former Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard University); Anurag Kundu (Member DCPCR); Arfa Khanum (Senior Journalist, The Wire) and Dr. A.S. Nakadar (Founder Trustee and Former President AFMI). Delhi Youth Welfare Association (DYWA) is a well-known organization of old Delhi working in the field of education for the last 28 years. And every year they encourage the meritorious students by honouring them. The association also strives to sensitize and enlighten the masses about the significance of education. This year they have collaborated with AFMI which is a philanthropic charity formed by American Muslims of Indian Origin in the year 1989. AFMI strives to improve the socio-economic status of the underprivileged Indian Muslim minorities through education. Its mission to achieve 100% literacy amongst Indian Muslims. Have you heard about the Jade Caves of Sarawak? Yes, a cave that looks like it is made from jade, which is called the Silabur Cave in Serian, Sarawak. This beautiful cave has been around for a very long time, and mostly visited by researchers, but in 2016, the cave became more popular among the locals, mainly due to the beautiful jade texture of the cave walls. Silabur Cave in Sarawak This beautiful cave is found in the district of Serian, which is about 90 minutes drive from the city of Kuching in Sarawak. Currently, as I write this article, there are only one or two tour companies that bring you here, and you can also request from some of the adventure travel agents in Kuching for trips to Silabur Cave. Overall, a trip here would take you half a day to a full day, and to explore the cave area, it will take you roughly around four to five hours. From the entrance of the cave, it will take you another 15 minutes before you reach the main cave chamber, which is called Labak Tirason. One of the photographers poses inside the cave. Photo by Paul Sarawak The entrance of the cave is about one hour trek up the hill and located in the middle of Mount Silabur. Be prepared for a medium level hike up here.From the entrance of the cave, it will take you another 15 minutes before you reach the main cave chamber, which is called What are Silabur Caves? Silabur Cave is a limestone cave that is located inside of Mount Silabur and offers vertical cliffs. From the village, it is a one hour trek to the foot of the mountain. From the foot of the mountain, you then need to trek up halfway which is roughly another hour before you reach the entrance of the cave at the mid of the mountain. These caves have been long harvested for the prized bird's nest from the local swiftlets. A local association operates and manages the caves here, where bird next harvesting takes place a couple of times a year. Inside the beautiful cave at Mount Silabur What to do in Silabur Caves? Most of the harvested Silabur bird nest is processed and exported to China, and very little is sold to the locals. A cave is always a cave, and there are very limited things one can do here. In most cases, those who are into caving or cave exploration will find this place quite fascinating. Probably due to the overall jade colouring inside the cave, it gives a beautiful colour tone versus the general dark grey colours. Some people have actually gone into the cave to do some photography and then shared the images on social platforms, which has now created interest among the locals around Kuching and also Sarawak. The top of Mount Silabur is a peak called Sky-Park which is about 400 meters, where most visitors will also trek or climb up to this peak. The view is not too bad at Sky-Park and is recommended for outdoor lovers. Nearby, there is another underwater cave called Siturib Cave, where clear cave waters are waist or chest high. You need local guides for both of these places. Read at the end for more info. Overall, I will list down several things that you can so at Silabur Caves as below; Trekking and hiking up to the Silabur cave Spot birds nest inside the cave Photography shoot, Instagram and Facebook shoot Trek up to the peak of Mount Silabur called Sky-Park Explore the Siturib Underwater Cave here Simply visiting to tick this place off your cave bucket list Alena Murang Singing At Silabur Caves A famous Sarawakian female sape artist called Alena Murang has also created a short video of herself singing inside the Silabur Caves, which has been viewed over 1,400 times. Alena Murang is part Kelabit and is one of the up and coming Sarawakian sape musicians that has created an interest among today's music lifestyle. A group of cavers climbing the wooden stairs inside the cave Silabur Cave Legend She has performed all over the world, and her video in the Silabur cave has also created a lot of interest from the locals about the location. Along with many other caves in Sarawak, there are always folk legends connected to these places, and some of them are pretty interesting to know. The Gua Silabur Legend A long time ago, the local Bidayuh people here celebrated the harvest festival once every year. On one harvest festive celebration night, there was an old man who lived in the village. The old man has one grandchild who stays together with him. For the kids parents are nowhere to be found after they went out for food, some say they were killed by the head hunters, and some say they were eaten by animals. On that festive celebration night, the old man was eating Kasam Ikan (a local delicacy where they marinade the raw fish with rice and salt, put it in a tight jar, leave it in a dark corner for a month or so and eat it), but one of the village people mixed the fish with the rubber tree fruits to play a joke with the old man. The old man eventually ate the rubber fruits, and got laughed by the village people. And the old man then called his dog, and he tied a bell on the leg of the dog, and asked the dog to bark at the village people. The dog starts chasing after them, and due to the bell, the old man will know the where his dog is from the sound. But all of a sudden the sound of the bell is gone, complete silence. The old man keeps on calling the dog to come back, but it never returned. The old man cried, and while was crying, it started to rain, and a weird thing happened where it rained rocks instead of water drops. The rain became heavier, and soon when they knew it, the rocks had then formed the mountain, and also the cave. In Silabur Cave, the legend revolves around the Bidayuh people, the harvest festival and the culture, and you can read below; Photos of Silabur Cave Below are some beautiful photos of Silabur Caves, taken by Paul Sarawak and his group, when they visited in August of 2017. The photography skills of this team are awesome, and you can see from the photos why. Have a look at them, and tell me you do not want to visit these caves? If you plan to do so, read the end of the article where details on how to go there and so on are shared. Light falls through the cave ceiling onto the floor. Photo by Paul Sarawak Photo of the cave mouth. Photo by Paul Sarawak Interesting cave formations inside. Photo by Paul Sarawak A cave sits for some cave photography. Photo by Paul Sarawak The beautiful combination of cave flora and lights. Photo by Paul Sarawak A cave pose by the Jade Cave. Photo by Paul Sarawak The light shines through openings in the cave ceiling. Photo Paul Sarawak Where are Silabur Caves? Gua Silabur is located just out of Kuching City, in the district of Serian, and is located near the town of Tebakang. It is about 90 kilometres from Kuching, but because of the small roads to get here, it will take you around two hours drive one way. The caves are also located close to the Kalimantan border, which is only about five kilometres distance. This part of Kalimantan Indonesia is known as the Sanggau Regency of West Kalimantan. The closest Malaysia-Indonesia checkpoint to Silabur Cave is the Tebedu Immigration Complex, which is also a popular place for both countries. At the entrance of the Siturib Cave, which is a water cave. Photo from Silabur Facebook Page Siturib Cave or Gua Siturib For those into some serious adventure caving, there is also another cave in the area which is called Siturib Cave or Gua Siturib. This is a water cave, where you need the local guides to bring you in the waist or even chest-deep waters. Anyone going into the Siturib Cave will guarantee to get wet, so come prepared for this. You should also arrange this with your cave guide, who will be the locals from the village area. They know the caves by the back of their hands, which is vital to anyone entering this water cave. Aerial view of Sky-Park on top of Mount Silabur. Photo from Silabur Facebook Page Sky-Park, Peak of Mount Silabur This is the top of the mountain, where many visitors will also trek or climb up since they are here. A trek up to Sky-Park will take you about three hours, and is a medium level trekking. The thrill about the trek up Mount Silabur is enjoying the amazing view of the area from the peak here. Usually, it would be better to start with the trek up, and then visit the caves. However, you can ask your local guides about this, and which is easier done. If you plan to do both trekking and caving, then you will require a full day here. How to go to Silabur Caves? If you are in Kuching, you can ask some of the travel agents in town, as they would know who organize trips to Silabur Caves. For those who plan to explore by themselves, you can easily drive to Silabur Cave on your own, with your friends. Please do not go by yourself, as visiting caves is best done in a small group. Once you reach here, you can contact the local Silabur Cave Association to make arrangements. The contact is below in a photo. Driving directions to Silabur Cave from Google Maps Driving Directions to Silabur Cave or Gua Silabur The best way to go to Silabur Cave for travellers is to rent a car and self-drive there. There are directions on Google Maps which make your drive here easy.Once you reach here, you can contact the local Silabur Cave Association to make arrangements. The contact is below in a photo. First, you need to head to Serian town from Kuching, which is about 90 minutes drive with mild traffic. I would recommend using Google Maps or Waze to do this. After you reach Serian, head to Tebakang town, which is another 15-minute drive. From the main Jalan Serian-Tebedu, you need to turn off at Kampung Tebakang. Here, there are two villages, known as Kampung Tebakang Dayak, and Kampung Tebakang Melayu, which are located one after the other. Once you enter this village, you need to drive about 20 minutes until you reach Lampung Lobang Batu, and then look out for SK Lobang Batu, then look for a sign that turns right into the Gua Silabur or Silabur Cave. Do ask for directions if you are unsure as the locals are very helpful in this part of Sarawak. The contact persons for anyone who wants to explore Silabur Caves in Serian Additional Information For Silabur Caves After you turn into that road, head towards Kampung Batu Lin and Batu Mawang, which is about 1.5 km inside. Batu Lin is also a Bidayuh village, and signboards are showing the village name.Do ask for directions if you are unsure as the locals are very helpful in this part of Sarawak. There is an entrance fee of RM10.00 per person paid at the foot of Mount Silabur, to the Silabur Association. The cave is also managed by the local Silabur Birdnest Operator Association. Local tour guides for the caves are available at RM50.00. The main office to do your booking is in the village closest to the caves. There is a small office there, and you can ask the locals when you are there. I would recommend you contact them from the numbers above to make an appointment. For those interested in doing this, you must engage the local Silabur guides, as they know the place inside out.The thrill about the trek up Mount Silabur is enjoying the amazing view of the area from the peak here. Usually, it would be better to start with the trek up, and then visit the caves.However, you can ask your local guides about this, and which is easier done. If you plan to do both trekking and caving, then you will require a full day here. Posing in the light of the caves. Photo by Paul Sarawak Conclusion If you have a thing for caves and is visiting Kuching in Sarawak, I would make the Silabur cave a place to explore and visit, as it is not too far from Kuching City. You will most likely do a morning trip here and be back in Kuching after lunch, hence it is less than half a day to spend. Take a look at some of the other I write this article about the Silabur Caves in Serian, based on the Visit Sarawak Campaign, which is in 2019, and the objective is to promote the other places of Sarawak, with a tagline of Sarawak More To Discover. However, if you are heading here for some photography, make sure you come prepared, and just like any other cave in Sarawak, one should always be cautious when walking in the caves.Take a look at some of the other caves in Sarawak and Sabah , which I wrote about many years ago if you are interested in visiting the others.I write this article about the Silabur Caves in Serian, based on the Visit Sarawak Campaign, which is in 2019, and the objective is to promote the other places of Sarawak, with a tagline of Sarawak More To Discover. All photos are from the Paul Sarawak and team Facebook Page unless stated under the photos. SIGN UP TO GET BLACKLISTED NEWS DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Enter your email address: It wouldn't be a new year in SA if we were not hit by stories of racism. The charts reflect two major incidents to start our year, #CliftonBeach and #SchweizerReneke @ThisIsAcumen @MediaShowAfrica pic.twitter.com/8ujR6ftWX9 - Tonya Khoury (@ThisIsTonya) January 11, 2019 According to data collected by Acumen Media, the stories dominating social media this week revolved around racism and education. It was back to school for South African children and it reflected in the conversations on social media; at least 50% of social media talk was on children going back to school, the 2018 matric results, and the racially segregated seating situation at a school in Schweizer-Reneke.The Schweizer-Reneke incident was also accompanied by similar conversations on the country's race relations like at Clifton Beach. Woolworths was taken to accountability after social media users pointed out that its baby carrier was plagiarised from a smaller company; the retailer has since removed it from its shelves. 2019 sees a general election in South Africa and the ANC has started its campaigning with the launch of its manifesto; many social media users expressed their opinions on this. Other news making buzz on social media includes the ongoing Dros rape case; the Bushiri stampede; and keeping us in the dark, Eskom. By Aas Mohammed Kaif, TwoCircles.net He may have hit national headlines with his controversial statements, but BJP MLA Vikram Saini insists he has no issues with Muslims and believes that no Muslim from his region has any issue with him. Saini, who is a resident of Kawal village and a MLA from Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, said recently that people who are scared to live in India must be bombed. While his statement caused an uproar, residents of his village and constituency said making such statements was a regular affair for Saini and added that his statements should not be taken seriously. Support TwoCircles Saini shot to fame after the Muzaffarnagar riots in 2013, when he became a member of the Zila Panchayat and went on to become an MLA in 2017. During the riots, his village was in the thick of the action and saw three people killed. He was in custody for over a year under the National Security Act. Saini says that his words were twisted by the media. In a conversation with TwoCircles.net, he says, Not one Muslim from my region has anything bad to say about me. Of course, like any other politician I too have political rivals who twisted my words and created the controversy. I said that traitors must be bombed; people who live scared in this country do not deserve to be alive. In my village everyone lives peacefully. My statement was targeted at people who live here but praise the other. I have nothing to do with Naseeruddin Shah. The famous Indian actor had recently said in an interview that he was worried for his children in India amid growing intolerance in the country. According to Mahendra Saini, former head of Kawal, Vikram Saini has a history of spreading poison and disharmony. He actively participated in the Muzaffarnagar riots because of which he was also sent to jail. Then the BJP took him under their wing and because of that today he is a MLA. He thinks he is the next Hindu Samrat and that is why his own community is also angry with him. Another resident Kall Qureshi believes that people are paying too much attention to what he said. We are angry at what he said, but he keeps doing this on a regular basis. I remember, once he shouted at his wife during a public meeting. What was interesting during our visit to Sainis Village was that a number of Hindus also expressed extreme displeasure with his tenure and alleged that he was using his newfound status of an MLA to settle personal scores. According to another resident, Jaypal Prajapati. Saini has got several cases filed against locals. The post of MLA has made him arrogant. Another resident Pankaj Kashyap, while supporting Sainis statement, said that the MLA was making such statement only to hog the limelight as there was nothing he could do to back his claim. Saini, according to locals, use to run a Chaat (Indian savoury snack) stall in his village apart from working on his two-acre land. According to the documents filed with the Election Commission of India, Saini attended school only upto Class 10. He clearly lived a hard life and that explains why some of the locals continue to believe that he is essentially a good person at heart. Mohammed Afab, 45, says that Saini maintains friendly relations with all his fellow villagers and that he shares a strong bond with current village head Islam Qureishi. However, past actions show that Saini is not averse to acting against Muslims if he so desires. One of his first actions after becoming the MLA was to get rid of all roadside stalls which were selling Biryani thereby leaving over 12 families unemployed, all Muslims. According to Vakeel Ahmed, the president of Rashtra Lok Dal, Khatauli, The fact that he targeted one community shows Sainis psychology. Now he wants to become a MP so he is getting deeper into intolerance and divisive politics. According to Abbas Ali Khan, Saini maintains good relations with Muslims from his village while ignoring Muslims from other areas of his constituency. Local social worker Arif Sheeshamhali says that Sainis statements are in line with his larger aims. He has struggled a lot in his life and he does not hate Muslims. He knows that such politics can help him so he is trying to use these shortcuts to rise in his career, he added. I am hugely inspired by Peter Diamandis, who has motivated a lot of my work. As a proud member of the South African faculty of Singularity University, I watch a lot of his talks, and attend many of their events. This share is very much a presentation by him, with some additions by me. The way he puts things together, and his vision of the future, is outstanding... Gabon's government on Monday morning shut down the internet and broadcasting services following an attempted coup against President Ali Bongo, according to digital rights groups Netblocks, and Internet Without Borders, news reports, and local journalists and civil society organisations with whom the Committee to Protect Journalists spoke. Gabonese soldiers stand in front of the headquarters of the national broadcaster in Libreville on January 7, 2019, after a failed coup. Gabon shut down the internet and broadcasting services following the coup attempt. Credit: CPJ/AFP/Steve Jordan. "Shutting down the internet and broadcasting services during times of crisis makes it impossible for journalists to carry out their work efficiently and safely. Citizens are robbed of access to the reliable information that they need to make decisions," said CPJ Africa program coordinator Angela Quintal from New York. "We call on authorities in Gabon to immediately and fully restore access to the internet and lift all restrictions on broadcasting."According to research by Internet Without Borders, internet traffic from Gabon fell sharply at around 8am local time, indicating the beginning of an outage. Eric Mbog Matassi, a local journalist, told CPJ that the internet remained shut down on Monday evening.Radio and television services had yet to be restored by late Monday, Matassi and Georges Mpaga, the spokesperson for the local civil society organization Le Reseau des organisations libres de la societe civile pour la bonne gouvernance au Gabon, told CPJ.Soldiers took control of the national radio station's offices at dawn on Monday and called on the public to rise up against Bongo, 59, who has been recuperating abroad after suffering a stroke in Saudi Arabia in October, according to reports by Bloomberg and Reuters Gabon's government put down the coup attempt , according to multiple reports . Government spokesperson Guy-Bertrand Mapangou told the BBC that the government had taken back control of the area around the state broadcaster and said the situation was under control following a string of arrests. Establishment of new AIIMS involves creation of Hospital, Teaching Block for medical & nursing courses, residential complex and allied facilities/services. The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for establishment of three new AIIMS at (i) Vijaynagar, Samba, Jammu at a cost of Rs.1661 crore (ii) Awantipura, Pulwama, Kashmir, at a cost of Rs.1828 crore and (iii) Rajkot, Gujarat at a cost of Rs.1195 crore. These AIIMS will be set up under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Establishment of new AIIMS involves creation of Hospital, Teaching Block for medical & nursing courses, residential complex and allied facilities/services, broadly on the pattern of AIIMS, New Delhi and other six new AIIMS taken up under Phase-I of PMSSY. The objective is to establish the new AIIMS as Institutions of National Importance for providing quality tertiary healthcare, medical education, nursing education and research in the Region. Setting up new AIIMS in Jammu & Kashmir and in Gujarat will lead to employment generation for nearly 3000 people in various faculty & non faculty posts in each of the AIIMS. In the era of the Trump administration the left wing bias in the press has gone above and beyond anything it has ever been in the past. The far left networks and the Democratic party are now actively working together to take down President Trump. Eddie Scarry, a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner is on to discuss this obvious bias as well as the shift the industry may see once President Trump leaves the stage. Watch the free clip above, get your FREE 30 day trial here to watch the full show. As the New Year approaches, most people are including a healthy mind and body on their resolutions list. Oman's luxury private pool villa resort, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, is helping guests kick-start their early summer bodies with a wellness programme led by new wellness guru, Ratheesh Krishnan. Boasting 14 years of experience in the health industry and widespread experience at various leading resorts including Bandos Maldives in Maldives and Dhigali Maldives, Krishnan seeks to deliver an integration of the body, mind and spirit to reach optimum health. Nestled between a spectacular private beach and freshwater lagoon, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara allows guests to pursue their New Year, New Me goals in a serene, idyllic environment. With the arrival of in-house fitness guru Ratheesh Krishnan, who is available for all health and fitness needs, the wellness programme is the perfect chance to spend a weekend detoxing in style. In line with our fundamental approach to customer service at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, we really wanted to provide a bespoke experience for our wellness guests, said James Hewitson, general manager. We are very pleased to have new wellness guru Ratheesh Krishnan on board to revive the entire wellness programme and bring a good start to the New Year. Available in three, five or seven-day packages, the retreats that Krishnan will be leading include rejuvenating spa treatments, purification therapy and nutritious cuisine along with individual activity sessions such as yoga and hiking the beautiful mountainous coast of Salalah. Full board dining centred on nutrition is designed specially to encourage good health and fuel the body efficiently. Guests will also receive additional discounts on all spa and wellness treatments depending on the length of their stay. One highlight of the wellness programme is experiencing Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantaras luxury hammam, the only one in the region. Drawing on centuries of Arabian wellness, the ancient ritual starts with a muscle-relaxing steam bath in preparation for a black soap cleansing and kessa mitt exfoliation to sweep impurities. Once steamed and scrubbed, a Moroccan rhassoul treatment richly nourishes and rehydrates, leaving the skin silky soft. Other healing therapies include Kundalini massage and Shirodhara a unique ayurvedic therapy focusing on the head, to harmonize the entire body. The Balance Wellness by Anantara packages at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara start from Dh1,470 ($400). - TradeArabia News Service Humane Pennsylvania has named Lauren Henderson the new Director of Events & Corporate Relations at Humane Pennsylvania. Boyertown 'Budget or Get Bean Boozled' event for kids A spokesman for the Hun Sen government on Thursday denied reports that fugitive former Thai premier Yingluck Shinawatra had been given a Cambodian passport, but a critic of the Cambodian strongman said it couldnt be ruled out in view of his ties to Yinglucks billionaire brother. Media in Hong Kong, citing business records, have reported that Yingluck had used a Cambodian passport to register a company in the former British colony, now an autonomous Chinese city. The AFP news agency said the document lent weight to reports that Yingluck, deposed in a coup in 2014, went through Cambodia when she fled Thailand in August 2017, after a graft conviction for running a rice subsidy scheme that cost Thailand billions of dollars. Cambodian Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said that Yinglucks name did not appear on the list of registered passports kept by the countrys ministry of interior and that the Hun Sen government was not involved in granting a passport to Yingluck. The ministry of interior doesnt recognize the passport as reported in the media, he said. He declined to comment further on the case. Efforts by Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister entity of BenarNews, to seek comment from officials at the passport department in Phnom Penh were unsuccessful. In August 2017, a source close to an aide of Yingluck told BenarNews that she fled Thailand through Cambodia, shortly after she failed to appear in court to hear a verdict in the rice-subsidy scheme that could have sent her to prison for 10 years. The source said that Yingluck had traveled through Thailands Trat province, about 320 km (200 miles) south of Bangkok, before crossing into Cambodia to board a plane that took her to another country. Senior junta officials said Yingluck skipped bail and fled the country via Cambodia, but the government in Phnom Penh has always denied this, AFP reported. Publicly available corporate filings in Hong Kong show Yingluck used a Cambodian passport to register as director of a company called "PT Corporation Company Limited" on Aug. 24, 2018, the agency said. Cambodian analyst Lao Mong Hai, however, told RFA on Thursday that it would not be surprising if Yingluck had a Cambodian passport because Hun Sen had close ties to her family including her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, also a deposed former Thai premier living in exile. We shouldnt wonder about it because the family has close relationship with Hun Sen, he said. Thailands Foreign Ministry cancelled all four Thai passports known to be held by Yingluck at the end of October 2017, the Bangkok Post reported at the time. Saudi Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, who fled her family to seek asylum abroad, is seen before departing from Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Jan. 11, 2019. Updated at 4:45 p.m. ET on 2019-01-11 A Saudi teenager who fled her family and gained refugee status in Thailand was on her way to Canada after receiving asylum there, Thailands immigration chief said late Friday. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, departed Thailand on a Korean Air flight to Canada via Inchon, South Korea, according to police Lt. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, who saw her off at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport. She is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning. Today, Ms. Rahaf holds refugee status from the UNHCR, and now the UNHCR coordinated with Canada to accept her and put her on an 11:15 p.m. flight to Toronto, Surachate said. UNHCR is the U.N.s refugee agency. Then, she will be taken care of by the IOM, he said, referring to the International Organization for Migration. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that his country had granted al-Qunun asylum, in footage broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC). The UNHCR has made a request of Canada that we accept Ms. al-Qunun as a refugee, and we have accepted the U.N.s request that we grant her asylum. That is something we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, for womens rights around the world, Trudeau told reporters. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi offered his support for the teen. Ms. al-Qununs plight has captured the worlds attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide, Grandi said, according to Agence France-Presse. Refugee protection today is often under threat and cannot always be assured, but in this instance international refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed. UNHCR issued a statement praising Thai and Canadian officials. The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms. Alqunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case, the agency said. Six-day saga Al-Qunun arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait overnight Saturday to Sunday but said she was intercepted by diplomats from her country who confiscated her passport and booked her on a return flight. Barricaded in a hotel in the international transit area of the airport, the 18-year-old began calling for help via social media, and pleading to meet with UNHCR officials. My family will kill me, al-Qunun told BenarNews during a brief interview by telephone and text message. My father is very angry because I ran away from them. I ran away because they treated me badly. Amid snowballing media coverage and pressure from human rights activists, Thai officials who initially appeared to be cooperating with their Saudi counterparts relented and allowed her to enter the country in the care of UNHCR, which granted her refugee status, officials said. She declined to meet with her father and brother who touched down in Thailand on Sunday as the international drama escalated. My father just arrived, as I heard, which worried and scared me a lot. And I want to go to another country that I seek asylum in, al-Qunun tweeted that night. The pair was set to return to Saudi Arabia, Surachate said. Ms. Rahaf still refused to meet with her father and brother and they will be returning (to Saudi Arabia) at 2 a.m. local time, he said. The story ends today and Ms. Rahaf is going to Canada as she wishes. She chose Canada for personal reasons. She told me that the first thing she wants to do when she arrives in Canada is to learn the language, he said. She wants to say thanks to Thai officials and the Thai government and having a smiling face. She is in a good health because she had a health check before leaving. With courage and perseverance International human rights organizations spoke out on her behalf during the airport standoff and throughout her stay in Thailand, saying she could face violence in the conservative kingdom where womens dress and movements are strictly regulated. Rahaf made it with courage and perseverance & with new-found friends around the globe who supported her in a way that really restores ones faith in humanity. This is so much a victory for everyone who cares about respecting and promoting womens rights valuing the independence of youth to forge their own way and demanding governments operate in the light & not darkness, Phil Robertson, a deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said in a Twitter post. Rahaf temporarily suspended her #Twitter account because she has been receiving some very nasty, very real death threats. Not sure when she will resume & think it depends on what @Twitter @Jack does about tracking & shutting down those accounts making these threats!, Robertson added in another tweet. Maia Santos Deguito, a former branch manager with the Rizal Commercial and Banking Corp. (RCBC), listens to questions during a Philippine Senate probe into an $81 million cyber heist from Bangladeshs Central Bank, in Manila, April 5, 2016. One day after a former Filipina banker was convicted and sentenced for her role in an $81 million theft three years ago from Bangladeshs central bank, Bangladeshi officials on Friday urged their Philippine counterparts to speed up filing cases against others implicated in the worlds largest cyber heist. Asad Alam Siam, Dhakas ambassador to the Philippines, made the appeal following a Metro Manila courts ruling against defendant Maia Santos Deguito, a former branch manager of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), a Philippine bank. Deguito was sentenced to four to seven years in prison for each of eight counts of money laundering the equivalent of 32 and 56 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $109 million (5.68 billion Philippine pesos or 9.1 billion Bangladesh taka). Her conviction by the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 149 was the first handed down in connection with the theft that targeted Bangladeshs central bank and was pulled off through electronic transactions spanning three Asian countries and the United States. There is another case being handled by DOJ against six other RCBC officials. We hope that this case could be expedited and could go to trial soon, Siam said in a statement, referring to the Philippine Department of Justice. In Dhaka, Serajul Islam, a central bank executive director and spokesman, said Thursdays verdict and sentencing did not end the case. The court has punished the RCBC manager we have nothing to say about the punishment. But punishing an individual is not enough, he told BenarNews. We have been trying our best to recover the stolen money. A team from the central bank has gone to the United States to file a lawsuit against the Federal Reserve. I cannot exactly tell you the date, but the suit should be filed before Feb. 5. In the heist, about $101 million (8.45 billion taka) was stolen from the Bangladesh Bank the countrys central bank on Feb. 4, 2016, with $81 million (4.2 billion pesos or 6.77 billion taka) sent to the RCBC bank in the Philippines, while the remaining $20 million (1 billion pesos or 1.6 billion taka) went to a bank in Sri Lanka, authorities said. The Sri Lanka funds were recovered along with a little less than $10 million surrendered by casino junket operator Kim Wong to the Philippines Anti-Money Laundering Council on three separate occasions in March and April 2016. Bangladesh central bank officials said thieves hacked its cyber system and placed payment orders through its account at the New York Federal Reserve using an exclusive SWIFT code allowing international wire transfers between banks. The thieves had placed 35 payment orders in an effort to steal up to $1 billion (83.6 billion taka), but only five cleared because a spelling error froze the others. The robbery came to light in a report in a Philippine newspaper on Feb. 29, more than three weeks after it occurred. International investigation On Friday, a Bangladeshi police official told BenarNews that investigators had sought information from 11 countries regarding the cyber heist and were investigating whether North Korea was involved. We have had meetings with the [U.S.] FBI, which handed over evidence of North Koreas involvement in the heist. We are still examining the evidence, said the official who requested anonymity. We are not certain whether the North Korean hackers were involved, but what I can say is the spyware used in the hacking was used by the hackers in China, Korea and Hong Kong. The IP address of the computer used in the hacking was from Egypt, the official said. We wrote to Egypt through the Interpol several times. The Egyptian government informed us that the IP address was of a commercial computer. We do not have the necessary information to track the computer, the official said. Meanwhile, Mohammed Farashuddin, a former governor of Bangladeshs central bank who headed the government probe on the heist, blamed RCBC. The Philippines court jailed the RCBC manager and handed down financial punishment for the heist. The RCBCs chief executive stepped down over the incident. So, the involvement of the RCBC is clearly proved, but they have yet to file any other cases though three years have elapsed, Farashuddin told Benar News. He said he submitted a report that pinned the blame on RCBC. On the morning of Feb. 8, (2016), both Bangladesh Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank sent instructions to the RCBC not to disburse the money. But the RCBC made the payment at noon the same day, he said. We should sue the RCBC, Farashuddin said. He also blamed the U.S. for its role. The Federal Reserve Bank has some faults, too. It will not be a bad decision if Bangladesh Bank sues the Federal Reserve, but it would be better if we sue the RCBC with the support from the Federal Reserve Bank, he said. Appeal planned In the Philippines, defense attorney Demetrio Custodio accused Filipino financial regulators and the courts of using Deguito as a scapegoat. She could not have done this on her own. A bank the size of RCBC could not have allowed a lowly bank officer to have planned this, so there are others involved, Custodio said, adding that his client would appeal the case and remains free pending the appeal. RCBC spokeswoman Thea Daep, on the other hand, said the verdict proved that the bank was not involved. The conviction is consistent with the banks position that it is the victim in this situation and that Ms. Deguito is a rogue employee, Daep said in a statement. Jeoffrey Maitem in Cotabato City, Philippines, contributed to this report. I have no doubt that people across Northern Ireland want to see their elected politicians back to work at Stormont. That is a view that I have heard constantly since being appointed Secretary of State just over a year ago. As we are all acutely aware, it has now been two years since there has been a functioning devolved government in Northern Ireland. This is a source of great regret to me and I am doing everything possible to see a restored Executive at the earliest opportunity. Northern Ireland has made huge strides forward in recent years and come so far. Read More Since 2010 unemployment has fallen to near record lows; employment is at near record highs. There are now over 900 international companies investing in Northern Ireland. The number of tourists has nearly doubled. I believe strongly that a restored Executive, working closely with the UK Government, would help unlock even more of the huge potential that Northern Ireland has to offer. The people of Northern Ireland quite rightly expect the politicians who represent them to come together and build a future where politics works, the economy grows and society is more united. Read More A great symbol of working together and uniting society is the success of the PEACE programme. This supports peace and reconciliation and helps promote economic and social progress in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland. I am a strong believer in the mutual benefits that peace, stability and economic prosperity bring and I am delighted that the UK Government has committed up to 300m of funding for the successor to this programme, PEACE Plus. This funding flows from our joint commitment within the EU in the Withdrawal Agreement to maintain funding for vital work on reconciliation and a shared future for Northern Ireland until at least 2027. It is a clear example of the certainty that the Withdrawal Agreement provides to the people of Northern Ireland and why it should be supported. Read More Youth Action NI in Belfast is one organisation which benefits from PEACE funding to support their fantastic work, such as the Youth Network for Peace. This is a youth-led regional project involving 10,000 young people in a range of participative social action projects on a cross-community and cross-border basis. This is just one real-life example of the benefits of politicians working together to help deliver a bright future for the people of Northern Ireland. Read More The great task at hand now is to ensure an orderly exit from the European Union that hon ours the commitments we have given to people in Northern Ireland and ensures continued stability. I remain convinced that the deal on the table is the best and only way to avoid leaving with no deal, which would be particularly difficult for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland. I know that a lot of people in Northern Ireland share this view. Only this week I was joined in Westminster by a number of businesses and civil society leaders, all of whom wanted to discuss with MPs from all parties why this deal is in the interests of Northern Ireland. At the same time, there are real concerns about Northern Ireland's relationship with the rest of the UK in the unlikely event that we enter the backstop. As this Government has said repeatedly, we will never be neutral on the Union. We believe that the best and brightest future for Northern Ireland is within a stronger UK - while always upholding the rights and aspirations of the whole community. My hope is that politicians will take inspiration from the cross-community projects delivered through successive PEACE programmes and work across divides to help build a future that truly works for everyone in Northern Ireland. Karen Bradley is Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Last year, a major book was published on the Sunningdale Agreement of 1974. It was a great read, written by veteran Irish diplomat Noel Dorr. But one read it with profound sadness at what might have been. Sunningdale was a ground-breaking peace proposal, crafted by the British and Irish governments along with the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance Party. But it was attacked by the two extremes of the DUP and Sinn Fein and the then-active IRA. Hence, the brilliant expression that the Good Friday Agreement was "Sunningdale for slow learners". It was, apparently, coined by Seamus Mallon about Sinn Fein, but also about the Paisleyites. However, it could also be used about other elements in the process, like the southern Irish politicians. The whole point of Sunningdale and the far-seeing leadership shown by successive Irish premiers Jack Lynch, of Fianna Fail, and Liam Cosgrave, of Fine Gael, was to pull back from tribalism, so that an internal settlement could develop, albeit with an outside involvement. To do this required great sensitivity by both men, given the nationalism that southern politicians had to contend with, much greater in 1974 than it is today, especially for Fianna Fail. However, the current Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has no such forces to contend with. The south has completely changed. So, why does he make a provocative statement that the nationalist people of Northern Ireland will "never be left behind again by an Irish government". This is an extraordinary, pot-stirring claim, not least because it damns the more sensitive approach of previous Irish governments, including those of his own party, Fine Gael. Does he think that Fine Gael achievements, like the Sunningdale and Good Friday agreements, "left nationalists behind"? Has he had a rush of republican blood to the head? Is he playing the green card for electoral reasons? To compound this, Varadkar and his ministers talk up issues of gay rights and abortion in the north, knowing full-well that these are sensitive issues to many northern voters, especially DUP ones. Is this Dublin diplomacy at work? Would Jack Lynch have done this? As for Brexit, Varadkar and his government have insisted on no border at all between the two parts of Ireland, even though there is a border there and has been since 1922. He is acting as if the Good Friday Agreement magicked away partition and gave us a united Ireland by default. But it didn't. This border has, and still, divides two European states. And acting as if it doesn't is unhelpful and against the spirit of trying to maintain peace in Northern Ireland and build better relations. It's all well and fine for the EU and Michel Barnier to use the Irish border as a stick to beat the departing Brits with, but Dublin should know better, from bitter experience. Fianna Fail has been equally tribal. Its leader, Micheal Martin, has generally been constructive on the north (like his fellow Corkman Jack Lynch) and has certainly been robust in calling out Sinn Fein posturing. However, Martin has also been strangely tribal, especially with his latest provocative proposal that Fianna Fail should organise politically within the north. The plan is to link up with the clearly ailing SDLP - and this is also strange. As its very name suggests, the Social Democratic and Labour party (SDLP) was created as a Labour alternative to the north's tribal politics. But, then, the SDLP is a shadow of what it was under John Hume and Seamus Mallon and seems to have moved in a more nationalist direction. So, does Fianna Fail want to merge with them? Is it just to take over their shell and become an all-Ireland party to take on the "other republicans", Sinn Fein? If so, then this is a troubling and serious departure from exiting policy. Fianna Fail and southern commentators constantly claim that the DUP and Right-wing Tories are endangering the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement with Brexit and, in many respects, they are. But, surely, so also is Fianna Fail, with this tribal intervention? The whole point of the 1998 agreement and the hard-won peace was the postponement of maximum nationalist and unionist positions, so that everyone could work on a settlement within Northern Ireland, between the actual parties there. This effort was to be supported by the two governments - from the outside. The plan didn't envisage parties from Great Britain, or the Republic, with clear nationalist or unionist aims, organising within the north. Such a complication would defeat the whole purpose. Under the 1998 arrangement, Stormont was to be an internal parliament again, with outside actors overseeing the structures, but standing back. It is hard to see how this new Fianna Fail proposal does not complicate that. Fianna Fail clearly calls itself "the Republican party" and is, historically and actively, committed to a united Ireland. It is, or has been, a southern nationalist political party. Fianna Fail will no doubt say that the Tories are propped up by the DUP in a deal at Westminster. But this is a (very) temporary parliamentary arrangement. The Conservatives have not "merged" with the DUP within Northern Ireland, to campaign for more unionism. But, even if the Conservatives had been a bit reckless, or partisan - and, of course, some backbench Tories are very unionist and opposed to any Dublin role in Northern Ireland - this should not be a rationale for southern politicians doing the same. Two wrongs don't make a right. All of this shows how much the ground-breaking "understanding" of the Good Friday Agreement has dangerously unravelled. The only credible reason given for Fianna Fail's move into the north is the lack of constructive political voices, especially given the absence of Sinn Fein from both Westminster and Stormont. But it's hard to know exactly how this would be addressed, or if Fianna Fail would take the royal oath, which stops Sinn Fein going to Westminster. Do they really think unionists will vote for the new Fianna Fail/SDLP and keep voting for them? If Fianna Fail wished to support all of the people in Northern Ireland, post-Brexit, they should support the Irish government's offers in this regard in terms of business and citizens' rights. Otherwise, this proposal just muddies the usually consistent Irish policy on the north. It also looks opportunistic, taking advantage of the political vacuum in Northern Ireland and challenging Sinn Fein. Either way, unionists will be wary. But what it really confirms, sadly, is that, despite the great strides we have made, southern Irish politicians continue to be just as capable at times of being nationalist and tribal as politicians do in Britain, or Ulster. Dublin still seems incapable of actually taking Ulster unionism seriously. As we go into 2019, it still seems to be "Sunningdale for slow learners" - for everybody. Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) has embarked upon a major project to revitalise the iconic traditional market in capital Manama. Under this scheme, a major facelift has been approved for 70 shops located in the old Manama Suq. The announcement was made at a fourth meeting of the Manama Souq Development Committee headed by the BTEA Chief Executive Officer Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa yesterday at the Bahrain International Exhibitions and Convention Center. The Committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Urban Planning and Development Authority, Economic Development Board, Capital Municipality, Capital Secretariat Council as well as a number of Manama Souq traders. During the meeting, the members discussed several topics with regard to the revitalization of the old Manama Souq, including dedicating street passages designated to pedestrians and shoppers and easing access to the area for cars in co-ordination with the works ministry. In addition, the new applications of the facade and signage programme, aimed at upgrading the facades and signage of the old Manama Souq were also reviewed. Shaikh Khalid said more than 70 shops in the old Manama Souq have been approved for facade maintenance, where the old signage have been replaced with a higher standard ones on par with the outlined design guidelines within the areas defined in the master plan set by the committee, established in order to enhance visitors' experience. Applications received by the BTEA for the facelift programme are being finalised in co-operation with Tamkeen as it will finance half of the projects cost, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Society at large, and the political process in particular, continues to fail miserably to formally address the legacy of Northern Ireland's troubled past Society at large, and the political process in particular, continues to fail miserably to formally address the legacy of Northern Ireland's troubled past. So it's often left to victims, families, journalists, lawyers and campaigners to delve into the murky undergrowth of a conflict that descended into the abyss. Which, to use a cliche, raises more questions than answers. Read More The Remembrance Sunday bombing in Enniskillen in 1987 is one case in point. Even 31 years on, the image of 12 innocent civilians being killed while honouring their dead has the power to move. Like many of the bereaved and injured on all sides, the Enniskillen families struggle to find the truth of what happened. As we entered 2019, the macabre spectre of British State involvement in the murders of British citizens at a War Memorial emerged when Irish State papers revealed a letter had been written to the Republic's Minister of Foreign Affairs Brian Lenihan less than a week after the atrocity. Claiming to be an MI5 operative, the letter writer said British Intelligence knew about the planned attack, but let it go ahead so that the IRA would score an "own goal" and face a backlash. There is simply no way of knowing how authentic the letter is. But the thought of State involvement is just another rumour to add to the hurt and conjecture which families have faced. Immediately after the bomb questions were being raised about the failure by the security forces to search the Reading Rooms, the building yards away from the War Memorial where the bomb had been placed. There has been criticism of the original investigation and no one has ever been charged with any offence over the attack. Some relatives believe that someone is being protected, and one victim has even suggested that some of those suspected of the attack have been given "letters of comfort". A number of internal police reviews and an investigation by the Historical Enquiries Team have failed to assuage the belief of some that effectively the justice system has drawn a line under the case a long time ago, such is the suspicion that there is something dark and sinister to hide. News has now emerged that the Attorney General John Larkin has turned down an application by a group of relatives to reopen the inquests. So the rumours, and the hurt, continue. Denzil McDaniel is ex-editor of the Enniskillen-based Impartial Reporter newspaper Yesterday I hosted a meeting with the Republic of Ireland's Foreign Minister and Tanaiste Simon Coveney in Stormont. We discussed how the Irish Government and Brussels negotiators needed to have a change of heart if the United Kingdom is to reach an agreement with the European Union before March 29. The DUP wants a sensible deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union. One that works for Northern Ireland and our nearest neighbours in the Republic of Ireland. The current withdrawal agreement is not that deal. Read More Principally, it is flawed because of the backstop. An arrangement which would erect a new border in the Irish Sea between us and our main market, leave Northern Ireland taking rules from the EU without any representation in Brussels and create bureaucracy for our core industries. We have worked hard in London, Dublin and Brussels to explain why is it utterly unacceptable to unionists to have a new border erected between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. Read More I am a unionist for historical, cultural and social reasons, but also because Northern Ireland's economic future is best placed as part of the fifth largest economy in the world. The backstop fundamentally undermines Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom. That runs roughshod over the Belfast Agreement and the principle of consent. For Northern Ireland to be considered by the rest of the United Kingdom as a 'third country' for goods is astounding and offensive to unionists. Read More At the 2017 general election Northern Ireland unionists of all shades united behind the DUP to send 10 MPs to Westminster and stand up for the Union. We have been doing that and will continue to do it. That mandate must be respected. From the beginning of the negotiations we set one red line for the Government - that there could be no new border in the Irish Sea thus undermining the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom. The current withdrawal agreement breaches that red line. The Prime Minister has committed to securing legally binding changes to deal with our concerns. We will be holding her to those promises, but there seems to be little movement in Brussels. A change of heart is required in Dublin and Brussels. Read More What the Government published on Wednesday by way of 'reassurances' were cosmetic and meaningless. The withdrawal agreement is an international, legally binding treaty and as such will always supersede domestic legislation. The changes need to be made in Brussels. The Irish Government will of course stand up for the interests of the Republic. That's natural. However, they shouldn't dress up their defence of the backstop as some act of charity towards Northern Ireland. The backstop is in the Republic of Ireland's interests and theirs alone. However, as the possibility of a no-deal exit grows, it is increasingly in Dublin's interests to encourage the other EU states to heed our concerns if they are to secure a mutually beneficial deal. Repeated Irish Government spokespersons have said that the backstop respects the Belfast Agreement and gives Northern Ireland the "best of both worlds". That's patent nonsense. The backstop is heralded by republicans because it annexes Northern Ireland away from the rest of the United Kingdom. Indeed, those who claim it to be the "best of both worlds" fail to explain how a one-way turnstile from NI-GB is a good deal. The "best of both worlds" would be unfettered north-south and east-west access. That is not what is on offer. As the House of Commons debates the withdrawal agreement, it is abundantly clear that the backstop is the problem. Indeed, with the backstop removed, despite other concerns, the withdrawal agreement would command much greater support in Parliament. I am very aware of concerns amongst business leaders who long for certainty. We want to make progress towards a better deal, but to do so will require the Irish Government to raise its voice in Brussels. Common sense needs to be applied. The notion of a hard border is nothing more than a bogeyman. Our focus is on getting a deal which protects the integrity of the United Kingdom market and upholds the precious Union between NI and Great Britain. Anna Soubry accused the Met of inaction after she was harangued and insulted earlier in the week I'm not surprised Anna Soubry, the Conservative MP, objects to being called a Nazi. It's not very pleasant, but it's hardly a shock - use of the word 'Nazi' or 'fascist' has become commonplace in the debased arena of thuggish tribalism that passes for politics these days. We're all Nazis now, in someone else's eyes. Simply to disagree with a particular point of view automatically means you're lacing up the jackboots and getting ready to goose-step. What a farce - and what an unconscionable trivialization of true Nazi atrocities. The far left bandy the N-word about all the time, directing it at anyone to the right of their own ultra-enlightened selves - which basically means the vast majority of us. The far right also love the term, bizarrely, and it was oafish right-wing protesters who had it in for Anna Soubry this week. The unapologetic Remainer was being interviewed by the BBC outside Westminster when she was barracked by a group of chunky men who were shouting from behind some bushes. They wanted Brexit, they yelled, like a bunch of big angry babies, and they wanted it now. Waaah! Not fair! Me want Brexit now! Then they launched into a loud, charmless chorus of "Soubry is a Nazi". The MP interrupted her own interview to lament the tactics, causing the presenter to look rather flustered and apologise if anyone watching was offended. I am a free speech advocate. I believe in the right to protest, to be free to make your point in a public manner, as vociferously as you like. There is no right not to be offended. True, I thought that shouting stupid insults at Soubry from behind the bushes outside the Commons was ignorant and disgusting, but it's not a criminal action to insult a politician, and nor should it be. And I wasn't too bothered that a BBC interview was disrupted. This, whether we like it or not, is the price we pay for an open society. It is a price worth paying if we value our democratic freedom. To my mind, the really unacceptable part of the whole debacle was when the men pursued Soubry along the street, yelling abuse at her and getting up close in her face. Watch the video footage. This "threatening and intimidating behaviour", as Soubry herself described it, this is what is indefensible. This is where the police should have got involved - and didn't. The words themselves were nasty - 'Nazi', 'scum', the usual unimaginative insults, but the specific words aren't actually the point here. The physical threat of being surrounded by a group of angry men haranguing you, using their own bodies as a weapon of intimidation - that's the real outrage. It reminded me of the self-proclaimed paedophile hunters who menacingly surrounded BBC investigative reporter Kevin Magee in a Belfast coffee shop, then followed him along the street, aggressively accosting him. One of the men involved actually admitted that he wanted to "inject fear" into the journalist. Again, it wasn't the words these self-important would-be vigilantes used, it was how they behaved. It was primitive pack behaviour, designed to isolate and terrify the target. And it worked. Magee said afterwards that the incident was frightening and he felt very intimidated. Several of those involved were subsequently charged. Does it make a difference that Soubry is a woman? Yes, I think it does. Of course, the politician's gender is nothing to do with her ability to do her job as an MP or otherwise. But while it is highly disturbing to be set upon, hounded and barracked by a mob of raging men, whatever your sex, it carries an extra layer of threat when it is a woman who is the target of that rage. Purely in a physical sense, a woman is at a greater disadvantage in such a situation. Equality is a wonderful leveller, but the one thing it can't do is erase the physiological difference between the sexes. Men tend to be bigger and burlier, and so the implicit threat of physical force is greater, which makes the on-street mobbing of Anna Soubry all the more reprehensible. Too many people are missing the point. This is not an issue of free speech at all. It's an issue of free action - the freedom to walk along the street without being impeded, jostled or harangued by people who disagree with you and who want to intimidate you into submission. This freedom must be upheld and protected by any society which considers itself civilised. A doctor examined an Arizona woman who is in a vegetative state less than nine months before she gave birth, but did not find that she was pregnant, it has emerged. Medical experts have said it is possible the 29-year-old woman displayed no outward signs which workers who cared for her every day would have noticed. Police who are looking for her rapist said it appears none of the staff members at the Phoenix long-term care facility owned by Hacienda HealthCare knew about the pregnancy until the baby was born on December 29. The notion has been met with some scepticism, but the patient, who is described in a medical report as having tubes to feed her and help her breathe, may not have had a swollen belly, according to a doctor. Foetal medicine expert Dr C Kevin Huls said that while some factors remain unknown, such as how far along she was in her pregnancy, someone who is fed the same amount from a tube every day might not show any dramatic changes that would be noticed, especially by staff who do not work with pregnant patients. The mother could actually lose weight in other places like her face or arms if a foetus is consuming nutrients, Dr Huls added. A good way to understand it is that really, the babys going to continue to grow even at the expense of the moms nutrition, Dr Huls said. So, her weight may not change because shes not taking in additional calories. There may be changes to her body that are going to go undetected in a chronic care condition or at a facility like this. Expand Close Phoenix Police spokesman Tommy Thompson (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Phoenix Police spokesman Tommy Thompson (AP) The revelation that an incapacitated woman was sexually assaulted inside a care facility has horrified advocates for people with disabilities and the community at large. The providers CEO resigned this week, and Arizona state officials said the centre has made safety changes. A doctor examined the woman on April 16 and found no change in her health, writing that the examination was external only, according to Maricopa County superior court documents. Her mother submitted the results of the physical examination as part of an annual report required of legal guardians under state law. Phoenix police learned of the situation when they received a call on December 29 about a newborn in distress at the Hacienda HealthCare facility. Officers launched a sex crime investigation when it was determined that the mother was in a vegetative state, Arizona police spokesman Tommy Thompson said. He added: She was not in a position to give consent to any of this. The woman and her child are recovering at a local hospital. Her family, who are members of the San Carlos Apache tribe in south-eastern Arizona, said in a statement through their lawyer that they will care for the baby boy. Phoenix police, meanwhile, have not ruled out any suspects in the sexual assault. They are gathering DNA samples from the facilitys male staff and have appealed to the public for any information. It remains unclear to investigators if the woman was raped more than once. The residential property is being investigated by Norwich City Council (Joe Giddens/PA) A man has denied running a Japanese restaurant from his home, despite neighbours complaints and a large illuminated sign hanging above his front door. Norwich City Council said it is investigating the address on Earlham Road in Norwich, which features a large sign reading ORLANDOS above the door, a phone number and a web address. Expand Close Mr Williams denies the property is being used as a restaurant. (Credit: Andrew Unwin/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mr Williams denies the property is being used as a restaurant. (Credit: Andrew Unwin/PA) Orlando Williams, who lives at the address, previously ran a Japanese restaurant called Sakura Yakiniku in Norwich city centre and denies running a restaurant from the property. When asked about the sign by the Eastern Daily Press newspaper, Mr Williams reportedly said: All I do, I have my name on my house. There is no restaurant there. Expand Close A recent photo of the Norwich address at night, with the illuminated sign. (Credit: Andrew Unwin/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A recent photo of the Norwich address at night, with the illuminated sign. (Credit: Andrew Unwin/PA) Mr Williams declined to comment on Friday. On Thursday, the council approved an application for the property to be used as a bed and breakfast but such approval does not allow the business to serve alcohol or operate as a restaurant. A council spokesman said officials are investigating. The Facebook page for Sakura Yakiniku announced the restaurant had re-opened at the Earlham Road address in October 2018 after temporary closure in 2015. Expand Close A screenshot from the Facebook page for the Sakura Yakiniku restaurant. (Credit: Facebook/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A screenshot from the Facebook page for the Sakura Yakiniku restaurant. (Credit: Facebook/PA) Local resident Andrew Unwin said: When he first got this going he sent some invitations and leaflets to the neighbours. The city council said the problem theyve got with enforcement is that until they see him using it they cant do anything about it. A flyer shared on Facebook in October invites customers to book a table for sushi at Orlandos on Earlham Road, along with the caption open EVERYDAY from 16:00 to 22:00. Expand Close A flyer shared online invites people to book a table at Orlandos (Credit: Scott Lawrence/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A flyer shared online invites people to book a table at Orlandos (Credit: Scott Lawrence/PA) On review site TripAdvisor, the restaurants page lists its old address in the city centre but images show the outside of Mr Williams home. A Norwich City Council spokesman said: Were in the middle of two ongoing investigations into possible breaches of planning and food safety regulations, which may have legal consequences, so we cant provide specific details which may form part of this investigation and which could jeopardise the case. Daniel Kaye has been jailed for 32 months (NCA) A British man who masterminded a large scale cyber attack on a telecommunications company in Liberia has been jailed. Daniel Kaye, 30, of Egham, Surrey, was paid 30,000 US dollars by a rival company to disrupt the systems of mobile phone company Lonestar between October 2016 and February 2017. He created a botnet called Mirai #14 whose purpose was to trigger a distributed denial of service (DDoS) assault on the businesss computer network, causing it to spend 600,000 US dollars (467,000) in remedial action. Kaye pleaded guilty to two offences under the Computer Misuse Act and to one charge of possessing criminal property and was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday to a total of 32 months in prison. The court heard how the virus turned thousands of internet-connected devices into zombies that overwhelmed Lonestars network and costed it tens of millions of US dollars. Kaye was extradited back to Britain in August 2017 under a European Arrest Warrant following an investigation involving the National Crime Agencys (NCA) German counterpart, the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA). You are an intelligent, talented and skilful young man capable of understanding what your powers can do. It makes it even more worrying that you used your abilities for the purposes of this cyber attackJudge Alexander Hugh Milne QC Sentencing, Judge Alexander Hugh Milne QC said Kaye had pursued a large scale unlawful attack on Lonestars computer systems. You were paid by a rival company to disrupt and undermine the legitimate business of Lonestar, he said. He said that Kayes actions were a cynical and financially-driven attack upon a legitimate business enterprise. Kaye, who was supported in court by his girlfriend, could be seen weeping as the sentence was delivered. Prosecutor Robin Sellers told the court how Kaye made a rolling arrangement with a third party who worked for the company Cellcom under which he was paid 30,000 US dollars (23,000) between late 2016 and early 2017. The self-taught hacker adapted an existing virus to create a botnet variant called Mirai #14 whose purpose was to trigger DDoS assaults on internet networks. The court heard that the DDoS attack involved the Mirai code searching out devices that connected to the internet to turn them into zombies. Hundreds of thousands of internet-ready devices are in effect taken away from their usual use, Mr Sellers added. The devices became a conduit for the attack upon the Lonestar servers with the effect of overwhelming it with the sheer number of connections. Mr Sellers said Lonestars servers collapsed and couldnt operate properly. The court heard that the company estimated its revenue dipped from 84 million US dollars (65.3 million) to 17 million US dollars (13.2 million) between October 2016 and February 2017. Kaye was arrested at Heathrow in February 2017 under a European Police Warrant in relation to interference with the systems of Deutsche Telekom. He was found to be carrying 10,000 US dollars (7,800) in cash, which Mr Sellers said he had been paid for his work against Lonestar. A mobile phone was also seized which contained a Mirai monitor that showed Kayes code connecting to hundreds of thousands of devices. Kaye was convicted in Germany of attempted computer sabotage and given a one-year and eight months sentence, suspended for three years. The hacker had initiated controlled attacks on internet routers that knocked out the internet connections of Deutsche Telekom customers. It also affected the Cologne water treatment facility and other telephony systems. Expand Close Kaye pleaded guilty to two offences under the Computer Misuse Act (Yui Mok/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kaye pleaded guilty to two offences under the Computer Misuse Act (Yui Mok/PA) Mitigating, Jonathan Green said the impact of Kayes cyber attacks had been greater in Germany than in Liberia. Nobody died, nobodys life was imperilled, at worst Lonestar customers suffered slow internet speeds, he said. He rejected Lonestars estimates of its losses which he claimed were were unsupported by any evidence. Mr Green argued that Kaye was an intelligent young man who had received interest from illustrious businesses and could be a valuable support to the internet technology industry. All the best gamekeepers were at one time poachers, he said. Addressing Kaye, Judge Milne QC said: You are an intelligent, talented and skilful young man capable of understanding what your powers can do. It makes it even more worrying that you used your abilities for the purposes of this cyber attack. Kaye was sentenced to 32 months for unauthorised acts in relation to a computer under the Computer Misuse Act. He also received 12 months for a charge of making an article for use in the commission of an offence under the same act, and 12 months for possessing criminal property. The judge ruled that the sentences would be served concurrently. Kaye had previously been charged with blackmail and other offences under the Computer Misuse Act in relation to cyber attacks on the Lloyds Banking Group in the UK, but these were dropped by the prosecution. Locks on the Caledonian Canal will be replaced as part of the repair work (Yui Mok/PA) Critical repairs are to be carried out on two historic Scottish canals following an increase in funding for the project. Work on the Caledonian Canal, which connects Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William, and on the Union Canal, which runs from Falkirk to Edinburgh, will commence next week. The Scottish Government announced an increase in funding to Scottish Canals, the body responsible for managing the countrys inland waterways, from 11.6 million in 2018/19 to a proposed 15 million in 2019/20. Repair work will include replacing lock gates at Kytra and Fort Augustus on the Caledonian Canal. Transport Scotland said it is making the investment to allow Scottish Canals to maintain historic assets, as well as to assist projects aiming to improve the experience for users. Through @ScotGov funding - including an additional A5.35m made available last year - @ScottishCanals will undertake critical works on the #CaledonianCanal and #UnionCanal starting on Monday 14 January https://t.co/F7XpDudAJo pic.twitter.com/jeVXxlvoYm Transport Scotland (@transcotland) January 11, 2019 Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: The additional funding is enabling Scottish Canals to undertake critical repairs which will allow boaters to continue to navigate the waterways for years to come. While there may be some short-term disruption, the works are essential to the future of the Caledonian and Union canals. These repairs will be in addition to the scheduled maintenance that Scottish Canals will carry out in 2019 as part of its asset management programme including critical embankment works at Linlithgow. Our canal network plays a vital role in tourism and economic regeneration. To secure the future of the network, we intend to increase Scottish Canals funding to record levels in the Scottish budget for 2019/20 in recognition of the challenges faced in maintaining our historic waterways. Catherine Topley, Scottish Canals chief executive, said: This additional funding is fantastic news and will help us to safeguard the incredible heritage assets of Scotlands canals for future generations to enjoy. These 200-year-old waterways play a vital role in local communities and Scotland as a whole, contributing to the marine economy; attracting tourists, visitor spend and investment; as well as stimulating job creation and business growth. While managing these historic assets is not without its challenges, we are committed to continuing to work with the Scottish Government and our partners to ensure they continue to deliver benefits for all the people of Scotland. Theresa May has reached out to union leaders as she makes an 11th-hour attempt to reach out to her political opponents to get her Brexit deal through the Commons. Downing Street said the Prime Minister had constructive phone conversations about her Brexit deal with trade union big beast Len McCluskey of Unite, a Brexit supporter and close confidant of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as well as Tim Roache of the GMB. Number 10 also confirmed ministers would consider very seriously moves by Labour MPs to safeguard workers rights after Brexit in an attempt to win support for her deal, if the backbench amendment was selected by the Speaker. The amendment would keep EU rules on pay and conditions, health and safety issues, and environmental standards. Expand Close Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with Theresa May (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with Theresa May (Stefan Rousseau/PA) However senior opposition figures rowed back against the overtures, saying it was too little, too late. Mr Corbyn said Labour did not endorse or accept the initiative, backing union leaders including the TUCs Frances OGrady, who said the amendment makes no change to a bad deal for working peoples jobs and rights. And one of the union leaders who spoke with Mrs May said afterwards he remained in favour of extending Article 50 to allow a second referendum. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Mr Roache added: After nearly three years Im glad the Prime Minister finally picked up the phone. As you would expect, I was very clear about GMBs position, the deal on the table isnt good enough and non-binding assurances on workers rights wont cut it. If the deal genuinely did the job for GMB members, our union would support it, but it doesnt. Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry later on Thursday hit out at Tory figures putting out feelers on workers rights in a bid to get a Brexit consensus. Appearing on the BBCs Question Time, she accused the Government of treating the issue as an afterthought by attempting to discuss it at such a late stage. She said: It would be fundamental to what we were doing and we would have it as part of the law that our rights would be in pace with Europe. For the Tories to come back at the last minute and go oh yeah you know that thing about workers rights, well you might be able to have the same rights as they have in Spain, it just shows the fundamental difference of approach to this. Expand Close Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech on Brexit during a visit to OE Electrics in Wakefield (Danny Lawson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech on Brexit during a visit to OE Electrics in Wakefield (Danny Lawson/PA) Mr Corbyn said the widely-expected defeat for Mrs Mays deal next Tuesday would signal the failure of her leadership and of the Conservatives as a party of Government. Speaking on a visit to Wakefield in Yorkshire he urged MPs from across to House to back the motion of no confidence in the Government which Labour would table at the moment we judge it to have the best chance of success. Asked if he agreed with shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer that an extension to the two-year Article 50 process may now be inevitable, Mr Corbyn said: An extension would be a possibility because clearly there would have to be time to negotiate. Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of the UAE Cabinet Affairs and The Future, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has appointed Maha Khamis Al Mezaina as the new director of Area 2071. Area 2071 was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, as one of the key pillars of achieving the goals of UAE Centennial 2071, reported state news agency Wam. The appointment of Al Mezaina reflects DFFs efforts to achieve Sheikh Mohammed's vision in empowering young talents in contributing and leading the design of the future. Al Mezaina will oversee the management and implementation of projects and initiatives of Area 2071, which represents a platform for connecting the best minds around the world and enabling them to work together alongside. Throughout her career, Al Mezaina has worked in many governmental entities including: Dubai Future Accelerators, Museum of the Future and Dubai Future Academy. She has also worked in the Prime Ministers Office in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, and was part of several government teams including the team leading the World Government Summit and the Drones for Good Award, amongst many others, said the Wam report. Maha holds a Masters degree in innovation, creativity and leadership from City University, London, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah, and she is a graduate of the UAE Government Leaders Programme, it added. The 32-year-old son of a Polish woman living in Co Louth has appeared in court charged with her murder. Tomasz Piotrowski said "no comment" after he was charged with killing Elzbieta Piotrowska, a married mother-of-two, the hearing was told. His solicitor raised concerns about his mental health. Judge John Cheatle remanded Piotrowski in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court in Dublin next Thursday. The judge also ordered that the defendant receive the appropriate medical attention. Piotrowski, with an address at Cherrybrook in Ardee, must apply to the High Court in Dublin for bail. He is charged with the murder of Mrs Piotrowska (57) at her home at Clonmore Estate in Ardee, Co Louth, on Tuesday. Her body was found by a neighbour in the hallway of her home at around 11am. Yesterday morning Garda Sergeant Jim McCumiskey told Drogheda District Court that Piotrowski was charged at Drogheda Garda Station at 9.21pm on Wednesday evening. Sergeant McCumiskey added that the accused was handed a copy of the charge sheet, and in reply after caution said he had "no comment." Defence solicitor Paddy Goodwin said he had "serious concerns about his client's mental health". The court heard that the defendant was unemployed and on benefits. Judge Cheatle assigned Mr Goodwin on free legal aid. Piotrowski did not address the court during the hearing. The body of his mother was removed from her rented home to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda on Tuesday. A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out by Dr Michael Curtis. Gardai appealed for any witnesses or anyone who can assist them in their investigation to contact them at Drogheda Garda Station on 041 9874200. They can also use the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or can contact any garda station. Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has said he is greatly concerned about a fire at a proposed centre for asylum seekers. The Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey which had been earmarked as a Direct Provision centre in November, caught fire on Thursday night. Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene of the fire at the former hotel in Co. Leitrim near the Roscommon border at around 8pm. Statement by the Minister @CharlieFlanagan on the fire at Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey https://t.co/sLuFRYysa3 Department of Justice (@DeptJusticeIRL) January 11, 2019 I am deeply concerned at the reports of the fire, which broke out in the Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey, Minister Flanagan said. I wish to commend the emergency services and An Garda Siochana for their quick response to the incident, which undoubtedly minimised the potential damage to the hotel. The hotel had recently contracted with my Department to provide accommodation for 80 asylum seekers who have come to our country to seek protection, many of whom have experienced conflict and trauma and are vulnerable. The final preparations were being made in the hotel for their arrival. Thankfully, there were no residents in situ when the fire broke out. A security guard who was on the premises was not injured and managed to raise the alarm. The investigation into the cause of the fire must now take place and I do not wish to speculate at this point. It is also too early to say when the hotel might be ready to accept residents. All of the necessary assessments, certifications and any remedial works required must be carried out before we have a clearer time frame. In the interim, my department will continue to meet our obligation to provide accommodation for persons seeking our protection. Gardai have said that no one was injured in the incident, and the cause of the blaze is not yet known, the scene has been sealed off pending further investigations. The property was due to receive its first asylum seekers later this month and has been the subject of a number of Youtube videos, distributed leaflets and emergency community meetings disputing the use of the hotel for Direct Provision purposes. The fire comes just months after a separate incident in November, when a hotel in Moville, Co. Donegal, that was due to house around 100 asylum seekers, was targeted in a suspected arson attack. Officers investigating the fire have appealed for witnesses to contact them. Diversions are in place in the area and will remain until after the technical examination has been completed. Anyone with information is asked to contact Carrick on Shannon garda station on 071 965 0510. A Dublin crime gang is being investigated over a spate of burglaries in a border area of Co Tyrone A Dublin crime gang is being investigated over a spate of burglaries in a border area of Co Tyrone. Two homes were targeted on Saturday in the townland of Aghyaran near Castlederg, as well as a church across the border. Police said they are investigating a link between the break-ins and gang members arrested by the Garda on Monday. PSNI inspector John Hunter told the Ulster Herald that Garda had arrested four members of what appears to be "a mobile crime gang" from the Dublin area. "We can confirm that a line of inquiry is whether they are connected to the burglaries on our side," he said. "Gangs will sometimes travel great distances having thought about where they are going. "The difficulty is that they will target an area for a short space of time, hit it and then not come back for weeks." He said thieves were rarely caught in the act and were long gone by the time the crimes were reported. Charlie Moss said that he returned from holiday with his wife to find that their home in McNally Park had been ransacked. He believes the break-in took place on Saturday night, around the same time that the home of a local widow was targeted as she attended an anniversary Mass for her husband. A Church of Ireland across the border was also targeted around the same time. "Crime was unheard of in this area, but now the people who are doing these burglaries seem to be running wild. They're getting braver," Mr Moss added. "At the weekend they came up to my home, which is in a built-up area, and before that they targeted a lot of the isolated homes." He said it was a "massive shock" to find his back door has been smashed open and every room ransacked. Inspector Hunter said thieves also used cold-calling as a means of finding out if addresses are empty. "I would urge people to report that because it can sometimes be a precursor to a burglary happening in the area," he said. "A lot of the premises being targeted at the moment are vacant, so they are obviously working that out in some way." An increased police presence is planned in rural parts of west Tyrone in the coming weeks to address concerns. "We have finite resources, but we will be trying where possible to maintain that," he added. Yesterday officers from Strabane carried out vehicle checkpoints at Corgary Road in Castlederg. They urged anyone who notices a suspicious vehicle on their street to report it straight away. BY ALLAN PRESTON Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan, with Paul Maskey, points out a mark made by a bullet (Rebecca Black/PA) West Belfast MP Paul Maskey has said Sinn Fein will not be deterred from constituency work after shots were fired at a party office. Bullet casings were found outside the office in the Turf Lodge area on Monday morning. It is understood that CCTV at the office revealed shots were fired at the office by a gunman on January 3. It is the second attack on the office in four months, following a previous incident in October when shots were also fired at the building. Sinn Feins headquarters at Connolly House on the Falls Road were damaged in an arson attack last August. In July the west Belfast home of former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was targeted in a drive-by attack in which an explosive device was thrown at the property from a passing car. An explosive was also thrown at the house of Sinn Fein activist Bobby Storey on the same night. Mr Maskey has called for attacks on Sinn Fein offices to stop. There has been a number of attacks on our offices throughout west Belfast and we are calling for that to stop, he said. We will not be deterred from the work that we do. We carry out a first class constituency service for the people of west Belfast and people are very thankful for that. People have said to us they are disgusted by these attacks. Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan said they condemned the attacks in the strongest possible terms. We either stand up to these people or we bend the knee, and we will not be bending the knee, he said. We will not be intimidated, we have lived through years of attacks by loyalists and State forces and these people are not going to deter us from providing a service to the community here in Turf Lodge and the Upper Springfield. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating the incident. Detective Sergeant Sam McCallum said officers attended the scene and recovered the casings, which were taken away for further examination. This was a reckless attack in what is a built-up residential area. Someone could easily have been injured, or worse, by a stray bullet, he said. Thankfully, we are not looking at any injuries. I want to make a number of appeals today. Were you in the Monagh Crescent area around 2am and the time the incident occurred last Thursday morning, 3rd December? If you own a dashcam, please check your footage as you may have captured footage of the incident. Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call detectives at Musgrave on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 367 08/01/19. The union representing staff at Belfast Zoo has hit out at the "appalling" comments made by a councillor after the deaths of three giraffes at the facility last year. Belfast Ulster Unionist councillor Chris McGimpsey previously raised concerns about the fatalities after a zoo worker contacted him through a third party to reveal that one of the animals had strangled to death while feeding. The two other fatalities related to treatment under anaesthetic and a council spokeswoman said all three incidents were investigated by an independent vet. Mr McGimpsey said he raised the matter with the council's director of city and neighbourhood services, Nigel Grimshaw, who said he knew "absolutely nothing" about the deaths. Read More The councillor said Mr Grimshaw investigated the matter and returned to confirm that the animal had strangled itself to death last March. "I was stunned that Mr Grimshaw had not been previously informed of this. If senior council officers are kept in the dark then councillors will also be unaware of such incidents, and that is totally unacceptable," he said. "I have long wanted the zoo shut down and turned into a conservation centre. It takes 2m of ratepayers' money a year - that's 40,000 a week - to keep it open. "The zoo was built as a symbol of prestige in this city. It is like a Victorian peep show, with animals, which we come to gawk at. Its time has passed and we need to realise that and have the courage to close it." In a statement on Friday, Alan Perry, organiser of GMB, who represent Belfast Zoo staff, hit out at the comments. We are totally appalled that anyone would think that the deaths were hidden from anyone and would defend the integrity and professionalism of our members and staff," he said. What Councillor McGimpsey fails to acknowledge or indeed understand is the immense pride staff have in their work. Keepers and workers at the zoo are greatly saddened and full of grief when any animal in their care passes away. Our members are totally appalled that any blame would be apportioned to them and deeply resentful of any comments suggesting that any animals in their care are neglected. For our members in Belfast Zoo it is not just a job but a lifelong vocational role that they deliver with the utmost professionalism and dedication and GMB is proud of them. Expand Close Chris McGimpsey / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chris McGimpsey In response, Mr McGimpsey said: "Time and time again I have stressed the commitment of the staff and their professionalism." Last week, a council spokeswoman said a report detailing the deaths of the three giraffes in 2018 would be presented to the council's city growth and regeneration committee. "All the incidents were investigated by an independent vet, independent post-mortems were carried out and the deaths were reported to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, which has oversight of the zoo licence and carries out inspections under their animal husbandry and welfare remit," she said. "The report provides assurance on animal welfare and husbandry practices at Belfast Zoo. Two of the deaths of Rothschild giraffes were related to treatment under anaesthetic, which is fairly high risk for giraffes. "However, this is the first time since 1988 a death of this kind has occurred. The zoo vet has carried out 152 successful procedures since 1988. The third animal died after becoming tangled in a feeding basket that had been in use for 15 years without incident. This basket has since been adapted. "Animal welfare is of prime importance... which is why we are continuing to implement all lessons learned as a result of these three unfortunate incidents. Staff continue to work to ensure the welfare of all animals." A border crossing between Co Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and Co Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) The UK Government has confirmed it will spend 300 million supporting EU-backed peace projects in Northern Ireland as part of its commitments under the Brexit deal. The Northern Ireland Office said the UK Government had committed to contributing millions of pounds as part of its unwavering commitment to uphold the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland after Brexit. The funding will be made available until 2027. This funding will help deliver vital projects on both sides of the Irish border, supporting co-operation and reconciliation and ensuring that generations to come grow up in a more peaceful and stable societyNorthern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley said: This funding will help deliver vital projects on both sides of the Irish border, supporting co-operation and reconciliation and ensuring that generations to come grow up in a more peaceful and stable society. The Peace Plus scheme will succeed the current Peace programme, which was designed to help promote economic and social progress in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland. It has been running since 1995 with funding from the UK, Ireland and EU, and will end in 2020. The UK Government will work with the EU Commission and Irish government to shape the programme over the next round of the EUs Multi-Annual Financial Framework. Last May, the EU set out its plan to make 109 million in funding to continue peace projects in Northern Ireland post-Brexit. The funding from the EU and UK will enable work to continue on the construction of almost 1.8 billion worth of projects in both Northern Ireland and Ireland. Among the projects to have received funding to date has been the 14.5 million Peace Bridge in Londonderry, which was opened in 2011 and links communities across the River Foyle. Youth Action NI in Belfast is one of the organisations that has benefited under the existing scheme. The group used the money to set up the Youth Network for Peace, a regional project involving 10,000 young people in a range of social action projects on a cross-community and cross-border basis. Two men have been arrested and a suspected fuel laundering site dismantled in Newry following an HMRC investigation into an alleged multi-million pound fuel fraud. HMRC officers, supported by Police Service of Northern Ireland, carried out a search of an industrial address on the outskirts of Newry on Wednesday 9 January. A suspected distillation-type fuel laundering plant was dismantled and 45,000 litres of fuel seized, along with specialised equipment thought to be being used in the laundering process. HMRC say the suspected laundering plant had the potential to produce in excess of 10 million litres of illicit fuel a year, with the potential loss of 6.5 million in revenue. Steve Tracey, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: We remain alert to the often dangerous methods criminals use attempting to remove the government markers from rebated fuel and will continue to work with our multi-agency partners to tackle this crime, one we are determined to detect and disrupt. Given that laundering plants have been found close to homes and retail sites they have always posed a serious risk to the public. Fuel launderers abandon harmful waste and transport fuel in vehicles that are unfit for purpose and unsafe. "We believe criminals are now experimenting with processes that carry a risk of explosion as they seek to defeat fuel markers and I would urge anyone with information about this extremely dangerous activity to report it to HMRC online or contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887. The two men arrested were questioned by HMRC and have been released on bail. Investigations into the suspected fraud are ongoing. Sean Kitson with son Zak at their home in Tandragee Sean Kitson with a homegrown wasabi plant, the root stems of which are used in Japanese cooking A Co Armagh scientist and his teenage son are sitting on a "green goldmine" after becoming the first farmers to grow a Japanese herb in Ireland. Because they require very specific conditions, genuine wasabi plants are rarely seen outside Japan. But Sean Kitson (51), who is originally from England, and his son Zak (17) have successfully cultivated the popular sushi accompaniment in a specially adapted polytunnel at their home in Tandragee. "It's gone very well, almost too well," Sean said. "Wasabi is often referred to as 'green gold' so we are in a very good position. Our biggest challenge now is marketing." But with only a handful of companies in Europe selling the scarce leafy plant that is normally found growing on stream beds in the mountain valleys of Shizuoka in the Land of the Rising Sun, he hopes his product will essentially sell itself. "We are already selling to Zen restaurant in Belfast. We have had phone calls from Holland and from someone who wanted to buy the lot. There is huge demand out there," he said. Their yield weighed in at 100kg, making it a bumper harvest, given that the 'king of herbs' is worth around 250 per kilo. And with two acres of land to farm, the father-and-son business could rake in up to 2.5m every time they harvest their organically grown crop, which takes two years to mature. "The battle is against the forces of nature, which is mainly slugs," Sean explained. It was trainee chef Zak who came up with the idea after his father encouraged him to start a business to ensure he could be independent as an adult. "Zak was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was only seven. I felt it was important for him to do something like this so that he would be able to manage better when he goes through bad spells," his proud father explained. "This is what he came up with, and thankfully it has worked out." The medicinal plant has a reputation for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. "There is also research indicating it has anti-cancer properties," Sean added. "People in Japan rub it on their heads because it reportedly speeds up hair growth. As a scientist, I find this side of it fascinating." The chemist, who works at Almac in Craigavon, spent countless hours trawling through research papers to ensure the notoriously difficult-to-grow plant would flourish. "If it wasn't for my background in science I don't think we would have done this," he said. The entrepreneurs now hope to become the main supplier of the herb to restaurants in Ireland and Britain. But as cultivators of the sought-after plant, they could conquer the European market - and one day even export to Japan. "A lot of chefs use alternative ingredients with a green dye because it is so hard to source and there's only 6,000 tonnes produced in the world," Sean said. Zen owner Eddie Fung has given the local wasabi the thumbs-up. "He said it's the real McCoy," Sean added. Speaking on RTE's farming programme Ear To The Ground, which aired last night, Mr Fung said he had not been able to source wasabi in Ireland before now, and described Sean and Zak's product as "fantastic". The Kitson family, including Sean's wife Olivera (51) and daughter Sofia (18), who also lend a helping hand, are now focused on ensuring another bumper harvest in 2020. More information about the wasabi can be found online at www.wasabicrop.blog. A senior PSNI officer has warned of the dangers of mixing alcohol, prescription and illicit drugs. Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton was speaking in the aftermath of 10 suspected drug-related deaths in Belfast since December. While the cause of the fatalities has yet to be determined, Mr Singleton said a combination of illegal and prescription drugs may have been a factor. "Illegal prescription drugs are a definite concern for us," he said. "It's something we're very focused on in terms of taking forward our harm-reduction strategy and we'd be keen to take more actions against those responsible. "They can't be imported legally but the existence in particular of Asian manufacturers producing illicit prescription-type medicines is an issue. We've seen people stockpiling legitimate prescriptions for drugs like tramadol and selling them for profit. "In cases like this, we're really in the hands of the public in that we need people to come forward with as much information as possible." Mr Singleton's comments came as the family of a west Belfast man who died at the weekend spoke of their anger after he was encouraged to take drugs. Antoin Martin (27) died in the early hours of Sunday in his Whiterock Parade home. His family believe the young man was given drugs in a bar by strangers on Saturday night and took them, not understanding what they were. His sister Niamh Martin said her family were "angry" that he could be targeted in such a way. Mr Martin went out with family and became frightened when he returned home less than two hours later. He told his mother that he had been given tablets and hadn't wanted to take them. Mr Martin then began taking fits before he stopped breathing. Despite efforts by his sister and paramedics, who used a defibrillator, he died on Sunday. Niamh believes her brother, who had never taken drugs before, was "intimidated". She told the Irish News: "I believe that he was afraid and the drugs were offered and he did it to try and fit in. When he got home, he was afraid. It was too late. There are people out there who just don't care." PUP councillor and GP Dr John Kyle said people in Belfast were becoming "numb" to news of drug-related deaths. A councillor has hit out at those responsible for dumping as many as six dead calves in the Stoneyford area of Lisburn in the last 24 hours. SDLP councillor Mairia Cahill said the act showed a "disgusting disregard" for the animals and the environment. Cllr Cahill, who represents the Killultagh DEA, said: It has been discovered that dead calves have been dumped on private land in Stoneyford. The latest find of dead calves, which were tied up in plastic bags, was discovered today. This is not the first time this has happened, except on the previous occasion the animals were not bagged. "This act shows a blatant disregard for those who live in the area." Expand Close SDLP Councillor Mairia Cahill has hit out that those responsible for the dumping of as many as six dead calves. Credit: SDLP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp SDLP Councillor Mairia Cahill has hit out that those responsible for the dumping of as many as six dead calves. Credit: SDLP Ms Cahill said she had liaised with the Department for Agriculture and requested that during the forthcoming annual TB testing stock numbers are checked in an effort to find the culprits. "My colleague Pat Catney MLA has raised the issue with the PSNI, and I would like to thank Lisburn Council Depot for their help in this matter," she added. "We have arranged on this occasion for the dead animals to be collected and rendered. "The cost for a cattle owner to dispose of a calf in the correct manner is nominal, so this act really is inexcusable." PSNI Ballymena issued an a chart to try and dispel the myths of chalk markings. In recent years, an urban legend about chalk markings being left on homes has been doing the rounds on social media and Northern Ireland police say they are being asked more and more about the markings. According to the myth, criminals leave various markings on the outside of unsuspecting homeowners' properties marking them out for burglary. Some versions of the story warn the markings indicate households with pets, which criminals can then abduct and sell for profit. As recounted in various news stories, and statements from police forces in England, variations of these chalk symbols can indicate "vulnerable occupant", "alarmed house" or "previously burgled". Police in Co Antrim, however, have said the truth may be far more innocent. In a post on social media, PSNI Ballymena said they have seen an increase in the number of calls from residents asking about the markings and moved to dispel the myth surrounding them. "The urban legends suggest [the markings] are left by criminals to identify potential targets for burglary," they wrote. "While we cant explain every marking found on a specific house or indeed the proximity of the house marked to a public area, its important to remember that facts can be distorted, lost or even embellished with the retelling of each incident. "Most of us have heard of these markings appearing on the house of a friend of a friend or the cousin of your hairdresser's next door neighbour. "How many of us actually know the person its alleged to have happened to or saw clear recognisable pictures of the house and marking? "Sometimes in our albeit well intentioned haste to warn others of a potential threat, we dont always consider the validity and source of the information we are sharing." PSNI Ballymena also shared an image of the "supposed meaning" of various chalk symbols, according to the urban legend, and their actual meaning - as the markings are often used by roads and maintenance workers for various innocent reasons. The daughter of an Enniskillen bomb victim has called for a public inquiry into the IRA atrocity. Aileen Quinton was speaking after Attorney General John Larkin reportedly turned down a legal application to reopen inquests of the 12 people who died as a result of the Remembrance Day horror. The application, which is understood to have been made on behalf of survivor Jim Dixon and a small group of other relatives, was lodged under Section 14(1) of the Coroners Act (NI) 1959. Read More It is understood that those taking the action were notified of the decision not to approve the application earlier this week. Their legal representative told the Impartial Reporter the application was constructed to cover a series of fundamental issues that the original inquest would not have considered, including fundamental evidential issues with the police investigation. However, they said that the Attorney Generals office has communicated to the families that he does not consider the holding of a further inquest is advisable at this time. The solicitor added that they may ask the Attorney General to reconsider his decision. Eleven people were killed and 63 injured in the bombing on November 8, 1987. The 12th person to die, Ronnie Hill, passed away after spending 13 years in a coma. No one has been convicted in connection with the massacre. Ms Quinton 72-year-old mother Alberta died in the attack. She told the Belfast Telegraph: I would like to see a public inquiry into the degree to which people have been shielded from prosecution that goes into OTR (on the run) letters, etc, and Enniskillen would be one of the ones included in that. I havent specifically thought about my mothers inquest being reopened, because my worry (is that it) would be what people would be content with. She added: An inquests remit is very narrow. A public inquiry would not be looking at how people died, but the investigation, and not following up leads properly because of terrorists being protected. I certainly wouldnt say the families who may ask Mr Larkin to reconsider his decision are wrong to do it. Its just that I would be asking for the wider, more strategic issue to be considered. The Attorney Generals office said: The Attorney Generals practice is normally not to disclose inquest decisions and the reasons for these decisions other than to those directly affected such as the Coroner, relatives of the deceased person who have sought an inquest or their representatives. Angry MLAs have hit out at controversial plans to shut a school campus in Lurgan and bus hundreds of the affected children to Portadown daily. Upper Bann MLAs from both the DUP and UUP spoke out as a consultation exercise about the future of Craigavon Senior High School is due to begin on Monday. The school has two campuses seven miles apart: one in Portadown, attended by 75% of the pupils, and the other in Lurgan, which provides for the remaining 25%. Both campuses rely on facilities shared with Southern Regional College (SRC) and almost one-third of teaching classrooms on the Lurgan site are SRC classrooms. A small number of the teaching staff travel between the campuses. A recent inspection report found that over the past three years the school's performance at Key Stage 4 has declined significantly, while the performance of most of the individual subjects is below the corresponding Northern Ireland average. Last night DUP MLA Carla Lockhart told the Belfast Telegraph her party would not allow the people of Lurgan to be subjected to the Education Authority's "unacceptable proposal". "The Education Authority are recommending as their preferred option the closing of the Lurgan campus of the senior high school and bussing the young people to Portadown campus," she said. "This will ultimately leave Lurgan bereft of a senior high school and relocated to a Portadown campus that is already at capacity. "We utterly oppose this and see the detrimental effect this could have on children from the Lurgan area." Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie described Craigavon Senior High's Lurgan campus as "not fit for purpose", but said bussing was not the answer. "The children in Lurgan cannot stay at the Lurgan campus site on Kitchen Hill, as it is simply not fit for purpose, while bussing them to Portadown to a consolidated CSHS would be detrimental to the children and the wider Lurgan community," the MLA said. Norman Wilkinson of campaign group Education Equality for Lurgan said parents were worried. "They want to bus 200 kids out of south Lurgan to Portadown, taking the heart out of the community," he said. He said his group had suggested a workable alternative. "Instead of bussing the kids to Portadown into portable classrooms, they could use the grounds of Lurgan Junior High School (which) could take up to 1,800 children," he said. "We've been working with the junior high school on plans for an 11-16 school, with selection at 14, but according to the EA this goes against the Dickson Plan." Mr Beattie backed the alternative idea, saying: "Creating an educational hub in Lurgan on the site of the Lurgan Junior High School through the provisions of 11-16 education would enhance education in the area while at the same time retaining the guidelines of the Dickson Plan with no detrimental effect on post-primary schools and education in the wider Lurgan, Portadown and Tandragee area." The Education Authority said: "Craigavon Senior High School currently provides vitally important post-primary education services to the Craigavon area and currently operates across two campuses. "EA is undertaking consultation on how future provision at Craigavon Senior High School will be shaped. "The purpose of this consultation is to seek the views of those most directly involved at a local level and will begin on Monday, January 14. "The consultation events will provide an opportunity to explore all of the facts and discuss the issues which will help shape future provision at Craigavon Senior High School." Sinn Fein has released CCTV footage of a masked gunman shooting at the office of MLA Pat Sheehan. It was reported around 11am on Tuesday, January 8 that bullet casings had been found outside an office premises at Monagh Crescent in Ballymurphy on Monday. Police attended the scene and recovered the casings, which were taken away for further examination. A further report was made yesterday of a number of shots been fired at the building by a masked gunman on Thursday, January 3, just before 2.20am. Nobody was injured in the attacks. The office targeted belongs to Sinn Fein's West Belfast MLA Pat Sheehan. Mr Sheehan's office was also attacked in a shooting incident in October. In November police warned Mr Sheehan that a death threat had been issued against him. Mr Sheehan said that a masked gunman had carried out the attack. He said the party condemned the attacks "in the strongest possible terms". "We either stand up to these people or we bend the knee, and we will not be bending the knee," Mr Sheehan said. "We will not be intimidated, we have lived through years of attacks by loyalists and State forces and these people are not going to deter us from providing a service to the community here in Turf Lodge and the Upper Springfield." Detective Sergeant Sam McCallum said someone could have been killed in the shootings. "This was a reckless attack in what is a built-up residential area. Someone could easily have been injured, or worse, by a stray bullet," he said. "I want to make a number of appeals today. Were you in the Monagh Crescent area around 2am and the time the incident occurred last Thursday morning? "If you own a dash cam, please check your footage as you may have captured footage of the incident. "Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call detectives at Musgrave on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 367 08/01/19. "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." Areas of the health service could see cuts of 30m a year to meet the demand for medical students, a Northern Ireland health boss has warned. Department of Health permanent secretary Richard Pengelly was speaking after a review into medical school places in Northern Ireland was published. Read More The report found that at least 100 more medical students are needed a year to meet the demand for doctors. Mr Pengelly said that to recruiting the number of students necessary could cost up to 30m a year "funding which would have to be found by making reductions in other areas of the health service.". He said that the report raised "long term, strategic and cross-cutting questions with major financial implications which will require decisions by ministers". The NI Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions Act has been introduced by Secretary of State Karen Bradley to allow senior civil servants to make decisions in the absence of Ministers. A new medical school at Londonderry's Ulster University Magee campus had been scheduled to open in 2019. The lack of available funding has put the project's future in doubt. Northern Ireland's only medical school is currently based at Queen's University Belfast. It admits 271 medical students each year, with 6,142 doctors currently working in Northern Ireland. In a joint statement Queen's and the Ulster University said they welcomed the report and requested a meeting with Mr Pengelly to "to discuss a collaborative approach" to tackling the issues raised. The review recommended that the department should increase the number of funded medical school places from 236 to 336 a year "as soon as possible, preferably by September 2019". It also found that Northern Ireland had a "shortage of doctors working in permanent positions" and that there were areas "where it is difficult to attract doctors to work and train". Secretary of State Karen Bradley last night unveiled a 300m UK Government funding package to support peace in Northern Ireland - but tied the money to Theresa May's Brexit deal. The programme, which includes a further 109m from the EU, is designed to continue support for peace-building projects up to 2027. The funding, called PEACE Plus, is the post-Brexit successor to the cross-border peace-building scheme that started in 1995. Read More But she appeared to link the money with the Prime Minister's troubled withdrawal agreement, which is struggling to get through the House of Commons and is opposed by the DUP. Writing in today's Belfast Telegraph, Mrs Bradley said she was "delighted that the UK Government has committed up to 300m of funding for the successor to this programme, PEACE Plus". She added: "This funding flows from our joint commitment within the EU in the withdrawal agreement to maintain funding for vital work on reconciliation and a shared future for Northern Ireland until at least 2027. "It is a clear example of the certainty that the withdrawal agreement provides to the people of Northern Ireland and why it should be supported." Read More The EU has already set out its plan for 109m of funding during 2021-27, if its financial framework is approved. Current PEACE funding is only guaranteed until 2020. It is understood that the post-2020 support package could be in jeopardy if the Prime Minister's Brexit deal is not ratified by Parliament. However, also writing in today's newspaper, DUP leader Arlene Foster said the withdrawal agreement remains "utterly unacceptable" because of the backstop. Read More Mrs Foster said: "As the House of Commons debates the withdrawal agreement, it is abundantly clear that the backstop is the problem. "Indeed, with the backstop removed, despite other concerns, the withdrawal agreement would command much greater support in Parliament." Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Civil Service here is seeking volunteers to oversee fuel distribution in the event of an emergency. Sinn Fein has suggested advocates of a no-deal Brexit should be the ones left to man the pumps and explain the disaster to people. In a letter sent to many staff yesterday and without reference to Brexit, officials said disruption to supplies was unlikely but it was necessary to put emergency response plans in place. They said Stormont's Department for the Economy would work with the oil industry to ensure those providing key functions, such as hospitals and staff, continue to receive fuel until normal supply is restored. The letter said: "These organisations and individuals would be directed to a network of strategically located filling stations spread across Northern Ireland and identified as a priority for supply from reduced stocks." Two civil servants would be located at each of the designated stations during any emergency to monitor demand and ensure that the process runs smoothly. Volunteers would check the validity of fuel permits presented by individuals identified by their organisations as a priority to receive fuel from designated filling stations, the letter said. "Details must be recorded of the amount and type of fuel purchased so HQ staff can track demand patterns. "Training will be provided and they will explain the scheme to customers, thus leaving filling station staff free to dispense fuel and take payment." The last time serious disruption happened to the oil industry here was in 1974 during the loyalist Ulster Workers Council strike in protest at the Sunningdale Agreement. Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard said: "The advocates of a no-deal Brexit should be left to staff the pumps and explain the disaster of a no-deal Brexit." A statement from the department said for many years it had worked closely with industry. It added: "This process is not new and is a routine exercise to bring the resource back to the required capacity." Due to staff changes it was considered "prudent" to reissue the call for volunteers. Secretary of State Karen Bradley has refused to comment on reports Cabinet ministers discussed the possibility a no-deal Brexit will lead to a poll on a united Ireland but did say it would have huge implications for the UK. But she did say a no-deal Brexit could put in jeopardy the UK's constitutional arrangements, by creating "feelings of unrest". "No deal is bad for the whole United Kingdom, because it does put in jeopardy some of those constitutional arrangements," She told the BBC. "I'm sure it will create feelings of unrest with people in all parts of the UK who didn't want to see us leave the EU." It was reported that Mrs Bradley issued the warning at Tuesday's meeting of the Cabinet. Read More It was claimed she said a border poll on the reunification of Ireland was "far more likely" if the United Kingdom crashed out of the European Union without a withdrawal agreement in place. Under the Good Friday Agreement, a referendum on Irish unity can only be called by the Northern Ireland Secretary if there is evidence a majority would vote in favour of reunification. Asked about her reported warning, Mrs Bradley said she would not comment. "I am not commenting on what may or may not have been said at a private meeting, but I am well aware of my statutory obligations under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and I am well aware the constitutional status of Northern Ireland is a matter for the people of Northern Ireland," she said. "My job as Secretary of State is to deliver a deal that gets us out of the European Union as one United Kingdom and is good for everybody in the United Kingdom, and that means everybody in Northern Ireland, and that's what I am working to deliver." Asked if a no deal would lead her to review whether the conditions for a poll had been met under her statutory obligations, she said "I know what my obligations are and I am well aware of them. "The point here is, though, we have a way of leaving the European Union in an orderly way that is good for the United Kingdom and the Union. I want to see us deliver on that," Mrs Bradley said. "I want to see members of Parliament vote for the Withdrawal Agreement, so we can leave as one United Kingdom in a way that is good for the whole United Kingdom." She has insisted the Prime Minister's Brexit agreement is the "best thing" for the future of the Union. On a visit to Belfast on Friday, she was asked by the Press Association whether a no deal would make a border poll more likely. She responded: "I've said that I believe the best thing for the United Kingdom, the whole United Kingdom and the Union of the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union together as one UK with a deal. That is the best thing for the United Kingdom and that is what I am focused on delivering." Jennifer Dornan was found stabbed inside her burning home at Hazel View in the Lagmore area of the city in 2015. A man is to stand trial for the murder of a mother-of-three in west Belfast, a judge has ordered. Raymond O'Neill, 40, appeared before the city's Magistrates Court on Friday accused of killing Jennifer Dornan and setting fire to her home in August 2015. He is also separately charged with the rape of another woman back in December 2003. O'Neill, with a previous address at Amcomri Street in Belfast, was extradited from the Republic of Ireland last year. He had been detained under a European Arrest Warrant back in 2016, and mounted a series of legal challenges against being transferred to Northern Ireland. Entering the dock in a wheelchair due to medical issues, O'Neill confirmed that he understood all of the allegations against him. He is charged with murder and arson in connection with 30-year-old Ms Dornan's death. She was found stabbed inside her burning home at Hazel View in the Lagmore area of the city. A prosecution lawyer argued that O'Neill has a case to answer on both the alleged killing and rape cases. Defence counsel Mark Farrell, instructed by McIvor Farrell Solicitors, made no contrary submissions. On that basis District Judge Fiona Bagnall granted applications to have the accused returned for a Crown Court trial. She remanded him back into custody until those proceedings get underway on dates to be fixed. An American woman who lost her entire family, one of them originally from Co Tyrone, in a horror collision in the Republic said the truck driver involved remains in her prayers. An inquest in New Ross, Co Wexford, was told that a hire car carrying four members of the Alexander family from Chicago pulled out directly in front of an articulated lorry in a bid to perform a U-turn on the busy N25 road, leaving the shocked truck driver with no chance to avoid a catastrophic impact. Coroner Dr Sean Nixon heard the BMW 520 car driven by Douglas Alexander Jnr was attempting the U-turn as it followed the car of an Irish relative after both had apparently missed a turn-off en route to a family funeral in Wexford. Police officer Stephen Alexander (49); his parents Lily Ryan-Alexander and Douglas (both 75), and his brother Douglas Jnr (52) were all killed when their BMW saloon collided with the lorry on the N25 at Begern outside New Ross at 6.30pm on December 4, 2017. Douglas Alexander Snr was born and raised in Sion Mills. The Alexanders had travelled to Ireland from Chicago to attend the funeral of Mrs Ryan-Alexander's sister. Debbie Alexander Cegerlak, who remained in the US with her two children, lost both her parents and her two brothers in the horrific accident. All four died from catastrophic injuries as the Scania truck driven by Paul Caulfield was unable to avoid an impact when the BMW pulled out directly in front of it. The coroner and Alexander family paid tribute to the desperate efforts of the Wexford emergency services to help, and the courage shown by New Ross nurse Grace O'Sullivan who came upon the accident. "The truck driver (Mr Caulfield) did not have the time or the distance to avoid a collision," Garda forensic investigator Tom Bulger said. Mr Caulfield was with a passenger Kevin Collins en route to the UK. Mr Collins said: "It pulled out foolishly (from the left) and did a U-turn. Paul said 'Jesus Christ' and then flashed his lights. The BMW 5 series did the same thing and pulled out in front of us. Paul had no time to react." Solicitor Caroline McLaughlin said Mrs Alexander Cegerlak and Stephen Alexander's wife Lynn said there is not a day they do not think of the truck driver and what he faced. Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton with the haul of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of just under 1million Four men have been charged after police seized an estimated 1m worth of cannabis. The men - aged 38, 29, 29 and 19 - were held on a number of drug-related offences and were being questioned at Musgrave PSNI station yesterday. Three are believed to be from south-east Asia and the fourth from north Africa. Two properties were searched in the Springfield Road and Shore Road areas of Belfast, while two vehicles were stopped heading north on the M2. Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton said he believed the haul of 50kg of herbal cannabis was linked to a south-east Asian Triad gang operating here. The drugs were displayed yesterday at Grosvenor Road PSNI station and filled an entire table. "Organised crime gangs make huge amounts of money from this illegal trade," said Mr Singleton. "Some people do think that buying cannabis is harmless, but that's simply not the case. "The reality is that the abuse of cannabis can damage your physical and mental health. "Others are better placed to comment on that, but it's a fact that cannabis remains the most used drug by persons in Northern Ireland in treatment for drug addiction." Mr Singleton added that the money spent on cannabis encouraged the growth of criminal gangs engaged in violence and intimidation, as well as other crimes like human trafficking. The suspected Triad group, he said, was "one of the key groups" here in terms of importing and distributing cannabis. "By our estimation, they're a significant organised crime gang. That's why they've been a priority investigation for the organised crime unit," he added. SDLP councillor Paul McCusker described the drug seizure as "extremely worrying". He said: "It is welcome news that an estimated 1m worth of drugs were seized by the PSNI in a number of searches across Belfast. "The plight of drug use and distribution in our community is on the rise. "Its effects destroy lives and families, with addiction services struggling to cope with the sheer number of those requesting help. "I would encourage anyone with additional information to contact the PSNI." Anyone with information of drug dealing in their area is urged to contact police on 101. Former SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie has said that she is in favour of a partnership between her party and Fianna Fail. Speaking on BBC's The View Mrs Ritchie said the political landscape meant she had changed her mind on the issue. Read More While SDLP leader she said that a merger with Fianna Fail would never happen "on her watch". The former South Down MP was speaking after months of rumours about a potential deal between the two parties. A number of figures within the SDLP have come out against the plan, including South Belfast MLA Claire Hanna, Councillor Mairia Cahill and the SDLP Youth group. In his New Year's message SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said that his party were "ready to embrace change" and sources have suggested an announcement could be imminent. Speaking at Stormont on Thursday Mr Eastwood declined to give any details on the plans, but said that the SDLP had a long term future in politics. Mrs Ritchie told the BBC that any deal would not be a "take over" by Fianna Fail. "I think people are looking for a new kind of politics that demands we do something which is different," she said. "It's about two like-minded parties who were both involved in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement and who now want to fight the challenges of Brexit." Expand Close Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (left) and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood. (PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (left) and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood. (PA) Firefighters rescued 39 bulls from an overturned cattle lorry following an incident in Co Fermanagh. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended the scene on the Cavan Road, Newtownbutler after receiving a call at 6.22am about a one vehicle road traffic collision. Representatives of the NIFRS Large Animal Rescue Team from Omagh Fire Station and Fire Crews from Lisnaskea and Enniskillen Fire Stations attended the incident which involved 42 bulls trapped in the overturned lorry. A local Vet also attended the scene but three of the animals died in the incident, Firefighters stabilised the vehicle and used hydraulic cutting equipment to release 39 bulls assisted by farm workers, three bulls died in the incident. The driver of the lorry, a man in his 40s was out of the vehicle prior to arrival of fire crews and was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel, he did not require hospital treatment. A NIFRS spokesperson said: "This was a particularly hazardous incident for our personnel to resolve, given the unpredictability, size, and large number of the livestock involved, especially when distressed." The incident was dealt with by 9.49am. When safely rescued the bulls were contained in a nearby field. The DUP has described the Secretary of State's 300m peace funding offer for Northern Ireland as "appalling and distasteful". Mrs Dodds was speaking after Karen Bradley unveiled a 300m UK Government funding package to support peace in Northern Ireland, but tied the money to Theresa May's Brexit deal gaining parliamentary approval. Read More The programme, which includes a further 109m from the EU, is designed to continue support for peace-building projects up to 2027. Writing in today's Belfast Telegraph, Mrs Bradley appeared to tie the money to the Prime Minister's Brexit withdrawal deal. "It is a clear example of the certainty that the withdrawal agreement provides to the people of Northern Ireland and why it should be supported," the Secretary of State wrote. DUP MEP Diane Dodds reacted angrily to Mrs Bradley's comments saying it was "disgraceful and disingenuous" to tie peace funding as a "bargaining chip aimed at securing more votes for the flawed deal". "For Mrs Bradley to imply that the UK government could choose not to demonstrate similar good faith if a deal is not ultimately reached is a distasteful bluff," she said. The DUP MEP said that Mrs Bradley's comments were reflective of her lack of knowledge on issues in Northern Ireland. In an interview last year Mrs Bradley admitted ahead of taking up her position she was "slightly scared" of Northern Ireland and was not aware that unionist and nationalists did not vote for each other. "It is an appalling snub of the vital needs of communities impacted by years of violence and division in Northern Ireland, including innocent victims of terrorism. This intervention reflects her position as a bystander in the affairs of our Province to date," Mrs Dodds said. "The Prime Minister has already discarded Paragraph 50 of the December Joint Report which would have given Stormont a legally-binding veto over new regulatory barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. "That report also included a mutual pledge to exploring the potential for future peace support favourably. Sadly, we are now led to question whether this commitment is also in jeopardy." She said that peace funding must be secure no matter what happens with Mrs May's Brexit deal. "The DUP believes it is wrong that the interests of individuals, projects and communities relying on peace funding should be exploited for short-term advantage at Westminster," Mrs Dodds said. "The Prime Minister must move to clarify the Government position and to reiterate all-weather commitments to peace funding in Northern Ireland in all eventualities. A former Education Minister was entitled to refuse an Irish language primary school's bid to relocate from its 117-year-old building in west Belfast, appeal judges ruled. In a majority decision, they overturned a previous High Court ruling which had quashed Peter Weir's rejection of Gaelscoil an Lonnain's plans. Lord Justice Deeny said: "The process here was neither unfair nor unlawful." The outcome represents a major blow for the school in its attempts to move from premises regarded by pupils' parents as being cramped and no longer fit for purpose. Outside court solicitor Michael Flanigan, representing the parent who brought the case, said: "We are disappointed with the decision and will be examining it carefully." With an enrolment of around 60 children, Gaelscoil an Lonnain currently operates at a building on the Falls Road which first opened in 1901. In 2015 its Board of Governors submitted a relocation proposal to the Department of Education. The plan was to move to the former site of St Comgall's School in the nearby Divis area. Support was said to have been secured from the Education Authority, the Education and Training Authority and Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta - the statutory body set up to advise the Department of Education on compliance with the obligation to facilitate the development Irish language education. Mr Weir turned down the proposals in June 2016 amid concerns about the school's sustainability. The mother of two pupils at a school issued judicial review proceedings over his decision, claiming the Democratic Unionist MLA acted irrationally and failed to comply with a statutory duty to develop Irish medium education. Her lawyers also argued that it had unlawfully taken into account irrelevant factors. In October 2017 a High Court judge backed her case, ruling that the minister had not properly taken into account the views of Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta, and described his approach at one point as being "too rigid". At that stage his decision was quashed and a direction given for the development proposal to be reconsidered. But judges in the Court of Appeal on Friday reversed the verdict by a two-one majority. Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan and Lord Justice Deeny both held the Minister had been entitled to make the decision. "It seems to me that the judgment at first instance denies the Executive the discretion it enjoys in law in this matter," Lord Justice Deeny said. "The Executive should not be discouraged from discharging its duty to make decisions for the public good by judicial review challenges based on tangential or flimsy factors." Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton with the haul of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of just under 1million Police could have prejudiced attempts to secure bail by linking a 1m cannabis seizure to Triads while suspects were still being interviewed, a court has heard. Counsel for one of four men subsequently charged with drugs offences following searches in Belfast hit out at how the case was portrayed to the media before questioning had been completed. Declan Quinn told the city's magistrates' court on Friday: "Mid-interviews, the PSNI released a press statement saying this was a Triad-linked crime. "The PSNI in doing that were potentially prejudicing a bail application to the custody sergeant because a superintendent, in the media, was really playing this matter up." Concerns were raised as the four accused appeared in the dock following Wednesday's police operation. Abakar Hassan Mohamad, 38, of Woodstock Road in Belfast, 29-year-old Ping Li, Yuheng Chen, 21, and 29-year-old Li Hong - all of no fixed abode - are jointly charged with possessing and conspiring to supply Class B drugs. Li, Chen and Hong are also accused of immigration offences. Herbal cannabis was uncovered during searches of properties on the Shore Road in north Belfast and the Springfield Road in the west of the city. Two vehicles were also stopped on the M2 motorway, close to the Moneynick junction. Following the seizures and arrests police put the drugs on display at a station in Belfast. A detective superintendent told the media that the 50kg cannabis haul is believed to be linked to a south-east Asian Triad gang operating in Northern Ireland. None of the accused sought bail during the court hearing. But Mr Quinn, representing Ping Li, was critical of police conduct while his client was still being questioned. "My solicitor, in the course of the last interview and in the context of that press release having been made, specifically asked whether there was any evidence linking my client to Triads or organised crime," he said. "The investigating officer said no and wasn't able to say why senior police were on the media painting a certain picture of this case." Mr Quinn added: "We are extremely concerned that police are trying the case in the media before interviews are even completed." District Judge Fiona Bagnall remanded all four defendants in custody to appear again by video-link on later dates. The civil service in Northern Ireland is seeking volunteers to oversee fuel distribution in the event of an emergency. The move is not in response to Brexit but comes weeks before the EU exit as businesses stockpile goods in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Sinn Fein suggested advocates of a no-deal Brexit should be left to staff pumps and explain the disaster. Officials, in a letter sent to many staff on Thursday and without reference to the EU divorce, said disruption to supplies was unlikely but it was necessary to put emergency response plans in place. They said Stormonts Department for the Economy would work with the oil industry to ensure that organisations and individuals providing key functions, such as hospitals and healthcare workers, continue to receive fuel until normal supply is restored. Expand Close The letter (/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The letter (/PA) The letter said: These organisations and individuals would be directed to a network of strategically located filling stations spread across Northern Ireland and identified as a priority for supply from reduced stocks. Two civil servants would be located at each of the designated filling stations for the period of an emergency to monitor fuel demand and ensure that the process runs effectively and efficiently. Volunteers would check the validity of fuel permits presented by individuals identified by their organisations as a priority to receive fuel from designated filling stations, the letter said. Details must be recorded of the amount and type of fuel purchased so HQ staff can track demand patterns. Training will be provided and they will explain the scheme to customers, thus leaving filling station staff free to dispense fuel and take payment. The last time serious disruption happened to the oil industry was in 1974 during the loyalist Ulster Workers Council strike in protest at proposals in the Sunningdale Agreement which would have given the government of the Republic of Ireland a direct say in the running of Northern Ireland. The letter said: However, the structure of supply chains continues to evolve, as does demand patterns so we need to ensure we have emergency response plans in place to reflect the developing challenges faced by the industry. This process is not new and all departments continually review emergency arrangements in light of events such as flooding, animal disease, severe storms, or to mitigate the impacts of potential problems like pandemic influenza or transport accidents. The request does not suggest that any problems are imminent, or anticipated. Advocates of a no-deal Brexit should be left to staff fuel pumps - Hazzard https://t.co/2gvp86iRha @ChrisHazzardSF pic.twitter.com/TJYlc0RXsD Sinn FAin (@sinnfeinireland) January 10, 2019 Sinn Fein South Down MP Chris Hazzard said: In the event of serious fuel shortages after a no-deal Brexit, scenes at filling stations could become fraught and tense and it should not be left to volunteer civil servants to police such situations. The advocates of a no-deal Brexit should be left to staff the pumps and explain the disaster of a no-deal Brexit. A press statement from the department said for many years it had worked closely with industry. It said: This process is not new and is a routine exercise to bring the resource back to the required capacity. There has been considerable change in the Northern Ireland Civil Service over the last couple of years with the restructuring of Government departments and the Voluntary Exit Scheme. Due to staff changes it was considered prudent to reissue the call for volunteers. Ernie Wilson with his son James who took his own life a year after the bombing The wreckage of his school bus blown up by an IRA bomb in Lisnaskea in 1988 DUP leader Arlene Foster has backed her former school bus driver's campaign for suicides linked to Northern Ireland's violent past to be included in official records of those killed during the Troubles. Ernie Wilson, a former part-time UDR soldier, was driving a bus in Lisnaskea in 1988 when an IRA bomb exploded. Arlene Foster was one of the schoolchildren on board the bus. Although no one was killed in the explosion, a year after the bombing Mr Wilson's 27-year-old son James died by suicide. Mr Wilson believes that his son blamed himself for what happened to the bus, as he helped check it every morning before his father left for work. Mr Wilson said there is no way his son could have spotted the device, which had been concealed by IRA terrorists aboard the bus. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Wilson said he had "no doubt" his son took his own life because of the Troubles and that his death should be recognised on the official death toll. He said that similar deaths by suicide linked to the conflict in Northern Ireland should also be recorded, but only with the agreement of each family. "That's if their parents, or whoever is left, allows it or wants it. I'm not talking for anyone else, only myself. You might have people there who wouldn't want that, but in my opinion, it should be." Mrs Foster, an MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, told the Belfast Telegraph she would be backing Mr Wilson's campaign. "The untold impacts of the Troubles can not be underestimated," she said. "There are families and service personnel who today still live with the mental and physical scars at the hands of terrorism. "For many their story is personal and painful. "I know Ernie personally and the impacts of that day in June 1988. "I fully support Ernie in his call and having James' name recorded and included. "While it is right that many died indirectly as a result of the Troubles, it is a matter for families whether they, too, would want their loved one's death to be recorded in this way. "We should continue to ensure support services are in place for people who are still dealing with the aftermath of Northern Ireland's darkest days." Last night, Mr Wilson welcomed the First Minister's support. "I'm very emotional about the whole thing," he said. "My wife died there about a year ago, so I'm kind of on my own now, and I get a bit emotional at times. "I'm glad Arlene Foster has come out and supported me. "I'd like something done, I really would." Mr Wilson, who spoke to the Belfast Telegraph last year on the 30th anniversary of the bombing, said he stills finds it hard to believe that a teenage Arlene Foster and 16 other children weren't killed in the IRA bomb attack that ripped apart the school bus he was driving in Fermanagh. "I didn't think a mouse could have got out alive from the wreckage. It was nothing short of a miracle that no one died," he said. Mrs Foster was a lower sixth pupil at the Collegiate Grammar School in Enniskillen when the attack happened. A youthful Mrs Foster, whose father Johnny was injured in an IRA shooting in 1979, gave television interviews immediately after the bus blast and she has often repeated that the explosion could have resulted in the slaughter of schoolchildren. The number of people who lost their lives in the Northern Ireland conflict is currently estimated to be around 3,600. It is understood only a very small number of people who died by suicide are included in this number. A man who stole a 99p cookie from a McDonald's restaurant in Ballymena threw it, hitting a manageress, while threatening to shoot staff, a court has heard. Ricky Carlin (43), with an address at the Lighthouse hostel in the town's Linenhall Street, became disorderly and was verbally abusive to staff at around 3.45am on December 4. At Ballymena Magistrates Court yesterday the defendant was sentenced for the theft of the cookie, assault and disorderly behaviour. He also pleaded guilty to being disorderly on two other occasions in October last year. He was given a four-month jail term, suspended for two years, and banned from McDonald's in Ballymena for two years. The Armagh man who became the first person to be convicted under sexual services legislation in Northern Ireland has been jailed, after losing his appeal. James Maloney (24) of Drumarg Villas denied attempting to pay for sexual services following an early morning encounter at a filling station, which was captured on CCTV, but was convicted and jailed for three months. He appealed at Dungannon County Court but the conviction was upheld after a three-day hearing last October, and sentencing adjourned for reports. The landmark case was first heard at Dungannon Magistrates Court in July by District Judge John Meehan, who described it as abhorrent, predatory sexualised stalking of a woman, with the offer of money to satisfy his egotism. Noting it as the first prosecution of its, the judge said, This as a man who deliberately targeted an isolated woman in a predatory fashion, by virtue of the fact she was a woman. Maloney was sentenced to three months imprisonment and ordered to pay 500 compensation. Defence lawyers launched an appeal of both conviction and sentence, heard by Judge Stephen Fowler QC. The victim was required to again undergo intensive cross-examination by Maloneys lawyer, and due to extreme fear of the defendant, appeared via video-link. She was working at a Dungannon petrol station at 6.20am on 28 August 2016, carrying out her usual duties, when a car approached and Maloney spoke out the passenger window. He showed a roll of money, and she thought he wanted something from the shop, but instead gestured to his genital area with his hand, then repeated this at his mouth, which the court accepted as an unambiguous sexual gesture. The car drove off, returning five minutes later with Maloney repeating the gestures. On this occasion, the victim spotted a colleague and asked for help, and Maloney again drove away. He returned again, and although he didnt approach, stared directly at the victim, frightening her. Police attended and seized CCTV footage, identifying Maloney by his car registration. Officers spoke with his solicitor pointing out he would be required to attend for interview. But Maloney, through his solicitor said, He would not be attending as he didnt see the point. When eventually interviewed, he remained silent, a position he retained at both contest and appeal. He also refused to take part in an identification procedure, but this was carried out covertly and the victim successfully picked him out. Judge Fowler ruled, There was overwhelming evidence against the defendant. He failed to testify as any account would not withstand scrutiny. Accordingly, I affirm the conviction. The judge ordered enquiries on the potential forfeiture of Maloneys vehicle having been used in a crime. A defence lawyer described the case as unique, being the first of its kind. He contended the offence was attempted so at the lower end of the scale. Urging leniency the defence accepted Maloney still protests he did not commit the offence. In relation to Maloneys car the defence advised it is now academic, as it has since been scrapped. The defence argued Maloney was suitable for community service which would signal to him and the community that this behaviour is unacceptable. Judge Fowler held the penalty imposed was entirely appropriate in every respect. He highlighted a potential for further offending and concluded, Im satisfied this was a blatant attempt to proposition sexual intercourse with a vulnerable woman who should never have been subjected to such humiliating and degrading behaviour. The DUP told Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney that there was no need for the backstop at what was described as a "useful but frank" meeting at Stormont yesterday. The Tanaiste acknowledged that some unionists had genuine concerns about the controversial backstop. He said EU leaders were prepared to offer clarification and reassurances in order to get Theresa May's deal over the line, but he stressed that the deal could not be renegotiated. Mr Coveney held meetings with several business and civic groups and political parties in Belfast yesterday. Read More There had been some confusion over whether his schedule would include a meeting with the DUP after he claimed the party had declined an offer to hold talks. But Arlene Foster said she was happy to meet him at Parliament Buildings. The DUP delegation included deputy leader Nigel Dodds, East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell and MLAs William Humphrey and Christopher Stalford. Speaking afterwards, Mr Campbell described the meeting as "useful and at times frank" and said Dublin were left in no doubt about the DUP's views on the Prime Minister's deal. Mrs Foster said: "We want to see a sensible exit from the EU which works for the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland. "The Withdrawal Agreement is not a fair deal and we cannot support it. Read More "It should be no more acceptable to build a new east-west border than it is to build a new north-south border. "The backstop is not needed. No one is going to build a hard border. We will work with the Government to reach a better deal for the UK but this will require more pragmatism from the EU." Read More Mrs Foster insisted that her party had held "useful discussions" with Mr Coveney and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the past and wanted constructive dialogue with them. "Despite our political differences, it is important to continue the conversation and help the Irish Government to have a better understanding of unionism," she said. The DUP leader stressed that exiting the EU without a deal was not her party's favoured outcome. "To reach a better deal will require a change of heart in Dublin and Brussels. I trust the Irish Government will reflect on our principled objections to the Withdrawal Agreement and recognise that there is a better way which can work for both the Republic of Ireland and the UK," she added. Mr Coveney said that a crash Brexit was not inevitable and he did not believe Mrs May faced inevitable defeat in the House of Commons on Tuesday. While the Republic would not interfere in the parliamentary process at Westminster, it did want to offer assurances that the backstop wasn't what some Brexiteers were "spinning", he stated. On next week's House of Commons vote, the Tanaiste said: "One of the things that I can say confidentially is there is not a majority of people in Westminster who want to see a no-deal Brexit, in fact there is a majority who want to prevent that from happening. "What we haven't seen yet is a majority to support a mechanism that can actually achieve that and, in my view, the only person who actually has a deal that is in place and in writing, that can actually achieve that in a way that solves so many of the complex problems linked to Brexit, is the Prime Minister herself." On backstop concerns, he said: "We are happy to look at ways in which we can provide clarification and reassurance and definition in terms of what is meant by that backstop, its temporary nature, and the fact it is only a fall-back insurance mechanism in the first place anyway, that we hope to never use. "I mean, are we really suggesting that this whole deal is going to be pulled down because of something that may never be used in the first place and even if it is, will only be used on a temporary basis?" The Tanaiste denied the backstop was really about bringing a united Ireland closer. "This isn't a threat to anybody, the Irish Government certainly doesn't have any ulterior motives here, apart from to try to protect the status quo on this island, the peace process, the fact we have a border but it's a border that's largely invisible when it comes to trade and movement of goods," he said. "I don't believe there is a sting in the backstop at all." Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer has welcomed news that the UK has received approval to recommence the export of beef and lamb to Japan. (Steve Parsons/PA) Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer has welcomed news that the UK has received approval to recommence the export of beef and lamb to Japan. Robert Huey from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the announcement by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) provided another major boost to the local agri-food industry and the wider economy. The agreement, signed during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the United Kingdom, is estimated to be worth 127m over the first five years of access - approximately 75m for beef and 52m for lamb. Japan, a major importer of beef with a growing demand for high quality lamb, has lifted its two-decade long ban on imports of these products. Dr Huey said: "This welcome step follows concerted efforts by DAERA officials over the past few years, working closely with DEFRA colleagues, who hosted a number of inward inspection visits, and with industry to negotiate final approval. "This joined up approach between Government, industry and key stakeholders is central to this announcement today. "I am delighted that Japan has granted approval for the UK to export beef and lamb to their markets. It is a clear endorsement of the rigorous standards we, in Northern Ireland, have in place to produce our high-quality, safe and wholesome meat." Ian Stevenson, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Livestock & Meat Commission, also welcomed the announcement. A senior figure in Airbus has said Northern Ireland's aerospace sector has never been more important to the company. Airbus' senior vice president in the UK Katherine Bennett was speaking as firms from across the industry gathered in Belfast yesterday for a 'meet the buyer' programme organised by aerospace group ADS. The Department for the Economy also took part in the event. It marked six months since Airbus officially became the majority stakeholder in the A220 jet series, the wings for which are made in Bombardier's Belfast plant. On Wednesday Delta Airlines became the latest US carrier to up its stake in the A220. The airline upgraded its 2016 order for 75 of the smaller A220-100 planes, switching 35 to the larger model and adding another 15 A220-300s. It followed moves by US airlines JetBlue and Moxy to firm up their orders for a total of 120 A200-300 planes at the end of December. Moxy is the working title for a new low-cost carrier set up by David Neeleman, who helped found JetBlue and a number of other airlines. "Airbus has been relying on Northern Ireland's aerospace sector talent for many years, and following our new partnership on A220, the region is more important to us than ever," Ms Bennett said. Permanent secretary at the Department for the Economy Noel Lavery said the aerospace industry now employs around 10,000 here in a cluster of just under 100 companies, generating revenues of 1.4bn a year. "It is an ambitious sector that has well-established and strong international partnerships, founded on innovation and quality performance," Mr Lavery added. Ciara Kennedy, vice president for procurement and supply chain at Bombardier, said the event highlighted the significance of the local aerospace sector. "Together with government, ADS, and other aerospace companies, we are committed to creating an environment that ensures the right skills, technologies and infrastructures are in place to help suppliers attract investment, compete for new business and support the local economy." Yesterday's event also saw companies here sign up to the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter, which ADS described as a commitment by the industry to improving gender balance across its organisations. The Department for the Economy joined firms such as IPC Mouldings, Denroy Plastics, Moyola Precision Engineering and Bradfor in signing up to the charter. Traders in the centre of Lurgan have said they are hopeful that plans to convert an historic former bank building into a cafe will go ahead. The listed building at 14 High Street had been occupied by Northern Bank, and later by homegrown department store Houstons. But it has been vacant for four years since the collapse of Houstons - prompting landlord Lurganbridge Ltd, which also owns property in Banbridge, to apply for planning permission to convert the ground floor into a coffee shop. The landlord's plans were first revealed on news website Armagh I. But high street coffee shop chain Greggs dismissed speculation that it had its eye on the property as its first opening in Lurgan. A spokeswoman said: "We have no immediate plans for Lurgan but are continuing to look for opportunities and locations to open more shops in Northern Ireland in the year ahead. "We will share additional information as soon as we are in a position to do so." Colin Johnston, a director of Lurganbridge, said a Northern Ireland-based businessperson had been attached to the coffee shop project but that their plans had fallen through. "I would love it if Greggs would rent the place from me," he said. Previous plans to turn the building into a doctors' surgery did not go ahead. Simon Dowey, the co-owner of a third-generation butcher's shop on High Street close to the empty building, said he hoped the coffee shop plans would progress. But he said it was often easier for developers to spend money on new development rather than invest in heritage buildings. "Town centres like Lurgan really need investment but it's very hard to invest in old property," he added. Mr Dowey said new businesses like coffee shops and bakeries were badly needed in the town. He said people were tending to come into the town centre for appointments instead of browsing shops at a leisurely pace. "As a small business ourselves, any investment will be welcome for our town centre," he added. Noel Burns, the owner of a nearby hairdressers in the town, said he was also hopeful the site could be redeveloped. "Almost anything would be better than what it is now. It's lying there derelict and it looks awful." He said shoppers were put off spending a long time in the town centre by parking restrictions limiting them to just one hour at a time. Manufacturing companies in Northern Ireland have said they are growing staff numbers and increasing sales while reporting Brexit has become their biggest concern for the future. According to a new survey from Manufacturing NI and law firm Tughans, 67% of businesses now rank Brexit as their main concern, ahead of costs and the political climate in Northern Ireland. A total of 122 companies took part in the December 2018 survey, which reflected a series of positive indicators despite growing trepidation over the UK's withdrawal from the EU. Four in five firms described their business as growing, with 74% reporting an increase in sales in the previous 12 months. That compares to 57% in the last survey conducted in May 2018. More than half (57%) increased their workforce over the year, while 89% reported a profitable 12 months, up from the last manufacturing survey (81%). But as Brexit day draws closer, the survey reflects more pessimism and less optimism over the impact of leaving the EU. Half of the 122 firms surveyed said Brexit will have a negative impact on businesses, up from 41% in May 2018. Any optimism over a potential positive windfall appears to have dwindled. In December 2017, one in five businesses (21%) predicted a positive impact from leaving the EU. That figure dropped to 11% in May 2018 and stood at just 6% last month. Meanwhile, 58% said they had either started stockpiling or intended to start owing to concerns around possible disruption to supply chains during March and April. Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said "very few" members were convinced of any of the arguments put forward in favour of Brexit, particularly by those promoting a no-deal exit. "These are people who understand the practicalities of trading in markets at home and abroad. Those who want Brexit to be a success need to start listening to these businesses or face the prospect of job losses," he said. The shortage of skilled workers remains a problem for many manufacturers. Just under 90% said they had been trying to recruit over the year, with 81% reporting difficulties doing so. One in five (21%) said they had been forced to turn down potential new businesses opportunities or orders. The shortage appears to have driven more firms toward machines, with 52% of firms reporting they have speeded up plans to increase automation. Mr Kelly said the figures were "startling". In addition, 37% of firms asked said that the number of migrant workers in their employ had dropped in the past year. Just 12% reported the same in May last year. The Manufacturing NI chief executive said a new migration policy under Brexit will further restrict the ability to recruit. One of the five Stena Line ferries undergoing a refit at Harland and Wolff A team of business advisors is carrying out a valuation of Belfast's Harland and Wolff ahead of a likely disposal by its parent company this year, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. Accountants have been sent in to carry out the work to establish an asking price for Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries Ltd, which is to be sold as part of restructuring by Norwegian parent company Fred Olsen Energy. H&W covers two sites on Queen's Island in east Belfast, including the Belfast Repair Dock, where some ship work is still carried out, including the current refit of some Stena Line ferries. There is also the main building dock and manufacturing halls, where the Samson and Goliath gantry cranes operate. The combined area of the sites is nearly 90 acres. A spokesman said H&W would not be commenting, but the Belfast Telegraph understands the sale process is moving forward as inspectors work to establish an asking price. The site's evaluation comes after ferry giant Stena Line announced it had started work on a 5m refit of its ferry fleet at H&W. Over the course of 10 weeks, five Stena Line vessels will be kept in H&W's dry dock while refurbishment and maintenance is carried out. Paul Grant, Stena Line trade director, said: "Regular ship refits are an important element in our ship management operation, which helps to maintain our excellent reliability and keeps our Irish Sea fleet to the forefront of the ferry sector. "We're pleased that we are continuing to work with Harland and Wolff in Belfast to carry out these important upgrades, helping to secure the local maritime skills base in Northern Ireland." "While Stena Line has already committed a significant investment to introducing three new ships to the Irish Sea, starting in early 2020, it's also important that we continue to improve, develop and invest in our existing fleet of vessels, which is exactly what this contract will do." H&W chief executive Jonathan Guest added: "Harland and Wolff is delighted to welcome back five of Stena Line's Irish Sea vessels. "Our working partnership with Stena Line is very important not only to our company but to the local economy through its associated supply chain." Stena Line runs ferries on routes including Belfast to Liverpool and Heysham, Belfast to Cairnryan, Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Fishguard. H&W, the former shipbuilder behind the Titanic, has diversified into renewable energy installations since the last ship sailed out of its yard 16 years ago in 2003. The decline of shipbuilding has also been marked by a steady fall in employee numbers, from as many as 30,000 in the 1930s to around 100 today. Speaking after the potential sale was first revealed by the Belfast Telegraph last month, former UUP leader and Enterprise Minister Sir Reg Empey said he hoped the site would not be sold to property developers but would be kept for "meaningful industrial uses". Apple is already playing in the healthcare space with personal health applications, wearables and the Apple health records project, which includes more than 100 institutions. In an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company expects additional innovation in the healthcare space this year. In 2018, the company reported plans to allow EMR data in the iPhone's health record and opened its health record application programming interface to third parties, according to CB Insights. It could also make life easier for physicians through its collaboration with Health Gorilla, which allows physicians to "order and ingest lab test data." The Apple Watch can help customers become more fit, including patients who may need to undergo a joint replacement or other surgical procedures, or identify potentially life-threatening conditions. "On healthcare in particular, and your wellbeing, this is an area I believe that if you zoom out to the future and look back and ask the question, what is Apple's greatest contribution to mankind it will be about health," said Mr. Cook the interview. Patients can also use their iPhones for telehealth purposes, to interface with physicians over video or communicate with their providers via text or email. There are telehealth applications for postsurgical wound management or physical therapy following joint surgery. Looking to the future, the company has invested in health and wellness applications over the past few years, and hired 40 to 50 physicians, including orthopedic surgeon Sharat Kusuma, MD, to oversee the company's relationship with Zimmer Biomet. Apple and Zimmer Biomet launched a collaboration in October 2018 to develop the mymobility app for Apple Watch, which connects knee and hip replacement patients with their surgical care teams. Patients can use the app to track progress, and the two companies hope to collect data that will help them understand the best standard of care for patients. The collaboration hopes to enroll up to 10,000 patients in a clinical trial focused on the app's use. The company also launched the electrocardiogram-equipped Apple Watch, which Mr. Cook said is part of the company's efforts to democratize health data. The future could bring a number of new innovations; Apple has already filed a patent for a wrist-based blood pressure cuff and seems to be focusing on glucose monitoring as well, according to CB Insights. Consumerism trends in healthcare are driving the demand for this technology, and payers in some cases are making it broadly accessible. UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and others offer members subsidized Apple Watches or watches as part of a rewards program, which give lower-income individuals access to these devices. CardioDx, a 16-year-old medical diagnostics company based in Redwood City, Calif., is shutting down after the federal Medicare program rescinded coverage of its heart disease blood test in several states, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Medicare was one of the largest purchasers of the company's flagship blood test Corus CAD. The federal insurance program started rescinding coverage of the test in November, after it was found to be unnecessary and of little use to patients. Before Medicare's decision, CardioDx sold millions of dollars worth of the test for six years. About 175,000 patients used it. In 2016 and 2017 alone, Medicare and patients together spent nearly $52 million on the test, although it is unclear how much of the test was paid for out of pocket by patients and how much of the cost Medicare was responsible for. In December, CardioDx submitted a notice to a California agency that it planned to lay off 110 employees as it winds down business operations. The notice did not include a reason the company would cease operations. However, around the same time as the notice, a federal court unsealed a whistle-blower lawsuit brought by former employees who claimed CardioDx defrauded Medicare by knowingly selling an unnecessary test. Prosecutors charged that the company had sold a test it knew was medically unnecessary since 2015. Medicare revoking its coverage after several years because of the lack of value of the test is unusual, but it could cause a company to close its doors, according to Tim Bajarin, president of market research firm Creative Strategies. Health officials cleared Omaha, Neb.-based Children's Hospital & Medical Center of several allegations raised against the facility in late 2018, reports the Omaha World-Herald. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services investigated the hospital between Dec. 27, 2018, and Jan. 3, 2019, according to WOWT. In a letter sent to Children's President and CEO Richard Azizkhan, MD, the health department listed the following allegations as unsubstantiated: The hospital failed to ensure staff physicians provided quality care The hospital didn't take appropriate action when a physician broke medical staff bylaws The hospital incorrectly managed medical staff privileges The investigation's findings come after two surgeons filed a lawsuit against the hospital Jan. 4, alleging they were wrongly suspended after reporting concerns about another surgeon's competency. The hospital denies these allegations. The Omaha World-Herald reported it's not clear whether the cleared allegations, which first came to light in a December 2018 complaint, address all the claims raised in the lawsuit. In a statement cited by the Omaha World-Herald, Children's board of directors said it hired a hospital consulting firm to "conduct an independent review of Children's policies and the application of those policies in the areas of quality of care and patient safety." Hospitals that have better work environments for nurses provider safer care for the youngest and often most vulnerable patients, a study published in the Journal of Patient Safety found. The researchers, from Penn Nursing's Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research in Philadelphia, based the findings on data from 1,875 pediatric nurses in four states. The researchers asked nurses whether they feel mistakes are held against them and found answers ranged from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." They also asked how nurses would grade patient safety in their work setting. To evaluate work environment, the researchers asked how well hospitals supported autonomous nursing practice and how effective their hospital's nurse manager is. In hospitals with lower-ranked work environments, consistently higher numbers of nurses reported less safety, and the biggest factor was mistakes being held against them. "In other words, in pediatrics, hospitals that have better work environments also have safer care," said study author Eileen Lake, PhD, MSN. "Having a punitive environment, or not feeling free to question decisions, are core ways to identify settings that don't support caregivers to work safely. " Hospitals should ensure all managers know safety is directly connected to work environment, Dr. Lake said. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: New algorithm from IBM, Roche predicts risk of developing chronic kidney disease Government shutdown halts FDA efforts to stop foodborne illness outbreaks 68% of clinicians say accidental IV dislodgement occurs 'daily' or 'often' More articles on clinical quality and infection control: Healthcare and government officials are growing concerned that biologic makers are using scare tactics to prevent generic versions of their products from entering or succeeding in the market, according to The Washington Post. Physicians, generic drug companies and the FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said that companies that make costly biologic drugs, derived from living cells, are trying to plant seeds of doubt about the efficacy of cheaper, unbranded versions of their medications, called biosimilars. Concern is arising that an industrywide misinformation marketing campaign about biosimilars will discourage acceptance of the generic, lower-cost versions, even though the FDA has certified them as safe and effective. "I am worried that there are either deliberate or unintentional efforts by branded companies to create confusion" about the safety and effectiveness of biosimilars, Dr. Gottlieb told The Post. The messages "can potentially undermine consumer confidence in biosimilars in ways that are untrue." According to Dr. Gottlieb, an alliance of biologic makers issued some glaring warnings against FDA-approved biosimilars, warning patients that they could "put you in the emergency room" carry "additional risks" or have issues with "efficacy and safety," The Post reports. But these warnings are untrue, Dr. Gottlieb said. Dr. Gottlieb said the FDA may take action if it determines a biologic maker is deliberately misleading the public about approved biosimilars. Such messages "could negatively impact a patients judgment about an otherwise safe and effective product," Dr. Gottlieb said. The report comes as policymakers try to get the rising costs of biologics under control. Biosimilars are expected to be priced about 10 percent to 51 percent lower than biologics. Read the full report here. Pharma giant AstraZeneca plans to shut down operations in two Colorado cities, which will result in 210 employees losing their jobs, according to the Boulder Daily Camera. Affected employees will leave the organization on March 22. A spokesperson told the Daily Camera that AstraZeneca will work with employees to assess whether there are other opportunities for employment within the organization. The drugmaker will close its manufacturing plants in Boulder and Longmont, Colo. The company said the decision was made to consolidate biologics manufacturing into one facility in Frederick, Md., to improve efficiency. Neither of the Colorado facilities were currently manufacturing biologics, but they were set to form part of a biologics network, a spokesperson said. Fayetteville, N.C.-based Cape Fear Valley Health will permanently close Bladen County Hospital's Family Birth Center in Elizabethtown, N.C., reports WECT. The birthing center has been closed since September 2018 due to damage from Hurricane Florence. Cape Fear Valley Health on Jan. 10 said it will not reopen the center due to the hurricane damage and declining delivery rates. The birthing center recorded just 200 deliveries in 2018, as more women are opting to deliver their babies at larger hospitals in other counties, according to Cape Fear officials. Bladen County Hospital will still offer pre- and postnatal care, along with emergency services, inpatient services and surgeries. Patients who seek prenatal care at the hospital can elect to deliver their babies at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, N.C. The Texas Hospital Association is helping hospitals combat the opioid crisis by adapting existing technology to give providers better information when they need it, according to the Houston Chronicle. Some association members started using Smart Ribbon technology last year to give physicians "just-in-time" information while treating a patient. The technology lets physicians easily see when a patient was prescribed pain pills at another hospital so they can avoid overprescribing opioids. "It's like a Google Toolbar, providing an efficient shortcut to the information needed in real time like: what labs has the patient had? What medications have they been on? What tests have been ordered? Instead of looking all over for this information, it synchronizes it in one easy place," said Nicholas Desai, DPM, enterprise CMO with Houston Methodist Hospital, explaining the technology further. The ribbon technology began coming together about six months ago and aimed to ensure physicians would not have to exit their EMR to look for a patient's prescription history, said Fernando Martinez, PhD, senior vice president and chief digital officer with the Texas Hospital Association. "Essentially, when a physician is in an encounter, it's an episode-context aware and patient-context aware tool," Dr. Martinez said. "It's elegant not only because of its effectiveness: it's elegant because of its simplicity." From a New Jersey health system demanding $20 million in a lawsuit over a failed merger to the former CEO of Insys Therapeutics pleading guilty in a bribery scheme, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits making headlines. 1. Former Insys CEO pleads guilty in opioid bribery scheme Michael Babich, former CEO of Insys Therapeutics, pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to participating in a scheme to bribe physicians to prescribe an addictive opioid medication. 2. Federal shutdown delays Mayo Clinic's lawsuit against IRS Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic's $11.5 million lawsuit against the IRS is stalled due to the federal government shutdown. 3. Healthcare CEO pleads guilty in bribery case: 4 things to know The founder and CEO of Trina Health, a chain of diabetes treatment clinics based in Sacramento, Calif., pleaded guilty Jan. 4 to one count of conspiring to bribe an Alabama legislator. 4. New Jersey health system demands $20M in suit over failed merger Camden, N.J.-based Cooper University Health Care upped its demand to $20 million in a lawsuit against Maxis Health System, a division of Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health. 5. California hospital district's dissolution temporarily halted The Los Medanos Community Healthcare District in Pittsburg, Calif., received a judicial reprieve to make a case for continuing operations. 6. Athenahealth faces shareholder lawsuit over its $5.7B merger Athenahealth shareholders filed a class-action lawsuit over the proposed sale of the company. 7. Surgeons sue Nebraska children's hospital for retaliation after reporting care concerns Two surgeons filed a lawsuit Jan. 4 against Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., claiming they were wrongly suspended after reporting concerns about the competency of a colleague. 8. Epic sued by National Federation of the Blind: 4 things to know The National Federation of the Blind claims Epic's software isn't suitable for blind and low-vision users. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: West Virginia hospital, CEO hit with federal kickback suit Owner of medical equipment company sentenced to 3 years for billing fraud Former Cleveland Clinic executive gets prison time in $2.7M fraud scheme Cleveland Clinic unveiled new names for four Florida hospitals it acquired Jan. 1. Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, which Cleveland Clinic agreed to invest $250 million in over the next 10 years, is now named Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. Cleveland Clinic renamed Martin Health System, a three-hospital system in Stuart, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health. Martin Health's three hospitals were also rebranded to include the Cleveland Clinic name. "These are well-respected hospitals that have a long history of taking great care of their communities. We are very proud they are now part of Cleveland Clinic's health system," Tom Mihaljevic, MD, president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, said at a Jan. 9 event celebrating the addition of the hospitals. "As healthcare continues to evolve, this integration will strengthen our ability to deliver on our mission and provide the best care to our patients together." More articles on healthcare industry transactions: CHS divests 2 South Carolina hospitals Bankrupt hospital chain receives $63M bid Baylor Scott & White, Memorial Hermann to keep regional brands after merger: 'Spending millions taking signs off buildings doesn't improve healthcare' U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., has called for a state investigation into Ellwood City (Pa.) Hospital, which has failed to give employees their paychecks on at least six occasions, New Castle News reports. In a Jan. 9 letter to the U.S. Department of Labor's wage and hour division, Mr. Kelly asks department officials to investigate the situation "to ensure these employees are fairly compensated for their work," the report states. He noted in the letter that he has received several complaints from employees, and that their paychecks have been delayed or bounced on at least six occasions, even after the hospital laid off 25 percent of staff in September 2018. Other media sources have reported at least nine instance of paycheck issues at Ellwood City Hospital. "This situation is making it difficult for hospital employees, vendors and contractors to pay their own bills. My hard-working constituents deserve financial certainty, so I urge you to ensure that they receive their paychecks in a timely manner," he wrote. The last paycheck employees received was for the pay period that ended Dec. 21. Employees received that check on Jan. 4, according to the report. Ellwood City Hospital officials met with a U.S. Department of Labor representative on Jan. 7 to discuss solutions for the hospital's cash flow issues. To access the full report, click here. Google recently posted several job openings related to its health business. Five positions the company recently posted: 1. Health IT system engineer, AI healthcare: Will provide healthcare domain expertise to support the technical relationship between Google's artificial intelligence team and the company's partners. 2. Account manager, health and personal care and pharma, large customer sales for Russia: Will help grow health, personal care and pharma advertising customers in Russia. 3. Google AI resident, healthcare, 2019: Will participate in a 12-month role designed to advance the resident's career in machine learning research. 4. Principal, business operations and strategy, healthcare: Will work with the company's executive leadership to define, launch and drive strategic and operational initiatives focusing on healthcare and life sciences. 5. Associate commercial counsel, research and machine intelligence, health: Will provide advice, legal direction and training on international laws and regulations related to the development and commercialization of health technologies, such as those related to privacy, product liability, fraud and abuse. Here are 14 recent news updates on major health IT and technology companies: 1. Allscripts and Microsoft joined forces to design a new clinical research model that leverages the EHR and other technologies clinicians use when treating patients. 2. Apple CEO Tim Cook suggested that the company's upcoming health-related work will be its "greatest contribution to mankind" in an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer. 3. Athenahealth shareholders filed a class-action lawsuit over the proposed sale of the company. 4. Best Buy has been quietly building up its efforts in the home healthcare space. 5. The National Federation of the Blind filed a lawsuit alleging Epic's software isn't suitable for blind and low-vision users. 6. GE Healthcare and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., entered into a five-year partnership to develop artificial intelligence tools to improve cancer immunotherapy treatments. 7. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research awarded IBM a grant to explore how artificial intelligence could improve medical understanding of Parkinson's disease. 8. IBM's Watson Health division is still a "very important part" of the company's business, despite recent criticism of its AI-powered cancer treatment tool, CEO Ginni Rometty said in an interview with STAT. 9. Livongo Health named former Allscripts President Lee Shapiro its CFO. 10. Medsphere Systems Corp. acquired HealthLine Solutions, a company focused on creating applications that help users manage healthcare supply chain inventory. 11. Microsoft entered into a collaboration with medical device company Hill-Rom to integrate medical device data into EHRs. 12. Microsoft is seeking new research partners to join its T-cell Antigen Map project, a collaborative effort to map the human immune system that the company launched with Adaptive Biotechnologies last year. 13. Withings, formerly Nokia's digital health business, unveiled its newest hybrid smartwatch, which includes what the company calls a "medical-grade" electrocardiogram feature. 14. Alphabet's life sciences arm Verily raised $1 billion in a funding round led by private equity firm Silver Lake. After a physician ordered a breast MRI for a Pennsylvania woman, she used her insurance company's online price tool to estimate her bill. While UnitedHealthcare's tool estimated she may have to pay between $783 and $1,375, her share of the bill from an in-network facility was initially $3,237, according to The Inquirer. Five things to know: 1. Michelle Smith, who has a family history of breast cancer, received the breast MRI at Berwyn, Pa.-based Main Line Health's imaging center at Riddle Hospital in Media, Pa. UnitedHealthcare's price tool suggested the facility. 2. Ms. Smith ended up being billed twice as much for having the procedure done at the hospital-based center instead of in a separate building across the street, according to The Inquirer. Main Line billed UnitedHealthcare $7,692 for the scan, and the insurer paid its negotiated rate of $3,463. Ms. Smith was billed nearly all of the remainder because she had not met her deductible. 3. Main Line spokesperson Megan Call told the publication that services provided in a hospital are often pricier than those performed outside of a hospital, due to fees for administrative and operating costs. When the publication asked how a patient could have known which of the health system's six imaging centers bill at hospital rates, Ms. Call said patients should contact Main Line's price estimation team. "We do acknowledge that billing and insurance reimbursement issues can be difficult to navigate. As such, we are committed to price transparency and giving our patients the tools they need to make informed decision[s] about their care," she told The Inquirer. After a call with a reporter from the publication, Main Line lowered Ms. Smith's bill to $1,500. 4. UnitedHealthcare spokesperson Maria Gordon Shydlo told The Inquirer: "Our online and mobile quality and cost transparency resources provide estimates, which are based on actual contracted rates with healthcare providers and facilities, as well as the member's health benefits plan, offering people actionable information." 5. The incident reflects how difficult healthcare costs are to estimate, given how much prices vary within confidential agreements between providers and insurers. While health insurers and providers have invested in price estimator tools to appease growing patient demand, the tools often aren't as useful as intended, according to the report. For the full article, click here. More articles on healthcare finance: Average hospital expenses per inpatient day across 50 states Zuckerberg hospital is out of network with all private insurers, leaving patients with massive bills Pennsylvania hospital closure will result in 505 layoffs Elkton, Md.-based Union Hospital eliminated 32 positions Jan. 10, including senior staff roles, as part of efforts to reorganize operations, according to a Cecil Whig report. Richard Szumel, MD, the hospital's president and CEO, told the Whig the job cuts were "from the executive team on down, including a number of directors and managers." Leaders said the job cuts were necessary to "right-size" the hospital. "We've noticed for some time that we needed to do a better job with expense management. We've devised a revitalization plan, and unfortunately the first part of that was a workforce reduction," Dr. Szumel told the Whig. The layoff news follows Union Hospital's failed merger bid with Baltimore-based LifeBridge Health. According to the report, the merger failed after the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission reviewed the hospital's total cost of care and questions arose about revenue uncertainty. Dr. Szumel told the Whig that cutting positions was an attempt to address the hospital's total cost of care, but patient volume growth is another important piece of the hospital's financial picture, and the organization is working to address that. More articles on healthcare finance: Utilities may be shut off if Kansas hospital fails to pay S&P: Outlook remains stable for nonprofit hospitals Arizona's surprise billing law takes effect: 4 things to know Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems has sold 43 hospitals over the past two years to help reduce its heavy debt load, and the company plans to continue its divestiture spree this year. As part of a turnaround plan put into place in 2016, CHS announced plans in 2017 to sell off 30 hospitals. After completing the divestiture plan Nov. 1, 2017, CHS said it planned to sell another group of hospitals that had accounted for $2 billion in combined revenue in 2017. The company made progress toward its goal in 2018. CHS sold 13 hospitals last year that had roughly $1.1 billion in combined revenue in 2017. The divestitures generated about $400 million in gross proceeds, according to the company's presentation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. The hospital divestitures have helped CHS reduce its debt load. The company's long-term debt totaled $13.54 billion as of Sept. 30, down from $13.88 billion at the end of 2017. CHS has five hospitals under definitive agreement to sell. The company said those deals and other transactions under consideration are expected to close this year and generate about $900 million in gross proceeds. CHS ended the third quarter of 2018 with a net loss of $325 million, but leaders expect the company's financial picture to improve as its hospital portfolio shrinks. "We believe our overall performance will continue to improve as we complete additional divestitures and direct our investments into markets where we have the greatest opportunities for growth," CHS Chairman and CEO Wayne T. Smith said in a third-quarter earnings release. More articles on healthcare finance: Bankrupt hospital chain to sell Missouri facility for $10M Average hospital expenses per inpatient day across 50 states 8 health systems with strong finances Missourians could have been balance-billed up to $12.4 million, or nearly $20,000 per person on average, for air ambulance services in 2017, according to a state report. The analysis, from the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration, examined health insurance data from payers in Missouri. In 2017 alone, the data revealed insurers were billed $25.7 million for air ambulance transport. The report also found a lack of participation in health insurance networks among air ambulance providers. Based on data provided by Missouri insurers and publicly available Medicare reimbursement data, the department determined that in 2017, private plans were billed $41,321 on average for transports, and health insurers paid an average of $23,087. That's compared to Medicare rates that run between $3,368 and $6,404. "With air ambulance bills, Missourians are subjected to extremely aggressive collection efforts, at a time when they are quite vulnerable as they are already recovering from a medical emergency," Director Chlora Lindley-Myers said in a news release. "We hope this report illustrates to state and federal policymakers the scope and seriousness of this problem and the need for urgent action." Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility in Richmond, Mich., is notifying "a limited number of patients" after a phishing scheme compromised an employee's email account in April, MLive reports. An investigation into the incident determined the compromised account stored some patients' protected health information, including full names, addresses, health insurance information, medical treatment information, medical diagnostic information and Social Security numbers. Sacred Heart is not aware of any identity theft or improper use of information as a result of the breach. It's unclear how many individuals were affected by the incident, but MLive notes that Sacred Heart treated 7,000 patients in 2018. Sacred Heart officials told MLive the center is "committed to maintaining the privacy and security of patient information The rehabilitation center retrained employees on proper email security practices after the incident. A Massachusetts man will serve more than 10 years in prison for his role in a 2014 cyberattack on the computer networks of Boston Children's Hospital and a mental health facility, Reuters reports. A federal jury in August found Martin Gottesfeld guilty of one count of conspiracy to damage protected computers and one count of damaging protected computers. He carried the attack out on behalf of hacking activist group Anonymous as a protest of the hospitals' treatment of a teenager. As part of his advocacy for the teenager's release from the hospital, Mr. Gottesfeld launched a distributed denial of service attack on Framingham, Mass.-based Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, the residential treatment facility where the patient stayed after her discharge from Boston Children's in March 2014. In April 2014, Mr. Gottesfeld carried out another attack on Boston Children's computer network, knocking out its internet and affecting several area hospitals. Mr. Gottesfeld fled once federal investigators began looking into the hack. He was arrested in February 2016 when a Disney Cruise Line ship rescued him and his wife from a boat off the coast of Cuba. A federal judge on Jan. 10 ordered Mr. Gottesfeld to pay $443,000 in restitution, in addition to serving a prison sentence of 10 years and a month. Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) Senator and veteran lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste does not view her recent ordination as a Pastor, as being contradictory to her political mission, legal profession, or membership in the Unification Church, founded by sun Mung Moon of South Korea. In fact, she told THE VINCENTIAN on Monday, "My mission as a politician is to liberate St. Vincent and the Grenadines from divisiveness, fear and corruption, and to reunite Vincentians as one family, one nation, one Vincy, under God. The Senator had been the subject of much public debate for the past two weeks, after news broke that she was ordained December 30 as a Pastor in the Chebar Evangelical Assembly, a local church pastored by Reverend Lemmew Samuel, a former Methodist Minister. An honorary award Bacchus-Baptiste, in her conversation with this publication on Monday, described her ordination as an honorary award for the work she did with the Church over the years, especially in relation to character education through family values and the teachings of the divine principle of God. The lawyer pointed out that, while the constitution disqualifies a full time preacher from being elected a member of parliament, it does not disqualify a Minister of Religion whose principal business is not preaching in a church. She added, however, that senators are not disqualified, even if they are full time preachers. Section 26 of the constitution states that no person shall be qualified to be elected or appointed as a representative or senator if he is a minister of religion. However, there is a proviso to this which added, Provided that a Minister of Religion may be appointed as a Senator. The section defines Minister of Religion as Any person in holy orders and any other person, the functions of whose principal occupation include teaching or preaching in any congregation for religious worship. God fearing politicians The earmarked opposition New Democratic Party West St. George candidate made it clear, "My full time profession is law, I am a lawyer, and when elected, I will be a full time parliamentarian. Bacchus-Baptiste underscored that she has worked along with a number of churches here for several years in the area of family values, and sharing the divine principle of God, and views her recent ordination in the Chebar Evangelical Assembly as a form of recognition. "I didnt ask for it. Reverend Samuel said he was directed by God to bestow it on me. Maybe the time has come for the traditional view of politicians being liars, manipulators and corrupt people to be changed, and for us to usher in an era of more principled and God-fearing politicians. For too long, society has accepted that all politicians are corrupt. In relation to her membership in the Unification Church, Bacchus-Baptiste said, "This is not a church that is exclusionary. We are inclusive, thats why its called Unification Church. We believe that we are all one family under God. It is not a separate thing, its a body of Gods people. Whatever Church you are in, we are all under one master. We are not divisive. Our motto is building a World of Peace. She noted thats why they have sponsored International Peace Summits to try to bring together leaders of all disciplines to discuss how to create a culture of peace. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Greg Cronin of Ocean Springs, President/CEO of Charter Bank, has been appointed to the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund committee, which will assist the Mississippi Development Authority with distribution of monies received from BP to settle the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The seven-member committee will ultimately be comprised of seven individuals -- three appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant, two by House Speaker Philip Gunn, and two by Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves. Cronin was one of Gunn's two appointments. He was notified of his selection Thursday. "I was contacted and had an opportunity to talk with the Speaker and share some thought in terms of the legislation and the value of the opportunity we have for the Gulf Coast and the state," Cronin told The Mississippi Press Friday. Last August, the legislature passed legislation which directs 75 percent of the $750 million in BP payments to the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund for use within the state's six southern-most counties. MDA will administer the coast's share of the money, with the committee serving as an advisory board to MDA. The remaining 25 percent will go to the State BP Settlement Fund for statewide projects. "I have known Greg since he served as the chairman of the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC)," Gunn said in a statement. "In that capacity, he demonstrated excellent leadership. He is a man of great vision, competence and intellect. His love for the coast and passion to see it prosper give me every confidence he will be a tremendous asset to the advisory committee." Along with Cronin, Gunn appointed Long Beach attorney Jim Simpson, a former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, to the committee. The state received its first settlement payment of $150 million from BP in 2016, with a sizeable chunk of that already spent. Mississippi will receive installments of $40 million a year starting this year through 2033. The coastal counties will receive $30 million of the $40 million each of those years. "I'm excited to serve and look forward to working with the committee," Cronin said. "It's an opportunity to continue the development of the coast -- economic development, infrastructure -- all the things that are included in the guidelines as far as what the money can be used for." Cronin, who lives in Ocean Springs with his wife, Laura, and their four children, said he is unsure when the committee will begin meeting. "As I understand it, the lieutenant governor hasn't made his appointments yet," he said. "I would assume once those appointments are made, Ashley Edwards, who has been appointed chairman, would call a meeting." Here are 20 surgery centers with procedure prices posted online: North Texas Team Care Surgery Center (Mesquite). This four-OR facility offers most surgeries at flat-rate prices, which must be paid in full prior to surgery. The cost includes surgeon's fees, facility fees and fees related to nursing, anesthesiology and routine preoperative lab work. Patients can find prices for an extensive list of surgical procedures through a drop-down menu on its website. Seaside Surgery Center (Naples, Fla.). Seaside Surgery Center posted all-inclusive orthopedic surgery pricing on its website in December 2017. The ASC was designed and built exclusively for same-day joint replacements. Ocean Surgery Center (Torrance, Calif.). A multispecialty facility operating under the direction of Sherif Khattab, MD, Ocean Surgery Center provides detailed online pricing for general surgery, gynecology, urology, orthopedics, podiatry and other procedures. It offers a printable version of cost estimates. Surgery Center of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City). Surgery Center of Oklahoma is a member of the Free Market Medical Association. Its website features a comprehensive list of procedure costs, including 14 prices for arthroscopic procedures. Beside each list item, patients can find links for requesting a specialist. Medarva Stony Point Surgery Center (Richmond, Va.). Medarva Stony Point Surgery Center displays online price estimates for ENT, eye, face, gastroenterology, orthopedic and pediatric procedures, along with others. Before accessing the out-of-pocket costs webpage, patients must check a box stating they have read and understood a pricing disclaimer. Preston Surgery Center (Frisco, Texas). In January, Preston Surgery Center announced it posted transparent cash pricing on its website for self-pay patients and self-funded employers. Physicians at the facility specialize in pain management, spine surgery, orthopedics, cardiology, hand surgery, podiatry and GI. Avalon Surgery Center (Glendale, Calif.). Avalon Surgery Center's website displays pricing for more than 100 procedures. The costs include fees for the facility, surgeon and anesthesiologist, as well as the initial consultation and uncomplicated follow-up care. North Hills Surgery Center (Fayetteville, Ark.). North Hills Surgery Center allows patients to view online pricing for ophthalmology, endoscopy, shoulder, ENT and other services, and to request a specialist. Costs listed don't include diagnostic studies, implants or hardware or expenses resulting from postoperative complications. St. George (Utah) Surgical Center. The physician-owned St. George Surgical Center offers online procedure pricing for more than two dozen services. The prices include facility fees, surgeon's fees, anesthesia fees, standard implants and hardware, and up to 23-hour overnight/extended stay for certain procedures. Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center (Cedar City, Utah). The single-specialty Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center provides price quotes through a "transparent pricing engine" on its website. The prices include the surgeon's fee, surgery center facility fee, total joint implants, anesthesia fee and physical therapy fee. Orthopaedic and Spine Center of Southern Colorado (Colorado Springs). Opened in 2014, the Orthopaedic and Spine Center of Southern Colorado allows patients to download expense estimates for neurology, pain management and orthopedic procedures. Peak One Surgery Center (Frisco, Colo.). Gastroenterology and orthopedics are among the services with cost estimates listed on Peak One Surgery Center's website. The ASC encourages patients to contact the business office for information about rates not shown online. Mercer County Surgery Center (Lawrenceville, N.J.). Mercer County Surgery Center provides pricing for its most common orthopedic, pain and gastroenterology procedures via its website. Rates for specific carriers are also available by contacting the centers billing office. Monterey (Calif.) Peninsula Surgery Centers. Founded in 1982, Monterey Surgery Center specializes in contemporary, minimally invasive techniques. The center encourages patients to reach out with transparent pricing and billing questions. NTTC Surgery Center (Mesquite). NTTC Surgery Center offers flat-rate pricing for most surgeries as an alternative to working with payers. The flat-rate pricing is intended to cover all procedure costs and must be paid in full prior to surgery. Pacific Surgical Center (Longview, Wash.) Pacific Surgical Center provides full cost transparency for every procedure offered, including total knee replacement, urology and shoulder procedures. The Orthopaedic Surgery Center at Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists (Spokane, Wash.). The Orthopaedic Surgery Center at Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists shares surgery costs with patients in advance, allowing them to compare prices for specific procedures. Lone Star Surgery Center (Houston). Accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, the Lone Star Surgery Center has allowed its patients to look up surgery prices using a web-based tool since it opened four years ago. Arkansas Valley Surgery Center (Canyon City, Colo.). The Arkansas Valley Surgery Center provides estimates for common outpatient procedures performed at the facility. Panama City (Fla.) Surgery Center. The Panama City Surgery Center accepts bundled payments and offers patients transparent pricing on procedures performed at the center. Central Park Surgery Center (Arlington, Texas). The multispecialty Central Park Surgery Center embraces price transparency by allowing patients to look up pain management, eye, nose, throat, foot and other procedure costs online. The Orthopaedic Surgery Center (Boardman, Ohio). The Orthopaedic Surgery Center has embraced price transparency since 2014. The center provies patients prices for ankle, elbow and foot surgery, as well as others. The Surgery Center of Idaho (Meridian). The Surgery Center of Idaho shows patients the out of pocket costs for a number of outpatient procedures on its website. If you would like to recommend a surgery center for this list, contact Rachel Popa at rpopa@beckershealthcare.com. Nashville, Tenn.-based AmSurg, Envision Healthcare's ambulatory services business, is a key player in the North American ASC market. Five things to know: 1. Among five major ASC development companies, AmSurg owns the second-highest number of surgery centers. With 261, AmSurg is second to Addison, Texas-based United Surgical Partners International, a Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare affiliate. 2. KKR acquired Envision for $9.9 billion in October 2018, creating uncertainty for AmSurg. Analyst Jonathan Kanarek published a Moody's report estimating Nashville-based Envision could sell AmSurg for around $3 billion to buyers such as Tenet or Nashville-based HCA Healthcare, if interested. However, if Envision keeps AmSurg, it could leverage the division's ASC portfolio to attract new business opportunities, Mr. Kanarek predicted. 3. AmSurg posted $328 million in net revenue for the second quarter of 2018, a 3 percent increase over the same period in 2017. AmSurg's same-center revenue growth was 2.9 percent, including a volume growth of 1.5 percent and rate growth of 1.4 percent. The division's adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter was $64.3 million, a 6.1 percent increase over the previous year. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.6 percent, which was a 60-basis point improvement from the previous year. KKR took Envision and AmSurg private after it completed the buyout. 4. In June 2018, Becker's Publisher Scott Becker commended Envision Director, President and CEO Chris Holden for transforming AmSurg into a physician services company. AmSurg relied on ASC earnings for its revenue three to four years ago, but it "now generates its revenues from almost everything but ASCs," Mr. Becker noted. 5. AmSurg entered into a strategic partnership with Phoenix-based Horizon Eye Specialists & LASIK Center in May 2018. This was the first time AmSurg entered into such an agreement with a practice. As a result, AmSurg and Horizon Eye Specialists will share equity and resources. Vidor Junior High School students were temporarily held in their classrooms after a threatening post was discovered by officials, according to information from the Vidor Independent School District. Both Vidor Police and VISD investigated the post from a minor toward another student. Selling a book for 10 cents may not sound worth the effort. But selling thousands of books at 10 cents apiece can add up to real money. The annual Friends of the Beaumont Public Library book sale is one of the Beaumont Public Library Systems largest events. The sale generated $753 last year and $1,105 in 2017. Featured items this year include textbooks, cookbooks, antique books and art books. In addition, shoppers will have a chance to peruse vintage vinyl, picture frames, VHS tapes, CDs and other media, and the odd knickknack that made its way into the veritable mountain of boxes collected and donated by the Friends of the Library. One year we had an old globe, and that went fast. It was 10 cents, after all, Library System Director Paul Eddy said. The price was established at the first book sale nearly 30 years ago and has stayed the same. Eddy recalled a woman giving her young daughter $5 and telling her she could spend it as she pleased, and the girl gleefully took off to shop. I said, Maam, you know the books are only 10 cents, and you gave her $5, and you could see the math churning in her head thats 50 books and she started calling to her daughter, Sweetie, come back! he said. Friends secretary Joyce Bowman said organizers are hoping this year is more profitable than the last. More Information Cheap books What: Friends of the Beaumont Public Library When: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday (Members-only preview sale is Friday night) Where: Beaumont Public Library, 801 Pearl St. Cost: Free Info: "Beaumont Public Library System" on Facebook See More Collapse We think it had to do with the weather, she said. It was a rainy day, and then there was Harvey, so we were a little disappointed with the numbers. The money is evenly split between the Friends and the city of Beaumont, which funds the libraries day-to-day operations. However, the Friends of the Library is able to keep all of the membership fees collected, which Bowman said is where the group raises the most money. New memberships generated $1,031 the last two years. The nonprofit Friends of the Beaumont Public Library raises money and volunteers to support programs at the five libraries and the Literacy Center that are not funded by the city. They help us with things like our summer reading program and our GED classes, and we have Spanish, French, and Hebrew classes that we offer, Eddy said. He warned against thinking public libraries are dying off. Last year we had more people walk though the door than the year before, he said. People expect to see a slowdown, but its not the case. Though patrons are checking out fewer books, they come to utilize the other facilities available at the libraries, like computers, WiFi, classes and printing and copying services. haley.bruyn@beaumontenterprise.com The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Joseph Luiz can be reached at 395-7368 or by email at jluiz@bakersfield.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @JLuiz_TBC. Police arrest customer accused of running over, killing nail salon owner after 13 days on the run Authorities say an inmate who escaped from the Pima County jail in Tucson two weeks ago has been found dead in Mexico. Details about the death of 30-year-old Luis Moreno weren't immediately released Thursday Theres no text that is so important that it can take a father away from their wife or a dad away from their son, Toni Townsend said. How many second chances do you give a serial killer? On Wednesday, a man who called himself the "Phantom" 50 years ago when he murdered two little girls told the Arizona Clemency Board he deserves not one second chance, but "two." Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. (CNN) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday suspended embattled Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, blaming him for failures in the response to the Parkland school shooting. The new governor criticized the lawman's handling of the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Family of Texas school shooting victim sues attacker's parents The family of one of the students killed in a Texas high school shooting filed a lawsuit against the alleged gunman's parents, claiming the shooter's father didn't properly secure the weapons and were negligent in entrusting him with firearms. "Sheriff Israel has repeatedly failed and has demonstrated a pattern of poor leadership. He failed to protect Floridians and visitors during the tragic Fort Lauderdale International Airport shooting in 2017," DeSantis said in a statement. "He failed in his duties to keep our families and children safe during the devastating shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018. These incidents demonstrate Sheriff's Israel's repeated incompetence and neglect of duty. The families of the victims deserve accountability." The governor issued an executive order and said he is appointing retired Coral Springs Police Sgt. Gregory Tony to serve as sheriff. Jeff Bell, president of the Broward Sheriff's Office Deputies Association, said his organization applauds DeSantis' decision. "True leaders like Governor DeSantis are willing to make the tough decisions that may not always be the most popular choices," Bell said. "Scott Israel misused his authority and abused his public trust by politicizing the nation's largest fully accredited Sheriff's Office for his own political ambitions." Parkland shooter described plans on cellphone video The former student who gunned down 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, recorded his plans on three cellphone videos. Israel was to respond to the decision later Friday afternoon. Soon after the February 14 mass shooting, Israel faced criticism about his agency's response, including calls for his resignation. A recent draft report by a public safety commission tasked with investigating the shooting found several failures and missteps, including among some of Israel's deputies. According to Florida statute, the governor has the power to suspend the sheriff for actions such as "misfeasance" and "neglect of duty" and may fill the office by appointment for the period of suspension. The actual power to remove the sheriff from office is in the hands of the state Senate. According to the state Senate website, it makes "final dispositions" on whether to reinstate a suspended official or remove him from office. Nikolas Cruz has confessed to being the gunman, and carrying out the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, his former school, according to court documents. The attack, which also left dozens injured, is one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent US history. Sheriff: Deputy at Parkland never engaged shooter, has now resigned The deputy who was on duty at a high school where 17 people were massacred waited outside the building for about four minutes without ever going in, the Broward County Sheriff said Eleven days after the massacre, more than 70 Republican representatives and Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran sent a letter to then-Gov. Rick Scott asking him to suspend the sheriff for what they called his "incompetence and neglect of duty." Israel said then he would not resign. In April, Broward County sheriff's deputies took a largely symbolic vote of no confidence against Israel, with Bell vowing to ask the governor to consider removing Israel. The sheriff said then the vote reflected only "a small number" of BSO employees and the union representing the vast majority of employees "solidly supports the leadership of this agency." The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which is investigating the shooting, presented its initial report to state officials on January 2. Some of the failures and missteps highlighted in the commission's report ranged from unlocked and unmanned gates on the Parkland campus to an inadequate public-address system. The report also said former Deputy Scot Peterson, the school resource officer, was "derelict in his duty" and "failed to act consistent with his training and fled to a position of personal safety" during the mass shooting. Peterson instructed deputies to stay away from the building where the shootings took place, the draft said. Survivors of deadly school shooting lash out at leaders, lawmakers Students who escaped the deadly school shooting in Florida focused their anger Sunday at President Donald Trump, contending that his response to the attack has been needlessly divisive. Several responding Broward sheriff's deputies were either seen on camera or described as taking time to retrieve and put on ballistic vests as well as removing and replacing other equipment while shots were still being fired in the school, the report said. In February, Texans experienced forced rolling and extended blackouts ordered by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas as demand for electricity spiked during a winter storm. On Monday, ERCOT took precaution to avoid blackouts by urging Texans to conserve power through Friday as summer temperatures continue to rise. Approximately 12,000 megawatts of generation were offline Monday, and ERCOT officials said the outages were unexpected. Are you satisfied with ERCOTs oversight of the states electric grid? You voted: By Abdul Kerimkhanov Tajikistan is increasing production of cement, making it one of the most commonly exported products to the neigboring countries. The republic is becoming the main supplier of this type of construction material, displacing Pakistani products on the Central Asian markets. This year was not an exception. The volume of cement exports amounted to 1.44 million tons while the value reached $ 65.4 million in 2018. This figure in 2017 amounted to 970,100 tons worth $ 45.9 million. Tajikistan exports this type of building material to Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan increased cement exports but reduced the sale of primary aluminum abroad in 2018. According to the source, last year aluminum was exported in the amount of 94,800 tons for $ 199.3 million. This figure is less by 6,600 tons, compared to 2017, and in value - by $ 1.4 million. Data on aluminum production in the country are not provided. During the years of independence in Tajikistan, dozens of new cement plants were created using foreign investment. At the moment, there are 13 small and large enterprises in the republic, whose total annual production capacity is five million tons. More than 80 percent of the total volume of cement produced accounts for three enterprises created with the participation of Chinese investments: Chungtsai Mohir Cement LLC (Yavansky District), Huaksin Gayur Cement (Yavansky District), Huaksin Gayur Sogd Cement (Bobojon Gafurov District). The share of Tajik Cement (Dushanbe) in the total volume is only about 8 percent. Tajikistan currently fully satisfies its own cement needs. Since 2015, the surplus of these products has been supplied to neighboring countries. Neighboring countries prefer to buy Tajik cement because of its high quality and relatively reasonable cost. Enterprises of Tajikistan produce the most popular grades of sulfate-resistant cement - M400 and M500. In the coming years, it is planned to build and launch new cement manufacturing enterprises in Tajikistan. In particular, preliminary work began on the cement plant construction in the Kubodiyon district of Khatlon, which will become the largest in the country. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Mutual trade between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan grew by 55 percent compared to the same period in 2017 and totalled $ 363 million in January-November 2018. The Uzbek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulaziz Kamilov, held talks with the Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs Chingiz Aydarbekov on January 11, who had arrived in Tashkent the day before. During a conversation, the parties noted with satisfaction that, thanks to the establishment of regular interaction between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan at various levels, primarily between heads of state, an unprecedented friendly atmosphere was created in bilateral relations. Such relations allowed to consistently solve the accumulated problems and reach a new stage of cooperation. The ministers focused on priority areas for further deepening of ties between the two countries in 2019 and for the future in political, trade, economic, transport and communication, cultural, humanitarian and other fields. The interest of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in the development of cooperation on a long-term and mutually beneficial basis was confirmed. Regular meetings play an important role in bilateral relations of the Council of Khokims of the Uzbek border areas and plenipotentiaries of the Kyrgyz Government in the border areas chaired by the Prime Ministers of the two countries. The ministers also exchanged views on the agenda of the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue with the participation of Afghanistan, which will be held in Samarkand on January 12-13. The sides expressed confidence that the forum in this format would allow expanding regional cooperation in various areas. Following the talks, the heads of the foreign affairs agencies reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening and expanding cooperation both bilaterally and in the Central Asian format. The conversation was attended by the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan Ibrahim Dzhunusov. Diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were established in 1993. The Treaty on Eternal Friendship between States was signed in 1996. Under the agreement, the countries committed themselves to maintain friendly relations, economic unity and the territorial integrity of states. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Turkmenistan, having embarked on the industrialization and diversification of economy, welcomes the investments of Japanese partners, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said during a working meeting, Trend reports referring to Turkmen State New Agency. The Turkmen president gave instructions to the relevant heads on building up the Turkmen-Japanese economic cooperation and investment activities, where oil, gas processing and industrial sectors are the priorities, as well as cooperation between financial and banking structures, small and medium-sized enterprises, in science and education spheres. Meanwhile, a representative of the ITOCHU Corporation plans to visit Turkmenistan in the near future. During the working visit of the Turkmen government delegation to Japan in October last year, eight documents were signed regarding the implementation of new joint projects. The new contracts cover joint projects, including the construction of plants for production of ammonia and urea, for processing of natural gas and production of gasoline, and a workshop for production of phosphate fertilizers. An agreement on cooperation and supply of the Komatsu excavation equipment and the Toyota vehicles to Turkmenistan was also signed with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Japan implemented a number of big projects in Turkmenistan. They include construction of ammonia and urea plants in Mary region, industrial complexes in the Balkan region for production of polyethylene at the Turkmenbashi Complex of Oil Refineries, urea fertilizers in Garabogaz city, polyethylene and polypropylene in Kiyanly settlement. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov DBK-Leasing JSC and the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development have begun to upgrade the fleet of aircrafts for regional and sanitary-medical flights. According to the press service of the ministry, in the framework of the project, DBK-Leasing financed the purchase of two Czech-made L-410 aircraft for Zhetysu Airlines. The planes have already arrived at Taldykorgan airport. The L-410 model has been successfully operated in more than 50 countries. It is most popular in the territory of the CIS countries. DBK-Leasing is a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Development Bank JSC, which is part of the National Managing Holding Baiterek. The company provides leasing financing for the implementation of investment projects under government programs and commercial financing. DBK-Leasing JSC jointly with the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development and Akimat of the Almaty Region launched a project to update the aircraft fleet for regional and sanitary-medical flights. The Civil Aviation Committee noted that the aircraft fleet renewal project was implemented within the framework of the Nurly Zhol State Program and is aimed at the development of small and regional aviation. This is becoming an important task to ensure the access of the population of remote settlements to large agglomeration centers, addressing emergency needs. The press service of DBK-Leasing JSC summed up that the development of regional aviation will expand the aviation services market, preserve and develop the infrastructure for operating small aircraft equipment, and satisfy the needs of economic sectors, including the provision of health, tourism and other services. Currently, the model L-410 is successfully operated in more than fifty countries located on five continents. L-410 is designed to carry 19 passengers, cargo or for specific purposes. The operation and maintenance of this category of aircraft require minimal expenses. At the same time, these aircrafts can land on runways with a hard and unpaved surface under extreme temperature conditions, which is typical of the harsh continental climate of Kazakhstan. The main activities of Zhetysu are the transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo and mail; civilian and aircraft operations; aircraft maintenance; the implementation of industrial and economic activities to satisfy consumers in air transport. It is a 100 percent state-owned company and operates flights to socially significant destinations. Aircraft Industries, a.s. is the largest passenger aircraft manufacturer in the Czech Republic with a long tradition of aircraft manufacturing, with about 1,000 employees. The extensive portfolio of activities includes the integrated production of aircraft, ranging from blanks to tin parts, from the production of cables and components to the final assembly of aircraft. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov The Tajik Government plans to increase electricity production by 2.5 times in the next 11 years. According to the country's energy sector, until 2030, the country's energy potential will be increased from the current 18 billion to 45 billion kWh per year, or 2.5 times. This figure will increase the export of environmentally friendly electricity to neighboring countries up to 10 billion kWh through regional power lines, including CASA-1000. According to the source, it is planned to increase electricity production by creating new power plants and modernizing existing facilities. The reconstruction of the Sarband hydroelectric station in the amount of 1.3 billion somoni is underway. This year work will begin on the modernization of the Kairakkum hydropower plant in the amount of 1.9 billion somoni, and the first stage of reconstruction of the Nurek hydropower plant in the amount of 3.5 billion somoni. After a complete renovation, the capacity of these three power plants, as compared with their current capacity, will generally increase by 840 MW. In addition, units of the Rogun hydropower plant will be put into operation in stages, the second unit of which will be put into operation this year. The Tajik electricity is exported to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Electricity from Tajikistan is also exported to Kyrgyzstan mainly on a barter basis. Most of the electricity in Tajikistan is produced at hydropower plants. The country has significant potential in the field of hydropower, which is still little realized. The total volume of hydropower resources is estimated at 527 billion kWh, including 202 billion kWh that are technically possible for use, and 172 billion kWh that are economically feasible for construction. This makes the state one of the most secured by this renewable energy source in the world (eighth place in terms of the absolute potential of production). Among the CIS countries on this indicator, the country is second only to Russia. With the launch of the Rogun HPP, Tajikistan has approached one of its strategic goals - to achieve energy independence. The second unit of the Rogun HPP will be commissioned in 2019. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Turkmenistan took part in the Heimtextil 2019 international exhibition in Germany's Frankfurt, Trend reports referring to Turkmen Foreign Ministry. Over 3,000 foreign companies and organizations took part in the exhibition. Representatives of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Textile Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry were in the Turkmen delegation. The Turkmen delegation held a meeting with the exhibition company, Messe Frankfurt. During the talks, the possibilities for expanding the range of textile products produced by Turkmenistan and the development of cooperation were discussed, the report said. More than one million tons of cotton are grown annually in Turkmenistan. The textile industry of Turkmenistan is represented with a wide range of exported products - from cotton fiber and yarn to finished garments and knitwear, which are produced by the largest textile complexes in Central Asia, located in the capital and in all regions of the country. A significant part of the products of Turkmenistan, supplied abroad, are home textiles, sportswear and jeans produced under the world-famous trademarks IKEA, Puma, Walmart, Lidl, Bershka, Pool & Bear, River Island, Cosco. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend A US delegation will discuss in Turkey the issue of selling the Patriot surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) on Jan. 15-16, Trend reports with reference to CNN Turk. The US representatives intend to meet with officials of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) of Turkey. In addition, it is noted that a Turkish delegation plans to visit Washington in late January. Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey may buy the Patriot SAMs provided that the US wont insist on the rejection of buying the S-400 air defense systems from Russia. It was earlier reported that the US administration decided to sell Patriot SAMs to Turkey for a total of $3.5 billion. Permission was obtained for the sale of 80 Patriot MIM-104E anti-aircraft guided missiles and 60 PAC-3 missiles, as well as related equipment. First reports on the negotiations of the Russian Federation and Turkey on the supply of S-400 appeared in November 2016. The conclusion of a contract was confirmed by the Russian side on Sept. 12, 2017. Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said the deployment of S-400 will begin in October 2019. The head of Russia's state corporation Rostec, Sergey Chemezov, said in December 2017 that the cost of S-400 will be $2.5 billion for Turkey. Turkey is the first NATO state to receive such an air defense system from Russia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov The popularity of potatoes and the prospects for its processing in Uzbekistan was discussed at a meeting in Utrecht (Netherlands) of representatives of the Uzbek embassy in the Benelux countries and the Netherlands' company Kiremko. Founded in 1965, Kiremko company is one of the leaders in potato processing in the world. It develops, manufactures and installs equipment for the production of mashed potatoes, french fries and chips, as well as vacuum-packed potatoes with the possibility of different cutting options and consumption period. Kiremko also provides project management services, including the establishment of production lines, and assists in providing engineering and technological support to joint ventures abroad. The company has joint ventures in Russia, India and China. During the negotiations, the Dutch side was presented information on the work being carried out in Uzbekistan to attract modern technologies to the agro-industrial sector, modernize production processes, and expand export-oriented products. The management of the Dutch company expressed its readiness to establish contacts with the Association of Uzbek Potato Producers and to consider the possibility of organizing training sessions on the production and storage of seed potatoes for representatives of the association. The parties also discussed the prospects of creating a joint production for processing potatoes in Uzbekistan. For the first time, I had a chance to visit Uzbekistan a year and a half ago. I had very good impressions about the country, its investment potential and the created business climate, and there were prospects for cooperation with Uzbek partners. We plan to work more actively with potato producers in Uzbekistan so that in the future we can implement a project to create a potato processing plant in the country and establish a line for the production of french fries and chips, said the regional sales manager of Kiremko Twan van den Berg. The 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and the Netherlands, which have always developed on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation and mutual respect, has been marked in 2017. The Netherlands attaches great importance to cooperation with Uzbekistan within the EU. The Netherlands is the second largest exporter of agri-food products in the world. The agricultural sector has a high level of mechanization. In agriculture, only 2 percent of the working population is employed, but the sector produces significant surplus value, both for the food sector and for export. The Netherlands is the 20th largest economy in the world and the fifth largest economy in the Eurozone. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Analytical publication Global Petrol Prices (U.S.) has published a ranking of countries based on the prices for gasoline. Turkmenistan is ahead of all the countries of Central Asia in the cheapness of gasoline. Kazakhstan ranked 10th with 48 cents per liter. Uzbekistan took the 18th place ($ 0.54 per liter), Kyrgyzstan - the 23rd place ($ 0.67 per liter), while Tajikistan was not considered in the rating. Of the 150 countries in the world for which experts monitor the prices of petroleum products weekly, the cheapest gasoline is sold in Venezuela. There, its average annual price was only one cent. Sudan is in the second place ($ 0.13), Iran is third ($ 0.29). Kuwait ($ 0.34), Algeria ($ 0.35) and Nigeria ($ 0.41) occupy the fourth, fifth and sixth places, respectively. The highest gasoline price is in Hong Kong ($ 2.04 per liter), followed by Monaco - $ 1.98, Wallis and Futuna - $ 1.90, Norway - $ 1.85, Barbados - $ 1.80 per liter. Gasoline is a fuel made from crude oil and other petroleum liquids. Gasoline is mainly used as an engine fuel for vehicles. Petroleum refineries and blending facilities produce motor gasoline for sale at retail gasoline fueling stations. Three main grades of gasoline are sold at retail gasoline refueling stations: regular, midgrade and premium. According to experts' forecasts, the demand for AI-95 gasoline and diesel fuel will double by 2030 in Turkmenistan. Therefore, a set of measures was developed to further increase the capacities of oil refineries in the cities of Turkmenbashi and Seydi. Turkmenistan plans to raise the productivity of oil refinery industry to 20 million tons by 2020, 22 million tons by 2025 and 30 million tons by 2030. Turkmenbashi Complex of Oil Refineries is the flagship of oil refineries industry of Turkmenistan. Today, the share of the complex accounts is a quarter of the volume of industrial products manufactured in the Central Asian country. Turkmenistan, being rich with oil and gas resources, has opened about two hundred oil and gas fields so far. Potential hydrocarbon resources of the country amount to 71.2 billion tons of oil equivalent, of which 53 billion fall on the land, and 18.2 billion tons - on offshore areas. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Aydar Abdullin has been appointed director of LUKOIL-Azerbaijan CJSC, the company told Trend Jan. 11. Before Abdullin, the position was held by Eduard Mukhametov. Previously, Aydar Abdullin headed the Sales Development Department of PJSC LUKOIL. LUKOIL-Azerbaijan operates in the country since 1993. The company manages 58 filling stations and an oil depot. This helped LUKOIL to become a reliable supplier of diesel fuel and gasoline, as well as lubricants to international and Azerbaijani companies operating in the local market. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov A consortium for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) construction has successfully completed the financial closure of the project in 2018, receiving 3.9 billion euros, said the consortium. The European Investment Bank (EIB), recognizing the important contribution of TAP to improving the security of energy supply in Europe, allocated 700 million euros for the implementation of this project. The EIB welcomes the ongoing close cooperation between all project partners, said Andrew McDowell, the Vice President of the European Investment Bank, whose words are quoted in the message. Reportedly, 17 commercial banks provide financing along with the EBRD and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Part of the financing is covered by export credit agencies - Bpifrance, Euler Hermes and Sace. The project attracted 3.76 billion euros in the form of privileged debt (which requires repayment in the first place) from a third party with a maturity of 16.5 years. It combined commercial debt with funds raised from international financial institutions and export credit agencies. These funds were allocated by the following institutions: EIB loan - 700 million euros; A and B loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - totaling one billion euros; Bpifrance funds - 450 million euros Euler Hermes funds - 280 million euros Funds from "A" SACE - 700 million euros A commercial loan of 635 million euros from merchant banks. The report notes that previously the expenses were fully financed by the shareholders of TAP: BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent). TAP, along with TANAP, is a part of Southern Gas Corridor project. The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijani Shah Deniz-2 gas field to Greece and southern Italy across the Adriatic Sea through Greece and Albania and involves designing, construction and operation of the natural gas pipeline. The Intergovernmental Agreement on the TAP project was signed by Albania, Italy and Greece in February 2013. The TAP project is one of the strategic objectives of the EU in the energy security and diversification of energy sources, chosen as the shortest and direct way to export natural gas from Azerbaijan to the European markets. Construction of nearly 74.6 percent of the 878 km pipeline has been completed, of which 550 kilometers will pass through the northern part of Greece, 215 kilometers - Albania, 105 kilometers - the Adriatic Sea and 8 kilometers - Italy. The TAP pipeline is expected to be commissioned in 2020. The initial capacity of TAP will be 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year with the possibility of doubling it. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova BP Plc and its partners just spent $28 billion bringing a giant natural gas project in Azerbaijan online, and that may only be the start, Trend reports citing Gary Jones, BPs regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Jones said that the BP intends to drill six new exploration wells in Azerbaijan by 2020, emphasizing that the company can discover a new gas field with reserves approximately equal to Shah Deniz if his expectations are met. Alongside Brazil, Azerbaijan stands out in terms of the areas of focus for the next few years, Jones said in a phone interview. Its a very significant exploration program for us, which demonstrates the confidence and the role that we see in the Caspian. BP aims to drill wells this year in the Shafag-Asiman structure, where gas reserves may be equal to the Shah Deniz-2 field. He added that the drilling on the structure is scheduled for the end of 2019. Jones said capital spending decisions havent yet been affected by a decline in oil prices late in the year, though it renewed BPs focus on finding out whether there are more big fields in Azerbaijan. Upon completion, the Shah Deniz 2 project will add a further 16 bcm of natural gas per annum to 10.9 bcma (maximum production capacity) already produced under Shah Deniz 1 project. Shah Deniz 2 is the starting point of the new Southern Gas Corridor, which will deliver Caspian resources directly to European markets for the first time. So far, the total gas production from the Shah Deniz field has reached 100 billion cubic meters. Since 2006, more than 196 million barrels of condensate have been produced in the Shah Deniz field in total. Its reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas and 240 million tons of condensates. Within the second stage of the field development, the volume of gas production can be increased to 24 billion cubic meters per year, according to forecasts. Shah Deniz field covers approximately 860 square kilometres. The field was discovered in 1999. The discovery of the giant Shah Deniz field and the successful implementation of the project made Azerbaijan a country that can export a large amount of natural gas to the world. The Shah Deniz gas field is still the biggest discovery of BP after the Prudhoe Bay oilfield in Alaska. SOFAZ (Azerbaijani Oil Fund) has so far earned $ 2.5 billion from the development of Shah Deniz. The agreement on the exploration, development and shared production of promising areas of Shah Deniz was signed on June 4, 1996. The agreement on the division of production was ratified on October 17, 1996. The project participants are BP (operator - 28.8 percent), AzSD (10 percent), SGC Upstream (6.7 percent), Petronas (15.5 percent), LUKOIL (10 percent), NIKO (10 percent) and TPAO (19 percent). BP is one of the world's most renowned oil and gas suppliers and its operations cover the safe development and production of key energy sources, and has been managing large projects for exploration, development and transportation of oil and gas fields in Azerbaijan for 26 years safely and reliably. BP and SOCAR have long-term cooperation in the oil and gas industry of Azerbaijan. BP Azerbaijan is operator of ACG, Shahdeniz, Shallow Water Absheron Peninsula, Shafag-Asiman and Gobustan fields. So far, BP has invested more than $ 72 billion in projects in the country with its partners. BP and Azerbaijan are also cooperating to explore the development opportunities of renewable energy. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova State Migration Service of Azerbaijan has revealed the statistical information regarding the last year. The number of electronic services provided by the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan has been increased from 11 to 14: through the "ASAN viza" system, the list of electronic visas has been supplemented by an entry labor visa, the head of the Service Vusal Huseynov stated at a press conference, Trend reports. Huseynov noted that a new mobile application of the MIGAZ Service was developed and presented to the public. "In addition, a new project was launched on ASAN Radio the program Miqrasiya saat (Migration Time) is on the air, on Wednesdays to convey information to a wide audience since October 10, Huseynov said. ASAN Visa portal designed to simplify a procedure for issuing visas to foreigners and stateless persons wishing to visit Azerbaijan, as well as to ensure immediacy and transparency of this process, was presented to the public in 2016. Foreigners and stateless persons, who wish to receive an e-visa, must enter information into the system of "ASAN Visa", and after receipt on acceptance of confirmation pay online a state fee in the amount prescribed by law "On state duty". The system of "ASAN Visa" sends the appeal to the interagency automated retrieval system "Entry-exit and registration". The relevant executive authority verifies the information not later than three days from the time of appeal in "ASAN Viza", checks restriction list of the "Entry-exit and registration". Then a visa is sent to the e-mail address of the contact person. In case of failure the person is also informed. The electronic visas are not stuck in the passport but presented together with the passport while crossing the border check-point. Foreigners and stateless persons may apply for a new e-visa only after they will leave Azerbaijan. Foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan can obtain a work visa online in the ASAN Viza system starting from July 6, 2018. The head of the State Migration Service added that in 2018 the Services work was expanded, and at the border checkpoints of Samur, Astara, Shikhly, migration departments began to work around the clock. He emphasized that, given the significant increase in the number of foreigners on New Years Eve, from December 15 of last year to January 15, 2019, monthly check is taking place, information is provided to foreigners through video clips, printed and distributed flyers in Azerbaijani, Russian and English. The Service has drafted nearly 30 international treaties, including readmission agreements related to the improvement, within the framework of international law, the process of returning compatriots illegally living abroad, protocols on the implementation of these agreements, as well as bilateral agreements on cooperation in the field of migration in order to strengthen relations with the migration authorities of foreign countries. Huseynov also noted that 2,845,697 foreign citizens and stateless persons arrived Azerbaijan in 2018, this number has increased by 6 percent, compared to the previous year. 740,841 foreigners and stateless persons were registered at the place of temporary residence during the reporting period. The number of foreign citizens who have obtained refugee status in Azerbaijan, has increased by 16 percent and today the number stands at 78. He stressed that five people with refugee status from Libya, 28 - from Afghanistan, two - from Pakistan and 43 - from Iran, live in Azerbaijan. In 2018, 41,030 people received temporary residence permits in Azerbaijan, 3,220 people -permits for permanent residence and 6,162 people - work permits, he said. During the reporting period, 19,210 decisions were made regarding violations of migration legislation requirements. "The State Migration Service received 27,509 appeals regarding the establishment of citizenship, he said. Thus, 464 people were readmitted to Azerbaijan from foreign countries." According to the latest amendments to the law, the period of temporary stay in Azerbaijan of foreigners and stateless persons increased from 10 to 15 days. In this regard, changes were made to the decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers on approving the "Procedure for filling out the visa application form", the sample "Application form for obtaining a visa" and the sample "Petition of the party inviting a foreigner or stateless person to Azerbaijan" In addition, it will not require an official note from an international organization or a country that is represented by a foreigner or a stateless person or a petition from the relevant structures of Azerbaijan, but a petition from a party inviting a foreigner or a stateless person. This document does not apply to transit and tourist visas. Moreover, if a party inviting a foreigner or a stateless person is a non-governmental organization, then a copy of the state registration certificate of this structure will be required, a document confirming the reason for the invitation. This document is not required for transit, tourist, official and personal visas. The State Migration Service continues to implement measures aimed at strengthening state control over migration processes, as well as preventing illegal migration. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova The Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers has made amendments to excise rates for excisable goods imported to the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani Prime Minister Novruz Mammadov signed the relevant decree. According to the decision, the excise tax is imposed on alcoholic and non-alcoholic energy drinks and liquids. Thus, the excise tax for each liter of alcoholic energy drink will be 2 manats, non-alcoholic energy drinks - 3 manats, fluids for electronic cigarettes - 20 manats. Azerbaijan will also apply 1 manat excise tax for each unit of cigars containing tobacco, including those with trimmed ends. It should be noted that, at present, imported cigars, including those with trimmed ends, are subjected to an excise tax of 20 manat per 1,000 pieces. Thus, the excise tax on cigarette imports rose from 10 to 28 manats for 1,000 cigarettes, excise tax on cigarillos imports - from 10 to 20 manats for 1,000 cigarillos. This decision will come into effect on February 10, 30 days after its publication. Alcohol has increasingly affected younger generations and drinkers in developing countries, according to the World Health Organization. Alcoholism is among the top causes of death worldwide, with 4 percent of deaths resulting from addiction to alcohol, causing illnesses and injuries to millions more. According to some research, about 80 percent of liver cirrhosis are alcohol-related. Moreover, alcoholism ranks third in the world among early mortality causes. It is believed that one of the factors contributing to the risk of gastric cancer is alcohol abuse. Today, many countries raise prices and excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products to limit the populations access to them resulting in reduced drinking and smoking levels. Smoking is common throughout the world, and getting people out of tobacco dependence today is becoming a priority for many states. Smoking is recognized as a chronic disease and included in the "International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems". There are more than 25 diseases that develop or their course worsens under the influence of smoking. Smoking is being prohibited as it is decreed that smokers habits are setting a bad example to others, particularly children. Also, active smokers can estimate the harm of tobacco on their health and decide whether to smoke or not, but those who are passive smokers had no choice here and passive smoking is more harmful for human body than active smoking. Azerbaijan, which also fights against smoking, adopted the Law On Restriction of the Use of Tobacco Products on December 1, 2017. In accordance with the law, smoking is forbidden throughout the territory of various educational institutions, in hotels, health care facilities, rehabilitation centers, health resorts, social facilities, theaters and cinemas, at exhibitions, reading rooms, libraries, museums and other cultural institutions, in underground and overground crossings, buses (including intercity and international), taxis, metro, air, railway, sea and river transport, bus stops, railway stations, river and sea ports, airports, elevators, common areas of multi-apartment buildings, in buildings and enterprises where flammable substances are stored, on playgrounds, beaches, workplaces of organizations, enterprises, offices, regardless of organizational and legal form and ownership. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Thanks to modern technology, people can know more than ever before about the world around us and what lies outside the solar system in a large universe. Advances in astronomy have allowed scientists to keep everyone abreast of when various celestial events occur. The first lunar eclipse in 2019 will occur on January 21 and will last from 07:34 to 10:51 at Baku time, the deputy director for scientific work of Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory named after Nasraddin Tusi of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Doctor of Philosophy in Physics Khidir Mikayilov told Trend. Deputy Director said that this eclipse cannot be observed on the territory of Azerbaijan although this is a total eclipse, adding that this natural phenomenon can be observed in the countries of Oceania, America, Africa and Europe. The next partial lunar eclipse will occur on July 17 and will be visible in Azerbaijan, as well as in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Russia. Today, astronomers can tell when exactly such events will occur and where exactly on Earth you need to be in order to see them. Thanks to modern science, millions of people can see such fascinating phenomena and learn even more about them. Why are lunar eclipses happening? The reason for this mysterious phenomenon is actually simple and lies in the continuous movement of the planets. At certain times, one planet is eclipsed by the shadow of another. Usually from 2 to 6 eclipses (solar and lunar) occur per year. Eclipse is a phenomenon of the visible conjunction of the sun, moon, earth, and sometimes other planets. When these three objects of the universe line up at once, one of them becomes invisible. For example, when an eclipse of the sun occurs, the moon is between two heavenly bodies, the sun and the earth. It is the Moon that blocks the normal view of the sun from Earth, creating a unique event that everyone calls the solar eclipse. At the time of the lunar eclipse, the planet Earth will be located between the Sun and Moon, the natural satellite of the Earth. The moon disappears, and then, when it passes through the shadow cast by the Earth, it will appear again. Lunar eclipses take place during the full moon, when the moon is in front of the sun. The orbit of the moon is inclined by about five degrees compared to the orbit of the earth around the sun. If this slope was not observed, all the inhabitants of the Earth could see a lunar eclipse every month. A lunar eclipse can be seen much more often than a solar one. Since the Moon is more than 300 times closer to the Earth than the Sun, it means there are simply more chances that the Earth will block the light of the moon than the Moon will hide the light from the Sun. Solar eclipses are less frequent and, when this happens, as a rule, they can be seen only for a short time and by only a small part of the Earths population. Lunar eclipses, on the other hand, are easier to catch (they happen at night) and they are visible to more people on our planet. Virtually all ancient peoples perceived this heavenly phenomenon as a harbinger of something bad: wars, diseases, droughts. Many people considered the Sun and the Moon spiritualized, and during eclipses they performed various rituals to release their luminaries. In general, there are no serious warnings about the dangerous effect of the phenomenon on the human body. At the same time, there are still recommendations for pregnant, elderly and people suffering from chronic diseases. All the emotions that you experience at lunar eclipse will be sharper and more intense. These days, stay at home, avoid nervous, physical exertion and overwork. This is due to increased electromagnetic and gravitational activity, because celestial bodies these days act in one direction during a solar eclipse and in the opposite direction during a lunar. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has chaired the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socioeconomic development of 2018 and objectives for the future. The president made an opening speech at the event. Speakers at the meeting included Azerbaijans Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population Sahil Babayev, and Chairman of the State Customs Committee Safar Mehdiyev. President Aliyev then made a closing speech. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Armenias acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will try to hold on to status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Thomas de Waal, a UK political analyst, senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region, Trend reports. Thomas de Waal said he doesnt expect many changes by the new Armenian government, at least not soon. Pashinyan is going to just try to hold on to the status quo and this is probably not to the liking of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan does not want to see a quiet status quo, but a quiet status quo is unfortunately what I think the new Armenian leadership wants, the expert told the Caucasus Watch. Further, taking about the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he noted that this conflict is deeply intractable and it cannot be solved quickly. Thomas de Waal noted that there is a very weak international mechanism in place for the conflicts settlement. There is a small monitoring mission with six OSCE observers, as well as the very modest Minsk Group under the co-chairmanship format that is trying to mediate the conflict. So basically everything comes down to the will and decision-making of the leaders on both sides, said the political analyst. 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Narmina Mammadova There have been no cases of measles and rubella infection in samples taken to date, the infectious diseases situation is fully controlled, Deputy Director of the Republican Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Azerbaijans Ministry of Health Afag Aliyeva told Trend on January 10. She said that, these diseases should be confirmed only on the basis of laboratory tests. Laboratory tests are carried out at the Anti-Plague Station, and until now they have not detected measles and rubella viruses. These analyzes are sent to Moscow. The results of our laboratory and the absence of these diseases in Azerbaijan are confirmed, she said. Aliyeva stressed that Azerbaijan is among the countries where, since 2015, measles and rubella have been completely eliminated. The situation in Azerbaijan is completely stable and there are no cases of infection by these viruses in the country," she added. Measles, or rubella, is a viral infection of the respiratory system. Measles is a very contagious disease that can spread through contact with infected mucus and saliva. An infected person can release the infection into the air when they cough or sneeze. The measles virus can live on surfaces for several hours. As the infected particles enter the air and settle on surfaces, anyone within close proximity can become infected. Drinking from an infected persons glass, or sharing eating utensils with an infected person, increases your risk of infection. Measles is a leading cause of death in children. Most measles-related deaths are caused by complications associated with the disease. Symptoms of measles in children are manifested by high fever, characteristic rash, sore throat, cough and signs of severe intoxication of the body. Measles can occur with serious complications right up to a lethal outcome. Annually, more than 150,000 people die because of this disease, mostly children under 10. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova Works of well-known Azerbaijani caricaturist will be showcased in Baku. The exhibition of Soltan Soltanli will open at Irshad Hotel on January 14, Yenicag reported. More than 20 of art works will be presented to art connoisseurs. Soltan Soltanli successfully represents Azerbaijan at international exhibitions and competitions, where his works are often awarded with prizes. In 1991, Soltan came to Baku to enter the former Azerbaijan State School of Arts named after Azim Azimzade, but he failed. After returning to Agsu , he increased his contacts with the nature and tried to feel the nature profoundly. Soltan's father was against his son's wish. That is why Soltan drew his paintings secretly. He had only a way to come to Baku in order get high education. He had also a great interest in the literature. So in 1993 Soltan entered the philology faculty of Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and graduated it in 1997. Having come to Baku, Soltan got interested in painting very much, he went to the exhibitions and visited the famous painters' and sculptors' studios, wrote articles about them. His intention was decisive: to enter the School of Arts. The paintings by Soltan Soltanli are the mature examples of the modern art and painting. The intellect and philosophy are the main peculiarities for Soltan's activity. He tries to enlarge the dream world of the humanity with his works and to show the essence of the real world. Each of his work contains a certain idea and philosophy. The event starts at 17:00. Admission is free. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The cost of sending SMS messages in the network of Azerbaijans mobile operator Azercell will be 0.05 AZN by February 12, 2019, Trend reports, referring to the company's report published in local newspapers. Changes will affect prepaid tariff plans (Sim-Sim) "Azercellim", "Bizimkilr", "Hr yer", "Bolg" and "Tlb birliyi". Currently, the cost of sending SMS in these tariff plans, with the exception of the "Tlb birliyi" package, costs 0.03 AZN. The tariff for SMS offered as part of the "Tlb birliyi" package is 0.02 AZN. Also, the cost of sending each additional SMS (over the set limit) within the tariff plans "Kombo" and "Gnc OL" will cost 0.05 AZN. In addition, a similar tariff for SMS (0.05 AZN) will also operate within the tariff plans of the invoice line "Bizimkilr", "Hr yer", "Aily Tarif", "DovltCell", "Socar" and "MediaCell" by the mentioned date. Each additional SMS within the tariff plans "Hdsiz", "Hdsiz zng" and "Biznes200" will also cost 0.05 AZN. The official rate on January 11 is 1.7 AZN / USD. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani postal operator Azerpoct LLC has started installing the first parcel vending machine, which will be located at the post office of the companys first branch, the company told Trend. The operators future plans for this year include expanding their number throughout Baku. A parcel vending machine is a self-service device that provides delivery of mailings 24/7, and this will allow customers to receive their parcels any time in convenient locations. This device allows automating the reception and sending of parcels. Using the device is quite simple. The client can choose to what machine the parcel should be delivered. The device is equipped with weights and a slot for receiving payments. An additional advantage of the machine is that the client can order a plastic Azerpoct card via this device. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 1 big thing: How clean energy changes geopolitics A new report says China is poised to gain global leverage with its dominance in clean-energy technologies, while poorer, fossil fuel-dependent nations like Libya will likely be on the losing end in the worlds shift to cleaner energy, Axios' Amy Harder reports. Why it matters: Fossil fuels, particularly oil, have been shaping history for the better part of the last century. Less well-known are the anticipated geopolitical impacts of the worlds slow, but clear shift to renewable energy sources, a transition set to play out unevenly around the world for decades to come. Driving the news: The report is coordinated by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) with input from experts and governments around the world. The United Arab Emirates, a major oil-exporting nation, has taken a leadership position on renewable energy by perhaps ironically hosting IRENA and the launch of this report. The big picture, per the report: The renewable energy transformation goes hand in hand with a dispersion of power. The modern nation state and the fossil fuel economy have evolved alongside one another. The decline of the fossil fuel era and the advent of decentralized power generation in an increasingly electrified world may have profound implications for the role of the nation state. Highlights: China is poised to benefit the most in the clean energy transition because of its leadership in renewable energy patents and its dependence on imports of fossil fuels, which would decline over time. All nations heavily dependent upon fossil fuels are on the losing end, but some more than others. Less stable nations like Libya and Iraq are particularly vulnerable given they are less able to handle the transition than their richer, more stable counterparts that are similarly dependent on fossil fuels, like Saudi Arabia and Norway. Renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, is inherently less vulnerable to geopolitical exploit given its not a tangible commodity like oil. Other concerns could arise, however, like clean tech dominance by countries like China. Security choke points for oil, such as the Strait of Hormuz, could become relatively less important. Meanwhile, electricity as a potential geopolitical weapon or target for cyberattacks grows. Go deeper: Read Amy's full story and stay tuned Monday for her Harder Line column, which will tackle a related topic. Last week, China became the first country to land a spacecraft on the far side of the Moon the clear sign of their scientific ambition, The Economist reports. Why it matters: Under President Xi Jinping's direction, China is surging ahead with the recruitment of top scientists to work on new frontiers, while the U.S., without a similarly coherent strategy, risks falling behind the nation that has emerged as its most consequential adversary for the next century. China has spent billions of dollars on dark matter detection equipment and scientific institutes, while producing 11% of the most influential scientific papers between 2014 and 2016. Be smart: "Authoritarian governments have a history of using science to oppress their own people. China already deploys [AI] techniques like facial recognition to monitor its population in real time," The Economist writes. The discovery of a plane wreck at the bottom of the English Channel will likely solve a 50-year-old mystery that some believe the RAF and USAF might rather remain below the surface if local lore is correct. Few details have ever been released about the crash of a USAF C-130 that was stolen by a homesick mechanic in 1969 but one theory is that it was shot down, ostensibly out of fear it would crash into a populated area. Sgt. Paul Meyer, a private pilot and a chief mechanic with the Air Force, got drunk on the night of May 23, 1969, and hatched a plan to fly the transport from RAF Mildenhall back home to Langley, Virginia. He posed as a captain, got the plane fueled and took off. The plane dropped off radar and military officials on both sides of the pond were tight-lipped about its fate at the time. Wreckage, including a life raft, washed up on the island of Alderney in the Channel Islands. As for Meyer, the authorities just said they presumed he had died even though a body in what looked like a flightsuit was spotted in the same area and apparently left to drift away. An organization called Deeper Dorset believes it has found the wreck of the Herc, and vows to get to the bottom of the mystery. Its urging the military to fess up if it has anything to hide. Having located the aircraft we can already dispel a lot of stupid rumors and conspiracy theories, which is certainly half the battle won, an unnamed spokesman told the Daily Mail. It is, though, fairly obvious that many facts regarding that day have been withheld and it would be a really good idea if someone got the file out and started talking to us before we start to tell the story our way. The spokesman said they have clear photos of the wreck that prove its the right airplane and theyre looking for a deal from a film company to finance the full investigation. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low around 70F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low around 70F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. ASEAN debut for all-new BMW 3 Series. Will the Philippines get it next? Kelvin Christian Go January 11, 2019 11:47 BMW isnt sitting idle when it comes to showing off their newest baby, the seventh-generation 3 Series. Just a few months after its global debut, the all-new compact executive sedan has made its way to the South East Asia region. Shown during the 2019 Singapore Motor Show, we got a close look at the car. The car shown in Singapore isnt the ASEAN-spec just yet. In fact, the car made its regional debut sporting left hand drive in a country that has their steering on the right. Nonetheless, the all-new 3 Series is here and here are some specs. On display was a 330i, meaning its powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged mill. Its good for 258 PS and 400 Nm of torque. The 330i then shifts via an eight-speed automatic transmission. If the all-new 3 Series arrives in the Philippines sometime this year, the diesel-fed 320d is a likelier bet and that makes 190 PS and, like the 330i, 400 Nm of torque. Packing the M Sport package, the show car featured a unique front bumper with a deeper front apron, larger air intakes and gloss black trimmings BMW calls Shadowline. It gets special side skirts too and a kit for the rear bumper, and its all capped off by a set of 19-inch M Sport alloys. Visually, the car is longer and wider than the soon to be outgoing model. As for the interior, its trimmed in what BMW calls Saddle Brown and, being an M Sport model, has aluminum accents on the dashboard and door cards. It also gets a thick-rimmed steering wheel courtesy of the M division. The car on display also packed adaptive suspension, the widest iDrive infotainment screen possible, Connected Drive concierge services, and a fully digital instrument cluster dubbed Live Cockpit. Were not expecting the Philippine-spec 3 Series to be as fully packed as the display model in Singapore. Nonetheless, it should be interesting how the local distributor will equip the car, which could make its Philippine debut sometime this year. In this context, its no wonder regular motorists get angry whenever gasoline thieves strike in the community, taking the gas canisters they probably spent hours waiting for. A group of vigilantes are taking matters into their own hands, branding all suspected thieves they catch.A video currently being spread on social media shows just how these vigilantes operate. Criterio Hidalgo says they go by the name Los Marca Bueyes (The Oxen Branders) and they make sure every thief they catch doesnt leave their sight without a painful memory of the encounter. Their name is self-explanatory as regards their choice of punishment for all gasoline thieves.In the video, a man is shown with his hands cuffed behind his back, head down and face covered. Another man is holding him down, while another uses a hot rod to brand him on his upper back. The brand reads por rata, which is Spanish for for being a rat.The dude whos using the hot iron can be heard urging the alleged thief to shut your mouth you get it for being a rat and Im not going to charge you for the tattoo. Criterio Hidalgo says the incident occurred in Ecatepec, which is just north of Mexico City.The automotive industry and other industries have already started showing the effects of the gasoline shortage, but President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador insists the situation is on the mend or, at the very least, somewhat improved.Since he sent the army to guard the Pemex installations last month, theft has gone down from over a thousand truckloads a day to just 27 truckloads. According to Japanese law, a person accused of breaking the law can be held without charge for ten days, with an equal amount of time acting as an extension. At the end of that period, formal charges must be made, or the accused released.To date, Ghosn was served with three arrest warrants on different charges, the last one on December 21. The third one expired on Friday.Ghosn is now indicted for aggravated breach of trust under Japans Companies Act, as well as understating his compensation, according to a Nissan statement. In essence, the company is accusing him of having transferred personal investment losses over to Nissan.Nissan filed the criminal complaint on the basis of Ghosns misuse of a significant amount of the companys funds. Nissan does not in any way tolerate such misconduct and calls for strict penalties, the company said in a statement.Nissan is continuing its own internal investigation into potential illegal expenditure of its funds.To date, Ghosn has been charged with more than one white-collar crimes. First, the prosecutors and Nissan accused him of having understated his financial compensation up to the year 2015 to avoid paying taxes.A second charge was made on Friday and refers to the same crime, but this time for another three years of Ghosns career.The most serious of the charges remains that of breach of trust. It was made based on findings that the executive allegedly paid $14.7 million to Saudi businessman Khaled al-Juffali using the companys money.In exchange for that, al-Juffali was to help secure a loan that would cut some of Ghosn investment loses during the 2008 financial crisis.According to BBC , if Ghosn is found guilty of financial misconduct, he could face up to ten years in prison. By Suwin/Shutterstock.com By Suwin/Shutterstock.com A new Global Talent initiative is being introduced in Australia from the beginning of 2019 aimed at attracting the very best talent from around the world.The Australian Government is investing $12.9 million in the initiative which it says will strengthen Australia's ability to compete for the best and brightest skilled migrants from across the globe.Internationally, there is intense competition for global talent and Immigration Minister David Coleman said that Australia needs to be at the forefront in attracting the best and the brightest to help grow a stronger economy and a more prosperous nation.Through the Global Talent Initiative, the Department of Home Affairs will be tasked with identifying and recruiting the brightest minds from around the world through active targeting and promotion in Australia and overseas.'Thanks to Australia's safety, economic stability and wealth of opportunity we already have a strong reputation for attracting high calibre migrants. The Global Talent Initiative will allow us to continue to proactively attract the top talent we need,' Coleman explained.Some 5,000 places will be set aside each year under the Global Talent Initiative, available for truly exceptional people and their families to move to Australia. 'Only the best will be invited to apply, but they must also embrace our values as an open and tolerant country. We're looking for people who can drive innovation, local job creation and uphold Australia's values,' Coleman added.The Government will work in partnership with business and industry sectors, State and Territory Governments and a range of Commonwealth agencies to identify top talent and promote Australia to skilled individuals in key overseas locations.Business are already signing up for the Global Talent Scheme pilot, including Cochlear, SFDC Australia, Rio Tinto and SafetyCulture with the aim of having access to top global talent.'This will help Australian businesses attract individuals with specific skills for roles that are not currently able to be filled by Australians. The Government is committed to promoting growth in the technology sector, which is a huge driver of the Australian economy, and this scheme will boost business growth and skills sharing locally,' said Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews.'Global talent is in demand, and we're ensuring Australia can attract individuals with the science, technology, engineering, and maths skills needed for areas like robotics and biotechnology, which will help these sectors thrive and flow on to benefit all Australians,' she added.Cochlear chief executive officer, Dig Howitt, described the scheme as an important step forward in supporting the future pipeline of international talent for Australian companies. 'Australian companies, like Cochlear can only succeed on the world stage if we have access to global talent,' he pointed out.'Under our Global Talent Scheme agreement we will be able to hire regulatory specialists from Europe, the US and elsewhere who have the skills and experience that are very difficult to find in Australia but are absolutely critical to our business and ongoing international success. As Cochlear's technology is sold in over 100 countries, we need people who can navigate a complex global regulatory environment,' he added.Under the scheme, businesses sponsoring workers will need to demonstrate they are unable to source suitable individuals in Australia. Workers sponsored under the scheme will have access to a four year Temporary Skill Shortage visa and the option of seeking permanent residence after three years. The joint head of the global mining practice of a top Canadian firm has returned to the firms Sydney office. Quentin Markin began operating out of the Stikeman Elliott office at Three International Towers in Barangaroo on 1 January. The senior lawyer moved to continue to service and grow the firms international initiatives in Australasia, the firm said. Stikeman is the only Canadian law firm with an Australian office, which it said is the hub of the firms Asia-Pacific practice and services for the firms clients in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. A large tract of land near The Plains is being promoted on the internet as the potential site of a mixed-use residential and retail development. The land, recently clear-cut of trees, was purchased last spring from the Cottingham Real Estate Trust by a company called NML Gallia LLC, which is affiliated with Athens businessman Harold Laughlin. The site is across Route 33 from Athens High School and borders River Road. The Messenger could not reach Laughlin on Thursday for comment. A website, https://route33athens.com, in general terms describes a "298 Acre Athens Route 33 Development Project" and lists the telephone number of Laughlin Music & Vending in Athens. Laughlin and Doug Brooks of Laughlin Vending attended a recent meeting where they mentioned the website and the mixed use development, according to two people at the meeting. Although The Messenger was able to reach Brooks on Thursday, he referred all questions to Laughlin. The website touts the potential for 250-500 new jobs, and lists "major anchors" for the development as senior housing, assisted living and "retail and new housing development." The senior house and assisted living are listed as "pending" and the retail/housing development as "in process." It appears that nearest source of water and sewer service for the site would be Athens County Water and Sewer District, which serves The Plains. District Supt. Rich Kasler said he has not been contacted by anyone regarding the district potentially serving the property. It's unclear from the website whether a housing subdivision is being proposed. The site is within three miles of Athens, and the city has subdivision planning jurisdiction within the three mile area. Athens Code Director have subdivision planning jurisdiction within the three mile area adjacent to their respective corporation lines. Though Polunin has long had a reputation for behaving inappropriately, in the last month his posts have been somewhat unhinged. A troubling tirade about gender and sexuality remains on his feed, though its hard to discern his point through his manic language. In reaction, some Paris Opera Ballet dancers are objecting to his upcoming guest appearance in the companys Swan Lake. Dance Magazine The Dutch conductor, who is currently music director of the New Zealand Symphony and has held the same post with the symphony orchestras of Antwerp, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and Netherlands Radio, will conduct three to four weekly programs each season, beginning in 2019-2020. Times of San Diego Jeez, talk about artwashing. A string of PR disasters, including demonstrations against Britains National Gallery of Art for accepting sponsorships, led the Italian defense company Finmeccanica to rename itself after the Renaissance genius (who did, after all, design weapons and war machines). But the tactic hasnt entirely worked: just last summer, the Design Museum in London came under fire (ahem) for hosting a reception for the company, despite the new name. Artnet Traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Tel Aviv via Rome, Myrna Herzog was told that there was no room in the cabin for her 17th-century instrument and shed have to gate-check it. (The airline says Herzog declined the chance to purchase a seat for the gamba; she denies this.) She went public with photos of the damage, and the story has hit major newspapers in Europe as well as The Daily Mail and Fox News. Online Access for Print Subscribers. Do you have a print subscription with the Argus-Press? If yes, then click here to enjoy complimentary access to our Online Content! Dassault Aviation has released figures for its total deliveries in 2018. Order intake in units 42 Falcon were ordered in 2018, this number includes the last Falcon 5X cancellations. In 2017, 38 Falcon were ordered. 12 Rafale were ordered in 2018 following the entry into force of the option exercised by Qatar as the first down-payment was paid in first half 2018. Deliveries in units 41 new Falcon were delivered in 2018, consistent with our deliveries forecast. 49 Falcon were delivered in 2017. 12 Rafale (9 Export and 3 France) were delivered in 2018, as per our forecast, compared to 9 Rafale (8 Export and 1 France) in 2017. Furthermore, 2 Navy Rafale retrofitted to the F3 standard were delivered to France in 2018. Backlog in units As of December 31st, 2018, the backlog includes 101 Rafale (73 Export and 28 France) and 53 Falcon (without any Falcon 5X), compared to 101 Rafale (70 Export and 31 France) and 52 Falcon (including some Falcon 5X) as of December 31st, 2017. BLACK REPUBLICAN BLOG - The Republican Party is the party of civil rights and the four Fs: faith, family, freedom and fairness. The Democratic Party is the party of the four Ss: slavery, secession, segregation and socialism (Quote By Author Michael Scheuer). Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM For a limited time, for NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* Posted on: January 11, 2019 6:23 PM The Bishop of Albany, William Love, has had a partial restriction placed on his ministry over his refusal to permit same sex marriages in his diocese. The US-based Episcopal Churchs General Convention voted last year to approve a motion requiring all bishops to permit their clergy to conduct same-sex marriages in dioceses where they were legal under civil law. In November, Bishop William sent an eight-page letter to the Churches in his diocese, in the north of the US State of New York, saying that the resolution was in direct conflict and contradiction to Gods intent for the sacrament of marriage as revealed through Holy Scripture. Today, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, announced that had placed a partial restriction on Bishop Williams ministry pending a preliminary investigation. The decision was taken, he said, after broad consultation with leadership in The Episcopal Church and continued discussions with both the Rt Revd William Love of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany and the Episcopal Diocese of Albany Standing Committee. In a statement, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said that While I am persuaded of the sincerity and good will of Bishop Love in these difficult circumstances, I am convinced that Resolution B012 was intended by the Convention to be mandatory and binding upon all our dioceses, particularly in the light of its provision that a diocesan bishop hold[ing] a theological position that does not embrace marriage for [such] couples and confronted with a same-sex couple wishing to marry in that bishops diocese, shall invite, as necessary, another bishop of this Church to provide pastoral support to the couple, the Member of the Clergy involved and the congregation or worshipping community in order to fulfil the intention of this resolution that all couples have convenient and reasonable local congregational access to these rites. I am therefore persuaded that as Presiding Bishop I am called upon to take steps to ensure that same-sex marriage in The Episcopal Church is available to all persons to the same extent and under the same conditions in all Dioceses of the Church where same-sex marriage is civilly legal. He said that Bishop Williams conduct may constitute a canonical offence in not abiding by the promises and vows made when ordained; and in conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy. Bishop Todd Ousley, responsibility for receiving complaints about bishops in The Episcopal Church, has been asked to carry out a preliminary assessment to determine whether a disciplinary process should be invoked. While that takes place, Bishop Michael Curry has placed two restrictions on Bishop Williams ministry: he is forbidden from participating in any manner in the Churchs disciplinary process in the Diocese of Albany in any matter regarding any member of the clergy that involves the issue of same-sex marriage and he cannot participate in any other matter that has or may have the effect of penalising in any way any member of the clergy or laity or worshipping congregation of his Diocese for their participation in the arrangements for or participation in a same-sex marriage in his Diocese or elsewhere. At the time of going to press, Bishop William has not responded to the restriction. Under the Canons of The Episcopal Church, he has the right to raise objections to the restriction. Posted on: January 1, 2019 1:05 PM The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, delivered a New Year Message in a special television broadcast on BBC One television. This is the text of his message. Living together is never easy. Families have all sorts of arguments. At this time of year especially, we get together, enjoy company, but sometimes get on each others nerves. Here at Lambeth Palace, where Archbishops have lived and worked for centuries, weve been trying an experiment. Since 2015 weve been bringing together young Christians from around the world to live as a community for 10 months. They have an extraordinary range of backgrounds, cultures and opinions. They live together, cook together, volunteer with charities together, pray together, and because theyre human they clash together. That can be over something as small as the washing up, or as big as their politics. They are united by one thing: their faith in Jesus Christ. But their own faith is not what holds them together. In Johns Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples: I have called you friends . . . I chose you. He didnt always get on with them in fact, sometimes they drove him up the wall. But they were united by something greater than their differences, his friendship. In this community, I find it so powerful that these remarkably different people decide to choose each other. Theres a parallel with our country today. Were wonderfully much more diverse than we used to be. Yet we disagree on many things. And we are struggling with how to disagree well. Turn on the television, read the news, and you see a lot that could tempt you to despair. Hope lies in our capacity to approach this new year in a spirit of openness towards each other. Committed to discovering more of what it means to be citizens together, even amid great challenges and changes. That will involve choosing to see ourselves as neighbours, as fellow citizens, as communities each with something to contribute. It will mean gathering around our common values, a common vision, and a commitment to one another. With the struggles and divisions of recent years, that will not be easy. But that difficult work is part of the joy and blessing of being a community. Whether its the 20 people here or millions of us. So: will we choose each other again? Because in that choosing lies our hope. I wish all of us a happy and more importantly hope-filled New Year. Posted on: January 11, 2019 7:25 PM The former Worldwide President of the Mothers Union, Lynne Tembey, is to be awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE). The award is part of Britains system of honours and is presented by the Queen or a senior member of the royal family acting in her place. The announcement of the award was one of a number made as part of the annual New Years Honours list published by the UK government. Last year, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, honoured Lynne Tembey with the Cross of St Augustine, ahead of her retirement at the end of 2018. The award of the OBE has been made in recognition of her services to Mothers Union, women and families, the official awards list said. When I learned that I was to be awarded with the OBE, I was filled with amazement, Lynne Tembey said. I feel truly privileged. I have greatly loved my time as Worldwide President. Our members are incredible in all they strive to achieve, changing hearts, minds and lives in wonderful ways. To receive the OBE from Her Majesty and the Cross of St Augustine from the Archbishop of Canterbury is so humbling. I accept these awards through Gods grace and in recognition of the worldwide members it has been an honour and joy to serve. Lynne Tembey has been involved with Mothers Union for almost 40 years. She has served in leadership roles locally as branch leader and deanery leader and regionally as Vice President of the Diocese of Carlisle and Provincial President of York. For the past six years she has served as Worldwide President. She will receive the award at an investiture ceremony later this year. She has been succeeded as Worldwide President by Mrs Sheran Harper, from Guyana the first Worldwide President from outside the British Isles. Next month, Mrs Harper will be commissioned in her new role by the Archbishop of Canterbury during a special service in Southwark Cathedral, London. Founded 142 years ago, the Mothers Union is a dynamic Anglican Mission agency with four million members in 84 countries. Posted on: January 11, 2019 5:46 PM The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has spoken out against an increase in personal attacks and threats in the midst of the UKs debate about its withdrawal from the European Union (EU). On 23 June 2016, voters in the UK and the island of Gibraltar voted in a referendum to leave the EU. Members of Parliament are in the middle of a heated debate over UK-EU exit deal. The deal has split political opinion in the country and if Parliament rejects it when they vote next week, there is little time for a new deal to be negotiated before the UK is due to leave the EU at midnight CET (11pm GMT) on Friday 29 March 2019. Speaking in the House of Lords the upper house of the UK Parliament this week, Archbishop Justin said that the most serious and visible aspect is the personalised nature of the threats outside the House against Members of the [House of Commons] especially, whether personally, online or by other means. These threats have rightly united all sides in stating that this is an attack on democracy itself. Our Christian heritage and the heritage of other faiths and non-faith traditions call for us to treat others as we would wish to be treated the golden rule. Christ himself went on to call for love for enemies. That does not mean the absence of passionate difference but calls for respect for human dignity. That requires active leadership politically and in security against such threats and it must require now, not after 29 March, examples of reconciliation by public figures who have differed most profoundly during this painful process over the past two or three years. That is leadership. He said that the decisions made over the coming days will not be finalised for all eternity but are a foundation for further discussion and negotiation down the line. There has to be an agreement in which all accept the need to deliver the will of the people that was expressed in the referendum, while also recognising that when it was expressed in such a close result, there is a duty to build in compromise an inevitability, albeit unwelcome to some. If not, there will be by default a no-deal Brexit. That outcome would be not only a political and practical failure but a moral one equally as serious as ignoring the result of the referendum entirely. He added: A second referendum is not my preference but if Parliament fails in the task entrusted to it, then regrettably it may be required. This is about more than Brexit, and Parliament must not show itself unfit for the job. Parliamentarians must be able to look back at this time and say honestly to the people of this country that we put them, their choices, their welfare and their communities above the politics and ideology that can seem so all-consuming here in Westminster. As we embrace the challenge, which is hope-filled and exciting, of reimagining our country and its structures over the next few years and months, I hope politicians will take it upon themselves to make these crucial decisions, not only with the grand vision but with the small picture the effect on local people, communities and businesses in mind. He urged politicians to consider the needs of the most vulnerable members of the society when considering whether or not to support the deal. The decision is rightly with Parliament and specifically with the [House of Commons], but with parliamentary sovereignty comes responsibility for the welfare of those represented and legislated for. We face not just practical choices but moral decisions alongside our highest responsibility to protect our poorest and most vulnerable. The burden, therefore, must be on those who believe that no deal is a reasonable option to prove that it would not have a significant negative impact on people such as those in the diocese that I serve who already face hardship. Archbishop Justin spoke again about the political mood in the UK when he met with the President and Vice President of the British Methodist Conference, Michaela Youngson and Bala Gnanapragasam, at Lambeth Palace. During the meeting, the three Church leaders discussed cooperation of the two churches in mission and evangelism and particularly their partnership in the Thy Kingdom Come global prayer initiative. After the meeting, in a joint statement, the three said that: Jesus calls us to love one another, and even to love our enemies. In this time of political turmoil we have been shocked at the anger and vitriol that has surrounded so much public discourse, personally, online and via social media. Our Christian heritage, along with other global faith and non-faith traditions, calls for us to treat others as we would wish to be treated. This does not mean the absence of passionate difference, but it does call for respect for human dignity. Posted on: January 10, 2019 2:51 PM The Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS) has seen a 15 per cent increase in page views on its anglicannews.org website over the past 12 months. Just under half-a-million users visited the ACNS website in 2018. The most popular item one that crashed the website on the day it was published reported that Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of the US-based Episcopal Church had been asked to preach at the first of two royal weddings for Britains royal family during the year between the US actress Meghan Markle and the Queens grandson, Prince Harry. During 2018, ACNS launched weekly digests in French and Spanish. This service will be extended in January 2019 with the launch of a new Portuguese digest. Other improvements saw cosmetic changes to the website to allow for larger crisper photos and more control over the options on the front page. There has also been an increase in the use of videos and the introduction of video news reports. ACNS has continued to benefit from its relationship with international partners, including the US-based Episcopal News Service; the Anglican Journal from the Anglican Church of Canada; and Anglican Taonga, from the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. News tips and information were supplied by provincial communications staff around the Communion. Most material is produced in-house at the Anglican Communion Office in London, England, with the support of a small team of stringers and freelancers. Over the course of 2018, ACNS published on-the-ground reports filed by staff and stringers in Canada, Chile, England, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, Kenya, Panama, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, and Malaysia. The Anglican Communion News Service is a powerful tool to help members of the Anglican Communion hear about their brothers and sisters elsewhere in the Communion, ACNS Editor Gavin Drake said. The growth in 2018 is encouraging and we will continue to innovate in 2019 as we work to shine a light on the Anglican part of Gods Kingdom. At the end of 2018, the last printed edition of Anglican World magazine as a subscription magazine rolled off the presses for distribution to what Gavin Drake desscribed as its small but loyal band of readers. It will be re-launched later this year as a free-to-download online annual report. The top three stories published in 2018 are: 1 12 May 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ask Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to preach at wedding The Presiding Bishop of the US-based Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, will preach at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 2 11 May 2018: President Trumps America first policy is a theological heresy for followers of Christ Christian leaders including Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of the US-based Episcopal Church plan a march and vigil at the White House. 3 8 October 2018: South American woman makes history as the MUs first non-British Worldwide President Sheran Harper from Guyana, Anglican Church in the Province of the West Indies, has been elected Mothers Union Worldwide President. Industry insiders now indicate that Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi will begin pursuing participation and partnerships much more aggressively in 2019 with a new business unit providing oversight for a huge range of products, according to local media company DIGITIMES. Offerings from new unit will predominantly fall into the wider household appliance consumer market category with offerings expected to include smart AC units and washing machines among other common home electronics. The move was reportedly proceeded and hinted at via statements made on the Chinese social network Weibo by CEO Lei Jun, regarding a tie-up between Xiaomi and TCL. The phone manufacturer previously bought out 65.168 million shares of TCL, amounting to just short of one half of a percent of the latter company. TCL is expected to play a key role in the development and manufacturing of Xiaomi smart home products as well as a deal between the companies to expand and strengthen either OEMs supply chain. Growing beyond Android globally Xiaomi has dabbled in smart home electronics in the past as well as releasing several more prominent products such as its Android-based TV boxes. In fact, most of its efforts in the space have either been directly related to Android phones in one form or another, linking directly back to its work in the smartphone market. Since Xiaomi is among the worlds top global smartphone brands, with plenty of handsets that offer solid competition to the likes of Samsung and Huawei, hasnt been low-level or small-scale participation either. But its focus has shifted over the past several months to include a more direct approach to the IoT and smart home markets. As recently as November, the company revealed that it had partnered with Netherlands-based IKEA specifically for IoT. That deal saw the development of approximately $14 million in developer funds for independent and established companies for generating IoT devices and software compatible with AIoT. Advertisement The partnership also ensured that all of IKEAs smart lighting products would be compatible with that combination between AI and the Internet of Things, bringing cross-platform compatibility for Xiaomi and IKEA for a smart home environment. At the time, IKEA China CEO and president Anna Pawlak-Kuliga revealed that the deal would expand both IKEA and Xiaomis products to serve customers worldwide, hinting at the companies ambitions. Coupled with the most recent reports and other partnerships, the implication is that Xiaomi plans to be a major player in the IoT and AI home automation industries. Openness for a better IoT user experience Xiaomis continued partnerships with other companies reinforce, another arguably more important, aspect of its approach to the technology that was also indicated in its funding program for developers with IKEA. Like many companies taking part in the AI and IoT markets, Xiaomis approach appears to be built to some degree on maintaining openness in pursuit of a better overall experience for end users. Samsung and LG have notably worked to ensure that their own ecosystems are completely open to other companies and developers over the past several months for precisely that purpose. Xiaomis decision to apparently emulate that should serve the company well moving forward since it could feasibly result in products that help the user create a complete smart home ecosystem without needing to worry so much about compatibility. The rollout of next-generation data services took another step forward today with the worlds first-ever call transmitted over a live commercial network using 2.5GHz spectrum and Massive MIMO technologies completed by US carrier Sprint. The company announced the accomplishment this week alongside several images memorializing the trial. For equipment, that was completed using Nokias dual-mode AirScale Massive MIMO radio and smartphone-based test device featuring commercially-available components such as Qualcomms Snapdragon X50 5G modem and antenna modules. The data call test was accompanied by several other tests as well, including streaming video via YouTube and using Skype to send and receive audio and video calls, in addition to testing messaging capabilities. Throughout each, Sprint says that it was able to seamlessly switch back and forth between its own 4G LTE Advanced network and 5G, both built on its 2.5GHz spectrum. Unsurprising but not in a bad way Sprint has always held a distinct advantage in the 5G arena thanks to its massive holdings in the 2.5GHz spectrum thats been noted by experts as a vital part of the incoming network technology. So it isnt at all shocking that the company would be the first carrier to complete a call using that spectrum. Massive MIMO have similarly undergone publicly revealed testing since at least 2017, with Spring leaning on the technology as a key part of its 5G strategy. In fact, it has been a substantial part of Sprints 5G buildout in the real-world too and the company says it deployed hundreds of its 64T64R Massive MIMO radios with support for split-mode last year. The technology allows more bandwidth for devices on both uploads and downloads with Sprints 2.5GHz 4G LTE Advanced networks and ensures that a simple software update to the radio will turn on simultaneous 5G compatibility. Advertisement With the completion of its latest test, Sprint says that it will be able to begin rolling out 5G in the first half of this year. That will start with Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, and Washington D.C. Initially, the networks will center around downtown metros with plans to offer uninterrupted coverage throughout. The technologies being deployed have already increased capacity by four times over standard equipment but the company also says its peak speeds have increased by up to ten times typical LTE rollouts. Although that doesnt say much about how fast it expects its initial 5G network to be, the figures it has provided are promising. The company has recently been awarded a deal to build out its 5G network for use with city IoT infrastructure in Greenville, South Carolina too. 5G race heats up Sprints 5G efforts moving into 2019 appear to place it on track to catch up to those of its competitors and its use of 2.5GHz spectrum in the past could help put it ahead at least in terms of next-gen networks. It isnt likely that the operator will jump into first place in the nation due to its shaky history from the perspective of consumers. Sprint also lags well behind others in terms of its number of subscribers but that doesnt mean it couldnt easily become the one that motivates other carriers to step up their own efforts. Sony Mobiles Vice President of Marketing, Don Mesa, just got interviewed by Digital Trends, and he shared some insight as to what Sonys plans are moving forward. The company hasnt really been doing great in terms of smartphone sales, that has been the case for quite some time now, despite the quality of its products, but it seems like Sony is looking to change that moving forward. This interview took place at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2019 in Las Vegas, and it seems like Sony is gearing up for MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona for next month. In any case, lets see what Don Mesa had to say. Don Mesa said that the company has been undergoing a lot of change, so it seems like Sony is reshuffling things. Sony Mobile actually got a new head of development, Shigeki Ishizuka, who came from the companys camera division, a really successful part of the company. The company is hoping that he can help Sony Mobile move up the ladder, and captivate users with its product, and thus increase sales of its smartphones. Mr. Mesa flat out confirmed that Sony Mobile plans to announce products at the Mobile World Congress, he said that the company will present a product which will mark the very first step in Sony Mobiles new direction. That being said, Sony will almost certainly announce the Xperia XZ4 at MWC, at least if the company is planning to stick with its usual release cycle. The Xperia XZ4 leaked a number of times thus far, and judging by those leaks, its bezels will be thinner than the ones on the Xperia XZ3, while the phone will be made out of metal, and sport a tall 21:9 display aspect ratio. The phone will pack in a huge display, a 6.5-inch display is rumored, while the Snapdragon 855 will also be a part of the package, along with other specs. Android 9 Pie will come pre-installed, the phone will include at least 6GB of RAM, while a side-facing fingerprint scanner is also expected. Much more info is rumored, but well see how many of those rumors will end up being true. Mr. Mesa also touched on 5G, he said that 5G is a challenge, and that the company does not want to rush things, as it wants the experience to be spot on before it releases a 5G-enabled handset. Mr. Mesa said that the company is planning to offer a much better camera experience with its upcoming flagship, presumably the Xperia XZ4. The Xperia XZ3s camera is not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but a company like Sony can do much better than that, and Mr. Mesa is fully aware of that. Were talking about a company that makes mobile camera sensors for the vast majority of well-known smartphone OEMs, so yeah, it can do better. On top of everything. Mr. Mesa also hinted that the Xperia XZ4 Compact may not launch at all. He said that the company stuck with the Compact line for a long time because of the ease of use, but that people want a lot more surface area for their content now, which leads us to believe that the Xperia XZ4 Compact will not launch at all, unfortunately, as having options is great, and not everyone likes huge phones. A the end of his interview, Mr. Mesa said that changes are coming, but that we should not expect drastic changes, or anything of the sort. HMD Global, the manufacturer of Nokia-branded smartphones, released an infographic that details the development process of operating system updates for its devices. While most of its handsets are part of the Android One program, HMD Global still performs its own testing and development to ensure that the software works properly with its products before releasing the software to the public. The first step in the development of the operating system updates starts from Google, which supplies the software code to chipset makers like MediaTek and Qualcomm. The semiconductor companies then develop an updated version of the hardware abstraction layer (HAL), a software that allows the Android operating system to communicate with the hardware of the handset. Interestingly, Project Treble, a feature introduced with Android 8.0 Oreo, allowed device makers to release updates without having to wait for chipset producers to update their firmware. However, since some of HMD Globals earlier handsets launched with Android Nougat, the device maker will have to delay releasing updates for some of its products until semiconductor companies release the latest firmware. The company further said that one of the reasons why some handsets get updates first is because chipset makers prioritize specific processors in the development of firmware updates. After the chipset makers release updated firmware, HMD Global will now start its work on the operating system upgrade. The company will begin by incorporating proprietary features into the Android OS, which may include functionalities that improve the usability of its cameras. However, since the company uses a near-stock implementation of the operating system, the device maker does not spend much time at this part of the process. The software then undergoes testing by the developers in its laboratories and 120,000 volunteers that take part in its beta program. HMD Globals staff also test the performance of the smartphones in the field, with the company testing the impact of the operating system upgrade on the handsets data and voice connectivity. After HMD Global finishes its testing of the operating system upgrade, the company will then forward the software to certifying agencies like the Wi-Fi Alliance and the Bluetooth SIG to ensure that the update conforms with the wireless standards. Furthermore, carriers will also test the software upgrade to ensure that the device will still connect with the service providers networks after updating to the latest OS version. However, this step is omitted in non-operator markets, which means that these regions receive the software package sooner. After the certifying agencies and carriers approve the software package, HMD Global may now start distributing the update to eligible smartphones. Advertisement Background: The amount of work needed in developing and testing operating system upgrades could explain the delay in the distribution of the latest OS versions to supported devices. Furthermore, handset makers often must deal with factors that are out of their control, which include the chipset manufacturers prioritization of its processors and the testing schedule of the carriers and regulatory bodies. Nonetheless, there are efforts to improve the current state of Android updates. Googles Project Treble aims to reduce the dependence of the device makers on chipset manufacturers, while the Android One program allows companies to incorporate the near-stock Android experience into their smartphones. Google also partnered with semiconductor firms to ensure that drivers of the chipsets, known as the Board Support Packages, will support future implementations of the Android Open Source Project. Impact: The infographic highlights the factors that affect the development of operating systems upgrades, although it also shows the steps that stakeholders may modify to reduce delay in the distribution of OS updates. Consumers may expect that more features aimed at decreasing the development time of software upgrades will be introduced in future versions of the Android operating system, which results in improved usability and the security of the smartphones. Xiaomis MIUI 10 Android overlay was well received, and it seems like the company has started developing the next version of its Android skin, MIUI 11. The company actually held a meeting, the Xiaomi MIUI Core Experience Annual Meeting, in China, where the companys Head of Product planning department, Liu Ming, gave a speech regarding MIUI 11, and thus officially kicked off the development of the new version of Xiaomis Android skin. During this meeting, Mr. Ming said that MIUI 11 will be a new and unique OS, which sound like Xiaomi will make some major changes compared to MIUI 10, but thats probably not true. MIUI 10 was a major change in terms of the design compared to MIUI 9, so chances are that most of the changes in MIUI 11 will be in the backend, while were probably going to see some new features as well, but the design probably wont change all that much. Now, some photos from the presentation were available, but not many of them, and quite frankly, we did not get much info out of that. According to what we do know, is that MIUI 11 will be even faster than its predecessor, as expected, and it will offer an even smarter interface than MIUI 10. On top of that, more features will be included that stimulate human interaction, and those features will enable easier use of the device, which essentially means that MIUI 11 should be even more intuitive and easier to use in general. Detailed information was not discussed during the meeting at all, as it seems like Xiaomi either doesnt have all the info just yet, or did not want to go into detail with its employees just yet, as is usually the case. Xiaomi did share some interesting stats during the meeting, though, it said that MIUI is being used by over 300 million users across over 40 different devices. MIUI 10 Advertisement MIUI 10 brought a lot of changes to the platform, it brought quite a few changes under the surface, but the most notable changes came in form of the design. MIUI 10 completely revamped the notification shade, quick toggles, various menus it brought new navigation gestures, battery improvements, and lots more. The lockscreen and the homescreen remained quite similar to the ones in MIUI 9, though. The overview menu aka recent apps tray got revamped as well. In MIUI 9, the overview menu resembled the current one in Android 9 Pie, a horizontal list of apps, which was not very productive. Well, in MIUI 10, youre getting a vertically light of apps in two columns, so app switching is much faster, and youre getting to look at four cards at the same time, compared to one and two halves in MIUI 9. Smartphone screens are getting taller and taller, we really do not need horizontal anything, we need vertical solutions that will take advantage of that screen space. MIUI 10 also brought different brightness and volume bar adjustments, new weather and clock apps, and so on. All in all, it was a considerable change compared to MIUI 9, and even MIUI 7 and 8, which were quite similar to MIUI 9 in many ways, which is yet another reason we think the MIUI 11 will not be so different in terms of the design compared to MIUI 10. Huaweis issues with the US government have been detailed quite a bit over the last few weeks, with the arrest of its CFO and a couple of executives in Poland this week. Now, Huawei is facing a new problem: the US is blocking exports of some of its products. The company is unable to export some of the tech that it developed in the US, back to its homeland of China. The companys research and development unit, Futurewei Technologies Inc., has had its export license lapse. This is not because of the government shutdown that is currently ongoing, but because the Commerce Department decided that it would not renew its license. Making it so that its nearly impossible to export that tech back to its homeland, and where its headquarters is, in Shenzhen, China. The Commerce Department stated in a letter back in June, that it planned to deny the companys application to renew the export license, stating that it was a matter of national security. Futurewei has been looking to contest the decision, but in the meantime, exporting its technologies has been prohibited. Advertisement Futureweis export license covered telecommunications technology and software, and that includes high-speed data-transfer technology. This also had an operating budget of more than $16 million, which also employed around 40 employees, full-time. This isnt a big blow to Futurewei, according to people familiar with the matter, because the majority of technologies that it exports from the US dont require this export license. The company will also continue to operate in the US, for the time being. Yet another setback for Chinas largest smartphone maker Huaweis obstacles in the US are continuing to mount. Recently, the company has had trouble in other countries outside of the US. The companys CFO was recently arrested in Vancouver, though not for spying like the recent arrests in Poland. The CFO was arrested for her role in helping the company sell products to Iran and North Korea, even though there are sanctions in place for both countries. Violating sanctions is a big no-no for the US government, especially since the products that were sold to those countries included US technology. This is what brought down ZTE in the US, and essentially killed the company, before it broke a deal to get back in business. Though its reputation was already killed before it got back in business, and its now paying the price. Advertisement Despite not selling many products in the US, Huawei has a few offices scattered across the country Huawei has partners here in the US, including Google and Microsoft. So as any company that is making devices with those two tech giants, Huawei has offices here in the US. In fact, there is one in Mountain View, which is nearby Googles office, allowing the company to work closely with Google. This is important since Huawei does sell Android smartphones in fact it shipped over 200 million of them in 2018. Huawei works with Microsoft, since it does sell Windows-powered laptops now too. It also has offices in Texas and elsewhere in the US. Huawei currently employs around 1,500 people in the United States. Though with the way things are going in the US, that number may dwindle pretty soon. Despite having offices in the US still, it has cut its public outreach from a pretty large group of employees to almost no one. This makes sense though for Huawei, seeing as the US are essentially keeping them from selling products in the US only thing they can really sell are laptops, and given the tarnished name it has now, that is even a stretch. So why bother paying to market these products in the US, if they cant be bought in the US. Shortly after its deals with AT&T and Verizon were scraped at CES last year, Huawei turned to Europe for expansion and basically left the US in the dust. Advertisement Inside the contiguous US isnt the companys only issue at this point. As the US has been pushing its allies to stop using Huaweis products and technologies as well. This has led to Australia banning Huawei equipment on its 5G networks, Norway is thinking of doing the same though it hasnt decided one way or the other yet. The US is also pushing parent companies of Sprint and T-Mobile to stop using Huawei gear in their countries of Japan and Germany, respectively, and using that as a pawn to approve the merger between Sprint and T-Mobile here in the US. So Huawei is in for a big fight, especially if it does want to continue in the US, and possibly in Europe. News coming out of Warsaw, Poland on Friday about another one of Huaweis executives being arrested. There were actually two arrests made in Poland, one was a Chinese citizen who was a former envoy in Poland, before joining Huawei as a senior executive. The second is a Polish citizen, who has held many top government cybersecurity positions. This is all according to the countrys Internal Security Agency. The two were charged with spying for China. The offices of Huawei and Orange one of the larger wireless carriers in the country, that Huawei is working closely with were searched, in addition to the homes of both men. Theres no word on what was found in those searches, but they did seize documents and electronic data. This is a pretty big deal for Huawei. After having its CFO arrested in Canada last month, it now has another top executive though Polish authorities have not yet released his name arrested is a huge blow to the company. Not only that, but the exec was working with a former cybersecurity expert that worked for the Polish government. That is not a good look at all for a Chinese company who is fighting the image of spying on its customers for the Chinese government. Advertisement Huaweis dispute with the US is now spilling over to Europe and around the world The US has been working to push Huawei out of the country for quite some time now, for a number of reasons. Though the main one is the fear that the Chinese government is using Huawei to spy on people outside of its country. According to some sources that the AP has, US officials have been working with governments across Europe to make their case for why Huawei should be blocked from operating in the country. Huawei was working with Orange on deploying its 5G technology in the country. But now it looks like that deal might be at stake. Increasingly, governments have been siding with the US and blocking Huawei from operating in the country. Recently, Australia banned carriers from using Huawei equipment on its network. Norway is contemplating doing the same. The director of the Global Public Policy Institute, Thorsten Benner stated that this is another nail in the coffin of Huaweis European ambitions. After Huawei was all-but pushed out of the US last year, the company shifted its focus to Europe, launching a number of phones in the region, including the P20 and Mate 20 launches happening on that continent. Now that the Europeans are beginning to side with the US, it looks like Huaweis European business might be finished. And this couldnt come at a worse time for Huawei. Advertisement Huawei is all-but finished There have been many accusations that Huawei has been used by the Chinese government to spy on its customers, but after many investigations, nothing has come come up to prove that to be true. Now with this arrest of a Polish security expert, and a senior-level executive, for espionage, it shows that there is some truth to those accusations. Though we will need to wait a bit longer to find out more information about this, and see if there is actually proof. It would be hard to believe that Polish authorities would arrest a couple of Huawei employees on espionage if it did not have concrete proof of it being true though. In the past couple of years, Huawei has had plenty of trouble getting into new markets and truly expanding. The issues really started in the US last year, when it was set to announce that its current flagship, the Mate 10, was going to be launching on two of the largest carriers in the country AT&T and Verizon. Only for that to get axed the day before the announcement. This was a big blow to Huawei, and it only got worse as retailers that had been selling its products for years like Best Buy announced that it would stop selling Huawei-branded products. It only snowballed from there, throughout 2018. New smartphones from both Huawei and its e-commerce brand, HONOR, have not been available in the US, including the HONOR 8X, which was the successor to the 7X, which was a huge success in the US due to its price. Huawei announced a few weeks ago that it had succeeded in hitting its 200 million goal for 2018, in terms of smartphone shipments. Becoming the second largest smartphone maker in the world. However, these arrests in Poland paint a bleak future for Huawei. Google will finally be working to fix a bug in its search engine that allowed results to be spoofed and was first reported by Wietze Beukema in 2017. The UK-based security expert recently put together a detailed blog post outlining the bug, which relies on the shareability of the knowledge cards that appear alongside some search results on the site. Summarily, the bug hinges on the unique kgmid designators that are assigned to individual cards and that are discoverable simply by clicking the share button on one of those cards. The number can be found simply by clicking on the share button on a card and then copying and pasting the subsequent short link into the URL bar or Omnibox. The ID number is clearly visible in the URL and can be copied out for use in a spoofed search query. By pasting that identification number to the end of any search results URL behind an ampersand, the copied card can be forced to display alongside the standard page thats returned. Following that identifier with a second ampersand and the term kponly results in only the card appearing on the search page as shown in the image below. A long timeline on the fix After Mr. Beukema first wrote about the issue, the story was picked up by the news and appears to have been spotted by Google. The security expert has since reported via Twitter that Google is working on a fix for the problem after the company spotted the story on TechCrunch. But the search giant has not offered any kind of timeline for when the fix might be implementing and this isnt the first time the company has heard of the issue. When Mr. Beukema first filed a bug report on the matter in 2017, that report was allegedly closed and dismissed because it wasnt deemed a severe enough problem to warrant attention. So theres no guarantee that the fix will arrive quickly. Advertisement The severity of the problem At first glance, the potential issues that could arise while the bug is still present may seem relatively harmless compared to similar bugs that allowed for the theft of $50 million in cryptocurrency early last year. As Mr. Beukema notes, that isnt necessarily the case. With the rise concerns about fake news and the ease with which the bug is put to use, legitimate search results could be tampered and shared to propagate conspiracy theories and mislead those who are exposed to it. A bad actor might, for example, spoof the results of a search for the worlds largest terrorist organization so that it returns cards for FEMA or The American Red Cross. The biggest threat from queries that have been tampered with, however, might actually be most damaging to Google itself. Setting aside recent claims that Google might be biased in its search engine and similar sentiments that could be exacerbated by spoofed searches, the company has largely built its reputation on the trustworthy nature of its searches. The problem could eventually cause public trust in Google to diminish. Google has had a filtering mechanism for disruptive ads from US and European websites in its Chrome browser for quite some time, and now the web giant has announced that the system will finally be going global, filtering ads on all sites worldwide, as of July 9, 2019. This follows on an expansion of the Coalition For Better Ads standards to a worldwide scale. The different types of ads that are considered disruptive and annoying to users have also been expanded, as detailed in the infographic below. To be clear, Chrome users around the world are already protected from disruptive ads originating in the United States and throughout Europe. This change will begin blocking bad ads from sites around the world. Background: Google originally rolled out the feature in full for US and European websites back in February, causing a bit of a stir in the ad industry. Simultaneously, Google actually stopped selling ads that violated the Better Ads Coalitions standards, making disruptive ads just a bit harder to implement. The original draft of the standard was a bit less inclusive than whats seen here. When the change goes live, Chrome users should no longer see pop-up ads of any sort, auto-play video ads with sound, or certain types of ads on mobile that take up most of a page, to name a few. On top of that, Google is also pledging to stop showing any sort of ads on pages that repeatedly show ads that violate the standard, no matter where the sites are hosted. If youre a webmaster for a site that shows ads, Google has an Ad Experience Report tool that can help you determine how well your sites ads integrate into the user experience of your site, as well as help you to identify and get rid of ads that violate the standard. Impact: Thus far, Google reports that only about 1% of sites its reviewed have had ads end up being filtered. About two-thirds of the sites reviewed who had infringing ads when the feature rolled out were able to come into compliance. The goal of the effort is not to have less ads on the web and less revenue for webmasters, of course; its to get rid of bad experiences and foster the creation of a smoother and more user-friendly internet. Mind you, these results are from the limited deployment of the feature in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Similar results can likely be expected from sites around the world, though some of the more exploitative websites hosted in out-of-the-way places on the worlds web stage may decide to simply cease operations, rather than give up violating ads. Since theyre more intrusive and harder for users to ignore, such ads tend to draw more revenue than their more contemporary cousins. In any case, Google will be forcing along the winds of change once again, so users can expect to see these sorts of advertisements disappear once the change goes live in all countries around the global web. AT&T will cut all ties to aggregation services that it was using to sell its customers location-data. Earlier this week, an investigation surfaced showing that AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint were all selling your location data to other companies. Selling of this data is not a huge surprise, this data is valuable and thats how these companies are able to make even more money. What was surprising was how easy it was for someone else to get ahold of your location data. The investigation, conducted by Motherboard, found that for $300, they could hire a bounty hunter to hunt someone down using their smartphones location, and it was super simple to track as well. This of course led to a lot of attention on all of the carriers to stop this practice. Congress also called it an invasion of privacy when the news broke earlier this week. This has forced AT&T to drop ties with all of its aggregation services that it uses to sell data. An AT&T spokesperson said in a statement that, last year the carrier stopped most location aggregation services while maintaining some that protect our customers, such as roadside assistance and fraud prevention. The spokesperson also explained that in light of recent reports about the misuse of location services, we have decided to eliminate all location aggregation services even those with clear consumer benefits. What AT&T is referring to here, are a number of apps that it (and other carriers) offer its customers for navigation, roadside assistance and such. Those need to track your location and has to be shared with a third-party, seeing as its not AT&T that would come and rescue you if your car breaks down on the highway. Advertisement AT&T is eliminating all aggregation services, but this wont take place until March 2019. T-Mobile announced something similar this week, closing all ties in March of this year. The March date is likely to allow the carrier to make sure aggregation services it is using are benefiting customers. When it comes to Verizon, the company said that it cut off nearly all third-party trackers by the end of last year. However, Verizon is still using four companies for its roadside assistance service, and those will be phased out by the end of March as well. Wireless carriers know that this is a big freaking deal Advertisement The fact that wireless carriers were collecting your location-data and sharing it, is a bit scary. However, in this connected world, it also was not a huge surprise. But the carriers took a step further and were selling it to companies who were then selling it to others. And it appears that not a single person was taking ownership for misusing that information. This is because, once it leaves one company and is resold by another, it is no longer in their hands. There was no regulation around carriers selling your location-data, the only piece of regulation that exists is the fact that carriers cannot sell this data to law enforcement. AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint likely wouldnt have done much about this, if some members of Congress hadnt stated that this was an invasion of privacy. Which is is a huge invasion, but carriers are also worried about getting more regulation on their networks. Theyve seen regulation drop during the Trump Administration, with the big one being Net Neutrality, and the last thing these carriers would want is to see more regulation coming in. Moving swiftly to cut ties with these companies not only satisfies Congress (for now), but also satisfies customers and investors. Though it does open customers eyes to what exactly is happening out there. Expect some regulation from Congress soon Advertisement This is just the latest in a long string of companies misusing data that they are collecting from their users and/or customers. The biggest offender right now is indeed Facebook, which seems to have a new data breach every other week at this point. Facebook has been very careless with user data, and now it appears that it is not the only company to be acting careless with our data. Though, with Facebook, its much simpler to just close your Facebook account and be on with it. When it comes to these wireless carriers, its not as simple. Without the carriers, your smartphone is essentially useless, as you are unable to connect to the internet. Making this a much bigger deal, and it wouldnt be too crazy to see Congress pursuing regulation on how this data is supposed to be cared for. Though with Congress being made up of mostly older people, it will definitely take longer and they will need to learn how this all works. As weve seen with Facebook, Twitter and Googles CEOs testifying in recent months. Google, and parent company, Alphabet are now facing new pressures over past sexual harassment allegations, although this time the pressure is being exerted within the legal system. A lawsuit has been filed against Alphabets board of directors by company shareholders, citing the companys actions have caused severe financial and reputational damage to both Google and Alphabet. The lawsuit, filed on the behalf of James Martin today in San Mateo Superior Court in California, claims those at the top of the Google and Alphabet hierarchy actively worked to cover up sexual harassment claims against other high-ranking employees. Advertisement The allegations stem from a report back in 2018 which looked to shine a light on the past working environment at Google and how the company failed to do all it could to protect employees, or to discipline those who were accused of serious sexual harassment allegations. The report pointed to a number of instances that were said to have taken place and included allegations against Amit Singhal and Andy Rubin. Rubins involvement in particular spearheaded much of the conversation, and does so in this latest lawsuit due to the abnormal amount of money paid to Rubin when he finally did exit the company. An exit which is understood to have come about due to an internal investigation having found the allegations against Rubin to be credible. Advertisement One of the actions sought by the lawsuit is for proper clarity on how much compensation was actually paid to those accused of these accusations. In addition, the lawsuit looks to recoup compensation not only paid to Rubin, but also to others who the lawsuit claims facilitated the cover up in one way or another. Those accused of knowingly or recklessly breaching their duties to the company include Alphabet CEO, Larry Page and Google CEO, Sundar Pichai. This is in addition to the seeking of an unspecified amount for damages done to the company. Advertisement The lawsuit also hopes to change the voting system within the company as it claims the current dual class structure benefits and protects the likes of Sergey Brin and Larry Page, more than it does Alphabet as a whole, or the companys shareholders. Due to Brin and Pages votes carrying not just more weight, but enough weight to shift company decisions continuously in their favor. In an attempt to further balance the claimed shift of power at Alphabet, the lawsuit also seeks to permit the non-management shareholders to nominate at least three new board members. Since the claims came to light, Google has been taking actions to make the case publicly that times have changed. Including public statements by Pichai explaining how the claims came as a surprise and how Google has changed for the better under his tenure. With Picahi also stating how 48 employees had been fired in the last two years alone over sexual harassment. Advertisement Besides the legal issues, the lawsuit directly attacks Google on a moralistic basis, stating the company employed a dual and contradictory standard where high level male employees were treated differently to low-level employees. The suggesting being Google was happy to cover up allegations if you were generating millions of dollars in revenue for the company, but would take immediate and definitive action if you wasnt. Actions which the lawsuit states led to board members becoming direct enablers who not only violated California and federal law, but also the companys own ethical standards and guidelines. While both the wireless industry and the consumer electronics segment spent the last several years hyping up the fifth generation of mobile networks and presenting it as the innovation that will bring the mobile space to the next level and help it to continue growing despite numerous obstacles, the technology isnt likely to revive global smartphone sales, at least no during its maturing stage. A new report indicates handset prices will go up approximately 20-percent once 5G becomes a commercial reality, with most devices capable of communicating with the new wireless standard being likely to command a hefty investment on the part of consumers. As a consistent increase in prices particularly in the flagship price bracket is still being described as one of the main reasons for the current stagnation of the global smartphone market, more expensive parts that will raise manufacturing costs which companies are likely to pass on to consumers in their entirety seem to be positioned to offset the benefits stemming from the latest mobile communications specification which is promising unprecedented network capacities, latencies, and speeds. Investors need their profit margins Advertisement While most major smartphone manufacturers are more than capable of taking a near-term performance hit by absorbing at least a portion of the increased costs of commercializing 5G, thus increasing their competitiveness in the early days of the technology, investor pressure is expected to discourage them from doing so. The likes of Samsung, Huawei, and LG are aware of the fact that their rivals are facing similar decisions and are hence likely to play it safe, counting on the rest of the industry to follow suit. Most high-profile handset brands are projecting stagnation or decline in terms of revenue and profit in 2018, with those expectations already doing a lot to displease investors in recent days. Due to that state of affairs, the leading companies in the segment appear to be preparing to focus on growing profit margins in 2019 and work on improving their other performance indicators that arent solely dependent on an overall increase in global sales, something thats unlikely to happen over the course of the next twelve months. The most polarizing network tech upgrade yet While all previous network upgrades in the history of the industry were initially met with a largely positive response from both consumers and analysts, 5G is somewhat more polarizing due to the fact that it wont deliver an immediate benefit to end users until network operators and handset manufacturers manage to optimize their products and services in order to truly start leveraging the 3GPPs latest wireless specification. At the same time, the first wave of 5G-ready (Android) smartphones is expected to exhibit some degree of issues with battery life and heating given how the new mobile standard is significantly more power-hungry and also requires dedicated antennas that will either limit the space available for handset cells or force designers to create noticeably bulkier devices. Most of those problems are likely to be addressed within a year or so but for the time being, everyone apart from the most hardcore tech enthusiasts is advised to avoid purchasing the very first 5G-ready Android handsets that will be hitting the market in the coming months. Have any questions? Please give us a call at 907-561-7737 Entitled "Fertility Rate Varies Widely Across US," it shows America's population is not growing. Drawing on Centers for Disease Control reports, it pegs fertility among U.S. women at 1,765 births per 1,000 women. A story in yesterday's Wall Street Journal explains what's really behind the border war, pitting Donald Trump against the Democratic Party. The link is here . It's an arithmetic fact that if half those births are boys and the other half are girls, each group of 1,000 women is having only 882 daughters and the same number of sons. However, fertility among white women is only 1,666 per 1,000 women. Even black American women are failing to maintain their race's numbers, having 1,824 births per woman. It takes 2,100 births per 1,000 women to replace 1,000 mothers, 1,000 fathers, and children's deaths. Only Hispanic women are coming close, at 2,006 births per 1,000 women. Even without immigration from Central America, Hispanics will be an increasing portion of America's population. Anecdotally, Progressive women's numbers are shrinking even more than those of whites. They study longer; marry later; have higher student debt; and begin having children later, if at all. They are a mainstay of support for the Democratic Party, and they are shrinking in number. It is the red states versus the blue states. Fertility in rural states mainstays of the Republican Party is higher than in blue states. Pelosi and Schumer are in a fight for their party's life. Only by allowing unfettered immigration of Hispanics can their party avoid being eclipsed. Floods from a cyclical wet weather year could be more financially devastating to California than the $27 billion in losses from two years of record-sized wildfires that burned three million acres. President Trump's threat to halt California supplemental disaster funding for wildfire and floods unless "they get their act together" could cost the state $10 billion. California continually slashed necessary infrastructure spending over the last decade in order to achieve constitutionally mandated balanced budgets. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) awarded California the booby prize for the worst state in the nation for its $65-billion infrastructure deficit involving dams, waterways, flood control, roads, bridges, seaports, and tunnels. When natural disasters hit, federal law requires that cities and counties act as the first two layers of disaster response. If the event overwhelms local resources and a governor declares state of emergency, an appeal can be made to the president for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist as the third level of responder in dealing with disaster damage. The California insurance commissioner revealed a record $14 billion of California wildfire insurance losses were recorded in 2017, and catastrophe-modeler Risk Management Solutions estimates 2018 wildfire insurance losses of at least another $13 billion. FEMA has already made California disaster relief allocations of over $1 billion in 2017 and about $1.5 billion in 2018 to pay for rebuilding streets, public infrastructure, private homes, rental housing, and cleanup costs. But Gov. Brown made a request to the Trump administration for another $9 billion in supplemental relief to pay for November's Camp Fire and Southern California wildfires. The U.S. Forest Service released a report that fire suppression as a percentage of its annual budget has skyrocketed from 16 percent in 1995 to 52 percent in 2015 and is expected to hit 67 percent in 2025. With California sucking up over half of the $3 billion in federal wildfire suppression spending in each of the last two years, the U.S. Forest Service investments in fire prevention continue to shrivel. California officials like to deflect their liability for the state's rising wildfire costs by pointing out that the U.S. government owns 57 percent of California forestlands, while the state and local agencies own just 3 percent. But many of the 18,000 blazes that have devastated California since 2017 started out as brushfires and then escalated to wildfires that destroyed thousands of houses in heavily populated areas such as Ventura, Redding, Paradise, and the Wine Country. Gov. Brown claimed that the dramatic increase in wildfires is the "New Normal" from climate change. The New York Times added that California since 2012 has not had "a month without a wildfire burning a stark contrast to previous decades, when fire officials saw the fall and winter as a time to plan and regroup." But 2012 was also the last year before Obama's agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack, "finalized a rule governing the management of 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands, establishing a new blueprint to guide everything from logging to recreation and renewable energy development," according to the Washington Post. The California Board of Forestry also issued a new set of regulations called the "2013 Road Rules." The rules drastically increased the costs and delays associated with submitting "timber harvesting plans." As a result of destroying the economics of the industry, hundreds of logging roads that had acted as fire breaks for a century were abandoned. Wildfires now have more fuel and firefighter access to forest has been constricted. California's newly inaugurated governor, Gavin Newsom, responded to President Trump's threat by tweeting that "disasters and recovery are no time for politics." Newsom in his campaign stump speeches: "the science is clear: Increased fire threat because of climate change is becoming a fact of life in our state." As one of the most progressive politicians in the state, Newsom continues to oppose any increases in logging. He has argued that the state needs a combination of technological solutions to prevent wildfires that include installing an early-warning infrared camera network in the forests and using artificial intelligence technology to predict and contain wildfires. Television news organizations that want to claim they are "balanced" with the views of both parties but remain critical of President Trump continue to turn to NeverTrumps. Bill Kristol, Max Boot, Ana Navarro, Meghan McCain, and Nicole Wallace are about to be joined by Jeff Flake, who didn't even bother running for re-election to the Senate because of his unpopularity, if the reported negotiations with CBS work out. CBS News is engaging in talks to possibly bring on newly departed Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) for a role with the network. The Hollywood Reporter reports that the former senator could be brought on as a contributor or "something more," according to sources. The Arizona Republican was spotted at the CBS News headquarters in New York City last Friday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. President Trump was correct in predicting a network gig, but apparently, he got the network wrong: Trump earlier this month joked that he thought Flake was likely to join CNN after leaving Congress. "Jeff Flake is now selling real estate, or whatever he's doing," Trump told reporters. "He'll probably go to work for CNN. That's my prediction." Or maybe not. If Flake has a good agent who realizes what a hot commodity a NeverTrump is for the Trump-hating nets (all of them except Fox News), he is playing them against each other. CNN at the time declined to comment on the speculation. Flake, for his part, was disarmingly honest about his aversion to hard work: Flake, who did not run for reelection, in December told The Hill that he would not be interested in having his own political show on television. "I don't want to work that hard," he joked. Quoting Homer Simpson: "It's funny because it is true." So, in the imaginary world inhabited by the mainstream media, they are achieving political balance. I don't think they fool any conservatives, but they don't care. Now the embittered former presidential candidate is pooh-poohing President Trump's border wall showdown with intransigent Democrats, saying the drugs, illegal aliens, criminals, and smuggling operations pouring over our border are really not much of a crisis. Fresh from the shellacking he got for his ill advised, ill timed, tin-eared op-ed opposing President Trump in the Washington Post , and underscored with the chilly reception he got in the Senate for it, Mitt Romney is refusing to change course. "I don't want to see a declaration of national emergency," Romney told MSNBC. "I think that's an action that would be taken in the most extreme circumstances, and, hopefully, we don't reach that." This rather contradicts Romney's earlier claim that a border wall is necessary and that he supports one. Here he was, just the other day, as reported by HuffPo: "I would vote for the border wall," Romney, former Republican presidential candidate, told CNN's Jake Tapper in a Wednesday afternoon interview. "We should have a wall on the southern border," the former governor of Massachusetts added. Maybe Romney thinks a wall's necessary, but only if he's the one building it, not President Trump. Maybe he thinks it's OK, but only if Democrats give permission. Or worst of all, maybe it's something he just says at election time or to spin out of a crisis. He sure as heck doesn't believe it now. Whatever it is, this is not the time to be blasting Trump on his border wall. What we have here, in fact, is a failure to recognize the political situation. Trump knows that if he doesn't get his border wall, he's pretty well finished, because the migrant caravans are organizing, and they're about to pour in. But it's more than a migrant issue, even with these migrants being the most expensive migrants, given the number of social services they will avail themselves of once they roll in illegally or the high numbers of crimes they will commit against Americans, which, frankly, is a crisis. It's also a drug issue. Here's a recent headline in Axios, intended to suggest that costly illegals are less of a problem than this: the border's deadliest threat: opioids. No question, they are right that that is a deadly problem, one that has cost 42,249 Americans their lives in 2018 alone, and more than $500 billion in costs. That's the work of drug-smugglers, a large number of whom use the U.S. border to bring in their deadly wares. The Democrat solution to this is to force innocent Americans to pay for the whole thing by attaching extremely expensive mandated drug treatment costs to their insurance policies, driving up the cost of their Obamacare. It never bothers them that more and more of Americans' incomes are suctioned in to pay for the rising price of health insurance, and it certainly doesn't bother Obamacare-model Mitt. The serious solution is to make the drug-dealers pay for it instead, by shutting their operations down at the border. Tens of thousands of lives are at stake, and here Mitt is, trying to soil Trump's efforts to end this crisis, taking the side of implacable political opponents, allowing these people, who govern from exactly one house of one branch of government, to have the full call on the matter. All because he hates Trump. There's a crisis, all right, and that crisis is political. Mitt's job is to stand by and support Trump on this most commonsense of commonsense proposals, a cheapie border wall to keep a building wave of criminals and spongers out. The dead bodies of Americans and the gargantuan costs to everyone else are the evidence (as are the billions earned by the cartels who oppress Mexico and Central America), yet there Mitt goes, saying there's no crisis. Perhaps it's because the killings, both opiate and criminal, are occurring among his famous 47% that he sees no crisis. More to the point, he fails to recognize the implacable nature of the political opposition to the piddly little wall by a party that is literally in political debt to illegal aliens and their interests ahead of those of Americans. Instead, Romney wants to get right in and start with business-as-usual politics, not Trump's politics of effectiveness. Trump wins when he stands firm on issues. It helps a lot when Republicans stand with him, we all know Democrats stood by Obama in lockstep to get his agenda through. And, as the last midterm showed, the Republicans who refused to stand with Trump tended to get trounced. There was a reason why Jeff Flake decided not to run for re-election last midterm, and it doesn't do him credit. All of that flies Mr. Magoo-style over Romney's well pompadoured head, and he's started right in, as Whoopi Goldberg likes to say, "pooping on people." Mitt, Mitt, Mitt. This isn't starting well. You aren't learning. You're Talleyrand's Bourbons, learning nothing and forgetting nothing, same old mistake-maker. Can Lindsey Graham maybe talk to you about political horse sense? This isn't going to end well for you. Maybe it's time you started over. Image credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Yesterday, almost ten years later, American secretary of state Mike Pompeo gave the speech that Obama should have given. It was unabashedly pro-American and identified America as a force for good in the region. Early in his presidency, Barack Obama gave a speech in Cairo that he referred to as " A New Beginning ." In that speech in June 2009, Obama identified the United States as one of the causes of turmoil and violence in the Middle East. He never said the words "I'm sorry," but his tone was apologetic as he viciously criticized the Israeli "occupation" and the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Fox News: In a stunning but essential rebuke of former President Barack Obama and his legacy of weakness and failure abroad, Pompeo declared, "The age of self-inflicted American shame is over." If that wasn't clear enough, Pompeo said, "Now comes the real new beginning" a jibe at the speech Obama gave in Cairo early in 2009, in which he essentially apologized for American Middle East policy going back decades in remarks titled "A New Beginning." Pompeo's view is unequivocal and crystal clear: "America is a force for good in the Middle East." He didn't even add the usual qualifiers about our historic imperfections. Expect our adversaries abroad and snowflakes at home to be mighty upset at this moral clarity and self-confidence from the greatest, freest country on Earth. Our real allies will love it. No doubt the Sunni Arab states and other regional U.S. allies cheered Pompeo's words, while those same words worried America's enemies. There was no question of who was on the side of peace and stability and who was seeking change through violence and terror. Pompeo's speech had three watershed components: First, Pompeo made it clear that the chief focus of U.S. policy in the Middle East is thwarting Iran's dangerous and tyrannical ambitions. While violent jihadist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda still exist and deserve our attention, they are now a lesser threat. Also, by condemning Obama's decision to do nothing in 2009 and 2010 when Iranians took to the streets to protest their oppressive regime, Pompeo opened the door to supporting Iran's internal opposition. Second, Pompeo specifically called out "radical Islamism" and condemned Obama for not doing so. This is a refinement and extension of President Trump's condemnation of "radical Islamic terrorism," which is the tactic that Islamists use when they go violent. Far from semantics, this change from "Islamic terrorism" to "radical Islamism" means that finally, 40 years after Islamists took over Iran, 36 years after Islamists blew up our Marine barracks in Beirut, and nearly 18 years after Islamists attacked us on 9/11, we can clearly name the ideology that animates most of the problem actors in the Middle East. The only problem with Pompeo's stirring words was that they clashed with some of the actions taken by Donald Trump. Agree with the president's Syria policy or not, Trump's stated goal of pulling out of Syria while ISIS is still a threat and abandoning the Kurds to the tender mercies of Turkey's President Erdogan makes for actions at odds with Pompeo's strong words of support for U.S. allies. In fact, Pompeo's speech highlights the yin and yang of Trump's foreign policy. He wants to demonstrate American strength while withdrawing from some of our commitments. The two concepts aren't mutually exclusive, but the perception is one of confusion and indecision. Between Obama's apology ten years ago and Pompeo's full-throated support of American values yesterday, the region has been roiled by the "Arab Spring," revolutions, and the growing threat of Iran a threat so severe that it has thrown former enemies Israel and Saudi Arabia together as allies. Where will the Middle East be ten years from now? If Trump gets his way, the external threat of Iran will be removed, and internal divisions in many Arab countries will be bridged. That's a vision Barack Obama was incapable of seeing. Frankly, Trump shouldn't have bothered, because no amount of sugar could sweeten up the two corpses who rose from the dead to attend a meeting, partake of the freebies, and then falsely accuse the Candy Man of "raising his voice ... slamming his hand," and having a "temper tantrum." According to an article in the New York Post, in his recent government shutdown meeting with congressional leaders, President Trump plied the likes of sourpuss House speaker Nancy Pelosi and pickle-faced Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer with sweets. Vice President Mike Pence commended the president for his sugary savoir-faire when he informed the media that, contrary to Democrat comments stating otherwise, "[t]he president walked into the room and passed out candy." Citing a crisis that the Democrats deny exists, Trump said he would not approve of any bill to end the shutdown unless that bill includes $5 billion to fund a wall on the southern border. About the meeting, Pelosi had this to say: "It was a petulant president of the United States a person who would say 'I will keep government shut down for a month or years unless I get my way.' That's just not the way democracy works." When it comes to democracy, Nancy would know. After the meeting, Trump tweeted, "Just left a meeting with Chuck and Nancy, a total waste of time." Sorry, Mr. President, but instead of trying "to sweeten the deal" with treats, had you chosen to use the opportunity to school the Democrats, the meeting could have gone differently. Take for instance liberals on Twitter proposing sacrificing organs and one day of their lives in a collaborative effort to extend the life of a progressive Supreme Court justice. Perhaps, while handing out the Baby Ruth bars, Trump could have signaled his imminent Supreme Court appointment by mentioning the ailing, aging Baby Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Or, better yet, the president might have coolly reminded Pelosi and Schumer that, regardless of what they think of him, his voters consider him the Babe Ruth of politics and that, with or without Democrat help, his border wall will go down in history as a political home run. Likewise, it would have been confectionary perfection if, before passing around the Butterfingers, Trump mentioned to those two slimy, butterfingered partisans that by purposely refusing to get a grip concerning the border crisis, it's Democrats who regularly drop the ball. The most brilliant choice in the candy lesson department could have come by way of a Skittles and M&M's tutorial. Let's say that those colorful little orbs of sweetmeat heaven had the potential to provide the president with an excellent object lesson if he had chosen to use them to make a point. Aside from transmitting TB; the flu; and Enterovirus D-68, AKA acute flaccid myelitis, as well as birthing anchor babies and straining the American taxpayer to the point of collapse, ordinary Americans mostly agree that refugees and lawless aliens are generally risk-free folks in search of free health care, a ride-around lawnmower, a falsified Social Security card, and a voting booth. Nonetheless, immediately after Schumer and Pelosi had dipped their chubby little digits into the bowl and grabbed a melty mouthful, Trump had a perfect opportunity to teach those two Democrat dolts a lesson in border security. Imagine if, after passing around the sweets, the president had casually leaned over to inform the disingenuous duo that just like ten terrorists or ten illegals with a deadly infectious disease, ten cyanide-laced M&M's were mixed into the bowl. As Upchuck and Foolosi squealed, clutched at their throats, retched, spat, and tried to force themselves to vomit onto the Oval Office rug, Trump could have calmly informed them that two dead congressional leaders do not constitute a crisis. After such an impressive object lesson, Miss Loose Dentures and her sanctimonious sidekick would surely have a lot to whine about at their next press conference. In any case, if President Trump should ever want to use sweets to woo his political nemeses again, maybe, instead of Skittles and M&M's, he should be mindful to offer Democrats creative specialty items like the Space Force Milky Way or the Melania's Not Chunky bar or the diversity-minded Hershey Special Dark or the Low Unemployment Rate PayDay or, everyone's 2020 favorite, the Trump Skors Again special edition. Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com. Women Must March on the Right Road Political theater in the United Nations is often in the wrong time and the wrong place in the wrong style. In her farewell speech in the U.N. General Assembly on December 18, 2018, U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley spoke of the anti-Israeli bias of United Nations bodies and of the anti-Semitic boycott they had approved. The lack of any form of objectivity by the U.N. Human Rights Council regarding Jewish citizens has been a continuing display of thoughtless and automatic malevolence. Expecting otherwise is like being at a Chekhov play, waiting for something that's not going to happen. At one point, it was hoped that U.N. conferences on women might concentrate on and be limited to the problems facing women. Sadly, the women's conferences, starting with the first one in Mexico City, June-July 1975, diverted from appropriate objectives to focus on condemnation of Israel and the elimination of Zionism along with "racial discrimination in all its forms." A resolution in Mexico City condemning Zionism was approved by the UNGA, 107-1 with 26 abstentions. The subsequent women's conferences, in Copenhagen, July 1980; Nairobi, 1985; and Beijing, September 1995, included the demonization of and calls for the isolation of Israel, condemned as a colonial power. Would the latest private women's organization, formed around 2017, be different? This is the Women's March (W.M.) organization, a group, created in opposition to the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. president, that organized a highly successful protest march on January 21, 2017 that attracted an estimated 500,000 in Washington, D.C. and many in other U.S. cities. The group immediately became celebrated, and its organizers were featured in prominent journals like Glamour and Fortune. The organizers were praised in Time's Most Influential People's List 2017. The entry for them in the story was written by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (Dem-N.Y.) who commented that the W.M. was "the most inspiring and transformational movement I've ever witnessed in politics." This has led to national media coverage of the four women recognized as co-leaders of the W.M.: Tamika Mallory, Bronx-born, black American; Linda Sarsour, Palestinian-American activist, who worked for some years with the Arab-American Association; Carmen Perez, self-defined Chicana or Mexican-American, who co-launched the Justice League in 2013; and Bob Bland (Mari Lynn Foulger), fashion designer. Jet Magazine called Linda Sarsour "the Sojourner Truth of our time." The magazine appeared to ignore the fact that she supported Assata Shakur, former Black Liberation Army commander, convicted of murder, who had fled to Cuba. The W.M. continued its existence, organized another March in 2018, plans another in D.C. in January 2019, and trains activists. The W.M. purportedly claims to give a voice to women in government, media, and politics. It claims to fight bigotry and discrimination in all its forms. An organization genuinely interested in helping all women is to be welcomed. However, from the start, allegations of anti-Semitism among this organization's leaders and refusal to allow Jewish female activists to be part of that leadership have been voiced. There is no secret about the progressive political leanings of the leading organizers. Mallory admired Fidel Castro. They were vocal in criticism of Trump the day after his inauguration. They were conspicuous in attending the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing of the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and in their support of Professor Christine Blasey Ford, who had accused Kavanaugh of sexual abuse. They were critical of Starbucks in April 12, 2018 for the behavior of staff in its Philadelphia branch when two black Americans waiting to meet someone were arrested on suspicion of trespass. Starbucks closed is stores to train its employees in a company-wide program against racial bias. Sarsour, longtime director of the Arab American Association of New York, led a coalition to close NYC public schools for observance of two of Islam's holiest days. Sarsour has asserted that "the same people who justify the massacres of Palestinian people and call it collateral damage are the same people who justify the murder of young black men and women." Most of the focus has been on Mallory and Sarsour for alleged anti-Semitic remarks, or sympathy toward anti-Semites; for statements that the creation of Israel was a human rights crime; and above all for friendship with Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam and acknowledged anti-Semite, whose meetings they attended. Whatever one's views of the Nation of Islam, it is undeniable that Farrakhan is a hateful person. The organizers of the W.M. are not naive. Mallory attended the Farrakhan meeting, his annual Savior's Day, on February 25, 2018 in Chicago, where he referred to the "Satanic Jew" and declared that "the powerful Jews are my enemy." He reiterated that the devilish Zionists must be confronted. Mallory, even if she did not agree with Farrakhan, did not separate herself from his racist remarks and beliefs. Indeed, she congratulated him on his birthday. Mallory has been invited to be the keynote speaker at the University of North Carolina's Asheville celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Week. She should remember that King in 1968 remarked that "when people criticize Zionists they mean Jews, you are talking anti-Semitism." She might compare this with Farrakhan's diatribe that Jews control the media, Hollywood, the FBI, most of Europe, and Mexico. Does she accept Farrakhan's view that the "white people running Mexico are Mexican Jews"? Or his view that "whites are a race of devils" and that "the Jews, a small handful, control the movement of this great nation"? Farrakhan's record is well known. He regards both Adolf Hitler and Henry Ford, "who was called an anti-Semite," as "very great men." In his 2015 Savior Day keynote address, he informed the world that Israel and the Jews orchestrated the 9/11 attacks and that Jews had foreknowledge of them. A photo of Mallory and Carmen Perez was posted holding hands with Farrakhan. Mallory is not alone in attending Nation of Islam meetings. Among others are members of Congress, one of whom referred to Farrakhan as an "outstanding human being." At least three of the W.M. organizers appear to accept Farrakhan's arguments that white Jews, as white people, uphold white supremacy; that Jews are not trustworthy; and that Jewish women are part of the privileged white majority. They may not completely believe, as does Farrakhan, that Jews were prominent in the slave trade and "the prison industry," but they have not refuted him. The W.M. organizers may be aware of Farrakhan's book, The Secret Relation between Blacks and the Jews, emphasizing the Jewish control of the slave trade, but are they aware that Henry Louis Gates called it the "bible of the new anti-Semitism"? It is disappointing but consequential that the W.M. organizers agreed that security for their next march was to be provided by the leaders of the Nation of Islam. The revelation of support by the W.M. for anti-Semite Farrakhan has led to alternative groups such as March On, a diverse coalition. Since the W.M. organizers have persisted in manifestations of sympathy for anti-Semites, U.S. judicial authorities might follow the example of France at a critical moment. Paul Marchandeau, French minister of justice, November 1, 1938 to September 1, 1939, in the government of Edouard Daladier, was the author of the decree of April 21, 1939 that amended the law on the freedom of the press of July 29, 1881 by allowing prosecution "when defamation or insult committed against a group of persons, by their origin, race, or religion, will have been designed to arouse hatred among citizens or residents." It was repealed by the anti-Semitic law of the Vichy government of August 16, 1940. But Marchandeau remains as a model to be followed. Anti-Semitism must be punished. The W.M. must find the right road. Why Climate Change Isn't Science Environmentalists first predicted impending climate disaster in the 1970s, but they didnt call it global warming. Back then, it was Global Cooling that would end life on earth as we knew it. The smog of industrial pollutants was blocking out sunlight so severely, we were warned, that our planet would enter a new ice age unless we acted quickly. Magazine covers featured pictures of snowball earth. In the eighties, we cleaned up our air, the threatened the ice age did not occur, and thousands of people with time on their hands and seeking purpose in life had discovered that they could make a career out of disaster prophecy. Thus, it was time for a new catastrophe: Global Warming Well, maybe not so new. Same villain: us and our machines. Same victim: our delicate planet earth. Same threat: the end of life as we know it. Only the predicted temperature had changed. Global warming appealed to the presss appetite for calamity and became an instant hit. The headlines wrote themselves: The poles will melt! The oceans will rise! Lakes and rivers will dry up! Farmlands will become deserts! Millions will starve to death! This was big. Government would have to join the fight. In the nineties, environmentalists switched their emphasis to Climate Change This was a marketing move. Global warming could credibly be blamed for warming, but climate change could be blamed for anything. If hurricanes increase one year, thats evidence of climate change. If they decrease the next year, well, thats climate change too. Droughts are caused by climate change, but so are exceptional rains. Warmer winters prove climate change, but so do colder winters. (Claiming that frigid temperatures are caused by global warming would sound ridiculous.) Climate Change was disaster gold. It couldnt be disproved. Which is exactly why its not science. Its pseudo-science, according to the great philosopher of science, Karl Popper, who pointed out that for any theory to be considered scientific, it must be falsifiable. There must be something within the theory itself that can be disproved. This may be technically true, but what was far more important was that Climate Change had already been proven -- by three decades of data, by the computer models of climate experts, and by the overwhelming consensus of scientists. But those proofs arent science either. Looking backward, climate change the phenomenon has been a constant feature of our planet. Real climate science tells us that temperatures have been much colder and much hotter in the past. (Canada once had a tropical climate.). For the past ten thousand years, weve been living in an interglacial period. These pleasant periods have tended to last for ten to fifteen thousand years, so real climate science predicts that we can enjoy about five thousand more years of temperate weather until the next ice age hits. The theory of Climate Change is entirely different. To claim that it has been proven is to entirely misunderstand how science works. No scientific theory is ever proven. Theories that appear to accurately describe how nature works -- like Darwins theory of evolution or Einsteins relativity -- are assigned the provisional status of not yet disproven, with the understanding that the discovery of a single contrary fact could throw a wrench into the works. Strictly speaking, Climate Change theory isnt really a scientific theory at all. It doesnt take into relevant account factors which arguably have a far stronger effect upon climate than CO2, like the sun, ocean currents, and the greatest greenhouse gas of them all, water vapor. What Climate Change is, is a bunch of doomsday predictions. Now, predictions are the critical part of the scientific method. They are what enable a theory to be proven or disproven. If they prove false, theyre also the best way to refute a theory. Climate change alarmists have made lots of predictions. Perhaps too many, because not one of their predictions whose expiration date has passed has proven correct. Heres a sampling, courtesy of Anthony Watts at wattsupwiththat.com: 1988, Dr. James Hansen. Asked by author Rob Reiss how the greenhouse effect was likely to affect the neighborhood below Hansens office in NYC in the next 20 years, Hansen replied: The West Side Highway [which runs along the Hudson River] will be under water. And there will be tape across the windows across the street because of high winds. And the same birds wont be there. The trees in the median strip will changeThere will be more police cars[since] you know what happens to crime when the heat goes up. Sept 19, 1989, St. Louis Post-Dispatch : New York will probably be like Florida 15 years from now. 1990, Michael Oppenheimer, The Environmental Defense Fund : By 1996, the Platte River of Nebraska would be dry, while a continent-wide black blizzard of prairie topsoil will stop traffic on interstates, strip paint from houses and shut down computers The Mexican police will round up illegal American migrants surging into Mexico seeking work as field hands. October 15, 1990, Carl Sagan : The planet could face an ecological and agricultural catastrophe by the next decade if global warming trends continue. 1990, Actress Meryl Streep: By the year 2000 thats less than ten years away -- earths climate will be warmer than its been in over 100,000 years. If we dont do something, therell be enormous calamities in a very short time. July 26, 1999, The Birmingham Post: Scientists are warning that some of the Himalayan glaciers could vanish within ten years because of global warming. A build-up of greenhouse gases is blamed for the meltdown, which could lead to drought and flooding in the region affecting millions of people. April 1, 2000, Der Spiegel: Good bye winter. Never again snow? March 29, 2001, CNN: In ten years time, most of the low-lying atolls surrounding Tuvalus nine islands in the South Pacific Ocean will be submerged under water as global warming rises sea levels. Oct 20, 2009, Gordon Brown, UK Prime Minister (referring to the Copenhagen climate conference): World leaders have 50 days to save the Earth from irreversible global warming. To suggest that the scientific validity of Climate Change is debatable is to speak charitably. But theres never been a debate, not for want of trying. Many skeptics have called for debates. In particular, Christopher Walter Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, a hereditary peer, journalist, political advisor, inventor, and a skeptic well-versed in the details of climate science, has repeatedly challenged Al Gore to debate. That Al Gore has never replied to these requests is difficult to reconcile with his comments on the CBS "Early Show" (May 31, 2006): the debate among the scientists is over. There is no more debate. We face a planetary emergency. There is no more scientific debate among serious people whove looked at the science Well, I guess in some quarters, theres still a debate over whether the moon landing was staged in a movie lot in Arizona, or whether the Earth is flat instead of round. These are not the words of a person who understands science. They are the tactics of a person who realizes he doesnt have a scientific leg to stand on. There must be another nonscientific reason for the Climate Change agenda. That reason may involve the billions of dollars that proponents have demanded for solving this problem. Climate Change is a scam. This means that the Huber and Horowitz investigations exist to make you think something is being investigated when it is not. That is why Representatives Doug Collins, Mark Meadows, and Jim Jordan sent a letter to Huber, the U.S. attorney, this week that essentially exposes the fraud. More information is supporting the theory that the current big Justice Department "investigations" are actually functioning as big cover-up operations. Robert Mueller's team is effectively hiding key evidence related to serious crimes committed by government officials. Mueller has nearly complete control over what the public or any investigator can see. He has control over what witnesses can talk about. The letter begins, "We write to request an update on the progress of your review of irregularities involved with the Department of Justice's (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) actions during 2016 and 2017[.]" The letter then points to facts that indicate that there has been no real investigation. None of the many key witnesses has been interviewed. Huber refused to testify at a recent congressional hearing about the Clinton Foundation. The letter then asks for information in four areas where Huber cannot reply without further demonstrating that this is a fake investigation. There is also mounting evidence that hiding facts is common in deep state political crusades. A recent column by Marty Watters and Lee Cary exposes Mueller's long history of improperly hiding evidence. The column begins, "During his twelve-year reign as FBI Director, Robert Mueller not only protected his criminal friends by silencing those who could expose their bad acts, he projected his friends' crimes onto others." One example cited is the case of William Campbell, who infiltrated Russia's State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosatom, for the FBI. Over a period of eight years, he documented the bribery and money-laundering involved in Russia's effort to get access to U.S. uranium assets. Massive donations were made to the Clinton Foundation, and absurdly high speaking fees were given to Bill Clinton by those who planned to profit from the deal. The reason you have not heard Campbell's story is that FBI director Mueller forbade him to go public. Attorney General Loretta Lynch threatened Campbell with jail if he told the truth. The truth was hidden, and the deal went through. You will remember the case of Valerie Plame, where a special counsel was empowered to find out who "outed" supposed covert agent Plame. It was known early in this politically motivated investigation that the chosen target, Dick Cheney's top aide, Scooter Libby, was not the person who had leaked Plames name. There were two earlier leakers whom Mueller's FBI knew about. But the special counsel did not want to let a good investigation go to waste, so he prolonged it for maximum political effect. Sound familiar? We know that the person who leaked Plame's name to Robert Novak was Richard Armitage. The Watters-Cary column added a new twist to the story by introducing an earlier leaker, who was hidden by Mueller. An FBI employee, Sibel Edmonds, did not like the extensive illegal surveillance she was witnessing. She wanted to expose the criminal actions of the FBI. Director Mueller intervened on two occasions to silence her. Some of the information from the surveillance related to Plame. Watters and Cary write: One of the "secrets" that Mueller did not want Edmonds to expose was that the FBI has a 2001 recording of Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman outing Plame's identity as a CIA employee to a Turkish diplomat. This was long before Richard Armitage claimed he "accidently" [sic] outed Plame to Robert Novak. Silencing Edmonds enabled Mueller to position his protege, Deputy Attorney General James Comey, to eventually appoint their mutual, close friend, U.S Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, as the Special Counsel tasked to discover who leaked Plame's identity as a CIA employee. Everyone with a need to know already knew the original leaker was Grossman. But the public didn't need to know, and so the spin-up to the lengthy Plamegate puppet show began. Scott Johnson of Powerline has three posts about "Mueller's Cone of Silence" that relate to Mueller attempting to hide evidence in his Russian troll case. In February of last year, Mueller indicted Russian social media actors (some of whom do not even exist) for some trivial actions not aimed at any particular candidate. The apparent purpose of the indictment was to feed the Trump-Russia collusion fable by creating news stories containing the word "Russia." Mueller surely had no expectation that the Russians would answer the charges, but Concord Management did just that. Concord's attorney has asked to see the evidence against its people. Mueller has essentially told the judge that the evidence is "sensitive," and he doesn't want to show it. Openly telling the defendant he can't see the evidence is one step more brazen than simply hiding the evidence. The Concord attorney responded this way in his motion to Judge Dabney Friedrich: In this first-of-its-kind prosecution of a make-believe crime, the Office of Special Counsel maintains that it can unilaterally and for secret reasons disclosed only to the Court categorize millions of pages of non-classified documents as "sensitive," and prohibit defense counsel from sharing this information with Defendant[.] It is interesting that Judge Friedrich is married to Matthew Friedrich, who is tied directly to Mueller in some well documented cases of hiding evidence from defendants. Sidney Powell's great book, Licensed to Lie, describes the extreme corruption of Mueller's prosecutors in the cases of Ted Stevens, Merrill Lynch, and Enron. Evidence was hidden in these cases on a grand scale. Later, after the damage was done, higher courts overturned verdicts and strongly rebuked the dishonest prosecutors. In 2014, Sidney Powell wrote a column about what Eric Holder had done to four of the corrupt and discredited prosecutors described in Powell's book. Holder did the same thing that our current "dirty cops" expected from President Hillary Clinton. Holder "honored, promoted and protected" them. Matthew Friedrich was one of the four, and Andrew Weissmann was another. Matthew Friedrich "personally told the jury facts that were directly refuted by [evidence he withheld][.] ... Mr. Friedrich rushed the indictment of Senator Stevens and micromanaged that corrupted prosecution, which cost the citizens of Alaska their senior Senator, changed the balance of power in the Senate, and facilitated the enactment of Obamacare. " Judge Friedrich is a Trump appointee. Her rulings so far indicate that she may be just as effective for Trump as Jeff Sessions was. Look at the big picture. Those in power regularly hide evidence of their crimes and get away with it. From Lois Lerner to Hillary Clinton to Strzok and Page, the dreaded "glitch" eats the most important evidence. From "Fast and Furious" to Benghazi to Comey's fake investigation of Hillary to Rosenstein's stonewalling to Mueller's "insurance policy" cover-up, hiding the facts is the primary goal. Joseph Stalin is quoted as saying, "The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." It is also true that the actual evidence decides nothing. The people who control the evidence decide everything. Image: James Ledbetter via Flickr. Lake Charles, Louisiana (70615) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds. Low 73F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds. Low 73F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Israeli forces have shot and killed a Palestinian woman as thousands demonstrated along the Gaza Strips perimeter fence, according to Gazas health ministry. The spokesperson for the ministry, Ashraf al-Qedra, said 43-year-old Amal al-Taramsi was shot in the head on Friday at a protest site east of Gaza City. Al-Taramsi was the third woman to be killed in protests that began in March, during which at least 241 Palestinians have been killed. At least 25 other Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire on Friday, including two members of the media and one paramedic, according to al-Qedra. An Israeli military spokesman said around 13,000 Palestinians had taken part in the demonstrations. The rioters have burned tyres and hurled blocks, explosive devices and grenades towards (Israeli) troops and at the Gaza Strip security fence, an army spokeswoman said. The army later struck two positions belonging to the Palestinian group Hamas, which governs Gaza, it said. A Hamas security source said there were no injuries. An AFP journalist said several thousand protesters gathered east of Gaza City, and confrontations were stronger than in recent weeks. Protesters tried to destroy a barbed-wire fence near the border and Israeli forces responded with gunfire and tear gas. Palestinians have staged weekly mass protests for months as part of the Great March of Return movement. The demonstrators are calling for the lifting of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed on Gaza for over a decade and for the right to return to their ancestral homes in Israel, as stipulated in UN Resolution 194. Most of the Palestinians killed during the demonstrations were shot in weekly clashes, but others have been hit by Israeli tank fire or air raids. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period, one by a Palestinian sniper and another during an aborted special forces operation in Gaza. Egyptian mediators were in Gaza this week to meet with officials from Hamas and other factions to shore up a ceasefire that went into effect after an intense exchange between Hamas and Israel in November that brought them to the brink of war. Participants said they discussed Cairo-led efforts to reconcile Hamas with the rival Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and reduce border tensions. The country will be renamed the Republic of Northern Macedonia, finalising its part of the deal with Greece. The Macedonian parliament has amended the constitution to rename the country as the Republic of Northern Macedonia. Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev secured the required majority in parliament on Friday that was needed to rename the country in line with a landmark agreement with Greece to end a decades-long dispute. Parliamentary speaker Talad Xhaferi said 81 MPs voted in favour of the name change in the 120-seat chamber, securing the required two-thirds majority. A spokesperson for the governing Social Democrats said the ethnic Albanian legislators also agreed to back the deal. Ethnic Albanians make up about a quarter of Macedonias 2.1 million people. Albania has congratulated Macedonias parliament vote on name change as a clear demonstration of statesmanship unlocking NATO and EU path. Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati tweeted after the vote, saying the contribution of Albanian political parties once again proved to be a decisive factor. The final vote of #PrespaAgreement by Parliament is a clear demonstration of statesmanship unlocking #NATO and #EU path. The contribution of Albanian political parties once again proved to be a decisive factor. Congratulations! Ditmir Bushati (@ditmirbushati) January 11, 2019 An act of treason Delays had marked the October vote that launched the procedure to change the constitution, also with a two-thirds majority. The deal encountered strong opposition from both sides of the border, with critics saying it offered too many concessions to the other side. Representatives of the conservative opposition VMRO-DPMNE boycotted the vote. The partys leader Hristjan Mickoski accused the government of securing parliamentary approval by blackmailing MPs and urged Zaev to call an early election this spring. Mickoski told reporters the move to appease Greece was made against the desires of the Macedonian people and is an act of treason. Over the past three days, several hundred people protested against the deal in front of parliament. Zaev agreed on the name change with Greek counterpart and fellow leftist Alexis Tsipras in June. Under the agreement, after Skopje cements the name change with constitutional amendments, Tsipras is to push the ratification of the agreement through Greek parliament. Greece is bound by terms of the deal to stop blocking Macedonia from NATOand other international groups and to allow it to start European Union accession talks as part of the deal. The so-called Prespa agreement seeks to end a 27-year-long dispute between Athens and Skopje over the name Macedonia. The Greeks have accused their northern neighbours of intent to steal the identity and even territory from their own ancient province with that name, which Macedonia has denied. Macedonian approval of the name change does not end the issue though. The Greek government is struggling to hold up its end of the bargain, and is struggling to secure the political support required to ratify the agreement reached last June. Greek Prime Minister Tsipras has said he wants to bring the deal which has brought his coalition government to the brink of a breakup to parliament in coming weeks. Although his junior coalition partner opposes the deal, Tsipras has voiced confidence he will be able to secure ratification with the backing of opposition legislators. Protesters calling for freedom, peace, justice march through Khartoum as police respond with volleys of tear gas. Sudanese security forces have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters in the capital Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman as organisers urge nationwide demonstrations over the next week calling for the resignation of President Omar al-Bashir. Crowds chanting Freedom, Peace, Justice demonstrated on Friday in two areas of Khartoum and in Omdurman just across the Nile, witnesses said. They were quickly confronted by volleys of tear gas from riot police. The demonstrations, which first erupted on December 19 over a government decision to triple the price of bread, have swiftly escalated into broader protests that are widely seen as the biggest threat to al-Bashirs three-decade rule. Fridays protests came after organisers called for nationwide demonstrations over the next week demanding that al-Bashir resign. We will launch a week of uprising with demonstrations in every Sudanese town and village, the Sudanese Professionals Association said. More protests in #Omdurman, one day after Omar Al Bashir's security forces killed 3 & fired tear gas to disperse dozens of demonstrators on Thursday in the latest of several weeks of #Sudan anti-gov protests sparked by economic and political grievances.https://t.co/AbuKFpBR4r pic.twitter.com/lnABkcqMEA Saad Abedine (@SaadAbedine) January 11, 2019 At least 22 people have been killed since the protests began, according to the authorities. Human Rights Watch, however, said on Monday that at least 40 people had been killed, including children and medical staff. Reporting from Khartoum, Al Jazeeras Hiba Morgan said that while al-Bashir has remained defiant regarding the protests against him, so have the protesters. They say they will continue to come out into the streets, they will continue to make their voices heard, and they will continue to demand that he step down, something that [al-Bashir] said hes not going to do until elections in 2020, Morgan said. Even then, his party says they are going to try to re-elect him so that he can be nominated for presidency next year. So its not clear if these protests will ever end. People are saying that theyre fed up with his 29-year rule and that his promises to try to reform the economy, to try to improve the living situation for people is something that theyve heard over and over again and only him stepping down would be the solution. Economic crisis Although the immediate trigger for the protests was the increase in the price of bread, Sudan has been facing a mounting economic crisis over the past year, partially caused by an acute shortage of foreign currency. Repeated shortages of food and fuel have been reported in several cities, including the capital Khartoum, while the cost of food and medicine has more than doubled. Al-Bashir and other officials have blamed Washington for Sudans economic woes, having imposed a trade embargo on Khartoum in 1997 that was lifted only in October 2017. The president has remained defiant, telling thousands of loyalists at a Khartoum rally on Wednesday that his government would not give in to economic pressure. Those who tried to destroy Sudan put conditions on us to solve our problems, I tell them that our dignity is more than the price of dollars, al-Bashir said. Across the Nile in Khartoums twin city of Omdurman, three demonstrators were killed on Wednesday as police fired tear gas to disperse the protest, the authorities said. Morgan said that there are concerns among the protesters that the government will escalate its use of force in an attempt to put down the protests. People are saying that the force used against them by the government is brutal and that it increases day by day, Morgan said. Human rights groups say more than 1,000 people have been arrested since the protests began, including opposition leaders, activists and journalists as well as demonstrators. Shutdown expected to stretch into 22nd day, which would make it the longest of its kind in US history. US President Donald Trump has said that for now, he would not declare a national emergency as a way of securing funds for a border wall and ending a partial government shutdown, adding that he would rather see the US Congress act. We want Congress to do its job, Trump said on Friday during a White House event on border security. What were not looking to do right now is national emergency, the Republican president said. Key parts of the US government shut down on December 22 after funding expired as Trump and congressional Democrats quarrelled over his demand for $5.7bn in funding to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. Trump repeated his view that he had the right to declare a national emergency to divert funds appropriated for other purposes but said, Im not going to do it so fast. 181210211443443 He also reiterated that he was open to considering a major immigration reform but that he would only do so after he obtained funding for the wall. Democrats have refused to give in to Trumps proposed wall, and the shutdown now in its 21st day is expected to become the longest of its type in US history over the weekend. Democrats view the wall as ineffective, expensive and immoral. Instead, they have agreed to provide more than $1.3bn in federal funding for broader border security measures that do not include a wall. Fight about border security Pressure is mounting on politicians to find a way to reopen the government. Some 800,000 federal workers are affected with about half required to work without pay and the other half furloughed. Many received pay stubs with nothing but zeros on Friday, deepening anxieties about mortgage payments and unpaid bills. Congress has passed legislation that would ensure all federal employees are paid retroactively after the shutdown ends. The bill awaits the presidents signature. On Thursday, federal workers, several Democrats and unions gathered in Washington for a rally against the shutdown. While addressing the crowd, US Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, chided Trump. You want to fight about border security? Well have that discussion, he said. But do not hold 800,000 peoples lives as political pawns. 190110192156217 On Wednesday, Trump reportedly stormed out of a meeting with leading Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer after they refused to approved funds for the wall in exchange for ending the shutdown. When he left for McAllen, Texas, on Thursday morning, there were no further shutdown negotiations scheduled. The Democrat-controlled House has passed several pieces of legislation that would open specific government departments, but Republican leaders in the Senate have refused to bring any bill that Trump wont sign to a vote. Trumps former lawyer who pleaded guilty to charges last year will appear before US House of Representatives next month. President Donald Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen has agreed to appear before a US House of Representatives committee on February 7. Cohen said in a statement on Thursday that he had accepted an invitation by the panels Democratic chairman, US Representative Elijah Cummings, to appear publicly before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired, Cohen said in the statement. Cohen was sentenced in December to a total of three years in prison for his role in making illegal hush-money payments to women to help Trumps 2016 election campaign and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia. 190108205112381 Cohen, Trumps self-described longtime fixer, pleaded guilty to the campaign finance charge in August. In November, he pleaded guilty to making false statements, a charge that was brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible coordination between Trumps campaign and Russia. More appearances The Oversight hearing may not be Cohens only appearance. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, said he welcomes Cohens testimony before the Oversight panel. But Schiff added that it will be necessary, however, for Mr Cohen to answer questions pertaining to the Russia investigation, and we hope to schedule a closed session before our committee in the near future. 181208174602506 Cohen testified before the House intelligence panel in 2017, before his role in the federal investigations was fully known and when Republicans controlled the panel. The Republican-led committee later ended its investigation into the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, saying there was no evidence of collusion or conspiracy between Trumps campaign and Russia. Schiff wants to restart parts of that probe. The partial government shutdown entered its 20th day on Thursday, as President Trump travelled to Texas. Washington, DC As US President Donald Trump headed to the countrys southern border with Mexico on Thursday, federal workers, unions and some Democrats rallied in the nations capital against the ongoing partial government shutdown. Trumps trip to Texas to make his case for a wall on the US-Mexico border comes on the 20th day of the shutdown, which was born from Trumps demand that Congress provide more than $5bn in funding for the wall, a measure that Democrats have opposed. Lets call this shutdown what it is: Its a lockout, Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of unions, told the crowd. Shame on the Senate. Shame on the White House. This lockout has to end, and it has to end now. Trumka added, Instead of going to the border for a photo op, President Trump should be on the Hill negotiating a deal to open the federal government and put out people back to work. Demonstrators chanted against Trump, while placards blamed him for the ongoing shutdown. Do your jobs, so we can do ours, several protesters chanted. 181210211443443 Stop the shutdown, others screamed. We want to work. The shutdown started on December 22 and has affected key government agencies, forcing many federal workers to continue working without pay and others to simply stay at home. At least two unions have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over the shutdown. Lives as political pawns Trump walked out of a meeting with top Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer on Wednesday and he had no additional negotiations scheduled when he took off for McAllen, Texas, on Thursday morning. Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Trump suggested that he may declare a national emergency in order to obtain funding for the wall without congressional approval. If he moved forward with that threat, it would likely be challenged in the courts. Trump has blamed Democrats for the shutdown, accusing them of standing in the way of national security. But a POLITICO/Morning Consult poll published on Wednesday found that nearly half of voters blame Trump for the shutdown, while only 33 percent blame Democrats. A demonstrator holds a sign, signifying hundreds of thousands of federal employees who wont be receiving their paychecks as a result of the partial government shutdown [Carlos Barria/Reuters] Last week, with pressure mounting, Trump said he would allow the partial shutdown to continue for months or even years if he did not get funding for the border wall. At Thursdays rally in Washington, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Democrat, accused Trump of inflicting pain on federal workers. Shutting down the government is not a policy that should be followed, he told the crowd. 190107150120233 Ladies and gentlemen, we need to keep yelling and screaming and hollering until this president opens up that government of the people, for the people and by the people. US Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, called on Senate politicians to pass bills to reopen the federal government. You want to fight about border security? Well have that discussion, he said. But do not hold 800,000 peoples lives as political pawns. The announcement comes as the partial shutdown hits the 20th day with no resolution in sight. US President Donald Trump on Thursday cancelled his planned trip later this month to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, amid the ongoing partial shutdown of the United States government. The announcement came through a tweet in which Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, which began on December 22 after he, his fellow Republicans and Democrats failed to come to an agreement on whether to allocate more than $5bn in funding the president has been demanding for a wall on the US-Mexico border. Democrats, who blame Trump for the shutdown, oppose the wall, calling it ineffective, immoral and expensive. They have instead agreed to allocate more than $1.3bn in funding for broader border security measures that do not include a wall. 190107150120233 Before a trip to the border in Texas, Trump on Thursday renewed his threat to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress if a deal cannot be reached. If he acts on the threat, it is likely to be challenged legally. Earlier in the day, Trump said he wanted to go to the annual Davos event, which is scheduled from January 22 to 25, but would skip the meeting if the shutdown persisted. He then made the announcement he was cancelling his trip to Switzerland. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other Cabinet members are still scheduled to attend the economic forum, which attracts business and political elite. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan is also expected to attend, but it is not clear if there are any arrangements for a meeting between him and US officials during the annual gathering. China and the US have taken a 90-day pause in implementing tariffs to hammer out a trade deal. 190110145832243 The Swiss meeting could also provide US officials with opportunities to discuss better terms of trade with the European Union, Japan, Canada and Mexico. The US partial government shutdown is affecting some 800,000 federal workers who have been furloughed or required to work without pay. Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen has named the ruling pro-independence partys former chairman as premier after the incumbent stepped down along with the entire cabinet in the wake of a setback in local polls. The election losses in November presented a major challenge to Tsai, who came under criticism at home over her reform agenda while facing renewed threats from China, which considers self-ruled Taiwan a breakaway province. Tsai on Friday appointed Su Tseng-chang, the former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for two terms, who succeeds William Lai. Taiwans democracy and development must face certain challenges, Tsai said, adding that China was looking to force its one country, two systems structure on the island. 190103011354919 Taiwans premier forms the cabinet and runs the government on a day-to-day basis. Su vowed to lead the administration amid the challenges and learn from earlier mistakes. The situation is difficult and the task is tough, he said. His appointment followed the resignation of Lai, the second premier to quit since Tsai took office in 2016, in line with a practice of leaders quitting when their party loses a major election. I must resign to take responsibility for the election defeat, Lai, who had taken office in September 2017, told a cabinet meeting earlier on Friday. Two months ago, Tsai immediately resigned as chair of the DPP after it won just six out of 22 local authorities while the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, seen as being close to China, took 15 cities and counties. With just about a year until the next presidential election, analysts say Tsai and the new premier need to shore up public support for the governments policy on relations with Beijing and further boost the islands export-reliant economy in a challenging year amid a China-US trade war. Su was appointed premier in 2006 by former president Chen Shui-bian, who infuriated Beijing and strained Taiwans relationship with the United States during his tenure from 2000 to 2008. Su, who is popular among the DPPs core supporters, has led Taiwans most populous New Taipei City for years. He was defeated by a candidate from the KMT in November. 190109053540993 Tsai has said her administration would reflect upon the election defeats but would stand firm to defend Taiwans democracy in the face of renewed Chinese threats. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since Tsai became president, threatened earlier this month to use force to bring the island under Beijings rule and urged reunification. The new premier not only has to focus on domestic matters but must also pay much more attention to cross-strait and national security issues, Yao Chia-wen, a senior adviser to the president, told Reuters news agency. He said the new premier must deal with issues including the prevention of swine fever from China, as well as possible election interference. Some from within the embattled leaders party have urged Tsai not to seek re-election. She has not explicitly said whether she would run for president in 2020 but has warned against Chinese efforts to interfere with elections. Syrias war: Life in al-Bab after ISIL The growing Syrian town is seen by Ankara as the gate to Turkeys security. With little help from authorities, Syrian refugees living in Bekaa Valley camps brave ice-cold floodwaters, yet again. Bekaa Valley, Lebanon Tarima Ibrahim huddled together with her children to keep them warm as incessant rainfall, heavy winds and hail slapped their tarpaulin tent and lashed the refugee camp around it. We are freezing, she said. The tent is not heating up because it is flooded with ice-cold water. Lebanon was hit by Storm Norma on January 6, heavily impacting at least 360 informal refugee settlements and putting 850 others at risk. The country is home to more than a million Syrian refugees, many of whom live in temporary structures like these. Tarimas camp, Ali Askar, is situated near the snow-capped Qalamoun mountains, in an area called Bar Elias in Lebanon, it is one of the worst-hit by the storm. Wading through knee-deep water, Tarima pointed to the floating utensils, soaked jackets and dripping blankets in her tent. We lost a home in Syria, now we have lost what we had here, she said. Tarima in her tent in Ali Askar camp in the Bekaa Valley [Anchal Vohra/Al Jazeera] In 2015, Tarima fled Homs in Syria and moved to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. She said that she may have saved her family from the war but does not know how to protect them from the wrath of nature. According to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, at least 70,000 people are at risk from extreme weather, over half of them children. Norma has already claimed the life of its first victim, an eight-year-old girl who was swept away by the flood in the Minieh region. Tarima is frightened about losing her children to the storm. I was afraid they would be swallowed by the flood, now I am worried about disease, she said. 190110184315430 Her 18-month-old son Ahmad has been running a high fever for over a week now but has not yet seen a doctor. There are no medicines and no doctors, she said. Look at this dirty water. Wont there be sickness? she added. Her other children have colds and coughs, a condition many children in the camp are suffering from. There is not enough food either. My children have not had milk for over a week, Tarima said, adding that she lost the food she had saved to the water and is now waiting for local Lebanese NGOs to provide whatever they can. Lisa Abou Khaled, a spokesperson for UNHCR, told Al Jazeera that the organisation had begun to pump water out of the camps in the Bekaa. She said it is proving to be a challenging task because most of the camps are built below road level and rainwater has continued to accumulate. Both in the North and the Bekaa, alternative sites have been identified to accommodate families affected by the storm, Abou Khaled said, adding that about 600 people had been relocated so far and some have moved into permanent structures with family and friends, while others have sought shelter in nearby schools or mosques. Lisa said that along with local authorities and partners, the UNHCR has distributed blankets, mattresses and drainage kits. S wimming pool The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has also sent its team to the affected areas and reported severe damage in the camps in North Lebanon. Paul Donohoe of the IRC said that their team visited the camps in the Akkar region and described the site as looking more like a swimming pool. Irrigation and drainage at informal tented settlements are poor and it is almost impossible to prevent flood water entering the tents, Donohoe said. IRC has suspended many of its educational activities in the country, affecting 5,700 students. A refugee outside Tamiras tent in Ali Askar camp near the Syrian border [Anchal Vohra/Al Jazeera] Donohoe described the helplessness of the refugee children who rely on begging or selling various items on the streets. The severity of the storm didnt prevent many Syrian children from continuing to work or begging on the streets to help make ends meet for their families. Nadia Rdeini, a local activist, has been conducting many rounds of the Ali Askar camp. As the camp flooded, she said, refugees were rushed to centres run by two NGOs in the camp so they could be provided some immediate relief. But much more needs to be done. The people need more food, more blankets, more clothes, she said. We also need to help them to rebuild their tents and provide them with the few necessary items they need to live which they have now lost. Nadia is concerned that the refugees may have to live with the aftermath long after the bad weather has passed. She volunteers with an NGO called Lighthouse Peace Initiative, which has started a fundraising campaign to help the refugees in the Bekaa Valley. Another resident in the camp is Huda al-Zahoori, whose tent is also flooded. She is in her late sixties and lives alone in the camp. Her husband left for Syria a few months ago when they heard that their son had been arrested by the Syrian government, she said. My husband went to search for him but he has not found our son yet, she said. I do not want to live in such conditions in Lebanon but how do I go back? It is not safe in Syria for us. Huda al-Zahoori in her tent in Ali Askar camp near the snow-capped Qalamoun mountains on the border with Syria [Anchal Vohra/Al Jazeera] Hudas sentiment resonated in other camps. Syrian refugees say they are tired of the living conditions in Lebanon even before the storm hit but could not see a way out. Little help from authorities Tarima feels she has no choice. The way Lebanon has treated us, it is clear they want us to leave but where do I go when I go back to Syria? she asked, My house has been destroyed and the government will enlist my husband in the army. Who will feed us then? The Lebanese government has always said it wants the Syrian refugees to return to Syria and has seemingly done little to help those struck by the storm and in urgent need of help. On Thursday, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri headed a meeting with a range of ministries and announced measures to mitigate the impact of another storm expected over the weekend. Lebanons National News Agency reported that the government intends to clear four storm drains located within Greater Beirut and repair damage on key roads. The Syrian refugee encampments may continue to be inundated, however. Lebanon does not allow official refugee camps and has strict restrictions on material that can be used to build even semi-permanent structures, to prevent them from becoming permanent. This has forced many Syrians to live in unprotected tents and brave harsh winters year after year. The Lebanese government fears the Syrian refugees may never return and will instead stay in Lebanon just as many Palestinian refugees who fled to Lebanon in 1948 did. On Wednesday, Lebanons President Michel Aoun said the Syrian refugees should aim to return to Syria, take part in the Syrian reconstruction and live with dignity. Tarima said she doesnt want to speak against the Lebanese government but that she had no hope of receiving help from it. We pray to our God that the waters recede, she said. But it would be very kind of you to ask someone to help us with water for the toilets. The bathrooms in the NGO centre are very dirty, she added, as we watched two boys paddling on a plank of wood from one camp to another. Thousands of federal workers wont receive a paycheque on Friday as the partial US government shutdown stretches into its 21st day, rivalling the longest on record. More than half of the 800,000 federal employees affected are still on the job, while the others were furloughed when key federal departments and agencies shut down on December 22 after Donald Trump, his fellow Republicans and Democrats failed to come to an agreement on whether to allocate more than $5bn in funding to the presidents border wall project. On Thursday, during a visit to the US-Mexico border, Trump renewed his threat to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress and find funds for the border wall, a move that, if he were to take it, would likely be challenged in the courts. Democrats, who oppose the wall, blame Trump, who has so far refused to back down on his demand for $5.7bn in funding, for the shutdown. They have instead said they will provide more than $1.3bn for border security measures, which do not include a wall. 190107150120233 I dont even know if Trump wants the wall, I think he just wants to debate on the wall, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, told reporters on Thursday, suggesting that a meeting between her party and the president a day prior was a setup so Trump could walk out. At that meeting, Trump abruptly left after Pelosi told him Democrats would not fund the wall in exchange for his ending the shutdown. National emergency Trump, who initially said he would be proud to shut down the government for border security, blames the Democrats, saying the wall is necessary to stem irregular immigration and stop the flow of illegal drugs into the US. Critics have pointed out that most drugs cross between official ports of entry. With workers missing their first paycheque and increased impacts on national parks, the economy and federal programmes, Republicans are feeling the pressure to find a way to end the shutdown. But Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, has so far refused this year to bring any legislation that Trump wont sign to a vote. Trump speaks to reporters as he visits the banks of the Rio Grande River with Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and US Customs and Border Patrol agents during his visit to the US-Mexico border [Leah Millis/Reuters] Meanwhile, Trump appeared to be inching closer to declaring a national emergency. US media, citing unnamed sources, reported that the White House had asked the US Army Corps of Engineers to look to divert money from its budget towards the wall and explore how fast construction could begin under an emergency declaration. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said in a statement that it was time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier. But other Republicans have expressed doubts, given the potential legal hurdles such a move may face. How in the hell are we going to eat? On Thursday, federal workers across the country rallied against the shutdown. At the Washington, DC rally, Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of unions, called the shutdown a lockout. Shame on the Senate. Shame on the White House, he told the crowd. This lockout has to end, and it has to end now. In Detroit, federal worker Gregory Simpkins told the Associated Press, Next week, its going to be a panic mode. How are we going to pay rent? How are we going to pay out bills? How in the hell are we going to eat? In New York, furloughed Park Ranger Kathryn Gilson said if the shutdown goes much longer it will probably cause her to go into a depression. Im kind of just sitting and staring at the wall and trying not to lose my mind, she said. Union members and Internal Revenue Service workers rally against the partial government shutdown in Covington, Kentucky [John Minchillo/AP Photo] Another furloughed park ranger, Sean Ghacala, said he hopes this can get resolved and we can get past all of this putting precious federal funding towards things that will only make division worse What we need is to reopen the government and get past this racism and xenophobia. Also on Thursday, the Senate approved a bill to ensure that all federal employees will be paid retroactively after the shutdown ends. The bill requires that all employees including those who have been furloughed be paid as soon as possible once the government reopens. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. The Democrat-controlled House has also passed several bills that would fund specific government departments. The bills would still need to be passed by the Senate, where Republican leaders have vowed not to bring them to a vote. The 18-year-old left Bangkok airport for Canada, officials confirmed, after her ordeal went viral on social media. Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room earlier this week in a bid to stave off deportation to the kingdom, has been granted asylum by Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said. On Friday evening, the 18-year-old, who claimed to be fleeing abuse from her family, boarded a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul where she will take a connecting flight to Canada. Canada has been unequivocal that well stand up for human rights and womens rights around the world, Trudeau said. When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant Miss al-Qununs asylum, we accepted. Al-Qunun arrived in Bangkok on a flight from Kuwait over the weekend, saying her family subjected her to physical and psychological abuse. Her father travelled to Thailand and denied mistreating her but she refused to see him during his trip. The teenager said she planned to seek asylum in Australia, fearing she would be killed if repatriated by Thai immigration officials who stopped her at the airport. Al-Qunun live-tweeted her entire stay at the airport, posting videos and constantly updating her followers. Her Twitter account gained more than 100,000 followers over six days but the teenager reportedly suspended her profile on Friday after receiving some very nasty, very real death threats. Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said on Twitter: Rahaf temporarily suspended her #Twitter account because she has been receiving some very nasty, very real death threats. Not sure when she will resume, & think it depends on what @Twitter @Jack does about tracking & shutting down those accounts making these threats! #SaveRahaf A host of political films being produced ahead of the crucial general election, some of which smack of propaganda. Bollywood filmmakers are seeking to cash in on this years Indian general election with a host of political movies, some of which smack of propaganda according to critics. The Hindi film industry has a long tradition of producing politically tinged flicks but industry watchers say 2019s offerings are more partisan than ever before. What we have this year are quite a few films, some of which are biopics, that appear to be uncritical and unabashedly push the agenda of a particular party, its policies and political philosophies, said reviewer Nandini Ramnath. The Accidental Prime Minister and Uri: The Surgical Strike released on Friday. Films about the lives of two prominent politicians come out later in January, while a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also in the works. . @vivekoberoi stars in a biopic of PM Narendra Modi, how thrilled are you to see him play this role? pic.twitter.com/RjbUgWF7Tc IIFA (@IIFA) January 7, 2019 The silver screen and politics have often intertwined in India. Many actors have become politicians while Bollywood has not shied away from tackling political issues in its plotlines. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (Let it be, friends) became a cult classic in 1983 for its satirical takedown of corruption while 2010s Peepli Live was praised for tackling the difficult subject of farmer suicides. 180325060304877 Political movies have also fallen foul of the government. Kissa Kursi Ka (Story of the chair) and Aandhi (Storm) were both banned by then prime minister Indira Gandhi in the 1970s. The former (1977) was viewed as satirising her politics, while the latter (1975) was allegedly based on her relationship with her estranged husband, who died several years earlier. Reelpolitik Supporters of Gandhis party, Congress, have tried to stir up controversy around the The Accidental Prime Minister, holding protests and even going to court, unsuccessfully, to try to block its release. They claim it portrays senior Congress members in a bad light and is propaganda for Modi and his ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegations the director denies. A woman walks past a bus featuring an advertisement for The Accidental Prime Minister in Mumbai [Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters] The Hindi-language film sees veteran actor Anupam Kher, a vocal supporter of Modi, play the leaders predecessor Manmohan Singh, of the Congress party, as the prime minister. 201432032645330523 It is based on a memoir written by Sanjaya Baru, a former adviser to Singh. This film is not about politics but about the relationship between Dr Singh and Sanjaya Baru through Barus eyes. They are both heroes of the film. Its not propaganda, director Vijay Gutte told AFP news agency. Some social media users and film critics have accused Kher of comically mimicking Singhs slow and measured way of walking and talking but the actor believes he has captured his mannerisms perfectly. I think it's about time to call out Anupam Kher ji for the TERRIBLE portrayal of Shri Manmohan Singh. This is not acting, this is Hamming(with a prejudice!) Dr. Singh neither walks nor talks like Mr.Kher does in the film. Here's a small sampler: pic.twitter.com/dHcQwXKIvs Zainab Sikander Siddiqui (@zainabsikander) January 10, 2019 It will take you a little time to distinguish between the real and the reel, Kher tweeted last month when posting a photo of Singh alongside one of himself in character. 181120160323155 That is the authenticity and the sincerity one has applied in portraying #DrManmohanSingh, he added. However, a reviewer called The Accidental Prime Minister an out-and-out propaganda film, created for the specific purpose of making the former prime minister look like a weak, spineless man. Arena for propaganda Several movies touching on politics were released during Indias last election year in 2014, notably Youngistan and Bhoothnath Returns in which superstar Amitabh Bachchan played a ghost running against an evil candidate. 180612115615871 Filmmakers say it makes good business sense to release movies with a political backdrop in the run-up to an election, while others may be secretly hoping that they translate into votes as well. The nationalistic, all-guns-blazing Uri: The Surgical Strike which celebrates the Indian Armys attack on fighters in 2016, in response to a raid that had killed 19 Indian soldiers, is likely to be popular. Modi was widely lauded for the operation and the film sees Vicky Kaushal play an army major in charge of avenging the attack which India blamed on its archenemy Pakistan on the Uri base. Thackeray, a biopic about divisive Mumbai politician Bal Thackeray, who died in 2012, is tipped to be a hagiography designed to boost support for the Shiv Sena a Hindu chauvinist party he led and founded. 181117231234569 A Shiv Sena politician has written the screenplay of the movie, which is scheduled to hit screens on January 25, around what would have been Thackerays 93rd birthday. January will also see the release of the first of a two-part Telugu-language biopic on actor-turned Andhra Pradesh politician NT Rama Rao. Popular cinema has emerged as an arena for propaganda, with a greater ability to sway opinion and spread ideas than other media, said Ramnath, a critic for Scroll.in. Poland has charged a Chinese manager at tech giant Huawei and a Polish national involved in cyber business with espionage on behalf of China. Polish state television on Friday reported that two men, arrested on Tuesday, were charged by Polands Internal Security Agency. Polish security agents also searched the offices of Huawei and Orange, Polands leading communications provider, where the Pole had recently worked, seizing documents and electronic data. The homes of both men were also searched, according to TVP, the state broadcaster. The development came as a US dispute with China over a ban on Huawei is spilling over to Europe, the companys biggest foreign market, where some countries are also starting to shun its network systems over data security concerns. Some European governments and telecom companies are following the US lead in questioning whether using Huawei for vital mobile network infrastructure could leave them exposed to snooping by the Chinese government. Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Polands special service, said the operation that resulted in the arrest of the two suspects had been under way for a long time and was planned with care. He said: Both carried out espionage activities against Poland. Polish state TV identified the Chinese man as Weijing W, saying he was a director in Poland at Huawei. Also going by the Polish first name Stanislaw, the Chinese man had previously worked at the Chinese consulate. The broadcaster identified the Pole as Piotr D and said he was a high-ranking employee at the Internal Security Agency until 2011, where he served as deputy director in the department of information security. TVP said the men have not pleaded guilty and are refusing to give testimony in the case. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison. Under Polish law, their last names cannot be published before trial. Huawei issued a statement from its Chinese headquarters that said it was aware of the situation and looking into it. We have no comment for the time being. Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based, it continued. 181208010817198 Geopolitical tensions over Huawei intensified after its chief financial officer, who is the daughter of founder Ren Zhengfei, was arrested December 1 in Canada in connection with US accusations that the company violated restrictions on sales of American technology to Iran. Huawei has been blocked in the US since 2012 when a House Intelligence Committee report found it was a security risk and recommended that the government and private companies stop buying its network equipment. Controversial president says his countrys bishops are sons of b*****s and most of them are gay. President Rodrigo Duterte has denounced bishops in the Catholic-majority country as sons of b*****s, renewing his attacks on the church that has criticised him over his bloody war on drugs. Duterte, who launched his campaign against drugs when he took office in mid-2016, remains hugely popular but doubts about the campaign, in which thousands of people have been killed, have been growing. Only I can say bishops are sons of b*****s, damn you. That is true, Duterte said in a speech during a groundbreaking ceremony for a school north of the capital, Manila. Duterte did not mention any particular reason for his criticism of the church on Thursday, which included a suggestion that most bishops are homosexual. Most of them are gay, he said. They should come out in the open, cancel celibacy and allow them to have boyfriends. Duterte, who is not a regular church-goer, said early in his presidency that he was sexually abused by a priest when he was a boy. The Roman Catholic Church is facing clerical sexual abuse scandals in various parts of the world, although there have been no major cases reported in the Philippines. In previous speeches, Duterte called God stupid and described as silly the doctrine of Holy Trinity. Francis Lucas, an official with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, played down the presidents criticism, saying all should show restraint. We have to be more sensitive to the sensitivities and sensibilities of others out of respect, Lucas told Reuters news agency. The presidents crackdown on drugs retains much support but some sectors of the Church have become increasingly vocal about the killings, with calls for justice and offers of sanctuary to drug users. Some 5,000 people have been killed in police anti-drugs operations in Dutertes anti-drug drive. Police reject accusations that the killings were executions, saying drug peddlers and users were killed in shootouts, and police acted in self-defence. About 80 percent of the more than 100 million people of the Philippines are Roman Catholic. Latest charges against Ghosn, who denies any wrongdoing, relate to investment losses, payments to Saudi businessman. Prosecutors in Japan have indicted former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn on two new charges of financial misconduct, hours before his latest detention period was due to expire. The 64-year-old was charged on Friday with aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to Nissan in 2008 and for understating his compensation for three fiscal years through March 2018, according to the Tokyo District Court. His associate, Greg Kelly, another Nissan executive and the carmaker as a legal entity were also charged in relation to the underreporting of income. Ghosn had already been held in detention after being charged in November with under-reporting his income for the five years up to 2015. The Brazilian-born Frenchman, who is credited with reviving Nissan and remains the chairman of its alliance partner Renault, told a court this week he was innocent of the charges against him. Ghosns lawyers asked for the court hearing, his first public appearance, to press for bail saying it was not necessary to keep the tycoon in detention but the request was rejected. His lawyer said on Friday that he would make another request for bail. The allegations relating to criminal breach of trust centre on Ghosns handling of investment losses and payments made to a Saudi businessperson. Visits and questioning of the once high-flying industry titan were postponed after Ghosn developed a fever on Wednesday evening. Only embassy officials and Ghosns lawyers are allowed to visit him. Many communities in Nepal consider menstruating women as impure and force mothers and daughters to stay in sheds. A woman and her two sons suffocated to death in Nepal after she was forced to sleep in a windowless shed during her period, police said. Amba Bohara and her children are the latest victims of an age-old Hindu practice in the Himalayan country, that was banned more than a decade ago. Bohara, 35, and her sons aged 12 and nine had lit a fire on Tuesday night to keep warm in the freezing mud and stone hut, but were discovered dead the next morning by her father-in-law in western Nepals Bajura district, police said. 180111125347290 The practice of chhaupadi banishes menstruating girls and women to animal sheds or huts for the duration of their period, when they are thought to be impure. They died of suffocation because there was no ventilation and they had made the chamber airtight to beat the cold, police official Uddhav Singh Bhat told the Reuters news agency. We pulled out their bodies with burned limbs. Outlawed in 2005 The ancient tradition was outlawed in 2005, yet it remains prevalent in Nepals remote west. The monthly exclusion leaves women at risk of snake bites, attacks by wild animals and rape. Some communities fear misfortune, such as a natural disaster, if menstruating women and girls are not sent away. They are barred from touching a range of items including milk, religious idols and cattle and must eat frugally. Menstruating women and girls are also not allowed to meet other family members or venture out during their period. The custom has led to several deaths, despite the government introducing three-month jail terms and fines of 3,000 rupees ($27). Last year, a woman suffocated to death after she was banished; in 2017, a teenager died after a snake bite. Human rights activists say the governments efforts to end the practice have been inadequate and urged tighter monitoring. 170809153456935 That a woman dies with her children during menstruation is one of the biggest tragedies, said Mohana Ansari of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Officials say battling centuries-old attitudes is not easy. The NHRC said police needed to do more to enforce the law. Women will continue to die unless there are consequences for enforcing this tradition, said Ansari. Yangon, Myanmar The families of two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar after uncovering a massacre in Rakhine state were once again left devastated on Friday when a court rejected the pairs appeal to overturn their seven-year prison sentences. After the judge rattled through his ruling in a crowded courtroom in downtown Yangon, the wives of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo wept as senior foreign diplomats offered their commiserations. While little has gone in the reporters favour since their arrests in December 2017, Kyaw Soe Oos wife, Chit Su Win, was still clinging to hope before todays decision. We were even hoping to go to the jail to welcome them if they were released today, but its not happening, she told a scrum of reporters outside the gates of Yangons regional High Court. Neither of the men attended Fridays ruling. They have both been unable to see their children for the past month. Wa Lones detention forced him to miss the birth of his baby daughter in August last year, while Kyaw Soe Oo has only been able to see his three-year-old daughter at court hearings and prison visits. A message to journalists The two journalists were sentenced in September under the countrys Official Secrets Act after being accused of holding classified documents. Their nine-month trial was roundly condemned as a sham aimed at stifling independent reporting on the militarys large-scale killings of Rohingya. 181211233617965 Journalists have got the message that they should avoid these kinds of issues, Myint Kyaw, secretary of the Myanmar Journalists Network, told Al Jazeera. The military is adamant its actions in late 2017 were legitimate counterinsurgency operations, but the UN has called for senior officials to be prosecuted for genocide. Defence lawyer Than Zaw Aung said he would talk to the reporters about whether or not to take an appeal to Myanmars Supreme Court. We are very disappointed about todays judgement, he said. In their September appeal, the defence pointed to testimony by a police captain who said his colleagues entrapped the reporters in a sting by handing them documents and then promptly arresting them. But Judge Aung Naing hewed closely to the original ruling today before observers in a high-ceilinged courtroom dotted with cobwebs, and described the pairs prison terms as a suitable punishment. Besides a Supreme Court ruling, the reporters best hope of being released soon is a pardon from President Win Myint, who would take orders from the countrys de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Based on previous cases of journalists being jailed in the country, said Myint Kyaw, there is a chance the pair will receive a pardon, but it will take time. A day in prison is an injustice Maja Kocijancic, the European Unions spokesperson for foreign affairs, said: We are confident that the president of Myanmar will promptly address this injustice and ensure, together with the government, that the press can fulfil its function as an essential pillar of democracy. Many are losing hope that former icon of democracy Aung San Suu Kyi will intervene on the pairs behalf. Bill Richardson, a senior US diplomat and former confidante of Aung San Suu Kyi, alleged last year that she referred to the two journalists as traitors during a heated exchange. Richardson resigned from his position on an international advisory body on Rakhine soon after the confrontation. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oos reporting from Rakhines Inn Din village last year revealed how soldiers and villagers hacked and shot 10 Rohingya men and boys to death before burying them in a mass grave. 181207065931858 They were among almost 7,000 Rohingya who died within the first month of the militarys crackdown, which began in late August 2017, according to estimates from Doctors Without Borders. The reporters were held incommunicado for two weeks following their arrests. Wa Lone later testified that he was hooded and deprived of sleep during days of interrogation. One day in prison was already an injustice, said Tirana Hassan, Amnesty Internationals Director of Crisis Response. This appalling farce must end now. Ruling decried as another injustice against Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were investigating 2017 killings of Rohingya. A court in Myanmar has rejected an appeal by two reporters of the Reuters news agency, sentenced to seven years in jail for breaking the countrys Official Secrets Act, in a case that rallied press freedom advocates. Lawyers for Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, had filed the appeal in November against their conviction, citing evidence of a police set-up and lack of proof of a crime. The appeal argued that the original trial was conducted in an unjust manner and had called for the reporters immediate release. But High Court judge Aung Naing on Friday said the lawyers failed to submit enough evidence to prove the pairs innocence. He said it was not acceptable to say that the defendants had acted according to journalistic ethics. It was a suitable punishment, the judge in Yangon said, referring to the seven-year prison term. The defence has the option of making a further appeal to the countrys Supreme Court, based in the capital, Naypyitaw. Todays ruling is yet another injustice among many inflicted upon Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. They remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth, Stephen J Adler, Reuters editor-in-chief, said in a statement. Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmars commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt. Investigation into Rohingya killings Before their arrest in December 2017, the two journalists had been investigating the killing of 10 Rohingya men and boys by security forces and local Buddhists in western Myanmars Rakhine state during an army crackdown that forced more than 700,000 members of the long-persecuted, mostly Muslim minority to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh. Two journalists exposed a Rohingya massacre by the Myanmar army. Now they're serving time for breaking the 'Official Secrets' Act. pic.twitter.com/2Hh778Klx4 Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 10, 2019 In September last year, a Yangon district court sentenced Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo to seven years in prison for illegal possession of official documents, sparking an international outcry from activists and diplomats in a case seen by many as a test of Myanmars fledgeling democracy. The pair were among a group of journalists named by the Time magazine as its Person of the Year. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in September 2018 that the reporters jailing had nothing to do with freedom of expression. In comments made the week after their conviction, she said they had been sentenced for handling official secrets and were not jailed because they were journalists. Bangkok-based independent Southeast Asian analyst Benjamin Zawacki told Al Jazeera he doubted Aung San Suu Kyi would offer the two journalists a pardon, and said the decision to reject the appeal was also a reflection of Chinas growing influence. (The decision) shows her contempt and the contempt in the country for international opinion, Zawacki said. The continued rise of China has allowed a certain amount of political interference to be run on behalf of countries like Myanmar such that decisions like these can be defended internationally in a way that was not really possible 10 years ago, much less 20 or 30 years ago. Appalling injustice Myanmars military admitted last January that its soldiers took part in the killings, but only after months of denials. Human rights watchdog Amnesty International says that a senior police officer testified in court that the two journalists were set up by police and called the rejected appeal an appalling injustice. The decision to keep these two brave and innocent Reuters journalists behind bars plays in the hands of the Myanmar authorities attempt to hide the truth about the atrocities committed in Rakhine, Amnestys Director of Crisis Response Tirana Hassan said in a statement. One day in prison was already an injustice. This appalling farce must end now. Myanmar authorities must release the two journalists immediately and unconditionally. They must also ensure that the people of Myanmar have the right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, including by repealing or amending the oppressive laws that are used against journalists, activists and human rights defenders. We are very disappointed about todays judgment, said the journalists defence lawyer Than Zaw Aung, adding that the decision would have a negative impact on the country and its media. He said his team will discuss the option of a Supreme Court appeal with the two reporters. MBS continues to seek advice from dismissed adviser who is implicated in Khashoggis murder, says Washington Post. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MBS) remains in regular contact with his adviser Saud al-Qahtani, who is accused of masterminding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post reported. The newspaper, citing unnamed US and Saudi sources, said that Prince Mohammed continues to seek advice from al-Qahtani. David Ignatius, the papers security affairs correspondent, quoted an unnamed US citizen who had recently met MBS as saying that al-Qahtani is in possession of a lot of files and dossiers. The idea that you can have a radical rupture with him is unrealistic, the source said. A Saudi who is close to the royal court concurred. Theres stuff [al-Qahtani] was working on that he may have to finish, or hand over, he said according to The Washington Post. Al-Qahtani worked as an adviser to MBS after serving in several positions within the royal court [Al Jazeera] The last official government comment on al-Qahtani was on November 15 when prosecutors said he was under investigation and was barred from leaving the kingdom. He was dismissed as a royal adviser following Khashoggis murder, but the ambiguity surrounding his status has raised questions about whether he continues to have influence behind the scenes. Qahtani is believed to have played a pivotal role in Khashoggis assassination by first trying to lure him back to Saudi Arabia. He met the Saudi hit team before they left for Turkey and allegedly gave orders to kill Khashoggi if he refused to return to his country voluntarily. Ignatius quoted another Saudi source as saying that al-Qahtani had recently made two trips to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), even though he was presumed to be under house arrest in Riyadh. The adviser also reportedly met recently with senior deputies from the royal courts Centre for Studies and Media Affairs at his home in Riyadh and told them that he had been blamed and used as a scapegoat. Qahtani had run the centre until shortly after Khashoggis death. Continuing repression The paper reported that far from altering his impulsive behaviour, MBS appears instead to be continuing with his autocratic governing style and a ruthless campaign against dissenters, according to US and Saudi sources. It said the Trump administration had hoped that the Saudi royal would learn something from Khashoggis killing and make some changes. Domestically, he feels very confident and in control. As long as his base is secure, he feels that nothing can harm him, the US source who had recently met MBS said. Hes completely unchastened by what has happened, an experienced Saudi-watcher based in the UK said. That is worrying for Western governments. One example that shows how MBS hasnt altered his Qahtani-style internet bullying tactics is a new aggressive social media campaign launched this week to attack Khashoggi and Canadian-based Saudi critic Omar Abdel Aziz. Ignatius said the Twitter hashtag Fact was used to present the alleged involvement of the two men in anti-Saudi plots financed by Qatar. A video on Twitter titled Qatar System Exposed, produced by a company with the same name as a Dubai-based video studio, alleged that Khashoggi was part of a plot to create a new destabilising Arab Spring to unsettle Arab countries, mainly, Saudi Arabia, reinforcing what the source said about al-Qahtanis visit to the UAE. Coalition begins pulling out troops, a US military spokesperson says, without elaborating on locations or timetables. The United States-led coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) has started the process of withdrawing from Syria, its spokesperson has said. The coalition has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria, Colonel Sean Ryan said on Friday. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the coalition had started scaling down its presence at Rmeilan airfield in the northeastern province of Hasakeh. 190108203410642 On Thursday, some American forces withdrew from the Rmeilan military base in Hasakeh province, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based monitoring organisation. This is the first such pullout of American forces since the US presidents announcement of a full troop withdrawal from Syria last month, he said. The withdrawal of troops also coincided with a trip to the Middle East by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to reassure allies about the US plans to withdraw troops from Syria. In his keynote speech at the American University in Cairo on Thursday, Pompeo described the US as a force for good and said it remained committed to the complete dismantling of the threat posed by the ISIL group. Turkey says will launch attack The US-led coalition, which includes countries such as France and Britain, was formed in mid-2014 to counter ISILs expansion after it proclaimed its self-styled caliphate. The coalition supported the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against the ISIL. Last month, US President Donald Trump said he had ordered the withdrawal of all US forces in Syria, which are believed to number around 2,000. Trump said the ISIL had been completely defeated and that the US troops could therefore come home. 190109110213489 His announcement, which came after a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was criticised even within his own camp and is already having major repercussions on the nearly eight-year-old conflict. Washingtons Kurdish allies in northern Syria fear the withdrawal will open the way for Turkey to mount a long-threatened offensive against their area. Turkey, which views the dominant Syrian Kurdish groups as a national security threat, indicated it may attack Syria. On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara will go ahead with an offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters in Syria if the US delays the withdrawal of its troops. US National Security Adviser John Bolton suggested on Tuesday that protecting the Kurds would be a pre-condition of the US withdrawal, drawing a rebuke from Erdogan who called his comments a serious mistake. The Council on American Islamic Relations filed a lawsuit claiming that Marylands anti-BDS law violates free speech. Marylands ban on contracting with businesses that boycott Israel tramples on the First Amendment rights of a software engineer who advocates for Palestinians, a Muslim civil rights group claims in a lawsuit. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) federal lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, seeks to block the state from enforcing an executive order that Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed in October 2017. Marylands ban on contracting with anyone who participates in such boycotts constitutes viewpoint discrimination that chills constitutionally-protected political advocacy in support of Palestine, the lawsuit states. The order requires contractors to certify in writing that they dont boycott Israel. The groups suit claims the order has an unconstitutional chilling effect on First Amendment-protected political advocacy supporting the Palestinians. CAIR says 25 other states have enacted measures similar to Marylands through legislation or executive orders. CAIR lawyer Gadeir Abbas said other federal lawsuits have challenged measures in Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. The group sued Hogan and state Attorney General Brian Frosh on behalf of software engineer Syed Saqib Ali, a former state legislator. Alis lawsuit says the order bars him from bidding for government software programme contracts because he supports boycotts of businesses and organisations that contribute to the oppression of Palestinians. 190109150723359 Speech and advocacy related to the Israel-Palestine conflict is core political speech on a matter of public concern entitled to the highest levels of constitutional protection, the suit says. Raquel Coombs, a spokeswoman for the attorney generals office, said the attorney general hadnt seen the suit and doesnt comment on pending litigation. A spokeswoman for Hogans office said, We are confident that our executive order is completely consistent with the First Amendment and will be upheld in court. End around Ali, a resident of Gaithersburg, served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2007 to 2011 and represented Montgomery County as a Democrat. He accused Hogan, a Republican, of making an end around the legislature by signing the executive order after legislators repeatedly rejected several anti-BDS bills targeting the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. This is unacceptable and Larry Hogan should know that our rights will not be stricken by him, Ali said at a news conference in Baltimore. The executive order says a boycott based on religion, national origin or ethnicity is discriminatory. A business boycott of Israel and its territories is not a commercial decision made for business or economic reasons, it adds. Contracting with business entities that discriminate make the state a passive participant in private-sector commercial discrimination, the order says. In December, the Arkansas Times weekly newspaper sued to block a similar measure. That state law, which took effect in August 2017, requires contractors to reduce their fees by 20 percent if they dont sign a pledge not to boycott Israel. 181211090832254 Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledges office argued that boycotting Israel is not activity protected by the First Amendment. It is neither speech, nor is it conduct that is inherently expressive, nor associational activity that is afforded constitutional protection, wrote the lawyers representing Rutledges office. In December, CAIR filed a motion on behalf of a Texas speech pathologist who was fired after she refused to sign a statement pledging that she does not and will not boycott Israel or its settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. This week, the US Senate blocked a bill aimed at the BDS movement from moving forward due to the partial government shutdown. Politicians have vowed to bring the bill up again when the shutdown ends. A new segregated road separates Palestinian and Israeli traffic between the villages of Anata and Azzayim. Anata, occupied West Bank A newly-opened highway in the occupied West Bank has been hailed by Israelis but condemned by Palestinians, who are calling it Apartheid Road. Its the first operational section of an eastern ring road around Jerusalem that could deny Palestinians access to parts of the West Bank and threaten a future Palestinian state. Route 4370 has a high wall in the middle, topped with fencing that segregates the road into two separate two-way lanes. The western side is for Palestinians in the West Bank to use to go around Jerusalem, which they cannot enter without an Israeli military-issued permit, while the eastern side serves Israeli settlers going to and from Jerusalem. Palestinians from the village of Anata, which lies on the outskirts of Jerusalem but is separated from the city by Israels barrier wall, say part of the highway is built on Anatas land. They want to take that land Anyone can see the Israelis plan, said resident Ahmed Rifea. A few months ago they wanted to take Khan al-Ahmar, Khan al-Ahmar is the Bedouin village that garnered international attention after the Israeli government issued a demolition order against it. Now they build this new road? They want to take that land, Rifea said. Originally encompassing 35,000 square-kilometres of land, Anata has shrunk to a little more than 1,000 square-km because more than 90 percent of it lies in Area C as agreed by the Oslo Accords, putting it under total Israeli civil and security control. The Rifea family owns hundreds of dunams (tens of hectares) of land in Anata, but almost all of it has been confiscated by Israel for road and illegal Jewish settlement construction. The road has red dangerous for Israelis to enter signs that signal a Palestinian-only route [Megan Giovannetti/Al Jazeera] E-1 and Greater Jerusalem Route 4370 runs northeast of Jerusalem past Khan al-Ahmar and the illegal Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in a controversial area known as E-1, which lies on the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem. Israeli authorities want to annex E-1 as part of their Greater Jerusalem plan to redraw the borders of the city Khan al-Ahmar stands in the way, which may be why Israel ordered it demolished. Expanding Jerusalem further east would create room for more settlement growth, connect Maale Adumim to the city as a suburb and ease the housing crisis for Jewish Israelis in Jerusalem. The annexation of E-1 would also displace about 140,000 Palestinians living in East Jerusalem towns and villages, like Anata. Moreover, it would continue Israels fragmentation of the West Bank by bisecting the northern Palestinian cities from the south, making any potential future state of Palestine less viable. A gift from Israel According to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) spokespersons office, The construction of the new road was intended to shorten and optimise travel times for Palestinian residents of Judea and Samaria, using the biblical name for the West Bank. Israel Afrayat, transportation coordinator for the Israeli civil administration, appeared in a promotional video explaining the purpose of the new road and why Israel has gifted it to the Palestinians. The road is meant to serve all people, Afrayat said in the video, which is published on the Arabic language Facebook page of COGAT. Our goal is safety first to protect your children, Afrayat said. Representatives in both the Palestinian Ministry of Public Works and Housing and the Ministry of Transportation said they were not notified and had no information about the opening of the new road. The old road offered Palestineans access to Jerusalem [Megan Giovannetti/Al Jazeera] The main purpose of this road is to connect Maale Adumim with Jerusalem and to separate Palestinians from their land, especially people from Anata, Jihad Shobaki, an officer at the Palestinian Ministry of Public Works and Housing, told Al Jazeera. Israeli activist group Ir Amim agreed and said the highway eliminates one of the obstacles to settlement construction in E-1 and should signal cause for heightened vigilance. According to Ir Amim, the northernmost part of Apartheid Road was always intended to solve the dilemma of maintaining at least transportation contiguity between northern Palestinians cities and the south while diverting them from the E-1 and Jerusalem areas. The highway was initially conceived more than a decade ago by late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. International pressure delayed construction for years. Rifea said he found out about the road being opened through the COGAT Facebook page. Other Anata residents learned through the notice distributed to them by COGAT stating that it is forbidden to build on their own land within 300 metres of the new road. If they close the road, they shut off people from their land. As always, when Israelis open one thing, they close another, Shobaki said. In the end, we will use [the road]. What can we do? Rifea said. US state department says global summit focused on the Middle East, particularly Iran, will take place on February 13-14. The United States plans to jointly host a global summit focused on Iran and the Middle East next month in Poland, the US State Department has said. The international gathering will take place in Warsaw from February 13 to 14, it said in a statement on Friday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News in an interview to air on Friday that the meeting would focus on Middle East stability and peace, freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilising influence. Pompeo is visiting a number of Middle Eastern countries this week in an effort to bolster support in the region in the midst of a number of developments, from the US troop withdrawal from Syria to the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar and the killing of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey last year. During his eight-day trip through the region, Pompeo has said that the US is redoubling its efforts to put pressure on Iran and sought to convince allies in the region that it was committed to fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group despite Trumps recent decision to pull US troops out of Syria. 190109180602931 In a speech on Thursday in the Egyptian capital Cairo, Pompeo vowed to expel every last Iranian boot from Syria and urged regional rivals to come together to confront Iran. Its time for old rivalries to end, for the sake of the greater good of the region, Pompeo said. The State Department said there were strong shared interests in Middle East stability. The ministerial will address a range of critical issues including terrorism and extremism, missile development and proliferation, maritime trade and security and threats posed by proxy groups across the region, it said. Pompeo said the US will bolster efforts to bring peace and stability to the long-suffering Syrian people. He added that the summit would include representatives from countries around the world to address Irans regional influence as the Trump administration seeks to find points to pressure Tehran on. Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord and reimposed sanctions on Tehran, even as other partners in the deal, including China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom, have sought to maintain it. In a shift earlier this week, the European Union moved to impose some sanctions on Iranian entities. The warm greeting for Merkel could signal a new push for Eurocentric parties ahead of European parliament elections. German Chancellor Angela Merkel left Greece on Friday after an unusual show of support for the left-wing government of Alexis Tsipras and disdain for her fellow conservative, opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis. What caused this reverse-polarity was the agreement between his government led by his Syriza coalition and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) last year to change that countrys name to North Macedonia. That agreement has led to a series of constitutional revisions by Greeces neighbour, expected to be finalised this week. The onus will then be on Greece to ratify the agreement. The countrys veto on North Macedonia joining NATO and the European Union would then be lifted. I am especially grateful to Alexis Tsipras for taking the initiative on a very difficult problem, Merkel said on Thursday, praising his great courage. Merkel had less kind words for Mitsotakis, leader of the New Democracy party, which vows to vote against the agreement. New Democracys opposition has been compounded by the refusal of Syrizas junior coalition partner, the right-wing Independent Greeks, to ratify the agreement. That leaves Tsipras six votes short of the 151 he needs in the 300-seat legislature. On matters of great national importance, there must be an effort to find a common position. That is what I support. But I am under no illusion as far as [party] positions are concerned. I am sure a German chancellors visit wont change them. Syriza insists that it will muster the votes by stealing sympathetic MPs from Independent Greeks and Potami, a centre-right reformist party. Merkels visit was a reminder to those MPs that Europe is watching what Greek lawmakers do. Merkels three previous visits to Greece in October 2012, November 2013 and April 2014 were designed to support then-conservative economic reforms, which balanced the budget. Syriza controlled the streets, and helped orchestrate massive protests in which Tsipras called New Democracy collaborators and Merkelists. On Thursday, however, Tsipras warmed to Merkels presence remarkably well. Asked about his shift, Tsipras appeared to try to justify his about-turn from austerity opponent to austerity enforcer when he came to power in 2015. When youre prime minister, you have to represent everybody those who protest and those who fear protests the unemployed and those who work and are afraid of losing their jobs those who have nothing to lose and those who have life savings. Athens University history professor Thanos Veremis said: Those who were protesting then are now in power. They are running the country, and they have been on very good terms with Merkel since they took over in 2015. Tsipras has been like her long lost nephew from the Balkans, said Veremis. Tsipras great U-turn has become a politically useful image for Merkel, who is beset by a Eurosceptic far-right opposition at home and in her central European neighbourhood. Italys interior minister, Matteo Salvini, has announced a new European spring as he prepares a Eurosceptic alliance ahead of European Parliament elections in May. The alliance is to include Frances gilets jaunes (yellow vests), Germanys Alternativ fur Deutschland, and Polands ruling Law and Justice Party, among others. These anti-establishment forces arose as a result of post-2008 economic crises and the post-2015 immigration crisis in Europe. Greece arguably suffered the worst of both and produced the left-wing Syriza government, which ultimately compromised its anti-establishment principles to keep Greece in the Eurozone and the European Union. Holding up this example of a once-rebellious party that was tamed by common sense, as Merkel would have it, is now a powerful political tool. Although Greece was cleared to borrow from markets last August, officially graduating from eight years of Eurozone oversight, it still hasnt sold any multi-year government bonds. Markets are evidently spooked by its still-high taxes and unemployment, low growth and high loan repayment costs. They havent really gotten out in the sense that the economy isnt really doing that well yet, and we cant go to the open markets, says Veremis. Nevertheless we are out of it, and [Merkel] might very well use that as a reason for rejoicing over the EUs policy vis-a-vis Greece. The street is still angry This realpolitik, however, remains far from sentiment on the Greek street, which feels the pain of spending 2.2 percent of GDP repaying emergency loans to European institutions for the next 40 years. Germany was instrumental in enforcing austerity measures in return for those loans throughout Europe, but nowhere was more money spent and more austerity enforced than in Greece. While Tsipras has warmed to Merkel, many Greeks protested her visit [Alkis Konstantinidi/Reuters] Germany wants this situation with all the austerity measures to continue. It doesnt want any upheaval or complications, said lawyer Paris Papadakis, explaining the reason behind Merkels visit. It wants to secure German interests. That means paying off our loans, it means promoting German industrial interests. Greece no longer depends on its own strengths, but on external powers. Restauranteur Ioannis Meraklidis agrees. [Merkel] hasnt helped Greece Were under Germany right now. Our children and grandchildren cannot be condemned to paying off loans until 2060. Something has to happen. We need to free ourselves from the German establishment. Merkels visits have inevitably awoken memories of the last time Germany held direct power over Greece the Nazi occupation of WWII, which bankrupted the economy as taxes were raised, agricultural produce was siphoned off to Germany and a $230m loan (according to exchange rates in 1945) was forcibly extracted from the Bank of Greece. These sentiments are aggravated by the fact that Germany refuses to discuss reparations or repayment of the wartime loan. After a dramatic, hourlong meeting, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the cabinet granted posthumous pardons to four young black men who were tortured, murdered or wrongly imprisoned for the rape of a white woman in 1949. The case of the men known as the Groveland Four has been documented in a book and is considered a blight on Floridas history. One of the four was killed before he could be charged and the other three were convicted on dubious evidence. The families of the men accused of the assault told DeSantis and the cabinet meeting as the clemency board that there is overwhelming evidence the men were innocent and there was no rape. The woman who was 17 years old when she said she was raped, sat in a wheelchair and later told Governor DeSantis and the cabinet the rape did happen, saying she was dragged from a car, had a gun put to her head and was told not to scream or they would blow your brains out. At one point, the two sides briefly clashed. Beverly Robinson, a niece of one of the Groveland Four, was speaking to the governor and the cabinet when she turned to the woman and her sons. It never happened. You all are liars, Robinson said. Thats enough out of you, the woman said. I know its enough out of me. Its always enough when youre telling the truth, Robinson replied. The unanimous vote to pardon came almost two years after the state House and Senate voted to formally apologise to relatives of the Groveland Four and to ask then-Governor Rick Scott to pardon the men. Scott, now a US senator, never took action. DeSantis replaced Scott on Tuesday and made the pardons a priority. I dont know that theres any way you can look at this case and think that those ideals of justice were satisfied. Indeed, they were perverted time and time again, and I think the way this was carried out was a miscarriage of justice, DeSantis said. 190107210707852 The ordeal began in Lake County in 1949, when the then-17-year-old said she had been raped. Three of the men were arrested and severely beaten; a fourth, Ernest Thomas, fled. A posse of about 1,000 men was formed to hunt down Thomas. He was shot 400 times when they found him sleeping under a tree. White residents also formed a mob and went to a black neighbourhood, burning houses and firing guns into homes in a disturbance that took days to quell. All-white jury Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin and Samuel Shepherd were convicted by an all-white jury. Other evidence that could have exonerated them such as a doctors conclusion that the teen probably wasnt raped was withheld at their trial. Greenlee was sentenced to life, and Irvin and Shepherd to death. Thurgood Marshall, later the first African American justice on the US Supreme Court, took up Irvin and Shepherds appeals for the NAACP, and in 1951 the US Supreme Court ordered new trials. Just before those trials began, Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall shot Irvin and Shepherd, claiming the handcuffed men tried to escape as he transferred them from prison to jail. Shepherd died. Irvin was shot in the neck and survived despite an ambulance refusing to transport him because he was black. He was again convicted, even though a former FBI agent testified that prosecutors manufactured evidence against him. Charges were never brought against any white law enforcement officers or prosecutors who handled the cases. Irvin was paroled in 1968 and found dead in his car while returning to Lake County for a funeral a year later. Greenlee was paroled in 1960 and he died in 2012. Greenlees daughter, Carol Greenlee, told DeSantis and the cabinet that there was overwhelming evidence that her father was innocent. He was accused, put in jail and tortured for something he didnt do, she said. The woman who said she was raped disputed the families stories. Yall just dont know what kind of horror Ive been through for all these many years, she said. I dont want them pardoned, no I do not, and you wouldnt neither. I know (Robinson) called me a liar, but Im not no liar. Afterwards, state Senator Gary Farmer, who sponsored the 2017 resolution apologising to the families, said the womans comments were disappointing. Shes now here at the end of her life and she had a chance to come clean, to seek forgiveness for herself and to support the justice these four families and these four men deserve, Farmer said. Its very sad that she lost this opportunity and continues to perpetuate this lie. This crime did not happen. The evidence is overwhelming. Members of the Greenlee family met reporters after the vote. Carol Greenlee said while the family is grateful for the pardon, she wants her father exonerated. 190111153737643 I started out with two goals in mind. One, for the world to know the truth and that my father is not a rapist. The second was to clear his name, so his children, his grandchildren and nieces and nephews would not continue to walk around with this stigma, with the shame, she said. Those two things were accomplished. And the complete exoneration will close the gap. Thats our mission. Despite the pain the family went through, Greenlees brother, Wade, said his parents always taught their children to love and not hate. If I had an opportunity this morning, I would have told (the accuser) that the Greenlee family has forgiven her a long time ago. We have no hate against her because we were taught differently, he said. Only five percent of land has not been modified by humans, according to new report. More than half of the land on the Earth can be classed as critically endangered, according to a report by a US-based scientific journal. The report, published on Thursday by Global Change Biology, also found that only five percent of the land on the Earth has not been modified by humans, including human settlement, agriculture and mining, with 84 percent experiencing multiple human impacts. Christina Kennedy, senior scientist at The Nature Conservancy and one of the reports authors, told Al Jazeera that a multitude of risks emerge as natural land is eroded by development. The danger is that a larger percentage of the globe is modified, to some extent, by humans, said Kennedy. Were going to see more catastrophic issues regarding climate change, which is exacerbated by development. Were going to lose a lot of the services which nature provides to people, whether its clean water or flood mitigation or pollination services for our global food supply. Based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifications, 57 percent of ecoregions such as forests, grasslands and deserts can be classified as critically endangered, the report says. It recommends that while protecting large wilderness areas, attention must be paid to those that fall somewhere between wild and urban, as increased human development spurred by population growth has resulted in a rise in this type of land. Increased regulation and proactive landscape planning are needed to reduce the environmental impact of development and maintain healthy ecosystems, the report says. Fayulu claims to have won 62 percent of the vote, a day after electoral commission declared Tshisekedi the winner. The Democratic Republic of the Congos (DRC) losing presidential candidate Martin Fayulu has announced he would file a court challenge to the election results, with his camp announcing he had won 62 percent of the vote. Campaign official Fidele Babala told reporters on Friday that Fayulu won 62 percent of the vote, while President-elect Felix Tshisekedi took 18.9 percent and ruling coalition candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary received 18.5 percent. Fayulu was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency that when you know you are in the right, you are not allowed to remain home, as he urged his supporters to rise up. Fayulu will go to court on Saturday where he will present evidence which he hopes will prove his victory, Al Jazeeras Haru Mutasa, reporting from DRCs capital Kinshasa, said. The DRC has been tense in the lead up to Thursdays announcement confirming Tshisekedis win, with riot police deployed at the electoral commission headquarters in Kinshasa on Wednesday. There have been isolated incidents of post-election violence around the nation of 80 million people. Police confronted opposition protesters in eastern Goma city on Friday, killing at least one person, a witness told Reuters. Many fear the new dispute could re-start a cycle of unrest in a country where wars causing hunger and disease have decimated the population in recent decades. The Independent National Electoral Commission has counted thousands of votes, though the results are disputed [Reuters] Tshisekedis victory raised the possibility of the first peaceful transfer of power in the DRC since it won independence from Belgium in 1960, but doubt has been cast over the elections outcome by the opposition and Western powers. The influential Catholic Church has also rejected the official result based on tallies by its 40,000-strong observer team. Were not really hearing that much from neighbouring countries in particular, Mutasa continued, saying that many are suspicious of Western intentions, due to the long history of colonialism in the DRC. Debate growing over German mosque tax Jews, Catholics and Protestants already subject to the worship tax and some say introducing the levy for Muslims would reduce foreign influence. US passed law in December banning entry to Chinese officials deemed responsible for restricting Tibet access. The Chinese government in Tibet has said it will increase the number of foreign tourists allowed to visit the highly-restricted region and reduce waiting times for paperwork amid renewed pressure from Washington to improve access for US officials and journalists. US President Donald Trump had signed the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act in December, which seeks to press China to open the region by refusing to issue US visas to Chinese officials deemed responsible for restricting access to Tibet. Beijing denounced the law at the time as interference in Chinas internal affairs, risking serious harm to ties with Washington. China and the United States are trying to hammer out a deal to end a simmering trade dispute that has threatened to sour the relationship across the board, including on issues such as security and human rights. The Tibetan government will shorten the time required for foreign tourists to gain access to the region by half and boost the numbers allowed into the area by 50 percent, Qizhala, chair of the regional government, said in an annual work report published by the official Tibet Daily newspaper on Friday, according to Reuters news agency. The US also issued a travel advisory last week that warned about extra security checks and increased police presence in both Tibet and the mostly-Muslim region of Xinjiang. The travel advisory also warned citizens of the risk of arbitrary action by Chinese authorities. Non-Chinese visitors must apply for a special permit to travel to Tibet, which is usually granted for tourists provided they travel with approved tour companies. Journalists and diplomats are rarely accepted. Fast deteriorating Beijing has ruled Tibet with an iron fist since Communist Party troops marched into the region in 1950 in what it calls a peaceful liberation. Qizhala also pledged that the administration in Tibet would take a clear-cut stance in the fight against the Dalai clique, a reference to exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. We must improve the monastery management and service mechanisms to defend the bottom line of Tibetan Buddhism not being manipulated by foreign forces, he said. Rights groups and overseas activists say ethnic Tibetans face widespread restrictions under Chinese rule and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) said in June conditions were fast deteriorating. This year marks the 60th anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. Supporters of Tibetan independence and of the Dalai Lama have staged protests in the past to mark the uprisings anniversary, angering China. China claims the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism who fled into exile in India after the failed uprising, is a dangerous separatist. The Nobel Peace laureate denies espousing violence and says he only wants genuine autonomy for Tibet. About 8,500 civilians fleeing eastern Syria reach al-Hol camp and other settlements in desperate conditions, UN says. Six children have died of exhaustion after reaching a refugee camp in northern Syria as thousands of families try to escape renewed fighting in Deir Az Zor governorate, the UN refugee agency said. About 8,500 civilians fleeing from the Hajin enclave in Deir Az Zor, in the east of the country, have reached al-Hol camp and other informal settlements over the past five weeks in desperate conditions. We are deeply concerned by reports of mounting civilian casualties including many women and children and large-scale civilian displacement amid renewed fighting in Hajin, said Andrej Mahecic, a spokesperson for UNHCR, on Friday. 190111092622492 UNHCR calls on all parties, and those with influence over them, to ensure freedom of movement and safe passage. Ongoing fighting Over the past six months, clashes and air raids in the southeast part of the governorate forced about 25,000 people to flee. Its estimated that 2,000 people remain in the conflict-affected area of Hajin. In the past few weeks, fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group have managed to fight their way back to the Hajin after being expelled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Fighting between the self-proclaimed Caliphate and the Syrian Kurds living there continues in the eastern governorate where ISIL still holds control of small pockets of territory. Those fleeing report increasingly desperate conditions, with diminishing services and extremely high prices for basic foods, said Mahecic, adding the agency was concerned about civilians trapped in ISIL-held areas. Displaced families reach al-Hol on foot after spending many nights in the open desert in heavy rain and cold weather with barely any food or water and only what belongings they could carry. Many died of exhaustion upon arrival, Mahecic said, although he could not provide any exact figures about the number of casualties. Emergency health teams in al-Hol are conducting immediate screening and referrals on the spot. 190111074756814 Dealing with wounds, amputated limbs, injuries and frostbites is the priority. Acute respiratory infections, cold and flu are also concerns. People are confused, exhausted and distressed, not least because of having left family members behind. Mahecic said UNHCR and partner agencies are on the ground providing protection and assistance, especially to unaccompanied or separated children and those who require medical assistance. Our teams distribute tents, core relief items and winter assistance to all new arrivals. We are preparing new tent plots and scaling up communal facilities in for an expected increase of arrivals from Hajin. Storm wreaks havoc Meanwhile, in the Hassakeh governorate, the al-Areesha makeshift settlement, which shelters more than 9,600 displaced people, has been affected by rapidly rising water in a nearby reservoir. UNHCR reports that more than two-thirds of the camp is under water and residents are relocating to higher areas of the camp. In Lebanon, Storm Norma has wreaked havoc among Lebanese and Syrian refugee communities this week. Several days of strong winds, heavy rain and snow have led to flooding and damage in towns and villages across Lebanon, which is host to nearly one million Syrian refugees. 190109070853739 More than 360 sites hosting 11,300 refugees have been affected across the country, said the UN agency. In Minieh, northern Lebanon, the storm took the life of an eight-year-old Syrian refugee girl who was swept away by floods. Most of the destruction was caused by heavy rain and floods in makeshift sites. In the Bekaa Valley alone, at least 600 Syrian refugees have had to relocate due to floods or severe damage to their shelters. Juan David Ortiz, a 10-year employee of US Border Patrol, is accused of killing four sex workers in Texas. A US Border Patrol agent in Texas has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and other charges in the September killings of four women who prosecutors say were sex workers. Juan David Ortiz, a 10-year veteran of US Customs and Border Patrol, entered the pleas on Thursday before a judge in the border city of Laredo. He is accused of killing Melissa Ramirez, Claudine Luera, Guiselda Alicia Cantu and Janelle Ortiz. Each was shot in the head and left along rural Laredo-area roads. One died of blunt force trauma after being shot. Ortiz was apprehended after a fifth woman escaped and located a state trooper, according to authorities. Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz has said hell seek the death penalty if Ortiz is convicted of capital murder. He deemed them to be the scum of the earth, and he wanted to move forward and clean the streets of these types of people, Alaniz said last month. 190111153737643 Hunting the streets Alaniz contends that Ortiz told investigators he was doing a service by killing the women and that he didnt think law enforcement was doing enough to curb prostitution. Joel Perez, Ortizs lawyer, said his client, like any other person charged with a crime, is presumed innocent. Up until the agents arrest, Alaniz said, Ortiz would go about his daily activities like anybody here. He appeared normal by all accounts and circumstances. At the nighttime, he was someone else, hunting the streets of San Bernardo for this community of people and arbitrarily deciding who he was going to kill next. Yanira Resendez, a spokeswoman for the Webb County District Attorneys office, said the mother of one of the dead women screamed at Ortiz in Spanish as he was led out of the court in handcuffs. Damn you, you damn murder, she yelled. Mohammad Monir has been convicted under controversial information and communication technology law. A Bangladeshi man who distorted and posted photos of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to seven years in jail under tough internet laws that critics say are used to muzzle dissent. Hasina, re-elected in December in polls marred by violence, mass arrests and claims of rigging, has been accused of increasing authoritarianism. Mohammad Monir, 35, was found guilty late on Wednesday by a Dhaka cyber tribunal for doctoring and publishing on social media images of Hasina and ex-president Zillur Rahman. 190103113836858 He posted those distorted images in his Facebook status and made derogatory remarks in the photo captions, prosecutor Nazrul Islam Shamim told AFP news agency. He was convicted under section 57 of the South Asian countrys Information and Communication Technology (ICT) law. Shamim said that since the cyber court began functioning in 2013, at least seven people have been sentenced to jail for similar offences involving Hasina and others. At least 200 more such cases are pending and in various stages of the trial, he said. Draconian law Rights groups have documented how the ICT laws have been used to silence criticism in the country of 165 million people. The most high-profile arrest made under the law was that of acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam in July last year, hours after he spoke to Al Jazeera on the student protests in the country. Released on bail in November after more than 100 days of incarceration, Alam still faces a maximum of 14 years in jail if convicted. In recent months, the ICT laws have been replaced by Digital Security Act, which critics say gives the authorities even wider powers to curb freedom of expression a charge rejected by the government. In its election manifesto, the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had vowed to scrap the digital law. Baghdads Green Zone reopens Also known as the International Zone, this area will now be open for Iraqis to pass through without checkpoints. Sudden visit to Beijing reminder that Pyongyang has other options if rapprochement with Washington fails, analysts say. Riding on a bullet-proof train, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived earlier this week in Beijing, just in time to spend his 35th birthday alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping. The surprise trip to the Chinese capital served as a reminder to Washington that nuclear-armed Pyongyang has other strategic allies, underscoring the importance of the Sino-North Korean relationship before Kims possible second summit with US President Donald Trump. Its no secret China has always wanted to be a part of this talk, said James Kim, director at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in South Koreas capital Seoul. He added that the two-day trip shows that Kim is sensitive to the demands of China, North Koreas primary trade and aid source. But it may also have sent a message to Trump that Pyongyang has other options if rapprochement with Washington fails. Focus on sanctions At their high-profile summit in Singapore last year, Kim and Trump had signed a vaguely-worded pledge on denuclearisation but progress between the two sides has since stalled amid disagreements over the interpretation of their agreement. In his annual New Years speech last week, Kim renewed his commitment to denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula but warned the United States of taking a new path if it doesnt ease sanctions. 170810121538674 His trip to Beijing offers a glimpse as to where that path could lead. Pyongyang could be using the visit to show the US that it has an alternative power to gravitate towards, according to Tai Wei Lim, a research fellow at the National University of Singapore. The North Korean leader is eager to achieve sanctions relief, but he seems to know Xi may be better able to grant that wish than Trump. The US presidents strategy of maximum pressure depends largely on cooperation from Xi. With over 90 percent of North Koreas trade volume flowing through Chinas borders, Xi can control the faucet of North Koreas economy better than Trump by choosing to enforce those sanctions or take a more relaxed approach. Recently, China may be doing more of the latter, says James Kim, pointing to ongoing rumours of de facto loosening of sanctions implementation in China. And while Beijing hasnt formally claimed to be ignoring enforcement, reports about pockets of sanctions violations are growing, he added. Have his cake and eat it too North Korea has a well-honed talent for playing the worlds major players against one another, leading analysts to believe that Kim at this point may be using that skill for leverage to get what he wants from a second summit with Trump: both striking a deal with the US and keeping his nuclear weapons. He wants to have his cake and eat it too, argues James Kim. North Korea has been under international sanctions fairly consistently since 2006, curtailing its resource-based economy by capping exports on coal and banning exports of copper and nickel. China has also banned imports of textiles from the North, while several countries have an embargo on selling them luxury goods. 181013073434764 The campaign on sanctions may be losing steam though, with North Korea importing $640m in luxury goods from China in 2017. Rumours of thinly disguised coal shipments to South Korea have added to US frustrations in getting Kims neighbours to maintain pressure. If Beijing is willing to loosen its grip on sanctions, Kim could indeed emerge as a winner. But China, perhaps hesitant to sour relations with Washington amid a bruising trade war between the worlds two biggest economies, may also be hoping to extract something from Kims visit. Xi seeks an end to the ongoing trade dispute, which is hurting the Chinese economy. Experts agree that while neither the US nor China is winning in the trade war, China may be at a disadvantage. By inviting Kim to meet him in China before a summit with Trump, Xi may be sending a message to Washington that Beijing still has leverage over Pyongyang, according to Lim. The fact that Kims visit came at the same time US negotiators were in China to discuss an end to the trade war is also unlikely to be a coincidence, said Sangsoo Lee, head of the Stockholm-based Korea Center at the Institute for Security and Development Policy, adding that there could be political intention behind it. If Trump believes Xi holds the key to Kims cooperation, the Chinese president will have another card to play in trade talks. The two sides are wrangling to draft a deal before March 2, when US tariffs on Chinese goods are expected to intensify if no agreement is reached. Vagueness as strength? Kim has said openly that his goal remains modernising the North Korean economy, which he underlined by visiting a traditional Chinese medicine factory in Beijing on Wednesday. In his address to the nation last week, Kim outlined goals to upgrade North Koreas industrial capabilities, especially in pharmaceuticals. The country is a major producer of ginseng, a common ingredient in Chinese medicines, highlighting a potential export opportunity for Pyongyang. 181231014258448 But so far Kims strength has been in what he doesnt say. Like his father Kim Jong-il, who ruled North Korea from 1994 to 2011, Kims strength has always been his vagueness about what hell do next and an ability to keep everybody guessing until they do it, said James Kim. While Trump is happy to broadcast his plans and successes on Twitter, Kims skill as a negotiator lies in not showing his cards until the very last moment, he added. Instead, it may be more fruitful to look at what Pyongyang has actually done so far in the wake of the Singapore summit. Pyongyang has taken no meaningful steps towards denuclearisation, said Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Center in Washington. In fact, according to Klingner, any steps North Korea is taking appear to be in the wrong direction. Satellite images and intelligence reports show North Korea has continued nuclear and missile production, even expanding their operations, upgrading equipment such as reentry vehicles and mobile missile launchers, Klingner added. What those actions could show, and what Kim communicated in his New Years address, is that North Korea is not really serious about denuclearisation, said James Kim, or at least not in the way the US would like to see it. That seems to be fairly clear and out in the open now. Until now, Kim appears to have been able to get a lot by giving very little. Hes had a summit with a US leader, developed a nuclear programme and is now eyeing greater economic expansion through China. And after rallying support for sanctions relief in Beijing, Kim will be hoping to use that leverage to continue his success at a second meeting with Trump. The question now is how far the US is willing to concede from their original goal of complete denuclearisation, and what its response will be if North Korea chooses a better offer. Over the past two decades, three high-ranking US officials have gone to Cairo to lay out their vision for the US foreign policy in the Middle East. Each time, they have criticised their predecessors and each time nothing good has come out of it. In June 2005, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered a speech at the American University of Cairo two years after the US invasion of Iraq. The toppling of Saddam Hussein had left a crack in the edifice of Arab authoritarianism and then President George W Bush was claiming to be the torchbearer of freedom and democracy in the region. Hence, in her speech, Rice spoke at length about freedom and democracy in the Middle East and bashed six decades of US support for stability at the expense of democracy. But by then, the Bush administration had already shipped back home hundreds of bodies of US soldiers killed in the ensuing security vacuum in Iraq; many more were to come. In the following years, it would become clear that the barrel of the gun could not deliver freedom and democracy to the region and that the Iranian regime had taken advantage of Iraqs weakness to rise as a militant regional power. Exactly four years later in June 2009, President Barack Obama made a very different speech at an event co-hosted by al-Azhar and Cairo Universities in what was then dubbed by his critics an apology tour for US misbehaviour under the Bush administration. He spoke of historical tension between the US and the Islamic world which he would seek to resolve through a new beginning in relations. Obama had two goals in mind: to disengage from the Sunni-Shiite tensions by extending a hand to Tehran and to reach a peace deal between Palestinians and Israelis two rather contradictory objectives. As Iranian power grew in the region after the Iraq invasion, Israel and Saudi Arabia had become increasingly focussed on deterring it; hence, neither was interested in reaching a deal with the Palestinians until the US prioritised pushing back Iranian influence. Obama not only failed to achieve these two goals, but he also opted for overusing US drones to bomb targets across the Islamic world, killing hundreds of innocent civilians and doing away with his new beginning promises. A decade later, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also made his way to Cairo and delivered a key foreign policy speech. He declared that the age of self-inflicted American shame is over, criticising Obamas legacy in the Middle East and laying out contradictory policies. In fact, a closer look at what he said reveals that several policies the Trump administration is pursuing are no different than those of the Obama doctrine. For example, Pompeo chastised Obama for disengaging in Iraq, arguing that when America retreats, chaos follows. Yet this is exactly what is currently unfolding in Syria, following Trumps hasty decision to pull out US troops from the countrys northeast region. He also praised the Trump administrations policies to draw down forces when the job is complete, pointing out that the US forces in Iraq have gone down from 166,000 to 5,000 and skipping the fact that the withdrawal was a decision taken by Obama. Pompeo also laid out another extension of the Obama doctrine: confronting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) by using drones and local partners on the ground and empowering allies to protect their borders. Ironically, the objective of defeating terrorism is likely to be hindered by two decisions taken by the Trump administration. One is the withdrawal from Syria which will leave the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) preoccupied with a potential Turkish incursion and distracted from their campaign against the ISIL. The other is the decision to confront Iran diplomatically, which has caused US forces to be on alert and switch focus away from combating the ISIL in Iraq. Pompeo made sure to emphasise the Trump administrations anti-Iran policies, saying, The nations of the Middle East will never enjoy security, achieve economic stability, or advance the dreams of its people of Irans revolutionary regime persists on its current course. However, deterring Iran in the Trump era merely means imposing tough sanctions on the regime without much of the international community being on board. It also means that Washington and Tehran will continue sharing influence in both Iraq and Lebanon. Trumps secretary of state also talked about strengthening long-term alliances and building new partnerships. Yet many US allies in the region feel unsettled about the current administrations commitment to regional alliances. Kurdish forces in both Iraq and Syria were left by the Trump administration to their own devices and are currently engaging Moscow and potentially Tehran as a result of US reluctance to follow up on commitments. Some Arab regimes are also on the fence about joining the anti-Iran axis with Israel and appearing to endorse the Trump administrations gradual dissolution of the Palestinian cause. 190104092436711 While parts of Pompeos appear contradictory to outside observers, it is possible that his intended audience was his boss at the Oval Office. Unable to make his case in private, Pompeo probably wanted to send a public message to Trump that withdrawing from Syria is an Obama-like move, knowing that the president hates nothing more than being compared with his predecessor. Whatever Pompeos true intentions, his speech reaffirmed a worrying reality: Never in recent history has the US foreign policy been so hijacked by domestic politics and internal tensions within the presidential administration. Now that James Mattis is no longer serving as Pentagon chief, Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton will be the ones competing for the attention of their boss and seeking to shape US foreign policy in the Middle East according to their convictions. We have reached a surreal moment in US politics in which Bolton, a champion of the Iraq war, is considered the only voice of reason left to salvage US policy in Syria. Bolton and Pompeos job will be a hard one to do, as both have lost their credibility in the Middle East. Moving forward, no regional leader or policymaker will believe that they speak on Trumps behalf. What they were preaching about Syria for most of 2018 was momentously discredited by the presidents recent remarks that the US has no business staying in Syria. The fact is that Trump has never been more isolated at home and abroad and a damage control speech in Cairo by his secretary of state is not enough to save the US president from himself. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Polaris Industries of Limestone County makes all-terrain vehicles that travel up and down hills, between trees and across fields. Some of its workers are now designing the ultimate off-road vehicle a working lunar rover. For Julys 50th anniversary of mans first landing on the moon, Polaris is making a near-exact replica of NASAs Lunar Roving Vehicle. It will cruise through the streets of Huntsville in a parade that is part of a citywide, months-long celebration that will include speeches, reenactments, a car show and the launch of thousands of model rockets. In keeping with the history of images broadcast from the moon five decades ago, an on-board camera will stream the new rovers journey live during the parade. The frame will be the exact dimensions of the original, explained Bryan Ogle, manager of manufacturing engineering at Polaris Industries. The real rovers were 10 feet 2 inches long and 44 inches high with a 7-foot 6-inch wheel base. Because certain components for the new model might need to be serviced at a moments notice, Polaris will be using the companys off-the-shelf parts like the suspension, steering and motor. All four wheels will steer, just like the original. Steering will be by joystick, just like the original. Well make it go a little faster than the original though, Ogle said. The genuine LRVs crawled across the moons surface at about 9 mph. Polaris has begun building the frame for the Lunar Rover replica to be used in this year's Apollo moon landing 50th anniversary festivities. When representatives from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center approached Polaris about making a copy of the rover, company officials considered themselves No. 1 in off-road vehicle manufacturing and felt the challenge was well-suited to their capabilities. We said, Hey, this is the ultimate off-road, Ogle said. It doesnt get any more off-road than the moon. Polaris workers are pulling components from different vehicles they make, including the drive train, motors, batteries and drive shaft. Other Polaris plants will supply system analysis, steering and electric systems and large 3-D printed components. The Space & Rocket Center is sharing original design information. We want it to be made up of everything that represents Polaris. Were looking for components from every one of our vehicles, said Ogle. Those include motorcycles, snowmobiles, electric vehicles, sport and military vehicles and light duty haulers. Polaris vehicles are waterproof and even the inside tubing is painted, so this new LRV will be, too. (You could get a snorkel kit and drive our vehicles underwater, Ogle said.) Were going to fabricate the frame here, he said. We will weld it out of steel and will laser cut it. Added features on the 2019 model LRV include a backup camera and LED brake lights. Modern safety lights are needed for the parade route and elsewhere. No one was going to rear-end you on the moon, said Ogle. Here are the plans for Polaris' Lunar Rover replica. Ogle said Polaris will issue LRV drivers licenses like the ones NASA gave the astronauts. The original lunar rover was built to transport astronauts and equipment. The open-space vehicle was powered by two 36-volt batteries. A T-shaped hand controller between the two seats operated four drive motors, two steering motors and brakes. Marshall Space Flight Center assumed responsibility for its design, development and testing in 1969. In April of that year, Dr. Wernher von Braun established a Lunar Roving Task team at Marshall, according to a NASA history of the program. Boeing was selected for the LRV contract and used facilities in Huntsville and Kent, Washington Size limitations meant the vehicle had to be folded into a 4-foot space in the Lunar Module for Apollo missions 15, 16 and 17. The originals weighed 460 pounds. The Polaris model will weigh more than a thousand and can support two 250-pound riders and a 40-pound payload. The original tires were basically piano wire but the new ones will be rubber modified to look like wire wheels. Polaris workers are volunteering their time to make the modern rover for the Huntsville celebration. Approximately 1,300 people work in the $100-plus million, 910,000-square-foot Polaris plant off Greenbrier Road, which opened in November 2016. One employee who is leaving Polaris asked if he can come back to work on the LRV project, Ogle said. A second model Students at Calhoun Community College are working on another model of the rover for the 50th anniversary celebration. A static version will be displayed at the Space & Rocket Center before being loaned to other facilities. Nina Bullock, instructor of design drafting technology at Calhoun, is overseeing a core group of four students who are working on the project with assistance from nearly 50 others at the college. Student Mark Gordon is project manager. He and fellow students Patrick Costelo, Elizabeth Morris and Stephanie Mendoza are coordinating their efforts with Calhouns aerospace, machine tool technology, design engineering and additive manufacturing programs to deliver the standing model to the Rocket Center by mid-December. Bullock said it is the most ambitious project that her students have ever tackled. She saw it as a great opportunity. The project required someone with vision, she said. Our students had the vision. They have been here all summer long. I was seeing them here 20, 30 and 40 hoursthey were putting in way more time and effort because they believed in the vision and wanted to see it happen, she said. I never expected to be doing a project like this. Its incredible, said Gordon. I never came into a two-year college saying I was going to be building a replica of a lunar rover. Space & Rocket Center officials are grateful for the efforts on both rover replicas. It has been a joy to see the collaboration between Polaris, Calhoun and the Rocket Centers wonderful volunteers on the replica of the moon rover and the static model that will be part of our Apollo exhibit, Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO of the Rocket Center, said. Most of us gearheads learned about engineering in our garages with our dads and our friends, and heres todays version with the Mars Generation learning from the Apollo generation. Whats more fun than hanging out in the shop and working on cool vehicles? Theres expertise that can only be learned between generations, and Im personally so grateful for Calhoun and Polaris support of our mission. A Hoover man has pleaded guilty to securities fraud relating to flipping houses and was ordered to pay over $47,000 in restitution. A press release from the Alabama Securities Commission announced Kenneth Fitzgerald Lewis pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of securities fraud for engaging in an act, practice, or course of business which operated as a fraud on an investor. Following his plea, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Laura Petro sentenced Lewis to three years in prison, but that sentence was suspended. Lewis was also ordered to serve two years of probation and was ordered to pay $47,380 in restitution. The plea comes over a year after Lewis was indicted in November 2017. According to the ASC, Lewis sold investments through his company Paradigm Real Estate Group, LLC to finance the flipping of three residential properties from December 2013 to June 2014. The commission said that Lewis never purchased one of the properties and used the investment money for personal expenses. One of the residences was purchased and sold, but the commission said Lewis kept the money and never repaid his investor. Neither Lewis nor the investments were registered with the commission, the ASC said. According to the commission, potential investors should thoroughly scrutinize and research any investment opportunity or offer, and contact the ASC with any questions regarding brokers, agents, investment advisers, or financial planners. More information about the commission and its requirements are listed on the agencys website. Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale bid an emotional farewell to his troops Thursday in his final police radio call. Surrounded by friends, family and co-workers, the five-term sheriff briefly gathered his composure and then spoke for one last time to mark the end of his tour of duty. To all the deputy sheriffsI love ya, I appreciate ya, be safe, Hale said. Im 10-42. The dispatcher gave a simple reply: Congratulations, sir. The 67-year-old Hale in November lost his bid to win a sixth term for the position he first took over in 1998. The nephew of longtime former Sheriff Mel Bailey, Hale began his law enforcement career as a Homewood police officer in 1973 and later joined the sheriffs office in 1976, becoming a captain in 1994. In 1998, running as a Democrat, Hale was declared the winner over incumbent Sheriff Jim Woodward in the general election by 37 votes. He held the office until November 1999 but was removed after the Alabama Supreme Court declared Woodward had won by six votes. He then served as Pell Citys police chief from 2000 until 2002. Hale switched political parties in 2002 and beat Woodward in the GOP primary. In November 2002, he reclaimed the title of sheriff after beating out former Birmingham Police Chief Johnnie Johnson Jr. As the outgoing sheriff, Hale has said hes proud of the legacy he will leave behind. He successfully fought to strengthen and change the states sex offender laws, making it a felony crime to violate sex offender registrations requirements. He was in the forefront nationally when, in 1999, he created the Sheriffs Office School Resource Officer Division, which became a national model for law enforcement agencies across the country. Sheriff-Elect Mark Pettway will be sworn in Friday at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. A Pinson man is under arrest on multiple felony charges involving child pornography. Christopher Goforth, 50, was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Thursday. He is charged with four counts of possession of child exploitation material. Lt. Brooke Walker, commander of the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children, said Goforth was arrested by the State Bureau of Investigations Special Victims Unit after receiving an investigative lead. State authorities were assisted in the probe by the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force. Details of the allegations against Goforth are being withheld pending an ongoing investigation. Walker said additional charges against him are expected. Goforth was released from the county jail just before 1 a.m. Friday after posting $60,000 bond. A 13-year-old boy was taken into custody Thursday after he was caught with a loaded handgun at school. The student was arrested at 12:30 p.m. at Bessemer City Middle School, according to Police Chief Mike Roper. The investigation began when a school resource officer received information that the boy was in possession of the weapon. Police and school officials found the loaded gun in the students backpack. The school was placed on a brief lockdown while school officials carried out further searches, Roper said. The student is currently being held at the Bessemer Police Department and is initially being charged with certain persons forbidden to possess a pistol. Additional charges could follow. The student will be transferred to the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center. The thought of a 13-year-old having a gun, and a gun at school, is scary, Roper said. These parents need to check their kids backpacks. Thirteen is not too old to be checking on them, he said. This could have been a very dangerous situation. The Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling today denying immunity from prosecution for a Montgomery police officer charged with the murder of a Montgomery resident almost three years ago but granted requests for a new judge and to move the trial. Aaron Cody Smith, charged with the murder of Gregory Gunn after stopping Gunn walking through his neighborhood in February 2016, had asked the Supreme Court to grant him immunity from prosecution because he was acting as a police officer and acting in self-defense. The Supreme Court denied that motion, ruling that Smith had not demonstrated a clear right to immunity. Smith also asked the court to order Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin to recuse himself from the case. And he requested to have the case moved out of Montgomery County because of pretrial publicity. The Supreme Court granted Smiths requests on recusal and change of venue. The incident, involving a white police officer fatally shooting a black man, initially sparked protests in Montgomery. Smith was arrested and charged with murder and later indicted for murder by a Montgomery County grand jury. That set the stage for the disputes over how the case should be handled. Smith claimed immunity under the states self-defense law, also called the stand your ground law. That law entitles defendants to a hearing on claims that they were justified in using deadly force in self-defense or in defense of others. Griffin held a hearing last year and denied Smiths immunity claim. At the end of the hearing, Griffin said he did not find Smiths testimony to be credible. Griffins comment in court prompted Smiths attorneys to ask Griffin to recuse as the judge in Smiths murder trial, arguing that Griffins stated doubts about Smiths credibility would undermine Smiths right to receive a fair trial. Griffin denied the motion to recuse and a request for a change of venue. Smiths lawyers appealed those decisions, as well as the denial of immunity, to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, which denied them, and then to the Alabama Supreme Court, leading to todays ruling. The 32-page opinion includes an account of the confrontation and shooting taken from the immunity hearing in Griffins court last year. According to that account, Smith was in his patrol car in the Mobile Drive neighborhood at about 3 a.m. on February 25, 2016, when he saw Gunn walking on the sidewalk. There had been a rash of burglaries in the neighborhood and Smith stopped Gunn. Smith testified that while he was patting Gunn down that Gunn shoved him and ran. Smith testified that he stopped Gunn temporarily with his stun gun but that Gunn later ran again and Smith used the stun gun a second time. Smith pursued Gunn onto the driveway of a house that was later determined to be Gunns neighbors. Smith said he drew his metal baton and struck Gunn on the arms and legs. Smith testified that Gunn then armed himself with a metal paint pole and that Smith feared for his life, pulled his gun and shot Gunn. Gunn was hit with multiple rounds and died. The Supreme Court concluded that Smith gave inconsistent accounts of what led to the shooting, citing the immunity hearing testimony of an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency special agent who interviewed Smith twice and said Smith gave different versions of the events that led to the shooting. In granting Smiths request for Griffins recusal, the Supreme Court ruled that Griffins statement of doubts about Smiths credibility at the immunity hearing provides a reasonable basis for questioning Griffins impartiality based on the totality of the facts and circumstances. The Supreme Court noted that Smith could again make the self-defense claim in testimony during his trial. Importantly, the very issue of Smiths credibility may arise during the trial, the opinion says. Smiths lawyers had asked Griffin to recuse twice. The first time came before the immunity hearing, when Griffin, who is black, posted on his Facebook page about his aggravation at being questioned by police while he was simply walking through his neighborhood. In granting Smiths request for change of venue, the Supreme Court opinion said that pretrial publicity is generally not a reason to move a trial. However, given the unique facts presented here, this case is one of those rare cases where prejudice from pretrial publicity may be presumed, thus requiring a change of venue," the court wrote. The opinion noted that the case has drawn extensive media coverage and elicited emotional responses from the public and that public figures have spoken out about it. Roianne Conner, an attorney who represents Smith, said they were thankful that "the Court recognizes that our client could not receive a fair and impartial trial under the circumstances that previously existed." The Supreme Court opinion was written by Justice Michael Bolin. Chief Justice Lyn Stuart and Justices Tommy Bryan and Will Sellers concurred. Justice James Main concurred in the result. Justice Brad Mendheim concurred with the decision to deny Smiths request for immunity but dissented on the order for Griffins recusal and for change of venue. Justices Tom Parker, Greg Shaw and Kelli Wise recused. Read the ruling. Updated at 4:06 p.m. with comment from Smiths attorney Roianne Conner. The portrait of George Washington hangs on the wall behind a sprawling desk that announces its occupant on a black plastic name plate with white letters. Roy S. Moore Chief Justice Alabama Supreme Court Of course, it has been almost three years since Moore sat on the high court to which he twice won statewide election and to which he twice lost as Moore said he stood on Christian principles that brought him into conflict with 21st-century thinking. In his first media interview since losing the U.S. Senate special election on Dec. 12, 2017, Moore quoted Washington extensively. He even signed a self-published pamphlet that includes Washingtons farewell address for his visitor to read along with I do this for everyone who comes in, he said. He recited excerpts of Washingtons speech from memory. Let me take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of the party, generally, Moore said in quoting Washington. The occasion for the meeting earlier this week in a corner office on the third floor of One Dexter Avenue in downtown Montgomery was to discuss the disinformation campaigns that have recently come to light in news reports. The first campaign, known as Project Birmingham, was reported by The New York Times last month. These online campaigns appear to have been designed to influence Alabama voters and sabotage Moores chances of winning that Senate race. American politics and, perhaps by extension, America itself has tumbled into chaos, Moore says. Its not because of this policy position or that one, but rather he says because Americas foundation of free elections are being undermined. Or, as Moore maintains Washington foresaw, the baneful effects of the spirit of the party. As Moore spoke about the disinformation campaigns during the one-hour interview, he did not appear distraught over his lost Senate race. Instead, he said his concern focused on the 2020 elections rather than the 2017 race they were designed to affect. If you put out bad information thats intended to alter the election, thats bad for people, Moore said. Its not my concern or sour grapes about the election. Its over and done and whats done is done. But I want to stop, I want to see this disinformation stuff stopped. I dont know if I have any effect on it or what. Indeed, there were no residual effects of the Senate loss on display by Moore this week perhaps a surprise given that polling made him the favorite until allegations of sexual misconduct emerged the month prior to the election. He has repeatedly denied the allegations to which he will forever be linked no matter what happens. Its easier to get over it if you think its Gods will and thats what I prayed for, Moore said. Accompanied by wife Kayla (now president of the Foundation that her husband founded) and one of his attorneys, Melissa Isaak, Moore appeared upbeat and at ease. Moore did all the talking with no hard feelings on display. He did manage to say that U.S. Sen. Doug Jones who defeated Moore in that 2017 special election should be investigated along with the disinformation campaign against him. Even my former opponent said it should be investigated, Moore said. I think he should be investigated because he took advantage of all these tactics. Jones has said such efforts should be investigated. In fact, Jones sent a letter Wednesday to the chair of the Federal Election Commission along with copies of reports from The Times and The Washington Post as supporting exhibits. I am truly outraged by these reports, Jones wrote in the letter, a copy of which was provided to AL.com -- and is embedded at the bottom of this story -- by his office. Such deceptive tactics have no place in American politics and must be repudiated by those involved in our political system. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall conducted his own review of the case and determined it fell within the FECs jurisdiction. He dispatched his own letter to the FEC last week. Hes right, Moore said in endorsing Marshalls decision. It was a federal election. The FEC regulates it and they should. But other things have been reported to the FEC and they havent done anything about it. Hes referring to complaints about Highway 31, a political action committee that was founded in the final weeks of the Senate campaign and promoted anti-Moore rhetoric. Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan campaign watchdog group, filed a complaint in March 2018. In a lawsuit Moore filed last year against Highway 31 and later dropped, he alleged that the PAC funded campaign ads that included false content, which a reasonably prudent person knew or should have known to be false and the advertisements were so published with a reckless disregard as to their falsity. One Highway 31 ad Moores team protested during the campaign said Moore was banned from the Gadsden Mall for soliciting sex from young girls. As for Moores comment that Jones himself should be investigated, the senators spokeswoman, Heather Fluit, said in an email to AL.com that the senator has also made clear that any violations should be pursued to the full extent of the law by the Department of Justice. During the interview, Moore sat between two desks covered in papers no computer in sight. The papers included internet printouts of media coverage concerning the disinformation campaigns. As he flipped through the stacks, reading aloud from several of the printouts, Moore would also pull out a yellow highlighter to mark pertinent passages. A least favorite quote came from Matt Osborne, a Florence-area political activist who worked on a false social media narrative known as Dry Alabama and told The New York Times earlier this week that there is a moral imperative to utilize such deceptive tactics. Dry Alabama attempted to falsely convince voters in the final weeks of the Senate campaign that Moore favored a statewide alcohol ban the intent of which would unsettle Alabama businesses and moderate Republicans, The Times reported. Last month, The New York Times also reported on an anti-Moore social media campaign that mimicked Russian influence in the 2016 presidential race known as Project Birmingham. That makes two disinformation campaigns waged against Moore in a Senate race he ultimately lost by 2 points. Politics has just become exceptionally dirty, Moore said. In fact, there was a comment by someone in one of these recent articles that said we have a moral imperative to do these things even though we wish they wouldnt do them in politics. Thats a contradiction. The disinformation campaigns also lead to an obvious question: Were the accusations of sexual misconduct made against Moore in The Washington Post a month before election day a disinformation campaign of their own? Moore, of course, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing alleged by the women both in public statements and numerous court documents. There are three active lawsuits regarding those accusations. The accusers have been just as steadfast in their accounts. The most damning of those accusations came from Leigh Corfman, who said that when she was 14 and Moore was 32, he took her to his home in rural Etowah County, removed her clothes and touched her over her underwear while stripping down to his underwear. Corfman eventually sued Moore and he countersued. If you look back at the Pelosi video again where she basically very descriptively told what the tactic was, Moore said. And I think thats what was carried out in that campaign. Moore was referring to a 2017 video of U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who described how to smear a political opponent with falsehoods. The key, Pelosi said, is to get the smear reported by the media, which gives it validation to the electorate. In Moores campaign, the disinformation efforts were not reported in the media until more than a year later while the sexual misconduct accusations dropped 32 days before the election. Unlike the disinformation campaigns which operated anonymously the accusations from the women all came in on-the-record interviews with The Post and AL.com. There has been no link made between the allegations and the newly-uncovered disinformation campaigns. Its discouraging, Moore said. Ive been in politics a long time over 40 years and its getting worse and worse to the point it is now. I fear the stuff coming out just shows how immorality has seeped into our political system. And to Moore, perhaps nothing could be worse. He referred to two friends from his days at the U.S. Military Academy who were killed in Vietnam. Its their memory, Moore said, that drives me in public service. And Moore said he sees the deterioration of morality in the U.S. and a nation founded on God now turning its back. Were giving it up because we dont know where it came from, Moore said. Our morality. Its closely associated with our freedom. Were giving up the fact that this nation was founded upon God, a particular God, not just any god, and a moral basis. Then he quoted Washington again. Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are in indispensable support, said Washington in his farewell address, Moore recited. I quote Washington a lot because he saw the problems in his first administration. He wasnt a prophet or a visionary. He just saw and knew human nature. He knew what would come of it. And he knew what would happen. As for what will happen for Moore, it isnt clear but there was no indication he will run again for public office. Asked about his future, he immediately said teaching but acknowledged he had no classroom lined up. I just do what I can do, Moore said at the beginning of a lengthy response. Ive spoken a lot, not much lately, but when I do, I speak about these things and the foundation and where we came from. And he concluded with, I regret the political system is so vile, so vicious that the interests of our country seem to be lost in the very political system we cherish. Thats why I hate these tactics, secret experiments and disinformation. The very word itself speaks of lying and falsity. Point blank: Will we see your name on a ballot again? Im not thinking about the future, Moore said. Im just dealing with the problems of the past. If we dont get it straight today, I dont know where the future will be. If I ever decide to do something, Ill let it be known. But right now, Im concentrating on whats before me. Ive got plenty of court cases going on right now. A man accused of causing a fatal crash while trying to evade Prichard police in 2015 was found guilty of murder by a Mobile County jury this week, the Mobile County District Attorneys Office announced Thursday. Charles Edward Dennis led Prichard police on a pursuit on Oct. 25, 2015, after he drove through 4-way stop sign without stopping, police said. Police turned on their emergency lights and sirens and attempted to stop Dennis. The pursuit ended when the car Dennis was driving collided with 20-year-old Anteesha Monique Erica Banks' vehicle on Prichard Avenue near the intersection of Edison Street, police said. Banks died instantly. While recklessly attempting to elude police, the defendant struck the victims car leading to her death, the DAs office said in a tweet posted Thursday. Today a jury found Charles Dennis GUILTY of the MURDER of 20-year-old Anteesha Banks. While recklessly attempting to elude police, the defendant struck the victims car leading to her death. The state was represented by ADA Michaelyn Gober. pic.twitter.com/O0ii0sUl67 Mobile DA's Office (@MobileDAoffice) January 10, 2019 Dennis tried to flee police on foot but was soon taken into custody. He was charged with vehicular murder, possession of a stolen hand gun, possession of controlled substances, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident with injury. Mobile County Assistant District Attorney Michaelyn Gober prosecuted the case. A sentencing date has not been announced. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has accused leaders of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute of poor stewardship and demanded details of the decision to announce an award and then withdraw it from controversial activist Angela Davis. The board voted on Jan. 4 to rescind the Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award that had been previously announced was going to Davis. It canceled the Feb. 16 gala where she would have received the award. The crisis of leadership at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute represents a clash of values, wherein the institution responsible for stewarding powerful, poignant and respectful dialogue, has demonstrated that they do not value dialogue with residents of Birmingham and the public at large, Woodfin wrote in a statement released on the city web site on Jan. 11. Woodfin serves as an ex-officio member of the board. Because of their poor stewardship, some in the local and national media are misconstruing the crisis of leadership at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute as a clash of cultures, ethnic groups, or races. Let me be clear it is not. Woodfin also clarified his previous remarks on the issue to note he was not criticizing the Jewish community, despite letters sent by Jewish organizations in the city opposing the award for Davis. It was not my intent to suggest that the entire Jewish community was opposed to Dr. Angela Davis receiving the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award, Woodfin said. Birminghams Jewish community is not monolithic in thought, Woodfin said. I consider myself an ally of Birminghams Jewish community. In fact, African American and Jewish leaders in Birmingham have worked together to build bridges during some of Birminghams darkest times. I expect us to continue to do so. With that said, members of the community, Jewish and otherwise, were indeed vocal in their opposition of Dr. Davis receiving the Shuttlesworth Award. More discussion and public dialogue should have taken place, Woodfin suggested. Dialogue should have allowed for the full measure of discussion about the merits of the recognition by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, including supporters and dissenters of some of Dr. Davis positions, he wrote. In fact, the community has heard little from the BCRI. This is unacceptable. Woodfin mentioned the resignation of three BCRI board members this week. While the resignation of some members from the Board of Directors from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute signals a first step, there are still unanswered questions surrounding their situation, he wrote. We know very little about what transpired on that board that has brought us to this point. Woodfin said that on Monday, Jan. 7, he submitted a list of items and actions from the board and staff at BCRI, including: Minutes : A release to the public of all minutes of the BCRI board of directors from September 2018 Saturday, January 5. Honoree : A release, to my office, of the official, written communication shared, or yet to be shared, with Dr. Davis regarding the initial invitation to Birmingham as well as communications rescinding the invitation. Apology : Issue an apology statement to the community-at-large for the poor handling of the process. Criteria : A release of the award selection criteria to help the community understand the full range of your selection rationale. Facilitation : Invite representatives from stakeholder organizations to meet directly with the board of directors this week. Woodfin said he had received copies of BCRI board minutes from September-December 2018 BCRI Governance 2018). Woodfin noted that the City of Birmingham provides the primary funding for the institute. The City of Birmingham is the largest donor to the BCRI, and as such we have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the use of public resources reflect the values of the City of Birmingham, he wrote. He noted that the Birmingham Committee for Truth and Reconciliation plans to host Davis on Feb. 16 in an event thats an alternative to the one canceled by the BCRI. I welcome Dr. Davis back home and hope that her return to the City is one that helps further community conversations, he wrote. Soon, I will announce a series of conversations that will facilitate constructive dialogue around civil and human rights starting January 21 during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Observance. We do have a unique legacy that changed the events of the world more than a half-century ago. In the spirit of those that fought and died so that we can stand on these sacred grounds, I will ensure that every step is taken to preserve and protect our civil and human rights legacy of courageous dialogue. BCRI Board Chair Mike Oatridge, First Vice Chair Walter Body, and Secretary Janice Kelsey have resigned their positions, the institute announced on Wednesday. The leadership of the BCRI, as listed on its web site before the resignations this week, was as follows: BCRI Board of Directors Mike Oatridge (vice president, Honda of Alabama), Chair Walter Body (director of multi-cultural marketing, Coca-Cola United), First Vice Chair Janice Kelsey (Greater Shiloh Baptist Church staff, retired school principal), Secretary Thomas L. Wilder, Jr., (pastor, Bethel Baptist Church of Collegeville) Treasurer Doug Jones (now U.S. Senator), Immediate Past Chair Jeffrey Bayer (president, Bayer Properties) Isaac Cooper (CEO), iMC Financial Consulting) Bing Edwards (attorney) Michele Elrod (head of marketing, Regions Bank) Rosilyn Houston (senior vice president, BBVA) Danny Markstein (managing director, Markstein communications) J. John Oros, Jr., (president of Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors' Bureau) Jonathan Porter (vice president, Alabama Power) Cameron Vowell (independent non-profit manager) Odessa Woolfolk (Chair Emerita) Andrea L. Taylor, President & CEO Mayor Randall Woodfin, Ex Officio Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth (civil rights leader), 1922-2011 Today is payday for federal workers. Except, that is, if youre one of those who works at an agency hit by the partial government shutdown thats now stretching into its third week. The departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, State, Interior, Agriculture, Treasury, Commerce, Homeland Security and Justice, as well as several independent agencies, have been mostly shutdown since Dec. 22 over funding for a border wall. The closures mean more than 340,000 government employees are currently on furlough without a guarantee of back pay; an additional 500,000 are working but wont be paid until the shutdown ends. Its a different story for members of Congress. Salaries for the House and Senate are written into permanent law and not funded through annual appropriations, therefore arent subject to a government shutdown and will continue to be paid their salaries of at least $174,000 a year. About 5,500 Alabama federal workers about half of those from NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville are among those not being paid today . But Alabamas congressional delegation Sens. Richard Shelby and Doug Jones and Reps. Robert Aderholt, Bradley Byrne, Gary Palmer, Martha Roby, Terri Sewell, Mo Brooks and Mike Rogers - got their biweekly pay of approximately $6,700. As with past shutdowns, some Congress members have asked their pay be withheld until the government reopens or have donated their pay in a show of solidarity with federal workers. The presidents salary is also guaranteed though President Trump has donated his $400,000-a-year salary to various charities since he took office in 2016. Several efforts are currently underway that would change the practice of Congress being paid during a shutdown. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, has introduced the No Work, No Pay Act, which requires all Congressional pay be withheld during any government shutdown. Folks are suffering at the expense of the political games being played in Washington, Daines said. Its simple - it is the fundamental role of Congress to fund the government and until that happens, they shouldnt get paid. The attorney for a Huntsville general practice physician who pleaded guilty to one count in a Medicare fraud case said she plans to continue her medical practice. Dr. Nicole Scruggs of Huntsville pleaded guilty this week in federal court in Montgomery in a case involving former state Rep. Ed Henry of Hartselle. Henry has filed a notice of his intent to also plead guilty. Scruggs plea agreement says Henry and Scruggs entered an agreement for Scruggs to refer patients to Henrys company for chronic care management. Those services were billed to Medicare. The plea agreement says the arrangement violated an anti-kickback law because Henry provided Scruggs with an employee as an inducement to enter the arrangement and because patients were referred for chronic care management without paying required co-payments. F. Wilson Myers Sr., attorney for Scruggs, acknowledged her guilt but said Scruggs intends to fully repay the government and continue her practice, which he said provides care to an underserved community, including Medicaid and Medicare patients. This case in no way reflects on her medical ability or her willingness to serve the underserved population of Huntsville, Myers said. Myers said the failure to collect co-pays was an administrative problem, not a shortcoming in the care Scruggs provided. She was relying on a third party to do it properly and she was responsible for it, Myers said. They didnt do it right. Scruggs expects to appear before the state medical licensing board because of the felony conviction, Myers said. Scruggs is scheduled to be sentenced in the case on May 2. The plea agreement says prosecutors plan to recommend a reduced sentence because of her cooperation. The maximum sentence would be five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Details of Henrys plea agreement are not yet available. Henry is scheduled to appear in federal court in Montgomery on January 16 to enter a guilty plea. Henry served in the Alabama House from 2010 to 2018 and did not run for reelection last year. He was the lawmaker who led the move to start impeachment proceedings against former Gov. Robert Bentley. The founders of Birminghams next charter school hopeful, I3 Academy, heard from supporters and opponents at a meeting in Birmingham Thursday evening. With supporters calling for better school options and better outcomes for students, and opponents asking Birmingham City School board members to vote no on the application, the meeting was a back and forth about the merits of charter schools and the hope for better education for children in Birmingham. Charter schools are public schools that are allowed flexibility from regulations in return for more accountability for student success. Charter schools that do not meet goals specified in their contract can be closed. The public hearing is one part of the charter authorizing process, where those wanting to open a public charter school lay out their plan for how they will educate students and also hear from community members. Birmingham City Schools is a charter authorizer, meaning the school board can either accept or deny the application. Applicants who are denied can appeal to the Alabama Public Charter School Commission. Martin Nalls, head of school for I3 Academy, shared the basics about the school with around 200 members of the community. The Academy plans to open in fall 2020 in the Woodlawn community with 420 students in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. The school purchased the First Baptist Church property on 48th Street North in Woodlawn and plan renovation and additions to the existing building to house the school. Our goal is for that school to stem revitalization in that neighborhood, Nalls said. Former Alabama State Superintendent Tommy Bice was introduced as the chairman of the schools board, and Dylan Ferniany, a former specialist in Birmingham City Schools' gifted and talented program, was introduced as Director of Student and Adult Learning. Founding Board Member LaShunta Boler addressed the audience, telling them she attended Birmingham City Schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade, but more education options are needed to prepare students for the future. I3 Academy will provide an opportunity for our children to have a life-changing learning experience," Boler said, "which will heighten their total outlook by educating the whole child. The school plans to use a STEAM curriculum---science, technology, engineering, arts, and math---and have an extended day program to incorporate additional activities and learning. The school will offer wraparound services, a catch-all term for any type of help a child needs---social and emotional as well as medical---to succeed academically. Nalls said the Academy conducted surveys and focus groups with more than 250 parents and community members in the Woodlawn area. Eighty-seven percent of those surveyed answered yes when asked if they want a choice of where their child is educated, he said, demonstrating the communitys strong desire for a say in where their child goes to school. Speakers were given two minutes each to voice their thoughts about the charter school applicant. Proponents outnumbered opponents, with supporters speaking about the need for choice, the faith they had in Nalls and his team, and the low levels of academic achievement in Birminghams schools. In the latest round of report cards, five of Birminghams schools earned an F, down from 22 'F' schools in 2017. Birminghams Board of Education will vote on I3 Academys application at their regular meeting on Jan. 22 at the boards central office. No other charter schools submitted an application for consideration, school officials said. STAR Academy, rejected by the Birmingham board in 2017, was approved by the state commission and plans to open in fall 2019 under the name Legacy Prep. The Alabama Legislature first authorized charter schools in 2015, something more than 40 other states had already done. Mobiles Accel Day and Evening Academy, a program for at-risk high school students, and University Charter School, a K-8 school in Sumter County, are the only two charter schools currently operating in Alabama. Both were startup charter schools. In December, State Superintendent Eric Mackey announced the approval of the application of the Montgomery Education Foundation to convert Lanier High School and three schools that feed Lanier into charter schools, making them the first conversion charter schools in the state. Alabama lawmakers are proposing legislation that would ban holding a cell phone while driving. Rep. Allen Farley, R-McCalla, filed a bill this week, the first opportunity for lawmakers to formally submit bills in advance of the legislative session, which starts March 5. Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, is sponsoring a similar bill in the Senate. Alabama law currently bans texting while driving but does not ban holding a phone while driving. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have bans on holding a phone while driving, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. One of those is Georgia, where the law took effect in July 2018. Farley and McClendon said their bills are based on the law in Georgia. The purpose is very simple but its extremely serious, Farley said. It would hopefully save lives. Farleys bill would make it illegal to drive and physically hold or otherwise support with any part of the persons body a wireless telecommunication device or standalone electronic device. A first offense would make the driver subject to a $50 fine. The fine would be $100 for a second offense and $150 for third and subsequent offenses. Farley, who worked in law enforcement for 37 years, said the sight of drivers using their phones or texting while driving has become all too common on highways. Theyll be traveling 80 miles an hour or so and youll see the cell phone glow where theyre looking down and texting or reading a text, Farley said. Farley said his decision to sponsor the legislation was prompted, in part, by a fatal accident on Interstate 65 last year. A Thompson High School student died when her car crashed into a tractor-trailer near the Pelham exit. Authorities said she was texting when the accident happened. Farley said the student was a friend of his granddaughter. Farley said he plans to obtain statistics on how hand-held bans have affected distracted driving accident rates in other states. He said that information will be an important part of the debate over his bill. If we need to discuss it further and tweak it and change it a little bit, thats fine, Farley said. But lets get it out there and start the conversation. Farleys bill includes several exceptions to the ban, such as for making calls to law enforcement or for other emergencies. McClendon said he sponsored the bill to ban texting while driving that passed several years ago but said it has not been especially effective. He said the hand-held ban will be more enforceable. It will much easier to see if someone has a phone in their hand than to be able to tell what theyre doing with that phone, McClendon said. The senator said he talked to the sponsor of the Georgia bill and has been told the new law is already showing results in reducing accidents. He said he knows from experience there will be resistance to changing the law in Alabama. He said it took six years to pass the texting ban. The fact is, it really hasnt been that effective because enforcement is difficult with that bill, McClendon said. But thats all we could get through at the time. That was the best we could do. But now weve at least got a model. McClendon said his bill includes a provision that allows first-time offenders to have the charge dismissed if they present to the judge evidence that theyve obtained a Bluetooth or other device that allows them to make hands-free calls and text messages. Its called a parents worst nightmare because its hard to think of a worse one. Somehow, you walked away and left the baby in the car. Or the kids crawled in the old truck behind the barn, and the door got stuck. Or the cat jumped in the car when you were unloading groceries. Several scenarios involving parked cars can end in grief. Now, a technology company in Huntsville, Ala., has won a patent for a device its inventors say could prevent these nightmares from becoming real. The device patented on Jan. 1 is called Paytons Charm, and its about the size of a garage door opener. It works by detecting the presence of carbon dioxide inside a closed vehicle. CO2 is the gas living things exhale when they breathe. If the babys in the car and breathing, Paytons Charm will detect the CO2 and call you on the phone. The message: Somethings in the car and may need help. Part of the story is how Paytons Charm came to be. Why something like it is needed is the real starting point. Weve got a problem thats not getting better, its getting worse, Amber Rollins of the nonprofit Kidsandcars.org said in December of 2018. This year has been one of the worst for hot car deaths. Rollins said this week that 49 children died in cars in 2018, which tied 2010 as the worst year in history. Why does it keep happening? The experts say the answer starts with psychology. One of the biggest contributing factors is that no one believes it can happen to them, Rollins said in December. Who can blame them? Who would think they could unknowingly leave the most important thing in their lives behind. Nobody wants to believe that can happen to them. If you think it cant happen to you, youre not taking steps to prevent it. Rollins listed the contributing factors present in almost every case: Sleep-deprived parents of young children. Stress. Slipping into auto pilot mode the survival mechanism that allows us to do the thing weve done a hundred times without thinking of it. What parent hasnt been there? Rollins said the auto pilot mode is common, but it doesnt account for changes in your normal routine. Such as your turn to drop off the baby today. And what happens is that parents drive to work like they would any other day straight past the daycare, she said. They go to work, work the entire day thinking their child is safe and sound and where theyre supposed to be and actually go to the daycare at the end of the day to pick the baby up, and thats when they realize the baby was never dropped off. Fear of just that kind of scenario is how the research that led to Paytons Charm started. Mike Alvarez, founder of the Huntsville company Venturi Aerospace, was worried about his grandkids, said Venturi software engineer Ben Payment. Just recognizing busy schedules and Whos got that grandkid? and Did grandma get the kid or did dad get the kid? Worried that in that shuffle, theres going to be a miscommunication or somebody was going to drop the ball, Payment said. Alvarez hosted an X Prize-type competition internally, and Payment entered four ideas. One of them was the machine that eventually became Paytons Charm, named after a Florida girl killed by being left in a car.. My knee-jerk reaction was what I think a lot of other people have done and considered some sort of weight detection system, Payment said. But when I was researching the problem, I learned that nearly a third of the deaths are kids playing in and around the car. If youre playing in and around a car, youre probably not strapped in a car seat. Maybe not in a car seat at all, especially in the case of minivans. You could be playing hide-and-seek and literally hiding underneath the seat. The next idea was a camera. But cameras have blind spots. A weight sensor? More limitations. I was, like, Man, we really need to be able to capture the entire interior space of the vehicle. Well, whats in there? Whats in the air? Can we smell people out, or something? Payment thinks it was the carbon monoxide monitor in his house that made him wonder: Is something like that feasible? It was. Eventually. Several versions later and months later, Payment had a device with a battery and an internal cellphone. One-time setup, configure it and leave it alone, he said. Periodically, it will send you a text letting you know its still working. Hopefully you wont hear from it otherwise. If you do, hopefully, weve made your day. Escalating results. Thats what Payment says the device will offer. It will text you first and, if you dont respond, it will text a second person. If that person doesnt respond, theres a quick decision tree that ends with a 911 call. Paytons Charm has a Kickstarter campaign, but it hasnt generated enough cash yet to move forward. But Payment is still optimistic. My boss, if we just break even on this, hed be fine, Payment said. Well know in the next few months, he said. Meanwhile, Rollins of KidsandCars.org, said this week that Congress failed again last year to pass a law her organization is offering. It would require a reminder system in all vehicles to check to back seat before walking away from the car. The bill will be reintroduced this year, and the death count will start over. A yellow tugboat heading upstream along the Mississippi River Wednesday morning (Jan. 9) created waves strong enough to rock an old red and white houseboat named Shameless. The waves pulled at the little houseboat, threatening to make it come untied from a tree near the levee in Algiers Point, where its been docked this past week. The boats owner, Kelly Phillips, 51, and his dog, Sapphire, walked out onto the houseboats deck, managing to keep their balance despite the wind and relentless rocking. They jumped into a dark green jon boat that was taking on some water and Phillips paddled to the levee using an old broom he had found on shore. As he walked up to the levee, he hugged himself against the cold breeze that had swept in overnight. Its cold on the houseboat, there is no insulation. Fortunately, I have my little heater, he said, gesturing to Sapphire. This turn of the Mississippi River is just one of dozens of places Phillips has visited since he started his journey down the river 20 months ago. Phillips, who is originally from Wisconsin, said he was diagnosed with cancer in his sinuses about two years ago. He underwent chemotherapy, but the treatment left him with a debilitating stomach ulcer. His doctors said he had only about three months to live. At the time, Phillips was living in New Jersey, where he ran a variety of businesses including two laundromats and a commercial laundry company with 53 employees. He said he knew the last place he wanted to die in was in hospice care. He thought if anything, the Mississippi River might be a good place to go. So, with his brothers help he bought Shameless, a houseboat built in 1972. I woke up in the morning. I dont know why but I just decided to to call my brother and said, This is what I want to do, he said. Originally he had planned to stay in Wisconsin. But three months went by. Then five months and six months, so he decided to head downriver. I figured Id travel for three months and that would be it. I didnt die, my plans got screwed up, so I continued going downriver, he said. With only $214 in his pocket, he set sail. The river has been his home and he said the Mississippi River people have been his family. He remembers when he arrived in Chester, Illinois, on New Years Eve in 2017. He was set to leave the next day but his boat was stuck in frozen water. He had run out of wood for his stove and gas for his generator. I was going to freeze to death, he said. He ended up calling the local police department for help and said he got connected to the right person. Soon after the people of Chester came out and gave him gas and delivered scrap wood and three containers of food. Some guy even gave me this jacket, Phillips said, pointing to the black windbreaker he was wearing. The houseboat was sinking when he reached Hickman, Kentucky. There he met a tugboat captain who pulled him out of the water and promised, no matter where Phillips ends up when he dies, he will take care of Sapphire. When he reached Memphis, Sapphire went missing briefly. The people who found her learned about Phillips and decided to help him on his journey and bought him a new engine and generator for his boat. In Baton Rouge, a friend set him up with a motorized bike, because Phillips is too weak to pedal. In Algiers Point hes shared coffee at One Stone and stories with people at the Old Point Bar. New Orleans was originally going to be his last stop on his journey down the river, but Phillips said he plans to end up in Venice, La., by Jan. 23 where many of his river friends plan to meet him. He found out about this last place on the river a few weeks ago and says he is looking forward to all of the fresh seafood ahead in his journey. Most of all I want to say I did it, I made it all the way down the river, he said. Beyond Venice he has no plans, mainly because he says he hates making plans. For now, he says, he has enough energy to keep traveling. Each morning Sapphire gets him up from the recliner where he sleeps by standing on his chest and barking. She makes sure that I get up, he said. He said he will continue as long as he can without medical help. I dont want to go to the hospital, he said. Hopefully I will just lay down and go to sleep and not wake up. That seems like the easiest way to go. Correction: The article previously incorrectly identified the type of boat Kelly Phillips used to come to shore. Staff at almost 40 wildlife refuges closed during the government shutdown including workers at one in Alabama have been recalled. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directed employees at the refuges to report to work, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press. The recall come almost three weeks after the government partially shut down over funding disputes between Congress and President Donald Trump. Margaret Everson, principal deputy director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the furloughed staff will be paid using carryover funds. The number of staff that will be recalled will be limited, the AP reported, and will cover high priority projects that support the publics access to the lands. While many of our refuges have remained accessible, but not staffed, the extended lapse in federal appropriations is impacting both our ability to serve the public and to protect natural resources under our care in some places, Everson wrote. For the next 30 days, using previously appropriated funds, we will bring back a limited number of employees to resume work on high priority projects and activities that support the Services mission and meet the publics desire for access to refuge lands, she added. The refuges identified in the letter include locations in Hawaii, Oregon, Washington State, California, Texas, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Florida and Wheeler refuge in Morgan County, Alabama. Employees with the Department of Interior, which oversees the refuges and national parks, as well as Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, State, Agriculture, Treasury, Commerce, Homeland Security and Justice and several independent agencies have been furloughed or working without pay since the shutdown began. Many of the facilities remained open but with little to no staffing for daily maintenance or assisting visitors. Wheeler reopens About a third of Wheeler Refuges staff came back to work on Thursday, the Decatur Daily reported, allowing the visitors center and welcome center to reopen. The refuges two-day Festival of the Cranes, which is expected to attract some 5,000 people, will proceed as planned, with staff and a large contingent of volunteers. " Hedy Strnad, a Jewish dressmaker in Prague in the 1930s, hoped to make it to the United States and take up her career. But Adolf Hitlers German army invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939 and Hedy would die in a concentration camp along with her husband and millions of other Jews. In December 1939, Hedys husband, Paul Strnad, wrote to his cousin in Milwaukee asking for help in acquiring visas for himself and his wife to emigrate to the United States. You may imagine we have a great interest of leaving Europe as soon as possible, Paul wrote. He included eight sketches of Hedys dress designs to show she could get a job in the American apparel industry. We know that letter was censored there is a swastika on the back of it, said Ellie Gettinger, education director for Jewish Museum Milwaukee. After years of research, more documents related to the Strnads were discovered, along with family photos. It all works to help tell the story of the Holocaust in a personal way, Gettinger said. We have to find new and different ways to make the experience real, to make the people real, Gettinger said. The letter and sketches were found in storage by relatives in 1997 and donated to the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, which asked the Milwaukee Repertory Theater costume shop to bring the dresses to life. Stitching History From the Holocaust, an original exhibit on loan from the Jewish Museum in Milwaukee, features the eight dresses, which will be on display in Birmingham from Jan. 7 through March 16, 2019 at UABs Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts. Were really excited to bring something so unique to Birmingham, said Thomas Bryant, executive director of the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center, a sponsor of the event. Its a look into the lives of two people who perished in the Holocaust, and we get a sense of what was lost. It brings them back to life. She lives on. Gettinger said the exhibit also gives a view into the desperation of the immigration system during the period of World War II as Jews tried to flee Europe, but came up against strict quotas and regulations as they tried to escape to the United States. It shows the challenge of immigration, Gettinger said. What were grappling with is not new. Who are we keeping out and why, what are the barriers were putting up? It also raises the question of the talent that was lost in the Holocaust. What are the symphonies not created, the medical treatments not invented, the books not written? Gettinger said. An opening reception for the exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at AEIVA. Additional programs include: Boisterous celebrations by Syrians on New Years Eve in Istanbuls Taksim Square, where the Syrian flag and Free Syrian Army (FSA) banners were waved amidst anti-Assad chants, has reignited the heated debate in Turkey over Syrian refugees. Many are claiming Syrian youngsters are enjoying a good time in Turkey instead of traveling to Syria where Turkish soldiers are fighting and dying to liberate their country from a tyrant. Fact and fiction are entwined in this debate, which is laced with accusations of racism and intolerance. Many Turks are angry, for example, over the privileges the government has been extending to Syrians while ordinary Turks struggle to eke out a living. Many also argue that Syrians are undercutting the labor market and depriving Turks of their livelihood. Also fueling the debate is Syrian ghettoization in Istanbul and other cities, where certain districts have been overrun with Arabic shop signs. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to boast about the 3.6 million Syrians Turkey has given shelter to. He also complains that Turkey has been footing the bill while European countries squabble over quotas on how many refugees they will accept. Ankara says it has spent over $30 billion from its own coffers on the refugees so far. There is some justification to what Ankara says. Turkey has also been commended by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for the burden it has assumed in this respect. Despite such praise, though, disgruntlement over the presence of the Syrians is becoming more vocal in the Turkish media. The concerns of ordinary Turks include demographic, economic, social, cultural and security issues stemming from such a large injection of foreigners into Turkey. Most pro-government analysts presume that criticizing the presence of the Syrians is merely another device the opposition is using to hit at Erdogan and his government. Nevertheless, there are those in the pro-government media who are concerned that the presence of the Syrians will cause serious social unrest. There are also strong opponents of the Erdogan government who accuse those complaining about the presence of the Syrians of intolerance and racism, demonstrating just how complex the issue has become for Turkey. According to Turkeys Directorate General of Migration Management, Syrians in Turkey surpassed 3.6 million in 2018. Even thought 291,000 refugees returned to Syria after Turkeys Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in 2017 and 2018, respectively, the total number of Syrian refugees increased in 2018 by 187,000. Sevilay Yilman, a Haberturk columnist who is known for her incendiary articles, kicked of the debate after she deplored the spectacle of the Syrians in Taksim Square on New Years Eve. Taksim is no longer the Taksim we knew from previous New Years celebrations, Yilman, who has stood by Erdogans government in the past, bemoaned. The Syrians that filled Taksim Square were not celebrating but demonstrating. Yilman argued, Everyone wishes the Syrians to be free. But Syrians who want to see that happen even more than us should not be waving those flags in Taksim, but in Syria. Rather than shouting and yelling in Taksim they should join our soldiers in Syria who are keeping watch there night and day. Yasin Aktay, an adviser to Erdogan, refuted the claim that Turkish soldiers were fighting for Syria. Turkey is in Syria primarily to protect its borders and its people from the threat of terrorism and invasion, Aktay wrote in the pro-government Yeni Safak. He was referring mainly to Turkeys fight against the Kurdish People's Protection Units, which Ankara says is a terrorist group that threatens Turkeys security. The greatest support in this task comes from heroic young Syrians who are fighting shoulder to shoulder with Turkish soldiers, Aktay added. However, Aktays fellow Yeni Safak columnist Hasan Ozturk supported Yilman, arguing that the lifestyles Syrians are forcing on Turkey would pose serious problems in the future. We dont say the Syrians should forget their traditions, but they have the responsibility of complying with the rules of the countries they have taken refuge in, Ozturk wrote. To argue that we successfully incorporated a large population in our midst is nothing but negligence, and amount to sweeping the problem under the carpet. Meanwhile, many situations have arisen that serve as reminders of the social problems the presence of the Syrians is causing around the country. In September, violence erupted against Syrian refugees in the eastern province of Sirnak after a fight between Turkish and Syrian children escalated into a pitch battle between the families and resulted in the Syrian side shooting and killing two Turkish brothers. Syrian shops and houses were attacked and damaged by infuriated locals, resulting in 45 arrests and the expulsion from Turkey of 639 Syrians. In October, 250 Syrians in the western province of Denizli were relocated following demonstrations by locals after a number of Syrians allegedly harassed a 14-year-old girl. These are by no means unique cases. Many independent observers believe incidents such as these are generally underreported by the pro-government media. Political talk show presenter Fatih Altayli has indirectly suggested that the governments avid support for the Syrians owes to their Muslim identity. Writing for Haberturk, Altayli referred to the governments argument that the Syrians were from lands that were once part of Turkey meaning the Ottoman Empire a century ago. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has contended that Syrians should be welcomed as kin by Turks because of this history. To highlight his point, Altayli speculated about unlikely scenarios in Greece or Armenia that could force millions to seek shelter in Turkey and questioned whether the welcome extended to Syrians would have been shown them. Nationalist commentator Mehmet Farac also wrote a provocative article in which he asked rhetorically whether it is Syria or Turkey that is under occupation. Farac claimed that the tax exemptions, social benefits and free medical care extended to the Syrians by the government are angering Turks and preparing the ground for serious social conflict. He wrote, Whose shame is it that our citizens in need of medical care have to get Syrians to apply for them in order to obtain it? The government maintains that that scope of the assistance provided Syrian refugees is being grossly exaggerated by the opposition, but undermines its own case by stating that it has spent $30 billion to date on the refugees. Meanwhile, some pro-government commentators are invoking what they refer to as European tolerance for outsiders to counter anti-Syrian sentiments in Turkey. Resul Tosun from Star newspaper, which acts as a mouthpiece for the government, is one of them. I was surprised when I saw the Turkish district in Berlin or saw the Turkish and Arabic shop in Preston, New York. It saddens me to see our excessive reactions to our co-religionists the Syrians when Germans and Americans show foreigners such tolerance, Tosun wrote. What is really surprising is that columnists like Tosun, who represent a point of view that usually vilifies the West over its intolerance for Muslims, are all of a sudden lauding the West for its tolerance for outsiders. Seasoned political analyst Fehmi Koru laid out Turkey's situation in stark terms. You understand the situation better when you talk to these people. Although they miss their country, they make it evident that they will continue to live among us, Koru wrote in his widely read daily blog. Whether we like it or not, our country will have a significant Arab population after a while, he argued. Koru went on to stress the need to take advantage of the benefits that Syrian professionals could provide Turkey, rather than forcing them to seek their future in the West because of the disregard they face in this country. At this stage, it is clear that the debate over Syrian refugees will only get more heated in Turkey, as long as the government provides no clear indication of its plans for the future of these people. Comments made this week by Nadav Argaman, head of the Shin Bet, set off two storms that got Israel in trouble with two world superpowers Russia and China. At a closed-door meeting on Jan. 8, Argaman said that a foreign state intends to meddle in the April 9 elections using hackers and cybertechnology. Argaman insisted he knew this for a fact, although he did not know which side the meddling was supposed to benefit. The Russians were quick to deny any involvement in the upcoming elections or in any other election campaign. Appearing the following day before another closed-door forum, Argaman spoke of Chinas involvement in Israel, warning that its massive economic investments could pose a threat to state security. The Chinese influence in Israel is particularly dangerous, Argaman said, according to Channel 10 News, especially as it concerns investment in strategic infrastructure and in major companies. Argaman was likely referring to the Chinese companies contracted to build a new Mediterranean port in the northern city of Haifa and a light rail system in Tel Aviv; its acquisition of Israels largest food manufacturer, Tnuva, by Chinese Bright Food company; and its interest in buying major Israeli insurers. The Shin Bet chief argued in favor of legislation to oversee the Chinese investments in Israel. The law is lagging behind in terms of foreign investment oversight. This could be dangerous, he reportedly said. National security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat from the Shin Bet has made similar comments, also in closed forums. Israelis are not the only ones concerned about Chinas growing involvement in mega investments in Israel. The US administration is not wild about this turn of events and is monitoring it closely. US national security adviser John Bolton raised the issue with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials with whom he met in Israel earlier this month. Bolton reportedly demanded that Netanyahu tighten his governments oversight of the Chinese firms operating in Israel to foil any espionage activity. Behind the scenes, US criticism of Chinese telecom companies such as Huawei and ZTE is far harsher, with an Israeli security source describing it (on condition of anonymity) as really furious. In meetings with their Israeli counterparts, US defense officials repeatedly raise the issue, arguing that China should not be building Israels major ports and large infrastructure projects. The Americans have even hinted at the unpleasant prospect of the US 6th Fleet boycotting Chinese-built ports. Israel views China as having a well laid-out economic expansion plan, but it does not attribute any malicious intent to the Chinese. The Americans, on the other hand, are engaged in a real economic war with China, which they regard as an immediate threat to the US economy and its global hegemony. Israel finds itself torn between these two poles. On the one hand, it values the immense Chinese economic might oiling the wheels of the Israeli economy. On the other, the United States under President Donald Trump sees any link with the Chinese as an act verging on treason. Officials in Jerusalem do not dismiss the idea that the determined US refusal to allow Israeli sales of upgraded used F-16 fighter jets from its fleet to Croatia is a type of initial retaliatory move that will not necessarily be the last, against the accelerated tightening of Israel-China economic ties. Israeli defense officials fear that this is the trailer to a bad movie under production. The issue is not merely economic. It also has defense aspects that are far more troubling. Israel has been preaching to the world that it must sever commercial and economic ties with Iran and boycott companies that fail to do so. Netanyahu was the one who led Trump to renew and intensify US sanctions on firms trading with Iran. It now turns out that Israel itself is not very careful about keeping the sanctions. The giant Chinese infrastructure group CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicle that won the supply and maintenance tender for the Tel Aviv light rail maintains widespread contacts with Iran and supplies the cars for its metro rail lines in Tehran and Isfahan. The Chinese firm openly ignores the US sanctions, and it even signed deals with Iran from which European firms adhering to the sanctions dropped out. Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was even present at the signing of one of the deals between the Chinese and Iran. Nonetheless, Israel continues to give the Chinese firm free rein, allowing CRRC to compete in another major light rail bid this one in Jerusalem. Israel understands that it cannot play both sides forever. For now, the Chinese are investing in Israel like crazy. An estimated 12% of the financing rounds of Israels high tech in 2018 was Chinese, and significantly more so in mid-range and heavy investment. The Chinese have recently also displayed an interest in medium- and small-sized tenders and deals in Israel not just in mega projects. They are expanding their investments and influence in Israel at an increasing rate, pushing out other international firms. Israeli firms are suffering too. Military Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Tamir Hyman told a Dec. 12, 2018, session of the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that China is one of the worlds dominant economic powers and Chinese money is rebuilding Syria. The governments security Cabinet discussed the growing Chinese involvement and influence in Israel last November. The Israeli dilemma is complex: Its taste for Chinese money is growing even as it seeks to tighten its chokehold on Iran with economic sanctions. At this point, a senior Israeli defense source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, we are still managing to keep this sensitive issue on the back burner perhaps due to the fact that President Trump himself is not paying it special attention. Netanyahu has a powerful secret weapon that could help tone down possible White House criticism. US billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who is close to Trump and was a major donor to his campaign, owns huge casinos in Chinese Macau and enjoys significant strategic connections with top Chinese government echelons. So far, there is no indication that his intervention has been sought. Israel, however, does not want to think what would happen if and when someone were to convince Trump that the total devotion of the Israeli economy to China is endangering US interests. Its been two weeks since Ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked dropped a political bombshell by announcing that they are leaving HaBayit HaYehudi to create the New Right party. So far, their agenda seems rather disorganized. The vision that they laid out Dec. 29 was of a party that would appeal to both religious and secular Jews. They gave examples from their personal lives: Bennett is a religious man who is married to a secular woman. Shaked is a secular woman from Tel Aviv who became a darling of the religious Zionist movement. Their message was of one big political house where right-wing religious and secular Jews could live together in harmony because they share a set of values and a similar worldview. But even on the evening that they announced their big vision, it was unclear what was so groundbreaking about the idea. After all, religious and secular Jews share a home in the Likud, Yesh Atid and even Labor. The idea is not new. But after splitting from HaBayit HaYehudi along with Knesset member Shuli Mualem, Bennett and Shaked needed to create a distinct identity for another right-wing party. What they chose to present joint leadership by a religious man and a secular woman was kind of a gimmick. Then this week, on Jan. 9, Mualem cracked the image of a party that proposes a social partnership. At a legal conference in Jerusalem, Mualem made remarks that should have disturbed any secular person who is considering voting for the new right-wing party. Mualem, a religious woman, expressed hope that Israel would adhere more to Jewish religious law. She put it, As people whose lives are based upon commitment to the Torah, I think that is the essence of the battle: to bring the Torah into every aspect of our lives. And the entire State of Israel, God willing, will go more and more toward that place of commitment to Torah and halacha [Jewish law]. Mualems remarks were recorded and played on Army Radio the next day. As expected, they were a source of considerable embarrassment to the New Right. In an effort to control the damage, Bennett tweeted, For anyone who doesnt understand, the New Right is a right-wing party made up of secular and religious Jews with diverse opinions. That is the beauty of the party and what makes it unique. We are proud to have different opinions, just like in any family, but the only thing everyone will be expected to adhere to is the party platform. That platform will state that we support Jewish roots and tradition, but oppose religious coercion and will continue to work to unite the nation. It is safe to assume that from now until the election, the New Right will practice campaign discipline to avoid any more embarrassments. On the other hand, it is also safe to assume that Mualems remarks will be played repeatedly by the new partys political rivals. Mualem revealed a well-formulated worldview and even if, as Bennett said, it is a part of the broad spectrum of opinions that make up the New Right, it is still very problematic. And it goes without saying that it contradicts the new partys vision. The New Rights eclectic agenda will also be expressed in the people it chooses for its Knesset list. Since the party has no democratic mechanism for choosing its candidates, the task will be left to Bennett and Shaked. This week, the party named its first two candidates: right-wing journalist Caroline Glick and Shirly Pinto, a woman who was born deaf and has been active in promoting the rights of Israels deaf community. To the New Rights credit, it is worth noting that as of now, the New Right has a majority of women candidates. Glick represents the partys far-right agenda. The choice of Pinto, on the other hand, feels manipulative. She would be the first deaf person to serve in the Knesset, but it is not at all clear how she fits in with Bennett and Shakeds right-wing perspective or Mualems religious worldview. After all, based on their own statements, Bennett and Shaked want to present an alternative to the national leadership by claiming that the New Right is the real right. If this is really their purpose, it is not at all clear why they are now looking for a Mizrahi social activist to adorn their list. Just like their decision to add Pinto, it makes the project feel more like a reality show than a party with a well-organized agenda. Furthermore, the party already has two Mizrahi women in Mualem and Pinto, and if the definition is expanded even slightly, Shaked herself is half-Mizrahi, since her father is of Iraqi origin. Identity and ethnic politics can influence elections, but only when the connections are genuine. The addition of another Mizrahi candidate will likely be seen by voters as strained and inauthentic. On Friday morning, Bennett took to the social networks to announce a new recruit. Bennetts old friend from the time they served together at the army's elite Matkal unit, Matan Kahana, was joining the party. Kahana also served as a combat pilot and is part of the religious Zionism stream. These are exactly the kind of people we need in the Israeli public sphere for Israel to win again, said Bennett. Kahana is obviously a worthy person, yet his impressive military service does not predict a successful political career. Politics is a profession. Few parachuted stars dropped into politics end up making it on the long run. The New Right is part of a larger phenomenon that has been gaining momentum over the past few years. New parties are being formed all the time on the basis of some public sentiment or other. However, they are designed mainly to give power to the person leading the party and serve their personal needs. That was what happened with former Likud senior Moshe Kahlon, who founded Kulanu because he didnt want to be politically dependent on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud. The same thing is happening with Bennett and Shaked as well as with the new Shield of Israel party founded by retired Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch. Similarly, in the rival camp, former Chief of Staff Benny Gantz recently announced the creation of the Israel Resilience Party. One characteristic common to each of these parties is an unclear platform. Gantz is offering a hazy security agenda in an attempt to appeal to the right, and Bennett and Shakeds party is doing the same regarding matters of religion and state. Each of these people could have easily joined an existing party that accords with their own agendas, but chose an independent path instead for entirely personal reasons. In the case of Bennett and Shaked, it is no secret that they wanted to join the Likud at the start of their political careers but were blocked because of bitter personal quarrels with the prime minister and his wife and joined HaBayit HaYehudi instead. But now, five years later, they have reached the conclusion that the extremist ideology of some other party members prevents them from reaching a wider public. Hence their grand exit. But the New Right is just another way station for them. They are still waiting for Netanyahu to leave the Likud so that they can pursue their original plan. Syrias Combat Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Commission released Dec. 29 a list containing the names of 615 individuals and 105 entities. Notably, the list included the name of Masrour Barzani, the eldest son of former Kurdistan Region President and head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Massoud Barzani. Masrour Barzani heads the Kurdistan Region Security Council and has been nominated to be premier of the new government. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was quick to respond, releasing a statement Dec. 31 saying authorities were dismissing the matter as ludicrous because [the list] is issued by a chauvinistic, oppressive regime that has been an adversary to the Kurdish people and has supported the terrorists in order to remain in power." The statement accused the Syrian regime of using internationally prohibited weapons against its own civilian people as well. Meanwhile, KDP Vice President Bashar al-Kiki released a statement the same day demanding the "removal of Masrour Barzanis name from the Syrian terror list. He told Al-Monitor in a phone call, Our [demand] has been relayed to the Syrian authorities, adding, They should rectify this mistake and lift [Masrour Barzani's] name from the list. Regarding any future actions to be taken against Syrias decision, Kiki said, The [KRG] demands a formal apology by the Syrian government to the Iraqi state and the region. Kiki said the KRG sees Syrias actions as damaging relations between Iraq and Syria. Kiki cited political goals related to the Kurds situation in Syria as the motive behind Syrias decision, and he expressed his support for the legitimate rights and demands of the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The Syrian decision is incompatible with the war waged by the region and regional forces on terror since Masrour Barzani was one of the most prominent names to fight the Islamic State [IS], Kiki stressed. Syrias and Iraqs Kurds are standing in solidarity with Masrour Barzani against Syrias decision. Writer Farouq Haji Mustafa said in his Jan. 10 opinion article in Middle East Online, Syrias decision comes at a time when Masrour Barzani is getting ready to chair Kurdistans government, a step that [received] a warm welcome from global, regional and Iraqi parties. Mustafa asked in his op-ed: What Kurdish entities have been categorized as a terror group that received support and finance from Masrour? However, Syrian parliament member Mahmoud Joukhdar reportedly claims to have evidence against Masrour Barzani. In statements to the media Jan. 4, Joukhdar accused both Massoud and Masrour Barzani of committing crimes in northeast Syria by supporting armed Kurds with finance and weaponry. Joukhdar said his country reserves the right to prosecute Masrour Barzani on the domestic and international stage. However, legal expert and former Judge Tareq Harb told Al-Monitor, Its not possible to label Masrour Barzani as a terrorist in the sense established in the terminologies of Security Council resolutions or the 2005 Iraqi Anti-Terrorism Law, which defines terrorism as 'every criminal act committed by an individual or an organized group that targeted an individual or a group of individuals or groups or official or unofficial institutions and caused damage to public or private properties, with the aim to disturb the peace, stability, and national unity which doesnt apply to the case of [Masrour Barzani]. According to Article 1, Paragraph 2 of the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of Terrorism of 1937, which was established in Geneva under the now-dissolved League of Nations, the term "acts of terrorism" was defined as criminal acts directed against a State and intended or calculated to create a state of terror in the minds of particular persons, or a group of persons or the general public. It is worth noting that at the time of this writing there are no Iraqi Kurdish parties or entities on terrorist lists. But what if Syrias list is taken seriously? Ali al-Tamimi, also a former judge, said it is not that simple. Even in cases where the name of an individual is added to the UNs lists of designated terrorist groups or those of other states, it doesnt hold any legal weight, Tamimi told Al-Monitor. [That is,] unless a law or resolution was passed by the Iraqi judiciary or Kurdistans judiciary validating that list, he added. The Iraqi government should address the Syrian government formally, Tamimi said. In any case, Iraq is not bound to extradite Masrour or anyone else for the matter based on those lists, unless he was wanted by another state through Interpol. Even in this case, Iraq can refuse to surrender him should the state wish to do so. Political analyst and writer Kathem al-Haj of Al-Hadaf Network for Political and Media Analysis spoke to Al-Monitor and stressed the existence of political implications to the Syrian list rooted in [Masrour Barzani's] involvement in the Syrian situation. Haj cited Article 7 of the 2005 Iraqi Constitution: The state shall undertake to combat terrorism in all its forms, and shall work to protect its territories from being a base, pathway or field for terrorist activities. He also cited Article 8, which says, Iraq shall observe the principles of good neighborliness, adhere to the principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of other states. Masrour Barzani should adhere to Iraqs Constitution and laws, Haj said, adding, [He should also] not take any position in support of any religious or ethnic group in another state, because this is prohibited according to the law. Haj said, Iraqi Kurdistan should inquire as to the reason why [Masrour Barzani's] name was put on Syrias list for terrorist entities through the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and move forward by sticking to legal measure mechanisms through formal channels. But it seems that the central government, judging from the response by Baghdad and Iraqs Ministry of Foreign Affairs, remains unconcerned by the Syrian list. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Kurdistan government has limited its response to the one statement made to the media and merely a handful of condemnations. The Donald Trump administrations confirmation that the US military has begun pulling equipment out of Syria has highlighted the Pentagons tensions with hawks such as national security adviser John Bolton, current and former defense officials told Al-Monitor. Why it matters: Boltons insistence that the United States still stop the re-emergence of the Islamic State and Iranian-backed proxies in Syria could frustrate military planners trying to interpret Trumps withdrawal order. The circumstances could prove especially difficult, experts say, as Washington faces a partial government shutdown with acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan only 10 days into his new job. I can only imagine the commanders and the planners saying, now what are we going to do, said Donald Bolduc, a retired brigadier general who led US special forces in Africa. The Pentagons in a transition mode itself. Its the middle of the holiday season, a lot of jobs arent getting filled. Youre in the middle of a government shutdown. The focus is on that. A former military official said US military planners first received their notice about the Syria withdrawal from media reports and the presidents comments in December rather than an official military order to leave, forcing them to immediately begin planning. Its complicated: On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that US ground troops and naval vessels are moving toward Syria to assist with the withdrawal, defying Bolton. The national security adviser pledged during a visit to Israel this week that the United States would still achieve the objectives articulated before Trump announced the pullout. Nothing has changed, a defense official told WSJ. We dont take orders from Bolton. But alarm bells are ringing in the Pentagon that the new secretary might not be able to get around Boltons views on Syria, which are far more hawkish than Trumps. A former US official told Al-Monitor that former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had a unique level of credibility and juice to defy Bolton, and that few people in the Defense Department have anything good to say about Bolton. Thats different from most administrations, where the national security adviser is assumed to speak for the president, a former National Security Council staffer said. Very complicated: Bolduc, who served in the Pentagon during the US troop withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, said the logistical challenge of getting out of Syria will be less taxing, but the Pentagon still must discern important questions such as the size of the pullout, and the weapons and equipment that will be turned over. This just doesnt happen overnight, he said. When you dont have clear guidance this becomes very problematic. Its not ever a simple process by saying, oh were going to stay, or oh, were going to leave. Freelance governing: Like so often in the Trump presidency, it seems that members of the administration are taking what should be said with their inside voice and saying it with their outside voice, Frances Brown, a former National Security Council official during the Obama and Trump administrations, told Al-Monitor. They are taking their differing views of what the US should do in Syria a question that normally would be robustly hashed out inside the Situation Room and instead entrepreneurially trying to present their own preferences as 'Trump Policy' on the world stage. Whats next: Bolton will likely be at the Pentagon for a regularly scheduled morning meeting with Shanahan and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday. The Washington Examiner reports that an orderly withdrawal will likely take three to four months. Know more: The Syria pullout has also emboldened Congress to push back against the Pentagons war authorization. Read Pentagon correspondent Jack Detschs latest here. - Jack Detsch On Jan. 6, the US television network CBS aired an interview with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi despite Egypt's attempts to prevent the interview from being broadcast. The "60 Minutes" interview drew mixed reactions in Egypt, both angering Sisi's supporters and earning praise from opposition activists on social media. Egypt's secular activists, however, were displeased that the show only gave voice to Muslim Brotherhood figures, implying that Egypt's opposition consisted solely of members of the country's outlawed Islamist group. "The 60 Minutes interview narrowly framed the problem in Egypt as a battle between el-Sisi & [the Muslim Brotherhood] & having the opposition only represented by them," tweeted Nancy Okail, executive director of the Washington-based Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. A liberal activist who took part in Egypt's Arab Spring protests, Okail has paid a high price for her work promoting the rule of law and democracy in her country. She was among 43 defendants in the longstanding NGO foreign funding case of 2011 (reopened by the Sisi government in May 2016), accused by the government of "operating a civil society organization without a license" and "receiving illegal foreign funds," charges she has repeatedly denied. Okail fled the country in 2011, leaving behind her toddler-age twins to seek exile in the United States. While her ordeal has ended recently (the trial against civil society workers came to a close last December with the acquittal of all but three of the defendants), Okail says her work is far from over as she continues to push for democratic reforms in Egypt. Wael Eskandar, another liberal activist, dismissed the CBS interview as offering "nothing new," but acknowledged that it gave Sisi "the closest he's ever got to an interrogation about political prisoners and the Rabaa massacre." President Sisi's supporters were as dismayed by CBS' refusal to heed Egypt's call to pull the interview as they were with the interview's actual content. Supporters lashed out at CBS on Twitter and Facebook, accusing the network of bias and of serving as a mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood. Opposition activists, meanwhile, praised the interview for "embarrassing" the Egyptian strongman, gloating that their oppressor's "blatant lies" had been exposed. They shared pictures of a nervous-looking Sisi as the show host Scott Pelley confronted him with allegations of rights abuses committed during his presidency. Osama Gaweesh, an exiled Egyptian TV presenter who has been sentenced to five years in prison for his criticism of the Sisi regime, called on viewers watching the interview to "document and protest Sisi's lies about political prisoners and prisoners of opinion in Egypt using the hashtags #LyingSisi and #Sisi60Mins." Asked by Pelley if he had an idea of how many political prisoners Egypt was holding, Sisi insisted that "there are no political prisoners in the country." His claim contradicted a 2017 Human Rights Watch report that estimated as many as 60,000 political prisoners have been detained in Egypt since 2013. Sisi's allegation also failed to convince Egypt's cynical opposition. "Sisi affirmed on the show that there is not a single political detainee in Egyptian prisons and that there are only terrorists facing prosecution for their crimes," said Hassan Nafaa, an economics professor at Cairo University and an outspoken critic of the Sisi regime. "Does he really expect the West to believe him? And what about the Egyptian public that knows full well that Anan, Maasoum Marzouk and hundreds of other detainees have nothing to do with terrorism?" Nafaa was referencing the military's former chief of staff, Sami Hafez Anan, who was detained in January 2018 after announcing plans to run in the presidential election, and also Maasoum Marzouk, a former ambassador held since August 2018 for calling for a referendum on whether Sisi should continue in office. "60 Minutes" also asked Sisi about the August 2013 killings of hundreds of opposition protesters in a single day at an east Cairo encampment, now known as the Rabaa massacre. While the president denied he had given security forces orders to fire on the protesters, he justified the killings, saying, "There were thousands of armed people in the sit-in for more than 40 days. We tried every peaceful means to disperse them." Pelley refuted the claim that the protesters were armed, reminding viewers that Egyptian government sources had reported at the time that "just over a dozen weapons were found at the east Cairo encampment." Sisi's opponents were quick to endorse Pelley's counterargument. "1000 innocent Egyptians were killed in Rabaa massacre in a few hours," tweeted Ahmed El Baqry, a former vice president of Egypt's Student Union. But perhaps the most contentious part of the interview, and the reason the Egyptian government did not want it seen by the Egyptian public, were Sisi's responses to questions on Egypt's close military cooperation with Israel. Sisi affirmed that his country has "a wide range of cooperation with the Israelis" a potentially damaging acknowledgement that could undermine his popularity at home. The nature of that cooperation has been kept hidden from the Egyptian public, which has long been conditioned to believe that Israel (a country with which Egypt fought four wars) is their country's arch-enemy. Journalists have limited access to Northern Sinai, where the military is at war with Islamic State-affiliated militants and the Egyptian media can only publish the official narrative when reporting on terrorism-related cases. Under the country's 2015 counterterrorism law, quoting independent sources and publishing news on militant attacks that contradicts the official version of events is a crime punishable by prison sentences. Not surprisingly, there has been no mention in the Egyptian press of alleged Israeli airstrikes on Islamic State-affiliated terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula, which the New York Times claimed were carried out early last year with the blessing of the Egyptian president. It is little wonder then that the presidencys media office has given "explicit instructions to Egyptian media organizations to refrain from covering the CBS interview," according to the Egyptian independent news site Mada Masr, which is among more than 500 news sites blocked in Egypt since March 2018. While the Egyptian press has acquiesced to the gag order, some of the pro-government media gleefully reported on what they claimed was "the resignation of David Rhodes from his position as head of the news sector at CBS." Egyptian daily al-Watan went further, falsely claiming that Rhodes had been "dismissed" in relation to the Sisi interview. The truth is that Rhodes is stepping down of his own accord at the end of February, when his current contract ends, and will remain at the channel as a senior adviser to acting CBS CEO Joe Iannielloo. With the CBS interview gag order the latest of multiple gag orders in Egypt in recent years and hundreds of news sites blocked, the one thing that is crystal clear is that the Egyptian people are being kept in the dark and being fed lies by the country's propagandist media. "The situation is pathetic," publisher and analyst Hisham Kassem told Al-Monitor. "The worst outcome of the CBS interview with President Sisi is the performance of the ignorant media outlets that are stumbling over themselves to offer their allegiance to the state and are attacking the US news network with absurd and baseless arguments." Egypts Christians have rejoiced as President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi formed a higher committee to combat sectarianism and put an end to attacks against Copts in the country. The decision, taken Dec. 29, has drawn admiration and praise of both Christian figures and parliamentarians. Right after the announcement of the presidential decree, the Coptic Orthodox Church released a statement, saying that the decision to form the committee will contribute to promoting tolerance and interdependence as well as renunciation of violence and terrorism and showing the world the true image of Egypt. The decision will also contribute to building modern Egypt, as extremism devours any growth witnessed by the Egyptian society in various fields. The decision will help spread community peace, security, social justice and the principle of true citizenship, the spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Paul Halim, said in the statement. According to the presidential decree, the committee will be chaired by Magdy Abdel Ghaffar, the president's adviser for security and counterterrorism affairs, and its members will be representatives from the Armed Forces Operations Committee, the Military Intelligence and Reconnaissance Administration, the Administrative Control Authority and the National Security Agency. The committee is entitled to invite all ministers and officials concerned to attend its meetings when considering relevant topics. It will be responsible for formulating a general strategy to prevent and confront sectarian incidents as well as follow up on their implementation and mechanisms to deal with such events as they occur. The committee shall also prepare a periodic report on its work, recommendations and implementation mechanisms and present them to the president. Commenting on the decision, Grand Mufti Shawki Allam said that this committee is an important step in upholding principles of citizenship and supporting the efforts to promote coexistence among the Egyptian people. In a statement Dec. 31, Allam said that Egypts Dar al-Ifta is ready to provide all forms of support and cooperation with the new committee, stressing that the national and legitimate duty requires that we all strive to achieve harmony and social peace among all sectors of Egyptian society. Christians and parliamentarians have widely praised the decision, describing it as unprecedented and reassuring for the countrys Copts who have long been suffering from sectarian incidents. Coptic writer Gamal Assad said that the president is taking unprecedented steps to achieve justice and equality among all citizens. The decision comes in line with President Sisis endeavors to improve the conditions of Christians and prevent any future sectarian acts, Assad told Al-Monitor. He said that the committees work should not only be restricted to security, but it should also include ideological, cultural and social strategies in order to change the culture of society and promote the values of citizenship, tolerance and coexistence. The committee should have a long-term strategy that can put an end to sectarian violence in all its forms as well as strictly use the rule of law in combating sectarianism, Assad added. The presidential decree was also praised by the countrys parliamentarians. Member of parliament Mohamed Abu Hamed said that the decree is a remarkable move and it signals the states keenness on dealing with sectarianism as an issue of national security. It is clear now that the state is considering sectarianism a matter that is threatening national security because the members of the committee are from the countrys security agencies, Abu Hamed told Al-Monitor, noting that cases of sectarian violence were normally dealt with through customary reconciliation sessions that do not usually give the criminals their deserved punishment. Now the state is realizing that it is mainly through the implementation of the rule of law that sectarian incidents would be reduced, he said. Egypts Copts have long been targeted by terrorist attacks. On Jan. 6, a police officer was killed and two others were injured while defusing a bomb in the vicinity of a church in Nasr City, eastern Cairo. In recent years, the Egyptian leadership has been trying to put an end to sectarianism and build bridges with the countrys Christians. Since Sisi took office, he has been attending Christmas mass with Christians in order to mark the occasion. No previous Egyptian president has ever done this. On Dec. 6, Sisi inaugurated the largest cathedral in the Middle East region at the new administrative capital, which is located on the outskirts of Cairo. The president also attended the Christmas mass at the new cathedral, wishing Christians more success and progress. CAIRO Egypt has stepped up security, hunting down and killing 40 alleged terrorists they blame for one of two deadly explosions apparently timed to disrupt the Coptic Christmas season. The Egyptian Interior Ministry confirmed in a statement that bomb squad member Maj. Mostafa Obeid was killed while trying to defuse an explosive device placed in a bag near the Church of the Virgin Mary and St Mercurius in Nasr City east of Cairo. Two other police officers were wounded in the attack Jan. 5, two days before the Orthodox Christmas. The device was one of four planted around the church. Three others were disarmed without incident. That attack came a little more than a week after a makeshift roadside bomb exploded Dec. 28 near a tour bus carrying 14 Vietnamese tourists in the Mariutiya neighborhood of Giza. Three tourists and their Egyptian guide were killed, and 10 others on the bus were injured. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but the next day the Egyptian Interior Ministry announced its security forces raided three alleged hideouts in the governorates of Giza and North Sinai. The statement said 40 terror suspects were killed, including 30 in Giza. Security forces seized large quantities of weapons and explosives, saying the alleged terrorists had probably been planning more attacks on security centers and Christian houses of worship. Copts have been targeted in past years during their holiday season. Political analyst Mohammed Hamed described the two attacks as a major blow to Egypts security forces. He lamented to Al-Monitor that the attacks have also harmed tourism. However, Hamed questioned the Interior Ministry's operation the day after the bus attack in Giza. It can't be verified that those who were killed were behind the attack, he said, criticizing security forces for killing suspects without ascertaining the extent of their involvement in the attack. He pointed out the difficulty of determining the identity and exact number of the slain suspects. The only source of information is the statement of the Ministry of the Interior amid wide-ranging and prolonged control by the Egyptian regime on the press and the media," he said. The fact that the security forces took revenge the next day, right after the attack, can't fool even the most naive of people. Many observers of public affairs seem unconvinced. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly followed up on the incident with Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Tawfiq and Giza Governor Maj. Gen. Ahmed Rashid. Hours after the bus attack, Madbouly visited the wounded in the hospital. According to Maj. Gen. Hamdi Bakhit, a member of the Egyptian Parliaments Committee on Defense and National Security, the timing of the two attacks carried several messages. Terrorists wanted to show that tourism in Egypt is risky throughout the country amid a state of insecurity, especially during the Coptic Christmas season. The perpetrators sought to strike tourism, undermine public security and tarnish the reputation of the Egyptian security forces. But these attacks failed to shake the resolve and determination of the security forces. On the contrary, our forces are now more adamant than ever about uprooting terrorism," Bakhit told Al-Monitor. The Egyptian security forces have dealt a heavy blow to the terrorists, killing 40 terrorists just a day after the tour bus attack. This is a major success. He explained that Egyptian security forces have adopted the strategy of pursuing terrorists immediately following any attack, in addition to making pre-emptive strikes to thwart terrorists' plans. Bakhit recalled the November 2017 deadly attack claimed by the Islamic State on St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in Minya that claimed the lives of eight Copts. Just two days after that attack, the Interior Ministry said security forces pursued the suspects into the Minya province desert and killed 19 of them. Samir Ghattas, head of the Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies, said the perpetrators of the two recent attacks used surprise and deception to trick security forces. The data recently showed that the activity of terrorist groups in many strategic areas was receding, especially in Sinai, he explained. Terrorists this time used makeshift bombs and improvised explosive devices to easily target field locations within several ranges. He pointed out that the Egypt's Sinai 2018 operation, which began in February, is the largest anti-terrorism operation in Egypt. This operation doesn't only concern Sinai, it includes all the strategic axes across the Arab Republic of Egypt, he said, stressing that the Mariutiya attack has not undermined the morale of security forces. The state's response was very fast in the recent attacks, Ghattas said. Security and defense strategies are expected to witness major changes along with more stringent security measures at all levels. If it werent for the police officer who defused the bomb in Nasr city, there would have been a large number of casualties among civilians and great material damage. The state of Nevada does not want the state of South Carolina to intervene in a Savannah River Site-related lawsuit it has filed against the U.S. Department of Energy. Nevada, led by newly sworn in Attorney General Aaron Ford, believes South Carolina has mischaracterized the case at hand and, beyond anything else, has its interests already represented by the DOE, a named defendant. "Ultimately, South Carolina has failed to provide sufficient basis for this court to allow intervention in this case," Nevada's Jan. 9 court filing reads. The matter at hand the reason for Nevada's legal actions, which were filed late last year involves planned shipments of weapons-grade plutonium from SRS to the Nevada National Security Site, which is relatively close to Las Vegas. The DOE, namely its semiautonomous National Nuclear Security Administration, needs to remove the plutonium from SRS to satisfy a court order made in December 2017. That order, issued by U.S. District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs, mandated the DOE remove at least 1 metric ton of defense plutonium from South Carolina by 2020 at the latest. Nevada sued the DOE to prevent the plutonium from being transported to and staged at NNSS, a defense-centric hub. The state claimed the DOE violated environmental regulations in its long term decision making. On Jan. 3, South Carolina filed an emergency motion asking the court to recognize the state as a defendant. South Carolina's legal team, led by Attorney General Alan Wilson, argued no one else was properly representing the state's stakes. Nevada is now arguing that's not true because both the DOE and South Carolina want the same thing: plutonium removal. "Most importantly, South Carolina has failed to identify any meaningful way in which its ultimate objective in this case differs from that of the present defendants," the Jan. 9 filing reads. Nevada is also arguing South Carolina's interests and rights are not in jeopardy because the plutonium slated for eventual nuclear weapons integration could be sent to the Pantex Plant in Texas, another path forward the NNSA has laid out in detail. S.C. files emergency motion to intervene in Nevada's plutonium-related lawsuit "South Carolina cannot be excluded from this controversy without impairing its ability to protect its significant interests." "To the contrary, Nevada's motion for preliminary injunction requests only that this court enjoin defendants from shipping the plutonium from South Carolina to Nevada," the filing reads. South Carolina has argued that the injunction, if granted, would render "direct, immediate, and harmful effects" on the Palmetto State and its people. As of Thursday evening, no ruling on South Carolina's requested intervention had been made. One of the six individuals charged in connection to the murder of a 16-year-old Aiken County high school student in 2016 pleaded guilty Thursday, and the judge's sentence ensured he won't see freedom for at least the next three decades. Rayquan McCorkle, 18, of New Ellenton, pleaded guilty to the murder of Jordan Shores, first-degree burglary, two counts of attempted murder and armed robbery, according to court records. In accordance with his guilty plea, McCorkle's charge of possession of a firearm during a violent crime was dropped. The judge sentenced McCorkle on Thursday to 35 years in prison. He must serve day-for-day the entirety of his sentence, records show. McCorkle, who was just 15 at the time of the murder, is just the first of five to be sentenced in this case. His brother 19-year-old Reihem Faisson McCorkle is also charged in the murder, along with Ronquavis James Howard, 19, of Aiken; Undraize Antonio Dixon, 20, of Warrenville; Deonte Raequan Schultz, 19, of Beech Island; and Aikel Leetrez Harrison, 21, of Aiken. These five are all still facing charges of murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, first-degree burglary, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and discharging a firearm into a dwelling, according to jail records. They all remain in custody at the Aiken County detention center. Shores, a student at Midland Valley High School, was killed Nov. 18, 2016, after police say all six suspects broke into a Clearwater area home, fatally shot Shores and pistol-whipped another 16-year-old boy before fleeing the scene with a PlayStation4. On Nov. 18, 2016, deputies with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office responded to the Fairview Avenue home early in the morning after a uniformed officer in a shopping center at 4435 Jefferson Davis Highway heard gunshots coming from the area of Fairview Road. The vehicle, described as a red sedan traveling at a high rate of speed, fled the scene after the officer attempted to stop the car, Captain Eric Abdullah, with the Sheriff's Office, said. A short while later, police responded to the 1000 block of Fairview Road after someone called 911 in reference to a shooting incident. When police arrived, they found Shores in the living room unconscious where a large pool of blood had formed beneath him, according to a police report. Another teenage victim, 16, told police he and Shores had been playing video games when three unknown subjects entered the home through an unlocked front door, and they were each armed with handguns and were wearing masks, the report said. The victim told police one suspect fired his gun several times in their general direction, while another approached the second victim and struck him several times in the face with the blunt end of his firearm, police reported. The suspects left the home with a PlayStation4 and fled the scene while firing additional rounds into the home, police reported. Shores was rushed to Augusta University Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead at 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 19, 2016, according to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton. Richwood, TX (77531) Today Thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 73F. NE winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 73F. NE winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Price premiums are out there for producers willing to look for them and make the necessary changes. Trey Befort, director of commercial programs for the American Hereford Association and Certified Hereford Beef (CHB), said his group is willing to work with producers who have their sights set on a few more dollars. Over the last couple of years we have developed programs to help improve genetic quality, he said. We want people to think about programs like ours that are looking for high-quality cattle. CHB got its start in 1995, using genetics from Hereford or Hereford-British crossbred cattle. Whether black baldy or red baldy, they need to be 51 percent white face, Befort said. He said consumer preference for Choice beef has led CHB to become strictly a Choice product, including a CHB premium program that uses the upper two-thirds from Choice or higher carcasses. We dont own any of our cattle, but through this we are creating a demand for Hereford-influenced cattle, Befort said. Premiums are available for both cattle and hog producers, said Lee Schulz, Extension livestock marketing economist with Iowa State University. He said there is a good deal of variety when it comes to beef premiums. You have grading premiums like you would see for something like Certified Angus Beef, Schulz said. You also have premiums for producing all natural or hormone- or antibiotic-free beef. Any premium is going to depend on what the packer is willing to pay. Tom Crosby of Crosby's River Valley Dairy is one of 14 dairy-farm members serving on Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0. The group was formed to study the states dairy industry and make recommendations to address short-term and long-term challenges. Crosby serves on two subcommittees one addressing markets and the other price-volatility and profitability. A potato that emits light at the earliest stages of stress has been developed by scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The breakth The venerated Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote the decision upholding the Virginia law that ended a woman's right to be a mother, by saying it was no different than vaccination: But even those who know about poor Carrie Buck may not know that the mandatory vaccine laws were the justification for this decision. They used our old friend Jacobson, the Massachusetts minister who refused to pay a five dollar fee imposed by the state on those rejecting the smallpox vaccine during a deadly outbreak in 1905, and took it all the way to the Supreme Court. "The concept of eugenics had been put forward in 1883 by Francis Galton, who also coined the name. The trend first became popular in the United States, and found proponents in Europe by the start of the 20th century; 42 of the 58 research papers presented at the First International Congress of Eugenics held in London in 1912, were from American scientists. Indiana passed the first eugenic sterilization statute (1907), but it was legally flawed. To remedy this situation, Harry Laughlin of the Eugenics Record Office (ERO) at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, designed a model eugenic law that was reviewed by legal experts. In 1924 the Commonwealth of Virginia adopted a statute authorizing the compulsory sterilization of the intellectually disabled for the purpose of eugenics. This 1924 statute was closely based on Laughlin's model. Looking to determine if the new law would pass a legal challenge, on September 10, 1924 Dr. Albert Sidney Priddy, superintendent of the Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded, filed a petition to his Board of Directors to sterilize Carrie Buck, an 18-year-old patient at his institution who he claimed had a mental age of 9. Priddy maintained that Buck represented a genetic threat to society ." Again with the Wikipedia (yes I know I being lazy by quoting the Wiki but I have to get back to my kids homework): The case of Buck v. Bell was the atrocious matter in which Dr. Albert Sidney Pridd (and his successor, Dr. John Hendren Bell) Superintendent of The Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded , decided that one of his patients, an 18 year old rape-victim with a sixth grade education, should not be able to give birth again. Her mother was also "feebleminded" you see, and the good doctors believed society should be rid of their kind. This, many of us have heard of, as it is our children that the states would be targeting if this policy of Nazi eugenics was being carried out today as it was in the 20th century, both in Nazy Germany and the US during the "Progressive Era," which was embracing the idea of creating a superior society. Wikipedia : "Buck v. Bell, 274 U.S. 200 (1927),is a decision of the United States Supreme Court, written by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., in which the Court ruled that a state statute permitting compulsory sterilization of the unfit, including the intellectually disabled, "for the protection and health of the state" did not violate the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Supreme Court has never expressly overturned Buck v. Bell ." "The judgment finds the facts that have been recited and that Carrie Buck 'is the probable potential parent of socially inadequate offspring, likewise afflicted, that she may be sexually sterilized without detriment to her general health and that her welfare and that of society will be promoted by her sterilization,' and thereupon makes the order. In view of the general declarations of the Legislature and the specific findings of the Court obviously we cannot say as matter of law that the grounds do not exist, and if they exist they justify the result. We have seen more than once that the public welfare may call upon the best citizens for their lives. It would be strange if it could not call upon those who already sap the strength of the State for these lesser sacrifices, often not felt to be such by those concerned, in order to prevent our being swamped with incompetence. It is better for all the world, if instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime, or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes. Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11 , 25 S. Ct. 358, 3 Ann. Cas. 765. Three generations of imbeciles are enough." [emphasis mine] Thus we can see that Jacobson v. Massachusetts is used to justify all manner of horrors in the name of "societal good." Poor Carrie Buck was not even given the option of paying a five dollar fine to prevent her forced sterilization, as Jacobson was to get out of taking the smallpox vaccine. And we see in both cases, as we are living through now, these unwanted procedures that cause permanent and detrimental changes to the human body, are simply declared "safe," and "for our own good," just as this human rights atrocity inflicted on an innocent young woman was when it was declared to be, "without detriment to her general health" and that, "her welfare... will be promoted by her sterilization." Almost a hundred years later and some evil arguments never die. NYU legal scholar and member of the Supreme Court Bar, Professor Mary Holland, in her article "Compulsory Vaccination, the Constitution, and the Hepatitis B Mandate for Infants and Young Children," in Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics, follows up on Buck in her discussion of the history of vaccine mandates: "Although Buck v. Bell has never been formally overruled, the Colorado Supreme Court summarized the contemporary view that "since Skinner, commentators generally have concluded that compulsory sterilization laws, no matter what their rationale, are unconstitutional in the absence of evidence that compulsory sterilization is the only remedy available to further a compelling governmental interest." (As a side bar, doesn't that preclude NY from mandating the flu shot in the absence of evidence that it is the only remedy available to getting the flu? We have not even compared vitamin D to flu shot in prevention of the infection.) (As another sidebar, the Skinner ruling is interesting to me, because we have to fight again in Maine to keep our liability-free vaccine exemption rights, in a state that can't even claim a "compelling government interest" in removing them, because we don't have a problem that will be addressed by removing exemptions. Maine does not have a disease problem. We have not even had a case of measles in Maine in more than 20 years. We even had someone from Mass in 2015 and someone from Canada in 2017, come into Maine with the measles, and still no Mainer caught measles. Is the "compelling government interest" perhaps achieving less than zero measles cases? Negative measles? But I digress. Again.) Since Buck v. Bell is still established law in the US, and as Holmes has tied forced vaccination to forced sterilization, using the legitimacy of the first to justify the second, can we not now in our new understanding of the human rights atrocity of the second, reject the first? Kevin Barry, Esq., the author of "Vaccine Whistleblower: Exposing Autism Research Fraud at the CDC," has observed that, "Informed consent to vaccination vs. coerced/mandated vaccination is analogous to choosing to use birth control vs. forced sterilization." A forced medical procedure is a forced medical procedure. No sane person today would argue that forced sterility on the developmentally disabled is anything more than a vile human rights abuse. Forced sterilization is now a WAR CRIME under Article 7 (Crimes Against Humanity) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court established in 1998. Yet the Buck v. Bell SCOTUS ruling is still on the books, and this war crime did not become outlawed in every state in the US until the 1980s. (Except for California, which didn't end the coerced sterilization of female prisoners until 2014.) So if SCOTUS views forced vaccination and forced sterilization as the same, then either Holmes right, and BOTH are justified by a "compelling state interest," or NEITHER is justified by a "compelling state interest." Buck v. Bell is both a Constitutional violation, and morally evil. So is Jacobson. All medical procedures require free, prior and informed consent. So we can be clear that there are still some at the top of the medical profession that hold, and act on, this "Nazi Philosophy", I will leave you with Stanley Plotkin's testimony from just a year ago today, admitting to his own human rights abuses by experimenting on developmentally disabled children in creating the (now liability-free) rubella vaccine that we are being mandated into taking today: Tell us what you think of the proposed changes in the DSM V to include Asperger's in with autism and PDDs. Read the full story at CNN. (CNN) -- People with Asperger's syndrome would be included in the same diagnostic group as people with autism and pervasive developmental disorders, according to new guidelines under consideration by the American Psychiatric Association. The AP story in the New York Times reads: CHICAGO (AP) -- Some people with Asperger's syndrome are upset about proposed changes in how their form of autism is diagnosed. U.S. psychiatrists are revising the manual they use to diagnose mental illness. One proposal would eliminate Asperger's as a separate diagnosis and group it in a single autism spectrum disorders category. Many people with Asperger's call themselves Aspies and view their condition as their identity. They don't think of themselves as autistic. The revisions are based on recent research showing little difference between mild autism and Asperger's. The American Psychiatric Association is taking public comment before adopting the revisions. Times Internet Limiteds (TIL) reward program, TimesPoints recently kicked off its digital campaign #IDidntKnow for users of Times Internet. The reward program aims to make available to loyal users of Times Internet Network properties (Times of India, NewsPoint, Navbharat Times etc.) exclusive benefits this festive season through this campaign. #IDidntKnow will help users understand how they can earn more and use these points just like money in their wallet. The campaign includes the ongoing TimesPoints Winter Bonanza that started on 24Dec2018 and ends on 14thJan2019. During this period all loyalists of TimesPoints making minimum two redemptions would be eligible to win prizes worth Rs.200,000 including free flights from ixigo, Google Home, Shopping vouchers and bonus points. To add on to the excitement of users, Times Of India, Navbharat Times and NewsPoints are rewarding users with up to 10X extra TimesPoints for activities such as logging in, visiting website, subscribing newsletter etc. Speaking of this campaign, Nidhi Agarwal, Business Head, TimesPoints, said, #IDidntKnow backed by the TimesPoints Winter Bonanza will help us have conversations with our existing frequent users and new ones to let them know we truly value our relationship. Unlike other reward programs, TimesPoints does not urge users to spend money to gain benefits. TimesPoints in fact rewards their existing habits and gratifies them as they continue to enjoy their daily activity on various platforms like Times of India, NewsPoint. We aim to offer users benefits that are truly meaningful. TimesPoints are automatically earned while reading, sharing, liking and commenting on Times of India, NewsPoint. #IDidntKnow will help users understand how many TimesPoints they already have and how they can gain from daily reading, watching videos, commenting etc. In a bid to enhance consumer engagement and strengthen campaign impact, the brand roped in popular actor Aparshakti Khurana who has been seen sharing on Instagram, his ongoing experience of earning and using TimesPoints as he goes about his daily routine of reading news, sharing videos etc on various TIL properties. JODI is a popular Dance reality show in Tamil Television industry showcasing breathtaking dancing talent of our small screen celebrities. This Jodi Fun unlimited season was a dance battle and fun moments. Now the show has reached its climax, yes! The most awaited grand Finale is round the corner. So far, the show has showcased a never seen before performances. Every Jodi has showcased visually stunning and unique dance forms. After various levels of dance battle, leaving no stones unturned, the best Jodi are selected for the Grand Finale. The show will be headed over by Team leaders like Actress Yaashika Anand, Anchor DD, Anchor MAKAPA and actor Mahath. The show will have 200 audiences as judges. The total marks from both the Team leaders and audience together will be accounted. The Jodis which are waiting to shake their legs in the grand finale are Ramar- Rhema, Azeem- Shivani, Kumaran- Chithra, Atheesh- Uthra, Lokesh- Magna, Anila- Britto and Sreethu- Vishal All these contestants are talented in their own style and this finale is going to be a nail biting situation for both the judges and the audience to judge the winner. The Finalists are looking forward in taking home the most coveted title, JODI. The Grand Finale is slated to get aired on January 13th, from 8 pm onwards. The Grand finale will witness some captivating and electrifying performances from the Finalists. The finale will have a captivating act from Team leaders and anchors as well. The various serial team will be seen supporting their finalist from their fiction family. And like adding a feather to the crown, Anchor DD will be felicitated for being an anchor in a television channel for over 20 years. Its a great achievement and a honour for the channel and the anchor herself. The show is all set to enthrall the audience with lot more Surprises. And various glitterati and kings of dance from the industry will witness the greatest Dance battle live and grace the event. Dont miss the dance extravaganza! BrandMusiq, Indias pioneering sonic branding agency has created a new sonic identity and retail soundscape for Nexus Malls portfolio of malls in India. Nexus Malls is the fastest growing Retail Real Estate company in India with 5.5 million square feet of retail space across 7 cities. All this in a mere 2 years. Recognized as the pioneers of bringing the concept of a Sonic Identity to India, BrandMusiq expresses a brands essence by applying the science of sound and the art of music. MOGO or musical logo, a proprietary sonic identity model created by BrandMusiq is connecting with millions of consumers every day at a deeper, more subliminal level across several consumer brands. Sonic branding is about building a relationship between a brand and its consumers similar to the role that a national anthem plays to represent a country brand or a hymn to express the tonality of a religion. Nokia's ringtone, Intel's four-note bongs, McDonalds' "I'm lovin' it" are all masterpieces of sonic branding and could be seen as the genetic evolution or the 21st Century offspring of the jingle. As part of the mandate for Nexus Malls, BrandMusiq has developed the master MOGOSCAPE and MOGO for the Nexus Malls brand franchise which will be applied across all brand related sonic expressions including activation, advertising, digital, social media and retail spaces. Commenting on the initiative, Dalip Sehgal - CEO, Nexus Malls (A Blackstone Company) said, At Nexus Malls, it has been our constant endeavor to deliver the same unique experience across all malls in our portfolio. To deliver this unique experience, we came up with Nexus ONE. Under Nexus One, we will attempt to tap in to the five senses of our patrons and strive to deliver this Nexus experience. The first step in that direction was to have our own music identity and BrandMusiq has helped us curate that. We are delighted to partner with them in the process of curating our Musical Logo. We have already implemented the music across our portfolio of malls and we are delighted with its response. Rajeev Raja, Founder, BrandMusiq said, We are very excited to have created the sonic identity for Nexus Malls. Designing bespoke, brand-owned sound for the retail experience is still in its nascent stages and we applaud Mr. Dalip Sehgal and the team at Nexus for being one of the early adopters in this field. 'SoniqSpaces' the app that we have developed exclusively for retail/experiential spaces, will be used to roll out the new sonic identity across every mall managed by Nexus. This creates a new platform for our MOGO to touch many new consumers lives every day, in a meaningful, consistent manner. Sonic Branding is the strategic development of a brands unique audio assets leveraged consistently across many brand touchpoints. Sound is used to reinforce brand identity, which is often done using other mediums such as visuals, jingles and taglines. However, the shift towards sonic branding has brought about a revolution within the branding industry. Sonic branding goes way beyond jingles to tap into areas, which were earlier, missed by brand strategists. When these strategists noticed that consumers remembered simple jingles, it opened up a whole new avenue for music and branding. BrandMusiq's contribution in creating a lasting music asset comes from 3 distinct yet converging core strengths - a strong understanding of the brand, a product that is unique from its inception and a strong desire to partner in creating not just the MOGO but implement it across assets. Davis Police Officer Killed in Shooting Davis police are investigating the shooting death of 22-year-old officer Natalie Corona. Police say a gunman killed her in downtown Davis following a car crash. He later turned the gun on himself during a manhunt. Police have not released his identity. Valley Contractors Give Free Tools to Contractors Impacted by Camp Fire Valley Contractors Exchange is partnering with Apex Tools to give free tools to contractors impacted by the Camp Fire. The giveaway is happening Friday from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The address is 629 Entler Avenue, Building 4, Suite 32, in Chico. Contractors need to show paperwork that they are an employed contractor receiving assistance. Thousands of Federal Workers to Miss Paychecks Friday Friday, hundreds of thousands of federal workers will miss their first paychecks as the partial government shutdown enters day 21. President Trump says he could declare a national emergency to divert pentagon funds for his border wall. Butte County Sheriff's Office Identifies Camp Fire Evacuee that Died in Hospital The Butte County Sheriff's Office has identified a Camp Fire evacuee who died from pneumonia while staying at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. She was 62-year-old Alice Cummings of Magalia. The Red Cross says she was rushed to the hospital Saturday morning before she died. Debris Clean-Up Application Deadline Approaching The deadline to apply for debris clean-up service is Jan. 31. Those looking to apply must complete a right-of-entry form. We have a link to download the form in the link. Man Accused of Murder on Chico State Campus Heads to Trial A man charged with killing a woman on Chico State's campus will head to trial. Prosecutors say Samuel Johnson waived his preliminary hearing this week. He is accused of beating Linda Blacksten to death in October outside of Kendall Hall. He will be back in court on Jan. 23. Cal Fire Captain Accused of Sexual Assault Heading to Trial The case of a Chico Cal Fire Captain accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a party is headed to trial. A judge decided this Wednesday that there was enough reasonable suspicion for Kevin Fleming face a jury. His trial will begin on the Jan. 30. Redding City Identity Project Moving Forward What is known as the Redding City Identity project is moving forward, with some major development projects. The group narrowed proposals down to 10 projects which would begin this year. That includes an "Umbrella Alley," a downtown mural, live street music and a new river-front amphitheater. BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - The deadline is approaching to apply for government-backed clean-up of property impacted by the Camp Fire. State officials are calling the aftermath of the Camp Fire the largest debris post-fire cleanup in California History. At a press conference Thursday, residents and lawmakers gathered at the Paradise Town Hall to discuss the debris removal process including a critical deadline for the state-sponsored cleanup. The official deadline to apply for government-backed clean up of property is Jan. 31. To participate, residents must fill out and submit a right-of-entry form by the deadline date. If property owners have insurance that covers debris removal, those owners may be required to pay out that portion of their insurance reserved for debris. Lawmakers say that 60 percent of survivors are going with the state-sponsored program, but the remainder appears to be undecided. This could be because they are unsure about getting support from the government or they just don't know enough about their insurance coverage. Survivors can opt out of the program and hire their own properly licenses contractors, but it would be at cost to the homeowner. A work plan must also be approved by the county. Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter said that if residents have any additional questions about the insurance coverage or clean up, they should attend a Camp Fire Debris Removal Community Meeting. Metabolomics Reveal That Octocrylene Accumulates in Pocillopora damicornis Tissues as Fatty Acid Conjugates and Triggers Coral Cell Mitochondrial Dysfunction Analytical Chemistry Although sunscreen is critical for preventing sunburns and skin cancer, some of its ingredients are not so beneficial to ocean-dwelling creatures. In particular, sunscreen chemicals shed by swimmers are thought to contribute to coral reef decline. Now, researchers reporting in ACS journal Analytical Chemistry say that one such chemical, octocrylene (OC), which is also in some cosmetics and hair products, accumulates in coral as fatty acid esters that could be toxic to the marine organism. According to several research studies, up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in the worlds oceans every year. To protect coral reefs, the state of Hawaii recently banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals known to harm coral, with the law set to take effect in January 2021. Another substance, OC, can be found in cosmetics such as hair sprays and conditioners, as well as sunscreens. Although OC is toxic to coral at high concentrations, Didier Stien, Philippe Lebaron and colleagues wondered how it would affect coral at levels more likely to be encountered in the environment. To find out, the researchers exposed coral to OC at various concentrations for a week. They found that the coral was sensitive to the compound at concentrations of 50 micrograms per liter and greater, which is about 10 times higher than levels measured in the ocean. OC accumulated in the coral as fatty acid conjugates, which may interfere with the organisms metabolism. The team also detected increased levels of acylcarnitines in the exposed corals, which are produced under conditions of abnormal fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction. The researchers say that levels of OC in the ocean might have been underestimated previously because these measurements did not take into account OC fatty acid esters. The authors do not acknowledge any funding sources. Note: ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. WENN/Patricia Schlein Celebrity Sophie takes issue with Piers accusing celebrities of making mental health 'fashionable,' prompting the British journalist to receive more backlash from other Twitter users. Jan 11, 2019 AceShowbiz - Piers Morgan is no stranger to drawing the ire of fellow Internet users, and this time it's Sophie Turner who has spoken against the English journalist. The two have engaged in a heated debate over mental health on Twitter. It all began when Piers shared an article in which actress Beverley Callard expressed concern for celebrities trying to make mental health "fashionable." Agreeing with Beverley, he commented on the article, "She'll be hammered for saying this, but 100% true." His tweet quickly caught the attention of Sophie who slammed the TV host for his harsh judgment on people with mental health issues. She wrote in a tweet addressed to Piers, "Or maybe they have a platform to speak out about it and help get rid of the stigma of mental illness which affects 1 in 4 people in UK per year. But please go ahead and shun them back into silence. Twat." Or maybe they have a platform to speak out about it and help get rid of the stigma of mental illness which affects 1 in 4 people in UK per year. But please go ahead and shun them back into silence. Twat. https://t.co/mvddYPjcht Sophie Turner (@SophieT) January 9, 2019 Sophie then responded with a series of posts schooling Piers about mental health. "People who think it's okay to make jokes about mental illness, I feel you must be lucky, because surely you don't understand or can't comprehend what it is like to have or know someone with an illness like this," she wrote. Part 1 : People who think its okay to make jokes about mental illness, I feel you must be lucky, because surely you dont understand or cant comprehend what it is like to have or know someone with an illness like this. Sophie Turner (@SophieT) January 9, 2019 Noting that "depression is the second biggest killer in affluent Europe and America," she urged everyone to talk about "our loved ones experiences" to "help other people who suffer with mental illness not feel so alone." Part 2 Depression is the second biggest killer in affluent Europe and America. One of the greatest reasons being, I believe, is because mental illness has so much stigma surrounding it. Sophie Turner (@SophieT) January 9, 2019 Part 3. If we can just all speak out about our experiences or our loved ones experiences we can help other people who suffer with mental illness not feel so alone. Lets keep this dialogue going. Sophie Turner (@SophieT) January 9, 2019 She concluded with a powerful message, "You are not alone, you can manage your illness, and people who make fun of it are the minority... not you. You are loved and supported." But Piers wouldn't stop just yet, hitting back at Sophie. "Actually, I was mocking your foul-mouthed abuse of me, whilst simultaneously trying to lecture me about mental health," he wrote, referencing to Sophie's remark in which she called him "twat." Actually, I was mocking your foul-mouthed abuse of me, whilst simultaneously trying to lecture me about mental health. Do you think abusing people helps their mental health, Ms Turner? Maybe consider that question for your next virtue-signalling Twitter thesis on the subject? https://t.co/AAwgAcT5kQ Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 10, 2019 He also pointed out Sophie's tweet which he claimed is a mock of mental health issue. In the said tweet, the "Game of Thrones" star wrote, "Ugh so sad. Just been diagnosed with Trump Derangement Syndrome. Please help." Sophie has stopped responding to Piers' tweets, but he still had a lot to say about the actress. Responding to Perez Hilton's article highlighting the actress' "smart & empowering stuff" about mental health, he wrote, "Why would I listen to yet another woefully unqualified C-list celebrity lecturing me about mental health to make herself look good, grab a few laughable 'She DESTROYED Piers Morgan!!' headlines & get lots of 'likes'? Just virtue-signalling nonsense." Why would I listen to yet another woefully unqualified C-list celebrity lecturing me about mental health to make herself look good, grab a few laughable She DESTROYED Piers Morgan!! headlines & get lots of likes? Just virtue-signalling nonsense. https://t.co/QL04GQqND0 Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 10, 2019 Many others have also slammed the former "America's Got Talent" judge, and he would reply to some of them. He defended himself in one tweet, "I haven't got a clue about mental illness? With respect, how do you know? And all I did on this occasion was agree with an actress that some celebrities treat mental health issues like a fashion accessory. They do & they distract attention from real sufferers." I havent got a clue about mental illness? With respect, how do you know? And all I did on this occasion was agree with an actress that some celebrities treat mental health issues like a fashion accessory. They do & they distract attention from real sufferers. https://t.co/6ZqZ4DxNot Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 10, 2019 Piers further blasted Sophie in another post, "Well, Ms Turner, who I've never met, called me a 'twat' in a tweet to her 1.7 million followers. She did this purely to get herself some much-needed press & make herself look virtuous by jumping on the mental health bandwagon. I see right through her." Well, Ms Turner, who I've never met, called me a 'twat' in a tweet to her 1.7 million followers. She did this purely to get herself some much-needed press & make herself look virtuous by jumping on the mental health bandwagon. I see right through her. https://t.co/Ysj9rZMV1n Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 10, 2019 In the past, Piers has also mocked the Kardashians and Emily Ratajkowski among other celebrities. Instagram Celebrity An eyewitness says that the restaurateur spends most of his time looking at a ring which 'must have been at least 5 carats or bigger, costing over $150K' at Polacheck's jewelry store. Jan 11, 2019 AceShowbiz - It's been more than a year since Scott Disick and Sofia Richie started dating, and it looks like the former is planning to take their relationship to a new level. The 34-year-old restaurateur sparks the rumors after it was reported that he was recently spotted checking out some engagement rings at Polacheck's jewelry store in Calabasas. An eyewitness shared to HollywoodLife.com that the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star came in alone and "seemed happy about shopping for a gift for someone special," who the onlooker speculated might be the 20-year-old. "While he did not buy anything, he spent a lot of time looking at really big diamond engagement rings," the eyewitness added. According to the onlooker, one particular engagement ring caught his attention at the time as Scott "spent most time looking" at a ring which "must have been at least 5 carats or bigger, costing over $150K." The eyewitness continued, "The timing of his visit to Polacheck's would be perfect for a Valentine's Day proposal with Sofia." Scott and Sofia made their romance Instagram official back in September 2017 after months of dating rumors. Though their relationship was met with troubles due to their 14-year gap, the lovebirds managed to overcome it and have been inseparable. Even the Kardashians reportedly have now fully supported their romance. "Everyone really likes her," a source close to the famous clan previously told PEOPLE. "They think she's a great influence and Scott is so in love, so it's not a problem." Another source said that Kourtney Kardashian "feels confident that Scott and Sofia take good care of the kids" because the model "is helping Scott be a better, healthier person." Scott and Kourtney, who dated on-and-off for nine years, share three children together, Mason, 9, Penelope, 6, and Reign, 4. Instagram Celebrity Alongside a series of pictures from their 'beautiful' trip, the 27-year-old actor says that his boyfriend actually proposed a year ago. Jan 11, 2019 AceShowbiz - Garret Clayton has dropped a major relationship bomb. On Thursday, January 10, the "Teen Beach Movie" actor announced that he is engaged to be married to Blake Knight, revealing that his longtime boyfriend has actually proposed to him one year ago when they were on a trip to Iceland. Along with a series of photos from the memorable trip, the 27-year-old actor reminisced, "It's been 1 year since @hrhblakeknight asked me to marry him in Iceland on the most beautiful trip and the most beaufitul day of my life to date." He continued, "I'll never forget your face in that moment when you got down on one knee." "Love, nervous, and excited (Obv, I was going to say yes) all rolled into the love of my life. Everyday with you is filled with joy and laughter. (even when we get heated every night over who has to get out of bed to turn off the hall light)," he gushed. "8 years! In a little over a month itll be 8 years together. Those being packed full of ups and downs. (90% ups)." Recalling their first meeting, he wrote, "I'll always be thankful that you walked into my 24 hour resturant when I first moved to LA. I was a waiter aspiring to be an actor. You were an assistant aspiring to be a writer. Now look at us! Living the dream together. Finding the strength in our unity with the loss of Orion." "To finding out on my birthday in the dirty parking lot behind the resturant I worked at (at that time) that I lost my first big job / cut to you holding me later that night whipping away my tears and telling me it was only the beginning," he penned. "You've never faltered in being a supportive, loving, stubborn, sensitive rock in my life." Clayton concluded his heartfelt message with a proclamation of his love for Knight. "Here's to another 100 years of traveling the world, stealing your socks and loving our babies, whether their dog babies or actual babies," he declared. "I'll love you forever. Happy anniversary, my darling." The CW TV Meanwhile, new series 'In the Dark' will make its debut on Thursday, April 4 at 9 P.M., following a new episode of 'Supernatural'. Jan 11, 2019 AceShowbiz - The CW has set spring premiere dates for its shows, both returning and new. The spring 2019 lineup includes "DC's Legends of Tomorrow", "Jane the Virgin", "iZombie" and "The 100". "DC's Legends of Tomorrow", which is absent from the 2018 December schedule in favor of "Black Lightning", is set to return on Monday, April 1. Instead of taking over its usual 9 P.M. slot, the series will air at 8 P.M. Meanwhile, initial 8 P.M. slot owner "Arrow" is taking a two-week hiatus at that time before returning in the 9 P.M. timeslot on Monday, April 15. Also returning is "Jane the Virgin". The comedy's final season will begin Wednesday, March 27 at 9 P.M. Meanwhile, "iZombie" will premiere its fifth and final season on Thursday, May 2 at 8 P.M. New series "In the Dark" will make its debut on Thursday, April 4 at 9 P.M., following a new episode of "Supernatural". Starring Perry Mattfeld, the freshman series follows a flawed and irreverent blind woman who is the only witness to the murder of her drug-dealing friend. After the police dismiss her story, she sets out with her dog, Pretzel, to find the killer while also managing her colorful dating life and the job she hates at Breaking Blind--the guide dog school owned by her overprotective parents. Also making into the schedule is "The 100" that will return for its sixth season on Tuesday, April 30 at 9 P.M. Prio to that, season finale of "Roswell, New Mexico" will air on Tuesday, April 23 at 9 P.M. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 MONDAY, APRIL 1 8-9 P.M. - " DC's Legends of Tomorrow " " 9-10 P.M. - "Penn & Teller: Fool Us Special" THURSDAY, APRIL 4 MONDAY, APRIL 15 TUESDAY, APRIL 30 THURSDAY, MAY 2 WENN/John Rainford Celebrity The Duchess of Sussex is taking over the patronage from Queen Elizabeth II as she is believed to be able to use her position 'to focus attention on' the organization and 'to make a particular difference'. Jan 11, 2019 AceShowbiz - Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex is to take over from Queen Elizabeth II as the patron of Britain's National Theatre. Royal officials announced the Duchess would be supporting four organisations with her first royal patronages, including the London arts venue, on Thursday, January 10. The official announcement came the day after the news was mistakenly revealed by National Theatre bosses, who briefly shared the news on their website on Wednesday before quickly deleting the post. The royal, who gave up her career as a top U.S. TV actress to marry Prince Harry last May, explained in a statement she is "a strong believer in using the arts to bring people from different backgrounds and communities together." Royal officials indicated the former "Suits" star is "delighted" to take on her new roles and believes "she can use her position to focus attention on, and make a particular difference to these organisations and, more widely, the sectors they each represent." Meghan takes over from the Queen, who has been patron of the National Theatre for 45 years. Founded in 1963, the prestigious theatre company has hosted plays starring some of Britain's most famous actors, including Helen Mirren, Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anthony Hopkins, and Judi Dench. The National Theatre's director Rufus Norris said in a press release it was a "privilege" to welcome Meghan as their new patron as she, "shares our deeply-held conviction that theatre has the power to bring together people from all communities and walks of life." The other organisations she will offer patronage to are The Association of Commonwealth Universities, jobs charity Smart Works, and the animal welfare non-profit Mayhew. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... PALM BEACH, Fla. A West Palm Beach surgeon has agreed to pay a $3,000 fine among other penalties for accidentally removing a womans kidney, thinking it was a cancerous mass, according to the Florida Board of Medicine. Dr. Ramon Vazquez, a West Palm Beach surgeon, was tasked with opening up Maureen Pacheco on April 29, 2016, at Wellington Regional Medical Center. Orthopedic surgeons were then scheduled to perform a spinal fusion to alleviate Pachecos lower back pain. But Pacheco had a condition from birth in which her kidney never ascended into the abdomen and was located in her pelvic region. Vazquez saw the undeveloped but functioning organ as cancer and removed it only to find out later from a pathologist that it was, in fact, an intact pelvic kidney. The Florida Health Department filed a complaint in December 2017, saying the cancer diagnosis was not related to the patients medical condition and therefore medically unnecessary. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The Board of Medicine initially rejected a settlement with a $1,500 fine. Under the final settlement, Vazquez must also give a one-hour lecture on wrong-site surgery to the entire medical staff of a hospital where he maintains staff privileges. Vazquez must also complete three hours of medical education on preoperative evaluation of surgical patients and pay $4,800 in costs. Dr. Vazquez is an excellent surgeon who has been providing exemplary, often life-saving services in our community for many years, said the surgeons attorney, Michael Burt. In this instance he, in collaboration with other members of the surgical team, exercised professional judgment. Burt said the settlement is minimal because it reflects Vazquezs role in the accidental removal of a kidney. The Health Department in documents stated that the fact that Vazquez had no prior discipline and that two other surgeons agreed the mass should be removed due to potential malignancy reduced the harshness of the discipline. Postoperatively, the patient informed respondent (Dr. Vazquez) that she had forgotten to tell the doctors of the known issue with a pelvic kidney, the Health Department stated in support documents. That did not sit well with Pachecos attorney, Donald J. Ward III. Its a sad day when a doctor places blame on his patient after needlessly removing one of her vital organs, Ward said. He added that prior to her surgery, Pachecos orthopedic surgeons were well aware that she had a pelvic kidney, and it was well-documented in her medical records. Pacheco was first introduced to Vazquez when she was being prepped to go into surgery, shortly before receiving anesthesia, Ward said. She had the expectation that any physician operating on her would have familiarized himself with her medical records, both prior to surgery and as necessary during the surgery, he said. An expert brought in to look at the case, Dr. Christian Birkedal of Daytona Beach, wrote in August that the surgeon should have reviewed the X-rays before surgery and should have biopsied the mass prior to removal. Vazquez told the Florida Board of Medicine on Dec. 7 that he now makes sure to review all films of patients and will only work with a limited number of orthopedic surgeons. He said the radiology results for Pacheco, however, were not at the hospital at the time of the surgery. Im definitely working from a blind perspective, he told the board. The malpractice insurers for Pachecos primary surgeons, Dr. John Britt and Dr. Jeffrey Kugler, settled for $250,000 apiece, according to the state Office of Insurance Regulation. Vazquez does not carry malpractice insurance and settled the case for a nominal amount, his attorneys have said. Neither Britt nor Kugler face disciplinary action in the Pacheco case though the Board of Medicine inquired about it during Vazquezs hearing. A physician removing a functioning kidney by mistake is rare but not an unknown medical error. The consequences for the patient, however, can vary. Ward said Pachecos body is able to function with one kidney, but she is now more susceptible to chronic kidney disease and renal failure. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Albuquerque police added experienced officers to their ranks on Friday when officers from other departments graduated from an Albuquerque police academy. There were 27 officers who took their oath Friday morning as part of the graduation of the 21st lateral academy at Albuquerque police. The officers, who have worked at other police agencies or were retired, completed a seven-week course to join Albuquerque police. There were 27 officers who took their oaths Friday morning as part of the graduation of the Albuquerque Police Departments 21st lateral academy. The officers, who have worked at other police agencies or were retired, completed a seven-week course to join APD. Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier said officers in the class have a combined 256 years of law enforcement experience. Some of the officers have worked in law enforcement for just over two years while others were pulled out of retirement after nearly 30-year careers. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The lateral class included six officers from Rio Rancho and five from the Santa Fe Police Department. There were also two retired Albuquerque police officers returning to the force. One officer came from Mancos, Colo., and was the only one from an agency outside New Mexico. Mayor Tim Keller said APD has added 89 officers in the past three months. Those officers came from two lateral academy and one regular police academy. The new additions give the city more than 900 officers. The exact number of officers on the force wasnt available Friday. For years, the department has struggled to stay completely staffed and the citys crime rates have increased to some of the highest in the country for a city its size. Keller has said he wants to grow the force to 1,200 officers. Keller said during the ceremony that the city plans to graduate another lateral academy in several months and a regular police academy, which is about a six-month program, sometime this summer. You are the No. 1 priority for myself and my administration, Keller told the graduates. New Mexico rises and falls with Albuquerque, and right now Albuquerques biggest challenge is public safety. Todd James, a former Bernalillo County sheriffs deputy who retired several years ago with 20 years of law enforcement experience, was recognized as one of the most distinguished graduates in the academy class. He said the pay Albuquerque police officers are some of the highest-paid in the state was just one of the reasons he returned to the job. You spend most of your career trying to make law enforcement what you do and not what you are, but then you leave it and you realize it is what you are, he said. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Less than 30 percent of the deaths on New Mexicos roadways in 2018 involved alcohol-related crashes, marking a significant decline from the previous two years. Preliminary data compiled by the state Transportation Department and the University of New Mexico shows 108 people died on the states roads last year in crashes that involved alcohol. Thats down from the 147 deaths recorded in 2017 and down from the 171 alcohol-related fatalities reported in 2016. Overall, New Mexico recorded 385 deaths on its roadways in 2018, up slightly from the previous year. Nearly two-thirds of the crashes happened in rural areas, and more than 20 percent of the deaths involved pedestrians. The data also shows the number of people who died and were not wearing seat belts increased to 140 in 2018. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WARSAW, Poland Poland has arrested a director at the Chinese tech giant Huawei and one of its own former cybersecurity experts and charged them with spying for China, authorities said Friday. The development comes as the U.S. is exerting pressure on its allies not to use Huawei, the worlds biggest maker of telecommunications network equipment, over data security concerns. The two men one a Chinese citizen who was a former envoy in Poland before moving over to a senior position at Huawei and the other a Pole who held several top government cybersecurity positions were arrested Tuesday, according to Polands Internal Security Agency. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Polish security agents searched the Warsaw offices of Huawei and Orange, Polands leading communications provider, where the former Polish security expert recently worked, seizing documents and electronic data. The homes of both men, also in Warsaw, were also searched, according to agency spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn. Its the latest setback for Huawei in Europe, where the company has ambitious plans to roll out next-generation 5G mobile networks, which it is a leader in developing. The arrest is a fresh sign that a U.S. dispute with China over its ban on the company is spilling over to Europe, Huaweis biggest foreign market. Some European governments and telecom companies are following the U.S. lead in questioning whether using Huawei for vital infrastructure for mobile networks could leave them exposed to snooping by the Chinese government. Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Polands Special Services agency, said the operation that resulted in the arrests of the two suspects had been underway for a long time. He said both carried out espionage activities against Poland. Zaryn told The Associated Press that prosecutors have charged the two men with espionage, but agents are continuing to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Further indictments are expected, he said. He said no further details would be released about the case because it is classified and the investigation is ongoing. Polish state television TVP reported that the men have proclaimed their innocence, but Zaryn said he could not confirm that. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison each. TVP identified the arrested Chinese man as Weijing W., saying he was a director in Poland at Huawei. It said he also went by the Polish first name of Stanislaw and had previously worked at the Chinese consulate in Gdansk. A LinkedIn profile for a man named Stanislaw Wang appears to match details of the man described by Polish television. Wangs resume said he worked at Chinas General Consulate in Gdansk from 2006-2011 and at Huawei Enterprise Poland since 2011, where he was first director of public affairs and since 2017 the sales director of public sector. The resume said he received a bachelors degree in 2004 from the Beijing University of Foreign Studies. State TV identified the Polish man as Piotr D., and said he was a high-ranking employee at the Internal Security Agency, where he served as deputy director in the department of information security, until 2011. The Polish state news agency, PAP, said the man had also held top cybersecurity positions at the Interior Ministry and the Office of Electronic Communications, a regulatory body that oversees cyber and other telecommunications issues. It said, while at the Internal Security Agency, he was involved in building a mobile communications system for top Polish officials, and he was fired in 2011 amid a major corruption scandal. Geopolitical tensions over Huawei have intensified since Canada arrested a top executive last month at the request of U.S. authorities. The company has been blocked in the U.S. since 2012 over fears that its equipment is a security risk, and last year Australia, New Zealand and Japan instituted their own bans against using Huawei. U.S. officials have reportedly fanned out across Europe recently to make their case with governments and Huawei suppliers for blocking the company. The company and analysts have long maintained that it has never been found guilty of a cybersecurity breach but the latest accusation, if confirmed, will deal a blow to that defense. One thing is clear: this is another nail in the coffin of Huaweis European ambitions, said Thorsten Benner, director of the Global Public Policy Institute, a think tank. The arrest might not have a big impact on broader trade tensions between China and the U.S., but it shows that there will always be competition and acrimony related to Chinese tech companies, Benner said. Huawei, which also makes smartphones and other consumer devices, issued a statement from its Chinese headquarters saying it was aware of the situation in Poland and was looking into it. We have no comment for the time being. Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based, the statement said. Poland is Huaweis headquarters for Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordic region. An official at the Chinese Embassy in Warsaw said China attaches great importance to the detention of the Chinese citizen in Poland and that Chinese envoys had met with Polish Foreign Ministry officials to urge them to arrange a consular visit as soon as possible. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said late Friday it is closely following the detention of Huawei employee Wang Weijing and has asked Poland to handle the case lawfully, fairly, properly and to effectively guarantee the legitimate rights of the person, his safety and his humanitarian treatment, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Orange Poland told the AP on Friday it was cooperating with Polish security services in the case and had handed over belongings of one of our employees in Tuesdays search of its offices. Orange told the AP it did not know if the suspicions against its employee were related to his work at Orange or elsewhere. Huaweis chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested Dec. 1 in Canada in connection with U.S. accusations that the company violated restrictions on sales of American technology to Iran. The United States wants Meng extradited to face charges that she misled banks about the companys business dealings in Iran. She is out on bail in Canada awaiting extradition proceedings. On Dec. 10, China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor on vague national security allegations in apparent retaliation for Mengs arrest. Chinas ambassador to Canada accused the country this week of white supremacy in calling for the release of the two Canadians, while describing the detentions as an act of self-defense. ___ Chan reported from London. Associated Press writers Joe McDonald and Christopher Bodeen in Beijing contributed to this report. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... BAGHDAD After days of conflicting statements about a timeline for President Donald Trumps decision to withdraw American forces from Syria, a U.S. defense official said Friday the process has begun with the removal of some military cargo. The official said the movement of equipment is part of what the military calls a deliberate withdrawal from Syria, where some 2,000 troops have been working with a coalition of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters to defeat the remnants of the Islamic State group. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been publicly announced, provided no numbers, but said the equipment withdrawal is underway and that an unspecified number of additional U.S. troops have been brought into Syria to assist with the process, including by providing additional security. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Hours earlier, Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, said the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria has started. He said the U.S. would not discuss a specific timeline, locations or troop movements out of concern for operational security. There has been confusion over plans to implement Trumps pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurdish fighters, who Ankara views as terrorists because of their ties to insurgents within Turkey. Earlier this week, the U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said American troops will not leave northeastern Syria until IS is defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, signaling a slowdown in Trumps initial order for a rapid withdrawal. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syrias northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. A senior Kurdish politician said the Kurds are aware of the U.S. beginning the withdrawal, describing it as Americas decision. The Americans have a right to make decisions that are in their countrys security and national interests, said Ilham Ahmed, who co-chairs the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Council in northeastern Syria. She added that the peace and stability of areas U.S. forces withdraw from must be guaranteed, including by putting an end to the Turkish threats and fully eradicating the Islamic State group and its sleeper cells. There are 2,000 American troops in Syria. Trumps abrupt decision in December to pull them out, declaring in a tweet the defeat of IS, sent shockwaves across the region and prompted a flurry of criticism from some of his generals and national security advisers. It led to the resignation of U.S. Defense Minister James Mattis and the top U.S. envoy to the anti-IS coalition. It also led to major criticism that the U.S. was abandoning its local Kurdish allies amid Turkish threats of an imminent attack. Bolton, on a visit to the region this week, said the U.S. pullout was conditional on defeating IS and guarantees that the Kurds would be protected. His statements appeared to contradict those made earlier by Trump. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on a tour of the region, has also sought to reassure the Kurds that they will be safe after U.S. troops withdraw from the country. These have been folks that have fought with us and its important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected, Pompeo said of the Kurds while visiting Irbil, the capital of Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region, after talks in Baghdad. After initially tweeting about the decision to bring back U.S. troops now, Trump this week said we will be leaving at a proper pace while at the same time continuing to fight ISIS and doing all else that is prudent and necessary! Kurdish officials, meanwhile, have demanded clarifications from the U.S. over its intentions. A U.S. troop pullout leaves the Kurds exposed to Turkish forces on one side and Syrian government troops on the other. The withdrawal benefits Syrian President Bashar Assad and his international backers, Russia and Iran, who are primed to move into the region to fill a vacuum left behind by the Americans. On an unannounced visit to troops stationed near the Syrian border Friday morning, Turkeys Defense Minister Hulusi Akar reiterated Ankara is determined to fight Kurdish militias it considers terrorists and said military preparations were ongoing. When the time and place comes, the terrorists here will also be buried in the ditches and trenches they have dug, the minister said in southern Sanliurfa province. He spoke before the announcement on the U.S. withdrawal and did not address it. Russias Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Americans are not serious about withdrawing from Syria. Speaking to reporters in Moscow on Friday, she said it appears the U.S. is looking for a reason to stay. She said Russia has not seen public statements laying out the U.S. strategy in Syria and so cannot be sure that the U.S. is serious about leaving. U.S. troops have been involved in Syrias war since 2014, when the first elite forces arrived in the country to advise Kurdish-led fighters battling the Islamic State group. ___ Karam reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow, Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul and Robert Burns in Washington, DC, contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the U.S. has begun withdrawing equipment but not troops from Syria. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... LONGMONT, Colo. A Colorado tutor convicted for a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student has been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. The Daily Times-Call reports 36-year-old Natalie Gulyas was sentenced Thursday in Boulder County District Court after a jury found her guilty on all charges in October. The Longmont tutor was charged in March 2017 with sexual assault on a child, sexual exploitation of a child and internet sexual exploitation of a child. According to court documents, the mother saw Gulyas kissing her son in February 2017. Prosecutors say Gulyas and the teen exchanged inappropriate photographs, and she enticed him into a relationship. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Public defender Nicole Collins had argued that the boy manipulated her client. ___ Information from: Daily Times-Call, http://timescall.com/ .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Put this in the lessons learned category. The Great Recession of 2008 had a devastating impact on New Mexicos permanent funds, wiping away nearly 30 percent of their value as they plunged from $16.1 billion to $11.68 billion. This, on the heels of a pay-to-play scandal where cronies of Gov. Bill Richardson steered investments from the funds into ventures that ended up costing the state hundreds of millions. In response to the latter, the State Investment Council was restructured with a broader membership appointed by both governor and Legislature, who joined elected officials such as the state treasurer and land commissioner. This restructuring moved us away from a system in which the state investment officer then a de facto appointee of the governor had virtually carte blanche ability to direct investments, sometimes at the behest of politically connected insiders and without regard to return on investment for New Mexicos taxpayers. In response to the havoc wreaked by the recession, the restructured council has wisely reworked portfolios, giving up some quick gains in a bull stock market for diversification and more buffers if the market tanks. Why is all this important? ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ These permanent funds, consisting largely of money from oil and gas royalties and investment returns, generated $968.1 million for public education and state operating expenses this year. SIC spokesman Charles Wollman says the council projects well cross the $1 billion threshold in payouts in FY 2020. After the recession, the council cut the amount invested in public equities from 62 percent in 2010 to 45 percent today. About 25 percent of investments are now in bonds and another 28 percent divided among hard assets like timber, energy, real estate and private equity investments in businesses. Unfortunately, the funds face political threats as well as those from unpredictable market forces including fluctuating oil prices that tend to be tied to a global economy. Chief among them will be another move to increase the annual distribution to pay for amorphous early childhood programs, reducing future payouts for education and state operations. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who favors an unspecified increase in the distribution of the Permanent Fund to address what her spokesman calls funding gaps in early childhood education, also wants more SIC investments directed to business and job-creation ventures based in New Mexico. Some of the initiatives, including an increase in distribution of the Land Grand Permanent Fund for early childhood now set at 5 percent of the five-year average value of the corpus would require a constitutional amendment and voter approval. Others, such as changing SIC policy to invest the full 9 percent allowed by current law from the Severance Tax Permanent Fund in New Mexico-based business would not. The governors ideas on directing more money to stimulate economic growth in New Mexico deserve careful and serious consideration with plenty of safeguards. The Journal, like fiscal conservatives in the Legislature, has long opposed increasing the Permanent Fund distribution. Its just not a wise economic course for the long term. Its important they keep in mind how far weve come since 2008, with funds rebounding from $11.61 billion to $24 billion. The money they put into education and government operations annually has grown from $712 million to $968 million. As SIC member Linda Eitzen says, Things are on a good course and running smoothly. Its a good story for New Mexico. Lets hope the governor and lawmakers dont rewrite the ending. 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. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... At Educators Elevating New Mexico (EENM), we believe in the transformative power of teaching and learning in our students lives. We know, and have seen firsthand, the power of good educational policy that can improve instruction for all students, and how bad policy inhibits it. The governors announcement last week regarding the gradual replacement of New Mexicos statewide student assessment (PARCC) is a step backward in educational policy with negative repercussions for all stakeholders. At EENM, we believe in future-focused innovation, continuous improvement, accountability and in transparency. However, this executive order was rushed, ill-informed, and made before talking to educators from all regions of New Mexico. It happened without doing a cost-benefit analysis, and despite the Legislative Finance Committees support of keeping (costs down while maintaining continuity with the results in hand and reforming) PARCC. To be fair, we know teachers who think this might be good education policy. However, most in this camp are generally anti-testing period or dislike the accountability and transparency that comes with it. We must all remember that statewide student assessment is a civil rights issue, is nationally mandated, and is the only consistent way that New Mexico tracks our students progress. The high-stakes piece is a totally separate issue lets not conflate things. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the law of the land, and our State Plan is federally-approved and considered one of the best by several bipartisan, independent groups. In that context, here are the Top Ten reasons, in no particular order, why this is bad education policy: 1) Millions of dollars, wasted: Creating a new assessment is expensive these valuable New Mexico taxpayer dollars belong in the classroom. 2) Longitudinal data, lost: We will no longer have consistency in student data yet tracking New Mexicos progress over time is critical given the Yazzie/Martinez (school funding) ruling. 3) Disrespecting educators efforts: Growth achieved by thousands, with current assessments, will be discounted. 4) Undermining students efforts: Imagine youre a student does the announcement mean that PARCC didnt or doesnt matter? 5) Frustrating families: Now comfortable with Individual Student Reports (ISR) do they now start all over? 6) Doubling testing time: New assessments require field testing, thereby doubling testing time. 7) Increased administration time: PARCC administration currently takes each student about one day, total. 8) Re-training: New assessments require additional proctoring training for everyone. 9) Confusing colleges: NMPED put out guidance on how PARCC aligned with SAT/ACT/NAEP/College GPA, and how to utilize scores for admissions and scholarships. Is that out the window? 10) Re-opening honesty gaps: We could return to an era of dishonesty like the era under our previous exam, SBA. If we lower the bar for student competency by falsely inflating scores, New Mexico would misinform students, families and educators. Another big concern is how this impacts Excellence in Teaching Awards. New Mexicos highest-performing teachers have worked tirelessly to achieve two-years growth in a single year and have been recognized for that. Will that end now, too? That concern can be put on pause for now as our students and families must come first. A new assessment does not change how our students are actually doing. We must continue to motivate students and develop teachers, not dumb-down the assessment, expect less and ultimately fail our kids by making the test easier for them to pass. Teachers, students and families deserve answers to the questions that impact our schools and classrooms the most. Weve gone from having the best plan in the country to dismantling it overnight. Last weeks announcement is creating confusion that was totally unnecessary. We stand ready to find a better path forward. This letter was signed by 81 educators from 21 counties across our state. Educators Elevating New Mexico (EENM) is a statewide, nonpartisan group of educators dedicated to improving student achievement and upholding high standards for the students, teachers, administrators, policymakers and the schools of New Mexico. EENM provides opportunities for all levels of educators to use their voices. We stand for accountability and transparency, continuity and innovation. We put our students first in all decisions, and in doing so, we elevate our profession. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... As the New Year begins, educators across New Mexico are bracing for a new semester of teaching and for the changes headed their way under the leadership of recently sworn-in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. As such, only a few days after officially taking office, the governor has sent a clear message by signing executive orders putting a halt to the contentious PARCC test and the faulty system used to evaluate teachers in New Mexico. For many, this is regarded as a positive sign, one indicating that we might finally be headed in the right direction. As a longtime educator who has continuously been immersed in the battle to demand equity in what remains an inequitable educational system and has worked extensively in preparing future teachers, hearing Lujan Grishams inauguration speech and now witnessing the doing away of PARCC in one swift move has left me hopeful. I am hopeful that after eight long years of what seemed like a never-ending nightmare in education, great change might finally take place. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Lujan Grisham spoke of this being the moment for us all to roll up our sleeves and work together to transform a broken system that has failed our children for much too long. She spoke of lifting the morale of educators, of increased pay and the repair of outdated buildings. Although I completely agree this is a great start, we cant stop there. After working for over 20 years in education, what we are in need of is not just superficial or quick-fix changes. In order to truly achieve the transformation Lujan Grisham seeks, deep systemic changes must be made that involve more than boosting morale and a coat of paint. To begin with, our educational system needs to be directed by leaders that break far away from the regurgitation of policies and practices that havent resulted in much change and that continue to lack innovation. The educational system has long been broken and is in desperate need of nothing short of a complete restructuring across all facets from teacher recruitment and preparation, curriculum, evaluation, assessment, professional development, among so many others. I imagine a future where education is so highly valued that a great number of bright and talented individuals desire to be educators because they are regarded and paid with the respect they deserve. As such, we must move away from the churning out of warm bodies to investing in more Grow Your Own Teacher programs where institutions and families play key roles in developing teachers who represent, understand and love the communities in which they teach. I envision the use of curriculums across all classes that teach children compassion, analytical thinking and the development of critical consciousness. Curriculums that are based on the traditions, cultures and philosophies of the people of this land that teach individuals to disrupt hierarchies and demand all forms of justice across society. For far too long, curriculums have represented only one side of history. We need to create school environments where all children thrive, feel respected and are treated with dignity. Schools must not only welcome families and the larger community but also be part of the redesigning and reimagining of education. A major failure of the current educational system has been the exclusion of these voices. These are not easy tasks to achieve and cannot be be overnight, but with intent, collaboration and a commitment to revolutionize the system it can and must be done. As Lujan Grisham stated, this is our moment. Yes, this is absolutely true and it is our hope as educators and parents across New Mexico that we will finally witness change not just for the few, but for all of the deserving students across the state. Virginia Necochea is a research assistant professor in the Teacher Education and Educational Leadership Program at UNM. Will our schools benefit? .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal For the fourth year in a row, New Mexico placed either first or second in the nation for its rate of deadly shootings by law enforcement officers, according to the Fatal Force database created by The Washington Post. In 2018, New Mexico ranked first in the nation, finishing the year with 20 fatal shootings by police officers around the state, a rate of 9.59 per 1 million people. Alaska with 7 total fatal police shootings was a close second, with a rate of 9.5 fatal police shootings per 1 million people. Connecticut had the smallest number of fatal police shootings 0. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Over the past four years dating back to 2015, when the Post began keeping a database of fatal police shootings New Mexico has either been first or second in the nation, with a rate between nine and 11 people killed per million. In 2017, the state came in as No. 2, behind Alaska, but it was first in the nation in 2016. In 2015 New Mexico was in second place, behind Wyoming. A total of 995 fatal police shootings were reported across the country in 2018, according to The Washington Post. The numbers have changed little over the past four years. Allison Goldberg, a policy adviser at the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said its hard to pinpoint exactly why some states have higher rates of shootings by law enforcement than others. The researchers that weve been working with would say its really hard to draw causation rather than correlation, but what we do know is that higher number of stops for lower-level offenses can contribute, Goldberg said in an interview this week. Stemming from that, lower trust between law enforcement and communities can heighten tension when there are these interactions. Maj. Tim Johnson, head of the New Mexico State Police investigations bureau, said he believes the high rates of crime here have a lot to do with it. For the past several years, New Mexico has experienced increases in violent and property crime, and it was first or second for crime rates in 2016 and 2017. The public becomes alarmed, and they have an expectation on their servants law enforcement to figure out ways to slow that down, Johnson said. As we attempt to slow that down by effecting an arrest or serving a warrant, investigating cases, we are coming into contact with violent people on a more regular basis than we have in the past. More than half of the police shootings in the state occurred in larger cities last year. Law enforcement officers during 2018 shot and killed nine people in Albuquerque, three people in Las Cruces, and the rest in small towns and cities around the state. In March, in the small town of Fort Sumner, southeast of Santa Rosa, State Police officers fatally shot a man who they said had tried to break into his ex-girlfriends house, then shot her friend and set his car on fire. In June, a Quay County Sheriffs deputy shot through a bedroom window, killing a 55-year-old man they say was pressing a knife against another mans throat. And in August, a Valencia County Sheriffs deputy shot and killed a woman who they said stole a police cruiser with her alleged accomplice to a Los Lunas burglary inside and tried to flee the scene. State Police role State Police investigates the vast majority of shootings involving law enforcement across the state. Small rural agencies typically turn their investigations of shootings involving officers over to State Police, which has more resources and experience, Johnson said. And departments in some urban areas Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Roswell and Clovis have set up task forces made up of surrounding agencies, including NMSP, to investigate. State Police detectives even investigate shootings by their own officers, Johnson said. The agency was involved in seven shootings last year. He said that while New Mexico has had 20 fatal shootings, its important to remember the nonfatal shootings as well of which there have been 27. The 47 officer-involved shootings last year took up a lot of the State Police investigators time. Johnson said one of the biggest challenges has to do with how large and how rural the state is. Sometimes, officers are unable to communicate with one another by radio, it can be hard for them to find remote locations, and investigators have to figure out what policies and procedures the smaller agencies have in place. Those are some of the challenges for the New Mexico State Police and, frankly, the volume, Johnson said. We have a lot of officer-involved shootings in this state, and were primary on the vast majority of them. It takes a lot of time, it takes a lot of money and it takes a lot of our resources. He said it typically takes three to four months to wrap up an investigation and turn it over to a district attorneys office for possible prosecution. Goldberg, of the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution, said that, while some police shootings are clearly justified such as during a hostage situation or a shootout departments can still learn from each incident. What weve seen is police departments can adapt their training and their policies to ensure that there is proper de-escalation training and protocol to reduce risk to anyone involved, she said. After the incidents, it is really critical to provide mental health support to the officer involved, because its a traumatizing event for anyone to go through. That can help reduce future risk of harm to the officers or future community members. Data collection critical Both Goldberg and Johnson stressed the importance of collecting data on police shootings. The Washington Post began tracking police shootings around the country after the high-profile death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014. The team gathers data including details about each killing from local news reports, law enforcement agency websites, social media and independent databases and then does additional reporting in many cases. Last fall, the FBI announced it is launching a National Use-of-Force Data Collection for the first time this year. The goal of the collection is not to provide insight into specific use-of-force incidents, but instead to offer a comprehensive view of the circumstances, subjects, and officers involved in such incidents nationwide, according to the FBIs website. Law enforcement agencies will not be required to participate. Johnson said State Police officials discussed the undertaking and decided they would submit data about the shootings their officers had been involved in, but not the data from the other agencies they investigate. I think the public is demanding that of law enforcement, he said. They want to know and understand whats happening and how things happen. I think thats going to give the public, our legislators, and reporters in the media the data that theyve been looking for. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal Thousands of New Mexicans working for the federal government wont get paid today, and some state and private groups are stepping in to help those affected. The partial government shutdown reaches its 21st day today as Republicans and Democrats continue to spar over border wall funding. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said his office estimates that more than 7,600 federal employees work for closed agencies in New Mexico, the majority of whom are furloughed or working without pay. But spokesman Ned Adriance said that figure could be on the low end since it doesnt include numbers from the departments of Justice or Homeland Security. Morale is low, said Jerald Rule, a national representative for the American Federation of Government Employees in Albuquerque, which represents around 10,000 federal employees in New Mexico. It would be low anywhere where you have to work without getting paid and worry about your family, putting food on the table. Among the hardest hit are employees of the Transportation Security Administration, with most currently working without pay. Rule said pay for TSA agents starts at $30,000 and maxes out at $34,000. A spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Sunport said TSA officers are continuing to show up for work amid some national reports of widespread numbers calling in sick. We are very lucky here at the Sunport, and really all throughout New Mexico, in that our team of TSA agents is very dedicated and committed to their jobs and the important role that they play, Sunport spokeswoman Stephanie Kitts wrote the Journal in an email. The states Department of Workforce Solutions is offering furloughed government employees and those working without pay the chance to file for unemployment benefits, an option that usually requires verification a person is looking for work. Department spokeswoman Stacy Johnston said that 891 federal employees have already applied for benefits, nearly double the number from Wednesday. This administration appreciates and values federal workers so much because we know how important they are to our communities, said new department Secretary-designate Bill McCamley in a news release. well do everything in our power to get them through it as smoothly as possible. In the private sector, PNM announced Thursday it will keep the power on for federal employees behind on their bills during the shutdown, calling it simply the right thing to do. Employees must provide PNM a copy of their furlough letter to be eligible. On Thursday, Storehouse New Mexico, the states largest food pantry, announced that it will help families going without paychecks. Those seeking help need a photo ID for adults and a birth certificate for minors. Storehouse New Mexico is at 106 Broadway SE, just south of Central. The pantry is generally open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings. A full calendar is on the organizations website, www.StorehouseNM.org. Thousands of sign-carrying federal employees protested in the nations capital on Thursday. President Donald Trump was in McAllen, Texas, touring the U.S.-Mexico border. Udall called the trip a photo opportunity. Twenty days into this Trump shutdown and one day before federal workers will go without paychecks, families all across New Mexico are paying a steep price for this act of deliberate obstructionism, Udall said in a statement. Meanwhile, the 223,000 New Mexican families who use food stamps will continue to receive those benefits through February, the state Human Services Department announced Wednesday. Prior to a U.S. Department of Agriculture decision earlier this week, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was funded only through Jan. 31. This option will be a big relief to the 455,000 New Mexicans who rely on the benefit to put food on their tables each day, said Human Services Secretary-designate Dr. David Scrase in a news release. Februarys benefits are to be released early, by Jan. 20. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham rolled out a $7.1 billion budget plan Thursday that would increase minimum New Mexico starting teacher pay to $41,000 per year, add an extra three days to the states school year and ramp up state spending on statewide pre-kindergarten programs to unprecedented levels in response to a landmark court ruling on public school funding. In all, the new governors budget would utilize a revenue infusion from an oil drilling boom in southeastern New Mexico to increase state spending by about $806.6 million or roughly 12.7 percent from current levels. Although public school spending would make up more than half of the proposed budget increase, the spending blueprint also calls for salary increases for all state workers, more money for a high-profile economic development closing fund thats intended to help lure out-of-state businesses to New Mexico and roughly $300 million in one-time funding to pay off a backlog in state film subsidies. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ It would also earmark $500,000 for a new independent ethics commission that New Mexico voters overwhelmingly approved in November, though legislators would have to pass enabling legislation for that money to be appropriated. We are taking steps to put our priorities into policy, said Lujan Grisham, a Democrat who won a hard-hitting governors race last fall and was sworn into office Jan. 1. Overall state spending would hit an all-time high under the governors budget recommendation, but her plan also calls for roughly 25 percent of state spending or nearly $1.8 billion to be set aside in cash reserves in case projected revenue levels for the coming fiscal year dont materialize. We feel like this budget does a tremendous amount for New Mexico children while being fiscally responsible, said Olivia Padilla-Jackson, the secretary-designate of the Department of Finance and Administration, the states central budget agency. Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a top legislative budget guru, said much of Lujan Grishams budget recommendation was in line with a separate Legislative Finance Committee plan that will be rolled out next week, before the start of a 60-day session. Were within striking distance of coming in with a compromise, Smith told the Journal. However, he voiced concern about the possibility of a state revenue slowdown and the fiscal impact of a $12 minimum wage for all state employees and public school workers that Lujan Grisham proposed. Im concerned their cost estimates on that are a little weak, he said. Although Democrats will enter the legislative session with a majority in both chambers, House Republican leaders have said they will push to return some of the budget surplus perhaps $200 million to the public as a tax rebate. They also say they share some Democratic priorities such as raising teacher pay and improving roads in the fast-growing southeastern part of the state but want to hold spending increases to a sustainable level. What we dont want to do is go beyond whats responsible, said House Minority Whip Rod Montoya, R-Farmington. Somebody has to urge a little bit of caution. Revenue boost The overall spending increase included in Lujan Grishams budget recommendation would be larger than the cumulative state spending growth during the eight years that former Gov. Susana Martinez was in office. However, the state weathered two economic downturns during Martinezs tenure that prompted spending cuts, reduced take-home pay for state employees and other budget-balancing maneuvers. In contrast, the states current revenue situation driven by the spike in oil production could allow for increased spending on a wide range of state programs. For the first time in many years, our revenue projections are showing significant growth and an unprecedented amount of new money is available to invest back in our state, Lujan Grisham, a former congresswoman, said in announcing her plan. Among other provisions, Lujan Grishams recommendation calls for an additional $36.5 million for the chronically understaffed Children, Youth and Families Department, which would allow for 102 new social workers to be hired by the agencys Protective Services Division. It would also seek to shore up New Mexicos two pension funds by increasing how much the state pays into workers retirement accounts. That would cost an estimated $13.7 million, state budget officials said. But the budget plan does not call for an additional lump sum payment into either the Educational Retirement Board or the Public Employees Retirement Association. Both retirement systems have asked for a one-time infusion of funds. Public schools Education has emerged as a top priority for the coming legislative session, due largely to a state judges ruling last summer that New Mexico was failing to meet its constitutional requirement to provide sufficient schooling to all students. On the campaign trail, Lujan Grisham frequently called for a moonshot on public education and her budget plan calls for a more than $500 million increase in public school spending. As part of that, all state teachers and principals would get a 6 percent salary increase next year. Some educators could see even bigger pay bumps, as minimum starting teacher pay would jump by $5,000 from $36,000 to $41,000 per year. Higher pay levels would also be set up for more experienced educators. In addition, the states funding formula for public schools would be adjusted so more money would flow to districts with large populations of Native American, disabled and low-income students, along with English-language learners. Roughly $60 million would also be appropriated for pre-kindergarten programs serving 3- and 4-year-olds statewide, with the goal of increasing enrollment from 42 percent to 80 percent over the next five years. Stephanie Ly, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico union, said Lujan Grishams proposals would make the states public school system more attractive for both beginning and veteran educators. She also said the spending plan correctly prioritizes our student population in a way that will begin to repair the neglect inflicted upon our communities under the previous administration. Although some lawmakers have groused that retired District Judge Sarah Singleton did not specify a dollar amount in her landmark ruling, top Lujan Grisham budget officials suggested Thursday the spending plan would cover the shortcomings identified by the judge. We think this goes a long way in addressing the requirements that were raised by the court ruling, Padilla-Jackson said. Overhaul of tax code Top lawmakers have said overhauling New Mexicos tax code will also be a priority in the coming session, and Lujan Grishams budget plan calls for several tax-related changes. Specific proposals include allowing the state to collect taxes on internet sales, levying the state gross receipts tax on not-for-profit hospital services and imposing the states tobacco tax on electronic cigarettes. The new governor also proposed reinstating an expired solar tax credit and expanding an existing tax break for working families. If all the changes were enacted, they would represent a net tax increase of $35 million in the coming year, Lujan Grisham budget officials said. The governors budget plan and the Legislatures recommendation will serve as blueprints of sorts during the coming session, as lawmakers get to work coming up with a final budget for the fiscal year that starts in July. Journal Capitol Bureau reporter Dan McKay contributed to this report. Highlights Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams spending plan for the 2020 budget year would increase year-over-year state spending by $806.6 million over current levels. It would also authorize millions of dollars in separate one-time spending. Here are proposed funding levels for some key areas: Public schools: $3.2 billion (18 percent increase). Higher education: $830.2 million (3.3 percent increase) Medicaid: $1.01 billion (6.7 percent increase). Courts, district attorneys and public defenders: $306.3 million (3.5 percent increase). Prisons: $321.4 million (5.2 percent increase). Looking for in-depth reporting on labor issues? You're in the right place. Subscribe to The Chief and get stories that cover every side of civil service in New York City and beyond. You can sign up in minutes for immediate access. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Staff and visitors at the ABQ BioPark Zoo are mourning the death of male jaguar, Onca, who was humanely euthanized Wednesday, said zoo mammal curator Erin Flynn. Onca, who was also known as Manchas, Spanish for spot, was 20 years old and suffered from kidney failure and mobility issues, basically old age, said Flynn, who noted that the normal median life expectancy of a jaguar in North American zoos is 17 years. In the wild, jaguars generally live from 12-15 years. It was a hard one, said Flynn. There were a lot of staff in tears, some who had been working with Onca for a long time. Onca was born at a zoo in Guanajuato, Mexico, and was brought to the BioPark in 2001. His death leaves one remaining jaguar at the zoo, 13-year-old Maya, who was not his mate and lived in a separate enclosure. Apparently, Onca had a cantankerous disposition, Flynn said, and didnt get along with other jaguars. Although occasionally seen in the most southern portions of New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, jaguars are primarily found in Mexico, Central America and South America. An estimated 15,000 jaguars are living in the wild. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, lists jaguars as near threatened due to loss and fragmentation of habitat, hunting and poaching. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Jaguars are the largest cats in North America. An adult male jaguar can have a body length of about 6 feet and weigh up to 250 pounds, according to the World Wildlife Fund, or WWF, website. Jaguars are most frequently tan or orange with distinctive black spots, or rosettes, but some are so dark they can appear to be spotless. Unlike many other large cat species, jaguars do not avoid water and are strong swimmers, says the WWF. The website for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says jaguars tend to be solitary animals, as well as mostly nocturnal, although they can be active during the day. They often rest and hunt from trees. Jaguars are also highly adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats, including dense forests, grasslands, deserts and wetlands, says the USFWS. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. The SWAT team is dealing with a man holed up inside a home on Thursday afternoon in southwest Albuquerque, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office. BCSO spokeswoman Felicia Maggard said the situation has been ongoing since 2 p.m. near Bridge and Lovato SW. She said deputies responded to the home to arrest a suspect on felony warrants before the man barricaded himself inside. The neighborhood around the home was cordoned off with yellow tape as numerous deputy and tactical vehicles could be seen crowding the streets. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Music has been a mainstay in Shane Maddens life. Growing up, he focused on the violin. And the love for the instrument never left him. Madden creates music under the moniker Govinda, and for more than a decade, he has carved out a niche for himself in electronic dance music. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ He began studying violin and composition at age 8 and went on to study classical violin at the University of Texas, where he fell in love with electronic music production. It was in Maddens pursuit of his Roma roots that he opened his ears to music from around the world. From experiences learning violin with mysterious masters on his journeys across the globe and his passion for modern design and technology, the current sound of Govinda was born. Violin is my instrument that sets me apart, he says in a recent phone interview. I try to keep that element in my music compositions because its a wow factor for the listeners. Govinda will perform at Meow Wolf on Friday, Jan. 18. He is touring in support of the latest album, Transcendence. Madden is quick to point out that he has another album ready for release this year. Im always working on music, he says emphatically. Im doing it all on my own these days. I have a small team behind me, but its all DIY. Madden has performed in New Mexico previously, but this will be his first time at Meow Wolf. When I heard about this venue, I really felt that this is a perfect place for me to perform, he says. Its captures the feeling I have with the music. Im exciting about getting to be in the space for the first time. Im looking forward to see what it inspires. Madden says he is a perfectionist when it comes to his music. It all starts with an idea, and Madden begins to play with the process. My process is a little like the way a graphic designer creates, he says. I take layers, and I keep adding them. Then I step back and begin to bring the opacity back or find a way to add texture to the sound. There are times I just have to walk away from what Im working on and release it; otherwise, it will never see a release. Madden finds himself constantly keeping up with the ever-changing technology. Im always improving as a composer and producer, he says. Ill look at online forums to see what the latest in technology is. What I want to capture with my music is something that moves the listener. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... David Berkeley took a longer journey than usual in creating his latest EP. He needed the time to carefully craft each song. I actually began writing this batch of songs just after the American presidential election in November of 2016, Berkeley says. I was in Washington, D.C., on tour with my new duo project, Son of Town Hall. My bandmate, Ben Parker, and I wandered into the National Museum of American History and found ourselves standing in front of the American flag that inspired the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner' That beautiful old flag was profoundly and surprisingly moving. It looked particularly fragile. Like our democracy itself, it was worn and weathered. It seemed to be nearly falling apart. I felt both a great love and a great fear for our union on that day. I still feel that. I finished these songs in the spring of 2018 shortly after the Parkland shooting. The tracks on the EP, The Faded Red and Blue, are about not only President Trump, but also suicide, immigration, gun violence and the environment. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ It was very difficult (to write), which is why it took a couple years, he says. I didnt just want to write songs that raged or increased the amount of fear or division. I was trying to find a voice that did have some hope in it, even at times when I didnt feel much hope. Berkeley felt that he had to address whats going on in the world, because every day, there is something new. Its mostly negative, he says. That seems to be the wrong direction. Berkeley is based in Santa Fe and recorded the majority of the album at The Kitchen Sink Recording Studio. He also did a little recording at his home studio, as well as a studio in Atlanta. The first song he wrote was the title track, which was done at his home studio. I didnt think I was going to make an EP, he says. I did some extra tracking with at Jonos (Manson) place and recorded with my Santa Fe band. I havent recorded with them, and Ive been playing with them for five years. It had a really good flow. And I always wanted to collaborate with Jono. Berkeley, who is also an author, will perform two concerts as part of the AMP Concerts Library Series. These shows are great, because its a different way of putting on a show, he says. David Berkeley WHEN AND WHERE: 12 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, Los Griegos Library, 1000 Griegos NW; 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart NW HOW MUCH: Free, registration at ampconcerts.org Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan Democracy Now! If I cant dance, I dont want to be part of your revolution, are words attributed to the great early 20th century anarchist thinker, writer and crusading social-justice activist Emma Goldman. While she may not have uttered precisely those words, the sense of the phrase was on full display in Congress last week, as a video circulated of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dancing with friends while she was an undergraduate at Boston University, 10 years ago. The video surfaced in a failed attempt to discredit the new member of Congress as she was sworn in as the youngest women ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Ocasio-Cortezs response to the online criticism was short and brilliant, tweeting a video of herself dancing into her new congressional office. The video got tremendous attention. What was largely overlooked was the tune that she was dancing to: the classic 1970 anti-war anthem War, sung by Edwin Starr. It rocketed to No. 1 in the summer of 1970, and has been a staple anthem against war ever since. War, What is it good for, Absolutely nothing, the chorus goes. Ocasio-Cortez mouths the words as she dances through her congressional office door. Ocasio-Cortezs campaign website details an array of progressive policies, including a peace economy that reads, in part: As of 2018, we are currently involved in military action in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, and Somalia. Hundreds of thousands of civilians in these countries have been killed either as collateral damage from American strikes or from the instability caused by U.S. interventions. Millions more have fled their broken countries, contributing to the global refugee crisis ... we must end the forever war by bringing our troops home, and ending the air strikes that perpetuate the cycle of terrorism throughout the world. She recently corrected Fox News host, and unofficial consigliere to President Donald Trump, Sean Hannity, who accused her of the heresy of calling for an end to military airstrikes. She responded in a tweet, saying she supports ending unjust wars entirely. Since prevailing in the Democratic primary to represent New Yorks 14th Congressional District, defeating powerful Democrat incumbent Joe Crowley, Ocasio-Cortez has been regularly targeted by the right wing. Last July, she said on Democracy Now! that the issues I ran on were very clear ... improved and expanded Medicare for all; tuition-free public colleges and universities, as well as trade schools; a Green New Deal; justice for Puerto Rico; an unapologetic platform of criminal-justice reform and ending the war on drugs; and also speaking truth to power and speaking about money in politics. The Green New Deal calls for the rapid and radical decarbonization of the entire economy, transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in hopes of staving off the worst effects of climate change while there is still time. The Green New Deal also demands a just transition, ensuring that workers displaced from shuttered industries like coal mining get the support they need to move into other productive work. Ocasio-Cortez joined in a protest with the youth-led Sunrise Movement, sitting in at the office of incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Ocasio-Cortez was calling on the new Democratic majority in the House to empanel a Select Committee for a Green New Deal, which would have broad authority, including subpoena power, to push the project forward. Clearly, the pressure campaign had an effect, but fell short of the activists demands. Pelosi restarted the dormant House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, making it advisory-only. The new chairperson of that committee will be Democrat Kathy Castor of Florida, who, critics point out, has taken tens of thousands of dollars from fossil fuel interests (although a spokesperson said she will forgo such contributions going forward). Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response: We dont have time to sit on our hands as our planet burns. For young people, climate change is bigger than election or re-election. Its life or death. As she was sworn in to Congress on Jan. 3, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore all white to honor the women who paved the path before me, and for all the women yet to come. From suffragettes to Shirley Chisholm, I wouldnt be here if it wasnt for the mothers of the movement, she said. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez respects her elders. The old guard in Congress, both Republican and Democrat, shouldnt fear that this youngest woman ever elected to Congress will be dancing circles around them; instead, they should follow in her footsteps. Kelda J.L. Pharris kpharris@aberdeennews.com It wasnt Folsom Prison and Spencer Dobson wasnt crooning the blues. It was Missouri River Correctional Center and Dobson was working for some laughs. Prison sucks. To be able to laugh, really let your guard down and feel like a human being for even a half an hour, that has value, Dobson said during a recent visit at a coffee shop. Its not my favorite thing to do, but its a little Johnny Cash-ish, he said. Dobson, a professional stand-up comedian from Aberdeen, did a North Dakota prison tour Dec. 18-20. He had performances at the Missouri River Correctional Center in Bismarck, a minimum-security facility; the James River Correctional Center, a medium- security prison in Jamestown; and two more at the North Dakota State Penitentiary, the states maximum-security prison, also in Bismarck. A comedy show in a prison might seem a bit far-fetched, but theres a purpose, and it only starts with keeping up spirits. The launch point is that the people in prison are going to be your neighbors at some point. (Shows) keep people socialized, engaged. Especially in minimum security. You want them as socialized as possible with people. You want them to feel like human beings, Dobson said. Minimum security generally incarcerates inmates who have shorter sentences and are more apt to be released, versus longer and life sentences at other facilities. He was contacted by someone at Missouri River Correctional Center who floated the idea. Things came together and a mini-tour was hatched for just before the holidays. It gave Dobson some time to craft an appropriate routine. You do your show for the most part. Theres a new minefield of issues that you didnt have to take into account at a normal show. You still want to stay away from religion, Dobson said. They did say, dont go too deep into sex stuff, dont graphically go into drug stuff. Its amazing how much you touch on things (in regular shows) that you dont think about. He does a little crowd work in his routines where he interacts a bit with his audience. He tries to avoid asking about tattoos, because those can have personal and sometimes bad memories associated with them. Talking about family or his own marriage is also usually avoided because the men hes performing for cant be with their own families. As Dobson describes some of the banter, its clear the shows maintained an R-rating. What goes over well are comments on loneliness and odd things only prisoners might get. Dobson has a bit on ramen. Its nearly a currency in prison, he said. Each inmate seemed to have his own way of dressing up the instant noodle packets. One inmate, a guy who went by the name of Chrome, got into it with Dobson verbally. It got tense, but later Dobson said he came to find out that Chromes fellow inmates chided him for letting the comic get the best of him. And Dobson also knows Chrome and other inmates can put on their own show to get by in prison. There is an element of danger. I played Dickinson, (N.D.), during the oil rush. Its the same amount of dudes, same testosterone, but at least in prison they have guards, he said. It didnt come off as a joke. Dobson treats prison gigs like any other. Hes still working for the paycheck, but he has compassion for his fellow man, even those behind bars. Most arent actually bad people. They are in prison because they were working with the best tools available to them at the time. I really get the impression they are doing a lot to rehabilitate people, Dobson said about the prisons he visited. Its just a gig, and Dobson is just a comic. And as with any comic hes got his favorite reactions. When you see a smile go across a really hard face, theres something great about that, he said. Staff reports Aberdeen News Feeding South Dakota, a statewide hunger relief organization, is asking for financial and food donations to assist furloughed federal employees. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP, beneficiaries are at risk of losing their benefits at the end of February, according to a news release. Due to the partial government shutdown, nearly 90,000 South Dakotans who receive on SNAP benefits are at an increased risk of food insecurity. Nearly half are younger than 18, according to the release. Feeding South Dakota anticipates it will start to see a "significant increase in food demand on Feb. 5," and estimates it will take nearly 5 million pounds of food per month to make up for the SNAP losses, according to the release. February SNAP benefits are typically issued on Feb. 10, but they will be issued on Jan. 20 to ensure benefits will be available to eligible households, according to a news release from the state Department of Social Services. The early issuance does not mean that additional benefits will be made available. For more information on how to volunteer or donate food or funds, visit feedingsouthdakota.org or email info@feedingsouthdakota.org. Staff reports Aberdeen News The Aberdeen Area Community Choir will be hosting a meet and greet Sunday at 5 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, 431 W. Melgaard Road. There will be a sloppy joe dinner followed by a choir performance at 6 p.m. Any adult member of the public may join the choir, as well as high school-age youth. For more information call, Rich Wilson at 702-274-8576. Kelda J.L. Pharris kpharris@aberdeennews.com At North Highland Methodist Church, parables are the perfect way to reach young children with the messages of Jesuss life. Children just returned Wednesday to after-school youth programs. Stories of the woman at the well, the Good Samaritan, and loaves and fishes with a little interpretation help convey messages to elementary school kids. The loaves and the fishes, to me, its a miracle of sharing. Really so much of Scripture is metaphor, and its not fact. I do not read the Bible literally and look for fact. Its metaphor, symbols and imagery, said the Rev. Lou Whitmer of North Highland United Methodist Church. That age group tends to be very literal. So sometimes the easiest thing to do is to take it literally. Then where does that lead us as followers? she asked hypothetically. Whitmer helps translate the stories into ones children can understand and apply to daily life. He shared what he had, and we really focus on that and then take it to what happens when we share start getting them to think in those ways, she said. The Good Samaritan and woman at the well parables open up a couple of topics for children. Samaritans in the Bible were not always looked upon with favor. They were a foreign group with a different faith. But one steps up and helps a beaten traveler in the Good Samaritan story. And Jesus doesnt punish the woman at the well, another Samaritan, for her promiscuity. Instead he treats her with favor and welcomes her to worship. Interestingly, you talk to the younger kids and ask, Are there girls who wear scarves (hijabs)? They dont get worked up, and so well talk about when people are different. Look, someone they thought wasnt a good person helped them, Whitmer said. She likes to get the children active in real tasks and missions within the church. Recently the kids helped organize items for a winter wear drive and box up gifts for other children in South Dakota. While doing so, Whitmer brought up prior lessons or applied parable teachings to the tasks. Tie Scripture into the actions. When they were helping sort hats and mittens when we were doing our coat giveaway, we talked about a place in the Bible, in James and in parables. I needed clothes and you gave them to me, Whitmer said. Often theyre intrigued. Like really, the Bible talks about coats and hats? Whitmer said the children would ask her. In turn, she shows them Luke 3:11, and puts it in terms they understand. When someone needs a coat, you give them two. We are never going to get hurt helping someone else. We reach out and we will receive some blessing back, Whitmer said. Senate President Scott Sales announced on Wednesday that he will propose a bill asking for $8 million of state funding to go towards the southern border. President Trump has asked for about $5 billion from Congress to build a wall along the U.S.- Mexico border. The Montana legislature is making headlines for a Republican proposal to send state money to build President Donald Trump's proposed border wall. While lawmakers in Washington are at a total standstill on funding the wall, the Montana Senate President says hed like to see Montana chip in to pay for President Trump's border wall. "This is just a small token, a small down payment to say to Congress, hey listen, we're very serious about border security here in Montana, its affecting our communities in a negative way and we want something done, Sales said. Sales says the $8 million will come out of the general fund if its appropriated. If this bill does make it through both the House and Senate it will land on Democratic Governor Steve Bullocks desk, where he is likely to veto the bill. Democrats say they want to focus on what is happening here in Montana and this bill is a waste of time. When the men and women of the Montana National Guard aren't responding to blizzards, flood or the occasional earthquake, they are just everyday people with normal jobs. That's what Thursday's event at Fairfield High school was all about. Bridging the gap between military and the community. Students have the opportunity to go through a 100 foot obstacle course. Just to give them a small piece of what it's like being in the military. For some, the course was a little much, but Sgt. Stephen Weber was at the top of the highest point cheering kids on. He said he wants the community to know even in scary situations, men and women in uniform are just there to help. Sgt. Weber said, "if you see us you can still come and talk to us you can still get a helping hand we're not something scary we are here to help out." To continue the outreach efforts, the team of 4 will be heading to Choteau tomorrow and Saturday for a big wrestling event, where they help feed and talk to the locals. BUTTE- News broke this week that a new call center will be setting up shop in the old J.C. Penney store in the Butte Plaza Mall. This comes as welcome news to mall employees after big retailers such as Herbergers and Payless Shoes closed last year. "It's just great that something new is investing in Butte and the community. It's good to see and we always welcome new business," said Manager of Riddles's Jewelry, Jori Schrapps. FCR is an Oregon based company with another Montana location in Great Falls. The site in Butte will be a call outsourcing center that will provide callers with information via telephone, text message or social media. The center is expected to bring about 350 new jobs to Butte. Butte Plaza Mall on-site manager Alana Ferko said she is excited for what this business will bring to the mall. "When you have a couple additional 300 people on site, you're definitely going to see an increase in traffic," she said. "People are going to come out at break time. Since the plan was announced on Monday, Ferko said she's had two new business inquires. The old J.C. Penney store is 34,600 square feet but Ferko said FCR will use about 28,000 square feet. The company will need to wire the site for communication and add desks and cubicles. Ferko said there isn't much construction needed to get the store ready for business. With the decline in retail over the past few years, Ferko said they needed to get creative to attract businesses to the mall. "The mixed-use concept is just going to take us to the next level of sustainability," Ferko said. Ferko said they plan to open sometime in the Spring. (1/10/2019) - A 10-year-old could face several charges after allegedly bringing a loaded handgun to Eagle's Nest Academy on Thursday morning. Folice said the male student, who attends Eagle's Nest, made other students aware that he had the gun. One of the other students retrieved it and brought it to administrators in the school office, said Flint Police Department Det. Sgt. Tyrone Booth. Eagle's Nest went into a soft lock down after the student brought the gun to the office. Administrators called police immediately and Flint police responded after a call for service came in from 9-1-1 at 10:24 a.m. The student was arrested and booked for carrying a concealed weapon on school property and felonious assault. Booth said the latter charge is based on things the 10-year-old said to another student, but he couldn't elaborate on specifically what was said. Classes continued as normal after the lock down was lifted around 11:15 a.m. and police cleared the scene. The school is safe, according to police. The school published a note about the incident on their Facebook page shortly after 1 p.m. Booth said investigators were also speaking with the 10-year-old's parents about the incident. No word on if they will recommend charges be filed against the parents in connection with the incident. This evening the 10-year old is being held at the Genesee Valley Regional Center. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton's office said they are going to review the information Friday morning to see if any charges will be filed. Parents we spoke with parents at the school following the press conference and they expressed shock and concern about the incident. The principal will be holding a coffee hour with parents on Friday at 9 a.m. at the Eagle's Nest Academy if they want to ask questions. Watch out, Elizabeth Warrenthere's a Bay Area woman most likely entering the presidential race and she's very persistent. Also, would you live in an "abartment?" That's right, one Berkeley artist/activist wants to turn decommissioned BART cars into homes. Plus, AT&T Park is so last year. Welcome to Oracle Park, home of the SF Giants! They've Made Lots of Bubble Tea. Now They'll Make the Pearls Too, The New York Times Your favorite bubble tea just got a even more local. That's right, those bouncy tapioca pearls in your Boba Guys drink are now being made by the guys themselves in a factory over in Hayward. If you thought Boba Guys had become an empire already, you ain't seen nothing yet. Read more. Kamala Harris reportedly ready to jump into 2020 race, lining up East Coast headquarters, San Francisco Chronicle The rumor mill is a-churning and one of its hottest topics right is whether or not Kamala Harris will toss her hat into the 2020 presidential ring. The U.S. Senator has been dancing around questions of her candidacy for weeks now, but according to The Chron, she's in. Read more. SF Giants' home now called Oracle Park after AT&T split, SFGate AT&T Park is so last year. 2019? The year of Oracle. It might take some getting used to, but the home of the San Francisco Giants has officially being rechristened Oracle Park thanks to a 20-year contract with the Bay Area tech giant. Thank you AT&T, next. Read more. What the Latest Foie Gras Legal Decision Means for SF Restaurants, SF Eater The delicacy is officially illegal in California (again). Keep an eye on your favorite restaurant menus for more duck-friendly dishes. Read more. Would you live inside these fantasy BART apartments?, SF Curbed BART has announced that it plans to decommission a bunch of old trains. And now the question is what the heck to do with. Berkeley artist and activist Alfred Twu has an idea: Let's help solve for the local housing crisis by transforming the old train cars into two bedroom "abartments." Talk about modern living. Read more. Jeremy Lent in Open Democracy: Having read his book carefully, I believe its crucially important to take Pinker to task for some dangerously erroneous arguments he makes. Pinker is, after all, an intellectual darling of the most powerful echelons of global society. He spoke to the worlds elite this year at the Worlds Economic Forum in Davos on the perils of what he calls political correctness, and has been named one of Time magazines 100 Most Influential People in the World Today. Since his work offers an intellectual rationale for many in the elite to continue practices that imperil humanity, it needs to be met with a detailed and rigorous response. Besides, I agree with much of what Pinker has to say. His book is stocked with seventy-five charts and graphs that provide incontrovertible evidence for centuries of progress on many fronts that should matter to all of us: an inexorable decline in violence of all sorts along with equally impressive increases in health, longevity, education, and human rights. Its precisely because of the validity of much of Pinkers narrative that the flaws in his argument are so dangerous. Theyre concealed under such a smooth layer of data and eloquence that they need to be carefully unraveled. Thats why my response to Pinker is to meet him on his own turf: in each section, like him, I rest my case on hard data exemplified in a graph. More here. Alexandra Witze in Nature: Something strange is going on at the top of the world. Earths north magnetic pole has been skittering away from Canada and towards Siberia, driven by liquid iron sloshing within the planets core. The magnetic pole is moving so quickly that it has forced the worlds geomagnetism experts into a rare move. On 15 January, they are set to update the World Magnetic Model, which describes the planets magnetic field and underlies all modern navigation, from the systems that steer ships at sea to Google Maps on smartphones. The most recent version of the model came out in 2015 and was supposed to last until 2020 but the magnetic field is changing so rapidly that researchers have to fix the model now. The error is increasing all the time, says Arnaud Chulliat, a geomagnetist at the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAAs) National Centers for Environmental Information. The problem lies partly with the moving pole and partly with other shifts deep within the planet. Liquid churning in Earths core generates most of the magnetic field, which varies over time as the deep flows change. In 2016, for instance, part of the magnetic field temporarily accelerated deep under northern South America and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Satellites such as the European Space Agencys Swarm mission tracked the shift. More here. Anand Giridharadas in the New York Times: When news broke that Facebook users private messages were not necessarily private, Taunya Richards, 44, a real estate appraiser in Hillsboro, Ore., immediately panicked: Had she endangered her son? She thought back to her chats with her mother in Idaho, who prefers Facebooks messenger to texting. Her son is a specialist in the Army; using the Facebook-owned encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp, he had kept her updated as he traveled to what she described as a dangerous foreign base whose location she was supposed to keep secret. She had then sent those location updates to her mother using Facebook Messenger. Now she wonders who has that data. For a mother, she told me, especially one whose whole life has been about protect your kid from these harms, and shes just doing what a mother does, which is responding to him telling her something that he needs her to know so hes protected, and someone can come in and take that and just sell it to people as data? Youre putting my kids life in danger. But dont count Ms. Richards among the growing ranks of people deleting Facebook. All it does is punish me, she said. It doesnt punish Facebook. It doesnt change anything. It cuts me off from my family. Even if a boycott bankrupted Facebook, whats to stop the next company from doing the same thing? We need the laws to say, You cant do this, she said. More here. Akhil Kumar in The Wire: Issuing a clarion call against the Modi government, an estimated 200 million workers across various sectors successfully carried out a two-day nationwide strike on January 8-9. They were protesting against the governments anti-labour policies and alleged that the ruling party favours corporates over the interests of the vulnerable working class. While finance minister Arun Jaitley doesnt see any real issues in the protest and hints at it being the Lefts attempt to stoke symbolic unrest to ensure their survival, striking workers assert the Modi government is apathetic towards them. Alleging arrogance and contempt towards workers, trade union leaders claim the Modi government has been ignoring their 12-point charter of demands that raises issues of unemployment, price rise, minimum wages, pension, increasing contractualisation, disinvestment, universal social security cover, strict compliance with labour laws and FDI. The Modi government is not interested in even meeting union representatives, a union leader told The Wire. More here. It was right here a minute ago. You saw it, but now its gone and you have to find it. Beneath a newspaper, atop a shelf, under a blanket, wherever it is, it was just right here and as in the new book Whiskey When Were Dry by John Larison, youd search years to have it back. Jessilyn Harney never knew her mother. She died in childbirth, leaving Jessilyns father to raise Jessilyn and her brother, Noah, who was five years older. Noah took care of Jessilyn when their father drank too much syrup. He was a good brother, making sure she was warm, dressed, and protected until the year she turned thirteen and, as young men are wont to do, Noah had a fight with his father and he rode away. For a few years, Jessilyn did what she could to help her father run things, but hed gotten addled in that fight, and was never the same. Sensing the truth, perhaps, he schooled her on sharp-shooting for protection, and he talked of marrying her off. Six days after he left on a solitary ride, Jessilyn found his bones scattered. Not knowing what to do, she asked if the nearby Mormon family might take her in, and she was denied. That was when Jessilyn went into the old wooden box that Noah left behind. She found some of his outgrown clothes things that fit her fine and she became Jesse. Women on the frontier stuck out, he learned, but a baby-faced man was mostly ignored. Still, he was soft and that cost him; he was unwise to the world, and that cost more, though guns would ultimately protect Jesse and theyd generate money in wagers with fools who thought a lad wasnt good with a Colt. But Jesse didnt want money; he only wanted one thing. Noah had taken up with some outlaws, and there was a bounty on his head, dead or alive. Sharp-shooting was fun, but Jesse only wanted to find Noah before the law did Reading Whiskey When Were Dry is like opening dozens of little gifts at Christmas: each time a surprise occurs, its a delight the last, no less than the first. Author John Larison does that over and over again, gifting readers with a great opening, exceptional characters, and plenty to unwrap. Set in the years following the Civil War, in an unnamed state, this book offers a lot to fans of many genres: for sure, this is an oater, complete with hosses and outlaws. With stunningly-described scenery, its a book for adventurers. Theres a gauzily-told romance with another woman here, and small crushes on gun-slinging men. Its un-PC, so beware! Theres heroism in this novel, but not where you might anticipate it. Take this book on that last-minute vacation youve got. Take it to bed, and dont expect to sleep. Take Whiskey When Were Dry, take, it, take it wherever you go. If youre in need of a sweeping epic that offers plenty of mini-shocks throughout, its right here. Whiskey When Were Dry by John Larison c.2018, Viking $28.00 / $35.00 Canada 400 pages ANNAPOLIS (January 10, 2019)Maryland Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller Jr., D-Prince George's, Charles and Calvert, announced Thursday to the chamber he has led for more than three decades that he had been diagnosed with and was being treated for prostate cancer. Rather than discussing his illness, Miller had printed statements distributed around the chamber that detailed his diagnosis. "The story's gotta be about the Senate. It's not about me, it's about the Senate," Miller said after the statements had been distributed, quickly moving on with the day's proceedings. Miller was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 2018, along with other osteopathic issues, he said in the statement. He was prescribed pharmaceuticals and continued physical therapy until late December, when he awoke with a sharp pain in his leg. An oncologist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital informed Miller and his family that the cancer couldn't be managed through medicine alone. Miller said he will be undergoing chemotherapy during this legislative session, his 33rd year serving as Senate president. " in spite of my treatments, I will be fully able to join my colleagues and preside this session," Miller said in the statement. Senate Minority Whip Stephen Hershey, R-Kent, Queen Anne's, Cecil and Caroline, said the news of Miller's diagnosis was "devastating," noting that the Senate president had long been a staple of legislative compromise. Hershey told Capital News Service that he hopes to see Miller in better health this session. "It was absolutely a gut punch for all of us," said Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings, R-Baltimore, Harford counties. However, he said Miller's prognosis was good and that the Senate would come together to offer their support. "The governor had a health scare, he was able to get his job done. Speaker of the House had his health scares, he's gotten his job done. We'll get the job done," said Jennings. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, R, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2015, and skin cancer in 2018. Speaker of the House Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, had a liver transplant in 2017, and heart bypass surgery in 2018. Hogan, in a statement, said "I know firsthand that Mike Miller has earned his place in Maryland political history because he's a fighter who always gives it everything he's got, no matter how tough things get. Mike's tenacity, bravery, and perseverance will ensure that he wins this battle, and he has my full support." Senate President Pro Tem Katherine Klausmeier, D-Baltimore County, who would lead in the event of Miller's absence, said that it was a sad day after hearing his diagnosis. "I hope the whole world keeps praying. He's the glue that holds the Senate together," said Klausmeier. WATERLOO Although the bells have stopped ringing in the Cedar Valley, The Salvation Army of Waterloo/Cedar Falls has yet to meet its Christmas goal of $631,000. With $137,000 to go, The Salvation Army will be auctioning off the special items found in the Red Kettles during the Christmas season. The Salvation Army will be collecting toward its goal until Jan. 31. Donations can be made in a variety of ways: in person at 89 Franklin St., Waterloo; By mail at P.O. Box 867, Waterloo, IA 50704; or online at www.sawaterloo.org. Items available for public bid: - 12 1-ounce American Gold Eagle coin (minimum bid: $1,350 per coin). A 1-ounce Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coin (minimum bid: $1,350). Eight 1-ounce American Silver Buffalo coin (minimum bid: $18 per coin). Eight 1-ounce fine silver bars, various designs (minimum bid: $18 per bar).Three 1-ounce fine silver coins, various designs (minimum bid: $18 per coin). A 1-ounce American Silver Eagle coin (minimum bid: $18). Nonprofit Draft Day is an outgrowth of a spring 2018 gathering in which community event planners discussed future sustainability of their events and activities. Longtime board and committee members were stepping down to pursue other interests or retiring. They talked about needing new blood in their organizations, new participants and volunteers to work on boards and committees and provide leadership skills to keep these great events going. It became lets have an event to reach out and get new people involved. The number one reason people dont get involved is that theyre not asked to do so. We wanted to set up an event so people could find out more about opportunities available and how to get involved, Finke explains. Through volunteering, people gain new skills in such areas as team-building, marketing, problem-solving and financial management, for example, while helping a nonprofit group or agency fulfill its mission, according to the Volunteer Center. Nonprofits can only select from the free agents who have checked their organizations name on the draft card. Those nonprofits and free agents can then connect and discuss further commitment. The draft cards are non-binding. Scouts are expected to attend from College Hill Arts Festival, Cedar Valley Pridefest, Irish Fest, My Waterloo Days, Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, Friends of the Hearst Center, Beyond Pink TEAM, Junior League of Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Waterloo Community Playhouse, Black Hawk Childrens Theatre and others. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO The Macular Degeneration/Low Vision Support Group will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday in the board room of Kimball Ridge Center, Kimball and Ridgeway avenues. The inspirational audio recording of an executives own journey with AMD will again be played. All are welcome. Call Barb Lamfers at 230-4499 with any questions. Blood drive set in Dunkerton DUNKERTON A Dunkerton blood drive is planned for 3 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Dunkerton Community Hall, 115 W. Main St. For an appointment, go to lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903. Ladies Auxiliary to host meal HUDSON The Hudson AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary will host a burger night Jan. 18 at the Hudson AMVETS Hall, 123 Eldora Road. Serving is from 5 to 7 p.m. The public is welcome. AAUW to host musical readings CEDAR FALLS The AAUW Waverly and Cedar Falls-Waterloo branches will gather at 10 a.m. Jan. 26 at the Cedar Falls Womans Club, Third and Clay streets. Daftar Situs Judi Online Slot Online Terpercaya dan Terbaik - 77LUCKS Selamat datang di 77LUCKS, Salah satu situs penyedia situs judi slot online terpercaya di asia. 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The star, however, just like most of her loyal followers, had to say so long to her days with family and fond memories of another stay back home. Time really does fly, and it's only a matter of weeks before the February 24 premiere of Season 6 of When Calls the Heart. Some fans may have been surprised or even shocked by the sudden arrival of precious baby Jack in the Christmas Day premiere of When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing. Elizabeths pregnancy did leap forward in the storyline, and while there wasn't much time to celebrate expectant Elizabeth on-screen, her story with her infant son, and how he carries the legacy of love inspired by his parents, is sure to be satisfying. All of Hope Valley will be part of his growing years. It's certain that faithful Hearties have the February date circled numerous times on their calendars, but in the meantime, Erin Krakow has some beautiful Instagram posts from January 9 that will chase away any semblance of the chill. The new seasons trailer, now released is filled with reasons to rejoice for the new mother and many other new arrivals (of various kinds) to the Northwest Territory community. More than just toes One of the things that Erin Krakow most enjoyed about portraying pregnant Elizabeth was the costumes created for her by the gifted When Calls the Heart designers, as she shared in a behind-the-scenes video special. The star also enjoyed the feeling of not being corseted and constricted in her maternity attire, and fans will remember how she devoured a cookie on camera and captured the perfect waddle of a mom with a soon-to-be-born baby, whom everyone wanted to touch. Giving a loving farewell to Florida, Erin had more than just toes in the sand. She shared a view from her reclining pose, wearing considerably less than Elizabeth Thornton could ever conceive, yet still perfectly tasteful. Part of her lovely toes, looking freshly painted, was bathed in sunlight, as Krakow shared her shoreline vista with the caption, See you again soon. Just days ago, the actress affirmed her love for her home state with a photo of the sky against the ocean water line. It's no surprise that she longs for shore from Vancouver. She also loves and respects the devotion from all her dramas followers, and knows plenty of reasons why they will love the new adventures to come. Moving into the future When Calls the Heart set holiday rating records for Christmas with the heart-warming movie treat, according to Deadline, and those calculations bode well for captivating fans throughout Season 6. In an ET Online interview shared per Michigan's WZZM on January 8, Krakow describes the love affair between Elizabeth and baby Jack as both heartwarming and heart-melting, and it's not surprising that she looks forward to coming to work each day because babies are so cute. The star comes by her rapport with children quite naturally, having worked as a nanny, and babysitting for friends and family. Friend and co-star, Lori Loughlin, also insists that Krakow is like a duck to water with children. She has formed unique relationships with each of the young stars who fill Elizabeth Thorntons classroom. As the preview hints, new couples will be making decisive moves in creating their own futures in Hope Valley, and family will remain a prevailing theme, as Kavan Smith declares as Leland Coulter. The arrival of the telephone appears to create even more stir than the new people in town-- marking another huge step into more modern times. No matter how things change, there is always a welcome in Hope Valley, and When Calls the Heart faithful can hardly wait to welcome the new season. It appears "Star Trek 4" will not be happening anytime soon, according to Space.com. Paramount is still trying to recover from the disappointing performance of "Nemesis" in 2002. The cancellation of the TV series "Enterprise" also damaged the sci-fi property. Then J.J. Abrams attempted to breathe new life into the series, ending up with three films. Fans flocked to the rebooted series which followed the travels of the iconic crew, but Abrams decided to throw in some time travel, shifting the story into a new timeline. It was a great way to include original characters including Leonard Nimoy as Spock. However, fan reaction to "Into Darkness" drew criticism. 'Into Darkness' received very little love from fans Fans did not appreciate Abrams remaking "Wrath of Khan." Abrams and his team of writers came under fire for lying that Benedict Cumberbatch's character wasn't Khan. "Beyond," release celebrated the beloved series' 50th anniversary. Despite positive reviews, the film was still a box-office disaster. The future of the franchise has been in limbo with both the sequel and a film from Quentin Tarantino being announced. Star Trek 4 hit a snag when it was confirmed that contract negotiations with Star Trek stars Chris Pine, and Chris Hemsworth were failing. Not much has been said about the movie, but Deadline has reported that S.J. Clarkson moved on from the project. Star Trek 4 lost director and Chris Pine Clarkson was originally tapped to be "Star Trek 4" director last April and would have become the franchise's first female director. The financial disaster of "Beyond" might have convinced Paramount to shelve the project. If Chris Pine had left the franchise, it would have been strange to recast Kirk, while keeping the rest of the cast. Tarantino's project sounds like it's still happening, and it will include the J.J. Abrams cast. Tarantino's expected to start the project after she wraps "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood." Perhaps Paramount has shifted their focus on this new take, instead of producing two sequels at once. A sequel needs to happen at some time, so the original cast can properly give the franchise a sendoff. Trek fans still have "Star Trek: Discovery" which begins its second season, later this month. CBS has recast Spock with Ethan Peck. Peck has said since this is a prequel series, Spock will be more emotional than fans are used to in the original series. 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. The combination of toymaker Mattel and movie studio Warner Bros. will bring the doll Barbie to life on screen and Margot Robbie, the Oscar-nominated actress, will portray the role. Robbie, an Australian actress, will also co-produce the film that will meet the long-pending demand from fans of the iconic doll that made its appearance in 1959. The plot, title or release date of the proposed movie is not known as yet but the decision was taken. As Robbie says - "playing with Barbie promotes confidence, curiosity and communication throughout a child's journey to self-discovery. ABC AU reports Barbie has taken on innumerable roles in its lifetime like a robotics engineer, astronaut, and teacher and is a global figure. A statement from Margot Robbie published by Mattel drops a broad hint about the story. The aim of the movie will be to inspire audiences and focus on the positive aspects of the doll. Margot Robbie as Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll but it has attracted controversy. Some critics have commented on its curves and tiny frame. In their opinion, it presented an unrealistic image for young girls. That, in fact, led to a downward trend in sales in 2014, which prompted California-based Mattel to modify the doll by introducing variety in the range of its products. Margot Robbie, who hails from Queensland, will be in the title role. She is a versatile actress who is in her late 20s. She has impressed in the roles she has acted in. These include Movies like Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and Suicide Squad (2016) and an Academy Award nomination in 2017 for I, Tonya. Margot Robbie is Barbie girl in a Barbie world. https://t.co/QXamzalkxq E! News (@enews) January 8, 2019 Margot set up her own production company in 2014 and her fans will have many expectations from her. In the opinion of Warner Bros' Toby Emmerich, she has the ability to bring Barbie to life on screen in a way that will appeal to the audience of today. Barbie will graduate from animation to real life According to Sky News, the time is ripe for Barbie to move out of the arena of animation and DVDs into real life and the responsibility of making that happen will rest with Margot Robbie. She received accolades for her performance in Mary Queen of Scots and the Barbie movie could add another feather in her cap. Margot Robbie will be starring in a live action Barbie movie, due to be released in 2020. Consider us curious. pic.twitter.com/iZQsj2vf93 Sunday Times Style (@TheSTStyle) January 8, 2019 The debut of the toy was at the American International Toy Fair in New York in 1959 and over the past six decades, it has taught kids to imagine themselves in different characters. Plans for a live-action film on Barbie had been doing the rounds in Hollywood for a long time. There were talks of considering others for the role but they fizzled out. Retired U.S. Army Col. James T. Palmer, commandant of cadets at the University of North Georgia (UNG), who has announced that he will retire from UNG at the end of June, was honored Jan. 7 with a commendation from Gov. Nathan Deal to recognize his years of service to the university, the state of Georgia and the nation. "Whereas Col. James T. Palmer is a proud Georgia citizen who has faithfully served our state and our nation for more than four decades," read the commendation that listed a number of Palmer's accomplishments. " Whereas Col. Palmer is a true example of selfless service and an inspiration to those who know him. He has earned the respect and admiration of his family, friends, colleagues, and fellow Georgia citizens; now, therefore, I, Nathan Deal, Governor of the State of Georgia, do hereby commend Col. James T. Palmer." Palmer's accomplishments and service noted in the commendation include: a 75 percent increase in the size of the Corps of Cadets from 1999 through 2018; founding the Corps Advisory Council and the Corps of Cadets Alumni Network; supporting the deployment of cadets in the Georgia Army National Guard to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004; and serving as interim vice president of student affairs at UNG. "Few others have invested so much of themselves into the success of the Corps of Cadets and this university nor upheld so strongly the values of both, said UNG President Bonita Jacobs. I am thankful to Col. Palmer for his service to the university and his service to the nation during his distinguished military career. His legacy at this university will be long-lasting, and his presence and leadership will be missed. " UNG President Bonita Jacobs, along with UNG administrators and alumni, pose with retired Col. James T. Palmer and Gov. Nathan Deal. Palmer said he was surprised and honored to be recognized for a second career that has been almost as long as his 26-year Army career. With 20 years of service, Palmer is the longest-serving commandant in the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS). "Serving as commandant at the University of North Georgia has been the highlight of my 46-year career and the greatest honor imaginable. The job completely consumed me ask anybody! for 20 years, and I loved it," Palmer said. Palmer said he is most proud of helping to grow the Corps of Cadets in both size and quality during his tenure. But what legacy does he hope to leave? "That I had a small part in developing many highly educated leaders of character," Palmer said. "My friends and colleagues will probably remember that I was always a proponent of academic achievement, that I favored professionalism over tradition, and that I expanded the opportunities for all cadets to serve others after graduation." Palmer graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from then-North Georgia College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and commissioned field artillery. During his Army career, Palmer was stationed at various bases in the United States, Germany and elsewhere. While assigned to V Corps Artillery Headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, in November 1989, Palmer witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the downsizing of the U.S. Army, Europe. His final active duty assignment was chief of Exercises and Training Division for the U.S. Army Central Command, where he was responsible for planning all Army training exercises in the Middle East. Palmer never expected to return to his alma mater after graduation but, in his 25th year in the U.S. Army, he was offered the chance to interview for commandant . "The phone rang in my office at Fort McPherson, and Mike Hyams asked me to come to Dahlonega for an interview. I burned the road up," Palmer said. "During that visit to campus, Hyams, then- Commandant Gerald Lord, and then-President Sherm Day convinced me that I could retire from the Army and serve our military students for a few more years." Palmer admitted that in interviewing for the position, his wife helped him with a resume because he "had no idea what one looked like." He credits her for his success and not just in crafting a resume. "Most importantly, as I approach retirement, I would like to thank my wonderful wife, Judy Palmer, for her support since the day we met on the drill field in the fall of 1972. She is the primary reason for any success I have ever had, and I love her dearly," Palmer said. "In June, when I cease wearing my uniform, I'll still have her. That was the plan, all along." Rainer Kempe Wins the $50,000 Single-Day High Roller for $908,100 January 11 2019 Shirley Ang After finishing in fourth place yesterday in the first $25,000 Single-Day High Roller the day before, Rainer Kempe was now victorious in the 2019 PCA $50,000 Single-Day High Roller, defeating Alex Foxen heads-up and claiming the first-place prize of $908,100 at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Kempe has now cashed for over $1,000,000 over the past two days which is a great start to the year for the well-known and well-liked German High Stakes regular. Kempes cash in this tournament is also his third biggest ever and the biggest ever in a PokerStars event. The tournament, with an unlimited reentry possibility during the first eight levels, attracted 64 entries which included 29 reentries creating a total prize pool of $3,104,640. Nine players would be in the money for a minimum score of $90,040. The star-studded final table also included Stephen Chidwick, Daniel Dvoress, Christoph Vogelsang, Evan Mathis, Steffen Sontheimer, Bill Perkins, and Jason Koon. Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Rainer Kempe Germany $908,100 2 Alex Foxen United States $651,980 3 Stephen Chidwick United Kingdom $423,780 4 Daniel Dvoress United States $319,780 5 Christoph Vogelsang Germany $248,380 6 Evan Mathis United States $192,480 7 Steffen Sontheimer Germany $152,120 8 Bill Perkins United States $117,980 9 Jason Koon United States $90,040 The Day's Action The day started with many familiar faces taking their seats, players like Dominik Nitsche, Joe McKeehen, Timothy Adams, Isaac Haxton, Jean-Noel Thorel, and Nick Petrangelo all jumped in during the first level. Players kept registering and by the time the first break came around, 36 players were already signed up. David Peters was back in action after a late finish in the $25,000 Single-Day High Roller and was eliminated on his first bullet by Ivan Luca when he ran his king-eight, after having flopped top pair, into the pocket rockets of Luca. Peters did better on his second bullet when he took out Benjamin Pollak with only three tables left in the field. But Peters was next to go when he was sent to the rail by Adrian Mateos who had flopped a flush. The eliminations and double-ups kept coming and going. Steve ODwyer, Andras Nemeth, Adams, Christopher Kruk, Nitsche, and Thorel all busted before the final two tables were reached. All sixteen players would go into the dinner break with some of them knowing that something good needed to happen when they returned as they were short. Sontheimer found a double through Foxen, leaving Foxen behind with just under eleven big blinds. Mikita Badziakouski fell to Kempe. Foxen then went on a whirlwind of a ride; he first doubled through Sontheimer, then through Dvoress, and later on, he busted Luca. Chidwick took out Michael Soyza, and Henrik Hecklen busted Chris Hunichen. Chidwick halted Hecklen, and hand-for-hand play would commence with eleven players left. PokerStars Team Pro Igor Kurganov put his last eight big blinds in with pocket fours and was called by Vogelsang who held ace-nine and rivered a wheel to send the Team Pro packing. Mateos would eventually end up bubbling when he shoved nine big blinds with ace-nine and was called by Sontheimer who held pocket aces. The final table started with three players with fewer than ten big blinds and Vogelsang and Foxen with around half of all the chips in play. The all-ins and calls kept flying around with Mathis, Sontheimer, and Dvoress all doubling in the first thirty minutes of the final table. Koon would be the first to go when he shoved with aces on the eight-trey-ten flop and was called by Vogelsang who held pocket jacks. The jack on the turn dealt Koon a huge blow which he couldnt recover from. Perkins packed his bags next when his queen-nine couldnt beat Foxens ace-nine. Sontheimer stepped out with ace-seven against Foxens ace-six as Foxen flopped a pair of sixes. Mathis had two pair with eight-seven on the seven-ace-eight (all clubs) flop, and four-bet shoved against Foxen. Unfortunately for him, Foxen had the flush, and no help came for Mathis on the turn or river. Vogelsang had lost a big pot to Foxen who seemed unstoppable, then doubled up Dvoress, and was left with under a single big blind. He got it in with ace-jack, but Foxens seven-trey managed to find a seven on the flop to take Vogelsang out in fifth place. Kempe was down to only four big blinds when he found a double through Foxen with pocket eights and through Dvoress with ace-nine. Chidwick doubled shortly after with aces through Foxen before Dvoress was done in by Foxen. Dvoress had pocket sevens, but Foxen managed to flop two pair with king-six. Chidwick took over the chip lead when he rivered a flush against Foxen, but most of those chips were sent Kempes way when the latter doubled up again with pocket eights. Chidwick was sent to the payout desk for his third-place cash when he ran his ace-queen into the ace-seven of Kempe who managed to flop two pair. Only ten minutes later, the tournament was over when Kempe three-bet-shoved with pocket fours and was called by Foxen with ace-queen. Not much danger on the board and after counting out both of their stacks, Kempe had Foxen covered by 80,000 and could claim the win! Kempes rail all congratulated him for his comeback and celebrated quietly with him. After finishing in fourth place yesterday in the first $25,000 Single-Day High Roller the day before, Rainer Kempe was now victorious in the 2019 PCA $50,000 Single-Day High Roller, defeating Alex Foxen heads-up and claiming the first-place prize of $908,100 at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Kempe has now cashed for over $1,000,000 over the past two days which is a great start to the year for the well-known and well-liked German High Stakes regular. Kempes cash in this tournament is also his third biggest ever and the biggest ever in a PokerStars event. The tournament, with an unlimited reentry possibility during the first eight levels, attracted 64 entries which included 29 reentries creating a total prize pool of $3,104,640. Nine players would be in the money for a minimum score of $90,040. The star-studded final table also included Stephen Chidwick, Daniel Dvoress, Christoph Vogelsang, Evan Mathis, Steffen Sontheimer, Bill Perkins, and Jason Koon. Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Rainer Kempe Germany $908,100 2 Alex Foxen United States $651,980 3 Stephen Chidwick United Kingdom $423,780 4 Daniel Dvoress United States $319,780 5 Christoph Vogelsang Germany $248,380 6 Evan Mathis United States $192,480 7 Steffen Sontheimer Germany $152,120 8 Bill Perkins United States $117,980 9 Jason Koon United States $90,040 The Day's Action The day started with many familiar faces taking their seats, players like Dominik Nitsche, Joe McKeehen, Timothy Adams, Isaac Haxton, Jean-Noel Thorel, and Nick Petrangelo all jumped in during the first level. Players kept registering and by the time the first break came around, 36 players were already signed up. David Peters was back in action after a late finish in the $25,000 Single-Day High Roller and was eliminated on his first bullet by Ivan Luca when he ran his king-eight, after having flopped top pair, into the pocket rockets of Luca. Peters did better on his second bullet when he took out Benjamin Pollak with only three tables left in the field. But Peters was next to go when he was sent to the rail by Adrian Mateos who had flopped a flush. The eliminations and double-ups kept coming and going. Steve ODwyer, Andras Nemeth, Adams, Christopher Kruk, Nitsche, and Thorel all busted before the final two tables were reached. All sixteen players would go into the dinner break with some of them knowing that something good needed to happen when they returned as they were short. Sontheimer found a double through Foxen, leaving Foxen behind with just under eleven big blinds. Mikita Badziakouski fell to Kempe. Foxen then went on a whirlwind of a ride; he first doubled through Sontheimer, then through Dvoress, and later on, he busted Luca. Chidwick took out Michael Soyza, and Henrik Hecklen busted Chris Hunichen. Chidwick halted Hecklen, and hand-for-hand play would commence with eleven players left. PokerStars Team Pro Igor Kurganov put his last eight big blinds in with pocket fours and was called by Vogelsang who held ace-nine and rivered a wheel to send the Team Pro packing. Mateos would eventually end up bubbling when he shoved nine big blinds with ace-nine and was called by Sontheimer who held pocket aces. The final table started with three players with fewer than ten big blinds and Vogelsang and Foxen with around half of all the chips in play. The all-ins and calls kept flying around with Mathis, Sontheimer, and Dvoress all doubling in the first thirty minutes of the final table. Koon would be the first to go when he shoved with aces on the eight-trey-ten flop and was called by Vogelsang who held pocket jacks. The jack on the turn dealt Koon a huge blow which he couldnt recover from. Perkins packed his bags next when his queen-nine couldnt beat Foxens ace-nine. Sontheimer stepped out with ace-seven against Foxens ace-six as Foxen flopped a pair of sixes. Mathis had two pair with eight-seven on the seven-ace-eight (all clubs) flop, and four-bet shoved against Foxen. Unfortunately for him, Foxen had the flush, and no help came for Mathis on the turn or river. Vogelsang had lost a big pot to Foxen who seemed unstoppable, then doubled up Dvoress, and was left with under a single big blind. He got it in with ace-jack, but Foxens seven-trey managed to find a seven on the flop to take Vogelsang out in fifth place. Kempe was down to only four big blinds when he found a double through Foxen with pocket eights and through Dvoress with ace-nine. Chidwick doubled shortly after with aces through Foxen before Dvoress was done in by Foxen. Dvoress had pocket sevens, but Foxen managed to flop two pair with king-six. Chidwick took over the chip lead when he rivered a flush against Foxen, but most of those chips were sent Kempes way when the latter doubled up again with pocket eights. Chidwick was sent to the payout desk for his third-place cash when he ran his ace-queen into the ace-seven of Kempe who managed to flop two pair. Only ten minutes later, the tournament was over when Kempe three-bet-shoved with pocket fours and was called by Foxen with ace-queen. Not much danger on the board and after counting out both of their stacks, Kempe had Foxen covered by 80,000 and could claim the win! Kempes rail all congratulated him for his comeback and celebrated quietly with him. him. Kempe and Foxen are expected to return to the felt today, Thursday, January 10, to play in the $100,000 PCA Super High Roller and the PokerNews live reporting team will be on hand to bring you all the action throughout the PCA! The Stars Group owns a majority share in iBus Media. By Chris Prentice and Yawen Chen WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. officials expect China's top trade negotiator may visit Washington this month, signalling that higher-level discussions are likely to follow this week's talks with mid-level officials in Beijing as the world's two largest economies try to hammer out a deal to end a tit-for-tat tariff war. "The current intent is that the Vice Premier Liu He will most likely come and visit us later in the month and I would expect the government shutdown would have no impact," U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters on Thursday in Washington. "We will continue with those meetings just as we sent a delegation to China." The U.S. government is in the 20th day of a partial shutdown with President Donald Trump, a Republican, and congressional Democrats feuding over funding and Trump's desire for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. People familiar with the talks in Beijing said on Thursday that hopes were mounting that Liu would continue talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Mnuchin. Talks at that level are viewed as important for making the key decisions to ease a festering trade war, which has disrupted trade flows for hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods and roiled global markets. Trump has demanded better terms of trade with China, with the United States pressing Beijing to address issues that would require structural change such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers and other non-tariff barriers. Trump on Thursday said the United States was having "tremendous success" in its trade negotiations with China. A spokeswoman for Lighthizer's office declined to comment. More than halfway through a 90-day truce in the U.S.-China trade war agreed on Dec. 1 when Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the G20 summit in Argentina, there have been few details provided of any progress made. Story continues Trump has vowed to increase tariffs on $200 billion (157 billion pounds) worth of Chinese imports on March 2 if China fails to take steps to protect U.S. intellectual property, end policies that force American companies to turn over technology to a Chinese partner, allow more market access for U.S. businesses and reduce other non-tariff barriers to American products. The timeline is seen as ambitious, but the resumption of face-to-face negotiations has bolstered hopes of a deal. "We have the two sides back at the table. Thats encouraging," said Myron Brilliant, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's head of international affairs, while speaking to reporters at an event on Thursday. China's commerce ministry said on Thursday that additional consultations with the United States were being arranged after the Beijing talks addressed structural issues and helped establish a foundation to resolve U.S. and Chinese concerns. Commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng told reporters the two sides were "serious" and "honest." Asked about China's stance on issues such as forced technology transfers, intellectual property rights, non-tariff barriers and cyber attacks, and whether China was confident it could reach agreement with the United States, Gao said these issues were "an important part" of the Beijing talks. "There has been progress in these areas," he said without elaborating. China has repeatedly played down complaints about intellectual property abuses, and has rejected accusations that foreign companies face forced technology transfers. 'CORDIAL STANDOFF' Discussions on those issues were an extensive part of the talks, said people in Washington familiar with the discussions. Chinese officials listened "politely" to U.S. grievances, they said, but responded by saying that the Americans had some issues wrong and misunderstood others, but that some other issues could be addressed. "It was a cordial standoff," said one person familiar with the discussions. China has said it will not give ground on issues that it perceives as core. On Wednesday, the U.S. Trade Representative's office said officials from the two sides discussed "ways to achieve fairness, reciprocity and balance in trade relations," and focused on China's pledge to buy a substantial amount of agricultural, energy, manufactured, and other products and services from the United States." The U.S. trade agency said the talks also focused on ways to ensure enforcement and verification of Chinese follow-through on any commitments it makes to the United States. STEPS TAKEN U.S. and Chinese officials made more progress on straightforward issues such as working out the details of Chinese pledges to buy a "substantial amount" of U.S. agricultural, energy and manufactured goods and services, sources said. Since the Trump-Xi meeting, China has resumed purchases of U.S. soybeans. Buying had slumped after China imposed a 25 percent import duty on U.S. shipments of the oilseed on July 6 in response to U.S. tariffs. China has also cut tariffs on U.S. cars, dialled back on an industrial development plan known as "Made in China 2025" and told its state refiners to buy more U.S. oil. Earlier this week, China approved five genetically modified crops for import, the first in about 18 months, which could boost its overseas grains purchases and ease U.S. pressure to open its markets to more farm goods. (Reporting by Chris Prentice Yawen Chen; Additional reporting by David Lawder and Alexandra Alper in Washington; Martin Pollard in Beijing and John Ruwitch and Josh Horwitz in Shanghai; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool) When snake catchers Tony and Brooke Harrison arrived to a property on the Australian Gold Coast on Thursday and found a skin-crawling number of ticks latched onto to a reptile they were truly shocked. The carpet python had been soaking in a pool at a Coolangatta home when the pair arrived, and they believe it was trying to drown the parasites. While some had successfully come off the snake, now affectionately named Nike, in the water, hundreds remained. This poor carpet python was living with a whopping 511 ticks.Wow, a post on the Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher Facebook page read. The reptile had a shocking number of ticks covering its body. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/ Facebook Nike was taken to the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital on Thursday where vets worked for hours to remove the visible parasites. There are still tiny young ones under the scales that will be treated with drugs to kill them, the Facebook post also said. There were more than 500 ticks on the snake. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/ Facebook Social media users were gobsmacked by the images and video of the reptile which were shared on Thursday, with many calling it an insane amount of parasites on the snake. OMG! Thats a huge tick infestation poor python carrying that load so glad it was found, hoping it will be in recovery mode soon, one person wrote. Thank you for giving him care and doing your best to restore his health, another person commented. Vets at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital worked for hours to remove the parasites on Thursday. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/ Facebook The snake catchers responded to one Facebook user saying they believe the parasites targeted the reptiles head due to blood flow. They also replied to another person that snakes deal with it better compared with other animals, but said on Thursday the ticks could have killed the python if it wasnt discovered. Yahoo7 has attempted to reach out to the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital for an update on the snakes condition, but is yet to receive a response. The snake catchers shared this image on Friday morning with the caption, Another gross photo of those ticks ewww now my skin is crawling. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/Facebook Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK [January 10, 2019] What's Big This Year in Telecom? Vote Now! TMCnet and Andy Abramson and his company Comunicano are asking in the first annual VoIPWatch Poll.. The results will be revealed at this years ITEXPO in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, January 31 at 4:15 pm prior to the start of the always interesting IDEA Showcase. For years Andy and his Comunicano team have been at the forefront of driving companies in the telecom industry to success. TMCnet and ITExpo have always been where the telecom, collaboration and communications infrastructure companies meet. VoIPWatch, as one of the first, and now longest running blogs covering our industry, has always been where the community finds unfettered, and unfiltered insight, perspective and opinion. TMCnet is where the tech community discovers whats new, whats happening and goes to gather. Thats why weve teamed up and are asking the community, whats going to be the hot category in telecom in 2019. UCaaS CPaaS WebRTC In App Communications Collaboration-Video Collaboration-Audio Collaboration-Messaging Contact Centers Voting closes at midnight Eastern time on January 25th 2019! br /> Tags: call center, collaboration, conferencing, contact center, cpaas, itexpo, paas, uc, ucaas, ucoms, video, webrtc Related tags: collaboration, telecom, always, tmcnet, community AireSpring Going The Extra Mile For Customers - Apr 27, 2018 Stack8: Achieving the Promise of UC and UCaaS - Sep 21, 2018 ZiipRoom Intros Must-Have Videoconferencing Solution - Jun 05, 2018 Martello Offers Unique SD-WAN Solutions - May 17, 2018 New VTech Devices Bring SIP and Key System Functionality to Business - May 14, 2018 Jenne Becomes Leading UCaaS Value-Added Distributor - May 08, 2018 With Yeastar, Becoming a Telecom MSP is a Massive Arbitrage Opportunity - May 04, 2018 3CX Aims to be Top 3 in UC Software - May 03, 2018 A Saudi teenager who fled her homeland for Thailand to escape her "abusive" family is on a flight to Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has confirmed he has granted asylum to the 18-year-old, adding that he is "pleased". His comments came shortly after Thailand's immigration chief said Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun would be leaving the country. The teenager, who is flying from Bangkok to Seoul before taking a connecting flight to Canada, was given refugee status by the UN high commissioner for refugees on Wednesday. Miss Alqunun earlier responded to the news she would be headed to Canada by tweeting a photo of herself with a Snapchat filter and the caption: "Hey... I'm happy." Earlier on Friday, several countries - including Canada and Australia - were in talks with the UN's refugee agency to accept Miss Alqunun, who fears being killed by her relatives if she returns to Saudi Arabia. The woman, who said her passport was seized after being stopped at an airport in Bangkok on Saturday, had barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and launched a social media campaign, drawing attention from around the world. She was on her way to Australia when she was stopped by Thai authorities. Her father and brother arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday with the intention of seeing her - but Thai police said she refused to meet them. Several Saudi women fleeing abuse by their families have tried to seek asylum abroad in recent years but have been sent back home. Human rights campaigners say many similar cases have gone unreported. The teenager had written on her Twitter account, which now appears to have been taken down, that she wished to seek refuge in Australia. Feminist author Mona Eltahawy, who has been tweeting about the case under the #SaveRahaf hashtag, said the teenager would be back online soon. "I have heard from people in touch with Rahaf and she is safe and fine and will be back online soon," she wrote. "I know there is a lot of love all over the world for her and you can all tell her that when she's back online. #SaveRahaf." By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday Japan's political leaders should not undermine bilateral ties by "politicising" the issue of South Koreans forced to work by Japanese companies during World War Two. Relations between the two East Asian neighbours have been frosty since South Korea's top court ruled in October that Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp should compensate four former labourers. Japan subsequently claimed that a South Korean warship had locked its radar on a Japanese patrol plane. On Wednesday, Tokyo demanded diplomatic consultations with Seoul after a South Korean court approved the seizure of part of the domestic assets of the Japanese steelmaker, calling the move "extremely regrettable". Moon called for the Japanese government to foster a "more humble attitude" towards wartime issues and to respect judicial decisions, in which he said his administration could not exert any influence. "We've been saying we should continue diplomatic discussions on the issue and should not hurt our forward-looking relationship with Japan," Moon told a news conference. "I don't think it is wise for Japanese politicians and leader to continue to politicise it, making sources of controversy and spreading them," he said. South Korea and Japan share a bitter history that includes Japan's 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula, the forced mobilisation of labour at Japanese companies and the use of comfort women, Japan's euphemism for girls and women, many of them Korean, forced to work in its wartime brothels. Those issues have not been resolved by a 1965 treaty that normalised relations, Moon said, and the two countries should try to find ways to heal the wounds of victims. (Reporting by Joyce Lee and Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Jeongmin Kim; Editing by Paul Tait) Two Muslim organisations in France have launched projects to create "inclusive" mosques: spaces where women and men can pray together, and where female imams would be able to lead Friday ... Kahina Bahloul conducts her prayers at home, in her living room. She decided to stop going to the mosque five years ago after she was refused access to the main prayer room. "I went to the mosque with a group of male and female friends. It was a religious festival commemorating the birth of the Prophet, so it was very important," she tells RFI. "The men were told to go in, but we women were told cross the road and youll find a room. It was a garage in fact. So there I was in this garage. The sound system was terrible and the atmosphere was not at all spiritual. Women were cooking and kids were playing. I was extremely disappointed, shocked even." Bahloul says the separation of men and women in the main prayer does not make sense. "We're together everywhere in everyday life, and then suddenly, when it's prayer time, you can't even look at one another. It's as if we've been reduced to sexual objects and nothing else." A need for an inclusive space Bahloul has a doctorate in Islamic studies and is of the more mystical branch of Islam known as Sufism. Following the terror attacks in November 2015 she founded a discussion group and forum, Parle moi d'Islam (talk to me about Islam). Along with philosohy professor Faker Korchane, she has now set up an association with the aim of opening Fatima mosque, an "inclusive modern space where men and women can pray together. "The mosque will welcome men and women in the same room, women on one side, men on the other, but both on the same level," she explained. Bahloul does not wear a veil and does not believe the Koran imposes it, so there will be no dress code. The other crucial feature is that a woman imam will lead Friday prayers every other week. France's female imam Bahloul would like to be the first woman in France to lead Friday prayers, but recognises that even though France has Europe's largest Muslim population (estimated between four to five million people), she is swimming against a very conservative tide. "Its surprising that in France, considering theres such a large Muslim community, that theres also a deeply conservative tradition," she said. "The traditional currents such as Salafism and the Muslim brotherhood have a strong presence. "Some schools of Islamic jurisprudence like the Maliki school the most common in the Maghreb forbid women imams entirely. Other schools accept women imams, but theyre allowed to hold prayers only in front of women, or theres a physical separation in the hall so you cant see the women imam." New readings of the Koran Eva Janadin is another French muslim woman with big hopes of creating a place embodying the reformist current of Islam. Along with Anne-Sophie Monsinay, she plans to open the Simorgh Mosque, also mixed, with female imams and an open dress code. Prayers would be in French. "We would like to use the critical-historical discourse around Islam which has developed within universities," she tells RFI. "To try and make it more accessible to a wider public and bring it into the religious domain. "In other words we want to draw concrete lessons on how you can lead a spiritual life in todays world, following all the new readings of the Koran, new religious concepts and so on." Both groups are looking for funds and premises for the mosques which would, ideally, be in the French capital. Other attempts in Europe There is some support for women imams in Britain and Spain, but so far Germany and Denmark are the only European countries that have more progressive mosques where women and men can pray side by side. The Mariam mosque, which opened in Copenhagen in early 2016, welcomes worshippers of both sexes; Friday prayers are reserved for women. Berlin's Ibn Rushd-Goethe 'liberal' mosque opened in June 2017. Prayers are held in German in a building belonging to the Protestant community. Despite positive media coverage, its female imam, Seyran Ates, a well-known lawyer and human rights militant says she has suffered ongoing threats and lives under police protection. Two Muslim organisations in France have launched projects to create "inclusive" mosques: spaces where women and men can pray together, and where female imams would be able to lead Friday ... Kahina Bahloul conducts her prayers at home, in her living room. She decided to stop going to the mosque five years ago after she was refused access to the main prayer room. "I went to the mosque with a group of male and female friends. It was a religious festival commemorating the birth of the Prophet, so it was very important," she tells RFI. "The men were told to go in, but we women were told cross the road and youll find a room. It was a garage in fact. So there I was in this garage. The sound system was terrible and the atmosphere was not at all spiritual. Women were cooking and kids were playing. I was extremely disappointed, shocked even." Bahloul says the separation of men and women in the main prayer does not make sense. "We're together everywhere in everyday life, and then suddenly, when it's prayer time, you can't even look at one another. It's as if we've been reduced to sexual objects and nothing else." A need for an inclusive space Bahloul has a doctorate in Islamic studies and is of the more mystical branch of Islam known as Sufism. Following the terror attacks in November 2015 she founded a discussion group and forum, Parle moi d'Islam (talk to me about Islam). Along with philosohy professor Faker Korchane, she has now set up an association with the aim of opening Fatima mosque, an "inclusive modern space where men and women can pray together. "The mosque will welcome men and women in the same room, women on one side, men on the other, but both on the same level," she explained. Bahloul does not wear a veil and does not believe the Koran imposes it, so there will be no dress code. The other crucial feature is that a woman imam will lead Friday prayers every other week. Story continues France's female imam Bahloul would like to be the first woman in France to lead Friday prayers, but recognises that even though France has Europe's largest Muslim population (estimated between four to five million people), she is swimming against a very conservative tide. "Its surprising that in France, considering theres such a large Muslim community, that theres also a deeply conservative tradition," she said. "The traditional currents such as Salafism and the Muslim brotherhood have a strong presence. "Some schools of Islamic jurisprudence like the Maliki school the most common in the Maghreb forbid women imams entirely. Other schools accept women imams, but theyre allowed to hold prayers only in front of women, or theres a physical separation in the hall so you cant see the women imam." New readings of the Koran Eva Janadin is another French muslim woman with big hopes of creating a place embodying the reformist current of Islam. Along with Anne-Sophie Monsinay, she plans to open the Simorgh Mosque, also mixed, with female imams and an open dress code. Prayers would be in French. "We would like to use the critical-historical discourse around Islam which has developed within universities," she tells RFI. "To try and make it more accessible to a wider public and bring it into the religious domain. "In other words we want to draw concrete lessons on how you can lead a spiritual life in todays world, following all the new readings of the Koran, new religious concepts and so on." Both groups are looking for funds and premises for the mosques which would, ideally, be in the French capital. Other attempts in Europe There is some support for women imams in Britain and Spain, but so far Germany and Denmark are the only European countries that have more progressive mosques where women and men can pray side by side. The Mariam mosque, which opened in Copenhagen in early 2016, welcomes worshippers of both sexes; Friday prayers are reserved for women. Berlin's Ibn Rushd-Goethe 'liberal' mosque opened in June 2017. Prayers are held in German in a building belonging to the Protestant community. Despite positive media coverage, its female imam, Seyran Ates, a well-known lawyer and human rights militant says she has suffered ongoing threats and lives under police protection. Air France said it will suspend direct flights to Riyadh in Arabia Saudi Arabia, as of 1 February, due to the routes poor economic performance.In a statement, company, a subsidiary of Air ... "Due to the economic performance and in view of the cooperation with Saudi Arabian Airlines on this route, the Air France-operated flights will be suspended," Air France said. On 9 January, Air France-KLM, the mother company, said that it, for the first time ever, transported more than 100 million passengers during 2018. A total of 101ccc 447.000 passengers traveled with one of the three subsidiaries Air France, KLM or Hop! In December, the Latin American operations performed best, with a traffic increase of 10.7 %, while Middle East connections went down with -1.1%. Best performers over the whole year were again the Latin American routes (3,45 million passengers in 2018 against 3,17 million in 2017, an increase of 8.7%); Caribbean/Indian Ocean flights (3,73 million passengers in 2018 against 3,71 million passengers, an increase of 0,5%) was the slowest grower. Traffic on Middle East flights increased by some 1,6%. In spite of the growing numbers, the company estimates it suffered some 300 million Euro in losses as a result of strikes in the spring. In August, Air France stopped its flights to Tehran after US president Donald Trump unilaterally walked away from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or nuclear deal that was made between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations and Germany that lifted part of the sanctions that were imposed as a retaliation against Irans suspected uranium enrichment program. Earlier last year, Air France said it would suspend the Tehran route also because of poor economic performance. Air France said it will suspend direct flights to Riyadh in Arabia Saudi Arabia, as of 1 February, due to the routes poor economic performance.In a statement, company, a subsidiary of Air ... "Due to the economic performance and in view of the cooperation with Saudi Arabian Airlines on this route, the Air France-operated flights will be suspended," Air France said. On 9 January, Air France-KLM, the mother company, said that it, for the first time ever, transported more than 100 million passengers during 2018. A total of 101ccc 447.000 passengers traveled with one of the three subsidiaries Air France, KLM or Hop! In December, the Latin American operations performed best, with a traffic increase of 10.7 %, while Middle East connections went down with -1.1%. Best performers over the whole year were again the Latin American routes (3,45 million passengers in 2018 against 3,17 million in 2017, an increase of 8.7%); Caribbean/Indian Ocean flights (3,73 million passengers in 2018 against 3,71 million passengers, an increase of 0,5%) was the slowest grower. Traffic on Middle East flights increased by some 1,6%. In spite of the growing numbers, the company estimates it suffered some 300 million Euro in losses as a result of strikes in the spring. In August, Air France stopped its flights to Tehran after US president Donald Trump unilaterally walked away from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or nuclear deal that was made between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations and Germany that lifted part of the sanctions that were imposed as a retaliation against Irans suspected uranium enrichment program. Earlier last year, Air France said it would suspend the Tehran route also because of poor economic performance. Youre finally ready to build a smart home and purchase a Ring security camera. But maybe slow your roll, because according to a new report, at least in the past, it may not have been that smart or secure. So reports The Intercept, which notes that in 2016 Ring allowed a Ukrainian team of engineers "virtually unfettered access" to all Ring customers' unencrypted video streams. And yes, that means the streams both outside, and inside, their homes. SEE ALSO: The secret workforce that does the tedious work of the online economy This access was reportedly granted because the AI needed help distinguishing between things like cars and people. And so, to help train the AI, The Intercept reports that Ring Labs hired "Data Operators" to watch and tag objects in customer video feeds. A similar job posting, below, is still live as of the time of this writing. "We are looking for a Data Operator who will be responsible for labeling the objects on the videos," reads the listing. "You must be able to recognize and tag all moving objects in the video correctly with high accuracy." Fancy some work? Image: screenshot / ring We reached out to Ring with a host of questions regarding claims that the Ukraine team practically had unlimited access to all Ring customer videos in an unencrypted format, and that some customers' videos are still being shown to workers for purposes of AI training, but received no response as of press time. This wouldn't, however, be the first time a company used human workers to accomplish what a customer might reasonably assume to be an automated task. In late 2017, it was revealed that expense management software company Expensify had been employing so-called mechanical turks to label and tag some submitted customer receipts. For example, say you submitted a ride-share receipt to your job for reimbursement via Expensify and selected the "SmartScan" option. This feature would input all the receipt details for you, but unbeknownst to you, what often happened was your receipt and if it was an Uber of Lyft receipt, this likely included your name as well as your pickup and drop-off location was shown to a person on the Mechanical Turk jobs platform. In other words, a real human paid minute amounts of money saw that receipt. Story continues The Mechanical Turk platform is owned by Amazon. Amazon purchased Ring in 2018. And what does Ring have to say about all of this? While we didn't hear back from the company, a Ring spokesperson told The Intercept that the videos currently being reviewed by humans are "sourced exclusively from publicly shared Ring videos from the Neighbors app (in accordance with our terms of service), and from a small fraction of Ring users who have provided their explicit written consent to allow us to access and utilize their videos for such purposes." So, if you already own a Ring, maybe it's time you go on a deep dive into your settings to determine exactly what you've allowed the company to see. Valentin Stalf, founder and chief executive of N26. Photo: Eoin Noonan/Sportsfile via Getty Online bank N26 has become Germanys newest unicorn after raising 260m ($300m) in latest funding round, which values it at 2.3bn. It now plans to launch its mobile-banking app in the US. The latest investmentcoming 10 months after it raised 140mmakes the Berlin-based startup the most valuable private fintech firm in Europe. N26s investors include Peter Thiels Valar Ventures, Chinas Tencent, and German insurance giant Allianz. The latest round of funding was led by private equity firm Insight Venture Partners, with Singapores GIC sovereign fund. N26, which completed its fourth year this month, says over 2 million people use its mobile-banking app across 24 countries in Europe. The company, with 700 staff in Berlin, Barcelona, and New York, plans to use its new investment to launch in the US market this year, and is eyeing four to six global markets beyond the US and EU after that. CEO and co-founder Valentin Stalf told TechCrunch that the success of the latest funding round was down to growth and profitability. Weve more than tripled the number of customers in the last year, Stalf said. Globally, I think were the fastest growing mobile bank on the market now. He added that N26 was profitable on a profit-per-customer basis. Bloomberg reported this week that German fintech firms pulled in a record 1.3bn in investments for the first time ever in 2018. Payment-software company Wirecard, one of the countrys fintech stars, muscled its way onto the DAX 30 index in September, pushing Commerzbank out of the blue chip index. FILE PHOTO: Chinese Finance Minister Liu Kun speaks during an interview with Reuters at the Ministry of Finance in Beijing, China August 23, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee BEIJING (Reuters) - China will cut company taxes and fees further this year to support economic growth, Finance Minister Liu Kun told state television in an interview aired on Friday. Chinese officials have pledged more aggressive reductions in 2019, after cutting about 1.3 trillion yuan (150.3 billion)in taxes and fees last year. "We will step up new tax and fee cuts this year on the basis (of last year) to lower companies' burden, stimulate vitality of firms and promote economic growth," Liu said, adding that value-added tax (VAT) would be reformed. Policy insiders expect the government to cut VAT, which ranges from 6 percent for the services sector and 16 percent for manufacturers. Tax cuts for small and private firms from Jan. 9 will lower their costs by 200 billion yuan a year, he said. Liu also said the government was studying a plan to lower social security fees to reduce the burden on small companies. He said China's proactive fiscal policy would send a clear signal to companies. (Reporting by Kevin Yao and Min Zhang; Writing by Se Young Lee; Editing by Nick Macfie) Leaving: A map of Europe. Photo: GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images Belgiums economy is the most exposed to Brexit within the EU, while Irelands exports could take the biggest hit of any European country. Figures compiled by Japanese investment bank Nomura show that Belgiums economy is the most reliant on trade with the UK, with around 8% of Belgian GDP dependant on trade with Britain. Thats the highest level within the EU27. Belgium exports over 30bn of goods to the UK, which is Belgiums fourth largest export market. It sells things like textiles, vehicles, chemicals, and food and beverages to the UK. Belgiums finance minister has previously called for a quick trade deal with the UK post-Brexit to protect thousands of jobs in the country. When trade is looked at purely in terms of exports, Ireland is the most exposed. Around 13% of all Irish exports end up in Britain. The Netherlands also has a large reliance on the UK for exports and GDP. In a major research note sent to clients on Tuesday, titled Brexit Guide 2019, Nomura looked at how Brexit might effect the EU. As part of this, the bank mapped out which countries within the EU are most reliant on trade with the UK. Heres Nomuras chart: Degrees of exposure: The EU economies most at risk from Brexit. Photo: Nomura Brexit would likely have a negative economic effect on these trading relationships, Nomura said, to the detriment of both the UK and EU member states. In the event of a hard Brexit the UK would almost certainly apply a tariff schedule to imports from the EU that looks similar to the EUs external tariffs, Nomuras chief UK economist George Buckley and team wrote. Together with a lower sterling that would adversely affect EU export growth to the UK particularly for important trading partners like Germany (think autos), France, the Netherlands and Ireland. Even if the EU and UK agreed zero tariffs, should the UK leave the EUs customs union free movement would be severely curtailed. Nomura said the impact of any trading slowdown between Britain and the EU would likely be felt more keenly in Britain as the Brexit effect will be more dissipated among the remaining EU27 and more concentrated in the UK. 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If you continue browsing by accessing another area of the site or selecting, for example, an image or a link, you express your consent to the use of cookies and other profiling technologies used by the site. Season 5 of Im A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here begins on 10 tomorrow. Julia Morris & Dr. Chris Brown return to host the ITV Studios Australia series in South Africa. 10 has so far former Goggleboxers Angie Kent and Yvie Jones as the first 2 participants (both of whom will be critiqued by their ex-cast mates. Angie said: I am a massive fan of watching celebrities do absurd things in the jungle but I never thought I would be one of those people doing it. I cannot wait to get up close and personal with Lady JMO and Dr Chris! Yvie said: I cannot believe we have spent four seasons watching, laughing and commentating on this show from inside our living room and now we will be the ones being laughed at! The latest contestant clue is a sexy reality star is single and definitely ready to mingleNo stranger to dating shows, will this singleton strike up a jungle romance? They join the ex-Goggleboxers plus a newsreader, a TV host, TV presenter, comedian, famous foodie, a gossip guru, two controversial politicians and a footy legend. This year there is a format twist coming, rumoured to involve Immunity Challenges. Scott Tweedie also extends his jungle web videos to a new 7pm Saturday night edition, Saturday Schoolies involving various games. The action kicks off Live 7:30pm Sunday on 10. Update: As rumoured Sam Dastyari, Jacqui Lambie, Richard Reid & Dermott Brereton are also confirmed. Related Actor Craig McLachlan has been charged with assault and sex offences by Victoria Police. Police confirmed that sex crime detectives charged a 53-year-old NSW man with one count of common law assault, eight counts of indecent assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault. Victoria Police said: We are receiving a large number of enquiries about a man who has been charged by Victoria Police with sexual assault offences. McLachlan was charged on summons to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on February 8, just 4 days after his defamation trial is due to begin in the NSW Supreme Court. McLachlan is currently suing the ABC, (Nine-owned) Sydney Morning Herald and actress Christie Whelan Browne following allegations made a year ago surrounding The Rocky Horror Show stage musical in 2014. He was cleared of an internal investigation by December Media of any incidents on the fifth season of The Doctor Blake Mysteries. Producers acknowledged a sexual, lewd, bawdy, Benny-Hill-esque and crude workplace culture but cleared McLachlan of direct allegations. The saga led to Seven reworking The Doctor Blake Mysteries as The Blake Mysteries without its leading man. Diehard fans of McLachlan have campaigned on social media for his return to the title role but Seven is no longer proceeding with either. McLachlans management said he is innocent of all charges and will vigorously defend them. Source: ABC Related Police in northern Vietnam announced on Friday the seizure of two young moon bears, also known as Asian black bears, during an attempted sale of the animals the previous the day. The cubs were found being illegally put up for sale in Hai Phong, a port city about 90 kilometers east of Hanoi. Following the rescue, the animals were tended to by members of international animal welfare charity FOUR PAWS. The animals were then transported to a bear sanctuary in neighboring Ninh Binh Province. The two moon bears cubs found in the Vietnamese province of Hai Phong on January 9, 2019. Photo: Education for Nature Vietnam. One of the two moon bears cubs found in the Vietnamese province of Hai Phong on January 9, 2019. Photo: Education for Nature Vietnam Both bears are two to three weeks old and are in relatively good health, according to Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung, deputy head of nongovernmental organization Education for Nature Vietnam. Dung said bears are on the list of threatened species that receive prioritized protection in Vietnam, where the hunting, capturing, killing, transportation and trading of bears are criminal offences. The sale of the two moon bear cubs may lead to a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Bears are often sold and kept at farms in Vietnam for the extraction of bile, a substance common in local folk medicine. The Vietnamese government is trying to shut down all of the countrys bear bile farms and relocate the bears to sanctuaries by 2020. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A 20-meter stretch of garbage along National Highway No.32 in Phuc Tho District, Hanoi has become a popular dump site for local residents and businesses looking for an easy spot to drop their household and industrial waste. Cloth, adhesive tape, paper, vegetables, animal bones, rotten eggs, and half-eaten fruit leftover from local markets, food stalls, households, and factories are piled high along the highway in Phuc Thos Phung Thuong Commune. The situation has gotten so bad that several motorcyclists have gotten into accidents while trying to navigate through the rubbish scattered throughout the road. To make matters worse, rainy weather over the past few days has caused the garbage to begin decomposing and blanketed the area in the foul stench of rotting waste. A woman dumps trash on a street in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre Many people leave dump their garbage here when its dark out or in the early morning hours, so its hard to catch them, said Can Thi Hoa, a local woman. Authorities attribute the issue to the fact that the area used to be a transit point for the communes garbage, meaning local residents were actually expected to leave their waste along the highway. When the local government changed the policy in a bid to improve sanitary conditions, many local residents chose to stick to their habits. Son Tay Urban and Environment JSC is currently the contractor charged with collecting trash directly from the residents and transferring it to garbage trucks so it can be brought to a landfill. A long stretch of illegally dumped garbage is seen in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A Vietnam-based Japanese engineer has decided to be under the knife for cancer treatment in the Southeast Asian country even when his insurance plan would cover the surgery in his home country. Udagawa KemlChi, who has worked at the Vietnamese unit of Japanese construction firm Kanto for eighty years, was taken to a branch of K Hospital, or Vietnam National Cancer Hospital, in Hanoi after he found blood in his stool. The 62-year-old Japanese man had previously experienced general abdominal discomfort and constipation but refused to have a medical examination. At the infirmary, he was diagnosed with rectal cancer and later underwent radiotherapy and an operation. Doctors found the surgical procedure difficult but were eventually able to excise his entire tumor, according to a statement on the website of the hospital, which treated several people from Cambodia, Laos and South Korea earlier. His wife said if he had returned to Japan, all his medical costs would be paid by the health insurance. Still, the engineer chose to undergo the surgery at a Vietnamese hospital because they believed the expertise of its doctors, she added. Vietnamese hospitals received 300,000 visits for health checks from foreigners last year, according to the health ministry. Medical experts say rectal cancer is easily mistaken for normal digestive problems such as loss of appetite, indigestion, nausea and constipation and blood in the stool. They advise visiting the hospital for a prompt check-up when the signs have been abnormally seen. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read whats in the news today, January 11! Society -- The Standing Committee of the lawmaking National Assembly on Thursday showed support to a proposal that convicts may work in production facilities outside the prison as part of a policy to transform them into those who can bring benefit for society and fend for themselves upon being released. -- Vietnams defense ministry decided to transfer the military guard task at the tomb of renowned Vietnamese general Vo Nguyen Giap on an islet off the central province of Quang Binh to his family after performing the round-the-clock duty since his death in 2013. -- Police have initiated legal proceedings against the driver of a field trip bus carrying 20 junior college students that plunged off the Hai Van Pass in central Vietnam on Tuesday for driving in a fashion that causes grave consequences. -- Police in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa have taken a local man out of an iron cage where he had stayed for nearly four years in his home. It remains unknown that he was there willingly or under his familys coercion. -- Police seized two young moon bears put on sale in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam, on Wednesday and transferred the cubs to a wildlife conservation center. Moon bears, or Asian black bears, are listed as a threatened species in the country. Business -- Local dairy producer NutiFood Nutrition Food and Japanese beverage group Asahi, on Thursday formed a joint venture in offering Japanese-made nutritional products to Vietnamese children. -- Ho Chi Minh City has plans to resume the ambitious VND10 trillion ($430 million) construction project against flooding, one of its nagging headaches, in February after it had been delayed for nearly a year since early 2018. -- Vietnams fledging privately-owned airline Bamboo Airways will begin selling its flight tickets of various classes on Saturday afternoon, four days since the domestic authorities granted an aircraft operator certificate to it on Tuesday. -- Meeting the Basel II Accord international regulations to ensure bank stability in risk exposure is a prerequisite for domestic banks to increase their credit growth, said the head of Vietnams central credit agency on Thursday. Only three Vietnamese banks now satisfy the accord. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Mong people that inhabit the mountainous areas of northern Vietnam are ditching their traditional Mong New Year celebrations in favor of joining a countrywide observation of the Lunar New Year, raising concerns about cultural conservation in the ethnically diverse country. Traditionally, Mongs New Year celebrations typically fall on the 11th or 12th month in the lunar calendar, when a new rice crop is planted, opium is harvested, and men perform the pulling wife ritual to find a woman with whom to get married. However, as opium farming is now illegal, young couples can get married all year round, and Mong children go to public schools that dont take days off on Mongs New Year, Mong people now prefer to observe the Lunar New Year, instead of their traditional new year holiday. Lunar New Year, or Tet, is the biggest public holiday in Vietnam, celebrated on the first day of the first month in the lunar calendar. The upcoming 2019 Lunar New Year break will last for nine days, from February 2-10. Mong people celebrate the Mongs New Year. Photo: Tuoi Tre Four Mong-majority communes in the northern provinces of Son La and Hoa Binh recently announced they will no longer observe the Mongs New Year and start observing the Lunar New Year, beginning 2019, according to a statement released after a meeting between the communes leaders. Sung A Mang, chairman of Pa Co Commune in Hoa Binh, said the decision had been agreed upon by 90 percent of residents in the four communes. Mang said the shift will not threaten the cultural identity of the ethnic Mong people in northern Vietnam, as they will retain all customs and traditions of the Mongs New Year celebrations, only doing them at a different time of the year. The change will actually benefit Mong children, who can now be with their family during Tet when their school is on holiday break, Mang said. Mong people celebrate the Mongs New Year. Photo: Tuoi Tre Celebrating the traditional Mong New Year is only suitable for agriculture-reliant communities, which is no longer the case where I come from, a Mong youth told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. If the idea [to observe Lunar New Year instead of Mongs New Year] was not supported by the people, no officials would have even dared to propose it, she said. Another Mong student from Yen Bai Province in northern Vietnam said her family had been observing the Lunar New Year for six or seven years, and considered the change an inevitable part of cultural development. But to avoid disruptions during the transition, every decision should be made by the people, she said. Mong people celebrate the Mongs New Year. Photo: Tuoi Tre Cultural diversity threatened On the opposite side of the argument, cultural researchers and experts have expressed concerns that a government-supported ditching of the Mongs New Year will threaten cultural diversity in Vietnam. Dr. Mai Thanh Son, an expert on Mong ethnicity and member of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said a document issued by the administration of four communes in Hoa Binh and Son La announcing their abandonment of Mongs New Year celebrations is a serious violation of international conventions on cultural diversity and protecting intangible cultural heritage that Vietnam has ratified. It also violates Vietnams Law on Cultural Heritage, which categorizes the Mongs New Year as an intangible heritage that must be protected, Dr. Son said. Government administrations should focus on conserving national heritage and supporting the people in preserving their own culture instead of holding a meeting to ask the people if they agree on getting rid of a part of their culture, he said. Their responsibility is not to issue a document that effectively spells the death of a tradition, Dr. Son stressed. Mong people celebrate the Mongs New Year. Photo: Tuoi Tre A Mongs New Year celebration held at a university campus in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre Mong people celebrate the Mongs New Year. Photo: Tuoi Tre Mong people celebrate the Mongs New Year. Photo: Tuoi Tre Mong people celebrate the Mongs New Year. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Woods responded Thursday through a statement from his executive assistant, Sharon E. Beatty: Grant Woods has spent a lifetime fighting for women and families. As Attorney General he was on the front lines in this fight making sure survivors got justice and that their abusers were prosecuted. Theres more work to be done and he can be trusted to fight for our families. Ward 1 candidates emerge The announcement by Tucson City Council member Regina Romero that she will run for mayor has unleashed a new race the one to replace her in the west sides Ward 1. Romero has not endorsed anyone yet, but here are three names likely to be in the mix, each of whom has substantial potential to win the Democratic primary. Sami Hamed, a longtime Democratic activist and previous candidate for the Legislature, is not just considering but absolutely running, he told me. Hamed, who lives in Menlo Park, enjoys the support of the Legislatures Hernandez siblings, Daniel and Alma, who represent different Tucson districts in the state House. Miguel Ortega, a longtime west-side activist who frequently clashed with Romero, also is strongly considering a run, he said. A Barrio Hollywood resident, Ortega was previously a council aide to former member Karin Uhlich. Lane Santa Cruz, who is an aide in Romeros council office, also is strongly considering a run, she said. Santa Cruz, who lives in Barrio Santa Cruz/Paseo Estrella, has a long history with Romero, having worked with her for three years when Romero first joined the council, then rejoining a year ago after getting a Ph.D. from the UAs College of Education. Star reporter Joe Ferguson contributed to this column. Contact: tsteller@tucson.com or 807-7789. On Twitter: @senyorreporter. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PHOENIX (AP) Federal authorities say more than 180 violent gang members and gang member associates have been arrested in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas after a three-month operation. Officials with the U.S. Marshals Service say Operation Triple Beam was conducted from October to December and also resulted in the seizure of 27 firearms and 11 pounds of heroin. Of the 182 fugitives arrested, the Marshals Service says seven were wanted for homicide, 21 for weapons offenses, eight for robbery, 21 for aggravated assault and 102 for dangerous drugs. In Pima County there were 42 arrests. Drug offenses were the highest at 16 arrests. There were also seven arrests for robbery, six for firearms, four for aggravated assault, three for homicide, two for sex offenses and assault, two for vehicle theft and one each for kidnapping and obstruction of justice. Authorities say nearly $30,000 in cash also was seized plus 300 Fentanyl pills and more than six pounds of methamphetamines, in both the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. The operation involved 15 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies from Maricopa and Pima counties. "The Tucson Police Department cultivates excellent relationships with our federal partners, collaborating on a daily basis to engage violent crime within our community," said Tucson Police Department Chief, Chris Magnus. "These valued partnerships contribute additional resources as a force multiplier in the endeavor to make our community a safer place to live, play and work." Contact reporter Danyelle Khmara at dkhmara@tucson.com or 573-4223. On Twitter: @DanyelleKhmara Reporter Shaq is a public safety reporter and the Road Runner columnist, keeping readers up to date on transportation news. In 2017, he started as an apprentice and later worked part-time until graduating from the UA and being offered a full-time position in 2018. Sixteen people were arrested and a large amount and drugs were seized in a year-long sweeping undercover investigation across Cochise and Pima counties, officials said Thursday. About 150 law enforcement officers from the Pima and Cochise County sheriffs departments, the Department of Public Safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sierra Vista and Douglas police departments participated in the drug-trafficking investigation, which came to a head Wednesday, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels said. The investigation focused on an alleged crime syndicate with members in Sierra Vista, Naco, St. David, Sahuarita and Tucson areas, according to a news release from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office. Cochise County officials said law enforcement issued nine search warrants, which led to the seizure of about 29 pounds of methamphetamine, 1 pound of cocaine, 244 THC vape oil vials, 13 pounds of heroin, 10 pounds of marijuana, a half-pound of fentanyl and 600 oxycodone pills. Officials also seized more than $367,000, and about 50 firearms. And they recovered 17 stolen vehicles off one property in Pima County, which included a backhoe, quads and a Ford Mustang. PHOENIX Attorney General Mark Brnovich is moving to block state universities from leasing their land to commercial businesses. In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Arizona Tax Court, Brnovich contends the practice of removing property from the tax rolls is not only unfair to other taxpayers but also unconstitutional. He said the net result is that everyone else in the taxing district, whether city, county, school or community college, has to pay more to make up for what is avoided by the businesses that benefit. Most immediately, Brnovich wants a judge to block any move that would exempt a parcel that Arizona State University owns on the southeast corner of Mill Avenue and University Drive in Tempe from taxes. A pending deal would create a 330-room Omni hotel and a 30,000-square-foot conference center. Officials from the Arizona Board of Regents have defended the policy that they approved for such deals as bringing money to help underwrite the costs of running the university. But if Brnovich wins, it would undermine similar deals where universities lease out their tax-exempt property for commercial development. Former state Sen. Steve Farley is joining the race to be Tucsons next mayor. Farley formally announced on Thursday, saying the chance to represent Tucson was impossible to resist once he learned that Mayor Jonathan Rothschild was not going to run for a third term. When Jonathan said he wasnt going to run, I was disappointed like most of us, Farley said. But it seemed like a great opportunity to take up the mantle of leadership in the city that I love. The Tucson Democrat is no stranger to local politics, serving in the Legislature for the last 12 years and being active in neighborhood politics as well as transportation issues for more than two decades. While Farley ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor last year, he may be best known for his leading role in the establishment of the Regional Transportation Authority in 2006, which is responsible for many major road projects and the Tucson Modern Streetcar. Farley credits Rothschild for leaving the city in good financial shape after the Great Recession and said significant issues are facing Tucson in the coming years. You would think that these new exemption amounts that kicked in for 2019 are beneficial to all, so why would anyone need to do a review now? The biggest issue is people who had an estate plan that had the exemption going to someone other than their intended main beneficiary, explained Beck. For example, a husbands 2015 will provides that the Connecticut exemption amount, which was then $2 million, goes to the children, with the balance to the wife. Assume the husband owns $10 million in his own name. If he died in 2018, when the Connecticut exemption was $2.6 million, his wife would have received $7.4 million. If he dies this year, his wife would receive $6.4 million, and the kids $3.6 million. Was that the husbands intention? The takeaway here is not to be complacent. How your estate planning documents are drafted, especially if you have formula clauses that are tied to taxable and nontaxable amounts, can have a much different effect than you anticipated when you last reviewed your estate plan. The worst case, as Beck pointed out, is unintended consequences, such as leaving out a spouse altogether. Bankruptcy filings rose nearly 5 percent in Southern Arizona and 3 percent statewide in 2018, increasing for the second year in a row, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts Arizona district. Last year, 3,904 bankruptcy cases of all types were filed in the courts Tucson division compared with 3,733 in 2017, a 4.6 percent increase. Statewide, the overall number of filings rose 3 percent from 2017, to 15,742. The courts Phoenix division reported a 2.1 percent increase and the Yuma division posted an 8 percent increase. Though full-year nationwide filing statistics for 2018 were not yet available, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court said filings for the first half of the year were down 2.6 percent. In 2017, bankruptcy filings rose nearly 9 percent in Southern Arizona and more than 4 percent across Arizona, after falling by double-digit percentages every year since 2010. Tucson filings under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, used mainly by businesses to protect them from creditors while they restructure their debt, fell 22.6 percent last year to 24. Most were real-estate related. The Tucson bankruptcy division processes filings from Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham and Greenlee counties. With Camerons replacement secured, Gordon is now looking to find a replacement after the retirement of state engineer Pat Tyrell, which he is still working on vetting. One interesting kink in the process, however, could be presented by a new bill sponsored by the states Select Water Committee, HB47, which would change the Senate confirmation process for appointees negotiating water compacts for the state, a role often taken on by the state engineer. Though Gordon said he was aware of the bill and was willing to discuss it, he was skeptical that such a bill was necessary. In some cases, the processes that we have in place are effective theyve worked well over the years and where you end up with confirmations that can kind of cludge up the works and make things difficult, he said. I guess as an overarching point of view from this administration Id like to make government more efficient, leaner, able to act more quickly. Were open to consultation with the legislature on all these topics, but I think sometimes we build processes that dont do that, he added. To my thinking, Im not sure that bill is necessary, but Im certainly willing to listen. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Seth Klamann Education and Health Reporter Seth Klamann joined the Star-Tribune in 2016 and covers education and health. A 2015 graduate of the University of Missouri and proud Kansas City native, Seth worked for newspapers in Milwaukee and Omaha before coming to Casper. Follow Seth Klamann Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The Wyoming Travel Industry Coalition and the Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association support the bill, Silvernell said. She said Wyomings tourism office ranks 31st among the nations tourism offices in terms of its budget. It gets $25 million per biennium, or $12.5 million annually, from of the states general fund. South Dakota works with $16 million per year, while Colorado and Utah are closer to $20 million annually. Were already behind the eight ball, Silvernell said. The tax would make Wyoming more competitive with its neighbors and free up money for the state, she said. If the bill passes, the tourism office would be taken out of the general fund, and the $25 million each biennium that used to be for tourism could be spent elsewhere. We know theres going to be the no new taxes voters out there, but I think if they look at the whole picture it does make sense, Silvernell said. The lodging tax exemption for companies that pay for workers to be housed in hotels for more than 30 days would still exist, she said. In 2018, the tourism industry supported a 1 percent excise tax on the sale of tourism activities in Wyoming, which included hotels, restaurants and bars. But it didnt have the support of then-Senate President Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, who supported a statewide lodging tax that died in the Legislature. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 One man's odyssey through the world of books CHEYENNE When someone commits a crime as a minor, there is often a fear that their criminal record could follow them into adulthood, impacting job prospects or an opportunity to serve their country. In Wyoming, former juvenile offenders can file an appeal with a judge to have their record expunged. However, not everyone does that, or may not be able to, having moved out of the jurisdiction. A bill passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday morning could help to address this situation. It proposes making a judicial review of a juveniles criminal record for expungement an automatic part of the process once that offender reaches adulthood. The bill is one of four proposals contained in a suite of criminal justice reform proposals up for debate in this years session. If passed, the bill would cover charges filed in Children in Need of Supervision (CHINS) proceeding, along with municipal and circuit courts. To qualify, a juvenile cant be facing pending felonies, and must be rehabilitated under a diversion program to the standard of the court. Riverton police shot and killed a man Thursday morning after authorities say he fired at officers. The county coroner said Thursday afternoon he will hold an inquest in order to determine the manner and cause of the man's death. According to a Facebook post from the Riverton Police Department, at about 11 a.m. Thursday, Riverton police encountered a man near the intersection of Monroe and First streets who was illegally in possession of at least one gun. The man, a convicted felon, threatened police, according to the post. After the man shot at police, they returned fire, injuring him. The unnamed man was taken to Sage West Hospital, according to the statement, signed by Chief Eric Murphy. The man later died. No police officers were injured. In a statement, Fremont County Coroner Mark Stratmoen said he will convene an inquest into the mans death. The inquest, which will be held with a jury of three people, will decide whether to recommend criminal charges related to the mans death. Inquests are typically held when any law enforcement officer in the county is suspected of causing a death, according to the statement. A Wyoming man who faces three felonies related to a 2017 crash that killed two people drove off the road in 2015 and nearly hit another vehicle, prosecutors say. Alexander Richardson, of Lusk, faces two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and a count of aggravated assault in the case, which stems from an Aug. 23, 2017 crash on Wyoming Highway 220 near Pathfinder Reservoir that killed a mother and her 3-year-old son. Soon Young Lee, 46, and Jaehyeok Seo, 3, both of South Korea, died at the scene. Lees husband, Bong Joon Seo, also suffered injuries in the crash. Richardson pleaded not guilty to all three counts in August. Prosecutors Ava Bell and Michael Schafer argued in a Friday morning court hearing to admit evidence at trial related to a November 2015 incident in which Richardsons truck ran off U.S. Highway 191. Richardson forced another vehicle off the road, which narrowly avoided a collision, according to a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper who testified at the hearing. Richardsons vehicle then slid into a fence, according to a crash report cited by prosecutors. A grand jury on Thursday declined to bring criminal charges against an Albany County sheriffs corporal who shot and killed a man last year. Derek Colling, the sheriffs corporal, shot and killed Robbie Ramirez, 39, in November outside Ramirezs Laramie apartment. Ramirez is the third person that Colling has killed while on duty, and the shooting sparked considerable criticism from Ramirezs family and activist groups. According to a statement provided by the Albany County Attorney Attorneys Office, the grand jury was the first ever convened by a Wyoming prosecutor in relation to a police shooting. The jury decided a charge of involuntary manslaughter was not warranted. Peggy Trent, the county attorney who convened the grand jury, presented evidence over the course of two days, according to the statement. Representatives of potential defendants are not allowed to present evidence to grand juries. A founder of Albany County for Proper Policing, a group formed in response to Ramirezs death, said the group had not met between the prosecutors announcement and an early Thursday evening phone call from a reporter. Karlee Provenza said, however, that a December community forum indicated to her that public trust in police is at an all-time low. Certain inmates are allowed out for parts of the day to go to work. Those inmates will sometimes fail to return to the facility when they are expected back. Fountaine, however, climbed a wall and chain-link fence before getting into an SUV and leaving the area, according to a search warrant request filed by law enforcement Dec. 29 in Natrona County Circuit Court. The search warrant request states that Belcher gave Fountaine a cellphone while he was in the facility. After Fountaine made his escape, his brother told law enforcement that Belcher and Fountaine were traveling to Texas together, the warrant request states. The center is a privately owned and operated facility that houses inmates completing prison stints. It sometimes serves as an enhancement to probationary sentences. The Wyoming Department of Corrections contracts with the GEO Group, a private prison company, to house inmates in the facility. In recent years, other workers at the facility have made news after prosecutors accused them of having sexual encounters with inmates. A Natrona County Sheriffs Office spokesman said Friday morning that the white SUV found in Georgia is the same one Belcher and Fountaine are thought to have left Casper in. Follow crime reporter Shane Sanderson on Twitter @shanersanderson Love 0 Funny 6 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A man who escaped from the Casper Re-Entry Center was spotted Wednesday in Georgia, about an hour's drive south of Atlanta, authorities say. Anna Lewis, public information coordinator for the sheriff's office in Monroe County, Georgia, said Friday morning citizens spotted Richard T. Fountaine II, the escapee, and Kimberly Belcher, a staff member who is thought to have helped him escape, on Wednesday. Belcher and Fountaine's white SUV got stuck about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and they went to ask a nearby resident to help move it, Lewis said. The neighbor declined and the two left the area on foot. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office impounded the vehicle, Lewis said. The sheriff's office believes the two are still in the area. Staff at the Casper facility discovered Dec. 28 that Fountaine was missing from a secure unit of the facility. He was serving a sentence in the facility after being convicted of burglary. Certain inmates are allowed out for parts of the day to go to work. Those inmates will sometimes fail to return to the facility when they are expected back. A 52-year-old man stands accused of having had sex with the daughter of the man who owned the restaurant in which he worked as a chef in 2015. During the trial on Thursday, the prosecutor called for the defendant to be sentenced to ten years in prison, albeit with part of that sentence as a suspended sentence. The man stands accused of having sexually harassed a minor as well as two charges of rape. The accusations against the defendant refer to events in November 2015. The defendant stands accused of having had sex with the then 14-year-old daughter of a restaurant owner in Esch-sur-Alzette. At the time, the 52-year-old defendant worked there as a chef. The victim became pregnant as a result and had to abort the foetus. The defendant apologised in court According to the defendant's testimony in court, his sexual relations with the then 14-year-old were consensual and he did not force the girl into having sex with him. Furthermore, the defendant claims to have had no knowledge on the law concerning sex with minors. He explained that he had been weak at the time. The defendant claimed to have apologised to the girl and her family, but also that he had not taken advantage of her. He said "it was between the both of us" in court. The police's investigator described the inquiry surrounding the girl's pregnancy, which was confirmed in January 2016. In a hearing, the victim explained that she had trusted the man and developed feelings for him, claiming she had not been forced into anything. The man had been fired before the pregnancy became known. In June 2016, he was extradited back to Luxembourg, having left the country. The defendant claimed that the then 14-year-old seduced him and that he forgot himself at the time, a typical type of defence in which blame is placed on the underage party. The man also told a psychiatrist that the girl had seduced him and he had been unable to resist. The psychiatrist affirmed that the man was criminally liable, albeit with a favourable prognosis. The law protects minors The mother of the then 14-year-old called for damages for her daughter, after which the defendant's lawyer called for his acquittal in light of the victim's consent. In response, the prosecutor highlighted that teenagers under the age of 18 are protected by Luxembourgish legislation. In light of the law, the sexual relations are classified as statutory rape and are considered severe infractions. The prosecutor did however acknowledge that the man would benefit from having no previous record and for having partially cooperated. A verdict will be issued on 30 January. Last Tuesday, a police patrol searched two individuals near Luxembourg's central station. One of them was found to carry drugs. The man carried approximately 33 grams of hashish and cocaine. The prosecutor's office ordered the arrest of the presumed drug dealer, who will face an investigating magistrate. The Liberal Party invited its members to a New Year's reception in Melusina on Wednesday evening. Of course, the reception included looking back at 2018, the year that the DP managed to form a second coalition government. But the impetus was also on looking towards the future, especially the European elections in May. The elections came up three times successively in what were still relatively short speeches. Prime minister Xavier Bettel, party president Corinne Cahen, and secretary general Claude Lamberty all addressed the evening's guests. Lamberty greeted members with the words: "We are so happy!" Last year, the party set itself a large goal and managed to achieve it. Both Cahen and Bettel thanked the DP members for the success of the legislative elections. In speaking about the significance of the European elections, Bettel acknowledged the criticism that the EU gets but highlighted its positive side. The EU is a community and Bettel warned against letting politicians and tendencies tear people apart and allow intolerance to grow. Despite the importance of the European elections, Bettel was quick to state that the party must not forget its national challenge. Luxembourg is doing well compared to its neighbours, who are currently dealing with the 'gilets jaunes', the right-wing AfD, or a government in crisis. Despite this, he vowed not to forget those who are struggling in the Grand Duchy. An event begun on social media a couple of days ago, calls on people "with or without gilets jaunes" to march against tax evasion on Kirchberg on Monday. The event calls on citizens to march peacefully against tax evasion. The organiser, Patrice Cerignat, who came all the way from the south of France, hopes to assemble a group of people to protest peacefully. The event is supposed to run smoothly and respecting Luxembourg's laws, the organiser stated. Nevertheless, the manifestation, as of now, has not gained a significant number of followers. Despite the lack of interest, the police has closely followed the interest in the manifestation and taken all the necessary precautionary measures. Former business partners from Russia clash over Graff jewelry in London Court flickr.com/ Jonathan Brown 15:58 11/01/2019 MOSCOW, January 11 (RAPSI) Businessman Dmitry Tsvetkov has submitted to the High Court of Justice in England his defense against a claim of Rustem Magdeev, his former business partner in certain dealings concerning a diamond and jewellery Graff business. Mr. Magdeev submitted his claim yet in December 2017 demanding Mr. Tsvetkov to repay an alleged debt amounting to 12,1 million. Mr. Tsvetkov denied he had any liability to Mr. Magdeev as alleged or at all. He, in turn, asserted counterclaims and additional claims against Mr. Magdeev arising out of the same dealings and business relationships, explaining to the court that the claims against him were initiated due to a bad financial standing of his former partner. According to the document Mr. Tsvetkov presented to the court, as seen by RAPSI, he started a business indicated as "the Graff Business" for the litigation purposes, which was trading in jewellery products manufactured by Graff Diamonds Ltd (hereinafter "Graff) in 2011, whereas Mr. Magdeeve invested in it in June 2013. As the business developed, Mr. Tsvetkov alleged, he incorporated in Dubai EK Diamonds, initially owned by his wife Ms Elsina Khayrova, to carry on the Graff Business. At about the same time Mr. Magdeev also introduced Mr. Tsvetkov to Mr. Emil Gaynulin, who subsequently also became a co-investor in the Graff Business, the document reads. In October and November 2014 Graff offered Mr. Tsvetkov additional discounts on its products if he could arrange for a further US$30 million investment. Graff also offered him the opportunity to open a franchise in Cyprus. In order to operate the new Graff franchise, Mr. Tsvetkov founded a new company, EKLG, which in December of 2014, which was appointed the sole and exclusive distributor of Graff products in Cyprus; however it was closed after three years of operation. According to Mr. Tsvetkov, Mr. Magdeev invested in their business not his own money and had to repay it at some time. During the second half of 2016 Mr. Magdeev placed increasing pressure on him, Mr. Tsvetkov alleged, to buy out his share of the Graff Business and thereby extricate Mr. Magdeev from his financial difficulties. Mr. Tsvetkov also alleged that in April 2017 Mr. Magdeev threatened him with legal action and at a meeting in Cyprus he appeared in company with an individual well-known for his associations with organised criminal groups. Basing on information provided by Russian mass media outlets, this individual could be a certain Radik Yusupov, who had been earlier convicted for murder and released on parole. It is believed Yusupov was the leader of a criminal group, which was proved in court to murder 12 people and it was reported that he admitted his guilt. A Russian newspaper Sobesedink reported that a litigation between Mr. Tsvetkov and Mr. Magdeev was also underway in Cyprus. Mr. Tsvetkov alleges that Mr. Magdeev has embezzled $1,3 million planned for investment in a defense enterprise in Tatarstan. In the course of the litigation the court arrested certain assets owned by Mr. Magdeev. SUMMER SPECIAL!!! - Sign up at 20% OFF for Full Access to all of the online content and E-Editions on the www.thewordlink.com website here! (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. A review of board meeting agendas and minutes during the period the board was winnowing the field of candidates indicates that no agenda item stated that the board was considering applicants for the position, and no minute entry revealed a public vote to narrow the field of candidates both steps required by law. In fact, the board minutes reveal a pattern of inadequate statements of the purposes of meetings closed to the public. The minutes reflect board meetings closed to the public to discuss personnel matters notwithstanding that word does not appear in the applicable law, and attorneys general have advised public officials for more than 30 years that an executive session described as being for a personnel matter is in violation of the law. From its agendas and minutes, it appears DHEC has institutionalized its disregard for the law. Consistent with this culture of disregard for the law and the citizens of South Carolina, Mark Elam, chairman of the board, responding to criticism of the process followed by DHEC, said the public would have an opportunity to examine Toomeys qualifications for the position during the state Senate confirmation process. A judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison, provided that after he served five years, the balance of the sentence was to be suspended to five years of probation. According to the Charleston County Public Index online, Dixon received credit for 83 days he served in a psychiatric ward. Dixon also pleaded guilty that year to charges of disorderly conduct and shoplifting. In 2009, Dixon pleaded guilty to first-offense possession of methamphetamine or cocaine base in Orangeburg County. He was originally charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine near a school. A judge sentenced him to prison for three years, but suspended the sentence to two years of probation. Dixon pleaded guilty to littering over 500 pounds in 2015. Dixon emptied the contents of a septic tank on private property on May 31, 2014, even though the property owner told him not to do it. A judge sentenced him to one year in prison, but reduced it to six months of probation. Lt. Lakesha Gillard is leading the ongoing investigation into Wises death. Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 11 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Thumbs up to retired Southern Illinois University Carbondale physicist Walter Henneberger. Fifty years ago, Henneberger postulated that an electron could be freed from an atom and bound to it at the same time with the help of super-intense lasers. There were no lasers powerful enough to test the theory at the time, but Henneberger met plenty of opposition. Papers were written by other scientists dispelling the notion. Fast-forward 50 years, and what do you know, Henneberger was correct the entire time. Last April, a team of German and Swiss researchers proved his theory. He was unaware of the tests until current SIUC physics professor Dipanjan Mazumdar presented him with the test results. I feel good, Henneberger said. My life was not completely wasted. Henneberger still makes his home in Carbondale. Thumbs up the The Nature Conservancy for appointing a new Southern Illinois director for the agency. Its been nearly 10 years since the not-for-profit conservation group maintained an office in the Southern part of the state. Tharran Hobson has been named the regional director. He assumed the post in December and is expected to establish an office in the area sometime this month. The Nature Conservancy has been instrumental in restoring the Cache River in Southern Illinois. The organization has also worked to restore wetland habitat in and around the Shawnee National Forest. Infamous Russian nationalist appeals against 10-year term for robbery, hooliganism RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 14:59 11/01/2019 MOSCOW, January 11 (RAPSI) - Russian nationalist Maxim Martsinkevich has filed an appeal against a 10-year sentence passed on him by Moscows Babushkinsky District Court for robbery and hooliganism, the courts spokesperson Maria Borovikova has told RAPSI. The court convicted and sentenced Martsinkevich on December 29. His associate, a leader of the St. Petersburg cell of Restruct movement established by Martsinkevich, Mikhail Shalankevich received a 6-year prison term but was released due to the time served in detention. The case was reconsidered as in May the Moscow City Court overturned a specific part of the defendants 10-year prison term concerning robbery and hooliganism and ordered the case review. The court also mitigated sentence for three associates of Martsinkevich, who were also defendants in the case. Dmitry Sheldyashev and Alexander Shankin were sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in a penal colony while Roman Maksimov received 4 years and 10 months. In June 2017, the Babushkinsky District Court found Restruct movement leader Martsinkevich guilty of inciting hatred and enmity, hooliganism, robbery and property destruction. Ten members of the movement were sentenced to prison terms varying from 3 to 10 years. According to case documents, under pretense of drug interdiction, the group attacked people in 2013-2014 in Moscow using electro shockers, gas sprayers and metallic pipes, leaving several people traumatized and one person dead. Martsinkevich, one of the more well-known Russia nationalists, has a history of clashes with the law. In 2014, he was sentenced to five years in prison for publishing extremist content on the Internet. He has already been convicted of publishing online a video of staging an execution of a Tajik drug dealer and extremist statements. He has received 3.5 years in prison in two cases taken together. Only if you want them to be. On its own, the exchange could be shrugged off as a couple of entitled political bullies acting unprofessionally in the workplace. But this was not an isolated incident. This was yet another example of a long pattern of harassment and intimidation that has been part of the culture of the state Capitol for decades, all while Madigan ruled the House. Bishop himself, by his count, has had close to a dozen similar experiences with Madigan and Brown. Many of them have been captured on video. But the harassment neither starts nor ends with him. As the #MeToo sexual harassment movement spread nationally in 2017, more than 300 Illinois women with ties to state government signed a letter demanding a change in culture in Springfield that allowed rampant harassment sexual and otherwise to occur under a veil of secrecy. The accusers, afraid to speak out publicly for fear of retribution, remained mostly anonymous. As some did eventually speak out, many of the accused had close ties to Madigan. A short and incomplete list of those connected to the speaker: His longtime former chief of staff Tim Mapes, fired after a state employee publicly accused him of what she said was years of sexual harassment that went unaddressed. Going forward, he encouraged legislators to not just talk about "closing the book" as they move beyond the last four years. "Rather, let's talk in terms of closing one chapter in the book (and) take lessons from that chapter so we can move on to a new chapter where people work with people," Madigan said. State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray of Naperville was the only Democrat who did not vote for Madigan as House speaker, voting "present." The freshman legislator said she doesn't believe current leadership has done enough to address the "toxic culture" of sexual harassment in the Statehouse. During the Senate's swearing-in ceremony that took place at the Capitol, Cullerton did not spend much time during his acceptance speech on the previous four years. He only mentioned it while asking senators how they will measure success this year. "Before you answer, remember what failure looks like," he said. "We've seen it. It's a state with no budget. It's a state where social service agencies close their doors." Cullerton mentioned a jobs program, a new capital plan and raising the minimum wage as issues to be addressed this spring. Sangamon County health officials are urging people to get flu shots after a 3-year-old girl died of influenza in suburban Chicago. According to The Associated Press, the Kane County Health Department and the Kane County coroner's office said this week that the child died Dec. 21 at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora. It's the first confirmed flu-related death of a child in Illinois during the current influenza season, Melaney Arnold, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said Thursday. There have been flu-related deaths in other states, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting a widespread presence of the flu virus in at least about half of the country. The level of flu-like illnesses being reported in Illinois, however, was categorized as "regional" by the CDC as of Saturday. That level is below the "widespread" level reported at this point a year ago and is within the average levels reported over the past six years. Flu symptoms can include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache and tiredness. Health officials stress that vaccination can help prevent the flu. No shortages of flu vaccine have been reported in Sangamon County. EDWARDSVILLE The former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois has been arrested and charged with his second DUI in less than two years. Edwardsville police stopped Stephen Wigginton, 55, at about 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve in the 1000 block of Plummer Drive on suspicion of driving under the influence and improper lane usage, and cited him on those two charges, according to Chief Jay Keeven. Keeven would not release any additional details. Madison County Prosecutor Tom Gibbons will refer the case to a special prosecutor because Wigginton worked in that office part-time before becoming a U.S. attorney, according to a spokesperson for the office. He served as U.S. attorney from 2010 to 2015. In May 2017, Wigginton crashed his Cadillac in Troy, and was charged with DUI, leaving the scene of a crash, failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and improper lighting. When an officer asked for his identification, Wigginton said, You know who I am. When the officer told him, "no idea, Wigginton replied, Well, your boss does," according to audio and video surveillance the St. Louis Post-Dispatch obtained following the incident. Wright said one focus of the network is to brainstorm ways to encourage donations of healthier food options. In the future, the network may also be able to seek grants to bolster support to local food pantries. There are other benefits, too. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Working with neighbors facing difficult, often heartbreaking situations can take a toll on providers. Sometimes you think, Oh my gosh, I dont know if I can keep doing this, Schwengel said. Having others to communicate with who understand the unique challenges and rewards of running a food pantry is important, Schwengel noted. Thats why she attended the networks first meeting last fall. Ruth Hawkins, treasurer and co-manager of the Du Quoin Food Pantry, said she also believes there is an advantage to getting to know the people running other food pantries throughout the region. It allows for sharing ideas about what works and what doesnt, she said. The Du Quoin Food Pantry serves residents of Perry County, and Hawkins said its also helpful to know other food pantry operators to direct people to if they show up at her location but live in another county. Illinois new agriculture director will have his hands full when he takes office. He will also need some long arms. I have a lot of information to get my arms around, John Sullivan said in a telephone interview. Indeed, Sullivan arguably will have more on his plate than any ag director in recent history. Thats because he will likely be dealing with an entirely new industry. A law allowing the production of industrial hemp was passed during the last legislative session. In addition, there is a good chance Illinois will become the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana. I havent spent a great deal of time studying this just yet, said Sullivan, a farmer and former state senator. Theres a multi-step process when you create a new industry like that. He will bring a unique background to the new post, assuming he will be confirmed by the Senate following the swearing-in of the new governor, J.B. Pritzker, on Jan. 14. Democrat Pritzker defeated incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner in the 2018 general election. A Macomb native, Sullivan served in the Illinois Senate from 2003 to 2017, and headed up Pritzkers Agriculture Transition Committee following the election. Known for working across the aisle, he was elected in a largely Republican district. WestRock Company manufactures and sells paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through Corrugated Packaging and Consumer Packaging segments. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards for sale to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers. It also provides structural and graphic design, engineering services and custom, and automated packaging machines; offers a machinery solution that creates pouches to replace single-use plastics, including bubble mailers; distributes corrugated packaging materials and other specialty packaging products, including stretch films, void fills, carton sealing tapes, and other specialty tapes; operates recycling facilities that collect, sort, grade, and bale recovered paper; and provides lithographic laminated packaging products, as well as contract packing services. The Consumer Packaging segment manufactures and sells folding cartons that are used to package food, paper, beverages, dairy products, tobacco, confectionery, health and beauty, other household consumer, and commercial and industrial products; and express mail packages for the overnight courier industry. It also offers inserts and labels, as well as rigid packaging and other printed packaging products, such as transaction cards, brochures, product literature, marketing materials, and grower tags and plant stakes for the horticultural market; and secondary packages and paperboard packaging for over-the-counter and prescription drugs. In addition, this segment manufactures and sells solid fiber and corrugated partitions, and die-cut paperboard components principally to glass container manufacturers, producers of beer, food, wine, spirits, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and the automotive industry. WestRock Company is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Read More Welcome Guest! You Are Here: 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. 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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. 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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. 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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. 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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. Wall Street Legend Who Picked Bitcoin in 2016 Shares #1 Pick for the 2020s (Ad) Picking the right investment of the decade can transform your life Microsoft in the 80sAmazon in the 90sApple in the 2000sBitcoin in 2016... Any one of these could have made you a millionaire many times over. Today, the Wall Street legend who picked the last investment of the decade The answer will surprise you. 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 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] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 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. As a bonus to opt-ing into our email newsletters, you will also get a free subscription to the Liberty Through Wealth e-newsletter. You can opt out at any time. Could This Be the Biggest US Gold Discovery in Years? (Ad) See how this tiny, unknown gold company secured a prime land package right next door to the worlds two largest gold producers in Nevadas famed Carlin Trend where 84 Million gold ounces have already been extracted. Best of all, investors can still get in well below US$0.50 per share. Details Here. 15 hours ago | June 15th | 2021 7:40 AM Does Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) Have What It Takes To Be A Winner In 2021? Though Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) stock was cut in half during the dark days of February and March of last year, Wall Street quickly realized that convenient fast food would probably be towards the bottom of the list of things to be cut by hard-hit consumers who were tightening the proverbial belts. So back the stock roared and since this time last The first thing everyone is taught to do prior to doing any physical activity is to stretch, because it will help prevent injuries and improve circulation. Stretching provides a wide range of benefits, including improving posture and increasing range of motion. Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy In recent years, we have seen oil trains and coal trains pollute the water of the Columbia River, threatening the safety of people, fish, wildlife, and everything that exists along its shores. Now we have to deal with a proposed methanol refinery coming to Kalama. Methanol is a highly toxic liquid, poisonous to humans, animals, and the environment. In combination with methane gas, it is extremely flammable, potentially explosive. Question: Would you have a container of antifreeze sitting around your backyard, possibly harming your kids and pets? Of course not! The partial federal government shutdown, now 19 days and counting, has sent bureaucrats in Washington state scrambling to keep programs afloat for as long as they can, but those officials warn that the acute impacts of the national impasse will manifest in the coming weeks, threatening some peoples lives and livelihoods, and annoying others. Many federal workers, of course, are already dealing with the anticipation of missing paychecks and being short on rent or grocery bills. But other, diverse and more limited effects are beginning to pile up for those who use government services, from gates shuttered to skiers at Mount Rainier National Park, to brewers seeking labels for their craft IPAs and American Indians wanting to use their treaty-required health-care services. Federal court Federal court employees will continue to work and operate the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington normally, said clerk William McCool Tuesday, but without pay. Were mandated by the Constitution to perform the duties of the court. Our judges and our court staff will perform those duties whether or not we have funding, he said. Most court employees will receive their last paycheck on Jan. 25, for the pay period that ends on the 18th, he said. Earlier Tuesday night on the other side of the lake, Longview City Councilman Ken Botero held a community forum at the Womans Club to discuss homelessness in the county and possible solutions. He said he planned the meeting for later in the year but moved it up after seeing a Facebook post about the people staying at the Lions Shelter. Most of the discussion centered around creating partnerships between homeless people, the community and social service agencies. After the one-hour meeting, the question remained: If the community or city doesnt want people at the Lions Shelter, where are they supposed to go? There is no one answer to that question, said Shawn Nyman, Love Overwhelming board member. Many options need to be looked at because each person has different needs and will feel the most comfortable in different settings, she said. A shelter, group homes and assistance from churches or individuals are all options to consider, Nyman said. For every solution there could be a roadblock, which gets very frustrating, she said, not only for homeless individuals but also those trying to help. Districts may apply for extra assistance through the states safety net, a program which provides funding for special education students whose education plans and needs cost more than about $32,000. Its a cool piece Washington has in place, but it can be hard to get at that money sometimes because of the tightness of the rules, Zorn said. So Longview, Kelso and 28 other districts in this region are proposing that state legislators loosen up the safety net requirements, increase the per-pupil funding amount or provide money for the exact percentage of special education students in a district. Of all the requests coming from education organizations, the request for additional special education funding is the most likely to find success, Zorn said. Thats because there is a unified message from educators across the state, including the 30 southwest Washington districts, the state teachers union and the state school superintendent. Legislators for years have grappled with the McCleary decisions command to fully fund basic education, and theyre still tweaking that issue. So a request to fully fund special ed., too, may face some resistance. But 20th District Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, said unified messages like this make it easier to support a request. Douglas, 57, and Longview woman Heather Hughes, 44, are accused of the rape and human trafficking of a then-12-year-old girl. Police arrested the two in March on suspicion that Hughes frequently took the child to Douglas home and car dealership in the first half of 2017, where Douglas would engage in sexual acts with her. The child told police that Douglas provided Hughes with cash and clothing as compensation, court records say. Police also found photos of the child on Douglas business computer in a Feb. 8 search warrant, records say. Douglas and Hughes admitted sometime in February or March that Hughes brought the child to Douglas business and residence, according to police records. Hughes also admitted to taking explicit photos of the child at Douglas request, and Douglas admitted to having photos of the child on his computer. Hughes is scheduled for trial on Jan. 22. Douglas was released in March on a $50,000 bond, but he failed to appear for a pretrial hearing in May. After being returned a week later, his bail was increased to $100,000 with new trial dates set for July. A defense motion pushed the trial date to September, but Douglas again failed to appear for a hearing that month. Longview and Kalama schools Thursday canceled plans to send students to an anti-bullying event next week with Peter Yarrow, citing concerns about the pop stars 1970 conviction for taking indecent liberties with a 14-year-old girl. Gian Paul Morelli, executive director for the Columbia Theatre, said he hadnt yet heard from the Rainier School district, but he decided to cancel the event, which was scheduled to take place at the theater in downtown Longview. Yarrows Friday night concert is still scheduled at the Columbia as before, and Morelli said he still expects it to be a success. Morelli said he is saddened by the cancellation and feels area students will miss out on a wonderful opportunity, referring to Operation Respect, Yarrows nonprofit that brings music and anti-bullying messages to schools across the world. If you went on the website, if you saw what (OR) is all about ... it is a wonderful opportunity to develop the skills to encourage respectful behavior. Its something that we could all use and our schools could use, Morelli said. You couldnt find a more stellar group of educators who endorse this project and are bringing it right to Longview with the founder. Friday, January 11, 2019 Thomas A. Kelley (North Carolina) & Christopher B. McLaughlin (North Carolina), North Carolina's Nonprofit Property Tax Exemption Conundrum, 96 N.C. L. Rev. 1769 (2018): Disputes between nonprofit organizations and local governments over property tax exemptions have been on the increase in North Carolina and beyond. There are two paramount reasons. First, since the Reagan Revolution of the 1980s eliminated block grants and other sources of funding, local governments have struggled to pay their bills and have been compelled to look for new sources of revenue, including stricter application of property tax laws. Second, the nonprofit sector has been transformed by the rise of social entrepreneurship. Responding to the same financial pressures that have squeezed local governments since the 1980s, increasing numbers of nonprofit organizations have adopted feegenerating strategies that, in some cases, make them almost indistinguishable from for-profit enterprises. For local governments, the fact that some nonprofits act like for-profits makes it easier to claim that they do not deserve generous property tax exemptions. The result is a property tax conundrum in North Carolina and beyond. Is it fair that governments financial books should be balanced on the backs of legitimate charities just because their operations include entrepreneurial elements? On the other hand, how are local governments supposed to fund needed services if they cannot collect taxes on property used for seemingly commercial activities? The authors of this Article approach the property tax conundrum from different angles. Tom supervises a law school-based clinic that sometimes represents entrepreneurial nonprofits that, in his view, are being unfairly and unpredictably hit with property tax bills. Chris, who advises local governments on property tax matters, sympathizes with their need to maximize revenues and their difficulty in distinguishing between entrepreneurial nonprofits and for-profits. However, they agree on the need for greater consistency in the application of North Carolinas property tax laws. They also agree that entrepreneurial, fee-generating nonprofit organizations should not be forced to pay property taxes in instances where there is a tight nexus between the fee-generating activity and the nonprofit organizations charitable, educational, or religious purpose. This Article illustrates North Carolinas inconsistent treatment of these questions and proposes guidelines that will lead to more consistent and fair application of property tax exemption laws in the future. https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2019/01/north-carolinas-nonprofit-property-tax-exemption-conundrum.html For the first time, the Syrian government has confirmed that it is in talks with Kurdish factions to discuss the potential Turkish attack writes Al-Watan. Damascus has officially announced that it is in communication with the Kurds, in light of Ankaras threats to carry out a new aggression against Syrian territory, and renewed its calls for all political groups to be sincere in the dialogue occurring between them and the Syrian state, as there is no alternative. In a meeting with a group of journalists, Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad said that the government was in contact with the Kurds in light of the potential Turkish intervention. These meetings and discussions have intensified in light of the challenges which, we face in the north within the framework of maintaining Syrias unity. He noted that there was no alternative to dialogue with the Kurdish factions. According to the official Foreign Ministry website, Mikdad said that, previous experiences [with the Kurdish groups] have not been encouraging. However, now matters are coming to an end, and if some Kurds claim that they are an integral part of the Syrian state and the Syrian people, then these are favorable conditions. Therefore, we feel optimistic. Mikdad, who thanked the role played by their Russian friends in this respect, said that the Syrian Arab Army had not failed to enter into any area due to precise calculations. He said that, The facts on the ground are that when Syrians confront the illegitimate Turkish intentions, which conflict with Turkeys obligations under the Security Councils resolutions, then we will be able to achieve victory. According to the Russia Today website, the Deputy Foreign Minister revealed in his statements the presence of contacts from European countries considering reopening their embassies in Damascus. He said that meetings were ongoing inside and outside Syria in this respect, and welcomed the efforts which had been exerted by Arab countries who are now trying to restore Damascus to the Arab League. He stressed the need to correct the situation in the League, because no joint Arab action can succeed without Syrias presence. In the first Kurdish reaction to Mikdads statements, the Kurdish Movement for a Democratic Society TEV-DEM, one of the faces of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), welcomed the comments, and said in a statement, Mikdads statements are positive, and what he said was positive. We hope that we keep in touch and reach practical outcomes. They added, We have been working since the start of the crisis to preserve Syrias unity and we are intent on this. We have carried out our national duty of protecting Syrias unity and standing against terrorism and Turkish occupation. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management said that of the four million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, 1.5 million of them are children reports Anadolu Agency. The return of Syrian children, living in Turkey, to schooling, is of the most important parts of the EU-Turkey cooperation, said the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. Im very proud as European Commissioner to implement EU-Turkish facility. Because we managed to reach a lot of Syrian refugees and in particular, children, and ensure they returned to school, Christos Stylianides told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday in Brussels following his visit to Turkey. And this is for me the most important part of our cooperation, he added. On Monday, Stylianides paid a visit to Turkey during which he met the countrys vice president and discussed Turkeys EU membership process as well as the global migration problem, in particular the Syrians in Turkey and EU fund allocated for them. In March 2016, the EU and Turkey reached an agreement to stop irregular migration through the Aegean Sea and improve the conditions of Syrian refugees in Turkey. Stylianides said during his visit he, talked everything about humanitarian assistance in Turkey. Turkish NGOs Playing Important Role Also speaking at the Faces of Turkey: Civil Society event, Stylianides said Turkey hosts around four million Syrians and over 1.5 million of them are children. He said Turkish non-governmental organizations were playing an important role in the distribution of humanitarian aid to Syrians. He also underlined that the EU and Turkey were going to keep working together to help people in need. Membership Process Should Be Used as Tool to Improve Relations Miltiadis Kyrkos, member of the European Parliament (EP), told Anadolu Agency that the motive behind organizing the event was to show Europeans that Turkey is a multifaceted society. Kyrkos opened the exhibition at the EP in Brussels, where stalls from Turkish NGOs will be displayed from Jan. 8 to 11, 2019. He further pointed out the importance of cooperation between Europe and Turkey. If we mention some issues between Turkey and the EU, we should use the membership process as a tool to improve our relations, Kyrkos added. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Cuba has expressed a desire to strengthen relations with the Syrian government reports SANA. The Cuban Vice President of the Council of Ministers, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, has renewed his countrys support for Syria in its war against terrorism, while rejecting interference in their internal affairs. During his meeting with Syrias Ambassador to Cuba, Idris Mayya, in Havana Wednesday, the two sides reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and means of bolstering them to serve the two friendly peoples. Ambassador Mayya pointed to the developments in Syria, stressing the importance of strengthening relations between Syria and Cuba in all fields. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Both Russia and Iran have said that they want to seek a political solution in Syria, in line with the Astana process writes SANA. The situation in Syria was the main point of discussion during a meeting between the Russian Senior Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Verchinen, and Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Hussein Jabri Ansari, in Moscow on Thursday. During the meeting, Verchinen said, We pay a special attention to the situation in Syria and the objective reality and to the possibility of moving forward the political process there. He indicated that Russia and Iran seek to solve the crisis in Syria in a framework of bilateral interaction and with interaction between the participants of the Astana process. For his part, Ansari affirmed that cooperation between his country and Russia with regards to Syria has achieved significant results in the domain of combating terrorism and laying a foundation of security and stability in the region. He indicated that the relations between the two states are rapidly developing in all domains, reiterating the importance of preserving cooperation between the three guarantor states in framework of the Astana process. Ansari added that his talks with the Russian side will be useful and fruitful and will cover all issues of the region and all the other regional and international issues. Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Alexander Fomin, also held talks with Ansari, which focused on the situation in Syria, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Government workers are struggling to secure employment after been released from detention, whether they have been charged or not reports Asharq al-Awsat. After being released from regime detention in mid-2016, Saleh, 56, expected to normally resume his job as an educator. But since then, and despite winning court support for his case, he had struggled to get his employment suspension revoked. Like many, Saleh is the victim of a 2013 government order that demands a, nearly impossible to attain, state security approval in order to resume at a post suspended due to arrest. The law dubbed Kaf Alyyad (Arabic for Halt of Labor), signed in 1990, does not clearly state for employers to hire back workers that were detained by authorities. With absent legal guarantees for maintaining a job position when arrested, even if under false charges, the 2013 government order for post-release security clearance made matters worse, especially in light of the Syria civil war. Saleh, who served as a teacher for 22 years, was also unable to join another job as he has been contractually tied to his former post. According to Judge Yahya Ali, another 4,500 special needs employees filed to the Damascus Administrative Court in order to attain compensation for their suspended wages withheld since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011 up until 2017. Despite Saleh and many others having court support, employers choose to override the judiciary and follow regime orders, preventing many suffering Syrians from returning to their bread-winning posts. It is worth noting that such blocking of labors is not only violating court orders but also article 51 of the Syria Constitution, which considers all suspects innocent until proven guilty by a just trial. Saleh was arrested in April 2015 for covering up crime and funding terrorism, simply for his brother, accused of belonging to the armed anti-regime dissent, having visited his residence in the town of Babila in the countryside of Damascus. Saleh presented proof of his brother being released and cleared by intelligence authorities earlier on February 24, 2015and had his passport renewed by authoritiesbefore visiting his residence, but that show of evidence made little to no change in his struggle. Later, he was arrested and released after 15 months, backed by a court order proving that there was insufficient evidence to hold trial, let alone convict Saleh. Three days after being released, Saleh applied for state security approval to return to his job, but had his request was rejected two months later. Left with no income and rising living costs, Saleh was forced to work as a heavyweight laborer at a grocery store in Damascus in order to provide for his family that faced displacement eight times during the course of the bloody Syria conflict. Two of Salehs children were also forced to leave school and work under disparaging conditions to help their family survive. Wincing against an excruciating backache, Saleh said the halt of labor he received coupled with deprivation of pension and reimbursements are serving him a slow and painful death sentence. The Syrian Ministry of Education, with which Saleh was registered as a worker, along with the Damascus Water Corporation have the highest number of cases similar to Saleh s, Judge Ali confirmed without giving exact numbers or percentages. Halt of labor goes on to affect Syrian workers nationwide, most of which have fallen victim to a disorder and administrative disruption bred by a conflict that saw the death of over 300,000 Syrians and the displacement of nearly half of the countrys population. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Following the announced withdrawal of US forces from Syria, other parties are scrambling to come up a strategy writes Al-Araby al-Jadeed. It is not normal for Washington to withdraw from a strategically beneficial area, which has been occupied with military bases that even rivalled Russias Hemeimeem base. The announced US withdrawal from Syria has pushed various parties to review their calculations regarding their conflict with or against Syria. Meanwhile, President Trump has rushed over to Iraq and while meeting the troops, used the occasion to defend his decision to withdraw; a decision which has angered his generals and politicians in his Republican Party as well as the opposition Democratic Party, creating a consensus that American history rarely sees. Turkish President Erdogan was the first to review his plans for sending Turkish forces east of the Euphrates, which ignored warnings from Washington of a possible conflict between the two allied countries. Erdogan decided to halt his military operation and negotiate with Moscow, despite reaching an understanding with Washington, who had reconsidered their withdrawal and was no longer set to be hasty and immediate, but would be done in coordination with the Turkish army. Erdogan could link his final position to an understanding with Putin or call for a restoration of Assads rule in that area. However, Kurdish representatives have put conditions on this, which could close the doors on reconciliation with him and prevent his army from returning to the area. Will the Russian army help Assad regain the area, where Ankara has taken a firm decision to expel Kurdish forces? Or will some remain in an area where Turkey considers their presence a direct threat to its national security? What will Russias position be on that? Will it fight alongside Assad and damage its extremely important relations with Ankara, or will it give up on them and let them be defeated? What options remain to Moscow to avoid falling into this abyss, which would leave it with the choice of searching for a settlement with Erdogan or Assad at the expense of the Kurds. Ankara does not need to offer concessions because of its position, which was greatly strengthened by Washingtons decision to hand over the region piece by piece, as well as its commitment to prevent fighting against its army, which, in turn, leaves no options to the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) except to accept an unconditional return of Assad, or with conditions close to its conditions. But this, in turn, is a weak possibility, as it would create problems between not just Russia and Turkey, but also problems with America. Irans calculations do not differ from Russias, but it has decided to damage its relations with Turkey, which are among the most important of its international relations, to help the Kurds to enter the street war against the Turkish presence east of the Euphrates, which is not certain to succeed. What action could confront this? Will Trump review his decision and bolster his forces east of the Euphrates, rather than withdraw them in cooperation with the Turkish army, and accept a replacement of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) with the Kurdish National Council, which would reassure Turkeys acceptance of a resolution of the Kurdish issue in a Syrian framework? Or will there be a Russian-Turkish-Iranian understanding around the new situation in the area. Washington will take the price of its acceptance in Iraq and Syria. The three countries will not succeed without new political orientations which recognize the impossibility of finding a settlement that preserves PKK dominance over Syrias Kurds and broad swathes of its land, after the end of its role fighting the Islamic State, and been abandoned by Washington, and staying away from it has become the best option for everyone. Will the PKK decide to leave Syria and leave the Kurds to solve their own problems through dialogue with supporters of their rights as Syrians, thereby offering them a historic service? This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Of all the ideas to increase church attendance, here is a doosy of one. Serve free alcohol promptly after the service. Its like the adult version of all that pizza they offer in youth group trying to entice participation. Dont get all mad now. This is old Ben Franklins idea. Not mine. Its a quote for goodness sake. I am not actually advocating anything. I just thought it was a funny story. A very Presbyterian idea, if you will. Oh good-grief. Now they are never gonna let me be a deacon in a Baptist church We had for our chaplain a zealous Presbyterian minister, Mr. Beatty, who complained to me that the men did not generally attend his prayers and exhortations. When they enlisted, they were promised, besides pay and provisions, a gill of rum a day, which was punctually servd out to them, half in the morning, and the other half in the evening; and I observed they were as punctual in attending to receive it; upon which I said to Mr. Beatty, It is, perhaps, below the dignity of your profession to act as steward of the rum, but if you were to deal it out and only just after prayers, you would have them all about you. He liked the thot, undertook the office, and, with the help of a few hands to measure out the liquor, executed it to satisfaction, and never were prayers more generally and more punctually attended; so that I thought this method preferable to the punishment inflicted by some military laws for non-attendance on divine service. -Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Suppliers are an integral part of the automotive industry in Slovakia Lack of qualified labour is an issue for suppliers, too. The automotive industry, with the most modern car producing plants, is a leading sector of the Slovak economy. Jaguar Land Rover, which officially opened its new production plant in Nitra in late October 2018, has increased the global presence of Slovakia in car production. After production in Nitra reaches full capacity, Slovakia will produce about 1.5 percent of all passenger cars produced in the world. The new investor is bringing in new technologies, systems and methods of cooperation, said President of the Slovak Automotive Industry Association (ZAP) Alexander Matusek, adding that apart from bringing in JLRs traditional suppliers, the fourth carmaker is an opportunity for existing suppliers, too. The proximity to JLRs network of traditional suppliers, the existing network of suppliers and experiences in aluminium components were the main reasons why JLR chose Slovakia for its latest facility. Not only carmakers Apart from four carmakers, there is a network of suppliers and companies from the chemical industry, IT, machine engineering industry, metallurgy and others that contribute to car production, making the automotive sector a cross-sectoral industry. ZAP assesses the current network of suppliers in Slovakia as well-developed. This is one of the basic preconditions for keeping the automotive industry sustainable and competitive, said Jan Pribula, secretary general of ZAP, adding that a network of suppliers and how much these are developed is a stabilising factor of the automotive industry. ZAP estimates the number of suppliers at about 350 based on its statistics for 2017. Automotive industry in Slovakia in 2017 Share of annual GDP: 12 percent Share of automotive production in industrial production in Slovakia: 44 percent Share of automotive production in the industrial export of Slovakia: 35 percent Number of people employed directly in automotive production: more than 154,000 Number of people employed in the automotive industry in total, including induced work places: more than 270,000 Industrial export generated by automotive production: more than 31.8 billion Number of cars produced in Slovakia in 2017: 1,032,445 Source: ZAP SR Of these, 99 were listed in the Tier 1/system supplier category, which covers those who can manage all production steps from the development of individual components to production and delivery and are the most developed. The Tier 2 category contained 97 suppliers and the Tier 3 listed 151 companies. 40 percent of the goods produced by these companies is distributed within Slovakia and the remaining 60 percent is exported. System suppliers significantly support diversification of the industrial mix in Slovakia, said Maros Stano, spokesperson of the Economy Ministry, adding that they can also supply their products to sectors other than automotive, like the aero or space industries. System suppliers that are growing not only in terms of production but also focus on production of components with higher-added value and invest into research and development are especially important for Slovakias economy. Martin Jesny, industrial analyst at the Revue Priemyslu magazine, sees the number of system suppliers in Slovakia as low while neighbouring Hungary and the Czech Republic have more of such companies. Of the existing companies in Slovakia, he highlighted Matador, Adient, Continental, and Brose. System suppliers are the companies increasing the added value generated in the industrial sector, the desired inflow of R&D and the way Slovakia can have its say in how the mobility of the future will look, Jesny told The Slovak Spectator. ZAP would also welcome more system suppliers in Slovakia. Right now, it is unsatisfied with the complexity and lack of interconnectivity of the whole supply chain i.e. from the Tier 3 up to Tier 1 level. It is necessary to do more to join suppliers from lower rankings to the supply chains and make the supply chain in the region complete to ensure its effective and sustainable operation, said Pribula, adding that becoming a Tier 1 supplier is a very demanding and especially costly process that is not easy to manage. The arrival of new suppliers may be affected by stimuli, the business environment, cost level, security and stability, the education system but also whether there are suitable projects, potential clients, a locality and available infrastructure. The Economy Ministry expects that the arrival of JLR may increase the number of suppliers. 11. Jan 2019 at 9:54 | Jana Liptakova Slovakia again breaks record in car production This year will be extremely demanding for the automotive industry in Slovakia. In 2018, more than one million vehicles rolled off the carmaker's production lines in Slovakia again. Volkswagen Slovakia, Kia Motors Slovakia, PSA Group Slovakia, and Jaguar Land Rover produced more than 1,080,000 vehicles, which is the highest figure in the history of the Slovak Republic. In the past few years, Slovakia has remained at the top of the world ranking in the number of cars produced per 1,000 inhabitants. In 2018, it kept its primacy by 198 vehicles. The results of the past year have turned out very well, which of course we are very glad about, said Alexander Matusek, the president of the Slovak Automotive Industry Association (ZAP) at a press conference on January 10. But one should realise that the automotive industry will face significant changes in the near future. This year will thus be extremely demanding. Read also: Alexander Matusek: The automotive industry will undergo revolutionary changes Read more The challenges facing Slovakias automotive industry include global ones linked especially with legislation reducing emissions in new cars. There will be local ones as well pertaining to a continuing shortage of qualified labour, instability and weak predictability of the business environment, low levels of R&D activities and insufficient development of cooperation between academia and industry and the low level of development of mobility on the basis of alternative propulsions and preparation for new forms of mobility. ZAP estimates that car production will to amount to 1.15 million this year when the brand new Jaguar Land Rover plant Lower in Nitra, which launched production only in late October, is expected to contribute to the final number. 11. Jan 2019 at 6:21 | Compiled by Spectator staff Special prosecutor now wants the original Gorilla recording Dusan Kovacik has blocked this important investigation several times in the past. Font size: A - | A + Special Prosecutor Dusan Kovacik is now interested in the recording found in the safe of currently imprisoned businessman Marian Kocner. He has asked the investigative team for the original, the Aktuality.sk news website reported. The recording allegedly includes conversations between politicians and Jaroslav Hascak of the Penta financial group about kickbacks and corruption during the rule of the second cabinet of Mikulas Dzurinda in the wiretapped flat on Vazovova Street in Bratislava between the years 2005 and 2006. Read also: Police found recordings from the infamous Gorilla file in Kocners flat Read more The investigators of the Gorilla team originally handed in only a copy of the recording to Kovacik. He then required the original from Kocners safe but in written form. He has not yet received this. The case is still under investigation, said Lukas Kyselica, head of the Gorilla team, as quoted by Aktuality.sk. When the information about the recording leaked to the public, Penta immediately required that it be destroyed. The company has turned to the Special Prosecutors Office led by Kovacik. Kovacik meanwhile denied the allegation that he was obstructing the investigation, according to spokesperson Jana Tokolyova. The special prosecutor, as the overseeing prosecutor, only used his legal authority according to Criminal Order regulations, she said, as quoted by the Dennik N daily. What are the obstacles? The recording is important because the transcript in the Gorilla file only contains some of the dialogues. Moreover, it is not a literal transcript. The Gorilla team is also investigating the suspicion that the recordings might have been be traded. Read also: Q&A: The Gorilla Case Read more The police have started prosecution in this case twice. Kovacik halted the first without explaining his decision. Later, when the prosecution was renewed, Kovacik took the file from the former head of the team Marek Gajdos and gave it to another investigator. Gajdos left the police after quarrels with Kovacik and then-police corps president Tibor Gaspar, Aktuality.sk reported. Kovacik also kept refusing attempts by the investigators to question a key witness in the Gorilla case, former member of the Slovak Information Service (SIS) intelligence agency, Peter Holubek, who was responsible for recording Hascaks interviews with influential politicians and state officers. hRead also: Special prosecutor Kovacik will not leave for now Read more Police officers did eventually question Holubek. However, a key witness described it as comedy. The questioning related only to peripheral things that were not important from the Gorilla point of view, he said, as quoted by Aktuality.sk. 11. Jan 2019 at 5:56 | Compiled by Spectator staff Tesco in Bratislava centre changes hands A businessman from Zilina added the iconic department store to his earlier acquisitions from Tesco. The iconic building of the British retail chain Tesco department store in the centre of Bratislava has changed hands. The new owner of the building is the Mirage Shopping Center company of Zilina-based businessman George Trabelssie. Since 2016 the retail chain Tesco has sold five department stores across Slovakia. Trabelssie, who is close to former chair of the Slovak National Party (SNS) Jan Slota, acquired Tesco department stores also in Nitra and Zilina, the Hospodarske Noviny business daily reported. Tesco will continue to operate in the building on Kamenne Square as it will rent the premises. We plan to continue to bring our services to customers in this locality, said Lucia Polacekova, PR manager of Tesco in Slovakia, as cited by Hospodarske Noviny. While the sum of the transaction has not been disclosed, the retail chain plans to invest the proceeds into its 150 outlets and services it provides in more than one hundred towns across Slovakia. In total it now owns 64 hypermarkets, 57 supermarkets and 29 express shops in the country. Tesco announced its plans to sell the department store in early 2018. While the building has already undergone several reconstructions in order to meet the expectations of customers, it needs extensive funds for its restoration. What next with the square? Trabelssie is expected to introduce his plans with the department store to the Bratislava city council and the public soon. The Bratislava city council plans to promulgate an architectonic contest for the revitalisation of Kamenne Square and adjacent SNP Square. So far, it has held no talks with the new owner. We believe that the sale of the department store will neither be an obstacle nor a complication to the citys intentions, said Katarina Kohutikova from the media department of the Bratislava city council, as cited by the daily. Other owners of real estate on Kamenne Square is the British developer Lordship and the city. Lordship negotiated with the British retail chain over the acquisition of the building several times, but they failed to agree upon a price. The developer originally had extensive plans with the square, but later reduced them. Iconic department store The department store is part of a complex designed by renowned architect Ivan Matusik and built between 1961 and 1973. The building of the then state retail chain Prior was opened in 1968. At that time it was the first department store of its kind on the territory of todays Slovakia. Apart from the new shopping style, the possibility of shopping for all kinds of goods in one place, buyers also had to get used to another novelty escalators. On its facade is Bratislavas calendar carillon clock by sculptor Jaroslav Kocis. Opening of the first part of the then Prior department store in 1968. (Source: TASR) Later, the triangle-shaped department store paneled with Slovak white travertine was extended by an oblong-shaped building interconnected with the neighbouring Kyjev Hotel. The project counted on a planned metro underground station under Kamenne Square, the Dennik N recalled, but the plan has never materialised. After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, the department store was bought by the American retail chain K-Mart. Tesco bought it in 1996. Architects and other experts, who consider the complex an excellent example of modern architecture, have tried to get the whole complex declared a national cultural monument; so far their efforts have failed. 11. Jan 2019 at 9:01 | Compiled by Spectator staff Why a Pyramid? As the only upside-down pyramid in the world it conceals a unique slide atrium, even creating a spiritual space. More than 30 years from its completion, the upside-down pyramid-shaped Slovak Radio building raises different opinions. In 2001 it won first place in the Building of the Century survey in the Civil Structures in Slovakia category. The Telegraph placed it on a list of the worlds ugliest buildings. It happens when a building is so unusual and so different from others that it creates some dislike, architect Stefan Bekes told The Slovak Spectator. This will settle down over time and the public will begin to gradually appreciate its values. This was the case with the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Atomium in Brussels. Like them, the inverted pyramid, alongside the castle, the Kamzik TV tower, the SNP Bridge, and the SNG extension, has become a symbol of Bratislava, said Bekes. He is the author of a successful proposal to declare the inverted pyramid a Preco pyramida/Why Pyramid? The richly illustrated Slovak-English book with a lot of documentation was published by the publishing house Spektrum STU, on the occasion of the announcement of the Slovak Radio building as a national cultural monument. Its author, the architect Stefan Bekes, recounts the history of the building to its present day in a popular and educational way accessible to the lay public. It includes proposals for its future adaptation. national cultural landmark. He also wrote the Slovak-English book Preco pyramida/Why Pyramid? I hope that after reading it people will have a fresh look at the radio building, said Bekes. At first there was little courage The former Czechoslovak Radio building originated in the 1960s. First, an urban planning competition was held to answer the question of where the building would be located, choosing the existing site. The second, architectural one, answered the question of its form. None of the submitted projects satisfied the assignment. The jury was looking for a technically innovative and experimental building, but the architects did not have enough courage to design such a building, said Bekes. Only after the competition did the team of architects around Stefan Svetko come up with the inverted pyramid project. It was designed in an architectural style on the rise in the West brutalism. The design was characterised by simple, block-like forms and concrete construction, mundane functions exposed. In Slovakia, this style is called technicalism, and its other examples are SNP Bridge and the Kamzik TV tower. The project of the inverted pyramid with another pyramid inside, attracted the jurors so much that they unanimously recommended it to the investor, said Bekes. The construction began in August 1968 and lasted a long 16 years. The first radio employees moved into the new building in 1984. The regular broadcast from this building officially started in 1985. Thats why the public still connects this building with normalisation and totalitarianism, said Bekes. But its idea dates back to the political thaw in the 1960s and its legacy. During normalisation, such a building would have been unimaginable. 11. Jan 2019 at 5:55 | Jana Liptakova New look-out tower rises in northern Slovakia The tower overlooks one of the biggest prehistoric settlements in the Slovak area. More information about travelling in Slovakia Please see our Please see our Spectacular Slovakia travel guide The new lookout tower on the Small Hill above Divinka-Lalinok village near Zilina is now accessible to the public. The tower was built in six months as part of a microproject with the Polish village of Spytkowice and cost about 60,000. The tower is located near Great Hill which is national cultural monument, said Michal Krsko, the mayor of the village, as quoted by the TASR newswire. (Source: Courtesy of Divinka-Lalinok) Archaeological research has been ongoing in this locality for six years. It was one of the biggest settlements in the Slovak area in prehistoric times, Krsko added. The new lookout tower should make the village more attractive and show its rich history. It is an easy hike from the village for families with children, taking about 40 minutes, said the mayor, as quoted by TASR. Nice weather offers a view extending to the Mala Fatras, Lietavsky Castle and the whole Zilinska basin. video //www.youtube.com/embed/sRmQLJAwOYA 11. Jan 2019 at 6:27 | Compiled by Spectator staff In the midst of a federal government shutdown, its easy to get caught up in the short-term consequences: the federal workers going without pay, the long lines at airport security, the overflowing toilets at national parks. But the long-term effects may be even more devastating, at least when it comes to cybersecurityand the problems could affect more than just the government. At the moment, many of the Department of Homeland Security employees responsible for civilian cybersecurity efforts, including threat analysis and sharing information with private industry, have been furloughed. But even if the shutdown ends soon, it may scare talented people away from taking government cybersecurity jobswhich are already a struggle to fill. According to a report published on Dec. 31 by Duo Securitys newsletter Decipher, the shutdown could affect more than just the governments own online security posture. It could, and perhaps already has, weaken private enterprise security as well, argues report author Fahmida Rashid. Rashid points out that nearly 85 percent of the National Institute of Standards and Technologys staff members are furloughed during the shutdown, a terrifying number given the central importance of NIST security and privacy standards for not just government agencies but also many private companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NIST develops, publishes, and updates several important documents that give guidelines for securing computer systems. Most are available through its Computer Security Resource Center, which is currently offline (though, interestingly, it is still possible to access their cybersecurity framework). NIST standards cover everything from what kind of encryption you should use to how you should authenticate user accounts, store sensitive data, monitor network intrusions, and respond to security incidents. By law, only federal agencies are required to follow the security guidelines issued by NIST, but many other organizations also rely on them as reputable, comprehensive, and well-vetted recommendations for best practices in computer security. The shutdown probably will make the federal government less effective when it comes to securing its own networks and helping others secure theirs. Several of those standards can still be located on other websites that have published PDFs of the popular documents, but some of them arent up to date. (Also, with the NIST website down, it can be tough to remember which versions are actually the most recent ones.) And while the website outages are (hopefully!) temporary, for organizations making decisions about security or encryption during this shutdown, not having access to NIST standards could have long-lasting consequences. Advertisement Meanwhile, over at the Department of Homeland Securitythe branch of government responsible for governing all civilian cybersecurity efforts45 percent of employees at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are furloughed, as are 45 percent of DHSs analysis and operations staff, Rashid reports. Thats a blow to companies that rely on DHS for threat intelligence and information sharing, but its also a problem for the department, which has worked hard to try to build relationships with industry and persuade the private sector that it is a useful and knowledgeable partner when it comes to cybersecurity. That was a hard sell even before DHS was forced to put a large portion of its cyber operations and analysis teams on furloughthe shutdown will just reinforce many firms sense that DHS is too slow, bureaucratic, and inept to be an effective resource when it comes to cybersecurity. Advertisement Advertisement Depressingly, the shutdown probably will make the federal government less effective when it comes to securing its own networks and helping others secure theirsnot just because skilled workers are home on furlough right now but also because many of those workers are probably (understandably) looking for other jobs. And, as Joseph Marks points out in the Washington Post, they will probably find other jobs. Theres no shortage of openings for cybersecurity workers in the private sector, and those jobs often come with better pay, more flexibility, and more perks (unlimited vacation time! free snacks! in-house laundry! ping-pong tables in the office!) than federal government jobs. Its already a challenge for the U.S. government to recruit cybersecurity talent. In February, the Government Accountability Office published a report titled Cybersecurity Workforce: Urgent Need for DHS to Take Actions to Identify Its Position and Critical Skill Requirements that revealed that DHS had not even identified all of its vacant cybersecurity positions, much less filled them. Advertisement How much worse could the situation get after an extended shutdown? At the very best, the federal government will almost certainly lose some of its most talented and experienced workers in this area, many of whom were only working for the government in the first place because they believed that the work they were doing there was important and worthwhile. Once they are forced to stop doing that work, why stay? At worst, the shutdown will deter younger professionals and students finishing school from looking at entry-level positions in the federal government for fear of dysfunction and instability and it will be years and years before government agencies are able to recruit highly skilled teams of cybersecurity professionals. Advertisement Stability and the opportunity to do work that really matters have always been the strongest draws of federal cybersecurity jobs for people who could find more highly paid work in the private sector. The shutdown undermines both of those appeals and discourages those people who are in government primarily because of their sense of national loyalty and desire to make a difference. Advertisement Less than a year ago, DHS and the Department of Commerce presented a report to President Donald Trump on the cybersecurity workforce shortage (a report I cant link you to at the moment because it was hostedyou guessed iton the NIST website) per his 2017 executive order on cybersecurity. The report highlighted the shortage of cybersecurity workers in the country and especially cautioned that the government would face challenges recruiting talent in this area due to its pay scale, arguing, The seriousness of the Nations cybersecurity workforce gaps merits a high-level initiative to raise awareness and create a sense of urgency about the importance of growing and sustaining a world-class cybersecurity workforce. But so far, at least, the government seems determined to make its problem worse, not better. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. On Wednesday, NBC News reported that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would be leaving the administration if and when William P. Barr is confirmed as attorney general, but only after special counsel Robert Mueller has issued a final report on his Russia investigation. Rosenstein staying in the job until the completion of the Mueller probe will hopefully serve as a necessary check on Barr, who takes an astonishingly expansive view of executive power that contradicts the basic tenets of his purported belief in constitutional originalism and that could threaten the very core of the Mueller investigation. Advertisement In June, Barr wrote a memo to Justice Department officials to attack the special counsel investigation, and specifically a theory of the case for potential presidential obstruction of justice based entirely on media speculation regarding Muellers intentions. Its weird for a lawyer to write a 19-page single-spaced memo attacking a hypothetical theory. But the memo includes two sentences that betray both Barrs extremism in defining the powers of the president and a deep lack of seriousness when it comes to constitutional interpretation. Advertisement Advertisement Barr, a former attorney general under George H.W. Bush, writes, Constitutionally, it is wrong to conceive of the President as simply the highest officer within the Executive branch hierarchy. He alone is the Executive branch. Advertisement From this extraordinary premise, Barr derives an extraordinary conclusion: Because the President alone constitutes the Executive branch, the President cannot recuse himself from control over any federal prosecutorial investigation, including an investigation in which he has a personal stake. In other words, he is constitutionally entitled to call off any prosecution, even if he, his family members, or close associates are likely targets. The implications for presidential power of this theory were set forth by Barr himself through a series of memorandums. What Barr ignores is that Article II of the Constitutionthe charter for the executive branchexplicitly refutes this reading. Article II refers specifically to separate executive Departments. So, constitutionally, it is nonsense to assert that the president alone is the executive branch. Barrs rhetorical bravado might well be understood as just a shorthand reference to an idea that he championed as a Justice Department official in the George H.W. Bush administration. The idea, as Barrs memo relates it, is that the president is the sole repository of all Executive powers conferred by the Constitution. He continues, The full measure of law enforcement authority is placed in the Presidents hands, and no limit is placed on the kinds of cases subject to his control and supervision. Again, this reading, which former Vice President Al Gore dubbed the theory of the unilateral executive, blatantly ignores the plain meaning of the words in the Constitution as well as the facts of the founding era. Advertisement Advertisement The implications for presidential power of this theory were set forth by Barr himself through a series of memorandums issued by the Office of Legal Counsel during the first Bush presidency. The most comprehensive of these, a document Barr signed as assistant attorney general in 1989, is entitled Common Legislative Encroachments on Executive Branch Authority. What is shocking about this 1989 memo is how often it asserts unfounded claims of presidential power without any regard for constitutional text or its interpretation by the founding generation. Barr wrote, for example, It has long been recognized that the President, both personally and through his subordinates in the executive branch, determines and articulates the Nations foreign policy. Articulates, yes. Determines, absolutely not. Article I assigns to Congress a host of specific powers with undoubtedly profound impacts on foreign policy, including the powers to regulate foreign commerce, to raise and support armies and the Navy, to determine the domestic application of international law, and to declare war. Advertisement The 1989 OLC memo also contends that Congress violates the presidents appointment powers by impos[ing] impermissible qualifications requirements on principal officers. It objects, for example, to long-standing statutory requirements that a fixed number of members of certain commissions be from a particular political party. This would have surprised the first Congress, which required, for example, that the president appoint an attorney general learned in the law. There is no evidence that the Framers thought it impermissible for Congress to set broad requirements for holding federal appointive office. Advertisement Barrs 1989 memo further asserted that statutory requirements mandating administrative reports both to Congress and the president infringe upon the Presidents authority as head of a unitary executive to control the presentation of the executive branchs views to Congress. Such an argument also would have puzzled the first Congress, which required that the secretary of the treasury make report, and give information to either branch of the legislature. Barrs treatment of these questions is unsettlingespecially given his supposed philosophical commitment to constitutional originalism. Advertisement This brings me back to the fundamental premise of presidential unilateralism, namely, that the president is the sole repository of all Executive powers conferred by the Constitution. This is flat-out false and especially pernicious in its obliviousness to the history of criminal prosecution. First, Article II of the Constitution gives the Senate both the executive power of concurring in treaties and the executive confirmation power regarding presidential appointments of all principal officers of government. Indeed, Alexander Hamilton was so persuaded by the latter grant of executive power to the Senate that he asserted the Senate would have to confirm not only the appointment of presidential appointees but also their removal. It is just as clear that those who voted for the Constitution would not have understood that the vesting of executive power in the president would have given him complete authority over criminal prosecution. In the 18th and 19th centuriesand clearly, when Article II was ratifiedcriminal prosecutors were thought to be instruments of judicial authority. Advertisement Advertisement Early state constitutions, some drafted before and some drafted after 1789, commonly regarded attorneys general or states attorneys as judicial officers. Six of the first 13 state constitutions mention an attorney general specifically, and each lists them with judges and judicial officers. States attorneys were appointed by courts in Connecticut, by the Legislature in Vermont, and eventually also by the Legislature in Tennessee. As for criminal prosecutions specifically, Americans inherited a common-law tradition of private prosecution, which persisted among the states well into the 19th century. In her landmark study of the history of criminal prosecution, Joan Jacoby wrote nearly 40 years ago, At the beginning of the nineteenth century in America, the district attorney was viewed as a minor figure in the court, an adjunct to the judge. His position was primarily judicial, and perhaps only quasi-executive. Advertisement Traces of the judicial character of prosecution persist even in federal law today. Congress did not give the attorney general supervisory authority over U.S. attorneys until 1861, which made them, constitutionally speaking, inferior officers in the executive branch. But just 18 months after Congress did so, it followed up with legislation providing that, should any such office become vacant, the judge of the relevant federal circuit would fill the vacancy until a new presidential nominee was confirmed and appointed. Today, the attorney general fills vacancies in U.S. attorney slots. If 120 days pass, however, without a presidential nominee confirmed and appointed, an acting U.S. attorney is appointed by the relevant U.S. district court. Advertisement Advertisement The implications of this history are twofold: First, the founding generation would not have thought voting to ratify Article II meant ratifying plenary presidential control over criminal prosecution. Barrs insistence that Article II guarantees presidents that power is thus ahistorical. Congress has already limited the presidents direct control over special counsels by vesting the authority to supervise them in the attorney general, not the presidenta chain of command that presidents are legally bound to respect. If Congress were to go further and prohibit the discharge of special counsels except for good cause, it would likewise not be intruding on any authority that the Framers imagined they were bestowing on presidents. Advertisement If confirmed to be attorney general, though, Barr will likely have none of this. What his 1989 handiwork shows, along with his June 8 memorandum on the Mueller investigation, is a readiness to spout whatever textually oblivious, historically unfounded Article II interpretation is necessary to fend off legal accountability for the president. But despite what Barr may offer and what Trump has demanded, the attorney general is not supposed to be the presidents personal enabler. The attorney general is supposed to be the most important legal officer in the executive branch, bound to the Constitution and not the presidents whims. With Republicans holding the majority in the Senate, the confirmation of William Barr is all but certain. He is also all but certainly the wrong person for the job. On Dec. 20, a man in Vacaville, California, walked into a grocery store, bought a $30 scratch-off lottery ticket, and thought he had won $10,000. He brought the good news home to his two roommatesa grave mistake, those familiar with the back-stabbingfilled history of lottery-related crime would have warned him. The next day, he drove the 45 miles to Sacramento to claim his winnings. But employees at the California State Lottery district office told him that his ticket had been altered and was not a winner. The man, who has not been named, became suspicious. He went back to the grocery store and then filed a report with police. Later the same day, one of his roommates, a 35-year-old man named Adul Saosongyang, made the same trip to the lottery office, where he cashed a winning ticketwhich was actually worth $10 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Saosongyangs alleged plan unraveled. The supermarket, which the lottery contacted to confirm the winning ticket, said it may have been stolen, and the lottery and Vacaville Police teamed up to investigate. On Monday, the lottery investigator invited Saosongyang back to Sacramento to collect his winnings, but he was instead met by police, who arrested him and charged him with grand theft. The polices conclusion: Saosongyang had bought a similar scratch-off ticket and secretly swapped it with the winning one. The story doesnt end there: The original buyer has yet to receive his winnings. And with $10 million on the line, the question of its fate isnt a small one. So what happens if your roommate steals your jackpot-winning lottery ticket? Advertisement The unnamed man isnt guaranteed his prize, according to independent lottery watchdog Dawn Nettles, who has run the publication Lotto Report since 1993. Whenever the ownership of a winning ticket is uncertain, it gets labeled a disputed claimand the purchaser wont necessarily get the benefit of the doubt. According to Nettles, because a states lottery sometimes benefits from unclaimed winnings, it often will investigate disputes carefully and refuse to hand out winnings in cases where it has any legitimate reason to question the identity of the winner. In California, though, the lottery does not financially benefit from disputed claims, and a spokesman said its investigators work as efficiently as they can under their limitations to find the true owner of the ticket. The California Lottery wouldnt go into detail about its process for handling disputed or suspicious claims. Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance footage is typically key in verifying a winners identity. When you buy a lottery ticket from a gas station, convenience store, or supermarket, youre almost certainly on camera. Once your ticket registers as a winning one in the store, the lottery will be alerted. (In California, for any prize over $350,000, an investigation is automatically launched.) According to Nettles, the common practice would be for someone associated with the lottery to call the store and ask to meet to examine footage from the day the ticket was bought. There are other steps that state lotteries normally take when investigating a disputed ticket: Theyll usually bring the claimant in for something similar to a police interview to ask details about the purchase. Investigators might also speak to employees at the store. Your case would be bolstered if you are a regular. (That said, Nettles still cautioned against announcing your good luck to the whole store. Shes heard of cases of people being tackled or assaulted on the spot over a winning lottery ticket.) According to Russell Lopez, a spokesman for the California Lottery, there are other elements in an investigation that can determine with greater certainty who made the purchase. If the ticket has been alteredif someone writes his name on the back of the ticket in ink and a friend steals the ticket and tries to cross out and replace the signature, for examplethe lottery could send the ticket to a forensics lab to determine whether the alteration was innocent or part of a scam. If they found the alteration was malicious, its possible the lottery would also not find the true owner, and the money would go unclaimed. And in the Vacaville case, where the alleged victim didnt sign his name and Saosongyang brought in an unmarked ticket, it was very possible that the suspect could have gotten away with theft if the victim hadnt reported it. Advertisement Advertisement But the Vacaville mans case, in fact, looks strong. According to the Lt. Chris Polen of the Vacaville police, cameras caught him both buying the ticket at the store and returning to a lottery-scanning machine in the store to verify it was a winner. A statement from the California Lottery also appears to indicate he has a good chance of getting his winnings: The Lottery is currently conducting its claim evaluation on this case. Once the Lottery verifies the identity of the winner of the ticket it will pay that claimant the $10 million prize. (Lopez said he couldnt estimate when the investigation would be done.) But for everyone else, heres the advice for how to best protect your prize money from the risk of scheming roommates: Interact with employees and/or make your face clearly visible to cameras at the store. Sign the back of ticket in ink when you win. Take your ticket to a safe and memorable spot. Get your legal affairs in order before you cash in on a large jackpot, but also dont wait too long and risk having the store delete footage of the purchase before you make your claim. Most importantly, keep the news, and your ticket, to yourself. After weeks of confusion and contradictory statements from Donald Trump and his advisers following the presidents Dec. 19 announcement of the withdrawal of 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting in the country announced Friday that the withdrawal had begun. Theres still plenty of confusion about U.S. plans, however, starting with conflicting reports about whether troops have actually started leaving. Reuters quotes residents near Syria-Iraq border crossings saying they had seen no obvious or large-scale movement of U.S. ground forces on Friday. But the AP quotes a report from the Britain-based Syria Observatory for Human Rights saying that on Thursday night, a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syrias northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether the withdrawal has physically begun yet or not, we have absolutely no idea how long it will take. Though Trump initially ordered the full withdrawal of troops to take place within 30 days, he later backtracked, saying it would happen over a period of time to allow for the protection of U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters who are threatened by a potential Turkish invasion. National Security Adviser John Bolton has said that any withdrawal would be contingent on a deal to protect the Kurds. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, currently touring the Middle East, has said the U.S. would work to expel every last Iranian boot from the countrycontradicting Trump, who has said that as far as hes concerned, the Iranians can do whatever they want in Syria. Advertisement Even before the withdrawal was ordered, the Pentagon provided little information on its anti-ISIS operations in Syria. Its clear that the fight against the group, which is still holding out in a pocket of Eastern Syria despite Trumps claim that the group is defeated, is continuing. ISIS launched a counterattack following Trumps announcement and last weekend killed a Kurdish fighter and injured two British soldiers with a missile attack. There have been unconfirmed reports of the U.S. ramping up its bombing campaign against ISIS near the Iraqi border and moving vehicles and equipment to the region in support of Kurdish forces. The U.N. says renewed fighting in ISIS-controlled areas has forced thousands of civilians to flee. Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Russias foreign ministry told reporters on Friday that the U.S. is not serious about withdrawal and is looking for a reason to stay. France and Britain are continuing their operations against ISIS. Turkey has stated its intention to launch another military intervention into Syria targeting the Kurdish YPG, a U.S.-backed group that Turkey considers a terrorist organization. Turkeys foreign minister said the timing for this operation is not contingent on the U.S. withdrawal, but Turkish leaders naturally should want to reduce the potential for conflict with U.S. forces. Syrian Kurdish leaders, meanwhile, are looking to secure a Russian-brokered deal with President Bashar al-Assads government. While the Kurds have fought for more autonomy from Damascus throughout the civil war, theyve generally avoided direct combat with government forces and have at times fought together against jihadist groups. In case youre keeping track, this means that a U.S. ally (the Kurds) is looking to align with a U.S. enemy (the Syrian government) in order to gain protection from another U.S. ally (Turkey.) For now, the confusion over Trumps intentions may actually be stabilizing things a bit as various actors in the conflict bide their time until the picture becomes more clear. The lull is unlikely to last. To listen to this episode of Trumpcast, use the player below: Get More Trumpcast Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to Trumpcast Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. Listen to Trumpcast via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play. Virginia Heffernan talks to Sarah Kendzior, author of The View From Flyover Country and co-host of the podcast Gaslit Nation, on specific examples of President Donald Trumps gaslighting, the strategies autocrats employ as they wield power, and why its important to be relentless about calling out lies. Further Reading Forget the wall. Trump Is the National Security Crisis, by Sarah Kendzior, Globe and Mail, Jan. 8 Were Heading Into Dark Times. This Is How to Be Your Own Light in the Age of Trump, by Sarah Kendzior, the Correspondent, Nov. 18, 2016 Follow Trumpcast on Twitter: @realtrumpcast Podcast production by Melissa Kaplan with help from Merritt Jacob. What in Gods name?!? From Media Matters: Before joining President Donald Trumps administration, right-wing commentator Robert W. Patterson argued against contraceptives because condom use robs women of the remarkable chemicals in semen. Its true. Patterson, who worked in communications for the second Bush administration, resigned a position under then-Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett in 2012 after the Philadelphia Inquirer revealed that hed written a blog post for a journal called The Family in America that shoehorned a Scientific American piece about (legitimate) sex/biology research into the thesis that women become shrill and suicidal unless theyre in contraceptive-free marriages before they reach their late 20s. From Pattersons post: Advertisement When the three psychologists conducted a preliminary study with 300 coeds in 2002, they discovered that young women who reported that their lover never used condoms showed significantly higher mood levels and fewer depressive symptoms as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, including thoughts of suicide, than those whose lover usually or always used condoms. While the three researchers, as well as Bering, do not explore the relationship of these fascinating findings to marriagea major oversighttheir insights nonetheless suggest that contraceptive-free marriages entered into at a relatively early age serve the interests and health of women far better than the current trend of cohabiting and contracepting couples waiting until their late 20s or early 30s to tie the knot, thinking they can manipulate Mother Nature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its never a good sign for your blogs hypothesis about marriage when you have to admit that the researchers youre citing do not explore the subject in any way. (For Pattersons conclusion to have validity hed need to consider the psychological benefits of, for example, not having unwanted pregnancies in college and/or not locking yourself into an unwanted early marriage.) But kudos to him, from one harried blogger to another, for persisting nonetheless. Deadlines, who needs them! In any case, Patterson lurked around for a while thinking about semen and then popped up under Trump working in communications for the Social Security Administration, where his job is, I assume, to add handwritten notes about sperm chemicals to the monthly checks. Shutdown aftershocks: The deleterious short-term effects of the government shutdown are clearfurloughed workers, shuttered museums, overflowing public toiletsbut other repercussions could reverberate for much longer. Josephine Wolff illustrates how the shutdown will have dire cybersecurity consequences, both within the government and without, for years to come. Not your place to decide: A recent piece in the Atlantic claimed that the holiday gift trend of weighted blankets was a form of cultural appropriation from people with autism. Sara Luterman dismisses this idea: As an autistic person, did I ask for this defense? In fact, nondisabled people using amenities originally designed for disabled people does nothing but improve our lives. Advertisement Time is a flat circle: After a convoluted, poorly reviewed second season, True Detective is back, with Oscar winner Mahershala Ali as its star. Willa Paskin says the third season riffs on the firstbut thats not necessarily a good thing. Out of the muck: Copenhagen and Hong Kong are trying to expand their geographical reach, set up homes for citizens, and create new jobs by investing in artificial islandsreclaiming land from water for the supposed benefit of the people. But this practice comes at an extreme environmental cost. Henry Grabar investigates. For fun: Which smart speaker should you trust mostand least? A tragic misstep in evolution, Vicky Mike Pompeos speech in Cairo on Thursday might not be the worst address ever delivered in a foreign country by a sitting secretary of state, but I dont know what beats it. His goals were to refute the speech that President Obama gave at the same site in June 2009 and to clarify President Trumps policies in the Middle East. By both those measures, the speech was a blatant failurea gross distortion of what Obama said a decade ago and a comically unrecognizable description of his own administrations policies. Advertisement The speechdelivered to an invited audience of Egyptian officials, foreign diplomats, and students at American University in Cairowent after Obama, while never mentioning his name, from nearly the outset. His first remarks on the unnamable: Advertisement Advertisement Remember, it was here, here in this city, that another American stood before you. He told you that radical Islamist terrorism does not stem from ideology. He told you that 9/11 led my country to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East. He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed a new beginning. The results of these misjudgments have been dire. In falsely seeing ourselves as a force for what ails the Middle East, we were timid about asserting ourselves when the timesand our partnersdemanded it. Advertisement Lets begin parsing the falsehoods here. It is untrue that Obama claimed radical Islamic terrorism does not stem from ideology. The word ideology appears nowhere in that earlier speech. What he said was that the 9/11 terrorists did not represent the full face of Islam. Nor did Obama say that 9/11 led the United States to abandon its ideals. Rather, he said that the attacks led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile. This was the contextand the motivationbehind Obamas speech. He was condemning the small but potent minority of violent extremists who exploited these tensions between Islam and the Westand calling on both sides to end their long-churning cycle of suspicion and discord to find common ground. Advertisement Advertisement Nor did Obama blame the United States for the Middle Easts ails. He did note that tensions have been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims and by a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Can anyone whos ever read a history book dispute this analysis? Obama criticized Israels expansive settlements policy and called for a two-state solution to its conflict with Palestinians (the standard U.S. view at the time), but he also called on Hamas to reject violence and recognize Israels right to exist. It takes a certain amount of twisted courage, I suppose, for Pompeo to stand before a global audience and make such claims. Where are the misjudgments here, much less the dire consequences? Pompeo claimed that as a result of the Obama eras self-criticism, we were timid in asserting ourselves. This, he said, led to the rise of ISIS and the failed nuclear deal, which spurred the expansion of Iranian influence. Advertisement Then came the chest-puffing part of the speech. The good news is this, Pompeo proclaimed. The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering. In less than two years, the United States under President Trump has reasserted its traditional role as a force for good in this region. Weve learned from our mistakes. Weve rediscovered our voice. Weve rebuilt our relationships. Weve rejected false overtures from our enemies. And look at what weve accomplished. America has confronted the ugly reality of radical Islamism, withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal, launched two large airstrikes on Syria in response to Bashar al-Assads use of chemical weapons, and bolstered a coalition of allies and partners to dismantle the Islamic States caliphate. Advertisement Advertisement There is a lot to unpack here. First, for better or for worse, Obama was hardly timid about asserting U.S. power. Seven months after his speech, he sent about 35,000 additional American troops to Afghanistan and authorized a new counterinsurgency strategy. It was Obama who assembled the coalition against ISIS, and while Trumps looser rules of engagement may have sped up the collapse of the caliphate by several months, his generals were intensifying the Obama administrations strategy, not reversing it. Yes, Obama decided not to strike when Assad fired chemical weapons at his own people, and maybe he should have (its a complicated story), but Trumps airstrikes have had little if any effect on Assads strength or cruelty. (One day after the first volley of cruise missiles, against a Syrian air base, Assad launched planes to attack civilian protesters from the very same base.) Advertisement Second, it is sad to see Pompeo adopt Trumps juvenile rhetoric about the Iran nuclear deal, which is similar to his description of the failed New York Times (another Trump trope) only in the sense that both are stunning successes. The Times paid circulation is higher than ever since Trump took office, and international inspectors have attested, time and again, that Iran is abiding by the terms of the deal. Advertisement Pompeo touted that Trump had reversed our willful blindness to the Iranian regimes danger and reimposed sanctions that should never have been lifted. But the only sanctions Obama lifted were those that had been imposed after the discovery of Irans covert and illegal nuclear program. Once Iran dismantled that program, it only made sense to lift the sanctions. Sanctions that had been imposed for other reasonsIrans missile program and support of terroristsremained in place. Advertisement As for Pompeos boasts that, under Trump, the United States has learned from our mistakes rediscovered our voice rebuilt our relationships, one can only imagine the smirks and raised eyebrows this elicited from some in the audience. (The speech prompted only tepid applause at the end and some loud but confined clapping midway through when he thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for his courage in opposing the twisted ideology of Islamic terrorism.) In the wake of Trumps mixed signals over whether U.S. troops are actually withdrawing from Syria, his failure to make a single diplomatic overture to mend the Syria crisis, his indifference to advances in that country by Iran and Russia, and his feeble effort at an Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative, it takes a certain amount of twisted courage, I suppose, for Pompeo to stand before a global audience and make such claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What about Trumps announcement of a troop withdrawal and John Boltons assertion that the troops will stay, pending certain conditions? Pompeo hardly cleared up the confusion. President Trump has made the decision to bring our troops home from Syria but this isnt a change of mission, he said. We remain committed to the complete dismantling of ISISthe ISIS threatand the ongoing fight against radical Islamism in all of its forms. But were looking to our partners to do more, and in this effort we will do so going forward together, including helping to expel every last Iranian boot. Lets leave aside the fact that Trump has said the Iranians can do whatever they want in Syria. Pompeo did not explain how we will do anything in this ongoing fight without some military presence on the ground. (He suggested that U.S. airstrikes will continue, but even pilots and aircrews require ground troops for their security.) Advertisement America is a force for good in the Middle East, Pompeo said at the start of his speech. But to the extent he defined good, it was solely in terms of helping certain allies (mainly Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia) while hurting certain enemies (ISIS, terrorists, and especially Iran). There was no recognition of complexity: Nothing was said about the Saudi bombing of Yemen (only Iran was painted as a force for bad, contrary to human-rights organizations); nothing was said about Trumps divisions with Europe over Iran; nothing was said (one way or the other) about the role of Russia or Turkey in the Syrian conflict, or the Saudi murder of a U.S.-based journalist. Advertisement Obama may have been naive in hoping that the pursuit of common ground and mutual interests might soothe the ancient tensions between Shiite and Sunni Muslims or upend the chessboard of Great Game geopolitics that have played on those tensions for centuries. But Pompeos speech makes clearer than ever that Trump has no interest in trying to soothe anything: He wants to take sides in the conflict, join the warbut even here, he has no idea how to do so with authority or effectiveness. He is indulging in partisan mythologies that bear little relation to the actual past and shed little insight on a fruitful way forward. A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged with the kidnapping of 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who was found safe Thursday afternoon in northwest Wisconsin. He was also charged with the Oct. 15 murder of her parents. The suspect, an unemployed man identified as Jake Thomas Patterson, lived in Gordon, Wisconsin, where Closs was found, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said at a press conference Friday. Investigators believe he was only targeting Jayme in his alleged crimes and that he had no previous contact with the family, Fitzgerald said. Authorities also said that Patterson had planned his actions and that they were not looking for any other suspects. They do not yet know how he found or why he focused on Jayme, authorities said. Advertisement The news brought relief to the community of Barron, where Jayme had lived nearby with her parents James, 56, and Denise, 46, and shocked the rural town of Gordon, about 70 miles north, where Jayme surfaced, dirty and malnourished. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Jayme was rescued after she reportedly escaped and found a woman who had been walking her dog. That woman, identified by USA Today as a social worker named Jeanne Nutter, said she saw Jayme walking toward her, yelling for help. Nutter, unsure of where the potential abductor could be and determined to get Jayme to a safe place, took her to a neighbors home. This is Jayme Closs! Call 911! Nutter told the neighbor, a local teacher. Jayme, as the neighbor described her to the the Star-Tribune, was a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair, wearing shoes too big for her feet. Advertisement The neighbor told the Star-Tribune that Jayme appeared pretty flat emotionally and that she said she did not know where she was. She said from the conversation she believed Jayme had been in Gordon for most of her disappearance. According to the authorities, Jayme gave investigators a description of Pattersons vehicle, and they were quickly able find and seize him. Jayme disappeared on Oct. 15, when sheriffs deputies arrived at her familys home to find the door kicked in and both of her parents shot to death. In the months that followed, authorities pursued thousands of tips, and at one point, 2,000 volunteers gathered to conduct a search of rural Barron County, according to the Associated Press. After police arrived, Jayme was taken to a hospital, according to the Star-Tribune, and reunited with family. Nutter told USA Today that while Jayme had appeared to be in shock, she otherwise looked physically unharmed. On Wednesday, billionaire California investor Tom Steyer announced that hes decided against running for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Hell instead continue his current project of funding aggressive, impeachment-oriented activism.) CNNs Harry Enten subsequently noted that in a primary environment in which Democrats view a number of potential nominees very favorably, Steyerand other businessmen who were/are considering runningare among the few who poll poorly. (Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur/venture capital guy; Howard Schultz was the CEO of Starbucks.) Advertisement The potential 2020 who were businessmen (Steyer, Yang, and Bloomberg) had an average net fav of +1 in the last CNN/Selzer poll of Iowa. All other 2020 contenders had an average net fav of +26. I don't think Dems want a businessman as their nominee. (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) January 9, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, I couldn't figure out why Andrew Yang had a 5% fav & 12% unfav in the poll. Then I realized he was introduced as "businessman". People were likely just going off that. Oh and just 17% said Howard Schultz would "add" to the campaign. Lowest of all tested on that question. (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) January 9, 2019 Advertisement Last week, CNBC ran a piece reporting that New York senator and maybe2020 candidate Kirsten Gillibrand had reached out to potential presidential-campaign donors on Wall Street. The piece was immediately circulated by prominent leftists on Twitterand was perceived as so potentially dangerous by Gillibrand that she responded directly to one of those critics with a list of her tough-on-finance bona fides. As New Yorks Eric Levitz notes, Gillibrand and other potential 2020 Dem candidates whove gotten big finance-industry donations in the past have spent the past two years endorsing as many ambitious, leftist policy ideas as possible in what seem like attempts to distance themselves from the more big businessfriendly parts of their voting records. Gillibrand, who was once described in Politico as a go-to advocate for the financial services industry, has gotten behind Bernie Sanders proposal to tax all securities transactions. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker famously took the pharmaceutical lobbys side on a bill involving prescription-drug importation; he now supports a single-payer health care bill. Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, FiveThirtyEight data-man Nate Silver introduced his list of the five key constituencies that he thinks 2020 primary candidates will have to appeal to, based on recent Democratic trends and voting patterns; the piece doesnt mention donors or business at all, but the word socialist appears twice times and socialism once.* Democratic candidates are behaving as if you can no longer win the partys nomination by calling for the government to work in partnership with business, as Bill Clinton did in 1992, or while raising a record amount of money from securities and investment donors, as Barack Obama did in 2008. (Beto ORourke may, however, try to see if you can still win the nomination if your spouse is loaded.) Advertisement Among the potential explanations for this: It might not be a good idea to convey to Democratic primary voters that you have a lot in common with Donald Trump, who campaigned as a businessman and has supported legislation that prioritizes the interests of corporations and wealthy individuals. Politics is a herd-mentality game in which participants are constantly overreacting to the last thing that happened, and the last Democrat who lost a presidential election got hammered for giving paid speeches to Goldman Sachs . Advertisement The financial-services industry ruined the economy in 2008 and has in general been hoarding an increasingly appalling and unsustainable amount of the nations wealth for the past 30 to 40 years, convincing an increasingly large share of avocado-addled millennials that the collective ownership of the means of production is the inevitable historical result of capitalisms flaws. Advertisement Of course, there are still many influential Democrats who work for banks, venture capital funds, and consulting firms, and you still need a lot of money to run a presidential campaignwhich is to say it still seems possible that the Democratic primary will be won by someone who projects a populist vibe on TV but promises donors behind the scenes that they wont raise the capital gains tax or expropriate all of societys consolidated wealth for distribution to the proletariat. In other words, Im bullish on Andrew Cuomo! On CNNs New Day on Friday, Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks was pressed to explain why he condemned President Obamas use of executive authority for some of his immigration policies but supports President Trumps threat to declare a national emergency over border security in order to sidestep Congress and find funding for a border wall. In response, Brooks lashed out against CNN and accused co-host John Berman of once again misleading the public. Those are different circumstances than what were facing today, Brooks argued. What were facing today is a national emergency of major proportions. And Congress has delegated to the president of the United States the rightand its express United States code, you can look it up yourselfthe right to declare a national emergency under certain circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Berman asked Brooks what, exactly, the national emergency of major proportions was, Brooks made his pitch: Lets look at 9/11 by way of example. We lost 3,000 people, more or less, on 9/11. That justified going to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and our troops are still there to varying degrees. Three thousand. With the southern border, we have the loss of at least 15,000 Americans a yearthats part of the justification. Asked to elaborate, Brooks listed some numbers: Two thousand homicides by undocumented immigrants, as well as another 15,000 or 16,000 Americans who die from heroin overdoses, 90 percent of which comes across our porous southern border. How many dead people do you have to have, John, before youll consider it an emergency? Brooks demanded. Advertisement Whats the emergency? @JohnBerman asks @RepMoBrooks about President Trumps threat to declare a national emergency over border security. Look at 9/11, Brooks says, comparing need for the President's border wall to Sept. 11 death toll https://t.co/PR0KeMK2AW pic.twitter.com/ENP0ak23ZM New Day (@NewDay) January 11, 2019 Advertisement Now, there are a few problems with Brooks reasoning. First: Studies show that undocumented immigrants commit crime at lower levels than native-born Americans. The 2,000 homicides he cites seems to come from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement report that has been misinterpreted and misused by anti-immigrant conservatives to stoke fear and win support for the wall. Advertisement Second, while the number of heroin overdoses is tragically high, and while most heroin smuggled into the U.S. does come through the southwest border, a wall, or greater border security in general, would do little to reduce the influx of heroin: Most comes through legal ports of entry, which a wall would do nothing to solve. On top of that, as the New York Times notes, the more deadly phase of the opioid epidemic we are now entering involves fentanyla drug that primarily originates in China and either is sent to Canada and transported south or mailed directly into the U.S., according to the Drug Enforcement Administrations latest National Drug Threat Assessment report. Fentanyl brought in through Mexico still typically is smuggled through legal ports of entry. Advertisement Berman presented Brooks with these facts, which Brooks both called false and immaterial. But while the comparison to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks might strike some as particularly galling, Brooks is simply stating talking points that have circulated in conservative circles through the duration of the government shutdownand been spread by Trump himselfto justify the presidents demands for $5.7 billion in border wall funding. Trumps statements that he would consider declaring a national emergency has been met with skepticism by legal experts who have explained he would face immediate legal challenges from Democrats, given that he will have a hard time convincing a court that there is, in fact, a national emergency. But for many conservative figures like Brooks, those facts and legal concerns dont appear to matter as much as the feeling that theres an emergency. As he told Berman: If you want liberal propaganda, you go ahead and use it. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, was held guilty in the murder of a journalist by a Special CBI court today. The court will decide the quantum of punishment for the Dera Sacha Sauda chief on January 17. On August 24, 2002, Ramchandra Chhatrapati, was shot after his evening daily 'Poora Sach' published an anonymous letter about the sexual exploitation of women by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana. He succumbed to his injuries in November the same year. A case was registered against Ram Rahim in 2003 which was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2006. Ram Rahim's former driver Khatta Singh who is the most important witness of the CBI in the case had said the sect chief had ordered the killing of the journalist. Currently, Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year imprisonment in Sunaria jail at Rohtak for raping two of his women disciples. Ram Rahim will now appear through video conferencing for the hearing in journalist's murder case today. Security has been beefed up in Haryana and parts of Punjab in the wake of verdict by Special CBI court in Panchkula. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Haryana especially in Panchkula, Sirsa (headquarter of Dera) and Rohtak districts with several companies of the state armed police, anti-riot police and commando force being deployed to deal with any law and order situation. Security has been enhanced outside the Panchkula court complex with Haryana police putting up barricades on roads leading to the court, said a police official, adding district police chiefs have been directed to not allow any unnecessary gathering and maintain extra vigil. Additional police force has also been deployed near the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa in Haryana, police said. Violence had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana in August 2017 following the conviction of Dera sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, leaving over 40 persons dead and scores of people injured. Edited by Aseem Thapliyal Dear Beast Mode, I work in a small, family-owned business, and a few months ago one of the owners adopted a dog. It has turned out to be great. Shes an 8-month-old German shepherd mutt, and we love having her around. She gets a lot of attention, but she gets a bit perturbed when people arent focused on her, and she will emit some high-pitched yips to turn the attention her way. This would not be too bad, except we have very high ceilings and it echoes like the dickens. She does this when customers come in, and she seems to get rewarded for it because they often pay attention to her. Is this something she is likely to grow out of, or are there other things we might do to help her stop? She is very sweet and affectionate, and her owner is a very diligent caretaker who takes her to dog-training classes on a regular basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dealing With a Doggy Prima Donna Dear Dealing With a Doggy Prima Donna, Your new co-worker sounds adorable. A little needy, sure, but there are worse ways to act in the workplace. I hope your bosses appreciate your patience. If not, may I suggest emitting a high-pitched whine? Its a really effective way to get attentionjust ask the furry employee of the month. At 8 months old, your co-worker is still very much a puppy. Her entire life is all about testing boundaries and pushing buttons. Shes learning through the canine Socratic method (dogcratic method?), and each whine is her way of asking, Will you acknowledge my existence? Its a pretty clever trick question, as any reaction whatsoever will reinforce her behavior. This includes castigation, and if you issue a sharp no! or quiet, then you have already lost this battle of wits. Advertisement The best solution is to ignore her, but this is as difficult as it is obvious. Puppies are natures most perfectly engineered manipulators. Its easy to get away with being a sociopath when you look like this. Advertisement Advertisement Thats my dog, Ruby, as a puppy. Dont be fooled by her peaceful-looking demeanor. She whined all the time, for attention, treats, ear scratches, dinner at nooneverything. Id love to say we were sternly judicious in response, but we gave into her demands more than we should have. I mean, look at her. Thats one tough negotiator right there. Ruby still whines occasionally, but it is nowhere near as bad as when she was still A/B testing the universe. Wed like to take all the credit for this, but our puppy parenting was hardly perfect. A big factor was that she simply grew up, and I expect your bosss dog will eventually chill out, too. In the meantime, you can reinforce desired behavior by rewarding her with treats when shes acting calm. Some people call this bribery, but its really just good office etiquette. Advertisement Your bosss dog is in an interesting situation. While you know to ignore her whines, none of the customers popping in have read the play it cool around the adorable puppy memo. But this attention wont derail her training. If anything, its preparing her for a social life full of visitors, and it already sounds as if shes doing a good job with all the workplace drama. Considering your boss takes the puppy to regular classes, they will be in a good position to address any issueswhether related to whining or otherwiseshould they become serious. For now, your best strategy is to be patient. Puppies grow up. Its both the best and worst thing about them. Who knows? You might even miss her whining once she matures into a working stiff. Listen to this episode of Studio 360 by clicking the arrow on the audio player below: Get More Studio 360 Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to Studio 360 Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. The story of Doug, the Nickelodeon cartoon from the 90s that used a minimalist approach but had a profound impact on young viewers. Kurt Andersen talks with Rina Banerjee, who makes enchanting installations and who is the subject of a retrospective show at just 55. And the breathtaking backstory and staging for The Jungle, the play that replicates an Afghan restaurant in a migrant camp. Studio 360 plugs: Please remember to like us on our Facebook page and Twitter. Send your emails to incoming@studio360.org. BERLIN -- Armin-Paulus Hampel, a former journalist and commentator who now is a member of the Bundestag, is ebullient, affable, opinionated, voluble and excellent company at lunch. But because his party is Alternative for Germany, one wonders whether he is representative of it, and whether he is as congenial politically as he is socially. AfD is a Rorschach test for observers of German politics, who see in it either a recrudescence of ominous national tendencies or a healthy response of the political market to unaddressed anxieties. It was founded in 2013, two years before Chancellor Angela Merkel impulsively decided to welcome almost a million asylum seekers, most from the Middle East. The nation was abruptly challenged to become a melting pot at a moment when there was increasing interest in recapturing a sense of Germanness. Politics usually is grounded in grievances, and Hampel nurses AfD's originating complaint, which was that Germany's role under the EU's common currency has been to bail out slothful, spendthrift Greeks and other southern Europeans. In this, AfD resembles America's tea party movement, which was a spontaneous combustion in response to TARP (the Troubled Asset Relief Program), the bailout of banks and of people with improvident mortgages. No matter what the resources are, our goal is for a responsible budget, the 16-year House veteran from Clear Lake said. I would argue that we need to be thoughtful about the budget even though there are more resources than weve seen in the last few budget cycles. David Roederer, 68, director of the Department of Management, expects the budget process to be less difficult than some other years. But Roederer and the other two members of the revenue estimating panel scaled back previous growth estimates by $18 million in December. The panel projected a 4.7 percent increase in tax collections nearly $345 million in the current fiscal year that ends June 30. Then it expects growth to slow to 1.8 percent, or $139.8 million more, in fiscal 2020 the budget year for which lawmakers will craft a new state spending plan in the upcoming session. We believe that there will be enough funding to do the essentials which government is supposed to do and the commitments that have been made, Roederer said in December. There will never be enough money to fully fund everything that everyone comes in the door wanting. The worst thing that we can do is politicize our judiciary I think this is a slippery slope and an issue thats not really a problem. We have a merit-based system in Iowa. We need to maintain and defend that system, Pritchard said. The discord between leaders of states two major political parties highlights one of several fights likely to come out of the next legislative session once lawmakers begin on Monday. For judicial nominations, no specific legislative proposals have been outlined, but Republicans say they are focusing on ways to make changes without triggering a requirement to amend the state constitution. Iowas 17-member judicial nominating commission is made up of eight lawyers elected by licensed peers, eight members of the public appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate and a chair who is the most senior member of the Iowa Supreme Court who is not the chief justice. Whitver, the Senate Majority Leader, said the intention is to evaluate the commissions makeup and perhaps make changes that would ensure the general public has more of a say in the selections by possibly altering the requirement concerning attorneys. SIOUX CITY -- The owner of a Sioux City laundromat that was damaged when a school bus crashed into it Wednesday said she hopes to have the business up and running by the weekend. "We boarded everything up and have a temporary door," Amanda Beller, who owns Express Laundry, 2763 Floyd Blvd., said Thursday. "They're hanging drywall and we're getting back to normal. Hopefully, let's say by Saturday." According to Beller, no pipes or machines were damaged in the crash. She said just one electrical outlet was located in the area of the south side of the building that was struck by the bus. She estimates that repairs will cost between $20,000 and $25,000. Sioux City Community Schools bus driver James Fields, 62, has been charged with use of an electronic device while driving and failure to maintain control. Meg Harper, a spokeswoman for Sioux City Community Schools, said in a statement that the incident is still under investigation, but "will be handled according to District policy." According to Sioux City Police, Fields was northbound on Floyd Boulevard shortly after 2 p.m. when the bus crossed the southbound lanes, hopped the curb and drove up an embankment before it struck the building, which is on the west side of Floyd Boulevard. No children were on the bus and no one was inside the building at the time. Fields, who wasn't injured, was taken to a hospital for tests. Copyright 2018 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The president, before his trip to Texas on Thursday. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images In a Thursday evening interview on Hannity, in front of a strongmans backdrop of armored vehicles, border patrol agents, and a bale of seized marijuana, President Trump refused to give a timeline on his decision to declare a national emergency to build a southern border wall. He did, however, provide an interesting lesson in basic human technology, after pointing out the wheels on a truck: The wheel is older than the wall, you know that? There are some things that work. You know what? A wheel works and a wall works. Nothing like a wall. Though the interview did not shed any light on when a national emergency could be announced, reporting from Thursday did clarify how it might happen. According to the Washington Post, the Trump administration may co-opt a disaster spending bill in the Army Corps of Engineers budget. With the declaration of a national emergency, Trump could pivot $13.9 billion allocated for civil projects toward the wall, expecting the funds to cover around 315 miles of the barrier (there is already some kind of barrier along 650 miles of the 2,000-mile border). The administration also reportedly asked if the Army Corps could have contracts ready to start building within 45 days. The plan could be very unpopular in the three most populous states in the nation. Aside from the constitutional crisis inherent in the fabrication of a national emergency, it would divert disaster funding from flood management projects along the Texas coastline hit by Hurricane Harvey, hurricane rebuilding efforts in Florida and Puerto Rico, and a litany of infrastructure projects in California. The administration would pull $2.4 billion slated for the Golden State, including wildfire management, and flood protection around the Yuba River Basin and the Folsom Dam. In Puerto Rico, $2.5 billion would be withdrawn from reconstruction after Hurricane Maria, a storm and subsequent man-made crisis caused by Trump administration mismanagement that killed 3,507 Americans. Meanwhile, FEMA has suspended hundreds of disaster-relief contracts during the shutdown. In some ways, it would be a perfect capsule of Trumps domestic policy: diverting funds from actual disasters to fund a gesture of xenophobia that, judging from the current prototype, could be cut through with a saw. In the original Corps of Engineers budget, the $13.9 billion marked a crucial rebuilding opportunity in the quiet months of the wildfire and hurricane seasons, both of which are rapidly expanding as the planet marches toward the hothouse. And if the plan goes through, it could have swing-state ramifications in 2020: The presidents net approval in Florida is currently at 46 percent, a rating that isnt likely to go up by siphoning emergency funding from the state. If the president decides to reallocate the Corps of Engineers budget, Democrats are prepared with a countermove in the court and the House. Politico cites a 2014 suit in which House Republicans sued the Obama administration for directing the Health and Human Services Department to fund Obamacare subsidies for the poor, circumventing Congress. The decisions were very strong in the Houses favor in that lawsuit, Kerry W. Kircher, the lawyer in the 2014 lawsuit, told Politico. The judge was very resolute that the executive does not get to spend money that Congress has not given it. According to NBC News, if the president decides to reallocate the Corps of Engineers budget, Democrats are prepared to submit legislation to block the move though passing it in the Senate would be another matter. It would be beyond appalling for the president to take money from places like Puerto Rico that have suffered enormous catastrophes, costing thousands of American citizens lives, in order to pay for Donald Trumps foolish, offensive, and hateful wall, New York representative Nydia Velazquez said. SIOUX CITY -- Sioux City Growth Organization (SCGO) is searching for new business ideas for its ninth annual Innovation Market competition. Innovation Market is a social think-tank and business idea competition designed to grow local ideas while fostering connections between like-minded leaders of every age. The event is about taking ideas, however big or small, and growing them into action in Siouxland. The top five ideas from Innovation Market will go on to compete for a $5,000 first place, $2,500 second place, and $1,000 third place cash prize, as well as other valuable startup-focused prizes donated by local businesses. Entrepreneurs can submit their ideas at scgo.wildapricot.org until midnight on Feb. 17. Innovation Market will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 in the Ho-Chunk Centre Atrium. After the networking and voting period concludes, the Innovation Market 2019 program will kick-off with a welcome from SCGO Board President Kalynn Sortino. A talk featuring local entrepreneur Stacy Orndorff, owner of Heartland Coffee and Nosh, will follow. The evening will conclude with keynote speaker and regional entrepreneur Taufeek Shah, CEO of Lola's Fine Sauces, LLC in Des Moines. Light hors doeuvres and beverages will be provided. Copyright 2018 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. "What the 4th District needs is a good congressman who puts the 4th District first in every decision, every minute of the day...I don't believe we are getting that right now," he said. Sanders said the key national issue is deciding how best to use technology or a fence to secure the border with Mexico. He said Trump "was elected with a mandate to secure our southern border." Feenstra, a Hull Republican, touted his conservative record in announcing his candidacy on Wednesday. Feenstra, a third-term senator who serves as an assistant majority leader in the Senate and also chairs the chamber's powerful Ways and Means Committee, said the GOP is in danger of losing Iowa's most Republican congressional district if King is the nominee in 2020. In November, King edged Democrat J.D. Scholten by 3 percent, the closest call in his eight campaigns for re-election. King's campaign team on Wednesday pointed out he is a reliable conservative and Trump supporter, so there is no need for other Republicans to enter the race. Some House Democrats have called on the House to censure King, a punishment spelled out under the Constitution that allows the chamber to express formal disapproval of a member's conduct. The procedure requires the accused member to stand in the well of the House chamber while a resolution is read aloud. In the history of the House, only 23 members have been censured. The most recent was Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-New York, in 2010 for failure to pay taxes, improper solicitation of funds and inaccurate filing of financial disclosure reports. Pelosi declined to answer what type of action the House might take related to King. Im not prepared to make any announcement about that right now, Pelosi told reporters. But needless to say, theres interest in doing something. King suggested Friday hes been misunderstood. He said the foundation of the New York Times interview was partly a Sept. 12 tweet in which he wrote: Nazi is injected into Leftist talking points because the worn out & exhausted racist is over used & applied to everyone who lacks melanin & who fail to virtue signal at the requisite frequency & decibels. But...Nazis were socialists & Leftists are socialists. SIOUX CITY -- A woman has pleaded not guilty to stealing an SUV while she was out on bond awaiting sentencing for the theft of another vehicle. Jessica Ott, 30, of Sioux City, entered her written plea Thursday in Woodbury County District Court to one count of first-degree theft. According to court documents, Ott took a 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan on Jan. 1 from the parking lot of Hy-Vee, 3301 Gordon Drive. Police stopped her in the vehicle in the 600 block of Floyd Boulevard. Ott is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 25 in Woodbury County District Court after pleading guilty last month to second-degree theft for the Oct. 3 theft of car keys from a lockbox in the Mercy Medical Center emergency room. She and an accomplice used the keys to steal a car from the valet parking lot and were arrested later in South Sioux City inside the stolen vehicle. Ott bonded out of the Woodbury County Jail after her guilty plea. Copyright 2018 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LE MARS, Iowa -- A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to robbing a Le Mars bank. Phillip White, 32, entered his written plea Friday in Plymouth County District Court to charges of second-degree robbery, first-degree theft, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit theft. A trial date has not been set. White is charged in the Dec. 12 robbery of Iowa State Bank, 301 Plymouth St. NW. Witnesses reported a man entered the bank and mentioned a weapon, but no weapon was displayed during the robbery. The man was reported leaving the bank and getting into a U-Haul van. Karen Merrick has been charged with driving the van and leading law enforcement officers on a pursuit out of Le Mars and onto county roads before officers were able to flatten the van's tires and bring it to a stop. Merrick, 35, of Sioux City, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree robbery, first-degree theft, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit felony theft, accessory after the fact and eluding or attempting to elude law enforcement. Police said that all the money stolen from the bank was recovered from the van. The amount taken was not disclosed. Copyright 2018 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Also, Hydra X partners with CEZEX; IMDA, Singtel and DBS collaborate to champion SMEs The Asia Accelerator to announce its call for application this month [Press Release] Claiming to be the only independent traditional startup accelerator program in Singapore, The Asia Accelerator has announced that it will launch a call for application on January 15. The first cohorts will stand a chance to get SGD100,000 (US$74,000) funding, free office space, trip to Silicon Valley, and credits from the accelerators notable partners such as AWS, Stripe, and Hubspot. In a mass notes sent by the co-founders of The Asia Accelerator, the program mentions that there will be roadshow and visits to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Manila, and Dhaka starting from January 15. Keen startups also can apply online in theasiaaccelerator.com/apply, and will remain open until February 15. Also Read: Startup generator Antler unveils 13 startups at its first Demo Day The Asia Accelerator highlights its founder-friendly funding terms in the note, and it also allows referral system for startups that want to recommend other startups with commission of US$100 per referrals successfully landing a spot in top 10. GrabTaxi Holdings is sued over the domain name grab.co.id [e27] GrabTaxi Holdings, the company that carries ride-hailing unicorn Grab, is reportedly being sued by a 3 Corporate Services, a web portal service, and local management consulting firm in Singapore over an Indonesian domain name of grab.co.id. GrabTaxi Holdings allegedly failed to comply with the written agreement that says it will acquire the domain name for US$250,000. It is being sued for losses and damages. The parties involved have both denied respective accusations toward one another, in which GrabTaxi Holdings defended that 3 Corporate Services engaged in a cyber-squatting practice of acquiring well-known names for domain and resell it at what its called to be extorting prices for profit. Story continues Meanwhile, 3 Corporate Services said that its Indonesian arm Grab Indonesia had been in operation since 2013 while Grab only branded itself as so in 2016. The trial for the civil suit is scheduled in June this year. Trading tech provider Hydra X partners with digital asset exchange CEZEX [Press Release] Singapore-headquartered trading technology provider Hydra X announces that it has partnered with Asia-based digital asset exchange, CEZEX. The collaboration aims to integrate CEZEX with Hydra Xs Sigma trading platform as a trading venue. As a licensed digital asset exchange, CEZEX is one of the first and leading venues in Asia to offer fully regulated and secure access to digital and securitised token offerings, so this partnership is strategic for both sides to become a primary aggregated marketplace for trading venues that connects digital and emerging asset classes, said Daryl Low, CEO of Hydra X. Hydra X provides technology such as distributed ledger technology (DLT) that provides mission-critical trading and settlement infrastructure for digital and traditional asset financial marketplaces. Sigma trading platform by Hydra X offers a suite of trading tools ranging from price formation to analytics while facilitating price discovery and asset transfers across multiple exchanges and brokers globally. CEZEX is Asias fully regulated and licensed digital assets trading exchange for multiple asset classes, including currencies, securities, and derivatives. CEZEX is also a platform for listing security tokens. IMDA, Singtel, and DBS band together to launch new platform supporting SMEs [Press Release] The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singtel, and DBS announce the launch of 99%SME e-commerce (99sme.sg), a platform that seeks to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) merchants in Singapore in easily adopting digital technologies and providing customers with omni-channel experiences. With the new platform, SMEs can utilise the omni-channel and retail features to grow customer base using both offline and online presence. The platform also allows retailers to offer last-mile delivery options to their online customers by allowing them to perform self- collection from the stores, which is critical for SMEs to upsell and cross-sell to online customers who walk into their stores and collect their merchandise. Also Read: Meet the 4 Bruneian startups who impressed at Darussalam Enterprise Startup Bootcamps Singapore Demo Day SME merchants can also use the platforms business insights and reports to better understand sales performance of product categories and help them plan their product mix to optimise sales and inventory. There is no charge for SMEs to list their products or services. as well as participating merchants. The post Todays top tech news, January 11: The Asia Accelerator to launch call for application, GrabTaxi Holdings is sued over Indonesian domain name appeared first on e27. Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian woman during protests along the Gaza border Friday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said. Spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP the woman was shot in the head east of Gaza City. Qudra named her as Amal al-Taramsi, 43, saying she was the third woman to die in months of clashes that have seen at least 241 Palestinians killed. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to the specific incident but said around 13,000 Palestinians had taken part in violent "riots" in multiple sites along the border. "The rioters have burned tyres and hurled blocks, explosive devices and grenades towards (Israeli) troops and at the Gaza Strip security fence," an army spokeswoman said. Troops were responding "in accordance with standard operating procedures", she said. The army later struck two positions belonging to Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas, it said. A Hamas security source said there were no injuries. An AFP journalist said several thousand protesters gathered east of Gaza City, with stronger clashes than in recent weeks. Protesters tried to destroy a barbed wire fence near the border and Israeli forces responded with gunfire and teargas. At least 25 other Palestinians received gunshot wounds, al-Qudra said in a statement. At least once a week since March, Palestinians have taken part in often violent protests with backing from Hamas. Most of the Palestinians killed were shot in weekly clashes, but others have been hit by tank fire or airstrikes. In June, a female Palestinian medical volunteer was shot dead in border clashes. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period, one by a Palestinian sniper and another during an aborted special forces operation inside Gaza. Protests have calmed in recent months amid an informal truce between Israel and Hamas. Under the unwritten agreement, Israel has allowed Qatar to provide money and fuel to Hamas's government in Gaza in exchange for relative calm. An expected delivery of new funds by Qatar did not arrive this week, sparking speculation Israel was holding it up. Also Friday, a Palestinian man "attempted to stab IDF troops" stationed near the hardline West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, adjacent to the southern city of Hebron, according to the Israeli army. "The troops and a civilian who was at the scene fired towards the assailant," who was wounded by the gunshots, the army said in a statement. Soldiers evacuated the alleged assailant for medical treatment, it said, adding that no the soldiers were wounded in the incident. South Korean President Moon Jae-in holds his New Year press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on January 10, 2019. Jung Yeon-je/Pool via REUTERS TOKYO (Reuters) - Remarks by South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the issue of forced wartime labour were "extremely regrettable", Japan's top government spokesman said on Friday, describing him as trying to shift Seoul's responsibility to Japan. The comments suggest escalating tension between the two nations after Moon on Thursday urged Japan's political leaders not to undermine ties by "politicising" the issue of South Koreans forced to work by Japanese companies during World War Two. "President Moon's remarks are trying to shift South Korea's responsibility to Japan and it is extremely regrettable," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference. Relations between the East Asian neighbours have been frosty since South Korea's top court ruled in October that Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp should compensate four former labourers. The latest flare-up came after a South Korean court this month approved the seizure of part of the domestic assets of the Japanese steelmaker. In response, Tokyo demanded diplomatic consultations with Seoul over the issue on Wednesday. Japan believes that all such claims were settled in a 1965 treaty that normalized relations, Suga said on Friday, and that Seoul has now broken that treaty. "We think South Korea will respond sincerely," he said. Ties are also strained over the issue of whether a South Korean warship had locked its targeting radar on a Japanese patrol plane last month. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Malcolm Foster and Clarence Fernandez) Japan said Friday it will have to amend its upcoming budget to fund compensation for people whose benefits were underpaid for years because of a scandal involving erroneous labour data. The labour ministry admitted this week that it has for years failed to collect complete data for its monthly employment report, which is closely watched as an indicator of wages and work hours. The data helps determine various government benefits, including employment insurance. Officials are supposed to gather data from all firms with 500 or more employees but in Tokyo only about one third of 1,400 such firms were surveyed. The scandal dates back to 2004 and a total of 53 billion yen ($490 million) will be repaid to 20 million workers, according to the ministry. "I have received a report from the labour and welfare ministry that they need to provide employment insurance and other payments retroactively," top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters. "We will make adjustments to make a necessary budget allocation in the fiscal 2019 budget" for the year starting in April, he said. He added that the government was now probing dozens of other major data sets. The labour minister has admitted he received a report about the problem as early as December 20. The ministry nevertheless went ahead and published data on December 21 and January 9 that it knew had sampling problems, raising questions about the reliability of official statistics in the world's third-biggest economy. The monthly labour survey has been watched by the government and the Bank of Japan as a clue for their economic policy decisions. Suga said it was "extremely regrettable" that confidence in the survey was shaken. Labour Minister Takumi Nemoto voiced "sincere apologies for causing trouble to the people." Peter Boghossian. Photo: Mike Nayna Last fall, it was revealed that a trio of researchers the philosopher Peter Boghossian, the mathematician James Lindsay, and the medieval-studies independent scholar Helen Pluckrose had perpetrated what they viewed as a spiritual successor to the infamous 1996 Sokal hoax, in which the NYU physics professor Alan Sokal had a jargon-laden nonsense article accepted and published by a prestigious humanities journal.The trio sent out a bunch of ridiculous articles to a number of journals within grievance studies fields, or areas of academia ostensibly concerned with drumming up grievances on behalf of the supposedly powerless against the supposedly powerful. (Disclosure: I appeared on a podcast co-hosted by Pluckrose.) Of the 20 articles the trio submitted, seven were accepted (after various revision and editing processes, as is the norm with papers accepted by academic journals). One was a feminist-oriented revision of a Mein Kampf excerpt; another, ostensibly based on hours of observation, argued that dog parks are rape-condoning spaces and a place of rampant canine rape culture and systemic oppression against the oppressed dog through which human attitudes to both problems can be measured that one won recognition for excellence by the feminist geography journal in which it was published, Gender, Place, and Culture. (That was also the paper that blew the hoaxsters cover prematurely the Wall Street Journals Jillian Melchior saw it, grew suspicious, and ended up breaking the story). The general success the trio had in getting these papers submitted, the perpetrators argued in their summary of the affair in Areo, which Pluckrose edits, shows that there are excellent reasons to doubt the rigor of some of the scholarship within the fields of identity studies that we have called grievance studies. When the story broke, it sparked a massive controversy that seemed to reinforce most observers ideological tendencies. Some, particularly those skeptical of grievance studies or postmodernism or SJWs or whatever else, viewed it as the latest in a long line of emperor-has-no-clothes moments within certain areas of scholarship, dating back to Sokals article. It was also seen as a worthy sequel to Boghossian and Lindsays more modest conceptual penis hoax from 2017. Others, particularly those who view such claims as thinly veiled excuses to attack leftist scholarship concerned with the plight of marginalized people, highlighted the fact that Boghossians team got plenty of rejections, that their grandiose conclusions overstate the projects scope and the extent of its success (as Slates Daniel Engber put it), and that there was a mean-spirited tone to the whole thing, which, they argued, stemmed more from ideological hostility to gender studies and associated fields than good-faith critique. The Chronicle of Higher Education ran a mini forum which showcased a variety of different views on the subject. The entire force of their stunt lies in the fact that they managed to get several satirical papers published, wrote the University of Washington biologist Carl T. Bergstrom. But it makes no sense to judge the health of a field by looking at what an insincere author can get through peer review. On the other side was Yascha Mounk, a Harvard lecturer in government, who condemned the circling of the academic wagons and what he viewed as unfair attempts to undermine the hoaxsters. [E]ven if all of the charges laid at the feet of Lindsay, Pluckrose, and Boghossian were true, they would have demonstrated a very worrying fact, he wrote. Some of the leading journals in areas like gender studies have failed to distinguish between real scholarship and intellectually vacuous as well as morally troubling bullshit. And that was that, for a while the hoax continued to percolate online, kindling the academic culture wars, but it had generally faded from public view until earlier this week. That was when a startling-sounding revelation breathed new life into the controversy and instigated a fresh firestorm on social media: Portland State University appears poised to sanction Boghossian, an assistant professor there, for research misconduct as a result of the hoax. Boghossian, in his universitys view, failed to get Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for his research and fabricated data when he and his team claimed, for their dog park article Ill, erm, defer to the language from their Areo write-up to have tactfully inspected the genitals of slightly fewer than 10,000 dogs whilst interrogating owners as to their sexuality. (Boghossian has publicly posted the documents he got from PSU, which lay out the charges in detail, here.) In a YouTube video he published last Saturday, Boghossian, appearing in a bathrobe in the first segment for some reason, reads out one of the emails PSU sent him, threatening an investigation on IRB grounds. I think that they will do everything and anything in their power to get me out, he says. And I think this is the first shot in that. A conference call with Pluckrose and Lindsay ensues, and Pluckrose, being filmed elsewhere, explains, They cant say that we needed IRB approval for the ones that we published in journals, because there werent any real human subjects. So they will have to say that the IRB approval we needed was treating [journal] reviewers as human subjects without passing that through an ethical board. Hopefully, we can say that there wasnt any way to get informed consent for that it just isnt a possibility with this kind of thing. One can forgive Boghossian for feeling as though his university is out to get him. Yes, his hoax was intentionally provocative, and yes, he and his colleagues said a lot of mean things about other academics in the magazine article and YouTube videos connected to their project. But certain aspects of the backlash to the grievance-studies hoax come across as over the top, as well. Perhaps most notably, a group of 11 PSU professors and one grad student published an anonymous letter in the Vanguard student newspaper, accompanied by a weird and menacing-looking image of Boghossian with a Pinocchio nose, in which they accused him of various misdeeds both related to the hoax When supposed scholars repeatedly engage in fraudulent behavior violating acceptable norms of research in any discipline, we have to start asking what the purpose is and separate from it, like inviting James Damore to an event at PSU. Strangest of all, perhaps, was the stated justification for anonymity: We have opted to communicate our concerns through a collective identity rather than individually, explains the final section of the article. Boghossian has not only indicated his less-than-collegial attitude through his hoaxes, but has actively targeted faculty at other institutions. None of us wish to contend with threats of death and assault from online trolls. The linked-to website contains no evidence that Boghossian has targeted anyone (his name doesnt even appear); nor is the rather astonishing claim that to respond to Boghossian under ones own name might mean risking assault defended anywhere. Its simply unusual for academics to so vehemently attack one of their own while revealing their titles but not their names, but it seemed to neatly capture the tenor of this debate at PSU, a very left-leaning campus. The question of whether Boghossian was the target of unfair heat from his academic community, however, is different from the question of whether the present investigation is unfair. So: Is it? Are administrators at PSU railroading one of their own professors for daring to stand up to SJW groupthink? Or is this a standard ethics investigation? The short answer is no. When you cut through the noise of social media and the raging culture war in which this incident is enmeshed, and focus instead on how universities tends to handle this sort of thing, PSUs investigation, on its own, actually offers very little evidence of a witch hunt or unfair treatment of Boghossian. The long answer is a bit more complicated, and ties into a broader controversy within academia. *** Its impossible to understand this case without understanding a little bit about IRBs themselves. The IRB system is, at root, an arrangement between research institutions both universities and others and the federal government. To receive federal research funds, which are the lifeblood of many research bodies, those bodies must agree, in return, to follow certain ethics procedures, particularly with regard to any research involving human subjects. Thats what IRBs do. Every research institution that receives federal funds has its own IRB, and most insist that any employee conducting research at that university have their research plan cleared by the IRB beforehand. It might sound simple, but its endlessly complicated. IRB protocols used for social-science research grew out of those used for biomedical research, and there are key differences between the ethical implications of, say, obtaining informed consent to give someone an experimental medication and performing psychological experiments that might cause temporary embarrassment among its subjects. Theres a cacophonous discussion going on about whether and to what extent IRB protocols are fair, and its fueled by the regular emergence of over-the-top stories of IRB overreach. Some scholars, like the George Mason University professor Zachary Schrag, have dedicated a great deal of time to surfacing these stories and calling for reforms to the system hes the author of Ethical Imperialism: Institutional Review Boards and the Social Sciences, 19652009 and the Institutional Review Blog. One of the most common critique of IRBs is that they are far too risk averse when it comes to their conceptualization of potential harm to human subjects, and that they introduce unnecessary bureaucratic delays that stifle research and researcher ingenuity. In 2017, Scott Alexander, a psychiatrist and popular blogger, wrote an instant-classic account about his misadventures with a hospital IRB when he wanted to do a study to see if a commonly used questionnaire that supposedly tests for bipolar disorder actually works as advertised. To take one of many examples of the weird demands levied on him as he tried to set up the study, Alexanders IRB insisted that he include, when administering the questionnaire, a paragraph about the possible risks of doing so even though there were none, even though asking patients the sorts of questions he planned on asking for his study is the sort of thing that goes on every day in a psychiatric hospital, and even though telling a patient at a psychiatric hospital you are about to do something that could harm them could, for obvious reasons, cause problems (especially when thats a false claim anyway). Schrag and other advocates concerned with this issue have collected countless other examples. Soul-melting IRB experiences It took over 5 months & 9 submissions to have our recruitment materials displayed at all participating colleges. 5 months of ethics review in order to do interviews w/15-20 adults on an uncontroversial subject are not unusual among researchers, though theres significant variation between different IRBs. Now, things are set to get a little better revised federal IRB rules, the result of an eight-year process to shore up the system kicked off by the Obama administration, are set to go into effect later this month and will expand the types of social-scientific experiment that are exempt from IRB review. But Schrag said the revisions ended up not being particularly bold, and nothing in them would exempt audit studies requiring deception like the one the grievance studies hoaxsters pulled. (Ill explain why the audit-studies angle is important in a bit.) Should IRBs (human subjects research approval committees) be dismantled? [Probably yes.] http://t.co/5mxhEycEA5 Steven Pinker (@sapinker) July 24, 2015 For the purposes of Peter Boghossians case, three facts about IRBs matter a great deal: study is defined rather broadly in the federal guidelines; possible risks to humans even ones that non-IRB nerds may view as negligible are taken very seriously; and IRBs tend to look especially closely at studies involving deception. For these and other reasons, each of the four IRB experts I spoke or emailed with agreed that yes, the grievance-studies hoax needed IRB approval; yes, it clearly involved human subjects; and no, PSUs decision to investigate it on that front cannot be reasonably viewed, on its own, as politically motivated. In other words: This particular aspect of the universitys response smells more like a standard reaction to improperly vetted research than a witch hunt. First, the definition of study: As PSU explained to Boghossian in a document it sent him December 17, the university determined that his work met the definition of study as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services in language that reads this isnt included in the letter itself a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. All the IRB experts I communicated with said they agreed that the grievance-studies hoax qualified as a result of its basic structure, and some pointed to the language the hoaxsters used themselves calling it a study in their Areo article or a satirical scholarly audit in a press release published earlier this week as extra proof of that. Laura Stark, a historian at Vanderbilt and the author of Behind Closed Doors: IRBs and the Making of Ethical Research, further explained in an email that it was human-subjects research according to federal regulation The human subjects being the journal editors. Crucially, it does not matter that the hoaxsters didnt attempt to publish their final results in a peer-reviewed journal. Publishing in a magazine thats not peer reviewed doesnt matter if theyre reporting on their research, said Celia Fisher, director of the Fordham University Center for Ethics Education. All that matters is that Boghossian is an employee at PSU, and that he conducted what the university deemed to be human-subjects research based on a plain reading of how that term is normally defined for this purpose. Now, in the video Boghossian released earlier this week, Helen Pluckrose expresses some skepticism that what they were doing was really human-studies research, but again, all the experts I spoke with disagreed. First of all, if they believed that this was not human-subjects research, the process would have been to submit to the IRB an application that says I believe this research that Im doing is exempt, said Fisher. And the IRB makes the determination if its not human-subject. Its not their call, in other words its still the IRBs. But had Boghossian sought an exemption, he likely would have been rebuffed, anyway. IRBs tend to be very, very conservative about any experiments that could have any impact on human beings. Its an area where academia operates according to norms quite different from those of other fields. Journalists, for example, would have no compunctions about exposing shoddy or unethical work on the part of a local business. IRBs tend to be extremely careful about this sort of thing the assumption is usually that any small possibility of harm needs to be justified and, if possible, protected against. In a case where an experimental subject could be exposed to negative public scrutiny, an IRB will go to great lengths to ensure their anonymity, even if that means withholding or blurring certain details from the study write-up. (IRB strictness about harm and anonymity can explain why anyone who reads a lot of psych studies will be familiar with researchers explaining that a study took place not at Boston University but at a large northeastern university, and so forth.) In the case of the grievance-studies hoax, the potential for harm came in the form of reputational damage and humiliation to journal editors and reviewers. And one decision the hoaxsters made allowing accepted papers to actually be published rather than notifying the journals so they could be yanked before they were out in the world neatly captures the sorts of ethical discussions often spurred by IRBs. Thats what happens at the IRB, said Elisa Hurley, executive director at Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research, an organization which offers ethics guidance to researchers. The IRBs job is essentially to facilitate research that is consistent with the regulations or that does in fact protect and respect the research subject involved. So had Boghossian and his colleagues sought IRB approval, theres a good chance that one condition for obtaining that approval would have been something like, If any of these papers are accepted, you cant let them actually be published you have to notify the journal immediately. As things turned out, the journals in question were identified by the hoaxsters, which did open up the editors to public scrutiny, a form of harm from the point of view of an IRB. Unnecessary harm, too, since an acceptance note from a journal is sufficient information to deem a study as having been accepted it doesnt need to actually appear in the journal. Again, it doesnt matter whether you or most of the rest of society believe this to be an overly sensitive kid-glove approach. This is the well-established, risk-averse way in which IRBs do business, and it isnt a mystery to anyone who has dealt with one. If its too conservative a stance, thats a problem with the system not with PSUs administration of the existing rules. Its worth noting that Stark dissented slightly from the other IRB experts I consulted on one front: She thought that while the decision to investigate Boghossians lack of IRB approval was perfectly legitimate and not, on its own, fishy, it was also possible that it was influenced by politics. Universities and IRBs definitely make decisions about what issues to pursue and how aggressively to pursue them depending on the political climate on campus, she explained in an email, which is part of a broader national and international context. In her view, its possible the investigation was both political and legitimate on the merits. Fisher, on the other hand, didnt see PSU as having quite so much choice in the matter, arguing that the university is in a very tough position, because not to pursue this would be very damaging in terms of other studies that should be studied for IRB review, and for other people who end up publishing fabricated data. Its a very difficult precedent for a university to set that its okay to publish fabricated data, even if this is in a context in which, if it had gone through an IRB and modified in some ways, the design might have been ultimately accepted. Finally, as a so-called audit study that is, one designed to test how different real-world institutions respond to the same or similar inputs (in this case, research articles, but in more famous cases, things like resumes randomized to have black- or white-sounding names) Boghossian, Lindsay, and Pluckroses scheme was more likely than a non-deception study to raise IRB eyebrows. All audit studies require deception, and many social scientists who would like to see only a limited role for IRBs still consider IRB review appropriate when deception is required, said Schrag. Deception is simply seen as an ethically fraught tactic, so even IRB critics arent necessarily in favor of them backing off entirely in situations where deception is involved. This is yet another reason why the researchers probably should have realized their study required IRB approval, or an exemption. And yet the video Boghossian published seems to show them not understanding this. Pluckrose at one point mentions the impossibility of getting informed consent from journal reviewers the implication being that to do so would be to blow the cover of the experiment. Again, though, thats the point of an IRB: to gain permission to deceive, or to come up with some sort of work-around. The choice isnt necessarily between obtaining informed consent in a manner that would blow the experiment and not running the experiment at all plenty of IRBs have approved plenty of audit studies. But the three hoaxsters do not, generally speaking, come across in the video as all that familiar with IRB rules, which shouldnt necessarily come as a surprise given that none of them comes from an academic field that has much involvement with human-subjects research. We didnt try to publish this in a peer-reviewed journal, says Lindsay at one point. We didnt I dont know what the rules of this are. The research-ethics experts I spoke with expressed a similar degree of agreement on the question of whether what the grievance studies hoaxsters did constituted data fabrication: yes, it did. This is another point where the gap between the average layperson and IRB nerds comes into play. It does feel weird, after all, to read PSUs letter to Boghossian on this, which says, in effect, We determined, from your admission that you fabricated data for the dog study, that you fabricated data for the dog study. Its quite clear that the hoaxsters planned, all along, to reveal the fact that they had fabricated data. But according to the rules, thats a moot point. False data was knowingly submitted for publication and was in fact published, said Hurley. Intent doesnt really matter. However, again, had this gone prospectively to the IRB, where the plan was to use deception, which is allowed by our regulations if certain conditions are met that could have been a different conversation. Fisher, too, highlighted the fact that the study was allowed out into the world as something that could cause trouble for Boghossian and which strengthens the case for a data-fabrication allegation. One of the problems that occurs was they allowed this to be published, and therefore I do think its appropriate to look at fabrication of data, she said. Because even though the journal now understanding that it was fabricated withdrew the article, its still out there in the public sphere. So its misleading to those who would take the data as being valid data. So I think investigating this as fabricated data is appropriate. Ivan Oransky, who runs Retraction Watch, said in an email, I dont see the difference, in terms of the definition. Data fabrication is data fabrication, appears to be the consensus. There is certainly a chance that, had Peter Boghossian approached PSUs IRB and sought permission to conduct this study, it would have caused him and his colleagues all sorts of difficulties. Maybe the study would have been delayed for months. Maybe it would have been blocked entirely. Its entirely possible that all the worst excesses of overzealous IRBs would have raised their heads. Theres no way to know. But what seems clear is that there was no good reason, in light of what IRBs are for and how they operate, for Boghossian to think his study sat outside the purview of his local IRB. *** Letters of support for Boghossian have been rolling in in large numbers since this story broke, penned by academics both renowned This strikes me (and every colleague Ive spoken with) as an attempt to weaponize an important [principle] of academic ethics in order to punish a scholar for expressing an unpopular opinion, wrote Steven Pinker and lesser known. Many of these letters echo the complaint that the present investigation is politically motivated, and many echo Boghossians concern, expressed in the video, that his livelihood is at risk that PSU could fire him. Theres no obvious evidence that possibility is on the table, and if PSU did go that route, it would likely be seen by many academic-ethics experts as highly questionable. Firing someone for failing to file an IRB when one was required would be unusual, argued Schrag. He did mention one case in which University of Queensland researchers were demoted and temporarily banned from research on such grounds, but said, I am unaware of a faculty members being fired for a similar offense, and the Queensland researchers had their rank reinstated after the initial demotion. Moreover, in a couple of cases involving serious allegations of abuse in medical experimentation, universities have imposed bans on future research rather than firing the accused researchers. The harms involved there were so much more serious than anything Boghossian has done, yet the penalties were still short of an outright firing, said Schrag. So yes, I think firing Boghossian would be disproportionate. The data-fabrication accusation is probably where Boghossian is more vulnerable, but according to Oransky, while intent doesnt matter from the point of view of defining data fabrication, it likely would matter as a university debated sanctions. I think that the intent what he was trying to do, what he ended up doing that should all feed into what punishment there is, if any, he said. Boghossians case wasnt one of a researcher profiting academically off of totally fabricated research it was, at root, an audit study, and if Boghossian, Lindsay, and Pluckrose had had the foresight to prevent accepted studies from being published, there wouldnt have been a huge difference between their fabricated data and, say, a fabricated resume for a more traditional audit study. More broadly, Oransky pointed out that so few people actually get fired for research misconduct that it actually just seems statistically unlikely. So where does all this leave things? Suffice it to say, this is a complicated case. Its impossible to say that PSU would have imposed the exact same investigation on an equivalent study with a different political valence. But it also seems, with the benefit of a bit of investigation into and knowledge of how IRBs work, pretty obvious that Boghossian was asking for trouble by going ahead and performing this research without at least seeking an exemption. On a lot of the basics, its pretty clear cut: His university has some oversight jurisdiction over this research, and is currently exercising it. It might be helpful to separate this out from the broader, noisier debate about the the implications of the hoax itself. The company that runs ride-hailing service Grab is being sued by a domain service company based in Singapore GrabTaxi Holdings is reportedly facing a lawsuit over an alleged agreement that both GrabTaxi Holdings and a local firm had over the Indonesian Internet domain name of grab.co.id. As reported by TODAY Online, the agreement is that GrabTaxi Holdings agreed to acquire the domain name for US$250,000 from 3 Corporate Services, a local company that offers business management consultancy services and manages web portals. However, the local company is now seeking losses and damages from GrabTaxi Holdings after it said that GrabTaxi Holdings refused to follow through with the agreement. Also Read: E-scooter sharing Neuron Mobility enters Malaysia In a released High Court documents, the civil suit was filed in July last year. Niru & Co LLC, the legal team behind GrabTaxi Holdings argue that the 3 Corporate Services was engaged in cyber-squatting activities. Cyber-squatting is known as the practice of registering names as Internet domains of well-known companies or brands looking to resell and profit from them. GrabTaxi Holdings said that the company purposely squats the identical or confusingly similar name, trademark or service mark belonging to Grab. The chronology of the event dates back to July 2017, when GrabTaxi Holdings head of partnerships Shawn Heng allegedly got in touch about the unicorns interest in buying the domain name grab.co.id in a phone call with Mark Ho, a director and sole shareholder of 3 Corporate Services. At that time, Ho allegedly told Heng that the firm did not register grab.co.id, but it could help transfer the domain name to GrabTaxi Holdings. The conversation then continued over WhatsApp, resulting in an alleged written agreement on July 22, 2017, that 3 Corporate Services was to procure the transfer of the domain name from Top 3 Media to GrabTaxi for US$250,000. 3 Corporate Services, represented by Selvam LLC, then was informed in September 2018 that GrabTaxi would not go through with the agreement. Story continues GrabTaxi Holdings responded in its court filings that it did not accept 3 Corporate Services sale offer at all, as the offer was subject to certain pre-conditions, one of them is that 3 Corporate Services must own the domain name at the time the offer was accepted. 3 Corporate Services denied such requirement in the agreement. To make matter even muddier, GrabTaxi Holdings is also accusing that 3 Corporate Services, along with Top 3 Media, to extort big companies and personalities for domain names that referred to these well-known entities. Some names even emerged in GrabTaxis accusations, such as Go-Jek.com.sg, Amywinehouse.com.sg, ToyotaHarrier.com.sg, and f1Auto.sg, all denied by 3 Corporate Services. Also Read: Naver Corp possibly takes part in Bukalapaks potential fresh funding 3 Corporate Services claimed that Top 3 Media is in the business of branding, website design and digital marketing, and its Indonesian arm Grab Indonesia had been in operation since 2013 while Grab only branded itself as so in 2016. The trial for the civil suit is scheduled in June this year. The post GrabTaxi Holdings disputes over Indonesian domain name with a Singapore firm appeared first on e27. Brendan Doonan was quite surprised to spot a coyote swimming across the bay in Cotuit, Massachusetts, on January 10. Doonan, an employee of Cotuit Oyster Company, Inc, took out his phone and recorded the coyote as it kept up a vigorous doggy-paddle across the water. The coyote appeared to be heading from neighboring the area of Grand Island in Osterville to Cotuit. The end of the footage shows the coyote safely reaching land and running into the woods. Credit: Brendan Doonan via Storyful Terra will work with Ulaanbaatar administration to replace the payment method of utility bills and government subsidies with its stablecoin Terra, a blockchain company building the next-generation payment system, today announced a partnership with Mongolias capital city of Ulaanbaatar, to launch instant money transfer and lending services. Terras payment solution will first launch in Ulaanbaatar Citys Nalaikh District through a pilot programme, with plans to expand citywide. The programme is set to launch within the next six months. Mongolias fintech market is still in its early stages, but has recently experienced a series of successful IPOs from local startups that display the markets rising potential. As a reaction to this success, the Mongolian government has implemented progressive regulations that intend to facilitate the growth of startups and fintech, such as the Central Bank of Mongolia approving the launch of its first national digital currency license. With the support of the government, Terra aims to simplify and secure the payment process with the click of a button, and provide other financial services such as fast and low-cost remittance and lending. Also Read: What founders need to understand about fundraising from Angels The partnership aims to reform the largely cash-based infrastructure of Mongolia by enabling more transparent and convenient digital payments. The pilot programme in Nalaikh City will launch with two main features: peer-to-peer (P2P) payments to allow instant transfer among users of different banks, and mobile payments to build the infrastructure for secure, contactless payments. As an immediate next step, Terra will work with local government to replace the payment method of utility bills and government subsidies with its stablecoin. Facilitating P2P and recurring utility payments with Terra are important first steps towards building a blockchain-based financial infrastructure in Mongolia, said Daniel Shin, Co-founder of Terra. From there, we will build out a wider range of financial services, reforming the remittance, loan, and overall banking industry. Story continues We believe this pilot programme with Terra will reform how the people of Nalaikh City make everyday payments. It will contribute to the development and enrichment of the nations digital payment infrastructure, while creating a new online platform to easily share information and offering great opportunities to connect with our citizens through advanced technology, said Radnaabazar Choijinsambuu, Governor, Nalaikh District of the Capital City. A special task force made of key players from Terra, Nalaikh District, and XGround a fintech company with a strong base in Mongolia will oversee the initiative. Founded by a team of business, finance and blockchain experts, Terra is designing a digital currency that it claims will power the next-generation payment network on the blockchain. It uses a dual-token model to fully collateralise its stablecoin Terra, with a decentralised asset and second token called Luna. Terra has offices in Singapore and Korea. Nalaikh City is located 36 km east from Capital City Ulaanbaatar and hosts a population of about 40,000. It is Mongolias first industrial hub, serving as the home to the first state coal mining company since 1922. Today, the industry is still developing rapidly, with the City supporting other growing sectors such as agriculture and the production of consumer goods. In support of the Action Program of the Government of Mongolia for 2016-2020, which aims to revitalize the economy and promote growth, Nalaikh City is focusing on increasing internet accessibility and advancing financial inclusion for its citizens. The post Blockchain firm Terra to launch instant remittance, lending services in Mongolias capital city appeared first on e27. Greetings, Coconauts. Tis us Coconuts KL lovers of pop culture, obscure references, and surprisingly historical happenings. We have hidden depths. Last weekends eyebrow-raising news that Malaysias Agong would be abdicating the throne to immediate effect not only left us with mouths agape, it also put our minds into overdrive, trying to think of a worthy enough historical parallel to help process the information. In case you havent heard, history tends to repeat itself, and if its happening now, were more than likely to wager that something similar has happened before, and probably under even more scandalous circumstances. Screenshot via east2west news Lets summarize what we know: In 2016, Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan ascended the throne, and became the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, aka sort of like the Malaysian king, but a role that gets rotated every five years among state sultans. His reign was a tranquil one. This is normally the case, as while the Agong is technically the federal head of state in our countrys constitutional monarchy, its a ceremonial role. Then, news broke in early November that hed be taking a three-month leave of absence while he recovered from illness, and yet the next month, images purportedly showing him featured as the groom in a Moscow wedding made international headlines. His bride? A 25-year-old former model, a one-time Miss Moscow, and if you read the Daily Mail (maybe?), also a former player in a Russian reality TV series. Caliente! Local news remained mum about the alleged nuptials, and even Prime Minister Mahathir denied any knowledge, saying he had not been informed of any ceremony. A few weeks after that, rumors began circulating that the Agong would abdicate and then he did. Former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V OK, yall caught up and ready for us to take you on a magical history tour? Great. We love this sh*t. Without further ado, a look at some of historys most saucy abdications: Story continues Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson Duke and Duchess of Windsor via Wikimedia Commons Of course we went straight here. Firstly, we already hinted that we may read the Daily Mail were not above a bit of British faff and most importantly, there are not many instances in modern history where you can truthfully say: He threw it all away for her. Edward VIII was the current Queen Elizabeth IIs uncle. Yes, thats right, she wasnt even supposed to be queen, but after her childless uncle Edward decided that Wallis Simpson took precedent over his duty to the throne, she became next in line after her father. To give you context, its like someone flinging the crown onto Princess Beatrice of York (who?) and telling her shes commander of the empire. It. Was. Wild. A proper constitutional crisis. And safe to say that the English never quite recovered from it, as both Edward and Walliss lives before and after the debacle still somehow make headlines. So why did he have to leave? Well, 1936 Great Britain was a very different one to 2018, where Prince Harry married that divorcee off Suits. Wallis Simpson was a twice-divorced American socialite who had begun her relations with the king whilst still technically married to her second husband. Edward was not only king, he was also head of the Church of England, and the remarriage went against both Church and British law at the time only adultery was recognized as a legitimate ground for divorce. Trying to temper the royal courts distaste for Simpson, the king initially suggested a morganatic marriage, one in which he would be king, but his betrothed would never be queen. This was rejected by not only the British Prime Minister, but also representatives from such Commonwealth countries as Canada, Australia, and South Africa. It was a no-go, and the only thing left to do if he really wanted to marry Ms. Simpson, was to abdicate. And so he did, leaving his brother, George VI to ascend, and thus forever changing the thrones succession. Edward and Wallis married, became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, never had children, and spent the rest of their lives hobnobbing with other members of the leisure class, from Paris to Mustique. Worth it? Diaries suggest that neither party was particularly happy in their later years, but aint that just the way the biscuit crumbles, kids? Kontemporary Analogy: Rob and Chyna, despite everyones pleas for mercy, decide to embark on an unholy union that leaves the former prince of reality TV a bloated shadow of himself, bossed around by a fame-hungry thot. On the upside, the duo milked it for a couple seasons. via YouTube via YouTube King Michael of Romania King Michael of Romania via Wikimedia Commons Abdications: Theyre not just about being able to marry people that your family hate, and King Michael of Romania falls somewhere in the nebulous cloud of benevolence, and altruism, whilst still somehow being related to Queen Victoria. Recap! Like most of modern-day Europe, Romania as a country exists as a contemporary convention of post-Napoleonic border drawing. It became a kingdom when Moldavia and Walachia merged sometime in the 19th century, with its borders expanding and contracting over the years. In 1927, King Michaels father, the decidedly unsuitable Carol (see: Affairs with divorcees), passed the throne over to his (really) young son, and when King Ferdinand I died, it was 5-year-old Michael who ascended the throne. This lasted about three years until Carol grew tired of gallivanting, and decided to come back to Bucharest to give the throne one more shot. Now, with the onset of World War II, things began to get complicated, and Carol became an increasingly unpopular figure who aligned himself with General Ion Antonescu, a brutal and fascist military man, who shortly thereafter strong-armed Carols abdication, making Michael king, again. General Antonescu must have thought the teenage king would be easy to manipulate, but King Michael proved himself to be quite the statesman, gathering anti-government support on the D.L. and eventually launching a coup detat imprisoning the general, renouncing ties with Nazi Germany, and successfully avoiding all the subsequent assassination attempts that came with his power struggle. Germany tried desperately to find another general who was not loyal to the king to regain power, but there were none to be had everyone was behind the kid, and many historians believe that his move in exiting the Axis coalition saved thousands of lives by cutting the war short. His reign was short-lived, however. Post-war, Romania became a satellite of the USSR, and if theres one thing that Stalin could not handle, it was anyone else who might have a modicum of power. In 1947, the King abdicated and went into exile in Geneva. In a 2007 interview, he called the entire thing blackmail, saying that had he not left, Stalins executors would have killed more than 1,000 students they were holding political prisoner there was really no other choice for anyone with a conscience but to leave. He would remain a wildly popular figure in Romania until his death at 96, two years ago. Following his exile, he would occasionally return to his former kingdom to be greeted by throngs of supporters in the streets throughout the country. Several times, the government regretted letting him re-visit, and would re-instate his banishment. Crazy, right? He died maintaining his abdication was illegal. Kontemporary Analogy: There is no altruism on reality TV GTFO but if we had to Paris Hilton, as close as you can get to reality-trash-royalty in 2019, forced off the airwaves by the nefarious force we call Kris. Exiled to the annals of Europes most technicolor discotheques as a celebrity DJ, her return to the reality throne is never far from our hearts. Paris via Wikimedia Commons Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI via Wikimedia Commons Yall, we may use the word unprecedented a lot when it comes to Sultan Muhammad Vs abdication as Agong, but if you really want to use the word to its fullest meaning, its probably best suited to the sudden resignation of Benedict XVI, aka Joseph Raztzinger, as head of the Catholic Church, and sovereign of the Vatican City (kind of a king!). Like 600 years of unprecedented comings and goings of popes until his abdication. Benedicts eight-year tenure was mostly marred by the way that he left office that is to say, his time as pope was spent allegedly trying to engineer transparency from the Vatican in what would soon digress into a PR nightmare of sex-abuse scandals and Vatican bank management. Leaked documents by a Vatican official showed that this was largely rebuffed by the Church, which seemed mostly intent on damage-control. This series became popularly known as the Vatileaks, where internal memos within the Church, particularly correspondence from Benedict himself, showed that he was attempting to seek reform. Now, all of this information-gathering has little to do with the reasons Benedict gave for his abdication: Already in his late-80s, he claimed that his advanced age prevented him from carrying out his duties as pope, and skirted around suggestions of a power struggle. From the beginning, I was conscious of my limits, he said in a rare interview. I accepted the papacy as Ive always tried to do in my life, in a spirit of obedience. Pope Francis went on to be elected as sovereign of Vatican City, while Benedict continues to live nearby in a monastery, dedicating his life to writing and religious study. Kontemporary Analogy: Rob Kardashian trying to fight the machine from within. Realizing that all attempts to override Kris Jenners momager reality TV empire are futile, he instead resigns himself to living a quiet life designing Arthur George socks. via Kris Jenner Instagram Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots via Wikimedia Commons Ever lose your job to a 1-year-old? How about a 1-year-old who also happens to be your son? Its ruthless being a royal, and no one knew that better than Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary and Queen Elizabeth I were contemporaries, but you see, many questioned the legitimacy of Elizabeths reign. Her father, Henry VIII, had splintered off from the Catholic Church to form the Church of England, for sundry reasons, chief among them, so he could divorce Catherine of Aragon, and marry Elizabeths mother, Anne Boleyn. Due to this illegitimacy, there were certain quarters (mostly Catholics) who believed that it was actually Mary who was the heir to the British throne. Mary spent most of her life living in France, and even married King Francis II, becoming queen consort of France for oh, about a year, until her husbands untimely death. At this point its 1561 for everyone keeping track, Mary thought it might be a good idea to return to Scotland and stake her claim to the English throne via coup. As they say in French: Quel desastre cetait (What a cock-up that was!). Widowed, Mary then remarried to her first cousin, Henry Stuart, and together they had a son, James. One year later, Henry Stuarts residence was rocked by an explosion, and officials found the king consort dead, murdered in his own backyard. Now, no one is pointing fingers, but a lot of historians have surmized that James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, was the figure who orchestrated the murder, despite having been acquitted of the charge that same year (1567, if you are STILL keeping track). Why does this matter? Well, fresh off his acquittal, the Earl of Bothwell was married. To whom, you ask? Oh, reader, by now you must know where this is going. To Mary, Queen of Scots, of course! To call it a bad look is an understatement. There was an all-out uprising against the pair, with Mary (the queen, yall) eventually getting imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle, until she abdicated the throne in favor of her baby, James. Eventually, Mary fled to the south, into the arms of none other than the same queen she was trying to usurp power from, Elizabeth I, begging for protection. Henry VIII didnt spawn no fool, and after locking her up for 18 years in sundry castles and manors throughout the country, Elizabeth eventually beheaded her, citing treason. Kontemporary Analogy: Blac Chyna having her reality tv series canceled in favor of a Go-Pro hooked onto Dreams stroller. Chyna runs to Kris Jenner to be a featured player on the next season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, only to be killed off in the first episode. via Dream Kardashian Instagram Pu Yi, Emperor of Qing dynasty Pu Yi via Wikimedia Commons Is it just us, or is the reality of Chinas last emperor heavily tainted and influenced by the fact that we watched Bertoluccis The Last Emperor at least three times in sundry history classes growing up? Great movie, though! As far as abdications go, Pu Yi was forced from the throne almost as soon as he got there, but to be fair he was maybe too young to realize what was actually going on. Chosen to rule by Empress Dowager Cixi on her deathbed (scene 1 in the film, if were not mistaken), Puyi only 2 years old was taken from his parents without notice and installed in the Forbidden City. As a child Emperor, Pu Yi had little power over his subject, but all of the agency to behave as he chose within the walls of the Forbidden City. Apparently, The Last Emperor left out a LOT of sh*t, like the fact that a 7-year-old Pu Yi was kind of a mini-sadist, and took great pleasure in flogging the eunuchs that surrounded him on the daily. Damn. Where did he find the time?! Jokes aside, Pu Yi was eventually forced from the throne after a series of revolts and uprisings made it pretty clear that a lot of people were done with his hereditary rule. His adoptive mother signed the abdication papers, and it was all over for our lil Imperial Majesty. Or was it? Nah, dawg as it were our tween emperor lingered a little bit longer in the Forbidden City, receiving the kind of sweet pension most of us work a lifetime for until he was expelled. From there, he set off to Tianjin at the time partially occupied by the Japanese and eventually decided to cozy up to his occupiers, who then made him a puppet ruler in their newly established territory of Machukuo, where he ruled idly, but lived comfortably, until 1945. World War II was over, the Japanese lost, and Pu Yi was fast running out of options. Begging Stalin for a palace to live out his final days didnt work out, and when he was forced to testify at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, the defense counsel called him a consistent, self-assured liar, prepared to go to any lengths to save his skin. Back to Soviet prison he went, where he not only kept a cadre of servants, but spent most of his days playing mah jong. Its not eunuch whipping, but it would have to do. After his release, he would work his final years in a mechanic shop, eventually succumbing to poor health, and dying at age 61. North West and her mom via AFP Kontemporary Analogy: North West, plucked from the fruits of her mothers womb and chosen by Empress Dowager Kris to lead the familys reality empire, succumbs to a pop culture revolt that rejects their TV series, detox teas and makeup palettes. North tries making deals with sundry devils, and for a short time is an Extra! entertainment reporter before being taken off the airwaves permanently. Spends her twilight years flogging Kylie lip kits, and asking where her servants (Penelope and Mason Disick) are. This article, Ab-Fab: As Malaysias king bids farewell to the throne, a look at some of historys most notable abdications, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's labour ministry said on Friday that discrepancies in its polling methods caused it to underreport regular wage data from 2004 to 2017. The labour ministry also said its sample size for wage data for October last year was smaller than it should have been due to polling errors, according to a statement. The ministry on Friday revised regular wage data from January 2012 to October 2018 to partially rectify the polling errors. Labour Minister Takumi Nemoto told reporters he is still investigating the motives behind the polling errors. Labour ministry officials admitted on Wednesday that they have issued monthly wage data without meeting sampling standards for years, hurting the credibility of a key gauge of the success of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies. (Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) Attorney General Nominee Bill Barr reportedly to support FIRST STEP Act at coming hearing (and should be pressed on particulars) | Main | "Wealth-Based Penal Disenfranchisement" The title of this post is the title of this notable new report from the Collateral Consequences Resource Center to document the laws passed in 2018 aimed at reducing barriers to successful reintegration for individuals with a criminal record. Here is the report's executive summary: * In 2018, 30 states and the District of Columbia produced 56 separate laws aimed at reducing barriers faced by people with criminal records in the workplace, at the ballot box, and elsewhere. Many of these new laws enacted more than one type of reform. This prolific legislative fair chance track record, the high point of a six-year trend, reflects the lively on-going national conversation about how best to promote rehabilitation and reintegration of people with a criminal record. * As in past years, approaches to restoring rights varied widely from state to state, both with respect to the type of relief, as well as the specifics of who is eligible, how relief is delivered, and the effect of relief. Despite a growing consensus about the need for policy change to alleviate collateral consequences, little empirical research has been done to establish best practices, or what works best to promote reintegration. * The most promising legislative development recognizes the key role occupational licensing plays in the process of reintegration, and it was this area that showed the greatest uniformity of approach. Of the 14 states that enacted laws regulating licensing in 2018, nine (added to 4 in 2017) adopted a similar comprehensive framework to improve access to occupational licenses for people with a criminal record, limiting the kinds of records that may be considered, establishing clear criteria for administrative decisions, and making agency procedures more transparent and accountable. * The most consequential single new law was a Florida ballot initiative to restore the franchise to 1.5 million people with a felony conviction, which captured headlines across the country when it passed with nearly 65% of voters in favor. Voting rights were also restored for parolees, by statute in Louisiana and by executive order in New York. * The largest number of new laws 27 statutes in 19 states expanded access to sealing or expungement, by extending eligibility to additional categories of offenses and persons, by reducing waiting periods, or by simplifying procedures. A significant number of states addressed record clearing for non-conviction records (including diversions), for marijuana or other decriminalized offenses, for juveniles, and for human trafficking victims. * For the first time, the disadvantages of a separate petition-based relief system were incorporated into legislative discussions. Four states established automated or systemic record-sealing mechanisms aimed at eliminating a second chance gap which occurs when a separate civil action must be filed. Pennsylvanias clean slate law is the most ambitious experiment in automation to date. Other states sought to incorporate relief directly into the criminal case, avoiding the Pennsylvania laws technological challenges. * Three additional states acted to prohibit public employers from inquiring about criminal history during the initial stages of the hiring process, Washington by statute, and Michigan and Kansas by executive order. Washington extended the prohibition to private employers as well. A total of 33 states and the District of Columbia now have so-called ban-the-box laws, and 11 states extend the ban to private employers. * Four states expanded eligibility for judicial certificates of relief. Colorados order of collateral relief is now the most extensive certificate law in the nation, available for almost all crimes as early as sentencing, and effective to bar consideration of conviction in public employment and licensing. Arizona, California, and North Carolina made more modest changes to facilitate access to this judicial forgiving relief. * The District of Columbia established a clemency board to recommend to the President applications for pardon and commutation by D.C. Code offenders. Governors in California and New York used their pardon power to spare dozens of non-citizens from deportation, and California also streamlined its pardon process and made it more transparent. Moving in the other direction, Nebraska authorized sealing of pardoned convictions, and Maine made both pardon applications and pardon grants confidential. * The legal landscape at the end of 2018 suggests that states are experimenting with a more nuanced blending of philosophical approaches to dealing with the collateral consequences of arrest and conviction. These approaches include forgiving peoples past crimes (through pardon or judicial dispensation), forgetting them (through record-sealing or expungement), or forgoing creating a record in the first place (through diversionary dispositions). While sealing and expungement remain the most popular forms of remedy, there seems to be both popular and institutional resistance to limiting what the public may see respecting the record of serious offenses, and a growing preference for more transparent restoration mechanisms that limit what the public may do with such a record, along with standards to guide administrative decision-making. "Wealth-Based Penal Disenfranchisement" | Main | Supreme Court adds three (little?) criminal cases to its docket January 11, 2019 Are there constitutional (and ethical) issues raised by allowing the family of murder victims to hire lawyers to assist prosecutors as "associate attorneys" in capital prosecution? The question in the title of this post is prompted by this very interesting local article from Kansas headlined "Despite doubts, judge allows private prosecutors in case of two slain deputies." Here is the story, with one particular line emphasized: Over the objections of defense lawyers, and despite his own misgivings, a Wyandotte County judge said Wednesday he must allow private attorneys to assist in the prosecution of a man charged with killing two sheriffs deputies. Antoine Fielder, 30, is charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting last June of Wyandotte County deputies Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer as they were escorting him back to jail after a court hearing in a robbery case. Under Kansas law, crime victims can pay for lawyers to assist prosecutors as associate attorneys, and the families of Rohrer and King have hired married law partners Tom Bath and Tricia Bath. Because Fielder faces a possible death sentence, he is being represented by attorneys from the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit, who objected to what they termed interference in the case. They argued that the Kansas law that allows the hiring of private attorneys to assist in criminal prosecutions has never been used in a death penalty case. They said it raises novel constitutional, statutory and ethical issues. Counsel for Mr. Fielder is not aware of any direct authority addressing the constitutionality of private prosecutions in obtaining sentences of death, the defense said in court documents. In their written response to the defense objections, the Baths noted that the Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the idea of crime victims hiring private attorneys in numerous cases. And while it has never been used in a capital case, there is nothing in the law that excludes it. At a court hearing Wednesday, defense attorney Jeff Dazey noted that the law has been on the books in Kansas since the early 20th century, long before the modern era of the death penalty. A spokesman for Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said he had met with the Baths before they entered the case and had no objection to their participation. At Wednesdays hearing, Tricia Bath said they would be operating under the direction of Duprees office. She noted that both she and Tom Bath have represented defendants in death penalty cases and are familiar with the rules and ethical requirements for attorneys in death penalty cases. The law is clear, she argued. We get to be here and the victims get to have an official representative here. District Judge Bill Klapper said that, while he finds the inclusion of private associate prosecutors in the case inherently problematic, he is bound by Kansas law that mandates they shall be allowed. The judge did order that the Baths will not have any role in the case until after the Feb. 1 preliminary hearing. The constitutionality of victims have a say and a role in various criminal justice proceedings is well established, and I am generally supportive of victim's being allowed to retain a lawyer to help them preserve and exercise their rights in various ways. But one reason I support victim involvement in criminal prosecution is because, if they have independent rights in the process, they can and should often serve as another kind of check on the power of the state (by, for example, advocating for a sentence lower or just different than what prosecutors seek). But here it seems that the victims' lawyers are not going to be an independent voice and advocate for the victims, but rather will be "operating under the direction" of the District Attorney. That does not seem quite right, and arguably raises some unique constitutional and ethical concerns. January 11, 2019 at 09:16 AM | Permalink Comments Doug, when I started practicing law in North Carolina it was common practice for victims families to hire "private prosecutors" to represent the State in criminal trials. They replaced, not assisted, the District Attorney's office. I thought it was a blatantly unconstitutional practice then, and still do now. bruce Posted by: bruce cunningham | Jan 12, 2019 6:45:11 AM But here it seems that the victims' lawyers are not going to be an independent voice and advocate for the victims, but rather will be "operating under the direction" of the District Attorney. That does not seem quite right, and arguably raises some unique constitutional and ethical concerns. Such as? Given that they are under the direction of, as opposed to independent of, the duly elected DA, basically it seems that they are free legal assistance to the assigned prosecutors. Not unlike the the various capital habeas units funded with tax dollars who assist other capital defense counsel or the myriad of anti DP non-profits that are churning out challenges to the DP. Im not saying there arent concerns, but no one has listed them here. If they are operating under the prosecutors, arent those prosecutors free to decline their advice, input or to advance any arguments made? Posted by: David | Jan 12, 2019 12:43:49 PM Our Judicial system and our Government is so corrupted by unethical attorneys, our courts say "tell the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth" then say answer yes or no only. So who benefits? The Missing 13th Amendment"TITLES OF NOBILITY" AND "HONOR": a 13th Amendment restricting lawyers from serving in government was ratified in 1819 and removed from our Constitution during the tumult of the Civil War. Since the Amendment was never lawfully repealed, it is still the Law today. Attorney's changing one little word or definition can do a lot of harm and why do we need 2000 pages of anything when Congress admits they do not read them? The Constitution is short and to the point - not filled with commercial rules, laws, and regulations. Read your Constitution, it's for the people. Posted by: LC in Texas | Jan 12, 2019 1:12:47 PM The main question and concerns that I have, David, relate to who these victim-hired attorneys represent. Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree was elected to represent the people of the county and he will make decisions in this case with the interests of the county in mind. But who do the lawyers hired by the family represent? Are they to zealously represent the interest of the families or the interest of the county? What if the family says they just want this case resolved ASAP by a plea. Do the lawyers try to convince the DA to offer/accept a plea? Can and should the family lawyer start developing arguments to support a plea if the DA does not think a plea is in the best interest of the county? Conversely, what if the family objects to any possibility of a plea? Do they try to convince the DA never to offer/accept a plea? So my main concern is uncertainty about whose interests the hired lawyer's serve, and also the way this extra help could sway the DA's decisionmaking. This situation seem distinct from just filing an amicus brief or providing help to the lawyers for a particular party, though maybe one might say this is merely a difference in degree rather than a real difference in kind. Ergo the question in the title of this post. I am with you that any concerns may be ultimately diminished if the DA is going to be making all of the key decisions as the case moves forward. But especially if the DA has a busy docket and is inclined to defer to the wishes of the family lawyers, there still seems to be a risk of un-elected hired lawyers functionally exercising authority that the voters put in the hands of another. Posted by: Doug B | Jan 12, 2019 5:39:05 PM I follow a lot of wrongful conviction cases. It seems that in most such cases, the police and prosecution knew perfectly well that their case was BS, and they chose to proceed anyway, misleading the victim's family along with everyone else. So I think an attorney representing the victim's family could be beneficial, simply because an attorney will often be harder to mislead. Posted by: William Jockusch | Jan 12, 2019 7:09:29 PM Outside interests in significant cases attempt to talk the prosecution into particular courses of action all the time. This is nothing new. Its impact on district attorney decision making is not likely to be any different although I suppose them being able to speak in court would be a bit different then being able to speak to us directly, or for higher profile cases, in the court of public opinion. Clearly, if the goals were at odds to each other, that would present obstacles to efficiency, but that is what the voters in Kansas apparently want. As far as overworked prosecutors putting decisions in the hands of another, given the Kansas has expressly approved of this arrangement I dont see how that is an improper risk of un-elected hired lawyers functionally exercising authority that the voters put in the hands of another. The fact is they put it in the hands of both. I am still not seeing ethical conundrums and Im definitely not seeing any constitutional arguments that this arrangement is improper. I will say as a 20 year career prosecutor I am not sure that I would find such an arrangement beneficial in the aggregate. The reason being that many times the lawyers representing the victims are interested in money, not deterrring the criminal, or consistency across cases. However, the money factor is not present in violent crimes the vast majority of the time. I also have found over the years that working with victims through lawyers is a layer of miscommunication that I prefer to avoid. There is a reason that hearsay is inadmissible in court, I prefer not to use hearsay to explain my actions. Posted by: David | Jan 13, 2019 11:19:09 AM Doug, very thoughtful comments and observations on your part. Here is a question. Are District Attorneys in Kansas elected? If so, that strengthens the defense arguments that victims should not be able to hire private attorneys to "assist" in the prosecution of cases. DA would know if they do not adhere to what the private lawyer for the family of the victim tells them, there could be significant political consequences. If the family is sophisticated enough to hire their own lawyer, there is no telling what they would do if the DA doesn't follow their wishes. I think this smells of a separation of powers, non-delegation of responsibility issue. The North Carolina Constitution says it is the responsibility of the District Attorneys to prosecute criminal actions. That power can't be delegated, overtly or implicitly, to private citizens, who are more interested in vengeance than justice. bruce Posted by: bruce cunningham | Jan 13, 2019 11:07:28 PM Thoughtful comments all around, though I think David is convincing me not to worry too much about the victim-hired attorneys. And I suppose their first responsibility/assignment will be to develop a memo (or brief) to rebut claims by the defense that their involvement raises novel constitutional, statutory and ethical issues. Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 14, 2019 3:32:03 PM Post a comment " " The super-Earth Barnard's Star B orbits its host in this artist's impression. ESO/M. Kornmesser The second-closest exoplanet beyond our solar system may sound like a cold, alien and inhospitable place, but what if it's not? What if, as new research suggests, there are pockets of habitable environments deep below its icy surface, assuming it can produce heat from its core? Discovered late in 2018, Barnard's Star b is like none of the planets in the solar system. With a mass three times that of Earth, this enigmatic exoplanet is known as a "super-Earth," a likely rocky planet that occupies a mass range between Earth and the smaller gas giants, like Neptune. Exoplanet-hunting missions like Kepler have found that super-Earths are common throughout the galaxy, so Barnard's Star b is more than just a curiosity, it could become the key for us to understand how they formed, what they're made of and, most conspicuously, why the solar system doesn't have one. Advertisement After a painstaking search through two decades of spectroscopic data of Barnard's Star, astronomers announced the new world's discovery in November. They found a 233 day "wobble" that indicated an exoplanet was located at approximately the same distance at which Mercury orbits our sun, very slightly tugging at its star as it orbited. But, as the star is a low-mass and dim red dwarf, the planet's orbit puts it beyond the star's "habitable zone" and into its "snow line." If Barnard's Star b has any water on its surface, it will be frozen, and not conducive to supporting life (as we know it). However, according to new research presented at the 233rd meeting of the American Astronomy Society (AAS) in Seattle, Washington, on Jan. 10, 2019, should this super-Earth be producing its own heat in its core, basic life-forms may find a way to eke out an existence. "Geothermal heating could support 'life zones' under its surface, akin to subsurface lakes found in Antarctica," said astrophysicist Edward Guinan, of Villanova University, in a statement. "We note that the surface temperature on Jupiter's icy moon Europa is similar to Barnard b but, because of tidal heating, Europa probably has liquid oceans under its icy surface." Astrobiologists have long been fascinated with Europa. Even though it orbits Jupiter well outside our sun's habitable zone and has a very obvious thick-ice crust, through tidal interactions with the gas giant, its core produces heat that maintains a subsurface ocean in a liquid water state. Decades of observations of the moon also have revealed that the ocean may have sufficient quantities of oxygen and nutrients to support a hypothetical marine ecosystem. Barnard's Star b is much larger than Europa and cannot have the same degree of tidal heating experienced by the Jovian moon, but should it have a large and hot iron/nickel core, Guinan and his co-investigators suspect that its geothermal activity could nurture primitive life-forms. Alas, we are getting ahead of ourselves. Barnard's Star b may well be habitable, but currently we only know its mass and orbital period around the star. We know nothing about its composition, atmosphere (if it even has one) or physical size. It will be undoubtedly cold, as the star only generates 0.4 percent of the radiant power of our sun, but does it possess water ice? Does it have geothermal activity? For now, we don't know, but there is hope. " " Our local star neighborhood IEEC/SCIENCE-WAVE, GUILLEM RAMISA Barnard's Star is only six light-years from Earth, so it's conceivable that a future generation of powerful telescopes will have the observing power to study the alien world. According to the researchers, such observations will shed light on the nature of the planet's atmosphere, surface and potential habitability. "The most significant aspect of the discovery of Barnard's star b is that the two nearest star systems to the sun are now known to host planets," said Engle in the same statement. "This supports previous studies based on Kepler mission data, inferring that planets can be very common throughout the galaxy, even numbering in the tens of billions." The closest exoplanet to Earth is Proxima Centauri b, an Earth-sized world that orbits its red dwarf star inside the habitable zone, the distance surrounding a star that could allow a planet to possess liquid water on its surface. On paper, this sounds like a fantastic location to seek out alien life, but Proxima Centauri is an angry little star, known for its violent flares that would irradiate any planet that orbits too close. Barnard's Star b orbits its red dwarf farther away and, if life can find a way under its surface, could be shielded from any ionizing radiation. Now That's Old Barnard's Star is about 9 billion years old, two times as old as the sun. That means, as the researchers point out, that the universe has been churning out super-Earths for far longer than the sun has been around. Beto ORourke posted videos on Instagram during his teeth cleaning appointment this week. Photo: Screenshot courtesy of Andrew Kaczynski Beto ORourkes teeth are nice and clean today. I know this because on Thursday, ORourke posted a Story on Instagram, where he has over 750,000 followers, in which he interviewed his dental hygienist about her life in El Paso while she cleaned his teeth. ORourke is a 46-year-old Democrat from Texas. His failed Senate campaign relied heavily on the fact that hes different from establishment candidates like his opponent Ted Cruz, and not just politically. Hes hip. Hes relatable. Hes somebody who can talk straight to the camera in an Instagram Story and have it feel on-brand. He can even Instagram Live and have it feel like he actually knows how to operate the app himself, rather than delegating the task to a social media manager. When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez streams live from her kitchen on Instagram, its to the same effect. Ocasio-Cortez, at 29, is the youngest woman to serve in Congress in United States history. Shes a digital native. Its even easier to believe its genuine when she posts snippets of her day, from policy meetings to her coffee mugs (endorsing public libraries, naturally.) Or when she tweets a clapback video, dancing in front of her office. Or that she even knows what a clapback is and how to flawlessly execute one. I hear the GOP thinks women dancing are scandalous. Wait till they find out Congresswomen dance too! Have a great weekend everyone :) pic.twitter.com/9y6ALOw4F6 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 4, 2019 The same goes for Will Haskell, a 22-year-old state senator from Connecticut whose campaign was endorsed by Barack Obama. Haskell, throughout his campaign and since, has been a regular on Instagram Stories. Often, he talks straight to the camera about what hes up to on that particular day, using an auto-caption app so viewers dont need to be able to hear the video if youre tapping through Stories in a public place, like the subway or the office, chances are you have the sound off to know whats up. Its function ends up as something like having cable news on, with closed captioning, in the background of a newsroom or a bar or your home. Its quick and easy to get the gist of it and then get back to whatever you were doing. But these are the exceptions to the rule. For the most part, politicians integrating social media into their lives, or at least social media as it would be used by an influencer, feels flat and lands wrong. AOC can chill in Cedar Rapids, if she wants to. HRC cannot. (The Clinton campaign posted an ill-fated Vine of Clinton just chilling in Cedar Rapids, which became a meme faster than you can say Cedar Rapids.) Senator Kirsten Gillibrand baking cobbler seems forced because it comes out of nowhere. If youre Senator Cory Booker, and youve been offering to help shovel peoples snow on Twitter for nearly a decade now, its fine to keep it up. But for candidates trying to shoehorn in social personalities to keep apace with their peers, were in for a lot more Cedar Rapids moments. Ultimately, this is a recipe for mutually assured destruction. Just because Beto ORourke narrating his life on Instagram Stories feels natural doesnt mean anybody wants to watch him or other candidates keeping up with their dental hygiene. (The post was one of several highlighting stories about living in a border town, but that context got a bit lost with the close-up on ORourkes teeth.) Its not hard to picture an office somewhere in the United States right now in which a 2020 hopefuls staff is frantically planning social strategy. Well, Beto ORourke did that tooth thing and people are STILL talking about it, so what if we have our guy do that, but while hes re-grouting his shower? The rightfully-deserved attention and praise Ocasio-Cortez has garnered for her social media presence could backfire if everyone starts thinking they can manufacture that for themselves. Which, spoiler, they most likely cannot. Obviously obviously political candidates should use the platforms at their disposal to campaign and do their jobs and keep people informed in easily accessible ways. But Id prefer it if they stuck to telling us what they believe in and what they are working on. I dont need to see their gums. CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to Commentary. Frances Yellow Vests have set their sights on the countrys financial institutions, with demonstrations planned outside of Rothhschild in Lyon and talks of a large-scale bank run gaining support. The bank run, in particular, has piqued the interest of crypto media, and its clear to see why. If such a run were to occur, it could have devastating effects on the countrys financial system, which protestors, many of whom come from low-to-middle-income backgrounds in one of the most-taxed nations in the world, see as an oppressive force unfairly dictating the direction of legislation in the country. So who are the Yellow Vests? The Gilets Jaunes Yellow Vests - movement took root in mid-October in response to a fuel tax supposedly meant to combat climate change and protect the environment. Since then, however, the movement has snowballed into a wider pushback against French President Macrons perceived bias in favor of the countrys wealthy. Though the fuel tax was the catalyst that sparked the movement, it has grown to include other social issues such as education reform, greater taxes on the rich, overhaul of the pension system, and more. "People want fair fiscal justice. They want social justice," Thierry Paul Valette, a Paris protest coordinator explained. And on November 17th, the people took to the streets, with over 290,000 demonstrators donning yellow vests across the country. Over the next few weeks, protests turned more severe, as violence and clashes with law enforcement erupted in Paris near the Arc de Triomphe and other upscale neighborhoods in the city, leading officials to deploy more police and even armored vehicles for the first time ever in the capital city. Related: 78% Of American Workers Are Living Paycheck To Paycheck In response to the movement, President Macron eventually scrapped all fuel tax hikes for 2019, though he ruled out additional taxes on the wealthy. Despite this, however, protests have persisted, reinforcing the call for greater financial and social reform in the country. And what about that bank run? Calls for a potential mass-withdrawal of funds from the countrys banks are on the rise, with a number of individuals taking to social media gaining support. One activist known as Tahz San explained that the move will scare this (French) state completely legally and without any violence, yet more effectively than ever expected," adding, Its our elected officials worst nightmare." Bank runs have occurred many times throughout history, but never have they been explicitly voluntary. Most, if not all, have occurred as the result of customers rushing to their banks to withdraw funds out of fear that the financial institutions become insolvent, often leading to widespread panic and temporary economic chaos. Judge Christopher Dembik, head of macroeconomic research at Saxo Bank, thinks the Yellow Vest call to action is unlikely to result in any significant impact, stating "Triggering a bank run requires huge queues at the counters, very honestly I think the strike force of yellow vests is too weak to destabilize the sector." Though the proposed bank runs might not have the impact that the protestors are hoping for, however, the symbolic move highlights the growing dissatisfaction with Big Finance around the world. By Michael Kern via Crypto Insider More Top Reads From Safehaven.com Welcome to day 20 of the government shutdown over a $5-billion border wall thats taken the SEC offline and put the future of ready-to-go Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) at risk. As of December 27th, the SEC had only 285 of its 4,436 employees working, even though the agencys electronic system for filing documents, EDGAR, (and IPO paperwork) is still online. All that means is a massive backlog of unreviewed filings. So anyone who was looking forward to an exciting year of IPOs might be disappointed because its getting off to a very rock delay. The most mouth-watering of those potential IPOs are in the tech and biotech sectors, with investors hoping to jump in on a long-awaited Uber IPO, and possibly the same for rival Lyft. Uber is possibly the biggest IPO that everyones been waiting for because of its massive valuation, most recently by Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley last month for up to $120 billionup from the $76 billion JPMorgan valued the company after its August funding round. This has gone beyond hints, with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stating that the goal was an IPO in the second half of 2019. But rival Lyft is planning an IPO in the first half of this year, assuming the SEC gets back to work. According to CNBC, Lyft hired JPMorgan Chase to lead the IPO, putting a valuation on the company of over $15 billion based on a recent funding round. Slack, the company messaging app platform, also has plans to IPO early this year, with a potential $7-billion valuation, while AirBnB has hinted at a 2019 IPO but not committed. Then we have Peter Thiel-backed data mining company Palantir reportedly considering a late-2019 IPO with a potential $40+-billion valuation. Others who might be affected include the disruptive zero-fee stock trading platform Robinhood, valued at around $5.6 billion, and clearly gunning for an IPO, as well as the $12.3-billion-valued Pinterest, which could shoot for an IPO in the second quarter of this year. Related: Bad News Builds For Global Markets Its also worth keeping an eye on shared office space startup WeWork, valued at around $42 billion (yes, even if youve never heard of it) for possible IPO news, and much smaller food delivery app Postmates, valued at around $1.2 billion. The LATimes also reported this week that the $4+ billion IPO filing for bond-trading platform Tradeweb Markets may also be delayed by the shutdown. Another couple weeks and youll have serious IPO delays, the LATimes quoted Carter Mack, president and co-founder of JMP Group, as saying. Even if the shutdown ends and the SEC gets back to work, theres going to be a backlog of deals filed in the interim that havent been assigned to examiners. But this goes beyond simple delays, David Hirschmann, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerces Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, told Bloomberg. He says that due to potential market risks, some businesses have decided it was better to sell shares sooner and bankers may assess company worth lower because of a sudden downturn. By Michael Kern for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com Its an emergency. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images When is the moment we can say that Trump has clearly gone over the line in erasing democratic and constitutional restraints on his personal power? Id say declaring a national emergency when there isnt one to fund a project he cant get through Congress pretty obviously qualifies. Wouldnt you? He couldnt manage to get his wall funded when his own party controlled the entire government. He even turned down a bipartisan offer to build a wall in return for a path to citizenship for Dreamers last year, because he wanted a reduction in legal immigration as well. He petulantly refuses to accept greater funding for border control and immigration enforcement if his symbolic wall isnt part of the package. He says he intends to use the military to do what a civilian border force is constitutionally designed for. He even intends to seize private land in order to construct the Great Wall of America, using a military version of eminent domain. And he says he has the power to do all this anyway and is only negotiating with congressional leaders because he feels like it. His benchmark for when an emergency begins? When Nancy Pelosi refuses to budge. Which is proof that this emergency is pulled out of his giant, shapeless ass. And for all this, he has shut down much of the federal government as leverage to get his way, jeopardizing public safety and health, disrupting the lives (and now paychecks) of millions. The words he has used to justify all of this are an assault on liberal democratic norms and the rule of law. Emergency powers do exist in the event of a national security crisis but, as David French has noted, they only apply in an actual national emergency that may require the use of the military and even then only for already authorized construction projects essential to national defense. These laws were designed to restrain the executive through the law, not to give him carte blanche to appropriate funds Congress has designated otherwise. The laws were never designed to enable the president to do things the Congress had never authorized (the 2006 funds for border fencing have already been used up), and which the Congress actively, indeed strongly, opposes. There is indeed a crisis at the border caused by a big increase in the numbers of families with children from Central America applying for asylum. But they are not trying to evade a wall, and even if they were, you couldnt build one fast enough to stop them. Regular economic migration from Mexico is way down. The overwhelming majority of drugs come through routine ports of entry, not the open border, or, like fentanyl, through the mail from China. Almost everything the president has said about all of this is a lie from his disgusting demonization of illegal immigrants as criminals and animals to the alleged record number of apprehensions at the border this year to his ludicrous insistence that he never actually said that Mexico would directly pay for the wall. He just wants his goddamn wall, and he will shut down the government and violate the Constitution if he cannot get it. Look: Im not against fortifying the southern border. I would have given the man his funds to start his beloved wall a long time ago, as part of a package that would also provide much more funding for immigration courts, detention facilities, more judges, and a path to citizenship for so many caught in the horrible DACA limbo. I have no problem slowing the pace of legal migration either. I dont think construction of more wall through legal means can harm anything but the local environment, the cost is trivial in the grand scheme of things, and in many ways, the symbol of the wall has become an obstacle to much more effective ways to stem illegal immigration. I also think that Nancy Pelosis constant declaration that a border wall is an immorality is absurd, condescending, and politically stupid. But she just won an election, and Trump has to deal with her. Its also vital to see this in a broader context. The Executive branch has been getting more and more powerful and unilateral for a long time, through Bushs torture program up to Obamas unconstitutional moves with respect to DACA. But Obama resorted to that in part because tribalism had spiraled, especially on the right, and what should have been complicated but manageable compromises became impossible. Our system has broken down. The Congress is effectively not functioning, elections merely rearrange the tribal deadlock, and reasoned discourse has been tweeted out of existence in the wider public space. This democracy has no effective means to govern itself, except through bitter paralysis or executive fiat. Now weve added an instinctive tyrant to this equation, and the last two years have been blinking bright red for constitutional corrosion and collapse. And now were seeing Trumps tyrannical instincts in a new, post-midterm light: another party controls the House. It was bad enough when he was fighting his own party, his own Cabinet, and all of our allies. Now hes lost the House and fired everyone who disagreed with him in his own Cabinet. He runs the country by impulsive, often contradictory diktat, and grips other tyrants from MBS and Sisi to Putin and Bolsonaro more closely to his chest. With the Mueller report pending, a docile new attorney general in the wings, and a majority on the Supreme Court inclined to give the executive the benefit of the doubt, we are about to enter Act III of this tragedy. We all knew this was coming. Our liberal democracy is in abeyance. We now wait to see what the replacement will be. It could come sooner than we think. _ The Pathologized Male The American Psychological Associations summary of its first-ever guide to treating boys and men begins with an apology. Men, according to the author Stephanie Pappas, especially white men, have been the subject of psychology and psychiatry forever. Why bother now to treat them separately at all? After that somewhat defensive and dismissive start, the answer is that men, when they follow what the APA called traditional masculine ideology, hurt themselves and others, and this is a problem for men and everyone. Hence the need for psychological intervention. And we quickly arrive at this statement: Traditional masculinity marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression is, on the whole, harmful. Men should presumably learn to be the opposite: emotionally inconstant, collaborative, submissive, and passive. If thats the kind of man you want to be much more like a sexist stereotype of a woman an army of psychologists is ready to help you. Men and women, for the APA, are not intrinsically or naturally different: When researchers strip away stereotypes and expectations, there isnt much difference in the basic behaviors of men and women. As you keep reading, you begin to realize just how saturated psychology has now become with critical gender theory, and its profound rejection of anything we might call nature. Because biology has no influence on sex and gender at all, and testosterone is thereby irrelevant in understanding the psychological nature of men (it is never mentioned in the report), everything is a social construct, and social constructs a function of patriarchy and white supremacy can be changed. If we can change men, one psychologist tellingly admits, we can change the world. If this sounds more like a political project than a guide to therapy, youre not wrong. At the very start of the document, for example, this traditional masculinity ideology (TMI) is deemed the reason why men commit 90 percent of murders (and always have in every culture and every moment in history). Thats an extraordinary claim, and presumably requires urgent intervention. If a terrorist group, defined as adhering to an ideology, were to kill more than 15,000 Americans a year (the total number of murders committed by men in the U.S. in 2017), we would surely respond with a deep sense of urgency. What is TMI? The definition varies throughout the document, as it flings various slurs at half the human race. Heres one such definition: anti-femininity, achievement, eschewal of the appearance of weakness, and adventure, risk, and violence. Just weigh that list for a minute and how expansive it is. Men are exhibiting a dangerous ideology when they seek to achieve things, when they risk their lives or fortunes, when they explore unfamiliar territory and these character traits are interchangeable with violence. As you read the guidelines, you realize that the APA believes that psychologists should be informing men that what they might think is their nature is actually just a set of social constructs that hurt them, murders thousands, and deeply wounds the society as a whole. TMI ideology tends to limit males psychological development, constrain their behavior, result in gender role strain and gender role conflict, and negatively influence mental health and physical health. TMI is also bound up in white supremacy: It was historically predicated on the exclusion of men who were not White, heterosexual, cisgender, able-bodied, and privileged. The role of psychology? So far as I can tell, its indoctrination in critical gender theory: Psychologists can help clients develop awareness of systems that assume cisgender masculinity expression is the expected norm, and identify how they have been harmed by discrimination against those who are gender nonconforming. Given the connections between sexism and other forms of prejudice, psychologists may find it useful to link oppressions as a pedagogical strategy, especially when working with boys and men in groups. Good luck with that. And, yes, the ideological misandry is unmistakable. Check out the equivalent guidelines for women and girls, issued in 2007. Where stoicism is a bad thing for men, especially black men, heres how it works for women: In therapy, teaching, research, and supervision, psychologists are encouraged to become aware not only of the challenges that women and girls have faced, but of the resiliency and strength that women and girls have shown in response. For men, assertiveness is part of a pathology; for women, it is a virtue. Although biology is absent in the guidelines for men, and minimized in the guidelines for women (women are understood primarily as victims of patriarchy/racism/sexism, etc.), there is some concession to the idea that the female body is actually different: The psychological response to menarche is included in a way that a psychological response to puberty for boys is absent. More to the point, where the guidelines for men take it for granted that TMI is a problem, with women, psychologists should strive to make unbiased, appropriate assessments and diagnoses by considering multiple relevant aspects of the experiences of girls and women. I could go on. So many of the humanities have surrendered to critical race and gender theory, erasing the individual and denying any natural differences between the sexes, that it might seem foolish to expect psychologists to be any better. But for those of us who strongly believe in the importance of psychotherapy, and think that many men are far too reluctant to seek help and support, the decision by the APA to pathologize half of humanity is terrible news. There are indeed issues that men today need a help with, and emotional repression is definitely part of it. Aspects of maleness aggression without virtue, glorification of violence, difficulties with communication and collaboration are worth understanding better if men are to grapple with an economic and social environment where they are increasingly being left behind. But this? It felt demeaning to read. To tell you the truth, it reminded me of the way psychologists used to treat gay men: as pathological, dangerous, and in need of reparative and conversion therapy. As homosexuals, we learned for a long time to be very wary of psychologists and psychiatrists because they routinely saw us as individuals whose nature and behavior needed to be fundamentally altered for our sake and for others. What once was used against gay men, is now being used against all men. If this document were designed to encourage men to seek psychotherapy, it is a catastrophe. _ The Winning Charms of AOC Am I allowed to say that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is likable? To be honest, Im not entirely sure. She has an easy, open demeanor, fun-loving smile, stunning good looks, and an ability to make arguments few others are brave enough to make. Shes manifestly sincere, charismatic, and, despite her occasional factual overreaches, engaging the issues that really matter. She can dance! She once went by Sandy. And when conservatives like me or even Ann Coulter are revisiting the question of tax redistribution in a society that is being torn apart by late capitalism, she makes a kind of sense. She is still a little wet behind the ears, and will doubtless mature in office, but her energy, good humor and, yes, charm are integral to her appeal. They help her persuade people of her arguments. Theres a reason some Republicans are owning themselves with their AOC obsession: They can recognize a deadly talent when they see it. When you think of the last two Democratic presidents, Bill and Barack, you see the same thing: They both have charisma and, yes, likability, that they deployed to get elected and reelected. Thats how Kennedy beat Nixon; its how Reagan defeated Carter. And this is not a gendered thing. When I think back to the modern Democrats who lost, they all have something in common. They regard their unlikability as a kind of achievement, proof that they can win on substance alone, that the media is obsessed with trivia, and that most people are dumb and easily bamboozled. So the Democrats saw Reagans smile and decided yeah, Walter Mondale is the ticket! Next up: that dazzling Dukakis. Then Al Gore, for Petes sake. Gore had by far the better case, had a popular incumbent president behind him, a booming economy, a budget surplus and rising wages, knew foreign policy cold, and was a visionary on climate change. He should have won in a landslide. But there is and was something so deeply strange about him, so stiff and pious and condescending, so stilted and entitled, he managed to turn the contest into a dead heat. Listening to my own inner Paul Krugman, I know he should have won. But within five minutes of his debate with George W. Bush in the fall of 2000, I knew hed lose. The idea that Americans would voluntarily agree to have that dude lecturing them for four long years was absurd. And Kerry? That droning bore? I supported him, but feared it was over before it began. The same, Im sorry to say, with Hillary. But this time, any suggestion that she was actually charm-free, could not relate to ordinary people, couldnt give a good speech, never ran an effective competitive campaign in her life, and made half the countrys skin crawl well, we were all a bunch of misogynists, werent we? And maybe some were. But we were right, werent we? Which is why I have to say right now in fear of God knows what that I cannot see the tiniest chance of Elizabeth Warren winning the presidency, for the same reasons as Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, Kerry, and Hillary. If the Dems want to put their huffy principles above their need to win elections, theyre welcome to. Just dont call everyone who actually wants them to win a misogynist, okay? See you next Friday. How much do you really know about critical illnesses? For those of us who havent had a direct encounter with critical illness, our knowledge may be limited to dramatic depictions on TV or a brochure passed to you at the LRT station. But what does it really mean to have a critical illness? Read on to learn more about the three most common critical illnesses in Malaysia and how they affect you and your wallet. 1) Cancer Cancer is a disease caused by the uncontrollable division of abnormal cells in a certain part of your body. Cancerous cells can spread and form solid growths of tissue called tumours. According to the National Cancer Registry Report, the most common types of cancer in Malaysia are lung cancer and nasopharyngeal (nose) cancer for males, breast and cervical cancer for females, along with colorectal cancer which is prevalent in both sexes. Common treatments for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, and they dont come cheap. One session of chemotherapy can cost up to RM200 in a government hospital, and a patient may have to undergo any number of sessions throughout their battle against cancer. The overall cost of treatment varies according to the type of cancer; it can cost up to RM56,000 for lung cancer and up to a whopping total of RM395,000 for breast cancer. 2) Heart attack and coronary artery disease A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is severely reduced or stopped. Coronary heart disease is when plaque builds up inside the arteries leading to your heart, which can result in a heart attack. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, coronary heart diseases were the principal cause of death for Malaysian males in 2016, and the second-highest cause of death for Malaysian females. You are at higher risk of developing this critical illness if you smoke, have high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, and dont exercise regularly. Treatment for heart diseases involves many different types of medicines aimed at reducing blood pressure or widening your arteries. In more severe cases, you may have to undergo surgical procedures such as a coronary angioplasty to open your clogged heart arteries, or a heart bypass surgery which is used to replace damaged coronary arteries. A coronary angioplasty in Malaysia can easily cost you around RM30,000 whereas a heart bypass surgery can cost you up to RM70,000. The costs of these procedures vary from institution to institution, but hospitals rarely display their pricing on their websites outright. 3) Stroke Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is cut off, causing brain cells to be deprived of oxygen. When this happens, brain cells are in danger of dying, leading to abilities controlled by that area of the brain to be lost. Total recovery from stroke is possible, but over two-thirds of stroke survivors are left with some form of disability. This could be paralysis, memory loss, or impaired ability to speak, depending on the affected area of the brain. Research shows that stroke is the third leading cause of death in Malaysia, with the mean age of stroke patients ranging between 54 and 63 years of age. However, strokes can occur to anyone regardless of their age. In a similar vein to heart attacks, stroke patients are prescribed medication and may need to undergo surgical procedures to alleviate their condition. Brain aneurysm surgery and carotid artery surgery can correct aneurysms (swelling of an artery wall) and restore proper blood flow to the brain respectively, and yes, you guessed it they cost a lot of money. Treatment for stroke can cost anywhere between RM35,000RM75,000. It Could Happen To You So Prepare For It Too many Malaysians fail to prepare themselves for the financial burden that comes with being a critical illness patient. According to the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK), 11.5% of those seeking counselling cited high medical expenses as the reason behind their debt. Even though critical illnesses have become more successfully treatable, they can still be expensive. Along with the treatment costs of a critical illness, there are also the indirect costs such as medications, follow-ups, tests and consultations. However, the biggest financial strain will arise from loss of income. The recovery journey can be very draining which could make it difficult to work for a living. All the day-to-day expenses can really add up and the illness-related bills are only going to bring additional emotional and mental strain into the mix. Which leads us to the question: what can be done about this? Prime Care+: The Financial Protection You Need Prime Care+ by Allianz gives you the financial support you need so you can focus on your recovery and lifestyle changes when dealing with a critical illness. Under Prime Care+, you get coverage for a range of critical illness conditions that include heart attack, cancer, and stroke, as well as Alzheimers, kidney disease, and Parkinsons, which are also common critical illnesses in Malaysia. All in all, Prime Care+ offers protection for over 150 forms of illnesses in its plan. Make sure you have a critical illness insurance plan that gives you the financial support to seek early treatment and provide you with income replacement while on your road to recovery. Get yourself protected with Prime Care+ and prepare yourself for tomorrow, today. 0 0 votes Article Rating SHARE Where Persecution Comes From The main driver of North Korean Christian Persecution is the state. For three generations, everything in the country focused on idolizing the leading Kim family. Christians are seen as hostile elements in society which have to be eradicated. Due to the constant indoctrination permeating the whole country, neighbors and even family members are highly watchful and report anything suspicious to the authorities. Children are especially vulnerable to the heavy indoctrination. Reports show that some children report their own parents for religious activity. Therefore, many parents prefer not to tell their children anything about their Christian faith until theyre older. How Christians are Suffering If Christians are discovered, no matter if they are heirs of the Christian communities from before the Korean War or found the Christian faith in other ways e.g. during the great famine in the 1990s (which caused tens of thousands of citizens to seek help in China) not only are they deported to labor camps as political criminals or even killed on the spot, their families will share their fate as well. Christians do not even have the slightest space in society. Meeting other Christians in order to worship is almost impossible and if some believers dare to, it has to be done in utmost secrecy. The churches shown to visitors in Pyongyang serve mere propaganda purposes. Examples Due to the extremely difficult security situation, it is not possible to give examples. But the highly unusual case of Pastor Han Choong Yeol who was killed by a squad of four North Korean agents in the Chinese border town Chiangbai on April 30, 2016 may serve as an illustration. What was most shocking was not the fact of the killing, but that it was done so publicly. So if the authorities are not shy to kill a foreign Christian abroad, it may be easier to imagine how they act once they find a local Christian. Of course, every Christian caught will be closely interrogated to uncover any networks. BOZEMAN A Montana man has pleaded guilty to raping a 12-year-old girl. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports Aaron Manning on Tuesday entered a guilty plea to felony sexual intercourse without consent in Gallatin County District Court. As part of a plea deal, the Gallatin County prosecutor will suggest Manning serve 25 years in state prison when he is sentenced March 20. The prosecutor will also recommend Manning register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. Manning is allowed to make his own sentencing recommendation to the court. On Feb. 27, 2016, the girl's stepfather reported to authorities that she had sex with an adult. Manning was arrested in February 2016 after having met the victim on the instant messaging app Kik. Manning spent about four months in jail. He was released after posting $100,000 bail. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 1 They redid the plaque and Chester dropped it by the Littles' home with the wooden net made by the Darby class especially for them. Chester said it wont be an award that automatically is given out every year. It will be presented to someone who stands out head and shoulders above the rest, he said. We dont want to have to just pick someone that might not be up to standards of Earl and Joan's ideal. We might give out three times in a year or it might only be presented to someone once every three years, Chester said. The fact the award is focused on educating young people about the sport of fly fishing for trout would have made Earl Little smile. Fishing was everything to us, Joan Little said. We loved to share it with others. After her husband died, she continued on with that tradition by donating her husband's large collection of fly-tying materials to Healing Waters, a group focused on helping veterans through fly fishing. Some of the stuff he had stored away was just mind boggling, she said. He would have been happy to know that he helped some veterans. There have been other examples of officials not using the Bible. In 2014, Suzi Levine, the then-incoming ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, swore her oath of duty on a Kindle. Four years later, Mariah Parker was sworn in on a copy of The Autobiography of Malcolm X when she took her oath as Athens-Clarke County commissioner in Georgia. In 2013, Tulsi Gabbard became the first Hindu member of Congress and was sworn in with her hand on a copy of the Bhagavad Gita (meaning the song of the Lord in Hindi) There are at least three known incidences in which presidents did not use a Bible. Both President John Quincy Adams and Franklin Pierce were sworn in on a book of a law. Because no Bible could readily be located, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt took his oath of office without any oath-object at all. An ancestry website and DNA sample led to the Jan. 2 arrest of a suspect in a 2012 rape case in Belle Fourche, according to the town's police chief. Shane Boice, 32, of Nisland, was indicted Jan. 8 in the Butte County courthouse on one count of second-degree rape and two counts of first-degree burglary, court records show. One of the burglary charges is in the alternate, which means Boice can only be found guilty of one of the charges. Belle Fourche Police Chief Marlyn Pomrenke said the department responded to the reported rape on April 12, 2012, and DNA was collected at the scene. He said the Department of Criminal Investigations later stepped in to help. "They had evidence at the scene, but if the suspect was never arrested for anything that required DNA, then there was nothing in the system," Pomrenke said. Investigators eventually sent the DNA sample to the FBI and found one of Boice's relatives on an ancestry website who's DNA was a similar match to the suspect's DNA, Pomrenke said. They then were able to look at the person's relatives and narrow down Boice as the suspect. Pomrenke said he's not sure when the DNA sample was sent to the FBI or which ancestry website was used. Pfeifle said while he recognizes Two Bulls' need for addiction treatment, he's concerned about his violent criminal history. The 2017 incident was just one more example of Two Bulls being combative and creating a dangerous situation, Pfeifle said before announcing his sentence. Dowling pulled over the driver of a black Lexus on southbound S.D. 79 and Lower Spring Creek Road who was driving around 20 miles per hour on May 27, 2017, according to police reports. When he approached the car, he saw a female passenger and a fidgety, nervous-looking man later identified as Two Bulls in the drivers seat. He brought Two Bulls to his patrol vehicle and suspected he was providing a fake identity because he took a long time to provide a birth date, reports say. Dowling then handcuffed Two Bulls and put him in the front passenger seat of the patrol vehicle so he could verify Two Bulls' identity with the woman in the Lexus before writing a citation. While speaking with the women, reports say, Two Bulls jumped into the driver's seat of the patrol vehicle and began driving away. Dowling twice jumped into the car to try to subdue Two Bulls, used a taser on him and shot at the car tires. But Two Bulls ultimately crashed the patrol vehicle, exited it and then escaped with the woman in the Lexus. PIERRE | Two days after Gov. Kristi Noem said in her State of the State address that the federal government has failed "to adequately secure our southern border, state senators passed a resolution voicing support for the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Lawmakers voted 28-5 Thursday to pass Senate Concurrent Resolution 4, urging Congress and President Donald Trump to fund the border wall. Sen. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, said the resolution is an opportunity to in a timely fashion have an impact on what happens nationally in the United States and to tell the president what we want. We have the ability, we have the authority and we have the responsibility as a state Legislature to make an impact on the federal government, he said in the resolutions floor debate. Assistant Minority Leader Sen. Craig Kennedy, D-Yankton, who voted no, cautioned the Senate about the message he said the resolution sends about how we view people who just like our ancestors just want a chance. What this body is being asked to do is wrong, Kennedy said. This is pure politics, and weve seen what this kind of political posturing has resulted in in Washington, D.C. The IRS has several videos that can help individual and business taxpayers learn more about the tax reform legislation. The IRS posts these videos on the IRS Video Portal and to their YouTube channel. Aside from these sites, the IRS offers tax reform information on its other social media channels, such as Twitter and their new Instagram account. Taxpayers can visit the Multimedia Center on IRS.gov for links to all the agencys social media sites. Here are some of the tax reform videos taxpayers can watch on their computer or on their smartphone when theyre on the go. IRS Video Portal The IRS continues to produce and post videos to post on the Video Portal. These videos can help individual and business taxpayers better understand how the tax reform law affects them and their taxes. Taxpayers can check back throughout the year to find new videos. Tax Reform Basics for Employers This provides an overview of tax reform changes for employers. Topics covered include changes to employer credit for family and medical leave, employee achievement awards, and qualified transportation fringe benefits. Tax Reform Basics for Individuals and Families The tiny, creepy hitchhikers move soundlessly in the night to feed on your blood. In the morning, the only evidence you may see are small bites. Meanwhile, the almost-invisible invaders lurk near your bed waiting to dine again. The bed bugs cause headaches for landlords, homeowners, renters and travelers across the Quad-Cities. The number of bed bug cases began to increase around the turn of the century. Quad-City exterminators report that bed bugs are a daily challenge that often require multiple treatments and present continuing issues. Treatment is expensive, and in some cases dangerous, such as a building fire last year in Moline. But without full treatment, the household pests tend to persist. Heres what you need to know about preventing and treating those bed bugs that just wont leave the Quad-Cities alone. We have a crisis. Around the turn of the century, Iowa saw a huge increase in the number of bed bug infestations, said Professor Donald Lewis, an Extension entomologist at Iowa State University in Ames. But much like the rest of the country, that number has stagnated in the past five years. The stubborn pests have settled in the region, and wont go anywhere without proper treatment and prevention. Bed bugs are good hitchhikers and can be transported in suitcases, furniture, mattresses, boxes, purses, backpacks and clothing, Lewis said. The public is more knowledgeable than two decades ago, Lewis said. The public appears to have learned that bed bugs are here and not going away and that professional treatment will eliminate the population. Entomologist Richard Cooper, senior director of service at Terminix Commercial, described 2010 as the year of the bed bug. That, he said, was when they were introduced to high-traffic areas such as office buildings and movie theaters, and spread through human activity. We have a crisis in this country with bed bugs, Cooper said. The resurgence of bed bugs in the United States in the late 1990s-2000s is sometimes blamed on the elimination of DDT (scientific name dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), a compound originally developed as an insecticide that was eventually banned because of its negative impact on the environment). But Cooper said that blame is misplaced. The elimination of DDT really has nothing to do with the rise of bed bugs, Cooper said. By the late 1950s, bed bugs had already developed a widespread resistance to the pesticide. And todays resurgence is not limited to the U.S. It also includes Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Bed bugs exist in all 50 states, and are prevalent throughout the nation. No one can say for certain why bed bugs have re-emerged, but contributing factors could include their resistance to modern-day pesticides. Another major factor is that when bed bugs were first introduced, a lack of public awareness existed. They were like the boogeyman or a monster under the bed, Cooper said. They hide in areas where they arent detected. Primarily nocturnal, they come out at night to feed on blood. Their bites typically are painless. They then retreat back to their secretive niches. But there is no uniform remnant of a bed bug bite. They look different on different people, so the bites are often misdiagnosed as something else. Very traumatizing Amanda Hoeg, of Moline, had the unwelcome pests in her home about three years ago when she lived in Davenport. And she wants others to know that clean people can get them too. I thought they were ticks at first, she said. But as she found them in her bathroom on the wall behind the toilet, she wondered why she would have ticks in a home that had no trees nearby. She and her husband, who were expecting their first child, were not bitten, she said. I caught one, and I put it in a baggie, and I took it to the landlord, who identified it. At first, Hoeg tried natural remedies to combat the pests. I didnt want my newborn baby to be around the chemicals, she said. She scoured the internet and tried a concoction that included cayenne pepper and black pepper, and she scattered bay leaves around her home. She doused the apartment with the spray, which burned her eyes. She put all their clothing in plastic bags and kept the bedding in the freezer. At one point, she retrieved her daughters fleece jacket from the floor, and when she picked it up, there was a bed bug on it. Eventually, she and her husband left the apartment and moved to Moline. That was very traumatizing for me, she said. One pregnant female is all it takes As more and more homes became infested over the past decade, children took the bugs to school, and adults took them to work. The best way to eliminate them is through education, Cooper said. Think about the way we live. We spend a lot of time on our computers. Children do homework on their beds, and the book bag is on the bed or leaning against the bed. If people set their backpacks or computer bags in the kitchen or by the front door, that would dramatically reduce the spread of bed bugs, Cooper said. Bed bugs do not infest people. Bed bugs infest structures, and the content of structures, he said. Bed bugs really arent a public-health pest. Ticks are far more dangerous, Cooper said. But having bed bugs can take an emotional and psychological toll. They dont fly and they dont transmit diseases, but they can be embarrassing and annoying, Lewis said. Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, said Tony Arguello, of Ace Pest Control in Davenport. It isnt unusual for him to treat for bed bugs in a mobile home, house or apartment two or three days per week in the Quad-Cities. Baby bed bugs are about the size of a grain of salt. They can be difficult to detect, he said. Bed bugs can be picked up anywhere people gather. They can travel on or in luggage or clothing. He knows of one family that brought them back from a trip to Europe. Not all itching or bites is caused by bed bugs, Lewis cautions, so the presence of bed bugs cant be determined by bites or skin reactions. He encourages people to look for adults, nymphs (young) eggs or dark excrement stains in hiding places along with shed skins and empty egg cases. Monitors, interceptors and traps are available to homeowners or from pest-control experts, he said. Bed bugs, like roaches, are a 365/24/7 menace, said Leander Mohs, of Pestfree QC, Davenport. One pregnant female is all it takes. He agrees with Lewis that people are becoming more aware of and vigilant. But even when people realize what they have, they often try home remedies that arent as effective as professional approaches. One approach for treatment, he said, is diatomaceous earth, which is essentially crushed-up dead coral. The substance abrades the exoskeleton of the bed bug. Heat treating or steaming is another means, he said. Although anyone can get bed bugs, they tend to be more prevalent in multi-unit living facilities, Mohs said. Mohs encourages people to inspect furniture, bedding and linens before bringing them into your home. If theres one thing I really want people to understand about these things, theres probably a very good reason (used furniture) is sitting there (on the curb). You have to have it inspected thoroughly. Otherwise, Mohs said, when you get it home and you find you have bed bugs, Its no longer a free piece of furniture. 'You brought them in' Even when bed bugs are detected, its often difficult to determine how they got into the dwelling. Licensed Realtor Shannon Lough, of the Quad-Cities Rental Properties Association Inc., said bed bugs and their origins often are a topic of landlord organization meetings. Its a hot topic at (association) meetings, he said, coming up in four of the last 12 meetings. All landlords deal with it on a regular basis. The biggest issues we have is whos responsible for the cost, he said. From the landlord perspective, we often say the tenant is responsible. In a single-family house, for example, a landlord might tell a renter The bed bugs werent here when you got here. You must have brought them in. Some leases spell out who is responsible the landlord or the tenant for pest removal, but other contracts dont include that, Lough said. Usually, If a tenant imports it to us, well split the cost (of extermination) 50/50, he said. A renters liability, like the bugs themselves, can spread if improperly contained. If someone in one apartment has bed bugs, then bed bugs are discovered in the apartment next door, for example, Lough said the renter of the first apartment can sometimes be held responsible for both. For a landlord, the best time to get rid of bed bugs is when a property is vacant. Although bed bugs live in all climates, infestations seem to come in waves, Lough said. Theyre hitchhikers, he said. Anytime you travel, youve got to be careful. Mattresses: Resting place or feeding ground? The first thing travelers should check upon arrival, Lough said, is their mattress. Katie Golde, with www.mattressclarity.com, said bed bugs are good at hiding. Its not always obvious that your mattress is housing them if you do just a quick look, she said. Bed bugs like to hide during the day in the seams and piping of your mattress, so it's best to look there and near the tag area. A common belief is that if people put a fitted sheet-style protector on their mattress it will prevent bed bugs. That only covers five sides of your mattress and not the bottom side that faces your box spring or bed frame, Golde said. This open side leaves your mattress vulnerable to bed bugs. You need to look for an encasement mattress protector, especially one that says it's bed bug proof to make sure you're really protecting your mattress. When you inspect a mattress, you may see a live bed bug if your infestation is bad enough, Golde said. You may see hints of them from red rust-like stains on your bed sheets if you roll over on them overnight. You may also see little black dots that are their excrement or even eggs or eggshells. Sometimes, if you get a bed bug bite and scratch it, You may find some of your own blood on the mattress cover as well. Most importantly, be careful if youre buying secondhand furniture, mattresses or other used items in which bed bugs can hide and travel. What works? Like Hoeg, exterminators also try different products to eradicate bed bug infestations. Arguello rotates professional products to avoid the resistance that bed bugs build to chemicals. Exterminators use chemicals or heat, depending on preference and what tenants, landlords or homeowners want to spend. The most expensive treatment, he said, is heat. Chemical treatment for one room costs about $750 for three rounds of treatment. Heat treatments often start at about $2,000. Rusty Boruff is the executive director of One Eighty, a nonprofit, faith-based organization that has residential facilities that help people in crisis, poverty and addiction. Like many other property managers, he regularly uses heat to treat his properties. We have dealt with bed bugs off and on, he said. About three or four yeas ago, out of nowhere, it was ridiculous, like an epidemic. There were years where we would spend $15,000 just on our own properties with exterminators, he said. I finally looked into it and decided to buy one of the heat-treatment machines. Now it is one of our number one calls with our businesses. Boruff has now had the machine for about 18 months; With his role in One Eighty, he attends a lot of meetings where he speaks with representatives from schools that's where he heard about the bed bug issue on a larger scale. Because One Eighty partners with some schools in the Davenport district, Boruff offered to treat the homes of students in partner schools at little or no cost. The One Eighty crew also treats homes in other parts of the Quad-Cities. Before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Boruff received two calls one from Davenport and one from East Moline about treating homes. An entire house generally takes two days to treat, so that means the One Eighty team treats seven or eight a month, he said. The advantage of heat treatment, he said, is it kills both the bugs and their eggs. When you start with chemicals with bed bugs, its like using pesticides on corn. They eventually will grow immune to it. The heat machine uses a massive propane tank that runs off propane and starts like an engine or generator. It has these long plastic tubes, like duct work, that are expandable. You clip them together, and you heat that room up to about 130 degrees. The treatments get rid of all the bugs fleas, cockroaches you name it, he said. A bed bug is going to stay within a three- or four-foot radius (of where people are). Once in a while youll be able to see them dead. They come out of the headboards or you might see them on a mattress. Workers bring in specially designed propane heaters to heat a room to temperatures that reach about 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Boruff said the machine is running nearly every day. There is very rarely any downtime, he said. Well get rid of them, but all it takes is one kid bringing it home from day care, and later the place is infested again. Heat treating for bed bugs can also be dangerous though at least one heat treatment resulted in a fire in the Quad-Cities last year. On April 23 the Moline Fire Department responded to a structure fire just before 1:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of 16th Street. Crews saw smoke and fire coming from the rear of the building, and extinguished the fire in 15 minutes. The building was a mixed-use commercial and residential building with two apartments in the rear and a storefront facing the street. A contractor who was working in the building called in the fire, which started in a first-floor bedroom. - One Eighty now uses all-metal beds, with no wooden bed boards, along with two-in-one mattresses that have no box springs or wood to keep the bed bugs away. Many people who have bed bug issues dont get them treated because it costs so much, he said. We have treated homes, apartments, trailers, duplexes you name it, weve done it, Boruff said. Working with Davenport schools, were finding out how much of a need it is. The cost: Beyond extermination Silent, pesky bed bugs might still be taboo in public, but theyre no quiet matter for Quad-Citians who have had a residence infested. Bed bugs can cost homeowners, landlords and tenants thousands of dollars in extermination, discarded items and doctor visits. People will come in and say, We have to start completely over, said Jeni Braun, manager of Bruces New & Used Furniture, Davenport. Its very costly, she said, as bed bugs infest beds, sofas and carpet. She said bed bug replacement seems to come in waves. A month or two will go by, and then youve got people rolling in again. She emphasized that customers replacing items come from all walks of life, rich and poor, dirty and clean Anyone can get them. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. If you're looking to schedule certain medical procedures, you can now shop around to compare prices. A federal law took effect Jan. 1 that requires hospitals to post price lists online for colonoscopies, mammograms and vasectomies in a form that can be downloaded. They must be updated annually. Both Genesis Health System and UnityPoint Health have complied with the law, which may allow patients more predictability in their hospital stays. We used to submit them and then a patient could see them if they went to the State Hospital Association website, said Henry Marquard, Genesis Health System government and community relations officer. Whats different now is that all hospitals are posting them directly themselves, and have greatly expanded the number of services that were including. Genesis focused on more common procedures before, Marquard said. Now they are striving to include all procedures. Prices vary between companies. A colonoscopy with a biopsy is estimated to cost $4,100 at Genesis Health System, while a Level Four colonoscopy costs $3,061 at UnityPoint Health. The new system is not perfect, Marquard said, cautioning there can be a variance between posted and actual prices. Two Quad-City police officers will soon be featured on the true crime network Investigation Discovery, or ID. The show will air two Iowa cases, including a garbage truck crash in the Quad-Cities that left Buffalo's police chief seriously injured. The ID show BODY CAM will feature Buffalo Police Chief T.J. Behning and Davenport Police Cpl. Michael Schneider, who both were involved in the high-speed chase involving a garbage truck in September 2017. The episode will air at 9 p.m., Central Time, on Tuesday, Jan. 15. ID on channel 246 for Mediacom subscribers, channel 285 for Direct TV subscribers and channel 192 for Dish subscribers. For full local listings, visit http://investigationdiscovery.com/channel-finder/. The episode will show body camera footage of the officers responding after Logan Shoemaker steals a pickup truck and lead police on a high-speed chase. Schneider spots the vehicle, but it refuses to stop and speeds off through Davenport. On a dusty gravel road, the suspect tries to elude police by stealing a garbage truck. As Chief Behning attempts to block the truck's path, he is struck when the truck crashes into his squad car. "As more and more Quad-Citians' ancestral heritage is outlined on the giant map in the grand lobby, we'll easily see that we come from everywhere and are connected here," Kim Findlay, Putnam president/CEO, said Wednesday. Researching ancestry has "had a surge of interest, and I think it's going to be pretty fascinating to create this map of our community, where we all come from," she said, likening it to the black-and-white community photos in the museum's lobby. "The photo project was very eye-opening about how much we do enjoy as a community getting together and learning about each other," Findlay said. She expects the map will be 24 feet wide and 12 feet wide, and will visually connect each family's country of origin to the Quad-Cities. "This is a very important exhibit, very enlightening exhibit. It's about all of us," she said. "It's fun to participate in that, look at your ancestry. People of all ages are into it." Personal ancestry results will go home with the participants. The museum will not keep participants' results; they will only be used to create the lines on the map that represent various ancestries. Shenanigan's liquor license denial has been reversed by a state administrative judge. An administrative judge with Iowas alcoholic beverage control division overturned the Davenport City Council's decision to deny a liquor license for the downtown bar, saying city officials failed to prove accusations the bar knowingly allowed criminal activity to occur or that the bar owner lacks good moral character, as required under state law. Shenanigans has no liquor law violations nor are there any criminal convictions stemming from any acts of the owner or employees as relates to the operation of Shenanigans in the course of the last year, Judge Tricia Johnston wrote in an opinion issued this week. It appears that the local authority has not even charged the licensee or the licensees employees with any violations related to the operation of the liquor license, either criminally or administratively. In October, the council unanimously denied the bars routine liquor license application, citing concerns about a March shooting allegedly begun as an argument inside the bar. Council members pointed to what they described as longstanding negligence and an unwillingness to work with the city to improve security. They also cited more than two dozen police calls to the bar that led police to describe Shenanigan's as a hot spot. Tucker said part of Pleasant Valleys success comes from making sure students are prepared for the rigor of an AP class before enrolling. We still look very closely at placement and recommended placement for students, either in pre-requisite courses or, with the younger students, it will be a combination of performance on assessments and academically, she said. We do make recommendations for students who have shown they will be successful in a more demanding course. Still, Tucker said the choice is ultimately up to the students, and they will not be blocked from enrolling if they've taken the prerequisite classes. If a student really wants to take on the challenge, we dont prevent them, but we do want to make sure that students are academically prepared, she said. That has been our approach, as opposed to getting a large number of students and having them not take the exam, or not do well. Next year, the district will be adding two new AP courses: 3-D Art and Computer Science. Davenport firefighters battled a fire at 6205 S. Concord St., Davenport, on Thursday night. Firefighter were dispatched to the home at 10:56 p.m. The fire engulfed the one-story, single-family, pressed-board house that was built in 1940, according to the online records of the Scott County Assessor. Officials reported one person suffered minor injuries working to get others out of the house. Officials did not know how many people were in the home when the fire broke out. The injured person was taken to Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street, Davenport, for treatment. As there are no fire hydrants in that area along the Mississippi River, Davenport firefighters called for mutual aid from Blue Grass and Buffalo fire departments which responded with tanker trucks. A water tank also was set up from which firefighters could draw water for their hoses. Officials did not have a cause late Thursday, and the structure appeared to be a total loss. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 6 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The victim told police she remembered being fondled by the man named Joe, but was unsure if anyone had sex with her. The victim had a hard time remembering what actually happened while she was at the house because, as she told police, she was intoxicated and had been using drugs. The victim was able to get out of the house and got medical treatment, according to Hammes arrest affidavit. A sexual assault kit was done on the victim and it was sent to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation crime lab. Nearly two years later, on Aug. 7, 2018, the Iowa crime lab contacted Davenport police about a possible offender as a suspect was identified through the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The CODIS hit gave a possible offender as Holden. Under Iowa law, people who are convicted of felonies and certain aggravated misdemeanors must provide a DNA sample that is placed in CODIS. On Jan. 21, 2015, Holden pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree theft in a case that began July 7, 2017. He received a sentence of deferred judgment and two years on probation. On Jan. 4, 2017, Holden successfully completed his probation and an order was placed to expunge that portion of his criminal record. MUSCATINE A material witness has been arrested in connection with the death of a Fairfield woman who's body was found Tuesday in Muscatine County. Douglas J. Foster, 35, of Marion, Iowa, was arrested Thursday evening and charged as a material witness to the felony of murder in the first degree in the death of Lea Ponce, 20, who was found dead along Iowa 38 between Muscatine and Wilton, according to a news release from Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren. A cash-only bond of $50,000 is set for Foster, who is being held in the Muscatine County Jail. The case is being investigated by the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office in coordination with Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Muscatine Police Department, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Coralville Police Department, Iowa City Police Department, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Marion Police Department, and Muscatine County Attorney's Office. In the criminal complaint, Ponce was last seen alive at 12:32 a.m. getting into a white GMC pickup truck associated with Foster at Walmart in Muscatine. She was found dead at 12:58 a.m. Tuesday on the shoulder of Iowa 38. "The mats work great as a shield between the body and the cold or wet surface of the ground," she said. "They can also be used as a blanket for warmth as they keep the heat close to the body. I know there are people out there who have no place to lay their tired bodies, McCreery said. Many need food, clean warm clothes, coats, hats, gloves, shoes, boots, a safe place to take a shower and to sleep with warmth and comfort. But instead, many lie on the cold damp ground, in a cardboard box, on a bench or on a highway overpass. McCreery is a former administrative assistant who retired to care for her mother who has since died. She said that, after knee replacement surgery last year, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 terminal breast cancer. "I have received 11 doses/weeks of chemo treatment and I am receiving hormonal infusion treatment every three weeks. And I will continue this for the rest of my life," she said. "God bless the people who discovered this formula and the doctor with his staff for administering it for lengthening my life span. For without that formula, I had an end date for my life." With her body so compromised, McCreery said she enjoys spending quiet time crocheting. "I have met some wonderful people who work with me on the Plarn Project, and I feel that I am contributing to helping the homeless people to live a little bit more comfortable," she said. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Bob Vogelbaugh better known as Mr. Thanksgiving extended a "thank you as big as the Quad-Cities" on Thursday after receiving a check for more than $13,000. Vogelbaugh's community Thanksgiving dinner began 48 years ago with about a dozen people joining together to eat turkey. Nearly five decades later, around 2,500 guests attend the dinner each year. And as the event has grown, so have costs. Struggling to raise money and host the dinner, Vogelbaugh said Hy-Vee became a major contributor in 2011. On Thursday, Hy-Vee presented Vogelbaugh with a check for $13,495, to help pay off this past Thanksgiving dinner. Since 2011, Hy-Vee has raised $116,617 for Mr. Thanksgiving. "Without Hy-Vee, we wouldn't be going into year 49," Vogelbaugh said. "They are absolutely superb. Besides raising money, I use Hy-Vee to cook everything. And they're out there on Thanksgiving Day with all of the turkey and portable ovens, all day long, making sure everything stays warm. It's just fantastic." Bettendorf store director Sharm Wenndt said Hy-Vee decided in 2011 to help the cause and raise money at one location on the Avenue of the Cities. The company set the goal of raising around $1,000, but ended up donating $4,000. Could this red-state vs. blue-state America end in violence and uprising if one side feels hopelessly aggrieved by the tyranny of the majority of the other side? We know, regrettably, from history that it can. How do we head this off? Two ideas need to be pursued. The most practical solution is a reinvigorated emphasis on federalism a political movement that takes ever-expanding power away from the federal government and restores the sovereignty and home rule of the states. That way Americans can self-select to live under the laws they agree with but within the context of the legal protections of U.S. citizens in the U.S. Constitution. If you want drugs legalized, government-run health care, abortion on demand and an end to fossil fuels, move to California. If you want low taxes, right-to-work laws and prayer in school, move to Alabama. If this doesnt work, America may need to consider a Brexit-like option. One of the flaws of the U.S. Constitution is that it never set forth terms of legal separation. Perhaps that needs to be fixed with an amendment that allows a state to leave the union if a supermajority of the citizens wants to opt out. As long as the states remained as a free trade zone and perhaps agreed to a common currency the economic costs would be small. A Davenport man is facing drunken driving, hit-and-run and other traffic charges after he struck three other vehicles while driving between Jersey Ridge Road and Kimberly Road and 65th and Brady streets Wednesday evening, police said. Roger Dean Powell, 57, of 4001 N. Brady St., is charged with operating while intoxicated-second offense, three traffic counts each of leaving the scene of an accident and no insurance, as well as one count each of failure to maintain control, driving the wrong way, lane violation and assured distance. Davenport police began receiving calls about a pickup driving erratically northbound on Jersey Ridge Road at 5:17 p.m. The vehicle was described as a GMC Sierra. Officers responded to Jersey Ridge and Kimberly roads to investigate a hit and run, according to arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Officer Mason Roth. Between that location and 65th and Brady streets, two other vehicles were struck by a pickup that fled. The pickup came to a halt due to damage at 65th and Brady streets and officers found Powell behind the wheel, with two empty vodka bottles on the drivers side floorboard, and one partly-filled vodka bottle. WHAT WE KNOW: In September, the Federal Communications Commission issued a ruling enacting new preemptions of local authority over small wireless deployments and local rights-of-way. The order was prompted by the nationwide effort by telecommunications companies to move away from big cell towers and, instead, install repeaters or antennas on telephone poles or flag poles. WHATS NEW: On Tuesday, Rapids City trustees approved a Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Ordinance at the behest of the Illinois Municipal League. Village Clerk Missy Housenga said the ordinance provides a regulated process for telecom companies to install repeater towers in municipalities. A copy of the ordinance will be available at the village hall. Police say the student tried to fire the loaded .22 caliber pistol into his teachers face on Aug. 31, but the safety was on. The boy is charged with attempted murder, carrying weapons on school grounds and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. The boys father has also been charged for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The council argues there is no compelling legal reason or need to withhold the boys name, and that the boys name already is public knowledge as his identity is widely known in the community and by teachers, students, and neighbors. The gag order cannot achieve the secrecy and attendant identity confidentiality that it intended to impose, the council states. The boy has been held in Scott Countys juvenile jail since his arrest. His case was transferred to adult court last month under a state law that classifies him as a youthful offender. If the boy is convicted as a youthful offender, he would remain in juvenile custody until he turns 18 years old. His case would then be reviewed, and a judge could determine if he should be imprisoned, released or serve another punishment. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The exhibit sponsors included the Hunt and Diane Harris Family Foundation, Genesis Health System, Mark and Rita Bawden, Debby and Hugh Stafford, and John and Kay Hall. The Figge also offset the cost with a new Major Exhibitions Endowment that will allow the museum to bring in world-class art exhibits every other year in perpetuity. Now sitting at more than $1 million in an interest-bearing account, the endowment was launched by 38 donors giving at least $25,000 each. When the Wichita Art Museum in Kansas hosted the same exhibit last year, the museum charged an extra $10 on top of regular admission. Wichita saw attendance during that period of 33,902, a 67 percent jump compared with the same period in 2017. I think one of the big things, there are lots of people that came for the first time, Schiffer said of visitors to the 14-year-old Figge. French Moderns wasnt the biggest draw in the museums history. When the museum was known as the Davenport Museum of Art, it hosted a Grant Wood exhibit that drew 50,000 people, he said. Complementary off-site activities related to the French exhibit attracted more than 4,000 people during the run, Schiffer said. Taylor said after leaving the service, he maintained proficiency with an AR15 rifle. One of my favorite things in Washington was to go to the national forest in a spot designated for shooting, he said. He said at least once a month, he'd spend half the day shooting and the rest watching animals and enjoying nature. Also on Thursday, James Spencer, a command sergeant major at the Rock Island Arsenal, was declared an expert in military marksmanship. He testified that it appeared to him the shots in Trooper Scott's squad car were groupings around illuminated areas on either side of the front of the vehicle as well as the driver's side of the car by the front door. He noted it was 170 to 175 feet from the area of the casings to the front of the squad car. In closing arguments, Henry County State's Attorney Matt Schutte noted Trooper Scott sat in his squad for almost three minutes south of Atkinson before getting out and it was only then that he heard the pop of gunfire, indicating the shots were meant for the trooper and not just to disable his vehicle. He also noted the trooper heard the whizzing of bullets when he was 50 to 60 feet from his squad car, and that Taylor changed position twice while the squad car was stationary, but the officer was moving. Two Rivers United Methodist Church at 1820 5th Ave., Rock Island, will provide a free meal at noon. For more details, call 309-788-9384 or visit tworiversumc.org. Tuesday, Jan. 15 A blood drive is planned 3:30-6:30 p.m. by The Apostolic Sanctuary in the gym at 1501 John Deere Parkway, Silvis. For appointments, call Miranda Rubinate at 309-792-0414 or visit bloodcenterimpact.org and use code 1100 to locate the drive. Sunday, Jan. 20 The Viola United Methodist Church at 1407 18th Ave. will host its annual Winter Wonderland Soup Lunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 20 in the church fellowship hall. Featured soups include chili, vegetable beef, chicken noodle and cheesy potato soup. Desserts and drinks also will be offered. Proceeds benefit the church budget. Sunday, Jan. 20 The Knights of Columbus Allouez Councils annual pro-life pancake breakfast is 8 a.m. to noon at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Farrell Hall, 2502 29th Ave., Rock Island. The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit cups, coffee, tea, juice and milk. Cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children 12 and younger and $20 for families. Sunday, Jan. 26 The Hillsdale United Methodist Churchs Soup for the Soul is planned 11 a.m. to 6 p.m featuring made-from-scratch vegetable beef, ham and been, chicken noodle soups and corn and potato chowder. Cornbread, rolls, soup crackers, beverages and baked goods also will be available. Soups will be offered for dine-in or carryout pints and quarts. The church is at 124 Butzer St., Hillsdale. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 January 11, 2019 in iAnnouncements (E) [prMac.com] Beaumont, Texas - SR2 Solutions today announced the acquisition of Pocket Watch LLC's app development division including their industry leading mobile printing app, ActivePrint. With this new acquisition, SR2 Solutions is planning to develop an entire suite of cybersecurity focused apps intended for everyone. SR2 Solutions Founder, Charles Teel, says "we're seeing new cybersecurity threats every day and this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. We see it as our job to provide people with the tools they need to keep themselves and their families safe and that is what we plan to do with mobile app development." Over the next six months, SR2 Solutions will be releasing apps on the Apple iOS AppStore and Google Play Store that individuals will be able to use every day to protect themselves. The details of the first two apps were made public with the announcement of this acquisition. The first to be released will be "SR2 Threat Intel" which will provide users security information about their devices and alert them when there is the possibility that they have been caught up in a breach at their bank, email service, or other services where their personal information might be stored. SR2 Threat Intel will be released by February. The second of these apps to be released, "SR2 SocialMedia Intel", will monitor a user's social media accounts and social media in general to identify potential vulnerabilities and alert them if someone else on social media has posted about them in a potentially bad light. According to Teel, "keeping track of how our name is used in the public space can be challenging in this hyperconnected world we live in with social media. Someone can post a total falsehood about you or your family that can negatively affect your reputation and your career as potential employers search social media in their consideration to hire you. We want to help people take control of how their name is used online in a way that is effective and can benefit them." SR2 SocialMedia Intel is anticipated to be released by April. Pocket Watch's existing app, ActivePrint, will continue to be sold but under the new SR2 Solutions name. With ActivePrint users gain printing support for the widest variety of document types in the industry to the widest variety of printers. With ActivePrint users can print almost any content on their iPad or iPhone. Document types that you can print with ActivePrint include all of your popular office document types such as word processor documents (including Word and Pages), spreadsheets (including Excel and Numbers), presentations (including PowerPoint and Keynote), PDF files, web pages, handwritten notes, and all of your popular image types. ActivePrint is available on the iOS AppStore with an upgrade to the pro version for $4.99 (USD). SR2 Solutions is a Beaumont, Texas based cyber security firm led by full stack developer and experienced cyber security professional, Charles Teel. Started in 2017 as a cyber security consulting firm, SR2 Solutions has worked with firms across the globe providing custom cyber security services to organizations in Oil & Gas, Finance & Banking, Information Technology, Law Offices, Medical Offices, Municipal/State/Federal Government Agencies, Law Enforcement, Nonprofits, and countless other sectors. SR2 Solutions is driven by a mission to Secure, Respond, and Recover information technologies to help protect the people that use it. Copyright (C) 2019, SR2 Solutions, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. ### Ad Resource Stock Digest New this week - 1,887 interested Could This Be the Biggest US Gold Discovery in Years? See how this tiny, unknown gold company secured a prime land package right next door to the worlds two largest gold producers in Nevadas famed Carlin Trend where 84 Million gold ounces have already been extracted. Best of all, investors can still get in well below US$0.50 per share. 14 hours ago | June 15th | 2021 7:40 AM Does Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) Have What It Takes To Be A Winner In 2021? Though Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) stock was cut in half during the dark days of February and March of last year, Wall Street quickly realized that convenient fast food would probably be towards the bottom of the list of things to be cut by hard-hit consumers who were tightening the proverbial belts. So back the stock roared and since this time last The Real Jackie Kennedy Her style and grace were legendary, and her image came to define the 1960s. She captured the hearts of world leaders, fashion icons and people all over the planet, who knew her as Jackie Kennedy, Jacqueline Onassis, or simply Jackie O. But who was the real Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis? Take our quiz and find out. Take The Quiz Despite the federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients will still be able to buy eligible groceries for the rest of this month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a release that SNAP benefits had already been fully funded for January when the USDAs funding expired. Perdue also expressed confidence that Februarys benefits would come through. We want to assure states, and SNAP recipients, that the benefits for February will be provided, Perdue said. Additionally, school nutrition programs that provide breakfast and lunch to low-income children are funded through March, the USDA said. Cyber security intrusions down Keeping county digital transactions safe from intruders is a priority for county officials. And in a cyber security report issued this week, the number of potential intrusions to county systems were down in December. According to the county attorneys office, there were 23.6 million clean internet transactions (93.7 percent), up 700,000 from November; while 1.58 million transactions were suspect, down 20,000 from the previous month. For readers, summer is the season for beach reads. Coined about 30 years ago, the term beach read is often used but rarely defined. So what does it mean for a book to be a beach read? Initially, it referred to those blockbuster books that were published in summer, regardless of who wrote t Barron County Sheriff's Office(GORDON, Wis.) -- A missing 13-year-old Wisconsin girl kidnapped after her parents were found murdered in their home last October has been found alive, police say. Jayme Closs was reunited with family members Thursday night, police said. She was found in Gordon, Wisconsin. Jayme's aunt and godmother, Jennifer Smith, told ABC News' Good Morning America Friday that they would be reunited after Jayme's released from the hospital later Friday afternoon. "I hear she's doing great and getting rest right now," said Smith, who added she'll be meeting with FBI investigators later Friday to learn more details. "All I know is that she escaped from where she was being held, saw a lady walking a dog and ran to the lady asking for help." The woman who found Jayme -- who asked that her name not be used -- walked with Jayme to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinkas, who offered Jayme food and water and called 911, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "We are just happy everyone kept praying and didn't give up hope, like we didn't," Smith told ABC News Thursday evening. "A lot of happy tears in this house tonight." A suspect has been taken into custody, the Barron County Sheriff's Department said in a news release. Police did not release any other details about the arrest but did say a citizen phoned in the information that led to Jayme's discovery. "We thank everyone all around for their help," Smith said. Authorities have scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. EST Friday to discuss the case. "We want to thank the Douglas Co. Sheriff's Department and agencies assisting them tonight. We also want to thank all the Law Enforcement agencies across the state and county that have assisted us in this case. We also could not have endured this case without the support of the public and I want to thank them for all the support and help," police said in a statement. Investigators believe Jayme was abducted Oct. 15, 2018, before dawn, after her parents, James and Denise Closs, aged 56 and 46, were gunned down in their home in Barron. Police responded to the house after a strange 911 call just before 1 a.m. local time when someone called from Denise Closs' cellphone, and the 911 dispatcher heard "a lot of yelling," according to records from the Barron County Sheriff's Department obtained by ABC News. The dispatcher called the number back but was unable to leave a voicemail. More attempts were made, but the phone went unanswered. Authorities also tried calling the home's landline but it was disconnected, records show. When authorities responded to the home minutes later, they found the front door kicked in and the couple shot to death. Jayme was believed to be home when they were killed, but she was missing by the time authorities arrived. A $50,000 reward had been offered for any information leading to the discovery of Jayme. Half the reward was put up by Jennie-O Turkey Store, a turkey hatchery and processing plant where Jayme's parents worked. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. FORT EDWARD A Hudson Falls man is headed to state prison after his guilty plea to a felony for illegal sales of prescription drugs. Michael D. Bentley, 27, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance in connection his arrest last October during a multi-agency drug investigation. He was one of three people arrested during the sweep that targeted those who sold drugs in the Hudson Falls area. FORT EDWARD A Fort Edward man who repeatedly raped two young girls was sentenced Friday to 40 years to life in state prison as a judge told him his crimes were hard to fathom. Richard M. Alger, 53, was convicted of six felonies and two misdemeanors after a jury trial in Washington County Court last month. Among the charges was a count of predatory sexual assault against a child, the states weightiest sex charge, for repeated rape of a girl younger than the age of 13. The other teen was younger than the age of 16. The girls, with whom he was acquainted, testified of repeated sexual abuse in Fort Edward, including one incident where he suggested a threesome with them on a boat on the Hudson River. The jury deliberated for about two hours before convicting him. Washington County Judge Kelly McKeighan told Alger there was not an appropriate sentence for him to impose for the crimes that Alger committed, saying the girls will be dealing with the aftereffects of the abuse for the rest of their lives. Alger had nothing to say before McKeighan imposed sentence, after he and the judge heard victims impact statements from his two victims, read by Washington County Crime Victims Specialist Robin McNeill. Her fiance died a couple of months ago, and now shes posting repeatedly on Facebook that she has lost the love of her life. I think its extremely disrespectful to my brother. I understand she may feel that way, but to continue to post it is a slap in the face to our brother. Ive read your column for years, and you are usually spot on with your advice, so I would appreciate your opinion. SAD SISTER IN THE EAST DEAR SAD SISTER: Alices outpouring of emotion is less a slap in the face to your deceased brother than biting the hand that has fed her all these years. She isnt thinking about how her comments are affecting you and her other former in-laws, and theres nothing to be gained by trying to shut her up now. You will be happier if you stop reading her Facebook posts, and thats what I recommend you do. DEAR ABBY: I have a relative who has, over the years, gotten many colorful tattoos on his arms, back and chest. I make no value judgments about this, but I am curious about what in todays culture motivates people to get tattoos, and why many people cant seem to get enough of them. CURIOUS IN NORTH CAROLINA DEAR CURIOUS: People get inked for a variety of reasons. Among them: because they are currently in fashion, they think they are pretty, to mark milestones in their life, someone they admire has one or more, or because their friends are doing it. And I suspect that some individuals turn their bodies into canvasses because the practice is somehow addictive. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A press release from the State Police this week about the unsolved killings of two men in Washington County more than 30 years ago got some media attention, and people wondering if something new was going on with the case. Not from what I am hearing. The State Police Cold Case Squad put out the following press release on Tuesday: Cold Case Tuesday State Police continue to assist in the investigation into the 1988 deaths of two Washington County men On Monday, September 12, 1988, an individual checking animal traps in a heavily wooded area off Lily Pond Road in the town of Hartford, discovered the body of white male. The individual contacted the Washington County Sheriffs Office. Deputies responded to the scene, searched the area and located a second deceased male. The New York State Police assisted in processing the scene for forensic evidence. The preliminary investigation suggested foul play and determined both men had been dead for several days. FORT EDWARD Turkey vultures are common around this neck of the woods, but black vultures are not. So Fred Wehner was a little surprised to see three eating a deer carcass at the Washington County Grasslands in Fort Edward. Wehner, who manages a popular local Facebook page called, "Fort Edward Magazine," posted the photos on January 9. In a Facebook message he told me he had seen black vultures last November sitting on top of a farm silo near the Durkeetown Church, but otherwise they're pretty rare. Black vultures are usually southern state residents, according to Cornell's Lab of Ornithology. A range map shows the birds residing as far north as southern Pennsylvania. They're a little more grouchy appearing and sounding, too, than turkey vultures. They usually make hissing and grunting noises because they lack a voice box, according to Cornell. Earlier in the day, he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, a former general whom Trump has praised but critics have accused of committing human rights abuses. In his discussions with Egyptian officials, Pompeo said he discussed the need for the Sissi government to improve human rights and basic freedoms. But when asked whether there were any discussions about Americans being detained as well as thousands of political prisoners, Pompeo declined to provide specifics, saying only that "we talked about the full panoply of human rights issues." "Honestly, I just wanted to have the forum because this isn't the first incident that ODU has had," said ODU junior Taylor Clark, who helped to organize the forum. "Every incident we've had, it gets on the news and talked about for a little bit, then goes away." Marion said the public's interest in the case doesn't override the teen's right to a fair trial. He said information could come out during the bond hearing that the public doesn't have a right to hear, such as people's home addresses and whether the teen has faced any juvenile charges before. It could pose a safety risk to either side if certain information was released, he said. "We're the winners in this situation," Breckenridge-Haywood said. "Going to Richmond, we're going to have people in the state from the East Coast and the West Coast that will come into the area to see the museum artifacts. And they will see ours, which is (identified as) an artifact of the collection of the African American Historical Society of Portsmouth that speaks to the period of enslavement. At one point, U.S. District Judge Robert Payne interrupted Kevin Hamilton, a lawyer for the Democratic voters who sued the State Board of Elections over the 2011 map, to remind him that under state law, its the responsibility of the legislature which has been acting in a stubborn fashion to pass a map. Roberta Koubek, a Berkeley Heights, New Jersey resident who said she's "regularly" the victim of unwanted calls, tried to inform the government on Thursday about a concerning spam call she received. On the other line of an unrecognizable 1-800-number, a voice kept repeating: "Your Social Security number is going to be blocked," Koubek recalled. But she couldn't reach anyone at the FTC on account of the shutdown. "It was clearly intended to frighten whoever was on the other side of this," she said of the call. "They come first with what their concept is - what it is they are envisioning," City Manager Lydia Pettis Patton said, praising the work of Support Portsmouth Public Art, the nonprofit spearheading the project. "They wouldn't go all the way to do fabrication and design and all of that without having some approval to go forward." Some projects began last year, like signs that have been posted for visitors. Also, most schools are using buzzer systems that keep guests out of buildings until someone inside can inspect them. Seven haven't been completed yet because of logistical issues that are being ironed out, a division spokeswoman said Thursday. After he and his wife, Midian Pena, moved from Mexico's southwestern coast, Delgado spent years as a lumberjack in Oregon before the pair came to Suffolk three years ago with the idea of starting a restaurant devoted to the food of their home region. Somehow, Delgado also runs a contracting business on the side. But from four or five in the morning until late in the evening, the two are at the restaurant, preparing every dish from scratch. With every news story, the concepts of data mining healthcare information move higher still up the research and policy agenda in this area. Clinical information and genetic data contained within electronic health records (EHRs) represents a major source of useful information for biomedical research but accessing it in a useful way can be difficult. Writing in the International Journal of Intelligent Engineering Informatics, Hassan Mahmoud and Enas Abbas of Benha University and Ibrahim Fathy Ain Shams University, in Egypt, discuss the need for innovative and effective methods for representing this huge amount of data. They point out that there are data mining techniques as well as ontology-based techniques that can play a major role in detecting syndromes in patients efficiently and accurately. A syndrome is defined as a set of concomitant medical symptoms and indicators associated with a given disease or disorder. The team has reviewed the state of the art and also focused on reviewing the well-known data mining techniques such as decision trees (J48), Naive Bayes, multi-layer perceptron (MLP), and random forest (RF) techniques and compared how well they each perform in the classification of a particular syndrome, heart disease. The team concludes that in experiments with a public data set, the RF classifier provides the best performance in terms of accuracy. In the future, they suggest that data mining will benefit healthcare and medicine significant for building a system able to detect a specific syndrome. Explore further A new approach for software fault prediction using feature selection More information: Hassan Mahmoud et al. Data mining and ontology-based techniques in healthcare management, International Journal of Intelligent Engineering Informatics (2018). Hassan Mahmoud et al. Data mining and ontology-based techniques in healthcare management,(2018). DOI: 10.1504/IJIEI.2018.096549 Credit: CC0 Public Domain A pioneering new report has devised a seven-point plan to help policymakers devise new, coherent and collaborative strategies to tackle the greatest global environmental threats. A team of international researchers, including experts from the Land, Environment, Economics and Policy (LEEP) Institute at the University of Exeter, has examined how politicians and legislators can develop a new way to tackle the growing threat of climate change. The perspective piece, which is published as the cover article in Nature Sustainability, comes in response to advice from leading scientists, suggesting that the human impact on the environment are already tipping the world into a new geologically significant era. Called the Anthropocene, this new era is defined by the effect human-kind has already caused on Earth, from mass extinctions of plant and animal species, polluted oceans and altered atmosphere. In the new report, the scientists argue that while policies are available, there also needs to be a new way to tackle the geographical, boundary, spatial, ecological and socio-political complexities of the issue; and that will require working together across disciplines. Professor Ian Bateman of LEEP and co-author of the paper said: "The paper shows that the integrated nature of the planetary boundary problems requires an integrated policy response. "Traditional policies tend to be highly piecemeal, highly inefficient, prone to failure and can even be counterproductive. Such policies take vital resources from key areas while providing short term sticking-plaster efforts for high visibility, often politically motivated causes." Recent research into the Anthropocene has suggested that there are multiple threats to the resilience of the Earth systems. While the report acknowledges that there are no 'simple solutions', it does outline seven guiding principles to help tackle the growing environmental threat brought by man-made climate change. These include selecting existing, robust policies to help formulate policy decisions, the need for decisions to be made consistently across regional, national and global boundaries, and a more conclusive look at the true extent that the environment is being impacted. The report is authored by Professor Bateman, Dr. Donna Carless and Amanda Robinson from Exeter, alongside some of the world's leading researchers in the field. These include acclaimed natural scientists Professor Johan Rockstrom (Stockholm Resilience Centre) and Professor Will Steffen (Australian National University) - who pioneered the planetary boundary and Anthropocene conceptsand eminent environmental economists including Professor Thomas Sterner (University of Gothenburg), Professor Edward Barbier (Colorado State University), Professor Carolyn Fischer (Resources for the Future, Washington) and Professor Stephen Polasky (University of Minnesota). Together the team undertook the first unified assessment of the policy options for tackling the challenges of the Anthropocene. These include the integrated global problems of climate change; the pollution of air, land, freshwater and sea; and the rapid loss of genetic diversity around the world. "Policy design for the Anthropocene" is published in Nature Sustainability on January 10, 2019. Explore further The cost of living in the Anthropocene More information: Driving spaceship Earth Nature Sustainability. doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0217-7 Journal information: Nature Sustainability Driving spaceship Earth Credit: CC0 Public Domain What do you picture when you think about climate change? Perhaps you see failing crops, rising sea levels or melting glaciers. But what about struggling small businesses? This question is being answered by scientists at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment, a research institute of the London School of Economics & Political Science, who have been investigating how the 2015-16 El Nino and climate change have impacted livelihoods across eastern and southern Africa. A new animation explores the current challenges being faced and what needs to be done to help businesses adapt to climate change. El Nino is one of the key drivers of variations in global weather patterns. It recurs every two to seven years and is typically associated with reduced rainfall and drought conditions in southern Africa. Reflecting this trend, the 2015-16 El Nino was one of the strongest on record. It brought widespread drought conditions and heat waves to the region. While past El Nino have primarily affected the agricultural sectors and were planned for, what was less anticipated this time was the effect this extreme weather would have on the urban infrastructure and economic activity across the region. Where's the water gone? In the wake of the 2015-16 El Nino, many countries and cities in southern Africa experienced low water levels. In Gaborone, Botswana, demand for water surpassed the ability to supply by almost 33 million litres a day. Some of the worst affected areas in the city were without a reliable water supply for weeks at a time, causing major problems for small and medium businesses. Credit: PlanetEarth Online In Zambia, the falling lake levels led to widespread disruption to hydro-power supplies, meaning that not enough electricity could be produced to meet demand. During the 12 months following the El Nino, three quarters of small businesses in the capital Lusaka experienced 15 or more power outages a month, often lasting more than five hours. Across the city, food was ruined, manufacturing equipment was damaged and production was interrupted. By 2016, water supply disruption and power outages were the greatest challenges faced by small and medium businesses in Gaborone and Lusaka. In Gaborone, decline in profits of 25% to 40% were anticipated, with micro-businesses affected the most seriously. The consequences were so severe that almost a third of businesses surveyed in both cities believed their business to be under threat. A wake up call for building greater resilience Underinvestment in infrastructure and planning, policy uncertainty, governance challenges and poor local service provision have all combined to limit the development of new urban infrastructure, and the effective management of existing resources. But, as cities get bigger and more people connect to water and electricity grids, these resources are needed to keep up with demand. More extreme and extended periods of drought are likely in the future due to climate change, so these challenges are not going to go away. The findings of this research will contribute to the development of practical approaches to building resilience to future El Nino in Botswana, Zambia and beyond. Explore further New dams in Africa could add risk to power supplies down the line This story is republished courtesy of Planet Earth online, a free, companion website to the award-winning magazine Planet Earth published and funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Credit: Leiden University After almost four decades, Leiden and Eindhoven chemists have resolved the discussion about the correct model regarding the simplest chemical reaction in heterogeneous catalysis, which is essential for fuel cells. Using a unique curved platinum surface, Ludo Juurlink and Ph.D. candidate Richard van Lent from Leiden and Michael Gleeson from DIFFER showed which model correctly describes the reaction of hydrogen. They published their findings in Science on 11 January. For almost four decades there has been a heated debate in the chemical literature: which of the two existing models for the reaction of hydrogen to a platinum catalyst is correct (see box)? Traditional methods were not sufficient enough to prove this. Leiden chemist Ludo Juurlink and Michael Gleeson of the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) decided to develop a new method to provide conclusive evidence, which turned out to be successful. The two existing models for heterogeneous catalysis give different predictions about how the reaction of hydrogen depends on the structure of the platinum surface. By means of measurements the researchers could determine the reactivity of hydrogen and thus prove which model is correct. The curved platinum crystal was crucial for this, which was made by Dutch company in Zaandam for the first time. "Because the platinum surface is curved, the atomic structure changes very gradually along the surface," explains Juurlink. "You can compare this structure to a staircase, whose steps towards the edges become narrower and narrower. In the middle it looks more like a ballroom." It turned out that the reactivity of hydrogen was linearly dependent with how close the steps are to each other. The further apart the steps were, the less reactive hydrogen was. "And so the model that predicted a non-linear behaviour is incorrect," he says. A catalyst accelerates a chemical reaction without being consumed. In heterogeneous catalysis, the catalyst is usually a solid and the reactants a gas or liquid. Juurlink explains the difference between the two models: 'The two models are based on different assumptions on how kinetic energy from the hydrogen molecule "leaks away" during the collision with the platinum surface.' To clarify this, he gives an example: 'If a dog is in an ice hole, he may have ended up there in two ways. Either he slipped over the ice from the side and fell into the ice hole, or he jumped directly into the ice hole from the side.' Their research now shows that hydrogen molecules mainly react directly out of the gas phase at the step edge of platinum (Model 2). Model 1, that assumes that most molecules end up at the edges by 'skating' over the flat platinum surface and only then react is therefore not correct. The researchers saw differences between the two different types of edges (red and blue) that occur naturally on platinum catalysts. Hydrogen can land on the top or bottom of such an edge. For both types of step edges, the researchers are able to decide which part reacts directly on the upper side (as illustrated in blue) or first lands on the lower side (as in red). Credit: Leiden University The research was conducted in ultra-high vacuum and provides important insights. "We now know better how to calculate the speed of chemical reactionsone of the models does not contribute significantly," says Juurlink. "In addition, we now know that these curved crystal surfaces offer a unique, new opportunity to learn how chemical reactions actually occur on surfaces. We are certainly going to do more research with that." Almost all major chemical industrial processes use heterogeneous catalysis. Catalysts are sometimes expensive and rare, such as platinum, a common catalyst found in fuel cells and car exhaust systems. "The unusual thing is that we usually don't even really know how and why such catalysts speed up chemical reactions," says Juurlink. Better insight into this how and why will contribute to making the chemical industry more sustainable. "Based on a better understanding of what is happening at the atomic level, we can develop new catalysts," says Juurlink. "Catalysts that cause less energy loss and are less dependent on expensive and rare materials." Explore further A newly discovered catalyst promises cheaper hydrogen production More information: Richard van Lent et al. Site-specific reactivity of molecules with surface defectsthe case of H2 dissociation on Pt, Science (2019). Journal information: Science Richard van Lent et al. Site-specific reactivity of molecules with surface defectsthe case of H2 dissociation on Pt,(2019). DOI: 10.1126/science.aau6716 It was an all-women affair on Thursday as Kenyan women leaders united to defend the unity deal between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga. Led by Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru and Homa Bay woman representative Gladys Wanga, the leaders launched the Embrace Women Building Bridges for Kenya movement. They said they decided to overcome their political differences for the good of the country in line with the handshake between Uhuru and Raila. The movement, they said, was aimed at uniting all Kenyans and advocating for peace across the country. They donned pink caps and pink-collared white t-shirts as they chanted No more bloodshed, no more tribalism! on their way to unveiling the movement at the Serena Hotel. They described the handshake deal as an act of courage and sacrifice and condemned early campaigns which they say are polarising Kenya. Women leaders stand with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga in rejecting early campaigns that are polarizing Kenya. We embrace inclusivity and reject politics that puts tribe against tribe, region against region and party against party. We embrace the war on corruption that robs our women and children of their livelihoods. We fully stand with our two leaders in the trajectory they have put our country on, it is the only way to a secure prosperous and stable future any other path is one to darkness and doom, the womens statement read. Other leaders who spoke at the Serena Hotel presser include Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga, Muranga Woman Rep Sabina Chege, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko and Taveta MP Naomi Shaban. As women of Kenya we want President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga to know that wherever they are, we support them wholeheartedly because the people who suffer the most from violence are the women and children, Ms Wanga stated. The leaders said they will rollout a national caravan to sensitize Kenyans on peace, unity and fight against corruption. They also lauded Deputy President William Ruto, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kanu chairman Gideon Moi and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi for supporting the noble initiative. We urge them to stay true to that moment that gave fresh hope to this nation, they said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un came away from his fourth meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping with his hand strengthened in nuclear talks with the US, analysts say, even as Seoul urged him to do more. Beijing is Pyongyang's sole major ally and key provider of trade and aid, their ties forged in the blood of the Korean War. The relationship had soured in recent years as China became frustrated with its neighbour's nuclear antics but warmed dramatically in 2018 as Kim and Xi met three times, each occasion coming shortly before Kim's summits with US President Donald Trump and the South's Moon Jae-in. A second Kim-Trump meeting is expected soon, and the North Korean and Chinese leaders had far deeper security discussions this time in Beijing than in any of their talks last year, pointed out Lim Eul-chul, professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University. Kim and Xi agreed to jointly study and co-ordinate "the management of the situation of the Korean peninsula and the denuclearisation negotiations in particular", the North's official KCNA news agency reported. That will give China a central role in future US-North Korean discussions, Lim told AFP, even if it is not in the room at the time. "Closer ties between China and North Korea in pursuit of a security alliance will not be welcomed by the US," Lim told AFP. "It could be a challenge to Washington to face Pyongyang officials with firm backing from their neighbour." The negotiation process has stalled since Kim and Trump's first high-profile encounter in Singapore, where they signed a vaguely-worded statement on denuclearisation and have since disagreed on what it means. Pyongyang is demanding the easing of sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, while Washington insists they must remain in place until it gives up its atomic arms -- something it has made no public promise to do. China -- which regards northeast Asia as its back yard and is engaged in a range of disputes of its own with the US, including a trade spat that threatens to upset the global economy -- also wants the sanctions relaxed. Xi agreed with the "principled issues" raised by North Korea in talks with the US and that its "reasonable points of concern should be resolved properly", according to Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency. Pyongyang has a long history of playing major powers off against each other, with Kim's predecessor and grandfather Kim Il Sung adept at winning backing from the then Communist rivals Beijing and Moscow in turn. "North Korea uses engagement with China to reinforce its leverage with the United States, and vice versa," said former US diplomat and Korea specialist Mintaro Oba. It could be "annoying" for Pyongyang to have to face Beijing emphasising its "superiority" in their relationship, he tweeted, but that was "a small price to pay for a strengthened position" in talks with Trump. - 'Tangible achievements' - Expectations of a second Trump-Kim summit have mounted in recent days, with the US leader saying the two were negotiating over its location and Seoul's President Moon Jae-in saying Kim's Beijing trip was a sign it was "imminent". Speculation over possible locations has swirled among Korea-watchers, with the candidates including Hanoi in Communist-ruled Vietnam, Ulan Bator in Mongolia -- which Kim can reach by train -- Sweden, which has a long history of mediating between Pyongyang and Washington, and even the US state of Hawaii. But whether a meeting will take place still depends on what Pyongyang brings to the table in preliminary talks between the two, said Kim Han-kwon, analyst at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. The North needs to take "more bold, practical measures for denuclearisation" Moon said Thursday - a departure for the South Korean leader, who has stressed engagement with Pyongyang to bring it to the negotiating table. That has prompted criticism from conservatives that Moon was conceding too much while gaining little in return. Moon also urged Washington to take "corresponding measures", but acknowledged that the Singapore summit agreement was "somewhat vague" and that there was international scepticism over Kim's sincerity. Moon's call was driven by a belief that denuclearisation talks needed to produce "tangible achievements" this year, said Cho Seong-ryoul, a former senior researcher at Seoul's Institute for National Security Strategy. "There is a gap between Pyongyang and Washington over what it means to denuclearise," he said. "Moon is trying to narrow that gap now." Yahoo TV SEA Are you a part-timer trying to earn a bit while studying? Or perhaps in your first job, wondering what you can do to start saving? Welcome to #adulting, a new series from Yahoo TV that aims to help you with transitioning from the student life to the adult life. We all know saving can be hard. In this fourth and final episode, host Edward Choy addresses the reason many of us save - our goals. Whether it's buying a home or starting a family, preparing your savings to meet your goals is an attainable goal itself. Some photos and videos from Getty. Please be aware that all forms of investments carry risks, including the risk of losing all of the invested amount. Such activities may not be suitable for everyone. We encourage our investors to invest carefully. All information provided in this video is on an as is basis, and is purely for information purposes. It is not intended for trading purposes or financial advice. Neither we nor any of our partners is liable for any informational errors, incompleteness, delays or for any actions taken in reliance on information contained in this video. Watch more #adulting: Ep 1: So basically, about savings Ep 2: Getting started on your savings journey China on Friday hailed its historic mission to the far side of the moon as a "complete success" so far but said new challenges await its rover as it explores rugged terrain. The Chang'e-4 probe -- named after a moon goddess -- made the world's first soft landing on the moon's "dark side" on January 3, a major step in China's ambitions to become a space superpower. A rover dubbed Yutu-2 -- or Jade Rabbit, the name of the moon goddess's pet -- successfully separated from the lander and drove onto the moon's surface about eight hours after landing. The mission sent the first panoramic image of its landing site Friday, showing the grey moonscape it is exploring and the track marks left by the rover in the lunar soil. "From the panorama, we can see the probe is surrounded by lots of small craters," said Li Chunlai, commander-in-chief of the ground application system for the Chang'e-4 mission, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Chang'e-4 landed in the Von Karman Crater within the South Pole-Aitken Basin. The basin is the largest and deepest impact crater in the solar system. The craters close to the rover -- including one that was 20 meters wide (65 feet) with a depth of about four meters (13 feet) -- will pose great challenges when planning its route, Li said. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) said the initial stage of the mission was a "complete success" after the lander and the rover sent back images via the Queqiao relay satellite that beams data back to Earth. The mission would now "progress to the scientific exploration stage," the space agency said in a statement. - Older surface - The Chang'e-4 probe is equipped with instruments developed by scientists from Sweden, Germany and China to study the lunar environment, cosmic radiation and the interaction between solar wind and the moon's surface, Zhang Hongbo, chief designer of the ground application system, told state broadcaster CCTV. Chang'e-4 is the second Chinese probe to land on the moon, following the first Yutu rover mission to its Earth-facing side in 2013. A video of the latest mission's landing -- produced using more than 4,700 pictures taken by a camera on the probe -- showed a "thicker layer of dust" offering "strong evidence" that its landing area is much older than the site where China's previous rover landed, Li said. Scientists have said the far side is a key area for solving several unknowns about the moon, including its internal structure and thermal evolution. The deepest region on the moon, with a depth of 9,100 meters (5.7 miles), is about 700 kilometers (435 miles) to the south of the probe, Li said. "The information from the depths of the moon will be one of our focuses in the exploration," he said. Saudi Arabia has made a first tangible step to generate electricity from sources other than oil and gas, awarding a contract on Thursday for the Kingdoms first utility-scale wind farm. A consortium led by Frances EDF and Abu Dhabis Masdar has won the tender to build a 400-megawatt (MW) US$500-million wind farm in northern Saudi Arabia, AFP quoted the energy ministry of the Kingdom as saying. The first utility-scale wind project in the country is another significant step towards creating a diversified power sector mix, according to the Saudi ministry. Saudi Arabia has also started to work with a fund owned by SoftBank to have one day a total of 200 gigawatts (GW) of solar power in the country, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said last month. Saudi Arabia has its National Renewable Energy Program, under which the Kingdom aims to boost the share of renewables in its energy mix in coming years. The Saudis are targeting 3.45 GW worth of generation from renewable energy by 2020, which would represent around 4 percent of generation capacity. By 2023, the Saudi target is 9.5 GW, which would account for 10 percent of generation capacity. The Saudi renewable energy program is directly supporting the Vision 2030 strategy to overhaul the economy and diversify it away from oil. Ironically, the Saudis expect to fund part of the Vision 2030 plan with the proceeds they expect to reap from the initial public offering (IPO) of 5 percent in state oil giant Aramco. Saudi Arabias rulers, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have insisted that Aramco is worth a total of US$2 trillion. The Aramco share sale, initially planned for 2018, was one of the biggest flops in Saudi energy policy last year, and the latest indicative date for the IPO has been now pushed to 2021, depending on market conditions at the time. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russias production and exports of coal hit last year their highest levels since 2013, according to S&P Global Platts estimates of data from Russias Energy Ministry. Russian coal exports increased last year by 3.4 percent compared to 2017, to reach 191 million mtthe highest level since S&P Global Platts started collecting data on Russias coal industry in 2013. Coal production also reached its highest level since 2013at 431.76 million mt, Russias production increased by 6 percent in 2018 compared to 2017. According to Platts estimates and to thermal coal traders who spoke to Platts, Russian producers continue to seek domination on the European market and have been putting in a lot of effort to grab more market shares on the Asian markets such as South Korea and Taiwan. Last year, the average free on board (FOB) coal prices for the Atlantic and Pacific markets were both higher compared to 2017, which could be a big incentive for Russia to continue producing and exporting more coal to seaborne destinations, according to Platts. Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak briefed on Thursday President Vladimir Putin on the Russian energy sector production in 2018, saying that the coal production of around 433 million tons was planned to be reached in 2020. Russia plans to invest around US$22.4 billion (1.5 trillion Russian rubles) in its coal industry and port infrastructure, Novak told Putin. Russias oil production increased by 1.6 percent annually to 556 million tons last year, the energy minister said. Natural gas production beat an 18-year-old record as Russia produced 725 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2018, raising production by around 5 percent compared to 2017, Novak told Putin. Due to the OPEC+ production cuts, Russias crude oil production in 2019 could be lower than originally plannedat 552 million tons, or 11.085 million bpd, Novak said last month after the new OPEC/non-OPEC deal was struck. Originally, plans for next year were for Russias oil production to stand at 555 million tons-556 million tons, or 11.145 million bpd-11.165 million bpd, according to Novak. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iran will not be complying with the fully illegal U.S. sanctions, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Thursday, in yet another defiant statement from Tehran after the American sanctions on Irans oil and shipping industry snapped back in early November. We believe that we should not comply with the illegal sanctions against Iran, Reuters quoted Zanganeh as saying at a joint press conference with Iraqs Oil Minister Thamer Ghadhban during a visit to Baghdad. While it stays under U.S. sanctions, Iran will not be discussing the volume or the destination of its oil exports, the Iranian oil minister noted. During his visit to Iraq, Zanganeh discussed with his counterpart cooperation in different areas, especially on oil issues, the Iranian minister said. Iraq and Iran have not reached yet any agreement on potential development of the oil fields the two countries share, Iraqs minister Ghadhban said. Since the U.S. sanctions on Irans oil entered into force on November 5, Iran has continuously claimed that the United States will not be able to choke off all its oil exports. A month after the sanctions were reinstated, Irans First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri said that the Iranian government could manage the country even without relying on oil export revenues. Irans President Hassan Rouhani, meanwhile, reiterated in early December that the U.S. cannot stop Iran from exporting its oil. The United States said it would stop Irans oil export and business relations, making Iran isolated, but it could not do it and it wont be able to sever our relations with the peoples of the region, Rouhani said in an address. We will sell our oil and they cant stop us from doing this, said Rouhani adding, If the US wants to stop our oil sales, no oil will be exported from the Persian Gulf, according to Rouhanis speech as carried by the official website of the Iranian President. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Dam construction involves higher environmental and social costs than previously estimated, a new study has suggested. The study, cited by Phys.org, was carried out by researchers from Michigan State University and found that "When a large dam is built, the result is a downstream loss of a great many fish species that are important to riverine populations. These communities will have to continue somehow making a living despite dwindling fish stocks for 15 or 20 years, for example, and the costs of these projects don't take such economic and social losses into account," as explained by the lead author of the study, Emilio Moran. A lot of developed countries have stopped building large-scale dams and have switched to smaller hydropower installations but developing countries such as Brazil are still investing in large dam construction. "We argue that if the construction of large dams in developing countries is to continue, it must always be preceded by a painstaking assessment of their real cost, including the environmental and social impact they have," Moran noted. The lead author of the study is visiting professor at the University of Campinas in Sau Paulo state in Brazil. The environmental costs of large-scale hydropower installations are not new but they dont seem to get as much attention as other forms of power generation. The Union of Concerned Scientists, for example, cites an article on the environmental and social impacts of the worlds biggest dam, the Three Gorges, in China. Its construction involved the flooding of a huge region, destroying ecosystems, affecting wildlife habitats and necessitating the relocation of entire communities. The total number of people displaced because of the project was 1.13 million. Whats more, dams dont last forever. They need to be retired and dismantled and this bears a high financial cost, too. "The cost of removing a dam once its useful life is over is extremely high, and should be taken into account when computing the total cost of a new hydro development," Moran notes. "If the cost of removal had to be included, many dams wouldn't be built. It would be far more expensive to produce a kilowatt-hour of electricity via a hydro complex with a useful life of 30 to 50 years, like those under construction in Brazil." By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Glencore has lost its exclusive right to market two of Libyas crude grades and oil companies like Shell and BP have already had their first allocations of the grades to which the Switzerland-based commodity giant had held exclusive rights since 2015, Reuters reported on Thursday, quoting trading sources with direct knowledge of the events. Glencore held the rights to market Libyan grades Sarir and Messla until the end of last year. The commodity trader was one of the few companies venturing into exclusive crude oil marketing deals with Libya in the wake of the 2011 unrest. Back in 2015, Glencore secured a deal with Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) to buy half of the countrys then oil production of around 400,000 bpd. That deal was for the only relatively stable onshore production in Libya at the time, with civil unrest and port blockades crippling the countrys oil production in recent years. At the beginning of last year, Glencore was said to have extended its exclusive trading deal for an unknown period of time. The deal gave Glencore the right to be the sole trader of some 230,000 bpd from the oil fields Sarir and Messla. Now it seems Glencore has lost the exclusivity, and other traders and trading arms of oil supermajors are moving in to lift Sarir and Messla crude grades. Companies like BP and Shell had their first Messla and Sarir allocation, one trading source told Reuters. Unipec, the trading arm of Chinese state oil major Sinopec, is also set to lift three cargoes from the Libyan port Marsa el Hariga, from which the Sarir and Messla crude grades are exported, according to a Reuters source. Over the past year, Libya has recovered part of its oil production, despite a huge port blockade in the summer that basically shut in nearly all of its exports for weeks. The biggest oil field in Libya, Sharara, is currently under force majeure due to a blockade by tribesmen and members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard demanding payments to lift the blockade. Libyas NOC had an average oil production of 1.107 million barrels per day in 2018, NOCs chairman Mustafa Sanalla said this past weekend. Total revenues reached US$24.4 billion, the highest since 2013 and a 78-percent annual rise. If the security situation improves, Libya plans to pump 2.1 million bpd of crude oil by 2021, Sanalla said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was inaugurated for a second term on Thursday, despite presiding over an economic meltdown of historic proportions and his status as an international pariah. A coalition of 13 countries in the Americas, dubbed the Lima Group, announced in early January that they would not recognize Maduro as legitimate. The Lima Group includes Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and St. Lucia. The countries issued a statement that said the May 2018 reelection of Maduro lacks legitimacy, and they condemned the breakdown of the constitutional order and the rule of law in Venezuela. They urged Maduro not to assume office and recognized the opposition in the national assembly as the legitimate authority in Venezuela. Needless to say, Maduro has not taken their advice to heart. He used the condemnation from the Lima Group as evidence that the U.S. was orchestrating a coup. Although he has eviscerated democratic checks on his power and has increasingly ruled as a dictator, his grip is by no means secure. An apparent assassination attempt last August via exploding drone offers up some evidence of the internal danger facing Maduro. The New York Times also reported in September 2018 that Venezuelan military officers had met with Trump administration officials, seeking support for an overthrow. Meanwhile, more than 3 million people have already fled Venezuela, and millions more could leave in the months and years ahead. New sanctions from countries in the Lima Group have targeted top Venezuelan officials. Peru, for instance, announced sanctions on 93 high-ranking government officials and their families. The U.S. also unveiled a new round of sanctions aimed at former Venezuelan treasury officials and the countrys largest media company for illicitly making money off of the currency market. Related: The Natural Gas Crash Isnt Over The array of sanctions from multiple countries were all timed to coincide with Maduros inauguration for a second term. Still, the U.S. and other countries have held off on aggressively targeting Venezuelas oil sector, which has been Maduros (and the countrys) one lifeline, even as output has been in free fall for more than a year. Notably, however, PDVSA may have managed to slow the decline more recently. The state-owned oil company repaired two heavy-crude upgraders operated by joint ventures with international companies, which helped keep production from falling below 1.1 million barrels per day (mb/d), according to Argus Media. The plunge in Venezuelas oil production cannot be chalked up to any one single problem. A shortage of cash for maintenance, an exodus of workers, a lack of diluent to process heavy crude, debt claims by foreign companies, damage to port facilities deterioration at every stage of the countrys oil sector has contributed to a downward spiral of output. Related: WoodMac: LNG Glut Not Likely In 2019 The recent repair of upgraders at the PetroMonagas and PetroPiar joint venture operations may have staunched the bleeding a bit. The upgraders process heavy crude from the Orinoco Belt using imported naptha, diluting the crude so that it can be turned into an exportable product. A partial restart of a refinery on the island of Curacao also appears to be in the offing, according to Argus, although the impact of such a development is unclear. The refinery is a century old and has a nameplate capacity of 335,000 bpd, but was offline for most of 2018 due to a lack of oil feedstock and broken utility services, Argus says. The repairs could mitigate further losses, or least slow the rate of decline. Francisco Monaldi, a fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy, sees oil production bottoming out at about 850,000 to 900,000 bpd, although he hedged that estimate in an interview with the FT, saying that if prices are below $50 per barrel then the decline could be steeper. The EIA says production could fall below 1 mb/d in the second half of this year before declining further to 700,000 bpd by 2020. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The oil market looks to be broadly balanced in 2019, an improvement on 2018 which turned out oversupplied, Morgan Stanley analysts Martijn Rats and Amy Sergeant wrote in a note. This supports a partial oil price recovery. The investment bank says that the plunge in oil prices has overshot, with the selloff having been magnified in December due to the global financial turmoil. To be sure, the fundamentals did turn negative, with weaker expectations for demand, weaker time spreads in the futures market, and higher inventories. In the short run, the ramp up of OPEC+ supply before the December decision to slash output will take time to filter through the market. Morgan Stanley argues that a similar thing happened the first time around when OPEC+ agreed to cut production at the start of 2017. Producers ramped up output in the weeks and months ahead of the deal, and that new oil set sail just ahead of the implementation of cuts. As a result, in the first half of 2017, inventories barely budged, even as production fell. It took several months before all of those additional barrels arrived at their destination and became integrated into storage facilities, and ultimately worked off by the market. It wasnt until the second half of 2017 that visible inventory data began to demonstrate significant declines. Morgan Stanley says a similar thing might happen this year, which could cap oil prices at $65 per barrel. Related: The 3 Continents Driving Global Energy Demand Floating storage has already begun to creep up, and the corresponding deterioration of timespreads has also occurred. The Brent forward curve has moved more sharply into contango recently, a situation in which near-term prices trade at a discount to longer-dated futures. Both floating storage and the contango are symptoms of a marker that is well- or over-supplied. The OPEC+ cuts are phasing in, but will take time to have an impact. Morgan Stanley slashed its oil price forecast by $8 per barrel, expecting Brent to average $61 this year, down from a previous estimate of $69. But the investment bank does see a partial rebound of Brent oil prices into the mid-$60s. The bank says that the oil market was oversupplied by about 0.6 mb/d in 2018, but things look better this year. With demand growth in 2019 of ~1.2 mb/d and year-on-year decline in OPEC supply of 1.1 mb/d, offset by non-OPEC growth of ~1.6 mb/d, we expect supply and demand to be broadly in equilibrium over the year, an improvement over 2018, Morgan Stanley concluded. Of course, the situation is dynamic. The decision of OPEC+ to slash output will help boost prices, but that also makes it less likely that U.S. shale growth will slow. In 2020, shale output is expected to grow by even more, after the inauguration of new pipelines unlock new supply later this year. Wood Mackenzie and Rystad Energy both see non-OPEC output growth of between 2 and 3 mb/d in 2020, which will exceed total global demand growth. That suggests that the OPEC+ cuts might need to remain in effect beyond this year, although that also means the cartel cedes even more market share. Its a riddle that Saudi Arabia and its partners will be hard pressed to figure out. Related: OPECs No.2 Boosted Production, Exports Just Before Cuts Began One consequence of U.S. shale continuing to grow while OPEC+ countries keep barrels off of the market is the increasing shift towards lighter oils in the global crude slate. Oil from West Texas tends to be light, while barrels from Saudi Arabia are more of the medium variety. Prices for gasoline and naptha have grown increasingly weak a result of the surging supply of light oil. Meanwhile, medium and heavy supplies are less abundant, and diesel prices reflect that. This light/heavy disparity could grow as the year wears on, with the impending regulations on marine fuels from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) set to take effect at the start of 2020. The IMO rules will force dirty fuel oil out of the mix for ship-owners, and diesel and other distillates will be called upon to fill the void. Analysts have long predicted that the IMO rules could drive up global crude oil prices. For now, WTI is trading just above $51 per barrel and Brent at $61. Analysts are not suggesting a return of last years price levels, but the consensus seems to be that the late-December plunge went too far. We think the rally in oil prices has further to run in Q1, Standard Chartered wrote in a note on January 10. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Leader of Opposition Raila Odinga has put the Kenyan Judiciary on the spot accusing it of derailing the fight on graft. Speaking on Thursday, Raila noted that corruption is a major contributor to inequality in the country. The former Prime Minister said that if Kenya is to bridge the wide inequality gap, then justice can only be a shield and defender if there is democracy. Its unfortunate that the Judiciary has not been helping Kenya as a country to fight corruption in our systems. We have seen people being arrested and taken to court where evidence is presented but our courts end up releasing these people on bail, he said. The ODM leader further observed that if the youth are empowered, they will be able to participate in wealth creation and in turn help in bridging the inequality gap. He challenged universities to empower the youth with skills that will enable them to stand out. Young people dont have to leave their homes to get degrees (and I challenge this institution and others to increase the number of online courses they offer). So that a young orphan who has to work to take care of her siblings and cant make it to class isnt left behind, said Odinga. He was speaking at the University where Ford Foundation president Darren Walker gave a public lecture on Bridging the Inequality Gap in East Africa. Oil is officially back in a bull market as confidence grows over both the global economy and the willingness of OPEC+ to adhere to its production cut agreement. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) Friday, January 11th, 2019 Oil entered a bull market this week, having gained 20 percent since the low point reached in December. WTI rose above $52 per barrel, while Brent moved above $61. The mood brightens, and the market realizes that the world economy and oil demand are not grinding to a halt, Norbert Ruecker, head of macro and commodity research at Julius Baer Group Ltd. in Zurich, told Bloomberg. Moreover, there is confidence that the petro-nations will cut supplies as promised to balance the market. Saudi Aramco releases audit of oil reserves. Saudi Aramco released figures on its oil reserves this week, a figure that has been the subject of speculation for decades. The independent audit was originally initiated in anticipation of Saudi Aramcos now-delayed IPO. The audit largely confirmed what Saudi officials have long said that the Kingdom is sitting on massive reserves. The audit revealed 266.3 billion barrels of oil reserves and 307.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Meanwhile, Aramco is expected to issue its first ever international bond sale later this year, with plans to use the proceeds to finance its acquisition of petrochemical giant Sabic. BP eyes gas find in Caspian. BP (NYSE: BP) plans on drilling six new exploration wells in Azerbaijan by 2020, with the hopes of making another giant natural gas discovery. BP only recently brought its $28 billion Shah Deniz gas field online, but as Bloomberg reports, the oil major hopes to replicate that success. Alongside Brazil, Azerbaijan stands out in terms of the areas of focus for the next few years, Gary Jones, BPs regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, told Bloomberg in a phone interview. Its a very significant exploration program for us, which demonstrates the confidence and the role that we see in the Caspian. Related: OPECs No.2 Boosted Production, Exports Just Before Cuts Began Automakers to spend $300 billion on electric vehicles. Global automakers have plans to spend at least $300 billion developing and rolling out electric vehicles over the next decade, according to a Reuters analysis. Nearly half of that total $135 billion will be spent in China, where a suite of government policies are pushing technologies and EV adoption forward. Offshore oil spending to rise by 6 percent. The oil industry will increase offshore spending by 6 percent this year, according to Bloomberg and Rystad Energy. That figure will jump to a 14-percent increase in 2020. China pulls back on renewables subsidies as costs decline. China is paring back subsidies for solar and wind because new projects can compete without government support. Reuters reports that unsubsidized renewable energy now costs about the same as coal-fired power plants. Some regions with good natural resources and firm demand have already achieved subsidy-free, or grid price parity, conditions, said Chinas National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). New generation in U.S. mostly renewable. The EIA expects 23.7 gigawatts of new electric capacity to be installed in the U.S. this year, and more than 60 percent of that will be wind and solar. Pompeo lays out activist U.S. foreign policy. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo laid out a new vision for U.S. foreign policy in a speech in Cairo, declaring that the age of self-inflicted American shame is over. The speech was vague but promised more action in the Middle East, mostly centered on containing Iran. The speech raised questions, however, because it seemed to contradict President Trumps desire to withdraw troops from Syria. Government shutdown hits ANWR. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management delayed hearings on its draft Environmental Impact Statement for oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge due to the government shutdown. Related: There Is Still Room To Run For Oil Prices Potential Permian pipeline delay. The 900,000-bpd EPIC oil pipeline that will run from the Permian to the Texas coast in Corpus Christi could face some delays due to regulatory holdups. EPIC Crude Pipeline LP said the expected third quarter startup is in some jeopardy. India pays for Iranian oil in rupees. India has begun paying for oil from Iran in rupees, according to Reuters. India received a waiver from the U.S., allowing it to buy Iranian oil through May. Iran is attempting to construct payment structures and barter deals to bypass U.S. sanctions. TAP pipeline eyes 2020 startup. The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which will ferry natural gas from the Caspian to Italy, and then on to other parts of Europe, has completed the $4.5 billion in project financing. This will allow the pipeline to finish up its final leg, putting the $40 billion project on track for a 2020 startup. TAP will allow Europe to access non-Russian gas, and as such, it has enormous geopolitical implications. U.S. oil boom sets off scramble for ports. There are seven proposed oil export terminals for the U.S. Gulf Coast, as developers race to profit off of the export boom. Major developers, including Trafigura and a company backed by Carlyle Group, are battling it out to be the first mover. Mexico faces widespread gas shortages. The Mexican government shifted gasoline shipments from pipelines to tanker trucks in an effort at cracking down on fuel theft from pipelines. However, the move has caused widespread fuel shortages in the country. ExxonMobil considers EV infrastructure investment. ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is reportedly mulling an investment in EV recharging infrastructure, although the company has declined to reveal details. If true, it is a glaring recognition that even the more conservative oil executives see the future as one dominated by clean energy. While several European oil majors have made investments in EVs, recharging infrastructure and renewable energy, Exxon has notably refrained from such moves. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Italy plans to suspend the issuing of 36 pending oil and gas exploration permits, as the government finds upstream oil and gas activity not of strategic importance to the country. At the same time, the ruling populist coalition government, in power since June 2018, is looking to significantly boost the share of renewable energy in Italys power mix and total energy consumption, including in the transportation sector. The current government strongly supports Italys push to have as much renewable energy in its energy consumption as possible. The previous government also backed the rise of renewables and drafted a strategy to phase out coal-fired electricity by 2025. The new government is keeping the targets of the previous cabinet and has even increased some of the clean energy targets for Italys energy consumption and generation, in a bid to cut more carbon emissions in the country. The government has drafted an amendment to legislation proposing to block the issuing of oil and gas drilling permits, Italys Industry Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the proposal would be discussed in the next few days at the relevant committees in Parliament. The proposed legislation would halt the issue of a total of 36 drilling permits, including three permits that have already been issued for drilling in the Ionian Sea, Industry Undersecretary responsible for energy, Davide Crippa, said. ItalyEuropes fourth-largest energy consumeris heavily dependent on imports to meet about 93 percent of its oil and natural gas needs. Italy is estimated to be currently producing just 7.5 percent of its natural gas demand, while its domestic oil production accounts for only 7.3 percent of demand. Related: The 3 Continents Driving Global Energy Demand The country imports most of the oil it needs, and has the second-largest refining capacity in Europe, second only to Germany. According to Oil & Gas Journal data quoted by the EIA, the total refining capacity in Italy is just over 2.1 million bpd from 13 crude oil refineries. In natural gas, Italy ranks second in terms of natural gas imports in Europe after Germany, and it is Europes third-biggest consumer of natural gas after Germany and the United Kingdom. Italys previous government unveiled at the end of 2017 a new national energy strategy aiming to phase out coal in electricity generation by 2025, and significantly boost the share of renewables in total energy and electricity consumption. In the framework document drafted by the ministries of economic development and environment, Italy planned to have 28 percent of its total energy consumption covered by renewable energy sources by 2030, compared to 17.5 percent in 2015. The target for renewables in electricity generation is to achieve a share of 55 percent by 2030, up from 33.5 percent in 2015. In the transportation sector, Italy targets renewables at a 21-percent share by 2030, versus 6.4 percent in 2015. The current government has a more ambitious target for renewable energy in the total final energy consumption30 percent by 2030, according to the latest national plan on energy and climate published at the end of 2018. In 2017, according to the latest available annual figures, some 35 percent of Italys electricity production came from renewable energy sources. Of the renewable energy sources, hydropower accounted for 35 percent, solar power represented 23 percent, bio-energy had a 19-percent share, wind energy accounted for 17 percent of all renewable energy-generated electricity, and geothermal energy accounted for 6 percent of the renewable share of the power mix. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Americas Generation Energy has achieved something that seemed impossible: an increase in energy consumption coupled with a consistent decline in carbon dioxide emissions to the lowest in several decades. Thats what the chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute told a news conference at the annual State of American Energy address. Every generation has its own defining challenges, and its own defining accomplishments. We call this one Americas Generation Energy because of a remarkable dual achievement: meeting record world energy demand while driving record CO2 emissions reductions. Thanks to Americas Generation Energy and its cutting-edge innovations, the U.S. energy outlook is stronger than ever, Mike Sommers said. Indeed, data from the World Bank shows that CO2 emissions in the United States fell to the lowest level in 50 years in 2012 on a per capita basis. At the same time, oil and gas production has been growing, especially in the last two decades thanks to the shale revolution. However, its worth noting that emissions have not been falling throughout these 50 years: there was a consistent decline over the three years to 2017 but now, CO2 data from emissions tracker Rhodium Group suggests, these may have actually risen in 2018, by 3.4 percent. Sommers also praised the increase in U.S. crude oil exports, saying Net oil imports this year are set to fall to their lowest levels since 1958. On some days, we actually export more oil than some OPEC nations produce. Thats a monumental shift in the global balance of energy power, and its paying off in communities across the nation cutting family budgets and bringing manufacturing jobs back. Data from the Energy Information Administration shows U.S. crude oil exports hovered around the 2-million-bpd mark between May and October last year, dipping to 1.75 million bpd in August but recovering and rising to 2.326 million bpd in October. Related: Colombias Oil Rebound Off To A Rough Start In 2019 At the same time, imports, including from OPEC, stood at over 10 million bpd for all but two months in the May-October period, falling to 9.42 million bpd in October. In other words, the United States remains a net oil importer despite occasional peaks. Over the May-October 2018 period, crude oil imports from Canada alone were double the average rate of exports, at 4-4.55 million bpd. Another outtake from the APIs annual State of American Energy address was a poll seeking to gauge the sentiments of Americans towards the domestic energy industry. The poll found that the overwhelming majority supported the growth in local crude oil and natural gas production and the increased development of energy infrastructure. As much as 77 percent of the 1,000 participants in the survey said they supported policies in favor of the energy industry, according to APIs chief executive, with 90 percent seeing personal value in crude oil and natural gas. Some 83 percent saw oil and gas as important for the future. The results of the poll are hardly a surprise, despite a lot of vocal opposition to pipelines and drilling on federal lands. Rising local production of oil and gas has had an overall positive effect on household spending and as the poll suggests most people are happy about it whatever the side effects of more drilling environmentalists protest against may be. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Read From Oilprice.com: Baker Hughes reported no change to the number of active oil and gas in the United States this week. The total number of active oil and gas drilling rigs is holding steady at 1,075 according to the report, with the number of active oil rigs decreasing by 4 to reach 873 and the number of gas rigs increasing by 4 to reach 202. The oil and gas rig count is now 136 up from this time last year, 121 of which is in oil rigs. WTI prices were down on Friday despite newfound hopes that trade talks between China and the United States will prove fruitful soon. At 12:25pm EDT, the WTI benchmark was trading down $0.75 (-1.43%) at $51.94up week on week, with Brent crude trading down $0.87 (-1.41%) at $60.81 per barrelalso up week on week. Todays price decline marks the end to a more than week-long uptrend for prices that reached a five-week high, after a particularly volatile 2018, even by oil industrys standards. Canadas oil and gas rigs increased by 108 rigs this weeka rather abrupt halt to the 4-week losing streak that saw the energy-rich but infrastructure-poor country lose about 100 rigs over the last four weeks as drillers are gearing up for winter season. Canadas total oil and gas rig count is now 184, which is 92 fewer rigs than this time last year, with a 83-rig increase for oil rigs, and a 25-rig increase for gas rigs for the week. Canadas falling rig count is likely due in part to a new mandate that called for the country to collectively shave 300,000 bpd off its crude oil production figures. The EIAs estimates for US production for the week ending January 4 has the United States holding fast at an average rate of 11.7 million bpd for the week. By 1:07pm EDT, WTI had decreased by 1.73% (-$0.91) at $51.68 on the day. Brent crude was trading down 1.75% (-$1.08) at $60.60 per barrel. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: I mean good that they are benching him even though this is for awards-purposes. But could they actually remove him for awards consideration? cause even if he can't speak he still is counted in the win though. Reply Thread Link This is an example of where I think we'll be able to see if the Academy's attempt at diversity has been substantial, because the Academy of five years ago wouldn't give a damn about this, and would vote for their feel-good film regardless of any controversy. I'm hoping that increasing and diversifying the membership over the past few years (and into the future) will keep films like this from getting rewarded. Reply Thread Link bye bitch Reply Thread Link So if (ugh, when) it wins more stuff, they're just gonna awkwardly avoid mentioning him, like the BR cast firmly avoiding mentioning Singer? I feel like this happened when Cate Blanchett was winning stuff for Blue Jasmine, too. If only men could, I don't know, actually control their behavior and not do shitty things in the first place. Reply Thread Link Uh what happens in the (irritatingly likely) event he gets a nom for best screenplay? Will he be able to go to the ceremony then or... Maybe thisll sink the movies chances and Adam McKay will get in for vice instead (i didnt love that movie but I def liked it more than green book) Reply Thread Link I hope most members are procrastinators and waited until the last minute to submit their ballot, lol. Voting opened Monday and this shit dropped Wednesday night-ish, so hopefully thats enough time for people to learn about it and not vote for him. Like last year Franco got exposed around the same time and didn't get nominated, so hopefully the same happens to this dickhead. Reply Parent Thread Link yeah voting ends on monday but the critics choice are sundays and i have a bad feeling that's going to heavily sway last-minute voters Reply Parent Thread Link ok this is sort of kind of related, someone make a True Detective post Reply Thread Link These people are trash. Im so sad for Mahershala Ali having to work with these racist, islmaphobic assholes. Just saw a story about Vallelonga apologizing to him (this after Viggos dumbass comments), but I really dont want this movie to win anymore awards. Reply Thread Link ME: I especially deeply apologize to the brilliant and kind Mahershala Ali, and all members of the Muslim faith, for the hurt I have caused, Vallelonga said. I am also sorry to my late father who changed so much from Dr. Shirleys friendship and I promise this lesson is not lost on me. Green Book is a story about love, acceptance and overcoming barriers, and I will do better.ME: Reply Parent Thread Link i feel like his comments are further proof this movie's story is fabricated and the shirley family are telling the truth Reply Parent Thread Link oh wow, what a punishment, making him not do promo so his movie has a better chance at winning an award Reply Thread Link Whatever. If Greenbook wins then he wins. Reply Thread Link It's a damn shame Mahershala is hitched to this wagon. I know this must be mad awkward for him Reply Thread Link TIL the Critic's Choice Awards are this weekend. Also, ha, suffer. Reply Thread Link Someone should make a post, flop show but still lol. Reply Parent Thread Link Is it televised? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i'll prob do it if no one else does Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Octavia Spencer on the GREEN BOOK controversy: "This is actually Nick's family's story. It's bound to someone else's story, but if this white man cant tell his own story, then I dont know where were headed." https://t.co/M1GNVjmGBY pic.twitter.com/vlEPiLILFC Kevin Slane (@kslane) January 10, 2019 Gurl... Gurl... Reply Thread Link There's been so much shit going on the last several days (more like weeks) that I didn't even know about this. Poor white men. Whatever will they do. Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like some foot shuffling came with this statement. Ugh Reply Parent Thread Link I like to remind people when Octavia had the opportunity to tell a story, she chose to write a book with a white lead and a black side kick. Reply Parent Thread Link So just the choose your own adventure phrasing or the entire thing? Because hasnt Netflix already been doing this for a while with some child shows? Reply Thread Link From the report it sounds like the association in marketing and the plot line. Chooseco is saying that people will link the Netflix film to "Choose Your Own Adventure" which they didn't want and one character in the film even says it after Netflix wasn't getting the license. Reply Parent Thread Link Welp, and here I was thinking Swift's trademark sentences were a sign of overly dramatic American behaviour. Reply Thread Link "Chooseco has been active in protecting who tries to use "Choose Your Own Adventure" over the years." I wouldn't even guess it's a thing you could fight about. To me it was like a trope or something. Reply Thread Link I think it is because they specifically used the language "Choose Your Own Adventure" in the episode which is weird because like...just don't use that particular phrase? Reply Parent Thread Link I feel it, I wouldn't want my brand to be associated w/o being paid either. Reply Thread Link Drag them. Heh I just don't want PS5 to follow this. I already have a bit of difficult time playing AC:O on my probably outdated Samsung flat tv lmaaao. Gah I hope I can upgrade Reply Thread Link I am dying softly at "The Netflix" Reply Thread Link I used to live for the Goosebumps CYOA books omg. I love the concept in general I hope there are more of them!! Also: the choice where you tell him about Netflix killed me lmao with the ending of them getting into a huge fight. I think I got all the endings but Im not sure. Edited at 2019-01-11 09:28 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Hope they win. Reply Thread Link Same. I really didn't like Bandersnatch. Reply Parent Thread Link All I can think now is how someone told me a story over the weekend about how they saw their brothers history on the computer and saw he was looking at Choose Your Own Adventure porn. I was like there's really something out there for everyone I guess. Reply Thread Link well that's creative! Reply Parent Thread Link reminds me of 30 Rock when Tracy creates a porn video game lol Reply Parent Thread Link omg that reminds me of that online game Ariane https://www.datingariane.com/ Reply Parent Thread Link If that phrase is trademarked in media, then fair enough I guess, but what are you supppsed to label that type of format? I suppose something like select your own narrative or story. Ok nvrmd solved my own problem Reply Thread Link bandersnatch wasnt that entertaining or interesting. the novelty wore off very quickly. Reply Thread Link Yep. It won't age well. Reply Parent Thread Link great idea, meh execution. I hated all the characters by the time I finished fiddling with it Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah :/ Like idk If you choose the wrong thing there should have been a consequence like your character dies instead of you just go and pick the right option lol (Im not sure what happens if you make the main character jump off the balcony? I suppose he might die) I loved the idea but there should have been more endings or consequences for hour choices Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I watched bandersnatch with a tinder date while eating subpar chinese food, followed by boring bland sex. Trifecta mediocre evening. Reply Parent Thread Link Maybe I'm saying the stupidest thing ever but, seems to me 25 million for Netflix is an affordable amount? Reply Thread Link Netflix clearly knew what they were doing if they were negotiating with them to use the phrase, so get money bitch. Reply Thread Link It seems to me like they're suing because in one of the scenes in the episode, Stefan literally holds up a Choose Your Own Adventure Book Reply Thread Link Does anyone remember if they ever explicitly refer to the Bandersnatch book as a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book by name? The prior negotiations seem sketch but OTOH it doesn't seem like you could trademark the entire concept of "making decisions and getting different endings" also the idea for this was cool but I was so disappointed by the execution. It felt like playing a shorter & below-average Telltale/Life Is Strange-type game tbh Reply Thread Link Stefan says to his dad "It's a choose your own adventure book" which I guess can be interpreted as "It's a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book" Reply Parent Thread Link Thanks for this OP! Will def try to catch as many of these as I can. I was really looking forward to Reed Morano's movie but I don't think it's gonna make its release date :( Reply Thread Link Wow lot of good stuff. Def looking forward to Liz Garbus' serial killer movie Lost Girl, Jennifer Kent's Babadook follow up The Nightingale, the new Soska sisters movie and Greta Gerwig's Little Women. My most anticipated is Anna Biller's Bluebeard project but idt she's even started filming. Reply Thread Link I saw Rafiki and I confess I was disappointed by the script -- there's kind of no nuance to it at all -- but obviously I'm glad it exists and is getting a release whether it's perfect or not. I'm slightly more interested in the unnecessary Miss Bala remake now that I know it's Catherine Hardwicke! Can't wait for The Mustang (Matthias ), and omg yes please say queen Rebecca Hall's movie is getting a release date. Reply Thread Link Yeah Rafiki is at best a three star movie. Its unremarkable. BUT THEN AGAIN Im ok with there being an adequate unremarkable movie out there made by a woman. We need more movies made by women, bad and great, no matter what. Reply Parent Thread Link Captain Marvel! Reply Thread Link some others i'm looking forward to: Rust Creek directed by Jen McGowan (Kelly & Cal). When a young woman is lost in the Kentucky wilderness, she must survive the elements and ruthless outlaws in this IFC release simultaneously heading to theaters and VOD. Release date: January 4th. The Turning directed by Floria Sigismondi (The Runaways). After directing stellar episodes of TV for American Gods and The Handmaids Tale, Sigismondi new feature is the latest adaptation of Henry Millers The Turn of the Screw stars Mackenzie Davis as the governess hired to watch after two newly orphaned children (Finn Wolfhard and Brooklyn Prince) in a house that may be haunted. Release date: TBD High Life directed by Claire Denis (Let the Sunshine In). Denis reunites with Juliette Binoche for this sci-fi drama, which debuted at TIFF, about criminals (Robert Pattinson included) sent on a space mission towards a black hole. Release date: April 12th. Booksmart directed by Olivia Wilde. Actress Olivia Wilde makes her feature directorial debut with this teen comedy about a group of academically minded girls who aim to finally let loose for one night before graduation. Release date: May 24th. The Last Thing He Wanted directed by Dee Rees (Mudbound). Anne Hathaway stars in this Joan Didion adaptation about a journalist who quits her job to become an arms dealer. Ben Affleck co-stars. Reply Thread Link I'm curious about Karen Gillan's film. Anyone seen it/know where to watch it? Reply Thread Link The Partys Just Beginning? Should be on torrent/streaming sites. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean, yeah. I was looking for a more specific answer lol. I'm not really in the know for those sites. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I saw Birds of Passage at a festival last fall and its wonderful. Also, i would add Las Sandinistas to the list. Its a documentary directed by Jenny Murray and might be my favorite film of the year. ETA: Also loved Wild Nights with Emily, which has yet to get a release date. Edited at 2019-01-11 05:00 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link looking forward to see Proxima and Zola Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link I wish people/writers would stop using marijuana. its racist. its cannabis. (I know for this movie its probably accurate or contextual or wtv) Reply Thread Link Wait, how is it racist? Reply Parent Thread Link im interested in watching birds of passage and rafiki. ill watch almost anything with noomi rapace too. Reply Thread Link Please go on prime and watch Never Goin Back, directed by Augustine Frizzell. It is the most raunchy and endearing movie Ive seen in a long time. I want more movies like this. Reply Thread Link ok i keep seeing trailers and clips and is it really that good?? Reply Parent Thread Link Its fun! Its cute! Its about friendship. I dug it so much. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Oooh, I forgot this existed! I should watch it this weekend. Reply Parent Thread Link this is a great post op ty! Reply Thread Link Great post - looking forward to a handful of these already, like Little Women, Vita and Virginia (which I thought was supposed to come out last year), and Greener Grass (directed by a UCBer). Nice to have a reference for women-directed films! Every time I make my weekly post, it's a wonder if there is more than ONE female director. Reply Thread Link I read Craig McCracken and I was like NOOO! Phew! Reply Thread Link i read kyle maclachlan and got so sad. he's a treasure. Reply Parent Thread Link I read Kyle McLachlan and had the same response Reply Parent Thread Link ME TOO i was like NOOOO MY CHILDHOOD no idea who this guy is but awful none the leas Reply Parent Thread Link He can die. Reply Thread Link Never heard of this guy before. Anywho, hope you get put away forever bro! Reply Thread Link It's been big news in Australia. Reply Parent Thread Link Be glad. He only ever made it big in Australia and the UK. Reply Parent Thread Link It's nice to see a sexual predator getting convicted ... 'Charged' doesn't really mean a whole lot, since they could still escape justice. Reply Parent Thread Link Fuck this guy tbh Reply Thread Link he looks it Reply Thread Link I agree Reply Parent Thread Link My wife informs me that he was Kylie Minogue's brother on Neighbours way back so he's been around for a long while. :/ Reply Parent Thread Link GOOD. This fucking fuckface fucker has been using PR and our ridiculous defamation laws to go after the woman who first accused him and trying to make everyone feel sorry for him, but there have been stories about him for years. I hope he goes down big time. Reply Thread Link Yup! I remember his disgusting behaviour at the logies a few years ago where he was a lecherous pig and yet they still tried to cape for him? Disgusting. Reply Parent Thread Link same i'm so ready to see him suffer and something needs to happen with our laws because they're ridiculous and straight up protecting abusers. how many women are staying silent because they can't afford to get sued? fuck everything. Reply Parent Thread Link idk who he is but GOOD Reply Thread Link this has been a nightmarishly depressing day on ontd, i am calling it a night Reply Thread Link Right there with you. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah it's becoming too much for me at this point. It's been relentless for days it feels like. Reply Parent Thread Link Good god. All these stories about assholes preying on children is really reminding me of a question brought up in an old SVU episode where Stabler went undercover to infiltrate a pedo sex ring. Are we REALLY in a minority? Is it really so hard to see children as CHILDREN?! Are we "the sickos" for recognizing children shouldn't be viewed in a sexual way? I swear, every damn day it seems there's some new name of someone targeting children. This is getting to be way too much. I can't say it enough - kill them all. Reply Thread Link He didn't prey on children, just his coworkers. Reply Parent Thread Link When that's an upside... Burn it all. Reply Parent Thread Link i had the same thought this morning from a podcast i was listening too, when they mentioned how sex trafficking especially with children is like a BILLION dollar industry? and i just had this moment of wanting to run off the road and end it all, it's so fucking revolting Reply Parent Thread Link Ive always felt a lot of weird hostility to children from adults. Maybe it comes from peoples own experiences idk. That obviously manifests itself in abuse at its worst. Reply Parent Thread Link Good, as he should be. Reply Thread Link This has been an unbelievably depressing start to the year on this site fucking hell. And even tho i'm Australian i still read that as Kyle McLachlan and my heart started pounding lol jeez. Hope he rots. Reply Thread Link Craig McLachlan is a cunt. I'm Australian so I'm allowed to say this. Reply Thread Link Parasailing; the new recreational item on our bucket list thanks to media girl Patricia Kihoro and filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu. Parasailing is a popular vacation thrill where a person is towed behind a boat while attached to a specially designed canopy wing that resembles a parachute, known as a parasail wing. According to Patricia Kihoro, it looks scary but it is breathtaking. Im inclined to agree with her! The AfroCentral radio show presenter shared a short clip of her parasailing experience alongside Rafiki filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu on Instagram, and it was enough to convince a lot of her fans to add parasailing to their bucket lists. The two rafikis, who worked together in the lesbian love story Rafiki, did the parasailing in Costa Rica; the newest favorite holiday destination among Kenyan travel vloggers and globetrotters. Patricia traveled to Costa Ricas Capital San Jose as part of her 33rd birthday celebrations, taking a flight from Nairobi to NewYork and through Panama. A couple of days ago, Ms Kihoro served some sauce on IG as she stepped out in a bikini looking sunkissed by the tropical sun above Manuel Antonio, one of the popular destinations in Costa Rica. In another post, Kihoro shared a picturesque shot of her parasail with Wanuri, gliding through the air on a Superman parachute. So @wanuri and I did a thing. Parasailing was breathtaking, she wrote. She captioned her video: It looks scary but it honestly was one of the most calming things Ive ever done. With a couple of flashes of fear every once in a while when @wanuri would shift to try get more comfortable. Watch below. Thank you for Reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Columnist Beth Dolinar has been writing her column about life, both hers and the rest of ours, for over 20 years. When not on the page, she produces Emmy-winning documentaries, teaches writing to university students, and enjoys her two growing children. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL January 11, 2019 Zacks Value Trader is a podcast hosted weekly by Zacks Stock Strategist Tracey Ryniec. Every week, Tracey will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. To listen to the podcast, click here: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 5 Dirt-Cheap Big-Cap Stocks to Buy Now Welcome to Episode #125 of the Value Investor Podcast. Every week, Tracey Ryniec, the editor of Zacks Value Investor portfolio service , shares some of her top value investing tips and stock picks. 2018 couldnt end fast enough for investors as a stock market correction roiled Wall Street in the final weeks of the year. But corrections also produce opportunities for value investors to buy stocks even cheaper. A Basic Screen for Cheap Big Cap Stocks Keep it simple. Look for stocks with a forward P/E less than 10 and a market cap above $10 billion. Then, add on the Zacks Ranks of #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) so that there will be nice upward estimate revisions. This screen returned 22 stocks. 5 Dirt Cheap Big Cap Stocks 1. American Airlines AAL is one of the cheap airlines right now. Shares have fallen 9% in the last 3 months. While earnings are expected to fall 6.4% in 2018 analysts expect a 22% rebound in 2019. Its really cheap right now, with a forward P/E of just 5.9. 2. United Continental Holdings UAL has been holding its own during the correction. Shares are down only 1.5% in the last 3 months. The earnings picture looks a little brighter than its competitor American, as earnings are expected to be up double digits in both 2018 and 2019. Its trading with a forward P/E of just 8. 3. Discovery, Inc. DISCA owns the popular cable channels HGTV, Travel Channel, Animal Planet and Oprahs OWN. Shares are off 17% in the last 3 months even though analysts are looking for 61% earnings growth in 2019. It has a forward P/E of 7.6. Story continues 4. CVS CVS recently closed on its acquisition of Aetna, so it now operates one of the largest managed insurers in the United States. Will this combination prove a success? The Street isnt buying it as shares are down 14% in the last 3 months but that means its cheap, with a forward P/E of 9. 5. Dell Technologies DELL is back. After 5 years in private hands it has recently gone public. While its still early, Zacks has some analyst estimates on it already which has produced a forward P/E of only 7.1. Shares are down off their IPO debut price. What else should you be looking for to find the best dirt-cheap big cap stocks? Find out on this weeks episode. Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside? Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. See the pot trades we're targeting>> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com/performance Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A video of Betty Kyallo dancing alongside Khaligraph Jones as he raps explicit lyrics has touched a nerve in radio personality Massawe Japanni. In the short clip, the K24 presenter is seen dancing awkwardly alongside Khaligraph Jones as he freestyles lyrics of his recent controversial release titled Stick/Miti. Last October, Khaligraph Jones released the explicit track sampled from the original song, Lovers & Friends, by Usher, Luda, and Lil Jon. Khalis sample mostly drew negative backlash due to its lewd and ratchet lyrical content. Two months later, it(Stick/Miti) is the subject of fresh criticism from Massawe Japanni as a result of the ongoing debate sparked by Khaligraph about Kenyan music lacking content and airplay. The Radio Jambo presenter took to her Instagram account yesterday to fire shots, killing two birds with one stone. She trashed the song and also asked Betty Kyallo a pressing question. How do I even announce this song on-air???? Support Kenyan music activists leteni opinions na mawe.. @bettymuteikyallo whats there to dance to? NON..NON..NONSENSE!!! fired Massawe. We are still waiting for Betty Kyallo to address the nation. We need answers. In the meantime, check out the clip below. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL January 11, 2019 Stocks in this weeks article include BJ's Restaurants Inc. BJRI, Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. RH, Yelp Inc. YELP, ArcBest Corp. ARCB and Under Armour Inc. UAA. Kevin Matras screens for companies showing their 'first' profit and explains why they are ones to watch. Screen of the Week written by Kevin Matras of Zacks Investment Research: Top 5 Stocks to Beat Q4 Earnings Estimates Tapping stocks that come up with solid earnings is a common practice. But instead of picking them post earnings, investing in those that are like to beat market expectations may increase your gains manifolds. Why Is Positive Earnings Surprise So Important? Historically, stocks of companies with solid quarterly earnings (on a nominal basis) fall if they miss or just meet market expectations. After all, a 20% earnings rise (though it looks good apparently) doesnt tell you if earnings growth has been exhibiting a decelerating trend. If that is the case, the companys fundamentals are in question. There is also the factor of seasonal fluctuation. If a companys Q1 is seasonally weak and Q4 is strong, it is likely to report a sequential earnings decline. In such cases, growth rates are ambiguous while judging the companys true health. Meanwhile, Wall Street analysts study companies financials and initiatives to forecast earnings. They in fact club their insights and the companys guidance to arrive at an earnings estimate. So, outperforming that estimate is almost equivalent to beating the companys own expectation as well as market perception. And if the company manages to surpass earnings by a wide margin, it typically drives the stock higher right after the release. How to Find Those Gems? Since it is hard to predict if a company will beat or miss in the upcoming earnings season, investors can check its earnings surprise history. A notable track record generally acts as a tailwind. It revs up chances of beating estimates in the next release too as investors expect the company to use the same old trick to surpass expectations, or is smart enough to pull off a beat in the next release. Story continues For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit Zacks.com at: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/346644/top-5-stocks-with-solid-earnings-beat-potential Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. About Screen of the Week Zacks.com created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use. Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has more than doubled the market from 1988 through 2016. Its average gain has been a stellar +25% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZacksInvestmentResearch Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Contact: Jim Giaquinto Company: Zacks.com Phone: 312-265-9268 Email: pr@zacks.com Visit: www.Zacks.com Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research One persons medical condition is every womans dream. A Chinese woman has made headlines after she woke up unable to hear male voices, according to The Daily Mail. The woman, whos since been identified as Ms. Chen, had gone to bed with ringing in her ears, only to wake up to her silent boyfriend. Upon visiting the hospital, she discovered her situation. She was able to hear me when I spoke to her, says ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Lin Xiaoqing, but when a young male patient walked in, she couldnt hear him at all. While the scenario sounds like a bizarro version of What Women Want, Chen is actually unable to hear deeper tones due to a rare condition called reverse-slope hearing loss. Its so rare that only one in nearly 13,000 patients with hearing issues are affected. As for why Chen suffered the loss, Dr. Xiaoqing is unsure, but believes it was brought on by stress and long days of working. She expects Chen to make a full recovery, a fate that some people may argue is more of a curse. All joking aside, if youre suffering from any kind of hearing loss, be sure to seek out a physician immediately. If Chens situation is any lesson, its imperative you treat any ear condition as soon as possible to avoid any permanent damage. By Deborah Gembara WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hundreds of furloughed federal employees chanting "We want our pay!" marched on the White House on Thursday, the 20th day of a partial government shutdown over U.S. President Donald Trump's demand for border wall funding. "Stop the shutdown!" protesters shouted in the bitter cold at the union-organized demonstration that started at the AFL-CIO headquarters and ended in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, where they hoisted signs reading "Trump: End the Shutdown" and "Not a strike - we want to work." Some 800,000 federal government employees have been ordered to stay home or work without pay during the shutdown brought on by a standoff between Trump and Democrats in Congress over Trump's demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall on the southern U.S. border with Mexico. Trump, in a 2016 presidential campaign promise, repeatedly vowed that Mexico would pay for the wall. But he has said he will not sign any bill to reopen the government that does not provide wall funding. Elaine Suriano, 62, a furloughed scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency, said she would have to dip into her retirement savings if the shutdown continued and robbed her of yet another paycheck. "It's just clear that this administration doesn't understand normal people and real life or they wouldn't do this," Suriano said. In its third week, the shutdown of about a quarter of the federal government is the second longest since the mid-1970s. Trump has said it could continue for months or even years. Many furloughed federal workers have turned to online fundraising outlets such as GoFundMe.com to help cover expenses from food to utility bills. Mathew Crichton, 32, a furloughed Peace Corps employee, said uncertainty over how long the shutdown will last made it impossible to budget for food, lodging and other needs. "It could go on another day, and it could go on more weeks. It could go on for months," Crichton said. "It's really a shame that I'm ready to go to work. I'm able to go to work and I can't." Protesters, many wearing neon green vests reading, "I am a worker. I demand a voice," on Thursday demanded the government be reopened, separate from any debate over wall funding. Smaller protests across the country from Palm Beach, Florida, to New York City - had similar demands. In Ogden, Utah, dozens of out-of-work federal employees gathered to urge an end to the shutdown, some holding signs reading I am TSA. I am furloughed. I am not a pawn. Im a voter and 800,000 unemployed. Hurts our family and our economy. Trump was not at the White House when the protesters arrived, having traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border in McAllen, Texas. The president has said he has the right to declare a national emergency if no deal with Congress can be reached on funding the border wall project. (Additional reporting by Katharine Jackson in Washington and Barbara Goldberg in New York; editing by Bill Berkrot) Darren Flood and Louise Adams, pictured in 2011 (SWNS) Victoria Beckhams ex-brother-in-law has been jailed for 30-months for his role in a near-1 million fraud. Darren Flood was a director in a firm that used the famous familys name to con vulnerable victims into handing over their savings. The company cold-called unsuspecting members of the public, mainly the elderly, and persuaded them to invest thousands of pounds in materials known as rare earth elements, falsely promising big returns. The 40-year-old, who was previously married to the former Spice Girls stars sister Louise Adams and is the father of her eight-year-old daughter, was handed a 30-month jail sentence at Kingston Crown Court on Friday. Darren Flood has been handed a 30-month jail term (SWNS) Paul Muldoon (left) and Stephen Todd were also jailed for their part in the fraud. (PA) The Beckham name was mentioned to some potential investors to give the scheme an air of legitimacy, although Floods barrister argued he had not personally sought to capitalise on the family link. Deputy circuit judge Michael Carroll, addressing Flood and five others who were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, said the investment scheme he was involved in was fraudulent from the outset. He told the group: This must have been known to you once you became intimately involved in the running of the company or played a part in it. A photo issued by Surrey Police shows the various elements and chemical components used to conduct a near one million pound scam. (PA) Flood, of Ware Road in Hertford, owned almost a quarter of The Commodities Link (TCL), but quit after nine months with the company. Wearing a dark suit with a blue shirt and tie, he gave no visible reaction as he was sentenced alongside the others for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. MORE: Man jailed after kidnapping, raping and robbing a woman who got into his car thinking it was an Uber MORE: Old people seven times more likely to share fake news online Victims of the scam, known as a boiler room fraud, included a widower, a retired policeman and a multiple sclerosis sufferer who complained that a telephone sales agent became abusive when he refused to pay more money. Some of them, including a widow in her 80s, were even taken out to lunch in fancy London restaurants as the scammers tried to give the impression the business was legitimate and successful. Story continues Darren Flood and Louise Adams have an eighth-year-old daughter together (SWNS) The investors were persuaded to put their money in a market that effectively did not exist for members of the public, and lied to about the value of the materials they were investing in. The elements, rare earth metals and oxides which are used in products such as mobile phones and computers, were practically worthless in the small quantities they were being offered in, but were sold to TCL investors for up to 200 times more than the original purchase price. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK The Florida man who last month launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for President Donald Trumps long-promised border wall is ending the campaign, he said Friday. Instead, he now plans to build the wall himself. When I created this fundraiser, I said if we did not reach our goal we will refund donors, Brian Kolfage said in a statement posted to the GoFundMe page. I am honoring that commitment today. We will promptly refund your donation unless you tell us you approve our new plan for action. Kolfage, an Air Force veteran, claimed that he would start his own charity and organize resources to begin construction on the wall. He tapped former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Blackwater founder Erik Prince as advisers. We are better equipped than our own government to use the donated funds to build an actual wall on the southern border, he said. Our team strongly believes that we can complete our segments of the wall for less than half of the governments estimated costs on a per mile basis. The campaign had raised $20 million as of Friday afternoon. HuffPost was unable to verify the charitys status, and the GoFundMe page is still active. GoFundMe spokesman Bobby Whithorne said its up to the campaign organizer to turn donations off. He said donors will be given a choice to either receive a refund or have their contributions transferred to the new organization, which he said GoFundMe reviewed. Friday marked the 21st day of a partial federal government shutdown over funding for the wall. Trump has repeatedly said he will not sign any legislation to reopen the government unless it includes $5.7 billion for construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and Democrats have refused to comply with that request. As the online fundraiser gained steam last month, Kolfage came under scrutiny over his involvement with a series of Facebook scams. As NBC first reported, he was kicked off the social media network for posting misinformation, hoaxes and inflammatory language in order to drive traffic to affiliate websites. Story continues My personal issues have nothing to do with building the wall, Kolfage told NBC when asked why he failed to mention the scams to his wall donors. This article has been updated with additional comments from GoFundMe. Related Coverage DHS Backs Trump Lie That Border Wall Construction Has Already Started Prankster Punks Donald Trump With 'Secure The Border Fund' Domain Name Purchase Puerto Rican Officials Livid At Reports Trump May Use Disaster Funds To Pay For Wall Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. (Reuters) - Venezuela's defense minister told socialist President Nicolas Maduro to step down last month, and said he would offer his own resignation if he did not, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing an anonymous U.S. intelligence official. Both Maduro and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez are still in office. Maduro is set to be sworn in for a second six-year term on Thursday, though several countries in the region have warned him not to take office, calling his May 2018 re-election vote a sham. Discontent within the military's ranks has grown as Venezuela's economic collapse has deepened, prompting millions to migrate. Security forces tortured dozens of military personnel accused of subversion last year, according to human rights groups, and detentions for desertion have increased. A U.S. government source told Reuters the government believes reports that Padrino threatened to resign if Maduro did not depart are credible. "Nobody (in the U.S. government) would be surprised if (Padrino) stepped back," the source added. Venezuela's Information Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Luc Cohen; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball in Washington, D.C.; Editing by James Dalgleish) Washington (AFP) - The US military has begun moving non-essential gear out of Syria but is not withdrawing troops for now, defense officials said amid uncertainty over America's planned exit from the war-battered nation. President Donald Trump last month claimed the Islamic State group had been defeated in Syria and said all US troops were "coming back now." But in the weeks since he gave the order, and the Pentagon began to implement it, Trump himself and members of his administration have delivered mixed messages about when a troop withdrawal may actually occur. Trump's national security advisor John Bolton on Sunday announced conditions for a withdrawal that appeared to delay it indefinitely. Adding to the confusion, a military spokesman said the US had already begun "the process of our deliberate withdrawal" from Syria. Late Friday, Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Sean Robertson said that Operation Inherent Resolve "is implementing the orderly withdrawal of forces from northeast Syria within a framework coordinated across the US government." The withdrawal, Robertson said, "is based on operational conditions on the ground, including conversation with our allies and partners, and is not be subject to an arbitrary timeline." He added: "For purposes of operational security, we will not discuss specific troop movements or timelines. "However, we will confirm that there has been no redeployment of military personnel from Syria to date. The mission has not changed." US defense officials said the withdrawal was only of certain types of gear, and not troops. "We are not withdrawing troops at this stage," one US defense official said. A second US defense official told AFP that the military had conducted a number of preparations for a deliberate withdrawal. "That includes planning for the moving of people and equipment, preparation of facilities to accept retrograde equipment," the official said, noting that no troops had been withdrawn. Story continues The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported earlier that the US-led coalition in Syria had started scaling down its presence at Rmeilan airfield in the Hasakeh province of northeastern Syria. But the first defense official said this was merely part of a regular troop movement. The US-led coalition has several other bases across northeastern Syria, as well as in neighboring Iraq, where Trump has said American forces will remain. - Pompeo visit - The coalition, which also includes countries such as France and Britain, was formed in mid-2014 to counter IS, which had seized swathes of Iraq and Syria and proclaimed a "caliphate." Air strikes and special forces have played key roles in efforts to claw back the territory lost to IS. A Kurdish-led group, the Syrian Democratic Forces, is currently flushing the jihadists from the last pockets of land they control in the Euphrates River Valley. The battle against die-hard jihadists in remote areas along the Iraqi-Syrian border and the hunt for IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the world's most wanted man, could last indefinitely. The start of the drawdown coincided with a Middle East tour by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who insisted in Cairo on Thursday that the withdrawal would go ahead despite widespread criticism. On the same day however, Pompeo said in a speech that "when America retreats, chaos often follows." - Turkish threats - Bolton's conditions for a withdrawal included the defeat of IS in Syria and guarantees for the safety of Washington's Kurdish allies, who have been threatened with an imminent offensive by Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labeled Bolton's comments unacceptable and a "grave mistake." The People's Protection Units (YPG), which have spearheaded ground operations against IS in Syria, are an offshoot of the Kurdish PKK, which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist movement and has repeatedly threatened to move into Syria to create a buffer zone along the border. The group has already started reaching out to Damascus and its Russian sponsor. Critics of Trump's decision, including within his own Republican party, have said a precipitous withdrawal would shatter US policy in Syria and allow IS to rebuild. They have also argued that it would further allow Syrian regime ally Iran to extend its influence across the country and potentially threaten Israel. Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, blasted the withdrawal plans. "The Trump Administration's foreign policy is as deeply flawed in its conception as it is dangerously incompetent in its execution," Schiff said on Twitter. Though Trump has said he wants a withdrawal to be coordinated, gradual and "prudent," observers have stressed that his announcement was having the same impact as a withdrawal itself. "The damage is done," said Fabrice Balanche, a geographer and Syria expert. "On the ground, the announcement of the pullout is as if they were already gone." A Chinse national who was among the four people arrested on Tuesday in Kilimani with assorted meat products has denied preparing and selling food in unsanitary conditions. Shang Li Yan on Thursday appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot alongside her co-accused. She was also charged with selling food without certification from the public health office. Prosecutor Kennedy Panyako opposed bond/ bail terms and pleaded with the court to retain the custodial orders that allowed the DCI to detain Yan until Monday pending investigations. The State counsel also urged the court to allow Nairobi public health officials to visit the scene and destroy the meat, noting, an awful smell from Yans house has denied neighbours comfort and some are moving houses. Panyako said the meat that has been secured as evidence is perishable, and the court should visit and record the same as the evidence before destruction. 65kg of uncleaned red meat, 65kg of uncleaned fish, raw chicken, pork and crab fish were among the items retained and listed for destruction. There was also 95 kilograms of assorted white and red meat which prosecution claimed was being sold under unsanitary conditions and without certification from public health officials. The prosecution police also recovered five cartons of canned fish each containing 24 pieces of 250 grams which were being sold past expiry date. After visiting the scene on Thursday afternoon to witness and record the evidence, the Court allowed police and health officials to destroy the items. Washington (AFP) - US banking regulators on Friday urged creditors to be flexible with government workers affected by the shutdown who may need more time to pay mortgages and credit cards. About 800,000 federal workers have been furloughed without pay for three weeks in what soon will be the longest US government shutdown ever. Five federal financial and state regulators encouraged institutions to work with consumers affected by the shutdown by modifying loans or extending new credit. "While the effects of the federal government shutdown on individuals should be temporary, affected borrowers may face a temporary hardship in making payments on debts such as mortgages, student loans, car loans, business loans, or credit cards," the agencies in a joint statement. And the regulators said prudent workout arrangements "are generally in the long-term best interest of the financial institution," and would not open them to additional scrutiny from bank examiners. Bank of America on Friday announced a special hotline for any of its customers affected by the shutdown to help them work through any issues. The bank also pledged $10,000 to a Washington-area charity that will help with food, rent and utility payments for idled workers. Government workers affected by the shutdown owe a combined $438 million a month in rent and mortgage payments, according to the real estate firm Zillow. Washington (AFP) - The United States and United Nations voiced alarm Friday over the escalation of violence in Yemen and urged restraint after a rebel drone attack on the country's largest airbase killed six loyalist soldiers. The United States, which supports the Saudi-led coalition against the Huthi rebels, said it "strongly condemns" the strike on a military parade at Al-Anad air base. The attack, which killed six and wounded at least 12 people including top commanders, came a month after the warring sides agreed at talks in Sweden on a truce in the rebel-held port of Hodeida, a key aid gateway for the country where some 14 million are on the brink of famine. "This attack contravenes the spirit of the Hodeida ceasefire and the progress made last month at the UN-led talks in Sweden," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement. "We urge all sides to honor the commitments they made in Sweden to their fellow Yemenis by refraining from violence and provocative acts," he said. UN envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said separately that he was "alarmed" by the drone attack, which came as he was hoping for further progress in negotiating an end to the war. In tweets, he urged "all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint and refrain from further escalation" and to "create a conducive environment to maintain the positive momentum generated" in Sweden. The United Arab Emirates, a key contributor to the Saudi-led military coalition, called on the international community to pressure the Huthi rebels and blamed them for the slow progress of peace efforts. The "murderous drone attack tells you everything you need about the Huthis. Peace negotiations are a tactic to them, not a commitment," UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash tweeted. The Saudi-led coalition has also received wide condemnation over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where air targets have included hospitals and a school bus and a sea blockade has ravaged the economy. The war between the Huthis and loyalist troops has claimed nearly 10,000 lives. It escalated in March 2015, when President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fled into exile in Saudi Arabia. The Sunni Muslim kingdom says it is countering rival Iran, which has ties to the Huthis. The UK government is working to revive high streets across the country. Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images The UK governments 675m ($865m) fund to revive Britains ailing high streets will not solve everything, but its a major step in the right direction. Thats according to the politician charged with overseeing the governments rescue plan, Jake Berry, who intends to allocate money to revamp struggling city centers. The goal is to create thriving local hubs that can take on the demands of increased digitalisation. I dont claim that this fund is going to be the panacea that is going to fix every single high street up and down the country. But from my point of view, its a good start, said Berry, a Conservative member of parliament and the countrys official high streets minister, in an exclusive interview with Yahoo Finance UK. The challenges seem daunting: Britains struggling retailers have axed nearly 150,000 jobs this year as almost 20,000 shops and restaurants closed their doors. The latest annual data from the Office for National Statistics shows in-store retail sales grew by a modest 2%, while online sales grew 16%. Berry described how the newly launched Future High Streets fund and other associated initiatives presented the country with a once-in-two-generations opportunity to restructure and redevelop local high streets. In less than three weeks, the funds application form has been downloaded 1,000 times and Berry said hed be willing to start funnelling money towards strong shovel-ready projects this year. There are lots of great ideas out there about how areas want to improve their high streets But they dont have the cash, he said. We dont want to sit on this cash. We want to get it out the door. A single high street can get up to 25m from the fund, and theres an expectation that local authorities would match the funding, Berry said. Conservative MP Jake Berry is the governments official high streets minister. Photo: Yahoo Finance UK New focus for UK high streets Berrys team consulted with retailers and experts, including the businessman and Timpson chain owner Sir John Timpson, to ensure the funds money would be directed towards high street makeovers that attract a younger generation of citizens. Story continues He said shifting the high street focus from pure retail towards more social and experiential options is a priority. That could include more space for theatres, gyms, restaurants, community centres, child care centres and GP surgeries, he said. Even as online sales and online competition grow, 80% of retail sales still take place face-to-face and people still crave the community aspect of high streets, said Berry. We as human beings, as creatures, still love that social interaction, he said. Although high streets are changing, Im quite confident that were not. His comments come in the same week that the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said its members reported zero year-on-year sales growth in December, the worst performance for the month since 2008. The flat figure compared with 1.4% growth in December 2017. READ MORE: High streets suffering as Government tied up with Brexit From bust to boom: Altrincham Berry said he drew inspiration from the success story of Altrincham, just south-west of Manchester. After being dubbed a ghost town in 2010 with shop vacancy exceeding 30%, Altrincham locals mobilised and ushered in a new focus on food and culture, along with updated trading hours and marketing. The area hosts community activities throughout the year, including a Christmas Lantern Parade and a two-week literary festival. Last year, Altrincham won the 2018 Great British High Street Awards. From bust to boom: Altrincham won the 2018 Great British High Street Awards. Photo: Visa Enthusiasm tempered by realism Enthusiasm for this project is tempered by realism among retail experts and concerns about business taxes. Confidence among small retailers is at an all-time low, with pressure from employment costs, high rents and online competition ramping up, noted Mike Cherry, national chairman at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The biggest challenge for them is the outdated business rates system, which is a huge burden on the high street and is disproportionately hurting small firms. Business rates are taxes on non-residential properties, including shops, which ramp up based on the rental value of a location. Cherry notes that business rates this year will raise more than 30bn for the government. READ MORE: Ikea sales boosted by city stores, online sales The director of the Centre for Retail Research, Joshua Bamfield, said: We welcome this initiative which seems well-funded and wish it every success [But] the continued high business rates levied on our high streets are making it impossible for high streets to compete. Berry responded to concerns about business rates by noting that the government recently announced new business rates relief for small retailers, after providing over 10bn in business rates support since 2016. He said retailers he has consulted have told him: Our biggest problem isnt business rates. Our biggest problem is, no one is coming into the shops. We wouldnt care about the business rates if we were really busy. The governments 675m Future High Streets fund was launched in December. Photo: Getty Images The challenge of digital competition The challenge presented by large online retail competitors, which have a reputation for moving around profits to avoid domestic tax, is also an area that requires government intervention to ensure retailers have a more level playing field. The lack of an online turnover tax means that online retailers can name their own tax rate and are advantaged because we have an over-liberal tax regime, said Bamfield. READ MORE: This is the toughest market ever seen Berry acknowledged the challenge and said he was glad the latest UK budget included plans for a new 2% tax on the revenue of large digital firms, which would target companies like Amazon (AMZN) and eBay (EBAY). We need to ensure that these [large online] platforms pay their fair share of tax, he said. I think were starting to get that balance right. The Treasurys new digital sales tax is expected to be introduced in April 2020. With files from Reuters and PA London (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Britain on Friday announced hundreds of millions of pounds in funding "to support peace in Northern Ireland" after Brexit, continuing for another seven years a shared initiative with Ireland and the EU. The British government said it will commit around A300 million ($383 million, 333 million euros) to the "Peace Plus" plan, which will run from 2021 until 2027. The scheme started in 1995 to promote economic and social progress in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland and ends in 2020. "This funding will help deliver vital projects on both sides of the Irish border, supporting cooperation and reconciliation and ensuring that generations to come grown up in a more peaceful and stable society," said Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley. The next stage of the scheme will continue various projects, including a A14.5 million bridge across the River Foyle in Derry, a city in the northwest of the province close to the Irish border with a fraught history of sectarian division and violence. The EU has set out its plan for A109 million of funding -- subject to final budget approval -- for the "Peace Plus" plan, according to Bradley's office. It said the funds stem from joint commitments with the EU contained in the contentious withdrawal agreement negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May and the bloc. British MPs are set to vote on her draft divorce deal next week but are widely expected to reject it amid fierce opposition -- in particular over future guarantees over the Irish border. Hundreds of thousands of children learned to play musical instruments as a result of the governments music education hubs. Photo: John Birdsall/Rex/Shutterstock Schools will receive a new model music curriculum to ensure all pupils are able to enjoy high quality lessons, following a funding boost of over 1.3m, the government announced on Friday. It said an expert panel of teachers, education leaders and musicians will devise the new model to help schools deliver world-class teaching after committing an additional 1.33m funding to the Department for Educations music education hubs. The hubs were set up in 2012 to support the teaching of music both in and out of schools, and are currently supported by 300m as part of an overall 500m investment in the arts between 2016 and 2020. This makes music the second highest-funded element of the curriculum after PE. READ MORE: Video games introduce children to classical music, research reveals Nick Gibb, school standards minister, said: Having the opportunity to study and explore music isnt a privilege, its a vital part of a broad and balanced curriculum and thats why Im determined all pupils should have access to a world-class music education. All pupils at least up to the age of 14 should study music in school. We want to make sure their lessons are of the very highest quality and pupils leave school having experienced an excellent music education so those who wish to do so can take up opportunities to pursue musical careers. This new model curriculum and the money for our successful music hubs will make sure the next generation of Adeles, Nigel Kennedys and Alex Turners have all the support they need in school. READ MORE: Teachers use meditation apps in class to rewire kids brains, improve performance According to a report by Arts Council England, these music education hubs have reached 89% of schools across the country, leading to 700,000 pupils up to the age of 14 learning how to play an instrument in the 2016 to 2017 academic year. The panel overseeing the new curriculum for key stage 1, 2 and 3 pupils will be chaired by Veronica Wadley, governor of Yehudi Menuhin specialist music school and co-founder of London Music Fund. It will begin work immediately with the aim of publishing the model by the end of summer. Story continues As well as ensuring all pupils can benefit from knowledge-rich and diverse lessons, the government said it hopes the curriculum will make it easier for teachers to plan lessons, and help them reduce workload. It will provide a framework for schools to base their own programmes of study on. READ MORE: Primary school children aspire to be YouTubers Wadley said: I am looking forward to working with the expert group on publishing a rigorous knowledge-based music curriculum that schools can use to provide a rich and sustained music education for all their pupils. I am also delighted there is additional funding announced today to support music eduction hubs. Over a third of employers said in a survey they would rather invest in technical skills training than apprenticeships. Photo: Monkey Business Images/Rex/Shutterstock An overwhelming 92% of UK employers want to see more flexibility in how they can spend their apprenticeship allowance, according to research published by City & Guilds Group on Thursday. Working with research agency Censuswide, the skills development company surveyed 765 levy-paying employers to find out what changes to the system would help them get the most value out of their investment. It revealed that while most employers are keen to put their levy to good use, the rigidity of the system is holding many back. When asked how they would choose to spend their levy funds with more freedom, 55% said they would continue to spend on apprenticeships, while the other 45% said they would like to allocate the money to non-apprenticeship training. Technical skills training was the biggest priority for 36% of employers, while 33% said they would like to put the money towards work placements and internships, and another 31% said they would invest in leadership and management training. READ MORE: The 10 most attractive employers for business, engineering and computer science majors Kristie Donnelly, managing director for City & Guilds Group, said: The turmoil we are facing as a result of uncertainty around Brexit, as well as the rapidly changing world we live in, means its never been more urgent to improve the skills of our workforce and invest in home-growing skills that we may no longer be able to import from abroad. Apprenticeships have a huge potential to deliver on this, but the system is still not responsive enough to the needs of employers. Businesses needs more flexibility to use the apprenticeship levy in a way that will help them fill skills gaps, upskill their workforce and shore up their talent pipeline for the future. The government has announced some freedoms to flex spend in the last year, including increasing the level of levy funds which can be transferred to other businesses in a supply chain from 10% to 25%. But City & Guilds Groups research found levy-paying employers would invest an average of 35% in their supply chain if they could. Story continues READ MORE: UK employers are continually breaking the law by asking this one question The survey also revealed the incredible scale of disengagement with the levy, which came into effect at the start of the 2017 to 2018 tax year. Just 5% of employers said they managed to spend the entirety of their apprenticeship budget in the first 12 months of the new system. They also said they only expect to spend an average of 56% of their allotted funds in the future. However, City & Guilds Group acknowledged there is no way for industry bodies and trading providers to be certain of the true extent to which employers have taken up apprenticeships and where leftover money has gone while there is no transparent reporting of apprenticeship spend. Employers are currently waiting for the government to set a date for the employer consultation on apprenticeships announced in October. A U.S. military vehicle is seen in northern Syria in April 2018. The U.S. military began the process of withdrawing its troops from Syria following a drawdown ordered by President Donald Trump, a military official said Friday. Col. Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the U.S.-coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, declined to discuss specific operational details of the pullout such as timings and troop movements, but said in an email the withdrawal was underway. About 2,000 U.S. troops are in Syria. The development comes as White House national security adviser John Bolton appeared to contradict Trump's order when he said the withdrawal would not be immediate, it would not happen before ISIS is fully defeated and it would be contingent on a pledge by Turkey not to attack the U.S.'s Kurdish military allies in Syria. None of Bolton's conditions have been met. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refused to meet with Bolton during his visit to Turkey this week and described his conditions for the U.S. troop drawdown as a "grave mistake." Turkey considers some members of a Syrian-Kurdish Arab coalition fighting ISIS alongside U.S. troops to be terrorists and has applauded Trump's decision. Turkey has amassed thousands of troops along its border with Syria and has long threatened to unilaterally attack Kurdish militias who it claims have ties to separatist groups who have carried out assassinations and bombings against the Turkish government for decades. The U.S. withdrawal from the area could embolden Ankara. "I have some concerns, my greatest concernprobably is the Kurds and just how defenseless we are going to leave them," newly elected Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D, told Stars and Stripes, an American military newspaper. On Monday, Bolton said Trump would "not allow Turkey to kill the Kurds." Trump announced the withdrawal about three weeks ago on Dec. 19. A day later, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis released a resignation letter in which he indicated that he no longer agreed with the president's thinking on military operations. Story continues According to a recent report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, ISIS is far from obliterated. The Washington-based think tank estimates 20,000 to 30,000 Islamic State militants may still be in Syria and Iraq. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that monitors the Syria conflict via a network of activists on the ground, said the U.S. withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from a military base in Syrias northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. The U.S.-led coalition has been fighting ISIS in the Middle East since 2014 and Mattis said before leaving his job that declaring victory and leaving Syria would be a mistake. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been defending Trump's order this week while on a tour of the Middle East where he has been rebuking former President Barack Obama's policies for the region. In a speech in Cairo, he said Trump "made the right decision to bring our troops home from Syria" and the U.S. is "committed to the complete dismantling of the ISIS threat and the ongoing fight against radical Islamism." But Pompeo also caused further confusion about Washington's Syria policy. He said in his speech in Cairo that Obama was wrong to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. "When America retreats, chaos follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds," Pompeo said. Less than 24 hours later, U.S. troops started pulling out of Syria. More: Trump admin's backtracking on Syria leaves foreign policy in a better place More: 'The age of self-inflicted American shame is over,' Pompeo declares This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: U.S. starts withdrawing troops from Syria amid policy confusion By P.J. Huffstutter and Tom Polansek CHICAGO (Reuters) - When the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last week that a slew of key farm reports would not be released on Friday due to the partial government shutdown, the phones at crop forecaster Gro Intelligence blew up. The USDA was set to release its views on the projected size of U.S. soybean stockpiles, among other data, following a record-large domestic harvest and a trade war with China that has slowed U.S. exports. Commodity traders, economists, grain merchants and farmers are anxious for crop updates as they work to project their financial balance sheets and make spring planting decisions. "It's been crazy busy," said Sara Menker, chief executive of New York-based Gro Intelligence. The shutdown, now in its third week, has rippled across the already struggling U.S. farm economy ahead of President Donald Trump's planned address at the American Farm Bureau conference in Louisiana on Monday. Federal loan and farm aid applications have also been delayed. To fill the void on data, traders and farmers are relying on private crop forecasters, satellite imagery firms and brokerages offering analyses on trade and supplies. Some have been scouring Twitter for tidbits on shifting weather patterns and rumors of grain exports, but say it is difficult to replace the USDA. "We're just doing the best we can, looking for as much information as is available," said Brian Basting, economist for Illinois-based broker Advance Trading, which provides customers its own harvest and crop supply estimates. Dan Henebry, an Illinois corn and soy farmer, said the absence of USDA data was difficult. "You delay all these reports and the market has no idea where to go, other than trade guesses," Henebry said. HUNT FOR NUMBERS Gro Intelligence has been offering free access to its data platform since Dec. 27, and released worldwide supply-demand crop forecasts on Friday. Story continues The company's estimates for the U.S. 2018-2019 corn crop yield were 177.4 bushels per acre, below both USDA's last forecast and lower than the average of estimates in a Reuters survey. Gro pegged the U.S. 2018-2019 soybean yield at 50.6 bushels per acre, also below USDA and below the range of Reuters' survey. The company will keep its platform open for the duration of the shutdown, Menker said. So far, Menker said, the site has signed up executives from the top 10 global agribusiness companies and financial institutions with credit exposure to U.S. agriculture. Data firm Mercaris has gained new subscribers too, as it has become the only source for organic commodity prices since the halt in USDA reports, sales director Alex Heilman said. The Maryland-based company is making an additional pricing report available to users for free until the federal agency reopens. "Everybody still needs this information for creating contracts, new product lines, planting acres," Heilman said. Farmers Business Network (FBN), which collects harvest data from 7,000 U.S. farmers, was set to release crop yield estimates on Friday to members. The data is not as comprehensive as the USDA's report would have been, though, said Kevin McNew, FBN's chief economist. "At the end of the day, we still need a benchmark," McNew said. "For better or worse, USDA is the best benchmark we have." Trading volume in Chicago Board of Trade grain futures typically jumps on the day in mid-January when the USDA releases its major reports. But without the reports on Friday, volume fell in the most actively traded corn and soy contracts, and rose less in wheat futures than it typically does when USDA issues its data, according to preliminary data from CBOT owner CME Group Inc. While crops are not growing in North America during the winter season, traders are still looking for updated information from South America and other parts of the world where soy and other crops are growing. An increase in private companies using government-collected satellite images to track farmed fields in recent years helps shine a light on global crop conditions even while government agencies are dark. The government's Landsat satellites continue to collect images of the earth and other data. Private companies such as New Mexico-based crop forecaster Descartes Labs can still access the open-sourced data and analyze it. The public can normally see those images on the U.S. Geological Survey's website, but it is not being updated during the shutdown, according to a notice on the site. And all technology can be problematic, said Steve Truitt, government program manager for Descartes. Data occasionally has shown up late during the shutdown, or not arrived, Truitt said. The USDA and Interior Department staffers who Descartes usually calls either cannot be reached or are working without pay, he said, leading to awkward conversations. (Reporting by P.J. Huffstutter and Tom Polansek in Chicago; Additional reporting by Julie Ingwersen and Mark Weinraub in Chicago; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Matthew Lewis) By Rodi Said and Phil Stewart QAMISHLI, Syria/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State added to confusion surrounding the U.S. withdrawal from Syria on Friday by declaring that it had started the pullout process but U.S. officials later clarified that only equipment, not troops, had exited the country. U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement last month that he had decided to withdraw the 2,000 U.S. troops there stunned allies who have joined Washington in the battle against Islamic State militants in Syria. Senior U.S. officials were shocked too, among them Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who quit in protest. U.S. Colonel Sean Ryan, a coalition spokesman, said the coalition "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria." "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements," Ryan said. (graphic: Syria control map - https://tmsnrt.rs/2RgCxxb) After media reports suggesting the departure of U.S. forces had begun, U.S. officials told Reuters that no troops had yet withdrawn and stressed that the battle against Islamic State was continuing as U.S.-backed forces try to capture the group's last remaining pockets of territory in Syria. The three U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. But the U.S. officials confirmed that equipment was being moved out of Syria, a sign that despite mixed messages from Washington preparations for a withdrawal of troops was proceeding apace. Residents near border crossings that are typically used by U.S. forces going in and out of Syria from Iraq said they had seen no obvious or large-scale movement of U.S. ground forces on Friday. Separately, Syrian state news agency SANA said Israeli warplanes fired a number of missiles toward the Damascus area on Friday, triggering Syrian air defenses that shot down most of them. "The results of the aggression so far were limited to a strike on one of the warehouses at Damascus airport," SANA quoted a military source as saying. SYRIA UPHEAVAL The U.S. decision has injected new uncertainties into the eight-year-long Syrian war and spurred a flurry of contacts over how a resulting security vacuum will be filled across a swathe of northern and eastern Syria where the U.S. forces are stationed. On the one hand, Turkey aims to pursue a campaign against Kurdish forces that have allied with the United States, and on the other the Russia- and Iran-backed Syrian government sees the chance to recover a huge chunk of territory. U.S. national security adviser John Bolton suggested on Tuesday that protecting Washington's Kurdish allies would be a precondition of the U.S. withdrawal. That drew a rebuke from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who called his comments "a serious mistake". U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been touring the Middle East this week to reassure allies of Washington's commitment to regional security, said on Thursday the withdrawal would not be scuppered despite the Turkish threats. The Kurdish groups that control the north have turned to Moscow and Damascus in the hope of striking a political deal that will stave off Turkey and shield their autonomy in the north. Russia, which has deployed forces into Syria in support of the Damascus government, said it had the impression that the United States wanted to stay despite the announced withdrawal of U.S. troops, RIA news agency reported. RUSSIA URGES DAMASCUS-KURDISH DIALOGUE Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said it was important for Syrian Kurds and the Syrian government to start talking to each other in light of the U.S. withdrawal plans. She also said the territory previously controlled by the United States should be transferred to the Syrian government. "In this regard, establishing dialogue between the Kurds and Damascus takes on particular significance. After all, the Kurds are an integral part of Syrian society," Zakharova said. Turkey views the U.S.-backed YPG Syrian Kurdish militia as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a 34-year insurgency in Turkey for Kurdish political and cultural rights, mostly in southeastern areas near Syria. A Kurdish politician told Reuters last week the Kurds had presented Moscow with a road-map for a deal with Damascus. Syria's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday he was optimistic about renewed dialogue with the Kurds. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian of France, which is part of the U.S.-led coalition, welcomed what he believed was a slower withdrawal by the United States after pressure from its allies. "President Macron spoke to him (Trump) several times and it seems that there has been a change that I think is positive," he said in a television interview on Thursday. In a rare acknowledgment that French troops were also in Syria, he said they would leave when there is a political solution in the country. (Reporting by Tom Perry in Beirut, John Irish in Paris, Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow and Phil Stewart in Washington; Writing by Tom Perry and Phil Stewart; Editing by Angus MacSwan and James Dalgleish) Charles Mwangi, a Kenyan engineer at US electric carmaker Tesla, has resigned from the Elon Musk-headed firm. Mr. Mwangi, an alumnus of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), resigned as senior director of engineering making him the latest senior staffer to exit Tesla. He is set to join an undisclosed start-up, according to his updated LinkedIn account. The engineer leaves the California-based company after six years. The start-up I am joining is still under the radar, but I couldnt be more excited to be joining this team, he said. According to Mwangi, he is moving on to a whole different industry, a stealth startup- a venture capital term for a startup company that operates in stealth mode to protect its intellectual ideas. He is joining the secretive company with his colleague who also worked at Tesla. In my next journey, I am lucky enough to have found that same inspiration as the early days of Tesla but in a completely different industry. A world-changing human mission. Global scale. A team with a deep commitment to excellence. The Kenyan-born engineer joined the US automobile maker in 2012 and was promoted to senior director of engineering in August last year. He headed the Tesla subsidiary Tesla Tool & Die and was responsible for body manufacturing engineering, body equipment controls and maintenance engineering. He previously worked at Toyota in Indiana between 2003 and 2005 before he later joined Nissan Motor Corporation in Mississippi in 2006. He becomes the seventh top executive to resign from the California-headquartered carmaker since last year. By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Lesley Wroughton ANKARA/CAIRO (Reuters) - Turkey's planned military operation against a Kurdish militia in Syria does not depend on an American withdrawal from the region, Ankara said on Thursday, signaling Turkey remained undeterred by U.S. efforts to protect its local partners. The comments from Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu are the latest to highlight the deep divide between the two NATO allies over the implementation of President Donald Trump's plan to bring home about 2,000 U.S. troops stationed in Syria. Trump's plan, which has been clouded by mixed messages from himself and his administration, hinges on Turkish cooperation to secure a swathe of northeast Syria as the United States departs. Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, this week tried to make the case for guarantees that Turkey would not harm the U.S.-backed YPG Kurdish militia after the withdrawal - earning a stiff rebuke from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in return. Washington has partnered with the YPG in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, supplying it with weapons and training. Turkey, which considers the YPG a terrorist organization, has long seen that support as a betrayal. "Our problem is this: there is a terrorist organization that poses a threat to us and the United States supports them," Cavusoglu said in an interview with Turkey's NTV. "Whether they pull out or not, we must do whatever is necessary against an organization that poses a threat to our national security." Trump's abrupt decision last month to pull out of Syria sparked concern among officials in Washington and some Western allies, but it was lauded by Ankara. Turkey sees the YPG as part of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade insurgency in its largely Kurdish southeast. CROSS PURPOSES Trump's decision prompted Turkey to put on hold plans to launch a campaign against the YPG in Syria. Ankara has repeatedly said since the operation could happen any time. Officials from both sides have appeared to be speaking past each other. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the withdrawal would not be scuppered despite Turkish threats against the YPG - while promising to protect the militia. "It's important that we do everything we can to make sure that those folks that fought with us are protected and Erdogan has made commitments, he understands that," Pompeo told reporters on a visit to Iraq. However, Erdogan's spokesman dismissed the notion that the Turkish president had given any promises to protect the YPG, adding Ankara would not give guarantees to terrorists. Pompeo, on a tour of the region, on Thursday sought to reassure Middle East allies that the United States would remain their partner despite the withdrawal. He also pushed back at what he said was "a story made up by the media" of a divide between Trump and his national security advisers over whether Islamic State had been defeated in Syria. Turkey, for its part, has accused members of Trump's administration of trying to muddy a clear understanding between the countries over the withdrawal. "Bolton and others aren't fans of withdrawing," Cavusoglu, the foreign minister, said. "But what is important is the president's, Trump's, promises." (Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Andrew Heavens) On the twenty-first day of the partial government shutdown, federally-funded TSA officers came to work at Vermont's Burlington International Airport despite facing a painful reality: their biweekly paychecks would not arrive. The partial shutdown began on Dec. 22 will become the longest in American history on Saturday, but Friday marks the first time that TSA agents will miss a regularly-scheduled payday. The shutdown is the result of an impasse between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over the presidents $5.7 billion request to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and has halted the paychecks of hundreds of thousands of government workers. But, TSA agents are still required to show up to work, as they are considered essential employees. TSA agents at Burlington International Airport in South Burlington, VT, await passengers to screen at a security checkpoint on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Despite no paychecks going out, agents continued to report to work, according to airport Federal Security Director Bruce McDonald, but said that agents are working under mounting financial stress. How the TSA is dealing with the shutdown To see a zero balance in your bank account really hurts, said Anthony Morselli, an agent at the Vermont airport whose wife also works as an agent. Some of us live paycheck to paycheck. Today would be payday and no moneys coming in. With two children to support, Morselli said that he and his wife simply cant afford to lose both of their paychecks at the same time. As a result, hes set up a GoFundMe fundraiser, asking for donations to sustain the family for as long as the shutdown lasts. TSA agent Anthony Morselli of Georgia, VT, shows his GoFundMe post on Facebook before starting his shift at Burlington International Airport on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Morselli and his wife, both TSA agents, didn't get paid along with approximately 800,000 other federal workers and, to try to make ends meet, started the GoFundMe site to try to pay the bills as the government shutdown entered it's 21st day. Hopefully somebody will reach out and help us, he said. Ive gotten some, but not as much as we need. Against the odds, spirits have remained mostly high at the airport since the shutdown began, according to Vermont TSA Director Bruce McDonald. More: TSA no-shows? Miami airport to close a terminal early for 3 days amid government shutdown The most amazing thing to me is the phenomenally good attitude theyve maintained through all this, McDonald said. Unlike workers at some airports across the country, agents in Burlington havent called in sick any more than usual, McDonald said, and theyre treating the public with respect and gratitude. Story continues McDonald added that travelers passing through the airport have shown their appreciation. TSA agents at Burlington International Airport in South Burlington, VT, await passengers to screen at a security checkpoint on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Despite no paychecks going out, agents continued to report to work, according to airport Federal Security Director Bruce McDonald, but said that agents are working under mounting financial stress. Very often theyll stop one of the security officers and say, Thank you so much, we know youre going through a difficult time right now, he said. Standing in the airport lobby, Jessica Gee, a teacher from Saranac Lake, N.Y., hoped that the president and congressional leaders could reach a compromise. I agree that we need security in our country, she said. But its not right that essential personnel who have to work are not getting paid. Contact Nick Garber at 802-660-6500. Follow him on Twitter at @nick__garber. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: TSA agent creates GoFundMe page to cover his expenses amid government shutdown Washington (AFP) - The partial US government shutdown entered a record 22nd day Saturday, as President Donald Trump remains steadfast in his demand for $5.7 billion to build a Mexico border wall and Democrats in Congress determined to refuse the funds. Related Video: Gov. Shutdown Is Officially The Longest One Ever This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The president issued a series of tweets Saturday in an effort to defend his stance and goad Democrats to return to Washington and end what he called "the massive humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border." "Democrats could solve the Shutdown in 15 minutes!" he said in one tweet, adding in another, "We will be out for a long time unless the Democrats come back from their 'vacations' and get back to work. I am in the White House ready to sign!" But most lawmakers left town on Friday and will not return before Monday, leaving little chance for any solution to the stalemate before then. The impasse has paralyzed Washington -- its impact felt increasingly around the country -- with the president retaliating by refusing to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments unrelated to the dispute. As a result, 800,000 federal employees -- workers as diverse as FBI agents, air traffic controllers and museum staff -- did not receive paychecks Friday. The shutdown became the longest on record at midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it overtook a 21-day stretch in 1995-1996 under president Bill Clinton. - Retreat from 'emergency' - On Friday, however, Trump backed off a series of previous threats to end the deadlock by declaring a national emergency and attempting to secure the funds without congressional approval. "I'm not going to do it so fast," he said at a White House meeting. Trump described an emergency declaration as the "easy way out" and said Congress had to step up to the responsibility of approving the $5.7 billion he says is needed. Story continues "If they can't do it... I will declare a national emergency. I have the absolute right," he said. Until Friday, Trump had suggested numerous times that he was getting closer to taking the controversial decision. One powerful Republican ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, tweeted after talks with Trump: "Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW." But the president himself acknowledged in the White House meeting that an attempt to claim emergency powers would likely end up in legal battles going all the way to the Supreme Court -- as other Republicans and some of his advisers have reportedly cautioned him. Opponents say that a unilateral presidential move would be constitutional overreach and set a dangerous precedent in similar controversies. - 'Under siege' - The standoff has turned into a test of political ego, particularly for Trump, who came into office boasting of his deal-making powers and making an aggressive border policy the keystone of his nationalist agenda. In two of his tweets Saturday, Trump pushed back on a media report that his White House was "chaotic" with no plan or strategy to end the shutdown. "The Fakes always like talking Chaos, there is NONE..." he tweeted. "I do have a plan on the Shutdown." "But to understand that plan you would have to understand the fact that I won the election, and I promised... a Wall at the Southern Border. Elections have consequences!" Democrats, meanwhile, seem determined at all costs to prevent the president from getting the wall he has often promised in his campaign-style rallies. Both Democrats and Republicans agree that the US-Mexican border presents major challenges, ranging from the violent Mexican drug trade to the plight of asylum seekers and poor migrants seeking new lives in the world's richest country. But Trump has turned his single-minded push for more walls into a political crusade that opponents say is a stunt to stoke xenophobia in his right-wing voter base while willfully ignoring the border's complex realities. For the president, who visited the Texas border with Mexico on Thursday, the border situation amounts to an invasion by criminals. Only in recent days has he begun describing the problem as "humanitarian." Some studies show that illegal immigrants generally commit fewer crimes than people born in the United States, although not everyone agrees on this. More certain is that while narcotics do enter the country across remote sections of the border, most are sneaked through heavily guarded checkpoints in vehicles, the government's own Drug Enforcement Administration said in a 2017 report. - 'Look at the facts' - Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, said money should be spent on border security but not on walls. "We need to look at the facts," she said. Separately, Puerto Rico's governor urged Trump to not redirect emergency funds from projects to help the storm-ravaged island to wall construction along the US-Mexico border. Ricardo Rossello's plea followed reports the White House has asked the Army Corps of Engineers to look into ways to divert funds destined for natural disaster relief for the wall. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria tore through the US territory in the Caribbean, killing some 3,000 people, causing catastrophic material damage and crippling the island's power grid. U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated that Mexico will pay for the wall that he pledged to build along the countrys southern border during the 2015/2016 campaign rallies. In an early-morning tweet, Trump declared that the benefits accruing from the recently signed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal would meet the cost of the wall: I often said during rallies, with little variation, that Mexico will pay for the Wall. We have just signed a great new Trade Deal with Mexico. It is Billions of Dollars a year better than the very bad NAFTA deal which it replaces. The difference pays for Wall many times over! This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The USMCA was signed by the leaders of the three countries last year on November. However, none of the governments of the three countries have ratified the deal. Trumps claim that the USMCA deal will see Mexico pay for the wall indirectly has previously been rubbished by experts. The experts argue that, after ratification, the deal will not translate into federal revenues that would be enough to pay for the wall. FactCheck: Not Really Responding to a query by fact-checking website, FactCheck, a University of Pennsylvania professor, Kent Smetters, stated that the accruing benefits from the new trade deal would not be enough to cover the maintenance costs of the wall: Relative to NAFTA, the Mexican government would not nearly lose enough tariff revenue that could be constituted as paying for the wall, at least the wall as previously envisioned by the Administration; nor would the U.S. government revenue increase enough based on a dynamic score. In fact, the additional revenue to U.S. relative to NAFTA would, optimistically, not cover annual maintenance and improvements of the wall much less the original build. Other experts also concurred with Smetters leading FactCheck to conclude that Trumps claim was false. Prior to being elected Trump severally stated that Mexico would pay for the wall directly. Story continues Its an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5- 10 billion to ensure that $24 billion continues to flow into their country year after year, reads a part of a Trump campaign document titled Pay for the Wall released in 2015. Internet Never Forgets Then, Trump indicated in a campaign position paper that there were a variety of ways that the United States could use to compel its neighbor to the south to pay for the wall: Mexico must pay for the wall and, until they do, the United States will, among other things: impound all remittance payments derived from illegal wages; increase fees on all temporary visas issued to Mexican CEOs and diplomats (and if necessary cancel them); increase fees on all border crossing cards of which we issue about 1 million to Mexican nationals each year (a major source of visa overstays); increase fees on all NAFTA worker visas from Mexico (another major source of overstays); and increase fees at ports of entry to the United States from Mexico [Tariffs and foreign aid cuts are also options]. We will not be taken advantage of anymore. Trumps tweet comes at a time when the shutdown occasioned by a failure by the U.S. Congress to allocate money for building the wall is entering its 21st day. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Trump: Mexico will Pay for Wall as USMCA is Billions of Dollars Better Than NAFTA appeared first on CCN. Donald Trump has doubled down on his threat to declare a national emergency to free up federal funds to build a wall on a visit to Texas as part of an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. When asked how soon it would be before he declare an emergency, the president said "if we don't make a deal with Congress most likely I will do that". Despite the fact any such move would bring legal challenges, Mr Trump said the law is "100 per cent on my side". He went on to call the situation at the border "a national emergency, if you look what's happening." Mr Trump did not lay out a specific timetable for when he might take the step of a declaration, saying: I think we're going to see what happens over the next few days. Critics have accused Mr Trump of "manufacturing" a border crisis to try and get the wall as part of a deal to end a partial government shutdown. Two days after delivering a televised address to the nation to make his case for a wall, and a day after he abruptly left a meeting with Democrats after they refused to pay for one, Mr Trump travelled to the city of McAllen where he signed autographs for supporters and met border agency officials. As he left the White House for his visit to Texas, Mr Trump again denied throwing a temper tantrum during the encounter with Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi a day earlier. At a roundtable meeting with community leaders and officials in McAllen, among them Texas senator Ted Cruz, the president repeated his insistence that a wall would be be built. Were going to build a powerful steel barrier. They said we dont want a concrete wall. I said thats okay, well call it a steel barrier, he said. They say this is a manufactured crisis. Thats their new sound bite ... Every network has manufactured crisis. But its not. Whats manufactured is the word manufactured. The president - who has cancelled an upcoming trip to Davos, Switzerland, because of the shutdown - also sought to address those critics who have pointed out he used to repeatedly promise Mexico would pay for any barrier. He claimed without evidence that the terms of a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada will provide the money for the wall. Story continues When I say Mexicos going to pay for the wall ... I didnt say theyre going to write me a check for $10bn or $20bn, he said. If Congress approves this trade bill, theyll pay for the wall many times over. When I say Mexicos going to lpay for the wall, thats what I mean. To see how events unfolded throughout the day, see our liveblog below This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load McALLEN People and businesses across this border city braced for the arrival of President Donald Trump on Thursday, along with the national debate over a border wall that surrounds his visit. At the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley Humanitarian Respite Center, which helps immigrants released from federal custody, families arranged bus tickets for relatives in the U.S. as children rummaged through bins of donated toys and volunteers handed out oranges. Sister Norma Pimentel, who runs the center, said around 100 migrants were there, down from a daily average of 300 to 500 in December a high average for December but still lower than previous years. Pimentel said she doesnt see the criminal migrants Trump warned about in his recent Oval Office speech and is confident Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement officials keep those criminals from entering the country. The migrants she sees on a daily basis are mostly families fleeing violence in their own countries and seeking a better life in the U.S., she said. Pimentel said she hopes Trump gets a fuller picture of the border situation from his visit. "Im hopeful he'll better understand the whole reality," Pimentel said. "I dont know if he's open to that, but I hope he is." She smiled and added: "He's always welcomed here." Trump has claimed a security and humanitarian crisis to justify his demand for $5.7 billion to extend the border wall, which has driven Washington to a partial government shutdown that has dragged on for nearly three weeks. The president walked out of a White House meeting with congressional Democrats on Wednesday. He Tweeted Thursday morning that he continues to get "great support" for his border wall stance, though opinion polls show otherwise: A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 35 percent of U.S. adults support a spending bill that includes funding for the wall, and 25 percent support Trumps shutdown. Story continues On Thursday, he plans to visit McAllen and a portion of the Rio Grande, which forms much of the border between the U.S. and Mexico. He is scheduled to receive briefings at each stop from Border Patrol agents. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. McAllen Mayor Jim Darling said the impression that the region is under siege is wrong, and that it saw far higher numbers of migrants coming across in 2014 than it has in recent months. "To me, the real crisis is that the government has not gotten together to get the real issues resolved," Darling said. Melton Castro, 23, of Honduras, said he was aware of the rhetoric from the White House and the new policies aimed at deterring immigration. But that didnt stop him from paying a smuggler $7,000 and making the 28-day journey to the U.S. with his 2-year-old son, Luis. Castro said he was receiving death threats from criminal gangs in his home country and several of his colleagues were kidnapped or killed. "We're not criminals," he said. "We come here to work, to make a better life for our sons and families." The marquee at the Cine El Rey, a 1940s-era theater-turned-music-venue in downtown McAllen, usually heralds upcoming rock bands or events. This week, it read: "WELCOME TO MCALLEN, 7TH SAFEST CITY IN AMERICA." As President Donald Trump prepares to visit this Texas border town, the marquee at the Cine El Rey, a 1940s-era theater-turned-music-venue, touts the fact that McAllen is ranked as one of the safest cities in the country. The message comes from a 2015 ranking by smartasset.com and was put up to generate discussion about Trumps visit, co-owner Bert Guerra said. Guerra said he generally wants to see the president succeed. But he feels Trump's decision to come to McAllen, a statistically safe city, to tout a perceived crisis of criminals and drugs spilling over the border is a mistake. The focus should be placed on helping Americans and immigrants live together and succeed, not dividing the two, he said. "Thats what really makes America great: caring for people who are not Americans," Guerra said. "We lose that, we lose our core values." Contributing: Alan Gomez; Beatriz Alvarado of the Corpus Christi Caller Times. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As Trump heads to border, McAllen residents ask: What crisis? WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled a planned visit later this month to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, signaling he was prepared for the political showdown over the partial federal government shutdown to stretch into late January. It was unclear whether the shutdown, now in its 20th day, would end before the start of the global economic meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 22 to 25. Trump and congressional Democrats are in a battle over funding for the government and Trump's long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. "Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," Trump wrote on Twitter. The president had told reporters at the White House earlier on Thursday that he intended to speak at the forum but would not attend if the shutdown continued. The cancellation quashes any opportunity for Trump to meet with other world leaders about economic issues, including trade. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters after a briefing with lawmakers on Capitol Hill that he was talking with the White House about whether he would still make the trip to Switzerland. "My guess is if we do continue it, it will be in a scaled-back version," Mnuchin said. The Trump administration is engaged in trade talks with the European Union and China, among others. China and the United States have agreed to a 90-day pause in implementing tariffs in order to hammer out a trade deal. China's vice president, Wang Qishan, was expected to attend the Swiss meeting, but it was unclear whether any talks had been planned between him and Trump. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Makini Brice; Writing by Lisa Lambert and Susan Heavey; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Peter Cooney) Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus A.Dapkiunas meets the Ambassador of India 10-01-2019 On January 10, 2019 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Andrei Dapkiunas, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus, Sangeeta Bahadur. During the meeting, the sides discussed topical issues of bilateral and international agenda, in particular strengthening global and regional security, nuclear non-proliferation, the fight against terrorism. Deputy Minister and the Ambassador noted the historically friendly and positive character of bilateral relations between the two countries. A.Dapkiunas emphasized the importance of sustainable and friendly engagement of all stakeholders in dialogue and cooperation within multilateral fora and mechanisms set up to strengthen the global regime of nuclear non-proliferation. In this context, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus stressed the crucial role of the regional dimension of international security, including for the region of South Asia and the European region, as an important factor of global security and strategic stability. The two sides reviewed the preparation of a number of bilateral high-level visits scheduled for 2019. A.Dapkiunas and S.Bahadur agreed to continue working together to promote the projects of trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and India, including in the areas of pharmaceutical and textile industries. A number of issues of humanitarian cooperation were also addressed at the meeting, measures to further simplify the visa regime. A.Dapkiunas expressed his hope for a possible early resolution by the Indian partners of the issues that would enable Belarusian citizens to obtain an Indian electronic visa. A.Dapkiunas and S.Bahadur discussed and noted as highly important and promising the establishment of a direct flight between Minsk and New Delhi. print version When he launched his campaign, Donald Trump argued that he would force Mexico to pay for a border wall. Now he says he obviously didnt mean it. I would build a great wall, and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me, and Ill build them very inexpensively, I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall, Trump said in his June 16, 2015 speech at Trump Tower. Mark my words. Like many of the claims in that speech, Trump did not offer specifics. But as the campaign went on, he said he would find the money by reducing the trade deficit (that wouldnt really work), convincing Mexico to pay with clever deal-making, forcing it to pay by blocking wire transfers and visas, increasing visa fees on Mexican citizens or building the wall first and convincing Mexico to reimburse the U.S. In 2016, Trump even said specifically that Mexico would be compelled to give the U.S. a one-time payment of $5 to 10 billion for the wall, both in a memo sent to reporters and in his campaign platform. But as he prepared to fly to the southern border on Thursday, Trump changed his tune, claiming, falsely, that he never said that Mexico would pay for the border wall and that he never meant that the country would literally hand the U.S. money for the wall. When during the campaign, I would say Mexico is going to pay for it, obviously, I never said this, and I never meant theyre gonna write out a check, I said theyre going to pay for it. They are, Trump said. Again, Trump did say Mexico would pay for the wall, and he did say that it would hand the U.S. money for it. Trumps latest comment about Mexico paying for the wall came just hours after White House strategic communications director Mercedes Schlapp said in a CNN interview that U.S. taxpayers will foot the bill for the wall. Yes. And you know what else taxpayers are paying for? The financial burden of this illegal immigration, Schlapp said Wednesday in response to a question about whether Americans were paying for the wall. Story continues Trumps statement also comes amid a partial government shutdown designed to coerce House Democrats into voting for $5.7 billion for a wall or steel barrier on the southern border. As president, Trump has argued that Mexico will pay for the wall indirectly through the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement, which has not been ratified. However, experts say that the new deal doesnt have any provisions to use tariff funds to build a wall and that Mexico would never agree to the treaty if it did. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Thats not the way trade agreements work, Welles Orr, who worked on the original NAFTA agreement as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs under George H.W. Bush, told TIME. Tariffs that are collected by the U.S. Treasury would fund the U.S. Treasury. The claim that Mexico would pay for the wall indirectly is at odds with the Trump campaigns most specific descriptions of how it would work. In a two-page memo released to the Washington Post and other outlets on March 31, 2016, Trump presented a detailed plan on how to compel Mexico to pay for the wall. This plan would include including implementing new trade tariffs, cancelling visas and increasing visa fees. The memo said the first step would be to block Mexican nationals who are in the U.S., legally and illegally, from wiring money back to Mexico. Trump wrote that this would prevent about $24 billion from flowing into Mexico. Its an easy decision for Mexico. Make a one-time payment of $5 $10 billion to ensure that $24 billion continues to flow into their country year after year, the memo said. Trumps campaign platform also said that the U.S. would take multiple steps to force Mexico to pay for the wall. Besides impounding remittances, the platform said that as president, he would would also increase fees for visas and border crossing cards, as well as fees at border entries. We will not be taken advantage of anymore, the platform concluded. Trump had also previously suggested other ways that Mexico could pay for the wall. In an April 2015 tweet, Trump wrote that the U.S. deduct the cost of the wall from Mexican foreign aid. Ottawa (AFP) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday accused China of ignoring a former Canadian envoy's "diplomatic immunity" when it detained him last month along with a compatriot. Michael Kovrig was arrested on December 10 in China, after taking a leave from his diplomatic posting to work for the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank. China detained former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor last month, accusing them both of activities that "endanger China's security" -- a phrase often used by Beijing when alleging espionage. Their detentions are thought to be in retaliation for Canada's arrest on a US request of Huawei vice president Meng Wanzhou, who is accused of violating Iran sanctions. "It is unfortunate that China has arbitrarily and unfairly detained two Canadian citizens, and indeed in one of the cases is not respecting diplomatic immunity," said Trudeau. "This is something that we are engaged right now both with Chinese officials and with our partners around the world where there is a concern for the need for all countries to do like Canada and to respect the rule of law and the independence of our judicial processes." It was the first public comment on Kovrig's status. Officials previously said he was on an unpaid leave from his Canadian government job. According to the Vienna Convention, persons carrying a diplomatic passport enjoy immunity when they are abroad. Trudeau's statement therefore suggests that Kovrig carried such a passport while on sabbatical, which is possible if authorized by Canada's foreign ministry. Ottawa has called -- backed by Australia, Britain, France, Germany, the European Union and the United States -- for the Canadians' immediate release. On Thurday, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia also added their voices of support for Canada. China's Ambassador to Canada Lu Shaye, in a letter to a Canadian newspaper on Wednesday, accused Ottawa and its allies of applying a "double standard" in criticizing the detentions of Kovrig and Spavor while defending Meng's arrest, attributing this to "Western egotism and white supremacy." By Sarah N. Lynch and Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. attorney general is expected to tell a Senate panel next week that he supports a new law easing prison sentences for some criminals, even though he advocated for decades for just the opposite. William Barr for much of his career championed a get-tough approach to crime that has recently lost favor, culminating last month in Trump signing into law the biggest overhaul of the criminal justice system in a generation. The First Step Act, enacted with strong bipartisan support in Congress, reduces mandatory minimum sentences for some nonviolent, low-level offenders and makes it easier for prisoners to qualify for early release to halfway houses or home confinement. Trump signed it into law just weeks after he nominated Barr, who issued a report during an earlier stint as attorney general in the 1990s called "The Case for More Incarceration." Barr is expected to say that he will support the new law when he appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for confirmation hearings next week, according to two sources familiar with his preparations. "We believe that Barr's position will be somewhat moderated when he testifies if for no other reason than that his boss (Trump) fully subscribes to the First Step approach," said Fraternal Order of Police executive director Jim Pasco, who said he had been in touch with people helping Barr prepare for the Senate hearings. The Senate, controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, is expected to confirm Barr's nomination to again head the Justice Department. OVERSHADOWED BY MUELLER Concerns about Barr's record on criminal justice have so far taken a back seat to questions about how he would handle Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign in the 2016 election. Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and Russia has said it did not meddle in the election. Story continues Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, the incoming chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he did not discuss the First Step Act when Barr visited him at his office on Wednesday. "That would have been a good question to ask him," Graham said after the meeting. But criminal justice advocates said they were working with lawmakers on the committee to make sure Barr will be questioned in detail about specific elements of the new law to ensure that he will support it. "It certainly appears he holds an old-school view of our criminal justice system, but there is an overwhelming majority of members of the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle who do not feel that way," said Holly Harris, executive director of Justice Action Network, a coalition of criminal-justice groups across the political spectrum. Another advocate, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was unlikely Trump would have nominated Barr without a commitment to support the First Step Act. 'EXTREMELY TROUBLING' Democratic Senator Cory Booker, a member of the Judiciary Committee, is among those worried that Barr's views on mass incarceration have not evolved since the 1990s, spokeswoman Kristin Lynch said. Democratic Senator Chris Coons, also a member of the panel, told Reuters in a statement he too has concerns. "I am concerned about comments that William Barr has made in the past that fail to appreciate the problems created by mass incarceration and the racial inequities in the criminal justice system," he said. "The Presidents nominee for attorney general should demonstrate in his hearing next week that he will fully and efficiently implement the First Step Act. As attorney general, Barr would be in a position to influence how prisoners would be released into halfway houses or home confinement. "It's frustrating to think we might have found one of the few people who are still stuck in the 1980s and 1990s on these issues," said Kevin Ring, head of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, which has worked to reduce minimum prison terms. Barr was attorney general in 1991-1993, a time when U.S. crime rates reached an all-time high of 758 incidents per 100,00 people. They have since fallen by nearly half, to a rate of 394 incidents per 100,000 people in 2017, according to the FBI. At that time, Barr advocated long prison sentences to keep violent criminals off the streets. "First, prisons work. Second, we need more of them," Barr's Justice Department wrote in a 1992 report. Barr maintained his get-tough stance after leaving office. Along with other former law enforcement officials, he lobbied against earlier versions of the First Step Act in 2014 and 2015. When Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions in November, Barr and two other former attorneys general penned a Washington Post opinion piece that praised Sessions for directing prosecutors to pursue the severest penalties possible. Barr's advocacy came as others were concluding that mandatory minimum sentences and other tough policies had taken too harsh a toll, especially on African-Americans and Latinos, and were costing taxpayers too much money. (Reporting by Sarah Lynch and Andy Sullivan, Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Rosalba O'Brien) As President Trump travels to Texas on Thursday to cement public support for a wall on the southern border, area landowners are vowing to fight the federal government should it invoke eminent domain to seize their property and fulfill Trumps central campaign promise. Landowner Eloisa Cavazos told the Associated Press that she wont sell her land along the Rio Grande River to the government at any price. You could give me a trillion dollars and I wouldnt take it. Its not about money, said Cavazos, whose grandmother bought the land she now owns some 60 years ago. This is heaven to us. The Trump administration has demanded $5.7 billion from Congress for the construction of 215 miles of new barrier on the southern border, 104 miles of which would cut through the Rio Grande Valley and the president has said he would ensure the barrier is continuous by seizing private property through what he called the military version of eminent domain. The declaration of eminent domain empowers the government to forcibly purchase property if it is deemed to be in the public interest. Trumps reference to military eminent domain, while difficult to interpret, seems to indicate he believes that by declaring a national emergency, he can justify seizing the land without demonstrating the seizure is in the public interest. Texans who own land along the Rio Grande are currently preparing for this eventuality by hiring attorneys, according to the AP. One such landowner is the local Roman Catholic diocese, which owns a historic chapel that sits in the so-called enforcement zone carved out for the wall. Roy Snipes, who says mass at the more than 100-year-old chapel, said the construction of a wall would constitute a desecration of sacred land. It would poison the water, Snipes said. It would still be a sacred place, but it would be a sacred place that was desecrated. More from National Review Las Vegas (AFP) - After catastrophic wildfires in southern California late last year, the Israeli startup Watergen sent in its devices which pull clean water out of the atmosphere for firefighters and relief workers. The machines, which have been deployed in other global disaster areas, were among the technologies on display at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show to highlight innovations which can be used in various kinds of relief efforts. "We clean the air because it's much easier to clean air than it is to clean water," said Yehuda Kaploun, president of Watergen USA, who was demonstrating the device at the annual Las Vegas extravaganza which ends Friday after showcasing futuristic innovations. Watergen claims its technology -- offered in a commercial-size Gen-350 and a consumer version known as Genny -- has many applications for emergency response and helping the many millions who lack potable water. The exhibits showcased a broad array of "tech for good" services which use robotics, drones, artificial intelligence and the like. - Robotic legs, treacherous terrain - The show's "Resilience Marketplace" included technology assisting with emergency preparedness and response, and panel discussions at the event also addressed these issues. CES this year also included a conference panel on how technology can help "create more resilient communities" by tackling problems including poverty, health, education, and sustainability. "Disaster recovery and public safety is an area in the drone industry experiencing exponential growth with a multitude of real-world applications," said Ben Marcus, chairman or AirMap, which allows operators to manage drones for emergency response. "When used for public safety, drones are cheaper, faster, and more effective in keeping people out of harm's way." Taiwan-based startup Uupsafety won a CES award for its technology which monitors firefighters with smart wearables that connect to command centers. Story continues Japanese automaker Honda showed its prototype autonomous work vehicle which could be used in a variety of situations including search and rescue, firefighting and snow removal. "We've been testing (the vehicle) in real-world scenarios to demonstrate the value and capabilities of this unique machine," said Honda executive Pete Wendt. Honda said it has tested the vehicle in Colorado wildfires, relieving the physical strain of firefighters carrying supplies and water, and using a mode that allowed it to autonomously follow the crews. South Korea's Hyundai went a step further, unveiling a vehicle with robotic legs to let it walk or crawl over treacherous terrain. Hyundai billed its Elevate as an unprecedented "Ultimate Mobility Vehicle" that combines technology from electric cars with robotics. "What if a car designed with robotics could save lives in disasters?" said Hyundai executive John Suh, who heads the company's Cradle arm devoted to innovation. The concept vehicle can drive at highway speeds with the legs retracted but if needed can climb over a 1.5-meter (five-foot) wall, in what the automaker called "a new paradigm of mobility." By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Blacklisted jihadist fighters tightened their grip over Syria's last major rebel-held region on Thursday after nine days of battle with Turkey-backed groups, putting a deal to prevent a massive army assault on the area in jeopardy. The northwest of Syria near the Turkish border is the last part of the country still in the hands of fighters seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad, but control has been divided between jihadist factions and other rebels backed by Turkey. On Thursday Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist group listed as terrorists by the United States, Turkey and others, forced factions from the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) to accept a peace deal recognizing civilian control by an HTS-backed administration. The success of the jihadists in recent days raises doubt over the future of a deal agreed in September between Turkey and the Assad government's main ally Russia to avert an army assault. The agreement requires banned jihadist groups to be expelled from a frontline buffer zone. Much of the Idlib enclave is now controlled by HTS, which is spearheaded by the former Syrian offshoot of al Qaeda. Under Thursday's agreement, FSA groups accepted civilian control of some towns and villages by a body known as the Salvation Government which runs basic services in the city of Idlib and many towns that fall under HTS influence. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu acknowledged on Thursday it was not "so easy" to maintain the deal with Russia, but said so far it was being "implemented successfully". "The radical groups have mounted an attack against the moderate opposition. And of course we are taking the necessary precautions," Cavusoglu said in an interview with broadcaster NTV. A rebel official close to Turkey's intelligence service said Ankara had played a key role in preventing the fighting from spreading further by pressing rebels to accept a deal. HTS's stranglehold over the area is raising fears among rebels and residents in the heavily populated province that Russian air strikes halted last year could resume. The jihadists have allowed Turkish troops to deploy along the front lines as the Russia-Turkey deal demanded, but have not pulled out of the area themselves. "The complete control of (HTS) will be a pretext for the regime and the Russians to end the Idlib deal, and this is the coming danger," said Major Youssef Hamoud, spokesman for a Turkey-backed alliance of rebels called the National Army. Some factions who fought against the jihadists under a different banner have now fled to an area under greater Turkish influence nearby. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi) Madrid (AFP) - Spain's Socialist government on Friday approved a draft 2019 budget on which it depends for survival, cozying up to Catalan separatist lawmakers whose support is key to get it through parliament. Okayed by the cabinet, the budget contains many social measures and a rise in investment in Catalonia, whose regional government wants independence but whose lawmakers in the national parliament are crucial for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority government. "This budget is good for Catalonia and therefore those who defend Catalonia should approve it," Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero told reporters, in reference to lawmakers from the northeastern region. "The (Catalan) government is constantly asking for more resources for Catalonia, and it has an opportunity in this budget. "I'm optimistic." The lower house will start examining the draft budget on Monday. Sanchez's Socialists only have 84 lawmakers out of 350 and need the support of a far-left coalition led by Podemos -- 67 seats -- as well as other lawmakers, the most crucial being the 17 Catalan separatists. These backed Sanchez's no-confidence motion against his conservative predecessor Mariano Rajoy in June, thereby helping topple and replace him. That has earned Sanchez, who has pledged to keep going until the next general elections in 2020, furious criticism that he is cuddling up to Catalonia's separatists. - Rise of the right - This time round, though, Catalan lawmakers may not be so accommodating as the mega-trial of separatist leaders who participated in the October 2017 attempt to break from Spain looms. If they don't vote for the budget, Sanchez's government will likely fall. "If there is no political response to the crux issue, the crux debate that is self-determination... there will be no budget," Marta Vilalta of the ERC separatist party, told Spanish radio Friday. Still, Catalan parties could opt for pragmatism and save the government of Sanchez to avoid early general elections that could bring the right to power. Story continues A coalition of centre-right party Ciudadanos and the conservative Popular Party (PP) has only just taken over the Socialist stronghold of Andalucia after December polls in the southern region. They did this with support from far-right party Vox, which managed to get lawmakers in a regional parliament for the first time since Spain's transition to democracy in the late 1970s. At a national level, right-leaning parties have said they would be tough on Catalan separatism and possibly take over some of the region's powers. As such, Dolors Bassa, a former regional minister who is now in pre-trial detention for her role in the separatist drive, told Catalan radio this week that "we cannot let the government of Pedro Sanchez fall." "The alternative to knocking down this government is way worse with the PP, Ciudadanos and the far right," she added, with polls suggesting these three groupings could have a majority in the national parliament if general polls were held. As the partial shutdown of the federal government inches nearer to breaking the record for the longest shutdown in history, the Trump Administration has announced stopgaps to temporarily continue some services that affect millions of Americans including tax refunds and food stamps. However, President Trump has threatened that he could keep the government closed for months or even years if he doesnt get funding to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Experts say that many more Americans will begin to feel affects if the shutdown lasts for even a few more weeks. People from every corner of American society from big businesses to families receiving government assistance could be impacted, experts warn. SNAP, also known as food stamps, is only funded through February. Many mortgage and business loan applications could begin to stall. And particularly complex tax refunds such as refunds for the Earned Income Tax Credit may take longer to process. Heres what to expect if the shutdown continues to drag on. Tax Refunds After a flurry of reports that the shutdown could stop tax refunds from going out, the Trump Administration moved to assure the taxpayers that they will receive their refunds as normal. Russell Vought, the new acting director of Office of Management and Budget (OMB), told reporters on Monday that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin to process tax returns starting on Jan. 28. The refunds will go out as normal. There is an indefinite appropriation to pay tax refunds, Vought said. The IRS said in a statement yesterday that the OMB has reviewed the law and found that the IRS can make refund payments despite the lapse in federal funding. We are committed to ensuring that taxpayers receive their refunds notwithstanding the government shutdown, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement. I appreciate the hard work of the employees and their commitment to the taxpayers during this period. Story continues Nicole Kaeding, director of federal projects at the Tax Foundation, says that the IRS will need to ask a large number of employees to come back to work without pay in order to process refund requests. Only about 10,000 of the IRSs nearly 80,000 employees are classified as exempt from a furlough under the IRSs most recent lapse plan, and its not known how many will be asked to return to work. Its not clear whats going to happen because those employees need to come back, Kaeding says. It sounds like even in the Administration its not settled. Kaeding adds that any delay would particularly impact lower income families, who typically rely more on the tax refunds and often file for refunds earlier than other taxpayers. John Buhl, a Tax Foundation spokesperson, says that there is concern that the IRS will take longer to complete more complex tasks, such as business tax returns, audits and returns with the Earned Income Tax Credit and that there wont be the same level of customer service to answer taxpayers questions and help solve problems. Theres been concern about how many resources theyre going to bring back, Buhl says. Theyll have to prioritize tasks. Food safety Food safety could be threatened if the shutdown continues, potentially boosting the likelihood of contracting illnesses such as E. coli, salmonella and norovirus. The Food and Drug Administration is not conducting routine domestic food inspections during the shutdown, though Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb is working to restore inspections of high-risk facilities that produce foods such as eggs, infant formula, soft cheeses and fresh fruits and vegetables. These high-risk inspections make up roughly a third of those conducted by the FDA in an average week, Gottlieb said. The FDA continues to conduct overseas inspections and those relating to drugs during the shutdown, while (unpaid) U.S. Department of Agriculture employees are inspecting domestic meat and poultry producers. Bill Marler, a Seattle-based food-borne illness lawyer, says its logical to assume that food-borne disease rates could climb in light of the pause in inspections. Maybe not yet, but if this limps along the way it looks like its going to, theres no question that our food supply is going to be at risk, Marler says. But even if food-borne illness rates which already affect an estimated 48 million Americans each year do increase during the shutdown, Marler says public health officials might not know it. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborate to monitor disease outbreaks so without FDAs involvement you may not know that there are outbreaks, Marler says. Small business loans If the shutdown continues, it will start to take longer for small businesses to get approved for loans. Thomas Smith, legal counsel for commercial lender RCN Capital, says businesses are starting to complain that the IRS is taking longer to process routine requests, which are necessary to take out loans. Smith says that while the slowdown has mostly caused confusion among businesses so far, he is concerned that the IRSs backlog of requests will grow as the weeks go on. If that happens, Smith says, businesses may start to miss loan deadlines. If this were to continue another two or three weeks, then I think the affect would be significant. Right now its a temporary situation, Smith says. Businesses that cant take out loans may begin to need to put off purchases of new inventory, as well as buying and selling property which could have ripple effects on the economy, Smith says. Mortgage approvals and rental assistance Lower income and first-time homebuyers and renters are also likely to feel the impact of the shutdown. Some 4.6 million receive rental assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUDs housing assistance money expired on Jan. 1. HUD sent a letter to landlords asking them not to evict HUD tenants during the shutdown but such tenants will be in danger of eviction if the government remains closed. Families with credit scores below 720 may also have difficulty obtaining mortgages. HUD has warned that the processing of closing of FHA-insured loans may be delayed. As many as 39,000 loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration or the USDAs Rural Development Loan program have already been affected by delays as of Monday, according to real estate database company Zillow. In a factsheet about budget lapses, HUD noted that will be able to conduct a very narrow range of activities while the government is shutdown and that if the shutdown continues, the housing market may be affected. With each day the shutdown continues, we can expect an increase in the impacts on potential homeowners, home sellers and the entire housing market. A protracted shutdown could see a decline in home sales, reversing the trend toward a strengthening market that weve been experiencing, HUD wrote. Food Stamps The SNAP program, which provides food assistance for about 42 million Americans, will be funded through February but there is no clear plan to fund the program if the shutdown continues into March. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced on Tuesday that a short-term funding bill will be used to keep the program funded for another month. At President Trumps direction, we have been working with the Administration on this solution. It works and is legally sound. And we want to assure states, and SNAP recipients, that the benefits for February will be provided, Perdue said. Ann Flagg, a director for the family assistance nonprofit American Public Human Services Association, says that while SNAP is a federally funded program, it is operated by the states. That means that if the federal government remains closed, states will need to figure out how to make up for the shortfall themselves. It will be a state by state decision depending on the resources they have available, Flagg says. Its a big budget hole to fill without federal resources. Flagg says that a budget shortfall would have a serious impact on the health and wellbeing of the families who receive food assistance. About 68% of SNAP participants are families with children, and 33% are in families with elderly or disabled members, according to analysis by the Center for Budget Priorities. A halt to the program would also have an enormous economic impact on farmers and small business owners who provide food through the program, Flagg says. By Joshua Franklin and Aparajita Saxena (Reuters) - Slack Technologies Inc is "seriously" considering making its stock exchange debut through a direct listing, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. The Wall Street Journal reported https://on.wsj.com/2CfAYGp earlier in the day that Slack, which operates a popular workplace instant-messaging and collaboration app, is likely to debut in the second quarter and currently expects to do so via a direct listing. The plan for a direct listing will make Slack the second big technology company after Spotify Technology SA to bypass a traditional IPO process in going public. "Slack's direct listing is an inherently less expensive way of going public, but what it really comes down to is speed," said Daniel Lugasi, a portfolio manager at Florida-based VL Capital Management. Slack declined to comment on reports of direct listing. The company is an internet-based platform that allows teams and businesses to communicate with each other. Its closest competitor is Microsoft Teams, a free chat add-on for Microsoft's Office365 users. Slack has raised around $1.2 billion in 11 funding rounds, and has 36 investors, according to data provider Crunchbase. It counts SoftBank <9434.T>, T. Rowe Price , Sands Capital Ventures, General Atlantic as its investors. Venture capital firms that have invested in Slack are "looking for an exit and with the rapid growth of Microsoft Teams, they want out fast. The direct listing provides the VCs with a quick exit and we believe this is the mitigating factor behind (Slack seeking a direct listing)," Lugasi said. Reuters reported in December that Slack had hired investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc to lead its initial public offering as an underwriter. (Reporting by Bhanu Pratap in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Maju Samuel) A 62-year-old man was hit in the head and killed while working on a helicopter at a Florida airport, authorities said Thursday. The Hernando County Sheriffs Office said deputies responded to an incident near the hangars at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport on Thursday. Authorities said that two men were using a power cart to jumpstart a helicopter when, for an unknown reason, the chopper suddenly jerked up and came down. The helicopter's motion caused the main rotor blades to strike one of the men in the head, killing him instantly, the sheriff's office said in a statement. Authorities identified the man as Salvatore Disi. At a news conference, Sheriff Al Nienhuis said there was no immediate sign of foul play. He added that his office had contacted the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "Obviously a death that is a little bit unusual ... and we want to make sure we have all the answers," said Nienhuis, WFLA-TV reported. "It's tragic that those individuals are not going to be able to give their loved one a hug again." The incident remains under investigation. More: Newlyweds killed in helicopter crash while leaving their wedding in Texas Also: New York helicopter crash kills 2 utility workers Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sheriff: Helicopter blades struck, killed man at Florida airport By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Treasury Board President Scott Brison, a senior member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet, said on Thursday he would quit, a move that will deprive the ruling Liberals of a political veteran as they gird for a tightly contested federal election this October. Brison, Canada's first openly gay cabinet minister, announced his decision on Twitter, saying he wants to spend more time with his young family after 22 years in politics. As head of the Treasury Board, Brison, 51, is in overall control of public spending. Although he did not specify when he intended to leave his post, a spokesman said it would be soon. In a tweet of thanks, Trudeau called Brison "a tireless champion" for Canada. Trudeau will carry out a shuffle on Monday to replace Brison, a spokeswoman for the prime minister said. Brison also said he would not run in the October election. He represents a Parliamentary constituency in Atlantic Canada, where the Liberals won all 32 seats in the 2015 election that brought them to power. Brison and his husband have twin four-year-old daughters. He was first elected as a legislator for the right-leaning Progressive Conservatives in 1997 but switched to the Liberals in 2003. His departure could also spare the Liberals some political awkwardness, since he is due to be a key witness in the August trial of an admiral who has been accused of leaking information about a contract to build navy supply ships. Last October Brison denied allegations that he privately lobbied cabinet colleagues on behalf of a major shipbuilder in his home province of Nova Scotia. Brison's spokesman said the decision to leave politics had nothing to do with the trial. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by David Gregorio) Sempra Energy SRE recently announced that its subsidiary Southern California Gas Company was awarded $1.7 million in funding from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). The amount has been granted for a couple of projects to lower emissions in residential and commercial buildings. Details of the Deal The company will provide a commercial water heating incentive program that offers rebates to distributors selling ultra-low emission water heaters. Also, the awarded money will be utilized to build a 1.5-kilowatt (KW) fuel cell in a new, mixed fuel, zero-net-energy home. Per California Air Resources Board (CARB), residential and commercial buildings account for about 12% of the state's greenhouse gas emissions. In the last five years, Southern California Gas energy efficiency programs saved more than 146 million therms, enough to power 326,000 households a year, and have reduced emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 165,000 passenger cars off the road. Sempra Energys Take on Emission The company was conferred with $1.2 million from the AQMD for midstream commercial water heating incentive program. Through this program, the company aims to deploy about 1,000 ultra-low emission commercial water heating boilers, space heating boilers and tankless water heaters across its service territory. Also, the company inked a $0.5-million deal for a residential fuel cell and solar power storage demonstration project. It is working with a homebuilder to install a 1.5 KW fuel cell in a new, mixed fuel, zero-net-energy home, located within the service territory. Looking Ahead Sempra Energy is expected to expand its footprint in energy infrastructure by constructing new liquid fuels projects in Mexico. The company announced that it has secured long-term contracts for storage at both its liquid fuel marine terminals in Mexico. The two terminals are likely to come online during the second half of 2020. In March 2018, Sempra Energy completed the acquisition of Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC for $9.5 billion in cash. In a bid to broaden and reinforce its transmission and distribution network, Sempra Energy decided to support Oncor's plan of investing capital worth $10.5 billion for a five-year period. This, in turn, will enhance Sempra Energys service territory, widening opportunities to earn more profit. Also, the company continues with systematic investments in infrastructure development projects. For the 2018-2020 period, it expects to incur a capex and make investments of approximately $15.2 billion including $12.3 billion for California Utilities and $2.9 billion for other subsidiaries regarding the funding of capital projects in Mexico and South America along with developing LNG projects. Through these investments, the company aims at vigorously modernizing its electric transmission lines and substation infrastructure. Price Performance Shares of Sempra Energy have outperformed the industry in the past 12 months. The stock has rallied 7.3% compared with its industrys rise of 4.1%. Story continues Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider Sempra Energy currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other top-ranked stocks in the same sector include American Water Works Company, Inc. AWK, Southwest Gas Corporation SWX and Spire Inc. SR, each carrying a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. American Water Works delivered average positive surprise of 4.44% in the last four reported quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has inched 0.6% up to $3.51 in the past 60 days. Southwest Gas came up with average beat of 31.31% in the trailing four reported quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has been revised 1% upward to $4.04 in the past 60 days. Spire pulled off average beat of 14.37% in the trailing four reported quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 earnings has been raised 1.1% to $3.75 in the past 60 days. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will miss oral arguments again next week but is now cancer-free, the Supreme Court announced Friday. Post-surgery evaluation indicates no evidence of remaining disease, and no further treatment is required, said Supreme Court spokesperson Kathleen Arberg in a statement, which noted that Ginsburg is on track in her recovery from surgery to remove two cancerous spots in her left lung. The cancer was discovered during tests after a fall she took in November that broke three of her ribs. This week, Ginsburg missed oral arguments at the Court for the first time in her over 25 years as a justice. She will work from home again next week and make decisions using briefs and transcripts of oral arguments. The famously resilient justice survived colorectal cancer in 1999 and pancreatic cancer in 2009 and over the summer said she planned to serve at least five more years on the court. Her health has remained a subject of intense speculation among Court-watchers, given the possibility that she could vacate her seat and give conservatives a chance to grow their fivefour majority of justices. More from National Review The magnetic North pole is moving and fast (Picture: Getty) The magnetic North Pole is moving so fast that scientists are having to urgently update maps used by navigation systems. According to science journal Nature, the magnetic North Pole is moving away from Canada towards Siberia so quickly it is forcing urgent revisions of magnetic models used to guide navigation. The current version of the World Magnetic Model, which is used by geopositioning systems that help everything from ships to smartphone maps, was originally expected to be valid until 2020. But scientists realised that it had to be fixed urgently and are now due to update it on January 30 a move that was delayed due to the current US Government shutdown. The magnetic pole is moving so quickly that it has forced the worlds geomagnetism experts into a rare move, Naturereported. They realised that it was so inaccurate that it was about to exceed the acceptable (safe) limit for navigational errors. The magnetic north pole is shifting so quickly, maps are having to be updated (Picture: World Data Center for Geomagnetism/Kyoto University) Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the British Geological Survey regularly check on how the Earths magnetic field moves, but recently it has picked up speed reportedly moving at a rate of around 55km a year. The error is increasing all the time, Arnaud Chulliat, geomagnetist at the University of Colorado Boulder and the NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information, told Nature. MORE: Less than half of failed asylum seekers are removed from the UK, report claims MORE: Watch this dogs incredible transformation It is not known why its movements are changing erratically, though some scientists reportedly put it down to molten iron underneath Canada. According to Nature, Phil Livermore of the University of Leeds told an American Geophysical Union meeting: The location of the north magnetic pole appears to be governed by two large-scale patches of magnetic field, one beneath Canada and one beneath Siberia. The Siberian patch is winning the competition. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and called for help on Twitter as Thai officials tried to deport her back to Saudi Arabia - REUTERS A Saudi woman who fled to Thailand fearing her family would kill her has been granted asylum by Canada, Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, confirmed on Friday. On Friday night Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, was said to be en route to Canada, where she would be granted asylum. "Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," Mr Trudeau said. "When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant Miss al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted." Ms al-Qunun boarded a flight from Bangkok to Toronto via Seoul on Friday night, immigration chief Surachate Hakpark said. "Canada has granted her asylum," Mr Surachate told Reuters ahead of her departure. "She'll leave tonight at 11.15 pm Ms al-Qunun was stopped at a Bangkok airport last Saturday by Thai immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun speaks in a social media post, from her room in a Bangkok hotel She accused her family of abuse, and refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try and take her back to Saudi Arabia. While barricading herself in an airport hotel room, she launched a social media campaign via her Twitter account that drew global attention to her case. It garnered enough public and diplomatic support to convince Thai officials to admit her temporarily under the protection of UN officials. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees granted her refugee status on Wednesday. Her case drew global attention to Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families. Several Saudi women fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years, and have been forcibly returned home. Human rights activists say many similar cases have gone unreported. More than 3,700 people signed a petition requesting safe syringe disposal boxes in Starbucks bathrooms, citing fears about contracting injecting diseases like HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) Starbucks employees are worried about the danger of being stuck with used syringes discarded in store bathrooms. More than 3,700 people had signed a petition requesting safe syringe disposal in the stores bathrooms as of Friday. The petition cited fear of exposure to infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B, should a Starbucks employee accidentally come in contact with a used needle while cleaning the bathroom or emptying the trash something multiple employees have reported happening. Starbucks installed safe syringe disposal boxes in all of its Seattle stores last year, and is now responding to employee concerns by exploring rolling them out to more locations. At the end of the day, we want to make sure that our partners are safe, Starbucks spokesperson Reggie Borges said. I dont think this is a problem unique to Starbucks, he added. I think a lot of retail business are dealing with this. Dr. Alysse Wurcel, an attending infectious disease physician at Tufts Medical Center, praised the needle-disposal box rollout, saying she absolutely thinks there should be needle boxes in the stores bathrooms. The people working at Starbucks didnt go into this job thinking of these health exposure risks, said Wurcel, whose job includes responding to alerts that a patient might have been exposed to an infectious disease from a discarded needle. While the boxes will undoubtedly help Starbucks employees to feel safer at work, health experts say the risk of contracting those diseases from an accidental needle poke is low. In medical school, we were taught that its the law of threes, said Dr. Joshua Barocas, an assistant professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. An unvaccinated person who is stuck with a contaminated syringe would have a 30 percent chance of contracting hepatitis B, a 3 percent chance of contracting hepatitis C and a 0.3 percent chance of contracting HIV, he explained. And even those figures come with caveats, Barocas noted. HIV notoriously does not survive outside of the body for very long, he said. It doesnt hang out on needles. Story continues Hepatitis C virus, which is about 10 times more infectious than HIV, survives longer outside of the body. In the case of either virus, however, immediate exposure to a contaminated syringe from sharing needles while injecting drugs, for example poses a greater risk than coming in contact with a needle thats been sitting in a trash can. The law of threes estimates are based on hospital needlestick data where the blood is fresh, said Robert Heimer, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. Unlike when intravenous drug users share needles, the average person wont immediately come in contact with a discarded syringe. There is no measurable risk, Heimer concluded about encountering a used needle in a coffee shop bathroom long after it was discarded. While infectious HIV and [hepatitis C] can be recovered from inside the barrel of syringe, the amount on the outside is minuscule, he said. Even if there is any, the virus is likely to be quickly inactivated. Minuscule or not, Dan Ciccarone, professor of family and community medicine at the University of California, San Francisco said he thinks the risk of accidental exposure is real. Ciccarone said he was concerned about both hepatitis C and HIV at a population level, noting that accidents happen along the way. The only argument against [sharps boxes] is that HIV and hepatitis C are under control, he said. Thats not necessarily the case. New hepatitis C cases more than tripled between 2010 and 2016, with an estimated 41,000 new cases occurring in 2016 alone. Most of those new infections were linked to injection drug use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And HIV outbreaks linked to injection drug use in Massachusetts last year and in Scott County, Indiana, a few years prior, are signs that HIV still has the potential to return in places where risk factors like injection drug use, fentanyl prevalence and lack of health services align. Barocas stressed the value of sharps containers in making workers feel protected by their employers. If an employee feels like this is a safety issue, then there is no downside, he said. Beyond immediate concerns about employee safety, the wider public health context of used needles in retail bathrooms is that people who use drugs are turning to Starbucks because they dont have a safe place to inject or dispose of used needles. Its sad that we have to have people injecting in bathrooms, Wurcel said. Its a symptom of a larger problem. In general, if someone is accidentally pricked by a needle, they should go to the emergency department or call their doctor to assess their risk of infection. Depending on the situation, a health care professional can help determine whether further treatment, like testing or post-exposure medication, is needed. For used needles spotted on the ground, people should call public works or the police department about proper disposal, or the facility management of whatever space they are in. If theres one needle, then there are likely more, so a larger local government clean up effort might be needed, Barocas said. Related Coverage Could Prescription Heroin Help Stem Opioid Deaths In The U.S.? Almost All Overdose Deaths Involve Multiple Drugs, Federal Report Shows Obamacare Is One Of The Best Tools We Have In Solving The Opioid Crisis Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Finish this article for as low as $1 when you purchase a day pass. Just click the sign up button to purchase. If you are already a subscriber, just click log in to continue reading. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Thursday that President Donald Trump should declare a national emergency and bypass Congress to fund a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "refusal to negotiate on funding for a border wall/barrier - even if the government were to be reopened - virtually ends the congressional path to funding for a border wall/barrier," Graham said in a statement. "It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier," he said. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by David Alexander) The board of French automaker Renault on Thursday said an ongoing audit into executive pay had found no sign of fraud in the last two years, as CEO Carlos Ghosn could face fresh charges in Japan. Directors gave no hint in their statement of any deliberations into Ghosn's future at Renault, as Japanese prosecutors reportedly prepare to press new formal charges likely to keep the once-towering auto boss behind bars. The Renault meeting comes two days after Ghosn made his first court appearance over alleged financial impropriety during his years as head of the carmaker's alliance partner Nissan. Renault's board said an independent review had looked into the compensation of the group's executive committee during the financial years 2017 and 2018 "and has concluded that it is both in compliance with applicable laws and free from any fraud". But the board statement added that the audit would continue, with previous years scrutinised as it progresses. Ghosn, who has been Renault CEO since 2005, has been languishing in a Tokyo detention centre for more than 50 days as he fights multiple allegations of financial misconduct. The 64-year-old has been formally charged with under-declaring his income by tens of millions of dollars in an apparent bid to quash accusations he was overpaid. He also faces questioning in connection with alleged attempts to transfer personal investment losses to Nissan and making unnecessary payments to a Saudi associate from company funds. Ghosn's requests Tuesday to be released before trial were rejected by a judge who declared he was a flight risk. One of his lawyers later conceded that Ghosn could spend a further six months behind bars before his case comes to trial. Japanese media reports have suggested new charges could be levied against him on Friday, which could ensure he remains jailed. He may be accused of understating his salary from 2015 to 2018, three years more than the original charge that he under-reported some five billion yen ($44 million) in income over five years from 2010. Story continues He could also face charges for breach of trust, reports say. The claims have heightened worries over the viability of keeping him on as Renault's chief executive. - New revelations - French daily Le Figaro reported Thursday that the board meeting was one of several informal gatherings held regularly since Ghosn's arrest to discuss developments in the case. Nissan said earlier that its board had also met Thursday, when directors had received "an updated report" on its own investigations into Ghosn's alleged misconduct. Nissan last weekend put two executives close to Ghosn on leave of absence, suggesting that the internal investigation into the alleged misconduct could be spreading. Jose Munoz, the chief performance officer, and human resources head Arun Bajaj have not been replaced during their absences. Nissan as well as Mitsubishi, the third alliance partner, have removed Ghosn as chairman, but Renault has kept him on while appointing a deputy CEO to ensure day-to-day management. The French automaker has said internal investigations have found no signs of wrongdoing by its chief during his tenure. But pressure on Ghosn rose further Thursday after French daily Liberation reported that he had not been paying French income taxes since 2012, after moving his fiscal residency to the Netherlands. Both Renault and the French economy ministry declined to comment, but it was an unwelcome revelation for the head of a company in which the French state owns a 15-percent stake. "The leader of a French company should pay his taxes in France," President Emmanuel Macron said in a speech last month. - Chance of bail? - Japanese media, citing Ghosn's lawyers, said Thursday that he was suffering from a high fever and unable to meet investigators for questioning. At his dramatic court appearance on Tuesday, Ghosn appeared to have lost a lot of weight in detention but otherwise seemed in good health. "I have been wrongly accused and unfairly detained based on meritless and unsubstantiated accusations," the once-revered car titan told the court. In a career spanning decades, during which he won praise for turning around a struggling Nissan, he said he had "always acted with integrity" and had never before been accused of any wrongdoing. But afterwards Ghosn's lawyer said it would be "very difficult" to win bail and it could be months before his case is heard. The French government has stood by Ghosn so far, saying he must benefit from the presumption of innocence. But Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne told French radio this week that "obviously, if this situation continues we'll have to draw the consequences." Justin Trudeau has confirmed that Canada will grant asylum to a Saudi Arabian teenager fleeing alleged family abuse. Thailands immigration police chief earlier said that Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun had left Bangkok on a flight to South Korea, with a final destination of Toronto. That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for womans rights around the world, Mr Trudeau said. I can confirm that we have accepted the UNs request. Ms al-Qunun was stopped last Saturday in Thailand, when immigration police seized her passport and refused her entry. She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and launched a social media campaign, drawing global attention to her desperate pleas for asylum. The teenager said that she escaped during a trip to Kuwait and that her life would be in danger if she was forced to return to her family in Saudi Arabia. The viral campaign caused Thai officials to temporarily admit the teenager to the county, under the protection of UN officials. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees granted Ms al-Qunun refugee status on Wednesday. Officials in Bangkok said that several countries, including Canada and Australia, had earlier been in talks with the UN to accept the young woman as a refugee. She chose Canada. Its her personal decision, Thailand police chief Surachate Hakparn said, adding that Ms al-Qunun thanked everyone who had helped her. She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be travelling back tonight as well ... They are disappointed, he said. The teenagers case has once again highlighted the lives of women in Saudi Arabia, a deeply conservative country where they have limited rights. Several Saudi women attempting to flee abuse from their families have been caught and returned home. Canadas decision to offer Ms al-Qunun asylum could further damage the countrys links with Saudi Arabia. Story continues Relations between the countries have deteriorated after Canadas Foreign Ministry tweeted support for womens right activists arrested in the kingdom. In response Saudi Arabia expelled Canadas ambassador to the kingdom and sold Canadian investments. Additional reporting by agencies Shares of Puma Biotechnology, Inc. PBYI have witnessed a sharp decline in the past three months. In fact, the biotech companys stock has plunged 41.5%, wider than the industrys decline of 4.6%. The companys sole marketed drug, Nerlynx (neratinib), was launched in the United States in July 2017 for treating early stage HER2-positive breast cancer in patients, previously treated with Roches RHHBY Herceptin-based adjuvant therapy. Last September, the European regulatory body gave a marketing approval to Nerlynx for the same indication. In the first nine months of 2018, Nerlynx generated sales of $139.4 million. However, the metric fell below management expectations in third-quarter 2018 due to higher patient discontinuation. On third-quarter conference call, the company stated that the percentage of patients, who stopped taking Nerlynx due to adverse events, has risen significantly since the second quarter of 2018. This hurt investors sentiments and induced a considerable stock price decline over the given time period. Estimates are low for the improvement of Nerlynx sales ahead of the Q4 earnings results. Puma Biotech is expected to report fourth-quarter 2018 and full-year earnings figures in March. Puma Biotech plans to commercialize Nerlynx in Europe during 2019, starting with a launch in Germany during the first half of this year, followed by other European countries in the second. Apart from the HER2-positive breast cancer indication, Puma Biotech believes that Nerlynx holds great potential for treating multiple cancers including NSCLC and other tumor types, which over-express or have a mutation in HER2. Several additional assessments on Nerlynx targeting different types of breast cancer patient population and in earlier-line settings are currently underway. Last month, Puma Biotech announced top-line results from the phase III NALA study, evaluating Nerlynx for the treatment of third-line hormone receptor-positive (HER2-positive) metastatic breast cancer. Story continues The NALA program probed a combination of Nerlynx with Roches Xeloda (capecitabine) as compared to Novartis' NVS Tykerb (lapatinib) plus Xeloda in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, who have failed two or more prior lines of HER2-directed therapies. Findings from the study showed that patients, who received Nerlynx + Xeloda, experienced a statistically significant improvement in centrally confirmed progression free survival (PFS) compared with those administered with Tykerb + Xeloda. However, the combo regime of Nerlynx + Xeloda led to an improved overall survival (OS) rate but was unable achieve a statistical significance. This hit the stock price further. If Puma Biotech gets an approval to include the NALA study outcome on Nerlynxs label, it will be eligible to address a broader breast cancer population. The company has no approved product in its portfolio other than Nerlynx at this moment. Hence, due to the lack of a strong pipeline, the company is totally dependent on Nerlynx for growth. As a result, any kind of development or a regulatory setback could affect the companys growth prospects as well as the stock price substantially. Although the HER2-positive breast cancer market has immense commercial potential, it is still evident that Nerlynx will face intense competition from various approved drugs for the same indication. Such medicines include Roches Perjeta and Kadcyla, Glaxos Tykerb, Lillys LLY Verzenio and Novartis' Kisqali. Additionally, quite a few companies are working to introduce treatments to the market targeting this disease. Puma Biotechnology, Inc. Price Puma Biotechnology, Inc. Price | Puma Biotechnology, Inc. Quote Zacks Rank Puma Biotech currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Warsaw (AFP) - Poland said Friday it had arrested a Chinese telecoms executive suspected of spying for China, with local media identifying him as a Huawei director. The move is the latest setback for Huawei, which saw the arrest of the daughter of the firm's founder in Canada and US efforts to blacklist the company internationally over security concerns. The Chinese foreign ministry told AFP it was "highly concerned" by the arrest. Huawei said in a terse statement that it was "aware of the situation" and "looking into it". The Polish announcement comes weeks after Canada arrested Huawei vice president Meng Wanzhou, who is accused of violating Iran sanctions. Huawei, which was founded by a former Chinese army engineer, is also facing increased scrutiny over its alleged links to Chinese intelligence services. Countries like the United States, Australia and Japan have blocked Huawei from building their next-generation, super-fast 5G internet networks. In December, a Czech cyber-security agency warned against using the software and hardware of Huawei and fellow Chinese company ZTE, saying they posed a threat to state security. A Polish man "known in the IT sector" was also arrested for alleged espionage along with the Chinese citizen "who is a businessman working for an important telecommunications firm," said Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Poland's special services, quoted by the PAP news agency. The investigation "had been going on for a while, and had been handled with great care." EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic refused to "speculate" when asked Friday if there were any concerns about Chinese retaliation. "We are aware of the reports and we will be indeed in touch with the Polish authorities for further information," she told reporters. - Cyber-security expert - The men were arrested on Tuesday and are suspected of having "worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland," said Polish special services spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn. Story continues According to local media, the Chinese businessman is believed to be a director of the Polish branch of Huawei. Zaryn identified him as Weijing W and the Polish suspect as Piotr D. He said their apartments and workplaces were searched, adding that the Polish suspect had worked "for several state institutions". Polish media identified Piotr D as a former agent for Poland's ABW counter-intelligence service and current cyber-security consultant for the Polish branch of French mobile phone provider Orange. Orange Polska spokesman Wojciech Jabczynski told AFP that "ABW officials carried out items belonging to one of our employees on Tuesday." "We have no information as to whether this is at all related to his work duties." - Security risk - The arrest comes just over a month after Canada detained Meng on a US extradition request, a move that infuriated China which warned Canada of "serious consequences". Chinese authorities then detained two Canadians - a former diplomat and a business consultant - on suspicion of endangering national security. Britain's largest mobile provider BT said last month it would remove Huawei equipment from its cellular network after the foreign intelligence service called the company a security risk. Australia and New Zealand have also enacted similar bans, leaving Canada the only country in the "Five Eyes" intelligence network not to take steps against the Chinese firm. Last month, a senior EU official warned that the bloc should be "worried" about Huawei and other Chinese firms. "They have to cooperate with their intelligence services. And this is about mandatory backdoors," European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip told reporters. He said he has long opposed such backdoors where the firm may use chips to obtain secrets from customers. "It's not a good sign when companies have to open their systems for some kind of secret services," he said. Meng is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei. Her arrest sparked a surge of patriotism in China with companies encouraging staff to buy Huawei smartphones. Huawei in December said it expects to see a 21 percent rise in revenue for 2018 despite what it called "unfair treatment" around the world. Last year the company also said it had signed memorandums of understanding for 5G equipment with 45 operators in Asia, Europe and North America. burs-via-amj/ach Warsaw (AFP) - Poland said Friday it had arrested a Chinese businessman suspected of spying for China, with local media identifying him as a Huawei director. The announcement comes weeks after Canada arrested Huawei vice president Meng Wanzhou, who is accused of violating Iran sanctions. The Chinese telecommunications giant is also facing increased scrutiny over its alleged links to Chinese intelligence services. Countries like the United States, Australia and Japan have blocked Huawei from building their next-generation, super-fast 5G internet networks. A Polish man was also arrested for alleged espionage along with the Chinese citizen "who is a businessman working for an important telecommunications firm," said Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Poland's special services, quoted by the PAP news agency. The two men were arrested on Tuesday and are suspected of having "worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland," said Polish special services spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn. According to local media, the Chinese businessman is believed to be one of the directors of the Polish branch of Huawei. The media outlets add that the Polish suspect is thought to be a former agent for Poland's ABW counter-intelligence service who is now working as a cyber-security consultant for the Polish branch of French mobile phone provider Orange. By Marta Nogueira and Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The new chief executive of Brazil's Petroleo Brasileiro SA is pushing for the ouster of two of the state-controlled oil company's board members, three people with knowledge of the matter said on Friday. Roberto Castello Branco is seeking the resignation of two Petrobras board members, Segen Estefen and Durval Soledade, whose mandates were only supposed to end in 2020. Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico was first to report that Castello Branco was pushing for their exit. The people, who asked for anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said that if the board members do not agree to resign, the government can call for a shareholders' meeting to elect new board members. One of the sources said the pressure for the directors' resignation is viewed within Petrobras as a threat to corporate governance rules approved as the company sought to shield the company from undue political influence. Such influence was found to be a big factor in the kickbacks and graft uncovered at Petrobras in Brazil's largest ever corruption probe. A second source said both board members were frequently at odds with Castello Branco's enemies when he worked at the company in 2015 and 2016. Chairman Nelson Guedes and board member Francisco Petros resigned earlier in January, and Jeronimo Antunes was appointed as interim chairman last week. Valor Economico also reported that the pressure to oust the board members was related to a "transfer-of-rights" dispute with the government, worth billions of dollars and related to a promising offshore oil area. None of the sources who spoke to Reuters confirmed that version of events. With the departure of Estefen and Santos, the new government would designate four of 11 board members at Petrobras, given the recent resignation of two other board members. Petrobras did not reply to requests for comment. Story continues In the past, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes has railed against the state's outsized role in the Brazilian economy, even proposing that Petrobras and other state-run firms be privatized or split up. Preferred shares of Petrobras were down 1.2 percent in late afternoon trading, compared with a more than the 0.15 percent decline in the benchmark Bovespa stock index <.BVSP>. Earlier this week, Petrobras said the country's audit court was analyzing a potential $14 billion government payment to the company to settle the transfer of rights issue. The Economy Ministry has denied that the final settlement will be that high. (Additional reporting by Tatiana Bautzer in Sao Paulo; Editing by Frances Kerry and Marguerita Choy) WASHINGTON IRS tax examiner Lori McLaurin is used to hearing from people in a financial bind who are looking for help. But the single mother now finds herself among their ranks thanks to the partial government shutdown thats left her furloughed and without a paycheck. I hear a lot of stories, McLaurin said, at one point choking back tears. I dont know how they got into their situation. But this one right here, it wasnt my doing. For McLaurin and thousands of other federal employees across the country, Friday is the day when the partial federal government shutdown officially hits their pocketbooks. It was supposed to be payday. But paychecks are on hold for some 800,000 federal employees forced to go on unpaid leave or work without pay since Dec. 22 because of the government shutdown. Its the first time during the 21-day shutdown which on Saturday will become the longest in U.S. history that workers will have missed a paycheck. Though the standoff is nearing its fourth week, most federal employees were paid on Dec. 28 for the final two-week pay period of 2018. Now, with no paycheck coming in the foreseeable future, many are wondering how they will make ends meet. When they say, one paycheck away from homeless, Im not there, but Im real close. And its disturbing, said McLaurin, a 28-year IRS veteran who works out of the agencys Philadelphia office. The uncertainty caused by the shutdown has left many workers anxious, confused and frustrated, said Ryan Baugh, a furloughed statistician in the Office of Immigration Statistics in the Department of Homeland Security and a steward for the American Federation of Government Employees union. We just dont know when it will be over, so we dont know how to plan, Baugh said. Should we cut back? Should we start looking for other jobs? Should we apply for unemployment? Steve Reaves, a furloughed fire safety official for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said his wife works as a sales manager in the private sector and started taking on extra hours in early December so they could pay their mortgage in the event of a shutdown. Story continues She didnt get to spend as much time with the family during the holidays, said Reaves, who lives in Arlington, Texas, and is president of AFGE Local 4060. Because FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security, furloughed employees cant get moonlighting jobs without approval from their supervisors, Reaves said. The problem is the managers have been furloughed, he said. Its like a catch-22. You cant go out and get a new job to make ends meet. McLaurin, too, is worried about making the next mortgage payment on the house she shares with her college-aged daughter. On Thursday, she boarded a bus with nearly 100 employees out of the Philadelphia IRS office and traveled to Washington to rally near the White House with other displaced federal workers represented by the National Treasury Employees Union. On the same bus was Horatio Fenton, a contact representative for the IRS who lives in Lumberton, N.J. After decades of paying his bills on time, Fenton is worried about making his utility and mortgage payments as well. Soon hell be filing for unemployment for the first time since he joined the federal government 25 years ago. Weve had furloughs before, but Ive never had to file for unemployment because it was always assumed it would be short term and youd be back to work, Fenton said. But this ones a little different. Both sides are dug in, and were paying the cost for that. Im not sure if theres an end to this. In Washington, Democrats and Republicans profess empathy with the impacted workers. These families, many of them veterans, are not able to meet their mortgage payment, their rent payment, their car payment, harming their own credit ratings, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., placing the blame on Trump for triggering the shutdown with his demand for funding to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps insistence on $5.7 billion in border wall funding has been the main sticking point in a budget standoff that led to the government shutdown. The president doesnt appreciate the role of public policy in the lives of the American people, Pelosi said. For his part, Trump said earlier this week that he can relate to the pain of federal workers who cant pay their bills. But, Im sure that people that are on the receiving end will make adjustments, he said. They always do. The billionaire presidents words ring hollow to McLaurin and other federal employees. He says a lot of things, but he doesnt have real accountability for what he says, she said. How can you relate when youve been born with so much? FBI agents added their voices to the thousands of federal employees Thursday calling for an end to the government shutdown, asserting that the bureau's diminished resources put national security and investigative operations at risk. An estimated 5,000 of the bureaus 35,000 agents, analysts, lawyers and other personnel have been furloughed, limiting support for some surveillance and laboratory operations, said Thomas O'Connor, president of the FBI Agents Association. With the agency and the rest of the federal government facing the prospect of missing a paycheck Friday, O'Connor said the burden could weigh most heavily on agents who are required to meet their financial obligations to maintain security clearances necessary for their work. "Financial security is national security," O'Connor told reporters, adding that the ongoing shutdown was "entering uncharted territory" as the longest suspension of government operations in history. In a petition to lawmakers and other government leaders, the agents group said the personal financial disruption "could even disqualify agents from continuing to serve in some cases" because of the potential damage to their clearance status. FEMA workers also are freaked out that their security clearances could be in jeopardy, Reaves said. They are afraid that because they are not able to pay their bills in a timely manner, it will affect their (security) clearance investigation, he said. And if it affects their clearance investigation and they cant get a clearance, they lose their jobs. I cant appeal that. I cant take that to court. Other employees who continue to work without pay include thousands of air-traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration and tens of thousands of checkpoint screeners at the Transportation Security Administration. Even before the shutdown, the number of air-controllers had dropped from a peak of 11,753 in 2012 to 10,483 in September 2018, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a union representing the workers. Overtime in the form of six-day weeks and 10-hour days is common at many of the nations busiest and most short-staffed facilities, including radar facilities in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas, said Paul Rinaldi, an air-traffic controller who is president of the union. And none of the controllers forced to work during this shutdown will see pay for their hard work to keep travelers safe until the shutdown ends, Rinaldi said. This shutdown must end now. Two unions representing federal workers AFGE and the National Treasury Employees Union have filed suit, arguing that the government is violating federal law by forcing some employees to work without pay during the shutdown. The affected workers could eventually get back pay once the shutdown is over, but thats not guaranteed since it would require an act of Congress. People feel like they are caught between a rock and a hard place, Baugh said, adding that many believe they are being used as leverage in a political battle that has nothing to do with their jobs. Theres a real sense of disbelief, he said. People never thought this would go on this long. More: Exclusive: Pentagon preparing options to build border wall as Trump weighs emergency declaration More: Government shutdown: Pelosi says Trump prefers 'soap opera' over serious negotiations More: 'I live paycheck to paycheck': Federal workers rally for their jobs at White House This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paychecks for thousands of federal workers on hold as government shutdown nears fourth week ASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguayan President Mario Abdo said on Thursday he was cutting diplomatic ties with Venezuela and was immediately withdrawing his country's diplomats from Caracas. Abdo made the announcement just minutes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn into a new term in office. Maduro has shrugged off global criticism that his leadership is illegitimate due to last year's disputed election. "There are no bad consequences when defending just causes," Abdo said in a television address. "The cause of liberty and democracy is a just cause." (Reporting by Mariel Cristaldo,; Writing by Ross Colvin; Editing by Hugh Bronstein) Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian woman during protests along the Gaza border Friday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said. Spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP the woman was shot in the head east of Gaza City. Qudra named her as Amal al-Taramsi, 43, saying she was the third woman to die in months of clashes that have seen at least 241 Palestinians killed. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to the specific incident but said around 13,000 Palestinians had taken part in violent "riots" in multiple sites along the border. "The rioters have burned tyres and hurled blocks, explosive devices and grenades towards (Israeli) troops and at the Gaza Strip security fence," an army spokeswoman said. Troops were responding "in accordance with standard operating procedures", she said. The army later struck two positions belonging to Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas, it said. A Hamas security source said there were no injuries. An AFP journalist said several thousand protesters gathered east of Gaza City, with stronger clashes than in recent weeks. Protesters tried to destroy a barbed wire fence near the border and Israeli forces responded with gunfire and teargas. At least 25 other Palestinians received gunshot wounds, al-Qudra said in a statement. At least once a week since March, Palestinians have taken part in often violent protests with backing from Hamas. Most of the Palestinians killed were shot in weekly clashes, but others have been hit by tank fire or airstrikes. In June, a female Palestinian medical volunteer was shot dead in border clashes. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period, one by a Palestinian sniper and another during an aborted special forces operation inside Gaza. Protests have calmed in recent months amid an informal truce between Israel and Hamas. Under the unwritten agreement, Israel has allowed Qatar to provide money and fuel to Hamas's government in Gaza in exchange for relative calm. Story continues An expected delivery of new funds by Qatar did not arrive this week, sparking speculation Israel was holding it up. Also Friday, a Palestinian man "attempted to stab IDF troops" stationed near the hardline West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, adjacent to the southern city of Hebron, according to the Israeli army. "The troops and a civilian who was at the scene fired towards the assailant," who was wounded by the gunshots, the army said in a statement. Soldiers evacuated the alleged assailant for medical treatment, it said, adding that no the soldiers were wounded in the incident. United States President Donald Trump has long been talking about a border wall to discourage illegal immigrants from coming to his country, but it's only now that the world is seeing how dead serious he is about that wall. The impasse between Trump and Congress has led to the shutdown of the US government. Congress, where Democrats hold sway, will not allow Trump to build that wall. As a result, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are set to miss their paychecks, and government agencies have not been business as usual for close to three weeks now. Just this Wednesday, Trump walked out of a meeting with congressional leaders who were steadfast in their refusal to build the wall. A total waste of time, he tweeted soon after. I said bye-bye, nothing else works! Earlier, Trump had told Senator Charles Schumer that he would look foolish if he reopened the government before securing the money he needed for his wall. And when he was asked why he chose to hurt Americans with his decision, Trump reportedly said: Because then you wont give me what I want! Trumps supporters may look at his behavior in a positive lightas strong, unwavering will toward a desired end. Persistence and refusal to compromise could be good qualities in a leader, especially when they are on the side of truth and justice. This is how crusaders succeed in the face of adversity.It could also be seen as obstinacymisplaced pride that will not be challenged by yielding to other views. Unfortunately, Mr. Trumps actions and words hew more closely not to a principled statesmans, but to those of a child who uses everything in his power, even throwing temper tantrums to the detriment of many, to gain attention and make everybody do his bidding. The US President was a savvy businessman before entering politics. He has benefited from his fathers connections and his propensity to exaggerate. In fact, he has published a book called The Art of the Deal, supposedly showing his expertise in business negotiations. Alas, what is happening now lacks the smoothness and savvy of any dealmaking art. Mr. Trumps actions show he is neither public servant nor dealmakerjust a brat in an expensive suit and a fancy office. The government of Pakistan is reportedly using a blockchain platform developed by Alibabas Alipay. But, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin remain banned in the country for payments. The initiative of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of Pakistan to utilize a blockchain application to combat money laundering demonstrates the typical blockchain not Bitcoin narrative pushed by central banks and large financial institutions. Blockchain Not Bitcoin Several months ago, Pakistan established a partnership with Telenor Microfinance Bank, a financial institution owned and operated by Alipay, a $150 billion fintech giant based in China that acquired a 45 percent stake in Microfinance Bank for $184.5 million. This week, Pakistan announced the successful integration of Alipays blockchain remittance platform, relying on Standard Chartered Bank as the settlement bank to process cross-border remittance transactions between Malaysia and Pakistan. The State Bank of Pakistan governor and president Tariq Bajwa stated that the implementation of the blockchain by the government marks a major milestone in the increase of financial inclusion in the country. Bajwa said: This puts Pakistan on the map of very few countries in the world that have launched international remittance service using the blockchain technology. However, speaking to The Express Tribune, the State Bank of Pakistan spokesman Abid Qamar said that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remain prohibited by the government, raising questions on the motive behind the governments push for blockchain technology adoption. The government has integrated a blockchain platform developed by several companies that provide the central authority, in this case the SPB, significant control over the network. A permissioned ledger is conceptually similar to the existing systems employed by many central banks. Hence, while the initiative of Pakistan may ostensibly seem like an open-minded approach towards fintech regulation, the governments blanket ban on public blockchain networks in the likes of Bitcoin and Ethereum contradict the governments current policy on the prioritization of financial inclusion. Story continues Eric Jing, the chairman and CEO of Ant Financial, a subsidiary of Alibaba and the parent company of Alipay, said that emerging technologies can improve various areas within finance by increasing accessibility. The new remittance service is one of the examples of how emerging technologies can assist countries meet their digital and financial inclusion goals. Were thrilled to be part of Pakistans financial inclusion efforts and were dedicated to exploring breakthroughs and applying them to benefit more people in more places, said Jing. Does it Actually Increase Financial Inclusion? One of the major contributing factors of limited financial accessibility in certain regions and developing countries is the presence of large-scale financial institutions and banks that set unrealistically high thresholds that create a challenging ecosystem for individuals to receive financial services. To improve financial inclusion, the scope of individuals that are eligible for financial services has to increase but if the same banks are in charge of the development and operation of the network as seen in the dependence of Standard Chartered Bank, even with the implementation of the blockchain, it could have a minimal impact on the growth of financial inclusion. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have the ability to provide financial freedom to individuals because it does not prevent or restrict individuals from utilizing the network. If individuals still have to through the same banks, authorities, and institutions, it remains unclear how the implementation of the blockchain could improve financial inclusion. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Pakistan Taps Blockchain Developed by $150B Alipay, But Forbids Bitcoin appeared first on CCN. Investors in Activision Blizzard, Inc. ATVI need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Jan 18, 2019 $72.50 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today. What is Implied Volatility? Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy. What do the Analysts Think? Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Activision Blizzard shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Activision Blizzard is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Toys - Games - Hobbies industry that ranks in the Top 20% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, one analyst has increased the earnings estimates for the current quarter, while two has dropped their estimates. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $1.31 per share to $1.30 per share in that period. Given the way analysts feel about Activision Blizzard right now, this huge implied volatility could mean theres a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected. Looking to Trade Options? Each week, our very own Dave Bartosiak gives his top options trades. Check out his recent live analysis and options trade for the NFLXearnings report completely free. See it here: Bartosiak: Trading Netflix's (NFLX) Earnings with Options or check out the embedded video below for more details: Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Global warming isn't only cooking our atmosphere, its also heating up the oceans. The world's seas were the warmest on record in 2018, scientists announced Thursday. Also, ocean temperatures are rising faster than previously thought, a new paper said. Specifically, they're warming as much as 40 percent faster than an estimate from a United Nations panel just five years ago. "If you want to see where global warming is happening, look in our oceans," said paper co-author Zeke Hausfather, in a statement. "Ocean heating is a very important indicator of climate change, and we have robust evidence that it is warming more rapidly than we thought," said Hausfather, who is a climate scientist with Carbon Brief. He also said that while 2018 was the 4th-warmest year on record in the atmosphere, it was the warmest year on record in the oceans, as was 2017 and 2016 before that. In fact, Hausfather told Reuters that records for ocean warming have been broken almost yearly since 2000. Overall, while we're rightly concerned about what climate change is doing to our atmosphere, ocean heating is critical because an estimated 93 percent of all heat trapped by greenhouse gases settles in the world's oceans. More: Antarctic ice melts to January record low More: Greenland's ice sheet melt has 'gone into overdrive' and is now 'off the charts' Global warming is caused by humanity's burning of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal, which release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the earth's atmosphere and oceans. Global warming is here, and has major consequences already. There is no doubt, none! the paper's authors wrote. The new analysis also shows that trends in ocean heat content match those predicted by top climate change computer models. Laure Zanna, an associate professor of climate physics at the University of Oxford who was not involved in the study, told the New York Times that the new research was a very nice summary of what we know of the ocean and how far the new estimates have come together. Story continues The unusual warmth in the seas is harming marine life and coral reefs. It's also contributing to rising sea levels around the world as ice melts near Antarctica and Greenland. The research was published Thursday in a "Perspectives" paper in the peer-reviewed journal Science. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oceans hottest on record in 2018, warming faster than previously thought Research published in Science on Jan. 10 linked ocean warming to more rain, increased sea levels, coral reef destruction, declining ocean oxygen levels and declines in ice sheets, glaciers and ice caps in polar environments. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) Ocean temperatures are rising faster than scientists previously concluded, according to an alarming report released Thursday. The research, published in the journal Science, said that scientists found several inaccuracies with the way ocean temperatures were previously measured and that warming levels for the past few decades were actually greater than what scientists found in 2013. Recent observation-based estimates show rapid warming of Earths oceans, read the report, which used four independent studies to track ocean heat content from 1971 to 2010. The report also found that the warming rate has accelerated since 1991. Oceans are warming primarily because of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by human activity. Emissions in the United States jumped 3.4 percent last year from 2017 the second-largest annual increase in more than two decades, according to a preliminary estimate by the economic research company Rhodium Group. The Science report linked the warming to more rain, increased sea levels, coral reef destruction, declining ocean oxygen levels and declines in ice sheets, glaciers and ice caps in polar environments. The fairly steady rise in OHC [ocean heat content] shows that the planet is clearly warming, the report stated, adding that rising sea levels and temperatures should be concerning, given the abundant evidence of effects on storms, hurricanes and the hydrological cycle, including extreme precipitation events. The report calculates two scenarios depicting significant warming this century. The first scenario falls in line with the Paris Climate Agreements goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to keep the average global temperature from rising no more than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. The second scenario assumes no change in emissions and projects warming that could severely affect ocean ecosystems and sea levels. In October a United Nations report warned that the world is running out of time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions before seeing potentially catastrophic effects of climate change. Diplomats from all over the world reached a deal in December to adopt rules to implement the Paris pact and track countries emissions. Story continues The U.S. joined the deal last month despite President Donald Trumps 2017 pledge to withdraw the country from the Paris accord. The U.S. may not withdraw from the agreement until 2020. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Northrop Grumman Corp.s NOC business unit, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., recently secured an $86.2-million contract for supporting Starlite system. The contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Work related to the deal is scheduled to complete by Jan 31, 2023. A Brief Note on Starlite System Northrop Grumman's Starlite system is a small, lightweight radar used for supporting tactical operations. This compact radar system is ideal for equipping a variety of manned and unmanned aerial system platforms for mission- critical tactical reconnaissance that includes through-the-weather surveillance, target detection and tracking, maritime search, and dismounted personnel detection. The Starlite system significantly improves battlefield situational awareness, and optimizes force maneuver and engagement for mission success. Our View Northrop Grummans Mission Systems unit, which manufactures and provides technical services for its various radar systems, reported third-quarter 2018 revenues of $2.91 billion that moved up 2.6% year over year. We believe that the latest contract will allow this business unit to generate similar solid results in the upcoming quarters. Per Markets and Markets Research firm, the global military radar systems market is anticipated to reach $15.42 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 3.38% from 2017. Such impressive projections should benefit Northrop Grumman, as the company extensively focuses on technological advancements, and upgrading its radar systems. Price Performance Shares of Northrop Grumman have declined about 15.5% in a year compared with the industrys fall of 5.2%. The underperformance may have been caused by the intense competition the company faces in both domestic and international markets. Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider Northrop Grumman currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). A few top-ranked companies in the same sector are AeroVironment, Inc. AVAV, Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT and The Boeing Company BA. While AeroVironment and Lockheed Martin sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Boeing carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. AeroVironment came up with average positive earnings surprise of 257.01% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 earnings has increased 33.3% to $1.48 in the past 90 days. Lockheed Martin came up with average positive earnings surprise of 13.92% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has increased 2.47% to $19.42 in the past 90 days. Boeing came up with average positive earnings surprise of 28.01% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has increased 4.53% to $19.42 in the past 90 days. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research NEW YORK (AP) There is no easy way out. As the third government shutdown of President Donald Trump's tenure stretched into its 20th day, political pressures on Trump and the Democrats have left little room for compromise in the standoff over funding for a border wall. Most prominently, Trump's narrow focus on the desires of his most ardent supporters has him convinced he cannot back off his signature campaign promise without facing backlash. Some powerful Republican allies in Washington and beyond are cheering on his demands for $5.7 billion funding for the wall, even if some remain uneasy. For Democrats, broad public skepticism about Trump's case for the wall combined with a driving push from the base to stand up to the Republican president has assured them they're on solid ground in refusing to bend. The looming question is whether the impact of the shutdown on government services and the plight of struggling federal workers force Republican lawmakers to break from the president or compel Democrats to budge. Until then, the dispute has given both parties a fast first test in the politics of divided government as they try to trade blame, manage their messages and strike a balance between competing political wings. Each side appeared dug in even deeper after a White House meeting between Trump and Democratic leaders on Wednesday as the economic livelihoods of some 800,000 federal workers hang in the balance. Trump said he quickly ended the meeting after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated that Democrats would not fund his wall under any circumstances. Trump's focus now is squarely on his conservative base and its support for the wall that came to symbolize Trump's promise for a hardline, unrelenting approach to immigration. "He got elected because of that wall," said Trump confidant Jerry Falwell Jr., president of the evangelical Liberty University. Falwell said he has told Trump he's doing the right thing. "I don't think it'll help him at all if he backs down." Story continues White House aides largely agree. Officials maintain the issue is a political winner, though they have urged the president to be more aggressive in making his case to the public and to any wavering Republican lawmakers. Trump outlined his argument in graphic terms during a prime-time Oval Office address Tuesday night. While several studies suggest that illegal immigration has no impact on crime rates, the president highlighted horrific crimes committed by immigrants and suggested his wall was needed to prevent this "crisis." "How much more American blood must we shed before Congress does its job?" asked Trump, who plans to visit the border on Thursday, the partial government shutdown's 20th day. The longest shutdown ever was 21 days in 1995-96, when Bill Clinton was president. The White House has been searching for options but not one that involves compromise. The administration has explored the possibility of funding the massive wall without congressional approval by declaring a national emergency or using funds from another department, though such moves would almost certainly trigger a legal challenge and may push some Republicans in Congress to break. Trump on Wednesday acknowledged the political pressure from within his own party not to back down. "If I did something that was foolish, like gave up on border security, the first ones that would hit me would be my senators they'd be angry at me. The second ones would be the House. And the third ones would be frankly my base and a lot of Republicans out there and a lot of Democrats that want to see border security," he told reporters. Meanwhile, the president's Republican critics are few and far between. Vice President Mike Pence got a standing ovation during a closed-door meeting of congressional Republicans on Tuesday after he told them to "stand strong" and cited a C.S. Lewis quote on courage as a virtue. As many as two dozen Republicans a tiny fraction of the 199 Republicans serving in the House are expected to join House Democrats this week in passing a bill to start reopening parts of the government. There were modest signs of discomfort with Trump's strategy among Senate Republicans, though few had a pressing political incentive to break with the president given that all but a handful expect easy re-elections in 2020. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called the shutdown "completely unnecessary and contrived. People expect their government to work ... this obviously is not working." At the same time, newly elected Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., was more representative of the mood in his caucus when he said voters back home believe Trump is doing the right thing: "They love him. And they want the wall." The GOP support stands in sharp contrast to most Americans, who do not approve of Trump's job performance. His approval rating has hovered close to 40 percent or below for much of his presidency. But Trump's approval within the Republican Party has surged close to 90 percent. The sharp divide is reflected in public opinion of the wall. Overall, 54 percent of Americans oppose construction of a wall along the Mexican border, according to a Quinnipiac poll released in December. At the same time, 86 percent of Republicans backed the proposal. Those numbers have helped keep Democrats united in opposition. Both party leaders on the Hill and the handful of presidential hopefuls starting to compete for the Democratic nomination have called on Democrats to hold strong. Billionaire activist Tom Steyer began running ads in key states calling for Trump's impeachment long before the shutdown drama began to unfold. "It's not a question as to whether the Democrats are out of line," said Steyer. "What (Trump) is doing is trying to extort the Democratic Congress with the pain of the American people. ... It's like somebody who kidnapped a kid and is holding them hostage to his campaign promise, which made no sense then, makes no sense now, and is incredibly wasteful." Steyer said Wednesday that he had decided against a 2020 presidential bid. The competing force on Democrat leaders is the pressure to prove they can restore some stability to Trump's Washington. Despite the liberal base's calls to stand up to Trump, party leaders believe they won big in last year's midterms by talking about pocketbook issues and promising to govern. They are eager to make good on that pledge. Republican pollster Frank Luntz suggested there would be little political price to pay for those associated with the extended government shutdown, even if most Americans blame Trump and his party. "For most people, their day-to-day lives are not being affected," Luntz said. A frequent Trump critic, he predicted the Republican president would find a way to escape the shutdown as a political winner, even if it appeared unlikely now. "Is he boxed in? I'd say no. He's the Harry Houdini of American politics," Luntz said. "He had 38 percent favorability on the day of the election and he still won." ___ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Zeke Miller and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report. President Donald Trump is playing with the idea of declaring a national emergency to build a border fence despite congressional opposition. This would make Trump the second president in a row willing to cut Congress out of the legislative process if it doesnt agree to his priorities on immigration, and is a very bad idea. It would functionally be an end run around Congresss power of the purse; create yet another precedent for pen and phone governance, which is not how our system is meant to work; and probably not achieve his substantive and political goals. For all that, a move to build the wall unilaterally wouldnt be nearly as brazen as the Obama-imposed amnesty for so-called Dreamers. The Obama administration simply wrote legislation on its own authority. Trump would at least be relying on congressional statute. Although declaring a national emergency sounds frightening, there is ample indeed absurdly extensive precedent for it. The nation is awash in more than two dozen, little-noticed declared national emergencies. So we have room for a national emergency at the border. The next step, which would presumably be reallocating military funds to building the border fence, is trickier. The administration can perhaps rely on statutes enabling the president to spend on military-related construction under his emergency powers. Yet no one to this point has thought of the border fence as a military project. It has been built up over the years with civilian funds by civilian workers. Yes, the National Guard and, at the moment, the active-duty military have been deployed to the border, but in a logistical or backup role, and largely as symbolism. The border crisis is not amenable to a military solution. Because the rules around how we handle Central American families are so latitudinarian, we could deploy the 82nd Airborne to the border, and migrants would simply surrender to the troops the way they currently do to Border Patrol agents and (correctly) expect to be waved into the country. Story continues Even if technically legal, an emergency declaration and a move to unilateral spending would obviously be pretextual. First, theres the timing. Trump didnt declare an emergency over the past two years, even though his administration was rightly already fixated on the influx of Central American families and minors. Then theres the fact that the natural response to a national emergency isnt to say, Lets undertake a yearslong building project. Legalities aside, a declaration of a national emergency wont achieve what Trump wants, unless his goal is simply getting out from under the shutdown. Thats easy. He can say hes going it alone under his emergency powers and agree to open the shuttered parts of the government, then fight it out in the courts. But in terms of his substantive goal of building a fence, and his political goal of building enough of it to showcase in his 2020 reelection campaign, it would get him very little. A district court somewhere would immediately issue an injunction blocking the action. Once the administration gets to the Supreme Court, it might have a chance to prevail if the court concludes that it shouldnt second-guess the chief executive on questions related to national security. But when would such a decision get handed down? Sometime in 2020? Assuming Trump wins at the high court, it would take time to get anything going on the ground. Progress on the fence probably wouldnt be any more advanced by November 2020 than it would be otherwise, and perhaps less advanced than if the president simply got some inadequate compromise out of Congress. In a different world, Congress as a body would be more exercised about a potential emergency declaration, but Congress is not a self-respecting institution. It is still a mistake to try to take advantage of its laxity. Such a move would strain our system, and probably not even work. 2019 by King Features Syndicate More from National Review This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. On todays episode of the Zacks Friday Finish Line, Associate Stock Strategist Ryan McQueeney and Editor Maddy Johnson take on this week's top market headlines, including the renewed momentum of Netflix, Roku, and Chipotle as well as a batch of mixed holiday sales results from the retail sector. Make sure to subscribe and leave the show a rating on Apple Podcasts ! Stocks posted another solid stretch of gains this week, with major indexes approaching bullish technical levels amid growing optimism about trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. Whether that optimism will last remains to be seen, but one can't help but notice that some of the investment world's most talked about stocks have been moving in the right direction again. Notably, shares of Netflix (NFLX) have seen solid gains, with this week's momentum coming on the back of a strong showing at the Golden Globes. The video streaming company took home five awards for its movie and TV content, beating out rivals such as HBO and Amazon (AMZN). This doesn't guarantee a direct benefit, of course, but Netflix bulls will claim it proves that management is delivering both quality and quantity for users, which should be a great thing for the future. Meanwhile, video streaming hardware upstart Roku (ROKU) skyrocketed on Monday after it released preliminary earnings results. The Silicon Valley firm said that its total active accounts in the latest quarter surged 40% year over year. Moreover, Roku noted that total hours watched on its platform grew faster than that. These results, plus the addition of several notable premium channels to Roku's available in-app subscriptions coming later this month, have left investors are excited. Another popular stock that has been adding value in recent sessions is Chipotle (CMG). The fast-casual Mexican chain saw a number of positive analyst research reports this week, with Wall Street quick to praise its latest menu innovations and the early work of new CEO Brian Niccol. Chipotle has rallied hard since Christmas Eve, and the stock looks to be one of the restaurant industry's most promising in 2019. Story continues It wasn't all smooth this week, however. Investors put some pressure on retail stocksespecially those in the department store segment. This was because of slightly disappointing holiday sales results from Macy's (M), L Brands, and Kohl's (KSS). Want to hear more about this week's top stories, and the Finish Line team's conversation about why department stores might have missed out on some this year's holiday shopping growth? Make sure to check out today's show! If you feel that we missed something, or if you want us to cover a different story, shoot us an email at podcast@zacks.com. Make sure to check out all of our other audio content at zacks.com/podcasts , and remember to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kohl's Corporation (KSS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Macy's, Inc. (M) : Free Stock Analysis Report Roku, Inc. (ROKU) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research "This is a good opportunity for President Duterte." "This is a good opportunity for President Duterte." The Balangiga bells are back, returned after 117 years in the hands of imperialist and colonialist United State of America. They were taken as war booty smeared with the blood of tens of thousands of Filipino men, women and children, in one episode most symbolic of the brutality of American invasion and occupation of the country. And now, to complete the sovereignty, theres one more thing left to doto terminate the not-so-mutual Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Section 25 of Article XVII of the 1987 Constitution is clear, After the expiration in 1991 of the Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America concerning military bases, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State. Effectively, the 1987 Constitution, ratified in a nationwide plebiscite on Feb. 8, 1987, put an end to military cooperation under the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, a treaty which ensured that the Philippines continues to be a neo-colony of the US even after being granted a bogus independence in 1946. In fact, the MDT was not the only act the US forced the Philippines to swallow to maintain its hegemony over the country beyond the so-called grant of independence. The 1946 Bell Trade Act, formally Philippine Trade Act of 1946, tied war damage claims to free trade conditions and equal economic rights for the US and its citizens. The 1947 Military Bases Agreement granted the US the right to retain the use of its military bases in the Philippines for 99 years (but which was later reduced by the late President Ferdinand Marcos). The imperialist and neo-colonial designs of the US on the Philippines is best illustrated by the book of the late Filipino nationalist-industrialist Salvador Araneta written in his book Americas Double-Cross of the Philippines.The indifferent economic development of the countrywas due to Americas policy toward Japan and the Philippines. This policy was the result of the Dodds Report, which Truman accepted and which had as its objective to make Japan the industrial workshop of Asia and the Philippines a mere supplier of raw materials, Araneta wrote. The Philippine economy continued its dependency on the US while successive Philippine presidents attempted various degrees of industrialization initiatives while cutting back U.S. neocolonial influence, culminating in Marcos 11 Industrial Projects and reduction of the US military bases term, both leading to his ouster with U.S. assistance in 1986 and Clark Air Base used to hijack the president. However, the 1986 Edsa Uprising restored neo-colonial elitism under Corazon Aquino and almost succeeded in reversing the end of the U.S. Bases Agreement in 1991 but for 12 Senate votes affirming Marcos reduction of the lease. And yet, in violation of the 1987 Constitution, the Philippine government signed a Visiting Forces Agreement in 1998 which became the basis for EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) U.S. military basing within Philippine military bases. In January of 2016 the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, echoing the persuasion of 14 other senators reminded one and all that When the Supreme Court held in the 2009 case of Nicolas v. Romulo that the VFA is constitutional, no less than then Chief Justice Puno dissented, telling his colleagues, This slur on our sovereignty cannot continue, especially if we are the ones perpetuating it. Those words resonate today, with the Supreme Court decision on the EDCA,.. A most welcome news came when late last December 2018 Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana raised the possibility of scrapping the 1951 MDT between the Philippines and the United States, as he ordered a review of the pact to see if it is still relevant to the countrys national interest at this point in its history. Lorenzana was quoted by various newspapers saying, That was done in 1951, there was this raging Cold War. Do we still have a Cold War today? Is it still relevant to our security. Maybe not anymore? While the secretary is seen by some quarters as a pro-American element in President Dutertes cabinet, others see a more balanced and objective professional retired Filipino officer in him. The initiative for the review of the MDT is said to be purely the defense secretarys, though no one can really say if it was not directly inspired by President Rodrigo Duterte, as the President has indeed taken sufficiently convincing steps such as the return of the Balangiga bells to convince anyone, not the least the defense secretary, that such a review of the MDT will be in line with the Presidents persuasion. A reopening for review of the MDT today will likely result in the conclusion that the reasons for such a treaty no longer exists and the recommendation to the President will be that it be scrapped. Hence, it is a good opportunity to give Duterte the opening for a formal abrogation of the MDT and announcement of the end of the EDCA. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's defense minister on Friday pledged to wage a campaign against a U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia, sharpening focus on a potential conflict the United States has sought to prevent. The comments from Hulusi Akar, on an unannounced visit to inspect troops stationed near the Syrian border directly opposite territory held by the U.S.-backed Kurdish YPG, appeared to be aimed at both Washington and its Kurdish allies. Turkey and the United States, although NATO allies, are deeply divided over the implementation of President Donald Trump's plan to bring home about 2,000 troops stationed in Syria. The plan hinges on Turkish cooperation to secure a swathe of northeast Syria as the United States departs. While the pull-out has been clouded by mixed messages from both Trump and his administration, on Friday the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State began the process of withdrawing, a spokesman said. Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, this week tried to make the case for guarantees that Turkey would not harm the YPG after the withdrawal. That earned a stiff rebuke from President Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist organization and sees Washington's support for it against Islamic State as a betrayal. "When the time and place comes the terrorists here will be buried in the ditches they have dug, as was done in previous operations," Akar said in a speech to military personnel at a brigade command center in the province of Sanliurfa, referring to two other cross-border campaigns that Turkey has carried out in Syria. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast. The Kurdish groups that control a vast swathe of northern Syria have now turned to Moscow and Damascus in the hope of striking a political deal that will stave off Turkey and shield their autonomy in the north. Ankara has repeatedly expressed frustration over a deal with the United States for the withdrawal of the YPG from the city of Manbij, just west of the Euphrates river. "Before us we have Manbij on one side and the east of the Euphrates on the other," Akar said, underscoring the scale of a potential operation. "Important preparations and planning have been made in connection with this. Our preparations are continuing intensively." Turkey's planned military operation against a Kurdish militia in Syria does not depend on an American withdrawal from the region, Ankara said on Thursday. (Reporting by Daren Butler; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Toby Chopra) An attempt by a faction of the Tarrant County Republican party in Texas to oust its vice-chairman because he is a Muslim failed in an emotional party vote Thursday night. Shahid Shafi, a trauma surgeon and city council member, was backed in a 139-49 vote after more than two hours of closed door discussions. Cheers could be heard outside as the results were read. As the meeting gathered Thursday night, one of his chief critics, Sara Legvold, former member of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee, stood outside dressed in a the lobby wearing a black burqa to underscore her opposition to Shafi's appointment. You already see it in the workplace where Muslims demand theyre able to wear their hijab and demand they get a prayer room, she said, according to the Texas Tribune. When was the last time a Christian was allowed to have a separate place to say their prayers?" Shafi, a Muslim who was born in India and raised in Pakistan, studied medicine in the United States and became a naturalized citizen in 2009. After the vote, Shafi said the campaign to oust him had been hard on him and his family, but that he felt no animosity toward his critics, the Star-Telegram reports. "As an immigrant to this great country, I am honored and privileged to receive the support of my fellow Republicans," he told reporters. "We need to learn to trust each other so we can create a more perfect union everyday." Darl Easton, the county chairman who originally appointed Shafi, said in a written statement that the vote reaffirmed the commitment by most Tarrant County Republicans "to our core values and moral compass, a demonstration of our allegiance to the Texas Republican Party Platform and the Constitutions of the United States and Texas, which strictly prohibit religious and racial discrimination of any kind." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Religious liberty won tonight and while that makes a great day for the Republican Party of Tarrant County, that victory also serves notice that we have much work to do unifying our party, he said. Story continues Shafi had won the support of Texas state Republicans including Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen.Ted Cruz and Land Commissioner George P. Bush. "Religious freedom is at the core of who we are as a nation and state," Abbott said in a statement this week, "and attacks on Dr. (Shahid) Shafi because of his faith are contrary to this guiding principle." The Texas GOP executive committee has also rallied to Shafi's cause, passing a non-discrimination resolution that affirms and supports all Americans right to practice their religion and recognizes the contributions of Republicans of every faith who advance conservative policies and ideals. The bid to oust Sharif was led by Dorrie O'Brien, precinct chairman in Grand Prairie, who said the issue is not religion, but whether Shafi supports Sharia law and is linked to "Islamic terror groups." We dont think hes suitable as a practicing Muslim to be vice chair because hed be the representative for ALL Republicans in Tarrant County, and not ALL Republicans in Tarrant County think Islam is safe or acceptable," O'Brien wrote on Facebook. Sharia is not a state-based set of laws, rather it is a body of Koran-based guidance that directs Muslims toward living an Islamic life. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Muslim vice-chair of Texas county GOP survives effort to oust him over his religion A woman was rushed to the hospital after the wound from her cesarean section burst open five days after she gave birth to her first child in December 2011. Mel Bremner recently told parenting website ChannelMum.com that she was showering in her home in Macduff, a small town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, when she bent down to pick up a bottle of shampoo. Bremner, a 38-year-old mother and waitress, said she then felt her C-section scar "burst" open, leaving her cradling her intestines, which poured out of the wound. "When I stood up I saw my intestines spilling out of my stomach," she told the website. "I called for my partner, who was still in bed, he got me out of the shower and sat me down and put my feet up. He was in the military so hes used to these sorts of things!" The medical term for what happened to Bremner is wound dehiscence, a very serious post-operative condition in which a wound ruptures along a surgical incision. Mortality rates have been reported as high as 45 percent, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. But despite the severity of her injury (which you can see graphic images of here,) Bremner said that she didn't feel any pain during the incident. "It was all quite bizarre!" she told ChannelMum. "The paramedics arrived and filled me full of morphine, whisked me away to be airlifted to the nearest hospital which was 45 miles away. I was stitched back up and spent another 3 days in hospital." While at the hospital, the couple said their C-section consultant speculated he may have cut the end of her sutures too short while stitching her up or not tied the knot tight enough. Bremner, now a mother of three girls who were all delivered in cesarean births, told the Mirror she decided to share her story to dispel the myth that C-sections are "easy" and to encourage new moms to rest and take it easy following the major procedure. By Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Monsanto's victory this week in a patent case in India regarding genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds has raised hopes among farmers that the company will now launch its next-generation seeds. India approved Monsanto's GM cotton seed trait in 2002 and an upgraded variety in 2006, helping transform the country into the world's top producer and second-largest exporter of the fiber. But newer traits have not been available since the company withdrew an application in 2016 seeking approval for the latest variety due to a royalty dispute with the government and worries over patent claims. (https://reut.rs/2jbDq80) Nevertheless, the new herbicide-tolerant variety seeped into Indian farms and many cotton growers openly sowed them last year, prompting a government investigation that is ongoing. Monsanto has said local seed companies have illegally attempted to "incorporate unauthorized and unapproved herbicide-tolerant technologies into their seeds". "We don't understand legal issues but we want new technologies," Shrikant Kale, a cotton grower in Yavatmal district in the western state of Maharashtra, said by phone. "If the court verdict helps seed companies in bringing new technology, then it would be good for us as well." Nearly a dozen other farmers in three Maharashtra districts said they planted the illegal cotton variety in June after buying seeds from the gray market, and that they would be happy to use it legally if Monsanto launched it. "Illegal sales mean that there's always a risk of buying spurious seeds and we buy such smuggled seeds as there is no alternative," said Vijay Niwal, another cotton farmer in Maharashtra. "We don't mind paying a few hundred rupees more for seeds if they help us in saving thousands of rupees on managing weeds." India's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Monsanto can claim patents on its GM cotton seeds, after the company appealed an earlier ruling by the Delhi High Court that the world's biggest seed maker could not claim such patents. Story continues Monsanto owner Bayer welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. It said in a statement to Reuters on Friday that it was confident of "defending any challenge to our patent by presenting solid scientific evidence", and that the company would seek a ruling on "infringement of the patent" in India. Asked about plans to launch new products in India, Bayer said: "Protection of intellectual property encourages innovation that is essential to providing Indias farmers with access to breakthrough technologies". But two industry sources aware of the company's plans said that a dispute over royalties paid by local companies that license its technology remained a hurdle to seeking fresh approval to sell a new variety of cotton seeds. India's agriculture ministry has twice slashed royalties in the past two years, apart from cutting cotton seed prices. "The government could step in again to decide the rate of royalty, which could be really miniscule in comparison with the cost of developing a really good product," said one of the sources, declining to be named as they were not authorized to speak to the media. "Biotechnology research is very expensive and if the government arbitrarily fixes the rate for expensive, cutting-edge technologies then that becomes a major hurdle in launching new products." The agriculture ministry did not respond to an email seeking comment. "SELF-RELIANCE" GROUP The court ruling has been criticized by a nationalist group that has links to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and favors non-GM technologies and "India first" economic policies. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, which loosely translates to National Forum for Self-Reliance, said the government needs to amend the country's patent law to negate the court verdict. Industry executives say several foreign agrichemical companies had to scale down projects, fire scientists, or pull applications to sell products in India because of government-mandated cuts in royalties and a lower court's order in April that rejected Monsanto's patent claim. They said the Supreme Court verdict overturning the lower court order could set a precedent for any future patent dispute and encourage fresh investments in one of the world's biggest farm markets, whose seed industry is worth around $3 billion a year. "The entire biotechnology space has been liberated," said Ram Kaundinya, director general of the Federation of Seed Industry of India that represents foreign and local seed companies including Monsanto and Syngenta . "There was uncertainty in this area for the last three to four years, which led to a reduction in investments. There are still some issues regarding price control but those are not as big as validity of patents." Many biotechnology companies working on corn and other GM crops will now push hard to get government approvals for their seeds, he said, declining to name the companies. DowDuPont , which in August last year told the Indian government it was putting off trials needed for approval to sell a GM corn variety, did not respond to a call seeking comment. A public relations firm for Syngenta directed Reuters to Kaundinya for comment. But permitting GM food crops is a big call for India, which so far only allows genetically modified cotton seeds. The country spends tens of billions of dollars in importing food, as dated technologies, poor yields, shrinking farms and unreliable weather patterns afflict the country of 1.3 billion people. But opponents of GM crops say they threaten the country's biodiversity and are too expensive for Indian farmers. Annual sales of GM cotton seeds is estimated at $500 million, and Monsanto-developed seeds now control 90 percent of India's cotton acreage. (Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj and Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Krishna N. Das/Raju Gopalakrishnan/Susan Fenton) President Donald Trump gave an Oval Office address and headed to the border. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have been holding regular press conferences to rebut him. But when the shutdown ends, it will likely be the handiwork of the leader whos stayed offsides: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The Kentucky Republican who boasted in 2014 that he was the guy that gets us out of shutdowns has a long record of cutting the Gordian knot of legislative gridlock, especially, like now, when its a crisis of the GOPs own making. Hes been conspicuously absent from the impromptu Republican press conferences lambasting Democratic intransigence, preferring to give his thoughts in brief speeches on the Senate floor while he works behind the scenes to find a way out. But his biggest obstacle may prove to be the president. On Thursday, McConnell summoned a handful of fellow Republicans to his ornate offices to brainstorm a solution. The group, which included Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Rob Portman, dispatched Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby to give Vice President Mike Pence what aides described as a skeleton of a plan to re-open government and return to paying 800,000 federal workers. We arent there yet, cautioned a top Senate Republican aide. They didnt get there, either. A short time later, Pences team phoned back. The deal, which would have re-opened the government and given the green light to congressional committees to sort out the border spending later, was a non-starter with the President. The Senate recessed shortly after 2 p.m. and Senators left Washington for their home states. Absent a dramatic reversal from the White House, the shutdown was set to continue until at least Monday, which would make it the longest in U.S. history. So McConnell returned to the drawing board, no closer to end the shutdown but not exactly in a rush to take ownership of the crisis, either. So far, there have been 19 full days of airport security working without pay, the Secret Service ferrying the President to and fro without knowing where the next paycheck will come from, national parks going without rangers and the Coast Guard suggesting its team start babysitting to pay rent. The situation has been a bruising setback for Washington, but especially Republicans who are being blamed for the standoff, according to polls. Story continues For their part, Democratic deal-makers in the Senate say theyre ready to talk, but thus far havent seen much sincere outreach from across the aisle. The Senates savviest immigration negotiator, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, remains on the sidelines. But McConnell, who alone controls the Senate floor, recognizes the White Houses demands are not likely to bend, and without the possibility of a presidential signature he feels theres little point in passing bills to re-open the government just for show. Trump has declared that he would not re-open government unless he gets billions of dollars to build a barrier on the U.S.-Mexican border. Democrats, now in control of the House, are standing firm against that and instead have offered piecemeal measures to fund the government without building the wall. McConnell has told colleagues and the White House that he will not bring the House-passed funding to the Senate floor because he is told Trump would veto it. I think the way out of this has been apparent for several weeks, he said Thursday. It requires an agreement between a Democratic House, the Democrats in the Senate and the President. Notably absent? The Republican majority in the Senate, which cannot pass anything of substance without at least 60 votes to clear a procedural hurdle. (Trump has suggested McConnell throw out the rules requiring that 60-vote requirement; McConnell has dismissed that idea.) Still, McConnell recognizes things are getting bad. Personally, he is indifferent to the necessity of the wall, which Trump promised during the campaign, but he recognizes the politics of it can be helpful for firing up the GOPs hardline base. In 2020, McConnells fellow Republicans will be defending 22 seats, and many of them are in states that may prove tricky, like Arizona and Colorado. At the same time, McConnell and his like-minded pragmatists see peril in openly contradicting the President. McConnell himself faced a spirited challenge in his 2014 primary from the right, and any members of his caucus who defy Trump could draw a similar Republican opponent. Already, McConnell is fighting a challenging battle in 2020 against Democrats, who will be defending just 12 seats in the Senate and are presume to have the added benefit of a presidential nominee who builds an aggressive political machine that can help down-ballot comrades. Trump fears his own prospects would be weakened if he cannot, at the end of four years in power, deliver some incarnation of a border wall to his fervent base. All of which helps to explain why McConnell has stayed on the sidelines, tending to his caucus, which is frustrated but, at least so far, disciplined. McConnell is using Shelby and the newly promoted No. 2, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, to talk with the White House, which has shown little warmth but plenty of fearful respect toward McConnell. And McConnell has shown deference to the Oval Office team, pledging not to bring any bill to the floor that the President would veto. Those close to McConnell argue he is irked that the House continues to send him piecemeal measures to reopen the border. The political stunts are not going to us anywhere, McConnell told colleagues from the Senate floor. But its not just Democrats. Trump summoned leaders to the White House this week, only to reportedly smack the table in frustration and storm from the room, only to be followed by a trip aboard Air Force One to Texas to inspect the border himself. Neither, McConnells team argue, is particularly helpful in getting to yes in these negotiations. Maybe, though, thats not the point. Maybe the point is a stalemate that Trump alone can fix. Or maybe Trump thinks the fight itself will prove enough for his base. Either way, the only way the showdown will end is if Trump can assure McConnell he wont be left holding the bag. Once again, the Senate majority leader is at the quiet center of it all. He doesnt need televised addresses or border visits or press conferences to get his way. And in Washington, thats its own kind of power. Udhayakumar Dhakshinamoorthy, 31, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted rape and one count of sexual penetration of a minor. (Photo: Getty Images) A mini-mart employee who took a liking to a 12-year-old girl sexually assaulted her and tried to rape her in 2016, a court heard. The 31-year-old mans crimes came to light when his then-pregnant girlfriend found a video of the minor in her secondary school uniform on his phone and reported the matter to the police. The victim turned 13 later that year. At the High Court on Thursday (10 January), Indian national Udhayakumar Dhakshinamoorthy was sentenced to a total of 13 years jail with 12 strokes of the cane. He pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted rape and one count of sexual penetration of a minor. Four other charges three of committing an indecent act with a child and one of procuring the commission of an obscene act by a child were considered in sentencing. Asked victim for nudes, gave her freebies Udhayakumar started working at a mini-mart in Boon Lay in September 2016. That same month, he took notice of the victim who visited the shop with her younger siblings. A few days later, when the girl returned to shop for groceries on her own, Udhayakumar asked her to follow him to a staircase. There, he asked her to be his girlfriend and she agreed. Three days later, when the girl returned to the mini-mart, Udhayakumar gave her a SIM card and his contact number so that they could communicate. Later that day, Udhayakumar asked her for nude photos and videos of herself. The victim sent him one such photo and one video. Thereafter, whenever the girl visited the store, Udhayakumar allowed her to take various items for free. Whenever no one else was around, he would kiss and hug her. Called victim wife, tried to rape her Udhayakumar later started being more intimate with her. Over six occasions in late 2016, he hugged, kissed and groped her. He would also give her $5 to $10 afterwards. Udhayakumar started calling the girl wife while the girl called him uncle. He said he wanted her to follow him to India so they could get married. Unbeknowst to the girl, he was in a relationship with a woman here. Story continues On one occasion, at the second floor staircase of a block of HDB flats, Udhayakumar asked the girl for sex. When she said she did not know what that was, he told her, come, I teach. He sexually assaulted her and made her perform a sexual act on him. On another occasion, Udhayakumar brought the girl to a friends first floor flat in Boon Lay. He tried to rape her, but was unsuccessful. She told him to stop as it was painful. Undeterred, he tried to rape her again on another day. He brought her to the top of a HDB block of flats in Boon Lay. He tried to rape her three times, but was unsuccessful. She told him to stop as it was painful. Frustrated by his multiple failed attempts to rape her, Udhayakumar told the girl that she need not see him anymore. He paid her $50. Thereafter, whenever she came by the mini-mart, he no longer let her take items for free. The girl did not tell anyone about the incidents. Pregnant girlfriend uncovered crimes In late October 2016, Udhayakumar began dating another woman. In May 2017, they went to a hotel and he fell asleep. The woman suspected Udhayakumar was having an affair. She was planning to marry him and was carrying his child. She unlocked his phone and was shocked to find the video of the victim, which showed her in her secondary school uniform. She made a police report three days later. Deputy Public Prosecutors Sruthi Boppana and Gail Wong asked Judicial Commissioner Pang Khang Chau to impose a total of 14 years jail with 12 strokes of the cane. They highlighted that Udhayakumar had sexually groomed and exploited a vulnerable minor. In mitigation, Udhayakumar told the court via a Tamil interpreter that he wished to apologise to the victim and her parents. He told the judge, I feel great shame to stand before you as a criminal. I have also spoiled my parents names because of this. Other Singapore stories: Aetos officer found dead with gunshot wound to the head at Woodlands Checkpoint No statues, please: International design competition launched for Founders Memorial Jailed: Drug abuser who took Sentosa security officers on car chase, drove into sea Taxi driver fined $2,000 for flicking lit cigarette butt into another car in anger Spurned man jailed a week for rubbing faeces on womans face Its never too late to decide that a tattoo is for you. Michael J. Fox stops by Bang Bang Grand. (Photo: Instagram via Bang Tattoo) Michael J. Fox just got inked for the first time at age 57 and showed off his new art on Instagram Thursday. The Back to the Future star got a sea turtle permanently slapped on his right forearm. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Fox stopped by the celeb-fave Bang Bang Tattoo parlor in New York City on Wednesday for his tat. The shops official Instagram account posted a series of photos from the actors visit to the shop. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Although Fox says the meaning of the sea turtle is a long story, shop owner Keith Bang Bang McCurdy elaborated on the actors visit in comments in Inked magazine. We got an email from one of his associates asking to meet with K and talk about the design, he explained. About a month and a half ago, they got to meet at a scheduled consultation and set up the appointment for today. Bang Bang continued, He got a sea turtle. He was telling me that there was a transformation for him with his career decisions when he was swimming in St. John. He spotted this turtle with a chunk missing from its fin and a scar on his face. And that turtle let him swim with him for about a half an hour. He made a transcending decision right after that. So that turtle was pretty significant to him. He added that Fox did really well through the whole process and that he had a great day today here. Fox isnt the only celeb to trust Bang Bang NYC: Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Demi Lovato have all gotten tattoos at the parlor as well. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: The Duchess of Sussex has announced her first charity patronages - reflecting her commitment to the arts, supporting women and animal welfare. Meghan has been passed two charity roles by the Queen and will now be patron of The National Theatre and The Association of Commonwealth Universities. The Queen has held the roles for 45 and 33 years respectively. Meghan has also chosen to support two other charities, Smart Works and Mayhew. In a statement Kensington Palace said: "The duchess is delighted to become patron of both national and grassroots organisations that are part of the fabric of the UK, and is very much looking forward to working with them to bring wider public attention to their causes. "Her royal highness feels she can use her position to focus attention on, and make a particular difference to these organisations and, more widely, the sectors they each represent." Smart Works represents Meghan's long-term commitment towards gender equality and female empowerment. The charity helps long-term unemployed and vulnerable women regain the skills, confidence and tools to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives. On the day her four new roles were announced, Meghan arrived at Smart Works, based in St Charles Hospital in north Kensington, west London, wearing a dress from Hatch and tan coat by Oscar de la Renta. The duchess heard from staff members about the work of the charity, and met women who have benefited from its support. She told the group, which included two former clients: "I'm so happy to be here. "You guys know I've been quietly coming by ... close to a year. "It's nice to be able to now do it publicly and really talk about the work that you do." The Duchess of Sussex, who is expecting her first child in the spring, was initially greeted by Smart Works chief executive Kate Stephens. Ms Stephens said the duchess had made several private visits to the centre in 2018. Story continues She added: "She's really hands-on and involved, and has a natural empathy with people that we've been really impressed by, she's amazing. "She puts people at their ease. It does feel slightly surreal." Her new role with The National Theatre was probably one of the worst kept secrets after a member of staff accidentally posted an article on their website yesterday afternoon announcing her as their new patron. She also held a private meeting with their artistic director Rufus Norris. It appears to be the perfect fit for the former Suits actress, who gave up her acting career before marrying Prince Harry. :: Harry and Meghan watch Hamilton musical Rufus Norris, director of the National Theatre said: "I would like to thank The Queen for Her Majesty's long and unwavering support and service to the National Theatre. "We were honoured when The Queen became our Patron in 1974 and have celebrated many moments together including, in recent years, the Diamond Jubilee and the marking of our 50th anniversary. "It is a privilege to welcome the Duchess of Sussex as our new patron. "The duchess shares our deeply-held conviction that theatre has the power to bring together people from all communities and walks of life. I very much look forward to working closely with Her Royal Highness in the years to come". The Association of Commonwealth Universities is the world's first and oldest international university network and the only accredited organisation representing higher education across all 53 Commonwealth countries. During her recent visit to Fiji, Meghan talked about how "everyone should be afforded the opportunity to receive the education they need" and last month met up with academics and experts at Kings College to discuss the role of higher education in addressing issues such as human trafficking, modern slavery, gender equality, peace and reconciliation, and climate change. Dr Joanna Newman MBE, chief executive and secretary general of the ACU, said: "We are absolutely delighted that HRH the Duchess of Sussex has chosen to become patron of the ACU. "The duchess shares our passion for the transformational power of higher education, and her royal highness' support will help champion higher education as a force for good in the Commonwealth and beyond. "We would like to thank Her Majesty The Queen for her support, and we look forward to working closely with the duchess as our patron." Showing her side as an animal lover, Meghan will also work with the animal welfare organisation Mayhew. Caroline Yates, CEO of Mayhew said: "The duchess has spent many years championing animal welfare, and we are honoured to have our charity represented by such a passionate Patron. We look forward to working closely with the duchess and hope that, together, we can help even more animals and people." The palace said that the duchess has been holding meetings and carried out private visits with each of the organisations in recent months. Her work with the charities will begin today with a visit to Smart Works and over the next few weeks she'll visit the other organisations. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their first baby in the spring. BERLIN (Reuters) - German conservative Friedrich Merz, a former rival to Chancellor Angela Merkel who last month lost the race to succeed her as leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU), is to take a party post focusing on economic policy and transatlantic ties. Championed by veteran conservative and former finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, Merz is popular with members of the party's right wing who want to change direction from Merkel's centrist economic and migrant policies. In particular, the CDU needs to boost its support this year before regional elections in three eastern states where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is strong. Merz's narrow loss to Merkel protege Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as party leader exposed divisions in the CDU that both candidates vowed to heal, and she made clear she wanted him to play an active role. The CDU said Merz would take a position on the CDU commission for the social market economy and would have a special focus on the future of transatlantic ties. "I am pleased that Friedrich Merz brings his experience and knowledge of economic and financial policy. An excellent strengthening of our circle of experts from representatives of industry and science," tweeted Kramp-Karrenbauer. A trained lawyer, Merz had lost out to Merkel in a power struggle in 2002 and has been out of the lower house, the Bundestag, since 2009. Since then he has had various corporate roles including chairman of the German arm of the U.S. investment fund BlackRock. He had hinted he would like a cabinet post, but Merkel ruled that out. Merkel relinquished leadership of the party after the CDU haemorrhaged support in a regional election in October, but has said she intends to remain chancellor until the next election in 2021. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Tassilo Hummel; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Vilnius (AFP) - Lithuania's top court ruled on Friday that the Baltic EU state must grant residence permits to foreign spouses of gay citizens even though same-sex unions are not recognised by law. In a landmark ruling for gay rights in this deeply Catholic country, the constitutional court condemned the routine denial of residency permits for the spouses of gay citizens who married abroad. The practice, it said, was discriminatory and a breach of human dignity. "The refusal to issue permits cannot be based only on gender identity or sexual orientation," it said. Vladimir Simonko, head of the Lithuanian Gay League, hailed it as "a progressive ruling that sends an important message to our LGBT community and politicians. "I hope it will lead towards more positive attitude towards gay families," Simonko told AFP. The migration department said it would change the practice and start issuing permits for same-sex spouses. Lithuania's constitution defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The heavily Catholic nation of 2.8 million people denies legal recognition to same-sex partnerships. Reacting to the ruling, Lithuania's Catholic Bishops' Conference criticised the court for what it said was the introduction of a "new legal category" of same-sex families. "The postulate that the family concept is gender-neutral is not in line with the teachings of the Church," it said. "Marriage is the basis of the family and it is concluded upon the free mutual consent of a man and woman," it said in a statement. More than two dozen countries worldwide have enacted legislation to allow same-sex union, with the majority of them being in western Europe, according to Pew Research Centre. I am writing to refute Mr. Jonathan de La Cruzs article titled One country, two systems published in your newspaper on Jan. 9. In Mr. De La Cruzs article, it is obvious that he favors and supports Beijings one country, two systems and believes that it can be unilaterally imposed on Taiwan. I have to point out that Mr. De La Cruz neglects and misses the major and essential difference between Taiwan and China. The key words are democracy, human rights, and freedom. When US Vice President Mike Pence delivered remarks on US policy towards China at the Hudson Institute on Oct. 4, 2018, he pointed out that America will always believe that Taiwans embrace of democracy shows a better path for all the Chinese people. It is clear that Vice President Pence urged that China should follow Taiwans lead in establishing a democratic system of government. China refuses to acknowledge the strong opposition of the people of Taiwan to one country, two systems. President Xi Jinpings speech will negatively impact the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. The international community is paying close attention to its effects.The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) urges other countries to maintain active relations with Taiwan and to call for the peaceful resolution of issues across the Taiwan Strait whenever the opportunity arises. Taiwan is willing to cooperate closely with like-minded countries so as to better ensure the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. The Republic of China is a sovereign and independent country which has 17 diplomatic allies and has developed substantive relations with most other countries around the world. The claim that the One China Principle is the consensus in international society is absolutely not true. Of Chinas 178 diplomatic allies, only 51, or less than one-third, completely and explicitly recognized the so-called One China Principle in their respective diplomatic communiques or other documents establishing relations with China. The US, Japan, EU members and other major advanced democracies around the world have their own One China Policy, and do not accept the One China Principle proclaimed by the PRC. In testimony before the US Congress, then US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly explicitly stated that the US One China Policy is emphatically not the same thing as the PRCs One China Principle. Having undergone its own process of democratization, Taiwan has its own democratically elected president and legislature, as well as a rich and diverse press that enjoys full freedom. Taiwan has its own military, independently conducts its own foreign affairs, and issues its own currency, passports and visas, exercising absolute and exclusive jurisdiction over its own territory. Taiwan is definitely not a part of China.RepresentativeTaipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines Fewer than half of failed asylum seekers are removed from the UK, a new study claims (Picture: PA) More than half of failed asylum seekers remain in the UK despite having their applications rejected or withdrawn, a new study claims. The study by David Wood, ex-director general of immigration enforcement at the Home Office, said fewer than half of those whose asylum applications are declined are removed from the UK, and that abuse of the system is rife. The UK asylum system attracts around 10,000-15,000 applications a year from individuals who ultimately have no valid claim and under half of these are subsequently removed from the country, according to Mr Woods report. It said: The truth is that while there are thousands of genuine claims for asylum each year, thousands more are abusive applications. A myth is perpetuated in many countries that the streets of the UK are paved with gold, the report said (Picture: PA) According to the report, published by think-tank Civitas, enforced removals and voluntary departures of failed asylum seekers have fallen from more than 15,000 annually in the mid-2000s to fewer than 5,000 a year recently. It said: Of the 80,813 applications refused or withdrawn between 2010 and 2016, only 29,659 were removed leaving 51,154 failed asylum seekers in the country from that seven-year period alone. MORE: Jailed: Shopaholic bookkeeper who stole 400,000 from employer to fund unsustainable lifestyle MORE: Anti-ageing drug could be on the horizon after successful mouse trial Methods of deception including nationality swapping, where an asylum seeker claims they are from a certain country to boost their chances of success, or applicants claiming to be under 18 when they are older. It said many asylum claims are submitted when individuals are about to depart the UK, such as at the airport or on a plane, and a key difficulty in many removals is the absence of travel documents, which are often lost or destroyed prior to arrival in the UK. The report, which comes days after Home Secretary Sajid Javid questioned whether migrants using small boats to cross the English Channel are genuine asylum seekers, said a myth is perpetuated in many countries that the streets of the UK are paved with gold. Story continues It warned that abuse of the system risks undermining well-placed sympathy for refugees. It is an important principle that people fleeing persecution should be given refuge by countries in a position to offer it, it said. But where asylum processes are being used as a way of facilitating economic migration it is essential to be able to quickly and efficiently distinguish between the two, in order to ensure those entitled to help receive it quickly, and to ensure that UK citizens do not lose faith and support for a system that is rife with abuse. Recommendations in Mr Woods report include adopting new screening technology to allow interviewers to identify questionable areas in applications and he called on the Government to step up efforts to challenge countries that refuse to provide travel documents for their nationals. He also suggested the removals rate could be improved by detaining more of those who, at the end of an appeals process, are refused asylum and for whom it is known that papers could be secured. A Home Office spokesman said:The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it. However, we are clear that those with no right to be in the UK should return home. As part of the new asylum accommodation contracts we will be working with a charity to make sure failed asylum seekers are given information on the voluntary returns scheme, encouraging individuals refused asylum to return home. We will seek to enforce the return of those who do not leave voluntarily. Since the beginning of 2010 there have been over 345,000 enforced or voluntary returns. WARSAW, Poland (AP) The Latest on the espionage-related arrests in Poland (all times local): 6 p.m. The Polish state news agency says a Polish man who has been charged with spying for China had held top cybersecurity positions at different state agencies and had been involved in projects co-financed by the European Union. PAP reported Friday that the suspect had worked at three key agencies in Poland. Those included the Interior Ministry, the Office of Electronic Communications, a regulatory body that oversees cyber and other telecommunications issues, and the International Security Agency, Poland's counterespionage agency. He and a Chinese citizen who is a manager for the Chinese tech firm Huawei in Poland were arrested Tuesday and have been charged with spying for China. PAP reported that, when the Polish suspect was at the Internal Security Agency, he was involved in building a mobile communications system for top Polish officials. He was fired in 2011 amid a major corruption scandal. __ 3:40 p.m. Orange, a leading telecommunications company in Poland, says it's cooperating with the Polish security services who say a Polish employee at the company and a Chinese manager for tech giant Huawei have been accused of spying on Poland for China. Orange Poland told The Associated Press on Friday that officials from Poland's Internal Security Agency searched the company's headquarters in Warsaw on Tuesday and that as part of operation "we handed over belongings of one of our employees." The Polish spy agency and Poland's state television, which is closely tied to the Polish government, reported the arrests and the searches at both Huawei and Orange. Orange told the AP it did not know if the suspicions against its employee were related to his professional duties and that it was working with the country's security agency. ___ 1:25 p.m. An official at the Chinese Embassy in Warsaw says China attaches "great importance to the detention" of a Chinese citizen in Poland who has been detained and charged with espionage and that a representative of the embassy has met with officials at Poland's Foreign Ministry to discuss the case. Story continues Polish state television reported Friday that the country's Internal Security Agency has charged a Chinese manager at tech company Huawei in Poland and a Polish man who is one of its own former officers with spying for China. The arrests happened on Tuesday. A spokeswoman at the Chinese Embassy told The Associated Press that embassy representatives have met with officials at Poland's Foreign Ministry and that China urges Poland "to inform China about the situation of this case and arrange a consular visit as soon as possible." The spokeswoman added: "We require the Polish side to handle this case legally, fairly and properly and ensure the legal rights, interests, security and the humanitarian treatment of the Chinese citizen." The official spoke on condition of anonymity, saying it was the official position of the Chinese government and that it "doesn't matter" who conveyed the comment. The official wouldn't comment on whether the suspect is guilty, saying "the Chinese side opposes any speculations and defaming in the absence of concrete facts." --By Vanessa Gera ___ 12:15 p.m. Chinese telecom company Huawei is being tightlipped on reports one of its employees has been arrested by Polish authorities on suspicion of espionage. The company, which makes telecom equipment and consumer electronics, said in a statement that it is "aware of the situation, and we are looking into it." Polish state TV said that one of two people arrested was a Chinese man identified as Weijing W., who was a Huawei director in Poland. Huawei said it "complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based." ___ 10:25 a.m. An official says Poland's Internal Security Agency has arrested a Chinese businessman and a Pole on suspicion of espionage. Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Poland's special services, said Friday that the operation that resulted in the arrest of the two suspects had been underway for a long time and was planned with care. Wasik said that the Chinese suspect was a businessman working for a major electronics corporation and that the Pole was "known in circles associated with cyber-business affairs." He said "both carried out espionage activities against Poland." Polish state TV reported that the Chinese man is a director at Huawei in Poland and that the Pole has worked at the Internal Security Agency, the agency that investigates spying and terrorism If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison. European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker speaking on Brexit in Romania on Thursday (Reuters) EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker has dashed UK prime minister Theresa Mays hopes of securing a game-changing intervention that would change the mood in Parliament over the Brexit deal. The European commission president said on Thursday that he is in constant contact with 10 Downing Street about how he can help May win Tuesdays vote on the deal. But he warned the best he can do is deliver a clarification on what the backstop will mean far from the legally binding assurances being sought by the government. Speaking at a press conference in Romania, Juncker said: We are in touch on a constant basis with Number 10 and well see what happens between now and Tuesday. I still hope that there will be a deal. I do not like the prospect of no deal, which would be a disaster I think for our British friends and for the continental Europeans. Every effort needs to be made between now and Tuesday afternoon to ensure that this important issue can be resolved satisfactorily. Asked specifically what he was willing to do to help May win the vote, Juncker replied: There can be clarification but thats all. Were discussing with Downing Street what these clarifications might amount to. That should not be confused with renegotiation, particularly with regards the backstop. Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt says legally binding assurances are needed from the EU to win the vote over the Brexit deal (Reuters) Juncker said he would resist the temptation to make further comments, saying he didnt want to become less popular on different islands. His comments shortly after foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said legally binding assurances over the Irish border backstop were needed to win Tuesdays vote. He told Radio 4s Today programme: The EU has agreed its temporary, so if we can actually explain to people why its temporary and if those assurances can be legally binding so that people really believe we wont be trapped in the customs union indefinitely then I do believe we can get this deal through. READ MORE: Barnier vows backstop will not be weakened by EUs assurances over Brexit deal Story continues It is expected that Juncker and European council president Donald Tusk will issue a letter to May on Monday in a last ditch bid to convince MPs to back the deal. However, it is likely only to restate the position agreed by European leaders in December: that the backstop is only an insurance policy and, if triggered, would only apply temporarily. That is widely expected to be insufficient to change the outcome of the delayed meaningful vote. The EU will give its response to the decision of MPs at 7.30am GMT next Wednesday morning when the European Parliament holds an emergency debate on Brexit. READ MORE: There is nothing more we can do EU struggles help Theresa May win Brexit deal vote Washington (AFP) - Jordan's prime minister has voiced hope that his country will turn to a growth path, after he briefed the International Monetary Fund on fiscal reforms that have sparked protests at home. Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz, a Harvard-educated economist who took office last year, said he spoke to IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on next steps. "Now that our fiscal health is in order, we want to promote growth," Razzaz told reporters in Washington late Thursday after his meeting. He said he also met in Washington with the US Chamber of Commerce to draw greater business interest and was organizing a Jordan investment conference to take place in London in late February. Lagarde said that Jordan's income tax hike, approved by lawmakers in November, was a "step in the right direction" but that Jordan "still faces challenging economic and social conditions." "Sustaining fiscal consolidation remains critical to preserve macroeconomic stability, which needs to be supported by a faster implementation of reforms to promote jobs and investment and lower business costs," she said in a statement. Jordan, whose stability is seen as vital for the volatile Middle East, has virtually no natural resources and plays host to 1.3 million refugees from neighboring Syria. Alongside the IMF package, Jordan received pledges of $2.5 billion in aid from oil-rich Gulf Arab states in June. Jordan has witnessed persistent protests against austerity measures led by young people, among whom unemployment runs at 39 percent. The government went ahead with the income tax bill but, in a concession, raised the threshold at which Jordanian households have to pay. amazon founder jeff bezos divorce As CCN has reported, Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos are officially divorcing. Whether or not the divorce is the result of a months-long affair with Lauren Sanchez has not been confirmed. What we do know is that unless they change their minds, Amazon shareholders have cause for concern. MacKenzie Bezos Likely to Have Restrictions on AMZN Holdings amazon stock jeff bezos divorce According to Business Insider, the assets will most likely be structured in a way that prevents immediate dumping from MacKenzie. Washington State, where they will likely file the divorce, doesnt strictly require that MacKenzie will get half of Jeffs assets. Nevertheless, any reasonably good divorce attorney can ensure she gets enough to matter. Legal experts told Business Insider that the structure of the divorce would most likely not force the liquidation of Amazon shares. Three Scenarios for Amazons New Top Investor MacKenzies shares could go one of three ways. In one scenario, shes free to do as she pleases with them. Importantly, if she were to act irresponsibly, other investors could sue her. In another scenario, she gets millions of shares but has a specific schedule on which she can sell them. In yet another scenario, she gets half of Bezos shares, but Jeff retains voting rights associated with such shares. Speaking of voting rights, Amazon is structured the old-fashioned way: one share, one vote. While Jeff Bezos has the largest single holding at present, cutting his shares in half puts him and MacKenzie just a little ahead of other major holders. Two of the largest holders of Amazon stock are BlackRock and Vanguard. So far they have held their breath and made no public statements on Jeff Bezos divorce. How Will Divorce Impact Jeff Bezos Personally? amazon largest us company apple Another aspect of the divorce is Jeff Bezos leadership. Its no secret that divorce is taxing on parties involved. This reporter has seen divorce wreck plenty a career. Studies show that men often do better financially after a divorce. However, about half of all men and women are worse off in the long run. Also, most men are not running the worlds most valuable company. Story continues In one respect, its surprising the marriage lasted this long with the level of focus required to build Amazon from a small book-selling website into the worlds largest retailer. Some have said that it wouldnt have been possible without MacKenzie. Behind every great man is a great woman, the old saying goes. MacKenzie Bezos was the first accountant at Amazon. She is also potentially responsible for the naming of the company, which might have been Relentless.com without her input. Either way, drastic changes in ones personal life create distractions. Whether its the distraction of the divorce itself or the distraction of his new romantic interest, Bezos may not be as on top of his game. Missed opportunities or any number of things might slow growth at Amazon. Will Jeff Bezos Perform Better as a Bachelor? The opposite is also possible. Bezos, a free man, renews his commitment to his other wife, Amazon, and pushes the company to greater heights than ever before dreamed. In the first case, Amazon would be hard pressed to find a suitable replacement for Bezos as CEO. A company native who has derived most of his wealth from Amazon, nearly anyone else would struggle to fill his shoes. This means that Amazon would be in a tough position that might only be made worse by the resignation or replacement of Jeff Bezos. So what the divorce means is uncertainty, which certainly will have an effect on funds and retail investors deciding between AMZN and other quality bets. So far people seem to be keeping their money with the company. But the chaotic process of divorce has only just begun. Jeff Bezos image from Wikimedia Commons The post What Jeff Bezos Divorce Means for Amazon Investors appeared first on CCN. Rotterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) - Japan and EU powers are working "very hard" to prevent Britain leaving the bloc without a deal, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Wednesday with his visiting Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. Rutte said he was also working closely with European powers Germany and France to help British Prime Minister Theresa May get the withdrawal agreement through parliament next week. "I completely agree with prime minister Abe that we have to prevent a no-deal Brexit and we are working very hard not to come to a no-deal Brexit," Rutte told a joint press conference with Abe in the port city of Rotterdam. Abe travels to London on Thursday to meet May, who looks likely to lose a defining parliamentary vote next week on the withdrawal agreement that she reached with the EU in November. "I am at this moment working very hard in close conjunction with the French and the Germans and others to help my British colleague to bring the vote next week to a successful outcome," Rutte said. The Dutch premier however warned that the current deal with the EU was the "best deal" available given Britain's red lines, particularly on the future of the Irish border. He said the decision ultimately rested with the British parliament but "we will continue to work closely with Theresa May to help in whatever way we can in the run-up to that vote." For his part, Abe noted that Brexit would have a "great impact" on the many Japanese firms that have invested in Britain as well as on the European economy as a whole. "Our country believes that, in order to minimise the impact Brexit will have on the global economy, it is indispensable to secure legal stability by having transparency and predictability and setting up a transition period," Abe said. "We hope a no-deal exit will be avoided and Britain's exit from the EU will be conducted smoothly," concluded the Japanese PM. Tel Aviv (AFP) - A key Israeli opposition figure on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public criticism of authorities investigating him on graft allegations, saying such behaviour was not "normal". "In a normal country the prime minister does not attack the justice authorities," Labour party leader Avi Gabbay told a party convention for the first time since the start of campaigning for April's general election. "Millions of decent Israelis are yearning for a normal country," he said in a speech. "Let's roll up our sleeves and replace the prime minister, who has mired the whole country in his personal affairs." Police have recommended Netanyahu be indicted in three separate corruption cases and the attorney general is expected to announce his decision on whether to indict the premier in the weeks or months ahead. Netanyahu has openly urged the attorney general not to issue his decision before the election. On Monday he slammed the investigations as "biased", during a live, prime-time television address slammed by his opponents as a stunt. Polls show Netanyahu is likely to remain prime minister after the elections despite the allegations. Gabbay's speech on Thursday evening was punctuated from the start by boos and whistles from the floor. There have been rumblings of dissent over his political leadership and management of party affairs. They were fueled last week by his surprise ditching of an opposition alliance with veteran politician Tzipi Livni and her Hatnuah party. Their Zionist Union coalition won the second most seats in the last general election in 2015, but Labour has since tumbled in opinion polls. Gabbay sought to make light of the heckling that greeted him when he walked onto the stage. "I want to congratulate you on all the different opinions and voices in our party," Gabbay said. "Even the criticism and the shouting." Story continues The noise in the hall, he said, was proof that Labour was "a truly democratic party." He pledged that if Labour was able to form a government it would resume long-stalled peace talks with the Palestinians. It would also amend a contentious law defining Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, making Hebrew the official language and downgrading the status of Arabic, he said. Despite the outbursts in the convention centre, a Labour party statement said members had voted to approve Gabbay's proposed procedures for primaries slated for February. Unocoin Bitcoin Following new regulatory measures from the Reserve Bank of India prohibiting banks from providing services to cryptocurrency businesses, some Indian banks are taking drastic measures to discourage cryptocurrency adoption, reportedly requiring customers to sign contracts stating that they will not use cryptocurrencies of any kind as part of their new terms of service agreement. Line in The Sand The new measures effectively force customers to choose between banks and crypto, perhaps a difficult decision for many supporters of the fledgling cryptocurrency movement. While many hope to see cryptocurrency overtake traditional banking entirely, the infrastructure to do that simply isnt there at the moment, and actions such as these carried out by banks on a large scale only make it more difficult to foster adoption which, of course, is likely the point. @DesiCryptoHodlr or Indian Crypto Girl on Twitter posted an image of the terms and conditions required by Kotak Mahindra Bank as an example of the new, strict measures being taken against cryptocurrency users. The bank asks users to declare that they will not deal with any transactions related to Crypto-currency including Bitcoins, adding that the Bank reserves the right to close their account if they should breach the agreement. Similar warnings are displayed on the banks ATM screens: Virtual currencies (VCs) are not legal tender and do not have any regulatory permission or protection in India. We request you not to make transactions involving any VCs from any of your account/s. For any such transactions, the bank shall be acting in accordance with the regulatory guidelines which include closing your account without further intimation. The bank claims to be acting in accordance with IRB regulations, and Crypto Girl stated on Twitter that this is just one of many banks forcing their customers to swear off crypto if they want banking services. Another Twitter user @IAmCryptoLegend commented in the thread to say that that banks are implementing similar measures in neighboring Pakistan. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This was confirmed by a screenshot of a text message from Faysal Bank warning customers not to use cryptocurrencies: IRB Vs Crypto The Indian central bank has taken a stand against cryptocurrency, citing issues of security and volatility. The banks governor Raghuram Rajan does concede that bitcoin is fascinating to him, and states his belief that India and perhaps humanity, in general, will move towards a cashless society in time. For us at the Reserve Bank, this may happen in 10 to 20 years from now. [I] think these virtual currencies will certainly get much better, much safer and over time will be the form of transaction, and thats for sure. While the IRB has not banned cryptocurrency outright and Indian citizens are still legally free to use cryptocurrencies if they wish, the growing trend of banks refusing services to crypto-users could put many citizens in a tight spot, forcing them to choose between the underdeveloped system of the future and the outdated system of the past. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Indian Banks Force Customers to Promise Not to Use Bitcoin appeared first on CCN. "Foreigners are just amazed at our fervor." Call it choreographed craze, fanaticism or sheer faith. But dont mock the millions of devotees who flocked to the route of the Black Nazarene procession. There is no harm in believing even if youre one of those non-believers in the power of prayers and the miracle bestowed on those seeking deliverance from lifes hardships like a lingering disease, other forms of sickness or poverty. This is more than the feeding frenzy of the faithful. Some of the cynics call the annual event on January 9 as pure theater that has drawn even foreign tourists to Quiapo church and its basilica. Foreigners are amazed that Filipinos have such strong faith. The reenactment of Christs crucifixion on Good Friday during the Holy Week has also become a tourist attraction. This is a testament to the Filipino peoples unwavering faith despite the desecration and mockery by officials in high places. I cannot join this procession as I am already old and a person with disability. Even if healthy, Im afraid to be crushed by the frenzied crowd who jostle against each other to climb and touch the image of the Black Nazarene. I have two brothers-in-law who did so very year and they lived to the ripe old age of 80 plus. And so did their widows, my sisters. There has to be something good about devoting religious fervor to the Black Nazarene. History tells us that the Black Nazarene was carved by an unknown Mexican out of dark wood in 1606. The finished life-sized statue of the Christ in a kneeling position shouldering the cross was later shipped to Manila to be the centerpiece of the altar in the Minor Basilica of Quiapo church. Mexico and the Philippines, then colonies of Spain, had a strong relationship during the Galleon trade. In Mexico there is also an annual religious eventthe Feast of the Lady of Guadalupe. People from across Mexico and other parts of the world go on pilgrimage to the basilica in Mexico City to pray and pay homage to the image of the Lady of Guadalupe which is actually the Virgin Mary. Dont ask me more about it as Im sure the historians and the devotees of Guadalupe and the Black Nazarene know more about the lore surrounding these two revered icons.Stories about the miracles of the Black Nazarene can only be the reason why its Feast Day on Jan. 9 has become such a big event causing classes and offices in the City of Manila to be closed. With streets along the procession closed to traffic, vehicular movement in the Quiapo district come to a standstill. More than 6,000 policemen are deployed in the district to keep order and prevent possible attacks by terrorist groups. Injuries among the crowd of devotees are recorded every year in the Traslacion which starts at 5 a.m. and often lasts up to 8 in the evening when the Black Nazarene winds its way back to Quiapo church. Me, I stay home and simply follow the procession covered live by the three major television networks. Because of my age and disability, my own way of keeping faith and sacrifice is by not watching programs on the other channels. As of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, an estimated crowd 800,000 were already in attendance which swelled to millions by dusk with 1,000 needing medical attention. Yet, no matter how hard it is to attend the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the same throng keep coming back every year. This speaks volumes about the Filipinos faith whether their prayers have been answered or the favors sought still to be granted by the miraculous powers of the Black Nazarene. * * * Quote of the week from National Chairperson Jocelyn Martinez of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT): We are underpaid, and now we are also under surveillance. Ms. Martinez was reacting to profiling of members of their organization by the Philippine National Police which is investigating the alleged involvement of teachers in subversive anti-government activity. Jose Ma. Sison, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, said in a statement that ACT is not a front organization of the CPP, adding ACT is a legitimate non-government organization who simply want to improve their lot and living condition. What say you, Education Secretary Leonor Briones? Do the teachers have to pray to the Black Nazarene for answers to their underwhelmed lives? Wadi al-Kharrar (Jordan) (AFP) - Hundreds of Catholic worshippers attended a special mass Friday on the banks of the Jordan River in an annual pilgrimage to the site where many believe Jesus was baptised. Before the ceremony started on the Jordanian side of the river, dozens of priests filled jugs at the water's edge as scouts played music. Some 1,500 people attended the ceremony at the Church of Saint John the Baptist, an AFP photographer said, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the capital Amman. The mass was led by Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. "By celebrating today in this holy place, the place of the baptism, we we are celebrating the presence of Jesus among us," said Pizzaballa, urging Christians worldwide to visit the site. During the ceremony the priests dipped their fingers in the water they drew from the Jordan River and used it to bless the congregation, emulating the baptism of Jesus. "Jordan is a unique example of coexistence, security and stability in the region," Pizzaballa said, urging worshippers to pray for peace in the region. Wadi al-Kharrar, or Bethany Beyond the Jordan, is where biblical historians believe Jesus was baptised by his cousin, John the Baptist, and began his public ministry. A ceremony held by Pope John Paul II at Wadi al-Kharrar in 2000 was taken by Jordanians as confirmation that this was the original baptismal site. Another site on the Israeli-occupied western bank of the Jordan River is also venerated. The remains of several churches, baptismal pools and a sophisticated water reticulation system -- some dating to the Roman era -- have been discovered in Wadi al-Kharrar. In 2015, UNESCO added the site to its World Heritage List. Tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world visit Wadi al-Kharrar and other sites in Jordan of interest to Christians each year. Christians represent six percent of Jordan's mostly Muslim population of 9.5 million. As part of a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Hertz Global Holdings has agreed to pay a civil fine of $16 million over financial misstatements. The misstatements affected the rental car giant's earnings reports from February 2012 to March 2014, making it appear the company was in stronger financial shape than it actually was. The SEC stated it considered the "remedial acts promptly undertaken" by Hertz in accepting the company's offer for a settlement. The company has replaced numerous senior and lower-level employees since the errors were revealed. Those changes included former CEO and President Mark Frissora, who stepped down in September 2014, citing personal reasons. Investors had called for his resignation, criticizing his leadership and management over accounting and operational missteps. The company also replaced its lead independent director in 2014. More: Looking for affordable housing? Cities you can easily find a home under $100,000 More: Older workers are driving job growth as boomers remain in workforce longer More: People left key fobs inside their cars and auto theft hit an 8-year high Hertz agreed to "cease and desist" from committing any future violations of the federal securities laws. The company declined to comment directly on the settlement. According to the SEC, Hertz violated multiple sections of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. After its own review, Hertz identified $235 million in reported income that didn't comply with generally accepted accounting principals. One of the largest misstatements valued at $48 million was related to its "subrogation," which involves how the company offsets expenses for vehicles damaged during rental. In its investigation, the SEC found the accounting errors were made in a "pressured corporate environment, where, in certain instances, there was an inappropriate emphasis on meeting internal budgets, business plans and earnings estimates." Story continues Specific findings included: For years, Hertz's allowance-related expenses were understated and income was inflated because of inappropriate estimation methodologies. The company didn't adequately disclose to investors the effects of its decision in 2013 to hold the rental cars in its U.S. fleet longer. Also in 2013, the company reaffirmed its financial guidance, despite internal analysis that indicated it was based on inaccurate information. When Hertz restated its financial results for 2011, 2012 and 2013, the company identified 17 areas with material accounting errors across its business units and 11 material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting. The company acknowledged "an inconsistent and sometimes inappropriate tone at the top" that might have contributed to the errors. The inaccurate information was provided in the offer or sale of securities, leading to multiple violations of federal laws. Hertz neither denied nor admitted to the SEC's findings. The SEC stated Hertz representatives met with its staff on "multiple occasions, voluntarily providing information likely to be of interest." The Hertz Corp., a subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings Inc., operates the Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty and Firefly vehicle rental brands in about 10,200 corporate and franchisee locations throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere. Hertz Corp. is one of the largest worldwide rental companies. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Hertz fined $16 million by SEC for financial misstatements affecting 2012-14 Shares of Google parent Alphabet Inc. GOOGL have popped since Christmas along with fellow FAANG giants Amazon AMZN, Netflix NFLX, and Facebook FB. Despite this recent climb, GOOGL stock rests roughly 18% below its 52-week high and boasts some impressive growth projections. Overview Google became one of the worlds most valuable companies on the back of its search engine. Today, Google controls roughly 37.1% of the total U.S. digital advertising market, which tops second place Facebooks 20.6%. Last quarter, Googles ad business surged roughly 20% to hit $28.95 billion. Alphabets other divisions have also helped boost the companys overall revenues recently. The firms Pixel smartphones currently compete against Apple AAPL and other smartphone makers. Plus, Googles new Home Hub has gained steam in the larger home assistant market, driven by the rise of Amazon Alexa-supported devices. In fact, Google other revenues, which includes the Google Play Store, Googles Cloud offerings, and its hardware business, saw its revenues jump by $1.05 billion, or over 29% to touch $4.64 billion last quarter. Meanwhile, Googles other bets segment climbed roughly 25% to $146 million. This business features its self-driving car segment Waymo, among other future-looking divisions. Despite Googles growth and outsized influence on our digital age, the companys stock price has fallen roughly 6% over the last year, which includes its 8% post-Christmas climb. GOOGL stock also dip 1.33% Friday to $1,064.47 per share. This marks a roughly 18% downturn from its 52-week high of $1,063.59. Outlook & Earnings Trends Looking ahead, Alphabet is expected to see its fourth-quarter 2018 revenues jump 20.8% to reach $31.26 billion, based on our current Zacks Consensus Estimate. Meanwhile, the companys fiscal 2019 revenues are projected to climb 20.4% above our current year estimate to reach $131.85 billion. Story continues At the bottom end of the income statement, GOOGL is projected to see its adjusted Q4 earnings jump 14% to hit $11.06 a share. Meanwhile, the companys full-year 2018 earnings are expected to surge over 31%. Peeking ahead to the following year, Alphabets adjusted fiscal 2019 earnings are projected to climb nearly 13% above our 2018 estimate. Investors should also note that GOOGL has earned some positive earnings estimate revisions for Q4, as well as for fiscal 2018 and 2019 over the last 30 days. This means at least some analysts are more optimistic about the search engine giant than they were when the quarter got underway. Bottom Line Alphabet is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at the moment based, in large part, on its recent earnings estimate revisions activity. Plus, the tech giants stock rests 18% below its 52-week high. Going forward, it seems hard to imagine Google relinquishing much of its digital ad dominance, despite Amazons emergence as on online advertising power. Google, Facebook, and Amazon will also likely become even more attractive as Netflix and other non-ad supported firms steal more people away from linear TV. Plus, the companys other bets division could end up bearing fruit at some point over the next decade. We should remember that Google has faced criticism for its massive control over the flow of information, and government intervention is always a possibilityno matter how unlikely it truly is. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Washington (AFP) - Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and US President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka are among possible US candidates to replace outgoing World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, The Financial Times reported Friday. Kim abruptly announced Monday he was cutting short his tenure as the bank's president more than three years before his second term was due to end. In addition to Trump and Haley, who stepped down as US Ambassador to the United Nations last month, other names being floated include Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs David Malpass and Mark Green, head of the US Agency for International Development, the newspaper reported. Ivanka Trump in 2017 was the driving force behind a $1 billion, Saudi-supported World Bank fund to promote entrepreneurship by women. The Treasury Department told AFP on Friday that it had no comment in potential candidates. The department has received a "significant number of recommendations," a spokesperson said. "We are beginning the internal review process for a US nominee. We look forward to working with the governors to select a new leader." Under an unwritten agreement, the United States, which is the bank's largest shareholder, has always chosen its leader since the institution was founded following World War II. But the success of a US candidate no longer appears completely assured. Kim was the first American nominee to face a contested election for the World Bank presidency in 2012 and the bank's board has said its selection process will be "open, merit-based and transparent," implying non-US candidates would not be ruled out. The World Bank Board said Thursday it would start accepting nominations for a new leader early next month and name a replacement for Kim by mid-April. Miami International Airport plans to close off one of its terminals this weekend due to staffing shortages caused by the ongoing partial government shutdown. Airport spokesman Greg Chin told the Miami Herald that the security checkpoint at the G terminal is expected to be closed starting at 1 p.m. local time Saturday, the 22nd day of the federal governments partial shutdown. Transportation Security Administration workers who would normally screen that terminal will be moved to busier checkpoints. We felt we had to make a decision before the weekend, Chin told the Herald. Theyre erring on the side of caution. Planes will be able to drop off passengers at the terminal during the closure, but departing passengers wont have gate access. The terminal is expected to open Sunday and Monday for morning flights before closing again in the afternoons, Chin said. United, Frontier and Bahamas Air are among the airlines found in Terminal G. United said it does not anticipate any negative impact from the closure, as it plans to use gates in two other terminals. The airline said it will also tell customers to arrive early and to double-check their departure gate. We will work to ensure we do everything we can for our customers flying through Miami, and continue to work closely with the TSA and other relevant agencies, United spokeswoman Andrea Hiller told HuffPost. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees, including TSA workers, missed their first paycheck on Friday. TSA employees have been either working without pay throughout the shutdown or increasingly calling in sick as they look for new jobs or take on extra work to pay the bills. Aviation industry workers gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to call for ending the shutdown. President Donald Trump remains no closer to ending his stalemate with Democrats over his demand for $5.7 billion to build a border wall. HuffPost readers: Are you affected by the government shutdown? Email us about it. If youre willing to be interviewed, please provide a phone number. Story continues Related Coverage Government Shutdown Threatens Native Americans' Access To Health Care Trump's 'National Emergency' Gambit May Be The Easiest End To The Shutdown Thousands Of Federal Workers Just Missed Their First Paycheck Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. "We don't see any diminution of the terrorist threat in the island, with or without martial law." Close on the heels of the recent extension of martial law in Mindanao for another year starting January 1st, we ask: Was it justified? And will it lead to elusive peace and development in Mindanao? We recall that the political opposition stoutly opposed this move of the Duterte administration, pointing out that there was no actual rebellion or lawless violence in the island that required emergency rule. Martial law was first declared over the whole of Mindanao after the outbreak of the Marawi siege in late May 2017 by an estimated 800 to 1,000 members of the Islamic State-influenced Maute Group. When the siege ended in early November after five months of fierce fighting, martial law was extended until the end of 2017, then extended again for the whole of 2018 to mop up the remnants of the Maute Group and prevent them from regrouping. The third extension, the government said, was necessary as various rebel groups continue to pose a threat to peace and order in the island as a whole. That we still have an unstable peace and order situation in Mindanao cannot be denied. This is clear in the Dec. 31 bombing of the Southseas shopping mall in Cotabato City that led to the death of two people and the wounding of 37 others. Another improvised explosive device found near a lottery outlet on the second floor of the establishment was deactivated by bomb experts about an hour later. The bomb attack took place after the deaths of four members of a local Islamic State-inspired group in an encounter with covert military operatives last Dec. 22 in Maguindanao province. Two of the fatalities in that incident were foreigners, one a Singaporean and the other, an Indonesian. Local officials and traditional Moro elders in the three towns identified one of the two other fatalities as the younger brother of a radical cleric named Abdulmalik Esmael, more known as Abu Toraife, figurehead of the third faction of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Abu Toraifes group has been blamed for the deadly Aug. 28 and Sept. 2 bombings in Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat that left a total of five people dead and injured more than 30 others. The threat from IS-linked groups appears very real, from where we sit. The Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research believes that there are up to 100 foreign fighters in Mindanao who want to pursue their goal of putting up an east Asia wilayah (or Islamic State province). The foreign fighters in Mindanao are said to have mainly travelled not only from neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia but also from Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Middle East.The armed forces also believes that there are about 40 foreign fighters remaining in the country, with 40 others in their watchlist. The presence of foreign fighters is likely to embolden local pro-IS groups in their bid to declare a caliphate in Mindanao. The continuing terrorist threat is borne out by the suicide bombing by a foreign fighter from Morocco in July that killed 11 people. It was claimed by IS as a martyrdom operation. The terrorist threat in Mindanao is also underscored by the apparent establishment of a pro-IS coalition composed of at least three factions of the BIFF, Abu Sayyaf, Ansar al-Khilafah and the Maute Group. The problem is that Mindanaos borders with Malaysia and Indonesia are porous, thus allowing foreign fighters to easily cross over to the island. Hence, the Philippine government is working with both Malaysian and Indonesian authorities to block the border through joint maritime patrols and sharing of intelligence. A keen observer of the Mindanao conflict, Zachary Abuza, Southeast Asia analyst at the National War College in the US, concludes that based on the Marawi experience, foreign fighters play a very important role in bridging the parochial divides between Filipino groups. He shares the view that there could be around 40 foreign fighters in Mindanao at present, perhaps doing training for locals and waiting for the right opportunity to do another Marawi. He stressed the serious threat they posed, amid what he feels is increased support especially among the youth for pro-IS groups in Mindanao. To the question of whether martial law can immediately restore peace in Mindanaoor a modicum of itwithin the year through military operations and vigorous law enforcement, we think thats not likely given the extent of the terrorist threat and the pervasive poverty in Muslim Mindanao that can be exploited by the Mautes and similar groups to draw more recruits to their cause. In short, we dont see any diminution of the terrorist threat in the island, with or without martial law, in the next few years. Paris (AFP) - Ride-hailing giant Uber has lost an appeal in France brought by a former driver who wanted his terms of employment recognised as a fully-fledged work contract. Fabien Masson, a lawyer for the plaintiff, hailed Thursday's ruling by the Paris Court of Appeal as a "landmark decision". It follows a similar court decision last month in Britain that Uber should grant workers' rights, including the national minimum wage and holiday time, to its drivers. Uber said Friday it would challenge the ruling in France's highest appeal court, La Cour de Cassation. "Drivers choose to use the Uber application for the freedom to connect to it when they want," a spokeswoman said. "Drivers can decide to connect in real time and without any requirement of exclusivity," she said, adding that the company was appealing the ruling so as to "preserve... this flexibility." Uber says it is precisely this flexibility, giving its drivers freedom over when they work, which means they are self-employed and that there is no employer-employee relationship with them. Uber has long maintained it is simply a service provider, connecting people needing a ride with drivers -- either amateurs or professionals, depending on the country -- in about 630 cities worldwide. On that basis, Uber, which operates in over 60 countries and which intends to offer shares to the public later this year, has always maintained that its drivers are self-employed. The Paris court ruling specifies that the contract between Uber and its former driver was "an employment contract" because the driver was dependent for his work on the ride-hailing app. The former driver first sued Uber in June 2017, two months after the firm had desactivated his account "depriving him of the possibility to get new reservations", according to the court. The court also noted that the driver had signed a "registration partnership" with Uber which did not allow him to choose his own clients or set his own rates. Story continues Uber in effect exercised "control" over the driver by actively discouraging him from turning would-be clients away. The driver, who stopped working for Uber in 2016 after providing some 4,000 trips in under two years, had sued to have his "commercial accord" reclassified as an employment contract. He was seeking reimbursement for holidays and expenses as well as indemnities for "undeclared work" and contract termination. In an initial ruling last year, a French court found in favour of Uber, saying its drivers were free to refuse a trip and were not subject to any oversight by Uber in terms of time worked. The European Court of Justice meanwhile has also found the US group to be a transportation service, subject to the same regulations governing traditional taxis and other ride providers. On Thursdays Fox & Friends, frequent Fox News contributor Tammy Bruce took issue with the new guidelines laid down by the American Psychological Association to help psychologists work with men and boys. One of the takeaways she took issue with is the idea that traditional masculinity involves dominance and aggression and is on the whole harmful. If we didnt have mens courage, and aggressiveness, and focus, and determination, wed still be living we would be living in caves right now. Bruce, in her conversation with co-host Ainsley Earhardt, went on to say that the modern world is the result of the male framework of wanting to move forward and create things. And she explained why she thinks the new guidelines are using gender stereotypes. There is a suggestion that masculinity, and that would mean all men, are prone to violence, or homophobia, or sexual violence, or sexual harassment, Bruce said. Women involve those things as well, women can be violent, women do sexual harassment. Bruce called for Americans and psychologists around the country to reject these findings and insisted that masculinity and feminism are part of the natural balance. After noting to that the APA considered homosexuality a mental illness until 1974, Bruce talked about another group that she said should reject this. The gay community especially should reject this, because it condemns an entire group of individuals of being sick or not well because of inherently who they are, Bruce said. Fox & Friends airs daily at 6 a.m. on Fox News. Watch CNN contributor Ana Navarro start filing her nails during a live on-air debate over the border wall: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: A firefighter staged a fake fire at his home in order to surprise his girlfriend with a marriage proposal. Zach Steele, 30, used smoke machines to create the illusion of fire at his home in Ventura County, California, in the USA. The stunt took place in November last year. The firefighter staged a fire then proposed to his girlfriend. [Photo: SWNS] Placing six remote-controlled machines in the attic of his house, Zach managed to convince his university sweetheart Maddison Ridgik, also 30, that the building was on fire. At the time, the couple were hosting friends and family for a party. Zach used smoke machines to create the illusion of a blaze in the attic. [Photo: SWNS] Meanwhile, Zach was nowhere to be seen, having claimed he was at the supermarket. Soon afterwards, he arrived with colleague Brian Mulvehll in a fire truck, before getting down on one knee and proposing to Maddison. Maddison was convinced there was fire coming from their houses attic. [Photo: SWNS] According to US publication Inside Edition, Maddisons initial response upon seeing her now-fiance turn up was: What is happening? This is not freaking funny. Is our house fine? This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. However, she soon warmed up, Zach told the publication. I think she saw my face and calmed down, and realised what was going to happen, he said. Thankfully, Maddisson saw the funny side when Zach proposed. [Photo: Getty] Maddisson told SWNS: When he got down on one knee, I was so emotional. I was still shaking and crying yet so excited. It was truly the best, most indescribable moment of my life. Not every marriage proposal goes so to plan. Recently, a cyclist unwittingly wrecked a couples honest proposal photo after three months of planning. In another instance, a mans wedding proposal halfway through his girlfriends first marathon went down well with his bride to be, but divided the internet. Additional reporting from Elizabeth Victoria/SWNS.com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. Read more from Yahoo Style UK: From getting the right size to picking a gemstone, how to choose the perfect engagement ring for your partner Proposing at Christmas: is it a good idea? Woman uses cousins manicured hand in engagement photos (because her own nails werent done) The torrid pace of private investments in space startups slowed somewhat last year, but remains at a high enough level to fuel further development of the burgeoning sector. Investors ranging from venture capital firms to aerospace and tech companies to prominent billionaires like Jeff Bezos pumped a total of $3 billion in equity investments into companies like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, HyperSat, and iSpace, investment firm Space Angels said in its quarterly report on the sector. That was down from $4.6 billion raised in 2017, but consistent with the trend seen over the past four years averaging about $3.5 billion annually. Traditional venture capital firms have become a strong part of the mix, Chad Anderson, CEO of Space Angels, says. Venture capital investment in space is now a generally accepted theme, he says, adding that 41 of the 100 largest VC firms have invested in at least one space startup. Given all this, we expect significant investment in space to continue in 2019. SpaceX, Musks rocket launching firm that is also trying to build a massive satellite network to provide Internet service, raised nearly $800 million in two deals, Space Angels said. Rocket Lab, which is launching smaller rockets from bases in New Zealand and Virginia, raised $140 million. HyperSats $85 million deal will help the company advance its plan to launch six high-resolution imagery satellites into low Earth orbits. And iSpace, the Japanese company planning to send landers to the moon, raised $90 million. Accel Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, and Playground Global were among large VC firms that made their first space investments in 2018, Space Angels said. Billionaire businessmen Amazon amzn CEO Jeff Bezos, Budget Suites hotel chain founder Robert Bigelow, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, and Tesla tsla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, also contributed hundreds of millions of dollars in 2018 to space startups they started in prior years. The two largest types of startups within the sector attracting new money in 2018 were companies launching rockets, at $1.6 billion, and companies creating satellite networks, at $1.2 billion. New York (AFP) - Fiat Chrysler has agreed to a $515 million US settlement on charges it installed "defeat devices" on cars to evade emissions tests, the US Justice Department announced Thursday. The auto giant will recall and repair more than 100,000 diesel vehicles sold in the United States at a cost of about $185 million. The remaining funds will go to civil fines and mitigation payments to the United States and the state of California. US officials said FCA's EcoDiesel Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee for model years 2014-2016 were built with software designed to operate differently during emissions tests compared with real-world conditions. As a result the cars spewed nitrogen oxide and other pollutants at "much higher" levels than allowed in the United States or California, the Justice Department said. "Fiat Chrysler broke those laws and this case demonstrates that steep penalties await corporations that engage in such egregious violations," Principal US Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio said in a statement. California will receive $78.4 million as part of the settlement for violations of the state's clear emissions standards. California Attorney Xavier Becerra said the automaker "tried to evade these standards by installing software to cheat emissions testing." "The company not only violated the law and our trust but did so at the expense of our environment. With this settlement, we are holding Fiat Chrysler accountable and securing important funds for environmental protection efforts." - No admission - The settlements follow the Volkswagen scandal over defeat devices that has spawned billions of dollars in fines, civil settlements and criminal prosecutions of former executives with the German giant. But unlike the VW case, the Justice Department said FCA did not initially admit that there was anything wrong with their vehicles. "It took us a while to figure out how they were doing it," one US official told reporters, noting that staff had to delve "into the computer codes to figure out what exactly they had done." Story continues FCA continues to maintain that the violations were not intentional. "The settlements do not change the companys position that it did not engage in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat emissions tests," FCA said in a statement. The required fix to the vehicles will involve a free software fix with no need to modify any hardware, the statement said. "We acknowledge that this has created uncertainty for our customers and we believe this resolution will maintain their trust in us," said Mark Chernoby, the companys Head of North American Safety and Regulatory Compliance. The Justice Department said the FCA agreement "does not resolve any potential criminal liability" or consumer claims. Veterans of the Democratic establishment, unsettled by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs lack of deference to seniority and party unity, have cautioned the freshman lawmaker to direct her potent social-media attacks toward Republicans rather than centrist Democrats. Im sure Ms. Cortez means well, but theres almost an outstanding rule: Dont attack your own people, Representative Emmanuel Cleaver (D., Mo.) told Politico. We just dont need sniping in our Democratic Caucus. Since upsetting six-term incumbent Joe Crowley in a primary last summer and winning election to Crowleys old seat in November, Ocasio-Cortez has used her immense social-media following to chastise fellow Democrats she believes are insufficiently progressive and too beholden to the antiquated establishment. The 29-year-olds zealous confrontations with more senior lawmakers, which she appears to have dialed back in recent weeks, have drawn the consternation of those concerned about the potential for her to splinter the party. Video: AOC Responds to Joe Lieberman's Complaints About Her I think she needs to give herself an opportunity to know her colleagues and to give herself a sense of the chemistry of the body before passing judgment on anyone or anything, said Representative Yvette Clarke (D., N.Y.). Shes new here, feeling her way around, said Representative Kurt Schrader (D., Ore.). She doesnt understand how the place works yet. In responding to the Politico article Friday morning, Ocasio-Cortez quoted a character from the comic book Watchmen to signal her intention to resist the influence of more experienced lawmakers. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Ocasio-Cortez was denied a seat on the influential Ways and Means committee this week despite a public pressure campaign launched by progressive advocacy groups. The former bartender, who joined a climate-change protest in Speaker Nancy Pelosis office during her freshman congressional orientation, also demanded the creation of a specific committee to further the implementation of a so-called green new deal, but was refused that as well. More from National Review Riesa (Germany) (AFP) - Far right party AfD meets from Friday to decide whether to champion Germany's exit from the EU in their campaign for the upcoming European parliamentary elections, at a time when Brexit is already roiling the bloc. Members of the anti-immigration party are holding a four-day congress to firm up a manifesto for the May 23 elections, when populists and nationalist groups are expected to make gains across Europe. If the party's rank-and-file decides to adopt the "Dexit" plan, the AfD would open another front in its battle against mainstream political classes in Germany as it smashes yet another taboo, after having already openly questioned the country's atonement culture over World War II. A move to become Germany's Dexit party would also bring it back to its roots -- the AfD was founded in 2013 on an anti-euro platform, although it has since shifted focus to champion an anti-immigration ideology. But such a move could yet prove risky in a country that is still largely pro-European, and the AfD itself too is split on the radical proposal to put 2024 as a date to potentially yank Germany out of the EU. - 'Hard to sell' - According to the party's 58-page campaign strategy for debate at the congress, the AfD will argue that the EU was "developing into an undemocratic structure". If reforms were not carried out to fix the problems in the next five years, "then an exit of Germany or an orderly dissolution of the European Union and the formation of a new European economic community would be necessary". Among the reforms the AfD wants to see is a European parliament that is cut down from its current more than 700 deputies to a maximum of 100 representatives. But the proposals face opposition even from leading members of the AfD, including its main candidate for the European polls, Joerg Meuthen. "If we're pragmatic, we should assume that we won't be able to implement all our European political demands within five years," he told Welt daily. Story continues "If we say that Dexit is 'necessary', then we'd essentially be binding ourselves to heading towards an EU-exit. I find that wrong," he said, adding he would find it hard to sell the idea to voters. - 'Testing the waters' - Historian and political analyst Klaus-Peter Sick believes the AfD could be simply testing the waters with the Dexit proposal. "The AfD is testing even within its own party to see where its own positions are, but also where its electorate is prepared to go. Because for the AfD, the European elections are not that important, what it is focusing on are really the regional and general elections." The AfD became Germany's biggest opposition party after winning 13 percent of the vote in 2017 elections, capitalising on anger against Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open the door to refugees in 2015. It has now set its sights on European elections ahead of three key state polls in eastern Germany where it could well top the charts. With appetite growing for populist policies from Italy and Poland, the vote in May could see nationalist and far-right parties across Europe upend the bloc's balance of power, now dominated by the centre-right. Yet post-war and reunified Germany remains largely pro-European, with a survey in November showing 67 percent of Germans voicing optimism about the future of the EU, six percentage points above the average. And Merkel's decision to step down in 2021 has deprived the AfD of its bogeyman, leaving it stagnating in the polls at around 15 percent. At the same time, the AfD itself remains deeply divided between a radical right that is at times close to the neo-Nazi movement, and a more moderate strand. Underlining the tensions, a key member of the radical faction, Andre Poggenburg, quit the group on Friday to start his own party, saying he could not defend a "patriotic line" adequately if he remained in the AfD. Malacanang on Friday expressed optimism that the new law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte to institutionalize telecommuting as an alternative work scheme will also contribute in easing the traffic conditions in Metro Manila and other urban areas across the country. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Republic Act No. 11165 or the Telecommuting Act was signed to adapt to the different work environments of the changing times. We laud our lawmakers for the timely passage of RA No. 11165 since telecommuting as a work arrangement is fast becoming the new norm, with the Filipino labor market starting to open up with alternative avenues in view of computer technologies, Panelo said in a statement. With its full implementation, we are optimistic that this arrangement can also contribute in easing the traffic conditions in Metro Manila and in other urban areas, he added. The spokesman noted the new law will give fair treatment to telecommuting employees in the private sector as they can now work from home or any place outside the employers premises. They will still be given the same treatment and entitlements as those employees physically working at the offices, Panelo, also the Presidential Legal Counsel, explained. We are confident that the Department of Labor and Employment will perform thoroughly as it leads the government put into action the directives of the law, he added. According to him, the signing of the landmark piece of legislation is a recognition of an emerging and innovative Filipino workforce. Under RA 11165, employees from the private sector can now have new and alternative avenues in carrying out their tasks through telecommuting and other flexible arrangements. This will allow employees to work from an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunication and computer technologies. However, the law stresses that an employer in the private sector can only offer a telecommuting program to its employees on a voluntary basis.Telecommuting will be allowed on the grounds that such terms and conditions shall not be less than the minimum labor standards set by law, including compensable work hours, a minimum number of work hours, overtime, rest days, and entitlement to leave benefits. The employer shall also ensure that telecommuting employees are given fair treatment as that of comparable employees working at the employers premises. Meanwhile, telecommuting employees shall receive a similar rate of pay, shift differentials, monetary benefits, rest periods, regular holidays, and special non-working days. They shall also have the same workload performance standards, access to training and career development opportunities, and collective rights as those of comparable employees working at the companys premises. To ensure its proper implementation, the Department of Labor and Employment shall establish and maintain a telecommuting pilot program in select industries that would last for a period of not more than three years. The said agency shall be responsible for baselining, scoping, and profiling research work prior to implementation, regular quarterly monitoring, and evaluation, the law stated, tasking DOLE to submit a report to Congress on its findings. Within 60 days from the effectivity of the law, the DOLE, in consultation with the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, shall issue the appropriate implementing rules and regulations. The act will take effect 15 days after its publication in the governments official gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. The RA 11165 was a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1363 and House Bill No. 7402, which was passed by the Congress in October 2018. The President then approved the act last December. WASHINGTON "I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall," President Donald Trump said on June 16, 2015, when he announced his White House run. "Mark my words," he said. Americans did mark and many mocked those words, which Trump repeated at virtually every campaign stop after that announcement, up through the general election. But he is now arguing that he never said Mexico would pay for the wall directly. "When during the campaign, I would say Mexico is going to pay for it, obviously I never said this. I never meant they're going to write out a check," Trump told reporters at the White House Thursday before departing for a review of the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. The U.S. is now locked in a 20-day partial government shutdown poised to become the longest in American history over Trump's demand that American, not Mexican, taxpayers fund the construction of a border barrier. Congressional Democrats have repeatedly pointed to Trump's past promises of Mexican payment in their refusal to grant his request. "I said they're going to pay for it. They are," Trump said Thursday. He explained that Mexico would pay for the wall, which he now says will be a steel barrier, through the reduced trade deficit he believes will result from his renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The new deal, which the White House calls the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, has not yet been approved by Congress. Trump worried congressional Democrats might try to block the deal "because they want to do as much harm as they can." "Obviously" he did not mean Mexico would cut the U.S. a check when he pledged "Mexico will pay for the wall, in front of thousands and thousands of people," he said. "But they are paying for the wall indirectly many, many times over by the really great trade deal we just made," Trump said. Story continues There are two major problems with Trump's assertions, however. He did say Mexico would pay directly During the campaign, Trump was generally vague about how Mexico would pay for the wall, saying, "They will pay in one form or another." But he also floated a number of specific ideas about how Mexico would pay for it. An August 2015 campaign position paper said "Mexico must pay for the wall and, until they do," the U.S. would "impound all remittance payments derived from illegal wages," increase fees on visas and ports of entry into the U.S., and possibly implement tariffs or cut aid. An April 2016 campaign memo outlined similar ways of pressuring Mexico. That plan explicitly said Mexico would make "a one-time payment of $5 - 10 billion" for the wall. The memo also proposed threatening to block remittances from Mexican nationals in the U.S. back to Mexico which the campaign said amounted to $24 billion a year. The plan was to then "tell Mexico that if the Mexican government will contribute the funds needed to the United States to pay for the wall," the rule blocking the money transfers would not be enacted. "We have the leverage so Mexico will back down," the memo said. A little more than two weeks before his inauguration, Trump admitted, in response to news reports, that taxpayers might have to initially pay for the "Great Wall (for sake of speed)" but vowed it "will be paid back by Mexico later!" On Aug. 28, 2017, Trump told reporters at the White House that "it may be through reimbursement, but one way or another, Mexico will pay for the wall." Trade deal won't pay for wall A year ago, Trump told The Wall Street Journal that Mexico would pay for the wall "indirectly through NAFTA. OK?" "You know, we make a good deal on NAFTA, say Im going to take a small percentage of that money and its going to go toward the wall. Guess what? Mexicos paying," Trump said. Last month, Trump tweeted, "Our new deal with Mexico (and Canada), the USMCA, is so much better than the old, very costly & anti-USA NAFTA deal, that just by the money we save, MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL!" This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. But economic and trade experts told FactCheck.org that Mexico paying for the wall through the USMCA was "not possible." In addition to the fact that all three nations still have yet to ratify the agreement, the money doesn't add up and the entire concept is based on a misguided perception of how trade works, experts said. "USMCA is definitely positive for the U.S. economy but a fairly minor update to NAFTA," Kent Smetters, an economics professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School, told FactCheck. "In fact, the additional revenue to U.S. relative to NAFTA would, optimistically, not cover annual maintenance and improvements of the wall much less the original build." "In economic terms, the new deal is not, in fact, better than the old one, but it may (only may) benefit U.S. workers to a small extent," University of Michigan international economics professor Alan Deardorff said. "I dont see any way that it actually brings in money to our government." "Even if we accept conceptually the argument that government revenue attributable to the revised trade agreement constitutes Mexico paying for the wall, there are no plausible assumptions of USMCAs impact that would see government revenue increase by $25 billion," said Brookings Institution fellow Geoffrey Gertz, citing estimates for the cost of a concrete border wall. Gertz also said Trump uses "a zero-sum view of trade, where one countrys gains are anothers losses which cuts against the typical economists arguments that free trade is positive sum, that both sides to the agreement benefit." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump border wall: 'Obviously' I never meant Mexico will pay directly This years Womens March is almost upon us [Photo: PA] On 21 January 2017, the first day of Donald Trumps presidency, the world came together in protest at the Womens March. From Washington to Tokyo, Cape Town to Dublin, the collective turnout in the 600 marches across the globe smashed initial predictions and made it one of the largest protest gatherings in history. But what originally began as an objection to the presidential inauguration, grew into a fight for womens rights, gender equality, LGBT rights, workers rights, civil rights, immigrant rights and on and on. It was a day of dedication and determination. And that determination hasnt dissipated even now that a couple of years have passed. In fact, if anything the desire to make a difference has merely grown. This month, in whats now become an annual tradition, another march is in the offing and its going to be equally as impacting. Heres everything you need to know about 2019s Womens March. When is it? The London Womens March 2019 is taking place on Saturday 19 January. Starting at noon, those participating in the 2019 London Womens March are going to be meeting at the BBC headquarters at Portland Place in Marylebone, W1A. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Whats the theme? This years march is themed around the classic demand of the womens movement bread and roses, explains co-organiser Rachel Krengel. Under austerity women have suffered the loss of domestic violence services, childrens centres and a devastating reduction in welfare payments. We are taking to the streets to protest this. This years Womens March has a Bread & Roses theme [Photo: PA] Why Bread and Roses? The phrase bread and roses was originally used in a speech by American union leader Rose Schneiderman in 1911 during a rally fighting for female workers rights, who said that: The worker must have bread, but she must have roses. What she meant by this was that women should be entitled to both bread (decent wages) and roses (dignified conditions). Her words went on to became a defining phrase of the womens suffrage movement, and have held significance ever since. Story continues Those attending the march on 19 January are being asked to bring flowers in keeping with the theme and to signify new beginnings. Who will be there? Though the march is expected to be largely female-centric, people of all genders, ages, abilities, sexualities and ethnicities are invited to come along. In addition to the thousands expected to attend, the event is also likely to draw in some high-profile participants. British celebrities such as Emma Watson, Dame Helen Mirren and Charlotte Church have all showed their support in previous years. This years speakers include Helen Pankhurst, womens rights activist and great-granddaughter of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, Labour MP Dawn Butler and activist Munroe Bergdorf. I cant attend, how can I still show support? By hitting up social media with the hashtag #WeAreChange. According to the website this is: (i) a PLEDGE to protect and serve each other with love, unity and solidarity; (ii) a PROMISE to exercise our civic duty to vote in every circumstance that will shape a progressive society; and (iii) a CONVICTION to call out any racism or form of phobia we see online and offline. Why is it so important to keep marching? As long as inequality exists women must keep marching against it, explains Rachel. Every victory ever won by the womans movement was won through action, and we cannot and will not stop until every marginalisation and inequality is defeated. Where can I find more information? You can find all details on the Womens March London on the official website. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. Read more from Yahoo Style UK: 1918 vs 2018: 13 things women couldnt do 100 years ago Women are putting on their #OutOfOffice to protest against the gender pay gap A third of women in the UK believe their gender has held them back Google chief executive Sundar Pichai - AP An advisor to the European Court of Justice has sided with Google in a dispute over the right to be forgotten rule, which allows European residents to remove some references to themselves from search engine results. Frances data regulator has argued that the right to be forgotten should apply to the entirety of Googles search engine, not just the separate versions created for countries in Europe. Google, however, has argued that the rule only applies to its search engine in Europe. On Thursday, Advocate General Maciej Szpunar told the European Court of Justice that EU law "should limit the scope of the de-referencing that search engine operators are required to carry out, to the EU. The non-binding opinion is a victory for Google, although the Luxembourg-headquartered European Court of Justice is yet to follow the recommendation. Judges typically follow the legal opinions of the advocate general, however. If worldwide de-referencing were permitted, the EU authorities would not be able to define and determine a right to receive information, Mr Szpunar wrote, let alone balance it against the other fundamental rights to data protection and to privacy. The opinion did not entirely back Googles argument, however. Mr Szpunar recommended that Google must uniformly apply the right to be forgotten across all Google search engines in the EU, rather than removing search results from international versions of the site when accessed from the country which the complaint originated from. In a statement, a spokesman for Computer & Communications Industry Association, a lobbying body for technology giants including Google, welcomed the opinion. The opinion "balances EU residents' right to be delisted while respecting the constitutional rights of citizens outside of the EU," said CCIA Senior Manager Alexandre Roure. "We hope the final court ruling will take the same pragmatic and balanced approach," he added. A final judgement is not expected from the European Court of Justice until three to six months time. Sao Paulo (AFP) - The share price in Brazilian airplane manufacturer Embraer soared Friday as markets reacted favorably to the country's President Jair Bolsonaro approving a merger with us giant Boeing. The share price jumped 7.43 percent on the Sao Paulo stock exchange, despite Ibovespa falling 0.28 percent. It came a day after Bolsonaro announced he wouldn't be using his veto powers to block the merger between two of the world's three biggest aviation companies. Embraer's shares had taken a nose dive last week after Bolsonaro had expressed concerns over the deal. But now the $5.2 billion deal, which will see Boeing take control of Embraer's commercial airplane manufacturing business -- 80 percent of its operation -- will go ahead. Embraer will only retain control of its military division. On Thursday, Bolsonaro had said he was satisfied that "the final proposal preserves (Brazil's) sovereignty and national interests." Embraer was founded as a state group in 1969 before being privatized in 1994, although the Brazilian government retained a "golden share" giving it the right to veto strategic decisions for the company. Kinshasa (AFP) - Parties supporting outgoing Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila won a majority in long-delayed legislative elections, according to an AFP tally of results released Saturday, as the opposition sought a recount of the disputed presidential poll. Pro-Kabila parties had passed the 250-seat threshold required to secure a majority in the 500-seat national assembly, according to collated results from the Independent National Election Commission (CENI). More than 15,000 candidates were running in the poll, which determines who will control parliament for the next five years. Pro-Kabila candidates had secured 288 of the 429 seats so far declared, with 141 going to the opposition. The huge central African country, which straddles an area the size of western Europe, has been in the grip of a two-year political crisis triggered by Kabila's refusal to step down when his two-term constitutional limit expired at the end of 2016. A presidential election to choose a successor was delayed three times before finally taking place on December 30, the same day as the legislative poll. The poll's runner-up Martin Fayulu, an opposition candidate tipped by pollsters as the likely winner of the vote, told supporters on Friday he would demand a recount. He said he would challenge Corneille Nangaa, head of the election commission "to produce the tally reports from polling stations in front of witnesses" and Congolese and international observers. Provisional results released on Thursday gave Felix Tshisekedi, a rival opposition candidate, 38.57 percent of the vote, just ahead of Fayulu with 34.8 percent. Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the candidate backed by Kabila, came a distant third with 23.8 percent. The declared result was a surprise to many observers of the mineral-rich but poverty-stricken country, which has suffered two major wars in the past 22 years, as well as bloodshed in elections in 2006 and 2011 that saw Kabila returned to office. Story continues Pre-election opinion polls had flagged Fayulu as clear favourite while Kabila critics predicted an outcome rigged in favour of Shadary. The powerful Roman Catholic church bluntly said CENI's provisional result "does not correspond" with data that its 40,000 election monitors had collected at polling stations. Fayulu's bloc on Friday said he was the true victor, claiming he had garnered 61 percent of the vote. Candidates have 48 hours after the result to file any appeal, and the Constitutional Court has a week in which to deliberate. "We don't expect the election to be annulled, but (a decision in favour of) a recount," Fayulu said. - Unstable giant - Polling day had unfolded relatively peacefully, but suspicions over the count have deepened. The turmoil has darkened hopes that the country will have its first peaceful handover of power since it gained independence in 1960. International reactions to the results have been guarded. Most leaders issued statements calling for any disputes to be resolved peacefully, but notably lacking any congratulations for Tshisekedi. Competing appeals in the dispute were pitched to the UN Security Council on Friday. CENI chief Nangaa, speaking by video conference, pleaded for "the new authorities to be supported by the international community". Bishop Marcel Utembi, head of the Catholic church's conference of bishops, urged the Security Council to ask CENI to release the records of vote-counting at polling stations to allow for verification. - Tshisekedi-Kabila deal? - Analysts said they believed Kabila, 47, had sought to avoid the expected backlash and international condemnation that would have followed had Shadary -- the candidate he publicly supported -- been declared winner. According to this scenario, he therefore struck a deal with Tshisekedi, head of the country's oldest and biggest opposition party. Some commentators suggested Kabila would have sought immunity from prosecution for his iron-fisted 18-year rule, and protection from assets seizure in return for offering his support. Thursday's pre-dawn announcement brought thousands of Tshisekedi supporters onto the streets in celebration, while others who had backed Fayulu came out to protest. The authorities late Friday imposed an 8pm-5am curfew in Kikwit, a Fayulu stronghold in the west of the country, city mayor Leonard Mutangu told AFP. Five civilians were killed there on Thursday in a police operation to curb post-election violence, said National Police spokesman Colonel Pierrot-Rombaut Mwanamputu. Seventeen police were injured, he said, denying earlier reports of police fatalities. A relay station of the national radio and television broadcaster, RTNC, was also ransacked, he added. In the eastern city of Goma, at least one person was killed, officials said. Kinshasa (AFP) - Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was on Thursday declared winner of DR Congo's presidential election, but his victory was dismissed by the runner-up and questioned by the Catholic church, clouding the vote's legitimacy and hopes of peace. In a pre-dawn announcement, election officials named Tshisekedi, son of the country's long-term opposition leader, provisional winner of the troubled vote to replace President Joseph Kabila. The news brought thousands of supporters onto the streets while others who had backed his opposition rival Martin Fayulu came out in protest. Four people died in unrest. Fayulu, who came a close second, denounced the result as an "electoral coup." The Democratic Republic of Congo's influential Catholic church also said Tshisekedi's victory did not tally with data collected by its own monitors. "These results have nothing to do with the truth at the ballot box," Fayulu told Radio France International. "They have stolen the Congolese people's victory and the people will never accept that." At stake is political stewardship of the notoriously unstable central African nation, which has never known a peaceful transition of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. Election chief Corneille Nangaa declared Tshisekedi the winner with 38.57 percent of the vote, just ahead of Fayulu with 34.8 percent. Kabila's preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, came a distant third with 23.8 percent. The last two elections in 2006 and 2011, both of which were won by Kabila, were marred by bloodshed, and many fear a repeat of the violence if the result lacks credibility. Two civilians and two policemen were killed Thursday and another 10 people injured when a protest erupted in the western city of Kikwit, a Fayulu stronghold, police said. - Wild celebrations - In Kinshasa, thousands of people converged upon the headquarters of Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the country's oldest and largest opposition party, singing and dancing at his surprise victory. Story continues Pouring onto the streets, they celebrated wildly, cheering and honking car horns in scenes of joy that lasted into the morning under the bemused eye of the security forces who had fanned out across the capital. In his first remarks after the result, the portly 55-year-old, who has never held high office or even a managerial role, immediately pledged to work closely with Kabila. "Today we should no longer see him as an adversary, but rather as a partner for democratic change in our country," he told supporters. But elsewhere in Kinshasa, the mood was sombre, with representatives of the Catholic church openly disputing the figures released by the Independent National Election Commission (CENI). "The result of the presidential election as published by CENI does not correspond with the data collected by our observer mission from polling stations and counting centres," said Father Donatien Nshole, spokesman for CENCO, which represents the country's Catholic bishops. The Church has long been pressing for the departure of Kabila, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 2001, well beyond the limit of his second and final term in December 2016. - Calls for calm - Abroad, the mood was watchful, marked by a noticeable lack of congratulations for Tshisekedi. Many have eyed the developments in sub-Saharan Africa's largest country with concern, with the United Nations leading calls to avoid violence. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian dismissed Tshisekedi's victory as "not consistent" with the actual results, indicating that Fayulu had won. The African Union said it "took note" of the result and warned any dispute over the outcome should be "resolved peacefully." The European Union also simply acknowledged the result -- as well as Fayulu's objections to it. It said it was awaiting clarification from international observers and urged all sides to refrain from violence. In contrast, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged "all regional and international interested parties to refrain from speculation" and let the election board complete its work. The announcement of an opposition win was a shock as many had expected the results to be stacked in Shadary's favour, prompting heavy international pressure on Kinshasa to respect the wishes of the electorate. - 'Tshisekedi debt to Kabila' - The vast central African country has been increasingly on edge over the long-delayed vote. Kabila had been due to step down two years ago but held on to power, sparking a political crisis and protests that were bloodily repressed. "Kabila did not want to risk announcing Shadary as the winner, which would have triggered violent protests and international condemnation," said Robert Besseling, executive director of risk consultancy EXX Africa. "Instead, he chose to split the opposition by creating a power-sharing deal with Tshisekedi." Tshisekedi "owes his ascendancy to power to Kabila's control of the electoral commission," and in exchange Kabila would look for immunity from any prosecution or asset seizure after handing over power, Besseling said. burs-hmw/ri Donald Trump is becoming closer to declaring a national emergency so he can fund his controversial southern border wall. A three-week stalemate has seen the partial shutdown of the US government, which will see around 800,000 workers without pay today. Mr Trump has threatened to use presidential emergency powers to declare a national emergency, so he can bypass congress to obtain the 5.7 billion dollars (4.4 billion) he is demanding for the wall. The President claims White House lawyers have assured him that the action would withstand legal scrutiny 100%. He said that if for any reason we dont get this going, referring to an agreement with Democrats who have refused to approve the funding, I will declare a national emergency. On a visit to McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande, Donald Trump highlighted what he called a crisis of drugs and crime (Picture: Reuters) On Thursday, it was reported that Mr Trump had stormed out of a meeting with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a temper tantrum something he denied. Speaking on a visit to McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande on Thursday, Mr Trump highlighted what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime, saying he felt badly for people that have family members that have been killed by criminals who came over the border. MORE: Brexit paralysis could lead to UK staying in EU, says Jeremy Hunt MORE: Less than half of failed asylum seekers are removed from the UK, report claims He said: Were either going to have a win, make a compromise because I think a compromise is a win for everybody or I will declare a national emergency, Mr Trump said before departing the White House for his visit to the border. Visiting a border patrol station in McAllen, where he viewed tables piled with weapons and narcotics, Mr Trump said: A wall works. Nothing like a wall. Donald Trump talks to US Customs and Border Protection officers at McAllen International Airport as he prepares to leave after a visit to the southern border (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) He also announced he was cancelling his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, scheduled for later this month, citing Democrats intransigence on border security. The partial shutdown would set a record early on Saturday, stretching beyond the 21-day closure that ended on January 6 1996, during Bill Clintons administration. We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. On the other hand, wed be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So before you buy or sell AdEPT Telecom plc (LON:ADT), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling. Do Insider Transactions Matter? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. We dont think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Harvard University study found that insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year. View our latest analysis for AdEPT Telecom Want to help shape the future of investing tools and platforms? Take the survey and be part of one of the most advanced studies of stock market investors to date. AdEPT Telecom Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Non-Executive Director Christopher Kingsman made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for UK395k worth of shares at a price of UK3.05 each. That implies that an insider found the current (approximate) price enticing. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the companys future. We generally consider it a positive if insiders have been buying on market, even if the share price has increased a bit since then. Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 149.55k shares worth UK461k. In total, AdEPT Telecom insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. The average buy price was around UK3.08. Its great to see insiders putting their own cash into the companys stock, albeit at below the recent share price (UK3.46). You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Story continues AIM:ADT Insider Trading January 11th 19 I will like AdEPT Telecom better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Insider Ownership of AdEPT Telecom For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon its a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. AdEPT Telecom insiders own 43% of the company, currently worth about UK35m based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At AdEPT Telecom Tell Us? There havent been any insider transactions in the last three months that doesnt mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like AdEPT Telecom insiders think the business has merit. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. Of course AdEPT Telecom may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. 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. Astrologists believe star signs can determine romantic compatibility. [Photo: Getty] Astrology, the art of reading star signs in order to make sense of day to day life, is a popular hobby. In fact, 58% of millennials admit they consider it scientific. According to the zodiac system, each of us has a star sign corresponding to when our birthday falls. So, can knowing your star sign help you to determine your love life? Yes, according to dating app Bumble, which has launched a new star sign filter. The new filter is said to allow astrologically-inclined users to control which star signs they match with, and filter out certain signs they wish to avoid. With this in mind, Yahoo UK spoke to astrologer Ann-Louise Holland (@venusandvesta), to find out which star signs are compatible and which pairings are best avoided. Ann-Louise explains the elements rule is important when considering zodiac pairings. As a rule, all the water signs get on with the other water signs, and the earth with earth, fire with fire, etc, she says. Water signs: Scorpio, Cancer and Pisces Air signs: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn Fire signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius However, it is not always the case that people have to stick with their elements. There are some innately good combinations that work to inspire and excite the other sign without having the same elemental force, Ann-Louise says. Likewise some combinations are easy to irritate and need work to stay happily connected. Heres what you should be looking for: Aries Gets on well with: Aries is dynamic and likes certainty, says Ann-Louise. So this fire sign has deep respect for the insight and surety that comes with Scorpio. The Aries ram is even prepared to slow down to get the mystery info out of the Scorpios shadow. They both have a strong ego and understand those games without getting burnt. Clashes with: Aries are badly equipped to deal with the emotional waters of Cancer, a star sign associated with a changeable personality. Taurus Gets on well with: This sign matches well with Libra, thanks to a shared love of creature comforts. Also, Taurus likes the way Libra can manage (or manipulate) situations to bring about the most pleasant occasions and people, says Ann-Louise. Story continues Clashes with: Taurus is not so fond of Aquarius as he really doesnt understand the conceptual ideas the water carrier thinks about Taurus needs facts. Gemini Gets on well with: Geminis are generally agreeable people who get on well with everyone, but this is especially true of Leos. The warmth and charm of the lion gives Gemini the immediate security he needs to be even more sparkling and the twins enjoy it when the Leo draws in a crowd to entertain. Clashes with: Capricorns frustrate Geminis, who cannot accept their need to have order and certainty at all times. These kind of details dont matter to a Gemini. Cancer Gets on well with: Cancer and Taurus are a match made in heaven. The home instinct in Cancer appreciates the steady, happy nature of the bull, says Ann-Louise. Taureans are stationary souls which Cancer can enjoy feeding and creating a home for one that the bull totally loves and is sure to give thanks for. Clashes with: Cancer and Sagittarius do not get on. Sagittarius are far too adventurous and far too frank for the delicate Cancer soul. Leo Gets on well with: Leo and Pisces are a complementary pairing, explains Ann-Louise. Leo likes to love and who better than Pisces who soaks up Leos sun rays like a black hole. As the King of the jungle, the lion can lead the Pisces fish, command them nicely, and the fish will follow how good is that? Clashes with: On the other hand, Leos are frustrated by Taurus regularity and consistency, which they consider dull. Virgo Gets on well with: Detail-orientated Virgos are a perfect pairing with Geminis, who are full of data and anecdotes to entertain them and give them new ideas to process. Clashes with: Virgos and Libras are a no-no, explains Ann-Louise. What Virgo doesnt like, is the love of luxury for nothing that Libra maintains as essential to life. This is far too impractical for the pure one. Libra Gets on well with: Luxury-loving Libras pair well with Sagittarius signs, who are never going to stop anyone having what they enjoy. Clashes with: Libra is ultimately harmonious and Aries is disruptive and loud, which does not go down too well with the sign of the balanced scales. Scorpio Gets on well with: Scorpios appreciate Capricorns drive to always aim for the best. Capricorn is steadfast and no one enjoys this kind of productive focus than the insightful scorpion. Clashes with: On the other hand, Scorpios do not like Leos. The lion is far too showy for the private scorpion. Sagittarius Gets on well with: Sagittarius works well with Aquarius signs. Sag loves the progressive thinking of the water carrier, which feeds his imagination and allows him to wander far and wide without having to move. Clashes with: Virgos pedantic nature is stifling for Sagittarius signs. Capricorn Gets on well with: Capricorn types enjoy the can do attitude of the Aries ram. Wind him up and watch him go, thinks Capricorn, as he plans another project that Aries will energise immediately. This Aries fire is exactly what can enable Capricorn to move mountains. Clashes with: The Pisces nature is far too indecisive for the Capricorn goat, who finds the fishs occasional maudlin unreasonable and intolerable. Aquarius Gets on well with: This sign is a great match with Cancers. The Aquarius need to save humanity pairs well with Cancers caring attitude and heartfelt solution. Ann Louise adds: The crab provides Aquarius with a variety of moods to work out, which keeps the water carrier wondering and pondering. Clashes with: To put it lightly, Aquarius and Scorpio do not get on. The closed shop that Scorpio puts up, turns Aquarius cold. Those scorpions are far too intense for Aquarius and they cant or wont work out the mystery; it seems far too dark for their lighter touch and independent nature. Pisces Gets on well with: Pisces, who have wild imaginations, enjoy Virgos more practical direction. It is exactly what the fish need to get along, says Ann-Louise. This qualifies the Pisces and provides them with a sense of purpose they find hard to achieve on their own. Clashes with: Geminis, on the other hand, are a bad combination with Pisces signs. The twins flit from idea to idea and speak too fast for the fish to comprehend or cope with. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. Read more from Yahoo Style UK: From orbiting to cookie-jarring, 2019s dating terms explained You can tell whether someone fancies you by their voice, according to science Woman snaps after date refuses to pay her 99 food bill Calling it one of the most significant take downs in the world, Facebook on Friday told the Philippine government it deleted 220 FB pages and 73 accounts and 29 Instagram accounts connected to a local digital marketing company and its subsidiaries. One of the pages, operated by Twinmark Media Enterprises, was followed by 43-million accounts, mostly from the Filipino community, the social media giant told the government. Facebook completely removed all of Twinmarks accounts and all its subsidiaries from its platform earlier on Friday, said Nathaniel Gleicher, head of the companys Cybersecurity Policy group. Some of Twinmarks most popular pages are Filipino Channel Online, Gorgeous Me, Unhappy, Text Message, and TNP Media. This is one of the most significant take downs in the world. Were not just removing the violating behavior, we are removing the entire organization, Gleicher said. When we take an action like this we dont take an action based on the nature of the content of the page Instead, were looking at the behavior, which is the selling of these pages and the spam policies, the Facebook executive emphasized.Twinmark Media was caught repeatedly violating Facebooks spam policies and manipulating public information through coordinated inauthentic behavior, using fake accounts, and selling administration access to Facebook pages to increase profit. We have notified the Philippine government already regarding it, but we dont recommend what the government should do. Were more focused on removing the violating behavior from our platform, Gleicher said. An example of Twinmarks violation, Gleicher said, is changing the name of its Facebook pages after gathering a large following and substantially changing the pages subject matter, which violates Facebooks policies on misleading and manipulating followers. Facebook has taken down more than 20 organizations like Twinmarks all over the world the previous year, Gleicher said. Our team is continuously looking for these types of behavior. And as we find these clusters, we will take them down, he added. Facebook initiated investigations as early as November 2018, when it first identified the group selling access to their Facebook pages. Sector - Tech fund seekers may want to consider taking a look at Columbia Seligman Communications and Information A (SLMCX). SLMCX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We note that SLMCX is a Sector - Tech option, and this area is loaded with many options. Found in a wide number of industries such as semiconductors, software, internet, and networking, tech companies are everywhere. Thus, Sector - Tech mutual funds that invest in technology let investors own a stake in a notoriously volatile sector, but with a much more diversifies approach. History of Fund/Manager Columbia is responsible for SLMCX, and the company is based out of Boston, MA. The Columbia Seligman Communications and Information A made its debut in June of 1983 and SLMCX has managed to accumulate roughly $3.77 billion in assets, as of the most recently available information. A team of investment professionals is the fund's current manager. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund in particular has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 17.63%, and it sits in the top third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 15%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. SLMCX's standard deviation over the past three years is 15.22% compared to the category average of 9.66%. The fund's standard deviation over the past 5 years is 14.65% compared to the category average of 9.76%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors cannot discount the risks to this segment though, as it is always important to remember the downside for any potential investment. SLMCX lost 39.92% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 13.39%. These results could imply that the fund is a better choice than its peers during a sliding market environment. Story continues Nevertheless, investors should also note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.07, which means it is hypothetically more volatile than the market at large. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. The fund has produced a positive alpha over the past 5 years of 5.71, which shows that managers in this portfolio are skilled in picking securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Investigating the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is principally on equities that are traded in the United States. This fund is currently holding about 86.18% stock in stocks, which have an average market capitalization of $188.29 billion. With turnover at about 39%, this fund is making fewer trades than comparable funds. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, SLMCX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.24% compared to the category average of 1.35%. SLMCX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. While the minimum initial investment for the product is $2,000, investors should also note that there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Columbia Seligman Communications and Information A ( SLMCX ) has a neutral Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, Columbia Seligman Communications and Information A ( SLMCX ) looks like a somewhat average choice for investors right now. This could just be the start of your research on SLMCXin the Sector - Tech category. Consider going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for additional information about this fund, and all the others that we rank as well for additional information. And don't forget, Zacks has all of your needs covered on the equity side too! Make sure to check out Zacks.com for more information on our screening capabilities, Rank, and all our articles as well. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The Telegraph Vaccine passports on the NHS app will automatically include a user's "natural immunity" to Covid for six months after contracting the virus without the need for an antibody test under a new trial. The scheme will see 180-day natural immunity certificates issued to people taking part in the Government's latest large event trials who have tested positive for Covid this year, even if they have not had an antibody test. Officials hope the scheme could eventually expand the number of people who could Shanghai (AFP) - At least 145 children were administered expired polio vaccines in eastern China, state media reported, despite the government promising to prevent such lapses in the industry following a major scandal last year. Thirteen county-level health officials in Jiangsu province have been dismissed since the case came to light earlier this week -- the latest to raise public health concerns -- Jinhu county government said late Friday according to state broadcaster CCTV. Three other county-level health officials are under investigation and a case has been established against a local official, the broadcaster said. A parent discovered earlier this week that a batch of orally administered polio vaccines were being given to children at a county-run health facility nearly one month after their December 11 expiration date, CCTV reported on Thursday. The local government has since found 145 children received the vaccines between December 11 and January 7, CCTV said, quoting a government source. Local health officials have said the expired vaccines would have decreased efficacy but should not cause adverse health effects. The World Health Organization's website says that people given such vaccines that have expired are "unlikely to get sick as a reaction to receiving the vaccine" but warns that they might not be adequately immunised. CCTV said some parents reported adverse reactions among children, including vomiting and drowsiness, but it was unclear if this was just a normal allergic reaction to the medicine. Beijing announced a nationwide clean-up of the country's vaccine industry last year after it emerged that a major Chinese manufacturer of rabies vaccines had fabricated records. Authorities maintain that affected rabies vaccines did not enter the market, but the case triggered public outrage over frequent safety scares involving sub-par or toxic food, drugs and other products despite repeated government crackdowns. Story continues The vaccines have been ordered sealed and the county has launched inspections of all health-related departments. The polio vaccine is provided free by the government for children between two months and four years old. AFP calls to the Jinhu government went unanswered. SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Several Chinese electronics retailers including Alibaba-backed Suning <002024.SZ> and JD.com have slashed iPhone prices this week, after Apple recently blamed poor sales of the smartphone in the country for a rare revenue warning. The discounting, as steep as $118 for the recently launched 64GB iPhone XR, is the latest sign that Apple's weak holiday sales in China may have extended to the current quarter. The price cuts on iPhones by Chinese retailers began in the middle of this week, with at least six offering promotions this weekend, according to checks done by Reuters. Apple did not respond to requests for comment. Prices for iPhones sold through its Chinese website remained unchanged. Such widespread price cuts are not uncommon around shopping festivals like Single's Day in November, but these cuts stand out as they affect Apple's latest XS and XR models that were released only months ago, said Mo Jia, a Canalys analyst who tracks China's smartphone industry. Jia believes Apple itself could have lowered prices of the phones it ships to distributors, or that distributors may have slashed rates in order to move more units. "It's possible Apple wants to test the market's feedback if it brings down the channel prices. Or, Apple might be under pressure to clean out its stock of iPhones," he said. Apple has been trailing local competitors such as Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] that offer cheaper options in China, home to the world's biggest smartphone market in terms of shipment volume. Last week, Apple issued its first revenue warning in nearly 12 years, citing poor Chinese demand, sending its shares down 10 percent, their biggest intra-day fall in six years. STEEP DISCOUNTS Suning announced on Friday that it would start selling the 64GB iPhone XR for 5,699 yuan, 800 yuan ($118.46) less than the device's sticker price in China. It is also selling the 64GB version of the iPhone 8 for 3,899 yuan, a 1,200 yuan discount. JD.com, a major online seller of consumer electronics, is offering promotions on models going back to the 8 series. Dangdang, one of its rivals, has launched a similar campaign. Brick-and-mortar retailer GOME Retail Holdings <0493.HK> has discounted a range of iPhone models, while several authorized Apple resellers on Tmall, a marketplace run by e-commerce giant Alibaba , are set to offer discounts on Sunday. Qian Chao, a district manager for Shanghai-based iPhone distributor DoubleRise Beijing Technology, said it was the company's decision to make the price cuts and that it had not received any official notice from Apple. Apple's China woes come against the backdrop of a broader slowdown in demand for gadgets across the tech sector as the country's economic growth slows, exacerbated by Beijing's festering trade war with the United States. According to government data, smartphone shipments dropped 15.5 percent annually in the country in 2018. Domestic Chinese brands, meanwhile, have won over local consumers with a wide range of devices at competitive price points. ($1 = 6.7533 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Josh Horwitz and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Brenda Goh and Himani Sarkar) By hosting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a fourth time, China has signalled again that it will not be sidelined in the diplomatic dance between its Cold War-era ally and Washington. With another nuclear summit looming between Kim and US President Donald Trump, a meeting between President Xi Jinping and the North Korean leader was inevitable, according to analysts. It has become something of a ritual: Last year, Kim briefed Xi before and after his historic summits with Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. China, which wouldn't want to be left out in the cold in any settlement, has worked to improve relations with its neighbour, which deteriorated after Beijing backed UN sanctions against North Korea. While Beijing has been angered by Kim's nuclear tests, it would not be happy to see its decades-old ally move closer to the United States at China's expense. "(China) does not think their interests would be threatened by better inter-Korean relations, whereas the possibility of a North Korean alignment with the US, even potentially, against China, I think it's Beijing's nightmare," Bonnie Glaser, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told AFP. "I don't think they believe it's impossible under President Trump... and this is one of drivers for Xi Jinping to keep Kim Jong Un close," Glaser said, noting that Xi reached out "very quickly" after Kim started engaging with Moon. China has played diplomatic wingman to North Korea, even loaning Kim an Air China jet to travel to his meeting with Trump in Singapore last year. Beijing is intent on keeping Pyongyang within its sphere of influence -- the North acts as a buffer state, keeping the 28,500 US troops in South Korea far from China's borders. Following their meeting in Singapore where Kim and Trump signed a vaguely-worded document pledging work towards the "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula", progress has stalled, with Pyongyang and Washington unable to agree on what that means. Story continues - Security guarantee - North Korea also needs to stay close to its Korea War ally if diplomacy fails. Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's ouster after giving up his own weapons programme are not distant memories. China could provide economic, political and security guarantees to North Korea in denuclearisation talks, said Hua Po, a Beijing-based independent political commentator. "If the Korean Peninsula declares itself to be a nuclear-free zone, China can make a nuclear security commitment to North Korea," he said. As Pyongyang's only major ally, Kim is hoping Xi can push for relief from the multiple sets of sanctions imposed on it over its weapons programmes. The US wants them to remain in place until gives up its arms, something Pyongyang has made no public promise to do. "North Korea is looking for something where... they would be rewarded for meeting certain goals, rather than sanctions being lifted only after CVID (complete, verifiable and irreversible destruction) of their nuclear facilities, which is what the US is adamant on," said Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. According to the official Xinhua news agency, Xi said he hopes North Korea and the United States will "meet each other halfway". - No reciprocation - China is "much more pragmatic concerning North Korea's denuclearisation path providing they do not provoke or upturn regional stability," Beijing-based analyst Tom Fowdy told AFP. "If Washington will not give him (Kim) economic concessions, China in a subtle way almost certainly will... albeit with the expectation he does make progress and does not return to belligerence." Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung was also adept at playing off Communist rivals Beijing and Moscow against each other during the Cold War to extract concessions from both. Yet it appears the overtures so far have been one-way: after four visits to China, Xi has yet to visit Pyongyang. North Korean state media reported Thursday that Xi accepted Kim's invite to visit, but this was conspicuously absent from Chinese media reports. "We've had another visit (by Kim), so why is it that Xi Jinping has not gone to Pyongyang and what would it take in order for that visit to actually take place?" said Glaser of the CSIS. "Both leaders see value in using this relationship and their engagement for their own purposes, but my take is that there is still a great deal of mistrust." ViaBTC China Bitcoin Chinas internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China(CAC) in a detailed document outlined a final draft of regulations concerning cryptocurrency and blockchain companies. The rules will come into effect starting February 19, and provide a set of guidelines that blockchain companies are required to follow. According to the CACs director: The Regulations on the Management of Blockchain Information Services has been reviewed and approved by the Office of the Internet Information Office of the State Council and is hereby promulgated and will be implemented as of February 15, 2019. According to the final draft, the State Internet Information Office is responsible for blockchain regulations at a national level, apart from state or province-specific authorities who oversee the regulations in respective states. China previously cracked down on ICOs by banning them in 2017, along with banning domestic cryptocurrency exchanges, dealing a huge blow to local exchanges such as BTCC. User Surveillance Some of the fleeting changes brought by the regulations include companies to record and log user activity, along with maintaining backups for at least six months. The data recorded should be handed over to the authorities when requested. Moreover, the rules require companies to verify users based on their national ID and phone number Registering Companies With Authorities Apart from this, blockchain service providers are required to register with authorities within ten days of providing the service. This process is done through a Blockchain Information Service Management System. A pivot or a change made by the service provider requires going through the procedure once again within five days. Once the filing process is complete, authorities will assess and enter the company into records within twenty days, reverting with a filing number. Companies are required to publically display their record number(eg: website, application mobile app) Story continues Companies that develop new products are required to report the same to authorities to undergo safety assessment in accordance with relevant regulations. Companies are also required to implement necessary changes in order to issue warnings to users, restrict and close accounts. Users who violate administrative laws and regulations should be reported to relevant authorities. The extensive document, encompassing twenty-four articles explicitly states that users are not supposed to use blockchain centric services to engage in illegal activities. Blockchain information service providers and users shall not use blockchain information services to engage in activities prohibited by laws and administrative regulations that endanger national security, disrupt social order, and infringe on the legitimate rights and interests of others Companies are also required to set up a robust system for managing complaints and address them in a timely manner. Periodic Inspections and Robust Security Authorities under the central government will be conducting periodic inspections. Blockchain companies are required to maintain correspondence with authorities through the blockchain service portal and provide relevant information as requested. The rules also dictate the requirement of strong security standards. This is perhaps because of the large amount of money lost owing to exchanges being hacked. Any company found to be in breach of the stipulated rules will be required to amend their offering, and their service will be suspended until the issue is rectified. The rules also outline fines ranging from 5,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan. Apart from this, criminal prosecution is also stated as a possibility wherever necessary. Censorship Given Chinas stance on censorship, it is not a surprise that the same applies within the blockchain niche. Blockchain service providers are required to be equipped with necessary procedures to tackle content and other information that is unintended for the public. Apart from this, providers are required to formulate a set of rules and conventions, convey them to users and make sure they are followed. For information content prohibited by laws and administrative regulations, they shall have immediate and emergency response capabilities for their release, recording, storage and dissemination. It should conform to the relevant national standards. Overall, the regulations seem fairly stringent. It is yet to be seen how they affect companies within China. Given the crackdown in 2017, these regulations are not a surprise. However, they might have an impact on neighboring India, which is about to announce cryptocurrency regulations soon. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post China to Enforce Regulation for Blockchain Companies in February appeared first on CCN. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. If getting your kids vaccinated against the flu is on your to-do list, this year you have the option of choosing between two types: the traditional shot and the nasal spray, FluMist Quadrivalent. Both are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) with equal confidence. Neither agency says one type should be preferred over the other for the 2019/2020 flu season. Thats a departure from recent years, when the nasal spray vaccine fell out of favor after research suggested that it was less effective than the traditional flu shot. Which should you choose for your child? Heres what to know about the nasal spray vaccine, why theres been so much back and forth about it, and how to best protect kids from the flu. The Nasal Spray Vaccine, Explained The nasal spray, first available in 2003, uses weakened or attenuated live flu viruses. They cant infect you, but they can teach the immune system to recognize and fight the flu virus if you're exposed to it. (The flu shot works in a similar way but doesnt use live viruses.) The nasal spray vaccine worked wonderfully for a number of years, says Hank Bernstein, D.O., a member of the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and a former member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. It was even recommended as the preferred method of vaccination for children ages 2 through 8 during the 2014-2015 flu season, because evidence suggested that it might be more protective for them than the flu shot. (At that time, the nasal spray appeared to work about as well as the flu shot for adults, says William Schaffner, M.D., a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville and a member of the ACIP influenza vaccine work group.) But subsequent research revealed that it was less effective in children than initially thought, particularly against H1N1one of two types of influenza A that commonly circulate during flu season. Story continues That led the CDC to recommend against it for the 2016 through 2018 flu seasons. FluMists manufacturer, AstraZeneca, reformulated the product, and the company's lab tests suggested that the new formulation would be more effective than the older version against the H1N1 strain. Based on that research, last season the CDC put FluMist back on its recommended list. But the AAP was less confident. It advised parents to opt for the injectable vaccine as their first choice for kids, and use the nasal spray vaccine only for youngsters who wouldnt otherwise receive the flu vaccine (due to a fear of needles, for example). This year the two groups agree that either the shot or the nasal spray is fine. How Well Does the New Spray Work? It's unclear exactly how well the reformulated nasal vaccine worked in the U.S. last season, because too few people here received FluMist then for scientists to estimate its effectiveness. But preliminary estimates from the U.K., where a nasal spray flu vaccine is commonly given to elementary-school-age kids, found it was 80 percent effective against H1N1. That encouraging news helped bolster the AAPs decision to recommend it for this season. Still, we might not see the same effectiveness levels here, says Flor M. Munoz, M.D., an associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the Baylor College of Medicine and a member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. And last seasons flu vaccine, both shot and spray, had little effect against H3N2, the other strain of influenza A that circulated last year. (The vaccines developed for this season contain an updated strain of H3N2, which may work better against this years flu.) Both Are Good Options Which vaccine to choose? Right now, experts say both types appear to be good options. With what we have right now, we dont have a reason to have a preferential recommendation anymore, Munoz says. But make sure you and your family members are inoculated one way or the other, experts say. Most children who die from the flu are unvaccinated, according to the CDC. Everyone 6 months of age and older should receive a flu vaccination (with a few exceptions, such as those who had a previous allergic reaction to the vaccine). The nasal spray is approved for people between ages 2 and 49, except for children with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and several other groups. FluMists manufacturer has reported a production slowdown this year, Munoz says, so the supply of the nasal spray may be low. If its not available near you, get the shot instead. (The CDC expects the overall supply of the flu vaccine will be sufficient for the season.) And get yourself and family members vaccinated soon, because it can take two weeks for full immunity to kick in. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated before the end of October. Thats especially important for children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years whove never been vaccinated before. They need two doses of vaccine (either type) at least 28 days apart. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2019, Consumer Reports, Inc. OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada is working with politicians and businesses in the United States to pressure President Donald Trump to scrap tariffs on its steel and aluminum, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday. Trump imposed the measures last May, citing national security. Canada condemned the move and initially suggested it would not ink a new continental trade pact with the United States and Mexico unless the sanctions were lifted. Trudeau, who did end up signing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement last November, said the government was trying to change Trump's mind as the United States prepared to start the ratification of the pact. "We have already been working with members of Congress, with governors, with business interests who are being affected negatively by these tariffs ... to put pressure on the President that in the process of ratification, they (the United States) should remove those steel and aluminum tariffs," he said. Trudeau made his remarks during a televised question-and-answer session with an audience in Regina in the western province of Saskatchewan. Asked why he had signed the USMCA with the tariffs still in place, Trudeau said securing the deal "at a time of unpredictability and protectionism in the United States was a massive priority for all Canadians". Canada sends 75 percent of all its goods exports to the United States. Trudeau and Trump discussed the tariffs on Monday but no talks on lifting the sanctions are planned, a Canadian source familiar with the matter said. U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said on Wednesday the measures would have to be lifted in order to get agricultural interests to support congressional approval for the USMCA. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 07: Governor Gavin Newsom delivers his inaugural address as his son Dutch, 2, walks on stage on January 7, 2019 in Sacramento, California. Gavin Newsom will begin his first term after serving as the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco as well as Lieutenant Governor of California since 2010 alongside outgoing governor Jerry Brown. SACRAMENTO, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $144 billion general fund budget in his first spending plan Thursday, up 4 percent from the current year. The new governors budget includes $13.6 billion to build the states reserves and to pay down state debt and its growing pension liability. Its in keeping with his promise to follow in the fiscally frugal path of his predecessor, termed-out Gov. Jerry Brown. Like Brown, Newsom said he is girding the state against an inevitable recession. This budget lays a strong financial foundation for our state by eliminating debts, expanding the rainy-day fund and paying down our unfunded liabilities, Newsom said in remarks prepared for his budget address. Newsoms proposal kicks off negotiations with the Legislature. Lawmakers have until June 15 to approve a balanced spending plan or lose pay. Newsom has already outlined more than $2.5 billion in spending proposals focused on early childhood education and health care. He also plans to ask lawmakers to vastly expand the states paid leave program for new parents. Hes framed his budget as a California for All agenda that looks to close the gaps between rich and poor. The Democratic governor is announcing his plans during a time of sustained prosperity in California, which clawed back from a $27 billion deficit following the Great Recession that required deep and painful cuts to education, health care and just about every other service offered. This year, state revenue has soared since lawmakers and Brown approved a $139 billion budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30. The nonpartisan legislative analyst projected in November that lawmakers would have a $15 billion surplus to allocate next year on top of $15 billion in the rainy day fund, which is at the maximum allowed under the state Constitution. Newsom will release his own revenue estimates along with his budget, which could include an even larger surplus if his economic forecasts are rosier. He did not immediately announce his budget surplus. Story continues He promised in his inaugural address Monday that his budget would be bold. We will aim high and we will work like hell to get there, he said. Among the budget items that Newsom has already outlined are a nearly $2 billion plan to support low-income children, with much of the money earmarked for construction of childcare facilities and kindergarten classrooms. Taking a page from Browns budget playbook, which targets as much new spending as possible on one-time expenditures that dont carry a long-term cost, Newsom has focused much of his new early childhood spending on construction projects. That will limit the long-term cost of his initiative and help Newsom maintain his pledge to preserve rainy day savings. He also wants a big boost in funding to provide full-day preschool and kindergarten to all children. Helping low-income children in the crucial early years of life, when brains are developing rapidly, was a central campaign promise for Newsom, who has four young children and was elected with an overwhelming majority in November. Newsom has also proposed expanding state-funded health care to low-income people living in the country illegally until their 26th birthday, up from a current cutoff at age 19. He wants to increase subsidies for people who buy their own insurance, rather than getting it from an employer or government program. His health proposals would cost $760 million a year. And he plans to propose a significant expansion of Californias paid leave program, which allows new parents to receive a portion of their paycheck while away from work following the birth or adoption of a child. Newsom wants to eventually offer six months of leave to be split between the parents, though his initial budget will include a smaller step in that direction. California currently replaces a portion of wages for six weeks for new parents, and birth mothers can take an additional six weeks of disability leave. The program is funded through a payroll tax. Its unclear how hed pay for a full six-month program. More: California Gov. Newsom plans $105M in new wildfire-related spending This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California Governor Gavin Newsom offers $144 billion budget; ups savings MAN ON TOP. President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during his speech at the ceremonial turnover of housing units to wounded police officers and soldiers in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan on Thursday. Boosted by strong scores from his home region Mindanao and Visayas, the President emerged as the most trusted government official in December 2018 in the latest Pulse Asia survey. Presidential Photo President Rodrigo Duterte emerged as the most trusted government official in December 2018, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.In its survey on the performance and trust ratings of key government officials, Pulse Asia said the President capped 2018 with an 81 percent approval rating in the last month, driven by strong scores in Mindanao and the Visayas. Dutertes approval rating was up by six percentage points from his previous 75 percent mark in September 2018. The Presidents trust rating, on the other hand, was at 76 percent, registering four-percentage-point increase from his previous 72 percent in September 2018. In the same survey, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo improved her trust and approval ratings, albeit from a low base. Arroyos trust rating in December stood at 21 percent, up from 19 percent in September. Her approval rating, on the other hand, rose to 27 percent. Those trust ratings are not new to me, she said when sought for comment. Remember I was pilloried very much when I was President so I havent done much to overcome that because I just have to do my work. My thrust is to concentrate on my work. I already said it the last time, I am not a stranger to those kinds of ratings, Arroyo added. The approval rating of the House of Representatives also improved to 66 percent, up 10 percentage points from the previous 56 percent. By region, Duterte received a 96 percent approval rating and a 91 percent trust rating in Mindanao; an 86 percent approval rating and 82 percent trust rating in the Visayas, and a 74 percent approval rating and 69 percent trust rating in Luzon. His lowest ratings came from Metro Manila, where he received a 69 percent approval rating and a 67 percent trust rating. The Palace welcomed the latest survey results. The survey results underscore that our people fully believe in the methods undertaken by the President in running the bureaucracy and the country, the Presidents spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said in a statement. The figures mean the public supported the third extension of martial law in Mindanao, the implementation of the P2 hike in fuel excise tax, and the arrest of party-list members in Davao del Norte. READ: Duterte keeps very good trust ratingSWS The Palace official also said that the survey was taken at a time that the Church, human rights groups, the opposition, and the critics were lambasting Duterte for his hyperbolic style of delivering narratives.It appears that the tirades against the President have been ignored by a huge majority of Filipinos, he added. The Pulse Asia survey is therefore another repudiation of the critics and detractors of [the President]. Their loud hysterical harping and assaulting the administration with their accusations and condemnation are in sharp contrast to the clamor of the Filipinos for genuine and transparent change, Panelo said. Vice President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, received a 62 percent approval rating and a 56 percent trust rating. Senate President Vicente Sotto III received a 74 percent approval rating and a 66 percent trust rating. Pulse Asia noted that while Sottos ratings increased, Robredos decreased. READ: Palace unmoved by clamor Pulse Asia noted that the Senate remains the most approved and trusted government institution as it acquired the highest approval rating at 69 percent and trust rating at 65 percent. The House of Representatives followed with a 66 percent approval rating and a 64 percent trust rating. The Supreme Court came last with a 64 percent approval rating and a 62 percent trust rating. The survey, conducted from Dec. 14 to 21, 2018, used face-to-face interviews with 1,800 Filipino adults. It has a +2.3 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. Some of the several key developments during the survey period was the Sandiganbayans decision finding Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos as guilty of graft, the acquittal of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. from plunder charges, the Houses approval on final reading of the federalism charter, the conviction of three police offers tagged in the murder of Kian delos Santos, and the Congress approval on the third extension of martial law in Mindanao. Pulse Asia research director Ana Maria Tabunda, meanwhile, told the ANC news channel that candidates in the May elections cannot rely solely on endorsements from popular figures such as the President. Beyond the endorsement, voters also look at the achievements and potentials of senatorial candidates, Tabunda told ANCs Early Edition. The most heavily endorsed candidate, former special assistant to the President, Christopher Go, has not managed to break into the winning circle of 12, despite an aggressive campaign using billboard and tarpaulins all over Metro Manila. READ: Lawmakers laud Pinoys optimism in SWS survey Shares of Netflix NFLX jumped nearly 5% through early afternoon trading Friday on the back of two analyst upgrades. The renewed positivity comes roughly a week before the beatdown streaming TV powerhouse is set to release its Q4 earnings results. Despite NFLXs continued post-Christmas Eve climb, Netflix stock rests roughly 20% below its highs, which means now might be the time to buy NFLX on the dip before a possible 2019 comeback. Upgrades Raymond James analyst Justin Patterson upgraded Netflix stock from outperform to a strong buy, citing the companys approaching profit inflection, strong content slate, and much more. Patterson also slapped a new $450 a share price tag on NFLX, which implies a 38% upside from its closing price of $324.66 per share Thursday. UBS also voiced positivity for NFLX stock Thursday, after analyst Eric Sheridan lifted his rating from neutral to buy and boosted his price target to $410 a share. With content spend now at a scale of the major media companies and titles continuing to demonstrate outsized marketplace success, we see the moat around NFLX's global positioning widening and its long-term secular winner status remaining intact, Sheridan wrote. Investors should also note that Goldman Sachs GS analyst Heath Terry reiterated his buy rating and $400 price target for Netflix stock last week. All of this analyst positivity has contributed to Netflixs 45% surge since Christmas Eve. In fact, NFLX has destroyed its fellow FAANG powers, Facebook FB, Apple AAPL, Amazon AZMN, and Google GOOGL, to start 2019. Still, investors have a chance to scoop up NFLX stock on the dip since its stock hovered at around $340 a share through early afternoon trading Friday, which marked a roughly 20% downturn from its 52-week high of $423.21. Netflix Overview Netflix took home more Golden Globes last Sunday, five, than any another other network or streaming service. The firm also ended HBOs17-year run on the top of the Emmy nomination last year. Both of these award show statistics are vital to Netflixs long-term success because in the end, the only thing that will matter in an ever-more crowded streaming space is the companys ability to roll out hit and critically acclaimed shows and movies. Story continues Yet, many investors have grown nervous about Netflixs original content spending, which is set to reach $13 billion in 2018. But CEO Reed Hastings knows that his company has to offer quality and quantity to stand out and attract customers over rival Amazon Prime and soon enough Disney DIS, Apple, and AT&T T. With that said, Netflixs new CFO Spencer Neumann must try to strike a balance between spending and returning value to shareholders. Netflix expects to produce a negative free cash flow of $3 billion in both 2018 and 2019. The company has also recently taken on more long-term debt. Yet the company clearly feels these are necessary moves to grow its subscriber base. We recognize we are making huge cash investments in content, and we want to assure our investors that we have the same high confidence in the underlying economics as our cash investments in the past, the firm wrote in its Q3 letter to shareholders. Netflix is currently the largest streaming firm, boasting more users than Primes more than 100 million and Hulus roughly 25 million total subscribers, which soared 48% this year. Plus, the company expects to add 9.4 million subscribers in Q4 to help bring its worldwide total to 146.5 millionthe firm added 8.3 million users in the year-ago period. And despite its growing revenues, subscriber growth might still be the metric Wall Street watches the most. Q4 Outlook Looking ahead, our current Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for Netflixs Q4 revenues to jump 28% to reach $4.21 billion. For reference, NFLXs revenues climbed 34% in the third quarter and 40% in both Q1 and Q2. Overall, NFLXs full-year revenues are projected to climb 35% from $11.69 billion in 2017 to hit $15.81 billion in 2018. Meanwhile, the firms adjusted Q4 earnings are projected to sink 39% from the year-ago period to hit $0.25 a share. Despite NFLXs expected Q4 earnings decline, the companys full-year 2018 earnings are expected to skyrocket 110.4% to reach $2.63 per share. Plus, peeking ahead to fiscal 2019, Netflixs full-year earnings are projected to soar roughly 55% above our 2018 estimate. Bottom Line Netflix has gone on an incredible run over the last five years as it went from content aggregator to original TV and movie standout. Today, the company is a legitimate Hollywood studio that has attracted some of the biggest movie stars on the planet. Plus, the streaming TV market is only set to grow around the world as linear TV fades, just look at some of Rokus ROKU early Q4 results (also read: Buy Roku Stock on the Dip After Q4 Streaming Hours Soar?). Lastly, investors should ask themselves if they imagine Netflix stock not at least returning to its 2018 high because it still has room to climb 20% before it hits that mark. Netflix is currently scheduled to release its Q4 financial results on January 17. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research EuroMillions winner Andrew Clark has vowed to honour the jobs he agreed to despite winning 76 million on EuroMillions (Picture: PA) A builder who won a 76 million EuroMillions jackpot has vowed to finish all the jobs he agreed to before his life-changing win. Andrew Clark drove round with the ticket in his van for six weeks before realising he had won. He and partner Trish Fairhurst, 51, went public over the 76,369,806 win just days before Christmas after finding out about the draw, which took place on November 2. Since winning the jackpot, Andrew has bought a four-bed house, an 80,000 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 and a Nissan Qashqai (Picture: PA) Andrew and partner Trish have vowed to look after their loved ones (Picture: PA) They have since bought a four-bed house, an 80,000 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 and a Nissan Qashqai, as well as splashing out on cars for relatives. But builder Andrew, from Boston, Lincolnshire, has reportedly told friends and colleagues he will honour all of the jobs he agreed to before he became a multi-millionaire, before taking early retirement to enjoy his winnings. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Plumber Gordon Jackson, 68, told The Mirror: Andy is a very conscientious bloke Hes going to honour the jobs hes started. Gordon told the newspaper he probably wouldnt be quite so conscientious, but added: But hes going to finish the jobs because he is an honest guy, a good bloke. Hes a good lad, dead straight. Fair play to the guy. MORE: Donald Trump moves closer to declaring national emergency to get funding for Mexico border wall MORE: Spectacularly bad panto offers refunds to all customers Grandfather-of-three Andrew scooped the 12th biggest win ever in the UK after buying the ticket in his local Post Office. He referred to himself as the man who nearly lost 76 million after revealing he stuffed lottery tickets in the sun visor of his van and only checked after Trisha nagged him to. Authorities are investigating a decapitation involving a helicopter at a Florida airport, according to multiple local media reports. The incident occurred at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport, in Hernando County. A Fire Rescue official, confirmed to local CBS station 10News that the victim was decapitated by the rotor of the helicopter. Deputies of the Hernando County Sheriff's Office are on the scene at Flight Path Drive in the grounds surrounding the airport. Sheriff Al Neinhuis said that call had come in about 3.35pm local time. He called it a "serious aircraft accident" that involved a death. A man had an interaction with the aircraft, Mr Nienhuis said. He died almost immediately, if not immediately. The sheriff would not say what kind of aircraft was involved, other than that it was a civilian craft. He said the aircraft was running, but not necessarily moving. Mr Neinhuis said that the incident accorded near the hangers, rather than on a runway. "It does appear to be accident," Mr Neinhuis said, but added that a major case unit was on its way to investigate. He said that authorities were still trying to contact next of kin. Other agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration are also being informed, the sheriff said. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Britain on Friday presented a United Nations Security Council draft resolution that would expand an international observer mission monitoring a ceasefire in Yemen and allow humanitarian aid to reach millions on the brink of famine. The council is expected to vote on the measure next week, diplomats aid. The mission would provide for the deployment of up to 75 monitors in the rebel-held city of Hodeida and its port along with the ports of Saleef and Ras Issa for an initial period of six months, according to the draft obtained by AFP. Talks between the Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels last month in Sweden on ending the devastating war led to an agreement on the observer force. A first group of about 20 monitors has been authorized by the council to begin work in Yemen, but their mandate was only for a month. The UN says a ceasefire that went into force on December 18 in Hodeida has been generally holding, but there have been hurdles in the way of redeploying rebel and government forces from the city. The draft calls on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to "expeditiously" deploy the full mission, led by retired Dutch General Patrick Cammaert. UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the council on Wednesday that "substantial progress" was needed to shore up the ceasefire before a second round of talks could be held. Under the Stockholm deal, the sides were to meet again later this month, but that has now been pushed back to February, diplomats said. The new United Nations Mission to support the Hodeida Agreement (UNMHA) will be tasked with supporting the Stockholm agreement by overseeing the truce, forces pullback and ensure the security of the city and ports. The port of Hodeida is the entry point for more than 70 percent of Yemen's supplies of imported goods and humanitarian aid. The war has unleashed the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the UN, which says 80 percent of the population -- 24 million people -- are in need of aid. Nearly 10 million people are just one step away from famine, according to UN aid officials. The conflict between the Huthis and troops loyal to the government escalated in March 2015, when President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia and the Riyadh-led coalition intervened. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) With spring training a little more than a month away, the Toronto Blue Jays made a significant roster adjustment on Friday. The Jays have traded Russell Martin to the Los Angeles Dodgers, putting an end to the trade rumours that had been swirling around the catchers name for most of the offseason. Martin spent five season with the Dodgers from 2006-2010. In return, the Blue Jays will receive SS Ronny Brito and RHP Andrew Sopko. In shipping Martin out of town, the Blue Jays pave the way for Danny Jansen to get the most possible playing time, while solidifying Luke Maile in the backup role. Although Martin is owed $20 million, the clubs payroll situation wont change dramatically as theyll likely be paying the lions share of that money. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. More Blue Jays coverage on Yahoo Sports Canada: Photo credit: Caiaimage/Agnieszka Olek - Getty Images From Popular Mechanics If youre looking for a new pair of frames, the internet is here to help. Youll get lower prices, more options, and the freedom to skip the weird ritual of staring at your own face in a public place while wearing a pair of glasses that many other strangers have also handled. Here are six sites that will help you settle on your next specs. When You Know What You Want Some sites have so many options that they can be overwhelming. But if you arent looking to browsesay you already have a pair of glasses that you really like and want something similarthese sites are very likely to have the glasses youre looking for. And they offer great deals and discounts. You can search by shape, material, and color to narrow down the choices. Also note the dimensions of your current favorite pair. Most glasses have the numbers for the lens width, bridge width, and temple arm length printed on the inside of one of the arms. That way youll be sure your new glasses will fit. EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of frames, with starting prices as low as $6 and frequent discounts. Most of the frames information pages helpfully show you what the glasses look like when modeled on both men and women. Photo credit: EyeBuyDirect.com Keep in mind that, although the frames themselves might be inexpensive, youll still have to pay for lenses. Photo credit: EyeBuyDirect.com Youll also have to spring for shipping unless you meet a free delivery threshold of $99. EyeBuyDirect gives you 14 days to return the glasses for a full refund or an equal exchange, and youll get one free replacement pair within the first year if there are clear defects in material and workmanship. The Japan-based company Jins, which put out these smart glasses back in 2015, also offers a decent selection of prescription specs. Its frames are on the pricier sidemostly in the $80 to $120 range, but that includes the cost of prescription, anti-glare, and UV-protective lenses. Shipping is free, and lenses and frames come with a one-year warranty. Story continues Photo credit: Jins.com You also have the option to buy a Collaboration Case for your glasses for $5; all the proceeds go to select nonprofits that support causes like wildlife conservation and childrens education. Full refunds or exchanges are allowed for non-sale items within the first 30 days after purchase, and Jins will include a prepaid shipping label if you do want to send your glasses back. Zenni gives you a lot of choices. This site is best suited for someone who already knows exactly what they want and/or often breaks or loses their frames; the company sells a bunch of very cheap pairs (some as low as $6.95, including no-frills prescription lenses) in, as mentioned, a lot of styles. Photo credit: ZenniOptical.com The search tools Zenni offers to help sort through all those choices are fairly useful: You can refine by color, shape, material, and size. Like many of the other sites, it also offers a style quiz to winnow down options. The suggestions feature is on point. Like EyeBuyDirect, Zenni also has a lot of add-ons, so unless youre comfortable with the bare minimum, you might end up shelling out more than you expect. Photo credit: ZenniOptical.com Although the site does have a virtual Try On optionyou upload your photo and the site superimposes an image of the frames on your faceand also aggregates images of people who have posted about a particular style on social media, those data points have some obvious limits. If youre waffling about a purchase and want to try it on before deciding, be aware that while you do have 30 days to return your frames, Zenni offers only a 50 percent refund if you want your money back. To get the full 100 percent, youll have to take an in-store credit. And regardless of the refund you choose, youll still have to pay for return shipping. GlassesUSA delivers custom prescription lenses and thousands of frame options, including designer brands and its own in-house collections. The glasses start at $38, though some prices often include free lenses. The site also has a clearance section that lists frames that are up to 60 percent off and lenses up to 25 percent off. You can virtually try on frames by importing a picture, using your webcam, or using one of GlassesUSAs models. Photo credit: GlassesUSA The sites search tool also has plenty of filters to help you find the right frames, including by shape and style and according to lens width, bridge width, and temple length. Plus, you can order special lens types like youd usually get from your eye doctors office, including anti-scratch and anti-reflective coatings, UV protection, hydrophobic coating, blue-light blocking, and other tints. Once youve selected and are ready to order, youll get free shipping and returns and a money-back guarantee. When You Need to Try Them On If you dont know your size, are looking for a new style, or are just a bit indecisive, these sites have great try-before-you-buy options. The NYC-based retailer has made itself essentially synonymous with buying glasses on the web, and for good reason. WPs site makes it painless to cut through the overwhelming number of options and settle on a style that you'll actually like. In some ways, its even better than visiting a brick-and-mortar store, where it can be difficult to keep track of the styles you actually liked as you try on every pair in the place. If you need a little help figuring out what you want, fill out the eight-question starter quiz to narrow down the size, frame shape, and colors that youre looking for. Photo credit: WarbyParker.com The site will then auto-suggest frames that you might like. Pick up to five (and you can always search the main site, too, if you want more variety) and Warby Parker will send you the pairs to try on at home for free. Photo credit: WarbyParker.com You have five days to try them on at home before mailing them back using a prepaid shipping label. If youre ready to commit to a style, just fill in your prescription information for the pair you liked. You wont be charged until you actually decide to purchase a pair (unless you damage or dont return the home try-on frames). Most frames start at around $95, which includes the cost of the prescription lenses. WP lenses all include scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, and hydrophobic coating, plus UV protection. You have up to 30 days to return them for a full refund. Felix + Iris offers a try-at-home program similar to Warby Parkers. With its At-Home Fit Kit, you can select four styles to try and have five days before you need to send them back. And Felix + Iriss fit selections get a little more detailed than Warby Parkers: You have the option to input your current frame measurements, which they then take into account when compiling recommendations. The site also offers more styles than WP, in case youre looking for something a little less Brooklyn. Photo credit: FelixAndIris.com Most single-vision frames start at $119 and are covered with a one-year warranty. You can return the glasses for a full refundwith free shippingwithin 30 days of purchase. Felix + Iris will also cover frame adjustment costs up to $25 within that initial 30-day period. Before You Order To buy prescription glasses online, youll need some info up front. First: a prescription. The American Optometric Association recommends that adults get an eye exam every one to two years. You can make an appointment with your usual optometrist or ophthalmologist. Many glasses stores like Pearle Vision or Warby Parker also offer in-store eye exams. Just make sure to check your insurance coverage before you go. You also need to know your PD, or pupillary distanceliterally, the distance between your pupils. This is important when making the lenses, to ensure that the optical centers of your glasses line up with your eyes. Sometimes the PD will be on your prescription. If not, Zenni offers this guide to measuring your own PD with a ruler and a mirror. Warby Parker has an interactive tool on its site that uses your computer or phone camera. Once Your New Glasses Arrive A few suggestions for what to do with your old glasses once you no longer need them: If the lenses and frame for your old pair are still intact and in pretty good shape, VSP Global, the health insurance company, will send you a donation box for free. They then work with Lions Club International to clean, label, and distribute frames to people in need around the world. New Eyes for The Needy is another nonprofit that will accept donations, although youll need to pay the cost of shipping to their New Jersey headquarters yourself (which will count as a tax-deductible expense). Some eyewear stores like LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, and Sears Optical will take old frames and recycle them on your behalf. Call your local branch to make sure before heading over. You Might Also Like Arguably, the most difficult part about going to the gym is ... making yourself go to the gym. And while the physical gym industry continues to boom, a digital fitness has also slowly started to climb with phone apps, wearables and new-home technology. According to Flurry Analytics, fitness app usage has skyrocketed by 330% over the past three years. And the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has reported that portable fitness tech was expected to generate around $6.4 billion in sales in 2018. These digital fitness companies, like the boutique-fitness app Studio, are betting that the digital market is still untapped due to the one thing a majority of gym-goers have in common: a smartphone. (Photo: Screenshot) Everyone has a smartphone... everyone has the internet connected to them, Lee Scantilides, Doctor of Physical Therapy in New York, told Yahoo Finance. Everybody wants to know their numbers. Everybody wants to track how often they work out. Like some of its fellow digital fitness apps, Studio allows its customers to take classes at any time from anywhere. Studio CEO, Jason Baptiste, says the strategy is to attract an audience of professionals and parents who do not have the time to arrive at boutique fitness classes right on the dot. What makes Studio really unique is our ability to have the world's best instructors, and to break down this idea of, like, the fourth wall between our members and our instructors, said Lisa Niren, Vice President of Content and Programming at Studio. WATCH MORE: All travelers leaving Japan will now pay a 'sayonara tax' MILAN (Reuters) - Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI) has agreed to pay for the reconstruction of the collapsed Genoa bridge, Italy's Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said on Twitter. ASPI, a unit of Italy's infrastructure group Atlantia , is ready to pay up to 439 million euros ($504 million) for the bridge to be rebuilt, two sources told Reuters. (Reporting by Stefano Bernabei, writing by Giulio Piovaccari) in connection with the grave threats complaint lodged by former congressman and now Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras. The case was raffled to Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 47 Judge Joeven Dellosa who set its arraignment and preliminary conference for 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 15. The court gave Trillanes 10 days to file his counter-affidavit. In his complaint, Paras saidthey both attended last year. He filed a. During a Senate hearing on May 29, 2018, Trillanes told Paras: Ang lakas ng loob mo. Hindi magtatagal ang amo mo. Matatapos din yan. Yayariin kita. Mercenaryo ka. Yayariin kita. (You think youre so tough? Your boss wont be there for long. His time will end. I will get you. Youre a mercenary. I will get you.) Lawyers Lorenzo Gadon and Elligio Mallari accompanied Paras in filing the complaint. Trillanes brushed off the complaint and said he was ready to face the charge against him. There is no truth in that complaint. He has the zero-credibility of a cellphone thief, said Trillanes, apparently referring to the theft case filed by Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin against Paras. Trillanes also said the latest case was proof that the allies of President Rodrigo Duterte would do anything to harass his opponents and critics. READ: Grave threat raps worsen Trillanes legal troubles Under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, a threat to kill a person is punishable by prision correccional or a jail term of six months and one day to six years. Also last year, the Pasay City prosecutors office found probable cause to charge Trillanes for inciting to sedition when he allegedly incited soldiers to shoot President Duterte during his privilege speech in October 2017. But Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Joahna Gabatino-Lim dismissed the complaint of conspiracy and proposal to commit coup detat against the senator. Both cases were filed also by Paras. Trillanes shot back at the President, calling him crazy for twisting the justice system. He [Duterte] was the one killing ordinary Filipinos, ordering soldiers to rape women, ordering the kidnap and torture of COA [Commission on Audit] members, and the holdup of bishops, and then, I was the one charged with grave threat by his minions, Trillanes said. Hes really crazy. Anyway, like all the other harassment cases filed against me, I will face this squarely, he added. Precisely, I will show these people that I am not afraid of them. READ: Palace respects court decision on Trillanes case (Reuters) - Apple Inc plans to launch three iPhone models this year with some new camera features, including three rear cameras for the most expensive model and two for the other models, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The new iPhones will succeed the XR model that has shown sluggish demand, which according to Apple was due to weak sales in China. That led several electronics retailers in the world's second largest economy to slash iPhone prices this week. Apple was not available for comment outside regular business hours. The Cupertino, California-based company has decided to stick to liquid-crystal display (LCD) at a time when sluggish sales of iPhone XR cut into its most recent revenue projection, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Last week, Apple issued its first revenue warning in nearly 12 years, sending its shares down 10 percent, their biggest intra-day fall in six years. Apple plans to continue with LCD model as the device has been in the production pipeline for months, the report said. However, for 2020, Apple will fully switch to the organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, display for iPhones, thereby completely dropping the LCD model, the report said. Shares of the company was nearly flat in premarket trading. (Reporting by Gaurika Juneja and Vibhuti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by James Emmanuel and Arun Koyyur) Women across Saudi Arabia, inspired by a teenager who fled the country to seek asylum in Australia amid fears that she would be killed by her family, are demanding further reforms including an end to the male-dominated guardianship system or else they will leave the country, they say. The emigration threats began trending on social media in the days since 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun was detained in Thailand on Saturday after escaping her relatives in Kuwait. Stripped of her passport and told she would be deported, Rahaf barricaded herself in a hotel at Thailands Suvarnabhumi Airport and broadcast her fears to the world. The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) intervened, and on Wednesday recommended her for asylum in Australia. The impact of Rahafs shrewd use of social mediaand the international support she was able to musterwas underscored by a Saudi diplomats lament, captured on video and shared by the teenager as she awaited news of her fate. I wish they could have taken her phone, rather than her passport, he could be heard saying. In the days since, an Arabic language hashtag that roughly translates as remove the guardianship system or well all migrate has trended on social media in Saudi Arabia, a country notorious for cracking down on dissent. Mark my words, [Rahaf] is going to start a revolution in Saudi Arabia, Egyptian-American journalist Mona Eltahawy said on a video posted to Twitter on Jan. 7, adding that the guardianship system is the foundation of patriarchy in Saudi Arabia. Like many other users, Eltahawy appended some of her tweets with the migration threat hashtag. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, known as MBS, has eased some restrictions on womens behaviors, including allowing women to drive legally for the first time. But Saudi Arabias guardianship system, which treats women as legal minors and requires them to get male guardians permission to travel, marry and more, remains intact. Human Rights Watch in 2017 called Saudi Arabias guardianship system the most significant impediment to realizing womens rights in the country. Story continues Rahafs case is only the latest to provoke outcry against Saudi Arabias guardianship system. In 2017, authorities detained 24-year-old Dina Ali Lasloom in the Philippines en-route to Australia, where she intended to seek asylum. Like Rahaf, Lasloom said her Saudi family had threatened her life and posted a plea for help on social media. Unlike Rahaf, local authorities forced Lasloom back to Riyadh. In June 2017, she was believed to have been moved to a womens shelter in the Kingdom, the BBC reported. Amnesty International says a shelter center set up in 2016 for women fleeing domestic abuse also serves as detention center, and those who want to leave may need a male relative to agree to their release. But Rahafs asylum plea follows the murder of journalist James Khashoggi, who had been critical of MBS regime. While several factorsincluding Rahafs public renunciation of Islam, a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabiamight have influenced the UNHCRs expedited ruling of her case, the more skeptical public relations context for Saudi Arabia post-Khashoggi killing certainly shifted the calculations of a Thai government weighing costs of returning the fleeing teen, as well as the Saudi governments insistence on her return, says Kristin Smith Diwan, senior resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW). Read more: Saudi Runaways Plight Puts Thailands Record of Failing Asylum Seekers in the Spotlight Since becoming Saudi Arabias de-facto ruler, MBS has undertaken several social reforms, including a gradual blunting of the authority of the religious police, or muttawas, an easing of restrictions on gender mixing and, last June, the end to the driving ban. The lattermost change led some to believe that Riyadh was taking major steps towards modernization, but some Saudi feminists dismissed the move as a PR stunt driven mostly by economic necessity. Khashoggis murder in Istanbul last yearwhich U.S. Senators say was ordered by the crownlargely put an end to Bin Salman efforts to cast himself as a reformer. Rahaf will not be celebrated in the Kingdom, says Smith Diwan. But she adds that Rahafs case might prompt state-sanctioned discussion about the application of some guardianship laws to move forward. Read more: Is the End of Saudi Arabias Driving Ban a Rebrand or a Revolution? Saudi women who call for reforms online certainly face risks. Social media is really a double-edged sword here, says Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty Internationals Middle East research director. In many cases, Amnesty International has documented individuals have been charged and in some cases, handed down harsh sentences for simply expressing their opinion on social media. Despite the danger, an online campaign called I Am My Own Guardian has since 2016 given voice to a new generation of young Saudi women, and helped push the passage of a law in April 2017 that ended the requirement for women to obtain male approval before accessing government services, according to writer Nora Doaiji. As of midweek, as Rahaf urged women to fight and get your rights, that campaign was resurgent. A physician wrote of her embarrassment at being able to make life and death decisions for patients while society still considered her a minor. We have been attacked, jailed, tortured, and shamed, another woman wrote. But with every passing day we grow stronger, braver, and smarter. A bill introduced in Congress this week that seeks to regulate marijuana like alcohol has been numbered "H.R. 420," a name the bill's sponsor has called a "tongue-in-cheek" reference to cannabis. A press release from U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer a Democrat from Oregon who is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus says that "while the bill number may be a bit tongue in cheek, the issue is very serious," according to Forbes. "Our federal marijuana laws are outdated, out of touch and have negatively impacted countless lives," Blumenauer is quoted as saying by the publication. "Congress cannot continue to be out of touch with a movement that a growing majority of Americans support. It's time to end this senseless prohibition." Blumenauer's proposed bill would remove marijuana from the federal controlled substances list. The "Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act" would establish regulation for cannabis that would be overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Jan. 10: Cannabis food, drinks to be 2019's hottest dining trend, top chefs say Dec. 17: NY Gov targets legalizing Marijuana in 2019 agenda The term "420" has become a global code for marijuana that dates back to the 1970s but gained popularity in the 1990s. The fact-checking website Snopes has documented numerous previous examples of cannabis-related legislation to have been numbered "420," many of which were introduced at the state level. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'H.R. 420' is a proposed bill that would regulate marijuana like alcohol Actress Angela Griffin (right) pictured here with best friend Lisa Faulkner says shes still insecure about her foot size. Scott and Bailey star Angela Griffin has revealed shes NEVER grown out of her hatred of her Size 9 feet. Speaking to host Kate Thornton on new podcast, White Wine Question Time, Ang admitted: I thought there would be a point when I wouldnt care about them, and I really, really do. I just want to wear nice shoes. Fellow guest Heidi Range protested: Ive never noticed your feet! But Ang was adamant, adding I hate them! As a child, she said, she had to go to a special shoe store to get bigger shoes, which she says were always hideous and had velcro straps. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Thankfully, Ang says she was never teased about them: I just wore black Nike trainers when I went to high school. While Kate joked that bullies would have been afraid to be kicked by her massive feet. Apart from her feet, youll be pleased to hear that shes a body positivity activist thanks to lessons from her mother. Actress and TV personality Angela Griffin (above) says she determined not to let her daughters inherit her body insecurities. My mum was always overweight like obese overweight so in our house when we were growing up, what you looked like [wasnt important], she said. I do feel that I took that with me for years and years. Filming in Canada, and doing pilot season in the U.S. definitely took its toll, she says. But she adamant that she doesnt fret about the overall package: Ive never been blonde, Ive never been thin: Ive never had to compete on that level. Ive always been other. So I dont even have to get involved in that. Theres no point, because Im never ever going to win that. That kind of helps with that confidence. All of the guests including Ang, Heidi and Lisa Faulkner agreed they would be having stern words with themselves about being more positive about their bodies: for the sake of their daughters. We have to walk around whether we believe it or not so that our daughters see that its not [that bad], Ang said. White Wine Question Time, which launched today, is produced by Yahoo and features host Kate Thornton quizzing three celebrity friends with three question punctuated by three bottles of wine. So were expecting many more celebrity confessions from this show! Story continues Listen to full episode below, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify to get first access to all the celebrity confessions. If you own shares in Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. (NYSEMKT:APT) then its worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. The first type is company specific volatility. Investors use diversification across uncorrelated stocks to reduce this kind of price volatility across the portfolio. The second sort is caused by the natural volatility of markets, overall. For example, certain macroeconomic events will impact (virtually) all stocks on the market. Some stocks see their prices move in concert with the market. Others tend towards stronger, gentler or unrelated price movements. Beta is a widely used metric to measure a stocks exposure to market risk (volatility). Before we go on, its worth noting that Warren Buffett pointed out in his 2014 letter to shareholders that volatility is far from synonymous with risk. Having said that, beta can still be rather useful. The first thing to understand about beta is that the beta of the overall market is one. A stock with a beta below one is either less volatile than the market, or more volatile but not corellated with the overall market. In comparison a stock with a beta of over one tends to be move in a similar direction to the market in the long term, but with greater changes in price. See our latest analysis for Alpha Pro Tech Want to help shape the future of investing tools and platforms? Take the survey and be part of one of the most advanced studies of stock market investors to date. What we can learn from APTs beta value Given that it has a beta of 1.09, we can surmise that the Alpha Pro Tech share price has been fairly sensitive to market volatility (over the last 5 years). Based on this history, investors should be aware that Alpha Pro Tech are likely to rise strongly in times of greed, but sell off in times of fear. Beta is worth considering, but its also important to consider whether Alpha Pro Tech is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below. Story continues AMEX:APT Income Statement Export January 11th 19 How does APTs size impact its beta? Alpha Pro Tech is a noticeably small company, with a market capitalisation of US$54m. Most companies this size are not always actively traded. It takes less money to influence the share price of a very small company. This may explain the excess volatility implied by this beta value. What this means for you: Since Alpha Pro Tech tends to moves up when the market is going up, and down when its going down, potential investors may wish to reflect on the overall market, when considering the stock. This article aims to educate investors about beta values, but its well worth looking at important company-specific fundamentals such as Alpha Pro Techs financial health and performance track record. I urge you to continue your research by taking a look at the following: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for APTs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for APTs outlook. Past Track Record: Has APT been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of APTs historicals for more clarity. Other Interesting Stocks: Its worth checking to see how APT measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with this free list of prospective options. 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. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has condemned her treatment at the hands of right-wing media after one website re-posted a fake nude photo of her in a bath. The congresswoman called the Daily Callers actions completely disgusting after it published a story about the image, which in fact shows a different woman. The site, founded by Fox News television host Tucker Carlson, refused to indicate [the picture] was fake in the title of the story, the newly-elected New York Democrat tweeted. GOP have been losing their mind + frothing at the mouth all week, so this was just a matter of time, she added. Women in leadership face more scrutiny. Period. She also claimed that a Daily Mail reporter had been going to my boyfriends relatives homes+offering them cash for stories, adding: "Completely disgusting behaviour from Conservative outlets." The Independent has contacted the Mails parent company for comment. The picture was originally shared on Reddit and 4Chan with overlaid text claiming rising party star Ms Ocasio-Cortez had posted it to Instagram. The Daily Caller has since changed the headline of its story from Heres the photo some people described as a nude selfie of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Anthony Weiner mistress stands up for AOC after evil internet trolls spread fake nude photo. It had, however, accurately described the images provenance in the body of its story. According to a report by Motherboard, amateur sleuths on a foot fetish website had already debunked claims that the womans feet in the picture and her breasts reflected in the bath tap belonged to Ms Ocasio-Cortez. The toes of the woman in the picture do not match those seen in other publicly-available images of the congresswoman, users said. In fact, they belonged to a woman called Sydney Leathers, Motherboard reported. That pic is a few years old and now reaffirms my current stance of no longer posting feet pics unless dudes pay me for it, she told the site. Story continues Ms Leathers, an activist and adult webcam performer, rose to prominence after her sexual phone messages with former Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner became public in 2013. Ms Ocasio-Cortez was elected in November after toppling a veteran Democrat in the primaries. Joe Crowley had held his seat for 20 years before losing out to the newcomer who rode a wave of publicity as one of a crop of diverse, first-time candidates. She supports abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and the creation of a universal healthcare system. So far this year Ms Ocasio-Cortez has asserted that Donald Trump is no question a racist, and beaten back a manufactured controversy over a video of her dancing while in university. Air traffic controllers have become the third federal employees union to sue the Trump administration over the partial government shutdown. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association filed a lawsuit Friday seeking a temporary restraining order against the federal government for allegedly violating the Fifth Amendment by depriving controllers of hard-earned compensation without the requisite due process. The lawsuit also alleges that the Federal Aviation Administration violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by not paying minimum wage to controllers being required to work during the shutdown, and by not promptly paying overtime to union members. The air traffic controllers, traffic management coordinators and other excepted aviation safety professionals that NATCA represents remain on the job, dedicated to the safety of every flight, but they dont know when they will receive their next paycheck, the union said in a statement sent to HuffPost on Friday. If not for the shutdown, NATCA members would have begun to receive direct deposit of their pay into their accounts as of this morning. On Thursday, air traffic controllers missed their first paycheck since the shutdown began. On Friday, hundreds of thousands of other federal workers missed their first paycheck of the year due to the shutdown, as President Donald Trump continued to demand billions in funding for a border wall. The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents 150,000 federal workers, filed its own lawsuit Jan. 8. The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union, filed a lawsuit in December, days after the shutdown began. Both of those lawsuits allege that more than 400,000 federal employees are being illegally forced to work without pay. Members of NATCA and other aviation industry employees gathered outside the U.S. Capitol Thursday to call for ending the partial shutdown, which has gone on for 21 days. HuffPost readers: Are you affected by the government shutdown? Email us about it. If youre willing to be interviewed, please provide a phone number. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Accenture plc ACN is steadily gaining traction in the outsourcing as well as consulting businesses. Acquisitions are enabling the company to enhance cloud capabilities. The company recently reported strong first-quarter fiscal 2019 results, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Adjusted earnings of $1.96 per share surpassed the consensus estimate by 12 cents and improved from the year-ago quarters figure by 17 cents. Net revenues of $10.6 billion beat the consensus mark by $131.9 million and rose 7% year over year on a reported basis and 9.5% in terms of local currency. Accenture has an impressive earnings surprise history. It surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 4.6%. For the fiscal second quarter, the consensus estimate moved down 2.5% in the past 30 days. Acquisitions: Key Growth Strategy In fiscal 2018, Accenture closed acquisition deals for a total consideration of $596 million. By the end of 2018, the company had made a total of 135 acquisitions. These buyouts have enabled Accenture to enter new markets, diversify and broaden product portfolio, strengthen cloud capabilities and maintain strong market position. They are expected to contribute significantly to the companys revenue stream. Accenture PLC Revenue (TTM) Accenture PLC Revenue (TTM) | Accenture PLC Quote Well Poised on Cloud As enterprises progress with digital transformation efforts, the use of cloud services is expected to significantly increase going forward. Research firm Gartner expects worldwide public cloud revenues to grow 17.3% in 2019 to $206.2 billion, up from $175.8 billion in 2018. Per International Data Corp. (IDC), the public cloud services and infrastructure market will witness a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% during the 2016-2021 period, with spending reaching $266 billion in 2021. So, the strategy of enhancing cloud capabilities through acquisitions is a step in the right direction and will drive growth in the long term. Story continues Outsourcing and Consulting Gain Strength These two businesses of Accenture are growing steadily on rising demand for expertise to improve efficiency and reduce costs. On the outsourcing front, the company continues to see strong demand to assist clients with the operation and maintenance of digital-related services and cloud enablement. On the consulting front, Accenture experiences strong demand for digital, cloud- and security-related services. Strong Cash Position As of Nov 30, 2018, the company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $4.4 billion. A strong cash position enables Accenture to pursue strategic acquisitions, invest in growth initiatives and return cash through regular quarterly dividend payment and share repurchases. Competitive Talent Market Is a Concern Higher talent costs due to a competitive talent market coupled with President Trumps stringent policies on immigration is hurting consulting services providers like Accenture. The industry is labor intensive and heavily dependent on foreign talent. Competition and Pricing Pressure Accentures market share and revenues are primarily dependent on client relationships and the number of contracts secure. This along with the limited scope for product differentiation makes the renegotiation of large contracts extremely important. That said, competition from strong companies like Genpact G, Cognizant CTSH and Infosys INFY is a persistent pressure. This eventually leads to pricing pressure. Accenture currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside? Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. 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Zacks Investment Research Reuters Videos Morrison, who attended the three-day meeting from Saturday (June 12) as an invitee of the G7 nations, said "everyone was talking" about the monarch after she met the leaders for dinner last Friday (June 11)."They were thrilled to see you," Morrison said when he met the queen at her Windsor Castle residence.Earlier on Tuesday, Britain and Australia announced a free trade deal, which the British government hailed as an important step in building new trade relationships following its departure from the European Union.Britain is Australia's eighth-largest trading partner and Australia is Britain's 20th largest, with two-way trade worth A$26.9 billion (14.7 billion pounds / U.S.$20.7 billion).Prior to Britain joining the then European common market in 1973, Britain was Australia's most lucrative trading market. Fighting erupted on two fronts in Negros Occidental and Iloilo between security forces and New Peoples Army rebels, resulting in the wounding of a soldier and scores of casualties on the rebel side on Thursday and Friday, officials said. The fighting broke out after the rebels attacked the patrol base of the 62nd Infantry Battalion in Sitio Camanggahan, in Hilamonan village Kabankalan City around 7:50 p.m. on Thursday. The soldiers manning the detachment engaged the rebels in a firefight that lasted for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the Interior department on Friday said the communist movement was in a sharp decline following the surrender of 8,367 communist rebels since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016. Acting Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said 1,117 had been granted benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, the primary components of Balik Loob Program of the Duterte administration. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the military might not be able to wipe out the communist rebels within the next three years, but they would most likely be reduced to a simple peace-and-order problem. He made the statement following Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sisons claim that the government would not be able to defeat the New Peoples Army within the next three years. We may not be able to finish them off completely to the last man but we can reduce them into a purely police problem, Lorenzana told the Philippine News Agency on Friday.Capt. Seragon, commander of the Bravo Company of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, informed the nearby military post of the attack. Reinforcemenst arrived, forcing the attackers to withdrew towards Buenavista Himamaylan City where an NPA encampment was seized on Jan. 1. The attack prompted Col. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, to remind his troops on the alert for possible renewed NPA attacks. Once again I remind the troops to be more aggressive and vigilant at all times and encourage the civilian populace to continuously support government forces and report any NPA activities to prevent terroristic activities in the community, Arevalo said. In Iloilo, a contingent of Scout Rangers from the 61st Infantry Battalion led by Lt. De Vera figured in fierce fighting with 30 terrorists in Sitio Tigmahan, Alomodias village in Miagao town Friday morning. Reports said the troops were on combat patrol when they encountered the 30 rebels and fighting ensued. In Sultan Kudarat, meanwhile, Esperanza municipal Mayor Helen Latog handed over 32 assorted firearms to military officials in Esperanza town on Friday morning. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. (Changan Automobile) saw its full-year sales in 2018 slid 25.6% from the previous year to 2,137,785 units. Meanwhile, it faced a year-on-year (YoY) slump of 44.3% with 158,136 vehicles sold in December, according to the automaker's sales report. The automaker said the annual sales of its self-owned Changan brand amounted to 1,499,747 units, exceeding 1 million units for the fourth year in a row. The cumulative sales of the CS55 SUV skyrocketed 107.2% to 165,102 units. Besides, the yearly sales of the CS75 Series and the CS35 Series reached 140,066 units and 131,417 units respectively. As to sedan models' performance, the sales of the EADO Series aggressively climbed 35.8% over the year-ago period to 125,715 units in 2018. A total of 86,832 NEVs were sold by the group, among which the Dec. NEV sales were 21,204 units. However, speaking of the full-year sales of each subsidiary, the negative growth has happened to all of them. Particularly, Changan Ford, the major force among joint ventures, should see its sales in 2018 nearly halved over the previous year. According to Changan Automobile's Q3 financial report, the automaker earned RMB49.852 billion in operation revenues for first nine months last year with a YoY decline of 3.07%. The Jan.-Sept. net profits attributable to parent company tumbled 79.98% to RMB1.163 billion. The company said the profit loss should be ascribed to the overall downturn of domestic automotive market and the sales decline of joint-venture-made vehicles that led to a sharp decrease in investment income. Novo Nordisk A/S NVO is not only a leader in the worldwide diabetes market, but also a key player in hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy, hormone replacement therapy and obesity. Here are five reasons to invest in the stock. Favorable Rank, Rising Share Price and Estimates: Novo Nordisk has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Novo Nordisks shares have outperformed the large-cap pharma industry in the past three months. The stock has returned 14.1% in the said time frame compared with the industrys rise of 1.1%. The companys outperformance was backed by decent quarterly results, positive news flow and regulatory updates. Strong Foothold in the Diabetes Market: Novo Nordisk has a strong presence in the Diabetes care market with a global value market share of 28%. Also, the company has strong presence in the total insulin market, and modern and new-generation insulin market with a global value market share of 46% and 45%, respectively. The company has one of the broadest diabetes portfolios in the industry. A solid performance from Tresiba, Victoza, Saxenda and NovoRapid boosted sales performance in the first nine months of 2018. Per the International Diabetes Federation, nearly 592 million people are expected to be diagnosed with diabetes by 2035. We expect the companys diabetes products to continue performing well and contribute to growth. Diabetes Products Doing Well: Novo Nordisks top line is driven by strong performance of products like Victoza (liraglutide). Victoza is currently the market leader in the GLP-1 segment with a 53% share. Going forward, we expect Victoza to continue being a significant contributor to the companys top line. The FDA approved Ozempic (semaglutide) once-daily pre-filled pen to improve glycaemic control in type II diabetes patients in December 2017. It is also approved in Europe, Japan and Canda for the same indication. Following the FDA's approval of the drug, Novo Nordisk engaged in a constructive dialogue with the FDA, focusing on minimizing the need for additional large cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) to obtain a cardiovascular (CV) indication for Ozempic as well as the overall number of large cardiovascular outcomes trials necessary for the semaglutide molecule in different formulations. Thus, Novo Nordisk agreed with the FDA that a bridging strategy between Ozempic and oral semaglutide could be utilized to pursue a CV indication. Story continues Acquisitions: In August 2018, Novo Nordisk acquired all the shares of Ziylo Ltd. Ziylo is a University of Bristol spin-out company, based at Unit DX science incubator in the United Kingdom. The acquisition gives Novo Nordisk full rights to Ziylo's glucose binding molecule platform to develop glucose responsive insulins (GRIs). Novo Nordisk is focused on this technology to develop this next generation of insulin, which would lead to a safer and more effective insulin therapy. In October 2018, Novo Nordisk announced the expansion of its biopharm business, with an agreement to acquire the U.S. and Canadian rights to Macrilen (macimorelin), the first and only FDA-approved oral growth hormone receptor indicated for the diagnosis of Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD), which is a rare endocrine disorder, from Strongbridge Biopharma Plc. The acquisition of Macrilen is in line with Novo Nordisks strategy for its biopharm business, with growth being driven by both organic and bolt-on initiatives. Restructuring Initiatives: The company announced plans to restructure the R&D organization to speed up the expansion and diversification of its pipeline, and enable increased investment in transformational biological and technological innovations. Thus, the total workforce was reduced by approximately 1,300 employees before the end of 2018. Majority of these reductions were implemented as of Nov 1, 2018. Novo Nordisk faces its share of challenges in the form of genericization of key drugs, and patent expiry on some of the products. Novo Nordisk A/S Price Novo Nordisk A/S Price | Novo Nordisk A/S Quote Zacks Rank and Other Stocks to Consider Novo Nordisk currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some top-ranked stocks worth considering are AbbVie Inc. ABBV, Eli Lilly and Co. LLY and Merck & Co., Inc. MRK. All of them sport a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. AbbVies earnings per share estimates have increased from $7.93 to $7.94 for 2018 and from $8.70 to $8.71 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all the trailing four quarters, with average of 3.54%. Lillys earnings per share estimates have increased from $5.55 to $5.59 for 2018 and from $5.81 to $5.92 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all the trailing four quarters, with average of 10.03%. Mercks earnings per share estimates have increased from $4.71 to $4.72 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all the trailing four quarters, with average of 3.96%. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The U.S. Medical Services industry is likely to embark onto a new era with the latest federal rule that has taken effect for hospitals since Jan 1. The rule mentions certain price transparency requirements for the U.S. hospitals, which are now asked to post a list of charge prices on thousands of services. Analysts believe this will benefit patients as they would know the cost of medical services before committing to those. Meanwhile, over the past year, the Medical Services industry has rallied 13.7% against the S&P 500 indexs 6.4% decline. Lets also find out some other factors that make the Medical Services space a prospective one for investors. Home-Based Care Boosts Medical Services The Medical Services industry essentially comprises third-party service providers and care givers that are appointed by core healthcare companies. Notably, these providers offer home-based services as well which have been slowly gaining popularity, backed by the growing old population in the United States. This includes medical social services, nursing care, home health aides and others. In fact, players from outside the space have joined as well. In 2018, retail bigwig Amazon AMZN also acquired online pharmacy PillPack, with an aim to offer prescription coordination and home delivery to consumers. Going by a report in CNBC, each day, about 10,000 seniors turn 65 in the United States. This has boosted the demand for home-based care in the country. Zion Market Research predicts the global home healthcare market to generate revenues of $391.41 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 9.4%. The research further shows that North America has, by far, the largest share in the space and is set to continue its dominance till 2021. Reduced Regulatory and Tax Burdens Create Scope A significant reduction in regulatory and tax burden on U.S. healthcare companies is creating opportunities for mobile and wireless medical technology companies. DexComs DXCM G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System deserves a mention in this regard. Story continues This apart, treatments are also becoming less invasive with shorter recovery times. Accordingly, terms like bed less hospitals have become trend of the future. Third-party laboratory testing providers and contract research organizations are also recording increasing demand, thanks to the rising need for complex tests, services and clinical research. Clearly, medical services companies have opportunities of raking in huge profits. Choosing the Winning Stocks In a backdrop like this, the Zacks Rank and the Momentum Score come in handy. Using the Zacks Stock Screener, we have zeroed in on three Medical Services stocks. Notably, each of these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and have a Momentum Score of A or B. This reflects possibilities of outperformance at the moment. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Our research shows that stocks with a Momentum Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, are better picks than most. Our first pick is HealthEquity, Inc.HQY which has a Momentum Score of A. The Utah-based healthcare services providers fourth-quarter earnings growth rate is projected at a whopping 233.3%. HealthEquity is an Internal Revenue Service approved non-bank custodian of HSA, which is a medical savings account available to taxpayers in the United States. Interestingly, it has clinched the top position in the HSA (Health Savings Account) industry through its first-mover advantage, focus on innovation and differentiated capabilities. Additionally, for 2019, HealthEquity projects revenues of $281-$285 million, up from $279-$285 million anticipated earlier. Next on our list is Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc. AMEH having a Momentum Score of A. The California-based provider of healthcare services offers integrated care, inpatient and physician alignment solutions. The companys data-enabled clinical platform provides care for patients continuously, whether they are in the hospital, in a skilled nursing facility or at home. The company recently announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, APA ACO, generated $12.96 million in gross savings in the first performance year (2017) and that, as a result, it achieved $5.90 million in shared savings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Investors may also consider OpGen, Inc. OPGN which has a Momentum Score of B. The Maryland-based microbial genetics analysis companys fourth-quarter earnings growth rate is projected at 68.4%. The company offers optical mapping services for analysis of microbial, yeast and fungal genomic architecture. Last month, the company announced the submission of the final report for completion of the contract from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop smartphone-based clinical decision support solutions for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control in low and middle-income countries. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Joseph Trevithick Security, In December 1975, Secretary of Defense Bill Clements wanted to know how much it would cost to modify F-15 and F-16 fighter jets so they could carry atomic weapons. Two months later, the Air Force sent back data on what it would take to upgrade those two types of aircraftor the A-10with nukes. In 1975, the Air Force Considered Turning the A-10 Warthog Into a Nuclear Bomber Needless to say, the Air Force didnt recommend strapping atomic weapons to the A-10s. Nor is there any record that the Air Force considered the idea ever again. Despite what the Pentagon and senior Air Force leaders might say, the A-10 Warthog is far from a single-purpose airplane. But dropping nuclear bombs might be one of the things the low- and slow-flying attackers actually cant do. (This first appeared in 2015.) But the Air Force once briefly considered the idea. In December 1975, Secretary of Defense Bill Clements wanted to know how much it would cost to modify F-15 and F-16 fighter jets so they could carry atomic weapons. Two months later, the Air Force sent back data on what it would take to upgrade those two types of aircraftor the A-10with nukes. For your information, we have also provided similar cost data on the A-10 aircraft, states an unclassified memo War Is Boring obtained from the Air Force Historical Research Agency. The estimated cost to make 275 A-10s nuclear-capable is $15.9 million. The total amountequivalent to more than $65 million todaywould cover developing and testing the required equipment, and installing it on the Warthog fleet. The flying branchs calculations included systems needed to support B-43, B-57 and B-61 bombs. At the time, these three bombs were the standard nuclear weapons for aircraft in the U.S. military. If a shooting war broke out in Europe, Americas NATO allies would have gotten access to these weapons, too. Newer versions of the B-61 remain in service today. Obviously, the Air Force never ended up arming the A-10s with nukes. Story continues But Clements desire for more nuclear-armed aircraft is hardly surprising. During the Cold War, the Pentagon expected to use nuclear bombs, artillery shells and missiles to fend off a Soviet invasion of Europe. As new aircraft are coming online in the 1970s, their use as nuclear delivery aircraft would have been discussed, Air Force historian Brian Laslie says. Tactical delivery of nuclear weapons was surely to be in planning documents for a European theater conflict. For many in Washington, the devastating power of atomic arms was the only way to deter the Kremlin. On paper at least, Moscow and her Warsaw Pact allies had a terrifying advantage in sheer numbers of tanks and other armored vehicles. Since 1968 the USSR has built over 65,000 armored vehicles for maneuvernearly four times as many tanks as the United States, some three times as many armored infantry carriers, warned a recently declassified Central Intelligence Agency article published in 1980. But why the Air Force would offer up a nuclear-armed A-10 as a potential solution isnt entirely clear. While the Warthogs boast an impressive and unequaled array of ground attack capabilities, the straight-winged strike planes are poorly suited at bestand a death trap at worstfor a nuclear bombing run. This is a could versus should question, says a senior Air Force weapons and tactics planner, who spoke to War Is Boring on the condition of anonymity. Certainly, the A-10 could have been modified for nuke delivery. However, the more to the point question is whether or not it should have, adds the official, who is also a former Warthog pilot. In my opinion, I can see practically no reason to do so. The problem is that while the aircraft certainly could have delivered the bombs to their intended targets, the pilots probably couldnt make it back alive. The Warthogs slow speed, so valuable when supporting troops on the ground, could have easily turned the entire affair into a suicide mission. While the exact specifics are classified, a B-61 bomb can likely create a fireball almost a mile wide, according to data from nuclear historian Alex Wellersteins Nukemap Website. The approximate radius of the air blast from the weapon going offwhere most residential buildings collapse, injuries are universal [and] fatalities are widespreadwould extend more than three miles from ground zero, Wellersteins site adds. Fast-moving fighter jets would have trouble escaping the aftermath of these massive explosions. On a nuclear mission, the Air Force expected its fighter pilots to fly toward their targets at altitudes greater than 30,000 feet before lobbing bombs at the enemy. With the bombs flying in an upward arc onto the target, the method would hopefully give the aircraft enough time to fly clear of the blast. But itd still be a close call. The slower A-10s probably wouldnt make it. The fact that F-15E Strike Eagles and other fighters would have had difficulty egressing [the area] after nuclear delivery indicates that any A-10 using nuclear weapons would not have survived, Laslie says. I just dont think any nuclear delivery profile would have been sufficient for an A-10. The A-10 pilots would have had to hope for the best. But weapons fitted with a timed fuze might have bought just enough time for the Warthogs to get away from the impact site. Heres one possibility a last-ditch mission profile intended to blunt a Warsaw Pact breakthrough along the German border, the Air Force officer suggests as one reason for sending the Warthogs on a nuclear mission. Needless to say, the Air Force didnt recommend strapping atomic weapons to the A-10s. Nor is there any record that the Air Force considered the idea ever again. I do not think I ever heard this capability discussed, the former A-10 pilot says. My guess is that we would have had a good laugh at the idea had it ever come up. The consensus appears to be that lobbing nuclear bombs is one thing the venerable Warthogs cantand shouldntdo. This piece first appeared in War Is Boring here. Read full article African judge to discuss judicial independence by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. Judicial appointments and threats to an independent judiciary in the African nations of Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland will be discussed at the SIU School of Law later this month. Honorable Professor Justice Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake will present the 2019 Beatty Jurist-in-Residence lecture at 5 p.m. Jan. 29 in the Hiram H. Lesar Building Courtroom at SIU Carbondale. Appointment of Judges and the Threat to Judicial Independence: Case Studies from Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa and Kenya is free and open to the public. During his week at the law school, Dingake (Dee-nya-keh) will visit classes and meet with faculty. Media Availability Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake (Oo-aa-gh-ee-leh Beth-yoo-el Key Dee-nya-keh) will be available for interviews Jan. 28 at the SIU School of Law. Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to attend the Beatty Jurist-in-Residence lecture at 5 p.m. on Jan. 29 in the SIU School of Law Courtroom. To arrange for interviews, contact Michele Mekel, director of external relations, at mmekel@siu.edu or 618/453-8768. Christopher W. Behan, a professor at the law school, met Dingake in 2014 while teaching a trial advocacy course in Gaborone, Botswana, with Justice Advocacy Africa. The two maintained contact through the Legal Globalization and Comparative Law: Botswana and South Africa course that Behan and Professor Mark Schultz teach. Behan and Schultz met with Dingake during their most recent visit to Botswana in 2018 to work out preliminary arrangements for the lecture. Judicial independence under attack Behan said judicial independence is under attack throughout sub-Saharan Africa in ways not often experienced in the United States, noting there is tension between the executive branch in Botswana and the judiciary. One case involved whether individual judges can criticize the chief judge of the nations high court. Dingake said a major test case of national importance involving the independence of the judiciary in Botswana held that the nations president could not reject a nominee approved for appointment by the nations judicial service commission. Lecture will highlight the impact of judicial appointments Dingake said he hopes to highlight how the manner in which judges are appointed may impact the judiciary, either positively or negatively. There is a real danger where executives have influence that judges may comply with that executives wishes, he said. One parallel with debates on judicial independence in the United States is that often the executive tends to prefer or push for judges who they think would either do their bidding or share a broader political or social outlook, which trend may negatively impact on public confidence in the independence of the judiciary, Dingake said. Behan said he hopes the audience gains a greater understanding of issues that judges face in Africa and appreciate the high degree of structural and cultural independence our judges enjoy at both the state and federal levels here in the United States. He also encourages people to work to preserve judicial independence in the United States and do what they can to help achieve judicial independence throughout the world. Dingake has served as a judge for more than a decade Dingake has extensive experience as a judge. He has sat on the High Court in Botswana, the Industrial Court in Botswana, the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Supreme and National Courts of Papua, New Guinea. He is actively involved in judicial leadership efforts relating to HIV and health. Prior to serving on the bench, Dingake was a lecturer at the University of Botswana teaching in areas including constitutional law and human rights law. He was also a senior partner with the Moupo, Motswagole and Dingake law firm, specializing in administrative, constitutional and labor law. Dingake has a bachelor of laws degree (L.L.B) from the University of Botswana; a master of laws degree (L.L.M) from the University of London and a doctorate from the University of Cape Town. Ninth Beatty Jurist-in-Residence lecture The endowed program honors the late William L. Beatty, a federal judge for the U.S. District Court of Illinois and is an award granted to the law school by U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Illinois David R. Herndon, a 1977 SIU Law School graduate. The award honors Herndons mentor, Beatty, who died in 2001. Herndon retired from the federal bench earlier this month after 20 years. President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday that he is willing to strike a deal with public school teachers to increase their pay. In his address to teachers at the groundbreaking of the Gen. Gregorio del Pilar National High School in Bulakan, Bulacan, Duterte said he is already discussing the possibility of increasing the teachers salary with Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno. I am willing to strike a deal in the presence of Secretary Leonor Briones with the teachers. You can choose the date, January, just make it fast. Then we can make even an agreement or manifesto or choose whatever kind of document itself. Kayo ang isusunod ko this year [You will be next to receive a salary increase this year], he said. The President said he is willing to talk to representatives of teachers but not the Leftist ones. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier echoed the Philippine National Polices remark, which noted that the Alliance of Concerned Teachers has long been identified with the Left. Duterte said the salary increase of uniformed personnel came first due to budget constraints and the peace and order situation in the country but vowed to prioritize the teachers pay hike next. Inuna ko yung sundalo because alam ko kung ano ang mangyari. We were ablenasilip ko na ang future and it would cost lives at marami ditong mamamatay. Inunahan ko na sila. Long before nangyari yanhindi ko lang sinabi. Alam ko na ang Intelligence the way we were picturing it, puputok to. Pumutok nga. Kaya medyo ipit ako, Maam. (I prioritized the soldiers pay hike because I know what will happen. I saw the future and it would cost lives. I had to act first. I just did not divulge it. The intelligence community, the way we were picturing it is that something would happen, and something indeed happened. Which is why I was caught in between, Maam), he said. Diokno, meanwhile, said all government employees are set to receive salary increases in 2019 but Congress needs to approve the national budget first. All government employees will get an increase in pay, but it has to wait for the approval of the 2019 General Appropriations Act. DBM (Department of Budget and Management) has initiated a study for the increase in compensation for government workers from 2020 to 2022, Diokno said in a message to reporters Thursday. In January 2018, Duterte signed a joint resolution increasing the base pay of the military and police. Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara believes President Duterte s announcement that he would increase the salary of public school teachers across the country would attract more qualified and competent educators to teach in public schools. Our teachers are considered to be the heart of the educational system. The government needs to give priority to their welfare and interests, said Angara.Definitely, this would lead to an improvement in the quality of education in our public school system, he said. He expressed hopes that the pay adjustment would be equivalent or close to the rate he has been pushing since 2016. We are happy that were in the same boat with the President in terms of providing our public school teachers a salary that is commensurate to their value to our society, Angara said. President Duterte had renewed his promise on Thursday to increase the take-home pay of public school teachers, saying it could finally happen in 2019, but did not mention how much would be the increase but it was definitely on top of the fourth and last tranche of salary increases for all government workers to be implemented this year. Last year, the President also vowed to raise the salary of teachers after the basic pay of the military and the police were doubled. Sen. Bam Aquino issued this call to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), saying the agency can tap the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) to finance the fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law in January 2019. He said there was no reason for the DBM not to release the salary increase, which can help government employees deal with the prevailing high prices of food and other goods. He added that he would file a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that DBM can disburse the MPBF for the salary increase of government workers. According to Aquino, the 2018 re-enacted budget provides for an MPBF, which can be used to fund authorized personnel and benefit items, including pay increases. YEREVAN. Armenia's economy experiences problems, and introduction of cheap labor was chosen while the wages decreasing, expert Hayk Balanyan told reporters. The expert reflected on the large flow of Indian citizens to Armenia and their employment. According to him, over the years, the number of domestic investments is reducing, and there is no such economic growth that would require additional labor. In the case of cheap labor there should be an increase in productivity, but this is not happening, since a substantial part of this amount is withdrawn from Armenia. The government of India encourages emigration, for which it even provides money to its citizens, said Balanyan. The expert is confident that the situation with the introduction of cheap labor in the Armenian market will lead to an obstacle to tech development, since our country's economy has reached a stage after which it must move to completely new qualities. It is here that the transition of quality may not take place, he stressed. By importing cheap labor, Armenia pushes away its own population, as a result of which it loses capital and value. The expert is sure that it is necessary to talk about these problems. He also suggested that the government reviewed the process of granting visas. President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law increasing the monthly old-age pension of war veterans. Under Republic Act No. 11164, veterans who saw action in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War would receive increases in their old-age pensions. The old age-pension will be increased to P20,000 per month, provided that the veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars are not receiving a separate pension from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The law also provides that the entitlement to the increase in the old-age pension will l be limited to the eligible living senior veterans and will not be transferable to any family members and/or dependents of the senior veterans. Meanwhile, in order to augment the amount needed to fund the increase, the budget necessary for its initial implementation shall be charged against the current years available appropriation of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.Such sums as may be needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, provided that the PVAO shall prioritize the distribution of the benefits granted under this Act from whatever available appropriation that will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, the law read. The law shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the governments Official Gazette or in at least two national newspapers of general circulation. It was passed by the Senate as Senate Bill No. 1766 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 7525 in October 2018. The President signed the said RA back in December last year. The Philippines will no longer do business with the United States in terms of buying arms and equipment. This was bared no less by President Rodrigo Duterte, who on Thursday said his administration will no longer purchase arms from the US after the world superpower said that it would impose sanctions on countries buying military equipment from Russia. In a speech in front of soldiers in Bulacan, Duterte said he decided on such a move after an American senator raised concerns about alleged human rights violations here. Duterte said that aside from Russia, the US was also against Manila purchasing arms from China. Pagka bumili ka sa China o maybe Russia, magsali ka sa embargo. You cannot trade with America. So para kang inipit doon sa ano. Eh sabi ko naman sayour superiors and the civilian leaders, with that kind of arrangement, do not expect me to buy arms from the United States, he said. (If you buy arms from China or Russia, you will be sanctioned due to the arms embargo. You cannot trade with America. So its like youre pushed to a corner. I said to the superiors and civilian leaders, with that kind of arrangement, do not expect me to buy arms from the United States.) Instead, the president said he is now inclined to buy arms from other countries, such as Israel and South Korea.I will not agree to buy [from the US]. Pangit tingnan. Hindi maganda. It does not sit well with the Filipino na ganunin ka tapos pasunod-sunod ka na lang. Wala naman akong galit sa kanila. Sila yung nauna. And they criticized me heavily dito sa drugs, he said. (I will not agree to buy [from the US]. It looks bad. It would not sit well with Filipinos that you are being told what to do. I am not angry at them, but they were the first to hit me. And they criticized me heavily for my war on drugs.) This despite the announcement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana last month that the Philippines will buy 16 Black Hawk helicopters from the Sikorsky Aircraft Corp for P12.67 billion ($240 million), instead of the cheaper Russian equipment due to U.S. sanctions on Russian military exports. The Philippines will spend P300 billion ($5.6 billion) over the next five years to upgrade its defense capability, replacing World War II-era warships and Vietnam War-vintage fighters and helicopters. Recently, the Philippines bought fighter jets from South Korea, logistics ships from Indonesia, and armored vehicles and ship-borne missiles from Israel. Republican Party of Armenia: We Armenians must be concerned about Turkey appearing on Karabakh's borders Armenia ex-Ambassador to Vatican: Nikol Pashinyan rejected Putin's offer to stop war on October 10, 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Armenia is seeing US on brink of radical review of position on the region Britain, Australia announce free trade deal Armenia 1st President: The whole world considers Karabakh a part of Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President says he doesn't see himself as a member of the opposition Armenia 1st President: There will be post-election developments, even clashes during elections Switzerland President assesses Russia's role in establishment of ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh Turkey's Erdogan expresses support to "Zangezur corridor" project Armenias Pashinyan makes threat in Kapan Armenia 3rd President on Nikol Pashinyan: The capitulator no longer has majority of votes Mayor of Armenia's Kajaran says acting PM's campaign meeting in Syunik Province was a cheap show His Holiness Karekin II hosts Bishop of Coventry Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker interferes in work of Tert.am's reporter, urges her to leave premises Armenia 2nd President suggests that Pashinyan visit a psychiatric clinic to get document on mental health Catholicos of All Armenians receives representatives of Catholic Near East Welfare Association "I Have the Honor" bloc campaigns in Armenia's Ararat Province, led by Serzh Sargsyan Decision on abolishing registration of Mihran Poghosyan as Armenia Member of Parliament annulled US Ambassador visits Armenia MOD National Defense Research University Putin and Biden to discuss Karabakh, Azerbaijani troops seen near Syunik roads, Jun. 15 digest Karabakh MFA: Erdogan's visit to Shushi is clear manifestation of xenophobia, genocidal and terrorist policy Armenia MFA issues statement regarding Turkish and Azerbaijani Presidents' visit to occupied territories of Artsakh Erdogan challenges Russia in Shushi Robert Kocharyan on return of Armenian POWs ahead of snap parliamentary elections Armenia acting PM holds march in Agarak village, surrounded by children There are serious doubts about acting PM's deal with Azerbaijan, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan St. Petersburg court to review verdict against Armenian ex-deputy regional governor One dollar drops below AMD 516 in Armenia 2021 developments point to faster-than-expected economic growth recovery in Armenia, says Central Bank Karabakh Parliament: Erdogan's visit to Shushi poses a new challenge to Armenia, Artsakh, Russia and Iran Deputy mayor of Armenia's Meghri: Police troops are being brought in buses Central Bank: 12-month inflation falls to 5.9% in Armenia Armenia former President Kocharyan: Personal relations are important component of interstate relations Armenia 2nd President doesn't rule out return of ex-PM Karen Karapetyan Armenia opposition bloc: Mine maps are of strategic significance for Azerbaijan Ex-President Kocharyan: Economic integration is beneficial for Armenia, Russia "Armenia" bloc member: If Pashinyan stays in power, Armenian flag will be replaced with Turkish or Azeri flag Bright Armenia Party: We have high chances of winning during elections Aliyev, Erdogan arrive in seized Armenian city of Shushi Armenia ex-deputy regional governor appointed mayor of Spitak Armenia former President Kocharyan on applying to CSTO: Why give air to each other in vain? Armenia 2nd President: Authorities included in their electoral list the director of company suspected of corruption Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on Artsakh war: Was necessary to fight, keep front, not to retreat, hand over everything 2nd President Kocharyan, ex-PM Karapetyan meet at Armenia bloc headquarters (PHOTOS) Armenia MP candidate: "I Have the Honor" bloc promises to work actively for determination of Karabakh's status Armenia former President Kocharyan: Our goal is to win the elections, form independent government Armenia 2nd President: It would have been better if mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh was termless Armenia acting PM's supporters attack reporters Armenia first deputy justice minister pays working visit to Washington Armenia ex-President Kocharyan, former deputy PM Gevorgyan case court session again rescheduled Sniper spotted on rooftop during Armenia acting premiers visit to Goris town Armenia acting premier: Russia peacekeepers shall be deployed along border points Deputy mayor: Armenia acting PM is using administrative resources in Goris (PHOTOS) Ushakov: Putin, Biden will pay special attention to Karabakh Acting PM at Sisian: We will break, cut off every hand that tries to oppose Syunik Province to rest of Armenia Refinancing rate raised by 0.5 percentage point in Armenia Prosperous Armenia parliament faction secretary: We call on authorities to show restraint Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: We must be ready to resist civil war 82 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Large number of men awaiting Armenia acting PM Pashinyan at "gates" of Syunik Armenia parliament session not convened Newspaper: Armenia acting official, Etchmiadzin mayors controversial phone talk "dissemination" is deliberately made Large number of Armenia Police forces heading to Syunik Province Turkeys Erdogan arrives in Azerbaijan Biden delegation reporters slam White House for organizing meeting with Erdogan Newspaper: It will be heated at Armenias Syunik today "Armenia" bloc on 1,400 policemen-accompanied motorcade: Classic example of administrative resource abuse Armenia ombudsman: Swearing has become vicious phenomenon in this election campaign Biden calls Putin "worthy adversary" Biden: I'm confident we'll make real progress with Turkey and the United States Erdogan says he didn't discuss Biden's recognition of Armenian genocide during their meeting Macron on talks with Erdogan First Biden-Erdogan meeting lasts 45 minutes France welcomes release of 15 Armenian POWs "I Have the Honor" bloc ends campaign meetings in Armenia's Lori Province with meeting in Spitak (PHOTOS) Anonymous group approaching citizens and asking about their votes on behalf of Armenia Ombudsman Armenia acting PM's son campaigns in Yerevan Israel FM intends to repair ties with US Democratic Party Democratic Party of Armenia candidate for PM Tigran Arzakantsyan to continue election campaign "Armenia" bloc: Acting PM instructed to launch criminal prosecution against Avshar village head after campaign meeting Past.am: Why are administrative resources of Armenia Police being misused in such a way? Policemen dressed in civilian clothes brought to march held by Armenia acting PM Nikol Pashinyan's supporters and representatives of Prosperous Armenia Party headquarters get into brawl Armenia acting PM: First case of detention for electoral fraud attempt recorded in Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia district Artsakh 2nd President: Armenian side dodged negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh, but didn't explain why Karabakh ex-President: Baku and Ankara aren't hiding the fact that they plan to continue their land-grabbing policy Robert Kocharyan: "Armenia" bloc needs to free the country of apartheids "Armenia" bloc representative: Pashinyan's supporters don't want to share his responsibility and fate Iran FM describes end of rule of Netanyahu as the fall of an oppressor Putin on his successor Robert Kocharyan: We're coming to shape the future "Armenia" bloc representative: If we win the elections, 5 reservoirs will be built in Armavir Province Armenia 2nd President: You shouldn't expect victory when a deserter becomes Commander-in-Chief "Armenia" bloc holding campaign meeting in Yerevan Azerbaijan MOD releases list of 2,904 soldiers killed during aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Biden says Queen Elizabeth II reminded him of his mother Azerbaijan swaps 15 Armenian POWs for maps, another captive gets 20-year in prison, Jun 14 digest Armenia acting PM: Preliminary investigation into case of events of October 27, 1999 has been reopened Azeri MPs to get tested for COVID-19 ahead of Erdogan's visit to Milli Majlis "I Have the Honor" bloc's campaign meeting in Armenia's Vanadzor ends with march Editors note: This is part of a series of stories about Allison Levines visit to this region in Portugal. MANGUAIDE, Portugal It rained the night we arrived in the Dao region of Portugal, but by the morning, the rain had subsided. It was damp outside and the ground was wet as we arrived at our first winery visit, Julia Kemper Wines. As we got out of the shuttle, we were greeted by a woman in high-heeled boots, tights, a short skirt, scarf and long, flowing hair holding a box of fresh chestnuts. It was Julia de Melo Kemper who welcomed us to her property. Julia immediately guided us up a path to the vineyard. It felt as if we were on a hike in the forest. We were surrounded by tall pine, eucalyptus and olive trees. Everything was damp from the rain and there was a freshness in the air. As we walked through the forest, Julia explained, It is important to come and breath the air to better understand the terroir and, therefore, the wines. We stood in the middle of the vineyard, looking at the dark clouds off to the distance, as Julia described where we were. He and his team must work to connect government to the needs of working families. Thats especially relevant today given too many residents without a college education feel they cant afford to stay in state. Diversity of thought to crack tough problems is still a necessary elixir, even in a super-majority state. The new governor should encourage that. The incoming governor has shown himself to be adept at the ways of social media. That will help him reach Californians. But the person selling the policy is not able to provide the context a seasoned journalist can bring to the story. So Newsom should build on his digital advocacy and be open to broader engagement with media throughout the state. That would help ensure more Californians know the new administrations decisions. For their part, as more Californians feel squeezed, reporters should work to integrate traditionally siloed public policies and relate them directly to residents daily lives. Fusing his social media presence while punching up access to state reporters who have policy know-how and local outlets connected to their diverse communities. That would be courage for a change. Margita Thompson is vice president of public affairs for California Resources Corporation, and worked for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as press secretary for his first term from 2003-06. She wrote this commentary for CALmatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias Capitol works and why it matters. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday said it will lead the rehabilitation of Manila Bay starting Jan. 27 similar to the successful rehabilitation of Boracay to address mounting pollution on Manilas popular coastline. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu described the Manila Bay a magnified cesspool because of the high coliform level of 330 million most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliter, compared to the safe level of 100 MPN per 100 milliliter. Manila Yacht club commodore Robert Joseph said it will support and take part in the massive cleanup of Manila by to bring the pristineand glory of the once popular Manila Bay sunset. Manila Bay is not a tourist destination because more than half of the entire bay has floating garbage, mostly plastic, woods, Styrofoam and other waste materials are discriminately thrown by residents that lives along the rivers and esteros, according to the government. Cimatu vowed to apply the same political will to Boracay in the rehabilitation of 19-kilometer long Manila Bay and make the waters fit for swimming, diving, and other forms of contact recreation.The DENR said the government is considering the use of special road funds to finance the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Earlier, Malacanang said it will use of the road users tax for government projects including the massive cleanup of Manila Bay and Pasig River. We need to confront difficulties in cleaning up the bay because of the informal residence and establishments along the bay. Discipline would play key role in making Manila Bay clean, he said. Cimatu cited Manila Zoo as one of the many establishments that do not have a sewage treatment plant that directly go to the Manila Bay. Thats how, for example, the parking lots surrounding Dodger Stadium, still 50 percent owned by former team owner Frank McCourt, have evaded tens of millions of dollars in property taxes since he sold the team and the ballpark itself. Within a few years of Prop. 13s passage by a margin of almost 2-1, the late Democratic Assemblyman Tom Hannigan of Fairfield began pushing to split off commercial properties from the measures tax limits. Unlike homes, Hannigan said, business property should be taxed based on current values. Other legislators wouldnt go near Hannigans idea, even though he was for years the state Assemblys majority leader. But voters will have a chance next year to carry out his plan best known as the split roll. Bet on it being a controversial subject right up until that election just over 21 months from now. The states League of Women Voters has qualified a split roll initiative for that ballot, gathering more than 585,000 voter signatures for its planned constitutional amendment, which leads in very early polling. There's increasing interest in providing training to combat mythology and stereotypes that fuel behaviors that result in workplace harassment and discrimination, the mistreatment of LGBTQ citizens and even missing investigative cues around detecting hate crimes or domestic violence, he said. "And absent training, absent some correction of that bad information, then law enforcement ends up providing really terrible service for the community," Miraglia, who is on the POST committee, said. While many major cities worked to remedy problems with how they deal with transgender individuals, most smaller agencies don't have the resources or will to do so, said Samuel Garrett-Pate, a spokesman for Equality California, a statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization that sponsored the bill. Transgender women, particularly those of color, are often the victims of brutal hate crimes, for example, and law enforcement officers who respond don't always have the tools and training they need, he said. Thus, they can end up "sort of doubly impacting or hurting these women because they don't know how to refer to them in a police report by correct names and pronouns." That information can then be sent out to the media. Guests see a hall lined with shops where rotating merchants and artisans display and sell their wares. They can taste four or five wines for $125, with each tasting paired with a different course prepared by six chefs in an open kitchen. One course is A5 Wagyu Beef, the November story said. Napa County allows art displays and food-and-wine pairings at wineries. But wineries cannot sell art and rules govern food service to keep wineries from functioning as a cafe or restaurant. A caveat with Napa County winery rules is that they were created over decades. Some older wineries have rights grandfathered in to do things that newer wineries are denied. Descriptions of The Makery section of The Prisoner caught the attention of some residents who worry that the countys agricultural nature could be overshadowed by event center wineries. Resident George Caloyannidis told the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 4 that wineries are serving food at cost which is allowed but profit from the sale of wine. He spoke during the public comments section of the meeting. They treat it as a corporate marketing expenseneed I mention the six chefs and the two commercial kitchens at The Prisoner? Caloyannidis said. How can restaurants compete in this uneven playing field you created? Kristy Kaufmann shifted nervously in her seat. On the computer screen in front of her, in a Washington radio-station studio, sat Al Wood, a man she had never met, beamed in from Alabama. Kaufmann, 48, had her blond hair pulled into a taut high ponytail, while a gauzy scarf was wrapped stylishly around her neck. Wood, more formal in his black suit and crisp blue tie, was, at 64, from a different generation, one that watched the Vietnam War on TV. They'd ended up face-to-virtual-face last month because of a national effort to unite them; the only thing they knew about each other was the very significant way that they were different - and that it didn't mean they couldn't get along. Kaufmann, an avowed Democrat, took a breath. Her upbringing "definitely wasn't one party of another, but it was definitely about equality and justice," she said. She told Wood the ways her life had been unconventional and how, with two black adopted siblings, she had grown up in a family that was racially mixed before most people had seen such a thing. How she graduated from Berkeley, and one night in Las Vegas she met a man who would turn the free spirit into an Army wife. Im sorry, the attendant said in a not-sorry tone. We cant serve you any more. The woman then fell asleep on my shoulder. I could have handled that situation differently, experts say. The steps for defusing disagreements involving alcohol on planes are identical to those for defusing any conflict. First, ask the passenger to slow down on the drinking. You can hint at that by saying: Could I get you a glass of water? I hear alcohol dehydrates you on a plane. (Thats true, but it also is a better way of bringing up the topic of someones excessive drinking than saying, Youre drinking too much!) If that doesnt work, ask a flight attendant if you can sit somewhere else. (Not an option for me, as it was a full flight.) Finally, talk to a crew member privately about the passengers behavior. At the very least, they can cut the drunk passenger off, which will make the rest of the flight a little more bearable. And if you find yourself in a situation like Wolkins? You may, which is why you should pack a change of clothes and a package of baby wipes for your next flight. Even if you dont have a baby. With spring break just ahead, this may be a good time for U.S. carriers to consider following their Middle Eastern competitors by either limiting or eliminating the alcohol served on board. It would significantly reduce the number of in-flight confrontations and make flying safer for everyone. Dont laugh. For decades, the idea of a smoke-free flight was unthinkable. Now no one can imagine someone lighting up on board. According to TechRadar, Samsung will host its Galaxy S10 launch event on 20 February 2019. The Galaxy Unpacked 2019 event will take place in San Francisco, and will mark the 10-year anniversary of the Galaxy series, said Samsung in the event invite. While the company did not technically say that the S10 would be launched at the event, the 10 emblazoned across the event invite all but confirms that Samsung will announce its new top-end smartphone. Rumours suggest the Galaxy S10 will have a reduced top bezel, as well as a front camera situated in the top right corner of the device. Other rumours say that the S10 will include an in-screen fingerprint sensor, a three-lense rear camera, and a 7nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset. Samsung is expected to release multiple versions of the S10. The top-of-the-range S10 Plus is expected to have a 6.4-inch screen and a 4,000mAh battery. The standard S10 could have a 6.1-inch display and a 3,500mAh battery, while the S10 Lite will offer a 3,000mAh battery and 5.8-inch screen. A month after finishing as runner-up at Dreamhack Winter 2018, South Africas Bravados CS:GO team is struggling to secure the necessary funds to remain in the USA. Bravado moved to the USA in February 2018 in order to compete against the best teams in the world, calling this journey Project Destiny. The team has impressed the global CS:GO community by beating the likes of G2, Optic, and Luminosity on their way to their current position as the 25th ranked CS:GO team in the world. Additionally, after winning back-to-back leagues in the USA, Bravado is in the ESEA Mountain Dew League. All in all, I think that Project Destiny has been very beneficial, not only to Bravado Gaming and the players, but the fact that South Africans as a whole could achieve the zero-to-hero story, Bravado CEO Andreas Hadjipaschali told MyBroadband. As it stands, however, the players will be forced to return to South Africa after the Americas IEM Katowice Minor event, which takes place on 22-26 January, due to financial constraints. Financial struggles As an organization, weve entered into much debt, pushing hard and strong day-by-day, month-by-month to make sure that we can keep our dream alive of becoming one of the best esports call-to-actions the world has seen, Bravado said in a statement. Their financial struggles have left the organisation with three options: Bring the team back to South Africa for 2-3 months, organise funding and secure visas to continue playing in Europe or the USA. This option would see the team miss out on various qualifiers and leagues. Secure funding during the next three months that will allow the team to remain in the USA for this period, in which time the organisation will hopefully be able to secure more sponsors and long-term Visas. Find additional funding in the coming days, allowing the organisation to continue competing while it seeks long-term Visas for the players. Fighting for survival Bravado has initiated a crowdfunding campaign, hoping to secure enough funding to continue their stay in the USA. So far, the organisation has accrued just over a third of their $30,000 goal, and needs to find the rest by 21 January if it hopes to continue competing overseas. Bravados crowdfunding campaign has already drawn the attention of a variety of the worlds top CS:GO professionals, including Vitalitys apEX, and MIBRs Tarik and FalleN. The latter dedicated all donations to Bravado when he streamed to his 680,000 followers on 10 January. Were always on the lookout for additional partners and investors, and were more than happy to send them our decks so that they can see what value and ROI weve brought through in the past year, added Hadjipaschali. Hadjipaschali thanked everyone who has played a part in Bravados journey, and reaffirmed the organisations commitment to Project Destiny. Well continue trying our best, day and night, through blood, sweat, and tears to continue this story of becoming one of the best teams in the world, he said. Muscatine also celebrates the annual return of the bald eagles. This year is the 25th anniversary of Eagles and Ivories, four days of eagle watching and ragtime, jazz and classical music concerts. This year's event will be Jan. 24-27. It features world-renowned pianists and musicians, eagle watching along the Mississippi and presentations by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park rangers. Concerts are held at Wesley United Methodist Church, Pearl City Station, Muscatine Art Center, Sunnybrok of Muscatine and The Merrill Hotel and Conference Center. The event is co-sponsored by the Muscatine County Arts Council and the Muscatine Art Center. For more information, visit muscatineartscouncil.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When Chuck Tanner posted blurbs on Facebook asking for volunteers to help clean up the 56-mile northern route through Yellowstone National Park, more than 50 people showed up in Gardiner. Some drove from as far away as Billings and Bozeman. This is our park, its everybodys park and it reflects on our community, said Tanner, owner of the KBar in Gardiner. So on Saturday, Mike Skelton led about 15 volunteers most of the way to Cooke City. They collected trash and cleaned pit toilets west to Roosevelt Junction. On Sunday, Tanner split nearly 40 volunteers into two groups that started cleaning at Mammoth Village and at Roosevelt Junction, meeting midway. Saturday volunteers found nasty messes on toilet floors, according to The Bozeman Chronicle. They needed determination and strong stomachs to get the work done. Tanner, who has lived in Gardiner for about 15 years, said the trash overflow and toilet conditions werent as bad as he had feared. The tourists he observed Sunday appeared to be following park rules. We were keeping an eye out and nobody was doing anything bad. They were all very respectful. Bighorn runoff predicted below average The Bureau of Reclamation's forecast for April through July runoff in the Bighorn River basin is below average. Bighorn Lake Bighorn River April through July inflow to Bighorn Lake is forecast at 810,100 acre-feet, which is 66 percent of the 30-year average of 1,221,100 af. Buffalo Bill Reservoir Shoshone River April through July inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir is forecast at 650,000 af, which is 88 percent of the 30-year average of 734,600 af. Boysen Reservoir Wind River April through July inflow to Boysen Reservoir is forecast at 400,000 af, which is 66 percent of the 30-year average of 603,300 af. Bull Lake Reservoir April through July snowmelt runoff into Bull Lake Reservoir from Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 110,000 af, which is 77 percent of the 30-year average of 143,200 af. Wind River April through July snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 350,000 af, which is 80 percent of the 30-year average of 435,000 af. BI deports Japanese listed as most wanted in PH posted January 11, 2019 at 10:55 pm by Vito Barcelo January 11, 2019 at 10:55 pm The Bureau of Immigration deported a Japanese fugitive who is in the list of his countrys most wanted criminals. The Japanese, Misao Kaminsukasu, alias Misao Koyama and Takeshi Koyama, was expelled by the bureau on the request of the Japanese Embassy to face criminal charges. Kaminsukasu left the country via Nippon Airways flight N to Narita, Tokyo, three weeks after agents from the BI fugitive search unit arrested him along Roxas Boulevard and Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City.The Bureau also ordered his inclusion in the immigration blacklist of undesirable aliens, thus he is banned from re-entering the Philippines, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said. Kaminsukasu, who is detained at the immigration detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig, was arrested last December 18 after the Japanese government sought the BIs assistance to locate and deport him so he could stand trial for his crime. COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section. A woman accused of pointing a gun at a hospital worker last month and then locking herself in an office at St. James Healthcare pleaded guilty to a reduced charge Thursday. Mollie Rae Summers, 50, was initially charged with felony assault with a weapon but pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment instead in a plea agreement with prosecutors. District Judge Kurt Krueger accepted the plea and set sentencing for Jan. 24. She is free on her own recognizance and has been undergoing mental health treatment, her public defender said. The felony conviction carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. The earlier assault charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, but neither crime requires a minimum sentence. Prosecutors say Summers was inside an office in the ultrasound lab at St. James around 5 p.m. on Feb. 1 last year when an employee walked in. Summers pointed a pistol at the employee from 6 feet away and told her to get out. The worker left, slammed the office door behind her, and hit the ground so she presented a smaller target. She crawled to another area and called for help. Police were able to deploy spike strips in an attempt to stop Johnson, which worked. Court documents said he lost control of the vehicle, crashing it in a residential yard near Hansen Road and Holmes Avenue before it came to rest on its side. But the chase didnt end there. Johnson was able to get out of the vehicle. He waved something thought to be metallic, and an officer fired multiple shots at Johnson but did not hit him, court documents said. Johnson then fled into the foothills near Little Basin Creek and Beef Trail roads. After police tracked Johnson through a forested creek area, they successfully tasered him on their third try. During this foot pursuit, Johnson had gestured at them like he was holding a gun and lunged at an officer with a knife. He was transported to the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center, and officers attempted to question him and Hayden. During the interview, court documents said he yelled as loud as he could, instructing Hayden not to tell police what happened. Evidence found in Johnsons room at Eddys Motel and the details of the high-speed chase with Butte police were laid out in a second affidavit Krakowa filed in June. The affidavit accompanied the nine felonies and one misdemeanor charges that were added to Johnsons original deliberate homicide charge. A Butte man who admitted hitting his wife in the head with a pot full of spaghetti pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon Thursday. In another court hearing Thursday, a man pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault for allegedly punching another man in the head at Spud McGees Bar on South Main Street and knocking him unconscious. In the first case, prosecutors accuse Philip James Matt, 52, of coming into his home on the 600 block of West Park Street drunk in the early morning hours of June 5 and hitting his wife in the head with the pot. Matt admitted to District Court Judge Kurt Krueger on Thursday that it was full of spaghetti. The wife, while being treated for a head injury at St. James Healthcare after the incident, said Matt first picked up their flat-screen TV and was going to throw it at her but couldnt. So he used the pot instead. Following his guilty plea, Krueger set sentencing for Jan. 31. Assault with a weapon in Montana is punishable by up to 20 years in prison but carries no minimum sentence. Matt is free on his own recognizance at least until sentencing. In the other case, Tucker Lee South, 22, is accused of hitting a man sitting on a bar stool at Spud McGees on the night of Dec. 10. Banghart said miners expect to be cutting out the tunnel to the Apex in the next few months, and workers anticipate drilling and mining in the spring or early summer. But the Apex is behind schedule, and not everything is set in stone, Banghart said. The delay was caused by a need to do more metallurgical drilling so the company can better understand the ore body. That work is necessary before Barrick will release the capital to mine the Apex. Mining takes a lot of capital, Banghart said. The more confidence we can build in what well have when we get done is better for Barrick decision-making to release the capital for us to invest. Exploring the ore body at the Apex could help to determine Golden Sunlight's future. Until company officials know what that mine life really looks like, you have nothing to sell or close, Raw said. Thats why the Apex will be so important, she said. To be very transparent, its not core to our portfolio. If someone can add more value to it with their portfolio, that (selling it) would be an option. Dutiful huckleberries to Montanas U.S. Sens. Jon Tester, a Democrat, and Steve Daines, a Republican, for taking up an important bill to address the disproportionately high number of missing or murdered Native American women. Savannas Act is named for a Spirit Lake Tribal member who was eight months pregnant when she was murdered in Fargo, North Dakota. It earned unanimous approval in the Senate last year but was blocked by House Judiciary Committee Chair Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, who has since retired. The bill would require the U.S. Department of Justice to update its online databases, standardize law enforcement protocols and provide for technical assistance and training to tribes and the agencies that work most closely with them, among other things. It deserves prompt consideration and passage in Congress. High school graduation rates continued to tick up in Montana last year, hitting a record high of 86.4 percent. Graduation rates have generally trended up this decade, rising from 82.2 percent to a peak of 86 percent in 2015. Rates dipped to 85.6 percent in 2016 before inching up to 85.8 percent in 2017. Montana Senate President Scott Sales plans to introduce a bill that would have the state of Montana direct $8 million in funding to a wall along the U.S. southern border. While northern Montana is contiguous with Canada, the Bozeman Republican said Wednesday he has asked for a bill draft to help build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, something long called for by Republican President Donald Trump. The request for legislation was first reported by the Montana Television Network. Funding for the wall triggered a federal government shutdown that entered its 17th day Wednesday. Trump wants $5.7 billion for about 200 miles of wall, something Democrats will not support. Sales said Wednesday night the state of Montana, which went through large budget cuts in 2017 but saw some of the reductions restored over the last year, can afford to pitch in $8 million. "It's just providing for the ability for us to approve around $8 million in funding for the border wall," Sales said. "We have, just within the current rate of revenue that's coming in, we can afford to pay for the $8 million." There were two main developments during the first week of the session: Democratic Rep. Mary Caferro, of Helena, said she'll introduce a bill to remove the sunset on the program, which is set to expire this summer unless lawmakers act. Caferro said her bill is a starting point for a public debate about what expansion, which she believes should continue, will look like. Fellow House member Rep. Ed Buttrey, a Republican from Great Falls, is also drafting a bill. Buttrey said his bill will include some sort of work requirement, which he calls a community benefit and may also be met, possibly through volunteering, by people who can't work. Republicans have also said they want to see some form of assets and means testing, and possibly drug testing. Buttrey said his bill will be public soon. Bullock, who said $8 million would go a long way to fund health care or infrastructure work in Montana, declined to say whether he'd veto the bill if it landed on his desk. Trump traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday to make his case for the funding as a government shutdown was in its 20th day. The president said he's willing to consider declaring a national emergency, which he says would allow him to direct the military to begin building the wall. "Congress is basically dragging their heels over $5 billion, which is really trivial compared to what we spend on an annual basis," Sales said Wednesday in explaining his funding proposal. Sales said he calculated Montana's "share" of the cost of the wall by dividing the state's gross domestic product by the national GDP and multiplying it by $5.7 billion. Montana's $8 million wouldn't go very far, with Trump's $5.7B request expected to build 234 miles (377 kilometers). Airport authorities on Friday accused some airlines of using the Ninoy Aquino International Airport runway overlay project as an alibi to cancel flights to the detriment of air travelers. The Manila International Airport Authority is undertaking the Runway Overlay Project for Runway 06/24, which entails longer runway closure from the usual 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., to midnight to 6 a.m. daily except Sundays. The project, which will last until the end of first quarter, also includes degreasing and de-rubberizing works necessary to keep the international runway safe for landing and take-off. Meanwhile, two units of closed-circuit television monitors are now installed in every baggage carousel to prevent pilferage at the NAIA and for the passengers to actually see the luggage coming out from the conveyor upon arrival. Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal said all NAIA terminal baggage conveyors and carousel areas were now equipped with CCTV and monitors while the baggage loaders wears body cameras to eliminate pilferage. All passengers that arrived can monitor what is happening while their luggage are being transported from the plane to the baggage conveyors, Monreal said. Monreal tapped his men from the Airport Police Department at the tarmac to monitor the transporting of baggage from the plane to the build-up station and vice versa to ensure the safety of passengers baggage. He said all personnel in the tarmac must be frisked before entering or exiting the area, most especially those working from the aircraft to build up station and those who transport baggage of passengers. I am appealing to everyone and to all service providers employees to do what is right and dont put our country in a bad light, the MIAA chief said. The baggage build area is were all luggage of both arriving and outgoing passengers are being sort and loaded toward the baggage carousel at the arrival area and at plane, respectively. It is jointly manned by airline employees and airport baggage handling and security personnel. It is time to make our airport an airport free from pilferage, said Monreal. Last year, the MIAA management terminated its Lease and Concession Agreement with Miascor Ground Handling Corp. due to alleged pilferage committed by their employees. Monreal had ordered all baggage handlers and security providers at the airport to wear body cameras while on duty to prevent incidents of baggage theft.He also ordered his men to strictly implement the no pocket policy at the baggage breakdown and build-up areas. The MIAA chief said since he took over in July 2016, the MIAA embarked on an all-out campaign to cleanse the ranks of its own police force as well as civilian workers assigned at the NAIA. Monreal also sought the cooperation of partner airlines to police their ranks and help MIAA in ridding the ramp areas of scalawags. In NAIA alone, some 26 pilferage cases are reported in 2016 and 18 of them reportedly done by ground handlers of Miascor, according to MIAA. The number of pilferage cases has been reduced from 26 to seven in 2017. The MIAA management stated that airline operators had been advised of the six-hour runway closure even before April last year to give them ample time to adjust their flight schedules. However, the MIAA has received reports that some airlines use the runway closure as a convenient excuse to cover for operational difficulties that are solely attributable to them, the MIAA stated in its advisory. The airport authority refused to identify the airlines involved but it urged travelers affected by cancellations or re-timings to get in touch with their airlines for instructions and guidance. We are issuing this advisory to correct any misrepresentation that some airline operators may have previously employed or may still employ when they cancel or re-time their flights, it added. A passenger identified only as Ms. Summer identified a local airline, which she claimed using the alibi and has been delaying our flight to and from Bangkok which is very inconvenient. MIAA management advised the passenger You may file your complaint with the Civil Aeronautics Board representative in the Terminal. The MIAA also stated that the Air Passenger Bill of Rights mandate airline operators to provide arrangements or compensation to ensure the comfort and convenience of passengers affected by cancellations or retimings. Caferro said Wednesday now that the Legislature has hit the time intended to review the program, she thinks an examination will show it should continue as it functions now. There is nothing but positive to report in the over three years weve had Medicaid expansion," Caffero said. "With the sunset (in 2015) I thought, Sure, lets take a look at it. We need to take a look at it. And now we have the data. Its successful. Its firing on all cylinders. Great Falls Republican Ed Buttrey, who moved to the House this year after several terms in the Senate and carried the original expansion bill in 2015, is expected to bring a bill to extend Medicaid, but has been drafting it on his own, not through legislative services yet. Caferro said she hasn't been able to see what's in it. They have to bring it out of the shadows or I cant comment on it, Caferro said. I have no idea what is exactly in their bill because they kept it in the dark. None of our staff has seen it. I have not seen it. Hes not being transparent for it. Caferro said her legislation is an alternative that can go through a debate in open meetings where people can make amendments to add or subtract from the program, and the public can testify in support or opposition. It is supported by Bullock. The owner of a Missoula dog park where a male employee was charged with misdemeanor assault of a female employee is selling the business. Jason Overmier, the supervisor at Wagg'n Indoor Dog Park and owner Rachele Clarks boyfriend, drew several accusations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct. He no longer works at the park, and was charged by Missoula County prosecutors in May with assault-physical contact of insulting nature," a misdemeanor. A change-of-plea hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 25. Last month, the Missoulian reported that Clark tried to use court orders, social media complaints and threats of dismissal against employees who complained about Overmier. In a Thursday press release, Waggn announced that Waggn Indoor Dog Park is changing ownership and management effective immediately. A small business investor from Denver, CO is purchasing Waggn with hopes of franchising the unique concept. In a telephone interview with the Missoulian on Thursday, Clark declined to provide the investors identity or additional information. She noted that the deal has not been finalized. BONNER Montanas reigning teacher of the year herded his class of junior high students into the Bonner School gym with everybody else Thursday afternoon. Like everybody else, Dylan Huisken had no idea what they were doing there so close to bus time. He walked out alone, class dismissed, with an oversized check for $3,000 in hand. Unfortunately, this doesnt go into Dylans pocket, it goes to the school to do with what you will, Mike Boehme had told the hootin, hollerin K-8 students in the surprise 10-minute assembly. Boehme and Steve Nelson, owners and developers of the bustling mill site across the street, came to the school to make the presentation. The money was courtesy of a collective effort from their Bonner Property Development and a handful of businesses at the former mill: Northwest Paint, the oldest of the bunch; Coaster Pedicab; the data processing center now known as Hyperblock, and the KettleHouse Amphitheater and KettleHouse Brewery. It was the latest manifestation of a blossoming synergy between the school district, which turns 130 years old this year, and the mill site that Boehme and Nelson have grown from one business (Northwest Paint) to 17 or 18 since buying it seven years ago. Its like only one heart beating at a time, Domsa said. The energy you can create together is fabulous. Ciceo added, now we just look at each other and know whats next. Although Domsa is competing and Ciceo is judging, the two were most excited for their duet performance during Ballet Beyond Borders closing gala Saturday night. The two have won many awards in previous years, for individual and duet performances, but they say its not about the awards, or even for the thrill of competition. Rather, unlike the European dance festivals they frequent, Domsa and Ciceo said they love Ballet Beyond Borders encouraging, growth-focused atmosphere. The judges try to connect with the dancers. Its about the exchange, Domsa said. Its about that feedback and growth. Ciceo is on a jury for the first time this year, and is excited to be on the other side of that exchange. Shes continually impressed with how internationally diverse Ballet Beyond Borders is, and loves the chance to share her love of dance with people from so many cultures and backgrounds. It's been 70 years since four young black men entered one of the worst chapters in Florida's history, wrongly accused of raping a white woman and tortured, killed or wrongly imprisoned at the hands of racist mobs and a racist sheriff. But there's a chance their names are cleared today. Florida's new governor and Cabinet will meet this morning to discuss their case, although families of the Groveland Four and their supporters aren't expecting a pardon today. And they're mostly okay with that. "I appreciate the governor even just discussing it," said Wade Greenlee, the younger brother of Charles Greenlee, who was just 16 when he was arrested in 1949, beaten in a jail cell and sentenced to life in prison. "I would love to meet him if I could, just to say, 'Thank you.'" Today's meeting of the Clemency Board is listed as just a "discussion" about the Groveland Four. (The Clemency Board and the Cabinet are the same, consisting of the governor, the attorney general, the chief financial officer and the agriculture commissioner.) There is no public comment scheduled, even though Clemency Board meetings usually allow applicants to plead their case. That's left supporters believing that a second clemency meeting will finally clear their names. "I think people should be optimistic, not upset," said Gary Corsair, the author of the 2002 book The Groveland Four: The Sad Saga of a Legal Lynching. "Its been 60 years. Whats another three or four months?" Their hopes for a pardon were high nearly two years ago, when the Florida Legislature unanimously passed a bill asking former Gov. Rick Scott to pardon the four men. But Scott refused. His successor, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who took office on Tuesday, vowed last month to make it a "priority," saying that "justice was miscarried." Other members of the new Cabinet have also expressed interest in pardons. But behind the scenes, the family of their accusers are saying they shouldn't be pardoned. Two sons of Norma Padgett, who set the events in motion when she accused the men of raping her, told the Orlando Sentinel this week that their mom was telling the truth about the incident. "My mom dont lie," Curtis Upshaw told the Sentinel. "Shes a good Christian lady." Scott, now a U.S. Senator, said Thursday that he was never personally lobbied by Padgett's family against a pardon. He never chose to speed up the pardon process for the four men, even though that's what the Legislature asked him to do. "The way I always looked at clemency is there is a process and I made people go through that process," he said. "I was very cautious and get all the facts. They were doing that in December. They weren't done by the time I left." A mountain of evidence over the decades has revealed the rape accusations were rotten from the start. Greenlee, for example, was 20 miles away when the alleged rape happened. Walter Irvin, a World War II veteran who had been discharged just days before the event, had his case overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, only to be sentenced a second time with manufactured evidence. His sister, Henrietta Irvin, who now lives in Miami, said her brother "wasn't this type of person." Their father, she added, never got over it. She's cautiously optimistic that her brother's name will be cleared eventually. "It looks good, but you never can tell until it happens," she said. "Ive been waiting a long time for something to happen." Either way, Wade Greenlee, who is traveling to Tallahassee from Jacksonville for the hearing, is excited. "Were this close," he said. Times/Herald staff writer Steve Contorno contributed to this report. Ron DeSantis hasn't even finished his first week as Florida governor and he already appears to be on a collision course with the man who helped him get the job: President Donald Trump. On Friday, DeSantis said that it would not be acceptable for Trump to take funds from hurricane relief to be used toward the border wall. "We have people counting on that," he told reporters. "If they backfill it immediately after the government opens, thats fine but I dont want that to be where that money is not available for us." DeSantis' comments came after news broke Thursday night that Trump, his political benefactor, was considering using disaster funding intended for storm-damaged Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and for wildfire recovery in California to pay for the wall at the border. Trump has mentioned several times that he's considering declaring a national emergency so he can bypass the standoff with Congressional Democrats over the $5.7 billion in wall funding. Such a Plan B for Trump would almost certainly put him at odds with DeSantis. A former Navy lawyer, DeSantis said he's unsure of the legality of Trump's national emergency Hail Mary. "In all my years in Congress we never dealt with this idea of an emergency so I just need to look at the law," he said. "My sense, just as somebody who studied the Constitution, the president wouldnt be able to just appropriate his own money under any circumstances. You may be able to repurpose some money. I'm not sure how that works." DeSantis added that he's not spoken to Trump about this matter, and did not say if he has plans to do so. One of the hallmarks of his campaign last year was that Florida would have a close relationship with the White House because of his political relationship with Trump, whose endorsement helped DeSantis beat a more established candidate in Adam Putnam in the GOP primary. DeSantis' comments Friday struck a different tone than when he was asked about the shutdown on Thursday before news broke that Florida's hurricane funding could be in sacrificed for the border wall. DeSantis said then that he has his "hands full down here," indicating he didn't want to get involved in all the "political posturing" in Washington. DeSantis toured some of the worst of Hurricane Michael's damage in Mexico Beach on Wednesday, a trip he said was "really, really powerful." On Thursday, he announced a sweeping executive order to address toxic algae blooms aimed at cleaning up Florida's water. But progress on both the issues of hurricane recovery and environmental cleanup have been stunted by the partial federal government shutdown, which began at midnight on December 22. The shutdown has meant federal scientists researching Red Tide are at home instead of in their labs tracking the toxic algae as it has subsequently popped back up near the beaches of Sarasota and Manatee counties. And as the New York Times reported, it's intensified the hardships in the Panhandle where government employees who were already struggling post-hurricane are now making due without paychecks. Meanwhile, the website for the Federal Emergency Management Agency is not being "actively managed" during the shutdown, per a disclaimer on the site, which adds: "We will not be able to respond to inquiries until after appropriations are enacted." Bradenton Herald staff writer Mark Young contributed to this report. Editor's note: This post has been updated to include comments delivered Friday morning by DeSantis. At a press conference Friday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis took questions from reporters on topics ranging from his latest appointments to the South Florida Water Management District to Thursday's robust environmental policy addressed in an executive order. The newly minted governor addressed each question fully but when it came to climate change, he danced around his words. DeSantis angered environmentalists on the campaign trail after he repeatedly dismissed climate change as a real threat. "We put in the executive over that as climate changes, as our environment changes, as water rises in places like South Florida and theres increased flooding, we want to make sure that were taking the steps that we can to combat that," he said. DeSantis then referred to the part of the executive order that establishes a resiliency office to address climate impacts. "To me, Im not as concerned about what is the sole cause. If you have water in the streets, you have to find a way to combat that," he said. "Were going to work to do that and I think this office will be able to coordinate a thoughtful response." At the end of the press conference, a reporter asked if the governor believes the scientists who say humans cause climate change. DeSantis' response? Next question. Credit: CC0 Public Domain New research indicates that service members and veterans who identify as bisexual may be at higher risk for mental health issues including PTSD and depression than their gay, lesbian or heterosexual peers. Katie McNamara, a U.S. Air Force captain and third-year doctoral student at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, has always been an activist and advocate for the LGBT communitybut her current focus on the mental health of bisexual veterans arose from a perceived gap in existing research: "there's quite a bit of research on military and veteran mental health and LGBT health, but very little that combines the two. And before this project, there was absolutely nothing specifically focusing on the sexual minority subgroup of bisexual military-affiliated individuals," she said. After earning sponsorship from the Air Force to pursue her Ph.D. in social work, she chose USC because of the "groundbreaking research on military-specific LGBT issues being conducted here." For her recent research on LGBT inclusion and retention in the military, as well as the health, social and psychological issues faced by subpopulations of the community, McNamara teamed up with professors Jeremy Goldbach, Sara Kintzle and Carl Castro of the USC Military and Veterans Programs, as well as Air Force clinical social worker Carrie Lucas, Ph.D. The results of the study shed light on the mental health challenges faced by bisexual veterans, as well as the initial steps that can be taken to bridge this gap. Bisexual representation in the military Today, there are an estimated 1 million gay, lesbian and bisexual veterans in the United States. Bisexual individuals represent the largest segment of the LGBT communityand interestingly, both bisexual men and bisexual women are overrepresented among those who have served in the military. In terms of active duty service members, 2 percent of men identify as gay and 2 percent identify as bisexual, while 7 percent of women identify as lesbian and 9 percent identify as bisexual. This is likely an incomplete picture, as "bisexual individuals are less likely to be 'out' than their gay and lesbian counterpartsand more people are attracted to both men and women than identify as bisexual," McNamara said. Addressing the mental health disparities faced by bisexual veterans While laying the groundwork for this research, McNamara noticed a troubling oversight in previous research methods."There is evidence that bisexual individuals may be at higher risk for mental health issues than lesbian and gay individuals. Yet when it came to the existing research, lesbian, gay and bisexual people were usually studied as a single group, most often with lesbians and gays as the focal point of the study," she said. To tackle the gaps in the literature surrounding the mental health of bisexual service members and veterans, McNamara set out to conduct a thorough statistical analysis using a multi-city sample. Her findings were conclusive: "Even when I controlled for a wide range of specific demographic and military-related variables that might put some populations at higher risk for certain mental health issues, the results still indicated that bisexual veterans fare more poorly in terms of mental health outcomes," she said. In line with existing research that groups LGB people together, McNamara found that bisexual veterans are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from severe depression and 2.3 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than their heterosexual peers. However, her research broke new ground by confirming that bisexuals are three times more likely to suffer from severe depression and nearly twice as likely to suffer from PTSD than their gay and lesbian peers. The connection between trauma and mental health While further research is needed to evaluate the causal factors that may contribute to bisexual veterans' increased risk for depression and PTSD, a large body of existing research suggests that both depression and PTSD are often linked to trauma. Previous studies have already confirmed that LGB service members are at elevated risk for sexual assault and other types of interpersonal violenceamong the bisexual subgroup, it could be even higher. Research has shown that a supportive community is one of the most critical factors that can moderate the negative psychological effects of being a sexual minority. Unfortunately, bisexuals are much less likely to be "out" than lesbian and gay people (28 percent, versus 71 percent and 77 percent, respectively), which means they are less likely to have a community of like-minded individuals and allies to rely upon. McNamara also points to what is often referred to as "bi erasure"the tendency, among both heterosexual and LGBT communities, to downplay bisexuality as "a phase" or mere indecision. "If a person is experiencing a lack of validation and affirmation of a critical component of their identity, they may suffer mental consequences from this lack of support," she said. Providing support for LGBT subgroups in the military Moving forward, McNamara hopes to see a shift in military culture that leads to greater acceptance and affirmation of LGBT service members and veterans. "The era of 'don't ask, don't tell' is overyet I would be surprised if most commanders could tell you how many lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people serve in their unit. This needs to change," she said. McNamara also hopes that more research will be conducted on the issues that affect specific subgroups of the LGBT community in the military, rather than lumping together these diverse populations and generalizing their experiences. "The U.S. has an all-volunteer military," she said. "Like all members of the military, LGBT service members choose to make huge personal sacrifices in order to serve their country. We owe it to them to gain a deeper understanding of the issues that disproportionately affect this population, and create better systems to support them." Explore further Military sexual assault linked to PTSD and depression in LGB veterans City of San Fernando, Pampanga A British and his Filipino wife were arrested by government anti-illegal drugs operatives following a raid in their rented apartment at Magdalena Homes in Subic, Zambales Friday. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said some P15 million worth of fully grown cannabis (marijuana) were uprooted and seized. The suspects were brought to PDEA 3 regional headquarters while charges were being prepared. PDEA 3 Director Gil Pabilona identified the suspects as Simon Stuart McLaren Watson, 44, and Riza Macabenta Fernandez, 29. Pabilona said the suspects closed a drug deal with a poseur buyer who met them outside their residence at past 2 a.m. He said they were arrested after handing quantitative amount of dried marijuana. The operatives, Pabilona said, barged into the suspects residence where they discovered a fully airconditioned and well-lighted nursery room, about five by six square meters floor size with fully grown cannabis planted on 64 medium-size pots kept inside. This is the first cannabis laboratory plantation discovered by PDEA and operatives of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit in Central Luzon, said Pabilona.He said the first similar plantation was discovered in Las Pinas last year. Uprooted marijuana, Pabilona said, weighed more or less 10 kilos with estimated value of not less than P15 million based on the Dangerous Drugs Board prevailing assessment. Pabilona said the two were selling cannabis to their close friends. We are still checking if the suspects are selling the stuff online [since] there are reports on their alleged activities. We are still verifying the information. So far this is what we found out inside their house, Pabilona explained. Cultivation and selling of marijuana is prohibited under the law. Bones like the femur (thigh bone) normally become weak and porous in aging mice (71 weeks, left), but an experimental change in brain signaling led to much denser and stronger bones at the same age (right). Credit: Candice Herber / UCSF Core Center for Musculoskeletal Biology & Medicine (CCMBM) A handful of brain cells deep in the brain may play a surprising role in controlling women's bone density, according to new research by UC San Francisco and UCLA scientists. In a study published January 11, 2019 in Nature Communications, researchers showed that blocking a particular set of signals from these cells causes female (but not male) mice to build extraordinarily strong bones and maintain them into old age, raising hopes for new approaches to preventing or treating osteoporosis in older women. "Our collaborators who study bone for a living said they'd never seen bone this strong," said study senior author Holly Ingraham, Ph.D. "Our current understanding of how the body controls bone growth can't explain this, which suggests we may have uncovered a completely new pathway that could be used to improve bone strength in older women and others with fragile bones." More than 200 million people worldwide suffer from osteoporosis, a weakening of the bones to the point where falls or even minor stresses like bending over or coughing can trigger fractures. In healthy individuals, bone tissue is constantly being recycledold bone tissue is broken down and replaced by new bone. As we age, this cycle tilts in favor of bone loss, causing our bones to become increasingly porous and fragile. Women are at particularly high risk of osteoporosis after menopause (nearly one in three post-menopausal women in the U.S. and Europe suffer from weakened bones) because of declining levels of the sex hormone estrogen, which normally promotes bone growth. Estrogen plays many roles in the female body, particularly in the regulation of reproduction, but its function in the brain is still poorly understood. The Ingraham lab has long sought to understand how estrogen's signaling in the brain impacts the female metabolism at different life stages, including how estrogen-sensitive neurons in a brain region called the hypothalamus balance energetic demands needed for survival or reproduction. Their new study began when Stephanie Correa, Ph.D., then an Ingraham lab postdoctoral researcher and now an assistant professor at UCLA, found that genetically deleting the estrogen receptor protein in hypothalamic neurons caused mutant animals to gain a little weight, and also to become less active. Correa expected to find that the animals had put on extra fat or gained lean muscle, but these did not explain the difference. To find the source of the extra weight, she decided to use an extra-sensitive laboratory technique that could also reveal changes in bone density. To her surprise, she discovered that her heavy mice were truly just big-boned: the animals' bone mass had increased by as much as 800 percent. "I was immediately struck by the size of the effect. The two groups didn't overlap at all, which I had never seen," Correa said. "We knew right away it was a game changer and a new, exciting direction with potential applications for improving women's health." On the left is normal bone and on the right is osteoporotic bone. Credit: International Osteoporosis Foundation The mutant animals' extra-dense bones also proved to be super-strong. When collaborators such as UCSF's Aaron Fields, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, tested the mechanical strength of these bones by crushing them, his equipment almost failed, Ingraham says. After Correa moved to UCLA, Ingraham lab postdoctoral fellows Candice Herber, Ph.D., and William Krause, Ph.D., spearheaded a series of experiments that zeroed in on a specific population of just a few hundred estrogen-sensitive brain cellslocated in a region of the hypothalamus called the arcuate nucleuswhich appeared to be responsible for these dramatic increases in bone density. The authors hypothesized that estrogen must normally signal these neurons to shift energy away from bone growth, but that deleting the estrogen receptors had reversed that shift. Notably, interfering with arcuate estrogen signaling in male mice appeared to have no effect. "Most neuroscientists limit studies to male mice, and few study estrogen, which may explain why this had never been seen before," Ingraham said. "I've always been interested in how sex hormones make male and female brains different, and this is a really wonderful example of how dramatic those differences can be." Further experiments showed that Ingraham and Correa's mutant animals maintained their enhanced bone density well into old age. Normal female mice begin to lose significant bone mass by 20 weeks of age, but mutant animals maintained elevated bone mass well into their second year of life, quite an old age by mouse standards. Remarkably, Herber and Krause were even able to reverse existing bone degeneration in an experimental model of osteoporosis. In female mice that had already lost more than 70 percent of their bone density due to experimentally lowered blood estrogen, deletion of arcuate estrogen receptors caused bone density to rebound by 50 percent in a matter of weeks. These results highlight the opposite roles played by estrogen in the blood, where it promotes bone stability, and in the hypothalamus, where it appears to restrain bone formation, Ingraham said. "We hypothesize that after puberty the estrogen system in the female brain actively shifts resources away from bone growth and towards things like reproduction, which could contribute to women's higher risk of weakened bones as we age." The dramatic pattern of enhanced bone growth seen in the current study is unlike anything in the scientific literature, the researchers say, suggesting that Correa's fortuitous discovery may have uncovered a totally novel biological pathway by which the brain regulates bone density. Ingraham and colleagues are now investigating exactly how this brain-bone communication happens, and whether drugs could be developed to boost bone strength in post-menopausal women without potentially dangerous effects of estrogen replacement therapy. "This new pathway holds great promise because it allows the body to shift new bone formation into overdrive," Correa said. "I'm in the clouds about this result," Ingraham added. "If our next experiments show that the brain releases a novel circulating factor that triggers enhanced bone growth, we might have a real chance of developing a drug that counteracts osteoporosis." Explore further Estrogen regulates pathological changes of bones via bone lining cells Credit: CC0 Public Domain The American Psychological Association has issued its first official warning against toxic masculinity. The new "Guidelines for the Psychological Practice with Boys and Men," marks the first-ever report published by the association aimed at helping practitioners care for their male patients "despite social forces that can harm mental health." Citing more than 40 years of research, the APA warns against the "masculinity ideology," which it defines as "a particular constellation of standards that have held sway over large segments of the population, including: anti-femininity, achievement, eschewal of the appearance of weakness, and adventure risk and violence." "Traditional masculinity ideology has been shown to limit males' psychological development, constrain their behavior, result in gender role strain and gender role conflict and negatively influence mental health and physical health," according to the 36-page report, featured in January's issue of Monitor on Psychology. Conforming to the norms of the "masculinity ideology" can result in suppressing emotions and masking distress in young boys as well more risk-taking and aggressive behavior and a lack of willingness to seek out help. The report additionally contends this can lead to traits like homophobia and pave the way for sexual harassment, bullying and violence against others and themselves. The APA also invoked a series of sobering statistics to emphasize that "traditional masculinitymarked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggressionis, on the whole, harmful." For example, despite being four times more likely to die of suicide than women, men are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with internalizing disorders because they don't "conform to traditional stereotypes about men's emotionality." Men in the United States also commit an estimated 90 percent more homicides than women and are also much more likely to be arrested for domestic violence. Despite its warnings, the APA also encouraged men to embrace the positive aspects of traditional masculinity, like leadership and courage. "Though men benefit from patriarchy, they are also impinged upon by patriarchy," says Ronald F. Levant, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Akron and co-editor of the APA volume "The Psychology of Men and Masculinities." "Guidelines for the Psychological Practice with Boys and Men" additionally calls on those treating male patient to recognize their own bias and urges them to address how "power privilege and sexism work, both by conferring benefits to men and by trapping them in their narrow roles." 2019 New York Daily News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A rendering of a millimeter-scale, sugar-based stent designed by Nebraska's Ali Tamayol and his colleagues. Credit: Advanced Healthcare Materials / Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA Reconstructive procedures and organ transplants demand nimble fingers that can restore blood flow by stitching together millimeter-scale arteries. It's a tough ask and time-consuming task for even the most skilled surgeon. But a stent full of sugar may help the surgeries go downin a 3-D-printed way. Designed by Nebraska engineer Ali Tamayol and nationwide colleagues, the small sugar-based tube fits inside the adjacent ends of a clipped artery. By sticking to the interiors, the stent holds those ends in place and provides structural support during the precarious sewing process. "One of the plastic surgeons told us about the challenges of this kind of microsurgeryhow time-consuming it is, how skill-dependent it is," said Tamayol, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering. The stent-assisted suturing took just five minutes when tested on pig arteries, the team reported, compared with the roughly 15 minutes required of a conventional clamp-based technique. Tamayol said the stent also reduces the risk of a surgeon mistakenly threading through both the top and bottom walls of an artery, which blocks subsequent blood flow. Then, the finish: Minutes after the arteries are sutured, the resuming blood flow dissolves the stent and harmlessly sweeps it away. Ali Tamayol (left) with doctoral students Azadeh Mostafavi (center) and Jacob Quint. Credit: Greg Nathan | University Communication Sweet'n flow In designing the stent, the researchers came up with a checklist of essential properties. It needed some flexibilitytoo brittle, and it could break during suturingso the team added a glucose derivative called dextran. It needed enough stickiness to bind with the arteries, which glucose itself provided, plus a large dose of sucrose to help combat blood clotting. And it needed a pinch of sodium citrate to further diminish any chance of clotting when the stent dissolved. The recipe was simple enough. But arteries, like the people who contain them, come in multiple sizes. So the team turned to 3-D printing as a means of customizing the stent's diameter to individuals and areas of the body. By dissolving their sugar-based concoction in water and baking the solution until most of the water evaporated, the researchers produced a molten ink that's fluid enough to print but viscous enough to solidify in minutes. Experiments with transparent tubing and pig arteries showed that the stent erodes quickly but steadily when subjected to the flow rate, temperature and salinity of human arteries. The suturing held up, too, with no signs of leakage immediately following the procedure. A prototype of the stent, which helped accelerate the suturing of arteries in several recent experiments. Credit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln The researchers eventually plan to test the stent's use in live animal arteries, Tamayol said. And they envision a future in which such stents are printed at hospitals to meet the needs of individual patients. "One thing that I really like about this concept: We are always trying to avoid sugar," Tamayol said. "Everyone knows that sugar is (sometimes) bad. But here we found an application in which it's good." More information: Ali Farzin et al, 3D-Printed Sugar-Based Stents Facilitating Vascular Anastomosis, Advanced Healthcare Materials (2018). Ali Farzin et al, 3D-Printed Sugar-Based Stents Facilitating Vascular Anastomosis,(2018). dx.doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201800702 (HealthDay)Tainted food, trash-filled parklands and even hungry kids: Public health could be increasingly at risk as the U.S. government shutdown drags into its 21st day, experts say. Crucial inspections intended to protect Americans have either been curtailed or are not being performed because the responsible federal workers have been furloughed, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. "We have a very refined regulatory process which protects people from known and unknown hazards," Benjamin said. These inspections are designed to protect people against threats like tainted drugs, foodborne illnesses and water contamination, he explained. "Even though we have a system that's pretty good, things fall through," Benjamin said, noting the frequency of drug recalls, foodborne disease outbreaks and polluted drinking water. "And that's when we're running on all cylinders, everyone's funded, everyone's at work," he added. Large sections of the government have been shut down since late last month. President Donald Trump is insisting on government funding of more than $5 billion to start building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border; Democrats have refused to fork over the money. Congress already has passed five of its major appropriations bills, which fund about three-quarters of the government. The shutdown hasn't affected the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Veterans Affairs, all of which directly influence health care in this country. But parts of the government affected by the shutdown do play a role in the public health of the nation, experts said. FDA has cut routine food inspections The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for about 80 percent of inspections related to the American food supply, said Sarah Sorscher, deputy director of regulatory affairs with the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The FDA has suspended all its routine inspections of food-processing plants that prepare packaged foods, produce, milk and egg cartons, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told the Washington Post. "That's a lot of food and a lot of responsibility, and right now FDA is not out there doing the routine inspections it usually does," Sorscher said. "That means they're not detecting vermin in the facilities. They're not finding employees who aren't following proper sanitation [rules]. All of these different risks that they usually address are not being addressed." Gottlieb said he's working on a plan to bring back inspectors as early as next week to resume inspections for plants that pose the highest risk to food safety, such as those that handle soft cheeses or seafood, the Post reported. But in the meantime, "consumers should be very concerned that food safety will be impacted by the shutdown," Sorscher said. Benjamin agreed. "My concern is we're going to get a bad foodborne outbreak and all of the people won't be at work to fix it or address it," he said. "Even if they call them back up, those folks will have to play catch-up." Inspections of drug-making facilities have been put on hold With at least two out of every five employees furloughed, other crucial activities of the FDA also aren't being pursued, experts said. Routine inspections of drug-manufacturing facilities have been put on hold, said Dr. Michael Carome, director of the health research group at Public Citizen. "Not uncommonly, those inspections identify serious problems that need to be addressed to make sure the drugs being manufactured are safe and effective," Carome said. He added that scientists who test drugs for contamination also have been furloughed. Evidence that the FDA is not at the wheel can be found at the agency's website, which regularly posts warnings issued to companies not in compliance with government health regulations, Sorscher said. "They haven't issued any warning letters since the shutdown, which is usually how they put companies on notice for doing something wrong," Sorscher said. The Environmental Protection Agency has also run out of funding, limiting the agency's ability to inspect drinking water, according to Kaiser Health News. Trash in public parks posing disease risk The shutdown could also impact public health in indirect ways, Benjamin said. For instance, trash has been piling up in America's national parks and monuments, which have been kept open even though the National Park Service has furloughed its employees. "The reason we have trash services is to make sure we can control rodents and other animals that carry infectious diseases," Benjamin said. If the trash piles continue to grow, the parks could become overrun with rats and other vermin, Benjamin said. These include some urban locations, particularly all of the memorials located in Washington D.C. "Trash, while it may not be an issue today or an issue tomorrow, the third time they don't pick up the trash, that's a big deal," Benjamin said. "Animals are now roaming and going through the trash. Your rat population begins to grow." 'Food stamp' programs in jeopardy The health and welfare of low-income mothers and children is also at risk, with food assistance programs about to run out of funding or stopped altogether. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides benefits for about 40 million people, will run out of cash by the end of the month, The New York Times has reported. Other food assistance programs have already been cut off, the Times reported. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is currently relying on state funds to fill the gap as the shutdown continues. WIC provides aid to 7 million low-income Americans who are at "nutritional risk," the newspaper said. Explore further Volunteers strive to stave off shutdown chaos at US parks More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has steps you can take at home to improve The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has steps you can take at home to improve food safety Copyright 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved. You might prefer the way you look with a tan (most Aussies do), but you wont when your skin is prematurely aged. Credit: www.shutterstock.com There's a lot to be said for sunshine both good and bad. It's our main source of vitamin D, which is essential for bone and muscle health. Populations with higher levels of sun exposure also have better blood pressure and mood levels, and fewer autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. On the other hand, excess UV exposure is estimated to contribute to 95% of melanomas and 99% of non-melanoma skin cancers. These skin cancers account for a whopping 80% of all new cancers each year in Australia. Like any medicine, the dose counts. And in Australia, particularly in the summer, our dose of UV is so high that even short incidental exposures like while you hang out the washing or walk from your carpark into the shops adds up to huge lifetime doses. Fortunately, when it comes to tanning, the advice is clear: don't. A UV dose that's high enough to induce a tan is already much higher than the dose needed for vitamin D production. A four-year-long study of 1,113 people in Nambour, Queensland, found no difference in vitamin D levels between sunscreen users and sunscreen avoiders. What's happening in the skin when I get a tan? A tan forms when ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun discharge too much energy into our skin, causing damage to membranes, proteins, and most importantly, DNA. The excess energy of UVB rays (part of the UV ray that penetrates the upper layers of our skin) prevents the DNA from copying correctly when the cells multiply which can cause mutations. UVA rays which penetrate deeper into the skin can trigger a reactive and harmful process (known as oxidative free radical damage) which can damage not just DNA but also many of the skin's structural components. It's been estimated a single day's sun exposure can cause up to a million DNA defects in each skin cell. Excess energy from UVB rays causes DNA bases to link up incorrectly, making it difficult to copy accurately and leading to mutations that can cause cancer. Credit: NASA/David Herring Once their DNA repair mechanisms detect large amounts of damage, skin cells signal pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) to start producing extra melanin, the pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their colour. The extra melanin is parcelled up and transported into other skin cells to settle over and protect the part of the cell containing the DNA. This filters some UV rays and gives tanned skin its brown colour. But this tan doesn't provide much help it's only as protective as SPF 2 sunscreen. Wrinkles, blotches and broken capillaries Two in three Australians will develop a skin cancer in their lifetime, mostly thanks to the DNA damage caused by UVB rays. But premature ageing is a less well-known effect of too much sun exposure. UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, the lower layer of the skin, and generate reactive oxygen that damages the skin's structures. Over time this causes solar elastosis, where irregularly thickened clumps of elastic fibres form, then degrade into disorganised, tangled structures. Eventually this can take the form of roughening or leathery appearance, deep wrinkling, dark blotches and star-shaped white patches, and an overall yellowish tone. Prematurely-aged skin is often more easily-bruised or has broken capillaries. This 70-year-old has deep wrinkling and skin darkening caused by long-term sun exposure on her neck and part of her chest exposed by her shirt, while the rest of her skin has stayed relatively clear and unwrinkled. Author provided But I like the way a tan looks. What now? It's well known that a tanned look seems healthy and attractive to many Australians. Recent research shows Australians who feel particularly self-conscious about their body are more likely to intentionally tan to increase their sense of attractiveness. Fortunately, there's a safe way to indulge in the aesthetics of golden-brown skin: any tan that comes out of a bottle with the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone. This is a colourless sugar molecule that turns brown when it reacts with amino acids in the skin. It's safe to use because it doesn't penetrate deeper than the very top layer of skin, where the cells are already dead. Don't be tempted by solariums and sunbeds, because they emit up to six times as much UV as the midday summer sun. Commercial solariums are illegal in Australia for this reason, but there are still privately-owned sunbeds in use. Avoid them at all costs. So how do I stay sun safe without living in a cave? There are two parts to sunsafe behaviour in Australia that lets you get the health benefits of sunshine and prevents you from being one of the 2.4 million Aussies getting sunburnt each weekend. Dark blotches and white scar-like patches are common signs of ageing caused by too much sun. Credit: DermNetNZ.org First, you should wear 30+ SPF sunscreen every day when the UV index in your area is three or higher. By putting it on everywhere that isn't covered by that day's outfit, you protect yourself from the damage accumulated by short exposures, day in and day out, in Australia's intense UV environment. You should make sunscreen part of your morning routine, like brushing your teeth. Use the Cancer Council's free Sun Smart app or check your local weather report to find out the UV index where you are today. During the cooler months in southern parts of Australia, when the UV index is often below three, it's good to spend some time on most days, in the middle of the day, with skin exposed to the sun to maintain healthy vitamin D levels. So, a lunchtime stroll with your sleeves rolled up is a good idea in July in Hobart, where the UV index only gets up to one. In Brisbane at the same time, with an average July UV index of four, you don't need to take special steps to get enough vitamin D. Second, if you're planning to be outside for a prolonged time, you should follow the Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide advice. Slip on a long-sleeved shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on some sunglasses. Reapply your sunscreen every two hours, and be sure to use plenty: you want about a teaspoon each for your back, chest, head/neck, and each arm and leg. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Repeatedly missing general practice (GP) appointments may be a risk marker for all-cause mortality, particularly in patients with mental health conditions, new research published in the open access journal BMC Medicine suggests. Although further research is needed to better understand the relationship between missed appointments and mortality, the authors suggest that general practices and other services within the UK National Health Service (NHS) may need to consider how to best engage with patients who repeatedly miss appointments. Researchers at the Universities of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Lancaster found that the more long-term conditions (LTC) a person had, the more likely they were to miss appointments. Of the 824,374 patients whose data were examined in this study, 59% had one or more LTC, while 13.3% had four or more. Patients with no LTCs were less likely to miss GP appointments than patients with LTCs. Out of the 439, 592 patients who did not miss any GP appointments over a three-year period 51.5% had no LTCs, whereas 41.6% had one to three LTCs and 7% had four LTCs. Out of 59, 340 patients who missed three or more appointments per year over the same three-year period, 40.1% had four or more LTCs, 50.1% had one to three LTCs, and 9.8% had no LTCs. Mental-health-based LTCs were found to be associated with a higher risk of missing appointments than physical LTCs. One to three mental health comorbidities were associated with a 30% higher risk of missing appointments compared to those who had no LTCs, and patients with four or more mental health LTCs were twice as likely to miss appointments. Patients with one to three physical morbidities were 16% more likely to miss appointments than those with no LTCs, whereas those with four or more physical LTCs were at 38% higher risk of missing appointments. Dr. Ross McQueenie, the corresponding author of the study, said: "Patients with a higher number of missed appointments were also at greater risk of death within the following year. Those with long-term physical conditions who missed two or more appointments per year had a threefold increase in all-cause mortality compared with those who missed no appointments. Patients with only mental health conditions who missed more than two appointments per year had an eightfold increase in all-cause mortality compared with those who missed no appointments. Patients diagnosed with long-term mental health problems, who died during the follow-up period, were more likely to die prematurely, often as a result of external factors such as suicide, rather than of natural causes." The authors used a large Scottish primary healthcare appointment dataset, collected from 136 general practices from 11 Scottish health boards between 2013 and 2016, resulting in a cohort of 11.5 million appointments from 824,374 patients. The authors linked that data to the Scottish death registry to examine the association between missed appointments and mortality. The observational nature of this study does not allow for conclusions about cause and effect. The authors note that it is unlikely that the relationship between missed appointments and mortality is directly causal; one possible mechanism mediating that relationship involves conditions associated with cognitive impairment, such as dementia or problem alcohol and drug use. These conditions are also associated with an increased risk of missing appointments, as well as with increased mortality. Explore further Many people are regularly missing GP appointments, according to the largest ever analysis of NHS patients who fail More information: Ross McQueenie et al, Morbidity, mortality and missed appointments in healthcare: a national retrospective data linkage study, BMC Medicine (2019). Journal information: BMC Medicine Ross McQueenie et al, Morbidity, mortality and missed appointments in healthcare: a national retrospective data linkage study,(2019). DOI: 10.1186/s12916-018-1234-0 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Two children from Europe and one from Canada, aged four, six and 10, suffer from a previously unknown disease that causes epileptic seizures, loss of magnesium and reduced intelligence. There is currently no way to treat or alleviate their symptoms. But researchers in an international consortium have now discovered the cause of their illness. Professor Bente Vilsen and her research group at the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University, Denmark, are part of the consortium, which also includes researchers from universities in Germany, England, Austria, the Netherlands and Canada. The research results have been published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. Using a genetic analysis, the researchers have discovered that the disease is caused by a newly occurring mutation in one of the sodium-potassium pump's four forms, known as Alpha-1. Even though the children have exactly the same three symptoms, they do not have the same genetic defect, as the amino acids in the pump protein which are genetically altered are different, explains Bente Vilsen. "It turns out that the form of sodium-potassium pump that mutates is found in both the kidneys and the brain. The mutation leads to the kidneys, which normally absorb magnesium, instead secreting the substance in the urine; however, it is not the loss of magnesium that triggers the epileptic seizures. The convulsions occur because the sodium-potassium pump is also extremely important for the brain's functions, meaning that giving extra magnesium supplements won't prevent the seizures," says Bente Vilsen. She adds that the third frightening sign of the disease, mental retardation, should probably be attributed to a lack of oxygen to the brain during the seizures. Jens Christian Skou received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997 for discovering these molecular pumps, which are mutated in all three children. This knowledge is important, because understanding the role of the sodium-potassium pump is the first step toward developing effective treatment methods. The research group is now working toward this goal, even though the disease is rare. "But three cases have turned up in two different places in Europe and in Canada, and they're not likely to be the only ones," says Bente Vilsen. She explains that the new knowledge about the disease will probably mean that medical doctors will in future be more aware that loss of magnesium in combination with epilepsy may be caused by genetic defects in the sodium-potassium pump. "I believe that we will find many more children with the disease, and that this is a good example of why international research cooperation is absolutely necessarythere are simply too few cases of the disease for a single country to carry out the research alone," says Bente Vilsen. She points out that in future, it will be possible to replace sick genes with healthy ones, and that it is therefore important to know precisely which gene is affected by a mutation. She also points out that the understanding of the disease mechanisms causing rare diseases often lead to better treatment of patients with related but far more commonly occurring diseases. Jens Chr. Skou's sodium-potassium pump is best known as the membrane pump that is needed for the normal functioning of nerve cells, kidney cells and most of the body's other cells. The pump works like a battery, separating sodium and potassium on either side of the membrane. This creates an electrical current across the cell membrane that drives many other processes such as, e.g., electric conduction along the nerve cells and the absorption of magnesium and a range of nutrients from the urine into the kidney cells, so that they are not normally lost in the urine. Jens Christian Skou, who died in early summer at the age of 99, originally had the idea that mutations in the sodium-potassium pump would be incompatible with life. But it has since been found that serious, non-fatal diseases can originate from genetic defects in the sodium-potassium pumpexactly the case with the disease afflicting the three children. This is due to two factors. First, there are several variants of the sodium-potassium pump in different body tissues which are able to supplement each other if one of the forms does not work. And, secondly, humans have genetic material from both parents, so even in the kidneys, which in contrast to the brain contain only one variant of the sodium-potassium pump (Alpha-1), not all of the sodium-potassium pumps will be defective, but only those derived from one of the two parents. Therefore, in both the brain and kidneys, there will be a reduced number of functioning sodium-potassium pumps, but not a total absence of pumpsbecause if this was the case, the children would have died before birth, as predicted by Jens Christian Skou. The patients were discovered by medical doctors working in clinical practice. Bente Vilsen's group contributed their expertise in examining sick sodium-potassium pumps by inserting the diseased gene in cultured cells that originally come from monkey kidneys, making it possible to measure their pump function in the laboratory. As it turned out, the three mutations each in their own way caused the pump to be unable to transport sodium and potassium. There is a long way to go before the research results benefit the patients, as the discovery is still basic research. However, Bente Vilsen explains that Postdoc Rikke Holm from her research group recently discovered how it was possible to use an additional mutationa so-called 'rescue' mutationto nullify the effects of the disease mutations on the pump's binding of sodium. "This provides an insight into the molecular mechanism that we in the research group are working to use to improve the pump's transport activities, meaning that we can possibly one day develop a drug with a similar rescue effect. In any event, that's our hope. The fact is that it's basic research that generates the knowledge that forms the basis for the development of the vast majority of drugs and forms of treatment," says Vilsen. Explore further Researchers solve the mystery of the acid pump More information: Karl P. Schlingmann et al, Germline De Novo Mutations in ATP1A1 Cause Renal Hypomagnesemia, Refractory Seizures, and Intellectual Disability, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2018). Journal information: American Journal of Human Genetics Karl P. Schlingmann et al, Germline De Novo Mutations in ATP1A1 Cause Renal Hypomagnesemia, Refractory Seizures, and Intellectual Disability,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.10.004 Credit: CC0 Public Domain The increase in opioid prescriptions for people over the past decade may have been paralleled by an increase in opioid prescriptions for pets, according to a study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine. The findings, in this first-ever study of veterinary opioid prescriptions, suggest that there is also an increased demand for veterinary opioids, driven by complex procedures performed in veterinary medicine, as well as a heightened awareness of the importance of pain management. Given that opioid prescribing in veterinary medicine is not as heavily regulated as medical prescriptions for humans, it is possible that misused veterinary prescriptions could contribute to the ongoing opioid epidemic. The results are published today in JAMA Network Open. In the study, researchers reviewed all opioid pills and patches dispensed or prescribed for dogs, cats, and other small animals at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) from January 2007 through December 2017. The results show that the quantity of these prescriptions, as measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MME), rose by 41 percent during the period annually, while the annual number of visits rose by only about 13 percent. As a veterinary tertiary care facility, Penn Vet's unique caseload requires particular attention to and treatment of pain in veterinary species, which may account for increased opioid utilization in the study. "As we are seeing the opioid epidemic press on, we are identifying other avenues of possible human consumption and misuse," said study senior author Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine and the director of Medical Toxicology at Penn Medicine. "Even where the increase in prescribed veterinary opioids is well intended by the veterinarian, it can mean an increased chance of leftover pills being misused later by household members, sold or diverted, or endangering young children through unintentional exposure. The results of this study suggest that by assessing the rate of veterinary opioid prescriptions, we can develop strategies to reduce both human and animal health risks associated with increasing use." The current opioid crisis in the United States causes tens of thousands of overdose deaths every yearroughly 50,000 in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The crisis began in the late 1990s and was fueled largely by a steep increase in prescriptions for opioid pain relievers. Tightening regulations including prescription drug monitoring programs have helped reduce the number of opioid prescriptions from their peak in 2011. Although prescription opioid overdose deaths are now exceeded by those due to illegally obtained heroin and fentanyl, the former still account for nearly 20,000 fatalities annually. Since opioid prescribing in veterinary medicine is not as comparatively regulated, concerns are raised that opioids prescribed for pets could be misused by humans. The researchers reviewed pharmacy records at the Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital during the 10-year study window, and analyzed trends for the four opioids prescribed or dispensed to animal patientstramadol, hydrocodone, and codeine tablets, and fentanyl patches. The animals in the study included dogs (73.0 percent), cats (22.5 percent), and assorted others including rabbits, snakes, and birds (4.5 percent). "We found that the increased quantity of opioids prescribed by our hospital was not due to increased patient volume alone. It is likely that our goal of ensuring our patients are pain-free post-operatively, particularly for those requiring complex and invasive procedures, has driven our increased prescribing practices during this period," said lead author Dana Clarke, VMD, an assistant professor of Interventional Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine "At the national level, we don't know the potential or extent of prescription diversion from animals to humans, and what impact this could have on the human opioid crisis." Anecdotes about veterinarian-prescribed opioids being used by people have already prompted some states to add restrictions to veterinary prescribing. In Pennsylvania, state legislators are working with the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) to determine the most effective course of action for opioid dispensing by the state's practicing veterinarians. Two states, Maine and Colorado, now require background checks on animal owners' opioid prescription histories before a veterinarian can write an opioid prescription. Alaska, Connecticut, and Virginia now limit the amount of opioids any one veterinarian can prescribe to a single patient/animal. Twenty states now require veterinarians to report their opioid prescriptions to a central database, just as medical doctors do. At Penn Vet, efforts currently in practice to reduce opioid prescribing include preference of local anesthetics for post-operative pain, pain scores to guide administration of opioids, and monitoring of patients requiring long-term opioid use, such as dogs with chronic coughing requiring hydrocodone. The authors say it is important that the potential problem of diverted veterinary opioids be studied further to determine its scale, and should be addressed by extending the opioid stewardship measures that already affect medical physicians to veterinary doctors, in all states. Explore further Researchers examine trends in opioid prescriptions in children and adolescents In one of the first needs assessments of its kind, Anne Sebert Kuhlmann, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor of behavioral science and health education at Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice, has documented the challenges, from affordability to transportation, that low-income people with periods face in accessing basic sanitary supplies. Credit: Diane Chapman/Saint Louis University While access to menstrual hygiene products has been garnering attention in the developing world, low-income women and girls in major U.S. metropolitan areas also struggle to afford period supplies and often resort to making do with cloth, rags, paper towels, or even children's diapers during their monthly cycles. In one of the first needs assessments of its kind, Anne Sebert Kuhlmann, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor of behavioral science and health education at Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice and her team have documented the challenges, from affordability to transportation, that low-income people with periods face in accessing basic sanitary supplies. Their findings are published ahead of print and are slated for publication in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Kuhlmann's study found that nearly two-thirds of the women surveyed were unable to afford menstrual hygiene supplies like pads or tampons at some point during the previous year, and 21 percent of women lacked supplies on a monthly basis. Nearly half46 percentof those surveyed could not afford to buy both food and period-related products during the past year. While lack of access to menstrual hygiene products can result in negative health issues including infection and poor quality-of-life, Kuhlmann points to the need for broader education and policy shifts surrounding menstrual and women's health. "Adequate menstrual hygiene management is not a luxury," Kuhlmann and her co-authors conclude in the study. "It is a basic need for all women and should be regarded as a basic woman's right. Our failure to meet these biological needs for all women in the United States is an affront to their dignity and barrier to their full participation in the social and economic life of our country." Between July 2017 and March 2018, the study team surveyed 183 women between the ages of 18 and 69 who were drawn from 10 participating St. Louis community organizations that provide services to low-income people. Most of the women had begun menstruating between the ages of 12 and 13, and have spent decades coping with period product insecurity. Lack of access to menstrual hygiene products meant that 36 percent of the surveyed women who reported being employed part or full-time had missed one or more days of work per month due to their periods. The women reported that a key challenge in accessing period products stems from the products' high cost and their inability to apply government benefits toward their purchase under the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Neither program allows women to apply benefits toward purchasing period products. In Missouri, among other states; the supplies are taxed in a higher sales tax bracket, even though the supplies are necessities for many women and girls. According to Kuhlmann's findings, taxing period products at the full sales tax rate adds quickly to the "economic cost of being a woman." While the area's sales tax rates vary, if a woman buys a 36-count pack of overnight Maxi Pads with Wings for $9.27, she would pay between $0.71 and $1.08 per pack in sales tax for her menstrual hygiene products. That cost is nearly 10 percent of the item's price. If the pack was charged at the lower food sales tax rate, the cost per pack would drop significantly, saving a woman over the course the year and her menstruating lifetime. "This may not seem like a lot," Kuhlmann explained, "but for someone who may be struggling to earn enough money for basic necessities, an extra pack of liners every year would be tremendously helpful. Furthermore, this is a financial burden that only affects women with periods." Women who lived in households with a daughter who was also menstruating reported "making do" with alternate, jury-rigged period supplies so they could buy period products for their daughters to use. "The cost of buying menstrual hygiene products for multiple women in a household accumulates quickly and can add to the struggles women have in coping with the realitiesbleeding, cramps, and other symptomsof their menstrual cycles," Kuhlmann said. In open-ended survey questions, the women also described struggling to manage heavy bleeding days during their periods with products made available to them; problems accessing products due to limited public transportation options; and concerns about their safety and sanitation during their monthly cycles. Some of those surveyed reported that, as a last resort when they had no money or place to get period products, they stole them or went to hospital emergency rooms to receive pads intended for post-partum women. The team also surveyed 18 St. Louis non-profit organizations about what menstrual hygiene products they offered to their clients. Thirteen of those organizations provided period products to their clients, but nine reported that those supplies were only available intermittently. "It's easier to get diapers than period products in St. Louis," Kuhlmann said. "Women buy disposable products when they can, but are often forced to rely on donations and/or to create make-shift pads and tampons for themselves, mostly out of toilet paper, tissue, or paper towels but also out of their kids' diapers, old socks, ripped T-shirts or rags. When women with limited incomes are forced to make choices about their own needs versus those of their children, they often prioritize their children's needs. They will purchase diapers first and then get menstrual hygiene products for themselves if money remains." The study calls for the creation of a community resources directory, follow-up with hospitals and health care providers, increased menstrual hygiene education and advocacy efforts to address tax rate, transportation and bathroom access issues identified by the survey participants. In order to address the needs identified by the study, Kuhlmann, together with Ellen Barnidge, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor of behavioral science and health education, and Enbal Shacham, Ph.D., associate professor of behavioral science and health education, are conducting a "women's resources audit" in the City of St. Louis examining period product availability, cost and overall access. "This must change," Kuhlmann and study authors note. "We urge women's health care providers and their professional organizations to advocate for such policy changes." Explore further Sanitary pad record in India to promote menstrual hygiene Credit: CC0 Public Domain At a Southern Maryland airfield, Dr. Joseph Scalea watched a drone carrying a kidney in a cardboard cooler fly 3 miles. The test flight, repeated 14 times, was the culmination of three years' work by the University of Maryland Medical Center transplant surgeon, who sees the unmanned aircraft as the ultimate method for delivering life-saving organs from donors to recipients. "I did a transplant where the organ flew 1,500 miles from Alabama on a commercial aircraft and it took 29 hours," Scalea said. "That's ridiculous. It could have been here in six. And yet that's accepted as how we do things." Organs don't last long outside the body, and delays and mistakes mean some lose quality or can't be transplanted. Scalea is frustrated that the system relies on couriers, commercial airline schedules and costly charter flights arranged by local nonprofit agencies. He cited a recent $80,000 charter to deliver a liver to Baltimore from Texas and an unrelated case in which a heart was accidentally left on a commercial plane flying from Seattle. That led Scalea to try to jump to the head of a movement already underway to resolve the technical, regulatory and medical hurdles to using drones to shepherd medical supplies such as blood, medicines, and now body parts, anywhere around the country at any time. More than 30,000 organs such as kidneys and livers are transplanted a year, and many more valves, bones and other tissues. Scalea expects drones to overcome the barriers and remake how organs are delivered in the next three to five years. "It will be faster and cheaper and more predictable," said Scalea, also an assistant professor of surgery in Maryland's school of medicine. "Drones really work for this purpose." For now, hobbyists still dominate drone use in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration has registered almost a million recreational users. The FAA reports that public agencies and commercial users are catching up, with 290,000 drones registered and performing such tasks as wildfire mapping, agricultural and weather monitoring, disaster management and law enforcement. Other uses include utility inspection, telecommunications and real estate photography. The FAA still strictly enforces limits on drone use, requiring waivers to fly at night, over populated areas, out of a pilot's sight, faster than 100 mph or above 400 feet. But the agency plans changes based on a program it launched in May with 10 local government agencies. "Data gathered from these pilot projects will form the basis of a new regulatory framework to safely integrate drones into our national airspace," Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said at the time, adding that the new industry was expected to generate 100,000 jobs and $82 billion in economic impact in less than a decade. At least two programs plan to distribute medical supplies, including a pilot program by North Carolina's transportation department that will use a drone fleet operated by San Francisco-based Zipline. The company already delivers cold-packed medical supplies in Rwanda. Officials said their drones transport more than 30 percent of the country's blood supply outside of the capital Kigali, helping to eliminate maternal deaths at some hospitals, and expansion to other African countries is planned. They aim to test the same system in North Carolina this year. The tests will help change the U.S. regulations, which are more stringent than those in developing countries, said Matt Scassero, director of the University of Maryland Unmanned Aircraft System Test Site in St. Mary's County. Another challenge is that drones capable of flying organs across the country aren't yet commercially available, Scassero said. Such drones would have to be engine-powered rather than battery-driven. They also would need to have the ability to avoid obstacles and to carry a reliable method of preserving organs. The university's drone test site managed Scalea's test flights. They started small, flying only 3 miles, the approximate distance between the rooftops of two urban hospitals. Scalea created the special cardboard cooler and sensors for monitoring the organs in partnership with Maryland Development Center, a medical technology company working with the state's academic inventors. Scassero said the final products and overall system likely will involve myriad groups and companies. "The doctors have made progress on the medical side, and this is the drone side," Scassero said. "This is the harder part of the equation. ... We're working to show we can do this safely and efficiently." But the promise is huge. Such flights could avoid airline delays or traffic or even bad weather. Scalea, who has gone to pick up organs in his own vehicle, estimates that drones eventually could reduce travel time by 70 percent on the farthest deliveries. The flights could avoid mishaps like a recent report of a heart left in a Southwest plane flying from Seattle to Dallas. Hearts are not normally put on commercial flights but only the valves were scheduled for transplant. The airline reported that the plane returned to the airport while the valves were still viable, though passengers were delayed about five hours. More than 114,000 people are on the national waiting list for an organ, according to UNOS, or the United Network for Organ Sharing, the nonprofit that manages the transplant system. Organs travel farther than in the pastsometimes across the countryand that trend is expected to increase as officials work to make distribution more equitable and reach the sickest patients. Time already is a big obstacle. About 14 percent of donated organs are discarded, partially because of reduced quality. Kidneys are by far the most transplanted organ, and about 20 percent are not used. Kidneys can endure the longest time on ice, called cold ischemia, and can cross the country to a recipient on a commercial flight, according to UNOS. Hearts and lungs last four to six hours, and livers only a bit longer, and all those typically travel by charter. A hand or face can wait no more than a couple of hours. Dr. David Klassen, chief medical officer for UNOS, said computer programs do the matching and factor time among other parameters. He said drones could mean better matching and less waste. They also could contribute to more equitable allocation by directing organs to the sickest patients, something the agency has sought to address amid criticism, court challenges and research showing a tendency to limit organs' distribution by geography. "One thing that confounds us is getting organs from place to place," he said. "There are limitations on flying organs. ... Drones could address some of the issues. It's an intriguing idea. It won't be simple." Klassen said he believes the public would be more accepting of drones buzzing overhead for life-saving purposes, much like medevac helicopters, than for deliveries from companies such as Amazon. The giant online retailer has floated the idea of parachuting orders from drones into people's yards. Questions about drone delivery from regulators, as well as the public, likely would focus on public safety and organ quality, Klassen said. There are also technical issues, he said. While organs are normally infused with cold fluids and packed on ice, new technology keeps organs warm and actually functioning outside the body with the aid of machines. Those still might require human escort for now. Maryland records more than 100,000 deliveries of organs and tissues a year, said Charles Alexander, CEO of the Living Legacy Foundation, which manages transplants for most of Maryland. Errors like the Southwest delivery are rare, he said. But officials often face difficulties because pilots that fly charter flights don't always work at night when organs become available. Sometimes, organ removal from donors is delayed to preserve the transplant window. "Transportation logistics are the greatest challenge in our field," Alexander said, adding that the challenge will only grow as organs travel farther to recipients. "This is being done with this philosophy of broader sharing," he said. "Drones are absolutely worth exploring, but there are hurdles." Doctors and engineers at the university hospital and elsewhere in the state continue to work on aspects of those hurdles. A team at Johns Hopkins University has been working on special coolers that could safely transport medical supplies such as blood, vaccines and other medications over long distances. The coolers have transported blood samples the farthest in the United States, across 161 miles of Arizona desert over three hours, and found no problems. Separately, engineers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County continue to work with Hopkins doctors on a special monitoring system that senses when organs are fading and compensates by automatically tweaking the makeup of the a surrounding solution. Scalea devised his own monitoring system that can send real-time information on the condition of an organ to a transplant doctor's cellphone during flight. The sensors fit inside a wrap like a beer koozie along with the organs. Any final delivery system would likely rely on a range of technologies to transport organs and other medical supplies. There likely will be plenty of demand. Hospitals such as the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health on the Eastern Shore, which serves a wide area, tested drone delivery of medications across the Chesapeake Bay in 2016. And groups including Doctors Without Borders, the nonprofit service organization, have been testing drones to deliver lab specimens collected from rural areas overseas. Stefano Di Carlo, the Tokyo-based head of operation support for the doctors relief group, said officials would like to move larger cargo farther. People in war zones likely would be wary because drones are also used as weapons, but poor areas lacking in infrastructure would be among the places most eager for such delivery. "If the technology become cheaper, more reliable and easier to set up," Di Carlo said, "the potential is huge." 2019 The Baltimore Sun Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The government through the Board of Investments has started looking for foreign investors to provide quick assistance to beleaguered Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company Philippines after the Korean shipbuilder filed for corporate rehabilitation with the Olongapo Regional Trial Court. An official of the BoI hinted Friday an investor-creditor of HBIS Group Co. Ltd., one of the worlds biggest steelmakers, expressed interest to take over the operations of Hanjin. HBIS is the proponent of the $4.4-billion integrated steel project that will rise within the Phividec Industrial Authority compound in Mindanao. A Department of Trade and Industry official also said the HBIS investor and another private company had expressed initial interest on financially-strapped Hanjin. We are actually on our toes to look for investors who can take over the company, the soonest possible time since this may also impact on the countrys vision to be a shipping hub in the near future, the official who declined to be identified said. He said the BoI was willing to help Hanjin scout for investors who can provide immediate help to save the company from further losses. The agency recently met with Turkish and Chinese investors interested in putting in fresh capital into Hanjin. He said an investor with about $500 million to $600 million can easily take over Hanjins operations with A provision for at least $12 million in the monthly operational budget. He noted that Hanjin was concerned on the welfare of some 3,800 remaining employees if the company shut down operations.Hanjin has a standing $412 million in obligation to at least five local creditors and about $900 million from supply creditors in South Korea. Hanjins total investments in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone have reached $2.6 billion. Hanjin, the biggest foreign investor in the Subic Freeport, filed on Tuesday a petition with the Regional Trial Court in Olongapo City to initiate voluntary rehabilitation. The company has 68 pending contracts that may face cancellation if the planned rehabilitation is not approvedl. Hanjin, which has focused in building high-value vessels, was established in 2006 as a subsidiary of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd., a multi-national company that provides shipbuilding, construction and plant services in South Korea and other parts of the world. The company was responsible for the construction of the worlds biggest cargo and container ships, bulk carriers, liquefied petroleum gas carriers, very large crude oil carriers and very large ore carriers. Hanjin has delivered since 2008 123 vessels to valued clients across the globe, cementing its foothold in the highly competitive shipbuilding market. (HealthDay)Many primary care patients are not given tests recommended for monitoring diabetes, according to a study published in the December issue of Family Medicine and Community Health. Mingliang Dai, Ph.D., from the American Board of Family Medicine in Lexington, Kentucky, and colleagues examined adherence to ordering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and lipid profile tests as recommended by the American Diabetes Association using the 2013 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Data were included for 2,379 primary care visits for patients with diabetes. The researchers found that less than 60.0 percent of the patients were given a test recommended for monitoring diabetes (58.0 percent for HbA1c and 57.0 percent for lipid profile) in the preceding 12 months. With continuity of care with primary care physicians (PCPs), the odds of adhering to diabetes monitoring guidelines increased by 36.0 (P = 0.06) and 76.0 percent (P = 0.0006) for the HbA1c and lipid profile tests, respectively. "Forty percent of primary care visits of patients with diabetes were missed opportunities where PCPs were not providing guideline-concordant monitoring tests, creating a substantial gap in the quality of care for diabetes in U.S. primary care settings," the authors write. "Our findings suggest that enhancing patient-provider continuity of care may be effective in promoting guideline adherence." Explore further NPs and PAs can effectively manage diabetes in primary care Copyright 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Although most have never heard the term "cavernous malformation," as many as 1 in 500 people may have this condition, which can cause bleeding, seizures, muscle weakness, and motor and memory problems. "Cavernous malformations are rareeven to a neurologist or neurosurgeon," says Dr. Kelly Flemming, a Mayo Clinic neurologist. "Having coordinated care by providers familiar with the disease is very important to patients." To that end, the Angioma Alliance named Mayo Clinic a Center of Excellence in 2017. The center treats and conducts research on cerebral cavernous angiomas, which go by many names, including cerebral cavernous malformations, cavernous hemangiomas and cavernomas. Dr. Flemming is medical director of the effort, and Mayo patients like Kandie Nelson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, are helping, too. "I was working at the front desk at a hotel," explains Kandie Nelson. "And I went to answer the phone, and it came out, 'Blah, blah, blah.' I justI couldn't talk. And my hands and my feet started going numb. And, then, I fell to the ground." Kandie was rushed to the hospital and eventually was diagnosed with a cavernous malformation. "They look like this little raspberry or cluster of grapes in the brain," says Dr. Flemming. A cavernous malformation happens when tiny capillaries divide abnormally and create a small tangle of blood vessels. Many who have the condition don't know it, since symptoms are rare. "We find these accidentally," Dr. Flemming adds. "Somebody had a head trauma, and they are being scanned, looking for trauma, but we incidentally find one of these. Or they may have migraines, and they undergo an MRI." "They can just kind of blow out, and that can cause a hemorrhage in your brain," Kandie adds. "Quite often, there is displacement rather than destruction of the surrounding tissues, and that's the reason why many patients can have even a significant, fairly large bleed without having major symptoms," says Dr. Giuseppe Lanzino, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon. "This is also the reason why many patients, after a symptomatic bleed, can have some degree of improvement." Dr. Lanzino says surgery to remove one of these malformations is considered only when it's causing problemsas was the case for Kandie. "It's very close to the surface of the brain, so it would be very easy to get to. So we opted for that," says Kandie, explaining the decision she made with doctors about her malformation. "If it's in a difficult place, like deep inside the brain or in the brain stem, then typically we would wait and watch and only do surgery if there was a second bleed or increasing symptoms," adds Dr. Flemming. It's still unclear why most people develop these malformations. But in about 20 percent of cases, there's a family connection. That's true for Kandie. "So my children had 50 percent chance of having it," she explains. And two of them do, including her son, Bryan Nelson. "They're usually in the brain or the brain stem," Kandie said. "But he had one in the spinal cord." Bryan had that cavernoma removed just weeks before his high school graduation. Kandie says a second malformation on Bryan's brain stem later affected his ability to walk and talk. "He was kind of slurring his words," she adds, explaining Bryan's symptoms. "In his case, we were able to remove the cavernous malformation from the brain stem, along with the fresh blood that was there from the recent bleed, and he was able to make quite a remarkable recovery," Dr. Lanzino says. "My scar starts right herethen behind my ear," says Bryan's sister, Kayla Nelson, as she pointed to the location of her surgery. Kayla's cavernous malformation struck in a different way. "I was going up the stairs," Kayla adds. "I remember kind of going into a seizure. So I had texted my mom and told her what had happened. And she was, like; 'All rightyep, you're going to the Mayo Clinic. I'm making an appointment now.'" "It was in a particular location in the brain called the temporal lobe, which is common for any type of abnormality to provoke seizures," Dr. Flemming says. "And even though she went on seizure medications, she was still having them. And, so, if people are having recurrent seizures, despite trials of medications, then surgery would be recommended there, as well." Kayla became the third member of her family to undergo surgery and find relief from cavernous malformation. "My seizures are gone," says Kayla. "I think a lot of patients I talk tothey struggle with finding people with the correct expertise to answer a lot of their questions," Dr. Flemming says. "At the center here at the Mayo Clinic, we have expertise in all different areas, including the diagnosisboth clinical and imagingthe surgical treatment and the nonsurgical treatment of cavernous malformations," adds Dr. Lanzino. And, thanks to families like the Nelsons, that expertise continues to deepen. "All three of us have donated our malformations to science," Kandie explains. "Hopefully, they can try to figure out how they grow and what they can do to stop them from growing. God puts you here for a reason. I believe one of my reasons is to help find a cure for this." Explore further Molecular trigger for Cerebral Cavernous Malformation identified 2019 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Idaho Constitution flatly declares: All political power is inherent in the people. Those people established a government of elected representatives to carry out regular public business. However, they wisely reserved the right to initiate and pass laws when their representatives balk at carrying out the publics wishes. We witnessed the people properly taking the law into their own hands last November. For years, public polling indicated that the people wanted to expand the states Medicaid program to cover people who earned too much to qualify for coverage, but too little to get assistance under the Affordable Care Act. About 60,000 working folks fall into that gap. After the Legislature failed year after year to carry out the will of the people, Idaho voters stepped up in record numbers to pass a peoples initiative expanding Medicaid. It is now the law of our state and deserves to be implemented in the form approved by a substantial majority of voters. Much to his credit, Governor Brad Little has pledged to honor the decision of Idaho voters to expand the Medicaid program. He had promised to do so in his campaign and has just said he will seek implementation of the law in an Idaho way. In this case, an Idaho way would be exactly as set out in the measure approved by a 61% vote of Idahoans who went to the polls. I really felt there was a disconnect between the two, Merrill said. I wanted to take care of mom and baby as one unit. She said she felt there was a lot of medicalization to birth, such as a baby being warmed up before the mother got to hold him or her. But that has since changed even in the hospital setting, she said, and theres a huge shift toward the initial bonding time and providing skin-to-skin contact. As a midwife, Merrill works out of the St. Lukes Jerome family practice office. She sees patients for their prenatal visits, is with them during labor, delivery and postpartum checks. Her patients are considered low risk and dont have any major health conditions. Merrill said the majority of her patients who seek her out want to build a one-on-one relationship prior to delivery. Some of her patients are second-time mothers who saw a multitude of different providers during their previous pregnancy, she said. Merrill works with her patients to develop a birth plan and get a sense of what they want. It makes a little easier to facilitate that in labor, she said. Come summer, Peppershock received another job, this time from the SDE. The company produced a 30-second public service announcement touting Ybarras KISS initiative and traveled to American Falls to shoot video of Idaho teacher of the year Marc Beitia. Peppershock received $7,200 in taxpayer money, mostly to produce the KISS public service announcement and purchase airtime. In October, Peppershock was again working for Ybarras campaign, producing TV and radio spots and again buying airtime. Peppershock received $11,975, constituting about three-fourths of the money the campaign spent in the final weeks leading up to Election Day. When one project ended, another began, said Drew Allen, Peppershocks co-owner and creative director. The company tracked each project separately. Emails about the election ads went to the campaign, not to SDE. And, he and Rodine said, no taxpayer dollars went into campaign ads. We understand that there could be a conflict, Allen said. TWIN FALLS Police are still looking for a Twin Falls County teen who has been missing for more than two months and are asking for the public's help to search for her. Because of Idahos modest population size, the Gem State is far from topping overall consumption. That honor goes to California, which also produces the vast majority of American wine. But in 2016, the most recent year studied by the NIH, the average Idahoan supposedly sipped twice as much wine as the average Californian consuming 1.19 gallons of ethanol to the Golden States .59 gallons. Adding to the believability is Utahs ranking: .19 gallons, or fourth lowest in the nation. With Idaho also having a significant Mormon population, how could our state rank No. 1? It seems strange that to me that could be the case, Devine said. Boises lust for all things vineyard-related must make up for it. Yeah, locally, I totally feel that way, Devine said. We get a lot of people that love to drink wine. We fill up classes and cellar tastings all the time. Boiseans have a favorite wine, Devine said all of it. We sell a lot of French wines. We sell a lot of Italian wines. But then we sell a lot of cabernet and chardonnay. Enough to out-guzzle everyone else in the United States, apparently. Cory Barr, a captain with the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department and owner of a tavern destroyed in the blast, was killed in the explosion. Two other volunteer firefighters were injured. VC Tech, which was subcontracted by Bear Communications, punctured an unmarked underground gas line at about 6:20 p.m. on July 10 while boring a hole under Bristol Street and Main Street in Sun Prairie as part of a fiber communication line project for Verizon. The damaged gas line led to the explosion about 45 minutes after it was punctured, destroying five buildings, damaging several others and displacing dozens of residents. An OSHA investigator met with company representatives the day after the explosion, according to the federal body that oversees workplace safety. Each company has 15 business days to pay the fine, request a conference with OSHA or contest the findings, according to OSHAs citations. Gas line was unmarked Its unclear what ignited the explosion, according to records of the investigation released last month. VC Tech had been subcontracted by Bear Communications, which had been contracted by Verizon for the fiber-optic cable project. Asian Terminals Inc. has deployed additional modern equipment at the Batangas Container Terminal as it expands the ports role as a trade facilitator and smart logistics option for the Calabarzon region comprising of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces. BCT recently added two new ship-to-shore cranes and four more rubber-tired gantry cranes, manufactured by Shanghai-based ZPMC, effectively doubling the ports STS and RTG fleet to four and eight, respectively. The new STS cranes can reach up to 16 container rows, lift two 20-foot containers simultaneously and handle loads of up to 70 tons. The RTGs, meanwhile, can stack up to six containers high. Aside from these, ATI also acquired more cargo handling equipment such as reach stackers, side loaders, internal transfer vehicles and chassis to further boost terminal efficiencies. ATIs latest investment forms part of its commitment with the Philippine Ports Authority and complements the expansion of BCTs berth and yard space which began in 2017.BCT will now be able to accommodate more and bigger vessels at faster turnaround time using its 600-meter berth, and handle more international boxed cargoes, bringing BCTs throughput capacity to over 450,000 teus (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually. ATIs expansion program in Batangas Port is in response to the growth of Calabarzon industries and in support of governments efforts to decongest Metro Manila roads. Sustaining its growth momentum, BCT recorded a new operations milestone in 2018 handling close to 250,000 teus, a volume increase of over 25 percent from 2017. Equally important, this meant reducing over 125,000 truck trips along Metro Manila roads, with more consignees routing containerized cargoes via South Luzons preferred international gateway port. Vos in an interview Thursday with a conservative talk show on 1130 WISN said he and Republicans would not approve more controversial Democratic proposals such as a $15 minimum wage, drivers licenses for immigrants living in the country illegally, legalizing marijuana, rolling back school voucher programs or expanding abortion rights. The lawmakers vowed the first bill they would pass this session would guarantee health coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, after the state Senate during Decembers lame-duck session failed to pass similar legislation. Sens. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere, and Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, circulated a bill Thursday with more than 60 co-sponsors that would guarantee health coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. In a move to potentially stem major disagreement with Republicans in the other chamber, Vos said GOP members of the Assembly plan to meet with colleagues in the Senate next week. A handful of Republican senators have previously stymied some of their partys efforts in the Assembly, most notably in 2015, when Vos called three conservative senators terrorists for holding up the budget process, a comment for which he later apologized. Madisons mayor has thrown his support behind plans to build what would be the largest solar farms in the Midwest in southwestern and eastern Wisconsin. Chicago-based Invenergy has proposed a 300-megawatt project, called Badger Hollow, for western Iowa County. If approved, it would be one of the largest solar farms in the nation and more than 100 times the size of anything previously built in Wisconsin. It would occupy a space more than twice the size of the UW Arboretum. NextEra Energy has applied to build a 150-megawatt project known as Two Creeks between Manitowoc and Kewaunee. Madison Gas & Electric and Wisconsin Public Service Corp. are also seeking permission from regulators to buy half of Badger Hollow and all of Two Creeks for a combined $390 million. In a letter sent Wednesday, Mayor Paul Soglin urged the Public Service Commission to approve both solar farms as well as the utility acquisition, which he said would complement the citys efforts to eliminate carbon emissions. The city is MGEs third-largest customer. Shahzad also pleaded guilty to possession of contraband smokeless tobacco, untaxed chewing tobacco that Shahzad bought from distributors who were not licensed to distribute products in Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio Trillo said in court Thursday that he told Shahzad during plea negotiations that he would ask for a three-year prison sentence. A written plea agreement states that Shahzad agreed to waive his right to appeal his sentence if it is no longer than three years. Shahzad will be sentenced by Peterson on March 20. Under the plea agreement, the government and Shahzad will also ask at sentencing for a $1 million fine, just short of the $1.25 million maximum fine that Peterson could impose. Shahzad has also agreed to pay $650,000 to avoid the forfeiture of his store at 3505 E. Washington Ave. According to the governments factual basis: Two gas station clerks, unnamed in the document, would have testified that they sold synthetic cannabinoids at Capitol Petro, 3505 E. Washington Ave., from 2012 until Madison police executed search warrants at two Capitol Petro stores in 2015. It was amazing how many different languages he knew, Cleary said. He knew a few words, like, hello, goodbye, thank you, youre welcome. ... But it was interesting how he could basically go anywhere and start talking in at least a few words of their tongue. Mondry, who leaves behind two children, Jordan, 20, and Kaya, 18, gravitated towards little kids, and knew how to talk to them, Cleary said. When theyd consult with coffee roasters with young families, Mondry would give the children rides on the forklift in his warehouse, Cleary said. Longtime friend Lea Aschkenase, a local clinical psychologist who knew Mondry for 38 years, said he was great at helping her put her young daughter to bed. He would tell her the most imaginative, magnificent stories that he would make up, Aschkenase said. They were just spellbinding for her and for me, too. Mondry was also a great cook who would make meals for his friends, she said. Bitner, of Rusty Dog Coffee, said one of Mondrys favorite stories had to do with Howard Schultz, the former Starbucks CEO, who got his start as an appliance salesman for the Swedish company Hammarplast. There have been some legendary bars in Madison, including many we wish we could visit just one more time. Here's a look at some of the iconic A Mauston man faces criminal charges after police say he was found in possession of child pornography. Craig Trenshaw, 64, is charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. He faces up to 25 years imprisonment for each charge. According to the criminal complaint: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received a cyber tip regarding the images earlier, in July, 2017. The Adams County Sheriffs Office issued a subpoena for records to Frontier Communications of America regarding the IP address associated with the images. Frontier indicated the IP address belonged to Craig Trenshaw, who lives in Mauston. A Juneau County Detective received a cyber tip Dec. 13 regarding a facebook page belonging to Trenshaw. The cyber tip reported two images of child pornography were uploaded. A search warrant was subsequently issued on Trenshaws Mauston residence on Tremont Street. Upon reaching the residence to execute the search warrant, Trenshaw was asked if he would like to speak to law enforcement. He replied he did and walked out to speak with the detective by his squad car. BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo on Friday downplayed any significant impact from the loan exposures of some banks to Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company Philippines after the shipbuilder filed for corporate rehabilitation with the Olongapo Regional Trial Court. Guinigundo said in a text message to reporters the banks exposures were very negligible. We received report that Hanjin filed for corporate rehabilitation at the Olongapo Regional Trial Court on Jan.8, 2019. Beyond this, it would be most premature for the BSP to comment on a matter pending with the court, Guinigundo said.Based on our initial assessment, some banks are exposed to Hanjin but relative to both total loans of the banking system and total FCDU [foreign currency deposit unit] loans of the banking system, their exposure is very negligible, he said. He said Philippine banks as a whole were very strong and more than adequately capitalized and that their assets continued to grow and the quality of their loans based on non-performing loan ratio was less than 2 percent. The banks in compliance with the BSPs regulations have risk management systems in place, they are very liquid and their profitability has been sustained. Their loan loss provisions is more than a hundred percent, Guinigundo said. Reports on ABS-CBN Friday said five universal and commercial banksRizal Commercial Banking Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands, and BDO Unibank Inc.seeking to cover some $412 million in combined loans to Hanjin were looking at all kinds of alternatives, including talking to strategic investors. Reports said RCBC had the biggest loan exposure to Hanjin of $140 million, followed by Land Bank, $80 million; Metrobank, $72 million; BPI, $60 million; and BDO, $60 million.BPI president Cezar Consing said the banks were in close contact with one another will do whats best for the banking industry and for the country. This is something that the banks can handle. We have provisions for this sort of thing, Consing told ANC. He said BPI had the smallest exposure to Hanjin compared with the other creditors. Guinigundo said the Bangko Sentral was in contact with the five banks and in due time, appropriate announcements will be made, Guinigundo told ANC. What we need to do is stay on the ground and determine the actual extent of the exposure, Guinigundo said, adding the rehabilitation could also affect Hanjins suppliers and other business linkages. BDO president and chief executive Nestor Tan said in an emailed statement to reporters the bank, the largest in the country in terms of assets, would not be impacted by its exposure to Hanjin. We have an exposure to Hanjin and we are more than adequately provided for potential losses, Tan said. Prelates call for action to overcome obstacles, political or otherwise, and find a way to form a new government that can come up with structural reforms and investments. They slammed the speaker of parliament for trying to force through a budget bill and expressed solidarity with a Muslim lawmaker who was criticised for taking part in a Mass. Beirut (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The Maronite Bishops' Conference, which held its monthly meeting yesterday in the patriarchal headquarters of Bkerke led by Card Beshara Al-Rahi, renewed its appeal to the countrys political leaders to form a government of technocrats. We call on leaders to overcome political and other obstacles to the formation of a government, and to quickly agree on a cabinet that can put in place structural reforms and investments, the prelates said in a statement. For the leader of the Maronite Church, the best solution would be a government of technocrats, experts and specialists in specific domain, so as to overcome the political, economic and institutional stalemate in which the country finds itself. For Card al-Rahi, the nation is a "hostage to political militias" who have made the crisis worse, pushing people into the streets to protest. The bishops, who renewed Patriarch Al-Rahis appeal for a smaller cabinet of independent experts", also criticised, without explicitly naming him, Speaker Nabih Berry who wants parliament to adopt the 2019 budget despite the absence of a government with full powers. For them, this is a "disturbing" and "anti-constitutional" prospect. The prelates also discussed the case of Roula Tabch Jaroudi, a Muslim lawmaker from Hariris block who is at the centre of a controversy after a priest blessed during Mass a few days ago. The bishops slammed those who attack Lebanons pluralistic and multicultural character and undermine "mutual respect, the protection of personal liberties and freedom of worship". Since last May Lebanon has been waiting for a strong and unified government, able to overcome the many threats and challenges that await the country: from economic difficulties to the immigration crisis; from growing poverty to youth unemployment. The Lebanese Church is well aware of the serious situation, exacerbated by the war in neighbouring Syria and its unprecedented humanitarian crisis, which has been compounded by a recent cold snap with snow that has caused serious hardships for ordinary people. The driver of the semi-tanker said he was traveling in the right lane at about 60 MPH when he was struck from behind by Jamesons vehicle. The tanker received disabling damage and the brakes no longer worked. While performing a records check, the Trooper was informed Jameson had five prior OWI convictions. He was currently outside of his hours on his occupational license and was originally revoked for an OWI. Jameson was required by law to have an ignition interlock device and was subject to a .02 blood alcohol concentration. The Trooper looked through the vehicle and observed several indicators of possible drug use. Cash was strewn throughout the vehicle in the form of multiple 100 and 20 dollar bills, several scented pine tree air fresheners were on the floor of the vehicle along with three bottles of cologne and a container of eye drops. Jameson was transported to a regional hospital by ambulance. The Trooper asked Jameson how much he had to drink. Jameson said he had several beers. When asked how recent his last drink was, he would not reply. A preliminary breath test performed on Jameson revealed a weak sample with a reading of .096 blood alcohol concentration. The Trooper was informed Jameson had a partially collapsed lung. Investigators are expected to explain how they located a Wisconsin teenager missing for three months alive and took a suspect into custody. CBS News is livestreaming the event beginning at 10 a.m. central. Authorities say 13-year-old Jayme Closs, missing since her parents' October murders, was found Thursday afternoon in the Town of Gordon in Douglas County, Wisconsin.A suspect was apprehended minutes later. Jayme was taken to a hospital for an evaluation. Jayme had been missing since Oct. 15, when police discovered someone had broken into her family's home in Barron, killed her parents and apparently abducted her. The Town of Gordon, where she was found, is about an hour's drive north of Barron. Their opposition won't interfere with the supply of electricity, foes of the project out the reality is that electricity demand is flat and declining and Wisconsin already has a surplus of power supply. So why mess further with the environment? Indeed a good question, I thought as we traveled Highway 151 to Dodgeville and then headed southwest to Dubuque through the scenic and ecologically unique stretch of a piece of Wisconsin never touched by the glaciers. I tried to imagine the line, basically like the one running along Madison's south and west beltlines, along the highways. It didn't seem pretty. Alternative energy is already changing the need for transporting electricity long distances, including cheap energy storage, easier ways to conserve power and the local production of alternatives like wind and solar. The Wisconsin PSC has accepted ATC's preferred route for the new line and has scheduled a series of public meetings to determine the accuracy of a federal environmental impact statement later this month. Residents can attend a hearing at the Cassville middle school on Wednesday, Jan. 30; in Dodgeville at the Dodger Bowl Jan. 24; in Barneveld at the Deer Valley Lodge Jan. 28; and in Middleton at the Marriott West Hotel Jan. 29. All meetings will be held from 5-7 p.m. She recently corrected Fox News host, and unofficial consigliere to President Donald Trump, Sean Hannity, who accused her of the heresy of calling for an "end to military airstrikes." She responded in a tweet, saying she supports "ending unjust wars" entirely. Since prevailing in the Democratic primary to represent New York's 14th Congressional District, defeating powerful Democrat incumbent Joe Crowley, Ocasio-Cortez has been regularly targeted by the right wing. Last July, she said on "Democracy Now!" that "the issues I ran on were very clear ... improved and expanded Medicare for all; tuition-free public colleges and universities, as well as trade schools; a Green New Deal; justice for Puerto Rico; an unapologetic platform of criminal justice reform and ending the war on drugs; and also speaking truth to power and speaking about money in politics." The Green New Deal calls for the rapid and radical decarbonization of the entire economy, transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in hopes of staving off the worst effects of climate change while there is still time. The Green New Deal also demands a "just transition," ensuring that workers displaced from shuttered industries like coal mining get the support they need to move into other productive work. He said the aim is to protect rights for all citizens, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. "Everybody I know in our groups are tolerant of everybody," he said. "Our big focus is on natural rights, constitutional rights." Each side has lined up a roster of speakers. The We the People rally has tabbed: Joshua Thieme of the 3 Percent Patriots; Mo Reese Delk, billed as a black conservative and media personality; Matthew Westrich, described as a concerned citizen and taxpayer; Earl Arrowwood of Guns Across America; Larrina Chandler, a historical novelist; and Leager. Emspak said the counter-protesters are still putting together a speaking roster. But it will include Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and Norm Stockwell, publisher of The Progressive. Emspak said liberal coalition members met twice over the past two weekends to plan the event, with last weekends meeting drawing about 60 people. At that meeting, with all those people, we came to the conclusion that the people of Madison should gather at the square, at a different spot, and make it clear that many of us abhor the message from the 3 percent and the Freemen, he said. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. The federal agency overseeing the food stamps program has contributed to the plight of hungry college students by offering inadequate information about student eligibility on its website, according to Government Accountability Office report. The study, done at the request of four Democratic U.S. Senators, is the first federal study of food insecurity on college campuses, and includes groundbreaking studies done at UW-Madison. This is an important moment for those of us who have been hearing about hunger on campus from students, administrators, and faculty for a very long time, said Sara Goldrick-Rab, who conducted pioneering studies on hunger and homelessness in college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before leaving in 2016. This is the first federal report to acknowledge that campus food insecurity is a serious challenge, and its important that this message is being heard at the federal level. Goldrick-Rab started the Wisconsin HOPE Lab in 2013 to study issues affecting low-income students. Since her departure, HOPE continued to produce studies, four of which were among 31 cited in the GAO report. The institute closed earlier this year when it ran out of funding. Goldrick-Rab currently heads a similar effort at Temple. A U.S. supplier of t-shirts and other team apparel to college bookstores cut its ties yesterday [Macau time] with a Chinese company that drew workers from an internment camp holding targeted members of ethnic minority groups. In recent years, authorities in the far west Chinese region of Xinjiang have detained an estimated 1 million Uighurs and Kazakhs in heavily-secured facilities where detainees say they are ordered to renounce their language and religion while pledging loyalty to the Chinas ruling Communist Party. Last month an Associated Press investigation found the Chinese government had also started forcing some detainees to work in manufacturing and food industries. The investigation tracked recent shipments from one such factory, the privately-owned Hetian Taida Apparel, located inside an internment camp, to Badger Sportswear, a leading supplier in Statesville, North Carolina. In a statement posted to its website, Badger said it will no longer do business with Hetian Taida, nor import any goods from the same region given the controversy around doing business there. Furthermore, we will not ship any product sourced from Hetian Taida currently in our possession, the company said, adding that the supplier accounted for about 1 percent of Badgers total annual sales. Repeated calls to Hetian Taidas chairman, Wu Hongbo, rang unanswered. In a previous conversation with the AP, Wu said while Hetian Taida was located in the same compound as one camp that the government calls a vocational skills education and training center, Hetian Taida was not involved in the camps activities. However, Wu said his company employed 20 to 30 trainees from the center as part of the regions efforts to alleviate poverty. Asked about the case, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said yesterday that while the ministry doesnt generally comment on individual business decisions, Badger appeared to have been acting on misinformation. The vocational training centers in Xinjiang are totally different from so-called forced labor, Lu said, referring further questions on the camps to statements made by the regional government, which maintains that the centers help poor Uighurs gain employable skills. Its a tragedy for that business, Lu said. Universities stocking Badger clothing began pulling items from their shelves and websites after the report appeared in December. Hetian Taida was certified as complying with good business practices by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production, which sent an auditor to a different Hetian Taida facility, not the one inside the internment camp. That factory is not engaged in the use of forced labor, WRAP and Badger concluded. But Badger added that historical documentation provided by Hetian Taida regarding their prior facility was insufficient to conclude with certainty that it had met Badgers sourcing standards. WRAP spokesman Seth Lennon confirmed to AP that the facility they investigated is not the same place AP wrote about. Our model centers around factories approaching us requesting to be audited, Lennon wrote in an email. We do not seek out any factories whatsoever to audit unsolicited. The Washington-based Workers Rights Consortium (WRC), which has agreements with many educational institutions across the U.S. to ensure the products they sell on campus are ethically manufactured, conducted its own investigation and found additional evidence confirming the factory supplying Badger was inside an internment camp. WRC executive director Scott Nova said the announcement reinforces that finding. Martha Mendoza & Yanan Wang, AP The United States and China gave no indication of their next step after wrapping up talks aimed at resolving a tariff fight that threatens to chill global growth. The two sides will maintain close contact, Chinas Ministry of Commerce said yesterday. But they announced no agreements or date for meeting again during the 90-day truce declared on Dec. 1 by Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in their fight over Beijings technology ambitions. That uncertainty dampened Asian investor sentiment. Stock markets in Germany, France, Japan and China fell back after rising Wednesday following Trumps comment on Twitter that the talks were going well! Negotiators focused on Chinas pledge to buy a substantial amount of agricultural, energy, manufactured goods and other products and services, the U.S. Trade Representative said. However, a USTR statement emphasized American insistence on structural changes in Chinese technology policy, market access, protection of foreign patents and copyrights and cyber theft of trade secrets. It gave no sign of progress in those areas. It also said the negotiations dealt with the need for ongoing verification and effective enforcement. That reflects American frustration that the Chinese have failed to live up to past commitments. A Ministry of Commerce spokesman, Gao Feng, said the talks enhanced mutual understanding and laid the foundation for addressing each others concerns. Trump hiked tariffs on USD250 billion of Chinese goods over complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. Washington also wants changes in an array of areas including the ruling Communist Partys initiatives for government-led creation of global competitors in robotics, artificial intelligence and other industries. American leaders worry those plans might erode U.S. industrial leadership. Chinese leaders see them as a path to prosperity and global influence and are reluctant to abandon them. The two sides might be moving toward a narrow agreement, but U.S. trade hawks want to limit the scope of that agreement and keep the pressure up on Beijing, Eurasia Group analysts Michael Hirson, Jeffrey Wright and Paul Triolo said in a report. The risk of talks breaking down remains significant, they wrote. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed optimism to Fox Business Network. She said Wednesday the timing was unclear but the two sides are moving toward more balanced and reciprocal trade. Beijing has tried to mollify Washington and other trading partners by promising to buy more of their goods and open its industries wider to foreign competitors. Trump has complained repeatedly about the U.S. trade deficit with China, which last year likely exceeded the 2017 gap of $336 billion. Economists say the 90-day window is too short to resolve all the conflicts between the biggest and second-biggest global economies. We can confidently say that enough progress was made that the discussions will continue at a higher level, said Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council. That is very positive. Chinese exports to the U.S. have held up despite tariff increases, partly due to exporters rushing to fill orders before more increases hit. Forecasters expect American orders to slump this year. China has imposed penalties on $110 billion of American goods, slowing customs clearance for U.S. companies and suspending issuing licenses in finance and other businesses. U.S. companies want action on Chinese policies they complain improperly favor local companies. Those include subsidies and other favors for high-tech and state-owned industry, rules on technology licensing and preferential treatment of domestic suppliers in government procurement. Joe McDonald & Paul Wiseman, Beijing, AP The worlds two biggest economies are separately struggling to come in for unparalleled, simultaneous soft landings, an effort complicated by the trade war theyre waging at the same time. Its hard enough for the U.S. or China to pull fiscal and monetary levers to manage a step-down in growth alone. For the two to try to do it concurrently makes what is already a fairly narrow target even narrower, said Deutsche Bank Securities chief economist Peter Hooper. A misstep would also turn whats supposed to be a controlled touch down of their economies into something much worse a worldwide recession. While most economists say thats unlikely, they acknowledge that it cant be ruled out, especially if the temporary trade truce between the two countries breaks down or if equities keep sliding. If we get an escalation in trade tensions and another 10 to 15 percent drop in the stock market, youre looking at enough of a tightening in financial conditions to say that a global recession is a real risk, said Hooper, a former Federal Reserve official. Negotiations between the U.S. and China in Beijing this week on trade were extensive, in-depth and detailed and laid a foundation for a resolution, Chinas Ministry of Commerce said. The attempted maneuver by the Fed and Chinese authorities comes as the global economy enters 2019 showing signs of slowing, with the worlds No. 4 economy, Germany, flirting with a recession. Complicating the task is President Donald Trump. He has welcomed Chinas economic troubles as giving him added leverage in trade talks with the Asian country, while hes attacked Fed Chairman Jerome Powell for trying to slow the U.S. economy with interest-rate increases. Seeking to allay investor fears of a Chinese hard landing, Powell told the American Economic Associations annual meeting last week that the countrys authorities are responding to signs of weakness in their economy with additional stimulus. China and the rest of emerging Asia should continue to expand at a still solid pace this year, Powell said. Some of the deceleration in Chinas economy was self-induced as policy makers sought to dampen frothy property markets, curb leverage and crack down on shadow banking. We had been expecting the slowdown for quite some time, Louis Kuijs, chief Asia economist at Oxford Economics in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg Television. What did surprise China was Trumps assault on the countrys mercantilist economic policies, resulting in tariffs on some USD250 billion worth of Chinese exports to the U.S., Hensley said. That threatened a bigger downshift in growth than China wanted. Chinese officials have responded with selective stimulus measures to try to prop up growth while eschewing their traditional approach of opening up the credit spigots. Bloomberg Macau was the fifth most visited city in the world in 2017, according to the latest Euromonitor International Top 100 City Destinations report, only behind Hong Kong, Bangkok, London and Singapore. Following a 10.4 percent increase in the number of visitors in 2017 and a projected 9.2 percent in 2018, the Macau special administrative region rose one place in this years rankings to become the fifth most popular city destination in the world. According to the report, Macau recorded slightly over 18.9 million visitor arrivals in 2018, putting it ahead of fourth-place Singapore with 18.5 million. If the projected figures for 2018 are accurate, Macau may rise yet another spot in next years Top 100 City Destinations report. Official data from the Macau Statistics and Census Service indicates that 2018 visitors to Macau numbered over 32 million. The discrepancy is explained by the fact that the Euromonitor International report does not include same-day visitors, who account for nearly half of Macau arrivals. The Top 100 City Destinations report highlights the top 100 cities based on international arrivals; defined as international tourists visiting another country for at least 24 hours (but not more than 12 months), for any purpose of visit, and staying in paid or unpaid, collective or private accommodation. Each arrival is counted separately and includes people travelling more than once a year. The initial data shows that global inbound arrivals grew by 5 percent to 1.4 billion trips in 2018, while arrivals to this years top 100 city destinations outperformed, increasing by 7.5 percent year-on-year. Macau is projected to see a 9.2 percent increase once the relevant data has been revised. This year the continent of Asia continued to rise in prominence, accounting for 41 of the top 100 cities, up from 37 back in 2012. Euromonitor International notes that list leader Hong Kong, which saw a slump in its tourism industry in 2015 and 2016, has rebounded in the past two years, with the number of visitors growing by 5 percent and 7 percent in 2017 and 2018 respectively. It now stands at a total of nearly 30 million. The firm describes the neighboring SAR as the most obvious beneficiary of the Chinese outbound boom, with more than 50 percent of all visitors stemming from the Chinese mainland. And the prospects are bright for the future with the recent completion of the Zhuhai- Macau-Hong Kong Bridge. Other Asian cities also saw considerable growth this year. Taipei ranks 17th in this years top 100 list, while Tokyo is 14th and Kuala Lumpur ninth. Shenzhen grew by 3 percent in both 2017 and 2018 and, despite falling one position in the past year, has retained its place in the world top 10. However, Seoul has proved a major exception to the trend. Ranked 16th in last years edition of the report, this year the South Korean capital has dropped to 24th. Euromonitor International suggests that a large decline in Chinese visitors caused by political tensions between the two countries is responsible. Nevertheless, arrivals are expected to pick up slightly in 2018 with easing tensions, the potential for talks with North Korea and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Top 10 city destinations The anual Shenzhen- Macau Cooperation Conference 2019 was held yesterday at the Government Headquarters. The two sides signed a total of three agreements regarding issues such as legal cooperation; internship and employment in Shenzhen for Macau young people; and cooperation on cultural and creative industries. A Shenzhen Government delegation led by the Mayor of Shenzhen, Chen Rugui, attended the meeting. During the meeting, the Secretary of Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, and Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, Ai Xuefeng, reviewed progress of major initiatives implemented in recent years. Chen Rugui stated that Macau and Shenzhen retained a close and long-standing relationship regarding cooperation via a number of mechanisms, including the Shenzhen-Macau Cooperation Conference. Lionel Leong pointed out that Shenzhen played an important role for the country in terms of leading innovation on regulations and laws. Having an agreement covering legal cooperation between the two cities would help Macau better prepare its legal system to help promote greater frequency of movement of people, goods, capital and information within the Greater Bay Area. Chen told reporters that the Greater Bay Area initiative created fresh opportunities for Shenzhen-Macau cooperation. He hoped the two governments would work more closely in order to integrate different mechanisms for supervision of services, promote closer cooperation on legal affairs,extend to Shenzhen the internationalized commercial services offered by Macau and promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the two places. The Shenzhen-Macau Cooperation Conference was established in 2006. The trial of a man accused of shooting dead four people at a Jewish museum in Belgium in 2014 after fighting alongside extremists in Syria started in Brussels yesterday amid high security. French national Mehdi Nemmouche is accused of terrorist murder for gunning down the four, an Israeli couple and two people working at the museum, with a revolver and an assault rifle. The 33-year-old Nemmouches alleged accomplice, 30-year-old Nacer Bendrer, also appeared in court. Flanked by police officers in balaclavas and dressed in a yellow sweatshirt and light pants, Nemmouche confirmed his name, age and address, but made no other comments. His lawyer, Henri Laquay, told reporters: As you have seen, he is serene, calm, and he will decide for the moment when he will speak. South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged North Korea to take bolder disarmament measures that the United States should then reward, suggesting yesterday he wants harsh sanctions lifted so Seoul can eventually restart dormant economic cooperation projects with its neighbor. Moon said resolving the issue of the North Korea sanctions hinges on how fast Pyongyang denuclearizes and whether it receives reciprocal measures from the United States. He said that would top the agenda in an expected second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump. North Korea knows it needs [to take] clear denuclearization steps to see international sanctions lifted and the United States also realizes that reciprocal measures are needed to match these North Korean denuclearization steps, Moon told a news conference. Some observers believe that any sanctions relief, if pursued before Washington is ready, could weaken South Koreas ties with its ally and complicate efforts to rid the North of its nuclear weapons. Others see the comments by Moon, a liberal who covets deep engagement with Pyongyang, as simply a symbolic bit of conciliation toward North Korea. Moon spoke only days after Kim used a New Years address to say he was ready to resume two major stalled inter-Korean projects. Kim also said hell be compelled to take a different path if the United States keeps pressing for unilateral sanctions as well as maintaining broader U.N. sanctions. The two projects are South Korean tours to the Norths scenic Diamond Mountain and a jointly run factory complex in the North Korean border town of Kaesong. They were suspended in the past decade along with other similar projects amid the nuclear standoff. The two projects were considered key sources of badly needed foreign currency for the impoverished North. My administration will cooperate with the international community, including the United States, to resolve the remaining issues such as international sanctions as soon as possible to get the two projects restarted, Moon said at the news conference. Moon, who took office in 2017, has shuttled between North Korea and the United States to facilitate high-profile diplomacy that included the first Kim-Trump summit in Singapore last June. Moons overture, however, has invited criticism from conservatives in South Korea and the United States that hes making too many concessions and helping the North try to weaken U.S.-led sanctions. Trump has maintained that sanctions on North Korea will stay in place until it completely abandons its nuclear program. As Moon spoke yesterday, Kim was heading back to Pyongyang after a two-day trip to his countrys only major ally, China, that included a summit with President Xi Jinping. Chinese state media reported that Kim told Xi that hes committed to setting up a second summit with Trump to achieve results on the nuclear issue. In a word, Chairman Kim Jong Uns visit to China is an indication that the second North Korea-U.S. summit is drawing near, Moon said. AP Theres no such thing as landlord school. Most landlords just do a little reading online and dive right in. Which is fine but it also means many new landlords are ill-prepared for the work of being a successful landlord. Here are five habits that landlords need to develop if they want maximum profits and minimum headaches! 1. The unflinching enforcer mindset Tenants will push against your boundaries. Your job as a landlord is to firmly and professionally defend those boundaries. That means enforcing your lease agreement to the letter. The lease agreement was willing signed by both sides, so there is no shame in making sure that it is followed. This means that if rent doesnt come in as scheduled, you need to follow up with an unofficial late-rent reminder to let the tenant know there is no leeway when it comes to rent payments. If its not enforced, you will lose credibility with the tenants and it will likely happen again. This never works out for any party. It also means that if the tenant tries to exercise a right that has been agreed in the agreement, you have to allow it regardless of how inconvenient it might be. 2. The discipline to do recurring, scheduled work (even when it doesnt feel necessary) Landlords have monthly, semi-annual, and annual work they should be doing. It is very easy to fall into procrastination and skimp on performing necessary property management tasks unless its very urgent. However, if you dont perform regular inspections and repairs, you are not only letting your property fall into disrepair but are sending a message to the tenants that you dont care much about the property. If you the landlord doesnt care about it, why should they? 3. Budget like a business (because you are one) As a landlord, youre a small business owner, whether you think of yourself that way or not. The expenses involved in owning a rental property are largely hidden, because theyre irregular (but big when they happen). Expenses like turnovers, repairs, vacancies. Set aside money every month for these potential expenses. In a word, budget. Dont go paint the town red whenever the rent comes in each month. Budget it, and make sure that you are making allocations for those big expenses so you are not caught off guard. 4. Think long-term to vanquish vacancies Turnovers are where most of the work and costs involved in being a landlord are. Maybe youll have to repaint the unit. Do a deep-clean. Youll have to go through and fix all the little things that the outgoing tenants either messed up or just lived with. Then theres the lost rent, even as you continue carrying the costs of owning the property. In other words, you have to spend money that you wouldnt have had to if the tenants had stayed. Its better to think long-term and optimise tenant screening for longevity, while conducting regular maintenance on the property as mentioned so they are more likely to stay. 5. The meticulous mindset: records, documentation & attention to detail Im just going to say it: If youre not the attentive type, hire someone to manage your rentals who is. You need to be exacting in your record keeping, your documentation, and your attention to detail. For example, did you walk through the unit before your renters moved in to document the condition with them? Do you have a detailed inventory? Do you have photos with timestamps of every room from every angle? Youre in business be professional Effective landlords have effective habits, that revolve around thinking long-term and embracing minor headaches today to avoid massive headaches tomorrow. Keep a friendly but professional distance from your tenants; theyre your clients. Set a budget for expenses like youre a professional, because you are. Set recurring reminders on your professional calendar, and then follow through to actually execute them! And if you dont want to be professional, hire a professional and give us a call. Sam Lee is a marketing manager and property consultant at JML Property. JML was established in 1994 and offers Investment Property & Homes. It specializes in managing properties for owners and investors, and providing attractive and comfortable homes for tenants. Austrian train workers have shut down their track clearing operations to rescue a mountain goat after seeing it get buried in a deluge of snow they had been clearing from the rails. Austrian news agency APA reported this week two workers leapt out of the train and shoveled through the snow to reach the chamois, a type of goat-antelope. The animal was stuck in a snowdrift at the side of tracks in the Gesaeuse national park in central Austria. They say the animal seemed transfixed by the oncoming train and didnt move away from the side of the tracks despite persistent honking. After the chamois was freed, it loped away through the deep snow into a forest. Austrian Railway OEBB released a video of the rescue, which quickly got thousands of views. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly told the leader of his only major ally, China, that he wants to achieve results on the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula during a second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. The comments, contained in Chinese state media reports yesterday, came a day after Kim left Beijing on his special armored train after a two-day visit to the Chinese capital. Kims trip to China his fourth in the past 10 months is believed to be an effort to coordinate with Beijing ahead of a possible second summit with Trump. It comes after U.S. and North Korean officials are thought to have met in Vietnam to discuss the site of the summit. North Korea will make efforts for the second summit between [North Korean] and U.S. leaders to achieve results that will be welcomed by the international community, Kim was quoted as saying by Chinas official Xinhua News Agency. All sides should jointly push for a comprehensive resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue and North Korea will continue sticking to the stance of denuclearization and resolving the Korean Peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation, Xinhua quoted Kim as saying. Kim also said North Korea hopes its legitimate concerns will be given due respect, a reference to its desire for security guarantees and a possible peace treaty to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War. He also credited Chinese President Xi Jinping with helping reduce regional tensions, saying the Korean Peninsula situation has been easing since last year, and Chinas important role in this process is obvious to all. The Norths Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim told Xi that the North remains unchanged in its push to seek a negotiated resolution of the nuclear standoff. It said Kim also mentioned unspecified difficulties in improving ties with the United States and moving nuclear diplomacy forward. Xi was quoted by Xinhua as saying that China supports the U.S.-North Korea summits and hopes the two sides will meet each other halfway. KCNA said Xi accepted an invitation to visit North Korea, although details of when he might go were not given. It wasnt clear from the reports if Kim was in back in North Korea, but his train presumably arrived sometime yesterday. Xi has yet to visit North Korea since taking office in 2012. Trump and Kim met in Singapore in June for the first-ever leaders meeting between their nations, but there has been a standoff ever since, with dueling accusations of bad faith. Kims Beijing visit was seen as part of an effort to win Chinese support for a reduction of U.N. sanctions imposed over his nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The sanctions have severely impacted his countrys already ailing economy. While North Korea hasnt conducted any test launches or detonations in more than a year, it has displayed no real intention of abandoning the programs that are seen as guaranteeing the governments survival. The trip also came after he expressed frustration in his annual New Years address over the lack of progress in negotiations with Washington since the Singapore summit, saying that if things dont improve meaning that if sanctions relief and security guarantees arent in the offing North Korea might have to find a new way forward. While Trump says he considers Xi key to enticing Kim into taking concrete steps toward denuclearization, the presidents own relationship with his Chinese counterpart has frayed over the U.S.-China trade war. Officially, at least, China says it considers the tariff battle and North Koreas weapons programs to be entirely separate. KCNA reported that Kim on Wednesday visited a pharmaceutical plant belonging to Beijing Tongrentang Co. Ltd., where he watched production processes. It said he met with Xi at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday after a welcoming ceremony. Later Tuesday, Xi gave a grand banquet for Kim, his wife Ri Sol Ju and other visiting North Korean officials. At Tuesdays daily Chinese foreign ministry briefing, spokesman Lu Kang said Beijing remains supportive of efforts to end tensions over U.S. demands for a halt to North Koreas nuclear and missile programs. We always believe that, as key parties to the Korean Peninsula issue, its important for the two sides to maintain contact and we always support their dialogue to achieve positive outcomes, Lu said. Tuesday was Kims birthday but there was no word of any official celebration. Christopher Bodeen, Beijing, AP On Hadra al-Faqiras wedding anniversary, just weeks after she gave birth to a daughter, her husband walked out and took a second wife. She hasnt seen him since he moved down the road in their dusty Bedouin town and started a new family, with seven more children. I cant bear the thought of her, al-Faqira said of the second wife. He destroyed my household when he started another. Although Israel outlawed polygamy decades ago, its widespread in the impoverished Bedouin sector. Israel is now trying to end the old custom, for the first time prosecuting suspected Bedouin polygamists. But many Bedouins, who complain of systematic neglect and discrimination by successive Israeli governments, see only a ploy to curb their population growth and criminalize their community members. Israeli Justice Ministrys director general Emi Palmor, who spearheads the campaign, says shes determined to enforce the law but is trying to do so with input from the community. She said she has spent two years researching the issue and discussing solutions with Bedouin activists. The Bedouin community is the only place in this country where polygamy is legitimate, out loud, exposed, and no one is ashamed, she said. Its a delicate issue, but it has to end. Critics of the campaign, including Bedouin women opposed to polygamy, mistrust the governments motives and the timing of the campaign. Its simple: polygamy means more Bedouin children, and that means more demographic concerns from a Zionist perspective, said human rights lawyer Rawia Aburabia. The Bedouins, descendants of nomadic tribes, are part of Israels Arab minority of 1.8 million, or about 20 percent of Israels population. Some 240,000 live in Israels Negev Desert, many in makeshift encampments lacking electricity, sewage or running water. Most Bedouins fled or were forced out of what is now Israel during the 1948 Mideast war over Israels creation. Israel did not recognize their land claims, and many of those who remained live in unrecognized villages, deprived of basic services and vulnerable to government eviction orders and home demolitions, said community activist Yousef Abu Jafar. Around 20 to 30 percent of Bedouin men practice polygamy, according to government figures, with the rate climbing as high as 60 percent in some villages. Bedouin polygamy takes many forms, from several wives cohabitating under the same roof to men picking up and moving on to second wives without looking back. The Bedouins are Muslims and Islam permits a man to take up to four wives, though the practice varies greatly among different Muslim communities, often depending on education and income. Al-Faqira, 47, was married off by her family at age 16. After eight years and four children together, her husband left her, saying his family preferred he take a younger, wealthier wife. For the past decade, he has refused to see her or their children, now in their twenties, claiming they are no longer his business, she said. Al-Faqira said her children have fallen into drugs and street crime. She claimed that fierce competition with her husbands second wife has led to physical assaults on her family. Her husbands polygamy, she said, unleashed violence into my life. Polygamy has been linked to domestic violence, psychological disorders and deepening poverty. The custom has contributed to lowering Bedouin girls average age of marriage to 18 and driving up their school dropout and unemployment rates to 85 percent and 80 percent, respectively, experts say. Palmors committee, formed in 2016, seeks to crack down on the practice through expanded police enforcement alongside anti-polygamy education in Bedouin schools and funding for programs that boost womens employment. Over a dozen indictments have been issued, and in November, the first conviction for polygamy was handed down. The defense sought community service for the man, who took a second wife after his first fell ill. The prosecution is pressing for 18 months in prison. The sentence is expected soon. Palmor said these new efforts coincide with Israels development plans for the Negev. Were starting to invest in southern Israel and we realized if we want to build industry and army bases and make the south grow, the progress must include the Bedouin, she said. Israel approved an $800 million redevelopment project in 2017 as it moved two huge military bases into its vast southern desert. The project also pledges to provide the Bedouins with jobs, education and new infrastructure. But many Bedouins say they have yet to see benefits, and claim promises of development only provide cover for efforts to uproot communities from their ancestral lands. For years, Israel has tried to resettle the Bedouins into recognized villages or custom-built cities. The Bedouins have resisted those transfers, viewing them as land grabs that fly in the face of their traditions and clear the way for construction for Jews. Were always hearing about billion dollar budgets but we only see more demolitions, more police, and more Jewish settlements, said Bedouin lawyer Khalil Alamour. Shefa al-Sana, a Bedouin social worker who helps women affected by polygamous marriages, said that despite a common goal, she doesnt trust the government. She pulled out of Palmors committee, worried its emphasis on law enforcement would further marginalize the Bedouins. Polygamy is not a random crime. Its a problem of ego and ignorance, men who have been stripped of their land needing women to treat as property, she said. Compounding suspicions has been the inclusion of Regavim, a pro-settler group invited to present research to Palmors committee. It has framed the fight against polygamy as a way of stemming the expansion of Bedouin villages. Palmor dismissed accusations that her plan is politically motivated, pointing to support she has garnered from some Bedouins, most notably the human rights attorney Insaf Abu-Shareb. Abu-Shareb has remained in Palmors committee, despite a backlash of Bedouins accusing her of betraying her community. Weve been waiting for 70 years, and the longer the government does nothing, the harder polygamy becomes to change, she said. If I want the situation of Bedouin women to improve, I need to work with them. Isabel Debre, AP The former deputy-director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) Ieong Chi Kin stepped down due to being under investigation by the Chief Executive (CE) Office in relation to the ICs unlawful staff hiring practices, as revealed by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) in 2017. The former deputy-director ceased his duties on December 31 last year, and the investigation led to several officials from the bureau quitting over late 2017 and 2018. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, acknowledge such facts yesterday on the sidelines of a visit to the Centro Hospital Conde de Sao Januario. Questioned by the media, Tam said that the former deputy-director ceased duties by his own initiative. I told him that I would like him to stay but he thought differently. He had delivered such request to me previously, Tam said. As far as I know there is an investigation ongoing by the Office of the Chief Executive but the report has not yet been disclosed, he added. According to the Secretary, the investigation is still related to the CCAC report on the bureaus unlawful staff hiring practices, adding that although Ieong left his position as deputy-director, he continues to be part of IC staff and is working full-time in the bureau. Tam also confirmed that the newly appointed deputy-director, Chan Kai Chon, current director of the Macao Museum of Art, would initiate his new duties from January 12. Questioned about the many troubles and constant leadership instability of the bureau since news of the CCAC report broke, Tam said, Im not worried. The director is working well and she is taking good care of the management of the IC. Im pleased with the work being done, he said, adding, I can guarantee that from now on Im sure that such cases will not repeat. Tam also expressed wishes to continue the legal process of criminalizing illegal hostels. Replying to media questions on the topic, Tam said, Hong Kong [where it is considered a crime to establish and manage illegal hostels] is a good example that we can learn from, he said, adding, I think we should keep [the idea of legislating in the same way in Macau], and I think every day more people in Macau are supporting this idea. As of Tuesday, the Health Bureau (SSM) received a total of 505 applications for smoking lounges, according to a statement released by the SSM. The 505 applications were submitted by 34 of Macaus 47 casinos. The SSM has already issued an approval to 378 smoking lounges. Regarding the unapproved lounges, the bureau explained that the applicants failed to submit the required documents punctually, or the applicants did not complete fire testing or did not make improvements according to the fire services authority. Some applicants have also canceled applications. In addition, the SSM responded to a proposal suggesting that it should establish a 24-hour hotline to receive reports about illegal smoking. SSM reiterates that smoking is only a momentary act. Even if a 24-hour hotline for smoking control is set up, it will still be difficult for the tobacco control law enforcement officers to immediately prosecute [upon each violation]. Therefore, effective inspections must be conducted. [] Recently, SSM has been paying attention to illegal smoking in individual casino toilets and SSM will strengthen the inspection and law enforcement of the relevant venues, SSM said in a statement. Moreover, the bureau also responded to a proposal suggesting that smoking lounges should install a smoke sensing system inside their premises. The SSM clarified that there exists no relevant research or report proving the effectiveness of the equipment [smoke sensor]. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, visited health facilities yesterday to inspect the works regarding the prevention and cure of influenza, as the region has officially entered the peak period of the disease. During the visit to the Centro Hospital Conde de Sao Januario (CHCSJ), the secretary reaffirmed to the media that prevention is the key step to countering contagious diseases. The most important [preventative measure] is the [flu] vaccine, said Tam, noting that only the timely vaccination of all at-risk groups can prevent a widespread transmission of the influenza virus. Confronted with figures that so far already indicate more cases of the disease this year, Tam said, There is in fact a slight growth [in the number of cases] when compared with last year but I think that is normal, he said, adding the Health Bureau (SSM) is buying another 20,000 doses of the vaccine in addition to the initial acquisition of 150,000 to meet all possible demand. We are buying another 20,000 vaccines and with these, we will raise [the total number] to 170,000. It is enough for the whole population, Tam said. Tam also presented a new measure, saying, We are soon going to [extend the free vaccination program] so the students from university institutions in Macau can also receive the vaccines. This is a new measure that we are going to enforce but it is subject to acceptance [from the students]. Questioned on the topic, the Secretary noted that non-residents are of concern to the government, although the priority for the government lies with local residents. [In the universities] there are also non-resident students and they also can take the vaccine [for free]. We do give priority to residents first. Thats our first priority, but even non-residents, like university students, we also help them, Tam said in reply to the journalists. The director of the SSM, Lei Chin Ion, added that according to the measures approved and enforced by the government, non-residents must go to the private clinics in Macau and bear the expenses of the vaccine, in order to get vaccinated. The public hospital and other public health care facilities are only providing vaccines to residents as the workload is already too heavy with those. I suggest [to non-residents that want to be vaccinated] to resort to the clinics, Lei added, noting that the only exceptions to this rule are the students since they are part of at-risk groups and as such are among the first to receive the vaccine. Also according to Lei, at the most recent count, the SSM detected 14 concerning cases of influenza, including one case that led to the death of an 86-year-old male last week and another that resulted in the hospitalization of a four-year-old boy who is said to be in critical condition, yet reaffirmed that there are no reasons for alarm. According to Lei, at the moment, the majority of the cases we are receiving are from the adult population, noting that the situation of the pediatric emergency room, one of the places toured by Tam, is stable and not requiring special attention. [If needed], we do have plans to relocate staff to take care of that. Its all under control, Lei concluded. Regarding the case of the four-year-old boy who has an encephalitis, the chief of Pediatric service of CHCSJ, Jorge Sales Marques, added, he is responding well to the treatment and his clinical status has been improving, although it is still too soon to say that he is safe. The physician added, We certainly do not know yet when he could possibly be released from the hospital and, at this point, not even the extent of the aftereffects. We will update on this case tomorrow. Three Portuguese physicians to start work soon Alexis Tam confirmed that the SSM intends to hire 10 Portuguese physicians from various specialties, saying, but this is also depending on their willingness to come work in Macau, adding that for the time being, only three so far had been hired and were due to commence work very soon. Tam noted that he was aware of the regions inability to provide enough physicians, noting the strong support received from both Portugal and mainland China in dealing with the low supply of physicians. Tam also added that, if needed, the government would even send local patients to other places [such as Hong Kong] to receive treatment free of charge. I think this is the best policy in the world. The director of the SSM, Lei Chin Ion added, we have received many application and resumes [from physicians] but not all were considered adequate. For the time being, only three are starting their duties. The gaming concessions of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM) and MGM China Holdings Ltd, which are due to expire next year, will likely be postponed two years to align with contract expiration dates of their four rivals, according to the latest Asia Risk Assessment report, released yesterday. Speaking to the Times yesterday, Steve Vickers, CEO of Steve Vickers and Associates (or SVA), a specialist political and corporate risk consultancy that prepares the annual Asia Risk Assessment report, said that there was no other credible option. Current thinking is that the government will want to extend the concessions until 2022, so as to deal with them all at once; such a move would buy time, the SVA report noted, to which Vickers added politically, with the chief executive changing, its not good timing, and little else is manifest. Postponing the license expiration dates will also allow more time for China and the U.S. to iron out trade differences or allow the former to use the lucrative businesses and Republican-party supporters as leverage in negotiations. The U.S. gaming organizations are sitting on a geopolitical fault line, warned Vickers, as in previous years. Spiralling tensions with the U.S. could spur Macau to dilute U.S. casinos sectoral dominance, not least given the links between the gaming tycoons and the Republican Party. Its not a Macau issue, but a China-U.S. issue [ and] from the Chinese point of view, there is no pressure from their side. The US operators will be more wary about the situation as the expiry date approaches. The Macau government might call for Chinese companies to buy into, or take over, existing businesses, or might simply refuse to grant a new right to current concessionaires, the report continues. The 2019 Asia Risk Assessment report supposes that the most likely replacement for Macau Chief Executive Chui Sai On, who is due to step down in December, is current Legislative Assembly President (AL) Ho Iat Seng. For Vickers, the election of Ho Iat Seng to Macaus top post would represent continuity in the political landscape of the MSAR whoever they pick will continue to tow the party line but the current AL presidents unexplained dismissal of two Portuguese legal advisors last year might foreshadow a similar Sinification of the gaming sector. Echoing the warnings of previous years, SVA made reference in the 2019 report to the prospect of a terrorist attack in the Macau SAR, as well as the enduring involvement of triad and illegal activities in junket operators; a perennial problem positing serious criminal and reputational threats to investors. The prospect of a terrorist attack on a casino is also a chronic worry, although Macau has recently taken some steps to limit the danger, noted the firm. Last year the pace of economic growth in Macau slowed to 6.8 percent on the back of softer domestic demand in China, which also saw a growth deceleration. The prospect of new measures from the central government to curb capital outflows will continue to worry casino operators in 2019, said Vickers, but in their absence the economic uncertainty of the mainland will not necessarily trickle down to Macau. Macaus politics should therefore stay stable, even as Chinas economy slows, but the geopolitical risks facing the gaming concessionaires will climb sharply in 2019. Investors should take note. The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) said that more events will be held in 2019 in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Macau handover and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Peoples Republic of China. The International Youth Dance Festival, which is supposed to be held every two years, will be held once again this year following its previous edition in 2018. In addition, an International Youth Music Festival and an International Youth Drama Festival will be held this year prior to the students summer vacation. This year, all the citys schools will participate in a gala for a special celebration of the anniversaries. Besides these traditions, which were already practiced in Macau, the DSEJ will try to get more mainland national events to be held in Macau this year. These mainland events include the China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest, and the Huaxia Teachers Gala. On May 4, the DSEJ will invite youths from the Greater Bay Area to participate in events amid the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement. For the first time, a local flag-guards team will be formed by local students. This flag-guards student team will be used in Macaus big events. During a press conference yesterday, DSEJ director Lou Pak Sang said that the city hired a total of approximately 40 therapists from other regions, including speech therapists, to provide services to local children with early development problems. The recruitment of these non-local therapists will shorten kids waiting time for treatment in approximately one month. In 2017, each kid waited, on average, between 15 and 18 months until they received treatment. According to Lou, the biggest shortage concerns speech therapists. All speech therapists were hired from Hong Kong, in addition to some trainers from Taiwan who provide speech therapy training to other professionals. When providing updates concerning the law on special education, Lou noted that the law has already entered legislative procedures. As reported by Lou, since the beginning of the 2018/2019 academic year, two sexual abuse cases were reported from local schools. In the academic years of 2017/2018, 2016/2017, and 2015/2016, a total of seven, three and 14 sexual abuse cases were reported, respectively. The DSEJ director claims that the education bureau will enhance sexual education training of both the schools and the parents. For Russian businesses, Cyprus just isnt what it used to be. New Cypriot anti-money laundering rules are compounding the effects of U.S. sanctions against Russia and its high-profile citizens, driving money away from the one-time haven. Russians are downsizing in Cyprus, said Kyriakos Iordanou, general manager of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus, whose members have clients from the country. The value of bank accounts at Cypriot lenders held by foreign nationals from outside the euro- area mostly Russian fell to 7.1 billion euros (USD8.1 billion) at the end of November, according to the Central Bank of Cyprus. Thats down from a peak of 21.5 billion euros at the end of 2012. En+ Group plc said Nov. 2 it plans to move to Russia from Jersey rather than to Cyprus as previously planned. En+ is the main shareholder of aluminum giant United Co. Rusal, a company of billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who is on the U.S.s sanctions list. Accounts belonging to Viktor Vekselberg, whos also on the U.S. list and whose Lamesa Investments Ltd, an affiliate of Renova Group, is the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, have been frozen, according to the bank. The outflow of Russian funds from the island marks the reversal of a trend that began after the fall of the Soviet Union and accelerated as Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004 and adopted the euro in 2008. Russian investors were attracted to Cyprus by its status as a low-tax regime within the EU and was seen as safe and stable. Cypruss economic model has already changed and has shifted to one that relies a lot less on shell companies and foreign deposits, Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said in an interview at Bloombergs European headquarters in London in September. The island has been focusing on bringing new business with substance, physical presence and real activity and employment, he said. Russian-related business in Cyprus generated gross income of around 2.2 billion euros in 2017, about 11 percent of economic output, down from an estimated peak of about 14 percent in 2012, according to Fiona Mullen, director of Nicosia-based Sapienta Economic Ltd. Tourism is now bigger than banking, so what you see is a slightly different mix of Russians, she said. There is still the old money, but you also see a lot of regular middle-class Russians just coming for a holiday. New banking business from Russia is limited, Iordanou said. His public accountants organizations members are looking for opportunities from elsewhere, like China, India, the Middle East and Africa. While some of the drop in numbers over the years stems from Russians like Deripaska acquiring Cypriot nationality, affecting the way such funds are classified, tightened local rules are also beginning to bite. In November, a directive from the Central Bank of Cyprus kicked in, giving lenders less leeway to work with shell companies. Thats making many Russian companies non-bankable, said Iordanou. Two Russian businessmen with accounts in Cyprus for over a decade said they were contacted by their banks over the past few months asking for documents from many years ago on the source of the money in their accounts. Unable to provide them, they were forced to close the accounts, they said, declining to be named. Cyprus banks require a lot of papers now, said Alexander Ryazanov, Gazproms former deputy CEO, who has a real-estate business in Cyprus and has worked for many years with Cypriot banks. It is very difficult to open a new account now. The central bank directive on money laundering involves avoiding dealings with entities deemed to be shell companies, which hits at the heart of Russian investments. Moneyval, the council of Europes money-laundering watchdog, is conducting another evaluation of Cypriot measures to combat money-laundering and financing of terrorism. The results are expected in May. Meanwhile, for Bank of Cyprus, the countrys largest lender, Russian clients now account for only 1.5 percent of the total and 5.7 percent of total deposits compared with 2.4 percent and 9.9 percent in 2014, according to the lender. Although the central banks measures didnt specifically target Russians, one can argue that this group is affected to a larger degree than others, said Demetris Taxitaris, general manager of Cyprus-based MAP S.Platis, a consultancy firm for financial services companies. That said, a number of Russian businesses continue to keep a foothold in Cyprus, among them Victor Rashnikov, owner of Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works PJSC; Vladimir Lisin, who controls his stake in Novolipetsk Steel PJSC through a Cyprus-based holding company; and Vladimir Potanin, president of MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC, a producer of refined nickel. For their part, Cypriot entities are cutting their Russian exposure. RCB Bank Ltd, whose second- largest shareholder is Russias state-owned VTB Bank PJSC with a 46.3 percent stake, plans to strengthen and further develop domestic business operations, a spokesperson for the Limassol-based lender said. Amid sanctions and tightening compliance, Cyprus banks prefer not to deal with Russian money and Russian clients, even those whove had accounts in Cyprus banks many years, said Evgeny Kogan, former director of the Center for Protection of Shareholders and Investor Rights of Cypriot Banks set up in 2014. Russian clients are becoming toxic. Paul Tugwell, Georgios Georgiou, Bloomberg Australian police arrested a man after 38 packages allegedly containing asbestos were sent to foreign consulates in the cities of Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. Savas Avan, 48, was arrested at his home in Shepparton, Victoria state, on Wednesday night, and charged with sending dangerous articles to be carried by a postal service. He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday to face the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Commonwealth prosecutor Matthew Simpson told the court the deliveries contained asbestos. Avan, who was not required to enter a plea, did not apply for bail. He will appear again on March 4. Around 10 diplomatic missions, mostly in Melbourne, on Wednesday reported the delivery of suspicious packages, some of them labelled asbestos. The missions included those from the United States, Britain, India, South Korea, Pakistan, Israel, Switzerland and Greece. This followed the discovery and removal on Monday of a suspicious package at the Argentinian Consulate in Sydney. Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police said in a joint statement they will allege the substance in the packages was sourced from the mans home. AP Low-cost airline AirAsia is set to launch direct flights from Macau to Kalibo (Boracay) on March 2, the third route to the Philippines that departs from the SAR. Flights are scheduled to depart thrice a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 10:55 a.m. for flights from Boracay; and at 2 p.m. for flights from Macau. Boracay is regarded as a premier island in the Philippines. [] We are very happy to bring our passengers [to the island], said Celia Lao, CEO of Airasia Hong Kong and Macau, said Celia Lao, CEO of AirAsia Hong Kong and Macau. It is believed that the direct flights from Macau to Kalibo (Boracay) will drive the tourism industry [and] we encourage Hong Kong, Macau and Pearl River Delta passengers to explore the unique island resort in Boracay through Air- Asia, the statement read. The airline has launched promotional fares, which starts from MOP288 for one way flights. Boracay reopened in October after Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte called for a six-month closing for a cleanup operation. Following the rehabilitation and restoration of the island, it set out new rules including a ban to smoking and drinking, along with halting large parties. Its carrying capacity is also lowered to around 19,215 persons per day. In the first quarter of 2018, data show that there were over 553,000 tourists that visited the island in the province of Aklan. remaining of SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Nathan B. Oman (William & Mary Law School) has posted Contract Law and the Liberalism of Fear (20 Theoretical Inquiries in Law ___ (2019, Forthcoming)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Liberalisms concern with human freedom seems related to contractual freedom and thus contract law. There are, however, many strands of liberal thought and which of them best justifies contract is a difficult question. In The Choice Theory of Contracts, Hanoch Dagan and Michael Heller offer a vision of contract based on autonomy. Drawing on the work on Joseph Raz, they argue that extending autonomy should be the laws primary concern, which requires that we extend the range of contractual choices available. While there is much to admire in their work, I argue that autonomy as conceived by Dagan and Heller cannot justify contract law. First, there are reasons to doubt the coherence of autonomy as an ideal. Second, given the pluralism of liberal societies, which, for example, often include substantial numbers of religious believers who reject core assumptions of autonomy theory, it is doubtful that such a theory can legitimate contract law. A more modest version of liberalism concerned primarily with protection against cruelty and providing a modus vivendi in pluralistic societies is more tenable. Such a vision of liberalism yields a more modest vision of contract law. Rather than making it into another means of realizing the dream of a more autonomous self, it is enough that contract law facilitates commerce and the marketplace. Markets, in turn can serve an important albeit limited role in sustaining the peaceful cooperation and coexistence toward which a more realistic liberalism should aim. Recommended. Lewiston, ID (83501) Today Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. A Lebanon man was charged with three counts of first-degree sex abuse and one count of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration on Thursday afternoon in Linn County Circuit Court. Kurtis Eugene Self, 58, also is charged with sex crimes in another active case, and was convicted of sex crimes in two separate matters from 1994, according to Oregons online court database. During Thursdays hearing, prosecutor Conor McCahill asked for $200,000 security, which was ordered by Judge Michael Wynhausen. The crimes allegedly occurred between January 2010 and December 2012, and the accuser was a girl under the age of 14 at the time. The Linn County Sheriffs Office investigated the case. The next hearing in the matter was scheduled for Jan. 22. In another case, introduced in Linn County Circuit Court in October, Self faces charges of first-degree sex abuse and two counts of third-degree sex abuse. Those crimes allegedly occurred in July, and the accuser is a minor who Self knew, according to court paperwork. He has pleaded not guilty to the accusations, and a two-day jury trial is scheduled to start on Feb. 12. The U.S.-led coalition in Syria is beginning to withdraw troops from the country. A spokesman for the coalition said it "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria." The spokesman added that, to protect security, the coalition would not provide details on troop movements. There are about 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the withdrawal began late Thursday. It says about 10 armored vehicles and other equipment arrived at a U.S. base in al-Rmelan, in al-Hasaka province. The group also reports that coalition reinforcements arrived at different bases Thursday. A source confirmed that information with VOA. U.S. national security advisor John Bolton said Friday that talks between U.S. and Turkish military officials will continue next week. The two sides are trying to reach agreement about Kurdish fighters allied with the United States against Islamic State forces in Syria. Earlier this week, Bolton's calls for the protection of the YPG Syrian Kurdish militia as a condition for a Syrian withdrawal angered Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan then canceled a planned meeting with Bolton. The YPG is an important ally in the U.S. war against the Islamic State. Turkey, however, considers the YPG a terrorist group linked to a rebellion in Turkey. In his comments, Bolton had said that he, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held the understanding that Turkey had agreed "not to harm the Kurds who had fought with us against ISIS." But Bolton also said the United States was still seeking some guarantees of that agreement through protocols and procedures. Erdogan also warned that preparations were complete for a military operation against the YPG. "We will very soon mobilize to eliminate the terrorist organization in Syria," Erdogan said. He added, "If there are other terrorists who would attempt to intervene in our intervention, then it is our duty to eliminate them as well. Turkish forces have been deploying for weeks along the Syrian border. Im Caty Weaver. VOA News reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story deliberate -v. done or said in a way that is planned or intended : done or said on purpose reinforcements -n. people and supplies that are sent to help or support an army, military force, etc. source -n. a person, book, etc., that gives information protocol -n. a system of rules that explain the correct conduct and procedures to be followed in formal situations procedure -n. a series of actions that are done in a certain way or order : an established or accepted way of doing something mobilize -v. to make (soldiers, an army, etc.) ready for war eliminate -v. to remove (something that is not wanted or needed) The Saudi woman who fled to Thailand has been permitted asylum in Canada. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun is flying to Toronto through Seoul, South Korea, said Thai immigration official Surachate Hakparn. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that his country had granted her asylum. That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for womans rights around the world and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.s request, Trudeau said. Qunun arrived at Bangkoks airport last Saturday. She accused her family of abuse and refused to meet her father and brother who sought to take her back to Saudi Arabia. After a 48-hour wait, she was permitted to enter Thailand and has been processed as a refugee by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Her case has drawn attention to Saudi Arabias restrictive social rules. One requires that women get permission from a male guardian to travel. Rights groups say the rule treats women and girls as prisoners of abusive families. Qununs situation comes as Saudi Arabia is facing international pressures over the killing of reporter Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey and Saudi involvement in the conflict in Yemen. Australia had said on Wednesday that it was considering taking in Qunun. Im Caty Weaver. Hai Do adapted this story based on Reuters and Associated Press news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story grant - v. to do, give, or allow (something asked for or hoped for) China is permitting more than 2,000 ethnic Kazakhs to surrender their Chinese citizenship and leave the country, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said this week. The move may be a sign that China is feeling international pressure about its widespread detention of Muslims in the countrys far western Xinjiang area. The detention of ethnic Uyghur, Kazakh and other minorities in internment camps has caused tension between China and neighboring Kazakhstan. China is a major trading partner, and Kazakhstans state-restricted media had mostly avoided reporting on the issue. But activists say pressure for action has slowly increased, following an Associated Press story on the camps in May and other international media reports. The Kazakh Foreign Ministry has confirmed that China has agreed to let over 2,000 ethnic Kazakhs leave. It did not say who could leave or why they were able to leave. Those people will now be able to request Kazakh citizenship or permanent residency, Kazakh officials told the AP. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not answer an AP request for comment. In recent years, Chinese officials have carried out a severe policing and detention campaign in the large, resource-rich Xinjiang region. Rights groups and experts have estimated that possibly 1 million people are being held in what China has called re-education camps. Former detainees have said they were forced to reject their culture and religion and subjected to political teachings. News of the detentions has sent fear throughout the small, close community of Chinese-born Kazakhs now living in Kazakhstan. Many left China in the last few years for work or to educate their children in Kazakh schools, as restrictions in Xinjiang increased. Hundreds lost contact with family members still there. Many began writing letters and attending press conferences. They hoped that greater publicity would help them find their relatives. Serikzhan Bilash is head of the advocacy group Atajurt. He said he senses a small change in the Kazakh governments position. He says that last year officials warned him many times to end his activism activities. Now, he says, the warnings have stopped. He was even recently invited onto a popular Kazakh talk show. He says he felt the move was a sign of growing approval of his efforts to publicize the difficulties of detained Kazakhs. I said that Chinese officials are dangerous for Central Asia, for Kazakhstan, Bilash said. Theyre starting to accept my opinion now. While they have avoided criticizing China, Kazakh diplomats have worked to secure the release of their own citizens in Xinjiang. Foreign Ministry officials said in November that China had detained 29 Kazakh citizens, and 15 had since been released and permitted to enter Kazakhstan. Gene Bunin is an activist who has collected stories from about 2,000 relatives of detainees in Xinjiang. He estimates that about 20 people, possibly more, were permitted to return to Kazakhstan last year. Bunin has noted another 70 or so who have been released from camps but kept in their home villages in Xinjiang and not permitted to leave China. Theyve been getting released since September, said Bunin, who lived in Xinjiang until last year. I suspect its sort of an appeasement thing going on, where theyre trying to satisfy the relatives, to defuse tensions. Those permitted to return so far have been largely Kazakh citizens or those with Kazakh partners or children. One 23-year-old Kazakh citizen, who asked to be identified only by Guli was able to return from Xinjiang in July. She had been separated from her husband and two children for more than two years. She said she cried after a Kazakh official called to say she might be able to return. Guli said, I thought Id never be able to go back to Kazakhstan again, that I wouldnt able to see my kids again. I had lost all hope. Im Ashley Thompson. I'm Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story internment - n. the act of putting someone in a prison for political reasons or during a war residency - n. the state or fact of living in a place region - n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way advocacy - n. the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal appeasement - n. the act of making someone who is pleased or less angry by giving or saying something desired defuse - v. to make (something) less serious, difficult, or tense The Catholic Church rejected the official result of the Democratic Republic of the Congos presidential election on Thursday. And the losing candidate called the result a robbery. Election officials announced that opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi won the election. He is set to replace President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 18 years. But pre-election studies had predicted an easy win for Martin Fayulu, another opposition candidate. The influential Catholic Church had 40,000 observers at voting stations across the country. It said its own findings did not support the official results. Three diplomats briefed on the Churchs mission said their findings clearly showed Fayulu had won. The Church said in a statement, The results from the presidential election as published by CENI [Independent National Electoral Commission] do not correspond to the data collected by our observation mission from polling stations and vote counts. Fayulu claimed that election officials helped Tshisekedi to win as part of a deal to protect members of the outgoing Kabila administration. He called the official result a robbery and asked supporters to rise as one man to protect victory. Fayulu has led anti-government demonstrations. He has also spoken out against corruption in the Congo, a country rich with minerals. It was not clear whether Fayulu would dispute the election results in court. He has two days after the announcement of official results to file official disputes. The constitutional court then has seven days to consider disputes before results are final. Tshisekedis supporters celebrated his victory. But Thursdays action by the Church could make it harder for him to win wider acceptance. An official from the United Nations peacekeeping operations said Tshisekedis win might lead to some temporary calm. But the official told the Reuters news agency that former militia and political supporters of Fayulu might rebel. Police said three people were killed in the eastern city of Kikwit, where Fayulu received strong support. But much of the country appears to be staying calm. Many Congolese fear that a dispute could restart violence. Civil wars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have killed millions of people since the 1990s. Opposite of what we expected The international community has not congratulated Tshisekedi on his victory. Many appeared to be watching for the reactions of Fayulus supporters. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the results are the opposite to what we expected. Britains foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said he was very concerned about reported differences in Congos results. He added that the United Nations Security Council would discuss the issue on Friday. European Union spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said, "We are also waiting for the reactions of different observation missions that have observed the electionsand partners, particularly in Africa. Over the past week, the United States and other governments have called on the electoral commission to publish correct election results. The U.S. has also deployed troops in nearby Gabon and has urged American citizens to leave Congo because of security concerns. I'm Mario Ritter Jr. Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on reports from Reuters, the Associated Press and VOA. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story brief - v. to give information correspond - v. to be similar or equal to something polling - n. voting station outgoing - adj. leaving a particular position particularly - adv. something that deserves special mention Each year, the Las Vegas consumer electronics show, or CES, presents the latest developments in many areas of technology. It is the place to be for people who cannot wait to get a look at the newest products designed to make our lives easier, fun and more productive. The four-day event covers areas such as computers, health, transportation, agriculture and sports. As this years show comes to a close, we have put together a list of some of the most interesting products introduced at CES 2019. A car with legs It has become common for auto manufacturers to use CES to show off some of their latest technology and experimental vehicles. One of this years presentations was by South Korean carmaker Hyundai. The company introduced a small model of a walking car, which it calls Elevate. It has four movable legs that can raise the main part of the vehicle high off the ground. The electric-powered vehicle is designed to be used in search-and-rescue operations during emergencies or natural disasters. Hyundai says the Elevate can effectively travel over rough roads and land, while keeping passengers inside safe and still. Changeable people mover Germanys Mercedes presented an experimental self-driving vehicle that it claims can revolutionize transportation for people and goods. The company says the vehicle, called Vision Urbanetic, will be able to easily change bodies depending on its desired use. Mercedes says as a ride-sharing vehicle, the futuristic-looking car can seat 12 people. For transporting goods, a different two-level body can be used to carry many loaded containers. Fully electric Harley American manufacturer Harley-Davidson showed off its first fully electric motorcycle, called LiveWire. The company says the bike will be able to go 177 kilometers between charges. It can reach 96 kilometers per hour in under 3.5 seconds. Although Harley is known for building powerful bikes with huge, loud motors, the LiveWire will be unusually quiet. The loudest sound you hear will be your heart racing, the company said. The motorcycle will sell for just under $30,000 when it becomes available in August 2019. More self-driving vehicles German car maker BMW demonstrated a self-driving motorcycle. And aircraft company Bell presented an experimental version of its Nexus self-flying air taxi. The company has said its flying vehicles could be transporting people around cities by the mid-2020s. Personal robots In keeping with past shows, there were several new robots introduced at CES 2019. One, called Temi, is really just a computer tablet on wheels. It is designed to be a personal electronic assistant. It moves around the home and performs commands when spoken to. It can link users to friends through voice or video, connect to video or place orders for food or goods. Another, called Lovot, was created by a Japanese developer. It is small, soft and furry. With large eyes and two small arms, Lovot moves around and reacts to human interaction. The creators say their goal was very simple: to make a robot that makes people happy by increasing levels of comfort and feelings of love. BreadBot Another kind of robot got a lot of attention at CES this year for making one of Americas favorite foods, bread. The BreadBot is a machine designed to completely make bread on its own. Creators of the robot baker say it can produce 10 loaves of bread an hour. The machine is designed to be placed in food markets where people can watch the bread-making process before they buy. Robot art Another fun robot showed off its ability to make pictures on the wall. The Scribit machine is a small printer that can reproduce images chosen by users. The designers say the robot can also quickly remove the images or reproduce them any time. Charging tech French startup company EnergySquare introduced what it describes as a universal wireless charger for laptop computers. The system works by attaching a small piece to the bottom of the laptop that also connects to the computers charging port. The user can then place the laptop onto the companys charging surface to recharge the computer. People power A new exercise machine by the U.S.-based company SportsArt is designed to help people stay fit and also generate electricity. The Verde G690 treadmill uses people to operate instead of a motor. The company says the machine can capture up to 200 watts of power per hour from human energy. Another machine, the VR Bike from NordicTrack, uses a virtual reality (VR) attachment to transport exercisers through imaginary environments. For example, it permits fitness fans to feel like they are flying while exercising with the machine. Water from air U.S.-based Watergen presented a self-producing water machine designed for home or office. Its Genny water generator draws water from the air and cleans it for drinking. The company says the machine can produce up to 30 liters of water per day. High-tech animal toilet A group of inventors showed off their new pet product an automated toilet for dogs. Creators of the Inubox say the device is the first fully self-cleaning solution to capture, process and store dog waste effectively and smell-free. Quick brush And finally, a French company introduced a toothbrush it says can perfectly clean a persons teeth in just 10 seconds. The Y-Brush by FasTeesH is a mouthpiece shaped just like human teeth. It has numerous small brushes to clean all teeth at once. Im Bryan Lynn. And I'm Dorothy Gundy. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What are your favorite products from this years CES? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tablet n. small computing device that is controlled by touching the screen or by using a special pen furry adj. covered with fur or something that fells like fur loaf n. piece of bread that has been baked in one large piece watt n. a unit for measuring electrical power virtual reality n. computer images and sounds that make you feel an imagined situation is real automated adj. controlled using machines and not people toilet - n. a large bowl attached to a pipe that is used for getting rid of body waste Two Years of Free Community College Funded in Governors Budget Governor Gavin Newsom released his 2019-20 Budget Plan that proposes to fully fund two years of free community college in California at a cost of $40 million. Assembly Bill 2, jointly authored by Assemblymembers Miguel Santiago, David Chiu, Kevin McCarty, Rob Bonta, Sharon Quirk-Silva, Laura Friedman, Lorena Gonzalez, and Sabrina Cervantes was introduced to strengthen the California College Promise policy. This budget proposal takes an important step towards guaranteeing a completely free community college experience for California students. Community college changed my life, said Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles). It gave me choices and opportunities and it opened doors. I know that free community college will change the lives of all Californians. To educate a community is to empower a community. I applaud the Governors budget proposal to fund two years of free community college. He has consistently shown leadership on this issue and I look forward to partnering with him in our efforts to strengthen the California College Promise with AB 2. ADVERTISEMENT This budget proposal shows the new Governors commitment to working towards a world-class higher education system that is accessible to all, said Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco). Providing two years of free community college tuition will make it easier for students to receive a college education and encourage more students to enroll. Californias future economy will require about $2 million college students with new academic degrees by 2030, said Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). By providing two years of free community college, California will help more students graduate with less debt, and will grow the number of degree and certificated workers needed to compete in the global economy A college degree can open the door to a lifetime of opportunity, but for many Californians, the cost of tuition is an insurmountable barrier, said Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale). With AB 2, were investing in our students and economy by creating pathways to sustainable careers. The cost of earning a college degree has become a heavy burden on an entire generation of Californians, said Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland). Young people today worry about whether theyll be able to pay for their dream of going to college without going into mountains of debt. Its unfair and unsustainable. Im proud to be joint-authoring AB 2 that would make college more affordable and accessible. Im pleased this effort is also a key priority for the Governor and look forward to working together to make this a reality. Not only will it help our students, it will also aid California in meeting its future workforce demands and keep our state the worlds innovation leader. In providing a free second year of community college, we are working to ensure that California has the best-educated workforce to maintain our competitive edge as the fifth largest economy in the world, said Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona). As state legislators, we must reaffirm our commitment to the success of Californias students. The future of our state depends on it. California cant pretend that the education needed to prepare our workforce for the jobs of tomorrow ends at the 12th grade. If its the states responsibility to offer a free public education, then we must offer no-cost access to our great community college system, said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego). ADVERTISEMENT We must be sure that Californias students have access to higher education, yet high tuition costs deny students and their families the dream of obtaining a degree, said Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton). Expanding the College Promise Program will give working class students, and their families, assurance that the cost of higher education, and the American Dream, will be within their reach. A reinvestment in our students is an investment in California; its skilled workforce, its economy, and its future. AB 2 was introduced on December 3, 2018, and will likely be heard in the Assembly Higher Education Committee in late February/early March. Assemblymember Miguel Santiago is the Chair of the Assemblys Communications and Conveyance Committee, and a member of both the Assembly Public Safety Committee and the California Latino Legislative Caucus. He represents the 53rd District composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Huntington Park, and Vernon. Golden Globes Recap Green Book Emerges as Early Favorite in Oscar Race Green Book emerged as the early favorite in the Oscar sweepstakes at the Golden Globes Sunday night after prevailing in three categories: Best Musical or Comedy, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Common sense would tell you that the searing civil rights era saga was more of a drama than a musical or comedy, but go figure. Curiously, Bohemian Rhapsody was dubbed Best Drama although that biopic about the rock group Queens frontman, Freddie Mercury, was a musical laced with comical moments. Another headscratcher was how Green Books Mahershala Ali won for Best Supporting Actor despite playing a lead role. Bohemian Rhapsody and Roma garnered two trophies each, while A Star Is Born had a disappointing evening, only netting a win for Best Song, after landing five nominations. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were overlooked in favor of Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Glenn Close (The Wife). The other acting awards went to Olivia Colman for The Favourite, Christian Bale for Vice, and Regina King for If Beale Street Could Talk. The show was co-hosted by Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh, who studiously avoided offending any fellow celebs in attendance during their boring opening dialogue or over the rest of the evening. They didnt even make any political jokes, although Christian Bale got a big laugh when he thanked Satan for showing him how to play Dick Cheney. ADVERTISEMENT Most of the other acceptance speeches were delivered in earnest, touching on themes ranging from female empowerment (Regina King and Glenn Close), to brotherhood (Peter Farrelly and Alfonso Cuaron), to LBGTQ rights (Rami Malek and Ben Whishaw). Complete List of Winners FILM Best Picture, Drama: Bohemian Rhapsody Best Picture, Musical or Comedy: Green Book ADVERTISEMENT Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Roma Best Actor, Drama: Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody Best Actress, Drama: Glenn Close, The Wife Best Actress, Musical or Comedy: Olivia Colman, The Favourite Best Actor, Musical or Comedy: Christian Bale, Vice Best Supporting Actress: Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Green Book Best Foreign Language Film: Roma Best Animated Feature: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Best Original Score: Justin Hurwitz, First Man Best Original Song: Shallow, A Star is Born Best Screenplay: Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga and Brian Currie, Green Book Cecille B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeff Bridges TELEVISION Best TV Series, Drama: The Americans Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama: Richard Madden, The Bodyguard Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama: Sandra Oh, Killing Eve Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy: The Kominsky Method Best Actor in a TV Series, Music or Comedy: Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy: Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Best Limited TV Series or Made for TV Movie: The Assassination of Gianni Versace Best Actor in a Limited TV Series or Made for TV Movie: Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace Best Actress in a Limited TV Series or TV Movie: Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series, Limited TV Series or Made for TV Movie: Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Limited TV Series or Made for TV Movie: Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects Carol Burnett Lifetime Achievement Award: Carol Burnett Regina Kings acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjx_bRvjIHo Glenn Closes acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dofJq1FzT8U Rami Maleks acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrmoL_1xU_M Peter Farrellys acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y98H7jQP1Q Ben Whishaws acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJkfl_kBYDI Alfonso Cuarons acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2clhVklzvc4 County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs Investigation Leads to Criminal Charges against Immigration Service Providers An extensive investigation performed by the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, in partnership with the Office of Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, has resulted in immigration-related criminal charges in two separate cases. The City Attorneys office filed the charges and announced the cases on Tuesday. Judith Gil, 65, and her daughter Minerva Gil, 36, of Los Angeles are charged with multiple criminal counts based on their alleged operation of an illegal immigration consulting business. Judith and Minerva Gil are both accused of defrauding Los Angeles County residentsin turn, jeopardizing their immigration statusby illegally posing as immigration consultants, without any qualifications. Judith Gil is further alleged to have charged clients thousands of dollars for her services while offering them false information and unqualified legal advice. The criminal complaint against Judith Gil includes 17 charges ranging from grand theft and immigration consultant statute violations to the unauthorized practice of law. Minerva Gil has been charged with improperly acting as an immigration consultant and with the unauthorized practice of law. Arraignment for Judith and Minerva Gil will be scheduled for March 12, 2019 in Department 48 of the Los Angeles County Criminal Justice Center. In a second case, Eddie Rivas Bonilla, 54, of Los Angeles, has been similarly charged with improperly acting as an immigration consultant and with the unauthorized practice of law. Bonilla was previously convicted for similar conduct by the Los Angeles City Attorneys Office in 2017, and is also alleged to have violated the terms of that probation. Arraignment for Bonilla will be scheduled for February 13, 2019, in Department 48 of the Los Angeles County Criminal Justice Center. ADVERTISEMENT If you believe you have been a victim in these cases or in any suspected immigration fraud, please contact the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at (800) 593-8222 3,500 Lose Jobs as New Currency Shortage Hits Zimbabwe Over 3,500 youth officers have been laid off as part of the nations shortage of currency amid efforts to streamline the wage bill. It was explained that the layoffs would save the country a substantial amount while the nations economy is limping. Public Service Commission secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe said the layoffs were in line with the transitional stabilization program as announced by Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube in the 2019 national budget last November. ADVERTISEMENT The measures, Ncube said, will yield annual financial savings to be channeled to critical areas of health and education, as well as infrastructure. President Emmerson Mnangagwas government is under pressure to improve the economy which has been in free fall since he won the elections in July 2018. To repair the economy, Mnangagwa and his finance minister have repeatedly said they will not hesitate to implement austerity measures. The year 2019 opened with growing demands by industry to adopt the US dollar and simultaneously, with protest actions by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change to pressure the government to adopt the rand or demonetize the bond notes. But a bigger drag on the economy may be the compensation package expected by White farmers whose lands were expropriated without compensation during Pres. Robert Mugabes controversial land reform. According to a White farmer interviewed by the online African Exponent, appropriate compensation for all the lands expropriated would be $9 billion, while the government is offering $53 million. Agriculture Minister Perence Shiri said that the government would do everything it can so that the White farmers are rightfully compensated. Zimbabwes war veterans who fought Mugabe for promised land redistribution, are not keen on the idea of white farmers being compensated, since many veterans did not get land. Most of the properties went to the political, business and military elite, so to give White farmers compensation would be an insult, they said. ADVERTISEMENT Many of the farms are now unproductive as they fell into the hands of people who have no knowledge and experience with farming. Elsewhere in Zimbabwe, the union of teachers say they will be striking this week to press for salaries paid in dollars. There are 44,000 members in the union. Government doctors have been on strike for more than a month over the same issue, while pharmacies demand payment in dollars. w/pix of striking doctors THE ISSUE Millersville University psychology professor Rita Smith-Wade-El died Dec. 29 at the age of 70. She was on the Millersville University faculty for 35 years and founded the African-American Studies minor and the Frederick Douglass Black Culture Celebration. Her many community involvements included the Lancaster branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Compeer Lancaster. Viewings will be held this evening and Friday evening at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home in Lancaster city; her funeral will take place Saturday morning at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, where she served as a lector, Eucharistic minister, social justice committee member and visitor of the ill. Rita Smith-Wade-El died as a result of triple-negative breast cancer, a decade after her disease was diagnosed. Only something as formidable as metastatic breast cancer could have felled her. In a surprise to absolutely no one who knew her, her obituary noted that she continued teaching courses until the end of last summer and advising students well into the fall, even as her disease worsened. Asked what shed change about herself, she once said, Im not much of a diplomat. People expect women to be all touchy and feely and smooth things over, but thats not me. She certainly didnt suffer fools. But if she was demanding, it was in service of others. No one could doubt her devotion to her students or her passion for justice. She was fierce long before that word was embraced by pop culture. So, naturally, that was the adjective Lancaster NAACP President Blanding Watson used to describe her. She was a fierce advocate for civil rights, Watson said in a statement, noting that when called on she was always ready to support any cause for human rights, health and the dignity of all mankind. Crispus Attucks Community Center awarded her its Essence of Humanity Award in 2015. In a letter to the university community about Smith-Wade-Els death, MU President Daniel Wubah noted that hed heard the following descriptions of her: A force to be reckoned with. A champion of the students. Relentless. The strongest person I ever met. She directed the African-American Studies minor she created, and told The Philadelphia Tribune she relished teaching its introductory course. She set high standards for her students. Her influence was felt not just in the classroom but beyond. From 1995 onward, Wubah wrote, when the Living the Dream day of volunteering became a part of the local Martin Luther King Day observances, Dr. Smith-Wade-El was integral to its success. For years, she recruited the many volunteers who donate a day out of their lives to fulfill Kings vision of community service. No wonder that when MU held a "Celebrate Rita" event to honor her in September, hundreds politicians, students, community leaders, friends attended. Or that the 31st annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, hosted by Crispus Attucks on Jan. 21 at Millersville University, will be dedicated to Smith-Wade-El. This could not be more fitting, given that she was a consistent presence at the breakfast, sometimes going from table to table to distribute flyers for an event she was helping to organize or information about a cause she was championing. Her son, Ismail Smith-Wade-El, a Lancaster city councilman, wrote on Facebook of the legacy into which his mother had been born. Her mother, Eva, was a woman who would do anything for her family. Her father, James, would give the shirt off his back to any stranger. The combination of these, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge and justice racial and gender and economic justice characterized Ritas entire life on this earth. It was her belief, he wrote, that the world is changed by investing in people, loving them fiercely, and never backing down. He noted that his mothers namesake was Rita of Cascia, patron saint of the impossible a poignant, perfect fit. In one of her final acts of generosity, Smith-Wade-El agreed to speak to LNP about dying. The interview, published Sept. 21, conveyed why in its headline on LancasterOnline: The process of dying, it noted, was for Smith-Wade-El another opportunity to teach. She spoke candidly about all she wanted to get done before she experienced more end-stage stuff: more loss of appetite, not swallowing, trouble breathing. What bothered her the most, she said, was how upset the people around her were. When shed mention to a colleague or student that she wouldnt be around for a certain date, theyd urge her not to say such things. Ever the pragmatist, Smith-Wade-El said, I dont understand quite the need for us to pretend that Im not dying. She did worry about losing herself in a fog of painkillers at the end. Sometimes people get delirious; thats going to bother me. Being forgetful? Im an academic; those kinds of things are probably going to bother me most. But she said that as a devout Roman Catholic the descendant of a family whose members had been Catholic since slavery she was confident death wouldnt be the end of her story. She told LNP she hoped she would be remembered as a giver. ... Id like to believe, Id like to feel, I left a legacy of giving and doing for people. She will be remembered as she wanted. Her legacy will live on in the scholarships at MU named for her and her parents, and in a Lancaster County Community Foundation fund bearing her name, which will support arts and education in the black community. It will live on in MUs recently rechristened Dr. Rita Smith-Wade-El Intercultural Center. It will live on in her sons Ayodele and Ismail, and in her students. And in the example she set of a life dedicated to the very end to education, to faith, to justice. As the border security debate and therefore the government shutdown drags on, the rhetoric appears to be ratcheting up. That includes what might feel like a barrage of numbers and statistics as both sides try to justify whether the border wall is necessary. And U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker is joining the fray making the case for the wall this week in newsletters, social media posts and op-eds. Meanwhile, as the 20-day shutdown takes up most of the political air, lawmakers starting new sessions in state and federal government are learning their new committee posts, and giving hints about their policy priorities for the next two years. Here are those updates and more from the political scene in Lancaster County and beyond. Immigration stats Youve likely heard about a few key numbers in the debate over border security, from the $5.7 billion President Donald Trump wants for the wall to the illegal border crossings there were 396,579 apprehensions last year that hes trying to prevent. Republicans this week made a point of talking about a few more namely, the numbers that depict the alleged crimes from undocumented immigrants. Smucker included some of the White House-issued claims in his weekly e-newsletter to constituents. (I)t was disappointing when Democrats passed a sham bill on Thursday (Jan. 3) which didnt provide a single dime for our border wall, Smucker wrote, before stating some statistics used recently by Trump. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested 235,000 people with criminal charges or convictions in the last two years, he wrote. Of those, 100,000 were charged or convicted of assault, 30,000 for sex crimes and 4,000 for homicides. A first version of this newsletter added an extra zero to the final number for homicides, but another version sent later in the week had 4,000 instead of 40,000. "Our office made a typo and added an extra 0 by mistake in our initial e-newsletter," Smucker's spokeswoman, Allison Nielsen, said in an email. "We corrected this and apologize for the error." These figures have been considered by various fact checks as mostly correct though lacking context. In 2017-18, ICE made nearly 211,000 arrests of people with previous criminal convictions and more than 55,000 with pending criminal charges, according to the agencys 2018 report. The most frequent offenses were traffic-related, and the total number also includes previous charges for illegally entering the United States, according the report. Committee spots Lancaster Countys influence over certain policy areas over the next two years is starting to become clear. In Harrisburg, the county will continue having a heavy hand in education but in a different chamber than last session. State Rep. David Hickernell, R-West Donegal Township, will chair the House Professional Licensure Committee instead of the Education Committee, which he led for the last two years. But at the same time, state Sen. Ryan Aument of Landisville, was moved to the head of the Senate Education Committee. Also in the smaller chamber, state Sen. Scott Martin will be at the helm of the Local Government Committee. Martin, of Martic Township, was previously a two-term Lancaster County commissioner. And in Washington, D.C., Republican U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker announced he was chosen by his peers other sophomores in his GOP caucus to serve on the GOPs Policy Committee. Committee assignments for rank-and-file members have not yet been released. Legislation reborn The new session also means lawmakers have to start from scratch on their legislative efforts that fell flat in previous years. For Smucker, who was the prime sponsor on 14 bills during his first term, the first bill he re-introduced this week was one that would designate Lancaster and York counties as the Susquehanna National Heritage Area. The label would give the area exposure as part of the National Parks Service, and up to $300,000 in funding. The bill, which U.S. Sen. Bob Casey has also tried to pass for the last decade, cleared the House last session but came up short as the Trump administration lobbied against designating any new National Heritage Areas. Smucker also began putting his name on other members bills this week co-sponsoring them to signal his support right away. After co-sponsoring more than 200 bills last session, here are the ones hes signaling early support for: Amending the Constitution to require Congress to pass balanced federal budgets Allowing conceal carry reciprocity for anyone allowed to carry concealed firearms in one state to do so legally in others Prohibiting family planning grants from going to entities that perform abortions Prohibiting federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Columbia Borough Police GENERAL IMPAIRMENT COLUMBIA BORO.: Michael David Gainer, 57, of Columbia, was arrested Dec. 30 for general impairment after police responded to a vehicle accident on Walnut Street and could smell an "intoxicating beverage on Gainer's breath, police said. East Cocalico Township Police WARRENT SERVICE EAST COCALICO TWP.: Bronson D. Bitner, 39, of Lititz, was arrested Jan. 5 on an outstanding warrant after police responded to a report of suspicious activity, police said. Ephrata Police AGGRAVATED ASSAULT EPHRATA BORO.: Joshua J. Toomey, 42, of New Holland, was arrested Jan. 8 after he kicked a hospital worker at Wellspan Ephrata in the ribs, police said. STRANGULATION EPHRATA BORO.: Corey S. Prokay, 20, of Ephrata, was charged with strangulation and simple assault after police were called to an argument that escalated at a residence in Ephrata Borough, police said. Manheim Township police DUI MANHEIM TWP.: Manuel R. Amparo, 27, of Lancaster, was charged Jan. 5 after she was found unconscious in her vehicle in the drive-thru line at the Wendy's on Harrisburg Avenue, police said. THEFT MANHEIM TWP.: Christopher Ryan Tone, 34, of Lancaster, was arrested Jan. 9 for stealing a necklace valued at $2,995 from Vincent and Company Fine Jewelers, police said. TERRORISTIC THREATS MANHEIM TWP.: Joshua Richard Hyle, 36, of Lancaster, was arrested Jan. 9 for making terroristic threats, false reports to law enforcement and harassment following a domestic dispute, police said. West Hempfield Township Police DRUG CHARGES WEST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Thomas Obrian Chant III, 30, of Allentown, was charged possession of drug paraphernalia and two traffic citations after his vehicle flipped Jan. 7 as he was driving west on Ironville Pike, police said. WEST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Jennifer Lynn Russell, 45, of Lancaster, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after police responded to a report of a dispute Jan. 2 at Columbia Avenue and Prospect Road, police said. WEST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Amber Darlene Johnson, 31, of Columbia, was charged on Jan. 3 with one count of counterfeit substances and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia after arresting her on a warrant for burglary, police said. ESCAPE COLUMBIA BORO.: Three residents of the Manos House, located at 1290 Prospect Road, Columbia, were charged with escape after they left the facility on Jan. 7. Thomas Andrew Saxton, 18, of Bristol, Joseph Michael Piascinski, 19, of New Holland, and Jonah Dade Beaver, 18, of Philadelphia, were charged after they left the facility in defiance of court orders to be there, police said. The first snowfall of 2019 is coming. But dont expect much. Eric Horst, director of Millersville Universitys Weather Information Center, issued his first call storm outlook Thursday afternoon, in which he calls for a coating to 2 inches of snow for Lancaster County and much of the state. Southwest Pennsylvania, meanwhile, could see up to 6 inches. Seriously, this is going to be a complex two-part storm, Horst said in a tweet Thursday. Anyone been waiting for this? Admit it! I know you were... (grin) Seriously, this is going to be a complex two-part storm...with a sharp northern edge. My sense is that southern PA gets brushed by "part 1" (SAT PM), but "part 2" (Sunday) is likely to stay south. Developing... pic.twitter.com/pMSvSu0Yl4 E. Horst, MU WIC (@MUweather) January 10, 2019 Part one comes with a brush of snow Saturday evening, but part two, due Sunday, will likely stay South, he said. Horst wasnt immediately available by phone Thursday. AccuWeather predicts 1 to 2 inches of snow this weekend. Itll certainly be cold enough, as daytime temperatures are expected in the low 30s. The National Weather Service also calls for snow and low temperatures, but it hasnt posted potential snow totals yet. Kudos to Dr. Felty for sharing this informative video. #snowdayshttps://t.co/yDRrvDP1nk Dr. Brian Barnhart (@IU13ExecDr) January 10, 2019 When Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai visited Lancaster in April 2017, she came to honor the areas commitment to welcoming and resettling refugees. Turns out, she was inspired in turn. A chance meeting that day with Marie Claire Kaberamanzi, a young woman who had arrived in Lancaster barely a year before, has led to Kaberamanzis story forming a chapter in Yousafzais most recent book, released this week. We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories From Refugee Girls Around the World features the experiences of 10 girls including Kaberamanzis journey fleeing civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to a refugee camp in Zambia, to Lancaster. And, in the only chapter not focusing on a young refugee, Church World Service volunteer Jennifer Shumway of Lancaster shares her experience welcoming the extended Kaberamanzi family to America. IN MALALA'S WORDS I met Marie Claire in a nondescript room in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I had been invited to join an annual program there honoring the refugees and their host community. Lancaster is often referred to as the refugee capital of America, I learned, and though I had received the invitation a couple of years earlier, this was the first time I could make it. My visit was a surprise to everyone there, and I gave a speech. That is just how it goes sometimes. I walk in, a surprise, and then I speak to a roomful of amazing people. But always at events like this, Im more interested in listening than talking. That day, I sat in that room with six refugee girls and boys, each telling his or her story. I remember Marie Claire not only for the story she told but also for the story she didnt. She was full of strength, but I could hear the pain in her heart and see the tears in her eyes. When she spoke, I felt her trauma as well as her triumph. The picture of this moment, as she revealed her past, is still in my head. Excerpt from We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories From Refugee Girls Around the World Im excited, but not surprised, that there are Lancaster connections in Malalas new book, Matt Johnson says. A message from Johnson, Lancaster city Mayor Danene Soraces former chief of staff, to Yousafzais website was part of the spark that inspired her Lancaster visit. I said it during her visit, and I believe it now: Her appearance here wasnt just about what she could bring to Lancaster. It was a chance for her to take something away from our community that could be meaningful to her global work. The conversations Yousafzai had with young refugees here, Johnson added, clearly had a deep impact on her and her father, Ziauddin, who accompanied Yousafzai on her visit. Marie Claire is a perfect ambassador for that message. Change in my life There was no doubt of her answer, Marie Claire Kaberamanzi says, when Malala Fund representatives asked her to take part in the book project. Now studying nursing at Washington Adventist University in Maryland, Kaberamanzi says the decision was simple. I knew I had school. I knew I was busy. And I knew I had to do it anyway. First of all, she says, I always wanted to write a book on my own. For me, it was just a dream come true, and I could (now) see writing my own book. Shumway, too, was certain of her decision. Not a lot of people are at the heart of this book, Shumway says. So that they thought of (Kaberamanzi) for this I would never miss the opportunity to support Malala and Marie Claire. We Are Displaced is not the first collaboration between Kaberamanzi and Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Price laureate. Since their meeting in Lancaster nearly two years ago, Kaberamanzi has worked both with Yousafzai and with her nonprofit Malala Fund, which advocates for education for girls affected by war, poverty and discrimination. Sales of We Are Displaced benefit this fund. Kaberamanzis story is not an easy one for her to share. Forced to flee a civil war that began the year before she was born, her family ended up in Zambia, harassed for being refugees and struggling to make a living. When she was 12, vigilantes killed her mother and gravely injured her father. School, Kaberamanzi says, become her connection to her late mother, Furaha, who strongly pushed her daughter to pursue education. Years after her mother applied for refugee visas through the United Nations, the Kaberamanzis were granted permission for resettlement in America, and were assigned to Lancaster. Here, Kaberamanzi talked herself into classes at McCaskey High School, though she was already 19, and graduated six months later the first in her family to earn a diploma. And then, the Malala Fund came calling. Would she join Yousafzai in an address to leaders at the United Nations? I knew about the U.N., but I didnt know the real significance, Kaberamanzi says in a telephone interview from her Maryland campus. I didnt really think Id be standing in front of leaders, talking about my life and what I thought they should do about women and girls. Shumway, who accompanied Kaberamanzi on her trip to New York City, says she wasnt really surprised at the impact Kaberamanzis words had on her audience. Marie Claire is such a dynamo, says Shumway, whose family has become extremely close with the Kaberamanzis since their arrival in America. She was, literally, a stones throw from the president of France and other world leaders. While she was in New York for that United Nations address, Kaberamanzi says, she was invited to be interviewed for the project which became We Are Displaced. I knew from then something was going to change in my life, Kaberamanzi says. I knew my story wouldnt just stay in Lancaster or my school; it was going to go out to everybody. Sitting with very, very important people in life made me believe I can get there as well, she adds. So Im doing all I can to get there. That includes sharing her story, she says, as a way of helping the Malala Fund advocate on behalf of other women and girls. (Malala) thought that maybe people didnt know there are other girls out there with similar and incredible stories, Kaberamanzi says. She wanted to show that there are more girls advocating toward educating and other things we should have as women. Shumway, who shares in the book why she became involved with refugee resettlement, says the project creates a small ripple in the political climate that we all have right now. Its an important message, and very timely. And she also shares the impact that involvement had on her whole family once she felt compelled to become involved. She and her husband, Andrew OBrien, share a blended family of sons Alec, Ethan, Andrew and Daniel, and daughter Lauren. It just washes over you how small our lives truly are in the scheme of things, Shumway says. This girl just a short time ago came from a refugee camp in Africa, and shes now setting the world ablaze. She just needed the opportunity. A New York man has been charged with manslaughter in relation to a 2017 crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike which killed a Denver woman, according to the Reading Eagle. The Reading Eagle is reporting that Sarbjit Singh, 38, of Bellerose, N.Y., was charged Jan. 9 by Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, driving at unsafe speeds, reckless driving and other related charges in the death of Sandra L. Wummer, 61, of Denver. As previously reported by LNP, Singh, 36 at the time, was driving a Peterbilt truck at a high speed when he rear-ended Wummer's Ford Escape while she was slowing down to around 10 mph for a work zone, police said at the time. The crash happened around 10:15 a.m. Sept. 27, 2017, in Caernarvon Township, Berks County. After he hit Wummer, her car was forced to the left, and she hit the right rear of a third car which rear-ended a fourth, according to police. A Berks County Coroner pronounced Wummer dead at the scene, police said at the time. The driver of the third car, 71-year-old Gloria A. Belair, of Annville, was injured and taken to a local hospital, authorities said. A passenger in Belair's car suffered a minor injury, according to police at the time of the incident. The 120-year-old Elizabethtown College has appointed its first female president, the college announced Friday. Longtime educator and Ocean City, New Jersey, native Cecilia McCormick was chosen by the Elizabethtowns Board of Trustees following a 10-month search to replace current President Carl Strikwerda, who announced last year he will retire in June. McCormick, who will assume her new role on July 1, currently serves as Vice Provost for Academic Strategy and Special Programs at Jefferson University in Philadelphia. It is truly an honor to have been chosen to lead Elizabethtown College, to build on its legacy and accomplishments, and to seek opportunities at a pivotal time in the history of the college, McCormick said in a statement. Elizabethtown, a private college serving 1,671 students, is currently in the middle of a $60 million fundraising campaign. Much of the money raised will go toward the colleges $24.5 million Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being, which should open this fall. The college is also implementing a 32 percent tuition decrease, from $46,940 to $32,000, in 2019-20. The initiative, dubbed Tuition Transparency," is meant to attract more students from middle-class families by reducing the colleges sticker price by cutting down on financial aid. In her current role, McCormick aided in the successful merger of Thomas Jefferson and Philadelphia universities. Other accolades include launching pipeline programs to expose students in the Philadelphia region to STEM education. McCormicks resume includes administrative roles at Jefferson, Johns Hopkins and Widener universities. She also served as an attorney in the Philadelphia region for 10 years. Prior to that, she worked at PECO Energy and The Vanguard Groups Retirement Center. Cecilias experience in both academia and private business along with her collaborative problem-solving skills will guide us through the changing landscape of higher education, Board of Trustees Chair Robert Dolan said. McCormick has a bachelors degree in management/marketing from St. Josephs University, a paralegal certificate from Widener University and a juris doctorate from Wideners Delaware Law School, and post-doctoral education from the Institute of Educational Management at Harvard University. She and her husband, John, have three sons and two grandchildren. An Elizabethtown spokesperson said McCormick's salary will not be released at this time. More than 200 residents and business owners packed a Columbia Borough Council meeting, where many expressed opposition to the boroughs recently enacted 2019 budget and its accompanying 21.2 percent tax increase. The increase raised the tax rate from 6. 6 mills to 8.0 mills, which would cost the owner of a $137,500 home an additional $192. Because a large crowd was expected, the Tuesday meeting was moved from its usual site at council chambers to the Columbia Borough School District Administration Center. The line of residents waiting to speak spilled into the aisles and out the doors. Im standing in front of a group of people that is supposed to support the group of people that is behind me and no one in this room feels represented, business owner Keena Soukup told council members Tuesday night. We dont feel that youre listening, she said, receiving applause from those in attendance. Revolving loan A revolving loan fund created by ordinance at the March 12, 2018, council meeting was a point of contention because of the nearly 2 mills, or about $800,000, it added to the 2019 budget, according to resident and former borough manager Norm Meiskey. The loan fund was created, in theory, to spur economic development in Columbia by encouraging businesses to invest there. However, many in attendance strongly questioned how those funds have so far been allocated. We should be supporting the small businesses that are in Columbia. These businesses should be thriving off of each other, Soukup said. We dont need to build bigger things. We need to support what we have. We dont need more people to come. We need people to stay. In a telephone interview Thursday, Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz said cutting the amount allocated for the revolving loan program would have eased the tax hike but would not have erased it. People are tying the loan program to the tax increase, he said. Thats not true. Instead, Lutz said, the cause for the tax hike lies mainly in the boroughs general fund balance, which the borough utilized to offset tax increases in eight out of the past 11 years. Was this wise? Maybe, maybe not, he said. Bottom line: Councils decided that it was better to keep your money in your pocket rather than in a reserve fund. Enough is enough During the meeting, council members received a petition signed by more than 1,150 residents requesting a special meeting to repeal the revolving loan fund and reinstate the previous tax rate of 6.6 mills. Enough is enough. Were being taxed to death, said resident Frank Doutrich, as he distributed copies of the petition to each council member. Council President Kelly Murphy told the residents, We have heard your voices on these issues. The budget that was approved was a result of much soul searching on councils part, he said. We have heard what youve said and are not insensitive to the effect a higher millage rate has on all of us. However, Murphy said the budget and millage increase will not be changed. He cited the millage hike as the cost of doing business. Council will again allow public comment related to concerns over the budget at its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the borough municipal building, 308 Locust St. The Pennsylvania, Department of Agriculture,, 866-366-3723, uses a risk-based inspection reporting process for restaurants and other food handlers. Barrs Farms, Central Market, Jan. 4. No violations. Brogue Hydroponics, 2 W. Grant St., Jan. 4. No violations. Central Market Juice Co. LLC, 2 W. Grant St., Jan. 4. No violations. Lancaster Salad Co., 2 W. Grant St., Jan. 4. No violations. Linden Dale Farms, 2 W. Grant St., Jan. 4. No violations. LL Grocery Deli, 648 E. Chestnut St., Jan. 4. No violations. Maplehofe Dairy, 2 W. Grant St., Jan. 4. No violations. Mecks Produce, Central Market, Jan. 4. No violations. New Friendly Mini Market, 401 N. Queen St., Jan. 4. Floor in the grocery area, is not durable, smooth, nonporous, nonabsorbent; repeat violation. Milk, a potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food requiring date-marking, in the refrigerator area, was beyond the date-marking and requires discarding; corrected on site. Pita Pit, 651 N. Charlotte St., Jan. 4. No violations. S Clyde Weaver, 2 W. Grant St., Jan. 4. No violations. Souvlaki Boys Grill, 1 W. James St., complaint, Jan. 4. No violations. Sunshine Nursery Day Care Center LLC, 558 High St., follow-up, Jan. 4. No sign or poster at the hand-wash sink in the food prep area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Soap was not available at the hand-wash sink in the food prep area. The hand-wash sink in the food prep area does not have single-use towels, continuous towels, or air drying device. The Bread Pedaler LLC, 116 W. Orange St., complaint, Jan. 4. No violations. Zigs Bakery & Deli LLC, 2 W. Grant St., Jan. 4. No violations. Abundant Earth Life, 241 Lemon St., Jan. 3. No violations. Albright Life, 417 W. Frederick St., Jan. 3. No violations. College Hill Childrens Center, 417 W. Frederick St., Jan. 3. No violations. Himayalan Curry and Grill, 22 E. Orange St., complaint, Jan. 3. Food facility inspection indicates evidence of insect activity in the food storage areas. Facility is working with a pest control program. McDonalds Restaurant, 210 W. King St., complaint, Jan. 3. Toilet room facilities are not cleaned at a frequency to avoid possible health risks. Facility is to monitor and clean toilet rooms at a regular frequency. Red Rose Tavern, 300 W. James St., Jan. 3. Outdoor enclosure for refuse is cracked and broken and is not durable and cleanable. Floor in the back pan storage area is not durable, smooth, nonporous, nonabsorbent. Outside access door located in the basement area of the food facility has gaps and does not protect against the entry of insects, rodents and other animals. Freezer unit in the walk-in freezer is leaking. Food facility inspection indicates evidence of rodent activity in the basement area. The facility is working with a pest control program. Simply From Scratch, 237 W. Chestnut St., Jan. 3. No violations. Charleys Philly Steaks, 142 Park City Center, Jan. 2. Cardboard being utilized as a floor covering in the walk-in freezer. Food employees performing active food prep not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats or beard covers. Cinnabon, 106 Park City Center, Jan. 2. Employees food containing raw food was stored above ready-to-eat foods in the reach-in refrigerator; corrected on site. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the small under-counter freezer; repeat violation. Hildys Tavern Inc., 448 W. Frederick St., Jan. 2. No violations. Lancaster Cupcake Kiosk, 501 Park City Center, Jan. 2. The person in charge left facility unattended and was not able to control possible access to food facility by unauthorized persons. TGI Fridays, 629 Park City Center, complaint, Jan. 2. No violations. Villa Pizza, 100 Park City Center, follow-up, Jan. 2. Food employees performing active food prep not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats or beard covers; repeat violation. C Town Mini Market, 451 E. King St., Dec. 31. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the deli hot holding equipment. Ice maker bin, a food-contact surface, had an employees beverage bottle stored in contact with the ice. Raw eggs were stored above ready-to-eat foods in the dairy walk-in. A cup in the deli hand-wash sink, indicating uses other than hand-washing. Cardboard being used as floor covering in the meat department. CVS Pharmacy No. 5090, 501 Harrisburg Ave., Dec. 31. No violations. Miesse Candies, 2 W. Grant St., Dec. 31. No violations. Mr. Bills Seafood, 431 Harrisburg Pike, Dec. 31. No violations. Pureblend Tea, 2 W. Grant St., Dec. 31. Provide sanitizer at stand. Quips Pub, 457 New Holland Ave., Dec. 31. Bar area soda gun holsters, all food contact surfaces, had residue and were not clean to sight and touch; repeat violation. All contact and noncontact food surfaces in the food prep area are in need of cleaning. Food facility inspection indicates evidence of rodent activity in the bar area, the facility is working with a pest control program. Food in the walk-in refrigerator was stored open with no covering. Food stored directly on the floor in the walk-in refrigerator, rather than six inches off the floor as required. Walls and floors around the fryers and grill, all nonfood contact surfaces, are not being cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of grease. Walls above cook surfaces with an accumulation of static dust; corrected on site. RIJuice, 2 W. Grant St., Dec. 31. No violations. Smithgalls Pharmacy, 536 W. Lemon St., Dec. 31. No violations. Stoner Vegetables, 2 W. Grant St., Dec. 31. No violations. Sweethearts of Lancaster, 2 W. Central Market, Dec. 31. No violations. The Loft, 201 W. Orange St., Dec. 31. No violations. Turkey Hill Minit Market No. 074, 284 E. Main St., Bareville, follow-up, Dec. 28. No violations. Turkey Hill Minit Market No. 073, 5 W. 28th Division Highway, Lititz, follow-up, Dec. 27. There was no person In charge at the time of follow-up inspection. The food facility operator shall be the person in charge or shall designate a person in charge and shall ensure that a person in charge is present at the food facility during all hours of operation. Characters Pub will close early next month after nearly 15 years in downtown Lancaster. Tucked behind the Lancaster County Courthouse at 38 N. Christian St., the Irish-themed bar was opened in mid-2004 by George Centini and Gary Hufford. It was taken over in 2011 by Meghan Young. A message posted Friday morning on the restaurants Facebook page announced the closing. It is with great regret that we now announce that Characters Pub will be closing. We would like to thank our many loyal patrons for their support & friendship over the years and look forward to serving you all between now and our final day of February 2, the post said. 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If you're in a position to give, your donation powers our reporters and keeps us independent. Our reporting is free for everyone, but its not free to make. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Some of the last people you want stressed and anxious are particularly stressed and anxious right now thanks to the federal government shutdown. The nation's air traffic controllers, who are considered essential employees for public safety, are having to work without pay, with the shutdown on track to become the longest on record. "We've been here since Day One of the furloughs and the shutdown, providing a service for the national airspace system, uninterrupted, out of sight, out of mind, really, and that's what we expect," said Alex Cisneros, an air traffic controller who handles takeoffs and arrivals at airports across Southern California, including LAX and Van Nuys Airport. "We want everything to run seamless." Cisneros stressed that the public has nothing to worry about when it comes to the safety of the skies. But fellow controllers' anxiety and frustration about working without pay is starting to build, "especially as we get closer to payday, which is next Tuesday," he said in an interview with KPCC's Take Two. As a representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn., a union that covers about 20,000 workers across the country, Cisneros said he's been fielding a lot of questions from his fellow air traffic controllers. Many of them are concerned about whether their medical insurance coverage will continue and their ability to make mortgage payments. One employee even asked him if it was OK to deliver pizzas on the side. In addition to the human toll, there's the impact on the complex operation that keeps airplanes moving in and out of airports across the U.S. The national airspace system is in the midst of being modernized -- shifting from a ground-based radar system to a GPS- and satellite-based system. "Every time we have a shutdown, that project is stalled," Cisneros said. "There's hundreds if not thousands of people working on this that are not able to keep this project going." And then there's the issue of training. Cisneros said the number of U.S. air traffic controllers is already at a 30-year low, but the academy that trains them in Oklahoma City is shuttered as a result of the shutdown. "The last time this happened, in 2013, it took us two to three years to reach our hiring goals because of the delays from the furloughs and the shutdown." Editor's note: A version of this story was also on the radio. Listen to it here on KPCC's Take Two. LAist only exists with reader support. If you're in a position to give, your donation powers our reporters and keeps us independent. Our reporting is free for everyone, but its not free to make. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday laid out a sweeping $209 billion budget plan that seeks to signal a new wave of state leadership, making large investments in housing, education, debt payments, and wildfire firefighting and recovery efforts. The governor's 2019-2020 spending plan marks a 4 percent increase in general plan spending, which he argued is not out of line with his predecessor, Jerry Brown, who was well-known for his fiscal constraint. But he also projected a $21.4 billion surplus, somewhat more than projected in November by legislative analysts. Newsom and his team pointed out that over 86 percent of the new spending outlined in his budget will be one-time costs. And he allocated billions toward building the state's reserves and paying down debt, including $4.8 billion for unfunded retirement liabilities. Acknowledging that the state is overdue for an economic correction, Newsom said this budget anticipates a 3.2 percent growth rate, lower than past years that hovered around 5 percent. "We are preparing for uncertain times, and we are paying down debt in historic ways," Newsom said, spending nearly 50 minutes behind a lectern in Sacramento describing his first budget before turning to questions from reporters. Projects like full-day kindergarten, spurring housing development and upgrades to the 911 system, would benefit from one-time spending allocations outlined by Newsom. The state Legislature will review the governor's budget proposal over the coming months. Lawmakers will need to approve a spending plan by June 15. For a full analysis of what's in the budget, our reporters broke it down by subject: HEALTH CARE Expand Medi-Cal The number of Californians without health insurance has fallen under the Affordable Care Act from 17 percent of the population in 2013 to 7 percent in 2017. The largest group of uninsured are people in the country illegally. Newsom wants to expand Medi-Cal eligibility to young adults who qualify up to age 26, regardless of their immigration status. California already does this up to age 19. The governor's budget asks the legislature to approve $260 million a year to do this. Critics say the state shouldn't provide free or subsidized health insurance to people in the U.S. illegally, but with Democrats holding a supermajority in both houses of the state legislature and a governor actively pushing the idea, this proposal would seem to stand a good chance of becoming reality. Newsom considers this Medi-Cal expansion a first step. On the campaign trail, he supported covering all Californians who qualify for Medi-Cal regardless of their age or immigration status. If that happens, it could cost $3 billion a year. Creating an individual mandate for California Newsom wants to require everyone in the state to have health insurance, and to be subject to a fine if they don't. If the legislature buys into the idea, it would reinstate the defunct Obamacare mandate, but only for California. Congress killed the fines associated with that requirement when it passed the federal tax overhaul in 2017. There are about 3 million Californians who don't have health insurance. Analysts have estimated the loss of the federal mandate could make that number grow to 4 million. New help paying the monthly premium Newsom says money the state collects in fines from Californians who don't have health insurance would go to help more people pay for their monthly premiums. Right now, nine in 10 people who buy insurance on Covered California receive federal subsidies. The governor wants to provide state subsidies for middle-class people who make too much to qualify for that help from the feds. Federal subsidies help individuals who make up to $48,000 a year and families of four who make up to $98,000 a year. If the legislature approves the governor's proposal, the state will raise those ceilings to $73,000 for individuals and $150,000 for a family of four. Last year lawmakers unsuccessfully asked for $500 million to cover state subsidies for people at those higher income levels. Newsom projects that's about how much the fines generated by an individual mandate would generate each year. Dr. Geoffrey Joyce is a health economist and the director of Health Policy at the USC Schaeffer Center. He says this move could go far to help consumers in the state. Still, he warns about spending. "[Newsom's] basically inheriting a nice budget surplus from Jerry Brown, but we all know how quickly California's budget surpluses and deficits can change," said Joyce. "He should not be overly ambitious and basically spend so [much] that once the next recession hits we're in big, big trouble." Newsom's budget proposals are part of a larger package of steps he's taking that his office describes as an effort "to move California closer to the goal of health care for all." While Newsome supports a radical transformation of the state's health care system to a government-run single-payer model, that's going to be easier said than done. -- Contributed by Michelle Faust Raghavan EARLY EDUCATION Investing in the early years In his first budget proposal, Newsom has delivered on his campaign promises to prioritize early childhood care and education. The proposal allocates nearly $2 billion on a wide range of programs for children ages 0-5. Here's a quick rundown: $750 million is set aside to extend half-day kindergarten classes to full-day to accommodate working parents. $500 million would go toward training providers and expanding facilities in state-subsidized child care programs. There would be funding to expand preschool to all 4-year-olds from low-income families over a three-year period, starting with a nearly $125 million investment. $60 million is earmarked for increased developmental screenings to assess educational, social, and emotional development for infants and toddlers. $23 million is designated for home visiting programs for low-income, new mothers. $7.5 million is allotted to increase participation in the Black Infant Health program, which aims to reduce the high rates of black infant mortality. Newsom has also proposed giving families six months of paid family leave after the birth of a child. That would be the longest parental leave in the nation. It's still not clear how the state will pay for it. The proposal says that during the next year the administration will "convene a task force to consider different options to phase-in and expand" paid family leave. Though a lot of details need to be worked out, the field is excited to have so much attention on children and families from the state's top politician. This is a big change from slashes that had been proposed in years past. -- Contributed by Priska Neely HIGHER EDUCATION Free community college tuition for second year Newsom's budget proposal includes $1.4 billion for higher education that's meant to be used to open seats for more students, encourage quicker graduation and ensure that tuition doesn't go up. In previous years, public university administrators often bemoaned what they felt was insufficient support for higher education in the January budget proposal. The tone is different this time around. "This marks the single largest proposed investment by any governor in the history of the university, and we are extremely appreciative of Governor Newsom's bold investment in us," California State University Chancellor Timothy White said in a statement. The budget plan includes a $300 million ongoing increase for the 23-campus CSU system. California's student community college system has made headlines in recent weeks as Newsom announced that the budget proposal would include a $40 million line item to pay for a second year of community college tuition for first-time, full-time students. Those conditions will significantly restrict how many students would benefit, since only about 30 percent of the state's two million community college students attend full time. In addition, "any commitment the state makes towards college affordability has to go beyond covering the cost of community college fees," Audrey Dow, senior vice president of the Campaign for College Opportunity, said in an email. She and others stressed that there are other, often higher, costs that keep community college students from earning their degrees. -- Contributed by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez TRANSPORTATION Spending on roads, bridges, transit The governor's budget includes $4.8 billion for state and local transportation projects, including repairs and maintenance to highways and local streets and bridges, transit operations and hundreds of millions more for investments. The allocations were made under Senate Bill 1, the transportation package funded by increases to the gas tax and driver fees, which was passed in 2017. The governor has proposed linking transportation funding that would go to local governments in the future to how well those jurisdictions meet state-mandated housing goals. These require cities to build enough housing to meet the demands of population and job growth. Many California communities have fallen far behind on meeting their goals, leading to a housing affordability crisis in the state. Newsom highlighted the fact that his budget would pay off in full loans that were taken from transportation funds during the years of budget deficits before the current recovery. Proposition 69, which passed in June 2018, created a constitutional amendment to put transportation funds in a "lock box," protecting S.B. 1 revenues from being diverted for non-transportation purposes. -- Contributed by Meghan McCarty Carino INFRASTRUCTURE Millions for wildfire prevention There's not a lot of room in a budget for infrastructure projects when 81 percent is devoted to education, health and social services. One of the key areas of increased spending is on wildfire prevention. In all, a new $415 million is proposed to buy helicopters, airplanes and fire engines. The money is meant to pay for new California Conservation Corps forest maintenance crews to reduce fire danger and add fire-spotting infrared cameras in forested areas. In addition, Newsom wants to add a fee to cell phone and landline services to raise $60 million to improve emergency 911 services. He calls for $16.3 million to build out California's Earthquake Early Warning System. California voters last year approved the continuation of new fuel and vehicle taxes, so spending on road and transportation projects will go forward as planned with an expected $4.8 billion coming in. Newsom said he planned to put out a five-year infrastructure plan to give priorities for how the state's share of the new taxes would be spent, so no new specifics were rolled out in the budget speech. However, the governor's budget does commit nearly $316 million of one-time money (that is, money not raised in recurring taxes) to spend on maintenance projects that had been delayed. It doesn't put much of a dent in the state's $70 billion in lagging maintenance, but it does include $112 million for prisons, $45.6 million for state parks, $40 milion for courts, and $35 million for state hospitals. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control has already been provided with nearly $177 million to clean up 2,500 properties contaminated by the Exide lead acid battery plant in Vernon that closed in 2015. The governor's new budget adds another $50 million to accelerate the cleanup of 700 additional contaminated properties within about a 1.7-mile radius. The budget proposal would redirect nearly $169 million in Proposition 68 money (bonds for parks, recreation and water projects) in the form of loans and grants to improve public water systems in disadvantaged communities. In Los Angeles County, the tiny Sativa water company was taken over by county officials after water quality deteriorated, and it needs millions of dollars in upgrades, so conceivably some of that money could be headed toward that and similar systems. -- Contributed by Sharon McNary HOUSING Millions for wildfire prevention Newsom's first budget proposes spending almost $8 billion on housing and homelessness -- about $3 billion more than former Gov. Brown's last budget. That's spread across a smorgasbord of programs intended to build more homes and ease the housing shortage. That means subsidizing affordable housing construction, rental assistance programs, tax credit programs, and pushing cities to zone for more apartments. Newsom said the state might eventually withhold funding if local cities fail to build enough new homes. According to an analysis prepared by the consulting firm McKinsey&Company, California is short about 3.5 million homes relative to its population. The single biggest proposed increase from last year's budget is an additional $500 million for the state's first-time homebuyer assistance program -- a total of $2 billion. Incidentally, $500 million is the same amount Newsom's budget proposes handing over to local cities to mitigate the state's homelessness crisis. That would be used to develop local plans for ending homeless and emergency shelter construction. -- Contributed by Matt Tinoco Our main buttress was probably built in our first decade of marriage when we bought a business a small weekly newspaper in Lodi, Wis. We invested every bit of our savings and had two little children and two mortgages, one for our home and another for the business, so the venture was pretty much sink or swim. We had to learn the business (we bought a book) and quickly sort out our roles, which we did. Fortunately our skills were complementary and we swam, forming a pattern of respect and trust we have followed ever since. If it hadnt worked? We might have wound up among the half of people whose most recent marriage was 50 years ago who are no longer married either because they were widowed (41 percent) or divorced (9 percent). Those numbers came from a sociologist blogger Philip N. Cohen, of the University of Maryland, who took the wind out of my sails when I was feeling proud that Gretchen and I were going to be among the 7 percent of married Americans who had made it to their 50th. President Donald Trump is adamant about building a border wall on the southern border, despite data showing a steady decline in the number of illegal crossings over the last 20 years. In addition to the new lawsuit, liberal group One Wisconsin Institute is asking a federal judge to strike down provisions passed in the session that curtail the timeline for early voting. And Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, said he plans to formally ask Ozanne to argue that Assembly Republicans broke the state open meetings law by the manner in which they held the session. Anderson, who is paralyzed from the chest down and uses a wheelchair, contends he was illegally excluded from voting on the lame-duck bills because Assembly Republican leaders did not tell him in advance when the votes would be held. Anderson said he needs advance notice as an accommodation because of health and logistical issues related to his disability. He says the uncertainty about the timing of the votes forced him to leave the state Capitol before they were held, keeping him from participating. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, said Thursday that while Anderson sent him one text message the night before the vote, he did not fully explain what accommodations he needed in order to vote. Steineke said if Anderson had done so, Assembly leaders would have found a way to ensure he participated. If we were made aware of this particular situation, we could have helped, Steineke said. "She is going to have to grieve the loss of her parents and also come to terms with the fact she was abducted, escaped and whatever (other) hell she went through," Katie Beers said. "And it's not going to be easy." Almost three months after her parents were found dead in their home, missing Barron teen Jayme Closs has been found and a suspect in the case is in custody, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said Thursday night in a statement. Thursday evening the Douglas County Sheriffs Department alerted Fitzgerald that they had found Closs alive, Fitzgerald said. Shortly after, a suspect was taken into custody. Closs will be reunited with her family later Thursday night, Fitzgerald said. We do not any other details at this time as this is a very fluid and active investigation, Fitzgerald said. The Barron County Sheriffs Department will hold a press conference Friday at 10 a.m. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation agents are assisting with the investigation. Fitzgerald thanked the Douglas County Sheriffs Department and all the law enforcement agencies across the state and county that assisted in the case. We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfill that promise, Fitzgerald said. We listen to local police and fire departments scanner traffic, but sometimes miss crimes, wrecks, fires or other incidents, especially if they happen overnight. If you know of something were not covering yet, please let Managing Editor Jeff Pownall know by emailing him at jpownall@lufkindailynews.com, or submit a news tip online by visiting lufkindailynews.com/tips. Sometimes, its almost impossible to give people the shirt off your back just ask Paula Hogan. Hogan, a hospital registration worker at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare, had nearly given up in her search to donate 542 Mayo-Franciscan shirts to a worthy cause after two departments changed their dress code and employees contributed their shirts to the effort. Hospital officials deemed it inappropriate to donate the shirts to local agencies such as Goodwill or The Salvation Army because of security concerns if 500-plus shirts with the health systems logos were floating around, said Becki Hanson, Mayo-Franciscans office access management supervisor. Hogan ran into several rejections during her quest, she said, adding, Some only wanted scrubs, some couldnt handle that volume, and others were afraid they would never get the shirts and theyd end up on the black market. WEST SALEM A La Farge man was injured early Thursday in a crash after authorities say he was driving the wrong way on Interstate 90 in La Crosse County. The La Crosse County Sheriffs Office received a call at 2:43 a.m. of a wrong-way driver near Exit 15 at Bangor. The caller said the vehicle was heading west in the eastbound lanes. As officers attempted to locate the vehicle, the Wisconsin State Patrol was dispatched to a crash on I-90 near mile marker 13, near West Salem. A 2016 Subaru Crosstrek driven by John Robert Kelter, 22, collided with a semi driven by Glenn Allen Criqui, 52, from Baxter, Iowa, pulling a load of grain, according to the state patrol. Kelter had to be extracted from his vehicle and was flown to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, where he was being treat for life-threatening injuries. Criqui reported no significant injuries. Authorities say alcohol impairment appeared to be a factor in the crash. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Levi Powers, who will be ordained a minister at 6 p.m. Friday at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in La Crosse, is taking a road less traveled despite other peoples recommendations to the contrary. If you can do anything else, they said, dont be a pastor, Levi said with a laugh during an interview. The 31-year-old Powers, who was born in La Crosse and also lived in Melrose, took the advice up to a point, earning a bachelors degree in early childhood education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and just returning from a year-long pastoral internship in Lincoln, Neb. He began his pastoral studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2013 and received his degree there in December. Whenever I do ministry, nothing lights me up the same way, Powers said in explaining his choice to become a man of the cloth. It makes me want to get up in the morning. God works the word and sacraments. Asked his favorite aspect of ministry, Powers said, I really like the people, and people are in every part of ministry. I like preaching that is one of the best parts but I also like normal, everyday conversations with people. The Tomah VA Medical Center will start making arrangements to move veterans into the former home of Dave and Barb Erickson on Farnam Street after a Thursday decision by the La Crosse Common Council. The council voted 11-2 in favor of a conditional-use permit to allow the medical center to operate its transitional work residency program out of the home, which is in the process of being donated to the VA by the Ericksons. The permit was necessary because the home is within 2,500 feet of several other community living arrangements, called CLAs. The project will provide up eight veterans with a place to live and continue treatment as they find jobs and reintegrate into the community. The permit was passed on the condition that it undergo an annual review, and that the VA provide a payment in lieu of taxes and limit the occupancy to eight veterans. Itll be a year of proving ourselves, but Im confident that this will be a win-win for all of us, said VA Medical Center director Victoria Brahm said. While Brahm expects it to take a few months to get the program up and running while the VA finalizes lease agreements and make sure the home meets all its codes, she hopes to get them in as soon as possible. The Viroqua Fire Department recently responded to two separate chimney fires in the the area. On Jan. 8, at 6:41 p.m., the department was dispatched to E5060 Lund Lane in the town of Jefferson. When the department arrived, flames were coming from the chimney of the residence, according to the fire department. The fire department extinguished the fire in the chimney at about 7:30 p.m. The fire was contained in the chimney and no damage was done to the structure. There were no injuries. Tri-State Ambulance assisted at the scene. On Jan. 10, at at 7:23 a.m., the department was dispatched to S5302A Seidel Lane in the town of Franklin. When the fire department arrived, visual signs of an attic fire were observed around the chimney in an equipment shop. The fire department extinguished the fire in the attic at about 8 a.m. The fire was contained in the attic space around the chimney; no other damage was done to the structure. There were no injuries. The Westby Fire Department, Tri-State Ambulance and Vernon County Sheriffs Department assisted at the scene. Due to the recent drop in temperatures, be sure to check your chimneys and make sure that they are cleaned on a regular basis and inspected at least once a year, said Chad Buros, Viroqua fire chief. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 El and I have been seeing lots of antlerless deer while driving out and/or home at dusk. We have not seen any antlers, though. I heard a rumor of a couple bucks being taken during the Holiday Hunt the bucks had dropped their antlers already. As far at the 2018 deer hunt goes, the numbers are in. The Wisconsin DNR reports that deer license sales were down overall. That said, gun, muzzle loader, vertical bow and crossbow kill numbers are up in 2018; it would appear that fewer hunters took more deer. While I got out there some, I ate four antlerless tags and two buck tags; regardless, I enjoyed just being part of the hunt and spending time in the woods no matter the hunt. With all that venison filling freezers, no one should be complaining, but I have seen letters to the editor in The Outdoor News with lots of complaints. Some were about not seeing any deer, some were about neighbors baiting deer, some chewed on the CDAC estimates and suggestion, but the ones I take issue with are the ones about crossbow seasons and the number of bucks being taken by crossbows. Most suggest the crossbow hunters have it too good, getting first crack at rutting trophy bucks. I respond bull; so do vertical bow hunters. I started bow hunting with a recurve Montgomery Wards bow with wooden arrows back in the mid 1970s. I started hunting with a crossbow three years ago in 2016. The first night I took out my new and relatively inexpensive SA crossbow, I took a stand along a cornfield on our ridge. My testimony is that the crossbow isnt so easy to use. I missed out on a shot at a turkey and coyote that evening. Picture the crossbow. There is a lot moving up front. Each time I started to try to gracefully lift my crossbow for a shot, my shoulders moved, my head moved to look through the sight, I clicked the safety off (maybe triggering the flight of these two critters), and I never even got off a shot. Later, an adult doe came around the corn and presented me with a perfect broadside. I had observed it coming through the corn, so I was up and ready. When I took the shot, the doe bucked and dashed off into the woods behind me. Even if I could have taken another shot, I couldnt without pulling out my pulley cocking aid and standing up to do it. I did find a drop of blood, so I headed home. Later, Ellen, along with neighbors Doug and Darien Strasser went back to try to track the deer. We gave up shortly into the woods. The next morning my nephew Chet pointed out my blue luminoc glowing just beyond where I found the drop of blood. Somehow we missed that. He also found some tufts of white hair. He and I and Ellen looked all morning for any other sign and then gave up on what appeared to be a very low hit deer. Preparing for the zombie apocalypse? Theres more than one title in this genre, but the most well-known is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith. Grahame-Smith kept 85 percent of Austens original text while infusing it with the undead. This book was turned into a movie in 2016, which we also carry, if you want to see Lizzy Bennet in action as a warrior zombie-killer. And finally, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the most surprising Pride and Prejudice remix, A Guinea Pig Pride & Prejudice: A Novel in Three Volumes by Alex Goodwin. This title intrigued me so much, I had to hunt it down on the Onalaska shelves and see it for myself. This small book of photographs features you guessed it guinea pigs dressed as the main characters in this rodent-filled retelling. You havent seen anything until youve seen a guinea pig in a top hat and tails as Mr. Darcy. Hospitals are now being required to reveal their master price lists but these data may not be of much help to consumers (see: Hospitals must post prices online, but they may be more confusing than helpful). That's because the price lists displayed recently on the basis of a federal requirement, called chargemasters, are massive compendiums of the prices set by each hospital for every service or drug that a patient might encounter. However, I did find some of the prices published for a set of hospitals in Michigan by diagnosis were interesting in a general way to assess the cost of healthcare (see: Hospital price lists revealed: The cost of care at 9 Michigan medical centers). Below is an excerpt from this latter article: ....[W]hile a new federal mandate that took effect Jan. 1 requires hospitals to reveal their once-secret master price lists of every service or procedure they provide,...[but an expert of the topic] warned that patients should view the prices only as "context-setting" starting points. "The hospital's charges are not very relevant to the patient, because the patient bill can be significantly discounted, either by the health plan, which is what health plans have been doing for 50 years, or even in some situations where patients have to self-pay, they can negotiate by themselves"....Below, you'll find...[examples] of base and average prices for common hospital procedures provided by hospitals all over Michigan....: Normal newborn birth: Metro Health, Grand Rapids: $1,835 McLaren Bay Region, Bay City: $2,849 Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids: $3,339 Spectrum Health Butterworth, Grand Rapids: $4,088.... Concussions: McLaren Bay Region, Bay City: $10,646 Covenant HealthCare, Saginaw: $13,473 McLaren Flint: $15,840 Spectrum Health Butterworth, Grand Rapids: $19,923.... Pneumonia: Spectrum Health Butterworth, Grand Rapids: $10,299 Metro Health, Grand Rapids: $10,411 Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids: $11,780 Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor: $12,796.... Femur fracture: McLaren Bay Region, Bay City: $14,206 Spectrum Health Butterworth, Grand Rapids: $15,545 Metro Health, Grand Rapids: $15,737 Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo: $16,539.... Just a reminder here for the uninsured. Many hospitals like the University of Michigan (Michigan Medicine) have financial assistance programs. Here's a quote from this institution about their program (see: Financial Assistance): A patient may receive 100% of their services free if their income is below 2 times the Federal Poverty Guidelines and meets other financial criteria. - Senator Antonio Trillanes is facing a new case - A local prosecutor filed a case of grave threat against the senator - Trillanes was accused of threatening the life of Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is facing another case yet again. KAMI learned that a local prosecutor filed a complaint against the senator due to grave threat. In a report by GMA News, the senator was accused of threatening to kill Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras. Trillanes arraignment is scheduled on February 15 at the Branch 47 of Pasay Metropolitan Trial Court. Paras alleged that Senator Trillanes told him Yayariin kita, when they saw each other at the Senate last May 2018. Ang lakas ng loob mo. Hindi magtatagal ang amo mo. Matatapos din yan. Yayariin kita. Mercenaryo ka. Yayariin kita, said Trillanes according to Paras. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! Senator Trillanes released a statement regarding the issue. According to him, President Rodrigo Duterte has reversed the justice system in the Philippines. He also accused the President of killing ordinary Filipinos, criticizing COA auditors, and bishops. Trillanes said that he will face the case filed against him and that he will show them that he is not afraid. As previously reported by KAMI, the Makati Regional Trial Court denied the plea of Senator Trillanes with regard to his rebellion case. POPULAR: Read more news about Senator Antonio Trillanes! Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone! Are you ready for the first 2019 edition of Tricky Questions? Let's get it started! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - President Rodrigo Duterte is planning to totally ban the use of firecrackers - He said that he will issue an executive order regarding this - The President shared his side against firecrackers PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed President Rodrigo Duterte shared that he is eyeing to declare total ban of firecrackers in the entire country. KAMI learned that President Duterte is planning to issue an executive order regarding this. "I will issue the executive order this early para warning na doon sa lahat that I am banning firecracker altogether," President Duterte said as reported by GMA News. "I will ban firecrackers. Wala na... Bakit ako papayag na noon 700 dead tapos maski isang bata lang mawalaan ng kamay. As a president, why would I allow it?" he added. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! According to the report of ABS-CBN News, 4, 305 people got burn and eye injuries due to use of firecrackers from December 21 to January 4 as per Department of Health (DOH). President Duterte issued Executive Order No. 28 to limit the use of firecrackers in the country. In a previous report by KAMI, there are firecrackers prohibited in the Philippines according to the Republic Act 7183 or the act to regulate the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. POPULAR: Read more news about President Rodrigo Duterte! Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone! Are you ready for the first 2019 edition of Tricky Questions? Let's get it started! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - Kris Aquino shared new photos on Instagram - The photos show the actress lying on a bed at a hospital abroad - The Queen of All Media seemed to be tired and weary due to all of the medical tests she underwent PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Kris Aquino shared a couple of heartbreaking photos on her social media account. KAMI learned that the photos show Kris lying on a bed at a hospital in Singapore. Based on the pictures, the actress seemed to be tired and weary due to all of the medical tests she has been undergoing. Promised you TRANSPARENCY. Finished blood extraction. Now starting my next texts. Very blessed with caring staff (iba ang Pinoy, thank you to all nurses & medical staff here saying they are praying for me ) and an excellent hospital. Waiting for the drug/medicine challenge. If no updates from me, im okay- only the fatigue. Will tell bimb & @alvingagui to keep you posted. Thank you for your compassion, Kris wrote. survived the 2 tests. will sign off now. very tired. THANK YOU, you really are my strength, she added. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! KAMI reported earlier that the past interview of Kris ex-husband James Yap became viral again amidst her current controversy. Kris Aquino is known as the Queen of All Media due to her success as a movie star, TV actress, talk show host, brand endorser, and social media celebrity. Her son Bimby is her child with ex-husband James Yap. Her older son, Josh, is Kris child with former partner Philip Salvador. POPULAR: Read more news about Kris Aquino! Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone! Are you ready for the first 2019 edition of Tricky Questions? Let's get it started! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph According to the Legislative Council, the Legislatures nonpartisan legal agency, lawmakers have clear authority to hold extraordinary sessions under the Constitution and the schedule they pass at the start of each two-year session, according to a memo by its attorneys released by the office of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. During a Thursday news conference, Vos said he is confident the GOPs lame-duck legislation is constitutional, and said the Assembly, using its new authority under the laws, will likely intervene in the case. While Kaul is responsible for defending the state in the suit, Vos said he doubted Kaul would adequately defend state law. It seems hes more of an activist attorney general than one who is going to protect our interests, Vos said. Erin Grunze, director of the League of Women Voters, said her group is bringing the suit in part because it objects to the secretive process used to consider and pass the laws, which later were signed by then-Gov. Scott Walker. The process of having an extra session that was a few days, but very long hours, doesnt give the public much time to understand whats happening, Grunze said. There should be more careful consideration and public participation than what could be done in that extraordinary session. In all of the Racine Unified schools that benefit from the program, more than 70 percent of students were economically disadvantaged in the 2017-18 school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Of the four schools, Julian Thomas had the highest rate, at 86.8 percent. Comments on a survey about last years fruit and vegetable program emphasized its multifaceted impact, according to a press release from DPI. It is so important for our children to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables because they can be so expensive for families, and this program also helps introduce new and different produce to our children, one commenter said. While it took a bit for students to warm up to new foods like jicama, radishes, and papaya, survey comments indicated that pomegranates and persimmons were popular new tastes, topping the list of favorite foods in many schools. The impact The programs impact stretches further than the classroom, according to DPI, as exposure to the new flavors prompts students to ask parents for these fruits and vegetables at home. Willis analyzed frames from the surveillance video of the incident. Willis observed that with a cooperative subject, police are normally able to successfully handcuff the subject within 10 seconds it took Nabors 28 seconds, which to Willis suggested the juvenile had resisted. He also analyzed frames from when Nabors and Officer James King were escorting the juvenile to the principals office and noted body language and movement that suggested that the juvenile was again resisting and that Nabors was losing control of the subject. Willis also noted that the video, at the point when Nabors punched the juvenile does not directly show the impact due to the angle of the camera from the action. It does show Nabors swing and the juveniles reaction. If this were followed by more strikes Id be very concerned, Willis said. The fact is that it is not followed by more strikes. The fact is that it is followed by a control technique, and the fact is that they are concerned about his health and well-being and ask him if medical assistance is needed. Closing statements Its a case that Schmaling said he and his office often return to. Its a cold case, but it hasnt grown dust because we continue to open it up and we get tips and leads from time to time, Schmaling said. On Oct. 16, 2013, Jane Does body was exhumed from her resting place at Holy Family Cemetery, 6124 Highway 31, Caledonia. The hope was to gain more insight into her identity, utilizing advanced technology. Various tests were conducted on Jane Doe while her body was at the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office, according to the Sheriffs Office. A forensic anthropologist was even called in from Tennessee to perform isotope testing, which measures natural variations in the body. Authorities determined that Jane Doe was between 18 and 25 years old, stood approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed about 120 pounds. They noted that her teeth were in poor condition and her ears were pierced twice, but her identity has remained a mystery. Her body was reinterred on July 21, 2015 the 16th anniversary of the day her body was found. Unfortunately, we are still plugging away at this and I really desperately want to bring closure and put a name to this face and through that, Schmaling said. Legal dilemma The start of the new year brought with it the swearing-in of many elected officeholders. For some elected bodies, that process leads to transition. At the Nebraska Public Service Commission, Commissioner Frank Landis served district 1 with distinction for the past 30 years. He was elected in 1988 and re-elected in 1994, 2000, 2006 and 2012 before choosing not to run again in 2018. He departs public service leaving behind many accomplishments. Commissioner Landis led the effort for the PSC to conduct proceedings applying ex parte to ensure all parties had a level playing field when appearing before the commission. He initiated a hearing officer planning conference to lay out an organized scheduled of proceedings, resulting in greater efficiency for all parties. The natural gas rate-making process was implemented with his participation. Because of his efforts, the Nebraska Universal Service Fund mechanism is nationally recognized, providing improved telecom service to Nebraskans. He recognized changes in technology and consumer demands, helping to transition landline to wireless and grow efforts to meet today's broadband needs. As a commissioner, Landis always asked the question: "How does this benefit the consumer?" With Democrats in charge of the House, Pelosi should stop wasting time and energy on the reality-television president and deal instead with the closest thing we've got to the real thing: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Increasing pressure on Trump to end the government shutdown, which he backed into without a suspicion of a hint of something that resembled a strategy, makes a certain amount of sense. At least it does if your goal is to embarrass and expose the president. But Pelosi surely must recognize that on both the presidential embarrassment and exposure fronts, the returns are diminishing. In any case, identifying McConnell as the real Republican power in the federal government, and treating him accordingly, is the most humiliating thing she can do to Trump. In addition to being satisfying politics, it's highly practical. Trump, as my colleague Timothy O'Brien points out, never mastered far less demanding jobs. He will forever be an agent of chaos, and an enemy of competence. But the House and Senate don't need a president for budget negotiations. They can work out a compromise between them and send it over to Trump, who can lie about what it means and sign it into law. Ann Coulter won't like it. But nobody elected her, and, realistically, that may be the best Trump can do. Despite advance billing that President Trump's border wall speech would break news and contain new information, it was mostly familiar rhetoric: criminals and drugs, rapists and murderers are coming to America and the wall is the only way to stop them. The president named families who have lost loved ones at the hands of undocumented immigrants. A case could be made, though, that American citizens are killing each other at higher rates during an average weekend in Chicago and other big cities than are killed by immigrants. Whose facts to believe? There are plenty on both sides of the argument. Raul Ortiz, the deputy chief of Border Patrol agents, says his agents are arresting up to 641 undocumented immigrants every day. Other sources say arrests and border crossings have substantially declined in recent years. What frustrates average Americans is the flip-flopping by politicians who were for a border wall and holding people who broke our laws accountable before they were against it. Nebraska will issue February Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits early because of the partial federal government shutdown. The U.S Department of Agriculture asked states to provide early issuance of February benefits for those who rely on SNAP for food security. The nearly 74,000 Nebraska households enrolled in SNAP will see their next monthly allocation by Jan. 20. The early benefit disbursement means SNAP recipients whose benefits are up for recertification in January should also act quickly to collect those funds. We need to process January recertification paperwork by Jan. 15, said Matthew Wallen, director of the Division of Children and Family Services, which administers the SNAP program. We are shifting personnel, authorizing overtime and working this Saturday and Sunday to process both recertifications and new applications to make sure recipients get their February benefits. Because of the partial federal government shutdown, the ACCESSNebraska customer service center is also receiving heavy call volume, the department said in a news release. ACCESSNebraska is the system Nebraskans use to apply for and get Medicaid and various public benefits. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 4 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Were going to have to hear from groups in the county," a commissioner said. "If the Lancaster Event Center is a very valuable part of our county, were going to need some people to step up and tell us that." The Lancaster County Assessor has reassessed home values a year early to keep up with the rapidly rising home prices. The preliminary values, which will be used for property tax calculation in 2020, are now on the assessors website and postcards will be mailed this week to 100,000 home and ag land property owners. These are preliminary values, the beginning of the reassessment process, and homeowners can schedule an informal hearing with assessors staff if they think their home value is not accurate or they want more information. This is the value the county assessor believes is close to market value or what you could sell your house for. Its also the value that will affect your local property taxes. An increase in property value doesn't necessarily guarantee higher tax payments in 2020, since government entities like the city, county, school district, natural resources district, etc., establish the tax levies, but some increase is likely. Many Lincoln homeowners will see double-digit increases in their values on the assessors records because of the rapidly rising home prices, said Rob Ogden, Lancaster County assessor. Twenty-year-old Roberto Gonzalez died in a trauma unit at Nebraska Medicine in 2015, shortly after being shot on an Omaha street. Through tears nearly four years later, his mother, Raquel Salinas, described her son at a news conference Friday as a person with a pure soul who was selfless, loving and funny. He had great people in his life but also bad influences, she said, and left home at the age of 17. Salinas was at work that Jan. 22 morning when she heard about a shooting and remembered thinking she hoped the victim would make it. Shortly after that she got a call telling her it was her son who had been shot. She headed to the hospital in a blur. "Once they told me he had passed, it changed my life forever. I have not been the same, nor my family," she said. "It only took one shot to the chest, and that's all that it took." Salinas was sharing her story at a news conference to talk about a bill (LB174) introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz, which would increase state spending on violence and gang activity prevention efforts. When the governor was escorted down the aisle a short time later, he greeted senators with outbursts of his familiar explosive laugh as they exchanged words during handshakes. When Ricketts later left the chamber following his speech, Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue gave him a high-five. Joe Ricketts, the governor's father and the billionaire founder of Ameritrade, stood in the front row watching as the ceremonies began to unfold before greeting his son and sitting down to listen to his brief address. Nebraskans "work hard, work together and roll up our sleeves," the governor said. "And we will continue to grow Nebraska." Afterward, during a brief interview as Joe Ricketts walked down a corridor on his way through the Capitol's Great Hall to the Governor's Office, the governor's father said: "I think it's great. He's done a good job; he works hard and I couldn't be more proud." Asked about his view of President Donald Trump as the president enters the second half of his first term, Joe Ricketts said: "I'm very happy with the president; he is doing things that need to be done. Nebraska senators introduced 138 measures Thursday on the first day of bill and resolution introductions, including tax bills, legalization of medical cannabis, and a bill to require public schools to post "In God We Trust" in prominent locations. Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard proposed a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment (LR3CA) that would provide for a refundable state income tax credit for 35 percent of local property taxes paid. That proposal would appear to result in well over $500 million in annual property tax relief. By comparison, an earlier citizens initiative drive that was subsequently withdrawn proposed a 50 percent credit that would have resulted in an estimated $1 billion of property tax relief. The new proposal would require the votes of at least 30 senators to be submitted to a vote of the people in 2020. Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha proposed income tax reform (LB50) that would adjust some tax brackets while increasing income tax rates for high-income Nebraskans. That, however, doesnt diminish the sometimes difficult to watch tension, not only in the will they survive? thriller aspect of the film but in the relationship between Ben and Holly. Lucas Hedges is superb in what is a cliched role -- junkies are junkies and its difficult to bring anything new or insightful to the portrayal of someone who is controlled by addiction. But his pain and desire to stay straight are palpable, as are his guilt and the responsibility to those he has hurt -- especially his family. Roberts, back in the spotlight with her TV series Homecoming, is as good as she has ever been playing Holly, who, as the backstory is revealed, has struggled for years raising Ben and Ivy, but has maintained the strength and love that she uses to anchor the movie. It is also from Hollys perspective as much as her sons that Ben Is Back illustrates how the opiate crisis has hit the middle class -- be it a confrontation with a physician, hiding all the prescription drugs and valuables while Ben is distracted by his siblings, the disapproving looks from neighbors or the consolation and bonding with the mother of another junkie. Ben Is BacK opened in major markets on Dec. 21, making it one of the most depressing holiday movies ever. But the Christmas connection is just the framing device for this instructive, if harrowing, look at addiction, its impact on a family and, perhaps, the chance of survival. Reach the writer at 402-473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSWolgamott. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Staying in? We've got you covered Get the recommendations on what's streaming now, games you'll love, TV news and more with our weekly Home Entertainment newsletter! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGFIELD Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation that gives the Illinois Department of Corrections authority to sell the closed Hardin County Work Camp to Hardin County for $1. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reports that the move will let officials move forward with plans to reopen the Cave in Rock facility as a multi-county jail. Rauner signed the legislation Thursday. Hardin County Sheriff Jerry Fricker has said the renovated facility would house between 75 and 100 beds and could be a revenue generator for the county. He says the facility could help surrounding counties that don't have their own jails. The camp once held 200 minimum-security prisoners. It was closed in August 2015 for budgetary reasons. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NEOGA -- The Mattoon Area Family YMCA launched an after-school program for students at Neoga Elementary School on Monday. Youth Development Director Kayla Kerner said the Mattoon Y has been expanding its services into Cumberland County in preparation for the upcoming opening of its Neal Center YMCA branch in Toledo. She noted that they started before- and after-school programs at Cumberland Elementary School last September as part of this expansion. Kerner said the programs at the Neoga and Cumberland schools offer science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities, as well as character lessons, homework help, crafts, games, and snacks. She said participating children are able to have fun and get their energy out while also learning. "We try to keep the program structured and introduce them to lessons that they can apply to their education," Kerner said. She added that, "We want to give children a fun, safe place where parents know they are being taken care of and given something productive to do." Neoga Elementary Principal Denise Helmers said she had a great experience working with a YMCA after-school program in the Plano school district, so she was excited when the Mattoon Y offered to start a program in Neoga. She said YMCA staff are well trained, responsible, and genuinely care about children. Helmers said a local church had provided an after-school program in recent years for Neoga Elementary students off campus, but was not able to do this during the 2018-19 school year. She said the YMCA has been able to meet this programming need by working with children at their school. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} "The children can stay right here in a setting they are familiar with," Helmers said. Neoga's after-school program is open until 5:30 p.m. each day. Neoga school district resident Jennifer Finney said the new program is a big help for her and other parents who are still at work when their children get out of school. Finney said she appreciates that the YMCA offers the program at Neoga Elementary and that the staff checks the identification of those picking up the children. Finney said her children, 8-year-old Austin and 6-year-old Avery, love taking part in the after-school program. "They are always wanting to stay longer and play games, and they have been getting their homework done before I pick them up, which is a big plus," Finney said. Cumberland Elementary Principal Daniel Huffman said his school had a need for programming on campus before and after school, so they took the YMCA up on its offer to start providing these services last fall. Cumberland's before-school program opens at 6:30 a.m. and the after-school program ends by 5:30 p.m each day. Huffman said the programs free up parents from having to find babysitters if they need to go to work before the school day starts or stay at work after the school day ends. Enrollments are still being taken for the Cumberland and Neoga programs. Enrollment forms are available at the school offices, the Mattoon YMCA, and https://mattoonymca.org/. Financial assistance is available for families with low incomes. Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Follow him on Twitter: @RobStroud Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Japanese companies invest some 40 billion pounds a year into the UK economy. Nissan, Toyota and Honda together produce about half of Britains 1.7 million cars. London (AsiaNews/Agencies) Concerned about a no-deal Brexit between the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU), Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today met with his British counterpart, Theresa May. For Japan, the main issue of the meeting was the future of billions of dollars in Japanese investments in what has been its "gateway to the Old Continent. On 15 January, the British parliament will vote on the draft agreement reached by the United Kingdom and the European Union. However, the deal has been criticised by Mays allies and might fail to pass. For analysts, no deal would be catastrophic for Japanese companies. Since the days of Margaret Thatcher, Japan has invested heavily in the UK. Japan is the second source of direct foreign (non-EU) investment in the UK. After the European Union, the United States and China, Japan is the largest market for British exports. Japanese companies have been investing more than 40 billion pounds a year into the UK economy. Currently, about a thousand Japanese companies benefit from privileged economic relations with the United Kingdom. They include carmakers Nissan, Toyota and Honda, which together produce about half of the 1.7 million cars manufactured in the UK. Other major Japanese players are tech conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp and fashion brand Uniqlo. World attention is focused on the UKs exit from the EU, Abe told reporters before leaving Tokyo for his visit to the UK and the Netherlands. In Rotterdam, Abe said he and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed during bilateral trade talks that we were both in for the avoidance of no-deal Brexit and confirmed the importance of a smooth process. We want to see the influence of Brexit to the global economy be minimized through ensuring transparency, predictability and legal stability through a transition, Abe added. SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Department of Transportation is warning the public that a major winter storm with the potential for double-digit snowfall totals in the central and southern regions of the state will begin late this afternoon and extend into Saturday, impacting travel heading into the weekend. To prepare for the snowfall, IDOT reported in a press release that its crews have been pretreating roads and bridges susceptible to icing, with plowing operations likely to begin later Friday and continue through the weekend. Before you head out into the storm, please ask yourself if this trip is necessary, said IDOT Deputy Secretary Omer Osman in a press release. We are working hard to keep roads safe, but conditions will be challenging. If you do venture out, be prepared for increased travel times. The National Weather Service is predicting snow to begin falling in the eastern part of the state later today between 4 and 6 p.m. The primary area impacted is from the St. Louis Metro East north to Quincy and east to Effingham. Up to 8 inches of snowfall is expected during the overnight hours, with additional accumulation Saturday of 4-5 inches. Cameron Craig, climatologist with the Eastern Illinois University weather center, reported this morning on his Facebook page that his new analysis of this weekends winter storm is that the low pressure is tracking east with shift northward. He said this is more north than Thursday night's analysis. Therefore, Craig said new snow totals will be 6-8 inches in the Charleston and Mattoon area east to Indianapolis, 5-7 inches in the Champaign and Peoria area, and up to 10 inches in the St. Louis region. He said the heaviest snowfall will be along and south of Interstate 72. Craig said the timing for the snowfall will be 3-6 p.m. in the St Louis region, 6-9 p.m. in Charleston and Mattoon, 9 p.m.-midnight in the Champaign and Peoria area, and early morning hours for Indiana. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The climatologist said the snowfall will last through Saturday late evening for Illinois and early morning Sunday for Indiana. He said the winter storm warning will be in effect at 6 tonight through 6 a.m. Sunday for Illinois. He said the winter storm warning will be in effect midnight tonight through 7 a.m. Sunday for Indiana. "Travel is highly discouraged," Craig said. IDOT has advised motorists to avoid driving during the storm if possible. The heavier the traffic, the more challenging it is for snow plows to clear roads. Drivers who encounter a plow during their travels are asked to slow down, increase their driving distance, and remain patient. Some of IDOT's other tips for those who have to travel include: Take it slow, especially when approaching intersections, ramps, bridges and shady areas. All are prone to black ice, an invisible danger during some winter storms. Make sure your gas tank is full. Keep a cellphone, warm clothes, blankets, food, water, a first-aid kit, washer fluid and an ice scraper in your vehicle. Check the forecast and make sure someone is aware of your travel route and schedule. Carry a cellphone in case of emergency. Reminder: Using handheld phones while driving is illegal in Illinois, unless it is an emergency situation. Always wear a seat belt, whether youre sitting in the front seat or back seat. Its the law. Illinois State Police Director Leo Schmitz said in the press release that if motorists must drive during hazardous winter weather conditions, they should ensure that they practice safe driving habits. In order to prevent accidents from occurring, we want to remind all drivers to allow extra travel time to get to your destination, avoid unnecessary lane changes, reduce your speed, and increase your following distance on snow or ice-covered roadways," Schmitz said. "Also, please remember, if you approach an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their hazard lights activated, please give them distance and move over. For regular updates on statewide road conditions, visit GettingAroundIllinois.com or follow IDOT on Facebook and Twitter. Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Follow him on Twitter: @TheRobStroud Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHARLESTON -- A prosecutor cited a man's lack of criminal record and other factors in agreeing to reduce the methamphetamine charge against him so prison time was no longer required. The agreement was in the case against Lance T. Newcomb, 20, for whom court records list an address of 2507 Prairie Ave. and who was accused of having the drug planning to sell it in March of last year. Newcomb pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver after the amount of the drug listed in the charge was reduced. He was sentenced to two years of probation and no longer faced a required prison sentence of at least six years. Coles County Assistant State's Attorney Joy Wolf, who prosecuted, noted that Newcomb had no earlier criminal convictions. She also said he met all pretrial supervision and treatment requirements as another reason she agreed to reduce the charge. With his sentence, Newcomb will have to continue treatment and will serve six months in jail. He was also ordered to pay about $6,000 in fines and court fees. Circuit Judge James Glenn accepted the plea agreement, which Wolf and defense attorney Lee Waite recommended. Records in the case say police found the methamphetamine in a garage at a Cooks Mills residence and Newcomb admitted it was his and that he'd been selling the drug. Coles County judge denies bond reduction request for fatal DUI suspect CHARLESTON -- A man drank a half-pint of vodka less than two hours before causing an acciden In other cases in court recently, guilty pleas were also entered by: John R. Valle, 42, whose address on record is in Granite City, to a theft charge alleging he stole merchandise from the Mattoon Rural King store on Dec. 12, 2017. The charge was a felony because of a prior retail theft conviction from Madison County and Valle was sentenced to prison for 3 1/2 years. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} His criminal record made him eligible for a prison sentence of more than the usual three-year maximum for the offense. The record included a St. Clair County methamphetamine offense conviction for which he served prison time. A burglary charge that could have brought a three- to seven-year prison term was dismissed. With the agreement, Valle's Coles County sentence will run at the same time as the 3 1/2-year sentence he received in August for another Madison County theft conviction. Valle was also ordered to pay restitution for the stolen merchandise along with about $400 in fines and fees. Circuit Judge Brien O'Brien imposed the sentence by accepting a plea agreement that Assistant State's Attorney Tom Bucher and Assistant Public Defender Stephanie Corum recommended. Theft conviction leads to prison time for Mattoon man CHARLESTON -- A Mattoon man was sentenced to prison when he admitted stealing from a storage Dandre Lampkin, 23, for whom records show addresses in Indiana, to a delivery of cannabis charge accusing him of selling marijuana in Mattoon on Sept. 17, 2017. Lampkin was placed on probation for two years. The sentence was the type of probation known as first offender, which can result in no record of conviction if completed successfully. Terms included a treatment evaluation and about $2,500 in fines and fees. Jail time was stayed, so Lampkin won't have to serve it if he follows his sentence's other requirements. Glenn accepted a plea agreement that Wolf and defense attorney Russell Brown recommended. Charleston woman ordered to pay restitution as part of theft sentence CHARLESTON -- A woman was placed on probation when she admitted stealing from her employer. Bridgette J. Ollis, 31, for whom records list addresses on Reynolds Drive and on Sixth Street in Charleston, to a charge of possession of another's credit card. Ollis admitted using another person's card on Oct. 5, 2017, and was sentenced to two years of probation. Terms included $400 in restitution, about $400 in fines and fees, and stayed jail time. Glenn accepted a plea agreement that Bucher and Public Defender Anthony Ortega recommended. Contact Dave Fopay at (217) 238-6858. Follow him on Twitter: @FopayDave Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WINDSOR -- Over 50 Veterans, family and community members gathered at the cemetery along Illinois Route 32 on Dec. 16 to lay wreaths on the graves of Veterans as part of the Wreaths Across America campaign. According to a press release, this was the first year for such a program in the community, and was a result of cooperation with American Legion member Joe Hampton, wife Anne, and his daughter, Heather, a 4-H leader in the Nokomis area who had this as a community service project for her 4-H club. When the truck driver arrived at their stop near Nokomis, he had around 200 extra wreaths on the truck with no place to deliver them to. So, Heather asked her dad and the Legion, along with her nieces and nephews 4-H club, to help bring this program to them. Enter the Windsor community. Legion members discussed this opportunity to participate in Wreaths Across America and then quickly put a plan into action. Using social media and making phone calls to the local 4-H club and FFA chapter, the American Legion and Auxiliary members recruited over 50 volunteers in less than 24 hours. While there were not enough wreaths for all the veterans headstones this year, the group didnt want to miss out on participating in this program. This is something wed like to do next year, and have already had some donations for next years supply of wreaths, said Legion member David Smith. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. The mission of Wreaths Across America is to remember fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve, and teach children the value of freedom. Each veteran is honored, a wreath is laid on their headstone, and a memorial is read aloud by a volunteer. The whole process of laying the wreaths and the individual ceremonies at each headstone took about an hour, thanks in part to all the volunteers that showed up and the beautiful weather. After the group of volunteers posed for a photo in front of the Windsor Veterans Memorial, a quick word of thanks was expressed by David Smith and by Missy Hampton. They thanked all the school age kids and their families for coming, the community members, and Legion and Auxiliary members for all their support. Without all of you, we wouldnt have got this all done, said Hampton. And a special thanks to Heather (Knoodle Hampton) for letting our group learn about this project, added Anne Hampton. As the volunteers were walking to their cars, a bald eagle was spotted flying over the cemetery. It flew from the row of trees just north of the cemetery, across the middle of the cemetery, then went high into the sky just past the high school (due north of the cemetery). Several school age members from the Windsor FAR 4-H club were present to see, along with their families, and the squeals of joy were contagious! That is the perfect way to conclude this wreath ceremony to honor our fallen Veterans. What an amazing sight! commented 4-H parents. To make a donation toward next years Wreaths Across America, make checks payable to American Legion Post 725 with the notation Wreaths Across America. Donations can be mailed to 600 St. Highway 32, Windsor, IL 61957. For more information contact www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Now, he said, the US has learned from [its] mistakes, especially the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement that the US withdrew from last May, and confronted the ugly reality of radical Islamism. This, he advised, is a new beginning. Of course, Iran was quick to mock Pompeos speech, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeting that US interference causes chaos, repression and resentment. However, this comment could more readily apply to Iranian interference in the Middle East, which has caused several wars and emboldened terrorist groups. Iran Regimes malign behaviour Also, during his speech at the American University, Pompeo thanked US allies in the Middle East for their effort to constrain the malign activity of the Iranian Regime. However, Pompeo wanted to stress that Trumps decision to withdraw troops from Syria was not a change in mission, but rather a push for US partners in the region to do more to confront radical Islamism. This speech was welcomed by United Arab Emirates minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, among others, as an important message for stability in the region that highlighted the importance of alliances and support of friends. Earlier on Thursday, following a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Pompeo said: We discussed the need to counter the greatest threat of all in the Middle East, the Iranian regime and its campaigns of terrorism and destruction. There, Pompeo vowed, that the US would use diplomacy and work with our partners to expel every last Iranian boot from Syria in order to bring peace and stability to the long-suffering Syrian people. On an unannounced visit to Irbil, Iraq, on Wednesday, Pompeo said: The fight to counter Iran is real and important. Pompeo is on a week-long trip to the Middle East, where he is urging governments there to put pressure on Iran to change it destabilising behaviour, as well as end its support for rebels in Yemen, anti-Israel groups and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. We were timid about asserting ourselves when the times and our partners demanded it, Pompeo said of US policy under the Obama administration, before insisting that the US has reasserted its traditional role as a force for good in this region over the past two years. During that time, the White House has imposed a number of new sanctions on the Islamic Republic, as well as reinstalling those that were suspended under the nuclear deal. The accompanying war of words between the US and Iran has repeatedly underscored the Trump administrations movement in the direction of maximum pressure aimed at halting the Iranian regimes malign activities outside its borders. In Thursdays speech, Pompeo assured Irans regional adversaries, The nations of the Middle East will never enjoy security, achieve economic stability, or advance the dreams of its peoples if Irans revolutionary regime persists on its current course. Yet many critics of the Iranian regime have raised questions about how the US will help to alter that course if it follows through on the presidents declared intention to withdraw all US forces from Syria. That countrys dictator, Bashar al-Assad is deeply indebted to Iran for defending him against rebels in an eight-year civil war, and numerous reports indicate that Iran-backed militant proxies are continuing to proliferate throughout Syria even as the war winds down. Earlier this week, Irans Defense Minister Amir Hatami publicly endorsed this situation, declaring that Iran will maintain its presence in Syria until the Assad regime achieves final victory over all rebel groups. By that time, Iran may have established multiple permanent bases in the devastated country. Indeed, it is already reputed to be working on one, with plans in place for others. And Iran may be emboldened in these plans by the forthcoming American withdrawal, particularly in the wake of President Trump saying, when asked about Irans potential ascendance following the withdrawal, they can do what they want. Hatamis pubic assurances about a steadfast Iranian presence in Syria is only part of a much broader pattern of militarist rhetoric emanating from the Islamic Republic. Other defense officials and high-ranking members of the paramilitary Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have boasted in recent weeks about supposed advancements in military technology used by the navy and the aerospace wing of the IRGC. After asserting that a domestically-produced Iranian destroyer was equipped with stealth technology, the Iranians suggested that it might be dispatched to the Atlantic Ocean as a sort of challenge to the presence of an American aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. Such plans had already been teased in December, when Mohammad Ali Jafari, the head of the IRGC, delivered a speech explicitly promoting the idea of a more outwardly-directed, offensive foreign policy. This rhetoric has also been taken up by supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, who delivered a speech of his own on Wednesday in which he dismissed the economic pressure tactics of the Trump White House and looked forward to the defeat of the worlds only true superpower. The Americans happily say that these sanctions are unprecedented in history. Yes, theyre unprecedented. And the defeat that the Americans will face will be unprecedented, said Ali Khamenei, according to Newsweek. Notably, however, Khameneis speech acknowledged that the sanctions would create problems for the Iranian regime, even in absence of a clear US military presence in the surrounding area. Other Iranian officials continue to maintain that the sanctions will not influence the regimes decision-making or reduce its military buildup. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, for instance, was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying that Iran will not negotiate with the US over ballistic missile development, but will continue to both design and manufacture increasingly advanced aerial weapons. Tehrans defiance on this issue was helpful to the Trump administration in explaining its withdrawal from the nuclear deal. Although ballistic missiles are not covered by the agreement itself, the United Nations Security Council resolution that put the agreement into place also called upon the Islamic Republic to avoid work on weapons that are capable of carrying a nuclear payload. Yet, not only has Iran continued that work; it has also responded to relevant sanctions threats by warning that it might also walk away from the nuclear deal. This warning was reiterated by Zarif on Wednesday, as he rejected the threat of greater political and economic consequences from the US. Then, on Thursday, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh repeated the regimes talking points about the illegality of US sanctions, adding that Tehran will not comply with them. Delivering his comments as part of a joint conference with his Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad, Zanganeh may have been implying that the defiance of sanctions would be made possible by support from allies and partners in the region and throughout the world. But while the Iraqi government has indeed trended closer to Tehran in recent months, the European Union has grown more skeptical about its relationship with the Iranians, thereby casting doubt on the prospect for a special purpose vehicle to facilitate transactions banned by the US Treasury. The latest evidence of a European trend in the direction of American maximum pressure strategies came in the form of sanctions on the directorate for internal security in the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, as well as two individuals affiliated with the Ministry. The Washington Post explained that the imposition of these sanctions coincided with the publication of a letter by the Dutch government explaining part of the rationale behind it and underlining the Iranian regimes culpability for four specific incidences since 2015 of assassinations, attempted assassinations, and bomb plots on European soil. On Wednesday, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi issued a statement consisting of a vague promise to adopt the necessary measures in response to the EU sanctions and to do so within the framework of reciprocation. Naturally, this cuts against Tehrans apparent confidence that it will be able to retain support from other members of the international community in the face of rising levels of pressure from the US. And if the EU does exert further pressure on the Iranian regime in the days to come, it may provide support for Pompeos argument about US leadership and constraining Iranian expansionism even in the wake of a withdrawal of American troops. Maryam Rajavi applauded the brave retirees and farmers for their strength in protesting against the mullahs, despite severe threats from the so-called security forces and a violent crackdown that the Regime launched on protesters over the past 12 months. The retirees in Tehran gathered in front of the Regimes Parliament and began to chant slogans like we will not rest until we get our rights, worker, teacher, student, unity, unity, and we are all together. While retirees in Mashhad also gathered to demand their rights. Maryam Rajavi said that the repressive forces of the Regime are trying in vain to stop these protests by bringing in increased security forces, imposing restrictions on peaceful protest, and arresting protesters, but the protesters must persist. In Isfahan, thousands of farmer gathered at Khaju Bridge and the Zayandehrood dry riverbed to protest the erasure of their water rights, demand that water flow to Zayandehrood be reopened, and expose the deceptive and unfulfilled promises of the Iranian Regime. They chanted slogans like [The] farmer dies, he does not accept humiliation, Victory comes from the God, death to this deceiving government is a deceitful person, Even if we die, we will get our water right, Zayandehrood water is our inalienable right, and Liar Rouhani, where is our Zayandehrood. The Regime tried to prevent the protest, fearful of the legitimate anger of the protesters, so they mobilised their security forces, including plain clothes agents, as well as armoured vehicles and water cannons to the site of the protest. The Regime even reportedly slowed the internet speeds to stop the farmers from communicating with each other, and seized phones and radios from protesters. Maryam Rajavi said that when the protester marched down towards the 33Pol Bridge, they were met with the Regimes security forces. The repressive agents tried to arrest the farmers by shooting in the air, becoming violent and even arresting a number of the protesters, but they resisted. Maryam Rajavi said: Plainclothes criminals and state security forces attacked protesters, a large number of whom were elderly farmers. The protesters actually managed to prevent the advance of the security forces by sitting down the street, stop the Regime agents from addressing the crowd, and shouted rapscallion, rapscallion at the agents. In her statement, Maryam Rajavi called on the Iranian people, specifically women and the youth, to support the protests and demonstrations. Maryam Rajavi said that the Iranian people must take part in this uprising to bring about the downfall of the mullahs, all the quicker. The three previously imprisoned US citizens are the Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi, his elderly father Baquer Namazi, and Princeton University graduate student Xiyue Wang. All three are currently serving 10-year sentences on unsubstantiated and apparently unfounded charges of espionage. Wangs arrest was motivated by his efforts to access public library documents as part of his research, yet these documents related to a period of Iranian history that ended decades before the establishment of the Islamic Republic. It remains to be seen whether White will face similar treatment or similar sentencing, but his fellow prisoners cases are fairly typical of the cases involving other Western nationals who have been detained for extended periods of time in Iran, then released as part of a prisoner swaps. One of these former detainees, the Iranian-American journalist Jason Rezaian, returned to the headlines this week when it was revealed that he would be testifying in US federal court as part of a case he had filed against the Islamic Republic soon after his return to the US in January 2016. That release coincided with the implementation of the seven-party Iran nuclear agreement, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as well as the partial repayment of an outstanding American debt to Iran, plus the release of seven Iranians and the abandonment of legal cases against 14 others who had been charged with violating US sanctions. But as detailed by Rezaians testimony, his release was preceded by 544 days of captivity, including 49 consecutive days of isolation in an eight foot by four foot cell, which he left only for interrogation, roughly once per day. The Washington Post published an article on Monday describing aspects of the testimony provided by Rezaian, who had been the Posts own Iran correspondent and now writes for its Global Opinion section. The report notes that Rezaian is requesting 44 million dollars in compensatory damages for the psychological and physical torture he experienced during his period of detention, plus one billion dollars in punitive damages as a means of encouraging Iranian authorities to reconsider their cost-benefit analysis with regard to the taking of Western hostages. US courts have already imposed 46 billion dollars in penalties on the Islamic Republic since 1996, relying on exemptions to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act which allow victims of terrorism, hostage-taking, and torture to file suit against governments that, like Iran, are designated by the US State Department as terror sponsors. Collecting this money has been comparatively difficult, but another ruling against Iran may serve an arguably important symbolic role even if the money cannot immediately be collected. Furthermore, this symbolism may be perceived as having even more value in the wake of the revelation of Whites arrest. In addition to the four US citizens and Nizar Zakka, a US permanent resident, that are now known to be held in Iranian prisons, another such citizen, former FBI agent Robert Levinson has been missing since 2007, when he disappeared from Irans Kish Island while working a case as a private investigator. Levinsons family continues to maintain that he is alive and that the Iranian regime knows his whereabouts. If this is true, it would make Levinson the longest-held hostage in American history. But prospects for recovering Levinson alive are made dimmer by his advanced age and the notoriously harsh conditions of the Iranian criminal justice system. On Thursday, CBS News described some such conditions in order to highlight the hardships that Michael White has likely faced during his more than six months of secretive detention. The outlets reporting drew upon testimony from Ivar Farhadi, a former Iranian political prisoner who claims to have met White in prison, as well as from CBS reporter Roxana Saberi, who was held falsely accused of espionage and detained in Iran for 100 days in 2009, at the time of the Green Movement uprising. There is a pattern, Saberi said of her knowledge of politically motivated arrests in the Islamic Republic. Typically, youre first put in solitary confinement where youre cut off from the outside world. You dont get any phone calls. You dont have access to an attorney You also undergo intense interrogations. Farhadi could not definitively state whether White was being tortured during the time they were fellow inmates, since their interactions were monitored and discussion of such sensitive topics would have prompted extrajudicial punishment or the filing of new national security charges. But Farhadi was able to confirm that White was suffering psychologically and that he was being housed alongside violent offenders, in defiance of Iranian laws calling for the separation of inmates based on the category and seriousness of their crime. The intermingling of political prisoners and dangerous criminals is a common pressure tactic in Iranian prisons, as is physical abuse, poor sanitation, and the withholding of medical treatment. According to another CBS News report, this latter tactic may present a particularly serious risk to White, as he had recovered from cancer shortly before his trip to Iran. The lack of medical care is a topic of protest for many detainees, but prison authorities often respond with further crackdowns. It was recently announced that the renowned human rights lawyer Narges Mohammadi and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, another imprisoned dual national, would be jointly undertaking a three-day hunger strike because of their concerns over deteriorating and untreated health conditions as they serve sentences on false national security charges. Like White, Zaghari-Ratcliffe is also contending with the danger of cancer, having found lumps in her breast sometime last year. She is also reported to be suffering from an unspecified neurological condition, with symptoms including loss of equilibrium and severe numbness in her extremities. But in spite of all this, officials not only continue to deny the prison doctors requests for her transfer to hospital, but are also punishing her for speaking out. It was previously reported that Zaghari-Ratcliffes telephone calls with her husband in the United Kingdom were cancelled immediately after announcement of the forthcoming hunger strike. And on Thursday, Agence France Presse reported that Iranian state media had aired footage of her April 2016 arrest as part of a multi-part propaganda series aimed at convincing citizens that there is a crisis of interference in domestic affairs by enemies of the Islamic Republic. The program did not, however, present any new information to support the claim that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was part of an infiltration network working toward the soft overthrow of the theocratic regime. Her arrest appears to have been motivated by her identity as a dual national and her employment history, which includes a period spent working for the charitable arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Standing alongside the acknowledgement of Whites arrest, the new propaganda broadcasts regarding Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other dual nationals are easy to regard as evidence that the problem of Irans crackdown on such individuals is only getting worse. Soon after taking office in 2017, US President Donald Trump promised to prioritize the release of those who remained hostages in the Islamic Republic. But the families of those hostages have been variously critical of the White Houses action, or arguable lack thereof, over the past two years. The surprise revelation of Whites ongoing detention may only serve to amplify these criticism, in light of the fact that the State Department failed to inform the prisoners family of his situation until three weeks before the report emerged. All four accused, including Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, were convicted in the journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati murder case by a special CBI court in Panchkula on Friday, 11 January. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on 17 January. Chhatrapati was shot at in October 2002 after his newspaper, Poora Sach, published an anonymous letter that narrated how women were being sexually exploited by Gurmeet Ram Rahim at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa. The journalist later succumbed to injuries, following which a case was registered in 2003. The CBI took over the case in 2006. Earlier, elaborate security arrangements were made in Haryana, especially in Panchkula, Sirsa (headquarter of Dera) and Rohtak districts, with several companies of the state armed police, anti-riot police and commando force being deployed to deal with any law and order situation. Security has been enhanced in Haryana, said Haryana ADGP (Law and Order) Muhammad Akil. On 8 January, the special CBI court in Panchkula had accepted the state's plea and allowed the presence of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh through video conferencing for an 11 January hearing on the murder of Chhatrapati. He has been named as the main conspirator in the case which dates back to 2002. Around 2,000 security personnel were deployed in Bathinda range, police officials told PTI adding that security was tightened by Punjab police in Ferozepur range as well. Ten companies of Punjab police have been deployed in Ferozepur range, said Punjab IG MS Chhina. Violence Erupted in Haryana in 2017 After Ram Rahims Conviction Violence had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana in August 2017 following the conviction of Dera sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, leaving over 40 persons dead and scores of people injured. The 51-year-old sect head is currently serving a 20-year prison term in Rohtaks Sunaria jail for raping two of his women followers. In Punjab, where there are sizeable numbers of Dera followers, elaborate security arrangements have been made in Bathinda and Ferozepur ranges. Story continues "We have made elaborate security arrangements in Bathinda range." - MF Farooqui, Punjab Inspector General (Bathinda Range) Around 2,000 security personnel have been deployed in Bathinda range, Farooqui further told PTI. In the Ferozepur range as well, security was tightened by Punjab police, police said. According to police officials, sensitive areas like Faridkot, Moga, Baghapurana, Jaitu and Kotkapura were under close watch. Ten companies of Punjab police have been deployed in Ferozepur range, said Punjab IG MS Chhina. (With inputs from PTI and News18.) . Read more on India by The Quint.RSS & BJPs Nehru-Netaji Cosplay: Irony Dies a Thousand DeathsFormer Banker, Politician, Author: Who Was Meera Sanyal? . Read more on India by The Quint. Days after JD (S) Supremo HD Deve Gowda demanded 12 seats for his party in the upcoming general elections, the Congress is planning to push for larger share. According to sources, the Congress party intends to press for 22 out of the 28 seats in Karnataka, as part of the coalition seat sharing. While admitting that seat negotiations will be hard fought, Congress leaders insist that JD(S)s demand of sharing seats on a 2:1 ratio is unacceptable. Congress leaders added that despite JD(S)s wish to contest from all seats in their stronghold of Old Mysuru Region, the Congress will not give up any seats already held by the party. Too busy to read? Listen to the story instead. Even though some leaders in Congress want 24 seats out of the 28, citing the fact that JD(S) managed victory in only 2-3 seats in the past elections, others believe such a proposal would strain the coalition equations. Vote Share is Congress Merit In the first week of January, Deve Gowda had demanded that the 2:1 system should be followed in seat sharing. "After the formation of the coalition government, this formula was adopted in allocating portfolios, (heads of) boards and corporations. Naturally, the same formula will apply to Lok Sabha seats," Deve Gowda had said. However, the Congress cites the partys performance in the past elections as the reason why they should be contesting more seats. In the 2014 elections, the BJP had won 17 out of the 28 seats in Karnataka, while Congress and JD(S) managed 9 and 2 seats each. But if you look at the vote share, Congress had 40.8 percent vote share, compared to BJPs 43 percent. Compared to 2009, in 2014, we had increased our vote share by 3 percent, pointed out a Congress leader. According to the Congress, given the recent victories in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and their vote share, they should get more seats in the upcoming elections. JD(S) Wants At Least 10 Seats CM HD Kumaraswamy (right) with his father HD Deve Gowda. In the recently held JD(S) legislative meeting, Deve Gowda said he was flexible on the demand for 12 seats. It is true I have asked for 12 seats, but Im also flexible. We are bound by the one-third formula. I have asked Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka KC Venugopal what they can give, Deve Gowda had said. Story continues He also added that his party has increased their presence in Vijayapura, Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Chickballapur, Tumakuru, Mandya, Hassan, Mysuru, and Kolar. According to sources, although Gowda said he was flexible, during the meeting it was decided that the party will not agree to anything less than 10 seats. Following the meeting, Gowda has been given charge of negotiating with the Congress. Old Mysuru Region in Demand According to party insiders, the JD(S) wants to contest from Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kolar, Chikkballapur, Bengaluru North, Chitradurga, Shivamogga, Raichur, Vijayapura, and Bidar. Seven of these seats come under the Old Mysuru Region, four are in North Karnataka and one falls under coastal Karnataka. However, three of these seats in the Old Mysuru region Tumakuru, Kolar, Chikkballapur are held by the Congress. The Congress leaders say they will not give up the seats. . Read more on India by The Quint.RSS & BJPs Nehru-Netaji Cosplay: Irony Dies a Thousand DeathsIs the Claim That India Took No World Bank Loans in 2015-18 True? . Read more on India by The Quint. DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran called on France to avoid repeating "irresponsible and incorrect" claims about Tehran's ballistic missile work, Iranian state TV reported. France earlier on Friday called on Iran to immediately stop all activities linked to ballistic missiles that could carry nuclear weapons, after Tehran said it could put two satellites into orbit in the coming weeks. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by TV: "Iran's home-grown defensive missile programme is the Iranian nation's natural right." (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by John Stonestreet) The Kennebunk-based New England Radio Discussion Society facilitated a talk between Sea Road School students and an International Space Station in January. South Portland Sentry Construction has started on the state-funded school, which is expected to be completed in 2023. The following week can turn out to be eventful for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as the selection panel is set to meet on 24 January to decide on the new CBI director. The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 16 January, agreed to hear a plea against M Nageshwar Raos appointment as the interim CBI director. The plea, which also sought transparency in the process of appointment, will be heard next week. The development comes two days after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, the only dissenter in the High-Powered Committee that ousted former CBI Director Alok Verma, wrote to the prime minister asking to release the findings of the CVC, Justice AK Patnaiks report and the minutes of the 10 January meeting of the committee. PM Modi-led Selection Committee will meet on 24 January to appoint the new CBI director Kharge wrote to the PM asking for the CVC report and the High-Powered Committee meeting minutes to be made public Alok Verma was removed as CBI director by the PM Modi-led Committee by 2:1 majority. The committee also included Justice AK Sikri and Mallikarjun Kharge CBI vs CBI: SC Verdict on 8 January The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce verdict on CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's plea against the Centre's decision to divest him of his powers and sending him on leave on Tuesday, 8 January. The Centre had taken a decision against Verma and CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana after their feud had become public as they had made allegations of corruption against each other. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had on 6 December reserved its judgment after hearing arguments on behalf of Verma, the Centre, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and others. The court had also heard the plea moved by NGO Common Cause which had sought a court-monitored SIT probe into the allegations of corruption against various CBI officials, including Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Graphic Novel: Explaining the Drama at the Comic Bureau of India Story continues Indias premier investigating agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, is buzzing with all the wrong news lately. CBI Director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana are warring, the government is allegedly taking sides, third party interventions are suspected, and the Opposition is lapping up this ill-timed controversy. Honestly, its all very confusing. Heres an explainer, from a parallel universe, about different people. Any resemblance to any person or organisation is definitely a co-incidence. CBI Infighting: Asthana, Verma, Qureshi Here Are the Key Players From Rakesh Asthana to Alok Verma to Satish Babu Sana to Moin Qureshi Here is a closer look at the key players in the CBI vs CBI controversy CBI vs CBI: Govts Credibility and State of Institutions at Stake The recent furore within the CBI has brought the country to a very critical juncture where we are staring at a question on the functioning of legal bodies and institutions in our country. The second biggest challenge is whether that political capital accumulated enormously within the current governments reach will get demonetised. Judgment To Be Delivered in the Absence of CJI A court order stated that the judgment in CBI Director Alok Vermas case will be delived by Justice Sanjay Kaul due to the unavailability of CJI Gogoi. Pronouncement of Judgment in Alok Vermas Case Commences Pronouncement of judgment in Alok Vermas case commences in Supreme Court, according to Bar&Bench. "Statute Would Have Spelt it Out if Interim Measures Were Permisible": Court The court cannot be oblivious to the directions contained in Vineet Narain judgment, said the court according to Bar&Bench. The court also said that the word "transfer" cannot be given its normal meaning and it has to be understood as encompassing acts affecting the functioning of the CBI Director. The court further said that the statute would have spelt it out if interim measures against CBI Director were permissible, Live Law reported. SC Reinstates Alok Verma as CBI Director The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 8 January reinstated Alok verma as the CBI director, setting aside order passed by government divesting Verma of his powers. According to LiveLaw, the High Power Committee under DSPE Act is ordered to act within a week to consider his case. However, till final decision of statutory committee, he cannot take major policy decision. SC Sets Aside Nageshwar Rao's Appointment as Interim Chief According to PTI, the court also set aside appointment of M Nageswara Rao as interim chief of CBI. Centre Should Have Consulted Selection Committee Before Verma's Removal: SC Supreme Court, while pronouncing the verdict in Alok Vermas case, said that the government should have referred to the Select Committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition to initiate Alok Vermas removal. The apex court also said that any further decision against Verma would be taken by the high-powered committee which selects and appoints CBI Director. Welcome SC Verdict on Alok Verma: Congress The Congress on Tuesday took to Twitter to welcome the Supreme Court verdict reinstating Alok Verma as the CBI director. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. CBI vs CBI: SC Order Direct Indictment of the PM, Says Arvind Kejriwal AAP leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to welcome the verdict and called it a direct indictment of the PM. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Modi First PM to Have 'Illegal Order' Set Aside by SC: Surjewala Congress leader Randeep Surjewala took to Twitter to say this is the first time the Supreme Court has set aside an illegal order by a prime minister. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. CBI vs CBI: It's a Lesson For the Government, Says Mallikarjun Kharge Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the verdict in Alok Vermas case is a lesson for the government. We're not against one individual. We welcome SC's judgement. It's a lesson for the government. Today you'll use these agencies to pressurise people, tomorrow somebody else will, what will happen to democracy then? he said. 'Time for Govt to Stop Misusing Powers': Mehbooba Mufti Welcomes SC Verdict PDP leader and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the SC verdict on Alok Verma and said that the Centre needs to stop misusing its influence. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. SC Order Won't Stop Verma From Registering FIRs: Prashant Bhushan Hinting at the alleged Rafale deal scam, senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan took to Twitter to say that although the SC order stops Alok Verma from taking any major policy decisions, it will not stop him from registering FIRs and dealing with investigations. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Govt Had Taken Action After Recommendations By CVC: Jaitley After the SC set aside governments decision of divesting CBI director Alok Verma of his powers, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said that the decision was taken after recommendations by the CVC. The government had taken this action of sending two senior officers of the CBI on leave on the recommendation of the CVC, he said. Took Decision Recommended By CVC, Says Jaitley After the Supreme Court on Tuesday, 8 January set aside governments decision of divesting Alok Verma of his powers and reinstated him as the CBI director, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said that the decision was taken after recommendations by the CVC. Supreme Court apparently has strengthened the immunity given to CBI director in larger interest of fair and impartial investigation. Therefore in accordance with direction of SC, orders will be complied with and the government will act in the same manner, he said. He also said that the government has no stand on the courts order of not allowing Verma to take any policy decisions till a decision by the statutory committee. SC Reinstates Alok Verma: FM Arun Jaitley Addresses Media Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses media on Alok Verma reinstated as CBI director Posted by The Quint on Monday, January 7, 2019 'Court Stood up for Independence of Institutions': Senior Lawyer Sanjay Hegde Senior lawyer Sanjay Hegde hailed the SC verdict on Alok Verma, and said that the court stood up for the integrity and the independence of institutions in the country. Arun Jaitley Twisting Words After CBI Verdict Setback: Kapil Sibal Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal trained guns at Union Minister Arun Jaitley, saying that the Finance Ministry was twisting words after the Alok Verma verdict. Midnight operation to remove CBI Director had an objective, it was to not let Alok Verma function. The operation failed, the decision of both Centre and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was held unconstitutional by SC, he said. Kapil Sibal Addresses Media on Alok Verma Being Reinstated as CBI Director Posted by The Quint on Monday, January 7, 2019 CBI Chief Was Removed Because He Was Probing Rafale: Rahul Gandhi Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that CBI Director Alok Verma was divested of his powers as he was probing the Rafale deal. CBI chief was removed at 1 am in the night because he was about to begin an investigation in the Rafale scam. Now that he has been reinstated, some justice has been done. Now let's see what happens, he said. Alok Verma on Way to CBI Headquarters CBI chief Alok Verma is on his way to the CBI headquarters in New Delhi, reported ANI. Alok Verma Resumes Charge A day after the Supreme Court reinstated Alok Verma as the CBI director, he resumed charge of the investigating agency on Wednesday, 9 January. Verma was out of office for 77 days following the Centres order divesting him of powers. High-Powered Selection Panel Meet on Alok Verma Ends Inconclusively The High Powered Committee meet comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Justice AK Sikri and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has ended inconclusively, according to CNN-News18. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had recused himself from the committee, and instead nominated Justice AK Sikri. CBI Director Alok Verma Revokes Most Transfer Orders Issued by Interim Chief CBI Director Alok Verma has revoked most of the transfer orders issued by the then director in-charge M Nageshwar Rao, officials said, reported PTI. Section 4 & 5 of Transfer Order Not Withdrawn The official statement from CBI director Alok Verma, who on Wednesday, 9 January, revoked transfer orders made by M Nageswara Rao who was appointed as interim CBI Director said that Section 4 and 5 of transfer orders not withdrawn. (Source: ANI) Officer, Who Probed Asthana, Offers to Recuse Himself CBI DIG MK Sinha, who was supervising a probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, has recused himself from taking charge of the investigation, officials said Thursday. In a fresh reshuffle ordered by CBI Director Alok Verma who resumed duty Wednesday after 77 days-long forced leave, Sinha was given charge of banking, securities and frauds cell, and AC-III unit, which is probing a corruption case against Asthana, the officials in the know told PTI, requesting anonymity. Suspended DSP Devendra Kumar Moves Delhi HC Suspended DSP Devender Kumar has approached the Delhi High Court against Verma's decision to reverse transfer of officers. Meeting of PM Modi-Led Panel on Alok Verma Begins The PM Modi-led High Powered Committee meeting, which will decide the fate of Alok Verma is underway. Alok Verma Orders Transfer of Five More CBI Officers A day after resuming office, CBI Director Alok Verma ordered the transfer of five more CBI officers on Thursday, 10 January. While ANI reported that JD Ajay Bhatnagar, DIG MK Sinha, DIG Tarun Gauba, JD Murugesan & AD AK Sharma are the five officers who were transferred, TOI reported that the supervisory officers in Rakesh Asthana probe, Tarun Gauba and Murugesan have been retained. Delhi HC to Pronounce Verdict On Bribery FIR Against Asthana On Friday The Delhi High Court will pronounce the verdict on pleas of CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana and others seeking to quash bribery FIR against them on Friday, 11 January. CBI SP Mohit Gupta To Probe Corruption Case on Rakesh Asthana CBI Chief Alok Verma appoints 2006 batch IPS officer Mohit Gupta as the probe officer in Rakesh Asthana's corruption case Alok Verma Ousted As the CBI Director by PM Modi-led Panel Alok Verma removed as the CBI director by the PM Modi-led High Powered Committee. This Is a Conspiracy Against Alok Verma: Abhishek Singhvi Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that the move to remove Alok Verma as CBI Director is a conspiracy by the Prime Ministers Office. Desperate Act to Prevent Rafale Investigation: Prashant Bhushan Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan slammed the PM Modi-led Panels decision to remove Alok Verma as CBI Director. He claimed that this is a desperate act to hamper the investigation in the Rafale scam. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Outcome of Meeting Pre-Decided: Kharge Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge who was also part of the PM Modi-led Selection Committee, said that the outcome was pre-decided, to India Todays Rajdeep Sardesai. Modi and Sikri were hell bent to go by the CVC's version. There was no fresh material presented at the meeting, as it went only by the CVC report, he added, referring to Justice AK Sikri, the Supreme Court judge representing Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. PM Modi Afraid of Rafale Investigation: Congress The Congress slammed Prime Minister Modi and said that he is afraid of an investigation into the Rafale scam. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. We Have to Respect the Decision of the Committee: Gaurav Bhatia BJP Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said that we have to respect the decision of the Selection Committee, speaking with India Today. Elementary to Give a Chance to Defend Oneself: Subramanian Swamy BJP MP Subramanian Swamy backed the ousted CBI Director Alok Verma and questioned the difficulty in asking Alok Verma to defend himself, speaking with Times Now. Its elementary that whenever a charge is made against somebody, he should be given a chance to defend himself, he said, defending Alok Verma. No Sufficient Material to Probe Allegations: Kharge CVC did not sufficient material to probe the allegations, Kharge said, according to reports. According to Kharge's dissent note, out of ten allegations against Verma, six were found to be unsubstantiated or false by the CVC. Four allegations were found to be in need of further investigation, as an inconclusive finding was arrived at. CBI Additional Director M Nageshwar Rao Appointed Interim CBI Director CBI Additional Director M Nageshwar Rao will look after the duties of the CBI director till a new director is appointed, or until further orders, reported ANI Alok Verma Appointed DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard After his removal as CBI Director, Alok Verma has been appointed as DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard. Verma Did Not Function With Integrity in Various Instances: Panel The panel took into account the extremely serious nature of observations made by the CVC against Alok Verma, ANI reported quoting sources. The panel was reportedly of the view that being the head of a very sensitive organisation, Verma was not functioning with the integrity expected of him. ANI also reported that the CVC found evidence that Verma influenced the investigation in the Moin Qureshi case taking Rs 2 crore bribe. According to the news agency's sources, Alok Verma's conduct in the case has been found suspicious by the CVC and it felt there is a prima facie case against him. According to sources quoted by ANI, in the IRCTC case, CVC felt it can be reasonably concluded that Alok Verma deliberately excluded a name from the FIR, for reasons best known to him. The CVC also reportedly found evidence against him in several other cases and instances of wilful non-production of record. The committee also reportedly took note of Alok Verma's alleged attempts to induct officers of doubtful integrity. ANI also reported that Verma was given an opportunity to present his case before the CVC, in presence of Retired Justice Patnaik. Mandate of the panel headed by the prime minister is limited to the appointment of CBI chief and the transfer of CBI chief. The panel felt that as a detailed investigation, including criminal investigation, was necessary, Verma's continuation as CBI Director was not desirable, according to sources quoted by ANI. PM Modi Preparing a 'Suraksha Kavach' (Protective Shield) For Himself: Anand Sharma Congress leader Anand Sharma in an address to the media said, The CVC's actions on 23 October should be investigated. The outcome of today's meeting shows that the Supreme Court found nothing out of CVC's report. This raises questions on CVC whether it is acting upon the PMO's directions. The committee failed to provide justice. Anand Sharma alleged that PM Modi was preparing a 'Suraksha Kavach' (protective shield) for himself and his friends, so that the contentious issues are not looked into for the next two years. If PM had nothing to hide, CBI chief should have been allowed to continue. Of the CVC's allegations on Alok Verma, 6 were outright false, as found by the SC. The rest of the allegations too were based on circumstantial evidence, Sharma added. Verma's Sacking Shows BJP's Desperation to Dodge Rafale Probe : Priyanka Chaturvedi Congress Spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi has alleged that the hurried decision to remove Alok Verma as the CBI director, shows the desperation level of the BJP to ensure he does not probe the Rafale scam. Something Suspicious About Alok Verma's Removal: Sachin Pilot Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said, There is something murky going on which needs to be investigated, the Congress party has already objected to it. Something very suspicious about all this. Alok Verma's Sacking Shows Modi Is A Prisoner of His Own Lies: Rahul Gandhi Fear is now rampaging through Mr Modis mind, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, slamming Modi-led Panels decision to remove Alok Verma as CBI director. Alok Vermas removal twice in a row, shows that Modi is a prisoner of his own lies, the Congress Chief said. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. BJP Calls Congress 'Sore Loser' Hitting out at the Congress over its attack on the Modi government following removal of CBI Director Alok Verma on corruption charges, the BJP called the party a sore loser, saying the party has been left to lick its wounds after failing to subvert the central probe agency by joining internal personal battles. BJP Spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said, Sore loser Congress is licking its wounds after failing to subvert the CBI by joining internal personal battles. The only investigation pending is of 'The Family' that received bribes from 'Mama Christian Michel' in multiple defence deals. Lies of Rahul Gandhi completely exposed. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Kharge is a Man of Amazing Consistency: Piyush Goyal Taking a dig at the Congresss leader in Lok Sabha, Union minister Piyush Goyal tweeted, Indeed, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge is a man of amazing consistency. When Shri Alok Verma was appointed CBI chief by the selection committee, he dissented. Now, when Shri Alok Verma has been removed by the same Selection Committee, he has dissented. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. PM Isn't Worried, Congress Is Trying to Falsely Allege: Nalin Kohli Nalin Kohli, BJP spokesperson and Supreme Court advocate, said the allegation of the Congress is not borne by facts. Attacking the Opposition party after its press conference targeting the prime minister, Kohli said, It's not the PM who is worried as the Congress is trying to falsely allege. It's the Congress which is. Why else are they trying to discredit the CVC and it's findings? Those who demolish institutions and continue to attack them should not give pretentious lessons to the PM or the BJP. Transferred on Basis of False, Unsubstantiated and Frivolous Allegations: Alok Verma Breaking his silence over the issue, Alok Verma, in a statement to PTI late on Thursday night, said the CBI being a prime investigating agency dealing in corruption in high public places is an institution whose independence should be preserved and protected. Verma termed it sad that he was transferred to another post pursuant to the orders of the committee on the basis of false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations made by only one person, who was inimical to him. Tried To Uphold Integrity of CBI, Attempts Made to Destroy It: Verma Former CBI Director Alok Verma said that he tried his best to uphold the integrity of the institution despite attempts being made to destroy it. The CBI being a prime investigating agency dealing in corruption in high public places is an institution whose independence should be preserved and protected. It must function without external influences. I have tried to uphold the integrity of the institution while attempts were being made to destroy it. The same can be seen from the orders of the central government and the CVC dated October 23, 2018 which were without jurisdiction and were set aside, he said in a stetement. Alok Verma Cleared a Name Which Was Turned Down, Says Asthana's Complaint CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana's complaint to the CVC against former CBI director Alok Verma stated that Verma asked to clear a name, which was turned down. Verification caused by Special Unit revealed adverse conduct on part of RP Upadhyaya. JD-Policy didn't recommend his induction even though Alok Verma asked him to clear the name, which was turned down, it stated. Alok Verma's Comments Not in Good Taste: Mukul Rohatgi Former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi said that Vermas comments after his removal were "not in good taste". "Don't think Alok Verma's statements are in good taste. If PM and a senior SC judge, after seeing a CVC report, gave a decision, then it's not fair for Verma to say the decision is bad. The government should have settled this earlier. It has spoilt the name of the agency and the CBI, he said. Rahul Gandhi Worried About CBI Due to AgustaWestland Scam: BJP BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said that Rahul Gandhi is worried about CBI because of their investigation into the AgustaWestland scam. Rahul Gandhi is crying more than Alok Verma in CBI matter, real investigation that is ongoing in the CBI is AgustaWestland and other defence deals, they're worried that CBI is getting at the truth and that's the reason Congress wanted to intervene in the CBI debate, he said. Delhi HC to Pronounce Verdict On Plea By Rakesh Asthana The Delhi High Court will pronounce its verdict on pleas of CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana and others seeking quashing of FIR against them on bribery allegations. Justice Najmi Waziri had reserved the judgement on 20 December 2018 on various petitions after hearing submissions of the counsel for CBI, the Centre, Asthana, Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar, CBI director Alok Kumar Verma and Joint Director AK Sharma. Prashant Bhushan To Challenge Nageshwar Rao's Appointment: Reports Senuor lawyer Prashant Bhushan will move SC challenging Nageswara Rao's appointment as Interim Director, Times Now reported. Interim Chief Nageshwar Rao Reverses Transfers Ordered by Alok Verma Interim CBI Chief Nageshwar Rao on Friday, 11 January, reversed the transfers that Alok Verma had ordered on 9 and 10 January after he was reinstated by the Supreme Court as the CBI director, The Times of India reported. Rao reversed the transfers after Verma was himself transferred out of the directors post by the High Powered Selection Committee on Thursday, 10 January. Alok Verma Declines to Take Over as DG Fire Service Former CBI Chief Alok Verma refuses to take charge as DG, Fire Services. A statement says "natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the Director." Delhi HC Rejects Asthana's Plea for Quashing of FIR Delhi High Court dismisses the pleas filed by Special Director Rakesh Asthana and DySP Devender Kumars seeking quashing of FIRs filed against them. CBI has been asked to conclude the investigation against Asthana and Devendra Kumar within 10 weeks. No doubt, registration of an FIR against a public servant will be a cause of great concern and stress for the public servant. Charges under the FIR are a matter of investigation. It is important that law presumes a person is innocent until proven guilty, the court said. Alok Verma Resigns from IPS Former CBI director Alok Verma on Friday, 11 January, resigned from the IPS after refusing to take over as DG Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guard, a post to which he was transferred by the High Powered Selection Committee on Thursday. HC Refuses Interim Protection to Asthana, CBI to Maintain Status Quo for 2 Weeks Delhi High Court refuses to grant interim protection to CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana but asks CBI to maintain status quo for 2 weeks. 'Natural Justice Was Scuttled': Alok Verma's Letter to DoPT Former CBI Director wrote a letter to the secretary of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday saying that the Selection Committee has not provided him an "opportunity to explain the details as recorded by the CVC before arriving at the decision." "Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned (Alok Verma) is removed from the post of the Director CBI," he said. Verma also refused to assume the post of DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, pointing out that he "would have already superannuated as on 31 July 2017 and was only serving the Government as Director, CBI till 31 January 2019, as the same was a fixed tenure role." "The undersigned is no longer Director, CBI and has already crossed his superannuation age for DG Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards. Accordingly, the undersigned may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today." - Alok Verma Cong Welcomes Delhi HC's Decision on Asthana, Calls Him 'Modiji's Blue-Eyed Boy' Congress on Friday welcomed the Delhi High Court's decision to dismiss the pleas filed by Rakesh Asthana and Devender Kumar seeking quashing of the FIR filed against them. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Six Joint Directors, Chief Information Officer of CBI Transferred CBI Chief Information Officer Abhishek Dayal has been transferred to Director Publications Division. Six joint directors have also been transferred, news agency ANI reported. Senior Indian Information Service officer Nitin Wakankar will take over as the new spokesperson of CBI, news agency PTI reported quoting officials. No Evidence of Corruption, Decision of Panel on Verma Hasty: SCs Monitor Justice AK Patnaik, the retired SC judge who was asked by the apex court to supervise the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) enquiry that led to the expulsion of CBI Director Alok Verma, on Friday told The Indian Express that there was no evidence of corruption against Verma. He also that the CVC cannot be the final authority on this decision. According to the Indian Express report, Patnaik was critical of the very hasty decision of the PM Modi-led panel to remove Verma from the post of CBI Director, two days after he was reinstated by the Supreme Court. The report also said that PM Modi and Justice AK Sikri were against Verma continuing as the CBI chief in light of the CVC report. Mallikarjun Kharge, however, did not go along with the two members and filed a dissent note contesting the CVC report. Justice Sikri to Head Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT). The Narendra Modi government in December 2018 decided to nominate senior Supreme Court Judge AK Sikri to the vacant post of president/member in the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT), The Print reported. Sikri was recently in news after he was a part of the High Powered Selection Committee that transferred CBI Director Alok Verma after being reinstated to the post by the Supreme Court. Sikri will join the CSAT after his retirement as Supreme Court judge on 6 March, 2019. The members of the prestigious tribunal are appointed for a four-year term, which may be renewed for one more term. Congress Seeks Immediate Removal of CVC Congress has sought "immediate removal" of the chief vigilance commissioner, alleging that he had acted like a "puppet" in the hands of the government. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi at a press conference at the AICC headquarters on Sunday, 13 January, said, the "CVC (central vigilance commissioner) should be sacked or tender his resignation", but the "CVC must go". The Congress also alleged that CVC K V Chowdary is being made to "act like a puppet" to avoid any probe into the Rafale case. "The CVC has been acting like an ambassador, messenger of the government, and lobbying for Asthana (CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana). The CVC has forgotten that he is supposed to do vigilance for public good, and not be a 'vigilant' puppet into the hands of political masters," Singhvi alleged. Prashant Bhushan Challenges Nageswar Rao's Appointment in SC Advocate Prashant Bhushan, along with NGO Common Cause, has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the appointment of Interim CBI Director Nageswara Rao, ANI reported. Justice Sikri Did Not Want to be on Panel Deciding Alok Verma's Fate Four days after Supreme Court judge Justice AK Sikris vote helped decide the removal of Alok Verma from the post of CBI director, NDTV reported quoting sources that he did not want to be a part of the three-member selection committee, including PM Narendra Modi and Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge. Sikri, the second senior-most judge in the apex court after Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, withdrew his consent, on 13 January, to the government offer to nominate him for president/member of the CSAT. Release CVC Findings, Justice Patnaik's Report, Meeting Minutes: Kharge to PM In a note to the prime minister, Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the release of the findings of the CVC, the Justice AK Patnaiks report and the minutes of the 10 January meeting of the high power selection committee. The note alleged that the manipulative actions of the government are directly causing deep embarrassment to the Judiciary, Indian Express reported. SC To Hear Plea Against Nageshwar Raos Appointment Next Week Supreme Court on Wednesday, 16 January, agreed to hear a plea filed against M Nageshwar Raos appointment as interim Director of the CBI, reported news agency ANI The plea which also sought transparency in the process of short-listing, selection and appointment of the CBI Director, will be heard next week. Selection Panel to Decide on New CBI Director Next Week The High-Powered Selection Committee will meet on 24 January to appoint the new CBI director, reported ANI. PM Modi heads this committee, in which the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge are the other members. The sources said the government had proposed the meeting on 21 January earlier while Kharge wanted the meeting on 24 or 25 January. After mutual consultations, the government has finalised 24 January as the date for the meeting to select the new CBI director, a post which has been vacant since Alok Verma transferred to be Director General Fire Service. IPS officer M Nageswara Rao was named the interim director of the CBI. Congress party has been attacking the prime minister for not appointing a regular CBI Director. Kharge had also written to the prime minister demanding early holding of the meeting of the high powered committee to appoint a regular CBI Director. Read full story here. . Read more on India by The Quint.RSS & BJPs Nehru-Netaji Cosplay: Irony Dies a Thousand DeathsCBIs Rakesh Asthana Moves Delhi HC, Seeks Correction in Judgment . Read more on India by The Quint. Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case. (File/Express Photo by Praveen Khanna) The British High Commission in India Friday was granted the consular access to Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case. "Consular access has been granted to Michel," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "Our staff are supporting a British man who is detained in India, and have visited him to check his welfare," ANI quoted the High Commission as saying. Michel, a British citizen, was brought to India through the extradition process from the UAE on court orders. The British High Commission had then sought for consular access to Michel, who was sent to CBI custody. Michel was questioned by the agency about his ties with the former CEO and president of AgustaWestland and Finmeccanica, his visits to India, the people he met and his contacts in Delhi and Mumbai. The CBI claims that Michel entered into 12 contracts through two of his firms, Global Trade & Commerce Ltd, London and Global Services FZE, Dubai, UAE, with Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland and Westland Helicopters UK to legitimise the "illicit commission on the procurement of VVIP Helicopters by Ministry of Defence". An amount of 42.27million euros (then around Rs 295 crore) was paid by the Finmeccanica Group to Michel's firms as kickbacks/bribe without undertaking any work against the receipt of the amount, the CBI said. IceViking strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment directed towards them. They are also often victims of the Islamic idea. This is true when it comes to the cruel and tragic treatment of Muslim women and children when it is in accord with the Koran, the example of Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia, which may be applied regardless of where a Muslim male may find himself in the world, whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country. However, in no way, shape or form should one judge all Muslim men because of what is in Islamic scripture and what constitutes the Islamic law, Sharia. "Race", ethnicity or basically anything that you are "merely" born with should never be a basis for bigotry and discrimination. Apostates from Islam have been executed for 1400 years in accord with the Koran and the words and actions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia. They should be lovingly helped. Furthermore, approximately as many as 11,000,000 Muslims may have been killed by other Muslims since 1948. To quote the website The Religion of Peace (TROP), edited by Glen Roberts: While it may be safe to say that a true Muslim would not intentionally kill another true Muslim ( 4:92-93 ), the Quran places no such value on the life of a Muslim who is not true. Consider verse 9:73 : Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell. The Arabic for strive hard uses the same root as Jihad - and the context in this sura is holy war (see v. 86 and 91). Thus, there are two distinct classes of people that a true Muslim is to target with harshness: disbelievers and hypocrites. A disbeliever obviously refers to a non-Muslim, so a "hypocrite" must be a Muslim of some sort. In fact, hypocrites are those who say they believe, but do not act as they should. In other words, they are "Muslims", but not true Muslims. They will go to hell just as unbelievers do, and so, according to the verse, their lives matter for naught. The same sura says that a hypocrite can be recognized not just by lack of piety (reluctance to follow Sharia), but by fear of death ( 9:56 ), reluctance to fight ( 9:44-45 ) and even friendliness toward non-believers ( 9:67 ). A true Muslim would thus be a pious person who relishes martyrdom, is eager to fight, and shuns non-believers. Even the Quranic passage that warns against killing "believers" ( 4:88-94 ) is more complicated than it first appears. It never says that a true Muslim is incapable of killing another Muslim, just that it should not be done. In fact, it makes exceptions for the unintentional killing of "believers" in war and mandates the killing of "hypocrites." Verse 17:33 says, "Do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause" . The greatest cause of all is that Islam be superior ( 9:33 ), which is exactly what Islamic terrorists say is their goal. Thus believing Muslims are allowed to be collateral damage in the war on unbelievers. There is sadly a phenomena that I`ve noticed in Sweden and elsewhere of people using true facts about Islamic doctrine and history as a cover for all sorts of irrational targeting of Muslims, ranging from xenophobia and racism to verbal abuse and physical attacks. This is strongly condemned by this website and does not in any way serve serious criticism of orthodox Islam and other important work. It`s also important that one tries to express oneself in a civilized way. Words matter. In this bloggers humble opinion the root cause of the problem is the ancient doctrine of orthodox Islam. In simple terms a non-Muslim is a Kafir. " The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life." An exact quote, as stated in the writings of Dr. Bill Warner in the article "Kafir" at http://www.politicalislam.com/kafir . In the perfect Koran (Allah`s direct and literal word as revealed to Mohammed through the angel Jibril), Muslims are told 89 times to emulate Mohammed in all ways (see Koran 33:21 for instance). Mohammed`s example, the Sunna, is found in the Hadith (stories of what Mohammed said and did) and the Sira (biographies of Mohammed). Islamic law, Sharia , is directly derived from these unchanging scriptures. It is based on the Koran`s numerous commands to obey Allah and obey the Messenger, that is Mohammed (see Koran 4:59 for instance). Islam is Sharia. Sharia is Islam. It is a capital crime for Muslims to deny Sharia in any way. A Muslim is someone who submits to Islam and submitting to Islam means obeying the Sharia of Allah. Sharia law includes pronouncements for both Muslims and non-Muslims (Kafirs). Islam is a "complete way of life", a "complete code of life", a "complete system of life". Islam is not just a religion but also a comprehensive ideology. Islam is a supremacist ideology. Islam is a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology akin to Communism and Nazism. Islam is a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, is a manual for a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, governs every aspect of life. It has a say about every conceivable human act . Non-Muslims are morally and legally inferior in Islam. Women are morally and legally inferior in Islam. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language and a great book on the topic. Allah guarantees Paradise to those who "kill and are killed" for him (Koran 9:111). A hadith depicts a Muslim asking Muhammad: "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." Muhammad replied, "I do not find such a deed." (Bukhari 4.52.44) Muhammad himself said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim 30) Freedom of speech, human rights, democracy, science and human lives are all at stake in the fight against the Islamic Jihad. The last few years have been tough particularly for young people who are farming. For that reason, we asked the four participants in the December 2018 Round Table These young farmers came back to the dairy where they thought the dairy industry was headed. With all of the consolidation going on I wish I had a crystal ball, said Kansas dairyman Justin Ohlde. People want to know more about where their food comes from, and if we are catering to the U.S. consumer, they want an experience while eating. We will have to do what they want while still being cheap because that is what U.S. buyers are accustomed to. Ohlde believes the future will be in efficiencies and automation. Robotics and block-chain technologies, which incorporate centralized data reporting and storage, will be a part of that, he shared. We will work on being more efficient and transparent. Heres how the other three participants in the Round Table answered the question, Where is the dairy industry headed? Glen Meadows Farm (Clark Egelston), Fultonville, N.Y.: I see my farm and the dairy industry becoming consolidated and more efficient. Unfortunately, I expect to see a lot more businesses sell out in the coming years, and the ones that dont are going to become very lean and efficient at what they do. The farms that are left will have top quality product, which will be more appealing to consumers and give co-ops better marketability that will help the industry go back in the right direction. I dont think we will ever see the highs in the market or these extreme lows in the market that we have been experiencing again. I think once the market finally does make its correction, it will be more consistent and stable in the future. The downside is I think the new normal will only be slightly higher than where we see prices today enough to make a living and be profitable only for those that are very good at what they do. I think economy of scale is going to play a huge role in the coming years. Its going to be a struggle to get my own farm to a sustainable level of cows that allows for efficient specialized labor in all the major areas. I once thought the ticket for our farm was 300 cows, now I think Ive got a long way to go. I think the swings of pay price in the past have allowed farms to get away with less than responsible business decisions as long as there were enough reserves to get them through the lows. Farms are going to have to have well-thought-out business plans, tight budgets, and only the best of the best in both cow and business management will survive. Schulze Dairy (Chris Schulze), Holland, Minn.: I dont know where the industry will be in 10 years, but I think that there will always be a place and need for dairy products and people to make them. Eventually, the markets have to turn around. The question will be, Whos going to supply the dairy that is needed? I believe there will always be space in dairy for family farms, but they have to figure out how to be just as efficient as other farms of all sizes. In five to 10 years, there will be changes, but hopefully for the better. We hope to expand in the next 10 years to 1,000 to 1,200 cows. We have the land base to accommodate the additional cows and blueprints drawn up for growth. Its something thats on the horizon for the future as we think a little larger will be better for us. Slaymaker Farm (Jessica and Dan Slaymaker), Mansfield, Pa.: Some people see the dairy climate getting better. We dont necessarily see it that way. We think this will be the new normal. We are focused on dropping our cost of production so that we can cash flow. On the farm specifically, we hope to really improve our heifer growing situation so we can continue to improve the milking herd with each generation. We also have our eyes on automated milking. That would be a bigger goal for the future, but we built our current facility to move that direction if we eventually want to. Read more on these young farmers in the December 2018 issue of Hoards Dairyman on pages 714 to 716. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2019 January 7, 2019 DECATUR City council members are set to vote Monday on a contract for Decatur's new city manager, Scot Wrighton, with an annual starting salary of $185,000. Of note: There is no time limit to the contract. If the city council fires Wrighton, now the city manager in Streator, "without cause," he will be able to receive a 20-week severance. That benefit that will expire five years after his first day on the job. Officials made the contract public Thursday, a day after Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and council members introduced Wrighton at a press conference. "We can't wait for him to actually get here and start," Moore Wolfe said at Wednesday's announcement at the Decatur Civic Center. "We really want someone to move this community forward and we think (Wrighton) is the right kind of leader to make that happen." It's unclear whether Wrighton would receive annual raises under the contract. Other details include a $15,000 reimbursement for temporary housing and moving expenses to Decatur. Under the terms, Wrighton must be a resident of the city within six months of his first day on the job. The contract also stipulates that Wrighton may do consulting work outside of his Decatur position, so long as he assures "there is no conflict of interest between activities of (the city) and his outside consulting." Wrighton must do consulting work during paid vacations and not for any Illinois clients. Wrighton will also have 20 vacation days his first year as the city's top executive. He will earn 25 days each year after that, and can carry over one week of vacation between years. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The new city manager will also have a $550 per month allowance for the use of his personal vehicle for city purposes inside Macon County, and a $250 monthly allowance for his cellphone and other technology. The pick comes almost seven months after former City Manager Tim Gleason announced he would be leaving the position to take up the same role for the city of Bloomington. Officials have not yet determined Wrighton's starting date, though it will likely be somewhere near late March, Wrighton said. The council conducted candidate interviews at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel in December, and in a previous closed session the month prior they met with the recruiting consultant from GovHR USA, former Bloomington City Manager Mark Peterson, to narrow their search. The council hired the Northbrook consulting firm to handle the process with fees not to exceed $18,500. A recruitment brochure put out by GovHR USA in the summer listed the salary range for the position as $175,000 to $190,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Under Decatur's form of government, the city manager is the head municipal executive, responsible for hiring and firing employees and overseeing all city operations and departments. Wrighton has been city manager in Streator for more than four years and also was city manager there from 1987-1994. He also was as the city manager of Kirksville, Missouri for nine years; on the faculty of the University of Georgias Carl Vinson Institute of Government for six years; and as the city manager of a private new urbanism development project in India for five years. He became village administrator of Mount Zion when he was 26. "It was a long time ago, but it was a good learning experience," Wrighton said. Contact Tom Lisi at (217) 421-6949. Follow him on Twitter: @tommylisi Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 6 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR A debit card lost and quickly turned out to be trouble for a Decatur woman, after police said a snapped cell phone image of the cards information had been used by an identity thief in an attempt to order a $44 pizza dinner. The incident prompted a detective with the Decatur Police Department to warn anyone with a lost debit or credit card who gets it back to not take any chances. Just cancel it and get a new one, Sgt. Steve Carroll said Thursday. Even if someone turns the card in, they might have taken a picture of the front and back of it. And, by the time they get home, there are some victims who find that, within an hour, their bank account is wiped out. A sworn police affidavit in the case of the Decatur woman said she had given her debit card to her mother, who used it at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at a local fast-food restaurant. The mother forgot to pick up the card when she left the restaurant, but then remembered and returned with a short period of time that night to get it, the affidavit said. Her daughter, the card owner, checked her transactions Wednesday night and found the card had been used to order pizza by phone at 9:50 p.m., but she was able to cancel the order before it was completed, the affidavit said. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Officer Stephanie Vail said in the affidavit that police traced the cards use back to an 18-year-old employee of the fast-food restaurant. Vail said the man was arrested about 12:13 a.m. Thursday after admitting he had grabbed an opportunity to photograph the card. He was apologetic for using someone elses card to order food, and advised he knew using someone elses debit card was illegal, Vail said. The man was booked on a preliminary charge of identity theft, which is subject to review by Macon County State's Attorney Office. He remained in the Macon County Jail on Thursday night in lieu of posting $2,000 bond. Carroll said the ease and speed with which sharp digital pictures can be taken with a cell phone make card copying easy for thieves, who then go shopping by phone or online. Carroll re-emphasized that a card lost and out of sight, even for just a few minutes, should be canceled and replaced. 2018 mug shots from the Herald & Review Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR Paul Maisels Sol Bistro kitchen in downtown Decatur produces a dizzying number of corn salsa salads, shrimp tacos and queso mac during a busy lunch or dinner service. But even more intricate than whats on the plates are whats adorning the arms briskly doing all that dicing, mixing and searing: tattoos and lots of them. Maisels right forearm reveals elaborate, colorful designs of a womans face, a spider web, a rose and a fearsome dragon etched into skin. The other arm is the same. Were back-of-the-house guys, he said. We dont usually deal with the public. Maisel is part of a trend of culinary professionals who have opted to proudly tell their stories through tattoos, a reflection of an industry that tends to attract people who resist the status quo and like to show their personalities. In this high-stress environment, where a passion for food often spills over into a passion for self-expression, the chef-as-canvas is a running theme. Everything you do is considered an art, said Nick Cox, chef at Bizou in downtown Decatur, a few doors down North Main Street from Sol Bistro. They still want to express themselves. If we cant do it on a plate, they will do the next best thing. Said Cox: It is easy to say this is what I do, even when Im not at work. While those in various fields and backgrounds get inked, it seems those in the kitchen and maybe foodies in general have a particular fondness for body art. Flip on Food Network or an episode of Top Chef, and its likely youll find plenty of examples. The tattoo trend has grown in the past several years. Cox said he noticed his peers showing them off while he was working in St. Louis restaurants more than 10 years ago. A lot of the chefs were wanting to do tattoos that were visible, he said. So they would do tattoos from the elbow down. As downtown Decatur picks up speed, parking shifts into balancing act DECATUR At noontime Thursday, vehicles lined downtown Decatur streets and filed into lots nearest the most popular shops and restaurants. So Oscar Green Jr., a tattoo artist at Low Key Studios Tattoo & Piercing on North Water Street, said customers come in asking for cooking utensils and the food-related items, but he doesnt ask questions. Typically, they dont discuss professions. In this business, he said, it is best not to ask what they do for a living. According to Isaac Fitzgerald, editor of the book Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos, one reason is they want to show a dedication to the craft. Its this idea of, If I tattoo my neck, if I tattoo my knuckles, I cant just walk away from this and start selling cars or just go work in a business or put on a suit or sit in a cubicle, he told the magazine Mother Jones. This is going to be my life. Maisel, for example, said it's a very visible sign of commitment. It ensures I remain self-employed, he said. There is no going back. I have a lobster. I dont know if that counts. Maisel, who came here from Austin about 10 years ago, accumulated his artwork throughout his life. My first cooking job, all the guys in the kitchen were kind of like derelicts, he said. I felt right at home. Lock, Stock & Barrel chef Jeff Leesman, 29, said the kitchen is an environment where someone with a rough background could apply and make a living. I got a lot of recognition in kitchens, Leesman said. I didnt get a lot of recognition anywhere else. Scars from burns and cuts are par for the course. The tattoos often cover the jobs battle wounds. Tattoos dont hurt us as much, Leesman said. He said there's a clear connection between the art of the food and the art of the ink. There is a huge art to cooking, he said. You eat with your eyes first. Leesman has a tattoo of a zombie chef prominently displayed on his left forearm. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Ive been a big zombie fan my whole life, he said. And Im a chef. Hes not shy about displaying his permanent art. He is often found in the dining room of Lock, Stock & Barrel greeting customers. The tattoos are rarely a topic of discussion. Still, the other factor is that many chefs work behind closed doors. Maisel, 40, admits his hand and neck tattoos are not appropriate for other careers. They are called them job stoppers, he said. There might be more tolerance now, but it is still frowned upon. Unlike some chefs, Cox, 35, can be easily seen while preparing food at Bizou. The kitchen area is open for the customers. He wears the traditional chefs coat, so his tattoos on his upper arm and back are not visible. I do tattoos for me, he said. I dont show people unless I want to. Cox has For those I love I sacrifice written in Latin on his right bicep. It reminds him to keep going for those he cares about, even when he is worn out from his job. He also got a tattoo on his back while he was in college. I know exactly what it looks like, he said. It is probably 15 years old, and I can still feel all the lines. Maisel's tattoos also are expressions of his experiences and struggles, including divorce and children. He has visited tattoo businesses during significant times in his life. Its almost like therapy, he said. Most of the upper half of his body is covered, but Maisel does not have one devoted to his career. I have a lobster, he said. I dont know if that counts. My mom worries about me all the time Tattoos on Ray Durbin, 49, include a map of Illinois and the Decatur ZIP code 62521 his neck and PUNK ROCK spelled across his knuckles. Ive just always been into tattoos, he said. My mom worries about me all the time. A chef for nearly three decades, he began at downtown Decaturs R Bar & Grill last year. I tend to lean towards more of a little bit of heat in most of my cooking, he said later. Ive always been a rebel. His tattoos reflect his lifetime of experiences a favorite movie, bands he was in, and women. He quotes a popular David Allan Coe song If That Aint Country for getting his body art. The old man was covered with tattoos and scars, he said. He got some in prison and others in bars. The chefs said its hard to stop getting body art. Coxs technique is to wait one year after he thinks of an idea for a new tattoo. One year of thinking about it is better than the rest of my life with something I shouldnt have got, he said. Leesman said the artwork is akin to a permanent scrapbook. When Im older and I dont have the greatest memory, he said, I can look back (at a tattoo) and remember that time in my life. Durbin, the R Bar & Grill chef, said that while he cant draw, he can create something visually attractive as a chef. But the tattoos let me transport some art from the plate to my body, he said. Said Durbin later: They all mean something to me. I like to think of myself as a warrior. The chef tattoos of Decatur Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 4 Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. HOFFMAN ESTATES In its 126-year history, Sears grew to become the country's biggest retailer and outlasted Chicago competitors like Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward and Wieboldt's. Its future now hinges on a bankruptcy auction scheduled to start Monday. Edward Lampert, chairman and former CEO of Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings Corp., is trying to buy the retailer with a plan to keep it in business and keep up to 50,000 workers employed. Lampert's hedge fund, ESL Investments, sweetened its offer for Sears this week, bringing the total value of its proposal to more than $5 billion. But some of Sears' creditors are skeptical of ESL, and it's not yet known how the hedge fund's proposal stacks up against other offers for the company's assets. If Lampert's plan fails, Sears could face liquidation -- the end of the road for an iconic American company, at least as consumers know it. Here's what you need to know ahead of the bankruptcy auction on Monday. Q: Sears used to be the country's biggest retailer. What happened? A: Online shopping is part of the story, but Sears' challenges go back decades. It was slow to react to new competition from discount chains and specialty stores and to changes in shopping habits, including a shift away from suburban shopping malls. Lampert was accused of focusing on cost-cutting at the expense of investing in stores. He insisted the company was working to turn itself into a smaller but profitable retailer. As time went on, Sears kept shrinking -- closing hundreds of stores and getting rid of more than 60 percent of its employees in less than three years. But it also continued losing money, racking up more than $11 billion in losses since 2011. Q: The company planned to reorganize in bankruptcy. Why is it now at risk of shutting down? A: It's possible ESL won't emerge as the winning bidder, and it's not clear whether the company has any other offers from buyers who want to save, rather than liquidate, Sears. An attorney representing Sears creditors told the U.S. Bankruptcy Court at a hearing Tuesday in New York that it continues to have "significant concerns" about ESL's bid. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. The concerns creditors have about ESL's bid have to deal, in part, with financial dealings between Lampert, ESL and Sears. The creditors say those transactions "may be part of an extended pattern of conduct that served to benefit certain (insider) equity holders," according to court filings. ESL denied those allegations. Q: What are the potential outcomes? A: Lampert's ESL has said it will strive to keep Sears in business if it wins the bid. But even if the company liquidates, the Sears Home Services business or brands like Kenmore and DieHard could live on. ESL also has said it would bid on some pieces of the business individually. It's also possible that someone could buy Sears' intellectual property and try to bring the brand back online or in bricks-and-mortar stores. Q: Will more stores close? A: Sears has already closed or announced plans to close 262 Sears and Kmart stores by late March. Lampert's ESL has said it wants to buy the remaining 425 stores in the bankruptcy auction, though it could change its bid or decide to close more stores after buying the company. If Lampert's push to keep the company alive fails, the fate of the stores will depend who ends up buying Sears' assets. Q: What will happen to Sears' employees? A: If Lampert wins the bankruptcy auction and keeps Sears in business, his fund has said it expects to employ up to 50,000 people. If Sears goes out of business, those jobs would disappear. The company said it had 68,000 employees, including 32,000 full-time workers, when it filed for bankruptcy in October. Q: If there's a chance to keep stores open and workers on the job, why wouldn't the court automatically choose that option? A: Bankruptcy courts would generally rather not liquidate a company that has a chance of succeeding after exiting bankruptcy. But the priority is recovering as much of the money the company owes as possible, and the judge could decide it would be better to sell the remaining assets immediately to pay back the company's lenders. Q: What happens next? A: Sears will aim to notify the Bankruptcy Court of the auction results by Wednesday, according to a timeline approved by the court. Other parties have eight days to challenge the outcome in court. Ultimately, a judge has to approve the sale of Sears' assets, a decision expected in the coming weeks. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Citing a lack of pilots, the Montana Department of Livestock proposes opening the entirety of the state to nonresidents for its aerial predator hunting permit. Sen. Butch Gillespie, R-Kevin, carried Senate Bill 68 on behalf of the department before the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee on Thursday. The bill would strike the residency requirement for receiving an aerial hunting permit with the goal of attracting more permittees. We have large parts of the state not covered by pilots, said Mike Honeycutt, the departments executive officer. We have roughly about half of our counties that have pilots but about half of our counties have no pilot currently licensed to fly over them. Some of these are areas like Hill County and Blaine County, I think the folks that live there know that they have plenty of coyotes there that they have to deal with. Livestock officials felt the residency requirements may be restricting applications, he said. Current law does allow nonresidents to predator hunt by aircraft along border counties, but SB68 would lift restriction in the remainder of the state. The state currently licenses about 24 pilots, with numbers as low as 16, which may shoot coyotes and foxes from aircraft on private land. A permit costs $50. State Rep. Llew Jones, a Republican from Conrad, also spoke in support of the bill. Jones said he's concerned the county might not be able to operate because of its finances and that there is no way for locals to respond. "What are you going to when an entire county goes bankrupt?" Jones asked. " What happens when one day in the middle of February your school teachers have no money to be paid, your snow plows have no money to run? Whose problem is it then? Thats where were headed. Two major schools are going to flat run out of money, because thats where were headed. We have to choose to do something, to say that we will step up and do something when our normal recourse via local control simply doesnt work. We simply cant say our recourse is to move out of the county." Rachel Carroll Rivas, co-director of the Montana Human Rights Network, spoke in opposition to the bill, saying it was a part of the anti-Indian movement. Carroll Rivas said local activists began targeting Glacier County after all three county commission seats were held by Native Americans. She said those groups use the term "taxpayer" as a "racist dog whistle" and are seeking to capitalize on the racist stereotype that Native Americans don't pay taxes. A Helena man was sentenced to 130 years in the Montana State Prison for raping 8-year-old girls. Wallis Dean Sinz was convicted of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of sexual assault. Judge Kathy Seeley sentenced Sinz to 100 years in the Montana State Prison with 50 years suspended for both counts of sexual intercourse without consent and 10 years each for each sexual assault charge, for a total of 230 years before the suspensions. During forensic interviews, the 8-year-old victims reportedly described multiple occasions when Sinz touched their genitals. He is also accused of having sexual intercourse with one of the victims during a camping trip, according to an affidavit filed by investigators. Seeley determined that the sentences for sexual intercourse without consent will run consecutively and the sexual assault sentences, while running concurrent to each other, will be served after the sexual intercourse charges. Sinz will also be designated a level two sex offender. Sinz is not eligible for parole for 30 years, according to Montana statutes governing parole. He was granted credit for the upwards of 500 days he has already served in jail. Love 11 Funny 2 Wow 3 Sad 10 Angry 24 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Helena artist Lyle Schwabauer spent time looking at old photos of Vietnam and reading letters from soldiers before naming his latest sculpture. The thing that came to me was No Solider Left Behind, he said from Mountain Sage Gallery Thursday morning. While he has worked on military-themed sculptures before, this one already has a home in Sidney, where Schwabauer grew up and went to high school. We had our 50th class reunion and then I got a call from my classmates, he said. They said, We want to do a Vietnam memorial, would you come up with something? It took about a year between clay and castings, but the bronze now sits prominently in the gallery. The piece depicts a wounded and bandaged soldier being helped through rice paddies by two other soldiers. One of the helping soldiers is African-American and the other Native American, as it is important to Schwabauer from a historical perspective to recognize tribal members high participation in the military, particularly from Montana. Once a walnut base is completed, it will be transported to Sidney for display in the MonDak Heritage Center, hopefully by Memorial Day, and then to a permanent home in a local bank. Reporter Tom Kuglin can be reached at 447-4076 @IR_TomKuglin Love 15 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A new coalition in Helena aims reduce the strain on community services by developing a housing plan for the homeless. The Helena Regional Housing is Healthcare Project brings together representatives from United Way, St. Peter's Health, law enforcement, city and county government and nonprofit organizations. The group met for the first time Thursday. Michael O'Neil, executive director of the Helena Housing Authority, said the project will first identify the "biggest users" of community services, such as the emergency room, the county jail, and aging and homeless services. The Helena Police Department, United Way, St. Peter's Health and other stakeholders will share information about people using resources in a way that maintains their privacy but allows the group to understand who relies on them most. Multiple speakers during Thursday's meeting referenced Boise, Idaho, where community leaders were able to drastically cut the costs of public services by providing inexpensive housing and health care for those who needed it most. Lewis and Clark County Commissioner Andy Hunthausen and Helena United Way CEO Allison Munson were part of a group that traveled to Boise last month to observe the results of the project. Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1@gmail.com. And be sure to visit dennisbeaver.com. Hi lavacat,Im glad you reached out, and Im happy to help. First off, 730 cold is awesome, so nice work! Now, lets address your issues with timing. The first thing to understand is that timing on the GMAT, as in life, improves as your knowledge, understanding, and skill improve. Timing does not improve simply by trying to go faster. In fact, when people try to force speed before theyre ready to go faster, they tend to end up making a significant number of preventable mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes badly erode peoples test scores. In addition, when people rush learning -- a common pathology of those trying to force speed -- they actually never end up developing the speed they seek. One of the great paradoxes of learning is that to develop speed, a student must slow down to ensure that he or she masters the material. Consider the following examples, which hopefully will bring you some more clarity:Imagine your goal were to run a mile in four minutes, a difficult feat even for professional athletes. So, you get yourself a running coach. You show up on the field and ask, Coach, how do I get faster? The coach responds, Well, just run faster. So, you try your best to run faster, but you can't; youre running a 12-minute mile. Out of breath, you come back to the coach and say, Coach, I stink. How do I get faster? Again, he says, Just run faster. So, you try again, but this time you fall and skin your knees. You keep trying to run faster. On the tenth attempt, you pull your hamstring, falling to the ground in pain. Over your next four months of recovery, you ponder why you couldn't run faster.That situation would be insane, right? No qualified running coach would ever provide you with that advice, because the coach would understand that no one gets faster merely by trying to run faster. Instead, the coach would set you up on a linear, comprehensive plan to make you a BETTER runner. He may have you run progressively longer distances at relatively slow speeds. He may have you run up and down the stairs at the football stadium. He may have you run up and down hills. He even may have you engage in strength training, yoga, or Pilates to make you a more fit athlete. After all of that training, he finally would bring you back on the field and time you running the mile. At that point, hed coach you on how to push yourself through the pain of sprinting and help you to understand what a four-minute-mile pace feels like. He now could help you with those things because you would be in the necessary shape to be receptive to them. So, you begin your run, and BOOM! You run a 6-minute mile. What happened? Well, you became a better runner. You became a fitter athlete. You became stronger. Although youre not yet at the four-minute-mile mark, your training has yielded considerable improvements.Now imagine your goal were to play a complicated song on the piano. The tempo at which a pianist plays greatly impacts the way a song sounds. To make songs sound the way they should, often a pianist must play at a fast pace. But your experience with the piano is limited. Can you imagine trying to play the complicated song at full speed right at the outset? Doing so wouldn't be possible. Instead, you first need to master many aspects of the piano -- without really trying to get faster. In fact, you need to proceed slowly at first, sometimes very slowly. As you master the piano, you find that youre able to play your song at progressively faster tempos. With time and dedicated, proper practice, youre able to recreate the sound you seek. If in the early days of practicing you had tried to force speed instead of mastering your technique, you never would have become truly accomplished at playing the song.The process of getting faster at solving GMAT questions is quite analogous to the process of improving ones running speed or ability to play the piano at the proper tempo! To get faster, you must get better. As you further develop your GMAT skills, you will get faster at a) recognizing what a problem is asking and b) executing the necessary steps to quickly attack the problem.The key takeaway is that once your GMAT knowledge improves, better timing will follow. In fact, a great way to know how well you have a mastered a particular topic is to be cognizant of your reaction time when seeing a particular question. For example, consider the following simple question with which many students who are beginning their prep struggle:14! is equal to which of the following?(A) 87,178,291,200(B) 88,180,293,207(C) 89,181,294,209(D) 90,000,000,003(E) 91,114,114,114Upon seeing this question, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Grabbing a calculator to add up the values in the expression? Or are you able to quickly recognize that using the 5 x 2 pair rule will allow you to efficiently attack the problem? (See the solution below.)Solution:14! = 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.Notice that there is at least one (5 2) pair contained in the product of these numbers. It follows that the units digit must be a zero. The only number with zero as the units digit is 87,178,291,200.Answer: AAlthough this is just one example of many, you see that you must have many tools in your toolbox to efficiently attack each GMAT question that comes your way. As you gain these skills, you will get faster.Regarding your prep materials, its difficult to say whether your current prep materials/study plan will be enough for you to hit your 750+ score goal (especially in only 3 months). Thus, the best thing you can do is objectively evaluate your progress so that, in the event that the prep books arent meeting your needs, you dont end up overinvesting time in a resource that isnt working for you. Give yourself about 6 weeks to see whether youre improving. If not, consider changing up your study materials. If you do decide to make a change, check out the course reviews here on GMAT Club.Regardless of what materials you use, to improve your quant and verbal skills, you need to ensure that you go through GMAT quant and verbal carefully to find your exact weaknesses, fill gaps in your knowledge, and strengthen your skills. The overall process will be to learn all about how to answer question types with which you currently aren't very comfortable and do dozens of practice questions category by category, basically driving up your score point by point.If youd like more specific advice regarding how to improve your GMAT quant and verbal skills, feel free to reach back out. Also, you may find it helpful to read the following article about how to score a 700+ on the GMAT Good luck!_________________ 1. The primary purpose of the passage is to (A) demonstrate the nineteenth-century preference for realistic novels rather than romantic ones (B) explain why Jane Austen's novels were not included in any academic curriculum in the early nineteenth century (C) urge a reassessment of Jane Austen's novels by twentieth-century literary critics (D) describe some of the responses of nineteenth-century critics to Jane Austen's novels as well as, to fiction in general (E) argue that realistic character portrayal is the novelist's most difficult task as well as the aspect of a novel most likely to elicit a critical response 2. The passage supplies information for answering which of the following questions? (A) Was Whately aware of Scott's remarks about Jane Austen's novels? (B) Who is an example of a twentieth-century Marxist critic? (C) Who is an example of a twentieth-century critic who admired Jane Austen's novels? (D)What is the author's judgment of Dickens? (E) Did Jane Austen express her opinion of those nineteenth-century critics who admired her novels? 3. The author mentions that English literature "was not part of any academic curriculum" in the highlighted text in the early nineteenth century in order to (A) emphasize the need for Jane Austen to create ordinary, everyday characters in her novels (B) give support to those religious and political groups that had attacked fiction (C) give one reason why Jane Austen 's novels received little critical attention in the early nineteenth century (D) suggest the superiority of an informal and unsystematized approach to the study of literature (E) contrast nineteenth-century attitudes toward English literature with those toward classical literature 4. The passage supplies information to suggest that the religious and political groups mentioned in highlighted text and Whately might have agreed that a novel (A) has little practical use (B) has the ability to influence the moral values of its readers (C) is of most interest to readers when representing ordinary human characters (D) should not be read by young readers (E) needs the sermonizing of a narrator in order to impart moral truths 5. The author quotes Coleridge "novel-reading occasions the destruction of the mind's powers" in order to (A) refute the literary opinions of certain religious and political groups (B) make a case for the inferiority of novels to poetry (C) give an example of a writer who was not a literary reactionary (D) illustrate the early nineteenth-century belief that fiction was especially appealing to young readers (E) indicate how widespread was the attack on novels in the early nineteenth century 6. The passage suggests that twentieth-century Marxists would have admired Jane Austen's novels more if the novels, as the Marxists understood them, had (A) described the values of upper-middle-class society (B) avoided moral instruction and sermonizing (C) depicted ordinary society in a more flattering light (D) portrayed characters from more than one class of society (E) anticipated some of the controversial social problems of the twentieth century 7. It can be inferred from the passage that Whately found Dickens' characters to be (A) especially interesting to young readers (B) ordinary persons in recognizably human situations (C) less liable than Jane Austen's characters to have a realistic mixture of moral qualities (D) more often villainous and weak than virtuous and good (E) less susceptible thanJane Austen's characters to the moral judgments of a sermonizing narrator 8. According to the passage, the lack of critical attention paid to Jane Austen can be explained by all of the following nineteenth-century attitudes toward the novel EXCEPT the (A) assurance felt by many people that novels weakened the mind (B) certainty shared by many political commentators that the range of novels was too narrow (C) lack of interest shown by some critics in novels that were published anonymously (D) fear exhibited by some religious and political groups that novels had the power to portray immoral characters attractively (E) belief held by some religious and political groups that novels had no practical value 9. The author would most likely agree that which of the following is the best measure of a writer's literary success? (A) The inclusion of the writer 's work in an academic curriculum (B) Publication of the writer's work in the writer's own name (C) The existence of debate among critics about the writer's work (D) Praise of the writer 's work by religious and political groups (E) Ability of the writer's work to appeal to ordinary people The best answer is D. When asked to identify the primary purpose of a passage, you must select the answer choice that states what the passage, as a whole, achieves. Choice D correctly identifies the passage as descriptive and goes on to accurately state the broad categories of things described. The passage does not contrast realistic and romantic novels, as choice A suggests. Austen's absence from academic curricula is mentioned only to support a larger point; thus, choice B is incorrect. Choice C is incorrect because of the passage judges twentieth-century assessments satisfactory, leaving no reason to urge reassessment. Nothing is mentioned about the relative difficulty of realistic character portrayal or its tendency to attract more criticism than other aspects of novels; thus choice E can be eliminated.The best answer is A. In order to answer this question, you should work through each of the choices, checking whether or not the passage supplies enough information to answer the question posed in the choice. Lines 30-31 tell us that Whately "expressed agreement with Scott's evaluation" of Austen's fictions; in order to agree, Whately must have been aware of Scott's remarks. Thus, an answer to the question posed in choice A is provided. Although the passage mentions Marxists. none is specifically named, thus choice B can be eliminated. The same reasoning eliminates choice C. Choice D can be eliminated because, while Whately's opinion is mentioned, the author's own is not. Choice E can be eliminated because the passage nowhere indicates that Austen was even aware of criticism of her work.The best answer is C. This question asks you to identify a reason for the author's selection of a particular supporting detail in the passage. You can approach this question by first re-reading the part of the passage cited. Then, determine the reason for the author's selection and pick the answer choice that most nearly states what you consider the reason. Lines 13-15 are a straightforward indication of the author's reason for mentioning the absence of English literature in academic curricula: it is one indication of "attitudes . .. [that] help explain" why Austen was neglected by critics around the time her fiction was published. Choice C is very nearly a restatement of that idea.The best answer is B. This question requires you to start with a proposition not stated in the passage, i.e., that Whately and the groups mentioned share an opinion. The answer choices present possible opinions. Using the information given in the passage, you must determine which of the possible opinions could have been held in common. The passage indicates that the religious and political groups feared that readers would identify with immoral characters. It suggests that Whately thought that novels could be vehicles of moral instruction. Although they disagree about the value of such influence, they agree that novels can influence moral behavior. The other choices contain opinions that one or the other, but not both, holds (choices A, C, D) or an opinion that can not be attributed to either (choice E).The best answer is E. This question asks you to identify a reason for the author's choice of a particular quotation in the passage. You can approach the question by first determining the reason and then selecting the answer choice that most nearly states what you consider that reason. The reference to Coleridge appears in a paragraph devoted to outlining the extent of opposition to novel-reading at the time of the publication of Austen's fiction. The phrase "Even Coleridge, certainly no literary reactionary . . ." (lines 9-10) suggests that Coleridge might be expected to differ, but the quotation demonstrates that Coleridge, too, was suspicious of novels. It illustrates the point that fiction was under strenuous, and widespread, attack. Choice E is very nearly a restatement of that idea.The best answer is D. The question requires you to determine a quality that Marxists find admirable in fiction, but that is missing from Austen's fiction. You should first look for the specific reference to Marxists. Lines 56-59 indicate that Marxists criticize Austen's fiction for its exclusive focus on the upper-middle class. This suggests that a Marxist criterion for judging novels involves the represents a novel represents a variety of social classes. If Austen 's novels had portrayed characters from more than one class of society, as choice D states, it can be inferred that Marxists would value them more highly. Choice A is incorrect, because it states precisely what the Marxists object to . There is no information to support any of the remaining choices.The best answer is C. This question requires you to infer Whately's opinion of Dickens' characters. It is important to note that Dickens' method of characterization is mentioned only in contrast to Austen's. Lines 41-45 indicate that Whately particularly admired in Austen's characters a mingling of "goodness and villainy, weakness and virtue, as in life they are always mingled." The passage then indicates that Whately preferred Austen's "art of characterization" to that of Dickens. Such a preference implies a significant difference between the two writers, suggesting that Dickens' method lacks a central characteristic of Austen's, that is, the portrayal of characters with realistically mixed virtues and flaws. Choice C is very nearly a restatement of that idea.The best answer is B. This question requires you to evaluate each of the answer choices and to judge which is not mentioned in the passage as an explanation for the critical neglect Austen suffered in the nineteenth century. Each of the answer choices could conceivably serve as an explanation, so it is important that you carefully consider what the passage actually mentions. The explanations offered in the first paragraph of the passage are those stated in choices A, D, and E. Lines 16-18 indicate that books published anonymously were unlikely to be reviewed; thus, choice C is also one of the explanations cited in the passage. The passage does not suggest that concerns about the narrow range of Austen's novels resulted in critical neglect; in fact, the contrary is suggested (lines 51-56). Thus, B is the best choice.The best answer is C. This question requires you to determine, on the basis of ideas presented in the passage, what the author might think of an idea not presented in the passage, in this case, what constitutes the best measure of literary success. Although choices A, D, and E are plausible measuresof a writer's success, nothing in the passage suggests that the author considers any of the "best," while choice B is not clearly a criterion for judgment. Lines 61-63, however, indicate that Austen has reached the " enviable pinnacle of being considered controversial," that is, the highest point one can reach. Thus, from the author's point of view, the best measure of an author's success is, as paraphrased in choice C, the existence of the debate about the author._________________ DENVER and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sandspring Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SSP, OTCQX: SSPXF) (Sandspring or the Company). As press released on December 19, 2018, the Company is conducting a drilling program on its 100% owned Chicharron silver-gold project located near Segovia, Antioquia, Colombia. The first phase of this drill program is designed to test extensions of mineralization around the historic former producer, the Guia Antigua Mine. To date, five drill holes have been completed and assay results are pending. At Toroparu, our flagship gold project located in Guyana, work by SRK Consulting (USA) on the re-scoping study continues. The goal of the study work is to establish the basis to move Toroparu forward to development even if gold prices remain at current levels. Sandspring has commenced discussions with Wheaton Precious Metals regarding the re-scoping study and work done to date. The Company has entered into an arms length investor relations agreement (the IR Agreement) with Future Money Trends, LLC and affiliates (FMT), a limited liability company existing under the laws of the State of Texas with an office at 1102 S. Austin Ave, #110-283, Georgetown, Texas, USA. FMT is headed by Kenneth Ameduri, a media investor relations specialist in the natural resources sector. To the knowledge of the Company, neither FMT nor its principals own any securities of Sandspring. The IR Agreement is for an initial term of 90 days at an aggregate cost of US$300,000 to provide financial publishing and digital marketing services to the Company. Pursuant to the IR Agreement, FMT will raise public awareness of the Company (including its social media presence) and will promote the Companys business. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Sandspring Resources Ltd. Richard A. Munson Director and Chief Executive Officer About Sandspring Resources Ltd. Sandspring Resources Ltd. is a Canadian junior mining company currently moving toward a feasibility study for the Toroparu Project in Guyana, South America with 7.4 million ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated categories. A prefeasibility study completed in May 2013 (NI 43-101 Technical Report, Prefeasibility Study, Toroparu Gold Project, Upper Puruni River Area, Guyana, dated May 24, 2013 completed by SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc., available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com)) outlined the design of an open-pit mine producing more than 200,000 ounces of gold annually over an initial 16-year mine life. Sandspring and Wheaton Precious Metals (formerly known as Silver Wheaton) entered into a gold and silver purchase agreement for the Toroparu Project in 2013 which remains in force and effect. Sandspring also holds a 100% interest in the Chicharron Gold Project located in the Segovia-Remedios mining district, Antioquia, Colombia. Additional information is available at www.sandspringresources.com or by email at info@sandspringresources.com. Contact Sandspring Resources Ltd. Richard A. Munson Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 (303)-991-5683 or email at info@sandspringresources.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 certain forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words potential, suggesting, indicating, will, plans and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information and/or statements. Forward-looking statements and/or information are based on a number of material factors, expectations and/or assumptions that Sandspring has used to develop such statements and/or information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although Sandspring believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Sandspring can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such information and/or statements, including the assumptions made in respect thereof, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and/or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information and/or statements including, without limitation: the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; risks associated with the uncertainty of exploration results and estimates; results from drilling and exploration activities; the ability of Sandspring to complete the Transaction; Sandsprings future plans; the availability of financing and/or cash flow to fund current and future plans and expenditures; the impact of increasing competition; fluctuating commodity prices; the general stability of applicable economic and political environments; the general continuance of current industry conditions; uncertainty regarding the market price for gold, silver and copper; uncertainty of conducting operations under a foreign regime; uncertainty of obtaining all applicable regulatory approvals and related timing matters; Sandsprings dependence on management personnel; and/or certain other risks detailed from time-to-time in Sandsprings public disclosure documents. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligations to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. English French Rueil Malmaison, 11 January 2019 VINCI Airports - Q4 and FY 2018 traffic 195.2 million passengers travelled through all assets operated by VINCI Airports in 2018 (this total is expected to reach 240 million passengers after integrating London Gatwick [1] ) 6.8% passenger traffic growth versus 2017 on a like-for-like network base The solid upward trends in traffic continued until the end of the year (7.2% growth in Q4) New all-time-high passenger numbers in Portugal (55 million), Cambodia (10 million), Lyon-Saint Exupery (11 million) and Nantes Atlantique (6 million) over the full year. VINCI Airports' network handled close to 48 million passengers in Q4 2018 (7.2% more than in Q4 2017 on a like-for-like network base) and a total of 195.2 million passengers in FY 2018 (6.8% more than in 2017). Europe Traffic at the 10 assets operated by VINCI Airports in Portugal rose 6.2% to 12.4 million passengers in Q4 2018. These airports had cleared the 50 million passenger milestone in 2017, and solid 6.8% growth pushed the total past the 55 million passenger mark in 2018. Traffic at the Lisbon hub grew by 8.9% year on year to an all-time-high 29 million notwithstanding space limitations. This was the biggest leap in the VINCI Airports network in 2018. To be able to accommodate traffic growth until the concession expires in 2062, VINCI Airports and the Portuguese government signed on 8 January 2019, an agreement to finance the expansion of Lisbon's airport capacity, both by the extension of the existing Lisbon airport and the opening of a new civil airport in Montijo, 25 kilometres away from the city center. The airport in Porto posted the highest year-on-year traffic growth rate in the country (10.7% to 11.9 million passengers). In France, traffic at the 12 airports under VINCI Airports management soared 10.4% to 4.6 million passengers in Q4. Over the full year, these airports catered to 19.9 million passengers, i.e. 9.4% more than in 2017. Traffic at Lyon-Saint Exupery and Lyon-Bron airports rose 7.4% in 2018, pushing the total past the 11 million passenger mark. The more than 25 new lines, including flights between Lyon and Tel Aviv, Corfu, Catania and Malaga, explain the bulk of this trend. Traffic at Nantes Atlantique Airport increased by 12.9% in 2018 compared to 2017, reaching the 6 million passenger mark, as a result of the opening of 14 new lines. Rennes Bretagne airport posted record-level 18.3% growth in 2018, mirroring a sharp rise in domestic traffic (in particular the easyJet line to Lyon). Traffic in Toulon-Hyeres soared 13.1% as Air France started providing services to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. In the United Kingdom, Belfast International Airport (which joined VINCI Airports' network in September 2018) posted a 13.6% traffic leap in Q4, confirming the British market's dynamism. This airport handled almost 6.3 million passengers from January to December 2018, i.e. 7.5% more than in 2017. Stockholm Skavsta Airport in Sweden, which also joined the network in September 2018, posted 2.1% growth in Q4 and 3.9% over the full year. In Serbia, traffic in Q4 2018 grew by 2.0% to 1.2 million passengers at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, which VINCI Airports took over at the end of December 2018. Over the full year, traffic at the airport rose by 5.4% to 5.6 million passengers. This solid performance mirrors the capital city's vitality. Americas In the United States, traffic at the five airports that VINCI Airports has been operating under concession or management contracts since September 2018 reached 2.4 million passengers in Q4 2018 (up 5.6% compared to Q4 2017). Over 9.5 million passengers travelled through these five airports from January to December 2018 (8.7% more than in 2017). Traffic at Santiago-Arturo Merino Benitez Airport in Chile grew by 8.5% to 6.3 million passengers in Q4 2018, and by 8.8% to 23.3 million passengers over 2018, fuelled by domestic travel and new intercontinental lines including Emirates services to Dubai. In Brazil, traffic at the airport in Salvador increased by 7.5% in Q4. VINCI Airports has been operating this airport since January 2018, and it catered to 8 million passengers over the past 12 months, posting 4.6% year-on-year growth. The year's highlights here included new symbolic lines such as Miami (LATAM Airlines), Santiago de Chile (Gol) and Panama City (Copa). Traffic at VINCI Airports' six bases in the Dominican Republic was stable (up 0.3%) at 1.2 million passengers in Q4 2018. In spite of a difficult start to the year marked by the bankruptcy of three airlines, these airports only declined by 2.0% in 2018. VINCI Airports' marketing campaigns targeting airlines have attracted 20 new lines, which are expected to spur fresh growth starting in 2019. Daniel Oduber Quiros Airport in the city of Liberia, Costa Rica, which joined the VINCI Airports network very recently, posted 8.4% growth in Q4 and 3.4% growth in FY 2018. Asia The three airports in the Kansai region in Japan handled 12.6 million passengers in Q4 2018, i.e. 5.4% more than in a Q4 2017, even though Kansai International Airport was closed for about 10 days in September, in the wake of Typhoon Jebi. Total traffic at these three airports amounted to 48.3 million passengers in 2018 (3.7% more than in 2017). Traffic at VINCI Airports' three bases in Cambodia remained on the strong upward trend it has been on since last January. A total of 2.9 million passengers travelled through these airports from October to December 2018 (17.1% more than in Q4 2018), pushing the full-year figure past the 10 million passenger mark for the first time ever, to 10.6 million (up 20.1% year on year). These figures in particular reflect an upsurge in demand from China and Thailand, and the fact that eight new lines were opened. Growth was especially brisk in Phnom Penh (up 27.9%), which cleared the 5 million passenger milestone to reach 5.4 million. Traffic at Sihanoukville International Airport, which serves Cambodia's leading seaside resort, leapt 92.6% in 2018, mirroring the region's soaring popularity among national and other Asian tourists. (in thousands of passengers) Q4 2018 Q4 2018/ Q4 2017 change FY 2018 12-month y-o-y change VINCI Airports 47,997 +7.2% 195,241 +6.8% Portugal (ANA) 12,434 +6.2% 55,325 +6.8% France 4,589 +10.4% 19,916 +9.4% United Kingdom (Belfast) 1,465 +13.6% 6,286 +7.5% Sweden 492 +2.1% 2,195 +3.9% Serbia 1,219 +2.0% 5,641 +5.4% United States 2,435 +5.6% 9,529 +8.7% Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel) 6,261 +8.5% 23,303 +8.8% Brazil 2,152 +7.5% 8,017 +4.6% Dominican Republic (Aerodom) 1,200 +0.3% 5,019 -2.0% Costa Rica 237 +8.4% 1,125 +3.4% Japan (Kansai Airports) 12,604 +5.4% 48,330 +3.7% Cambodia (Cambodia Airports) 2,910 +17.1% 10,554 +20.1% PRESS CONTACT VINCI Press Department Tel: +33 (0)1 47 16 31 82 media.relations@vinci.com About VINCI Airports VINCI Airports, a top five global player in the international airport sector, manages the development and operation of 46 airports in France, Portugal (including the Lisbon hub), the United Kingdom, Sweden, Serbia, Cambodia, Japan, the United States, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Chile and Brazil. Served by more than 250 airlines, VINCI Airports' network handled 195,2 million passengers in 2018. Through its expertise as a comprehensive integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and operates airports, leveraging its investment capacity, international network and know-how to optimise the management and performance of existing airport infrastructure, facility extensions and new-build construction projects. More comprehensive information is available on www.vinci-airports.com. About VINCI VINCI is a global player in concessions and contracting, employing close to 195.000 people in some 100 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, above and beyond economic and financial results, we are committed to operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. VINCI's goal is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees and partners, and for society at large. www.vinci.com Appendix - Passengers and commercial movements on 31 December 2018 Passenger traffic by airport In thousands of passengers VINCI Airports share (%) Q4 2018 % change Q4 18/Q4 17 12 months y.o.y % change 12 mths y.o.y Portugal (ANA) of which Lisbon (LIS) 100 6,797 +4.2% 29,032 +8.9% Porto (OPO) 100 2,840 +10.9% 11,939 +10.7% Faro (FAO) 100 1,570 +8.5% 8,686 -0.5% Madeira 100 761 +3.3% 3,346 -0.7% Azores 100 466 +5.7% 2,318 +3.2% TOTAL 12,434 +6.2% 55,325 +6.8% France Lyon-Saint Exupery (LYS) & Lyon-Bron (LYN) 31 2,637 +9.0% 11,050 +7.4% Nantes Atlantique (NTE) 85 1,414 +12.7% 6,199 +12.9% Saint-Nazaire Montoir (SNR) 85 6 +23.9% 21 -3.5% Rennes Bretagne (RNS) 49 202 +24.1% 857 +18.3% Dinard Bretagne (DNR) 49 18 -16.7% 108 -11.3% Grenoble Alpes Isere (GNB) 100 43 +0.4% 356 +2.8% Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc (CMF) 100 25 +13.8% 205 +9.9% Toulon Hyeres (TLN) 100 119 +13.5% 570 +13.1% Clermont Ferrand Auvergne (CFE) 100 101 +0.5% 431 +8.7% Poitiers Biard (PIS) 100 25 +7.6% 119 +1.8% TOTAL 4,589 +10.4% 19,916 +9.4% United Kingdom Belfast (BFS) 100 1,465 +13.6% 6,286 +7.5% TOTAL 1,465 +13.6% 6,286 +7.5% Sweden Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) 90 492 +2.1% 2,195 +3.9% TOTAL 492 +2.1% 2,195 +3.9% In thousands of passengers VINCI Airports share (%) Q4 2018 % change Q4 18/Q4 17 12 months y.o.y % change 12 mths y.o.y Serbia Belgrade (BEG) 100 1,219 +2.0% 5,641 +5.4% TOTAL 1,219 +2.0% 5,641 +5.4% United States of America of which Orlando-Sanford (SFB) 100 732 -0.2% 3,094 +5.9% Hollywood Burbank (BUR) MC* 1,410 +7.8% 5,269 +11.2% Atlantic City (ACY) MC* 294 +11.0% 1,166 +5.8% TOTAL 2,435 +5.6% 9,529 +8.7% Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel) Santiago (SCL) 40 6,261 +8.5% 23,303 +8,8% TOTAL 6,261 +8.5% 23,303 +8,8% Brazil Salvador (SSA) 100 2,152 +7.5% 8,017 +4.6% TOTAL 2,152 +7.5% 8,017 +4.6% Dominican Republic (Aerodom) of which Saint-Domingue (SDQ) 100 970 +0.8% 3,886 -1.0% Puerto Plata (POP) 100 181 -5.5% 901 -9.8% Samana (AZS) 100 33 +6.3% 178 +19.1% La Isabela (JBQ) 100 15 +63.0% 49 +48.0% TOTAL 1,200 +0.3% 5,019 -2.0% Costa Rica Liberia (LIR) 45 237 +8.4% 1,125 +3.4% TOTAL 237 +8.4% 1,125 +3.4% Japon (Kansai Airports) Kansai (KIX) 40 7,567 +5.3% 28,961 +3.5% Itami (ITM) 40 4,242 +6.0% 16,187 +3.9% Kobe (UKB) 40 796 +3.0% 3,182 +4.5% TOTAL 12,604 +5.4% 48,330 +3.7% Cambodia (Cambodia Airports) Phnom Penh (PNH) 70 1,503 +26.2% 5,423 +27.9% Siem Reap (REP) 70 1,165 -2.4% 4,480 +6.4% Sihanoukville (KOS) 70 242 +144.0% 651 +92.6% TOTAL 2,910 +17.1% 10,554 +20.1% *MC : Management Contract Commercial movements by airport VINCI Airports share (%) Q4 2018 % change Q4 18/Q4 17 12 months y.o.y % change 12 mths y.o.y Portugal (ANA) of which Lisbon (LIS) 100 52,016 +4.1% 213,712 +7.2% Porto (OPO) 100 22,613 +10.2% 92,025 +7.9% Faro (FAO) 100 10,998 +11.0% 57,350 -0.2% Madeira 100 6,483 +7.9% 26,958 -4.8% Azores 100 5,926 +3.9% 28,381 +2.1% TOTAL 98,050 +6.4% 418,540 +5.1% France Lyon-Saint Exupery (LYS) & Lyon-Bron (LYN) 31 30,652 +5.9% 122,456 +1.6% Nantes Atlantique (NTE) 85 14,140 +8.4% 58,632 +6.8% Saint-Nazaire Montoir (SNR) 85 465 +16.3% 1,659 -15.2% Rennes Bretagne (RNS) 49 3,272 +8.3% 13,126 +0.6% Dinard Bretagne (DNR) 49 320 -15.8% 1,599 -15.0% Grenoble Alpes Isere (GNB) 100 604 +6.9% 4,175 +1.9% Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc (CMF) 100 1,127 +7.1% 6,885 +0.9% Toulon Hyeres (TLN) 100 1,942 +8.8% 11,103 +6.7% Clermont Ferrand Auvergne (CFE) 100 2,600 +11.1% 9,437 -6.8% Poitiers Biard (PIS) 100 655 +7.0% 2,748 +1.5% TOTAL 55,777 +6.9% 231,820 +2.4% United Kingdom Belfast (BFS) 100 12,208 +16.3% 48,863 +6.0% TOTAL 12,208 +16.3% 48,863 +6.0% Sweden Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) 90 3,169 +1.7% 13,834 +2.8% TOTAL 3,169 +1.7% 13,834 +2.8% VINCI Airports share (%) Q4 2018 % change Q4 18/Q4 17 12 months y.o.y % change 12 mths y.o.y Serbia Belgrade (BEG) 100 14,332 -3.9% 67,460 +3.8% TOTAL 14,332 -3.9% 67,460 +3.8% United States of America of which Orlando-Sanford (SFB) 100 5,411 +2.0% 22,126 +5.9% Hollywood Burbank (BUR) MC* 32,594 -4.7% 133,066 +1.1% Atlantic City (ACY) MC* 2,058 -9.3% 8,372 -9.2% TOTAL 40,063 -4.1% 163,564 +1.1% Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel) Santiago (SCL) 40 40,524 +6.0% 151,237 +7.6% TOTAL 40,524 +6.0% 151,237 +7.6% Brazil Salvador (SSA) 100 20,698 +3.5% 81,470 +6.3% TOTAL 20,698 +3.5% 81,470 +6.3% Dominican Republic (Aerodom) of which Saint-Domingue (SDQ) 100 10,013 +7.4% 37,520 -1.1% Puerto Plata (POP) 100 1,376 -12.1% 6,646 -8.7% Samana (AZS) 100 274 -8.7% 1,405 +7.7% La Isabela (JBQ) 100 2,424 +17.6% 8,395 +3.9% TOTAL 14,145 +4.9% 54,665 -2.1% Costa Rica Liberia (LIR) 45 3,134 +5.2% 12,872 -8.0% TOTAL 3,134 +5.2% 12,872 -8.0% Japan (Kansai Airports) Kansai (KIX) 40 49,983 +5.1% 187,058 +1.0% Itami (ITM) 40 34,951 +1.1% 138,188 -0.2% Kobe (UKB) 40 7,391 +0.2% 29,034 +5.5% TOTAL 92,325 +3.1% 354,280 +0.9% Cambodia (Cambodia Airports) Phnom Penh (PNH) 70 13,871 +19.7% 52,217 +27.2% Siem Reap (REP) 70 11,340 -5.2% 44,314 +1.7% Sihanoukville (KOS) 70 2,872 +65.5% 8,274 +48.4% TOTAL 28,083 +11.0% 104,805 +16.2% *MC : Management Contract [1] On 27 December 2018, VINCI Airports signed an agreement to acquire 50.01% of London Gatwick Airport. This operation is expected to be completed during the first half of 2019. Attachment WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The winter season is in full effect at Washington Marriott Georgetown and with it, the hotels Visiteur restaurant is introducing new winter menus to welcome the changing seasons. The popular Dupont Circle hotel restaurants new menus offer up a twist on its established global-inspired comfort food and cuisine. The new menus boast locally-sourced dishes that include seasonally chef-crafted soups, steak frites, jumbo lump crab cake, fish tacos, crab chowder and Lomo Saltado, a Peruvian style stir-fry dish that includes grilled sliced NY strip steak, onions, peppers, tomatoes and rice. Other dishes at the West End DC restaurant include house-made gnocchi, infused with tomato sauce, mushrooms, pecorino cheese and mozzarella. The restaurants open-faced avocado sandwich comes stacked with tomato, arugula, EVOO and herb cream cheese on grilled honey grain bread. Chef Duprees Perfect Sandwich includes grilled NY strip steak, caramelized cippolini onions, talbot reserve cheese and horseradish sauce on sourdough bread. Locally sourced and carefully crafted, the delicious comfort food and cocktails at The Visiteur are sure to please guests this season. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the casual Georgetown restaurant turns comfort food into an art, showcasing local ingredients with unique flavor combinations, from gourmet flatbreads to tacos, salads, burgers and large plates. Located inside of the Washington Marriott Georgetown hotel , not far from Dupont Circle, the restaurant brings in locals and out of town guests alike, with its warm atmosphere and casual vibe. As the winter season gets underway, the restaurants new seasonal menus highlight some of the freshest food the area is known for, all with a unique spin on classic favorites. For more information or to reserve a table at the restaurant, please call +1 202-872-1500. About Washington Marriott Georgetown Recently transformed and perfectly located, Washington Marriott Georgetown is ready to make your stay in the Nation's Capital truly memorable. You'll find the hotel ideally situated near the city's West End; the Kennedy Center is nearby, as are two Metro stations. Walk from the hotel's convenient location towards Georgetown or Dupont Circle for plenty of shopping and dining. Beautifully designed rooms and suites include ultra-comfortable bedding, flat-screen TVs, well-lit workspaces and spa-like bathrooms with walk-in showers. Elsewhere within the hotel, challenge yourself to a workout in the fitness center, or enjoy a great meal at The Visiteur, the trendy global-inspired restaurant. The hotel also offers American food at Blue Duck Tavern and delectable in-room dining. If you're hosting an event in D.C., you'll be impressed with the flexible venues, which include a large ballroom that seats up to 550 guests or attendees. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1f7e8c2-eae3-4023-b644-76640e23c485 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanatana Resources Inc. (Sanatana or the Company) is pleased to report that after conducting a site visit to the Tirua Project in the Solomon Islands the Company has successfully negotiated a Surface Access Agreement (the SAA) with the local landowners. The SAA paves the way for Sanatana to be issued a Prospecting License (the PL) over the entire Tirua Project, comprising some 264 square kilometres, and to begin exploration. Mr. Peter Miles President and CEO of Sanatana states, Our recent field visit to the Solomon Islands has reinforced our opinion of the geological potential of the Tirua Project and in addition has highlighted Sanatanas ability to work in the region, culminating with the successful negotiation of the critical Surface Access Agreement. We would like to thank the local landowners and we look forward to working with them in the future. Mr. Buddy Doyle VP of Exploration of Sanatana states, "The field visit to the Tirua Project also provided us an opportunity to field check the geology of the Kolo Caldera. I am pleased to report that samples taken in conjunction with the site visit of Neil McLean, an independent Qualified Person ('QP') preparing the technical document in accordance with NI 43-101, support the assertion that extensive porphyry and epithermal mineralization exists at the Tirua Project. We have identified from the sampling, visual observation and interpretation of airborne magnetic data, alteration adjacent to the existing porphyry which we interpret as an epithermal system, approximately 9 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide. This untested system, which we are naming the East Kolo Epithermal Gold Target, will be our initial focus of exploration in the Solomon Islands. We are also pleased that a recent scientific paper entitled, 'Tectonic evolution and copper-gold metallogenesis of the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands region' by Holm et al (2018), discusses the 'abundance of porphyry, epithermal and skarn deposits' of the region, recognizing the Tirua Project as an epithermal gold prospect, and uses the paper I co-authored, 'Ladolam Gold Deposit, Lihir Island. In: Geology of the mineral deposits of Australia and Papua New Guinea.', as a reference. The East Kolo Epithermal Gold target (the EKEG), which is located in the southeast of the Kolo Caldera, is 9 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide, extending over 1,300 hectares, adjacent and directly east of the porphyry mineralization. It is represented in airborne magnetics as an extensive zone of muted to low magnetics (considered to represent hydrothermal destruction of magnetite) along a prominent set of ring structures. Broad mapped zones of pervasive clay alteration, crisscrossed by veins of silica sinter, silica flood, silica replacement and chalcedonic quartz, have been identified. These zones often carry significant gold-silver mineralization with associated pathfinder elements of As, Sb and Te. Previous soil, rock chip and trench sampling returned assay results of up to 1.16 g/t Au over 15 metres (open). Petrological studies of the rock chip samples previously collected within the EKEG epithermal field confirm outcropping areas are at the very top of an extensive intermediate sulphidation epithermal system. Previous work on the Tirua Project focused on porphyry Cu-Au potential. This work successfully returned 62 metres of 0.45% Cu from drill hole HD2 and 14 metres of 1.45g/t Au from drill hole TRD003, proving the existence of a porphyry system. Drill logs also suggest that the mineralized intercepts are high in the porphyry system with copper mineralization hosted in a propylitic overprint of phyllic alteration. The due diligence work completed recently also confirmed gold mineralization at surface, where previous work had demonstrated the same. Ten samples were taken in total. One returned 7.5g/t Au assay from a two metre section of trench sample where previously 2.48 g/t Au had been assayed. Another returned a value of 1.28 g/t Au from a rock chip of an epithermal quartz vein. A further three samples returned anomalous values of 0.19, 0.21 and 0.15 g/t Au. The information in this news release was prepared under the supervision of Buddy Doyle, BAppSc (Geol.), MAusIMM, VP Exploration for Sanatana. Mr. Doyle is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release. About the Due Diligence Sampling For verification purposes the QP collected ten samples from a number of locations on the property that had reported anomalous gold results from previous exploration work. These samples were transported by the QP and delivered for analysis of gold by Fire Assay and a suite of trace elements by ICP methods at the ALS laboratory, Brisbane, Australia. Sanatana maintains a rigorous quality control program (QA/QC) of geochemical lab results by inserting duplicate, standard and blank samples into the sample stream at regular intervals prior to being sent to the laboratory and the adherence of results to strict parameters is monitored. About the Company Sanatana Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company with an experienced management team and board of directors. Sanatana is based in Vancouver and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: STA). SANATANA RESOURCES INC. (signed) Peter Miles ______________ Peter Miles President and Chief Executive Officer Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, intends, is expected, potential, suggests or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond Sanatanas control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for distribution in the U.S. or to U.S. Newswires VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blissco Cannabis Corp. (CSE: BLIS) (OTCQB: HSTRF) (FRA: GQ4B), (Blissco) or the (Company) is a Canadian wellness cannabis brand based in British Columbia and licensed producer, processor, and distributor of premium dried cannabis and cannabis oil. Today, the Company is pleased to announce its newly formed strategic partnership with Pharmadrug Production GmbH (Pharmadrug) for distribution of Blisscos product in Germany. Pharmadrug will actively promote Blisscos dried cannabis product across its expansive medical cannabis network in the German market. Pharmadrug is a private pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and an international distributor and manufacturer for pharmaceutical products in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. We are excited to partner with Pharmadrug and enter the German market. Building international partnerships is a key component of Blisscos growth strategy, and we are looking forward to hosting German inspectors for a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspection of the Blissco facility in late January, said Damian Kettlewell, CEO of Blissco. A successful GMP inspection is required to earn a GMP certification which will enable Pharmadrug and Blissco to apply for import and export permits to begin shipping. Germany is the largest legal cannabis market in the world with a population of over 82 million people who have federal insurance coverage for cannabis. As a German entrepreneur, I very much appreciate the pleasant and efficient co-operation with Blissco. We are proud and confident to bring such a dedicated team into the growth-oriented German market, said Pharmadrug CEO Thomas Raab. About Pharmadrug Production GmbH Pharmadrug Production GmbH, Hamburg, is a medium-sized German pharmaceutical company with established business in Africa and the Middle East. Pharmadrug is specialized in purchasing and manufacturing generic pharmaceuticals as well as marketing healthcare products and active pharmaceutical substances (APIs), finished dosage forms (FDF), medical consumables, and devices. Its subsidiary Septichem is specialized in water disinfection and purification systems. Pharmadrug has combined quality, speed, service, and high cost-efficiency to satisfy governmental and private customers worldwide since 1982. About Blissco Cannabis Corp. Blissco Cannabis Corp. (CSE: BLIS) (OTCQB: HSTRF) (FRA: GQ4B) is a Canadian wellness cannabis brand based in British Columbia and a licensed producer, processor, and distributor of premium dried cannabis and cannabis oil. Blissco is committed to providing distinguished service to its medical clients and plans to launch a telemedicine app to offer mobile access to a Nurse Practitioner for easy guidance and access to a prescription for medical cannabis products. Blissco is also developing an e-commerce website for its medical clients that will house a curated shop of premium dried cannabis, cannabis oil and related products. Blissco will be selling adult-use dried cannabis and processed products in Canadian provinces. Blissco provides processing, extraction and distribution services to the growing market of licensed Canadian cannabis cultivators. The Company leverages cutting-edge technology and is continuously developing its network of top-tier industry cultivators, retailers, and innovators. Blissco is backed by an experienced team that is deeply in tune and integrated with industry partners and Blissco's clients. Learn more: Blissco.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors BLISSCO CANNABIS CORP. Damian Kettlewell, CEO, Founder & Chair For further information please contact: 1 604 484-9119 investors@blissco.com Cautionary Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively forward-looking statements). The use of any of the word will and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. This news release contains forward-looking statements and assumptions pertaining to the following: the ability to execute on our strategic plans and the impact on our future operations, capital expenditures, receipt of a cannabis oil license and a license to sell dried cannabis and other objectives. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. The CSE has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. English Norwegian Data Respons has signed contracts with a leading player within automotive in Germany. The contracts comprise development of software for real time information processing, advanced communication solutions and applications integrated with multiple optimisation and control systems. The deliveries are part of long-term and business critical development projects that goes on for several years. The contract scope is expected to increase significantly throughout the year and beyond. The ongoing digitalisation of the automotive industry makes vehicles more advanced with additional sensors, more embedded software and increasing demand for data processing. Furthermore, almost all new vehicles will be connected to the internet enabling a broad range of new value adding applications and services. - Data Respons is a niche supplier of specialist development services and high-tech solutions to several leading players in the transport and automotive industry (cars, trucks and other commercial vehicles). Vehicles are getting increasingly complex driving the need for in-depth knowledge and understanding both at a system and domain level. Our customers, and the industry in general, are increasing their R&D investments within our core areas and we are therefore experiencing a strong demand for our services, says Kenneth Ragnvaldsen, CEO of Data Respons ASA. For further information: Kenneth Ragnvaldsen, CEO, Data Respons ASA, tel. +47 913 90 918. Detroit, Mich., Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Detroit, Mich., Jan 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Guaranteed Rate, one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the country, welcomes Steve Konja as Regional Manager. Konja brings more than a decade of industry experience to the company and will be primarily based out of the Troy, Mich., branch. He will also help Guaranteed Rate expand its mortgage operations across the entire state. Our top priority is to deliver exceptional customer service and help more borrowers achieve their homeownership dreams, Konja said. Im impressed with Guaranteed Rates Winning Formula, which emphasizes the use of paperless technologies to deliver a quick and straightforward home loan solution. This allows us to better serve homebuyers in Michigan, while providing a hassle-free mortgage process with our winning combination of market expertise, top-notch technology and flexible products. We are thrilled that Steve has joined Guaranteed Rate, said Jim Eboli, Divisional Sales Manager at Guaranteed Rate. We look forward to working with someone so experienced in building strong relationships and helping him grow his business with referral partners and borrowers. Since 2000, Guaranteed Rate has built a foundation of delivering competitive pricing, mortgage products and unmatched expertise from its top-producing loan officers, helping thousands of customers move into their dream homes.The Company introduced the worlds first Digital Mortgage, creating an easy-to-understand, transparent loan process, which has led to an industry-leading customer satisfaction rating and exponential growth. About Guaranteed Rate Guaranteed Rate is one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, the Company has more than 300 offices across the U.S. and Washington, D.C., and is licensed in all 50 states. Since its founding in 2000, Guaranteed Rate has helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances and funded nearly $19 billion in loans in 2017 alone. The Company has cemented itself as the Home Purchase Experts by introducing innovative technology, such as the world's first Digital Mortgage, by offering low rates within an easy-to-understand mortgage process and by delivering unparalleled customer service. Honors and awards include: Top Lender for Online Service for 2018 by U.S. News & World Report; No. 3 ranking in Scotsman Guide's Top Retail Mortgage Lenders 2017; Top Lender 2016, 2017 and 2018 by Chicago Agent magazine; Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces list for seven consecutive years; and Best Overall Online Lender and Best Lender for FHA Refinance by NerdWallet in 2018. Visit rate.com for more information. NMLS: 443931 Attachment English Danish Press release, Copenhagen, Denmark Today, FLSmidth has been awarded a contract to deliver equipment for a greenfield cement plant in Paraguay, South America. The contract is valued at more than DKK 350m. The expected plant start-up is within 24 months and the plant is expected to be fully operational in 2021. The plant will have a capacity of 2,500 tonnes per day and will mainly supply cement to its local market. FLSmidth will design and engineer the production line and will deliver energy-efficient equipment for the entire production line, from crushing to packing, while the customer will be in charge of the civil design and construction of the plant. "The customer needed a state-of-the-art solution to meet the steady demand for cement in this developing region. This contract reinforces our position as the leading supplier of the most productive and energy-efficient equipment and technology for customers in the cement industry who focus on productivity, reliability and sustainability," says Jan Kjaersgaard, President, Cement, FLSmidth. FLSmidth has received the down payment and the order becomes effective immediately and will be part of the order intake for Q1 2019. Contacts Investors Relations Nicolai Mauritzen, tel. +45 36 18 18 51, nicm@flsmidth.com Contacts Media Relations Sofie Karen Lindberg, tel. +45 30 93 18 77, skl@flsmidth.com FLSmidth delivers sustainable productivity to the global mining and cement industries. As the market-leading supplier of engineering, equipment and service solutions, FLSmidth improves performance, drives down costs, and reduces the environmental impact of operations. Present in more than 50 countries and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Group and its 11,700 employees generated revenue of DKK 18 billion in 2017. www.flsmidth.com Clear Lake: Ice thickness is 8 to 10 inches in the little lake. Use extreme caution if you venture out on the main lake as areas that were open water are starting to freeze over. Yellow Bass - Fair: Start shallow using a small jig or jigging spoon tipped with several spikes or a waxworm. You have to keep moving to stay on fish. Yellow Perch - Good: Lots of small fish are being caught. If youre not going to use the fish you catch, please release them. Black Crappie - Fair: Try a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head in the early morning. Walleye Fair: A few walleyes are being caught fishing the rock reefs. Best bite is early morning and evening. MASON CITY - Randy M. Carolus, 61, of Mason City, died on Wednesday, January 9, 2019. A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 14, 2019, at 10:30 AM at St. James Lutheran Church, 1148 4th St. SE, with Pastor Sid Bohls officiating. A visitation will be held Sunday, January 13, 2019 at Major Erickson Funeral Home; 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with a luncheon following committal service. Memorials can be made out to the family of Randy Carolus. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com James LeRoy Tweeten LAKE MILLS - James LeRoy Tweeten age 93 died on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at the Lake Mills Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, January 14, 2019 at Salem Lutheran Church, 401 S. Lake St. in Lake Mills with Pastor Joel Guttormson officiating. Interment will be in Beaver Creek Lutheran Cemetery, rural Joice, Iowa, with military honors will be conducted by the Lake Mills Otto Chose Post #235. A visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main St., Lake Mills, Iowa 50450. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Beaver Creek Lutheran Cemetery, 3770 Bluebill Ave., Joice, IA 50446. You can contact the family with on-line condolences at: www.mittelstadtfuneralhome.com 641-592-0221 Well know more in two or three months when we get through the renewal process. Right now its certainly better than we expected, said Jeff Plagge, president and CEO of Northwest Financial Corp., a bank based in Spirit Lake, Iowa, 15 miles south of Jackson, Minn. The second half of President Donald Trumps aid package to farmers, which gives soybean farmers a total of $1.65 per bushel for their harvest, also helped. Plagge said the 52-percent figure sounds really high, and he said farmers have been more proactive this year than they were in the farm crisis of the 1980s. Theyre selling more crops ahead on the futures market and taking action to sell land or machinery without being forced to by their banker. Ken Oraskovich, a vice president at First National Bank of Bagley, 30 miles west of Bemidji, said the majority of his clientele cattle and grain farmers are struggling to make their payments. But he added he expects corn and beef prices to rise in 2019, and hes working with farmers. Ive never had to sell anybody out in all my years of banking and I dont plan to now, he said. We arent pushing guys for any more collateral by any means. Research is also an important topic. Hill said lawmakers last spring approved funding for building a much-needed new state veterinary diagnostic lab at Iowa State University, but that funding level is probably too low. And Lehman said he knows it is unlikely to happen, but he is still hopeful legislators might take another look at providing funding for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. That center lost its state funding at the end of the 2017 legislative session. It still exists, but operates on a shoestring budget funded by income from an endowment. I think that was a case where it was a political target of a small number of legislators, Lehman said. I think that if you polled Iowans, most would be in favor of the work that the Leopold Center is doing. The past two years, he said, appeared to include some long-time pet projects and political score-settling, something that can happen more easily when any one party controls all branches of state government. Hopefully, he said, that is over and lawmakers can move on to a more bipartisan approach. Beef Grinds Higher Cattle prices are continuing to climb, reaching an 11-month high on Friday above $1.25 per pound. Beef demand has been strong as the U.S. economy continues its steady expansion, giving consumers more confidence that they can splurge on steaks. Cattle prices jumped up this week as Winter Storm Gia brought treacherous conditions across Kansas, threatening animals in the third-largest cattle-producing state. Additionally, improving export outlooks are boosting the prices after demand for U.S. livestock fell sharply last year amidst the trade disputes with China, Canada, and Mexico. Since then, the renewed NAFTA deal diminished worries about Mexican and Canadian demand, a savior for ranchers as those two nations are major buyers of U.S. beef. Sugar Rally Crystallizing Sugar prices appear to have bottomed out and have begun working on a rally, sparking investor demand. Three Colorado lawmakers moving to the Senate will be giving up more than their House seats; theyll also be giving up more than $10,000 in pay. In 2015, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 88, which raises the base salary of lawmakers and other state officials beginning with the 2019 session. The governors pay is going from $90,000 to $123,193. The lieutenant governor, secretary of state and treasurers pay will all increase from $68,500 to $93,360; the attorney generals pay will increase from $80,000 to $107,672. But, as it turns out, not everyone is getting a bump in pay. All 65 members of the House, elected in 2018, will receive a higher base salary of $40,242, up from the $30,000 all lawmakers have been paid since 1999. But only 17 of the 35 senators, all elected in 2018, will get the increase. The other 18 will stay at $30,000 until 2020. Those who are term-limited in 2020 Sens. Larry Crowder, Vicki Marble, Owen Hill and Nancy Todd will never see the pay increase. The other 14 senators, if re-elected in 2020, will finally see the pay bump in the 2021 session. Those 18 also include three brand-new members of the Senate: former Reps. Jeff Bridges of Greenwood Village, now-Sen. Joann Ginal of Fort Collins and Rep. Bob Rankin of Carbondale, all recently appointed by vacancy committees to fill the unexpired terms of Sens. Daniel Kagan, John Kefalas and Randy Baumgardner, respectively. Kagan and Baumgardner announced they would resign this month; Kefalas was elected to the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners in November. All of the departing senators won election to the Senate in 2016. And therein lies the issue. The 2015 legislation that increased lawmaker salaries for the first time since 1999 stated that all members of the General Assembly elected through the 2016 general election and members appointed to fill vacancies for unexpired terms of those members shall be paid $30,000 per year. House Majority Leader Alec Garnett of Denver said the pay inequity isnt fair and that lawmakers are already talking about it. Whether anyone will attempt to address it through legislation is another matter. The whole point of making those elected in 2016 subject to a lower base salary was intended to ensure that lawmakers werent voting themselves pay raises. Of the 16 members of the Senate who cosponsored the 2015 bill, only two Marble of Fort Collins and Baumgardner, who was a prime co-sponsor are still in the Senate (Baumgardners resignation is official Jan. 21). The others all departed under term limits in the past four years. In the House, the bills two prime co-sponsors were Democratic Rep. Millie Hamner of Dillon and, in a twist of irony, Rankin, who said hes known for some time that he would lose money by going to the Senate. Bridges was unaware that his base salary would drop. Im not doing this for the money, Bridges said. An additional interesting note: If Joyce Rankin, wife of Rep. Rankin and a member of the state Board of Education, is selected by a House District 57 vacancy committee on Feb. 5 to replace her husband, she will receive the higher base salary. The Republican Party is the party of civil rights. It cannot tolerate racist remarks among its ranks. Two Walsenburg schools were closed Thursday after a student threatened harm to a middle school assistant principal, and four guns were stolen from school staff members houses. Peakview School a preschool through eighth grade and John Mall High School did not hold classes amid concerns about the safety of students and staff, said Michael Moore, superintendent of Huerfano School District Re-1. A middle school student threatened an assistant principal on Wednesday, Moore said. The threat came after the assistant principals house had been burglarized Monday and Tuesday nights during which two handguns, cash and cologne were stolen, he said. A middle school teachers house also was burglarized Wednesday night, during which an AR-15 rifle and a .357-caliber revolver were stolen, Moore said. With four guns unaccounted for in the community, Moore said he had no choice but to close the schools. My first concern is, of course, the safety of the student and faculty members, Moore said. The assistant principals two handguns were later returned by a former student, Moore said. Details about that former student, or of possible arrests in the burglaries, were not available Thursday evening. A call to the Huerfano County Sheriffs Office was not immediately returned. The district operates on a four-day week, so no classes were scheduled Friday. Moore said he is unsure whether schools will remain closed Monday if the stolen guns are still missing. Gov. Jared Polis laid out an ambitious, sweeping agenda Thursday in his first State of the State address before a packed joint session of the General Assembly, dominated by fellow Democrats swept into power Nov. 6 with the new governor. Polis sketched out his intention to spread prosperity across Colorado and described the aggressive approach that his administration intends to take. The one-time tech entrepreneur used the word bold eight times in the 55-minute speech. The former five-term Boulder congressman kept a tight focus on issues that were the focus of his campaign. Sporting his trademark blue sneakers on his second day in office, a relaxed Polis vowed to establish free full-day kindergarten statewide by this fall and announced the creation of a state office dedicated to cutting health care costs. Declaring his intention to confront climate change head on, Polis said the state will embrace the renewable-energy future while protecting oil and gas workers. And in a nod to the chambers Republicans, Polis called on lawmakers to lower the states individual and business income tax rates by closing loopholes written into the tax code. What makes Colorado unique isnt just the boldness of our ideas, Polis said. It is the resilience and the spirit of our inspiring people, who make change happen, who truly bring bold ideas to life. Although Democrats control both chambers of the Legislature, with numbers in the House not seen since the 1950s, Polis asked for a bipartisan approach. Recalling a conversation last summer with their young children about the differences among political parties Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Greens Polis said his son, Caspian, asked his daughter, Cora, what party she belongs to, and she responded: The Happy Birthday Party. It was one of those moments every parent experiences, where your child shows you wisdom you cant get from most adults, Polis said. And I think there are times we would all rather be in the Happy Birthday Party. Its wisdom that will guide our approach to problem-solving in this administration. What matters isnt whether ideas come from Democrats or Republicans, he said, but whether they solve the states problems. This doesnt mean any of us should abandon our values. What it does mean is that mere partisanship will never stop us from embracing good ideas or taking bold action for the people of Colorado, who elected us to deliver, not to grandstand. Before enumerating his proposals, Polis the first openly gay man elected governor anywhere in the country and the states first Jewish governor outlined his vision of a state standing athwart a coarse and divisive national mood. Here in Colorado, we treat each other with respect. We reject efforts to intimidate immigrant families or tear children from their parents arms, he said as Democratic and eventually Republican legislators interrupted him with sustained applause. We dont tolerate bigotry or discrimination of any kind. And we dont accept hostage-taking as a form of governance. After thanking lawmakers, members of his cabinet, dignitaries and family members his parents and Marlon Reis, the states first gentleman the new governor declared: The state of our state is solid. It is strong. It is successful. It is daring. And it is bold. He credited lawmakers and tipped his hat to former Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who led the state from the depths of a recession to one of the top economies in the country. Then Polis described how he envisions making the state better. His top priority for the 120-day legislative session will be to enable every school district to offer all-day kindergarten and expand access to free preschool. The state only funds half-day kindergarten, and some districts let parents pay for more. Research shows that full-day kindergarten yields short- and long-term benefits, including improved academic achievement, earlier intervention for special-needs students and better high school graduation rates, said Polis, who served on the State Board of Education. Now its time for us to finally cross the finish line, to fund free, full-day kindergarten by August 2019. Lets get it done. State Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain, said she agreed with his broad intention but diverged on the details. Who can argue with better education for children? Nobody, Landgraf said after the speech. But is it doable? What are the trade-offs? Free all-day kindergarten has a cost, said Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, R-Parker, adding that Polis, fresh out of free-spending Washington, D.C., might not yet grasp that Colorado has to balance its budget every year. In Congress, they can deficit spend, Holbert said. How will we pay for those things labeled as free when they arent free? We have to pay for all of this out of the tax dollars were given. We reject efforts to intimidate immigrant families or tear children from their parents arms. Gov. Jarel Polis, State of the State address A What if idea hatched in November by a West Middle School teacher and his students in Colorado Springs District 11 has become a Whoa, this is going to happen scenario. We were ecstatic, math teacher Phil Hutcherson said of his students when they learned Monday that their proposed project is the Colorado winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. The local deaf community is seeking a greater say in who is considered and ultimately selected to be the next superintendent of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. A new superintendent is expected to be named Jan. 29 to replace Carol Hilty when she retires at the end of this academic year, the state schools governing board was told at a meeting Thursday. Hilty, who has worked at the school east of downtown Colorado Springs for 30 years, has been superintendent for 15 years. A search firm, Ray & Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, listed the job as paying $150,000 plus benefits. Board members will begin reviewing vetted applicants on Friday, and hold meetings with the staff and public this month. A spokeswoman for the deaf community, Ida Wilding, a professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, objected to the boards timeline, saying the deaf community wanted more involvement from the beginning in selecting the schools next leader. Wilding, president of the Colorado chapter of the American Sign Language Teachers Association, accused the seven-member board of ignoring letters requesting input from the deaf community. The board has shown extremely low to no transparency, little to no public discussion or preparation for the superintendent search, she said through an interpreter. Were not sure why all of this is happening. We cherish inclusion and wish to collaborate our values with yours. Let us all work together to ensure the best possible person be selected. Board member Andy McElhany said the board is almost as in the dark as you are. The search firm has done what its been hired to do, he said, which was to advertise the position, collect applications, sort them and present a list of the top candidates. Thats where we are right now, McElhany said. None of us have seen the applications from people who have submitted them. As we go forward, there will be forums for staff input, community input. Also, an anticipated December deadline to complete an independent finance and performance review of the school has been extended to June 30, according to the Colorado Department of Education. Colorados former Interim Education Commissioner, Elliott Asp, now a senior partner with the Colorado Education Initiative, is serving as the independent facilitator for the program audit, along with several industry experts. Public concerns about the school presented in a briefing in December 2017 to the Legislatures Joint Budget Committee led school leaders to voluntarily suggest to the Colorado Department of Education that an external review of the school be conducted. For more than a year, the JBC had fielded complaints about the schools methodology in deaf education, academic quality, student performance, admissions policies, off-campus intervention programs and board oversight. Those areas and others, including per pupil spending, transparency and accountability, will be analyzed over the next few months, Asp said Thursday in updating board members on the process. The team will examine and identify program strengths, gaps, areas of focus and growth and resources, he said. Review team members are making on-site visits, talking with staff, students and parents, he said, with the goal of presenting a report with recommendations to the JBC at the end of June. The purpose is really not to go A-ha, we found something, but heres some interesting things, heres some places where they can grow, to give an opportunity for staff to get better at what they do, Asp said when talking about examining student achievement. McElhany and a few others expressed concern about comparing state- and school-based test scores of deaf or blind students to able-bodied students, but Asp said the team will look for year-over-year growth as well as suitable comparisons to similar student populations. Were not here to evaluate the instructional program happening inside the classroom, Asp said. The issues are is your curriculum aligned with state standards, do kids get exposed to grade-level content, do we have high-level academic expectations for all kids based on their abilities. The historic state-funded campus in the Middle Shooks Run neighborhood east of downtown Colorado Springs enrolls about 210 deaf or hard of hearing, blind or vision-impaired students from ages 3 to 21. About 80 students live on campus. Off-campus programs reach more than 700 students statewide. Richard Rick Hauan, the deaf education consultant on the team, has participated in similar studies for other states schools and recommended the six-month extension for the review to provide a more thorough analysis based on his prior experience, said Jeremy Meyer, spokesman for the Colorado Department of Education. Hauan is the executive director for the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss. Donna McNear, an education consultant who provides technical assistance to local and state education agencies for students with vision impairments, is the blind and visually impaired education consultant. The fiscal consultant is Glenn Gustafson, deputy superintendent and chief financial officer for Colorado Springs School District 11. Other experts and two employees of the school also are involved . Heading out of town? Here are some music, stage and art event around the state of Colorado. Damian Garcia took a cue from Santa as he pulled a large bag on his back. The fourth-grader then ended up carrying two weighty bags into Washington Elementary School. But Garcia wasnt the only huge-sack hauler. Members of Full Life Church in Fremont and other students toted several clothing-stuffed bags and boxes of shoes into the local school. Inside, Erin Wegener fought tears when she saw the large pile of bagged clothes ready to be given to schoolchildren who need warm gear this winter. Thank you guys, said Wegener, the school counselor. This helps a ton. On Thursday, Full Life Church with help from local businesses and individuals donated more than 700 items, which included 37 pairs of shoes and 13 winter coats for children who attend the Fremont school. The donation came after a month-long gathering process to help kids at the school which serves 310 students from pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade. Wegener said the donation will benefit the schoolchildren. (Bloomberg) -- Sign up for China Rising, a new weekly dispatch on where China stands now and where it's going next. Xiaomi Corp.s billionaire co-founder, shrugging off a share slump that wiped $6 billion off its market value in just three days, expects the advent of next-generation wireless to energize demand for its smartphones. The Chinese devices maker is now focusing on pushing upmarket while expanding into Europe, forgoing the U.S., Chief Executive Officer Lei Jun told Bloomberg Television. He didnt outline his reasons for avoiding the worlds largest economy, once deemed a promising arena for Xiaomi but now increasingly hostile to Chinese corporations. On Thursday, Xiaomi announced plans to give its bargain Redmi label more prominence so it can begin to raise prices and specs on its flagship Mi gadgets. That effort to elevate its name comes as the smartphone boom plateaus and Chinas economy decelerates. But rivals such as Huawei Technologies Co. have already claimed a share of the higher end of the market, encroaching on Apple Inc.s turf. While Lei declined to comment on how an economic deceleration might affect his business, he did say 5G will revive not just demand for smartphones, but also the internet services Xiaomi hosts. They now run the gamut from online music to movies and serve, collectively, some 220 million users. In China, the penetration rate of smartphones is extremely high, Lei said in an interview. But I think we are at the eve of 5G. I believe when 5G phones start to get popular, the overall demand from China will recover. Xiaomi shares rose 2.1 percent to HK$10.18 as of 11:21 a.m. in Hong Kong. The stock is 40 percent below the price in Julys initial public offering and shed 17 percent in the past three days after a post-IPO lockup on billions of shares was lifted. Several analysts cut their price targets or estimates on the former high-flier this week. Once touted as an internet company that can command a value of as much as $100 billion, Xiaomi is now worth roughly a third of that. Story continues In the wake of Apples shock outlook-cut last week, CLSA slashed its forecast on Xiaomis shipments by 15 percent to 135 million units this year -- lagging Huawei but ahead of local rivals including like Oppo. To be sure, its come a long way since its inception. Shareholders whove owned a piece of the company since its first funding rounds can pocket a fat profit. Some 3.9 billion shares bought in a round of funding that started in 2010 cost less than two Hong Kong cents each, according to the companys prospectus. Over the past two to three years, we have entered about 80 countries and regions, Lei told reporters at an earlier roundtable. I hope the momentum continues. (Updates share price performance in sixth paragaph.) To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Gao Yuan in Beijing at ygao199@bloomberg.net;Tom Mackenzie in Beijing at tmackenzie5@bloomberg.net;Sabrina Mao in Beijing at jmao55@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Robert Fenner at rfenner@bloomberg.net, Edwin Chan For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Turkey will go ahead with its planned offensive against Kurdish militias in northeastern Syria whether or not the U.S. withdraws its troops from the country, its foreign minister said Thursday. The warning comes after American officials attempted to condition a U.S. troop pullout on a guarantee of safety for its Kurdish partners and Turkish non-aggression. Ankara, which views the U.S.-backed Kurdish militias in Syria as terrorists, has already amassed thousands of Turkish troops along its border with Syria. Turkey will go ahead with its planned offensive against Kurdish militias in northeastern Syria whether or not the U.S. withdraws its troops from the country, its foreign minister said Thursday. "If the (withdrawal) is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this decision," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told local news station NTV, without elaborating on a timeline. The warning comes after American officials attempted to condition a U.S. troop pullout on a guarantee of safety for its Kurdish partners and Turkish non-aggression something Turkish President Recep Erdogan promptly smacked down on Tuesday. Now Ankara, which has amassed thousands of Turkish troops along its border with Syria, says it will act regardless of a U.S. delay. "We are determined on the field and at the table," Cavusoglu said. "We will decide on its timing and we will not receive permission from anyone." White House national security advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have spent the week in the Middle East trying to reassure allies of America's commitment in the wake of President Donald Trump shock announcement to pull all U.S. troops out of Syria. Security officials and lawmakers have warned this would mean abandoning local partners on the ground and undermining U.S. credibility when it comes to alliances. The White House and State Department did not respond to requests for comment on Cavusoglu's statements at the time of publication. Story continues Turkey's government has long threatened to unilaterally attack the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the U.S.-supported militias controlling large swaths of northern Syria that spearheaded the local fight against the Islamic State. Ankara views the YPG as terrorists and a security threat on its southern border, stressing its ties to a separate Kurdish group that's carried out a decades-long, violent insurgency against the Turkish state. The two NATO allies continue to lock horns over the issue of the Kurds, which has proved a massive thorn in U.S.-Turkey relations since the Pentagon began arming and training the Kurds to battle IS in Syria in 2015. Allies in the global anti-IS coalition and in Congress also voiced concern that the campaign against the extremist group was not finished. Trump, defending his decision, stressed that it's now time for other countries to fill the U.S.'s role, and welcomed Erdogan's offer to take on the fight against IS an offer that many critics see as a cover for having free reign to kill YPG members in Syria. Experts also warn that if Turkey attacks the Kurds, they will be forced to abandon the anti-IS fight in order to defend themselves. For those who have long studied the region, a guarantee of Turkish non-aggression toward the Kurds, as White House officials have suggested, was never going to be feasible. "The U.S. (or Bolton) attitude is precisely that the YPG should be left alone. This is not a feasible condition, and indeed, its improbability is what makes it attractive to US officials looking to keep the U.S. in Syria," said Faysal Itani, a Syria expert at the Atlantic Council. A policy that would 'invite massacres' For the Kurds themselves, the crisis may be existential. "Kurds in Syria that I am constantly in contact with say they want to see action rather than statements because in their view threats from Turkey are very serious," Mutlu Civiroglu, a Kurdish affairs analyst based in Washington D.C., told CNBC. They point to Turkey's offensive in the northwestern Syrian Kurdish enclave of Afrin that began in January of last year and drove hundreds of thousands of Kurds to refugee camps. "If Trump's team allows Erdogan to move his forces into northeastern Syria, it would be like inviting the fox to guard the henhouse," said Nick Heras, a Middle East security fellow at the Center for a New American Security and former research associate at the National Defense University. This, he said, would be "a policy that would invite massacres, not the stabilization of post-IS Syria." More From CNBC Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). Well use ROE to examine Texas Pacific Land Trust (NYSE:TPL), by way of a worked example. Over the last twelve months Texas Pacific Land Trust has recorded a ROE of 77%. That means that for every $1 worth of shareholders equity, it generated $0.77 in profit. View our latest analysis for Texas Pacific Land Trust Want to help shape the future of investing tools and platforms? Take the survey and be part of one of the most advanced studies of stock market investors to date. How Do I Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit Shareholders Equity Or for Texas Pacific Land Trust: 77% = 150.806 US$195m (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2018.) Most know that net profit is the total earnings after all expenses, but the concept of shareholders equity is a little more complicated. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. The easiest way to calculate shareholders equity is to subtract the companys total liabilities from the total assets. What Does Return On Equity Signify? ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The return is the profit over the last twelve months. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses. Does Texas Pacific Land Trust Have A Good Return On Equity? One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. As you can see in the graphic below, Texas Pacific Land Trust has a higher ROE than the average (12%) in the Oil and Gas industry. Story continues NYSE:TPL Last Perf January 11th 19 Thats what I like to see. I usually take a closer look when a company has a better ROE than industry peers. For example you might check if insiders are buying shares. How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity? Most companies need money from somewhere to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. Combining Texas Pacific Land Trusts Debt And Its 77% Return On Equity Shareholders will be pleased to learn that Texas Pacific Land Trust has not one iota of net debt! Its high ROE already points to a high quality business, but the lack of debt is a cherry on top. After all, with cash on the balance sheet, a company has a lot more optionality in good times and bad. But Its Just One Metric Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, Id generally prefer the one with higher ROE. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, youll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. You can see how the company has grow in the past by looking at this FREE detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. If you would prefer check out another company one with potentially superior financials then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. 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. In Tencents Future, It Wont Be the Humans Who Chat (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Apple Inc.s biggest competitor in China isnt Xiaomi Corp. or Huawei Technologies Co. Its Tencent Holdings Ltd. Industry observers have known for a while that Tencents WeChat, including its Mini Programs platform, has the potential to displace the App Store. And its OS-agnostic nature means that users can easily swap from device to device, even across operating systems. Now the company seems set on building out the long tail, maximizing value beyond mainstream usage of its core products. At its annual WeChat conference this week, Tencent executives took the stage to outline their business and development plans. On the agenda was its strategy for building out Mini Programs a service that allows third-party developers to run scaled-down apps on top of WeChats instant messenger. Niche apps within WeChat, such as those used by a parent-teacher group or neighborhood grocery store, accounted more than half of total Mini Programs traffic, Daiwa Capital Markets analysts John Choi, Candis Chan and Robin Leung wrote in a note after attending the event in Guangzhou. Being able to find these apps is a key issue, so Tencent is working on ways to improve this, the analysts wrote. The company is also creating developer and management tools to make it easier to build these apps, and will ramp up monetization of Mini Programs. Just build a good Mini Program, and well do the rest, Tencent executives told the conference, according to the Daiwa analysts. With WeChat itself nearing peak penetration (it has 1.1 billion monthly active users) Tencent needs to go deeper to keep growing. Its already nailed the big-ticket items chat, pay, and online-to-offline services so now it must hunt for niches. Its this theres an app for that approach that turned Apples iOS and Alphabet Inc.s Android into ubiquitous destinations for all manner of weird and wonderful tools blowing out a candle with your iPhone, or saying Yo to a friend. What makes Tencents Mini Programs even more powerful is the fact that everybody in China uses WeChat (meaning theres no iOS versus Android cleavage), and it seamlessly integrates with the core functions of the Tencent messenger (chat, pay, services). Story continues The key to leveraging this long tail will be Tencents recent shift toward industrial and enterprise use. Matthew Brennan, a WeChat expert and founder of Chinese marketing consultancy China Channel, summarized Tencents strength in a quote from Snap Inc. founder Evan Spiegel (Tencent owns 15 percent of Snap): Tencent very early on understood the power of communication because it drives frequency. And if you can be the service thats most frequently used on someones phone, youre able to develop a lot of other ancillary businesses around that engagement. Whereas online, and later mobile, communication was once about humans chatting with humans, the next wave will be around enterprises communicating with humans, or with each other. I can imagine WeChat being used to manage inventory and order supplies, assess weather and automatically deploy taxis or stock up on umbrellas, or serve up ads for hot chocolate versus ice cream. Not only would this build more stickiness organizations are less capricious than consumers when it comes product selection but it would allow for collection and analysis of much more data. As Tencent transforms over the next decade, filling niches and connecting enterprises, we may find that humans are no longer the most important users. To contact the author of this story: Tim Culpan at tculpan1@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Rachel Rosenthal at rrosenthal21@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Tim Culpan is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. He previously covered technology for Bloomberg News. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion 2019 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- These days ARM Holdings Plc is expanding at such speed co-founder Mike Muller has to make a reservation before he can use his own office. This has become a meeting room so I have to book it when Im here because weve run out of space, said the companys chief technology officer in an interview at ARMs Cambridge, U.K., headquarters. ARM has added about 2,000 employees bringing its headcount to just shy of 6,000 at the urging of Japans SoftBank Group Corp., which bought the company in 2016. This has cramped its existing facility, where employees are spread out among six low-slung office buildings. ARM will soon move to a new 48-million pound ($61 million) building on the Cambridge campus -- featuring a vast 180-meter long atrium bookended by floating staircases, and wired with more than 1,000 kilometers of ethernet cabling. While begun before the SoftBank acquisition, its a headquarters that befits ARMs newfound swagger and ambition. Its quietly understated," Muller says with typical British irony, before adding, "Its nice, its big." Founded in 1990, ARM quietly grew into the U.K.s largest listed company before SoftBanks $32 billion takeover. It designs chips that are licensed to the worlds largest technology companies. As a result, just about every smartphone, mobile phone, and tablet runs on an ARM chip. Now under SoftBank Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son, the English executives who run ARM are having to step out into the spotlight, due to Sons ambitions for the company. Son presses ARM executives in meetings to move quickly through details of current operations and skip to long-range plans. He insists that ARM submit monthly updates to its 10-year business plan to keep it focused on the future. ARM Chief Executive Officer Simon Segars said it means his job is to invest like crazy as the company attempts to break into high-end computing and become central to self-driving car technology. Such efforts will have to start to pay off before spending is scaled back to prepare the company to go public again in about five years, as Son has indicated. Story continues ARMs new owner has also brought in a different audience. When Segars recently showed Son a new Lenovo Group Ltd. laptop built on a chip that uses ARM technology, he was asked to hang around and do a demonstration later that day for Bill Gates during a meeting with Microsoft Corp.s founder.While Segars and his team are in the dream scenario for technology executives: invest for growth and worry about profitability later, the exchange is taking them out of their comfort zone. ARMs technology is pervasive in semiconductors. Son wants ARM to move into software and services. When Son first opened takeover talks with ARM, he became fascinated with a science project, according to Segars. One of the reasons Son bought ARM is his belief that the chipmaker, with designs that dominate the smartphone market, could achieve similar market sway in the chips that will power the internet of things -- industry jargon to describe the connection of everything from refrigerators to factory equipment to the internet. That connected future doesnt seem to be dawning as quickly as Son and many other futurists hoped. And one reason is because all those connected devices present a huge management hassle -- they must be made secure, have their software updated and stay connected. Doing this is technically complicated, and potentially expensive. Another problem is that ARM didnt have much expertise in services for the internet of things. It had always been two steps removed from the actual end users of the devices that incorporated chips made with its designs. So now, with Sons encouragement, ARM has begun bulking up its IoT services division. In August, the company spent $600 million for U.S.-based data analytics startup Treasure Data Inc. -- its largest deal in 14 years. In June, the target was Stream Technologies, a Glasgow-based company that improves connectivity for internet of things devices. In a world that 10 to 15 years from now could be contain a trillion connected devices, even if they just make a few pennies per month per device, thats still a big number, said Chris Lane an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein. At this point its still too early. Its a good idea. Eventually, Segars will likely find himself having to cut back spending and explain to public market investors why his company is worth more than SoftBank paid for it. SoftBank plans to list ARM in about five years, according to Segars. ARMs window of opportunity may close sooner than that. SoftBanks Vision Fund was conceived when technology was flying high. ARM itself was buoyed by the belief that a rally in the chip industry was sustainable, due to new industries queuing up to add electronics and intelligence to their products and operations. At the end of 2018, big tech and chip companies in particular are out of favor. Concerns that a trade war, slower-than-expected emergence of new markets such as self-driving cars and return of older issues like too much inventory, have begun to weigh on the semiconductor industry. The benchmark Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index dropped 7.8 percent in 2018, following two consecutive years of growth of more than 36 percent. ARM already knows that success in one area doesnt provide it with a free pass. The company has been trying to make a dent in Intels dominance of computer technology for almost a decade and has little more than a foothold. And in servers, where Intel has had more than 90 percent market share for a decade, ARM-based processors have had multiple false dawns with chipmakers jumping in, then bowing out without winning discernible amounts of business away from Intel. ARM got a major boost in 2018 when, as was long rumored, one of Intels biggest customers, Amazon.com Inc., announced it was using chips of its own design in its server network, semiconductors that are based on ARMs technology. Segars recruiting drive has caused costs to balloon. Profit has pancaked. In its most recent quarter costs were 327 million pounds, up 33 percent from the same period a year earlier. Earnings before certain items was just 18 million pounds, about a quarter of what it was a year ago. For now ARMs owners arent concerned. But with 25 percent of SoftBanks holdings in ARM in the hands of the Vision Fund, almost $100 billion raised from other investors, there are limits on the companys freedom to invest in the future without returns. Segars is aware that expectations are high and Son expects to recoup a lot more than the $32 billion spent to acquire ARM. Well obviously need a lot more proof points along the way if were to have a successful IPO which will achieve the kinds of multiples that Masa likes, he said. My job is to make sure that we use this time weve got as a private company, to invest like crazy, to take all our profits and reinvest. To contact the reporters on this story: Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net;Jeremy Kahn in London at jkahn21@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Giles Turner at gturner35@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech to the American University in Cairo Thursday that directly rebutted former President Barack Obamas address in the same city ten years ago. Remember, it was here, here in this city, that another American stood before you, Pompeo said. He told you that radical Islamist terrorism doesnt stem from an ideology. He told you that 9/11 led my country to abandon its idealsparticularly in the Middle East. He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed a new beginning. The results of these misjudgments have been dire. Pompeo used the Obama administration as an example of poor U.S. foreign relations throughout his speech, arguing that a lack of American intervention aided in the growth of Middle Eastern turmoil. This includes the war in Syria and the growth of the terrorist group known as Islamic State. While Obamas 2009 speech called for cooperation with Iran, a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the protection of human rights, Pompeo harshly condemned Iran and praised Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. The Trump administration has moved quickly to rebuild links among our old friends and nurture new partnerships, said Pompeo of these nations. He did not mention their faulty human rights records, including Saudi Arabias recent murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Bahrains suppression of its majority Shiite population, the Washington Post reports. While Obama warned that the U.S. does not have all the answers to the Middle Easts conflicts, Pompeo proclaimed, the age of self-inflicted American shame is over. Now comes the real new beginning,' said Pompeo, referring to Obamas use of this phrase in his speech. In just 24 months, actually less than two years, the United States under President Trump has reasserted its traditional role as a force for good in this region, because weve learned from our mistakes. We have rediscovered our voice, Pompeo added, according to CNN. We have rebuilt our relationships. We have rejected false overtures from enemies. And look at what we have accomplished together. Story continues Pompeo celebrated the U.S.s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the moving of the Israeli U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and the military strikes on the Assad regime in Syria. In presenting U.S. intervention as a vehicle for freedom, Pompeo harshly condemned Iran, a nation of which the Trump administration has long been critical. For those who fret about the use of American power, remember this: America has always been and always will be a liberating force, not an occupying power. Weve never dreamed of domination in the Middle East. Can you say the same about Iran? asked Pompeo, according to NPR. By Kim Yoo-chul K-pop and Korean dramas are gaining popularity steadily in Argentina, one of the largest economies of South America. Korean culture has been charming its way into the hearts of Argentinian fans. The impact of hallyu, or the Korean wave, is already significant there on multiple fronts, as a growing number of Latin American fans are increasingly incorporating K-pop and other types of Korean things into their lives. The South Korean government under the concept of soft power is running various programs to help hallyu fans in Argentina take part in performance competitions. Jang Jin-sang, director of the Korean Cultural Center in Argentina, said hallyu is a "crazy phenomenon" that Argentinian fans have fallen into and added the newly opened Korean Cultural Center will take a central role in spreading hallyu in the South American country. Jang Jin-sang (Bloomberg) -- Qualcomm Inc.s lawyers saw a chance to score some points in a government antitrust case against the chipmaker by making an example of rival Intel Corp. as a company accused of abusing its dominance of an industry. They were wrong. After an interrogation of Intels chief strategy officer largely backfired this week, a Qualcomm attorney on Friday declined a judges invitation to bring Aicha Evans back to the witness stand as a non-jury trial brought by the Federal Trade Commission moved into its fourth day of testimony. Not from us, your honor, Qualcomm lawyer Antony Ryan told U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, prompting a cheer from Evans, which provoked widespread laughter in the San Jose, California, courtroom after one of the liveliest showdowns so far in the case. It also ended something of an ordeal for him. Testimony later Friday from Qualcomm Chief Executive Officer Steve Mollenkopf was decidedly more stolid, with a reference to shipment practices amid stalled royalty payments and a cross examination about the ethos of the San Diego-based company. No fireworks, cheers or laughter ensued. Evans, who formerly ran Intels mobile phone chip unit, repeatedly turned Ryans questions into opportunities to restate her companys opinion that Qualcomm unfairly used technology licensing and its leadership in smartphone components to lock out competition. Qualcomm Faces FTC Trial Threatening Smartphone Dominance Ryan frequently sought to corner Evans by citing piecemeal excerpts from her emails and pretrial testimony, a common tactic in trials to save time. Evans had none of it, asserting her right to read documents aloud in their entirety while insisting context was crucial. When Ryan tried to interrupt her, she ignored him and read on. Evans was born in Senegal, putting her in a very unusual category in the chip industry: a black female executive. Her mission at Intel was to gain market share in mobile phones to try to match the companys dominant hold of the personal computer processor industry. Story continues Mr. Ryan, Mr. Ryan, youre going very fast. Easy, she told the attorney at one point. Earlier shed said: Im a French speaker, numbers are hard. Id ask you to please slow down." Intel, the worlds second-largest chipmaker, holds about a 90 percent share in the lucrative market for computer server chips. In personal computer processors, it rakes in more than 80 percent of revenue. Its only remaining competitor, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., once accused Intel in a lawsuit of using its control of that market to force PC makers into remaining exclusive users of its products. The two sides settled the case with Intel paying AMD more than $1 billion in 2009. Qualcomm Dealt Another Setback Ahead of FTC Antitrust Trial Evans argued that Qualcomm had muscled Intel out of contracts with Apple Inc. by locking the iPhone maker into exclusive agreements. They came back and told us wed have a chance in 2016, but in 2014 wed lost because of a pre-existing agreement Apple had with Qualcomm, she said. We were set back two years. It was a near-death experience. Mollenkopf has argued that the government has no evidence that its no license, no chips policy has hurt competition in the industry. Qualcomm asserts that Intels current status as exclusive chip supplier for Apple proves that the industry is, in fact, healthy. Evans complemented Qualcomm but took another dig at the company that the FTCs lawyers will like. They are excellent technical engineers, she said. That doesnt give them the God-given right to perform unfair business practices. Fridays session concluded after Mollenkopfs testimony, in which both sides tried to make progress with their central arguments. The CEO, like other Qualcomm representatives, acknowledged the company has a policy of not providing chips to phone makers who dont pay for its licensing. Its argument is that those license fees go into technology development that benefits the whole of the industry, not just Qualcomm. The government lawyers tried to build support for their case that Qualcomm willfully used its position in the marketplace to extract high patent licensing fees and force customers to stay exclusive to it. Qualcomm countered that its business model is a byproduct of the way the market developed and not part of a grand design to disadvantage would-be rivals -- its leadership in technology thrust its patents and chips to the forefront of the industry and supply arrangements have been shaped by supply and demand. The chipmaker is unique in the industry in that it gets the majority of its profit from licensing patents it says underpin all modern phone systems. Handset makers pay it a percentage of the price of a phone regardless of whether they use its chips or not. The case is Federal Trade Commission v. Qualcomm Inc., 17-cv-00220, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Jose). (Updates with Mollenkopfs testimony starting in fourth paragraph.) To contact the reporters on this story: Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net;Kartikay Mehrotra in San Francisco at kmehrotra2@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Elizabeth Wollman at ewollman@bloomberg.net, ;Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Peter Blumberg For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Jan 11 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from select Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** Aphria Inc is expected to announce on Friday that Vic Neufeld will step down as chief executive officer when the cannabis grower finds a replacement for him, sources said. https://tgam.ca/2RKdAuq ** Paul Godfrey is stepping back from his role as chief executive of Postmedia Network Canada Corp after more than eight years, handing the reins to his planned successor, Andrew MacLeod, during a challenging time for the country's largest newspaper chain. https://tgam.ca/2H7WVN4 ** SemGroup Corp and private-equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP are bucking a gloomy investment climate in Canada's energy sector by forming an infrastructure joint venture and spending C$600 million ($454.99 million) to snap up rival natural gas processor Meritage Midstream. https://tgam.ca/2H7kVQE NATIONAL POST ** In a sign of the increased shareholder activism creeping into the mining sector, Patrick Sheridan, the ousted founder of Toronto-based Guyana Goldfields Inc, has launched a campaign to replace the company's current board of directors. http://bit.ly/2HjMs1t ** Alberta and British Columbia want Ottawa to scrap safeguards on a range of imported steel products, arguing they are undermining crucial infrastructure projects and eroding the competitiveness of local firms. http://bit.ly/2HfKvDc ($1 = 1.3187 Canadian dollars) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom) (Bloomberg) -- As Poland added to the global scrutiny of Huawei Technologies Co. on Friday with the arrest of a company employee and a local former security agent, the countrys authorities also exposed the division in Europe over policy toward the Chinese technology giant. Huawei is facing increasing pressure across the European Union amid growing concerns that Beijing could use the companys equipment for spying, something executives have denied. U.S. President Donald Trumps administration has been pushing European allies to block Huawei from telecom networks amid a wider dispute over trade with China. While theres little to suggest any political motive, the Warsaw government is a staunch ally of the U.S. and the country is a prototype of Trump-style nationalism and protectionism. Poland relies on the EU for money, though counts on the Americans for security and U.S. troops are stationed on its soil. The dilemma is that Europe needs to develop its infrastructure somehow. Various countries, including the U.K., France, Germany, Norway, have publicly raised concerns about using Huawei equipment for next-generation mobile networks. But others, like Spain, Portugal and Hungary, have been more welcoming to Chinese involvement. Europe is facing a challenge when it comes to dealing with Huawei and it shows that the continent doesnt have the ability to be autonomous, said Solange Ghernaouti, head of the Swiss Cybersecurity Advisory and Research Group. Europe is either dependent on China or the U.S. Polish Custody The Huawei employee detained in Poland is a Chinese citizen responsible for sales to public sector clients, television news channel TVPInfo said on Friday. The other detained person is a former high-ranking official at Polands Internal Security Agency who worked at mobile phone operator Orange Polska SA. They will remain in custody for three months. Evidence shows that both men conducted espionage activities against Poland, Stanislaw Zaryn, a spokesman for Polands secret services chief, said in a statement. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in jail, Zaryn said. When he tweeted the arrests in English, he included hashtags for the U.S. Department of State, the FBI and CIA. Story continues For us, this specific investigation concerns two people, he said later on Friday. A separate issue is that of threats in the telecommunications industry. These are two separate issues. Polands cybersecurity chief, Karol Okonski, told RMF Radio that ideally the EU and NATO would be as consistent as possible on Huawei. He said the country is considering recommending caution toward the company, including potential exclusion from its IT market. China is highly concerned over the issue, the press office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. We are asking the related country to deal with the case fairly based on laws and protect the legitimate rights of the people, it said. A Huawei representative said the company was looking into the matter and declined to comment further. The company said it abides by applicable laws wherever it operates and expects employees to do the same. The Polish government named the two accused as Weijing W. and Piotr D., in line with local law prohibiting the publication of full names of those detained. Security services searched their homes and the offices of Huawei and Orange Polska, the Polish business of French mobile operator Orange SA. Orange spokesman Wojciech Jabczynski said the company handed over an employees belongings to the authorities. The Chinese national is a former employee of the countrys consulate in the Baltic Sea port of Gdansk, according to TVPInfo television. Western Suspicion The accusations add to Huaweis troubles of late as western governments grow worried that Huaweis systems could be used by Chinese intelligence. Australia and New Zealand banned Huawei equipment from the planned 5G networks of carriers in the countries and the head of British spy agency MI6 said last month the government needs to decide whether to ban the company. Germany has said its considering restricting Huaweis role in its future telecom infrastructure, while Czech President Milos Zeman said on Friday China is preparing an economically damaging reprisal against his country after authorities issued warnings about Huawei and risks it poses to security. Huawei is also mired in a U.S. case alleging violations of trade sanctions. The U.S. alleges that its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, conspired to defraud banks to unwittingly clear transactions linked to Iran. Meng was released on bail four weeks ago and is living under restrictions in her million-dollar Vancouver home. The company has previously said it does not pose a security threat and that its never been asked by any government to build backdoors or interrupt any networks. It has said it would never tolerate such behavior by any of our staff. Huaweis biggest challenge is to prove to its partners across the world that the quality of its cybersecurity services is second to none and that theres no possibility of backdoor intrusion, said Ghernatoui at the Swiss Cybersecurity Advisory and Research Group. But theyve failed to do that so far. --With assistance from Feifei Shen, Gao Yuan, Natalia Drozdiak, Andrea Dudik and Giles Turner. To contact the reporters on this story: Wojciech Moskwa in Warsaw at wmoskwa@bloomberg.net;Angelina Rascouet in London at arascouet1@bloomberg.net;Maciej Martewicz in Warsaw at mmartewicz@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rebecca Penty at rpenty@bloomberg.net, Rodney Jefferson For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Do You Have to Pay Your Student Loans During the Government Shutdown? Despite the partial government shutdown, student loan borrowers are still on the hook when it comes to paying off their debts. Cumulatively, Americans owe more than $1.4 trillion in student loan debt, and despite the shutdown's adverse impact on other government functions, there's no respite from their payment schedules. Why you still have to pay your student loans Heres why people still have to make their student loan payments: although other branches of the federal government have been hit hard by the shutdown, funding for the Department of Education remains intact, so DoED contractors are still collecting student loan payments. Borrowers may experience problems for tasks that require information from the IRS because nearly 90% of the IRS's workforce has been sent home without pay due to the partial shutdown, according to the agencys since-expired December contingency plan. People who have income-driven repayment plans depend on the IRS to provide income data via its data retrieval tool. The tool electronically transfers borrowers tax information into income-driven repayment plan applications. If the data retrieval tool malfunctions, borrowers download an IRS transcript and file a paper application. Due to the shutdown, the tax transcript service is down and customer service is limited at the IRS, which means borrowers may struggle completing necessary IDR forms. What if you have trouble with your student loan repayment If youre having problems paying back your student loan, the Department of Education advises you to not ignore your student loan payments or you will risk going into default. The first thing you should do is to contact your loan service provider to explore repayment options, such as income-driven repayment plans. IDR plans reduce your monthly payment amount, which will make your student loan debt more manageable. Consider applying for a deferment or forbearance that allows you to temporarily stop making federal student loan payments or reduces the amount of your payments. A deferment or forbearance may also help you avoid default. Currently the guidelines set down by the Department of Education state that individuals diagnosed with cancer are eligible to have their federal student loans placed in deferment while they receive cancer treatment. If youre overwhelmed with student loan debt and the various repayment, deferment and forbearance options mentioned above wont help, consider filing for bankruptcy. If you go this route, you will be required to prove that making student loan payments would impose an undue hardship on you and your dependents. Proving undue hardship can be difficult, so you may need the help of a bankruptcy lawyer. Jan 10 (Reuters) - Norwegian offshore drilling rig firm Seadrill Ltd said on Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Mark Morris will step down following completion of the company's financial restructuring. The company, controlled by Norwegian-born billionaire John Fredriksen, said it has begun a formal search process and that Morris will remain in the role until the end of June to make the transition possible. Separately, Seadrill Partners said Morris would step down as chief executive officer of that firm at the end of June. Seadrill Partners is a limited liability company formed by Seadrill Ltd to own, operate and acquire offshore drilling rigs. Seadrill said last July that it had successfully completed its reorganisation, emerging from U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, once the world's largest offshore driller by market capitalisation, was forced to seek protection from creditors when it was unable to repay debts amassed during boom years to buy new rigs. (Reporting by Rama Venkat in Bengaluru; editing by Jonathan Oatis) (Bloomberg) -- Traders should have some fun with this small-cap stock whose quadruple-digit gain has managed to go under the radar. Phunware Inc., a cloud software provider that manages the app development lifecycle, is off to a dramatic start in 2019, with shares having climbed more than 2,000 percent from last years low. The rally started after the company consummated its merger with Stellar Acquisition Inc. in late December, thrusting it into the public market. Chief Technology Officer Luan Dang, who was an angel investor in Vonage Holdings Corp., became the second-largest holder with a 683,534-share stake. Malaysia-based investment fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd is the biggest investor with 2.2 million shares. Shares ended 2018 at $14.26 and closed at a record $220 on Wednesday. After initially extending its meteoric rise on Thursday -- surging as high as $550 -- the stock subsequently turned sharply lower, ending down 29 percent on the day at $157. It was halted multiple times for volatility reasons. Volume amounted to 29,170 shares for a total traded value of $2.2 million. At current levels, Phunware has a market capitalization of about $4.4 billion, up from $56.5 million at the end of last year. Austin, Texas-based Phunware on Thursday also issued a press release announcing that it had been granted a patent related to monitoring the location of mobile devices both indoors and outdoors. The company didnt immediately return a request for comment. To contact the reporters on this story: Kamaron Leach in New York at kleach6@bloomberg.net;Ryan Vlastelica in New York at rvlastelica1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Catherine Larkin at clarkin4@bloomberg.net, Richard Richtmyer, Chris Nagi For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. * Italy yields fall after bond sales go well * EZ govts issue over 35 bln euros in busiest week for 3 years * Demand for EZ syndicated bond deals this week hits 70 bln euros * Markets focused on Fed, U.S. shutdown, Brexit vote * Euro zone periphery govt bond yields http://tmsnrt.rs/2ii2Bqr (Updates prices, adds late move in bonds) By Virginia Furness LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Italian government bond yields fell sharply on Friday following the successful sale of 6.5 billion euros ($7.5 billion) of its debt, wrapping up the busiest week for euro zone bond issuance in three years. Euro zone governments have issued over 35 billion euros of bonds via auction and syndications this week, which is the highest weekly volume in three years, according to Commerzbank. Italy sold three-, seven and 30-year bonds at the top end of its planned range. The successful sale helps to alleviate concerns that the sovereign may face difficulties raising the 250 billion euros for its 2019 funding programme without the European Central Bank backstop. It also comes amid a bumper week for bonds which saw high levels of over-subscription for those bonds sold via a syndicate of banks, as well as attractive funding costs for governments. "We had an extremely volatile and difficult end to 2018, and so many investors had cash on their hands and were looking for a relatively safe place to put their cash," said a syndicate banker who worked on some of the week's bond sales. "There have been very few opportunities to buy relatively safe assets so investors jumped at these syndications," he added, referring to deals by the likes of Belgium, Ireland and Portugal. Issuers were keen to secure funding ahead of next week's parliament vote on Britain's deal to leave the European Union, and to take advantage of the calmer markets following soothing comments by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell this week and last, according to a London-based syndicate banker. Belgium, Ireland and Portugal all completed syndications this week, receiving record combined demand of 70 billion euros. Germany also held an auction. Story continues In Italy, bond yields extended their falls after the auction with five-year yields falling to a one-week low at 1.80 percent . Ten-year bond yields were last down 3 bps at 2.86 percent. GREAT FOR RATES Elsewhere, euro zone bond yields fell after Fed chief Powell on Thursday stressed that the U.S. central bank can be patient in approving any further rate increases, as officials gauge whether the U.S. economy will slow this year. "If they (the Fed) do pause, it rationalises the fact that hikes have been priced out and keeps rates lower," said Martin van Vliet, ING senior rates strategist. Weak stocks and data showing U.S. consumer prices dipped in December added to the downward pull on bond yields later in the session. Germany's 10-year bond yield fell 3 bps to a one-week low at 0.167 percent - close to more than two-year lows hit last week. Other core euro zone bond yields were 2-3 bps lower . Elsewhere, Fitch will publish its review of Spain's credit rating after the market close, though analysts do not expect any change to its A- rating, and DBRS will publish its rating review on Italy. ($1 = 0.8715 euros) (Reporting by Virginia Furness; additional reporting by Abhinav Ramnarayan and Dhara Ranasinghe Editing by Jon Boyle and Susan Fenton) Jan 11 (Reuters) - Canada's health regulator on Friday said it was restricting the use of Allergan Plc's uterine fibroid treatment Esmya after discovering a risk of serious liver injury from the drug. Health Canada said the drug, sold under brand name Fibristal in the country, should not be used by women with liver problems, or those who have had such problems in the past. It also said that more than one treatment course of the drug should be restricted to only those of childbearing age who are unable to undergo surgery to remove the fibroids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August declined to approve the drug, requesting more information and citing safety issues outside the United States. Regulators in Europe have also recommended restrictions on the use of the drug for some patients, to help minimize risks. The drug is sold in Europe by Hungarian drugmaker Richter . Richter has said it considered Esmya to be a safe and effective form of treatment. Allergan and Richter were not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) BERLIN, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The chairman of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations said on Friday that the damage caused by Russia sanctions was in the order of 100 billion euros ($115.25 billion). Wolfgang Buechele, chairman of the umbrella group for German industrial companies doing business in the vast region to its east, recommended German firms continue doing business with Russia, saying that U.S. sanctions against Moscow were vague. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin insisted on Thursday that the Trump administration would keep tight control on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, despite last month's decision to ease restrictions on the firms. ($1 = 0.8677 euros) (Reporting by Andreas Rinke Writing by Michelle Martin) Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California Gov. Gavin Newsoms wife, will be eschewing the first lady title as their family enters the governors mansion. The documentary filmmaker announced this week that instead of the traditional title, she will go by the title of first partner in an effort to advance gender equality. Siebel Newsom has made two films on gender roles, Miss Representation and The Mask You Live In. The first film, released in 2011, looks at the representation of women in the media, while the second, released in 2015, examines the flip side of toxic masculinity. She reflected the title choice in a change to her Twitter bio. The California governors website also refers to her as the first partner, highlighting her filmmaking work and her role as founder of The Representation Project, which inspires individuals and communities to challenge limiting gender stereotypes and shift norms. As mayor of San Francisco years ago, Siebel Newsoms husband similarly made waves in his work to advance equality, issuing the countrys first same-sex marriage licenses for nearly a month in 2004. The logo of Brazilian telecoms company Oi SA is pictured inside a store in Sao Paulo, Brazil July 18, 2018. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker/Files By Tatiana Bautzer SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian telecoms carrier Oi SA has hired Bank of America Merrill Lynch to sell noncore assets such as cellphone towers and data centers, two people with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. The company aims to raise between 1.5 billion reais and 2 billion reais ($545 million) from the divestitures, the sources added, asking for anonymity because they cannot discuss the plans publicly. Oi and Bank of America did not immediately comment on the matter. Before filing for Latin America's largest ever bankruptcy proceeding, Oi had raised around 3 billion reais by selling more than 3,600 cellular towers to the Brazilian unit of SBA Communications Corp in transactions closed in 2013 and 2014. Oi filed for bankruptcy 2-1/2 years ago to restructure 65 billion reais in debt. The company plans to make investments aimed at improving its mobile and broadband operations and boosting its market share at the same time it pursues the asset sales. The distressed asset managers that are Oi's top shareholders plan to focus on improving the company's mobile and broadband operations rather than a near-term sale of their stakes, Reuters reported last year. Investment firms Solus Alternative Asset Management LP, GoldenTree Asset Management LP and York Capital Management Global Advisors LLC last year became Oi's largest shareholders after converting their debt in the company into equity stakes as part of its restructuring. Oi has forecast capital expenditures of 7 billion reais a year over the next three years. ($1 = 3.6878 reais) (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Christian Plumb and Jonathan Oatis) Meanwhile, the Packers were holding the penultimate OTA practice of their offseason a voluntary session that Rodgers, who was the only player to not attend last weeks mandatory minicamp, was hardly the only one to skip. Bleubeard and I welcome you Art, including the journey, background techniques, sewing on both paper and fabric, new experiments, photos, failures, and successes will be shared on this site. I have removed my e-mail address until such time as I can get it to work again. Thank you for understanding. You can always leave a note on my blog and I will visit you. Please check out my Previous Collaborations link above to see what projects I have been involved in over the past ten years. Current and ongoing projects only are shown below. Occasionally, Silent Sunday will showcase photos of my home, neighborhood, or community. A picture is often worth a thousand words. Feel free to drop by every second Thursday of the month for my Second Thursday Tutorials. They are interspersed with my other Tutorials found at the link above. Its a tough day for the European auto industry. Just hours after Jaguar Land Rover said it may cut up to 5,000 jobs in its primarily U.K.-based workforce on Thursday, Ford f announced it will also eliminate thousands of jobs across Europe. Jaguar Land Rover, owned by Indian conglomerate Tata Motors ttm , has seen a decline in sales in China as well as a drop in diesel sales in Europe, Reuters reports. The company already cut 1,000 jobs last year, but new plans to improve cash flow by 2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) include substantial cuts to employment that will run into the thousands, a source told Reuters, affecting managerial, research, sales and design staff, but not line workers. The BBC reports up to 5,000 employees could be cut at the company. Jaguar Land Rover employs about 44,000 people in Britain and in the past few years hired thousands of workers at new plants in China and Slovakia. But its also spent millions of pounds trying to prepare for Brexit, which could have a disastrous effect on its European sales. Meanwhile, Ford Europe announced today it will be cutting thousands of jobs from its workforce, which currently totals 53,000; 24,000 of those workers are based in Germany. The exact number of cuts will be determined after negotiations with workers groups, Reuters reports. Fords $14 billion global cost-saving plans includes exiting the minivan segment, stopping manufacturing of automatic transmissions in Bordeaux in August, reconsidering its operations in Russia, and combining the headquarters of Ford U.K. and Ford Credit to a site in Dunton, Essex. Analysts have predicted Ford could shed up to 24,000 employees globally in the restructuring effort. This is not about making the business today more efficient but completely redesigning it, Fords European president, Steve Armstrong, told the Financial Times. As Ford reconsiders its lineup, all new models sold in Europe will have electric or hybrid options as the carmaker tries to lower the CO2 output of its fleet before stringent EU targets come into effect next year. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Nike is seen in Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission has opened an investigation into the tax treatment of Nike Inc (NKE.N) in the Netherlands, saying this may have given the U.S. sportswear maker an illegal advantage. The Nike case, announced on Thursday, follows other probes by the EU executive since 2013 into tax schemes in Belgium, Gibraltar, Luxembourg, Ireland and the Netherlands it says allow companies to establish structures to reduce their taxes unfairly. The countries have been ordered to recover the tax from beneficiaries of such schemes, which have included Amazon (AMZN.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Starbucks (SBOX.O) and Fiat (FCHA.MI). The Commission said in a statement that Dutch authorities had issued five tax rulings from 2006 to 2015, two of which are still in force, endorsing a method to calculate the royalty payments to two Nike entities based in the Netherlands. The EU executive, which oversees competition policy in the 28-member European Union, said that, at this stage, it was concerned that the royalty payments endorsed by the rulings "may not reflect economic reality". "Member states should not allow companies to set up complex structures that unduly reduce their taxable profits and give them an unfair advantage over competitors," EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. Nike said it was subject to and ensured that it complied with all the same tax laws as other companies operating in the Netherlands. "We believe the European Commissions investigation is without merit," a Nike spokesperson said. The Dutch finance ministry said it would cooperate with the Commission's investigation and said that it agreed tax rulings should provide certainty and not preferential treatment. The Commission has pushed governments to tighten taxation rules in response to revelations in the so-called LuxLeaks and the Panama and Paradise Papers, but some countries have resisted EU-wide changes. Vestager did say she welcomed actions taken by the Netherlands to reform its corporate taxation rules and to help to ensure that companies operate on a level playing field. Story continues The Commission said its new investigation concerned the tax treatment of two Nike companies based in the Netherlands - Nike European Operations Netherlands BV and Converse Netherlands BV - which market and record sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. They received licenses to use intellectual property rights of Nike and Converse products in the region in return for tax-deductible royalty payments to two other Nike entities also based in the Netherlands, but not taxable there. The Commission said the royalty payments appeared higher than what independent companies would have agreed between themselves. As a result the Netherlands may have allowed the Nike companies to pay a lower amount of tax. If this was confirmed, it would amount to illegal state aid. The Commission will allow the Netherlands and interested parties to submit comments. The Commission is also conducting an in-depth investigation into Dutch tax rulings in favor of IKEA and an investigation into a tax scheme for multinationals in Britain. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; additional reporting by Emma Thomasson in Berlin and Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam; editing by Francesco Guarascio and Jane Merriman) FILE PHOTO: Danske Bank sign is seen at the bank's Estonian branch in Tallinn, Estonia August 3, 2018. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danske Bank, which is embroiled in a major money laundering case linked to its Estonian branch, may come under formal investigation for a second time in France, it said on Friday. Danske Bank is already under investigation by authorities in Denmark, Estonia, Britain and the United States over suspicious payments totalling 200 billion euros ($229 billion) made through its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015. Bill Browder, founder and CEO of investment fund Hermitage Capital Management, told reporters on Thursday he had asked French authorities to investigate Danske over alleged money laundering, rather than treating it as a witness. [nL8N1ZA5S2} Following media coverage of Browder's press meeting the bank issued an update on the French investigation on Friday. The bank has this month received a letter from an investigating judge of the French Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris court summoning it to an interview, stating that the judge envisages placing it under formal investigation, Danske said. "As a result, Danske Bank may again become subject to formal investigation instead of being an assisted witness," it said. The investigation is into alleged organised laundering of the proceeds of tax evasion and includes transactions worth around 28 million euros ($32 million) between 2007 and 2014, Danske Bank said. The bank was charged with violating French anti-money laundering legislation in October 2017, but its status was changed to that of "assisted witness" in January 2018. ($1 = 0.8678 euros) (Reporting by Teis Jensen; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) FILE PHOTO: The emblem of the Geely automobile maker logo is seen at the IEEV New Energy Vehicles Exhibition in Beijing, China October 18, 2018. Picture taken October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's Geely Group [GEELY.UL] said it has not sold any shares in Daimler AG , denying a Bloomberg report that the Chinese firm had slashed its 9.7 percent stake in the German carmaker by more than half. "As a long-term investor, Zhejiang Geely Holding has not sold any shares. The Daimler shareholding remains unchanged," a Hangzhou-based spokesman for Geely told Reuters on Friday. Bloomberg reported that Chinese billionaire Li Shufu's Geely had sold a 5.4 percent stake, citing people familiar with the matter, but that the new owners of the shares were not known. The report comes as Morgan Stanley disclosed in a filing on Thursday that it had increased its Daimler stake to 5.39 percent from 0.34 percent on Jan. 4. According to Bloomberg, Morgan Stanley is holding the shares on behalf of others. Daimler and Morgan Stanley declined to comment on the Bloomberg report. Li had picked up the 9.7 percent stake in Daimler in 2018, asking the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars to strike up an alliance to better counter the threat from upstart mobility companies. His move rekindled German fears about high-tech know-how falling into Chinese hands and Daimler had initially balked at the prospect of an alliance, partly on fears it might alienate Mercedes' existing Chinese partner BAIC <1958.HK>. But the companies have remained in talks about areas of potential cooperation and in October announced they would set up a ride-hailing joint venture in China. (Reporting by Yilei Sun in Beijing, Brenda Goh in Shanghai, Edward Taylor and Arno Schuetze in Frankfurt; Additional Reporting by Ishita Chigilli Palli in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani Sarkar) (Bloomberg) -- Xiaomi Corp. will invest at least 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) on artificial intelligence and smart devices over the next five years, as the smartphone maker navigates an industry downturn and economic uncertainty stemming from U.S.-Chinese tensions. The investment is part of the Beijing-based companys strategy of wringing more revenue from high-value services and the Internet of Things, billionaire co-founder Lei Jun said in a statement. The company is also focusing on pushing upmarket while expanding into Europe, Lei told Bloomberg Television Thursday. Xiaomis taking action against the backdrop of a brewing trade war thats stoking global economic uncertainty, he added. Now is the time for the action. We are all in on AIoT, Lei said, referring to the combination of AI and the so-called ecosystem of connected devices known as the Internet of Things. He didnt elaborate on details of his investment plan. Xiaomi is looking to diversify its revenue as demand for smartphones globally plateaus, though it expects demand to bounce back with the advent of super-fast fifth-generation wireless. Once touted as an internet company that can command a value of as much as $100 billion, Xiaomi is now worth roughly a third of that. Its stock is down roughly 40 percent from its July initial public offering. To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Gao Yuan in Beijing at ygao199@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Robert Fenner at rfenner@bloomberg.net, Edwin Chan For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. By Damali Mukhaye. Makerere university management has cleared the students of Makerere university business school in Nakawa to graduate their students during the 69th forth coming gradation ceremony slated for next week. Makerere university had during the previously graduations blocked of students of Mubs from graduating over 4.5 billion shillings mubs owed Makerere in functional fees. Speaking to KFM, the vice chancellor of Makerere University prof Barnabas Nawangwe says that Mubs management were able to sort out their debt and issues they had between the two. He says that their students have also been cleared to graduate during the fourth coming 69th graduation ceremony which kicks off on 15th to 18th of January next week. Mubs will graduate their students on Thursday on 17th of January. By Benjamin Jumbe The State minister for ethics and Integrity Fr Simon Lokodo has summoned Apostle Joseph Sserwadda. Apostle Sserwadda is needed to explain when he was designated by the minister to oversee all born again church leaders by registering and de-registering them as he has reportedly been claiming. Lokodo states that Sserwada has no powers and has never authorized him to oversee born again church and their leadership. Apostle Sserwadda seats on inter religious council of elders of Uganda as the leader of the born again faith The minister further urges all born again pastors to register with internal affairs as they start their ministerial work. By Benjamin Jumbe. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has expressed concern over declining public interest and participation in elections in Uganda. Oulanyah made these remarks during an engagement with the media at parliament ahead of the parliament week which starts on Sunday 13th January 2019. Oulanyah said that public trust in elected leaders globally has declined, partially due to unfulfilled promises politicians make during campaigns, he however says this trend undermines democracy and as such should be addressed. The parliament week is an annual event held at parliament to promote engagement of public with parliament and make parliament much more accessible to the public. The parliamentary week will start on 13th and end on 19th under the theme Championing Accountability to Improve Service Delivery. New Delhi: Aiming to discover and celebrate exceptional achievements of women who have been driving positive agenda of social change via social media, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched an online campaign 'Web-Wonder Women.' The campaign, launched on Wednesday, initiated by the WCD ministry and partnered by Twitter and Breakthrough focuses on recognizing the fortitude of Indian women stalwarts from across the globe who have used the power of social media to run positive and niche campaigns to steer a change in society. "Indian women have always been enterprising and have created a positive impact on society with their hard work, experience and knowledge. Women online, though niche, are a very powerful voice. #www: WebWonderWomen is a campaign to specially honour and encourage such voices that have in their own capacity driven a positive impact on social media platforms," Gandhi said. The campaign invites entries via nominations from across the world open till January 31, 2019. "Indian-origin women, working or settled anywhere in the world, are eligible for nomination. The shortlisted entries will be open for public voting on Twitter and the finalists will be selected by a specialized panel of judges. Nominations have been invited in a large number of categories including Health, Media, Literature, Art, Sports, Environmental protection, fashion among others," it said in a statement. Texas: A woman and two teenage girls were found shot to death on Thursday at a multi-million dollar home in a gated community outside San Antonio, Texas, the local sheriff said, asking for the public's help in solving the crime. The woman's boyfriend discovered the bodies when he arrived at the house shortly after 9 am central time (10 am eastern) on Thursday morning, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters at a news conference near the scene. The sheriff said investigators had determined that the two girls were victims of murder but it was "too early to tell" if the woman, who was related to them, had also been killed or had taken her own life. All three victims died from gunshot wounds to the upper body and were pronounced dead at the scene, he said. Police declined to name the victims or say how they were related but family members identified the woman to local media as 37-year-old Nichol Olsen, the mother of three children. Salazar said the boyfriend, who lived at the home with the woman and two of her family members, was being interviewed by homicide detectives but had not been named a suspect in the case. "Its way too early to tell who's a suspect and who's a witness," the sheriff said. "The information we have right now is that that male did not stay in this house last night, he stayed elsewhere, and returned this morning to find the three deceased." Salazar said that crime scene investigators were "being very meticulous" in combing the large home for evidence. He asked that neighbours come forward if they had witnessed any suspicious activity or had surveillance footage of the home from Wednesday night or Thursday morning with police. "These are multi-million dollar homes. Very big. Very big lots. And the homes are probably very well constructed. So it's quite possible no one heard anything," Salazar said. Dubai: Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday told Indian workers here that he wants to listen to their problems instead of telling his 'Mann Ki Baat'. Gandhi, who is in the UAE on a maiden visit, was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian diaspora at the Dubai airport on Thursday. He lauded the Indian workers here for making the country proud by their hardwork in the UAE. He said his party was aware of the difficulties faced by the labourers and wants to help them. "I realise you face several hardships. You work all day, send money to your family back home. We want to talk to you," he said. "I have not come here to speak my mind, I have come to listen to your heart," he said in his address at the Jabel Ali labour colony. He was referring to PM Modi's monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat where he address the nation on various issues. "All these massive developments you see here, tall buildings, large airports and metro, would not have been built without your contribution, he said while praising the workers. "You have given your sweat, blood and time for the development of this city and you have made Indians of all backgrounds proud," he said. "You have illuminated the names of every religion, every state and every caste," Gandhi said. Gandhi told them that he is a common man like them and would always stand by them. "The battle has begun... and we are going to win," he said, hinting at the upcoming general elections in India. He was accompanied by Kerala Congress leader Oommen Chandy and Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Patroda, as he was welcomed to loud cheers from the labourers gathered in the camp. Earlier Gandhi met with the business leaders in the country. A construction worker from Jabel Ali labour colony said he wants to see Gandhi leading India with compassion and care for all Indians. Gandhi is also set to meet some UAE ministers during his two-day visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Read more: Latest World news New Delhi: A few construction labourers were busy knocking down the fencing of a flat's balcony in Delhi's Dwaraka area three months ago (October 8, 2018) as part of some renovation work when they found bones poking out of the flower bed in the third floor balcony. Soon, they removed all the saplings planted on the balcony and cleared the soil only to be shocked by a human skeleton wrapped in a blue-coloured jacket, a bed sheet, a blanket, a shirt and a mattress. The labourers then did not realise that they were digging out the crucial evidence of a gruesome balcony murder committed almost three years ago over a love affair (February 6, 2016, night exactly). Within moments the news spread in the neighbourhood and the owner of the flat, Vikram Singh, called the police to inform about the mysterious skeleton. Dwaraka cops collected details from the flat owner and noticed that three years ago one of the tenants living in the flat, Jai Prakash from Hyderabad, had gone missing. He was staying in the flat along with his uncle (mother's brother) Bijay Kumar Maharana from Odisha's Ganjam district. Maharana was working with an IT firm in Noida's Sector 144 while Jai Prakash was an employee of a Gurugram-based private company. On checking details, the sleuths found that Maharana had filed a complaint with the Dwaraka police in February 2016 that his 26-year-old nephew Jai Prakash was missing after he went out with his friends on February 6 evening. Suspicious over the role of Maharana, police began a search for him. The cops were shocked to find out that there was no trace of Maharana anywhere. Two months after filing the 'missing' complaint, Maharana had shifted to another house at Nangloi in western fringes of Delhi. From there, he just vanished. By now, the police contacted the family members of Jai Prakash and Maharana and a DNA test and other evidences confirmed that the skeleton was of Jai Prakash. The cops intensified the hunt for Maharana and they were still in the dark over the reason for uncle killing the nephew. Much to the cops' chagrin, Maharana had in the past three years changed several SIM cards and phones and before leaving Delhi he had withdrawn all the money in his account. He was not using his previous bank accounts at all. This was a major hurdle for the sleuths to track Maharana's digital footprints. There were no clues about his whereabouts and the cops were not sure whether this man was using a mobile phone at all. His friends and family members said he had no contacts with them. He did not even call Jai Prakash's family after he left Delhi. According to a report in a national daily, Jai Prakash's mother Jyoshna Rani, a tailor by profession, had come to Delhi from Hyderabad, where she is married to Pradeep Kumar, a private firm employee, and searched for her missing son. She stayed for a week in the same flat where her son was killed. She told a national daily that her brother had told her that Jai Prakash had gone to Jammu and Kashmir for a vacation. She did not trust her brother so she rushed to Delhi, where she along with her brother pasted posters of Jai Prakash at airport and railway station. According to Jyoshna, her brother's actions never gave her a clue about the gruesome murder he committed. She said she never opened the door leading to the balcony as she always thought that her son was alive. One of Maharana's family members said he had switched off all his mobile numbers, left his job in Delhi, stopped operating his bank accounts after withdrawing all money and shifted to an unknown place. This increased the police's suspicion and they started interrogating his friends, colleagues and other persons. He used to work in a company in Noida where the cops managed to collect some documents. With the help of the Aadhaar card number and other digital surveillance, the cops got a clue that he was in Andhra Pradesh. According to cops, they also received information from one of Maharana's close friends that he was into betting. The police team first went to Vishakhapatnam in December 2018 and later got information that Maharana is in Hyderabad. A police team reached Hyderabad in the first week of this month and nabbed Maharana on January 6. He was working as a human resources manager for an engineering company in Hyderabad. The plot During interrogation, Maharana revealed the plot behind the gruesome murder. Maharana was having a relationship with a girl during his college days. After completing her BCA, she shifted to Delhi for higher studies in 2012. Maharana also followed her to Delhi and secured a job in Noida. They continued their relationship and she used to visit his flat at Dwaraka. In 2015, Maharana's nephew Jai Prakash completed his studies and reached Delhi looking for a job. He also got a job in a private firm in Gurugram and started living with his uncle. However, Maharana's girlfriend continued her visits to his flat, where she met Jai Prakash. Soon, Jai Prakash and Maharana's girlfriend became very close. According to Maharana, she was having another affair with his nephew, which infuriated him. Thinking that his girlfriend and nephew are cheating him, he decided to eliminate the nephew. He started plotting for this in the beginning of 2016. First he sought the permission of his landlord to plant saplings on the flat's balcony. He bought soil and saplings from a nearby nursery and kept it on the balcony. On February 6, 2016 night, when Jai Prakash was fast asleep, Maharana smashed his head with the motor of a ceiling fan, which was kept in the room for repair. He dragged the body to the balcony and wrapped it in clothes. He dumped the soil bought from the nursery over the body and planted saplings over it. He washed the flat to wipe out all evidences of the murder. A few days later he filed a complaint with the Dwaraka police that Jai Prakash was missing after he went out with his friends. The cops had visited the house then and investigated the case. However, nothing suspicious was found at that time. Family members of Jai Prakash also did not suspect anything about the uncle. Maharana stayed in the same flat for two more months and later shifted to Nangloi in Delhi, then to Andhra Pradesh. The flat renovation work turned out to be the crucial factor in unravelling the murder mystery. The police refused to reveal the details of Maharana's girlfriend and there is no clue whether she is still living with the murderer or not. Read more: Latest India news Gaya (Bihar): In a suspected case of honour killing in Gaya district, a mutilated body of a 16-year-old girl was found earlier this week, days after she went missing from her home. The police have arrested three people, including her parents. The girl's body was found on January 6 with the head severed, the face burnt with acid and other parts mutilated. "The body was found two days after we had lodged an FIR on January 4 taking cognizance of social media reports of her disappearance. The girl had been missing since December 31 but at no point of time did any member of the family contact the police which gives rise to suspicions," Senior Superintendent of Police, Gaya, Rajiv Mishra, said. The SSP said as per investigations so far, the girl had gone out of her home on December 28 and returned on December 31. Apparently when family members demanded an answer about her absence for three days she confessed to have been away with her paramour. On the night of the very same day she was sent out of her home along with a friend of her father. That was the last time anybody saw her. . "It does prima facie appear to be a case of honour killing. The family members had not informed the police even when she was traceless during December 28-31. We have arrested her parents besides the friend of her father. We have also detained her paramour for questioning," the SSP added. Replying to a query, he said "medical tests have not confirmed any type of sexual assault on the deceased girl prior to her murder. We are facing some difficulties in the investigation because of the non-cooperative attitude displayed by her family members but we are confident that the case will be cracked soon." Hundreds of people took out a candle march on Wednesday to protest the gruesome murder of the teenager who hailed from Patwa Toli locality under Buniadpur police station area. Read more: Latest India news New Delhi: The BJP wants the Ram temple in Ayodhya to be constructed at the earliest, its president Amit Shah asserted at the party's national convention on Friday and accused the Congress of putting "hurdles" in resolution of the issue. Shah's reiteration of the party's stand on the issue in his inaugural address drew the most enthusiastic response from thousands of its members at Ramlila Maidan, underscoring its resonance with the saffron party's rank and file. "The Bharatiya Janata Party wants the Ram temple constructed at the earliest at the same site. Let there be no doubt," Shah said. He asserted that the party is making all efforts to ensure that the matter is resolved in the Supreme Court as soon as possible. The court is adjudicating on the Ram temple title case and has fixed January 29 as the next date of hearing. Accusing the Congress of creating hurdles in early resolution of the matter in the court, Shah asked the opposition party to make its stand clear on the matter. In presence of top party leaders at the convention including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah said the BJP wants the issue to be resolved constitutionally. Hindutva organisations, including the RSS, have repeatedly expressed their frustration at the "delay" in the case and have demanded that the Modi government bring a law to pave the way for the temple's construction at the site in Ayodhya, considered to be the birth place of Lord Ram. Kottayam: Four young women from Andhra Pradesh, en route to Sabarimala temple, have reached Kottayam. They have left for Erumely and plan to head to Pamba, base camp of Sabarimala. The Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala witnessed frenzied protests after the Supreme Court lifted a ban on women in the age-group of 10-50 at the hill shrine. Several right-wing outfits and the BJP have opposed the LDF government's decision to implement the SC order. However, two Kerala women, in their 40s, had offered prayers at the temple on January 2. Two women, Kanakadurga (44) and Bindu (42), entered the shrine and offered prayers on January 2, three months after the SC pronounced the landmark judgment on September 28. Following this, tantri Kandaru Rajeevaru closed the sanctum sanctorum to perform the purification ceremony. The state witnessed also widespread protests against the women's entry. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Thursday briefed Governor P Sathasivam on the incidents of violence in the state. He has assured the Governor that stringent action would be initiated against those involved in the violent incidents, irrespective of party affiliation. Violence involving BJP-RSS and ruling CPI(M) rocked parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur district, during the January 3 hartal with several houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked over the Sabarimala issue. Read more: Latest Sabarimala news Kochi: Two Kerala women, who entered the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala after the Supreme Court lifted an age-old ban, are still in hiding, unable to return home. Bindu Ammini, 42-year-old law lecturer, and Kanakadurga, 44, told Reuters they were determined to enter the temple despite threats of violence. While Bindu is from Kozhikode, Kanakadurga hails from Malappuram. "A lot of people tried to dissuade us and make us turn back - police officers, our friends... because they knew we would be facing a lot of backlash," Kanakadurga said. After the Supreme Court's judgment, the women made an unsuccessful attempt to enter the temple on December 24, before finally succeeding on January 2. A third woman from Sri Lanka aged 46 has since entered the temple, the Chief Minister's office said on January 4. "We felt no fear. We had only one aim: we wanted to go to that shrine," Bindu said. Their entry sparked widespread protests and a day-long hartal by Sabarimala Karma Samiti that was backed by the BJP. The women - speaking from an undisclosed location - said they have since faced threats from protesters, but that they trusted the authorities to keep them safe and plan to return home next week. "I always say that I trust the police personnel, the state government and also our democratic society of Kerala," Bindu said. Read more: Latest Kerala news Kozhikode: Fauzia Hassan, one of the two Maldivian women who spent nearly three years in jails in Kerala in connection with the fake ISRO espionage case, has demanded compensation for being falsely arrested and tortured by the Kerala Police over two decades ago. What motivated me to seek justice for myself was the legal victory secured by scientist Nambi Narayanan. Just like him, I too have a right for compensation, Fauzia, who is in the city to attend the Kerala Literature Festival organised by the DC Kizhakkemuri Foundation, said. She was referring to the Supreme Court order awarding Rs 50 lakh compensation to Nambi Narayanan, the prime accused in the case, for his arrest and harassment on trumped up charges of espionage. I had no connection with Nambi Narayanan whatsoever. The first time I met him was when I was in CBIs custody. The case turned my life upside down. While in jail, I was tortured in all possible ways by the investigating officers. The education and future of my daughter was spoiled. I should be compensated for all the physical torture and mental agony I suffered for no fault of mine. Since Nambi Narayanan was compensated, Im planning to move a court seeking compensation from the state for the mental and physical cruelty I was subjected to, she said and added that senior lawyer Prasad Gandhi will move the petition on behalf of her. DC Books has published 'Oru (Chara)Vanithayude Velipeduthalukal' (Revelations of a lady spy), a searing account of the fake espionage case from her perspective. Responding to Fauzias demand for compensation, Nambi Narayanan told Manorma News: She had spent more years in jail than any of the other accused. Its a sin to deny her justice. The general public and the state administration should help her in the fight for justice. Though the case was proved to be a fake one, the possible conspiracy behind the episode still remains unknown. Kochi: The body of a British citizen who died in Kochi during the New Year celebrations was kept in a mortuary for 10 days, thanks to the complications raised by the civic authorities. The body was cremated on Friday afternoon only after the Kerala Human Rights Commission ordered an inquiry into the delay. Kenneth William, aged 89, died in Fort Kochi on December 31. He was visiting Kochi along with daughter Hillary. Hillary chose to cremate her father in Kochi instead of flying the body back home to London. The plan was to go for a funeral service at the St Joseph Church at Chullikkal and later cremate the body at the corporation crematorium at Fort Kochi. She wanted to carry the ashes back home. Hillary received permission from the local police and the British embassy to cremate her father. She was joined by the other members of her family. She sought permission from the corporation and the cremation was scheduled for January 10. The mourning family was in for a shock when last-minute complications arose. They could not contact anyone in the corporation office due to the two-day general strike. The crematorium staff said that they could receive the body only when a councillor told them to do. The local councillor apparently was not very helpful. The local people helped the family in their hour of crisis and one of them even shot off a letter to the human rights panel. On Friday, the health division of the corporation granted permission to cremate the body. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has briefed Governor P Sathasivam on the incidents of violence in the state following the entry of two women, in their 40s, into the Sabarimala temple on January 2. The CM has assured the governor that stringent action would be taken against perpetrators of violence, irrespective of their party affiliations. The governor had on January 3 sought an 'urgent report' from CM Pinarayi on the disturbances during the 12-hour statewide shutdown called by Sabarimala Karma Samiti that was supported by the BJP. Earlier, Sathasivam had apprised Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh of the law and order situation in Kerala. "The chief minister described the nature of the agitation and the action taken to curb the violent protests in different parts of the State," a release from Raj Bhavan said Thursday. He has assured the governor that stringent action would be initiated against those involved in the violent incidents, irrespective of party affiliation, it added. Kanakadurga (44) and Bindu (42) offered prayers at Lord Ayyappa Temple on Wednesday. Violence involving BJP-RSS and ruling CPI(M) rocked parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur district, during the January 3 hartal with several houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked over the Sabarimala issue. Kanakadurga (44) and Bindu (42) offered prayers at the shrine on January 2, three months after the Supreme Court lifted the ban on women in the age group of 10-50 at the temple. Following this, tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru closed the sanctum sanctorum to perform the 'purification' ceremony. The state witnessed widespread protests and violence after the two women entered the Sabarimala temple. According to the police, 1,137 cases were registered in connection with the violent incidents since the January 3 hartal. Out of the 10,024 accused identified, 9,193 were part of Sangh Parivar outfits. Read more: Latest Kerala news Its never pleasant to suffer the opprobrium of ones friends, and I have had to endure a fair degree of unpleasantness since laying out my views on Sabarimala. I joined my Congress colleagues in supporting the believers, who seek to overturn the Supreme Court verdict, albeit (unlike the Sangh Parivar) by constitutional means. Many of those who have stood by me on other issues that matter to liberals have turned on me in language ranging from disappointment to fury. Their disillusionment with me is evident in dozens of articles and tweets, and echoed in a hundred social media barbs directed at me daily. The reason for all this is easy enough to understand: I have consistently, for over four decades, advocated liberal principles in our public life and in our political space, even when it was not 'safe' to do so. In my speeches, articles and books, I've critiqued the Emergency, stood by Shah Bano, defended Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen, condemned the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the Gujarat riots, and stood up for M F Husain to paint as he pleased. I have been an early and consistent voice on women's rights, advocating that stalking be made a non-bailable offence, criminalising marital rape, supporting every woman's bodily and personal autonomy, endorsing the #MeToo movement, and signing up to the Women's Reservation Bill. I do not believe menstruation should confer any disability on women or restrict them from any position or activity, and have submitted a private member's bill in Parliament to protect women's menstrual rights. Then why am I to quote the words of my friend Thomas Isaac, finance minister of Kerala now on the wrong side on Sabarimala? My liberal friends would nod appreciatively at the phrase. For them, the issue is clear: the Supreme Court has decreed women of menstruating age cannot be denied entry into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in the name of traditional customs. Liberals see this as a welcome step forward in favour of womens equality, a stand no liberal can possibly oppose. I envy them their clarity. But as a public representative myself, daily discussing the issue with hundreds of the people I represent in Parliament, including large numbers of women of precisely the age that is intended to benefit from the Supreme Courts judgment, I find the issue anything but clear. Liberals confuse the restrictions on womens entry into Sabarimala with earlier restrictions on the temple entry of lower castes, whose abolition a few decades ago (in the teeth of conservative opposition at the time) is now almost universally taken for granted. Thats how change comes, liberals assert. The diehards resist, but in the end, everyone accepts, and after a few years everyone wonders what the fuss was about. Except that Sabarimala worshippers and there are millions of them dont see it that way. They make the arduous trek up to the shrine because they believe in its legends the way Catholics believe in the Virgin Birth or Muslims in the divine revelation to their Prophet, as beliefs integral to their faith. Just as a Supreme Court verdict ordering the Catholic Church to ordain women as priests and bishops in the name of gender equality would occasion outrage rather than compliance, so also this verdict has been rejected by those who believe it assaults the very foundations of their faith in the deity installed at Sabarimala. Bindu and Kanakadurga during their attempt to enter Sabarimala in December. File photo The cause of Dalit entry into temples was championed both by large numbers of Dalits and by many of their co-religionists of other castes, who all felt that the ban was an abominable social practice with no religious sanction. There has been no similar mass movement of believing women clamouring for entry here. Indeed, as many have pointed out to me, the nature of the deity at Sabarimala is such that if you believe in Him, you would not wish to disturb Him as a naishtika brahmachari. They are therefore Ready to Wait. Those few women of reproductive age who seek to go there are by definition going not out of belief, but curiosity. So what, the liberal might say why shouldnt they? Its an issue of womens rights after all, and it doesnt harm anybody. But to the believers, the harm is real this violation of the essential principles guarding their deity is an assault on their place of worship, and they feel personally violated. Some liberals also think the ban is because menstruation renders women of reproductive age unclean, an old-fashioned idea that should indeed be rejected. But in fact the prohibition on women of reproductive age at Sabarimala has nothing to do with any notion of "uncleanliness" or "pollution" linked to menstruation, but to the deity's vow of celibacy, under which He promised Mallikapurathamma not to behold any woman of marriageable age until He was ready to marry her. Let me stress: it's an issue of faith. The question is not what rationalists believe (and obviously an idol can't "see" who comes to visit, rationally), but what the faithful do, and whether one should respect their beliefs. I do. Politics behind the move And then there's the politics of it. The Communist state government of Kerala which has shown no similar eagerness to implement a longer-pending Supreme Court verdict on an issue that divides Jacobite and Orthodox Christians smuggled in two women to the shrine, covered in black and escorted through a side-entrance reserved for police, rather than up the holy Eighteen Steps. Their zeal has little to do with women's equality, still less with religious faith. It was cynical politics a deliberate provocation. My liberal friends took exception when I used that word in a TV soundbite on Sabarimala. Headlines alleged that I slammed the women who sneaked into the temple. I did not. I slammed the state government's role in arranging their entry in this way, with the deliberate intention of inflaming passions for their narrow political purposes. They are needling the Sangh Parivar to overreact in the streets (as the Hindutva elements can be counted upon to), because they calculate that the resulting polarisation will be to the Communists' political benefit. As for the BJP, which could easily have defused the situation through legislative action at the Centre, they have no desire to see the crisis resolved, since unrest in the streets serves their interests by convincing voters that Hinduism is threatened, and only the BJP is standing up for them. It is striking that when I asked in the Lok Sabha on December 19, 2018, whether the BJP was contemplating bringing in a law to overturn the judgement, the Government ducked the question. They have still taken no step in this direction. So, I did not use the word provocative for the women, but for the actions of the state government, which is acting in the service of a dubious political strategy promoting communal polarisation in order to drive enough Hindu Congress voters to the BJP, for the Left to win elections as a result. Neither the Communist government nor the BJP is animated by principle, but their cynical theatrics are driving the issue. I believe the liberal values I cherish require me to place some value on the political viability of the Congress party, which is treading the difficult middle path of saying that we stand by the believers, but will pursue the matter only through constitutional means, not through violence, obstructionism or provocation. So forgive me, my liberal friends, if I am not ready to join you in asserting the unconditional right of women of reproductive age to enter Sabarimala. Forgive me if I am not willing to overlook how much their faith means to my people, the people it is my duty to represent. Forgive me if I am not willing to ignore the political cynicism of the Communist-led state government and the country's ruling party. Forgive me for choosing to respect the sacrosanct beliefs of my constituents rather than substitute my liberal rational judgement for their faith. Forgive me for pointing out that few, if any, of my critics have faced an electorate, let alone sought to fulfil ones ideals within the framework of the politically possible. Forgive me for believing that the larger issues one is in politics to fight for should not be sacrificed at the altar of misplaced zeal on this one issue. The actions of the CPM and the BJP have implied that the solution lies in the streets and through the use of force on the one side and of violence and obstruction on the other. The Congress is being honest enough to tell the people that the only solution will be through the Court or in Parliament. Most people have at least heard about braille, the tactile script that people with visual impairments typically use to read and write. However, beyond the fact that Louis Braille invented it two centuries ago, nobody really knows what it actually is. This has spawned a lot of misconceptions in the minds of able-bodied people. Some of them, in fact, tend to be downright hilarious to experienced braille users. Now is the right time for you to have your misconceptions cleared up, and for me to do the clearing up, since January is the month in which Louis Braille was born. In fact, January 4h, Louis Brailles birthday, is celebrated world over as World Braille Day. Without further ado, here are some facts about braille to clear up those myths and misconceptions: 1. Braille is not a language but a script. Braille itself is not a language. It is a code by which all languages may be written and read by the visually impaired (or anyone else who wants to, for that matter). It is a script used to read and write languages. Think of it as another way of reading and writing all languages you can possibly name. There are braille versions of Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew and many other languages. And yes, this includes all Indian languages such as Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, etc. So know, Im not writing in braille language but in English. 2. Braille is not raised letters on paper. Braille is a system of dots in which different dot combinations form different letters, symbols, punctuation, etc. It does not look like written letters embossed on paper. That means A in braille does not look anything like the A in print. There is a system in which letters are embossed, just as they look in print, onto paper. It is called Moon print, and is very different from braille. This was the system used by people who are visually impaired before the invention of braille. Subsequently, the braille system was adopted since it was much easier to use, and less cumbersome to store. Photo: Getty Images 3. The word is pronounced braille and not Brailie. The e at the end of the word is silent. This one cracks me up every time. 4. Braille does not work in such a way that 1 dot stands for A, 2 dots for B, 3 dots for C and so on. That would mean 26 dots for Z! (Im not kidding, people have actually asked me that). It has a combination of different dots used to create dot pattern. The positioning of the dots, not their number, determine the letter. So the braille code works like this: Braille symbols are formed within units of space known as braille cells. A full braille cell consists of six raised dots arranged in two parallel vertical columns of three dots (like the number 6 on a dice). The dot positions are identified by numbers one through to six. Sixty-three combinations are possible using one or more of these six dots. Cells can be used to represent a letter of the alphabet, number, punctuation, part of a word or even a whole word. 5. Braille is not difficult to learn. Its not that hard, honestly. Take it from someone who has learnt braille. But how do you remember all those dots It looks so complicated You draw swiggly little lines and shapes on paper, and remember exactly which shapes form which letters? Put that way, print sounds complicated too. Photo: Priya Kombiyill 6. Braille can be used to write numbers too. Just because youre blind doesnt mean you dont have to learn math. Theres a special version of braille just for mathematics called the Nemeth Code. It was invented by Dr. Abraham Nemeth and can be used to transcribe math, algebra and calculus. In fact, there is a whole braille geometry box, with a protractor, compass, a long ruler, etc. Sadly, the Indian educational system does provide exception to students who are visually impaired for dropping Math. However, all tools for learning math does exist. If proper study material were provided, a child with visual impairments could learn math as well as her sighted peers. 7. Braille is used by people with visual impairments for more than just taking notes, studying, etc. It is used by many people with visual impairments, just like print, for labeling, writing to do lists, recreational reading, etc. There are even braille magazines in India. Indias first lifestyle magazine in braille is called White Print, and is a monthly periodical full of news stories, travelogues, short stories, quizzes, and even advertisements. 8. This system of writing, although modified by Louis Braille for the use of people who are visually impaired, was not initially conceived as a system for the visually impaired community. Can you believe it? Braille started out as a military code called night writing. It was developed in 1819 by the French army so soldiers could communicate at night without speaking or using candles. Louis Braille learnt about this code at the age of 15, when an army professional visited his school. He eventually modified that system and developed the more usable, streamlined version of the braille alphabet we know today. Photo: Priya Kombiyil 9. Braille readers are capable of reading fast. Repeat after me: braille readers are capable of reading fast. In fact, some braille readers fingers can really fly. While the typical sighted person can read 300 words per minute, some fast braille readers can whip through a book at a speed of 400 words per minute, according the Perkins School for the Blind. The secret to reading braille so quickly is a light touch and using both hands (one hand reads while the other is poised to start on the next line). Isnt it ironic that print readers think braille is slow? 10. Braille is not becoming obsolete with the advent of computers any more than print is. There is something called digital braille as well. Devices called braille displays act as braille laptops, enabling a braille user to read, write, check their mail, surf the web and much more all on a braille screen. These devices were extremely expensive and hard to come by in India, but as of a couple of years ago, braille displays have become much more affordable, and are now available for the cost of an average laptop. Bonus fun fact: Did you know? There is even an asteroid named Braille. In 1999, NASAs Deep Space 1 probe flew past an asteroid while on its way to photograph the Borrelly comet. NASA named the asteroid 9969 Braille in honor of Louis Braille. Cool, huh? Dubai: World's leading educational institutions and experts will be attending a mega exhibition here on January 25 and 26. Manorama Horizon, the leading education portal in India from the house of Malayala Manorama, is organising the event. The exhibition, one of the world's biggest in the education sector, will be held at the Grand Excelsior Hotel in Bur Dubai. The event offers students a golden chance to understand and explore advanced possibilities and hidden opportunities in the fast-growing education sector. Thousands of colleges, universities and educational institutions as well as a variety of subjects and endless opportunities are now open to students. The expo is the ideal platform to gather information on how to chose a new career, various opportunities institutions offer, as well as facilities and infrastructure available for the students. It also provides a stage to hold detailed talks about one's prospective career with the representatives of educational institutions. Through Manorama Horizon's Educational Exhibition, students can now get acquainted with a multitude of options and also choose the best. Moreover, it is also a platform for students to interact with experts and make enquiries about their favourite career. On career guidance, students will get an opportunity to have a discussion with IAS officer Prasanth Nair, popularly known as the 'Collector Bro'. A career seminar by BS Warrior - India's leading expert in the field - is also being organised at the venue. The expo also provides psychometric tests for students to identify and evaluate their skills and choose career accordingly. Free model examinations will also be organised at the venue for students preparing for medical and engineering entrance tests. Saintgits Group of Institutions - Kottayam; SCMS Group of Institutions- Kochi; Federal Institute of Science And Technology (FISAT) -Angamaly; Nitte Group of Institutions - Mangalore & Bangalore, Viswajyothi College of Engineering and Technology- Vazhakulam, Muvattupuzha; Jyothi Engineering College, Cheruthuruthy-Thrissur; Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, Kodakara-Thrissur; Muthoot Institute of Technology & Science, Puthenkurish -kochi; St. Joseph's College of Engineering and Technology - Palai; Rajadhani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Attingal -Trivandrum; Younus College of Engineering & Technology , Pallimukku -Kollam; Coach India IITians Academy -Thrissur; The Village International School; IAS Hotspot, Thrissur; St. George International- Kochi; Winstra International-Thrissur; Master's Academy-Dubai; Ebenezer International Residential School & Junior College - Ettumanoor; Accolade Global Educational Consultancy- Muvattupuzha,; Vimal Jyothi Group of Institutions- Kannur, and other popular educational institutes from Kerala and outside are participating in the expo. For more information, contact: support@manoramahorizon.com or call: +91 9048991111. Read more: Lifestyle news Chavara (Kollam): The father of a Sabarimala Karma Samithi activist was found hanging within hours of the latters surrender to police in a case relating to violence during a protest march. Mohanan Pillai, 65, was found hanging in his house on Thursday. Frequent police visits at home and heartbreak from sons surrender led to the suicide, alleged Pillais relatives and BJP members. Pillais son Manoj Kumar, a Yuva Morcha activist, was booked for attacking one Anees of Panmana Nettiyad at Kannankulangara Junction on January 2. Manoj and friend Devanand surrendered to the police around Thursday noon after they came looking for him at his house, Manesh Bhavan. Pillai's wife saw him hanging around 4:30pm. He could not be revived despite being rushed to Karunagappally Taluk Hospital. Pillai was the president of BJPs booth 69 at Padinjattakkara. He is survived by wife Anandavalli and another son Manesh Kumar. The police have registered a case of unnatural death. The body is kept in the taluk hospital mortuary. Alappuzha: Sixty tons of wheat sent from Punjab has taken 10 months to reach the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown in Alappuzha. The wagon was opened on Thursday and the entire load was found to be infested with rats and maggots. The offloaded sacks are now stacked in the corridor of the FCI godown. One of the 12 wagons, with six loads of wheat, booked by the FCI was stuck at a railway station somewhere in North India. The loads of rice and wheat that made it to the godown on time have already been distributed through Civil Supplies outlets. The loads were paid for in advance, and the reason for the delay is being investigated, said the FCI authorities. No distribution Stale food wont be distributed through Civil Supplies outlets. The district supply officer will be directed to exercise caution. Inspections will be carried out to assure quality, and the stale grain will be disposed off, said Minister for Food and Civil Supplies P Thilothaman said. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Automobiles Ltd (KAL) is staging a comeback with the launch of electric autorickshaw. The electric autorickshaws being built by KAL at its plant at Aralumoodu in Neyyattinkara will be launched by February 10. The public sector automobile manufacturer is awaiting the approval of Automotive Research Authority of India. The electric autorickshaws will be available at the price of a standard auto. A one-kilometre run will cost 50 paise, and in a single charge it can cover 110 km. The battery can be fully charged in four hours. According to the present minimum rate, in one single charge, the owner can generate Rs 1,250 as income, said KAL chairman Karamana Hari. The electric auto doesn't need gear and clutch, and there is facility for reversing the vehicle. The load gear will help the vehicle negotiate steep inclines easily. Unlike the conventional ones, the electric autos make no sound and generate no pollution. According to its current capacity, KAL can make 1,200 electric autos a month. If sales pick up, KAL will look at increasing its capacity. It is also in talks with banks to arrange loans for buyers. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that he is hopeful the US and North Korea will make "substantial" progress on dismantling the North's nuclear weapons program, including through a second summit meeting, Trend reports citing Yonhap. Pompeo spoke to Fox News on a visit to Cairo, saying the US goal of final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea has not changed. "The good news is our conversations with North Korea continue," he said, declining to elaborate on the negotiations. "But we're moving forward in these conversations, lots of ideas about how we might continue to decrease the risk to the American people." Pompeo was due to meet senior North Korean official Kim Yong-chol in New York in November to follow up on a denuclearization agreement reached by US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June. But that meeting was called off at a day's notice, and no meetings have been announced since. "We've got to get to full and final denuclearization," Pompeo said. "We've been unambiguous when we speak with Chairman Kim and other Korean interlocutors. I am hopeful that in the year ahead we can make substantial progress on that, including getting another summit between the two leaders." Trump said this week that the location of the second summit will probably be announced "in the not-too-distant future." The US has maintained that North Korea must give up its nuclear weapons before receiving the sanctions relief it wants from the US, a position Kim warned in his New Year's address could lead the North to seek a "new way." Asked if there is any change, Pompeo said, "I don't think there has been a single variant from the core proposition, which is the fully denuclearized North Korea as verified by international experts, is the objective of this administration. We intend to achieve that. The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State has begun the process of withdrawing from Syria, its spokesman said on Friday, affirming the start of a pullout that has been clouded by mixed messages from U.S. officials, Trend reports referring to Reuters. President Donald Trump announced last month the decision to withdraw 2,000 U.S. troops who have deployed to Syria in support of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia in the fight against Islamic State. The coalition has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements, Colonel Sean Ryan said. Washingtons Kurdish allies in northern Syria fear the withdrawal will open the way for Turkey to mount a long-threatened offensive against their area. Turkey views the dominant Syrian Kurdish groups as a national security threat. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton suggested on Tuesday that protecting the Kurds would be a pre-condition of the U.S. withdrawal, drawing a rebuke from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who called his comments a serious mistake. But U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday the withdrawal would not be scuppered despite the Turkish threats. The time has come for US President Donald Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a wall on the US border with Mexico, Senator Lindsey Graham said in a statement, Trend reported citing Sputnik. "Time for President [Trump] to use emergency powers to build wall/barrier," Graham said via Twitter on Thursday. Graham noted that House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi refused to negotiate funding for the border wall, and said Pelosis move "virtually ends [the] congressional path" to provide money for the border barrier. The US federal government has been partially shut down since December 22 over the dispute between congressional Democrats to approve $5.7 billion that Trump seeks to fund the construction of the border wall. On Wednesday, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met with Trump, but the meeting ended quickly after Trump walked out because the Democratic leaders did not compromise on funding for the border wall. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Fifty-two former servicemen have been detained in Turkeys Adana province and 50 former servicemen in Istanbul city as part of the fight against the FETO terrorist movement, Trend reports referring to the Turkish media on Jan. 11. There were one colonel, two majors, one captain and two sergeants among the detainees, the reports said. The reports also noted that all the detainees had close ties with the FETO terrorist organization. Earlier, 103 military men were detained in Istanbul and 188 in Ankara, all of whom were accused of contacts with the Gulen movement. Earlier, the Minister of National Defense of Turkey Hulusi Akar said 15,153 people were dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces as part of the fight against the FETO terrorist movement. He said the purge in the ranks of the Turkish Armed Forces will continue. Fethullah Gulen and his supporters are accused of the July 16, 2016 military coup attempt in Turkey. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Work is in progress on holding a Russian-US meeting on the issues related to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF)Treaty, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a press briefing on Friday, Trend reports referring to TASS. "As for the INF Treaty, work is in progress on possible contacts with the US on that score. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. [Sergei] Ryabkov said on December 9 that Moscow would like to resume a substantive arms control dialogue with the US in the near future," Zakharova noted. The INF Treaty was signed between the Soviet Union and the United States on December 8, 1987, in Washington, DC, and took effect on June 1, 1988. The INF Treaty eliminated operational and non-operational medium-range (1,000-5,500 kilometers) and shorter-range (500-1,000 kilometers) ground-launched missiles. The US first accused Russia of violating the INF Treaty in July 2014. After that Washington has repeated its allegations several times. Moscow has rejected them striking back at Washington with counterclaims. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on December 4 in Brussels that Washington would stop adhering to the treaty unless Russia returned to compliance with it within 60 days. The Peruvian police have dispersed a crowd of Venezuelan nationals who stormed the building of the Venezuelan embassy in Lima in protest against the beginning of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's second term in office, Trend reported citing Sputnik. The Nacional newspaper reported, that the law enforcement used tear gas to suppress the crowd. The embassy, in its turn, published a video showing the protesters crashing the gate and entering the diplomatic missions building. There have been no reports about detentions during the protests. Paraguayan President Mario Abdo said on Thursday he was cutting diplomatic ties with Venezuela and was immediately withdrawing his countrys diplomats from Caracas, Trend reported citing Reuters. Abdo made the announcement just minutes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn into a new term in office. Maduro has shrugged off global criticism that his leadership is illegitimate due to last years disputed election. There are no bad consequences when defending just causes, Abdo said in a television address. The cause of liberty and democracy is a just cause. After months of delay, a $500 million deal between Israel and Croatia to buy F-16 fighter jets is officially dead because of unforeseen problems, Israels Defense Ministry announced on Thursday night, Trend reports referring to The Jerusalem Post. Croatia, a NATO member, was preparing to buy 12 used F-16 Barak fighters from Israel in order to replace its aging fleet of Soviet-designed MiG-21s, which had originally entered service in 1959. The Ministry of Defense attaches great importance to the deepening of cooperation between Israel and Croatia, and initiated the project of the F-16, which includes Israeli know-how and technology, which was conducted professionally in the framework of the GTG deal between the two countries, said director-general of the Defense Ministry Udi Adam while on a visit to Zagreb. Croatia has acted professionally and judiciously all along the way. Unfortunately, we have not been able to realize the deal because of problems that could not have been expected and are not under the control of the countries, he added. The planes, which originally were bought from the United States, have been upgraded with Israeli technology. Washington reportedly insisted that they be returned to the form in which they were sold to Israel without the advanced electronic systems before being sold to Croatia. The sophisticated electronic and radar systems had been a crucial factor in Croatias decision to buy the planes from Israel, rather than straight from the US, which was reportedly furious that Jerusalem would unfairly profit from the deal. Croatia was also reportedly furious about the holdup of the sale and had given Israel until January 11 to clear the deal with Washington. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was eager to push through the deal, raised the issue when he met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Brazil. According to reports, the prime minister was unable to change the secretarys mind. In early December, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) quoted the US Embassy in Zagreb as saying that the US had been actively working with Israel and Croatia on the details over the past year. We have been working with Israel for over a year on the details of the proposed F-16 transfer. Over the course of our discussions, we have been consistent and clear about the technical conditions under which we could approve the transfer, the embassy was quoted by BIRN as saying, adding that the United States remains firmly committed to supporting Croatias desire to modernize and upgrade its air force by purchasing aircraft that are interoperable with its NATO allies. 1. Yes. Its important to address the problem before it gets worse. A bond is needed. 2. Yes. Its fine, as long as the bond isnt too large. The city doesnt need more debt. 3. No. A bond issue would just put the problem back on the taxpayers. Not acceptable. 4. No. Certificates of obligation, targeting the worst roads, would be a better choice. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say without knowing the details of what a bond would entail. Vote View Results The name dispute between Greece and Macedonia has been souring bilateral relations for years, with Athens opposing the use of "Macedonia," which is also the name of a region in Greece, Trend reports citing Sputnik. Debates on the new legislation started on Wednesday and continued through Thursday. The final vote was postponed several times due to the lack of the 80 votes needed for the amendments to pass. "Eighty-one people voted in favor, all four amendments to the constitution have been adopted," Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi said in a televised broadcast. Meanwhile, lawmakers from opposition VMRO-DPMNE party boycotted the vote and held protest rallies outside the parliament building in Skopje. Last summer, Athens and Skopje signed an agreement on changing Macedonia's name. In Autumn, Macedonian Parliament passed constitutional amendments to change the name of the country with a total of 80 lawmakers out of 120 voted in favor of the name change. The new name allows the Balkan state to join NATO and the European Union, the process that Greece has been blocking over fears that the former Yugoslav republic might try to claim its region under the same name. French President Emmanuel Macron will not attend this years world economic forum in Davos, an official at the presidents office said on Friday, citing a busy schedule including debates launched in response to the Yellow Vests protests, Trend reports referring to Reuters. The Elysee office said Macron would also be holding the second edition of his own forum with business leaders in Versailles on Jan 21, dubbed Choose France. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump canceled his own visit to the Davos forum in Switzerland, as he wrestles with political opponents over the federal government shutdown. Huawei Poland did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Huawei in China could not immediately be reached for comment. In December, Canadian authorities arrested a top Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, at the behest of U.S. authorities as part of an investigation into alleged violations of U.S. trade sanctions. U.S. intelligence agencies allege Huawei is linked to Chinas government and that its equipment could contain backdoors for use by government spies. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims. The U.S. criticism has led to a number of Western countries and companies to review whether they should allow Huaweis equipment to be used in their telecoms networks. The Chinese national is a businessman working in a major electronics company ... the Pole is a person known in circles associated with cyber business, Maciej Wasik, the deputy head of Polands special services, told state news agency PAP. The arrested pair will be held for three months, PAP reported, citing the spokesperson for Polands head of special services. TVP said the Polish national was a former agent of the internal security agency. The agency did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. China has successfully put into orbit the Zhongxing 2D telecommunications and broadcasting satellite, the Xinhua news agency reported on Friday, Trend reports referring to TASS. The Long March-3B carrier rocket blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southern province of Sichuan at 01:11 local time on Friday (10:11 Moscow time on Thursday). It was Chinas first space launch this year. The satellite will provide transmission services for the country's radio, television stations and cable television networks. It will also be used for a wide range of telecommunications services for data transmission and broadband internet connection. It was the 298th launch for a Long March-series rocket. China actively pursues its national space program, launching numerous meteorological, telecommunications and navigational satellites. Besides, the country has been developing technologies to study asteroids and Mars. According to official information, China carried out 39 space launches last year. Gazas rulers Hamas said Thursday that Egypt plans to fully reopen its border crossing with the enclave, days after partially closing it amid infighting between Palestinian factions, Trend reports referring to Al Arabiya. Forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas withdrew on Sunday from the Rafah border crossing, accusing rivals Hamas of interference. The crossing is the only way for Palestinians to leave Gaza that bypasses Israel. Egypt has prevented Gazans from leaving the enclave since Abbass Palestinian Authority withdrew its staff. An Egyptian security delegation visited Gaza on Thursday, meeting with senior Hamas officials including its head Ismail Haniya. Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas, told journalists the Egyptians assured us that there will be no changes at the Rafah border and it will stay open. It was not immediately clear when the crossing would fully reopen. Hayya said he expected that all sides would also stick to an informal truce agreement with Israel. Hamas employees retook the post on Monday in what they said was an attempt to maintain border control after the shock PA withdrawal. Tehran, Iran, Jan. 11 Trend: The Special Assistant to the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament for International Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a tweet has said Iran will send a shocking message to Europe over commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Having strong relations with Europe is a part of Irans foreign policy logics. But the West should face a shock to realize we won't remain in one-way tunnel of current JCPOA at any cost, Trend reports citing Amir-Abdollahians tweet. The officials tweet, apparently aimed at Europes delaying the opening of a Special Purpose Vehicle, also criticized the European countries harboring the Peoples Mojahedin Organization (Mujaheedin-e Khalq or MEK), a political-militant organization based on Islamic and Socialist ideology. Now, safe Europe for terrorists and MEK has to get a logical, prudent but shocking message, added Amir-Abdollahian. Tehran, Iran, Jan.11 Trend: Iran continues to fight the smuggling of clothes, going as far as closing down illegal foreign brand stores across Tehran. "The plan is very good and can support the domestic producers," said the head of Garment Union, Abolghasem Shirazi, Trend reports citing ISNA. Iran has boosted the efforts to confront smuggled branded clothing since last week. While the operation has not faced any resistance with regards to taking down advertisement boards for smuggled branded clothing, some officials in the country's garment union underline the existence of a few that resist this approach. The head of Iran's Headquarters for Combating Smuggling of Goods and Foreign Exchange Ali Moayedi announced last week that the advertisement boards of smuggled branded clothes have been removed from Tehran. "Around 80 percent of operation was done without any resistance in Tehran, he said. Tehran, Iran, Jan.11 Trend: The US sanctions against Iran have caused certain problems for Norway, as the Norwegian Air Jet is still stuck in Iran's Shiraz airport due to inability to import spare parts to fix the damaged plane. "If the airline has a problem, it should solve the problem by itself, there is no problem from our side," spokesman for Iran Civil Aviation Organization Reza Jafarzadeh told Trend. A technical error in one of the engines of Norwegian air jet prompted the landing on Dec. 14, while 186 passengers and six crew members spent the night in Iran and flew to Oslo the next day. However the plane is caught up in the US sanctions against Iran, since the United States sanctions on Tehrans nuclear program prohibit civilian aircraft sales, including services and parts. Meanwhile, Jafarzadeh noted that the Norwegian side has not reported such a problem to the Iranian authorities. "The airline decided to make an emergency landing and allow passengers to stay in Iran. Iran, as a host country, has no responsibility over these decisions," said the official. Responding to question that if Iran has issued visa for Norwegian Air crew and passengers, he said this was a legal process like any other that involved passengers and an emergency landing. "Each international flight that is forced into an emergency landing in any country, requires necessary measures, the Norwegian Air had the same procedure," Jafarzadeh said. "Every airline is responsible for their passengers and their decision to land in a third country due to technical error is their decision," he said. "For example if an airline makes an alternative flight, or transfers passengers to another airline, and in the meantime, they have to reside in another country, until the plane is ready to take off." Referring to the problem of the Norwegian aircraft regarding the import of parts and experts, due to sanctions imposed on Iran, Jafarzadeh said Iran has no knowledge of this problem. "Until today, the airline company has not discussed any of this with Iran's aviation authorities. If they have problems, usually the aviation organizations of the two countries solve them, but until now, Iran has no knowledge of such issues," he said. "If they had a problem in Iran, the local authorities should've received reports on that, but nothing has been received so far," Jafarzadeh said. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 11 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan, having embarked on the industrialization and diversification of economy, welcomes the investments of Japanese partners, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said during a working meeting, Trend reports referring to Turkmen State New Agency. The Turkmen president gave instructions to the relevant heads on building up the Turkmen-Japanese economic cooperation and investment activities, where oil, gas processing and industrial sectors are the priorities, as well as cooperation between financial and banking structures, small and medium-sized enterprises, in science and education spheres. Meanwhile, a representative of the ITOCHU Corporation plans to visit Turkmenistan in the near future. During the working visit of the Turkmen government delegation to Japan in October last year, eight documents were signed regarding the implementation of new joint projects. The new contracts cover joint projects, including the construction of plants for production of ammonia and urea, for processing of natural gas and production of gasoline, and a workshop for production of phosphate fertilizers. An agreement on cooperation and supply of the Komatsu excavation equipment and the Toyota vehicles to Turkmenistan was also signed with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Japan implemented a number of big projects in Turkmenistan. They include construction of ammonia and urea plants in Mary region, industrial complexes in the Balkan region for production of polyethylene at the Turkmenbashi Complex of Oil Refineries, urea fertilizers in Garabogaz city, polyethylene and polypropylene in Kiyanly settlement. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 11 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Through the space repeater TurkmenAlem 52.00E, 35 television and radio channels are transmitted to the territory of Central Asia, Iran, Turkey, North Africa and Europe, it is reported by Trend with reference to the information of the newspaper "Neutral Turkmenistan". Negotiations are underway to lease a Turkmen communications satellite transponder with Arab and Belarusian broadcasting companies, the information says. At this stage, 10 out of 26 transponders are involved. STN (Slovenia), WNS (United Arab Emirates), CETeL (Germany) use services here. In addition, services via teleport are used by companies operating in the oil and gas sector of the country's economy - RWE Dea AG, CNPC, BKE Shelf, PETRONAS Carigali. TurkmenAlem 52.00E provides stable communication and the Internet to remote villages located in the Karakum desert. We recall that the launch of TurkmenAlem 52 E took place on April 28, 2015 from Cape Canaveral (Florida, USA). The satellite has 38 active communication channels transponders. 26 of these are used by Turkmenistan, the remaining 12 have been transferred to Space Systems International-Monaco S.A.M. TurkmenAlem 52.00E is capable of providing satellite telephony, data transmission and other types of communication between ground stations located at distances of up to 10-15 thousand kilometers from each other. Nayak Paudel is a crime reporter for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2018, he has also written on health issues. A new border crossing point (BCP) is expected to begin operating along the Tajik-Uzbek border in the near future, Trend reports referring to news.tj The new transit point will operate on the border between Tajikistans Hisor district and Uzbekistans Uzun district, a source in the Tajik government told Asia-Plus in an interview. According to him, the new BCP Babatag will not have an international status. The new BCP will operate only in the daytime. Border services of both countries continue exploring the possibility of opening new border crossings along the mutual border, the source added. According to the preliminary data, from three to fifteen new transit points can be launched along the Tajik-Uzbek border this year. An agreement on opening new transit points along the mutual border was reached during Tajik President Emomali Rahmons state visit o Uzbekistan in August last year. Under a 2002 agreement, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan actually have 16 crossings along their shared border and nine of them have an international status. Twelve BCPs are located in the northern Sughd province and the remaining four BCPs are located in the southern Khatlon province and Tursunzoda district (central Tajikistan). In the preceding eight years, only two BPCs having international status Dousti in the Tursunzoda district (central Tajikistan) and Fotehobod in the Mastchoh district (Sughd province) -- were available to the local population. Uzbekistan had sealed the border crossing points along its common border with Tajikistan unilaterally in the 1990s. Things have taken a turn for the better since Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power in Uzbekistan in 2016. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan opened the remaining fourteen border crossing points last year. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend: In 2018, PASHA Capital led the ranking of brokers in the Azerbaijani market of state and corporate securities, Trend reports referring to the Baku Stock Exchange (BSE) Jan. 11. During the period, the investment company rendered brokerage services worth 8.838 billion manats. Unicapital took the second place with the rendered services worth a total of 5.32 billion manats. It is followed by InvestAZ with 4.6 billion manats worth of rendered services. Ranking of brokers in Azerbaijans securities market in January-December 2018 Broker Current ranking for the value of services Value of brokerage services (AZN) State bonds (AZN) Corporate bonds (AZN) Stocks (AZN) REPO (AZN) Derivative financial instruments (AZN) PASHA Capital 1 8,837,708,920.54 7,832,106,520.72 447,864,055.95 336,470,972.44 221,267,371.43 - Unicapital 2 5,317,371,608.69 981,920,531.64 43,572,282.46 9,607,761.76 3,784,317.02 4,278,486,715.82 InvestAZ 3 4,604,529,137.83 316,711,280.58 9,325,955.64 5,185.8 - 4,278,486,715.82 AzFinance 4 4,460,813,782.08 3,273,887,388.41 218,534,234.06 83,395,800.38 884,996,359.23 - Xalq Kapital 5 1,951,294,117.8 1,854,396,141.81 17,894,896.41 14,676 78,988,403.58 - PSG Kapital 6 541,773,212.75 213,799,219.43 293,433,176.18 24,607.6 34,516,209.54 - Kapital Menecment 7 - - - - - - Oil prices fell about 2 percent on Friday amid worries about a global economic slowdown, but futures were set to end the week higher, keeping some gains from a week-long rally spurred by US-China trade hopes, Reuters reported. Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell $1.15, or 1.9 percent, to $60.53 a barrel by 1:08 p.m. EST (1808 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were down 91 cents, or 1.7 percent, at $51.68 a barrel. Both benchmarks were set for their second week of gains, with Brent rising about 6 percent and WTI up nearly 8 percent. Markets were supported earlier this week by hopes that an all-out trade war between Washington and Beijing might be averted. Three days of talks concluded on Wednesday with no concrete announcements, but higher-level discussions may convene later this month. Some of the strength that weve gotten from that seems to be coming out of the market, Gene McGillian, vice president of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. Right now I think the market is in a holding pattern above our recent lows and its looking for its next driver, McGillian said. Investors remained concerned about a slew of recent economic data that has raised worries about a global economic slowdown. China plans to set a lower economic growth target of 6-6.5 percent in 2019 compared with last years target of around 6.5 percent, policy sources told Reuters, as Beijing gears up to cope with higher US tariffs and weakening domestic demand. If we experience an economic slowdown, crude will underperform due to its correlation to growth, said Hue Frame, portfolio manager at Frame Funds in Sydney. On the supply side, oil markets have received support from supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The deal is aimed at reining in a glut that emerged in the second half of 2018. Lower oil exports from Iran since November, when US resumed sanctions against the OPEC producer, have also supported crude. Playing a key part in the emerging glut was the United States, where crude oil production C-OUT-T-EIA has soared to a record 11.7 million barrels per day. Consultancy JBC Energy this week said it was likely that US crude production was significantly above 12 million bpd by this month. US energy firms, however, this week cut four oil rigs, the second week of declines, General Electric Cos (GE.N) Baker Hughes energy services firm said, as producers turned conservative in their 2019 drilling plans due to uncertainty over a recovery in crude prices. RIG-OL-USA-BHI [RIG/U] Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.11 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) successfully completed financial close in December 2018, securing 3.9 billion euros - the largest project finance agreed for a European infrastructure project in 2018, Trend reports citing a message from TAP AG consortium. Commenting on the matter, Luca Schieppati, TAPs Managing Director, said that with the financial close now achieved, TAP has reached another major milestone of the projects progress. "TAP has voluntarily committed to comply with environmental and social standards required by the international financial institutions. As such, all necessary assessments to substantiate this commitment have been undertaken and met by TAP. This also included a thorough environmental and social assessment. With project financing now concluded, TAP can progress to the final completion of the project and delivery of Shah Deniz II gas in 2020," he added. Andrew McDowell, European Investment Bank Vice President responsible for energy, for his part, noted that as the EU Bank, the European Investment Bank recognizes the important contribution to improving security of energy supply in Europe that the Trans Adriatic Pipeline will bring and has provided 700 million euros for this, the largest energy project in Europe currently being built. "The EIB is pleased to have been an anchor lender to the project, alongside the EBRD and other leading financial institutions, to successfully finance this complex and ambitious project and welcomes the continued close cooperation between all project partners to ensure that environmental, social and technical best practice is followed," noted McDowell. Nandita Parshad, EBRD Managing Director Sustainable Infrastructure, pointed out that the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline will set the foundation for an integrated gas market across south-eastern Europe and enhance the regions strategic status as an energy hub. "We believe that gas remains an important transition fuel in this region that can help displace coal and facilitate penetration of renewables, reportedly, the financing is provided by a group of 17 commercial banks, alongside the EBRD and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Part of the financing is covered by the export credit agencies - bpifrance, Euler Hermes and Sace. The project raised 3765 million euros in third party senior debt with a door-to-door tenor of 16.5 years, combining commercial debt along with development financial institutions (DFI) and export credit agencies (ECA) related financing: EIB Direct Facility, benefitting from a guarantee from the European Union under the European Fund for Strategic Investments EFSI: 700 million euros EBRD A-Loan: 500 million euros EBRD B-Loan: 500 million euros funded by commercial banks ECA facilities, benefiting from comprehensive cover by: Bpifrance Facility, 450 million euros, Euler Hermes Facility, 280 million euros A SACE Facility, 700 million euros; Commercial term loan facility: 635 million euros directly provided by commercial banks without any ECA or multilateral involvement. Costs have previously been funded in full by TAPs shareholders: BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent). TAP was advised by Societe Generale (SG) as Financial Advisor and Allen & Overy as Legal Advisor; lenders were advised by Clifford Chance. TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries. Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network. The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016. Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe. Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Tehran, Iran, Jan. 11 Trend: Irans Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade aims to support domestic auto production financially. The ministrys approach is to support the auto and spare part makers to promote the domestic production and expand the capacities of the private sector, said Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Saeed Zarandi, Trend reports citing IRNA. The ministry has allocated credits to auto makers and the companies that the government has share in, he added. The National Development Fund and banks will allocate about $2 billion in credits and $200 million in subsides to the industry within a year, he added. The recent statistics on Irans auto industry shows domestic production from March 21 until late November 2018 included production of 38,275 cars, 61 vans, 2,494 trucks, 148 mini buses, 12 buses and towing trucks. Compared to the same period in last Iranian year (March 21 until late November 2017), the countrys auto production has had a 71 percent fall. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: The authorities of the North Kazakhstan region plan to start production of building materials, Trend reports with reference to the Kazakh media. The remarks were made by the governor of the region Kumar Aksakalov during his visit to the construction sites of the regional center Petropavl. "We import building materials, such as brick, crushed stone, metal tile and much more. We need to focus on local production of building materials. In 2018, the construction volume amounted to 80 billion tenge. This year we will increase the pace," he said. Aksakalov noted that the North Kazakhstan region needs some 7-10 million bricks. "They should be of local production, as well as metal tiles and other building materials. Production of local building materials is the task that we have to perform together with the builders this year," the governor of the region said. In September 2019, a modern theater designed for 500 visitors will be commissioned in the Zhas Orken microdistrict of the North Kazakhstan region. According to the project manager Marat Mukashev, all building materials were produced in Kazakhstan. Near the theater, a secondary school for 900 students is being built. Another school for 600 students is being constructed in the Bereke microdistrict. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Irans Trade Center in Syria will be commissioned in two weeks with the participation of Iranian vice president, a member of the Board of Directors at the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Hossein Pirmoazzen said at a meeting of dialogue council between the government and private sector in Ardabil province, Trend reports via IRNA. He said that this center will operate with Syria for economic and trade exchanges and will create the basis for economic exchanges between Iranian and Syrian businessmen. He noted that soon the trade and economic delegation of Irans Ardabil province will be sent to Syria to explore ways of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. He added that private sector investments need state support. The banking system should ensure simplification in the investments turnover so that the private sectors investments increase, Pirmoazzen said. He noted that there is a parliaments decision on the gradual pardoning of fines, and banks should execute this decision. "The governments support for the private sector is indispensable," he said. "Expansion of mechanization in order to increase production in the agriculture sector, enter the foreign markets and export products, as well as planting greenhouse crops and medicinal herbs should be a priority." Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 11 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan took part in the Heimtextil 2019 international exhibition in Germany's Frankfurt, Trend reports referring to Turkmen Foreign Ministry. Over 3,000 foreign companies and organizations took part in the exhibition. Representatives of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Textile Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry were in the Turkmen delegation. The Turkmen delegation held a meeting with the exhibition company, Messe Frankfurt. During the talks, the possibilities for expanding the range of textile products produced by Turkmenistan and the development of cooperation were discussed, the report said. More than one million tons of cotton are grown annually in Turkmenistan. The textile industry of Turkmenistan is represented with a wide range of exported products - from cotton fiber and yarn to finished garments and knitwear, which are produced by the largest textile complexes in Central Asia, located in the capital and in all regions of the country. A significant part of the products of Turkmenistan, supplied abroad, are home textiles, sportswear and jeans produced under the world-famous trademarks IKEA, Puma, Walmart, Lidl, Bershka, Pull & Bear, River Island, Cosco. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Taleh Mursagulov Trend: OJSC "Holding Management Company "Belkommunmash" is ready to establish joint production of electric buses in Azerbaijan, the companys Deputy Director General Ekaterina Chistova told Trend. "OJSC "Holding Management Company "Belkommunmash" is interested in supplying electric buses to Azerbaijans market," she said. "To this end, in 2018, our company sent a commercial offer for electric buses addressed to the Ganja city authority." Chistova also noted that earlier the company didnt carry out any supplies to Azerbaijan. She noted that the company already implemented a project for launching electric buses in Minsk, which became the first city in the CIS to launch a full-fledged regular electric bus route. "In May 2017, double-layer electric buses began to operate, now 30 electric buses of E433 "Vitovt Max Electro" model run in Minsk," she said. "Following their operation, a significant reduction in operating costs is observed, and this makes them more attractive for use on urban and suburban routes compared to trolley buses and buses." Chistova also added that OJSC "Holding Management Company "Belkommunmash" is actively working to bring electric buses to new markets. "In 2017-2018, the test operation of the E433 model electric bus was conducted in Russia and Moldova," she said. "Negotiations are also underway to supply electric buses for the needs of the cities of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Poland and Romania. The issue of entering the Georgian market is being worked out." In addition, the company plans to set up a joint venture for assembling electric buses in India, she noted. In 2019-2020, the company plans to deliver a batch of at least 40 electric buses to India, she said. Speaking about the production plans, the deputy general director noted that it is planned to produce at least 70 electric buses, including 50 for the needs of Minsk in 2019. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @TalehMursagulov Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Ilhama Isabalayeva Trend: There is no swine flu (H1N1 flu) in Azerbaijan, main epidemiologist at the Azerbaijani Health Ministry Ibadulla Aghayev told Trend. If swine flu appears in the country, the Azerbaijani health care system is able to stop it from spreading, he said. "There is H1N1 virus in neighboring Georgia, Aghayev added. But it is impossible to ban the entry from Georgia into Azerbaijan, as well as exit from the country. All those infected with this virus in Georgia have been hospitalized." Fourteen people have already died from swine flu in Georgia. Stuck in a moo-ment The irony is unmissable. For the BJP, the cow is now a millstone around its neck Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Elchin Mehtiyev - Trend: Last year, 2,845,697 foreign citizens and stateless persons arrived Azerbaijan, this number has increased by 6%, compared to the previous year, The head of the State Migration Service, Vusal Huseynov, told Trend on Friday. According to the head of the State Service, during the reporting period, 740,841 foreigners and stateless persons were registered at the place of temporary residence. "During the year, the State Migration Service received 82,953 appeals from foreigners and stateless persons in connection with extending the period of temporary stay in the country, obtaining permits for temporary and permanent residence, granting, restoring and renouncing citizenship, establishing refugee status, and obtaining a work permit, as well as the extension of his term", Huseynov said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Azerbaijans borders are open for everyone who comes to the country with friendly intentions, without any hostile and provocative plans, Azerbaijani MP Elman Nasirov told Trend Jan. 11. He was commenting on the statement by spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova in connection with the non-admission of a Russian citizen of Armenian nationality to Azerbaijan. He said that Zakharova perfectly understands that Azerbaijan has been in a state of war with Armenia for almost 30 years. During intense fighting in Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region, Armenians who were citizens of Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Latin American countries, France, Syria, Lebanon and other countries, came as assassins and fought against Azerbaijan as part of the Armenian armed forces and committed genocide, he noted. Then why Azerbaijan, knowing all this, should create a threat to its security? Zakharova should understand this. Russia also uses all means to ensure its security and doesnt admit people who represent a threat to the country, regardless of their citizenship, and this is natural. The Azerbaijani state also has to take the appropriate steps to protect the security of its citizens. Nasirov added that if Russia is so worried about its citizens, then why it remains silent about Russian citizen Dilgam Asgarov taken hostage by Armenians. If injustice is shown abroad against a Russian citizen, Moscow immediately sends a statement to that foreign country and conducts negotiations, the Azerbaijani MP said. Dilgam Asgarov is also a Russian citizen, then why Russia ignores his unlawfully being taken hostage by Armenians, his arrest by an unfair trial? It should be considered that Dilgam Asgarov was taken hostage in his native land, in the occupied Kalbajar district. During an operation in July 2014 in Shaplar village of Azerbaijani Kalbajar district occupied by Armenia, the Armenian special forces killed an Azerbaijani, Hasan Hasanov, and took hostage two other Azerbaijanis, Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov. A "criminal case" was initiated against them. Afterwards, a "court" sentenced Asgarov to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years in prison. 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, Jan. 11 Trend: Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan Elmira Suleymanova has issued a statement to the international organizations in connection with the anniversary of the January 20 tragedy, Trend reports with reference to the Ombudsmans Office. The statement is addressed to the UN secretary-general, UN Security Council, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Human Rights Council, UNICEF, UNESCO, European Union, European Council, OSCE, International and European Ombudsman Institutes, Asian Ombudsman Association, European Network of Ombudsmen for Children, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Network of Ombudsmen Offices, International Peace Bureau, foreign ombudsmen, embassies of Azerbaijan and the foreign embassies to Azerbaijan, as well as the Azerbaijani diaspora. Twenty-nine years pass from the bloody January 20, 1990 tragedy, reads the statement. This indelible crime against humanity is commemorated each time with a heavy heart. This bloody event engraved on the memories as Black January is both the day of commemoration of our martyrs and the day of solidarity, pride and honor of our people fighting for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. These events once again demonstrated that our people are determined to fight for the independence and restoration of their violated rights. Thus, as a result of the support by former USSR leadership to the rising Armenian separatism in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, which is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and biased position towards our country, gradual removal of the departments and organizations of the mentioned oblast from the subordination of our republic, deportation of the Azerbaijanis from their historical-ethnic lands in Armenia, exposure of compatriots to severe torture and violence exhausted our peoples patience, the statement said. The January 20 massacre was committed upon the instruction of the Soviet government of that period in order to suppress the rightly protest of our people, to prevent the expanding liberation movement in Azerbaijan. The statement reads that on the night from Jan. 19 to 20, 1990, the Soviet troops were suddenly deployed to Baku and Sumgait, other cities and districts of the country in military vessels, tanks and other heavy military equipment, and started to fire at people. "Thus, international law norms, provisions of the former USSR and Azerbaijan SSR constitutions were grossly violated, a violent crime was committed against our multinational people, who stood in defense of freedom of the homeland and its own rights. Armed forces entered Baku, killed 168 unarmed civilians, mercilessly regardless of their nationality, age or sex, including children, women and elderly; 744 peaceful innocent people in the capital, suburban settlements and surrounding areas were injured; hundreds of people went missing; 841 persons were illegally arrested, reads the statement. Even the ambulances and physicians carrying the injured persons were fired at. Therefore, medical staff members became martyrs or were injured. Use of prohibited weapons resulted in immeasurable destruction. The energy block of the State Television was exploded as a result of a sabotage organized by the USSR Committee of State Security with the purpose of concealing the events from the population." At that period, a harsh statement was made by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Moscow on behalf of the Azerbaijani people and he demanded a legal assessment to the massacre committed against our people on January 20 and punishment of the perpetrators, the statement said. It should be noted that those events couldnt break the will of our people, and the fight for freedom resulted in restoring the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991. At the initiative of President Heydar Aliyev, a special session of the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani Parliament] was held and this bloodshed was given a political-legal assessment, reads the statement. Every year the date of January 20 is commemorated as the National Day of Mourning in our Republic, and on this day the martyrs are remembered by hundreds of thousands of people with deep respect. According to the presidential decree, citizens of Azerbaijan, of different nationalities, killed during the tragedy were awarded the honorary title of the Martyr of the January 20, and in line with the Decree on Increasing the State Care for Persons who Became Disabled during January 20 Events, different measures are implemented, these persons are entitled to relevant allowances by the state, and the martyrs' families are provided the Presidential Pensions, the statement said. "As in previous years, this year also the Action Plan on Commemorating the 29th Anniversary of the Tragedy of January 20 has been approved by the relevant decree with the purpose of directing the focus of the international community to those bloody events and is now implemented," reads the statement. "This horrible tragedy caused the massacre of the civilian population. Consequently, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international legal documents were grossly violated. Nevertheless, despite being one of the most horrible crimes of the 20th century for its nature and scale, the January 20 events havent received international legal assessment so far; those who ordered and perpetrated the bloodshed havent been punished. Under the international law, the January 20 tragedy should be classified as a crime against humanity, the statement said. Thus, according to the Article 7 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, extermination, enforced disappearance of persons, other inhuman acts of a similar character intentionally causing great sufferings, serious injury to body, to mental or physical health are classified as crimes against humanity. "At that time, the leaders of the Soviet state supported Armenia with that crime, grossly violating the international legal norms, which resulted in the long-lasting Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan. An ethnic cleansing and a genocide were committed, 20 percent of our country's territories were occupied, local Azerbaijani population was forcibly expelled from the territory of Armenia, as well as Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts, an integral part of our republic, reads the statement. These actions resulted in a massive violation of the fundamental rights of the civilian population and still more than one million compatriots live as refugees and IDPs. The Azerbaijani side constantly strives for the peaceful settlement of the conflict, proposes initiatives, the statement said. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has stated the crucial importance of the peaceful settlement of the conflict only within the territorial integrity of our republic, withdrawal of the occupying forces from the Azerbaijani lands, repeatedly and resolutely on the platforms of influential international organizations, including UN General Assembly. This is reflected in the corresponding decisions of the influential international organizations, including European Parliament's resolution adopted on Dec, 12, 2018, in which the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was emphasized once more. "It should be mentioned that there are enough legal documents to classify the January 20 events, committed 29 years ago, as a crime against humanity, being one of the most grave kinds of international crimes. At the same time, there are sufficient evidences on the criminal responsibility of the persons who ordered and committed this massacre, and first of all, the leaders of the Soviet state of that period." "Impunity of persons who committed such acts is contrary to the targeted universal priorities, UN Principles and Sustainable Development Goals, the statement said. We call on the world community and international organizations to support justified demands of the Azerbaijani people, and in order to bring the perpetrators of this crime to deserved punishment, to assist in giving to these bloody acts an international legal assessment." Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 11 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has chaired the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socioeconomic development of 2018 and objectives for the future. The head of state made an opening speech at the event. Opening speech of President Ilham Aliyev - At todays meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, we will discuss the key results of 2018, and also talk about the work to be done this year. 2018 was a successful year for our country. Regardless of the developments that unfolded in the world and in our region, Azerbaijan developed successfully and rapidly. All the tasks we set at the beginning of last year have been fulfilled and the full dynamic development of our country was ensured. As you know, very negative processes occurred in various regions of the world, including ours, last year. New risks and threats are emerging. The conflicts and bloody clashes that started in previous years have continued, stability has been disturbed in many places, and protests have assumed large proportions. Against this negative background, Azerbaijans successes are seen even more clearly. Azerbaijan is a country of development, progress and stability. Regardless of the processes occurring in the world and in the region, Azerbaijan is successfully following the path of independence and will continue to do so in the years to come. The third state program on the socioeconomic development of the regions was completed last year. This five-year program has been exceeded. It has allowed us the opportunity to achieve rapid implementation of infrastructure projects in the regions, creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs, new industrial enterprises and more dynamic development of agriculture. In short, the regional development program is of great importance and has produced excellent results. This year we will adopt the fourth state program on the socioeconomic development of the regions. Most of it is almost ready. Last year, I visited the regions of Azerbaijan 24 times. During these trips, I have the opportunity to exercise control over the work being done and, through meetings with local residents on the ground, give additional instructions to resolve their problems. Many orders have been signed relating to the improvement of the socioeconomic situation of the districts, including infrastructure projects. These orders go down quite well in our regions and lead to great results. As I have already mentioned, my visits to the regions create an excellent opportunity to be in touch with the people, monitor the work being done and take the right steps related to the work ahead. I have repeatedly visited every region of Azerbaijan at least five times in every district. There are regions which I have visited more than 10 times, and these regular trips are of great importance. In general, the domestic situation in our country both in connection with public and political and socioeconomic issues is stable. In other words, I can say that 2018 was not particularly different from previous years and our country was on the path of dynamic development. I also believe that last year was successful for us in terms of the foreign policy. Last year I paid 16 foreign visits and 16 heads of state and government visited Azerbaijan. This shows once again that we have a multi-vector foreign policy, and the number of countries cooperating with us is growing every day. Of course, I believe that we have, first of all, managed to raise the level of our communication with neighbors to a higher level. Last year, I had numerous meetings with heads of state and government of neighboring countries, during which we resolved specific issues. Good relations with neighbors is a very important factor for any country. Azerbaijan is one of the countries that managed to establish excellent relations with all its neighbors except for Armenia by pursuing a thought-out policy, and we benefit from these relations. Both the development of regional security and the successful solution of transport, energy and trade issues depend, inter alia, on relations with neighbors. In a nutshell, our relations with neighboring countries are very positive, and I am sure that further steps will be taken in this direction this year too. As you know, Azerbaijan has earned tremendous respect and authority in the Muslim world. The steps we have taken in relation to Islamic solidarity are highly appreciated by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as by many Muslim countries, and our contribution to this area is quite sizable. In other words, our policy strengthens solidarity and cooperation in the Muslim world. The measures we have taken in this direction both domestically and abroad have further strengthened Islamic unity. It is no coincidence that Nakhchivan was elected the Capital of Islamic Culture last year. Nakhchivan city carried this honorary title very successfully. We will develop our relations with Muslim countries in various directions this year too, so our authority, reputation and role in the Muslim world will further increase. As you know, an important document was signed between the European Union and Azerbaijan last year. It is called Partnership Priorities. This document covers many issues. I should emphasize that issues related to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are becoming rather positive. The document expresses support and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and the inviolability of our borders. I believe that this document has a special place in the work we carried out in this direction in recent years. Thus, the European Union has unequivocally demonstrated its opinion on ways of settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. At the same time, the final declaration adopted at the NATO Summit last year also expressed support and respect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Last year, we held a large conference at the level of foreign ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku. As you know, a Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement will be held in Baku this year, and Azerbaijan will chair this major organization. Of course, chairmanship in the second biggest organization after the UN will further enhance our authority and, at the same time, have a positive impact on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. One of the important issues of our foreign policy was the determination of the legal status of the Caspian Sea. The signed Convention is of great importance for the resolution of this issue. We are glad that the position we have defended over the years is fully reflected in this Convention. The signing of this document shows again that the Caspian Sea is a sea of peace, cooperation and security. The convention is very important. I consider the signing of this document to be a great diplomatic and political success of all Caspian littoral countries. As for the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, our position remains unchanged. This issue must be resolved only within the framework of the territorial integrity of our country. The resolutions of the UN Security Council must be implemented and Armenian armed forces must unconditionally withdraw from our occupied lands. These very expressions are contained in resolutions of the UN Security Council. The process of continuing the negotiations has begun despite the fact that the new leadership of Armenia tried to evade them at the initial stage. There were even thoughts that Azerbaijan should conduct negotiations with the self-styled Nagorno-Karabakh republic. We immediately rejected such attempts. Of course, the mediators dealing with the conflict also could not support such an incomprehensible approach and expressed their opinion. The process of negotiations was eventually restored. Several meetings of foreign ministers have already taken place, and negotiations are being held between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Only this format of negotiations is acceptable. As you know, major changes took place in Armenia last year. The regime of the criminal junta that had illegally usurped power for over 20 years fell. And this was natural. This is a logical and bitter end of the criminal regime. An important role in this issue, of course, is played by Armenias aggressive policy. It is because of this policy that we have isolated Armenia from all regional projects. It is because of this occupying policy that Armenias economy has practically collapsed. Armenia is experiencing a profound demographic crisis. The process of depopulation, i.e. reduction of the population, has become widespread. Azerbaijan has proved to the world that its policy is correct. I have never concealed this policy and explicitly declared from various platforms that we will use all available means to isolate Armenia until our lands are liberated. This policy has yielded results, the criminal regime has collapsed and a new situation has arisen in Armenia. We have repeatedly said that the regime of criminal and bloodthirsty junta has dominated Armenia for 20 years. Unfortunately, certain international organizations have turned a blind eye to this. The question may be asked now: how can it be possible that international organizations gave positive assessments to the presidential and parliamentary elections held in Armenia with major falsifications in recent years? After all, the latest parliamentary elections showed that a group of people that had illegally seized power could not even get 5 percent of the vote. This is recognized by everyone. Why didnt anyone condemn the criminal regime, which ascribed more than 50 percent of the votes to itself in previous years?! Why did the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and other international organizations ranting about democracy and justice turn a blind eye to this shameful picture?! Didnt they know that all elections in Armenia were rigged? Didnt they know that the Armenian people hated the criminal regime? They knew that perfectly well, but turned a blind eye to that. Why? Because of double standards. What for? It is likely that there were other issues related to their selfish goals. It is no secret for anyone that Armenia activated its cognac diplomacy in the international arena and bribed many politicians. In previous years, the factor of bribe was in the first place in Armenias foreign policy. Therefore, I believe that this issue should be seriously investigated by relevant international bodies, and the politicians who supported the criminal regime for 20 years, turned a blind eye to its crimes and received orders and medals from it, must be brought to justice. Our demand is precisely this. If this does not happen, it means there are no changes. If this is not done, then the ridiculous statements by certain international organizations regarding justice and human rights will remain just ridiculous statements. If international organizations that supported the Sargsyan regime and its deeds, and turned a blind eye to them want to wash away their sins, they must admit that they were in agreement with criminals for 20 years, which means that they have contributed to these crimes too. I have repeatedly said that Armenia is ruled by a criminal regime. The Armenian people are saying this today. Their former leaders are criminals and this is a proven fact. Their heroes are cowards and their generals are thieves. This is the current situation in Armenia. If a country which gained independence only 27 years ago is led by criminals for 20 years, then it is not too difficult to form an idea about this country. I have repeatedly said this and I want to say it again that there is one way for Armenia to come out of this difficult crisis to normalize relations with Azerbaijan. We are ready for this. But, of course, there is one condition Armenian armed forces must withdraw from our occupied lands. At the same time, of course, we paid great attention to our military potential last year, and there are impressive achievements in this area. The combat capability of our army is growing, and the Nakhchivan operation clearly confirmed this. As a result of the successful Nakhchivan operation, we now fully control 11,000 hectares of land. It was a very successful operation. At the same time, the occupied heights are of strategic importance. They allow us the opportunity to exercise full control over the road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh. So this event, the Nakhchivan operation, shows again that the Azerbaijani people and the state will never put up with this occupation and will restore their territorial integrity by all means. There is simply hope for negotiations, this is why we still believe that the path of negotiations is the main remedy. At the same time, we are building up our military power. The work done to bolster our combat capability last year certainly deserves a very high assessment. The servicemen who distinguished themselves in the successful Nakhchivan operation have received relevant state awards. We did a great deal last year to strengthen the material and technical infrastructure of our army. During the two military parades, we demonstrated some of our military hardware. Among them, of course, I would like to highlight the Polonez and LORA long-range missile systems. The opposite side has no ability to protect itself from these systems. These systems can cover a distance of 300 kilometers or more and destroy any military target with high precision and great destructive power. Let me say again that there is not a single enemy military target that we cannot destroy with high precision. The acquisition of these systems, of course, increases our military power. At the same time, our military power is multiplied by the acquisition last year of unmanned combat aircraft. Of course, the air defense and missile defense systems acquired in recent years have strengthened our defense capabilities, while other systems have increased our offensive power. Everybody knows that. The events taking place in the military sphere are no secret to anyone. The opposite side, the enemy also knows and should know that the Azerbaijani army is one of the strong armies on a global scale today, and additional steps will be taken in this direction this year. The problems of our compatriots who suffered as a result of the war were successfully solved last year as well. Very serious steps have been taken in connection with this issue. Last year, more than 5,800 IDP families were provided with new houses and apartments. This is a record figure in recent years. Along with this, more than 620 apartments were provided to the families of the martyrs and those handicapped in the Karabakh war. Even more apartments will be provided this year, including new IDP settlements. In other words, this issue is always in the spotlight. To address the problem of the IDPs still living in difficult conditions, we have provided major funds this year as well. We will address these issues. Of course, all this work requires economic power, and we are creating it. In terms of economic development, Azerbaijan today does not depend on anyone on any international financial organization or country. Economic independence allows us the opportunity to pursue an independent policy and to protect the interests of the Azerbaijani people. Last year was successful for us in terms of economic development. I can say that last year was a year of profound economic reforms, and everyone sees their results now. State budget revenues have significantly increased. The main goal of economic reforms is to fully ensure transparency in this area, step up the fight against negative phenomena and thus accelerate the successful development of our country. I can say that international organizations and leading financial institutions are following the processes occurring in Azerbaijan with great interest and giving a high assessment to our work. I should note that the World Banks Doing Business report ranks Azerbaijan in 25th place globally. In a matter of one year, we have advanced 32 steps. I think this is a record figure. To be in 25th place on a global scale in terms of doing business conditions is a great achievement. All our economic indicators are very positive. I want to bring some indicators to the attention of our people. Last year, the gross domestic product, or the rate of economic growth in Azerbaijan, constituted 1.4 percent. I think this is a good indicator. Of course, it does not fully reflect our aspirations. At the same time, looking at the processes taking place in the world, I consider this a good indicator. The development of the non-oil sector is an even better indicator. Development here constitutes 1.8 percent. Industrial production has increased by 1.5 percent, while industrial production in the non-oil sector by 9.1 percent. This indicates that our industrialization policy is producing excellent results. Inflation is only at 2.3 percent. Monetary incomes of the population have increased by 9.2 percent. As you can see, population incomes are ahead of inflation. If we look at 2017, we can see that inflation exceeded 12 percent, and now it is at 2.3 percent. The rate of the manat is stable. Agriculture has increased by 4.6 percent. I believe that this is also a good indicator. Last year, 17.2 billion manats were invested in the country's economy. This is a very large figure, and it is particularly gratifying that 11 billion manats of these investments, or even more, were invested in the non-oil sector. In other words, this shows that Azerbaijan is a very attractive country for investment. The fact that we have risen to 25th place in the world according to the latest report of the World Bank will further encourage investors to invest even more in our country. Last year we increased our foreign exchange reserves. Although we had a lot of expenses, we managed to increase our foreign exchange reserves by $3 billion. Thus, our country's foreign exchange reserves today amount to $45 billion. Our external debt has dropped from 22.8 to 19 percent, which is also a very positive development. In other words, at present, Azerbaijans external debt accounts for 19 percent of the gross domestic product. The task for the coming years is to further reduce this debt. A corresponding program has been prepared on this issue now. I believe that we should gradually reduce the debt. It is true that 19 percent is also an excellent indicator on a global scale. There are countries, in particular even developed ones, where foreign debt accounts for 100-120 percent of the gross domestic product. If it is at the level of 50 percent in a country, then such a country is considered to be economically stable. In our country, it is 19 percent, and I think this is quite high. I think that it should and will be reduced. Of course, if we compare our foreign debt to our foreign exchange reserves, we can see that our foreign exchange reserves are four to five times higher than our foreign debt. So we can fully repay the external debt at any time. This reflects our policy and shows that although we can receive numerous loans, I have given the instruction to limit the number of loans. This is not necessary now. As an exception, we can get a loan in some cases only for high-tech projects because there is no need for that. We have our own money and our foreign exchange reserves are increasing. A total of 118,000 permanent jobs were created last year. This is a very important issue for keeping unemployment low. There are good indicators related to exports. Exports have increased by 36 percent. If we take the total figure, our exports have reached $19 billion. Our trade surplus in the foreign trade balance, i.e. the prevalence of exports over imports, is $8.6 billion. If we look at different countries, such a picture is observed quite rarely. In most countries, imports prevail over exports. In Azerbaijan, we see the opposite picture. In fact, in connection with exports, we have brought more money into the country than we spent - $8.6 billion. If we add to this the money coming from foreign tourists, then this figure will increase even more. I should also note that 2,850,000 foreign citizens visited our country last year. This means a 6-percent increase. According to calculations, foreign visitors have spent $2 billion in our country. As you can see, our policy on the development of tourism is primarily manifested in the financial sector. We both promote our country and earn money. So our economic indicators are such that any country of the world would perceive them as great heroism, but for us it is business as usual. We have a thought-out economic policy. In general, our policy fully reflects the interests of the Azerbaijani people and is fully aligned with them. That is exactly why the people of Azerbaijan support our policy. This support was once again manifested in last years presidential election. The people of Azerbaijan showed great confidence in me once again. As you know, the results of opinion polls conducted on the eve of elections and of the exit polls held on election day fully coincided with official results. This shows again that the will of the Azerbaijani people is fully reflected in the election results. This is a high assessment of the work done. And the work done is obvious. It might take hours to list the important events of the past year. I would like to mention several important events. Last year, we launched our third satellite into orbit, and Azerbaijan further strengthened its positions as a space-faring nation. The Southern Gas Corridor was inaugurated last year. This is a historic event in the true sense of the word, as it will bring great benefits to Azerbaijan for many decades political, economic and financial benefits. Last year, the TANAP project, an integral part of the Southern Gas Corridor, was also put into operation. Thus, three out of four projects of the Southern Gas Corridor have been implemented. This is a great success for us, a historic success. Last year, a very important event took place for the transformation of our country into a transport hub the Alat international trade seaport began to operate. Thus, Azerbaijan has already asserted itself in the world as a transit country. I want to say again that many events we could talk about occurred last year. But I believe that that to a certain extent I have briefed the Azerbaijani people on the work done last year. Of course, meetings of the Cabinet of Ministers, among other things, serve the goal of providing a report to the people. At various events and meetings, I regularly report to our people. At the same time, I consider this form of reporting on the work done to be right. Today we will also talk about the work to be done this year. Relevant instructions will be given so that 2019 also becomes a successful year for our country. X X X Speakers at the meeting included Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population Sahil Babayev, and Chairman of the State Customs Committee Safar Mehdiyev. President Ilham Aliyev then made a closing speech. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.11 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Armenias acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will try to hold on to status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Thomas de Waal, a UK political analyst, senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region, Trend reports. Thomas de Waal said he doesnt expect many changes by the new Armenian government, at least not soon. Pashinyan is going to just try to hold on to the status quo and this is probably not to the liking of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan does not want to see a quiet status quo, but a quiet status quo is unfortunately what I think the new Armenian leadership wants, the expert told the Caucasus Watch. Further, taking about the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he noted that this conflict is deeply intractable and it cannot be solved quickly. Thomas de Waal noted that there is a very weak international mechanism in place for the conflicts settlement. There is a small monitoring mission with six OSCE observers, as well as the very modest Minsk Group under the co-chairmanship format that is trying to mediate the conflict. So basically everything comes down to the will and decision-making of the leaders on both sides, said the political analyst. 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. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.11 By Leman Zeynalova, Elnur Baghishov Trend: Iran is ready to make every effort for the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and ensure security and stability in the region, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Javad Jahangirzadeh told Trend. Iran has always openly said that any conflict harms the countries in the region. Iran has experienced an eight-year war and is aware of its consequences. Conflicts and wars cause moral harm to people, said the envoy. Jahangirzadeh pointed out that during the trilateral meeting with foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey in Istanbul, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif openly expressed Irans position on this issue and the country is not going to abandon this stance. The Istanbul Declaration was signed in October 2018 following the sixth trilateral meeting of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The ministers stressed their commitment to principles of international law, in particular, respect of and support for sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of internationally recognized borders, peaceful settlement of all disputes, as well as non-interference in internal affairs. The ministers reiterated in this regard the importance of the earliest resolution of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of the above-mentioned principles. 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, Jan. 11 By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend: The cost of sending SMS messages in the network of Azerbaijans mobile operator Azercell will be 0.05 AZN by February 12, 2019, Trend reports, referring to the company's report published in local newspapers. Changes will affect prepaid tariff plans (Sim-Sim) "Azercellim", "Bizimkilr", "Hr yer", "Bolg" and "Tlb birliyi". Currently, the cost of sending SMS in these tariff plans, with the exception of the "Tlb birliyi" package, costs 0.03 AZN. The tariff for SMS offered as part of the "Tlb birliyi" package is 0.02 AZN. Also, the cost of sending each additional SMS (over the set limit) within the tariff plans "Kombo" and "Gnc OL" will cost 0.05 AZN. In addition, a similar tariff for SMS (0.05 AZN) will also operate within the tariff plans of the invoice line "Bizimkilr", "Hr yer", "Aily Tarif", "DovltCell", "Socar" and "MediaCell" by the mentioned date. Each additional SMS within the tariff plans "Hdsiz", "Hdsiz zng" and "Biznes200" will also cost 0.05 AZN. The official rate on January 11 is 1.7 AZN / USD. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev The government, judiciary, and parliament insist that they are following-up my case, but, they have kept me in the dark, labor leader of sugar mill workers Esmail Bakhshi has said on his Instagram account. "Nobody has talked to me or listened to my testament," Bakhshi has noted, adding, "I've got nothing to say, but telling them to stop lying to the people." Bakhshi claimed earlier this weak that he had been tortured and severely battered by the Intelligence Ministry's interrogators. Bakhshi, spokesman for the labor union of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane industrial complex in Shush, in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, was arrested on November 20, 2018, during ongoing demonstrations by workers demanding unpaid wages. He was released on December 12 after 80 international labor organizations signed a letter addressed to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for all protesting workers and teachers who had been arrested for peacefully demanding their rights to be released. Bakhshi's allegation was denied by the Intelligence Ministry and the Prosecutor-General of the city of Shush, but a young journalist and civil rights activist, Ms. Sepideh Qolian, who was arrested alongside Bakhshi has vehemently supported his claims, as an eyewitness. Ms. Qolian disclosed in a tweet that "Bakhshis torture in the first ten days was so severe, I thought he must have died." Some reports on January 10 said that the reformist block in parliament has met with Bakhsi, but no details have emerged. Bakhshi has challenged the Intelligence Minister, a mid-ranking cleric, Mahmoud Alavi, calling him to a live TV debate about the behavior of his agents with the detainees. Alavi has not responded to the call, so far, but testified about Bakhshi's allegation in a session of parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, behind closed doors. Bakhshi has not yet been invited to the commission to present his own version of the events. Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli, one of the most prominent Shiite clerics in Iran, has criticized seminaries for being "non-productive". Amoli's criticism questions allocating trillions of rials of government budgets to religious institutions while a prominent Iranian critic questions the ayatollah's own performance as an attempt to glorify the role of the Supreme Leader in the Islamic Republic. Speaking at a ceremony on December 27, when Amoli introduced his new book Tahrir al-Osoul on the principles of Shiism, he said: "We have two types of clerics: Those who are innovative producers of knowledge and the ones who are [knowledge] dealers." Javadi Amoli explained that "knowledge dealers are those who constantly cite verdicts by previous scholars. This is a kind of dealership devoid of productivity and innovation." "There are 50,000 clerics at the seminaries," said Javadi Amoli reminding that there were top clerics at much smaller seminaries in the past who wrote valuable books on religious jurisprudence. "We do not have creative top clerics among the current 50 thousand," he regretted, calling for a change that would stop the trend. In another assessment, Ayatollah Khamenei's chief of staff, Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani said there are 80,000 clerics in Iranian seminaries, but society gets very little out of it. There are conflicting reports about the extent of the budget Iranian government allocates to seminaries. According to reformist news website Eslahat News, The Rouhani administration allocated $27 million to seminaries for three months between late March and late June 2018. This includes the funds allocated to the Supreme Council of the Seminaries, the Seminaries Service Centers, Women's Seminaries, The Islamic Propagation Office of the Qom Seminary, the Planning Council of Khorasan Seminaries and the Al-Mustafa Seminary for foreign clerics. There are also many other religious institutions mostly involved in propaganda that gobble up government money and do not pay taxes on other incomes they have. Last January when the budget bill was being approved, it became clear that a total of $500 million dollars was going to religious institutions. Some reports indicate up to a 30 percent decline recently in parts of the budget allocated to the seminaries. However, regardless of the decrease, there are numerous complaints on social media indicating that funds allocated to the clerics are way higher that the budget given to most academic centers and hospitals. Former Culture Minister Ataollah Mohajerani said in a tweet that the Supreme Council of Seminaries should at least report to the public how it has spent the $44 million budget that was allocated to it as just one part of the money given to the seminaries. Mohajerani warned that in the absence of proper explanation, public opinion might turn against the seminaries. Despite the gigantic budget, says Iran analyst Akbar Ganji in an article on Radio Farda's website in Persian, "the seminaries have had no achievements whatsoever." "Apart from the money the people and the government pay the clerics, thousands of clergymen work at government institutions and others hold congregational prayers against a regular salary," Ganji wrote. He asked in the article, "Why clerics have not had any achievement in spite of the huge investment made in the seminaries, and their well-equipped buildings and libraries?" Meanwhile, Ganji questioned the value of Ayatollah Javadi Amoli's own scholarly works which include over 40 volumes about the holy Koran, asking "what innovation has he offered in those books?" Ganji charged that Amoli's interpretation of the Koran includes anti-Semitic and anti-Christian arguments and goes as far as giving priority to the Shiite saints (Imams) over the holy text. He even claims that without the Imams' blessings people cannot go to heaven. With such an argument, says Ganji, there is no way for Sunni Muslims and believers in other faiths to go to heaven. According to Ganji, in Amoli's writings, the status of Imams is over and above the word of God, which is the Koran for Muslims. Ganji argues that such ideas are not only against Sunni beliefs, they could be even heretical. Finally, Ganji criticized Amoli for attributing disproportionate spiritual characteristics and religious powers to Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic's first leader in a way that entitles him to change basic rules of the religion. According to Ganji, Amoli also attributes characteristics and merits to the Supreme Leader (Vali Faqih) that puts him in a higher position than Shiite saints. The final picture that emerges shows that resources spent on the clergy and their elevated power and influence have brought no tangible benefits, except reciprocal support they give to Khamenei, who is being elevated to sainthood by some clerics. On Tuesday, January 15, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "Shakedown by Tax Police: How Entrepreneurs Are Robbed in Ukraine." The press conference is dedicated to the disruption of work of JSC Kolumb Trade and a robbery of the founders of the company. Participating will be Ihor Yehorov, President of the NGO Anticorruption Entrepreneurial Front; Pavlo Kazaryan, co-founder of Kolumb Trade; and Ait Lex lawyer Roman Voloshin (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation by calling +380 95 896 8584. Rubble without a cause Lack of intentional and research-driven disaster preparedness is a serious dilemma in Nepal On Wednesday, January 16, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference on the issue of specialized teaching aids for children with special needs together with the school "Mosaic," the NGO "Special World" and the company "Asino." Participants include MP Yuriy Myroshnychenko; child psychiatrist, PhD. in medicine, head of the department of mental disorders of children and adolescents of the Ukrainian Research Institute of Social and Forensic Psychiatry and Narcology (Kyiv) Ihor Martsynkivsky; Head of the Special Education Department of the Department of General Secondary and Pre-School Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine Tetiana Symonenko; author of teaching aids Oleksandra Lozova; co-founder of the NGO "Special World" Natalia Yatseniuk; General Director of Asino Ukraine LLC Yevhen Zaika; Head of Asino Ukraine Medical Department Yulia Sulskaya. Moderator - founder of the school for children with special needs "Mosaic," co-founder of inclusive classes Ksenia Karbovskaya (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Press registration by phone: (050) 415 5263, pr_ua@acino.swiss, (096) 591 5748, karbovskaya.o@gmail.com (Ksenia Karbovskaya). More than 800 Russian nationals denied entry in Ukraine by State Border Guard Service of Ukraine since end of martial law More than 800 citizens of the Russian Federation have been denied entry into Ukraine since the end of a state of martial law in Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has said. "After the end the state of martial law, our border guards continue to exercise heightened measures to check foreign nationals arriving in Ukraine. In particular, since December 26, more than 800 citizens of the Russian Federation have been denied entry," the State Border Guard Service said in a statement on January 11. The border guards also recalled that dealing with foreigners and stateless persons, including citizens of the Russian Federation, who cross the border, they constantly separate risk groups and take additional measures to prevent persons who may be involved in provocative actions from entering Ukraine. Ukraine's SBU State Security Service acting under the procedural guidance of the military prosecutor's office in Mariupol has detained a man who, as part of a criminal group, was preparing terrorist attacks and riots in Ukraine during the presidential election in coordination with Russia's FSB Federal Security Service. "It has been established that citizen K. acted on preliminary agreement with currently unidentified persons and coordinated his actions with FSB officers deployed in Russia-annexed Crimea. The goal of his activities was to forcibly support opposition political associations through the commission of terrorist acts and riots in Ukraine during Ukraine's presidential elections," the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said on Facebook on Thursday. During August 2018 - January 2019, SBU agents documented the acquisition by citizen K. of military grenades and 11 Makarov pistols for a total of $5,250, the sale of narcotics (amphetamine) weighing 11 grams for a total of UAH 5,000 and a $600 payment to an investigator for causing serious injury to a third party. "On January 10, 2019, citizen K. was detained while purchasing another batch of firearms three Makarov pistols," the SBU said. Priority investigative (search) actions are being carried out, as well as searches at the suspect's work place and residence. Law-enforcement agencies are currently deciding what crimes to charge the man with and recommendations for his preventative custody. Russian occupation forces have violated the ceasefire regime three times in Donbas, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported. "On January 10, the Russian occupation forces have violated the cease-fire regime three times. At the same time, they once used weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements .... As a result of the shelling by the Russian occupation forces over the past day, no casualties among JFO forces were reported," the JFO staff said on Facebook on Friday morning. The enemy opened fire from 82mm mortars and large-caliber machine guns at positions of the Ukrainian military near the village of Zhovte in the Luhansk sector, from grenade launchers of various types, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms in the area of Vodiane and Pavlopil in the Mariupol sector. "Since day-start, Russian proxies have not opened fire," the JFO headquarters said. According to Ukrainian intelligence, one militiaman was killed and two others were injured. Sentsov finishes new novel, awaits publication of short stories, film based on his script Iryna Gerashchenko First Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament and Ukraine's envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group's humanitarian subgroup Iryna Gerashchenko has received from Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, who was illegally convicted and jailed in Russia, a letter in which he shares his plans, expectations and attitudes. "I've received a letter from Oleh Sentsov. The key words for Ukrainians and the world: "I don't intend to lose heart or start whining. ...And I am not going to stop either my creative or social endeavors," she said on Facebook, citing Sentsov's letter on Thursday. Gerashchenko said Sentsov continues to write. At the end of December 2018 he completed a new novel. "He expects a collection of his stories, a novel to be published this year, a novel and the filming of a movie or a theatrical production according to his script," she said. Gerashchenko said Sentsov's willpower and courage are inspirational to all Ukrainians. "We have no right to give up. Ukrainians being held in prisons of the Russian Federation are setting an example for us," she said, positing part of Sentsov's letter on her Facebook page. As earlier reported, in August 2015, the North Caucasus District Military Court sentenced Sentsov, arrested in Crimea in 2014, to 20 years in a high-security penitentiary for forming a terrorist group in Crimea. Sentsov went on hunger strike on May 14, 2018, and demanded that all Ukrainians incarcerated in Russia be released. U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has called the provision of autocephaly to an independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine a historic achievement for the future of the Ukrainian state, the Ukrainian Embassy to the United States has reported. "The January 6th announcement of autocephaly for an independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine marks a historic achievement as Ukraine seeks to chart its own future. On this momentous occasion, the United States reiterates its unwavering support for a sovereign, independent Ukraine," the Ukrainian Embassy to the U.S. quoted Pompeo as saying on its Facebook page. According to the statement, Pompeo stressed that the United States supports the freedom of religion and the right of members of religious groups to freely practice their faith without external interference. Pompeo also welcomed the statement of head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius, about the openness of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to all Orthodox believers. The World Bank has completed the first part of a pilot project of satellite monitoring of agricultural land in Lviv, Kyiv, and Mykolaiv regions, the press service of the U.S. company EOS, which implemented this project, has said. "The project was launched in May 2018 as part of the five-year World Bank program to improve the transparency and efficiency of land asset management in Ukraine - Land Transparency. At the end of December, we submitted a report on the first part of the project. The project will continue, but in what format it is still unknown," Natalia Borotkanych, EOS Project Coordinator, told the Interfax-Ukraine agency. According to the report, the company, based on the space monitoring data, conducted an analysis of the land cover of the earth. This allowed creating maps of agricultural crops, determining the exact boundaries of fields, as well as defining all the main types of land in the territory of the three regions for the period from 2016 to 2018. According to the company, space monitoring allows to accurately assess the area under crops, monitor the condition of plants at all phases of growth, predict early harvest and control agricultural operations. According to the expert, the World Bank is implementing the Land Transparency project with financial support of the EU, the customer of the project is the Ukrainian government. Representatives of government agencies, in particular, the State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre take part in the project. According to EOS, satellite monitoring should contribute to the development of the agricultural insurance market, whose potential in Ukraine is estimated at $50 million. EOS (Earth Observation System) develops solutions for the application of satellite monitoring data analysis. The company is headquartered in Menlo Park (California). In Ukraine, the company has R&D centers in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. The staff is 200 employees. Bogdan Motors, uniting industrial assets of the Bogdan Corporation, has signed a new contract with France's Bluebus to produce bodies for electric buses, Spokesperson of the corporation Serhiy Krasulia has told Interfax-Ukraine. As reported, under first contracts with this company Bogdan supplied six 12-meter bus bodies in 2018, making a Western European market breakthrough. "The French customer remained satisfied with the observation of the terms of production and the quality of products and decided to continue cooperation," the corporation's spokesperson said. He said that the first body under the new contract is already being manufactured at the facilities of the company's Lutsk plant, and the total number of bodies to be delivered will be determined during the year by supplementary agreements. Bluebus is a French manufacturer of environment-friendly public transport, using advanced technologies and focusing on abating the harm to the environment. Krasulia reminded that the corporation had previously cooperated with the eastern countries of the European continent - the electric city bus Bogdan A70100 runs on the streets of Polish cities. In addition, the ERCV27 electric vehicle, the first Ukrainian fully electric truck, was manufactured for the Danish Banke Electromotive. Krasulia reminded that Bogdan is also ready to supply electric buses for Ukrainian car fleets if orders are available. The Bogdan Motors automobile company unites the production assets of one of the leading Ukrainian automakers - the Bogdan Corporation (bus and trolleybus plant in Lutsk and a passenger car plant in Cherkasy). Ara Babloyan: I do surgery much better than I speak (video) NA Speaker Ara Babloyan. He organized a reception in the National Assembly today and invited the media representatives. "I cannot work in the new parliament, because I did not initially nominate my candidacy to be elected deputy," said Ara Babloyan. "I think I did everything what I could do in this domain, and now it's better to go back to health industry, do what I do very well, I do surgery much better than I speak." In spite of this, Ara Babloyan is ready to be useful to the new parliament, if necessary. "I am ready to share my experience with the new parliament, but I will not be a government official." To the question whether he will follow political developments, Ara Babloyan said he will follow not the politics but the developments. Not to let The government must form a strong body to probe into TU land acquisition With Ucom's level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Tiktok, Spotify and Coursera PACE rapporteur welcomes Azerbaijans release of Armenian captives and Armenias handing over of mine-maps to Azerbaijan Armenia/Azerbaijan: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on the latest developments Pashinyan to publicly apology to Khachatryans During EURO 2020 Ucom subscribers to take part in the uMeter voting and draw USA to continue to press for the return of Armenian prisoners of war and detainees: Philip Reeker Post-war Prospects for Nagorno-Karabakh: Crisis Groups new report Ucom-1 team was recognised the winner of the 2021 futsal tournament of the Galaxy Group of Companies: The award ceremony took place COVID 19: 11 deaths Statement of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia regarding the criminal prosecution against the Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijan The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia UCOM introduced new level up packages of voice service President Michel has discussions with President Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Acting Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia COVID19:108 new cases Ucom launches "Hello, summer" offer and presents "U!hoo" kids magazine 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex Google Ad Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group What our Homeland, Armenia and Artsakh will be like depends on us. President Armen Sarkissians message on the Republic Day Ucom Digital lab students keep on getting high-quality technical education Aharon Sahakyan is appointed governor of Kotayk Marz of Armenia 3503 tests were done yesterday Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Covid 19: 323 recoveries and 11 deaths Efforts by prosecutors and law enforcement to address hate crime in Armenia: ODIHR seminar We urge Turkey to respect these calls: Head of the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union Prisoners of war in the aftermath of the most recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan COVID 19: 7 deaths. The release of all Armenian detainees is essential for building confidence and trust Helena Dalli Andrea Wiktorin about about the full ratification of CEPA JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is bringing together citizens, outfitters, activists and experts to develop recommendations on how to deal with elk feedgrounds and chronic wasting disease. Game and Fish spokesman Mark Gocke tells the Jackson Hole News & Guide that it is another way for the agency to gather comment and feedback and help it make decisions on a complicated issue. Chronic wasting disease is an incurable, degenerative neurological disorder that is fatal elk, deer and moose. Some conservationists and biologists say feedgrounds can spread the disease and have called for phasing out elk feeding in northwestern Wyoming. However, feedgrounds maintain considerable support from the ranching and hunting communities that say worries about chronic wasting disease impacts are overblown. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 But there is bad news: The driving death rate increased in Colorado and Washington after legalization. But the data isnt clear driving deaths are up even more in some neighboring states like Idaho, where weed is still banned. Chabot says, Pot driving fatalities in Colorado are up 151 percent! Thats true, but that statistic is misleading because traces of marijuana stay in a persons system for a long time. Some of those people may have used marijuana weeks before. A more stringent measure that may indicate whether someone was actually high at the time of an accident suggests an increase of 84 percent. Thats terrible, but the numbers of accidents are so small 35 in all of Colorado in 2017, up from 19 in 2014 its hard to draw conclusions. That deserves more study. If anti-drug warriors like Chabot want to look seriously at the statistics, they should also include the harm done by drug prohibition itself. Its nearly impossible to overdose on pot. But banning marijuana drives sales into the black market, where criminals do the selling. And criminals are more likely to settle their disagreements with guns. A new Works Progress Agency could establish offices in places like Milwaukee, where it could build a long-discussed high-speed rail line connecting the cities of the Midwest. Or in Phoenix, where it could construct more solar power plants in the desert. It could set up in places like Jackson, Mississippi, helping to build sustainable co-op farms, or on the Gulf Coast, to fight climate change. Similarly, a single-payer, Medicare for All health service would also need to have offices in communities. It would create health care jobs in places often abandoned by providers, boosting economies and bringing affordable care to millions. Meanwhile, reintroducing postal banking would bolster Post Office finances and bring banking to millions of underbanked Americans. Theres another benefit to all this: the revitalization of our heartland cities. Midwestern cities like Detroit, Cleveland, and Milwaukee are full of classical architecture and cultural amenities, but have lost hundreds of thousands of jobs from the erosion of manufacturing. New federal jobs could reverse decades of decline in these grand cities. Why stop there? WASHINGTON Two years into his presidency, Donald Trump is still trying to convince Congress to cough up billions of hard-earned tax dollars to build his wall on the southern border with Mexico. He originally promised voters that Mexico would pay for the 2,000-mile concrete wall, and his supporters swallowed it hook, line and sinker. They bought it even after the president of Mexico flatly told him at a face-to-face meeting on the border during the campaign that they were never going to pay for his dream wall. But he continued to repeat his false promise at all of his rallies, asking his supporters, And whos going to pay for the wall? Mexico! his fans shouted back. Now, with his job approval polls stuck in the lower 40 percent range, and the Democrats, who now control the House of Representatives, refusing to spend one nickel on his wall, Trump is raising the stakes. He is refusing to sign a budget bill unless it contains the $5.7 billion he wants to begin construction of his wall, triggering a partial government shutdown that he says he will not reopen until Congress gives him the money. Near the small central Nevada town of Austin, the Yomba Shoshone tribe sits on 4,700 acres of land. Its revenue for all of its municipal services comes from one place: Washington, D.C. Since the federal shutdown began, many of those services have come to a halt. With funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs frozen, tribal administrator Andrew Perera said the tribe was required to furlough its employees, leaving several tribal members without a paycheck. We are representative of what the rural, smaller tribes have to deal with, Perera said. We dont have a casino. We dont have the ability to set dollars aside for a rainy day. Many members of the community have continued to work as volunteers. The chief of the tribal police and several officers are still reporting to work, and the tribe is dipping into reserved funds to test water quality. But each new day of the shutdown places more strain on the tribe. We dont have the ability to do that forever, he said. ELKO Conservation groups are planning to meet in Elko to inform the public about the progress of an oil leasing and fracking proposal in the Ruby Mountains and elsewhere in the state. Organizers want to receive input from Nevadans about their vision for the iconic mountain range and other landscapes, according to an announcement from Trout Unlimited and the National Wildlife Federation. The meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. Jan. 17 at Dalling Hall. The Forest Service was poised to issue its draft decision on the leasing but has been delayed by the federal government shutdown. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The groups pointed out that the Rubies are widely known for their abundant wildlife, including Nevadas largest mule deer herd; priority sage-grouse habitat; and streams teeming with trout, as well as exceptional scenic, recreational and indigenous cultural values. For those of us that enjoy the views of and the outdoor experiences in our home range, this should be an alarm-bell, said Justin French, a sportsman from Elko. We should all agree that it is better to answer the call for input and have our voices heard as to our desires for this special place than to sit back and regret its degradation. Vestas' orders in Australia in 2018 have passed 1 GW today (12/28) after the signing of a 184 MW engineering, procurement and construction contract for the Warradarge Wind Farm. The 1 GW of orders is Vestas' highest in one year since installing the country's first commercial-sized wind farm 25 years ago. The project announced today also marks an expansion of Vestas' footprint in Western Australia, increasing the company's total installed capacity in the state to 561 MW. Located near Eneabba in mid-west Western Australia, the Warradarge Wind Farm project will feature 51 V136-3.45 MW turbines delivered in 3.6 MW Power Optimised Mode with hub heights of 84 meters to maximise performance in the site's specific wind conditions. The order is placed by Bright Energy Investments, a joint venture between Western Australian electricity generator and retailer Synergy, global infrastructure investment fund DIF and Australian industry superannuation fund Cbus. "We are extremely pleased to work with Bright Energy Investments on this project. It has extraordinary wind conditions and will make an important contribution to powering Western Australia with competitive renewable energy", said Asia Pacific President Clive Turton. "After the Warradarge Wind Farm comes online, Vestas will have an installed base of 561 MW in Western Australia, expanding our service footprint and capability to support future projects in the state." "The high calibre of the parties involved in Bright Energy Investments and Vestas' world-class experience will ensure that the Warradarge Wind Farm is delivered smoothly and on-schedule," said Tom Frood, General Manager Bight Energy Investments. "Synergy has a strong history in Western Australian solar and wind assets, and is committed to increasing its renewable energy portfolio, and Vestas' rich industry expertise and proven track record will ensure that the first power generation is on track for 2020". Upon completion, Vestas will commence an up to 30-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement, designed to maximise energy production for the lifetime of the project. With a yield-based availability guarantee, covering both turbines and balance of plant assets, Vestas will provide Synergy with long-term business case certainty. Commercial operations at Warradarge Wind Farm are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2020. Contact: Rebecca Zhang rezwe@vestas.com Tel: +61 472842499 About Vestas Vestas is the energy industry's global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines across the globe, and with 97 GW of wind turbines in 79 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled 83 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas' more than 24,400 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future. Nepal Oil Corp told to launch reforms or else The government Thursday ordered state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation to launch reforms, improve quality and end financial irregularities, indicating that it had no intention of opening up the lucrative oil business to the private sector. Alabama Power has again drawn praise from the electric utility industry for extraordinary efforts last year to quickly restore power in the wake of storms. The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) was poised to present the company with a prestigious Emergency Recovery Award Thursday night in Palm Beach, Florida. The award is bestowed for two events: first, restoring power after an EF-3 tornado March 19 rumbled 34 miles through east Alabama - causing significant damage to Jacksonville State University - resulting in 31,000 outages. "Due to their tireless work, Alabama Power's crews restored service within two-and-a-half days of the storm, dedicating 70,600 man-hours to the recovery," the EEI said in a press release. Read the full story. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed operating licenses for Entergy's two nuclear plants in Louisiana, River Bend Nuclear Station and Waterford 3 Steam Electric Station. The license renewals allow for continued safe, secure and reliable operations of Waterford 3 through 2044, and River Bend through 2045, two additional decades past the original licensing dates. The 974-megawatt River Bend facility and 1,159-megawatt Waterford unit are the largest sources of carbon-free power in Louisiana. Together, the plants generate more than 16 percent of the state's electricity. In late December, Entergy and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission participated in signing ceremonies for River Bend, located in St. Francisville, and Waterford 3, based in Kilona. "The relicensing of River Bend and Waterford 3 paves the way for these clean energy sources to provide affordable, reliable and emissions-free electricity to our customers for years to come," said Phillip May, president and CEO, Entergy Louisiana. "Congratulations to the teams and their families for achieving these major milestones." The license renewals are a result of intensive reviews and assessments to ensure the plants can continue to operate safely and reliably, and the protection of the environment can be assured during the 20-year period of extended operations. "I am proud of this outstanding accomplishment for the team members at River Bend and Waterford 3, as well as our entire nuclear fleet," said Chief Nuclear Officer Chris Bakken. "Special thanks go to Entergy Nuclear's License Renewal Project team for their dedicated efforts. These regulatory outcomes allow Entergy to safely provide Louisiana's communities with carbon-free power for another 20 years and ensure our team members stay highly engaged in those communities." Together, River Bend and Waterford 3 employ more than 1,500 highly skilled employees. The facilities pay more than $36 million annually in state and local taxes. Employees in both communities maintain a strong presence by spending millions of dollars with local companies, volunteering their time and providing charitable contributions that promote community development, education and enhancement of the environment. In 2018 alone, River Bend and Waterford contributed more than $225,000 in charitable contributions. Waterford 3 began commercial operation in 1985, with River Bend beginning the following year. Renewing operation of the plants is another step toward Entergy maximizing its utility-region nuclear portfolio. Entergy Arkansas already has received license renewals for both units at Arkansas Nuclear One, and the company's Mississippi-located plant, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, secured its license renewal in 2016. Read the full story. Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today (1/10) announced the utility was awarded $1.7 million in funding from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) for two projects to reduce emissions in residential and commercial buildings. The funding will support a commercial water heating incentive program that provides rebates to distributors selling ultra-low emission water heaters. The award will also be used to build a 1.5 kilowatt fuel cell in a new, mixed fuel, zero-net-energy home that will demonstrate how renewable energy and natural gas can work together to reduce emissions at the lowest cost for the homeowner. The money is part of a $61 million funding pool for projects that will reduce stationary and mobile source emissions in the Los Angeles Basin. "We are continuously working to find innovative ways to reduce emissions and provide our customers with equipment that helps to keep their energy bills affordable," said Sharon Tomkins, vice president of customer solutions and strategy for SoCalGas. "Curbing California's emissions requires cooperation from all sectors - policymakers, businesses and consumers, and this AQMD program is a prime example of what can be achieved when we all work together." According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), residential and commercial buildings account for about 12 percent of the state's greenhouse gas emissions. SoCalGas is a leader in the research and development of new technologies that increase energy efficiency, reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and keeps bills affordable for customers. In the last five years alone, SoCalGas energy efficiency programs have saved more than 146 million therms, enough to power 326,000 households a year, and have reduced emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 165,000 passenger cars off the road. In this latest round of funding, the AQMD awarded $1.2 million to SoCalGas' midstream commercial water heating incentive program. The funds will be used to provide rebates to distributors selling ultra-low emission commercial water heaters and will result in lower costs for customers who purchase the energy saving water heaters. Through this program SoCalGas aims to deploy about 1,000 ultra-low emission commercial water heating boilers, space heating boilers and tankless water heaters across its service territory. SoCalGas was also awarded close to $500,000 for a residential fuel cell and solar power storage demonstration project. The utility is working with a homebuilder to install a 1.5 kilowatt (kW) fuel cell in a new, mixed fuel, zero-net-energy home located within SoCalGas service territory. A solar PV and battery storage system will also be installed as part of this project. The combined fuel cell, solar PV and battery storage system will be used to provide electricity and water heating for the home. One goal of this project, besides reducing emissions, is to learn more about how renewable energy and natural gas can work together at optimal performance to reduce emissions at the lowest cost for the homeowner. SoCalGas will evaluate these results after one year of use. In addition to receiving funding for two of the company's projects, SoCalGas supported BioFuels Energy with its fuel cell power generation system at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., which was also awarded AQMD funding. Once the project is completed and fully operational it will reduce CO2 emissions by 885 metric tons a year and smog-forming NOx emissions by nearly 4 metric tons a year. "The emissions savings from a project of this nature will be especially beneficial to the Long Beach area as we all look for ways to curb pollution, particularly from the port complex," said Ken Frisbie, managing director for BioFuels Energy. "We are thankful for the support SoCalGas provided us on this project and look forward to future collaborations." The utility's research and development team also played an instrumental role in at least five other projects that were awarded funding. The projects range from low-NOx cooking and heating equipment to renewable hydrogen production. Projects like the ones being funded by the AQMD are just one of the many ways SoCalGas is working to reduce emissions. Recently, the company participated in a demonstration of a new ultra-low NOx furnace developed by Rheem that reduces smog forming emissions by 65 percent. In late-2016, SoCalGas also became the first natural gas utility to institute a demand response program to help customers save energy and money on their winter bills. SoCalGas aims to sign up 50,000 customers to its Smart Thermostat Program this winter. In Southern California, natural gas is the most affordable and reliable option for water heating, cooking and space heating. More than 90 percent of residents use natural gas to heat their home and hot water and Californians prefer natural gas for heating and cooking by a margin of 5 to 1 because it is more affordable and reliable than electricity for those uses. SoCalGas is also working to curb emissions by increasing the production and use of renewable natural gas, which turns waste from dairies, farms, wastewater and landfills, into a source of clean and renewable energy to fuel homes and businesses. A recent study by Navigant Consulting demonstrates that by increasing the delivery of renewable natural gas, California can reach its emission reductions targets in the building sector without costly mandates and without sacrificing consumers' preference for affordable natural gas. The study, released earlier this year, shows that California could achieve emissions reductions equal to electrifying the entire building sector by replacing less than 20 percent of our traditional natural gas supply with renewable natural gas (RNG) sourced from dairies, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. Moreover, the study showed that pursuing renewable gas as a strategy to reduce emissions is two to three times more cost effective than mandates requiring electric only energy. A recent poll by the California Building Industry Association found that only 10 percent of voters would consider purchasing an all-electric home and 80 percent oppose laws that would take away their natural gas appliances. For more information on SoCalGas' energy efficiency programs and rebates visit https://www.socalgas.com/save-money-and-energy. About SoCalGas Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable natural gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Natural gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians about 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants. SoCalGas is committed to investing in its natural gas system infrastructure, while keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2013 through 2017, the company spent nearly $6 billion to upgrade and modernize its natural gas system to enhance safety and reliability. The company is also committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future, and is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas from dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants and the development of renewable energy storage technologies. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook. Ukraine set to complete construction of new corvette Ukroboronprom The new warship will strengthen the country's Navy. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Gas transit in exchange for dropping suits: Naftogaz official tells of Gazprom's blackmailing tactics The Russian monopoly has accused Ukraine of breaking the balance in relations. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Four civil defense volunteers gunned down at school in southern Thailand The men killed were all Muslim and were guarding a school in Pattani province when the gunmen struck. Photo by AFP Four Thai civil defense volunteers were gunned down on Thursday at a school in the kingdom's south with students just meters away. The culturally distinct region that borders Malaysia has seen rebels fight against the rule of Buddhist-majority Thailand, which annexed the area over a hundred years ago. Since 2004, armed insurgents have clashed with Thailand's powerful military, killing nearly 7,000 people - mostly civilians - both Muslims and Buddhists. The death toll dropped to a record low last year as Thailand's junta tightened its security web in the south. But recent weeks have seen an uptick in violence, as rebels show they remain able to carry out operations after 15 years of conflict. The men killed on Thursday were all Muslim and were guarding a school in Yarang district of Pattani province when the gunmen struck. An AFP photographer at the scene saw uniformed bodies on a blood-splattered floor in the school compound. "They were shot dead at the scene," Lieutenant Wicha Nupannoi, of Yarang police station told AFP, adding the killers were suspected insurgents. "The assailants seized their four rifles," he said, adding there were no eyewitnesses to the attack, which took place before lunch. Civil defence "volunteers" are poorly paid local civilians - both Muslim and Buddhist - who are lightly trained, armed and paid by the Thai state to supplement security forces who have blanketed the southernmost provinces throughout the rebellion. The 15-year insurgency has seen scores of teachers killed, slain for their perceived collaboration with the Thai state, and led to the deployment of armed guards at schools. In a rare public statement dated January 4, the main rebel group - the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) - which has command and control over most of the rebel foot soldiers, swore to "keep fighting." "Siam (Thailand) can't hold out," the BRN wrote, signing off with a warning: "Do not help and support Siam." Prolonged peace talks between the Thai government and an umbrella group which claims to represent the rebels have failed to yield peace. But Thai authorities as well as the Malaysian facilitator of the talks have recently expressed confidence they will reach a detente soon. Traders in Vietnam lowered their coffee output forecasts by 10 percent this week as a bumper harvest came to an end. They now expect an output of about 27 million bags of 60 kg each for the 2018/19 crop year that began on Oct. 1, compared with earlier forecasts of 30 million bags. "We are not surprised to see a lower output as stubbornly low domestic prices have discouraged many farmers to fertilize and water their trees, while weather condition was also not supportive," a trader based in the province of Dak Lak said on Thursday. "Farmers in the Central Highlands have harvested all of the fresh beans of the 2018/19 crop year," he said. Farmers in the Central Highlands, the countrys key coffee growing area, sold coffee at 33,500-34,000 dong ($1.44-$1.47) per kg on Thursday, compared with 33,200 dong-33,700 dong a week earlier. "Though output is lower, domestic prices have not risen due to external factors, including larger forecasts by foreign agencies," said another trader based in Ho chi Minh City. Vietnams coffee exports in January are forecast to be between 150,000 tonnes and 180,000 tonnes, compared with an estimated 160,000 tonnes in December. Traders in Vietnam offered 5 percent black and broken grade 2 robusta at a $40 per tonne discount to the March contract, compared with a $45-$50 discount last week. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, trading continued to be muted with traders saying premium for the grade 4 defect 80 robusta stayed unchanged for a fourth straight week at $20-$30 to the March contract. "Supply may only start coming around April because some areas in Bengkulu will have some harvest then," said a trader, referring to a province neighbouring Lampung. Main robusta harvest in southern Sumatra typically takes place around the mid-year, but a smaller harvest usually happens a few months earlier. Two newborn moon bears were rescued in Hai Phong on Wednesday. Photo courtesy by Education for Nature-Vietnam Hai Phong City police have detained a 27-year-old woman for illegal transport and sale of two newborn moon bears. Kieu Thuy Hang was caught red-handed Wednesday night transfering the bears in an iron cage to a customer at a coffee shop on Lach Tray Street in Ngo Quyen District. She told the police that she was hired by an unnamed woman to deliver the animals and take VND50 million ($2,147) from the customer, local media reports said. The bears, weighing 900 grams each, were reportedly in poor health and have been taken to the Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh, around three hours southeast of Hai Phong. They will be treated by vets and other caretakers at the park according to the Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV), an environmental NGO. Police are investigating the incident further. Vietnam is home to the moon bear, also known as the Asian black bear, and the sun bear, both threatened by Chinese medicine practice using their meat and bile. They are listed as "vulnerable" species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and "endangered" in Vietnam's Red List. Under Vietnamese law, the hunting, killing, trade, and transportation of endangered animals are considered a criminal offense and those committing it can be punished by up to seven years in jail. iPhones are considered by many a luxury in Vietnam. Photo by Reuters/File Two Hanoians will be jailed for six and eight years for smuggling over 800 iPhones from Hong Kong. A court in Da Nang City sentenced Nguyen Van Cuong, 31, and Tran Dinh Viet, 33, to six and eight years in jail respectively on Wednesday, Cong An Nhan Dan newspaper reported. According to the indictment, Viet hired Cuong to work for his company for a monthly salary of VND15 million in 2017 and asked him to fake customs papers to smuggle batches of iPhones 6S Plus from Hong Kong into Da Nang. On September 29 the same year, police busted the smuggling ring operated by the duo and seized 200 iPhones 6S Plus worth VND3.2 billion ($137,694) at the Da Nang International Airport. Both were arrested later. Investigations also revealed they had illegally transferred 617 other iPhones from Hong Kong into Vietnam through the airport a week before with the assistance of custom officials. The accused told the police that they gave VND300 million to Le Nho Phuoc, a senior customs official at the airport, to help them to pass the security check, but Phuoc denied the allegations. It took the police a long time to investigate the incident but they said they could not collect enough evidence to charge Phuoc with accepting bribes. An ice-cream (kem) tricycle appears in one of the works at Jack Clayton's woodcut exhibition featuring contemporary Hoi An. All you need is a piece of wood, ink, paper and a knife to create art, says British expat Jack Clayton. The Saigon resident has been carving a creative niche for himself over the last six years. Hes exhibiting his work outside the city for the first time in the central town of Hoi An. The art of hand-carving images onto blocks of wood, and producing a print by applying ink and pressing the woodcut on paper has enjoyed various renaissances. The earliest completed pieces date back to the 8th and 9th centuries in China and Japan. In the 15th century, the art form gained widespread popularity in Europe, when it was used primarily to reproduce religious imagery. Saigon expat Jack Clayton started doing woodcuts while at university in Leeds, England, just over 10 years ago, and has been producing original materials since. Energized and inspired by his move to Vietnam in 2012, specifically by the streets of his adopted city, his output picked up pace, he says. "Ive always been more attracted to handmade crafts rather than digital," Clayton said. "Its more personal to me when you arent relying on the latest technology to create. With woodcut printmaking, all you need is a piece of wood, ink, paper and a knife." Since early work that explored the writings of Carl Jung, followed by his fascination with the faces and expressions he found in Saigons alleyways, this exhibition, called Stamps in Time, is heavily influenced by his impressions of contemporary Hoi An. Cyclos ride along tailor shops under street lanterns in Hoi An, which is one of the works at Jack Clayton's woodcut exhibition. He has produced a collection of prints handcarved into Japanese Magnolia side-grain and printed onto a mixture of imported French as well as Vietnamese Giay Dzo paper. It marks a significant step in the artists progression, but as Clayton says it is part of a loose plan to explore other parts of the country, and the region. "Stamps in Time marks a move away from a well-trodden path of artistic creation for me in Saigon," he told VnExpress International. "I have come from knowing little about this ancient town to having a fair grasp on the history and formation of Hoi An. "Materials and process-wise, its the first set of cohesive images that I have made at once for a single series and also the first set of many using Japanese materials such as side-wood from the magnolia tree. This will be a permanent feature of my practice from now on as the details and textures I have achieved in this portfolio far outdo any previous work of mine. Jack said he has a Hue and Hanoi series in the pipeline too and would like to look at the possibility of creating some Cambodian-inspired prints some time in the future. As part of the exhibition, which opens at 6 p.m. Friday at Art Space at 1 Pham Hong Thai and then will run also at the March Gallery at 25 Phan Boi Chau until February 12, Jack will host three workshops to introduce the art of woodblock printing. Nepal-India problems can be resolved through dialogue: Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali has said that some of the longstanding problems between Nepal and India can be resolved through constant dialogues and cooperation. Minister Gyawali said so while talking to Indian journalists at New Delhi-based Nepali Embassy on Friday morning. Escaping from the Khmer Rouge was a desperate act, a thankful survivor recounts, 40 years later. As fellow villager after fellow villager died under the brutal Pol Pot regime, Lac Son felt he had few options: either get drafted into their army, or stay and die of torture, execution or starvation. He chose to make a break for freedom. Lac Son remembers the night his parents led him and his three siblings out of their home village in Cambodias Svay Rieng Province in October, 1977. All they had were 20 kilograms of rice, a few rice bowls, pots, clothes and each other. They were desperate enough to risk their lives. "If we stayed, we would have been killed," he said. Four other families in the village were also slipping away into the night, careful not to be seen or heard as they made their way towards the Vietnamese border. Escape was on the minds of almost all Cambodia citizens suffering under the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot. The group tortured and murdered millions of Cambodians as part of their genocidal purges between 1975 to 1979, eventually leading to the deaths of around 25 percent of Cambodias population at the time. Four decades after that fateful night, Son, now 58, is still haunted by the suffocating darkness, the sounds of gunfire echoing behind him, and the last images of his grandfather. "There was so much horror, so much pain." Lac Son, 58, recalls the night he and his family ran away from their village in Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan Living in fear Sitting on the front porch of his home in Tan Phu Village, Tan Chau District, An Giang Province, Lac Son, a Khmer-Cambodian, talks often of his home village in Svay Rieng. He talked about the golden paddy fields surrounding the village and how the villagers, despite not having much, lived peaceful lives. But it all changed when Pol Pot and his followers took over the country in 1975. "Even before the sun rose and our bellies were empty, [the Khmer Rouge] forced us to go to the fields to work. We only got two meals per day, one at noon and one in the afternoon," he said. When he was 17, Son and hundreds of fellow villagers were forced to plow fields, dig tunnels and sow seeds as the Khmer Rouge carried out their agricultural reform attempts through collectivization, part of their ideology on absolute self-sufficiency and national purity. Despite horrid, slavery-like working conditions, none dared resist in any manner for fear of being tortured or killed. Son was aware of that early on. "My cousin was suspected of trying to destroy the communitys unity just because he ate alone. One day, he was tied up, blindfolded and taken away. He never returned," Son said, his voice quivering. Villagers were dying in droves. Many were tortured and executed, and even more were drafted to be a part of their army. The lucky ones who managed to survive were all horrifically malnourished, with no strength in their limbs. Son knew that nothing but death awaited his family if they stayed. Risking their lives and escaping was the only way left, if they wanted to live. "So we planned to escape to Vietnam." The escape In the dead of night, a group of 40 people, including small children and the elderly, packed their belongings and snuck out of the village. As always, every night, numerous Khmer Rouge guards were stationed on all paths in and out of the village. "If you got caught, they would kill you on the spot," Son said. The group decided to head east towards the Vietnamese border, approximately 50 kilometers away from the village. They had to wade through water trenches, hide in bushes and crouch until their faces were inches from the ground. "Whenever we saw the guards silhouettes from afar, we had to lie down immediately and literally drag ourselves over the muddy terrain. Our belongings were all wet," Son recalled. They took advantage of the tall rice plants in surrounding paddy fields, he added. But danger and death lurked at every step. As the group moved forward, a series of gunshots erupted from behind them. A smaller group, which had lagged behind the main one, had apparently been discovered. There were sounds of gunfire, screams, and then, silence. "Everyone went hysterical. My brother, who was small back then, wailed in fear after he heard the first gunshot. My mother had to cover his mouth and try to calm him down. We all thought that was it," Son said. All he could remember afterwards was how their feet took over instead of their brains. They ran and they ran, then they ran some more. The group finally decided to rest after they reached an abandoned village as the sun set the next day. They couldnt cook rice for fear the resulting smoke could give away their position, so they had to eat it raw. While some of them tried to catch some sleep, others started to notice small balls of light flickering in the distance. Shortly after, sounds of men yelling from afar started to get louder and louder. The Khmer Rouge was onto them. "We immediately leapt up, gathered our things and sprinted towards the paddy fields. Some elderly people were already too weak by that time, so they decided to stay behind instead," Son said, before hesitating for a bit. Then, after a pause, he said that his own grandfather, who was part of the group, couldnt move properly because his legs were already too swollen after a day of continuous walking and running. "He told us to run for our lives. He said its okay if he died, he had lived long enough," Son said, almost choking on his words. They didnt even have time to cry or say further farewells. Sons parents took off, carrying him and his siblings towards the fields to join the group again. Behind them, guns began firing. Salvation Groups of Cambodians head towards Vietnam to escape from Khmer Rouge. Archival photo retrieved by VnExpress Throughout their journey to freedom, Son and his fellow villagers encountered several more life-or-death situations. Until one day, when they saw a squad of soldiers from afar, carrying crimson flags with a golden star in the middle. They were Vietnamese troops on their way back to their military headquarters. "We cheered and ran towards them, and they were happy to see us too. They told us to move in front of them so they could cover our backs. Old people and small children were taken on tanks and buses, while adults walked in a line behind," Son recalled. It was like they were reborn, Son said. Following the Vietnamese troops, the villagers eventually reached a safe zone in Chau Thanh District of the southern province of Tay Ninh. At the end of 1977, after seeing how the Khmer Rouge had amped up their aggression, provincial authorities relocated these people to the northern province of An Giang instead. It was there that Son and his family decided to settle down. He eventually married a Khmer woman there, who was also a Cambodian seeking asylum like him. "After Phnom Penh was liberated, I returned to my hometown, but our old house was demolished and the paddy fields were gone. So I decided to stay in Vietnam," Son said. In 1977 and 1978, there were tens of thousands of Cambodians like Lac Son who sought asylum in Vietnam, including prominent politicians like Hun Sen, the current Cambodian PM, said Trieu Xuan Hoa, a former Vietnamese commanding officer. Relocation efforts usually took the asylum seekers to Vietnamese provinces neighboring Cambodia, like Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc or Long An, he added. In the beginning, as Vietnam and Cambodia were having negotiations to settle border conflicts, the asylum seekers were sometimes returned to their home country. "But after seeing how Pol Pot and his forces killed all the returning asylum-seekers, we decided to help them," Hoa said. Most of the Khmer-Cambodians who live in Tan Chau now are farmers with below average incomes, said Ha Thi Hue, deputy chairwoman of the Tan Phu Villages Peoples Committee. "They integrate well with the Vietnamese community. We always try to provide them the best conditions to prosper economically, culturally and spiritually," she added. People of Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia, greet Vietnamese and Cambodian soldiers in 1979. Photo by Vietnam News Agency From 1975 to the Khmer Rouge, under the leadership of Pol Pot, general secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, Cambodia's former ruling party, tortured and murdered millions of Cambodians. Approximately 1.8 million Cambodians, about 25 percent of the population in 1975, lost their lives to the genocidal social engineering policies. Khmer Rouge forces also invaded Vietnam and killed tens of thousands of Vietnamese during this period, forcing the Vietnamese government to act when Cambodian revolutionaries requested them to. Vietnamese soldiers marched into Phnom Penh in 1979 during a counter-offensive on the southwestern border. The capital was freed from Khmer Rouge's regime on January 7. For Lac Son, the painful past will forever remain a part of him. But, he says, "my life is stable now, and Im happy I chose Vietnam as my second home." Second trafficker nabbed for selling woman in China The Nghe An police have arrested two people for allegedly selling a young woman in China as a bride and are questioning them. They arrested Cut Thi Hanh, 42, of Ky Son District of the north central province on Tuesday for human trafficking. Cut Thi Hanh is accused of trafficking a woman to China. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Binh Her accomplice Cut Van Hue, 40, also of Ky Son, had been arrested last month. According to the police, in 2016 Hanh approached a local woman, now 24, and offered to take her to China and get her a well-paid job there. When the woman agreed, Hanh took her to Hue, who took her to Quang Ninh Province near China border and helped smuggle her over the border and sell her as a bride for VND200 million ($8,600). Hue received VND31 million and he gave Hanh VND20 million. But their victim managed to escape and return to Vietnam last month, and reported the crime to the police. The police believe the two are part of a larger human trafficking gang. In Vietnam 670 people were trafficked in 2017, down by almost half from the previous year. Most of the victims were uneducated women and children from poor areas. They were sold to men seeking wives in China, Malaysia or South Korea or just to bear children or work as prostitutes in these countries. Besides the financial difficulties of the victims, the police said negligence, easy immigration procedures and gender imbalance in the destination countries also play a part in the crime. The Tan Son Nhat Airport could get a third terminal and other facilities at the cost of over $496 million. The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which manages and operates civil airports in the country, has submitted to the Ministry of Transport a pre-feasibility report on the construction of a third terminal (T3) at HCMC-based Tan Son Nhat International Airport to reduce overload. T3 will be designed to have a capacity of 20 million passengers per year, with total floor area of about 100,000 square meters. ACV proposes to construct in tandem an additional airport apron, a two-lane overhead path, a 5-lane viaduct in front of the terminal and a multi-storey car park. The total cost is estimated at over VND11.43 trillion ($496.18 million). The completion of feasibility reports and selection of construction blueprints is set to be finished in February 2020. Once T3s design has been approved, contractors will be chosen via a tendering process so that construction starts in the third quarter of 2020 and can be completed in the second quarter of 2022. ADPi's proposal includes building a new terminal in the south (yellow) and supporting structures north of the airport (blue). Graph by VnExpress Because the construction area is located on the Defense Ministry's land, ACV has suggested allowing a temporary handover of the site in Q1 next year for construction along with completion of necessary legal procedures. There are also plans to expand existing terminals T1 and T2 of the Tan Son Nhat airport, raising their combined capacity to 30 million passengers per year. The airport currently handles 36 million passengers per year, which is way above its designed capacity of 25 million. The Transport Ministry has hired French consulting firm ADPi to work on the plan alongside local firms. The plan proposed by ADPi was approved by the Prime Minister last March and it formed the basis for the new, detailed version. Vietnams largest airport set for $496 million expansion The proposal of French consulting firm ADPi Engineering to enlarge the overstrained Tan Son Nhat Air ACV has also proposed to the Ministry of Transport that it be assigned as investor for the construction of essential components for the proposed Long Thanh International Airport, including passenger terminal, flying zone (runway, taxiway, apron), and refueling systems. ACV chairman Lai Xuan Thanh said that the company is willing to spend between $1-1.5 billion for constructing the first phase of the proposed airport, which is estimated to cost $5.4 billion. The Long Thanh Airport, to be built in three phases over three decades, was recently listed by CNN Travel as one of the worlds 16 most exciting airport projects. The first phase is scheduled for completion in 2025 when it will be able to handle 25 million passengers annually. The next two phases will be built in 2030-2035 and from 2040-2050. The new airport would have an annual capacity of 100 million passengers and five million tons of cargo when completed. ACV has announced that in its 2019 plan, the company will spend more than VND10 trillion ($432.71 million) on upgrading and expanding several airports, including Cat Bi in northern Hai Phong City, Vinh in central Nghe An Province, Phu Cat in central Binh Dinh Province, and Noi Bai in Hanoi. Most of these upgrades are expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2019. Workers of the state-run mining giant Vinacomin, which has been put in the list for privatization within 2019. Photo by the Vietnam News Agency Vietnam seems set to miss its target for privatizing state companies, causing fears this might affect its CPTPP commitments. The privatization process was behind schedule "though the government has ordered SOEs to speed up the process and threatened them with penalties," said Dang Quyet Tien, head of the Finance Ministrys corporate finance department. He blamed the extremely sluggish pace on the tortuous process of determining the extent of lands owned by state firms to make their valuation. "However, many companies have already undergone several transitions in the past, followed by changes in papers, seals, and asset certificates, and sorting through them is a complicated task." In December 2016 the government had set a target of reducing the number of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) from 583 to 103 by 2020. By the end of last year there were still more than 500 after only 11 were privatized against the target of 64 for 2018, according to the Ministry of Finance. With the number of state firms remaining high, Vietnam could have a hard time fulfilling its obligations under the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade agreement it signed in March last year with 10 other nations, including Canada and Japan. The CPTPP requires member countries to disclose certain information about their SOEs to other members to encourage transparency and good corporate governance. The deal seeks to promote a level playing field for SOEs and their private competitors so that businesses operating in or seeking to expand into CPTPP markets are able to compete fairly with state companies. It also prevents a member from causing adverse effects or injury to the interests of another member through non-commercial assistance to an SOE. Six of the signatories acceded to the deal on December 30 last year while Vietnam formally enters it on January 14 this year. Vietnam is required to improve its business environment and create greater competition than required under the World Trade Organization that it joined in 2007. It will gradually bring all import tariffs for goods from other members to zero, hold public auctions for government procurement and treat private and state firms equally. The pact means Vietnams state firms will soon be subject to a new set of international rules as well as increased competition from abroad as tariffs are reduced. Vietnams ratification of the CPTPP obligates the country to liberalize the state sector, and a trade deal expected soon with the European Union could bring more pressure to achieve these reforms, Forbes quoted Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit in Singapore, as saying. "Over the next decade I would expect to see a gradual transformation, more competition in the state sector, because they have to under the terms of the trade agreement," said Rajiv Biswas. Fear of further delay On January 5 this year Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the country has to speed up the privatization process this year so that it can achieve the target set for 2020. He was referring to a dramatically slashed target. In July 2017 the government had said 44 SOEs would be privatized that year, 64 last year, 18 this year, and one next year, or a total of just 123. In a recent public greeting for the New Year, the PM said in 2019 it is necessary for Vietnam to focus on restructuring and privatizing SOEs. Phuc also instructed related ministries and departments to closely monitor state companies to prevent delays in privatization and divestment and related violations. Josephine Yei Pheck Joo, CEO of SaigonBank Berjaya Securities, feared the U.S.-China trade war would harm global markets. Vietnam, a major exporter to the U.S., Europe and China, would particularly suffer, with the divestment of shares in state-owned enterprises further delayed due to reduced investor demand and lower prices, she told Nikkei Asian Review. According to data compiled by Bloomberg late last year, 17 auctions to sell shares of SOEs were canceled in 2018, with their total value being a decade-high $401 million. But as Bloomberg pointed out, it is not a case of investors no longer being interested in Vietnam: it is just that they find private firms much more attractive. "Private company IPOs in Vietnam did well because there was more transparency in the process, management meetings, prospectus, book-building process," Ruchir Desai, a senior investment analyst at Asia Frontier Capital Ltd. in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg. "Some of the SOEs were loss making or had high debt levels, and they are also probably in sectors where there is not much interest." Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Oh, and if you see me driving my red 2010 Mustang GT convertible, please wave. Hi, I am a retired newspaperman. I wrote 3 books on Trump and the media . I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 43 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. A former Corvallis attorney who admitted to stealing from clients was sentenced to 46 months in prison Thursday in federal court in Portland. Pamela Sue Hediger pleaded guilty in November to federal tax evasion and money laundering charges. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} A sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors last week said Hediger will also be required to serve three years of probation, pay $1.4 million in restitution to her victims, and $471,000 to the Internal Revenue Service. Court documents said between 2010 and 2017 Hediger stole the money from insurance payouts awarded to her personal injury clients and the business account of her former firm, Evashevski, Elliott, Cihak & Hediger. She used these funds, the documents state, for home renovations, vacations and plastic surgery. Hediger is scheduled for a plea appearance and sentencing in Benton County Circuit Court Friday morning, where she is facing five counts of first-degree aggravated theft, all felonies; three felony counts of identity theft involving acts of fraud against her mother and one of her former law partners; and two counts of Oregon income tax evasion. Anthony Rimel covers weekend events, education, courts and crime and can be reached at anthony.rimel@lee.net, 541-758-9526, or via Twitter @anthonyrimel. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 5 Public safety workers used a boat and a cadaver dog to search the Willamette River near Corvallis for Suzanne Durheim on Thursday, but couldnt find the missing Brownsville woman. Well continue to search tomorrow, said Benton County Undersheriff Greg Ridler. Durheims pickup apparently slid off an icy Highway 20 on Monday morning and crashed into the Willamette River near the Hewlett Packard campus. She was reported missing on Monday afternoon by her family after she didnt show up for work at Samaritan Health Plans. Family members found a piece of her pickups fender along Highway 20 on the route she took to work. Authorities searched for signs of Durheim on Monday, and found her pickup on Tuesday afternoon. The pickup was removed from the river on Wednesday, but public safety workers didnt find any signs of Durheim, and continued their search. Kyle Odegard Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 24 Angry 2 Spangler stayed in the hospital overnight, but donors often go home the same day. I had some mild discomfort for three days and then nothing, she said. Spangler said that surgery is needed in only about 25 percent of donations. The vast majority about 75 percent can be accomplished through a peripheral blood stem cells transplant, which is much like giving a blood donation. For five days before the procedure, the donor is given injections of filgrastim, a medication that increases the number of blood-forming cells in the bloodstream. On donation day, blood is removed through a needle in the donors arm, passed through a machine that separates the blood-forming cells, and the remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm. Spangler said her name will remain in the donor registry until she's 51, if she wishes. She can choose to remove her name at any time. I will do it again, she said. You know you might be saving someones life. In this case, I think about this young man growing up and having a family. It feels really good to do something like this and to know the impact it could have. Nepal, India agree to hold joint committee meeting soon Nepal and India have agreed to convene the fifth meeting of the Joint Commission at Foreign Minister level in Kathmandu to resolve outstanding bilateral issues. When compared with many other countries, Switzerland tends to hand down shorter sentences, particularly for violent crime. And usually only repeat offenders or serious criminals have to do prison time. Why? Closer inspection of the penal codes of European countries shows that German-speaking countries, including Switzerland, issue relatively lenient criminal sentences. Anyone who kills a person in Switzerland while suffering great mental distress could, under certain circumstances, get just one year in prison. In Switzerland, a life sentence can be given for murder, but under Swiss criminal law life doesnt mean that the perpetrator remains in prison for the rest of their days. After 15 years, sometimes after just 10 years, a conditional release is possible. It is generally the norm in Switzerland that a criminal is conditionally released after serving two-thirds of their sentence. Lenient judges Hans-Georg Koch, a criminal law expert at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law in Freiburg, Germany, downplays these international comparisons. First, he says criminal law comparisons are generally very difficult to make because of differing legal systems. Second, he says it is important to compare the actual penalties, rather than the sentences stipulated in the law, as these can reveal little. Unfortunately, there are no statistics comparing sentences across countries. But it is clear that Swiss judges tend to deliver lenient sentences: their length tends towards the lower end of the range. Switzerland has a very unusual penalty law, above all in the day-to-day application of penalties by the courts, says Martin Killias, a renowned Swiss criminologist and criminal lawyer. Gabriella Matefi, the president of the Court of Appeal in Basel City, explains further: The higher end of the sentencing range is intended for the very serious cases that a normal person can perhaps not even imagine. In judging real crimes, sentencing is on average in the lower half or lower third of the possible range, whether it is a matter of fraud, bodily harm or even manslaughter. Only serious criminals have to go to prison Older statistics show that only a handful of countries send as few convicted criminals to prison as Switzerland. That is partly because first-time offenders only receive sentences of less than two years under certain conditions. A look at the current Swiss statistics shows that since 2007, the penalties for violent offences have frequently been fines rather than prison sentences. This is the consequence of a reform aimed at avoiding short prison sentences. In Germany and Switzerland, the authorities want to avoid imposing short sentences where possible because offenders tend to turn into bigger criminals in prison, says Koch. In English-speaking countries, a relatively large number of perpetrators sit out rather long jail sentences even for a comparatively trivial offence, just because they are repeat offenders, he says. Punishment serves justice According to Killias, the view that short prison sentences are damaging has become a set-in-stone dogma in Switzerland. But there is no scientific evidence that the risk of recidivism increases after a short prison term. And the fact that punishments should also serve justice and stabilise social order is sometimes overlooked. The Swiss reform was criticised and has already been revised. But Koch says avoidance of short prison terms has basically remained policy. For crime prevention, other factors play a role in any case, Koch says. The average length of a prison sentence only plays a small role in the deterrent effect of a punishment, Matefi says. For crime prevention, the risk of having to face any kind of punishment of being caught and punished is much more decisive. And in this respect, Switzerland measures up quite well in international comparisons. Lenient penalties as cultural progress But why is Swiss law so indulgent to criminals and why do judges make it even more lenient? One explanation may be the teaching and research that judges rely on in their sentencing. This tends to be sceptical about severe punishments. People working in courts today have been influenced by decades of teaching about the damage caused by prison sentences, says Killias. In central Europes culture-focused countries, it is seen as culturally progressive to deliver moderate punishments, Koch says. Prison sentences are shorter than in Great Britain or the US. Criminal law in Europe is in general very humane compared with other parts of the world. The death penalty, or corporal punishments, such as whipping or hacking off limbs, are rejected. This is a stance that is generally accepted by the population. Peoples initiative to reintroduce the death penalty However, a group of Swiss campaigners collected signatures in 2010 for a peoples initiative to reintroduce the death penalty for sex abuse with murder. But it later withdrew the initiative. The initiators simply wanted to win an audience and draw attention to their grievances they were all connected to one victim. Their main complaint was that the custody initiative, aimed at ensuring extremely violent sex criminals should be imprisoned for life, had not been implemented. Swiss security custody draws criticism Because of the relatively short prison sentences and the fact that sentences for multiple crimes are not added up but just increased, Switzerland faces the problem that dangerous serial killers or sex criminals can get released and possibly strike again at the earliest opportunity. Switzerland and Germany have thus settled on security custody, under which a repeat offender remains in prison after serving their sentence because they are too dangerous for society. The offender is only released from prison if they are expected to behave once free. This instrument is viewed critically abroad. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled against Swiss and German custody laws. But almost all countries have thought of some way to keep extremely dangerous criminals apart from society, says Koch. Other countries pronounce long prison sentences or add sentences for multiple crimes on a strict mathematical basis, so that the offender will not be released in his lifetime. To put an end to the debate over security custody, Natalie Rickli of the Swiss Peoples Party and Andrea Caroni of the Free Democratic Party propose to increase the length of detention. This would bring Switzerland in line with other countries. Heavier penalties The government also seems to have recognised that the penalties for violent crime are not appropriate when compared with those for financial crime, and that judges tend to issue lenient sentences. It wants to harmonise the ranges for sentences. There has never been a comprehensive cross-analysis of the rules for sentencing to determine whether they are appropriate for the severity of the crime and compare appropriately, is the reasoning given on the website of the Federal Justice Ministry. Violent crimes and sex offences, in particular, should be punished more severely in future. Source: swissinfo.ch , Sibilla Bondolfi; translated from German by Catherine Hickley, January 11, 2019 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde After putting 3 men to death in 2018, Tennessee has scheduled 4 executions for 2019 Although death sentences and executions in the United States continued their long-term decline in 2018 it was the 4th year in a row that saw fewer than 30 executions nationwide the death penalty is experiencing a revival in Tennessee. Ours was 1 of just 8 states to carry out an execution last year, the same year that Washington became the 20th state to abolish the practice altogether. Tennessee shows no signs of slowing down this year. After putting 3 men to death in 2018 Billy Ray Irick, Edmund Zagorski and David Earl Miller the state has scheduled 4 executions for 2019. - Donnie Johnson, May 16: Johnson was convicted in 1985 for the murder of his wife, Connie Johnson. His attorneys have argued that his death sentence is arbitrary and out of step with the sentences handed down for other similar crimes. - Stephen Michael West, Aug. 15: West was convicted in 1986 for the murders of Wanda Romines, 51, and her daughter Sheila Romines, 15, and for raping Sheila Romines. Wests co-defendant, Ronnie Martin, confessed that he was the one who actually stabbed the 2 women. But because Martin was a juvenile at the time, he was not eligible for the death penalty. Wests attorneys point to that as evidence that Wests death sentence is unjust. West also has a history of severe mental illness. - Charles Walton Wright, Oct. 10: Wright was convicted in 1985 for the murders of Gerald Mitchell and Douglas Alexander during a drug deal in Nashville. His attorneys argue that his death sentence was the result of racial bias in capital cases at the time, and point to numerous other drug-related homicides that have not led to death sentences. Wright is currently ill with cancer, and its possible he will die in prison before his execution date. - Lee Hall, Dec. 5: Hall was convicted in 1992 for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Traci Crozier. He had filled a container with gasoline, stuffed a paper towel in the top, lit it, and thrown it on Crozier as she sat in her car. Today, Halls attorneys say, he is functionally blind. His attorneys have argued that executing him in his current state would constitute cruel and unusual punishment. 2 of the 3 men executed in 2018 chose to die in the electric chair, deeming it a quicker, relatively preferable death compared to the lethal injection drugs that medical experts have said cause tortuous pain. Some, if not all, the men set to die in 2019 could make the same choice. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Nashville Scene, January 10, 2019 Over a sharp dissent by three justices, the United States Supreme Court has let stand the death sentence imposed on a Georgia prisoner who was suffering from dementia, brain damage, and borderline intellectual functioning, but whose trial lawyer failed to present any mitigating evidence. On January 7, 2019, the Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari filed on behalf of death-row prisoner Donnie Cleveland Lance seeking the Courts review of the Georgia Supreme Court's denial of relief in his case. Justice Sonia Sotomayor joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan dissented, writing that the Courts refusal to intervene permits an egregious breakdown of basic procedural safeguards to go unremedied. Lance was sentenced to death by a Georgia court for the 1997 murder of his ex-wife and her boyfriend. Lances trial lawyer a solo practitioner who was convinced he could persuade the jury of Lances innocence asked the trial court to appoint a second lawyer to handle any potential penalty phase. The court denied that request and also denied a defense motion for funds to retain expert witnesses to challenge the range of experts hired by the prosecution in the case. After the court denied his motions, Lances lawyer conducted no penalty-phase investigation and did nothing to prepare for the penalty phase. Following Lances conviction, counsel made no penalty-phase opening statement, called no witnesses, and presented no mitigating evidence. In his cursory closing argument, counsel asked the jury to think of Lances family and to not seek vengeance. New counsel represented Lance in his state post-conviction proceedings and presented extensive evidence of Lances serious cognitive impairments. Four mental health experts agreed that Lance had brain damage in his frontal lobe, that his IQ was on the borderline for intellectual disability, and that he suffered from clinical dementia. While the 3 defense experts agreed that Lances brain damage significantly impaired his ability to control his impulses and conform his conduct to the law, the states expert disagreed about the extent of his impairment. The trial court overturned Lances death sentence, ruling that counsel had provided ineffective representation. However, the Georgia Supreme Court reversed, holding that while counsels performance was deficient, the presentation of mitigating evidence would have been futile given the facts of the murder. On federal habeas corpus review, the Georgia federal courts ruled that the Georgia Supreme Court had not unreasonably applied Supreme Court precedent when it upheld Lances death sentence. The 3-justice dissent from the U.S. Supreme Courts decision not to intervene argued that the Georgia Supreme Court decision was an objectively unreasonable application of U.S. Supreme Court precedent and had mischaracterized or omitted key facts and improperly weighed the evidence. The evidence of Lances serious and significant mental impairments, Justice Sotomayor wrote, reasonably could have affected at least 1 jurors assessment of whether Lance deserved to die for his crimes, and Lance should have been given a chance to make the case for his life. Instead, she said, Lance may well be executed without any adequately informed jury having decided his fate. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "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 accused was found guilty of hitting the victim on the head with an iron pipe and killing him A Pakistani national has been executed in Saudi Arabias Dammam for beating to death a Saudi national. Mohammed Bilal allegedly killed Abdullah bin Ali bin Eid al-Harbi by hitting him on his head with an iron pipe following a disagreement between them, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Security authorities arrested the accused, and following an investigation, he was charged with the crime and referred to the general court. The weapon he used was also produced in court as evidence and, after he was found guilty of the charges, he was sentenced to death. The verdict upheld by the appeals court and Supreme Court and a royal order was issued to enforce the death sentence. The execution was carried out on Wednesday in Dammam, in the eastern Province, the SPA report said. The interior ministry asserted the keenness of the government to maintain security and achieve justice and punish violators of such heinous crimes. Saudi Arabia uses the death penalty for several offences including murder, drug-related crimes and terrorism. Last week, a Saudi national was executed in Madinah for stabbing a man to death, while a Pakistani national and two Egyptians were executed for smuggling drugs. In November last year, a Saudi national was executed in the country for shooting to death another citizen, while another Saudi national was executed in October for shooting and killing a man in the region of Asir. 3 Saudi nationals were also executed in the kingdoms Qatif region for robbing and killing 5 Indian nationals in October. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde gulfbusiness.com, January 11, 2019 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) An Ohio man sentenced to death in the fatal shooting of a volunteer addiction counselor is proclaiming his innocence and asking that his life be spared, according to arguments by his attorneys a month before his scheduled execution. Warren Keith Henness, who goes by his middle name, was convicted of killing 51-year-old Richard Meyers in Columbus in 1992. Myers, who was a lab technician at a veterans hospital in Chillicothe in southern Ohio, frequently volunteered with Alcoholics Anonymous to assist people with addictions and had been helping Henness find drug treatment for his wife, according to authorities. The Ohio Parole Board scheduled arguments for and against mercy Thursday. Henness is set to die by lethal injection on Feb. 13 at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville. Prosecutors said Henness kidnapped Myers, bound and then shot him at an abandoned water treatment plant, and then stole his credit cards, checks and car. Henness, his wife Tabatha Henness, and friend Ronald Fair drove around in Myers car for several days afterward, forging the checks and using the credit cards, according to prosecutors. Henness, 55, has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence and did so again in an interview with the Ohio Parole Board last month. The board will announce its decision next week. Republican Gov.-elect Mike DeWine, scheduled to be sworn in this weekend, will have the final say on clemency. Henness wife and their friend were also implicated in the killing and provided the only evidence of Henness guilt, according to court records. The two pleaded guilty to minor charges of forgery and then testified against Henness at trial. Henness attorneys have argued he deserves mercy because of lingering questions about the others involvement in the killing. In addition, they say Henness defense lawyers at the time failed to fully investigate the case ahead of trial. Henness distrusted one of his attorneys so much that he rejected a plea deal that would have spared his life, according to Henness clemency petition. Even though Keith has consistently maintained his innocence of the murder of Richard Myers, he would have been eligible for parole already had he agreed to the plea terms the prosecution indicated it was willing to accept, David Stebbins, a federal public defender, said in a filing with the board earlier this month. Henness has a consistent record of good behavior in jail and on death row, also making him a good candidate for mercy, Stebbins said. Prosecutors argue Henness has a history of lying and refusing to take responsibility for the killing. The death row inmate is now pointing the finger at his wife on the eve of his execution after protecting her as the mother of their children for years, Ron OBrien, the Franklin County prosecutor, told the board in a filing this month. Henness elaborate and ever-changing stories simply do not fit the evidence in this case, OBrien said. Rather than show he is innocent of ... Richards murder, his lies demonstrate a patent refusal to accept responsibility for his crimes. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "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 Associated Press, January 10, 2019 36-year-old Alyaksandr Asipovich has been sentenced to death on January, 9. Last summer the brutal murder of 2 girls in Babruysk shocked the whole country. On July 20, a girl contacted the police shouting that they were being killed: He is killing us! We have locked ourselves in the bathroom! He has an axe! My God, he will destroy everything! Im covered with blood! the victim screamed. Then the phone went dead. The girls did not know the attackers address, and the police was not able to immediately identify it. According to prosecutors, Asipovich, a resident of Babruysk, brutally killed the 2 girls. The man met them in a cafe, where they had some drinks, and then the trio headed to his place. Asipovich stabbed and hammered them to death. Their bodies bearing multiple cuts and injuries were found in the bathroom. The defendant fully realized what was happening at the moment of the murder; he even tried to cover up the crime, state prosecutor Volha Ivanova said. His turning himself to the police cannot be a mitigating factor, she stressed. The judicial board inflicted the supreme penalty (execution) on the defendant. In addition, he will also have to pay 100,000 Belarusian rubles to the mother of one of the victims for moral loss, as well as all the costs of funerals and legal fees. The judge informed the convict of his right to appeal against the verdict and ask for pardon. Belarus remains the only country in Europe that still applies capital punishment. The West has repeatedly called on the Belarusian authorities to join a global moratorium as a 1st step towards the abolition of the death penalty. The exact number of executions in Belarus is unknown, but local human rights defenders and journalists have worked tirelessly to uncover some information about death sentences and executions. According to the Ministry of Justice of Belarus, 245 people were sentenced to death from 1994 to 2014. Human rights NGOs believe that around 400 people have been executed since the country gained its independence in 1991; president Alyaksandr Lukashenka granted a pardon to only 1 convict. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Going to restaurants, bars and concerts is normal for a young woman her age. However, if you prefer not to subsidize the vacations because you feel they are excessive, discuss your feelings with her before deciding what to do. DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have lived like nomads for the last few years. We have bought, sold and moved many times for all sorts of silly reasons. Our 5-year-old daughter finally started school, yet we don't feel at home here. We now realize buying and selling may not be for us, so we are renting, but we still aren't happy. We moved here to be close to my oldest and dearest friend, whose kids are now grown, and to my sister, who hardly talks to us or sees us. My husband's sister and her husband's family love us and treat us well. They have suggested we should move by them. They have kids our daughter's age. The only issue is possibly not finding a good home or school. Private school could be an option. Would another move be bad? Should we make a final move before our daughter gets vested in school and friends? It would put us within walking distance to several families we spend a lot of time with and who love us very much. We are afraid of judgment from everyone. Please help us sort it out. -- HOPEFUL NOMADS IN ILLINOIS Long-time MCII Sheltered Workshop Board of Directors member Dale Wright received quite a send-off Monday when his fellow board members and workshop employees held a lunch in his honor as he prepared for swearing in later in the week as the new Missouri representative for District 116. Emceeing the program was general manager and board member, Ginger Williams. Wright has been on the board just short of two decades. For two years he served as its president. Other board members taking part in the recognition were John Mayfield Jr., president; Donna Bunch, vice president; and board members Linda Conway, Debbie Peterson, Joe Easter, Steve James and Gil Kennon. Mayfield, Williams, James and Easter each took turns telling those assembled about how much Wright had meant to the sheltered workshop over the years including making a push for the construction of its current 40,000 square feet facility built in 2004. Afterward, Wright took the floor, giving an emotional good-bye and telling the crowd that it had been his privilege and blessing to be a part of the sheltered workshop. Beyond the sheltered workshop, Wright has quite a background in St. Francois County. The periphery of the wound was determined to be a first-degree burn, with the majority of the wound being a second-degree burn. A superficial second-degree burn was also visible on the front of the infants scalp. C.T. scans showed the infant was also suffering from a "vertical left parietal fracture" of the skull and a small left subdural hematoma. At the hospital, Derick and Mikala Boyce-Slezak claimed the burns were caused by a cleaning agent. During testimony, the baby's mother claimed that someone had cleaned the infants face with a towel that contained a bleach-type disinfectant. When asked about the head injuries and bruising, she invoked her Fifth Amendment right. The father did not testify. Then an investigator with the Missouri Childrens Division testified that the baby's mother had previously stated she intended to testify that the head wounds were a result of Derick dropping the infant while trying to imitate what he saw on a television commercial. The Childrens Division employee also stated in the proceedings that Mikala Boyce-Slezak had claimed she had reason to believe Derick Boyce-Slezak had placed the infant in a microwave and turned it on for a short period of time. Additional testimony revealed the infant had yet another fracture that was later discovered. Matt McFarland is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at 573-518-3616, or at mmcfarland@dailyjournalonline.com. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 13 Angry 111 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. She explains that when Browns husband struck gold in Colorado in 1893, she took her new-found wealth and began a life of philanthropy and service to her country that was amazing, particularly as a woman during the Progressive Era. Brown was involved in the womens suffrage movement, fought for child labor laws and improved conditions for mine workers, and helped build the Cathedral Basilica in Denver. According to Marks, Brown was also instrumental in forming the first juvenile justice system in the U.S. This was all on top of her heroism during Titanic and the work she did to ensure Titanic survivors were cared for and her service in France during all four years of World War I, said Marks. And I could go on Marks, a resident of Hannibal, said she is good friends with Browns great-granddaughter Helen Benziger. The two have worked together to preserve Browns birthplace and museum in Hannibal. They have also done book signings, fundraisers and other events together. Marks has also been in contact with Browns direct descendants, Muffet Brown and the Vollrath family. In addition, Brown still has distant Tobin relatives who live in Northeast Missouri. Anil Giri is a reporter covering diplomacy, international relations and national politics for The Kathmandu Post. Giri has been working as a journalist for a decade-and-a-half, contributing to numerous national and international media outlets. A new study shows that migration occurs between the months of early March and May end, with peak movement between mid-April and early May.Scientists explain that quantifying the migration intensity and timing of movement is necessary to understand the impact of climate change and shifting landscapes on migratory birdsThe most crucial findings of the study are the fact that at least half of yearly migration happens within a period of 18-days. This information, researchers suggest, can help mitigate the harm to bird populations caused as a result of wind turbines and light.Spring Bird MigrationThe study combined data from bird watchers and weather radar stations to provide detailed understanding into spring bird migration along the Gulf of Mexico. The findings of the study, which was publishedin the journal Global Change Biology,reveal the timing, location, and intensity of these movements."We looked at data from thousands of eBird observers and 11 weather radar stations along the Gulf Coast from 1995 to 2015," saidlead author Kyle Horton, an Edward W. Rose postdoctoral fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.According to their calculations, an average of 2.1 billion birds crosses the length of Gulf Coast in the spring season as they head towards their breeding grounds in the north, Horton explained.The radar helped reveal the timing of bird migrationand the routes they take. Researchers found that the peak spring migration remained consistent for over two decades along the Gulf coastline and the period between April 19 and May 7 is the busiest.Criticality Of Migration TimingScientists explained that even though the migration has evolved due to climate change, the current rate of change may be too brisk for the birds to keep up. The findings also show that seasonal movements now commence sooner. However, the peak activity has remained unchanged with regard to the change in seasonal movements, which may be an alarming trend."If birds aren't changing their migration timing fast enough to match the timing for plants and insects, that's alarming," Horton said.These findings offer crucial standards in which the scientists can evaluate the long-term impact of climate change on migratory birds. Crystal Palacedefender Pape Souare is set for around two months of recovery following an operation on his dislocated shoulder.Senegal full-back Souare suffered the injury during Saturday's FA Cup1-0 victory against Grimsby.The club released a statement saying he had undergone a 'successful operation', adding 'the plan is for him to return to training in around two months' time'.Souare posted a brief update on his social media account. The defender said: 'Quick minor op, and it went great can't wait to get back doing what I love.'I wanna thank everyone for their ongoing support. See you soon.'Souare previously endured an injury nightmare following a car crash on the M4 back in September 2016.He had to be airlifted to hospital and there were fears he might never be able to play professionally again after breaking his thighbone and jaw.But after 11 months out of action he finally returned to training and was given a hugely welcoming reception when he completed his comeback in a League Cup game against Huddersfield.Souare has only started twice for Roy Hodgson's side this season, both in cup competitions and has made just one appearance in the Premier League off the bench. No one asked how we paid for a $2 trillion tax cut, she responded. That answer is code for, I really have no earthly idea how were going to pay for it. Well, maybe thats not fair. She did pull the leftist playbook off the shelf and blew the dust off the page to reveal the chapter title that reads, How to Fund a Freefall into Mediocrity: Vilify the Wealthy. She wants to tax top earners at a 70 percent clip. But dont worry. She assures the American people that her version of socialism isnt the scary kind, such as the Soviet or Cuban varieties. Her particular brand of economic redistribution will resemble what we see in the UK, in Norway, in Finland, in Sweden. I dont know about you but that doesnt give me a whole lot of comfort. Where It Stands is a weekly column that takes a look at what has happened with a news story since it was last reported on by The Sentinel. Have a story you want followed up on? Email The Sentinel at frontdoor@cumberlink.com DUI murder case moves closer to trial Around 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 2016, Diana Davidson, 66, of Camp Hill, was walking her two dogs along the Camp Hill Bypass when a motorist struck her. Davidson and her dogs were killed in the crash, according to police. Woman, two dogs killed in Camp Hill pedestrian crash The Cumberland County Coroners Office has identified the person killed in a pedestrian crash on the Camp Hill Bypass Tuesday night. In June 2017, Brandon Baker, 35, of Etters, was charged in connection to the crash. Police said Baker had a blood alcohol content of 0.276 percent, more than three times the legal limit, at the time of the crash, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Camp Hill Police. Baker was charged with felony third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle while DUI, three counts of misdemeanor DUI, reckless endangerment and several summary traffic violations. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} As an explanation for his apparent intoxication, Baker told police he had taken two shots of vodka after the crash, according to police. However, witnesses refuted the claim and said they saw Baker driving erratically prior the crash, police said. Driver charged with murder in fatal Camp Hill crash Police say the driver who struck and killed a woman and her two dogs on the Camp Hill Bypass in December was driving under the influence at th Justus J. Perrine made it official when he used a silver shovel to turn over the first mound of dirt. The retired owner of a grocery store in downtown Carlisle was surrounded by other members of the First Presbyterian Church on the Square the afternoon of Dec. 6, 1950. A dedication service was underway on the west lawn of the church celebrating the start of a new annex wing to include a fellowship hall, Sunday school rooms, a parlor and a ministers office. This weeks Tour Through Time focuses on the scene that January 1951 when work crews were digging out the basement of the one-story addition. There are also photos of the church site before and after the annex was complete. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} There is a brief mention of the annex in the book If These Stones Could Speak: An Illustrated History of the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The book says the church lacked sufficient space, prompting the addition that ran south from the tower to West High Street. The annex was built of limestone compatible with the original building. The Sentinel reported that Perrine at the time was a church elder and one of its oldest members. Prior to retirement, he owned and operated a business in the first block of West Louther Street. A former Cumberland County prosecutor announced his candidacy for district attorney Friday. Jaime Keating, who served as first assistant district attorney under former District Attorney David Freed, announced he is seeking the Republican nomination for district attorney in the May primary. It is the duty of the district attorney to lead the office in the pursuit of justice, Keating said in a written statement. I pledge my decisions will be based on the truth and the law to embody the language of the pledge, with justice for all. Keating officially announced his candidacy Friday afternoon during an event held at the Cumberland County Law Enforcement Memorial in Middlesex Township. Keating currently is the chief deputy district attorney in Franklin County, a position hes held since early 2018. Keating began his tenure in Cumberland County in 1994 and rose to the rank of first assistant district attorney before leaving office in late 2017. He was one of nine candidates who sought appointment to the position after Freed was confirmed as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Police said they received a report from the social media app Kik to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that apparent child pornography had been sent by a user. Import of mobile phones plunge 16.19 percent The import of mobile phones decreased by 16.19 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year 2018-19 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2017-18, with importers starting to feel the impact from the governments revision of the tax structure. Anytime we have a concern, we are in immediate contact with ESS, Spielbauer said. The goal is to try and work with the individual to do anything we can to help them so they are able to stay with us. But if that is not the case, we are able to call ESS and ask them to be removed. School board president Paula Bussard sees outsourcing as one method the board can use to maintain the long-term fiscal soundness of the district. She works in the health care sector where outsourcing has been common for years. While Bussard said outsourcing aides is an emotional issue, she isnt apprehensive about quality because of her experience working in hospitals. In health care, outsourced staff are looked upon and valued as any other hospital employee, Bussard said. It really comes to accountability and the culture to make it work. It is how you structure it and hold yourself accountable. Board member Brian Guillaume said its hard to predict whether the district could maintain the caliber of its instructional aides through outsourcing. We are hopeful, he said. We would like to believe that everybody works equally hard. I would like to think that way, but its a hard projection to make. She had earned an interdisciplinary doctorate in politics, economics and computer science, but chose against a life in academia after her oral exams. Ensign said she was working for the late Sen. Alan Cranston when a call came from Columbia University that changed the course of her career. They said, Will you just come teach one course for us? Well fly you up from DC and fly you back, she said. Ensign was asked to stay on. During her first full-time position there, she became the director of the graduate-level International Political Economy program, the largest program at Columbias School of International and Public Affairs. It was pretty strange to be a very young scholar I think I was 27 and not only teaching at a place that had very few women, very few, but also coordinating this big program, she said. From there, she took on leadership positions at Tulane University and the University of the Pacific before stepping into her first presidency as the president of the American University of Nigeria. She took the reins at Dickinson College on July 1, 2017. That makes Ensign even more rare in the world of higher education as 78 percent of the women who serve as college presidents are in their first presidency. When you get to these roles, you feel like you have to be the best mother, the best spouse, the best friend to people, the best boss so theres this inter-role conflict thats constantly tugging at you that you need to be the best for everyone else in your life. It can cause an absolute imbalance, Fedrizzi-Williams said. Many of the women college presidents also dealt with guilt that came from feeling they had sacrificed parts of themselves for the job, Fedrizzi-Williams said. That could have come from something as simple as buying cupcakes at the grocery store instead of making them for a school party. The one huge tip that they had was that you have to find a support network. You have to find people that can help you, and you dont have to feel like you have to do everything by yourself, she said. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} That support came from a number of sources including family, co-workers, networking groups and even the boards of their institutions. Many of the college presidents started outsourcing the housework by getting groceries delivered or having the dry cleaner pick up clothes to go out, she said. An East Pennsboro Middle School eighth-grade girl seemed thrilled to be paired with cowboy Carmine Nastri of Ballston Spa, New York. Nastri, a roping specialist in the rodeos, showed the girl how to rope a dummy steer then grinned when she successfully did it. The girl also sat atop a simulated bucking bronc, grinning with delight as two cowboys gently rocked the bale of hay underneath. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} This is my first rodeo and its fun, she said. Ive been collecting the autographs from the cowboys and cowgirls. A 14-year-old boy from East Pennsboro seemed gleeful at the bull riding station, holding on tightly, laughing and exuberantly waving his cowboy hat to the imaginary crowd. The Chambersburg-area students seemed to be having just as much fun. An eight-year-old boy, with all the confidence of an experienced cowboy, tried out bareback riding on a dummy the cowboys rocked. A 7-year-old boy happily petted Miss Bell, a 19-year-old paint horse. I like horses, he said simply. I live to make people fall in love with rodeo, said Madison Iager, Miss Agriculture USA. Seeing this little girl smile makes my year, she said as a 6-year-old girl she was escorting beamed in delight. Two women with Columbus ties recently earned honors for their work in nursing. Ashley Brunkhorst and Maureen Spelts both received The DAISY Award, which is in recognition for excellence in their fields. Brunkhorst, a 2006 Columbus High School graduate and 2009 Central Community College-Columbus graduate, was nominated by the Medical Staffing Network, where she has been a team member since 2016. She has been a valued member of Medical Staffing Network, but after receiving a glowing email from one of the facilities she staffs, Medical Staffing Network officials decided more thanks was in order and the decision was made to nominate her for the honor. Spelts, BSN, RN, in Columbus Community Hospitals Infusion Center, was nominated for The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, and honored Jan. 4. In her time at the hospital, Spelts has worked in the OR, Same Day Services and the Acute Care Unit. She has worked in the Infusion Center since May 2018. Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Liga Privada T52 Corona Viva. This is a cigar we previously assessed back in October 2011 in the Parejo Toro size. Wrapper: Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Sun Grown Habano Binder: Plantation grown Brazilian Mata Fina Binder Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate Corona Viva: 6 x 46 2018 was a significant year for Drew Estates Liga Privada brand as the brand celebrated its 10th anniversary. It was also about ten years ago when Drew Estate introduced its second blend under Liga Privada, the T52. The big differentiator of the T52 is that it uses a Habano wrapper grown in the Connecticut River valley. When the wrapper is grown, it is harvested by removing the entire stalk of the tobacco plant as opposed to priming the individual leaves. That cigar would become a huge hit for Drew Estate and earn our 2009 Cigar of the Year. Since 2009, there had been no regular production line extensions. That changed in 2018 when three line extensions were introduced to the T52 and its sister line, the Connecticut Broadleaf Liga Privada No. 9. Today we take a closer look at one of those line extensions, the Corona Viva in the T52 line. The Corona Viva is a 6 x 46 vitola. It is a size that was added to the original Drew Estate Undercrown (Maduro line) back in 2012. It gave the Undercrown a stronger and fuller profile and became a very popular size in the line. It was added to the T52 and No. 9 lines as a part of the line extensions introduced in 2018. In addition to the Stalk Cut Habano wrapper, the Liga Privada T52 blend consists of a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper and a combination of fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras. As with most Drew Estate cigars, the T52 is produced at Drew Estates La Gran Fabrica in Esteli, Nicaragua. The Liga Privada T52 Corona Viva started out with a combination of coffee, wood, earth, orange rind, and exotic pepper. During the first half, the coffee notes became primary with a creamy undertone. The wood, earth, orange rind, and pepper notes became secondary. There was much more of a sweetness component to the orange rind during the early stages. As the T52 Corona Viva moved into the second half, the earth notes displaced the coffee in the forefront. There was more in the way of pepper and the orange rind notes developed a slight bitterness. Right until the end there still were notes of coffee and wood present as well. The flavors started out medium-bodied and progressed to medium to full in the second half. This was countered by medium strength. OVERALL ASSESSMENT Final Thoughts The T52 remains a flagship brand of Drew Estate. The Corona Viva size delivers a very nice, well-balanced flavor profile. Ive been a little more partial to the larger ring gauges with this cigar- especially the Toro size which was the one that won it a Cigar of the Year award in 2009 for Cigar Coop. Its a cigar Id recommend to an experienced cigar enthusiast, but wouldnt discourage a novice from trying. As for myself, the T52 Corona Viva is a cigar I would purchase multiples and smoke again, but my preference is to this day still the Toro size. Summary Key Flavors: Coffee, Wood, Earth, Orange Rind, and Exotic Pepper Burn: Very Good Draw: Excellent Complexity: Medium Plus Strength: Medium to Full (1st 3/5), Full (Remainder) Body: Medium to Full (1st 3/5), Full (Remainder) Finish: Good Rating Value: Buy Multiples Score: 90 References Previous Assessment: Liga Privada T52 (2009 Cigar of the Year) News: Drew Estate Adds Three Line Extensions to Liga Privada No. 9 & T52 Lines Price: $12.10 Source: Drew Estate Brand Reference: Liga Privada Photo Credit: Cigar Coop I want to make one thing perfectly clear, we need to hope for Peace in the Middle East. The Middle East is a land where so much darkness covers over it. The conflict between Israel and Palestine I know is not a desire of our Lord. Our Lord longs to bring us together. Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 says For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace Our God is a God of peace. But we must never forget the promise Our God made to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12 verse 3,I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who curse you. This is an infallible piece of scripture and it is referring to the nation of Israel because the Church has not replaced Israel in Gods family but have merely been grafted in. Romans chapter 11 describes the salvation of the Gentiles as like being an ingrafted branch (Romans chapter 11 verse 17), meaning because of Israels transgression of rejecting Jesus, we, meaning the members of the Church who do not have Jewish blood, have had an opportunity to experience Gods amazing grace. Jesus is for everyone Lets make another thing clear, Jesus is for everyone! Jesus came to save the world, he is the saviour of the world but we cannot forget that the Messiah came to the nation of Israel first. Paul, while he was writing to the Romans said, salvation came to the Jew first then the Gentile (Romans chapter 1 verse 16). As Christians we need to reach people, but to the Jew firstwe cant forget Gods order and the promise that God has given to Abraham. When the Church blesses Israel we become blessed, but how can the Church bless Israel? How the Church can bless Israel Well, I think the best thing they can do is tell them that the Son of God has come. However many of us, particularly where I am in Northern New South Wales, do not come across a great number of Jewish people; however that does not mean we cannot play a part in reaching Gods chosen people. We can pray for Israel. Psalm 122 verse 6 says ,Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure. The peace that verse is talking about is peace from conflict. Sadly, the city of Jerusalem is still very much divided and we must pray for peace in that city. That city is so important to the Christian faith. Jesus bled and died for us outside the city. He would be resurrected inside the City. Jerusalem was where the early Church received the power from the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses in the book of Acts and it will be the city where Jesus will reestablish is rule on earth in Revelation chapter 21. Jerusalems history is our history The Jewish peoples history is also our history and we need to pray for peace in Jerusalem. We need to support the gospel being shared amongst the Jewish people. The purpose of this is not to brag about my giving but I have started giving another 10% to a mission fund called Celebrate Messiah Australia, a mission that promotes the sharing of the gospel amongst the Jewish community here in Australia. I have been so enriched by this. I feel the joy of the Lord doing this. My passion for his people and for his word has increased. I am not saying give to get, giving begins in the heart. If we as Christians have a desire to see people get saved, we also have a desire to see Israel get saved. I think of this story from Pastor Robert Morris of the Gateway Church in Dallas Texas: The Benevolent Father There was once an orphanage and the head of the orphanage was a very cruel man and down the road from the orphanage lived a very benevolent father and he came up with a plan to adopt all the children in the orphanage because he wanted to see all the children adopted. So he adopted a few of the children to show his love and his kindness to make others want to be adopted and it worked. So many of the children at the orphanage chose to be adopted by this benevolent father. But the original children who were also adopted by the Father got jealous and left. One of the children adopted by the father from the Orphanage said, Dad I am so grateful you adopted me and I love living here but I have a burden for your original children that left and I would love to see if I can go and try and bring your children back, would you help me? Then the Father reached for his wallet and said, How much do you need to be able to do this Son? That is what it means when the Lord says I will bless those who bless Israel. Ben Kruzins has earned a number of degrees and now in ministry at Ocean Shores NSW Ben Kruzins previous articles may be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/ben-kruzins.html Social media was ablaze with rumors Thursday afternoon that an investigation in Walworth County might be tied to missing teen Jayme Closs, but it turned out to be an investigation that led to the arrest of a Franklin business owner on tentative homicide charges, according to Franklin police. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald alluded to the investigation in southeastern Wisconsin in his news conference Friday after Closs in a welcome coincidence was found and her alleged captor arrested Thursday in Douglas County in northwestern Wisconsin. Fitzgerald sent out a release Thursday saying the investigation in East Troy had nothing to do with the investigation into Closs' disappearance. Shortly thereafter, Fitzgerald was informed by Douglas County authorities that Closs had been found and a suspect, Jake Thomas Patterson, had been arrested. A Franklin police news release on Friday afternoon states that the arrest of the 43-year-old Franklin resident was related to an arson investigation being conducted by the Milwaukee Police Department that led to a report of two missing persons. A Wisconsin teenager missing for nearly three months after her parents were killed in the family home was found alive barely an hour's drive away, by a woman who said she was walking her dog along a rural road when a disheveled teenage girl called out to her for help, quickly grabbed her and told her she was lost. Then the girl revealed her name: Jayme Closs, the 13-year-old Wisconsin girl who vanished three months ago after her parents were fatally shot in the family's home. Jeanne Nutter, a social worker who spent years working in child protection, told The Associated Press on Friday that the girl approached her Thursday afternoon in a heavily wooded, rural neighborhood near the small town of Gordon, about 60 miles south of where Jayme disappeared on Oct. 15. Jayme told the woman said she had walked away from a cabin where she'd been held captive, a cabin not far from Nutter's home. "I was terrified, but I didn't want to show her that," Nutter told the AP. "She just yelled please help me I don't know where I am. I'm lost." Nutter said she didn't want to bring Jayme to her nearby home because it was too close to where she'd been found, and she didn't want them to be alone. She said: "My only thought was to get her to a safe place." Hundreds of kilos of toxic mercury is released into the air every year The first ever inventory prepared to estimate the countrys total mercury emissions has recorded that hundreds of kilograms of harmful mercury are released into the air every year. Timeline in Closs case A timeline of events in the Jayme Closs disappearance case: Oct. 15, 2018 James Closs, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, are found shot to death in their home in Barron, a town in western Wisconsin. Authorities issue an Amber Alert for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, and the search for her begins. Oct. 16, 2018 Investigators say they don't consider Jayme a suspect in her parents' deaths. Authorities also dismiss a tip placing Jayme's whereabouts in Miami as "not credible," and say they believe the girl is in danger. Oct. 17, 2018 Authorities announce that investigators believe Jayme was in her family's home when her parents were fatally shot. Oct. 18, 2018 About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers. The search turns up nothing useful. The Wisconsin Department of Justice announces it is sending therapists, comfort dogs and school resource officers to help students at the school Jayme attended. Oct. 23, 2018 About 2,000 volunteers from as far as Minneapolis help with another ground search . Several items are found and taken for assessment. Oct. 24, 2018 The FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to Jayme's location. The amount is later doubled to $50,000 by the Jennie-O Turkey Store, where James and Denise Closs worked. Oct. 27, 2018 Funerals are held for James and Denise Closs in Cameron, a village next to Barron. Oct. 29, 2018 Prosecutors announce they have charged a man with burglarizing the Closs home but say he's not a suspect in the case. Dec. 12, 2018 Hundreds of people attend a "tree of hope" lighting ceremony in honor of Jayme in Barron. Jan. 10, 2019 Jayme is found alive in the town of Gordon, a rural community about an hour from her home. A suspect is taken into custody. Jan. 11, 2019 Investigators say the suspect, 21-year-old Jake Thomas Patterson, is jailed on homicide and kidnapping charges. An elephant fell into a major canal in northern Sri Lanka and had to be rescued in a two hour operation by forest officials. The lost elephant had fallen into the Z-D main canal in Maduru in Oya on Wednesday (January 9), after it had tried to get a drink. The Department of Wildlife Conservation was contacted, and with the help of local villagers the elephant was rescued after two hours. The operation was accomplished thanks to efforts to drive the trapped animal towards a makeshift rope ladder made of tyres and thick ropes which allowed it to climb out. The rescued elephant was moved to the Giniidamana forest reserve in Welikanda. The elephant was chased a distance into the forest and officials burst crackers to ensure that it won't return again. OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian diplomats in China on Thursday held their second meeting with one of two citizens who were detained last month after the arrest of a senior Chinese executive in Vancouver, the Canadian foreign ministry said. "Today, Canadian consular officials in China visited with Michael Kovrig," the ministry said in a statement that provided no further details. Officials met Michael Spavor, the other man, on Tuesday. Canadian authorities arrested Huawei Technologies Co [HWT.UL] Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on Dec. 1 on a U.S. extradition warrant. Beijing denounced the move and threatened reprisals unless the case against Meng was dropped. In a newspaper editorial published on Wednesday, Lu Shaye, China's ambassador to Ottawa, accused Canada of "double standards" which he said were caused by "western egotism and white supremacy." Although Canada says China has made no specific link between the detentions and Meng's arrest, experts and former diplomats say they have no doubt Beijing is using the cases of the two men to pressure Ottawa. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis) City Hall in Donegall Square in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Photo: Getty About 300m will go towards funding peace projects in Northern Ireland after Brexit, the UK government announced on Friday. It said it will contribute millions of pounds to Irelands upcoming Peace Plus project until 2027, as part of its unwavering commitment to maintaining peace in Northern Ireland after Britains departure from the EU. Peace Plus will succeed the current Peace programme, which promotes social and economic progress in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland with funding from the UK, Ireland and the EU. The current scheme will end in 2020. READ MORE: Northern Ireland can reject EU laws in Brexit backstop The UK government will work with the Irish government and EU commission to shape the new scheme over the next round of the EUs Multi-Annual Financial Framework, which regulates its annual budget for the next seven years. Karen Bradley, secretary of state for Northern Ireland, said: This funding will help deliver vital projects on both sides of the Irish border, supporting cooperation and reconciliation and ensuring that generations to come grow up in a more peaceful and stable society. The EU has already laid out plans for up to 109m (120m) of funding during 2021 to 2027 if its financial perspective is approved. The UK government will continue its support following a joint commitment with the EU in the Withdrawal Agreement to maintain Peace funding in Ireland until 2027. READ MORE: Brexit increasingly negative for Northern Ireland business The funding will enable work to build on nearly 1.8bn (2bn) of investment in projects in both Northern Ireland and Ireland, including landmarks such as the 14.5m Peace bridge opened in 2011 in Londonderry, which links communities across the River Foyle. Belfast-based Youth Action, which works with disadvantaged young people from different communities in Northern Ireland, is one of many organisations that has benefited from Peace funding, using it to establish the Youth Network for Peace, which involves 10,000 10-25 year-olds in social action projects. By Jim Finkle and David Ljunggren NEW YORK/OTTAWA (Reuters) - One of Huawei Canada's top executives on Friday disclosed he was leaving his post after more than seven years with the Chinese telecommunications equipment maker, which is facing heightened scrutiny over security issues from Canada and its allies. Scott Bradley disclosed his departure as the company's senior vice president for corporate affairs in a post on LinkedIn that did not give a reason for the move. He could not immediately be reached for comment. Huawei Technologies Co is under intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese government and U.S.-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying. On Friday, sources told Reuters that Poland arrested a Huawei employee and former Polish security official on spying allegations, a move that could fuel Western concerns about the security of the company's technology. Bradley was a key public spokesman for Huawei Canada, which has been under the spotlight since Canadian authorities in December arrested the chief financial officer of its parent company at the request of the United States. Huawei is a major supplier of telecommunications equipment in Canada, where Bradley had served as chair of the 5G Canada Council, a national trade group promoting adoption of next-generation high-speed wireless technology. The Canadian government last year launched a new security review of Huawei's 5G technology, which at least two major Canadian carriers have said they plan to test in small-scale pilots. Bradley will serve as special adviser to the company, assisting the company "as required," Huawei Canada President Eric Li said in a memo to staff that was obtained by Reuters. "We are saddened to see him leave but grateful for the tireless work he has put in to help us grow our brand and public image, and build various relationships with government," Li said. Bradley confirmed on LinkedIn that he intended to advise the company. "As we start 2019, it is time for a change," Bradley said in the post. "I continue to believe passionately in all of the values our Canadian team represents, and I believe that our team is one of the most innovative in the world." (Jim Finkle in New York and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Tom Brown) A stable and growing dividend stock deserves a permanent spot on every income-seeking investors portfolio. At the moment, one of the best places to derive these regular and expanding dividends is Canadas robust banking sector. Banking specialist Matt Frankel recently told the Motley Fool that Canadian banks have not faced a major crisis since 1839 . Thats over a century and a half of stable growth, which is reflected in the total shareholder returns of major banks like Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) and National Bank of Canada . However, if youre looking for the best bank for dividends, why not go for the largest bank in the country? Royal Bank (TSX:RY)(NYSE:RY) recently overtook TD in terms of market capitalization, making it the king of the banking castle. By most other metrics, RBC is very similar to TD. Both banks have extensive and expanding exposure to the U.S. banking sector. As I mentioned in my previous article, nearly one-third of TDs business is now based in the U.S. and is growing at 44% every year. Meanwhile, 21% of RBCs assets are derived from our southern neighbour. The bank has access to the same untapped markets and growth potential here. But RBC is more globally diversified than TD. The company has 49% of assets under administration coming from international operations, excluding North America. RBC also offers investors a higher dividend yield 4.06% against TDs 3.9%. Like any other Canadian bank, the dividends are the primary attraction. According to the banks latest annual report, one of the managements key objectives for the medium term is to keep the dividend payout ratio at 40-50%. Over the same period, management expects to maintain a return on equity rate of 16% or higher. I want to use managements own guidance and a few simple formulas to figure out the intrinsic value of RBCs stock. Valuation Assuming a 50% retention rate and a 16% return on equity, the sustainable growth rate for earnings and dividends is roughly 8%. Thats precisely the growth rate of RBCs dividends in 2018. Story continues Ill use the yield on a 10-year Canadian bond as the risk-free rate and the sustainable growth rate based on managements guidance for a discounted dividend calculation. Over the past four quarters, RBC paid out $3.77 in dividends. Applying the dividend discount model to these figures, the intrinsic value works out to $67.41. Thats 30% lower than the current market price. If youre convinced by my calculation, consider other metrics. RBCs price-to-book ratio is 1.83 and price-to-earnings-growth ratio is 1.45, both of which are higher than peers such as TD and National Bank of Canada. In other words, RBC investors seem overly optimistic, despite concerns of a recession and rising consumer defaults in Canada. Bottom line Nothing can take away from the fact that the RBC is a star performer with stable earnings growth and an attractive dividend yield. However, with rising concerns of a global economic slowdown, the worrying consumer debt burden across North America, and RBCs financial ratios, I prefer to wait for a better price. More reading Fool contributor Vishesh Raisinghani has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Health Assistants threaten to quit en masse if ministry fails to address their demands Health assistants from across the country have warned of en masse resignation if the Ministry of Health and Population fails to address their demands. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu President Emmerson Mnangagwa led a ZANU PF election war room team that tried to deport to prominent Human Rights Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa to her country of birth Swaziland during the height of the 2013 harmonised election campaign.This was revealed by exiled Professor Jonathan Moyo in an expose' on Econet Boss Strive Masiyiwa on Thursday.Said Moyo, " The full 2013 poll group had: Emmerson Mnangagwa (who chaired it), Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, Patrick Chinamasa (deputy chair), Nicholas Goche, Gen Constantino Chiwenga, Augustine Chihuri, Happyton Bonyongwe, Walter Tapfumaneyi, Kizito Gweshe, George Charamba and Jonathan Moyo."The group's overarching agenda was to: 1. Contain Sadc mediation, so it does not derail 2013 elections. 2. Ensure that Parliament is dissolved by 29 June 2013 and elections are held soon thereafter. 3. Get Econet and diamond companies to fund elections to avoid UN funding."Besides the three-pronged agenda, there were other daily issues that cropped up. One was a report that lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa had blocked a police raid on Prime Minister Tsvangirai's Bath Rd offices in Belgravia. The group decided to have Mtetwa deported but this failed."Beatrice, a past president of the Zimbabwean Law Society, was arrested for "obstructing or defeating the course of justice". She was arrested in Harare on 17 March 2013 after she asked to see the search warrant of police officers who were conducting what she called an "unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal and undemocratic" search of the home of her client.When Beatrice arrived at her client's home, police were already conducting the search. She was handcuffed and taken to Harare Central police station. Despite a High Court order for her release, she was held in custody for eight nights and was allegedly ill-treated and denied access to her family. The High Court finally released her on bail of $330 after magistrates had initially refused to let her go. "Ag-gag" laws which ban the collection of evidence of wrongdoing on farms, from animal cruelty to food-safety violations are a sterling example of how monopolism perpetuates itself by taking over the political process. As American agribusiness has grown ever-more concentrated while antitrust regulators looked the other way, embracing the Reagan-era doctrine of only punishing monopolies for raising prices and permitting every other kind of monopolistic abuse it has been able to collude, joining industry groups like ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, which drafts industry-favoring "model legislation" and then lobbies state legislatures to adopt it. ALEC's contribution to Big Ag is the nationwide epidemic of "ag-gag" laws, which felonize the collection and disclosure of true facts of intense public interest. Ag-gag laws are plainly unconstitutional, but that hasn't stopped state authorities from prosecuting and imprisoning animal rights activists and food safety whistleblowers. Invalidating ag-gag laws is an expensive, state-by-state process, and activists and impact litigators have already overturned the laws of Wyoming, Utah and Idaho, and fifteen other states, and now they've just scored a victory in Iowa, after a victory in a lawsuit filed by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI), Bailing Out Benji, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and the Center for Food Safety struck down the state's 2012 law. The court took notice of the legislative history of the ag-gag law, which was passed after evidence of extreme animal cruelty was published by activists. Ag-gag laws remain on the books in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, and North Dakota, with challenges pending in Kansas and North Carolina. I eat meat, and I go to real lengths to make sure that I'm buying from sustainable, free-range producers who treat their animals with respect and dignity. The idea that markets are best served if I'm not allowed to know when a producer fails to live up to those standards is absurd, and reveals late-stage capitalism's lip-service indifference to markets: markets exist to extract from consumers, not to discipline producers according to the desires and preferences of their customers. If customers don't like a producer's conduct, the remedy is to hide that conduct from the customer, tricking them into buying inferior products. Iowa's ag-gag law amended a part of the state's criminal code that already contained prohibitions "against disrupting, destroying, or damaging property at an animal facility" or on "crop operation property." It created the offense of "agricultural production facility fraud," that criminalized anyone who "obtains access to an agricultural production facility by false pretenses" or "makes a false statement or representation as part of an application or agreement to be employed at an agricultural production facility, if the person knows the statement to be false and makes the statement with an intent to commit an act no authorized by the owner of the agricultural production facility." The state of Iowa maintained the law was necessary to protect "harms to property and biosecurity." Yet, the court determined the state's interest in protecting these interests do not outweigh protections for speech under the First Amendment nor did they prove that false statements need to be prohibited so "biosecurity" is not threatened. Iowa 'Ag-Gag' Law Aimed At Suppressing Journalism Against Agribusiness Is Ruled Unconstitutional [Kevin Gosztola/Shadowproof] (via Naked Capitalism) (Image: Farm Sanctuary) Last month, I published a post discussing the mountains of abandoned Bird Scooters piling up in city impound lots, and the rise of $30 Chinese conversion kits that let you buy a scooter at auction, swap out the motherboard, and turn it into a personal scooter, untethered from the Bird company. In response, Bird sent us a legal threat of such absurdity that we are publishing it in full, along with a scorching response from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, as a kind of celebration of truly world-class legal foolishness. In Bird's legal threat, they imply that by linking to a forum in which the existence of conversion kits was under discussion, I had violated the anti-trafficking clauses of Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the 1998 law that limits the dissemination of "circumvention tools" that bypass access controls for copyrighted works for example, tools that let you extract the video from an encrypted DVD. First of all, talking about a place where people are talking about circumvention isn't circumvention or illegal "trafficking" in circumvention technology. The US Copyright Office which oversees the DMCA publishes a report every three years in which they extensively discuss the existence of circumvention methods. It's just not illegal to talk about circumvention technology. But the hits keep on coming: the conversion kits that I wrote about aren't even circumvention devices. The DMCA prohibits bypassing technological measures that effectively control access to copyrighted works, and prohibits trafficking in those technologies or technologies that bypass technological measures that prevent infringement. The conversion kits don't bypass a locked bootloader to access or alter the firmware on a Bird Scooter. You get the kit, remove some screws, and put in the new logic board. If motherboard swaps were circumvention, then selling someone a screwdriver could be an offense punishable by a five year prison sentence and a $500,000 fine. Obviously, it's not. We've been doing this for decades, and every year, the number of baseless legal threats from corporations that don't like being criticized goes up. Thin-skinned corporations have always been with us, but the media has never been more vulnerable: cash strapped, underinsured, and easy to frighten. We don't back down. We aren't rich and we aren't powerful, but we know our rights (attentive readers will know that I've pledged myself to killing Section 1201 of the DMCA you'd be hard pressed to find someone harder to bullshit about DMCA 1201). We've got good friends: the Electronic Frontier Foundation has our back. Did you get a nastygram like this from Bird? Tell us about it. There's strength in numbers. (Images: Grendelkhan, , CC-BY-SA) "While at Google, Rubin is also alleged to have engaged in human sex trafficking paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to women to be, in Rubin's own words, 'owned' by him." The Board of Directors of Alphabet Inc., parent company of Google, has been sued by shareholders for okaying that $90 million exit payment to Andy Rubin, the Android mobile software superstar developer, while actively covering up abuse committed by him and other executives. Rubin was credibly accused of violently sexually abusing a Google colleague *before* the board greenlit that $90 million exit package, which sure makes it smell a lot like very expensive hush money for a very bad thing. From Bloomberg: The investors claimed the board failed in its duties by allowing harassment to occur, approving big payouts and keeping the details private. The complaint targeted the company's top executives and committee members, including co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, venture capitalist John Doerr, investor Ram Shriram and Alphabet Chief Legal Officer David Drummond, among others. "Rubin was allowed to quietly resign by defendants Larry Page and Sergey Brin after an internal investigation found the allegations of sexual harassment by Rubin to be credible," according to one complaint filed Thursday in California state court. "While at Google, Rubin is also alleged to have engaged in human sex trafficking paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to women to be, in Rubin's own words, 'owned' by him." Another suit, filed on behalf of the Northern California Pipe Trades Pension Plan and Teamsters Local 272 Labor Management Pension Fund, made similar claims. Rubin created Android, now the world's most popular operating system, and ran the powerful mobile division at Google for years before leaving the company in 2014. In October, The New York Times reported that Google executives approved a four-year, $90 million pay package for Rubin after an employee accused the executive of sexual harassment. Some of the people who work at Google who organized the 2018 walkout released a statement today, saying they support the shareholder lawsuits. "We have all the evidence we need that Google's leadership does not have our best interests at heart," they said. Read the Rest. Yahoo! JAPAN Yahoo! JAPAN At an event hosted by the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerlan... In the movie, Bella is separated from her family because of a breed-specific law that bans pit bull type dogs. Bella is transported to another state, but the devoted dog braves 400 miles to find her way back home. Photo by Sony Pictures 3.2K shares From Rin Tin Tin to Lassie and Benji, the movies have long celebrated and reaffirmed the strength of the human-animal bond and the joy that companion animals bring to our lives. In this cherished tradition, a new movie that hits theaters tonight honors an even more special relationship the bond between dogs and veterans, and the related ideals of selfless service and loyalty. The movie, A Dogs Way Home, also takes on a timely concern that we grapple with in our work for companion animals: the downfalls of breed-specific legislation. A Dogs Way Home, from Sony Pictures, is the first feel-good movie of the year and it tells the story of Bella, an adorable rescue dog, Lucas, the young man who adopts her, and his mother, Terri, a veteran. Lucas works at a Veterans Affairs hospital, Terri receives services there, and Bella begins to frequent the facility as well, providing comfort and companionship to the veterans. Unfortunately, Lucas and Bella are separated because the city of Denver, where the movie is based, has a breed-specific law that bans pit bull type dogs. Bella is transported to another state for her own protection, but the devoted dog doesnt understand and braves 400 miles to find her way back to Lucas. This is a storyline that has compelled human interest for centuries: the anecdote of a devoted companion animal who faces adversity and travels long distances to reunite with their loving humans. But it was not the only reason I found myself so moved by A Dogs Way Home. I was also struck by the films relevance to many of our most pressing animal welfare concerns at the Humane Society of the United States. Shelby, the dog who plays Bella, was found in a landfill in Tennessee and brought to a dog shelter there, where the filmmakers discovered her. It is estimated that two million of the six to eight million animals in shelters and rescues each year are euthanized. Like Shelby, most of these pets are homeless through no fault of their own. Through The Shelter Pet Project, a collaboration between the HSUS, the Ad Council and Maddies Fund, we strive to make shelters and rescue groups the first place potential adopters turn to when looking to get a new pet, helping to ensure that all healthy and treatable pets find loving homes. Weve leveraged tens of millions of dollars worth of free radio, television, print, and online and outdoor advertising in support of shelter and rescue adoptions through this partnership, helping to further drive down the percentage of healthy and adoptable animals euthanized in the United States. Recognizing the transformative value of the bond between dogs and veterans, the HSUS has also joined forces with the Department of Veterans Affairs to create Operation Hero-Animal Bond, a partnership to improve the lives of veterans and shelter animals through adoption. The program supports veterans in practical ways, by covering adoption fees and providing essentials for new pet parents such as preventatives, pet food, a leash and collar, toys and more. The program is operating in several locations and we hope to expand it nationwide. Above all, this collaboration celebrates the special bonds of devotion and service that unite veterans and companion animals, especially dogs. Finally, the villain in A Dogs Way Home is Denvers pit bull ban. Authorities threaten Lucas with impounding Bella, and possibly euthanizing her, if she is found outside their home. Wrong as this may sound, the fact is that many American localities have breed specific bans. But scientists, animal professionals and experts agree there is no evidence that one breed of dog is more dangerous than another. As we see in the movie, breed bans and restrictions, which often target pit-bull and pit bull type dogs, can be devastating for dogs and their owners. Such bans force dogs out of homes and into shelters, taking up kennel space and resources that could be used for animals who are truly homeless and in need. As John Thompson, executive director and CEO of National Animal Care and Control Association says, Such bans also create an undue burden on pet owners who have otherwise demonstrated proper pet care and responsibility, and on the professional men and women in animal control who are placed in the difficult position of having to determine a breed of dog, despite the fact that there is no breed standard for pit bulls. Not only do the HSUS and Humane Society International have long-standing anti-breed-specific policies, but so do so many other major entities, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We hope that the release of A Dogs Way Home will generate a bigger discussion about ending such bans, even as the movie reminds us why we so cherish the animals who share our homes and our hearts. Donate to the Operation Hero-Animal Bond Fund 3.2K shares Pope Francis recent Christmas message, Urbi et Orbi, was a meditation on the roots of fraternity in the incarnation: What does that Child, born for us of the Virgin Mary, have to tell us? What is the universal message of Christmas? It is that God is a good Father and we are all brothers and sisters. This truth is the basis of the Christian vision of humanity. Without the fraternity that Jesus Christ has bestowed on us, our efforts for a more just world fall short, and even our best plans and projects risk being soulless and empty. For this reason, my wish for a happy Christmas is a wish for fraternity. The Pope is certainly right to call us to reflect upon the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man during the Christmas season. So many of our most cherished experiences of the Christmas season center on joyous celebration and solidarity with others in our families, churches, and communities. Much of the rest of the Popes Christmas message focused on places in the world where those types of celebration and solidarity are more difficult to come by due to enduring conflict. The Pope mentioned particularly two nations close to my own heart: Venezuela and Nicaragua. What struck me as strange was that he failed to mention the sources of the conflicts there which I have followed so closely. On January 5th twenty Latin American leaders, led by Noble laureate and former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, sent an open letter to Pope Francis which stated plainly the situation in Venezuela and Nicaragua: As we expressed in a previous message to your Holiness, we understand your concern for the suffering that today, without distinction, all Venezuelans and now Nicaraguans face. The former are victims of oppression by a militarized narco-dictatorship, which has no qualms about systematically violating the rights to life, liberty and personal integrity and, as a result of deliberate public policies and unbridled corruption, has scandalized the world and that have subjected them to widespread famine and lack of medicine. The latter case, in the middle of the year, there were 300 killed and 2,500 wounded in a wave of repression. We are concerned that the call for harmony on the part of your Holiness which, given the current context, can be understood by the victimized nations that they should come to agreement with their victimizers. In particular, in the case of Venezuela, the government has caused the flight of 3 million refugees, which the United Nations predicts will reach 5.9 million in 2019. I would commend the entire letter to you. The letter quotes St. Pope John XXIIIs first encyclical Ad Petri Cathedram (On Truth, Unity, and Peace, in a Spirit of Charity) which teaches the need for both truth and truth-telling to reach any genuine unity and peace: All the evils which poison men and nations and trouble so many hearts have a single cause and a single source: ignorance of the truthand at times even more than ignorance, a contempt for truth and a reckless rejection of it. Thus arise all manner of errors, which enter the recesses of mens hearts and the bloodstream of human society as would a plague. These errors turn everything upside down: they menace individuals and society itself. We pray with Pope Francis for a harmonious, virtuous, and prosperous future for all Venezuelans and Nicaraguans. We pray that it may come the only way it can, through telling and acknowledging the truth which President Arias and the other signatures of the open letter to the Pope make plain. (Image: Canonization of Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II, 2014 by JEFFREY BRUNO/ALETEIA CC BY-SA 2.0) If sovereign states ordered their domestic affairs in accordance with principles of natural law, says Acton research director Samuel Gregg at Law & Liberty, the international sphere would benefit greatly. During periods of resurgent national feeling, its common for enthusiasts of liberal international order and human rights activists to begin emphasizing the importance of international law and the way they think it should guide and restrain the choices of nations. Since the United Nations Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in December 1948, much international law has been elaborated via sovereign states affirming various international declarations and statements of rights through devices such as national constitutions or ratification of international treaties. The source of these rights, however, invariably goes unmentioned. The UDHR refers, for instance, to the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family. Yet the document is silent on the foundation of this dignity and these rightslikely because the UDHRs drafters disagreed profoundly about this subject. This makes for a conspicuous contrast with an 18th century text like the United States Declaration of Independence. This unequivocally locates the source of the enumerated rights identified in the document as the Laws of Nature and Natures God and mans Creator. Read more . . . Even right activists and teachers observe criminalised Chhaupadi in western Nepal Although the government has already criminalised Chhaupadi, the practice of banishing women to secluded huts during their menstrual periods, many peoples representatives, right activists and teachers have been found following the barred practice in various parts of Achham, Bajura and Bajhang districts. A North Dakota legislator has proposed a bill to require Bible classes be offered in North Dakota schools. Anyone who has read my column knows I routinely discuss issues of faith and that faith is an important part of my life. But a bill that requires Bible classes, in my opinion, is the wrong approach. To be clear, I fully support a school district's right to offer a Bible class as an elective, but a requirement, in my opinion, is problematic, and likely, unconstitutional. When we lived in West Virginia our kids attended a high school that offered Bible as an elective, and it was there that I became familiar with a program called Bible in the Schools or Bible in the Classroom. That program was unique in that all funding for the program was raised through local donations. Citizens donated $500,000 per year to pay for the teacher, the curriculum and all materials needed by students. The program costs the local school district nothing. The course was a history elective, and doctrine was not the focus. When students asked questions about doctrine the teacher was allowed to answer but was well-versed in doctrine and used the opportunity to present multiple views. EDMORE -- A former pastor faces 10 years in prison after being accused of stealing almost $35,000 from his parish in northeast North Dakota over the past 14 years. Donald Lee Reynolds, an Edmore resident who was born in 1959, is scheduled to appear at the end of the month in Ramsey County District Court on a Class B felony charge of theft. A criminal complaint filed in late October alleges he stole $34,668. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishop Terry Brandt of the Eastern North Dakota Synod in Fargo confirmed the document refers to funds allegedly stolen from the High Plains Ministry, a congregation of six churches in northeast North Dakota that consolidated in 2004. Reynolds has been a pastor with the High Plains Ministry since it formed. The ministry that is overseen by Brandts synod includes Lutheran churches in Edmore, Nekoma, Adams, Lawton, Fairdale and Doyon. The churches joined as they faced declining attendance. A complaint alleges Reynolds submitted false charges to the parish and received reimbursements for fraudulent purchases from 2004 to 2018. Reynolds resigned as a High Plains Ministry pastor when he was confronted with the allegations on June 21, Brandt said. The former religious leader also is no longer a pastor for the ELCA. Members of North Dakotas House of Representatives are united in at least one area: Theyre sick of annoying robocalls. The House voted unanimously Thursday to urge Congress and the president to protect consumers by finding a solution to combat illegal and unsolicited robocalls. These calls, aside from being annoying, are disruptive and can be stressful, said Rep. Mary Adams, D-Grand Forks, a member of the House Industry, Business and Labor Committee. Adams said the callers often spoof North Dakota numbers, but state and local laws cannot regulate the calls. She called it the No. 1 consumer complaint in North Dakota and the nation. Rep. Jason Dockter, R-Bismarck, one of the bills co-sponsors, said he received two robocalls on his cellphone Thursday morning. No matter what you do for safeguards, it just continues to be a nuisance for people, Dockter said. Its an issue thats so big that Congress will have to figure something out for our consumers. The resolution urges federal leaders to advance a coordinated effort among the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission and the FBI to address unwanted robocalls. Wenonah Gututala, the victims mother, was scheduled to present a victim impact statement over the phone but was too emotional to proceed. Fritz Fremgen, Stutsman County states attorney, said Hoff had no mitigating factor that would lessen his crime and that Hoff had no reasonable belief that there was a threat to his children. Fremgen then detailed the events leading up to the murder: On May 8, Hoff received court documents that he had lost his appeal of a court order giving Gututala sole custody of the children and prohibiting Hoff from having contact with the children until they reached the age of 18. On May 9, Hoff was served with a foreclosure notice on his home. On May 12, Hoff dropped off the children at his sisters with some money and then called Gututala to go get the children. He waited until she left her apartment and went to her car in the apartment parking lot. Fremgen called what happened next an ambush where Hoff called upon his military training. Once she was in the car, she was trapped, he said. He used military tactics on an unarmed civilian. North Dakota Rep. Kelly Armstrong took to Twitter on Tuesday night to criticize Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., after President Donald Trumps nationwide address focusing on the ongoing partial government shutdown. Ocasio-Cortez represents the Bronx and Queens. She won her position against an incumbent in one of the biggest upsets of the midterm elections. A favorite among Democrats and the youngest woman ever elected to the House, Ocasio-Cortez has an enormous social media presence and has attracted significant media attention since her candidacy. Armstrong tagged her in a tweet, saying just watched your interview on @maddow. Yesterday @washingtonpost called you out for not having your facts straight during your interview on @60Minutes. Today you told @POTUS to get his facts straight...I'm confused. He added another tweet saying, Im just a non-celebrity new Member of Congress. Are you offering classes on hypocrisy? Is it a Dems only class? Ocasio-Cortez appeared Tuesday on the Rachel Maddow Show following Trumps Oval Office Address. In the actual address, there was falsehood after falsehood, and we have to make sure that we get our facts straight, she said on the show. STANLEY -- A 24-year-old Fargo man is now facing a Class AA felony murder charge for the death of his girlfriend's 6-month-old son in Stanley on Nov. 16, according to a listing on the North Dakota Courts site. Cody Allen Faltersack had first been charged with Class B felony manslaughter following the baby's death. According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Faltersack had been home alone with the baby and had been playing video games. When the child woke up, Faltersack allegedly bounced him "harder than he should" and dropped the baby on the left side of his head when he went to put the baby on a bed. Faltersack told police he then changed the baby and started bouncing him again "harder than he should." The baby was whimpering and having trouble breathing and Faltersack continued bouncing him. When the baby stiffened and stopped breathing, Faltersack gave the baby breaths and chest compressions. He called an ambulance and reported that a baby was not breathing. The baby was taken to Trinity Hospital in Minot and later died of brain trauma. Faltersack later told police he had not told the ambulance crew what really happened because he was scared. Faltersack admitted that he knew not telling the ambulance crew the real cause of the baby's injuries could have resulted in the baby sustaining further injuries during treatment. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Mike was an amazing husband and father, but nothing brought more joy to his life than his role as Papa. He adored his six grandchildren and they thought he hung the moon. Mike could always be found with arms open and a child on his lap. If there wasnt a child on his lap, it meant he was on the floor wrestling or letting them crawl all over him. His love and dedication was endless. In the mornings, he would wait to leave for work until the grandkids were dropped off and he could give hugs. He never turned down an opportunity to get the kids from school and wouldnt hesitate to leave work early for a chance to spend extra time with them. Summertime with Papa was their favorite. It meant trips to the park, swimming in the pool, water balloon fights, and a never-ending supply of popsicles. His love extended beyond family. He wasnt just a papa to his grandkids, he was a papa to so many including every kid that came through Debs Daycare. He loved his nieces and nephews and they loved and admired him greatly. The Martin Luther King Holiday Commission will host a community celebration of the holiday at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck. Music will be provided by Adonai Evangelical Church led by Pastor Amos Byamungu, and the Bismarck State College Chamber Choir, led by Jeffrey Stone. The keynote speaker will be Joseph McNeil Jr., who will share his life experiences growing up with his father, Joseph McNeil Sr. McNeil Sr., who as a college student, was one of the Greensboro Four who sat in at the Woolworth counter in Greensboro, N.C., on Feb. 1, 1960. McNeil Sr. went on to become a major general in the United States Air Force. McNeil Jr. is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, a former Tribal Council member and is president of Standing Rock Industries. Question for you: When was the last time you were hanging out by a party's cheese plate, talking with friends and other partygoers about how great the pairings were? Do you remember what you were even eating or drinking? Was there a quiz at the end of the party? I hope the answer to all these questions is "Oh my, no." Because what a boring fete! Just like that old convention of pairing red wines with meat, whites with fish, most rules governing cheese pairings are tiresome and keep you in a box. Stop worrying, start drinking. But I suppose you came here for actual tips, not a treatise. I'll oblige. The first and last lesson I've picked up about wine and food pairings is to throw out the tasting notes. There are so many other factors in a wine that make them suitable for food pairings, and knowing that a Beaujolais Villages wine tastes like cranberries, black pepper and violets is less useful than knowing about its texture (weight, minerality, tannins), acidity level, alcohol level and sweetness. A great wine balances all of these elements, and as such, often makes a great food partner that includes cheese. Wines that tend toward weighty, oaky, tannic and boozy are often just too much for food, and certainly overpower the often subtle flavors of cheese. Domestic flights to be cheaper from Sunday Flying on domestic airlines will be a bit cheaper from Sunday as they have slashed the fuel surcharge following a drop in the price of aviation fuel. The extra charge added to the cost of an air ticket could drop from Rs80 to Rs400 depending on distance, according to internal carriers. The new tariff will be implemented from Sunday. Stapleton has served in the Montana Legislature, hes previously been a candidate for three statewide offices and was elected in 2016 as Montanas top elections official. He cannot claim to be unfamiliar with the states ethics law. If a press release announcing his gubernatorial bid isnt campaigning, what is it? Its not part of his duties as chief elections officer, its not related to his oversight of business filings or any other secretary of state duty. On Wednesday, Monica Lindeen, the newly appointed executive director of the Montana Democratic Party, filed an ethics complaint against Stapleton with the Commissioner of Political Practices. Stapleton could have easily avoided this ethics complaint. Its not what the press release said, its the indisputable fact that he used state email and a state employees time to promote his candidacy for governor. In her one-page complaint, Lindeen wrote that Corey Stapletons conduct constitutes a serious breach of public trust and is clearly prohibited by law. GILLETTE, Wyo. Leigh Lassle doesn't know what he's chasing. He's spoken to a number of groups, large and small, during the past eight years, giving motivational speeches and offering words of encouragement. He's a people person. Throughout those talks, his audiences have asked him questions: What does he like most about what he does? What drives him to be better? What motivates him to finish what he started? He has answers to those questions: "My passion is people-driven. I do what I can do to make a difference." "What takes me back every time is the fear. That's what keeps you on track." "I have a really particular behavior. If I set out to do something, nothing is going to stop me. I'll stick it out to the end." Leigh Lassle "Hands down that is the ultimate climb. It was all about the fight. Getting up there will change everything about you." But what is he chasing? Standing at the foot of the Durrance route at Devils Tower National Monument with the sun rising behind him on a recent Friday morning and minutes before summiting the Tower for the 100th month in a row, he was stumped. "No one's ever asked me that before," he said. "I don't have a good answer for that one." Maybe that's what makes his journey all the more special. Lassle's story has been told before in the Gillette News Record. At about this time nine years ago, he was diagnosed out of the blue with thyroid cancer. "Off the couch," he said about his attitude in dealing with the disease. Lassle had always been a bit of a daredevil. He rode dirt bikes when he was young and rarely tuned down a good time. But there was one thing that until then he could never get over. "I was so afraid of heights," he said. "Couldn't do it." After his thyroid surgery, Lassle gained a few extra pounds due to the medication he was on and struggled to get back into the swing of everyday life. That was when his wife, Rose, suggested he meet with Frank Sanders, a local legendary rock climber. Lassle had never climbed a rock in his life. He was afraid, intimidated and unsure of himself. The diagnosis prompted him to change that. "That was a wake-up call to reality," Lassle said. "That's when I realized not only is there more to life, but whatever you put into life is what you'll get out of it." Lassle's first climb more than eight years ago is still his most memorable. "Hands down that is the ultimate climb," he said. "It was all about the fight. Getting up there will change everything about you." After falling in love with Devils Tower, the climbing community and the thrill of the sport, Lassle joined Sanders' team and became a climbing guide. Eight years later, Lassle has also accomplished something no person ever has at Devils Tower. He's climbed the tower at least once for 100 straight months. Friday's climb up Durrance in 30-degree weather in early January was climb No. 100. Although he's done it at least once each of those months, Lassle has no idea how many times he has climbed the tower overall. He has conquered all 12 of the official routes. "Once you get it, it's yours," he said about the lure of climbing Devils Tower. "It sucks you in." Lassle started out wanting to climb the tower every month for one year. Once a buddy of his dropped out of the consecutive streak, he picked up the slack and kept it going. It was never his intention to make a run of 100 straight months. His goals were always changing and as the years went by, Lassle said he couldn't think of a reason to stop. Last winter was when he came the closest to interrupting the streak. The climbs in December 2017 and January 2018 were the most difficult he has endured in the last eight years. "The weather was so challenging that it got to a point where it was borderline insanity ... in those conditions," he said. "It made me think about the whole challenge last year." Then again, here he was in January at the Tower, kicking away snow with his climbing shoes from the base of Durrance while the wind whipped around the southeast corner of the rock. What's next? Although Lassle doesn't know what he's chasing specifically, he knows the why carries over month after month. It's because he's still scared. "Everybody in the world, their setbacks are fear-based," he said. "I think if you can overcome the fear and know you can get through it, then you can move forward and accomplish even more difficult, harder tasks. The fear pushes you." At 49, Lassle is the most active he's ever been in his life. He hosts a martial arts course every weekday at his house, rides motocross competitively and guides climbs up Devils Tower every weekend during the open season. In a lot of ways, climbing saved Lassle's life. His world went off the rails after his cancer diagnosis and now he has something full of life to be obsessed with. He has something that pushes, inspires and helps him inspire other people in the process. Now that he has made it to 100, many will ask what's next, to which he answers: "Now I'm looking at 200." Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 Miles City Fire and Rescue crews no longer have to travel across the state to receive specialized fire and rescue training opportunities. A new $250,000 Fire Training Center in Miles City now allows MCFR crews to simulate live fires, helping improve firefighting skills and the treatment of burn victims, the department said in a press release. The center is expected to draw crews from across Eastern Montana. The new training center is on a one-acre site directly behind the fire station at 2800 Main St. in downtown Miles City. Miles City Fire and Rescue responds to more than 1,500 calls per year for fire protection, emergency medical service and community service, and employs 14 full-time and up to 20 part-time employees. Battalion Chief Mike Miller said he has felt a need to create a better local training facility that would not only increase the crews access to specialized skills, but also save the city money. CAVALIER, N.D. A truck driving down Main Street is probably the loudest thing you'll ever hear in Cavalier, a northeast North Dakota town of around 1,300 people. But that's exactly what's drawing people in. On a busy day, more than 27,000 people are watching a livestream from a webcam that sits just above the town's main drag. Broadcasting on webcam hosting website EarthCam, the 24-hour stream has attracted 7 million views from around the world since it was first launched four years ago. "People all over the country and now all over the world that are constantly checking in," said Rachel Morrison from the Cavalier Chamber of Commerce. Viewers tune in to this town about 15 miles south of the Canadian border from as far away as New Zealand and the United Kingdom. And some are even considering moving to the small town to escape the big city. "We've had calls to our local Realtor about people who are interested in real estate, said Cavalier Mayor Lacey Hinkle. They kind of want to get out of the fast paced city life and move to somewhere a little slower pace and we've got that to offer." A grand jury on Thursday declined to bring criminal charges against an Albany County sheriff's corporal who shot and killed a man last year. Derek Colling, the sheriff's corporal, shot and killed Robbie Ramirez, 39, in November outside Ramirez's Laramie apartment. Ramirez is the third person that Colling has killed while on duty, and the shooting sparked considerable criticism from Ramirez's family and activist groups. According to a statement provided by the Albany County Attorney Attorney's Office, the grand jury was the first ever convened by a Wyoming prosecutor in relation to a police shooting. The jury decided a charge of involuntary manslaughter was not warranted. Peggy Trent, the county attorney who convened the grand jury, presented evidence over the course of two days, according to the statement. Representatives of potential defendants are not allowed to present evidence to grand juries. A founder of Albany County for Proper Policing, a group formed in response to Ramirez's death, said the group had not met between the prosecutor's announcement and an early Thursday evening phone call from a reporter. Karlee Provenza said, however, that a December community forum indicated to her that public trust in police is at an all-time low. Because OPD doesn't get notified when a client is released from prison, "it's really difficult for you to collect those fees," Schaffer said. "This isn't to take money once they're in jail, it's after they get out," she said. Two people spoke against the bill, including a 20-year prison teacher and the Montana ACLU's policy director, S.K. Rossi. "It seems from the proponent's testimony, a better fix would be notification to the OPD when someone is released from prison instead of trying to collect them from folks while they're still incarcerated," Rossi said. Since prisoners in most cases are only able to earn about 25 cents an hour, Rep. Kathy Kelker, D-Billings, asked why the state should open the possibility to pursue prison income. "That is why we want the process," Schaffer said. "If there's nothing that's earned in prison, it goes through the Department of Revenue. Once they're released, the Department of Revenue can attach any money that comes back to them before we even know about that." Schaffer said she would be willing to support amendments to the bill to clarify that the legislation is, in fact, aimed at collecting fees through the Department of Revenue after clients' release. Montanas U.S. senators say theyll take up a bill targeting the federal governments handling of missing or murdered Native Americans. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines said the bill known as Savannas Act needs to advance, despite the departure of its author Sen. Heidi Heitkamp. The North Dakota Democrat was defeated in the 2018 elections. The bill was named for Savanna Greywind, a murdered member of the Spirit Lake Tribe who was eight months pregnant when her baby was cut from her womb by a female neighbor in Fargo, North Dakota. The number of murdered and missing Native American women is believed to be in the hundreds, but scant records have made tracking those cases difficult. The Urban Indian Health Institute has accounted for 506 cases, while acknowledging there could be more. CASPER, Wyo. Fremont County authorities arrested a convicted sex offender whom Natrona County authorities say walked away from a Casper rehabilitative facility last week. Lander police say they caught up with Cody M. Schlosser, 26, on two outstanding warrants on Thursday afternoon in a Lander trailer. Fremont County sheriff's deputies assisted with the arrest, according to a statement provided by the Lander Police Department. Schlosser was being held in Casper Re-Entry Center as part of a sentence for 2010 convictions of sexual assault and kidnapping, according to a Natrona County sheriffs spokesman. Authorities began looking for Schlosser on Jan. 3 when he failed to return from work. The Casper Re-Entry Center is a privately-owned facility that provides rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment to inmates before they are released. The center, which is owned by the Geo Group, operates under a contract with the Wyoming Department of Corrections. The Wyoming Board of Patrol describes the Casper Re-Entry Center and other similar facilities as providing an alternative to incarceration or traditional probation/parole supervision. I just paid for tuition for two college children of mine, and that took a big chunk out of my income. By next month Im going to be scrambling, probably borrowing money to get through, said Ellen Sullivan, a range manager with the Kootenai National Forest, in the northwest corner of the state. The Eureka resident added, Federal workers constitute a large part of the community right here, so folks arent spending too much money. Sullivans husband retired from the federal workforce a few years ago, she said, and his pension has afforded the couple some breathing room for the time being. But like other furloughed federal employees who spoke with The Billings Gazette this week, Sullivan said theyve cut back on any unnecessary purchases until she has a clear idea of when shell get her next paycheck. We had talked about doing some special things at Christmastime, like going for a little ski trip and staying in a motel, but we knew at that point we were headed for furloughs, so we decided not to, she said. Beyond its immediate impact on her own wallet, Sullivan said the prolonged government shutdown could also hurt the incomes of local private-sector workers who depend on services the U.S. Forest Service provides. Confusion persists over getting Sumargis money back to bank Confusion persists even two days after the Supreme Court quashed its own interim order to let controversial businessman Ajeya Raj Sumargi withdraw the money frozen in the bank over ways to get the amount back into his account. It may be Time to Fold Up the Tent Bobby Tony January 10, 2019 Thomas Wolfe is famous in part for a book published posthumously in 1940: You Can't Go Home Again. I am slowly coming to grips with that fact as I watch old friends, acquaintances and companies Fold Up their Tent and go home (or wherever if you wish). I read with some sadness recently that my old dream store has finally decided to 'FUTT.' Sears Holding, formerly known as Sears and before that Sears Roebuck has filed for liquidation after a 133 year camping trip in mine and other people's lives. Sears was more than a store, it was a dream factory for many kids who would browse through the Sears Wish Book and try to decide what to ask Santa to bring for their Christmas present. I was fortunate to have lived very close to the major store in Atlanta which was located on Ponce De Leon across from what was formerly the Cracker Ball minor league park; but that is a story from another article. See that article here How I became a Georgia Cracker. That building was huge since it served as the Southeast warehouse as well as retail store. As I mentioned in the Cracker Article above, I could ride there on my bike. At one time you could get almost anything you wanted from Sears including bicycles, cars, houses and almost anything that one could imagine. One year for Christmas, my 15 year old brother received a Piaggio Scooter and side car purchased from the Sears Catalog. Some people may remember it as a Vespa. I suspect some of the readers may be thinking, "Wow you must have been rich!" I assure you, we were not. The scooter served the dual purpose of allowing my brother to get a bigger Paper Route as well serving as local transportation for my Dad on local trips. My Dad was a very practical man. He was not prone to buying frivolous toys. One of my most indelible memories was a lesson my dad taught me while working in his basement workshop. Whenever we were working on a project that required a special tool that Dad could not fabricate or adapt from his inventory. We would stop what we were doing and drive the 2 miles to Sears to pick up the tool. Dad would always say, "You never know when you will need that tool again!" Like most boys, that is when I fell in love with tools, and hardware stores and Sears Craftsman tools were at the top of my list and became the standard Christmas present for my now 37 year old son. It appears that Sears could survive this last brush with death, but its future will be nowhere near it's past. For a company that stared in the Catalog (on line by phone if you will) business, it has been the victim of poor management for years and the last Chairman Eddie Lampert is nothing more than a buzzard pecking at the carcass of a once great brand. I am not so naive as to think that the Creative Destruction of Capitalism is always progress. It is my belief that most companies fail due to a lack of Vision and Execution by management. The Sears building sat vacant for a long time and was then purchased by the City of Atlanta and became the City Hall East. It's last incarnation is a revived City Market with a new name Ponce City Market which is has been a very successful rebirth and not doubt many memories being made by the current crop of kids. Regardless of the final outcome, I will probably go to my grave with memories of that big old store on Ponce De Leon (sans the Spanish flair, please). I wonder if they ever sold caskets? References used in this Article: https://www.ajc.com/business/sears-gets-another-reprieve-from-liquidation/aygq4O0CwU2DOvT8LC5TWK/ You Can't Go Home Again https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Lampert https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears https://poncecitymarket.com/ https://beaufortcountynow.com/post/22078/how-i-became-a-georgia-cracker.html It's a new year and a new beginning at the Beatrice Animal Shelter. And with the arrival of the new year, the Beatrice Humane Society welcomed Carlee Fiddess as manager to oversee the operations of the shelter. Carlee came to Nebraska from Danville, PA, but she is no stranger to the area. All of her family resides in the Midwest, so she was anxious to move closer to them. By moving to Beatrice, she now has the opportunity to utilize her skill set at our shelter while getting to see family more frequently. In Pennsylvania, Carlee was the site manager for the Danville branch of the PSPCA. She managed a staff of seven employees and 30-plus volunteers at a shelter with the capacity for housing 18 dogs, 30 cats, and 14 horses. She is a licensed veterinary technician, has worked as an emergency surgery technician, and has lots of experience with veterinary care and personnel management. Carlee has been on the job in Beatrice for only two weeks, but she is getting acquainted quickly with shelter staff, volunteers, and board membersnot to mention the animals in her care. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her love of animals is very apparent. Two Fairbury residents were arrested following a probation search this week. On Wednesday, the Nebraska Department of Probation and Jefferson County Sheriffs Office conducted a probation check at 113 Fifth St. in Fairbury. The female who resided at the residence, Stacie Fentress, had an active warrant for her arrest out of Jefferson County for failure to appear in court from earlier that day. The residence and an adjoining property to the east were both searched. It was determined that items in the adjoining property were under the control of Melvin Brungardt. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} A press release from the sheriffs office stated Brungardt was also a resident of the property and was on probation at the time. Brungardt had been arrested the previous day and was in the custody for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and other charges following a traffic stop on Tuesday. A petition for an extreme risk protection order must allege the person poses a significant risk of causing injury and has a firearm. It must be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath with statements, actions or facts that give rise to a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts by the person. It also must identify firearms the person is believed to have and what other protection orders have been issued, if known. Lincoln student Isabel Bousson said in a statement that school shootings have been around her whole life. " This legislation could make an immediate impact in our community, which would mean generations to come wouldn't have to worry about the threat of mass shootings, first and foremost in their schools, but also in their communities," Bousson said. Lincoln High School student Bouthaina Ebrihim said the law could "dim the culture of school shootings and ignorance to gun violence in America." In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for the National Rifle Association said the NRA supports risk protection orders that respect due process of rights and provide care for those found mentally ill, but most passed last year do not. Not only do they fail to provide any sort of mental health treatment but they allow the state to deny law-abiding gun owners their due process of rights. If the state can deny due process to these law-abiding residents then whats to stop them from denying any right to any group of people?" said Catherine Mortensen with the NRA. Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 From the Los Angeles Times: Last June, the Supreme Court fumbled an opportunity to deal a death blow to political gerrymandering, the time-dishonored practice of drawing state legislative and congressional lines to give an unfair advantage to one political party. The court disposed of two cases on narrow procedural grounds, rather than confronting the constitutional issue. But two new cases to be heard later this year give the court an opportunity to atone for that abdication in time to ensure that all congressional and state legislative district lines drawn after the 2020 census will be fair. Because of Republican gains in 2010, the decennial redistricting process that followed that election favored the GOP. If Democrats carry their 2018 momentum into 2020, House delegations and state legislatures could be gerrymandered in the opposite direction for a decade. But regardless of which political party you support, it should be obvious that in a functioning democracy, district lines should be drawn fairly, rather than rigged to benefit one side or the other. Sara Kondratuk, assistant clinical professor at Northern Arizona University, has been an NBCT for eight years. She says these trainings strive to make candidates educational practices more intentional. Everything has a goal, a reason, a purpose. Its not just what youre teaching, but how [students are] learning, she said. Klause said certification is a form of professional development that is an affordable alternative to a supplementary college degree. Additionally, there is funding available through organizations like the Arizona K12 Center, which was created at Northern Arizona University in 1999 to support teachers seeking such development. The organization has since expanded to provide resources to teachers statewide, but is still involved with NAU, which serves as its fiscal agent and helps provide financial support for certification candidates. The Arizona K12 Center also hosts various professional development events and even a podcast to provide teachers with ideas to improve their practice. Kathleen Wiebke became the first NBCT in Arizona when she received her certification in 1996, and is the current executive director of the Arizona K12 Center. Through various partnerships, like the one at NAU, she hopes for the center to provide support to as many teachers as possible. One of the concerns brought up at the meetings was that of Flagstaff's affordable housing issues and if this development could help address them. Another concern was whether the building really was designed with residents other than students in mind. The majority of the apartments in the building are designed with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, a setup that appeals to students who may split the cost of rent with roommates. We went back after some of the town hall meetings and eliminated as many of the four-bedroom units as we could and incorporated extra ones and twos to try to meet some of the concerns from the city, Lindley said. This assertion was questioned by members of the commission, who pointed out the mix of units is still heavily weighted toward four-bedroom units. Out of the development's 238 units, 190 of them are planned as four-bedroom apartments. There are only 31 apartments that are either three- or two-bedroom, two-bathroom units and 17 that are either one-bedroom, one-bathroom or studio style floor plans. Vigo based much of the events and characters in the film on his own memories of the boarding schools of his youth, as well as the prison experiences of his father, the well-known anarchist/socialist Miguel Almereyda. Aspects of Vigo himself can be seen in many of the boys in the film, though Rene Tabard, who is picked on by both young and old, and eventually stands up to the hypocrisy of his teachers, is perhaps most linked to the directors own childhood. Zero for Conduct is Vigos first film to fully exploit the technology of sound, but it still feels influenced by silent cinema throughout. The films opening minutes, save the musical score, could be a silent film, and the only tolerable adult in the film, the teacher Huguet, has the childlike innocence of a slapstick comedian, and even imitates Charlie Chaplins walk to entertain the children he is meant to be supervising. Vigo is often associated with the loose style that came to be called poetic realism, most famously employed throughout the 1930s by Jean Renoir. Vigos link to this style is in his combination of an everyday realism with elements of fantasy. Fantasy is the only interesting thing in life. I would like to push it to the point of zaniness, Vigo said, and the most magical moments in Zero for Conduct are the ones that enter into a poetic fantasy, employing slow-motion, reverse motion, and other tricks to convey a dreamlike rebellion against the indignities of childhood. The films justifiably famous musical score, composed by Maurice Jaubert, contributes wonderfully to the effect of these moments. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PHOENIX -- A Tucson auto dealer gave more money than anyone else for some seats at Monday's inauguration. Records obtained Wednesday by Capitol Media Services show Jim Click at the top of the donor list at $25,000. That made him $10,000 more generous to finance the ceremony to swear in Gov. Doug Ducey and five other state officials. Click did not immediately respond to messages left with his assistant. Inauguration organizers said that size of a donation entitled recipients to six seats up near the front of the event in the courtyard, between the House and Senate, as well as six tickets to the reception afterwards. Also in the package were three parking passes, the right to have three photos taken at the reception and six inaugural pins. All donations of at least $10,000 also entitled the donor to put a corporate logo in the program handed out and on the inauguration web site. But Click's name and his dealerships were nowhere on the program which had to be printed before he made his pledge. Pinnacle West Capital Corp., parent company of Arizona Public Service, the state's largest electric utility, kicked in $15,000. That level netted three prime seats and VIP reception invitations. Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice. That assurance did not sit well with safety advocates. Joan Claybrook, who ran NHTSA in the Carter administration and later was president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, said suspending defect investigations and the review of complaints coming in from manufacturers and consumers means that people are not being alerted about possible dangers being reported at this time. Thats one issue, the danger to the public, she said. She also noted that while investigations can take years, that important work isnt happening and a long suspension can postpone needed action. It means that even though these investigations take time, its going to be delayed even more, she said. If its a serious, serious hazard, that repair is going to be made much later. She added, however, that the auto companies could still take the initiative and alert the public themselves of potential defects. Jason Levine, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Auto Safety, questioned the administrations priorities. CHATSWORTH, Calif.Oxballs has Huj news: The companys new brand Hunkyjunk, will exhibit at the AVN Show, as well as the ANME Founders Show. Hunkyjunk, or Huj for short, offers a fresh view of mens toys. The designs are purposeful and clean, a modern take on creative and unique toys for men. We were inspired by mid-century style, Euro-clean design, Kraftwerk cover art, and bold saturated colors. Hunkyjunk is Euro slick but USA sturdy, said designer Stephen Lane . A collaboration between Oxballs designers and an amazing Reykjavik-based stylist, Hunkyjunk was created to further Oxballs mission of creating sleek, innovative designs for men and from high quality materials. Unlike Oxballs kink-heavy, fetish-driven line, Hunkyjunk has a less intimidating, more mainstream vibe geared towards all types of men. Hunkyjunk packaging will grab customers' attention, the fronts are bold and clean with intense signature Hunkyjunk red lacquerit's all about the product, while across the entire back has Hunkyjunks Huj-man digital model that shows what and how to wear our toy. There is an info booklet stashed in a pocket in the clamshell with tons of pics and care/material details, including an introduction to Hunkyjunk and why the designs are fun to use. Whether its shy newbies curious to try their first ring or seasoned players looking to add a new sheath or stretcher to their collection, Hunkyjunk offers a wide selection of products designed to appeal to all types of men. Hunkyjunk launches as a complete line of 12 unique designs in 26 combinations of SKU color options. Oxballs picked the 12 most popular mens item categories they know will grab attention. Now, retailers will be able to introduce their customers to a brand new fleshed-out line with very little footprint. Oxballs offers the best service and support, including next to perfect fill rates and fast ship times. Were extremely proud to announce the creation of this entirely new line of toys for men, and customers can continue to rely on the Oxballs teams commitment to amazing service and support with our new brand, hunkyjunk, said Ryan Fraga, director of sales & operations for Oxballs and Hunkyjunk. Customers can see the full Hunkyjunk line in person at the January ANME show in Burbank, Calif., and the January AVN Novelty Expo show in Las Vegas; just look for Hunkyjunks signature red at the booth. The companys new showroom in Chatsworth, Calif., is also available by appointment to showcase the full range of our products and packaging. For more details on how to add Hunkyjunk to you offering, contact [email protected] or (818) 812- 6643. LOS ANGELESKeith Caggianocreator and president of Rock Candy Toysannounced he is leaving the company to purse other ventures, and handing the reins over to his partner David Joseph, who currently serves as CEO of the pleasure products manufacturer. Caggiano plans to focus on other brand-building projects, including the expansion of his lines Rock On and and Rock Life recreational enhancement now expanding into sex, drugs and rock n roll with adult products, cannabis and music for both the adult and mainstream markets under new promotional company Vinyl Records LLC. David is an absolute gentleman, both as a person and a business partner. It has been a true pleasure to work alongside him, Caggiano said. David has a big-picture, visionary mindset. Additionally, the talent-packed Rock Candy staff will continue to produce one of the most exciting lines in adult retail. Rock Candy Toys was founded in mid-2017 during a casual conversation when Joseph explained his plans to expand into the novelty business with his male pleasure products company, Bedroom Products. Caggiano shared details of the project he had been developing, titled Rock Candy, and the rest is now sweet history. The Rock Candy team set out to conceptualize an artfully curated line of candy-themed sex toys, with a strategy that delved beyond bold color combinations and unique design features. The underlying principle of Rock Candy was rooted in consumer psychology, and the power of facilitating a remarkable retail experience. We set out to design a distinctive line of toys that consumers would innately respond to; and one that retailers would be excited to showcase, said Caggiano. We wanted to deliver something remarkable for retailers and their customers. Rock Candy established itself as a frontrunner in the adult novelty retail market in January of 2017, marking its debut with full page teaser ads and vibrant trade show booth displays. Caggianos intentionally bold approach immediately secured distribution partnerships around the globe. Currently, Rock Candy is up for several industry award this month, including Outstanding Marketing Campaign for its famed Wonkas Willie retail launch party. Joseph states, "we appreciate Keiths contributions to Rock Candy, and we are excited to watch the next evolution of the brand unfold. I welcome the opportunity to continue to nurture my cherished industry relationships and foster new ones in the adult novelty arena, which is still new and exciting to me, he continued. We are stepping into 2019 with a high level of energy and laser-sharp focus on our sales and marketing initiatives; committed to supporting the direct needs of our retail and distributor partners. Our ability to retain and facilitate happy, repeat consumers for Bedroom Products, Red Light District, Rock Candy, and US Arcades is our number one priority. Bedroom Products and Rock Candy are set to showcase their separate collections in booths 211 and 212 at the ANME Founders Show, January 13-14 at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. For press and media inquiries, contact Casey Murphy at [email protected]. HIT: To spreading a little friendliness. Inspired by a video about someone who completed a similar project, Sumner Youngs and her son, Joshua Salisbury, of Auburn, are raising money to have five benches made for each of Auburn's five elementary schools. The idea behind the Buddy Benches is that when children see another student sitting alone, they will be encouraged to approach them to see if they would like to talk or play. Because Joshua's autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can sometimes make it difficult for him to interact with other kids, he hopes the benches will help lonely children make new friends. MISS: To a loss of local jobs. WoodmenLife, a nonprofit insurance company, announced that it will soon close its Auburn office at the Plaza of the Arts on Genesee Street in Auburn. The Omaha, Nebraska-based company has decided to stop selling new life insurance policies in New York state as it realigns its long-term strategy. The company employs more than 30 people in New York, including 13 full-time representatives. MISS: An Auburn garbage truck went up in flames while workers were on their route on Camp Street Wednesday morning. A public vote on the project is set for Tuesday, Jan. 15. The district estimates it would save around $62,000 on its energy bill in its first full year of the array operating, district superintendent Patrick Jensen said, with around half of that covering maintenance and debt service and resulting in a net positive gain of around $32,000 for the district. The panels have a 25-year guarantee from the manufacturer, Jensen said, with a cumulative net positive gain of $1.36 million estimated over that time. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Jensen said that though $1.5 million is the figure on the legal paperwork for the project, it is anticipated to cost around $1.4 million, with the rest potentially covering any incidental costs that may pop up. Jensen said that any leftover funds would likely be directed toward debt service for the project. The energy generated by the solar panels would be directed to customers on the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation's grid. Shawn C. Brokhoff, 39, 230 Houston Ave., Syracuse, was picked up Dec. 5 on a bench warrant. Theresa M. Estebanez, 36, 6470 Frazier Rd., Sempronius was charged Dec. 6 with unlawfully growing cannabis, fourth-degree conspiracy, third-degree criminal possession of marijuana, second-degree criminal possession of marijuana, first-degree criminal possession of marijuana and endangering the welfare of a child. Richard James Kelly, 27, 801 Woods Rd., Syracuse, was picked up Dec. 6 on an executive bench warrant. Jenna L. Albanese, 33, 290 Grant Ave., Apt. 4, Auburn, was picked up Dec. 8 on an executive bench warrant. Jason S. Brown, 30, 3615 Floridaville Rd., Ira, was picked up Dec. 9 on an executive bench warrant. Samuel Brian Dalcais, 20, PO Box 92, Aurora, was charged Dec. 11 with criminal mischief. Arthur W. Demott Sr., 58, 6470 Frazier Rd., Sempronius, was charged Dec. 11 with unlawfully growing cannabis, fourth-degree conspiracy, third-degree criminal possession of marijuana, second-degree criminal possession of marijuana, first-degree criminal possession of marijuana and endangering the welfare of a child. Since December, DiVietro has also worked on his coffee shop's look. It's been repainted and gotten new furniture, and new tables to replace the booths near the windows should arrive soon. DiVietro also added an area with an electric fireplace and leather seats. All the changes have been made to open up the floor and enhance the overall experience, he said. "It's nice walking in and seeing people relaxing," he said. "Coffee makes people happy." DiVietro also hopes to add a newsstand area where basic items like pens, Band-Aids and aspirin are available filling a need left by the closure of Cervo's News in 2016. Opening the space to book clubs and live music is also in the cards. And the storefront will be repainted and receive a new LED sign, DiVietro said. The Historic Grounds logo features "1848," the year Auburn became a city. The shop's hours have already been extended to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 5 p.m. Saturdays. In the summer, DiVietro hopes to push them back further, and add cafe seating. Accounts committee ignores crucial facts in aircraft purchase probe While probing irregularities in the procurement of two Airbus wide-body jets, a subcommittee of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee seems to have failed to take cognizance of some crucial facts. But Antonacci's financial background helped him. He is a certified public accountant and before being elected to the state Senate, he served for 10 years as Onondaga County comptroller. "As the former fiscal watchdog of Onondaga County, I look forward to bringing my experience to the Finance Committee with a focus on scrutinizing the budget to curb wasteful spending," Antonacci said in a statement. "I will work hard for the taxpayer to hold the state government accountable for every dollar spent." Antonacci's other committee assignments include serving as ranking member of the Senate Banks Committee and the Subcommittee on Revenue and Budget. The third member of Cayuga County's state Senate delegation, state Sen. Pam Helming, also received multiple key assignments. She will be the top Republican on the Senate Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee. She will remain on the Commission on Rural Resources as ranking minority member. Helming, R-Canandaigua, is entering her second term in the state Senate. She was first elected in 2016. Pope Francis will visit Romania for three days from May 31 to June 2, the Vatican announced on Friday. "Welcoming the invitation of the president, state authorities and the Catholic Church in Romania, the Holy Father will make an apostolic journey to the country from May 31 to June 2, 2019," the Vatican statement said. The statement said programme details would be revealed later. The visit will be the second in quick succession the 82-year-old Argentinian makes to the region as he is due in Bulgaria, then Macedonia from May 5 to 7. The leader of the Catholic Church is looking at a full schedule for 2019 having already pencilled in a February trip to Abu Dhabi and Morocco in March. That will follow hard on the heels of World Youth Day, which the pontiff will attend in Panama in January. Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania are home to small Catholic minorities with all three nations overwhelmingly Orthodox. Visiting predominantly Orthodox nations will reinforce the image Francis wishes to project of a church seeking wider dialogue with other branches of Christendom as well as other faiths. Looking further ahead, Francis has said he hopes to visit Japan in 2019 and a trip to Madagascar has also been mentioned. But the Vatican has yet to unveil which invitations from Catholic nations will be taken up over the next 12 months. Pope Francis is looking at a full schedule for 2019 having already pencilled in a February trip to Abu Dhabi and Morocco in March Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian woman during protests along the Gaza border Friday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said. Spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP the woman was shot in the head east of Gaza City. Qudra named her as Amal al-Taramsi, 43, saying she was the third woman to die in months of clashes that have seen at least 241 Palestinians killed. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to the specific incident but said around 13,000 Palestinians had taken part in violent "riots" in multiple sites along the border. "The rioters have burned tyres and hurled blocks, explosive devices and grenades towards (Israeli) troops and at the Gaza Strip security fence," an army spokeswoman said. Troops were responding "in accordance with standard operating procedures", she said. The army later struck two positions belonging to Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas, it said. A Hamas security source said there were no injuries. An AFP journalist said several thousand protesters gathered east of Gaza City, with stronger clashes than in recent weeks. Protesters tried to destroy a barbed wire fence near the border and Israeli forces responded with gunfire and teargas. At least 25 other Palestinians received gunshot wounds, al-Qudra said in a statement. At least once a week since March, Palestinians have taken part in often violent protests with backing from Hamas. Most of the Palestinians killed were shot in weekly clashes, but others have been hit by tank fire or airstrikes. In June, a female Palestinian medical volunteer was shot dead in border clashes. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period, one by a Palestinian sniper and another during an aborted special forces operation inside Gaza. Protests have calmed in recent months amid an informal truce between Israel and Hamas. Under the unwritten agreement, Israel has allowed Qatar to provide money and fuel to Hamas's government in Gaza in exchange for relative calm. An expected delivery of new funds by Qatar did not arrive this week, sparking speculation Israel was holding it up. Also Friday, a Palestinian man "attempted to stab IDF troops" stationed near the hardline West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, adjacent to the southern city of Hebron, according to the Israeli army. "The troops and a civilian who was at the scene fired towards the assailant," who was wounded by the gunshots, the army said in a statement. Soldiers evacuated the alleged assailant for medical treatment, it said, adding that no the soldiers were wounded in the incident. Palestinian protesters run through tear gas fumes during clashes with Israeli forces during a demonstration along the border with Israel east of Gaza City on January 11, 2019 Pakistan opening bowler Mohammad Amir said a simple plan hatched at tea time was responsible for a dramatic South African collapse on the first day of the third and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday. From being in control on 226 for three at tea, South Africa were bowled out for 262. Vernon Philander then struck back for South Africa, taking two wickets off successive balls as Pakistan reached 17 for two at the close. Amir said there was a meeting in the dressing room during the tea break. "The first two sessions we didn't bowl well. After that we made a plan to bowl wicket to wicket and control the run rate," said Amir. Amir and new ball partner Mohammad Abbas bowled superbly in the first nine overs after tea, gaining reverse swing and seldom bowling a loose delivery. Amir had to leave the field with what he said later was an attack of cramp in the left calf but Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf continued to put pressure on the batsmen. Ashraf finished with three for 57, while Amir, Abbas and Hasan took two wickets each. "This wicket is far better (for batting) than the first two games but I always believe that when you stick to the basics, whether you are a bowler or a batsman, you can get the reward," said Amir. A polished innings of 90 by Aiden Markram, coupled with some wayward bowling, laid the foundation for some attacking batting by South Africa, who collectively hit 37 fours and a six before tea. But the runs dried up after the interval as South Africa were able to add only 36 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 19.4 overs, hitting only four more boundaries. Markram was particularly impressive in scoring 78 off 101 balls as South Africa reached 108 for one at lunch. "It was the best I've moved in a session," he said. "It's important to respect the good balls but when there is a ball in your zone you need to be in a frame of mind to put it away." - 'Under par total' - Markram hit 16 boundaries off 124 balls in an innings marked by crisply-struck drives and firm clips to leg. It was the third time in his 15-Test career that he had been dismissed in the nineties. Markram, who had to pass a fitness test after suffering a badly bruised right thigh while fielding in the second Test in Cape Town, looked set for his fifth Test century until he glanced a ball from the medium-paced Faheem and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed dived to his left to take a good catch. "Our total is a bit under par but it did seem to be a bit more difficult to bat on later on," said Markram. Hashim Amla (41) helped Markram put on 126 for the second wicket after stand-in captain Dean Elgar was caught behind off Mohammad Abbas for five in the second over. Theunis de Bruyn (49) and new cap Zubayr Hamza (41) both batted brightly in a fourth wicket stand which was worth 72 off 92 balls at tea. But De Bruyn was out in the third over after tea and Hamza, who scored 38 off 46 balls before tea, could add only three more runs off 22 deliveries before he was caught behind off Amir. Left to negotiate a tricky 40 minutes before the close, Pakistan lost Shan Masood, their top scorer in the series, for two when a successful review by South Africa showed he had got a faint edge to a ball angled across him. Azhar Ali (0) received a superb first delivery which seamed way from him and found an edge for wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock to take a second catch. Faheem Ashraf exerted pressure on South Africa, taking three wickets for 57 runs That's out: South Africa's Vernon Philander celebrates the dismissal of Shan Masood Venezuela's sidelined opposition-controlled parliament called Friday for a mass protest against President Nicolas Maduro in a bid to oust the socialist leader in favor of "a transitional government." Maduro, 56, was sworn in for a second term on Thursday, having won a highly controversial election in May that was boycotted by the opposition and branded a fraud by the United States, European Union and Organization of American States. The National Assembly's president Juan Guaido said the constitution gives parliament the right to assume transitional power after declaring Maduro a "usurper," but said it would need military backing and for people to take to the streets to demand change. "Is it enough to lean on the constitution in a dictatorship? No. It needs to be the people, the military and the international community that lead us to take over," said Guaido, speaking to around 1,000 opposition supporters in Caracas. Parliament pointedly announced the significant date of January 23 for its mass protest -- the day in 1958 on which the military dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez fell. The National Assembly has dismissed Maduro's election as illegitimate, but parliament has been sidelined by the president's power grab. Having lost control of parliament in 2016, Maduro last year created a rival Constituent Assembly filled with loyalists while his allies at the Supreme Court annul every decision made by parliament. His swearing in ceremony was even held at the Supreme Court rather than parliament. The hand-picked successor to late strongman Hugo Chavez also has the backing of the military high command, which reiterated its "loyalty" to the president on both Wednesday and Thursday. But as part of his call for the military to sever ties with Maduro, Guaido announced parliament would pass an amnesty law for military members imprisoned on conspiracy charges. Mass protests demanding Maduro's exit also erupted in 2014 and 2017, leaving around 200 dead and hundreds arrested. Maduro is widely blamed for the country's economic crisis, with basic food and medicine scarce and hyperinflation estimated to reach 10 million percent in 2019, according to the IMF. Anti-government activists listen to the president of Venezuela's opposition-led National Assembly Juan Guaido in Caracas on January 11, 2019 President Bhandari offers garland to Prithvi Narayan Shahs statue The 297th Prithvi Jayanti, the birthday of late Shah King Prithvi Narayan Shah, is being observed across the nation on Friday. The day is also celebrated as National Unity Day. Lithuania's top court ruled on Friday that the Baltic EU state must grant residence permits to foreign spouses of gay citizens even though same-sex unions are not recognised by law. In a landmark ruling for gay rights in this deeply Catholic country, the constitutional court condemned the routine denial of residency permits for the spouses of gay citizens who married abroad. The practice, it said, was discriminatory and a breach of human dignity. "The refusal to issue permits cannot be based only on gender identity or sexual orientation," it said. Vladimir Simonko, head of the Lithuanian Gay League, hailed it as "a progressive ruling that sends an important message to our LGBT community and politicians. "I hope it will lead towards more positive attitude towards gay families," Simonko told AFP. The migration department said it would change the practice and start issuing permits for same-sex spouses. Lithuania's constitution defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The heavily Catholic nation of 2.8 million people denies legal recognition to same-sex partnerships. Reacting to the ruling, Lithuania's Catholic Bishops' Conference criticised the court for what it said was the introduction of a "new legal category" of same-sex families. "The postulate that the family concept is gender-neutral is not in line with the teachings of the Church," it said. "Marriage is the basis of the family and it is concluded upon the free mutual consent of a man and woman," it said in a statement. More than two dozen countries worldwide have enacted legislation to allow same-sex union, with the majority of them being in western Europe, according to Pew Research Centre. LGBT rights demonstrators gather in 2016, in Vilnius The head of the Lithuanian Gay League, Vladimir Simonko, pictured in 2013, called the decision "a progressive ruling that sends an important message to our LGBT community and politicians" UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is urging the Libyan government to bring all prisons under its control and free from the grip of militias, some of whom run migrant-smuggling networks. Guterres said in a report to the Security Council released Thursday that torture and arbitrary detention is widespread in Libya. About 6,400 detainees are held in 26 official prisons but "thousands of others" are being held in facilities with little government control or "directly run by armed groups," said the report. "I remain deeply concerned about widespread human rights violations and abuses committed in the context of detention and the prolonged arbitrary detention of thousands of men, women and children without due process," wrote Guterres. The government must protect detainees against torture and "all prisons must be under effective government control and free of any influence or interference of armed groups," he added. Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi that has seen a bitter rivalry emerge between two governments scrambling for control in the oil-rich north African country. The United Nations backs the government in Tripoli but is working toward holding elections, possibly this year, to unite the country. Guterres also reported that an increase in the number of migrants and refugees who were detained over the past six months was a result of more interceptions at sea and the closure of sea routes to migrants. About 5,300 refugees and migrants have been detained in Libya of whom 3,700 were in need of international protection, he said. In all, there are over 669,000 migrants in Libya, of whom women and children make up 21 percent, according to the report. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the number of migrants held in detention in Libya has increased over the past six months A mother has told of how she begged a stranger to bring her baby back after the woman allegedly tried to kidnap her nine-month-old while shopping at Target. Rachel Youngs was in the baby section of the Kansas store last Friday, pushing a shopping cart with her baby girl inside, when an unknown woman with a dog approached her and struck up a conversation. The shopper said the woman initially seemed friendly and remarked on how cute her baby Waverly was, she told Fox 4 News Kansas affiliate WDAF-TV. Rachel Youngs was shopping in Target with her 9-month-old Waverly, when a stranger asked to hold her baby, before the woman walked off with her. Source: Fox 4 News Kansas/WDAF-TV She made a comment saying, Ill trade you my dog for your baby, and I thought she was just joking, Ms Youngs said. Just was super, super nice and she went to the front of my cart and asked me if she could hold my daughter. And she starts taking her out of the car seat, and she hands me her dog. The Kansas mum said she allowed the kind stranger hold her baby, but immediately regretted it when the conversation took a weird turn. As shes holding my baby she started saying weird things, she starts asking me, do you have a godmother? I said no, and she said, Id love to be your godmother, Ill split everything 50/50, the mum explained. And I was like this is kind of weird, like, who says this to a random person? Rachel Youngs said she shouted to the stranger in Target to bring her baby back, before the woman hesitated for a moment. Source: Fox 4 News Kansas/WDAF-TVShe was further alarmed when the stranger revealed she had recently been arrested for attempted kidnapping, before walking off with the little girl. I yelled to her, I said, I need my baby back! Ms Youngs said. She said the stranger hesitated for a moment, then handed the baby back to her. Ms Youngs asked Target employees to call the police, but when officers arrived they told her they were powerless to take the incident further as she gave permission for the woman to hold her child. Police have told local reporters they know who the woman in question is and are investigating the incident. France will Friday agree to join Japanese navy patrols off North Korea in a fresh sign of efforts to deepen ties and military links between Tokyo and Paris, officials said. Japan and France, which President Emmanuel Macron sees as a Pacific power because France controls territories in the region, share joint concerns about North Korea's nuclear programme, as well as China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. France will pledge to send a frigate and a reconnaissance aircraft to join surveillance efforts of North Korea, which involve Japanese and American naval forces based in the Japanese region of Okinawa, officials told AFP. "The Indo-Pacific region is essential for us," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in an interview with the regional Le Telegramme daily published ahead of security talks between the countries. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya were in France on Friday for talks with their French counterparts in Paris and the port town of Brest, home to France's second-biggest naval base. Japan has also invited France to send its aircraft carrier to Japan, which would likely mean it passing through the contested South China Sea, claimed almost entirely by China. The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is expected to begin a trip to Singapore shortly. "We would like it to stop in Japan. It's not yet confirmed... it would be a very symbolic event," a spokesman for the Japanese embassy in Paris, Yoshihiro Higuchi, told AFP. China claims almost all of the strategic South China Sea as part of its territory, alarming the US and its allies, which periodically send planes and warships to the area in defence of their right under international law to pass through the waters. French and Japanese marines are also set to hold joint exercises in the next few months off the coast of Djibouti in east Africa, where both countries have bases, and "perhaps in the Indian Ocean," a French official said. - Countering Chinese influence - France and Japan have upped efforts to deepen their naval partnership with a view to countering Chinese influence in the Pacific. Macron has called for a new alliance between the Asian democracies of India, Australia, Japan and France, which has troops stationed in its colonial-era territory of New Caledonia. Higuchi said that Japan saw Macron as "more active, more committed" to Pacific defence than his predecessors "France is the only European country with a permanent military presence," Higuchi added. Analysts say Japan too is eager to deepen its regional alliances due to uncertainty about US President Donald Trump's commitment to defending the country and other Asian allies. France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is expected to begin a trip to Singapore shortly and Tokyo has asked Paris to send it to Japan Parties supporting outgoing Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila won a majority in long-delayed legislative elections, according to an AFP tally of results released Saturday, as the opposition sought a recount of the disputed presidential poll. Pro-Kabila parties had passed the 250-seat threshold required to secure a majority in the 500-seat national assembly, according to collated results from the Independent National Election Commission (CENI). More than 15,000 candidates were running in the poll, which determines who will control parliament for the next five years. Pro-Kabila candidates had secured 288 of the 429 seats so far declared, with 141 going to the opposition. The huge central African country, which straddles an area the size of western Europe, has been in the grip of a two-year political crisis triggered by Kabila's refusal to step down when his two-term constitutional limit expired at the end of 2016. A presidential election to choose a successor was delayed three times before finally taking place on December 30, the same day as the legislative poll. The poll's runner-up Martin Fayulu, an opposition candidate tipped by pollsters as the likely winner of the vote, told supporters on Friday he would demand a recount. He said he would challenge Corneille Nangaa, head of the election commission "to produce the tally reports from polling stations in front of witnesses" and Congolese and international observers. Provisional results released on Thursday gave Felix Tshisekedi, a rival opposition candidate, 38.57 percent of the vote, just ahead of Fayulu with 34.8 percent. Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the candidate backed by Kabila, came a distant third with 23.8 percent. The declared result was a surprise to many observers of the mineral-rich but poverty-stricken country, which has suffered two major wars in the past 22 years, as well as bloodshed in elections in 2006 and 2011 that saw Kabila returned to office. Pre-election opinion polls had flagged Fayulu as clear favourite while Kabila critics predicted an outcome rigged in favour of Shadary. The powerful Roman Catholic church bluntly said CENI's provisional result "does not correspond" with data that its 40,000 election monitors had collected at polling stations. Fayulu's bloc on Friday said he was the true victor, claiming he had garnered 61 percent of the vote. Candidates have 48 hours after the result to file any appeal, and the Constitutional Court has a week in which to deliberate. "We don't expect the election to be annulled, but (a decision in favour of) a recount," Fayulu said. - Unstable giant - Polling day had unfolded relatively peacefully, but suspicions over the count have deepened. The turmoil has darkened hopes that the country will have its first peaceful handover of power since it gained independence in 1960. International reactions to the results have been guarded. Most leaders issued statements calling for any disputes to be resolved peacefully, but notably lacking any congratulations for Tshisekedi. Competing appeals in the dispute were pitched to the UN Security Council on Friday. CENI chief Nangaa, speaking by video conference, pleaded for "the new authorities to be supported by the international community". Bishop Marcel Utembi, head of the Catholic church's conference of bishops, urged the Security Council to ask CENI to release the records of vote-counting at polling stations to allow for verification. - Tshisekedi-Kabila deal? - Analysts said they believed Kabila, 47, had sought to avoid the expected backlash and international condemnation that would have followed had Shadary -- the candidate he publicly supported -- been declared winner. According to this scenario, he therefore struck a deal with Tshisekedi, head of the country's oldest and biggest opposition party. Some commentators suggested Kabila would have sought immunity from prosecution for his iron-fisted 18-year rule, and protection from assets seizure in return for offering his support. Thursday's pre-dawn announcement brought thousands of Tshisekedi supporters onto the streets in celebration, while others who had backed Fayulu came out to protest. The authorities late Friday imposed an 8pm-5am curfew in Kikwit, a Fayulu stronghold in the west of the country, city mayor Leonard Mutangu told AFP. Five civilians were killed there on Thursday in a police operation to curb post-election violence, said National Police spokesman Colonel Pierrot-Rombaut Mwanamputu. Seventeen police were injured, he said, denying earlier reports of police fatalities. A relay station of the national radio and television broadcaster, RTNC, was also ransacked, he added. In the eastern city of Goma, at least one person was killed, officials said. Supporters of Felix Tshisekedi have been celebrating his victory after the release of the official results, despite allegations of a fix from the second-placed candidate Felix Tshisekedi, declared winner of presidential elections in Democratic Republic of Congo. Supporters of Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader and presidential candidate Martin Fayulu took to the streets to protest the result Macedonian politicians voted on Friday to change the country's name to "Republic of North Macedonia", settling a decades-long row with Greece and paving the way for NATO and EU membership. Parliamentary speaker Talad Xhaferi said 81 MPs had voted in favour of the name change in the 120-seat chamber, securing the required two-thirds majority. But the name will also have to approved by the Greek parliament before it comes into effect. Ahead of the Macedonian vote, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev had emphasised the historic importance of the decision. "Without the accord with Greece, there will be neither NATO nor EU" membership, Zaev said. "I changed my opinion on the name issue in the name of progress and at the cost of my political career," he added. Athens has promised to lift its veto on Skopje's attempts to join NATO and the European Union on condition Macedonia changes its name. Greece has blocked the path to both international organisations since Macedonia broke away from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 because, it said, the name Macedonia should apply solely to its own northern province. For the Greeks, Macedonia evokes national pride as the cradle of Alexander the Great's ancient empire. - Opposition boycott - Friday's vote brought an end to months of political bickering in Macedonia that included a controversial consultative referendum in September and a long parliamentary battle. Officials of the main opposition conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, who refused to take part in the parliamentary debate, denounced the name change as treason. However several opposition MPs broke ranks and voted for the change, alongside the ruling Social Democratic party and their junior coalition partners from the ethnic Albanian minority. Notably the outcome was enabled thanks to four MPs who received an amnesty for their alleged roles in the violent storming of parliament in April 2017. That prompted VMRO-DPMNE leaders to denounce "bribes and threats" used by Zaev to reach the necessary majority. - Zaev's triumph - The vote is a political triumph for the Social Democratic leader, who analysts say was weakened by the low turnout in the September referendum. Macedonia's rightwing president, Gjorge Ivanov, has been a vocal opponent of the proposed name change and continues to speak out against it. But the Macedonian constitution stipulates that as the measure was passed by a two-thirds majority, the president has no choice but to sign it into law. Zaev, who came to power in May 2017, will now look to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to uphold his end of the deal, which was brokered last year. "The prime minister congratulated Mr Zaev on the successful conclusion of the process to revise the constitution of the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia," Tsipras' office said in a statement, after the vote. Tsipras has said he sees the Macedonia deal as "one of his greatest legacies" as premier, second only to leading Greece out of the bailout era. But he too has a fragile parliamentary majority, with 153 deputies in the 300-seat Greek parliament. Further complicating matters, Greek coalition partner Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, the leader of a smaller party, opposes the deal and has threatened to resign. Senior European Union officials, Federika Mogherini and Johahnes Hahn were quickly to express "wholehearted congratulations" on the vote. "Political leaders and citizens alike have shown their determination to seize this unique and historic opportunity in solving one of the oldest disputes in the region, and decisively move forward on the European Union path," they said in a statement. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas hailed the vote, expressing expectations "that Republic of North Macedonia will soon be able to join NATO and start discussions for entry into the European Union. "This is an encouraging signal for the whole region," he added. The US ambassador in Skopje, Jess Bailey, commended the government and parliament for their "vision, courage and perseverance" in reaching the deal. "We look forward to welcoming the Republic of North Macedonia as a 30th member of NATO and to continue our strong partnership with you in promoting stability and prosperity here and throughout the region," he added. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Zaev on Twitter and reiterated the Alliance's support for the deal with Athens. Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said now it was up to the Greek parliament to approve the agreement on their side Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev addressed the parliament in Skopje after the vote to change the country's name Lawyers for accused Mexican kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman said Thursday they have asked Mexico's government for help obtaining a humanitarian visa for his mother so she can visit him in prison in the United States. Guzman is currently on trial in New York, charged with trafficking 155 tonnes of cocaine into the United States as head of the powerful Sinaloa cartel. "We have asked (the Mexican foreign minister to petition US authorities) for a humanitarian visa for Chapo Guzman's mother, Maria Consuelo, his sister Hermilda and his other sister Bernarda," Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza, one of Guzman's many lawyers, told journalists outside the foreign ministry in Mexico City. "His mother is getting on in years -- she's over 80 -- and is in delicate health and wants to see her son." Guzman, 61, was extradited to the United States in 2017 after staging two spectacular prison breaks in Mexico. He is being held in solitary confinement in a New York federal prison, where the only people currently allowed to visit him -- separated by a pane of glass -- are his lawyers. Guzman's attorneys also said they were contesting his extradition as illegal and said his rights have been violated, alleging irregularities in his trial. Four Guzman supporters demonstrated nearby with signs reading, "Chapo, we love you!" and "Chapo, the people support you." Guzman faces life in prison if convicted. Drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman seen here in January 2016 following his recapture in Mexico -- is on trial in the United States for drug trafficking People show their support for Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman in Mexico City Canada's top court on Friday confirmed the voting rights of expatriates by ruling that a law -- already repealed last month -- wrongly denied those living abroad for five years or more a chance to cast a ballot. In a 5-2 decision, the Supreme Court said the regulation infringed on Canadian expats' constitutional right to vote, which Chief Justice Richard Wagner called a "fundamental political right" and "a core tenet of our democracy." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government had already reformed the elections act, doing away with the five-year provision last month. But the ruling was still widely viewed as important in that it would prevent future governments from bringing back the restrictions. The impugned sections of the act had been on the books since 1993 but had only been used during the previous Tory government's decade in office, to 2015. The law was challenged by two Canadians living in the United States. They both tried to vote in the 2011 election but were rebuffed due to the residency requirement. Over the past century, Canada has expanded the right to vote, originally restricted to property-owning men aged 21 or older, to women, racial minorities, persons once described as suffering from a "mental disease," prison inmates and soldiers and diplomatic staff posted abroad. Residence, the court noted, was one of the last restrictions on the right to vote in Canadian federal elections. The majority of the court said the government failed to justify the measure, and called it overly broad. "While it seeks to bar people from voting who lack a sufficient connection to Canada, no correlation has been shown between, on the one hand, how long a Canadian citizen has lived abroad and, on the other hand, the extent of his or her subjective commitment to Canada," said the ruling. "Many non-resident citizens maintain deep and abiding connections to Canada through family, online media and visits home, and by contributing taxes and collecting social benefits," the justices noted. In a dissenting opinion, Justices Suzanne Cote and Russell Brown called the five-year rule "a reasonable limit" on voting rights. "Opening the vote to long-term non-residents... would be a regressive development, undermining the longstanding and entirely salutary practice in Westminster parliamentary democracies of privileging local connections in deciding who may elect local representatives," they wrote. According to the government, an estimated three million Canadians or nine percent of the population live abroad. Expatriate voting has historically been low. Canada's top court has confirmed expatriates' voting rights, striking down a law that denied them from casting a ballot if they have lived abroad for five years or more Driving through the Mumeng sub district, we noticed aircraft lights towards Bulolo and by the time we drove past the Bulolo road it looked like every aircraft in PNG was flying around Wau. The afternoon sky was lit up with flashing aircraft navigation lights. The coastal boat arrived on schedule and we boarded and set out for Lae. Arriving at Lae wharf, I telephoned the sub district office and the assistant district commissioner allocated a Toyota and driver to get us back to Wau the next day. Camping overnight in the Namasu store that night, we waited for a boat to take us to Lae. I tried to sleep among the bags of copra and hoped the rats that leapt between the bags all night wouldnt bite me. There was also a pungent odour emitting from rancid coconuts that made it very pleasant to get going in the morning. I arrived at a Lutheran Mission guest house overlooking Salamaua and was given some cool lemon sherbet by the mission people who were holidaying there. I was dehydrated and couldnt get enough of it. We had left the forest behind and walked through the kunai for number of hours before arriving at Salamaua. Crikey it was hot! GOLD COAST It was August 1972 and I was returning from a patrol through the Yamap-Hotte-Musim census division between Wau/Bulolo and Salamaua. When I reported to the sub district office on 28 August, I learned that a Royal Australian Air Force Caribou aircraft had crashed somewhere between Wau and Port Moresby. The Caribou was one of two transporting PNG Army cadets on an exercise and had disappeared in cloud half way through the flight. The other aircraft had arrived safely. First thing next morning all field staff were required at the airport. There were choppers and light aircraft everywhere. I was designated as lookout on a Bell 60 Sioux helicopter which had instructions to land at each village along the lost aircrafts flight path through the Waria area of Garaina Patrol Post and ask if the people had seen an Army balus. Yupela lukim balus bilong Ami long asde a? (Did any of you see an Army plane yesterday?) Yes sah. Mipela lukim wanpela balus igo olsem na narapela ikam long hap na narapela igo long....... (Yes sir, we saw an aircraft fly over there and another fly this way and.... ) Hands and arms pointed in every direction. There had been so many aircraft in the air the previous afternoon, no one could distinguish between them. Unless someone had heard or seen the crash, any other information was useless. It eventually turned out the aircraft had speared into an uninhabited part of forest and left virtually no trace of where it had crashed. We continued on to and over the Papuan border, eventually running short of fuel. At that point a mild anxiety crept in as we werent exactly sure where we were due to the clouds having come down behind us. We circled and I spotted the old World War II Bulldog Track. I suggested following the track towards Wau. We did this with the low cloud closing in around us. Oh Oh! I thought as the pilot switched fuel tanks. The right tank was completely empty and the left dangerously low. We were now boxed in by cloud. The pilot looked at the map and decided to ascend through the murk. There were no peaks over 12,000 feet in the area so if we got above the clouds we would be right. Up we went with the fuel gauge getting lower every minute and eventually broke out of the cloud cover at over 12,000 feet and headed in the direction of Wau. We could see that the entire region was totally clouded in. At any other time it would have been pleasing to admire the scenery. As we made our way to Wau, it was like floating on a flat, white ocean with the sun shining brightly above. The pilot took a compass bearing and headed towards where Wau should be under all that cloud. Constant checks with the air traffic controllers confirmed there was total cloud cover on the ground at Wau. Meanwhile, the needle in the left fuel gauge had begun to bounce up and down on the empty indicator. A sudden message from Wau advised that a small gap in the cloud cover had opened up and was moving over the airstrip. The pilot spotted it and, as moved over it, wound off the pitch of the rotors and we dropped like a stone. As my stomach tried to adjust from 12,000 feet, we plummeted towards earth at frightening speed. When we were at about 100 feet, the pilot engaged full pitch again and I felt like my backside was being pushed up through my throat. We hit the ground hard and neither fuel gauge moved once. The pilot said later there may have been a pint of fuel left in the fuel lines. Thick cloud stopped the air search for the rest of the day and I wasnt complaining. Three days later, five young survivors, who had been at the rear of the Caribou, were found walking along a creek bed. The 24 other cadets and the aircrew died in the crash. Later one of the survivors died in hospital. It was the RAAFs worst peacetime disaster. The Caribou transport had come down in the Kudjeru Gap after poor weather forced the crew to retrace their route back through the gap, The aircrafts starboard wing had hit treetops on a ridgeline, bringing down the plane. The Caribous crew included Flight Lieutenant Graham Thomas, Pilot Officer Gregory Ebsary and Corporal Gary Power. Captain Robert Loftus, a ground liaison officer with the Australian Army, was also killed in the accident. I remember seeing the injured boys on Moresby airstrip when I went south on leave some days later. That was the end of the Army cadet scheme in Papua New Guinea. A relatively new weapon to combat the enemy is being used in Afghanistan and Southwest Asia. It's been around a little more than a decade and fits into the counterinsurgency warfare necessity of being able to identify who the enemy is by person versus just identifying an enemy organization. Jon Micheal Connor, U.S. Army Public Affairs, reports. A firearms and toolmark examiner comparing cartridge cases on the Comparison Microscope. (Photo credit: Jon Micheal Connor, Army Public Affairs) The Afghanistan Captured Material Exploitation Laboratory here is aiding combat commanders in their need to know who is building and setting off the enemy's choice weapon -- Improvised Explosive Devices. With this positive identification of enemy personnel, coalition units working within NATO's Resolute Support mission can then hunt down the enemy for detention or destroy if need be. "The commanders are starting to understand it more and seeing the capability and asset it provides," said Kim Perusse, incoming ACME lab manager at BAF. Perusse said commanders are embracing it and wanting more forensics exploitation. Personnel from ACME deploy from the Forensic Exploitation Directorate which is part of the Defense Forensics Science Center located at the Gillem Enclave, Forest Park, Ga. DFSC also contains the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory, and the Office of Quality Initiatives and Training. The DFSC's mission is to provide full-service forensic support -- traditional, expeditionary, and reachback -- to Army and Department of Defense entities worldwide; to provide specialized forensic training and research capabilities; serve as executive agent for DoD Convicted Offender DNA Databasing Program; and to provide forensic support to other federal departments and agencies when appropriate, its website stated. ACME provides forensic/technical intelligence, analysis, and exploitation of captured enemy material. The findings are then provided to coalition forces and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces to counter the IED threat, attack the counterinsurgent networks, advise the Afghanistan government's exploitation labs, and provide prosecutorial support to the Afghan justice system, an ACME slide presentation stated. ACME capabilities include latent print examination; explosive/drug chemistry; electronic engineering; explosive triage; DNA; firearm/toolmark analysis; weapons technical intelligence analysis; and, provide assistance to the Afghan Ministry of Interior, National Directorate of Security, and Afghan National Security Forces. As part of employment with DFSC, FXD, personnel must deploy every 18 months to a deployed lab for six months, as there are currently two, one here and one in Kuwait. The Forensic Exploitation Laboratory -- CENTCOM in Kuwait supports military operations in Iraq and Syria, and is located at Camp Arifjan. ACME's primary mission "is to allow the commanders on the ground to understand who's within the battlespace," said Lateisha Tiller, outgoing ACME lab manager. Whether this is people coming onto the coalition locations as part of employment or those building the IEDS, forensics exploitation results in positive identification of such individuals. "Our mission is to identify nefarious actors that are in the CJOA [Combined/Joint Operations Area] right now," Tiller said. "We don't want them putting IEDs in the road, and blowing up the road, blowing up the bridge. We want that type of activity to stop," Tiller said. " 'How do you stop it?' You identify who's doing it; identify the network of people who's doing it. Eliminate them from the battlespace" as evidence collected is then shared with military intelligence, she said. "It's never just one person; identify the network," she said. By taking people out, the network "eventually is going to dismantle itself." "The secondary mission is the Rule of Law," Perusse said. "Helping get the information out to the Afghans to potentially prosecute those nefarious actors that we may identify" through biometrics, chemistry, firearms, and toolmarks. The conclusive findings and evidence -- criminal activity analysis reports -- is then shared with the Afghan laboratories as they work to build a case against alleged personnel who could be tried in an Afghan court. The reports are also shared with military intelligence -- U.S. and NATO -- and also sent to the Justice Center in Parwan to assist in the prosecution of the enemy. The JCIP is located in the Parwan Province where BAF is located too in east-central Afghanistan. The justice center was a joint U.S.-Afghan project to establish Afghanistan's first national security court. Established in June 2010, the JCIP exists to ensure fair and impartial justice for those defendants alleged of committing national security crimes in the Afghan criminal justice system. Coalition forces provide technical assistance and operate in an advisory capacity. The reports are accepted in the Afghans courts because the Afghans understand and trust the findings of ACME. "Building that alliance is absolutely part of the mission," Tiller said. "The lines of communication are definitely open." Because of this fairly new application of forensics to counterinsurgency warfare, the Afghans initially didn't understand it, the lab managers said. "They didn't understand forensics. They didn't trust it," Perusse said. "Especially DNA, it was like magic to them." But as she explained, the U.S. also took a long time to accept DNA as factual and evidential versus something like latent prints. Latent prints are impressions produced by the ridged skin, known as friction ridges, on human fingers, palms, and soles of the feet. Examiners analyze and compare latent prints to known prints of individuals in an effort to make identifications or exclusions, internet sources stated. "Latent prints you can visualize, DNA you can't," she said. The application of forensics exploitation as part of the battle plan started in the latter years Operation Iraqi Freedom, the lab managers said. OIF began in March 2003 and lasted until December 2011. This type of warfare -- counterinsurgency -- required a determination of who -- by person -- was the enemy in an effort to combat their terrorist acts. "I think there was a point where the DOD realized that they weren't utilizing forensics to help with the fight," Tiller said. The operations in Iraq and Afghanistan were not big units fighting other big units, with mass casualties, but much smaller units engaging each other with an enemy using more terrorist-like tactics of killing. Forensics told you "who you were fighting. You kind of knew the person in a more intimate way," Tiller said, adding, it put a face on the enemy. Forensics exploitation goes hand-in-hand with counterinsurgency warfare, Perusse said. "They're (Taliban/ISIS) not organized like a foreign military were in the past" but instead have individuals and groups fighting back in a shared ideology, she said. Because of the eventual drawdown in NATO troop strength in Afghanistan, the ACME labs at Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar Province, and Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, were closed and some assets were relocated to BAF's ACME in 2013. The evidence is collected at the sites of detonation by conventional forces -- explosive ordnance personnel, route clearance personnel -- through personnel working in the Ministry of Interior's National Directorate of Security, and other Afghan partners, Perusse said. From January 2018 to December 2018, the ACME lab was responsible for: O 1,145 cases processed based on 36,667 individual exhibits O 3,402 latent prints uploaded; 69 associations made from unknown to known O 3,090 DNA profiles uploaded; 59 unique identifications made from unknown to known O 209 explosive samples, 121 precursors, 167 non-explosives/other, and 40 controlled substances analyzed O 55 firearms/toolmarks microscopic identifications Adding credibility to ACME was that it became accredited by the International Organization of Standard in 2015. Both lab managers said they believe that ACME is probably the only deployed Defense Department lab accredited -- besides the FXL-C in Kuwait -- in the forensics field. The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations comprised of members from 168 countries. It is the world's largest developer of voluntary international standards and facilitates world trade by providing common standards between nations. It was founded in 1947. Tiller and Perusse said this accreditation is quite meaningful, personally and professionally. Interestingly, both lab managers offer extensive deployment experience to the ACME lab. Tiller has deployed four times for FXD -- three times to Afghanistan and once to Kuwait -- for a total of 26 months. Likewise, Perusse has 28 months of deployment experience too with FXD, with now four deployments in Afghanistan and one to Kuwait. And, because of mission requirements, no rest and relaxation periods -- vacations -- are allowed during their deployments. The reason is because most positions are one-person deep and the mission cannot continue without all sections working collectively, they said. Currently, there are 17 people working at the BAF ACME lab. FXD's mandatory deployment policy can be viewed as positive and negative depending on a person's particular situation. As Perusse points out, there are plenty of other places to work that do not require mandatory deployments which require forensic skills such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Homeland Security to name several. So those who do work at ACME do so because they want to be. "There is nowhere else in the world where you're going to get a [final] forensic result of the quality that you're going to get from the ACME as quickly as you do," Tiller said, which often brings immediate gratification to one's work. Whether it's producing a DNA profile or finding a latent print on some material, finding this evidence within two days is a big reason why people at ACME find their work rewarding. "It happens nowhere else," Tiller said, describing it as the "ultimate satisfaction," knowing the evidence produced will ultimately save lives. As Perusse put it, there is no place like ACME's lab in Afghanistan. "We are in war zone. We are around everything, we get IDFed," she said, referencing the periodic indirect fire of mortar attacks at BAF. She said it is much different type of deployment than at the Kuwait lab where examiners can "have more freedom to include going into the city and shop at the mall." "There's a reason why we're doing this," Perusse said, of identifying the enemy, which leads to saving lives and helping the NATO coalition. "It's very powerful to be able to see that and be with the people who are going out the field and risking their lives," she said of those who look for and submit items for evidence. As Tiller redeploys back to her normal duty station in Georgia, she knows ACME will continue in experienced hands with Perusse who will now take over as lab manager for a third time. 17 months after unification, Bibeksheel Sajha Party splits Seventeen months after its unification to form what was touted to be an alternative political force, Bibeksheel Sajha Party split on Friday. YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 161.7 points in December 2018, nearly unchanged from its November value as lower dairy and sugar quotations were largely offset by firmer cereal prices and somewhat higher prices of meat and oils, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. For the whole of 2018, the FFPI averaged 168.4 points, down 3.5 percent from 2017 and almost 27 percent below the highest level of 230 points reached in 2011. Sugar values dropped the most in 2018, with also vegetable oil, meat and dairy prices registering year-on-year decreases. However, international prices of all major cereals rose in 2018. The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 167.1 points in December, 3.0 points (1.8 percent) higher than in November and 9.6 percent above December 2017. Wheat prices were up slightly in December, mostly supported by harvesting concerns in Argentina due to untimely rains and tightening export supplies in the Russian Federation. However, strong competition for exports limited the rise in prices. International maize prices also rose in December, amid firm global demand coupled with weather concerns in the southern hemisphere. By contrast, international rice prices subsided for the sixth successive month, pressured further by a quiet pace of trade. Over the whole of 2018, the FAO Cereal Price Index averaged just over 165 points, some 9.0 percent higher than in 2017 but still 31 percent below its peak reached in 2011. Falling world output of wheat and maize contributed to the increase in prices during 2018, although overall global supplies of all the major cereals remained more than sufficient, leaving inventories still at high levels. The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 125.8 points in December, posting a marginal increase of 0.5 points (0.4 percent) from the previous month and marking the first rebound after ten consecutive falls. The slight recovery was driven by higher palm oil prices, which reflect both rising domestic demand in major producing countries and firmer global import demand. By contrast, international soy and rapeseed oil prices continued to drift downward on account, respectively, of ample supplies in the US and weak demand in the EU. Falling mineral oil prices also weighed on vegetable oil values. For the year as a whole, the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 144 points, down 15 percent from 2017 and reaching the lowest level since 2007, with palm oil prices registering the largest decline amid weak global demand accompanied by an accumulation of stocks in major producing countries. The FAO Meat Price Index* averaged 163.6 points in December, 1.3 points (0.8 percent) higher than its slightly revised value for November. While poultry and bovine meat prices changed only little in December, international price quotations for ovine meat fell slightly, mostly as a result of increased export supplies from Oceania. By contrast, pigmeat prices partially recovered, supported by strong global import demand, especially from Brazil. In 2018, the Index averaged 166.4 points, down 2.2 percent from 2017. The year-on-year decline reflected drops in the prices of pig and poultry meats, which more than offset higher ovine meat quotations. In bovine meat markets, prices remained close to their 2017 levels. The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 170 points in December, down 5.9 points (3.3 percent) from November, marking the seventh successive month of decrease. In December, international price quotations for butter, cheese and Whole Milk Powder (WMP) declined, underpinned by increased availability of export supplies, especially from New Zealand. However, Skim Milk Powder (SMP) prices increased marginally on stronger world import demand. For the whole of 2018, the Index averaged 192.9 points, down 4.6 percent from 2017, as a result of declines in price quotations for all dairy products included in the Index during the second half of the year. The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 179.6 points in December, down 3.6 points (1.9 percent) from November. International sugar prices fell under renewed downward pressure, in part because of reportedly faster growth in sugar production in India in recent months. Falling international prices of crude oil also contributed to the slide in sugar quotations, as lower energy prices tend to reduce the use of sugarcane to produce ethanol, resulting in more supplies for the production of sugar, notably in Brazil, the worlds largest sugar producer. Overall for 2018, the Index fell by almost 22 percent year-on-year, underpinned by ample world production and accumulating inventories. Unlike for other commodity groups, most prices utilized in the calculation of the FAO Meat Price Index are not available when the FAO Food Price Index is computed and published; therefore, the value of the Meat Price Index for the most recent months is derived from a mixture of projected and observed prices. This can, at times, require significant revisions in the final value of the FAO Meat Price Index which could in turn influence the value of the FAO Food Price Index. YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The Special Investigation Service (SIS) of Armenia has submitted a motion to the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction for prolonging the pre-trial detention of 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, SIS spokesperson Marine Ohanjanyan told ARMENPRESS. The SIS has submitted a motion for prolonging Robert Kocharyans pre-trial detention by two months, she said. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. A court hearing over the prosecutions request to arrest former MP Manvel Grigoryan again has been delayed, the ex-generals attorney Arsen Mkrtchyan told reporters. He said the hearing has been delayed due to technical reasons. There is a need of providing certain documents, he said. Grigoryan himself was not in attendance of the hearing due to his health condition, the attorney said. Grigoryan, a former Member of Parliament, was stripped of immunity by parliament in June 2018 and placed under arrest in suspicion of illegal possession of firearms and grand theft. At the time of his arrest Grigoryan also served as president of the Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers, but was later ousted by the board of the organization amid highly scandalous accusations. Law enforcement agencies found a private zoo, a car collection, huge amounts of weapons and ammunition, as well as allegedly embezzled military supplies and donations in his compound. Grigoryan, however, denies any wrongdoing. He was released from custody on a 25,000,000 dram bail on December 21, 2018. His release sparked outrage in his hometown of Etchmiatsin. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. No Armenian have been infected or killed by the H1N1 virus outbreak in Georgia, according to Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan. The Armenian embassy in Georgia informed that there are no Armenians among those infected or killed by H1N1, she said. According to latest reports, more than a dozen people have died in Georgia from H1N1-related complications. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the cases of deportation of Russian citizens of Armenian origin from the Baku airport, reports Armenpress. During todays briefing Zakharova told reporters that the deportation of Russian citizens from Azerbaijan for ethnic reasons is a gross violation of the rights of those persons. I have seen many reports about this, including in social networks. A similar incident was also registered during the holidays, but we have also seen similar cases in the past. We have regularly raised this issue before the Azerbaijani leadership, we have said that unfortunately such cases become a tradition, incorrect and bad tradition, Zakharova said. She said recently a report has been posted in social networks, but it is not the first case of discriminatory attitude towards Russian citizens for ethnic reasons. Maria Zakharova said at least 16 cases of rejecting the visit to Azerbaijan for ethnic reasons have been recorded in 2018. In line with this, the citizens of Russia have been kept in the airport for hours, and then were deported violently, but no official reason has been mentioned. Such facts, in our opinion, are gross violations of the rights of the citizens of Russia, Zakharova said. She noted that these cases contradict the spirit of several Russian-Azerbaijani contracts and agreements. The Russian foreign ministry has repeatedly drawn the attention of the Azerbaijani side on the impermissibility of the current situation. We called on them to stop this practice. It is not in line with the friendly relations of the two countries, she said. Maria Zakharova informed that the Azerbaijani side assured to improve the situation. On December 29 citizen of Russia Kristina Gevorgyan said on Facebook that she has spent 13 hours at the Baku airport. She informed that she planned to celebrate the New Year holidays in Azerbaijan, but was stopped at the passport control point. She informed that except from her two other families were also not allowed to visit Baku due to one of the relatives holding an Armenian surname. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Attorneys of arrested former President Robert Kocharyan have filed a motion to the Special Investigative Service requesting to drop criminal prosecution of Kocharyan. Kocharyans defense team said in a statement they filed the motion on January 9, arguing that Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code (overthrowing Constitutional Order) is not applicable for the former president. In the statement, the attorneys also said they will regularly inform on updates and development and disclose the content of motions and complaints, as long as they dont contain confidentially. 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008, spent two weeks in jail in summer of 2018, but was eventually freed. But on December 7, a higher court overruled the release and ordered him to be remanded into custody pending trial again. At the time the court announced the verdict, Kocharyan turned himself in to authorities. Kocharyan is charged for overthrowing constitutional order during the 2008 post-election unrest, when clashes between security forces and protesters left 10 people dead, including two police officers, during his final days as president. He vehemently denies any wrongdoing. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Its still too early to talk about the end of war in Syria, Ruben Safrastyan Director of the Oriental Institute, told a press conference in Armenpress, stating that the Turkish armed forces are waiting for an order at the border to once again enter into Syria. Everything started when the United States announced withdrawing its troops from Syria. This led to new developments, in the center of which Turkey appeared. The latter urged the US either to eliminate or transform to the Turkish side the 22 military bases deployed in Syrias north. But the US opposes this demand, meanwhile Turkey supposes that these military bases will be left for Kurds. Here we see that there is a problem between the US and Turkey, Ruben Safrastyan said. The next problem between the two countries is that Turkey calls the armed organizations consisting of Kurds as terrorist organizations, but the US considers such characterization unacceptable because some of these groups were fighting together with the Americans. Erdogan clearly stated that they will fight against terrorists up to the end, meaning the Kurdish squads. Currently the Turkish army stands on the border, is ready for getting an order, and the Turkish authorities announce that that order will sooner or later be given, he said. Safrastyan said in such circumstances Kurds started self-defense. They were seriously concerned that Turks would enter into Syria. They have applied to the Syrian government for assistance. Safrastyan noted that Kurds tried to counteract the Turkish operations. Ruben Safrastyan said currently US-Turkey trade deal is underway which can lead to decline of Turkeys role in Syria. At the same time there are talks on Syrias restoration. Quite positive developments are expected in terms of providing financial aid to Syria. The statement, according to which Saudi Arabia is ready to provide assistance to Syrias restoration works, was interesting. If this happens, a serious process will launch, he added. Talking about the Syrian-Armenian community, Ruben Safrastyan said Armenians gradually return. He highlighted the fact that Syrian President Basher al-Assad announced that he will restore the Armenian church in Deir ez-Zor with his own resources. This is a symbolic step, the Syrian leadership shows that they are interested in the return of Armenians, this is a green light for return, he stated. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Prosperous Armenia party will nominate Vahe Enfiajyans candidacy for the position of Vice Speaker of the Parliament, faction MP Iveta Tonoyan said on Facebook, reports Armenpress. Today the political council of the Prosperous Armenia party held a session at the party headquarters chaired by party president Gagik Tsarukyan. The PAP factions upcoming programs and actions in the Parliament of 7th convocation were discussed. During the session a decision was made to nominate Vahe Enfiajyans candidacy for the position of Vice Speaker of the Parliament, Tonoyan said. Arman Abovyan will fulfill the duties of the PAP faction secretary. Snap parliamentary elections were held in Armenia on December 9, 2018. Based on the elections results, three political forces have been elected to the Parliament. My Step alliance received 88 seats, Prosperous Armenia party 26 seats and Bright Armenia party 18 seats. The first session of the Parliament will take place on January 14. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Residents of the town of Etchmiatsin (Vagharshapat), the hometown of former MP Manvel Grigoryan, are staging protests against the release of the retired general from pre-trial detention. The protesters are calling on supporters to join them in gathering outside a courthouse today at 16:00 where the prosecutions complaint against the release is expected to the examined during a hearing. The demonstrators are demanding Grigoryan to be arrested again. Grigoryan, a former Member of Parliament, was stripped of immunity by parliament in June 2018 and placed under arrest in suspicion of illegal possession of firearms and grand theft. At the time of his arrest Grigoryan also served as president of the Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers, but was later ousted by the board of the organization amid highly scandalous accusations. Law enforcement agencies found a private zoo, a car collection, huge amounts of weapons and ammunition, as well as allegedly embezzled military supplies and donations in his compound. Grigoryan, however, denies any wrongdoing. He was released from custody on a 25,000,000 dram bail on December 21, 2018. His release sparked outrage in his hometown of Etchmiatsin. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. French police expect massive Yellow Vest protests on January 12, and Paris police is set to deploy armored personnel vehicles to the streets of the capital city on that day, Paris Police Commissioner Michel Delpuech said in an interview to CNews TV. He said that 14 armored vehicles will be deployed to the streets of Paris Saturday. Earlier BFM reported that the countrys PM has ordered to mobilize 80,000 law enforcement officers in the country, with five thousand in Paris alone. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Former Kobold employees say they were harassed, not paid for their work From the very beginning, the three girls, who were told they would be paid a monthly salary starting at Rs 6,000 and up to Rs 10,000, had to repeatedly pester Kobolds staff for their pay. Sumitra Danuwar was often unpaid while working for Kobold. Her image still appears on the Kobold Watch website as part of its anti-human trafficking campaign. Photo: koboldwatch.com YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. South Ossetia is shutting down its border with Georgia indefinitely due to the outbreak of H1N1 influenza in Georgia, local authorities said. The border will be closed January 11, 21:00 Yerevan time until further notice. 13 people have already died in Georgia from complications arising from the flu, better known as swine flu. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Turkey continues its crackdown on media freedom, this time by targeting Pelin Unker, a former correspondent of Cumhurriyet newspaper. Unker has been arrested for writing scandalous articles about the sons of Binali Yildirimn, a former Prime Minister and incumbent Speaker of Parliament of Turkey. The article was about the involvement of Yildirimns sons in an offshore scandal, Cumhurriyet reported. An Istanbul court found Unker guilty in insulting a state official. The journalist was sentenced to over 1 years in prison and fined 1500 dollars. He denies wrongdoing and plans to appeal the ruling. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Belarus has abolished the restriction on the number of American diplomats stationed in the country, Foreign Policy reported citing State Department sources. According to the source, Belarusian FM Vladimir Makey phoned a State Department official and personally notified on the move. This is a big step. This is the beginning of normalizing relations, the source said. In 2008, Belarus forced the US to withdraw its ambassador after the US sanctioned the country regarding human rights. All but five US diplomats were declared persona non grata. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The Court of Appeals in Yerevan has adjourned the hearing over the prosecutions complaint seeking the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan. Gevorgyan is also a former Secretary of the Security Council. Gevorgyans attorney Erik Alexanyan told reporters the hearing was delayed because they havent received the copy of the prosecutions complaint. We didnt receive the copy and didnt have the chance to prepare written objections. Thats why we requested the court to delay the hearing, to provide the copy in order for the defense to get familiarized with it, he said. The hearing will resume January 17th. Gevorgyan once again reiterated that he denies any wrongdoing and doesnt accept the charges. Earlier a court of first instance denied the Special Investigation Services request to arrest Gevorgyan pending trial and the prosecution appealed the decision to a higher court. Gevorgyan filed a complaint requesting the court to uphold the lower courts ruling and consider the absence of reasonable suspicion as confirmed. Gevorgyan is charged with complicity to overthrow constitutional order, bribery and money laundering, as well as obstruction of justice. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The 132 Members of Parliament of the 7th National Assembly of Armenia includes a rather high number of former journalists, who for various reasons decided to leave the news media and take up politics. ARMENPRESSs Norayr Shoghikyan sat down with several of the journalist-turned-MPs to find out what was behind their decision for running for parliament. Zhoghovurd dailys former editor Taguhi Tovmasyan, a lawmaker in the ruling My Step Alliance, has covered the parliament for nearly 15 years as a reporter. She says she knows everything about the activities of parliament. The issues that I have covered as a reporter and editor, I will try to transform into speeches, legislative initiatives, she said. My Steps Vahagn Hovakimyan, a former reporter with Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times), argues that a journalist covering political topics and politicians are closely related. A political journalist is indeed engaged in politics, but from the perspective of an inquirer, because someones political career might depend on this journalists article. The transition from a reporter to politician happens then the reporters decided to become a problem solver from a question asker, he said. My Steps Gayane Abrahamyan, another former journalist who quit months earlier, says she made the decision in order to give solutions to a number of problems that she herself has covered. TV host Lusine Badalyan, now an MP with the ruling bloc, says the presence of former reporters in their team is an advantage. If they were to be too many I wouldnt find it an advantage but since they are within a dozen I think it is a necessity because all reporters know that no one knows the problems better than reporters, she said. Sargis Khandanyan, another former reporter with the ruling bloc, says the experience in journalist will rather help him in his activities. And he also says he wont return to journalism. Another former journalist, Babken Tunyan, an economist by profession, has for many years voered the economic problems and now as a lawmaker with the ruling force he says he is ready to hear healthy criticism. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Qatar will provide Iraq 1 billion dollars for restoring the countrys infrastructure. In a recent meeting Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani reiterated to Iraqs President Barham Salih that his country will provide the funds, the Qatari foreign ministry said. The Iraqi president is in Qatar since January 9 on a visit. He arrived in Doha after negotiations with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who in turn is expected to arrive in Qatar on January 13 for a strategic dialogue conference. According to the Qatari foreign ministry, the 1 billion dollar assistance will be in the form of investments and credits. In addition, the sides agreed to develop commercial ties by establishing a ship route. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Ecuadorian forerign minister Jose Valencia has said that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should surrender to UK authorities. Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012. He faces arrest if he steps out of the embassys premises. Julian Assange is fearing potential extradition to the United States, as WikiLeaks has published a number of classified documents, allegedly leaked from US government agencies, Sputnik News reports. "We see two options for Mr Assange: to remain for an indefinite period [at the embassy] or to surrender, and this option, we believe, is the most positive for him," Valencia said, as quoted by the Foreign Ministry. According to RIA Novosti, Ecuador has spent at least five million dollars for Assanges security during his stay at the embassy. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The traffic department of the Georgian ministry of infrastructures told Armenias ministry of transport, communication and information technologies that on January 11, as of 10:00, the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is closed for all types of vehicles, reports Armenpress. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. More than 40,000 Saudi women have been granted drivers licenses since the kingdom allowed women to drive in June of last year, according to Saudi Gazette. According to a statement of the transportation department of the Saudi interior ministry, 14 new centers will be opened in different parts of the country for teaching women how to drive. According to media reports, women are lined up in queues at driving schools. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The first US military ground equipment has been withdrawn from Syria in recent days, signaling the beginning of the withdrawal ordered by President Donald Trump, a Trump administration official familiar with the operation told CNN. "Some cargo has already moved," the official told CNN. Earlier this week, the Pentagon said in a statement that "out of concern for operational security, we will not be discussing specific troop movements or timelines, but we do expect to provide a periodic update on progress regarding percentages of equipment removed from Syria." The US Central Command is overseeing the withdrawal operation. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan 1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. 2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks. 3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown". 4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam). I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published. YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The Trump administration has commenced the groundwork for declaring a national emergency in the United States in order for the government to be able to build the wall at the border with Mexico, The Washington Post reported citing sources familiar with the matter. If the White House indeed declares the emergency, the move will likely pave the way for ending the three-week government shutdown. According to sources of The Washington Post, the Trump administration wants to utilize unused money from the budget of the Army Corps of Engineers, particularly a disaster spending bill that was passed by Congress in 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump has called on the Army Corps to determine how fast conracts could be signed and whether or not the construction could commence within 45 days, an anonymous source told The Washington Post. Trump walked out of a White House negotiations meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier, who refused to pay for the wall. The president then reiterated that he might declare a national emergency if Democrats dont give him what he wants. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan The Education of Ron Ginyard He had the inside track on a city council seat-until he changed sides. by James Leonard & John Hilton From the January, 2019 issue When he moved back to Ann Arbor in 2014 to care for his ailing mother, Ron Ginyard thought about getting into city politics one day. A 1974 Huron grad, Ginyard had lived in California since 1976, working mostly as a stockbroker and branch manager for Morgan Stanley in Long Beach. Ginyard moved to the Northside neighborhood in Ward One. In 2017, he talked with Anne Bannister, who won one of the ward's city council seats that year, about running in 2020, when Bannister's term would be up. Early last year, he says, he heard back: she and others wanted to talk to him about running--in 2018. Ginyard said that they met in February at Carson's restaurant. "They wanted to get to know me, check me out." At the time Sumi Kailasapathy, the other Ward One rep, was still talking about running for reelection. But according to Ginyard, she was at the Carson's meeting. So were Bannister and Ward Four rep Jack Eaton--all members of what we call the Back-to-Basics Caucus. Ginyard evidently passed the audition. "They gave me the directions on the things I needed to do," he says in one of several interviews at Sweetwaters downtown. And Bannister sent him Pat Lesko to set up his campaign. "They were very, very, very positive on Pat," Ginyard says. "She was very versed in putting together a campaign." --- Lesko had managed council campaigns before. In 2010, she'd also run for mayor against John Hieftje--then the leader of what we call council's Activist Caucus. After a brutal race, Lesko got just 16 percent of the vote. Eaton, Kailasapathy, and another council candidate who'd campaigned with her also lost. Eaton and Kailasapathy ran again and won in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Lesko hasn't tried for public office since. But she stayed politically active, attacking the Activists in her short-lived newspaper the Ann Arbor Independent, its online successor a2indy.com, and an ongoing flood of social media posts. Lesko ...continued below... What's shocking about the A2Indy tweet to Kessler is that the A2Indy wants to be known as a 'media organization' of some sort. However, here we have a media organization tweeting to the employer about the personal political opinions of one person. He wasn't commenting on behalf of the company he works for. Imagine if MLive started complaining to UofM about personal political opinions by UofM employees/staff. It's just very unprofessional for a media organization to do that and if the A2Indy wants to be taken more seriously then they need to stop with the personal attacks. lives just up the block from Ginyard on Brookside Dr., and he started going to weekly campaign meetings at her home. He says he saw Kailasapathy, Bannister, and Ward Two activist Kathy Griswold there at different times. (Bannister and Kailasapathy didn't respond to requests for comment on Ginyard's account. Griswold says she doesn't recall meeting Ginyard at Lesko's, but it could have happened.)Though Kailasapathy had taken out petitions to run again, Ginyard says the popular incumbent did so only "to keep other people out of the race." He provided the Observer with copies of emails in which she and other Basics councilmembers welcomed him as her heir apparent.In one exchange, Ginyard emailed Kailasapathy to tell her he would be out gathering nominating signatures. She responded "I would still like to help you. You can drop off a sheet at my office." She signed the message, "in solidarity.""So glad you're running in Ward 1, Ron!" Ward Two's Jane Lumm emailed. Bannister chimed in: "If you need anything, let me know! I'm so happy you're running!! Thank you!""Hugs to you both," Kailasapathy wrote Ginyard and Bannister, "and so relieved I am going to be represented by two caring council members."In another exchange, Bannister wrote Lesko and cc'd Griswold: "Thanks, Pat! We desperately need a candidate in Ward 3, and Ward 2." Griswold later announced that she'd run against the Activist incumbent in Ward Two.Lesko didn't email him much, Ginyard says, because they were meeting weekly. But in early April she sent him a list of people who'd supported Bannister, and later that month, a long message with advice on how to run his campaign. In it, she mentioned she'd "been asked to help more than one candidate this time around.""Pat is the brains of the operation," Ginyard says. He later elaborates: "She's integral. Her hands are all over everything."In April, most of the declared candidates appeared at a forum at the U-M's Ford School, including Ward Four challenger Joe Hood. Ginyard says he didn't attend because "I wasn't ready." Neither did Kailasapathy--which he says didn't surprise him, because he knew she wasn't really running.In an email exchange afterward, Lumm brushed off the Activist candidates' talk of supporting basic services. "They speak the language when they run for office, but look at their voting records!" she wrote. "Lots of fodder here for Jack, Ali, Ron, Joe.""The Crows are coming home to roost Jane," Ramlawi responded. "The voters are smarter then the majority on council give them credit for.""Go wonderful crows, GO!!!," Lumm replied. "I am cheering you all on!!!!!!!!!!!! ... You guys give me hope!!!!!"---But Ginyard was beginning to wonder about his choice of allies. He liked some of the changes in his hometown--but it seemed to him that the Basics caucus wanted to "totally stop development."Lesko's attitude bothered him, too. "I didn't like how she spoke to me, very demanding, pushy, very rigid," he says. "There was no deviation."Ginyard is black, and he says some of Lesko's advice emphasized that: She wanted him to put his photo on his lawn signs, he says, and kick off his campaign at Arrowwood Hills, the HUD co-op that historically has had a large African American population. He refused. "I didn't want [race] to be a factor," he says. "I wanted to run as a citizen and a man."He was also concerned by what he was hearing about Lesko's reputation. He got the impression, he says, that "everybody enjoyed using Pat as long as she stayed in the background." He says Eaton told him that when they ran together in 2010, "'she sunk us all.'" (Eaton declined to comment.)Lesko takes her reputation seriously. In 2017, when Ward Five councilmember Chip Smith dismissed theas "Pat Lesko's blog," Lesko emailed the Observer to warn that it would be "actionable" to describe it as "anything but a newspaper." The same year, she threatened to sue formerstaffer Jen Eyer over a Facebook post.In a recent interview, Eyer explains that when Lesko ran for mayor, she was in charge of comment moderation at what was then AnnArbor.com . In 2017, she saw a Facebook comment about Lesko "being toxic on the local political scene. So I made a comment stating the simple fact that we frequently had to moderate her comments for pushing false information, and there were many accounts that she would use"--despite the site's ban on candidates posting anonymously."She went after me really hard," Eyer says. In addition to threatening litigation, "she called my place of business. She emailed my boss and tried to get him to fire me." Fortunately, her boss just laughed it off.Soon afterward, thedisappeared from the Internet. Lesko continues to post to Twitter and Facebook as A2Indy, but her paper's online archive is gone: links to a2indy.com now end up at a site called GiganticBeanbags.com After three or four meetings, Ginyard says, he stopped attending the sessions at Lesko's house. "I realized I didn't like the way this was going."---In late April, Eaton kicked off his campaign against mayor Christopher Taylor. Kailasapathy was at the party, working the room to discourage Basics candidates from competing with one another in the primaries. Joe Hood agreed to bow out in Ward Four, consolidating support for challenger Elizabeth Nelson. (She crushed an Activist incumbent in the primary--and when Hood ran as an independent in November, she crushed him, too.)In Kailasapathy's Ward One, Jeff Hayner had also pulled petitions to run. He told the Observer he felt "a lot of hostility" at the party, but decided to stay in the race. Hood told us he thought Eaton and his allies might favor Ginyard "to show a little diversity."We included that quote in an article ( "Council Triage," June )--but mistakenly attributed it to Hayner. We apologized to both candidates and corrected the attribution online and in print, but Hayner wasn't satisfied. Saying people were accusing him of "racism," he demanded corrections pinned to our Facebook page and Twitter feeds and free ads in the next two issues. Since Hood's suggestion that politicians might favor racial diversity seemed harmless, we refused.We also got an email from Lesko. Though she wasn't mentioned in the article, we'd previously described her as an Eaton ally--and so, she said, tainted her by association with what she called a "disgusting racist assertion." She, too, demanded corrections pinned to our Facebook and Twitter feeds. Hood's speculation, she wrote, was "a gross insult to me and my family and, equally importantly, an insult to my neighbor Ron Ginyard, whom I know and respect immensely."That may have been the last good thing she said about Ginyard. In an interview for the June article, he had told us he didn't align with either faction--but if anything, he was "more on the mayor's end" of council's political spectrum.After the article appeared, Ginyard says, Lesko "walked down the street, and we talked."I told her that I could not deal with her issues and who she is and how she does things ... I didn't want to be tied to somebody who is a political operative who is very much disliked by a large group of people."She says, 'I feel sorry for you.' We sat and talked for thirty-plus minutes. She played all nice, and, when she walked out, she commenced to slamming me every chance she got."She wasn't the only one to turn on him. "Anne Bannister was my biggest supporter," Ginyard says. "She gave me $250." After the article came out, "she wanted me to give it back."---It was the only check he got from the Basics Caucus. But as the primary approached, he found new supporters in the Activist Coalition. "They listened to me," he says. "I spoke to the mayor about being independent. I told him, sitting down with him, that I won't always vote with him. And he said that's the way it's supposed to be."Taylor endorsed Ginyard and made a donation from his campaign fund. Other Activist supporters also contributed. Meanwhile, Eaton, Kailasapathy, and Bannister all endorsed Hayner and gave him money. Ramlawi contributed to him, too.In July a website appeared with the address RonGinyard.org , but it wasn't Ron Ginyard's. Headlined "What Is Ron Ginyard Hiding?," it was a skillfully crafted attack on him and his candidacy, highlighting his failure to vote and a financial settlement that Morgan Stanley made with an investor he'd advised. (Ginyard says he wasn't reprimanded and continued to work for the company.)The website was registered anonymously, but it did include an email address. When we sent a message, "John D." replied."Jeff Hayner/Ron Ginyard had nothing to do with the site," the message said. "The site went up because for months Ginyard didn't answer neighbor phone calls, emails and he didn't meet with some of our leading neighbors who asked to meet him."Ginyard says whoever sent that message was "lying through his teeth like the lying website ... I meet with neighbors." But he thinks "John D." was a fiction--he believes that the person who emailed us was actually Lesko.When they were working together, "Pat said to lock down RonGinyard.org before somebody takes it," he explains. "I think Pat secured the site on my behalf [as] a friendly gesture"--then weaponized it when he switched sides.After the election, we emailed "John D." to ask if the website had influenced the outcome. The reply: "the primary is over"--then both the site and the email address went offline.Asked about Ginyard's account of the Ward One campaign, including his theory about RonGinyard.org , Lesko emails that she's "not interested in discussing the primary election at this point." But she has used other names in the past: in 2009, she launched the blog a2politico.com as "Sam Rosenthal."Just before the election, Lesko made an anti-Ginyard post on their neighborhood's Nextdoor social network. Its headline asked, "Is it racist to say a black candidate is unqualified?"Ginyard calls that "race baiting." When they were working together, he says, Lesko never said a word about his qualifications.---Ginyard ended up losing to Hayner by 130 votes. Taylor won reelection, but three of his supporters lost council seats, reducing the Activists to a four-vote minority.Lesko was triumphant. "Hieftje gave Taylor the Titantic and the ship hit an iceberg of their own making," she wrote in an email to the Observer. "They were sucked down in a whirlpool of lockstep voting and group think." The message ended, "Now the real work begins."Asked if that means she considers herself a partner in the new council's work, Lesko didn't answer. But in a November Facebook post, she wrote that since 2010 she's "recruited and helped seven progressive Democrats run for and win seats on Ann Arbor's City Council." And she seems to feel empowered to speak on their behalf. When local resident Neal Kessler tweeted something she disliked in November, she responded by tagging his employer:"Hey @SmithGroup, love your employee insulting the new #A2council majority," she wrote. "This is how contracts are won and working relationships are established."We asked the members of the new majority if Lesko spoke for them. Lumm and Griswold didn't respond, but the others all gave firm No's. But given her claimed influence, it's perhaps not surprising that the tweet was deleted--and Kessler emails that he can't talk about it."That is A+ Pat Lesko," Ginyard says. "I've had neighbors tell me she is very intimidating. And I said, 'I will stand up to her.'"He may get another chance. He says he's thinking about going back to his original plan and running in 2020. And he hopes Lesko will run against him.---Pat Lesko objected to our article on last summer's First Ward Democratic primary ("The Education of Ron Ginyard," January). In an email, she called it a "spittle-stained, misogynistic rant."Lesko claimed the article was "jam-packed" with errors, but we found only one substantive factual dispute: "I never told Ron to put his photo on his signs," she wrote. "Kathy Griswold did that."In a separate email, Griswold confirmed that she'd suggested the idea to Ginyard. Asked to respond, Ginyard emailed that while Griswold may also have suggested it, he vividly recalls Lesko telling him to put his "smiling face" on his signs. [Originally published in January, 2019.]On December 24, 2018, Kai Petainen wrote: ?? Un repaso por las mejores peliculas del actor estadounidense Robert De Niro, quien llego a Lima en visita turistica https://t.co/cRc1GxpnPg pic.twitter.com/7wjjFBWrnm Remarks were made during the ceremony of land delivery intended for basic service works implementation. On this occasion, he was joined by Ministers Javier Pique (Housing, Construction and Sanitation), Gustavo Mostajo (Agriculture and Irrigation), Edgar Vasquez (Foreign Trade and Tourism), and Raul Perez-Reyes (Production), as well as other officials. Hoy en #Ilo, el presidente @MartinVizcarraC entrega el terreno para la ejecucion del proyecto de creacion de los servicios de agua potable y alcantarillado en los AA. HH. Miraflores y Ciudad de la Juventud del PROMUVI XI. Sigue la transmision en vivo: https://t.co/a2QxML8ScY pic.twitter.com/PjRbh2pHng Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Con el gobernador regional hablaremos sobre los principales proyectos para #Ilo, como las plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales y el agua potable para uso de la poblacion. pic.twitter.com/lJoNjjDqvM Un regimen ilegitimo y dictatorial se acaba de instalar hoy en Venezuela. Levantamos nuestra voz de protesta para defender la democracia en America Latina. 10:55 | Lima, Jan. 10. They alleged lack of results in reforms within the party and the latest confrontation events at Congress as the reasons for their departure. As is known, party leader Fujimori currently serves a 36-month preventive detention over alleged money laundering charges linked to Brazilian corruption-tainted Odebrecht. Before the resignations, Fuerza Popular had 61 lawmakers including Ursula Letona, who has not yet formally resigned, that is to say, she remains a member of this group. Fuerza Popular party had 73 members, in the beginning, the largest number of legislators over the past periods. The opposition party had more than half of the total number (130) of Congress members elected. However, the party experienced a decrease in membership. From July 2016 when the country's opposition-controlled congress was sworn in to date, the parliamentary group has lost 17 legislators. Yeni Vilcatoma and Patricia Donayre were the first to resign, although Vilcatoma returned to the party in July 2018 and is on the Congress' board of directors now. More resignations came from 11 lawmakers, led by Kenji Fujimori. However, Fuerza Popular recovered three seats after Kenji Fujimori, Bienvenido Ramirez, and Guillermo Bocangel were suspended due to alleged vote-buying before a scheduled impeachment vote against ex-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski , who resigned amid a political scandal last March. Kats can't currently be cloned Darren Meale has been following the Brexit developments closely and providing IPKat readers with a best guess at what will happen when the clock runs out. As "B-Day" moves ever closer, Darren has been busy reading up on the no deal scenario and has lots of useful tips to share: The first time I wrote on this topic we had 680 days left. How time flies. Now the UK edges ever closer to no deal, largely agreed to be a completely mad turn of events. Assuming that us brands lawyers make it through B-Day alive and well, we will have some rather messy trade mark related stuff to sort out and we should probably be getting ready right now. Two (well three) possible outcomes. In contrast to the complexity of working out the current end state of the UKs relationship with the rest of the EU, there are really only three possibilities for trade marks in relation to Brexit: (1) Brexit is cancelled you can delete this post; (2) no deal; (3) the current deal is agreed. The implications of (2) and (3) have ended up being much the same thing save for when they happen, with little prospects (in my view) of changes to (3) even if the overall deal is renegotiated. Both (2) and (3) take a cloning approach to dealing with the effect of EUTMs post Brexit. The instruments of interest. In my previous posts here and here , I outlined what was planned in both the no deal and deal scenarios. Since those posts, the UK/EU withdrawal agreement has been agreed at leadership level and the UK Government has published its no deal plan. The key documents we all need to be reading (if we havent already) are: trade markIntrade markscancelledInleadershipits UK Governments Trade marks and designs if theres no Brexit deal (24 September 2018) (the no deal guidance). The Withdrawal Agreement (the Withdrawal Agreement) and Political Declaration on the future relationship between the UK and the EU as endorsed by leaders at a special meeting of the European Council on 25 November 2018. The Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (December 2018) (the TM Exit Regs). This is currently a draft instrument to be made under the draft affirmative procedure, but note that under UK Parliamentary procedure statutory instruments such as this cannot except in extremely rare instances where the parent act provides otherwise, be amended or adapted. Weve been complaining for the last 600 days that weve not had any detail we now have the TM Exit Regs, which are packed full of it. As I understand it, the TM Exit Regs will come into force on exit day, which is presently 29 March 2019 at 11pm UK time. However, if a deal is done exit day for all intents and purposes will be at the end of the transition period, currently 31 December 2020. Unless, of course, something else entirely happens! I think the effect of the Regs is also that they will apply in a no deal scenario as well so theres no real difference from a perspective whatever now happens, other than timing. Great negotiating chaps! What we now know about the cloning-based Ive taken a high-level walk through the TM Exit Regs to give you an overview of how things will look after day. Some of this will be familiar to readers of my previous posts but other bits will be new. The TM Exit Regs are 28 pages of legislation, so I am necessarily going to be skipping some of the detail. If you do read it yourself have your preferred caffeinated beverage handy its hard going. The references are to paragraphs of the new Schedule 2A which will be inserted in the UKs Trade Marks Act 1994. EUTMs will be cloned into UKTMs provided they have registered prior to exit day (1(1)). The new UKTMs will have the snappy title comparable trade mark (EU) (1(2)). This is unfortunate the natural abbreviation is CTM or CTM(EU), which given the EUTM used to be called the CTM is about as confusing as you can get. I honestly cant think of a useful initialism: Ill just call them clones. Clones will share the filing (including priority and seniority) and registration dates of their parent EUTM (1(8), 12, 13, 14). Theres no fee or opt-in procedure itll just happen, like magic. Clones must appear in the register as soon as reasonably practicable after exit day (3) be alive to this when conducting trade mark searches shortly after exit day. Owners may opt-out of cloning at any time on or after exit day by serving a notice on the UKIPO (2). However, an opt-out is not possible in certain circumstances: (a) if the clone has been used in the UK; (b) if it has been licensed or involved in certain transactions; or (c) if proceedings have been commenced relying upon it. The first of these (a) baffles me: if an EUTM is in use in the UK the day before exit day, would not a clone necessarily also be in use that next day? Put another way: I currently operate my RED DRAGON ice cream business in the UK and I have an EUTM . My business will carry on post-Brexit (if I can import the ingredients I need from the continent), but I will now have a clone and an EUTM . How can I not use my clone other than by shutting up shop? If anyone can make any sense of this, please email me. an EUTM an EUTM Renewals are in line with existing UKTM renewals, with some added protection in case you forget about a clone for any clone renewable in the first six months post-exit, the UKIPO will write to you and notify you of the expiration and you will have six months from receipt of that notice to renew (5). When proving use of a clone with a proof of use period which is wholly before exit day, use in the EU (including the UK) of the parent EUTM will count. If the proof of use period is split part before exit day and part after, use in the EU of the parent EUTM will count only for the part of the period before exit day. Evidence of use during the part of the period after exit day will have to be use in the UK (7-9). This is a sensible solution but pay attention to the dates of your use evidence. a proof part exit be use pay Where there is a requirement to prove reputation at a point before exit day, the reputation of the parent EUTM in the EU (including the UK) prior to exit day will count (10). Coexistence agreements and licences and so on which covered EUTMs are deemed to cover the clones unless there is evidence that such documents were not intended to have effect in the UK. If prior to exit day an EUTM owner has consented to you doing something in the UK, the clone cannot be used to bring an infringement action (19). an EUTM Pending proceedings and injunctions are dealt with at 20 and 21. In effect any action in the UK courts in their previous guise as an EU trade mark court concerning an EUTM continue but the EUTM is swapped out for the clone, potentially significantly diminishing the scope of those proceedings as between the parties for example a pan-EU injunction would no longer be available from the UK court in those proceedings. Paragraph 21 provides that any existing injunction prohibiting acts in the UK on the basis of an EUTM continues with the clone swapped in. The consequences for any pan-EU injunction ordered by the UK courts pre-exit day are not spelt out and one may have to look to the Brussels Regulation and the likes to work them out. an EUTM example an EUTM spelt Where an EUTM application is pending as of exit day, it will not be cloned. Instead, the applicant will have nine months to file a new UKTM application for which it will be entitled to claim the same filing date as the filing (or priority date) of the EUTM application (24-27). There is no backstop date for when the EUTM application was filed if your EUTM application has been held up for years (perhaps owing to prolonged opposition proceedings), youll still have the right to re-file in the UK. There are further provisions, including on registrable transactions (licences and so on) (see 16, 17 and 18) and restoration (see 28 and 29), the details of which I cant quite bear to go into. What isnt explained The no deal guidance indicated that owners of clones will be notified of their new assets, but theres nothing in the regs to confirm this or how or when it will happen. Theres no mention of EU designations of International Registrations. Designs are not dealt with in the TM Exit Regs, nor is there as yet a separate statutory instrument addressing them. A similar cloning regime for designs is outlined in both the Withdrawal Agreement and no deal guidance Although existing UK court proceedings are addressed, there is no mention of existing contentious proceedings before the UKIPO eg, existing oppositions against UK trade mark applications relying upon EUTMs. It would be sensible for those to continue with the clones subbed-in, but the TM Exit Regs do not provide for this. There is no provision in the TM Exit Regs to deal with the scenario where an existing EUTM is under attack at the EUIPO . This will be cloned and it would appear that the attacker of the EUTM will need to attack the clone all over again in the UK (if it has earlier rights in the UK by which to do so). This is actually contrary to Article 54(3) of the Withdrawal Agreement. There is nothing on post-exit rights of representation for UK practitioners before the EU trade mark bodies this will be part of the future relationship and will likely be a long time coming. Unless youve heard anything to the contrary my view is that there are no assurances coming from anywhere on this. UK law firms and attorney practices are left to work things out for themselves based on the existing rules of representation before the EU trade mark bodies. These are more favourable for UK solicitors than trade mark attorneys and significantly easier to deal with for those of us working in firms with an existing EU mainland presence. trade mark favourable trade mark Correspondence addresses are an interesting one and relate to rights of representation. For anyone still interested in the politics of Brexit, this exposes how hopeless the UK Government has been in its negotiations. Under present rules, anyone applying for a UK trade mark must supply an address for service in the EEA (European Economic Area, not quite the same as the EU, but were probably leaving the EEA too). The effect of this is that the business of UK trade marks is reserved to UK and EU professionals. The same goes for disputes like oppositions, although as I understand it the UKIPO is pretty relaxed when it comes to the types of person who can represent parties in such proceedings, in contrast to the EUIPO position where specific qualifications are required. When the UK leaves the EU, it would be open to the UK to change the address for service rules to require a UK address for service. Although this would create an admin burden for some owners, it would also support the UK legal profession and might offset some of the disruption being caused to us by Brexit. However, in the no deal guidance, the UK government says there will be no immediate changes on this front. But in the Withdrawal Agreement, it has, for no reason I can fathom and without receiving anything in return, committed to not changing this for three years. Thanks a bunch for looking out for us. Please excuse me while I go lie down, Im livid. For those of you struggling to make sense of all this and for those spending countless hours advising clients on how to deal with it, take comfort in the final sentence of the TM Exit Regs about how easy this all is: A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant impact on the private, voluntary sector or public sector is foreseen. My response to that really isnt suitable for printing on a family-friendly blog. As a final point for those who havent realised it yet: with EUTMs taking at least four months from filing to make registration (with three of those months being the mandatory opposition period), in a no deal scenario any EUTM filed in 2019 (and probably in December 2018) is not going to be cloned but will need to be re-filed. There is often a lag at the end of the opposition period for the EUIPO to mark an application as registered, so I imagine that in the week before exit day there will be a lot of friendly phone calls to Alicante asking examiners if they wouldnt mind awfully hurrying up with it trade marktrade markBelowexit "An important precedent has been set in our fight to protect the pisco denomination of origin overseas ," underlined the consumer protection regulator. "This resulted in the recognition of Peru's exclusive rights to the above-mentioned denomination of origin, after (over) nine years of litigation," it affirmed. On November 29, 2018, IPAB declared Peru's appeal well-founded and recognized that the pisco denomination of origin is exclusive to the Inca country. Likewise, Peru obtained the geographical indication tag for this alcoholic beverage. On the other hand, the notice of opposition filed by the Pisco Producers Association of Chile was dismissed as unfounded. It must be noted IPAB's verdict was based on historical facts that confirm the undoubtedly Peruvian origin of pisco. A valley, a river, a port, and a city named Pisco are situated in the Peruvian coast since the Colonial period. El Canciller @NestorPopolizio recibio en su despacho a la Primera Secretaria Rosa Alvarez Nunez, Encargada de Negocios peruana en Venezuela, llamada en consulta al iniciarse el ilegal y dictatorial mandato de Nicolas Maduro. pic.twitter.com/jDksy1FGnI The Opinion, which is not yet available in English, advises the CJEU to rule that, among other things: InfoSoc Directive requires one to consider the purpose of the quotation at issue, and The exception within Article 5(3)(d) of the Fundamental rights like freedom of expression do not allow EU Member States to go beyond the catalogue of exceptions in Article 5 therein to envisage new exceptions or even introduce a general fair use clause. Background Volker Beck) initiated by a German politician ( who, in 1988, authored a work about sexual acts of adults with children. The publisher apparently edited the manuscript without the author's consent and the resulting publication was, according to the author, a distortion of his views. As readers might remember, this referral originated in the context of litigation The original manuscript was found in an archive in 2013, and the author submitted it to several newspapers to demonstrate what he had actually written. Although he did not authorize publication of the manuscript or extracts thereof, he consented to newspapers linking to a statement he published on his own website. The publisher also released a press report on its own portal, Spiegel Online, to support its view that the original manuscripts had not been distorted. To this end, the publisher included a link that allowed users to download both the original manuscript and the resulting publication. No link to the authors website was provided. The politician argued successfully at both first instance and on appeal that all this would amount to copyright infringement. The case is currently pending before Germany's Federal Court of Justice, which has stayed the proceedings and asked the CJEU to clarify, among other things, how far the 'quotation' exception can go and what discretion EU Member States enjoy when transposing and applying relevant EU copyright directives. The AG Opinion 1789 Declaration of the Rights of the Citizen) and freedom of the press in a democratic society. AG Szpunar started by noting the relevance of freedom of expression (which has been recognized as a fundamental freedom since the) and freedom of the press in a democratic society. However, the drafters of the 1789 Declaration itself were also aware of how freedom of expression could limit third-party rights and freedoms. As such, Article 4 therein provides that Liberty consists in being able to do anything that does not harm others: thus, the exercise of the natural rights of every man has no bounds other than those that ensure to the other members of society the enjoyment of these same rights. These bounds may be determined only by Law. Freedom of EU Member States This said, the AG tackled the question of Member States' discretion when transposing relevant exceptions within Article 5 of the InfoSoc Directive into their own laws, and noted how this is a similar issue to the one at stake in Pelham. Like in his Opinion in that case, AG Szpunar reiterated that - while EU Member States are free to determine the means for transposing relevant EU directives into their own laws - they are bound to achieve the objectives of those directives. In the case of the InfoSoc Directive, these include providing a 'high level of protection' of economic rights. Article 5(3)(c) The referral also includes a question concerning the exception within Article 5(3)(c) of the InfoSoc Directive, in particular whether the making available to the public of copyright works on the web portal of a press undertaking does not fall within its scope because it was possible and reasonable for the press undertaking to obtain the authors consent before making his works available to the public (this is the approach under the German news reporting exception). According to the AG, such a limitation of the exception would not be problematic from an EU law standpoint because it is Article 5(3)(c) itself that limits reproductions 'to the extent justified by the informatory purpose'. Accordingly [the translation from Italian is mine] It is my view that such limitation does not only concern the extent of the authorized reproduction and communication, but also those situations in which the exception applies, that is those in which the author of the report could not be reasonably required to request the authorization of the author of the work reproduced and communicated in the context of said reporting. As such, in my view, a limitation of the exception at issue like the one under German law, not only does not contravene the relevant provision in Directive 2001/29, but is actually in line with the nature and objective of said exception. According to the AG, the reason why this exception would not apply in the present case is different, and lies in the fact that the EU provision should be read in light of Article 10bis(2) of the Berne Convention . This provision states that: It shall also be a matter for legislation in the countries of the Union to determine the conditions under which, for the purpose of reporting current events by means of photography, cinematography, broadcasting or communication to the public by wire, literary or artistic works seen or heard in the course of the event may, to the extent justified by the informatory purpose, be reproduced and made available to the public. The exception is limited to 'works seen or heard in the course of the event' subject to the reporting. This is not the case of the background proceedings, as the work reproduced is a literary work which one needs to read, rather than just view or hear. Kat quotation Article 5(3)(d) This said, the key issue in this case relates to the scope of the quotation exception. The AG noted that: The exception in principle is not limited to certain types of work only, and The methods for including a qutotation into one's own work and identifying the quotation might differ depending on the situation. Also the provision of a link might be appropriate for the sake of making a quotation. The problem is not, however, how that quotation may be realized but - rather - the extent of what may be quoted. In the present case what the defendant reproduced is the entirety of the claimant's work. Painer), it has also spoken of 'reproduction of extracts' (Painer, para 135). The Berne Convention originally spoke of short quotations, while the current text states that the Although the CJEU appears to have allowed the possibility of quoting a photographic work in its entirety (in), it has also spoken of 'reproduction of extracts' (, para 135). The Berne Convention originally spoke of short quotations, while thestates that the extent of a quotation must not exceed what is justified by the purpose. A similar formulation can be found in Article 5(3)(d). It follows that a quotation may be also of a work in its entirety, insofar as the aim pursued justifies it. In any event, a quotation must not compete with the original work. Holding otherwise would allow one to elude the economic rights of an author over their work, rendering them devoid of any content thereof: the quotation exception may not be applied in situations in which, lacking the authorization of the author, a work is made available to the public on the internet, in its entirety, in the form of an accessible and autonomously downloadable file. In addition, allowing a quotation that was a substitute for the original would also be contrary to the three-step test in Article 5(5) of the InfoSoc Directive and Article 9(2) of the Berne Convention, notably the requirement that an exception does not conflict - whether actually or even just potentially - with a normal exploitation of the work . Fundamental rights: no fair use in Europe Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (freedom of expression/information and freedom of the press). This is also a question at issue in Funke Medien and Pelham. Having excluded that the exceptions within Article5(3)(c) and (d) would apply, the AG considered whether the use made by the defendant of the claimant's work might be nonetheless justified in light of Article 11 of the(freedom of expression/information and freedom of the press). This is also a question at issue inand In line with his Opinions in those cases, the AG proposed to rule that normally it is necessary to respect the choices made by legislature, considering that copyright already contains limitation and exceptions aimed at reconciling the exclusive rights of authors with third-party freedoms and rights, including freedom of expression/information. Holding that it might be possible to supplement the exceptions and limitations provided for in Article 5 of the InfoSoc Directive with further exceptions and limitations would also run contrary to the harmonization objectives of the EU. Above all: such possiblity would be tantatmount to introducing into EU law some sort of "fair use clause", in that basically any use of a work that infringes copyright could rely, in one way or another, on freedom of expression. This way, the protection actually available to the rights of authors would depend on the sensitivity of the judges in each Member State towards freedom of expression, thus transforming any harmonization effort into an unattainable goal. Comment The Opinion of AG Szpunar might appear restrictive to some - especially with regard to the scope of quotation and the take on fair use - but it is not at all surprising, also considering earlier CJEU case law and the wording of the InfoSoc Directive. That quotation is not borderless appears correct, considering the wording of the Berne Convention and the InfoSoc Directive, as well as the three-step test. This said, consideration of the circumstances at issue is key: the AG was correct in reiterating that a quotation might be also of a work as a whole, but whether that might be the case depends on the purpose of said quotation. Woburn, MA (01801) Today Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) A traveling, hands-on exhibit to raise awareness about the research program, which aims to speed up health research and medical breakthroughs. On January 11, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH) and True Health New Mexico will host the National Institutes of Healths All of Us Journey, a traveling, hands-on exhibit to raise awareness about the All of Us Research Program. All of Us aims to speed up health research and medical breakthroughs. To do so, All of Us is asking 1 million volunteers to share different types of health and lifestyle information information like where you live, what you do, and your family health history. Albuquerque is one stop on the All of Us Journeys national tour. The National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH) and True Health New Mexico invite you to attend this event to learn more about the All of Us Research Program and how it could enable research to more precisely prevent and treat a variety of health conditions. WHAT The National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH) and True Health invite the Albuquerque community to visit the All of Us Journey and learn how you can help change the future of health. WHEN Friday, January 11 11am 6pm WHERE True Health New Mexico 2440 Louisiana Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 WHY Unlike a single research study focused on a specific disease or community, the All of Us Research Program will create a research resource to inform thousands of studies, covering a wide range of health conditions. This information could help researchers better understand health differences and improve health for generations to come. ABOUT THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR HISPANIC HEALTH Our Mission: Best Health for All We work to ensure that health incorporates the best of science, culture, and community. We achieve this by listening to the individual, investing in leading community based organizations, working with national partners, examining and improving the resources and systems available, and designing solutions to make health a part of each persons life. We continually work to improve the quality of care and its availability to all. Our goal is to close the gaps in three key areas: research, services, and policy; scientific discovery and benefit for the individual; and, community services and medical practice. PRICE Free Ukrainian political prisoner and filmmaker Oleg Sentsov has written a new novel in the Russian prison as Iryna Gerashchenko, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, reported on her Facebook page. I got a letter from Oleg Sentsov. There are the keywords for the Ukrainians and the world: I am not going to be discouraged or even more to despond, I cannot oblige them! Generally, I am not going to stop neither my creative nor my public activity. Oleg states that he continues working a lot, and he finished a new novel at the end of December 2018. He waits that this year the collection of his stories, a novel will be published and the shooting of the film or the theater play on his scenario will begin, Gerashchenko reported. Oleg Sentsov stopped the hunger strike on the 144th day. The Russian side officially announced the statement by Sentsov but did not name the reason. According to the lawyer of Sentsov, the decision to end the hunger strike was made after Russian doctors and penitentiary facility workers issued an ultimatum to Sentsov, suggesting that he either voluntarily stop the hunger strike or agree to be force-fed. Related: Ukraine's Sentsov not to work in prison, - lawyer He announced a hunger strike in May 2018, demanding to release him and the rest of Ukrainian political prisoners illegally kept by the Kremlin. Sentsov has already survived four health crises. The native of Crimea, film director, and political activist, Sentsov was illegally detained in Crimea in 2014, then taken to Russia. They judged him and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment at a high-security penal colony. The prosecutors charged Sentsov with preparing terrorist acts in occupied Crimea. Sentsov denies his guilt. Ukraine's government, its citizens, and the international society - politicians, artists, public figures - urge the Kremlin to release him. It is claimed that the man was brought to criminal responsibility in Russia for taking part in the war for Ukraines independence Open source The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine refused to extradite a member of the far-right Right Sector organization to Russia. Larysa Sargan, Spokesperson of Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko reported this on Facebook. Today, Deputy Prosecutor General Yevhen Yenin decided to deny the extradition of a member of the Right Sector S (man's alias, - 112.international), who was brought to criminal responsibility in the Russian Federation for participating in the war for Ukraines independence. As Yenin promised, not a single volunteer will be ever given in the hands of the aggressor, Sargan claimed. On September 12, it became known that Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine extradited Timgoev to Russia, as the Russian federal security service requested. Explaining the decision, the Ukrainian side said that Timgoev was wanted by the Russian Federation as the ISIS militant; he allegedly served with the Islamic State fighters in Syria. Tumgoyev twice asked for the refugee status in Ukraine, but the request was turned down. Special Attorney Robert Mueller, who is dealing with the case of an alleged Russias interference into the U.S. elections, observes the list of the Ukrainian politicians and businessmen who were present at the inauguration of the American President Donald Trump, as The New York Times reported. According to the news agency, Muellers team has questioned several people trying to define the way the Ukrainians received invitations to Trumps inauguration. Americans also want to know whom they met and what they discussed. Resources say dozens of Ukrainian officials and businessmen were present at the event, including the peoples deputies Sergiy Kivalov, Vitaliy Khomutynnyk, and Boryslav Bereza. Former member of Ukraines Parliament Andriy Artemenko and businessman Pavlo Fuks attended the inauguration as well. As we reported, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been found guilty on eight counts of financial crimes. After a 16-day trial, Manafort was found guilty of five tax fraud charges, one charge of hiding foreign bank accounts, and two counts of bank fraud. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining 10 counts, and the judge declared a mistrial on those charges. Related: Cohen provides Mueller's Russia probe with "critical information" about Trump Manafort faces a maximum of 80 years in prison. He faces a second criminal trial next month in Washington on seven other charges brought by the special counsel, including obstruction of justice, failure to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to launder money. Paul Manafort is charged with laundering money and evading taxes over ten years of cooperation with former Ukrainian leaders. Previously, an investigation team released over 300 documents, which reveal the details of Manafort's cooperation with the currently disbanded Party of Regions - the-then pro-presidential and ruling political force in Ukraine. Read this week's news of Ukraine - about Donbas conflict, Sea of Azov, Tomos for Ukrainian Orthodox Church, sports About Donbas conflict Military actions continue in Donbas. The infrastructure is under attack, and sometimes maintenance crews face life hazards when working in the combat area. Repair works in Donetsk and Katerynivka, Luhansk region were recently completed. Scheduled works were carried out in Donetsk filtering station in Avdiivka. Safe passage for the workers of the station has been provided, the Ukrainian side of the Joint Centre of Control and Coordination reported. The Kremlins been leading its wicked game in Ukraine, with creating new fakes to discredit the Ukrainian military in Donbas. The Joint Control and Coordination Centre (JCCC) reported that on Facebook, with the Joint Forces Operation HQ quoting it. OSCE is ready to support the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Donbas combat zone. Miroslav Lajcak, the Slovakian foreign minister said that during the press conference in Vienna. 'I discussed this issue with the UN Secretary General. I will also report to the UN Security Council in several weeks. So, if there's a decision to implement this mission, the OSCE will use its local experience to render support', Lajcak said. Three men were hurt in the attack on Yasynuvata town in the militant-held area of Donetsk region. The men appeared to be the workers of 'Voda Donbasu', the local water utility company. Novosti Donbassa outlet reported this with the reference to the militant-controlled media. One of the wounded was taken to a hospital. 'Two men were shell-shocked, but they refused from hospitalization', the outlet reported. Volodymyr Krupsky, the serviceman of the Ukrainian military passed away in the accident in the combat area in Donbas on January 10. The man suffered hypothermia, as his armored car fell in the water storage of a quarry. He died before the evacuation was complete. *** About Azov crisis On January 7, Ukraine submitted a full-fledged statement against the Russian Federation on the violation of the rights of 24 Ukrainian sailors captured near the Kerch Strait in November last year to the European Court of Human Rights. Besides, Ukraine expects the rapid consideration of the statement. Moreover, it reinforces the legal position of captured sailors. On January 10, Ukraines Ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova flew to Odesa to meet the relatives of the Ukrainian sailors. Moreover, she will visit Moscow next week and possibly meet the captive sailors. Besides, Russian lawyer Ilia Novikov reported that the court sessions in the case of Ukrainian sailors is unlikely to start over 2020. Later it was stated that Russia might exchange 24 Ukrainian sailors. It was also reported that the Russian spacecraft Kosmos-2430 with Oko missile attack warning system, which was launched in October 2007, fell from the orbit and burned down in the atmosphere. *** About Orthodox Church of Ukraine On January 7, Tomos on autocephaly for Ukraine was set for public view at St. Sophia in Kyiv. Also, Tomos becomes word of year in Ukraine. On the same day, Ukrainian Canadian Congress welcomes delivery of Tomos. Honorary Patriarch of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Filaret hopes Orthodox Church of Ukraine will be recognized as patriarchy. At the same time, Orthodox Church of Ukraine warns about religious provocations. On January 9, the Synod of Ecumenical Patriarchate signs Tomos on autocephaly and after that, Tomos returned to Ukraine. Later, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of the State stated that granting the autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine became a historic achievement. *** About Ukrainian political prisoners This week it was reported that 37 people in total were detained for political reasons in annexed Crimea in 2018. Here is an update on the Ukrainian political prisoners kept in Russia and occupied Crimea: - Crimean Tatar Kazim Ametov, detained in occupied Simferopol has serious health issues, as Ukraines Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova reported. It was also noted that Ametov does not receive any medical aid; - Political prisoner Yevgen Panov will be transferred to Omsk prison. It should be mentioned that no reports have been made on his location for a long time; - Stanislav Klykh imprisoned in Russia suspects he has skin cancer, as his mother informed. Klykh also has problems with his legs some spots appeared on the skin; - Political prisoner and filmmaker Sentsov has written a novel while serving a sentence in a Russian jail; - Court kept activist Edem Bekirov under arrest. Besides, this week Ukraines State Border Guard Service states on the further decrease in the number of people who cross the administrative boundary line with the occupied Crimea. While Russia carried out missile drills on the occupied peninsula it tested an anti-ship coastal missile complex Bal. *** About Ukraine In 2018, Ukraine occupied the 41st place in the Henley & Partners Company list, improving its position for three points. Besides, Ukrainian state took the 84th place in the Democracy Index 2018 out of 167 countries of the world and the 17th place in Europe. This week Ukraine also made a decision on the withdrawal from the Agreement on the development of exhibitions and fairies activity within the Commonwealth of Independent States. Besides, IMF funding program provides three tranches for Ukraine in 2019. *** About Turkey ship crash This week, on January 7 a cargo ship with nine Ukrainians on board was wrecked near the coast of Turkey. As a result, four citizens of Ukraine died. It was informed that the accident happened due to a wave hit. On the next day, names of the sailors who survived in a boat crash in Turkey were revealed. Moreover, Ukraines Ambassador to Turkey Andriy Sybyga visited Ukrainians who survived. On January 8, bodies of three citizens of Ukraine out of four died were found. On January 10, the Ukrainian sailors suffered in the results of the wreck of the ship near Turkey were discharged from Samsun City Hospital. *** About sports Football fans in Ukraine had some news to follow this week, too. Manchester City and Oleksandr Zinchenko triumphed in the Carabao Cup game against Burton. Meanwhile, another Ukrainian player, Yevhen Seleznev decided to move on from Akhisar to Malaga CF. Italy's AS Roma started negotiations with KRC Genk, offering the Belgian team to sell them Ukrainian midfielder Ruslan Malynovsky. The preliminary sum of this transfer made 12 million Euros. In this season, Malynovsky scored 10 goals and made 9 assists in 29 games for Genk. It will take about a year before actual court sessions in this case begin, Ilya Novikov said The court sessions in the case of 24 Ukrainian sailors detained in the Kerch Strait is unlikely to start over another year. Lawyer Ilya Novikov said this on the air of Pryamyi TV channel. 'The court, if it ever begins in the first place, will take place in no sooner than a year. Most likely, we're talking half a year but that's not quite realistic. So it's quite important not to make it to the trial', the lawyer said. According to him, such 'courts' are staged and thus are of merely formal nature. On November 25, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy attacked the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. 24 Ukrainian sailors were captured in the attack, three of them sustained wounds. 21 Ukrainian sailors have been delivered to Lefortovo remand center in Moscow, three others were taken to the hospital of Matrosskaya Tishina prison, also in the Russian capital. On December 3, the Russian prosecutors officially accused Ukrainian sailors with the 'illegal crossing of the state border' during the attack in the Kerch Strait. Ukraine demands to set the seamen free, insisting that the Kremlin breached the international maritime law in the Kerch Strait incident. The Ukrainian government considers the Russian attack an act of military aggression. Crimean Tatar flag Open source Russian security forces conducted searches in annexed Crimea in the houses of the Crimean Tatars, as the Crimean Solidarity group reported on Facebook. Searches were held at houses of dentist Server Bariyev and builder Ernest Aliyev. Later, it was reported that the house of another Crimean Tatar Osman Osmanov was searched as well. It was reported that the investigative events at Server Bariyevs are over. One of the present men introduced himself as an official from the Internal Ministry. They have a household for two families, a search was carried out everywhere. They voiced the order, saying that members of Hizb ut-Tahrir organization banned in Russia gather here, the message says. Searches are over at Osman Osmanovs and Ernest Aliyevs homes. They were looking for forbidden literature, inspected office equipment. Nothing was found or seized. The details are being defined. It remains unclear whether the search was conducted under the investigators order or courts decision. Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international, pan-Islamist political organization, which describes its ideology as Islam, and its aim as the re-establishment of the Islamic Caliphate to resume the Islamic way of life in the Muslim world. Hizb ut-Tahrir has been banned in Germany, Russia, China, Egypt, Turkey, and all Arab countries (except Lebanon, Yemen, and the UAE). In July 2017, the Indonesian government formally revoked Hizbut ut-Tahrir's charter, citing incompatibility with government regulations on extremism and national ideology. The process might start after the court's decision and presidential elections in Ukraine Russia might exchange 24 Ukrainian sailors captured near Kerch Strait in November last year, as Iz.ru reported referring to Russian diplomatic source. According to the source, Moscow considers a possible exchange of the Ukrainians for Russians, kept in custody in Ukraine. It is stressed that for now, the exchange is impossible. Much depends on Ukraine, whether Kyiv would be ready to reach specific agreements. Yet, we have to realize that its impossible to exchange the Ukrainian sailors now. They are not POWs, as Kyiv is trying to show it. Therefore, we will wait for the courts decision, and then we can talk about the exchange, the source informed. He added that the process might be triggered after the presidential elections in Ukraine scheduled on March 31, 2019. But it is impossible till the elections in Ukraine because Poroshenko would pretend its his victory, the source stressed. On November 25, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy attacked the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. 21 Ukrainian sailors have been delivered to Lefortovo remand center in Moscow, three others are in the hospital of Matrosskaya Tishina prison, also in the Russian capital. On December 3, the Russian prosecutors officially accused Ukrainian sailors with the 'illegal crossing of the state border' during the attack in the Kerch Strait. Related video: Earlier it became known that Paul Whelan holds passports of the United States, UK, Ireland, and Canada Paul Whelan, U.S. ex-marine, who was arrested in Moscow EPA The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia stated that the news on discussions about a possible spy swap with former U.S. marine Paul Whelan is fake, reports Reuters. Earlier, Russias Federal Security Service reported that the U.S. citizen Paul Whelan was arrested in Moscow on suspicion of spying. The service reported that the American was detained during holding espionage action. Related: Paul Whelan's arrest poses opportunities for Putin and Trump Related: Ex-U.S. marine arrested in Russia for espionage appears to be British citizen "The investigation department of the Federal Security Service of Russia initiated a criminal case against a US citizen under Article 276 (espionage) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation," reads the message. At the same time, they didnt specify any details. The course on the extension of the strategic interaction with Minsk is not doubted, - Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova The strategic course of Russia on the strengthening of the relations with Belarus is not doubted, as Interfax reported citing Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. Belarus is our trustworthy ally and partner. The course on the extension of the strategic interaction with Minsk is not doubted; it is stated, particularly in the concept of the foreign policy of our country. We think that there are many things to do to increase the efficiency of such integration format within the Union State, Zakharova said. Thus, she commented the recent statement of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that Russia might lose its only ally at the western direction due to the lack of the agreements on the compensation for the tax maneuver in the oil sphere. Earlier, Lukashenko stated that he would not call Russia a fraternal state anymore but only a partner. Besides, the Belarusian president expressed the opinion that Moscow wants to incorporate Belarus into the composition of Russia on the pretext of deep integration. On the other hand, this issue is not on the agenda of the UN Security Council yet, Miroslav Lajcak said Open source OSCE is ready to support the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Donbas combat zone. Miroslav Lajcak, the Slovakian foreign minister said that during the press conference in Vienna. 'I discussed this issue with the UN Secretary General. I will also report to the UN Security Council in several weeks. So, if there's a decision to implement this mission, the OSCE will use its local experience to render support', Lajcak said. At the same time, Lajcak pointed out that this issue is best to be addressed to the UN. 'This issue was discussed and mentioned, but it's not on the agenda of the UN Security Council officially. There's nothing to comment on currently. But we're watching the situation closely', he said. Previously, a number of countries stated they were ready to send their peacekeepers to war-torn eastern Ukraine. Granting the autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine became a historic achievement. This is the key message in the statement by Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of the State. The text may be found on the Department of the State's website. 'The January 6th announcement of autocephaly for an independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine marks a historic achievement as Ukraine seeks to chart its own future. On this momentous occasion, the United States reiterates its unwavering support for a sovereign, independent Ukraine. The United States maintains its strong support for religious freedom, including the freedom for members of religious groups to govern their religion according to their beliefs, without external interference. We welcome remarks by Metropolitan Epiphaniy that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is open to all Orthodox believers and encourage government and Church officials to promote tolerance and respect for the freedom of members of all religious affiliations to worship as they choose', says the message. Earlier, the members of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate signed the Tomos on providing autocephaly for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Prior to that, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew passed the Tomos of autocephaly and bishops crosier to the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epifaniy. The event happened during the festive service at St. George's Cathedral in Istanbul. Emil Kurbedinov, a lawyer defending victims of persecution in Crimea http://www.rferl.org/ Russias Justice Ministry has demanded that the de facto Crimean Bar Association expel Emil Kurbedinov, with this almost certainly leading to his being stripped of his licence. This is the latest of several attempts to silence Kurbedinov and other courageous lawyers in occupied Crimea. The timing, both of this move and of the second administrative prosecution over a pre-annexation Facebook repost, cited as the pretext, suggests that Russia may be particularly concerned about the united defence team representing the 24 Ukrainian prisoners of war seized when Russia attacked three Ukrainian naval boats on 25 November. The letter from the Justice Ministry cites two court rulings in administrative prosecutions against Kurbedinov. Both were over an identical video, reposted quite legally in 2013. This alone made the second prosecution absurd, and demonstrates the political nature of the Ministrys demand, which had not been made after the first prosecution, yet now demands compliance by 1 March 2019. The letter claims that the demand is in accordance with a law from 1996 which states that you cannot be a member of the bar association if you have been convicted of offences of an extremist nature. Kurbedinov was one of the first lawyers to both defend victims of persecution under occupation and to publicly highlight such cases. Back in 2016, he spoke of how it was the publicity that enforcement officers most hated and that made him enemy No. 1. Kurbedinov had played a particular vital role since early 2015 in drawing attention to Russias arrests of Crimean Muslims on charges of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir, a peaceful pan-Islamic movement which is legal in Ukraine, but which Russia has, for its own reasons, declared terrorist. Kurbedinov was first detained on 26 January 2017 while travelling to the home of a Crimean Tatar activist, now political prisoner, facing an armed search. The pretext then was a video reposted in June 2013, before Russias invasion and annexation of Crimea, on Kurbedinovs VKontakte page of a Hizb ut-Tahrir meeting in Simferopol. This was used as an excuse for armed and masked spetsnaz officers to turn up at Kurbedinovs home and carry out a search. The officers refused at first to allow a lawyer in and also tried to prevent Kurbedinovs mother from taking his small son and daughter away. A search was also carried out of his offices, and computers containing confidential documents about their clients were removed. Later that day, he was sentenced by judge Tatyana Belnichuk from the Zheleznodorozhny District Court In Simferopol to 10 days imprisonment. It was claimed by Renat Shambazov, from the so-called Centre for Countering Extremism, that this had been a public demonstration of the symbols and propaganda images of the terrorist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir and that it fell under Article 20.3 of Russias Code of Administrative Offences. Three months later, on 26 May 2017, the Dublin-based NGO Frontline Defenders named Kurbedinov Laureate of its 2017 Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. Pressure has, since then, mounted against both Kurbedinov and other lawyers in Crimea, especially those involved in the civic initiative Crimean Solidarity which helps political prisoners and their families. Kurbedinov was detained again on 6 December 2018 and sentenced to five days imprisonment over the same video from June 2013. The only difference was that this time the video had been reposted on Facebook, not VKontakte. In January 2017, Shambazov had proposed including the identical post on Facebook to the material. The judge back then refused, claiming that it constituted a separate incident. This separate incident was clearly needed to justify a second arrest, search and 5-day jail sentenced imposed by judge Anton Tsykurenko from the Kievsky District Court in Simferopol. The two incidents over the same repost of a harmless video, dating from before annexation, is now being used by Russias Justice Ministry to attempt to strike off a lawyer defending the ever-mounting number of victims of repression in Crimea. That in turn might well leave the FSB free to revenge themselves against Kurbedinov by concocting criminal charges against him. On 6 December Kurbedinov made it clear that he saw the new move as linked with his defence of one of the POWs seized on 25 November, as well as his role in many other hearings in political trials. Russia is using various illegitimate methods to try to pressure the 24 men into confessing to fictitious offences and to undermine the united position taken by the men themselves, under the guidance of their lawyers, including Kurbedinov. This is an extremely dangerous development and requires immediate and strong reaction from the international community in defence of Kurbedinov, other lawyers in occupied Crimea and, ultimately, the victims of persecution whom they represent. Read the original text here. The plant does not work; however, it is used as the depot of chemical substances The tons of the chemical substances are stored at Styrol plant near Horlivka, Donetsk region, and it might lead to the chemical catastrophe, as Ukraine's Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs reported. According to the ministry, a large amount of ammonia is still stored in the workshops for the production of the sulfuric acid, fertilizers, and nitric acid. Such depots are harmful to the citizens of the nearby settlements. It is known that the plant does not work. According to the ministry, the chemical substances are not loaded or unloaded there. It means that the plant is halted and will be used as the depot of the hazardous substances. At the beginning of 2018, about 80 tons of ammonia were stored there. In the case of the chemical catastrophe, all citizens of Horlivka, 250,000 people, will suffer. The grand-scale accident during which six people died and 20 people were affected took place in 2013. Then, the depressurization of the pipeline and ammonia emission occurred at ammonia reservoir. The white cloud appeared over the plant. The Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs plans to appeal to the international organizations for conducting the check of the plant by their representatives or independent international experts. Moreover, the ministry is going to appeal to law enforcement bodies. In July 2014, the substance of the second class of danger, chloronitrobenzene, was stored at the plant. The suspicion in the possible terrorist action existed. In November 2014, the plant was mined; however, the deminers succeeded to defuse 11 ammunition. In 2015, the occupants hid the tanks at Styrol plant and repaired hardware. Russian mass media has begun to spread the fake information that Ukraine allegedly prepares the chemical attack at the occupied territories of Donbas. Earlier Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov stated that the ecological situation in Donbas could reach a "point of no return." A catastrophe might threaten the whole Europe. Around 10,000 people are estimated to have been killed in Donbas conflict during this time Ukrainian army reservist rides a tank during military exercises in the Army Training Center near the village of Desna, Chernigiv region, on December 19, 2018 AFP As Ukraine marked the fifth anniversary of the start of its armed conflict with Russian-backed separatists, Kiev said there were multiple violations of its cease-fire agreement in the eastern part of the country known as the Donbas. On January 9, Russian proxy forces in eastern Ukraine violated the cease-fire twice, Ukraines Joint Forces Operation noted. "The strongholds of our troops were fired upon from grenade launchers of various types, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms near the village of Novomykhailivka on the Donetsk line and outside Lebedynske in the Mariupol direction," a statement from the Joint Forces Operation reads. Around 10,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the fighting between Ukraine and Russian-backed forces over the past five years since the fighting broke out. The conflict began after a pro-Western social movement ousted a pro-Russian president who subsequently fled the country. Russia has denied that it is backing the separatists, but both the U.S. and the European Union have sanctioned Russia over its interference in eastern Ukraine, citing evidence of Moscows involvement. Ukraines prosecutor generals office also issued a report on Thursday claiming that it had discovered documents in eastern Ukraines Luhansk region that prove Russia is financing the separatists there. Ukrainian army reservist rides a tank during military exercises in the Army Training Center near the village of Desna, Chernigiv region, on December 19, 2018 AFP The evidence obtained will be used in cases against the Russian Federation in international courts. The PGO continues active work in the relevant direction, a spokesman said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is monitoring the conflict and whether both sides are abiding by the rules of the Mink II peace agreement, which was signed in 2015. The agreement commits both Ukraine and Russia to immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and its strict implementation as of 15 February 2015, 12am local time. Both sides were also required to withdraw heavy weapons from a designated security zone. Experts, however, have cast doubt on the efficacy of the agreement. The Minsk agreement signed in February 2015, also known as Minsk II, is destined to fail because it was designed to fail, Max Bader, lecturer on Russia and Eurasia at the University of Leiden, wrote for Carnegie Europe last year. The separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine and their Russian backers never intended to implement points 4 and 9 of the agreement. Point 4 stipulates that new local elections in the separatist territories must be held under Ukrainian legislation. Point 9 provides for the full restoration of Ukrainian state control over the countrys borders. Two years after Minsk II was signed, there is not the slightest indication that Moscow and the separatists intend to fulfill these elements of the accord." Read the original article here. A crisis in Cameroons Anglophone areas is on the verge of escalating into civil war and destabilizing a country that was once considered an island of relative calm in a troubled region. The tempo of the crisis has escalated steadily since 2016, when Anglophone teachers and lawyers took to the streets to protest the creeping use of French in the education and legal systems. Their demonstrations morphed into wider protests over the marginalization of Cameroons English-speaking minority, which represents about one-fifth of the countrys population. The government refused to acknowledge the Anglophones grievances or engage their leaders as security forces violently repressed protests and jailed activists. The response fueled Anglophones anger at the central government, pushing many protesters who had initially called only for autonomy and rights into the arms of separatist groups, whose attacks started in late 2017. A disputed presidential election this October, which President Paul Biya, aged 85 and in power for 36 years, won and in which few Anglophones voted, hardly helped. Nearly 10 separatist militias now battle government forces, while two organizations provide direction from abroad: the interim government of Ambazonia (the putative name of the self-proclaimed Anglophone state) and the Ambazonia Governing Council. The separatists are pitted not only against Cameroonian security forces, but also against pro-government self-defense groups. Criminal gangs in Anglophone areas have taken advantage of the chaos to expand their activities. According to the International Crisis Groups estimates, fighting has already killed nearly 200 soldiers, gendarmes, and police officers, with some 300 injured, and killed more than 600 separatists. At least 500 civilians have died in the violence. The U.N. counts 30,000 Anglophone refugees in Nigeria and 437,000 internally displaced in Cameroon. Defusing the crisis will first require confidence-building measures. These should include the governments release of all political detainees, including separatist leaders; a pledge from both sides to implement a cease-fire; and support for a planned Anglophone conference, which would allow Anglophones to select leaders to represent them in negotiations. These steps could pave the way for talks between the government and Anglophone leaders, followed by some form of national dialogue in which options for decentralization or federalism would be on the table. Cameroonian authorities made a welcome move in mid-December when they released 289 Anglophone detainees, though hundreds, including separatist leaders, are still behind bars. It remains unclear whether this signals a genuine change of heart by the government, which has appeared determined to crush insurgents rather than address Anglophone concerns. Nor is it clear whether the release can, on its own, persuade hard-line separatists to talk rather than fight. Without meaningful, mutual compromise, Cameroon is in danger of sliding toward a major and destabilizing conflict. *** In a world with fewer rules, the only truly effective one is knowing what you can get away with. The answer today, it turns out, is: quite a lot. As the era of largely uncontested U.S. primacy fades, the international order has been thrown into turmoil. More leaders are tempted more often to test limits, jostle for power, and seek to bolster their influenceor diminish that of their rivalsby meddling in foreign conflicts. Multilateralism and its constraints are under siege, challenged by more transactional, zero-sum politics. Instruments of collective action, such as the United Nations Security Council, are paralyzed; those of collective accountability, including the International Criminal Court, are ignored and disparaged. Nostalgia can be deceptive. Too fond a portrayal of the era of Western hegemony would be misleading. Iraqs chemical weapons use against Iran in the 1980s; the 1990s bloodletting in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Somalia; the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; Sri Lankas brutal 2009 campaign against the Tamils; and the collapse of Libya and South Sudan: all these happened at a time ofin some cases because ofU.S. dominance and a reasonably coherent West. A liberal and nominally rules-based order hardly stopped those setting the rules from discarding them when they saw fit. The erosion of Western influence, in short, looks different from Moscow, Beijing, and the developing world than it does from Brussels, London, or Washington. Still, for better and for worse, U.S. power and alliances have for years shaped international affairs, set limits, and structured regional orders. As the Wests influence declines, accelerated by U.S. President Donald Trumps contempt for traditional allies and Europes struggles with Brexit and nativism, leaders across the world are probing and prodding to see how far they can go. In their domestic policies, many of those leaders embrace a noxious brew of nationalism and authoritarianism. The mix varies from place to place but typically entails rejection of international institutions and rules. There is little new in the critique of an unjust global order. But if once that critique tended to be rooted in international solidarity, today it stems chiefly from an inward-looking populism that celebrates narrow social and political identity, vilifies minorities and migrants, assails the rule of law and independence of the press, and elevates national sovereignty above all else. Trump may be the most visible of the genre, but he is far from the most extreme. The wind is in the sails of strongmen worldwide. They realize, at times perhaps to their surprise, that constraints are crumbling, and the behavior that results often fuels violence or crises. Myanmars mass expulsion of 700,000 Rohingya, the Syrian regimes brutal suppression of a popular uprising, the Cameroonian governments apparent determination to crush an Anglophone insurgency rather than tackle the grievances fueling it, the Venezuelan governments economic warfare against its own people, and the silencing of dissent in Turkey, Egypt, and elsewhere are but a few examples. All are motivated in part by what leaders perceive as a yellow light where they used to see solid red. Beyond their borders, these leaders test norms, too. Having annexed parts of Georgia and Crimea and stoked separatist violence in Ukraines Donbass region, Russia is now throwing its weight around in the Sea of Azov, poisoning dissidents in the United Kingdom, and subverting Western democracies with cyberwarfare. China obstructs freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and arbitrarily detains Canadian citizensincluding the International Crisis Groups Michael Kovrig. Saudi Arabia has pushed the envelope with the war in Yemen, the kidnapping of a Lebanese prime minister, and the gruesome murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its consulate in Istanbul. Iran plots attacks against dissidents on European soil. Israel feels emboldened to undermine ever more systematically the foundations of a possible two-state solution. Such actions are hardly new or equal in magnitude. But they are more brazen and overt. They have this much in common: They start with the assumption that there will be few consequences for breaches of international norms. The U.S. government has hardly been an innocent bystander. Trumps disdain for human rights and penchant for transactional diplomacy have set a strikingly negative tone. So too has his flouting of Americas international commitments: tearing up the Iran nuclear deal and, worse, threatening to impose economic punishment on those who choose to abide by it; hinting he will leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty if U.S. demands are not met rather than working within it to press Russia to comply; and signaling, through attacks on the International Criminal Court and chest-thumping speeches about U.S. sovereignty, that Washington regards its actions and those of its friends as beyond accountability. The danger of todays free-for-all goes beyond the violence already generated. The larger risk is of miscalculation. Overreach by one leader convinced of his immunity may prompt an unexpected reaction by another; the ensuing tit for tat easily could escalate without the presence of a credible, willing outside power able to play the role of arbiter. Related: Double terrorist attack in Iraq kills one, 16 wounded True, not everyone gets away with everything all the time. Bangladesh seemed poised to forcibly return some Rohingya refugees to Myanmar but stopped, almost certainly in response to international pressure. The feared Russian-backed reconquest of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, has, for now, been averted, in no small measure due to Turkish, European, and U.S. objections. The same is true (again: for the time being) when it comes to a potential Saudi-led offensive on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi largely deterred by warnings about the humanitarian impact and cost to their international standing. Elsewhere, leaders anticipating impunity have been taken aback by the severity of the response: Russian President Vladimir Putin, for example, by the stiff sanctions and show of united resolve that Western powers have maintained since Moscows annexation of Crimea and the killing of its former agent on British soil; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by the outrage that followed Khashoggis murder. Overall, though, it is hard to escape the sense that these are exceptions that prove the absence of rules. The international order as we know it is unraveling, with no clear sense of what will come in its wake. The danger may well lie less in the ultimate destination than in the process of getting there. As the following list of 10 Conflicts to Watch in 2019 amply illustrates, that road will be bumpy, and it will be perilous. Read the original text at Foreign Policy. BANGKOK: The 18-year-old Saudi asylum seeker who fled her family to Thailand and harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation on Friday abruptly suspended her account, with friends saying she had received death threats. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun's attempt to flee the ultra-conservative kingdom has been embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression. Thai authorities initially threatened to deport her after she arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait last weekend. But armed with a smartphone and a hastily opened Twitter account, she forced a U-turn from Thai immigration police who handed her into the care of the UN's refugee agency as the #SaveRahaf hashtag case bounced across the world. Qunun alleges abuse by her family - who deny the allegations - and rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in conservative Saudi Arabia. On Friday afternoon she posted a final cryptic tweet on her profile saying "I have some good news and some bad news" - shortly after her account was deactivated. "Rahaf received death threats and for this reason she closed her Twitter account, please save Rahaf life," tweeted supporter @nourahfa313, who has flanked Rahaf's social media campaign with her own updates on Twitter. "I understand that there have been death threats against her but I don't know the details," said Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch, adding even threats from online trolls need to be taken seriously. Rahaf's swift use of Twitter saw her amass more than 100,000 followers within a week, highlighting her plight and allowing her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or languish in Bangkok detention centres. Though her asylum case has moved at lightning speed the mystery over which country will accept Rahaf remains. Australia has dropped the strongest hints so far after the UN urged the country to accept her but its foreign minister said this week that it was still assessing the request. Thailand's immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters Friday that as far as he knows there are "two or three" countries who could offer asylum. The Southeast Asian country is not a signatory to a convention on refugees and asylum seekers must be referred to a third country. Until that happens she is under the care of UNHCR in Bangkok. She has refused to see her father who travelled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement. Moscow: Russia on Friday condemned British plans to open military bases in south-east Asia and the Caribbean and said it stood ready to take retaliatory measures if its own interests or those of its allies were threatened. British defence minister Gavin Williamson told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper last month that London was working on plans to build two new foreign bases "within the next couple of years" after it left the European Union. Williamson did not specify where the bases might be built, but the newspaper reported that options included Singapore or Brunei near the South China Sea and Montserrat or Guyana in the Caribbean. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia`s foreign ministry, on Friday described Williamson`s comments as baffling and warned such plans could destabilise world affairs. "Of course, Britain like any other country is independent when it comes to its military construction plans. But against the backdrop of overall rising military and political tensions in the world ... statements about the desire to build up its military presence in third countries are counter-productive, destabilising and possibly of a provocational nature," she said. "In the event of any measures that pose a threat to Russia`s security or that of its allies our country reserves the right to take appropriate retaliatory measures." Russia has military bases in several countries across the former Soviet Union and operates military facilities in Syria and Vietnam. BERLIN: Police searched courtrooms in at least six cities across Germany after emailed bomb threats and other security alerts on Friday, officials and media said. Police said they evacuated a court in the eastern city of Potsdam and another in the western city of Wiesbaden where a suspicious package was found. Courts were also cleared in the central cities of Magdeburg and Erfurt and in the northern port of Kiel, the Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reported. Another court was briefly closed in Saarbruecken near the border with France after an emailed bomb threat, Bild newspaper reported. Police searched the building then let it reopen, the paper said. "Currently, we are deployed in the justice centre in Potsdam. There is a threat there of a bomb explosion today," police there said on Twitter. "Similarly worded threats were received in other cities." A spokesman for the force covering Wiesbaden said it was too early to say if there was a link. "The investigation just began," said Johannes Neumann. A spokeswoman for Germany`s Federal Criminal Police said it knew of the bomb threats solely through media reports and was not currently involved in any investigation. YANGON: A Myanmar court on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of breaking the Official Secrets Act, saying the defence had not provided sufficient evidence to show they were innocent. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were convicted by a lower court in September in a landmark case that has raised questions about Myanmar`s progress towards democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates. "It was a suitable punishment," said High Court Judge Aung Naing, referring to the seven-year prison term meted out by the lower court. The defence has the option of making a further appeal to the country`s supreme court, based in the capital Naypyitaw. "Today`s ruling is yet another injustice among many inflicted upon Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. They remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth," said Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler in a statement. "Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmar`s commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt." In their appeal arguments made last month, defence lawyers had cited evidence of a police set-up and lack of proof of a crime. They told the appeal court the lower court that tried the case had wrongly placed the burden of proof on the defendants. The defence also said prosecutors had failed to prove the reporters gathered and collected secret information, sent information to an enemy of Myanmar or that they had an intention to harm national security. Khine Khine Soe, a legal officer representing the government, told the appeal hearing last month that the evidence showed the reporters had collected and kept confidential documents. She said they intended to harm national security and the national interest. The judge said on Friday "it was not acceptable" to say that the defendants had acted according to journalistic ethics. "It cannot be said that it was a set up," he said. Standing outside the court building in Yangon where the judgment was pronounced, Kristian Schmidt, the EU ambassador to Myanmar, said the ruling was a "miscarriage of justice and it gives us great concern for the independence of the justice system of Myanmar". Defence lawyer Than Zaw Aung, speaking after the ruling, said his team would discuss the option of a supreme court appeal with the two reporters. "We are very disappointed with the judgment," he said. Before their arrest, the reporters had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys by security forces and Buddhist civilians in western Myanmar`s Rakhine State during an army crackdown that began in August 2017. The operation sent more than 730,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, according to United Nations` estimates. Washington: US President Donald Trump during a tour of the southern border in Texas asked a law enforcement official how many Pakistanis were arrested early this week trying to illegally enter America as he was told that individuals from several South Asian nations attempted to cross the porous border with Mexico. Trump asked the question when a law enforcement official briefed him on the security situation on the border and listed out the name of the countries whose citizens were nabbed at the border a day earlier. "So far this sector has apprehended folks from 41 different countries. Just yesterday, we apprehended 133 people from countries other than Central America and Mexico. That includes individuals from India. We apprehended some Pakistanis, Romania?," the law enforcement official told Trump. "How many Pakistanis?" Trump asked, interrupting the law enforcement official. ?It was two yesterday,? the border security official told the President. Texas Senator John Cornyn, who was standing there along with Trump, said that nationals of many countries are exploiting the vulnerabilities at the US-Mexico border. Senator Ted Cruz was also present at the briefing. Trump travelled to the US-Mexico border to have a first hand assessment of the crisis at the international border, which has been experiencing a large flow of illegal immigrants, the majority of whom are from Central Asian nations. Canada's Parliament has announced plans to add more than one million new permanent residents in the next three years, which is nearly 1 per cent of the country's population each year. Canada welcomed more than 286,000 permanent residents in 2017 and projects that number could reach 350,000 this year, CNN reported. "Thanks in great part to the newcomers we have welcomed throughout our history, Canada has developed into the strong and vibrant country we all enjoy," Ahmed Hussen, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), said on Thursday. Hussen, himself an immigrant from Somalia, said the influx will help offset Canada's aging population and declining birth rate while growing its labour force. Canada's friendly stance towards new residents comes as many other Western nations, including the US, are adopting more restrictive immigration policies. Canada is especially dedicated to offering protection to refugees. The UN Refugee Agency reported unprecedented levels of refugees in 2017, with the number of forcibly displaced people reaching 68.5 million. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has pledged $5.6 million to support global resettlement initiatives. China has started mobilising its 'ship-killer' nuclear-capable intermediate-range DF-26 missiles after Chinese security agencies spotted US guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell near Xisha Islands in the South China Sea. The US tried to justify the movement of its warship, claiming it was on a "freedom of navigation" (FONOP) mission in the area but Beijing refused to buy Washington's argument accusing the Americans of trespassing in its territorial waters. Global Times reported that the DF-26 "ship-killer" missiles with a range of over 5000kms were mobilized by China to the Northwest plateau and desert areas. These missiles can carry conventional as well as nuclear warheads and target medium and large ships at sea. US naval bases in Guam in the western Pacific Ocean are also within the range of these missiles. A Chinese defence expert, who wished to remain anonymous, told Global Times that the DF-26 missile has a slow rate of climb after the launch and can be detected by the radar but once it reaches in the later stages it cannot be intercepted easily. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said that aircraft and warships have also been dispatched to warn the US warship. Scientists have detected the second repeating fast radio burst (FRB) ever recorded, a discovery that may help determine the origin of these mysterious signals which have been linked with advanced alien technology in the past. Some scientists also believe that FRBs emanate from powerful astrophysical phenomena billions of light years away. However, the source of these signals, originating from far outside our Milky Way galaxy, are not well understood. In 2017, Harvard scientists have speculated that these FRBs might be leakage from planet-sized transmitters powering interstellar probes in distant galaxies. They said that since a natural origin can not be identified, an artificial or alien origin can be contemplated. "Whatever the source of these radio waves is, it's interesting to see how wide a range of frequencies it can produce. There are some models where intrinsically the source can't produce anything below a certain frequency," said Arun Naidu of McGill University in Canada, who was part of the team that detected the signal. The discovery of the extragalactic signal is among the first, eagerly awaited results from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), a radio telescope inaugurated in 2017. "Until now, there was only one known repeating FRB. Knowing that there is another suggests that there could be more out there," said Ingrid Stairs, a member of the CHIME team. "And with more repeaters and more sources available for study, we may be able to understand these cosmic puzzles -- where they're from and what causes them," said Stairs, an astrophysicist at University of British Columbia in Canada. The repeating FRB was one of a total of 13 bursts detected over a period of just three weeks during the summer of 2018, while CHIME was in its pre-commissioning phase and running at only a fraction of its full capacity. Actor Nandamuri Kalyan Ram is quite happy that he got the chance to play his fathers role in NTR-Kathanayakudu, which released on January 9. Besides Kathanayakudu, the actor was simultaneously shooting for his upcoming film titled '118'. Touted to be a commercial entertainer, the film has Shalini Pandey and Nivetha Thomas as the leading ladies and is being produced under East Coast Productions by Mahesh S Koneru. The latest development is that the film is going to hit the screens on March 1. Popular cinematographer KV Guhan is directing the film. He has cranked the camera for a number of films in his long career including Kushi, New, Athadu, Mozhi, Muni and Jalsa. He had directed the film Inidhu Inidhu in the year 2010. Shekar Chandra has been roped in to compose music for this venture. Kalyan Ram plays an investigative journalist in the film and he has done some daredevilry stunts in it, reports suggest. Also, he will be sporting a new look for the role. The shooting is still going on. While the first look poster and teaser have received good responses from the viewers, the team is busy prepping up for the rest of the promotions. RAMGARH: In a shocking incident, a male nurse at a government hospital in Rajasthan's Ramgarh district is said to have botched a difficult delivery during which he pulled the foetus so hard that it broke into two parts. The shocking incident took place on January 6. Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the incident and sought a report from Jaisalmer SP and CMHO, reported ANI. Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the incident and sought a report from Jaisalmer SP and CMHO. The incident took place earlier this week. https://t.co/o3x7jOToCw ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 The carelessness and the insensitivity shown by the accused male nurse and his colleague endangered the life of the mother, who is said to be fighting for her life in the hospital. After the botched delivery, the accused male nurse and his colleague took the torso of the baby to the mortuary of the hospital and asked the family of the victim to take her to Jaisalmer for further treatment. However, this was not enough as the two nursing staff of the Ramgarh hospital left the placenta in the mother's womb. They later lied to the gynaecologist at Jodhpur Umaid Hospital that they had finished the delivery. Later, a team of doctors headed by Dr Ravindra Sankhla operated the victim again and found that the foetus` head was left in the mother's womb. "The reports from the Ramgarh health centre stated that delivery had been done. Also, the family didn't inform that the head of the baby was inside the womb. On examining her, I found the placenta to be hard and referred her to Jodhpur," Dr Sankhla, Jawahar Hospital, Jaisalmer, said. Dr Sankhla, Jawahar Hospital, Jaisalmer says, "The reports from the Ramgarh health centre stated that delivery had been done.Also,the family didn't inform that the head of the baby was inside the womb. On examining her I found the placenta to be hard and referred her to Jodhpur." pic.twitter.com/sNDaMpPiuP ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 The doctors then informed the victim's family members about the whole incident. Woman's husband later lodged a complaint against the Ramgarh hospital staff for alleged dereliction of duty. However, no arrest has been made in the connection with the case as yet. New Delhi: Our desi Greek god of Indian cinema, Hrithik Roshan turned a year older on January 10 and birthday wishes from fans, friends and well-wishers flooded the internet. The actor celebrated his special day with family and close friends. Hrithik was seen out on a dinner with former wife Sussanne Khan, BFFs Sonali Bendre and Goldie Behl. Actress-model Gayatri Joshi Oberoi was seen along with husband Vikas Oberoi. The bunch of close friends celebrated Hrithik's birthday at Mumbai's celeb-favourite hangout zone Soho House. Check out pictures: (Pic Courtesy: Yogen Shah) On the work front, Hrithik is currently busy with 'Super 30' where he plays the role of a teacher. This is the first time fans will see him play such a character on-screen. Besides, he also has a film with Tiger Shroff where a dance-off between the two can be expected. Yes! Imagine, how cool will it be for Hrithik and Tiger fans. Here's wishing the good-looking actor a very happy birthday! New Delhi: Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora are the new 'it' couple of Bollywood. Though they have never talked about their relationship, their chemistry speaks a thousand words for them. The duo has been giving us some major relationship goals with their sizzling picture-perfect photos and outings. Like most of the couples, Arjun and Malaika too are often spotted hanging out with each other. Rumours are also rife that the duo is all set to take their relationship to next level and may tie the knot this year. However, neither of them have confirmed or denied the reports. In the latest, several reports doing the rounds on the internet that Arjun recently lost his cool on photographers who were stationed outside her residence and questioned their presence. The actor reportedly told them that though he doesn't mind being getting clicked at parties, events and outside restaurants and has never even objected to it, he certainly does not appreciate their presence outside his residence. The report said that Arjun requested the photographers to stay away from their houses so that the other residents are also not affected. Upon hearing his request, the paparazzi happily obliged and assured that no more photographers would be seen in their private space. Rumours of Arjun and Malaika dating each other caught fire when they were clicked walking hand in hand at an airport. Since then, the two have been spotted together on numerous occasions. Also, on the much-popular talk show 'Koffee With Karan', Arjun revealed that he is not single. MUMBAI: The indefinite strike by nearly 32,000 employees of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will continue on Friday as talks between union leaders and officials remained inconclusive. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose party controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), met the BEST union leaders in the presence of Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and the BEST Commissioner Surendra Kumar Bagde at the Mayor's bungalow Thursday. The negotiations went on for nearly seven hours but failed to break the deadlock. "The officials have refused to relent on our demands to merge the budget of BEST with that of the BMC. Therefore, the strike will continue. They did not agree to even give us a written assurance about our other demands," BEST Workers Union president Shashank Rao said after the meeting. He added that while Sena chief tried to find a middle ground, he did not succeed. The Union has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded a written assurance on its demands, Rao said. "This strike was called by workers. In the absence of definite assurance, what will we tell them?" said Rao. Nearly 32,000 BEST employees are on indefinite strike since Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries and merger of budgets. While the BMC is the richest municipal body in the country, BEST is a loss-making undertaking. Not a single BEST bus plied on Mumbai roads since morning, an official said. Commuters complained that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers were charging much more than normal rates. A PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court Thursday seeking a direction to BEST workers to end the strike. The court will be hearing it Friday. The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200 buses, which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai. It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after the local trains. (With PTI inputs) SRINAGAR: Terrorists lobbed a grenade bomb at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) platoon near Lal Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir capital Srinagar. No loss of life or injury has been reported yet. The entire area has been cordoned off. #JammuAndKashmir : Terrorists lobbed a grenade at CRPF platoon near Lal Chowk, Srinagar. No loss of life or injury reported yet. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/eqm3Krd6bw ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 Earlier in the day, an Army porter was critically injured after Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations for the fourth consecutive day along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting the Indian Army to retaliate, officials said. Pakistan troops resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in forward areas in Nowshera and Poonch sectors, critically injuring an Army porter, they said. He has been hospitalised, the officials added. Indian troops guarding the borderline retaliated strongly, resulting in exchange of firing on the both sides, they said. In August last year, terrorists hurled grenades at the CRPF. Two security personnel receive minor injuries in the attack that took place at State Bank of India branch at Lal Chowk in Anantnag. SRINAGAR: An Army Major and a jawan lost their lives in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district Friday. An IED device was planted by suspected militants in Lam area of Nowshera sector, said an Army spokesperson. "Today one officer and another soldier were martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in Lam area of Nowshera sector," Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said. The injured Army personnel were rushed to the hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries. Army soldiers have been alerted against IED blasts and attacks by the border action teams (BATs) of the Pakistan Army, said the Army. New Delhi: World's richest person Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie's divorce may come with a hefty price tag for the Amazon founder. The news of world's richest person and Amazon.com Inc founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos seeking divorce from his wife MacKenzie Bezos after 25 years of marriage, has shocked one and all. Though market experts believe that the divorce may not have any material impact on the company and its shares, few media reports said that the Bezos may have to part with half his fortunes as alimony to his wife. (Also Read: High-profile corporate chieftain's divorces) Jeff Bezos, 54, has a fortune that has soared as high as $160 billion thanks to his stake in Amazon, which again became Wall Street`s most valuable company this week, surpassing Microsoft Corp. As per media reports, after the split, Bezos may have to pay nearly half his fortune (upto USD 69 billion) to his wife MacKenzie thus making her the world's riches woman and himself shedding the tag of being the world's richest man. The reason behind the split has made everyone curious given that Bezos had on several occassions contributed his success to his wife`s support. As per the National ENQUIRER report, Bezos and his wife have decided to call it quits due to Jeff's secret affair with Lauren Sanchez the wife of Hollywoods talent agent Patrick Whitesell. The ENQUIRER reported Bezos and Sanchez have been seeing each other for eight months. According to Radaronline website, the ENQUIRER tracked Bezos and Sanchez across five states and 40,000 miles, tailed them in private jets, swanky limos, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, five-star hotel hideaways, intimate dinner dates and 'quality time' in hidden love nests. MacKenzie Bezos met her husband Jeff Bezos when interviewing for a job at a New York hedge fund, according to a 2013 profile in Vogue. The two were engaged after three months of dating and married three months after that, according to the magazine. They have four children. Speaking at an event in Berlin last April, Jeff Bezos said his wife`s support was instrumental when he founded Amazon. "When you have loving and supportive people in your life, like MacKenzie, my parents, my grandfather, my grandmother, you end up being able to take risks," he said. Bezos has credited MacKenzie, 48, for her support when he uprooted the young couple to Seattle from New York to launch Amazon, an online bookseller that grew into the world`s largest internet retailer. MacKenzie Bezos, a Princeton graduate who is now a novelist, did accounting for Amazon for its first year after it was founded in 1994. With Reuters Inputs LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday launched a scathing attack on SP-BSP alliance saying the two parties have decided to forge an alliance only to save their own existence. He stressed that the people are aware of the truth of these parties and they will vote accordingly. "It is an attempt to save their own existence and nothing else. Public knows the truth and they will vote accordingly," said the UP CM. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on reports of SP-BSP alliance: It is an attempt to save their own existence and nothing else. Public knows the truth and they will vote accordingly. pic.twitter.com/oyJ6f9Dd2C ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 11, 2019 Yogi Adityanath claimed that the BJP will win more seats in 2019 Lok Sabha polls than it did in 2014. It may be recalled that BJP and its allies had won 73 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 general elections. Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav are scheduled to address a joint press conference in Lucknow on Saturday. It is expected that the two former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers will make a formal announcement about their pre-poll alliance during the press conference slated to be held at noon. Almost a month ago, it was reported by Zee News that the regional two parties have finalised their seat-sharing agreement. It is to be noted that the SP-BSP have decided not to include the Congress in the alliance. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) led by Ajit Singh is also a part of the seat-sharing deal, sources had told Zee News. Speculations are rife that the SP and BSP would contest on equal number of seats but they will not field their candidates in Rae Baraeli and Amethi - the pocket boroughs of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi respectively. NEW DELHI: Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the two-day meeting of BJP's national council will begin at Ramlila Ground in the national capital from Friday. The Narendra Modi governments social justice plank with its outreach to Dalits, backward classes and general category are likely to be the top agenda of the 2-day event. The two-day national council meeting will be inaugurated by BJP president Amit Shah. It will the biggest ever meeting of the BJP's national council with the party expecting participation of close to 12,000 members. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the concluding speech on Saturday, laying down the agenda for the general elections. Sources said the council may pass three resolutions, highlighting the government's "successes" on various fronts ranging from economy to social justice and also dwell at length on the prevailing political scenario. Senior BJP leaders were tight-lipped on whether the Ram temple issue will find a mention in the meeting but some delegates said that the party may refer to it amid demands by Hindutva organisations, including its ideological parent RSS, for a law to construct a temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. The party has invited its all elected members, ranging from those in local elections to its MPs, besides organisational leaders from across the country, for the meeting. A meeting of BJP general secretaries chaired by Shah was held Thursday evening to deliberate on the party's agenda for the council's meeting. Parliament's approval of a bill providing 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education for economically weaker sections in the general category has boosted the saffron party's morale after it suffered a blow in the recent assembly polls where it lost power in all three states it ruled. The BJP believes that the bill, which will come into force after getting the President's nod -- a mere formality -- will consolidate its core vote of upper castes in the Hindi-speaking states and also strengthen its appeal among political significant communities like Jats, Patidars and Marathas, among others. A section of the party believes that anger among upper castes played a role in its loss in the recent state polls. Party sources said the Modi government's measures, like granting constitutional status to the OBC Commission and strengthening the law on atrocities against Dalits and tribals, are likely to be highlighted and projected as part of its "social justice" project. "The Modi government has empowered every section of society. The party will naturally talk at length about it," they said. The council is also expected to hit out at the Congress over its "falsehoods", including those on the Rafale deal, and refer to the Supreme Court's order that rejected demands for a probe into the matter. The government's measures for farmers, besides various schemes for the welfare of the poor and economic growth, will also be discussed, they said. Shah has often asserted that the BJP will win more seats than the 2014 polls when it had won its first-ever majority bagging 282 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats. BJP's rivals believe that the party is facing a resurgent Congress in several states while the expected alliance of the Samajwadi Party and the BSP will dent its prospects in Uttar Pradesh, making the likelihood of its repeat of 2014 feat challenging. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has issued traffic advisory in view of the event. To facilitate traffic movement and avoid congestion, no vehicle will be allowed on Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Marg from Guru Nanak Chowk to roundabout Kamala market, police said. Traffic Police have advised commuters to use public transport and avoid roads such as JLN Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, Minto Road, Ranjeet Singh Marg and flyover, Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Shraddhanand Marg, Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi Railway Station and ITO to avoid congestion. According to the advisory, traffic will be restricted on need basis on the certain stretches including Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg from Guru Nanak Chowk to Ranjeet Singh Flyover to Barakhamba Road-Tolstoy crossing, Vivekanand Marg (Minto Road), Jhandewalan roundabout on Desh Bandhu Gupta Road to Ajmeri Gate Chowk to roundabout Kamla Market, Chaman Lal Marg from Guru Nanak Chowk to Turkman Gate, Asaf Ali road from Hamdard Chowk to Delhi Gate, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg from Delhi gate to Guru Nanak Chowk. Commercial vehicles will not be allowed on JLN Marg from Rajghat to Ajmeri Gate, on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg from ITO to Minto Road, Desh Bandhu Gupta Road from Paharganj Chowk and Y-Point Sheela Cinema to Ajmeri Gate, Asaf Ali Road, Shraddhanand Marg, Vivekananda Marg (Minto Road) Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg from Guru Nanak Chowk to Barakhamba-Tolstoy Crossing, it stated. City buses will be diverted from roundabout Jhandewalan, Minto road to DDU Marg crossing, Tilak Marg C-Hexagon, Mathura Road-Bhairon Road, Ram Charan Aggarwal Chowk (ITO), Chatta Rail Chowk, New Darya Ganj Road if required, the traffic advisory stated. Buses coming from Sikandra Road and Tilak Marg and bound for Red Fort to Railway Station via Delhi Gate will be diverted on Ring Road via Vikas Marg and will take Salimgarh bye-pass up to Hanuman Setu and from there will go to Old Delhi Railway Station, if required, it mentioned. (With PTI Inputs) Kolkata: Days after the Income Tax Department served notices to Durga puja committees asking them to file TDS, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked the committees to remain united and not appear before the Income Tax Department. "Now, they have not spared the Durga pujas too. They are scaring the puja committees through notices from the Income Tax. Durga Puja committees are non-profit organisations. They do not make any profits by celebrating the pujas. Hence, this does not fall in the ambit of Income Tax. Citizens here contribute to the pujas and the central government does not help them with a single penny," said Banerjee. She further added, "I'm asking all puja committees to remain united and not appear before the Income Tax department. I'm warning everyone, if you try touching the puja committees we will not spare you. There are so many trusts, temples and religious establishments like Tirupati Balaji, Golden Temple, Jagannath Temple, Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Ajmer Sharif. I want to ask them, are you going to charge Income Tax from them too?" Last week, the Kolkata branch of Income Tax Department had served notices to atleast 40 big budget and prominent Durga pujas of Kolkata to file their TDS and also disclose the source of donation collection. Banerjee on Friday also launched a blistering attack on the central government, blaming them for not getting the black money back into the country and even failing to get fugitives back. "Goondas are roaming around the country, they have failed to bring them back. They had promised to bring back black money from abroad ahead of elections, they have failed in doing that as well. They are silent on issues of farmer suicide and lynching. Now, they are eyeing festivals like Durga puja. We will not allow them to loot people who want to respect Goddess Durga and celebrate their festival," she said. Banerjee was speaking at the inauguration of the 23rd Jatra Utsav, organised by the state government.The festival was inaugurated from Kachari Maidan in Barasat. NEW DELHI: The 53rd death anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who died in Russia's Tashkent on January 11, 1966, following a massive heart attack, is being observed on Friday. Shastri, who became part of the country's struggle for freedom since the 1920s, later went on to become the second Prime Minister of independent India. He took charge as the Prime Minister after the demise of Jawaharlal Nehru. After assuming charge as the second Prime Minister, Shastri steered the nation out of an extremely tough situation post the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War. Concerned about the plight of his countrymen under the tyrannical British Rule, Shastri joined the national freedom movement at a young age drawing inspiration from the then top leaders like Mahatama Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Dr Rajendra Prasad etc. An orator par excellence, the short-statured leader was also known for his extreme will-power. A man of great discipline and integrity, Shastri supported the cause of farmers and made people understand the importance of self-sustenance. Shastri also popularized the famous slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan during the period of the war. He was highly respected for his philosophy of 'simple living and high thinking' and remained concerned about the common man throughout his life. He introduced effective strategies in times of crisis during his term as a Prime Minister like the Green Revolution and White Revolution. Shastri suffered a massive heart attack and died on January 11, 1966, in Russia's Tashkent where he signed a peace agreement between India and Pakistan post-1965 War. However, his death is still mired in controversy and demands being made from various quarters to the Government of India to declassify secret files related to his death. Here are some of his famous quotes:- 1.'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' 2. It is most regrettable that nuclear energy is being harnessed today for making nuclear weapons. 3. Discipline and united action are the real sources of strength for the nation. 4. We can win respect in the world only if we remain strong internally. 5. India can fight poverty and unemployment by becoming self-reliant in core sectors. 6. As a nation, we must fight for peace as we fought in a war. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with a cross-section of students, teachers and parents in the second edition of `Pariksha Pe Charcha` on January 29. The second edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' will be organised at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium. In this unique interaction, students, parents, teachers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come together to discuss issues related to exams and how to beat stress. An online competition has also been organised from January 7 to 17, 2019, for students of classes 9 to 12, graduate and undergraduate college students, their parents and teachers, in which they can participate on different themes. Students from Class 9 to 12 and students in graduate and undergraduate classes, below 25 years of age can take part in Caption Contest, winners of which will get an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister at the venue of the 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' event. There is also a competition titled `My Success Mantra` for graduate and undergraduate classes under this, the students can share their experience if they have benefited from the insights PM Narendra Modi gave in his book `Exam Warriors`, outlining the things from the book that made them look at exams and life differently. Teachers` have also been invited to share their thoughts or experiences on facing the challenge of exams. Parents have to give their thoughts on what is it that they have learnt from the young Exam Warrior at home. Unlike last year's 'Pariksha Pe Charcha', this year only the selected students, parents and teachers who have won the contest will be interacting with PM. Several first-time students from all over India are being called as compared to last year where only Delhi/ NCR students had participated. This year a cultural programme of 10 minutes has also been included in which the winners from Kala Utsav contest will be performing. For the first time, Indian students residing abroad will also participate in the event. Nearly 2000 students, parents and teachers will be participating from all over India in Pariksha pe Charcha 2.0. Drew Angerer/Getty Images (NEW YORK) -- Six families of victims killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School won a legal victory Friday in their fight against controversial radio and internet personality Alex Jones. A judge in Connecticut has granted the families discovery requests, allowing them access to, among other things, Infowars internal marketing and financial documents. The judge has scheduled a hearing next week to decide whether to allow the plaintiffs attorneys to depose Jones. The plaintiffs include the parents of five children who went to the school as well as family members of first-grade teacher Victoria Leigh Soto and Principal Dawn Hochsprung, according to a statement from the plaintiff's attorneys. According to the statement, the plaintiffs allege a "years-long campaign of abusive and outrageous false statements in which Jones and the other defendants have developed, amplified and perpetuated claims that the Sandy Hook massacre was staged and that the 26 families who lost loved ones that day are paid actors who faked their relative's deaths." It goes on to say that "Jones' actions subjected the families and survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting to physical confrontations and harassment, death threats and personal attacks on social media." "From the beginning, we have alleged that Alex Jones and his financial network trafficked in lies and hate in order to profit from the grief of Sandy Hook families. That is what we intend to prove, and today's ruling advances that effort," Chris Mattei, one of the attorneys representing the families, said in the statement. "We look forward to gaining access to Infowars' internal marketing and financial documents to show that Jones has built an empire as nothing more than a conspiracy profiteer, as alleged in our complaint." Jones has sought to dismiss the lawsuit. "Plaintiffs suffered a horrible tragedy," his defense attorney, Jay M. Wolman, wrote in a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. "Alex Jones and Infowars are not responsible for this tragedy. To punish them for First Amendment protected speech on this matter of public concern will not bring back the lives lost." Wolman did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment. The judges ruling on discovery gives the plaintiffs access to any communication Jones had about the Newtown massacre and to documents that could point to the inner workings of Infowars. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. India on Friday lashed out at Pakistan over countrys Prime Minister Imran Khans recent remark on the condition of minorities in India. Addressing mediapersons, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that Pakistan should be the last country to lecture India on plurality and inclusive society. Pakistan said minorities are not treated well in India, I think Pakistan should be the last country to lecture us on plurality and inclusive society. We and the world are fully aware of the situation of minorities in their country, said the MEA spokesperson. In December, Imran Khan had targeted India over issues concerning minorities, following a video of critically-acclaimed actor Naseeruddin Shah. The Pakistan Prime Minister had alleged that members of the minority community were unsafe in India and were not being treated as equal citizens. He had further said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government would show the Narendra Modi government in India as to how to treat minorities. Later, when Pakistan celebrated the birth anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Imran Khan raked up the issue again, saying Jinnah fought for a separate nation for Muslims because he realised that Muslims would not be treated as equal citizens by the Hindu majority. Taking to microblogging site Twitter, the Pakistan Prime Minister wrote, Quaid envisaged Pakistan as a democratic, just and compassionate nation. Most importantly he wanted our minorities to be equal citizens. It should be remembered that his early political career was as an ambassador for Hindu Muslim unity. His struggle for a separate nation for Muslims only started when he realised that Muslims would not be treated as equal citizens by the Hindu majority. Naya Pak is Quaid's Pak & we will ensure that our minorities are treated as equal citizens, unlike what is happening in India, he further tweeted. Meanwhile, the MEA spokesperson also question Pakistans intention for resumption of dialogue with India. He said, If Pakistan is ready for dialogue, why hasn't Pakistan taken any action against Mumbai and Pathankot terror attack perpetrators? They continue to provide support to the banned terrorist outfits. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has found that terror groups of Kashmir are using the Wagah border as a new route for terror training in Pakistan. The newly-recruited terrorists are using the Wagah route through valid travel documents. A new disclosure was made in the investigation of the terrorist attack on the army camp of Nagrota in Jammu. According to NIA's investigation, the terrorists enter India after their training through the LoC. NIA investigation has revealed that terrorists are receiving Pakistani visas on the recommendation letter of Kashmiri separatist. NIA revealed that four JeM terrorists - Mohd Ashiq Baba, Syed Munir-Ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmad Dar and Ashraf Hamid Khandey - had facilitated a group of three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists and transported them from the International Border in Samba-Kathua sector to Hotel Jagdamba in Jammu. Ashiq Baba had trained in terror camps in Pakistan and PoK after entering through the same route. "Mohmmad Ashiq Baba went to Pakistan many times by using Wagah border and stayed in Pakistan and PoK. During his stay there, he had visited training camps of JeM in Rawalpindi. He got his visa on the recommendation of leaders of Hurriyat Conference in Sringar," said a senior officer in NIA. Jaish-e-Mohammed is providing money to the Kashmiri terrorists through hawala and banks from Doha in Qatar. In the investigation of the Nagrota attack, it has been learnt that money was sent to the terrorists in a bank of Srinagar. "Investigations have established that Mohd Ashiq Baba was receiving funds being sent by JeM commanders using various mode of channels, including Indian currency. US dollors are being sent through fund transfer from Doha,Qatar," said the senior NIA officer. Another arrested terrorist involved in Nagrota attack - Syed Muneer-Ul-Hasan-Qadri - has revealed that he along with other JeM operatives were in touch with the JeM commander in Pakistan and had received a newly-infiltrated group of three Pakistani terrorists from the Samba sector a day before the attack. The investigation established that Syed Muneer-Ul-Hasan-Qadri had crossed LoC and went to Muzffarabad (PoK) and had started living with distant relatives. During his stay in Pakistan, he got physical training in Al-Barq terrorist camp in Muzffarabad. He returned via Nepal along with his family in May 2011 in accordance with Chief Minister rehabilitation program. During his stay in Pakistan, he came into contact with a Waseem (Commander of JeM). Waseem offered to pay him Rs seven to 10 lakh for receiving the JeM group in Jammu. Qadri got ready and returned to Pakistan for the same. Highly trained and equipped with AK-47 rifles and explosives, the three terrorist attacked Officers' Mess Complex of Indian Army's 166 Medium Regiment at Nagrota in the wee hours of November 29 of 2016. New Delhi: A day after being ousted from the top post of CBI by a high-power selection panel led by PM Narendra Modi, Alok Verma has lashed out against the decision and tendered his resignation after refusing to take charge as DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. Verma was removed from the top post of CBI just two days after Supreme Court had re-instated him post a 77-day forced leave. He was told to take charge as DG Fire Services but on Friday, Verma - who was due to retire on January 31 - refused to accept the new role. "Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the Director," news agency ANI quoted from a statement issued by him. In his letter to Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, Verma said he has 'crossed his superannuation age for DG Fire Services, Civil Defence&Home Guards.' The main reason for the 2:1 vote against Verma in the selection panel was cited as the serious nature of corruption charges against him. It is reported that while PM Modi and Supreme Court's Justice AK Sikri were in favour of his removal, leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge - the third member here - was against it. This has led to another round of political war of words between Congress and the NDA government. Meanwhile, at CBI, Verma has been replaced by M Nageshwar Rao as the interim head of the country's premier investigative agency. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday directed the Centre and Meghalaya government to take help of experts and in order to rescue the 15 miners who are trapped in a coal mine in East Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya since December 13, 2018. Supreme Court asks Centre and Meghalaya govt to take help of experts and continue efforts to rescue the miners who are trapped in a coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills since December 13 last year. ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 "Carry on with your rescue efforts, what if all or at least some are still alive? Miracles do happen," the SC said. Supreme Court asks government what is being done about persons operating illegal mines&the officials who allowed illegal mines to go on? A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri says, "Carry on with your rescue efforts, what if all or at least some are still alive? Miracles do happen." https://t.co/zU5IxYCuT9 ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 A SC bench headed by Justice AK Sikri also asked the Meghalaya government over the steps taken by the government about the persons operating illegal mines and the officials who turned blind eye towards these illegal mines. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Centre and informed that every possible step has been taken for the rescue operation. He added that Indian Air Force has also deployed its planes and helicopters to aid the rescue operations. The bench has posted the matter to January 18 for further hearing. The miners got trapped inside a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine at Ksan near Lytein River in East Jaintia Hills after water from a nearby river punctured the wall of the mine and flooded it. The Eastern Naval Command informed on Tuesday that Indian Navy`s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) probes managed to enter the two identified rat holes which run horizontal to the vertical shaft. The ROV operations are aimed at identifying and entering the rat holes in the incident shaft while simultaneously sanitising the adjacent shafts. Last week, two high powered pumps, offered by Kirloskar Brothers Ltd, were finally activated on Day 23 of rescue operations. The pumps were engaged in dewatering the main shaft with the help of which Navy divers were expected to gauge the water level in the shaft. (with agency inputs) NEW DELHI: Additional Director M Nageshwar Rao took charge as the interim director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday. Rao, a 1986-batch Odisha cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, took charge in pursuance of an order of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued a day earlier. Rao will occupy the post and look after the duties of the CBI chief till a new appointment is done or until further orders from the government. M. Nageshwar Rao, Additional Director, CBI has assumed the charge of the office of Director, CBI after Alok Verma was transferred yesterday as DG Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence. pic.twitter.com/byJxaH5Ywj ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 Soon after assuming the charge, Rao reverted all transfer decisions taken by his ousted predecessor Alok Verma restoring the position of officials as on January 8. Verma, after being reinstated by the Supreme Court on January 8, had undone all the transfers done by Rao. He had also appointed a new investigation officer to probe the case against Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Rao was given the charge after CBI Director Alok Verma was sacked by the Centre and transferred as DG Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence on Thursday. Verma was sacked after a two-hour-long meeting of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Selection Committee in New Delhi. The panel which also included Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the largest party in the Lok Sabha and the second senior-most Supreme Court judge, AK Sikri, decided to remove Alok Verma with a 2-1 majority. Verma, whose two-year fixed tenure as CBI director would have ended on January 31, 2019, was posted as the DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Importantly, Rao was appointed the interim CBI chief for the second time. Rao was first given the duties and functions of CBI director late night on October 23, 2018, after Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana were divested of all powers by the government following a spat between them. The next morning, Rao had effected a large number of transfers, including of officials probing a corruption case against Asthana like DSP A K Bassi, DIG M K Sinha and Joint Director A K Sharma. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief MK Stalin on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it was an irony that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader compared himself with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Targeting Prime Minister Modi, the DMK chief declared that his party would never get into an alliance with the BJP. DMK will never align with BJP, and Modi is not Vajpayee. Alliance under him is not a healthy alliance. It is an irony that PM Modi compares himself with Vajpayee, news agency ANI quoted Stalin as saying. The remark by the DMK chief comes a day after Prime Minister Modi reached out to the parties in Tamil Nadu, saying that the BJP was open to alliance with parties based in the southern state and that he cherished old friends. Addressing BJPs booth-level workers in Tamil Nadu through video conferencing, the Prime Minister referred to successful coalition politics during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister of the country. The Prime Minister said, Twenty years ago the visionary leader Atal ji brought in a new culture in Indian politics, that of successful coalition politics. He gave utmost importance to regional aspirations... BJP has followed the way Atal ji has shown us. He said the same in response to a question by a BJP worker on whether the party would get into an alliance with the DMK, the AIADMK or actor Rajinikanth, who is yet to announce his political party. In 2014, the BJP had contested the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu in alliance with as many as six parties, including those relatively smaller in strength. Among the NDA constituents were the DMDK, the PMK and Vaiko-led MDMK. The alliance had won just two out of the 39 seats. However, all five parties snapped ties with the BJP later. On Friday, the prime minister said a strong NDA was an article of faith for us. It is not a compulsion. Even when the BJP won a strong majority on its own, we preferred to run the government with our allies. We cherish our old friends and our doors are always open for parties, Modi said. (With PTI Inputs) PANCHKULA: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and three other persons were convicted for murdering journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Court in Panchkula on Friday afternoon. The sentencing will be pronounced on Thursday, January 17, said the CBI counsel. What had happened that day? Read a detailed timeline of events The three other persons convicted in the case are Nirmal Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Krishan Lal. The 51-year-old self-styled godman appeared for the verdict via video conferencing from Rohtak jail where he's currently lodged. He had been named as the key conspirator in the case dating back to 2002. The head of the Sirsa-based sect is already serving a 20-year sentence for raping two 'sadhvis' or female followers in 2002. Following the conviction of the 50-year-old self-styled godman in August 2017 in the rape case, riots broke out in Panchkula and several parts of north India. Chhatrapati was shot at in October 2002 after his newspaper, 'Poora Sach', published an anonymous letter narrating how the 'sadhvis' were being sexually exploited by Singh at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa. The journalist later succumbed to injuries and a case was registered in 2003. CBI took over the case in 2006. Sirsa, Panchkula and neighbouring regions are on high alert, with additional police force being deployed in the area. The entire area around the Panchkula court was cordoned off. In May 2018, former driver of the Dera chief Khatta Singh had deposed in the murder cases of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and Dera follower Ranjit Singh. Singh had told the CBI in 2007 he had information about the meeting between Ram Rahim and his men before Dera follower Ranjit Singh was murdered on July 10, 2002. He had also claimed to have information about Ram Rahim directing his men to murder Ram Chander Chhatrapati, the editor of a Sirsa-based newspaper. However, he had later turned hostile during his testimony in the CBI court in February 2012. He later said that he had changed his testimony due to the threat from the Dera chief and his goons. Chhatrapati's son Anshul has demanded that the court must award death sentence to the disgraced self-styled godman. "We were hoping for the past 16-17 years that we would get justice. We have got justice today after suffering for so long. We had to face a lot of difficulties and suffer a lot as he was very powerful. We thank the CBI team that investigated the case and supported us. This man should get the death sentence," Anshul told PTI. JABALPUR: Jabalpur District Collector Chhavi Bharadwaj on Thursday suspended the headmaster of a government school in the district for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Mukesh Tiwari, the headmaster of government-run Kanishta Buniyadi Middle School, was suspended after it was found that he had made derogatory remarks against Kamal Nath at a meeting held in the school on Tuesday. Trouble started for the headmaster after a video where he is purportedly seen making the controversial remarks went viral on different social media platforms. The collector said in her order that after examination of the video, it was found that the headmaster has violated the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules. Kamal Nath took oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on December 17after several rounds of discussion with party chief Rahul Gandhi. Kamal Nath, in the past, has held several portfolios in the Union cabinet. He was appointed the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president on April 26 and was at the forefront in steering the party to a win in the 2018 Assembly polls where Congress won 114 seats in the 230-member House. The Congress fell marginally short of a majority but managed to form the government with the support of seven more MLAs, comprising two from the BSP, one from the SP and four Independents. The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a plea filed by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special director Rakesh Asthana. The senior CBI official had sought quashing of FIR filed against him. News agency ANI reported that the High Court also dismissed the plea filed by CBI Deputy Superintendent Police Devender Kumar. The CBI had filed an FIR against Rakesh Asthana, where he was accused of accepting a bribe from a businessman related to controversial meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi case. Asthana had allegedly accepted the bribe while heading the special investigation team (SIT) investigation the case. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana on October 15. In his complaint, Sana had alleged to have paid a bribe to get relief in the case. Sana had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractices against Asthana. The setback for Asthana comes a day after a high-powered committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising Supreme Court judge Justice AK Sikri and veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, decided by a 2:1 majority to remove Alok Verma as the CBI chief. Verma has, however, objected to the decision of the committee, saying he was transferred on basis of false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations. Meanwhile on Thursday, CBI DIG MK Sinha, who was supervising the probe against Rakesh Asthana, recused himself from taking charge of the investigation. (With Agency inputs) NEW DELHI: In a major relief for Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, the British High Commission in India on Friday gets consular access to 54-year-old British citizen. "Our staff are supporting a British man who is detained in India, and have visited him to check his welfare," said the British High Commission in India. On Thursday, Michel had moved an application before a special CBI court, seeking permission to make international calls to family, friends and his lawyers. The alleged middleman said in the application that he wants to contact his family and friends as well as his lawyers over telephone. The jail superintendent has been directed by the CBI court to submit a report in this matter on January 14. It may be recalled that a Delhi court has sent Michel to judicial custody till February 26. Michel was arrested on December 5 after he was extradited to India from Dubai. He is accused of having played a key role in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, finalised during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Michel is an accused in the case along with former India's Air Force Chief, Air Marshal SP Tyagi, among others. New Delhi: BJP National Convention got underway at the Ramlila Ground here on Friday with party chief Amit Shah using wars as metaphors to outline his plans for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Underlining the need to take the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to people at large, Shah said that the upcoming elections would be a battle between two completely different ideologies. "We believe in the welfare of the poor, in fulfilling the aspirations of the young and in the happiness of people at large. PM Modi had worked relentlessly in the last four years for this and you have to ensure that India's achievements in the last four years reach the far corners," he told party workers. "The upcoming elections would be a battle between two ideologies. We believe in development and welfare and they (apparently refering to Congress) work for personal gains." Expressing his unwavering faith in the work done by the NDA government, Shah then said that a win in the 2019 elections would ensure BJP reaches states which have not yet been won. "Our win in the elections coming up would ensure we make our presence felt in Kerala. The 2014 results were great and it has to be repeated," he said while attacking rival parties. "They speak of Mahagathbandhan. What is Mahagathbandhan? They could not see eye-to-eye previously but are trying to shake hands now. Do you know why? It is because they cannot tolerate the good work done by PM Modi and want to defeat him. That is their single-point agenda." Shah then listed out the achievements of the PM Modi government, especially pointing out schemes related to cleanliness, electrification and gas cylinders. He also said that defence forces were demoralised under the UPA government. "This time, it was not the government of Manmohan (Singh) but of Modi. We ensured that our forces conducted surgical strikes to avenge the death of our bravehearts. Only two countries were known for avenging their fallen soldiers - US and Israel. Modi ji ensured India's name is added to the list," he said. Choosing to then directly target Congress, Shah fired a number of shots at the main opposition party and its leaders - and over a range of issues. "There is not a single blotch on the Modi government but those out on bail themselves keep attacking. Rahul ji, the country can see everything," he said, adding that Congress is only good at playing vote-bank politics. London: In a first, a Swedish woman has become the first to get pregnant after having a womb transplant performed by a robot. The women who underwent uterine transplantation with robot-assisted surgery in 2017 is expecting a child in spring this year, the University of Gothenburg in Sweden said in a statement. Robotic surgery has made operating on the donors considerably less invasive. The operation is done with robot-assisted keyhole surgery in which five openings one centimeter long enable the surgeons to work with very high precision.ha "I think robotic surgery has a great future in this area," said Mats Brannstrom, Professor at Gothenburg's Sahlgrenska Academy. "We haven't saved as much time as we thought we would, but we gained in other ways. The donor loses less blood, the hospital stay is shorter, and the patient feels better after surgery," Brannstrom said. Uterus transplants involves surgically removing the womb of one woman and implanting it into one who cannot have a baby naturally. However, in robotic surgery the operating environment is completely different. Two of the surgeons sit with their heads close to their respective covered monitors where, using joystick-like tools, they control the robot arms and surgical instruments that release the uterus. A hand movement from the surgeon can be converted to a millimeter-sized movement in the donor's abdomen, allowing accuracy that minimizes disturbance to both the patient and her uterus. The multi-hour operation ends removal of the uterus through an incision in the abdomen and its immediate insertion into the recipient by means of traditional open surgery. Worldwide to date, a total of 13 babies have been born after uterine transplantation. In 2017, a healthy baby girl was born following the uterus transplant from a 45-year-old brain dead woman. The earlier 10 similar transplants from dead donors attempted in the US, Czech Republic and Turkey failed or resulted in miscarriage. SIRSA: A special CBI court in Panchkula will pronounce its verdict in a case of murder of a journalist allegedly involving Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Friday. Ahead of the verdict, security in Sirsa, Panchkula and neighbouring regions have been ramped up and a high alert has been sounded by the security agencies. The 51-year-old self-styled godman, currently serving a 20-year prison term in Rohtak's Sunaria jail for raping two of his women followers, will appear via video conferencing for the hearing in journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati's murder case. He has been named as the main conspirator in the case dating back to 2002. The court also directed all other accused persons - Nirmal Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Krishan Lal - who are currently out on bail, to be present in the court. Security has been enhanced in Haryana, according to Haryana ADGP (Law and Order) Muhammad Akil. Directions have been issued to police in all the districts not to allow any unnecessary gathering and maintain extra vigil, said police official adding that police nakas have also been laid at several places. An additional police force has also been deployed near the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa in Haryana, police said. A day before, the police carried out a flag march in Sirsa, where the Dera Sacha Sauda's the headquarters is located. In May 2018, former driver of the Dera chief Khatta Singh had deposed in the murder cases of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and Dera follower Ranjit Singh. Khatta Singh had said that he had changed his testimony earlier due to the threat from the Dera chief and his goons. Singh had told the CBI in 2007 he had information about the meeting between Ram Rahim and his men before Dera follower Ranjit Singh was murdered on July 10, 2002. He had also claimed to have information about Ram Rahim directing his men to murder Ram Chander Chhatrapati, the editor of a Sirsa-based newspaper. However, he had later turned hostile during his testimony in the CBI court in February 2012. Dera followers had indulged in large-scale violence in Panchkula and Sirsa after the CBI court on August 25 convicted the sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of rape. (With Agency Inputs) NEW DELHI: A massive blaze broke out in the furniture market in Kirti Nagar area of the city late on Thursday night. According to reports, the fire was so massive that more than 10 fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fire. The fire was contained after several hours of firefighting operations by the Fire Department officials. #UPDATE Delhi: Fire which had broken out in a furniture market in Kirti Nagar area last night, is now under control. No injuries or casualties have been reported. pic.twitter.com/3DD7BGJMVJ ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019 No casualties have been reported in the incident. However, it is not clear as to what caused the blaze in the furniture market. NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court will on Friday pronounce its verdict on a petition filed by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Director Rakesh Asthana and DSP Devendra Kumar seeking quashing of the First Information Report (FIR) against them in a bribery case. The FIR was registered against Asthana and others following a preliminary inquiry by the then CBI officials. The investigating agency had filed an FIR against Asthana for allegedly accepting a bribe from a businessman, who was related to controversial meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi case. Asthana was heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was probing the Qureshi case. The case against Kumar and Asthana and others was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana on October 15. In his complaint, Sana had alleged to have paid a bribe to get relief in the case. Sana had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractices against Asthana. The verdict comes a day after the Supreme Court reinstated Alok Verma s CBI Director, however, he was later unceremoniously removed from the post on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty. The 1979-batch IPS officer was posted as the Director-General Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, under the Union Home Ministry. The charge of the CBI has been given to Additional Director M Nageshwar Rao. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: The Patiala Court on Monday extended the interim protection from arrest granted to former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel Maxis case corruption case till February 1. It is alleged that FIPB approval in the Aircel-Maxis FDI case was granted in March 2006 by Chidambaram even though he was empowered to accord approval on project proposals only up to Rs 600 crore and beyond that it required the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). The CBI is probing how Chidambaram, who was the Union finance minister in 2006, granted a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to a foreign firm, when only the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was empowered to do it. The senior Congress leader's role has come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore. The court had on November 1 extended till November 26 the interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and the ED. Chidambaram had filed the plea for protection from arrest in the ED case on May 30 this year after which he got relief from the court on various occasions. The agency on October 25 had filed charge sheet against Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, accusing him of conspiring with foreign investors to clear their venture. With PTI Inputs Uri: The Surgical Strike is helmed by Aditya Dhar and stars Vicky Kaushal in the lead role. The movie is based on the surgical strike that was carried out by the Indian Army in September 2016 in retaliation to the attack on an Indian Army brigade in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack was touted as 'the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades'. Seconds into the film and you will find yourself in the midst of a battleground with the sound of gunshots and grenades piercing through your eardrums. Post introducing the audience to the 'new India' in the disclaimer, the film swings open to the surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army in Myanmar in 2015. The bloodshed and violence right at the beginning of the movie will take you in for a rude shock but that would subtly warn you about the scenes of despair that will grace your screen towards the cusp. Vicky Kaushal as Major Vihaan Shergill emerges victorious in the first surgical strike against Myanmar and is hailed as a mystic hero on and off the battleground. Many actors in Bollywood have played the role of Army officers but only a handful have managed to adapt the mannerisms with perfection and thankfully, Vicky falls in the latter category. However, his uniforms are little too body-hugging and that's barely his fault. The actors tend to overact as soon as they put on their uniforms but Vicky was unabashedly honest to the character he played. Another noticeable character that is introduced to us, in the beginning, is of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi played by Rajit Kapoor. They say imitation is the best form of flattery but Kapoor flatters himself as an actor more by not imitating. Although strikingly similar in looks, Rajit pays an ode to PM Modi by focussing more on his deeds than making him look frivolous by carrying out careless imitation. Another remarkable performance that needs to be acknowledged before delving into the story further is of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval played by Paresh Rawal. Rawal is the splitting image of Doval and it almost feels like you are getting to know the brain behind the surgical strike through Rawal. Apart from the high-octane drama, the film also has moments that focus on the familial bonds. Vicky as Vihaan, who had been recognized by the Prime Minister for his exemplary performance, requests for a desk job just to be around his mother, who is at the final stage of Alzheimer's. A Special Forces guy finds himself tangled in the 'wires' of his desk job but still continues it for the sake of his mother. That is also when Yami Gautam enters the scene. Yami's character is a surprise element in the film and the viewers totally have to watch the film to find out. Talking about bonds, there a scene that viewers would remember where Vicky, who is at the funeral of his friend breaks down standing in attention position is a moment to remember. That is also when the stage is set for the surgical strike. The plot of the film was known to all and it was the execution that the audience was eyeing on. Aditya Dhar and his team have managed to do a fair job by focusing on the characters and keeping away from the political dalliances. Much ahead of its release, URI was touted as a hyper-nationalistic film but to everyone's surprise, it has rightly steered cleared from jingoism and useless chest-thumping. The edge-of-the-seat suspense will keep the audience hooked till the very end and the power-packed performances make for a good watch. (Rating:3/5stars) Targul din Craiova ramane inchis, comerciantii au fugit in America Targul Municipal din Craiova ar fi trebuit sa se deschida pe 12 iunie. Insa, Hotararea de Guvern care il tine inchis a fost prelungita din cauza starii de alerta, iar comerciantii au ajuns la disperare. Tarabe pline, acoperite cu folii din plastic [citeste mai departe] News VIDEO: Imran invites Islamabad traffic warden to PM House, praises him for performing duty despite being injured The prime minister said that the entire image of police is lifted by the effort of just one man because of such an incident. "I called you especially here to appreciate your effort and we will reward you for it as well." Russian Minister of Energy of Russia Alexander Novak (on screen) speaks during a ministerial level meeting with members of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers during the 175th OPEC Conference on December 7, 2018 in Vienna, Austria. (AFP PHOTO) MOSCOW, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia has started to further cut its oil production and the level of reduction is expected to reach 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of January, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Friday. "We are reducing production since October. Our companies stated that they could reach a total reduction of about 50,000 bpd this month compared with October 2018. We could probably reach this figure by the end of the month," Novak was quoted as saying by Sputnik news agency. According to the minister, Russia's current level of oil output reduction has exceeded 30,000 bpd. On Dec. 7, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC countries reached an agreement at a meeting in Vienna, which stipulates an output cut totaling 1.2 million bpd during the first six months of 2019. Under the deal, OPEC members and non-OPEC producers will have to reduce their oil output by 800,000 bpd and 400,000 bpd respectively. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 06:54:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LISBON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese parliament approved on Friday the extension of gold visa scheme with "Green Visas", for which investors are required to make investments on green projects. The "Green Visas" proposed by People-Animals-Nature (PAN) party was approved with the main opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) and ruling Socialist Party (PS) voting in favor and Left Bloc (BE), Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Greens (PEV) voting against. "The approval of the green visas will reinforce Portugal's role in attracting international ecological investment and will guarantee, in parallel, the transition to a circular and decarbonised economy," said Andre Silva, PAN's MP at Thursday's debate. Investors for Green Visas will be required to invest in non-intensive organic farming and projects that reinforce and actively contribute to the implementation of Portugal's Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality. They also need to make investments focusing on self-consumption with energy from renewable sources and projects that show high standards of energy efficiency. The investors should pay the amount that equals to or greater than 250,000 euros in a period of five years to get the Green Visas granted. On the same day, the parliament rejected by voting the end of the Gold Visa scheme proposed by BE, which defined it a tool of real estate speculation through which Portugal "sells rights of citizenship". The gold visa scheme, officially called Investment Residency Authorization (ARI), is a fast-track residency visa scheme for large-scale investors. ARIs are available to non-European Union residents, who either buy real estate in Portugal worth 500,000 euros, or 350,000 euros if the property is 30 years old, or make capital transfers of 1 million euros, less if certain cultural or commercial investment criteria are fulfilled. (one euro currently equals to 1.15 U.S. dollars) Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 06:49:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ACCRA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday pledged its support to help Ghana expand the University of Health and Allied Sciences located at Ho, 180 km northeast of the capital, Accra. At a brief ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Wang Shiting and Ghana's Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta signed a formal note on behalf of their respective country for the grant support. Wang said the signing of the document was an indication that "the Chinese government will support the construction of the second phase of the project for the University of Health and Allied Sciences." "This is a gift from the Chinese government and its people to the Ghanaian government and its people. It is also a milestone in the friendship between our two countries," he said. The first phase of the project covering a land area of 10,386 square meters was also funded by the Chinese government. The project which was handed over to the government of Ghana in September 2015 consisted of equipment for the school of basic and biomedical science, lecture halls, libraries, student housing facilities and senior staff residential area. The second phase, to be situated on a land area of 29,200 square meters, will include a new administration building, College of Nursing and Midwifery, duty and equipment room, and other supporting facilities. "We have reason to believe that after the project is completed the University of Health and Allied Sciences will become one of the most beautiful and modern universities in Ghana," Wang said. The diplomat assured the Ghanaian government that the cooperation between the two countries in the area of education would not end with this project since China stands ready to share its experience with Ghana as education is the key to any country's development. On his part, Ofori-Atta lauded the Chinese government for surpassing the amount agreed upon for the project. "China has been one of Ghana's allies supporting the government of Ghana to promote sustainable growth and reduce poverty," the minister said. He said Ghana was vigorously pursuing the vision of growing beyond aid on four major pillars of revenue and domestic resource mobilization, expenditure management, finance and treasury management, creating opportunities which will all require further resources. One key aspect of the vision, Ofori-Atta said, was in the area of education and human capital development to ensure that the country had the capacity to leverage its resources. The project is expected to enhance tertiary education in the country and also create employment opportunities for the teeming youth, Ofori-Atta added. "We wish to work together to enhance the already strong and cordial relations between Ghana and China," he said. Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria on May 10, 2018. (Reuters File photo) DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the missiles launched by Israeli warplanes on areas near the capital Damascus on Friday night, the Syrian army said. The Israeli warplanes flew from the Galilee Panhandle and fired several missiles on the vicinity of the capital Damascus, said an army statement. The Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the Israeli missiles, it added. Only a warehouse in the Damascus International Airport was damaged, according to the statement. Meanwhile, the state TV said the Syrian air defenses destroyed eight Israeli missiles over Damascus, and cited airport officials as saying the airport was functioning as usual without changes of flights. Just half an hour before midnight, sounds of explosions were heard in Damascus, especially in the western part of the city. The Israeli attack, if confirmed, will be the latest in a string of missile strikes targeting the Syrian positions throughout the Syrian crisis since 2011, under the pretext that these positions belong to Iran-backed forces and allied Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters. The last such missile attack was carried out on Dec. 25, 2018, during which the Israeli warplanes fired missiles on Syrian military depots in the western countryside of Damascus from inside the Lebanese airspace. In September 2018, Russia equipped the Syrian forces with the S-300 air defense missile system, but local reports said the advanced system hasn't been used yet. Syrian Foreign Ministry said last month that the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria aim to prolong the more than seven-year war in the country. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 06:34:21|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the missiles launched by Israeli warplanes on areas near the capital Damascus on Friday night, the Syrian army said. The Israeli warplanes flew from the Galilee Panhandle and fired several missiles on the vicinity of the capital Damascus, said an army statement. The Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the Israeli missiles, it added. Only a warehouse in the Damascus International Airport was damaged, according to the statement. Meanwhile, the state TV said the Syrian air defenses destroyed eight Israeli missiles over Damascus, and cited airport officials as saying the airport was functioning as usual without changes of flights. Just half an hour before midnight, sounds of explosions were heard in Damascus, especially in the western part of the city. The Israeli attack, if confirmed, will be the latest in a string of missile strikes targeting the Syrian positions throughout the Syrian crisis since 2011, under the pretext that these positions belong to Iran-backed forces and allied Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters. The last such missile attack was carried out on Dec. 25, 2018, during which the Israeli warplanes fired missiles on Syrian military depots in the western countryside of Damascus from inside the Lebanese airspace. In September 2018, Russia equipped the Syrian forces with the S-300 air defense missile system, but local reports said the advanced system hasn't been used yet. Syrian Foreign Ministry said last month that the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria aim to prolong the more than seven-year war in the country. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 06:14:16|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Although participants at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas were sanguine about upcoming tech breakthroughs such as 5G and smart drones, the ongoing U.S. government shutdown proved to be a drag on that progress, at least for a while. The most immediate hindrance to them is that multiple government officials canceled their appearance at CES to discuss with tech sectors "as a result of agency funding lapses," according to the organizer of CES, which came to a close Friday. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai, and the agency's commissioner Brendan Carr skipped their trip this week to CES, where the tech world convenes each January to discuss industry developments and debut their latest products. They would have talked to the public about 5G, privacy and the rapidly changing technological landscape. Recurrent data leak scandals last year led to a strong public call for government supervision on privacy, especially in a 5G era. Now, no official responses could be heard at the world's largest electronic trade show. The country's scientific and technological activities bore the brunt in many substantial ways as well. The FCC, an agency responsible for 5G licensing and approvals of all devices using radio frequencies, has suspended most of its operations and services. The trendy gadgets at CES such as "smart" appliances fall under FCC's regulatory umbrella. Now that most of its employees are furloughed, no innovative idea can translate into a product soon. Also, the review for the merger proposal for telecommunication giants Sprint and T-Mobile has been put to one side. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stopped their work on unmanned system exemption, meaning that any pilots hoping to test their drones in the air have to remake plans. The government shutdown affected a much higher place. The main camera onboard the Hubble Space Telescope went out of operation on Tuesday due to a hardware problem, according to the U.S. space agency NASA. But its engineers are unlikely to fix the glitch until the end of the shutdown. NASA also announced the delay of SpaceX's first uncrewed launch of Dragon spacecraft. It was scheduled to take off in January, but now put off to no earlier than February. A NASA statement said it would broadcast the SpaceX's spacecraft release from the International Space Station on Sunday, but it has to go "without commentary," since the NASA narrators are furloughed and have to watch TV at home. International scientific cooperation has been affected as well. An airborne observatory funded by NASA and Germany space agency was grounded. The observatory called SOFIA, installed on a Boeing airplane, is designed to take infrared pictures of our planet. However, the most risky consequence of the government standstill is caused by the shutdown of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has suspended new drug application review except for emergency ones. The FDA approved a record 59 new drugs in 2018, including some life-saving ones to treat AIDS and cancer, but two weeks into the new year, no drugs have been approved. The partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government stretched into the 21st day on Friday, tying the record for the longest in the country's history. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 06:09:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian air defenses intercepted suspected Israeli missiles targeting the west of the capital Damascus on Friday night, state TV reported. Just half an hour before midnight, sounds of explosions were heard in Damascus, especially in the western part of the city. The sounds of explosions came with the response of the Syrian air defense, the state TV said, adding that the situation was similar to previous Israeli attacks on military sites in Syria. Eyewitnesses also told Xinhua that the defense missiles were seen in the sky over the capital city. The Israeli attack, if confirmed, will be the latest in a string of missile strikes targeting the Syrian positions throughout the Syrian crisis since 2011, under the pretext that these positions belong to Iran-backed forces and allied Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters. The last such missile attack was carried out on Dec. 25, 2018, during which the Israeli warplanes fired missiles on Syrian military depots in the western countryside of Damascus from inside the Lebanese airspace. In September 2018, Russia equipped the Syrian forces with the S-300 air defense missile system, but local reports said the advanced system hasn't been used yet. Syrian Foreign Ministry said last month that the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria aim to prolong the more than seven-year war in the country. The L train shutdown might be cancelled, but the battle over what will happen with the city's long-planned mitigation measures is only just beginning. For some Manhattan residents, the primary focus of that fight appears to be the new bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets a long-simmering conflict that's grown increasingly heated in the wake of Governor Cuomo's surprise announcement last week. On Thursday, the lanes were reportedly vandalized with spray paint "Bring back our parking" and signs declaring the lanes "cancelled." Cyclist Jonathan Warner also spotted broken glass in the painted lanes, which he said seemed like a "pretty deliberate" attack carried out by the neighborhood's bike lane foes. The incident comes amid increasingly vocal opposition from some West Village residents, who believe the bike lanes should be ripped out now that the shutdown likely isn't going forward. "The 14th Street Coalition does not want their neighborhoods to be guinea pigs with extremely disruptive changes to their safety," the group said in a statement earlier this week. In a letter sent to the DOT on Thursday, attorney Arthur Schwartz once again called for the removal of "the super-sized bike lanes," noting that they'd displaced 1,075 parking spots. "There is no data, nor could there be any data, which would demonstrate the need for a single element of the non-subway service portion of the [Alternative Service Plan]," Schwartz wrote. Reached by phone on Friday, Schwartz told Gothamist that "nobody uses the bike lane on 12th Street," and claimed that older residents frequently tell him that they are afraid to leave their houses because of the threat of cyclists. According to a DOT analysis, pedestrian injuries decreased by 22 percent in places where protected bike lanes were installed, while crashes with injuries were reduced by 17 percent. Still, Schwartz maintained that the lanes served little purpose other than to be used as parking spaces for trucks and construction vehicles. "Where are they supposed to park?" he wondered. "That's where they park." During drop-off hours at the City & Country School on 13th Street on Friday morning, Gothamist surveyed half a dozen parents, most of whom alluded to the conflict but refused to speak on the record. I drive so I dont use the bike lanes, but I know that on this block it should be taken out for the kids its not right to have a bike lane so close to a school, said Cole, a parent from New Jersey. Theres always the chance of an accident when you have cyclists and children together." But for the most part, the neighborhood's most outspoken bike lane opponents were absent from Thursday night's Community Board 2 meeting in Manhattan. Perhaps they were soothed by the almost superhumanly even-tempered presence of NYC Transit President Andy Byford, who by this point has spent quite a bit of time explaining to people what we know and don't know about the shutdown reboot. "Because there's been such a monumental shift in the plan for the L line, I feel that I owe it to you, the community, to come and explain to you what's going on, and to answer your questions as best I can," said Byford. The meeting, which drew about 50 people (some of whom said they live in a nearby CB district but wanted to be heard), came during a busy week for Byford, which included another Community Board appearance the previous night and a live WNYC interview with Brian Lehrer in the Greene Space on Thursday. Byford assured the CB2 crowd that the majority of the plan remains the same: replacing tracks, providing accessibility at three stations, upgrading lights and adding substations. He drew clear distinctions between what falls within NYCT's purview and what falls to Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg ("DOT owns the roadway, but we own the bus service"). He said he plans to have independent experts study the proposed plan before proceeding with the new recommendations. He used the extremely British phrase "this is a moving feast" several times, in reference to the fluidity of the situation. What we don't know yet, Byford explained, is what this means for the original mitigation plan and for 14th Street. Which, of course, is what most meeting attendees wanted to talk about. Some were there to reinforce the idea that bike lanes should remain in the new plan. Leora Rosenberg, who lives on 13th Street and 6th Avenue, conjured up the experience she had last year when she fell off her bike on 14th Street, breaking several ribs and seeing a car rushing toward her as she lay on the street. "It looked so big. And so fast," said Rosenberg. She says she now uses the bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets and urged Byford to consider how important they are to cyclists like her. Several members of the 14th Street Coalition were also in attendance on Thursday to advocate for a reversal of the original mitigation plan to turn 14th Street into a "busway." Some pointed out how Select Bus Service does not serve seniors in the area well because it could mean more walking. Others seemed to be firmly against bus-only service, like Paul Mulhauser who reminded Byford that he had once pledged to be "flexible" about the number of buses needed along 14th Street. "Assuming that the L train may stay open," said Mulhauser, "I appreciate you recalling that you would scale back the number of buses per hour, and the busway can hopefully go away." Byford responded that it may not be as "binary" as Mulhauser suggested, and that limited L train service on nights and weekends may still warrant more buses. The volume of buses was of primary concern to a group called the Kenmare/Little Italy Loop Coalition, whose members claimed their voices were largely left out of the original mitigation plan altogether. "Studies done by the DOT, in terms of traffic, have deliberately stopped and not included Kenmare Street, Broome Street, the traffic that goes from Williamsburg up to the Holland Tunnel," said member Lora Tenenbaum. She added that she found it "disconcerting" to see the original mitigation plan proposed allowing 55 buses to use Kenmare Street. When pressed on a timeline for determining the details of a new mitigation plan, Byford said, "I'd say it's still a couple of weeks away, because we want to get this right." Several attendees also reminded Byford that he owes it to the community to keep them involved in conversations as a new plan is developed. "Where we've given people commitments, we should stick to those commitments," Byford told the group. "The only difference is, of course, the plan has changed. So we've got to go and revisit it." UPDATE: The Department of Transportation has issued a statement about the West Village bike lane vandalism, vowing to "hold the perpetrator(s) accountable for this disturbing act." The agency adds that "efforts for the L tunnel closure will remain in place as we continue to review the plan presented last week." A statement from DOT Commissioner Trottenberg and @NYPDTransport Chief Chan. pic.twitter.com/XobA6Xr8jV NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) January 11, 2019 A spokesperson for the DOT also reached out to Gothamist to dispute Arthur Schwartz's assertion that 1,075 parking spots were lost to the bike lanes. The actual number of lost spots is about half of that, the spokesperson said, noting that "the original two-way bike lane on 13th St. was designed to minimize parking loss and was strongly opposed by the 14th Street Coalition." Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 06:09:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Friday stepped up its battle against starvation in Yemen with a 32-million-U.S. dollar transfer of funds from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to the humanitarian relief effort in the war-scarred country. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock and the Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP) David Beasley announced the contribution here at UN Headquarters. "The funds will allow WFP to ramp up humanitarian logistical operations, including increases in humanitarian air cargo, transport more humanitarian workers, provide more accommodation spaces, including in Hodeidah, and expand emergency telecommunications," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The funds will also support the work of UN agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations engaged in the humanitarian relief operations, Dujarric said. "Across Yemen, courageous humanitarians are already helping millions of people, but the needs are even greater," Beasley said. "The WFP is scaling up to increase its assistance from 8 million people a month to 12 million a month and this contribution from the CERF will help make that happen." "To avert the worst in Yemen, all parties to the conflict must facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need," said Lowcock who is also chief of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "WFP provides outstanding logistical support, including transport, accommodation and communications support for many aid agencies, and this allocation will finance an urgent extension of those services," Lowcock said. They both welcomed the recent decisions made in the capital of Sanaa to provide more visas for humanitarian workers, to investigate allegations of theft of food aid and to punish those responsible, the spokesman said. "A ban was implemented on the sale of food aid intended for Yemenis with no income and more effective targeting and monitoring systems were put in place," he told reporters at a regular briefing. "Increased procedures that have been agreed to by the government, including bio-metrics which help track the aid, and investigations will be going on," the spokesman said. "The scale-up in the humanitarian operation aims to reach the most vulnerable people in priority districts, including internally displaced people, with the full range of life-saving assistance that is required in the world's largest humanitarian emergency," OCHA said in a statement. "The rapid infusion of funds complements funding from the Yemen Humanitarian Fund in support of front-line responders," it added. As for the political situation during a partial cease-fire, the spokesman said, "What is important is that all the parties cooperate with the United Nations to help move the process forward to ensure that the relative calm that we see in Hodeidah can be solidified, spread to other places in the country because that's something we have been calling for for quite some time, and engage in the political process." "This has been a long road, a lot of ups and downs," he said. "I think we're pleased with what's happening right now but we need to move forward; we need to solidify what is happening on the ground." Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 05:59:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SKOPJE, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian Parliament members voted on Friday to endorse the constitutional changes regarding the name of the country. Eighty-one MPs voted in favor of the amendments 33, 34, 35 and 36 to the Macedonian constitution, paving the way to changing the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia. The MPs of the main opposition party VMRO-DPMNE did not attend the session. According to the amendments, the citizenship will be Macedonian citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia "which neither determines nor defines the ethnic background of the citizens." Macedonia guarantees that it will observe the sovereignty, the territorial integrity and the political independence of the neighbors - Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Serbia. Under the Prespa Agreement signed on June 17, 2018, the amendments to Macedonia's constitution will not enter into force and will have no value if Greece doesn't ratify this agreement and NATO accession Protocol. Macedonia is formally called the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by the United Nations. Macedonia is also the name of a northern province in Greece. Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims. On June 17 last year, Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Agreement to resolve a decades-old name dispute. Under the deal, the official name of the country will become the Republic of North Macedonia. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 05:54:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said Friday discussions between the militaries of the United States and Turkey on Syria would continue next week, expecting the result of discussions would be acceptable on both sides. Bolton said in an interview that the military environment in northern Syria was "very complex", warning that Turkey should not take any military action that is not fully coordinated through military to military channels with the United States. Bolton held tense talks with Turkish officials over Syria on Tuesday in Ankara, while being snubbed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his remarks on the Kurdish militants after Washington's planned military withdrawal from Syria. Before arriving in Turkey, Bolton irritated the Turkish government by saying the U.S. pullout is based on Turkey's promise to ensure the safety of the Kurdish militia, an ally of the U.S. forces in defeating the Islamic State. Turkey cannot accept Bolton's recent comments regarding Syrian Kurdish militia, Erdogan said on Tuesday, reiterating Turkey's determination to eliminate "terror corridor" in northern Syria. Trump's announcement of pulling the 2,000 troops out of Syria has raised expectations that Turkey could launch a military operation targeting the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers a terrorist group with links to Kurdish separatists in Turkey. Some U.S. military ground equipment had been withdrawn from Syria in recent days, U.S. media reported on Thursday. Trump said earlier this week that U.S. troops would be withdrawn from Syria "at a proper pace," while at the same time continuing the fight against the Islamic State. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 05:49:09|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Khemaies Jhinaoui (1st R) meets with Wang Xiaotao (2nd L), head of China International Development Cooperation Agency, in Tunis, capital of Tunisia, Jan. 11, 2019. China and Tunisia signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement on Friday to increase China's support for Tunisia. (Xinhua/Adele Ezzine) TUNIS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China and Tunisia signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement on Friday to increase China's support for Tunisia. The agreement was signed by Hatem Ferjani, secretary of state to the minister for foreign affairs in charge of economic diplomacy, and Wang Xiaotao, head of China International Development Cooperation Agency, who is on a two-day visit to Tunisia. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen Tunisian-Chinese cooperation and to promote Chinese investment in Tunisia, particularly in infrastructure. Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Khemaies Jhinaoui also met with Wang, and reiterated Tunisia's will to strengthen cooperation with China in many economic sectors. "Tunisia's accession to China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will certainly open new horizons for bilateral cooperation between Tunisia and China," said Jhinaoui. Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe, Africa and beyond along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road. In this file photo taken on March 18, 2008, Russian troops are seen near truck-mounted Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles at a training field outside Moscow. MOSCOW, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg's statements that NATO is ready to resort to military measures for settling the problem of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty are aimed at distracting attentions from a crisis within the alliance, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday. "The NATO secretary general's statements are just another attempt to cite the imaginary Russian threat in order to cover up things that are clear to everyone - a crisis emerged within the Alliance following the U.S. decision to pull out of the (INF) Treaty, which is crucial for European and global security," the ministry said in a statement. Stoltenberg said in a recent interview with Norwegian News Agency that NATO had presented to Russia a ultimatum to remedy its alleged violations of the INF treaty by February 2. He said the alliance was ready to use force if Russia misses the deadline, although dialogue with Russia is still the preferred option. "Attempts to conduct dialogue in the form of ultimatums, recalling Russia's 'last chance,' as Stoltenberg said, run counter to statements that saving the treaty is the alliance's priority. On the contrary, such statements impede efforts to resolve the situation through professional dialogue," the ministry said. In October, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would pull out of the INF Treaty on account of Russia's alleged breach of the agreement, which Moscow has repeatedly denied, saying that it has been making every effort to maintain the arms control deal. Officer cadets stand on parade as Britain's Prince William attends The Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, Britain, December 14, 2018. (REUTERS PHOTO) MOSCOW, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia will give an adequate response if Britain implements its plans to build up a military presence in various regions of the world, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Friday. "In the event of the implementation of any measures that pose a threat to the security of Russia and its allies, our country reserves the right to take adequate response measures," Zakharova said at a weekly news briefing. She commented on a recent interview with British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson in the Sunday Telegraph, in which he suggested Britain building two new military bases in the Caribbean and Far East after leaving the European Union. The newspaper identified the locations of the new facilities as Singapore or Brunei in the South China Sea, and Montserrat or Guyana in the Caribbean. Britain is constantly accusing Russia of some aggressive expansion, while exposing its own aspirations, Zakharova said. "We see this as a clear contradiction," she added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 03:53:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has secured a total funding of 3.9 billion euros from public and private lenders, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said on Friday. The 878-kilometer pipeline, a priority project of the European Union (EU) and the Energy Community, will start at the Greek/Turkish border, cross Albania and, after passing under the Adriatic Sea, terminate in southern Italy. The EBRD is part of this consortium, with a 1-billion-euro loan syndicated to a group of 16 commercial banks, it said. The pipeline will have an initial annual capacity of 10 billion cubic meters, enough to serve the energy needs of seven million households. First delivery of gas is expected in 2020. It will also make energy supply for consumers more reliable and achieve significant CO2 reductions by offering an alternative to more polluting energy sources, supporting the transition to low-carbon economies in line with the EBRD's new energy sector strategy. "The TAP will set the foundation for an integrated gas market across southeastern Europe, and enhance the region's strategic status as an energy hub," said Nandita Parshad, EBRD managing director for sustainable infrastructure. (1 euro = 1.15 U.S. dollars) Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 03:33:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close VILNIUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis on Friday dismissed criticism that Lithuania might become the only country in Europe where women are absent from the cabinet of ministers. It should not be detrimental to Lithuania's image, he said, quoted by the news agency Elta. "The gender should not be the main argument, even if it is important. Women are very important, however professionalism, personal characteristics matter a lot as well. These are the main arguments," he said. After last month's Skvernelis decision to replace three ministers, including two former female ministers -- ministers of education and culture, currently 13 out of 14 Lithuanian ministers are men. He has not yet named the candidate to overtake Ministry of Environment, the last ministry currently working without the minister. According to Skvernelis, a few candidacies are being considered at the moment. "We have quite a few women in the government, as there are not only ministers, but also vice ministers, chancellors, heads of administrations. We love, support and cherish women in order to ensure equal rights," Skvernelis said. Back in December, Skvernelis decided to replace three ministers in order to ensure "bigger reform breakthrough". Skvernelis was criticized this week by local media which pointed to other European countries such as France, where President Emmanuel Macron has proclaimed the gender equality the priority of his term as president. About half the ministers in Macron's government are women, said Vaidotas Beniusis, chief editor of Lithuanian news agency BNS, in his commentary published by local media on Thursday. According to Beniusis, the "intrigue" becomes even bigger due to the fact that Lithuania hosts the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) funded by the EU. Meanwhile, Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite is a chair of the Council of Women World Leaders. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 02:28:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. federal government entered partial shutdown on Dec. 22, 2018, and reached its 21st day on Friday, tying the record in government shutdown length in recent years. The U.S. federal government shuts down when the legislative and executive branches fail to agree on a spending bill for government agencies, which halts government operations and furloughs government employees. The current government shutdown is the result of a disagreement between President Donald Trump and the Democratic Party over the funding for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. The most recent negotiation talks collapsed on Wednesday as both sides dug in their heels, yielding no visible ending in sight for the quagmire. Following is a recap of U.S. federal government shutdowns since 1990. -- Oct. 6-8, 1990 The U.S. federal government went into partial shutdown on Saturday, Oct. 6, 1990 after some members of the Republican party opposed an agreement reached by then President George H.W. Bush and Democrats to raise taxes. The opposition blocked a spending bill in Congress as the new fiscal year started, causing a temporary spending gap for certain government agencies. As the shutdown occurred during a holiday weekend, actual impact of the shutdown was limited. The Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Labor, Office of Personnel Management, and Department of Housing and Urban Development went into full shutdown and the Library of Congress, Government Printing Office, and the Departments of Energy, Interior, and State were partially closed. During the shutdown, the Department of Interior furloughed about 2,800 workers, the Library of Congress around 100, and the other agencies fewer than 10 each. -- Nov. 14-19, 1995 Then Democratic U.S. President Bill Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress did not agree on a budget bill when a new fiscal year started in October 1995. Republicans wanted to slow government spending while Clinton argued for more funding for education, the environment, medicare and public health. The difference eventually led to a shutdown. About 800,000 federal government employees were furloughed as a result of the shutdown. -- Dec. 16, 1995 - Jan. 6, 1996 The record-breaking 21-day government shutdown was the sequel to the previous government shutdown, which ended with a fragile truce between Clinton and the Republicans. As the shutdown lengthened, public opinion turned against Republican lawmaker Newt Gingrich, the then House speaker who led the fight against the Democrats. The two sides eventually hammered out an agreement with modest spending cuts and tax increases. Despite the longer shutdown, less government institutions and employees were impacted compared with the one a month earlier. About 284,000 government employees were furloughed and the total estimated cost to the government for the two shutdowns together was about 400 million U.S. dollars. -- Oct. 1-17, 2013 The Republican-led House of Representatives and the Democrat-led Senate and then U.S. President Barack Obama conflicted over funding for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a piece of signature legislation for Obama better known as Obamacare, leading to impasse on a budget bill for the fiscal year 2014. The deadlock put the federal government into shutdown on Oct. 1. During the shutdown, Republicans made at least three proposals to renew funding for the government, under the condition of curtailing Obamacare. The proposals were rejected by the Democrats. The standoff ended when the the U.S. government faced the risk of defaulting on its debts, which would seriously damage its credibility. Both sides reached an agreement at the 11th hour to avoid default. About 800,000 federal government employees were furloughed as a result of the shutdown. -- Jan. 20-22, 2018 Dispute over the future of children of illegal immigrants erupted one year after Trump entered into office and left the federal government unfunded for three days. The Trump administration wanted to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which granted legal residence status for minors who entered the country illegally with their guardians, but was opposed by the Democrats. As a result of the shutdown, approximately 692,900 federal employees were furloughed. Differences on funding for a border wall on the U.S. southeastern border also partially contributed to the shutdown, foreshadowing the current spending gap. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 01:43:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday asked the international community to continue to assist the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in maintaining peace and stability in the country at a crucial juncture after elections. The international community should show full respect for the national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the DRC and the authority of the national electoral commission, Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council. "We see elections as a country's internal affair. We believe that the people of the DRC have the ability and wisdom to resolve relevant issues in their own way. We hope that parties in the DRC can stay calm, exercise restraint and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation so as to maintain peace and stability." A peaceful handover of power is in the interests of the DRC people, and is conducive to peace, stability and development of the DRC and the African continent as a whole, he said. The Chinese envoy also asked the international community to keep up humanitarian assistance. The Ebola epidemic in the northeast of the DRC also requires continued support from the international community, he said. China has been a staunch supporter of DRC's peace process and will continue to provide medical, food and other assistance, remain engaged in the country's social and economic development, he said. Presidential, legislative and provincial elections were held in the DRC on Dec. 30 after long and repeated delays. Provisional results were released on Wednesday. A former NYC teacher is preparing to sue the Department of Education, as well as Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Daily News, for $120 millionand is planning a $1 billion class-action lawsuit. Patricia Cummings says she was unfairly fired from her position at William W Niles School, a middle school in the Bronx, after some students claimed she had black students lie on the floor and then walked on their backs during a social studies lesson about slavery in January 2018. The teacher maintained that she only had the students sit closely next to each other to mimic conditions on a slave ship. After an investigation, the DOE fired Cummings in the fall, saying, "Ms. Cummings was terminated based on the results of this investigation and a review of her overall performance as an educator." At a press conference on Thursday, Cummings complained, "It could have been any teacher in the DOE that this happened to, but I was a white teacher from the Bronx. I fit the profile. I fit their compelling story that they needed to move their agenda to get that cultural responsive agenda through." She was accused of stepping on the backs of her black students in a lesson about slavery. Now this 7th grade teacher is planning to sue NYC & others for $1 billion. She said public figures like @cthagod @SenatorParker @JumaaneWilliams defamed her w/the unfounded claims pic.twitter.com/uA3j5ecgir Andrew Ramos (@AndrewRamosTV) January 11, 2019 Cummings and her lawyer, Thomas Liotti, said she was fired even though the DOE investigator's report found the accusations to be "unsubstantiated" and that the original accuser's claim wasn't corroborated, while she had been rated "effective" in performance reviews. "This is a serious case of reverse discrimination," Liotti said. Cummings said a fellow teacher, who is black, believes that her lesson was fine and a black teacher wouldn't have been fired for the same lesson. "The Daily News started this whole thing," she said, referring to how the tabloid broke the story. "They came to the school. They questioned students." She also recounted how she was on the Long Island Rail Road hiding her face, because she was on the cover of the tabloid. "I have no career at this point," Cummings said. She also insisted she wasn't racist: "Anyone who has met me knows I dont have that bone in my body. I was brought up you treat everybody the way you want to be treated." Other defendants in her lawsuit include State Senator Kevin Parker, Council Member Jumaane Williams, and radio personality Charlamagne Tha God, who all criticized Cummings. "I believe this case will probably eventually wind up in federal court as well as state court," Liotti said, adding that he expects other teachers who have faced discrimination to join in the suit. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 01:13:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TUNIS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on Friday granted clemency for hundreds of prisoners over the eighth anniversary of the 2011 revolution, a presidency statement said. According to a report presented by Minister of Justice Mohamed Karim al-Jamousi to Essebsi, 521 prisoners will be pardoned, and 1,639 others will get shorter prison terms. Essebsi also approved a proposal to offer a pardon on lawsuits of dud cheques. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 01:13:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit to Ethiopia has underlined the historic Ethiopia-China ties as well as commitments towards their strategic partnership, an Ethiopian scholar said on Friday. "Indeed, Foreign Minister Wang has underlined that China and Ethiopia are close friends and strategic partners," Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, who served as an economic advisor to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), told Xinhua on Friday, while referring to the remarks made by Wang during his visit to the East African country last week. Wang, during his meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, said that the friendship between Ethiopia and China has withstood the tests of fluctuating international situations and is unbreakable. Costantinos emphasized China's engagement in Ethiopia and Africa, noting that China currently stood as the single largest bilateral financier of infrastructure in Africa, exceeding the combined total of the African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union, International Finance Corporation, World Bank and Group of Eight (G8) countries. Costantinos, also professor of public policy at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, also echoed Wang's comments rejecting allegations that financial problems, including national debts, which African countries face, are the result of their cooperation with China. "Wang had affirmed that the Ethiopia-China or China-Africa partnership will not be affected by the rumors," Costantinos said. "China has funneled cash and loans into infrastructure projects across the continent, where many African leaders consider Beijing's terms a better deal than those offered by Western nations," Costantinos said. The scholar also expressed expectation that the two countries would foster their relations in contrary to allegations that relations between Ethiopia and China had cooled recently. According to Costantinos, the East African country, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs Workneh Gebeyehu, had "expressed its commitments to further strengthen its ties with China." Workneh, during his meeting with Wang last week, spoke warmly of Ethiopia's ties with China, eventually dismissing a suggestion that relations between the two countries had cooled since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power last year with a sweeping reform agenda. "We believe that the reform process in Ethiopia will further strengthen our ties with China," Workneh told a joint press conference last week. "China will continue to be Ethiopia's strategic partner." Costantinos also indicated that "Ethiopia has benefited from China's investments, grants and loans." According to the expert, partnership with China has among other things helped the East African country to build close to 74,000 km of all-weather roads, modern railway lines, hydro-power stations, transmission lines and industrial parks. "This is a great stride towards structural transformation," Costantinos said, adding that "some arenas, in particular that merit attention in this regard focusing on excellence and not just quantity and cost." Costantinos, also professor of public policy at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, further stressed the various ways that Ethiopia recently embarked on to benefit from its partnership with China. "It is about engaging more local human endowment in Ethiopia by using the vast number of graduates from universities and vocational schools," he said. "It is about greater capacity building of local competences of those graduates from universities and vocational schools," Costantinos added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 00:43:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RIGA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Realizing that Latvia's budget might be too small to finance all initiatives coalition partners want to include into the new government's action plan, prime minister designate Krisjanis Karins has proposed a fiscal prudence pact to prevent the country from living beyond its means. "All policies will have to be confined to the budget framework...based on the planned economic growth," Karins told reporters at a press briefing on Friday. The European Commission expects Latvia to keep its budget deficit at 1 percent of GDP in 2019, and Karins wants to make sure the ministers' initiatives do not exceed this mark. Karins said he would be pleased about a budget deficit of 0.8 percent or 0.9 percent of GDP, but that he would not press his ministers to achieve this target. The prime minister designate also promised not to allow any tax hikes this year to provide money for his ministers' plans. On Friday, Karins met with ministerial candidates to discuss the blueprint of the government's action plan and named three tasks that have been agreed already. First of all, it is necessary to deal with all money laundering and terrorist financing risks in the financial sector to prevent Latvia's inclusion in the so-called "grey list" of the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (Moneyval). Secondly, a territorial reform aimed at reducing the number of municipalities have to be carried out by Latvia's next local elections. And thirdly, the Karins-led government would not back a mandatory quota system for the relocation of migrants within the European Union. Karins is currently forming Latvia's next coalition government, which, apart from his center-right New Unity, is also expected to include the New Conservative Party, KPV LV, the right-wing National Alliance and the liberal alliance For Development/For. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 00:33:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Jan 11 (Xinhua) -- A Lebanese lawmaker said on Friday that the Libyan delegation will be forbidden from entering Lebanon to attend the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit schedule for later this month. "The Libyan delegation may arrive at the airport but it will surely not be capable of entering Lebanon," Ali Khreis of the Amal Movement, a Lebanese Shiite political party, told Xinhua. A day earlier, the Amal Movement announced a plan to launch nationwide protests to close the airport ahead of the Beirut summit in a bid to prevent the Libyan delegation from taking part in the event. "There are also other surprising steps that will be taken by the Amal Movement to prevent any attempt to normalize ties with Libya which was not cooperative with regard to Imam Musa al-Sadr's issue and his friends," said sources close to Amal. Musa al-Sadr, the most prominent and charismatic Shiite voice in the decade before the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war in 1975, disappeared alongside Sheikh Muhammad Yaacoub and the journalist Abbas Badreddine during an official visit to Libya in August 1978. Lebanon has been accusing Libya of being responsible for his disappearance. Meanwhile, Khreis told Xinhua that the summit must be postponed if Syria is not invited and Lebanon does not have a new government. "How can we hold a summit that focuses on Syria's reconstruction without the attendance of Syria?" he asked. Khreis said there may be a decision in the coming two days to postpone the summit. Earlier in the day, Hossam Zaki, assistant Secretary General of the Arab League, said the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit will take place on time in Beirut. "We came here to assist Lebanese authorities in the preparations for the summit," Zaki said upon his arrival at the Beirut airport from Cairo, leading a delegation of the Arab League. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 00:17:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Mongolian parliament on Friday appointed Chultem Ulaan as the new minister of food, agriculture and light industry. Ulaan replaced Batjargal Batzorig who resigned late October due to a scandal involving financial irregularities. An experienced member of the ruling Mongolian People's Party, Ulaan was appointed by 52 lawmakers in the 76-seat parliament. The 65-year-old served three times as finance minister in 2002-2004, 2007-2008 and 2012-2014. In addition, he served as deputy prime minister in 2004-2006. "I will pay close attention to meat prices in the domestic market, and to intensifying the implementation of projects related to the sector of food, agriculture and light industry," Ulaan told reporters after the appointment. Agriculture is a traditional sector of the Asian country, producing approximately 20 percent of gross domestic product as the backbone for population food supply and domestic plants raw materials. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 00:12:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the third plenary session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Friday called for efforts to advance Party building, and demanded "greater strategic achievements" in full and strict governance over the Party. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the third plenary session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC. He called for consolidating and developing a "sweeping victory" in the fight against corruption. Efforts should be made to make sure officials don't dare to, are unable to and have no desire to commit corruption, to improve Party and state oversight systems, and to ensure the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and major decisions of the CPC Central Committee are resolutely implemented, so as to greet the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) with great achievements, Xi said. Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng attended the meeting. The meeting was presided over by Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CCDI. Noting achievements in Party building since the 19th CPC National Congress that included the "sweeping victory" in fighting corruption, Xi said the Party is now "radiating with more vitality in the new era." He summed up some of the invaluable experience in disciplinary inspection and supervision over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up. The authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership must be firmly upheld, and the governance over the Party must precede the governance of the country and it must be strict, Xi said. The people-centered approach must be upheld, Xi continued, adding that it was also necessary for cadres to continue innovating, keep working hard, and fight against inaction and corruption. SIX TASKS Xi called for continuous efforts to advance full and strict governance over the Party as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and is key in finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects to achieve the first centenary goal. He laid out six tasks: -- The spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress needs to be further implemented. -- The Party's political work must be strengthened to ensure unity of the whole Party and strict implementation of its orders. -- Excellent conduct must be encouraged to ensure joint efforts for building a moderately prosperous society. -- Fight corruption with strong resolve to consolidate and develop the "sweeping victory." -- Improve the supervision systems and strengthen the sense of responsibility. -- Address corruption and malpractices that occur on people's doorsteps to safeguard the people's immediate interests. HEALTHY COMRADESHIP Xi urged officials to correctly uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee, and firmly resist illicit intervention and profit-seeking by central-level leaders' family members, their work staff, and people who claim to have connections with them. He stressed maintaining healthy comradeship within the Party and enforcing the system of democratic centralism. Officials should also take the lead in establishing a healthy working relationship and not use public resources as a tool of building clout or underhand connections to seek illicit gains. Those who play a key role in this regard, Xi said, are members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the CPC Central Committee. Xi also stressed building an "iron army" of disciplinary inspection and supervision officials who are loyal, clean and have strong sense of responsibility and removing the "bad apples" from them. Presiding over the meeting, Zhao called on Party organizations at all levels to unify their thinking and action with the spirit of Xi's speech. On behalf of the CCDI standing committee, Zhao delivered a work report titled "faithfully fulfil the obligations stipulated in the CPC Constitution and the Constitution of the country, and strive for high-quality development of disciplinary inspection and supervision work in the new era." FIGHT NOT END "Although China's campaign against corruption has made sweeping victory, it is not the time to lie back," said Xin Ming, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. Last year, the list of "tigers" -- referring to senior officials taken down on corruption charges -- continued to expand. Fifty-one officials at or above the provincial/ministerial level were among a total of 621,000 people punished by CCDI and the National Supervisory Commission. And increasing attention was paid to minor offenses of officials. About 1.1 million officials were interviewed and cautioned for slight violations, about 63.6 percent of the total cases disciplinary inspectors handled in 2018. Last year, 1,335 fugitives were sent back to China. Among them, 307 were former Party members and officials, mostly involved in graft cases. "The tough stance against corruption should not and will not ease," Xin, the professor, said. (Video editor: Zhang Xinyi) Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 00:07:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Left part of the combo photo shows the lander of the Chang'e-4 probe taken by the rover Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2) on Jan. 11, 2019, and right part shows the rover Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2) taken by the lander of the Chang'e-4 probe on Jan. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/China National Space Administration) by Xinhua Writers Yu Fei, Quan Xiaoshu, Li Mi BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China announced Friday that the Chang'e-4 mission, which realized the first-ever soft-landing on the far side of the moon, was a complete success. With the assistance of the relay satellite Queqiao (Magpie Bridge), the rover Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2) and the lander of the Chang'e-4 probe took photos of each other. The scientific instruments aboard the probe worked well, and the images taken by the probe and detection data have been sent back to ground control, said the China National Space Administration (CNSA). At 4:47 p.m. Beijing Time on Friday, the images of the lander and rover appeared on a large screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, showing the Chinese national flag on both the lander and the rover with landscape dotted with craters in the background. A congratulatory message sent by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission hailed the Chang'e-4 mission as a remarkable achievement in China's space program, which marks an important stride toward China being a strong country in space exploration. The Chang'e-4 probe touched down on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3, with the rover driving onto the lunar surface late that night. The lander, the rover and the relay satellite are in good condition. After the lander and the rover photograph each other, the probe will start scientific detection, the CNSA said. Named after Chinese moon goddess "Chang'e," China's lunar exploration program, which began in 2004, includes orbiting and landing on the moon and bringing samples back to Earth. The program has achieved five continuous successes, said CNSA, referring to Chang'e-1, Chang'e-2, Chang'e-3, a test craft for Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-4. THRILLING EXPLORATION One of the images published by CNSA earlier on Friday is a 360-degree panorama, which was pieced together from 80 photos taken by a camera on the lander. "From the panorama, we could see the probe was surrounded by many small craters. It was really thrilling," said Li Chunlai, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories of China and commander-in-chief of the ground application system of Chang'e-4. "The rugged terrain will pose great challenges for planning the route of the rover," Li said. "Compared with the landing site of the Chang'e-3, which was sent to the Sinus Iridum, or the Bay of Rainbows, on the moon's near side, fewer rocks can be found in the area surrounding Chang'e-4, indicating the landing area of Chang'e-4 might be older." The CNSA also released a video of the landing process of the Chang'e-4, which was produced by processing more than 4,700 pictures taken by a camera on the probe. The video, lasting about 12 minutes, showed that the probe adjusted its altitude, hovered and avoided obstacles during the descent. As a result of the tidal locking effect, the moon's revolution cycle is the same as its rotation cycle, and it always faces Earth with the same side. Many lunar orbiters had shown that the moon's two sides are very different: the near side is relatively flat, while the far side is thickly dotted with impact craters. "We hope Chang'e-4 could carry out unprecedented and more challenging tasks," said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program. "The far side of the moon has unique features, and has never been explored on site, so Chang'e-4 might bring us breakthrough findings," said Zou Yongliao, director of the lunar and deep space exploration division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The scientific tasks of the Chang'e-4 mission include low-frequency radio astronomical observation, surveying the terrain and landforms, detecting the mineral composition and shallow lunar surface structure, and measuring neutron radiation and neutral atoms. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION The Chang'e-4 mission embodies China's hope to combine human wisdom in space exploration, with four payloads developed by the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Saudi Arabia. The radioisotope heat source, a collaboration between Chinese and Russian scientists, will support the probe through the lunar night, when the temperature falls to about minus 180 degrees Celsius. The ground station that China built in Argentina has played an important role in the monitoring and control of the mission, and ground stations run by the European Space Agency will also offer support. The scientists of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter of NASA have also cooperated with Chang'e-4 mission team to study the landing of the Chang'e-4 probe, according to the CNSA. "International cooperation is the future of lunar exploration. The participating countries will share the costs, risks and achievements, and learn from each other. We hope to have more international cooperation," said Wu Weiren. GOING DEEPER INTO SPACE China is becoming a major player in lunar exploration and contributing to scientific discovery. The next step of its lunar program is to launch the Chang'e-5 probe to collect 2 kg of samples and bring them back to Earth. As China's moon exploration progresses, its space experts are considering going deeper into the solar system -- to Mars, asteroids and Jupiter -- as well as a manned lunar mission. China plans to launch a probe in 2020 that will orbit, land and rove on Mars the following year. "Exploring the unknown is human nature. The moon is a mysterious world to us. We have a responsibility to explore and to understand it. Exploration of the moon will also deepen our understanding of Earth and ourselves," Wu said. (Video reporter: Chen Fang, Zhang Wen; Video editor: Wang Han) Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 00:07:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government stretched into the 21st day on Friday, tying the record for the longest in the country's history. U.S. President Donald Trump has locked himself in a stalemate with congressional Democrats in the dispute over his demand for 5.7 billion dollars for funding a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The partisan fight, with no end in sight, is about to make the partial government shutdown the longest in U.S. history on Saturday. About 800,000 federal workers, who have been forced to go on unpaid leave or work without pay since Dec. 22 when the shutdown started, will have to miss a paycheck on Friday, which was supposed to be payday. It is the first time for the partial government shutdown to officially hit their pocketbooks. Most federal employees were paid on Dec. 28 for the final two-week pay period of 2018. As many as 78 percent of American workers reported they were living paycheck to paycheck, according to a 2017 report by employment website CareerBuilder. Furthermore, 81 percent of women reported living paycheck to paycheck, compared with 75 percent of men, said a CNBC report. Jerome Powell, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, said on Thursday that prolonged federal government shutdown would clearly impact the economy. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 23:52:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ATHENS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- More suspicious letters were delivered on Friday to six separate campuses in Greece, a few hours after the collection of 12 suspicious envelopes from universities around the country. Universities and Technological Educational Institutes (TEI) of Ioannina, Rethymno, Patra, Lamia and Corinth received similar envelopes, as well as the private Mediterranean College in Thessaloniki, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. Police were informed immediately and took all appropriate measures to protect the citizens. A suspicious envelope from India, addressed to the University of Ioannina rector's office, arrived on Friday morning by post, while a second one was detected at the TEI in Patras. Two more envelopes from India, arrived earlier on Dec. 28, 2018 at the TEI of Lamia, were found to contain advertising materials. The envelopes were sent to National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos and the General State Chemical Laboratory in Athens for analysis. On Thursday a total of 12 envelopes, which in some cases contained a suspicious substance, were sent to universities around Greece. The targeted institutions were in Athens, the islands of Crete, Lesvos, Cephalonia and Corfu, the northwestern town of Arta, Sparta in the Peloponnese area and the coastal port city of Volos in Thessaly. According to the results of a state lab examination, the powder traced was made of "irritants used in the production and improvement of adhesives and printing ink," AMNA reported. Five people at the University of the Aegean on Lesvos Island were hospitalized with minor health issues, mainly irritation in the mouth, nose and eyes and were released on Thursday afternoon. For precautionary reasons, several staff members who came into contact with the suspicious packages have already been subjected and will be subjected to further examinations. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 23:47:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission on Friday revealed that the state of African refugees, returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) will be on the spotlight as African leaders meet next month. The session of the AU Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), which is expected to be held from January 15 to 16, will convene under the theme: "Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa," the AU said in a statement issued on Friday. The PRC meeting is expected to bring together AU officials and envoys of the 55 AU member states that are based in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, where the headquarters of the pan African bloc AU are based. The meeting of PRC is expected to prepare the agenda of the 32nd AU leaders' summit with appropriate recommendations to be discussed for consideration by the Executive Council, which will bring foreign ministers of AU member countries. The Executive Council meeting, scheduled to take place from February 7 to 8, is also expected to discuss the recommendations of the PRC, and put forward its final outcome for deliberation by African heads of states and governments as they are set to meet soon after the foreign ministers meeting. The 32nd AU summit came few months after African leaders convened the 11th extraordinary AU summit in Addis Ababa last November. The historic two-day extraordinary AU summit, among other things, had approved a sanctions regime against member states that would fail to make their annual financial contributions to the continental body. The 31st AU summit was held from July 1 to 2 in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania, focusing on the fight against corruption as well as Africa's trade, peace and security sectors under the theme "Combating Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation." When the de Blasio administration carried out its rezoning of Inwood earlier this year, local residents strenuously protested, even occupying Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguezs office to warn that allowing taller construction could displace existing tenants. But at the same time as neighborhood advocates were complaining that city officials were turning a blind eye to their concerns about the plan, it turns out, for-profit developers had regular communications access to the city-controlled agency that led the rezoning efforts and many of their requests were later incorporated into the citys final plan. Emails from December 2016 through just before the city council vote in August 2018, obtained by Gothamist via a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request, show that developers Taconic Investments Partners LLC and their paid lobbyists were able to call and meet frequently with officials from the New York City Economic Development Corporation, a quasi-governmental organization whose president is appointed by the mayor. In many instances, they advocated for specific zoning codes, coordinated strategies with the EDC for selling the rezoning at public hearings, and shared design plans. Much of what the developers advocated for ended up in the final rezoning plan, including helping relocate businesses that stood in the way of a planned project, and allowing for larger-sized retail businesses on the ground floor of Taconics development. Emails from Taconic and the EDC show coordination as early as December 2016 to get residents on board for a neighborhood-wide rezoning. With the subject line Taconic outreach in Inwood, EDC assistant vice president for government and community relations Charlie Samboy advised Taconic officials on December 22nd, 2016 on how to coordinate solicitation of public feedback on a planned development at the site of a former Pathmark on West 207th Street. I believe its important we approach key folks carefully and communicate a level of awareness of each others plans, wrote Samboy, who provided a list of community groups for Taconic to meet with, and in a subsequent email warned of fallout from talking with Inwood residents who were against the rezoning. [P]lease be aware that [the Church of St. Jude] likely have a relationship with Centro Altagracia, an organization that has very strong working relationship with Northern Manhattan is Not for Sale and other similar groups. I say this to highlight that there is likely to be a snowball effect in terms of interest in your project and the attention it garners as you begin to meet with certain groups and socialize your intensions [sic], wrote Samboy to the developers. Taconic owned a large undeveloped property in Inwood before the rezoning passed and spent $190,000 lobbying the EDC from 2016 to 2018, according to city lobbying records. Taconic acquired the Pathmark site in 2016. Taconic advocated for the previously industrial-zoned, southeastern portion of Inwood, which included its newly acquired site, to be upzoned to allow mixed-use apartments, according to emails. The Inwood rezoning was the fifth rezoning of the de Blasio administration, after City Hall undertook a seven-month public review process that was fraught with significant community pushback. Last month, a coalition of Inwood neighborhood groups announced a lawsuit against the city over the rezoning, charging that officials had failed to adequately assess its likely impact in displacing current residents. When asked if developers with stakes in the rezoning received preferential treatment, EDC spokesperson Shavone Williams replied, As with any neighborhood rezoning, EDC engaged property owners to explain the initiative and solicit feedback from people that stand to be directly affected. Over the course of the three years, we communicated frequently with a diverse range of stakeholders, amounting to 3,000 residents in total. Advocates allege that the Inwood rezoning process felt like major decisions were already made before the plan even went up for public review. With the large Pathmark site in mind, executives and lobbyists for Taconic were able to hash out specific zoning codes and share studies with the EDC before the rezoning entered into Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) in January 2018, according to emails. Taconics VP George Tsapelas and lobbyist Richard Barth negotiated with Meagher and Kushner on rezoning a plot of land so that Taconic could relocate local businesses to there in order to clear space for its planned development, expanding zoning codes for higher buildings, and allowing larger-sized businesses to operate on the ground floor of their development, according to emails. These negotiations began before any hearings during ULURP and continued until ULURP finished. The City may spend years preparing for a given action, including generous outreach to property owners. Unfortunately, the broader community is often the last to know, said Tara Kelly, VP of Policy and Programs at The Municipal Art Society of New York. The EDC and the developers continued these conversations during the public comment period where groups could propose changes to amend the original rezoning proposal. Tsapelas was able to reach out to Meagher to clear his comments to make sure they were on the same page, a luxury members of the community said they did not get. I just wanted to see if you had some time to get together later this week or early next week so we can discuss our response to the public scoping before we formally submit, wrote Tsapelas on September 2017. Meagher responded shortly after that the EDC would be happy to talk through your comments. The specific changes Taconic asked for were ultimately added to the EDCs Final Environmental Impact Statement. We had no conversations like this where they were this responsive, says Graham Ciraulo of Northern Manhattan Not For Sale, which helped produce a counter-rezoning plan made by members of the community that was released during ULURP. Titled the Uptown United Platform, the plan would have required that all upzoned land and all housing east of 10th Avenue must be 100 percent affordable. It also asked for a special Commercial U district along Dyckman Street, Broadway, and 207th Street to protect businesses owned by minorities and women. Neither of these items nor other elements such as contextual rezoning to preserve the character of the neighborhood or new community-controlled housing made it into the final rezoning, though the city did eliminate a planned upzoning of the Commercial U. Ciraulo says little or nothing from the Uptown United Platform was ultimately implemented by the city. After the Platform was released in February, Ciraulo says Samboy from the EDC contacted him once for clarification on a few points on the plan, but that was it. The way that this all functions . . . theyre almost like lobbyists for the city, said Oglivie of EDC officials, pushing for another de Blasio administration rezoning. Oglivie charged that the EDC asked for public input and when they got it in the form of the Uptown United Platform, they ignored it. A slide from Taconics Inwood rezoning study (Gothamist) After the Inwood rezoning plan entered ULURP, the proposal was debated in front of the local community board, at a hearing hosted by the borough president, and in front of the City Planning Commission (CPC). The CPC needed to approve the application before it went ahead to the final stages ahead of the City Council. Before the CPC hearing in May 2018, George Tsapelas, VP of Taconic, wrote to EDC officials and other developers to alert them to what members of Taconic were going to say in advance. I just wanted to touch base with you to coordinate our testimony at the hearing on Wednesday, wrote Tsapelas. Per our conversation last week Charlie and I both plan to testify. Taconic president Charles Bendit, Tsapelas noted, would explain that the company acquired the Pathmark site because it [s]aw the opportunity for a vibrant neighborhood that could be brought together by the waterfront plan. Other planned talking points included highlighting past projects with successful affordable housing commitments, such as a $330 million development in Hells Kitchen with 80 affordable housing units among its 392, many luxury, apartments. Richard Barth, a lobbyist employed by Taconic, was in regular contact with EDC officials as well. A few weeks before the CPC hearing, he wrote: With the upcoming hearing on May 9, it would be helpful to touch base in the early part of next week to discuss how we can be most supportive of the rezoning at the public hearing. Would you like to schedule a call? Adam Meagher, VP of Development for the EDC, responded not long after. Yes, lets discuss. Looping Charlie, who is point on our public hearing prep, to arrange a call, wrote Meagher in an April 26th email. Mitchell Korbey, a former staffer at the Department of City Planning who is currently partner at Herrick Feinstein LLP and chair of the firms Land Use & Zoning Group, says its not unusual in rezonings for city officials and developers to coordinate around specific properties. On coordination between developers and a city organization in planning public messaging, Korbey is less sure. I havent seen that, said Korbey, arguing that city officials should only base talking points off of conversations with all invested parties in Inwood, not just a select few. Even if its standard procedure for city officials to speak to interested developers in the course of developing a rezoning, say advocates for neighborhood groups, it points to the access gap between powerful landowners and residents. Ayisha Oglivie, Chair of Housing and Human Services in Manhattans Community Board 12, which oversaw the rezoning, said she received at least 100 emails from the EDC regarding the rezoning over the course of two years. She said the emails were only thank you for comings in case you missed it, along with planning for appearances in front of the community board. Taconics Pathmark site has the capacity for 700 apartment units and is required to include at least 175 affordable units as part of the citys Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program. Taconic did not respond to our request for comment on this story, nor a request for clarification on how many affordable units would be built at the Pathmark site. The city could have worked with Taconic to do better levels of affordability, said Ava Farkas, Executive Director of the Met Council on Housing. Without including the community with this kind of planning, there was a missed opportunity for the [de Blasio] administration. Farkas said the fact that there are still no official numbers on affordability from Taconics site is evident of how the city failed to use its leverage. Active in Inwood during the rezoning, she said her group had only one meeting with the EDC and no meetings with Taconic. A spokesperson for Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguezs office did not directly respond to queries from Gothamist, instead pointing to the statement the councilmember released after the Inwood neighborhood groups announced their lawsuit. In that, Rodriguez said, When it comes to the housing crisis, this is the first time we'll see thousands of affordable apartments built for low-income, working class individuals where Inwood residents will receive guaranteed preference to rent the new affordable units. The EDC has helped facilitate rezonings for the de Blasio administration, including the construction of a tech center on 14th street, which passed the City Council in August 2018. Advocates on the Lower East Side say that they only heard from the EDC at public hearings and were not a part of planning before the proposal came out. They did absolutely zero outreach to us or any of the other groups who had concerns about housing in the rezoning plan. Literally zero, said Andrew Berman, Executive Director of The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. Much like Northern Manhattan Is Not for Sale, Bermans group advocated for housing protections to be put in place alongside the rezoning for the tech center. Developers for the tech center, who employed the same lobbyists as Taconic, were able to secure an upzoning for the project after pitching it to the EDC. Housing protections to the scale Bermans group called for were not included in the rezoning. Some experts argue that there will always be an irreconcilable conflict in neighborhood rezonings involving the EDC because the city agency is cut from the same cloth as property owners and developers. When EDC becomes the lead sponsor of rezonings, as with the Inwood rezoning, it signals a more direct connection between real estate development and rezoning, said Thomas Angotti, Hunter College professor and author of Zoned Out! Race, Displacement, and City Planning in New York City. Theres certainly not that same level of agreeability for community members, says Chris Walters, rezoning assistance coordinator for the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development. The city is generally very resistant to most of the communitys demands. Especially, anything that you think would be limiting development and options for developers. Since the Inwood rezoning passed the City Council in August 2018, the upper Manhattan neighborhood which was previously known for its affordability is seeing development outside of the citys plans. On the emails between developers and the EDC, neighborhood advocates argue it is an example of a flawed land use process. If they are this responsive to developers and are willing to consider ideas and presentation for Taconic but theres no evidence they even opened the document for usit says a lot about who these rezonings are for, Ciraulo observes. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 23:42:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian fighter jets on Friday fired domestically-made missiles and bombs on the designated targets during the ongoing aerial military exercise, Press TV reported. The F-4 Phantom fighter jets fired Maverick tactical air-to-ground missiles and the domestically-manufactured "Qassed" smart bombs. Laser-guided, anti-radar and thermal missiles as well as ultralight aircraft were also put to the test during the maneuvers, according to the report. Besides, various bombers, large military transport aircraft, interceptor and reconnaissance planes, and patrol aircraft were used in the drills. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and attack drones were used for reconnaissance operations and bombed mock enemy positions. A spokesperson for the war game said the warplanes detonated ground targets of the hypothetical enemy by dropping 2,000-pound (907kg) "Qassed" standoff bombs which have pinpoint accuracy. On Thursday, Iran Air Force kicked off a massive military exercise, code-named Defenders of Velayat Skies, at Shahid Babaei air base in the central province of Isfahan. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 23:37:43|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) is welcomed by Romania's Prime Minister Viorica Dancila at the Victoria Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Jan. 11, 2019. Romania's Presidency at the Council of the European Union (EU) takes place at a "difficult" time for Europe, said on Friday President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, stressing that the mandate "must ensure stability and offer hope." (Xinhua/Cristian Cristel) by Lidia Moise BUCHAREST, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Romania officially launched its Presidency at the Council of the European Union (EU) in a grand inauguration ceremony late Thursday in Bucharest, attended by top leaders, senior officials and celebrities of the country and the EU. The country will have confront major challenges, including Brexit upshot, the negotiations for the next long-term EU budget and the European elections, during its presidency of half a year, but it will be honored to host the most important summit for the bloc's future. Meanwhile, Romania will have to deal with complicated issues as the migration files, or the rise of populism confirmed by the France's "yellow vests", but it will have the great chance to convince the skeptical European leaders that it deserves to join the Schengen space, together with Bulgaria. SCHENGEN PROMISE At the ceremony to launch Romania's first EU presidency, both European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, have pledged to support the country's accession to the Schengen Area. "Romania's natural place is in Schengen. I pleaded in the European Parliament that Romania should be part of the Schengen area. I remain faithful to this issue - Romania must be part of the Schengen area," said Jean-Claude Juncker. In his speech, Tajani extended the promise of support to Romania's neighbor country, Bulgaria. "For some years now, Romania has met the technical accession criteria. The European Parliament has always supported the idea of Romania's membership of the Schengen Area. I should like to urge Member States which are blocking the accession process to rethink their stance. The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area will enhance the security of all the countries in Europe and I hope that it will take place under your presidency," promised Tajani. The rotating presidency does not provide a strong position of political leadership, but rather one of service provider to the European Council. But while presiding the EU Council, countries could pursue their key national projects as they enjoy some influence at the legislative level. Schengen ascension wasn't set as an official priority, but it was suggested by the motto chosen by Romania's authorities: "Cohesion -- a common European value." BREXIT, SENSIBLE DOSSIER Romania will preside over the process of Brexit, Britain's departure from the EU, scheduled to conclude at the end of March, the most complicated challenge of the mandate. Brexit process is a sensible issue for Romania, which, with almost 500,000 migrants, managed in just a few years after 2014 to become the second largest non-UK nationality. As of 2017, they were sending home 311 million euros (358 million U.S. dollars), almost 13 percent of Romanians' total remittances. Indeed, said Tajani in Bucharest, extending the challenges' area: "The Brexit vote, trade wars, citizens' protests and the emergence of nationalist movements leave us no choice but to review the course to be taken...Romania must play a central role in shaping a new Europe. It is the essence of the Sibiu summit that will take place on May 9." SIBIU SUMMIT Six weeks after Brexit, and two weeks before the European Parliament elections, Romania will preside over an EU Summit in Sibiu, an opportunity for European leaders to express their perspective for the future of the Union. Romania's authorities hope that the summit will send "a message of unity at the level of the Union." "What is at stake during the Romanian Presidency, as well as the informal European Council in Sibiu, is nothing less than the way we envisage our European future together," said Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. Thursday night, Tajani briefed on the most important topics that will be on the Sibiu summit's agenda. "We need progress on the overhaul of the Dublin Regulation, which can no longer wait; on establishing a fairer internal market in which everyone - including web giants - pays taxes and plays by the rules; on an ambitious digital agenda; on completing the Banking Union; on establishing effective and democratic economic governance; on creating a level playing field for open and fair trade," he said. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTION The next challenge for Romania's presidency will be European Parliament election in May, usually a low-key event with weak participation rates, but which are expected to receive more attention, as the Europeans are fearing a significant rise of EU-skeptical forces. "We must also safeguard the right of our citizens to vote freely in the forthcoming European elections, by guaranteeing that the election campaign is not distorted by fake news designed to manipulate the voters," warned the president of the European Parliament. Romania's EU Affairs minister, George Ciamba, said earlier in a conference that EU has to deal with new security challenges such as disinformation has become "one of the greatest challenges to our democracies." Joint efforts of the EU member states and the civil society are needed for efficient response, he added. MONEY'S GAMBIT Bucharest will also preside over extenuating battles over the next long-term EU budget, with an impressive 1.14-trillion-euro (1.31-trillion-U.S. Dollar) blueprint for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Although a final deal was supposed to be reach before the European Parliament election, chances are to be settled by fall. But President Tajani mentioned also that the European Parliament has adopted a draft budget commensurate with some priorities, some of them of greatest importance for Romania, such as cohesion funds or European funds for agriculture. "It is essential that the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework should be policy-driven, reflect citizens' priorities for an efficient Europe. It would be a grave error to make cuts in the cohesion funds and in farm spending. We want a budget which boosts investment in the real economy. We want to develop modern European infrastructure, invest much more in research and innovation and support the real drivers of the economy, small and medium-sized firms. We need to set aside more resources to foster the energy transition and the circular economy, both of which are essential to the future of our planet," Tajani said. As the European elections will be followed by a changing of the guard in European top jobs, Romania's presidency will also deal with the transitions at EU institutional level for the next Commission and Parliament in the last month of its mandate. HARD ROUTINE TASKS But the consistent task of Romania's presidency will the pile of more than 250 files currently active on the agenda of the European Union, in different stages of negotiation. "There are 48 legislative files that are in fact from a multi-annual financial perspective, which will have to be agreed on at least at the level of order, words and terminology," mentioned Ciamba in a press conference at the beginning of this week. The Romanian Presidency opens the Trio of Presidencies which includes Finland and Croatia, and it will be the final Presidency acting throughout the current legislative cycle of the European Parliament. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 23:02:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GAZA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian woman was killed on Friday during clashes between hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers stationed on the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, medics said. A Palestinian woman was killed and 15 wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire during clashes in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, said Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said in a press statement. Paramedics and medical sources said that the injured people include two in serious condition and one local photo journalist. The Israeli media reported that 12,000 demonstrators gathered on Friday afternoon along with the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, joining the 42nd Friday of the anti-Israel event called the "Great March of Return," which started at the end of March 2018. The report said that Palestinian demonstrators threw around 17 handmade bombs at Israeli army patrols who were present at the borderline area. No injuries of Israelis have been reported. According to Israeli army briefings, the demonstrators have also vandalized the barbed wire of the fence of the border and released dozens of arson balloons from the area into southern Israel. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 22:57:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JAKARTA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has ordered 8 more H225M helicopters from Airbus to improve combat capability, search and rescue (SAR) operations of its air forces, a statement released here said on Friday. The newly-ordered helicopters would be assembled by Airbus' Indonesian partner of PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), which would eventually handover the advanced multirole helicopters to Indonesian air forces. Besides assembling the helicopters, PTDI would also set additional features to fit with combat needs and SAR operation in Indonesia. The eight helicopters would join with the six ones already in service with Indonesian air forces, the statement said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 22:47:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ACCRA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were confirmed dead and at least five others injured when a truck and a mini bus collided in southern Ghana early Friday, local media reported here. According to eye witnesses, a Mercedes Benz sprinter mini bus collided with an articulated truck at Boankra, near the city of Kumasi, 280 km north of the capital. Ashanti Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Division (MTTD) Chief Supt. Frank Abrokwah, who spoke to local media, said the driver of the mini bus lost control of his vehicle after overtaking another bus on the wrong side of the lane at a portion of the road with speed rumps. "He lost control of the steering wheel and ran into the lane of the oncoming truck and crashed into it," the police officer explained. In an attempt to avoid the mini bus, the truck veered off its lane and ran into a house, causing extensive damages to the house, he said. The injured were rushed to the Ejisu Government Hospital for treatment. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 22:42:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League Hossam Zaki said Friday that the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit will take place on time in Beirut later this month. "We came here to assist Lebanese authorities in the preparations for the summit," Zaki was quoted by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper, as saying. Zaki's remarks came upon his arrival to Beirut's airport from Cairo leading a delegation from the Arab League. Meanwhile, the summit's spokesperson and the media advisor to Lebanon's Presidency Rafic Chlala said Friday that preparations for the summit are ongoing. "Logistic and security measures have been already taken and hotels reservations for the delegations were made," he said. Chlala noted that some countries will be represented on a presidential level while others did not specify how they will be represented in the event yet. Chalala also assured that Lebanon's presidency has not been informed from any Arab country to postpone the summit. Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri suggested on Wednesday to postpone the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit "which will witness weak participation by Arab countries because of the absence of a government in Lebanon." Berri also insisted that Syria should take part in the summit. However, Chlala said that the Arab League decides on the participants for the summit while Lebanon is only hosting the event. The summit organized by the Arab League is concerned primarily with developmental issues in the Arab world and it is scheduled on Jan. 19 to 20. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 22:32:23|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Suspects are brought back to China from Laos at Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Jan. 11, 2019. A total of 191 telecom and Internet fraud suspects were brought back from Laos to central China's Henan Province on two chartered airplanes under escort of Chinese police officers Friday, according to authorities. They were linked to more than 800 fraud cases in various provinces and regions of China that involved more than 60 million yuan (8.9 million U.S. dollars), the Ministry of Public Security said. (Xinhua/Feng Dapeng) BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A total of 191 telecom and Internet fraud suspects were brought back from Laos to central China's Henan Province on two chartered airplanes under escort of Chinese police officers Friday, according to authorities. They were linked to more than 800 fraud cases in various provinces and regions of China that involved more than 60 million yuan (8.9 million U.S. dollars), the Ministry of Public Security said. Henan Province has reported a slew of telecom fraud cases since last year. According to the police, the victims were conned into believing they could earn money by faking orders to help merchants increase online sales, only to find out that they could not make any money or get their own money back. They were allegedly defrauded out of between 5,000 and 30,000 yuan (741 to 4,447 U.S. dollars) each. Thanks to cooperation between Chinese and Lao police, the fraudsters' hideouts were located in Laos and raided, resulting in the arrest of 191 suspects from 11 fraud groups. In December 2012, the ministry started a year-long campaign against telecom and Internet fraud. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to students at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 10, 2019. (Xinhua/REUTERS) WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's speech in Egypt on Thursday on U.S. policy in the Middle East was self-congratulatory and unconvincing, experts said. Pompeo arrived in Egypt late Wednesday following stops in Jordan and Iraq, on a tour for the Middle East that also includes Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman. The speech, which took place at the American University in Cairo, was widely regarded as an explicit repudiation of the address that former U.S. President Barack Obama made in Cairo in 2009. Robert Malley, president of International Crisis Group and White House coordinator for the Middle East in the Obama administration, said that the speech was "a self-congratulatory and delusional depiction" of the Middle East policy of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Pompeo indicated that it was the "fundamental misunderstandings and misjudgments" of Obama that adversely affected the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the region. Pompeo also attributed the destruction of the Islamic State (IS) to the Trump administration, noting that Trump's predecessor "underestimated the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islamism." However, the U.S.-led campaign against the IS began in 2014, and the bulk of IS fighters were eliminated during the pre-Trump period, according to some senior U.S. military officials. Robin Simcox, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said that the Trump administration did make some effective tactical changes in counter-terrorism, but it has not strayed far from the policy of previous presidents in a broader strategic picture. Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States would "use diplomacy" and work with partners to expel the Iranian presence from Syria. The reality is that among nine countries that are included in Pompeo's trip, five of them, namely Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, don't have a U.S. ambassador, according to American Foreign Service Association. Empty ambassador posts that are filled in an interim capacity by career diplomats, who don't have the same clout or influence in their host country, might hamper U.S. engagement in the region, Robbie Gramer argued in a Foreign Policy article. The contradictory messages in Pompeo's speech, such as to "expel every last Iranian boot in Syria" and "bring our troops home from Syria," also further reflect the lingering twists and turns of Trump's Syria pullout decision. Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, commented on Twitter that Pompeo's remarks of "when America retreats, chaos follows" served as a good critique of the Trump administration's Middle East policy. Pompeo seems to be distancing himself from the White House, or at least trying to delay the presidential order for immediate withdrawal from Syria, Dan Mahaffe, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua. Pompeo's speech also underscored that future U.S. Middle East strategy would overwhelmingly focus on countering Iran. By calling Iran "a common enemy," Pompeo sought to convince regional allies that the establishment of the Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA), also known as the Arab NATO, which includes the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as Egypt and Jordan, would serve their interests to counter Iran's action in the region. "The idea of an Arab NATO is wholly unconvincing," said Yezid Sayegh, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, adding that the GCC has failed multiple times to agree on joint defense capability. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 22:27:20|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Romania doesn't want to be in Schengen as a problem, but as part of a solution for improving safety in the free movement area, stressed President Klaus Iohannis on Friday. "Being part of the Schengen area is a desideratum that we have from the very beginning and we have worked in that direction," the president told the joint conference with visiting President of the European Commission (EC) Jean Claude Juncker. "Initially, Schengen was an agreement that required certain criteria, which Romania did met in 2011," he said, complaining that Romania and Bulgaria were not accepted as members for the reason that adhesion depends on the vote of all the Schengen members, although the two countries have fulfilled all the conditions set by the Schengen agreement. According to the president, Romania since then has been trying to convince its friends and partners that it is a serious and safe country, which observes the rules imposed by the Schengen area and relies on the EU values. "Progress is still to be expected," said the president, stressing that his country hasn't given up and will continue to talk with everybody to convince them that "Romania does not want to be in Schengen as a problem, but as part of a solution for improving safety in the Schengen area." The concern of Iohannis was echoed by Juncker, who voiced his hope that Romania will enter the Schengen area by the end of the current Commission's mandate. Juncker repeatedly emphasized his hope at the joint press conference with Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila. "If I could voice a wish, it would be that during the mandate of this Commission, Romania should join the Schengen Area," said the European official, adding that "I see no reasons for which certain governments obstinately refuse this." "We are keeping in touch with the most refractory and we are trying to convince them to say 'yes' for Romania's accession to the Schengen Area," he concluded. Schengen accession has been a long process for Romania and Bulgaria, whose entry into the border-free area has been constantly delayed since 2011, despite Bucharest and Sofia authorities' claims that they had done all the needed preparations. Currently, citizens of the two countries are allowed visa-free entry into the Schengen zone and there are eased accesses to Romania and Bulgaria for Schengen visa holders, but the two European Union member countries are not full members of the Schengen system. The Schengen zone, which currently embraces 26 European countries, acknowledges the abolishment of their internal borders with other member nations and outside, for the free and unrestricted movement of people, goods, services and capital. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 22:22:18|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing on Friday said the global economy will be very complicated this year and many economies will experience slowdown in growth. He warned citizens against speculation in property market as property prices might fluctuate remarkably this year, but he supported those who need to purchase property for their own use. Li officially stepped down as leader of a business empire in May last year, after showing up as chairman of CK Hutchison and CK Asset at the two companies' annual general meetings. He was succeeded by his elder son Victor Li Tzar Kuoi. After retirement, Li has served as a senior adviser of the companies and focused on his charity foundation. Li said he is living a happy life after retirement and he still goes to his office every day to deal with work of the charity foundation. A man hired to help care for his elderly diabetic neighbor has been indicted for allegedly stealing and trying to sell the senior citizen's East New York home. Jordan Horsford, 29, was indicted on Wednesday on 12 counts, including grand larceny and identity theft. According to Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez, Horsford was hired by the victim's family to help the 85-year-old manat first, in 2016, they paid him for tasks like helping carry his wheelchair or helping him in and out of vehicles, but then the relationship expanded in 2017 to Horsford earning $400 a week for more regular duties like accepting the victim's Meals on Wheels deliveries, making sure he was taking his medicine, and checking in on him each night. Then, on June 19th, 2017, Horsford allegedly convinced the victim to sign away the deed to his home on Barbey Street. "The defendant allegedly told the victim he risked losing his home if he did not sign a document, and had the document notarized by a notary. The defendant then allegedly realized he needed another document notarized, but the notary refused so the defendant allegedly copied and cut and pasted her original signature. He then recorded the deed, which had been signed over to him," a press release from the D.A.'s office states. Horsford is accused of trying to sell the property soon after having the deed, but a sale fell through when a suspicious title company wouldn't insure the home. The D.A.'s office says the interested buyer then contacted the victim's family, and, "at around the same time, the victims daughter, while going through her fathers mail, found a letter from the Department of Finance notifying them about documents filed relating to the property." After the daughter reached the Department of Finance, the Brooklyn D.A.'s office got involved. Following the indictment, D.A. Gonzalez said, "This case should serve as another warning that rising property values in Brooklyn make homeowners, especially the elderly, the target of unscrupulous predators trying to steal their homes from under them. I urge all homeowners to be especially careful about signing documents relating to their property without trusted legal advice." Horsford is also accused of using the victim's credit card to buy two gold bars online in 2016 and in 2017. Earlier in the week, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that Marilyn Sanchez, who was indicted in 2017 for allegedly stealing two Brooklyn homes, one in East Flatbash and another in Brownsville, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, followed by five years probation. Sanchez, 49, will also sign the deeds to the homes back to the rightful owners. Deed theft has been on the rise over the past few years as the New York City real estate market has heated up. Last November, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Council Member Robert Cornegy held a press conference noting the rise in deed theft among Brooklyn homeowners, especially minorities. "Deed fraud and mortgage foreclosures have reached a crisis moment in Brooklyn. We must do more to ensure that bad actors and government programs are not forcing seniors and low-income residents out of their homes," they said. According to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Adams and Cornegy charged that additional tactics like "fraud, the lien system and [the Department of Housing Preservation and Development]s Third Party Transfer (TPT) program," are being used to steal homes. One homeowner said that it took the city took weeks to post her water bill paymentduring which time the city took possession of her home. "When Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Prospect Heights, Brownsville and East New York were not attractive places to live, these families were there. And now that theyve become gentrified, theres an onslaught on black and brown home owners," Adams said. He and Cornegy demanded a federal investigation. NYC and NY Attorney General James both offer suggestions on how to avoid deed fraudhere are NYC's tips and here are tips from the AG's office. The AG's office says, "Be skeptical of online ads or telephone callers that promise they can get you a mortgage modification or save your home from foreclosure. Only your bank or loan servicer can approve a loan modification," while the city allows homeowners to sign up for the Recorded Document Notification Program, which will let them know if there are documents recorded related to their properties. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 22:17:16|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ABUJA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian security forces have nabbed a suspected member of the terror group Boko Haram in an operation aimed at routing remaining terrorists in Nigeria's northeast region, the army said on Friday. In a statement, the army said the suspect identified as Babagana Abubakar, and also known as Alagarno, was among wanted terrorists in the country. He was captured at Bulabulim Ngarnam community on the outskirts of Maiduguri, capital of the northern state of Borno on Thursday. The terrorist was in his hideout in the community when security forces, including the army, police and civilian volunteers, on operation nabbed him. "He has since been moved out of the area for further interrogation," said the statement. The suspect was caught in possession of equipment including two military ballistic helmets, a pair of military desert boot, military backpack, camouflage design shorts, camouflage T-shirts, and a military jungle hat. Boko Haram has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamic state in northeastern Nigeria. The group has so far killed about 20,000 people and forcing the displacement of millions of others in the most populous African country. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 22:07:14|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- One of Britain's best known classical musicians, the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, was named Friday as a member of a new government panel tasked with devising a program for music lessons in schools across the country. Lloyd Webber is also the principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The expert panel will devise model music curriculum to help schools deliver world-class teaching, the Department for Education (DfE) said. The DfE has announced a 1.7 million U.S. dollars funding boost for successful music education hubs which in the past year helped hundreds of thousands of young people learn to play an instrument in whole classes. School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: "Having the opportunity to study and explore music isn't a privilege, it's a vital part of a broad and balanced curriculum -- and that's why I'm determined that all pupils should have access to a world class music education." Gibb further said that all pupils at least up to the age of 14 should study music in school. The existing network of 120 music education hubs supports the teaching of music both in and out of school. The hubs are being supported by funding of more than 300 million U.S. dollars as part of an overall investment in the arts in schools up until 2020. According to a recent report by Arts Council England, work by the hubs has reached 89 percent of schools and seen over 700,000 pupils learning instruments together with their classmates. Lloyd Webber said: "Engaging children in music and ensuring they receive a rich and diverse music education is key to growing pupils' creativity and continuing the UK's pipeline of future musicians." The cellist, whose wife is Chinese born cellist Jiaxin Cheng, said he's delighted to be playing a part in shaping a model music curriculum. The new panel will start work immediately and aims to publish its model music curriculum by the summer. A spokesperson for the DfE said: "With 2020 approaching, the government has committed to refreshing the plan to ensure music, which is the second highest funded element of the curriculum behind PE (physical education), remains at the forefront of school life". Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 21:42:08|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOSCOW, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia does not plan to exchange a suspected foreign spy for any Russian arrested abroad, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Friday. "At this stage, there is no talk of an exchange of Paul Whelan for anyone in custody abroad," said Zakharova at a weekly news briefing. "All versions discussed in the media are no more than speculations. The accused will face a trial," she said. Zakharova recalled that Whelan was "caught red-handed while committing an act of espionage" in Moscow on Dec. 28. As Whelan entered Russia using a U.S. passport, U.S. diplomats were promptly granted consular access to the detainee, Zakharova said. During the investigation it turned out that Whelan also has citizenships of Great Britain, Ireland and Canada, so the embassies of those countries were immediately notified, she said. As they also requested to visit Whelan, it was agreed that they will be given such an opportunity at a "mutually convenient time," Zakharova said. Whelan's brother earlier told media that the detainee, a former Marine, went to Moscow to attend a friend's wedding. Media speculated that Whelan could be exchanged for Maria Butina, who is being held in custody in the United States. Butina pleaded guilty in a Washington court on Dec. 13 to a single conspiracy charge, admitting that she had acted as an unregistered foreign agent to advance Moscow's interests. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 21:42:08|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close GENEVA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said Friday it is "deeply concerned" by reports of mounting civilian casualties, including many women and children, and large-scale displacement due to renewed fighting in the east of Syria. At a UN media briefing here, UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic said that fighting is taking place in the Hajin enclave in Deir ez-Zor governorate, noting that people on the move in the region face more problems due to extreme weather conditions. Over the past six months, clashes and air strikes in the southeast part of the governorate have forced about 25,000 people to flee, said UNHCR. "As well as women and children, many elderly people are at risk," said Mahecic. "It's estimated that 2,000 people remain in the conflict-affected area of Hajin." Those fleeing report increasingly desperate conditions, with diminishing services and extremely high prices for basic foods. Due to the cold weather, there were reports that "some people were burning their clothes to keep warm." UNHCR is "worried" for civilians who remain trapped in ISIS-held areas. Displaced families reaching the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria said that civilians attempting to flee the conflict zone face difficulties and obstacles. The dangerous and difficult journey and the conditions inside the enclave are reported to have led to the deaths of six children, all aged 12 months or younger. "Tragically, most have died after arriving at al-Hol, too weakened to survive," said the UNHCR spokesperson. Emergency health teams in al-Hol are conducting immediate screenings and referrals on the spot. Dealing with wounds, amputated limbs, injuries and frostbites is the priority. "Acute respiratory infections, cold and flu are also concerns. People are confused, exhausted and distressed, not least because of having left family members behind," said Mahecic. In Al-Areesha makeshift settlement in Hassakeh governorate, work on sheltering more than 9,600 displaced people has been affected by the rapidly rising water level in the nearby reservoir. More than two-thirds of the camp is under water. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Storm Norma has wreaked havoc among Lebanese and refugee communities this week. Several days of strong winds, heavy rain and snowfall have led to flooding and damage in towns and villages across Lebanon, which is host to nearly 1 million Syrian refugees. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 21:37:07|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- BMW expects sales to grow slightly "in the low to mid-single-digit area" in 2019, the German car maker announced on Friday. Pieter Nota, member of the board of management of BMW AG responsible for sales and brand BMW, said that BMW would continue on its "successful course" in spite of "challenging" market conditions. BMW would aim to maintain its "clear focus on profitability," Nota added. Last year, the Munich-based carmaker delivered around 2.1 million vehicles with its brand BMW, increasing sales by 1.8 percent compared to 2017. With its MINI and Rolls Royce subsidiary brands, BMW Group Automobile sold a total of around 2.49 million vehicles, an increase of 1.1 percent. According to the company, the strongest growth drivers of the brand BMW were vehicles of the so-called X series. The introduction of the BMW X2 at the beginning of 2018 and the expansion of production of the BMW X3 in China and South Africa boosted total sales of the BMW X family by 12.1 percent to 792,590 units in 2018. Another significant growth driver for the brand was the BMW 5 Series, of which sales increased by 12.7 percent. In 2018, a total of 328,997 units of the 5 series were sold. China remains one of BMW's strongest sales markets. In Asia, BMW delivered almost 875,000 vehicles, of which around 640,000 were sold on Chinese mainland alone. In 2018, BMW's sales in the Chinese market increased by 7.7 percent. A press representative of BMW told Xinhua on Friday that "China is much more than just our largest single sales market". It would "also be an extremely important strategic market" for BMW, as it is "home to our most extensive R&D and production facilities outside Germany". In 2019, BMW expects "solid sales growth" for the Chinese mainland, with "locally produced BMW vehicles" being the main growth driver. For Europe and the United States, BMW is anticipating a "slight sales growth" in 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 21:22:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, presides over a bi-weekly consultation session on the development of the sharing economy in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 11, 2018. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's political advisors raised suggestions on the development of the sharing economy during a bi-weekly consultation session presided over by top political advisor Wang Yang. China encourages innovation in the sharing economy and also takes a prudent attitude in a bid to ensure the orderly development of the sector, which is key to the modern economy and high-quality development, Wang said. Wang is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Political advisors, experts and business representatives put forward suggestions regarding regulatory approaches, laws and credit systems for the sharing economy. The rapidly-expanding sharing economy has created strong momentum for economic transformation and employment, but also faces growing pains including irrational investment growth and unfitted regulatory systems, they said. Regulators should strengthen guidance and policy support, such as encouraging the sharing economy to enter areas of education, and old-aged care and medical treatment, while eliminating restrictive policies in administrative approval and business registration. They also called for better protection of individual privacy, stricter punishment for misbehavior, information sharing between companies and governments, and integrated online and offline supervision. China should encourage more companies in the sharing economy to go global and foster worldwide influence, they said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 21:22:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KABUL, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- More than two dozen fighters including seven militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) outfit and 14 Taliban insurgents have been killed over the past 24 hours as Afghan forces stepped up counter-insurgency operations in the war-plagued country, officials said Friday. In the latest onslaught, the government forces targeted Taliban positions in Dawlat Abad district of the northern Faryab province on Thursday night, killing eight fighters including Qari Sebghatullah, the shadow intelligence chief of the armed group in Faryab and the neighboring Jawzjan and Badghis provinces, an army spokesman in the northern region Abdul Hadi Jamal has reported. Similarly, the government forces stormed Taliban hideouts in Chamtal district of the northern Balkh province on Thursday night, killing six militants including eminent commander Mawlawi Badar on the spot, said the spokesman Jamal. Taliban militants who have increased activities and rejected the government claim for killing Qari Sebghatullah in Faryab province, attacked some security checkpoints in Faizabad district of the neighboring Jawzjan province early on Friday, triggering gun battle which lasted for several hours, during which five security personnel had been killed, a Provincial Council member Jalaludin Niazi said on Friday. Meantime, the government forces in strike against Islamic State (IS) group, targeted its hideout in Abe village of Haska Mina district in the eastern Nangarhar province on late Thursday, killing seven fighters and injuring another. Security officials say that the government forces would continue to mount pressure on anti-government militants in the freezing winter to reduce the militant groups' abilities. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 21:06:59|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Four key municipal organs of Beijing moved their offices from the downtown area to the eastern suburb of Tongzhou District, the city's sub-center, on Friday. The four organs are the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Beijing Municipal People's Government and the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. At around 7:36 a.m., a ceremony for raising the national flag was held at a square in the office zone of the sub-center. Cai Qi, secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, said Beijing will strive to turn the sub-center into a model of urban development in the new era and a new landmark for the capital. Beijing is shifting some of its administrative functions out of the city center into Tongzhou to help address problems including traffic congestion and air pollution. The move is also part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integrated development plan. The sub-center aims to accommodate 1.3 million permanent residents by 2035, according a detailed plan for the sub-center's development approved by the central authorities. More than 240 big projects will kick-start in the sub-center this year, as part of an effort to improve the area in terms of transport, infrastructure, public service and the environment. Around 75 billion yuan (11 billion U. S. dollars) will be invested into these projects in 2019, according to Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 20:56:57|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close VIENNA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Snow chaos in central Austria due to more than a week of heavy snowfall was temporarily somewhat eased thanks to the snow break on Friday. Austrian public broadcaster ORF said that the avalanche warning level in the morning was downgraded from 5 to 4. Thanks to the snow break, rescue and relief works were being intensified. In Upper Styria, helicopters are ready for supply and reconnaissance flights to the enclosed valleys, it reported. Heavy snowfall and poor visibility had hampered rescue efforts over the past few days. Numerous municipalities remain cut off from the outside due to being snowed in. Access to some previously cut-off areas has been reached, though often only in a limited capacity. Many houses in the central state of Styria remain evacuated due to an acute risk of avalanches, it reported. Current weather forecasts indicate the situation will not ease until at least Tuesday, and in the meantime further heavy snowfall could be expected on Sunday. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 20:26:49|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Chen Yushan, Tian Yun and Li Baojie NANCHANG, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation (ICF), is pleased to see the joint efforts made by local government, NGOs and individuals to look after Siberian cranes in the Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake. "When I first came here in 1985, we could only find about 1,400 cranes. Now there are more than 4,000," said Archibald, who visited the Poyang Lake in east China's Jiangxi Province for the second time on a four-day trip this week. "Despite it being raining and windy, we had the most wonderful experience standing on the hillside and looking out and see 1,700 Siberian cranes and swans all in the same basin very near to us," Archibald told Xinhua. Every year, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds arrive in the the Poyang Lake, which has a surface area up to more than 3,200 square km, for the winter. Earlier this month, Jiangxi's forestry bureau issued a policy to compensate farmers who lost crops or other harvests to foraging migratory birds. In 2017, Zhou Haiyan, a photography enthusiast, together with many bird-lovers, launched the "Retaining the Siberian Crane" initiative to build the country's first privately-funded Siberian crane protection zone that combines the functions of scientific research, education and photography. The joint efforts have paid off. As the crane population increases, people are also seeing more of them in Japan and South Korea, Archibald said. ICF, which has a regional office in China, is a non-profit organization founded in 1973 to promote conservation efforts for cranes and their ecosystems, watersheds and flyways. Archibald was the organization's director from 1973 to 2000. "We now have programs in 42 different countries. There are 15 species of cranes, and 11 of them are endangered, so we have a lot of work because there are so many conflicts all over the world as climate change continues to happen. In addition, as the human population continues to increase, there's less space for wildlife," he said. According to the ICF, there were three migration routes for Siberian cranes. The central and western routes all started at the breeding grounds in Siberia and ended in India and Iran, respectively. The cranes in the Poyang Lake area belong to the eastern route. For decades, cranes in the central and western routes have been almost extinct due to warfare and hunting. "When we started the crane foundation, we had one flock of Siberian cranes coming to Iran, but only 12 birds. They were wintering inside an area where local people were trapping ducks and geese, and no guns were allowed. But the population never increased because if they flew outside that area, there was a lot of hunting," said Archibald. He told Xinhua that in the 1990s, the population of this flock started to decrease. Cranes stopped during their migration to rest on wetlands in Azerbaijan, a neighbor of Iran to the northwest. However, the country was suffering food shortages, and the local government allowed hunting in the spring when many birds came. The other flock which wintered in India used to be about 200 birds. Firearms were then available in Afghanistan due to war, so the birds were never able to reach India. "We put satellite radios on the cranes in their breeding grounds in Russia, and all their signals stopped in Afghanistan. So we were pretty sure that the population was shot," said Archibald. "When there's a war, conservation can do nothing really. If you ask what the Poyang Lake means to the cranes, I think it's their life, it's their home." "Russians and my colleagues in India and Iran dream to re-establish those populations after peace comes. We have the technology to bring them back; all we need is peace and security," he said. VANCOUVER, British Columbia and JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Platinum Group Metals Ltd. (PTM:TSX; PLG:NYSE American) (Platinum Group PTM or the Company) reports the Companys financial results for the three months ended November 30, 2018 and provides a summary of recent events and outlook. The Company has focused its business on the palladium dominant large scale, bulk mineable Waterberg Project in South Africa (the Waterberg Project). A Definitive Feasibility Study, (DFS) for the Waterberg Project is advancing well. A technical committee of Waterberg JV Resources Pty Ltd. (Waterberg JV Co.) is overseeing the DFS with participation from all partners. A formal Mining Right Application has been filed and community consultation is ongoing. Power and water planning for the project is advancing well including work under a regional water co-operation agreement with the Capricorn Municipality and engineering and permitting work with power utility Eskom. Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (Implats) made a strategic investment of $30.0 million in November 2017 to purchase a 15% stake in the Waterberg Project, from which the Company received $17.2 million for its 8.6% project interest sold. Implats may elect to increase its stake to 50.01% by additional share purchases from Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) for an amount of $34.8 million and a commitment to expenditures of $130 million for development work on the Waterberg Project. Implats will also have a right of first refusal to smelt and refine Waterberg Project concentrate. On October 25, 2018, the Company announced positive results from additional drilling, which increased confidence to a measured resource category for certain areas targeted for early mining, and published an updated independent mineral resource assessment. The updated resource assessment has been provided to the independent engineers for the mine design, scheduling and capital cost estimation as part of the DFS. The Waterberg deposit is dominated by palladium and also contains platinum, rhodium and gold (together known as 4E) as well as copper and nickel. For details of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2018 (the Financial Statements) and Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended November 30, 2018 please see the Companys filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or on EDGAR (www.sec.gov). Shareholders are encouraged to visit the Companys website at www.platinumgroupmetals.net. Shareholders may receive a hard copy of the complete Financial Statements from the Company free of charge upon request. All amounts herein are reported in United States dollars (USD) unless otherwise specified. The Company holds cash in Canadian dollars, United States dollars and South African Rand. Changes in exchange rates may create variances in the cash holdings or results reported. Recent Events On January 11, 2019, the Company delivered a payment of $8.0 million to Liberty Metals & Mining Holdings, LLC (LMM) in partial settlement of a secured loan facility (the LMM Facility) due to LMM. The amount paid represented net proceeds from the recent sale of 4.52 million common shares of JSE listed Royal Bafokeng Platinum Ltd. (RBPlat). The shares were received by the Company in April 2018 upon completion of stage two of the sale of the Maseve Mine to RBPlat (the Maseve Sale Transaction). On November 16, 2018, the Company filed a National Instrument 43-101 technical report related to the updated independent mineral resource estimate for the Waterberg Project announced on October 25, 2018. The report, entitled Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Update for the Waterberg Project Located in the Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa is dated October 22, 2018 (with the effective date of the mineral resources being September 27, 2018) (the Waterberg Technical Report) and was prepared by Charles J Muller, B. Sc. (Hons) (Geology), Pr. Sci. Nat., of CJM Consulting (Pty) Ltd. A copy of the Waterberg Technical Report can be found at www.sedar.com, at www.sec.gov and on the Companys website. On October 25, 2018, the Company published an updated independent mineral resource estimate for the Waterberg Project on a 100% basis, with 6.26 million 4E ounces now recognized in the higher confidence Measured category. Mineral resources estimated in the combined Measured and Indicated categories increased by 1.46 million 4E ounces to 26.34 million 4E ounces (242.5 million tonnes at 3.38 g/t 4E comprised of 63.04% palladium, 29.16% platinum, 6.37% gold and 1.43% rhodium). Inferred mineral resources are estimated at 7.0 million 4E ounces (66.67 million tonnes at 3.26 g/t 4E). The T zone Measured and Indicated mineral resources have increased in grade from 3.88 g/t 4E in 2016 to 4.51 g/t 4E in 2018. All of the preceding was estimated at a 2.5 g/t 4E cut-off grade, which is the preferred scenario for the project. On October 10, 2018, the Company announced that a recently filed Mining Right Application (Press Release September 4, 2018) for the Waterberg Project had been accepted by South Africas Department of Mineral Resources. The application is supported by the Company and all of the Waterberg Project partners including Implats, JOGMEC and Mnombo Wethu Consultants (Pty) Ltd. The process of consultation under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 and current Environmental Assessment regulations has commenced. Results For The Three Months Ended November 30, 2018 During the three months ended November 30, 2018, the Company incurred a net loss of $5.6 million (November 30, 2017 net loss of $12.4 million). General and administrative expenses during the quarter were $1.3 million (November 30, 2017 - $1.4 million), losses on foreign exchange were $1.2 million (November 30, 2017 $3.1 million) due to the US Dollar increasing in value relative to the Companys functional currency of the Canadian Dollar. At November 30, 2018, finance income consisting of interest earned and property rental fees in the period amounted to $0.3 million (November 30, 2017 - $0.1 million), while a gain on marketable securities of $0.9 million was recognized in the current quarter (November 30, 2017 - $Nil). Loss per share for the quarter amounted to $0.02 as compared to a loss of $0.08 per share for the three months ended November 30, 2017. Accounts receivable at November 30, 2018 totalled $0.2 million (November 30, 2017 - $0.9 million) while accounts payable and accrued liabilities amounted to $4.2 million (November 30, 2017 - $7.7 million). Accounts receivable were comprised of mainly of amounts receivable for value added taxes repayable to the Company in South Africa and amounts due from joint venture partners and related parties. Accounts payable at November 30, 2018 related mostly to ongoing work at the Waterberg Project with the decrease as compared to November 30, 2017 being primarily due to settlement of payables related to mine closure costs. Total expenditures on the Waterberg Project, before partner reimbursements, for the quarter were approximately $3.0 million (November 30, 2017 - $0.4 million). At November 30, 2018, $34.3 million in accumulated net costs had been capitalized to the Waterberg Project. Total expenditures by all parties on the property since inception are approximately $65 million. For more information on mineral properties, see Note 4 of the Financial Statements. Outlook The Companys key business objective is to advance the Waterberg Project. The Waterberg project is dominated by palladium at a time when palladium supply is estimated to be in deficit. Mines with palladium as their primary economic mineral are rare. Waterberg JV Co. plans to advance the Waterberg Project to completion of a DFS by approximately May 2019. The DFS is being managed by Platinum Group and a technical committee of Waterberg JV Co. with detailed technical input, at all stages, from all of the Waterberg Project partners. The ongoing DFS is considering two large scale underground fully mechanized bulk mining and milling options, one at 600,000 tonnes per month and a more modest, but still large, first phase at 250,000 to 350,000 tonnes per month. Waterberg JV Co. has filed a Mining Right Application and community consultation is ongoing in a positive climate of mutual respect. An environmental assessment process is ongoing and many public meetings have already been completed. Significant feedback from the meetings has been considered in the DFS designs. Local training and employment are key components of the DFS to maximize the value of the project for all stakeholders. In the near term, the Companys liquidity will be constrained until financing has been obtained to repay and discharge remaining amounts of secured debt and for working capital purposes. The Company remains focussed on completing the Waterberg DFS. At the same time the Company has started reviewing several new business opportunities focused on platinum group element metals, including extraction opportunities and potential new uses. The Company will continue to work closely with its major shareholders and lenders on the steps ahead. The Company continues to actively assess corporate and strategic alternatives with advisor BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. Qualified Person R. Michael Jones, P.Eng., the Companys President, Chief Executive Officer and a shareholder of the Company, is a non-independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and is responsible for preparing the technical information contained in this news release. He has verified the data by reviewing the detailed information of the geological and engineering staff and independent qualified person reports as well as visiting the Waterberg Project site regularly. About Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Platinum Group is focused on, and is the operator of, the Waterberg Project, a bulk mineable underground palladium deposit in northern South Africa. Waterberg was discovered by the Company. Waterberg has potential to be a low cost dominantly palladium mine and Implats, a smelter and refiner of platinum group metals, recently made a strategic investment in the Waterberg Project. On behalf of the Board of Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Frank R. Hallam CFO, Corporate Secretary and Director For further information contact: R. Michael Jones, President or Kris Begic, VP, Corporate Development Platinum Group Metals Ltd., Vancouver Tel: (604) 899-5450 / Toll Free: (866) 899-5450 www.platinumgroupmetals.net Disclosure The Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this news release, which has been prepared by management. This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities laws (collectively forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, plans, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the completion of a DFS by approximately May 2019; Waterberg Projects potential to be a bulk mineable, low cost, dominantly palladium mine producing platinum and palladium based on a fully mechanized mine plan; the potential for the Company to obtain financing to repay and discharge remaining amounts of secured debt and for working capital purposes; new business opportunities; and corporate and strategic alternatives. Mineral resource and reserve estimates are also forward-looking statements because such estimates involve estimates of mineralization that may be encountered in the future if a production decision is made, as well as estimates of future costs and values. Although the Company believes the forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct. 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 the Companys inability to generate sufficient cash flow or raise sufficient additional capital to make payment on its indebtedness, and to comply with the terms of such indebtedness; additional financing requirements; the Companys credit facility (the LMM Facility) with Liberty Metals & Mining Holdings, LLC (LMM) is, and any new indebtedness may be, secured and the Company has pledged its shares of Platinum Group Metals (RSA) Proprietary Limited (PTM RSA), and PTM RSA has pledged its shares of Waterberg JV Resources (Pty) Limited (Waterberg JV Co.) to Liberty Metals & Mining Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of LMM, under the LMM Facility, which potentially could result in the loss of the Companys interest in PTM RSA and the Waterberg Project in the event of a default under the LMM Facility or any new secured indebtedness; the Companys history of losses and negative cash flow; the Companys ability to continue as a going concern; the Companys properties may not be brought into a state of commercial production; uncertainty of estimated production, development plans and cost estimates for the Waterberg Project; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, between actual and estimated development and operating costs, between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries and between estimated and actual production; fluctuations in the relative values of the U.S. Dollar, the Rand and the Canadian Dollar; volatility in metals prices; the failure of the Company or the other shareholders to fund their pro rata share of funding obligations for the Waterberg Project; any disputes or disagreements with the other shareholders of Waterberg JV Co., Mnombo Wethu Consultants (Pty) Ltd. or Maseve; completion of a DFS for the Waterberg Project is subject to economic analysis requirements; the ability of the Company to retain its key management employees and skilled and experienced personnel; conflicts of interest; litigation or other administrative proceedings brought against the Company; actual or alleged breaches of governance processes or instances of fraud, bribery or corruption; the Company may become subject to the U.S. Investment Company Act; exploration, development and mining risks and the inherently dangerous nature of the mining industry, and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and other risks and uncertainties; property and mineral title risks including defective title to mineral claims or property; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and South Africa; equipment shortages and the ability of the Company to acquire necessary access rights and infrastructure for its mineral properties; environmental regulations and the ability to obtain and maintain necessary permits, including environmental authorizations and water use licences; extreme competition in the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining, or a failure to obtain, permits necessary for current or future operations or failures to comply with the terms of such permits; risks of doing business in South Africa, including but not limited to, labour, economic and political instability and potential changes to and failures to comply with legislation; the Companys common shares may be delisted from the NYSE American or the TSX if it cannot maintain or regain compliance with the applicable listing requirements; and other risk factors described in the Companys most recent Form 20-F annual report, annual information form and other filings with the SEC and Canadian securities regulators, which may be viewed at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, respectively. Proposed changes in the mineral law in South Africa if implemented as proposed would have a material adverse effect on the Companys business and potential interest in projects. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward- looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Estimates of mineralization and other technical information included herein have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). The definitions of proven and probable reserves used in NI 43-101 differ from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7. Under SEC Industry Guide 7 standards, a final or bankable feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical average price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority. As a result, the reserves reported by the Company in accordance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as reserves under SEC Industry Guide 7. In addition, the terms mineral resource and measured mineral resource are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and historically have not been permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. Accordingly, descriptions of the Companys mineral deposits in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of SEC Industry Guide 7. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 20:16:47|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Romania's Presidency at the Council of the European Union (EU) takes place at a "difficult" time for Europe, said on Friday President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, stressing that the mandate "must ensure stability and offer hope." "The Romanian Presidency will know several different episodes, but will also see effects in results," Juncker told the meeting of the College of Commissioners with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, which took place at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. According to the European official, the Romanian Presidency will have to deal with the multi-annual financial framework and reach an agreement in principle on the "extremely difficult subject." "We cannot afford to interrupt the process already launched. Otherwise too many programs could be affected," Juncker explained. The post-Brexit stability of EU will be another issue that the Romanian Presidency will have to deal with. "It's about the departure of the United Kingdom, which for me is a sad event, that Europe did not need...," he said, stressing that the Romanian Presidency will have to know to manage this difficult period. Juncker also mentioned the elections for the European Parliament in May during the Romanian Presidency. In his turn, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that the Presidency offers a good opportunity for the country to transpose its commitment to the European project in all its dimensions. According to him, Romania fully shares the pro-European approach and that Romania's stand has always been and will continue to be a position endorsing the European project. Iohannis promised that his country will make efforts to advance the European agenda based on consensus, as a honest mediator among all those interested, all participants, as its goal is to maintain unity and cohesion among member states, which is also reflected in the motto of Romania's Presidency - cohesion, a common European value. Romania is exercising, between Jan. 1 to June 30, the Rotating Presidency of the EU Council for the first time since the accession to the EU 12 years ago, on Jan. 1, 2007. An official inauguration ceremony was held late Thursday in Bucharest, attended by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, as well as the top leaders in Romania. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 20:06:45|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The food safety authority of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced on Friday the suspension of import of poultry products from Long An Province of Vietnam. In view of a notification from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Long An Province, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) of the HKSAR government's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said it had suspended the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the province with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong. At present, Hong Kong has an established protocol with Vietnam for the import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat, a CFS spokesman said, adding that Hong Kong imported 650,000 poultry eggs from Vietnam in the first nine months of last year. "The CFS has contacted the Vietnamese authorities over the issue and will closely monitor the information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 20:06:45|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The UN specialized agency for the postal sector plans to help African countries leverage on e-commerce in order to boost the continent's incomes, officials said on Friday. Bishar Hussein, director general of Universal Postal Union (UPU), told Xinhua in Nairobi that it has developed an e-commerce platform under the Ecom@Africa initiative where products made in Africa will be visible to the rest of the world. "Our overall objective is to ensure that small scale entrepreneurs and especially those in rural and under served communities can sell their products on a digital market and improve their incomes," Hussein said. He said that so far Ethiopia, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, South Africa and Tunisia have already signed on to the initiative. UPU hopes that all African states will join the continental e-commerce platform. He added that national postal agencies which have the largest distribution network in most countries will help deliver products to consumers at an affordable cost. The director general said that most online market places tend to stock products that are not made in Africa, and are dominated by large firms. He revealed that UPU is committed to ensuring that Africa truly benefits from the global shift towards e-commerce. The UN agency said that the e-commerce platform will also promote intra-Africa trade which is currently below its potential. Hussein noted that national postal agencies together with national governments will be the key stakeholders in the e-commerce initiative. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 20:06:45|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MALE, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has expressed gratitude for the invaluable assistance extended by China over the years towards his country's socio-economic development, the President's Office said in a statement on Friday. The president, in a meeting with China's Ambassador to the Maldives Zhang Lizhong, assured that the new Maldivian government is committed to maintaining good relations with China. The two sides expressed optimism that in the coming years, the ties between China and the Maldives will witness strengthened corporation on the issues of mutual interest and importance. President Solih and Ambassador Zhang also discussed the progress of Chinese commercial ventures and economic projects in the Maldives and further cooperation on increasing Chinese tourists to visit the Maldives. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 20:01:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JAKARTA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution on Friday said that speculative traders were responsible for subdued rubber prices as the commodity is not oversupplied. The statement came as Indonesia, the world's second largest rubber producer, is struggling to raise the prices of the commodity. Nasution said the movement of rubber prices has not been in line with supply and demand. "We see that rubber is not oversupplied, but why its prices persistently weaken. There must be something wrong. There are many speculators engaged in speculation of information," he said. To solve the problem, Nasution said, Indonesia will involve Malaysia and Thailand, also the world's top rubber producers, to jointly solve the problem. "There are needs to talk with them to make the prices movement in line with the supply and demand," said Nasution. On the domestic front, the minister said, a move would be carried out to raise prices by boosting demand. The government plans to use rubber for asphalt mix which can be used in sea port, and railways as rail bearing. Indonesia's rubber output reached 3.5 million ton in 2017 and was expected to reach 3.6 to 3.7 million ton in 2018, according to data from the country's rubber association. The country exported a total of 2.6 million tons of rubber in 2017, it said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 19:41:41|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's Dunedin could lose its title of having the world's steepest street after residents of a Welsh town challenged to get this title. Baldwin Street in Dunedin of the South Island has attracted thousands of visitors each year ever since it was crowned the world's steepest street by Guinness World Records. The street has an average gradient of 36 percent, but the street Ffordd Pen Llech in the small coastal town of Harlech, Wales, has a reported slope of 37 percent, which challenged the fame of Baldwin Street. A decision is expected to be announced next month as measurements are being taken on the Welsh street on Friday and will be submitted to Guinness World Records in a few days. Dunedin residents expressed their sorrow on social media, with one woman saying that the Welsh street is not real as a sign on the Welsh road warns of it being unsuitable for motorists. Dunedin residents are "proud of its gradient (on a real street, lined with houses, used by vehicles)," she said, adding Guinness World Records guidelines say to be eligible for the steepest-street record, the road must be open to both pedestrians and motorized traffic. The street was named after the person who subdivided the area, William Baldwin. Over the years, it has attracted more and more people in attempts to master its steepness in various types of vehicles. In 2001, a woman died after sliding down the street using a wheelie bin and hitting a parked trailer. The Dunedin City Council is undertaking a series of upgrades to strengthen the street and help residents cope with the thousands of tourists who visit every year. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 19:36:39|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the third plenary session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Friday called for efforts to advance Party building and demanded "greater strategic achievements" in full and strict governance over the Party. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the third plenary session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC. He also called for consolidating victory in the fight against corruption. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 19:11:35|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CAIRO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian authorities deported on Friday one of two German men who were investigated over suspected attempting to join an Islamic State (IS) group affiliate in Sinai, state-run Ahram website reported. The 23-year-old Egyptian-born man, Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, was initially reported missing in December. The man had been earlier arrested at Cairo airport for allegedly attempting to join IS militants in Egypt's Sinai, the report added, quoting security sources as saying. Abdel Aziz, who was reportedly arrested on Dec. 27, was deported to Germany on Friday early hours. He was a student at an Islamic university in Saudi Arabia, the report added. Both men carried dual Egyptian-German nationalities, but Abdel Aziz had relinquished his Egyptian nationality. Meanwhile, Essa Al-Sabagh, 18, who had been earlier arrested at Egypt's southern city of Luxor, would be deported after the completion of relevant procedures, the report added. Maps of North Sinai, an Egyptian hotbed for IS, were found in his possession. He purportedly came to Egypt to join extremists in North Sinai, according to security sources. Egypt has been battling Islamist militants in North Sinai since the 2013 military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in response to mass protests against his rule. The attacks killed hundreds of security men and civilians in Egypt. Meanwhile, Egypt has launched an anti-terror campaign in February to crush militants across the country, which killed more than 800 terrorists. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 19:06:33|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close MALE, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives government has made it compulsory to wear helmets on the newly opened China-Maldives Friendship Bridge connecting capital Male and the airport island, local media reports said Friday. Transport Minister Aishath Nahula said the decision was made to ensure the safety of people crossing the bridge every day on motorbikes. The minister said the new helmet rule would take effect on March 10 and anyone found in violation would be penalized. The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, the first cross-sea bridge in the Maldives, opened to traffic in August last year. It was an iconic project of the Maldives and China in co-building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 19:06:33|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A special court in India convicted self-styled "Godman" Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who was already in jail over rape charges in the murder case of a journalist more than 16 years ago. A journalist named Ramchandra Chhatrapati was murdered after he had published an anonymous letter about the sexual exploitation of women by Singh at his headquarters "Dera Sacha Sauda" in Sirsa district of northern state Haryana. Besides the "Godman," three others were too pronounced guilty in the journalist's murder case. The quantum of punishment will be announced on Jan. 17, said media reports. Violence erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa districts of Haryana in August 2017 after Singh was convicted in the rape cases. Over 40 people were killed and scores of others injured in the violence. The self-styled "Godman" was infamous for leading a mysterious life, wearing colourful clothes, riding high-end motorbikes, and owning huge properties both in India and abroad. He enjoyed tremendous political influence in Haryana state across all major political parties and senior politicians. He was found guilty of forcibly keeping women at his headquarters in Sirsa for deriving sexual favors. BEIJING and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robert Friedland, Chairman of VRB Energy, and Dr. Mianyan Huang, Chief Technology Officer and President of China Operations, are pleased to announce the company has completed the commissioning of Phase 1 of the Hubei Zaoyang 10-megawatt (MW)/40-megawatt-hour (MWh) Utility-Scale Solar and Storage Integration Demonstration Project, with a 3 MW 12 MWh vanadium-redox-battery energy-storage-system (VRB-ESS) commencing operation. I am delighted to see the commissioning and operation of the largest capacity vanadium redox battery built in China to date. This project represents a key step in applying China's rich vanadium resources to renewable energy development that will transform the energy industry and help alleviate environmental problems, said Mr. Friedland. Hubei Province has abundant vanadium mineral resources. This project combines locally sourced vanadium with VRB Energy's advanced energy storage technology to serve as a brand new partnership model for fostering local economic development, energy transformation, comprehensive utilization of resources and sustainable development, said Mr. Xie Guoguang, Chairman of Hubei Pingfan Ruifeng New Energy Technology Ltd. the projects investor. Upon completion of the commissioning and the commencement of operations, Chinese government official Mr. Li Lecheng, member of the Standing Committee of Hubei Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Xiangyang Municipal Committee, led government leaders from Xiangyang City and Zaoyang City in inspecting the project. Secretary Li affirmed the significance of the project and the achievements in its construction. He encouraged the parties involved in the project to continue efforts to promote project construction methods and learnings, accelerate construction of renewable energy generation and storage, and drive development and localization of the energy storage industry in order to advance economic development and environmental protection. Building on the valuable experience gained from construction of this project, the project investor and all parties involved in the construction are working closely on pursuing multiple 100MW-class vanadium redox battery storage projects in Hubei, China. These projects would help to fulfill a key initiative under Chinas 2017 energy storage policy published by the National Development and Reform Commission the macroeconomic management agency under the Chinese State Council that has broad administrative and planning control over the Chinese economy to deploy multiple 100 MW-class vanadium flow batteries as part of broader efforts to increase renewable energy use, lower emissions and improve efficiency in the electricity sector. About VRB Energy VRB Energy, formerly known as Pu Neng, is a fast-growing, privately-held clean technology innovator. The company has developed the most reliable, longest-lasting vanadium flow battery in the world, with more than 30 megawatt-hours installed and in construction worldwide, and more than 800,000 hours of demonstrated performance. The combination of VRB Energys proprietary low-cost ion-exchange membrane, long-life electrolyte formulation and innovative flow cell design sets it apart from other providers. VRB Energys vanadium redox battery (VRB) systems store energy in liquid electrolyte in a patented process based on the reduction and oxidation of ionic forms of the element vanadium. This is a nearly infinitely repeatable process that is safe, reliable, and non-toxic. Components can be nearly 100% recycled at end of-life, dramatically improving lifecycle economics and environmental benefits compared to lead-acid, lithium-ion and other battery systems. VRB Energy is majority-owned by High Power Exploration (HPX), a metals-focused exploration company that also invests in minerals-dependent, high-growth emerging technologies. HPX is a subsidiary of I-Pulse, a global leader in developing innovative commercial applications for pulsed power technologies that convert small amounts of electrical energy into limitless power to address a broad and growing suite of applications across multiple industrial markets. I-Pulse is a private company with offices in San Francisco, London, Toulouse, Tokyo and Vancouver. For more information on VRB Energy, HPX and I-Pulse, please visit our websites at www.vrbenergy.com, www.hpxploration.com, and www.ipulse-group.com. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5787287e-e06d-4fca-994d-aef22c2d11fa Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 19:01:31|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Senior officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS) Alok Verma resigned on Friday, apparently as a mark of protest against his removal as the investigation agency chief by the government. On Thursday evening, he was transferred from the post of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director to the chief of the "Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards," only two days after he was reinstated on the orders of the Supreme Court of India. The apex court had reinstated Verma as CBI chief after a gap of 11 weeks. In October, both Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana were sent on "forced leave" after the two were found involved in a bitter feud, both leveling corruption charges against each other. Barely a few hours after he assumed the office as CBI Director on Thursday, Verma was removed as the spy chief by a select committee comprising Supreme Court Justice A.K. Sikri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who gave a note of dissent. On Friday morning, he refused to take charge of his new office as the chief of "Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards," and tendered his resignation. According to highly placed sources in the government, the select panel which removed Verma as the CBI director, believed that as the head of a very sensitive organization, Verma was "not functioning with the integrity expected of him." Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 18:56:30|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Up to two people were killed and 25 injured Friday in a car bomb explosion in the town of al-Qaim near the border with Syria, official and security sources said. "The final casualties from the car bomb explosion at a marketplace in al-Qaim town is two civilians killed and 20 others wounded, along with five policemen," said Nadhim al-Dulaimi, head of al-Qaim town council, told Xinhua. "15 of the wounded have left the town's hospital after they received treatment from different wounds they sustained by the blast," al-Dulaimi said. Moreover, the huge blast badly damaged some 20 shops, two nearby buildings and seven civilian cars, he said. Sayf al-Badr, spokesman of the Iraqi Health Ministry, confirmed to local Iraqi media that the toll of the car bombing in al-Qaim was two killed and 25 wounded. Earlier, a local police source put the toll of the blast at one civilian killed and seven others wounded, citing initial reports. The incident took place in the morning when a booby-trapped car ripped through a popular market in al-Qaim, some 400 km west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The security situation in Iraq has been dramatically improved after Iraqi security forces declared full liberation of Iraq from IS militants after Iraqi forces seized the whole border areas with Syria and nearby desert in western Iraq. However, small groups or individuals of Islamic State (IS) militants are still trying to infiltrate into Iraq from neighboring Syria through the roughly 600 km long border with Iraq with vast rugged areas and desert land. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 18:46:23|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K. Sivan addresses a press conference on the Gaganyaan mission, in Bengaluru, India, Jan. 11, 2019. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday said it is well prepared to send astronauts into space by December 2021. The announcement was made by ISRO Chairman K. Sivan while addressing media in southern Bengaluru city. According to Sivan, preparations for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first crewed mission to space, are underway. (Xinhua/Stringer) NEW DELHI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday said it is well prepared to send astronauts into space by December 2021. The announcement was made by ISRO Chairman K. Sivan while addressing media in southern Bengaluru city. According to Sivan, preparations for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first crewed mission to space, are underway. "The project will be a turning point for ISRO. This mission will expand our activities. The initial training for Gaganyaan will be done in India and advanced training maybe in Russia. Women astronauts will be there on the team. That's our aim," Sivan said. Last month the Indian government approved a 1.43 billion U.S. dollars project named Gaganyaan, under which humans would be sent into space for at least a week. The space organization hopes to deploy its biggest rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III, into space from the Sriharikota space port in southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Sivan said ISRO will be launching 32 missions this year which will include 14 rockets, 17 satellites, and one tech demo mission. Meanwhile, the Chandrayaan-2 mission (lunar probe) has once again been rescheduled, and ISRO will be launching its second moon mission between March 25 to the end of April this year. The space agency has missed the January-February launch deadline for the mission. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 18:16:15|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close The China National Space Administration on Jan. 11, 2019 releases the 360-degree panoramic photos taken by a camera installed on China's Chang'e-4 lunar probe (cylindrical projection). China's Chang'e-4 probe took panoramic photos on the lunar surface after it successfully made the first ever soft-landing on the far side of the moon. (Xinhua/China National Space Administration) BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Images sent back from China's Chang'e-4 show that the first-ever probe to soft-land on moon's far side is surrounded by lots of craters of different sizes, which pose a great challenge for future exploration of the lunar rover Yutu-2. The probe, comprised of a lander and a rover, touched down at the preselected landing area at 177.6 degrees east longitude and 45.5 degrees south latitude in the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) Friday unveiled several images taken by the Chang'e-4 probe transmitted back via the relay satellite Queqiao (Magpie Bridge). One of the published images is a 360-degree panorama which was pieced together from 80 photos taken by a camera on the lander after the rover drove onto the lunar surface, according to Li Chunlai, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories of China and commander-in-chief of the ground application system of Chang'e-4. "From the panorama, we can see the probe is surrounded by lots of small craters, which was really thrilling," said Li. One of the craters close to the rover Yutu-2 has a diameter of about 20 meters and a depth of about 4 meters. The rugged terrain will pose great challenges for planning the route of the rover, said Li. Compared with the landing site of the Chang'e-3, which was sent to the Sinus Iridum, or the Bay of Rainbows, on the moon's near side, fewer rocks can be found in the area surrounding Chang'e-4, indicating the landing area of Chang'e-4 might be older, said Li. He said the Chang'e-4 landed at an altitude of nearly minus 6,000 meters. The deepest region on the moon, where there is an altitude of minus 9,100 meters, is about 700 kilometers to the south of the probe. "The information from the depths of the moon will be one of our focuses in the exploration," said Li. The CNSA also released a video of the landing process of the Chang'e-4, which was produced by processing more than 4,700 pictures taken by a camera on the probe. The video, lasting about 12 minutes, shows the probe adjusted its altitude, hovered and avoided obstacles during the descent process. "From the video, we can see more dust was thrown up when the Chang'e-4 touched down on the far side of the moon compared with the landing of Chang'e-3, which indicates that the lunar dust at the landing area of Chang'e-4 is thicker than the region where Chang'e-3 landed," said Zhang Hongbo, chief designer of the ground application system of Chang'e-4. "The thicker dust shows that the lunar regolith in the region has undergone longer space weathering, which also gives strong evidence of the region being older. We will conduct comparative research between the landing areas of Chang'e-3 and Chang'e-4," Li said. As a result of the tidal locking effect, the moon's revolution cycle is the same as its rotation cycle. It always faces the earth with the same side, and the far side was a mystery before the age of spacecraft. Many lunar orbiters had shown the moon's two sides were very different: the near side is relatively flat, while the far side is thickly dotted with impact craters. "We hope Chang'e-4 could carry out unprecedented and more challenging tasks," said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program. The SPA Basin, where the Chang'e-4 probe landed, is the largest and deepest basin in the solar system, with a diameter of 2,500 km and a depth of more than 10 km. "The far side of the moon has very unique features, and has never been explored on site, so Chang'e-4 might bring us breakthrough findings," said Zou Yongliao, director of the lunar and deep space exploration division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Scientists have found evidence indicating a heavy asteroid bombardment event in the solar system around 3.9 billion years ago. And the SPA Basin might be an impact from that period. The exploration might offer clues as to why the bombardment occurred, said Zou. In this file photo taken on December 30, 2018 a convoy of U.S. military vehicles rides in Syria's northern city of Manbij. (AFP photo) DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. forces conducted the first withdrawal from northeastern Syria, 23 days after the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw forces from Syria, a war monitor reported on Friday. The U.S. forces started the first withdrawal operation from Syria on Thursday evening from Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The watchdog group said 10 armored vehicles in addition to other military gears withdrew from the U.S. base in the Rmailan area in Hasakah. The U.S. forces have several bases in Hasakah and Rmailan is one of the most important ones due to abundance in oil fields in that area, which is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). On Dec. 19, Trump declared a surprising decision to withdraw forces from Syria. The decision was followed by other remarks by Trump himself and his administration's officials that there is no timetable for the withdrawal. The SDF with the help of the U.S. succeeded to strip the Islamic State of key areas in northern Syria and is currently fighting to eliminate the terror-labeled groups on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in eastern Syria. The SDF was surprised by the U.S. decision to withdraw from Syria and some of its commanders said it was like a "stab in the back." However, the United States maintained that it would continue to support the SDF and other Kurdish-led groups in northeastern Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 18:01:11|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's defense ministry said Friday that it will increase defense budget by a yearly average of 7.5 percent in the next five years, according to local media reports. Under the mid-term defense budget plan, 270.7 trillion won (242.6 billion U.S. dollars) will be spent on strengthening independent defense capability from 2019 to 2023. It represents a yearly average increase of 7.5 percent, higher than an average growth of 4.9 percent for the past 10 years. Among the total, 94.1 trillion won (84.3 billion U.S. dollars) was allocated to enhance the military's defense capability. The remaining 176.6 trillion won (158.2 billion U.S. dollars) would be spent on operating military assets and troops. About two-thirds of the defense capability enhancement budget would be spent on countering threats from nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and preparing for the wartime operational command of South Korean troops from the United States. South Korea's wartime operational command was handed over to the U.S.-led UN Command after the Korean War broke out in 1950. The country regained its peacetime command in 1994. Seoul was supposed to retake the wartime control in 2015, but it was delayed on tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Seoul and Washington agreed in 2014 to a conditions-based wartime command transfer. To improve defense capability, South Korea planned to procure military satellites, mid- and high-altitude surveillance drones and long-range air-to-surface guided missiles in the next five years. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 18:01:10|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Six militants including a Taliban key commander were killed after fighting aircrafts pounded Taliban hideouts in Chamtal district of northern Balkh province Thursday night, army spokesman in the northern region Abdul Hadi Jamal said Friday. Mawlawi Badar, according to Jamal, was a notorious commander who had organized subversive activities against government interests in Balkh province and his physical elimination could be a major blow to the Taliban fighters in Balkh and neighboring Jawzjan and Sari Pul provinces. Taliban militants who just couple of days ago targeted several police checkpoints in Balkh province and killed nearly three dozen security personnel, have not commented. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:56:09|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close NEW YORK, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- There will be more opportunities for foreign firms to invest in China in 2019, considering the Asian country's efforts to create a more favorable environment for global business. "China will certainly create a favorable environment for the business community," Lin Yifu, director of Center for New Structural Economics, said during a yearly event held here Thursday under the theme "Forecast of China's Economy for 2019." Lin added that China is set to expand more pilot free trade zones. "That means there will be more opportunities for the foreign firm to make investments in China, and the Chinese government will encourage that," added Lin, also a professor and honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University. Global automakers, led by Germany's Volkswagen AG, are planning a remarkable increase of 300 billion U.S. dollars in spending for planned EV investment and procurement over the next five to 10 years, with nearly half of the money targeted at China, according to Reuters on Thursday. Panelists at the event also said that investment opportunities will grow especially in technology innovation because of China's focus on technology-related investment and its growing middle class, according to Huang Haizhou, managing director of China International Capital Corporation, who was also a panelist at the event. "As China continues to grow, China will need to invest more in technology. China welcomes international companies to invest in China or move their headquarters to China," Huang told Xinhua during the discussion. Besides technology, consumption, healthcare and education are also hot choices for foreign investors, Huang added. "Given the size of China's population, the middle class will become the largest in the world," he said. "In that regard, China is definitely shifting more into consumption, healthcare, education and anything related to that area with high and increasing demand going forward." U.S. EV giant Tesla has already broken ground in China, as it confirmed in its third quarter financial report in October that it would bring "portions of Model 3 production" to China, now the world's largest vehicle market. Tesla's decision came following an agreement with the Shanghai municipal government in July 2018 to build its Gigafactory, an electric vehicle manufacturing facility, which is currently under construction as one of the largest foreign-invested manufacturing projects in Shanghai. China clearly has advantages in promoting EV production thanks to its continuous efforts to battle environmental pollution, said Albert Keidel, an adjunct graduate professor of Economics Department at George Washington University told Xinhua. "It's not a surprise that the world's automotive industry makers want to move their EV industries there," said Keidel. "That's quite a natural move." Lin said that the Chinese government would expand its fiscal stimulus to support investments in the environment, infrastructure and urbanization-related property in 2019, which would also inject steam into the EV industry. Lin also predicted that China would maintain a growth rate of around 6.5 percent and remained confident about the prospect for China's growth in 2019. On the environment front, although China's economy has met some troubles, "it actually improves environmental outcomes, because there are fewer factories pumping smoke in the air," said Daniel Rosen, a founding partner of the New York-based research consultancy and advisory company Rhodium Group. "To keep the country out of a dead end, China is making progress in terms of innovation, reducing some of the air pollution and water pollution problems," Rosen said during the event. He added that there's a potential to see trillions of dollars of Chinese savings and investment come out into the world in portfolio investment and direct investment by companies, with foreign investment and savings heading toward China in the future. The yearly event was jointly held by the National Committee of U.S.-China Relations and China Center for Economic Research of Peking University. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:51:08|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. forces conducted the first withdrawal from northeastern Syria, 23 days after the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw forces from Syria, a war monitor reported on Friday. The U.S. forces started the first withdrawal operation from Syria on Thursday evening from Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The watchdog group said 10 armored vehicles in addition to other military gears withdrew from the U.S. base in the Rmailan area in Hasakah. The U.S. forces have several bases in Hasakah and Rmailan is one of the most important ones due to abundance in oil fields in that area, which is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). On Dec. 19, Trump declared a surprising decision to withdraw forces from Syria. The decision was followed by other remarks by Trump himself and his administration's officials that there is no timetable for the withdrawal. The SDF with the help of the U.S. succeeded to strip the Islamic State of key areas in northern Syria and is currently fighting to eliminate the terror-labeled groups on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in eastern Syria. The SDF was surprised by the U.S. decision to withdraw from Syria and some of its commanders said it was like a "stab in the back." However, the United States maintained that it would continue to support the SDF and other Kurdish-led groups in northeastern Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:51:07|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close COLOMBO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will host an international conference in May to highlight the threat of international trade of wild animals and plants, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife said on Friday. Nearly 4,000 representatives from 183 countries and regions will participate in the Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which will be held from May 23 to June 3 in Colombo. The CITES aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of species in the wild. Sri Lanka gained international recognition in 2016 by destroying over 359 African elephant tusks worth of 400 million Sri Lankan rupees (about 2.2 million U.S. dollars) under the CITES Convention to fight against illegal trading of animals. The ivory with a total weight of around 1,500 kg was seized in 2012 by the Sri Lanka Customs while it was en route to Dubai from Kenya. Fairfax, Virginia, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helping to prepare future generations of information technology defenders is one of AFCEA Internationals primary goals. To achieve this objective, the associations Educational Foundation has created a $5,000 scholarship for college students studying cybersecurity. AFCEA International donated $25,000 of the proceeds from its David Sarnoff Award Dinner, which honored Adm. Michael S. Rogers, USN (Ret.). The scholarship was created in recognition of Adm. Rogers service in the field of cybersecurity. Cybersecurity and education are closely linked, and we need plenty of both if we are to meet the threats to our nation within the digital realm. As important as new technologies are to our ability to meet those threats, it is our human capital that is both our greatest edge and our largest shortfall. I applaud AFCEA for recognizing that and establishing the AFCEA Educational Foundation Cyber Security Scholarship, Adm. Rogers said. Applicants for the Cyber Security Scholarship currently must be at least a second-year college student enrolled in a four-year college or university. In addition, they must be majoring in cybersecurity, computer science, digital forensics, information assurance, information technology, electronic engineering or other field related to supporting U.S. cyber enterprises. Students are asked to provide basic information as well as a brief synopsis of their current academic program and a personal statement outlining their career goals and how they will contribute to the U.S. workforce in areas related to STEM, defense, communications, information technology, national security and/or information systems. This is a merit-based scholarship; financial need will be one of several criteria used to choose the winner. Applicants also are required to provide a current official school transcript from the schools registrars office and at least two letters of recommendation from a faculty member in their major area of study. This scholarship is one of three STEM Major undergraduate scholarships the AFCEA Educational Foundation currently offers. The foundation also offers a $2,500 STEM Major Scholarship and a $3,000 Undergraduate Diversity Scholarship. Students are invited to apply for all three scholarships using one online application. The deadline is April 12, 2019. In addition to the new cybersecurity award, the foundation offers diversity graduate, ROTC, STEM Teacher and War Veterans scholarships. Through the AFCEA Educational Foundation and its chapters, AFCEA International provides $2 million in scholarships annually to support STEM students and teachers. The AFCEA Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations to the foundation can be made securely online. Additional details about application requirements are available online. For more information, contact Amanda Goehring via email or at (703) 631-6147. ### AFCEA International, established in 1946, is a non-profit membership association serving the military, government, industry and academia. Join online. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:31:02|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia imported a total of 64,000 cars in 2018, up 31 percent from the previous year, the Mongolian Customs General Administration (MCGA) said Friday. Importing these automobiles cost Mongolia 407.8 million U.S. dollars, a 56 percent growth from 2017. Hybrid cars accounted for 54 percent of the total imported cars in 2018, according to the MCGA. In addition, the country imported 22,000 heavy trucks in 2018, 57 percent more than 2017, mostly due to rising activities in the mining industry in the country, according to the official data released by the MCGA. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:26:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The following are news highlights in Zambia's major media outlets on Friday. -- The Zambian government has named 2,009 teachers as successful applicants out of 27,000 who applied in last year's teacher recruitment exercise. Acting Minister of Education Elizabeth Phiri said the government was happy with the transparency and accountability that was employed during the recruitment exercise which involved all stakeholders. (Zambia Daily Mail) -- The German government says it was interested to partner with Zambia in the agriculture sector to help develop the sector and double production. German Minister of Economic Development and Cooperation Gerd Muller, who is on a visit in Zambia, said the southern African nation had great potential in agriculture and that his country was seeking to develop a partnership in the sector. (Times of Zambia) -- The Zambian government says it has managed to distribute farming inputs under its subsidized program to smallholder farmers in all the country's 115 districts. Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo said the government has managed to deliver the inputs to all the one million beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Program. (Daily Nation) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:26:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The following are news highlights in Ethiopia's major media outlets on Friday. -- Ethiopian Ambassadors are called for a diplomatic briefing next week. Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) told FBC Thursday that the briefing will focus on current issues. As part of the ongoing nationwide reform, Ethiopia appointed a total of 20 new ambassadors last month. (Fana Broadcasting Corporate/FBC) -- The House of People's Representatives (HPR) on Thursday approved four cooperation agreements that the government of Ethiopia has signed with Rwanda and Morocco. (FBC) -- Political parties that took part at consultative meeting organized to gather inputs for the amendment of the electoral law have listed 32 agendas that need to be discussed in the future. (FBC) -- The Federal Prison Administration said the government has shown improvements in ensuring protection of the rights of prisoners during the past six months. Jemal Abaso, Director General of the Federal Prison Administration, made the remark while he was briefing journalists about six-month performance report of the institute on Thursday. (FBC) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:26:00|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish prosecutors on Friday issued detention warrants for at least 102 suspects, including serving soldiers, over their alleged links to a group believed to be behind a failed coup in 2016. Police launched simultaneous operations in 20 provinces across the country to catch a total of 52 military personnel on the orders of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in the southern province of Adana, according to local media the Hurriyet daily. Among them, 42 are serving in the Turkish armed forces, while the rest are either expelled or retired, the report added. Additionally, police are hunting for 50 suspects, including six soldiers in active service, in a separate operation ordered by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul, Hurriyet said. The suspects allegedly contacted via pay phone with the network headed by U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish government has been blaming Gulen and his group for the coup attempt in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed, and has been pushing for his extradition. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:20:59|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Fish and wildlife authorities of the U.S. western state of Oregon have begun killing predatory California sea lions to protect endangered salmon, local media reported on Thursday. According to the Oregonian/OregonLive newspaper, at least four sea lions have been removed from the Willamette Falls and killed at a second location under a federal permit by Thursday morning, because the predatory aquatic mammals are threatening the winter run of rainbow trout that become steelhead when they swim back to the ocean. Over the past decade, the paper said, a growing number of sea lions have been traveling more than 160 km upstream from the mouth of the Columbia River to Bonneville Dam and Willamette Falls south of Portland in Oregon, where they hunted for migrating salmon on their way to the streams where they hatched. Officials of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) are allowed to kill 93 California sea lions each year if they find sea lions are preying on salmon for two consecutive days. A recent ODFW study showed that the sea lions were eating so many winter steelhead at the falls in one year that the trout risks a high rate of extinction. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:20:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The following are the news highlights in Kenyan media outlets on Friday. -- The Jubilee Party's symbol is two clasped hands, signifying unity. But currently, the hands have turned into clenched fists as various groups in the party and their financiers lock horns in what is turning out to be a fight for the heart and soul of the party. The party is split into three factions. (Daily Nation) -- Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who had emerged as the face of rebellion in President Uhuru Kenyatta's backyard, was beaten into submission on a day more leaders came out to denounce rising political temperature. Mr Kuria, who sparked a storm by alleging that President Uhuru Kenyatta had neglected Central Kenya in terms of development yesterday said he had nothing but "utmost respect for the President" as he sought to put the debate to rest. (Standard) -- Doctors have asked for more time to provide their views before their professional fees are officially reviewed and reduced. The Kenya Medical Association said Tuesday's public participation meeting was "rushed" and lacked input from professionals." The association is willing to enter into a broad-based discussion on total healthcare costs, not limited to private practitioners' professional fees," KMA President Jackline Kitulu said in a statement. (Star) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 17:15:58|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) inspects the armed forces after the presidential inauguration ceremony in Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan. 10, 2019. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in before the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) to begin a new six-year term on Thursday. (Xinhua) CARACAS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in before the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) to begin a new six-year term on Thursday, with delegations from 94 countries in attendance. Maduro told the president of the TSJ, Maikel Moreno, that he swore on behalf of the people of Venezuela and that he would fulfill and enforce all constitutional mandates to "seek to defend the independence and absolute integrity of the country." "This banner does not belong to me, this banner belongs to the rebellious and sovereign people of Venezuela," Maduro said, adding that "Venezuela is a profoundly democratic country... In 19 years there have been 25 elections for all general level positions." Maduro was elected with 67.84 percent of the votes. He recalled that the May 20, 2018 elections were done "in spite of an international conspiracy to boycott the elections and delegitimize the institutional processes." Venezuelan Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez said that under no circumstances would the Venezuelan military accept the violation of national sovereignty and the military would remain unscathed "in their unconditional support and unfettered loyalty" to Maduro. The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of all the public leaders, except those from the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Guests at the inauguration ceremony included Bolivian President Evo Morales, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and El Salvador's President Salvador Sanchez Ceren. Han Changfu, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and China's minister of agriculture and rural affairs, also attended the ceremony and conveyed President Xi's congratulations. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has said that Maduro's reelection was a "strategic victory" for all Latin America, signaling people's support for the Bolivarian movement and political party founded by the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. First elected in 2013, Maduro pledged to strengthen the Bolivarian Revolution launched by former President Hugo Chavez, which seeks to build an inter-American coalition to implement nationalism and a state-led economy. Diaz-Canel also called for continued resistance against Washington's attempts to interfere with the internal affairs of Latin America. Amid growing tensions between Washington and Caracas over Venezuela's controversial Constituent National Assembly (ANC), the United States has imposed a series of sanctions on Venezuelan individuals involved in the ANC, including Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, to support the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD). The sanctions included prohibiting transactions of Venezuela's digital currency and a ban on Venezuela's gold exports, a significant source of revenue for the South American country. "The United States always maintains its unilateral posture of not respecting multilateral agencies while trampling on international law," said Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, adding that Venezuela does not recognize any sanctions imposed on the country without UN authorization. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 16:30:49|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least a civilian was killed and seven injured Friday in a car bomb explosion in the town of al-Qaim near the border with Syria, a local police source said. The incident took place in the morning when a booby-trapped car ripped through a popular market in al-Qaim, some 400 km west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The security situation in Iraq has been dramatically improved after Iraqi security forces declared full liberation of Iraq from IS militants after Iraqi forces seized the whole border areas with Syria and nearby desert in western Iraq. However, small groups or individuals of Islamic State (IS) militants are still trying to infiltrate into Iraq from neighboring Syria through the roughly 600 km long border with Iraq with vast rugged areas and desert land. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 15:55:34|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close TAIYUAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Imagine folding a piece of A4-sized paper into a little paper airplane. You throw the paper plane and it flies in the air smoothly for several meters. Now imagine the "paper" is made of steel. That is exactly what Zhang Wanquan did in a factory of a subsidiary of Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co., Ltd. in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province. Zhang said his company has developed an extremely thin type of stainless steel. "This is interesting because stainless steel is usually much heavier than paper," Zhang said as he folded the "paper plane." The steel is only 0.02 mm thick, or a quarter of an A4 paper's thickness. The company claims that it is the only one in the world able to produce stainless steel 0.02 mm thick and 600 mm wide. The steel, which can be torn apart as easily as paper, can be widely applied in areas such as space and aviation, automobiles and computers. "Our technicians spent two years in research and conducted 711 experiments before we were able to make it," Zhang said. "Mass production began in the latter half of last year." Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co. Ltd focuses on making steel. It manufactures 4.5 million tonnes of stainless steel annually. However, the production of such paper-thin steel is limited. Currently, the company churns out 24,000 tonnes of such steel, which has been exported to the United States, Germany, Brazil and Turkey. The steel has fetched high prices, with one piece of steel about the size of A4 paper selling for as much as 400 yuan (59 U.S. dollars), Zhang said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 15:30:28|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's Industrial Production Index (IPI) rose by 2.5 percent year-on-year in November last year, underpinned by growth in manufacturing and electricity indices, official data showed Friday. Malaysian Statistics Department said in a statement that manufacturing index rose 3.6 percent, and electricity index increased by 3.2 percent for the month. However, mining index fell by 0.7 percent, dragged mainly by natural gas index. Equipment and other manufactures products, electrical and electronic equipment products, as well as petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products are among the major sub-sectors for manufacturing industry that contributed to the growth. In a separate statement, the department said that the manufacturing sales in November rose 7.7 percent year-on-year to 71.8 billion ringgit (17.5 billion U.S. dollars). The improved sales were driven by the increases in transport equipment and other manufactures products; petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic product; and electrical and electronics products. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Isodiol International Inc. (CSE: ISOL ) (OTCQB: ISOLF ) (FSE: LB6A.F ) (the Company or Isodiol) announced today that its Board of Directors is re-examining the Companys stock commitments for 2019 and making efforts to curb dilution and enhance shareholder value. The first of these efforts is the mutual termination of the Companys license agreement with Level Brands Inc. (Level) for the kathy ireland brand, which was effective as of January 7, 2019. Isodiol and Level entered into the license on December 30, 2017. Among the terms of the license, Isodiol was obligated to make quarterly license fee payments of US$750,000 in the form of Isodiol shares for a term of ten years. The termination agreement concluded those payment requirements as of Isodiols fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018 and included a final payment of 500,000 shares to be issued as of January 10, 2019. At the time Isodiol entered into the license, our stock price was $13.20, and the dilutive effect of the license fee was acceptable, said Marcos Agramont, CEO of Isodiol. Unfortunately, our stock has not yet returned to that price, and our fixed monetary obligations to Level under the license that are payable in stock have become the equivalent of toxic debt. While we greatly respect Mrs. Ireland, the cost of dilution to our shareholders for the license is simply too great at this time. Pursuant to the termination, the Company will retain the ability to sell products bearing the kathy ireland brand through June 2019. About Isodiol International Inc. Isodiol International Inc. is focused on the nutritional health benefits that are derived from hemp and is a product development, sales, marketing and distribution company of hemp-based consumer products and solutions. Isodiol has commercialized a 99%+ pure, naturally isolated CBD, including micro-encapsulations, and nano-technology for 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 604-409-4409 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 of 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. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 15:20:27|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's speech in Egypt on Thursday on U.S. policy in the Middle East was self-congratulatory and unconvincing, experts said. Pompeo arrived in Egypt late Wednesday following stops in Jordan and Iraq, on a tour for the Middle East that also includes Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman. The speech, which took place at the American University in Cairo, was widely regarded as an explicit repudiation of the address that former U.S. President Barack Obama made in Cairo in 2009. Robert Malley, president of International Crisis Group and White House coordinator for the Middle East in the Obama administration, said that the speech was "a self-congratulatory and delusional depiction" of the Middle East policy of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Pompeo indicated that it was the "fundamental misunderstandings and misjudgments" of Obama that adversely affected the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the region. Pompeo also attributed the destruction of the Islamic State (IS) to the Trump administration, noting that Trump's predecessor "underestimated the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islamism." However, the U.S.-led campaign against the IS began in 2014, and the bulk of IS fighters were eliminated during the pre-Trump period, according to some senior U.S. military officials. Robin Simcox, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said that the Trump administration did make some effective tactical changes in counter-terrorism, but it has not strayed far from the policy of previous presidents in a broader strategic picture. Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States would "use diplomacy" and work with partners to expel the Iranian presence from Syria. The reality is that among nine countries that are included in Pompeo's trip, five of them, namely Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, don't have a U.S. ambassador, according to American Foreign Service Association. Empty ambassador posts that are filled in an interim capacity by career diplomats, who don't have the same clout or influence in their host country, might hamper U.S. engagement in the region, Robbie Gramer argued in a Foreign Policy article. The contradictory messages in Pompeo's speech, such as to "expel every last Iranian boot in Syria" and "bring our troops home from Syria," also further reflect the lingering twists and turns of Trump's Syria pullout decision. Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, commented on Twitter that Pompeo's remarks of "when America retreats, chaos follows" served as a good critique of the Trump administration's Middle East policy. Pompeo seems to be distancing himself from the White House, or at least trying to delay the presidential order for immediate withdrawal from Syria, Dan Mahaffe, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua. Pompeo's speech also underscored that future U.S. Middle East strategy would overwhelmingly focus on countering Iran. By calling Iran "a common enemy," Pompeo sought to convince regional allies that the establishment of the Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA), also known as the Arab NATO, which includes the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as Egypt and Jordan, would serve their interests to counter Iran's action in the region. "The idea of an Arab NATO is wholly unconvincing," said Yezid Sayegh, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, adding that the GCC has failed multiple times to agree on joint defense capability. Giorgio Cafiero, CEO and founder of Gulf State Analytics, a geopolitical risk consultancy based in Washington, argued that the divergent strategic priorities of Arab countries, as well as their fundamentally different attitudes toward Iran would be major political obstacles to the MESA. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 14:00:13|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close SYDNEY, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A man has been arrested in Australia after allegedly shooting down a drone, which led police to his property where they found 187 cannabis plants and 20 kg of dried cannabis. The discovery came on Thursday, when a real estate agent taking aerial footage in an area of New South Wales informed police that his drone had been shot down. Police attended the scene where they uncovered large amounts of cannabis, as well as an unregistered 22 calibre rifle which was stashed at a nearby location. The 46-year-old resident was arrested and charged with eight firearms and drug offences. On the same day, in an unrelated incident, a 57-year-old man was arrested after he was found with 230 cannabis at his property in a nearby suburb. Both men faced court on Friday. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 13:55:12|Editor: zh Video Player Close LAS VEGAS, the United States, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- At the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), cooperation with China is not a fresh topic, and this year's fair in Las Vegas showed new motivations for teaming up with China. "China is now transformed from Made in China into Created in China. Combined with our Italian design, these all contribute to build up our strong competitiveness, which brings many opportunities," Italian jewelry designer Marco Dal Maso told Xinhua on Thursday. Maso teamed up with his Chinese partner Mats Wang, an internet veteran, and created in 2015 a smart jewelry brand Totwoo, which shined for the first time at the CES this year after winning numerous international jewelry industry awards. The most famous feature of Totwoo smart jewelry is that people can send love code to each other by tapping the jewelry and the jewelry will flash and vibrate when it receives the code. At the Las Vegas Convention Center on Wednesday, Totwoo launched its newest collection "Lucky Clover," which combines designs with Chinese characteristics and modern technologies. Maso emphasized that in his eyes, China has changed from a huge market and world factory to an innovation center providing opportunities for international entrepreneurs, saying that he "would like to introduce more Italian designers to China to create more beautiful and innovative products in the world." The current global manufacture chain makes it clear that innovation would be more difficult without China. At the 2019 CES, Meituan, a Chinese food-delivery leader, signed strategic cooperation agreements with French automotive supplier Valeo, U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) computing and semiconductors company NVIDIA, and Italian design company for the automotive industry Icona. Wang Puzhong, senior vice president of Meituan, said that in the cooperation aimed at developing autonomous delivery technologies, Valeo will supply components, including engines and sensors, for Meituan's autonomous delivery vehicles; NVIDIA will provide technical support for autonomous delivery research and development as well as trial operations, while Icona will be the design partner for autonomous delivery robots and vehicles. "China has a huge market and is of great importance to NVIDIA," said Murali Gopalakrishna, head of product management from Autonomous Machines Department of NVIDIA. "Nvidia has launched cooperation with Chinese partners since 2013, including Meituan, JD-X and Cainiao," Gopalakrishna added. In the same exhibition hall, SoundAI Technology Co. has a very tiny booth, but the company, which focuses on leading technologies in acoustics and AI interactions including chip design and manufacture, has some big names like Microsoft as its international strategic partners. "Even the world's biggest and most renowned company in acoustics AI field wants to cooperate with us because we provide chips to every one of two AI loudspeakers made in China," said Jason Gu, vice president of the company. "In the field of acoustics AI, we all have lots of technology problems to resolve," he said, adding that "we must keep an open mind, because we can only create a future by working together." Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 13:40:07|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's economy is projected to continue its strong growth in 2019, driven by construction, garment export and tourism, the Singapore-based ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said in a statement on Friday. "Real GDP (gross domestic product) growth is estimated to remain strong at 7.1 percent in 2019 with continued support from robust construction activities, rebound in garment manufacturing and solid growth in tourism-related services," the statement said, adding that the 2018 growth was roughly 7.2 percent. It said the financial sector remained sound, while banks' credit growth continued to moderate amid the implementation of stricter prudential regulations, including higher minimum capital requirements and liquidity coverage ratio. The Capital Adequacy Ratios of both commercial banks and microfinance institutions have continued to be above the regulatory minimums, it added. One of the major downside risks to the growth is the uncertainty of the Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential trade scheme that the European Union has granted to Cambodia. The EU said in October last year that Cambodia could lose its special trade access to European markets under the EBA preferences, citing concerns over human rights and labor rights in the country. The EU would take at least 18 months to decide whether to withdraw the EBA preferences for Cambodia or not. "A suspension of the EBA status would substantially weaken its export competitiveness in the EU market," the statement said. From the domestic side, major risks would stem from weakening external competitiveness due to a rapid increase in labor costs, it said. On the financial sector, a growing credit concentration in the real estate and construction sectors and a rapid expansion of microfinance institutions may also heighten risks to financial stability, it added. The statement was made based on an AMRO's annual consultation visit to Cambodia in September and data available up to Novomber last year. Cambodian Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth said Thursday that the country's economy roughly grew by 7.3 percent last year, supported by construction, garment export, tourism and agriculture. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 13:30:06|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close MANILA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte continues to enjoy high trust and approval ratings, according to an independent poll released on Friday. A survey by Pulse Asia Inc. conducted from Dec. 14 to 21 last year showed 81 percent of the 1,800 Filipinos aged 18 and above surveyed nationwide approved of Duterte's performance or the way Duterte runs the country, up by six percentage points from his September 2018 rating of 75 percent. The survey further showed that Duterte's trust rating also increased by four percentage points from 72 percent in September 2018 to 76 percent in December 2018. "Most Filipinos express appreciation for the performance (of Duterte)", Pulse Asia said, adding that Duterte scored "majority approval and trust ratings across geographic areas and socio-economic groupings." The survey also showed that only seven percent of Filipinos disapprove of Duterte's performance while six percent have small or no trust in him. Duterte assumed the presidency in June 2016. He vowed to stamp out corruption and improve law and order in the Philippines by waging war against criminals and terrorists. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 13:25:06|Editor: zh Video Player Close NEW YORK, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China will be able to maintain a growth rate around 6.5 percent and continue to contribute about 30 percent of the growth to the global economy, said former senior vice president and chief economist of the World Bank Justin Lin Yifu Thursday. "Looking ahead what will be the prospect for China's growth in 2019...I'm confident," said Lin, also the honorary dean of National School of Development at Peking University, while delivering a keynote speech during the "Forecast: China's Economy 2019," an event hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Peking University's China Center for Economic Research in New York. He mainly attributed his optimism to a fact that the Chinese economy will enter the expansionary stage of its on-going supply-side structural reform in the next few years. Lin noted that since 2016, the Chinese government has advocated implementing some kind of supply-side structural reform in order to improve the quality of its economy and avoid possible systematic financial risks. The economist spoke highly of China's willingness to take up the bold attempt, since structural reform has been discussed almost in every country, but most countries only talk since they are afraid of the potential pain by the contraction. Lin pointed out that China's economic policies are "responsive and contingent," and as the country has achieved the major goals of reducing excessive capacity, destocking and deleveraging, the focus will be shifted to reducing the administrative cost or the administrative burden to the enterprises and removing th bottlenecks of the growth in the Chinese economy, which are "expansionary." Policies such as cutting down the tax rate for the private sectors and reducing the business red tapes will not only boost investment but also create a favorable environment for the business community, he said. According to the World Bank report "Doing Business 2019: Training for Reform," published in October 2018, China moved up more than 30 places to the 46th position in the global rankings, reflecting that it had made dramatic improvements to its business environment over the past year. China's resolve to remove the bottlenecks of its economy and support investment in such areas as industrial upgrading, infrastructure, environmental protection, and urbanization will also give stimulus to its economic growth, Lin said. He added that the Chinese market and growth will be an opportunity for the Chinese people and the business community in the world, including the business community in the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 13:25:05|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close VIENTINE, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The budget arm of Singapore Airlines, Scoot, is to launch Singapore-Laos flights in April with tickets starting at 88 U.S. dollars. Scoot will fly from Singapore to Lao capital Vientiane, and to northern Lao ancient town of Luang Prabang on a circular route. It will depart from Singapore for Luang Prabang, followed by Vientiane, before heading back to Singapore, local daily Vientiane Times on Friday quoted the company's announcement on Thursday. Three weekly flights will connect Laos to Singapore departing in the morning on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. These routes were transferred from its sister airline SilkAir with Scoot's A320 aircraft. Singapore's SilkAir launched a service to Vientiane and Luang Prabang in October 2016. It stopped the service after poor passenger figures between October 2017 and February in 2018. Luang Prabang and Vientiane are the first two of the several new destinations the low-cost carrier will be adding to its network this year, said the daily. With the addition of Laos, Scoot's network will span 68 destinations across 19 countries and territories. Lao Airlines also stopped direct Laos-Singapore flights from March 25, 2018 due to operational reasons and, as of now, has no plans to resume the flights, said the report. Lao Airlines relaunched the Singapore-Laos flight in October 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 13:20:03|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close HANOI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 Vietnam International Travel Mart will take place here on March 27-30, with the participation of hundreds of travel companies from 25 countries and regions, the Vietnam Tourism Association announced on Friday. Various tourism products, packages and destinations will be offered at more than 500 booths around the key topic of green tourism. Workshops will also be held to share experiences in developing eco-tourism and protecting the environment. Over 32,000 tour packages and 20,000 air tickets are expected to be sold during the four-day event, said the association. Vietnam hosted roughly 15.5 million international arrivals in 2018, up 19.9 percent against 2017, with the highest growth of 44.3 percent in the number of visitors from South Korea, followed by Finland, up 24.9 percent, and China, up 23.9 percent, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 12:19:55|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close BANGKOK, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babis, will lead an official and business delegation to visit Thailand Jan. 15-17, the first-ever official visit to Thailand by a sitting prime minister of the country, Thailand's foreign ministry said in a press release on Friday. During the visit, the Czech prime minister will have a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha with a view to strengthening relations and deepening economic cooperation between Thailand and the Czech Republic, according to the Thai ministry. Babis will be accompanied by a Czech business delegation of 48 entrepreneurs and executives from 40 leading companies covering a wide spectrum of industries, such as manufacturing, defence, automobiles, automotive parts, and big data. They will participate in a Business Seminar co-organized by the Federation of Thai Industries and the Czech Confederation of Industry to promote business networking and matching between private sectors of the two countries. Czech businesses have expressed their keen interest in the Thailand 4.0 Policy, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and infrastructure projects in Thailand, the statement said. The Thai foreign ministry noted that the economic partnership between Thailand and the Czech Republic dates back more than a century through trade in machinery, automobiles and automotive parts. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1974. Although Thailand and the Czech Republic are situated far away from each other and there is no direct flight yet, there are approximately 50,000 Czech tourists visiting Thailand each year and roughly the same number of Thai tourists visiting the Czech Republic, it added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 11:24:45|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close CANBERRA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Australian Resources Minister Matthew Canavanon said on Friday that oil exploration in the iconic Great Australian Bight is the best opportunity to guarantee the nation's fuel security. The Department of Energy and the Environment on Tuesday warned that Australia's low fuel supply was jeopardizing the country's reputation among fellow members of the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA mandates that every member nation has at least 90 days' supply of fuel in reserve. However, the department revealed that Australia has only 27 days of total petroleum products. As a response, the minister on Friday said that the government was working to increase its storage capacity, but the best way to avoid a crisis was to increase the domestic production of oil. "One of the biggest opportunities is in waters off South Australia," he told News Corp Australia on Friday. "The Great Australian Bight is recognised as one of the most prospective offshore oil basins in the world," the minister said. Environmental groups have been protesting against oil exploration in the bight, an open bay off the central and western portions of Australia's southern coast. Capillary Blood Collection Devices Market (By Material - Plastic, Glass, Stainless Steel, Ceramic, Others; By Product - Lancets, Micro-Container Tubes, Micro-Hematocrit Tubes, Warming Devices, Others; By Application - Whole Blood, Plasma / Serum Protein Tests, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) Tests, Liver Panel / Liver Profile / Liver Function Tests, Dried Blood Spot Tests; By End-use - Hospitals and Clinics, Blood Donation Centers, Diagnostic Centers, Home Diagnosis, Pathology Laboratories) - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends and Forecast 2018 2026. Increasing incidences of chronic, infectious, and autoimmune diseases worldwide and ease of usage and other favourable features of capillary blood collecting devices are driving the demand for capillary blood collection devices market. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global capillary blood collection devices market size is valued at USD 1.13 billion in 2017. The global market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period 2018-2025. Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, growing availability of PoC diagnostics, and various advantages of capillary blood collection devices over its alternative are some of the major growth factors encouraging to drive the global capillary blood collection devices market. Download Report Sample Pages Better Understanding@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-sample/951 Detection of biomarker, blood gas detection, nucleic acid, leukocyte & metabolite count, and blood glucose, effect of vitamin K-antagonist, lactate, ferritin, and heavy metal ions analysis are commonly done using these samples. Consequently, with increase in adoption of rapid PoC diagnostics, usage of capillary blood collection devices is anticipated to increase in the near future. Increase in incidences of infectious, chronic, and autoimmune diseases are few of the major factors that encourage the demand leading to market growth owing to rising number of blood tests globally. The technique of drawing blood through capillary devices has been among the most widely used for haemoglobin and glucose testing in hospitals and clinics. Minimally invasive nature and ease of usage make it ideal for testing and home care diagnosis, thus boosting the global capillary blood collection devices markets growth. The popularity of usage of this technique in conjugation with PoC diagnostics has turn out to be the preferred mode of testing in ambulatory and remote health settings. The technique to draw blood through capillary devices is popularly used for pediatric patients as it is complicated to draw venous and blood from artery in infants. Drawing blood using capillary devices is favoured in many ICU settings as patients lose considerable quantity of blood during surgeries. Various other blood drawing techniques are comparatively invasive and might result in delay in the healing process or pose a risk of contamination. Ease of usage and effectiveness is another factor facilitating the use of these devices for home care diagnosis and testing, typically in case of diabetics. View Detail Report With Complete TOC@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/capillary-blood-collection-devices-market Chronic diseases are global healthcare issues with over half of the adult population in the U.S. suffering from such diseases, which is recorded to contribute over 75% of the total healthcare cost in the nation. Thus, increasing number of chronic and infectious diseases create huge demand for diagnostic testing, thus encouraging growth of these collection devices. The global capillary blood collection devices market is segmented into material, product, application, end-use and region. On the basis of material the global capillary blood collection devices market is segmented into plastic, glass, stainless steel, ceramic and others. On the basis of product the global capillary blood collection devices market is segmented into lancets, micro-container tubes, micro-hematocrit tubes, warming devices and others. On the basis of the application the global capillary blood collection devices market is segmented into whole body, plasma/serum protein tests, comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) test, liver panel/liver profile/liver functions tests, and dried blood spot tests. On the basis of the end-use the global capillary blood collection devices market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, blood donation centers, diagnostic centers, home diagnostics, and pathology laboratories. On the basis of region the global capillary blood collection devices market is segmented into Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Middle East & Africa. Plastic devices held the greater market share in 2017 due to their cost-effectiveness, lightweight, and biocompatible nature in addition to widespread usage in medical devices. Non-porous nature, durability, and impassable are few factors boosting the demand for glass devices in the global capillary blood collection devices market. Glass and plastic based collection devices are likely to dominate the global capillary blood collection devices market during the forecast period due to its extensive usage in the manufacture of medical devices and other related products. North America capillary blood collection devices market is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period attributable to existence of prominent number of market players and high incidence of infectious and chronic diseases. The Asia Pacific capillary blood collection devices market is expected to increase at the considerable CAGR during the forecast period. Dense population along with increasing incidences of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer are the major factors boosting to the growth of the regional market. The key players catering to the global capillary blood collection devices market are Dickinson and Company; Becton, Sarstedt AG & Co; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.; NIPRO Europe Corporation; Terumo Medical Corporation; Cardinal Health; Kabe Labortechnik GmbH; B Braun Melsungen AG; Greiner Bio One International GmbH; and Owen Mumford Ltd. The global players are continuously investing in R&D and innovating new product portfolio to attract more and more business opportunity from the emerging nation such as India and China. Also, Increasing R&D investments coupled with technological advancements to commercialise highly efficient products are anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities for industry participants. INQUIRY BEFORE BUYING@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/inquiry-before-buying/951 The report is readily available and can be dispatched immediately after payment confirmation. Buy this premium research report - https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/buy-now/0/951 Would like to place an order or any question, please feel free to contact at sales@acumenresearchandconsulting.com | +1 407 915 4157 For Latest Update Follow Us: https://twitter.com/AcumenRC https://www.facebook.com/acumenresearchandconsulting https://www.linkedin.com/company/acumen-research-and-consulting/ Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 11:25:53|Editor: ZD Video Player Close The China National Space Administration on Jan. 11, 2019 releases the 360-degree panoramic photos taken by a camera installed on China's Chang'e-4 lunar probe (azimuthal projection). China's Chang'e-4 probe took panoramic photos on the lunar surface after it successfully made the first ever soft-landing on the far side of the moon. (Xinhua/China National Space Administration) Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 11:04:39|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close YANGON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar health authorities is projecting to continue to launch anti-elephantiasis campaign in the country this year as a follow-up of last year, Myanmar News Agency reported Friday. Myanmar is among the seven nations out of 10 of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) being affected by elephantiasis and the patients are to take the vaccine and medication once a year for five consecutive years. Elephantiasis, known as Lymphatic Filariasis, is a parasitic infection caused by mosquito bites which can infects kidneys and lymph system. The Health Department had provided treatment to 32 million people from 192 townships during a 10-day vaccination programs across the country in January 2018. Myanmar's central regions including Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing and Nay Pyi Taw mostly suffer the elephantiasis disease. Myanmar health authorities has been exerting efforts to eradicate elephantiasis in the country by 2020. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 10:54:38|Editor: zh Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The latest 17 cancer drugs included in China's national basic medical insurance program in October are now available in more than half of all major hospitals in the country, Friday's China Daily reported. The 17 cancer drugs, many of them imported, treat major cancers such as lung, rectal and kidney cancers, and are in high demand by patients in China. They were included in the national basic medical insurance program in October after price negotiations organized by the National Healthcare Security Administration, which resulted in prices falling by 57 percent on average, according to the newspaper. As of early January, 1,257 tertiary hospitals and 129 cancer hospitals in all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on the Chinese mainland had bought at least one type of the drugs, with more than 600,000 boxes of drugs being used by patients, figures from the National Health Commission (NHC) show. China has a three-tier system to grade hospitals, with tertiary hospitals -- which have the largest number of beds and provide comprehensive medical services -- at the top of the list. "Availability of the cheaper drugs has greatly eased the financial burdens of some cancer patients," the newspaper quoted NHC spokesperson Song Shuli as saying. China has been piloting price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies over the past three years to reduce prices of expensive but effective and highly sought-after drugs that treat serious diseases, mostly cancers. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 10:54:38|Editor: zh Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Experts called for an outright ban on smoking throughout China's railway network, after air quality inspections found dangerous levels of harmful pollutants on slow trains, most of which currently allow tobacco use in designated areas, China Daily reported Friday. Researchers led by the Chinese Association of Tobacco Control examined four slow trains in October. Three of the trains had set up designated smoking areas, and one had banned tobacco use due to an earlier lawsuit filed by a passenger. Results released on Thursday showed the concentration of PM2.5 in carriages of the three trains where passengers can smoke exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter, meaning the air could be considered hazardous to human health. China's high-speed rail networks all prohibit smoking, but passengers on slow trains are allowed to smoke in designated areas, often the connecting areas between carriages. Cui Xiaobo, deputy director of the Beijing Tobacco Control Association, said secondhand smoke is likely to cause life-threatening, acute illnesses. "A lot of emergency medical requests occurring on trains are linked to vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with chronic diseases who breathe in smoke," he said. The researchers also interviewed 94 passengers on the four trains, and found that 77 of them would applaud a complete ban on smoking on slow trains. China saw 3.37 billion railway trips in 2018. The file photo shows Mount Agung volcano erupts in Indonesia's Bali island, July 5, 2018. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain) JAKARTA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Mount Agung volcano on the Indonesian resort island of Bali erupted on Thursday night, spewing column of volcanic ash, Indonesian authorities said. The height of the volcanic ash could not be seen as the mountain peak was covered by thick haze. The eruption took place at 7:55 p.m. Central Indonesian Time (1155 GMT), and lasted for 4 minutes and 26 seconds, according to data from Mount Agung monitoring outpost located in Rendang, Bali's Karangasem regency. The agency kept the alert status of Mount Agung at second highest Level 3 out of the highest Level 4. Indonesia's Center of Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation has set a danger zone of 4 km from Mount Agung's crater, advising locals, tourists and trekkers not to have any activities within the danger zone. The agency also advised residents living around rivers with upstream near Mount Agung's summit to stay alert on secondary impacts from the eruption. Heavy rain may drift down cold lava and volcanic materials from the peak of the volcano to the rivers, the agency said. Mount Agung last erupted on Dec. 30, 2018, affecting areas in Bali's eastern regency of Karangasem. The eruption lasted for around 3 minutes. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 10:14:28|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close KINSHASA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday as violence broke out after opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi was declared winner of the presidential election. In the western town of Kikwit, two people were shot dead and several were wounded during a demonstration against the interim election results announced by the electoral commission on Thursday morning, according to an on-site report from the authorities. Protesters also set fire to a building housing police station offices while four public buses were also set on fire. The part of the country is the stronghold of Martin Fayulu, the candidate who came second after Tshisekedi. In the cities of Kisangani and Goma, the police dispersed Fayulu's supporters who protested against the results. Fayulu had rejected the results at a press conference held a few hours after the results were announced, saying the results have nothing to do with the truth at the ballot box. According to the interim results proclaimed by the electoral commission, Tshisekedi, candidate of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), received more than 7 million votes across the country. Polls were not held in three cities for safety reasons. Tshisekedi ran ahead of Fayulu of the "Lamuka" coalition, and far ahead of Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, candidate for the ruling coalition. In a statement released on Thursday, the United States demanded the "clarification of questions which have been raised regarding the electoral count" while "urge all stakeholders to remain calm as the process continues." The results also drew doubts from France and Belgium. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday questioned the results of the election and believed that Tshisekedi's victory did not accord with what was seen on the ground. Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said Belgium will raise the issue at United Nations (UN) Security Council. However, Shadary, who came third in the results, has congratulated Tshisekedi via his spokeswoman. The final results will be proclaimed in the coming days according to a new timetable after confirmation of these provisional results by the Constitutional Court in accordance with the DRC's national law. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all stakeholders to refrain from violence, according to a statement released on the UN website late Wednesday in New York. The African Union on Thursday also stressed the need for all concerned stakeholders to consolidate democracy and to preserve peace. Tshisekedi took over the UDPS presidency from his late father Etienne Tshisekedi, the first opposition leader in the DRC's history. The DRC held presidential elections on Dec. 30, 2018 and the results were scheduled to be announced on Jan. 6. But the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) put off announcing the results due to problems with collecting data. The photo shows people cool themselves at Bronte Beach in Sydney, Australia, on March 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) SYDNEY, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Last year was Australia's third warmest since records began, according to the national Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) Annual Climate Statement for 2018. While the news might be welcomed by Australia's ice cream vendors and air-conditioning salesmen, climate scientists down under are becoming increasingly alarmed. "We have seen (carbon) emissions rise in Australia for the last four years, and with that we will see a continued rise in temperatures and a worsening of extreme whether," head of research and acting CEO at the Australian Climate Council Martin Rice told Xinhua on Thursday. "What the data indicates is that climate change is intensifying in Australia and around the world, and we seeing new extreme heat records." EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY IN AUSTRALIA HEATING UP Compared to records from 1961 to 1990, Thursday's report shows that average temperatures were up 1.14 centigrades in 2018, with every single state and territory enduring higher than normal day and night-time temperatures. "The average maximum temperature for the country as a whole was particularly warm, sitting 1.55 centigrade above the 1961-1990 average, making 2018 Australia's second warmest year on record for daily high temperatures," said senior climatologist at the BOM Dr. Lynette Bettio. "Average minimum temperatures for 2018 were also 0.73 degrees celsius above average, the eleventh warmest on record." NATIONAL RAINFALL TOTALS DRY UP As well as being hotter, it was also dryer with September rainfall figures going down as the driest ever for the month. Throughout the rest of the year, national rainfall measurements were 11 percent below the 1961-1990 average. Bettio explained that across large areas of the country's southeast, rainfall totals were in the lowest 10 percent on record, exacerbating severe drought conditions that continue to ravage many rural and farming communities in Australia. "New South Wales State had its sixth driest year on record, while the Murray-Darling River Basin saw its seventh driest year on record." WARMER WHETHER SET TO CONTINUE While last year will go down as a scorcher, the dramatic increase in temperatures is predicted to continue. "With more greenhouse pollution levels in the atmosphere, we will continue to see temperatures rise," Rice said. "Nine of Australia's hottest years on record have occurred since 2005 and this is part of a long-term trend that is being driven by climate change." With this in mind, Rice and his team at the Australian Climate Council are urging more to be done in order to arrest the increasing temperatures. "Australia is one of the sunniest and windiest countries on the planet," he said. "So we must accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy technologies." "We also need to look at ways we can make our agriculture and transport sectors more efficient." Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 09:24:12|Editor: zh Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Four key municipal organs of Beijing moved their offices into Tongzhou District, the city's subsidiary center, on Friday. The four organs are the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Beijing Municipal People's Government, and the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Beijing is shifting some of its administrative functions out of the city center into Tongzhou to help address problems including traffic congestion and air pollution. The move is also part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integrated development plan. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 07:28:51|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close LISBON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese public and private companies of medium and large size are obliged to hire between 1 percent and 2 percent of the disabled people respectively, according to legislation published Thursday. According to the new law, which establishes the system of employment quotas for the disabled people with a degree of incapacity equal to or greater than 60 percent, all companies, whether public or private, of medium or large, are obliged to comply with the quotas as of February 1. The medium-sized enterprises with a workforce between 75 and 100 employees must employ at least 1 percent of disabled workers, while large enterprises with more than 100 employees required to hire at least 2 percent. In order to comply with the new legislation, a transitional period of five years is allowed for medium-sized companies and a four-year period for large companies. Portugal has been on the track of slow economic recovery since it exited from a 78 billion-euro bailout program it signed with international lenders in May 2014 and the country's unemployment has been dropping considerably in recent years. The new legislation is seen as a measure to promote the employment of the disabled in the current situation. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 07:23:48|Editor: zh Video Player Close Han Changfu (L), Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and China's minister of agriculture and rural affairs, meets with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, Jan. 8, 2019. Han attended the inauguration ceremony of Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 10. (Xinhua) CARACAS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Han Changfu attended the inauguration ceremony of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro here Thursday. Han, also China's minister of agriculture and rural affairs, met with Maduro on Tuesday. He conveyed President Xi's sincere congratulations and good wishes to Maduro. Han said that China and Venezuela are good friends with mutual trust and assistance as well as good partners with win-win cooperation. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Venezuela, said Han, calling on the two sides to take this opportunity to continue to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, firmly enhance mutual support, strengthen pragmatic cooperation to further enrich the connotation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and bring more benefits to the two peoples. For his part, Maduro thanked President Xi for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration and asked Han to convey his warm greetings to President Xi. Maduro said the Venezuelan government and people cherish the friendship with China and admire China's development achievements during the past 40 years of reform and opening up. He said Venezuela is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China, share experience in the governance of the country and promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields such as agriculture to jointly build a better future of bilateral relationship. New York, NY, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Dewmar International BMC, Inc. (OTCPINK: DEWM) announced today that it has secured and signed an agreement for an office address and space on North 7th Street in downtown Louisville, Kentucky which is considered by most hemp experts to be the hemp capital of the United States. The production of hemp in Kentucky dates back to the 18th century and Kentucky has produced more hemp than any other state in the country. Kentucky was by far the greatest producer of hemp in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the early 1900s, Kentucky was responsible for 75% of the hemp fiber production in the United States. Led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Farm Bill Act of 2018 which included the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 removed hemp as a Schedule 1 controlled substance making it a legal agricultural crop for the first time in decades. Dewmar International understands the importance of securing a foothold in Kentucky in hemp country. This new office address in Kentucky is also important for Dewmar as the company engages in further discussions with Canadian licensing partners. Immediately after the 2018 Farm Bill became law on December 20, 2018, the FDA reiterated the safety of hemp products. Specifically, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb stated that hempseeds, hemp protein and hemp oil are all recognized as generally recognized accepted as safe (GRAS). This means that products derived from hemp can be legally marketed in human foods without further food additive approvals and barring any unsubstantiated health and treatment claims. Kush Cakes premium relaxation brownies, the countrys top selling hemp-infused brownie, has been on the market since 2011. Kush Cakes contain hemp protein. Dewmar manages this brand under its seasoned wholly-owned subsidiary United States Hemp Corporation. The market for this and other hemp-derived products are wide open for companies and Dewmar International has an 8 year lead on most. Bruce Linton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canopy Growth, remarked right after the passage of the Farm Bill by saying, Canopy Growth commends the United States government for passing the Farm Bill, a transformative piece of legislation that will create jobs and meaningful economic impact across the United States. Marco Moran, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dewmar International, commented, This is just another one of many efforts in our long-term plan to create a powerful company while building relationships in Canada and creating a foothold in the hemp market. Securing an office in Louisville is just another step in the maturation process to have more products in the marketplace as we are open to assess mutually beneficial and highly profitable partnership opportunities with like-minded business enterprises. Investors and interested readers are encouraged to continue watching the market for further developments from MarijuanaEmail.com, Kush Cakes licensing opportunities and developing opportunities in the hemp marketplace as Dewmar continues to build a stronghold in Kentucky. About Dewmar International BMC, Inc. Dewmar International BMC, Inc. is a certified service-disabled veteran business concern, new product development, manufacturing and brand management company. Established in 2003, Dewmars primary business strategy has been in creating high profit margins with functional foods and beverages, such as Lean Slow Motion Potion, which is rated as one of the top 3 national selling relaxation beverages in the U.S. market and Kush Cakes relaxation brownies. The company has offices in Clinton, MS; Houston, TX; Denver, CO; New Orleans, LA and recently Louisville, KY. Dewmar is the owner and developer of the cannabis industry dispensary-to-consumer website www.MarijuanaEmail.com which serves as a unique online portal that connects marijuana dispensaries with their customer base throughout North America. The Company asks all investors and supporters to share this website with friends, family and associates asking them to register with as many dispensaries to learn about each stores product offerings, promotions and discounts. About United State Hemp Corporation United States Hemp Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dewmar International BMC, Inc., was formed in 2014 in the State of Nevada whose primary goal is to promote the cultivation, research and new product development of hemp-based nutraceuticals, industrial goods and consumer goods in the United States to be shared with the World. The U.S. Hemp Corporation's staff is to make every concerted effort to be the leader in the marketing, sales, promotions and distribution of hemp products both with a primary goal to take pride in the Made in America mantra as to enhance the economic benefit of U.S. citizens as it provides quality products for sale locally and for worldwide export. Subscribe to our Company Newsletter on the bottom right of our homepage on our website to receive updates as well. Click here for the Safe Harbor Statement. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 07:23:48|Editor: zh Video Player Close PARIS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China and France are expected to jointly launch several projects on infrastructure and ecology in the coming years under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, China Ambassador to France Zhai Jun said on Thursday. The Belt and Road Initiative has become a cooperation platform widely appreciated on a global scale, Zhai said while attending the second Paris Forum on the Initiative. Proposed by China in 2013, the B&R Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa based on ancient land and maritime trade routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The B&R Initiative is in favor of maintaining multilateralism and international cooperation, while France and Europe should participate in this initiative in a "more active" way, French former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said at the Forum. Philippe Dillmann, commercial director of a French insurance company, told Xinhua that the forum has given him a better understanding of the initiative. The Paris Forum on New Silk Roads was sponsored jointly by the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs and Chinese Embassy in France. The first conference was held in November 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 07:18:13|Editor: zh Video Player Close Hui Fujun makes paper-cutting at home in Zhenyuan County of Qingyang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 10, 2019. Hui Fujun, a provincial-level inheritor of traditional Chinese paper-cutting, which is one of the intangible cultural heritages, started to learn the skill at the age of six. Hui attaches elements of east Gansu folk custom and traditional Chinese culture to her works. Hui's paper-cutting are widely sold to many regions across China and western countries like Germany and France. In order to protect traditional paper-cutting culture, Hui has provided trainings of paper-cutting skills for more than 200 people so far. She hopes the artistry and the spirit of paper-cutting continue to be carried forward from one generation to the next. (Xinhua/Li Xiao) Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 05:48:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HELSINKI, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- While the contention of the Social Democratic Party and the conservative National Coalition Party about the leading position remains narrow, a relatively large increase in the support of the populist Finns Party captured the attention on Thursday. In a poll commissioned by the national broadcaster Yle, the Finns Party gained two percentage points and its support reached 10.2 percent. The party is now the fifth in the national support ranking, but both the party leader Jussi Halla-aho and observers attributed the increase to the recent news about violence associated with immigrants. It was also said the Finns Party has a clearer line in the climate and energy policies. "These are developments we have warned about for years," Halla-aho said. At the end of December 2018, a survey commissioned by Alma Media indicated the same trend. Halla-aho predicted that his party would get a better result in the April election. An investigation is going on in Oulu, northern Finland into alleged raping by eight men of foreign descent. And another one is about Christmas Eve killing of a seven-year-old by his uncle. Police has defined him as a foreign citizen, but not given any nationality. The opposition social democrats were in the lead with 21.2 percent and it declined slightly. The conservative National Coalition increased support and was now only 0.8 percent behind the social democrats with 19.6 percent support. Local commentators have expressed the view that it is very unlikely that the Center Party would bounce back from its current 16.1 percent. This would indicate the position of the next prime minister would be subject to a duel between the social democrats and the conservatives. Analysts have believed that labor relations and job security issues are likely to be prominent in the election debates. The four-year tenure of the current center right coalition under the centrist Prime Minister Juha Sipila has seen many conflicts about labor issues. Experts have said that while labor legislation in Finland has traditionally been a tool to protect the employees, changes pursued by the current government have been aiming at easing the role of the employers and reducing the employer-risks in offering a job. The Green Party is at 13.6 percent, which would give them their new record number of seats. Since Pekka Haavisto was elected as interim chairman following the resignation of Touko Aalto in November 2018, the backing of the greens started increasing but is leveling off now. At the peak of their support in late summer 2017, the greens were the second largest party with 17.6 percent, after the conservatives, and they themselves said they would aim at being the largest party. But their support declined then drastically. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 04:58:21|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras attend a joint press conference in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 10, 2019. The European spirit has been strengthened through the management of common challenges and Europe will have a better future through cooperation and not nationalism, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday at the start of a two-day visit to Athens. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The European spirit has been strengthened through the management of common challenges and Europe will have a better future through cooperation and not nationalism, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday at the start of a two- day visit to Athens. She gave a joint statement to the press with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. "We have been through difficult years. What we have achieved was to strengthen the European spirit," the German leader stressed during the remarks broadcast by Greek state television ERT. Merkel praised Greece for its achievements despite the difficulties of the recent years of the debt crisis, such as the historic agreement reached last summer for the resolution of the Macedonia name dispute. The deal, which is currently in the process of ratification by the parliaments of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Greece, will benefit the entire Europe, the chancellor stressed. She reiterated Germany's support to Greece's efforts to stand on its feet, noting the need to continue on the path of reform in the post-bailout era. "Today you are coming to a different Greece, which after many challenges has managed to overcome the crisis and enter the path of growth," the Greek prime minister said. "I believe that Greece is not only gradually exiting the crisis but is turning from part of the problem into part of the solution," the Greek leader said, underlining that his country is a pillar of stability in a region suffering from destabilization. The German chancellor's visit marks the end of a difficult period in bilateral relations, opening new prospects, Tsipras noted, referring to past differences regarding the way to address the Greek debt crisis, which was overcome through compromises. He also stressed the need for closer cooperation in finding solutions to more problems as Europe faces more challenges, like the rise of the populist far-right. The leaders also highlighted the need to establish a comprehensive European migration and asylum policy to deal with the refugee-migrant crisis, which has also tested the EU in recent years. During the meeting at the prime minister's office, police used tear gas to disperse leftist and far-right protestors who held two different demonstrations against the chancellor's visit. "We are here to protest against Merkel's visit. She came indeed to check what the entire EU leadership has created in Greece. We are against and we demand that our country be liberated from the shackles of the EU and the debt load," Nikos Adamopoulos, one of the leftist protestors, told Xinhua. The German leader is scheduled to hold a meeting with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and main opposition New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday before departing from Athens. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 04:53:19|Editor: ZD Video Player Close European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (2nd R) arrives at the Romanian Atheneum for an official inauguration ceremony marking the start of Romania's Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) in Bucharest, capital of Romania, on Jan. 10, 2019. Romania takes over a forefront role on a European level, through the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), and the main objective of its mandate is the consolidation of a more cohesive, more united and stronger Europe, President Klaus Iohannis said late Thursday at the official inauguration ceremony for its Presidency in the EU Council. (Xinhua/Cristian Cristel) BUCHAREST, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Romania takes over a forefront role on a European level, through the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), and the main objective of its mandate is the consolidation of a more cohesive, more united and stronger Europe, President Klaus Iohannis said late Thursday at the official inauguration ceremony for its Presidency in the EU Council. "We all know that exercising a presidency is a mission of high responsibility, entailing at the same time commitment and pragmatism to be able to respond of a concrete, proper and realistic manner to all challenges. More unity and cohesion - this is the path we propose for the next six months," Iohannis told the inauguration ceremony attended by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, as well as leaders of the Romanian parliament and the prime minister. According to the president, the first semester of 2019 will be defining for the future dynamics of the EU which is currently facing various challenges, both internal and external, such as the process of Brexit, migration and security in its immediate vicinity and beyond the European continent, as well as the negotiations on the future Multiannual Financial Framework post 2020. In his turn, Juncker said in his speech that the EU is not complete without Romania, and Romania's natural place is in Schengen. "I was pleading in 2014 that Romania should be part of Schengen. I remain faithful to this promise," said the European official. European Council President Donald Tusk voiced his confidence that Romania will perform "with energy and with wisdom" "a true Romanian Rhapsody" when holding the Presidency of the EU Council. "You will be Europe's hosts and I am positive that you will act in the spirit of the proverb 'A good farmer makes a good farm,'" the European official underlined in his speech delivered unexpectedly in Romanian. In her speech, Romania's Prime Minister Viorica Dancila vowed that "Romania will lead the Council of the EU with dignity." The official ceremony was followed by the inaugural concert offered by the EU Orchestra, composed of musicians from the 28 EU member-states. Romania is exercising, between Jan. 1 to June 30, the Rotating Presidency of the EU Council for the first time since the accession to the EU 12 years ago, on Jan. 1, 2007. The motto of the Romanian Presidency is "Cohesion, a common European value." On June 30, Romania will hand over the Rotating Presidency to Finland. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 03:02:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close PARIS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- France on Thursday called on contenders in the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential race to avoid violence and use constitutional mechanisms to solve disputes over the vote, foreign ministry spokesperson Agnes Von der Muhll said. "We call on all parties to preserve the calm," she said during her daily press briefing. "If the presidential candidates wish to challenge the provisional results and obtain more clarity, they should do so through legal ways," she added. Election officials in the Central African country proclaimed opposition figure Felix Tshisekedi the winner of the election to replace Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the central African country for 18 years. The runner-up, Martin Fayulu, denounced the results as an "electoral coup," saying they had nothing to do with the truth at the ballot box. Earlier on Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian expressed doubt over the election results, saying "It seems that the proclaimed results don't accord with what was seen on the ground." "Clarity on the results must be made," he told CNews television. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers a speech at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 10, 2019. (Xinhua/STR) CAIRO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States will "use diplomacy" and work with partners to curb Iran's influence in the Middle East region. "The nations of the Middle East will never enjoy security, achieve economic stability, or advance the dreams of their peoples if Iran's regime persists on its current course," Pompeo said during a speech at the American University in Cairo. Pompeo said that the U.S. administration is confronting Iran's "campaigns of destruction and destabilization in the region and around the world," stressing that the U.S. economic sanctions against Iran are among the strongest in history, and will keep getting tougher until Iran changes its policies that threaten the United States and the international community. "The United States is working with partners in the region and beyond to stop malign activity by Iran and its proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere," he added. "Feb. 11 will mark 40 years since this brutal regime came to power. The Trump administration stands with the Iranian people, as they demand new freedoms and accountability they deserve," the U.S. top diplomat added. With regards to the U.S.-led international anti-terror campaign in the region, Pompeo said that "99 percent" of the territory once held by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group is now liberated, adding that "life is returning to normal for millions of Iraqis and Syrians." He said that U.S. "allies and partners" supported the American anti-IS efforts, pointing out that France and Britain joined the strikes while Jordan and Turkey have hosted millions of Syrians fleeing violence. Pompeo continued that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have "generously" contributed to the stabilization efforts in the region. "We thank all of them for their help, and we urge them to continue," Pompeo said. The U.S. top diplomat revealed that the U.S. troops in Iraq have been reduced from 166,000 to about 5,000 at the moment. He added that the United States has provided 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in humanitarian assistance to Iraq since 2014. "Together, with our allies, nearly 30 billion dollars in grants and financing have been generated to aid Iraq's reconstruction during the Kuwait Reconstruction Conference last year," Pompeo said. As for the U.S. number one regional ally, Israel, Pompeo said that Washington will continue to ensure that Israel has the military capacity to defend itself against regional threats, particularly what he referred to as "the Iranian regime's aggressive adventurism." Trump's administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital last year and moved Washington's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the controversial holy city, amid regional and international rejection. Pompeo reiterated U.S. commitment to the Jerusalem recognition in favor of Israel, yet he said that Washington will work on the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. "The Trump administration will also continue to press for real and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians," Pompeo said. Pompeo arrived in Cairo late Wednesday following stops in Jordan and Iraq, in a tour for the Middle East that also includes Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. Earlier on Thursday, he held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as both asserted the depth of the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries. NASA astronaut Anne McClain, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency report to Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, prior to the launch onboard the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 3, 2018. MOSCOW, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) intends to continue cooperation with Russia in exploring outer space despite pressure from Washington, a Russian official said Thursday. "It is precisely today that the Americans insist and ask us to continue the flight of the Soyuz spaceships with U.S. astronauts," Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos, told the Rossiya 24 TV channel. "They even asked us to develop a version of the Soyuz spaceship that could fly to the Moon and back again in order to create a backup space transport system," he added. Commenting on the recent cancellation by NASA of his February visit to the United States, Rogozin said NASA has fallen victim to the struggle between President Donald Trump's administration and the U.S. Congress. However, according to Rogozin, NASA defends its cooperation with Russia because it "understands perfectly well that the creation of a lunar orbital platform is the most complicated problem," which cannot be solved by it alone. NASA does not want to implement this program without Russian support as it believes that risks would run out of reasonable limits, the Russian official said. Russia is willing to continue space cooperation with the United States, but it wants to have a predictable partner free from any political "turbulence", he said. The former Soviet Union agreed to implement the joint Apollo-Soyuz flight during Cold War in July 1975, Rogozin said. So Roscosmos will wait for the situation to calm down in the United States and has invited NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and his colleagues to Russia to discuss future cooperation, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 00:27:10|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (R) shakes hands with his Yemeni counterpart Khaled al-Yamani in Amman, Jordan, on Jan. 10, 2019. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh) AMMAN, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Jordan said Thursday it has received a request from the United Nations to host a meeting between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels. Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting Yemeni counterpart Khaled Al Yamani. "The UN Yemen Mission is based in Jordan and we received a request today from UN Envoy on Yemen Martin Griffiths to host a meeting in Jordan," Safadi said. "Jordan will look into the request as soon as possible in line with our clear stand that supports all efforts that would help lead to resolving the Yemeni crisis in line with clear references leading to ending the suffering of the Yemenis," said the minister. He added that Jordan will continue to exert all efforts to help resolve the Yemeni crisis. Safadi also highlighted the need for implementing the agreement that was reached during the Yemeni peace talks held in December in Sweden, calling it an important step to resolve the crisis. "We support the legitimate Yemeni government and we coordinate with Saudi Arabia and the UAE to make all efforts to help end the crisis in Yemen," said Safadi. For his part, Al Yamani commended Jordan for being always supportive of Yemen and the legitimate government in Yemen, noting that the kingdom plays a key role in resolving the Yemeni crisis. "Our coordination with Jordan will continue in all efforts," said the Yemeni official, underscoring the need for implementing the cease-fire agreement reached in Sweden. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 00:12:03|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers a speech at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 10, 2019. Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States will "use diplomacy" and work with partners to curb Iran's influence in the Middle East region. (Xinhua/STR) CAIRO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States will "use diplomacy" and work with partners to curb Iran's influence in the Middle East region. "The nations of the Middle East will never enjoy security, achieve economic stability, or advance the dreams of their peoples if Iran's regime persists on its current course," Pompeo said during a speech at the American University in Cairo. Pompeo said that the U.S. administration is confronting Iran's "campaigns of destruction and destabilization in the region and around the world," stressing that the U.S. economic sanctions against Iran are among the strongest in history, and will keep getting tougher until Iran changes its policies that threaten the United States and the international community. "The United States is working with partners in the region and beyond to stop malign activity by Iran and its proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere," he added. "Feb. 11 will mark 40 years since this brutal regime came to power. The Trump administration stands with the Iranian people, as they demand new freedoms and accountability they deserve," the U.S. top diplomat added. With regards to the U.S.-led international anti-terror campaign in the region, Pompeo said that "99 percent" of the territory once held by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group is now liberated, adding that "life is returning to normal for millions of Iraqis and Syrians." He said that U.S. "allies and partners" supported the American anti-IS efforts, pointing out that France and Britain joined the strikes while Jordan and Turkey have hosted millions of Syrians fleeing violence. Pompeo continued that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have "generously" contributed to the stabilization efforts in the region. "We thank all of them for their help, and we urge them to continue," Pompeo said. The U.S. top diplomat revealed that the U.S. troops in Iraq have been reduced from 166,000 to about 5,000 at the moment. He added that the United States has provided 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in humanitarian assistance to Iraq since 2014. "Together, with our allies, nearly 30 billion dollars in grants and financing have been generated to aid Iraq's reconstruction during the Kuwait Reconstruction Conference last year," Pompeo said. As for the U.S. number one regional ally, Israel, Pompeo said that Washington will continue to ensure that Israel has the military capacity to defend itself against regional threats, particularly what he referred to as "the Iranian regime's aggressive adventurism." Trump's administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital last year and moved Washington's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the controversial holy city, amid regional and international rejection. Pompeo reiterated U.S. commitment to the Jerusalem recognition in favor of Israel, yet he said that Washington will work on the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. "The Trump administration will also continue to press for real and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians," Pompeo said. Pompeo arrived in Cairo late Wednesday following stops in Jordan and Iraq, in a tour for the Middle East that also includes Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. Earlier on Thursday, he held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as both asserted the depth of the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries. Dublin, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Automotive OE Tyres and Wheels - Technology, Trends and Forecasts to 2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the global light vehicle OE tyre and wheel sectors with analysis of the major suppliers, top markets, technology trends and market size forecasts. Based on exclusive interviews, primary research and proprietary data this global market study includes: For the top 14 markets it provides market size data and a 15- year forecast for: Automotive original equipment (OE) tyres Automotive OE aluminium and steel wheel market A review of the latest technological developments and market trends for: car tyres including green tyre technology, non- rubber materials, inner liners, airless tyres, quieter tyres, energy efficiency, aerodynamics, run- flat tech, sealant systems, labelling, TPMS wheels including surface treatments, forging, lightweighting, trims and thermoplastics Regional supplier market share data tables and commentary Exclusive interviews with OE suppliers (news and interviews only available in QUBE) Updated profiles of the major automotive tyre and wheel suppliers including their strategies and prospects You can use this report to: Gain a quick overview of the automotive tyre and wheel sectors globally Understand the size and scope of the top 14 markets Hear direct from leading companies on their strategies and plans Review the latest and most significant technological developments Know the key trends within the sector and what's driving them Spot opportunities and threats in this sector Establish key companies' latest activities and prospects Prepare supply and demand forecasts Produce internal sales plans and forecasts Carry out competitive intelligence Key Topics Covered: Introduction Pester analysis Companies Tyre companies Apollo Tyres Bridgestone Corporation Customers and contracts Infrastructure Continental AG Cooper Tire & Rubber Co Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Infrastructure Merger and acquisition activity Organisational structure Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. Customers and contracts Infrastructure Merger and acquisition activity Products Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. Kumho's infrastructure Organisational structure Products Michelin SCA Infrastructure Pirelli & C. S.p.A. Sibur Russian Tyres Sumitomo Corporation Infrastructure Products Toyo Tire and Rubber Co, Ltd Infrastructure Merger and acquisition activity Products Yokohama Tire Corporation Infrastructure Others Al-Amoudi Group Cheng Shin Rubber Giti Tire Lanxess Maxxis Multistrada Arah Sarana ND Rubber Nexen Tire Nokian Tyres PT Gajah Tunggal Sailun Tyre Trelleborg AB Triangle Tire Wheel companies Accuride Corporation Alcoa, Inc AMW Borbet Central Motor Wheel (CMW) CiTiC Dicastal Wheel Manufacturing Enkei Magnetto Maxion Wheels Mefro Otto Fuchs Ronal AG Steel Strips Wheels Superior Industries International Inc. Topy Industries Ltd. Uniwheels Wheels India Others Forecasts Tyres Tyre pressure monitoring systems Wheels Aluminium wheels Regional markets Australia China Europe India Iran Japan Korea Mercosur North America Other Asia Russia South Africa Thailand Worldwide Steel wheels Markets Markets - tyres Emerging markets Market shares Asia Europe North America Market trends Korean Free Trade Agreement Winter tyre regulations Markets - wheels Europe Global overview Japan North America Other markets Technologies Technologies - tyres Commercial vehicle tyres Commercial tyres from Toyo Tires Continental rolls out its VancoEco tyre Light truck tyres from Continental Yokohama Rubber's inner liner for commercial vehicle tyres Other innovations Passenger car tyres Bridgestone's airless tyre concept Bridgestone's Large & Narrow concept tyre Continental's 'quieter' tyres Green tyres can cut the cost of motoring, says university researchers Michelin uses sunflower oil to make tyres Michelin's Energy XM2 tyre Yokohama lowers aerodynamic drag Yokohama's material inner liner Run-flat tyres Bridgestone's solution Continental's solution Goodyear's solution Tyre labelling Tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) Bendix's solution Bridgestone's solutions Continental's solution Dana's solution Nissan's solution Technologies - wheels Aluminium Alcoa supplies lightweight wheels for the Ferrari 458 Italia Alcoa's Dura-Bright surface treatment Alcoa's wide base aluminium wheels Forged aluminium wheels can reduce carbon footprint of commercial vehicles Forged wheels from Alcoa Tomorrow's aluminium wheels Other Lightweighting Thermoplastic wheel rims Wheel development process Wheel trims Steel Advantages of steel wheels Light weight steel wheel under development Tomorrow's steel wheels For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/dhqhgb/global_automotive?w=12 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-10 23:16:40|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close KIEV, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Sustainable growth of the economy will remain the priority for the Ukrainian government this year, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said here on Thursday. "Our task is to ensure that the growth of the economy is at least 3 percent," Groysman was quoted as saying by the government press service. The robust growth of the economy would enable the government to invest more in education, healthcare, energy efficiency and infrastructure development programs, Groysman said. He added that this year the government plans to build a record number of roads. Ukraine's gross domestic product rose by 2.8 percent in the third quarter of last year, by 3.8 percent in the second quarter and by 3.1 percent in the first quarter. The full-year figure for 2018 has not been released. Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-10 22:46:28|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close NAY PYI TAW, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A China-Myanmar border gate, which was suspended for over two weeks, was temporarily reopened on Thursday to facilitate border trade between the two neighbors, said Assistant Secretary of Myanmar Commerce Ministry U Khin Maung Lwin. The reopening of the Kyin San Kyawt border check point was agreed after coordination between Myanmar's Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Commerce and officials from the Chinese Embassy. The gate, through which fruit and seafood were exported from Myanmar to China, was shut down for security reasons on Dec. 27 last year, causing financial losses to farmers and fruit traders. As a result, the time for border crossing through the gate was also extended to 6:00 p.m. from the previous 4:30 p.m. after opening at 6:30 a.m. local time every day, and roads were upgraded from two lanes to four lanes. VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - Two suspects wanted for the murder of a 20-year-old man in Valdosta have turned themselves in. Haley Jerrod Grant, 21 and Kievon Hundley, 24 turned themselves into the Valdosta Police Department without incident on Friday. They are in custody for felony murder. VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - A manhunt is underway for two armed and dangerous men wanted for the murder of a 20-year-old man in Valdosta. The Valdosta Police Department says they received numerous calls about gunshots at Cumberland Court Apartments on Meadow Run Circle Tuesday night. When officers arrived, they found the victim, 20-year-old Christian Jacobi Thomas, lying on the ground deceased. An autopsy was conducted on Thomas by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Medical Examiner. During the examination, evidence showed that Thomas had several gunshot wounds to his body. Through continued investigation, VPD have now identified two men who were involved Thomas' murder. Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Felony Murder for the following people: Haley Jerrod Grant, 21 Kievon Hundley, 24 Neither Grant nor Hundley are in custody at this time and should be considered armed and dangerous. If anyone know where they are or see them, call 911 immediately. The investigation in on-going and further charges are pending. We appreciate all the witnesses that came forward and that provided information in this case, which helped us identify these offenders so quickly," said Interim Chief Leslie Manahan. "I also commend the persistent work of detectives from our Investigations Bureau, who have worked non-stop on this case to determine the individuals involved in this case and hold them accountable for their actions. Valdosta PD opens homicide investigation into man's death VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - The Valdosta Police Department is investigating after a 20-year-old man was found dead following numerous reports of gunshots. Police say they received numerous calls about gunshots at Cumberland Court Apartments on Meadow Run Circle Tuesday night. When officers arrived, they found the victim, 20-year-old Christian Jacobi Thomas, lying on the ground deceased. Detectives are treating this investigation as a homicide. Based on the initial investigation, police say this appears to be an isolated incident. A motive in Thomas' death is unclear. The investigation is still active. "Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Christian," Interim Chief Leslie Manahan said. "Detectives are continuing to thoroughly go through the evidence recovered in this case." If anyone has any information about the case, they are asked to call VPD at (229) 242 - 2606. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the independently elected Cabinet granted a pardon to four African-American men accused of raping a white woman almost 70 years ago. The posthumous pardons were granted Friday for the men known as the Groveland Four. The Lake County men were accused of the 1949 rape under dubious circumstances. One was hunted down by a posse of about 1,000 men and shot more than 400 times. Three others were convicted. After the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a new trial in 1951, a sheriff shot two of them, claiming the handcuffed men were trying to escape. One died. The two surviving men were eventually paroled. In 2017, the House and Senate voted unanimously to formally apologize to the mens families and asked then-Gov. Scott to pardon them. He took no action. DeSantis replaced Scott as governor on Tuesday. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Governor Ron DeSantis and the three Cabinet members, who were sworn into office Tuesday, are expected to have a discussion Friday about the "Groveland Four" when they meet as the state clemency board. Earnest Thomas, Charles Greenlee, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Irvin were four African-American men accused in 1949 of raping a white woman in Lake County. Thomas was killed by a posse after the rape accusation. The three other men were beaten to coerce confessions before they were convicted by an all white jury. Last month, DeSantis sent out a release declaring "justice was miscarried for the Groveland Four" and that he intended to make the issue a "priority" for the first Cabinet meeting. While the agenda refers to a discussion, new Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wants more. "I'm going to be pushing for the pardon to come through, and to actually go forth with what we have been promising to that family for a long time now," said Fried. Meanwhile, the two other Cabinet members new Attorney General Ashley Moody and returning Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis may only be in the discussion mode Friday. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke to members of the press from inside the Capitol Friday morning making another big announcement in his first week of office. In an early Friday morning announcement, DeSantis announced that he is suspending Okaloosa County Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson. The suspension is following a State Attorney's Office recommendation regarding alleged child abuse under her leadership. "Several grand jury reports have been very scathing about her conduct and her dereliction of duty," said DeSantis. "Those grand jurors recommended that the Department of Education look at ways to hold her accountable." DeSantis has appointed Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Markus Chambers to replace Jackson. DeSantis also took the time to reflect on his first couple of days as governor, address climate change, and border wall funding. Newport Beach, Calif., Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DPW Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: DPW) a diversified holding company (the Company) announced today that it has completed establishing DPW Financial Group, Inc. and DPW Technologies Group, Inc., both Delaware corporations, as previously announced on November 6, 2018. DPW anticipates aggregating all reporting by its subsidiaries and business units through these two new subsidiaries, starting as early as the first quarter of 2019. This realignment will set the stage for other initiatives by the Company in 2019 and beyond. Organizational Structure DPW will own 100% of these two groups: DPW Technology Group, Inc. will focus on advanced technology, design, power solutions and manufacturing businesses in defense, aerospace, telecom, medical, and textiles and will include Coolisys Technologies, Inc., Digital Power Corporation, Microphase Corporation, Enertec Systems 2001 Ltd, Digital Power Limited, and Power-Plus Technical Distributors, LLC. Mr. Milton Todd Ault, III will serve as the interim CEO, and William B. Horne as the new subsidiarys CFO. DPW Technology Group intends to hire a Chief Executive Officer to provide leadership during the IPO and to develop and execute future growth strategies. will focus on advanced technology, design, power solutions and manufacturing businesses in defense, aerospace, telecom, medical, and textiles and will include Coolisys Technologies, Inc., Digital Power Corporation, Microphase Corporation, Enertec Systems 2001 Ltd, Digital Power Limited, and Power-Plus Technical Distributors, LLC. Mr. Milton Todd Ault, III will serve as the interim CEO, and William B. Horne as the new subsidiarys CFO. DPW Technology Group intends to hire a Chief Executive Officer to provide leadership during the IPO and to develop and execute future growth strategies. DPW Financial Group, Inc. will focus on lending, cryptocurrency mining, hospitality, and real estate and includes Digital Power Lending, LLC, IAM, LLC and Super Crypto Mining, Inc. Darren Magot will serve as the CEO and Kenneth S. Cragun as the CFO. The officers of DPW will remain the same: CEO Milton Todd Ault, III, CFO William B. Horne, and CAO Kenneth S. Cragun. DPW anticipates that the corporate restructuring will enable it to leverage more efficiently its sustainable assets, including making additional strategic investments. About DPW Holdings, Inc. DPW Holdings, Inc. is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies that hold global potential. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, the Company provides mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including defense/aerospace, industrial, telecommunications, medical, crypto-mining, and textiles. In addition, the Company owns a select portfolio of commercial hospitality properties and extends credit to select entrepreneurial businesses through a licensed lending subsidiary. DPWs headquarters are located at 201 Shipyard Way, Suite E, Newport Beach, CA 92663; www.DPWHoldings.com . TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida A&M University held its first convocation of the spring semester. The honoree, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The ceremony was held Thursday afternoon inside the Gaither Gym. The crowd heard from speaker Dr. Everette Ward, President of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the same fraternity that Dr. King was a member of. Christopher Knight, President of FAMU's Alpha Phi Alpha Chapter, explained what MLK means to the university. "Having an opportunity to have this here on FAMU campus, this open convocation gives the community the opportunity to learn a lot more about him and his works," said Knight. MLK Day will be on Monday, Jan. 21. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - An attempted homicide charge has been dropped against a Tallahassee man accused of shooting his son in the face on Jan. 3. Andrew Lawyer II, 49, was originally charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault with a firearm. However, the state attorney's office confirmed that Lawyer's attempted homicide charge was never officially filed with them. Instead, Lawyer has been charged with criminal attempt to commit a capital felony. Lawyer, who has since been released from jail, has plead not guilty to the charges. WARNING: The following details may be considered graphic. According to an arrest document, Leon County deputies responded to a home on Sapphire Drive the evening of Jan. 3 after Lawyer called 911. At first, Lawyer gave dispatchers the address to respond to but refused to answer any more questions. Eventually, he told dispatchers that he shot his son "because he charged at him," and said it was unknown if he hit the victim with the bullet. At some point, documents say dispatch was advised that the victim had suffered a gunshot would to his lower jaw. When deputies arrived, they detained Lawyer with handcuffs and EMS immediately transported the victim to the hospital. Documents say that the victim was declared a "trauma alert" and was placed into a medically-induced coma due to his injuries. According to a second victim, Lawyer and the first victim got into an argument over a dog. Lawyer had apparently kicked the dog, causing the victim to become angry. At one point, the argument turned physical, with both men trying to hit each other while the second victim broke it up. Eventually, Lawyer walked into his bedroom and came back with a loaded revolver. Documents say the second victim quickly came behind the first victim and pulled him back in attempt to get him away. The second victim said Lawyer pointed a gun at the left side of the first victim's face and told him to get out of his house. As the first victim turned away from Lawyer's pointed gun, he was shot in the cheek. According to the document, the second victim said that Lawyer fired a second shot in the first victim's direction after he fell to the ground from the impact of the initial shot. The second victim said that she was afraid for both the first victim and her life, as she could've been shot when she was standing behind the first victim. When asked if the fighting between the men warranted the use of a firearm for self-defense, the second victim said, "she absolutely did not think so since the physical fighting was so minor." When deputies spoke to Lawyer, he admitted that he indeed pointed the gun in the first victim's face, but claimed the gun "just went off." He also stated that the gun might have "gone off" twice, but he wasn't sure. He also refused to do an interview with deputies without a lawyer present. Documents say that investigators searched the home and found the gun and two spent shell casings. They also found blood all over the house and "many pieces of what appeared to be broken human teeth in the bedroom and hallway." Based on the evidence, Lawyer was arrested and charged with attempted homicide and aggravated domestic assault with a firearm. The attempted homicide charge has since been changed to criminal attempt to commit a capital felony. That night, Lawyer was transported to the Leon County Detention Facility. "It should be noted that when I informed [Lawyer] of his charges, he smirked at me but said nothing," an investigator wrote. "At no point during the time of [Lawyer's] approximate 9-hour detention did he ask about his son or appear concerned about what happened this evening." Lawyer is out of jail on a $75,000 bond. LCSO: Tallahassee man arrested in Sapphire Drive shooting shot son TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man has been charged with attempted homicide for the shooting on Sapphire Drive Thursday night. The Leon County Sheriff's Office says that they responded to a 911 call in the 8800 block of Sapphire Drive just after 6 p.m. Thursday night. When they arrived, they found a 20-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. Information given to deputies on scene indicated that the 20-year-old and his father, 49-year-old Andrew Lawyer II, were involved in fight and during the course of the argument, Lawyer shot his son. Deputies learned that Lawyer's wife was also standing directly behind her son when Lawyer shot him. Based on the evidence, Lawyer was arrested and charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault with a firearm. The 20-year-old victim was transported to the hospital for treatment. One person hurt in Sapphire Drive shooting in Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Leon County Sheriff's Office is currently on the scene of a shooting in the 8800 block of Sapphire Drive in Tallahassee. LCSO said a person was shot and sustained non-life threatening injuries. LCSO stated they are currently not looking for a suspect. This is a developing story. WELLINGTON, Fla. (AP) The Florida Board of Medicine says a West Palm Beach surgeon has agreed to pay a $3,000 fine for removing a womans healthy kidney that he thought was a tumor. The Palm Beach Post reports Ramon Vazquez was responsible for cutting Maureen Pacheco open in 2016 so two other surgeons could perform a back operation. Pacheco had a kidney that never ascended into her abdomen, and Vazquez believed it was a cancerous tumor near her pelvis and removed it without her consent. Vazquez has said that he didnt review her medical records before the surgery. Pacheco later sued the two primary doctors, who each settled for $250,000. Vazquez was also sued for malpractice and settled the case for a nominal amount. Vazquez must also attend training on preoperative patient evaluation. ___ Information from: The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post, http://www.pbpost.com Florida surgeon removes healthy kidney he thought was tumor WELLINGTON, Fla. (AP) A Florida surgeon removed a womans healthy kidney while she was undergoing back surgery because he believed the vital organ was a cancerous tumor. The Palm Beach Post reported last week that Maureen Pacheco has sued Ramon Vazquez and two other surgeons for malpractice. Vazquez was responsible for cutting Pacheco open in 2016 so two orthopedic surgeons, Dr. John Britt and Dr. Jeffrey Kugler, could perform the back operation. Pachecos attorney, Donald J. Ward, says she didnt get a say in the removal. The lawsuit was settled in September. Vazquezs attorney Mark Mittelmark says the blame lies with Wellington Regional Medical Center, which didnt tell his client that Pacheco had a pelvic kidney. The Florida Department of Health has filed an administrative complaint with the Board of Medicine against Vazquez. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Work improving flow from ambulances and through emergency department to be scrutinised by councillors This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 11th, 2019 An update on work to improve the flow from ambulances and through the emergency department will be given to councillors next week. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board along with the Wales Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) will meeting with members of the councils safeguarding, communities and wellbeing scrutiny committee will take place on Wednesday 16th January. The meeting between the health board and councillors is the first to take place this year. An agenda published on the Wrexham Council website ahead of Wednesday afternoon states the health board and ambulance service will explain how they are working together to improve flow from ambulances and through Emergency Department to improve patient outcomes and experiences. It comes after committee members voted in October 2018 in favour of receiving a further update on waiting times from BCUHB. A statement on the progress with primary care is also set to take place. At the committees meeting in October 2018 the health board was quizzed over waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) with chief executive Gary Doherty admitting that the service was struggling to meet Welsh Government targets. During the meeting the problems surrounding social media usage amongst young people were also cited as a potential reason for the growing mental health crisis among children in Wrexham and Flintshire. From November: Latest Wrexham Maelor Hospital waiting time data for October shows improvement but still worst in Wales. Mobile network files appeal for replacement mast town running out of tall buildings This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 11th, 2019 An appeal has been launched after plans to install a phone mast in the town centre were rejected. In August 2018 it was reported that mobile phone network EE has applied for equipment to be installed by Waterworld on Holt Street in the town centre in order to boost both 3G and 4G coverage in the area. The 20-metre-high phone mast, which would be located on Holt Street near Waterworld Leisure Centre, would replace an existing mast currently located on the roof of Wrexham Police Station, which is set to be demolished and replaced with a Lidl supermarket, shortening the list of options for those seeking tall buildings in town. At the time it was reported that members of Acton Community Council had raised concerns about the impact on the health of pupils at nearby Alexandra Primary School despite the company insisting it would not cause any issues. Just two months members in October 2018 the application was refused on the basis of: The telecommunications pole will have a detrimental impact upon the visual amenity of the area and therefore the proposals are contrary to policies GDP1 and CLF8 of the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan. Now an appeal has been lodged on behalf of EE by Harlequin Group Ltd in a bid to overturn the councils decision; with the appellant stating that Wrexham Council have not been specific in respect of their reason for refusal as to which particular aspects of the appeal proposal contribute to its detrimental impact on the visual amenity of the area. It has been submitted by Carolyn Wilson, the head of town planning with The Harlequin Group, who explains that EE Ltd through the existing lease terms have been served with a Notice to Quit to remove their equipment to make way for the demolition / redevelopment of the Bodhyfryd site. However it is noted that given the very high nature of the exiting rooftop base station, it has not been possible to find another rooftop within the target coverage area of an equivalent height to replicate the existing coverage. As a result the current network coverage area was therefore subject of a cell split, meaning that two base stations are needed in the area to replace the geographical coverage lost from the roof of the police station. Permission for the a 12-metre mast on one such site on Borras Road was granted by the council last year. A further several sites were looked at to house the mast, including Crown buildings, Trinity Church, Regent House, Coleg Cambria and Wrexham Telephone Exchange. The roof of Ty Pawb / former Peoples Market car park had been put forward by Wrexham Council as an alternative site because of the visual impact on the surrounding area. In the original and now adapted business plan for the new facility, it was estimated that siting the mast on top of the building would generate 15,000 income for Ty Pawb. However the appellant states that: The council are not progressing the legal agreement for this site at present. As this coverage is required to replace existing coverage to be removed from the Wrexham Police Station and to provide communications for the Emergency Services Network. Following the design visit, it was also confirmed that the current power room is to be moved which means the site would have no power at the proposed location. The document adds: In respect of the proposal suggested to the council they considered that whilst the proposed monopole was a comparable height to the adjacent leisure centre building as it was a distance from this building it would be viewed in isolation and as a clearly distinct structure from most nearby vantage points. The monopole will be considerably taller than the existing street furniture and would appear discordant detracting from the appearance of the immediate locality. The council confirmed they would not support the proposal on this basis. Whilst the Appellant could now pursue the councils site via the Code, this is a lengthy process involving the land tribunal and given the need to remove the equipment from the Police HQ in the near future in accordance with the notice served under the terms of the lease by the landlord, replacement coverage is required in the shorter rather than longer term. Commenting on the refusal of the Holt Street application, the appellant notes that whilst the height of the mast is significantly taller than the existing street furniture and in particular the street lighting the separation is such that the mast will not be backdropped sufficiently in all views and as such will appear as a prominent and discordant feature in the streetscene. The appeal document continues onto say: The Appellant considers that the number of vertical structures in the vicinity, the scale and massing of the adjacent building, and height of the nearby trees, together with the modern recreational, commercial and retail nature of the surrounding land use and main transport route infrastructure setting for the appeal proposal, all result in an appropriate visual context. The particular siting of the appeal proposal has taken account of all of the above factors in trying to mitigate as far as practicable the visual impact of its design and height which are required for operational reasons. It concludes: The Inspector is respectfully requested to consider the merits of the appeal proposal based on the evidence provided in support of this appeal and to grant planning permission, thereby ensuring the Appellant can continue to provide its customers with the desired level of service in this area. A decision on the appeal will be made by a planning inspector at a later date. A young woman and a child watch Zhang Zhiying make tiger-head shoes. [Yangtse.com] A senior from Dashan Village in Gaochun District, Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, has made tiger-head shoes over the years to carry forward Chinese traditional craftsmanship, according to a recent profile. Zhang Zhiying, 64, has made nearly 1,000 pairs of tiger-head shoes in the past five decades. Each year, she makes cloth shoes and tiger-head shoes in her spare time and sends over 10 pairs of tiger-head shoes to her friends and relatives. With the development of society, fewer and fewer people make shoes by hand. The hand-made shoes industry has given way to industrialization. Zhang learnt to make tiger-head shoes from her mother when she was a teenager girl. At that time, her family was impoverished, so her mother made shoes to earn some money. Making shoes requires a lot of efforts. It first begins with several pieces of cloths held in place and then the stitching of the cloth by hand. Thus, it usually takes her three days to make one pair of tiger-head shoes. In spite of the efforts invested, one pair of tiger-head shoes are only worth dozens of yuan. Naturally, few young people are interested in learning this skill. As the only person mastering this traditional handicraft in her village, she was worried that the skill might become extinct someday, and therefore she has been persisting in making such shoes with an effort to make the craft last longer. (Source: Yangtse.com/Translated and edited by Women of China) Dublin, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Biologics Outsourcing Global Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The biologics outsourcing global market is expected to grow at double digit CAGR to reach $87.6 billion by 2027. Biologics are therapeutic entities composed of sugars, proteins, or nucleic acids made from natural sources such as human, animal or micro organisms. Biologics can also include live attenuated microorganisms (vaccines), allergenic extracts (allergy shots), human cells and tissues (transplantation), cell therapies and gene therapies. Like small molecule drugs, these drugs are intended for treatment of diseases and medical conditions. However, Biologics bring into picture higher range of specificity in treating a disease condition as the biologic entities like monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins target specific areas in the molecular mechanism of disease action. Although biologics are much costlier than small molecule drugs, these classes of drugs prove to be highly beneficial for the patient and also bring about 40% higher profits to the manufacturers when compared to small molecule drug treatments. Due to the increasing demand for biologics drugs and increased regulatory approvals for these drugs, there is huge demand for biologics manufacture and testing at various levels of clinical studies as well as commercial supply. The Large Biopharma companies are coming up with strategies to cut down on their operational costs and concentrate more on their core competencies by outsourcing this piece of work to contract research organizations (CROs), contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) and contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). These organizations bridge the gap between demand and supply and ensure the drug discovery process gets much faster and convenient thus bringing life saving drugs to the market to reach the needy patients. In 2017, 7 out of 10 blockbuster drugs were biologics outnumbering small molecule drugs. Some of the top selling biologics in 2017 includes Humira ($18.4 billion), Rituxan ($9.2 billion), Enbrel ($7.9 billion), and Herceptin ($7.4 billion). The growth of biologics market indirectly indicates the huge demand for services spanning all stages of biologics development starting preclinical stage to commercial manufacturing. The high complexity of biologics development and manufacture requiring huge technical expertise is prompting major biopharma companies turn to outsourcing as a viable option. Various stages of biological development require different types of services as listed below. Discovery services- Includes lead identification and validation for identifying possible drug candidates targeting specific diseases. The process further involves steps such as target validation, screening preparation, hit generation and lead selection, lead optimization and characterization and finally lead selection. Preclinical development services- Involves in-vitro and in-vivo studies of the biologic drug candidates before testing them on humans to test the safety, efficacy and biological functionality against the disease target. Preclinical services include cell line engineering, process development, product analytical characterization, cGMP cell banking, cell line characterization, animal model assay development and testing services. Clinical development- Clinical development includes testing potential drug candidates on humans in phase I, II and II trials. Services at this stage include cGMP grade clinical supply of biologics such as MAb, or recombinant protein, stability testing, fill/finish and regulatory support. Commercialization- Once the drug has passed all the necessary approvals, the manufacture, marketing and sale of commercial quantities is performed. Outsourcing partners here manufacture the commercial supply for product launch and sale. Key Topics Covered: 1 Biologics Outsourcing Global Market 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Landscape Of Biologics Market 1.3 Biologics Global Market 1.4 Top Destination For Biologics Outsourcing 1.4.1 China Biologics Outsourcing Market 1.4.2 China Vs India - Biologics Market 1.4.3 Regulations And Government Initiatives 1.4.4 Capabilities And Technologies 2 Market Analysis 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Factors Influencing Market 2.2.1 Drivers And Opportunities 2.2.1.1 Increased Investment In R&D By Pharmaceutical Companies Is Increasing The Outsourcing 2.2.1.2 Adoption Of Biological Therapies In Disease Management 2.2.1.3 Successful Collaboration And Low Cost For Outsourcing 2.2.1.4 Increasing Biologics Approvals In The Past Year 2.2.1.5 Increasing Chronic And Autoimmune Illnesses 2.2.1.6 Increasing Number Of Branded Drugs Going Off-Patent Creates A Scope For Biosimilars 2.2.1.7 Requirement Of Novel Biologics Therapeutics For Rare Diseases 2.2.1.8 Increasing Demand For Antibody Conjugates And Bispecific Antibodies 2.2.1.9 Advanced Technologies For Screening, Cell Line Engineering And Bioprocessing 2.2.1.10 Pharma Companies Restricting Their Global Presence, Reducing Manpower, Lack Of Facilities For Discovery And Manufacturing Of Biologics 2.2.2 Restraints And Threats 2.2.2.1 Intense Complexities In Handling Biologics 2.2.2.2 Requirement Of Highly Skilled Technicians 2.2.2.3 High Cost Of Drug Development Process 2.2.2.4 Challenges In Oral Formulations With Biologics 2.2.2.5 Stringent Regulatory Frameworks 2.2.2.6 High Capital And Technical Requirements To Obtain Gmp Certifications 2.2.2.7 Limited Ip Protection In Developing Regions 2.2.2.8 High Chances Of End Stage Failure Of Drug 2.2.2.9 Conflict Of Interest Between Pharmaceutical Company And Cro 3 Biologics Outsourcing Global Market, Market Analysis 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Discovery And Pre-Clinical Development Process 3.3 Biologics Outsourcing Global Market, By Product Type 3.3.1 Antibody 3.3.1.1 Monoclonal Antibody 3.3.1.2 Bispecific Antibody 3.3.1.3 Antibody Drug Conjugates 3.3.1.4 Others 3.3.2 Recombinant Protein 3.3.2.1 Fusion Proteins 3.3.2.2 Hormones 3.3.2.3 Recombinant Enzymes 3.3.2.4 Others 3.3.3 Vaccines 3.3.4 Others 3.3.4.1 Gene Therapy 3.3.4.2 Cell Therapy 3.3.4.3 Others 3.4 Market Share Analysis 3.5 Company Developments 3.5.1 Agreements, Partnerships & Collaborations 3.5.2 New Service Launch 3.5.3 Expansion 3.5.4 Acquisitions 3.5.5 Other Developments 3.6 Service Cost Analysis 3.6.1 Antibody Production Service Costs 3.6.2 Custom Monoclonal Antibody Production Service Costs 3.6.3 Custom Polyclonal Antibody Production Service Costs 3.6.4 Protein Production Service Costs 3.6.5 Additional Antibody And Protein Services 3.6.6 Gene Editting Services 3.6.7 Car-T/Nk Platform Services 4 Biologics Outsourcing Global Market - Animal Model Services 4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 Market Dynamics 4.1.2 Comparison Matrix Of Animal Models And Applications 4.1.3 Small Animal Models 4.1.4 Large Animal Models 4.2 Ethics And Regulations 4.3 Alternatives To Animal Models 4.4 Overview Of Applications Of Animal Models 4.5 Animal Model Services Global Market, By Molecule 4.6 Animal Models Services Regional Market 4.7 Animal Model Services Market, By Speices 4.8 Animal Model Services Global Market, By Application 4.9 Market Share Analysis 4.10 Competitive Landscape 4.11 Company Developments 5 Biologics Outsourcing Global Market - Biomanufacturing 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Market Dynamics 5.3 In House Vs Cmo Capacity 5.4 Contract Biomanufacturing, By Process 5.4.1 Biomanufacturing By Mammalian Cell Culture 5.4.2 Biomanufacturing By Microbial Cell Culture 5.4.3 Biomanufacturing By Other Cell Culture 5.5 Contract Biomanufacturing Global Market, By End Users 5.5.1 Contract Biomanufacturing Of Diagnostics 5.5.2 Contract Biomanufacturing Of Research Reagents 5.5.3 Contract Biomanufacturing Of Therapeutics 5.6 Competitive Landscape 5.6.1 Capacity Comparison 5.6.2 Contract Manufacturing Global Market Share, By Leading Players 5.7 Company Developments 5.7.1 Merger And Acquisition By Cmos 5.7.2 Collaborations 5.7.3 Capacity Expansions 6 Biologics Outsourcing Global Market - Cell Line Development 6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 Market Dynamics 6.2 Cell Line Development 6.2.1 Cell Line Construction 6.2.2 Host Cell Line Engineering 6.2.3 Expression System 6.2.4 Transient Gene Expression 6.2.5 Stable Cell Line Development 6.2.6 Screening 6.2.7 Upstream Process Development 6.3 Host Cell Lines 6.4 Cell Line Development Services Market, By Expression System 6.4.1 Microbial Expression Systems 6.4.2 Mammalian Expression System 6.4.3 Others 6.5 Cell Line Development Services, By Cell Type 6.5.1 Cho 6.5.2 Murine/Mouse Myeloma 6.5.3 Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) Cells 6.5.4 Hybridoma 6.5.5 Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) Cells 6.5.6 Human Embryonic Retinal Cells (Per.C6) 6.5.7 Others 6.6 Cell Line Development Services, By Applications 6.6.1 Research 6.6.2 Bioproduction 6.6.3 Diagnostics 6.7 Key Developments 6.8 Market Share Analysis 7 Company Profiles Abzena Plc Adimab Llc. Albany Molecular Research, Inc Beijing Vital Star Biotechnology Co. Ltd. Boehringer Ingelheim Catalent Inc. Charles River Laboratories Crown Biosciences (JSR) Genoway Genscript Biotech Corporation GL Biochem Horizon Discovery Group, Plc Jackson Laboratory Samsung Biologics JHL Biotech Inc. Joinn Laboratories Co. Ltd Lonza Group Merck KGaA Patheon N.V. (Thermofisher Scientific) Pharmalegacy Laboratories Pharmaron Prosci Inc. Proteogenix Psychogenics, Inc JSR Life Sciences (Selexis SA) Shanghai Medicilon Shangpharma Corporation /Shanghai Chempartner Sino Biological Sundia Meditech Co., Ltd. Syngene International Taconic Biosciences Viva Biotech Ltd. Wuxi Biologics (Wuxi Apptec) Companies Mentioned 3P Biopharmaceuticals Abbvie Contract Manufacturing Abeomics Abgenex Abzena Aginko Research Ajinomoto Biopharma services Altasciences American Preclinical Services Amplia PharmaTek Inc ANS Biotech Applied stem cell Aragen Biosciences (GVK Bioscience) Artimmune SAS ATCC Athena Discovery, Inc ATUM Avastus Preclinical services Avid Bioservices Batavia Biosciences Berkeley Lights Binex Biogen Biologics International Group Biomedcode Biomeostasis Biomere Biomodels LLC. Bioqual Biospective Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim Bolder BioPATH, Inc. BTS Research Burleson Research Technologies, Inc C & M Biolabs CARE Research, LLC Catalent Celltrion Celonic Cevec Pharmaceuticals GmbH Charles River Laboratories Clintox Bioservices CMC Cobra Biologics Creative Animodel Crown Bioscience Cytovance biologics Eirgenix Envigo Eurofins (Advinus) Evotec Exonbio Explora BioLabs Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies Fusion antibodies Genecopoeia Glycotope Goodwin Biotechnology GVK Biosciences (Aragen Biosciences) Hera BioLabs Horizon Discovery IBT Bioservices Inno biologics Intas pharmaceuticals Intestinal Biotech Development InTouch BioSolutions LLC Invitek Inc. ITR Laboratories Canada Inc. Jackson Laboratory JHL biotech JSR Life Sciences (KBI biopharma, Selexis, Crown Biosciences) Jubilant Biosys KCI Biotech (SUZHOU), Inc. Kemwell Biopharma LabCorp (Covance Inc) Lake Pharma Lancaster LFB Biomanufacturing Lonza Luina Bio Mabplex MD Biosciences Inc. Melior Discovery Inc. Menarini Biotech s.r.l Merck KGaA Merk KGaA Miltenyi biotech GmbH Molecular Devices MuriGenics NeuroSolutions Ltd Noble Life Sciences Oxford genetics Paragon Bioservices Pharma Models Company Pharmacelsus GmbH PharmaLegacy laboratories Pharmaseed Proteogenix Px Therapeutics Radiant Research Services Pvt Ltd. Renovo Neural, Inc. Rentschler Biotechnologie Samsung biologics Sandoz GmbH Scripps laboratories SGI-DNA Shanghai Medicilon Sinclair BioResearch Sinclair Research SMC Laboratories, Inc. SMC Laboratories, Inc. SoBran SRI International Suven Life Sciences SYNCROSOME Syngene Taconic Biosciences TCG Lifesciences Texcell Therapure Biomanufacturing Therapure Biopharma Thermo Fisher (Patheon) Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon N.V) TNO Toxindia Contractual research organisation Toyobo GMP group TransCure bioServices TransGenic Inc. TransGenic.Inc Trenzyme Tribiosciences Trinity Bioactives Limited UGA Biopharma Vifor pharma Ltd Waisman clinical biomanufacturing William Harvey Research Limited Woodland Biosciences Wuxi AppTec For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2d8jbq/global_biologics?w=12 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Teresa Brown lay in bed one night last year, while on vacation in the Amish Country, and prayed God would give her something to do to honor her late sister, Kandy Hartley, as well as a really good friend, Don Haught. Hartley had passed away in June, and Haught passed away shortly after. Both of these beloved ones passed away at WVUs Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Brown wanted to do something, in memory of Hartley and Haught, to honor them. Brown said God brought the idea to her mind to deliver blankets to cancer patients. She pondered this idea, wondering how she could make an impact. However, Brown explained, her sister was always cold when in the hospital. Thus, Brown decided to go with the idea, which she shared through social media and to her church family at Faith Fellowship in Reader. Within a few hours, Brown received an overwhelming response. One of the responses came from the Busy Bee 4-H group, from Wetzel County. The group wanted to adopt Browns endeavor for a community Christmas project. The Busy Bees invited Brown to a meeting, where kids of all ages brought 36 blankets. Brown was overwhelmed by this generosity; her goal had been to get 50 blankets. In total, Brown was able to deliver 107 blankets, described by Brown as beautiful. Furthermore, each blanket included a message of hope. Brown explained she wanted to put something in each blanket that would encourage each recipient. Through research online, Browns sister-in-law discovered the Bible verse, Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go. Browns mother, who is 85, sewed the verse in each blanket. Bookmarks containing the scripture were also tied onto the blankets, using ribbon. Upon arriving at the hospital to deliver the blankets, Brown walked into the room the patients visit to receive chemo treatments. Brown explained there were people everywhere, some in wheelchairs or on cots, receiving treatment. They each received a blanket, and Brown described how a light seemed to come on in their eyes. This reaction encouraged Brown to take on the project again next year. She noted the remaining blankets were handed out to other cancer patients on the floor. Brown said she had doubts when she was first getting started on this project, because she wondered how she would fund the project. However, she noted, she was able to deliver more than double of what her goal was in the first place. Brown wants to thank everyone who made this such a great success and also give God the glory for using her to be able to bless other people. Newman, CA (95360) Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low 66F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 66F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Rep. Randy Bridges Legislative Update By Randy Bridges FRANKFORT - I joined legislators from throughout Kentucky in Frankfort this week as we convened for the first portion of the 2019 session of the Kentucky General Assembly. The first order of business was the swearing in ceremony, where all members were given the Oath of Office by Supreme Court Justice Debra Lambert. The oath is a reminder to me that it is a privilege to serve this district and our communities, an honor and responsibility that I take very seriously. I hope to continue communicating with you through these legislative updates, but also invite you to reach out to me directly. We adjourned Friday, January 11 and will reconvene the session on Tuesday, February 5.This week we took care of organizational tasks, adopting rules, assigning committees and electing leadership. I received my committee assignments and look forward to serving on the following committees: Education, Transportation, Natural Resource & Energy, and Budget Review Sub Committee Primary Secondary Education WD. As you know, the legislation that comes through these committees has a big impact on our state, but is specifically meaningful to our community.This years session is only 30 legislative days, as opposed to the 60-day sessions we have in even numbered years. Short sessions are a great opportunity to work on issues that might otherwise be overshadowed during a budget session but are equally critical to our commonwealths future. I am so pleased to share that this session one of our top priorities will be a school safety measure that provides a starting point in the journey toward protecting our children. This landmark piece of legislation is so important that it has been filed as both HB 1 and SB 1, something that is rarely done.The School Safety and Resiliency Act is the result of months of meetings by the legislatures School Safety Working Group. This group traveled the state and heard from a wide variety of stakeholders, including teachers, parents, law enforcement, students and mental health professionals. The ideas and suggestions gathered were instrumental in putting together this legislation which takes a series of proactive steps to prevent any more school tragedies. It addresses two major challenges, strengthening the security of our schools and providing resources for troubled youth.In addition to school safety, I joined members of the bipartisan Pro Life Caucus in supporting several strong and meaningful pro-life measures. Among them is HB 5, legislation that would prohibit abortion based on race, gender or the perception of disability, such as a child born with Down syndrome. Another bill, HB 48, provides a path for Kentucky to existing KRS language banning abortion in the Commonwealth pending future decisions relating to Roe v. Wade.The provisions of HB 1 and SB 1 include setting a goal to provide more school resource officers and mental health professionals in our schools. The legislation also requires school districts to appoint a school safety coordinator; criminalizes making false threats against schools; requires active shooter training for certain school employees; and mandates that all access points to school buildings be secured by July 1, 2022. The School Safety and Resiliency Act would also call for the creation of a new state school security marshal who would be charged with working to keep schools compliant with safety requirements.This is just one example of what we will be looking at when we reconvene. In the meantime, I would like to share again how seriously I take the privilege of serving this district. I look forward to working for our communities in the Kentucky General Assembly. I hope you will not hesitate to reach out to me to share your thoughts on the issues coming before us in Frankfort, and I look forward to hearing from you. Dublin, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market by Type (Emulsifiers, Solvents, and Carriers), Source (Synthetic and Bio-based), Form (Dry and Liquid), Pesticide Type (Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides, and Rodenticides), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The pesticide inert ingredients market is projected to reach USD 4.7 billion by 2023, from USD 3.5 billion in 2018, at a CAGR of 6.14%. The pesticide inert ingredients market is driven by various factors such as the increasing demand for specific inert ingredients for the formulation of pesticide products and the capability of inert ingredients to increase the efficacy of pesticide application on crops and leaves. However, the regulatory implications by EPA and other respective authorities may restrict the growth of the pesticide inert ingredients market. In terms of type, the carriers segment is projected to witness the fastest growth from 2018 to 2023. In modern crop protection, it is highly important to use chemicals such as pesticide products to protect the crops. Moreover, it is also necessary to reach the desired effect with the least environmental loads. The use of pesticides may kill non-target pests due to the inefficacy of pesticide application; this can be overcome through the use of carrier inert ingredients as carriers, which are adherence enhancers and also aid the application of pesticides on the target plants and crops. Due to these factors, carrier inert ingredients have recorded the highest CAGR. In terms of source, the synthetic segment is estimated to have the largest market share during the forecast period. Synthetic inert ingredients are chemically manufactured substances, which are added to the pesticide for enhancing the overall application and performance of the pesticide product. Chemically sourced inert ingredients are produced with petroleum products. Most of the key players in the industry such as BASF (Germany), DowDuPont (US), and Stepan Company (US) are serving the market with synthetic-based inert ingredients. Although the synthetic ingredients have a toxic effect, the market for the same is larger as compared to bio-based inert ingredients, due to the ease of availability of synthetic products. North America is estimated to dominate the pesticide inert ingredients market in 2018. North America is one of the key exporters of pesticides, with the US standing at the third position in the global export market for pesticides. The increasing cultivation of industrial crops such as corn and soybean in North American countries result in the adoption of agrochemicals and crop protection inputs for obtaining higher yield, due to which the demand for inert ingredients for the formulation of pesticides remains high; hence, North America dominated the market for pesticide inert ingredients in 2018. The global market for pesticide inert ingredients is dominated by companies such as BASF (Germany), Clariant (Switzerland), and Stepan Company (US). Whereas companies such as DowDuPont (US) and Croda International (UK) also contributed a major share by serving the market with inert ingredients products. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 1.1 Objectives of the Study 1.2 Market Definition 1.3 Study Scope 1.4 Regional Segmentation 1.5 Periodization Considered 1.6 Currency Considered 1.7 Stakeholders 2 Research Methodology 2.1 Research Data 2.2 Market Size Estimation 2.3 Data Triangulation 2.4 Research Assumptions 2.5 Limitations 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Opportunities in the Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market 4.2 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Type, 2017 4.3 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Source 4.4 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Pesticide Type and Region, 2017 4.5 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Form, 2017 4.6 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Key Country 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Macroeconomic Indicators 5.2.1 Crop Loss Due to Pest Attacks 5.2.2 Increase in Use of Crop Protection Products in Developing Countries 5.3 Market Dynamics 5.3.1 Drivers 5.3.1.1 Increase in Demand for Specific Inert Ingredients in Different Pesticide Formulations 5.3.1.2 Supports the Distributional Coverage of Pesticide Application 5.3.2 Restraints 5.3.2.1 Emergence of Organic Farming Initiatives as an Alternative to High Pesticide Usage 5.3.2.1.1 Regulatory Bans of Inert Ingredients for High Toxicity 5.3.3 Opportunities 5.3.3.1 Sustainable and Bio-Based Inert Ingredients 5.3.3.2 Use of Inert Ingredients for Biological Formulations 5.3.4 Challenges 5.3.4.1 Limited Awareness Among Farmers Due to Confidentiality of Inert Ingredient Composition 5.4 Regulatory Framework 5.4.1 North America 5.4.1.1 Us 5.4.1.2 Canada 5.4.2 South America 5.4.2.1 Brazil 5.4.2.2 Europe 5.4.3 Asia Pacific 5.4.3.1 Australia 6 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Type 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Emulsifiers 6.2.1 Stabilization of Pesticide Formulation are the Major Functions Responsible for High Demand of Emulsifiers 6.3 Solvents 6.3.1 Petrochemical-Based Solvents Have Been Increasingly Consumed By Pesticide Manufacturers in Recent Years 6.4 Carriers 6.4.1 Increasing Demand for Controlled-Release Pesticides Drives the Carrier Inert Ingredients Market 6.5 Others 7 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Source 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Synthetic 7.2.1 Increasing Regulations on Toxic Levels of Inert Ingredient Composition has Been Restraining the Growth of This Segment 7.3 Bio-Based 7.3.1 Bio-Based Inert Ingredients Have Been Increasingly Preferred Owing to Its Low Toxic Nature and Easy Availability 8 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Form 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Dry 8.2.1 Dry Inert Ingredients are Majorly Used in the Formulation of Rodenticides and Herbicides 8.3 Liquid 8.3.1 Emulsifiers and Solvents are the Majorly Used Inert Ingredients, Hence Liquid Form Occupies A Higher Share in the Market 8.4 Others 9 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Pesticide Type 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Herbicides 9.2.1 According to Fao, in 2016, Herbicides Were the Majorly Consumed Pesticide Across the World 9.3 Insecticides 9.3.1 Stringent Regulations in Europe Towards Multiple Insecticides has Slackened the Growth Potential for Inert Ingredients 9.4 Fungicides 9.4.1 Focus of Key Players on Expanding Fungicide Production Drives the Inert Ingredients Market in Asia Pacific 9.5 Rodenticides 9.5.1 Naturally Sourced Inert Ingredients for Rodenticides has Expanded the Growth Potential for Rodenticide Manufacturers 9.6 Others 9.6.1 Nematicides 9.6.2 Bactericides & Larvicides 10 Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market, By Region 10.1 Introduction 10.2 North America 10.2.1 US 10.2.1.1 US is One of the Major Producers of Pesticides, Especially Herbicides, Across the Globe 10.2.2 Canada 10.2.2.1 High Pesticide Production and Exports From the Country Lead to High Demand for Pesticide Inert Ingredients 10.2.3 Mexico 10.2.3.1 Increasing Application of Crop Protection Chemicals has Encouraged the Expansion of Manufacturing Plants By Key Players in Mexico 10.3 Europe 10.3.1 Spain 10.3.1.1 High Fungicide Production in Spain Drives the Market for Pesticide Inert Ingredients in the Region 10.3.2 UK 10.3.2.1 Fungicides has Been Gaining Increasing Importance Among Pesticide Manufacturers in the Country 10.3.3 Italy 10.3.3.1 Pesticide Manufacturers Have Been Developing Bio-Based Products at A High Scale in the Country 10.3.4 France 10.3.4.1 France is One of the Major Production Site for Pesticide in Europe, and Hence the Major Consumer of Inert Ingredients 10.3.5 Germany 10.3.5.1 Introduction of Pesticide Use Reduction Program in Germany is Projected to Inhibit the Growth of Pesticide Inert Ingredients Market 10.3.6 Rest of Europe 10.4 Asia Pacific 10.4.1 China 10.4.1.1 According to Fao, China is the Leading Producer of Pesticides Across the Globe and Hence A Major Consumer of Inert Ingredients 10.4.2 Japan 10.4.2.1 The Growing Demand for Pesticides and Favorable Government Regulations has Been Encouraging the Growth of Inert Ingredients 10.4.3 India 10.4.3.1 Key Players Have Been Focusing on Expansion of Pesticide Production in India, Thereby Increasing the Growth Potential for Inert Ingredients 10.4.4 Rest of Asia Pacific 10.5 Rest of the World (RoW) 10.5.1 South America 10.5.1.1 Key Pesticide Manufacturers Have Been Tapping Opportunities in the Brazil and Argentina Market 10.5.2 Africa 10.5.2.1 Decreasing Arable Land in Egypt has Been Attracting Investment From Private and Public Organizations in the African Region 10.5.3 Middle East 10.5.3.1 Resource Scarcity in the Region Leads to High Dependency on Import for Pesticides and Thereby A Sluggish Growth Opportunity for Inert Ingredients 11 Competitive Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Company Rankings 11.3 Competitive Scenario 11.3.1 Mergers & Acquisitions 11.3.2 Expansions & Investments 11.3.3 Agreements, Partnerships, and Joint Ventures 11.3.4 New Product Launches 12 Company Profiles 12.1 BASF SE 12.2 Dowdupont 12.3 Clariant 12.4 Stepan 12.5 Royal Dutch Shell 12.6 Eastman Chemical Company 12.7 Croda International 12.8 Solvay S.A. 12.9 Evonik Industries 12.10 Huntsman Corporation 12.11 Lyondellbasell Industries Holdings B.V. 12.12 Akzonobel For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ljlnss/global_pesticide?w=12 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin speaks to the audience during the republican party's Lincoln Dinner, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Lexington, Ky. Bevin announced during the dinner that he will seek re-election for Governor in 2019. PHOTO:AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley Amid Growing Pressure, Bevin Vows to Run in 2019 By The Associated Press LEXINGTON - Facing a restless group of challengers in both parties, Kentucky's Republican governor sought to reassure nervous Republicans on Thursday that he would run for a second term in 2019 despite slow-walking a campaign for an election that is less than 11 months away. Gov. Matt Bevin has already drawn three opponents for the May primary, including state Rep. Robert Goforth, who denounced the governor's leadership style as one of "arrogance, scorn and hateful ridicule." Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. James Comer who lost to Bevin in the 2015 GOP primary by a scant 83 votes signaled Thursday he was open to reconsidering his vow not to challenge Bevin, adding "he's in worse shape than I realized." "I have been shocked at the number of people who have called begging me to run against him," Comer told The Associated Press in an interview. "I think that we need to have a discussion as a party (for) every available option that's out there." Bevin announced in August he would run for re-election. But he has not filed for the office, and he has not filed paperwork that would allow him to begin raising money. Thursday, speaking to hundreds of business leaders at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's annual Chamber Day Dinner in Lexington, Bevin said: "I am running for governor again. I am." "So all of the nonsense and all of the silliness, I hope you have figured out at this point that if I say I'm going to do something I will do it to the absolute best of my ability," Bevin said. Thursday was Bevin's first appearance with Republican legislative leaders since he criticized them for not passing a pension bill during a special legislative session last month. In an op-ed published in newspapers across the state, Bevin said the session died "not due to a lack of planning, rather, but due to a lack of legislative will." Republican legislative leaders have pushed back, saying Bevin called the session despite them urging him not to. Republican House Speaker David Osborne appeared to send Bevin a message in his speech when he said: "For anyone that thinks that we will find a quick solution to this problem, please understand, I don't believe a quick solution will be found." "Quite frankly, I think there is a possibility we will exit this session without a solution," Osborne said. "It's not my preference, it's not my plan, it's not my hope. But that is the truth." Bevin's approval ratings have fallen since his failed attempt to make changes to the state's struggling public pension systems. His comments about teachers and other public workers who opposed his ideas prompted thousands to raucously protest at the state Capitol last year, closing schools in more than 30 districts across the state. Bevin told reporters Thursday he is not worried about divisions within the GOP. In an early pitch to voters for a second term, Bevin appeared confident he would survive any challenge, whether it be from a Democrat or a Republican. "It's all the same old names and failed candidates and ideas being recycled," Bevin said. "That is a choice you will have at many levels in many offices for 2019. I would encourage you, as you have been encouraged, be engaged. But don't look backwards." Bevin even endorsed a popular bipartisan medical marijuana proposal that was introduced in the legislature this week, saying: "Depending on how that bill is written, I would be happy to sign it." Bevin said he will officially file to run later this month. Asked if he has settled on a running mate, Bevin replied: "I am working on that." Bevin said he's pleased with the job performance of Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton, who is the state's first African-American elected to statewide office. Bevin says he has talked with Hampton at length about her political future. "As to whether or not we will run again will be determined," he said. Tonight's Latest Snowfall Estimates By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - The National Weather Service office in Paducah continues to call for snow and rain Friday night and Saturday, but totals will vary widely across the area.A winter storm warning is in effect until noon Saturday for areas north of a line from Poplar Bluff to Evansville, while areas south of that line are under a winter weather advisory (see photo).The storm system moved across the Mississippi River by 3 pm. In a conference call Friday morning, meteorologists said all of the area would get some form of precipitation by 9 pm, but snow should change to rain and begin moving out of the Missouri bootheel and southwestern Kentucky by midnight.Sleet and wet snow is expected this evening. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are expected in far western Kentucky, including Paducah, and in extreme southern Illinois along the Ohio River from Cairo to Metropolis. Further north 2 to 4 inches could be seen around Vienna, Golconda, and Shawneetown.Areas north and west of Carbondale to the I-57 corridor should get 3 to 6 inches, and 6 inches or more is expected near Mt. Vernon.In the conference call, Lead Forecaster Greg Meffert said, "Amounts are going to vary from little if any down near the Tennessee border to a 2-4 inch swath right along the Ohio River. But, then as you get up into the Marion area, Evansville area and then up north toward the I-64 corridor, that's where we're really expecting the biggest impacts to occur and that's where the warning has been issued."When snow changes over to rain after midnight and temperatures rise on Saturday morning, the rain may help melt the snowfall.Saturday night into Sunday, colder air will filter in behind the departing storm system, but any snow accumulation is expected to be light.On the Net: Suspect Sought in McCracken Credit Card Theft By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - Authorities in McCracken County are asking for the public's help locating a suspect in a recent theft.The McCracken County Sheriff's Office said that on January 4, someone broke the side window out of the victim's vehicle and stole a purse containing multiple credit/debit cards from a vehicle in the 4500 block of Clarks River Road.Later the same evening, the suspect used one of the victim's stolen credit cards at Kroger on Park Avenue to purchase a prepaid credit card. The suspect also attempted to use two other credit cards stolen from the victim, but the transactions were declined.The suspect is described as a black male, about 5'9" tall with a thin build and short hair. He was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with a white logo and dark denim pants, and was driving a newer model, possibly 2016-2018, white Chrysler Town and Country mini-van with a black luggage rack. The vehicle did not have a visible registration plate and may have possibly had a temporary tag in a window. The van was also driven by a second individual with a large build wearing a grey jacket.If anyone has information that may be related to this case, they are asked to contact the McCracken County Sheriff's Department at 270-444-4719. Police Seek Info on Shots Fired at Paducah Home By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - Paducah police seek information from the public in connection with shots that were fired at a home Wednesday night.A woman called police about 10:45 pm and said someone had fired several shots into the back of her home in the 1100 block of Harrison Street. She was there with her five grandchildren, ages 9, 12, 14, 15 and 18.A detective said one projectile was found lodged in an interior wall of the home.Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550.Information also may be provided anonymously through West Kentucky Crime Stoppers by texting WKY and your tip to 847411 (tip 411) or by downloading the app WKY Crime Stoppers from the Apple Store or Google Play. Tipsters also may access the online tip form through the City of Paducah website at http://paducahky.gov/west-ky-crime-stoppers. Information leading to an arrest or indictment may result in a reward of up to $1,000. Pinning Ceremony Honors Police Chief Laird By Mike Cooper, West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - A pinning ceremony was held Thursday afternoon at Police Headquarters, to honor newly appointed Chief, Brian Laird.Participating in the ceremony were City Manager, Jim Arndt, Mayor Brandi Harless, and Chief Laird's wife Jennifer, daughter Kate, and son Brady. His son, Brady, pinned the badge on his father.Chief Laird spoke with West Kentucky Star about his serving as the head of the Paducah Police Department. He said, "moving forward, my plans are to continue on the community policing philosophy we have and push it even further." He stressed what a tremendous job that Chief Barnhill has done with the department. He also said, "we have a great group of men and women that work here at the Police Department, and I think that's what is key, that's what makes the Police Department who they are, and they do an excellent job. So I consider it an absolute privilege to be able to be the Chief of Police."He began his law enforcement career with the Paducah Police Department in 2001. He officially became Paducah Police Chief effective January 1st of this year. During his career, he has served and supervised in all divisions of the department as a Patrolman, Detective, Sergeant, Captain, and Assistant Chief. Before becoming Chief, Laird led the Support Services Division. This division is comprised of the Records and Evidence Unit, along with two detective units: General Investigations, and Drug and Vice Enforcement. He also served as Commander of Specialized Units which includes SWAT, Bomb Squad, K-9, and the Crisis Negotiation Team.Chief Laird holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Murray State University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Louisville. He is a 2017 recipient of the FBI-LEEDA Leadership Trilogy Award. In 2014, he completed the 131st session of the Administrative Officers Course/Executive Program through the Southern Police Institute. He also is a graduate of the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Executive Development Program and Academy of Police Supervision. In 2013, he received the Gary L. Reese Award for outstanding leadership and distinguished career service and was the 2006 Employee of the year with the Paducah Police Department.He is a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club where he is currently serving his third term on the board of directors and was a member of Leadership Paducah Class #29. He also is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and past president of the Paducah Police Collective Bargaining Unit.Chief Laird grew up in Metropolis, and is the son of Barry and Lynn Laird of Metropolis. He and his family reside in Paducah and in his free time, enjoys spending time outdoors, and also with his family. Doolittle Chosen for Deputy Judge-Executive Post By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - McCracken County's Judge-Executive has chosen a man familiar with local government to be his second-in-command.Judge-Executive Craig Clymer told West Kentucky Star on Thursday that he wants Steve Doolittle for the job of Deputy County Judge-Executive. Doolittle has previously worked with the city of Paducah in a couple of positions, and was also an administrator for the county at one time. He has also served as Executive Director of the Paducah Riverfront Development Authority.Clymer said he believes everything has been set up, and all that's needed is for the Fiscal Court to approve the hire at its Monday meeting.Current Deputy Judge-Executive Doug Moore, who worked during Bob Leeper's term in office, will continue in the position for the next month or two, and then will retire.Clymer said, "Doug Moore told me weeks ago he wanted to be gone by the end of March, so we'll bring Doolittle in either the first of March or maybe even the first of February, mid-February, somewhere in there. We'll talk that over a little bit."The first Fiscal Court meeting with Clymer and new Commissioners Eddie Jones and Jeff Parker is Monday at 5 pm. Bill Bartleman is the only county commissioner who retained his seat in the 2018 election. Abraham Wants Parade Resolution Rescinded By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - Paducah City Commissioner Richard Abraham wants the city to rescind its resolution that restricts participation in the Veteran's Day Parade.At Monday's City Commission meeting, Abraham moved to throw out the resolution that was passed in May, saying it violated the rights of those who were not allowed to display flags honoring or representing anything other than the United States and all of its veterans. Commissioner Sandra Wilson asked for the item to be placed on the January 22nd meeting agenda, and also asked the staff to get a legal opinion regarding the resolution.Abraham issued a press release on Thursday, saying he investigated the resolution, which was passed during a meeting he couldn't attend, and believes it violates freedom of speech established in the first amendment of the US Constitution. He came to this conclusion upon examination of the language of the resolution and conversations with a city attorney.He said ongoing discussions about the resolution with the Sons of Confederate Veterans at subsequent meetings have been productive, but indicated that some folks in city hall may be enforcing the resolution improperly, based on misinformation or personal bias.Here is Abraham's press release in its entirety: WEST HARTFORD Conards Gavin Sherry and Chloe Scrimgeour took home individual titles at the CCC Division A championships while the Simsbury girls team completed its revenge tour and the Hall boys battled to a team title Wednesday. From left, Kevin Hart, founder and president of Green Check Verified; Mike Kennedy, director of product strategy; and Paul Dunford, director of customer experience, are photographed in their Science Park offices in New Haven. Patrick Mares has been appointed President of Cavotecs Ports and Maritime Division. He will join Cavotec on March 11, 2019. Mr. Mares will report to Cavotec Group CEO, Mikael Norin, and will be a member of the Executive Management Team. Patrick Mares has during his career held Executive Management positions in several international industrial companies. Most recently Mr. Mares served as Vice-President EMEA at Harsco Rail. Prior to this he was Vice-President of Sales & Business Development at GKN Land Systems and President EMEIA at Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies. Patricks strong commercial acumen and track record in growing businesses is a perfect fit with the substantial market opportunities we see in the ports and maritime business, said Mikael Norin. Patrick Mares is a Belgian citizen and holds a masters degree in Engineering from the University of Leuven, Belgium. ENDS For further details please contact: Johan Hahnel Investor Relations Manager Telephone: +46 70 605 63 34 Email: investor@cavotec.com This is information that Cavotec SA is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 09:00 CET on 11 January 2019. Attachment If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Around 20 experts from Member Customs Administrations and the Asian Development Bank gathered in Faridabad, India from 8 to 10 January 2019 for a regional workshop on transit for selected Members of the Asia-Pacific region. The event was organized with the financial support of the Chinese Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF China) and was hosted by the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of India. The workshop agenda covered all sections of the WCO Transit Guidelines launched in July 2017. One of the workshop sessions discussed transit by rail and the WCO initiatives in the area of Customs-Railways cooperation. In each workshop session, the WCO set the scene by presenting the guiding principles for the establishment of efficient and effective transit regimes as outlined in the various sections of the WCO Transit Guidelines and the participants shared and discussed good practices, challenges and measures for further improvement of the various aspects of transit. Highly informative presentations were delivered by the Asian Development Bank and the Customs administrations of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam. The workshop concluded with outlining strategic areas in which the Members of the Asia-Pacific region would focus their efforts in view of enhancing their transit regimes. The transit workshop for selected Members of the WCO Asia-Pacific region was the fifth in a series of regional events organized by the WCO with the objective of promoting the implementation of the WCO Transit Guidelines and the establishment by Members of efficient and effective transit regimes in their territories. No Deal Brexit - Advice on .eu domain In the event of a no deal Brexit, Government have published the following guidance for those who have existing domain name registrations under .eu or have an interest in registering a domain name under .eu. This includes individuals, companies or organisations. What you need to do: Check eligibility: Undertakings, organisations and individuals to read Article 4(2)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 733/2002 and check if they are still eligible to hold a .eu Top Level Domain. If you do not meet the eligibility after our exit from the EU on 29 March 2019: Please read this guidance document In its notice to stakeholders, the European Commission confirmed that in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, the EU regulatory framework for the .eu Top Level Domain will no longer apply to the United Kingdom and therefore to Gibraltar as from the withdrawal date. The notice explains that undertakings and organisations that are established in Gibraltar but not in the EU and individuals who reside in Gibraltar, will no longer be eligible to register .eu domain names or, if they are .eu registrants, to renew .eu domain names registered before the withdrawal date. The full text of the notice is available https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/notice-stakeholders-withdrawal-united-kingdom-and-eu-rules-eu-domain-names In the scenario that we exit the EU without a deal, you should check whether you continue to meet the eligibility criteria set out in Article 4(2)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 733/2002 to hold a .eu Top Level Domain. Existing Gibraltar registrants of .EU If you currently hold a .eu registration and the related purchase agreement expires before 29 March 2019, the date of our exit from the EU, it is suggested that you discuss whether you should consider transferring your registration to another top level domain with your local domain name registrar. If your current .eu registration is due to expire after 29 March 2019, you may wish to discuss transferring your registration to another top level domain. Examples of other top level domains include .gi, .com, .co.uk, .net or .org. The Commissions notice states that where a holder of a domain name no longer fulfils the general eligibility criteria, the Registry for .eu will be entitled to revoke such a domain name on its own initiative. This means that in the event of a no deal Brexit you may not be able to access your .eu website or email. You may wish to seek advice from your local domain name registrar on whether the terms of your contractual agreement provide for any recourse in the event of revocation of a .eu registration. You may also want to seek legal advice. Future Registrations If you are a Gibraltar resident, Gibraltar registered company or organisation planning to acquire an internet domain registration under .eu, you may no longer be eligible to acquire and register a .eu domain. If we exit the EU without a deal, you should check whether you remain eligible after exit on 29 March 2019. Proposal for a new Regulation In April 2018, the European Commission published a proposal for a new .eu Top Level Domain Regulation. This is currently under negotiation in both the European Council and the European Parliament. This guidance will be updated following the conclusion of these negotiations as appropriate. MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY ONE TO REMEMBER: On a beautiful day, May 31, Our Town watched the parade along Washington and attended a meaningful ceremony at city hall that honored our fallen heroes. The gathering was among the largest in memory for this important day in Our Town. First, German French English MCH Group: Florian Faber to succeed Jean-Marc Devaud The Board of Directors of the MCH Group has appointed Florian Faber, Managing Director of Expomobilia in Effretikon, as a member of the Executive Board and as CEO of the Live Marketing Solutions division. He will be taking over, with immediate effect, the duties of Jean-Marc Devaud, who has decided to leave the MCH Group for personal reasons and take up a new professional challenge. An orderly handover is ensured. "With Florian Faber, we are delighted to have an exceedingly competent, in-house successor, who has worked with Jean-Marc Devaud for many years and will continue along the path embarked upon by the Live Marketing Solutions division", says Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, interim CEO of the MCH Group. Dr. Ulrich Vischer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, stresses: "The Board of Directors and the Executive Board very much regret Jean-Marc Devaud's decision. The MCH Group would like to thank Jean-Marc Devaud for his great contribution and wish him every success in his continuing career." Florian Faber has an Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Zurich. He was in charge of participation in European trade fairs at car manufacturer Nissan before switching to MCH's Expomobilia in 2009 as New Business Manager. In 2011, as a member of the management, he was appointed Head of Sales and, in Summer 2014, he became managing director of Expomobilia, which was renamed MCH Live Marketing Solutions AG in November 2018. As managing director of Expomobilia, Florian Faber has played a key role in the successful development and expansion of the Stand, Event and Pavilion Construction business unit over the past few years and was also a decisive player in the strategic realignment of the Live Marketing Solutions division. Born in 1979, he is a German national and lives with his family in Winterberg (ZH). Jean-Marc Devaud joined MCH company Expomobilia in 2008 and on 1 January 2009 was appointed a member of the Executive Board and CEO of the Live Marketing Solutions division. In this function, he has forged ahead intensively with the internationalisation and expansion of the services offered in this business area over the past ten years, and especially with the development of the subsidiaries in Shanghai and Dubai, the acquisition of the American MC2 Group and the development of MCH Global as a full-service agency for experience marketing. Media contact MCH Group Corporate Communications Christian Jecker +41 58 206 22 52 christian.jecker@mch-group.com www.mch-group.com Online Attachment LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nissan today unveiled the Nissan LEAF e+, further broadening the appeal of the worlds best-selling electric car*1 by offering a new powertrain with additional power and range. The e+ refers to the increased energy density of the models 62 kWh battery pack and the higher output of its powertrain. The new powertrain adds to the cars range by approximately 50 percent, with EPA-estimated range of up to 226 miles, ensuring that theres a Nissan LEAF to meet the driving needs of a wider range of customers. The new Nissan LEAF e+ offers all of the style, convenience and electric vehicle benefits that have helped make LEAF the best-selling electric vehicle in the world, plus even more driving excitement, range, power and choice, said Denis Le Vot, senior vice president and chairman, Nissan North America. Customers now have a selection of powertrains and models to best suit their driving needs. The LEAF e+ will be sold under the LEAF PLUS Series in the US and Canada, with each trim level receiving its own designation of S PLUS, SV PLUS and SL PLUS. Globally, the vehicle will be referred to as the Nissan LEAF e+. More than 380,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles have been sold globally since the 100 percent electric model first went on sale in 2010, with over 128,000 sold in the US. Equipped with advanced technologies including ProPILOT Assist semi-autonomous driving system and e-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving, the LEAF embodies Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the companys vision for changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated into society. Nissan Intelligent Mobility is at the core of everything we do and the new Nissan LEAF e+ takes this vision even further, Le Vot continued. EVs will play a significant part in our product lineup as we move forward and will lead the way to providing an efficient and sustainable future for the world. Having pioneered mass-market electric cars with the LEAF, Nissan is continuing to promote alternative vehicle transportation. The LEAF family of cars plays a vital role in Nissans efforts to integrate electric vehicles and energy systems into customers lives creating an EV ecosystem. Among these efforts is Nissan Energy, the companys initiative for its electric vehicles to easily connect with energy systems to charge their batteries, power homes and businesses, or feed energy back to power grids, as well as new efforts to reuse batteries.*2 The Nissan LEAF PLUS Series is scheduled to join the LEAF at Nissan dealerships in Japan in January 2019. U.S. sales are expected to begin in spring 2019 and European sales to commence in mid-2019. Nissan Intelligent Mobility The Nissan LEAF e+ represents a step forward in each of the three key areas of the Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision: Intelligent Power, Intelligent Driving and Intelligent Integration. Nissan Intelligent Power: increased range and performance The Nissan LEAF e+ features a new version of the LEAFs revolutionary electric powertrain, delivering excellent energy efficiency and robust torque and power output. While the current LEAF meets the needs of many customers with its driving range of EPA-estimated 150 miles, the LEAF e+ offers an EPA-estimated range of up to 226 miles, allowing customers the ability to do more between charges.*3 The high-capacity battery and more powerful, 160 kW motor in the LEAF e+ combine to produce 45 percent more power and 250 lb-ft (340 Nm) of torque, enabling faster acceleration when driving at high speeds. Accelerating from 50 mph (80 kph) to 75 mph (120 kph) is nearly 13 percent quicker. This allows the LEAF e+ to confidently pass slower-moving vehicles, exit corners faster and more seamlessly, and merge easily with fast-moving traffic. The top speed has increased by approximately 10 percent for comfortable cruising. Thanks to the available new 70 kW (100 kW peak) Quick Charging system, the 2019 Nissan LEAF e+ can charge more efficiently than ever.*3 Based on early testing, Nissan LEAF e+ owners can expect similar charging times when hooked up to a 100 kW charger as current LEAF owners do with a 50 kW charger, despite a 55 percent larger battery storage capacity. Even with a 25 percent increase in energy density and the increase in energy storage capacity, the LEAF e+ battery pack is almost the same size and configuration as the pack in the Nissan LEAF. Other than a 5-millimeter increase in overall height (16-inch wheels), the cars exterior and interior dimensions are unchanged. Because ownership satisfaction and peace of mind are pivotal for all Nissan LEAF owners, the battery limited warranty of 8 years/160,000 km (whichever occurs first) is standard for all versions. Nissan Intelligent Driving: innovative ProPILOT Assist features and smooth e-Pedal operation Playing a leading role in Nissan Intelligent Driving is ProPILOT Assist, an in-lane semi-autonomous driving technology that can automatically adjust the distance to the vehicle ahead, using a speed preset by the driver (between about 18 mph and 62 mph). ProPILOT Assist can also help the driver steer and keep the vehicle centered in its lane. If the car in front stops, ProPILOT Assist can automatically apply the brakes to bring the vehicle to a full halt if necessary. After coming to a full stop, the vehicle can remain in place even if the driver's foot is off the brake. If traffic restarts, the car will resume driving when the driver touches the steering wheel-mounted ProPILOT Assist switch again or lightly presses the accelerator to activate the system. All these functions can reduce stress when driving on the highway in both heavy and fast-moving traffic. Further enhancing the LEAFs driving experience is e-Pedal, which allows the driver to start, accelerate, decelerate and stop using only the accelerator pedal.*4 To match the LEAF e+s additional power and increased mass, Nissan has reprogrammed the e-Pedal software for smoother operation and enhanced pedal feedback, especially for operation in reverse, and for smoother and more rapid deceleration, making it easier to stop the car using e-Pedal, even when backing up. In addition to ProPILOT Assist and e-Pedal, every LEAF is equipped with advanced safety technologies including Intelligent Lane Intervention, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Intelligent Around View Monitor with moving object detection. Nissan Intelligent Integration: updated interface, larger display and convenient updates The new Nissan LEAF links drivers, vehicles and communities through its convenient graphic-based Human Machine Interface. It allows the owner to use the NissanConnect smartphone app to perform tasks such as monitoring the vehicles state of charge, scheduling charging to benefit from optimal energy tariffs, finding the nearest charging station, and heating or cooling the car before getting in. New for the LEAF e+ (on North American and EU models) is a larger, thin-film transistor, full-color 8-inch display, with an updated navigation system that can be linked to a compatible smartphone. The display features smartphone-like operation including swiping, scrolling and tapping. Applications, maps and firmware are updated over the air with the simple touch of a button, instead of having to manually update by USB or at a Nissan dealership.*5 Other new features include Door-to-Door Navigation, which syncs the vehicles navigation system with your compatible smartphone for seamless driving and walking directions. The Connections feature allows any of the cars passengers to quickly and easily connect to a device within the vehicle.*6 Integration goes beyond whats in the vehicle and now includes Nissan Energy, the companys existing and future initiatives for Vehicle-to-Grid, Vehicle-to-Building and Vehicle-to-Home connections, generating solar electricity, as well as reusing batteries. With Nissan Energy, LEAF vehicles are part of a larger electric vehicle ecosystem.*2 Sleek, modern design One of the most eye-catching exterior elements of the new Nissan LEAF is the cars sleek, streamlined silhouette, which maximizes aerodynamic efficiency. The cars bold fascia features Nissans signature V-Motion grille with blue 3D mesh. The cars streamlined profile gives it a sporty look, while the rear features a distinctive tail light design. The LEAF e+ carries over most of the LEAFs design. Subtle clues to its e+ designation include a revised front fascia with blue highlights and an e+ logo plate on the underside of the charge port lid. There will also be a rear trim level badge for U.S. and Canada which will be designated as S PLUS, SV PLUS and SL PLUS. Like the standard model, the LEAF e+ boasts a spacious, highly functional interior with a quality, high-tech feel. The combination of premium materials throughout the cabin befits a luxury vehicle. Vibrant blue contrast stitching for the steering wheel, seats and instrument panel accentuate the car as a Nissan electric vehicle. Pricing North America pricing will be announced closer to on-sale date. About Nissan North America In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized annually by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year since 2010. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and INFINITI vehicles can be found online at www.nissanusa.com and www.infinitiusa.com , or visit the U.S. media sites nissannews.com and infinitinews.com . About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2017, the company sold 5.77 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.9 trillion yen. On April 1, 2017, the company embarked on Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, a six-year plan targeting a 30 percent increase in annualized revenues to 16.5 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2022, along with cumulative free cash flow of 2.5 trillion yen. As part of Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, the company plans to extend its leadership in electric vehicles, symbolized by the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissans global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, the Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and acquired a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2016. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is today the worlds largest automotive partnership, with combined sales of more than 10.6 million vehicles in calendar year 2017. For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissan-global.com . You can also follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube . *1 Based on cumulative sales data from December 2010 to December 2018. *2 Availability of features and components vary by geographic region. *3 Targeted range estimates for LEAF S PLUS only; subject to appropriate regulator confirmation. Actual range will vary with trim levels, options and driving conditions; see Customer Disclosure Form for details. Charging capacity may vary based on battery temperature. *4 Those who prefer conventional driving can still make full use of both the accelerator and brake pedals. *5 The new navigation system for the European market can also have its software and maps updated via Inter vehicle communication (IVC) systems. *6 These new features are available on North America and EU models only. Media contact Jeff Wandell EV and Car Communications Manager (629) 395-7593 jeff.wandell@Nissan-usa.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6c9f846e-3680-46bc-b945-528dea02e91b ANDREW DOUGHERTY is a News Editor for The Vidette. Contact him at vidette_addough@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @addough IF YOU SUPPORT THE VIDETTE MISSION of providing a training laboratory for Illinois State University student journalists to learn and sharpen viable, valuable and marketable skills in all phases of print and digital media, please consider contributing to this most important cause. Thank you. >> Make sure that the project youre working on is in parallel with the priorities of the organization and your manager. If youre working on a project that is very low in priority, your efforts may not only go unnoticed but may be detrimental to your credibility. You never want to be viewed as extraneous to the primary goal of the organization. This question of priority can best be answered by checking with your manager. Get your projects aligned. Federal employees are like all other people. Probably, most have families, many are single parents and all have bills to pay. The total disregard for federal workers as human beings is unforgivable; and for some unseen reason people think the president is for the working class. He has just proved he is only for that part of the working class who will believe whatever he chooses to say and gives him the adoration he requires. Apparently, he excludes his followers who are federal employees. They and the others, and that might mean you, do not exist if you find yourself standing in the president's way. On June 11 and July 10, 2017, Schwarz crashed his car into his garage. The first crash was severe, records indicate: Schwarz drove his late-model Chrysler 300 sedan through a brick partition that divided the two-car garage. When the fire department arrived after neighbors called 911, firefighters discovered Schwarzs vehicle at rest on top of the partition in the middle of the two car garage. The Fairfax County Fire Department report indicates there was significant structural damage to the building. Neighbors photographed the incident. "I am proud to serve our community in this leadership role and to continue the work we do as a School Board to support rigorous and engaging learning opportunities for students," Ownby said. "The school divisions strategic plan, Elevate Beyond Excellence, identifies our goals and specific strategies to build upon the incredible teaching and learning happening in W-JCC Schools. I am eager to serve as Board chair during this exciting time and I appreciate the trust placed in me by my School Board colleagues." JAMES CITY COUNTY A Williamsburg police officer charged after an alleged domestic incident where he shot his AR-15 rifle once inside a residence and barricaded himself inside the home has had his case in Williamsburg-James City County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court delayed until February. We agree to disagree on somethings here, Sadler said of the board. If I did not feel that I had equal rights I would never have been able to run for office and win. If I did not feel that I had the right to do that, I probably never would have taken on the task to begin with. In light of Congresss power and significant control over the amendment process, I cannot conclude it lacks the power to extend the period in which an amendment can be ratified, said Attorney General Mark Herring in a formal opinion hearing in May 2018.The lapse of the ERAs original and extended ratification periods has not disempowered the General Assembly from passing a ratifying resolution. In addition to his new role as the head of the foundations board, Moore also serves as president and a trustee of the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, chairman of NextUp RVA, an executive committee member and past chairman of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, and a trustee emeritus of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business Foundation. According to the release, he is also a past trustee and president of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and past chairman of the board of governors of St. Christophers School in Richmond. Another higher education issue is a bill proposed by Del. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, that would prohibit public colleges and universities from asking student applicants about their criminal history. Under HB 2471, schools could not deny admission to any applicant on the basis of any criminal history information. Revenue increased by 16.3% (14.2% in constant currency (1) ), to reach $643.3 million; Adjusted EBITDA (1) increased by 15.7% (13.8% in constant currency), to reach $285.5 million; Free cash flow (1) increased by 11.2% (10.5% in constant currency), to reach $113.9 million; and A quarterly eligible dividend of $0.525 per share was declared, compared to $0.475 per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. MONTREAL, Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Cogeco Communications Inc. (TSX: CCA) (Cogeco Communications or the Corporation) announced its financial results for the first quarter ended November 30, 2018, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). For the first quarter of fiscal 2019: Revenue increased by 16.3% to reach $643.3 million mainly driven by growth of 61.5% in the American broadband services segment, partly offset by decreases of 1.4% in the Canadian broadband services segment and 3.2% in the Business information and communications technology ("Business ICT") services segment. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 14.2%, mainly explained as follows: American broadband services revenue increased by 55.0% in constant currency mainly as a result of the acquisition of the MetroCast cable systems ("the MetroCast acquisition") on January 4, 2018. The increase was also attributable to rate increases implemented in August 2018, the continued growth in Internet and telephony services customers, partly offset by a decrease in video service customers; Canadian broadband services revenue decreased by 1.4% in constant currency mainly as a result of a decline in primary service units. This is directly related to lower service activations that resulted from the migration to a new advanced customer management system. This issue is of a temporary nature and will allow Cogeco Connexion to provide improved customer service and greater interaction capabilities in the future. Marketing activities were reduced during the stabilization phase due to contact center congestion, and both have returned to normal at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Moreover, revenue has also been impacted by the timing of rate increases implemented in November 2018 in both Ontario and Quebec compared to September 2017 and November 2017, respectively, for the same period of the prior year. The decrease was partly offset by lower promotional pricing provided to customers; Business ICT services revenue decreased by 5.0% in constant currency primarily due to higher churn and competitive pricing pressures on the hosting and network connectivity services; Adjusted EBITDA increased by 15.7% to reach $285.5 million. On a constant currency basis, adjusted EBITDA increased by 13.8%, mainly as a result of the following: American broadband services adjusted EBITDA increased by 81.6% in constant currency mainly as a result of the MetroCast acquisition; partly offset by Canadian broadband services adjusted EBITDA decreased by 5.7% in constant currency mainly as a result of a decline in revenue and $3.2 million in additional retroactive costs related to higher rates than expected established by the Copyright Board of Canada for the retransmission of distant Canadian and American television signals in Canada from 2014 to 2018, combined with $4.5 million additional costs to support the stabilization phase of the new advanced customer management system; and Business ICT services adjusted EBITDA decreased by 12.3% in constant currency as a result of a decline in revenue. Profit for the period amounted to $75.2 million, of which $70.2 million, or $1.42 per share, was attributable to owners of the Corporation compared to $76.4 million, or $1.55 per share, in the comparable period of fiscal 2018 resulting mainly from the increases in depreciation and amortization, financial expense and integration, restructuring and acquisition costs, partly offset by the improvement of adjusted EBITDA and the decrease in income taxes; Free cash flow increased by 11.2% to reach $113.9 million. On a constant currency basis, free cash flow increased by 10.5% as a result of the improvement in adjusted EBITDA and a decrease in current income taxes expense, partly offset by the increases in financial expense, acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and integration, restructuring and acquisition costs; Cash flow from operating activities reached $107.7 million compared to $5.4 million for the same period of the prior year mainly due to the improvement in adjusted EBITDA and the decrease in income taxes paid, partly offset by the increase in financial expense paid; At its January 10, 2019 meeting, the Board of Directors of Cogeco Communications declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.525 compared to $0.475 per share in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2018; On December 6, 2018, Cogeco Communications confirmed that it has elected to not participate in the auction process for licenses in the 600 MHz spectrum band that will take place in 2019. The structure of the auction based on large geographic areas makes the acquisition of such spectrum uneconomical. This decision is consistent with the Corporation's continued commitment to pursue opportunities to enter the wireless market in a disciplined and thoughtful manner. Following the acquisition of spectrum licenses in fiscal 2018, Cogeco Communications is committed to continue exploring various business models in order to launch a profitable wireless service; On December 4, 2018, the Corporation extended its $800 million Term Revolving Facility maturity date by an additional year until January 24, 2024; and On October 3, 2018, the Corporation's subsidiary, Atlantic Broadband, completed the acquisition of the south Florida fibre network previously owned by FiberLight, LLC which provides high-performance metro and long-haul fibre transport services. The closing of this deal marks the addition of 350 route miles to Atlantic Broadbands existing south Florida footprint. (1) The indicated terms do not have standardized definitions prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For more details, please consult the Non-IFRS financial measures section of the MD&A. Overall results for the first quarter are in line with our 2019 financial guidance, declared Philippe Jette, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogeco Communications Inc. At Cogeco Connexion, the stabilization phase related to the implementation of a new advanced customer management system extended into the first quarter as anticipated. I am confident that as of today these issues are mostly behind us and that operations in our Canadian broadband services segment are now running as expected. In our American broadband services segment, we are pleased to report continued solid organic growth, stated Mr. Jette. The acquisition of FiberLights south Florida fibre network has more than doubled Atlantic Broadbands fibre footprint in the region, further expanding our presence in this strategic growth market. Results in our Business ICT services segment reflect the continued increase in competition and pricing pressures in this market, concluded Mr. Jette. Cogeco Peer 1 continues to focus on priorities such as driving efficiencies, offering a relevant suite of solutions and providing expert service to our customers. ABOUT COGECO COMMUNICATIONS Cogeco Communications Inc. is a communications corporation. It is the 8th largest cable operator in North America, operating in Canada under the Cogeco Connexion name in Quebec and Ontario, and along the East Coast of the United States under the Atlantic Broadband brand (in 11 states from Maine to Florida). Cogeco Communications Inc. provides residential and business customers with Internet, video and telephony services through its two-way broadband fibre networks. Through its subsidiary Cogeco Peer 1, Cogeco Communications Inc. provides business customers with a suite of information technology services (colocation, network connectivity, hosting, cloud and managed services), by way of 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 Communications Inc. Patrice Ouimet Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Tel.: 514-764-4700 Information: Media Marie-Helene Labrie Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications Tel.: 514-764-4700 Analyst Conference Call: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) Media representatives may attend as listeners only. Please use the following dial-in number to have access to the conference call by dialing five minutes before the start of the conference: Canada/United States Access Number: 1-877-291-4570 International Access Number: + 1-647-788-4919 In order to join this conference, participants are only required to provide the operator with the company name, that is, Cogeco Inc. or Cogeco Communications Inc. By Internet at http://corpo.cogeco.com/cca/en/investors/investor-relations SHAREHOLDERS REPORT Three-month period ended November 30, 2018 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Three months ended November 30, 2018 November 30, 2017 (1) Change Change in constant currency (2) Foreign exchange impact (2) (in thousands of dollars, except percentages and per share data) $ $ % % $ Operations Revenue 643,331 553,276 16.3 14.2 11,555 Adjusted EBITDA(3) 285,543 246,767 15.7 13.8 4,792 Adjusted EBITDA margin(3) 44.4 % 44.6 % Integration, restructuring and acquisition costs(4) 5,713 392 Profit for the period 75,184 76,386 (1.6 ) Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Corporation 70,170 76,386 (8.1 ) Cash flow Cash flow from operating activities 107,656 5,404 Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment(5) 112,465 95,295 18.0 15.2 2,649 Free cash flow(3) 113,891 102,448 11.2 10.5 727 Capital intensity 17.5 % 17.2 % Financial condition(6) Cash and cash equivalents 70,893 84,725 (16.3 ) Total assets 7,288,866 7,180,043 1.5 Indebtedness(7) 4,035,674 3,914,711 3.1 Equity attributable to owners of the Corporation 2,053,285 1,997,169 2.8 Per Share Data(8) Earnings per share Basic 1.42 1.55 (8.4 ) Diluted 1.41 1.53 (7.8 ) Dividends 0.525 0.475 10.5 Extending the timeline further, national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday that the pullout was conditional on the defeat of the last remnants of the Islamic State and guarantees from Turkey that it would not attack Kurdish forces aligned with the United States. Register for a FREE account to keep reading! Register now for a FREE account to keep reading. No cost and no credit card required! Access up to 5 articles per month when you register, or get unlimited access to all of our content online starting at $1.99 now! Already registered? Click the log in link below Mongolian parliament speaker again refuses to resign Ulan Bator, Jan10 (Xinhua) Mongolian parliament speaker Miyegombo Enkhbold again rejected calls for him to resign on Thursday. Some lawmakers have called for Enkhbold to resign. On Thursday, tens of thousands of Mongolians gathered in the central square of the capital Ulan Bator to protest his alleged conflicts of interest. Organizers said an estimated 50,000 people turned out for the protest. However, Enkhbold said he will not resign and insisted that he has done nothing wrong. There is an even wider chasm between on-the-ground realities and global policies, where the fate of women and children is concerned. Programming must help them earn livelihoods, which can prevent them from being pressured into joining or rejoining extremist groups. Oslo, Norway, Jan 11 The number of deaths due to terrorism continues to fall, decreasing by 27 percent from 2016 to 2017, however, disengagement, rehabilitation, and reintegration of men, women, boys and girls associated with violent extremist groups remains a huge challenge. There is an urgent need for coherent national and international policies pertaining to the treatment of those returning from transnational violent extremist and terrorist groups. The absence of coherent, gender-sensitive policies may carry mortal implications, such as in Iraq, where the widows of former Daesh fighters may face the death penalty regardless of their role in the movements. These are the findings of the joint United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) report - Invisible Women: Gendered Dimensions of Return, Reintegration, and Rehabilitation, launched in Oslo, Norway today. The report underscores the need for consistent policies or laws pertaining to the treatment of returnees associated with terrorist and violent extremist groupsespecially in the case of women and children, which most countries lack. There is an even wider chasm between on-the-ground realities and global policies, where the fate of women and children is concerned. The ratio of women to men returning to their countries of origin varies significantly by countryand in many cases women are not returning because they are unable to attain citizenship status and custody of children born during their time in Syria, Iraq, or elsewhere. The returning women and children have distinct psychosocial, economic and health needs. Many of the women are widows and must fight stigma even as they become breadwinners for the first time. Programming must help them earn livelihoods, which can prevent them from being pressured into joining or rejoining extremist groups. For years, women and children have been nearly absent from the literature on forging terrorist fighters, and much of the information gathering and scholarship has lacked a gendered analysis. Many violent extremist groups have co-opted the message of womens empowerment and even provide better socio-economic conditions. They tap into ideology and identity to provide a sense of purpose, meaning and belonging that vulnerable women and girls are missing in their lives. Governments must address the misogyny, injustice and deficit in dignity that women experience in their own societies. Otherwise there is a continued risk of women being drawn to the messages of violent extremist groups. Local organisations are often the ones, first alerted to these issues and are at the front lines of responding to the complex challenges faced by women and girl returnees. They have pioneered effective, holistic response programmes that tackle psychosocial, economic, and ideological needsbut remain excluded from national and local programming and vulnerable to security risks. Women in communities are pioneering the most effective work on preventing violent extremism. We should be heeding their advice and supporting them, stated Sarah Lister, UNDPs Director for Oslo Governance Centre. Speakers at the launch event reinforced that the invisibility of women breeds impunity against them, and that independent civil society is an essential pillar of prevention. Related link: Invisible women; when home is not a sanctuary For media queries: Sangita Khadka, Communications Specialist, UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, New York, email: sangita.khadka@undp.org Tel: +1 212 906 5043 Trygve Olfarnes, Deputy Director/Head of Communication and Advocacy, Copenhagen, email: trygve.olfarnes@undp.org, Tel: +4794156028 Deaths from terror attacks and violent extremism were down by nearly one-third in 2017. But for women and children with links to extremist groups, the nightmare of living under ISIS or Boko Haram is far from overwith governments overwhelmed and unequipped to reintegrate and rehabilitate them. At the local level, it is women-led community organizations that are picking up the pieces. The scale of the problem In Syria, Kurdish authorities are reportedly holding some 2,000 foreign women and children believed to have been associated with ISIS. In Nigeria, thousands of women and girls associated with Boko Haramabducted, or conscripted, recruited, bullied, or bribedare now housed in military camps, vulnerable to abuse and stigmatized by their communities. From Lebanon and Tunisia to Kenya, Indonesia, and beyond, men and women linked to violent extremist groups seek to cross international borders and return home, often accompanied by children. A new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) report, Invisible Women: Gendered Dimensions of Return, Reintegration, and Rehabilitation, aims to document challenges related to reintegrating women and girls associated with violent extremist movements and establish a preliminary evidence base of best practices for addressing them. In every context, the study finds, gender dynamics play a critical role. Returning women and girls who are victims of sexual violence face additional stigma and have distinct psychosocial and health needs. They suffer economic consequences, too: widows of men who joined ISIL in Iraq or Syria must now earn incomes while caring for their children alone. In Iraq, foreign widows of former fighters may face the death penalty regardless of their role in the movements. The status of many children and orphans remains unknown. In Nigeria and elsewhere, if women return to their communities and face the lack of opportunity alongside the stigma of being affiliated with violent extremists, the risk of re-radicalization and re-recruitment increases. Feared and distrusted Fear, anger, and mistrust from communities toward returning women and children runs deep in every setting, often with deadly consequences. Government meanwhile must protect and ensure justice for their citizens, while ensuring due process, dignity, and adherence to human rights laws for these returnees. In many cases mothers, wives, and sisters may be in contact with their male relatives still involved in extremist groupsmuddying the notion of what it means to be associated or affiliated with extremists, and complicating the task of reintegration processes owned by and beneficial to the wider community. Trusted local womens organizations have been leading efforts to identify and address the dire situation of women and children returning or left behind, offering including trauma counseling, livelihoods training, and safe access to local police and authorities. They also tackle the ideologies that fostered extremism, offering alternative narratives that reject violence and intolerance. Yet these organizations remain largely excluded from national plans to prevent and counter violent extremism. Among the reports key findings: Most countries lack consistent policies or laws pertaining to the treatment of returnees associated with terrorist and violent extremist groupsespecially in the case of women and children. The ratio of women to men returning to their countries of origin varies significantly by countryand in many cases women are not returning because they are unable to attain citizenship status and custody of children born during their time in Syria, Iraq, or elsewhere. Women and girls who do return face tremendous anger, fear, and stigma from communities. This isolates them and inhibits their ability to reintegrate. It also heightens their vulnerability to re-recruitment into extremist groups, which co-opt them with offers of support and belonging. Current policies and programming tend to either ignore these women and girls or frame them as victims or perpetrators of violence, whereas in most instances their links to extremist groups and relatives is complex. Despite their misogyny, many violent extremist groups have co-opted the message of womens empowerment and even provide better socio-economic conditions. They tap into ideology and identity to provide a sense of purpose, meaning and belonging that vulnerable women and girls are missing in their lives. Governments must also address the misogyny, injustice and deficit in dignity that women experience in their own societies. Otherwise there is a continued risk of women being drawn to the messages of violent extremist groups. Many of the women are widows and must fight stigma even as they become breadwinners for the first time. Programming must help them earn livelihoods, which can prevent them from being pressured into joining or rejoining extremist groups. Local organizations are often the ones first alerted to these issues and are at the front lines of responding to the complex challenges faced by women and girl returnees. They have pioneered effective, holistic response programmes that tackle psychosocial, economic, and ideological needsbut remain excluded from national and local programming and vulnerable to security risks. Nika Saeedi has over 19 years of experience in policy development, programme design and management, and partnership building on women, peace and security. She plays a key role in the implementation of UNDPs Global Programme for the Prevention of Violent Extremism, which supports governments to implement development approaches that address the structural and root causes of violent extremism. Sanam Naraghi Anderlini is the Founder and Executive Director of ICAN, spearheading the Womens Alliance for Security Leadership with member organizations active in preventing violent extremism by promoting peace, rights and pluralism in over 30 countries. FLASHBACK FRIDAY GALLERY: Chicago STA 74th Annual Mid-Winter Meeting Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town Chicago, Chicago, I will show you around I love it Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues In Chicago, Chicago Chicago, its Wall Streets kind of town. And no New Year would be off to n official start without traders and ivestors heading to the Windy City to kick off business. This years STAC meeting takes place next week from January 14th through the 16th. In the spirit of STAC, this weeks FLASHBACK FRIDAY looks back to this week 19 years ago to the 74th annual Chicago STA mid-winter meeting which took place at Nicks Fish Market on January 13th and 14th. Come take a walk down the Magnificent Mile and enjoy the images Traders Magazine collected. Please click here for the images For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: More than 120 ministers and representatives from 160 countries, and heads of state and governments have arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for the ninth Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), which commences today and runs till January 13, said a report. The three-day event will see participants engage in high-level discussions to accelerate renewable energy deployment in support of the sustainable development goals and global climate objectives, said a report in WAM. The assembly is taking place against a backdrop of falling cost of renewable energy, a growing recognition of its socio-economic benefits and calls for greater action to avoid the worst effects of climate change, it said. According to Irena analysis, renewable energy deployment must accelerate by a factor of six to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. This year, the assembly will be presided over by Li Fanrong, vice president of Chinas National Energy Administration. The assembly will feature several key discussions on critical issues related to the advancement of renewable energy. Also, a number of the assembly's plenary discussions will provide opportunities for contributions from Irena Member delegations, stakeholder groups and the private sector. Plenaries will focus on aspects of the Agencys work and actions by countries in the development and deployment of renewables, including topics such as the socio-economic benefits of energy transition and the changing role of hydropower in the energy sector transformation. The Assembly will also consider the conclusions of the 16th Irena Council and will provide guidance on specific administrative and institutional matters, the report said. CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: CIU.PR.A, CIU.PR.C) The Board of Directors of CU Inc. has declared the following Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share dividends: Shares TSX Stock Symbol Dividend Per Share ($) Record Date (2019) Payment Date (2019) Series 1 4.60% CIU.PR.A 0.2875 07-Feb 01-Mar Series 4 2.243% CIU.PR.C 0.1401875 07-Feb 01-Mar These dividends are eligible dividends within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). CU Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian Utilities Limited, an ATCO Company. CU Inc. is an Alberta-based corporation with approximately 4,100 employees and assets of $16 billion; comprised of rate regulated utility operations in pipelines, natural gas and electricity transmission and distribution. More information about CU Inc. can be found on the Canadian Utilities Limited website at www.canadianutilities.com . Media & Investor Inquiries: D. A. (Dennis) DeChamplain Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 403-292-7502 Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as anticipate, plan, estimate, expect, may, will, intend, should, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Companys expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. 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, except as required by applicable securities legislation. PDF available: http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/5a299173-1bd9-4137-ae8f-926714e6ba14 The Titusville office of Congressman Glenn Thompson has closed. Due to redistricting done by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Thompson no longer represented Titusville and had to close the location. By the numbers: How did RCS earn its 2017-18 Reward School status? MANZINI - After cleansing and treating her for chest pains, a popular traditional healer is alleged to have unlawfully engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor (16) inside his consultation room (indumba). After investigations, the traditional healer, Sibusiso Nhlonipho Tsabedze (42) of Ngculwini, was arrested and police investigations revealed that he had indeed sexually assaulted the scholar while performing healing rituals. In her statement,*Zethu revealed that she started experiencing severe chest pains in May 2018 and that her parents took her to different hospitals and pastors so they could pray for her, however she could not get any assistance. Instead, my condition worsened to a point where I would skip classes, especially during the month of September. My mother returned home and informed me that she had reported my condition to Babe Tsabedze, a popular local traditional healer in the area, and I had to go and consult with him. Consultation Indeed I went to his place with two of my siblings, and upon arrival, we entered his consultation room (indumba). However, he ordered us to go out so he could speak to us one by one, she alleged. The minor submitted that she was the last to enter the room and that she was told that someone had bewitched her. She added that Tsabedze requested for her cellphone number and informed her that she needed to be cleansed through the use of milk and Coke. Zethu also mentioned that since she did not have a cellphone, she gave the accused person her mothers numbers. He then gave me concoctions and ordered me to smoke them. He further instructed me to undress myself and ordered that I stand in front of him, naked. I did just that and he placed a stick with a black substance on my breasts and below my stomach. He then asked me to leave the room and return with the milk and Coke so I could steam (kufutsa). After one week, I returned to his consultation room as he had ordered, and upon arrival he ordered me to go and throw up and ordered my sister out as well, Zethu revealed. The complainant further revealed that while inside the room, the accused told her that he was in love with her and wanted to marry her, however, she refused to entertain him and informed him that she was still concentrating on her education. He then came closer and ordered me to kiss him. He again ordered me to undress, I was scared as I had been informed that he dealt with people who rejected his love proposals. He then had unlawful sexual intercourse with me and gave me E250 and ordered me to go and buy underwear. I went to buy the underwear and returned to him as he had said he wanted to perform rituals on them inside his indumba. He later instructed me to wear them and told me to tell my parents that he had a dream of me becoming a sangoma, Zethu said. Promise She also mentioned that besides having sexual intercourse with the accused person several times, he had allegedly ordered her to make a promise that she would love him forever by taking a white piece of cloth and making a cross and line, further saying some words usually used by people who are in love. According to the girl, the words she was allegedly ordered to say were; Siyohlukaniswa kufa tsine sobabili, nyalo sowungumfati waka Tsabedze, utopheka uze uphekele netimphaka talakhaya kanye nebantfwabakho, which means, We will be together till death do us part, now you are a wife in the Tsabedze household, you will cook for everyone including your children. He said I should repeat these words. I then made a cross on the piece of white clothing and spent the night at Tsabedzes place. When I got home in the morning, my father severely assaulted me and asked me where I had spent the night. I escaped to Tsabedzes home, reported the assault and he told my parents that he loved me, Zethu alleged. Intervention Information gathered is that the girl ended up staying at the accused persons home, despite her parents intervention and this made them decide to report the matter to the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) and the police. The complainant was eventually rescued by the police and her parents who took her to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital where she was examined and treated. Meanwhile, the accused person was arrested and charged with contravening the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act. His charge sheet states that between the months of October and November 2018 at Ngculwini-Logwazela, he had unlawful sexual intercourse with Zethu (16), who in law is incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse. The accused person yesterday made a court appearance before Magistrate Nelisiwe Hlophe and informed the court that he would seek the services of an attorney. The prosecutor informed the court that the attorney had liaised with her and said he would only be available during the suspects next court appearance. The accused person was remanded in custody until January 16, 2019 pending the setting of his trial date. MATSAPHA You see, I am still the mayor. These are the direct words of ousted Matsapha Mayor Sandlane Zwane as he occupied the seat reserved for the mayor during yesterdays meeting. Zwane further chaired the meeting, which was where a motion to suspend Councillors Mfanufikile Dlamini and Bongani Mamba was supposed to be moved by Councillor Bongani Mkhatshwa. However, the motion was not moved as the councillors did not form a quorum. In fact, there were only three councillors in the chambers; Zwane together with Councillors Bongani Mkhatshwa and Mavela Shongwe. The rest of the council members; Councillors Bongani Mamba, Mfanufikile Dlamini, Musa Ndzimandze and Deputy Mayor Siphesihle Sibandze, together with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lucky Sukati, did not show up for the meeting. It is worth noting that the members of council who were conspicuous by their absence were those who were part of the meeting which was held at Matsapha Police Station at around midnight on Tuesday and passed a vote of no confidence against Zwane. The meeting was scheduled for 2:30pm yesterday but upon seeing that they were not forming a quorum, the mayor and the two councillors waited for 30 minutes as per the Standing Orders. At 3pm, they called upon the councils Corporate Services Manager, Princess Kholwaphi, to stand in for the CEO so that the meeting could be official. The corporate services manager was also asked to assist in taking minutes of the meeting. indisposed According to the mayor, it was only the CEO who called his secretary to inform the meeting that he was indisposed. Otherwise, the rest did not make apologies, as according to the Council Standing Orders, a councillor should make an apology at least 24 hours before the meeting, the mayor said. Furthermore, the chairman said they were expecting the CEO to be available as councillors because they wanted him to furnish them with the minutes of the meeting which took place on Tuesday afternoon in the council chambers. I cannot talk about the meeting which took place outside the chambers later on the day because I do not have control over it, Zwane said. The mayor asked to adjourn the meeting, but Councillor Mkhatshwa asked to be given a chance to voice a concern. disappointed The councillor said he was disappointed with the CEO and the other councillors conduct and argued that when they came to meetings, they spent money. On the other hand, Councillor Shongwe wondered why the CEO failed to tell his secretary to give them the minutes when he reported about his absence. On that note, the chairman added that the town clerk should have also delegated someone to act in his position for the sake of progress. According to the chairmans analysis, the absent members of council were showing no respect for ratepayers who elected them to represent their interests. He said this was because the ratepayers, including the Chairman of their association, Steven Motsa, were in the chambers but the councillors were not there. SITEKI Try another school! Thats reportedly the message which many schools have issued to pupils who failed Form III in the 2018 academic year. The Junior Certificate (JC) results released on Monday reflected that a total of 3 512 pupils failed. As such, these pupils are required to repeat the class or re-sit the failed subjects in order for them to proceed to the next level. However, their future currently looks bleak as they have reportedly been rejected by many schools. In Lubombo, some of the worse performing schools have advised pupils who did not make it to find alternative schools as there are no places for Form III failures. Where should the pupils go? Nobody will accept them with poor grades, said a parent at one of the worse performing schools in the region. However, the head teacher of the school was not immediately available for comment hence it could not be confirmed if indeed the administration had taken a decision to reject all Form III failures. Meanwhile, some other head teachers in schools around Lubombo said they were yet to decide on what to do with the Form III failures. We are still going to meet with the teachers to decide on what to do with the pupils who did not make it, said Langa High School Head teacher, Celani Mahlalela. He added that in the past, Form III failures bebatibonela (would decide where to go). failures However, he hinted that this year, the school could allow back all the Form III failures since the numbers were high. A summary of the JC results reflects that a total of 27 pupils failed at Langa High. At Siteki Nazarene, the school administration is yet to decide on whether the 11 pupils who did not make it would be allowed back to class. Head teacher Phindile Makhanya said they would decide on what to do with the Form III failures when schools open in two weeks time. She said currently, the school administration was busy with admissions of new pupils. remarking Phumzile Nkumane, the Head teacher at Mpundle High School, said she was hopeful that the two pupils who did not make it would get improved grades after remarking. Two years ago, pupils who failed Form III at Mphundle High were demoted to Form II and the school administration explained at the time that this was due to the fact that there were limited spaces in Form III. Meanwhile, Lasi (Ngcina) High School administration has agreed to allow the 12 pupils who did not make it to return to class. However, they would be allowed on condition that they take all the subjects. We dont want them to take only the subjects which they failed since this would result in them not attending some classes, said Head teacher Victus Hlophe. Tikhuba High School Head teacher Dumisani Dlamini said he would allow the three pupils who failed Form III to return to enrol again so they could repeat the class. When sought for comment, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training Dr Sibongile Mtshali could not say whether head teachers were in violation of education regulations by rejecting Form III failures. MANZINI A Mafutseni Indvuna Yenkhundla 2018 elections contender and his campaign manager (galajane) have been arrested for the theft of copper cables belonging to EEC and EPTC. The Mafutseni police arrested the two suspects, Sibusiso Ngcamphalala (30) and his former campaign manager, Mthokozisi Thabiso Mamba (28), both of Timbutini. Information gathered from statements submitted in court is that the copper cables, valued at E23 000, were stolen from Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation EPTC) and Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) poles. The police said they strongly suspected that a former employee of EEC was also part of the syndicate, as the copper was stolen from the top of the electricity poles, something which was risky and could even lead to death. Someone is most definitely doing the job for them, climbing up the poles to eventually steal the copper and we suspect that the person doing all the work once worked for the company, and knows all the tactics of removing such, a well-placed source said. The accused persons allegedly stole the copper cables, measuring about160 metres, in two places, Vulamehlo and Thulwane. It was found in their respective places shortly before they were arrested by the police. During their court appearance, the accused persons who appeared before Magistrate Nelisiwe Hlophe, requested for bail and added that they had families and children who solely depended on them. Remand They were each admitted to E10 000 bail by the court and ordered not to evade remand hearings or trial. They were further ordered not to interfere with Crown witnesses or commit a similar offence while out on bail. Revenue increased by 15.1% (13.1% in constant currency (1) ), to reach $674.0 million; Adjusted EBITDA (1) increased by 15.0% (13.1% in constant currency), to reach $293.9 million; Free cash flow (1) increased by 9.3% (8.6% in constant currency), to reach $119.3 million; and A quarterly eligible dividend of $0.43 per share was declared, compared to $0.39 per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. MONTREAL, Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Cogeco Inc. (TSX: CGO) (Cogeco or the Corporation) announced its financial results for the first quarter ended November 30, 2018, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). For the first quarter of fiscal 2019: Revenue increased by 15.1% (13.1% in constant currency) to reach $674.0 million driven by growth of 16.3% (14.2% in constant currency) in the Communications segment, partly offset by a decrease of 5.4% in the Other segment. Revenue increased in the Communications segment mostly as a result of the acquisition of the MetroCast cable systems ("the MetroCast acquisition") on January 4, 2018, partly offset by a decrease of 5.4% in the Other segment resulting mainly from a soft advertising market and increased competition in the media activities; Adjusted EBITDA increased by 15.0% (13.1% in constant currency) to reach $293.9 million mostly attributable to the improvement in the Communications segment as a result of the MetroCast acquisition; Profit for the period amounted to $79.1 million of which $26.2 million, or $1.61 per share, was attributable to owners of the Corporation compared to $81.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 of which $29.5 million, or $1.80 per share, was attributable to owners of the Corporation resulting mainly from the increases in depreciation and amortization, financial expense and integration, restructuring and acquisition costs, partly offset by the improvement of adjusted EBITDA and the decrease in income taxes; Free cash flow increased by 9.3% (8.6% in constant currency) to reach $119.3 million as a result of the improvement in adjusted EBITDA and a decrease in current income taxes expense, partly offset by the increases in financial expense, acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and integration, restructuring and acquisition costs; Cash flow from operating activities reached $111.8 million compared to $1.5 million for the same period of the prior year mainly due to the improvement in adjusted EBITDA and the decrease in income taxes paid, partly offset by the increase in financial expense paid; At its January 10, 2019 meeting, the Board of Directors of Cogeco declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.43 compared to $0.39 per share in the comparable period of fiscal 2018; On December 6, 2018, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Communications, confirmed that it has elected to not participate in the auction process for licenses in the 600 MHz spectrum band that will take place in 2019. The structure of the auction based on large geographic areas makes the acquisition of such spectrum uneconomical. This decision is consistent with Cogeco Communications' continued commitment to pursue opportunities to enter the wireless market in a disciplined and thoughtful manner. Following the acquisition of spectrum licenses in fiscal 2018, Cogeco Communications is committed to continue exploring various business models in order to launch a profitable wireless service; On December 4, 2018, Cogeco Communications extended its $800 million Term Revolving Facility maturity date by an additional year until January 24, 2024; On December 3, 2018, the Corporation amended its $50 million Term Revolving Facility resulting in an increase in the availability to $100 million, and an extension of the maturity date by an additional year until February 1, 2024; On November 26, 2018, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Media, completed the acquisition of 10 regional radio stations from RNC Media inc. and has expanded its network of radio stations to 22 across the province of Quebec and 1 in Ontario. The transaction, valued at $19.2 million, is subject to closing adjustments and was approved on October 11, 2018 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ("CRTC"); and On October 3, 2018, Cogeco Communications' subsidiary, Atlantic Broadband, completed the acquisition of the south Florida fibre network previously owned by FiberLight, LLC which provides high-performance metro and long-haul fibre transport services. The closing of this deal marks the addition of 350 route miles to Atlantic Broadbands existing south Florida footprint. (1) The indicated terms do not have standardized definitions prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For more details, please consult the Non-IFRS financial measures section of the MD&A. Overall results for the first quarter are in line with our 2019 financial guidance, declared Philippe Jette, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogeco Inc. At Cogeco Connexion, the stabilization phase related to the implementation of a new advanced customer management system extended into the first quarter as anticipated. I am confident that as of today these issues are mostly behind us and that operations in our Canadian broadband services operations are now running as expected. In our American broadband services operations, we are pleased to report continued solid organic growth, stated Mr. Jette. The acquisition of FiberLights south Florida fibre network has more than doubled Atlantic Broadbands fibre footprint in the region, further expanding our presence in this strategic growth market. Results in our Business ICT services operations reflect the continued increase in competition and pricing pressures in this market, added Mr. Jette. Cogeco Peer 1 continues to focus on priorities such as driving efficiencies, offering a relevant suite of solutions and providing expert service to our customers. In our radio business, although the advertising market continues to be soft, we were pleased to end the quarter by closing the acquisition of 10 regional radio stations owned by RNC Media inc., concluded Mr. Jette. Cogeco Media now has a network of 22 radio stations across the province of Quebec and 1 in Ontario, providing an excellent opportunity to enhance our position in this industry while enriching our offering for both listeners and broadcasters. ABOUT COGECO Cogeco Inc. is a diversified holding corporation which operates in the communications and media sectors. Its Cogeco Communications Inc. subsidiary provides residential and business customers with Internet, video and telephony services through its two-way broadband fibre networks, operating in Quebec and Ontario, Canada, under the Cogeco Connexion name, and in the United States under the Atlantic Broadband brand (in 11 states along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida). Through Cogeco Peer 1, Cogeco Communications Inc. provides business customers with a suite of information technology services (colocation, network connectivity, hosting, cloud and managed services), by way of its 16 data centres, extensive FastFiber Network and more than 50 points of presence in North America and Europe. Its Cogeco Media subsidiary owns and operates 23 radio stations with complementary radio formats and extensive coverage serving a wide range of audiences mainly across the province of Quebec, as well as Cogeco News, a news agency. Cogecos subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGO). The subordinate voting shares of Cogeco Communications Inc. are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA). Source: Cogeco Inc. Patrice Ouimet Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Tel.: 514-764-4700 Information: Media Marie-Helene Labrie Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications Tel.: 514-764-4700 Analyst Conference Call: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) Media representatives may attend as listeners only. Please use the following dial-in number to have access to the conference call by dialing five minutes before the start of the conference: Canada/United States Access Number: 1-877-291-4570 International Access Number: + 1-647-788-4919 In order to join this conference, participants are only required to provide the operator with the company name, that is, Cogeco Inc. or Cogeco Communications Inc. By Internet at http://corpo.cogeco.com/cgo/en/investors/investor-relations/ SHAREHOLDERS REPORT Three-month period ended November 30, 2018 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Three months ended November 30, 2018 November 30, 2017 (1) Change Change in constant currency (2) Foreign exchange impact (2) (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except percentages and per share data) $ $ % % $ Operations Revenue 674,019 585,723 15.1 13.1 11,555 Adjusted EBITDA(3) 293,893 255,655 15.0 13.1 4,792 Integration, restructuring and acquisition costs(4) 7,034 392 Profit for the period 79,145 81,695 (3.1 ) Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Corporation 26,168 29,499 (11.3 ) Cash Flow Cash flow from operating activities 111,779 1,466 Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment(5) 113,057 95,446 18.5 15.7 2,649 Free cash flow(3) 119,310 109,162 9.3 8.6 727 Financial condition(6) Cash and cash equivalents 71,540 86,352 (17.2 ) Total assets 7,465,909 7,335,547 1.8 Indebtedness(7) 4,089,875 3,951,791 3.5 Equity attributable to owners of the Corporation 728,548 710,908 2.5 Per Share Data(8) Earnings per share Basic 1.61 1.80 (10.6 ) Diluted 1.60 1.78 (10.1 ) Dividends 0.43 0.39 10.3 Things to do in the Attleboro area and beyond HOUSTON, Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Partners LP (the Partnership), a subsidiary of Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE: TRGP), and the Partnerships subsidiary Targa Resources Partners Finance Corporation announced today the pricing of an upsized offering of $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes consisting of the originally announced $750.0 million of senior unsecured notes due 2027 (the 2027 Notes) and an additional $750.0 million of senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the 2029 Notes). The 2027 Notes will accrue interest at a rate of 6.500% per annum, will mature on July 15, 2027, and were priced at par. The 2029 Notes will accrue interest at a rate of 6.875% per annum, will mature on January 15, 2029, and were priced at par. The offering is expected to close on January 17, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions. The Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to redeem its outstanding senior notes due 2019 in full and the remainder for general partnership purposes, which may include repaying borrowings under its credit facilities or other indebtedness, working capital and funding growth investments and acquisitions. The securities offered have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, the securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The senior unsecured notes are expected to be eligible for trading by qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and by non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities, except as required by law. 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 natural gas liquids (NGLs) and NGL products, including services to liquefied petroleum gas exporters; gathering, storing, terminaling and selling crude oil; and 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. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press 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 liquids and crude oil, the timing and success of business development efforts, the credit risk of customers and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Partnerships filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018, and any subsequently filed 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. For more information please go to www.targaresources.com. 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 Home >Police Enforcement > Drunk Driving Laws > Scotland: Lowering Drunk Driving Limit Did Nothing For Safety State Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Twp.) takes the oath of office from Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget Mary McCormack at the swearing-in ceremony for the official opening of the 100th Legislature of the Michigan House of Representatives on Jan. 9. His parents, Frank and Doreen Camilleri; his sister, Alexa Camilleri; and his aunt, Dolores Guzman, attended. Members of the Soroptimist International Trenton recently sent out an SOS looking for help, not for themselves, but for young school-age girls in need of basic personal needs. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Exploring the life of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as never before, Dogwoofs latest documentary, RBG, shows Image credit: Dogwoof The life of this astonishing figure is expressed through film in detail for the first time. I was lucky enough to discuss the project with the directors of this powerful documentary, the brilliant Betsy West and Julia Cohen. Here are a few moments from our conversation. "We want people to come away with more knowledge on Justice Ginsburg herself and we also want people to be motivated by her story," says Betsy West as we open our conversation on RBG. Immediately it is evident that both West and Cohen hold a deep respect for the Notorious RBG (as she is known in pop culture) and for how she continues to change the world for American women. Our initial discussion was on how exactly it was that this documentary came into being and what the inspiration behind it was, the initial initiative for this project being her rising prominence in the public eye. "As she became a public icon through growing awareness of the dissents she has written, we saw this as a window into beginning the documentary," says Julia Cohen. But filming and research was a slow process initially, for many reasons: "Never before has a documentary been produced on a supreme court Justice," according to Cohen. "The initial challenge was getting access to Justice Ginsburg. It took several attempts to get her permission to start following and interviewing her." The documentary itself is presented in several mediums throughout, the most prominent being a collection of interviews with Justice Ginsburg herself along with those who have been a part of her journey. The directing duo say that they didnt interview many experts as part of this, largely because they wanted to interview those who played a role in bringing together both the personal and professional elements of Ginsburgs story. "It was difficult to condense down who we wanted to speak to and what to include," says Cohen. "We wanted to pick cases we thought were fascinating and those who we thought could bring those stories to life." Featuring everyone from Gloria Steinem to Justice Ginsburgs own grandchildren, these interviews are designed to weave together to create a balance between the serious with her compelling personal story. A particularly poignant element of her biography is that of her relationship with her husband, Martin Marty Ginsburg. "There wasnt a person who didnt mention Marty Ginsburg," says West. "He made it possible for her to accomplish what she did. He became her advocate." A graduate of Harvard Law School and later professor of law, Marty encouraged Justice Ginsburg to pursue her career and worked in partnership with her to assist in her continued progress. "She lit up whenever she spoke about him," says Cohen, on RBGs response to talking about her late husband. This relationship and the importance of this to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as both a person as well as a Supreme Court Justice was central to the documentary, alongside her many professional successes in the progress of US legislation. "Her life is fascinating and has so many facets," says West. "Shes small and soft spoken but she has a power to her." It is the admiration of both West and Cohen that shines through this complex narrative of one of the most important women in the ongoing pursuit of gender equality. She is a "real hero for our times", according to Cohen, "especially in that she writes to be understood, not just in legal jargon." Here there is a reference to a particular moment in which Justice Ginsburg was discussing the rights of African Americans being protected by legislation , opposed to this being overlooked by the Voting Rights Act (2013). RBG stated that it "is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet" to leave such an important element of legislation overlooked. This aphorism is a prominent example of the accessibility Ginsburg creates around the law, her desire being not only to create progress but to encourage others to join an open conversation that is very much about their rights. "We finished making the documentary during the fall of Weinstein and rising of Me Too movement, in an environment of increasing disgust with harassment and rape," says West. "This atmosphere definitely informs the current response around this feminist icon." This comment especially captures the importance of documentaries such as RBG in informing and enabling a public conscious to raise ongoing awareness of gender inequality, and the progress that has been made so far. The continuing of both female and male support for gender equality that stems from such public awareness has become a guiding force in the reception of the documentary as it's released across the globe. The directors agree that "It was an honour to produce this film" and that it was "both exciting and intimidating." Upon sharing that a favourite moment of mine was Justice Ginsburg performing at the opera, they told me that on watching the moment on film she cried at the aria . "Music is a release for her," says West, with the Supreme Justice having an immense appreciation for opera and the power of the human voice. West also says that "When she [Justice Ginsburg] performed, she really performed. She applies herself fully into everything she does." Amongst West and Cohens' favourite moments were Justice Ginsburgs first argument, and her response to the 2017 SNL clip of Kate McKinnon playing her. Of the latter the two shared that it was a great moment in which Justice Ginsburg had a genuine belly laugh in response to the SNL sketch - something they didnt know how shed respond to. Of the former, Cohen says it was "the strength with which she stands up" for what she has to say in this most important of moments that struck her the most. This essence of "she applies herself fully to everything she does" was the closing feel of our conversation, a thought which summarises perfectly the central motif of RBG. This is a documentary about a woman who has acted as an ambassador for women not only in the US but everywhere in our world, and who in applying herself fully to this mission has achieved results that surpassed the expectations of what anyone could have foreseen. I think West and Cohen will be unanimous in agreeing with me when I say we cannot wait to see what the Notorious RBG does next. RGB is out now. Lead image: Dogwoof LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP (GPM) announces that it is investigating potential claims on behalf of investors of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET ) (MetLife or the Company) and whether the Companys officers and directors complied with their legal obligations to the Company and its shareholders. On January 29, 2018, MetLife announced it postponed the Companys 2017 earnings report and conference call, citing material weakness in its financial reporting. MetLife also disclosed that it expected to increase its annuity reserves in total between $525 million and $575 million. GPMs investigation focuses on whether the Company and its directors breached any fiduciary duties owed to shareholders. If you own MetLife shares, if you have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com , or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com . If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. metres coloured Among the deceased animals are the critically-endangered Murray cod, which can grow as long as 1.4in length, with some living up to be 100 years old. According to, the sight and smell of the carcasses lining the Darling riverbank in New South Wales were so horrific that it made the states independent MP, Jeremy Buckingham, vomit.Algal blooms rapid growth of algae in water which often leads to ascum are thought to have triggered the deaths. These blooms can be produced by chemicals used in agriculture. Algal Blooms are happening all over the world. Here, we see an example from Dianchi Lake in China./Image Credit: Greenpeace China on Flickr toxins , Buckingham said: "The huge extraction of water for big irrigators is literally choking the life out of the system downriver and leaving stagnant, blue-green algae infested dregs for everyone else. Read more about how other ways we are negatively affecting our planet's waters here Nearly seven years, ago in 2012,warned of the 'quagmire of deadly toxins' that algal blooms produce: 'With prolonged UV exposure, the cells [on the surface] die, releasingsucking oxygen from the water and killing any animal life unlucky enough to be in the vicinity'.According to, despite these years of evidence to support the devastating effects of algal blooms, New South Wales fisheries and regional water minister,, has argued that drought and record heat is responsible. Nevertheless, locals have openly disagreed, pointing the finger at the state government and their mismanagement of the Murray-Darling Basin in order to benefit cotton growers, as well as communities and other businesses upstream. Theconfirmed that:On visiting an affected area,According toBuckinghams visit was in response to themade by two locals, Dick Arnold and Rob McBride, in which they are surrounded by the iconic fish of Australia while blaming the government for causing this man-made disaster. In the video, McBride says: "This is the result of draining the Menindee Lakes twice in four years, killing the system".also reported that Rob McBride's daughter,, has supported the men's claims, saying: they have survived that many droughts, and the highs and lows of it all, but the one thing they haven't been able to survive is this mismanagement."Lead Image: Salida, CO (81201) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mostly clear. Low 57F. S winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mostly clear. Low 57F. S winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Welcome back pirates! As you make your return to campus The East Carolinian has created a forum that centers around topics within the community where readers can express their experiences and concerns. With the new guidelines set in place by East Carolina University do you feel as these precautions will keep you safe? Survey Denver, Colorado, Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Organizers of one of Denvers most important cancer fundraisers, the Blue Hope Bash Denver, are launching a state-wide search for the Colorectal Cancer Supernurses who dedicate their lives to caring for Colorados colorectal cancer (CRC) community. Cancer treatment can be a long, arduous process at any age. While ground-breaking medical advances have made treatment easier and more effective every year, the people that really make chemo-time fly are the cancer center nurses and staff who combine top-class medical skill with a brilliant bedside manner day-in, day-out. There are more than 17,000 colorectal cancer patients and survivors living in Colorado, said Kim Kronenberger, Blue Hope Bash Denver organizer and CRC survivor. Every single one of them knows a Supernurse who has made a real difference to their treatment or way of dealing with cancer and we want to hear their story! Were inviting Colorados CRC community to nominate their favorite medic for our CRC Supernurse Award. Well feature top stories in the run-up to the 2019 Blue Hope Bash Denver and invite the top Supernurses to join us as our special guests at the showcase event being held at the Mile High Station in Denver on March 8," Kronenberger said. All you need to do to nominate your Colorectal Cancer Supernurse is submit your story, in 400 words or less, to coloradonurses@ccalliance.org, ideally with a picture or two, by the closing date of Friday, February 15. Well be publishing stories throughout the run up to the event in March, so please dont wait until the last minute. The 2019 Blue Hope Bash Denver will also honor Madeline Mellors and Andrew Gregory, fierce colorectal cancer advocates who were diagnosed with late-stage colorectal cancer in their thirties. Maddie and Andrews passings are a brutal reminder of the stark rise in young-onset colorectal cancer, which has risen over 20% among under-50s. Colorectal cancer is the nation's second leading cause of cancer deaths. Last years inaugural Blue Hope Bash Denver event raised more than $130,000 toward colorectal cancer research and awareness, with the bulk of proceeds remaining in Denver to support local CRC initiatives. The University of Colorado Foundation in Denver was one of the main beneficiaries of the 2018 event, and those dollars have already contributed to leading-edge MSS Immunotherapy research, led by Dr. Christopher Lieu, MD. Dr. Lieu collaborated with immunologists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to run laboratory studies in a model mimicking the human immune system. Its premature to draw conclusions, but Dr. Lieu believes the combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy is worth investigating further. The early results were convincing enough to prompt one company to amend a phase I trial to include a large expansion cohort of colorectal cancer patients. Raising funds to tackle colorectal cancer here in Colorado and building awareness of the preventability of CRCs are our main goals, said Kronenberger. The Blue Hope Bash Denver is a fantastic example of the Colorado community coming together to really make a difference in colorectal cancer. Every dollar takes us one step closer to defeating this unnecessary disease once and for all. If you would like to take part in the 2019 Blue Hope Bash Denver as a sponsor or guest or donate items or experiences to the auction, visit https://www.ccalliance.org/events/2019-blue-hope-bash-denver or contact the team in Denver by e-mailing bluehopebashdenver@ccalliance.org. For further information, or to interview any of the people quoted, please contact: Scott Wilson, Survivor and Blue Hope Bash Denver organizer: 303-408-3486 Steven Bushong, Senior Manager of Communications, Colorectal Cancer Alliance: sbushong@ccalliance.org or 330-957-0484 Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zargon Oil & Gas Ltd. ("Zargon" or the "Company") (TSX:ZAR; ZAR.DB.A) announces that 82.64% of holders ("Debentureholders") of its 8.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due December 31, 2019 (the "Debentures") voting at the extraordinary meeting of the Debentureholders held today (the "Meeting") have voted in favour of an extraordinary resolution pursuant to which all of the Debentures will be settled and all claims of the Debentureholders thereunder will be extinguished in exchange for approximately 428,878,324 common shares ("Common Shares") in the capital of Zargon, including the payment, in the form of Common Shares, of the accrued and unpaid interest owing on the Debentures (the "Exchange Transaction"). The report on voting for the Meeting will be available under Zargon's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Closing of the Exchange Transaction is scheduled for January 11, 2019 (Closing). Immediately before the Exchange Transaction, approximately 30,932,912 Common Shares will be issued and outstanding. Following the completion of the Exchange Transaction, approximately 459,811,236 Common Shares will be issued and outstanding. The Exchange Transaction significantly enhances the prospects and flexibility of the Company to pursue strategic, value-enhancing transactions which may include a corporate merger, sale, recapitalization or reorganization. Following Closing, the Company will have reduced its overall debt by $41.94 million and its annual interest burden by $3.36 million, resulting in a simplified capital structure with only US$3.5 million of term debt remaining outstanding (see Nov 2, 2018 press release). As a result, Zargons Board of Directors has renewed its strategic alternatives process to seek outcomes that will maximize value for the Company and its stakeholders. Zargons long-life, low-decline oil exploitation assets have significant upside potential in a period of prolonged higher oil prices. In addition, Zargon brings a TSX listing and more than $155 million of non-capital losses that could have significant value in a more favourable Canadian energy investment climate. Zargon also previously commenced marketing its North Dakota assets in December 2018, assisted by Energy Advisors Group (formerly PLS). For further information, please contact: C.H. Hansen President and Chief Executive Officer Zargon Oil & Gas Ltd. Telephone: 403-264-9992 E-mail: zargon@zargon.ca Website: www.zargon.ca FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "may", "will", "project", "should", "plan", "intend", "believe" and similar expressions (including the negatives thereof) are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking information and statements pertaining to the Company's strategic initiative process and the effect of the Exchange Transaction on Zargon's prospects and flexibility to pursue strategic, value-enhancing transactions. The forward-looking information and statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such information and statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information or statements including, without limitation: those relating to results of operations and financial condition; general economic conditions; industry conditions; changes in regulatory and taxation regimes; volatility of commodity prices; escalation of operating and capital costs; currency fluctuations; the availability of services; imprecision of reserve estimates; geological, technical, drilling and processing problems; environmental risks; weather; the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management; stock market volatility; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; competition from other industry participants for, among other things, capital, services, acquisitions of reserves, and undeveloped lands and skilled personnel. Risks are described in more detail in our Annual Information Form and other public documents, which are available on www.zargon.ca and on www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow investors to have a greater understanding of our business. You are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information and statements, including, among other things: future oil and natural gas prices; future capital expenditure levels; future production levels; future exchange rates; the cost of developing and expanding our assets; our ability to obtain equipment in a timely manner to carry out development activities; our ability to market our oil and natural gas successfully to current and new customers; the impact of increasing competition; the availability of adequate and acceptable debt and equity financing and funds from operations to fund our planned expenditures; our ability to add production and reserves through our development and acquisition activities; and the receipt, in a timely manner, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Our actual results, performance, or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that any of the events anticipated will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits we will derive from them. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this document is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Our policy for updating forward-looking statements is that Zargon disclaims, except as required by law, any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Tehachapi, CA (93561) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 58F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 58F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Thank you for Reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and Purchase a Subscription to continue reading. Tanker propeller blade removal and re-installation afloat A tanker needed its four propeller blades overhauled while berthed at Ghent, Belgium. Hydrex sent a team to the vessel to remove the blades on-site and re-install them when they returned from the workshop, while the vessel was afloat. The team travelled from the companys Antwerp headquarters with trucks and the required equipment. A large stock of tools is ready at all times in the Hydrex fast response centre, so mobilisation to any type of operation can be almost immediate, the company claimed. The operation was carried out while the vessel was alongside and trimmed, enabling the blades to be surfaced one by one. While the blades were transported to the workshop and overhauled, the team carried out several other operations on the vessel. A full inspection of the propeller hub was undertaken, as well as an inspection of the blade carriers and the propeller shaft. Anodes were also installed on the rudder. By combining these operations, time between the blades removal and re-installation was used as efficiently as possible. Are you looking for a Social Media Agency in Manchester? Social Media Marketing is about making your brand image known... So, it s not new for Google to update its ranking signals. Near the end of October 2020, they introduced... CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in cannabis plants, which is commonly used in the medicinal... In the past 20 years, weve seen a total revolution in information transparency. We have the option to research and... I Agree This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy Markets - VLCCs experience MEG tonnage build up Thus far, January has not given much cause for celebration for VLCC owners. Volumes from MEG were lagging, compared to previous months, with a corresponding tonnage build up resulting in sliding rates. In contrast, activity surged from the Americas, and rates inched upward, Fearnleys said in its weekly report. However, the export barrels have by and large been committed on ships open in the western hemisphere, and thus has not significantly eased the pressure from MEG. Suezmax rates gradually softened recently, but have become more stable in the past week. Fearnleys noted a considerable increase in cargo activity in all areas, especially in the Black Sea where charterers have had to fix on very forward dates in order to accommodate a rare Canakkale cancelling of 25 days. Meanwhile, the conversion from 2018 to 2019 flat rates was seemingly underway with several fixtures reported concluded under the new scale with very little resistance from owners. The Black Sea situation is potentially a spark for other areas to firm, with charterers in the Med also having to secure early tonnage. This will need close monitoring in the week ahead. Aframax rates in North Sea/Baltic came off this week, as too much tonnage was available, compared to quoted cargoes. Rate wise, we are currently at bottom levels as surrounding markets in the Med and Caribs are offering viable alternatives to the prompt North Sea positions. Moving into 3rd decade of January, we see a tighter position list as more vessels are sailing out of the area. We expect as such firmer market at the end of this month, as a fairly active week was seen in the Med and Black Sea. Charterers looking to secure prompt tonnage for straight cross-Med cargoes have still been able to achieve last done levels, while there has been a slight upward correction in the eastern Med and Black.Sea. In addition, poor weather conditions in the eastern Med has caused further delays in the Turkish straits. A few owners decided to move some of their non-ice class tonnage on spec from the north towards the Med and Black Sea in hope of slightly better earnings, Fearnelys concluded. Elsewhere, TEN has announced that two product carriers had been chartered out for 36 months each to a major oil concern. At a minimum, these two fixtures combined are expected to generate $33 mill of gross revenues. With 2018 finishing on an upbeat note for all tanker segments, these two fixtures further signify a strong market for this year which the companys employment strategy is designed to take advantage of, George Saroglou, TEN COO explained. We expect the market in 2019 to maintain the strong momentum as a result of the current supply and demand equilibrium, as well as the anticipated disruptions due to the upcoming IMO 2020emission regulations. TEN is positioning itself appropriately to benefit from this unfolding positive freight environment, he concluded. One fixture reported by brokers was that of the 2005-built MR UACC Concensus to BP for three to four months at $14,500 per day. In the S&P sector, dAmico Tankers has signed a memorandum of agreement and bareboat charter contract for a newbuilding LR1. Under the agreement, the company will sell and leaseback the 75,000 dwt Cielo di Houston, currently under construction at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. The vessel, which is expected to join the fleet this month, was sold for $38.6 mill, allowing dAmico Tankers to generate around $10.2 mill in cash from the transaction, the company said. dAmico Tankers will maintain full control of the tanker, as a 10.2-year bareboat charter agreement was concluded with the buyer. In addition, the company has the option to repurchase the vessel, after five years and seven years of the charter period, at a competitive cost of funds. I am glad to announce the conclusion of this transaction with a large Japanese financial institution, which will generate net cash proceeds of approximately $10.2 mill for DIS, relative to financing the vessel through the previously committed bank loan, Paolo dAmico, DIS Chairman, said. This is our first JOLCO (Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option) transaction; it is a pioneering deal for a non-Japanese shipowner, providing us with a new source of capital with enhanced economics relative to conventional Japanese sale-leasebacks, he said. In another sale and leaseback deal, Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has confirmed that it had advised CCB Financial Leasing (CCBL) on a $132.8 mill sale and leaseback transaction of two VLCCs. They were acquired from and chartered back to two subsidiaries of Globe Shipholding, a group of companies maintaining a fleet of crude carrier tankers managed by Almi Tankers. CCBLs transaction with Globe represents the first completed sale and leaseback of VLCCs in the Chinese leasing community, WFW said. Some $132.8 mill was drawn by Globe under the sale and eight-year capital lease back transaction, which was put to various uses including the refinancing of certain bank loans secured on the two tankers. Founded in 2007, Beijing-based CCBL provides financial leasing solutions to large, medium, and small businesses across China. It is a subsidiary of China Construction Bank Corp. Elsewhere, brokers reported the sale of the 2007 MR Foromosa Sixteen to Greek interests for $8 mill. Dredging contract awarded for Corpus Christi channel deepening project The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has awarded a $92 mill construction contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co to deepen and widen the Corpus Christi Ship Channel (CCSC). This channel expansion project will stretch from the Gulf of Mexico to Harbor Island and will allow fully-loaded tankers access to and from the port. The the depth of the channel will increase from 47 ft Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) to 54 ft from the jetties at the entrance of the ship channel to Harbor Island. The contract also calls for extending the shipping channel depth into the Gulf of Mexico to 56 ft. The award of this first dredging contract is without a doubt the most important development we will see in 2019, said Charles Zahn, Chairman for the Port of Corpus Christi Commission. Building critical infrastructure for the energy sector is our primary mission and will allow larger vessels access to much needed export facilities, safely and responsibly. Currently, the only terminal in the continental US that is capable handling fully loaded VLCCs is the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) located around 18 miles off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico. In October last year, private equity firm The Carlyle Group signed an agreement with the Port of Corpus Christi to develop a major crude oil export terminal capable of handling VLCCs. The terminal will be located on Harbor Island, which is situated on Red Fish Bay opposite the city of Aransas Pass, Texas. The site encompasses 256 acres of mostly undeveloped land that includes deepwater, a highway, and channel frontage. In November, the USACE announced its fiscal year (FY) 2019 work plan an additional $59 mill in funding for the ports channel improvement project, bringing the total Federal appropriations to $95 mill. China yet to place a full ban on open-loop scrubbers China has not yet placed a full ban on open-loop scrubbers as recently reported, according to a note from BIMCO. Chinese regulators have updated part of the domestic emission control area (DECA) regulations with effect from 1st January 2019. Local sources have advised BIMCO that according to the updated regulation, the banned areas for discharging wastewater from scrubbers remain within inland ECAs, port waters under coastal DECA and the Bohai Bay waters only. However, it was thought that a full ban on open-loop scrubbers could be adopted soon. Last November, regulators said ships equipped with scrubbers were permitted to carry and use high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO), subject to emissions monitoring, and that scrubber waste and water must be disposed according to relevant regulation. This still remains the case. The updated DECA regulation is designed to supplement the previous regulation, as well as to provide more detailed guidelines for implementation. BIMCO advised members to heed the following: *Ships that need to switch to low sulfur fuel must make a fuel switch plan and keep it on board. The switch timing, ships position, fuel sulfur content - before and after switching as well as fuel tank data and consumption details must be properly recorded on the ships engine log. This as in line with IMO requirements for entering and leaving ECAs in accordance with MARPOL Annex VI, BIMCO said. *The discharge and disposal of water pollutants generated by ships using exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) must meet the requirements of relevant regulations. It is prohibited to discharge wastewater generated by open-loop scrubbers within the inland ECAs, port water areas of coastal emission control areas and Bohai Bay water areas. *A yet to be decided ban on wastewater generated by open-loop scrubbers within the whole of Chinas domestic emission control area will be announced in due course. *It is prohibited to discharge exhaust gas washwater residues into any current DECA water or burn them on board. BIMCO calls for Gulf of Guinea counter-piracy support operations The EU, China, and the US must step up their support of counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea, BIMCO has warned. Around 40 ships have been attacked in the Gulf of Guinea in the past 12 months and only this week, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre reported attempted attacks on tankers off Nigeria, both of which were thwarted. We look towards the EU, China and the US to join forces and deploy naval capacity in the Gulf of Guinea to end this constant threat to seafarers, Jakob Larsen, BIMCO Head of Maritime Security, said. In the 2013 Yaounde Code of Conduct, states in the Gulf of Guinea recognised that piracy constituted an issue and initiated several initiatives to strengthen maritime security. It was inspired by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2018 (2011) and 2039 (2012) and contains several initiatives to strengthen maritime security in the area. BIMCO remains very thankful to the regional navies who are working tirelessly and with great sacrifice to secure their seas, Larsen added. While these efforts command our deepest respect, pirates in the Gulf of Guinea can still operate largely unchecked in the open seas, outside of the territorial waters, and on occasion even strike inside territorial waters. Several capacity building initiatives have been started in the region since the Code was agreed, but the actual security situation in the Gulf of Guinea is still not good. One of the reasons is that other security challenges in the region, such as land-based terrorist threats, generate a high demand for law enforcement resources,Larsen explained. In addition to the strain put on seafarers, the current situation negatively impacts the economic potential of the sea of the countries in the region. It is time to step up law enforcement efforts, establish control of the sea in the Gulf of Guinea, relieve seafarers from the threat and the psychological pressure, and allow the countries in the region to harvest the full economic potential of the seas, Larsen stressed. International sea and air law enforcement assets, such as naval ships with helicopters, will be able to deliver a concrete and rapid contribution to the maritime security situation. If these assets were supported by on board regional law enforcement officials in charge of the law enforcement element, operations could be conducted without infringing on the regional states sovereignty. While longer term capacity building efforts are commended, what is needed now is substantially more assets at sea and in the air. It is an obvious solution which can deliver the necessary effect with the desired speed, without compromising the territorial integrity of the countries in the region, Larsen concluded. Letter to the Editor The efforts been renewed to bond for a new school. . Let me state the problem Everybody, including me, wants a new school, nobody wants to ... What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 712-243-2624 or email circ@ant-news.com. There's a reason for everything false. Nothing fake is invented just by chance, even though it might seem that way. There's always an ulterior motive behind a lie, a falsification or a tall story. Imitation leather, chipboard, gel nails, caviar substitute... they are all trying to look like something else, even pretending to be it. These impostors shouldn't be a danger if we all agree that it is a fabrication, a trick. Pure fiction. Did you really believe it? And when the truth comes out we are amazed by our gullibility. Next time I won't be caught out. Or will I? In this era of new technology, when information is more accessible than ever, we've all turned totally and recklessly naive. We denounce manipulation, but we fall for it at the drop of a hat; what's more, we openly, often innocently, help it spread. Here's an example of a message that was spread around at the end of last year: "Confirmed, and it's not a prank. It's been passed at the end of the year to go unnoticed. Spanish is to be studied as a foreign language in Catalonia and the Basque Country." The message comes with a screenshot from Google, another of the official state bulletin and numerous angry emojis. What more proof do we need? We forward the message willy-nilly and indignation levels soar. Now it doesn't matter that the agreements referred to the teaching of Spanish to foreigners. It doesn't seem like it and the message works to perfection in these turbulent times. We wouldn't want the truth to spoil a nice fib, now would we? Those out to crush fake news are spoilsports and suspicious themselves. It doesn't matter that they use official statistics to disprove claims about the false reports of violence against women, because in this crazy scenario anything official is suspicious itself. We see the truth in the WhatsApp message that is circulating from phone to phone, the tweet or the video recorded with a mobile. The messages my friend sends me can be trusted, even though he receives them from a friend of a friend. During the Andalusian election campaign there was a proliferation of "well-meaning" videos that came from good sources - such as the doctor in Melilla who complained, without showing his face, about the many prescriptions he wrote every day for immigrants. Or the Muslim (note here that he is described by his religion rather than his nationality) who punched a female doctor. "A Muslim in a Spanish health centre showing thanks to Europe for taking him in. Images that the Spanish TV will not show to avoid creating social alarm. Can you believe it? They're taking us for a ride!" The incident in the video happened in Russia, but the fake news was spread far more than any later rectification. "I'm seeing it with my own eyes! Can't you see!" We share from the comfort of our sofa. It's for the "good" of everyone, isn't it? Fake news is spread until it becomes a lie that is so solid it is turned into political ammunition and is debated in official offices. By that time it's too late to demand the truth. As the parliamentary vote on Pedro Sanchez's proposed 2019 budget nears (it's likely to happen this month or next), details are emerging about an ambitious project of the prime minister's. Called the "Agenda for Change", the initiative contains a raft of policies aimed at reducing social inequality and bolstering the Spanish economy. Available information about the Socialists' scheme shows it to be positive, progressive and, if put into action, likely to do Spain a lot of good. But the big question is whether this planned "Agenda for Change" will ever see the light of day. Sanchez's plan, which be rolled out during the rest of this month, contains a number of policies designed to ensure the Spanish economy grows in a sustainable way - or, as El Pais newspaper put it in an editorial this week, in a "better way". This is particularly welcome news, as Spain's flashy GDP statistics (its expansion has proceeded at one of the fastest rates in the eurozone over the last four years) mask foundational problems that have yet to be addressed by the current government. The Socialists' "Agenda for Change" aims at increasing the Spanish economy's productivity, with the ultimate goals of reducing unemployment and public debt. A more stable Spanish economy, invigorated by "bigger injections of human and technological capital", as El Pais said in its editorial, would in turn be able to support the higher levels of welfare spending proposed by the PSOE. Sanchez's scheme is, as yet, vague on the details on how to achieve all of this. Yet even if it's nothing more than a collection of ideas at this stage, the "Agenda for Change" shows us a government that's trying to improve the lot of the average Spanish household. That Sanchez is a proactive leader is also evident from his recently unveiled plan on how to secure the rights of Britons in Spain and Spaniards in the UK in the case of a no-deal Brexit. Increasingly, he seems constrained only by the PSOE's minority status in congress rather than his own lack of ideas. There is, however, a risk involved for Sanchez if he's to translate his economic and social policies from theory into reality. For that to happen, his proposed 2019 budget has to be put to a parliamentary vote; and if, as looks likely, the PSOE were to lose that vote, an early general election would probably be triggered. The Spanish right's recent assumption of power in Andalucia indicates that the PSOE might suffer losses in that vote, too. Or perhaps it could go the other way, with Sanchez gaining support by calling an early election if he loses the budget vote: doing so would certainly be a gutsy move. Whichever way you look at it, though, the PSOE leader cannot move forward now without taking some big political risks. Three people were killed and many left homeless last weekend after a block of 20 flats burned down, it has now been confirmed. Firefighters have said they did all they could with the equipment available to rescue people trapped in the building in the town of Badalona, Barcelona. Police are investigating the possible illegal connection to an electricity supply by squatters in one of the flats. The coalition pact between the Partido Popular (PP) and Ciudadanos (Cs) to take over the government of the Junta de Andalucia from the PSOE party after 36 years was confirmed this Wednesday just as the two parties' leaders were signing off on their agreement. Among measures in the PP and Cs pact, Juan Marin of Cs will be regional vice president and the number of regional ministers will be reduced. As expected, the PP's Juanma Moreno will be Junta president. The pact, however, almost derailed earlier in the week when the hard-right Vox party, whose 12 regional MPs are needed if the PP and Cs plan is to succeed, said on Tuesday it would not vote for the arrangement unless 19 demands were addressed first. The surprise list emerged at a meeting between Vox and the PP which had been agreed to after Vox complained that they had been shut out of the coalition negotiations between the PP and Cs. Last week Vox demanded that plans to give extra support to gender violence in a new PP-Cs regional government be redrafted to include equal treatment for male victims of domestic abuse. However the further list of demands at Tuesday's meeting, which the PP and Cs immediately rejected, contained many more eye-catching wishes, in keeping with Vox's radical agenda. Among the measures, Vox asked for the new regional president to declare that Education, Health and Justice should be returned to Madrid to control nationally and not regionally, the suppression of regional laws against LGBTI and gender discrimination, and the removal of "52,000 illegal immigrants" from Andalucia. Regional holiday date Also among the more eyebrow-raising proposals was to change Andalucia's regional day, 28 February, to 2 January, the date of the defeat of the last Muslim stronghold of Spain in Granada in 1492. However, amid accusations that Vox was merely "grandstanding" and was still in election mode, on Wednesday afternoon, the PP announced that the votes of Vox's MPs had been guaranteed in a 37-point agreement between these two parties that hardly mentioned Vox's latest demands. Both sides agreed that the new regional government should work for "quality jobs" and the PP made some concessions towards Vox's pro-family policies. On Thursday, the new speaker of the regional parliament in Seville, Marta Bosquet of Cs, started the countdown to nominating a candidate to lead the government, which now seems certain to be Juanma Moreno. The regional MPs' vote for a presidents must take place by 16 January. As the airline flying the most passengers from Malaga airport, any news from Ryanair normally has an impact on a lot of people across southern Spain. So it was to the relief of many this week that two problems hanging over the Irish-registered airline appear to have been solved in recent days. Early on Wednesday morning, after several hours of talks, unions reached a pre-agreement with Ryanair which meant cabin-crew strikes planned for yesterday and Sunday 13th were called off. According to unions, the deal "puts in place the foundations to normalise" labour relations "within a legal framework". They added that a few months ago a solution to the ongoing cabin-crew dispute would have been unthinkable. The pre-agreement still needs the approval of Ryanair's Spanish staff in the coming days, Among the measures said to have been agreed by Ryanair is that local labour law will now apply to Spanish-based cabin crew. In most cases until now, contractual terms have been based on Irish law, which has angered many workers. The union statement also said that they have secured, "a guarantee of stability and improvement in working conditions." "We are convinced that Ryanair staff in Spain will soon be able to enjoy their full rights as European Union citizens," said a joint statement on Wednesday by the SITCPLA and USO unions. UK permission Last week it was announced that Ryanair has been granted a British air operating certificate by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority for its British subsidiary. This means it can keep running its internal flights within the UK and fly from Britain to destinations outside the EU after Brexit. Medical experts are warning that public health services in Spain could face a crisis as doctors in key specialities retire in the next few years and not enough new medics are ready to step in. Specialist areas affected could include family doctors, pediatricians, anaesthetists, casualty medics and traumatology specialists, as well as other areas, say insiders. The problem arises from cutbacks in recruitment during the financial crisis over the last decade, meaning there is not enough new blood in the pipeline. For a few years after 2012, only one vacant place in ten was covered with a new staff member. However local representatives of medical staff say that the problem in Andalucia goes back to before the financial crisis. "Since 2007, we're been warning that there would be a shortage of qualified personnel," said Juan Jose Sanchez Luque, president of the Malaga medics association. He added that there is a fairly big private sector in the Costa del Sol area and that a large number of recently qualified newcomers have chosen to take that route, rather than the instability of short-term contracts in the public health system. "There are recently qualified GPs that would rather work in the accident and emergency department of a private hospital than in a health centre in the Malaga area, due to the poor state of primary care." He explained that in order to make primary care more attractive, contracts would have to be more stable and working conditions improved. He went on to call for working practices to be made easier so medics can combine work in the public sector with the private sector and that efforts should be made to persuade those who have left to work in other parts of Spain, or other countries, to come back to Andalucia. The president of SMM, the Malaga medics union, Antonio Martin Noblejas, said that specialists that have been working for a while in the regional health service, "are fed up and want to get out of public health care." He said that the problem was particularly acute in local hospitals and rural health centres. "Doctors prefer to work in a large, general hospital where there are more resources and they can grow professionally." A police raid on the market in Puerto Banus last Saturday resulted in almost 900 items of fake Ralph Lauren and Moncler clothing and home textiles being seized. The goods were being offered for sale on two stalls run by the same owner at the popular market next to the bullring in Nueva Andalucia. As well as Local Police and Guardia Civil, there was also a legal representative of the two brands. The raid began at 10.45am and officers went firstly to the stall dedicated to selling allegedly fake Moncler goods from Italy, followed by the stall selling goods supposedly from Ralph Lauren. Initially investigators started to record each item one by one, but realising the large amount to be recorded decided to take them all away in bags to be written down later at a municipal storeroom. "I know what I am doing is wrong, but it's a sick joke doing this to me today," said the owner, referring to last Saturday being the busiest shopping day of the year ahead of the Three Kings gift-giving festival the next day. The investigation into the shooting of a man outside a well-known nightclub in Puerto Banus early on Monday morning points to the victim having fired the gun at himself accidentally. He has since been arrested for being in possession of a firearm. Police were called to the door of Kube at 6.05am on Monday with reports of a man having been shot in the leg. Initially an ambulance took the victim to the Hospital Costa del Sol before he was moved to Malaga. He later returned to the Hospital Costa del Sol when doctors had stabilised his condition and was kept under observation. Sources at the club say that it was the doormen who had first noticed the man's injury and had called police. He had apparently been walking down the street. The man is said to be aged 30 and of Moroccan origin. The Casas Viejas Incident, also known as the Massacre of Casas Viejas, took place on 11 January 1933 in the small village in Cadiz from which the incident takes its name. The massacre, one of the most tragic events of the second Spanish Republic, left 21 people dead - some of whom were burned alive inside their home - leading to a national outrage that weakened the position of the revolutionary left. The anarchist movement that spread across Spain at the beginning of the 20th century urged downtrodden workers to unite against their oppressors, namely the State, wealthy land owners and the Church. The movement was opposed by the government, but it soon gained strength among the long-exploited agricultural workers, especially in Andalucia, where many inhabitants faced year-round unemployment and near starvation. The Spanish journalist, Ramon J. Sender, claimed the poor were "maddened with hunger like stray dogs". One of the provinces where the worst riots took place was Cadiz, so the government sent a company of assault guards to take control of the spiralling situation. In January 1933, workers who were part of the Confederacion Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) organised a protest march, believing they were initiating a revolution. The government's attempts to quash the revolutionary movement came to a head on 11 January, when the assault guard arrived in Casas Viejas to round up a group of anarchists who had attacked the local Civil Guard barracks. Fearing reprisals, many residents fled the village, but a small contingent attempted to resist arrest and barricaded themselves in the home of Curro Cruz. A staunch anarchist nicknamed Seisdedos, 72-year-old Cruz and his sons were said to have initiated the attack and, because it was obvious he was not going to surrender, reinforcements arrived and tried to force the door of his home. Shots were fired from inside the house, killing one guard and injuring another. The guards unleashed machine gun fire on the small house, after which, they set it on fire. A man and a woman who attempted to escape the blaze were shot. The charred bodies of Seisdedos, his two sons and two other relatives were found inside the house. The granddaughter of Seisdedos miraculously escaped from the house with her baby in her arms. Afterwards, another 14 people were executed and the captain of the assault guards told reporters that he had instructions from Madrid to take no prisoners. Although the prime minister, Manuel Azana, denied this claim, he never recovered from the consequences of the outrage. The Right accused him of "murdering the people", while others denounced the government for creating a regime of "blood, mud and tears". He says the first movement could easily be a 'buleria' and the second is written in tonalities which are often used in flamenco. The more he studies the work, the more Daniel Casares becomes convinced that Rodrigo wrote his famous Concierto de Aranjuez "for a flamenco guitarist or from a very Spanish point of view". He has just released a record with the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra (OFM), playing this piece and also his own first symphonic work, La Luna de Alejandra. The launch coincided with the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Concierto, and 20 years after the Rodrigo's death. DETAILS uThe record. Concierto de Aranjuez and La Luna de Alejandra, with guitarist Daniel Casares and the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by Arturo Diez Boscovich. uThe concert. On 9 February at the Edgar Neville Auditorium in Malaga. Tickets are 28 euros. Without changing a note, Casares has incorporated certain dynamics to make this work his own, even though it has been interpreted a thousand times in the classical music world. "This disc is special because a flamenco artist has dared to do it," he says. This is because it is daunting for any musician. "It is a work which demands a great deal from you," he says, and even more so in his case, where the "rigour" of a classical language which demands perfect execution meets the "flexibility" of the world of flamenco, which is more given to improvisation. A new language This is a new language for Casares; he has spent hours studying it, which gave him backache but taught him a great deal. "You realise what the formulas are to combine the instrument with the orchestra, and what you have to do so that everything makes sense," he explains. After having "matured" his Concierto de Aranjuez for a year and a half through dozens of performances, and retouching some passages of La Luna de Alejandra, Daniel Casares has recorded it with the OFM as proof of a job well done. "Every guitarist should play this once in their life," he says, and by doing so he has put himself on the map of classical music. "I have had letters from people who have never written to me before. As if I were playing better now, although I'm actually playing the same. It is an important work and it affects you in some way," he admits. On 9 February he will be performing it live at the Edgar Neville Auditorium in the provincial government headquarters, with the OFM. Despite everything, in Spain "it is still very hard to fill a theatre for a guitar performance", he says. A month ago he toured Latin America, where he is not as well known, and most venues were completely full. Last year he performed in the EU, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cape Verde... "and flamenco guitar worked in all of them". In 2016 he was asked to play for US president Barack Obama's visit to Seville, which was cancelled due to a shooting and the deaths of five police officers in Dallas. He suddenly started to receive calls from American media and Spanish programmes which had never featured guitars before. Casares describes the guitar as "spinal cord" of flamenco, but points out that it receives the least support. "There should be more, like gastronomy or cinema," he says. It was started through the personal efforts of Joan Hunt, a British pensioner living on the Costa del Sol whose husband died of cancer, but the Fundacion Cuidados del Cancer, otherwise known as Cudeca, has become one of the most important solidarity projects in Andalucia. With more than 1,000 volunteers and nearly 1,500 patients the chief executive and medical director, Marisa Martin, says there is a need to expand and intensify research into ageing and palliative care. How are patients, normally, when they come to Cudeca? It varies; some people's hopes have suddenly been dashed, others come knowing that the end is near and some don't actually know how ill they are. Palliative care used to come at the end, but now we try to ensure that this type of care is available at an early stage of the illness. Sometimes our patients are undergoing treatment like palliative chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which won't cure them but tries to minimise the symptoms and help them live longer. The expectations of being able to control the illness have grown, but when patients come to the palliative care unit it means the end is approaching. Everyone deals with that in their own way. I suppose there is no 'right' way to do so. No, there isn't. Nobody knows how they will react. Not even us, even though we have seen so many patients. Is there still a long way to go in research into palliative care? Yes, definitely. It is a new discipline. In Spain, the first palliative care units were created in the late 1980s. We now have more information about controlling symptoms and pain, but there are more complex needs such as emotions and the difficulties faced by families. In 2018 we were accepted as the first group associated with the Malaga Biomedical Research Group (Ibima) and we hope that between us all we can meet the needs of the patients and their families. What is the aim of the agreement with Ibima? We want to boost research and we want that research to reach the professionals who work with the patients every day. It is often said that research needs good questions, and those with the most important questions are the professionals who are at the patients' bedsides every day. We have to be receptive to know how the patients and their families want us to look after them and communicate with them. There are clinical questions about aspects like pain control, asphyxia and treatment for the appetite, but there are also other needs. We want to integrate the results of the research into daily palliative care. And what questions are you normally asked? There are a lot of them, to be honest. The treatment of pain has evolved a great deal, but other symptoms, such as asphyxia, are still treated as they were 20 or 30 years ago. In that sense we would love to advance. In the communication process too, because we want to respect patients' independence. These are very important conversations: how and where they would like to be treated if the illness gets worse, what values are important for them... at Cudeca we have been working for months on a conversation guide for those whose illness is at an advanced stage. It's difficult for us as well, but if we want to attend to the patients in the way they wish us to, we have to ask them. In the short term, how does the future of palliative care look? At the level of strategic planning, we are seeing that the ageing of the population will bring numerous problems for the health and social support systems. Palliative care will be very necessary, because the population is getting older and there will be many deaths as a result of illnesses, whether cancer, organ deficiencies or neurological illnesses. We want to work on those lines to identify the most complex situations. Pain control, for example, shouldn't be a problem for any professional, but there are more severe conditions which need special qualifications. What tools do the families have to deal with this type of diagnosis in someone close to them? We professionals need to be able to support the families and give them plenty of information about what is happening, even though it may be hard. Not being informed doesn't help people to cope. There is practical advice about caring for patients on a daily basis, but we also have to be receptive to the needs of the families. For us, as professionals, it has to be a constant exercise in respect and understanding. The families are the only ones who really know what they are going through. The rest of us should support them with dignity and be available to them. We also work on things like compassion and empathy. As a professional, is there any way to protect yourself? Because it must all be very stressful emotionally. Suffering is present in everything we do, we are not immune to it. More than protect ourselves, I would say we have to look after ourselves, find a way of accepting this suffering and closeness, but also be able to release these emotions afterwards. Continual training is very important to improve and feel more secure, and personally I believe that one of the best protections for professionals is to work as a team. There is no profile of professional that can attend to all the needs that arise. There are doctors, nurses, auxiliaries, psychologists, social workers, physiotherapists, volunteers... among all of those, you feel stronger. And that team serves as a forum to share the suffering we take on. But one of the first lessons in this profession is that you learn to value and enjoy life. Has the stigma which used to surround cancer, such a long and painful illness, gone now? Things are changing little by little. The word cancer still means the possibility that death is near, and that makes people afraid, but it is true that there are new therapies and ways of controlling the illness. Have you considered moving the headquarters from Benalmadena to Malaga? As you know, Cudeca was started on the Costa del Sol by Joan Hunt. In the first 15 years it was mainly supported by the foreign community, but now we have more than 1,000 volunteers of whom more than half are Spanish, and we appreciate the collaboration of Malaga society. I don't think the location of the headquarters matters, although maybe in future we will need to have a branch in Malaga, rather than move this one, for the simple fact that the work will be more efficient. Cudeca isn't based anywhere in particular, it exists to help those who need its services. What's it like, taking over from Joan Hunt at Cudeca? That's a difficult question. Nobody can replace Joan. She is generous, intelligent, ahead of her time, brave, and ethically impeccable. She is a visionary. She became a widow in a foreign country and, as a pensioner, she wasn't rich and didn't have influential friends, but she decided to start Cudeca anyway. She is a very special person. She has taken a back seat in recent years, but nobody can replace her. However, we as a team are highly motivated to continue her work. Chief minister Fabian Picardo and deputy chief minister Dr Joseph Garcia spent two days in London this week for meetings related to Brexit. The discussions included preparations for a no-deal Brexit in the event that the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement is not approved by the UK Parliament. The Gibraltar government has already made it clear that it is planning for all outcomes, and has begun issuing information about how Gibraltar would be affected both in the event of the Withdrawal Agreement being agreed or a no-deal Brexit. So far, this guidance has been provided regarding identity cards and travel documents, driving licences, mobile roaming charges and .eu domain names. The first patient from Gibraltar in 15 years to undergo a kidney transplant in the UK has now returned home after recovering from the surgery, which was carried out at the Hammersmith hospital. Once the patient, who has not been named, was told a kidney was available, the GHA Sponsored Patient team helped with the arrangements. Starting in the New Year, Merge NZ is bringing New Zealand Sign Language to the Bay. Merge NZ is a deaf lead social enterprise that was established in 2017, with a proportion of their profits being given back to the deaf community. Although they are Auckland based, they have classes in the Waikato, and as of 2019, they will be running classes in the Bay of Plenty. Merge NZ offers deaf culture workshops, NZSL learning for infants to adults, professional development for staff and visit schools. Director of Merge NZ and NZSL specialist Jaime Brown says their vision is to normalise NZSL in New Zealand. Deaf people are humans, they have babies, have jobs, go to the bank, need to see doctors, go shopping, or go to a parent teacher interview at their childs school, All these everyday things are made easier if people have a basic understanding of deaf culture and NZSL. Just as most Kiwis can say Kai Ora, or Aroha, it would be great if people could greet a deaf person in NZSL and have a basic understanding of what deaf culture means. We live in a hearing world, everything is designed for people that can hear, it would be great to make this world a little more accessible. We also want deaf children to have schoolmates that can sign, that have teachers that can sign and have families that can sign. There are plenty of deaf and hard of hearing people in the Bay of Plenty, including children, so lets make the Bay a NZSL friendly place to live, says Jaime. Merge NZ will be holding a 15 week beginner course at the Historic Village starting in February 2019. For more information head to Merge NZs Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MergeNZLtd/ Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view. The same failures of the Broward Sheriffs Office still occur in our hypothetical. His deputies are no better trained to handle a school gunman. Ineffective radio communications still hamper the police response. In the months before the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, his department still fails to recognize Nikolas Cruzs dangerous potential despite 23 encounters with the eventual mass murderer. The day of the shooting, his deputies still dawdle outside the school building while children inside are dying. There are an estimated 1.2 million of them who are eligible to join the rolls, or nearly 10 percent of the 13 million registered voters in the state. Thats way more than enough to make a difference in the next presidential election in two years that is, if enough of them register and turn out to vote. Ordinarily, an executive suspension triggers a review by the Florida Senate, which can than launch an investigation and either remove or reinstate the elected official. But in this case, the Senate found that, because Snipes had already resigned, they couldnt review the case. Thats when Snipes sued both Scott and Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, demanding her right to be heard. The order must specify facts sufficient to advise both the officer and the Senate as to the charges made or the basis of the suspension. The governor can suspend an officer on the following grounds: misfeasance, malfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent inability to perform official duties or commission of a felony. The Florida Senates rules state it must institute action by transmitting a notice of hearing within three months of receiving the suspension order. The hearing marks the latest step in Cohen's transformation from a trusted legal adviser to the president to a public antagonist who has cooperated extensively against him. Although Democrats say the questioning will be limited to avoid interfering with open investigations, the hearing is still likely to pull back the curtain on key episodes involving Trump's personal life and business dealings, including hush-money payments to women and a proposed Moscow real estate deal, that federal prosecutors have been dissecting for months. ALBANY ALBANY The campaign for new Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has made helping the working class and poor her top priority, was fined by the state for not carrying workers compensation coverage for a month last year. Just when the victim thought she was getting away, he forced her to the backseat of her own car where he raped her again at gunpoint. He drove her to another location where its clear he would have continued this hours-long sexual assault on her had she not had the wherewithal to remember that she had a spare set of keys on her. The wall was the central promise of Trump's presidential campaign, and supporters of the declaration strategy have been arguing to the president that an emergency declaration is his best option available to end the shutdown, giving him political cover to re-open the government without appearing to cave on the wall. Trump, they argue, then would be able to tell his supporters that he did all he could to fight for the wall, even if his order is stalled or blocked by the courts. You may be able to repurpose some money, he told reporters before his first meeting with the Florida Cabinet in Tallahassee. Im not sure how that works. Obviously anything that was done on the disaster front, we have people that are counting on that. If they backfill it immediately after the government opens, thats fine, but I dont want that to be where that money is not available. Researchers for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported the national total fertility rate, an estimate of how many babies the average woman will have, was 1.7655 in 2017. That's down from 1.8025 in 2016 and 1.8435 in 2015. In recent years theres been an ongoing discussion among forecasters and in the weather media about how best to effectively communicate that wind alone doesnt make for an accurate description of a storms threat especially after the catastrophic water damage unleashed by storms like Katrina in 2005, Sandy in 2012, Harvey and Maria in 2017, and Florence in 2018. Hes a failed leader. He doesnt know what the word urgency means or the word accountability means. And the community needs to move forward, and Im not going anywhere. Im not going anywhere, Pollack said. My daughter was murdered in that school and hes accountable for it. And hes gonna go. Thats all I can tell you. The answer could determine how much is available to the dozens of plaintiffs who have indicated they will sue the Broward Sheriffs Office and the School Board for negligence in the Parkland massacre. Insurance companies say its one incident, capping the states total liability at $300,000 to be divided among all the victims less than $9,000 each for everyone who was pierced by a bullet from Cruzs AR-15 style rifle. I think we need to open our beach up to kayakers and other water sports, she said. Id like to give the lifeguards discretion to decide when its safe or not, depending on the weather or how many people are in the water. He may well be right. In the two most serious cases against him, he is accused of attempting to pass legislation and regulations, in exchange for better coverage in the media. In Case 2000, the legislation was never passed. In Case 4000, Netanyahu argues that the regulations were to the benefit of the nation. By all accounts in both cases, better media coverage by a news media that has always disliked the prime ministerand vice versanever arrived. Adam Raizin's Honda is really two 1979 Civics fused together as one car, creating the illusion that is in constant reverse. The car has been getting a lot of attention on social media after a user posted a video of the car in Broward in the "Only In Dade" Facebook page. (Only In Dade Facebook / Courtesy) Periodically Jack is seen in riffs on Bob Dylans Subterranean Homesick Blues music video. He signs his photos of the murder scenes Mr. Sophistication. Verge, the Virgil stand-in, confronts Jack in the underworld, but Jack is wily; his imagination may be lazily sadistic, but he can talk his way out of most rhetorical corners. (He gasses on and on; the films theatrical cut, which is rated R, runs a tick over two-and-a-half-hours.) They have added the Greek names for the dishes to the menu, such as the new vegetable stew called arakas ($6), fried smelts ($11), grilled sardines ($13), lamb shank ($22), grilled whole red snapper ($28) and grilled long bone pork chop ($28). Chopped roast pork is served Greek festival-style on wax paper on Fridays and Saturdays ($12 per pound). There is no itinerary once the boaters arrive on the islands. Treco says they used to coordinate itineraries, but people wanted to do things on their own. Now, he suggests places to go diving and fishing and makes sure the group understands how to navigate the waters before sending them off. Then, the group meets back up Sunday and returns to Fort Lauderdale together. His grandfather on his fathers side, Robert S. Lafferty, bought the company in 1945 when it was based in Miami and appointed his top salesman, Charles Daniels, to run the Broward branch that was opened in 1949. Daniels ultimately married Chip Laffertys mom, and the companys headquarters was moved from Miami to Fort Lauderdale, where it has remained in the same building at 2125 S. Andrews Ave. My mom recently showed me an old photo of my grandmother, where the octogenarian appears no older than 25. She sits poolside with one manicured hand on her knee, and the other atop her hip. Her elaborate one-piece bathing suit is ribboned at the chest and narrow at the waist. Under the shade of her wide-brimmed sun hat, her red-lipped grin transcends the black-and-white image. Upon first glance of the picture, I thought my grandma resembled a character out of the Amazon Prime original series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. That made me wonder: how many Jewish grandmothers have lived lives like Miriam Maisels? And what is it about this series that makes a teenager like myself think of it just from a photograph of my grandmother? Perhaps, its because I think of the Emmy Award-winning program as being first and foremost Jewish, just like I think of my grandmother. Many episodes have some sort of comment or line that seems Jew-specific. In this sense, the show is unique because it includes some basic Yiddish phrases and major Jewish holidays, but does not spend time explaining them. Nearly all of the principal characters are Jewish. And if an important role is, in fact, a gentile, it is clearly stated (looking at you, Penny Pan). ADVERTISEMENT Ive never watched a show that captures what Jews are so well, said Lisa Miller, a junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School and member of Shaare Emeth Congregation. I cant speak highly enough of it. I love it. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel gets Jewish humorincluding its tone and paceright. From the main character, Miriam (Midge) Maisel, standing on stage and kvetching about her life to calling pot roast the Methodist version of brisket, Mrs. Maisels humor seems to be for Jews, by Jews. The humor is Jewish because it [is] about the family, and everybody seemed to always have a colorful family, no matter where you are, said United Hebrew Congregation member and middle-aged fan of the show, Golda Cohen. Familys extremely important in Judaism, so thats what [Midge] draws on for her comedy routine. Even though Midge jokes about various topics over the course of the series, Cohen notes that the routine always goes back to the family and Midges life. In other words, the family is her shtick. Despite the appeal of Jewish humor to Jews, another fan of the show, Rochelle Popkin, questions the shows effect on non-Jewish viewers. I personally would prefer that the family wouldnt be Jewish and that they wouldnt be bringing up thewhat they consider to beJewish humor, said Popkin, who attends Shaare Emeth Congregation. [There is] too much anti-Semitism in the world today, and it only does us more harm than good. Popkins least favorite character on the show is Moishe Maisel, Midges obnoxious father-in-law. Popkin dislikes his stingy business practices and the way he treats his factory employees. Though she opposes the stereotypical portrayals in the show, Popkin still finds most of the shows humor clever. She also relishes the nostalgia Maisel brings to her. Zelda, a maid who works for Midges family in the show, reminds Popkin of a maid who worked for her own family decades ago. Its fun for those of us who lived during that period of time to go back and be reminded of the way we lived, said Popkin. My parents had a maid that came almost every day. And I dont think people today can afford to do that. Popkin was raised in a small Indiana town and has lived in St. Louis since attending Washington University. Being so far away from New York (where Maisel takes place) all her life, Popkin still sees the lifestyle from the program as foreign. Even though I lived during that period of time, I cant really relate to what people were like who lived in New Yorkand especially getting involved in a nightclub type of a situation, Popkin said. The lifestyle of living in an apartment in New York is just too far away from the way I was brought up. Despite the disconnect with the New York lifestyle, Popkin recalls having articles of clothing that resemble those worn on the show. Her grandparents traveled upstate to the Catskills (like many of the shows characters) for the summer, and Popkin even has a vague memory of making the trip herself. Miller also had family who traveled to the Borscht Belt annually. Millers New York family members even speak, to some extent, like the characters from the show. I have a lot of Jewish family in New York, said Miller. When I first started watching the show I was like, Oh my god, they sound just like that side of my family. It was crazy. So, theyre really nailing their accent. Cohen finds reminiscence in the tone the characters use. Even though she was not yet born, she still recognizes their Jewish inflection, which has largely vanished from her life. I remember as a kid, I would hear that. But today, I dont think I hear it at all from anybody, because the old people from my youth are gone, said Cohen. Were so many generations into living in America that that inflection is gone. As far as the way the characters talk, Popkins primary observation is not about the sound, but rather, the words. She remembers avoiding expletives that Midge uses in the series. Its funny because she uses the F-word quite frequently. And she says that she never talked that way before [becoming a comedian]. I knew a lot of young Jewish women, and most of us would not use that word, not when we were young, said Popkin. It wasnt until later that we felt at ease saying the word. Miller, on the other hand, has been raised in a time during which curse words have proven much more socially acceptable. She also finds the show to be more deeply rooted in Judaism than Cohen or Popkin, possibly because she is younger and/or as a result of growing up less surrounded by Jewish people. Perhaps seeing large groups of Jewish people is more memorable to Miller because she has grown up in a time of less diversity. Pretty much the whole show revolves around Judaism, said Miller. Its the Jewiest show on T.V., so its relatable to me. Cohen, in contrast, notices very few Jewish references in the show. As it relates to Judaism, I dont really see a whole lot, said Cohen. We dont see them talking about going to services But yet, we know its a Jewish family. Though Cohen thinks the show isnt copious in lines and jokes relating to Judaism, she still finds that Maisel resonates with her. She thinks it portrays the familys Judaism as being of some importance. Last month Cohen visited the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot on the campus of Tel Aviv University. There, within an exhibit (titled Let There Be Laughter) dedicated to Jewish comedy around the world, she spotted a poster for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The exhibit, which opened last March, was unveiled just months after the release of the shows first season. Midges surname was displayed alongside iconic ones like Marx, Lebowski and Seinfeld. I thought that was pretty telling that after just one season, a poster for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was out there, said Cohen. If it has already made its way into one museum exhibit, there may be something with this series that is going to stand the test of time. Personally, I just wonder if anyone in the poster looked like my grandmother. The English edition of the late Amos Ozs final book, Dear Zealots: Letters from a Divided Land, stands as a testament from one of modern Israels best-known prophets. For politicians and citizens who just might be paying attention every so often, nothing can be more irritating than a prophet who keeps predicting bad times if present behavior continues. A prolific journalist, novelist and essayist, Oz died of cancer Dec. 28. The English translation of Dear Zealots, by Jessica Cohen, was released Nov. 13. ADVERTISEMENT Ozs best-known works include A Tale of Love and Darkness, about the founding of the Jewish State in 1948; In the Land of Israel, in which Oz interviews Israelis and Palestinians in the aftermath of the Six-Day War in 1967; and Judas, in which he challenges the Judas-betrayed-Jesus story that has caused Jews immeasurable harm over 20 centuries in the Christian West. So the voice of this great Israeli writer is silent. All that is left are his many writings over several decades. This short book, just three essays, develops themes Oz had visited repeatedly, and reinforces his prophetic voice. For instance, in Dreams Israel Should Let Go of Soon, Oz argues that those Jewish zealots who want to hang on to the West Bank regardless of the nearly 3 million Palestinians living there should wake up, face facts and the demographics of Palestinian and Jewish birth rates and figure out a way to make the seemingly doomed two-state solution reality. According to Haaretz, conservative Israelis who want Israel to annex the West Bank argue that the demographics do not favor the Palestinians. Estimates vary, but one is that 4.88 million Palestinians live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and in Gaza, which Israel does not control. Israel counts an additional 1.8 million Arabs as citizens of Israel inside the 1948 lines. Nearly 7 million Jews live between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River. However, Oz argues that the numbers arent the issue. He predicts one state, eventually, in which Jews are the minority. I would find it absolutely unacceptable to be part of a Jewish minority under Arab rule, because almost all of the Arab regimes in the Middle East oppress and humiliate their minorities, Oz writes. And more importantly, because I insist on the right of Israeli Jews, like any other people, to be a majority, if only on a tiny strip of land. Later in this essay, Oz compares Israel to a patient whose injuries a surgeon must assess quickly and accurately to save him: What might kill the patient? In the case of Israel, the primary danger is the continued conflict with the Arabs, which is destined to become a conflict with most of the worlds countries and endanger our very existence. He also laments those fanatics on various sides of religious-fueled conflicts. Oz makes the sane, sound argument that no faith Muslim, Christian, Jewish has a monopoly on violent irrationality as exhibited recently by ISIS, by Baruch Goldstein when he killed 29 Palestinian worshippers at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron in 1994, and by fundamentalist Christians who excuse extreme physical and rhetorical violence in the name of the one they call their savior. The fanatic does not want there to be any differences between people, Oz says. He wants us all to be one. He desires a world with no curtains drawn, no blinds shuttered, no doors locked, no shadow of a private life, for we must all be one body and one soul. The fanatic strives to upgrade and improve you, to open your eyes so that you, too, can see the light. In his longest essay, Many Lights, Not One Light, Oz writes eloquently about Jewish culture and its present manifestation in the revival of Hebrew into a modern language, of the Israeli arts and of the many positive developments since the states independence in 1948. He also links these positive aspects to the long traditions of the Torah, the Talmud and the study of what makes a good person and a moral life. In much the same way that I sometimes reduce all the commandments into one Cause no pain I am sometimes willing to narrow down humanism and pluralism into one simple formula: Recognize the equal right of all human beings to be different. As I reread these and other words by Amos Oz, I recalled his words about Israel today that bite (from an interview with the Forward): Israel is a dream come true, and as a dream come true it is flawed, very flawed, and sometimes dangerously flawed or painfully flawed. But this is in the nature of dreams, not necessarily in the nature of Israel. Or, as he told The Guardian in 2016: I love Israel, but I dont like it very much. Just glancing at the headlines this weekend, in which five Jewish teenagers were arrested in connection with the fatal stoning of a Palestinian woman in October, reminds me why Oz remains important. Sometimes, we turn to writers (and prophets) like Oz to try to make sense of such painful news. We shall miss him. Rev. Ronald L. Bobo greeted congregants of West Side Missionary Baptist Church at the celebration of his 25th anniversary as senior pastor in June 2011. He preaches his last sermon as senior pastor on Sunday. Photo by Lawrence Bryant Issac McClendon, a father of three, was recently released from the Medium Security Institute known as the Workhouse with injuries so severe that he had to go to the emergency room eight times within the first month of being released. When the court ordered him to be monitored with a GPS ankle bracelet, he said no one told him that he had 24 hours to find $300 to pay the private company. A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Wage and salary indices 2021, April Published: 11 January 2019 Wages and salaries sum grew by 4.4 per cent year-on-year in September to November According to Statistics Finlands data, the wages and salaries sum of the whole economy was 4.4 per cent greater in the September to November period than in the corresponding period twelve months earlier. In November, the wages and salaries sum of the whole economy grew by 6.3 per cent from the year before. One year previously in September to November, the wages and salaries sum of the whole economy increased by 3.4 per cent. Three months year-on-year change in the wages and salaries sum, % (TOL 2008) In September to November, the wages and salaries sum increased faster than the whole economy in the industries of private health and social work (6.5%), construction (6.3%) and other services (5.7%). The increase in the wages and salaries sum was most moderate in the industries of manufacturing (2.6%) and private education (1.8%). Wages and salaries sum grew by 5.0 per cent year-on-year in the private sector in September to November The wages and salaries sum in the private sector was 5.0 per cent greater in September to November than twelve months earlier. The wages and salaries sum of the public sector was 3.8 per cent higher than in the corresponding period one year previously. In November, the wages and salaries sum in the private sector increased by 7.8 per cent and in the public sector by 4.2 per cent from one year earlier. In September to November one year ago, the wages and salaries sum grew by 4.9 per cent in the private sector and by 0.7 per cent in the public sector from the previous year. Three months year-on-year change in the wages and salaries sum of the whole economy, and the private and the public sector, % (TOL 2008 and S 2012) Source data of the wage and salary indices will change in 2019 The wages and salaries sum refers to the sum total of the gross wages and salaries paid to employees without incentive stock options. The wages and salaries sum is influenced by changes in employment and in the earnings level of wage and salary earners. Starting from 1 January 2019, all wage and salary income and earned income used in the wage and salary indices are reported to the Incomes Register. Therefore, data published in March 2019 concerning the wage and salary indices concerning January 2019 come from different data than before due to the change. The data previously derived from the Tax Administration's data on self-assessed taxes. Read more about the change: Changes in these statistics. Industries of enterprises have been revised in the data released in January Starting from this statistical release the latest industries defined by the Business Register have been taken into use in the turnover and wage and salary indices. The industry corrections are visible as revised data in some of the published industries for the years 2017-2018. The effects of the changes are taken into consideration in statistics production so that no breaks occur in the time series of the published index series. The interpretation of the statistics also remains unchanged in the renewal. Revisions to annual changes in industries are presented under Revisions in these statistics. Source: Wage and salary indices, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Anna Mustonen 029 551 3651, palvelut.suhdanne@stat.fi Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko Publication in pdf-format (304.0 kB) Updated 11.1.2019 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Wage and salary indices [e-publication]. ISSN=1798-6125. November 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 16.6.2021]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ktps/2018/11/ktps_2018_11_2019-01-11_tie_001_en.html ASHTABULA [emdash] Vincent John Collise, 77, passed away unexpectedly, Monday, June 14, 2021 at ACMC. His is survived by wife, Nancy and daughter, Kimberley. No services will be held. Ducro Funeral Services and Crematory is handling arrangements. www.ducro.com The 51 beef breeding cattle on parade featured four pedigree bulls and it was one of these, a four-year-old Limousin, the first entry into the main sale ring, from Richard and Val Brown, of Kirkby Malham, that headed the section and the days selling prices at 2,100 when finding a new home in Nidderdale with Ned Simpson, of Heathfield, Pateley Bridge. A total of 23 customers vied for the 324 young feeding bulls on offer in the Craven Ring and the sale produced an identical average to last years corresponding fixture of 951 per head, with an extra 50 sold. Some exceptional runs of bulls were seen, with buyers prepared to pay a premium for well drawn animals sold in groups. Peter Holt, of Rossendale, was top price performer at 1,340 with a 12-and-a-half-month-old British Blue claimed by York farmer and butcher Anthony Swales, a regular buyer at the fixture with ten acquisitions in total. All will find their way into the food chain at his Knavesmire Butchers Shop in Albermarle Road. Young bulls aged 5-10 months peaked at 1,160 for a Limousin-cross from James and Deborah Odgen, of Austwick, with Jeff Pickles, of Chapel-le-Dale, presenting the top price 1,200 11-12 months Limousin-cross. The 47 beef feeding cows were a sharper trade than of late, with additional customers operating at the ringside and 11 successful purchasers. The best end made 1,100-1,200, topping at 1,300 for a fleshed Limousin-cross from David Bamforth, of Wainstalls, Halifax, sold to a Welsh buyer, Owain Llyr, of Ruthin. The section average was 869. As the ambiguity of Brexit hangs over the sheep industry, this years event takes the theme of vital information for an uncertain future, with a highlight set to be the three seminars held throughout the day featuring leading figures from the UK sheep industry. The first seminar of the day will see a panel of industry experts, including leading sheep vet Fiona Lovatt, discussing the important topic of responsible antibiotic use. With increasing coverage on the need to reduce antibiotic use in livestock production this seminar will explore practical examples of reducing antibiotic use through vaccine use and best practice as well as updating attendees on what the wider industry is doing to reduce antibiotic use. As popular media continues to raise questions over the health benefits of red meat in addition to increasing claims livestock production is ruining the British countryside and wider environment, seminar two will look to how industry can overcome this and counteract the damaging and, in many cases, false allegations. A panel including key representatives from AHDB Beef and Lamb, Pasture Fed Livestock Association and progressive upland farmer Jim Beary will debate the issue. English10/01/2019 EUROPEAN COMMISSIONS ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED ASAP SARAJEVO, January 10 /SRNA/ - BiH Presidency Member Sefik Dzaferovic said today that BiH needs to answer as soon as possible additional questions of the European Commission Questionnaire. At a press conference in Sarajevo after meeting with European Parliament Rapporteur for BiH Christian Dan Preda, Dzaferovic expressed his expectation that the Council of Ministers will complete the answers in the coming days and submit them to the European Commission. He has explained that there are certain problems related to answering questions from chapter 26 related to education, which concern different levels of competence. According to Dzaferovic, in addition to answering additional questions of the European Commission Questionnaire, the functioning of the joint parliamentary committee of BiH and the European Commission was also discussed in the meeting. Recalling that Republika Srpska MPs in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH have their opinion regarding the decision making in that parliamentary committee, the Bosniak member of the Presidency expressed view that BiH should accept the rules of the European Parliament. He has announced that after the formation of commissions, he will initiate a meeting with the parliament representatives in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly regarding this issue. Dzaferovic has pointed out that the goal for BiH is to gain a candidate status for EU membership this year before the election for the European Parliament. Responding to a question posed by journalists on yesterdays attendance of Croatian Ambassador to BiH, Ivan Del Vechio, in Banjaluka events related to the Republika Srpska Day, Dzaferovic said that it was condemnable. "Attending this anti-constitutional act is disrespect for the sovereignty of BiH," said Dzaferovic, adding that Del Vechio "excluded himself from all contacts with him in the future". Dzaferovic announced that he would initiate certain procedures in the Presidency of BiH on this occasion. Commenting on US Secretary of State Michael Pompeos call to the BiH Presidency to accept the National Annual Program of NATO Cooperation, Dzaferovic has said it is about "a hand of support that is in the interest of all peoples and citizens of BiH". Dzaferovic expressed the hope that the BiH Presidency and the Council of Ministers will discuss this issue in this direction. Presidency member Zeljko Komsic and EU Special Representative to BiH, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, also attended the meeting in the BiH Presidency. /end/vos Former Brexit Minister David Davis 'We Should Not Be Afraid of No Deal' In an interview, former British cabinet minister David Davis says he believes the Brexit deal between the EU and Britain will ultimately fail. The politician also expresses doubts about the predicted chaos that could spark. Minnesota Public Radio News can be heard in Steele County on 103.9 FM or online at MPRnews.org. You are the owner of this article. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Enterprise, AL (36331) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Generally clear skies. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Generally clear skies. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4dac2f8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4db45a0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4dac2f8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4db45a0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4dc67d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4db45a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4db45a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff441bd08)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff4dca3e8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff4dca3e8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4e12e28)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff81e72f8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4e12e28)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff81e72f8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4d3ae88)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff81e72f8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff81e72f8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff441b408)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff79a95f0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff79a95f0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff48ee6a8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4e6fad0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff48ee6a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4e6fad0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff48fd968)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4e6fad0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4e6fad0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff441cdc8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff4a95fc8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff4a95fc8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff49b0028)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4d52508)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff49b0028)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4d52508)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff49e6898)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4d52508)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4d52508)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff441bd08)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff4d4eda8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff4d4eda8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Sify.com Movies Reviews Bollywood The Accidental Prime Minister The Accidental Prime Minister review: Kher, Khanna raise the bar in an otherwise average flick Anupam Kher provides Dr Manmohan Singh with a measure of dignity but Akshay Khanna steals the show as Sanjaya Baru Source: SIFY By: Prathmesh Kher / Sify.com Critic's Rating: 2.5/5 Tuesday 04 June 2019 Movie Title The Accidental Prime Minister review: Kher, Khanna raise the bar in an otherwise average flick Director Vijay Ratnakar Gutte Star Cast Anupam Kher, Akshaye Khanna, Aahana Kumra, Suzanne Bernet, Arjun Mathur 'Myths were lies breathed through silver' C S Lewis once wrote. Although such lofty ambitions are not at the heart of The Accidental Prime Minister, it does have a story to tell. The movie based on the 2014 memoir of the same name by Sanjaya Baru, who was former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's media advisor, alleges that Dr Singh was not entirely in control of his cabinet or even the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and reveals, or at least suggests by professed revelation, that significant power was wielded by the Congress party's president Sonia Gandhi, to whom Singh was subservient. Considering it clocks in at less than two hours, the movie covers nearly a full decade's worth of politics; from Sonia Gandhi's selection of Dr Singh as Prime Minister, to his early days in office, the passing of his mentor P V Narasimha Rao, the India-US nuclear deal and the many scams in Singh's second term. Petta review: This Superstar film is a solid crowd pleaser | Viswasam review: An engaging mass entertainer | Uri review: The war film we've been waiting for Anupam Kher leads the movie and the government therein as Dr Singh, playing him in understated fashion, never quite a caricature nor altogether revelatory of the man's true inner workings. Of particular note is Kher's performance as he enters his office for the first time as Prime Minister, reminiscing about the many positions he'd held in those very corridors of power. As he gently touches the chair in the office he is given a measure of dignity that his critics of yore would not have deigned to afford him. Kher presents Manmohan Singh is a self-aware man, conscious that he was chosen where other peers and seniors were not, and makes an effort to do the right thing in his own genteel manner. The real heroics of this piece thus are granted to Akshay Khanna, who plays Sanjaya Baru and employs the lack of a defined public image to full effect in his performance. Dressed in the flashiest suits to have ever graced Raisina Hill's South Block, Khanna's Baru is an affably charming, quick-witted, fourth wall breaking media man in a sort of paternal love for Kher's Dr Singh whilst fully aware of his boss' shortcomings as a political animal. If Kher's technocratic Manmohan Singh is the soul of this two-man band then Khanna's Sanjaya Baru is its heart. While the other parts in the movie, including that of Rahul Gandhi and Ahmed Patel, essayed by Arjun Mathur and Vipin Sharma respectively, are given little to work with, Suzanna Bernert does give Sonia Gandhi life within the diktats of the role. Much of the movie's intended disapprobation of the dual centres of power of Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh is presented through covert edits rather than express dialogue. The film takes great pains to portray Dr Singh akin to Mahabharata's Bhishma, a wise old patriarch without malice locked in the middle of family drama. "There cannot be two centres of power, I have to accept that the party president is the centre of power, the movie's Dr Singh explains to Baru. One does not suspect the Congress need to worry about the portrayal of the Gandhis; there are no revelations about the party or its leadership that anyone with insight does not already know at this late date. But for all its strong performances the movie does have its downsides. Choppily edited scenes often jump ahead seemingly without an internal rhythm. The writing, much like the pacing of the movie, is too convenient at times and the continual muting of select words or phrases (looking at you CBFC) is distracting and feels like an act of supererogation on the part of the censors. The decision to cut together the movie versions of the political players with news footage featuring their real-world counterparts is also jarring. Why bother casting Anupam Kher if you will simply show Dr Singh's meet with George Bush via stock footage. Incidentally, for a movie that hits theatres in an election year, the story has surprisingly little time for the then-Opposition, now-incumbent BJP, including current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who only make cursory appearances at key junctures in the story. The Accidental Prime Minister, at its core, stages itself as a relationship of two men beset by palace politics in the world's largest democracy. If you are moved by this fictionalised version of Dr Manmohan Singh and Sanjaya Baru then you'd have had a good time watching this piece. If not, que sera sera. SHEPHERDSTOWN In the almost four years since it was opened at 110 West German Street, The Badgerhound Studio and Gallery has become a fixture in town. Run by fiances and business partners Michael T. Davis and Emily Vaughn, The Badgerhound sets itself apart from the other art galleries in town, as it mainly exhibits the work of Davis and Vaughn. It also, uniquely, is named after the breed of one of the couples two dogs. The Badgerhound kind of sounds like an old English pub, Davis said, with a smile, mentioning the couples dachshund, Fredo, is the dog pictured on the business sign. Davis, a West Virginia native and Shepherd University graduate, met Vaughn in Baltimore, where Vaughn graduated with her bachelors degree in general fine arts from the Maryland Institute College of Arts and he completed a graduate certificate course from the Schuler School of Fine Arts. At the time, Davis was in another relationship, and the two went their separate ways. But when Vaughn, who was teaching in Japan, heard he was no longer in a relationship, she reconnected with him. After three years of long-distance dating, Vaughn returned to the U.S. Vaughn moved with Davis back to his college town, and while he chose to become a self-sustaining artist 17 years ago, she worked at Michaels part-time for seven years, before quitting her job two years ago, to focus on her fiber art. It provides for a very eclectic atmosphere. Were both just working artists supporting ourselves and making a living, Vaughn said, mentioning she and Davis both teach and sell their work. The goal is the same, we just have different approaches. According to Vaughn, quitting her job was something she had wanted to do for a while, but she didnt feel any urgency to do so until the 2016 general election. The panic finally pushed me into being a full-time artist. It seemed like a good impetus, to put that energy into my work, Vaughn said. Since then, both she and Vaughn have created works contemplating political issues, some of which have been so popular, they have turned into a series, such as Davis Modern Day Presidential series of paintings. We both really influence each other, Vaughn said, before describing an exhibition she plans to open in March, related to the Rockwool plant controversy. According to Davis, community members are encouraged to come in and check out the gallery, so they can get a better picture of the business art and see the artists at work. Trying to get people to come in here and look around can be difficult, Davis said, mentioning his art can also be viewed on Instagram, at michaeltdavis.fineart, and both his and Vaughns work can be seen at badgerhoundgallery. The Badgerhound Studio and Gallery is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/BadgerHoundStudio/, emilyvaughnfineart.com or call 304-261-6028. SHEPHERDSTOWN According to Pablo Picasso, Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. What better way to begin the new year, than by dusting off the soul by creating visual art? For The Badgerhound Studio and Gallery owners Michael T. Davis and Emily Vaughn, it is never too late to start creating art. The couple, who have run the business at 110 West German Street for almost four years, not only create their own art, but they also offer classes to teach their art knowledge to children and adults alike. I try to keep it low-key, like an atelier, where I will have two to three students working here at one time, Davis said, mentioning he teaches the adult classes, while Vaughn teaches the classes for children 12-and-up. Davis teaches art with their mature perspectives in mind, and provides them with opportunities to create art using a photograph, still-life or model, which he brings into his studio once a week. The Badgerhound is treated like a gallery on the weekend, but on weekdays, it is closed, so Davis and his and Vaughns students can work in a calm atmosphere. The way this functions, is that it is my little studio, Davis said. So when it says closed, Im in here working, and I have my students that come in here through the week. I teach the same techniques I learned from Schuler School of Fine Arts, Davis said, mentioning he has room in his schedule to accept a couple new students. I get a lot of people who are retired who are interested in learning the how to with painting, not just the what for. I teach people how to paint, not what to paint, so they can go out and do it themselves. Similarly understanding the needs of her students, Vaughn finds a way to encourage students creativity and build their knowledge, by focusing on art history during every lesson. Vaughn chooses a different artist to discuss each month, whose life and art techniques can teach unique lessons to her students. Vaughn teaches one-on-one lessons, as well as group art classes, which are priced for $15 for a single or $50 for four classes. One thing Ive been doing since the 2016 election, is Ive been showing students how art can be a catalyst for change, Vaughn said. Vaughn teaches this lesson through using a poster she painted of Charles Town resident and 2018 Democratic political candidate Sammi Brown, the design of which was inspired by former President Barack Obamas campaign poster. For the couple, passing along their knowledge of art is an essential part of what they do. I feel like now-a-days, art in the school system is pushed to the side, and it needs to be affordable, Vaughn said. Davis agreed, before explaining art needs to be taught differently than it has been in recent years, for both adults and children. I think the problem with art, and the reason it has isolated itself from public school systems, is people dont understand it. I think the reason it gets cut from schools, is people dont see it as part of their lives anymore, Davis said, mentioning art is starting to move away from abstract work and back to realism. The bottom line is, art should be relatable. For more information about studying art with Davis or Vaughn, call The Badgerhound Studio and Gallery at 304-261-6028, or email michaeltd7@gmail.com or missemilyart@gmail.com. SHEPHERDSTOWN Jazz music filled the air, as the Matthew Holmes Quartet celebrated the New Year on Jan. 1, with a jazz brunch at Domestic. The New Years Day Jazz Brunch attracted jazz and food lovers alike to the restaurant, which hosted the event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I could hear the music from my apartment and out front, said Sean Riley, of Shepherdstown, as he walked his dogs, Ewok and Max, past the restaurant. Im just hanging with my dogs, listening to music at Domestic. For Jason and Darlene Weller, the promise of live jazz music was what drew them out from their Charles Town home for brunch. We came for the jazz a happier start to everything, Darlene said. Jason agreed, mentioning he and his wife were looking forward to attending the annual event. It was just good music and good food. I hope for a healthier new year, as we are getting older, and we have to put more focus on our health now, Jason said, mentioning he and Darlene are growing more aware of how the food they are eating influences their long-term health. In fact, during the brunch the couple met an organic farmer whose clean-eating lifestyle made an impression on them. As I was sitting beside an organic farmer in there, I was feeling guilty eating my french fries, Jason said, with a smile. Along with wanting to hear good music, some community members came to the brunch because it was one of the few events going on in town on New Years Day. One of the reasons I came today, is that its one of the only places open today. Normally Im working on New Years Day, so Im happy I had the time off, said Kellen Healy, of Shepherdstown. Im a big fan of jazz music, so this was a nice bonus to my meal. Fellow jazz lover Mike Tollifson, of Shepherdstown, said he was glad to hear the New Orleans-style music being played. It just amazes me all of the things that go on in this town. We appreciate music, we appreciate art, we appreciate good food, Tollifson said, mentioning he moved to Shepherdstown several years ago, to be near his mother. Were not a typical West Virginia town. Ive lived in nine states I cant think of a nicer place, Tollifson said. How many towns have a jazz concert for New Years Day? New Zealand councils consented almost 32,800 new dwellings in the year through November, 5.3 percent more than a year earlier, according to Stats NZ. That growth was driven by a 21 percent increase in Auckland to 12,800, and a 21 percent increase in the Wellington region, where 2,727 consents for homes, apartments and retirement units were issued during the 12-month period. "Stand-alone houses accounted for nearly two-thirds of new homes consented in the year ended November," construction statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said. "We saw a sustained increase in apartments, as well as townhouses, flats, and units, particularly in Auckland." Parts of New Zealand are in a sustained building boom, with economic growth and several years of strong net migration maintaining activity, even as Canterburys post-earthquake home construction has slowed. Auckland, Waikato and Wellington have dominated that recent growth, with eight of the countrys 16 regions reporting declines in dwelling consents relative to the November 2017 year. Stats NZ noted that consents in the rest of the North Island fell 8.1 percent to 5,470 in the year through November. Dwelling consents in Canterbury were down 8.8 percent at 4,668, with those in the rest of the South Island down 2.5 percent at 3,418. ASB said that, while consent issuance is down from earlier in 2018, it is likely to remain relatively elevated in order to catch-up with pent-up housing demand. We are encouraged by the strong supply response evident in Wellington building consents over October and November. In contrast, the signs of slowing building consents in Auckland over recent months, despite the well-publicised housing shortage, remains puzzling, the bank said in a note to clients. It noted that the $831 million of non-residential work approved in November was the second highest on record. There are no signs of a slowdown in commercial construction, despite weak business confidence levels seen over the year. New Zealands housing shortage particularly in Auckland was a key issue in the 2017 election. The Labour-led coalition has pledged to build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 years under its KiwiBuild programme a target that appears challenging given capacity constraints in the sector. Last April, Westpac estimated that Auckland was short of about 30,000 homes. Today, chief economist Dominick Stephens said building activity has picked up but will vary regionally depending on housing stock and population growth. He said the country is now building more than twice as many homes as it was in 2009, while net migration is also falling away. Those forces should move into balance sometime this year. So were now at a point where were roughly building enough homes to keep up with population growth, he said. But we have to keep building at that rate to clear the shortfall, he told BusinessDesk. Monthly consent numbers are volatile. Historically consents for new homes tended to peak mid-year, for summer construction, but the trend to more apartments and the growth of the retirement home sector has increased the variability in the data. A total of 3,120 consents were issued for all types of homes in November, up almost 7 percent from October but down 4.4 percent from a year earlier. It was the most since May, when more than 3,400 consents were issued, boosted by big apartment and retirement projects. Stats NZ said that, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, the November numbers fell 2 percent from October, but were 1.9 percent higher on a smoothed trend basis. Westpac said the November decline was concentrated in the multiple-dwelling data and was most pronounced in Auckland. Given how volatile consents for multiple dwellings can be, this one-month decline is of little concern, Stephens said in a note. We continue to expect a pick-up in residential building activity during 2019, although beyond that we expect construction sector growth to tail off. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 16th June 2021 Morning Report Investore Property Limited (NZX: IPL) Divestment of Dunedin Property 15th June 2021 Morning Report 14th June 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Update on Financial Impact of Canterbury Floods SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) Earnings Guidance for FY21 Result 11th June 2021 Morning Report Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) Announces $284 Million Revaluation Uplift 10th June 2021 Morning Report Me Today Limited (NZX: MEE) Opening of Offer to Retail Investors The New Zealand dollar is headed for a 1.5 percent weekly gain after soothing comments from the Federal Reserve and signs of progress in US-China trade talks reduced fears of sharply slowing global growth. The kiwi was trading at 68.06 US cents at 5pm, from 67.87 cents late yesterday and 67.02 cents this time a week ago. The trade-weighted index was at 73.46 from 73.29. BNZ, which is picking the kiwi dollar to end 2019 at 70 US cents, said slower global growth this year is to be expected, but that is a long way from the deep downturn some investors had been picking late last year. If anything, pricing so far for 2019 suggests that risk assets might have overshot to the downside late last year, pricing in too much pessimism about the economic outlook, senior markets strategist Jason Wong said in an outlook paper today. The New Year has begun with higher global equity markets, higher global rates, higher commodity prices and stronger emerging market and commodity currencies. Equity markets, and the kiwi, gained this week after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell last Friday affirmed his confidence in the US economy but signalled the central bank would take a more patient view on further rate rises this year. Last night, he told the Economic Club of Washington DC that the US economy is still solid and that his principal concern is the risk of a global slowdown. Chinas economy has slowed, he said, but authorities there have taken repeated actions to support growth and the most likely baseline for China is another year of solid growth. Signs of progress during an extended three-day session of trade talks between Chinese and US officials in Beijing earlier this week also emboldened investors. BNZ said the 90-day truce declared in December in the two countries trade war had already reduced some of the risk to the global economy. It expects an agreement around March, but also noted that tensions will remain, given Chinas increasing challenge to US dominance. Tensions are likely to linger for years to come but the silly policy of imposing silly tit-for-tat tariffs is likely to draw to a close, significantly reducing a risk factor that has been overhanging the global economy and markets for some time, Wong said. The dearth of domestic data this week has left investors focused offshore for leads. The next the major data are US December CPI numbers due overnight. Stats NZ data today showed dwelling consents fell 2 percent in November on a seasonally-adjusted basis, having risen 1.4 percent in October. On a trend basis, the latest numbers increased 1.9 percent. Westpac, which expects a further pick-up in residential construction this year, was untroubled by the decline, which it said was mostly due to a reduction in the volatile multiple dwelling component of the data. In Australia, data showed retail sales in November were slightly stronger than expected, rising 0.4 percent on a seasonally-adjusted basis. They were 2.8 percent higher than a year earlier. The New Zealand dollar is trading at 94.45 Australian cents from 94.41 late yesterday. It was at 73.70 yen from 73.17, at 53.33 British pence from 53.03, at 59.05 euro cents from 58.65, and at 4.5954 Chinese yuan from 4.6052. The New Zealand two-year swap rate ended the session at 1.9233 from 1.9139 yesterday; the 10-year rate rose to 2.6225 from 2.6100. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 16th June 2021 Morning Report Investore Property Limited (NZX: IPL) Divestment of Dunedin Property 15th June 2021 Morning Report 14th June 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Update on Financial Impact of Canterbury Floods SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) Earnings Guidance for FY21 Result 11th June 2021 Morning Report Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) Announces $284 Million Revaluation Uplift 10th June 2021 Morning Report Me Today Limited (NZX: MEE) Opening of Offer to Retail Investors After an inordinate amount of hype and years of heart-stopping Is it coming? Is it not?, the worlds largest furniture and home furnishings retailer, Ikea, has held a press conference, ostensibly to announce details about the companys arrival in New Zealand. Around 100 breathless journalists, Ikea supporters and Scandinavian dignitaries arrived at the Cloud in Auckland to be told: there will be meatballs. But not much more. Without being specific, its a dream, but we dont have a plan yet, said Jesper Brodin, president and CEO of the Ingka Group, which holds the franchise for Ikea in New Zealand and other parts of the world. We are at the start of the process. Its too premature to be specific, said market potential development manager Will Edwards. So heres what we know: When: The first Ikea store in New Zealand will be open within a few years - more than two, less than 10. Where: The first iconic full-service blue and yellow store will be somewhere in Auckland. Precise location still to be decided. Next up: the South Island, though what format that presence will take isnt known. After that: heading north again. What: The full monty - 7,000 Ikea home furnishing and click-together kitchen products. How big: Internationally, Ikea has big stores - like, 25,000 square-metres - and boutique ones (less than 1,000sqm). Auckland will get the full concept store, Edwards says, though future ones in other cities will probably be smaller. How much will Ikea spend: Theres been speculation an Ikea franchise licence costs around $35 million and the company would be looking at around $90 million to build a full-service store here. Edwards says Ikea is close to putting a price tag on the build, but he isnt giving anything away. How many people does Ikea expect to come through the doors: Millions. Will there be an online offering: Yes. Digital Ikea in New Zealand is planned to start on or around the same date as physical Ikea NZ. Will stuff be as cheap as in Australian stores: Maybe, maybe not, but New Zealanders will get the very best prices. What will happen to existing parallel importers: We will have a dialogue Edwards says. Which appears to mean they will be nudged out once Ikea arrives. Will there be a creche: No, but there will likely be a play area. And kids can jump on the sofas. Will there be meatballs: Definitely. Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad famously said its hard to do business on an empty stomach. There will be food. Any other definites? Ikea was founded in Sweden 76 years ago and has 400 stores in 50 countries. Its been in Australia for more than 40 years. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 16th June 2021 Morning Report Investore Property Limited (NZX: IPL) Divestment of Dunedin Property 15th June 2021 Morning Report 14th June 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Update on Financial Impact of Canterbury Floods SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) Earnings Guidance for FY21 Result 11th June 2021 Morning Report Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) Announces $284 Million Revaluation Uplift 10th June 2021 Morning Report Me Today Limited (NZX: MEE) Opening of Offer to Retail Investors Press Release January 11, 2019 POE BLASTS PLANNED CLOSURE OF MAKATI-MANDALUYONG BRIDGE, ASKS DPWH TO EXPLAIN Acting on motorists' complaints, Sen. Grace Poe today pressed government to revisit the merits of replacing the perfectly-working Rockwell bridge with a China-funded one amid allegations that the latter will not bring relief to the 500,000 people who use the Makati to Mandaluyong bridge every day. Poe also echoed public complaints of "no effective traffic mitigation plan" during the 30 months that the P1.3 billion bridge over the Pasig River will be constructed by a Chinese contractor. "To add insult to injury," the Chinese contractor, Poe said, is the same state-owned firm assigned to reclaim land in the West Philippine Sea. China Communications and Construction Corp. "was also banned by the World Bank in 2009 for anomalies related to several multi-billion-peso Philippine road projects it had funded," Poe said. "This is a case of a bridge we may not need, whose construction will inconvenience many for a long time, and is being built by a company who after being banned by the World Bank for bungling a road project here became part of the massive land reclamation in the West Philippine Sea," Poe said. Poe said officials must answer the observation shared by many groups that the advantages of having a four-lane bridge are cancelled when both ends lead to two-lane roads. "Will this not just create a bottleneck?" she asked. "If the roads will not be widened then why replace a relatively new bridge with one that is four times its price?" Poe said, comparing the P300 million cost of the present bridge with the reported P1.3 billion price tag of the one to be built by China. "Ang isa pang issue ay ang kawalan ng alternatibong daanan habang ginagawa ang bagong tulay. This is a major link through which 100,000 vehicles pass daily. Close it and it will worsen the situation in that parking lot called EDSA," Poe said. Poe said "valid concerns of affected motorists, residents and businesses" would have been threshed out if public consultations were called by the government prior to its acceptance of China's offer to build what is officially called the Pantaleon-Estrella Bridge. "It appears that we were lured into accepting this gift without asking ourselves if we need it and if the inconveniences it would cause are worth it. It appears that there was no independent cost-benefit analysis done," Poe said. "Hindi naman po tayo anti-development. Ang gusto lang natin maayos at hindi makakasama sa atin. 'Yung hindi donor-driven, may people's consultation, at sapat ang feasibility study," Poe said. The closure of the bridge has been moved from January 12 to January 19 reportedly because the signages for rerouting are not yet complete. "Again, the issue here is not just the need for signages. They should build another bridge traversing Pasig River before closing one, else, there'll be havoc," Poe said. The closure is set to take effect by January 19. Press Release January 11, 2019 Koko: Rice tariffication law to benefit consumers, address NFA issues Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III today said that the impending signing into law of the rice tariffication measure is expected to "stabilize rice prices, boost food security, and cure a decades-long rice procurement system ridden with inefficiency and corruption." Both houses of Congress ratified the measure last November 2018. It is set to be transmitted to Malacanang for the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte. The bill, which amends the twenty year-old Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, replaces the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice imports with a 35 percent tariff. "This is a groundbreaking change from the old system where imports were subjected to regulations that are vulnerable to graft and to traders who want to engage in price manipulation," said the senator from Mindanao. "Now, legitimate rice traders can import rice without need of any permit from the National Food Authority (NFA). They just need to secure import clearances from the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry and pay the appropriate tariff to the Bureau of Customs," added Pimentel. According to the legislator, "by signing the tariffication measure into law, the President will allow market forces and fair competition to dictate the supply and pricing of rice. This ensures stable stocks year round all over the country and gives consumers greater freedom of choice." The Mindanao-born legislator was also quick to point out that removing QR on rice importation and limiting the responsibilities of the National Food Authority (NFA) wiIl "focus" the priorities of the grains agency and address the agency's efficiency and corruption issues. Pimentel explained that under the rice tariffication law, the NFA would be tasked mainly to ensure the sufficiency of buffer stocks for use in emergencies. "The NFA retains its functions to buy palay from local farmers, but it will not be involved in importation. This should lead to a more focused and improved NFA, which will be tasked to work with the Agriculture department to develop cost-efficient systems that will boost domestic rice production and assist our struggling rice farmers." The bill also provides for the establishment of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which aims to use tariff revenues for productivity-enhancing programs for rice farmers. These programs include the improvement of farm mechanization, development of high-yielding rice seed varieties and promotion of use, expanded rice credit, crop diversification, and extension services. "In a country with a population of 104 million people that continues to grow, food security is a serious concern that requires decisive action and sweeping reforms to ensure that food staples like rice are available and affordable," Pimentel stressed. "Properly implemented, the rice tariffication law should help secure these objectives. The onus is on the NFA and DA to make this work, and the President has shown that he will not hesitate to crack the whip to ensure that the Executive Department delivers." Press Release January 11, 2019 MR. PRESIDENT, STOP NORMALIZING RAPE *Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on President Duterte's remark that rape comes with territory for OFWs Mr. President, stop normalizing and trivializing rape. There is nothing normal about the culture of rape. It is one of the worst kinds of abuses to which a person can be subjected. And while rape and other forms of sexual abuse are gruesome realities faced by a lot of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), by saying that rape "comes with the territory" and is "part of the culture" of working abroad, President Rodrigo Duterte just admitted that he is powerless to protect our OFWs. So much for "tapang at malasakit." It is both a surrender to and state promotion of the rape culture. Of course, the President's apologists, acting as "Duterpreters," will say that he is simply engaging in colorful language. Rape jokes and the trivialization of sexual abuse are not soundbites. They are not creative attempts at word play. They are conscious efforts to weaponize language as a medium in which sexism, gender discrimination and violence against women are committed and replicated. Sabi nila dapat masanay na tayo sa pananalita ng Pangulo. Sorry, but I refuse to get used to it. So should the public. We should continue to push back. The moment we trivialize violence against women and misogyny is the time we become not only fence-sitters to these vile evils but also complicit in their horrific culture. Press Release January 11, 2019 COMPLAINTS VS SM STRUCTURES IN BAGUIO, OTHER IMMEDIATE WOES RAISED DURING GORDON'S HEARING, PUBLIC CONSULTATION A concerned citizen turned a hearing/public consultation presided by Senator Richard J. Gordon in Baguio City last week into a venue for raising their complaints against SM City Baguio's ongoing and planned building constructions in the City of Pines and other problems faced by the city. During the hearing on Senate Bill No. 1692 or the Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay Development Authority, Monin Navarro, a board member of the Baguio Heritage Foundation, raised the immediate problems in Baguio, which included SM's Sky Ranch and its plan to build a condominium at the GSIS owned forest park by Convention Center; and the planned parking structures at the Burnham Park. "These problems could not wait for the BLISTTDA. They need the Senate's immediate attention," she stressed. Officials of the University of the Philippines and the University of the Cordilleras have filed a complaint against SM for the noise, sound and other pollution that would be created by the Sky Ranch, an amusement park being constructed near the premises of both academic institutions. Both universities also sent representatives to the hearing on the proposed measure which seeks to create a development authority to provide an avenue for greater local government cooperation between Baguio City and the municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay for a collectively planned development of the area, delivery of basic services and implementation of projects in view of the common vision for economic development, improved governance and better quality of living for the people In response, Gordon said the problems of the country's Summer Capital, which is already overloaded, should be resolved or President Rodrigo R. Duterte could also close Baguio City down like he did in Boracay so it could recover from the despoiling that it has suffered due to overloading. Gordon gave assurance that parking structures will not be built at Burnham Park and was also receptive to Navarro's suggestion of implementing a moratorium on the constructions of multi-level buildings in Baguio City. Press Release January 11, 2019 Dispatch from Crame No. 447: SEN. LEILA M. DE LIMA ON BONG GO'S SHAMELESS EARLY CAMPAIGNING AND LACK OF DELICADEZA 1/11/19 Bong Go is everywhere, inescapable in all sizes and in all forms. There has been an ongoing invasion of public spaces by his tarpaulins and expensive billboards, and on TV, radio, print and social media, he's ubiquitous these past months. He obviously has a well-oiled electoral machinery. But where does he get the funds? He does all these even way before the start of the official campaign period, taking advantage of a gap in our election laws and jurisprudence which tolerates premature campaigning. What is clear is that Bong Go follows the template of Epal politics, one which is full of lavish or immoderate display of him signifying nothing. But his case is so brazen in its utter lack of delicadeza. He is supposed to have resigned already as Special Assistant to the President (SAP) when he filed his certificate of candidacy. But why is he always with Digong to attend events practically acting as his official cameraman and Twitter/Socmed guy? It's even akin to usurpation of authority, since someone else is supposed to have taken already his previous functions as SAP. But since he continues to act as Duterte's super alalay, it is safe to presume that public funds are also expended while he is campaigning early... and still assuming the SAP role. I read in the news about a project financed through government funds but it was "[f]ormer Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go [who] led representatives from various government agencies" in launching the project. This is just one among government projects he attended, and led, with an enlarged photo of his face as the event's backdrop, and the event's name placed below in smaller font, complete with his own campaign jingles. And so gracious of him to be regularly distributing dole outs and relief goods, laden with his name and campaign color, in almost all calamity-stricken areas. But again, I ask, are the millions of pesos expended for these sourced from Bong Go's personal funds or otherwise? Habang ang ibang mga kandidato ay abalang inaayos ang kanilang plataporma at mga isyung nais tugunan at mga batas na nais isulong, si Bong Go ay abala sa pagrampa gamit ang makinarya at pondo ng gobyerno. I have to personally and emphatically raise this concern because, as former election lawyer, I find the acts of the presidential sidekick highly irregular and questionable. His aura of untouchability ought to offend our rudimentary sense of fair play. Maliban sa ang ganyang klase ng kampanya ay sumisira sa balanse at patas na eleksyon, lumalayo rin ito sa dapat na maging sentro ng diskusyon tuwing halalan - ang pagtalakay at pagpanukala ng solusyon sa mga mabibigat na problema ng bayan. I am hoping that by now, it is becoming apparent to the Filipino public that our mounting social, political and economic problems cannot be resolved by mere jokes and being jocular, more so being Epal. One of the oldest buildings on the Oakland University campus is set to receive a $40 million facelift, this thanks to a bill approved by the Michigan legislature and signed by outgoing Governor Rick Snyder. The state will contribute $30 million to the project while the university will issue $10 million in bonds. Opened in 1959, South Foundation Hall was one of the first buildings built on the campus of the Rochester-based university. The $40 million project will see a renovation of the original 55,000 sq. ft. building as well as the construction of a 25,000 sq. ft. expansion. "This renovation of an original campus classroom building will gradually build a sense of timelessness that links generations of the campus community," says Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost James P. Lentini. "It also provides much-needed academic space for a campus that has seen tremendous enrollment growth and has transformed into a national research university." The university asserts that the multi-million dollar project addresses a critical shortage of classroom space on campus. According to its website, enrollment at OU has increased nearly every year since opening in 1959 and increased 59 percent over a 20 year period from 1998 to 2018. The original building will be reconfigured to allow for more classrooms and contemporary teaching methods and technology. The expansion will complement capacity. Current usage plans include improving options for programs of the College of Arts and Sciences. "We greatly appreciate the governor, legislature and especially our local representatives supporting the ongoing growth and sustainability of Oakland University," says OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz. "The renovation of South Foundation Hall is an important component of our strategic plan and will enable us to continue to meet the educational needs of all of our students." Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith. This caps a years-long effort by cruise industry proponents, particularly the Southern Cone Ports Corp. (Cono Sur) and the Agunsa Group, manager of the Valparaiso Passenger Terminal. 'A new era in Chile' 'I hope we can start a new era in Chile,' Cono Sur executive director Sebastian Montero Lira told Seatrade Cruise News on Thursday. The Chamber of Deputies voted unanimously, apart from one abstention, to modify Article 3 of Decree Law No. 3,059, of 1979. This will allow foreign-flag ships with capacity for at least 400 passengers to begin and end cruises at Chilean ports without calling at a foreign destination. The 400 threshold protects Chile's domestic cruise industry while giving it plenty of room to grow; its largest vessels now carry around 200 passengers. The legislation is expected to be signed into law within 30 days. This could give a significant boost to Chile's cruise aspirations by taking a course similar to how Brazilacross the continentfostered a sizable domestic market by allowing cabotage for foreign-flag ships. Cruise lines have long urged the cabotage change. Giora Israel planted a seed Five years ago, addressing Seatrade South America in Valparaiso, Carnival Corp. & plc SVP Giora Israel delivered a powerful message to the high-ranking government officials there. 'What should Chile do to become a cruise region?' he said. 'Amend its cabotage laws. Amend its cabotage laws. Amend its cabotage laws,' Israel repeated three times for emphasis. While Chile currently draws ships on long voyages, this adds up to just a sliver of the worldwide cruise sector. Some 90% of the cruise business consists of sailings seven days or shorter. Back in 2013, Israel pinpointed Chiles greatest challenge as developing viable week-long itinerariesthe bread and butter of the businessdue to the countrys extremely long coastline. Foreign ports are too far away to reach in seven days, so international operators couldn't meet cabotage requirements. New itineraries If Chile were to allow foreign-flag ships to sail coastwise, several attractive weeklong itineraries could be developed, Israel said then. For example, he suggested a round-trip Valparaiso cruise that starts with a sea day, then calls at Robinson Crusoe Island, Chiloes Castro and Puerto Montt before another sea day. Or, a round-trip Valparaiso cruise could start with two sea days before calling at Chacabuco, Castro and Puerto Montt, followed by a sea day. Israel made no promise that easing cabotage would bring overnight success but said it ought to be Chiles first, second and third priority. Other challenges to tackle include uniform port regulations and a globally competitive cost structure. Contacted recently, Israel said he stands by his 2013 remarks. Besides the cabotage news, various other developments are positives for Chile's cruise business, Cono Sur's Montero said. Cooperation with Panama Among those are the nation's plans to develop and promote a South Pacific route together with Panama, whose new cruise homeport at Amador near Panama City is due to begin operating later this year. Following talks between the presidents of Chile and Panama last year, in December Undersecretary of Tourism Monica Zalaquett and Panama Maritime Authority Administrator Jorge Barakat signed a letter of intent to cooperate in this cruise development initiative. Recently Panama President Juan Carlos Varela also spoke about the cruise sector with his counterparts in Ecuador, where a new cruise terminal has opened in Manta, and Peru, where there are plans for a new cruise development in Lima. Peru has also approved cabotage for foreign-flag cruise ships, with the related regulations still to come. As an example of the possibilities, Montero noted that Celebrity Cruises during the 2019/20 season will operate an itinerary starting in San Antonio (Chile) and featuring two Peruvian ports on the way north and two ports northern Chile on the way south. Another reason for optimism, in Montero's view, is that Chile anticipates a record cruise season, which is expected to surpass the prior high of 455,000 passengers and crew in the 2008/09 season. The cabotage change has been a long haul. 'We are very pleased,' Montero said. 'I applaud what the new [tourism] undersecretary has done. They have been nine months in office and achieved what had been [stalled] for years.' Astronomers using data from NASAs Kepler Space Telescope have discovered a planet roughly twice the size of Earth orbiting a star in the low-mass binary system K2-288 (also known as EPIC 210693462, LP 413-32, NLTT 11596 and 2MASS J03414639+1816082). Dubbed K2-288Bb, the alien world could be rocky or could be a gaseous planet similar to Neptune. Located 226 light-years away in the constellation Taurus, the newly-discovered planet orbits the fainter member of the K2-288 binary system. This system contains a pair of dim, cool M-type stars separated by about 5.1 billion miles (8.2 billion km), roughly six times the distance between Saturn and the Sun. The brighter star, K2-288A, is about half as massive and large as the Sun, while its companion, K2-288B, is about one-third the Suns mass and size. The candidate planet was first identified by citizen scientists using Exoplanet Explorers hosted on the Zooniverse platform, said University of Chicago graduate student Adina Feinstein and colleagues. Follow-up observations and detailed analyses validate the planet and indicate that it likely orbits the secondary star on a 31.4-day period. This orbit places K2-288Bb in or near the habitable zone of its low-mass host star. K2-288Bb has a radius of about 1.9 times that of Earth, which places it in the so-called Fulton gap a likely transition zone between rocky super-Earths and gaseous sub-Neptunes. Among planets that orbit close to their stars, theres a curious dearth of worlds between about 1.5 and two times Earths size, the astronomers explained. This is likely the result of intense starlight breaking up atmospheric molecules and eroding away the atmospheres of some planets over time, leaving behind two populations. Since K2-288Bbs radius places it in this gap, it may provide a case study of planetary evolution within this size range. The discovery is reported in a paper in the Astronomical Journal. _____ Adina D. Feinstein et al. 2019. K2-288Bb: A Small Temperate Planet in a Low-mass Binary System Discovered by Citizen Scientists. AJ 157, 40; doi: 10.3847/1538-3881/aafa70 Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/11/2019 -- Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers key insights on the wood pellet market in its latest report titled, 'Global Wood Pellet Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20172027'. According to the report, the global wood pellet market is projected to expand at a healthy CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period in terms of revenue. Wood pellets are defined as are biofuel made from compressed organic matter or biomass. These technologies use a wide range of materials such as forest & wood waste, agricultural residue, and other substances. Factors such as increasing consumption of wood pellets, increasing health consciousness among consumers, high consumption of wood pellets for residential heating, growing demand for wood pellets for electricity generation, growing exports of wood pellets rapidly growing demand for domestic wood pellets and energy, and climate change are the factors that drive the market. Enterprises and individuals, nowadays, need products that are environmentally-friendly. Collaborations between suppliers and producers ensure a strong bonding and progressive activities, and enhance the development process. This demand has given rise to the increased production of wood pellets. For Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-484 Government certification is a valuable tool to assure customers that the wood pellets are made from sustainably managed forests. Increasing certification criteria is the key restraining factor of the North American wood pellet market while exporting to other countries, where various rules mandate renewable energy production. The procurement policy of wood pellets is also one of the key restraining factors in the market here. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Forest Stewardship Council are the certification organizations in North America. 19% of U.S. commercial forestland is certified by major U.S. standards. According to the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, approx. 9% of the world's forests are certified. Out of them, more than 40% forests are in Canada, which makes these forests as an ideal source of wood pellets. On the basis of region, Western Europe is estimated to be the largest market for wood pellets, accounting for 72.6% value share of the global wood pellets market in 2017. The region continues to dominate the market, and is expected to continue to do so throughout the forecast period. Eastern Europe exports most of its produced wood pellets to other countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom, where it requires certification for exports. Various industries are focusing on getting certified with DINplus and green energy certifications, which will help in exporting the produced wood pellets. The rapid rate of the production of wood pellets in countries like Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia is a major driving factor of the wood pellet market in Eastern Europe, owing to the high amount of exports to the other developed countries of Western Europe. On the basis of end use, the industrial pellets for co-firing segment is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 11.0% and and 9.1% in terms of market value and volume, respectively, during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing demand for wood pellets in a wide range of end-user applications. The markets in APEJ, Western Europe, MEA, and Latin America are anticipated to contribute majorly to the global wood pellet market. The market in Western Europe is expected to account for 69.6% share in terms of value in the global wood pellet market, and be valued at US$ 14,694.6 Mn by 2027 end. The increasing demand for wood pellets for residential heating and energy and climate change in Western Europe is expected to fuel revenue growth of the market in the region. The market in Western Europe is estimated to be valued at US$ 6,686.2 Mn by 2017 end, and projected to expand at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period. Factors such as increasing consumption of wood pellets, increasing health health consciousness among consumers, high consumption of wood pellets for residential heating, growing demand for wood pellets for electricity generation, growing exports of wood pellets, growing demand for domestic wood pellets and energy, and climate change are expected to drive revenue growth of the global wood pellet market. Customized Research Report As per your Requirements @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-484 Key market participants covered in the report include Drax Biomas Inc, Rentech, Inc, Enviva Partners, LP, German Pellets GmbH, Viridis Energy Inc, AS Graanul Invest, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc, Lignetics of Idaho, Inc, Zilkha Biomass Energy, LLC, and Energy Girvan Limited. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/11/2019 -- Transparency Market Research delivers key insights and presents a revised forecast of the global vanilla market for a 10-year period from 2018 to 2028, for the report titled 'Vanilla Market: Global Industry Analysis 20132017 and Opportunity Assessment 20182028'. Revisions in the vanilla market size and forecasts have been carried out taking into account the impact of various macroeconomic indicators and other industry-based demand-driving factors, as well as the recent developments of key market participants. The global vanilla market is estimated to be valued at US$ 510.2 million in 2018, and is expected to reach US$ 810.8 million by 2028, at a CAGR of 4.7% during 2018-2028, revised from the previous CAGR of 3.5%, due to factors regarding which TMR offers useful insights in detail in this report. Request A Sample - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=51783 Vanilla is a flavour obtained from the orchids of the species vanilla, mostly from the Madagascar species. The three most important species of vanilla grown are Mexican vanilla, which is bold and dark with tones of smoke, Madagascar vanilla, which is rich and creamy, and Beanilla vanilla, which is a blend of Bourbon and Tahitian Vanilla. A majority of the vanilla present in the market is the Madagascar vanilla, which is produced in Madagascar and nearby islands located in Indonesia and the southwestern Indian Ocean. Despite being the second-most expensive spice in the world, vanilla is highly valued for its flavor, and is widely used in both, commercial and domestic baking, and the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The consumption of vanilla extract in the diverse regions of the world is associated with numerous factors, such as standard of living, demand, supply of different types of vanilla products in those particular regions, recent trends, and other market-changing aspects going on in the market. With the increase in population, the global production and consumption of various bakery products has also increased. Owing to this, the vanilla market is witnessing significant growth. Obtain Report Details @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/vanilla-market.html Vanilla is multipurpose and dynamic, and can be used in nearly every single meal of the day. Vanilla is an important natural flavor, broadly used in countless industries such as food, beverages, sodas, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, tobacco, and traditional craft. The bakery industry is one of the significant industries that is driving the growth of the vanilla market. As the markets for these industries are increasing the demand, the vanilla market is growing simultaneously. Apart from this, the introduction of cheap vanilla extract imitation in the market has also attracted new consumers, as it provides almost the same flavor and aroma as that of natural vanilla extract, for lesser price. While vanilla is delicious and is used in many baked goods, it can also be added to other foods such as smoothies, milkshakes, and plain yogurt for a rich warm flavor. The extensive uses of vanilla is the major driving force fuelling the growth of the vanilla market. The global vanilla market observes a significant contribution from consumers aged between 15 and 34, leading the way for new eating patterns and food trends. The aspects that stick out as primary drivers for the vanilla market is the millennial generation of foodies who demand freshness, variety, and exotic flavors. Millennials are attracted towards new and exciting flavors. They are keener to experiment, and are likely to mix flavors and food styles. These are some of the facets substantiating the growth of the global vanilla market. The United States of America is the primary user in the vanilla market North America. France, Germany, and the U.K. are significant consumers of vanilla in Western Europe, followed by Denmark and the Netherlands. In the Asia Pacific region, Japan is the primary consumer of vanilla extract. The recent market trends show expected growth of the vanilla market in the North American region, Western Europe, and Asia Pacific. There is an increasing trend towards using vanilla in bakery products like bread, biscuits & cookies, cakes & pastries, and baked goods, as customers are increasingly inclined towards healthier food and suitable bakery options that are low in sugar and comprise wholesome ingredients, supporting the growth of the vanilla market. Government guidelines are extremely supportive of the use of clean label products. Consequently, multiple supply side and demand side drivers are powering the growth of the global vanilla market. Due to trends like 'out-of-home and to go arena,' which have witnessed a sharp increase in the past few years, bakery products are being increasingly consumed, thus powering the growth of the vanilla market. Also, certifications such as halal, kosher, and organic have increased the sales of vanilla products. With an increase in the demand for organic products, sales have increased generously. The lifestyle of consumers is playing an essential role in the increased consumption of vanilla. They have started opting for private label goods with values such as high quality, healthy, and sustainable. These changes in choices have opened an opportunity for natural vanilla, despite the high prices and not so easy availability. Nowadays, consumers are demanding these natural products in the products that they are consuming, thus forcing the food and beverage industries to take up the habit of using natural vanilla in their products. Harrisburg, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/11/2019 -- The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the Underwater Hotels market and contains qualitative and quantitative insights, historical and forecasted data, competitor and regional analysis from 2014 to 2025. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types and applications. Request a Free Sample Report before Purchase: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01091049623/global-underwater-hotels-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025/inquiry?source=releasewire&Mode=11 The report covers the profiles of major players in the global Underwater Hotels market such as: The Poseidon Underwater Resort, Water Discus Hotel, The Apeiron Island Hotel, The Manta Resort, The Lifeboat Hotel, Jules'Undersea Lodge, Huvafen Fushi Maldives, The Shimao Wonderland, Conrad Hilton, Utter Inn, Hydropolis. Underwater Hotels Market, by Types: General Type Underwater Hotel Luxury Type Underwater Hotel Underwater Hotels Market, by Applications: Travelers Business Customers Government Others 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, covering United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Central & South America. Several important Key questions answer covered in this Underwater Hotels market research report: - What is status of Underwater Hotels Market? -This Overview Includes Analysis of Scope, Prospect, Growth trend, Sales by regions, manufacturers, types and applications. - What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth? - What is Underwater Hotels Market forecasts (2019-2025)? Considering Sales, Revenue, Growth rate, Price and Trends for Regions, Types and Applications? - Who Are Underwater Hotels Market Key Manufacturers? - What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2025? -What are the key factors driving the global Underwater Hotels market? - What are the key outcomes of the distinct analysis of the world Underwater Hotels Market-Analysis done by considering prime elements? Browse Full Report: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01091049623/global-underwater-hotels-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025?source=releasewire&Mode=11 The research includes historic data from 2014 to 2018 and forecasts until 2025 which makes the reports an invaluable resource for industry executives, marketing, sales and product managers, consultants, analysts, and other people looking for key industry data in readily accessible documents with clearly presented tables and graphs. The study comprises a mix of data pertaining to the key restraints, drivers, competitive landscape, regulatory forces, key strategies implemented by the key players, and opportunities, expected to have a profound impact on the scope of growth of the market. A detailed analysis of these factors allows the report to present a reliable forecast regarding the future growth dynamics of the Underwater Hotels market. About MarketInsightsReports MarketInsightsReports provides syndicated Market research reports to industries, organizations or even individuals with an aim of helping them in their decision making process. MarketInsightsReports 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. Contact US: Irfan Tamboli (Head of Sales) Market Insights Reports Phone: + 1704 266 3234 | Mob: +91-750-707-8687 sales@marketinsightsreports.com | irfan@marketinsightsreports.com Connect with us On: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13411016/ https://www.facebook.com/Marketinsightsreports/ https://twitter.com/MIRresearch/ Philadelphia, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/11/2019 -- Super Lawyers, a national rating service for attorneys, has named Joe Capitan, co-founder and partner of Abell & Capitan Law in Philadelphia, to its list of Rising Stars in 2019. Rising Stars are attorneys under the age of 40 or who have been in practice for 10 or fewer years, and who have exhibited excellence in their field. Super Lawyers draws candidates from more than 70 practice areas nationwide, and the Rising Star selection process involves independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluation. Capitan joins elite company as a Rising Star electee, as only 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state of Pennsylvania make that exclusive list. He previously earned the Rising Star citation in 2012. A 2006 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Capitan manages the firm's Philadelphia office and has built a reputation as a top Cigna long term disability attorney since earning his license to practice law in 2009. Capitan specializes in individual disability, long term disability, short term disability, and Social Security Disability law. Super Lawyers lists Capitan as the top-rated employee benefits attorney in Philadelphia. Capitan earned notoriety as a Cigna LTD lawyer by helping clients collect insurance or disability benefits after their claims were denied. Capitan assists clients throughout the entire benefits process, from filling out claim forms to negotiating with insurance companies, through litigation appeals, when necessary. To learn more about Joe Capitan and the law firm, please visit https://www.longtermdisabilitylawyers.com/ or call 800-689-1056 to schedule a consultation. About Abell & Capitan Law Abell & Capitan Law represents individuals whose disability insurance claims have been wrongfully denied or terminated. The firm can become involved at any stage of the claim process. They handle all aspects of long term disability insurance, short term disability insurance, individual disability insurance claims. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/10/2019 -- The latest market intelligence study on global Onsite Atms market performs an extensive analysis of the competitive landscape and growing investment pocket of Onsite Atms market for the forecast period, 2018 - 2026. The tailor-made study probes into the current and future trends of that are likely to shape the development of Onsite Atms industry to give the business owners a competitive edge and help them stay ahead of their rivals. The best of both research techniques including qualitative and quantitative are applied to gauge the market size, share, and growth rate. Scope of the Report: The specialist consulting approach adopted to study the Onsite Atms market by size, share and growth form an important part of this market intelligence report. Expertise research specialist not only weight upon the company profiles of the major vendors but also significant aspects such as import and export status, supply chain management, demand and supply and distribution channel. Vital statistics on product positioning, consumption volume, a dramatic shift in consumer preferences, spending power and other are explained through resources including charts, graphs, and infographics. Request Sample copy of Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/27972 Market segmentation by manufacturers, the report covers the following companies- Wincor Nixdorf AG, Triton systems of Delaware, LLC, GRG Banking Equipment Co. Ltd., Euronet Worldwide, Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Nautilus Hyosung Corporation, Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions, Corporation, HESS Cash Systems GmbH & Co KG, Diebold, Inc., NCR Corporation Market segmentation by geographical regions, the report has analysed the following regions- - North America - Europe - China - Japan - Middle East & Africa - India - South America - Others Most important types of Onsite Atms products covered in this report are: - Conventional/Bank ATMs - Brown label ATMs - White label ATMs - Smart ATMs - Cash dispensers Most widely used downstream fields of Onsite Atms market covered in this report are: - Offsite - Worksite Buy Full Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/27972 Furthermore, the research takes into account the performance of the top manufacturer, with a special focus on investment feasibility, product sales and industry development trends. Comprehensive coverage of the recent developments in the industry such as acquisition and merger, collaborations, product launches and new entrants to shows where the industry is heading and will be for the forecast period, 2018 - 2026. The research provides answers to the following key questions: - What will be the growth rate of the Onsite Atms market for the forecast period, 2018 - 2026? What will be the market size for the estimated period? - What are the prominent factors driving the Onsite Atms market across different regions? - Who are the major vendors dominating the Onsite Atms industry and what are their winning strategies? - What are the major trends shaping the development of the industry in the coming years? - What are challenges faced by the Onsite Atms market? - What are potential opportunities for the industry for the forecast period, 2018 - 2026? When accessing the major driving forces shaping the progress of the Onsite Atms industry the researchers also focus on the growth of the customer base in various emerging regions. Advantages offered by the products such as improved shelf life as well as durability and how they are impacting the development of the industry are also assessed during the research. While examining the major restricting factors researchers make an attempt to analyse the strict environmental regulations affecting the market. Key Points from TOC: 8 Competitive Landscape 8.1 Competitive Profile 8.2 Wincor Nixdorf AG 8.2.1 Company Profiles 8.2.2 Onsite Atms Product Introduction 8.2.3 Wincor Nixdorf AG Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E 8.2.4 Wincor Nixdorf AG Market Share of Onsite Atms Segmented by Region in 2018 8.3 Triton systems of Delaware, LLC 8.3.1 Company Profiles 8.3.2 Onsite Atms Product Introduction 8.3.3 Triton systems of Delaware, LLC Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E 8.3.4 Triton systems of Delaware, LLC Market Share of Onsite Atms Segmented by Region in 2018 8.4 GRG Banking Equipment Co. Ltd. 8.4.1 Company Profiles 8.4.2 Onsite Atms Product Introduction 8.4.3 GRG Banking Equipment Co. Ltd. Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E 8.4.4 GRG Banking Equipment Co. Ltd. Market Share of Onsite Atms Segmented by Region in 2018 Continue Read Full Report Description @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/onsite-atms-market About MarketExpertz Planning to invest in market intelligence products or offerings on the web? Then marketexpertz has just the thing for you - reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Market Expertz | Web: www.marketexpertz.com Direct Line: +1-800-819-3052 E-mail: sales@marketexpertz.com News: www.marketexpertz.com/market-news Sarasota, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/10/2019 -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled "Wine Market by Colour (Red Wine, Rose Wine, White Wine and Others), By Product Type and By Distribution Channel: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2017 - 2023". According to the report, global wine market was valued at approximately USD 302.02 billion in 2017 and is expected to generate revenue of around USD, 423.59 billion by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of around 5.8% between 2017 and 2023. Wine is an alcoholic beverage in which alcohol is generated by the natural process of fermentation. The fermentation process is primarily carried out by the bacteria which are present on the skin of grapes. Further, a particular strain of yeast is added to the primary fermented product so as to obtain the desired wine. In wine, the bacteria or yeast converts the sugar, which is present in grapes, to ethanol and carbon dioxide. According to the sugar fermented, the taste of wines differs. For instance, if there is a high amount of sugar in wine it is a dessert wine. There are six basic processes involved in the production of wine, namely destemming and crushing, alcoholic fermentation, drawing the wine off the lees, malolactic fermentation, stabilization and ageing and refinement in bottle. The quality of wine increases with the time of ageing. Request Free Sample Report @ https://bit.ly/2Quxchv The wine market is segmented on the basis of colour into red wine, rose wine, white wine and others. The red wine segment is expected to dominate the global wine market. Based on product type, the market is divided into still wines, sparkling wines, dessert wines and fortified wines. The still wines segment is anticipated to dominate the market but sparkling wines segment is expected to grow fast due to its increasing demand as a celebration wine. On the basis of the distribution channel, the market is divided into supermarket and hypermarket, specialty stores, convenience stores, online channel, and others. Supermarket and hypermarket segment is expected to dominate the global wine market in the forecast period. North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa are the regional segments of the global wine market. North America is anticipated to remain the leading region over the forecast period due to increase in production of wine. The growth in Europe is expected to be steady as there are already a number of wine producer and wineries in this region. The Asia Pacific is expected to show highest growth rate in forecast period because of the increase in demand for wine and growth of the production of wine in developing countries. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are also expected to show a steady increase in demand for wine market in the forecast period. Request Free Brochure of This Report: https://bit.ly/2FfBmsh Some of the key players in the global wine market include Constellations Brand, E & J Gallo Winery, Torres, Treasury Wine Estates, Vina Conch y Toro, Distell Group, Global Drinks Finland, International Beverage Holdings, John Distilleries, Soyuz Victan and SPI Group, Accolade Wines, and The Wine Group. Major players are frequently engaged in developing different wines so that they can provide new quality of wine. This report segments the global wine market as follows: Global Wine Market: Colour Segment Analysis Red Wine Rose Wine White Wine Others Request For Discount for Wine Market: https://bit.ly/2REyKdf Global Wine Market: Product Type Segment Analysis Still Wine Sparkling Wine Dessert Wine Fortified Wine Global Wine Market: Distribution Channel Segment Analysis Supermarket and Hypermarket Specialty Stores Convenience Stores Online Channels Others Global Wine Market: Regional Segment Analysis North America The U.S. Europe UK France Germany Asia Pacific China Japan India Latin America Brazil The Middle East and Africa Top Selling Report :- Internet of Things (IoT) Analytics Market https://goo.gl/HW9Eda IoT Devices Market https://goo.gl/oTfUoQ IoT Sensor Market https://goo.gl/H1p67s Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/11/2019 -- The market for dental membrane and bone graft substitutes is anticipated to experience a tremendous growth in coming years owing to rise in number of people suffering from dental ailments. The global dental membrane and bone graft substitutes is highly competitive, with the best four organizations representing 30.0% of shares in 2015. Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., DENTSPLY International, Inc., Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, and Institut Straumann AG are the four key firms leading the global market. The advancement and expansion of the technology into growing regions have supported these organizations well in fortifying their position in the dental membrane and bone graft substitutes market. For example, Geistlich Pharma AG, which is a worldwide maker and provider of dental products and gadgets, expanded its activities in New Delhi, India and Sydney, Australia, in year 2016. Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/dental-membrane-bone-graft-substitutes-market.html According to a recent report by Transparency Market Research, dental membrane and bone graft substitutes market is anticipated to witness a sound growth with a steady CAGR of 9.3% within the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. The market is expected to soar around the value uS$922.6 mn in 2024, from US$419 mn in 2015. Based on product type, the market for dental membrane and bone graft substitutes is led by bone graft substitute segment, in which allograft procedure accounts for a strong position in the market due to its comfortable acceptance by the human body, coupled with its biocompatibility property. In dental membrane market, the restorable membrane is anticipated to be the dominant segment. Rise in Geriatric Population to Fuel Global Market of Dental Membrane and Bone Graft Substitutes The worldwide market for dental membranes and bone graft substitutes is ready to show a wonderful scope for growth within the span of forecast period, driven by the rising occurrence in dental illnesses and a constant rise in geriatric population. The first portion of the forecast period is likely to be somewhat restricting for the dental membrane and bone graft substitutes market, as some of the products manufactured by the firms would have achieved a maturity period. Nevertheless, by the end of 2020, new materials and products are anticipated to be launched in the market, exhibiting solid opportunities for future development. Request A Sample Copy @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=16340 The fast development of dental tourism all over the world in developing nations, for example, Mexico, Hungary, India, and China, has brought about the easy accessibility of high-quality and pocket-friendly dental services. According to a research by Solid Travel Media, a well-known publishing house based in the U.S., states that developing countries offers a comparatively inexpensive dental services than that in developed nations. This has boosted the dental methodology over the globe, consequently encouraging the demand for dental membranes and bone graft substitutes. Request Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16340 Advancement in Bone Grafting Treatment to Surge up Market Development in Coming Years Development in bone graft systems is additionally a major factor driving this market. Advanced procedures, for example, demineralized bone matrix and xenograft have picked up the pace among patients lately because of many advantages they offer. Bone grafting is a method carried out to supplant a missing bone in a patient. However, bone grafts are alike, which implies that the bone is extracted from the patient's body itself. The improvement of xenografts enables bone replacements to be extracted from non-human species, for example, common coral or bovine, which fills up for the scarcity and provide as a preferred choice for people dealing with kidney and cardiovascular diseases. About Transparency Market Research Transparency 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. TMR's 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, TMR's syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement. Contact 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/11/2019 -- According to a new market research report "Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market by Technology (Centralization and Virtualization), Component (Solutions and Services), Deployment Venue, and Region (North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and Latin America) - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global C-RAN market size is expected to grow from USD 681.6 Million in 2017 to USD 1,132.3 Million by 2022, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.7%. Rapid Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditure (OPEX) reduction, and 4G and 5G accessibility are the major factors driving the growth of the C-RAN market. The Cloud RAN market is expected to witness potential growth in the years to come, due to the growing industry need for ensuring compliance with corporate and government regulations. Reduction in charges related to Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditure (OPEX), and convenient 4G and 5G accessibility are considered to the major factors driving the growth of the market. Browse and in-depth TOC on "Cloud RAN Market" 68 - Tables 40 - Figures 131 - Pages Get Free 10% Customization on this report @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=1001 The consulting services segment is expected to be the largest contributor to the global C-RAN market during the forecast period. Consulting services are used to provide an enhanced strategic outlook, improve performance efficiency, and transform enterprise business operations. Consulting services help in lowering risks, reducing complexities, and raising the Return on Investment (RoI). These services can be customized, are easily applicable, and deliver maximum product assurance. The targeted outdoor urban areas deployment venue is expected to show a significant growth rate during the forecast period. Targeted outdoor urban areas mainly comprise urban locations, which have large numbers of users. Such locations include crowded streets, traffic signals, and areas with a large number of residential or commercial buildings. In order to enhance the existing infrastructure (transforming from Long Term Evolution (LTE) to 5G) by reducing the CAPEX, the deployment of the centralization technology is a major step taken by telecom operators. Ask for Discount @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/discountreports.asp?id=1001 North America is expected to have the largest market share during the forecast period. North America has the most competitive and rapidly changing C-RAN market in the world. North America, among all the regions, has shown the maximum adoption of C-RAN solutions. Being one of the most technologically advanced regions in the world, North America is connected with complex networks across all industries in different verticals. The US and Canada are expected to extensively implement C-RAN solutions; North America is estimated to have the largest market share. The C-RAN market report includes the competitive landscape, which presents the positioning of the 25 key C-RAN vendors, based on their product offerings and business strategies. Some of the major C-RAN vendors are Nokia Corporation (Finland), Cisco Systems, Inc. (US), Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (South Korea), ZTE Corporation (China), Altiostar (US), Ericsson AB (Sweden), Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China), NEC Corporation (Japan), Fujitsu (Japan), Intel Corporation (US), Mavenir (US), and ASOCS Ltd. (Israel). 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. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Shelly Singh MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA : 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com A Poway High junior is using her grandfathers life story to spread tolerance throughout the school district. Talia Schauder, 16, has held her Tolerance Tour seven times since creating it about a year ago, reaching about 800 students, she said. Her tour began in a history project for school. Her grandfather is a Holocaust survivor, she said, and she spent hours understanding his story. While her grandfather has always been super private about his past, he shared it with her for her project, she said. Ive seen problems with intolerance and anti-Semitic jokes at school, Schauder said. I took that to (turn my project into a presentation). Schauder recently gave a presentation to students at Twin Peaks Middle School and on Jan. 20, will give a presentation at St. John of Damascus Orthodox Church in Poway. Talia Schauder giving her presentation on tolerance at Twin Peaks Middle School. Courtesy photo Whats unique about my presentation is it is geared to teenagers, said Schauder. She said she thinks the message spreads better coming from someone closer to the audiences own age, and not an adult, who could be considered talking down to the students. She also adapts her presentation to her audience, Schauder said, such as incorporating the No Place For Hate campaign in at her presentation at Twin Peaks Middle School and vandalism at a presentation at Poway High. Schauder said she always gets a positive response to her presentations, including once receiving about 70 thank-you cards. Her presentations have sparked interesting and difficult conversations between students and their families as well, her father Mark Schauder said. At one presentation, which had a heavy Asian population, he said they heard students went home and spoke to their parents and families about their experiences, including leaving Vietnam, Mark said. Talias presentation creates the conversation and educates a greater number of people. This is important, Mark Schauder said, as the population of Holocaust survivors is dwindling. The presentation also has an impact on the students themselves. Schauder said after her presentation at Twin Peaks, a student came up to her and thanked for, saying the student had been facing a bullying situation for something they liked, and Schauders presentation had given the student inspiration to speak up. Its not just about the Holocaust, said Mark Schauder. Its about tolerance and giving a voice to those who dont have one. Schauder ends her presentation by reading the famous poem First they came by Martin Niemoller. (The poem) is not just about anti-Semitism, but anyone being put down for their beliefs, she said. When she is not speaking about tolerance, Schauder plays flute in the Poway High marching band and is involved with a Jewish youth group, Youth Action Movement, where she has taken different leadership roles, she said. Schauder said she has not considered filming her presentation, but wants to continue bringing it to schools and reach new audiences. She would also like to continue giving presentations after going to college. Email: news@pomeradonews.com Technology is helping researchers see images on boulders in the Rancho Bernardo and Poway area that are invisible or nearly so to the naked eye, according to a local expert. The rock art is so unique to the area, that it has been dubbed the Rancho Bernardo Style. Through the use of a digital imaging program called Decorrelation Stretch or DStretch researchers are seeing additional details and finding many more examples of this artwork created thousands of years ago by the areas earliest inhabitants. Gregory Erickson has spent years exploring the areas boulders to discover their nearly invisible rock art created thousands of years ago. Elizabeth Marie Himchak Gregory Erickson spoke during a Continuing Eduction Center at Rancho Bernardo class about the thousands-of-years-old unique rock art on boulders throughout Rancho Bernardo and Poway. Because many of the boulders are on residential property, and to protect them from vandalism, Erickson showed photographs and talked about their general locations without giving addresses. He said the artwork is noted on property documents and the owners are to never move, deface or damage the boulders. In some cases fencing has been installed around them. Erickson is president of the San Diego Rock Art Association and a docent at the Kumeyaay-Ipai Interpretive Center in Poway. Though professionally he is a professor emeritus of UC San Diegos Department of Reproductive Medicine, Erickson said he became interested in archaeology many years ago and has studied it on his own ever since. I have made it my passion to find the sites myself and discover sites (those before me) missed, he said. According to Erickson, archaeologists concluded the Rancho Bernardo Style is among the most distinctive rock art in North America. It is a precious part of our national heritage and must be recorded and protected for future generations, Erickson said. The rock art was first discovered in the Green Valley area by Malcolm Rogers in the 1920s and 1930s while he was looking for archaeology sites, Erickson said. Rogers found examples on the granite boulders throughout the area that includes Green Valley Creek, Lake Hodges and the San Dieguito River. A faint red design can be seen in the photo of this local rock. Gregory Erickson An example is the 500- to 1,000-year-old rock art on at least 12 boulders created by the Kumeyaay along the Piedras Pintadas trail in Rancho Bernardo, adjacent to Westwood and Lake Hodges. Because it contains black, red and white paint instead of just one color Erickson said it is the only polychrome artwork known to exist in Rancho Bernardo. Per Rogers field notes, the Green Valley area had the highest concentration of rock art he had ever seen. His notes were stored at the San Diego Museum of Man for nearly 50 years before being discovered by Ken Hedges, who did additional exploration throughout the Green Valley Creek area in the 1970s and 1980s. Rock art is man-made images placed upon a stone surface. It can consist of pictographs (painted images) and petroglyphs (carved or pecked images, including cupules). Cupules are impressions, similar to dimples, that could be 2 centimeters in diameter and 1 centimeter deep. The color of the paint indicates the type of substance used. For example, red is iron oxide, black is manganese oxide or charcoal, white is white clay or chalk, yellow is limonite ochre, green is chromium oxide and blue is cobalt oxide. While often applied with an organic binder, such as animal fat, egg white or blood, this method was less common in the art found throughout this area, Erickson said. According to his presentation, the Rancho Bernardo Style consists of large-scale geometric and rectilinear designs painted in red on the faces of large granite boulders. The designs signature motif is a maze-like image and features diamonds, parallel lines, zigzags, cross-hatching dots and fret patterns. Representational images and petroglyphs are very rare and Erickson said only one human image has been discovered among Rancho Bernardos rock art, which he called a very significant find. In some cases, one generation of artists painted over another generations, perhaps because the original was already invisible due to weathering. Due to images being highly weathered and almost impossible to visualize with the naked eye, Erickson said the vast majority have been unrecognized or recognized at a poorly-defined level. The much more noticeable design made visible after the photo above went through the DStretch app. Gregory Erickson But thanks to DStretch, which anyone can use via a smartphone app, those encountering the artwork can see the images appear in their photos that previously did not reveal the invisible details. The app for Android and iPhone can be obtained by sending an email to DStretch@prodigy.net. It is free for amateur users and the suggested donation is $50 for professionals. The technology allows the colors wavelengths to be stretched, which then makes reds, greens and blues brighter and more intense, Erickson said, adding DStretch can be used on new digital photos and decades-old slides. The largest piece in this area is 5-feet-by-5-feet, has been determined to be the largest pictograph in California and the largest single design element in California rock art, Erickson said. Technology has helped researchers determine the Rancho Bernardo Style rock art along the Green Valley Creek is far more extensive and complex than originally thought, Erickson said. DStretch led to the discovery of a stunning array of new one-of-a-kind motifs that are both fascinating and important to expanding our knowledge of RBS rock art. He called the artwork exquisite, gorgeous and he praised the level of craftsmanship the artists had. Due to size, to create some of it he said some type of scaffolding must have been used or the artists stood on adjacent rocks that have fallen away over time. email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com The City Council will be asked Tuesday night to authorize the conversion of all 3,300 streetlights to LED bulbs at an estimated cost of $1.7 million. The conversions are expected to take 10 years to complete. The money is to come from the city lighting district budget, which has about $5.4 million in its account. The account is funded through tax roll assessments, property tax contributions and general fund contributions. The existing lights are of the low pressure sodium variety, which cast a yellowish light. The one remaining bulb vendor will no longer be manufacture them after June, according to Robert Manis, the citys development services director. In preparation for a changeover to LED lights, the city arranged for three demonstration areas where bulbs produced by different manufacturers were tested. The streets involved were Woodcreek Road, Montego Drive and Olive Meadows Drive. Manis said the city received 38 emailed comments and input for safety services employees. Based on the input received, staff concluded that the ability to field adjust the wattage, along with the ability to install shields, are necessary components of the new fixtures to provide maximum flexibility. The replacements will start this spring in the business park, Manis said, followed by main arterial streets, residential areas and finishing with rural residential areas. He said a photometric analysis will be completed for various locations through the city for use as prototypes. An installation progress map will be placed on the citys web site, poway.org. A report prepared by Manis did not say how long the conversion would take but did note that conversation of lights in Old Poway Park and on Civic Center Driver would be done separately due to the complexity of retrofitting fixtures. City parks and parking lot fixtures will also be done separately, he said. In a related matter, the council will be asked to approve a set of standards for the LED bulbs to the used. The council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive. Email: editor@pomeradonews.com Re A New Years resolution for San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer: Find your calculator (Dec. 28): I applaud The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board for pointing out that the city of San Diego wasted millions of dollars in 2018 in giveaways for overpaying on a failed skydiving center and the storage of homeless belongings and the paying of $18,000 a day to rent a vacant building. What the board did not say was that this giveaway of public funds has been going on for years. The Naval Training Center giveaway, the Chargers ticket guarantee giveaway and the citys loss on its leases are just a few of the examples where the city has given away millions of dollars of our public funds over the years. Its time for the city of San Diego to try something different. Advertisement Public funding of elections would provide the incentive for city leaders to stop the giveaways of our public money and instead use those funds to take care of our neighborhood needs. John Hartley Normal Heights Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. Congress most powerful Republican has intentionally taken a back seat in the negotiations over how to end the government shutdown, even as it extends to a record three weeks with no resolution on the horizon. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has gotten Congress out of a lot of political jams in the last decade, including other shutdowns, fiscal cliffs and funding disputes. But hes ceded control over the latest Washington stalemate to President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.). Its partly a reflection of the changing political dynamic now that Democrats control one chamber of Congress. But it may also say something about McConnells evolving approach to dealing with an unpredictable president such as Trump, particularly in areas where they may disagree. Advertisement Mitch understands what makes the mules plow around here, and certainly, I would like to see him involved more, said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who acknowledged the Kentucky Republican leaders ability to negotiate. I see his point of view. Until Mrs. Pelosi and President Trump can even try to find a sliver of common ground, what could he contribute? I havent seen that sliver yet. McConnell has pledged that he and other Senate Republicans are aligned with Trump, although cracks have emerged, particularly among Republicans up for reelection in 2020. That leaves little place for McConnell in the public debate until Trump the most powerful Republican figure in Washington and the states where many Republicans will face reelection in two years can find some kind of compromise with Democrats. Democrats say the Senate majority leader has abdicated his responsibility and handed the keys to the castle to Trump, particularly by blocking votes on government funding bills approved by the Democrat-led House. Half a dozen or so Republican senators have indicated they might support reopening the government without border wall money. He thinks hes losing his caucus, and he doesnt want a vote on the floor, said Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.). His caucus is pretty tired of this shutdown, and he doesnt want a visible manifestation of that. McConnell has a record of negotiating bipartisan deals as well as protecting his Republican members from politically costly votes. Five years ago, McConnell referred to himself as the guy that gets us out of shutdowns. He back-channeled during the Obama administration with Vice President Joe Biden, his longtime Senate colleague, to construct deals to raise the debt limit and fund the government. McConnell never wanted a shutdown. Last month, he led his Republican lawmakers into a vote for a government spending bill without wall money. Senate Republicans approved the bill thinking the White House was on board or confident that Trump would feel pressured to sign it. Instead, Trump bashed the approach as inadequate, and parts of the government shut down. At least Trump didnt attack his fellow Republicans on Twitter. With rare restraint, Trump cast his social media ire on Democrats. Now McConnell, perhaps burned but famously unmoved by public pressure, is staying largely in the background. He says the Senate wont vote again on a spending bill until Trump and Democratic leaders publicly approve it. Advertisement That is the only way to move the country forward, he said this week. Some of his fellow Republicans fear there wont be a solution until McConnell gets involved, whether publicly or privately. McConnell is one of the best youve ever known in the inner workings of the Senate, said Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), the top Senate appropriator. Sometimes there is nothing going on [publicly], but its about what could be going on that members dont see. McConnell has stayed relatively quiet, except to reaffirm that Senate Republicans stand by Trump. This week, he blocked Democrats efforts to pass bills to reopen the government and chided Democrats for filibustering unrelated legislation he tried to move during the shutdown. He skipped two of Trumps lengthy appearances before reporters at the White House, even though his House Republican counterparts stood behind the president. Aides say he didnt know about the first news conference. Advertisement Since then, he hasnt embraced any offramps or voiced an opinion about Trumps threat to declare a national emergency to divert military funds for a wall. Early Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) floated an immigration proposal that he suggested would end the standoff. The last best hope to solve this problem is in the Senate, he said as he crafted a plan to fund the government, with money for the border, in exchange for providing protections for certain immigrants known as Dreamers. But after huddling with McConnell on the plan, Graham declared it dead and called for Trump to declare the border a national emergency. The White House seems to appreciate McConnells approach. Advertisement Leader McConnell is standing strong. Hes in the room hes been in the room every step of the way, Vice President Mike Pence told reporters in the Capitol this week. Republicans are standing rock solid with the president, and Leader McConnell is right there with them. In fact, McConnells diminished role may help Republicans: It reinforces the GOP message that the shutdown is a battle between Trump and Democrats in Congress, not Republicans. Recent polling suggests that Americans first blame Trump for the shutdown, then Democrats and, finally, Republicans. About half of voters, or 47%, blame Trump for the shutdown, according to a recent Politico/Morning Consult poll. A third of respondents blame Democrats in Congress, and 5% say it rests with congressional Republicans. The latest from Washington Advertisement jennifer.haberkorn@latimes.com @jenhab The partial government shutdown became the longest closure in U.S. history when the clock ticked past midnight into early Saturday as President Donald Trump and nervous Republicans scrambled to find a way out of the mess. A solution couldnt come soon enough for federal workers who got pay statements Friday but no pay. The House and Senate voted to give federal workers back pay whenever the federal government reopens and then left town for the weekend, leaving the shutdown on track to become one for the record books once the clock struck midnight and the closure entered its 22nd day. And while Trump privately considered one dramatic escape route declaring a national emergency to build the wall without a new stream of cash from Congress members of his own party were fiercely debating that idea, and the president urged Congress to come up with another solution. What were not looking to do right now is national emergency, Trump said. He insisted that he had the authority to do that, adding that hes not going to do it so fast because hed still prefer to work a deal with Congress. Advertisement About 800,000 workers missed paychecks Friday, many receiving blank pay statements. Some posted photos of their empty earnings statements on social media as a rallying cry to end the shutdown, a jarring image that many in the White House feared could turn more voters against the president as he holds out for billions in new wall funding. With polls showing Trump getting most of the blame for the shutdown, the administration accelerated planning for a possible emergency declaration to try to get around Congress and fund the wall from existing sources of federal revenue. The White House explored diverting money for wall construction from a range of other accounts. One idea being considered was diverting some of the $13.9 billion allocated to the Army Corps of Engineers after last years deadly hurricanes and floods. That option triggered an outcry from officials in Puerto Rico and some states recovering from natural disasters, and appeared to lose steam on Friday. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called it an unconscionable idea to look at using disaster assistance to pay for an immoral wall that America doesnt need or want. Republican Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas told reporters after discussions with the White House: I feel confident disaster relief dollars will not be tapped. Brady said the administration was looking at the breadth of unspent dollars in other government accounts. Other possibilities included tapping asset forfeiture funds, including money seized by the Department of Justice from drug kingpins, according to a congressional Republican not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations. The White House also was eyeing military construction funds, another politically difficult choice because the money would be diverted from a backlog of hundreds of projects at bases around the nation. Despite Trumps go-slow message, momentum grew in some corners for some sort of emergency declaration. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who met with the president on Friday, took to Twitter afterward to urge: Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW. Build a wall NOW. Trump has been counseled by outside advisers to move toward a national emergency declaration, but many in the White House are trying to pump the brakes. Senior aide Jared Kushner, who traveled with the president to the Texas border on Thursday, was among those opposed to the declaration, arguing to the president that pursuing a broader immigration deal was a better option. A person familiar with White House thinking said that in meetings this week, the message was that the administration is in no rush and wants to consider various options. The person was unauthorized to discuss private sessions and spoke on condition of anonymity. Advertisement Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has signaled moral opposition to the wall and vowed to oppose any funding, said the president is seeking to divert attention from special counsel Robert Muellers investigation and other White House problems. This isnt a wall between Mexico and the United States. This is a wall between his failures of his administration, Pelosi told reporters. This is a big diversion, and hes a master of diversion. Pelosi sent a letter to colleagues late Friday thanking House Democrats for passing bills to reopen shuttered departments and agencies. Pelosi said theres no excuse for President Trump to keep government shut down over his demands for an ineffective, wasteful wall. She said hes endangering the health and safety of the American people and stealing paychecks from 800,000 innocent workers over the shutdown. Although Trump has been frustrated with aides as he loses the public relations battle over the shutdown, White House attempts to use the trappings of the presidency to buttress his case for the wall have yielded mixed results in the presidents view. Advertisement Trump has long avoided using the Oval Office as a backdrop for his speeches, telling aides that previous presidents looked stilted and flat in the standard, straight-ahead camera angle. But he was persuaded that the seriousness of the moment warranted the Oval Office for his speech to the nation this week about the fight over the border wall. But since Tuesday nights address, Trump has complained that he looked lifeless and boring, according to a Republican close to the White House who was not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations. The president also expressed misgivings about his visit to the border, believing it would do little to change anyones mind. In a Friday morning tweet, Trump called illegal immigration on the southern border an invasion, even though border crossings have declined in recent years. Later, he tried to blame Democrats for the shutdown, claiming hes flexible about the needed barrier. I dont care what they name it, Trump said. They can name it peaches. Advertisement Trump has told advisers he believes the fight for the wall even if it never yields the requested funding is a political win for him. But some of his outside advisers have urged him to declare a national emergency, believing it would have two benefits: First, it would allow him to claim that he was the one to act to reopen the government. Second, inevitable legal challenges would send the matter to court, allowing Trump to continue the fight for the wall and continue to excite his supporters while not actually closing the government or immediately requiring him to start construction. Such a move could put Republicans in a bind. While it might end the standoff over funding and allow Congress to move onto other priorities, some Republicans believe such a declaration would usurp congressional power and could lead future Democratic presidents to make similar moves to advance liberal priorities. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., a leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who speaks to Trump frequently, said that unless Republicans and Democrats strike an unlikely compromise, I fully expect him to declare a national emergency. Advertisement Most conservatives want it to be the last resort he would use, Meadows said. But those same conservatives, Im sure if its deployed, would embrace him as having done all he could do to negotiate with Democrats. In a sign of growing unease, five GOP senators backed a bill from Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin to resume paychecks for some 420,000 federal employees who are now working without pay during the shutdown. Many Democrats, meanwhile, say they have little reason to give into Trumps demand for border wall funding since taking control of the House in the midterm elections. The American people gave us the majority based on our comprehensive approach to this problem and they rejected President Trumps, said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. Advertisement Associated Press writers Catherine Lucey, Colleen Long, Alan Fram, Lolita Baldor, Darlene Superville, Zeke Miller and Laurie Kellman contributed to this report. A Florida surgeon who removed a womans fully-functioning kidney after mistaking the organ for a cancerous mass has agreed to pay $3,000 in addition to other penalties to who?, according to court documents from the Florida Board of Medicine that surfaced this week. According to court documents, Dr. Ramon Vazquez who was responsible for performing back surgery on Maureen Pacheco mistakenly removed her fully-functioning left kidney in April 2016. Pacheco was born with a condition where her kidney never moved into her abdomen and remained in her pelvic region, as reported by the Palm Beach Post. Court documents state that an MRI showed Pachecos kidney in her pelvic region two months before the surgery. Advertisement Vazquez thought the kidney was a cancerous mass, and did not consult with the surgery team or take other steps to consult with radiology before he removed it. The lawsuit alleges the doctor was negligent in his actions, as he did not have Pachecos consent. Documents filed Dec. 27 revealed Vazquez agreed to pay the $3,000 fine in addition to $4817.90 in court costs. He will also have to complete three hours of continuing medical education in pre-operative evaluation in addition to those required to renew his medical license. He will have to give a one-hour lecture to the medical staff on wrong site surgery. Having resolved her lawsuit against Dr. Vazquez and her other physicians, Ms. Pacheco is content to now move on with her life. She is hopeful that as a result of our lawsuit and the Department of Health review, Dr. Vazquez will not make a similar mistake in the future with another patient, said Donald Ward, the attorney who filed Pachecos lawsuit. The two primary doctors responsible for performing the back surgery were also sued by Pacheco and settled for $250,000 each. With News Wire Services A bald man in a red hoodie held up a pedestrian at gunpoint in Mountain View in a late morning heist, San Diego police said. Shortly before 10 a.m., a person was walking in the area of San Miguel Avenue and Franklin Avenue, a residential neighborhood north of Ocean View Boulevard, when a man came up behind him, Sgt. Michael Stirk said. The thief, who had a black revolver, made off with the victims wallet, Stirk said. The robber was described as a Latino man, roughly 5-feet, 9-inches tall, with a bald head and a mustache. He had a medium build and wore a red hooded sweatshirt and red shorts, the officer said. Advertisement teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT A 62-year-old man rammed his car into a motel lobby Thursday night in El Cajon in an apparent attack on a clerk whom hed argued with earlier in the evening, police said. The incident sent the motel employee to a hospital with moderate injuries, while the driver was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide, El Cajon police Lt. Jason Taub told San Diego News Video. The events leading up to the attack began around 5:30 p.m. with some sort of violent domestic dispute between the suspect and a woman staying at the Budget Inn Motel on East Main Street north of Interstate 8, Taub said. At some point he left one of the hotel rooms, made contact with the clerk, there were some words exchanged (and he) made some threats to come back and hurt the clerk, Taub said. Advertisement Around 8 p.m., the man apparently made good on the threats, crashing his sedan through the wall and into the office where the clerk was sitting behind a desk, Taub said. The clerk sustained moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital, while the driver, who was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, was apparently uninjured. El Cajon officers arrested the driver on suspicion of attempted homicide. He also was expected to be booked into jail on suspicion of domestic violence and possibly alcohol-related driving charges, Taub said. Thursdays incident was the second attack in three nights that targeted employees at motels separated by about a half-mile on East Main Street, according to El Cajon police. Around 9 p.m. Tuesday, a man allegedly fired several rounds into the check-in office at the El Cajon Inn & Suites near North Second Street. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com Gov. Ron DeSantis removed Broward Sheriff Scott Israel from office Friday, replacing him after 10 months of turmoil spawned by the slaughter of 17 staff and students in Parkland. The new governor replaced Israel with former Coral Springs Police Sgt. Gregory Tony, 40, who has a background in active-shooter training and becomes the first black sheriff in Broward Countys history. DeSantis announced the suspension at the Broward Sheriffs Office headquarters while the displaced former sheriff prepared his response from a church in northwest Fort Lauderdale. I have no interest in dancing on Scott Israels political grave, DeSantis said of the Democratic former sheriff, but suffice it to say the massacre might never have happened had Broward had better leadership in the sheriffs department. Advertisement In his executive order, the governor cited Israel for incompetence and neglect of duty. DeSantis said Israel egregiously failed in his duties by not properly training deputies and not maintaining a culture of vigilance and thoroughness, among other weaknesses. The suspension caps a nearly year-long series of revelations that exposed the failure of Broward sheriffs deputies to run in to save children at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as a former student marched through the halls with an assault rifle. Some deputies said they couldnt remember when theyd last been trained to handle an active shooter, even though the agency had a confused, chaotic response to a mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in 2017. Much of the criticism has focused on Israels leadership. Though he enjoyed strong popularity in Broward before the shooting, Israels star fell in the aftermath, particularly after a disastrous appearance on CNN in which he praised his own leadership and glossed over his agencys mistakes. After he was removed from office Friday, Israel, backed by religious leaders and supporters, accused the governor of carrying out a political mission because the sheriff had spoken out against gun violence. Donning a blue pinstripe suit and red tie instead of his usual green Sheriffs Office uniform, Israel said he would seek every avenue to contest the suspension, including making his case in a hearing before the Florida Senate. This was about politics, not about Parkland, Israel said. Israels attorney Stuart Kaplan, said that while mistakes occurred, the shooter is the only person responsible for the lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Many family members of victims and people in Parkland blame Israel for the agencys handling of the teenage killer during interactions before the shooting, and for the way it handled the unfolding tragedy. Coral Springs officers showed valor, running into the school. They reported being routinely trained to run toward gunfire. Many of the sheriffs deputies, meanwhile, crouched behind trees or cars and didnt try to enter the school. Advertisement Israel had changed the agencys policy from deputies shall go in after an active shooter, to they may go in another flaw cited by DeSantis. Israel recently changed it back. The voice of parents On Feb. 14, my daughter died on the third floor of MSD running down the hallway from an active shooter, one of the grieving parents, Fred Guttenberg, said Friday at the announcement. One more second, and she makes it into the stairwell. She needed one more second. If anybody wants to know what failure means, and lack of response, my daughter would have lived if somebody could have just given her one more second. Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was killed, emceed the parents portion of the event, where other family members of victims spoke. Pollack said his next target is Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, though DeSantis said he isnt sure if he has the authority to suspend an appointed superintendent. Pollack said hed see to it himself that Runcie loses his job. Advertisement I get things done, Pollack said, and theres nothing on this planet that I cant get done, especially since my daughter was murdered. And I have the heart of a lion, OK, and Im not going anywhere. Pollack connected the new sheriff, Tony, with DeSantis. We all went to the same gym together and thats where we all met, Pollack said after the announcement Friday. I think hes going to do a wonderful job and the communitys going to get behind him, and the kids are going to be safer, and the community as a whole will be safer. Tony, a resident of Boca Raton, worked for 12 years as an officer and then sergeant in Coral Springs. His former boss, Coral Springs Chief Clyde Parry, said Tony has a bright future and he was sorry to see him leave the agency in 2016. Advertisement Tony and his wife, Holly, a nurse, operate Blue Spear Solutions, which specializes in active-shooter training and provides threat assessments on schools and other businesses. The Florida Constitution gives the governor power to suspend public officials for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty. Governors routinely remove public officials who are arrested or charged with crimes, but it is unusual to remove an officeholder who does not face criminal charges. Broward Commissioner Nan Rich said she doesnt think the County Commission will attempt to challenge Israels suspension, even though she doesnt agree with it. Im personally just very concerned about our democracy and all these suggestions and recommendations about removing people that have been elected and have not been indicted of any crime, Rich said. We live in a democracy, not an autocracy, and I would just like to maintain it. Advertisement Second officeholder removed It was the second removal of a countywide elected official in Broward in two months. Former Gov. Rick Scott suspended elections supervisor Dr. Brenda Snipes at the end of November. Snipes had already submitted a letter of resignation. The news conference Friday at Broward sheriffs headquarters attracted a stream of public officials, including Republican state Rep. Chip LaMarca, new state Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz of Parkland, and Coral Springs Commissioner Joshua Simmons. Protesters also appeared, including one man who is part of the QAnon conspiracy theory movement, people active in Donald Trump clubs in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and Republican Party activists from Broward and Palm Beach counties. 1 / 65 Fl-bso-promotions-israel: Sheriff-elect Scott Israel and Sheriff Al Lamberti shake hands for the first time since the Nov. 6 election. Fl-bso-promotions-israel Photo by Brittany Wallman, South Florida Sun Sentinel (Brittany Wallman / Sun Sentinel) 2 / 65 (lt) FLBvotecount27ltG Lauderhill FL The Broward County Supervisor of Elections cavassing board checks the votes cast in close races Scott Israel running for Sheriff (dem) smiles with his campaign mgr, Judith Stein (left) after showing him the final votes, Scott won the primary beating Richard Lemack. Staff photo/Lou Toman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel. (Lou Toman / Sun Sentinel) 3 / 65 brcandidate24 Broward County Sheriff Candidate Scott Israel is photographed at the Sun Sentinel on Wednesday September 24, 2008. Staff photo Carey Wagner/Sun Sentinel (Carey Wagner / Sun Sentinel) 4 / 65 Broward Sheriff-elect Scott Israel will take over BSO in January. 12-19-12. Jim Rassol, Sun Sentinel (Jim Rassol / Sun Sentinel) 5 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel (left) and Broward School Superintendent Robert Runcie (second from left) share a Hurricane Irma relief fist bump Monday before a news briefing at the Broward Emergency Operations Center on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017. Broward Mayor Barbara Sharief is third from left looking away. Juliet Roulhac, regional manager of external affairs for Florida Power & Light Co. at far right. Photo by Anthony Man (Anthony Man / Sun Sentinel) 6 / 65 (L to R) Commissioner Steve Geller, Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief, ,Aviation Director/CEO Mark Gale, Sheriff Scott Israel, and Commissioner Chip LaMarca discuss the After-Action Report prepared by consultant Ross & Baruzzini for Broward Countys Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Mike Stocker, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Mike Stocker / Sun Sentinel) 7 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel speaks to the congregation at Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale Sunday (Sept. 15) about the agencys civil citation program that allows teens to avoid arrest for minor crimes. (Brittany Wallman / Sun Sentinel) 8 / 65 (XX)fl-oakland-park-bso-shooting - Broward Sheriff Scott Israel is briefed on the deputy-involved shooting that killed a man with a rifle walking down N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park on July 31, 2013. Wayne K. Roustan, Sun Sentinel (Wayne K. Roustan / Sun Sentinel) 9 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel (center) and Fire Rescue Chief Tony Stravino (right) kick-off the week-long Fill The Boot fundraising drive to find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy on Monday, April 22, 2013. (Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, Mike Jachles, courtesy) Handout photo provided by: (Sun Sentinel) 10 / 65 TOYS SUN FUN RUN 1208H Broward Sheriff Scott Israel arrives in the BSO helicopter, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, at the Toys in the Sun Fun Run at the Mardi Gras Casino parking lot in Hallandale Beach.Joe Cavaretta, SunSentinel (c)2013 (Joe Cavaretta / Sun Sentinel) 11 / 65 fl-election-broward-sheriff-general06xx----Broward Sheriff candidate Scott Israel thanks supporters for his victory during election watch party in Davie Carline Jean, Sun Sentinel (Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel) 12 / 65 fl-election-broward-sheriff-general06x----Broward Sheriff candidate Scott Israel and wife Susan celebrate his victory with sheriffs cake during election watch party in Davie Carline Jean, Sun Sentinel (Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel) 13 / 65 fl-election-broward-sheriff-general06c----Broward Sheriff candidate Scott Israel, right, watches elections results closely during his watch party in Davie. On his left is supporter Angelo Castillo. Carline Jean, Sun Sentinel (Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel) 14 / 65 fl-election-broward-sheriff-general06a----Broward Sheriff candidate Scott Israel supporters during watch party in Davie. Carline Jean, Sun Sentinel (Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel) 15 / 65 (CH) FLELCOMSCOTTCHc -- A supporter of Scott Israel holds a banner for his campaign for Broward County Sheriff in Weston, Florida on October 14, 2008. Staff photo/Cristobal Herrera South Florida Sun-Sentinel (CRISTOBAL HERRERA / Sun Sentinel) 16 / 65 fl-political-dogs South Florida political candidates feature dogs in their advertising. Here we have a flyer from Scott Israel , candidate for Broward County Sheriff Handout photo provided by: candidate (Handout / Sun Sentinel) 17 / 65 FPGTFcandidates0819C FPG Photo/Lindsay Moore 8/6/2008 Sheriff candidate Scott Israel speaks during a public forum at the South County Regional Park in Lauderhill, Wednesday, August 6th, 2008. (Lindsay Moore / FPG) 18 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said hed use the money to add 72 new employees, give raises and address problems with the homeless, among other things. (Cliff Frommer / XX) 19 / 65 FPG-JJBS-OVERVIEW-0812-d Orit Ben-Ezzer Aug. 9,2015 Broward county sheriff Scott Israel, carries the torch, followed by Michael and Merle Orlove, at the 2015 Posnack JCC Maccabi games and Artsfest opening ceremony on August 9, 2015 at the BB&T arena in Sunrise. (Orit Ben-Ezzer / XX) 20 / 65 BSO Deputy Sean Reyka is seen with Sheriff Scott Israel at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale after having recieved the departmentas silver cross award from Israel, Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Reykaas father was killed in the line of duty 16 blocks away from where the son was injured. Staff Photo / Joe Cavaretta (Joe Cavaretta / Sun Sentinel) 21 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel speaks at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale before the departmentas award ceremony , Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Staff Photo / Joe Cavaretta (Joe Cavaretta / Sun Sentinel) 22 / 65 Sheriff Scott Israel speaks during the Broward Sheriffas Office Line of Duty Memorial Ceremony at the Public Safety Building in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. The ceremony pays tribute to those who heroically gave their lives while serving in the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Detention and Department of Fire Rescue. Amy Beth Bennett, Sun Sentinel (Amy Beth Bennett / Sun Sentinel) 23 / 65 Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel speaks at a press conference on Thursday, June 9, about the arrest of Sgt. Kreg Costa, 43. Costa, a Broward Sheriffs sergeant, was booked into jail Thursday morning on 29 counts of child porn and illicit sexual conduct. Maria Lorenzino/Sun Sentinel (Maria Lorenzino / Sun Sentinel) 24 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel along with Florida lawmakers, gun control advocates and gun shot victims speak at a press conference on gun violence held at the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. (Susan Stocker / Sun Sentinel) 25 / 65 Sheriff Scott Israel, left, Jake Owen and Susan Israel (KJR / XX) 26 / 65 Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, left, Noreen Salah Burpee and Carly Yoost (Kara Starzyk / Kara Starzyk) 27 / 65 Kishore Ambatipudi, family friend of the Pullamsettis, unknown woman, Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and Weston Mayor Daniel Stermer discuss search efforts for Vihaan Pulkamsetti, 18 months, whose body was found Monday in a canal. Staff/Linda Trischitta (Staff/Linda Trischitta / Sun Sentinel) 28 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Isrl speaks to the news media at Coral Springs Police headquarters, Feb. 24, 2015, about the arrests of Edwin Nodarse and Nanley Ramirez who are accused of burglarizing at least seven homes by crawling through Idoggy doors.i fl-coral-springs-burglary-loot Wayne K. Roustan, South Florida Sun Sentinel (staffer / Sun Sentinel) 29 / 65 fl-lauderdale-lakes-shootings-4: Sheriff Scott Israel on the scene where a tow truck driver was killed during a dispute and deputies were forced to shoot the suspect, in what may be the latest violent incident in South Florida over a towed vehicle. The incident caused officials to close a busy roadway for nearly two hours while SWAT officers searched a sprawling apartment complex for a possible second suspect. According to Sheriff Scott Israel, the incident began shortly before 3 p.m. just outside a parking garage of the St. Croix Apartment located at 4150 Northwest 34th Street.Investigators believe that the tow truck driver, who was not identified, got into a verbal altercation with at least one man while towing away a vehicle. It was not immediately clear if the driver was repossessing the car. The driver was then shot and pronounced dead near his truck. As deputies arrived to the scene, the man began firing toward the squad cars, Israel said. A deputy returned fire, striking the gunman. The unidentified man was airlifted to a local hospital. Photo by Taimy Alvarez, Sun Sentinel (Taimy Alvarez / Sun Sentinel) 30 / 65 FPG-PF-FoundersDay-0506-a_Orit Ben-Ezzer_April 25, 2015_Sherif Scott Israel waves to the crowd at Cooper Citys Founders Day Parade on April 25, 2015, in Cooper City (Orit Ben-Ezzer / XX) 31 / 65 BSO Sheriff Scott Israel (right) helps out Douglas High during their first ever midnight madness practice under new head football coach Willis May. 8/5/13. Jim Rassol, Sun Sentinel. (Jim Rassol / Sun Sentinel) 32 / 65 Broward Sheriffs Office Sheriff Scott Israel, and Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley listen to pastors speak during the Prayer Rally for Peace event, Thursday, August 28, 2014 at the New Mount Olive Baptist Church, in Fort Lauderdale. Michael Laughlin, South Florida Sun Sentinel (Michael Laughlin / Sun Sentinel) 33 / 65 (abb) fl-bso-fallen-heroes-memorial-112014c - Sheriff Scott Israel hugs Deerfield Park Elementary student Christina Duncan, 9, and thanks her for singing the National Anthem during a Broward Sheriffs Office memorial honoring nine fallen heroes at the BSO Public Safety Building in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. Amy Beth Bennett, Sun Sentinel (Amy Beth Bennett / Sun Sentinel) 34 / 65 fl-scott-israel-first-day09a--- Kent George, left, with the Fort-Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, congratulates Chief Roy Liddicott with BSO and Sheriff Scott Israel after Liddicott was presented an award for his work at the airport. . Carline Jean, Sun Sentinel (Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel) 35 / 65 (abb) fl-bso-fallen-heroes-memorial-112014b - Sheriff Scott Isrl greets Robert Behan following a Broward Sheriffs Office memorial honoring nine fallen heroes at the BSO Public Safety Building in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. Behans brother, Deputy Patrick Behan died on Nov. 13, 1990 as he sat in his patrol car writing a report. Deputy Behan had responded to a theft at a Pembroke Park convenience store and was in the store'aOs parking lot when he was shot at point-blank range. Formerly with the Boca Raton Police Department, Deputy Behan joined BSO weeks before the shooting. Amy Beth Bennett, Sun Sentinel Deputy Paul Rein was killed in 2007 while transporting a prisoner. (Amy Beth Bennett / Sun Sentinel) 36 / 65 Sunrise--- fl-ramadan-dinner-071713f--Imam Rashid Ahmed, at left, is introduced to Sheriff Scott Israel Wednesday night during a Ramadan dinner in which local muslims invited people of other faiths to share a meal with and learn about the Muslim religion. The event was sponsored by the Council on American Islamic Relations, Florida. Robert Duyos, Sun Sentinel (Robert Duyos / Sun Sentinel) 37 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel addresses the media to express his thoughts in light of the shootings that killed at least five Dallas, Texas police officers. CARLINE JEAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel file) 38 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw speak to the media while attending a security task force meeting at the Broward Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. Israel later answered questions regarding the suicide of BSO Sgt. Kreg Costa who was charged with child pornography and illicit sex. (Susan Stocker / Sun Sentinel) 39 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel speaks to the media about BSO Sgt. Kreg Costa who killed himself after facing 29 charges of child pornography and illicit sex. (Susan Stocker / Sun Sentinel) 40 / 65 Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel speaks during mass at Faith Center Ministries in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, July 10, 2016. Elected officials were invited to speak at the church about the shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of police officers, as well as the ambush on Dallas police officers that ended with five officers dead. (Maria Lorenzino/Sun Sentinel) (Maria Lorenzino / Sun Sentinel) 41 / 65 A murder suspect escaped from the Broward County courthouse, leaving his prison jumpsuit and shackles behind on a hallway floor on Friday, July 15, 2016. The Broward Sheriffs Office identified him as Dayonte Omar Resiles, 21, who was in a fourth floor courtroom for a pretrial hearing. He is charged with the Sept. 2014 stabbing murder of Jill Halliburton Su, of Davie, during a robbery. Sheriff Scott Israel addresses the media Randy Vazquez, Sun Sentinel (Randy Vazquez / Sun Sentinel) 42 / 65 Fl-retail-conference Sheriff at podium: Caption: Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel at the National Retail Federation Loss Prevention Conference and Expo in Fort Lauderdale. Israel spoke about law enforcement and retail partnerships to combat retail crime. Credit: National Retail Federation/Courtesy (National Retail Federation/Court / Sun Sentinel) 43 / 65 After reportedly threatening a woman with a machete, a man was fatally shot by a Broward Sheriffs deputy on Sunday night, officials said. The subject at some point was outside the vehicle. The subject went back inside the vehicle. Our depty fired multiple shots at the subject, Sheriff Scott Israel said at the scene. photo courtesy/jim donnelly (jim donnelly / Sun Sentinel) 44 / 65 Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel condemns the actions of any employees who tarnish the badge. A Broward Sheriffs Office detention deputy and a detention technician have been arrested after an investigation by the sheriffs public corruption unit revealed they were having inappropriate contact with two inmates housed at the North broward Bureau Rebeca Piccardo/ Sun Sentinel ORG XMIT: S-S1404091456538303 (handout / Sun Sentinel) 45 / 65 Broward Sheriff-elect Scott Israel will take over BSO in January. 12-19-12. Jim Rassol, Sun Sentinel (Jim Rassol / Sun Sentinel) 46 / 65 Broward Sheriff-elect Scott Israel will take over BSO in January. 12-19-12. Jim Rassol, Sun Sentinel (Jim Rassol / Sun Sentinel) 47 / 65 Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel took part in a ceremony to honor Deerfield Beach Middle School sixth grader Angel Rivera, 11, for his actions April 24 when schoolmate Usely Michel, 13, was submerged in the pool at his community, Highland Village Mobile Home Park. CARLINE JEAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER (Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel) 48 / 65 4-year-old Alejandro Ariza says 'aUthank you'aU to retired boxer Howard Davis Jr. while standing on stage with Sheriff Scott Israel at an event at the BSO Tamarac District Office on Tuesday, August 4. Davis Jr. was honored at the event for buying Ariza a new iPad after his was stolen from his hands on Friday, July 24. . (Maria Lorenzino / Sun Sentinel) 49 / 65 BSO Deputy Sean Reyka is seen with Sheriff Scott Israel at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale after having recieved the departmentas silver cross award from Israel, Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Reykaas father was killed in the line of duty 16 blocks away from where the son was injured. Staff Photo / Joe Cavaretta (Joe Cavaretta / Sun Sentinel) 50 / 65 Heather Geronemus and Sheriff Scott Israel attended the VIP Kick-Off Party on Jan. 24 at Artserve in Fort Lauderdale for Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5k on April 29, 2018. - Original Credit: Courtesy - Original Source: SunSentinel.com (Downtown Photo / Courtesy) 51 / 65 Broward Sheriffs Scott Israel discusses the new body cameras during Camera Media Training Day. Mike Stocker, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Mike Stocker / Sun Sentinel) 52 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel speaks at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale before the departmentas award ceremony , Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Staff Photo / Joe Cavaretta (Joe Cavaretta / Sun Sentinel) 53 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel briefs the media on the escape of an inmate at the Broward Courthouse Friday, July 15, 2016. Left to right, Constance Jones, News Anchor/ Reporter WPLG-ABC Local 10 Miami, Photo by Rolando Otero / South Florida Sun Sentinel (Rolando Otero / Sun Sentinel) 54 / 65 A murder suspect escaped from the Broward County courthouse, leaving his prison jumpsuit and shackles behind on a hallway floor on Friday, July 15, 2016. The Broward Sheriffs Office identified him as Dayonte Omar Resiles, 21, who was in a fourth floor courtroom for a pretrial hearing. He is charged with the Sept. 2014 stabbing murder of Jill Halliburton Su, of Davie, during a robbery. Sheriff Scott Israel addresses the media Randy Vazquez, Sun Sentinel (Randy Vazquez / Sun Sentinel) 55 / 65 Broward Sheriffs Scott Israel speaks after a murder suspect escaped from the Broward County courthouse, leaving his prison jumpsuit and shackles behind on a hallway floor. The Broward Sheriffs Office identified him as Dayonte Omar Resiles, 21, who was in a fourth floor courtroom for a pretrial hearing. CARLINE JEAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER (Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel) 56 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel at the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board. Rolando Otero, Sun Sentinel (Rolando Otero / Sun Sentinel) 57 / 65 President Donald Trump, accompanied by Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, left, speaks while meeting with law enforcement officers at Broward County Sheriffs Office in Pompano Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, following Wednesdays shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik / AP) 58 / 65 National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch answers a question while sitting next to Broward Sheriff Scott Israel during a CNN town hall meeting, Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at the BB&T Center, in Sunrise, Florida. (Michael Laughlin / South Floridan Sun Sentinel) 59 / 65 Broward Sheriff Scott Israel makes a point to NRA Spokesperson Dana Loesch during a CNN town hall meeting, Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at the BB&T Center, in Sunrise, Florida. (Michael Laughlin / South Floridan Sun Sentinel) 60 / 65 PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Scott Israel, Sheriff of Broward County, (L) and Florida Governor Rick Scott speak to the media as they visit Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after a shooting at the school killed 17 people on February 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Numerous law enforcement officials continue to investigate the scene. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) 61 / 65 Governor Rick Scott, FBI Special Agent in Charge Rob Lasky, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and others arrive to speak at a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2018, near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland where where 17 people were killed Wednesday. Amy Beth Bennett, Sun Sentinel (Amy Beth Bennett / Sun Sentinel) 62 / 65 Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2018, near Marjorie Stonemason Douglas High School in Parkland where where 17 people were killed Wednesday. Amy Beth Bennett, Sun Sentinel (Amy Beth Bennett / Sun Sentinel) 63 / 65 Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2018, near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland where where 17 people were killed Wednesday. Amy Beth Bennett, Sun Sentinel (Amy Beth Bennett / Sun Sentinel) 64 / 65 Governor Rick Scott, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and others arrive to speak at a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2018, near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland where where 17 people were killed Wednesday. Amy Beth Bennett, Sun Sentinel (Amy Beth Bennett / Sun Sentinel) 65 / 65 Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel announces to the media that Deputy Scott Peterson has retired from the department, Thursday, February 22, 2018. Peterson was placed under investigation by the division of Internal Affairs after the discovery that he was at Douglas High School at the time of the February 14 shooting and failed to enter the building to pursue the shooter. (Michael Laughlin / Sun Sentinel) Advertisement The crowd applauded Parkland parents who spoke and reacted negatively to mention of Scott Israel. At one point, when the governor mentioned his name, one person in the crowd just one yelled lock him up. Reaction to the removal was mixed in Broward, where most elected officials carry the same Democratic label that Israel does. Broward Commissioner Steve Geller, a Democrat and former state senator, doesnt think DeSantis had a legal basis for removing Israel. Broward Commissioner Michael Udine, who represents the Parkland area, said he wasnt looking into the politics of this. He was more focused on accountability. Advertisement I think that the MSD report and common sense leadership principles, and listening to all the families with 17 dead relatives, I think it made it clear that there had to be some kind of changes made in that organization, said Udine, also a Democrat. A report from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission detailed a series of problems with the agencys performance during the massacre. Resignations at the top Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a statement saying there is ample justification in that report for Israels removal, including radio failures that indicate a lack of attention to resources, a failure to establish a command post and take control of the shooting response, a lack of coordination with other responding agencies, lack of training and failures by deputies who encountered the shooter before Feb. 14. Anticipating the suspension, five of Israels command staff submitted separation forms. Advertisement The ranking deputies who said they were leaving for personal reasons are Col. John Jack Dale, who wrote on his form, Actions by governor not in the best interest of public safety, and Undersheriff Steve Kinsey, the second in command at the agency under Israel, who wrote on his form, Due to the sheriff being suspended unjustly. Dale was executive director for the agencys department of professional standards and the department of investigations. Major Kevin S. Shults, who was in charge of training, also resigned. Dale, Kinsey and Shults were among many high-ranking officials Israel hired from his former employer, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Advertisement Major Chadwick Wagner, a former Hollywood police chief who served as BSO human resources director, said his reason for leaving included the unjust decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis to remove Broward County Sheriff Scott J. Israel. Sheriff Israel has been twice elected by Broward County residents. This is a decision that only the resident voters of Broward County should decide. Col. James Polan retired effective Thursday and did not comment on his form. Broward Sheriffs Sgt. Anthony Marciano, president of the Federation of Public Employees union, representing detention deputies, courtroom deputies and others, said Israel made some missteps: He spoke publicly too soon, when investigations were still going on; he didnt take responsibility; and he unnecessarily poked a big bear that he didnt need to poke when he challenged the National Rifle Association, Marciano said. But Marciano said Israels fate would have better been left to voters. Advertisement I listened to all the MSD commission meetings, and the sheriff said one thing that should have resonated with everybody: You cant teach courage to people, Marciano said. Jeff Bell, head of the deputies International Union of Police Associations and a member of DeSantis transition team, had a more harsh assessment. He has turned this agency, the largest fully accredited sheriffs office in the country, into a political machine for his own well-being, Bell said. Hes incompetent and should be removed permanently before anyone else is killed on his watch. DeSantis said Tony was tailor-made for the job. Advertisement Tony is building a transition team and is expected to name his undersheriff the second in command as early as this weekend, a source told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. I am not here for any type of political grandiose agenda, Tony said in his public remarks Friday. Im here to serve. Staff writers Tonya Alanez, Larry Barszewski, and Skyler Swisher contributed to this report. Advertisement aman@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4550 or Twitter @browardpolitics bwallman@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4541 or Twitter @BrittanyWallman As Sen. Kamala Harris settled into her seat on ABCs The View on Tuesday, she was asked to do something not requested of most television guests. Before we do anything, The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg asked the California Democrat, would you pronounce your name for me please? Harris anticipated this question, so much so that she dedicated a paragraph to it in the memoir she was promoting, The Truths We Hold. Few national figures - with the exception of Barack Obama - have had to provide such a basic introduction. Its Kamala, she said. Just think like comma, and add a la. Advertisement Co-host Joy Behar suggested the name was like Pamela, like were used to. Not quite, Harris corrected her. As Harris opened a book tour widely seen as a precursor to a presidential campaign, she wanted to make sure everyone knows that her name, like her story, is not something this country is used to, at least in its potential presidential candidates. In her book and on her tour, Harris is introducing herself as a candidate of nuance, a child of immigrants, a woman of color, capable of bridging the cracks in the countrys foundation because she has seen their effects firsthand. Harris was born to an Indian mother and Jamaican father. She identifies as black and would be the first Asian American president were she to run and win. She is a former prosecutor who constantly referred to herself as Californias top cop. She is also a dogged advocate of criminal justice revisions. The 54-year-old is not a presidential candidate yet - at least, not officially. A source close to the senator said Harris has not finalized plans for an announcement. As television host after television host prodded her about her plans, Harris insisted that she hasnt decided anything, yet. But eventual presidential candidates have long used books and tours like hers to stir national attention and establish a narrative - which is of particular importance for someone like Harris, whose national profile has grown in recent years but remains blurry. Several people attending Harris book event at George Washington University on Wednesday night said they knew very little about her until her hard-nosed performance at Justice Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court confirmation hearings seized their attention. Many of them said they came to learn more. So she started with the name that has tripped up television hosts all week. Her parents named her Kamala, which means lotus, a prominent symbol in Asian cultures, she said. The symbolism is that the lotus flower sits on water, but never really gets wet, Harris explained Wednesday night. Its roots are in the mud, meaning it is grounded. One must always know where they come from. Advertisement Yet she distanced herself from other potential candidates as much with how she tells her story as the story itself. As she addressed a supportive crowd Wednesday night, Harris gushed with easy energy. She not so much fidgeted in her arm chair as used every inch of it, sitting back while a joke landed, sliding to the edge of her seat with her finger pointed for weightier pronouncements or for one of several condemnations of the current administrations policies. Often, she dispelled pretense in favor of colloquialism - as when she said of divisive rhetoric and policies, Im done with it, with a casual wave of her hand. She compared President Donald Trumps tantrum over a border wall to her godsons tantrums over his toy trains. You got to see both sides of her tonight, said Karen Moon, 53, who was in the crowd. You saw what shes going to be like when she runs and what shes going to be like when shes offstage. You have to have a personality. I think she has it. You can tell shes passionate. Advertisement Harris wants America to trace the origins of that passion to her mother, who Harris says was her primary influence after her parents divorced. Her mother immigrated to the United States at age 19 to pursue a doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley. Her father, Jamaican immigrant and Stanford professor Douglas Harris, is far less a factor in the book, although she says he remained involved in her life. Harris traces her place in the African-American community to her mother. Though Harris and her sister would often fly to India to visit family, they also were part of the African-American community in Berkeley, where her mother became active in the civil rights movement. Harris recalled sitting in her stroller and listening to African-American leaders speak and share their stories. For college, she headed to Howard University, the historically black university in Washington. But Harris was not only defining her racial identity this week but also her atypical path as a politician. She acknowledged questions might arise over her choice to become a prosecutor, as San Francisco district attorney and then as the state attorney general. Put bluntly: How could she be part of what many in her party believe is a broken, racially biased criminal justice system? In her book, Harris says her motivation was to be there for victims of crimes committed and victims of a broken criminal justice system. Advertisement To be a progressive prosecutor is to understand - and act on - this dichotomy, she wrote. There is little else that distinguishes Harris policy positions from others who may run to be the Democratic presidential nominee. She has aligned with mainstream Democrats on almost every issue, from immigration to the Affordable Care Act to foreign policy. She also cast herself as dogged in pursuing her goals. In the book and at events, she described calling then-White House chief of staff John F. Kellys home phone to talk about President Trumps entry ban to demonstrate an uncompromising stance on immigration. She recounted a shouting match with the head of JPMorgan Chase to illustrate her willingness to stand up to big business. She brought up officiating at one of the first gay weddings in California to show her unequivocal support of LGBT rights. As she has for much of her career, she went out of her way to avoid alienating elements of the party. When The View co-host Meghan McCain asked if freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., could split the party with her much-criticized suggestions for tax increases, Harris defended the congresswoman. Advertisement No, Harris said. I think shes challenging the status quo. I think thats fantastic. Harris book, like many campaign-related biographies, is carefully curated, dodging many of the controversies she seems likely to encounter from less friendly audiences. CNNs Jake Tapper asked her about one: the resignation of one of her top aides after accusations of sexual harassment surfaced. It was a very painful experience to know that something could happen in ones office - of almost 5,000 people, granted - but that I didnt know about it, Harris said. Likewise, she did not address her romantic relationship in the early 1990s with San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. She also avoided her controversial decision as prosecutor to not immediately free Daniel Larsen, an inmate the courts had declared actually innocent, because his lawyers had not filed his writ of habeas corpus by the deadline. Advertisement Harris is still making introductions. At the end of her Wednesday event, moderator Jonathan Capehart asked her to read a portion of her book, one in which she explains that she wants to tell later generations that she played a role in a pivotal moment in American history. Harris couldnt hold back a grin as Capehart asked the obvious: Will you tell them you ran for president? Harris, still smiling, reached for the childrens book she is also selling this week - Superheroes are Everywhere. She opened to the back cover, and revealed a small mirror, one that reflected her face before she showed it to the crowd, as convincing a reply as any to the question she is poised to answer soon. After days of back and forth over President Trumps decision to pull American troops from Syria, a U.S. military official said Friday the process of withdrawal has begun, declining to comment on specific timetables or movements. Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, said the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria has started. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements, the Baghdad-based official said in a statement emailed to the Associated Press. The surprise announcement contained no other details and it was not immediately clear how many vehicles or whether any troop units had withdrawn. Advertisement The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from the northeastern Syrian town of Rmeilan into Iraq. Confirmation of the first withdrawals comes amid confusion over plans to implement Trumps pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurds, who have been teh United States partners on the ground in the war against Islamic State in Syria. Badran Ciya Kurd, a Syrian Kurdish official reached by the AP, declined to comment about the withdrawal. Others were not immediately available. There are 2,000 American troops in Syria. Trumps abrupt decision in December to pull them, declaring in a tweet the defeat of Islamic State, sent shock waves across the region and a flurry of criticism from some of his generals and national security advisors, and led to the resignation of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis and the top U.S. envoy to the anti-Islamic State coalition. It also led to major criticism that the U.S. was abandoning its local Kurdish allies amid Turkish threats of an imminent attack. On Sunday, U.S. national security advisor John Bolton said American troops will not leave northeastern Syria until Islamic State is defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, signaling a slowdown in Trumps initial order for a rapid withdrawal. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, who is on a tour of the region, has also sought to reassure the Kurds that they will be safe after U.S. troops withdraw from the country. These have been folks that have fought with us and its important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected, Pompeo said of the Kurds while visiting Irbil, the capital of Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, after talks in Baghdad. After initially tweeting about the decision to bring back U.S. troops now, Trump this week tweeted that we will be leaving at a proper pace while at the same time continuing to fight ISIS and doing all else that is prudent and necessary! Kurdish officials, meanwhile, have demanded clarifications from the U.S. over its intentions. A U.S. troop pullout leaves the Kurds exposed to Turkish attacks from one side, and Syrian government troops on the other. The withdrawal benefits Syrian President Bashar Assad and his international backers, Russia and Iran, who are primed to move into the region to fill a vacuum left behind by the Americans. Advertisement Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Americans are not serious about withdrawing from Syria. Speaking to reporters in Moscow on Friday, she said it appears to Moscow that the U.S. is looking for a reason to stay. She said Russia has not seen public statements laying out the U.S. strategy in Syria and so cannot be sure that the U.S. is serious about leaving. U.S. troops have been involved in Syrias war since 2014 when the first elite force arrived in the country to advise Kurdish-led fighters who were involved in battles against Islamic State. While there does not appear to be any immediate cause for concern, the partial government shutdown has created some anxiety with local agencies that rely on federal funds for programs that help low-income and homeless people. At Veterans Village of San Diego, Chief Financial Officer Darren Tune spent the week wondering if the nonprofit would receive tens of thousands of dollars it usually receives monthly. Officials in the city and county in San Diego said they believe the housing vouchers they receive for thousands of households should continue uninterrupted over the next two months, but theyre not sure what will happen come March. At Interfaith Community Services, Executive Director Greg Anglea said he was most concerned about whether clients served by the North County nonprofit would receive their much-needed tax refunds. That concern was compounded by the frustration of not being able to reach the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development because nobody was answering their phones. Advertisement The anxiety was probably worse for tenants who receive Section 8 housing vouchers and their landlords when some news headlines reported that millions of people could be evicted if the shutdown continues for months. HUD issued a 90-page contingency plan to address many of the questions people were likely to have about how federally subsidized housing programs could be affected by the shutdown, but even that did not have answers to everything. Addressing the question of whether HUD would continue to process electronic voucher payments for tenants, the answer was yes, ...provided that appropriate funds are available. With 95 percent of HUD employees reportedly furloughed, local officials and service providers could not reach staff members at the federal agency for clarification about the shutdowns effects. The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials provided some insight with a Jan. 4 memo to public housing authorities. The memo said NAHRO had learned that HUD has enough money to make February payments to the Housing Choice Voucher program and public housing operating fund, but not enough to make payments in March. David Estrella, director of the San Diego County Housing and Community Development, said the county receives about $10 million a month from HUD for housing vouchers that serve 10,400 households. We are concerned and are monitoring it very careful, Estrella said, adding that his department has received calls from property owners with their own concerns about voucher payments. Its prudent. Were talking about many families. Most vouchers used by the city and county are provided directly to tenants who can use them at any rental unit where they are accepted by a landlord. Estrella said the county has very few project-based vouchers, which go to landlords rather than tenants. Advertisement Project-based subsidies are a greater concern during the shutdown. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 1,150 project-based assistance contracts across the nation were not renewed in January because of the shutdown, affecting up to 85,000 low-income households. HUD has sent letters to landlords with project-based vouchers urging them not to evict tenants but rather cover the rent with reserve funds. Besides housing vouchers, the county receives HUD funding through Community Development Block Grants and for several housing programs. Estrella said he believes no programs are in jeopardy because contracts for them are not due for renewal until late in the year. The city of San Diego provides vouchers to 15,000 low-income families through the San Diego Housing Commission. Scott Marshall, vice president of communications at the commission, said he, too, believes the HUD funding should continue through February. Advertisement The partial federal government shutdown has not yet disrupted the operations of any of the San Diego Housing Commissions programs, Marshall wrote in an email. As the partial shutdown continues, we will inform families participating in our programs, landlords, local officials, our staff, program partners and the public if we anticipate any impact on our programs and potential next steps, as needed. At Veterans Village of San Diego, the chief financial officer said he did not know until Thursday afternoon whether HUD would reimburse $36,000 in expenses, as it usually does each month. He was relieved to find it had. At Interfaith, Anglea said the nonprofit works on tax refunds for its clients in a program that has brought in $3 million annually for 2,000 households, and he feared the shutdown would affect the much-needed funding. While the Trump administration said refunds would not be affected, some have questioned whether thats true. Advertisement House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has said the Trump administration does not have the authority to distribute tax refunds during the shutdown, and a recent article in Barrons quoted a tax expert who said the government can only only pay for certain services considered essential to protect life and property during a shutdown, and refunds would not meet that criteria. Advertisement Homeless Playlist On Now San Diego hepatitis outbreak continues to grow: 481 cases On Now Homeless entrenched in booming tent city along Santa Ana River On Now San Diego mayor agreed to homeless hub, then delayed, advocates say On Now Homeless outreach in San Diego On Now Video: Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #8 On Now In poverty himself, 'Water Man Dave,' is the fearless saint of San Diego's homeless 5:41 On Now Video: Homeless living in cars find safe havens 2:21 On Now Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #7 On Now Pitching a tent plan for San Diego's homeless On Now Homeless efforts get $80M boost for various services gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT Advertisement 760-529-4939 The San Diego Unified School Board this week agreed to give $8 million more directly to schools to be spent on services for disadvantaged students. The federal government gives billions of dollars a year of whats called Title I funding for schools that have a significant percentage of students from low-income families. In San Diego Unified, a school needs to have at least 40 percent of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of poverty, in order to be eligible for Title I funding, which is distributed by the district. The number of San Diego Unified schools that have enough low-income students to qualify for Title I has been decreasing over the years. This year, 75 percent of schools met the threshold for Title I, down from 85 percent in 2014, according to district records. As of this year, five schools are slotted to lose the funding because they now have too few low-income students to qualify for Title I funding DePortola Middle, Longfellow K-8 and the Spreckels, Tierrasanta and Vista Grande Elementary Schools. Those schools will be allowed to stay in the program next year. The funding will cease the following year if socioeconomic conditions stay the same. Advertisement Meanwhile, two schools iHigh, and Standley Middle are scheduled to join the program because they now have enough low-income students to qualify. This year, San Diego Unified is allocating $15.5 million in base Title I funding to schools. For the first time, it is allocating an additional $8.2 million of supplemental Title I funding to schools, after hearing requests from its District Advisory Council, a group of parents, school staff and community leaders. Previously, district central office staff would have decided how to spend that $8 million on Title I schools, spending it on items such as teacher training for certain schools, said Greg Ottinger, San Diego Unifieds chief business officer. Now, schools will be able to decide themselves how they want to use that money. District Advisory Council Chair Suzy Reid said that, before the district made this change, certain schools benefited over others and some schools got help from the central office that didnt necessarily need or want it. What this does is it puts more decision-making power at the school site, Reid said of the boards decision this week. The effectiveness of that decision depends on the people who are charged with finalizing school spending decisions: the members of the school site councils. Each school is required to have its own school site council, which decides how to spend the schools funds. The councils often struggle to find enough members, and many members dont get the training they should have, Reid said. She estimates that only roughly half of all of the districts school site council members have been trained on how to be a council member. We need to have a fully trained and well-trained school site council in every school if were going to be providing more resources to them, Reid said. Advertisement Kristen Taketa Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa A county prosecutor says she is on untested ground in asking a San Diego judge to change his mind about releasing a sexually violent prisoner from a state hospital for supervised release into some local community. Attorneys were in Superior Court Judge David Gills courtroom Friday to set a date for arguing whether the judge is allowed, under state law, to reverse his previous decision to release Alvin Ray Quarles, dubbed the bolder than most rapist in the 1980s for his series of attacks on women. Deputy District Attorney Jessica Coto said her motion asking the judge to change his mind and keep a sexually violent predator locked up is a new issue, unlike anything filed in the state before. But, Coto said, she believes Gill has as much right to change his ruling as a judge who imposes a sentence, then reconsiders and imposes a different sentence. Advertisement Deputy Public Defender Amy Hoffman said she would oppose the prosecutors motion and argue for Quarles conditional release. Attorneys return to court on March 8 to argue the matter. Quarles crimes were considered particularly heinous, as he would sometimes force a womans husband or boyfriend to watch the rape. He pleaded guilty in 1989 to victimizing 10 women four of whom were raped at knifepoint and was sentenced to 50 years in prison, with an understanding he would serve half of that. He later was determined to fit the states definition of a sexually violent predator, meaning he could be confined at a state hospital after completing his prison term. Quarles filed a petition in 2016 for his release from Coalinga State Hospital in Fresno County. In October last year, Gill ordered Quarles released to a home in Jacumba under the supervision of Liberty CONREP, which runs a conditional release program. Coto opposed the ruling, noting Quarles had not completed a sexual predator treatment program and more than one evaluator concluded he was not fit for release. Gill ordered a fresh psychiatric evaluation of Quarles, saying if it contained a new reason to keep the predator locked up, he would reconsider his ruling. The evaluation was recently completed. The contents are sealed, but Coto said it gave the judge strong and clear grounds for not releasing Quarles. The arrangement for housing Quarles at the Jacumba home fell through, so a new home would have to be found if he is released. Coto said, out of court, that the next court hearing is one more step in what will be a lengthy process to determine what will happen to Quarles, and that meanwhile, he remains locked up. Advertisement pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com Advertisement Twitter: @pdrepard A former Jamul resident suspected of stabbing his wife to death and dumping her body along a hiking trail before reporting her missing on the last day of 2016 was ordered to stand trial Thursday on a murder charge. At the end of a two-day preliminary hearing, a prosecutor successfully argued to an El Cajon Superior Court judge that all the circumstantial pieces of evidence and testimony she had presented added up to a reasonable suspicion that Winnie Perry Whitby killed Melissa Estrada Whitby. The body of Whitbys 49-year-old wife was found on Jan. 7, 2017 by hikers along a dirt trail off Skyline Truck Trail, about two miles from the Whitby home on the same roadway in the rural East County community. Deputy Medical Examiner Bethann Schaber testified that she conducted the autopsy on Melissa Whitbys body and concluded that she died of sharp-force trauma stabbing wounds to her face, chest and back that penetrated her brain, jugular vein, carotid artery and one lung. Advertisement The bodys clothing was in disarray, Schaber said, but a detective testified there was no evidence of sexual assault. Over the course of the hearing, sheriffs investigators testified that Whitby was paranoid and delusional, believing that his wife was posting sexually explicit photos of him on Craigslist to offer him for prostitution. Whitby told people, including a co-worker who testified Thursday, that his life was in danger because his wife was involved in Mexican Mafia drug trafficking. Detectives said they found no evidence any of that was true. No one but Whitby had a reason to kill his wife, Deputy District Attorney Jessica Paugh argued, describing Melissa Whitby, a registered nurse, as a homebody who didnt go out much except for work. He had a motive, although an irrational one, Paugh told Judge Daniel Lamborn, adding that according to Whitbys statements to investigators, he was the last person to see his wife alive on Dec. 28, 2016. Paugh said Whitbys ex-wife, Julie Brooks of Maryland, had the most incriminating evidence against Whitby. Brooks contacted sheriffs homicide Detective Christi Ramirez last year and, in a May 2017 interview, told the detective that Whitby showed up unannounced at her home in January. Brooks had heard of the Jamul slaying so she armed herself with a knife when she answered the door and told Whitby she knew he had killed his wife, Ramirez testified. Advertisement The detective said Brooks related Whitbys answer as something like, What did you want me to do? She was with the Mexican Mafia. Paugh told the judge no one but Whitby could have told Brooks of his mafia suspicions, as that detail had not been released to reporters. Ramirez said Brooks had left Whitby six years earlier because he had a gun under his pillow and accused her of prostitution and posting inappropriate photos of him online similar to claims he later made about Melissa Whitby. Deputy Public Defender Kathleen Lee asked the judge to dismiss the case against Whitby because no solid evidence linked him to killing his wife. Her blood was not found at their home, inside her car or on knives seized from the husbands room, Lee said. Advertisement The defense attorney said Whitby was cooperative with investigators when his wife went missing. When he moved to Texas and Maryland where he was arrested last year he did so openly, not trying to run from the law. Advertisement pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @pdrepard Two San Francisco police officers were injured Thursday afternoon after a collision with another officer while all three were on their patrol motorcycles, authorities said. The officers were riding eastbound on Bryant Street at 5th Street shortly before 1 p.m. when the crash occurred, said Officer Robert Rueca, a spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department. They were taken to a hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening, he said. Due to unforeseen reasons, there was a collision between three of the department vehicles, Rueca said. Advertisement The third officer in the collision was not hurt. All were riding in a pool of six officers on department vehicles in one lane. Rueca said the six officers were patrolling the city and not responding to an emergency at the time of the crash. Though there was medium traffic, no other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. Rueca said these types of crashes are rare. These are some of our most highly trained officers, he said, adding that the type of motorcycle they were riding was designed for on road and off road use. The San Francisco Police Department is investigating the crash, he said. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra The United States Postal Service is facing nearly $150,000 in fines after the heat-related death of a Woodland Hills mail carrier last summer. Peggy Frank, 63, was found dead in her non-air-conditioned mail truck on July 6, the same day temperatures in the Los Angeles neighborhood hit a high of 115 degrees. The Los Angeles County coroners office listed Franks primary cause of death as hyperthermia, an abnormally high body temperature resulting from exposure to extreme heat. The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the Postal Service for a failure to provide a work environment free from recognizable hazards such as extreme heat that are likely to cause death or serious harm to employees. Advertisement The U.S. Postal Service knows the dangers of working in high-heat conditions and is required to address employee safety in these circumstances, OSHA Oakland Area Office Director Amber Rose said in a news release. The Department of Labor also cited the Postal Service for not keeping timely records of worker heat exhaustion. During heat waves, employers should allow workers to take more frequent breaks than usual, monitor workers for signs of illness and provide employees with water, rest and shade, according to Department of Labor guidelines. The Postal Service has 15 business days to contest OSHAs findings or pay the fines. Postal Service spokeswoman Evelina Ramirez said the agency is reviewing the citation but did not say whether it would contest it. Our thoughts and prayers are and have been with Ms. Franks family since this tragic incident occurred, Ramirez wrote in an email. This isnt the first time the Postal Service has been accused of failing to protect an employee working in excessive heat. In 2012, the agency faced $70,000 in Department of Labor fines after a mail carrier in Independence, Mo., died of heat exposure. laura.newberry@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @LauraMNewberry Stuffed foxes, raccoons, opossums and lambs are scattered around Kady Roses apartment, sometimes decorated with ornate headpieces and adorned with metals and crystals. But these arent the stuffed toys found in many girls rooms. Theyre Roses taxidermy creations, which she makes and sells in between classes at Cal Poly Pomona. The 25-year-old animal science major practices a craft known as rogue taxidermy, which uses soft materials that make the animals flexible and more life-like. I used to think that I would struggle with it a lot too when I first started, Rose said. But knowing that I am working to give these creatures a new life, when they would have otherwise been tossed aside and forgotten, makes it all worth it. Advertisement The self-declared animal lover blends her passion for art and biology into her creations, a skill she taught herself. Unlike traditional taxidermy, Roses creations arent trophies for those who have hunted the animals. Instead, she uses the remains of animals donated from farms, petting zoos, veterinarians and pet owners whose furry friends have died, and then works with a close friend, who skins and tans the pelts before sending them to her. The animals bones are donated to another friend, who creates artwork from the pieces. Once the skins are ready, her creations begin to take shape. I work on the faces first, which requires carving a foam head form to mimic the skull and musculature, which I build upon with clay, she said. I then make wire armatures for the legs, stuff the body with Poly-Fil and sew it all up. Once everything is fully dried, a little paint is added, and voila! Pictures in the News | Thursday Jan. 10, 2019 Rose spends nearly all her free time from school making the pieces, completing four to six each month and selling them on her website, reanimatedremains.com. Prices range from $200 to $1,400, and animals decorated with gemstones and precious metals go for up to $3,500. Though the pieces usually arent intended for specific customers, some do commission unique creations. Her school studies, including biology, have helped Rose perfect her craft, she said, noting that because she works with both living and dead animals in class, she can more accurately re-create them in her taxidermy pieces. One of Roses most recent projects was a pit bull puppy donated by its owner after a fatal accident. A dog lover and pit bull owner herself, Rose said that creation is personal; she wont put it up for sale. Advertisement She also is working on an Egyptian collection, crafting gold headpieces decorated with red jewelry she will place on the animals. Though she has been accused of killing the animals she reanimates and some have asked how she can call herself an animal lover, Rose said rogue taxidermy will be a lifelong hobby. I dont see why our love and respect for these creatures have to stop at their death, she said. I think they are all precious, dead and alive. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @r_valejandra A second Los Angeles Police Department station was evacuated overnight as authorities investigated a suspicious package, hours after an envelope with a powdery substance cleared the departments headquarters in downtown. The front desk at the 77th Street station at 7600 S. Broadway was evacuated about 1:45 a.m. Friday after a passerby reported seeing a suspicious device inside a red Honda that was parked on the street in front of the station, said Officer Rosario Herrera. The bomb squad responded and said the device appeared to be some type of candle. Evacuation orders were lifted shortly after 5 a.m. The incident was the second evacuation for the police agency in less than six hours. Advertisement The departments headquarters in downtown Los Angeles were evacuated shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday after an envelope filled with an unidentified powdery substance was discovered in the mail room. A hazardous-materials team responded and determined the substance was harmless. UPDATE: A suspicious envelope containing a powdery substance at LAPD Headquarters in Downtown LA has been cleared and determined to be safe by our HazMat Unit. The area will be re-opening soon to normal operations. LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) January 11, 2019 hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry A video posted to YouTube by the environmental group Sea Shepherd shows about two dozen small Mexican fishing boats attacking the groups vessel in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday. Men aboard small fishing boats can be seen surrounding the environmental groups vessel, the Farley Mowat, and throwing glass bottles and other items at it. The Sea Shepherd group says the Mexican fishermen were fighting against the protection of the vaquita marina, a small porpoise on the worlds most endangered list. The fishermen threw oars, dead fish, weights, bottles of Tabasco sauce, and at one point can be seen in the video emptying a container of gasoline near the Farley Mowat, as if trying to douse it with gas, according to both the video and a spokeswoman with the Sea Shepherd environmental group. Advertisement Sea Shepherd spokeswoman Carolina Castro said no one was injured in the incident neither the poachers nor our crew, she said. In the video, the crew of the Farley Mowat is seen yelling at what they call angry poachers to get back and using a hose to blast water at the fishermen in an attempt to repel some of the smaller boats. Some footage appears to have been originally posted to Facebook by the group of Mexican fishermen. In that video, fisherman can be seen and heard yelling in crude language for the Farley Mowat to leave the remote waters. The man who posted the video did not respond to a Facebook message requesting comment. The incident took place in the Sea of Cortez, in a vaquita refuge, where fishermen are not allowed to lower gill nets. The vaquita is facing extinction because of illegally set gill nets used to catch totoaba, a fish considered a delicacy in China that sells for top dollar. At one point during the incident, the fishermen dropped a gill net in front of the bow of the Sea Shepherd, temporarily immobilizing it while five men illegally boarded the Farley Mowat and began looting, Castro said. Mexican Navy officials were embedded on the vessel and more forces arrived by air to encourage the Mexican fishing boats to disperse. No arrests were made. Advertisement Sea Shepherd will not be deterred by violence, said Captain Paul Watson, the founder of the environmental group. Our mission is to prevent the extinction of the vaquita porpoise and we will continue to seize the nets of poachers in the Vaquita Refuge. Sea Shepherd salutes the quick responsiveness of the Mexican Navy in defusing a dangerous situation. The group says less than 30 vaquitas remain alive in the Gulf, the only place they have ever existed. The marine mammals were discovered in 1958 but are now the worlds most endangered marine mammal mostly because of the difficulty in preventing illegal poaching in the remote Gulf of California. Sea Shepherd began patrolling the area in 2015 to observe and protest the illegal fishing. Scientists want Mexican environmental authorities to ban possession of nets in the whole area and conduct patrols to enforce the ban. Currently, authorities patrol by air, but fishermen in high-powered small water crafts often make it to shore and evade enforcement. A Navy SEAL confined to a military brig on multiple charges of committing war crimes while on deployment in Iraq will remain in custody, a military court in San Diego ruled Thursday. Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward R. Gallagher, 39, was arrested Sept. 11 on charges he executed a teenage ISIS combatant under his care in Mosul, Iraq, in 2017. Defense attorneys called several character witnesses including Andrea Gallagher, the SEALs wife Friday at a hearing where Gallagher was arraigned and Navy Judge Aaron Rugh heard arguments on a defense motion to release him from custody. Phillip Stackhouse, one of Gallaghers attorneys, said in a statement Thursday that things in court were stacked against his client. Advertisement We are disappointed, but not surprised due to the low legal burden, by the Government refusing to put a witness on the stand, and the defense being denied the right to call any witnesses to the allegations, Stackhouse said in the statement. At trial, scheduled for February 19, 2019, Eddie will finally have the Constitutional right to confront his accusers and he eagerly awaits that opportunity. Gallagher has deployed several times throughout his 19-year Navy career first as a Navy corpsman with 2nd Marine Division then, after transitioning to the SEALS in 2005, with west coast-based SEAL teams. His wife testified Friday that Gallagher was planning on retiring this year. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, also went to bat for Gallagher, writing a letter to President Donald Trump decrying conditions for Gallagher in the brig. Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter. The remains of a sailor killed on board the battleship Oklahoma during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor have been identified, the Pentagon announced Wednesday. Chief Pharmacists Mate James T. Cheshire of San Diego was killed Dec. 7, 1941. He was 40 years old. The Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo strikes from Japanese aircraft as it sat moored on Battleship Row at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor that Sunday morning. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, the battleship was hit by eight torpedoes in the first 10 minutes of the attack. It capsized and sank soon after, killing 429 crewmen. After exhaustive search it has been found impossible to locate your husband James Thomas Cheshire chief pharmacists mate US Navy and he has therefore been officially declared to have lost his life in the service of his country as of December Seventh Nineteen Forty One, read the telegram sent from Rear Adm. Randall Jacobs to Marion Cheshire on Jan. 30, 1942. The Department expresses to you its sincerest sympathy. Advertisement The telegram was included in a Dec. 7, 2001, story in The San Diego Union-Tribune. All the family had was some medals and a monogrammed pen salvaged from the ship when it was righted a year later, the Union-Tribune reported. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agencys mission, according to its website, is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation. For Cheshire, that accounting would take 76 years. According to the DPAA, all remains were recovered from the wreckage by 1944, but only 35 were identifiable at the time. In 1949 the military classified the rest as non-recoverable. The unidentified remains were buried in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. In April 2015, the unidentified remains of Oklahoma sailors were disinterred for DNA analysis. The DPAA and Armed Forces Medical Examiner also examined anthropological and circumstantial evidence. The Pentagon said it notified the family when it identified Cheshire on Sept. 10, 2018. Advertisement DPAA said in a statement that of the 72,751 unaccounted dead from World War II, about 26,000 are considered possibly recoverable. Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter. Taiwans president replaced her Cabinet head Friday to atone for losses in local midterm elections seen as a mandate for the government to take stronger action on wages, economic stimulus and a sticky relationship with angry old foe China. President Tsai Ing-wen dismissed Premier William Lai after he had served about 15 months and replaced him with former Premier Su Tseng-chang. Scholars expect the new premier to deliver visible results at least on economic issues to help the ruling party in its presidential campaign over the coming year. Its loss would probably put Taiwans China-leaning main opposition party back in power. Taiwan needs someone with the experience, will and ability to carry out follow-up reforms, the president said at a Friday news conference. Voters last year overturned the ruling partys majority in Taiwan mayor and county magistrate seats, with some saying the government had done too little on core issues such as wages, economic stimulus and managing pressure from an increasingly antsy China. Advertisement In many aspects, we reached a certain level of achievement, but on Nov. 24 last year the Democratic Progressive Party encountered an unprecedented setback, Lai said at the news conference, referring to the ruling party. As the nations highest appointed official, its hard to be saved from taking political responsibility. The Democratic party took a majority of local seats in 2014, and Tsai won the presidency two years later. But last year the main opposition Nationalist Party won 15 of the 22 local seats in the election, putting Tsais party in a weak position ahead of the 2020 presidential race. Tsai resigned as party chair to take blame for the poor showing. Voters indicated in November they wanted Tsai to stand up more to Beijing, where leaders insist that the democratic, self-governed island belongs under Chinese rule, or conversely allow talks with China as the Nationalist presidents government did from 2008 to 2016. The Nationalists still embrace dialogue with Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Jan. 2 that China had not ruled out using force against Taiwan if needed to unify the two sides. Tsai reacted by saying that she rejects Xis condition for dialogue that each side view itself as part of one China and his idea for Hong Kong-style unification, meaning a Taiwan ruled by Beijing but with a degree of local autonomy. China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s, when Chiang Kai-sheks Nationalists lost and based their government in Taiwan. Chinese president warns Taiwan that independence would be a disaster Voters further hope the government will raise wages, which average $1,510 per month, and help revitalize the economy at a time when Taiwans richest companies do much of their work overseas. Some expect useful infrastructure projects such as commuter rail lines and sporting arenas. Lais Cabinet added money to Taiwans foreign currency reserves and saw exports grow, crucial for the manufacturing-reliant economy, said Michael Tsai, chairman of the Institute for Taiwan Defense and Strategic Studies, but many people didnt notice. The average citizen couldnt feel any dividend, like the profit wasnt being shared, he said. Advertisement The new premier, a 71-year-old former lawyer, has a reputation for effectively running governments, scholars in Taiwan say. He has headed two counties and was premier in 2006 and 2007 under a different president. He is a co-founder of the ruling party and is seen as one of its four most powerful members. Hes someone who does what he sets out to do and does what he says, Michael Tsai said, forecasting that Su will work on raising income levels as the president doubles down on China policy. The public will have high expectations for him. I expect he will be more proactive and make more of a difference. Su is known as charismatic in public, speaking with an unusually gravelly voice, but he failed in several election campaigns. Hes also known as a tough boss. He has already started to reshuffle his staff following a mass resignation this week. Without a doubt, hes the No. 1 administrator, said Liu Yih-jiun, professor of public affairs at Fo Guang University in Taiwan. People working under him find it difficult because hes quite demanding. Advertisement Jennings is a special correspondent. . , , , ... As Poland added to the global scrutiny of Huawei Technologies Co. on Friday with the arrest of a company employee and a local former security agent, the countrys authorities also exposed the division in Europe over policy toward the Chinese technology giant. Huawei is facing increasing pressure across the European Union amid growing concerns that China could use the companys equipment for spying, something executives have denied. The Trump administration has been pushing European allies to block Huawei from telecom networks amid a wider dispute over trade with China. Although theres little to suggest any political involvement, Polands government is a staunch ally of the United States and the country is a model of Trump-style nationalism and protectionism. Poland relies on the EU for money and counts on the United States for security, with U.S. troops stationed on its soil. The dilemma is that Europe needs to develop its infrastructure somehow. Various countries, including Britain, France, Germany and Norway, have publicly raised concerns about using Huawei equipment for next-generation mobile networks. But others, such as Spain, Portugal and Hungary, have been more welcoming to Chinese involvement. Advertisement Europe is facing a challenge when it comes to dealing with Huawei, and it shows that the continent doesnt have the ability to be autonomous, said Solange Ghernaouti, head of the Swiss Cybersecurity Advisory and Research Group. Europe is either dependent on China or the U.S. The Huawei employee detained in Poland is a Chinese citizen responsible for sales to public sector clients, television news channel TVPInfo said Friday. The other detained man is a former high-ranking official at Polands Internal Security Agency who worked at mobile phone operator Orange Polska. They are to remain in custody for three months. Evidence shows that both men conducted espionage activities against Poland, Stanislaw Zaryn, a spokesman for Polands secret services chief, said in a statement. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in jail, Zaryn said. For us, this specific investigation concerns two people, he said later Friday. A separate issue is that of threats in the telecommunications industry. These are two separate issues. China is highly concerned over the matter, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. We are asking the related country to deal with the case fairly based on laws and to protect the legitimate rights of the people, it said. A Huawei representative said the company was looking into the matter and declined to comment further. The company said it abides by applicable laws wherever it operates and expects employees to do the same. The Polish government named the two accused as Weijing W. and Piotr D., in line with local law prohibiting the publication of full names of those detained. Security services searched their homes and the offices of Huawei and Orange Polska, the Polish business of French mobile operator Orange. Orange spokesman Wojciech Jabczynski said the company handed over an employees belongings to the authorities. The Chinese national is a former employee of the countrys consulate in the Baltic Sea port of Gdansk, according to TVPInfo television. Advertisement The accusations add to Huaweis troubles of late as Western governments grow worried that the companys systems could be used by Chinese intelligence. Australia and New Zealand banned Huawei equipment from the planned 5G networks of carriers in those countries, and the head of British spy agency MI6 said last month that the British government needs to decide whether to ban the company. Germany has said it is considering restricting Huaweis role in its future telecom infrastructure. Czech President Milos Zeman said Friday that China is preparing an economically damaging reprisal against his country after authorities issued warnings about Huawei and risks it poses to security. Huawei is also mired in a U.S. case alleging violations of trade sanctions. The United States alleges that its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, conspired to defraud banks to cause them to unwittingly clear transactions linked to Iran. Meng the daughter of the companys founder was released on bail four weeks ago in Canada and is living under restrictions in her million-dollar Vancouver home. Advertisement The company has previously said that it does not pose a security threat and that no government has ever asked it to build backdoors or interrupt any networks. It has said it would never tolerate such behavior by any of our staff. Huaweis biggest challenge is to prove to its partners across the world that the quality of its cybersecurity services is second to none and that theres no possibility of backdoor intrusion, said Ghernaouti at the Swiss Cybersecurity Advisory and Research Group. But theyve failed to do that so far. EDITORS NOTE: This story will continue to be updated as more information is received. Jan. 11 marked the first payday where some 800,000 people didnt receive a pay check due to the current government shutdown. With stories of companies around the nation stepping up to provide a break for those affected, San Diego companies are joining the charge. Punch Bowl Social Starting Jan. 11 and running until the shutdown is over, Punch Bowl Social (1485 E St., East Village, punchbowlsocial.com/location/san-diego) is offering a 25% discount on all food, beverages and games to any federal government employee. Advertisement Federal employees will need to present a government ID card to the server before ordering to be eligible for the discount at the East Village bar, restaurant and game spot, which was recently also featured in PACIFICs blind date. San Diego Air & Space Museum In addition to Punch Bowl, the San Diego Air & Space Museum (2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, sandiegoairandspace.org) is offering furloughed federal employees free admission on Jan. 12 and 13. This is our small way of ensuring we contribute positively to family focused activities for those federal employees whose compensation has been delayed, said President & CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum Jim Kidrick in a press release. We appreciate their efforts on our behalf and look forward to welcoming them this Saturday and Sunday. Federal employees must show federal employee identification for free admission for themselves and up to three guests. San Diego Botanic Garden Head to Encinitas where federal employees will receive free admission between Jan. 14-18 and Jan. 21-25 to the San Diego Botanic Garden (230 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas, sdbgarden.org). A valid federal ID or badge must be presented at the Welcome Center to receive free admission good for employee plus their spouses and children. Hello Betty Fish House From Jan. 15-21, Hello Betty Fish House in Oceanside (211 Mission Ave., hellobettyoceanside.com) is lending a hand to furloughed workers by offering a free meal. Hello Betty Fish House in Oceanside. (Courtesy photo) When government employees show valid ID (good for a single individual or a family of four) they will receive chips and salsa for the table, a fountain drink, two tacos with a side of beans and rice (per person) and an ice cream sundae. Advertisement Harlem Globetrotters On Jan. 16, the Harlem Globetrotters team is offering complimentary tickets to its 2019 Fan Powered North American Team, which will make a stop in San Diego on Feb. 22, for any U.S. government employee on furlough. As the Ambassadors of Goodwill, we want to show our support to all those government workers whose paychecks, and by extension their families, are directly impacted, said Globetrotter President Howard Smith in a recent press release. According to that press release, Any U.S. government employee currently on furlough can show their valid government ID at their local box office and receive two complimentary tickets to a Harlem Globetrotter game in North America while supplies last. San Diego Sockers The San Diego indoor soccer team is inviting all those impacted by government shutdown to the Sockers home game against the Turlock Express on Jan. 20. Federal employees and contract workers can show government employee IDs at the arena box office in exchange for a free ticket for themselves, as well as any child age 8 and under. Advertisement A discount rate of $12 will be granted for additional GA tickets for those with a current government employee ID. So many families in our community are suffering right now, and it is our goal to knock down the wall between making ends meet and treating the family to a fun night out, said Sockers Chief Marketing Officer Craig Elsten in a recent press release. With Furloughed Workers Night, we want to give affected families a great chance to relax and enjoy a couple hours worry-free as they watch the Sockers go for another big win. OMG Hospitality Group Keeping with its mission statement to provide the best OMG experience to every customer the San Diego restaurant group will offer a 20% discount to all federal employees who show a valid ID at the time of their visit. This deal will run through the entirety of the shutdown. For a list of OMG Hospitality Group locations, go to omghospitalitygroup.com/locations. Advertisement San Diego Symphony Let music inspire you during the continued government shutdown. The San Diego Symphony is offering free concert tickets for any Jacobs Masterworks program through May 26, which is the end of the 2018-19 season. A current government ID must be presented to receive up to four complimentary tickets. Music has the power to lift the spirits, said President and CEO of the San Diego Symphony Martha Gilmer in a recent press release. The Symphony can offer a few hours of beauty, pleasure and hope to the many individuals and families in our community facing hardships as a result of the shutdown. Pala Casino Spa & Resort, which has been showing signs of struggling in the ultra-competitive San Diego-area casino market, has replaced its CEO. Fred A. Buro, a casino executive and gaming consultant, was brought on at the start of the new year, taking over for longtime former CEO Bill Bembenek. In March, Bembenek acknowledged to the Union -Tribune that an unspecified number of layoffs coming amid its planned $170 million expansion was due in part to the economic pressures from an increasingly competitive Southern California casino resort market. Then in July, Palas VP for hotel operations said the casino had deferred construction of a new 349-room luxury hotel tower the cornerstone of its development project attributing it to a duo of mega-expansions at Pechanga Resort & Casino and San Manuel Casino, costing a combined $850 million. Advertisement In a Jan. 6 email introducing himself to Pala employees, Buro acknowledged the cutthroat casino climate: I know our competition is fierce, but I firmly believe we can craft a strategy that will allow us to effectively compete with them. He continued: I look forward to meeting you and hearing your thoughts and ideas. Until then, think about how we can do the things that matter greatly to you at work that will also help keep our customers coming back. Through a spokesman, Buro declined to comment for this story, saying that he had nothing additional to offer beyond his letter to employees. Besides Bembenek, Palas longtime PR director is also no longer employed by the casino, but reports that Pala had terminated several other high-level members of its executive team and had cancelled its annual Christmas bonus to employees could not be confirmed. According to Buros LinkedIn profile, he was the founder and CEO of Severity Inc., a Kentucky-based gaming and hospitality industry consulting firm. He held previous CEO, COO and executive marketing positions at tribal and non-tribal casinos and resorts across the U.S. He has raised over $3 billion in funding and financing for large casino resort acquisitions and refinancing, the bio says. Bembenek held various management positions at Pala before being named CEO in 2008, including assistant general manager and vice president of slot operations. Over the past few years, an estimated $1 billion has been pumped into the San Diego-area casino economy to build new hotel towers, massive pool complexes, swanky day spas, upscale restaurants and bars, event centers and, of course, added casino space for gambling. Across Southern California from Highland to Rancho Mirage, Anza to San Jacinto casinos are locked in a luxury amenities arms race of sorts, with resorts clamoring to up their offerings to guests that go beyond gaming. Advertisement In March, Sycuan Casino in El Cajon will open its first hotel, a 302-room tower, along with a spa, pool complex with a lazy river, several dining and drinking venues and more. In particular, Pechangas recent $300 million expansion, which was completed in March, has heated up competition in North County where four San Diego casinos are located. The sprawling Pechanga resort, which is just over the San Diego-Riverside county line in Temecula and only about 10 miles from Pala, has 1,090 hotel rooms, making it the largest casino resort on the West Coast. Pala was expected to break ground in October on its new hotel tower, adding 349 rooms to its existing 500-plus. A visual indication of how close casino competition has become can be seen along the I-15, where going north to Temecula, past the SR-76, three consecutive billboard signs tout Pechangas new amenities. Heading south, the other side of the billboards advertise Pala. A legal challenge to the way signatures were gathered for an initiative that will ask voters whether they want to overturn the countys approval of the Newland Sierra housing project in North County has been rejected by a judge. Newland Communities was asking San Diego Superior Court Judge Kenneth J. Medel to set aside the initiative because, the company asserted, the petitions were deficient on several levels. The developer said the paid signature-gatherers either did not provide enough information to potential signers or misrepresented facts about the 2,135-home project. More than 117,000 people signed the petitions. Even if there was some technical violation, one is hard-pressed to see how this would mislead any voter, Medel concluded in his decision released Thursday. The ruling means voters countywide in March 2020 will be asked whether they want to overturn the county Board of Supervisors approval of the project on Sept. 26. Advertisement As long as a vote is scheduled, work cannot begin on the large housing and commercial project proposed for the hills just west of Interstate 15, about five miles north of downtown Escondido. Newlands lawyers made several arguments challenging the legal worthiness of the petitions. The judge dismissed each argument in order. He also said allegations that paid gathers were misrepresenting the facts were insignificant. In this case, at best, the evidence is that out of 117,000 signatures (there were) five instances of misrepresentations by signatures gatherers Even if the Court accepts the evidence as true, the Court lacks sufficient evidence to conclude a pattern of misconduct warranting voiding the referendum process. Newland Communities decided Thursday evening to reserve comment on the ruling until it has time to review it. Supporters of the referendum were overjoyed. San Diego voters know bad development when they see it, and now they will have the opportunity to be heard on the March 2020 ballot, said Chris Garrett of Latham & Watkins, attorneys representing the Committee Against Newland Sierra and Bad Development. We appreciate the thoughtful deliberation of Judge Medel, and the overwhelming support of San Diego voters. More than 117,000 people worked to get this on the ballot for the benefit of all San Diegans. Supporters of Newland Sierra say the project will help ease the critical housing shortage in the county. They say it is a well-planned project that will improve roads in the area and meets all fire safety requirements. Advertisement Opponents include the Golden Door luxury spa located just south of Deer Springs Road and across the that street from the entrance of the would-be development. They say the project will bring horrible traffic to the semi-rural area, could cause a fire evacuation tragedy, and is sprawl development in contrast to the countys General Plan, which calls for homes to be built in more urban areas near established infrastructure like schools and public transportation. The Golden Door, which says construction of Newland Sierra would force them to close their business, which sells serenity and peace to its high-end customers, funded the signature-gathering drive at a cost of close to $1 million. Opponents, which also include neighborhood and environmental groups, are also suing the county over the supervisors approval. Advertisement jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Escondido is breaking ground Saturday on a multipurpose building and expanded parking lot, which are part of a long-term, three-phase construction project slated to include a new sanctuary. During construction, the congregation of about 200 will meet at 1:30 p.m. Sundays at Temple Adat Shalom in Poway. Phase 1 involves construction of a 2659-square-foot multipurpose building with five classrooms or meeting rooms, an office and kitchenette. The first phase includes expanding the parking lot and increasing spaces from 39 to 49 along with making street improvements along Miller Avenue. The project is the culmination of a seven-year planning and fundraising process providing much needed space for this vibrant congregation, said Marshall Fogel, congregation president. Advertisement The congregation raised nearly $1.6 million, including a $250,000 Spirit Level Foundation Grant to get the project off the ground. Our campus in Escondido never had enough space to accommodate our needs, Fogel said. We run two services each Sunday as our sanctuary cant handle the crowd. Our religious education program is shoehorned into office space and a small cottage that was built several years ago. With the additional space, the congregation is also hoping to accommodate more community special interest groups that want to meet there. Phase 2 will add space and remodel Chalices kitchen and offices and Phase 3 will involve building a new sanctuary. Phase 2 and 3 have been conceived but are not yet funded. Chalice Congregation was established in 2000 after the uniting of The Unitarian Universalist Inland North County Fellowship and Chalice Church. The two congregations voted to merge with a new name. Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation was officially formed on Jan. 1, 2000, with a charter signed by 115 members. Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation purchased the Escondido property in March 2002. The congregation has been led by the Rev. Sharon Wylie since 2012. We are diverse in faith, ethnicity, history and spirituality, but aligned in our desire to practice our faith in tangible ways. We are people who believe in a God, people who dont, and people who let the mystery be, Wylie said. Mayor Paul McNamara and City Councilman Michael Morasco are slated to attend Saturdays groundbreaking. The groundbreaking ceremony is at 12:30 p.m. on the churchs campus at 2324 Miller Ave. Advertisement Visit chaliceuucongregation.org or call (760) 737-0393. An independent investigation into an incident involving a La Mesa police officer who twice body-slammed a handcuffed student at Helix Charter High School concluded the officer did not use excessive force, that his actions were not racially motivated and that he did not lose his temper during the incident. The findings were disclosed Tuesday to the La Mesa City Council nearly a year after the incident, which occurred when school officials asked a school resource officer to escort a 17-year-old female student who refused to leave the campus. The altercation between the student, who is black, and Officer Scott Wulfing, who is white, occurred on Jan. 19, 2018. Cellphone footage that has been shared widely on social media shows the officer flinging the student, who was handcuffed, over his hip and onto the cement and then body-slamming her a second time. A La Mesa police officer forced a 17-year-old Helix High School student to the ground after she refused to comply with directions, the chief of police said in a statement. Advertisement Scott Tiedemann, a lawyer representing investigator Barry Aninag, told the City Council that concerns about the officers conduct raised by the city were not supported by the evidence and were deemed unfounded, though he did not share publicly any of the specifics used to reach that conclusion. Aninags investigation sought to make a determination about whether any La Mesa Police Department use-of-force policies or procedures were violated and whether race played a role. The City Council was not given a copy of the report because of privacy laws that govern police personnel matters. Mayor Mark Arapostathis pressed Tiedemann several times for more information, noting that the city had waited a year to get the report, which was originally supposed to be finished in 90 days, dating back to last February when Aninag was hired. Tiedemann said he was not able to share many details of Aninags report because California penal code states that personnel records of a peace officer are confidential and cannot be disclosed in a civil proceeding. The information that is gathered by the investigator... is confidential, Tiedemann said several times. Im prohibited from elaborating on that information. Aninags group was paid $155 per hour for investigative time including consultation, preparation, interviews, and documentation. City Manager Yvonne Garrett said the total investigation cost was $22,089. Tiedemann said 20 people were interviewed by Aninag, including administrators at Helix, but that multiple attempts to interview the student, Brianna Bell, were unsuccessful. Advertisement Bell is now attending school at Winston-Salem University on the East Coast. Last October, Bell filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the city of La Mesa and Wulfing. Bells complaint cites excessive force, Civil Rights Act code violations, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and assault and battery. Wulfing has been on paid administrative leave since the incident but will be back on the beat next week, La Mesa Police Chief Walt Vasquez said. Another school resource officer has been assigned to all the La Mesa area schools, including Helix. City Councilman Bill Baber, an attorney, said more discovery and discussion will take place as the federal court case moves forward. The council was unanimous in pushing for a future discussion of its police departments standards. Advertisement Councilwoman Akilah Weber said she hoped Vasquez would provide a review of the police departments use-of-force policy. She said she wanted to hear options for de-escalating a situation without using violence. Weber also asked the City Council to look into creating a citizens advisory board or oversight committee in conjunction with the police. Brianna Bell, who was thrown to the ground by a La Mesa police officer on Jan. 18, 2018, spoke out publicly about her experience last February. (K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) Arapostathis asked city staff to bring back information for a public discussion on the police departments use-of-force policies and look at how other cities run police review boards. Advertisement Vasquez said he is extremely supportive of the opportunity to discuss his departments use-of-force policy. We can explain the policy, which is looked at frequently, Vasquez said. We do take it seriously and are always looking for best practices, assuring that our policy complies with state law and federal law. We review and discuss it frequently with staff. With the members of the public I work with, I have had those policy discussions and we will continue to do so. Aeiramique Blake, a friend of Bells, told the City Council that for nearly a year she and others involved in restorative justice have been working with Vasquez on better practices for officers. She attended a Helix Charter High School board meeting in December and requested but has not yet been given information on the schools own investigation of the incident. Advertisement Kevin Osborn, Helixs executive director, told The San Diego Union-Tribune that its investigation of the Jan. 19 incident was shared with our board as part of a confidential attorney-client communication related to anticipated litigation and that the communication is exempt from public disclosure. In an email sent Thursday, Osburn said, At a school of 2,500 students, on occasion, law enforcement is called upon to assist in resolving student-related matters. In these rare cases, the school relies on the officers to address matters appropriately. Osburn said the schools goal is to avoid outside intervention. We provided several professional development days last spring and this school year focused on training our entire staff on restorative practices and discipline...to manage conflict and tensions by repairing harm and building relationships, he said. Advertisement Blake told the City Council she was disappointed in Tiedemanns report, and believed the city wasted its money on the investigation with no useful information. Blake said the city needed to make things right you need to do better next time. Weve all seen the video, and I believe in putting things in context, but theres certain things where you see it and you know it was wrong, Blake said. Where a young lady is slammed to the ground twice. While she is in handcuffs or any kind of restraint, a grown man sends a young lady to the ground. There is never an excuse for that. Advertisement karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com Still months away from opening his much anticipated, high-end Asian restaurant, chef Brian Malarkey is already convinced that its location near the downtown bayfront will one day become a dining destination that will rival Little Italy. Malarkey and business partner Chris Puffer, who are nearing the third anniversary of their well-regarded Little Italy restaurant, Herb & Wood, are banking on a cluster of developments, including Doug Manchesters $1.5 billion redevelopment of Navy waterfront property and the recently opened InterContinental Hotel, to reinvent the Embarcadero area as a culinary go-to neighborhood. The duos $5.5 million Animae restaurant, expected to open by late spring, will be located in the ground floor of Bosa Developments luxury condo tower at Pacific Highway and Broadway, where unit prices in the 41-story Pacific Gate project started at more than $1 million. A year ago, Nat Bosa wondered if we would do well down there, but this is an up-and-coming neighborhood, said Top Chef alum Malarkey. As soon as Manchester finishes his project, this area will rival Little Italy. In all reality, no one walks to Herb & Wood. You valet or take Uber. These are destination restaurants so were banking that people will travel to Broadway and Pacific Highway. Advertisement Animae, which will also include an adjacent casual cafe open during the morning and afternoon hours, is Malarkeys and Puffers most ambitious project yet. Investors the same ones who contributed to Herb & Wood will help with financing the 9,300-square-foot project. There are, however, two new investors Malarkeys mother and San Diego skateboarding phenom Tony Hawk. All the investors are also part of the yet-to-open Malarkey-Puffer venture, Herb & Sea, set to debut in Encinitas by the summer. The Animae concept, an amalgam of Asian cuisines, strays from the sort of cooking Malarkey is known for. Thats true as well of newly named executive chef and partner Joe Magnanelli, who has spent more than 12 years as executive chef with restaurateur Tracy Borkums successful Urban Kitchen Group, which includes Cucina Urbana and Cucina Enoteca. Both concepts are known for their contemporary Italian American cuisine. Malarkey insists that he does have some background in Asian cooking, pointing to his long-closed Del Mar restaurant Burlap that he says featured Asian cowboy cuisine. Now this isnt going to be as whimsical and funny as that was. This will be more serious, Malarkey said of Animae. Were calling this French Asian charcoal grill. Were taking the fundamentals of West Coast cooking, which has French roots, and playing with Asian flavors from Japan, Southeast Asia, China, the Hawaiian islands. While acknowledging that Magnanellis background is not in Asian cooking, Malarkey said he and Puffer were drawn to the chef because of his passion and the consistent quality coming out of the restaurant kitchens he has overseen. Magnanelli, who is still working at the Cucina restaurants, said that as much as hes proud of what he has contributed to the dining groups success, he is ready for a new challenge. Its not that you get bored, but you want to try new things, said Magnanelli. I dont want to feel stagnant or sedentary, I want to feel like Im progressing. And I really like the idea of Asian food. Advertisement Typical of the style of high-heat cooking in some Japanese restaurants, Animae will be using a charcoal oven and grill for many of its dishes, Malarkey explained. While the menu is not set yet, it will likely include plenty of duck, whole fish, Wagyu beef and seafood crudo. Entree prices will average in the mid- to high $30s, Puffer said. Unlike other restaurants that Malarkey has developed, there will not be an open kitchen. Were going back to old school, he said. We just want it to be more the experience of the food and the conversation, not the theater of the kitchen. Its more about the guests. Similarly old school will be the return of wall-to-wall carpeting, which, along with velvet draperies and tufted velvet booths, will help silence the loud noise increasingly typical of todays dining venues, Puffer said. Advertisement The restaurant name Animae is partly a play on anime, which generally refers to Japanese-style animation known for colorful, vibrant graphics and characters. While Puffer is a self-described anime geek and was partly inspired by that in the restaurant and cafe design, youd be hard-pressed to see anime influences in the fine dining restaurant. Instead, it is more elegant art deco, with its columns draped with jade green velvet and a curved, stepped-ceiling treatment above the 14-seat bar. The art deco theming is a nod, Puffer said, to 1920s-era Chinese American actress Anna May Wong (note the phonetic similarity to Animae). The idea was to be a kind of place Anna May Wong would want to hang out in and have a cocktail after a performance, Puffer said. The restaurant also includes a series of floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on Manchesters Pacific Gateway project, now under construction. Advertisement Early last year, Malarkey parted ways with the Hakkasan Group, a global hospitality firm that several years ago purchased a majority stake in the Herringbone and Searsucker restaurants that Malarkey helped develop. He has said a number of times he doesnt want to repeat the same mistakes he made in the past in expanding too quickly. We learned from over-expansion in the early days from the fabric restaurants and want to make sure were locked and loaded before doing another project, said Malarkey. These are two projects that are massive so while its always fun to daydream, this is what were focused on. Advertisement Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Advertisement Twitter: @loriweisberg The city of San Diego is teaming up with a startup out of New York City to use augmented reality technology to map out the citys streets. Its the first step in a plan that might one day lead to a smarter city better outfitted for things like bike-sharing, ride-hailing and other modern modes of transportation. The startup, called Coord, will use an augmented reality technology to build an inventory of the citys painted curbs and parking signs, showing exactly where cars and trucks are allowed to park, load and unload goods, or pick up and drop off passengers. The humble street curb has long been in high demand, with things like public buses, package delivery trucks and other commercial vehicles hogging the streets edge. But increasingly, the curb is also home to scooters, bikes and car share services thanks to smartphone-enabled transportation alternatives. In San Diego, Uber, Lyft and Fred are all fighting for bits of curb real estate to pick up and drop off passengers. As Wired writer Aarian Marshall put it: to see the future of cities, watch the curb. Advertisement City officials nationwide are paying more attention to their curbs, including San Diegos own government, which posted a call for help in October to help the city build an inventory of its curb markings. The city said its current system for keeping track of curb markings is disjointed and incomplete. With no comprehensive inventory available to serve as a baseline, what is being tracked is simply being added to a blank canvas without a comprehensive approach to data collection, the city wrote in a call for contractors. This leads to an inability for the city to fully understand what curb coloration and time limit parking assets have been/are legitimately installed by the city, when and by whom, and what may have been done illegally. Without a tool like this, the city would have to employ surveyors to drive around and document curb markings. Erik Caldwell, the citys deputy chief operating officer for smart and sustainable communities, said the process is expensive, which is why they were looking for technology-assisted alternatives. This new partnership came from a new economic development effort called the Startup in Residence program, which San Diego joined last year. First piloted by the city of San Francisco as an internal program in 2014, the program was later spun out into a nonprofit called City Innovate. Nearly 700 startups vied for a chance to work with 22 governments including San Diego. This program is a unique opportunity for government agencies and startups to think creatively about how we can all work together to modernize government to benefit residents, said Jay Nath, co-executive director at City Innovate. Coord will work with the city for 16 weeks through the program to see if their technology can solve San Diegos problems. At the end of the program, the startup will have the opportunity to score a paid contract with the city. Related reading: 5 big problems: San Diego calls on startups to help tackle urban challenges Advertisement Business Advertisement brittany.meiling@sduniontribune.com 619-293-1286 Twitter: @BrittanyMeiling Nearly 30 percent of California public companies will have to add women to their board of directors by year end to comply with a 2018 state law aimed at boosting gender diversity in the boardroom. The Women on Boards survey released Friday by San Diego-based Board Governance Research looked at the board makeup of 642 publicly traded companies headquartered in California. It found 184 firms will need to find a woman director this year under the law. Most are small publicly traded companies with a market capitalization of $300 million or less, said Annalisa Barrett, author of the study and chief executive of Board Governance Research. I was surprised by the number of companies that are going to have to make changes in their board composition, said Barrett, who is also a lecturer at the University of San Diego on corporate governance. Almost 200 this year are going to have to add women to their boards, and certainly by the 2021 deadline, there is going to be significant change in the board rooms of California companies. Advertisement In October, former Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that requires publicly traded corporations headquartered in California to include at least one woman on their boards of directors by the end of this year. By the end of 2021, companies with five-member boards must have at least two female directors; corporations with six or more directors would need at least three women. Companies that fail to comply will face six-figure financial penalties. Based on the board makeup today, California public companies will have to fill 1,060 board seats with female directors by 2021, according to survey. The goal of the law is to close the gender gap in the corporate world. It is expected to face legal challenges though no lawsuits have been filed to date. Companies still have time to comply, so no fines have been issued to challenge in court, said Dan Eaton, an attorney with Seltzer, Caplan, McMahon & Vitek in San Diego. And public companies are likely reluctant to file a lawsuit that could be seen as opposing gender diversity, he said. California boardrooms are predominately male. About 85 percent of nearly 5,000 board seats of public companies headquartered in the state are held by men, according to the study. The larger the company, the more likely it is to have women board members. Of the states companies that are both on the Fortune 1000 and Russell 3000 indexes, 97 percent have at least one female director. Advertisement The Fortune 1000 and Russell 3000 are indexes of the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. based on market capitalization. Today, 30 percent of Fortune 1000 companies in California already comply with 2021 requirements of the new law regarding female directors. For smaller California public companies, only 8 percent currently meet the laws 2021 benchmark. The larger companies are much further along, said Barrett. They have always had women on the board and have been responsive to shareholders calling for diversity on the board. It is the smaller companies that have yet to act. Advertisement Diversity and independence on corporate boards is being driven in part by large institutional shareholders, said Barrett. Some studies have shown that companies with higher levels of gender diversity have stronger financial performance, she said. Microcap companies, especially those that are not included in the Russell 3000 index, are not subject to as much pressure from institutional investors when it comes to governance issues, she said. And microcap companies tend to have smaller boards. Smaller boards in general also have fewer women. The lack of women on corporate boards occurs partly because women hold relatively few top executive jobs at companies, said Christina de Vaca, chief executive of the Corporate Directors Forum in San Diego, a nonprofit that works to educate and support board members. In the board room, the difficulty is you need to have a talent pool to draw from, she said. The more women executives we have, the more that pool expands. Advertisement So right now companies have to dig deeper, she said. The talent is there, but it is not as obvious as it will be when more women are in the executive suite. It is a multi-tiered process. Business Advertisement mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 Before he kicks off his first season with Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly will warm himself up next week in sunny Mexico where he will take part in the 2019 Race of Champions. Gasly will join Sebastian Vettel in motorsport's annual event that showcases the skills of drivers from various countries and disciplines. The 22-year-old will teal up with Le Mans winner Loic Duval to represent France in the ROC Nations Cup and then measure up individually against a selection of opponents that will include, among other talents, Tom Kristensen and David Coulthard. Its a big honour to be taking part in the Race Of Champions for the first time, said Gasly. Ive known about the event for many years, and Im excited to see how it works first-hand at last. I know France has a rich tradition of driving success at the event so Im looking forward to aiming for another strong performance in partnership with Loic in the ROC Nations Cup. The ROC will take place on January 19-20 at the famous Foro Sol stadium located at the center of Mexico City's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers Doubling down on a mission to connect public transportation to the airport, San Diegos mayor and the countys transit chief have landed on a 71-acre, airport- and freeway-adjacent site that they see as the regions utopian transit hub of tomorrow. Friday, Hasan Ikhrata, the newly installed executive director of the San Diego Association of Governments, will tell his board at their regular monthly meeting that he wants to move swiftly to try and secure the Naval Base Point Loma, Old Town Complex more commonly recognized as the SPAWAR property as part of an ambitious plan to create a Grand Central Station that also includes housing and commercial space. This could be one of the biggest economic development opportunities; (one of the) most advanced transportation systems to access an airport, Ikhrata said in an interview with the Union-Tribune that also included Mayor Kevin Faulconer. And wed do it in such a way that if you want to take transit (to the airport), it would be as convenient as, if not more convenient than, a car. Advertisement Specifics are slim, but the early plan, as outlined by Ikhrata and strongly advocated for by Faulconer, would combine the SPAWAR land with the existing Old Town Transit Center to create a 120-acre, mixed-use development. That project would be theoretically funded by multiple regional agencies and developed through a public-private partnership. As envisioned, the Grand Central transit hub would sit at the nexus of a larger project (with to-be-determined housing and office elements), and bring together all current and future rail options. Included in the hub would be a people mover to shuttle commuters to and from San Diego International Airports two terminals, Ikhrata said. Its a grand machination that hinges around several unknowns and obstacles. Before answering the omnipresent question of whos going to pay for what, SANDAG must first take a stab at getting the land. Its not the only party eyeing the attractive SPAWAR property, which is about 2.5 miles from downtown and 3.5 miles from the airport. Owned by the government since 1995, the Naval Base Point Loma, Old Town Complex is currently home to the militarys Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific. Though the World War II-era hangers were designed to make combat aircraft, the groups are now using them for lab space, storage, warehousing and administration, and many of the buildings are in disrepair with sewage problems, leaky roofs and ground contaminants. As such, the Navy would like an all-new base better suited to its present-day needs. And, just like it did with its Broadway Complex more than a decade ago, its looking to the private sector to get what it wants. In September, the Navy issued whats called a Request for Interest as a way to gauge interest from the developer community, which has until Jan. 18 to respond. The RFI acts as a precursor to soliciting competitive bids. In sum, the RFI spells out that the federal agency would like to lease the entire site to a developer on a long-term basis in exchange for a new, (rent-free) 1.5 million square-foot Navy facility also on the site. Its a potentially hot development prospect, as evidenced by the 208 people who attended the Navys November industry forum and tour of the property. Prominent developers Cisterra, Irvine Company, and Lankford & Associates were among the 89 firms represented at the event. The Navy is expecting a significant number of industry responses for this prime real estate opportunity, said Jay Delarosa, a public affairs director with the Navy Region Southwest. After reviewing the responses to its request, the Navy expects to determine a way forward by March 31, 2019. That means SANDAGs proposal, when submitted next week, will go head-to-head with others that could give the Navy more of what it wants. What that looks like remains to be determined, but Delarosa said SANDAG will not be getting special treatment during the process. Separately, Ikhratas Grand Central vision wont get off the ground without universal support from the airport, the Port of San Diego and other regional agencies, all of which need to literally buy into the likely billion-dollar-plus project. Advertisement This is not going to be inexpensive no visionary plan is but its not going to get less expensive if we wait, Faulconer said. We need to think big. We need a bold vision that is going to work for this region for decades to come and is going to finally get us the transportation hub we need. Discussed for decades, the notion of an airport transit center was once again thrust into the spotlight last year with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authoritys planned expansion of Terminal 1. The agencys draft environmental impact report was highly criticized by local leaders, who felt the airport wasnt adequately addressing public transit alternatives for getting to the airport. The mayor has since taken the lead on corralling representatives from agencies across the county to clear the air and come to an agreement on airport transit. His initial December summit morphed into a new group called the Airport Connectivity Subcommittee, which held its first meeting last week. The committee, chaired by SANDAGs board leader Steve Vaus, consists of members from the airport, the port, the city, the county, the Navy, Caltrans, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and the North County Transit District. The group was briefed on the Grand Central proposal at its Jan. 3 meeting. Advertisement Its a new idea, said Kimberly Becker, who is the CEO of the airport and attended the meeting. From the airports perspective, were just pleased that the discussion is gaining momentum. Finally, everybody is talking together and has the same objective to find some kind of regional (airport transit) solution. Business Advertisement jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1840 Twitter: @jbruin Before Corey Soignet had hundreds of lives in his hands, hour after hour, in the airspace above Houstons George Bush Intercontinental Airport, he spent years guiding military aircraft. He had joined the Air National Guard with an eye toward becoming a pilot, but he found being an air traffic controller such meaningful work that he made it his career. Hes learned the hyperfocus needed to help guide aircraft through night skies and brutal storms. On Thursday, Soignet with 22 years of experience working for the military and Federal Aviation Administration got a look at his wages for the past two weeks of work helping keep U.S. skies and travelers safe. His net pay? $0.00. As one of the hundreds of thousands of federal employees working without pay during the government shutdown, Soignet knew it was coming, but it was jarring nonetheless. Advertisement READ MORE: Stories of Chicago-area people hit by government shutdown In all that public service, this is the first time Ive received a pay stub with zero on it for work completed, Soignet said. And theres no sign of when that will change. Now I dont know how much I can put toward that credit card. Do I pay half my water bill? Do I have enough money for 30 days or 60 days or six months? You cant ask people to budget like that. It was an experience shared by air traffic controllers across the country, who visited employeeexpress.gov to find their latest payroll updates. There, along with the mundane health and withholding information on their Department of Transportation Earnings and Leave Statement is a small box with the words Net Pay highlighted in blue. And under it: "$0.00. Most federal employees are paid every two weeks. This is the first payday without a check for air traffic controllers. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association filed a lawsuit Friday against President Donald Trump and other top federal officials, saying they are depriving controllers of their hard-earned compensation without the requisite due process. The legal challenge, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks a temporary restraining order against the federal government for allegedly violating controllers constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment. Advertisement More than 24,000 FAA employees are working without pay, since their positions are considered vital for life and safety. Another more than 17,000 have been furloughed, told to stop doing their jobs, including the vital training work to bring air traffic controllers into the workforce after years of retirements have thinned the ranks. Air traffic controllers describe an extraordinary pride in their work, tied to the stakes of what they do. Soignet says he thinks of his family flying. It has to be the right decision at the right time. If its a bad decision, the risks are tremendous, he says. So when he puts on his headphones, even after the deeply discouraging image of an earnings statement without earnings, he said he will not let his mind wander to questions about cash. But it will haunt his crucial rebuilding time when hes home, he said. Youre taking that time you can decompress and now theres another external factor: When am I going to get paid? Soignet said. Advertisement It puts a tremendous amount of stress in a system that doesnt need any more stress, said Andrew LeBovidge, a regional vice president with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Soignet, who also serves in the controllers union, said there are many federal employees who are worse off than his family, since his wifes income will help cushion them for some time. But he thinks of the single-parent controllers who live on one now-absent income, or the Transportation Security Administration workers at the airport he saw on his way to press the controllers case in Washington. Many of those TSA employees earn less than air traffic controllers but also must still work, he said. Hes put money aside for years. But with spending on a relocation, medical bills and life expenses, I dont have savings for six months of my income, Soignet said. Advertisement With Trump insisting on billions of dollars for a border wall, and top congressional Democrats voting to reopen the government without it, Washington remains at an impasse. Soignet would not publicly take a position on that question, or say who he thinks deserves blame. When it comes to border security, its a discussion that needs to be had. But federal employees shouldnt be used as a bargaining chip, he said. Follow @ChiTribBusiness on Facebook and @ChiTribBiz on Twitter. WARSAW, Poland (AP) Poland has arrested a director at the Chinese tech giant Huawei and one of its own former cybersecurity experts and charged them with spying for China, authorities said Friday. The development comes as the U.S. is exerting pressure on its allies not to use Huawei, the world's biggest maker of telecommunications network equipment, over data security concerns. The two men one a Chinese citizen who was a former envoy in Poland before moving over to a senior position at Huawei and the other a Pole who held several top government cybersecurity positions were arrested Tuesday, according to Poland's Internal Security Agency. Polish security agents searched the Warsaw offices of Huawei and Orange, Poland's leading communications provider, where the former Polish security expert recently worked, seizing documents and electronic data. The homes of both men, also in Warsaw, were also searched, according to agency spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn. It's the latest setback for Huawei in Europe, where the company has ambitious plans to roll out next-generation "5G" mobile networks, which it is a leader in developing. The arrest is a fresh sign that a U.S. dispute with China over its ban on the company is spilling over to Europe, Huawei's biggest foreign market. Some European governments and telecom companies are following the U.S. lead in questioning whether using Huawei for vital infrastructure for mobile networks could leave them exposed to snooping by the Chinese government. Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Poland's Special Services agency, said the operation that resulted in the arrests of the two suspects had been underway for a long time. He said "both carried out espionage activities against Poland." Zaryn told The Associated Press that prosecutors have charged the two men with espionage, but agents are continuing to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Further indictments are expected, he said. He said no further details would be released about the case because it is classified and the investigation is ongoing. Polish state television TVP reported that the men have proclaimed their innocence, but Zaryn said he could not confirm that. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison each. TVP identified the arrested Chinese man as Weijing W., saying he was a director in Poland at Huawei. It said he also went by the Polish first name of Stanislaw and had previously worked at the Chinese consulate in Gdansk. A LinkedIn profile for a man named Stanislaw Wang appears to match details of the man described by Polish television. Wang's resume said he worked at China's General Consulate in Gdansk from 2006-2011 and at Huawei Enterprise Poland since 2011, where he was first director of public affairs and since 2017 the "sales director of public sector." The resume said he received a bachelor's degree in 2004 from the Beijing University of Foreign Studies. State TV identified the Polish man as Piotr D., and said he was a high-ranking employee at the Internal Security Agency, where he served as deputy director in the department of information security, until 2011. The Polish state news agency, PAP, said the man had also held top cybersecurity positions at the Interior Ministry and the Office of Electronic Communications, a regulatory body that oversees cyber and other telecommunications issues. It said, while at the Internal Security Agency, he was involved in building a mobile communications system for top Polish officials, and he was fired in 2011 amid a major corruption scandal. Geopolitical tensions over Huawei have intensified since Canada arrested a top executive last month at the request of U.S. authorities. The company has been blocked in the U.S. since 2012 over fears that its equipment is a security risk, and last year Australia, New Zealand and Japan instituted their own bans against using Huawei. U.S. officials have reportedly fanned out across Europe recently to make their case with governments and Huawei suppliers for blocking the company. The company and analysts have long maintained that it has never been found guilty of a cybersecurity breach but the latest accusation, if confirmed, will deal a blow to that defense. "One thing is clear: this is another nail in the coffin of Huawei's European ambitions," said Thorsten Benner, director of the Global Public Policy Institute, a think tank. The arrest might not have a big impact on broader trade tensions between China and the U.S., but it shows that "there will always be competition and acrimony related to Chinese tech companies," Benner said. Huawei, which also makes smartphones and other consumer devices, issued a statement from its Chinese headquarters saying it was aware of the situation in Poland and was looking into it. "We have no comment for the time being. Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based," the statement said. Poland is Huawei's headquarters for Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordic region. An official at the Chinese Embassy in Warsaw said China attaches "great importance to the detention" of the Chinese citizen in Poland and that Chinese envoys had met with Polish Foreign Ministry officials to urge them to arrange a consular visit "as soon as possible." Orange Poland told the AP on Friday it was cooperating with Polish security services in the case and had "handed over belongings of one of our employees" in Tuesday's search of its offices. Orange told the AP it did not know if the suspicions against its employee were related to his work at Orange or elsewhere. Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested Dec. 1 in Canada in connection with U.S. accusations that the company violated restrictions on sales of American technology to Iran. The United States wants Meng extradited to face charges that she misled banks about the company's business dealings in Iran. She is out on bail in Canada awaiting extradition proceedings. MADISON, Wis. (AP) A 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed has been found alive in a rural town about an hour from her home, authorities said Thursday. The Barron County Sheriff's Department said on its Facebook page that Jayme Closs has been located and that a suspect was taken into custody. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said Jayme was expected to be reunited with her family Thursday night. Fitzgerald said authorities in Douglas County, about 70 miles north of Barron County, located the girl. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed on its website that Jayme was found in the Town of Gordon at 4:43 p.m. Thursday, and that a suspect was taken into custody 11 minutes later. Neither statement gave any further information about the suspect. Jayme's grandfather, Robert Naiberg, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Jayme was being treated at a hospital. Sue Allard, Jayme's aunt, told the Star Tribune that she could barely express her joy after learning the news Thursday night. "Praise the Lord," Allard said between sobs. "It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait." The Barron County sheriff's office plans to hold a news conference Friday morning to discuss the case. Gillian Drummond, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and Leonard Peace, a spokesman for the FBI in Wisconsin, declined comment Thursday evening. Both agencies have been involved in the search for Jayme. Jayme has been missing since her parents, James and Denise Closs, were found shot to death Oct. 15 in the family's home near Barron. Investigators said Jayme was quickly ruled out as a suspect. Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23 but it yielded no clues. Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode. "I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive. I've always been a glass half-full kind of guy," Fitzgerald said at the time. The Town of Gordon lies about 40 miles south of the Lake Superior shoreline and 65 miles north of Barron, where the Closs family lived. Gordon is home to about 645 people. The area is heavily forested. Logging is the top industry in the region. Town Chairman Denny Kline said Jayme was found about six miles east of town. He described the area as a small-town development with single-family, cabin-like homes. He said he first learned Jayme had been found while listening to a police scanner, adding that he heard Jayme was walking down the road and someone stopped near her. Kline said he heard over the scanner that Jayme told them who she was and they brought her to their home. "A lot of people were very concerned, did a lot of praying and all that," he said. "Prayers were answered, for finding her, anyway." Resident Kristin Kasinskas told the Star Tribune that a neighbor waking a dog knocked on her door Thursday afternoon. Standing with her was a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair, wearing shoes too big for her feet. "This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!" the neighbor said to Kasinskas. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Kasinskas' husband, Peter, said. The woman who found Jayme asked the newspaper not to use her name. In the 20 minutes Jayme was in their home, the Kasinskas tried to make her feel more comfortable, they said. They offered her water and food, but she declined both. Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon. From what she told them, they believe she was there for most of her disappearance. "I honestly still think I'm dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost," Peter Kasinskas said. "My jaw just went to the floor." The Associated Press was not able to verify the Kasinskases' account with authorities late Thursday. The non-emergency line at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office rang unanswered and Sheriff Thomas Dalbec didn't respond to an email. Barron Mayor Ron Fladten said Thursday night he hadn't heard any details about Jayme's discovery yet but was overjoyed at learning she is alive. "There was a lot of discouragement because this took quite a while to play out," Fladten said. "A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. It's just a great result we got tonight. It's unbelievable. It's like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again." He acknowledged that Jayme may not be the same person she was before she disappeared. "I hope that she's in good shape," the mayor said. "She's no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future." The notification that Jayme had been found came just four hours after Fitzgerald had taken to Twitter to debunk a report that she had been found alive near Walworth County. Douglas County, where Jayme was found, is hundreds of miles northwest of Walworth County. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Saiilele Malielegaoi has not backed down from his ifake newsi claims in recent days against Government critics and those raising concerns about customary lands alienation. Reporter Yolanda Lavatai and photographer Talaia Mika meet members of the public to get their views. Tavita Puipui, Vaivase Uta, 32 I dont speak for everyone, but personally its up to the person if they want to sell their land or not and who they sell it to. Whatever the owner decides on, that is entirely up to them, and they should have that right. But with Asia Development Bank assisting Samoa in terms of improving public services and such, we should be grateful. Abe Faletagoai, Letogo, 30 I dont like Prime Minster for a lot of reasons and I am concerned that a lot of things are happening and are going to happen is being discussed behind closed doors. OLP is being upfront about issues concerning our customary lands and we would just like the honest truth. Our peoples concerns are unheard, and it is not foolish to demand answers, protest what people know is right. Paul Amiga, Siusega, 21 I am young and theres a lot to look forward to for the future. However, what is to say about the following generations. Can the Government confirm that their future is safe? I wish I could say that I trust the Government entirely, but so far they have only given us more reasons to question their motives, especially with how he responded to S.S.I.G protests. Palota Tauau, Siusega 29 Its hard to say who is right and who is wrong because both sides have a point. But why not confront issues properly like civil men. Name calling and pointing fingers solve nothing! Mimisa Alaivaa, Manono Tai, 21 Who wouldnt not be concerned about S.S.I.G and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaois feud. S.S.I.G is making a statement and protesting something we should be worried about, our lands. I hope we can get to the bottom of this so that we can be rest assured. But in the meantime the Government is the head here, and I am going to have to trust that they are doing the right thing, for the right reasons. Bernie Mika, Vaimoso, 35 It is right that I am worried about our customary lands. I understand that we allow people from other nations like China to lease land but that is as far as I am going. Samoa does not need them to buy land. Samoans land belongs to Samoa. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Mungau Dain had never considered acting before he starred in the Oscar-nominated film "Tanna." He got the role because his elders decided he was the best-looking guy in their traditional village on the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. They would later describe him as their answer to Brad Pitt. Dain died Saturday in the capital Port Vila, after contracting a leg infection that wasn't quickly treated. He was in his mid-20s. Martin Butler, who co-directed "Tanna," said Dain wasn't a natural actor but was very enthusiastic, learned quickly, and ended up giving a fabulous performance. The 2015 movie won a number of awards, including two at the Venice Film Festival, and was nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign language film. Dain is survived by his wife, Nancy, and two children. His village, Yakel, on Tanna island, remains in a traditional two-week mourning period. Jimmy Joseph, the cultural director for Tanna island, said Dain was quiet, humble and respected in Yakel, where he had chosen to remain living even after achieving some fame in the movie. He said Dain never drank or smoke. People in the village typically choose to live as they have for centuries, in simple thatch huts and wearing nothing but grass skirts or a penis shield called a nambas. They raise crops and pigs, and observe a traditional way of life known as kastom. But the village isn't completely isolated from modern life. When villagers make the trek to the island's main town to sell the coffee beans they've grown or buy rice, they usually wear clothes. Some have cellphones, which they charge with small solar panels. When Australia-based Butler and Bentley Dean decided to make the movie, which is loosely based on a true story, Butler said they quickly realized the village elders would be doing the casting. He said Dain looked too old for the role with his full beard, but 10 minutes later he'd shaved it off at their request. He said he fondly remembers how awkward Dain was when trying to act in a scene in which he was supposed to lift co-star Marie Wawa in his arms and carry her along a river bed. Butler said he and Dean plan to travel to Yakel at the end of the mourning period to join the village in celebrating Dain's life. "I was totally devastated. He was so fit and young and gorgeous. His wife is fabulous and the kids are great," Butler said. "He was a great example of how you can live a totally different type of life, and still be completely happy." Location producer Janita Suter, who lived in Yakel for seven months during filming with her husband, Dean, and their children, said if there was an award for most improved actor, it would have to go to Dain. She said she doesn't think he'd even seen a movie before acting in one. She said that when they traveled to Venice for the film festival, she was in her apartment when the chandelier and ceiling started shaking. It turned out it was Dain and the other villagers in the room above, stomping their feet in a traditional dance. "He was a really proud ambassador for his people," she said. "It's a real loss." She said Dain had been staying in Port Vila for the past couple of months as he tried to get a temporary visa to come to Australia and earn some money picking fruit. She said a doctor had explained that Dain had got an infection in his leg that he didn't treat and by the time he was taken to the hospital he was unconscious and likely in septic shock. Butler said he hoped there may be some way to get better information to people in Vanuatu about the risks of infections, and that Dain's death could act as a catalyst. Visiting New Zealand-based couple Hak Jun Lee and Paran Jung have been touched by their hotels customer service and the sincerity of ordinary Samoans at places they visited. Flying into Samoa with their son Joseph for a short vacation, the couple told the Samoa Observer in an interview that they have been impressed with the customer service at the Taumeasina Island Resort. They said the resort had amazing staff, good food and the guests including themselves were well taken care of. The handicraft that the resort staff weaved for their son also meant a lot to them. My son loves those handmade handicrafts and we are happy that the activity team got to make it for him, the couple, who are originally from Korea, said. The quietness of the place and the ability of visitors to relax unlike other tourist destinations also appealed to the couple. One of our friends recommend that we come to Samoa to spend the holidays because it is more natural and quiet compared to the other Islands, the couple added. They said a friend who visited Samoa a couple of months ago recommended that they visit the island. However, the journey to Samoa hasnt been without its challenges, with the couple critical of Samoa Airways service. There is one thing I would complain about, its Samoa Airways, our flight coming in Samoa was initially delayed 12 hours, and two hours delayed at the airport. And it just killed our one-day holiday, we got an email last night and our flight today supposed to leave at 6pm, but now leave at midnight. Samoa Airway changes our flight again. The flight is very late. I dont understand the issue, they said. Despite the delay, the couple intend to enjoy their last few hours before flying back to New Zealand. The sincerity of ordinary Samoans also touched the couple, after they visited the To Sua Trench and were advised they needed to pay a parking fee. Yesterday when we were on our way to To Sua, people were walking and waving at us. And that was really welcoming of them to do such a thing. And as we stopped at the car park, we realized we didnt have coins, although we needed it to pay for the car park. One lady was standing there and she offered us coins without any obligation. We never experience this before on vacation we had in the previous years, but good to know that the people of Samoa are well respected and welcoming, the couple added. The couple and their son have vowed to return for a longer vacation. The theme families are forever was at the center of a second reunion of the descendants of the late Sola Nepa Matafeo and Muliagatele Faagagaloemauaiasoloufili at Leauvaa. The family event began last Monday and ended last Thursday with the ultimate goal of strengthening the current bonds between the family members and ensure they remain in place into the future. There were four generations present from the 11 children of the late Sola Nepa Matafeo and Muliagatele Faagagaloemauaiasoloufili. According to the 93-year-old high chief of the family, Sola Lagi Tauiliili, reunions are important as it unites families. Family gatherings are significant not only for the young generation so that they know where they originate from, and understand their family history, meaning getting to know each other. The bonds of family were made stronger through different activities but it all started last Monday with a mass conducted by Father Taisali Leuluaialii of the Leauvaa Catholic church. A welcoming Ava ceremony was conducted for our families from American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, and locally but altogether there was a lot of unity as family members bonded throughout the times spent together, he told the Samoa Observer in a interview. Sola said the union was an opportunity to converse on matters to further improve their family as a whole. It was evident that there were a lot of family bonding through activities, and also the young generation had the chance to learn who they were related to. We also discussed further plans in the future, like the next gathering, which will be in Australia in the year 2021. I am happy to say that it had been a great experience to be united with the family, even though it is sad to see it come to an end, but we have to look forward to the next reunion and plan ahead, he added. Sola indicated that they will now have their unions every two years instead of every three years. Families living in Malololelei say comments by the Prime Minister for Samoan families to get drinking water from tufu (spring water) does not apply to inland families. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi when commenting recently on families accessibility to water said it should not be an issue for the poorest of families as they can dig for water on beaches. Long ago when we did not have pipes what we did in our villages, there is a thing called Tufu along the beaches all you do is dig and spring water comes in. That is the value of local knowledge, there is a tufu, he said. But Rev. Samani Iulio Ioane, who has lived with his wife and children at Malololelei for close to six years and spoke on behalf of villages families, said accessing tufu doesnt work for them and other inland villagers. He is right about the tufu, it is an old source of water supply. But we are far away from the sea, how are we going to get water from the tufu when tufu are only found along the beaches? There is much need for pipe installation in the village of Malololelei as it is expensive to pay for water truck to fill tank every now and then. It takes us $400 to pay for a water truck to fill our water tank, and if we dont have the money at certain time then we have no other options. We only have one tank and it is not enough for all of us as our family continue to grow each year, he said. Rev. Samani said they had asked for water pipes from authorities over the years to no avail, and indicated that even the Prime Minister assured them in 2016 when he went to Malololelei to open a school building that the Government will install pipes for water. How can the PM say that water is not an issue when he told us himself that water pipes will be installed in our village three years ago, and until now nothing is done? He was invited for the launching of the school, and he spoke to us that he will give priority to the school water supply and the road with a hospital to avoid us from going all the way to town. Now there are good roads and water supply for the school and families nearby, except for us. We are still waiting because we have tried so many times, we even paid the registration fee to the Samoa Water Authority but they demanded us to pay extra $700 for the installation. How can we pay for that much amount when none of them came to actually see where we are staying to assure us that there will be an installation? Lawyer Unasa Iuni Sapolu yesterday said just because the Prime Minister calls land alienation fake news, doesnt mean it isnt already happening in Samoa. Unasa, who has been representing Samoans concerned with the impact of the land titles registration on their ownership rights, says constitutional prohibition against the selling and mortgaging of customary land is not protection enough for Samoans. That the constitution prohibits the sale, prohibits mortgages of customary land, prohibits the alienation of customary land does not mean the sale and alienation of customary land is not happening, because it is, she said. The Crimes Act says you cannot assault a woman, you cannot kill a woman, but they are still being assaulted and killed. The case of land alienation under the Land Titles Registration Act 2008 and the related Asian Development Bank technical assistance projects have been in the spotlight this week with the inaugural visit of the A.D.B President Takehiko Nakao to Samoa. During that visit, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi called the ongoing protest against potential land alienation fake news, drawing concern from the public. To his fake news: what about Sasina, what about Salelologa, what about Nofoalii, what about Asau, Tiavea? Unasa said. The position of the Samoa Solidarity International Group is based on the current experience of villagers losing rights to their customary land, Unasa explained. That the most powerful man in Samoa, the Prime Minister, says there's no sale does not mean customary land is not being alienated. Please speak to customary land owners who are victims of customary land alienation, she pleaded. There are many ways to be alienated from customary land, Unasa added. Long term leases and mortgages of customary land leases, as well as fraudulent registration of customary land as freehold land, are all risks. Not only that, but under the current legislation, the leaseholders of customary land benefit more than the owners of the land. For example, customary land leased to a Chinese businessman, say with four kids... From his business he sends his kids to university while owners of customary land work for minimum wages of T$2.30 an hour and cannot afford to send their kids to university, Unasa said. Women and children are most affected by the loss of customary land. Unasa said for Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi to call the concerns fake news is to align himself with controversial President of the United States, Donald Trump. The term "fake news" was stated and popularized by President Trump of the United States of America, she said. Trump of course is a well-documented sexist, misogynist who supports white supremacistshe consistently calls C.N.N fake news. What does that make the Prime Minister? A male patient who was admitted at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital at Motootua during the week of New Year was taken into police custody for smoking cannabis while hospitalised. The incident occurred on January 4, according to a man who is currently admitted in the hospital, whose identity cannot be revealed due to patient confidentiality. A guardian reported the actions of the patient to hospital staff who alerted the Police. There was a male patient that we all shared a room with, on the day of the incident it was a guardian of the patient next to me that reported to the doctors and nurses about the male patient who smoked cannabis on his hospital bed. The room was filled with the scent and it circulated around the ward. The doctors and nurses immediately contacted the police and later police officers then came to escort the male patient into their custody. We are not aware if he has been released or has he returned to the hospital but this is the first time I have experienced something like this but it is more shocking that it happened inside a hospital, the patient said. Dr. Tagaloa Robert Thomsen, the A.C.E.O. of Health Service Performance and Quality Assurance Medical and Allied Division, told the Samoa Observer that he is not aware of the matter and would not comment further if it is now a Police matter. This is the first time I have heard of this matter but if the police are involved then I cannot comment because it has become a police matter. We leave the matter into the hands of the police to do their work, he said. Attempts by the Samoa Observer to get comments from the Police were unsuccessful. The Ministry of Health has urged the public to be vigilant and look out for anyone with the symptoms of Meningococcal disease. The symptoms for the Meningococcal disease include sudden high fever and severe persistent headaches. Dr. Tagaloa Robert Thomsen, the A.C.E.O. of Health Service Performance and Quality Assurance Medical and Allied Division, made the appeal recently during an interview with the Samoa Observer. He said in December last year the Ministry was alerted to three suspected cases, which later turned to be just two cases which were treated promptly in the hospital. But then so far no new cases, it was only in the beginning of December last year that we had cases and it was fortunate that there were no fatalities because this particular disease has a high fatality rate and can go as high as 50-60 per cent if not treated, he said. At the moment it is still an alarming disease in Samoa in terms of it being one of our top 13 diseases that are under surveillance it is in our syndromic surveillance board meaning they have to be reported within 24 hours, if suspected or come across by doctors. Dr. Tagaloa said even if treated, the fatality rate can go as high as 25 per cent. The earlier they present, the quicker the treatment and better the outcomes for Meningococcal disease because the disease spreads through immediate contact. The problem with meningococcal bacteria is its present at the back of the throat, as a normal flora of up to 20-30 per cent of the population will have that bacteria sitting at the back of their throat. It just sits there, not harmful but now and then, reasons unknown it just flares or burst and when that happens it gets into the blood system, it will cause Meningococcal bacteremia, he added. The Meningococcal meningitis is more fatal than Meningococcal bacteremia, Dr. Tagaloa added, but between the two, the Meningococcal bacteremia can quickly progress to the fatal Meningococcal septicemia. Usually when that purple rash starts, the fatality rate jumps up higher, which is why preventions have always been better than cure and so the public should be careful and if possible try and avoid crowded places. Do not share drinks, wash your hands thoroughly before eating, if coughing please use a handkerchief. The Prime Minister calling concerns over land alienation fake news are unfortunate, but not surprising to Fiu Mataese Elisara, a critic of the Asian Development Banks role. Speaking with the Samoa Observer, Fiu said while he has to respond to the claims, he will not go down to the level of using the language Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi does. We still have to keep the integrity of the process and the substance of the argument and try as best to be factual as possible, by learning from what has been happening in our own country Fiu said. During the A.D.Bs high level visit to Samoa which for the first time included President Takehiko Nakao, protesters outside the Government and the airport called for, among other things, the bank to leave Samoa and to stop loaning money to Samoa. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi called the protest and their mission to protect Samoa from the alienation of customary land fake news, and on Thursday during his weekly media conference said they had decided not to understand the issue. Fiu said hes amazed to see the language of United States President Donald Trump in Samoa. Its just amazing, you know, the kind of leadership that is actually influencing the mind-set of our own leaders, they end up using the same kind of unfortunate language. And they are pointing the fingers at themselves with the language that they use. Its unfortunate. He said while he can understand the Prime Ministers perspective, he is concerned Tuilaepa has no accountability for the words he uses. We understand where he is coming from, but we just tend to ignore that in most cases as best we can but respond where we think we should. In those cases, it is when the cause could be at risk, said Fiu. If we allow that kind of talk to continue without being challenged then our own cause can be affected too. The perception is too powerful to ignore in terms of what people will read into that. We owe it to not only ourselves but to the people of this country and the people who believe in our cause to actually give some response to what they say. That the Prime Minister wont acknowledge the serious concerns of his people flies in the face of evidence from the Asian Development Bank itself that consultation was lacking. Weve always said that we support the laudable objective of the use of customary land for economic purposes, there is no one questioning that, Fiu said. The only thing we are questioning is the way its being done and the way customary lands are being used for those purpose. Fiu said there is no stopping the Prime Minister to speak as he pleases, using the monopoly he has on the radio to address the leadership across Samoa, which unfortunately dictates the thinking of our people. Its a very clever ploy, very clever in how he uses the radio. It reaches all four corners of Samoa and a lot of our leaders in the villages do listen a lot to what the Prime Minister is saying. Ideally, there would be more equal opportunity to debate the issues, as civil society doesnt have the funds to buy expensive airtime that Tuilaepa can access for free, said Fiu. It has been a long week in Samoa, which started with the first ever visit to the country by the Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao, and ended with a verbal tirade by the Prime Minister. Just over a week after the New Year, and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi was back to his best or worst depending on which side of the political spectrum you sit when it comes to Samoan politics. The concerns are fake, Prime Minister Tuilaepa insisted during his weekly media conference at his Office. The final proof of what we say is that since 1962, none of the customary lands have been alienated. With that, what more can you say? All that has been said is all garbage. Those who continue to fear land alienation despite his assertions, the Prime Minister believes are choosing to remain ignorant to the facts. They have decided not to understand, Tuilaepa said. There are people, regardless of how much you explain, they decided to remain ignorant no matter how much you try. All they want is to push on with their stupid arguments. The facts are there, and all they talk about is unknown things in the future. Its all fiction. But the reaction from Samoans to concerns of becoming alienated from their customary lands through policies formulated by the Government should not come as a surprise to seasoned politicians such as the Prime Minister. In fact customary land has always been a contentious issue in the Pacific Islands for thousands of years. Even before the arrival of the first European explorers on our shores, the lives of our forefathers revolved around their land and its spiritual, physical, social and cultural connection. Our land identified us as a people, as a community, and as a nation. So do not fret Mr Prime Minister, with a New Year upon us, perhaps it is time for consensus and dialogue. Fiu Mataese Elisara, a big critic of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported land reforms, has declared he will not use the language that the P.M. used. We still have to keep the integrity of the process and the substance of the argument and try as best to be factual as possible, by learning from what has been happening in our own country he said. And seeing him making comparisons of Tuilaepas language to that of the American President Donald Trump, does not augur well for Samoa in terms of trying to promote an objective fact-based discussion. If we allow that kind of talk to continue without being challenged then our own cause can be affected too. The perception is too powerful to ignore in terms of what people will read into that. We owe it to not only ourselves, but to the people of this country, and the people who believe in our cause to actually give some response to what they say, Fiu added. Therefore, it is perhaps time to have a sensible discussion about the issue. Why not use the recent visit of the ADB President as a foundation to push for discussions on the issue between the two sides? Of course without the diatribe, the name calling and the animosity surrounding the issue. Failure to move towards consensus and dialogue on customary land, and land reforms promulgated by multilateral financial institutions, has had fatal consequences in other parts of the region. What do you think? Have a wonderful Saturday Samoa and God bless. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged North Korea to take bolder disarmament measures that the United States should then reward, suggesting Thursday he wants harsh sanctions lifted so Seoul can eventually restart dormant economic cooperation projects with its neighbor. Moon said resolving the issue of the North Korea sanctions hinges on how fast Pyongyang denuclearizes and whether it receives reciprocal measures from the United States. He said that would top the agenda in an expected second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump. "North Korea knows it needs (to take) clear denuclearization steps to see international sanctions lifted and the United States also realizes that reciprocal measures are needed to match these North Korean denuclearization steps," Moon told a news conference. Some observers believe that any sanctions relief, if pursued before Washington is ready, could weaken South Korea's ties with its ally and complicate efforts to rid the North of its nuclear weapons. Others see the comments by Moon, a liberal who covets deep engagement with Pyongyang, as simply a symbolic bit of conciliation toward North Korea. Moon spoke only days after Kim used a New Year's address to say he was ready to resume two major stalled inter-Korean projects. Kim also said he'll be compelled to take a different path if the United States keeps pressing for unilateral sanctions as well as maintaining broader U.N. sanctions. The two projects are South Korean tours to the North's scenic Diamond Mountain and a jointly run factory complex in the North Korean border town of Kaesong. They were suspended in the past decade along with other similar projects amid the nuclear standoff. The two projects were considered key sources of badly needed foreign currency for the impoverished North. "My administration will cooperate with the international community, including the United States, to resolve the remaining issues such as international sanctions as soon as possible" to get the two projects restarted, Moon said at the news conference. Moon, who took office in 2017, has shuttled between North Korea and the United States to facilitate high-profile diplomacy that included the first Kim-Trump summit in Singapore last June. Moon's overture, however, has invited criticism from conservatives in South Korea and the United States that he's making too many concessions and helping the North try to weaken U.S.-led sanctions. Trump has maintained that sanctions on North Korea will stay in place until it completely abandons its nuclear program. As Moon spoke Thursday, Kim was heading back to Pyongyang after a two-day trip to his country's only major ally, China, that included a summit with President Xi Jinping. Chinese state media reported that Kim told Xi that he's committed to setting up a second summit with Trump to "achieve results" on the nuclear issue. "In a word, Chairman Kim Jong Un's visit to China is an indication that the second North Korea-U.S. summit is drawing near," Moon said. Little headway has been made since the Singapore summit, which ended with the North making a vaguely worded promise to work toward the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Moon on Thursday described the agreements North Korea and the U.S. reached in Singapore as "bit abstract." The North has previously called for the removal of 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea as a precondition for its denuclearization. Its Foreign Ministry said in a statement in December that it would never unilaterally give up its nuclear weapons unless the United States first removes what it calls an American nuclear threat. The statement further raised questions about whether the country is truly committed to denuclearization. Moon, who met Kim three times last year, reiterated his previous stance that Kim won't link denuclearization to the U.S. military presence in South Korea. Moon also said Thursday that Kim told him that the denuclearization steps he was talking about were not different from what the international community wants. Think a minute In England during the 1700s, it was fairly common for boys to spend several months in boarding school before heading out to sea. And so it was for John. He was 11-years-old when his father, a master of a trade ship in the Mediterranean, took John on the journey with him. This prepared John for his service in the British Navy. Yet sadly, while John learned his skills of sailing from his father, he did not learn self-control and discipline. John was soon arrested, publicly whipped and demoted to just a common sailor for deserting his duty on ship. Later, while still a teenager, John sailed on a ship bound for Africa. By now young John was wilder than ever. He did not choose his friends wisely and continued to sink deeper into immoral living. In Africa John ended up in the service of a slave dealer. The slave trade attracted John as a profitable business and way to get rich; but before he knew it John was put to work on the dealers plantation laboring with the other slaves. Finally at age 21 John escaped on a ship called the Greyhound, where he continued his uncontrolled living. He again chose the wrong friends who made fun of the God-worshipping sailors on board, including the captain. One night Johns ship, the Greyhound, was caught in a violent storm. The boats side caved in and it began to sink as the water came flooding in. One of the sailors yelled, Were all going to die! At that moment, for the first time in Johns life, he prayed and cried out to God: Lord have mercy on us! Amazingly, the ship did not sink! John never forgot it. In fact, Gods mercy that night in the storm not only saved John, but so completely changed him for the rest of his life that he wrote a song about it which is sung by millions around the world today: Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now Im foundwas blind, but now I see! John Newtons song and story can become yours too, because God is offering His full and free grace to you today. Wont you ask Jesus to forgive you for your wrong heart and sinful living? If you give Him complete charge of your heart and life, He can start changing you into the man or woman He created you to be. Just think a minute Australian authorities evacuated the Samoan consulate in Sydney today following reports the mission received an envelope with suspicious content. Reports by Australian media state that a New South Wales emergency crew rushed to the consulate on Scott Street in Liverpool, Sydney following reports it received a package. Two consulate staff were reportedly at work when the package was delivered. A specialist team then decontaminated the duo, whom the media said showed no signs of infection. The envelope which was not opened by the staff was put into a container by the emergency crew, who wore specialist spill suits before undertaking the task. The Police are now in possession of the envelope and will test its contents in a bid to identify it. Australias Channel 9 News has reported that the consulate released a statement confirming the arrival of a suspicious package today. "This morning the Samoa Consulate received a parcel in the mail that was suspicious. The authorities were alerted and the matter was handed over to the NSW Police and AFP," the spokesperson reportedly said. The suspicious discovery reportedly comes on the back of the arrest and charging of a man in Victoria with posting parcels allegedly containing asbestos to consulates and embassies across Australia. What started as a casual conversation on Samoa 28 years ago has brought a woman back to the shores of this island paradise. Australian couple Foto Partsch and Michele Partsch have been in Samoa since December 29, and fly back to Melbourne tomorrow, after basking in the sights and sounds of Samoa. They initially met at a reggae concert in Australia 28 years ago, and a casual conversation on Samoa and what the island meant to each of them laid the foundations for their marriage. Mr. Partsch has Samoan heritage while his wife Michele last visited the island when she was 12-years-old, when her father was in the navy. The first time we met, I told him (Foto) that I have been to Samoa before and he did not believe me. This is the first time we have come to Samoa since we have gotten married and I love it. It is not so busy the driving is not as busy as Melbourne. It is just calm, and people are nice and patient, she said. For her husband Foto, he is enjoying the beauty of the island and relaxation it provides. It is very different here than it is back home. The weather is amazing and the food is better than it was back then, he said. Since they arrived they have visited all of Samoas tourist attractions and ate at the popular cafes and restaurants. We have tried just about all the places here. The restaurants and cafes are all spectacular, my favorite food here is most definitely the oka, Michele said. They also visited her husbands village and family in Saleimoa and Lotopa. His family attended our wedding and we were able to visit his sister-in-law while on our visit, she added. The couple has two sons Jayden and Kyall and Mr. Partsch last visited with his son Jayden. He loved it, the culture and the natural greenery. I know my wife does too, but too bad we have to get back to Australia, he said. Mrs. Partsch said she did not want to return to Australia as she loves Samoa. I just think this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. In Australia in summer its brown and dry. But here, everything is green, and beautiful. I just love everything. I can cope with the weather, she added. American Samoas Talofa Airways is planning to add Manua island to their network. This is possible after a second aircraft joined the airlines fleet. The nine-seat Twin Otter plane arrived in the U.S. territory last week and is capable of servicing the small runways in the outer islands. Its already flying between Samoa and American Samoa, and Talofa Airways chair, Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter, says theyre looking to expand in early 2019. There are three islands in the Manua group in American Samoa. Manua is located about 70 miles east of Tutuila. Tau is the largest of the Manua group and the easternmost volcanic island of the Samoan Islands. The island is the peak of a huge undersea mountain. Lata Mountain on Tau is the highest peak in American Samoa at an elevation of 3,054 feet (931 meters). The land area of Tau Island is 44.31 square kilometres (17.11 sq mi) and it had a population of 873 persons as of the 2000 census. Tau was once considered the seat of government for all of Samoa and Tonga. The king of Tau and Manua was Tuimanua. The last person to hold that title was Tuimanua Elisara and he was credited with signing the 1904 deed of cession giving ruling authority, for Manua, to the United States. The largest airport in the Manua group is on Tau at Fitiuta. Nearly half of Tau is part of the American Samoa National Park. On Tau, accessed by the airport at Fitiuta, the trail from Saua around Siu Point leads to the dramatic southern coastline with views of a rocky coast and sea cliffs stairstep to the 3,000 foot summit of Lata Mountain. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (U.N.C.T.A.D.) has joined agencies including the United Nations Development Programme, the International Labour Organization and UN Women at their new premises at Tuanaimato to support coordinated multilateral assistance to small island developing states (S.I.D.S.) in the Pacific region. The new office at One UN House means closer collaboration on joint programming under the United Nations Pacific Strategy, national development strategies and consultations on the S.A.M.O.A. (S.I.D.S. Accelerated Modalities of Action) pathway. Small island states in the Pacific are exposed to natural and economic shocks beyond domestic control, U.N.C.T.A.D. Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said ahead of regional trade talks in July 2018. They face specific challenges to compete in the global economy because of their size and isolation from major markets and trade routes. The U.N.C.T.A.D. office will support an 18-month project to help nine Pacific island countries align their trade and investment rules and regulations with their obligations under a regional free trade deal that enters into force in the second half of 2019 once the ratification process is completed. The deal, the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (P.A.C.E.R.) Plus, covers goods, services and investment and was signed by Australia, New Zealand and nine island neighbours Samoa, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Negotiations on P.A.C.E.R. Plus started in 2009 and concluded in Brisbane in April 2017. The P.A.C.E.R. Plus Programme represents a tailored international joint response to the challenges faced by small islands in the Pacific region by increasing regulatory transparency for trade and investment, Dr. Kituyi said. For U.N.C.T.A.D., this project mobilizes several of our core competencies where U.N.C.T.A.D. can help build capacity, Dr. Kituyi said, adding that the project will have a strong focus on gender mainstreaming to ensure trade reduces inequalities between men and women. Trade portal The new office means new opportunities to work in the field. Im excited about the improved possibilities of working directly with national governments and stakeholders in the region, said Patrick Gottner, who was transferred to Samoa in his role as U.N.C.T.A.D. regional coordinator of the P.A.C.E.R. Plus project. The trade and transparency project aims to provide training and technical assistance to Pacific island countries so that they reach the standards set out in P.A.C.E.R. The project aims to strengthen regional integration and competitiveness to create economic opportunities, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and women entrepreneurs. Together with U.N.C.T.A.D. teams working on automated customs systems, trade and gender aspects, trade facilitation, non-tariff measures, as well as on trade information portals, Mr. Gottner will coordinate the set-up of the trade portal in Samoa and the organization of national workshops during 2019. These national workshops are crucial next steps in the follow-up to an U.N.C.T.A.D regional forum, held in Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 1518 October 2018. The forum brought together 22 national policymakers from Pacific island countries which signed the P.A.C.E.R. Plus Agreement, the Oceania Customs Organisation, as well as Australia and New Zealand, which financially support the project. While this means a big change in environment, one thing remained almost unchanged, Mr. Gottner said of his move to Samoa. In Geneva I got off every morning at the Appia bus stop named for Red Cross founder Louis Appia which is next to the Palais des Nations in Geneva where U.N.C.T.A.D. has its headquarters. Here in Samoa, Im still in Apia, the capital, every morning! The new premises are located, fittingly, on S.I.D.S. Street, close to Sustainable Street. Australias Acting High Commissioner, Amanda Jewell, has assured Samoa of her countrys continuous support for the scholarship programme, providing Samoans with opportunities to gain higher qualifications. Ms. Jewell offered the assurance at Le Papaigalagala on Wednesday where the Government was joined by Australia and New Zealand to congratulate winners of scholarships to different countries, as they are about to begin their studies. The ceremony was presided over by the Prime Minister and Chair of the Scholarship Committee, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi. The Acting New Zealand High Commissioner, Matt Howell, was also present and spoke about New Zealands commitment to the programme. Ms. Jewell congratulated the scholarship winners. I am pleased that we are able to offer our continuous support to your educational journey as the future leaders of Samoa, she said, adding that Australias purpose is to assist Samoans attain a good education which leads to better job opportunities. This will enable them to contribute to their families, villages and the future of Samoa. I know that you have all worked hard for these scholarships, but this is only the beginning of what lies ahead in your academic journey, she said. For some of you, this will be your first time away from family and travelling overseas. Continue to ask questions and always seek support. As you know, we have a solid support network through the scholarships programme to ensure you succeed. Australia has committed A$4.5 million to the Australia Awards programme in Samoa. The Acting High Commissioner acknowledged the Samoan Government for leading the Tripartite Scholarship arrangement as a sign of the strong relationship and partnership between Samoa, Australia and New Zealand. She also spoke about the importance of scholars developing people to people links. These relationships will serve you well throughout your career providing you with a network of colleagues and mentors, which cuts across borders to support you in all your endeavours both personal and professional, she said. A man from Tuanai and a church are the two winners of water tanks from a promotion run by the Samoa Water Authority. Tavita Faavaoga and the Loimata Apaula Congregational Christian Church of Samoa which is led by Rev. Letupu Matautia were announced by the Authority as the winners of its pay-and-win promotion. Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Tavita said the 3600 litre water tank will benefit his large family due to their distant location. We are a family of seven and because we are situated at a very distant location, we need the tank to store water in days of cyclones or when the water supply is disconnected. We thank God for this blessing, but also acknowledging SWA for this great opportunity to distribute customers with further assistance. I was able to win by joining the promotion by paying my monthly water bill on time but there are other ways people can enter by paying any outstanding bills, reconnecting water supply and filling out a form on counter, he said. The Samoa Water Authority CEO, Seugamaalii Jammie Saena, said the promotion was launched in December last year and was drawn this month. The promotion is an initiative of Samoa Water Authority to encourage its valued customers to save water, pay their bills and also be wise water users. The objective of this promotion is to promote the concept of saving water with the usage of water tanks. Also for people to pay their water bills on time and arrears to avoid having water disconnected, she said. The promotion by the Authority will be run from December 2018 to May 2019. Samoa Stationery and Books Ltd has awarded its SSAB/NZ Prime Minister Scholarship awards to 18 students as part of the firms back-to-school promotion. Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai, SSAB president and CEO, said the students as part of their award will receive $500 cash for school fees, $500 worth of school stationery, full access to the SSAB Staff Childrens Library on Saturdays, and for the senior scholars an opportunity to become part of the SSAB apprenticeship programme. This year will mark five years of the scholarship support programme only 18 scholars will receive support instead of 20. According to Tofilau, they did not receive the other two nominees from one of the selected schools. Mrs. Leung Wai congratulated the students that were selected to receive this years scholarship support and asked that the parents help their childrens education. To the parents, my humble advice is that you help your children with their homework, and to encourage them with their studies and reading. Children do your best in school, study hard and read every day, she said. Six-year-old Palepa Lino Gray who was nominated by Vaivase Primary school was the youngest scholar that took the opportunity to thank the Tofilau and the company. Thank you Tofilau and SSAB! When I grow I up I want to work at SSAB, she said. This year SSAB awarded scholarships to Mery Kini and Sialei Metini of Satupaitea Primary School, Savaii. Speaking at the event, Mery said she was grateful to the company for the support. I am very grateful to SSAB and especially to the general manager Tofilau Leung Wai in receiving a scholarship. I will do my best in school so that I can continue being SSAB scholar, she added. A testimony by former SSAB scholar, Joycemariella Toafa, who is pursuing a double degree in Information Technology and Commerce at the University of Melbourne, highlighted the importance of education. Please remember while you are in school that you are not only doing this for the betterment of the future but you are also working for the betterment of your family. And the key to success is education, she said. Four SSAB scholars were awarded scholarships to further their studies overseas last year. They were Joycemariella Toafa (Australia), Charles Salevao and Layla Stanely (New Zealand) and Ronella (Fiji). This is the fifth year for the SSAB/NZ Prime Minister Scholarship awards. It was initiated by Tofilau after she was a recipient for New Zealand Prime Ministers Fellow award after she was inspired by the benefits of the New Zealand government-funded programme. The then New Zealand PM Toosavili John Key chose her to be the sole awardee of the programme in 2015. The Minister of Police, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, has commended the Police for their hard work during the Festive Season. Statistics released by the Police show that their roadblocks caught 873 incidents of drunk driving, careless driving. They also had to deal with a murder case and two manslaughters. Tuilaepa said the report shows how hard the police have been working during the holidays, commending their service for saving lives and defending against potential accidents. The positive side is that the Police needs to be commended for the vigilance and the time taken to lay out their roadblocks and also to proceed with the arrests as reported, he said. I have been very, very happy with the performance of the Police. The festive season is a time of heavy drinking, said Tuilaepa, and a great number of visitors from overseas compound that. Relatives or guests from abroad where liquor laws are stringent may not expect Samoas Police to be vigilant, and so they get caught quickly, he said. Probably alcohol drinkers thought that Samoa was a paradise to move around freely in, only to find out that police were especially watchful of these incidents during the festivities. I have been very, very happy with their performance. But Tuilaepa did not shy away from suggesting Samoa could relook at its liquor laws to address the high rates of drinking related incidents. Opening hours were top of his list, as well as teaching people to drink responsibly. Perhaps we should look at our liquor laws, especially opening hours, he said. It is an assumption on the part of the Liquor Board that people are educated drinkers. That is not the case with the huge number of those that have been charged for drunkenness. From the ashes of a devastating fire last year, a new $356,350 Palalaua College building was officially opened yesterday. The completion of the project means the students will no longer have to attend classes at Siumu Primary School, bringing much joy and excitement at the start of the academic year. Im very excited about this, I will be in year 10 this year, said student Kominito Apelu. I am very relieved that I can now finally go to my own school instead of going to another school to study in. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi joined excited parents, teachers and villagers at the opening yesterday. The project was carried out within five months, two weeks and three days by Pinofoaga Construction from Matautu Falealili. Head Carpenter, Pinofoaga Luaiva Matautia, led a team of 16 builders. We had very strong support from the school Committee, district, Principal and everyone, he said. Funding for the project came from $339,000 while the district contributed $17,350. Secretary of the School Committee, Utai Vea said while they are pleased with the project, there is still some work that needs to be done. This includes the acquisition of desks, chairs and other tools. He said they have already prepared a request proposal to J.I.C.A and the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (L.D.S). They also submitted a verbal request to the Government through Prime Minister Tuilaepa yesterday. The President of the Journalists Association of Samoa (J.A.W.S.), Rudy Bartley, believes young Police recruits need to be educated on the relationship between the media and the Police. Mr. Bartley made the point in response to Samoa Observers Photographer, Misiona Simo, being detained on the job trying to photograph a car crash last month. The J.A.W.S. President said he is both surprised and disappointed. In December, Mr. Simo was photographing a minivan that crashed into the bushes at Togitogiga. While he was taking photos of the van, Police officers stopped him and pulled him inside their car. Mr. Simo informed them that the incident occurred on a public road and he could take photographs, but they insisted he could not take pictures, the news report reads. The Police officers were later ordered by their superiors to let the photographer go as he was just doing his job. Rules of engagement between Police and journalists are not explicit, but there are understandings that have been passed down generations of both parties, Mr. Bartley said. Common practice is that photographers can work on public roads, and seek permission from the owners on private property. Everything else is common sense. If youre on a public road, then we have all the right to be on that, just as long as we dont contaminate the scene or hinder somebodys work, like standing in front of a fire hydrant or a police man evacuating somebody. Police should be providing access to accident or crime scenes to allow the media to conduct their work, which Mr. Bartley said complements the work of Police and emergency services. If a car accident is reported on, and it was caused by speeding, drunk driving, whatever, it tells other people I should maybe not drink as much because this is the end result, he said. Its an educational tool to tell other people what will happen if you drink too much or youre speeding. Thats the role of the media, to inform and also educate. Mr. Bartley said he was surprised and disappointed to learn that a photographer was stopped from doing his work. He believes it could be the first time this has happened. To combat this happening, Police should be undergoing media response training, and there should be explicit rules on how to handle media at a scene. Mr. Bartley said simple improvements like media identification badges would go a long way. If a person came up to the cordon, and said Im a media person, I would like to take pictures and this is my ID, I am a reporter for this and this, please let us in, Police should check if credentials are official and then of course, tell them the boundaries, for their own safety. Police should know where media can report from without disturbing the scene while still allowing reporters and photographers to operate freely. Mr. Bartley acknowledged that for safety reasons, limits are important but they are common sense ones. Its not about restricting the job, its about making sure everyone on site is safe, he said. The journalism association met with the Fire and Emergency Services recently on the same issue, and came out with simple guidelines for how media should operate around accidents. They said the film crews are alright to go and take photos of any traffic accidents or fires, just as long as they identify themselves, wear safety high visibility vests and closed shoes, Mr. Bartley said. If media and police can develop a guidebook together, both parties will benefit. Mr. Bartley said perhaps its especially important for younger or new police recruits who dont trust the media. They think we are digging up things, were there to dig, there to expose something. They are very apprehensive, they dont want to cooperate because they think if you write something bad it will affect their work so the easiest thing to do is just say no, and be very strict. I think thats their coping mechanism, he said. A return to weekly or fortnightly press conferences by the Police Commissioner could also help improve the relationship between police and media, Mr. Bartley believes, and would improve transparency. What happened to Mr. Simo should never have happened, Mr Bartley said. Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil could not be reached for comment. A 14-year-old girl has died at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital at Motootua from typhoid and dengue fever. A representative of the deceaseds family, Leota Faaui Mika Samuelu, confirmed the death and indicated that the doctors advised the family that she died due to typhoid and dengue fever which caused the failure of her vital organs her kidneys, lungs and liver. Speaking in an interview with the Samoa Observer, he said his niece was admitted to the hospital last Friday and passed on at around 6.00am yesterday. She was in the intensive care unit due to her severe condition, at first we were told by the doctors to put our trust on them and so we did, along with prayers and faith in God. We were told that they conducted blood tests that were sent overseas but up till now there have been no results. The doctor told us, my niece could no longer have the ability to control her breathing and needs the oxygen machine to help her breathe, he said. Leota said the diagnosis by the hospital staff was that a virus had infected her blood system. On her body it showed signs of red lines that were visible to the eyes, we asked the doctors and they responded that it was caused by her high fever. Last Wednesday evening, we met again with the doctors and they concluded that my niece apparently in her system, had more than one virus and that is the typhoid fever and a new case of dengue fever, separate from previous cases of dengue fever found in Samoa. The failure of her kidneys and liver affected her lungs, added Leota, and she had to be put on a ventilator oxygen machine as she did not have the ability to breathe normally. Doctors in the hospital advised the mother of the deceased in the early hours of Thursday that there was nothing much they could do, he said. Before she passed, her pastor was called to come from home for a final prayer, and of course it was not easy. But what was a relief was that she responded during the prayer in her final hours. It is truly a hard time for our family, this year she was going to attend her Year 10 at Aana No. 2 College, but it is with our hope that this does not happen to anyone else meaning more awareness should be done on these diseases. In my own opinion, if this has happened, it is bound to happen again so Samoa needs to be aware and must prepare, Leota added. Dr. Tagaloa Robert Thomsen, the A.C.E.O. of Health Service Performance and Quality Assurance Medical and Allied Division, told the Samoa Observer that there are three cases of typhoid which are more related to diarrheal conditions and he will get back to this newspaper with more information on the death of the girl. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi is not backing down from his claim that concerns about the alienation of customary lands in Samoa are fake news. In fact, he took it a step further yesterday, calling them garbage, stupid and fiction. The concerns are fake, Prime Minister Tuilaepa insisted during his weekly media conference at his Office. The final proof of what we say is that since 1962, none of the customary lands have been alienated. With that, what more can you say? All that has been said is all garbage. This week, the President of the Asian Development Bank, Takehiko Nakao, made his first trip to Samoa. During the Presidents visit, he was met with protestors twice, calling for Samoan land to be protected from alienation. Concerns over the A.D.Bs Promoting Economic Use of Customary Land project and subsequent AgriBusiness Support Project look generations ahead. In the 2014 complaint lodged by a group of chiefs against A.D.B., this is laid out clearly. Leasing of land to outsiders for long durations - as would be necessary to secure a mortgage - comes perilously close to land alienation, forbidden by our customary laws as well as the Constitution of Samoa, it reads. Vesting unfettered power to enter into long-term lease agreements to be used as collateral in a single aiga member with authority, the matai or sao, in a manner that bypasses traditional consultative and consensus-seeking processes is tantamount to alienation of customary lands. This is the hidden danger. But Tuilaepa remains unconcerned. He said Samoa has been protecting the land up until now and will continue to do so in the future, calling the concerns presuming, and stupid. Those who continue to fear land alienation despite his assertions, the Prime Minister believes are choosing to remain ignorant to the facts. They have decided not to understand, Tuilaepa said. There are people, regardless of how much you explain, they decided to remain ignorant no matter how much you try. All they want is to push on with their stupid arguments. The facts are there, and all they talk about is unknown things in the future. Its all fiction. On the front page of the Samoa Observer yesterday was an interesting photograph. Spread across the page, it showed protesters holding placards with different messages, who had gathered for two days in Apia and Faleolo. The group, made up mostly of members of the Samoa Solidarity International Group (S.S.I.G.), had gathered to tell the visiting President of the Asian Development Bank of their fears about customary lands being alienated as a result of A.D.B.-funded projects. One such project the A.D.B had provided technical assistance for aimed to promote the economic use of customary lands. Obviously not everyone agrees. Which is why weve seen many protests on the streets of this country and elsewhere - during the past few years. The past two days where weve seen protestors in Apia and Faleolo is another reminder about this and the picture on the front page yesterday tells a story. A.D.B. no more loans, one placard reads. Get out of Samoa A.D.B. another screamed out. Samoan land belongs to Samoan people, not to A.D.B, another message reads. There were many other messages; some of them were not captured by the photo in question. Whatever they hoped to achieve, their point has been clearly made. And rightly or wrongly, these people are Samoans using their God-given rights guaranteed by the Constitution to express their views, about an issue they obviously deem very important. Underneath the picture though was a story titled Customary lands alienation claims fake news, P.M. says. As youd probably guessed already, Prime Minister Tuilaepa wasnt impressed. We have explained time and time again that ever since we passed our Constitution, and particularly article 102, no customary land has ever been sold, Tuilaepa said during a joint press conference with the President of A.D.B., Takehiko Nakao. And the Attorney General, with 50 lawyers supporting him, is the only legal office that is recognised in the Constitution to advise the Government. So with so many Samoan chiefs, educated lawyers supported by the Office of the Commission of Law Reforms, and one or two lawyers kicking up this fuss over the dangers we are facing over our customary land, this is all fake news. Fake news? And who are the one or two lawyers? Why cant Tuilaepa just tell us? We have an idea but the Prime Minister should stop sending out these half-baked claims and just tell us what hes thinking. Interestingly, while Prime Minister Tuilaepa dismissed the concerns as fake news, A.D.B. President Nakao deemed the issue important enough, he justified it with a decent response. In many countries, land is the most important property for people and customary land is a long tradition, he said. There is no such idea to damage the use of customary land or to impede ownership of customary land over tradition, but how to use land better and how to have a better registration system so there will be less dispute over land boundaries, that is our purpose. I hope that the people understand why we do it. Its not, once again, about infringing on the rights of customary land. Whatever side of this debate you stand on, the mere acknowledgement by the President of A.D.B. of this issue means something. Whatever it is, it is definitely not fake news. Keep in mind that this issue over the past few years has galvanized Samoans from all over the world and all walks of life, because they know it is not fake news. This is a serious matter, and if anything, this is what the news should be about. It is only fake news in the eyes of people who want to keep it buried. And lets not forget the former Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, who stepped out of his comfort zone last year to acknowledge that these customary lands concerns are anything but fake news. According to Tui Atua, there is ambiguity in Article 102 of the Constitution that needs to be dealt with. Article 102 by the way reads: No alienation of customary land It shall not be lawful or competent for any person to make any alienation or disposition of customary land or of any interest in customary land, whether by way of sale, mortgage or otherwise howsoever, nor shall customary land or any interest therein be capable of being taken in execution or be assets for the payment of the debts of any person on his decease or insolvency: Provided that an Act of Parliament may authorise (a) The granting of a lease or licence of any customary land or of any interest therein; (b) The taking of any customary land or any interest therein for public purposes. Said Tui Atua: In laymans terms the Article says that it is illegal to alienate customary lands unless an Act of Parliament allows for 1. a lease or licence to be granted over customary land, or 2. customary land is to be taken for public purposes. I do not have any problems with the taking of customary land for public purposes, assuming of course that such public purposes are indeed valid public purposes. What I have a problem with is the ambiguity that arises as a result of reading the sub-clause that states that an Act of Parliament may authorise the granting of a lease or licence of any customary land or of any interest therein, alongside the wording of the main text of the Article which says no alienation of customary land whether by way of sale, mortgage or otherwise howsoever. He added that the debate about Samoan customary land and land laws is the most dangerous issue facing us since our fight for the return of our Independence. The land law issue we are embroiled in now has the potential to strip us of our soul. There is a divisiveness here that we must avoid at all costs. We have faced many challenges as a nation since regaining Independence but this is the most serious. To overcome this challenge, we must first recognise that the challenge now comes not from outside but from within. Well we couldnt agree more. Lessons from other countries in the region who have had similar experiences show that the issue here is much bigger than the former Head of State, S.S.I.G. let alone Prime Minister Tuilaepa and his Government. At the end of the day, customary land is about our identity, inheritance and our God-given rights. If our people are concerned, they have every right to. Write and share your thoughts with us, God bless! Help Our Community Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You! Take The Survey Continuing with the trend of trusting the old guard, the Congress on Thursday appointed former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as the new President of Delhi Congress. The 80-year-old and three-time Delhi Chief Minister, succeeded Ajay Maken, who quit as the Delhi Congress president on January 4 citing health reasons. "Congress President Rahul Gandhi has appointed Sheila Dikshit as the new Delhi Congress president," party leader P.C. Chacko told the media here. The Congress also announced the appointments of Rajesh Lilothia, Devender Yadav and Haroon Yusuf as Delhi unit's Working Presidents. The longest serving Chief Minister of Delhi, from 1998 to 2013, Dikshit said she was honoured at being given the responsibility. While asserting the Congress' revival in Delhi, where currently it has no representation in the Assembly, Dikshit remained evasive about the probability of the party forging an alliance particularity with Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Lok Sabha polls. "We will talk after it happens," she said when asked about such an alliance. "I have no opinion about the alliance just now. And I do not want to share anything right now to anybody. Let me first understand the situation right from the top to down and then only I can say anything," she added. Former AAP leader and journalist Ashutosh recently claimed that the AAP and Congress are likely to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, saying that AAP supremo and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was desirous of such an alliance. "Kejriwal wants an alliance with Congress. He has been pushing for it for the past one year. Some other parties have also worked as communication channels for AAP and Congress," Ashotosh had written for satyahindi.com, a news portal he co-founded. Earlier Dikshit too had said that she will "not question" if the party leadership decided to align with the AAP. Congratulating Dikshit, Maken in a tweet exuded confidence of the party playing a "role of a strong opposition" to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi. The Congress which came to power in the Hindi heartland, preferred party veteran Kamal Nath over Jyotiraditya Scindia as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and the 67-year old Ashok Gehlot as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan while making the youthful Sachin Pilot as the deputy Chief Minister. Mayawati-Akhilesh (file photo) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav will hold a joint press conference here on Saturday, an official said on Friday. According to the press invite, jointly signed by SP national general secretary Rajendra Chowdhary and BSP's national general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, the joint-presser will be held at the five-star hotel Taj. Sources told that with the blueprint between the two parties ready, the top leaders might announce the formalisation of the alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls but also share the seat sharing formula. Four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, flew into Lucknow late Thursday an is likely to deliberate with her party leaders on Friday, before sealing the deal with SP. The sources said that while the mining scam and its repercussions on the alliance were still to be thrashed out, the deal is "almost done". A senior party leader said that while the SP and BSP will share 37 seats each, they will leave two for Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). The alliance might also leave two seats - Amethi and Rae Bareilly for the Congress. These two seats are pocket boroughs of the Congress and sends party President Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to Lok Sabha. A day after he resumed duties, CBI Director Alok Verma was on Thursday unceremoniously removed from the post after a 2-1 decision by the high-level Selection Committee, a decision that came under attack from the opposition and legal experts. The decision of the committee came after CJI nominee Justice A.K. Sikri of the Supreme Court sided with the government that Verma should be shunted out of the post on the basis of the findings of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which went into some allegations levelled against him. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Justice Sikri and Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, the other member of the committee, who gave a dissent note and opposed the majority decision. Shortly after the meeting, Verma was appointed Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard till January 31 when his tenure would end. The government also brought back M. Nageswara Rao, Additional Director, CBI to look after the duties of the Director, CBI till the appointment of a new Director or until further orders, whichever is earlier, a notification by the Appointment Committee of Cabinet said. Verma, who was removed from the agency's helm on the midnight of October 23 after his fight with Special Director Rakesh Asthana became public, was reinstated on Tuesday by the apex court on the ground that the government cannot transfer or alter the duties of the CBI chief without going to the Selection Committee. The committee's members are the Prime Minister, leader of the largest opposition group and the Chief Justice of India. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who heard the case arising out of Verma's challenge against the government decision, nominated Justice Sikri as his nominee to attend the committee meeting. The Supreme Court, while reinstating Verma, had said that the Committee should meet within a week and decide the issue afresh. Modi convened the meeting of the committee on Wednesday but Kharge sought the CVC report on the allegations against Verma and also time to study it. The committee met briefly and decided to meet on Thursday. Sources said the Committee took into account the "extremely serious" nature of observations made by the Central Vigilance Commission against Verma. It was of the view that being the head of a very sensitive organisation, Verma was not functioning with the integrity expected of him, they said. They said the CVC found evidence of influencing of investigation in the Moin Qureshi case. There was also evidence of taking of bribe of Rs. 2 crore. The CVC was of the view that his conduct in the case is suspicious, and there is a prima facie case against him. "The CVC also felt that the entire truth will come out if a criminal investigation is ordered," the sources said citing the Committee's view. In the IRCTC case related to former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the CVC felt that it can be reasonably concluded that Verma "deliberately" excluded a name from the FIR for reasons best known to him. The CVC found evidence against Verma in several other cases as well. The CVC also found instances of wilful non-production of record, and fabrication of record. The Committee also took note of Verma's attempts to induct officers of doubtful integrity in the CBI. On the criticism that Verma was not given an opportunity of being heard on the charges against him, the sources said Verma was given an opportunity to present his case before the CVC in the presence of retired Justice A. K. Patnaik. The Supreme Court also provided a copy of the CVC report to Verma's advocate. The mandate of the Selection Panel headed by the PM is limited to the appointment of the CBI chief and transfer of the CBI chief, the sources said. The Committee felt that as a detailed investigation, including criminal investigation, was necessary in some cases his continuation as CBI Director was not desirable and he should be transferred. In his dissent note, Kharge demanded that the Committee restore to Verma the full powers he enjoyed by the office of the Director CBI to ensure proper functioning of the organisation and to restore normalcy. He also sought an additional period of 77 days being the number of days lost by him on account of the "patently illegal" orders of the CVC and the personnel department on October 28. Kharge said an independent investigation must be carried out to verify the actual events that took place on the night of October 23-24 with respect to Verma's removal as CBI Director. Referring to the events of the midnight drama in October and the way the government hastened the exit of Verma would "point to the fact that the entire exercise was in furtherance of a pre-meditated decision to remove Verma as CBi Director with reasons and processes being manufactured as an afterthought". He urged the Committee to allow Verma to explain himself before it on the charges against him before any decision is taken in the matter. Kharge also listed the various allegations made against Verma including influencing the investigation by taking bribe and illegal delay in finalising the probe report in a bank fraud case which were not substantiated, Kharge also listed and said in the light of the above it would be grossly unfair not to restore Verma to the post of the CBI chief and compensating for the loss of 77 days by extending his tenure by that period. Meanwhile, the removal of Verma as CBI Director came under severe attack from opposition parties and legal experts saying it was the "desperation" of the government as Modi does not want any probe into the Rafale jet deal. The critics of the decision also asked how the committee could take a decision without hearing Verma. The Congress criticised the committee's decision and said Modi had shown that he was "too afraid" of an investigation into the Rafale deal. "By removing Alok Verma from his position without giving him the chance to present his case, PM Modi has shown once again that he's too afraid of an investigation, either by an independent CBI Director or by Parliament via JPC," the Congress tweeted. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said if it was a majority decision to remove Verma, then it was unfortunate. "I don't know why Verma was not asked to reply to the charges against him. I have very poor opinion of the CVC," he said. Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan saw a conflict of interest in the role of the Prime Minister, who is part of the three-member committee that also has Leader of the Congress group in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and the CJI nominated representative Justice A.K. Sikri of the Supreme Court. Artillery shells coalitions gatherings in Hajjah, kills dozens [11/January/2019] HAJJAH, Jan. 11 (Saba) The artillery forces of army on Thursday shelled gatherings of militants loyal to Saudi-led coalition in Hajjah province, northern Yemen, a military official said. According to the official, the artillery shells targeted the militants gatherings and fortifications in the eastern part of Nar Mountain in Harad district, killing and injuring dozens and causing material losses among their ranks. AA Saba Here is a collection of the popular stories from the cryptocurrency and blockchain space this week. Bitcoin ATM Global Numbers Cross 4000; More Than Half In US The number of Bitcoin ATM machines (BATM) installed across the world crossed the 4,000 threshold, according to Coinatmradar.com. Bitcoin ATMs are installed in 75 countries in the world. Two-thirds of them are concentrated in North America. Out of a total of 4,159 BATMs worldwide, 2493 - or 55.9 percent - are in the United States, and 613 in Canada. California has the most number of BATMs in the United States, 475, followed by Illinois with 252 BATMs. Cryptocurrency prices were highly correlated in 2018: study A new report released by "The Block," based on recent research, says 10 of the top 15 crypto assets by market cap show a price correlation of more than 64 percent. They are Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Bitcoin Core (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), EOS, Stellar (XLM), Litecoin (LTC), Cardano (ADA), Iota (MIOTA), and Monero (XMR). The two largest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Ethereum, correlate the most with the other analyzed cryptocurrencies. U.S. Dept. Of Energy Grants $4.8 Mln Fund For Tech Research Incl. Blockchain The United States Department of Energy or DOE announced up to $4.8 million in funding for university research of technologies including blockchain. The DOE Office of Fossil Energy's federal funding is for research and development or R&D projects, part of Fossil Energy's University Training and Research initiative. It aims to develop the next generation of science and engineering professionals in the fossil energy sector. Venezuela Crypto Operators Required To Pay Taxes In Cryptocurrency Digital currency operators in Venezuela will be required to pay their taxes in cryptocurrencies, according to a decree the Venezuelan government published recently. As per a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of the Popular Power of Economy and Finances, foreign currency exchange operators must pay their taxes in the respective foreign currencies, local media reported. Central Banks Cautious on Issuing Digital Currency: Report A global survey shows that central banks are proceeding with caution on issuing their own digital currency, and most of them are only at a conceptual stage. Most people will have to wait to use a central bank digital currency. However, central banks are working hard to make sure the wait is worth it, says the report titled "Proceeding with caution - a survey on central bank digital currency." More crypto Exchanges Join Japan's self-regulatory crypto Association In a statement, the association, formed in April by 16 class 1 registered crypto exchanges, said the five new Type II or second class members are Coincheck, Everyone's Bitcoin, Lastroots Inc., LVC Corporation, and Coinage Corporation. The association, which was formed following the $530 million hack of crypto exchange Coincheck, aims to create industry-wide investor safety standards. China Banking Association launches blockchain-powered inter-bank platform The new platform called "the China Trade Finance Inter-Bank Trading Blockchain Platform" is aimed at improving the transaction mode, transaction efficiency, and ensuring transaction security to achieve electronic, informational and convenient inter-bank transactions. The platform has successfully completed the first and second phase of the network test, forming a technical standard and product standard for smooth operation. Ten Chinese banks were part of the tests. Crypto assets do not pose risks to financial stability: Reserve Bank of India The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a report said cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and other crypto-assets currently do not pose risks to global financial stability. This was revealed in a document published by the RBI recently titled "Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2017-18." Although not banned by law, cryptocurrency trading has been subject to tight scrutiny in India, which is yet to form a legal framework for cryptocurrencies. Bill to Exempt Cryptocurrencies from Securities Laws introduced in Colorado A Bill to exempt cryptocurrencies and certain digital tokens has been introduced in the Colorado Senate. The move is aimed to remove "regulatory uncertainty" that could hold back firms offering marketplaces for tokens and others aiming to fundraise using crypto assets. Currently, companies that seek to issue, buy, sell or transfer digital tokens with a consumptive purpose face regulatory uncertainty under Colorado's current securities laws. NYCEDC Opens Public-Private Blockchain Resource Center In New York City The New York City Economic Development Corp. (NYCEDC) opened a Public-Private Blockchain Resource Center in Chelsea to foster the continued growth in the blockchain industry in New York City (NYC). The center was open for business on January 10. NYCEDC is the City's primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs of NYC. The Center will be an access point to the growing blockchain ecosystem by providing entrepreneurs and other innovators with shared space, business support, and mentorship. Current Prices As of this writing, Bitcoin is declining 3.60 percent or $135.85 to trade at $3641.61 on Coinbase. Ethereum is down 3.59 percent or $4.71 at $125.97. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Technology News General Motors Co. (GM) said it now expects 2018 adjusted earnings per share and adjusted automotive free cash flow to exceed the prior guidance. It also expects earnings growth in 2019, compared to projected 2018 full-year results. GM is currently trading at $37.06, up $2.33 or 6.71 percent. "We will continue to strengthen our core and invest in the technologies that will transform the future of mobility. Managing both well is critical to position General Motors for success for generations to come," said Mary Barra, Chairman and Chief executive officer. General Motors expects 2018 earnings per share-diluted-adjusted and adjusted automotive free cash flow to exceed the prior guidance. The company said in October that it forecast fiscal 2018 adjusted earnings of $5.80 to $6.20 per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $6.29 per share for 2018. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. For 2019, the company expects earnings per share diluted adjusted of between $6.50 and $7.00, and adjusted auto free cash flow of between $4.5 billion and $6 billion. Analysts expect annual earnings of $5.88 per share. In 2019, despite a declining car market, GM expects the overall U.S. market to remain strong, projecting total industry sales in the low 17-million range. The company noted that Cadillac will be its lead electric vehicle brand and will introduce the first model from the company's all new battery electric vehicle architecture, GM's foundation for an advanced family of profitable EVs. General Motors expects to start launching its all-new global family of vehicles in 2019 in China, followed by America and Mexico. The first crossover model will be the Chevrolet Tracker. These vehicles are expected to capture growth in key global and represent one-in-ten GM vehicles sold globally by 2020. In South America, GM has lowered its breakeven point by 40 percent, but is continuing to look for ways to improve business performance. The company expects 2019 China industry retail sales to be in line with 2018 levels of nearly 27 million. GM China will remain agile in responding to shifting market dynamics, as it launches more than 20 all-new or refreshed vehicles in 2019. Those new products include compact cars and crossovers from GM's new global vehicle family, and new-energy vehicles. Cruise is progressing toward commercializing s e l f - d r i v i n g v e h i c l e s i n a d e n s e u r b a n environment this year. The company is deeply resourced to succeed, with more than 1,100 employees, a new office in Seattle, and $5 billion in external capital raised since May 2018. In November, GM announced steps to position the company for long-term success. As a result, by year end 2020, GM expects to realize about $6 billion in cash savings. In the U.S., as a result of continued growth of crossovers and trucks, the company will be able to provide approximately 2,700 positions to the 2,800 active hourly workers impacted by the November announcement. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Flotek Industries Inc. (FTK) said that it agreed to sell Florida Chemical Company, LLC, its Consumer and Industrial Chemistry Technologies segment, to Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) for total consideration of $175 million in cash, subject to post-closing working capital and other adjustments. Flotek will retain all of its patents. In connection with the sale of FCC, Flotek and ADM have entered into long-term reciprocal supply agreements. The first will secure Flotek's long-term supply of d-limonene. Additionally, Flotek will manufacture differentiated chemistries for Florida Chemical's industrial customers. Finally, the companies will explore opportunities to jointly develop next-generation chemistry technologies for the oil and gas and agricultural industries. The closing of the transaction is expected during the first quarter of 2019 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining necessary approval related to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. When the transaction is complete, Florida Chemical Company's about 75 employees will transfer to ADM, Archer Daniels Midland said. Flotek anticipates that the transaction will have a negligible cash tax effect, as the gain on this sale should be substantially offset by the Company's outstanding net operating losses. Flotek noted that it intends to use the net proceeds to pay off its credit facility balance of approximately $50 million. In addition, the Company is currently considering investing $20 million to $30 million in previously identified organic growth capital projects and will carefully review other future potential uses of the remaining funds. Flotek intends to establish a Strategic Capital Committee to evaluate and make recommendations to the Board regarding the manner in which the Company will deploy the remaining net proceeds from the sale of FCC. This includes the potential for additional investments in its , returning capital to shareholders and other potential alternatives. The Committee plans to engage a leading advisory firm. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Tecnoglass Inc. (TGLS), a manufacturer of architectural glass, windows, and associated aluminum products for the global commercial and residential construction industries, said that it has reached a joint venture agreement with Saint-Gobain, through the planned purchase of a minority ownership interest in Vidrio Andino, a Colombia-based subsidiary of Saint-Gobain with annualized sales of approximately $100 million. The company's investment for the minority interest in Vidrio Andino is approximately $45 million, which is expected to be funded with cash of approximately $34 million plus land contributed at an aggregate value of approximately $11 million, Tecnoglass said. Tecnoglass noted that it intends to fund the cash portion of the transaction with cash on its balance sheet and readily available lines of credit, while maintaining a pro forma net leverage position in line with recent quarters. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2019. The initial $45 million investment into the joint venture from Tecnoglass will be used to fund a portion of the construction cost for the new manufacturing facility near Barranquilla, which is expected to total approximately $160 million through 2022. The remainder of the construction cost is expected to be funded primarily through operating cash flow from the existing manufacturing facility in Bogota, debt borrowed at the joint venture level and pro-rata capital contributions from the shareholders over the multi-year construction period. Building on more than 20 years of success, Vidrio Andino also plans to build a new state-of-the-art, technologically-advanced glass manufacturing facility in Galapa (nearby Barranquilla), which is located approximately 12 miles from Tecnoglass' existing production facilities. The new facility will have nominal production capacity of approximately 750 metric tons per day of float glass. It is expected to complete the new Galapa facility in 2021. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Hainan ramps up language learning From:Xinhua | 2019-01-11 08:56 HAIKOU, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Hainan provincial government has published an action plan for language learning on the island as it gears up to build a free trade port. The plan, effective for 2019-2025, is aimed at improving language competence and communicative skills for employees in government bodies, schools, media and public agencies in Hainan. The languages include English, Japanese, Russian, Korean and French languages. As a free trade zone and port, Hainan plays a pivotal role in China's opening-up drive and in the Belt and Road Initiative. Starting this year, English lessons will be stepped up for first and second graders in Haikou and Sanya. As the language-learning drive proceeds, English lessons will offered at kindergartens, the plan said. Besides Mandarin Chinese, primary and middle school students already have one mandatory language lesson, which is usually English. Schools are encouraged to teach a second foreign language to the students, it said. Hainan will also recruit teachers from overseas. Websites for government and public agencies will have different language versions. Public signs will multi-lingual by 2020. The provincial government will establish work teams to inspect the language study work. The southernmost island province in China is a popular tourist destination. Overseas tourists made 1.1 million visits to Hainan in the first 11 months of 2018, generating revenue of around 680 million U.S. dollars. Arkansas regulators are notifying the 32 companies they plan to award licenses to sell medical marijuana in the state. The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission has approved the final scores for dispensary applicants that were produced by an outside consultant hired to evaluate the applicants. Thus, 32 of the 198 applicants will receive dispensary licenses. The commission has split the dispensary applications by eight geographic zones. The top four applicants in each of the eight regions will receive the license to open medical marijuana dispensaries in the state. The winning companies are required to pay a licensing fee of $15,000 and also a performance bond of $100,000 within seven days, before they are awarded the dispensary licenses. While out-of-state investors were allowed to apply for the medical marijuana dispensary license, each ownership group must consist of 60 percent Arkansans at a minimum. Arkansas voters legalized medical marijuana in 2016, but it is still not available in the state due to the delay in the program's roll-out. According to Arkansas officials, more than 6,700 patients in the state have been approved for patient cards. However, the cards are unlikely to be distributed until February. Arkansas residents with valid medical marijuana licenses can receive a temporary medical marijuana adult license in neighboring Oklahoma. While residents of Arkansas will be able to cross state lines into Oklahoma to buy medical marijuana, they will not be able to bring it back. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Espanola, NM (87532) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Hollywood, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/11/2019 --For just an ordinary person, learning the truth about another person is not possible until they are telling the truth about themselves. In today's world, and with human beings becoming so complicated, it is not easy to say when one is telling the truth or what they are hiding about their past. More so, one will never tell the truth to a person that they know. In case one needs to check on the background of a person, be it for personal or professional reasons, one can call upon a private detective in Boca Raton FL and Coral Springs Florida from Saffron Investigations. Saffron Investigations is a well-known place for getting the help of a private detective who can help find the truth about a person. The information that is available from a specific database is always not accessible to the common public. When one takes the help of a private investigator in Coral Springs and Boca Raton Florida from Saffron Investigations, then one can be assured that they will give their best in running a thorough background check of the concerned person. One may decide to hire a private investigator in Coral Springs and Boca Raton Florida from Saffron Investigations for various reasons like locating individuals for legal purposes, debt collection, or repossession matters, etc. They can also find help with finding those who have hastily or secretly fled without giving notice, absconders, illegal aliens or those with warrants. They will also help locate missing persons or heirs, find next of kin or long lost relatives, friends or loved ones. Saffron Investigations also performs a variety of records searches such as criminal records, property and business ownership, phone number searches, vehicle ownership, driver's licenses, employment screening, etc. Get in touch with them at (754) 229-3840 for more details. About Saffron Investigations Saffron Investigations is one of the best names when it comes to looking for investigative services. Their private investigators help find the truth for frauds, child custody, missing persons, insurance claims as well as domestic matters. China launches Zhongxing-2D satellite From:ChinaDaily | 2019-01-11 07:03 XICHANG - China sent Zhongxing-2D satellite into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 1:11 am Friday. The satellite has entered the preset orbit. The Chinese-made communication and broadcasting satellite will provide transmission service for the country's radio, television stations and cable television networks. China sends Zhongxing-2D satellite into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 1:11 am, Jan 11, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua] The Zhongxing-2D satellite and Long March-3B carrier rocket were developed and produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This was the 298th mission of the Long March rocket series. Archbold, OH -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/11/2019 --Beck Insurance Agency serves Defiance, Maumee, Montpelier, Napoleon, Perrysburg, and Sylvania, Ohio along with other nearby cities. This agency offers a wide range of different forms of coverage, including car insurance. They are a family-owned and operated business, and they put a personal stamp on the work that they do for their clients. One thing that sets this agency apart from many others is the longevity factor. It was originally founded in 1948, so it is one of the longest standing companies in the area. Businesses that are able to withstand the test of time in this manner maintain very high customer satisfaction rates. There are captive insurance agencies that can only obtain coverage from a single company. This is very limiting, and people that obtain their insurance from these agencies do not have any freedom of choice. Things are entirely different with Beck Insurance Agency. They are an independent agency that is plugged into a network of multiple highly regarded insurance providers. It is very easy for an insurance agency to get solid coverage at a fair price for someone that has a perfect driving record. On the other hand, it can be much more difficult for people that have made mistakes. This agency goes the extra mile to find the right insurance for clients that do not have spotless histories. In addition to car insurance, they can obtain coverage for all different types of motor vehicles. These would include motorcycles, recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft, and boats. Coverage details can be complicated, but the agents at Beck Insurance Agency take the time to explain them thoroughly so that clients can make fully informed decisions. Individuals that are looking for car insurance can definitely rely on this agency, and they serve members of the business community as well. 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They need to stay independently, and that is why the need for someone who can provide companionship as well as handle the other activities at home. The in-home caregivers from Bayshore Home Care can handle both ends efficiently. From playing games and engaging in friendly conversation to assisting with household duties, Bayshore Home Care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for providing home health care in Clearwater FL and Florida. Call 800-335-2150 for more details. About Bayshore Homecare Bayshore Homecare founded in 1986 is the single source for one's home care needs in Tampa Bay including Largo, St. Petersburg, and surrounding areas throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco County. Weather Alert ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in North Carolina... Contentnea Creek Near Hookerton affecting Greene, Pitt and Lenoir Counties. For the Contentnea Creek...including Hookerton...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at water.weather.gov/ahps. ...The Flood Warning remains in effect... The Flood Warning continues for the Contentnea Creek Near Hookerton. * Until further notice. * At 8:00 PM EDT Tuesday the stage was 13.4 feet. * Flood stage is 13.0 feet. * Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 8:00 PM EDT Tuesday was 13.4 feet. * Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 13.4 feet just after midnight tonight. * Impact...At 13.0 feet, Minor flooding of low lying areas adjacent to creek can be expected. Several homes threatened by water in northwest Greene County near HWY 58. && Russia's FSB seeks extension of Ukrainian sailors detention in border violation case RAPSI 12:53 11/01/2019 MOSCOW, January 11 (RAPSI) The Federal Security Services (FSB) Investigation Office has filed a motion seeking to extend detention for Ukrainian sailors charged with illegal crossing of Russian borders, defense lawyer for several defendants Nikolay Polozov has told RAPSI. The motion will be heard by Moscows Lefortovsky District Court on January 15, the attorney said. On November 25, Russian border guard officers had to engage a weapon to stop unwarranted maneuvers of three Ukrainian ships in Russias territorial waters in the area of Kerch Strait. The ships were seized while 24 crew members were arrested. Three sailors were wounded. Simferopol and Kerch courts ruled the sailors be detained. On November 30, all of them were transferred to Moscow. Russias High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova said in December that the sailors rights were not violated. Their rights to a procedure and confinement conditions as well as rights to medical care are observed as required by international and Russian laws, Moskalkova told journalists. She also added that the injured sailors were recuperating in a hospital. Prosecutors appeal against Russian businessmans sentence in alcohol smuggling case RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 13:32 11/01/2019 MOSCOW, January 11 (RAPSI) Prosecutors filed an appeal against a sentence of the Forum Holding Company CEO Dmitry Mikhalchenko, who had received 4 years and 7 months in a penal colony for alcohol trafficking, Yunona Tsareva, the spokesperson of Moscows Basmanny District Court, told RAPSI on Friday. Moreover, defense of another defendant in the case Boris Korevsky, who had been given 5 years behind bars, appealed against his sentence. On December 28, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow convicted and sentenced Mikhalchenko, Korevsky and one more defendant Alexey Mishchenko. Mishchenko was given a 3-year suspended sentence. Prosecutors earlier asked the court to sentence Mikhalchenko to 10 years in high-security prison and sought a 1.5-million-ruble (about $22,000 at the present exchange rate) fine as a punishment for the businessman. The court at that time was also asked to sentence Korevsky to 9 years in prison and Mishchenko to 7 years. Mikhalchenko was arrested and detained in late March 2016. Investigators claimed that he had organized trafficking of alcoholic products from countries of the European Union. According to the prosecution, in 2015, the products were bought in European shops, collected in the port of Hamburg and then smuggled into Russia. The caused damage was estimated at more than 61 million rubles (about $1 million). Forum Holding Company established in 2011 is one of the largest multibusiness companies in Saint-Petersburg. The company has united several dozens of the citys enterprises and organizations. Forum Holding consists of industrial enterprises, such as "Spinning Mill named after S.M. Kirov", the oldest textile industry enterprise in Russia, "Izmeron" factory, one of technological leaders of Russias downhole equipment market, according to the companys website. President Moon Jae-in on Thursday startled reporters by saying he "sincerely welcomes" North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's hopes of reopening the joint Kaesong Industrial Complex and resuming tours to the North's scenic Mt. Kumgang resort "without conditions or rewards." More startlingly still, he claimed that "obstacles that needed to be resolved with the North have been solved." The Kaesong Industrial Complex was shut down because of the North's fifth nuclear test in 2016, while tours to the Mt. Kumgang resort were halted in 2008 when a North Korean soldier shot a South Korean tourist dead. Both decisions were a direct response to North Korean acts of terror, but the president not only claims that all problems have been resolved but expresses gratitude for the North's wonderful generosity in attaching no conditions to the resumption of these projects. Does the president have amnesia? North Korea refuses even to submit an inventory of its nuclear facilities and materials and continues to produce nuclear weapons, so what exactly has been "resolved?" Has he also forgotten the North's sinking of the Navy corvette Cheonan, which killed 46 South Korean sailors? North Korea has not only refused to take responsibility for the attack, but has virtually taunted the South over the tragedy. Last year, the South Korean foreign minister told lawmakers that the government is "considering" easing sanctions against the North imposed after that attack, and the comments triggered a furor. Nothing has changed. International sanctions remain in place for good reasons, and it is not Moon's place to ease them simply because Kim wrote him a nice Christmas card. North Korea recently redefined "denuclearization" as eliminating the U.S. nuclear threat from the Korean Peninsula before Pyongyang scraps its nukes. Even the unification minister here, who is in charge of dealing with North Korea, admitted only Wednesday that this view "differs" from Seoul's objectives. But Moon a day later claimed there is "absolutely no difference" between the denuclearization goals of the international community and the North's. He now believes whatever Kim tells him but listens only to what he wants to hear. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Russian Supreme Court dismisses U.S. energy drinks producers Moncler brand appeal RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 10:55 11/01/2019 MOSCOW, January 11 (RAPSI) The Supreme Court of Russia has upheld previous rulings dismissing objections of the U.S. energy drinks producer Monster Energy Company concerning legal protection of Moncler clothes and accessories brand, according to court records. In November, Russias Intellectual Property Court (IP Court) also dismissed the companys objections. According to the claimant, Moncler brand is confusingly similar to its energy drinks brands. Nevertheless, yet in August the court said there was neither a probability of the brands confusion due to the lack of their phonetic, graphical, or semantic similarity, nor misinforming consumers as to the identity of manufacturers of respectively branded products. Later, the IP Court dismissed a cassation petition filed by the U.S. producer. The energy drinks company insisted there was a phonetical and visual similarity of words Moncler and Monster. Moncler s.p.a. in turn informed the court that the brand was created out of the first three letters of the name of French commune Monestier-de-Clermont and had nothing in common with the pronunciation of word Monster. Moreover, Moncler claimed it was an internationally known manufacturer of clothes, including those for sports, and enjoyed strong market reputation. Moncler also said consumers across the world, including Russia, recognized its brand. The IP Court Collegium found the U.S. producers arguments unconvincing and upheld an earlier court ruling. Police arrested this man, George Persaud, with a distinctive tattoo, left, in connection with a rape in South Ozone Park the night before New Years Eve. Year-end stats show crime like robbery and burglary are way down, but rape is a growing category here. Gov. Cuomo on Monday called on state legislators to pass the Reproductive Health Act, an abortion rights bill that activists have long fought to make law. The Coastal Preservation Network wants a barrier in the middle of a public shoreline pathway taken down. US Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas): I understand from whats been testified to the Forest Service and the BLM [Bureau of Land Management], you want very much to work on the issue of climate change. We know theres been significant solar flare activity, and so is there anything that the National Forest Service or BLM can do to change the course of the moons orbit, or the Earths orbit around the sun? Obviously that would have profound effects on our climate. Jennifer Eberlein, associate deputy chief for the National Forest System, responded that she would have to follow up with you on that one, after a brief pause. Gohmert: Well, if you figure out a way that you in the Forest Service can make that change, Id like to know. Two female students from Konyang University have died of diseases in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh while doing volunteer work. According to the university, they were treated in hospital for a stomachache on Tuesday. Their conditions seemed to improve, but they rushed to hospital again because they complained of stomach pains again the next day. One died in hospital on Wednesday of cardiac arrest and the other the next day of pneumonia and septic shock, according to the local hospital. Nineteen volunteers from the university -- 16 students, two professors and one university staffer -- left for Cambodia last week. They were expected to return home this Saturday after building chicken coops and shade canopies for local residents. The rest are all well. "They were given vaccine shots for typhoid, tetanus and malaria before their departure," a university spokesman said. "When their families arrive there, there'll be consultation about an autopsy." The 2021 CYO Track and Field Championship Meet was held at Divine Child on Friday, June 4. It marked the first time that Divine Child served as host for the event. But he parried widespread criticism that the minimum wage hike has in fact left many low-income earners worse off as employers cut their hours. "Many people think that the minimum wage hike is the culprit, but I believe there were also positive effects," he said. The economy took center stage, with the word mentioned no fewer than 35 times in Moon's address. "Employment figures are weak, and a failure to meet the public's expectations was the most disappointing and painful part," he said. "The biggest task facing the government this year is to resolve this problem." It was a partial acknowledgement that key economic policies such as the drastic minimum wage hike have backfired but stopped short of promising a substantial course correction. President Moon Jae-in in a New Year's press conference on Thursday admitted "painfully" high unemployment but insisted on "maintaining the policy direction, while making up for areas that need to be complemented." However, his solution was strengthening rather than changing key policies. "I will make up for areas that need to be complemented, but it is necessary to maintain the current policy direction. I don't think we need a new solution," he said. "My goal this year is to ensure that the public can tangibly feel that the government's policy is heading in the right direction." Moon also promised to improve relations with North Korea and work for the easing of sanctions against the North. "The second U.S.-North Korea summit will pave the way for [Kim Jong-un's] visit" to South Korea, he said. He then defended attempts to revive cross-border business projects before the North has even begun to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. "The Kaesong Industrial Complex and tours to Mt. Kumgang benefited both Koreas. Due to North Korea's willingness to resume them without any conditions, obstacles that needed to be resolved with the North have been solved," he said. "I will cooperate with the U.S. and the international community for the speedy resolution of international sanctions, which is the remaining problem." Yet only last month Moon told U.S. President Donald Trump that it is necessary to maintain sanctions against North Korea until it achieves complete denuclearization. The press conference lasted for more than two hours that were mostly given over to defending existing policies. Critics said there was a dire lack of any new ideas to accommodate the demands of businesses that are stuck in a prolonged slump. Thank you for reading the Philadelphia Tribune. You have exhausted your free article views for this month. Please press the "subscribe" button below and see our introductory price of $0.25 per week for 13 weeks. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you next month. Lidl, the German grocer, could begin work in as soon as five months on its supermarket planned for part of the South Philadelphia site along the Delaware River where a Foxwoods Casino was once proposed, according to a company official. Sam Kachidza, a Philadelphia-based real estate manager with Lidls U.S. unit, said at a meeting of the Pennsport Civic Association on Wednesday that his company hoped to begin work as soon as it completes its purchase of the property, east of Christopher Columbus Boulevard between Reed and Dickinson Streets. The acquisition is contingent on Lidls getting all the permits it needs for the project, which is expected to take five to nine months, he said. Among the permits needed is one that would allow the installation of a traffic light at Columbus Boulevard and Dickinson, which officials deem necessary for the sites safety, he said. The traffic light is part of $2 million to $3 million in improvements planned by Lidl, which also include a section of sidewalk for bicycle riders and a pedestrian island midway across Columbus, Kachidza said. The market planned for the site will have around 36,000 square feet, among Lidls largest store formats for the United States. It will be built along Columbus, but access for shoppers will be limited to an entrance away from the sidewalk in the stores parking lot. Lidl opened its first U.S. stores in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia in June 2017, and has since been expanding up the Eastern Seaboard. It opened its first and so far only Pennsylvania location last month in Ridley Township, Delaware County. Lidl also is moving forward with its planned store on Butler Street near Aramingo Avenue in Port Richmond, Kachidza said. Also presenting at the Wednesday night meeting were the developers who had been planning 169 rowhouses on the parcels eastern, river-facing half, spanning from Reed to Tasker Street. Those plans have been adjusted to entail a pair of horseshoe-shape mid-rise apartment buildings, rather than rowhouses, on the southern section of the development site, between Dickinson and Tasker. The rowhouse plan remains intact for the northern section, between Reed and Dickinson, where 92 of those homes are now planned. The six- and seven-story apartment buildings, which would face each other across a courtyard, are to hold 300 rental units, with a parking garage in the southern building and retail spaces along Dickinson in the northern building, Zakin said. The plans also include a waterfront trail that will connect with public walk- and bikeways being built to the north and south by the Delaware River Waterfront Corp., said attorney Hercules Grigos, who is representing developers National Realty Investment Advisors of Secaucus, N.J., and Philadelphia-based U.S. Construction. on the project. Graduation is nine months away. Seniors at Kensington High School hope that will give them enough time to finish creating their parting gift to students: A library. Like, a real one the kind that smells of new books, varnished wood, and fresh paint. With overstuffed chairs and sprawl-worthy carpets. With posters whose wise sayings inspire eagerness about life beyond the walls they hang on. And with miles of fiction to get lost in while the radiators hiss and the clock ticks its way to the buzzer between classes. It's so retro. And, the kids say, so needed. Once upon a time, Kensington High had its own student library. For reasons no one can recall (and were doubtlessly financial), the space was long ago repurposed as a teachers' professional-development center. But Kensington's seniors know what was lost in the conversion: A quiet portal to worlds of their own discovery. A communal place loftier than the body-focused gym, belly-focused cafeteria, and sit-and-listen auditorium. "Not everybody learns and grows by looking at a computer. They want to read a book," says senior Britney Rivera, 17. "In a library, you get the isolation, mind-set, and focus you need to turn off all the noise and think your own thoughts." She's a student in teacher Eric Cruz's engineering class, where last year the kids were brainstorming project ideas to better the school. The class got pumped when Britney suggested creating a library, so Cruz had them survey the student body to see if it was actually wanted. Surveying is part of engineering's philosophy of "empathic design," he told them. It's one thing to suspect a library is wanted; it's another to confirm it, so that nobody's time, effort, or dreams get wasted or disrespected. The survey responses were unequivocal: GIVE US A LIBRARY! Cruz's students used the engineering lab's 3D printer to create a scale model of a modest space to be located in the only site available an underused classroom on the third floor. Then they spent the sweltering summer cleaning the room, moving desks, and building shelves. Word spread, and donations trickled in: Two worn but comfy armchairs, some purple beanbag loungers, a patterned rug to cozy things up. FirstBook Philadelphia, which provides new books to kids in need, donated a collection of novels. School principal Jose Lebron installed air conditioners, partially funded by prize money Cruz's kids had won in a design competition. And teacher Amanda Schear scored a $10,000 grant from Snapdragon Book Foundation to buy new books for the place. The library still needs artwork, and a paint job, and work tables and chairs, and two printers, a few more comfy reading chairs and carpets, some adult volunteers and books, books, books (see below for how to donate). Plus, there's no librarian or even a library-certified teacher to design programming, select books aligned with school curriculum, or suggest works of fiction to intrigue a young mind. There's not even a swiping system to log books in and out, although Cruz is looking at apps that might be workable. But the momentum has been breathless, nonetheless, for kids in an educational system where exciting ideas are perpetually thwarted by scant resources. "It's thrilling!" says senior Manny Rivera, 18, who's plopped on one of the beanbags. "Once you put your mind to something, then start to work on it, then see it come together, it's a thrill!" The enthusiasm is spreading through the school, says Cruz, 32, a dynamo in his fourth year at Kensington. "The kids are super anxious for it to open," says Cruz. "We're just not ready yet." They're fighting a tide that has pulled most Philly public-school libraries beyond the breakers. In the district's 2016-17 supports census, 99 schools listed libraries as a need or critical need. Fewer than 10 libraries even have district librarians, although many have community partners that provide support in the form of a librarian retiree or volunteer. The district has adapted by providing other ways to help kids develop media and information skills to be college- and career-ready, says district communications officer Megan Lello. A digital literacy curriculum is used in computer labs across the district, for example, with some offering space for reading, research, or design. And all schools can subscribe to PowerLibrary, the state library portal that links schools and libraries across the commonwealth. Nationwide, freestanding urban-school libraries haven't fared much better, says Danuta Nitecki, Drexel's dean of libraries and professor of information science. They, too, have jettisoned their physical spaces and the librarians who once helped students not just find information but make sense of it. So few Philadelphia public schools see the need for librarians that Drexel recently suspended a once-popular program that certified district teachers to run their school libraries. Nitecki was moved when I told her about the Kensington kids' mission to open a library. "It's amazing and inspiring that this is a student-led project," she says, marveling how the students intuitively understand that a library is actually three interwoven entities a place, a collection, and a source of guidance in how to find, use, and exchange information. I have a good feeling about this project, the students who want to drive it to completion and the young teacher who's making them believe they can. Yes, there's much work to be done, and the library may be bare-bones when it opens. But that doesn't mean it always will be. A start is a start. As American poet and historian Archibald MacLeish once said, "What is more important to a library than anything else than everything else is the fact that it exists." To donate books, furniture, and other library materials to the project, contact teacher Eric Cruz at kensingtonhighschoollibrary@gmail.com. Or reach out to me at polaner@phillynews.com or 215-854-2217 and let me know how you'd like to help. In 2017, Harrisburg politicians figured out a way to keep the public eye off their historic mismanagement of the states pension funds until after the 2018 election cycle. They cleverly created one of those study commissions and ensured that it wouldnt release its study results until after the 2018 election. But thats where the procrastinating ended. Taxpayers and government workers should be pleased with the fact that the Public Pension Management and Asset Investment Review Commission took its responsibilities very seriously. Members produced an exhaustive, deeply-researched report last month that lays out a clear prescription for fixing the funds and saving more than $330 million a year. Very significantly, they released their report to the public. The chairman of the commission was Rep. Mike Tobash, (R., Dauphin). The vice chairman was Democratic Treasurer Joe Torsella, making this a truly bipartisan effort. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who already endorsed the report, and Republican legislators should follow the commissions spirit of bipartisanship and professionalism and tackle at least three of its recommendations as soon as possible. First, the commission says the state must maintain its required contribution to the funds. The governor and legislature did that in this years budget but a single effort is not enough. They should be committed to paying the full obligation every year. Failing to do so is how Pennsylvania created its pension crisis. Pension obligations balloon when payments arent kept up to date. This year, $3.2 billion 10 percent of this years $32.7 billion budget went into the pensions. Just four years ago, taxpayers paid $1.2 billion into the funds. Secondly, the commission says the funds could save $2.1 billion over the next 30 years if the state merged the funds investment offices. Right now, SERS, the State Employees Retirement System for state workers, and PSERS, the Public School Employees Retirement System for school workers, have separate investment offices. Not only would the funds save $21 million in the first year, but their combined $80 billion in investments would command much more clout on Wall Street than the funds now have. Thirdly, the commission calls for publicly disclosing how much money Wall Street is making from investing our money. PSERS disclosed it paid more than $1 billion in compensation to Wall Street firms in 2016-2017. SERS has not and says it cant because it has nondisclosure agreements with its investment managers. Thats just nonsense. No government entity responsible for our money should be keeping secrets. SERS should renegotiate those contracts and eliminate nondisclosure agreements. The pension boards can start working on improvements even before the politicians do. They should subject their investments to frequent stress tests showing just how effective those investments are, and the funds should release that data to the public and retirees. Pennsylvanias politicians were shrewd enough to duck the pension issue in the 2018 election cycle, during which the governor, the House, and half of the Senate campaigned with nary a mention of pensions. Now, its time for Pennsylvanians to be shrewd enough to tell their representatives to do the right thing and pass the commissions recommendations. As President Donald Trump threatens to declare a state of emergency to counter a manufactured security crisis on our southern border, its worth looking at the real security challenges facing the country in 2019. List after published list of such security threats, as compiled by think tanks, the departments of State, Homeland Security, and the U.S. intelligence community, fail to mention the press of immigrants on the southern border as one of those dangers. Thats because it isnt. Yes, border security is an issue, but it could be addressed in bipartisan fashion if the president hadnt made build the wall his never-ending campaign slogan. However, the border presents no urgent national security crisis; the White House cant cite one instance of a known terrorist crossing from Mexico, and many illicit drug shipments are smuggled in via sea, airports or by mail from China. Here are five points that most threat lists see as the top national security challenges in the new year. And Ill add a sixth point on what I see posing the gravest danger of all. 1. The risk of a highly disruptive cyber attack on U.S. critical infrastructure and networks tops most lists. This was the top-ranked threat for 2019, according to a massive survey of security experts by the Council on Foreign Relations. It also topped the U.S. intelligence agencys 2018 worldwide threat assessment, which warned:The potential for surprise in the cyber realm will increase in the next year and beyond as billions more digital devices are connected with relatively little built-in security and both nation states and malign actors become more emboldened. It said the greatest danger was posed by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, whose hackers have already threatened crucial U.S. systems from elections to the Pentagon to our electrical grid. 2. The chance of a military clash with China over islands in the South China Sea is rising. As the White House has focused on a trade war with Beijing, the Chinese have been illegally fortifying islands and atolls in the sea that give it control over one of the worlds most crucial international waterways. U.S. and Chinese ships came close in 2018 to clashing in these waters; it may already be too late to compel China to observe international laws on freedom of navigation or keep Xi Jinpings promise not to militarize the sea. 3. The United States may get drawn into new Mideast conflicts because of a rash Trump withdrawal from Syria. Trumps sudden decision to retreat which provoked Secretary of Defense James Mattis to resign will unleash many new Mideast demons. ISIS may revive in a new form. And the American retreat will help Iran expand its hold inside Syria. That, in turn, could increase chances of a proxy war between Iran and Israel, which fears having Iranian-backed forces on its border. Such a war would likely drag America in. 4. We could see another Russian land grab in Ukraine, along with further Russian political meddling in and cyber attacks on NATO countries. Vladimir Putin will continue his efforts to weaken and divide the West and undercut U.S. global interests, encouraged by Trumps refusal to rebuff him. Putins goal is to splinter Americas strongest military alliance and help bring down the European Union. Trump doesnt seem to mind. 5. The return of hostilities with North Korea is growing more plausible. Trump legitimized Kim Jong Un globally at the Singapore summit, yet Kim has yet to make any move toward denuclearization. Now the president is planning a second summit with Kim, who has made clear he wants major concessions up front, while giving little or nothing in return. Trump may be gulled in which case Kim will keep his nukes. Or the president may be embarrassed by his summitry failures into returning to bellicosity, taking us back to square one with Pyongyang. 6. Trumps style of leadership exacerbates each of these five threats. His belief in his negotiating brilliance with autocrats has blinded him to the degree that Putin, Xi, and Kim have taken advantage of his naivete. That gullibility was painfully evident in the decision to quit Syria, where he swallowed false pledges by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take over the fight against ISIS. In reality, the Turks only want to fight our Kurdish allies, who helped defeat ISIS. Trumps mistakes in dealing with China and North Korea will leave him toward one of two unpalatable positions: either pretend that hes won and label loser deals with Kim or Xi as a victory. Or admit that his negotiations have failed, which may lead to military clashes with Pyongyang or Beijing. Lost as an option is the kind of strong, well-informed, strategic bargaining that could produce results. And, of course, Trumps bromance with Putin seems to fuel the presidents refusal to muster a strong, coordinated White House response to Russian cyber espionage. That refusal also hinders our response to cyber attacks from elsewhere. So while the president threatens to use emergency powers to fight a fake border crisis, he is facilitating the real crises that could whack us in 2019. That is the news that Americans need to grasp. WASHINGTON Barring some miraculous breakthrough, on Saturday the current government shutdown will become the longest in American history. But it has already hit another historic milestone: It is, by far and away, the stupidest government shutdown in American history. In 2019, the federal government will spend a whopping $4.407 trillion. Yet Congress and the president are shutting down the government in a dispute between the $1.3 billion the Democrats have approved for border security and the $5.7 billion the president is demanding precisely 0.0998 percent of the total federal budget. In Washington, that is considered a rounding error. Worse, Democrats are doing it over a border wall strikingly similar to one that they almost unanimously supported just five years ago. While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., now says that a wall is an immorality, back in 2013, she supported a bill that required the construction of 700 miles of border fencing. (Trump has called for a wall of anywhere from 700 to 900 miles long.) The bill negotiated by the Gang of Eight, which included current Democratic leaders Sens. Charles Schumer, N.Y., and Dick Durbin, Ill., declared that not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary [of Homeland Security] shall establish ... the Southern Border Fencing Strategy, to identify where 700 miles of fencing (including double-layer fencing) ... should be deployed along the Southern border. That's not all. The bill further said that "the Secretary may not adjust the status of aliens who have been granted registered provisional immigrant status ... until 6 months after ... [the Secretary submits] a written certification that ... there is in place along the Southern Border no fewer than 700 miles of pedestrian fencing." In other words, Democrats agreed that no illegal immigrants could get a path to citizenship until all 700 miles of border fencing had been fully completed. Every Senate Democrat voted for the Gang of Eight bill including 36 Democratic senators still serving today. President Barack Obama agreed to sign it. Indeed, he praised the bill for including what he called the most aggressive border security plan in our history and said that the Senate bill is consistent with the key principles for commonsense reform that I and many others have repeatedly laid out (emphasis added). That bears repeating: Obama said building a 700-mile fence on the southern border was consistent with the principles of the Democratic Party. Pelosi supported the Gang of Eight bill, saying at the time that every piece of this legislation has had bipartisan support (emphasis added). But now we are shutting down the government over a wall much like the one that Pelosi and Senate Democrats fully supported just five years ago? Democrats will object that the Gang of Eight bill did fund a border wall, but it was in exchange for a lot of concessions. Of course it was. As Obama said at the time, the bipartisan bill that passed today was a compromise. But today, Democrats are refusing to compromise or lay out what concessions they would accept in exchange for wall funding. When Trump rhetorically backed off the wall and talked about steel slats a fence Democrats ignored it. When Vice President Mike Pence reportedly offered a deal for $2.5 billion, Democrats dismissed it. In a White House meeting Wednesday, Trump asked Pelosi whether, if he agreed to end the shutdown and negotiate separately on border security, she would support wall funding. She said no. That is ridiculous. In their response to the presidents address to the nation, Schumer and Pelosi accused Trump of manufacturing a crisis. That is simply untrue. As The Post reported this week, the United States now faces a bona fide emergency on the border as record numbers of migrant families are streaming into the United States, overwhelming border agents and leaving holding cells dangerously overcrowded with children, many of whom are falling sick. Democrats could not possibly be in a better position to demand concessions form Trump if they had manufactured a crisis. So put some demands on the table, for crying out loud. If Democrats think they have Trump cornered, then squeeze him and try get a lot out of him. But dont refuse to negotiate and tell us the wall is an immorality because their voting history shows they dont believe that. Marc Thiessen writes a twice-weekly column for The Washington Post on foreign and domestic policy. He is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and the former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush. @marcthiessen Officials in Davos have authorized a protest by a Socialist youth group against U.S. President Donald Trump and other expected attendees of the annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort this month. Authorities rejected a similar protest request last year when Trump attended the elite event, citing heavy snowfall. Julia Baumgartner, secretary-general of Switzerland's Young Socialists, said Thursday that her group was "very excited" about the chance to demonstrate. Baumgartner said she expected no more than 150 to 200 protesters because the rally falls on a Thursday when people are at work and school. The protest is to show opposition to Trump, freshly inaugurated Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and the wealthy elites gathered in Davos, she said. Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl knew of sexual misconduct allegations against ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick and reported them to the Vatican in 2004, church officials confirmed Thursday evening, despite portraying himself since last summer as unaware of any complaints surrounding McCarrick. Robert Ciolek, a former priest who reached a settlement with the church in 2005 after accusing clerics including McCarrick, told The Post he recently learned that the Pittsburgh Diocese has a file that shows that Wuerl was aware of his allegations against McCarrick. The file includes documentation that Wuerl, who was bishop of Pittsburgh at the time, shared the information with then-Vatican ambassador Gabriel Montalvo. The content of the document, which Ciolek told The Post he saw in December, clashes sharply with Wuerl's public statements about McCarrick since the older cleric was suspended in June due to a complaint that he groped an altar boy decades ago. The explosive allegations against McCarrick, which include two other accusations of abusing minors as well as those of harassment of seminarians, tipped off a full-blown crisis in the American Catholic Church. All along, Wuerl has largely rejected charges that he played a role in it. McCarrick's case is reportedly now about to be decided in one of the highest-profile clergy sex abuse trial processes to come before Rome. Both the Washington Archdiocese and the Pittsburgh diocese Thursday night acknowledged Wuerl knew and told the Vatican, and said they were simply trying to protect Ciolek's confidentiality. Ciolek dismissed that Thursday. "There was nothing that precluded them from talking to anyone" about his case. Wuerl at worst could have said: 'I am aware but I can't name that person.' " Wuerl himself was forced to retire early in the fall due to his alleged mishandling of clergy sexual misconduct when he was bishop of Pittsburgh, and his replacement is rumored to be named in coming weeks. A grand jury report by Pennsylvania prosecutors detailing extensive clergy abuse and coverup in the state and criticizing Wuerl for not doing more has heaped fuel on the belief that the Catholic Church hasn't reformed itself at its highest levels. Many Catholics have been angered and hurt by reports that the popular, prominent McCarrick, who was Wuerl's predecessor as Archbishop of Washington, regularly engaged in misconduct and that it was an open secret among the hierarchy. Wuerl, a close ally of Pope Francis seen as a loyal, effective and cautious administrator, has portrayed the McCarrick matter as news to him when he's been asked since June. In June, he said: "I can report that no claim - credible or otherwise - has been made against Cardinal McCarrick during his time here in Washington." He denied in that statement and in others knowing about the settlements, and said after the first youth allegation only that he was "shocked and saddened." In a July 31 interview in the archdiocesan paper Catholic Standard, Wuerl said: "There have also been numerous stories or blog posts that repeated long-standing rumors or innuendos that may be out there regarding archbishop McCarrick. . . In the past month, I have seen some of those new public reports. But in my years here in Washington and even before that, I had not heard them. With rumors - especially old rumors going back 30, 40, even 50 years - there is not much we can do unless people come forward to share what they know or what they experienced." The District of Columbia archdiocese's statement Thursday said Wuerl did not intend "to be imprecise" with his public statements. "Furthermore, Cardinal Wuerl has attempted to be accurate in addressing questions about Archbishop McCarrick. His statements previously referred to claims of sexual abuse of a minor by Archbishop McCarrick, as well as rumors of such behavior." The documents Ciolek says he saw in December in the Pittsburgh Diocese priest personnel file show Wuerl went to the Vatican's U.S. representative in the fall of 2004 about McCarrick. In May 2006 the Vatican announced McCarrick's retirement as Archbishop of Washington and the appointment of Wuerl to replace him as head of the District archdiocese, one of the country's most prestigious. Ciolek shared the documents with the Post with regret, he said, because he had first asked repeatedly to meet with Wuerl and was ultimately rebuffed after being given a list of proposed restrictions by Kim Viti Fiorentino, the District archdiocese's chancellor and general counsel. Among them, he said: If he met with Wuerl, he could not take notes, record or ask questions. The visit, he was told, was meant to offer Wuerl's "pastoral" care, said Ciolek, who is now a married lawyer in New Jersey. In a Jan. 8 email to Fiorentino, Ciolek said he was frustrated that a meeting with Wuerl was put off and then canceled. He told her he had hoped in a face-to-face meeting to thank Wuerl for taking the McCarrick issue to the Vatican's ambassador in 2004. But he said he also hoped to tell him how hurtful it is - as the victim who brought the sensitive details of the complaint forward 14 years ago - to hear Wuerl publicly deny knowing about McCarrick's involvement. "It's belittling to me as a victim of abuse to have him as a priest and leader of the church to overlook, ignore or lie about what he knows I shared. It's just beyond disrespectful in terms of what he signals to me when he says those things," Ciolek said to The Post of Wuerl's public comments. "It's as if I don't exist. It belittles the significance of the events themselves," Ciolek said. Nothing will change "unless people come forward," he said. The Post reported last fall about Ciolek's 2005 settlement - which had been revealed in June by New Jersey dioceses on the day McCarrick's suspension was announced. The New Jersey officials said they had settled two cases with adults who reported being sexually harassed by McCarrick. What wasn't known until the Post's September piece was that the settlement included not only Ciolek's allegations he was abused at a Catholic high school in New Jersey, but also that he was again subjected to abuse and misconduct in seminary by a Pittsburgh priest and also by McCarrick. The Post story noted that Wuerl's name, as the bishop of Pittsburgh, was on the settlement document, raising questions about what Wuerl knew. Ciolek also traveled to Pittsburgh in 2004 to testify before the diocese's review board. Washington Archdiocese spokesman Ed McFadden this fall told the Post in response to questions that Wuerl did not know "about the settlement." That led Ciolek, he said, to want to understand what Wuerl knew and if he had ever done anything with the in December information about which Ciolek testified. The quest led him back to Pittsburgh in DE. He requested a copy of the testimony he'd offered to the review board when he came there on Nov. 4, 2004. The nine-page document given to him by the diocese includes an introduction and then sections on his three abusive situations - in high school, with a seminary professor and then with McCarrick, who was Ciolek's supervising bishop in New Jersey. In the testimony, Ciolek said McCarrick pressured him and other seminarians to sleep in a double bed with him and would ask to give and receive backrubs. In the testimony, Ciolek described the ex-Carfinal's alleged conduct as "inappropriate behavior" because McCarrick "exercised extraordinary authority over me." Ciolek said in the document that McCarrick knew he had been molested as a teenager, and therefore his actions "violated the trust that I bestowed" on him by acting on his "selfish and distorted impulses." In a final section entitled "impact on my life" Ciolek said the abuse he experienced left "deep internal scars, emotional trauma." His file included a cover letter dated Nov. 9, 2004, from Ciolek to the diocese's coordinator, Rita Flaherty. "In response to your request, the Diocese of Pittsburgh is authorized to share this information with ecclesiastical officials, including the papal nuncio." After asking to know what else was in the file, Ciolek traveled to Pittsburgh in early December, where he was allowed to see a portion of a file about his case. It was the priest personnel file of the Pittsburgh priest Ciolek says abused him in seminary. Diocesan officials would not allow Ciolek to make copies of or photograph the documents. However, he said he saw a very brief - perhaps one or two short paragraphs - memo in the file. From his memory, Ciolek said the document was dated right around the time of his Pittsburgh testimony. The words were typed, he said. "It memorialized Wuerl's meeting with the papal nuncio earlier that week, and indicated he had shared with the papal nuncio, Archbishop Montalvo, the details involving allegations I had made about McCarrick." The memo was in the first person, Ciolek said, and included Wuerl's handwritten initials after his printed name. It said nothing about any response by Montalvo or anything else, Ciolek said. Questions to church officials in Pittsburgh and Washington about what Wuerl said to Montalvo and what the Vatican representative said back were not immediately answered Wednesday. Wuerl has reportedly been in Rome this week as a member of the bishop-picking body, participating in conversations about his successor. He was vocal in November at the most recent annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, where the bishops made arguments for how to reform their processes on abuse cases to be more transparent. Wuerl is also on the broader Vatican body that handles clergy abuse cases - the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is overseeing McCarrick's trial. Another archdiocesan spokeswoman, Chieko Noguchi, told the Post this week that Wuerl is not involved in the McCarrick proceedings but she did not say why. Ciolek on Thursday praised Wuerl for taking the McCarrick report directly to Rome. At that point, in 2004, Ciolek had already relayed his abuse to several other bishops and to his knowledge none had at that point tried to take it to higher-ups who could take action. "Reading the document, I felt Wuerl did the right thing. But that good feeling of what he had done has been overshadowed completely by his lying about his knowledge of that." On Thursday, Fiorentino emailed Ciolek to say she was sorry he was declining to meet with the archdiocese lawyers instead of Wuerl. "I sincerely regret that you feel this way towards the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Cardinal Wuerl, and the Church," she said, again offering Ciolek an opportunity to meetwith lawyers. "I wish you many blessings in the New Year and will continue to keep you in my prayers." Ciolek, who comes from a devout, churchgoing family, said he wanted Wuerl to apologize and own up to what happened, actions he feels could be an important part of Catholic healing. My hope was real reform, permanent change, serious steps, he said."Wuerls honesty and apology would have gone a long way to giving the Catholic community better hope that the church is serious about change." EUGENE, Ore. (AP) Police fatally shot a man Friday who showed up with a gun at an Oregon middle school amid a custody dispute, but no one else was injured, authorities said. The man was being escorted from Cascade Middle School in the city of Eugene when he began struggling and pulled out a gun, police Lt. Jennifer Bills told reporters. She initially said the shooting was inside the school. "No students were harmed whatsoever. All the students are safe," she said. Police asked parents to stay away from the school during the investigation. By Friday afternoon, officers were escorting small groups of children to a church across the street where parents had gathered. Yellow police tape was strung across the schools main parking lot. Parent Stephanie Martin waited for her two children at the church. She said her son, who is in sixth grade, called her to say he was OK and so was his sister, who is in the seventh grade. The kids are all safe, thats all we know. But thats all I care about, Martin said. Its crazy, the world is crazy. More than 20 years ago, then-15-year-old Kip Kinkel killed his parents before fatally shooting two students and wounding 26 others at Thurston High School in nearby Springfield. The incident was among the first school attacks in recent decades to seize the national spotlight, and predated prominent incidents around the country that have spurred a broader focus on school violence. Kinkel remains in prison. AT&T said Thursday that it will stop selling its customers' location data to third-party service providers after a report this week said the information was winding up in the wrong hands. The announcement follows sharp demands by federal lawmakers for an investigation into the alleged misuse of data, which came to light when Motherboard revealed a complex chain of unauthorized information sharing that ended with a bounty hunter successfully tracking down a reporter's device. AT&T had already suspended its data-sharing agreements with a number of so-called "location aggregators" last year in light of a congressional probe finding that some of Verizon's location data was being misused by prison officials to spy on innocent Americans. AT&T also said at the time that it would be maintaining those of its agreements that provided clear consumer benefits, such as location sharing for roadside assistance services. But AT&T's announcement Thursday goes much further, pledging to terminate all of the remaining deals it had - even the ones that it said were actively helpful. "In light of recent reports about the misuse of location services, we have decided to eliminate all location aggregation services - even those with clear consumer benefits," AT&T said in a statement. "We are immediately eliminating the remaining services and will be done in March." In characteristic fashion, T-Mobile CEO John Legere tweeted Tuesday that his firm would be "completely ending location aggregator work" in March. Verizon said in a statement Thursday that it, too, was winding down its four remaining location-sharing agreements, which are all with roadside assistance services - after that, customers would have to give the company permission to share their data with roadside assistance firms. A Sprint spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcements reflect a major victory for privacy advocates who have slammed corporate America over its handling of consumers' personal information, often to their personal and economic expense. Carriers are always responsible for who ends up with their customers' data - its not enough to lay the blame for misuse on downstream companies, said Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) in a statement. The time for taking these companies at their word is long past. Congress needs to pass strong legislation to protect Americans' privacy and finally hold corporations accountable when they put your safety at risk by letting stalkers and criminals track your phone on the dark web. Other critics said Americans have an "absolute right" to their privacy of their data. Im extraordinarily troubled by reports of this system of repackaging and reselling location data to unregulated third-party services for potentially nefarious purposes, Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) said in a statement after the Motherboard report was published. If true, this practice represents a legitimate threat to our personal and national security. Harris called on the Federal Communications Commission to immediately open an investigation. Motherboard reported that major U.S. wireless carriers T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint have been selling the location data of their customers in an unregulated market in which Americans' personal information travels through several layers of third-party entities that buy the location data but are not authorized to handle such information. After the report was released, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said on Twitter, "The @fcc needs to investigate. Stat." In a subsequent post in which she agreed with Harris and others calling for an investigation, Rosenworcel added: "It shouldn't be that you pay a few hundred dollars to a bounty hunter and then they can tell you in real time where a phone is within a few hundred meters. That's not right. This entire ecosystem needs oversight." The FCC did not immediately respond to requests for comment; the agency's operations are limited because of the ongoing government shutdown. The sharing of the phone location data at the center of the report began at T-Mobile, which shared it with a "location aggregator," who shared it with a phone location service, which shared it with a bounty hunter, who shared it with a source, who ultimately sent the phone's location to Motherboard, according to the report. As Motherboard reported, there are legitimate uses for the sharing of location data, including detecting financial fraud or locating motorists who need roadside assistance. But according to the report, in some cases the sensitive information was resold without authorization for purposes that violated data-sharing policies and without the knowledge of the phone company and its third-party partners. Wyden has called on the FCC to investigate the relationship between wireless carriers and data brokers. He sees the new report as another urgent motivation for government action, including an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. "Major carriers pledged to end these practices, but it appears to have been more empty promises to consumers," Wyden said on Twitter. He said Congress should advance his legislation that would grant the FTC greater authority to safeguard consumer data and fine companies for privacy and security violations. Sprint said in a statement: "Protecting our customers' privacy and security is a top priority, and we are transparent about that in our Privacy Policy. We do not knowingly share personally identifiable geolocation information except with customer consent or in response to a lawful request such as a validated court order from law enforcement." Responding to the report, AT&T said in a statement: "We only permit sharing of location when a customer gives permission for cases like fraud prevention or emergency roadside assistance, or when required by law. Over the past few months, as we committed to do, we have been shutting down everything else." Sen. Mark Warner (D., Va.), who has criticized the privacy practices of Facebook and other companies that collect massive quantities of user data, said the report highlights how customers and policymakers have been kept in the dark about the ways personal information is gathered, repackaged and sold. Responsible federal agencies and the U.S. Congress should continue to hold hearings to shine a light on these practices, and look at regulations to ensure companies are actually upfront with consumers about whether and how their sensitive data is being used and sold, Warner said in a statement. Shani Akilah is over the Mummers. A cofounder of the Black and Brown Workers Co-op, a Philadelphia group that organizes against oppression that affects minority communities, Akilah is urging the city to divest from the Mummers Parade entirely by refusing to dedicate any resources to it. If the city were to remove this thing, Akilah said, it would send a message that we are taking steps to show that we value, on some level, the black and brown citizens of Philadelphia. The calls for the city to quit supporting the Mummers' New Years Day parade with taxpayer dollars comes after a Comic club this year performed a skit in which two men depicted the rapper Jay-Z walking Mayor Jim Kenney like a dog. Some thought the man acting as Jay-Z was wearing blackface. Turns out hes black and wasnt wearing black makeup. Still, scholars and some local politicians say the absence of black makeup does not mean the skit featuring a man dressed in an outfit some saw as a caricature wasnt minstrelsy, prompting a meeting Thursday between Mummers representatives and black leaders. So some are asking: Given the Mummers history, will the 118-year-old institution ever manage to not offend? In todays climate, can the Mummers continue to exist? The leadership of the Mummers Parade has long brushed off skits offensive to minority communities as either harmless joking or the actions of a couple of bad actors. Under Kenney (a former Mummer), city officials have moved to require racial sensitivity training for some Mummers and review parade plans, though they say its up to Mummers leadership to monitor groups on parade day to ensure participants act in a nondiscriminatory manner. Since the official parade began in 1901, it has had some support from the city. Today, the city spends about $800,000 to cover Mummers-related costs, about $700,000 for police costs, city spokesperson Sarah Reyes said. She said Philadelphia code requires the city to cover police costs for the event. The remaining city services, she said, have been paid for by the Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund, a nonprofit established in 2010 to support community, ethnic, and heritage festivals. In a statement Thursday, Kenney said there has been a long history of racist themes in the parade, and while it has come a long way, its obvious that the Mummers still have much more work to do to ensure this is a parade that every Philadelphian can enjoy. He added that the administration would expand its work with the Mummers, and urged the organization to commit more resources toward additional antiracism and antibias training for its members. City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, who was criticized by the Mummers last week for releasing a statement stating the club was using blackface, didnt respond to a request for comment. Clarke issued a second statement correcting the error, but saying that people of color know minstrelsy when we see it. Aaron X. Smith, a professor in the department of Africology and African American studies at Temple University, said reducing the tradition of blackface and minstrelsy to something merely aesthetic, like black makeup, is criminal and derogatory for those who have suffered marginalization and oppression. I dont care what you meant to do, he said. If someone tells you, Thats not how I received it, at what point do you concede and defer to that and recognize humanity? The Mummers' anthem, O! Dem Golden Slippers, is itself a parody of a minstrel show, and Mummers who put on skits meant to poke fun at current events were seen wearing blackface as recently as 2015. The use of blackface in the parade was first banned in 1963 during the height of the civil rights movement, prompting some Mummers to protest at the parade leaders house while wearing blackface. Tensions escalated, necessitating a court order to ban blackface. In the mid-'80s, the South Philadelphia String Band requested it be allowed to use blackface in a Cotton Club-theme skit. It was denied. In 2003, the Goodtimers Comic Brigades skit celebrated Al Jolson, a minstrel performer who sang in blackface. In 2013, the Ferko String Band performed a skit with the theme Ferkos Bringing Back the Minstrel Days. The Mummers have satirized other minority communities. In 2013, one clubs theme included white members dressed as people from India working in a call center raided by Native Americans. In 2016, another brigade performed a Mexican-theme skit with sombreros and brownface. That same year, Finnegan New Years Brigade, the group that performed the Jay-Z skit this year, drew national attention after it went with a Caitlyn Jenner-theme skit punctuated by at least one members screaming antigay slurs. Finnegan leadership did not respond to a request for comment. Darrell Young, the man who played Jay-Z, has defended the skit as political satire. But Mia Moody-Ramirez, a professor at Baylor University and a leading scholar on the use of blackface in media, said it was a derogatory depiction of African Americans that was compounded because the audience was largely white. Hes not there to entertain his buddies or his friends, she said. Its done for a white audience. And its just considered very, very negative. The Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler, pastor of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church and an activist with POWER, an interfaith organization that promotes social justice, said the brigades use of a black person to represent Jay-Z was reminiscent of minstrel stereotypes. But Tyler, who is black, stopped short of calling for the end of the Mummers Parade. Even though I dont like the Mummers Parade and believe its past its usefulness, if it ever had usefulness, I think they still have a right to do it, he said, but with some certain guidelines. Mummers leadership met Thursday with the Rev. Jay Broadnax, president of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, and State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, a Philadelphia Democrat, who called the hour-long session an extraordinarily candid and honest" conversation. Mummers spokesperson George Badey III said the goal was "to have more diversity in the Mummers Parade going forward. We dont want to offend people, Badey said. Our general rubric is, we want to punch up, we dont want to punch down. Ron Goldwyn covered the Mummers Parade for the Daily News until he retired from the paper in 2004, and for a nine-year period in the 1980s and 1990s, Goldwyn put together a group of family, friends, synagogue members, and Daily News reporters to dress up as kazoos and march in the Comic Division. Goldwyn, who is white, has attended every Mummers Parade since 1975, and said various Mummers groups are social organizations similar to American Legion posts or religious groups, where people gather in a clubhouse and bond. He said doing away with the parade could take South Philadelphia back to what it was before the formal parade began: Mummers groups holding individual celebrations and sometimes drunken brawls in the neighborhood. Doing away with the city parade is not going to do away with mummery, Goldwyn said, adding: I cant look far enough into the future to see if there will always be a Mummers Parade, but I think there will always be mummers in Philadelphia. Chad Dion Lassiter, who was born and raised in North Philadelphia, said he heard little about the Mummers Parade growing up besides seeing it on television and recognizing that it was a South Philly tradition in the same way there are North Philly traditions. But over the years, as Lassiter, who is black, became expert in race relations, he started hearing more about the history of the group that troubled him. Today, Lassiter heads the Pennsylvania Commission on Human Relations, and said while he recognizes the grand tradition the Mummers represent, the institution must change to survive in a city that aims to be inclusive. Your traditions can be honored, he said. But your traditions cannot be honored and then displayed in a manner in which they marginalize or oppress people through racial imagery. Jack Miley said he didnt remember everything from a September 2017 phone conversation he had with his roommate, Joshua Hupperterz, not long after prosecutors say Hupperterz brought Temple University student Jenna Burleigh home from a nearby pub, then beat and strangled her in their North Philadelphia apartment. But he did remember something. He did say to me, Im the sweetest guy in Pub Webb. I would never hurt anybody, Miley told jurors Friday. His testimony came at the end of the first week of Hupperterzs murder trial and as the defendants lawyer, David Nenner, tried to bolster his contention that it was not Hupperterz but his roommate who killed Burleigh after she refused to stop screaming in their apartment kitchen. Hupperterz is accused of beating, stabbing, and strangling the 22-year-old woman, a transfer student who lived with her parents in Harleysville, Montgomery County, after they returned to his first-floor apartment from a bar and she cut short their sexual encounter. Hupperterz has admitted transporting her body to his grandmothers Poconos property, but has pleaded not guilty to killing her. Miley has not been charged or implicated. Prosecutors have said Hupperterzs accusations against his roommate are a lie; Miley on Thursday told the Philadelphia jury of seven men and five women that after a night of heavy drinking, he was sleeping so deeply in his basement-level bedroom on Aug. 31, 2017, he didnt hear Burleighs screams for help and didnt even know she had been in the apartment. He also said he never met her. Nenner sought Friday to poke holes in that account. Looking at phone records, Nenner questioned whether Miley actually went right to sleep after he returned home shortly after 1 a.m. from Pub Webb, the bar where he had gone with his roommate and where Burleigh was last seen leaving with Hupperterz shortly after 2 a.m. Nenner noted that between 1 and 2 a.m. that night, while still at the bar, Hupperterz tried to call and text Miley, and that Miley tried to call Hupperterz a few times. His last call to Hupperterz was at 1:43 a.m. The roommates werent able to reach each other during the calls. Miley testified that he didnt recall trying to reach Hupperterz, but acknowledged that the phone records showed he did. I must have not been fully asleep yet, Miley said. Prosecutors contend that what began as consensual sex between Hupperterz and Burleigh turned violent and then deadly around 4 a.m., when she rebuffed his attempts for anal sex. Hupperterz beat Burleigh, stabbed her, smashed a cereal bowl on top of her head, and strangled her on the kitchen floor, Assistant District Attorney Jason Grenell has said. Nenner also asked Miley if at any time that night after he went to bed, if he ever heard any kind of pounding, any kind of noise? As he testified Thursday under questioning by Assistant District Attorney Danielle Burkavage, Miley again said: No. Appearing on the offensive at times Friday and looking directly at Nenner, Miley said that he tried to call Hupperterz on the afternoon of Sept. 1 after a Temple police captain called him about Burleighs disappearance and how she was last seen leaving Pub Webb with Hupperterz. Miley, who by then was in New York with relatives for the Labor Day weekend, said Hupperterz called him right back. Hupperterz said he was in North Carolina. Miley said he told his roommate to call police. Later that day, at 9:22 p.m., Hupperterz called Miley. At that point, Miley has said, he only knew that Burleigh was missing. It was during that call that Hupperterz said he would never hurt anybody, but also said that he didnt know anything about the missing woman, Miley testified. Hupperterz, he said, told me he had nothing to do with it. Authorities have said that after Hupperterz killed Burleigh, he stuffed her body into a blue plastic storage bin at his apartment, transported it to his grandmothers home, then hid the bin in a shed by the lake. Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Benjamin Clark told jurors he was notified to go to a lakeside home in Wayne County on Sept. 1 because Philadelphia authorities needed help in a missing-person case and believed Hupperterz was at the home. Clark said he and a trooper found Hupperterz at the home his grandmothers and told him they were there to speak to him about Burleigh. He claimed to be too intoxicated to have any recollection of that night, Clark testified. Hupperterz, though, agreed to go to the nearby Dunmore barracks to further speak with the troopers. Detectives from Philadelphia arrived early on Sept. 2 and brought Hupperterz back to the city. Clark testified that he thought that would be the end of his role in the case. Then he got a call later that day from a Philadelphia police homicide lieutenant advising him that the troopers would need to go out to Hupperterzs grandmothers house again because a deceased females body had been located at the property. The former roommate of accused murderer Joshua Hupperterz whose lawyer contends was the actual killer of Jenna Burleigh told jurors Thursdaythat he was asleep in his basement-level bedroom when investigators believe the Temple University student was beaten, stabbed, and strangled upstairs in the kitchen of the mens North Philadelphia apartment. Jack Miley said he didnt even hear her screams. Speaking in a soft but firm voice, Miley, 24, said he and Hupperterz planned to go out for a night of drinking at Temple-area bars on the night of Aug. 30, 2017. But first, he took half a Xanax pill and drank some beer, he said. They went to one bar, then ended up at Pub Webb on Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Miley said he left Pub Webb before Hupperterz, and went home very drunk, very intoxicated. Overall, he had multiple beers, shots of liquor, and was under the influence of marijuana, he said. A residential surveillance video showed that he returned to their North 16th Street apartment building shortly after 1 a.m. Aug. 31. When you got home, what did you do? asked Assistant District Attorney Danielle Burkavage. I went to sleep, testified Miley. Miley is expected to be a critical witness for both the prosecution and Hupperterz, the 30-year-old former Temple student accused of killing Burleigh, a 22-year-old from Harleysville, Montgomery County, and trying to hide her body on his grandmothers Poconos property after she cut short their sexual encounter. While Hupperterz has pleaded guilty to charges related to transferring Burleighs body, his lawyer, David Nenner, told jurors in opening arguments that it was Miley who fatally strangled the screaming young woman in the kitchen of their apartment. Miley has not been implicated or charged in the crime. Miley, a Temple alumnus who shared a first-floor rear apartment with Hupperterz, testified that after he returned from Pub Webb, he went to his bedroom, fell asleep with his fan on at high speed by his bed, and didnt hear Hupperterz return home. He told jurors hes a deep sleeper even when hes sober. Around 4 a.m., did you hear anything at all? Burkavage asked. A scream, a struggle? No, said Miley. Surveillance video from Pub Webb showed that Hupperterz and Burleigh left the bar and returned to his apartment shortly after 2 a.m. Prosecutors contend that at some point, Hupperterz and Burleigh had consensual sex, but it turned nonconsensual when he tried to have anal sex with her. Her refusal triggered a violent fight in which Hupperterz began beating Burleigh, she grabbed a kitchen knife to defend herself, then he grabbed it and stabbed her, continued to pummel her, and strangled her on the kitchen floor, Assistant District Attorney Jason Grenell said in his opening statement Tuesday. Nenner has countered that Miley intervened in the kitchen fight and, in a bid to quiet a screaming Burleigh, killed her. But when asked by Burkavage on Thursday whether Hupperterz had asked him for help about 4 a.m., Miley replied: No. Miley testified that he woke up about 1 p.m. that day, typical for him after a night of heavy drinking, and saw Hupperterz cleaning up blood from the kitchen counter and floor. He had a big cut on his hand" and scratches on his neck, Miley said. Hupperterzs explanation? He said that he woke up in a pricker bush, said Miley. Miley testified that later that day, he planned to drive to New York with his two sisters for the Labor Day weekend. When his older sister, Courtney, and younger sister, Kristy, came in the late afternoon to his apartment, which they had never seen, he gave them a tour. In the first-floor living room, he said, his sister Courtney sat on a futon, which was covered with some kind of blanket. Then she got up real quick, he testified, because she realized she had blood on her. (A police crime scene officer had earlier testified about finding blood spots in the living room, which prosecutors attribute to the struggle between Hupperterz and Burleigh.) Miley testified that after about an hour in the apartment, he and his sisters left for dinner and later left for New York. The next afternoon, Sept. 1, he said he was awoken by a phone call from a Temple police officer who told him that Burleigh was missing and that she was last seen leaving Pub Webb with Hupperterz. Miley said he called Hupperterz, and his roommate told him he was in North Carolina. Hupperterz also changed the story behind his hand injury, Miley said, this time blaming a broken cereal bowl. Law-enforcement authorities that day later traced Hupperterzs cell phone to Wayne County in the Poconos. Prosecutors say that after stuffing Burleighs body in a blue plastic storage bin in his apartment, Hupperterz transported it to his grandmothers wooded lakeside property in the Poconos, and hid it in a shed. Nenner is expected to cross-examine Miley on Friday. Friday marks the 21st day of the federal government shutdown a tie for the longest in U.S. history. It also marks a day that many of the thousands of federal workers will go without their latest paychecks, including those who rely on every check for basic necessities. The impasse between Congress and President Donald Trump over his call for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border shows no sign of abating. As federal workers and contractors, state and local governments, and members of Congress call for an end to the partial government shutdown, the Trump administration on Thursday made preparations to declare a national emergency in order to receive the funding for the wall. The effects of the shutdown continue to grow, and will only worsen as it goes on. The impacts could ripple through the entire economy. FBI agents are warning of delayed investigations. Foreign embassies might have to close. An already deep backlog of immigration cases would grow deeper. Travel clearances could be delayed for refugees already approved to live in this country. People could run out of federal food assistance benefits. Environmental Protection Agency employees say the shutdown threatens public health and safety. Shutdown-related furloughs would cut into sales and income-tax revenue in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And Philadelphia tourism could take a hit. Last year, more than four million people visited Independence National Historical Park, which is closed during the shutdown. Heres some of what could happen if the shutdown continues indefinitely. Economic repercussions: Home buyers scared away The shutdowns largest long-term impact could likely be its effect on consumer sentiment and economic outlook, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics. I think with each passing week, the damage to the housing market and broader economy mounts, Zandi said. Particularly if this conflates with the Treasury debt limit later in the year and the budget for fiscal year 2020, which starts in October. If it all starts running together, then I think the issues for the housing market and the economy become much more serious. In a survey issued this week by the National Association of Realtors, 11 percent of the 2,211 real estate agents nationwide who were asked said that the shutdown had had an impact on their current clients. An additional 11 percent reported an impact on potential clients. According to the associations findings, 25 percent of Realtors who reported an impact said that their clients decided not to buy due to general economic uncertainty. An additional 9 percent of Realtors had clients who walked away from a purchase because they were federal employees. Three percent of Realtors who reported an impact said they had a buyer who was unable to buy due to lender rejection because of that persons furlough. Among those impacted, 17 percent had a delay because of a USDA loan, 13 percent experienced a delay due to IRS income verification, and 9 percent had a delay due to FHA loans. In some cases, the association found, the shutdown caused people to lose bids on their homes. This will start to undermine what has been close to record levels of consumer confidence, Zandi said. Housing is very vulnerable to that. You only make a housing purchase if you are very confident. With a national slowdown already occurring in the housing market, evaporating confidence could be a problem when the market gets hot in the spring. If they dont resolve this thing in the next month, I think the key housing selling season is in jeopardy, Zandi said. Last week, the Philadelphia Housing Authority said contingency funding was available to float operations for at least two months. It was unclear what could happen after that. Caitlin McCabe Food stamps coming, but so will confusion? While the 1.8 million Pennsylvanians who receive food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will get benefits at least through the end of February, advocates see the potential for problems. The federal government announced its protection plan this week, amid growing concern that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one of the agencies affected by the shutdown, might not be able to get the benefit to 42 million Americans. The USDAs funding expired on Dec. 21, but Pennsylvania and other states had already received money to pay January benefits. To keep the program alive in February, though, states will need to issue the benefits by Jan. 20, the agency said. That means Philadelphias 480,000 recipients will get their February money added to their accounts early. Kathy Fisher, policy director of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, said theres some concern that people will unknowingly spend those February benefits early. We are really worried that it could be very confusing, Fisher said. Not everyone receiving SNAP is following all the details of the shutdown. Even if they can issue a letter to all 1.8 million SNAP recipients in the state, we dont know everyone routinely gets their mail. If their SNAP card suddenly has money on it and they need to eat, they dont necessarily know thats their February benefit. Are they going to run out of food? Fisher also said retailers who accept electronic benefit payments, which typically slow by months end, could see a spike in January. Food pantries could see more demand in February, she said, if people run out. The Department of Agriculture has provided no plan for what happens to the benefits in March. School lunch programs will be funded through March and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Food and Nutrition Service) will continue at least through February, the agency has said. The shutdown has not affected other public benefits, like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. Theres no sign that will change any time soon, said David Hill of the Legal Assistance Center. We would be getting warnings, he said. If there were any kind of major announcement, then there would be doomsday signals, but theres been nothing like that so far. Julia Terruso Immigration, visa, and refugee systems will stall Nobody is quite sure what happens to the nations immigration system if the shutdown goes on indefinitely, but everyone connected to the system is deeply concerned about it. An extended shutdown will continue to bloat the backlog of deportation cases in immigration courts, as hundreds of hearings a day are canceled to await rescheduling, predicts Philadelphia immigration attorney William Stock, past president of the national chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Eventually, Stock said, a lengthy shutdown will close the nations overseas embassies. The State Department has been using certain multiyear appropriations to keep embassies open. but eventually that money will run out and embassies will become emergency only operations. When that happens, no one will be able to get visas to come to the U.S. and do business, or attend school next fall, or be tourists, which will harm the economy," Stock said. Margaret OSullivan, executive director of Nationalities Service Center, the resettlement agency in Philadelphia, worries that a protracted shutdown will dramatically slow the processing for refugees already approved to come to the United States but still awaiting travel clearance. "An extended shutdown could completely shatter the chances for refugees fleeing unspeakably tragic circumstances to make their way here, she said, where they hope to build a better life for their families and contribute to our community and economy. The E-Verify system, designed to prevent migrants from working illegally in this country, has ceased operation during the shutdown. Jeff Gammage Delays at the FBI On Thursday, the union that represents thousands of FBI agents said the shutdown may hinder the bureaus operations. The shutdown could delay lab results and security clearances, and make recruiting and retaining agents more difficult, according to the union. Michaelle Bond Ocean County Republican Party Chairman George R. Gilmore was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on charges that he evaded $1 million in taxes while spending $2.5 million on personal expenses, including more than $440,000 on antiques, artwork, and collectibles, including animal tusks," and more than $80,000 on collectible model trains. Gilmore, 69, of Toms River, was charged in a six-count indictment covering a period from 2013 to 2016 with tax evasion, filing false tax returns, making false statements on a bank loan application, and failing to collect, account for, and pay payroll taxes, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey. By the end of 2016, the South Jersey GOP power broker owed the IRS more than $1.5 million in tax, penalties, and interest, prosecutors said. Kevin H. Marino, Gilmores lawyer, said in a statement Thursday night that Gilmore intends to remain as chairman of the Ocean County Republican Organization and will fight the charges. After serving grand jury subpoenas seeking evidence of political corruption on every town with which George Gilmore conducts business literally for years the U.S. Attorneys Office could manage only this lame, ersatz tax case, Marino said. Mr. Gilmore faithfully reported every penny of his income, repeatedly expressed his intention to pay his taxes together with interest and penalties, freely conceded that he was unable to do so in a timely fashion, and shared with the government the reasons why, Marino said. That is not tax evasion by anyones lights. We look forward to Mr. Gilmores full vindication at trial. And Mr. Gilmore has every intention of remaining the GOP chair in Ocean County. The charges were announced by First U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig. A spokesman for the office confirmed that U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, a Republican appointee, had recused himself from the case. The 12-page indictment detailed how Gilmore allegedly used his law firm to pay for his personal expenses while failing to pay taxes he owed. According to the indictment, Gilmore spent more than $380,000 for work done on his homes, more than $20,000 on a Steinway piano, and more than $100,000 on expenses related to vacations in Colorado. For example, on Oct. 16, 2014, Gilmore sent the IRS a check for $493,526 as payment for his 2013 taxes despite having no more than $2,500 in his personal bank account at the time, prosecutors said. Gilmores check bounced and he never resubmitted payment, prosecutors said. Ocean County has been a Republican stronghold, and Gilmore has been credited with delivering the winning vote margin for Chris Christie during his first gubernatorial bid in 2009. The federal government shutdown entered its record-tying 21st day Friday, and for Alex Jay and Vicki Berman, it might have been the most stressful one. Friday was supposed to be payday, but the Bermans are among 800,000 federal workers who didnt get checks due to the partial shutdown that began Dec. 22. Bills credit card, car payment, car insurance will come due in just a few days for the Bermans, who both work for the IRS office near 30th Street Station and live in Northeast Philadelphia So Alex Berman, 47, is dipping into a Dont Touch account so he can pay the minimum amount due on the bills. Hell deal with the interest fees later. Vicki Berman said she planned to open an unemployment claim even though at any moment theres a chance she might get called in as an essential employee. Depending on how long this continues, the couple might also need to ask family for help. Were trying to hold it the best we can for our son, said Vicki Berman, 48. Hes 7. The Philadelphia region is home to more than 45,000 federal workers plus more federal contractors, though not all of them have been affected by the shutdown. The exceptions include whose who work for the Veterans Administration in East Falls and Defense Department contractors. But thousands of Philly workers employed at agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development are anxious about how much longer theyll have to sit at home as work piles up or how much longer theyll be forced to work without pay. Many, like the Bermans, are part of households with two federal workers, while others, like IRS tax-law specialist Cheryl Brewer, have grown children who also work for the government. Brewer, who lives in Olney with her three daughters and granddaughter, said one daughter works for an insurance broker that caters to federal workers. She gets paid by commission and hasnt been able to close any deals during the shutdown. Brewers eldest daughter works for the TSA, and though she was able to negotiate a discount in her weekly day-care fee for her 6-year-old, Brewer said, "I can see the amount of stress thats on her. Do you really think Im gonna work airplanes a year from now and not get paid? I have to feed my children. Federal workers owe $438 million in monthly mortgage and rent payments, according to the Zillow real estate website. Meanwhile, utilities, banks, and phone and internet providers are waiving fees and offering payment plans for federal workers, and local theaters and museums are offering free admission for those affected by the shutdown. Furloughed workers can apply for unemployment, but if they get back pay, theyll have to pay back the unemployment. Chris Perks, who leads the union of air traffic controllers at Philadelphia International Airport, said his members 80 of whom have been working without pay are asking whether they can get part-time jobs. These are people who are already working overtime to make sure planes land safely. Credit scores can affect security clearances that are necessary to qualify for the job, he added. While his people will continue to do their jobs and keep travelers safe, he said that as the shutdown wears on, productivity is inevitably going to take a hit. Air traffic controllers wont be able to land as many planes as they normally do. We can only go so long without capacity being decreased, he said. He was shocked to hear his supervisor say the shutdown might last months. Do you really think Im gonna work airplanes a year from now and not get paid? he said. I have to feed my children. Perks, 42, is a Northeast Philly native and Air Force veteran who lives in Warminster. Perks wife stays at home with the couples 5-year-old and 3-year-old, so the family has only one income. Inside the Philadelphia airport, TSA agents, who are also working without pay, are struggling, said TSA local union president Joe Shuker, who had just gotten off the phone with Philabundance in hopes of securing food for his members. He was inspired by the TSA union president in Tennessee, who worked with a food bank to get donations for TSA workers. Ride-sharing service Lyft is offering a $300 signing bonus for TSA officers who want to drive, as well as a concierge service to help them get signed up quickly. Informed of this offer, Shuker said, I was hoping it was rides to work, but either way, man." While the Philly airport has not had TSA agent sickouts, as have been reported elsewhere, Shuker said some of his members may not be able to afford to get to work next week. Miami International Airport has said it would close one of its six terminals early Saturday, Sunday, and Monday because of a lack of TSA officers. Currently, there are no plans to close Philadelphia airport terminals, said airport spokesperson Diane Gerace. But the shutdown has already hurt the airline industry, according to unions representing workers ranging from flight attendants to pilots and air traffic controllers. On Thursday they sent a letter to President Donald Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urging them to end the shutdown. The association representing thousands of FBI agents took a similar approach, sending a petition Thursday to the White House and congressional leaders encouraging them to fund the FBI immediately, saying problems caused by the shutdown could make it harder to recruit and retain agents, cause delays at the FBI lab, and in getting or renewing security clearances. Staff writers Jeremy Roebuck and Catherine Dunn contributed to this report. A former Philadelphia police officer was ordered Friday to serve 3 to 12 months in a city jail and four years on probation for killing a man while drag racing another officer in front of Northeast High School two years ago. Adam Soto, whose two brothers also are city officers, fought back tears while begging for forgiveness from the family of the victim. What I did was stupid, said a sobbing Soto, 25, turning to face Danny Dimitris mother, Virginia, and other relatives at the Stout Center for Criminal Justice. My job was to stop people like me from doing this. Im sorry." Soto, who was fired by Police Commissioner Richard Ross three months after the Jan. 31, 2017, fatal crash, pleaded guilty in October to a felony charge of homicide by vehicle and a misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter. Common Pleas Court Judge J. Scott OKeefe ruled that Soto would be able to leave the jail to work to provide for his wife and 2-month-old child. The judge ordered Soto to begin serving his sentence on Feb. 8. Mr. Soto, what you did was stupid, reckless, senseless, and asinine. There was no reason for it, OKeefe told the defendant. Dimitri, 50, worked as a chef at Chucks Alibi, a seafood restaurant on Oxford Avenue in Burholme. He was hit while crossing Cottman Avenue near Algon Avenue at 11:30 a.m. to take a bus to get his paycheck, according to his family. Assistant District Attorney Cydney Pope had asked the judge to send Soto to state prison for three to seven years. Soto, who was a two-year officer who worked in the 24th District, was racing fellow off-duty Officer Tony Forest, then a three-year veteran in the 14th District. While Soto accelerated until his Subaru struck Dimitri, Forest slowed his Mercedes-Benz and stopped at a traffic light that Soto sped through. Although he was off duty at the time, Soto knew as an officer to not drive so fast, the prosecutor said. At the point where Dimitri was struck, the speed limit is 30 mph, Pope said. Soto was traveling as fast as 88 mph when he hit the man. The impact blew his clothes off," Pope told OKeefe. The fact that Danny Dimitri is the only human being that was hit and it wasnt schoolkids going to lunch is a miracle. Accident Investigation Division officers estimated that Dimitri was thrown 144 feet after being hit by Sotos car, which resulted in his chest being caved in and cerebral spinal fluid leaking from his nose, the prosecutor said. Oh, my God! shrieked Virginia Dimitri, the victims mother, as she heard the details and cried on a relatives shoulder. Sotos attorney, Fortunato Perri Jr., had asked for an even lighter sentence house arrest contending that Soto was remorseful and needed to work to support his family. OKeefe noted that state sentencing guidelines recommended the months-long jail sentence he handed down. He said he found no reason to deviate from the guidelines. After the hearing, Virginia Dimitri said justice was not served. I thought he would get longer, I certainly did. When I heard some of what was done to my son, I thought I would drop dead right there, she said, wiping tears from her eyes. Can you imagine what that did to me to hear that? My son. He killed my baby. Ill never see his smile again, never. Nobody knows, every day I agonize over this. Every day. German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets members of the German armed forces at an army barracks in Leer, Ostfriesland, Germany, December 7, 2015. Some analysts believe that Germany is committed to playing a more proactive role in the international arena, especially assuming a leadership role within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and European Union (EU). This month, Germany generously sent 5,000 soldiers to the NATO Response Force (NRF), while the Netherlands, Norway, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Lithuania only contributed a total of 3,000 soldiers. To guarantee good combat readiness of the NRF, the Procurement Office of the German Federal Ministry of Defense announced last month that it had signed a contract worth $110 million with a private transport group to provide rail transport services to the NRF. The NRF aims to complete operational preparations in any war zone within 48 to 72 hours, and takes Russia as its primary imaginary enemy. However, it remains to be seen whether Germany can make it happen with the United States as its largest obstacle. The German media concluded six major disagreements between Germany and the United States, that is, Iranian nuclear deal, trade deficits and tariffs, defense budgets, environmental protection, refugees and immigrants, and the Russian-German pipeline. At the NATO Summit in November last year, US President Donald Trumps criticism of Germany was notably fierce. He accused Germany of failing to meet the 2% ratio of defense spending to GDP, saying that it will undermine NATO security and has set bad example for other countries. Forsa-Institute, Germany's largest polling institute, recently released a survey showing that 56% of the Germany's population regarded Russia as a top threat, followed by 55% considered the United States as a threat. This result indicates that a rift between Germany and American has become startling. German scholars on international affairs pointed out that considering the increasingly serious global crisis and the ever-deteriorating German-American relations, Germanys get-tough attitude in European defense can only make Russia get advantage from the confrontation. Apart from being "oppressed" by the United States, Germany also faces many domestic issues. German military critic Christine Moore pointed out that the German Bundeswehr, Federal Defense Force of Germany, is experiencing the weaponry shortage and chaotic management. Under such circumstances, the increasing costs on the NRF will further undermine the combat readiness of the Bundeswehr. Moreover, how to deploy NRF is another issue they must face. However, the Bundestag (German federal parliament) and the German government lack consensus in this respect. In case of any conflict, the bickering between the two sides will powerfully paralyze the supposed quick response. NATO held Trident Juncture 2018 in Norway from October to November last year, which is the largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War. Germany sent 10,000 officers and soldiers and 4,000 vehicles to the exercise, with a cost totaling about 90 million euros, which showed its intention to take over the leadership of the NRF and even assume greater responsibilities. That caused wave of harsh criticism within Germany. The left-wing parties in the Bundestag held that "the show of strength tends to escalate the situation in Europe further and the most urgent matter now is to put forward bold disarmament initiatives and implement arms control forward rather than conduct offensive military exercises". Disclaimer: The author is Er Dong. The article was published on the China's National Defense newspaper on January 11. It is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. Alexa Miller and William Schaub October 20, 2018, in New Hope Hello there Meet your neighbor, Alexa, said Wills mom, Sue. Kim and Keith Miller and Sue and Rick Schaub had lived next door to each other for more than half a decade. But Alexa lived in Pittsburgh and worked at the Allegheny County Housing Authority, and Will had joined the Air Force before his parents moved from Medfield, Mass., to Washington Crossing and was stationed in Rapid City, S.D. Thanksgiving 2016 was their first simultaneous visit home. Will was happy to meet Alexa and became even happier as the neighborhood afternoon gathering progressed. The feeling was mutual, Alexa said: We talked non-stop for something like three hours. Yes, Wills mom was matchmaking that day but not with Alexa. Will had to leave to go meet someone else. It would have been wrong to stand the other girl up, he said. But as soon as he got home, he asked his parents to help him get Alexas phone number. His mom texted her mom. His dad texted her dad. Alexa had turned in early, so Kim knocked. Im sorry to wake you up, but is it OK to gave that boy Will your number? Alexa smiled drowsily, then noticed the text notification on her phone. Um, Mom? Hes already texted me. Keith! Kim yelled down the stairs to her husband. Youre supposed to ask permission! Alexa and Will had by then reopened their conversation. Did she want to play darts? She was in for the night. Did he want to get together the next day? He was booked, and then flying back to base. Everything was working against us, with her in Pittsburgh and me in South Dakota. But we just really enjoyed talking, Will said. So they talked by text and social media about their families, careers, friendships, politics, religion everything. A few weeks later, Alexa asked what would happen if she flew to South Dakota, and Will said he meet her at the airport. On Dec. 10, Alexa got off a turbulent flight. They hugged, Will took her bag, and they walked together into the wind. At Wills apartment, they took turns playing classic rock rifts for each other on his guitar. The next day was so cold they had Mount Rushmore pretty much to themselves. As the weekend evaporated, We realized there was something here worth going for, despite the distance, Will said. They added Skype to their communication repertoire, talking for two hours every night. In early February, Will visited Alexa in Pittsburgh. In between dinners for two, time at the driving range, and snapping selfies with the city skyline behind them, she introduced Will to most of her friends. After seeing them together, they no longer questioned her willingness to date Will from afar. The couple had decided they needed to somehow delete the distance between them as soon as possible when, in late February, Will learned he would be deployed to Qatar in June. The engagement Alexa, who is now 25, initiated their most intense conversation yet. She told Will that she believed they were heading toward a lifelong partnership, and that that was exactly what she wanted. Will said that was his goal, too. Alexa was accepted into Pennsylvania State Universitys online public administration masters degree program. She quit her job and in April moved to South Dakota. One May morning, the two went to breakfast. They had no sooner climbed back into Wills truck when his cellphone rang and Alexa overheard the jeweler tell Will the ring he wanted was ready. Lets go get it! she exclaimed. Will darted into the store to get it. I have a place where I want to propose, he said. He drove to Canyon Lake, and they walked to a small dock on the water. I had never been there before, and it was a beautiful day with the sun shinning down, Alexa said. Perfect, except Im laughing awkwardly because I pretty much forced him to propose right now. Will was laughing, too. I was trying to make it romantic, but we both knew what was going on. Nevertheless, Will dropped to one knee. Alexa Rae Miller, will you be my wife? he asked. Absolutely! she said. Will slipped the ring on her finger, and Alexa bent down and kissed him. At months end, Will brought Alexa and their German shepherd, Valkyrie, to Pennsylvania. Their families threw them an engagement party, then Will was off to Qatar. Coming home After six weeks of house-sitting for Wills vacationing parents, Alexa accepted her current job, product owner for Emphasys Software, and moved to Miami. Will came back to the States in January 2018, and he, Alexa, Valkyrie, and new family member Harley, an English bulldog, moved to the South Dakota base. Alexa worked remotely through that August, when Wills six-year enlistment ended and the two moved to Cutler Bay, Fla. Will, a staff sergeant, remains in the Air Force Reserve at Homestead Air Reserve Base and is studying engineering at Miami Dade College. After completing his degree, he will return to the Air Force full-time as a second lieutenant. It was so them In October, the couple headed north for their wedding at HollyHedge Estate in New Hope. Will wore his dress blues, and Alexa accessorized her dress with the gloves her mother wore when she married Alexas father. The Rev. Phillip Bauman Wills pastor from the Medfield church he grew up in led their Christian ceremony. It meant a lot to have someone who knew me, said Will. Pastor Bauman used that knowledge mostly to crack good-natured jokes at Wills expense, a ploy to relax the couple, who were both suffering from stage fright. It mostly worked, but it did not prevent the groom from freezing silent during the vows, forgetting the words he had just heard a moment before. Alexa found it charming. Everyone was crying, and we all needed the laugh, she said. At their reception for 130, the couple danced to Brett Youngs Would You Wait for Me, a song they find especially meaningful considering the time theyve spent living apart, and the time apart that may await during Wills Air Force career. Awestruck Walking down the aisle with all eyes on her made Alexa so nervous she wanted to run down. My dad was holding me back, she said. Then she got close enough to make eye contact with Will. I just forgot about everybody else who was in the room. Will was just as focused on her. When I saw her in her dress for the first time, I was overcome with awe, he said. Im trying to figure out what I did in my life to deserve this, but I was just so happy it was happening. I was determined not to cry, but then we were looking at each other, and my pastor was talking about marriage. Alexa cried during her vows, too. Honeymooning Three days kayaking, lounging on the beach, and getting pampered at a spa in Key Largo, Fla. Behind the scenes Officiant: Senior Pastor Phillip Bauman of the United Church of Christ, Medfield, Mass. Venue: HollyHedge Estate, New Hope. Music: Wedding band Reign, Philadelphia. Photography: Carmen Troesser, Missouri. Flowers: Cindy Flynn at Clarks Flower Shop, Newtown. Dress: Purchased at La Belle Mariee, Newtown. Hair/Makeup: Meraki Studio, Richboro. A new study by Penn Medicine and Penn Vet has uncovered a 41 percent increase in opioids prescribed for pets over a 10-year period, but only a 13 percent bump in the number of pet hospital visits. The prescription spike could have been driven by the complex care offered at a veterinary hospital like Penns, as well as the desire to spare beloved pets from pain, according to the study authors. On the other hand, it might also mean all those prescriptions didnt go to Fido and Fluffy. As we are seeing the opioid epidemic press on, we are identifying other avenues of possible human consumption and misuse, said senior study author Jeanmarie Perrone, director of medical toxicology at Penn Medicine. Even where the increase in prescribed veterinary opioids is well intended by the veterinarian, it can mean an increased chance of leftover pills being misused later by household members. In what Penn called the first study of its kind, the researchers examined pharmacy records at Penn Vets Ryan Hospital from 2007 to 2017. They reviewed the patterns for the four opioids prescribed or dispensed to small animals tramadol, hydrocodone, codeine tablets, and fentanyl patches. Dogs comprised 73 percent of the intended consumers, nearly 23 percent were cats, and the rest were mainly rabbits, snakes and birds. We found that the increased quantity of opioids prescribed by our hospital was not due to increased patient volume alone, said study author Dana Clarke, an assistant professor at the vet school. Its likely our goal of ensuring our patients are pain-free post-operatively, particularly those requiring complex and invasive procedures, has driven our increased prescribing practices during this period. However, Clarke added, we dont know the potential or extent of prescription diversion from animals to humans, and what impact this could have on the human opioid crisis. The new study, published Friday in the journal JAMA Network Open, is hardly the first airing of the potential for abuse of pet meds or, for that matter, abuse of pets to get drugs. In August, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb issued a statement acknowledging the potential for veterinary-prescribed opioids to lead to addiction, abuse and overdose in humans who may divert them for their own use. He called on veterinarians to be responsible in their prescribing of opioids, including using alternative medications when possible, educating pet owners about safe opioid storage and disposal, and following federal and local prescribing regulations, as well as professional standards set by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Shortly before Gottliebs message, researchers with the Center for Health, Work and Environment at the University of Colorado and an area medical consortium published the results of a survey in which 13 percent of the vets queried said they believed they knew of an owner who purposely injured a pet, made it ill or made the animal appear to be ill to get opioids. In one widely reported 2014 case, a woman in Kentucky was arrested after she allegedly cut her golden retriever on multiple occasions so she could get pain medication. Concern about veterinarian-prescribed opioids has already resulted in some states creating new medication restrictions. In Pennsylvania, state legislators are looking at this issue with the states Veterinary Medical Association. Other states have taken steps like limiting the amount of opioids that can be prescribed to a single animal, requiring background checks on owners opioid prescription histories, or having vets report their prescriptions to a central database, they said. At Penn Vet, there are efforts underway to reduce opioids in favor of local anesthetics after surgeries, creating opioid administration guides, and monitoring patients that need long-term opioid use, such as dogs with chronic coughing that requires hydrocodone. Also needed, said the researchers, is additional study to determine the scope of diversion of veterinary opioids. Hoping to earn its share of the $3.5 trillion health care market, the medical industry is pouring more money than ever into advertising its products from high-priced prescriptions to do-it-yourself genetic tests and unapproved stem cell treatments. Spending on health care marketing nearly doubled from 1997 to 2016, soaring to at least $30 billion a year, according to a study published Tuesday in JAMA. Marketing drives more testing. It drives more treatments. Its a big part of why health care is so expensive, because its the fancy, high-tech stuff things that get marketed, said Steven Woloshin, co-director of the Center for Medicine and Media at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. His study captured only a portion of the many ways that drug companies, hospitals and labs promote themselves. Advertising doesnt just persuade people to pick one brand over another, said Woloshin. Sophisticated campaigns make people worry about diseases they dont have and ask for drugs or exams they dont need. Consumer advocates say that taxpayers pay the real price, as seductive ads persuade doctors and patients alike to order pricey tests and brand-name pills. Whenever pharma or a hospital spends money on advertising, we the patients pay for it through higher prices for drugs and hospital services, said Shannon Brownlee, senior vice president of the Lown Institute, a Brookline, Mass., nonprofit that advocates for affordable care. Marketing is built into the cost of care. High costs ultimately affect everyone, because they prompt insurance plans to raise premiums, said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Center for Health Research, a nonprofit that provides medical information to consumers. And taxpayers foot the bill for publicly funded insurance programs, such as Medicare. These ads can be amazingly persuasive, and they can exploit desperate patients and family members, said Zuckerman, who was not involved in the new study. Drug companies spend the bulk of their money trying to influence doctors, showering them with free food, drinks and speaking fees, as well as paying for them to travel to conferences, according to the study. Yet marketers also increasingly target consumers, said Woloshin, who wrote the study with his wife and longtime research partner, Dartmouths Dr. Lisa Schwartz, who died of cancer in November. The biggest increase in medical marketing over the past 20 years was in direct-to-consumer advertising, including the TV commercials that exhort viewers to ask your doctor about a particular drug. Spending on such ads jumped from $2.1 billion in 1997 to nearly $10 billion in 2016, according to the study. A spokeswoman for the pharmaceutical industry group, PhRMA, said that its ads provide scientifically accurate information to patients. These ads increase awareness of the benefits and risks of new medicines and encourage appropriate use of medicines, said Holly Campbell, of PhRMA. The makers of genetic tests including those that allow people to learn their ancestry or disease risk also bombard the public with advertising. The number of ads for genetic testing grew from 14,100 in 1997 to 255,300 in 2016, at a cost that year of $82.6 million, according to the study. AncestryDNA spends more than any other company of its kind, devoting $38 million to marketing in 2016 alone. Some companies are touting stem cell treatments that havent been approved by federal regulators. The Food and Drug Administration has approved stem cell therapy for only a few specific uses such as bone marrow transplants for people with leukemia. But hundreds of clinics claim to use these cells taken from umbilical cord blood to treat disease. Many patients have no idea that these stem cell therapies are unapproved, said Angie Botto-van Bemden, director of osteoarthritis programs at the Arthritis Foundation. Stem cell clinics have boosted their marketing from $900,000 in 2012 to $11.3 million in 2016, according to the study. In recent months, the FDA has issued warnings to clinics marketing unapproved stem cell therapies. Twelve patients have been hospitalized for serious infections after receiving stem cell injections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medical advertising today goes beyond TV and radio commercials. Some online campaigns encourage patients to diagnose themselves, Woloshin said. The website for Restasis, which treats dry eyes, prompts patients to take a quiz to learn if they need the prescription eye drops, said Woloshin, who co-wrote a February study with Schwartz on the drugs marketing strategy. The Restasis website also allows patients to find an eye doctor near you. Many of the doctors included in the Restasis directory have taken gifts from its manufacturer, Allergan, Woloshin said. The doctor directory includes seven of the top 10 physicians paid by the company, his study says. In a statement, Allergan spokeswoman Amy Rose said the company uses direct-to-consumer advertising to support responsible disease awareness efforts. The ads do not displace the patient-physician relationship, but enhance them, helping to create well-informed and empowered consumer and patient communities. Drug sites dont just lead patients to doctors. They also provide scripts for suggested conversations. For example, the website for Viagra, which treats erectile dysfunction, provides specific questions for patients to ask. The website for Addyi, often called the female Viagra, goes even further. Patients who answer a number of medical questions online are offered a 10- to 15-minute phone consultation about the drug for $49. Patients who dont immediately book an appointment receive an email reminder a few minutes later. This is more evidence, Brownlee said, that drug companies are not run by dummies. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. As my irritated wife can attest, I like to watch at least half a dozen movies at once. I sift through the cable channels, identify the six movies I want to simulcast, and toggle among them, isolating my favorite scenes. Often, these scenes involve an actor whose entire contribution may only account for a few minutes of screen time. Case in point: I dont want to watch all of Meet the Parents, but I want to watch Kali Rocha as the officious flight attendant who tells Ben Stiller he has to wait for his boarding group, even though the terminal is empty. Its a fantastic two minutes. And Ive often thought its a shame there isnt a category for actors whose time on screen is too good to be overlooked but too short to be nominated for anything a best supporting supporting actor award. Examples would include just about anything Denis OHare has done in movies (TV is a different story, where hes graduated from supporting supporting actor to full-on supporting actor status). You know OHare. He was the arrogant station chief in Charlie Wilsons War, the arrogant physician in Dallas Buyers Club, the arrogant hit-and-run client in Michael Clayton. Hes proved repeatedly that a small role can provide important grace notes that improve our understanding of a theme or major character. When OHare denounces the title character in Michael Clayton, it prompts Claytons memorable moment of brutal self-assessment, and the best monologue of George Clooneys career (Im not a miracle worker, Im a bag man). Perhaps my favorite example: David Thornton in A Civil Action, given one scene as a father who lost his son to disease caused by contaminated water. He gives a deposition describing how he knew his son was ill, how nobody believed him, how the boy died on the way to the hospital. Its terrific on its own, but it also sets up a wonderful line by Robert Duvall as a corporate lawyer who concludes a trial must be avoided at all costs and mutters to his co-counsel: These people can never testify. The legal/narrative framework of the entire movie is established in that one scene. Worth nominating for something, I say. And though SAG and the Globes and BAFTA and the Academy have bigger fish to fry, I actually have nothing better to do, and so Ive sorted through this years collection of small acting gems and come up with what I think are the best supporting supporting performances of the year. The nominees are: Jane Curtin, Can You Ever Forgive Me? Curtin is a book editor who has to tell her least favorite and least marketable writer, Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy), that her career is over. Their scenes together are brief but manage to suggest a lifetime of contentious history bitterness, understanding, care, and even love. READ MORE: Forging a new career: Melissa McCarthy is a writer turned fraudster in Can You Ever Forgive Me? READ MORE Melissa McCarthy talks about Can You Ever Forgive Me? and why she doesnt care if you call it comedy or drama Steven Roberts, Tully. In this movie, Charlize Theron is an overmatched mother of three whose special-needs son has been expelled from private school, where his behavior is labeled disruptive. Shes taking him through his new public school, and the child becomes inconsolably agitated in this unfamiliar place. In tears, she looks up to see a teacher (Roberts) who grasps the situation immediately, calms the child, and reassures the mother that her son is in good, safe, understanding hands. Its lovely, moving moment. READ MORE: Tully: In the funny, touching movie, the nanny is there to care for mom READ MORE: Is that you mom? Recent movies redefine what it means to be maternal Shayna McHayle, Support the Girls. This was a mini-miracle of a comedy, featuring Regina Hall as the manager of a breastaurant called Double Whammies, taking care everything and everyone. She needs a sound system for a party, knows the manager of the neighboring appliance store has a crush on a waitress (McHayle, hilarious) and persuades her to string him along. McHayles first role, but Id be shocked if I didnt see her again. (Pro tip: Support the Girls just started streaming on Hulu.) READ MORE: Thanks to Regina Hall, breastaurant comedy Support the Girls is a hoot Linda Cardellini, A Simple Favor. It seems unfair to nominate Cardellini in this category, because she has a substantial role in the awardsy Green Book. But she has an indelible two minutes in A Simple Favor, the black comedy about a suburban mom (Anna Kendrick) who begins to suspect her glamorous new friend (Blake Lively) has a hidden past and starts snooping. The trail leads her to a loft occupied by a fiery artist (Cardellini) whose brief scene sends the film spinning off in an intriguing new direction. READ MORE: A Simple Favor: Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively have fun in naughty mommy noir Brad Pitt, Deadpool 2. He gets one of the years biggest laughs as an invisible guy who becomes visible for single grisly second. Funny, but Pitt is too famous and his performance too short even for this category. READ MORE: Deadpool 2: An offbeat action comedy with legs. Gross, little baby legs Brian Tyree Henry, If Beale Street Could Talk. When friends invite his character, fresh out of prison, over for a beer, he chats amiably, then suddenly, still talking, drifts off to another realm of consciousness and starts to speak with chilling candor about the reality of incarceration. Not only a great piece of acting, but a crucial bit of foreshadowing in the film. READ MORE: If Beale Street Could Talk, dreams deferred by racism, but not abandoned READ MORE: Barry Jenkins on If Beale Street Could Talk and a banner year for black directors And now, the winner Philip Ettinger, First Reformed. Ethan Hawke is the bored cleric of a moribund rural church going through the motions until one day hes asked to counsel a troubled man (Ettinger) who turns out to be contemplating an act of violent terrorism. Hawke and Ettinger have an amazing scene during which we see how the militancy of Ettingers character is tied to his despair and depression. That, in turn, informs the transformation we palpably see in Hawkes preacher, who in the span of a few minutes registers a renewed commitment to his calling and his life. READ MORE: First Reformed: Ethan Hawkes excellent turn as a conflicted reverend has a bonkers ending READ MORE: Taxi Driver writer has infused his new movie First Reformed with the tension you loved the first time around I wont say its an honor to be nominated, because it probably isnt. The honor is watching these people work. Matias Klein is a medical school dropout who is still out to save lives. Orlando Jahlil Beats Tucker is a hip-hop producer and songwriter trying to help breathe new life into his beleaguered Delaware County hometown of Chester. Both are hoping a marriage gets them there. That union is of two techie game-changers artificial intelligence (machines making decisions) and the Internet of Things (machines talking to each other) at the core of Kognition, a Manayunk start-up Klein cofounded two years ago to protect lives and businesses not with stethoscopes, MRIs and blood tests, but with AI, facial-recognition software, and smart devices that are capable of many things, including locking doors (without human activation) if a shooter is detected in a school. I was always a computer geek, the 42-year-old son and brother of doctors said of his veering away from a career in medicine to one as a tech entrepreneur. Launched commercially in August 2017, Kognition, its creators and other IT experts say, is unique from other security-oriented tech companies because its smart-property system is hardware-agnostic, meaning it can communicate with different types of systems without requiring special hardware adaptations. Tucker, who, with partners Ra-Tah Johnson and David Doobie Elliott, are a development company doing business as Tandem Real Estate Holdings LLC, said Kognition will be integral to their plans for making a pocket at least for starters of Chesters largely desolate downtown known as Overtown a safe zone. If you want to have thriving businesses and if you want the employees from the actual community to be safe, you have to have security, its a no-brainer, Tucker said. This is a poverty-stricken city and we understand that and were just trying to change that one step at a time. Their current projects on Avenue of the States, just down from City Hall include a sneaker store, a clothing boutique, a diner and apartments. A block over, they intend to demolish a triangle of boarded-up commercial properties and erect a state-of-the-art community command center equipped with multiple cameras powered by at least $1 million in Kognition technology that will offer real-time threat alerts when, for instance, weapons or fighting are detected, or suspicious activity such as a break-in is about to happen. Completion is expected by summer. Since signing with Jay Zs Roc Nation in 2011 Meek Mill is among the artists he produces Tucker, born in Chesters Lamokin Village housing project in February 1988 and now a Chester County resident, has been trying to help fill the citys abandoned commercial properties and create jobs. Its changing lives people that might not have any hope, he said in an interview in a back room of Sunnys Cambridge Diner he and his partners now own. With its real-time focus, Kognitions AI-IoT system turns information into knowledge and then ... into action, said Ashok Lulla, a retiree from Merck who now owns Marple Pharmacy and Mels Drug World, both in Broomall, Delaware County. He is among the investors in Kognition and expects to soon connect his store cameras to its system to turn them into a tool to track and monitor work flows, [and] engagement of patients so I have real data that is actionable and protect patients." He criticized most security IT systems as retrospective, collecting data that is later analyzed. Were just used to a very static model where we focus on forensics after the events. Thats not security, Lulla said. It doesnt help you avoid mistakes today. Facial recognition with AI provides confirmation and confidence to our staff to discuss and personalize medical instructions, Lulla said, adding that such a system can capture this communication for continuity to improve medication literacy. In schools, said Klein, Kognitions president and CEO, the companys software can identify what appears to be a weapon being carried by someone walking the hallway and autonomously activate an alert and lock doors in other words, see, think, act on its own. Last fall, Kognition entered into a partnership with Kidio, a Florida-based provider of technology systems for student safety. The first installations are expected in the first quarter of 2019. In New York City, Kognition is working with Silverstein Properties, owner and operator of 2 World Trade Center, among other sites, Klein said, unable to provide additional details because the deal is confidential and proprietary. The business is really at the beginning of a major inflection point of growth, Klein said during an interview at Kognitions offices on Umbria Street. Having raised $1.5 million in a seed round that closes this month, attracting funding from a dozen angel investors, Klein said the company of 10 employees and $250,000 in 2018 revenue plans to seek an additional $10 million this year from institutional investors. He might have opted against a life in medicine, but that field informed his entrepreneurial early years. Kleins first start-up, Ethidium Health Systems LLC of Huntingdon Valley, developed medical records management software and services and was purchased in 2008 by Blue Bell-based Portico Systems, a software solutions company, for an undisclosed amount. Portico, for whom Klein worked as senior vice president of technology, was acquired three years later for $90 million by McKesson, a medical distribution and health care information technology company headquartered in San Francisco. Klein was vice president of product management there for five years until cofounding Kognition with serial entrepreneur Eric Smith, 55, of West Chester, in 2017. Smith most recently was sector vice president of global analytics for PTC in Wayne, which in 2015 acquired an AI and machine-learning start-up there, ColdLight Solutions. Kleins work in health-care systems led him to conclude that the next big business was the convergence of artificial intelligence and the Internet of things, he said. How that translated to the creation of Kognition and its security focus had to do with his other job as a parent. Im seeing all the stuff happening on the news, all the violence in our culture, said Klein, the father of two girls, ages 8 and 9. I just started getting more into this idea the world can be much safer than it is. We just need to be smarter at what we do. To help financially pressed schools, Kognition has established the Safer, Smarter World Foundation to provide advanced security for schools K-12 free of charge. Klein said 10 percent of Kognitions profits will go to the charity. Its been nearly two months since a hazardous chemical leak at Croda Ltd.'s Atlas Point plant forced a seven-hour closure on the twin spans of the nearby Delaware Memorial Bridge that carries traffic between the New Jersey Turnpike and I-95 and other highways. But Delaware officials arent ready to clear the British-owned plants ethanol-to-ethylene-oxide unit, where the the Nov. 25 leak occurred, to resume production. An investigation into the gas leak is ongoing, says Michael Globetti, a spokesman for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The state agency has not allowed Crodas ethylene oxide unit to reopen. Two days after the leak, Croda said an initial investigation blamed the problem and the precautionary closing of the bridges on a bad O-ring seal. The company also said at first that no one had been injured. Later the company said five people sought treatment for exposure. A company spokesperson did not respond to inquiries this week about the plants status. After the November incident, residents who live near the plant demanded that state officials explain why the plant was allowed to expand so close to busy highways and residential neighborhoods. The Atlas Point plant was begun in the 1930s, before the neighboring bridges to New Jersey were built. The 140-acre plant faces the sprawling Chambers Works across the river in New Jersey, whose remaining facilities are mostly operated by Chemours, a DuPont Co. spin-off. Ethylene oxide is used in making surfactants, mixing agents used in industrial chemicals and consumer products. It is a volatile chemical, listed as a carcinogen in cases of prolonged exposure, and is prone to damaging explosion when it comes in contact with flame. State and volunteer fire officials said 2,700 pounds of the chemical about 40 minutes' peak production at the new unit was dispersed harmlessly Nov. 25 by pouring large quantities of water on the facility and its connecting pipes. After Sunoco stopped ethylene oxide production at nearby Marcus Hook following a fire in 2010, Croda said in 2015 it planned to build a $170 million ethylene oxide production facility at Atlas Point so it wouldnt have to ship the volatile material from plants near the Gulf of Mexico in rail cars and could instead ship less-volatile ethanol to the plant, to be converted into ethylene oxide under a process already in use in China and India. Then-New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon had wanted to see the Delaware River margin of the Atlas Point property used to expand cargo handling for the state-owned Port of Wilmington. Instead, the port settled on the closed former DuPont/Chemours titanium dioxide plant at Edge Moor north of Wilmington. State officials approved the Atlas Point expansion in hopes of boosting industrial employment in a state which has lost auto, steel and chemical factory jobs. Workers at Croda are represented by a local of the United Steelworkers. After revising its initial plans, Croda hasnt disclosed the final cost of the ethylene oxide unit, which opened last year with the support of state officials who contributed $2.5 million plus tax incentives. The unit boosted Atlas Point full-time employment to 250, from 215. After the accident, Croda officials said in December they hadnt laid anybody off and had resumed shipment of ethylene oxide to the plant by rail. Boss stepping down from Pirate football Perryville football will have a new boss on the sideline this fall.Thats because the current one is moving on.Blane Boss, the Pirate football coach for the previous four seasons, Piranha boys win opening meet of the year, girls finish third The Perryville Piranhas kicked their first meet off with a bang Saturday.The boys earned first overall with 254 team points finishing ahead of the Ste. Genevieve Stingrays who finished with 214 Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese president, on Tuesday held talks with Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), who arrived in Beijing on the same day. The two leaders had a deep and friendly conversation, exchanging ideas on issues of common concern and informing each other of their respective countries' situations. "China attaches great importance to cooperation with DPRK. Maintaining, consolidating and developing good relations with DPRK have always been a unswerving policy of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese government," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said. He added that the two sides are firmly determined to jointly push the settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue. China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges and strengthen strategic communication with the DPRK, taking the opportunity of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-DPRK diplomatic relationship, he added. Shatta Wale and his baby Mama, Shatta Michy are trending again in Ghana and beyond, and their relationship might be at its worst level yet if the rumours circulating on the internet about them are true and not one of their usual attention seeking tricks. According to a post we have sighted on one of Ghanas controversial Instagram pages, thosecalledcelebs, Shatta Michy has robbed her baby Daddy, Shatta Wale and made away with his newly purchased Range Rover, their son Majesty and some other important documents. A picture of Majesty and his Mama, Michy was posted with this caption (unedited): Let me tag u so dat it enters ur brain @michygh .how many people will believe datde love i have for Michy connected me to @shattawalenima?? I just love de girl so she is de last person i will do her bad. I refused her husband proposal on many occasions and even refused to meet dis guy in person cux i didnt wanna go into their relationship n de love i hv for Shatta nowen we meet todayS*X will come in so i do hide n seek wid him oo but wat am hearing no de3i think dis is de right time to take ma man tho cux i cant see him deadhe gotta get sound mind to do more music for de nation. Michy wherever u are hiding with Majesty. ..my husband Range Rover and other important documents. ..bring dem back babyafter stabbing ur husband back with Scissors and sharp objectsu run away with all these stuffswhy are u doing dis to urself???? Do u want me to believe in those hard drugs n many people tagged u???? Sweetheart. ..people were about to bring ur stuffs out..naked videos ..voice note..messages n many but i begged dem in DM n everything is wid me nowww..wat at all do u want from dis world???? The story continues. tomorrow. ..gudnite. As to whether these allegations against Shatta Michy is true or not we cannot tell. But any further update shall be published. Below is the post... Source: ghanacelebrities.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The leader of the Anointed Palace Chapel, Rev. Obofour has paid what we could consider as a peace visit to the National Chief Imam of Ghana Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu and donated an amount of GH50,000 and 50 bags of rice to him. During the 31st watch night service, Rev Owusu Bempah as he does every year prophesied dooms on the fate of some prominent people in Ghana. The man of God in his revelation stated that there will be a National Islamic funeral because Vice President of a sitting President and a Chief Imam would die in 2019 if nothing is done to avert the prophecy. In this has Prophet Asanteman Bofuor, better known as Reverend Obofour who is known not to be on good terms with Isaac Owusu Bempah paid a courtesy call to the National Chief Imam as part of his philanthropic gestures as the New Year begins describing the respected Muslim Leader as a Man of Peace. During the visit, he disclosed that Muslims and Christians we are all one", I went to greet him on Friday. He is a man of peace. The year has ended so I had to give him GH50,000 and 50 bags to help others. He is a very good man. From there I moved to Kumasi He pledged his unflinching support to him and indicated that he was committed to peace. Source: ghpage.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ivorian political opposition leader, Richard Blet, has lauded Ghanas constitutional democracy, saying, it provides a good example for other African countries. There can be no doubt that Ghana is making good progress in its democratic governance and there are a lot, many of us in the continent should learn from. Mr. Blet is the Presidential Candidate of the Democratie pour la Liberte et la Cohesion (Democracy for Freedom and Cohesion). He spoke to the Ghana News Agency after attending the maiden Constitution Day Public Lecture, delivered by Professor Philip Ebow Bondzi-Simpson, Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He was accompanied by the partys Vice Presidential Candidate, Madam Kassi Christelle, and Madam Cecile Itoni, Head of Communications. He said a wind of change was blowing in Ivory Coast the youth were clamouring for and change. They are looking for a new crop of leaders, who would lead the country to greater prosperity. Mr Blet was upbeat about his chances in the upcoming presidential election and said his message of change was being received well by the people. He has been campaigning on change, unity, transparency, jobs and wealth creation. He expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in his country and said some political reforms needed to be made. He cited the example where the Vice President, Daniel Kablan Duncan, is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for his Constituency, labelling that arrangement as politically inappropriate. His party, formed in 2014, believes in the ideals of putting the people first and Pan-Africanism. He said it was time Africans took their destinies into their own hands and worked consciously to lift the continent out of poverty and deprivation. It is time to uphold the African identity and shape our own destiny he added. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament(MP) for Suame constituency and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has asked Ghanaians to exercise patience and allow Bank of Ghana to crack the whip on illegal and non performing financial institutions. He says the Bank of Ghana as an institution may have delayed, but exercising its power now will safe guard the masses. Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that most financial institutions in the country are not qualified to accept deposits but the regulators have looked on all this while. According to him this is the time as a country, we need to clean the financial sector and protect depositors interest. "This country has too many banks which even developed countries don't have so lets allow the supervisory institutions to do their work so that the country does not experience any such scandal or scam again," he said. Some aggrieved customers of Menzgold Ghana Limited on Tuesday 8th January defied Police orders to stage a demonstration in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital. The aggrieved customers who blocked access to Adum from Amakom, say their demonstration is to impress upon the company to pay them their locked funds However, the Akufo-Addo led government has stated categorically that they are not going to refund monies owed customers of troubled gold dealership firm; Menzgold in as much as 'we sympathise with them'. According to government, customers were warned as far back as 2016 not to invest with Menzgold but those warnings were disregarded. While government sympathizes customers on the difficulties encountered with their transaction with the company, the state cannot and will not resort to the use of taxpayers monies to refund customers monies . . . Menzgold was not licensed by BoG or SEC and its operations were not regulated by BoG or SEC." "This warning was made as far back as April 2016, and, unfortunately, was disregarded by many customers of Menzgold. BoG and SEC are, therefore, not clothed with any legal mandate to refund monies clients, a statement from the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said. The customers "whose contractual obligations have not been met by the company" according to government "are entitled to seek a legal remedy to retrieve their funds paid to the company" and assured that security agencies shall employ all the powers of the state to find the accused persons, investigate the allegations and ensure that the law takes its course in this matter. A warrant for the arrest of embattled businessman Nana Appiah Mensah has been issued. He is wanted for defrauding by false pretence and money laundering. Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Audio Attachment: Listen to Henry Nana Boakye on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' programme. National Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye has assured all Ghanaians that the Chief Executive Officer of Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah will be apprehended by every possible means. According to him, once an arrest warrant has been issued and Interpol has been involved in the search for Nana Appiah Mensah aka NAM 1; he will surely be brought back to Ghana for a thorough investigation into his case of "defrauding by false pretenses". "He will be arrested. We will bring him back and do that investigation, and government has also shown that committment," he stressed on Friday edition of Peace FM's 'kokrokoo'. Speaking to sit-in host Nana Yaw Kesseh, Nana Boakye popularly known as Nana B also called on the appropriate State institutions to confiscate all properties belonging to the embattled business mogul. He noted that the government's position on the Menzgold issue is clear that taxpayers' monies cannot be used to pay the aggrieved customers of the gold dealership company. However, NAM 1's properties should be liquified to discharge his companys debt to the customers. Freeze all his bank accounts, wherever his stuff is and his interest including everything belonging to him. We should quickly apply to court for an order to confiscate all his things in Ghana and abroad to see the way forward in resolving the issue, he said. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Inusah Fuseini, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central and leading member of the John Dramani Mahama Campaign Team, has refuted death threats against supporters of Goosie Tanoh, a presidential aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). It would be recalled that Daily Guide recently published a story about the complaints of Goosie Tanoh about death threats against some NDC delegates, who had decided to support him ahead of the presidential election of the party slated for January 2019. Mr. Tanoh called for the immediate cessation of the death threats against his supporters to promote unity in the party before and after the election. Surprisingly, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central, dismissed the assertions of Goosie Tanoh, saying Goosie Tanoh is just trying to make himself relevant. He has said nothing in the campaign; his entrance into the race does not change the equation. He came to meet people campaigning Bagbin, Sylvester Mensah, Spio-Garbrah, who have all indicated their intention to contest John Dramani Mahama. None of them has received death threats. Goosie Tanoh, who came in later, is now claiming that his supports are receiving death threats. Its just a ploy to make himself relevant to the process, Mr. Fuseini added. He disclosed this while reacting to the Daily Guide story on A1 Radio in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. According to the MP, the Mahama Team is focused on its campaign to ensure that the delegates elect former president John Mahama to lead the NDC to victory in 2020. Touching on a social media report about a supposed promise by former President John Mahama to give Senior High School (SHS) students monthly allowance and Gari if given the nod, the MP for Tamale Central blamed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the circulation of the fake story. 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. Featured Video Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otokunor, has questioned the credibility of results of a political survey conducted in December 2018 by the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana. According to Mr. Otokunor, the survey was done by conduits of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) working at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana. The survey, which sampled about 5,000 Ghanaians nationwide, indicated that President Akufo-Addo was in a position to defeat former President John Dramani Mahama should elections be held today, among others. A total of 2,481 respondents, representing 49.6%, said they would vote for President Akufo-Addo while 1,667 respondents, representing 33.3%, said they would vote for former President John Mahama. Mr. Otokunor told Joy FM yesterday that the findings might not be entirely factual, alleging that the survey was conducted by members of the ruling NPP. Our search has indicated that this is not a report that can be owned by the department but perhaps some individuals who work in the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana. In fact, we know very well all the leaders of the research and we know their political leanings, he said. We know they belong to the NPP. You know Dr. Bossman was leading the research last year and in no time we saw that he got some favour from the government, he pointed out. In Ghana, parties both in opposition and government usually do not want to accept results of polls that do not go in their favour. A similar survey by the same unit before the 20016 general election predicted that the then opposition NPP was going to defeat the governing NDC in the general election with a wide margin. Our recent past history shows that a ruling party, which has ignored such concerns coming out of polls had done so at their own peril, according to the survey report. The report, therefore, called on the major political parties, which were affected by the survey, not to underestimate the accuracy of the report and take voters for granted. Meanwhile, the Communications Director for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, has said that though the party welcomes the report of the research, it will not rely solely on it going into the 2020 general elections. He stressed the need to welcome efficient polls in our political landscape. The respondents were randomly selected to respond to a number of questions on governments economic policies, current state of governance, fight against corruption, social infrastructure and capacity to deliver on campaign promises. It revealed that the double-track system under the free senior high school (SHS) policy education system turned out to be the most disliked policy among electorate, while the policy on the fight against galamsey emerged the second. The report also revealed that voters were indifferent to the governments drone project, while a significant number of respondents expressed disappointment at efforts by government to create jobs. According to the survey, despite many employment-related programmes initiated by the current government, opinions were still divided on whether the employment situation was improving. 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. Featured Video The government of Morocco is to give scholarship to 70 Ghanaian students especially at the tertiary level to study in Morocco as part of the contribution of the Moroccan government in helping to develop the human resource of Ghana. The Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana His Excellency Mohammed Farahat made this known today when he paid a courtesy call on Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of Parliament and MP for Nsawam/Adoagyiri at his office in Parliament House. They discussed a wide range of issues such as trade, politics , education and agriculture. His Excellency Mohammed Farahat expressed delight about the existing cordial relationship between Ghana and Morocco as well as the Parliaments of Ghana and Morocco. "Bilateral relations are normally handled by governments but parliamentary diplomacy has become very effective in the modern world as a result of the hard work of Parliamentarians," His Excellency Mohammed Farahat noted. Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh thanked His Excellency Mohammed Farahat for his visit and hoped "relation between Ghana and Morocco will continue to be strengthened for the mutual benefit of both countries." He recalled the role played by President Akufo-Addo in the return of Morocco to the African Union and said "Ghana can learn a lot from Morocco especially in the area of Free Zones of which Morocco has the best expertise in Africa." Whilst thanking the government of Morocco for its plans to give scholarship to 70 Ghanaian students, Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh said "critical areas of the economy such as industry and entrepreneurship must be seriously considered when selecting students for scholarship to study abroad." Source: Emmanuel Akorl/Parliamentary Correspondent, Peace FM Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Electoral Commission (EC) on Thursday, January 10, opened nominations for Member of Parliament (MP) aspirants for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election. The nominations will run until Saturday, January 12, 2019. As at 1200 hours that the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the Ayawaso District Office of the Electoral Commission, none of the aspirants had filed their nominations. Mr Alex Oppong Poku, a staff of the EC, told the GNA that the nominations would be received at the Office between 0900 hours to 1200 hours and 1400 hours to 1700 hours each day. He said the aspirants were expected to pay a filing fee of GH10,000. Mrs Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the EC, in a statement, said the nomination for each candidate shall be witnessed by the signature of two registered voters, as proposer and seconder and supported by 18 other registered voters in the Constituency as assenting to the nomination. She said the nomination form shall be endorsed with the candidates consent. The candidate shall, at the time of submitting the nomination, provide the Returning Officer with two copies of a recent post card size photograph taken against a red background, adding that the photograph should reveal the full face and ears of the candidate. Madam Lydia Alhassan, Widow of the late Emmanuel Kyeremanten Agyarko, the former MP for the area, won the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency primaries of the ruling New Patriotic Party. The National Democratic Congress elected Mr Delali Kwasi Brempong to lead the Party in the by-election. The by-election is scheduled for Thursday, January 31, 2019 following the death of the MP. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Top Ghanaian gold dealer, Nana Appiah Mensah - who is wanted by authorities for alleged fraud - is out of the country looking for money to refund investors, privately owned news site MyJoy Online says, quoting his company's spokesman. "He has travelled outside the shores of Ghana and is working to make sure that he gets money to come and pay our customers," Menzgold's Nii Armah Amarteifio told the news site. Ghanas Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant on Wednesday for Mr Mensah, who is the CEO of gold dealership Menzgold, for alleged fraud by "false pretense". The company allegedly promised customers a return of 7.5% monthly on gold they deposited with them, which is way above the international average. But customers say they didn't receive the promised money and on Tuesday more than 100 of them protested outside the Menzgold office in the second city, Kumasi. The company is estimated to have collected $200m (157m) from customers over five years. Mr Mensah, popularly known as NAM 1, has not yet commented. He is known to rub shoulders with politicians and local celebrities, MyJoy Online reports. In another development a High Court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed last year by Menzgold to bar the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission from looking into its business. The gold firm had argued that the activities of the two regulatory bodies were hurting its business. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Axxela Limited, sub-Saharan Africas preferred fast-growing gas & power portfolio company, has signed a Gas Transportation Agreement (GTA) with the West African Gas Pipeline Company Ltd. (WAPCo) to transport over 15 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of natural gas via the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to Lome, Togo. During the signing ceremony held in Accra, Ghana, Axxela CEO, BolajiOsunsanya, said: The partnership between Axxela, WAPCo, and the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), portends major benefits for the West African gas markets. The flow of new molecules beyond the existing foundation contracts will diversify gas supply sources into the WAGP and is a testament to Axxelas proactive mid-term growth plan propelled by our collective professionalism, strategic partnerships, and drive to achieve excellence across our business enterprise. Undoubtedly, we remain firmly committed to the positioning of gas as a catalyst for socio-economic empowerment across the regions key markets. Also commenting at the signing ceremony, WAPCo Managing Director, Walter Perez, stated: With public and private players increasingly working together to propel the gas advantage, our partnership with Axxela speaks to our overarching strategy for increased regional supply and participation. WAPCo is continuously driven to spur regional gas integration, and we are highly delighted to welcome Axxela on board the WAGP, and look forward to a fruitful and industry-defining collaboration. Axxela is also developing a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) in West Africas main commercial hub, Lagos, with the capacity to serve Nigeria and the region. The concept will see the injection of gas via a regasification terminal at a strategic location along the citys coastline, with gas supplied via LNG shuttle vessels. The virtual pipeline solution will also enable uninterrupted gas supplies and enhance gas utilization across key industrial clusters. The WAGP is a 678km regional pipeline linking the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) in Nigeria to Takoradi in Ghana, with gas delivery laterals from the main line extending to Cotonou (Benin), Lome (Togo), and Tema (Ghana). Axxela is the pioneer developer of Nigerias foremost natural gas distribution network and has subsequently grown to become the largest private sector natural gas distributor in Nigeria, delivering at peak 80 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) to over 160 industrial and commercial customers via a vast network of gas infrastructure. With over 280km in gas pipeline infrastructure built, Axxela provides unique energy solutions primarily through its subsidiaries: Gaslink Nigeria Limited, Gas Network Services Limited, and Central Horizon Gas Company. 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. Featured Video Paxton, IL (60957) Today Mainly clear. Low around 55F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low around 55F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Want to start a startup? Get funded by Y Combinator. March 2008, rev. June 2008 Technology tends to separate normal from natural. Our bodies weren't designed to eat the foods that people in rich countries eat, or to get so little exercise. There may be a similar problem with the way we work: a normal job may be as bad for us intellectually as white flour or sugar is for us physically. I began to suspect this after spending several years working with startup founders. I've now worked with over 200 of them, and I've noticed a definite difference between programmers working on their own startups and those working for large organizations. I wouldn't say founders seem happier, necessarily; starting a startup can be very stressful. Maybe the best way to put it is to say that they're happier in the sense that your body is happier during a long run than sitting on a sofa eating doughnuts. Though they're statistically abnormal, startup founders seem to be working in a way that's more natural for humans. I was in Africa last year and saw a lot of animals in the wild that I'd only seen in zoos before. It was remarkable how different they seemed. Particularly lions. Lions in the wild seem about ten times more alive. They're like different animals. I suspect that working for oneself feels better to humans in much the same way that living in the wild must feel better to a wide-ranging predator like a lion. Life in a zoo is easier, but it isn't the life they were designed for. Trees What's so unnatural about working for a big company? The root of the problem is that humans weren't meant to work in such large groups. Another thing you notice when you see animals in the wild is that each species thrives in groups of a certain size. A herd of impalas might have 100 adults; baboons maybe 20; lions rarely 10. Humans also seem designed to work in groups, and what I've read about hunter-gatherers accords with research on organizations and my own experience to suggest roughly what the ideal size is: groups of 8 work well; by 20 they're getting hard to manage; and a group of 50 is really unwieldy. [ 1 ] Whatever the upper limit is, we are clearly not meant to work in groups of several hundred. And yetfor reasons having more to do with technology than human naturea great many people work for companies with hundreds or thousands of employees. Companies know groups that large wouldn't work, so they divide themselves into units small enough to work together. But to coordinate these they have to introduce something new: bosses. These smaller groups are always arranged in a tree structure. Your boss is the point where your group attaches to the tree. But when you use this trick for dividing a large group into smaller ones, something strange happens that I've never heard anyone mention explicitly. In the group one level up from yours, your boss represents your entire group. A group of 10 managers is not merely a group of 10 people working together in the usual way. It's really a group of groups. Which means for a group of 10 managers to work together as if they were simply a group of 10 individuals, the group working for each manager would have to work as if they were a single personthe workers and manager would each share only one person's worth of freedom between them. In practice a group of people are never able to act as if they were one person. But in a large organization divided into groups in this way, the pressure is always in that direction. Each group tries its best to work as if it were the small group of individuals that humans were designed to work in. That was the point of creating it. And when you propagate that constraint, the result is that each person gets freedom of action in inverse proportion to the size of the entire tree. [ 2 ] Anyone who's worked for a large organization has felt this. You can feel the difference between working for a company with 100 employees and one with 10,000, even if your group has only 10 people. Corn Syrup A group of 10 people within a large organization is a kind of fake tribe. The number of people you interact with is about right. But something is missing: individual initiative. Tribes of hunter-gatherers have much more freedom. The leaders have a little more power than other members of the tribe, but they don't generally tell them what to do and when the way a boss can. It's not your boss's fault. The real problem is that in the group above you in the hierarchy, your entire group is one virtual person. Your boss is just the way that constraint is imparted to you. So working in a group of 10 people within a large organization feels both right and wrong at the same time. On the surface it feels like the kind of group you're meant to work in, but something major is missing. A job at a big company is like high fructose corn syrup: it has some of the qualities of things you're meant to like, but is disastrously lacking in others. Indeed, food is an excellent metaphor to explain what's wrong with the usual sort of job. For example, working for a big company is the default thing to do, at least for programmers. How bad could it be? Well, food shows that pretty clearly. If you were dropped at a random point in America today, nearly all the food around you would be bad for you. Humans were not designed to eat white flour, refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and hydrogenated vegetable oil. And yet if you analyzed the contents of the average grocery store you'd probably find these four ingredients accounted for most of the calories. "Normal" food is terribly bad for you. The only people who eat what humans were actually designed to eat are a few Birkenstock-wearing weirdos in Berkeley. If "normal" food is so bad for us, why is it so common? There are two main reasons. One is that it has more immediate appeal. You may feel lousy an hour after eating that pizza, but eating the first couple bites feels great. The other is economies of scale. Producing junk food scales; producing fresh vegetables doesn't. Which means (a) junk food can be very cheap, and (b) it's worth spending a lot to market it. If people have to choose between something that's cheap, heavily marketed, and appealing in the short term, and something that's expensive, obscure, and appealing in the long term, which do you think most will choose? It's the same with work. The average MIT graduate wants to work at Google or Microsoft, because it's a recognized brand, it's safe, and they'll get paid a good salary right away. It's the job equivalent of the pizza they had for lunch. The drawbacks will only become apparent later, and then only in a vague sense of malaise. And founders and early employees of startups, meanwhile, are like the Birkenstock-wearing weirdos of Berkeley: though a tiny minority of the population, they're the ones living as humans are meant to. In an artificial world, only extremists live naturally. Programmers The restrictiveness of big company jobs is particularly hard on programmers, because the essence of programming is to build new things. Sales people make much the same pitches every day; support people answer much the same questions; but once you've written a piece of code you don't need to write it again. So a programmer working as programmers are meant to is always making new things. And when you're part of an organization whose structure gives each person freedom in inverse proportion to the size of the tree, you're going to face resistance when you do something new. This seems an inevitable consequence of bigness. It's true even in the smartest companies. I was talking recently to a founder who considered starting a startup right out of college, but went to work for Google instead because he thought he'd learn more there. He didn't learn as much as he expected. Programmers learn by doing, and most of the things he wanted to do, he couldn'tsometimes because the company wouldn't let him, but often because the company's code wouldn't let him. Between the drag of legacy code, the overhead of doing development in such a large organization, and the restrictions imposed by interfaces owned by other groups, he could only try a fraction of the things he would have liked to. He said he has learned much more in his own startup, despite the fact that he has to do all the company's errands as well as programming, because at least when he's programming he can do whatever he wants. An obstacle downstream propagates upstream. If you're not allowed to implement new ideas, you stop having them. And vice versa: when you can do whatever you want, you have more ideas about what to do. So working for yourself makes your brain more powerful in the same way a low-restriction exhaust system makes an engine more powerful. Working for yourself doesn't have to mean starting a startup, of course. But a programmer deciding between a regular job at a big company and their own startup is probably going to learn more doing the startup. You can adjust the amount of freedom you get by scaling the size of company you work for. If you start the company, you'll have the most freedom. If you become one of the first 10 employees you'll have almost as much freedom as the founders. Even a company with 100 people will feel different from one with 1000. Working for a small company doesn't ensure freedom. The tree structure of large organizations sets an upper bound on freedom, not a lower bound. The head of a small company may still choose to be a tyrant. The point is that a large organization is compelled by its structure to be one. Consequences That has real consequences for both organizations and individuals. One is that companies will inevitably slow down as they grow larger, no matter how hard they try to keep their startup mojo. It's a consequence of the tree structure that every large organization is forced to adopt. Or rather, a large organization could only avoid slowing down if they avoided tree structure. And since human nature limits the size of group that can work together, the only way I can imagine for larger groups to avoid tree structure would be to have no structure: to have each group actually be independent, and to work together the way components of a market economy do. That might be worth exploring. I suspect there are already some highly partitionable businesses that lean this way. But I don't know any technology companies that have done it. There is one thing companies can do short of structuring themselves as sponges: they can stay small. If I'm right, then it really pays to keep a company as small as it can be at every stage. Particularly a technology company. Which means it's doubly important to hire the best people. Mediocre hires hurt you twice: they get less done, but they also make you big, because you need more of them to solve a given problem. For individuals the upshot is the same: aim small. It will always suck to work for large organizations, and the larger the organization, the more it will suck. In an essay I wrote a couple years ago I advised graduating seniors to work for a couple years for another company before starting their own. I'd modify that now. Work for another company if you want to, but only for a small one, and if you want to start your own startup, go ahead. The reason I suggested college graduates not start startups immediately was that I felt most would fail. And they will. But ambitious programmers are better off doing their own thing and failing than going to work at a big company. Certainly they'll learn more. They might even be better off financially. A lot of people in their early twenties get into debt, because their expenses grow even faster than the salary that seemed so high when they left school. At least if you start a startup and fail your net worth will be zero rather than negative. [ 3 ] We've now funded so many different types of founders that we have enough data to see patterns, and there seems to be no benefit from working for a big company. The people who've worked for a few years do seem better than the ones straight out of college, but only because they're that much older. The people who come to us from big companies often seem kind of conservative. It's hard to say how much is because big companies made them that way, and how much is the natural conservatism that made them work for the big companies in the first place. But certainly a large part of it is learned. I know because I've seen it burn off. Having seen that happen so many times is one of the things that convinces me that working for oneself, or at least for a small group, is the natural way for programmers to live. Founders arriving at Y Combinator often have the downtrodden air of refugees. Three months later they're transformed: they have so much more confidence that they seem as if they've grown several inches taller. [ 4 ] Strange as this sounds, they seem both more worried and happier at the same time. Which is exactly how I'd describe the way lions seem in the wild. Watching employees get transformed into founders makes it clear that the difference between the two is due mostly to environmentand in particular that the environment in big companies is toxic to programmers. In the first couple weeks of working on their own startup they seem to come to life, because finally they're working the way people are meant to. Notes [ 1 ] When I talk about humans being meant or designed to live a certain way, I mean by evolution. [ 2 ] It's not only the leaves who suffer. The constraint propagates up as well as down. So managers are constrained too; instead of just doing things, they have to act through subordinates. [ 3 ] Do not finance your startup with credit cards. Financing a startup with debt is usually a stupid move, and credit card debt stupidest of all. Credit card debt is a bad idea, period. It is a trap set by evil companies for the desperate and the foolish. [ 4 ] The founders we fund used to be younger (initially we encouraged undergrads to apply), and the first couple times I saw this I used to wonder if they were actually getting physically taller. Thanks to Trevor Blackwell, Ross Boucher, Aaron Iba, Abby Kirigin, Ivan Kirigin, Jessica Livingston, and Robert Morris for reading drafts of this. French Translation Russian Translation Troye Sivan is back to warm your winter blues with his newest visual for "Lucky Strike," the atmospheric dance cut from 2018's Bloom. Hyperreal expressions of love and lust have become a trademarks of Sivan's visuals in the dawn of his commercial success, and "Lucky Strike" is no exception. While at once invoking a familiar, teen-beach-movie storyline, the video also presents surreal camera-work and imagery, including surprisingly delicious-looking bleeding heart cocktails. All parts considered, the summertime romp is a tense, yet tender, trip through a queer summer fling. Oh, and the ever-dreamy Brandon Good takes his shirt off a lot. The video was directed by Emma Westenberg, who also struck music video gold last year with Janelle Monae's "PYNK," so it comes as no surprise that "Lucky Strike" is equally as stunning. The soft pastels that light a sun-kissed Sivan and his lover are contrasted with the striking, saturated reds of the beach shack bar and the beating human heart being juiced into patrons' drinks. Sivan doesn't seem to mind the obscure drink ingredients, though, which one can only assume is because of the muscle-bound bartender, played by Good. The two fall in love over blood cocktails, after which Good strips down to a Speedo. The two then proceed to set sail in a pillow-laden rowboat, while Sivan sings the bridge in Good's arms. The summer love concludes with a dance party in the sand, where each beachgoer gets the chance to beg viewers with the sultry chorus: "Tell me all the ways to love you." "Lucky Strike," as a song, lends itself perfectly to the story being told in the video; bright synths are interspersed throughout Sivan's soft vocals, which themselves are made anthemic by the catchy, longing hook. While it may seem on the surface to be a fairly formulaic video, with a story told in the same vein of classics like "Summer Lovin'" from Grease, the differences are in the details. For example, despite Sivan's shirt getting stained as a result of his love-infused cocktail, the entire cast of "Lucky Strike," look particularly well-dressed throughout, which upon further inspection is thanks to the genderless, Amsterdam-based denim brand, Hardeman. The intentional choice to utilize a LGBTQ-friendly label for costumes underscores Sivan's dedication to creating a culture of inclusivity in his works. Sivan recently starred in the critically acclaimed film Boy Erased, which spoke to an enduring culture of homophobia for young gay people, as well as subsequent trauma incurred as a result of conversion therapy. Along with Jonsi and pop powerhouse Leland, Sivan penned the Golden Globe-nominated Best Original Song, "Revelation," from the film. Sivan's own commitment to telling a multitude of queer narratives in his own songs and visuals, as well as in Boy Erased, is a step forward for the pop music industry as a whole, with a focus on inclusivity for people holding many, intersecting identities. Related | Practice Safe Sex With Hardeman While "Lucky Strike" isn't the brand new music Troye Sivan stans are already begging for, it'll hold us over until we can get our hands on whatever he's been writing as a follow-up to Bloom, his highest-charting release to date. Growing up as part of the Asian diaspora, there are obviously a number of cultural signifiers and experiences that connect us to one another. However, at what point do stories about strict parents or jokes about international students become reductive or border on stereotype? Especially when the same sort of post continues to be shared over and over again sans nuance or discussion? This is question that an extremely popular meme group called Subtle Asian Traits is currently facing and it's sparked a helluva lot of debate. The creation of a group of primarily Chinese-Australian high schoolers studying for exams, Subtle Asian Traits was initially inspired by another Melbourne-based meme group called Subtle Private School Traits. "We decided to do it very impromptu," administrator Darren Qiang admits. "We made it just hoping to get a few laughs out of it. We never thought it would become what it is today." At the time of writing, Subtle Asian Traits boasts more than 1 million members, receives around 3,000 daily post submissions, and has spawned a spate of spin-off groups, not to mention a hoard of online copycats trying to capitalize on the Subtle Asian Traits brand. And that's just been within the past few months of the group's founding. "Our main goal now is for second-generation Asians to have a common group or community," Qiang explains. "They can share their experiences, because growing up, it was likely hard for them to relate and communicate at school." And, obviously, over a million people agree. According to Qiang, ever since the group hit the 10K membership mark, they've grown exponentially. However, with that sort of rapid rise also comes some acute growing pains. In addition to the need for near-constant community moderation and self-policing, Subtle Asian Traits has also become the target of ample online criticism from a class of current and former members increasingly disenchanted with they see as "self-stereotyping" proliferated by the group whether it come in the form of surface-level posts about strict Asian parents or content that reinforces stereotype like "all Asians are good at math." After being added to the group this past fall by friends, an anonymous member who would like to be referred to as P says he was quickly dismayed by the way many of the memes felt like "they pointed toward how Asians in the West orientalize themselves." "The trauma of being in the West, in a European-dominated society, seems to be the source of where a lot of this comes from," he hypothesizes. "There's not a lot of reflection on why [that's the default of how they view themselves], or how this is all reflected in these memes or posts." Mentioning the over-emphasis on memes about things like "parent-child relationships, school, and food stuff," he says that the reliance on these discussions results in extremely surface-level connections over the Asian diasporic experience especially once topics like "What is an acceptable height for an Asian man?" and constant talk about "How much we like boba and noodles" begin to dominate the forum. "They see themselves in terms defined by the West," he says, before adding. "It's like people are trying to express themselves and they're trying to be seen within this Western framework. But the fact that they're falling on these defaults of 'What is an Asian?'... there's not a lot of room for [those] who don't fit the 'default' idea." But Qiang sees it a different way and defends the concentration of posts about studying and badminton. "Even if the memes are covertly hating on our culture or parents... behind all the memes and stuff, there's an underlying layer of seriousness," he contends, asserting that their underlying goal is to merely build a community. "Jokes aside, we still love and care for our parents. We're not hating on the culture. We're not belittling other races." Unfortunately though, that's not the only criticism the group has run into. Yet another big point of debate has been their marked aversion to intense political discussion, especially as an entity founded upon something as inherently political as racial identity. As such, critics have been quick to question why many politically-charged posts especially when they concern something that does affect second-generation Asians, such as hate speech or immigration are less likely to show up on the page than yet another surprised Pikachu reaction. The answer? "Our original plan was just to have light-hearted memes so Asians can bond over relatable content," Qiang maintains. According to him, the "strict no political discussion rule" was put into place after group leaders noticed that those sorts of topics were "what sparked the most argument in the group." After all, as another administrator named Anny Xie points out, the entire operation is maintained by 18 administrators and moderators, who are tasked with ensuring that all posts adhere to the group's basic rules i.e. avoid offensive content, no hate speech, and post memes that try to be inclusive of all Asians. Unfortunately, that's also proved to be somewhat difficult, as determining what exactly is too exclusive for a million-plus member group is an endeavor that they say falls into a gray area more often than not. And as P points out, a lot of questionable stuff including posts that use ableist slurs and promote overt fetishization has continued to pop up regularly. "The fact that the mods allow that stuff to pass through does point toward how they're not really paying attention to what kind of content is there," he says. "There's not really a discussion about these posts or why people keep making them." That said, he's not the only group member that feels this way. As member Tina Ngo points out, it's nearly impossible for a group dedicated to the pan-Asian diasporic experience to completely avoid homogenizing the members it ostensibly is meant to represent. After all, "Asian" is such an umbrella term, which means the group, at times, can inadvertently proliferate an ahistorical homogenization of the diasporic experience. "It's [an term] so broad and can apply to most people in the world," Ngo explains. Not only that, but this has also become a problem for many who point out that despite being called "Subtle Asian Traits," there's a marked lack of South and Southeast Asian-related content. However, Qiang and Xie assert that it isn't for a lack of trying, as they've recently added new South Asian moderators in order to "control and even promote South Asian content." "You can laugh at memes, but it's ok to feel sad or talk about your pain. It's ok to talk about drama in your life. The creators of the group won't stop that flow of conversation." "But if there's not South Asian content coming in, we can't accept or approve," Qiang adds, before hypothesizing that much of this content may have migrated to the exclusively South Asian-centric meme group known as "Subtle Curry Traits." That said, they do admit that they could possibly do more to make non-East Asian members feel more comfortable posting in the space, though they have yet to figure out how. Even so, both P and Ngo agree that it would be a better thing if the group did not overtly strive to stay away from political conversations or skirt around tough questions about things like internalized colorism or racism a problem that also inadvertently mirrors the issue of Asian apoliticism in the West. "As an organizer, there's a lot of frustration when you sees these groups forming and there's a lack of nuance coming out of it," Ngo says. That said, she also still believes that it's important for politically active members to continue engaging and "not be so quick to dismiss the group." Not only that, but Ngo is also optimistic about what the group represents in the larger scheme of things especially in terms of a forming communities where second-generation Asians living in the West can connect over things deeper than boba tea. She says it's also heartening that she's recently seen an uptick in socio-political threads within the forum, and she hopes members continue to use the space to deepen their discussions about the diasporic experience. "It's distressing and fascinating that this group which was for sharing memes, quickly became a safer space where young Asian kids felt like they belonged enough to talk about issues that they maybe don't get to talk about in their own life," she says. "You can laugh at memes, but it's ok to feel sad or talk about your pain. It's ok to talk about drama in your life. The creators of the group won't stop that flow of conversation." Welcome to "Internet Explorer," a column by Sandra Song about everything Internet. From meme histories to joke format explainers to collections of some of Twitter's finest roasts, "Internet Explorer" is here to keep you up-to-date with the web's current obsessions no matter how nonsensical or nihilistic. Kelsie Hogue, aka Sir Babygirl, wants to make pop music that's gay as hell. The DIY diva/producer is gearing up to release her debut album in February entitled Crush On Me: a sparkly collection of frenetic bubble gum pop, unafraid to tangle itself up in the anxiety and euphoria of the modern queer experience. Earlier this year Hogue put out a few catchy queer bangers"Heels," "Flirting With Her," and most recently "Haunted House," plus some accompanying visuals. Though her music aims to exist outside the gender binary, Sir Babygirl draws inspiration from pop in the early aughtsa period when femininity was so on the nose, so overblown to the point of being cartoonish. This campy quality fits into Hogue's exploration of non-binary drag. Between Aguilera's husky melodrama and Britney's sexy baby affectation, there was a level of female caricature that was equal parts ridiculous and spectacular. It's in this tension between extremes that Hogue locates the persona of Sir Babygirl and forces her listener to look beyond the convenience of reductive tokenization of queer and female artists. Surrealist synth-poppers like Charli XCX, Kim Petras, SOPHIE, and even Grimes have recently gained hype in exploring this juncture of maximalist pop paired with sleek electronica. Although those artists may have paved the way for musicians like Sir Babygirl, Hogue opts for her own particular brand of absurdist drama that takes shape around humor and performancea tactic perhaps informed by her brief stint in comedy. Her lyrics aren't necessarily diaristic but instead distill a collection of everyday moments into a histrionic experience. Sir Babygirl harnesses your expectations, amps them up, then glitches them out in her music. The product is flashy, affirming, and wholly over the top. We caught up with Sir Babygirl to discuss her love for Christina Aguilera, her days of meme-making, and the genesis of her bops: "It's like you're going to fucking tokenize me anyway so I'm just going to go over the top and be your little dancing gay clown." PM: So, I just want to start off with your name: how did the moniker of Sir Babygirl come to you? KH: Hm what a question, so many answers. I guess you can break it down in several ways. Basically, it was the result of me several years agoI'm a very latent queer personand it took me a long time to realize I was bisexual. Then after that I started to feel like oh what is this non-binary, what is this, who is that, who is she? I was really obsessed and getting back into my love of pop music that I feel like I grew up on and was getting really obsessed with the mythology of the pop star and it was just the ultimate, exciting imagery to me. I was playing in this hardcore band in the Boston music scene, just like yelling and angry, and it was fun, but I could not keep up with it. I was just getting more and more into pop again and into like Okay maybe I'm like a boy and a girl and something in between and all this stuff. And then the actual inception of it was I was hanging out with this horrific ex of mine (we were dating at the time), and we were like thinking of creating a duo of ourselves and we were trying to think of really queer names and really over the top stuff and I was like Sir...baby...girl and she was just like, "that is so extra, I refuse." Then I just filed it away, and then we broke up and several months laterI'd never written it down or anythingall of a sudden it came back into my head and I was like [gasp] that's it! I had never felt this way. I had had so many problems with my band where we could never decide on a band name. It was the first time ever where I was like I will totally back and defend the absolute bullshit name until I die. It's so stupid and so perfect for me. So, I was like all right this is it and I changed my Instagram handle before I even had any music out for a while. I'm usually the person who is very attracted to an image or a visual and then I'll want to fill it out after. I started playing music because I saw Lisa Simpson playing the saxophone and I was like I want that, what's inside of that. So sometimes I like leading with the big idea and then filling out the little things inside. Totally. It seems like a lot of your singles are inspired by not only early 2000s alt-rock but bigger pop stars like Britney, Christina, and Mariah. What do you think it is about that era of pop that appeals to you and why do you think you're drawn to it? KH: I think there's a level of cartoonish that really tickles my fancy. The whole TRL era was a very formative time when I was in elementary to middle school. The music that played at school dances was just like a renaissance. It was so amazing. Everything hip-hop, pop, everything was really maximalist and cartoonish. I started doing theatre and comedy in third grade (the same year that I started playing saxophone) so it's always been kind of a dual thing where comedy is a hidden element to my stuff and it's always intrinsically there, but I'm not really interested in forcing it. It's just kind of naturally there and I like it existing there. I'm really obsessed with Tim & Eric, Eric Andre, Maria Bamford, Tig Nataro, all of those absurdist surrealist comedians. So yeah, I think that the extreme versions of femininity and masculinity at that time like Britney and Christina and everyone was just so big, and the femininity felt so extreme in a fun way. My natural resting is that I'm very soft-butch and my neutral is very tom-boy, very like soft-butch, very just like boy. But when I want do femme, I can't do a soft femme, like that makes me nauseous. Anytime I have to work like a restaurant job and I have to do like a presentable feminine I feel so like, who am I? When I do femininity, it has to be clown, it's drag. I feel like Gaga is a great example, she's a drag queen and women being able to do that is so sick to me. PM: Going off of that, how much of Sir Babygirl do you think is an exaggeration or perhaps a caricatured version of yourself versus maybe a more authentic reflection? And you mentioned comedy, so what aspects of comedy goes into that performance? Yeah for sure! I realize I didn't actually talk about gender when you asked me what Sir Babygirl stands for just because it's obvious to me but then it's like no it's not to a lot of people. I'm very obsessed with extremes and so I love extreme masculinity, extreme femininity. So, I wanted Sir, the most colonial word that's been pushed down our throats for years, and baby girl and have them meet and what is that meeting like? I'm very interested in confrontation in general. My friends make fun of me now because I always say, "confrontation is a lost art to me." Especially with using comedy, it's a great confrontational tool that can alienate people but can also bring people in and that's super important especially with my live shows. I think lyrically there's a lot of sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek stuff if you want to vibe on that, you can find it, but it's also hyper-serious and emotional. So, I also like playing with that. I think as a person it's really hard for me to not be making jokes. I'm very much a clown in real life and so Sir Babygirl gets to exist as both a clown and the epitome of the sad clown. I would say Sir Babygirl is the heightened clown drag queen/king. Just growing up and experiencing learning about drag culturewhich I do not in any way consider myself an expert or anything close to that at all, more an idiot reallyI kind of heard about bio queens and I was like, that's really cool I like that. And I had always thought, Well I guess I could be a drag queen, when I identified as cis-female like oh I got to be a drag king and that's the only way to do it. And then I think Sir Babygirl helped me realize I want to be both and being able to do a non-binary drag, a mix of it because I can't settle on one thing. I guess my question for you then as someone who identifies as genderqueer and bisexual, do you ever feel like there's a tokenization as a queer artist in the music industry and do you ever feel that perhaps that categorization comes with any sort of restraints or limitations or do you feel the opposite? Great question. It's something I shout about and yell about all the time with people. Tokenization's not my problem. Any marginalized person from any identity intersection is going to be at risk or whatever of tokenization and I'm very much not into empty-signaling and just like being queer to have it as aesthetic, which I don't really know if anyone does or if people just project that on to people. Because when you really look at every individual queer musician that's coming out now, everyone's fucking dope and everyone deserves to be there. Yeah marketing wise, some people use it more than others and there's a lot of discussion around that. But for me, I find it really freeing and I kind of like hitting people over the head with it in a comical way and using comedy to be like, I'm a gay clown, and you can't look away from that. It's like you're going to fucking tokenize me anyway so I'm just going to go over the top and be your little dancing gay clown. I have an Instagram following that's small in number, but the people are really intense. It's that weird balance where I don't inherently think anyone really chooses to lead with their queerness but it's intrinsically there. It's a fun thing to play with and subvert expectations. There's also such a delight in the idea of being a non-binary pop star and having that hit the mainstream and having people gain access to that. I just want to make non-binary stuff more accessible instead of it being cryptic and being only for elites. There's better ways to talk about gender and sexuality that doesn't alienate people that were never given the fucking access. You touched on your Instagram page, which I did want to ask you about since reading your interview with Karley Sciortino in SluteverSlutever. I thought it was so great and naturally needed to ask you about your memes because they are so excellent. There's no way of asking this question about memes in a way that can be taken seriously so I'm just going to go ahead and do it: Do you think that making memes and making pop music has anything in common and do you think those sorts of modalities come from a similar place in your brain or is it more compartmentalized? Basically, I was at a point where I didn't (and still don't) have any natural kind of foot in the door with the music industry. I was looking in from the complete outside and thinking, "I want to make pop music and I know that is so fucking delusional." I couldn't really shake it, but I didn't have the means or the resources to do it. I was living in Chicago and I had been really obsessed with femme-memers like Goth Shakira, Scariest Bug Ever. I'd just been studying them and always been hyper-obsessed with pop culture. I'm one of those little bastards that like just knows the weirdest little facts about celebrities. I wish Christina Aguilera would let me A&R her last album. She's one of my actual biggest inspos and I think vocally, she gave me some of the best voice lessons like listening to her as a kid. So I had picked the handle Sir Babygirl and it was just a dumb account of pictures of me. Then I went to the first ever Women's March and was like this is kind of depressing and kind of weird and I don't feel comfortable here and I think a lot of other people don't either. So, I made a meme about it and people got kind of heated. I started just making some memes and the people that I was following started to take notice. I got kind of roped into the femme meme community and it actually felt directly supportive in a way that I hadn't really felt in other scenes. Since you don't have to interact with each other in three dimensional terms, you can just appreciate and support each other's work and move on. So I had had all this mental fuckery and I made a meme one day that was specifically about bi-sexuality and it went ablaze. So once I started melding sexuality and gender with pictures of like Rihanna and pictures of Gaga, it started creating this mood board for Sir Babygirl. They are both attached as one of the healthier ways I have to deal with something. I'm so fucking precious about my goddamn music; I won't release anything unless I know it's good and it's like bitch, you don't know if it's good, you'll never know! But it's amazing because most of the time with memes I'll just get a flash then make it in five minutes and post it. It's the best kind of brain slap for me to be like bitch, don't be precious. So, you've been working the Sir Babygirl project for over three years and within time that you've been self-producing and recording. So, I just wanted to ask about that and if you could speak about your process and how you go about writing the songs? It all depends. A lot of times I'll just get a hook or a fully-fleshed out beat in my head. So I'll think of a hook and then start expanding on that and then maybe get my guitar out, or piano, or I'll get my synth out and start creating a beat and do a synth-line and then I might free-style on that and do a melody line. I'll have months where I'll just take everything in. I used to suppress a lot of things and I've gotten a little better at that. I'll have one thing really trigger something and then I'll have an emotional release and then everything that I've been thinking about for the last four months will like [retching noise] into a song. So, I'd say that on Crush On Me, none of the songs are exclusively about one person. Lyrically, it's a conversation of moments. "Flirting With Her" is not about one her, it's about all the girls I've ever flirted with. Even though my lyrics and my process are very overtly emotional, and my writing style is fairly vulnerable, it's not always inherently diaristic. I like heightening or focusing on a concept or an emotion that I've gotten from several different experiences that I've collected and then doing a surrealist take on it. You said you felt like if you had put your songs out a few years earlier it probably wouldn't have hit as hard. So, I'm wondering why do you think that is and where does that opinion stem from? I mean as any opinion on music it's mostly bullshit. My gut take is that I look at the trajectory of Charli XCX. When she came out with "Vroom Vroom" in 2016, people didn't relatively care about it; it was too abrasive. Then she came out with "#1 Angel," and it was cult-embraced but it wasn't widely embraced. And it wasn't until Pop II came out that finally broke through. It's interesting to me because she's been here, she been making this stuff. I just think the abrasiveness that we're allotted wasn't as accepted a few years ago. Now SOPHIE's production influence is the current landscape as opposed to just the futureit's now the present. Definitely. How are you reacting to all this media press before your debut album is even out and what's your response to all of it? It's truly bonkers. I've been doing [Sir Babygirl] since I was a senior in college in 2015. It's this weird thing where I've only been visible for the past two to three months, but I've been working away at this project for like three to three and a half years. I got to a point where I really didn't think I was going to make music proper because I got vocal nodes. At one point, I even gave up and started doing stand-up. It's surreal because I'm a huge music nerd and I'm always the one reading these blogs, hyper-aware of what everything means in the hierarchy of press. I feel very lucky that things are already manifesting in concrete plans. I just feel very stoked and lucky that we're at a point in pop music where people fuck with pop music. If I were to release this a couple years ago it wouldn't hit like it hits now. It's very surreal and it's very cool because it's my dream, and when your dreams are starting to manifest it is really eerie. It's like how do you capitalize on momentum and try to move with it but also very hurry up and then wait and it's also like, who knows maybe everyone hates the album ha ha! By the way, if it sounds like it's breaking up it's because I'm calling you from a closet, just so you know. That's very gay of you. Crush on Me is out February 15, 2019 on Father/Daughter Records. Pre-order it here. Photo Eli Raskin Openly gay Latin trap artist Kevin Fret, who PAPER featured last spring, died Thursday morning in Puerto Rico. The 24-year-old was shot at least twice around dawn, while riding a motorbike through the San Juan neighborhood of Santurce. His attacker had fired multiple times: Eight bullet shells were found at the scene. Fret, who hailed from the municipality of Carolina, had relocated to Miami years earlier. When he released the video for "Soy Asi" last April, close to 50k fans were following him on Instagram, where he often spoke out against homophobia in the urbano market. His account has been cleared of posts, but in a video posted to Facebook early in December, Fret jokes about not wanting to be gay then reminds viewers he'd never stop being himself. He regularly defended that right across all platforms, in interviews, and in his music. The circumstances surrounding his murder are still being investigated, and Fret's death has not been declared a hate crime at this time. But for the queer community of San Juan, the loss is a reminder of the challenges they face, and the fear with which many live. "I'm already afraid of navigating the island, and this makes that fear grow exponentially. Right now, so many people are feeling that fear," local artist and performer Maria Jose told PAPER last night. "My friend was going to come see me, but she didn't because she was afraid to leave her house." So far this year, at least 24 people have been murdered in Puerto Rico. It's an alarming number and it's actually lower than last year's count for the same period. CBS reports that in 2017 the homicide rate in Puerto Rico was higher than any U.S. state, attributing the violence to gangs. But factoring in the island's extreme economic problems is critical here: Crime is a symptom of a poverty, and in Puerto Rico, more than 40 percent of the population is living in poverty. "It's a crisis of violence, and a crisis of mental health, crisis of toxic masculinity, a gun crisis, a spiritual crisis, and an education crisis," Maria Jose said. "There's crisis everywhere, it's a crisis of everything." In the U.S., the LGBTQIA community faces higher rates of poverty and crime. But those numbers are hard to quantify in Puerto Rico, especially in terms of homicides: The police do not separate statistics by population. Osvaldo Burgos, president of the Comision de Derechos Civiles and secretary of the Colectivo Orgullo Arcoiris, the Puerto Rico PRIDE organizing nonprofit, said the management of statistics, including in the courts system, is deficient overall. But the lack of analyzation for marginalized groups shows a bigger issue. "This is part of the discrimination against LGBT communities. Because the information is not segregated, problems are not identified as they are," Burgos said. "Obviously, it's difficult to get funds, identify problems, and determine tendencies. All of that is very difficult to do in this country, and I think it constitutes another form of state violence against the LGBT community." Discrimination against the LGBTQIA community is also apparent in the online response to Kevin Fret's death: Victim-blaming, religious zealots (when, in fact, Fret was quite religious), and other homophobic attacks are rampant in the comment sections of news outlet posts. "It's a crisis of violence, and a crisis of mental health, crisis of toxic masculinity, a gun crisis, a spiritual crisis, and an education crisis. There's crisis everywhere, it's a crisis of everything." Someone even posted a Duck Hunter GIF, according to Maria Jose, alluding to shooting "patos," the word for ducks that's also used a slur against gay men. "I'm an artist, too. I myself am a fucking performer, I have aspirations of doing music, and urban music, in the future," she added. "Doing that would be exposing myself to a lot of people that want me dead. Or maybe they don't actively want me dead, but they will find humor in my death, maybe, with a comment or a gif on Facebook. It's really discouraging. In Puerto Rico, the stakes are really high. And it's a monumental pressure on everyone." Sora Ferri is an activist with La Sombrilla Cuir, or the Queer Umbrella, a transfeminist educational platform. She was taken aback by Fret's death they were the same age. That Fret was at times confrontational (he was arrested last June on aggravated battery charges) points to a coping or survival mechanism often adopted by femmes, she said. "When you're a high femme, and super effeminate gay, people aren't going to take you seriously, and you have to be kind of on the offensive all the time," she said. "I think a lot about how... when we're out together, with people you trust, in public places that are not for us but we take up space, we're all kind of anxious all the femmes and all the queers and all the trans girls. So what do we do to make up for it? We get loud and try to laugh and go over the anxiety, enjoying ourselves and dancing and having fun, basically. But then you kind of forget that you might be disturbing the homophobes and straight folks around you. The industry and the society kind of makes femmes have to be like that in the first place, be on the offensive in the first place, all the time." In a Facebook post yesterday, Sombrilla Cuir's post noted that while not all of Fret's actions were favorable, his contribution to breaking gender norms and battling misogyny and machismo should serve as inspiration to live authentically, and to keep working toward greater space for queer artists. "You would see him on Instagram being in the studio, in interviews, being in different parts of the world, just being himself and being loud and being femme," Ferri said. "To see someone out in public in the daylight out with people being unapologetically themselves and unapologetically feminine, it made me think that I could also be outside and be myself and dress how I wanted, and not have to worry about how dangerous it is or how many people I'm making uncomfortable." Georgia-Pacific to Shutdown Port Hudson Mill's Communication Papers and Pulping Operations by Mid-March Georgia-Pacific will permanently shut down the communication papers machines, related converting assets, as well as the woodyard, pulp mill and a significant portion of the energy complex at its Port Hudson facility in Zachary, Louisiana. Tissue, towel manufacturing to continue as important asset for GP Consumer Business Jan. 10, 2019 - Georgia-Pacific announced on Jan. 10 that it is exiting the communication papers business following an assessment of its long-term competitive position in a declining market. As a result, the company will permanently shut down the communication papers machines, related converting assets, as well as the woodyard, pulp mill and a significant portion of the energy complex at its Port Hudson facility in Zachary, Louisiana. Georgia-Pacific did not disclose the current communication paper production capacity of the mill. Approximately 650 jobs at the facility will ultimately be impacted by the communication papers and pulp asset closures. About 40 business and sales jobs also will be affected by this decision. Georgia-Pacific will continue to operate and invest in the Port Hudson mill to support its growing consumer tissue and towel business. The Port Hudson facility, with its premium product tissue and towel machines and associated converting equipment, is a key contributor to the success of the Consumer Products Group's retail business. The company will retain approximately 300 employees to manage those operations. Employees will continue to operate the Port Hudson communication papers and pulp mill assets, with final operations of those assets expected by mid-March. Georgia-Pacific has begun discussions with union leadership and the hourly and salaried workforce on how the process will work for employees affected by the job reductions, including the potential to transfer to other Georgia-Pacific locations. "The employees in our printing and writing papers business have worked diligently to support the business, and in recent years we have invested significantly in our operations. We have ultimately decided that the required investment to sustain the operation long-term, coupled with the declining market, is not viable," said Mike Adams, president - GP PRO and Communication Papers. "We will be working closely with our printing and writing customers during this time of transition." Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the worlds leading manufacturers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, office papers, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals. To learn more, please visit: www.gp.com . SOURCE: Georgia-Pacific Jordan Peele is Insanely Busy These Days By Dustin Rowles | TV | January 11, 2019 | Get Out launched Jordan Peele into the stratosphere. Hes gone from one half of a comedy team to one of the best and most prolific writer/creator/producers in Hollywood. Since Get Out, Peele has been a producer on Tracy Morgans The Last O.G. and Spike Lees BlacKkKlansman. Hes also exec producing a TV doc series about Lorena Bobbitt (Lorena) due out next month; a Twilight Zone reboot for CBS All Access due out later this year; and hes producing a fantasy/horror series called Lovecraft Country. Hes also voicing a character in Toy Story 4, starring in a movie called Abruptio that is currently filming, and doing voice work for Big Mouth. Oh, and he also wrote and directed one of the most anticipated horror films of the year, Us, which will open the SXSW film festival. If that werent enough, Jordan Peele is also a producer and writer on a new YouTube Premium series due out in February called Weird City, which hes co-producing with Key & Peele writer Charlie Sanders. Watching the trailer, I briefly thought it was the Twilight Zone series retitled Weird City. Its different (although, Steven Yeun is in both). This series has a killer cast, including Rosario, LeVar, Laverne Cox, Sara Gilbert, Michael Cera, Ed ONeil, Gillian Jacobs, Mark Hamill, and Awkwafina, among others. Its about a futuristic city where the Haves and Have Notes are literally split apart, and the Haves are matched through DNA and sex is no longer a thing. It looks pretty great (and one more reason, in addition to Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television and Cobra Kai to cut the cord and subscribe to YouTube Premium for your cable services. Twitter Reacts to that Beard-Like Substance on Ted Cruz's Face | Just a Cat Introducing Its Kittens To An Old Friend Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. Header Image Source: YouTube Premium We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Oswego, NY (13126) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Their periodically updated charts show that the glacier was melting prior to the year 1800, when the population of the earth was on the order of one-seventh of today. The main part of the bay was mostly clear of ice by 1900, prior to the invention of the airplane and the mass production of the automobile, and with earth's population on the order of one-quarter of today. (See attached map provided by the Glacier Bay Park Service.) "I can appreciate how the optics might come off sometimes," he said, "but I believe there is distinct value in having board members, on any board, that understand the issues and dynamics associated with that agency." The next session in 2018 was dominated by the reaction to the Parkland shooting in February, which led to Gov. Rick Scott and Republicans in the Legislature to instead add more restrictions to gun purchases, such as raising the minimum age from 18 to 21. Hill also has introduced a bill to repeal those parts of the law. On Feb. 14, my daughter died on the third floor of MSD running down the hallway from an active shooter, one of the grieving parents, Fred Guttenberg, said Friday at the announcement. One more second, and she makes it into the stairwell. She needed one more second. If anybody wants to know what failure means, and lack of response, my daughter would have lived if somebody could have just given her one more second. Three years later, McCall shot Irvin and Shepherd as he drove them from the prison in Raiford to Lake County, before they were set to stand trial for a second time after their first convictions were overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. McCall claimed the men tried to escape, but Irvin, who survived the shooting, said McCall forced them from the car and shot them point-blank. Greenlee was not included in the second trial because, as the only defendant who received a life sentence rather than death at the first trial, he chose not to appeal. Police said Arroyos long night of odd behavior began about 2 a.m., when he approached the house and stared straight into the camera of the homes doorbell surveillance system. Arroyo hung out in the doorway for more than two hours, moving in and out of the cameras frame, Cabrera said. As Sen. Kamala Harris settled into her seat on ABC's "The View" on Tuesday, she was asked to do something not requested of most television guests. "Before we do anything," The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg asked the California Democrat, "would you pronounce your name for me please?" Harris anticipated this question, so much so that she dedicated a paragraph to it in the memoir she was promoting, "The Truths We Hold." Few national figures - with the exception of Barack Obama - have had to provide such a basic introduction. "It's Kamala," she said. "Just think like 'comma,' and add a 'la.' " Co-host Joy Behar suggested the name was like Pamela, "like we're used to." Not quite, Harris corrected her. As Harris opened a book tour widely seen as a precursor to a presidential campaign, she wanted to make sure everyone knows that her name, like her story, is not something this country is used to, at least in its potential presidential candidates. In her book and on her tour, Harris is introducing herself as a candidate of nuance, a child of immigrants, a woman of color, capable of bridging the cracks in the country's foundation because she has seen their effects firsthand. Harris was born to an Indian mother and Jamaican father. She identifies as black and would be the first Asian American president were she to run and win. She is a former prosecutor who constantly referred to herself as California's "top cop." She is also a dogged advocate of criminal justice revisions. The 54-year-old is not a presidential candidate yet - at least, not officially. A source close to the senator said Harris has not finalized plans for an announcement. As television host after television host prodded her about her plans, Harris insisted that she hasn't decided anything, yet. But eventual presidential candidates have long used books and tours like hers to stir national attention and establish a narrative - which is of particular importance for someone like Harris, whose national profile has grown in recent years but remains blurry. Several people attending Harris' book event at George Washington University on Wednesday night said they knew very little about her until her hard-nosed performance at Justice Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearings seized their attention. Many of them said they came to learn more. So she started with the name that has tripped up television hosts all week. Her parents named her Kamala, which means "lotus," a prominent symbol in Asian cultures, she said. "The symbolism is that the lotus flower sits on water, but never really gets wet," Harris explained Wednesday night. "Its roots are in the mud, meaning it is grounded. One must always know where they come from." Yet she distanced herself from other potential candidates as much with how she tells her story as the story itself. As she addressed a supportive crowd Wednesday night, Harris gushed with easy energy. She not so much fidgeted in her arm chair as used every inch of it, sitting back while a joke landed, sliding to the edge of her seat with her finger pointed for weightier pronouncements or for one of several condemnations of the current administration's policies. Often, she dispelled pretense in favor of colloquialism - as when she said of divisive rhetoric and policies, "I'm done with it," with a casual wave of her hand. She compared President Donald Trump's "tantrum" over a border wall to her godson's tantrums over his toy trains. "You got to see both sides of her tonight," said Karen Moon, 53, who was in the crowd. "You saw what she's going to be like when she runs and what she's going to be like when she's offstage. You have to have a personality. I think she has it. You can tell she's passionate." Harris wants America to trace the origins of that passion to her mother, who Harris says was her primary influence after her parents divorced. Her mother immigrated to the United States at age 19 to pursue a doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley. Her father, Jamaican immigrant and Stanford professor Douglas Harris, is far less a factor in the book, although she says he remained involved in her life. Harris traces her place in the African-American community to her mother. Though Harris and her sister would often fly to India to visit family, they also were part of the African-American community in Berkeley, where her mother became active in the civil rights movement. Harris recalled sitting in her stroller and listening to African-American leaders speak and share their stories. For college, she headed to Howard University, the historically black university in Washington. But Harris was not only defining her racial identity this week but also her atypical path as a politician. She acknowledged questions might arise over her choice to become a prosecutor, as San Francisco district attorney and then as the state attorney general. Put bluntly: How could she be part of what many in her party believe is a broken, racially biased criminal justice system? In her book, Harris says her motivation was to be there for "victims of crimes committed and victims of a broken criminal justice system." "To be a progressive prosecutor is to understand - and act on - this dichotomy," she wrote. There is little else that distinguishes Harris' policy positions from others who may run to be the Democratic presidential nominee. She has aligned with mainstream Democrats on almost every issue, from immigration to the Affordable Care Act to foreign policy. She also cast herself as dogged in pursuing her goals. In the book and at events, she described calling then-White House chief of staff John F. Kelly's home phone to talk about President Trump's entry ban to demonstrate an uncompromising stance on immigration. She recounted a "shouting match" with the head of JPMorgan Chase to illustrate her willingness to stand up to big business. She brought up officiating at one of the first gay weddings in California to show her unequivocal support of LGBT rights. As she has for much of her career, she went out of her way to avoid alienating elements of the party. When "The View" co-host Meghan McCain asked if freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., could split the party with her much-criticized suggestions for tax increases, Harris defended the congresswoman. "No," Harris said. "I think she's challenging the status quo. I think that's fantastic." Harris' book, like many campaign-related biographies, is carefully curated, dodging many of the controversies she seems likely to encounter from less friendly audiences. CNN's Jake Tapper asked her about one: the resignation of one of her top aides after accusations of sexual harassment surfaced. "It was a very painful experience to know that something could happen in one's office - of almost 5,000 people, granted - but that I didn't know about it," Harris said. Likewise, she did not address her romantic relationship in the early 1990s with San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. She also avoided her controversial decision as prosecutor to not immediately free Daniel Larsen, an inmate the courts had declared "actually innocent," because his lawyers had not filed his writ of habeas corpus by the deadline. Harris is still making introductions. At the end of her Wednesday event, moderator Jonathan Capehart asked her to read a portion of her book, one in which she explains that she wants to tell later generations that she played a role in a pivotal moment in American history. Harris couldn't hold back a grin as Capehart asked the obvious: "Will you tell them you ran for president?" Harris, still smiling, reached for the children's book she is also selling this week - "Superheroes are Everywhere." She opened to the back cover, and revealed a small mirror, one that reflected her face before she showed it to the crowd, as convincing a reply as any to the question she is poised to answer soon. McCall is dead now, and so are the other bad actors in this sickening chapter of civil rights history. A posse blasted one suspect, Ernest Thomas, with more than 100 rounds while he slept under a tree in north Florida, exhausted from fleeing. Later, McCall shot two others Sam Shepherd fatally. Walter Irvin, who survived being shot by the sheriff on a lonely, remote road, later died of natural causes, as did Charles Greenlee, the youngest of the four. It was the second police chase that started in Delaware and ended in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Six police officers were hospitalized in connection with the earlier incident, and Dejuan Robinson, 20, is still being sought, according to the Delaware News Journal. The injuries were not considered life-threatening. A Florida man threw a cat still inside a pet carrier into a water-filled ditch, then took the cat out and kicked and hit it, police said Thursday. (St. Petersburg Police Department) Some of the students at the bus loop then reported the incident at the schools office and one of them told investigators Jecrois had approached him about going to the medical room at the school in order to steal money. That student declined and its unclear where the money Jecrois allegedly had came from. Dear Deputy Ryan, I am sorry that your dog got shot, Kline said. Thank you for keeping me safe. Thank you for your service. Your dog did a lot for the world. Don't worry, you will get a new buddy. Keep up the good work. I will keep praying for you to do good. Keep arresting the bad guys and one day I hope I can meet you and your new dog. If we let these BMAPs go, it will be the demise of these fantastic springs, said John Thomas, a veteran environmental lawyer from the Tampa Bay area who will lead the legal challenge. We cant take a passive approach. We have to be very active, and the BMAP, in a nutshell, is an inventory and not a corrective tool. Washington has been trying to drag us backwards, but America really is moving forward on climate change as cities continue to lead where Washington hasnt and wont, Bloomberg said in a statement issued after appearing in Texas, where he announced that Austin, San Antonio, Albuquerque, N.M., Denver and Orlando are the most recent recipients of the prize. As of Dec. 21, letters meant for inmates must be sent to a post office box in Pinellas Park, where they are opened and scanned. Scans are sent to the jail, where inmates view them using a digital kiosk. Inmates are not charged for the scanning and still can send mail. The contract allows inmates to send and receive electronic messages instantly similar to text messages or emails, but monitored by jail staff for a fee. Outside of a fumbled offering of condolences in which he forgot my brothers name [Sheriff Russ Gibson] has not attempted to make an apology and has not acknowledged the wrongdoing of his department, he said. On the day that he intruded [in] our moment of despair and grief in the Osceola Regional Medical Center he couldnt even offer the truth. The hardest day for me was the first day we were throwing ladders, said Megan Sutton, 40. Thats a learning curve. Its so much bigger than you are. And you got to throw it on your shoulder. Hold it up and balance it. The chain saw and I dont always get along, either. Orta-Ochoas alleged role in the murder is unclear. Sergio Garcia Trujillo, who worked with the group for the Tampa job but left before the others went to Orange County, said in a deposition that a worker by the name of Benito Ortiz roomed with Pequenoginen at the Super 8. The workers often went by different names, he said. For example, Simon Acosta-Cabrales called himself Lucas. The first piece of furniture to go up in flames at Joalexis Riveras home was a bed, firefighters said. Then the pillows and the sheets. In a matter of minutes Rivera says it felt like less than 10 the fire had spread to the closet and turned his clothes to ash. Learning stenography is like learning another language, Jill Percy, director of court reporting for Orange Legal said. The stenographic court reporting machine has 24 keys and works phonetically. But awareness of the profession has declined, leading to a looming shortage of stenographers. A drop in enrollment has led to stenography schools closing. The industrys focus now is on pushing young professionals into the job and supporting them through tough schooling. Cleanup of the Chicken on AL Hwy 35 is underway. It took coordination to be able to close Hwy 35 down to one lane to allow the cleanup to be done safely, authorities wrote once they had tended to the mess. It took people who recognized the value of the Everglades and who worked tirelessly, sometimes obsessively, to protect a resource a lot of people didnt appreciate, said Poole, author of Saving Florida: Womens Fight for the Environment in the 20th Century. The women fighting to create the first state park couldnt vote but rallied grass-roots efforts to create power. They were not going to be deterred. They teach us a lot of lessons. If you want to get something done, apply constant pressure on decision makers to make a good decision. Starship is the name given to the second stage of SpaceXs future rocket design. The first stage is now referred to as Super Heavy. The combination of the two had been referred to as the BFR before November, as in Big Falcon Rocket. Marxist-Christian Nexus Exposed in Pattanam Excavations Christian evangelists are in an unholy alliance with the Communists to obliterate the religious and cultural symbols of Hindus and Hinduism in Bharat. And the Pattanam Excavations exposes their nexus in all its naked agression and duplicity G Sreedathan In an interview to Malayalam weekly Madhyamam on October 15, 2018, Prof. Vasanth Shinde, a veteran archaeologist with formidable reputation and Vice Chancellor of Deccan College, Pune, premier institution of archaeological research in India, has termed the excavations carried out by Kerala Council of Historical Research at Pattanam in Kerala as dubious. He completely rejected the claims made by the excavators as some of them seemingly lacked professional or academic expertise to carry out such an excavation. He was not alone. Eminent historians and archeologists such as Prof Dilip Chakrabarti, A. Sundara, MGS Narayanan, R Nagaswamy and T Satyamurti have also severely criticized the excavation sponsored and launched by the Left political parties and supported by dubious Christian organizations based abroad. Experts pointed out that the methodology used was dubious and reported as being false. Its links with questionable Church organizations in India and abroad and funding thereof had raised many eyebrows in the academic circles. Istvan Perczel from Hungary, one of the patrons of Pattanam, lauded it as the site where Apostle Thomas landed in India and ushered in Christianity in Bharat. The United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia based in New York supported PJ Cherian, an excavator of Pattanam, in his historical studies. The Liturgical Research Centre of the Syro Malabar Church organized national seminars in 2005 at Kochi, and in 2011 at Kalyan in Mumbai, for corroborating Pattanam, and Christianity. Federico de Romanis, Biblical scholar from University of Rome was invited in 2009 by KCHR to conduct classes in Latin and Greece. Dr NM Mathew, member of KCHR, is also a historian of the Malankara Marthoma Church. The Ministry of Home Affairs identified the foreign funds received by KCHR and cancelled its licence under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010. KCHR was accused of forging fake government documents, illegal appointments and financial irregularities running into several crores. It is also alleged that the KCHR obtained the licence for the Pattanam excavation after submitting fake documents to the Archaeological Survey of India. Prof K Rajan enters the scene Of late, one of the foremost propagandists of Pattanam is Prof K Rajan of Pondicherry University who is currently a member of the KCHR administration. Prof Rajan and Cherian jointly promote Pattanam. They link Pattanam with Kodumanal, Thandikudi, Porunthal Keezhadi and other archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu. When Rajan ignores serious allegations on duplicity on Pattanam and its Biblical agenda by eminent scholarship, it also raises serious doubts on sites in Tamil Nadu which he excavated and constantly associates Pattanam. R. Sivanantham, deputy director, Tamil Nadu state Department of Archaeology, officially arranged a lecture on Pattanam by Cherian on October 30, 2018. The programme was chaired by T Udhayachandran, Commissioner, Department of Archaeology, Tamil Nadu. The programme has been severely criticized by archaeologists. Archaeological Survey of India conducted an inquiry into the dubious methodologies adopted by the KCHR at Pattanam which was taken up by Amarnath Ramakrishna, the then superintendent archaeologist of the ASI, Bengaluru centre. His investigation has been suppressed but later Amarnath Ramakrishna also took up the Keezhadi excavation. The CPI(M) which launched Pattanam has openly supported Amarnath Ramakrishna who supervised Keezhadi which shows how the notorious nexus between Church and Left historians. It is alleged that Amarnath submitted a favourable report for Pattanam excavations. Carbon dating conducted at Pattanam, Keezhadi and Palani by Cherian, K Rajan and Amarnath Ramakrishna has been done by Beta Analytic Inc., Florida, USA, which has raised eyebrows. These sites have been presently interlinked by these excavators. Archeologists say that the interlinking of Keezhadi and Pattanam sites has strong undercurrents of secessionism. Marxist-Christian Nexus There are serious allegations that the linking of these Tamil Nadu sites with Pattanam is designed to project a Dravidian Christian identity to Southern India and help the Church stake political claims. The Left historians have always been aggressive instigators of the Aryan-Dravidian divide. They propagated the theory of British linguists Francis Ellis and Alexander Campbell that Dravidian languages fell into a different category far removed from the Aryan languages. Brian Houghton Hodgson promoted the term Tamulian as a racial construct, describing the so-called aborigines of India as primitive and uncivilized compared to the invading Aryans. Bishop Robert Caldwell launched the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu, carried forward by Bishop GU Pope. (http://www.vijayvaani.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?aid=4857) A few years ago, a prominent western evangelical portal carried an article which said how archeology can be an effective tool in evangelization. When the British set up the Archaeological Survey of India, they too had similar motives. Author and archaeologist Michel Danino, in an article Digging into the human mind writes that the motives of Alexander Cunningham, the first director-general of ASI, were not wholly disinterested. Cunningham hoped to show that Brahminism was of comparatively modern origin, and had been constantly receiving additions and alterations; facts which prove that the establishment of the Christian religion in India must ultimately succeed. (Muziris: Attimariyude Reethisasthram) The Next Vatican The motive behind the whole exercise is to establish that todays Hinduism in South India is a byproduct of Gnosticism (brought in to India by Romans and St Thomas) and its interactions with the inferior local culture and religions. In this project, the Church sees, in the Communists, a partner who shares many commonalities. Both the Church and the Communists want a total destruction of the Indian culture and traditions for achieving their ends. Systematic destruction of local traditions and culture by Communists in China paved the way for proliferation of Christianity in that country. Today, Christianity is the fastest growing religion in China. Old cultural traditions have been obliterated by communism; Christianity provides a compelling and compassionate alternative to the hollowness of the regimes materialism; and unlike Europe, which has largely rejected its Christian heritage in a decades-long spasm of anti-clericalism, Christianity in China rings up modern and humane, rather than pre-modern and inhumane. An effort to replicate the Liberation Theology, successfully experimented in the Latin American countries, is underway and the script for this was written way back in 1970s. In the Frontline Years, an anthology of his columns published in the Frontline magazine, EMS Namboodiripad writes: Such a movement (Liberation Theology) created by devout Christians is yet to develop in India. There are, however, clear signs that it is taking shape in this country as well. An example of this is provided by the doctoral thesis submitted by KA Paulson who later became Bishop Poulose Mar Poulose of a denomination of non-Catholic Christians in Kerala. He was a student in the University of Berkeley, California, working for a doctorate in Theology and submitted his thesis in October 1975. A study of the thesis makes it clear that Liberation Theology is coming into India to Kerala, to be specific. EMS further writes: While the Marxist should respect the sincerely-held faith of the Christians in God and Jesus Christ, devout Christians should respect the philosophical convictions of the Marxists; with this as basis, they both can proceed to get into dialogue on the practical questions of how to serve man(sic). (pages 47 & 51) Crusade against Sabarimala Like evangelicals, EMS, too, believes that the Ayyappa cult that preaches universal humanism poses a great threat to the Communist ideology. In reality, to believe that the belief systems represented by Ayyappa can be defeated without rallying the public against the physical circumstances that create thousands of Ayyappa devotees is a sort of utopianism, writes EMS Namboodiripad in Atmav, Daivam, Matham (page 47: published in 1983 Chinta Publishers). The Communist onslaught on Sabarimala shrine should also be viewed in this backdrop. It is a known fact that the Sabarimala temple has been a target of the Church. Destruction of Sabarimala and the Ayyappa cult which holds sway across all South Indian states is crucial to all evangelists. There are about 100 churches surrounding Sabarimala or on key points on the way to the shrine. The temple was burnt down in 1952 by some Christians, according to a commission report which is yet to see the light of the day. In the 1980s, a temple in Nilakkal, a key point in the Sabarimala pilgrimage, was destroyed and a cross was planted inside the temple. The cross was removed after public outrage. The concerted effort to rake up volatile Mullapperiyar dam issue religiously during every Sabarimala Mandala season by parties close to the Church is feared to be an attempt to disrupt the pilgrimage and scare the Tamils who form a major chunk of devotees to the shrine. Inculturation through newly minted myths and widening faultlines in Hinduism, holding one community against the other through false narratives of victimhood are some of the strategies adopted by the Leftists and anti-Hindu forces to destroy Sabarimala. These fabricated myths are then given legitimacy and publicity through the Left-liberal media. Pinarayi Vijayans aggressive push for young womens entry into Sabarimala by destroying the age-old traditions is aimed at converting the pilgrimage centre to a tourist destination. The move will also serve the business interests of the certain Christian groups. A proposed airport at Erumeli, likely to come up on land owned by an evangelical group, is part of this grand plan. Certain traditions in Sabarimala stand in the way of developing this region as a tourist spot and making the proposed airport a viable project. The temple, which now opens only in the Mandala season, should remain open 365 days if it should see regular inflow of pilgrims thereby making the airport a profitable proposition. Although it may seem that Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Front government has burnt its fingers while dealing with the Sabarimala issue given the public outrage, the adverse impact on the party may be temporary, as the Left had succeeded in sowing the seeds of disintegration of Hindu society, which is fast becoming a minority in the state. An analyst who predicted bleak future for Hinduism in Kerala in the face of diminishing political and economic clout said the Hindus are in the grip of Stockholm Syndrome. The CPI(M) will aggressively pursue its divide Hindu strategy, as it will start giving them political dividends in the near future. In the wake of surge in BJPs vote share in a previous election, a Left intellectual said the only way to keep the Left afloat is to divide Hindus and attract a section of minorities. The CPI(M) believes that its stand on Sabarimala has struck a chord with a section of minorities. The Party is confident that the ideological battle on this issue (Sabarimala) will provide new opportunities for the Party and the Left to reach newer sections. The present challenges will provide new opportunities for the Left to advance, writes S Ramachandran Pillai of CPI(M) in its mouthpiece Peoples Democracy. (The writer is Editor in Chief of Indus Scrolls) What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 716-372-3121 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. Yes. I would be the first in line. No. I don't trust that a vaccine will be safe. I plan to, but I want to wait to see effects of first doses. Not sure. Vote View Results 11/01/2019 - Countries should increase their co-operation and information sharing to enable them to deal more effectively and quickly with inflows of humanitarian migrants, according to a new OECD report. Ready to Help? Improving Resilience of Integration Systems for Refugees and other Vulnerable Migrants finds that the increase in the refugee population in OECD countries from about 2 million in mid-2013 to about 6 million today has had a highly concentrated impact, in geographical and demographic terms but also in terms of the type of services placed under pressure. While recent refugees are expected to increase the working-age population of European countries by 0.3% by the end of 2020, they face higher hurdles than other immigrant groups in integrating into the labour market, due to lower education levels and slow transition to employment. In some countries, the effect of the refugee inflow will be more apparent: in Austria, Greece and Sweden, recent refugees will increase the labour force by 0.5% and in Germany, by 0.8%. In Turkey, Syrian refugees already represent about 3% of the working-age population. Integration is as great a challenge if not greater than the challenges linked to initial reception of refugees and other vulnerable migrants, said Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, OECD Deputy Secretary-General, launching the report in Paris at the Policy Dialogue on the Integration of Refugees and other Vulnerable Migrants. Ensuring better integration requires an up-front investment. Building on the recommendations of the Global Compact on Refugees and OECD work, the report identifies a number of policies to improve integration. These include: Increasing international co-operation and collaboration. Countries were caught off-guard by the recent humanitarian refugee crisis, without an effective framework for sharing and using information to capture early signals of impending surges in demand, but also without an agreed mechanism for collaboration and mutual aid. Co-ordination with humanitarian, development and peace actors in developing countries hosting refugees 85% of the worlds refugees are in developing countries is also essential. Stepping up efforts to help refugees and vulnerable migrants find and stay in work. This includes improving transparency and simplicity in pathways to access the labour market; mainstream employment support; skills recognition; and language support. Working more closely with a wide variety of stakeholders involved in the integration of migrants, including civil society, the private sector, social partners, and government bodies at the sub-national level. In particular, employers have a key role to play, while coordination of national and local governments is necessary to improve buy-in, especially when people requesting protection are dispersed by central authorities to sub-national regions. Putting in place a clear long-term integration strategy, including provisions for return to origin countries when warranted. A crisis plan is also needed to identify partners, channels of communication and responsibilities in the face of large inflows of people seeking protection. Ready to Help? Improving Resilience of Integration Systems for Refugees and other Vulnerable Migrants addresses 22 key policy questions regarding how OECD countries can be better prepared. It is the result of joint work across different parts of the Organisation and examines recent experience, lays out areas of focus for policy-makers, points to concrete evidence and examples, and summarises the latest research. The report is available at http://www.oecd.org/migration/ready-to-help-9789264311312-en.htm. For more information, journalists should contact the OECD Media Division (tel. + 33 1 45 24 97 00). Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. There are other noteworthy approaches to improving action in the private sector, some of them beginning in New York City. Under Mayor Bloomberg, the city began grading restaurants based upon their safety and cleanliness. That gave prospective customers the option to determine whether to do business with those rated below A, and encouraged restaurants to raise their practices to higher levels to obtain higher grades. None of this is to say that the food supply is as risky now as it was in the pre-regulation days, when even such minimal inspections were not required. If we look back to the pre-FDA days of the 19th century, food safety abuses were rampant. Dairymen used formaldehyde as a preservative for rotting milk and were not prosecuted even when children died as result. Underlying all of this lies a bitter political history. To New York's African-American political leaders, there is a disturbing yet recurring pattern. To these leaders it seems that at many turns where there is an opportunity to advance minority empowerment, New York's white progressives have stepped in to block minority aspirations: Al Blumenthal jumping into the 1973 mayoral race in NYC to black Herman Badillo's ability to forge a multi-racial coalition; Bella Abzug gladly accepting Badillo and Percy Sutton's support in her 1976 Senate primary, which she narrowly lost to Moynihan, only to see Abzug turn around to run for mayor in 1977, snuffing out the mayoral aspirations of Sutton and Badillo; the nastiness of the Green-Ferrer mayoral run-off in 2001; and Zephyr Teachout jumping in to oppose Tish James for AG last year. Coming from the President's mouth, this denial carries about as much weight as the paper this is printed on or, if you're reading this on screen, the paper it's not printed on. There are no words that describe the feeling we have and the pain that causes us to know that a person with so many dreams has to go, mused Rodriguez. We must all unite in these difficult times, and ask for much peace for our beloved Puerto Rico. We have asked (the Mexican foreign minister to petition U.S. authorities) for a humanitarian visa for Chapo Guzmans mother, Maria Consuelo, his sister Hermilda and his other sister Bernarda, said one of Guzmans attorneys, Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza, at a press conference held in Mexico City on Thursday. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said Wednesday that there is nothing to stop us and there is so much more that we have to accomplish. But we were sent here to be ambitious, to make New York a beacon of hope and progress for the rest of our country. Youre going to see a new kind of approach in the hearings that we have, Waters told MSNBC recently. Theyre going to come right out with it. They wont be ashamed. They won't be afraid. They really believe in what they're doing. I think thats good for the institution. Both men were jointly indicted by Robert Mueller earlier this year with obstructing his Russia investigation by tampering with witnesses and withholding evidence. Manafort, who will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, has separately been convicted and pleaded guilty to a slew of fraud and failure to register as a foreign agent charges over his pro-Kremlin lobbying. "Our public servants are the ones who are bearing the actual economic and emotional costs of all this," Tabbador said. "Some of our judges have been asking about applying for unemployment and another judge is applying to put in a loan to meet his mortgage because otherwise he wouldnt be able to." During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity from the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump insisted he has the absolute right to declare a national emergency in order to circumvent Congress to get the $5.7 billion he wants for the wall. During the sit-down interview, Kelley claimed he was shocked when a warrant squad interrupted him playing the PlayStation game Dead By Daylight last week and took him into custody for what he thought was an old public urination charge. He said the gig led to ongoing employment with the cartel, and during a 2009 meeting at the kingpins mountain hideout, Chapo made the outlandish request that he install spyware in every internet cafe in Culiacan to give him access to all texts and calls made in the entire state of Sinaloa. Welcome to Daily News Weekly, our new video series where we highlight stories from the past week that you may have missed. Many family members of victims and people in Parkland, where the school is located, blame Israel for the agencys handling of the killer during interactions before the shooting and the way it handled the situation on the day of the massacre. Israels agency came under scrutiny over repeated visits to the school shooters home before the massacre, a deputys failure to enter the school and try to stop the shooting, and Israels assertion of amazing leadership in a widely panned cable television interview. The Kasinskases said Jayme was quiet and showed little emotion in the 20 minutes or so she spent in their home. She told them shed been abducted and that she didnt know where she was or anything about Gordon, a heavily forested town with a population of about 645. Hours after the grisly discovery, cops are still canvassing the woods near the crime scene in search of evidence and possibly Jayme. Every second counts in the case, a law official said at the time. "We do not have any other details at this time as this is a very fluid and active investigation," Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in a statement. I think the mother that had the courage and go on TV when her daughter was missing, saying that someone knew where she was at, said Patty. At that point in my mind, I thought that Patrick, and that was the only name I had heard him called, I didnt know his last name, had done something to her daughter and he knew where she was at. They tried to use their person of colour (POC) status as a way to justify cultural appropriation, while simultaneously being condescending towards the Asian woman who called them out for appropriating Chinese culture. Instead of listening and taking into consideration the critique, the company tried to falsely educate her, Ta said. This means that women are not reproducing fast enough to replace our population numbers. The replacement level fertility, as it is known, is 2,100 births per 1,000 women over their reproductive lifetime, the CDC said. In 2017 only South Dakota, with 2,227.5, and Utah, with 2,120.5, had a total fertility rate (TFR) above replacement level, the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics said in its National Vital Statistics Report released on Thursday. The District of Columbia had the lowest rate, with 1,421. He is being held at the Serbu Juvenile Justice Center in Eugene, Ore., and his arraignment is set for Friday, the Register Guard reported. Law enforcement agencies from across the region joined together late Thursday to search for a suspect. Davis police around 1:30 a.m. confirmed that the alleged gunman died from an an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at a house about a block away from where the car accident occurred. Theyd spent the hours before trying to coax him out of the residence, even goign as far to send a robot inside the detonated flash bang grenades, the Sacramento Bee reported. Jaron Allen Kubler, 29, had waived extradition and was brought from Washington to Forsyth, N.C. on Wednesday, then charged with the murder of Kayla Melissa Dubuque, 25, of North Wilkesboro. He told police hed stabbed her to death in the bathroom of his apartment, according to Fox8 in North Carolina. While none of the four men who were falsely accused are still alive, their families celebrated the pardon. The meeting of the Florida Cabinet was only supposed to be a discussion of the Groveland Four but, at the end of the meeting, Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a vote by the clemency board. Once inside, Jean-Pierre allegedly took two pre-made meals out of the fridge: chicken and asparagus. The chicken meal was then heated up in the microwave in the stations kitchen, but the vegetables were left untouched. Justice lived across the street from Gold Star Park and was with his fiancee, Kristi Buchholz, walking their Shih Tzu when he got into an argument with Oropeza, witnesses told NBC affiliate KYW at the time. Justice asked Oropeza to leash his dog, and Oropeza refused. After things escalated, Oropeza punched Justice in the face. He went down, hit his head on the sidewalk and died about half an hour later from a blunt impact trauma injury to the head," police told the Inquirer. His first victim, according to authorities, was Ramirez, who he picked up on September 3. Days later he picked up Luera, who became suspicious when she realized Ortiz was the last person to see Ramirez alive. When she exited his car, the border agent allegedly shot her multiple times in the head. Buschmann who has no permanent address was identified as the shooter and captured after a police pursuit early Wednesday morning. He has been charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, grand larceny of a motor vehicle among other charges, according to police reports. I heard a shuffling going on in the room where Anns work is currently hanging, Barrett-Freire said. The man looked down the staircase, and when he saw me, he ran. We will not tolerate our traffic agents being subject to abuse in any form, not the least of which is the ugly example we see in this video, NYPD spokesman Lt. John Grimpel said. NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agents responded to the area at the request of community members and local representatives who were concerned about illegal parking conditions that impede the flow of traffic, including emergency vehicles. This is disgusting behavior against an agent who was doing his job to keep New Yorkers safe while exhibiting restraint and professionalism. "If we're going to ask our cops to (intervene), we have to back them up," he said. "We're looking for the DA to work to indict Grissom. We're looking for the DA to charge Williams and to request bail. It's not just about the two cops, it's about all New York City cops and keeping them safe and it's about quite frankly keeping all New Yorkers safe." Police have arrested the two teens accused of stabbing a young man on the Upper West Side Thursday and leaving him bleeding to death and unable to open the door of a nearby pizzeria to seek help. (Joe Marino / New York Daily News) As a child rape victim, I live in constant fear that the defendant or his family will find me and cause me harm. I no longer feel safe at school; being alone; or in the presence of strangers particularly men. I tried to seek counseling but find it impossible to discuss being raped out of enormous sense of anxiety and personal shame, she said in a document filed in court. For months, Aylin Canon, 29, engaged in sexual conduct with a 13-year-old girl last year in multiple locations including Canons Manhattan apartment and at Public School 188, The Island School on the Lower East Side, according to the special commissioner of investigation for city schools. Aiya Tulemaganbetova (l.) and Richard Taverna meet for the first time and show off a $1,000 donation to a charity in Taverna's name at the 20th Precinct on Thursday in Manhattan. Taverna found Tulemaganbetova's purse with $10,000 in it at 66th St. station and turned it in. (Barry Williams for New York Daily News) He went about his business the way the ideal probationary firefighter should, Klein said. He earned his place in Canarsie by the way he carried himself and how he did everything the right way. There is not a doubt in my mind, or my fellow Canarsie firefighters' minds, that Steve would have filled the shoes and exceeded the expectations of his father Ray and brother Ray Jr. Christopher Myrie, 48, was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of Desean Cortez-Seaborne 24, a Virginia man whose body was found stuffed in a bag by a Wells Fargo bank, on Odell Ave. in Yonkers on Nov. 19. (Obtained by the New York Daily News) But Conrad, 35, and his attorneys argued in court that the video was meant to satirize racism by reversing roles in a play on the film American History X, in which white neo-Nazis perpetrate violent acts on a black man, BBC News reported. This put it in the realm of artistic license, his attorneys said. After many years of anticipation, Im thrilled that Coming to America 2 is officially moving forward, Murphy said in a statement. Weve assembled a great team that will be led by Craig Brewer, who just did an amazing job on Dolemite, and Im looking forward to bringing all these classic and beloved characters back to the big screen. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has accused northern elders of being silent in the face of the insecurity in t... Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has accused northern elders of being silent in the face of the insecurity in the region. The speaker said while the elders in Borno and other northern states criticised former President Goodluck Jonathan over killings, they have kept mum under the current administration. Dogara said this on Thursday while speaking at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign in Nasarawa state. He said the elders silence could be taken as enabling the poor management of security in the country, especially in the north. The 2019 general election is not about President Muhammadu Buhari, its not about Atiku Abubakar, but I said it is about you who are gathered here and it will be a referendum on insecurity and hunger in this land, he said. On the issue of insecurity, all of us know what is happening in Borno and, unfortunately too, between Abuja and Kaduna, as well as in Zamfara, Katsina, Nassarawa, Benue, Plateau and even Sokoto states. The issue is this, when this thing was going on under Jonathan, we had Borno elders always speaking. Where are the Borno elders now? Where are the leaders of northern Nigeria now that this problem has become endemic? What are they saying now? Are we not guilty of what we allow? Are we not responsible for the killings by our failure to say that enough is enough and demand a of right that President Buhari puts an end to this or leave if he cant? The truth is that if we dont rise up to the endemic challenges now, sooner than later, if things continue this way, we are not going to have a country. The speaker also condemned sycophants who elevate some public office holders to the status of God and called on Nigerians to rise up and rescue the country from the clutches of insecurity. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, vowed not to participate in the 2019 general elections. President of th... The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, vowed not to participate in the 2019 general elections. President of the union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi disclosed this in a bulletin. This came as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said that ad hoc staff, to be deployed for the conduct of the 2019 elections would undergo thorough screening to ascertain whether they have criminal records with the police and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. ASUU, in its bulletin said: In accordance with the ASUUs long standing position, ASUU as a Union will not participate in the conduct of 2019 general elections, although members may voluntarily participate in the conduct of the elections. ASUU also used the opportunity to make clarification on its face-off with the Federal Government over the minimum wage stating that the offer from the Federal Government towards resolving the demands of ASUU as contained in the 2017 Memorandum of Action, MoA, is still fluid and far from expectations. In a strike Bulletin 8 issued and signed by the President of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, a copy of which was obtained in Ibadan, ASUU asked members to await further developments on the strike which are rapidly unfolding. The bulletin reads: Though some progress has been made with respect to discussion with Government agents (The Minister of Labour and Employment as well as Minister of Education), at the moment, the proposal from Government towards resolving the demand of ASUU as contained in 2017 MoA and Strike Bulletin 1 is still too fluid and far from expectations. Ayuba Wabba, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says the federal governments advisory committee does not affect the inte... Ayuba Wabba, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says the federal governments advisory committee does not affect the interest of workers. Wabba said this in an interview with NAN in Abuja on Thursday. President Muhamamdu Buhari on Wednesday inaugurated a technical advisory committee on the implementation of the new minimum wage. Wabba said the union initially thought the committee was set up to renegotiate the minimum wage but discovered that it was not for that purpose. I think it is their own way of facilitating and mobilising their own resources for the implementation and also making sure that nothing is left undone and we do not have any problem with that. So, it is normal, I think, because initially we were thinking it is a committee that will renegotiate the new national minimum wage, but they said no, it is an internal process of government. So, it is not our problem, but essentially their own and it does not in any way affect our interest, government has the right to set up any committee and we are not even members of that committee. Wabba said the advisory committee would not in any way affect the timeline of January 23 agreement reached between the organised labour and the FG on the transmission of minimum wage bill to the national assembly. Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman to U.S.-led military coalition in Syria, has confirmed that they had begun the process of withdrawing troops f... Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman to U.S.-led military coalition in Syria, has confirmed that they had begun the process of withdrawing troops from Syria. Ryan said that the coalition fighting the Islamic State group, the U.S. started the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements, he said in a statement. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syrias northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. Confirmation of the first withdrawals comes amid confusion over plans to implement President Donald Trumps pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurds, who have been Americas partners on the ground in the war against the Islamic State group in Syria. The order to withdraw American troops from Syria had been signed, after President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart agreed to prevent a power vacuum in the wake of the controversial move. The announcement that US troops would leave the civil war-wracked country where they have been deployed to assist in the multinational fight against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group shocked global partners and American politicians alike. The execute order for Syria has been signed, a US military spokesperson told AFP when asked about the withdrawal order, without providing further details. Turkey was a rare ally that lauded Trumps momentous decision on Syria, a country where it will now have a freer rein to target US-allied Kurdish fighters who have played a major role in the war against IS but are deemed terrorists by Ankara. Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone on Sunday and agreed to ensure coordination between their countries military, diplomatic and other officials to avoid a power vacuum which could result following any abuse of the withdrawal and transition phase in Syria, the Turkish presidency said in a statement. Late Sunday, Trump tweeted that Erdogan had assured him that any remaining IS fighters in Syria will be eliminated. President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey has very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria, Trump said in a Tweet around midnight Sunday, using another acronym for the jihadist group. Repeating a pattern of admiring comments towards global strongmen, Trump added that Erdogan is a man who can do it. The security lapses in and around the National Assembly Complex seems to have worsened, with three members offices looted by thieves wi... The security lapses in and around the National Assembly Complex seems to have worsened, with three members offices looted by thieves within the week. On Wednesday, office of the lawmaker representing Lagos West Senatorial District and wife of the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was looted, with computers and other devices stolen. Also on Wednesday, the office of a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Muhammed Gausu Boyi, representing Ringim/Taura Federal Constituency, Jigawa State, was burgled, with valuable items carted away. Mrs. Tinubu, in a statement issued on Thursday night by legislative aide, Nifemi Aje, disclosed that an HP laptop computer, Smile internet modem, some copies of the Nigerian Constitution, machine box attached to the Closed Circuit Television camera, among others, were stolen by the yet-to-be identified thieves. Tinubu disclosed that report of the theft has been lodged at the National Assemblys Police Post. Boyi, in a petition to the Sergeant at Arms, Brig.-Gen Mohammed Sani (retd.), reported that his office had been emptied by the thieves. According to the letter dated 10th January, 2019, listing items missing from his office, Boyi said two Samsung Plasma Television sets, two HP photocopying machines, one water dispenser, one Samsung refrigerator and a printer were stolen. The lawmaker, in the letter he signed, said his office assistance, Mr. Abba Yusuf, discovered the burglary in the early hours of Thursday when he resumed for work. He noted in the letter that a similar report had been made at the office of the Divisional Police Officer of the National Assembly Division of the Nigeria Police. Another member of the House, Mr. Muazu Lawal, from Zamfara State, also reported to both the Sergeant-at-Arms and the DPOs office that his office was burgled in December 2018. The DPO, Mr. Umar Sambo, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed that the incidents had been reported to the division, saying that investigations of the crimes were already ongoing. The offices were locked when our correspondent visited them. When contacted, Sergeant at Arms Sani declined to comment on the thefts. It was reported on December 9, 2018, how thieves were vandalising cars and stealing their batteries on the premises of the National Assembly. Several cars had been vandalised in recent times, including that of our Correspondent. The incident was reported at the Crime Office of the National Assembly Division of the Nigeria Police, where our Correspondent was told that several similar cases of vandalism and theft had been reported at the unit. In spite of lodging the complaint, none of the officers on duty requested our Correspondent to lead them to the vehicle for inspection. Indications emerged, yesterday, that chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, may lose his position unl... Indications emerged, yesterday, that chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, may lose his position unless President Muhammadu Buhari changes his mind. It was learned that the EFCC boss may be asked to pursue further studies in order to advance his career in the Nigeria Police Force where he is already a commissioner, as the Presidency has vetted two top police chiefs as replacement. One of the very reliable sources confirmed that the EFCC chairman who had defied all odds to cling to his job, despite being denied confirmation by the Senate, is likely to be given a dignified exit out of the job by the Presidency so as not to be seen as having been used and dumped by the Buhari administration. A Presidency top official, who is privy to the plan, told Vanguard that Magu was likely to be asked to proceed on further studies at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos, where top bureaucrats are groomed for higher offices. Magu does not defer to anyone and does not want to keep any agreement with anyone. The plan to remove him has reached an advanced stage and nobody except the President himself can stop the hand of the ticking clock, said a top Presidency official who did not want to be named. Vanguard also reports that as the plot to oust Magu thickened, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has begun moves to stall his removal from office, describing him as the face of the Buharis anti-corruption war. The plan to remove him has reached an advanced stage and nobody except the President himself can stop the hand of the ticking clock, said a top Presidency official who did not want to be named.Vanguard also reports that as the plot to oust Magu thickened, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has begun moves to stall his removal from office, describing him as the face of the Buharis anti-corruption war. It was gathered that Osinbajo had already gone behind those planning to remove him to tell Buhari that any attempt to remove Magu would stifle the corruption fight and send a wrong signal to the international community, which had been hailing Nigeria in the past. It was gathered that Osinbajo had already gone behind those planning to remove him to tell Buhari that any attempt to remove Magu would stifle the corruption fight and send a wrong signal to the international community, which had been hailing Nigeria in the past. One of those close to Magu said the acting chairman was aware of the plot but had resigned to fate, hoping that President Buhari would save his job. An EFCC official confirmed, yesterday, that Magu was saddened by the move to remove him, despite putting his life and career on the line to fight for the country. The official cited the prosecution and conviction of no fewer than 317 corrupt elements in the country between January and December 2018. However, efforts to reach Magu to confirm the development proved abortive, as he neither picked calls placed to his known telephone lines nor responded to text messages sent to him. Special Assistant on Media to Magu, Mr. Tony Amokeodo, also declined to comment on the development, saying he was just hearing the issue for the first time from our correspondent. The police have whisked Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, to an unknown location. Since he was arrested last week, Me... The police have whisked Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, to an unknown location. Since he was arrested last week, Melaye has been in a police hospital in Garki, Abuja, after he reportedly slumped. The police have accused Melaye of culpable homicide and alleged that his supporters shot one Danjuma Saliu, a police officer, in Kogi state on July 19. Although the senator has been in the hospital since his arrest, the police have said he is fit to stand trial. According to TheCable, a source revealed on Friday that Melaye is being moved contrary to the advice of some medical experts. The source said there is a probability that he is being taken to Lokoja despite the fact that the Kogi judiciary is on strike. Experts at the police hospital told them [police] to take him to a more better hospital. They are taking him to an unknown destination and it is against medical advise, the source said. If it is Lokoja they are taking him to, the Kogi state judiciary is actually on strike. They may just arrange for one judge who will listen to them and will remand him in prison indefinitely and that will go beyond election time. Another source said: Police stormed Melayes hospital today and they have taken to him an undisclosed location. Nobody knows where they are taking him to. If the police are successful, it will be the eighth time Melaye will be arraigned in court. Another source also claims that suspected masked policemen on Friday invaded the Police Clinic where Senator Dino Melaye is taken treatment and whisked him away to an unknown destination. He was believed to have been taken to Lokoja, Kogi State, for interrogation over the alleged shooting of one Sgt. Danjuma Aliu by suspected political thugs. A close associate of the lawmaker, who craved anonymity said Melaye was taken away from the hospital around 2:15 pm Friday in commando style. The Force PPRO at Force Headquarters, Abuja, Jimoh Moshood, promised to get back to our reporter when he was called for confirmation of the news. Another source also claims that suspected masked policemen on Friday invaded the Police Clinic where Senator Dino Melaye is taken treatment and whisked him away to an unknown destination. The senator surrendered to the police following a siege to his Abuja residence which lasted for about eight days. The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation on Thursday accused the All Progressives Congress and the police of inst... The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation on Thursday accused the All Progressives Congress and the police of instigating crises and attacking its members. It also cautioned that Nigerians might no longer tolerate such alleged acts ahead of the elections. The Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated that the PDP PCO particularly condemned Wednesdays unwarranted attack and use of brute force, including firing of tear gas by the police against thousands of members of the PDP in Gumel, Jigawa State. He alleged that the attack was instigated by agents of the Buhari Presidency and the APC to forcefully stop the PDP rally in the state. Ologbondiyan said, The PPCO equally condemns the unprovoked invasion and violent attack on the Ondo State campaign office of the PDP presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku, by armed thugs sponsored by the APC. This is in addition to a series of other attacks by the APC and the police, including arresting and detaining our members on trumped-up charges, as well as pulling down our campaign materials in various states of the federation. He added, It is now clear that the Buhari Presidency, having realised that its smear campaigns against our party and presidential candidate cannot change the resolve by Nigerians to rally behind our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has now resorted to physically attacking and unleashing violence against our members. We know that the Buhari Presidency had to deploy brute force to disrupt our rally in Jigawa State when it realised the rally would amplify and reinforce President Buhari and the APCs rejection, particularly in their supposed stronghold, the North-West. He accused the police of intimidating and attacking the PDP members in a bid to intimidate the people across the nation. He said they had it on good authority that the attack on the PDP presidential campaign office in Ondo was allegedly coordinated by the APC, which, he said, was now in a frenetic mode over the soaring popularity of the party and Atiku in the South-West geopolitical zone. The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council says it will cover all the 36 states of the federation and the Feder... The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council says it will cover all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within the stipulated campaign period. The National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents at the end of the maiden meeting of the Council, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Thursday. He said that the meeting reviewed the programme of activities and calendar of campaigns for the presidential campaign. According to him, the APC intends to campaign across the length and breadth of the country, to canvass for votes for the party at all levels. The key issue was to go through the programme of activities, calendar of campaigns, various interest groups within the country, the business community, the youth, women, people with disabilities and various special interest groups. The whole country is Mr Presidents constituencies. So, he will have to visit each of the 36 states with appropriate message. You know in the country today, given the challenges of survival tends to forget where we are coming from; they just look at where we are. There is a saying that except you know and remember where you are coming from, you cannot appreciate where you are. Even in the life of a man, those who look at those in their front will never thank God enough but when you look at your back and see those behind then you will appreciate that you have made a lot of progress. So, you need to constantly remind Nigerians of what happened in the last 16 years and what has changed over the past three and half years, and what will change even more over the next four years, if given the mandate to continue and consolidate, he said. Buruji Kashamu, senator representing Ogun east, has called on his supporters to work with Ladi Adebutu ahead of the presidential a... Buruji Kashamu, senator representing Ogun east, has called on his supporters to work with Ladi Adebutu ahead of the presidential and governorship polls in Ogun state. Kashamu and Adebutu had been at loggerheads over the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Although the party had recognised Adebutu as its candidate, Kasahamu vowed to fight till the end. In December, a court of appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo state, reserved judgement in the case between two politicians. But in a statement on Thursday, Kashamu directed his supporters and associates to work with members of Adebutu group in the interest of the party. It is true we are in court. But, we are hopeful that the issues will be resolved sooner than later. However, in the overall interest of the party, it is better and wiser for us to work together as members of the same family pending the resolution of the issues in court, he said. We may have had our disagreements and issues, and have submitted them to the court for adjudication; yet, we have been talking to one another. We reckon that whichever way it goes, the court cannot bring about genuine reconciliation and peace. So, we have resolved to be agents of peace and reconciliation. Let us put aside our ego, prejudices and personal interests, and work together for the Party in the hope that whoever carries the day will work for the Party, its members and the generality of the people. It is in the light of the foregoing that I wish to formally and publicly urge all my leaders, elders and supporters to work with the Lado group within the Ogun State chapter of the PDP ahead of February 16 and March 2, 2019 elections. Irrespective of our differences, we are members of the same family. At the end, it is the party that wins; not any individual or group. He said the ongoing unity meetings and rallies between the two groups should be intensified, adding that it would be capped with a mega unity rally to be held at a later date. The United Nations says that there are increased prospects that the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria will be peaceful and credib... The United Nations says that there are increased prospects that the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria will be peaceful and credible. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Chambas, said this in his latest briefing to the Security Council. Chambas said: In Nigeria, tensions are high ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections of Feb. 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections of March 2. However, the prospects for peaceful and credible elections have been increased following the signing of the National Peace Accord in Abuja on Dec. 11, 2018. Over the coming weeks, I will continue to engage actively with all stakeholders in Nigeria, including through the organisation of peace fora in the key states of Benue, Rivers, Kaduna and Kano. The UN envoy said since his last briefing to the Security Council, further progress had been made in democratic consolidation in West Africa and the Sahel, in spite of persisting security challenges. In the past six months, presidential elections were successfully organised in Mali, regional and parliamentary elections were held in Mauritania and Togo and local elections were organised in Cote dIvoire. However, despite appreciable progress in democratic consolidation in the region, there is a need for continuous efforts to address contentious issues around elections. This is to prevent and mitigate election-related violence, as well as to support inclusive dialogue as a key attribute of inclusive societies. This is even more important as over the next six months, the region will see several high-stake elections in Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania and Benin. He expressed regret over the rising number of attacks and the increasing sophistication in the tactics deployed by extremist groups, saying it risks undermining the collective efforts in the region. Military solutions, while necessary, are not sufficient, Chambas said, encouraging all actors to ensure holistic responses, grounded in the respect of human rights, and the socio-economic needs of the population in the affected areas. Through inclusive approaches predicated on national ownership, we must continue to work hard on addressing the governance deficits, the extreme poverty and lack of development that feed and sustain armed violence and extremism, he said. He said Boko Haram attacks in the Lake Chad Basin over the last months had increased, especially in Borno and Yobe during the last week of December alone. Violent clashes between farmers and herders are also continuing, although on a lesser scale, thankfully, than in the first half of 2018, he said. In its efforts towards advancing the long-term stabilisation goals of the region, Chambas said UNOWAS continued to work closely with regional partners, including ECOWAS, the G-5 Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). Laudable progress was made in the implementation of Security Council resolution 2349 (2017) to support a regional response to the crisis in the Lake Chad Basin. On 30 August, the LCBC Ministerial Council adopted a Regional Strategy for Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram-affected areas of the Lake Chad Basin. The meeting took place before the high-level conference on the Lake Chad region, which was held from September 3 to 4 in Berlin, during which partners pledged over $2 billion to help meet the needs of the more than 17 million people affected by this crisis. He also commended the holding of the ECCAS-ECOWAS joint Summit on July 30 in Lome as an important step towards addressing cross border threats facing West and Central Africa. As one of the key outcomes of the summit, Heads of State and Government affirmed their readiness to enhance the inter-regional collaboration. It is to jointly address threats to peace and security, including from violent extremism. The UN envoy said the leaders also committed to holding regular meetings to identify measures for the prevention and peaceful management of farmer-herder conflicts. (NAN) Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the commission will not disappoint Nigeria in t... Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the commission will not disappoint Nigeria in the conduct of the forthcoming general election. Yakubu made the pledge when he received Bernhard Schlagheck, German ambassador to Nigeria, during a courtesy visit to the commission on Thursday in Abuja. He said the commission is aware that the world is watching, adding that what happened in 2015 was certainly not a fluke. Yakubu said the commission hopes that 2019 would be a further affirmation of the maturity of Nigerias democracy. We are aware that the eyes of the world are on Nigeria for the reasons you have mentioned and more. We are also aware that in 2015 Nigeria conducted elections that were commended around the world. We have been a beneficiary of the elections. Each time we traveled on election observation around the world, people not only to praise the achievements of Nigeria in 2015, but wish to learn on the experience of Nigeria. It is 36 days today from the 2019 election; already the long term observation mission of the European Union is in Nigeria for the election, this is a further affirmation of the interest of the international community on elections. Yakubu commended the German Government and other international development partners for their support to INEC and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commission (ECONEC) member countries. He said: What Nigeria achieved in 2015 and what we hope to achieve in 2019 is not just in the handiwork of what you see in the commission, but also the commission we received from the international community. So we appreciate these supports and I want to assure you that we will not let the world down. Former minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode has continued to insist that the National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC)... Former minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode has continued to insist that the National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu slumped, collapsed and was rushed to the hospital shortly after he was appointed Chairman of Buharis Campaign Council. Fani-Kayode had urged Nigerians and particularly the Yorubas to pray for him stating despite their political differences he loves Bola Tinubu. The 58-year old had added that something similar happened to Tinubu last year when he was appointed Chairman of the APC Reconciliation Commitee, he lost his son. He tweeted: Last year on the day that Bola Tinubu was appointed Chairman of the APC Reconciliation Commitee,he lost his son. 3 days ago, on the day that he was appointed Chairman of Buharis Campaign Council, he slumped, collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where he remains till today. His story had turned out to be false as Tinubu attended the APC Presidential council meeting yesterday but the former aviation minister has insisted that his story is true and would stand by it. He posted this Tweet after photos of Tinubu with President Buhari at a meeting in Abuja on Thursday morning surfaced online. Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has revealed how he spurned the bribe from the Federal Government to construct a road to his v... Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has revealed how he spurned the bribe from the Federal Government to construct a road to his village as a way of holding him in the All Progressives Congress, APC. Speaking at a rally in Silame, Sokoto to flag off the PDP campaigns in Sokoto State, Tambuwal fumed at the hunger in the country and what he described as the incompetence of the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government in tackling the insecurity problems in the country. Charging voters to vote out the APC from all levels of government, Tambuwal assured that the PDP would win every available position in Sokoto State to punish the APC for its hatred for the people of Sokoto State. Noting the effort to restrain him from leaving the APC, he said: When they realised I was about to leave the APC, they hurriedly packaged a road contract in my village to plead with me not to leave. We cannot continue to tolerate a government that has abandoned his people. The APC hates to invest in our people. Sokoto State will punish the APC at the elections. We will mobilise our people to come out enmasse to vote for PDP. We dont make empty boasts like our opponents. We speak with our thumbs and PVCs and by next month, we will humble them, he submitted. Sokoto is a PDP state, there is no doubt about that. No matter what some propagandists may say, this state will be delivered to PDP 100 percent. How can anyone claim that 50,000 of our solid and faithful members defected to APC in the small courtyard of Senator Wamakko. We cannot be detained by the past, especially by those who plundered the state resources and wanted us to keep quiet. By the special grace of Allah, there will be no retreat, no surrender. We will not surrender our state to people who do not mean well for our people he added. Noting what he described as his refusal to plunder the economy of the state as reportedly done by his predecessor, he said: The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has handed over the N100 billion generated from last months Sukuk issued by the Debt Mana... The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has handed over the N100 billion generated from last months Sukuk issued by the Debt Management Office (DMO). Speaking at a brief ceremony in Abuja yesterday, she said the Sukuk was a demonstration of the federal government commitment to funding the nations infrastructure by mobilising both public and private funds to bridge the existing gap. N100 billion Sukuk will also be deployed to financing infrastructure, in keeping with the Governments commitment to bridging the infrastructural gap. She stated: The proceeds of this second SovereignN100 billion Sukuk will also be deployed to financing infrastructure, in keeping with the Governments commitment to bridging the infrastructural gap. N16.67 billion. The proceeds will be for the Construction and Rehabilitation of Twenty-Eight (28) key economic Road Projects in the 2018 Budget. The Road Projects are located in the six (6) Geo-political Zones of the country with each Zone having a total allocation ofN16.67 billion. In his remarks, the Minister of Works Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, pledged to immediately disburse the N100 billion to contractors working on 28 road projects across the country. In his remarks, the Minister of Works Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, pledged to immediately disburse the N100 billion to contractors working on 28 road projects across the country. According to him, the money was evenly disbursed to identified critical road projects with each geo-political zone receiving N16. 7 billion. The Director-General of the DMO, Ms. Patience Oniha, who provided more details on the Sukuk, said that more private investors were investing in infrastructure through Sukuk and other federal government bonds. Her team, she said, would step up sensitization for greater participation, even among retail investors who accounted for over 17 per cent of the last issuance. Her team, she said, would step up sensitization for greater participation, even among retail investors who accounted for over 17 per cent of the lastissuance. N32.2 billion, explaining that it was part of the New Domestic Borrowing in the 2018 Budget to finance road projects across the country. It had a 7-year tenure with 15.743% rentals and due in 2025. She also disclosed that the N100 billion Sovereign Sukuk issued in December 2018 was oversubscribed byN32.2 billion, explaining that it waspart of the New Domestic Borrowing in the 2018 Budget to finance road projects across the country. It had a 7-year tenure with 15.743% rentals and due in 2025. According to her, Retail Investors accounted for 17.33% of the Total Allotment compared to 4% recorded in the debut Issuance, indicating that the stated objectives of financial inclusion and deepening of the investor base for FGN securities, in addition to infrastructure funding are being achieved. Oniha added that the high level of subscription and participation by a diverse range of investors demonstrate the high level of investor confidence in the Fund, particularly, because the road projects funded with the proceeds of the first Sukuk that was issued in 2017 were evident for all to see. She said, The Twenty-Five (25) Road Projects, which benefited from the debut Sukuk have resulted in improved transportation across the six (6) geo-political zones. For alleged involvement in examination malpractice in the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, the Edo State Governme... For alleged involvement in examination malpractice in the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, the Edo State Government has suspended 28 principals of public senior secondary schools in the state. The Commissioner for Education, Emmanuel Agbale, made this known in a memo to the states Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, where he said that 28 private secondary also faced the threat of being deregistered or de-recognised for involvement in examination malpractice in the 2018 WASSCE. According to Agbale, the decision to suspend the affected principals followed the receipt of a report of investigations by the West African Examination Council that cancelled the results of affected candidates and derecognised the schools for two years with effect from 2019. For private schools, Agbale ordered that a query be sent to 28 private secondary schools to explain, within, 72 hours, why they should not be deregistered or de-recognised for involvement in examination malpractice in the 2018 WASSCE. The commissioner also said that seven other principals of public senior secondary schools were reprimanded and 16 private schools issued warning letters for complicity, as the principals would remain suspended until their arraignment before the Teachers Disciplinary Committee to determine their culpability. The suspended principals were from Ikpeshi Grammar School, Evboesi Mixed Secondary School, Obanosa Secondary School, Igbanke Grammar School, Iru Grammar School, Osasinmwin-Oba Secondary School, Holy Trinity Grammar School, Ozalla Secondary Commercial School, Oza Grammar School, Esigie Comprehensive College, Government Science and Technical College, New Era College, and Ojirami Mixed Secondary School. Others were Dagbala Secondary School, Uma Secondary Commercial School, Asoro Grammar School, Opoji Secondary Commercial School, Afuda Secondary School, Anegbette Secondary School, Oguola College, Urhokuosa Mixed Secondary School, Egbede Community Grammar, Obadan Mixed Secondary School, Ugiamwen Secondary School, Umagbae Grammar School, Ikpiti Grammar School, Ugbine Secondary School and Uzebba Grammar School. Principals who were issued warnings were from Ore-Nolomi Secondary School, Mixed Secondary School, UgbokoNumagbae, Iruekpen Grammar School, Akugbe Secondary School, Ujoelen Grammar School, Uhiele Grammar School and Osomhe Secondary School. Agbale said private schools whose managements were queried were Federal Staff Business College, Zenith Model Education Centre, Hizbullah Secondary School, Calvary Secondary School, Gracious Secondary School, Eden City College, Lilmak Secondary, Jobamoh Uni. Secondary School, Jubilee Academy Secondary School, Gabmay Secondary School, Ultimate College, Gentry National High School and Excel Secondary School. The police have explained the reason Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, was relocated to another hospital. We had re... The police have explained the reason Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, was relocated to another hospital. We had reported that Melaye was moved from the police hospital where he had been receiving treatment. In a statement on Friday, Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman, said Melaye was moved to a health facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) following complaints by the lawmaker that he is not getting better. Senator Dino Melaye was taken for medical attention at the Police Clinic, Abuja, after he surrendered himself for arrest on 4th January, 2019, Moshood said in the statement. The police medical team at the police hospital, Abuja certified that senator Dino Melaye is well and healthy to stand trial after treating him. However, due to the complaint from senator Dino Melaye that he is not well, the Police Investigation Team has taken him this afternoon to another government hospital, DSS medical facility in Abuja for further medical attention. The police investigation team obtained a 14 day remand warrant from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on 9thJanuary, 2019, to keep senator Dino Melaye in police custody for investigation into the case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide against him till 23rd January, 2019. It is incorrect as reported in some sections of the media that senator Dino Melaye was moved by masked armed policemen to an undisclosed location and that his where about is unknown. The police officer, Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, is yet to recover from the gunshot injury he sustained during the attack and still under intensive medical care in the hospital. However, an associate of the senator accused the police of dumping Melaye at the DSS facility. The senator surrendered to the police following a siege to his Abuja residence which lasted for about eight days. The police have accused Melaye of culpable homicide and alleged that his supporters shot one Danjuma Saliu, a police officer, in Kogi state on July 19. Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has alleged that the Saraki family has cornered Kwara states commonwealth in... Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has alleged that the Saraki family has cornered Kwara states commonwealth in the past 40 years. He said the Saraki dynasty in Kwara had rendered the quality of life of the people to the lowest point. The minister made the allegation on Thursday in Ilorin at a ceremony organised by the Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC). He said: The main issues here have to do with how our state has been governed in the past 50 years, 40 of which have been dominated by a single family. What has happened to the commonwealth, which has been cornered by a single dynasty at the expense of the people. Where are the roads and other infrastructure to justify the huge resources that have accrued to the state? If you follow a path for so long, and it leads you nowhere, wont you try another path? These are the issues. The minister said despite the stance of Senate President Bukola Saraki, his loyalists from Kwara were still occupying executive positions. He said some of Sarakis loyalist holding federal executive positions will soon be shown the way out. Some of the people they nominated to the boards of governments agencies and parastatals are still there, yet they claim that Kwara has not benefitted from this federal government, the minister said. These people, some of whom are holding executive positions, will soon be shown the way out. Mohammed said the issues the APC is concerned with in Kwara have to do with good governance and better life for the people. President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that the federal government will look into the issue of illegal tax collections to encourage mo... President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that the federal government will look into the issue of illegal tax collections to encourage more private sector businesses to thrive in the country. The president made the pledge when he received the leadership of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria (AUFCDN) led by Ali Tahir. Buhari told the delegation that his administration has genuine intentions to eliminate illegal taxes in the country, despite the fact that old habits die hard. The president was responding to a request by the association on the need for the federal government to curb the unhealthy practice of illegal tax collections. He said: I am appalled to learn that these illegal tax collections still persist. Bad habits are not easily dropped. But let me assure you that relevant security agencies will be reminded of their duties in preventing these bad practices and safeguarding people like you who go about their legitimate businesses. I will take up all your appeals and complaints in due course and together with state governments, we will attend to your proposals. While describing the association as very important and strategic to the nations economy, Buhari said: The merchandise and products you trade in are basic to any economy. The real wealth of this country lies in agriculture and livestock rearing. The president pledged that the administrations continuous assistance to the sector, noting that some of the more advanced countries like Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark built their economies primarily on agriculture and livestock trade. On the 2019 elections, Buhari welcomed the associations support for his administration, recalling that they also demonstrated their solidarity for his candidacy in the build-up to the 2015 elections. A delegation of traditional rulers from the Southwest has visited the Presidential Villa on Friday where President Muhammadu Buhari urge... A delegation of traditional rulers from the Southwest has visited the Presidential Villa on Friday where President Muhammadu Buhari urged them to use their grassroots connections to foster peaceful elections. The delegation was led by the Ooni of Ife, and Co-chair of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. According to Buhari, those who fear that their persons or their policies cannot win elections might resort to incitements to violence. He, therefore, stressed that the young people must not be left to those who would instigate violence and cause others to lose their property or lives. We are determined to keep order and I hope Your Highnesses are on the same page with us. Buhari also reiterated the commitment of his administration to infrastructural development across the nation. In every state in Nigeria, we are doing at least one major road project. In the Southwest, we are completing the Lagos to Ibadan expressway. The reconstruction of this road, which is the busiest in Nigeria, had not been given the attention it deserved till now. We will complete the first phase of railway, Lagos to Ibadan by the end of this month. We are also working on several power projects in the Southwest; of importance is the imminent completion of power supply to Ondo South where many of the local governments have not had power for years. The president said that the nation could only develop if resources were spent on the people and facilities that would promote commerce and create jobs. He commended the traditional rulers, especially the people of Southwest for setting the example of religious tolerance and unity. It is to your credit as traditional rulers that such harmony between religions has been achieved. He also thanked the traditional rulers for the solidarity visit, adding, I am very much encouraged and your support makes me even more determined to work with the best of my ability for this country and its people. Oba Ogunwusi had earlier commended the president for placing the completion of the Lagos Ibadan expressway on the front burner. He also commended the administration for giving priority to the Lagos to Ibadan rail line. The traditional rulers expressed appreciation to the president for the posthumous recognition given to M.K.O Abiola as President of Nigeria, urging him to continue the good works, while assuring that history would be kind to him. They also asked for more developmental projects in the region. Also on the delegation were the Alake of Egbaland, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, the Olukare of Ikare Akoko, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Deji of Akure and the Alayemore of Ido Osun. American political risk consultancy firm, Eurasia Group, has said that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP... American political risk consultancy firm, Eurasia Group, has said that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will enrich himself and his cronies if he wins the presidential elections. The group, however, said Atiku, because of his better health and keener intellect compared to President Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, would create a brief, superficial boost to the countrys image. The Eurasia Group said this in an annual report it published on December 7 for 2019. The report says Atiku is a gerontocrat who would focus on enriching himself and his cronies, avoiding the difficult and politically unpopular tasks necessary for reform. Eurasia Groups Top 10 risks report put Nigeria as the 10th risk with a focus on the nations February 2019 elections. Nigeria heads to the poll in the next 36 days. A former Vice President, Atiku will be contending with about 59 candidates for the post of presidency. However, Atikus main contender will be President Buhari, who he left behind in APC to run for the presidency under the PDP. Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the ooni of Ife, has advised Nigerians to vote whoever they desire to be their president in the forthcoming e... Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the ooni of Ife, has advised Nigerians to vote whoever they desire to be their president in the forthcoming election. The monarch made the comment on Friday after leading south-west monarchs on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock villa, Abuja. Speaking with state house correspondents, he said the visit was not political but to discuss developmental issues that have to do with the south-west. The monarch: Election is so close by and obviously tension will build. What is critical is for us to know that Nigeria is greater than all of us. They (politicians) will come and they will go but Nigeria will remain. We traditional rulers who are very fortunate to still be alive, we have experienced many presidents, many governors. A president cannot use more than eight years, that is in the constitution of Nigeria, so Nigeria is greater than the president whose maximum tenure is eight years. So, our message to everyone in Nigeria is that please, especially Nigerian youth, go and vote for whoever you want to vote for. Mr. President even said it by himself, it is not a do or die. Whatever you want to use your power of your thumb for, go ahead and do it. We are not here for politics. We are fathers to all, very close to our people, the only politics we understand is politics of development. We are here to talk about development for our people in all the states of the south-western Nigeria. We are here to point out the good things Mr. President has been doing especially the cordial relationship with the Vice-President who is from the south-western part of the country. We are here to further request from Mr. President good things that we want for our various states. When you are doing good you will first of all appreciate the good things before asking for more. What is critical for us here is to champion development for our people. We spoke about the inclusion of youth in the current government and also women inclusion. In terms of demography of votes pattern, we know that everything rest on the shoulders of Nigerian youths, we want to see them in this cabinet. The monarch described the south-west as the only zone that you can call a typical Nigeria because it is a blend of everybody, all the tribes of this nation you will find them in the south western Nigeria. He added: So as result, we play pivotal role in anything that has to do with decision making in Nigeria, as a zone we are even the second largest in terms of voting demography and numbers. The shame Shame on them all. Shame on the entire Congress and President Trump. While they work out their little standoff, the only people suffering from this are the 800,000 federal employees and their families. Granted, they will eventually get paid, but how many of us could really function without paychecks for very long? And all of this for what? So both sides can prove to their followers they didnt cave. They should all be removed from office for treason against the American people. Blame Obama It is not the police chief nor the police, it is former President Barack Obama who is to blame for letting the guns in by signing the bill that he did. So the Police Department does not need to be blamed. What else? All any of the Democrats need to know about House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is that they are for sanctuary cities. They are for making it illegal for police to do their job when it comes to illegal crime. What else do you need to know? Traffic woes I live in the area near Rogers Pharmacy. When is something going to be done about that traffic situation? The traffic backs up on Fairleigh Terrace trying to get out on Frederick Avenue. The customers at Rogers Pharmacy pull in and out at will. They dont pay any attention to the traffic waiting to turn onto Frederick Avenue. Something need to be done about it. On the left Elizabeth Warren is so far to the left in politics her left hand snuck around her back and broke her right arm. A chance We really need Mexicans in the United States because no one will do the work that they do. If we need the jobs filled, they work hard. They deserve the chance to come in here and work hard. Read it The column titled Trump era takes toll on faith in America does not mean it takes a toll on religion. It means the Trump era takes a toll on the faith Hispanics had that they could have a better life in America. Trump says and does so much that makes them think they cant. Pay up This is a comment about the shootings in St. Joseph. What I think really is going to be the easiest solution is if the City Council and city of St. Joseph will get off their duffs and increase the funding for the Police Department so they can do their job properly. They are understaffed and overwhelmed. City, give us some money. Jordans wall On Wednesday, Lou Dobbs on FOX News stated that U.S. taxpayers are paying for a border wall in Jordan. My guess is that Democrats and Republicans alike voted in favor of that, yet they refuse to protect our borders. No hate I am one of the very many Christian Democrats and we dont hate anyone. We just dont like a government of We, the corporation. And it is not socialism to think that everyone has the right to health care. Railway workers had a bit of a scare Thursday night as a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train caught fire. The fire occurred when workers stopped for a change of shift at the intersection of West Broadway Street and Waterworks Road, near the St. Jo Frontier Casino, and noticed flames in the engine. The St. Joseph Fire Department responded to the fire around 8:35 p.m. and quickly put out the flames using a dry chemical. Firefighters on scene said they believe the fire was caused by a short in the wiring, and workers for BSNF Railway said the engine likely will be discarded because of the issue. One of three defendants in a Gentry County case involving multiple counts of child abuse received a date Thursday for her next court appearance. Jennifer Reed, of Albany, Missouri, faces numerous charges in the case that includes kidnapping. A co-defendant, Raymond E. Burks, also of Albany, is charged with abusing and neglecting an 11-year-old girl over whom he had custody since the summer of 2018. Reed learned from Circuit Judge Roger Prokes that she must return to a Gentry County courtroom on Thursday, Feb. 7. In early December, Reed waived formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The abuse allegedly occurred at an Albany residence, where the child was reportedly beaten while being held captive in a cage while handcuffed and deprived of solid food. A third defendant, Lonnie Johnson of Albany, faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence related to the case. KANSAS CITY, Missouri A federal judge approved a proposed settlement agreement Thursday for the family of a man who was shot and killed by a St. Joseph police officer in 2017. U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs approved the settlement as presented by attorneys during a morning conference held at the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri. There were no alterations to the total $450,000 settlement, which includes payments to attorneys who represented the family. An application for approval of the wrongful-death settlement was filed in late October with the court. Documents on file indicate St. Joseph Police Officer Justin Bever shot 27-year-old Jason Fanning on Feb. 20, 2017. The fatal shot came through the windshield of Fannings vehicle. A dashboard camera recording showed Fanning rapidly backing up and narrowly missing a woman before stopping. The recording then shows bullet holes appearing in the windshield. Fannings father and mother each will receive $13,897.79, while attorneys representing the plaintiffs will receive more than $199,000. His two minor children will receive more than $223,000 through their mother, Whitney Shepherd, who will use the money exclusively for the childrens sole benefit. Under questioning by U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs, Shepherd said she understood she was giving up the right to a civil trial in exchange for the settlement. I am satisfied that the settlement should be approved in the form presented, Sachs said. An attorney representing an insurance company on behalf of the city of St. Joseph was present at the conference. Proceeds from the settlement were derived from an insurance fund maintained by the city. St. Joseph attorney John Spencer, who represented Shepherd, spoke later to News-Press Now, saying the judges decision does not represent a sense of relief for the family or closure of any sort. This case doesnt give you any of that, Spencer said. Jasons gone. There was no happiness in that courtroom today. The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerces 99th Annual Banquet will have some multi-talented, international flavor to it. Viktor Kee, a juggler-dancer from Ukraine, famous for his appearances on Americas Got Talent and Cirque du Soleil, will headline the Chambers banquet at Civic Arena. Performing a mixture of body-bending dances with mind-boggling juggling, Kee will be the featured entertainer at the banquet at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, at the arena, 100 N. Fourth St. Performing since he was a toddler, Kee said he was so young that he doesnt have memories of those early shows. As he grew up, he found interest in juggling and dancing as he trained under the tutelage Alex Gruzin. When I was a kid, I was always learning dancing and I learned theatre because my mother was a dancer and my father was a musician, a piano player. So I loved classical music and dancing, Kee said. As Kee added more styles of dance, acrobatics and juggling to his repertoire, his show became more unique. Though it would later have him performing around the world, Kee said it was a tough sell, even to his home country. It was too different. It was too strange, he said. With his multiple talents, Kee stood out and joined the famed Cirque du Soleil performance group in 1999. Kee has performed in numerous countries and prestigious venues, including the Moulin Rouge in Paris, MGM Grand in Las Vegas and Pomp Duck & Circumstance in New York. In 2016, he was a finalist in NBCs popular talent show Americas Got Talent. While Kee said the popularity of jugglers and circus performers tends to ebb and flow, his act is so unique that opportunities continue to pop up on a regular basis. In the business, especially in the circus, its underrated. But its picking up really well in Europe. Im feeling much more vibrant with different creations around European markets, he said. Although Kee has traveled and performed around the world, he said he has yet to perform in Missouri. Hell be glad to change that this weekend with his Ambition performance. It is an act about lights and the human energy and ability and fight and life, basically, he said laughing. I call it Ambition because after performing different productions, a lot of different routines, I had to come up with an act that combined it all in one. In addition to his performances, one of Kees great loves is the Viktor Kee Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps children hone their creative talents. Its a perfect example of wherever your career takes you, you always have to look back where you come from and be involved in region, he said. While the Chamber of Commerces banquet is sold out, it will stream Kees performance on its Facebook page at facebook.com/saintjosephchamber. For more information on the Viktor Kee Foundation, visit http://viktorkeefoundation.com. A Buddhist monk in Japan is refusing to pay a fine he was issued for driving in a religious robe. The priest in his 40s was stopped by police while he was driving a mini-car in September in Fukui City on the coast of the Sea of Japan to attend a memorial service. He was fined for driving while wearing the traditional attire. Police said the robe could impair safe driving, and that it's a violation of regulations under the traffic law. The police add that wearing monk's robes while driving does not necessarily constitute a violation, but the robe in question had 30-centimeter wide sleeves that could get caught on a lever or another set of controls. The police also noted that the kimono he was wearing underneath the robe was too tight to allow him to press the brake pedal when necessary. They say the combination of clothing potentially impaired safe driving. The monk has refused to pay the traffic ticket worth about 55 dollars. Nishi-Honganji temple in Kyoto, which is the head temple of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji branch of the religion, says it's important to abide by the law, but issuing a traffic ticket because of the robe is not acceptable. Carlos Ghosn will petition again Friday for release from a Japanese jail, even as Tokyo prosecutors are widely expected to lay new charges against the former Nissan Motor boss for breach of trust. The bid comes just days after the Brazilian-born tycoon made an extraordinary appearance in Tokyo's District Court on Tuesday to set out for the first time his defense against allegations of financial wrongdoing while at the helm of the Japanese carmaker. Criminal lawyers are divided over whether his arguments have strengthened his case. Ghosn has been held at the Tokyo Detention Center since Nov. 19, when prosecutors arrested him on allegations that he underreported his salary over several years. He was charged on Dec. 10. The prosecutors are expected on Friday to bring a new charge of aggravated breach of trust against Ghosn for allegedly transferring to Nissan personal trading losses from foreign exchange contracts. Ghosn has denied all charges, and his lawyers are expected to appeal Friday for his release on bail. Should the court grant the request, Ghosn would not be released until next week, lawyers suggested. In his statement to the court this week, Ghosn argued that he has been "unfairly detained." He denied underreporting his salary and said the foreign exchange contracts were related to the company's insistence that he be paid in Japanese currency. He entered into the contracts, using Nissan shares as collateral, to protect himself against currency movements, as his expenses were all in dollars. Nissan had taken on the collateral temporarily when its shares tumbled after the onset of the global financial crisis in October 2008, but the shares were returned and the company had suffered no financial losses, Ghosn said. Hiroshi Kadono, a criminal lawyer and former judge, told the Nikkei Asian Review that Ghosn's statement had "presented a different story from that of the prosecutors," which was "logical and something that cannot be ignored." Nobuo Gohara, an ex-prosecutor, said the former Nissan boss's defense "was sufficient to claim that he is being unjustly held in detention." However, Yasuyuki Takai, another ex-prosecutor, disagreed. He said Ghosn had failed to present "anything specific" that pointed to substantial evidence. "It was not convincing," Takai said. Nikkei - Jun 05 Japan's restaurants and retailers will soon have to stop giving away plastic forks, spoons and containers under a law passed Friday to cut down on such waste, instead looking into such options as charging for utensils, switching to biodegradables, or letting customers fend for themselves. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa yesterday hailed the strong bilateral ties bonding Bahrain and Oman in all fields. The minister said this while holding a meeting with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah. Bin Alawi arrived in Bahrain yesterday with the GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani. Shaikh Khalid reaffirming the depth and strength of the brotherly relations between Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman also expressed his keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation and coordination on issues of mutual concern. The efforts, the minister said, will help meet the aspirations of the two countries and brotherly peoples in all fields, wishing the Sultanate of Oman every success in presiding the current session of GCC. Bin Alawi expressed pride in visiting the Kingdom affirming that the brotherly relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples are strong on all levels. The two sides also discussed a number of issues related to joint GCC action and developments on the regional and international arenas. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani was also present. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer. Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form (Newser) Two female rookie police officers were shot and killed one day and half a country apart. Chateri Payne, a police officer in Shreveport, La., was shot at least four times, including once in the head, at a home Wednesday as she prepared to start a night shift, report CNN and Fox News. Payne, mother to a young child, had graduated from the police academy in November, per CBS News. A day later, 22-year-old Natalie Corona became the first police officer to be killed in the line of duty in Davis, Calif., since 1959. She was hit when bullets were fired at the scene of a triple-car accident opposite a fire station, and died at a Sacramento hospital. Corona had just completed field training, having graduated from the police academy in July. story continues below She'd "been out on her own for just a couple of weeks," Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel told reporters. He called Corona's death "an absolutely devastating loss to the police department," where she was viewed as "a rising star," while a reporter shared a smiling photo of Corona being given her badge. CBS Sacramento reports the suspected shooter was later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No suspects in Payne's killing were identified as of Thursday, when a Facebook post penned by the rookie officer at the time of her graduation went viral. Payne wrote that she intended "to become an influential and better person" for those she was charged with protecting. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards referred to her death as "a tragic loss for all of us who rely on police officers to keep us safe." (Read more police officers stories.) (Newser) Jayme Closs is alive, and new details are emerging. The 13-year-old Wisconsin girl, who went missing in October from her Barron home, where her parents were found shot dead, turned up about 60 miles away near Gordon Thursday after fleeing her captor. In what Barron Area School District Superintendent Diane Tremblay called "a glorious day," Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald led a Friday morning press conference aired live on Channel3000.com, revealing that Jayme was now in the "comforting embrace of law enforcement" and that a suspect has been named: 21-year-old Jake Thomas Patterson. Details: Arrest: Fitzgerald said Jayme had been Patterson's target and was taken "against her will" on Oct. 15. After she escaped from her abductor, she gave police a description of the suspect's vehicle, and he was pulled over shortly after. Patterson has been charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme's parents, as well as one count of kidnapping. Fitzgerald said Jayme had been Patterson's target and was taken "against her will" on Oct. 15. After she escaped from her abductor, she gave police a description of the suspect's vehicle, and he was pulled over shortly after. Patterson has been charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme's parents, as well as one count of kidnapping. Recuperating: Fitzgerald adds that Jayme was examined at a local hospital and was doing "good," and that she was being prepped for "reunification" with family. She's expected to be back in Barron sometime Friday. story continues below Timeline: CNN offers a timeline from the past 87 days of "questions, numerous searches, and thousands of tips," including an odd break-in at Jayme's home at the end of October that led to an arrest, but not one related to her disappearance. CNN offers a timeline from the past 87 days of "questions, numerous searches, and thousands of tips," including an odd break-in at Jayme's home at the end of October that led to an arrest, but not one related to her disappearance. Dog-walker: One of the women who helped Jayme, Kristin Kasinskas, told CNN's Poppy Harlow that, after escaping, Jayme had first encountered a different woman walking a dog, who rushed Jayme to Kasinskas' home nearby. "She said to us that, 'This person killed my parents and took me,'" Kasinskas said. "She said that this person usually hides her or hides her when others are near, or when he has to leave the household. She did not go into detail about how she got out of the house or anything like that." One of the women who helped Jayme, Kristin Kasinskas, told CNN's Poppy Harlow that, after escaping, Jayme had first encountered a different woman walking a dog, who rushed Jayme to Kasinskas' home nearby. "She said to us that, 'This person killed my parents and took me,'" Kasinskas said. "She said that this person usually hides her or hides her when others are near, or when he has to leave the household. She did not go into detail about how she got out of the house or anything like that." 'She wanted help': The dog-walking woman who first found Jayme, who doesn't want to be IDed and isn't talking much, tells the Star Tribune that Jayme simply "came up to me and said she wanted help." Kasinskas' husband, Peter, says the teen was quiet and her emotions "pretty flat." Whose emotions weren't as subdued: those in the Barron community and in Jayme's family, including her aunt, Sue Allard, who tells the paper, "It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait." The dog-walking woman who first found Jayme, who doesn't want to be IDed and isn't talking much, tells the Star Tribune that Jayme simply "came up to me and said she wanted help." Kasinskas' husband, Peter, says the teen was quiet and her emotions "pretty flat." Whose emotions weren't as subdued: those in the Barron community and in Jayme's family, including her aunt, Sue Allard, who tells the paper, "It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait." Elizabeth Smart: Another person who's happy to hear Jayme is headed home: Elizabeth Smart, who herself was kidnapped in 2002 and held for nine months, per USA Today. "What a miracle!!!" Smart posted on Instagram. " What a brave, strong, and powerful survivor!!!! No matter what may unfold in her story let's all try to remember that this young woman has SURVIVED and whatever other details may surface the most important will still remain that she is alive." (Read more Jayme Closs stories.) (Newser) Poland's Internal Security Agency has charged a Chinese manager at tech giant Huawei in Poland and one of its own former officers with espionage on behalf of China, state broadcaster TVP reported Friday. Both men were arrested Tuesday. Polish security agents searched their homes as well as the offices of Huawei and Orange, Poland's leading communications provider, where the Pole had recently worked, seizing documents and electronic data, reports the AP. The development comes as a US dispute with China over a 2012-installed ban on Huawei is spilling over to Europe, the company's biggest foreign market, where some countries are also starting to shun its network systems over concerns that they could be exposed to snooping by the Chinese government. story continues below The deputy head of Poland's special service said the operation that resulted in the arrests had been long underway. Polish state TV identified the Chinese man as Weijing W., saying he was a director in Poland at Huawei. Also going by the Polish first name Stanislaw, he previously worked at the Chinese consulate. State TV identified the Pole as Piotr D., who left the ISA as deputy director in the department of information security in 2011. TVP said the menwhose last names cannot be published ahead of trial under Polish lawhave not pleaded guilty and are refusing to give testimony in the case. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison. Huawei has issued a statement from its Chinese headquarters, noting it requires "every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based." (Read more Huawei stories.) (Newser) A Texas man and his mother have been charged with evidence tampering, but cops think the true crime is worse: that something terrible happened to the man's 8-month-old son, and that he had something to do with it. "Statements from multiple witnesses unfortunately lead us to believe that King Jay is dead," San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Thursday regarding little King Jay Davila, missing since Jan. 4, per MySanAntonio.com. The infant's father, 34-year-old Christopher Davila, told cops he left his car running last Friday with King Jay inside when he stopped at a convenience store. He says a woman hopped in the car and drove away with his son. The car was soon found, with no baby or car seat; Davila was charged with child endangerment. story continues below The case, however, is "unraveling thread by thread," McManus said, per KSAT. Police now say the woman seen on surveillance tape taking Davila's car was his cousin, Angie Torres, 45; she has also charged with evidence tampering. Davila's mother, Beatrice Sampayo Davila, 65, allegedly dropped her off at the convenience store. McManus says King Jay wasn't in the car at the time. "[Torres] described the route she and [Sampayo Davila] took where they disposed of the car seat, and [Torres] said she learned from [Sampayo Davila] that Christopher had severely injured King Jay," McManus says. KSAT notes the baby's mother, Jasmine Gonzales, is also being investigated. Gonzales tells WOAI she hadn't seen her son since New Year's Eve; the Washington Post details discrepancies in aspects of her own story. (Read more missing child stories.) (Newser) The first US troops have begun to leave Syria. The Pentagon is providing few details, however, except to say the US-led coalition had "begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal." Coalition spokesman Col. Sean Ryan declined to provide numbers or timetables regarding the approximately 2,000 US troops in the country. The New York Times characterizes the development as a surprise given that national security adviser John Bolton had recently reassured allies that President Trump's unexpected decision to pull US troops would be implemented slowly. story continues below Allies including the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces appeared to be caught off guard by the start of the withdrawal, reports the Washington Post. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that troops were leaving an airfield in the northeastern province of Hasakah, reports AFP. In making the initial decision, Trump argued that US troops had completed their mission of eliminating ISIS from Syria. The plan, and that assertion, ran into immediate friction at home and abroad. (Secretary of State Pompeo blamed Obama policies for the success of ISIS.) (Newser) If President Trump looked sunburned, and perhaps parched, in his Tuesday night address from the Oval Office, you may have been watching a Fox affiliate out of Seattle. An editor from Q13 has now been fired for what MyNorthwest.com calls a "bizarre and unbalanced" clip of the president that was apparently altered. In it, Trump's skin and hair look oversaturatedthe Washington Post describes his skin tone as having a "Cheetos-orange tint"and a brief lick of his lips was exaggerated to make it appear as if his tongue was sticking out for longer than it had. "This does not meet our editorial standards and we regret if it is seen as portraying the president in a negative light," the Q13 news director apologized in a Thursday statement, per the Seattle Times. story continues below Viewers can take a side-by-side gander at the two clipsthe actual speech and the altered onecourtesy of a MyNorthwest.com video. It's not clear whether the canned editor was the one who actually distorted the clip, or if the editor simply allowed it to make it onto the airwaves. The Times notes the growing prevalence of such manipulated videos, known as "deepfakes," and how it's getting harder to spot them. The Post cites one of the most famous recent deepfakes: a realistic-looking video created by filmmaker Jordan Peele that circulated last year, appearing to show Barack Obama giving a talk on fake news (it was Obama's image but Peele talking). BuzzFeed and Quartz dive further into this dilemma, while the Brookings Institution offers tips on how political campaigns in particular can protect themselves against this type of doctoring. (Scarlett Johansson has talked about deepfake videos of another nature.) (Newser) One of two children considered missing after their family's SUV sped off a Northern California cliff in March has been confirmed dead. DNA tests on a partial foot recovered near the crash site in Westport in May confirmed it to be that of 16-year-old Hannah Hart, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. Married parents Jennifer and Sarah Hart, both 38, and three of six adopted childrenMarkis, 19, Abigail, 14, and Jeremiah, 14were confirmed dead as the vehicle was discovered on March 26, 2018. Remains of a fourth child, 12-year-old Ciera, were found in April, but Hannah, 16, and Devonte, 15, remained missing. The test on the partial foot, found inside a shoe attached to a pair of jeans, was made possible as the biological mother of Markis, Abigail, and Hannah emerged in October to provide a DNA sample, reports KGW. story continues below As the sheriff's department has "not received any indication of Devonte being located elsewhere the most likely scenario is that he too perished in this incident but the case remains open and active," per a release. Authorities have described the crash at the cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway as intentional. Jennifer's blood-alcohol content was over the legal limit when investigators say she accelerated off the cliff without braking. Sarah and some of the children were sedated, per CNN. The family had set out from Woodland, Wash., days earlier as child-welfare officials looked for them. Reports from officials in three states describe parents who withheld food as punishment for small transgressions, like possessing a penny and laughing at the dinner table. A new podcast, Broken Harts, explores the case in greater detail, per E! (Read more Hart family stories.) (Newser) Amazing news from Wisconsin, where relatives of 13-year-old Jayme Closs say their prayers have been answered. Jayme has been found alive almost three months after her parents were found dead in their home, the Barron County Sheriff's Department announced in a Facebook post late Thursday. The sheriff's department says a suspect is in custody and more details will be disclosed in a press conference Friday morning. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the "bedraggled and malnourished" girl fled her captor and sought help from neighbors in an area of cabins east of Gordon, a town around 65 miles north of her home in Barron. She disappeared on Oct. 15. story continues below Teacher Kristin Kasinkas says a neighbor who had been walking a dog knocked on their door frantically around 4pm Thursday, accompanied by a girl, and said: "This is Jayme Closs! Call 911." The dog walker tells the Star Tribune that Jayme came up to her and said she wanted help. Relatives say Jayme, whose parents were shot to death, is now recuperating in the hospital. "We are just happy everyone kept praying and didn't give up hope like we didn't," Jayme's aunt, Jennifer Smith, tells ABC. "A lot of happy tears in this house tonight." (Police received a mysterious 911 call on the night Jayme disappeared and her parents were found dead.) (Newser) Oregon wildlife officials have started killing California sea lions that threaten a fragile and unique type of trout in the Willamette River, a body of water miles inland from the coastal areas where the massive mammals usually congregate to feed. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife obtained a federal permit in November to kill up to 93 California sea lions annually below Willamette Falls south of Portland, Oregon, to protect the winter run of the fish that begin life as rainbow trout but become steelhead when they travel to the ocean, the AP reports. The adult male sea lions, which weigh nearly 1,000 pounds each, have learned that they can loiter under the falls and snack on the vulnerable steelhead as the fish power their way upriver to the streams where they hatched. story continues below As of last week, wildlife managers have trapped and euthanized three of the animals, says Bryan Wright, project manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's marine resources program. The sea lions are eating so many winter steelhead at Willamette Falls that certain runs are at a high risk of going extinct, according to a 2017 study by wildlife biologists. Wildlife officials moved about a dozen sea lions to the coast near the small city of Newport last year, but the animals ended up swimming back to the falls within days. Before a sea lion is killed, the state must find out if there is a zoo or aquarium that wants the animal. If so, Oregon wildlife managers must hold the sea lion for 48 hours before killing it. More than 150 sea lions have been killed in a similar program on the Columbia River. (Read more sea lions stories.) (Newser) A convicted pedophile's alleged confession isn't a major breakthrough in the JonBenet Ramsey case, police in Colorado said in response to a report in the Daily Mail. The British newspaper reported that Gary Oliva, an early suspect in the 1996 killing of the Boulder 6-year-old, confessed in letters to a high school classmate that he had accidentally killed the girl. The Boulder Police Department, however, dismissed the report in a statement Thursday and noted that Oliva, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence for child pornography offenses, had confessed before, ABC 7 reports. Police said there were "no new updates" in the investigation. story continues below The department "is aware of Gary Oliva and has investigated his potential involvement in this case, including several previous confessions," police said in the statement. "The department routinely receives information on this investigation. Information provided to the police department is reviewed along with the many tips and theories we receive." Oliva's name has repeatedly surfaced in connection with the case, including in 2000, when he was arrested while carrying a stun gun, a photo of the girl, and a poem he had written about her, the Boulder Daily Camera reports. After his 2016 arrest, police said they were "not comfortable ruling anybody out as a suspect, or ruling anybody in as a suspect." (A psychiatrist who assisted the investigation was shot dead outside his office last year.) (Newser) Conservative Rep. Steve King is taking serious flak this week, and it's coming from within his own party. The latest example: On Thursday, the third-ranking Republican in the HouseLiz Cheneyrebuked the controversial Iowa congressman for comments he made about white nationalism in an interview with the New York Times. White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilizationhow did that language become offensive? King asked. Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization? And referring to the diverse Democratic crop of House freshmen, he said: You could look over there and think the Democratic party is no country for white men." Cheney, chairwoman of the House GOP conference, told the Hill: "These comments are abhorrent and racist and should have no place in our national discourse." story continues below King, who has a long history of controversial statements on illegal immigration (a slow-rolling, slow-motion terrorist attack") and multiculturalism, issued a new statement saying he rejects the labels "white supremacist" and "white nationalist," along with "the evil ideology that they define." He is simply a "nationalist," he said. The Cheney rebuke comes a day after GOP state Sen. Randy Feenstra announced he would challenge King in the 2020 primary, reports the Des Moines Register. Today, Iowas 4th District doesnt have a voice in Washington, because our current representatives caustic nature has left us without a seat at the table, said Feenstra. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds declined to endorse King on Wednesday, and the Register thinks the congressman, who barely won in 2016, has a "serious fight" on his hands. (King tried to keep Harriet Tubman off US currency.) (Newser) Salt River tribal police Officer Clayton Townsend was standing near a car after performing a routine traffic stop near Scottsdale, Arizona, Tuesday night when he was fatally struck by another car. Police say the driver of that car, 40-year-old Jerry Sanstead Jr., admitted to them he was texting with his wife at the time about their evening plans and didn't see the flashing lights; according to a video of Sanstead's first court appearance, there were apparently no brake or skid marks at the scene. A witness also told police they saw Sanstead looking down at his phone while driving and witnessed him cross multiple lanes of traffic, AZCentral.com reports. Sanstead, who faces charges of endangerment, reckless manslaughter, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, was arrested but was released from jail early Thursday after he posted bond. story continues below Townsend, who leaves behind a wife and 10-month-old son, was a cancer survivor and was not eligible for additional life insurance, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up for the family, the AP reports. "Nothing can fill the loss of Clayton but please help support his family through this terrible loss," it reads. "Our goal is to provide some financial support for Brixton and Deanna." Townsend, who had been with the department five years, had just returned to work following a Disney vacation with his family, Fox 8 reports. (A woman texted while driving and allegedly killed two girls.) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Government has, with immediate effect, suspended the importation of all live cloven-hoofed animals and their products from South Africa following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in some parts of Limpopo Province on Tuesday. Botswana has also taken similar action. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement said the position was arrived at following an outbreak of the disease, affecting the non-vaccination disease-free zone in the Limpopo Province. FMD was reported in these areas on Tuesday, although authorities say the affected places will not affect the countrys meat export business. The control of foot and mouth disease involves the implementation of trade restrictions, said the ministry in a statement. Consequently, all imports that had been issued before 09-01-2019 and not used are hereby cancelled. In line with the Animal Health Act CAP 10:01, the issuance of permits is a mandatory requirement for the importation of all animal products. Any import application will now be considered on a case by case basis depending on the risk. Government said the Department of Veterinary Service would continue monitoring the situation, in view of progress to be made in the control of the outbreak. On Tuesday, the highly contagious disease, which poses a threat to the livestock industry, was detected in the northern district of South Africas Limpopo Province. Positive laboratory results for the viral disease, which causes lesions and lameness in cattle and sheep, were taken in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, which borders Zimbabwe. The South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in a statement, said the affected areas were under quarantine and investigations to verify the results and determine the extent of the outbreak were being conducted. We have quickly quarantined the area, so it does not affect the commercial livestock farming which will pose a danger to us as consumers and the export business, said that countrys Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries spokesman, Khaye Nkwanyana. National airline, Air Zimbabwe has suspended flights up to mid-month due to maintenance works being carried out on its only functioning plane. The airline, which has largely been operating only two serviceable aircraft, was left with one following the grounding of the popular Mbuya Nehanda last month. The remaining aircraft, the 767-200ER, also known as Chimanimani is undergoing servicing. In a statement yesterday, Air Zimbabwe said it had made other travel arrangements for customers who had booked flights in advance but is not taking any bookings up to January 15. Air Zimbabwe wishes to advise its valued customers of a schedule disruption due to minor component upgrade on the B767-200 ER from 11 to 15 January 2019. We wish to assure all valued customers who are holding confirmed and ticketed bookings within the mentioned dates that alternative arrangements have been made in order to ensure minimum disruptions to their travel plans, reads the statement. The airline said affected passengers will be contacted via email, telephone or SMS with information on alternative arrangements for their travel. Normal schedule is expected to resume on 15 January 2019 and we will avail relevant updates via our website and official social media platforms, said Air Zimbabwe. In an interview yesterday, Air Zimbabwe corporate affairs manager, Mr Tafadzwa Mazonde said they had made alternative arrangements with other airlines. We have strategic relationships with other airlines to cater for such circumstances, said Mr Mazonde. Asked about the leased aircraft that was meant to replace Mbuya Nehanda, Mr Mazonde said they had since terminated the lease agreement as the cost of leasing proved to be unsustainably high. Air Zimbabwe grounded Mbuya Nehanda, a Boeing 737-200 ER for mandatory maintenance expected to last over a month on December 30. The airline said the maintenance check for Mbuya Nehanda was in line with aviation quality and safety standards. Air Zimbabwe wishes to advise its valued passengers that our aircraft, B737 Registration Z-WPA popularly known as Mbuya Nehanda will be grounded for a mandatory maintenance check which is expected to be completed after 45 days with effect from midnight 30 December 2018, in line with aviation quality and safety standards, it said in a statement issued last month. Mbuya Nehanda serviced the Harare /Bulawayo /Victoria Falls /Harare as well as Harare /Dar es Salaam routes. Sources at the airline said the plane could be retired as it has served for 33 years. This plane was acquired in 1986 and is likely not going to come back into service. It is very old. It is likely going to be replaced, said the source. Air Zimbabwe, which has been consistently underperforming in the last few years, was placed under reconstruction on October 4 last year in terms of the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act (Chapter 24:27). The move was designed to allow Air Zimbabwe an opportunity to clear its debt thought to be more than $334 million. During the reconstruction process, all payments towards debts accrued by the company prior to October 4, 2018, would be temporarily suspended and settled in terms of this process. In 1980, Air Zimbabwe had 18 aircraft flying into 31 destinations but it is now limited to Harare-Johannesburg; Harare-Bulawayo and Harare-Victoria Falls and Harare-Dar es Salaam routes. Herald Government yesterday offered its workers a 10 percent salary increment beginning April, a figure that would translate to an additional $160 million to the civil servants wage bill by December, but the workers representatives rejected the offer, saying they wanted to consult their membership first. The workers are demanding a $1 733 salary for the lowest paid employee, up from $414 inclusive of allowances, which would represent an increase of 419 percent. This, however, flies in the face of austerity measures Government is implementing in order to reduce the national budget deficit and advance President Mnangagwas ambitious vision to turn Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy by 2030. Earlier this week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube was in Brussels, Belgium, where he said the country was implementing a raft of measures to cut its deficit and debt, appealing to Zimbabweans to swallow the bitter pill required to turn around the economy. What is required is urgent and bold action, and tough decisions, declared Minister Ncube on Wednesday. We cannot run away from the challenge the longer we wait to address it, the harder it will be, he said. Speaking after yesterdays National Joint Negotiating Council meeting in Harare, Apex Council chairwoman Mrs Cecelia Alexander said they would consult their membership on Governments offer and the way forward. The two parties are likely to meet again next week as Government negotiators also asked for time to brief their principals after the 10 percent offer was turned down. The purpose of the meeting was to get response from Government on a position that we presented to the NJNC in November last year, which was amounting to $1 733 for the least paid worker, said Mrs Alexander. It is quite disturbing that Government brought a 10 percent offer, which translates to only $41 for the least paid civil servant. As Apex Council negotiators we have rejected this offer in totality and now we are going back to give feedback to our constituencies who will advise us on the way forward, she said. She said Government had presented $160 million towards the increment spread between April and December. Government wanted that quantum to cater for all civil servants and us to go on and distribute it according to the various areas. We also rejected that, she said. She said the workers would meet tomorrow to debate the way forward. Consultations will not take long because weeare going to have a fully constituted Apex Council meeting tomorrow (today).The full council will come up with a resolution, said Mrs Alexander. She said their salaries had been eroded by price distortions in the market. We are not requesting for an increment from Government but we want them to restore value of the money we used to get since July last year when we got a 17.5 percent increment, she added. Mrs Alexander said the issue of non-monetary incentives did not come up. We did not go there because there was a more pressing issue (of salaries). So it is up to and in the interest of Government to expedite the process. We believe the ball is still in their court. We are likely to meet them next week because when we rejected the offer they said they were going to consult their principals, said Mrs Alexander. Government, which has acknowledged the challenges faced by its workers, has also proposed a range of non-monetary benefits for its workers. These include residential stands, housing mortgages, vehicle loan schemes and access to medical care and insurance cover. Herald What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 574-583-5121 or email cgrace@thehj.com. Mr Chan (second left) visits the Hong Kong Vegetable Food & Grocery Hawkers Welfare & Fraternity Association Limited and meets with hawker representatives. Financial Secretary Paul Chan (centre left) views a STEM project during a visit to Aldrich Bay Government Primary School. Financial Secretary Paul Chan today visited a primary school and hawker stalls in Eastern District. Mr Chan first visited Aldrich Bay Government Primary School where he spoke with students and parents and observed school projects related to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), environmental protection and music. He then visited the Hong Kong Vegetable Food & Grocery Hawkers Welfare & Fraternity Association Limited and met with hawker representatives to learn more about their business environment. He later walked along Kam Wa Street, visited hawker stalls and listened to the views of business operators and residents on the 2019-20 Budget. Mr Chan also met Eastern District Council members. The Government has several support measures in place to ensure no sector of society falls through the welfare safety net, Chief Executive Carrie Lam told lawmakers today. From February 1, the eligible age for elderly Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) will be adjusted from 60 to 65, a move lawmakers queried during the Chief Executive's question and answer session this morning. Mrs Lam noted the age threshold is being raised in response to Hong Kongs changing demographic and is not a cost-saving measure. She said the move does not mean those who are under 65 without employment are not protected, as they can still receive CSSA under the category of able-bodied adults. The Chief Executive also said the Government was more than willing to provide extra support to the middle-aged and seniors. She added the move is in line with Hong Kongs changing demographic and is not a hasty decision to deny certain residents their right to a safety net. The Egyptian ambassador to Serbia Amr Aljowaily met with Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Branislav Nedimovic on Thursday ahead of the ministers visit to Cairo, following up on the meeting between the meeting between Foreigb Minister Sameh Shoukry and Prime Minster of Serbia Ana Brnabic which took place on 28 November 2018, where the pair discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture. During the meeting, Aljowaily highlighted the recent successes of Egyptian agricultural exports in a number of new markets, reflecting the implementation of phytosanitary standards at the production and export stages. He also reviewed the scholarships offered by the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture, encouraging the participation of experts from Serbia in these courses as an opportunity for direct communication between the two ministries and the exchange of technical expertise. Nedimovic expressed his interest in his first visit to Egypt. He also reviewed opportunities for exports of grains and an invitation to participate in the Novi Sad Agricultural Exhibition in May, which is the largest in eastern and southern Europe. The pair also discussed potential cooperation in the field of agricultural mechanisation and the use of information technology in agriculture and water resources management. Short link: Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Reporter Noelle McGee is a Danville-based reporter at The News-Gazette. Her email is nmcgee@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@n_mcgee). Yoshio Cardona, 28, pleaded guilty in August to misdemeanor DUI, admitting that on Jan. 10, he had a blood alcohol content of 0.21 when he crashed through the front of Manzellas Italian Patio, 115 S. First St., about 3 a.m. Reporter Tim Mitchell is a reporter at The News-Gazette. His email is tmitchel@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mitchell6). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Pikeville, KY (41501) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Support local journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. By Associated Press OTTAWA: An 18-year-old Saudi woman who said she was abused by her family and feared for her life if deported back home left Thailand on Friday night for Canada, which has granted her asylum, officials said. The fast-moving developments capped an eventful week for Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun. She fled her family while visiting Kuwait and flew to Bangkok, where she barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation and grabbed global attention by mounting a social media campaign for asylum. Her case highlighted the cause of women's rights in Saudi Arabia, where several women fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home. Human rights activists say many similar cases go unreported. Alqunun is flying to Toronto via Seoul, South Korea, according to Thai immigration Police Chief Surachate Hakparn. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his country had granted her asylum. "That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for women's rights around the world and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.'s request," Trudeau said. Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the U.N.'s refugee agency to accept Alqunun, Surachate said earlier in the day. "She chose Canada. It's her personal decision," he said. Canada's ambassador had seen her off at the airport, Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy. She thanked everyone for helping her, he said, and added that the first thing she would do upon arrival in Canada would be to start learning the language. She already speaks more than passable English, in addition to Arabic. The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed Canada's decision. "The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms. Alqunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case," the agency said in a statement. It wasn't immediately clear what prompted Alqunon to choose Canada over Australia. Australian media reported that UNHCR had withdrawn its referral for Alqunon to be resettled in Australia because Canberra was taking too long to decide on her asylum. UNHCR officials were not immediately available for comment. Australia's Education Minister Dan Tehan said Saturday that Australia had moved quickly to process her case but Canada decided to take her in. He added that, ultimately, the outcome was a good one. "She's going to be safe," he said. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, cited Alqunun's "courage and perseverance." "This is so much a victory for everyone who cares about respecting and promoting women's rights, valuing the independence of youth to forge their own way, and demanding governments operate in the light and not darkness," he said in a statement. Alqunun was stopped Jan.5 at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport by immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport. Rahaf Mohammed Al Qanun shakes hand with Chief of Immigration Police Major General Surachate Hakparn before leaving the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. (AP photo via Immigration Police) She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and took her plight onto social media. It got enough public and diplomatic support that Thai officials admitted her temporarily under the protection of U.N. officials, who granted her refugee status Wednesday. Alqunun's father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him. Surachate said the father, whose name has not been released, denied physically abusing Alqunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her flight. He said Alqunun's father wanted his daughter back but respected her decision. "He has 10 children. He said the daughter might feel neglected sometimes," Surachate said. Canada's decision to grant her asylum could further upset the country's relations with Saudi Arabia. In August, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canada's Foreign Ministry tweeted support for women's right activists who had been arrested. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave. No country, including the U.S., spoke out publicly in support of Canada in that spat with the Saudis. On Friday, Trudeau avoided answering a question about what the case would mean for relations with the kingdom, but he said Canada will always unequivocally stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world. Canadian officials were reluctant to comment further until she landed safely in Canada. Alqunun had previously said on Twitter that she wanted to seek refuge in Australia. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne met Thursday with senior Thai officials in Bangkok. She later said Australia was assessing Alqunun's resettlement request. Payne said she also raised Australia's concerns with Thai officials about Hakeem al-Araibi, a 25-year-old former member of Bahrain's national soccer team who was granted refugee status in Australia in 2017 after fleeing his homeland, where he said he was persecuted and tortured. He was arrested while vacationing in Thailand in November due to an Interpol notice in which Bahrain sought his custody after he was sentenced in absentia in 2014 to 10 years in prison for allegedly vandalizing a police station, a charge he denies. Bahrain is seeking his extradition. Al-Araibi's case is being considered by Thailand's justice system, she said. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Friday tabled in Parliament a report of experts on drafting a new Constitution in which the foremost place would be given to Buddhism, rejecting allegations by the Opposition that the majority religion will be diluted. Parliament met as the Constitutional Assembly as Wickremesinghe presented the report prepared by the Panel of Experts for the Steering Committee, which is based on the Interim report, six sub-committee reports and representations made by political parties on drafting a new Constitution. "This report consists of proposals made by all parties including the chief ministers of provinces," he said, adding that it was up to Parliament to take the process forward. Wickremesinghe debunked theories put forward by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa-led Sinhala majority nationalists that the Constitution-making exercise will give into the demands of Tamil minority separatists. They have condemned the new Constitution as the one which will grant a federal states to the north, eventually leading to the separation of the island. Wickremesinghe said: "There is no federal proposal in this. All have accepted the unitary character, although they may have different views on its terminology". The Rajapaksa camp has also accused the new Constitution of diluting the Buddhism's foremost position over other religions. The prime minister emphasised that the foremost place given to the majority religion Buddhism has been preserved. Leader of the Opposition Rajapaksa said Parliament has no political moral right to bring in a new Constitution as the ruling party of Wickremesinghe was defeated in local council elections last year. "We demand that a general election be held so that people will be given the opportunity to decide on the new Constitution. We will come up with our own proposals," Rajapaksa said. The Marxist JVP, while blaming Rajapaksa for carrying out misinformation on the new Constitution, said the Constitutional Assembly had not been able to come up with a common draft let alone making a Constitution. "This is now only a time wasting exercise," JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, adding that it has failed to make a draft Constitution over the last four years. Rajapaksa loyalist and senior Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena was more vocal in calling for abandoning the Constitutional Assembly. The main Tamil party leader R Sampanthan recalled the history of failed Constitution making attempts to redress the Tamil community and urged Rajapaksa to stop playing politics. Wickremesinghe stressed that all parties must take the process forward with a debate on the report. No date was fixed for the debate. According to some analysts, the process of formulating a new Constitution faces the danger of being abandoned if Friday's proceedings in the Constitutional Assembly was an indicator. Miami International Airport will close an airport terminal early over the next few days, officials said on Friday, with more unpaid security officers absent from work as the partial government shutdown has dragged on. The airport said that on Saturday, Sunday and Monday it will end flights at 1 p.m. from Concourse G and relocate them to either to Concourse F or Concourse H. Miami is the 14th busiest U.S. airport, handling 20 million passengers annually. The Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) 51,000 officers will miss a paycheck on Friday as the shutdown hits its 21st day. The screeners are among the lowest-paid federal employees. While they will be paid once the shutdown ends, many say they will struggle to pay bills in the meantime. Airport spokesman Greg Chin told the Miami Herald that TSA screeners are calling in calling in sick at twice the normal rate for Miami and managers were not confident they would have enough workers to operate all 11 checkpoints during normal hours. "We felt we had to make a decision before the weekend, Chin told the newspaper. Theyre erring on the side of caution. TSA spokesman Michael Bilello said that "in an effort to optimize resources without degrading screening and security effectiveness, where it is feasible, TSA is working with key stakeholders and industry partners to explore efforts to consolidate officers and operations." Chin told the newspaper G is the slowest terminal at Miami Airport and 12 planes typically fly out of G after 1 p.m. A TSA spokesman said the terminal closing early will not affect flights. United Airlines and some smaller international airlines use Concourse G. United said in a statement that it did not expect any operational impact "as we have arranged to fully utilize alternate gates for flights originally scheduled out of Terminal G." TSA said on Friday it had an unscheduled absence rate of 5.1 percent Thursday compared to a 3.3 percent rate a year ago. Nationwide, TSA screened 1.96 million passengers Thursday and 99.9 percent of passengers waited less than 30 min, the agency added. Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI KARACHI: Pakistani police on Friday said they have arrested five suspects from a separatist Baloch group for the November attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi that killed four people, which they claimed was carried out to "sabotage" the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). At a press conference, Karachi police chief Amir Sheikh said the men arrested confessed to their role in facilitating the three attackers, who were also killed during the November 23 attack on the consulate. He said the detainees were linked to the Baloch Liberation Army, a Balochistan-based group which had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time. Three militants tried to storm the consulate in the city's posh Clifton area but security forces foiled their attempt by killing all of them in a gunbattle. The attack also killed two police officials and two visa applicants. Shaikh claimed that the attack was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) spy agency. ALSO READ | India rejects 'fabricated, scurrilous' Pakistan charge of RAW involvement in Karachi consulate attack "The aim was to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and create the impression in China that Karachi is not safe," he said. There was no immediate reaction from the Ministry of External Affairs to the Pakistani claim. India has opposed the CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The ambitious USD 60 billion CPEC project connects China's northwestern Xinjiang region to Pakistan's Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. India had strongly condemned the terror attack on the Chinese consulate and said such strikes only strengthen the resolve of the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "There can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. The perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement. Shaikh said that police arrested five facilitators and claimed that a probe based on their interrogation and other evidence proved the involvement of India. He said the terrorists spent four to five months in observing the consulate and its working. "They (terrorists) used to sit in the visa section of the consulate to observe when the gates open and other details," he said. He said that the weapons were transported from Quetta to Karachi through train and were hidden in the engine of a boat. Shaikh said the mastermind of the attack, Aslam alias Acho, was reportedly killed in a suicide blast in Afghanistan. However, he said he was not ready to believe it until there was proof of Aslam's death. He said it was an old tactic of militants to show a wanted rebel killed in order to divert the attention of security agencies. By AFP YANGON: Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar over their investigation of atrocities committed against the Rohingya will learn Friday if an appeal against their conviction has succeeded. Reporters Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in Yangon in December 2017 and later sentenced to seven years in jail for violating the state secrets act, a charge supporters say is trumped up. "We hope for freedom for them," Than Zaw Aung, a lawyer for the journalists, told AFP Thursday, adding that the pair will not be present in court. Prosecutors said they had classified information regarding security operations in Rakhine state, from where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled during an army-led crackdown the United Nations has dubbed "ethnic cleansing". At the time of the arrest they were probing a massacre of 10 Rohingya. The two men have insisted they were the victims of a police set-up, pointing to testimony from a serving officer who said a superior ordered others to entrap them. The trial was widely regarded as a sham and seen as punishment for their probe, sparking outrage around the world including from US Vice President Mike Pence. Lawyers representing the young men said the Yangon Regional High Court, in its ruling expected later Friday, could uphold the sentences, reduce the terms or quash the convictions. Kyaw Soe Oo's wife Chit Su Win said she planned on attending and was optimistic about the outcome. "I really feel excited to hear it. I believe the two will be freed," she said. Outside the country, the two men have been hailed as heroes and jointly named Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2018, alongside other persecuted and slain journalists. But they have gained little sympathy within Myanmar. The violent military campaign in 2017 forced more than 720,000 Rohingya across the border to Bangladesh, with refugees bringing accounts of murder, rape and arson. UN investigators have called for top generals to be investigated for genocide and singled out civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for criticism for failing to stop the crackdown. The image of the formerly renowned champion of human rights has been further damaged by the Reuters trial, and she has yet to speak up in their defence. Reporters Without Borders representative Daniel Bastard said it would be "utterly devastating" if the court upholds the verdict. "The message that Myanmar authorities would send is absolutely dreadful: seven years in prison, this is the price you'll have to pay if you dare investigate subjects we don't want you to." By PTI KARACHI/NEW DELHI: Pakistani police on Friday accused Indian spy agency RAW of being involved in the November terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, a charge rejected by India as "fabricated and scurrilous". Karachi police said they have arrested five suspects from a separatist Baloch group for the November 23 attack on the Chinese consulate that killed four people, which they claimed was carried out to "sabotage" the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). At a press conference, Karachi police chief Amir Sheikh said the men arrested confessed to their role in facilitating the three attackers, who were also killed during the attack on the consulate. Shaikh claimed that the attack was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). ALSO READ | Pakistan police arrest five Baloch separatists for Chinese consulate attack in Karachi Reacting to the Pakistani claim, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said, "We have seen statements in the Pakistani media attributed to the police chief of Karachi making false allegations against India for the terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi in November 2018. We completely reject these fabricated and scurrilous attempts to levy accusations on India. Instead of maliciously pointing fingers at others for such terrorist incidents, Pakistan needs to look inwards and undertake credible action against support to terrorism and terror infrastructure in its territories". Sheikh said the detainees were linked to the Baloch Liberation Army, a Balochistan-based group which had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time. Three militants tried to storm the consulate in the city's posh Clifton area but security forces foiled their attempt by killing all of them in a gunbattle. The attack also killed two police officials and two visa applicants. "The aim was to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and create the impression in China that Karachi is not safe," he said. India has opposed the CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The ambitious USD 60 billion CPEC project connects China's northwestern Xinjiang region to Pakistan's Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. India had strongly condemned the terror attack on the Chinese consulate and said such strikes only strengthen the resolve of the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "There can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. The perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement last November. Shaikh said that police arrested five facilitators and claimed that a probe based on their interrogation and other evidence proved the involvement of India. He said the terrorists spent four to five months in observing the consulate and its working. "They (terrorists) used to sit in the visa section of the consulate to observe when the gates open and other details," he said. He said that the weapons were transported from Quetta to Karachi through train and were hidden in the engine of a boat. Shaikh said the mastermind of the attack, Aslam alias Acho, was reportedly killed in a suicide blast in Afghanistan. However, he said he was not ready to believe it until there was proof of Aslam's death. He said it was an old tactic of militants to show a wanted rebel killed in order to divert the attention of security agencies. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Students, unable to chase the American dream? Dont be resentful. Telangana State Council for Higher Education(TSCHE) will soon enter into an MoU with the government of Estonia, throwing open the doors for the students to as many as 180 courses with specific focus on subjects like internet system, IT, cybersecurity, telecommunications, e-governance and advanced robotics. The Estonian Ambassador at New Delhi, Riho Kruvv, was in the city to kick start the process of forging ties with the Telangana government via TSCHE in higher and technical education.While our focus is cybersecurity and e-governance and other such courses with a high skill set Index, there are so many other avenues where we can collaborate. Cooperation for faculty exchange, joint research projects and promoting entrepreneurship through incubators and accelerators are some of the areas we are working on, said the diplomat. The fee structure which is between `1.5 lakh to `5.5 lakh per annum is another advantage since on an average 90 per cent of Indian students receive full scholarships. In addition, students pursuing post-graduation degrees get an extension of nine months to stay back and look for jobs. Prof T Papi Reddy, chairman TSCHE, said that a team would soon visit the country to further the possibility of academic cooperation. SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service CHENNAI: Energised by legal victories, Vedanta Ltds Sterlite Copper applied afresh for renewal of Consent to Operate, on Thursday. CEO of the company P Ramnath confirmed to Express that a letter had been submitted to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board seeking early renewal of permission. However, State pollution control board chairman Shambhu Kallolikar opined that the Supreme Court hadnt forced the NGT order upon the State government. Family members of six out of the 13 people gunned down by the police during the Thoothukudi protest spoke out for the first time and held Sterlite directly accountable for the killings. Addressing a press meet in Chennai, they alleged that police had restricted their movement and did not allow them to speak freely. They wanted the factory to be shut down permanently. We are holding this press conference in Chennai before there are unofficial prohibitory orders clamped in Thoothukudi, said Stephen, whose 40-year-old brother K Glaston was shot in the chest during the protest on May 22. Autopsy report says Glaston was shot from a close range. Glaston was innocent...just an onlooker, claims Stephen. State pollution control board chairman Shambhu Kallolikar opined that the Supreme Court hadnt forced the NGT order upon State government. TNPCB reserves the right to accept or reject Sterlites application, which will be based on merits. The NGT committee itself had admitted that Sterlite has committed 25 violations and its order has a long list of compliance norms to be fulfilled by the company. We will ask them to comply with all these norms before processing their permission, he said. Families seethe State government provided `20 lakh compensation to families of all deceased. Parents of Shanmugam who lose their 25-year-old only son refused the compensation amount. A member in each of the 10 families were also given employment. Children of deceased Glaston and Antony Selvaraj are minors and will have to wait till they turn 18 to avail the job. My daughter was ambitious, recalls mother of 17-year-old Snowlin. She wanted to become a lawyer. We are yet to come to terms with her death. Snowlin was the youngest among the victims. She was shot at the back of her head, according to the autopsy report. The bullet exited through her mouth. S Maniraj had been married for just two months before his life was cut short. His wife was carrying their child when he died. We want the killers (police) to be punished, says his mother. Some families are not happy with the kind of employment being offered on compassionate grounds. Kalliappans mother Maheshwari told Express that she was given work at a noon meal centre in Perur near Tirunelveli for a meagre salary of `4,000. Families of budding boxer B Ranjith Kumar, college student Karthik and 62-year-old Jayaraman were also present. By ANI CHENNAI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin on Friday ruled out the possibility of forming an alliance with the BJP in Tamil Nadu for the coming Lok Sabha elections, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not like late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In a strong-worded statement, Stalin said: "DMK will never align with the BJP. Prime Minister Modi is not Vajpayee. The alliance under him is not a healthy alliance. It is an irony that Prime Minister Modi compares himself with Vajpayee." He added that the DMK had only extended support to Vajpayee as "he did not propose or stand by divisive politics." Stalin's response comes a day after when Prime Minister Modi said on Thursday that the BJP's doors are "always open for parties," sending out a message amid speculation that his party could have poll allies in Tamil Nadu. "We cherish our old friends and our doors are always open for parties," said Prime Minister Modi, while addressing the BJP's Tamil Nadu workers via video conference on Thursday. The Prime Minister spoke about the successful coalition government formed by Vajpayee, saying it was a "new culture" in Indian politics, and had also said the BJP has followed the path shown by Vajpayee. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had formed a six-party alliance comprising smaller parties like DMDK, PMK, and MDMK in Tamil Nadu. The alliance, however, won only two of the 39 Lok Sabha seats at stake-one by BJP and one by PMK. The alliance ended subsequently. Stalin had recently proposed the name of Congress president Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, saying the Congress chief had the ability to dethrone the "fascist" Modi government. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In a bizarre accident, the body of a biker hit by a speeding car near Pandur on the Chennai-Tirupati Highway was flung into a lorry coming from the opposite direction, which the lorry driver realised only after reaching Kurnool 400 km away! The deceased has been identified as Sudhakar, a resident of Pandur working in a firm at Kakkalur SIPCOT. On Wednesday night, he left office by 11 pm and was nearing home when a speeding car which ran amok rammed him. In the impact, Sudhakar was thrown off and his body fell in the empty truck going to Andhra Pradesh. However, Sudhakars right leg was found near the accident spot, a police officer said. On Thursday morning, locals at Pandur noticed the leg and informed Tiruvallur police who recovered it and found a motorbike nearby, the officer said. With the registration number, the victim was identified. Family members staged a protest demanding that the police trace the body and nab the car driver, who abandoned the vehicle and escaped. He was later detained for inquiry, police said. The truck driver reached a godown at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and was shocked to see the body. He informed police who alerted their counterparts in Tamil Nadu and sent photos of the deceased. Tiruvallur police informed Sudhakars family members. By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Prof Jane Carlton of New York University called upon Health and Family Welfare Secretary Dr Pramod Kumar Meherda at the Secretariat here on Thursday. She discussed on malaria eradication programme and other strategic interventions which led to drastically reduction of malaria cases in the State. Prof Carlton evinced interest on future collaboration with Odisha Government for an international research project to understand the malaria eradication measures initiated by the State. Odishas own malaria control scheme Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN) in inaccessible areas led by Comprehensive Case Management Programme (CCMP) has resulted in 84 per cent decline in malaria cases in the State. Reduction of more than 80 per cent malaria cases in one year is a significant achievement and can be a matter for research. We would like to study the measures and module, she said. Dr Meherda gave his nod for the project, but clarified that it can be taken up after getting approval from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Among others, Dr Sanjib Mohanty and Dr Praveen Sahu of Centre for the Study of Complex Malaria in India and Dr Madan Mohan Pradhan were present during the discussion. Uma Shankar Kar By Express News Service BHAWANIPATNA: Continuous apathy of the State government to creating a much-needed value chain has dashed the hopes and aspirations of the farmers of Thuamul Rampur and Lanjigarh for reaping higher returns from vegetable farming and horticulture activities. The hilly tracks of Thuamul Rampur and Lanjigarh blocks are the most suitable areas for cultivation of fruits and vegetables but the farmers have failed to reap benefits in the absence of cold storage facility and market linkage. In 2013, the local administration decided to set up a cold chain system in these two blocks with the help of funds under Special Central Assistance and National Horticulture Mission for providing cold storage and preservation infrastructure facilities to farmers. A year later, a cold storage of 10 MT capacity was opened in Thuamul Rampur and farmers hoped that this would address the problem of distress sale. The Integrated Tribal Development Authority (ITDA) handed over the cold storage to a cooperative society in the block for day to day management. After functioning for some years, the unit went defunct due to lack of maintenance and no steps have been taken so far to repair it. Another cold storage was set up in Biswanathpur under Lanjigarh block few years later but met the same fate too. Under the cold chain programme, a refrigerator van of six MT capacity was also procured by ITDA in 2014 to transport fruits and vegetables from villages under Thuamul Rampur block to markets in Bhawanipatna town. Both Horticulture wing of Agriculture Department and ITDA spent `34 lakh to procure the van that remained in operation for one year. A year later, the van developed snags and has since been lying in the garage of ITDA office in Bhawanipatna. In the absence of market linkage, farmers are forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices to wholesalers, who trade them at higher rates in the open market. Chairman of District Planning Board and MLA Balabhadra Majhi said government is keen on providing livelihood support to tribal farmers and steps will be taken for revival of the cold storage units and the refrigerator van. ITDA Project Director, Biranchi Narayan Das said they have asked the cooperative society to repair the defunct cold storages and two outlets will be opened by ITDA soon at Bhawanipatna to sell fruits grown by tribal farmers of both the blocks. Subhash Chandra N S By Express News Service BALLARI: Hampi has emerged at the second spot in the list of 52 places to go in 2019 published by The New York Times. The UNESCO World Heritage Site figures behind Puerto Rico, which has grabbed the top place for its amazing recovery from Hurricane Maria to rebound as a tourist destination. The report recommends Hampi as a favoured place, and talks about its archeological monuments, scenic vistas against the Tungabhadra river, and geological rock formations. At the heights of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century, Hampi thrived as one of the largest and richest cities in the world. Its architectural legacy lives on in the Southwestern State of Karnataka with over 1,000 well-preserved monuments, including Hindu temples, forts and palaces, the report says. The description also mentions the difficulty in reaching there, while pointing out the recent air connectivity provided to Ballari from Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Tourists can take up rock climbing and river jaunts in basket boats (coracle), the feature says, while suggesting a few places to stay. IN PICS: Hampi, the second in New York Times list of must-visit places Hampi is the only destination not just from India, but entire South Asia, in the list.While the report brought happiness to experts, they also said that more needs to be done. Let monuments be protected and showcased in a better manner. It is important for tourism, Professor C S Vasudevan from Department of Ancient History and Archeology, Kannada University, Hampi, said. Mallika Ghanti, Vice Chancellor, Kannada University, said that history of the Vijayanagara Empire is popular, and still has many hidden things. If a proper excavation is done, it will bring out many more surprises pertaining to the lost history, best architectures and sculptures, she said, adding that development of only Hampi is not enough, since villages around it should also see progress. There should not be any eviction in the name of development of the world heritage site; it should be a package development, she said. Two women who made history by becoming the first in centuries to enter a hill temple in southern India are in hiding after threats by hardline Hindu groups. The Sabarimala temple in the state of Kerala has been the site of tension since Indias Supreme Court ruled in late September to end a ban on women of menstruating age entering it. There have since been sporadic outbreaks of violence between the authorities and protesters attempting to prevent women from entering, setting off a cultural battle in what is still a deeply religious country. Bindu Ammini, 40, a law lecturer at Keralas Kannur University and Kanakadurga, 39, a civil servant, told Reuters they were determined to enter despite threats of violence. A lot of people tried to dissuade us and make us turn back - police officers, our friends... because they knew we were facing a lot of backlash, Kanakadurga said. After the Supreme Courts judgment, the women made an unsuccessful attempt to enter the temple on Dec. 24, before finally succeeding on Jan. 2. A third woman aged 46 has since entered the site, the office of the chief minister of Kerala said on Jan. 4. We felt no fear. We had only one aim: we wanted to go to that shrine, Bindu said. Their entry sparked widespread protests and a day-long strike in Kerala led in part by members of Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. This BJP government has a duty to regulate and control their members, Bindu said. The women - speaking in an undisclosed location on the outskirts of the city of Kochi - say they have since faced threats from protesters, but that they trusted the authorities to keep them safe and plan to return home next week. I always say that I trust the police persons, the state government of Kerala and also our democratic society of Kerala, Bindu said. Short link: By Express News Service NELLORE: Nellore Sub-Division police bagged the Award for Best Crime Detection (ABCD) for solving a sensational case registered after a trader was shot dead by unidentified persons here on November 3, 2018. It may be recalled that trader Mahendra Singh (40) from Rajasthan was running a machine tools business in the Fathekhanpeta area. Chinna Bazar CI M.A. Abdul Subhan and City DSP NBM Murali Krishna investigated the case and collected technical data, including call data of Mahendra Singh. We have cracked the case with the support of Cyber Analysis Wing. We collected all technical data to investigate the case and even deputed staff to Rajasthan, native state of the deceased, to collect case details. Finally, we cracked the case, said NBM Murali Krishna, Nellore City DSP. The police registered a case under 302 r/w IPC and Sections 25 & 27 Arms Act 1959 and nabbed the accused Rajapurohit Vikram Singh (27) on November 25. According to the police, Mahendra employed Vikram, son of his elder brother, in Komal Power Tools shop. Further, Mahendra also extended business by opening another power tools shop in Santhapeta after Vikram got married. Mahendra then deputed Vikram as in-charge of the shop. But, Vikram who earned profits, showed losses to Mahendra and the latter moved him to Tirupati. Mahendra had promised to construct a house for the father of the accused in Rajasthan, but failed to do so. An angry Vikram bore grudge against Mahendra and plotted to kill him. Vikram struck a deal with contract killers to murder Mahendra. On November 3 at around 10.30 p.m., miscreants fired four rounds from a pistol on Mahendra from a close range, hitting him on his chest and escaped on bikes towards Magunta layout. Mahendra died while undergoing treatment at a local hospital. By PTI NEW DELHI: Ignoring the Congress in Uttar Pradesh can be a "very dangerous mistake", the party asserted Friday, a day before the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are likely to announce their alliance for Lok Sabha elections in the politically crucial state. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate "autocracy, misgovernance" at the Centre. He, however, accepted that the Congress has "fallen on difficult times". Singhvi's statements came ahead of SP president Akhilesh Yadav's and BSP chief Mayawati's joint press meet in Lucknow Saturday. READ | SP-BSP alliance will get its math right, BJP will be defeated in 2019 polls: Akhilesh The presser will be the first after the two parties gave broad contours of an electoral alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. "I don't think anybody should underestimate the strength, extent and reach and vote share, presence and support of the Congress in a state like Uttar Pradesh. "We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake. Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future," he told reporters when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance. "Those who in any manner do not do it will be blamed ultimately by the public, which knows everything. Therefore, it is an obligation on each one of the parties to do so (defeat the BJP)," Singhvi asserted. Asked about Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy saying he was merely a "clerk" and did not have a say in running the state government, Singhvi said the remark might have been made in the heat of the moment and that the two parties were "happily married". On BJP chief Amit Shah's remarks of winning the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the Congress leader said, "These jumlas have become so stereotyped and so repetitive that the party president speaks in almost auto-pilot and no one believes them (rhetoric). " On Shah's remarks about formation of "unholy alliances", Singhvi said it was reflective of the "very grave frustration and fear and absolute chaos" in the ranks of the BJP. He also took a dig at Union minister Piyush Goyal over his remarks against Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging the leader of opposition is habitual to giving dissents. Ramananda Sengupta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, is on a two-day visit to New Delhi to brief the government on United States of America president Donald Trumps plans to pull out American troops from the strife-torn country and efforts to bring the ultra-orthodox Sunni group Taliban to the negotiating table. He is expected to hold talks with both Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, apart from other senior officials. New Delhi, believing that the Taliban is a proxy for Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), has so far refused to hold any discussions with the Taliban. This trip, his first since his appointment in September 2018, comes days after the Taliban in Afghanistan called off a fourth round of talks with the United States in Qatar, citing, among other things, differences in the agenda, including Afghan officials being a part of the talks and the question of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Afghanistan. According to a US State Department release on Wednesday, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad will lead an inter-agency delegation to India, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan from January 8-21. He will meet with senior government officials in each country to facilitate an intra-Afghan political settlement. The United States supports the desire of the Afghan people and the international community for a political settlement that ends the 40-year conflict and ensures Afghanistan never again serves as a platform for international terrorism. Special Representative Khalilzad will meet with Afghan government officials and other interested parties to support and facilitate an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan, empowering the Afghan people to chart a shared course for their nations future, the statement added. Theres a massive contradiction here, said a retired Indian official who has served in the region. The Taliban has not renounced any of its bigoted, violent and pathological ideology. By talking to them, the US is de-facto recognising them as a player in Afghanistan, while undermining the legitimate government there. If they are allowed to return to power in Afghanistan, all the US is doing is setting itself up for another 9/11 [September 11 terror attack], he said. By PTI WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Friday assured H-1B visa holders, an overwhelming majority of whom are Indian IT professionals, that his administration will soon bring changes that will give them certainty to stay in America and a "potential path to citizenship". Trump on Friday tweeted that his administration is planning an overhaul of US policies on H-1B visa and will encourage talented and highly-skilled people to pursue career options in the US. "H1-B holders in the US can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the US," Trump tweeted on Friday. Trump's tweet comes as a good news for Indian professionals, especially in the IT sector, who currently have to wait for nearly a decade to get a Green Card or permanent legal residency. ALSO READ: H-1B visa norms to change to target the most-skilled, highest-paid In the first two years of his presidency, Trump administration made it tough for the H-1B visa holders over their overstay, extension and issuing of new visa to them. The H-1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Trump's major announcement on H-1B visas through twitter, without any further details comes as part of his known preference to attract and retain best talent in the US. In recent weeks, he has been talking about a merit-based immigration system to reduce overall immigration to the US. Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told lawmakers that the US should "endeavour to select the very best" among the applicants under the H-1B foreign work visa programme. The number of H-1B petitions routinely exceeds the statutory cap, and among that pool of petitions, we should endeavour to select the very best for the privilege of coming to the US for work, the Homeland Security Secretary said. ALSO READ: H-1B should attract best talent: Homeland Secretary Nielsen The Trump administration, she said, has stepped up its measures to detect employment-based visa fraud and abuse, but certain non-immigrant visa programmes need reform in order to protect American workers better. In November, US Citizenship and Immigration Services had proposed major changes in the H-1B application process which it said is aimed at awarding this visa to the most skilled and highest paid foreign workers. Under the proposed rule, companies seeking foreign workers on H-1B visa under the Congressional mandated annual caps -- would first have to electronically register with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during a designated registration period. By PTI MUZAFFARNAGAR: An RTI activist missing since December 27 has been found dead at Shahpur village under Kandhla Police Station in Shamli district, officials said Friday. "Kasim Saifi, 32, was missing from his home in Moradabad since the last week of December. After investigation, Vikas Choudhry, a property deal, was taken in for questioning during which he confessed to killing the RTI activist," officials said. Saifi's body was recovered and sent for postmortem, they added. "Saifi was shot dead by the accused with the help of one Kuldeep on December 27. The crime was motivated by an old enmity. Based on the complaint lodged by the victim's family, we began investigation," officials said. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: With Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) set to open their cards while making a formal announcement of their alliance in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Chaudhary Ajit Singh claimed that his party was also very much a part of the alliance. However, the number of seats is yet to be decided, he said while interacting with media persons in Mathura on Friday. Jayant (Ajit Singhs son and partys vice-president) had met SP chief Akhilesh Yadav recently and we are very much in the grand alliance. However, there have been no talks yet on the number of seats, said Ajit Singh adding that he had no idea about Akhilesh and Mayawatis joint press conference on Saturday in Lucknow. Notably, as per the seat-sharing formula agreed upon between the SP and BSP leaders, both the parties will contest on 37 seats each. Neither of the two will field candidates on Amethi and Rae Bareli of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and RLD will be given two seatsBaghpat and Mathura in western UP. Remaining two seats have been left open for last minute allies. However, as per the sources, the RLD has demanded six seats of jat belt including, Baghpat, Mathura, Amroha, Bijnor, Hathras and Muzaffarnagar in western UP where jats make 17-30 per cent of the total population. However, RLD has opted out of Kairana, the seat which they won in October, 2018 bypoll. While Ajit Singh contests from his stronghold Baghpat, his son Jayant Choudhary is likely to contest from Mathura. BJP MP from Mathura, Hema Malini had defeated Jayant from Mathura constituency in 2014. Asked why the Congress was left out of the grand alliance in UP, Singh said, It was a decision taken by SP and BSP. Whatever they have decided will be final. Akhilesh and BSP supremo Mayawati are all set to address a joint press conference on Saturday, the first after both the parties gave contours of an electoral alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This will be exactly after 25 years that both the parties will be coming together to contest the elections against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kanshi Ram had joined hands to contest the elections in 1993. Anand ST Das By Express News Service PATNA: Seat-sharing talks in Bihars Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Opposition Grand Alliance are stuck because of the RJDs insistence on contesting in no fewer than 20 of the states 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, even as the partys allies are pressing for sizeable pieces of the pie. While a meeting of the Grand Alliance parties held at RJD leader and former deputy chief minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadavs residence on Monday remained inconclusive, the stalemate has worsened after the partys jailed chief, Lalu Prasad, was denied bail by the Jharkhand High Court in fodder scam cases. Sources said the two main parties in the alliance, the RJD and the Congress, have failed to agree on the number of seats they would contest, which is why no decision could be made on the seats to be contested by the smaller parties like the Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha, Mukesh Sahnis Vikassheel Insaan Party and the Left parties. The Congress, the second largest party in the alliance, had contested on 12 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls in the state and won three. This time, it has reportedly demanded 15 seats. But since the RJD, which had contested on 27 seats in the last polls and won four, is unwilling to contest on less than 20 seats this time, the talks have failed to make any progress. The Grand Alliance parties had expected that Lalu, presently lodged in a Ranchi jail, would get bail and finalise the seat-sharing pact in a meeting of the alliance partners in Patna. Sources said Tejashwi Yadav, who is the RJD chiefs younger son, is likely to visit him in Ranchi along with the leaders of some alliance parties in the next couple of days to seek his guidance. State Congress president Madan Mohan Jha is set to meet party president Rahul Gandhi to apprise him of the partys claim on 15 seats and the possible candidates, said sources. No help coming from Lalu The Grand Alliance parties had expected that Lalu, presently lodged in a Ranchi jail, would get bail and finalise the seat-sharing pact in a meeting of the alliance partners in Patna. Sources said Tejashwi Yadav, is likely to visit him in Ranchi jail. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The environment ministry launched the National Clean Air Action Plan on Thursday with a target of reducing particulate matter in 102 Indian cities by 20-30 per cent by 2024 at a cost of Rs 300 crore. According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the NCAP will be a mid-term, five-year action plan with 2019 as the first year. The international experiences and national studies indicate that significant outcome in terms of air pollution initiatives are visible only in the long-term, and hence the programme may be further extended to a longer time horizon after a mid-term review of the outcomes, said Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan. Taking into account the available experience and studies, the tentative national level target of 20-30 per cent reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024 is proposed under the NCAP taking 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration. The overall objective of the NCAP is comprehensive mitigation action for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution besides augmenting the air quality monitoring network across the country and strengthening the awareness and capacity building activities. the minister further added. Collaborative and participatory approach involving relevant central ministries, state governments, local bodies and other stakeholders with a focus on all sources of pollution forms the crux of the programme. There are plans to use the governments Smart Cities programme to launch the NCAP in the 43 cities in the list of the 102 non-attainment cities. City-specific action plans are being formulated for 102 non-attainment cities identified for implementing mitigation actions under NCAP. Cities have already prepared action plans in consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The institutional framework at the Centre and state level, comprising of an apex Committee at the ministry and at Chief Secretary level in the states, are to be constituted. North India has been reeling under a heavy blanket of smoke from two months. By PTI BHUJ (GUJARAT): The Border Security Force (BSF) Friday seized a Pakistani fishing boat in the Indian territory at Vyanvari Creek in Kutch district near the Indo-Pak border, an official said. The fishermen on the boat fled to the Pakistan side after spotting BSF patrol boats, said officials. Several Pak fishermen have been caught while fishing in the Indian side of the creek in the past. Given the sensitive nature of the area, even Indian fishermen are barred from catching fish in the creek. However, Pakistani fishermen often venture into Indian waters to catch fish and prawns the official said. Related Myanmar court rejects appeal by jailed Reuters reporters Britain on Friday called on Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to look at whether due process was followed in the case of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail in Myanmar. A Myanmar court earlier on Friday rejected the appeal of the two reporters sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of breaking the countrys Official Secrets Act, saying the defense had not provided sufficient evidence to show they were innocent. We are very worried about due process in this case, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told BBC radio when asked about the case. We urge Aung San Suu Kyi to look at whether that due process happened and to recognize that, as someone who fought for democracy in Burma, she should be taking a personal interest in the future of these two brave journalists. Short link: By PTI NEW DELHI: India slammed Pakistan on Friday for its statement that New Delhi was not responding to its peace overtures, saying there was "no seriousness" in Islamabad's offer for talks as it continued to extend "explicit support" to terror organisations and was now trying to mainstream them. India's sharp reaction comes days after Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan accused it of not responding to his peace overtures. Responding to Khan's comments, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "I don't understand these statements. Even before Imran Khan became Prime Minister, our Prime Minister had called and congratulated him on his election win." ALSO READ: Talks and terror cannot go together, it applies to Jammu and Kashmir too: Army Chief Bipin Rawat Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also wrote to their counterparts and congratulated them after they assumed office, he said at a media briefing. Kumar also posed questions to Pakistan to hit out at the country for supporting terrorism and allowing terrorists to use its soil for targeting other nations. "When they say they are ready for talks, then why do their ministers share platform with internationally designated terrorists. There have been many instances in the past few months when their ministers have shared a platform with such people," Kumar said. ALSO READ: India not responding to peace overtures: Imran Khan He cited some instances such as Pakistan's religious affairs minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri sharing a public platform with Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed on September 30 where both of them made "vitriolic" anti-India statements and the terror organisation opening centres in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In December, Pakistan's interior minister met representatives of the JuD terrorist organisation and openly pledged support to them, Kumar said. "If Pakistan is ready for talks then why no action has been taken against terrorists involved in the Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks. Always the matter is brushed aside after talks," he said. JuD and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) are no longer on the list of proscribed organisations after an ordinance banning them lapsed, he said. "It is clear that the explicit support that banned organisations used to get from Pakistan is still continuing. There has been no change in that," he asserted. The more serious thing is that they are trying to mainstream terror organisations, Kumar said. Islamabad wants to deflect attention from its own financial problems and it is doing that by giving statements about other countries, he said. "So this statement that they want to have talks, there is no seriousness in it and this should be backed up by some action," the MEA spokesperson said. On Khan's statement on treatment of minorities in India, Kumar said, "Pakistan should be the last country in the world to lecture us on the topic of plurality and inclusive society. We and the world are fully aware how the minorities are treated in their country." By PTI SRINAGAR: Militants Friday evening attacked a CRPF bunker in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir by hurling a grenade, but there were no reports of loss of life, police said. Militants hurled a UBGL grenade towards a CRPF bunker near Palladium Cinema in city centre Lal Chowk this evening, a police official said. He said there were no reports of any loss of life so far in the explosion. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Centre told the Supreme Court Friday that it has to "believe in miracles" and see if the 15 miners, who have been trapped for almost a month inside an illegal rat-hole coal mine filled with water in Meghalaya, come out alive. It said the authorities were making all efforts to save the lives of these persons and the Indian Navy and planes and helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been deployed in the rescue operation. "We have to believe in miracles," Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer, which observed that it was not known if they were still alive. "There is no dispute that you are making efforts. Whether they (miners) are alive today, we do not know.Maybe somebody is alive there.You have to take them out," the bench told Mehta, adding, "You have to continue making efforts". The apex court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Aditya N Prasad, who sought urgent steps to rescue the 15 miners. The Centre and the Meghalaya government apprised the bench about the steps taken in the operation to rescue the 15 miners who are trapped there since December 13 last year. The bench sought to know from the state government as to whether any action has been taken against those indulging in illegal mining activities in Meghalaya. The state's counsel said the person running the illegal mine where the incident took place has been arrested. He apprised the bench that the Indian Navy has deployed five remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) in the operation and one crore litres of water had been pumped out from the illegal mine, but seepage from nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. ALSO READ: Navy has deployed 5 remotely-operated vehicles to rescue trapped miners: Meghalaya tells SC Senior lawyer Anand Grover, appearing for the petitioner, said they were happy with the steps taken by the authorities but there was a problem of coordination among the agencies. He said there was no mapping of the mine as it was illegal but the equipment was available in India which can go deep inside the water and help in ascertaining the topography of the site. He gave some suggestions to assist in rescue operation and said the main hurdles were the remote location and difficult terrain, no blueprint of mines, water seeping into the mines from unknown source and no knowledge of connection with nearby mines. Grover said the petitioner was in touch with Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Roorkee-based National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and some other private research institutes including Planys Technology, Chennai, which can assist in the rescue operation. He said these institutes are capable of mapping the mines and though underwater rovers were available, the equipment has to be airlifted and the Air Force can do the needful. Mehta said the government has already contacted these institutes and requested them for help. He assured the top court that suggestions given by Grover would be taken into consideration and would be acted upon in whatever manner possible. The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on January 18. During the hearing, Grover told the court that the Navy has deployed ROVs in the rescue operation but desired result was not coming out as smaller equipment were required there. He said smaller ROVs were available in India which can go deep inside the mine and take pictures even in muddy waters. Regarding Grover's submission that there was a problem of coordination among the authorities, Mehta said additional chief secretary of Meghalaya was coordinating with every agency involved in the rescue operation. "No stone is left unturned to rescue these persons," Mehta said. The state's counsel said that though one crore litres of water has been pumped out from the mine, the decrease of water level was only about eight inches as seepage from the nearby river has increased. Mehta had earlier told the apex court that 71 members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 20 from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 16 Navy personnel and others, including those from Odisha fire service and Coal India Ltd., were working in the rescue operation. The Meghalaya government had filed a status report on the rescue operation and said there were problems like difficult terrain and lack of proper infrastructure at the site which were creating hurdles. It had said that the site was located at Ksan near the river Letein. It was about 3.7 kilometres deep inside a jungle and can be accessed after crossing three streams. The rat-hole mine, atop a hillock fully covered with trees in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, was flooded when water from the nearby Letein river gushed into it, trapping 15 miners. Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually three-four-foot high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat holes" as each just about fits one person. The apex court had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the Meghalaya government to rescue the miners trapped in the illegal coal mine and had said "prompt, immediate and effective" operation was needed to rescue them as it was a matter of life and death. By PTI NEW DELHI/LAHORE: India has written to Pakistan proposing a visit by its experts to inspect two hydroelectricity projects on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir from January 27 to February 1, which is mandatory under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)between the two countries, sources said Friday. The invitation was extended on Wednesday by India's Indus Commissioner under the IWT to his Pakistani counterpart, sources in New Delhi said. India is yet to receive an official confirmation about the acceptance of the invitation from Pakistan, a senior official said. After the trip by Pakistani experts, Indian officials will also make a reciprocatory trip to Pakistan under the treaty. On Friday, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda termed this as a "major breakthrough" and said that India had "agreed" to allow the inspection of its two hydropower projects on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani experts later this month. "Due to our continued efforts there's a major breakthrough that India has finally agreed to our request for inspection of Indian projects in Chenab basin," Vawda said in a tweet. Sources in New Delhi, however, said it was India which had proposed the visit. During the 115th meeting of the Permanent Commission for Indus Waters (PCIW) held in Lahore from August 29-30 last year, both the commissioners agreed to undertake the treaty mandated tours in the Indus basin on both sides, the official added. The tour was originally scheduled in October 2018 but was postponed because of elections of local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. Under Article VIII of the treaty, both the commissioners are mandated to undertake, once in every five years, a general tour of inspection of the rivers for ascertaining the facts connected with various developments and works on the rivers on both sides. So far, no tour could be held in the current five-year block which ends in March 2020. "As a federal minister I've directed my team to visit and carry out inspection of projects - 1,000 MW Pakal Dul and 48 MW Lower Kalnal - from January 27 to February 1. It's indeed a feather in the ministry for water resources' cap. We welcome this gesture from India and we expect the same spirit for resolution of other outstanding issues," Vawda said. The Pakistan government had earlier said that the design of two under-construction hydroelectric projects of India in the Chenab basin violated the provisions of the IWT. India has said it has the right to build these projects and holds that their design is fully in compliance with a set of guidelines. The PCIW, formed under the Indus Waters Treaty, was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, and it includes Indus commissioners of both countries. The treaty provides for both the commissioners to meet at least once every year, alternately in India and Pakistan. The treaty specifies that the waters of three eastern rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, have been reserved for India while that of western rivers, namely Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, are for Pakistan. However, India claims it has unrestricted rights to develop hydroelectric power projects on the western rivers within the specified parameters of design. PTI MZ/PR KUN AKJ KUN KUN 01112211 NNNN Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: Amid reports that he is all set to join a regional party and contest the forthcoming parliamentary elections, 35-year-old Shah Faesal who quit the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) to protest unabated killings in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), has said his next course of action would depend on what the people of the state, especially youngsters, want him to do. In a Facebook post, the outspoken Faesal said he had received storm of abuse and adulation over his decision to quit government service. Hundreds and thousands of people reacted to my resignation in hundreds and thousands of ways. I totally expected this, he said. Faesal resigned on Wednesday. As of now I have quit the service. What I am going to do hereafter also depends on what people of Kashmiri want me to do. More so the youth. I have an idea how I can do it. I am sure you have ideas too and you want me to factor those ideas in before I take a final decision, he said. If you are ready to come out of Facebook/Twitter and show up in Srinagar tomorrow (Friday), we could think this through together. My choice of politics will be decided by real people not FB likes and comments, Faesal said. Later, in another Facebook post, he said due to the adverse weather forecast for Friday, the proposed interaction in Srinagar stood postponed. By IANS GUWAHATI: As protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 continued in Assam, a group of agitators vandalised a BJP office near here, police said on Friday. The agitators belonging to Oikya Sena Asom on Thursday night vandalised the office in Palashbari area. The police said the protesters set fire to the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and also blocked the national highway shouting slogans against the BJP-led NDA government. ALSO READ: Assam scholar, who spoke against Citizenship Bill, faces sedition charge Later, the police took the agitators into custody. Assam has witness protests since the Union Cabinet on Monday approved the Bill that aims to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for citizenship of India, after a Joint Parliamentary Committee submitted its recommendations to the Lok Sabha. ALSO READ: Sedition charges against Sahitya Akademi awardee Hiren Gohain, scribe Manjit Mahanta While the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has snapped its ties with the BJP over the Bill and it's three ministers resigned, four members of the Central government nominated high powered committee to implement Clause 6 of Assam Accord have also declined to be participate. On Tuesday, the northeastern states observed a total shutdown in protest. By IANS NEW DELHI: The Cabinet on Thursday approved setting up of three new AIIMS -- two in Jammu and Kashmir and one in Gujarat -- under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, an official release said. One of the AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir will be established at Vijaynagar, Jammu, and the other one at Awantipura, Kashmir at an estimated cost of Rs 1,661 crore and Rs 1,828 crore, respectively. In Gujarat, setting up of AIIMS at Rajkot will cost Rs 1,195 crore. "Establishment of new AIIMS involves creation of hospital, teaching block for medical and nursing courses, residential complex and allied facilities/ services, broadly on the pattern of AIIMS, New Delhi and other six new AIIMS taken up under Phase-I of PMSSY," the statement read. Each new AIIMS will add 100 UG (MBBS) seats and 60 B.Sc (Nursing) seats and have 15-20 Super Specialty Departments. All the three institutes will add around 750 hospital beds including emergency/ trauma beds, Ayush beds, private beds and ICU Speciality and Super Speciality beds. "It is expected that each new AIIMS would cater to around 1,500 OPD patients per day and around 1,000 IPD patients per month. There will be a medical college, Ayush Block, Auditorium, Night Shelter, Guest House, Hostels and residential facilities," it added. The announcement of seting up of the two new AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the year 2015, while the one in Gujarat was announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget speech for the year 2017-18. By PTI GUWAHATI: BJP leader Pradip Dutta Friday courted controversy by threatening Assamese speaking students in Bengali dominated Barak Valley that their admission in the Assam University at Silchar would be barred if they protest against the citizenship bill. Students union of another university in Guwahati filed an FIR against Dutta for his provocative statement. Dutta, a local leader of the saffron party known for making controversial statements, issued the threat after a section of students of the Assam University raised their voice against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. "I warn the Assamese (speaking) students of the university that you study only and don't indulge in politics. Think about the future. We then will be forced to bar admission of Assamese students in the university," Dutta was heard saying in local news channels. "I am writing to the vice-chancellor of the university asking him what step he is taking against the students for opposing the bill", Dutta said in Bengali. The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. READ | HC grants bail to Assamese litterateur Hiren Gohain, senior journalist Manjit Mahanta Cotton University Students Union (CUSU) in Guwahati filed a complaint in Pan Bazar police station here against Dutta for making the communally provocative statement threatening Assamese students in Assam University. The CUSU said in the complaint Assamese students in that University were suffering from insecurity following Dutta's threat and, demanded appropriate action against him. Reacting to the Dutta's statement, AASU General Secretary Luringjyoti Gogoi said, "Such threats are attempts to take away the rights of Assam's students in a democratic country to study in any part of the state. It will not be tolerated". "Because of such divisive statements to polarise the society, five people had lost their lives in Assam recently," Gogoi told reporters. He was referring to the gunning down of five Bengali speaking men in Tinsukia district by suspected ULFA-Independent militants on November 1 last year. Gogoi said, "It is surprising and reprehensible that the government has failed to take any action against Dutta. If there are any reaction to Dutta's threats, the government will be held responsible." Several organisations, including the Students Federation of India (SFI), the students' wing of the CPI(M), have condemned Dutta's threat. A section of students of the University on Thursday came out in support of the Bill, while another had taken out a candlelight vigil on Wednesday to protest against it. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: An army officer and a soldier were killed in powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector while an army porter died in Pakistani troops firing in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. Defence spokesman in Jammu, Lt Colonel Devender Anand, said an IED blast took place near LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district at around 3 pm. He said an army officer and a soldier were grievously injured in the blast and evacuated to nearby military hospital, where they succumbed to injuries. Sources said the IED was planted by militants and the explosive device went off when an army vehicle passed through the area. In the IED blast, two army men including an officer were critically injured. They were evacuated to the nearby army hospital, where both succumbed to injuries. Top army men and officials rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. An army official said it was being investigated how the blast took place near the LoC. "We are investigating all angles," he said. Sources said in another blast near Laam area of Nowshera sector, an army man was injured. The injured army man has been hospitalised. Meanwhile, Pakistani troops breached border ceasefire along the LoC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district."The Pakistani troops fired on army posts and civilians areas. In the Pakistani troops firing, an army porter Hemraj sustained critical bullet injuries," defence spokesman said. He said the injured army porter was referred to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. The spokesman said army authorities have promised all possible assistance to the family of deceased porter. Manish Anand By Express News Service NEW DELHI: BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday drew a parallel between the 1761 Third Battle of Panipat between the Marathas and the Afghans and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, asking party workers not to be worried about grand opposition alliances. Politics is chemistry, not physics, he said, exuding confidence of repeating the 2014 performance in UP. Maratha glory was at its peak having won 131 battles before the Third Battle of Panipat. Afterwards, India was enslaved for 200 years. The 2019 election is an ideological battle. It will have consequences for decades, so it has to be won, Shah said in his inaugural presidential address to the two-day national council meet of the BJP at Ramlila Maidan. READ | SP-BSP alliance will get its math right, BJP will be defeated in 2019 Lok Sabha polls: Akhilesh Drawing a broader narrative for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections around the 10 per cent quota for the upper castes, tax reliefs to MSMEs and traders, welfare push of the Modi government, development achievements, and reiteration to build the Ram temple at Ayodhya at the earliest after completion of the judicial process, Shah in his 66-minute long speech told the gathering there was nothing to be defensive about. It was his mention of the Ram temple in the middle of his speech that brought the loudest cheer with party workers on their feet hailing it. Shah committed the BJP to building the Ram temple at the earliest, adding expeditious actions would be taken upon the conclusion of judicial process. Incidentally, there was no mention of the partys recent losses in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. ALSO READ | Amit Shah asks BJP workers not to bother about alliance with Shiv Sena The Mallya card Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi didnt flee earlier because they were helped by the Congress. Under Modis watch, they became fearful and fled, Shah said, indicating bringing economic fugitives to book would be a major poll plank. A Saudi woman who fled to Thailand saying she feared her family would kill her has been granted asylum in Canada and is traveling there on Friday, the Thai immigration chief told Reuters. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, will board a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul on Friday night, immigration chief Surachate Hakpark said, before boarding a connecting flight to Canada. Canada has granted her asylum, Surachate told Reuters. Shell leave tonight at 11.15 p.m. Canadian authorities said they could not confirm that Qunun had been granted asylum in Canada. We have nothing new to add on this right now, a spokesman for Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday and was initially denied entry but after a tense 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter the country and has been processed as a refugee by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Qunun has accused her family of abuse, and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try to take her back to Saudi Arabia. Australia had said on Wednesday that it was considering taking in Qunun. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Short link: By ANI NEW DELHI: "I am very clear on 1984 that anybody, regardless of where he comes from, if he has harmed members of the minority community, he should be punished," asserted Congress President Rahul Gandhi while speaking about alleged insecurities among minorities in the country. In an exclusive interview to Gulf News, ahead of his maiden visit to UAE, the Gandhi scion said, "We will punish those who think that they can get away by crushing India. They should not be under the impression that they can crush the weak people. I am very clear on 1984 that anybody, regardless of where he comes from, if he has harmed members of the minority community, he should be punished. The legal system will make sure that the justice is done [in 1984 cases] and we will allow the justice system to work. The legal structure that we have, the laws that we have, are good enough to deal with the problems as long as institutions like the Supreme Court are free to do their work." ALSO READ: PM Modi in 'tearing hurry' to sack CBI chief Alok Verma due to Rafale, says Rahul Gandhi While talking about alliances for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul exhumed confidence about party's ability in Uttar Pradesh and said that the Congress will surprise people in the state. "Our first aim is to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There are states where we are very strong and we are the primary party and are contesting the BJP directly. There are states where there are possible alliances - Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. where we are working out an alliance formula. There are very interesting things that the Congress party can do in Uttar Pradesh... the Congress idea is very powerful for Uttar Pradesh. So, we are very confident of our ability in Uttar Pradesh and we will surprise people," said Rahul to the Gulf News editor, who came to Delhi for Rahul's interview. Congress President Rahul Gandhi also said that work is in progress to bring opposition together in the Uttar Pradesh and added, "I have heard some statements in the media but we are going to work together and make sure that we defeat Prime Minister Modi. But, I just want to say again - to underestimate the Congress in UP is a mistake." ALSO READ: 56-inch chested PM is missing, says Rahul Gandhi Acknowledging the defeat of 2014 Lok Sabha election, Rahul also talked about having fatigue and arrogance in the party after being in power for ten years. "You can understand that we were ten years in power and frankly there was a certain amount of fatigue, a little bit of arrogance built up and that harmed us," he said. The Congress president also opined that party's model for 2019 is to bring people into the conversation and listen to what they are saying. Accusing the government of destroying the institutional structure of India, Rahul also called for 'allowing them space' to function. He said, "Prime Minister Modi doesn't have respect for experts and he believes that he is the centre of all knowledge. Respect, knowledge and understanding. An institution is a reservoir of knowledge; respect the people in that institution. The Supreme Court, the Reserve Bank of India, Election Commission of India have knowledge that no one has. Listen to them, respect and allow them space. Those are India's assets, not liabilities." ALSO READ: Rahul, Sonia evaded income tax to the tune of Rs 100 crore, claims I-T department While speaking about his personal life, Rahul categorically denied any thought about marriage in the near future and said that as of now he is entirely focused on the political front. "Right now my single-minded focus is that we are fighting an ideological war, we have to make sure that Prime Minister Modi and the RSS do not continue to have their hold on Indian institutions. I like to operate in the present. and right now the present is that there is a political fight taking place. We are working with our allies, making sure that they present a solid narrative and we are putting in place the pieces that are going to defeat the Prime Minister," said Rahul to Gulf News. During the interview Rahul also outlined the absence of direct communication between him and the Prime Minister and said, "Prime Minister Modi doesn't talk to me. He meets and says in monosyllables. he will say 'hello'. The biggest gift that Prime Minister Modi has given me is that I listen now, I listen very deeply." ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi accuses Narendra Modi of 'weakening' HAL to help 'suit-boot friend' Meanwhile, Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrived in Dubai in the wee hours of Friday for his two-day maiden visit to the United Arab Emirates. He will be interacting with the Indian overseas community and the student community, informed the Indian National Congress on Twitter. Gandhi is on two days tour of UAE on January 11 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on January 12. By IANS NEW DELHI: Add an element of revolution to your bookshelf with a compelling autobiography of a Dalit activist from Maharashtra; an account of the lives of Bastar's Abujhmadias, a primitive hunter-gatherer tribe; a guide to communicate better in business and in life; and finally, a book from an executive behind the enduring brand of Maggi and its two-minute revolution. The IANS Bookshelf offers you varied fare this weekend. 1. Book: Strike a Blow to Change the World; Author: Eknath Awad; Translator: Jerry Pinto; Publisher: Speaking Tiger; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 282 The book is the translated autobiography of Eknath Awad (1956-2015), a Dalit Mang activist from the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, who fought for the rights of underprivileged communities, irrespective of their caste or religion. Awad describes his rage against the humiliation of the Mangs by the upper castes; and his struggle to overcome caste prejudices as well as extreme poverty to get an education. He revisits his heady days of activism: rejecting caste-based labour and religious practices by cutting the Potraj's dreadlocks; joining the Dalit Panthers; being at the forefront of the Land Rights Movement; battling to rename Marathwada University after Dr Ambedkar; and working with an NGO in Thane that helped free Adivasis from bonded labour. He also recounts the casteism he faced from other Mangs, and his pain and disillusionment after some of them attempted to kill him. Originally published in Marathi as "Jag Badal Ghaluni Ghaav", it was translated in English by writer Jerry Pinto. 2. Book: Bastar Dispatches: A Passage Through the Wilds; Author: Narendra; Publisher: HarperCollins; Price: Rs 499; Pages: 262 Abujhmad is situated in the deep interiors of Bastar, and inhabited by the Abujhmadias, a primitive hunter-gatherer tribe whom British anthropologist Verrier Elwin has called the Hill Murias. Their dialect has no more than 300 to 500 words and they count only up to five. "We do not need more than that," as they put it. The lone ("home" in their dialect) is not inside the hut. The hut is only a shelter for the night, against its elements, animals and spirits who roam it. "We live in the outside; that is where our parentage and affections are centred," they say. Brimming with many such singular insights into a fascinating way of life and based on the author Narendra's over 30 years of association with Abujhmad and its contiguous areas in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, "Bastar Dispatches" provides a compelling narrative of a people at peace with themselves and nature, their dialect, their festivities, their delightful interactions. 3. Book: The Million Dollar Handshake; Author: Catherine Molloy; Publisher: Hachette India; Price: Rs 350; Pages: 263 The guide by communication expert Catherine Molloy, offering to help readers create a lasting and great first impression, claims to revolutionise how they connect and communicate in business and life -- starting with the handshake. First impressions count -- even before one speaks a word, the way they walk, make eye contact and connect with others is revealing. The book offers to teach one how to read non-verbal communication and build rapport using positive body language, identify your behavioural style and enact positive change by working with one's strengths, communicate cross-culturally to secure global deals, and establish meaningful connections in business and in life. 4. Book: The Two-Minute Revolution: The Art of Growing Businesses; Author: Sangeeta Talwar; Publisher: Penguin; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 210 The book is written by Sangeeta Talwar, a pioneering woman executive in the FMCG industry, who established one of the most beloved and enduring brands of India -- the two-minute Maggi Noodles. Drawing from decades of first-hand experience in Nestle, Tata Tea and Mattel, Talwar shares creative and strategic lessons which can help you grow and add value to your business. She prescribes a plan of action that includes tactics such as keeping all the balls in the air, executing to perfection, being consumer-obsessed and pivoting on profitability. Insightful and packed with fascinating examples -- from creating and launching Maggi Noodles to spearheading the highly effective Jaago Re campaign for Tata Tea -- this book suggests tried and trusted strategies for building extraordinary brands. By PTI CHENNAI: Expressing happiness over the positive response garnered by his latest flick 'Petta,' Tamil 'Superstar' Rajinikanth said the credit should go to its producer and director. "First, I express my new year and Pongal (harvest festival in Tamil Nadu which falls on January 15) wishes to one and all. I came to know that it (Petta) is liked by everyone. Very happy for that. The credit should go to Sun Pictures (film producer), Karthik Subbaraj (director) and his unit," the 69-year-old actor told reporters at the airport here late Thursday night after returning from the United States. ALSO READ | Meet the Odisha drummers who made Rajini dance to their tune in 'Marana Mass' "My job is to make them (fans) happy. That is very important. I am happy that they are happy. As I said earlier, the credits should go to Karthik Subbaraj. He made sure that he got the best from me in every shot, every scene," he added. The actor's 'Petta' hit screens worldwide amid much fanfare Thursday with two fan couples in the State choosing the occasion to tie the knot and another piercing his skin as part of special prayers for the success of the flick. Produced by Sun Pictures, the music is scored by Anirudh. Besides Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqi and Vijay Sethupathy, the film's star cast includes actresses Simran and Trisha and actor-director Sasikumar. 'Petta', roughly translating into one's local stronghold in Tamil, released along with the Ajith-Nayanthara starrer 'Viswasam' directed by Siva. By PTI NEW DELHI: There's Barbie, of course, and a host of others who have epitomised the glam-to-cute spectrum with their blond tresses for generations of dark-haired Indian children, but when a real-life toddler joins the doll bandwagon, the fun and games acquire a new layer of complexity, say experts and parents. Young Taimur Ali Khan is a doll. And no, this is not just a descriptive for the cuteness quotient of the two-year-old son of Bollywood power couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor but an actual 54-cm plastic fact. ALSO READ | Cuteness overload: Check out all the celebrity babies of 2018! A Kerala-based entrepreneur recently took the step to objectify the celeb toddler into a doll dressed in a white kurta, a blue Nehru jacket and blue pants. With role play, gender stereotypes and young girls idealising the impossibly perfect figure of Barbie or the predominantly western look of the dolls they play with, these are the toys that have long been a problematic area, often generating image troubles that often into the teenage years and beyond. And with the Taimur doll, what was just child's play has acquired a new layer of complexity and commodification. According to Nimesh Desai, director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, ethics and morality find no place in this marketplace. It works on the simple formula of "commercialisation" where anything and everything that has demand and can be sold in the market will be "manufactured" no matter what. So, the reality is this - two-year-old Taimur comes out of the car, everyone shouts his name, he gives a quick stare at the flashing cameras and breaks into a smile just on cue, waves 'hi and bye' and is off. The paparazzi's work is done with numerous websites and social media pages eager to grab the photographs and video clips of the pint-sized celeb. The toddler, thanks to his copybook cute look, has been making fans and paparazzi go berserk since the day he was born, a fan frenzy that took the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and even Thalaiva Rajnikanth years of work. With Brand Taimur growing by the day, parents and experts ponder troubling questions -- when does fandom cross the line, what are the possible ramifications for the child growing up in the eye of the publicity storm, what is the impact on children playing with such dolls and the big one, how much is too much. "No one can deny the fact that the kid is just too cute to be true and one cannot get enough of his photos or videos. That said, the Kerala guy probably did a bit too much by manufacturing a Taimur doll. Sorry, that is not cute. On the contrary, it seems creepy to me," said Gurgaon-based Prisha Mandavya, the mother of a six-year-old. "I would never want my kid to play with a doll which is a lookalike of another kid. Also, I am really against someone making a business out of an innocent child. The family (Kapoors) should take action against them," she added. ALSO READ | Taimur was to be named 'Faiz', says Kareena Kapoor Khan Kareena and Saif have maintained in the past that they can't help the attention their child gets. There is apparently a rate card for each celebrity. "They (photographers) get 1500 bucks a photograph for this guy (Taimur)," Saif revealed during a recent episode of the chat show 'Koffee with Karan'. The growth of a new culture of celebrity-hood and saturation media coverage means that older ideas of privacy are no longer valid, said sociologist Sanjay Srivastava. "Celebrities need the media and vice versa. Taimur is a victim of the coming together of celebrity culture, media culture and consumer culture. He has become a commodity," Srivastava told PTI. Unlike in the West, there is very little or no regard for privacy in India, Desai agreed. "Of course, regarding Taimur, it is for his parents to decide and certainly moderation is always a good idea. But then I guess the media too to be blamed for overdoing it most of the time," Desai said. "We here simply don't have the the culture where people respect the concept of maintaining boundaries. For example, there is paparazzi in the UK too, but I doubt if the children of the royal family (Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis) are mobbed and bothered by shutterbugs the way we see here," the senior psychologist added. That said, according to industry insiders, the business of encashing on famous celebrity images by having their dolls in the market has not minted much money for toy-makers in India. There have been the occasional forays into celeb dolls, Leo Mattel made a Katrina Kaif Barbie once and film merchandising has sometimes seen star dolls like Hrithik Roshan's superhero avatar from the "Krish" series. "Their business is very short-lived. They just never created the demand like that you see with the likes of Avengers, Captain America, Tom and Jerry," said Satish Sundra, from Delhi's Ram Chander & Sons, which claims to be India's oldest toy shop. By UNI NEW DELHI: BJP MP and noted actress Hema Malini will stage a special dance programme based on the theme 'Ganga' during this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) celebration at Varanasi, Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (Retd) VK Singh said here on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the mega annual event on the second day of the celebration on January 22, Gen Singh told reporters here. "Hema Malini will stage her special programme on the theme 'Ganga' at the ghats of river Ganga on the same day evening," he said. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth will be the chief guest for this year's celebration. The Minister said the main function hall at the venue has been named 'Atal Bihari Sabhaghar' as a mark of tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "There will be an exhibition on photographs and posters on the life and career of the former Prime Minister," he said. Gen Singh said the general exhibitions during the three-day event that will get underway at Varanasi on January 21 will highlight the country's ancient history as well as the achievements made in the contemporary setting. "There will be exhibits portraying the history and achievements of India especially in the context of modernity," the Minister said among others ISRO too will set up its pavilions. The annual Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas - organised first in 2003 - is celebrated on January 9 every year. But this year the dates have been shifted to the third week of January as there were overwhelming demands from the overseas Indians to also take part in the Kumbh Mela of Prayagraj and also the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on January 26. The programme initiated by the erstwhile Vajpayee government aims to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community and reconnect them with their roots and the government. In this year's celebrations, two prominent names of Indian origin Himanshu Gulati, a lawmaker from Parliament in Norway and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi will also take part in the seminars to be organised during the three-day celebrations, Gen Singh said. "There will be seven sessions of academic discussions on issues of importance," he said. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said the government is taking steps to increase number of direct flight services to Singapore from February. He noted that there would be three daily services as against the present one biweekly service. Speaking at the fourth Joint Implementation Steering Committee (JISC), which comprises officials from the governments of Singapore and Andhra Pradesh, the CM said, The full-fledged flight services to Singapore will begin from February. There are likely to be three services a day. During the JISC meeting, the officials also discussed the efforts for strengthening the economic links between the island nation and the State. To encourage more investors to explore the opportunities in the State, a new initiative, The Sunrise Programme was launched by the Singapore Business Federation. The officials said that the three-year programme, which aims at reaching out to 1,200 companies, is supported by Enterprise Singapore through its Local Enterprise and Association Development Programme. Earlier in the day, Naidu laid the foundation stone for the Welcome Gallery proposed to be built in the start-up area of Amaravati. Amaravati is a demonstrative place for latest technologies. We are partnering with firms for innovation. The day is not far away when the technologies we showcase will be emulated by other countries, he said. Naidu and Singapore minister for Communications and Information and minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran also unveiled the ceremonial plaque of the gallery. Iswaran said the commencement of gallery construction works would be the first step in the next phase of relationship between Singapore and AP. The Welcome Gallery is significant for two reasons: To bring international attention to Amaravati and to be able to showcase the opportunities and development done here, and to enable multinational investors participation and collaboration, he explained. Iswaran along with the CM later visited some work sites. The Singapore minister also visited the Real-Time Governance Society and appreciated the governments efforts for setting up such a facility. ADP signs MoUs with 15 firms The Amaravati Development Partners (ADP), which comprises Singapore Consortium and ADCL, entered into MoUs with 15 firms and institutions in the areas of smart buildings, smart energy, smart environment and smart collaborations. Firms from Singapore, Japan, Germany and across India Toto India Industries Pte Ltd, Innosparks Pte Ltd, Mann Hummel (Germany), Alpha Process Solutions Pte Ltd, Smart Clean Technologies Pte Ltd, GioSenz Pte Ltd, SUNSEAP, Anchor Electrical Pvt Ltd, Mobotix AG, Gush, AGC Asia Pacifi Pte Ltd (Tokyo), Institute of South Asian Studies NUS, Teck Team Solutions, TiE Amaravati and Smarten Spaces Pte Ltd exchanged the MoUs in the presence of Naidu and Singapore minister Iswaran. On the occasion, Naidu also unveiled the brochure of Amaravati Construction City, to be developed in the capital region. Three Singapore firms Erect Group, CKR Group of Companies and ByBiTech LLP are said to be investing in the construction city, which is touted to be a one-stop location providing construction technologies, building materials and leasing of construction equipment By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has come up with a tour package for Sri Lanka and Thailand from Hyderabad. The corporation officials said here on Thursday that the package offers four nights and five days tour to the two countries. A flight to Colombo will depart from Hyderabad at 10:10 hrs on March 22 and arrive in the Sri Lankan capital at 13:05 hrs. In the return journey, the flight to Hyderabad will depart from Colombo at 07.25 hrs on March 26 and arrive in Hyderabad at 09:20 hrs. This tour package will cost Rs 58,210 for single occupancy, Rs 48,468 for double occupancy, Rs 47,540 for triple occupancy, Rs 31,305 for child (two-11 yrs) with bed and Rs 29,449 for child without bed. The cost includes air fare, 3-star hotel accommodation with breakfast, visa and processing fee, Kandy city tour, cultural show, visit to temple of tooth relic, temple of Gautam Buddha, and sightseeing as per the itinerary, including the entry charges. The flight to Bangkok will depart from Hyderabad at 16.30 hrs on February 15 and arrive in Bangkok at 21:40 hrs. In the return journey, the flight to Hyderabad will depart from Bangkok at 22:40 hrs on February 19 and reach Hyderabad at 1:40 hrs. The cost for this tour is Rs 50,958 for single occupancy, Rs 45, 214 for double occupancy, Rs 45,214 for triple occupancy, Rs 43,094 for child (two-11 yrs) with bed and Rs 34,876 without bed. The cost includes SpiceJet air tickets, hotel stay with breakfast, visa and processing fees, Bangkok tour includes visit to reclining Buddha, Golden Buddha, Coral Island and Nong Nooch village. For details, one can contact 9701360605, 9701360620,8374000783, 0866-2572280 or visit www.irctctourism.com. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Drivers of trucks and petroleum tankers staged a protest on Wednesday morning in Kondapalli village in front of oil companies demanding that district officials and police allow their vehicles into the city through Gollapudi village. Claiming that the increasing time taken to reach the destinations and the distance is not only fuel-consuming but also affects them monetarily, the oil tanker drivers demanded that the district administration and police officials give an exemption for the petroleum tankers from the traffic diversions. In the name of traffic diversions for Kanaka Durga flyover construction, all the heavy vehicles are diverted through G Kondur and Mylavaram, which has become a burden for us. Due to the diversions, we are forced to wait for a long time and consumption of fuel too increased. Hence, the earning of a driver per trip has decreased, Venkateswarlu, a truck driver, said. However, the drivers later called off their strike after representatives from the oil merchant companies (OMCs) and association leaders intervened into the matter and officials accepting to their demand to allow vehicles inside the city through CVR flyover. By PTI MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday asked the BEST Workers' Union to "take the first step" towards resolving its dispute with the state and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and end the civic bus service employees' strike, now in its fourth day. The court also asked the union to hold a meeting of its office-bearers in the evening in a bid to break the stalemate. Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told the court that the Maharashtra government had set up a committee, headed by the chief secretary, to hold talks with the union. Secretaries of the urban development and transport departments are also part of this committee, he said. BMC and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) officials will also attend the meeting, he said. Lawyers of the BMC and the BEST said they were open to resolving the issues of the civic bus service employees as long as the union "cooperated" and stopped "holding a gun" to their heads. At this, a bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and N M Jamdar noted that as the authorities had already constituted a committee and were willing to resolve the matter, the union must now make efforts to end the deadlock. "The city has a certain reputation. So many commuters are affected on a daily basis. You can't hold the city to ransom in this manner by withholding essential services," the bench said. "You take the first step now. Call a meeting of all your members and others supporting you and take a decision to create a congenial environment and hold talks with the government," it said. Once the union holds the meeting and takes a "positive decision", its representatives will meet the newly constituted government committee on Saturday morning, it added. Nearly 32,000 BEST employees are on an indefinite strike since Tuesday to press for demands including higher salaries, revision of pay scale for junior employees and merger of the budget of the loss making BEST with that of the BMC. The court was hearing a PIL, filed by lawyer Datta Mane, seeking a direction to the BEST workers to call off the strike immediately. The petitioner argued that the strike had resulted in much inconvenience to over 50 lakh commuters in the city as 3,700 BEST buses had gone off the road. The BMC and the BEST, through their counsels Anil Sakhre and Darius Khambatta, respectively, told the court that the state's laws prohibit employees engaged in providing essential services from going on strike. They said an industrial court had prohibited BEST workers from going on strike, therefore the strike had no legal sanction. They, however, agreed to hold a discussion with the union to come up with "long-term, comprehensive solutions". By Express News Service KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday issued a notice to P M Rajeeb of Nettur, the sixth accused in the Abhimanyu murder case, on a petition filed by the state government seeking to cancel the bail granted to him by the Ernakulam Sessions Court. The Sessions court had granted bail to Rajeeb on December 15. In the petition, the government said the bail order of the Sessions court was not legally maintainable as the court failed to assess properly the essence of section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the common intention and criminal conspiracy hatched by the accused and his active involvement in the crime. An American military official says the U.S.-led military coalition has begun the process of withdrawing troops from Syria. Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-coalition fighting the Islamic State group, says the U.S. started the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. In a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Friday, he declined to discuss specific timelines or locations or troops movements out of concern for operational security. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syrias northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq. The U.S. has around 2,000 troops in Syria. Short link: By IANS NEW DELHI: The measles-rubella vaccination campaign will begin in the national capital from January 15 which will immunize nearly 55 lakh children, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Thursday. The campaign will provide immunization to children in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 year across 11 districts of Delhi. The prime target, according to the ministry will be by sending teams to schools, preschools, school children from both government and private institutes and out of school children. "The benefit of spreading the campaign via schools is that it can cover children whereas through community services, it would take time to locate children from every household," Dr. Pradeep Haldar, Deputy Commissioner, Immunization, Health Ministry told IANS. For the campaign, the Delhi government will be assigning teams including Asha and Anganwadi workers along with a medical counsellor to cover the length and breadth of the state who will continue with vaccination process for four weeks and rework on missed out children for the next week. "We want to complete the MR vaccination in Delhi by February 28. Along with Delhi, the campaign will also start in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. The vaccination process will also start soon in Sikkim, West Bengal and Rajasthan," Haldar added. As per UNICEF, around 49,200 deaths occurred in 2015 in India owing to Measles-Rubella. The MR vaccination campaign was launched in 2017 which has so far covered nearly 20 crore children. By PTI CHENNAI: The Madras High Court Friday quashed the detention of 16 accused in a case relating to the gang rape of an 11-year-old hearing impaired girl in Ayanavaram here last year, under the Goondas Act. A division bench of Justices C T Selvam and R Hemalatha passed the order as police failed to pass the detention order within 30 days of arrest. The matter relates to the rape of a minor girl by a group of 17 people working at an apartment complex in Ayanavaram locality here, like plumbers, housekeepers, security guards and lift operators. The girl was allegedly sexually assaulted several times by the accused over seven months. All 17 were first arrested and then detained under the Goondas Act. The Goondas Advisory Board also confirmed the detention of 17 people under the Act. Assailing the detention, 16 accused approached the high court. Claiming that the allegations against them were false, the petitioners said it was "very strange" that the minor girl was still alive despite the claim of her having been "raped" on multiple occasions. Noting that they had no bad antecedents, the petitioners alleged that all of them have lost their jobs and were forced to vacate their house by the landlords. The case came to light after the victim, a class 7 student, narrated her ordeal to her elder sister. The sister informed their parents about it following which the girl's father lodged a police complaint on July 15 last year. The arrested persons were attacked by some lawyers in the court when they were produced on July 17. SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service CHENNAI: Chennai is the only major metropolitan city in the country that has been excluded from National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan launched on Thursday. From Tamil Nadu, Thoothukudi makes the list of 102 non-attainment cities, which are considered to be most polluted with respect to ambient air. Other important metros like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata and Hyderabad are all among the non-attainment cities. As per the NCAP, a full copy of which is accessed by Express, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified a list of polluted cities in which the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQs) are violated. These cities have been identified based on the ambient air quality data obtained between 2011-15 under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). PM10 has been found to be exceeding in 94 cities consecutively for five years and NO2 is exceeding limits in five cities. PM2.5 data since 2015 indicate 16 cities as non-attainment cities. Besides, considering WHO-2018 ambient air quality database, 102 non-attainment cities are identified. City-based environmentalists question the rationale behind Chennai being left out. In the first place, there are very limited CPCB monitors in Tamil Nadu. Though Chennais coast mitigated the citys pollution to some extent, the city consistently breaches the permissible pollution levels. Continuous air quality monitors in Manali, Velachery and IIT-Madras record high pollution levels. In fact, Chennais suburb Manali is one of the most critically polluted in India, as per the CPCBs comprehensive environmental pollution index, said environmentalist Shweta Narayanan. Other tier-2 cities like Vellore, Cuddalore, Tirupur, which have industrial clusters, were also declared by CPCB as critically polluted long back. How is that all these cities are not part of NCAP, experts ask. By Express News Service MUMBAI: State Bank of India is planning to raise up to Rs 10,000 crore through an equity issue through the QIP (Qualified Institutional Placement) route, as part of its capital raising plan, in a combination of bond and equity issuances, sources said. The bank, which had sought shareholder approval to raise equity of up to Rs 20,000 crore in December, has decided to go for only Rs 10,000 crore now considering the market conditions, they said. The SBI chairman, Rajnish Kumar, had told reporters earlier that the bank was in the market for Tier I bonds and would do an equity QIP at an appropriate time. Bank of America, CLSA, and HSBC have been picked up as the lead arrangers, along with Kotak Mahindra Bank and SBI Capital Markets, Bloomberg reported. The government has been pushing banks that are in a position to tap the markets to raise capital to fund loan growth. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Thursday said that he, along with other members, have proposed that road tax be exempted for electric vehicles (EVs). In our meeting today we have proposed to the Chief Secretaries of the States that there should be no road tax for electronic vehicles, Kant said. He was speaking at the Energy Storage India 2019 conference. At present, road tax varies from one state to another and is different for vehicles falling under different price brackets. The government had last year suggested a 12 per cent uniform road tax under one nation-one tax proposal. Kant added that these initiatives are being taken to bring the ownership cost of electric vehicles on par with combustion vehicles, adding that for India to successfully move away from fossil-fuel dependence, oil companies should become energy companies of the future. As per governments final guidelines and standards for charging infrastructure for EVs, existing fuel retail outlets run by public sector oil marketing firms (Indian Oil Corp. Ltd, Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd) have been given priority status to set up public charging station (PCS) on their premises. Niti Aayogs had earlier proposed a cess to be levied on fossil fuel-powered automobiles to cross-subsidise electric vehicles. However, this proposal had received heavy criticism from the Indian auomobile industry. Irans foreign minister mocked U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeos speech on Thursday in which he said when America retreats, chaos follows, by asserting the opposite was true. Whenever/wherever US interferes, chaos, repression and resentment follow, Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter. The day Iran mimics US clients & @SecPompeos human rights models be it the Shah or current butchers to become a normal country is the day hell freezes over. Best for the US to just get over loss of Iran. Short link: Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Strikes work, it is a very ... Its romantic. Its majestic. Its infuriating. Its depressing. Its soulful. Its upbeat. Its melancholy. Its heartbreaking. Its artistic. Its creative. Its hopeful. Its frustrating. Its raw and its unapologetic. In short, is the African-American experience captured in two hours for the world to see. Certain movies strike cords with certain audiences more than others. For as many people loved, the film showed the economic power that African-Americans have in catapulting what could have been just another superhero movie into an Academy Award contender . I mention this because while the critical acclaim foris widespread ( just Google it ok, I did the work for you), its inherently bound to resonate with African-American audiencesa little bit more than others because of how dynamically it nails down various parts of what being black in America is like today as much as it did when its source material was first published in 1974. Theres the fragile look of heartbreak and envy Henry gives as his character watches the interplay between Tish and Fonny and knowing he will likely never enjoy it Theres the #metoo creepiness of watching Tish be subtly sexually assaulted by a white male customer under the guise of shopping Beale Street delivers more nuanced facets of the struggles many African-Americans face in a country where they are often reminded they are and that there will always be some that view them second-class citizens. The police scenes are why I made the infuriating comment above, especially in lieu of the continued incidents like this and this and this and this and Thus, anyone still wanting to have a conversation to determine their level of woke may find Beale Street to be either the perfect conversation starter or ender. On a positive note, there are the happy moments that prove the human experience, however has no color and can be enjoyed by everyone. This includes watching Dave Francos character bond with Fonny over a potential living space, Domingo and Kings coming to Tishs aid and the love and chemistry between James and Layne as Fonny and Tish. Forget the earlier commentary made about how the film will strike an extra accord with African-Americans; the way in which screenwriter/director Barry Jenkins (the guy who made 2017s Academy Awards Best Picture winner Moonlight) shoots their scenes will possibly inspire plenty of Match.com/eHarmony accounts in hopes of finding a love like theirs. Layne and James are the heart of the movie, its driving force and its beacon of hope not only for each other, but also the audience watching it. If Beale Street Can Talk has plenty to say which is why the words must see are the only two you really need in regards to whether or not you should. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met American troops and political leaders in Iraq on Wednesday to reassure them about a U.S. military withdrawal from Syria and warn that Washingtons arch-foe Iran remains a regional security threat. The visit, which was not confirmed by the State Department until Pompeo left Baghdad, came on the second day of his Middle East tour, also taking in Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. His tour follows an increase in tensions between Washington and Tehran after the Trump administration reimposed sanctions and seeks to rally Arab allies to counter Irans sway, which is growing particularly in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in recent years. In Baghdad, Pompeo met Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hakim, Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi and President Barham Salih. Pompeo said he was very happy to be here, in his meeting with Abdul Mahdi, adding that the timing is good, according to a U.S. media pool report. A State Department statement said Pompeo had underlined the U.S. commitment to Iraqs sovereignty ... (and) discussed the recent territorial defeat of ISIS in Syria and the continuation of our cooperation with Iraqi Security Forces during his meeting with Abdul Mahdi. President Donald Trump met no Iraqi political leaders on a surprise visit to U.S. troops at the Al Asad Air Base outside Baghdad last month. The trip drew wide criticism in Iraq, especially from Iran-allied politicians who said it violated Iraqi sovereignty, and called for U.S. troops to leave Iraq. President Salih, answering a reporters question on whether he wants the United States to keep troops, said Iraq will need the support of the U.S., expressing his gratitude to the U.S. for support over the years. ISIS is defeated militarily but the mission is not accomplished, Salih said, using the acronym for Islamic State. Islamic State militants are still waging insurgent attacks in the north of the country and trying to make a comeback, analysts say, but violence has reduced significantly. The United States keeps more than 5,200 troops in Iraq more than 15 years after its invasion of the country in 2003 which toppled Saddam Hussein. The U.S. military supported Iraq in defeating Islamic State militarily in 2017 with air strikes and special forces. Reassurance over Syria withdrawal Pompeos visit comes after Trumps abrupt announcement last month that he will pull all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, which caused alarm among U.S. allies in the region. Speaking ahead of the trip, a State Department official said the secretary would counter false narratives surrounding the Syria decision that the U.S. was abandoning the Middle East. Asked on Tuesday about what would be discussed during a possible meeting with Pompeo, Abdul Mahdi said deepening Iraqs relationship with the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State. Hes an ally, he represents a friendly country, Abdul Mahdi said of Pompeo on Tuesday. We will raise those issues, and how to deal with regional issues altogether and deepen our economic and educational relations with the United States. Trumps withdrawal order alarmed U.S. allies in the region. It also led to the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis over policy differences and Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy for the coalition fighting Islamic State in Syria. Trump has not said, however, that he intends to withdraw American forces from Iraq. During his visit to Iraq on Dec. 26 a meeting between Trump and Abdul Mahdi was cancelled due to a disagreement over the venue, and the men instead spoke by telephone. Pompeo has refused to discuss the Syria withdrawals timing, but people with knowledge of discussions said Trump had been convinced that it should be done safely and in an orderly way. The State Department statement said Pompeo and Abdul Mahdi discussed U.S. support for Iraqs energy independence, a reference to Iraqs heavy reliance on Iranian gas for its power grid. Short link: My, my, the Muse Machine has officially come a long way in the course of 35 years of producing its annual student musicals. Once upon a time, Broadways Golden Age was consistently embraced by the arts education organization, presenting a string of classics such as Damn Yankees, Guys and Dolls, Mame, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Oliver!, On the Town, The Pajama Game, Peter Pan, and South Pacific. Recently, the tide shifted toward contemporary fare such as Mary Poppins, Seussical and an extraordinary Hairspray. This time around at the Victoria Theatre, the Muse sticks to current trends with Mamma Mia!, the 1999 Olivier and Tony Award-nominated ABBA tunefest written by Catherine Johnson that has captivated audiences around the world from the stage to the multiplex. Yet in doing so, theyve somehow made a strikingly adult-oriented show concerning significant issues of promiscuity as easy to swallow as Marys spoonful of sugar. After all, to discuss Mamma Mia! and not mention its glorification of sex would be comparable to ignoring Jud Frys bedroom beauties in Oklahoma! or the rise of the Nazis in The Sound of Music. In other words, it comes with the territory, specifically as single mother Donna Sheridan (believably perturbed and conflicted Melanie Dodson) and her only daughter Sophie (outstanding Charlotte Kunesh) attempt to navigate complicated issues of romance past and present. Over the years, the Muse has become very savvy at tailoring shows with Oz-like fervor (pay no attention to the giddy teenage girls exclaiming gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight) to the point that the sheer joy and charm exploding throughout certain scenes, certain songs, carries a lot of weight. And its a very delicate balancing act by the way, especially when dealing with, to borrow a phrase, curious children beginning to grow. Lay All Your Love On Me? No worries. Its just an innocent moment of playful banter between Sophie and her devoted fiance Sky (handsome Regin Potter). Does Your Mother Know? No worries. Forget the extremely flirtatious, hot and heavy subtext and just be in awe of Courtney Collinsworths fiery strength as middle age divorcee Tanya who isnt shy about her feminine instincts. The Muse hasnt gone so far as to gloss over all of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus lyrical intentions, but its important to know this version is understandably unable to be contextually truthful. Nonetheless, director Rufus Bonds, Jr,, returning at the helm for the first time since Muses 2012 production of The Wizard of Oz, has a firm handle on the material, establishing wonderful pacing and strong character development. I was particularly moved near the outset by Thank You for the Music, sweetly sung with luminous yearning by Kunesh as Sophie acknowledges Donnas musical and parental influence while simultaneously being grateful to finally meet and potentially have a meaningful relationship with her three possible dads Sam Carmichal (tenderly authoritative Desmond Kingston, offering an excellently sensitive rendition of Knowing Me, Knowing You), Harry Bright (chipper Michael Taylor) and Bill Austin (comical Steven Greenwalt). Equally impressive is Bonds endearing rock concert treatment of Super Trouper, heightened by John Rensels fantastic lighting, showcasing Donna, Tanya and Rosie (terrific Sara LiBrandi) nostalgically reuniting as Donna and The Dynamos surrounded by an adoringly enthusiastic crowd. His work is also cohesively in step with choreographer Lula Elzy, celebrating her 20th anniversary with Muse. Elzys jubilant, carefree routines, dabbling in both 1970s and 1990s sensibilities, regularly escalates as the 100-member cast excitedly builds the spirited urgency of Money, Money, Money, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Voulez-Vous, the title number, and the infectiously feel-good curtain call/encore. Additionally, appealing featured performances are given by Trinity Wolff (Ali), Julie Murphy (Cassie), Marisha Osowski (Lisa), Macy Patton (Nina), Bryce Galvan (Pepper), exuberant Nick Bradley (Eddie), and delightfully understated Fischer Barnett (Father Alexandrios). Musical director Jeffrey Powells orchestra includes standout drummer Raymon King-Redding II. Costumers Toni Donato Shade and Alisa Vukasinovich supply colorful and attractive period and contemporary outfits (Kuneshs final look is a subtle knockout). Muse alum Ryan Vallos top-notch sound design is a feat considering the productions scope. Muse alum Adam Kochs grand Mediterranean set design awash in coastal blue is courtesy of Maines Ogunquit Playhouse. Its too soon to say whether or not Muse will continue its examination of adult-themed stories (is Cabaret, Hair or Rent in the pipeline?), but for now, I absolutely encourage you to have the time of your life at Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! continues through Jan. 13 at the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. Act One: 60 minutes; Act Two: 50 minutes. Tickets are $27-$65 and can be purchased by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visiting ticketcenterstage.com. 6 January 2019 was far from an ordinary day, historically, nationally and ecclesiastically. The bells of the new Church of Nativity in the New Administrative Capital chimed for more than 10 minutes in celebration of its official inauguration as the largest church in the Middle East. The ceremony was attended by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, Pope Tawadros II and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb. This momentous occasion not only marked the realisation of President Al-Sisis pledge to construct this cathedral but also, for the Copts in Egypt and their church, it marks the move of the papal seat from Abbasiya to the New Administrative Capital. Such movement has occurred only a few times over the centuries. The event was also a manifestation of the close relationship between President Al-Sisi and Pope Tawadros II and reminds us of the similar relationship between former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser and pope Cyril VI. Nasser offered both government assistance and a personal donation for the construction of St Marks Cathedral in Abbasiya. The Coptic community is both joyful and a little confused. Following its inauguration, some felt that the new church was far from their homes or work places, so getting there would be difficult, at least for the time being. Also the pope would be less accessible than when he was in the cathedral in Abbasiya. Others, however, believe that the relocation of the papal seat to the New Administrative Capital would be good for future generations, just as each of the moves from the Hanging Church to the church in Azbakiya and from there to Abbasiya marked the beginning of a new phase with hopeful horizons. Also, they add, given the growing population, the coming generations of worshippers will need a larger place to accommodate them. One of the titles of the Coptic pope is patriarch of the See St Mark, named after the apostle who moved to Alexandria in the middle of the first century AD in order to spread the Christian faith. Over the next two millennia, the pope of Alexandria and the patriarch of the See of St Mark has used seven headquarters. In the Christian tradition, the original papal seat is situated where a disciple or apostle of Christ died. As the founder of the Coptic Church, St Mark was martyred in Alexandria, which has remained the capital of the See of St Mark and served as the papal headquarters for nearly 1,000 years. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the oldest, if not the oldest apostolic church in the world, which is why it is so historically important and why its evolution is an integral part of Egypts cultural and civilisational heritage. The Church of St Mark in Alexandria St Marks successors based themselves in Alexandria from 61 to 1047 AD. The Church of St Mark, located on Prophet Daniel Street, is said to house the head of the martyred apostle. The building was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1870, it was reconstructed in Byzantine style and decorated with numerous icons. It was reconstructed in basilica style and re-consecrated as a cathedral in 1952 by pope Yousab (Joseph) II. The Hanging Church After the capital in Egypt moved from Alexandria to Cairo, the papal headquarters moved to the Hanging Church which is situated in what was then known as Babel, now Old Cairo. This was in 1047 in the era of the 66th patriarch of St Mark, pope St Christoldoulos (1040-1077). According to The Coptic Encyclopaedia, the church remained the papal seat until 1320, the end of patriarchy of pope Yoannis (John) VIII (1300-1320), although for short times during this period, some popes used the Church of Abu Sefein, also in Old Cairo, as an alternative. One of the oldest churches in Old Cairo, the Hanging Church derived its name from the fact that it was suspended on top of the remains of two towers of a Byzantine fortress that once stood there. Like other churches in that quarter, it was built in the basilica style but it is the only one that does not have domes. This is precisely because of the towers it uses as its foundations. Domes require thicker and sturdier walls and buttresses to rest on. The Church of Mercurius Abu Sefein Situated to the north of the Hanging Church on Amr Ibn Al-Aas Street in Old Cairo, the Church of Mercurius Abu Sefein served as an alternative seat at times. It was located in the Church of the Angel Michael on the upper story. It was also used as a papal residence following the ascension of pope Gabriel II, the 70th patriarch of the See of St Mark who was also known as Ibn Turaik. The Church of the Virgin Mary In 1320 pope Yoannis (John) VIII (1300-1320), the 80th patriarch, relocated the papal seat to the Church of the Virgin Mary in Haret Zuweila near Port Said. Administratively it belongs to the Gammaliya district which comprises the historic area of Fatimid Cairo. It remained the seat until 1660. According to The Coptic Encyclopaedia, the Egyptian historian, Al-Maqrizi (1364-1442), referred to it as a great church to the Christians, and it is named after the Lady Mary. The British historian J R M Butler wrote, it is undoubtedly the oldest church in Fatimid Cairo. The Church of St Mary the Reliever Under pope Mateos (Mathew) IV (1660-1675), the papal headquarters was moved to the Church of St Mary in Haret Al-Roum, where it remained until 1799. St Marys is located in the Ghouriya district in Darb Al-Ahmar. Al-Maqrizi, in his encyclopaedic book on the plans and monuments of Cairo, observed that the church was built in tribute to the Virgin Mary who was nicknamed Al-Mughitha (the Reliever) because she comes to the aid of and relieves everyone who suffers hardship and who turns to her to seek her prayers and divine intercession. St Marks Cathedral in Azbakiya This church served as the papal seat from 1799 to 1971. The transfer from the Church of St Mary in Haret Al-Roum to St Marks in what was then the more upscale neighbourhood of Azbakiya took place during the patriarchy of pope Marcos (Mark) VIII. The cathedral was built by Ibrahim Al-Gohari, a wealthy and influential Copt in 18th century Cairo who was known for his piousness and philanthropy. The cathedral was consecrated on 14 September 1800 by pope Mark VIII. St Marks Cathedral in Abbasiya The papal headquarters since 1971, the cornerstone to the St Marks Cathedral in Deir Al-Anba Rowais in Abbasiya, was laid on 24 July 1965 in a ceremony attended by former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser. It was consecrated on 25 June 1968 in a grand ceremony that was also attended by Nasser as well as by emperor Haile Selassie. On 10 March 1971, the requiem mass was held in this cathedral for pope Cyril VI, who had laid its cornerstone. On 14 November 1971, the investiture was held for Pope Shenouda III. The cathedral in Abbasiya also served as the requiem mass for pope Shenouda, on 20 March 2012, which was followed by the investiture of the current patriarch, Pope Tawadros II, on 18 November of that year. According to The Coptic Encyclopaedia, the land on which the cathedral in Abbasiya was built had several names: Deir Al-Khunduq, the name of a monastery on the site; the Well of Bones because it served as a repository for the bones of the dead; and Deir Al-Anba Rowais which, according to Al-Maqrizi, was derived from a certain Abu Rowais, a widely-revered devout ascetic who died in 1405 and was buried in this monastery. *A version of this article appears in print in the 10 January, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Tale of the papal seat Short link: Sayre, PA (18840) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Firefighters respond to a reported building fire at the Maaco auto body shop on Doylestown Road in Montgomery Township on Friday, Jan. 11. Egypt has deported a German national of Egyptian origin on suspicion of attempting to join Daesh terrorist elements in Sinai, and is also set to deport another over similar accusations. the state official news agency MENA reported on Friday. According to MENA, the authorities said they recently arrested German national Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz, 24, upon arriving in the country at Cairo International Airport from saudi Arabia. Abdel-Aziz, a student at Saudi Arabias Islamic University, was attempting to join Daesh terrorist elements in Sinai, the authorities said. The authorities also explained that since they determined that Abdel-Aziz had not committed any crime per Egyptian law, he was deported to Germany, in coordination with the German Embassy in Egypt, after he agreed to give up his Egyptian nationality. MENA said that the authorities has also recently arrested another German of Egyptian origin identified as Issa El-Sabagh, 19, upon arriving at Luxor International Airport from Germany as he was found in possession of maps of North Sinai. The authorities said they determined after investigations that El-Sabbagh shares the beliefs of the Daesh terrorist group in Germany and is connected online to some of their members. El-Sabbagh arrived in Egypt planning to join terrorists elements in North Sinai, the authorities said. The government said that it did not consider El-Sabbagh an Egyptian national since he automatically lost that right in 2007 while a minor, when his father gave up his Egyptian nationality to attain German citizenship. Legal procedures to deport El-Sabbagh to Germany have been finalized, MENA added. Short link: Newly declassified documents detail U.S. covert actions, and Russian motives, in 40 years of war. Political language, George Orwell said, is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable. President Trump is a great practitioner, never greater than when defending rapacious acts by repressive regimes. For unfathomable reasons, he now has put forth a grotesque, Putinesque lie, falsely justifying Moscows Christmas 1979 invasion of Afghanistan: The reason Russia was in Afghanistan was because terrorists were going into Russia. They were right to be there . No Afghan terrorists were in Russia. The Russians invaded to defend their puppet government in Kabul. They terrorized all of Afghanistan, killing hundreds of thousands of civilians and resistance fighters. And the sons and grandsons of those dead warriors are killing Americans today, 17 years after we invaded to go after the terrorists who planned the 9/11 attacks. By occupying their nation for a generation, we have in one sense become the Soviets in Afghan eyes. Trump says he wants out. He decided at least 18 months ago that the American war in Afghanistan was a disaster and that we ought to just exit completely, according to Bob Woodwards book Fear . Its true that the United States has been in the Afghan jihad for a very long time so long that we sometimes forget we became part of the war precisely 40 years ago 10 months before the Soviets blundered into Kabul. The CIA smuggled billions of dollars in weapons into the hands of the Afghan resistance. That bled the Red Army, leaving at least 15,000 soldiers and commandos dead on the battlefield. The United States thought it had won the last great battle of the Cold War. Victory has proved fleeting. A thousand-page trove of just-declassified White House, CIA and State Department documents adds significantly to our knowledge of what happened before and after the Soviet invasion. It shows that in 1980, President Carters CIA spent close to $100 million shipping weapons to the Afghan resistance. Carters global gun-running was more aggressive than we knew. He aimed to oust the Soviets. The United States even enlisted revolutionary Iran, which held American hostages. In the 1980s, it grew to become the biggest American covert action of the Cold War. President Reagan eventually upped the ante to $700 million a year. One moral of the story: When we walked away from our Afghan allies at the end of the Cold War, we created a vacuum. And that vacuum became a whirlwind. It spawned the Taliban and al-Qaeda. And then the war came home. The documents detail the start of a road to hell. The American ambassador in Kabul, Adolph Spike Dubs, was kidnapped and killed on Valentines Day 1979. He had been the American charge daffaires in Moscow. The killing bore the hallmarks of a political murder . His death certainly seemed to involve the responsibility of the Afghan government, and probably the Soviets, Bruce Flatin, the embassys political counselor, reported to Washington. As with the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo 1914, a handful of bullets sparked a great conflagration. The White House, propelled by national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, began thinking about covert action to support the armed Afghan resistance, which was three months old. Brzezinski knew the CIAs ability to do that was extremely limited. It had the barest grasp on who the resistance leaders were and what they thought. It also believed strongly that the Soviets would be most reluctant to introduce large numbers of ground forces into Afghanistan. The CIA nonetheless proposed on Feb. 28 that it could buy lethal military equipment for the mujahideen, the holy warriors of Afghanistan or spark a lightning coup detat. Six weeks later, the CIA started a series of black propaganda operations designed to support the tribal revolt in Afghanistan. Carter moved cautiously at first. He signed a secret order on July 3 authorizing CIA support to Afghan insurgents, either in the form of cash or nonmilitary supplies. The modest initial sum $695,000 reflected the agencys limited capabilities. Through the summer and fall, political chaos engulfed the pro-Moscow regime. The Afghan insurgency grew. So did the number of Soviet military advisers. But the CIA reported that its analysts continue to feel that the deteriorating situation does not presage an escalation of Soviet military involvement in the form of a direct combat role. They thought Moscow feared the grave and open-ended task of holding down an Afghan insurgency in rugged terrain a task that had defeated Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the British. They held that thought until Christmas, when the first wave of 100,000 Soviet combat troops and commandos poured south to begin the occupation. The CIA sent a flash bulletin to the president: U.S. spy satellites were watching the first significant use of Soviet ground forces outside the U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe since the end of World War II. Douglas J. MacEachin, later the chief of CIAs intelligence analysts, remembered: One of the dark humor jokes circulating around CIA in the months after the invasion was that the analysts got it right, and it was the Soviets who got it wrong . In fact, Soviet leaders had been marching in lockstep toward an invasion for months, as the minutes of a March 1979 Politburo meeting show. Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko insisted that under no conditions can we lose Afghanistan. KGB chairman Yuri Andropov: We cannot lose Afghanistan. Premier Alexei Kosygin: We must not lose Afghanistan. They feared that an Islamic government might inflame 40 million Muslims living in the Soviet Union. The Soviet attack brought a similar solidarity to the White House. After an emergency National Security Council meeting on Dec. 27, Carter signed a secret order: Our ultimate goal is the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Even if this is not attainable, we should make Soviet involvement as costly as possible. The battle was on. By Jan. 21, 1980, the CIA was shipping at least 16 tons of guns, grenades and mines to Pakistans intelligence service, which delivered them to the Afghan rebels. The Saudis began buying millions of dollars of Soviet-bloc arms from Egypt, and the CIA flew them into battle. The Chinese trucked missiles for the Afghans over the worlds highest mountain pass. Two thousand Soviets and tens of thousands of Afghans were dead before winters end. The declassified documents also include a warning Brzezinski received from an NSC staffer, Thomas Thornton, about the Afghan holy warriors: They tend to be a pretty ugly bunch. I shudder to think of the human rights problems we would face if they came to power. The CIA nonetheless singled out the grim-faced Gulbuddin Hekmatyar as the most effective killer of communists. He would receive a huge share of the CIAs guns and money over the next decade. The United States and its allies gave him more than $1 billion in armaments. I met him in Afghanistan in 1992. We have already had one and a half million martyrs, Hekmatyar told me. We are ready to offer as many to establish a true Islamic republic. We are ready to remain in the mountains for another 14 years. His acolytes are still out there, killing Americans. On June 2, 1980, Brzezinski gave the green light to a remarkable CIA proposal. Iran which had seized 52 American hostages, including four CIA officers would join the secret arms-smuggling network. The United States would procure the weapons, the Pakistanis would fly them into Iran, and the Iranians would help truck them into western Afghanistan. The national security adviser noted the extreme importance of the Afghanistan resistance effort in approving the plan. The Iran deal was done because the Pakistani pipeline was full. By summers end, the CIA had delivered, in addition to millions of dollars in cash, 10,000 AK-47s with 13 million rounds of ammunition, 720 antitank rocket launchers and 14,000 rockets, 15,000 land mines, 158 surface-to-air missiles, 200 heavy machine guns and 800,000 rounds of ammunition, along with other weaponry and nonlethal aid. With the arrival of Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office, everyone knew the operation would expand. The week of the November 1980 election, in a meeting in Saudi Arabia, Gen. Akhtar Abdul Rahman, the Pakistani intelligence chief, told John McMahon, director of the CIAs clandestine service, that the Pakistanis would ship to Afghanistan as many weapons as the United States could provide. Prince Turki al-Faisal, the Saudi spy chief, reaffirmed he would match the CIAs spending dollar for dollar. Soon Afghanistan was awash with billions of dollars in weapons. But when the Soviets left, the Americans left the field of battle, too. I traveled through Afghanistan again in 1994. Jihadis from all over the world were gathering there. The first World Trade Center bombing was on their minds. The talk was that theyd knocked off one superpower the Soviets and they could knock off the next. America was nowhere to be seen. Not a penny of its aid was to be had. Major League Baseball has apparently decided that there are 42 too many minor league baseball cities and, according to Commissioner Rob Manfred, after the 2020 season, that will change. There will be a new agreement between the majors and the minors signed and a lot of cities will lose their The UK will never let Julian Assange just leave the country, so he should surrender, Ecuadors foreign minister said. The only other option is life self-imprisonment at the Ecuadoran embassy. Mr. Assange has basically two options: to stay indefinitely because the British authorities have told us ... that they will never authorize a safe passage for him to leave the embassy to a third country, and the other alternative is to surrender, Foreign Minister Jose Valencia FM Mundo. While securing safety assurances from the British side would be ideal, you cannot continue insisting on something that will not happen, Valencia stressed, noting that Ecuador believes that it will be most positive for Assange to leave the diplomatic compound and face the British law and by extension a possible extradition to the US. Assange has been stranded at the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012 when the diplomatic mission shielded him from a UK court trial for skipping bail. The move was meant to protect him from possible extradition to the US, where, Assange believes, he would face an unfair trial and a long detention for publishing American secrets. The concern was fueled last year after court papers in the US in an unrelated case mentioned a secret indictment against Assange. The WikiLeaks editor was granted political asylum and Ecuadoran citizenship by the Latin American countrys previous president Rafael Correa. But under the new leadership of President Lenin Moreno Ecuador sought rapprochement with the US, which apparently affected the conditions for Assange. He was eventually denied means of communication and visiting rights, effectively turning his embassy stay into solitary confinement. Also on rt.com Ecuador to audit Julian Assanges asylum & citizenship as country eyes IMF bailout If Assange decides to stay at the mission, he must abide by strict rules to maintain his asylum, the foreign minister said. The rules which were laid out last year in a special protocol restricted Assange's visitation rights, made him refrain from political statements, pay his own medical bills, and take better care of his cat, which he has since sent away to safety. Assanges legal troubles started over a sex-related accusation in Sweden, which has since been dropped and which his defense team insisted was a ploy to get him into Swedish custody and then extradite him to the US. He fought the extradition request from Sweden, but once he was convinced he would lose it, he skipped the bail and sought refuge at the embassy. Also on rt.com UN experts call for Assange's unconditional release as he loses last appeal over restrictive rules In the US, Assange is considered the head of a non-state intelligence agency in cahoots with Russia to subvert American democracy an allegation that both Moscow and WikiLeaks deny. The UN considers Assange a victim of arbitrary detention by the UK. Like this story? Share it with a friend! Turkey to wage campaign against Syrian Kurdish militia when time is right minister Turkey to wage campaign against Syrian Kurdish militia when time is right minister Turkeys defense minister on Friday pledged to wage a campaign against a US-backed Syrian Kurdish militia. The comments from Hulusi Akar, on an unannounced visit to inspect troops stationed near the Syrian border directly opposite territory held by the US-backed Kurdish YPG, appeared to be aimed at both Washington and its Kurdish allies, Reuters said. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkeys largely Kurdish southeast. The Kurdish groups that control a vast swath of northern Syria have now turned to Damascus in the hope of striking a political deal that will stave off Turkey and shield their autonomy in the north.Source : RT - Daily news The Russian defense ministry wants to confirm its authority to shoot down planes that violate the countrys airspace and threaten a major disaster or loss of life, including hijacked airliners. A draft government decree prepared by the Russian military would change the rules of engagement for aircraft violating the border, which were last reviewed in 1994. The old document explicitly bans an attack on a plane, if its known to have passengers or hostages on board. The new document, which passed the stage of public feedback this week, would eliminate the ban and allow taking down aircraft that pose a credible threat to lives or a major environmental disaster and streamlines the procedure for how such use of lethal force can be obtained and implemented. Also on rt.com Putin gave order to shoot down hijacked jet during Sochi-2014 opening ceremony, but luckily... The change, however, is purely technical since the Russian military are already authorized to use lethal force against civilian aircraft, which was given under the current anti-terrorism legislation. In this regard, Russia is no different from many other nations, which learned all too well in September 2001 that a passenger airliner may serve as a most-lethal weapon if directed at a high-value target. The new decree, which is expected to come into force in February, is meant to eliminate the discrepancy between different parts of the Russian law. Russia has its own painful history with civilian aircraft violating its border. In 1983, a Korean Airline passenger plane was shot down by the military after straying into Soviet airspace due to pilot negligence. The military commander, who authorized the shoot-down, was acting on a presumption that the plane was a US Boeing RC-135 spy plane collecting intelligence on military bases and that the crew was ignoring commands and warning shots on purpose. The incident became one of the defining moments of the Cold War, happening during a period of heightened tensions between the two ideological camps. It also had a chilling effect on the Soviet military, which four years later contributed to the success of a feat by German amateur pilot Mathias Rust, who flew his small plane all the way to the Red Square and landed it on one of Moscows bridges, pretty much unchallenged by air defenses. If you like this story, share it with a friend! Human rights groups have called on Israel to stop spraying herbicides along the Gaza border a practice that is blamed for destroying Palestinian crops and causing health problems. RT spoke with a farmer affected by the policy. Dubbed farm warfare by critics, Israeli authorities insist that they only spray Israeli crops with herbicides, but Palestinian farmers dispute this claim. Others have suggested that winds carry the dangerous chemicals, including glyphosate (which has been banned in many countries due to fears that it causes cancer), across the Gaza border into Palestinian territory. The latest case of farm warfare reportedly took place in December. Also on rt.com Israel to seek $250bn from Arab countries that expelled Jews to restore their rightful property Ahmed Badawi, a Palestinian farmer, told RT that his crops have been repeatedly contaminated and ruined by the uninvited herbicide sprayings. We dont know what to do. Its the same thing over and over again, every year," he said. Their spraying ruins all the plants in the vicinity, and leaves nothing for us to harvest along the border. It also poisons people [and] makes them sick. Badawi argued he has received no relief from the Israeli government. In contrast, there are cases where Israeli farmers affected by the spraying have been compensated for their losses, Samir Zaqout, from the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, told RT. Thats what were asking for Palestinian farmers on both sides of the border. They should be treated equally. Washingtons criticism of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to deliver Russian gas to Europe bypassing transit countries has been strongly rejected by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. "Matters related to the European energy policy must be decided upon in Europe, not in the United States," the minister said during a reception organized by the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations. He added that Germany was open to criticism of the project, but imposing unilateral sanctions over it would be wrong. Also on rt.com US threatens sanctions against Nord Stream 2 contractors as construction goes at full drive "Imposing unilateral sanctions against Nord Stream 2 is a wrong path anyway. I clearly stated this to [US Secretary of State] Michael Pompeo," said Maas. He noted that Berlin had received Moscows assurances that gas transit via Ukraine would continue after the pipeline goes into operation. "We support the talks with Russia and Ukraine currently being conducted by the European Commission," the FM said. Germanys Handelsblatt newspaper reported earlier, citing sources in the German government, that Berlin was concerned by the White Houses plans to impose sanctions on two European construction companies - Swiss-based Allseas Group and Italys Saipem. According to the paper, Allseas Group, which is to lay "over 90 percent of pipelines for the project," will have to bear the brunt, while Saipem has already completed its work under the contract. Nord Stream 2 is being implemented by Russian energy giant Gazprom in close partnership with German oil and gas firms Wintershall and Uniper, French multinational Engie, British-Dutch energy corporation Royal Dutch Shell, and Austrian energy company OMV. The Trump administration has repeatedly expressed its disapproval of the Nord Stream 2, pledging to impose secondary penalties on European companies working with the Gazprom-led enterprise. Washington claims that the pipeline, which is set to run from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea and is projected to double the existing pipelines capacity of 55 billion cubic meters a year, undermines Europes energy security and stability. Nord Stream 2 will reportedly provide transit for 70 percent of Russian gas sales to the EU. Also on rt.com Pipe-laying for Russia's Nord Stream 2 begins in Finland and Sweden Smaller members of the bloc have persistently opposed the project, which is crucially important for Germany and other EU nations. Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Hungary have severely criticized the project. Construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project has been approved by Germany, Finland, and Sweden, with the works scheduled for completion in late 2019. Denmark is the only country that hasnt authorized the project so far. Last year, Nord Stream 2 AG said the consortium could avoid the Nordic states territorial waters if it didnt get permission. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section Sergey and Yulia Skripal, the victims of a high-profile poisoning attack in Britain, have not contacted their family in Russia since the attack in March last year, the double agents niece told RT. Viktoria Skripal, Sergeys niece and Yulias cousin, believes that the British authorities may be covering up Sergeys death. The official narrative is that both he and Yulia survived the poisoning attack, but unlike her, Sergey was never shown alive. Yulia showed up for a single brief carefully orchestrated interview with Reuters in May. According to Viktoria, the family members living in Russia, including Sergeys elderly mother, have not heard from either of them since before the attack. Viktoria believes this to be suspicious. Sergey is a family man, very attached to family members and a responsible person. He called his 91-year-old mother every week. After what happened in March, those calls stopped. The British authorities say the former double agent and his daughter were targeted by the Russian intelligence in a failed assassination plot an accusation that Moscow denies. Also on rt.com Skripals Salisbury home to be partly dismantled by British military According to a recent report in The Telegraph newspaper, the pair is trying to get their lives back together. Far from being cut off entirely from her former life, Yulia has remained in touch with certain close friends who refuse to divulge a shred of information about her. A few, both British and Russian, are understood to have visited her in the summer, the newspaper said. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo hailed President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis commitment to promote religious freedom in the region during his visit to Cairo as part of an extensive MENA tour. Inspiring to visit the recently inaugurated Cathedral of the Nativity and al-Fattah al-Aleem Mosque. President El-Sisis commitment to promoting #religiousfreedom and interfaith tolerance sets an example for the region to follow, Pompeo tweeted on Thursday. Pompeo also affirmed during a meeting with El-Sisi on Thursday that his country stands firmly behind Egypt's commitments to protecting religious freedoms and fighting terrorism His tweet came following his visit to the recently opened Nativity of Christ Cathedral and Al-Fattah Al-Alim Mosque in the countrys new administrative capital. The cathedral, which occupies 30 percent of the 4.14-acre site allocated to the cathedral complex and accommodates 8,200 worshippers, is the biggest in the region. Al-Fattah Al-Alim Mosque, which holds more than 17,000 worshippers, is the largest mosque in the country and one of the largest in the Middle East. Short link: China concerned over Huawei employee arrest in Poland for spying China concerned over Huawei employee arrest in Poland for spying Beijing said on Friday it was greatly concerned over reports that a Chinese Huawei employee had been arrested in Poland on allegations of spying. Warsaw has arrested a Chinese citizen and a Polish national involved in cyber business, Polish media reported on Friday. The reports come amid growing controversy in Western nations over the Chinese telecoms equipment maker. Chinas Foreign Ministry urged the relevant country to ensure the legitimate rights of individual involved and to handle the case justly and in accordance with law, Reuters said.Source : RT - Daily news Ottawa is cooperating with politicians and businesses in the United States to make President Donald Trump scrap tariffs on its steel and aluminum, said Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum were rolled out by Washington in May, with Trump citing national security. We have already been working with members of Congress, with governors, with business interests who are being affected negatively by these tariffs to put pressure on the President that in the process of ratification, they (the United States) should remove those steel and aluminum tariffs, Trudeau said during a televised question-and-answer session. Also on rt.com New NAFTA: US inks trade agreement with Canada and Mexico at G20 summit Asked why he had signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) with the tariffs still in place, Trudeau said securing the deal at a time of unpredictability and protectionism in the United States was a massive priority for all Canadians. He added that the government was trying to change Trumps mind as the US prepared to start the ratification of the pact. The new trilateral trade deal, which was sealed in November, replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Trump, who repeatedly branded NAFTA as the worst trade deal ever made, maintained that the US has been unfairly treated in trade with its neighboring and oversees partners. He imposed a 25-percent tariff on steel imports and a 10-percent tariff on aluminum imports from Mexico, Canada and the EU. Also on rt.com Turkey wins WTO dispute against US steel tariffs Trudeau has called the US levies totally unacceptable and an affront to Canada, warning that a trade war would harm the economies of both countries. Ottawa introduced retaliatory taxes on US imports of steel, aluminum and goods such as whiskey, orange juice and other food products. Canada and Mexico are the second and third-biggest US trading partners, each accounting for more than $500 billion in trade per year, almost rivaling China and the 28 EU member states combined. Canada sends 75 percent of all its goods exports to the US. Also on rt.com Totally unacceptable: Canada retaliates with tariffs on US imports A Canadian source told Reuters that Trudeau and Trump discussed the tariffs on Monday but no talks on lifting the sanctions are planned. US Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said this week the measures would have to be lifted in order to get agricultural interests to support congressional approval for the USMCA. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section An Afghan man, who has 23 offenses in his criminal record in Germany, reportedly spent only a few hours on board a deportation flight to Kabul, but was sent back to Germany right after landing in Afghanistan. The male in question, identified as Mortaza D., was subject to deportation from Germany after being convicted for 23 offenses, including robbery and physical assault, according to Bild. The serial offender, along with other deportees, boarded a chartered plane German packed with 100 officers, two interpreters, and a human rights activist. However, taking him back to Afghanistan turned into mission impossible. In Kabul, Afghan border officials inspected Mortazas papers but refused to allow him in the country citing some health considerations, the tabloid reports citing a German police officer. In addition, the Afghans had doubts that the deported man was actually an Afghanistan national. German interior sources denounced the health concerns saying Mortaza D. was subjected to several medical checks before flying to Afghanistan. They also say this was the first time the Afghan authorities refused to accept their own citizen. Germany has been deporting Afghans en masse since 2016, but there were no setbacks at all. This was totally a surprise! Steve Alter, Interior Ministry spokesman, told Bild. He explained the mans identity was confirmed by the Afghan consulate prior to his deportation, and his ID was deemed authentic. Failure to establish a foreigners identity has become one of the things that significantly complicate the deportation procedures. Earlier last year, it emerged the German authorities couldnt evict a migrant suspected of committing hundreds of crimes. Bild reported at the time that little was known about the man, as no one knew his name, let alone his age or nationality. The only verifiable fact known about him was that he arrived in Germany some 20 years ago, in 1998, without any ID. Also on rt.com Not found: Half of deported refugees never left Germany, report reveals Despite being repeatedly detained, the man has successfully resisted deportation from Germany for all these years for one simple reason: the German authorities still do not know where to deport him. The man repeatedly claimed to be from one of the North African countries, Algeria and Morocco in particular. However, the authorities of these states did not confirm this information. Out of 23,900 extraditions, which the German police should have carried out between January and May 2018, 12,800 failed for various reasons, according to Die Welt. The migrants, who ought to have been deported, often failed to turn up on time and just disappeared. Like this story? Share it with a friend! As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need your account number. You can find your account number on any recent subscription notice or bill. A group of animal rights activists managed on Wednesday to save a rare Egyptian wolf from sale and, with the help of Egypt's environment ministry, to release it back into the wild. Alexandria Turtle and Wildlife Group released the wolf in Fayoum's Wadi El-Rayan Protectorate, in a story that went viral on social media on Thursday. It started when the 15-member group spotted an ad on Facebook for a rare Egyptian wolf that had been captured in Fayoum. "We bought the wolf, aged between 10 to 12 months, for EGP 1,000 and then we contacted the officials at the Wadi Al-Rayan Protectorate in order to release it back into the wild where it belongs," group founder Mai Hamada told Ahram Online. This is not the first time the Alexandrian animal rights activist and her group have saved wild and endangered animals. "Three months ago we rescued another Egyptian wolf sold at a pet shop in Alexandria, and I kept it in my house for a week until we arranged with Wadi Al-Rayan Protectorate to release it there," she said. The group, which was founded in Alexandria four years ago, has also helped in releasing 78 turtles, foxes, wild cats, tortoises and falcons back into the wild. In media statements on Thursday, Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad praised the efforts of the group in saving the animal from illegal hunting and the wild animal trade. Fouad added that the wolf was examined to see if it could continue to live in its natural habitat before its release, in accordance with Egypt's 1994 environment law and international agreements related to preserving biodiversity and natural wealth. Commonly known as the Egyptian jackal, the Egyptian wolf lives in northern and western Africa. Wadi El-Rayan protectorate is one of the biggest natural protectorates in Egypt. It is home to a diverse population of rare animals like Egyptian wolves and dorcas gazelles. Search Keywords: Short link: We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. In this case, as in many others, calling something "medieval" often reveals more about what we think about our own world than what we know of the Middle Ages. We tend to use the "medieval" as a shorthand for pointing out difference, a way of saying that this or that happened "long ago and far away," of saying that we've "evolved" since those "Dark Ages." But studying the past itself troubles those easy assumptions by showing the full complexity of medievals' thoughts and actions. In a written response to the inspector general, the Department of Aging said investigations of financial exploitation are not required to be completed within 20 days, as it takes time to gather documentation. It said that generally, in abuse and neglect cases, 20 days is long enough to determine and document whether there is a need for protective services. It said more time may be necessary in some cases, though, and its important to take that time. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States is a "force for good" in the Middle East while expressing damning criticism of the Obama administration's policies in the region. In a speech in Cairo, Pompeo lambasted President Donald Trump's predecessor Barack Obama for his "timid" and "wishful" vision, which he said had plunged the Middle East in turmoil, undermined Washington's role in the region and failed to adequately confront extremism. "Remember, it was here, here in this very city, another American stood before you," Pompeo said, apparently referring to Obama's major 2009 speech which he gave in his first year of presidency. "He told you that radical Islamist terrorism does not stem from ideology. He told you that 9/11 led my country to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East. He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed a new beginning. The results of these misjudgments have been dire,'' he added, without mentioning Obama by name. Pompeo blamed the former president's approach for contributing to the rise of the Islamic State terrorist group in Iraq and Syria and failing to counter Iran's growing influence in the region. He also criticised Obama's "hesitation" to counter the growth of Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group and Iran-allied rebels in Yemen. "Our eagerness to address only Muslims and not nations ignored the rich diversity of the Middle East and frayed old bonds. It undermined the concept of the nation states, the building block of international stability," Pompeo told an audience of top Egyptian officials, foreign diplomats and students at the American University in Cairo. "When America retreats, chaos often follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds and when we partner with our enemies, they advance." Pompeo said that Obama's successor, Trump, has brought a "real new beginning" and ended "the age of self-inflicted American shame." "In less than two years, the United States under President Donald Trump has reasserted its traditional role as a force for good in this region." In a bid alleviate concerns over the use of the US power in region, Pompeo said that "America has always been and always will be a liberating force, not an occupying power. We have never dreamed of domination in the Middle East." Pompeo sought to reassure allies in the region that Washington remains committed to the "complete dismantling" of the threat posed by the Islamic State terrorist group as well as the ongoing fight against radical Islamism. He said Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has joined the Trump's administration in denouncing radical Islam. "I thank President Sisi for his courage," he said. He reaffirmed that Washington strongly supports Egypt's efforts to destroy extremists in the border Sinai region, the epicenter of a militancy that has killed hundreds over the past few years. Pompeo arrived in the Egyptian capital late on Wednesday on the third stop of a nine-nation Mideast tour, following Trump's surprise decision to withdraw all US troops from Syria. Earlier on Thursday, he met with President El-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo to discuss security and economic cooperation. Short link: "Shut the f--- up," one yelled. (We probably had that coming.) "Did you just come here to ruin the movie for us?" another asked. (For the record: Conservatives enjoy going to the movies, too!) "I've got two words for you: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, woo," another said as she was filing out of the theater during the credits. (That this was actually more than two words went unmentioned at the time no need to embarrass her but was noted by those of us who gathered for drinks and dinner after.) Frankly, I think its just a matter of adjusting to something new. Ive driven through roundabouts all over in my travels without problems. In an intersection Ive driven through before and after it was converted into a roundabout, Ive noticed a significant improvement. The traffic flow at the Route 222 and Route 662 interchange in Berks County leaps to mind. Amin, now 29, said she was betrothed to her first cousin Tariq when she was just 8 and he was 21. The petition was eventually terminated after she ran away. She said the ordeal cost her a childhood. She was in and out of foster care and group homes, and it took a while to get her life on track. "While Mexicans and Americans moved freely back and forth across the boundary line, by the late nineteenth century a series of new U.S. laws restricted a growing number of immigrants from crossing the border," St. John wrote. "The U.S. Congress passed the first law restricting immigration specifically that of convicts and prostitutes in 1875. By 1910 new legislation had added Chinese immigrants, lunatics, people likely to become public charges, contract laborers, polygamists, anarchists, and others deemed undesirable to the list of excluded groups. This legislation turned what had been an innocent movement of people into illegal immigration." Building 21 aims to engage students in school by triggering their interest in college and careers. Mornings are spent in the core classes English, math, science and history. Afternoons are devoted to electives, called pathways, that give students hands-on experience in careers at local hospitals, art schools and businesses. Police did not know how many students were on the bus at the time of the crash. Strategies of Engagement is a sampler of works from some of Weems most important exhibitions and projects, such as From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried, in which Weems appropriated photographs taken of slaves in the South in the 19th and early 20th centuries and portrayed them tinted blood-red and framed in black, or the video installation Lincoln, Lonnie and Me that uses an optical illusion called the Peppers Ghost effect in which people seemingly disappear to tell the story of her family. In addition to the prize money, the winner receives a proclamation from the Bucks County Commissioners and the opportunity to read at a reception on the colleges Newtown campus. The winning poems and one poem from each entrant will be published in an anthology, Writes of Passage, to be distributed at the reading. Runners-up and finalists in the contest will also be invited to read one poem at the public event. The CyberSecure Dashboard is designed to allow senior-level staff to view and track cyber risk, compliance, and vulnerability information across an entire enterprise in order to enable better governance and management of an organizations cyber security stance. Also proposed was an innovative way to address gaps in medical device cyber security by leveraging the product as well. The CyberSecure Dashboard collects risk and vulnerability data from a variety of sources and tools, then aggregates it into a simplified cyber reporting and intelligence platform for users ranging from entry-level technicians to executive leaders. Risks and vulnerabilities can be tracked to resolution and automatically validated when a fix or change is implemented for a given system. Last week saw the launch of Decent Life, an initiative by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi that hopes to provide better living conditions for the needy in 2019. As I looked at last year to search for the real hero of our nation, I found that the true hero is the Egyptian citizen who fought battles to survive and build courageously, and sacrificed and shared the burden of economic reforms for a better future for the coming generations, Al-Sisi wrote on his official Facebook page on 2 January. Thats why, Al-Sisi said, I call on state institutions and agencies in coordination with civil society organisations to unite their efforts and coordinate to mobilise the efforts of the nations youth, men and women to launch a national initiative, directly under my auspices, to provide a decent life for needy communities in 2019. The president directed the government to take the necessary measures to implement the initiative to help improve services provided to those most in need, especially in Egypts villages. Al-Sisis post enjoyed much feedback and was praised by state officials, institutions, politicians and civil society organisations. Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli praised Al-Sisis initiative to improve the living conditions of the neediest in Egyptian society. The programme is targeting the most underprivileged sectors and individuals in Egypts impoverished and remote areas, Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali told DMC TV. The new initiative will work on providing job opportunities and developing infrastructure, Wali said during the telephone interview, adding that it will serve as an umbrella for a number of civil society initiatives on employment, healthcare, services and infrastructure. To jump-start the initiative Wali held a meeting with the 10 biggest NGOs in Egypt to discuss the plan and called on them to intensify their efforts and gather sufficient data on extremely poor towns and neighbourhoods to support them. Mohamed Al-Okabi, media advisor to the Ministry of Social Solidarity, told Al-Ahram Weekly that Walis meeting with NGOs was meant to enable them to coordinate among themselves and implement the initiative. Such initiatives cannot be implemented by one organisation or state institution. All efforts must be made by the government, parliament and NGOs to let the initiative succeed in helping the neediest communities through a scientific framework, Al-Okabi said, adding that all parties have welcomed the initiative and promised to provide the necessary support. The cost of Decent Life, estimated at LE2 billion, will be partially funded by the Ministry of Finance and the rest through NGOs that will take part in the initiative. A statement by the Ministry of Social Solidarity said services provided by the initiative range from providing decent housing to supplying water and sewage networks. It also will provide health services and compensatory equipment for the handicapped, help needy brides entering marriage and provide job opportunities through micro-projects. The ministry also announced the names of the 100 poorest villages in Egypt which the initiative will target. The villages are largely concentrated in Giza, Minya, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, the New Valley, Qalioubiya, Beheira, Marsa Matrouh and North Sinai. They all have a poverty rate of 70 per cent or more. The Ministry of Housing also announced that many of its completed projects will be dedicated to the initiative. Minister of Religious Endowments Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa said during an interview with the TV channel Sada Al-Balad that the initiative reflects the high humanitarian aspect of President Al-Sisi. Gomaa, who stressed that the ministry will double its efforts in serving the community, used the Friday prayer on 4 January to speak about civil society, volunteer work and duty. We have agreed with the ministries of social solidarity and housing to support the initiative with LE100 million. A further LE50 million has already been transferred to housing projects for the neediest families. In addition, another LE100 million was allocated to support the Education Fund while LE20 million was allocated to the Fund of Special Needs, Gomaa said. According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), some 30 million Egyptians (representing 28 per cent of the total population estimated at 104 million) were living below the poverty line in 2015. *A version of this article appears in print in the 10 January, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Decent life for the neediest Short link: In addition, Richard Lebitz, the executive director of internal audit for Olympus Corp. of the Americas, has been appointed to serve as the global chief internal audit officer of Olympus. Lastly, Mark Miller, Olympus Corp. of the Americas vice president of corporate and medical communications, will serve as the companys global chief communications officer and the regional head of communications for the Americas. While the state was told this week, Nestle spokesman Josh Morton said the Nestle Way centers employees were informed in February 2018 that the company was making changes to its business customer service organization and planned to create a single team supporting Nestle USA in Solon, Ohio. Employees were offered the opportunity to apply for roles in Solon, he noted. Calling all startups, scale-ups, entrepreneurs and innovators! The first edition of Paint the Future the AkzoNobel startup challenge is now open and ready to discover new and revolutionary solutions that will accelerate innovation in the world of paints and coatings. The challenge connects bright minds and promising solutions from across the globe with AkzoNobels expertise, global scale and resources. Innovators, challenge teams, institutions and industry experts will work together to enhance the submitted ideas, forming a truly collaborative ecosystem. Spearheaded by the companys Chief Technology Officer Klaas Kruithof, Paint the Future offers winners the opportunity to accelerate commercialization of their solution. We cant wait to see what exciting developments this collaborative experience brings to the paints and coatings industry, says AkzoNobel CEO, Thierry Vanlancker. Were driven to create value for our customers, passionate about what we do and always looking ahead. Now, were looking to go even further, painting the future together with the worlds coolest innovators. Adds Kruithof: Paints and coatings is a dynamic, technology-driven industry. We know the future lies in working with others and being open to cross-industry solutions. Exploring the new technology frontier, we will be able to introduce new features, improved products and more ways to delight our customers and accelerate some truly exciting innovations. Launched in partnership with KPMG, the challenge focuses on five key areas: Smart application Enhanced functionality Circular solutions Life science infusion Predictable performance Register at letspaintthefuture.com to join the platform, submit solutions and contribute industry expertise as part of the community. More information about the challenge, this years five themes and submission process are also available in greater detail on the website. The deadline for new submissions is March 1, 2019, and participants on the platform will continue to explore, discuss and enrich ideas until March 12, after which AkzoNobel experts will select finalists to participate in the finals event in Amsterdam May 14 to 16. Shortly thereafter, the company will begin working with winners on sustainable business opportunities. Brief challenge descriptions: Smart application How could your solution change or improve the way customers apply our products? Enhanced functionality What exciting new functionality can your technology offer to make coatings cleaner, more responsive or adaptive? Circular solutions How would your solution enable circular use of materials at any point in our value chain? Life science infusion How can your solution, containing bio-active technology, help bring better performance or innovative features to our coatings? Predictable performance How can we collect and augment data more innovatively to make predictions for real world surface performance more accurate? Watch the video on the Paint the Future challenge here: https://youtu.be/Nmrvhd610YA Partager et informez vous aussi...... 2 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Two Must Know Stock Index Trading Setups That Happen Every Week Our ideal morning market swing as I mentioned in todays members-only video has played out. A price drop to reach spike targets, then a reversal rally to gap fill. This is the third straight day the market had done this for us, its not always this good or frequent. 6 winning trades in 3 days is tough to beat and one day pays for years worth of access to our Wealth Building Newsletter Service. If you dont know about our two best short term trade setups which are the Gap Window and Price Spike then youll want to learn more and we will be adding a detailed trading guide on exactly how to trade these for our subscribers. These charts and triggers are what we are implementing within the members area with live updating charts and signals so you have a steady stream of winning trades each week to keep your account growing. The chart below shows the moves and profit potential trading the ES mini futures contract, but as long as you can trade pre-market hours with your broker you can trade the SPY and 3X SP500 based ETFs for these setups. I know these are very short term trades and not ideal for many of you to trade, and we are looking into an auto-trading solution for these early morning trades. Know that we are focusing on implementing our active swing trading strategy for a steady stream of trades as well. Stop Churning Your Account and Start Your Trading Day With Early Winners! Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Bernd Gerich shows his father's certificate of China Reform Friendship Medal (Photo by Feng Xuejun from Peoples Daily) Last December, German expert Werner Gerich, who is best known as the first foreign director of a state-owned factory in China after the country's reform and opening up, was awarded the China Reform Friendship Medal along with nine other foreigners, in appreciation of their support for Chinas reform and opening up. Gerich was appointed the director of the Wuhan Diesel Engine Plant in 1984. After years of effort, he reinvigorated the run-down factory by introducing the advanced German management style, significantly improving work efficiency and product quality, thus gaining him the nickname Mr. Quality. "It was very emotional because it's been 15 years since he passed away, but he is still remembered by the Chinese," said his son, Bernd Gerich, who was invited to Beijing to receive the medal on his behalf. His house looks like a small-scale memorial hall, with friendship medals and honor certificates presented by the Chinese government everywhere, Gerich junior explained. Wuhan government also gave a bronze bust of Werner Gerich in 2005. A bronze bust of Werner Gerich (Photo by Feng Xuejun from Peoples Daily) Werner Gerich was a workaholic, his son explained. Despite being over 60 years old, he came to China after he retired, and worked at the factory around the clock. Although he was amicable to his colleagues, he was very strict with details, and always carried a vernier caliper, a magnet and a pair of white gloves to check the precision of parts and cleanness of machines. He also called for every technician to take good care of their tools and machines. According to his son, Gerich senior also introduced reforms to the factory, including a structural wage system to pay workers according to their performance. All these measures paid off, as the percentage of defective main bearing caps plummeted from 50 percent to under 3 percent. Additionally, diesel engines were exported to seven Southeast Asian countries, earning over one million dollars in foreign exchange annually. In 2000, 81-year-old Gerich revisited China to take part in technological exchanges between the two countries. This was to be his last visit, and sadly three years later, he passed away in Germany. There is no country but China that has made such remarkable achievements over the space of four decades, said Bernd Gerich. All the positive outcomes are closely tied to China's reform and opening-up, he added. Gerich junior was deeply impressed by Chinese President Xi Jinpings pledge to build an open world economy while celebrating the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up. He believed that his father would be pleased to know that China is continuing to advance reform and opening up. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Melinda "Mindy" Kaye (Tweet) Tarleton, age 52, of Budapest, Hungary, originally of Leota, MN, graduated to heaven on June 12, 2021 in Mankato, MN. Funeral service will be 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato, lunch following. Visitation and concurrent memor Malibu, CA (90265) Today Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 63F. NNW winds shifting to E at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 63F. NNW winds shifting to E at 10 to 15 mph. Stock Market News KGF News - Exclusive: Lessors to India's troubled Jet Airways consider taking back planes -sources 11-01-2019 01:45 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Computer & Technology The Great Data Heist Drops its Cover at Manchester Central SQLBits 11.01.2019 21:57:12 - Europes Largest Data Summit Reveals Latest Trends and Tech (live-PR.com) - Unveiling the secrets and advances in the technology behind some of the worlds most powerful data solutions, SQLBits, the largest conference for data professionals in Europe, is to hold its 11th annual conference in the heart of Manchester, 27th February 2nd March at Manchester Central. The four day conference will explore the whole world of data from capture and - Unveiling the secrets and advances in the technology behind some of the worlds most powerful data solutions, SQLBits, the largest conference for data professionals in Europe, is to hold its 11th annual conference in the heart of Manchester, 27th February 2nd March at Manchester Central.The four day conference will explore the whole world of data from capture and transformation to the latest in data science and AI, looking at the decisions technology can now make without human involvement, offering groundbreaking, first hand learnings. Building on this years theme of the Great Data Heist, sessions include exploration of the Big Data Boom, data privacy laws, the sky-rocketing use of cloud for data processing and artificial intelligence developments with data. Training sessions offer the opportunity to ask the world class experts and those behind the development of the leading data and AI solutions, the questions youve always wanted to know. With over 70 sessions from global leading specialists, this is the only opportunity in Europe to learn directly from the people who make, program and influence the software, as data professionals from across the industry share best practice, and learn the capabilities of the product, solve problems and obtain future insights, developments and improvements, tips and tricks. SQLBits, was born out of the hunger to share the latest developments, solutions and best practice, whilst forming a network of data professionals behind some of the most exciting developments on the Microsoft Data Platform. The SQLBits team, work alongside the SQL community, running the conference in their own time. Director, Simon Sabin commented: The conference is now in its eleventh year, which is a real achievement for the team behind it, who dedicate their own time to delivering one of the largest data conferences in the world. Each year, we introduce the latest advancements and trends from across the industry, direct from the people who build the technology. This is what really sets SQLBits apart from other conferences and training courses. Where else can you get the opportunity to ask the people that made the systems how, why and what? The power of data is transforming the business landscape and when used to its potential it holds the solution to the most unsolvable problems. SQLBits provide education, solutions and professional development, from the people that have created the products, and are leading the field worldwide. At a time of change if you want to learn about the new paradigms in data platforms, SQLBits is the place. For your chance to network, develop and share your data knowledge with leading data professionals register now at: www.sqlbits.com ***ENDS*** Notes to Editor: Images attached of last years conference in London The Magic of Data Image attached: The SQLBits Team [L-R: Jonathan Allen, Annette Allen, Simon Sabin, Alex Whittles, Darren Green] Microsoft provide the leading end to end data platform solution covering all aspects of data management, data movement, transformation, analytics, AI and visualisation that enables businesses to benefit by creating new opportunities from their data. For more information, please visit: www.sqlbits.com For further information please contact: Holly Paton-Morris t: 07989 898 501 e: Info@creativemarmalade.com transformation to the latest in data science and AI, looking at the decisions technology can now make without human involvement, offering groundbreaking, first hand learnings.Building on this years theme of the Great Data Heist, sessions include exploration of the Big Data Boom, data privacy laws, the sky-rocketing use of cloud for data processing and artificial intelligence developments with data. Training sessions offer the opportunity to ask the world class experts and those behind the development of the leading data and AI solutions, the questions youve always wanted to know.With over 70 sessions from global leading specialists, this is the only opportunity in Europe to learn directly from the people who make, program and influence the software, as data professionals from across the industry share best practice, and learn the capabilities of the product, solve problems and obtain future insights, developments and improvements, tips and tricks.SQLBits, was born out of the hunger to share the latest developments, solutions and best practice, whilst forming a network of data professionals behind some of the most exciting developments on the Microsoft Data Platform.The SQLBits team, work alongside the SQL community, running the conference in their own time. Director, Simon Sabin commented: The conference is now in its eleventh year, which is a real achievement for the team behind it, who dedicate their own time to delivering one of the largest data conferences in the world.Each year, we introduce the latest advancements and trends from across the industry, direct from the people who build the technology. This is what really sets SQLBits apart from other conferences and training courses. Where else can you get the opportunity to ask the people that made the systems how, why and what?The power of data is transforming the business landscape and when used to its potential it holds the solution to the most unsolvable problems. SQLBits provide education, solutions and professional development, from the people that have created the products, and are leading the field worldwide.At a time of change if you want to learn about the new paradigms in data platforms, SQLBits is the place.For your chance to network, develop and share your data knowledge with leading data professionals register now at: www.sqlbits.com***ENDS***Notes to Editor: Images attached of last years conference in London The Magic of Data Image attached: The SQLBits Team [L-R: Jonathan Allen, Annette Allen, Simon Sabin, Alex Whittles, Darren Green] Microsoft provide the leading end to end data platform solution covering all aspects of data management, data movement, transformation, analytics, AI and visualisation that enables businesses to benefit by creating new opportunities from their data. For more information, please visit: www.sqlbits.comFor further information please contact:Holly Paton-Morrist: 07989 898 501e: Info@creativemarmalade.com Press Information: SQLBits SQLBits Limited 38 Piggottshill Lane Harpenden Hertfordshire AL5 1LW Contact Person: Holly Paton Morris Press Contact for SQLBits at Creative Marmalade Phone: 07989898501 eMail: eMail Web: http://www.sqlbits.com 11.01.2019 21:57:12 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. Business Analog and Digital Modulation Basic Introduction Digital & Analog Modulators from Soukacatv.com 11.01.2019 06:53:35 - Modulation is a process in which a modulator changes some attribute of a higher frequency carrier signal proportional to a lower frequency message signal. (live-PR.com) - Overview This tutorial is part of the National Instruments Measurement Fundamentals series. Each tutorial in this series, will teach you a specific topic of common measurement applications, by explaining the theory and giving practical examples. This tutorial covers an introduction to analog and digital modulation. For the complete list of tutorials, return to the NI Measurement Fundamentals Main page or for more - OverviewThis tutorial is part of the National Instruments Measurement Fundamentals series. Each tutorial in this series, will teach you a specific topic of common measurement applications, by explaining the theory and giving practical examples. This tutorial covers an introduction to analog and digital modulation.For the complete list of tutorials, return to the NI Measurement Fundamentals Main page or for more RF tutorials refer to the NI RF Fundamentals Main subpage. HDMI Encoder Modulator,16in1 Digital Headend, HD RF Modulator at SOUKA Table of Contents 1. Modulation Basics 2. Digital Modulation 3. I and Q Data 4. IQ vs. IF Modulators 5. Relevant NI Hardware 6. Conclusions 1. Modulation Basics Modulation is a process in which a modulator changes some attribute of a higher frequency carrier signal proportional to a lower frequency message signal. If the carrier is represented by the equation Figure 1. Carrier Signal Equation a change in the message signal will produce a corresponding change in either the amplitude, frequency, or phase of the carrier. A transmitter can then send this carrier signal through the communication medium more efficiently than the message signal alone. Finally, a receiver will demodulate the signal, recovering the original message. In Amplitude Modulation (AM), pictured below, the amplitude of the carrier sinusoid changes based on the amplitude of the message. Figure 2. Amplitude Modulation The message signal (red) rides on top of the carrier as the amplitudes of both vary with time. The frequency of the carrier, however, is much higher than the frequency of the message. This carrier frequency is the center of the 'channel,' or frequency allocation of this RF signal. Frequency allocations vary depending on the medium of transmission. For broadcast transmissions, where signals are sent through the air, the government regulates frequency allocation. If the RF signal is transmitted over wire, such as in cable television, there is more freedom in the choice of carrier. In addition to amplitude modulation, frequency modulation varies the frequency of the carrier sinusoid based on the amplitude of the message signal. Similarly, phase modulation changes the phase of the carrier in response to a change in amplitude of the message. 2. Digital Modulation Digital modulation is similar to analog modulation, but rather than being able to continuously change the amplitude, frequency, or phase of the carrier, there are only discrete values of these attributes that correspond to digital codes. There are several common digital modulation schemes, each varying separate sets of parameters. The simplest type is called On Off Keying (OOK) where the amplitude of the carrier corresponds to one of two digital states. A nonzero amplitude represents a digital one while a zero amplitude is a digital zero. A specific implementation of OOK is Morse Code. Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), seen in Figure 3, is a form of frequency modulation where a certain frequency represents each binary value. Figure 3. Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) Finally, Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) uses combinations of amplitudes and phases to represent more than 2 digital states, as many as 1024. 3. I and Q Data Before comparing IQ and IF modulators, review the tutorial: "What is I/Q Data?". 4. IQ vs. IF Modulators After calculating digital I and Q data from the baseband message signal, there are two methods of converting this data into an analog RF signal. The first method involves converting I and Q data into analog signals, then feeding them into a quadrature encoder. There, they control the amplitudes of two oscillators, operating 90 degrees out of phase. The output of these oscillators is summed, resulting in an RF signal with the appropriate amplitude, phase, and frequency. Figure 4. IQ Modulation The next method of converting digital I and Q data to analog RF performs the oscillator scaling and summing in the digital domain. That is, digital sinusoids with a phase difference of 90 degrees are scaled by the digital I and Q values, then added together. These digital sinusoids are of a lower frequency than the analog oscillators in the IQ modulation scheme, but still at a significantly higher frequency than the message signal. A digital to analog converter (DAC), which operates at a much higher frequency than the DAC used in IQ modulation, converts the resulting digital waveform to low frequency analog RF. Finally, an analog IF to RF upconverter uses several stages of mixing and filtering to shift the analog RF signal to the desired RF frequency. Figure 5. IF Modulation The NI 5660 RF Vectors Signal Analyzer and the NI 5671 RF Vector Signal Generator use the IF modulation scheme depicted in Figure 5. 5. Relevant NI Hardware Customers interested in this topic were also interested in the following NI products: NI RF & Communications Platform NI 5660 2.7 GHz RF Vector Signal Analyzer NI 5671 2.7 GHz RF Vector Signal Generator NI RF Switch Hardware NI Modulation Toolkit Software 6. Conclusions This document is meant to provide a brief introduction to analog and digital modulation. For the complete list of tutorials, return to the NI Measurement Fundamentals Main page or for more RF tutorials refer to the NI RF Fundamentals Main subpage. Established in 2000, the Soukacatv.com (DSW) main products are modulators both in digital and analog modulators, amplifier and combiner. We are the leading communication supplier in manufacturing the headend system in China. Our 16 in 1 and 24 in 1 now are the most popular products all over the world. For more, please access to Source: RF tutorials refer to the NI RF Fundamentals Main subpage.HDMI Encoder Modulator,16in1 Digital Headend, HD RF Modulator at SOUKA www.soukacatv.com/ Table of Contents1. Modulation Basics2. Digital Modulation3. I and Q Data4. IQ vs. IF Modulators5. Relevant NI Hardware6. Conclusions1. Modulation BasicsModulation is a process in which a modulator changes some attribute of a higher frequency carrier signal proportional to a lower frequency message signal. If the carrier is represented by the equationFigure 1. Carrier Signal Equationa change in the message signal will produce a corresponding change in either the amplitude, frequency, or phase of the carrier. A transmitter can then send this carrier signal through the communication medium more efficiently than the message signal alone. Finally, a receiver will demodulate the signal, recovering the original message.In Amplitude Modulation (AM), pictured below, the amplitude of the carrier sinusoid changes based on the amplitude of the message.Figure 2. Amplitude ModulationThe message signal (red) rides on top of the carrier as the amplitudes of both vary with time. The frequency of the carrier, however, is much higher than the frequency of the message. This carrier frequency is the center of the 'channel,' or frequency allocation of this RF signal. Frequency allocations vary depending on the medium of transmission. For broadcast transmissions, where signals are sent through the air, the government regulates frequency allocation. If the RF signal is transmitted over wire, such as in cable television, there is more freedom in the choice of carrier.In addition to amplitude modulation, frequency modulation varies the frequency of the carrier sinusoid based on the amplitude of the message signal. Similarly, phase modulation changes the phase of the carrier in response to a change in amplitude of the message.2. Digital ModulationDigital modulation is similar to analog modulation, but rather than being able to continuously change the amplitude, frequency, or phase of the carrier, there are only discrete values of these attributes that correspond to digital codes. There are several common digital modulation schemes, each varying separate sets of parameters. The simplest type is called On Off Keying (OOK) where the amplitude of the carrier corresponds to one of two digital states. A nonzero amplitude represents a digital one while a zero amplitude is a digital zero. A specific implementation of OOK is Morse Code. Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), seen in Figure 3, is a form of frequency modulation where a certain frequency represents each binary value.Figure 3. Frequency Shift Keying (FSK)Finally, Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) uses combinations of amplitudes and phases to represent more than 2 digital states, as many as 1024.3. I and Q DataBefore comparing IQ and IF modulators, review the tutorial: "What is I/Q Data?".4. IQ vs. IF ModulatorsAfter calculating digital I and Q data from the baseband message signal, there are two methods of converting this data into an analog RF signal. The first method involves converting I and Q data into analog signals, then feeding them into a quadrature encoder. There, they control the amplitudes of two oscillators, operating 90 degrees out of phase. The output of these oscillators is summed, resulting in an RF signal with the appropriate amplitude, phase, and frequency.Figure 4. IQ ModulationThe next method of converting digital I and Q data to analog RF performs the oscillator scaling and summing in the digital domain. That is, digital sinusoids with a phase difference of 90 degrees are scaled by the digital I and Q values, then added together. These digital sinusoids are of a lower frequency than the analog oscillators in the IQ modulation scheme, but still at a significantly higher frequency than the message signal. A digital to analog converter (DAC), which operates at a much higher frequency than the DAC used in IQ modulation, converts the resulting digital waveform to low frequency analog RF. Finally, an analog IF to RF upconverter uses several stages of mixing and filtering to shift the analog RF signal to the desired RF frequency.Figure 5. IF Modulation The NI 5660 RF Vectors Signal Analyzer and the NI 5671 RF Vector Signal Generator use the IF modulation scheme depicted in Figure 5.5. Relevant NI HardwareCustomers interested in this topic were also interested in the following NI products: NI RF & Communications Platform NI 5660 2.7 GHz RF Vector Signal Analyzer NI 5671 2.7 GHz RF Vector Signal Generator NI RF Switch Hardware NI Modulation Toolkit Software6. ConclusionsThis document is meant to provide a brief introduction to analog and digital modulation.For the complete list of tutorials, return to the NI Measurement Fundamentals Main page or for more RF tutorials refer to the NI RF Fundamentals Main subpage.Established in 2000, the Soukacatv.com (DSW) main products are modulators both in digital and analog modulators, amplifier and combiner. We are the leading communication supplier in manufacturing the headend system in China. Our 16 in 1 and 24 in 1 now are the most popular products all over the world. For more, please access to www.soukacatv.com Source: www.ni.com/white-paper/3013/en/ Press Information: Dingshengwei Electronics Co., Ltd Buliding A,the first industry park of Guanlong,Xili Town,Nanshan,Shenzhen,Guangdong,China Contact Person: Phone: +86 0755 33019315 eMail: eMail Web: http://https://www.soukacatv.com/ 11.01.2019 06:53:35 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral is celebrating a milestone this year, as the citys largest supporter of growing businesses has provided 30 years of service to the community. On Jan. 25, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Palmetto-Pine Country Club, the Chamber will hold its annual Chairmans Gala, sponsored by The Gunterberg Charitable Foundation, where they will present their yearly awards, introduce the new board, have a silent auction, dinner, drinks and more. This is a very important milestone for the Chamber and as an organization. We continue to grow and evolve with the many changes we have seen over the years, said Chamber President/CEO Donna Germain. She said the biggest changes in her 15 years with the Chamber, where she has served as president/CEO since 2015, has been the growth in technology that gives them various platforms to reach out to prospective members and businesses. Probably the biggest change is how we communicate with our members, she said. When I started here in 2004 as the communications director, we mailed a printed newsletter every month, sent faxes and of course emails. Today, we have a digital newsletter, multiple social media sites, email, you name it. The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Corals mission statement is to Champion for business and advocate for community. The organization currently has more than 700 members, keeping them informed of issues affecting the business community, holding monthly membership meetings and holding other business-after-hours networking events. Since 1993, there have been more than 650 Leadership Cape Coral graduates and more than 500 Junior Leadership Cape Coral graduates since 2002. The Chamber plays host to numerous special events throughout the calendar year, such as the Cape Coral Farmers Market, which has, for the last 25 years, brought more than 200,000 visitors to the South Cape; the Holiday Festival of Lights; Taste of the Cape; Freedom 5K; Womens Leadership Conference and more. In the past, the Chamber also has been involved in Red, White & Boom, Celebrate Cape Coral, Cinco De Mayo and countless others. Though its true inception came in 1965, when Edward B. Quirks small storefront served as headquarters, it wasnt until 1989 when what we know as the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral today was formed by the Capes business community following a merger with the Fort Myers Chamber in 87. The Chamber has two welcome centers, one at Del Prado Boulevard and Cape Coral Parkway, as well as a location inside the FOS Furniture Store at Del Prado Boulevard and Pine Island Road to better serve the residents and visitors to the north side of the city. The offices serve as the welcome centers for Cape Coral and a resource for residents, visitors, newcomers and future residents. The gala event is open to all, with tickets being $55 without a sponsorship. Germain is excited to welcome in the new year, and new team. We would love to see some of our past members and past leaders come out and celebrate our accomplishments over the last 30 years, Germain said. Past members, board members, past chairmen; are all welcome. We are very fortunate to have a great group of volunteer leaders at the Chamber. We are governed by a board of 25 directors, 10 trustees and 10 chairmen emeriti. We have a great mix of people that can not only provide historical knowledge, but also provide a fresh outlook on where the chamber wants to go in the future. Bill Jacob will be presented the title of Chairman of the Board. Since first getting involved in the Chamber in 2012, Bill has been a great asset to the Chamber, Germain said. He is a Leadership Cape Coral graduate, he has served as Chairman of Holiday Festival of Lights for the last two years, and his employer CenturyLink, has served as the title sponsor of that event for the last eight years. CenturyLink has also served as our title sponsor for the Freedom 5K and is a great supporter of the Leadership Cape Coral program and the Chamber in general. We are very excited to have him step into the leadership role. She is grateful for all of those who have played a role in the Chambers success over the last three decades, and is excited for what the future holds for Cape Coral. We would not be where we are today without the countless volunteers, leaders and of course the amazing chamber staff this organization has had over the years, Germain said. Each and every one of them had a part in growing this organization over the last 30 years. I have to thank my predecessor Mike Quaintance for his guidance and dedication to the chamber over the years. We would also like to thank the late Doug Lockhart, who was the chambers first president and CEO. Our main focus in 2019 will be membership growth and retention. We are also working on some new programs events to attract the next generation of Chamber leaders. Above all else, we will continue to be the go to organization for businesses and the entire community. Angela Davis Merrill Lynch will be the champagne toast sponsor, while Chapman Insurance Group serves as a gold sponsor for the event. Palmetto-Pine Country Club is at 1940 SW 9th Court, Cape Coral. For more information on the Chamber, visit www.capecoralchamber.com. -Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj Cape Coral residents will get a say in whether they would like to vote for city officials on the same ballot that offers county, state and federal races. Cape Coral City Council on Monday will consider an ordinance that will change the dates of primary and general city elections from odd-numbered back to even-numbered years to coincide with the mid-term and presidential elections. The public hearing on the matter will be held after the meetings 4:30 p.m. starting time. The ordinance was originally set for consideration in December, but Council voted to push it back to the new year following a very close election that required recounts in several state races. The ordinance would take effect for the 2020 presidential election in Council Districts 2, 3, 5 and 7. It would also provide for a one-time, one-year extension of terms of all current council members and the mayor in order to accommodate the change. State law precludes a shortening of terms. Beginning in November 2022 would be elections for Districts 1, 4, and 6, and the mayor. Councilmember David Stokes, who brought forward the ordinance, has cited the lack of voter participation and an apparent interest in residents to change to even-numbered years to make the change. Included in the agenda packet was an online and print poll conducted by the Cape Coral Breeze which showed that about three-fourths of those responding favored a move back to even-numbered-year elections, which the city did previously until 2007. A former supervisor of elections required the move from the crowded even year, fall election ballots, for the countys municipalities. Some cities opted for an even year spring cycle. Others, like the Cape, moved to the odd year cycle in the fall. Stokes also showed data that showed voter turnout in the 2017 mayoral election was 18.28 percent with the 2015 results even more meager, at 13 percent, while the 2016 General Election had a turnout of 78.52 percent and the 2018 gubernatorial and mid-term election had a 62 percent turnout. No city officials could be reached for comment Thursday afternoon after the Council agenda was posted online by city staff, however included in the agenda packet was a letter from city Business Manager Jay Murphy to Tommy Doyle, Lee Supervisor of Lee County Elections. The letter said the change would increase participation in local elections and reduce the citys every two year average election cost from $464,000 to a bare fraction of that. By extrapolating this data, we could anticipate a measurable increase in voter participation and a reduction in the two-year average election costs from $464,000 to a de minimis amount associated with translation fees for any referendums, Murphy wrote. Doyle said he supported the proposal, even though he had concern over the potential for overly-lengthy ballots and voter fatigue. In other business at Mondays 4:30 p.m. meeting, the Charter Review Commission will give its recommendations to City Council, which includes moving the election to even-numbered years and removing the power of veto for the mayor on line items in the budget. It also recommends a ban on mayors or council members, from contracting with the city until one year after their active terms and to change the number of signatures from 15 percent to 10 percent of the total number of electors for initiative and referendum petitions. City Manager John Szerlag will also ask the City Council for guidance regarding the sale of beer, wine or wine smoothies at Sun Splash Waterpark as a way to generate additional revenue. A man delivers goods to villagers in Houba village in the city of Longnan, Gansu province.(Photo/Xinhua) Measures implemented across China to support rural startups, in order to promote rural revitalization, have begun to yield positive results, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Supported by policy incentives, more migrant workers and college students have chosen to start businesses in rural areas in recent years. They enable more resources, including talent, technology and capital, to flow to rural areas, thus injecting new impetus into the development of agriculture and rural areas in general. Online sales in rural areas exceeded 1.3 trillion yuan in 2018, creating jobs for 28 million farmers, ministry spokesman Guang Defu said, adding that leisure agriculture and rural tourism accounted for 3 billion trips, generating revenue of 800 billion yuan for rural areas. Migrant workers and college students moving back to the countryside also create more channels for rural residents to increase their income. Thanks to entities established by returning entrepreneurs, operating income of farmers increased by an average of 67 percent in 2018. These entities also returned or distributed an average profit of over 500 yuan to farmers in the same year. Rural entrepreneurship and innovation have become the primary contributors to Chinas rural revitalization in the new era, Guang added. The Indian government is considering regulations that would require online social media platforms to take down content considered unlawful or face sanctions. The proposed regulations define as unlawful speech that is defamatory, indecent, immoral, hateful or threatening to the public order. The legislation comes amid a proliferation of misinformation on social media. False messages and videos about child kidnappers last year went viral on WhatsApp in India, leading to mob violence and the deaths of at least 20 people. At the same time, legal experts, internet service providers and online platforms are concerned that the rules are too loosely defined and contend that companies are ill-equipped to decide whether specific content violates Indian laws. Moreover, they say, the proposals would do almost nothing to halt the dissemination of so-called fake news, the ostensible purpose of the changes. Amendments to the Information Technology Act would include requirements that all online platforms with more than 5 million users have a registered office in India with a representative who would respond to government queries. In addition, the firms would be required to retain user data for 180 days or longer if demanded by a government agency. Advertisement Weeks earlier, the government authorized 10 law enforcement, intelligence and tax agencies to intercept information generated, transmitted, received or stored on any computer, smartphone, tablet or other computing device, if approved by state or federal authorities. Advocacy groups have filed petitions challenging the move in court. Legal experts warn that allowing government agencies such unfettered access to data would create a surveillance infrastructure that lacks transparency and accountability, and could violate a 2017 Indian Supreme Court judgment recognizing privacy as a fundamental right. Seen together, the moves would represent a sharp escalation of efforts to investigate and censor online speech in the worlds largest democracy, analysts say. The regulation efforts have even drawn comparisons to Indias neighbor, China, which has one of the most restrictive internet and social media policies in the world. Apar Gupta, a lawyer and executive director of the Internet Freedom Foundation, a New Delhi-based advocacy group, compared the proposals to laws in China that require global internet companies to change core product features such as end-to-end encryption that protects users privacy or be shut out of doing business in the country. Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are among the global social media and messaging giants that are blocked in China. The new proposals require proactive filtering and cleaning of online content by online platforms, Gupta said. This has striking similarities to Chinas demands towards global platforms to comply with its regulatory requirements where the legality of speech to a large degree is determined by cultural sensitivity. Prime Minister Narendra Modis government, which is pushing the changes despite opposition from political rivals, has given the public until Jan. 28 to comment on the legislation. It is unclear when the proposals would be enacted. Tech companies have sent representatives to meet with government officials in New Delhi to seek clarity on the proposals. Through a representative, Twitter said it look[ed] forward to continuing engagement with Indian government as they seek input from the tech industry with regards to draft regulations. Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media giants have declined to comment. Advertisement Internet companies are facing growing demands from governments worldwide to filter content for copyright infringement, hate speech and child pornography. The European Union is considering a proposal that would require websites to monitor all content uploaded in order to swiftly take down anything that could incite acts of terrorism. The demands come as Facebook, Twitter and other platforms have been accused of taking inadequate steps to control the spread of hate speech and fake news that has been linked to deadly violence in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mexico and other countries. The Indian government has argued that it is the responsibility of social media companies to police their platforms for speech that spread[s] incorrect facts or could incite violence. Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in July that if companies didnt take prompt action against such messages, they could be held legally accountable. The instances of misuse of social media by criminals and anti-national elements have brought new challenges to the law enforcement agencies, the government said in a statement announcing the proposals last month. Advertisement Facebook, Twitter and other platforms have long removed hate speech and other posts that violated their guidelines, but industry experts caution that hate speech is often a nuanced problem requiring an examination of the context as well as the message. It cannot be up to a private player to make a determination on whether certain kinds of content is lawful or not, said Nehaa Chaudhari, public policy lead focusing on technology and innovation at Ikigai, a New Delhi-based law firm. That is a question for the courts. If regulations are approved, experts worry it would encourage companies to err on the side of caution and preemptively censor messages. What this approach would translate into in the minds of these companies is, Take it down first and lets think later, because we would rather avoid the liability, said Amba Kak, public policy advisor at Mozilla, the nonprofit organization behind the web browser Firefox. Advertisement Rajesh Chharia, president of the Internet Service Providers Assn. of India, an industry group, said the government needs to come up with a stricter definition of unlawful speech. Otherwise every private company will make their own definition, he said. The proposed regulations would also require platforms to trace the origin of messages that contain unlawful content. Legal experts say that would require platforms such as WhatsApp to break the end-to-end encryption of messages that ensures user privacy and makes the messaging app so attractive to many. India has drawn considerable flak for failing to uphold freedom of speech, particularly online. In a 2018 report by the U.S. nonprofit Freedom House that rated internet freedoms in dozens of countries, India scored 43 on a 100-point scale, where zero is most free. Advertisement The report also found that India leads the world in internet shutdowns, with federal, state and local authorities ordering service providers to restrict cellphone, messaging and other services at least 96 times from January to mid-August 2018. Indian laws give authorities the power to restrict internet access to maintain public order. Over the last two years, at least 50 people were arrested across India for posts on social media, according to Mint, a business daily. Kishorechandra Wangkhem, a television journalist in Manipur state, was arrested in November and later sentenced to a year in prison for uploading videos to Facebook critical of the state government and calling its leader a puppet of Modi. Under the new guidelines, Facebook would have had to ensure that the videos were swiftly taken down or risk prosecution. Advertisement Legal experts worry the regulations would do little to stop the spread of fake news the governments stated purpose for proposing the changes but rather infringe on dissent. Misinformation is not illegal in India and would not be flagged for removal. With national elections scheduled for this year, activists worry that Modis powerful Bharatiya Janata Party, which controls the central government, could put pressure on companies to censor critical content. Last year, in elections in the southern state of Karnataka, the BJP and rival political parties circulated false information on WhatsApp and used it to fan community tensions. By not addressing fake news, the legislation is missing the woods for the trees, because the underlying problem will not be addressed, lawyer Chaudhari said. Thirani Bagri is a special correspondent. Guatemalas political crisis deepened Thursday as efforts mounted to impeach several judges on the countrys highest court who have repeatedly ruled in favor of a controversial anti-corruption commission that the president has sought to expel. Guatemalas Congress, much of which is allied with President Jimmy Morales, will now decide whether three members of the Constitutional Court should be stripped of their judicial immunity. If that happens, the judges could be removed from the court altogether. Civil society groups quickly condemned what they described as an attack on the independence of Guatemalas judicial branch, with several describing recent political developments there as a soft coup. In countries with developed democracies, the decisions of the courts are obeyed, the Guatemalan human rights group Myrna Mack Foundation said in a statement.Their decisions are final and must be respected by all people, both leaders and civilians, without any objection. Advertisement The Constitutional Court has drawn the ire of Morales and other Guatemalan leaders for consistently ruling in favor of the United Nations-backed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala. It has blocked several attempts by Morales to undermine the commission, which was formed in 2006 to conduct independent investigations into corruption, drug trafficking and other crimes. For the last two years, the commission has been investigating Morales for possible illegal campaign financing. The commission, known as the CICIG, is also investigating the presidents brother and son as well as several members of Congress. A woman holds up a sign with an image of Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales that reads national shame during a rally in support of the countrys anti-corruption commission. (Moises Castillo / Associated Press) Last year, Morales sought to deny the head of the commission, Colombian jurist Ivan Velasquez, entry into Guatemala. His efforts were overturned by the Constitutional Court, which found that Velasquez had a right to be in the country and continue his work. On Wednesday, the court blocked a new effort by Morales to expel the commission altogether. Congress has made multiple requests to impeach the three members of the Constitutional Court who have consistently supported the CICIG. Guatemalas Supreme Court rejected several of those requests, but on late Wednesday accepted one that will allow Congress to move forward with impeachment hearings. The request relates to the Constitutional Courts ruling last year that Morales did not have the authority to expel the Swedish ambassador to Guatemala. The ambassador had championed Swedish investment in the CICIG. A spokesman for Guatemalas Supreme Court, Mario Siekavizza, said Thursday that the court had approved impeachment proceedings in that case because the Constitutional Court exceeded its functions. Advertisement It was unclear exactly when Congress would begin the impeachment hearings. As the legal conflict played out in the courtroom, there were increasing fears that tensions could spill into the street. Protesters on both sides of the issue have gathered in Guatemala City in recent days, including outside the Constitutional Court. Guatemalas Rafael Landivar University is one of several institutions that has called for peace. We reject the polarization that, taken to its extreme, will result in violence, the university said in a statement. We deeply regret the open confrontation between the current government and legitimately constituted state agencies that endanger the already fragile rule of law in the country. Advertisement In the United States, which played a key role in creating the anti-corruption commission, several members of Congress called on the Trump administration and international bodies to intervene. The international community must closely monitor [the] slow motion constitutional crisis, tweeted Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee. kate.linthicum@latimes.com Twitter: @katelinthicum After school, a skinny 9-year-old girl with a sky-blue umbrella and a pink Mickey Mouse satchel clambers up a mile of stone steps slick as ice in the rain. She takes a steep, curving road through a misty mountain pass, past old mud farmhouses and paddy fields, along a muddy track and pond. Han Jingjing is one of the left-behind children: Her mother and father are absent working grueling jobs far away, like most parents from rural Baiyan village. It takes her almost two hours to return home to an old farmhouse with cracked mud walls, a fire stove and tribes of cats, dogs and hens pecking at a pile of green leaves on the earthen floor. Most school days, she shepherds her little brother, Qiang, 5, along the steep path. Their grandmother, Wang Youxin, 64, tosses a huge dollop of pork lard into a wok over the fire, while their other grandmother feeds sticks into the flames. On Zhang Gong Mountain in southern China, aging men and women toil long hours in their fields, cook and clean, keep pigs, hens and ducks, slip on the treacherous paths and fall ill to ailments they do not understand. They also raise their grandchildren and they hope their 24/7 assistance will pave the way for the youngsters to have a better life than the previous generation. Advertisement But they are also realists. Nobody here has any hope the village children will receive an education equal to that of the elite urban children of Chinas wealthy coastal cities. Theres no way for our grandchildren to catch up with those city children, no way, says farmer Chen Shunlin, 62. Such beliefs are backed up by the numbers. A 2016 study by a Stanford University economist, Scott Rozelle, and others found students from poor rural counties of China were seven times less likely to go to college and 11 times less likely to enter an elite university. A student from a poor rural county had a 0.6% chance of getting into an elite school. On the flip side of Chinas economic miracle and its achievement of lifting about 800 million people out of poverty in the last 40 years is a yawning gap between well-heeled city and struggling rural families. About 69 million rural children are left behind while one or both parents work far away, according to UNICEF. I went to the university of hard work, says grandmother Wang, laughing dryly. I have no education. I know how hard it is to be illiterate in this society and I dont want them to go through that. So Ill do anything for them to study as far as they can. But there is no local school past third grade, so the families will have to send them away to boarding school no panacea in a regional town. Many grandparents do not want their children to board because they fear bullying or inadequate after-school care. A 2015 survey of 30,000 students by child welfare group Growing Home found that nearly half of boarding school children were acutely pessimistic, 64% were lonely, 17.6% suffered from depression and 8.4% exhibited suicidal tendencies. Nutrition was poor. Students were often locked alone in classrooms for long periods to do homework. Advertisement Yet local education authorities are pressuring grandparents in Baiyan to place the children in a free government boarding school in the larger regional town of Tanghe. With only 18 pupils left at the Baiyan Hope School a decline from 40 last year locals have been told their local school may be closed. Han Jingjing is the only child in third grade. She sits at her desk with her class book and frilly pink pencil case, copying the characters her teacher writes on the blackboard. Wang Youxin is raising two grandchildren whose parents are migrant workers. I have no education. I know how hard it is to be illiterate in this society and I dont want them to go through that. (Gaochao Zhang / Los Angeles Times) Opening a soy sauce bottle with her teeth, Wang splashes it liberally into her sizzling wok. Her husband died in April after she nursed him for four years. Advertisement He was drunk and slipped over on a muddy path at night and got paralyzed, she says bluntly. I had to manage the farm by myself and raise two small children. It was my family. I just had to keep on going, no matter what. Migrant workers cannot bring their children to cities because they lack a residence registration, so cannot access free schools. Grandparents who cannot read or write can provide only limited academic advice or help. Yet if China fails to improve rural education, its economic miracle could founder, warns Rozelle of Stanford. Advertisement Only a third of Chinas 800-million-person workforce graduated high school but automation is destroying unskilled factory jobs. The gulf between rural and urban education, described by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development as one of Chinas greatest challenges, could deprive China of enough skilled workers to compete as a high-tech economy in future decades. Two Baiyan Hope School pupils, both children of teachers, do their homework after school. (Robyn Dixon / Los Angeles Times) With no school of its own in the 1990s, Baiyan village set up a community school with a volunteer teacher. They named it Baiyan Hope. From 1997, the local government provided additional teachers, but none stayed long on the mountain. The government withdrew recognition in 2006 and stopped sending teachers in 2010. Advertisement That the Hope school survives to this day now in a building with six spartan classrooms is astonishing. It endures because a Chongqing nonprofit organization, the Small School Bag Public Welfare, supports three volunteer teachers. The charity sends 100 teachers a year to 19 schools in remote areas of southern China. Since 2001, the government has closed 280,000 small rural schools, leaving families with no choice but to send children as young as 6 to the regional boarding schools. Those at boarding schools are no better academically and theyre worse off socio-emotionally, if you look at their stress and anxiety, Rozelle said. Only students living with their families, close to the schools, benefit. Friday is cleanup day at Baiyan Hope School in Chongqing, China (Robyn Dixon / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement Friday morning is cleanup day at Hope and the students, ages 4 to 9, wield straw brooms that look too big for them, sweeping up as if it were a game, while teacher Han Hongmei, 31, wipes down the walls. The daughter of an impoverished porter who once carried huge loads up the mountain, she attended the school herself. After completing university and a teaching qualification, she returned as a volunteer teacher two years ago when she came back to Baiyan with her young daughter to care for her aging father. I love teaching here because theyre my neighbors kids and I want to give back to the community, she said. Two other volunteers, both local women, also teach. Each morning, grandparents arrive laden with bags of vegetables and meat, taking their turn to light the fire and cook the school lunch in the smoke-stained kitchen. They chop vegetables and swirl garlic, onion, ginger and chilies into a sizzling wok as steam swathes them like a pale shawl. Advertisement Farmer Chen and his wife, Ma Ruqun, 55, do not want to send their 8- and 4-year-old grandsons to a distant boarding school. But they will have no choice once their children reach third grade, because Baiyan Hope School does not have a fourth grade. Were illiterate. We are the most disadvantaged people of all, Ma said. Theres no way they can compete. A volunteer grandmother cooks rice and meat for lunch at Baiyan Hope School in southern China. (Robyn Dixon / Los Angeles Times) Han Jingjing is the only child in the third-grade class at Baiyan Hope School. (Robyn Dixon/Los Angeles Times) Advertisement Han, the teacher, moved out of her fathers damp and ramshackle house to live in a spare room at the school with her daughter Luo Yiran, 5. The room at the school is much better than the house, which she fears is about to collapse. At night, she and her daughter sit in the cold school kitchen, soaking their feet in a bucket of hot water to warm up. Hans reading class repeats words in sing-song tones. She worries about one young boy who struggles to concentrate and keep still. Her physical education class dances through an energetic repertoire of songs as she demonstrates the movements, or they shoot back the ping-pong balls she sends down the table. At the end of each day, she and the other teachers hold a homework session because most children have farm chores to do at home. She is proud of the school, but does not believe it will survive long. Advertisement For sure its dying. We are struggling to find teachers, she said. The reality is they come from privileged families so they cannot stand the conditions for very long. They come, they stay one semester and they leave. Its not like us. Were used to it. This is our community. China has improved high school retention rates since the 1990s. After the tumult of the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution when universities were shut down, leader Deng Xiaoping was determined to develop science and industry, creating an elite core of top universities and high schools in 1985 to provide engineers and scientists, and a mass education system focused on basic and vocational education. But Rozelle contends that this deepened the long-term disparity between cities and rural villages, because most of the resources went into the elite urban system. Advertisement Now China faces a potential shortage of advanced higher-paid technical employees, he says. What are these four to five hundred million kids who can barely read or write and who have made their way through rural education, what are they going to do, 10 years from now or 20 years from now? he asked. A Baiyan Hope School child dances in a physical education class. (Robyn Dixon / Los Angeles Times) Children skip during recess break at Baiyan Hope School in southern China. (Robyn Dixon / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement Grandfather Chen Wanshi, 61, hopes that, through education, his grandsons will have better chances in life than he did. (Robyn Dixon / Los Angeles Times) Villagers get a glimpse of the urban-rural divide when privileged city students glued to their mobile phones come to stay a week at Baiyan to gain insight into village life. The gulf is a little dispiriting but one grandfather, Chen Wanshi, 61, sees some fine qualities in his two grandchildren. Here we dont spoil our kids. We want them to be independent, he said, taking solace in the knowledge that at least, the chances for my grandchildren are much higher than in my day. He draws on a cheap cigarette after laboring with his wife to prepare homemade tofu for the schoolchildrens lunch. Advertisement But as for their chances of getting into university, he has small hope and no idea how the family would pay even if they did. I want them to study as far as they can and well support it if we can, he shrugs. Gaochao Zhang of The Times Beijing Bureau contributed to this report. robyn.dixon@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT A Myanmar court on Friday rejected the appeals of two jailed Reuters reporters facing seven-year prison terms for violating a state-secrets law in a decision that cast doubt on the countrys commitment to democracy and the rule of law. A judge ruled that reporters Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, failed to provide enough evidence to overturn a lower courts decision in September convicting the journalists in connection with their investigation into attacks on Rohingya Muslims. The judgment is very disappointing, Than Zaw Aung, a lawyer representing the reporters said outside the courthouse. It highlights the situation of press freedom in Myanmar. He said he would talk to the journalists and their families to determine what steps to take next. The case could potentially go to Myanmars supreme court. Advertisement The decision drew a rebuke from the U.S. Embassy in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar. We are deeply disappointed that the Yangon High Court upheld the convictions of journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo today, said Aryani Manring, a spokesperson for the embassy. A free and independent press should be protected in any democracy. The embassy has been monitoring the case since 2017 and had staff present at court proceedings Friday. Reporting is not a crime Stephen J. Adler, Reuters editor in chief Stephen J. Adler, Reuters editor in chief, said the rejection of the journalists appeal represented a dramatic setback for the country formerly known as Burma, which only recently emerged from decades of military control. Todays ruling is yet another injustice among many inflicted upon Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, Adler said in a statement. They remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth. Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmars commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt. The convictions in September drew international condemnation for silencing independent reporting on the terror inflicted on Rohingya Muslims by government forces and Buddhist civilians. That violence has resulted in 700,000 members of the ethnic group fleeing for neighboring Bangladesh since August 2017. The reporters, who are both Myanmar nationals, were arrested in December 2017 as they were investigating the massacre of Rohingya villagers in Inn Din, a hamlet in Rakhine state. Advertisement Their defense attorneys say they were detained after police entrapped the reporters by meeting them at a restaurant and offering them documents claiming to show details about the army campaign in Rakhine. Taking such papers would violate the countrys 1923 Official Secrets Act, which imposes harsh punishment for obtaining government documents that could be deemed useful to an enemy. The two journalists have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Last February, Reuters published their reporting, which detailed the execution of 10 Rohingya villagers who were bound and either shot or hacked to death before being buried in shallow graves. Advertisement The reporting provided a chilling and intimate snapshot of the wider government-led campaign to eradicate the Rohingya, using a combination of murder, arson and rape. The actions have reversed the view abroad of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of the National League for Democracy, which spearheaded Myanmars political reforms. Suu Kyi has been criticized for not speaking out against the militarys campaign against the Rohingya or the jailing of the Reuters journalists under the colonial-era law. The arbitrary nature of the state-secrets law has been chided by diplomats and human rights groups. Activists say the decision Friday will only reinforce the belief the case against the journalists was a sham. The case against these two journalists should never have proceeded much less resulted in a conviction, said Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watchs Asia division. The appeals court process looks like it was just a rerun of the previous injustice done to these two reporters who dared investigate what the military wanted to keep hidden. Advertisement david.pierson@latimes.com Twitter: @dhpierson The San Bernardino Mountains provide a winter home for the largest number of migrating bald eagles in Southern California. Each year, volunteers conduct simultaneous bird counts to help monitor the local population. However, Saturdays scheduled events in the San Bernardino National Forest have been canceled because of the partial federal shutdown. The U.S. Forest Services website says bald eagle counts that start at Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead and Lake Hemet will not be held. Volunteers may still participate in counts at state park sites, which are unaffected by the federal funding lapse. Interested citizen scientists (no experience necessary) may still take part 8 a.m. Saturday at: Advertisement -- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area park office [14651 Cedar Circle, Hesperia. (760) 389-2303 or (760) 389-2281] -- Lake Perris Yai Heki Regional Indian Museum [17801 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, in the Lake Perris State Recreation Area; (951) 940-5657]. Eagle counts also remain scheduled for Feb. 9 and March 9. The public has helped collect data as part of an ongoing long-term monitoring effort that began in 1978. Since 1978, Forest Service biologists have asked the public to help monitor the local population. In typical years, about 10 to 20 eagles make their temporary home in the local mountains. Last year, volunteers counted 15 bald eagles, including two chicks born at a nest in Big Bear. travel@latimes.com @latimestravel If you read Ralph Vartabedians article on hiking in Armenia that ran in the Travel section in the fall and remains online, you may have wondered how you could get there more economically. Airfare at that time was more than $1,110. But now, Lot Polish Airlines has a deal. Fare: From LAX, $560 round trip, including all taxes and fees, to Yerevan, Armenia, on Lot Polish Airlines. Restrictions: Subject to availability. Fares are for travel Feb. 19-May 6. Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 20, and you must stay at least one Saturday night. Info: Lot Polish Airlines, (212) 789-0970 Advertisement Source: Airfarewatchdog travel@latimes.com @latimestravel A new gym at Oak View Elementary School in Huntington Beach is taking shape as construction continues toward a projected May opening. Ocean View School District trustees Tuesday approved a completion notice for demolition and earthwork done by Crew Inc. With the foundation laid, Ledesma & Meyer Construction Co. has begun erecting the walls of the 11,000-square-foot gym. We are all excited about using the new gym during the 2019-20 school year, said Oak View Elementary Principal Jenna Landero. It will offer our students many opportunities, such as indoor physical education classes, as well as schoolwide assemblies and community programs and events. The long-awaited project follows a settlement the district reached with Rainbow Environmental Services in 2016 after three years of litigation. Ocean View alleged that dust and odors from the companys waste transfer station at 17121 Nichols Lane were making students at nearby schools sick. Oak View Elementary and Oak View Preschool are directly across from the transfer station. As part of the settlement, Rainbow provided the district with $4 million for the gym project. Everythings going pretty well, and we plan to have a grand opening when its completed, said Gina Clayton-Tarvin, vice president of the board of trustees. Air filtration systems approved Also Tuesday, the board approved an agreement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to provide air filtration systems at Oak View Elementary and Oak View Preschool. As another manifestation of the settlement agreement with Rainbow, the AQMD will provide the installation and five years of maintenance for the systems at no charge to the district. Clayton-Tarvin said this came about after the AQMD issued an abatement order against Rainbow, saying it was not in compliance with air quality regulations. The AQMD fined Rainbow about $250,000, Clayton-Tarvin said, and Rainbow asked that the money be directed toward school improvements. Its 2019 and were finally getting it done, Clayton-Tarvin said. The AQMD recently implemented air filtration programs in schools in San Bernardino, Long Beach and Los Angeles, among other places, according to the agreement. The program involves a competitive process to retain an air filtration system contractor to oversee the installation and maintenance. Administrators appointed Kristi Hickman, who served as principal of Circle View Elementary School, has transitioned into an expanded role as the Ocean View districts teaching and learning coordinator. Jessica Haag has taken over Hickmans role at Circle View after serving as assistant principal at Spring View Middle School. Both appointments were approved by the board of trustees Tuesday. Hickman, a school administrator in Ocean View since 1995, will coordinate a variety of programs offered by the district, including preschool, transitional kindergarten, English Learners and Gifted and Talented Education. Haag began at Circle View as a student and later began her education career there as a GATE teacher in 2005. A Teacher of the Year in 2015, she was appointed assistant principal at Spring View last fall. charity.lindsey@latimes.com Twitter @CharityNLindsey Laguna Beach soon will be accepting bids from consulting companies for a new Downtown Action Plan that is projected to go into effect in conjunction with the citys Downtown Specific Plan update in April. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved sending out a request for proposals within the next couple of weeks. The city expects several firms to submit plans suggesting improvements for sidewalk and landscape design, trees, street lighting, and public art and furniture. The Downtown Action Plan will set in motion parts of the Downtown Specific Plan, said Community Development Director Greg Pfost. Laguna Beach has been working on an update to the specific plan which outlines policies for urban design, land use and overall downtown feel since 2014, according to the city website. The specific plan was adopted in 1989 and has been amended several times. The action plan ... takes these policy ideas of what generally we already talked about and puts them into the street and actually says OK, lets put trash cans here and lets improve this alley this way, Pfost said. So it actually implements design. Pfost said the Community Development Department, along with consulting company MIG, are wrapping up the specific plan update and will send it to the Planning Commission in late February or March. Once the commission finishes its review, the document will head to the City Council. Pfost said he expects the citys specific plan review process to end in April, coinciding with the projected timeline for Downtown Action Plan approval. Once the council is finished with the updated specific plan, the document must be reviewed by the California Coastal Commission. But some parts of it those in the Downtown Action Plan can go into effect sooner, Pfost said. Ruben Flores, owner of Laguna Nursery, and several other community members spoke at Tuesdays council meeting, emphasizing that the Downtown Action Plan should reflect the importance of trees to the community. It distinguishes our town from the other towns nearby, Flores said. Its something that many of us moved here for and appreciate. Pfost said the citys goal is to find an action plan consultant steeped in urban design with an arborists perspective. He said the consultant will comb Laguna Beach street by street, inspecting trees and assessing whether to expand tree wells. Some residents said the city should hold another community workshop before the action plan is completed. Council members discussed the effectiveness of an outside consulting group and whether there should be more community input. Some of the consultants that weve had cant be trusted, Councilwoman Toni Iseman said. The community knows much better than the consultants. Ultimately, the council decided the public had sufficient opportunities for input during past Planning Commission meetings and community workshops. Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow said he doesnt want a consultant for the Downtown Action Plan to reinvent the wheel by undoing the progress made over the past five years with the specific plan update. We take what weve learned up until now, use that as a basis and have this not be a study group kind of thing but instead an implementation, he said. Pfost said he expects to begin reviewing consultants action plan proposals by March. faith.pinho@latimes.com Twitter: @faithepinho Hotel Laguna, which has been shuttered for a year after the previous operators lease ended during a legal tug-of-war, will see new life under the hand of local businessman Mo Honarkar. Honarkars real estate investment firm, Laguna Beach Co., signed a 99-year lease agreement for the property, which has long been owned by Porterville company E.W. Merritt Farms. The lease went into effect Jan. 1. Mark Orgill, a spokesman for the project, said Honarkar had been eyeing the property for a couple of years and is eager to get the hotel up and running again. Our ambitions are to restore it to its grandeur and make it a proud asset of the community, Orgill said. Were in a hurry. We know that it means a lot to the community, and its our No. 1 priority at this time. Orgill said hes unsure when the hotel will reopen and that the property is being evaluated for interior renovation and exterior restoration. Workers are scrubbing the sidewalks and cleaning the facility at its prominent location at 425 S. Coast Hwy. We intended just to clean some things up to make it so that its not an eyesore on the corner, Orgill said. We definitely want people to think theres something exciting on the horizon. Laguna Beach businessman Mo Honarkar leased the Hotel Laguna property effective Jan. 1 and plans to reopen the shuttered hotel, according to a spokesman for the project. (Courtesy of Grant Puckett / Lagunabeachliving.com) Hotel Laguna, notable for its red and white striped awning, has been closed since the end of 2017, when the lease of its last operator, Andersen Hotels Inc., ran out. Laguna residents James Ray, real estate investor Joe Hanauer and filmmaker Greg MacGillivray who publicly vied for the property for two years under the real estate entity Kimbark Group LLC wished the new operator the best. Our quest has been to not just reopen the hotel but to do everything needed to enable the hotel to regain its position as a critical and vibrant part of our downtown the crown jewel of Laguna, the three said in a statement. Hanauer, MacGillivary and Ray, along with Merritt Farms and Kimbark Group, were the targets of litigation by Andersen Hotels, which operated the 68-room facility for 32 years. Andersen alleged in a lawsuit filed in 2017 that Merritt Farms violated the lease terms with Andersen by failing to give it the right of first refusal to the property while trying to strike a lease agreement with Kimbark, MacGillivray, Ray and/or Hanauer. Andersen also alleged the defendants ruined its prospects to renovate the hotel. Andersens complaint against Hanauer, MacGillivary, Ray and Kimbark Group was dropped, Hanauer said. A jury trial for the breach of contract lawsuit against Merritt Farms is set for April, according to the Orange County Superior Court website. Andersens lawyer was not immediately available for comment Thursday. Hotel Laguna, with its Spanish arches and bell tower, is one of the most recognizable buildings in Laguna Beach, attracting Hollywood celebrities and other dignitaries through the years. The hotel, first built in the 1880s, was demolished in 1928 because of fire concerns. A more modern establishment was dedicated in 1930 and is the building people know today. faith.pinho@latimes.com Twitter: @faithepinho BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes foreign companies to make investment and tap into the opportunities in its automobile market, a trade official said Thursday. The demand is huge for new energy vehicles (NEVs) and other automobile products in China as the market is entering a new phase that features diversified demand and quality-oriented purchases, Gao Feng, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, said at a press conference. Gao's remarks came after the U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Inc. broke ground on its first overseas factory in Shanghai on Monday. Tesla's new factory will be a boon to the development of China's NEV sector, pushing forward industrial upgrades and bringing domestic buyers more choices, Gao said. As the first carmaker to set up a wholly-owned company in China, Tesla has witnessed and benefited from the new round of China's opening up to the outside world, Gao said. Editors note: TimesOC plans to introduce new opinion columnists in 2019. Mona Shadia, who previously wrote Unveiled, which chronicled the Muslim American experience for the Daily Pilot, is the first. Ive had a long writers block. Two years long, to be exact. But when your old editor calls on you, you pour some wine, sharpen a pencil and get writing. You may remember me from the columns I wrote for Times Community News and the Orange County Register on my life as a Muslim in O.C. I utilized those spaces to provide insights into Islam and Muslims. At the time I was also a journalist, covering local politics and various issues spanning several cities. Ive since left journalism and made a jump into the world of technical writing, with the promise to myself to continue writing about the matters for which I am most passionate, such as womens issues, civil rights, my travels mostly solo and maybe a little on my shopping habits. So Im back. And this time, I dont intend on explaining my religion to anyone. That time has passed. But many of my other core issues persist. On Jan. 19, Im planning to attend the Orange County Womens March in downtown Santa Ana, and what I want to talk about right now is how we can be more attentive citizens. So lets get to it, shall we? Last month, Congress allowed the Violence Against Women Act to expire as part of the government shutdown. Passed in 1994 after an unprecedented number of women were elected to Congress in 1992 (one year after Anita Hills testimony), the act allows the Department of Justice, along with the Department of Health and Human Services, to issue grants to various state and local programs that aid victims of domestic abuse and child abuse. Some of the funds go toward educating and empowering victims of sexual abuse and some go toward providing shelter for victims of violence. In 2013, the act was expanded to include all victims of domestic and dating violence, including Native American women, undocumented immigrants and LGBT individuals. The act had been in limbo since September, hanging in through temporary extensions until it expired on Dec. 21. A spending deal extended some funds to February, but because of the government shutdown, the act was not reauthorized, according to the Washington Post. This leaves the fate of future programs that aid victims of abuse and violence gravely uncertain. For a nation that prides itself on protecting and respecting the rights of women, especially in comparison to other places I will not be mentioning, this is a failure and a disappointment to say the least. Certainly, the sexual, mental and emotional abuse women have been enduring in the workplace spanning every industry, and in every aspect of our society is more than enough reason to start re-examining where we stand as a nation on how we treat more than half of the population. Look at whats happening today. Weve had a year of empowerment with the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. The number of women elected to Congress in November beat the number of those who were elected in 1994. They are also from more diverse backgrounds, from both religious and nonreligious affiliations. Yet this all comes on the heels of a major step back. The key here is that we women and men who truly care about womens rights and whats affecting us as a nation must all become attentive citizens so that what is said by the government matches what is done. Without us, recently elected Congresswomen like Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Irvines Katie Porter (who beautifully beat Mimi Walters in the 45th Congressional District) will not get so far. Or theyll do some great things that could be weakened, erased or overridden 20 or 30 years from now. So look for me at the Orange County Womens March, one of the many ways to become attentive citizens. Its a nonpartisan, peaceful, family-friendly march that aims to unite the many diverse communities in Orange County independent from the national Womens March organization, which will be holding marches on the same day. The event in downtown Santa Ana is free. For more information or to RSVP, visit ocwomensmarch.org. Mona Shadia is an Egyptian American writer who lives in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter at @MonaShadia. Three men were charged with burglary on Thursday after police say they were allegedly spotted earlier in the week carrying a safe out of a Papa Johns Pizza in Burbank. Officers with the Glendale Police Department were out on patrol near the Burbank border around 3:40 a.m. on Tuesday when they spotted three men near the restaurant at 904 S. Glenoaks Blvd. loading the safe into a Kia Rio parked nearby. Sgt. Derek Green, a Burbank Police Department spokesman, said the safe was large enough that all three men had to carry it from the restaurant, through a shattered window and into the vehicle. It wouldnt even fit in the rear seat where it was placed. The safe was so big they couldnt even close the rear door, he said. Green added the safe was used to store cash made from sales at the restaurant until it could be deposited and it was not secured in any way to prevent its removal. The safe was found with some damage to its keypad and handle suggesting the men tried to break into it first before deciding to carry it out, according to Green. It appears [the suspects] were out casing that night looking for an opportunity and this is the location they just happened to choose, he said. Officers approached the men and were able to detain one of them while the other two fled into a nearby neighborhood. Authorities from both Burbank and Glendale soon established a perimeter and spent the next several hours searching the area for the two. We had multiple units in the area searching including K9 units, Green said. Cars were also screened coming in and out of the neighborhood. A suspect was taken into custody around 7 a.m. after police received word that clothing worn by one of the men was found discarded in the 400 block of East Cedar Avenue. A third man was arrested an hour later after witnesses reported seeing someone matching the description of the final outstanding suspect running through an alley in the 1100 block of East Elmwood Avenue. The three have since been identified as 21-year-old Rupert Lewis from Long Beach, 21-year-old Amil Campbell from Long Beach and 27-year-old Tramell Gaines of Los Angeles. They were charged with one count each of burglary by the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc For 50 years, California has required cities and counties to plan for enough new housing so that residents can live affordably. But many local governments fail to approve new development, contributing to the states housing crunch. Now, Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing a radical new step: punishing communities that block homebuilding by withholding state tax dollars. Newsom unveiled his proposal Thursday at his state budget presentation, which also included more than $2 billion in new funding for housing and homelessness initiatives. The governor said his aggressive approach speaks to the depth of the states problems, which have forced millions of Californians to pay more than half their income on rent, pushed home prices to new highs and added thousands to the homeless population. This is a new day and we have to have new expectations, new requirements, Newsom said, noting that Californias highest-in-the-nation poverty rate is largely driven by escalating housing costs. California lawmakers have tried for 50 years to fix the states housing crisis. Heres why theyve failed Advertisement The governors proposed spending would pay for emergency homeless shelters, subsidize new development for low- and middle-income residents and provide grants to cities and counties to spur more homebuilding, among other ideas. Newsom said he has spoken with Silicon Valley tech leaders, whose industry has fueled strong job growth in the state, about contributing an additional $500 million to support his administrations affordable housing efforts. Newsom pledged to revamp housing supply goals set by the state, which require cities and counties to plan every eight years for enough new development to accommodate projected population growth. A 2017 Times investigation showed that although state law requires local governments to plan for housing, it does not hold them accountable for resulting homebuilding. On the campaign trail, Newsom called for 3.5 million new homes to be built in the state over seven years, which would more than quadruple current production levels. The governor said his administration would develop new homebuilding targets for every region and, for the first time, hold local governments to meeting those goals with financial penalties. State transportation revenue would be withheld from cities and counties that did not perform, he said. If youre not hitting your goals, I dont know why you get the money, Newsom said. Housing advocates praised Newsoms plans, calling them a departure from former Gov. Jerry Brown, who rarely pushed for big-ticket housing policies and cut low-income housing funding during the depths of the state budget crisis. Pictures in the News | Friday Jan. 11, 2019 This is exactly the kind of bold visionary leadership on housing issues that the state needs and frankly we have lacked for the last eight years, said Matt Schwartz, president and chief executive of California Housing Partnership, a nonprofit advocate for low-income housing. The proposals wont fix the system overnight. But theyre smart and strategic. Advertisement Newsoms plan to enforce homebuilding goals in cities and counties with financial penalties would mark an incursion by the state into how housing is approved at the local level. The governor is sure to face broad pushback on the idea, which is already raising concerns from transportation advocates. In his budget news conference, Newsom proposed withholding revenue generated from Senate Bill 1, 2017 legislation that increased the states gasoline taxes to pay for road repairs and transit improvements. When pressed, Newsom said state transportation dollars overall, and not necessarily gas tax money, would be held back from local governments. Coverage of California politics Newsoms comments prompted opposition from all sides of the gas tax effort. Those behind the tax increase, such as the League of California Cities and Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose), who authored the legislation, said the plan would go against the will of the voters. And some who were against the gas tax increase were similarly critical. GOP Senate leader Patricia Bates of Laguna Niguel called withholding transportation funds from communities a bait-and-switch. Advertisement Many reasons why homebuilding is slow across the state are outside local government control, including the ability for developers to get financing and the costs of labor and construction materials. It will be difficult for Newsom to develop a system of financial incentives and penalties for cities and counties that takes into account all these factors. For instance, city and county restrictions on homebuilding are more consequential in the Bay Area which has seen 750,000 new jobs added but just 167,000 new homes built over the last eight years, according to construction industry statistics than in parts of the state where theres been less economic development, said David Garcia, policy director at UC Berkeleys Terner Center for Housing Innovation. In the Central Valley, most, if not all, of their cities are not meeting their [housing production] goals, Garcia said. It has nothing to do with them being exclusionary or not welcoming housing and everything to do with market forces and the lack of money to fund affordable housing. Garcia believes it is necessary for Newsom to try to break down local resistance to new development, but he said it will be hard to determine which cities and counties should forfeit funding. Advertisement Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he was overjoyed when he received a briefing on Newsoms plans Wednesday night. Last year, Garcetti and other big-city mayors mounted a campaign to persuade Brown to support new homelessness funding; Newsom addressed the issue immediately. In the past, its felt like pulling teeth, Garcetti said. This time, its what a partnership feels like. Garcetti also said he was not worried that Los Angeles would face penalties for not approving enough housing. The city is currently behind on meeting existing targets for low-income housing production, and Newsoms new goals almost certainly will result in significantly higher numbers overall for Los Angeles and other urban areas. But Garcetti said he could not imagine a new target that would be too ambitious for the city to meet. I dont think they will be unrealistic, he said. I think they will be stretch goals, and we will have stretch goals whether the state gives them to us or not. Advertisement Newsoms proposed new spending on housing totals $2.3 billion. That includes $1.3 billion for cities and counties in financial incentives to permit and plan for new homes and support local homeless housing efforts. The remaining $1 billion is split between loans for developers who build homes for moderate-income families and tax credits to subsidize low- and moderate-income housing construction. Times staff writer Patrick McGreevy contributed to this report. liam.dillon@latimes.com Twitter: @dillonliam The Rio Grande Valley had a message for President Trump and the Republican lawmakers who visited Thursday: Dire warnings about a crisis on the border are bad for business. Theres this fallacy that the border is not secure, Eddie Trevino, the top official in Cameron County, told Texas U.S. senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Its not a lawless, crazy, rogue, Third World nation down here. He and other members of the Texas Border Coalition an organization of lawmakers and businesses spent an hour with the senators and various border officials at a border crossing south of McAllen. They complained that as Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric, railing about drug traffickers and gang members to gain support for building a border wall and emerge victorious in his battle with congressional Democrats, people have become hesitant to shop, visit, work and invest in south Texas. Advertisement Were the ones who are collateral damage, said Ambrosio Hernandez, the mayor of Pharr. He and other local officials urged the federal government to invest in improving infrastructure and staffing at border bridges, which are essential to the local economy. Sergio Coronado, the mayor of Hidalgo, said all the talk of an emergency is pushing away investors. A lot of the economic boom that exists here depends on people who come from Mexico, he said. The leaders said U.S. border cities are some of the safest in the nation and that Trumps rhetoric was perpetuating a long-standing myth that south Texas is violent. They were not necessarily against a wall. But they pointed out that a continuous barrier across the valley would have to be built far north of the meandering Rio Grande that forms the border and cut off certain communities on the banks. The officials said they favored a smart wall, in which additional Border Patrol agents as well as cameras, sensors and other technology were as important as physical barriers. Trump did not attend the discussion, having met earlier in the day with select officials at a local Border Patrol station. But the senators promised to share local sentiment with him. Advertisement Cornyn told the officials he understood their concerns: We need to not only be concerned with security, but trade and commerce. He and Cruz said they accompanied Trump during his visit and talked with him on the flight to Texas. They said he would support border improvements if Democrats would agree to fund some form of wall. I believe he is open to negotiation, Cornyn said. Neither senator was willing to predict how long it would take to end the federal government shutdown, which started Dec. 22 when Trump and Democrats failed to reach an agreement on whether to fund the border wall. As part of new federal spending legislation, the president has requested $5.7 billion for the wall, which Democrats vehemently oppose. Advertisement The Rio Grande Valley has been predominantly Democratic for generations, but Trump has supporters here as well. Earlier in the day, a couple hundred gathered at the McAllen airport to watch his motorcade pass. Marcus Pena, 25, an Army veteran and federal worker furloughed because of the shutdown, was living off his savings this week. But he still backed Trump in his standoff for a border wall. Pena said he hoped the visit shows Republicans they need to get in line, emboldens Trump and bolsters his desire to come through with a wall. But wall opponents had a much bigger presence. More than 500 protesters gathered near the airport, carrying signs that said Our only crisis is the POTUS and Our home is not a crisis zone. Advertisement Lindsey Ledezma, a 19-year-old cosmetology student, said she joined the protest because her mother, a longtime Border Patrol dispatcher, has been furloughed because of the shutdown and had to borrow $1,500 to pay bills. I dont think Donald Trump realizes how many people he hurts with his actions every day, Ledezma said. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com @mollyhf Sometimes it feels as though the Russia investigation led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has been one bombshell after another. Hes successfully prosecuted some of President Trumps closest aides and provided a detailed blueprint of Moscows attempts to interfere in U.S. politics. But theres still a lot we dont know about the investigation, and some of the biggest questions of the case remain unanswered. Heres where major issues in the case stand and what were still waiting to learn. What exactly was Moscow doing during the 2016 campaign? This story line is the clearest part of Muellers investigation at this point since his team has used indictments to outline in detail a two-pronged effort by Russia to interfere with the U.S. election and boost Trumps candidacy. The first involved the Internet Research Agency, a so-called troll farm based in St. Petersburg, Russia, that spread misinformation on social media. Advertisement The second utilized officers of the GRU, Russias military intelligence agency. They hacked Democratic Party emails and, posing as a Romanian hacker, provided them to WikiLeaks. The messages were released at several points during the campaign, starting shortly before the Democratic National Convention and continuing into the final weeks before the election, dominating news coverage at key moments. Was there a connection between WikiLeaks and Trump? Its clear that Trump was eager to capitalize on WikiLeaks during the campaign, even though considerable evidence existed at the time that the emails being released by the organization had been hacked by Russian operatives. Whether a more conspiratorial connection existed is an open question. Most attention has centered on Roger Stone, a longtime advisor to Trump, who may have tried to contact WikiLeaks. According to a draft court filing prepared by Muellers office, Stone asked Jerome Corsi, a right-wing writer, to reach out to the organization. The filing does not say whether that effort was successful, and Corsi and Stone have denied any wrongdoing. But Mueller appears to have been building a criminal case involving WikiLeaks, including grand jury testimony from Stones associates. Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign chairman, arrives for a hearing at federal court in Washington last year. (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images) What was Paul Manafort trying to do? An important and unexpected revelation became public a few days ago when defense lawyers for Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, inadvertently disclosed that prosecutors believed he provided polling data to a Russian colleague in Ukraine. The colleague, Konstantin Kilimnik, has been accused of having ties to Russian intelligence. Manafort, who was convicted last year of bank fraud and tax evasion involving his work as an overseas political consultant, has denied any wrongdoing related to the election. But we know prosecutors began investigating him because they suspected he might have served as a back channel to Russia during the campaign. And we know Manafort was working for Trump for free at a time when Manafort was deeply in debt. Did the polling data find their way into the hands of Russian military intelligence or the Internet Research Agency? And was that Manaforts intention in providing the information to Kilimnik? He hasnt explained his actions. Advertisement What else is Rick Gates telling prosecutors? Gates worked for Manafort in Ukraine and later served as his deputy on Trumps campaign. He testified against Manafort during his trial last year, providing the jury with detailed information on a scheme to avoid taxes and obtain fraudulent mortgages. But prosecutors havent moved forward with sentencing Gates, who pleaded guilty to lying and conspiracy. That suggests Gates cooperation with the investigation hasnt ended. Its unclear what hes been telling the special counsels office, but Gates could shed light on a variety of issues. Not only did he serve at top levels of Trumps campaign, but he also worked for Trumps inaugural committee, which is reportedly under investigation as well. Could the Trump Tower meeting lead to charges? One of the most infamous episodes to come to light during the investigation was a meeting at Trump Tower in New York a few weeks before the Republican convention. It involved top campaign officials and a Russian lawyer who had promised to provide damaging information about Hillary Clinton. Before accepting the meeting, Donald Trump Jr. was told by an intermediary that the offer was backed by the Russian government. I love it, he responded. Advertisement But the encounter has not been referred to in any of the court filings from Muellers office, and no one has been charged in connection with it. (The Russian lawyer has been charged with obstruction in a separate investigation involving money laundering.) Among the investigations unanswered questions: Will Mueller determine that any laws were broken with that meeting? And will he confirm that the meeting actually represented a quasi-official outreach by the Russian government? Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to President Trump, leaves federal court in Manhattan in August. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) What about that plan for a Trump Tower in Moscow? Michael Cohen, Trumps longtime lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about his pursuit of a Moscow real estate deal that had been a goal of Trumps for decades. He admitted to speaking with a Russian government office about the proposal, which he previously had denied, and downplayed how often he discussed the initiative with Trump or his family. Cohen had claimed the idea was abandoned before the Iowa caucuses in January 2016, when it actually remained in the works until after Trump secured the Republican nomination. Advertisement The disclosure shed new light on Trumps push for closer relations with Moscow while he was a presidential candidate his personal business would have benefited. But its unclear how the proposal might factor into other questions involving the election: Did Russians wield some kind of financial leverage over Trump? Was the project discussed in conjunction with Moscows support for Trumps candidacy? Did anyone else lie to Congress? Cohens guilty plea could be an ominous sign for others who have testified on Capitol Hill. Democrats say they believe some people who appeared before the House Intelligence Committee werent honest with lawmakers, and they want to provide the full transcripts to Mueller. Since the special counsel has already proved willing to press charges when people lie to Congress, more charges could be on the way if prosecutors decide there are additional crimes. President Trump speaks to reporters after leaving the White House on Thursday. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) Did the president obstruct justice? We know that Mueller has been examining whether Trump obstructed justice by trying to influence the outcome of the Russia investigation. So far that review hasnt produced any criminal charges or public statements from the special counsel implicating the president. Advertisement This part of the investigation could end up being one of the most serious threats to Trumps presidency. Obstruction was one of the charges against President Clinton when he was impeached. President Nixon was expected to face the same charge before he resigned, avoiding impeachment. Some of the key episodes that could factor into an obstruction case are already public knowledge, most notably Trumps decision to fire James B. Comey as FBI director and his subsequent explanation that this Russia thing was on his mind at the time. White House lawyers argue that a president cant be accused of obstruction for acts that fall within his constitutional powers, including firing senior officials. chris.megerian@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @chrismegerian Only a few blocks from the National Mall, amid a cluster of nondescript buildings, more than a dozen prosecutors working for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III have followed an unusual routine as they toil away on the Russia investigation. When they leave the office at night, they often wonder if it could be their last day on the job, according to an attorney familiar with their work. Fearful that President Trump will try to shut down the sprawling criminal investigation, theyve been compiling and writing their conclusions as they go, the attorney said. UPDATE: Robert Mueller submits his report into whether the 2016 Trump campaign had illegal dealings with Russia Even if Trump doesnt try to fire Mueller and disband his team something hes threatened several times the presidents lawyers have indicated theyll try to keep the public from learning whatever the special counsels office has discovered. Theyve repeatedly said some information may be covered by executive privilege, the legal claim that safeguards the confidentiality of a presidents private conversations. Advertisement If Mueller tries to include in a final report details gleaned from White House documents or interviews with administration officials, we specifically reserved our right to object, said Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who represents Trump. The president pointedly refused on Thursday to say whether any report from Mueller should be made public, telling reporters, Well have to see. Its unclear exactly when Muellers investigation will end, and the special counsel still has not secured the presidential interview hes been seeking for more than a year. Trump submitted some written answers shortly before Thanksgiving; Giuliani said prosecutors subsequent request to ask more questions in writing and in person was refused before Christmas. Since then, he said, there has been no communication with the special counsels office. Theres nothing much to talk to them about, Giuliani said. Recently, however, there have been indications the end game could be drawing near. Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, for example, has told associates he expects to step down shortly after the Senate confirms William P. Barr as the new attorney general. That could come within weeks; Barrs confirmation hearings are scheduled to begin Tuesday. Rosenstein has been supervising Muellers work and does not want to leave his post until the special counsel is wrapping up. Whenever Mueller does finish his work, it will kick off a new phase in the legal and political fights over the Russia investigation. The presidents legal team is preparing its own report rebutting whatever Mueller concludes; Trump tweeted last month that it had already finished 87 pages. Giuliani said how much was released depended on what the special counsel concluded. If they exonerate him, he said, well just say congratulations. Advertisement Meanwhile, emboldened Democrats who took control of the House of Representatives in the last election are laying the groundwork for their own investigations and potentially explosive public hearings. Michael Cohen, Trumps longtime lawyer and fixer, is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Feb. 7, a month before he begins a three-year prison sentence for a variety of crimes that include lying to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal that Trump sought while running for president. Cohen also has pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations involving hush money payments to women who said they had affairs with Trump, payments prosecutors said were directed by Trump himself. President Trump participates in a roundtable discussion on border security in Texas on Thursday. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Advertisement TIMELINE: The biggest indictments, guilty pleas and dramas in the Russia investigation The first battle could be over how much becomes public from Muellers investigation, which focuses on ties between Trumps campaign and Russia and whether the president obstructed justice. The last time a special prosecutors report was so hotly anticipated, independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr provided a lengthy and salacious recounting of President Clintons affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Starr, however, was operating under a different set of rules that no longer exist, and he was required to submit his conclusions directly to Congress. Under the rules governing Muellers investigation, the special counsel only needs to provide the attorney general with a confidential report explaining his decisions at the conclusion of the investigation. The attorney general by then will likely be Barr, a longtime friend of Muellers, but also a Trump nominee who has expressed skepticism about some aspects of the investigation. Advertisement That doesnt mean Muellers findings wont be released in some form. Prosecutors could explain more of their case in additional indictments 33 people have already faced charges or pleaded guilty, and court filings have often included extensive details. They could also ask the grand jury to issue its own report. FULL COVERAGE: Robert Mueller finishes his investigation into President Trumps 2016 campaign In addition, the attorney general is required to notify Congress if he overrules any decisions by the special counsel, such as a request to issue particular subpoenas and indictments. And the attorney general can determine that public release of these reports would be in the public interest. Democratic congressional leaders have already made clear they will demand that the report be turned over to them. Advertisement Bottom line: the President can try to hide the Mueller Report. He will lose to the publics right to know, tweeted Neal Katyal, who served as solicitor general under President Obama and wrote the current special counsel regulations. If a report is destined to become public, there will also be fights over what is included. Intelligence agencies may want to redact sensitive information involving communications intercepts or overseas sources. Trumps lawyers are prepared to argue that executive privilege will require additional redactions. The potential clash is rooted in the early days of the special counsel investigation, when the White House voluntarily agreed to turn over thousands of pages of documents and make officials available for voluntary interviews. By doing that, Mueller received faster access to the facts he was seeking, while the presidents lawyers said they maintained their right to claim executive privilege down the road. They argue that, since Mueller is technically part of the executive branch, they can still fight the release of information to Congress or the public. Advertisement Just because a document goes from the White House to the Justice Department does not mean privilege doesnt stay attached, said Jim Schultz, former deputy counsel in Trumps White House who now works at the Cozen OConnor law firm in Philadelphia and Washington. A claim of executive privilege could have the biggest impact on the publics ability to learn about Muellers investigation into possible obstruction, since many events under scrutiny happened after Trump took office. Blocking the release of a report, however, could cause a political uproar that would be counterproductive for Trump. Its very complicated for the president to fight the release of the report, said Anne Milgram, a former federal prosecutor and New Jersey attorney general who is now a New York University law professor. If it vindicated him, why wouldnt he let it out? Advertisement If the report doesnt go public, she added, the president cant put this behind him. Rudolph W. Giuliani, former New York City mayor and Trump representative, said theyd rejected the special counsels request to ask the president more questions. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press) Mueller has not said anything publicly about how he plans to conclude his investigation or when that could happen. His silence has created a guessing game about the probes timeline; many of the rumored due dates have come and gone without any end in sight. I thought they would finish by the end of the summer, Giuliani said. And then I thought they would finish before the election. I cant imagine whats taking them so long. Advertisement Ending the investigation might mean Mueller has to accept that he wont get to interview Trump himself. The president has not received a subpoena to force his testimony before a grand jury, Giuliani said. So far, Trump has only answered written questions about events that took place before the election, meaning Mueller hasnt had an opportunity to ask him about topics that could be relevant to an obstruction case. Im really at a loss to determine why he hasnt subpoenaed Trump already, said Harry Litman, a University of California law professor and former federal prosecutor. It just doesnt make sense to me. Although the presidents lawyers would undoubtedly fight a subpoena in court, I think its really pretty clear [Mueller] would win, Litman said. Advertisement But Robert S. Bennett, a former federal prosecutor who represented Clinton during a sexual harassment lawsuit by Paula Jones, an Arkansas state government employee, said Mueller likely didnt need Trumps testimony to finish his work. What is he going to get out of the presidents testimony that would really add to his analysis of the case? Bennett said. I dont think theres anything the president could tell him that would change his mind on whatever hes finding. Proving that the president obstructed justice would require establishing his thinking behind certain decisions and whether they were intended to influence the investigation. But legal experts say other ways exist to do that besides speaking to him, such as digging up memos or interviewing his associates. Paul Rosenzweig, who worked on the Starr investigation and is now a senior fellow at the R Street Institute in Washington, said that if Mueller already had everything he needed, an interview with the president is probably unnecessary. Advertisement chris.megerian@latimes.com Twitter: @chrismegerian A long tradition in the U.S. derides campaign promises as meaningless; in truth, theyre anything but that. Presidents often find themselves boxed in by promises they make in their campaigns. Over the last few weeks, President Trumps pledge to build a wall on the southern border has provided an especially vivid example. The promise to build a wall began as something of a throwaway line in Trumps campaign speeches a concrete image he could use to connect his pledges to control immigration with his boasts of prowess in construction. Two years into his presidency, its become a trap. Sign up for the Essential Politics newsletter Advertisement WALLING HIMSELF INTO A CORNER Just one year ago, congressional Democrats were ready to give Trump billions of dollars for the wall. The money was part of a deal in which Trump, in return, would agree to provide permanent status to the hundreds of thousands of young immigrants known as Dreamers. The bill failed only because of last-minute White House opposition, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) recalled in a rueful statement this week. Immigration hard-liners led by Trumps aide Steven Miller persuaded the president to abandon the compromise. They opposed the plan because it would have ended their hope of deporting roughly a million people currently living in the U.S., including the Dreamers and hundreds of thousands more who have lived here under so-called temporary protected status. Since then, Trump has had no way to get Congress to approve money for the wall. With the Democrats retaking control of the House in Novembers midterm election, that reality became stark. But the promise of a wall looms over Trumps tenure. He cant get it through Congress, but he cant abandon it for fear of shattering the confidence of his core supporters. With only about 40% of Americans supporting him, Trump cant afford any erosion of his base. So in December, Trump gambled: He would force a government shutdown by refusing to sign appropriations for a long list of government agencies unless the bills included money for a wall. That required him to go back on another deal this one with Senate Republicans who had approved the appropriations bills after Vice President Mike Pence reassured them Trump would sign them. Trump was willing to leave his Senate allies out on a limb rather than admit defeat. Advertisement His decision precipitated a shutdown of federal agencies that, as of midnight Friday, will move into its fourth week and become the longest in U.S. history. Some 800,000 federal workers are either working without pay or on furlough; the first missed payday for most of them came Friday. Trumps hope was that Democrats would back down to avoid the disruption caused by a shutdown. In a series of contentious meetings with congressional leaders this week, he threatened to keep government agencies closed for months or even years, as Eli Stokols and Jennifer Haberkorn reported. Tuesday night, Trump made his first prime-time, televised speech to the country from the Oval Office, trying to make his case that a humanitarian crisis at the border requires the building of a wall. As Molly OToole, Molly Hennessey-Fiske and Kate Morrissey reported, the reality at the border differs significantly from Trumps description, and to the extent that a crisis exists, its largely a self-created one. Advertisement In any case, Trumps speech had little impact on public opinion, and the Democrats havent budged. Instead a small, but steady stream of Republicans have begun to defect. On Wednesday, Trump walked out of talks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Now, with his initial gamble having yielded nothing, Trump is on the verge of upping the ante and trying to use presidential emergency powers to bypass Congress, as Stokols and Hennessey-Fiske reported. HEADING FOR THE EMERGENCY EXIT Advertisement Declaring a national emergency to build a border wall carries multiple risks: The plan could fail in court, where it would almost certainly face challenge. As several conservatives in Congress have pointed out, it would also set a precedent that a future Democratic president might use to bypass Congress to pursue liberal goals. And, since the money to build the wall has to come from somewhere, the move inevitably would enmesh the administration in fresh controversy. Advertisement As Sarah Wire reported, one possible source of wall funding the administration has looked is money currently committed to flood-control projects in California and Puerto Rico. For Trump, an emergency declaration could be the only way he can get out of the current standoff without admitting defeat. On Thursday, Pence killed one of the few remaining options an effort by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and a few other Republicans to revive a version of the Wall-for-Dreamers deal that Trump almost had a year ago. Were kind of stuck, Graham said as Congress prepared to leave town for the weekend. Advertisement As the shutdown begins to disrupt air travel (air traffic controllers and TSA agents are working without pay), FBI investigations, food inspections and Border Patrol operations, pressure on Congress to end the shutdown will grow. With Trumps Republican support already wavering, he could face the unpleasant prospect of Congress passing the appropriations measures and daring him to veto them, which would give him sole responsibility for the shutdown. If Trump declares an emergency, he could go ahead and sign the current money bills and still tell his supporters he plans to build the wall. ANOTHER LEGAL BATTLE Advertisement If Trump tries to use emergency powers, Democrats would file suit, effectively moving the fight from Congress to the courts. Ultimately, the border wall might never get built, but for Trump, the fight over the wall may matter more than the actual construction of it. What of the legal case? As David Savage wrote, federal law provides that in the event of a declaration by the president of a national emergency that requires use of the armed forces, the secretary of Defense, without regard to any other provision of law, may undertake military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law. Opponents might challenge whether Trumps declaration of a national emergency was valid, but courts might be reluctant to second-guess the president on an issue of that sort. Another issue might be whether the wall could be considered a military construction project. Thats why administration officials have been scouring other federal laws to look for additional authority to reprogram construction funds that Congress has authorized for other purposes. Advertisement REBUFFS IN THE MIDEAST The administrations top two foreign policy officials, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security advisor John Bolton, both headed for the Mideast this week. As Tracy Wilkinson reported, its been a rough go. In Turkey, Bolton was snubbed by that countrys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And a much-ballyhooed speech by Pompeo in Cairo was largely overshadowed by the political battles back home. The U.S. has rediscovered our voice. We have rebuilt our relationships, Pompeo declared, as he criticized the Obama administrations foreign policy and sought to emphasize U.S. opposition to Iran. Advertisement But as Boltons experience in Turkey illustrated, foreign leaders have largely ignored that rhetoric and have focused instead on Trumps actions, including his order to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. Those moves have sent a message that the U.S. is pulling back from the Mideast. Whether a pullback is a good idea or not, its at odds with the assertive message that Bolton and Pompeo have tried to convey. Ultimately, Trumps actions speak louder than their words. WHAT COLLUSION COULD LOOK LIKE Paul Manaforts lawyers may be good at criminal defense, but theyre not so great at redacting documents. Advertisement Manaforts defense team filed papers in court this week in which they sought to rebut prosecutors allegations that their client had lied to investigators. The court filing included several redacted sentences. But reporters quickly discovered that simply cutting and pasting the redacted passages made the black bars go away, revealing the text underneath. And what a reveal it was. As Chris Megerian reported, the document disclosed an allegation by prosecutors that Manafort, who was Trumps campaign chairman, had shared polling data with a Russian colleague during the 2016 campaign. The colleague, Konstantin Kilimnick, is alleged to have long-standing ties to Russian intelligence. Thats not exactly a smoking gun, but its at least a gun-like object. Advertisement We dont know what sort of polling data Manafort is alleged to have shared, how detailed it was or what period it covered. And we dont know what Kilimnick is alleged to have done with the data, whether, for example, he might have shared it with Russian officials. But polling data is among the most valuable assets a campaign has. And Russia was mounting a major effort in 2016 to interfere with the U.S. election an effort aimed at helping Trump win, U.S. intelligence officials say. Polling data from Trumps campaign would potentially have been extremely useful to Russians involved in the election project. Trump, naturally, denied knowing anything about it. Advertisement DEMOCRATIC FIELD BEGINS TO FORM Last week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) formally entered the Democratic race for president, and as Noah Bierman reported, she drew large crowds on her initial campaign trip to Iowa, where the first contest of the primary season will take place in just over a year. On Tuesday, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) launched her new book, which builds a case for a White House bid, as Evan Halper reported. Harris is widely expected to announce her campaign later this month. But for all the attention to fresh, new faces, two septuagenarian white guys remain at the top of the early polls. Some of that is simply name recognition for former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), but as Halper wrote, its also a reminder that for many Democrats, considerations of race and age take a backseat to the overriding imperative of finding a candidate they believe can beat Trump. Advertisement Meantime, the potential field had another prominent dropout: Tom Steyer, the billionaire former hedge fund manager and funder of Democratic causes, ruled out running. As Mark Barabak reported, Steyer said he had decided, instead, to redouble his effort to prod Congress into impeaching Trump. The potential field remains huge, but Steyer is the second high-profile Democrat to flirt with running and then decide not to try. Late last year, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a favorite of several people close to President Obama, announced he would not run. LOGISTICS That wraps up this week. Until next time, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics. Advertisement Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com. If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up. David.lauter@latimes.com @davidlauter As the federal governments partial shutdown became tied on Friday for the longest one ever, President Trump tempered his talk of declaring a national emergency on the southern border that could free him to spend money on a wall there. The president insisted on his power to make the declaration, which could allow him to divert federal funds for other purposes to a wall. Yet after days of resistance from some congressional Republicans, he no longer sounded notes of urgency about taking such action. Im not going to do it so fast, Trump told reporters at the White House. We want Congress to do its job he added. What were not looking to do right now is national emergency. Advertisement Still, the president has been considering diverting billions of dollars in funds designated for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in California and Puerto Rico. By declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, he could claim power to tap such previously approved military funds. On his way to the border in Texas on Thursday, Trump was presented with a list of 13 Corps of Engineers projects for which Congress has allocated money, but which have not yet been put under contract, according to Rep. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove). The president first suggested a week ago that he might declare a national emergency, and while in Texas he said several times that he was strongly inclined to do that, declaring it his absolute right. Members of Congress in both parties have said that would be an abuse of executive power, but many also have noted that a declaration would seem to make moot the issue at the center of the government-funding impasse thats shuttered many federal agencies for three weeks Trumps demand for $5.7 billion to build a 234-mile stretch of wall. Once the president got his money elsewhere, Congress could pass -- and he could sign -- legislation funding the quarter of the federal government for which spending hasnt been approved for the remainder of this fiscal year, through Sept. 30. Yet White House officials on Friday could not say whether Trump would do so. On Saturday, the shutdown will be in its 22nd day, making it the longest ever. The previous record was set by a shutdown that began in late 1995 and extended into the new year. This week, for the first time, about 800,000 federal employees did not receive a paycheck; several hundred thousand of them are considered essential to public safety and must work anyway. The House voted 411 to 7 on Friday to provide back pay to workers furloughed by shutdowns; the Senate had already passed the bill, and Trump said he would sign it. The House Republicans who opposed the bill were Reps. Justin Amash of Michigan, Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar of Arizona, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Chip Roy of Texas and Ted Yoho of Florida. Advertisement Administration officials confirmed Thursday that they were looking at a range of government accounts that Trump potentially could tap into if he declares an emergency, but they would not comment on which projects were being eyed. Garamendi, who serves on the House committee that oversees water projects, said he had been told that specific California projects totaling $2.46 billion were targeted, including some in his district north and west of Sacramento, as were $2.5 billion worth of projects in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. He would not say who provided the information. Several of the projects on the list, Garamendi said, have been in the works for years if not decades, and some are in their final stages. They include raising the height of Folsom Dam on the American River in Northern California, protecting Lake Isabella in Kern County from leaking as a result of earthquakes, enlarging the Tule River and Lake Success in the Central Valley and building shoreline protections in south San Francisco. Each of these flood-control projects are specifically designed to save the lives of millions of Americans, Garamendi said. If its not done this year, or next year, will it make a difference? Maybe not, or maybe it will make all the difference. Advertisement Word came to us that Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, the commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers, accompanied the president to Texas to specifically discuss projects that could be reprogrammed to provide $5 billion for Trumps wall, Garamendi said. I know that these projects were identified. I do know that these projects were presented to him. Dozens of water projects across the country are funded with Army Corps money, and other lawmakers on the House committee that has jurisdiction say they have concerns about which ones might lose appropriations. Floods usually do not follow political boundaries, so I think you would have ... a lot of bipartisan concern, said the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.). Democratic and Republican representatives said they had received little to no guidance from the White House. Advertisement The latest from Washington The ranking Republican on the House tax-writing committee, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, says the administration is looking at a variety of places for money, but hes confident that Army Corps disaster relief or disaster prevention projects will not be the source. They are assessing throughout the breadth of government what are the unobligated funds and what could be tapped in the short term, Brady said. Californians in Congress from both parties said Thursday theyd oppose taking funds from the state projects. Advertisement Its a declaration of war on Californians if he were to do that, said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael). Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento), has contacted the Army Corps about the importance of the projects to strengthen levees along the American and Sacramento rivers and to raise the level of Folsom Dam. She said, Sacramento really needs this lifesaving funding to increase our resiliency against flooding. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) said he was concerned about taking money from projects in Puerto Rico as well as from flood control in California, and that any move needs careful consideration. Lets do a cease-fire on this stuff have everyone turn off their Twitter for seven days, LaMalfa said. Trump has remained adamant that a wall is needed to solve what he calls a crisis at the border, fighting harder than he has at any time in the last two years, when Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress. Democrats, now a majority in the House, are just as dug in that a wall would be costly and ineffective. Advertisement Negotiations to resolve the shutdown broke down earlier this week, and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of Trumps closest Republican allies, urged the president in a statement Friday to declare a national emergency now. Build a wall now. In his comments Friday, the president said he could easily issue an emergency order, but inevitably a court battle would ensue, as it did with the travel ban on people from Muslim-majority countries that he imposed after taking office. That order was initially blocked by federal courts but, after significant revisions, was upheld by the Supreme Court. Democrats have said they will challenge any such move in court. Several of Trumps advisors and Republican members of Congress have cautioned against it, fearing he would lose in court or that the attempt to use emergency powers would set a precedent that a future Democratic president could use to bypass Congress. Trump asserted that his opponents would go to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers California and is known as liberal-leaning, and that it would overturn an emergency order. Advertisement Fortunately, we have a Supreme Court thats treated us very fairly, he added, referring as he often does to the high courts conservative majority, solidified by Trumps two appointees. Pictures in the News | Friday Jan. 11, 2019 The president emphasized that hed prefer that Congress act. I dont care what they name it, he said of a wall, reiterating that he doesnt care if its made of cement or steel, if thats what his opponents want. They can name it Peaches, he said. Political advisors and media figures who favor Trumps hard-line immigration positions have been telling him since his election that his political fate was tied to the wall, and that now he has no choice but to act alone, given not only Democratic opposition but also tepid support from Republicans. Advertisement I said this in the first three weeks: You do not have a wall and you will not be president in 2020, said Stephen K. Bannon, Trumps former campaign chief and White House strategist. There is zero probability you will be elected. Theres no doubt hes going to declare the emergency, Bannon added. The traditional appropriations process has shown him that hes not going to get a penny for the wall. Times staff writers Noah Bierman and Jennifer Haberkorn contributed to this report. More stories from Sarah D. Wire Advertisement sarah.wire@latimes.com Twitter: @sarahdwire President Trump saluted a Blackhawk helicopter hovering over the Rio Grande on Thursday, seeking to highlight the need for $5.7 billion for his trademark border wall to stop what he calls an invasion. Next to the president stood a Customs and Border Protection officer and a Border Patrol agent. Both were working unpaid during the partial government shutdown, which on Friday tied the record for the longest in U.S. history. Among the roughly 800,000 federal employees whove gone without pay in the three weeks since the shutdown began are tens of thousands of Border Patrol agents, Customs and Border Protection officers, immigration judges and Coast Guard crews the workers on the front lines of the border security problems that the White House and Congress have been fighting over. That irony is not lost on workers such as Terence Shigg, a Border Patrol agent at a checkpoint in San Clemente. Shigg took on a second job as a private contractor years ago, learning from his mothers experience raising four kids on her own on a federal salary. Advertisement One thing Ive learned working for the federal government is always have a backup plan, Shigg said. He supports more miles of fencing on the border along with other resources, he says, but I am not in favor of a shutdown. That one paycheck is a big deal, he said. Its not something that you just can lightly dismiss. The president insists he has federal workers support for doubling down on the shutdown, saying they will make adjustments. I appreciate their service to the country, theyre incredible people, but many of them agree with what Im saying, he said Friday after a White House session on border security. But as government employees grapple with growing financial stress, pressure is mounting to resolve the impasse. Two unions have filed suit against the Trump administration so far, including the one that represents Customs and Border Protection officers. Vice President Mike Pence told Customs and Border Protection personnel in a Friday afternoon meeting to focus on the mission. I want to assure you that were going to figure this thing out, he said. On Friday, however, there were few signs of that happening. Members of Congress left Washington for the weekend after passing a measure to ensure that federal workers will get backpay once the shutdown ends. No new negotiations to end the standoff have been scheduled. Advertisement Humanitarian Crisis at our Southern Border. I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion! I have been there numerous times - The Democrats, Cryin Chuck and Nancy dont know how bad and dangerous it is for our ENTIRE COUNTRY.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2019 In a tweet Friday, Trump repeated his call for a border wall. The Democrats, Cryin Chuck and Nancy dont know how bad and dangerous it is for our ENTIRE COUNTRY. he said. He continued in a subsequent tweet, The Steel Barrier, or Wall, should have been built by previous administrations long ago. They never got it done - I will. Without it, our Country cannot be safe. Criminals, Gangs, Human Traffickers, Drugs & so much other big trouble can easily pour in. It can be stopped cold! In fact, previous administrations have built hundreds of miles of fencing along the border. When Trump took office, about one third of the border, 654 miles, was fenced. No additional mileage has been added during his tenure, although some existing fences have been upgraded. Democratic lawmakers have approved $1.3 billion for border security in the current fiscal year; Trump initially asked for $1.6 billion, before insisting that $5.7 billion was the minimum he would accept. Advertisement Overall, roughly 420,000 government employees are working unpaid with the equivalent of a federal IOU. In addition, nearly 350,000 are furloughed at home. A significant number of them are workers who have supported Trump in the past, especially Border Patrol agents. In his campaign, Trump was endorsed by the unions that represent agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. On Jan. 3, he abruptly displaced a public briefing by Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrols parent agency, in order to bring several leaders of the border agents union, the National Border Patrol Council, to speak at the White House in support of a wall. Josh Wilson, a Border Patrol agent stationed in east San Diego and spokesman for the council, which represents about 1,900 agents in the city, said its members continue to like Trump. The agents are certainly not happy about the prospect of missing paychecks, mortgages, car payments, childcare, everything else we have to pay for along the way, Wilson said. But we are glad to finally have a presidential administration willing to take border security seriously the wall is not a be-all-end-all, but its a necessary component. Advertisement But Carlos Favela, a spokesman for the Border Patrol agents union in El Paso, said the shutdown has had a negative effect on their work. The Border Patrol, whose members are among the lowest paid in federal law enforcement, already had trouble retaining agents before the shutdown, he said. Many parts of the operation are understaffed. Our agents are being stretched thin, he said. Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents roughly 30,000 Customs and Border Protection officers, is suing the administration over the shutdown on behalf of several officers stationed at the southern border, arguing the work-without-pay order violates labor law. Customs and Border Protection personnel work in 328 ports of entry along the border, as well as airports and seaports overseas to process people seeking to enter the United States and facilitate trade. Federal employees dont go to work wearing red and blue; they go to work wearing red, white and blue, Reardon said in an interview. So leave us out of the politics, is what they say. And get us our paychecks. Advertisement Nearly 45,000 Coast Guard military and civilian personnel charged with intercepting migrants and drugs are also working without pay. In 2018, the Coast Guard intercepted more than 1,500 migrants and interdicted more than 200,000 kilograms of cocaine, according to spokesman Barry Lane. A one-time action allowed Coast Guard personnel to be paid Dec. 31, but more than 55,000 Coast Guard active-duty, reserve and civilian employees will not receive their pay and benefits Jan. 15, Lane said. The shutdown is also being felt far beyond the border, in federal courts and by immigration judges already drowning under a backlog of nearly 810,000 pending immigration cases. All of the Justice Departments roughly 400 immigration judges have been furloughed. The Executive Office for Immigration Review said that while hearings will proceed for immigrants currently held in detention, all other hearings will be rescheduled, exacerbating wait times that currently stand at an average of 718 days. Many of these cases are scheduled years in advance its not like you can magically roll over cases, said Ashley Tabaddor, president of the National Assn. of Immigration Judges. That means most likely, theyll fall to the back of the line. Advertisement Asked for comment, a Justice Department spokespersons email account responded automatically: The appropriation that funds my salary has lapsed, and as a result I have been furloughed and am currently out of the office, the message said. I will respond after funding has been restored. Thank you. Times staff writer Molly Hennessy-Fiske in McAllen, Texas, contributed to this report. molly.otoole@latimes.com Twitter: @mollymotoole Gavin Newsom got elected doing something that no California gubernatorial candidate had ever done putting the needs of youngsters atop his agenda. Our role begins when babies are still in the womb and it doesnt end until weve done all we can to prepare them for a quality job and successful career, the new governor said on the campaign trail. Newsom aims to fulfill his promise with a budget, a draft of which was leaked to the Los Angeles Times, that calls for spending $1.8 billion on an array of cradle-to-kindergarten initiatives. Much of the money would come from an unrestricted tax revenue windfall expected this year. Newsoms proposals wont satisfy the most vocal early childhood advocates, who point to childrens program cuts made during the Great Recession that were never restored. Their proposals, as some of them have told me, start with a $10-billion investment and reach $80 billion in eight years. Thats pie-in-the-sky thinking and the governor lives in the real world. Advertisement While Newsoms additional funding will help, it wont come close to getting the state where it ought to be: Universal public preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Still, California can and should spend more than Newsoms budget calls for. To his credit, Newsom has devised a plan that doesnt place all its chips on a single initiative or age group. This is wise policy because infants, toddlers and preschoolers all need our attention, and often in different ways. Its also politically smart because it stops in its tracks the otherwise-predictable fight between champions of child care and champions of preschool. Concern for equity reducing the gap between rich and poor by giving kids a smart start drives the governors priorities. The budget underwrites more home visits to expectant parents with limited incomes to bolster their parenting skills. It funds more early developmental screening as a research brief authored by Stanford Universitys Deborah Stipek states, the state does a poor job of identifying kids with disabilities that could otherwise be addressed early on. The biggest expenditures would go to expanding childcare training more workers and adding state-supported facilities as well as to making kindergarten all-day in school districts that cant afford such programs now. Both efforts would get about a $750-million infusion and both would mainly help low-income families. All of this is good and necessary, but heres whats missing: a major commitment to more and better preschool. In Newsoms plan, pre-kindergarten for low-income 4-year-olds gets a one-year infusion of just $125 million, with a similar amount anticipated for the next two years. The state already spends $1.2 billion to subsidize preschool for low-income California families, and it has improved the reach of these programs, but still too few families have access. While Newsoms additional funding will help, it wont come close to getting the state where it ought to be: Universal public preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Pre-k for all is a no-brainer. The consensus among researchers is children who attend preschool are less likely to fall behind in later grades, less likely to drop out of high school and less likely to become ensnared in the criminal justice system. A Brookings Institution report shows that fewer than half of poor kids are ready for kindergarten and many never catch up to their classmates. A quarter of middle- and upper-class children are also not kindergarten-ready. Advertisement Newsoms constituents get it according to the Public Policy Institute of California, three-quarters of the state, including nearly half of Republicans, agree that public pre-k should be available to all. But a 2018 report on the availability of early childhood education from the UC Berkeley Early Childhood Think Tank and the American Institutes of Research shows how far the states effort falls short. Almost a third of Californias 4-year-olds arent enrolled in pre-k. And despite the fact that children who go to preschool for two years benefit more, fewer than a third of 3-year-olds have this opportunity. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion For those in the market for a private preschool, the average tab runs about $10,000. (A UC Berkeley education costs almost as much, and at Berkeley, students whose families earn less than $85,000 get an essentially free ride.) According to the 2018 report, nearly half of California families with a 3- or 4-year-old cant find a preschool slot for their child, regardless of how much theyre willing to pay. Advertisement Last month, Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) introduced a plan to add $1.4 billion a year more than 10 times Newsoms pre-k proposal to Californias preschool budget. This would allow every low-income 3- and 4-year-old, as well as kids from middle-income families who are just outside the income limits, to attend free pre-kindergarten. Thats closer to what Newsom should be proposing, in addition to his childcare and kindergarten initiatives. Unfortunately, neither McCarty nor Newsom is addressing the quality of preschool as well as access to it. Thats a major omission: Every early childhood education study indicates that the benefits of these programs are tied to highly trained teachers, small classes and an evidence-based curriculum. Studies show wide variation in the quality of Californias programs; unless they improve, putting more children in preschool classrooms wont help them progress. Gov. Newsom can assert, with some justification, that he is meeting his campaign promises by adding $1.8 billion to childcare and early education programs in his first budget. McCartys bill, which has already gained the support of 15 legislators, suggests Sacramento would be willing to spend much more. The governor and his supporters should understand that his proposal as it stands is only a down payment on the high-quality support Californias youngsters need. David L. Kirp is a senior fellow at the Learning Policy Institute and an emeritus professor at UC Berkeley. Advertisement Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook. U.S. Secretary of State vows to further curb Iranian influence in Mideast CAIRO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States will "use diplomacy" and work with partners to curb Iran's influence in the Middle East region. "The nations of the Middle East will never enjoy security, achieve economic stability, or advance the dreams of their peoples if Iran's regime persists on its current course," Pompeo said during a speech at the American University in Cairo. Pompeo said that the U.S. administration is confronting Iran's "campaigns of destruction and destabilization in the region and around the world," stressing that the U.S. economic sanctions against Iran are among the strongest in history, and will keep getting tougher until Iran changes its policies that threaten the United States and the international community. "The United States is working with partners in the region and beyond to stop malign activity by Iran and its proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere," he added. "Feb. 11 will mark 40 years since this brutal regime came to power. The Trump Administration stands with the Iranian people, as they demand new freedoms and accountability they deserve," the U.S. top diplomat added. Pompeo arrived in Cairo late Wednesday following stops in Jordan and Iraq, in a tour for the Middle East that also includes Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. Earlier on Thursday, he held a talk with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as both asserted the depth of the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries. People are fighting back against robot cars. Self-driving cars being tested in Arizona by Waymo, a Google sister company, have been attacked by residents in at least 21 separate incidents, according to the Arizona Republic. People in the Chandler area have thrown rocks at the cars, slashed their tires and run them off the road. One man even pulled a gun on a Waymo test driver. The attacks come less than a year after a pedestrian was killed by a self-driving Uber car in Tempe the first pedestrian fatality involving an autonomous vehicle. Uber had moved its self-driving car trial to Arizona from San Francisco after California revoked the registration of the vehicles. Like Arizonans, many Americans dont trust that self-driving cars are safe. An April poll conducted by the Automobile Club of America found more than seven in 10 were too afraid to ride in a self-driving car, and a recent Gallup poll found that 52% of Americans said they would never want to use a driver-less car. Advertisement There are ethical quandaries with corporate algorithms making life-and-death decisions. Carmakers assume they can overcome this distrust eventually. After all, farmers with pitchforks once chased early motorized vehicles and there was great public outcry about airplanes taking to the skies. The problem is carmakers have sped testing of the cars to public roads with little respect for public opinion. Lawmakers from both parties have been largely on the carmakers side. Last year, a bipartisan coalition tried to slip legislation that would have overridden state safety standards into a federal spending bill. Only a handful of Senate Democrats, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, objected to the so-called AV START Act. If self-driving cars are going to revolutionize transportation, states and cities shouldnt be deprived of their ability to keep people safe during that transformation, especially since it could be decades before new federal safety standards are written, Feinstein said at the time. Thankfully, the bill wasnt passed. The revolt against robot cars in Arizona shows that carmakers need to ask the publics permission, not its forgiveness, before introducing autonomous vehicles onto public roads. Boosters of highly automated vehicles, known as HAVs, argue that the cars can drive the blind and disabled, minimize human fault in accidents and save lives. Self-driving cars, they note, cannot be impaired by alcohol or drugs or distracted by incoming texts. But these arguments dont acknowledge any of the issues that come with putting artificial intelligence in the hands of profit-driven corporations who will control life-and-death decisions. Many carmakers use a constant digital communication connection to control their cars. This increases cyber security risks, since connected devices can be hacked. Advertisement There are also ethical quandaries with corporate algorithms making life-and-death decisions. When a child chases a ball into the street, will the autonomous car be programmed to swerve, even if there is a chance that its passengers will be injured? Mercedes, for instance, has said its HAVs will be programmed to prioritize the lives of its occupants. There is no good plan for how human drivers will share the road with autonomous cars. Many advocates consider separate roads the best solution, but the construction costs would be enormous. Perhaps most importantly, according to our analysis of test results out of California, many self-driving cars are simply not ready to drive themselves. A number of them cannot go more than a few hundred miles without needing a human driver to take over. Some have difficulty handling pot holes, extreme weather, ambulances and bicyclists, among other things. Uber moved its car trials to Arizona in part to avoid strict regulations in California. But the company, and others like it, will need to accept that regulation is the only way for humans to safely share the roads with autonomous cars. Advertisement The public shouldnt be guinea pigs in this Silicon Valley experiment. We should set new rules for the road: Humans ability to drive should not be restricted. Implicit in the sales pitch for autonomous cars is the notion that they will eventually be safer than human-controlled cars. Our right to drive should not be limited in the push to make way for self-driving vehicles. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion The programming needs to be transparent. Carmakers should be required to disclose all the ethical decisions reflected in their programming. Will their technology prioritize pedestrians? Or, like Mercedes, will it always protect the occupants of the vehicle? These decisions should be made through a public process, not behind closed doors. Advertisement Cyber security must be a priority. Researchers have established that some cars connected to the internet can be taken over. The industry must be required to use Pentagon-level security standards to safeguard the public. When in doubt, the carmakers should be liable. Companies that make smart cars should be required to accept legal responsibility when their technology fails and not be permitted to foist the responsibility for such failures onto individuals, as Tesla recently tried to do when one of its Autopilot functions failed. Arizonas revolt ought to serve as a wake-up call to both Silicon Valley and Detroit: The public will not allow autonomous vehicles to take control of our roads. Jamie Court is president of Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit nonpartisan public interest group. Advertisement Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Congress can help atone for the nations horrific past by finally making lynching a federal crime Since the Civil War, Americans have struggled to define what seems to be obvious: What is a lynching? It conjures visions of a mob pulling a man from a jail cell, hauling him to a tree and throwing a rope over a branch. But debates have centered on how how many people must take part in such an extrajudicial killing for it to qualify as a lynching (the NAACP suggested in 1921 at least five). And must the motive be racial? Was the hanging of a suspected white horse thief in the Wild West by ranch hands the same as a white Southern mob, amid taunts, jeers and spit, turning a black man accused of insulting a white woman into strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees, as Billie Holliday once sang? Do the nuances really matter? Its true that not all lynching victims were black, but blacks were overwhelmingly the targets (and many white victims of lynching had defended blacks or opposed lynching). We cannot sever that horrific practice from our disgraceful history of racism. Slavery was abominable, and to this day the nation is influenced by the riches from New England shipowners to New York financiers to Southern farmers and brokers and the evils of our original sin. Lynching became slaverys evil spawn, acts of indefensible extrajudicial brutality meant to scare former slaves and their descendants to hew to their constricted place in a white society. After slavery, these acts of terrorism more than 4,700 documented cases from 1882 to 1968 became the ultimate expression of racism and white supremacy. Rather than being shamed, some whites celebrated racial lynching. Photographers sold pictures and postcards as souvenirs; to this day you can see white faces beam smiles into the camera as bloody bodies dangle gruesomely overhead. Some of the cards collected and posted on the Without Sanctuary site, part of a 1999 book and film project, are shocking in the banality of the notes to friends. Well John, reads the back of one card sent to Dr. John W.F. Williams of Lafayette, Ky. This is a token of a great day we had in Dallas, March 3, a negro was hung for an assault on a three year old girl. I saw this on my noon hour. I was very much in the bunch. You can see the negro hanging on a telephone pole. That photo was dated March 3, 1910 two years after the post office supposedly banned lynching cards from the mails. It is to this nations continuing embarrassment that Congress has, for generations, failed to make lynching a federal crime (Philip Dray documented the history in his At the Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America). It wouldnt act more than a century ago when it might have made a difference, as local prosecutors looked the other way or local juries refused to indict or convict. And it wont act today, even after the laws necessity has faded and its value resides primarily in its symbolism. The old argument against a federal anti-lynching law is that murder is a state crime and not the business of the federal government. States rights and all that. But that argument was fig leaf over the racism that propelled lynching, in which local and state prosecutions of the perpetrators were rare, convictions rarer still. The 14th Amendment guarantees equal protection of the laws, and when local communities in numbers small and large come together to use collective violence to repress African Americans, that is clearly a federal interest. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has co-sponsored a fresh piece of legislation to classify a lynching as a deprivation of civil rights essentially a federal anti-lynching law that she says would give the Justice Department a few more teeth in prosecuting attempted lynching and conspiracy. Yet as Times reporter Jaweed Kaleem wrote this week, the prognosis for its passage isnt much better than the fate of its 200-plus predecessors. Why is unclear. It could be that lynching has moved to an out of sight, out of mind status, even though three white supremacists lynched James Byrd Jr. only 20 years ago in East Texas by beating him then chaining him to a truck while he was still alive and dragging him three miles. All three perpetrators were convicted; one has been executed, a second is on death row and the third is serving a life sentence. Those local authorities, unlike their predecessors elsewhere in the South, did their jobs. So, some question, why bother with a law now? Isnt this just a symbolic gesture? Yes, it is a symbolic gesture. But a necessary one. Lynching served as a powerfully intimidating symbol behave yourselves, lest you meet the same fate that resonates today. Racism in the workplace often surfaces as a noose left in a locker or on a desk. Three years ago two members of the University of Oklahomas Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity were expelled (inappropriately given the right to even hateful speech) and the chapter shut down after a video surfaced of members singing a song including the N-word, You can hang em from a tree / But hell never sign with me / There will never be a ... SAE. Just last year, nooses were left at the African American Museum in Washington, D.C. The symbolic weight of that despicable act is heavy. The U.S. Senate did approve a resolution in 2005 apologizing to lynching victims and their descendants for failing to act in the past. It passed in a late-night voice vote; 11 senators opted not to co-sponsor it. We cannot, of course, turn back the calendar and undo the sins of our forebears. But we also cannot ignore them, or their legacy. In an era in which African Americans take to the streets to protest the killings of unarmed black men by police, when reported hate crimes are on the upswing, when the president uses dog-whistle racism to mobilize his hard-right political base, when minority neighborhoods are over-policed and when African Americans disproportionately are subject to death sentences, Congress standing up now and correcting this historical wrong by making lynching a federal crime would send a powerful symbol to the entire nation. And not passing this measure would also send a message, one that would reflect poorly on Congress, and on the nation. For all his talk about a supposed national security crisis on the border with Mexico, President Trump is ignoring the potential crisis the federal shutdown is creating elsewhere in the country. Trump has essentially taken nine federal departments and dozens of federal agencies hostage in an effort to coerce Congress into spending $5.7 billion on the bigger, longer border wall he promised on the campaign trail to build (supposedly at Mexicos expense, but now on the U.S. taxpayers tab). Vital government services and responsibilities are being sacrificed in the political standoff, and theres no end in sight. In some cases, the shutdown is making communities less safe. The western United States has experienced a series of catastrophic fires in recent years, yet much of the prevention work needed to reduce the risk is on hold during the shutdown. Firefighter hiring and training is frozen, as are contracts for equipment and aircraft. The U.S. Forest Service has suspended controlled burns of dead timber and dry brush, steps that are designed to reduce the fuel and intensity of future wildfires. This is all essential work that can be done only during the increasingly short off-season, and stopping those efforts leaves both firefighting agencies and wildland communities less prepared. Advertisement There will surely be personal crises Friday when more than 800,000 federal workers at shuttered agencies do not get paid. There are similar problems across federal agencies, as the lengthy shutdown exacerbates existing challenges. Theres already a shortage of air traffic controllers across the aviation system, and the shutdown has suspended training of new ones. Controllers currently on the job are required to work without pay, adding another anxiety to an already stressful job of managing the nations airspace. National parks are being trashed and trampled by visitors while park service employees are furloughed. Security lines at airports are getting longer as Transportation Security Administration workers, who are required to work without pay, have begun calling in sick in large numbers. And some low-income renters who rely on federal housing could face eviction after rental assistance contracts expired on Jan. 1, because the Department of Housing and Urban Development cant renew them until the government reopens. These are basic functions of government protecting residents and public assets. They should not be chips in a high-stakes political poker game. There will surely be personal crises Friday when more than 800,000 federal workers at shuttered agencies do not get paid. That includes the workers who have been idled by furloughs and essential employees who have been required even though theres no money to pay them. Also losing out are a slew of contractors that provide goods and services to federal agencies and the agencies customers. Many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and federal workers are no exception. One missed paycheck forgoing wages for half the month can be devastating for families in financially precarious positions. How are these people supposed to pay the rent, their utility bills or their car payments? Even those who do have a financial cushion could be in for trouble, especially if the shutdown drags on for months or years, as Trump has warned could happen if Democrats do not agree to his demands to fund a bigger border wall. For some federal workers, financial troubles triggered by missed paychecks could imperil their careers. The union for Federal Bureau of Investigation agents warned in a letter to Congress that agents undergo routine financial background checks to ensure that they are financially stable and responsible. Missing a payment could slow or block an agents clearance. Advertisement Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Trump has been dismissive of federal workers concerns, although he did pledge Thursday to sign a bill providing them back pay should the shutdown ever end. Im sure that the people that are on the receiving end will make adjustments, he said over the weekend when asked if he could relate to workers who couldnt pay their bills. The longer the shutdown drags on, federal workers and the people who rely on their services will have to make adjustments. Federal employees will have to manage their own financial panic, while the broader public will watch as the national parks deteriorate, air travel slows, federal forests go unmaintained and the federal safety net for the nations most vulnerable frays. Advertisement All this for a wall that is rich in exclusionary symbolism but unlikely to have much effect on the problems Trump says hes trying to solve, such as human trafficking and drug smuggling. There is most certainly a crisis underway. Its a crisis of confidence in the presidency of the United States. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The last child departed what was once the nations largest shelter for migrant youths on Friday, a tent city in the west Texas desert town of Tornillo that had spurred protests, official criticism and proposed legislation. Workers have been dismantling parts of the massive temporary shelter east of El Paso for months, ever since the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the agency responsible for initially housing migrant youths, ended its contract with the nonprofit BCFS Health and Human Services. On Friday, Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, who pushed for the shelters closure, tweeted the news. I just talked with the management at the Tornillo facility the last kid just left, he wrote. This tent city should never have stood in the first place but it is welcome news that it will be gone. BREAKING: I just talked with the management at the Tornillo facility - the last kid just left. This tent city should never have stood in the first place but it is welcome news that it will be gone. Rep. Will Hurd (@HurdOnTheHill) January 11, 2019 Advertisement Tornillo had held more than 6,200 teens since it opened June 10, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Last summer, when immigrant family separations on the border spawned protests and outrage from lawmakers and celebrities, Tornillo became a rallying point, although officials said few of the migrant children separated from their parents were housed there. Still, a protest camp sprang up, and still remains. Juan Ortiz has been protesting outside Tornillo since September, commuting from Tucson where hes working on his doctorate in Mexican American studies at the University of Arizona. Ortiz, 44, an El Paso native, said that although the children had been moved, many shelter tents remained and so would he until the shelter disappears. From outside the facility Friday, he said he worried about the children whod been moved, concerned that government officials are just going to keep shuffling them from place to place. The last child has left Tornillo. Its good for these kids and their families. And it shows the power of people who showed up for them and shared with the rest of the country that we were locking up immigrant kids for months at a time. You made this happen. Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) January 11, 2019 Victoria Palmer, a spokeswoman for the Health and Human Services Department, said that Tornillo would remain operational through early 2019 but that no more migrant youths would be placed there. A spokeswoman for BCFS, formerly known as Baptist Child Family Services, referred questions to the U.S. agency. After visiting Tornillo last month, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) proposed legislation to close such massive emergency shelters, including a second facility in Homestead, Fla. They noted that the shelters are exempted from state childcare facility licensing requirements and that staff at Tornillo had not undergone FBI background checks. This makes children vulnerable to abuse, poses serious developmental challenges, and risks retraumatizing them, Chu wrote in a statement. Worst of all, this is a choice that was made by this administration. Unaccompanied children have been and can be released to loved ones or family who will look after their safety and well-being. Instead, Trump is fomenting xenophobia. Advertisement The facility was criticized in a Health and Human Services inspector generals report last year over the lack of required FBI fingerprint background checks. The Nov. 27 report also said the Tornillo facility did not employ enough clinicians to provide adequate mental health care for the children held there. Youths held at Tornillo crossed the border unaccompanied by an adult, Palmer said. By law, they must be transferred from Border Patrol custody to a Health and Human Services shelter within 72 hours. From there, officials attempt to place them with a relative or other sponsor. The process became delayed in April, when the department agreed to share fingerprints and other background check information they gather on would-be sponsors with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sponsors became reluctant to claim youths, and the number in federal custody grew from about 9,000 last spring when family separations began to 15,000 last month. The shelter in Tornillo, Texas, where migrant teens were housed is shown in an undated image from the Department of Health and Human Services. (Health and Human Services) Advertisement As a result, Tornillo was expanded in September and reached its peak last month, holding 2,800 youths. On Dec. 18, the Trump administration announced it was lifting the fingerprint requirement for adults living with a potential sponsor to speed the release of migrant children. The number of youths in custody has since dropped to 11,400. Groups of youths from Tornillo could be seen at El Paso airport last week, traveling with shelter escorts and carrying matching black duffel bags. But it wasnt clear how many were released and how many were transferred to other shelters. In response to questions about how many were moved to other facilities, Lynn Johnson, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, said in a statement, As of this weekend the last group of unaccompanied alien children will have been transferred or discharged either released to an appropriate sponsor or transferred to other shelters throughout our network of care providers. The federal government contracts to run 100 migrant youth shelters in 17 states with a total of 16,000 beds, and continues to expand. Advertisement The administration had to divert about half a billion dollars from other agency programs to cover added costs in the fiscal year that ended in September. That included the cost of operating Tornillo, at least $144 million between June and November, according to BCFS spokeswoman Krista Piferrer. She estimated it cost $775 a day to house a child in Tornillo. Even as Tornillo was being dismantled Friday, federal officials were adding a thousand beds to the shelter in Homestead, Fla., bringing the total beds there to 2,350 the largest in the nation. The center is 1,500 miles from the border, in a hurricane evacuation zone near the Everglades. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com @mollyhf When documentary filmmaker River Hagg wanted to see the war in northern Syria up close, he had only one way in. I didnt have any connections so I joined the YPG, he said, referring to the Kurdish militia that the U.S. has supported with arms, training and air power as its chief on-the-ground ally in the fight against the militant group Islamic State. I thought I would be a combat cameraman. But his plans changed when he realized wounded militia members were dying because of a shortage of medical personnel. Hagg, who had been a first responder in the Navy, became a combat medic a calling that immersed him in suffering and left him in awe of his Kurdish comrades. The Kurds are beautiful, he said. They are so brave. Now he worries that the U.S. government is opening the Kurds up to genocide. Hagg and other Americans who volunteered with them are livid over President Trumps recent declaration that he plans to withdraw Americas 2,000 troops from Syria. The Turkish government considers the militia which leads a U.S.-backed coalition known as the Syrian Democratic Forces and is fighting to defend the mainly Kurdish area called Rojava to be a terrorist group aligned with Kurdish separatists within Turkey and has threatened to attack them once the Americans leave. Trumps announcement and the possibility that the U.S. would abandon an ally to the risk of slaughter drew widespread condemnation in Washington, including from Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who resigned last month in protest. For the 100 or so American volunteers, the issue is deeply personal. They came from all walks of life, some with military experience but many without. Upon arrival in Syria, most received basic weapons training along with classes on the history and culture of the Kurdish ethnic group, which is spread across Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. After that, the volunteers were often sent into battle where they watched many of their new friends die. River Hagg mounted a camera on his AK-47 and took this photograph of himself in Manbij, Syria, after People's Protection Units, or YPG, tanks fired on Islamic State positions in the city. River Hagg A photo taken by River Hagg shows Hagg (hands in photo) and Porter Goodman working on a casualty in Syria. River Hagg I would see the Kurds go into a city and half would be dead in an hour and then the next wave would come, said Hagg, who filmed when he could, collecting the footage that eventually became The Volunteers, a documentary about his team of medics. Now 43, he remains in close contact with his best Kurdish friend, Firat. Hagg nicknamed him Kurdiesel because his voice sounds like that of actor Vin Diesel. Firat calls Hagg heval Kurdish for comrade or friend. The two have spent hours on Snapchat talking about politics and the latest developments in the war, including a recent car bombing that killed a dozen Kurdish fighters and wounded Firat badly enough that he had to take a short break from the front. In the end, he always says the same thing to me: Its OK, my heval, I know I will die here. But I die for my people, I die for a homeland, Hagg said. I tell him its not OK and nobody is killing the Kurdiesel. Hagg wears the YPG patches from his old uniform on his motorcycle jacket and, often, a YPG scarf around his neck. Exactly how many American volunteers are still fighting in Syria is unknown. Many of those who have returned are now married with children, and the predominant feeling is that going back to take on Turkeys modern military would be suicidal. Still, John Foxx, 28, a former Marine who went to Syria twice, said he is thinking about it. The guilt from sitting back and watching this on the couch is too much, he said. I wouldn't fight, but I would go back as a medic. I will see how it develops. The war has transcended the battlefield, affecting not only the volunteers but also their families. Susan Shirley, 61, of suburban Denver knew little about the Kurds, Islamic State or the Middle East when her son Levi walked into the kitchen one day and announced he was going to Syria. He had tried to get into the Marines but was sidelined by poor eyesight. In 2016, during the battle for Manbij, a city of more than 100,000 people, Levi went inside a building that had supposedly been cleared. He triggered a homemade bomb and died instantly. He was 24. Since then, his mother has been emotionally invested in the Kurds and the defeat of Islamic State. I think withdrawal is a horrendous mistake, but thats what we do, she said. We get knee-deep with people and then walk away. She also mourns another volunteer from Colorado, 22-year-old Jordan MacTaggart, who was also killed in Manbij. In the long term, for the sake of my personal sanity, I have to think what those guys did was not in vain, Shirley said. Susan Shirley with a picture of her son, Levi Jonathan Shirley, who was killed in Syria as a volunteer with an armed Kurdish group, known as YPG, battling Islamic State militants. Joe Amon / Denver Post via Getty Images Levi Shirley, 23, right, and a U.S. comrade guard a position during clashes with Islamic State fighters on April 17, 2015, in the northern Syrian town of Tal Tamr near the border with Turkey, as they fight alongside People's Protection Units, or YPG, members. Uygar Onder Simsek / AFP/Getty Images Porter Goodman, who joined the militia in 2016, was with Levi the day he was killed. Goodman was blown backward by the explosion and sustained multiple shrapnel wounds. He now lives in Utah, where hes trying to spread the word about the plight of the Kurds. He has sounded the alarm on podcasts and given talks at local schools. Our troops are playing a support role in Syria, he said. Its not a quagmire, its nothing like Iraq or Afghanistan. Goodman, 30, went to Syria after serving in the Army. He describes himself as a news addict who watched Islamic State capture entire cities until the Kurds challenged them. I knew others had come and gone. I knew it was dangerous but I also knew there were things you could do to mitigate the risks, he said. Goodman joined a team of combat medics. Like many, he was taken with the Kurdish militia and its modern ideas on gender equality and religious tolerance. Women fought alongside men. If there was a male general, there would be a female counterpart. When I was there they were hopeful that we would stand behind them, Goodman said. They were fighting for the things the U.S. supports. Patrick Kasprik, 27, went to Syria in 2016 his first time overseas. I joined the YPG because they were average people who stepped up and did what they had to do, he said. They were lightly armed. Id say the average age was 17 or 18. They got a couple months of rudimentary military training and that was it. As a medic, Kasprik helped set up five clinics. His team treated hundreds of casualties in Manbij alone. He and his Kurdish comrades formed a bond, drawn close by the atrocities they witnessed together. He said hell never forget the day he entered the Iraqi town of Sinjar, home to the ancient Yazidi religious sect, singled out for exceptional cruelty by Islamic State militants who falsely accused it of devil worship. Thousands of Yazidis were massacred, while thousands more women and girls were sold off as sex slaves. I looked genocide in the face, Kasprik said. I visited the cemeteries and the mass graves. I saw peoples lives destroyed just because of who they were. Now he worries about his friends and what would happen if a U.S. withdrawal allowed a depleted Islamic State to regain strength and take back territory. Young girls would be taken as sex slaves, he said. The men would be murdered. Former Marine Jayson Pihajlic, 32, served as an American volunteer soldier fighting with the Kurds in Syria. Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times Jayson Pihajlic grew up in Michigan and served with the Marines in Iraq before deciding to go fight Islamic State. He spent about 18 months with the Kurds. I love those people, said Pihajlic, who appears in the documentary series Hunting ISIS. Now 32, he said the U.S. forces he encountered in Syria were mostly medics and forward observers calling in artillery and air support for fighters on the ground. They were more of a deterrent force than people kicking in doors, he said. Without U.S. support it will fall into complete chaos. If, 2,000 troops can stop that from happening, to me, thats kind of worth it. But the Kurdish fighters are used to betrayal, he said of the U.S. decision to pull out. The Kurds have a saying, No friends but the mountains, he said. Some of the older, wiser fighters knew this was coming. Billionaire Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker, who pumped more than $171 million of his own wealth into his campaign to defeat Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner in November, now will use his own money to bolster his top government aides salaries, his transition team said Friday. Pritzkers incoming chief of staff, Anne Caprara, will be paid a salary of $298,000 $148,000 in state money and $150,000 more from East Jackson Street LLC, an organization Pritzker set up to enable the governor-elect to personally compensate some staff in addition to their government salary, a spokeswoman said in a statement. Rauners chief, by comparison, made $180,000 in 2018, according to state records. The Pritzker camp announced the unusual arrangement days before he is inaugurated Monday. On top of the new LLC, lawmakers this week approved legislation that would allow the incoming governor to pay new agency heads 15% more. Advertisement Supporters contend that Illinois trails other big states in the salaries it offers for top jobs. The heads of the state Department of Corrections and Department of Transportation, for example, make about $150,000 a year. Pritzkers transition team pointed to fellow billionaire Michael R. Bloomberg supplementing his staffs pay with his own money when he was mayor of New York. The transition team says Pritzkers move means some aides will have lower taxpayer-funded salaries than Rauners, and theyll have to report the supplemental income on ethics forms. This process will take place in a transparent manner with requirements that information be reported publicly, Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said in a statement. According to a transition document, deputy governors such as former state Comptroller Dan Hynes will make a salary of $278,000 $139,000 from the state and $139,000 more from Pritzkers LLC. The same numbers go for the senior advisor role. Only their state salaries will count toward calculating their eventual pension benefits, the transition team said. The LLCs creation is the latest development showing how the Hyatt hotels heir will manage the intersection of his substantial personal wealth and his job running Illinois state government. On Thursday, Pritzker promised to shift some of his wealth into a blind trust to avoid conflicts of interest, but its unclear whether he will be able to fully wall off his fortune from his official duties. Pritzker said he has appointed Chicago-based Northern Trust Co. to act as an independent trustee and make all investment decisions about his personal assets. Those same rules wont apply to the extended Pritzker family fortune thats held in secretive onshore and offshore trusts. Pritzker said the terms governing the family trusts do not allow for the assets to be moved into the blind trust. In addition, Pritzker is divesting his personally held direct interests in companies that have contracts with the state, his campaign said. Advertisement Pritzker, who will become the nations richest governor when hes sworn in next week, declined to identify those companies or the amount of those state contracts. Nor would Pritzker disclose the amount of his personal assets going into the blind trust or reveal how much he benefits from various family trusts. The complex and vast nature of Pritzkers wealth and a lack of transparency illustrate how difficult it can be to learn when a wealthy politicians financial interests might butt up against whats in taxpayers best interests. Pritzker said his efforts to avoid conflicts go further than what was done by Rauner, a wealthy private equity investor who stopped short of setting up a blind trust. When he took office in 2015, Rauner set up a power of attorney to handle much of his wealth to try to avoid conflicts between his personal investments and his public duties. Rauner gave that power to Roundtable Investment Partners, a New York firm hes intertwined with both financially and politically. Rauner is an investor in the private equity firm and several of its funds. And Roundtable employees donated to his campaign fund. Advertisement What Pritzker promises to set up is not a true blind trust, however, since he will not be totally blind. He will need to know the names of the companies and funds hes invested in to do his taxes and to comply with the states ethics laws. As was the case with Rauner, Pritzker will be required to annually file a statement of economic interest required by law and released publicly that lists entities he has a financial interest in but not the amount invested. Riopell is a Chicago Tribune staff writer. The trial of Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman has featured chilling details of brutal cartel warfare and dizzying revelations about the inner workings of the multibillion-dollar Sinaloa networks dealings. But perhaps the most surreal tale to emerge is that of Guzmans I.T. guy, Christian Rodriguez, who took the witness stand for a second day Thursday. In 2008, at the age of 21, the Colombian tech wiz testified, he was recruited by one of Colombias most powerful drug trafficking clans, the Cifuentes family, to create a secure communications system. That led to a fateful meeting high in the mountains of Sinaloa with the familys partner: El Chapo. Obsessed with Rodriguez ability to quickly encrypt and install spyware on phones and computers, Guzman was soon talking to him nearly every day, the tech guru testified in federal court through an interpreter. They mostly talked about Guzmans favorite toy: spyware Rodriguez installed on the phones of 50 people in Guzmans inner circle, including his wife and mistress. Guzman, so taken with surveilling those around him, requested that Rodriguez use FlexiSpy software something the FBI was later able to tap into with his help, much to Guzmans detriment. When Guzman wanted spyware installed on a computer, he told Rodriguez to make it special. Baby-faced and soft-spoken, Rodriguez, now 32, has provided the government with some of the cases most riveting evidence against Guzman. On Thursday, Rodriguez looked straight ahead as he testified, dressed in a dark-gray suit, light shirt and dark tie. Guzman looked at him intently but Rodriguez did not return the gaze. Courtroom evidence photos of the college dropout were pixelated to avoid his image being made public. Courtroom artists were ordered not to draw his face. Advertisement According to Rodriguez, Guzman was so enamored with checking on the calls, emails, texts and locations of those around him that he ordered an employee to provide daily reports from the spyware data accessible from Guzmans computer. The employee listened to the calls through headphones, and El Chapo told him to say, if asked, that he was listening to music, Rodriguez testified. He said the man described Guzmans listening habit to him as: El senor needs his fix. His most beloved feature of the spyware: the ability to tap into the microphones on cellphones. That allowed him to have a conversation with someone on the secure system Rodriguez set up, then covertly listen to the person via their own phones microphone, to see if they were talking about him, Rodriguez testified. Guzmans mania with spying was on full display at a 2009 meeting with Rodriguez in the cartel leaders Sinaloa hideout. Rodriguez, who would take a small airplane from a clandestine airstrip to the mountain home protected by armed men in military gear, testified that his former boss wanted to install spyware in every internet cafe in Sinaloa. But as the men were discussing the mundane details of using a USB device, Guzman received a warning call. The army was coming, trying to capture Chapo, Rodriguez testified. Without breaking a sweat, Guzman said they had to flee. He was very calm, Rodriguez said. Advertisement How were you feeling? asked prosecutor Andrea Goldbarg. I was very scared, Rodriguez replied. Guzman and his security detail took off, traveling through the mountains for three days. One of the men had a very large weapon, Rodriguez said. Someone told me it could knock out a helicopter. Advertisement Theyd stop to sleep in houses along their mountain route, but theyd hear helicopters buzzing overhead. The experience was so agonizing, Rodriguez decided to never visit Guzman again. I was very frightened, he said. But Rodriguez, who said he earned more than $300,000 from his cartel tech work, continued to train some of Guzmans workers on the finer tech points and communicated with them remotely from his home in Colombia. In 2011, Rodriguez had another harrowing meeting this time with the FBI. The agents approached him in Bogota. They told me they knew I worked for Chapo and I was in serious trouble, he said. He lied at first, too frightened to admit he worked for the notorious El Chapo, he said. But he soon decided to cooperate under an agreement in which he would not be charged with a crime, could eventually relocate to the United States, and would be paid $480,000, which included his expenses and relocation fees. Advertisement Rodriguez gave the FBI access to Guzmans server, which the agency had unsuccessfully tried to infiltrate for two years. He also created software so calls on the server would be secretly recorded. But he soon overheard a call in which a cartel lieutenant said it had been confirmed 100% that Rodriguez had flipped. Scared for his life, Rodriguez moved to the U.S. but kept working for the FBI. His next task: locating Jorge Cifuentes, a cartel higher-up. Rodriguez developed a system that let him remotely install a stealth GPS location device on Cifuentes phone, he said. Cifuentes was later arrested, and has already testified in Guzmans trial. Advertisement Rodriguezs informant life, however, was taking a toll on him. He told jurors that in 2013 he had two nervous breakdowns. I had too much stress on me, he said. I went to the hospital to get some help. He received electroconvulsive therapy and continues to take medications and receive therapy. On cross-examination, Guzmans attorneys sought to attack Rodriguezs character. Rodriguez initially hadnt paid taxes on the money he received from the government. Defense attorney Eduardo Balarezo also intimated that Rodriguez was so stressed and had a breakdown due to his personal life: His real double life, according to Balarezo, was having children with two different women, unbeknownst to one of the partners. Advertisement Plagianos is a special correspondent. Mungau Dain had never considered acting before he starred in the Oscar-nominated film Tanna. He got the role because his elders decided he was the best-looking guy in their traditional village on the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. They would later describe him as their answer to Brad Pitt. Dain died Saturday in the capital, Port Vila, after contracting a leg infection that wasnt quickly treated. He was 24. Martin Butler, who co-directed Tanna, said Dain wasnt a natural actor but was very enthusiastic, learned quickly and ended up giving a fabulous performance. The 2015 movie won a number of awards, including two at the Venice Film Festival, and was nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign-language film. Advertisement Dain is survived by his wife, Nancy, and two children. His village, Yakel, on Tanna island, is in a traditional two-week mourning period. Jimmy Joseph, the cultural director for Tanna island, said Dain was quiet, humble and respected in Yakel, where he had chosen to continue living even after achieving some fame in the movie. Marie Wawa and Mungau Dain in the 2015 film Tanna. (Philippe Penel) Most people in the village live as they have for centuries, in simple thatched huts. They raise crops and pigs and observe a traditional way of life known as kastom. But the village isnt completely isolated from modern life. When villagers make the trek to the islands main town to sell the coffee beans theyve grown or buy rice, they usually wear clothes rather than homemade grass skirts. Some have cellphones, which they charge with small solar panels. When Australia-based Butler and Bentley Dean decided to make the movie, which is loosely based on a true story, Butler said they quickly realized the village elders would be doing the casting. He said Dain looked too old for the role with his full beard, but he shaved it off at their request. Butler said he fondly remembered how awkward Dain was when trying to act in a scene in which he was supposed to lift co-star Marie Wawa in his arms and carry her along a riverbed. Butler said he and Dean plan to travel to Yakel at the end of the mourning period to join the village in celebrating Dains life. Advertisement I was totally devastated. He was so fit and young and gorgeous. His wife is fabulous and the kids are great, Butler said. He was a great example of how you can live a totally different type of life, and still be completely happy. Location producer Janita Suter, who lived in Yakel for seven months during filming with her husband, Dean, and their children, said that if there were an award for most improved actor, it would have to go to Dain. She said she didnt think hed even seen a movie before acting in one. She said that when they traveled to Venice for the film festival, she was in her apartment when the chandelier and ceiling started shaking. It turned out it was Dain and the other villagers in the room above, stomping their feet in a traditional dance. He was a really proud ambassador for his people, she said. Its a real loss. Advertisement She said Dain had been staying in Port Vila for the past couple of months as he tried to get a temporary visa to go to Australia and earn some money picking fruit. According to a doctor, Dain had got an infection in his leg that he didnt treat and by the time he was taken to the hospital he was unconscious and likely in septic shock, she said. Butler said he hoped there may be some way to get better information to people in Vanuatu about the risks of infections, and that Dains death could act as a catalyst. Perry writes for the Associated Press A former Pasadena city employee convicted of embezzling millions of dollars from city coffers was sentenced Friday to 14 years in prison, the Los Angeles County district attorneys office said. Danny Wooten, 55, a former analyst with Pasadenas Department of Public Works, was convicted in November of 53 felony counts, including embezzlement, conflict of interest and misappropriation of public funds. His co-defendant, Tyrone Collins, the owner of Collins Electric, a business through which some of the money was embezzled, was convicted of 20 counts and sentenced to seven years in prison. Wooten was ordered to pay $3.695 million and Collins must pay $900,000 in restitution, said Ricardo Santiago, a spokesman for the district attorneys office. Advertisement Pasadena sues ex-employee to recover millions in stolen funds Wooten was originally charged with 60 felony counts, including grand theft. Prosecutors said that over more than a decade, Wooten embezzled $6 million by generating 300 false invoices for the citys underground utility program, which he managed. Evidence presented to the court could prove only $3.698 million was taken, Santiago said. The underground utility program, which is independent of the citys general fund, is financed by a tax on electric customers. It pays for moving power and communications lines underground. According to an external audit, Wooten directed more than $3.5 million to Collins. Money paid to Collins Electric was either repaid in cashiers checks to Wooten or paid to New Covenant Christian Fellowship Center in Pomona, where Wooten was a senior pastor, and a second church with which Wooten was affiliated, the Southern California Evangelist Jurisdiction Center in Pasadena, the audit showed. It is unclear whether the churches ever received any funds. Wooten approved and picked up the checks made payable to the two churches, then deposited them in accounts held in his name, according to the audit. Wooten, who worked for the city for 12 years, was placed on administrative leave in March for an unrelated matter. He was fired on July 25 for reasons unrelated to the embezzlement investigation, city officials said. The city had previously fired two department heads in connection with the embezzlement case. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @r_valejandra The Los Angeles Police Departments downtown headquarters was determined safe Thursday night after a suspicious envelope was investigated on the property, according to tweets from the department. Hazmat personnel responded to the headquarters at 1st and Main streets about 8 p.m., according to the first tweet. The envelope was filled with a powdery substance, according to a second tweet. The hazmat unit found that the envelope was not a threat, police said. laura.newberry@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @LauraMNewberry An Indian reader browses through Chinese books at the 27th New Delhi World Book Fair. (Photo/Yuan Jirong) Some 15 Chinese publishers have taken more than 800 Chinese books to the ongoing 27th New Delhi World Book Fair held in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India. Chinas leading publishing company, Phoenix Publishing & Media Group, signed 17 copyright license agreements with Indian publishing agencies during the book fair. Moreover, at the Chinese corner event, held by Chinese publishers including China Renmin University Press, Chinese publishers released 12 new books written in multiple languages including Chinese, English, and Hindi. Every day, an average of over 5,000 visitors visit the Chinese booth, to either browse or buy some books. As of Jan. 9, we had sold Chinese books worth a total of around 500,000 rupees (about $7,085), said the person in charge of the booth, disclosing that people tended to prefer books on Chinas development and Chinese culture. Scheduled from Jan. 5 to 13, the 27th New Delhi World Book Fair attracted the participation of over 1,000 book publishers from more than 20 countries around the world. In tiny Nevada City, a Gold Rush town in Northern California touting a population of 3,100, folks are big on a novel idea to fight the increasing threat of wildfires: calling in the goats. Vice Mayor Reinette Senum has launched a crowdsourcing campaign called Goat Fund Me, hoping the online fundraising efforts will garner $30,000 to work with local ranchers on a prescriptive grazing project on city-owned land, including 450 acres of greenbelt. Why not do something and as soon as we can? Senum said Friday from her home tucked into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where she has lived off and on since age 4. If were not proactive, if we dont help ourselves, no one else is going to step up. The city is especially vulnerable to fires because were an outdoorsy community. We spend a lot of time in nature and were packed with brush that turns into tinder that needs to be cleared, Senum said. Advertisement The cost of using goats to eat away overgrown brush is affordable, supporters say. Booking a herd costs between $500 to $1,500 an acre, according to City Manager Catrina Olson. Some 200 animals can plow through an acre of land daily, officials said. Olson said she, along with residents attending council meetings to talk about grazing, are both excited about the impending work, an idea thats catching on because theres such high fire danger in our state. Guided by handlers, the goats are like the advance team, she added. We definitely need them to get in there and do their thing on the spreading blackberry bushes and before the hand crews come in they create a more accessible environment and then it becomes a maintenance issue rather than this overwhelming project. Nevada City, which has an annual budget of $4 million, is rancher Brad Fowlers hometown, and he figured that to reduce the threat of fire, you can keep 1,000 goats busy there for half a year, at least, grazing on both city and private properties. Its an interesting way to run a city campaign. I like how people can choose to spend their money, said Fowler, the owner of Goat Works, one of the ranches working with the city to rent out goats. The idea has been used elsewhere in California. For decades, Laguna Beach has launched a herd of goats to feast on the citys canyon slopes in an effort to reduce the threat of brush fires. And last year, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy used the animals in its efforts to restore native grasses to the area. Advertisement Senum launched her crowdfunding campaign a month ago and is now eyeing a looming deadline, explaining that this winter is the only time that several large herds of goats are available because local ranchers have already rented out their herds for the rest of the year. After a break from the upcoming rains, officials are planning a demonstration at Pioneer Park, showing the eating machines in action. These goats, theyre easy on the land, Senum said, theyve got little hooves and have a low impact compared to heavy machinery. anh.do@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @newsterrier The attorney for Ed Buck, the longtime Democratic donor whose West Hollywood home has been the scene of two black mens deaths since 2017, said Friday that critics have unfairly used race to blame his client for the deaths. Some people still want us to have a race war, attorney Seymour Amster said of Bucks critics. Some people want to look at things as black, white or brown. Its not. If we want to move forward and get away from identifying individuals by race, we must take race out of the conversation. Los Angeles County sheriffs homicide detectives are investigating the death of Timothy Dean, 55, of West Hollywood, who was found dead in Bucks Laurel Avenue apartment early Monday. Buck, a 64-year-old white man, previously was investigated in the July 2017 death of Gemmel Moore, a 26-year-old black man who died of a methamphetamine overdose in Bucks home, which was littered with drug paraphernalia, according to a Los Angeles County coroners report. Advertisement Prosecutors this summer declined to file charges, and Buck has not been arrested in either case. The Sheriffs Department said he was present for both deaths. Protesters, most of whom were black, gathered outside Bucks apartment this week demanding his prosecution. Some protesters turned on Bucks neighbors most of whom were white accusing them of being complicit. If a black man was living there, you wouldnt be OK with it, one of the protesters shouted. Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant who has advocated for Moores family and who organized this weeks protests, has accused Buck of preying on vulnerable black men, such as sex workers and homeless men, for sexual gratification. Cannick, who is running to be a delegate to the California Democratic Party, said she has spoken to multiple men who share similar stories about their interactions with Buck. Buck is a man who they say has a Tuskegee Experiment-like fetish which includes shooting drugs into young black men that he picks up off the street or via dating hookup websites, Cannick said in a statement. Dozens of people gathered outside Bucks apartment Friday night for a candlelight vigil honoring Moore and Dean. It is a race issue. If you look at all of his ads online, its specifically black men. He doesnt want anybody else but black men, Cannick told the crowd, referring to Bucks posts on the internet. If the Sheriffs Department and district attorney dont do their job, a third bodys going to be taken out of Ed Bucks apartment, she said. Advertisement West Hollywood City Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath told the crowd she has spoken with Sheriff Alex Villanueva and has asked for extra patrols near Bucks apartment. Horvath said that when she heard the news of Deans death, I was sickened. I was heartbroken. And I remain so. She called the details of this case eerily similar to Moores death. Horvath said Villanueva had assured her that there would be a complete and independent and thorough investigation. Moores mother, LaTisha Nixon, walked into the crowd as they chanted her sons name. Advertisement He is a predator, Nixon said of Buck. He is preying on black men. She added: When the cameras are gone, when everyone is gone, I have to live without my son. Nixon took offense to Bucks attorney, Amster, describing Buck as a friend to her son and other young black men. He was such a friend that I have yet to hear from him, and my sons been dead for 18 months, she said. He didnt care. Advertisement On Friday, Amster told The Times that Buck is the victim of a character attack and that the cases have been sensationalized. Some people who all of a sudden have media attention are trying to divide the races, Amster said. I see it not just here, but I see it all over the place. It is time for us to stop talking about race. Talking about socioeconomic barriers? Im all in agreement. He added: I dont think we have defined races anymore. Thank goodness we have interracial marriages. Thats great. Lets stop the conversation on race. Amster said Buck has long been an advocate for people struggling with addiction or homelessness and has been the kind of friend they turn to for help. Advertisement Ed has helped hundreds of individuals, but they are reluctant to come forward because they are thankful but dont want their personal lives exposed, Amster said. Amster said his client brings people into his home, and they bring their problems with them. He denied claims that Buck is preying on vulnerable people and said he did not cause Moores and Deans deaths. These are things they are bringing into this residence that are causing their death, Amster said. He has a heart of gold. On Thursday, a coalition of 50 civil rights organizations including Equality California, the ACLU, the National LGBTQ Task Force and the National Black Justice Coalition called for a thorough investigation and for politicians to return all money Buck donated to their campaigns. Advertisement In a statement, the coalition said, Nearly a dozen young men have confirmed Moores account and shared personal stories about Bucks alleged, nefarious practice of injecting Black men with various lethal substances. The tragic deaths of these two black men are of great concern during a time when white supremacy, anti-blackness and racial violence are pervasive, the statement said. Although some may blame the victims for their own deaths or shame sex workers, we affirm that the intersection of racism, poverty, homophobia and biphobia restrict opportunities for black LGBTQ people in America, sometimes forcing them to turn to commercial sex work for survival, in ways that make them vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation. hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson A Los Angeles real estate developer has filed a lawsuit accusing two labor unions of violating federal racketeering and antitrust laws as they attempted to block the approval of a mixed-use complex in the San Fernando Valley. The Icon Co., which is seeking to build a $150-million project in Panorama City, said in its lawsuit that the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters and Local 300 of the Laborers International Union of North America engaged in predatory and extortionist conduct as they filed environmental challenges over the development. In the months leading up to a City Council vote, the two unions warned that the project would have negative effects on traffic, air quality and other issues. Yet behind the scenes, union officials offered to drop their environmental challenge if the Icon Co. agreed to hire only unionized construction workers, the developers lawsuit states. The company refused to sign, in part out of a concern over the increased cost, said Karl Tilleman, an attorney for Icon. Advertisement The union defendants sole purpose in filing [environmental] challenges was to delay the project and coerce, intimidate and pressure Icon to agree to use exclusively union labor, otherwise Icon would suffer significant cost increases to the project, said the lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday. A lawyer for the two unions dismissed the allegations, saying his clients identified valid issues with the citys review of the Panorama City project, which is planned for Roscoe Boulevard just west of Van Nuys Boulevard. Richard Drury, who represents the carpenters and the laborers, also said there would have been nothing improper about his clients engaging in discussions about work for their members on a specific project. Unions are allowed to talk about hiring union labor any day of the week. Thats what they do for a living, Drury said. But theyre also allowed to participate in the [states environmental review] process and get projects built clean. Neighborhood groups and homeowner associations have long been seen as a major obstacle to the approval of housing and shopping centers in L.A. But union organizations have become equally aggressive on development matters, testifying at public hearings, filing procedural objections and making arguments based on provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. Unite Here, which represents hotel and restaurant workers, has filed objections in recent years over real estate projects stretching from downtown to Playa del Rey. And since August, the carpenters union has filed three anti-development lawsuits one opposing Icon and two others targeting projects in Chinatown and in downtowns Arts District. In its lawsuit, Icon said it had identified roughly a dozen projects that are facing pushback from the construction unions. Those types of challenges are making it more expensive for companies to build housing in Southern California, the developer argued. The City Council unanimously approved the Icon Panorama project in August, clearing the way for the construction of shops, restaurants and 623 apartments on a site previously occupied by a Montgomery Ward store. The Montgomery Ward closed its doors in 2001 and the site had been vacant for several years, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement The two construction unions sued in October, saying the city failed to assess the projects true impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion and government services. The lawsuit also claimed city officials did not properly examine the issue of contaminated soil on the site. Weve got a very legitimate environmental case here, and I think we should win on the merits, said Drury, the lawyer for the unions. The two construction unions are seeking to have a Superior Court judge overturn the councils decision. Icon, for its part, is seeking financial damages and an injunction blocking the unions from proceeding with their lawsuit. Councilwoman Nury Martinez, whose district includes Panorama City, said in a statement saying the council backed the Icon project because of the support and enthusiasm that came from the surrounding community. Advertisement Its disappointing that Panorama City residents will have to continue to wait to see this part of the community revitalized while the differences are resolved, she said. david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser The California Supreme Court has rejected 10 attempts by former Gov. Jerry Brown to grant clemency, the first time it has exercised that power in more than half a century. Brown granted a historic 1,332 pardons and 283 commutations during his final two terms as part of a push to scale back the states tough-on-crime approach that began under his first governorship. But the court blocked 10 of those requests in the final weeks of the Brown administration, which ended this month, the Sacramento Bee reported Thursday. The court has not rejected pardon or commutation requests under a governors consideration since 1930 but earlier noted it had the authority in the case of an abuse of power. A court representative said the justices are not planning to provide any further clarification. Advertisement The courts rejections have baffled judicial observers. David Ettinger, an appellate lawyer who writes a blog about the California Supreme Court called At the Lectern, said that, from the information publicly available about the rejected cases, he couldnt distinguish them from a significant number of other life-without-parole commutations that the Supreme Court signed off on. Theres really no guidance for future courts, for future clemency requests, for future governors making requests, as to why certain ones might get blocked and certain ones wont, he said. Two men were arrested Thursday in connection with an explosion at a butane honey oil lab that destroyed a home in Foresthill, Calif., authorities said. Kenneth Dodson and James Jacques, both 57-year-old Foresthill residents, are suspected of illegally manufacturing butane honey oil a concentrate of marijuana in a house in the 5100 block of Finning Mill Road, the Placer County Sheriffs Office said. The explosion last month destroyed the home that housed the drug operation. Before his arrest, Jacques spent several weeks at the UC Davis Burn Institute for treatment of severe burns suffered during the explosion, sheriffs officials said. He faces charges of manufacturing controlled substances. Dodson, who was not injured in the blast, faces charges of manufacturing a controlled substance and maintaining a drug house, authorities said. Advertisement alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra Summer had not yet arrived, but already the hillside on the edge of Los Padres National Forest was the color of toast. Even a brilliantly sunny day couldnt dress up the dull palette of invasive grasses that had transformed the slope into a dried-up weed patch. Only a sprinkling of young shrubs provided a hint of what the spot looked like before it had burned again and again and again. In the last 22 years, three wildfires have swept across the area, all but erasing the cover of gray-green sage scrub documented in 1930s aerial photographs. Southern Californias native shrublands are famously tough. Conservationist John Muir celebrated them as Mother Nature at her most ruggedly, thornily savage. They evolved along with long, hot summers, at least six rainless months a year and intense wildfires. But not this much fire, this often. The combination of too-frequent wildfires and drought amplified by climate change poses a growing threat to wildlands that deliver drinking water to millions, provide refuge from Southland sprawl and 142 years after Muir penned his mash note are still home to mountain lions, bears and big-eared woodrats. The footprint of the 2003 Piru fire can be seen atop a ridge in the Lake Piru Recreation Area. After the wildfire, invasive grasses (brown) replaced native shrub growth (green). Al Seib / Los Angeles Times Burn maps show the astonishing extent of the wildfires that have seared the southern portion of the Los Padres forest and adjacent lands. The border of the 2007 Zaca fire bleeds into the even bigger 2017 Thomas fire, which in turn runs into the footprint of the 2006 Day fire. Together they incinerated an area roughly twice the combined size of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Dozens of other wildfires have raced across the forests crumpled terrain in recent decades, including the 1997 Hopper, 2003 Piru and 2007 Ranch fires that blackened the grassy hill near Lake Piru. There are not that many places where theres really old habitat left, that hasnt seen a fire in the 30 years Ive been here, said Los Padres forest biologist Kevin Cooper, who retired last month. Since 1950, hundreds of wildfires have burned in and around the southern portion of Los Padres National Forest. Sources: Cal Fire, Nextzen and OpenStreetMap Wipe the steep mountainsides clean with flames and there is nothing to hold on to rainfall and let it seep into the ground, recharging aquifers. There is nothing to prevent soil from washing away and silting up reservoirs and fish streams. There is nothing to stop rivers of mud and rocks from crashing into foothill communities. The Thomas fire was barely contained when monster debris flows roared down denuded slopes last January, killing at least 21 people and destroying more than 100 homes in the Montecito area. There are not that many places where theres really old habitat left, that hasnt seen a fire in the 30 years Ive been here. Kevin Cooper, Los Padres forest biologist Across Southern California, oft-scorched shrublands have given way to monotonous expanses of quick-to-dry invasive grasses that are of little ecological value, dont anchor the soil as well as deep-rooted chaparral plants and ignite easily, fueling more and more fires. Frequent fire is driving chaparral loss in the Santa Monica Mountains, which burned yet again in November. Roughly a quarter of the 97,000-acre Woolsey fire was a reburn of land charred in wildland blazes over the last two decades. Once gone, the chaparral and sage scrub that drape the wildest parts of Southern California are proving ominously difficult to restore. For so long, people thought of chaparral landscapes as being so resilient that papers came out in the 70s on How do you get rid of this stuff it keeps growing back, said Nicole Molinari, the U.S. Forest Service ecologist for Southern California. And here we are finding ourselves at a time when were actually concerned about its ability to persist and trying to restore it and having challenges in doing so. That to me is a little frightening. Shane Dewees, left, Sameer Saroa and Stephanie Ma walk through thick invasive grasses that are crowding post-fire growth of native sage plants. Al Seib / Los Angeles Times When scrubland turns to grass Southern Californias native chaparral and sage scrub arent so much adapted to wildfire as they are to a certain pattern of fire periodically burning in hot, intense blazes that consume all the vegetation. Rebirth begins almost immediately. Certain species, such as toyon and scrub oak, resprout from underground root systems or burls. Within months of the Thomas fire, bouquets of bright green shoots studded the bare, ashen mountainsides lining Highway 33. Other shrubs, such as ceanothus, regenerate when heat from the flames or chemicals from charred wood stimulate the germination of their dormant seeds. Pictures in the News | Friday Jan. 11, 2019 But the spread of two things people and non-native grasses are helping disrupt that pattern by putting too much fire on the landscape too often. Lightning accounts for less than a quarter of the fire starts in Southern Californias four national forests. Most ignitions are human-related. Ranch hands repairing a pipe started the Zaca. A transient burning trash ignited the Day. Laborers doing construction work on a boat launch sparked the Piru. Officials have not declared a cause of the Thomas blaze, which burned into the Los Padres forest from adjoining land. But Southern California Edison has said its electrical equipment probably helped start the fire, thought to have had at least two ignition points. The prevalence of human ignitions means wildfires are more likely to erupt when sundowner and Santa Ana winds can whip them into a fury, as happened with the Woolsey and the Thomas, the states second-largest wildland fire on record. Frequent big fires mean that shrublands that would naturally burn at intervals of 30 to 60 years or even a century or more are sometimes torched at intervals of a decade or less. When that happens, resprouting species dont have sufficient time to regrow. Non-sprouting shrubs cant reach maturity and shower the ground with a new seed bank. Invaders can then take over in a process ecologists call type conversion. Slopes that wore a thick green jacket of wildlife-supporting shrubs turn brown under a blanket of exotic annual grasses that are dry and dead most of the year. Native wildflowers struggle to take root in the thick mats of non-natives. Erosion increases. Biodiversity declines. The fire cycle accelerates. The more grass you get, the more likely you are to have fire, said Carla DAntonio, a professor of ecology at UC Santa Barbara. Thats a point that a lot of people dont appreciate. She is overseeing restoration research as part of a multifaceted fire recovery program in the Los Padres forest. UC Santa Barbara ecology professor Carla DAntonio inspects cuttings of native chaparral plants in a campus greenhouse. Researchers will plant them at restoration sites in Los Padres National Forest. Al Seib / Los Angeles Times Shane Dewees, bottom, and other researchers, top, clean native shrub seeds in a botany lab. The seeds of some chaparral plants need to be treated with heat or liquid smoke to simulate the fire conditions that would naturally trigger germination. Al Seib / Los Angeles Times Shane Dewees, right, and other researchers clean native shrub seeds in a botany lab. The seeds of some chaparral plants need to be treated with heat or liquid smoke to simulate the fire conditions that would naturally trigger germination. Al Seib / Los Angeles Times Now in its third year, the work is painstaking and, so far, disheartening. Students collected native shrub seeds by hand from local watersheds to maintain genetic purity. They cleaned the seeds in a campus botany lab. They soaked some in hot water to simulate the heat from a fire. They experimented with different pre-planting methods at restoration sites near Lake Piru. Some patches were weeded, some were scraped bare. Others were left alone. They planted more than 1,200 baby ceanothus, toyon, sage and other natives that were grown in a campus greenhouse using a special mix of potting soil and dirt from the sites. They spread 40,000 seeds on the ground. Stephanie Ma collects seeds from a native plant. The team uses seeds from the restoration areas to ensure genetic purity. Al Seib / Los Angeles Times On a June afternoon in the field, UC researchers Stephanie Ma, Shane Dewees and Sameer Saroa hunted for survivors. This guy is kind of alive, DeWees said, kneeling near a tiny ceanothus seedling. Ma, crawling on her hands and knees, spied another. We have some survival here, she reported. But mostly they found shriveled twigs or bare dirt next to the planting flags, which doubled as little tombstones. Long hot days with a lot of death, is the way Dewees described the teams field checks. So if you can get one little leaf, its not all despair. All told, nearly three-quarters of the infant shrubs died. The seeding was an almost total failure, producing a paltry five plants. When the research team checked spots marked by small flags where they had planted native seedlings in 2017 and early 2018, they often found bare dirt or shriveled twigs. Al Seib / Los Angeles Times DAntonio suspects that rodents, accustomed to dining on an abundance of invasive grass seeds, gobbled up most of the native seeds before they could sprout. The previous winters meager rainfall contributed to the seedling mortality, as did crowding by a medley of non-natives: mustard, red brome, wild oat and foxtail. Shrub seedlings just cant hack competition from the grasses, DAntonio said. The more grass you get, the more likely you are to have fire. Thats a point that a lot of people dont appreciate. Carla DAntonio, UC Santa Barbara ecology professor Southern Californians tend to dismiss their native flora as a bunch of brush something to be whacked and cleared and feared. When Dewees explains his project to private landowners in the Piru area, he said some of them ask why were restoring to chaparral and not grass for grazing. Wildland firefighters detest chaparral for its ability to burn with untamable ferocity when driven by Santa Ana or sundowner winds. A 1960 Times story recounted efforts by the L.A. County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service to find fire-resistant shrubs to replace the natives. There is always the chance that scientists will find a slow-burning plant that will smother the chaparral, a county fire official said hopefully. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection plans to clear 14,000 acres of shrublands a year as part of a statewide fuels treatment program. Every Cal Fire person I know wants to cut it down wherever they possibly can, DAntonio said. [But] every time they cut a new fuel break, they put another strip of grasses on the landscape. University of California wildfire specialist Max Moritz in front of a dead stand of bigcone Douglas firs that burned in the 2007 Zaca fire. Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times Fire, then drought Max Moritz slowly made his way up a hill, through a jumble of shrubs and fallen branches, to a graveyard. Surrounded by dead bigcone Douglas firs, he scanned the slope for seedlings, searching for a sign that this patch of a unique Southern California mountain tree would survive. You dont see anything, he observed. It has a fairly depressing quality to it, given the mortality and no regeneration. More than 11 years after the Zaca cut a 240,000-acre swath across Santa Barbaras jagged backcountry, the landscape still bears scars. The reach of 75-foot-tall flames is etched in towering tree trunks. Oak skeletons pepper the edge of the Dick Smith Wilderness. Hillsides once blanketed with pygmy forests of chaparral are mottled with bare ground and clumps of young chamise and ceanothus shrubs. The ghostly profiles of dead bigcones rise from ridgelines. Armed with thick bark and the ability to resprout from branches, bigcone Douglas firs are one of the worlds most fire-resistant conifers built to survive the high-intensity wildfires that periodically chew through the chaparral that typically surrounds them. The trees can be massive; one bigcone in the San Gabriel Mountains is as tall as a 15-story building. They can live for several hundred years. Researcher Ryan Salladay extracts a coring from a dead bigcone Douglas fir. The tree burned in the Zaca fire but survived, only to die some years later. Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times So what doomed this old stand of bigcones off the Deal Trail? Was it the shooting flames of the Zaca, the brutal five-year drought that followed, or the one-two punch of both? Will these slightly goofy-looking conifers endure in the only part of the world they naturally grow? Moritz, a cooperative extension wildfire specialist at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara, and research assistant Ryan Salladay were looking for the answers. Salladay spent hundreds of hours poring over satellite imagery and aerial photographs, looking for the distinctive star-shaped spread of bigcone branches. He digitally mapped bigcone patches in the footprint of the Zaca burn and created a time series of pre- and post fire images to date tree mortality. Out in the Los Padres, research teams staked out 34 bigcone plots, each a tenth of an acre. They recorded the aspect of the slope and measured water stress in living trees. They studied post-fire soil surveys to see how severely the area burned in the Zaca. They checked for bigcone seedlings. At Plot 3, Salladay drilled into a bigcone corpse with a simple T-shaped instrument and extracted a pencil-thin 3-inch coring. A coring from a dead bigcone Douglas fir. Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times Back in his lab, he would mount the core on a board, gently sand it and examine it under a microscope. The width of the outer growth rings would tell the story of the trees final four decades. The slender twigs still dangling from its bare branches provided a clue that the tree had managed to survive the Zaca and resprouted, only to die some years later. The drought-following-fire issue is a total reshuffling of what might come back or survive, Moritz said. Runoff from wildfires filled this pool in Rattlesnake Creek near Santa Barbara. The pool was once so deep that fisheries biologist Kristie Klose had to wear chest waders to check on rainbow trout, which disappeared after the blazes. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times A mounting toll Kristie Klose, Los Padres fisheries biologist, hiked along a stream in Rattlesnake Canyon on the outskirts of Santa Barbara, stopping at a 2-foot-deep pool rimmed with boulders and mud. Before the 2008 Tea fire and the 2009 Jesusita fire, the water was so deep that Klose wore chest waders when she checked the pools rainbow trout residents. Now the water doesnt even reach her knees. There are no fish to count. The Tea and the Jesusita werent that big as recent Los Padres fires go. But they were cheek by jowl. The Jesusita burned the upper watershed and the Tea, the lower. Runoff from naked slopes dumped dirt and rocks into frontcountry creeks. Hundreds of speckled native trout vanished. They all got killed, buried and washed out to sea, Klose said. Theyve never recovered. These fires are so big they take out so much contiguous country at once. Kevin Cooper, Los Padres forest biologist Many of the Los Padres most imperiled species live in or near water: Southern California steelhead, red-legged frogs, arroyo southwestern toads and western pond turtles. When most of their watersheds go up in flames, they have no place to go. Weve had back-to-back and juxtaposed big fires, said Cooper, the forest biologist. That doesnt leave many refugia for these species to hide out in and recover and then repopulate and move back into the burned areas. One of those spots is miles to the north of Santa Barbara, just outside the boundary of the San Rafael Wilderness. You look at this and think, This is nothing, Klose said, standing next to a shallow, slow-moving stretch of Munch Creek vital to steelhead spawning. But it can be crucial to the whole system. Los Padres National Forest biologist Kevin Cooper stands next to Munch Creek, which provided refuge for steelhead after the Zaca fire. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times Endangered Southern California steelhead are the seagoing version of rainbow trout. Born in coastal streams, they migrate to the ocean as juveniles, mature there and then, salmon-like, return to natal streams to breed. The 1993 Marre fire filled Munch Creek with fine sediment, driving out a small steelhead population. Five years later, rains cleaned out the silt. The steelhead returned, swimming some 35 winding miles from the Pacific Ocean. Later, when runoff from the Zaca fire clogged a downstream creek, the fish hung out in Munch and Davy Brown creeks. Its been tough. But theyre still in there, Cooper said. We want to maintain this habitat so they have a place they can survive in. An SUV drives across Davy Brown Creek on a concrete apron, which will be removed and replaced with a bridge to allow fish passage. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times To that end, the Forest Service is tearing out old concrete streambed crossings and replacing them with fish-friendly bridges to connect steelhead creeks. But the money to do that as well as pay for the Moritz and DAntonio projects comes from a one-time windfall of $20 million, which the forest collected in legal settlements with companies accused of negligently sparking the Zaca, Jesusita and Piru blazes. As fire takes an ever bigger bite out of the Los Padres budget, there is less money for recreation, fish and wildlife management and trail maintenance. The permanent fire staff in the forest is now nearly four times the size of the non-fire staff. In fiscal year 2006, firefighter salaries, equipment and fire station maintenance ate up 54% of the forests budget. In fiscal year 2017, nearly 68% of a $23.2-million budget went to fire. That doesnt even include the enormous cost of fighting the conflagrations, which is covered by national Forest Service funds. On the drive back to the forest office in Goleta, Klose and Cooper stopped at a turnout on Highway 154 south of Lake Cachuma. Cooper looked across the rippling expanses of the Los Padres. That area burned in the Zaca and again in the 2016 Rey fire, he said. Over there was the 2009 La Brea fire. There, the 2013 White fire. A distant ridge resembled a balding head. This piece by Little Pine Mountain is pretty bare now because of two fires in a row and the drought, he said. These fires are so big they take out so much contiguous country at once. The fire-scarred mountains of Los Padres National Forest, seen from Highway 154. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times Produced by Sean Greene. Graphics by Thomas Suh Lauder. Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. bettina.boxall@latimes.com Negotiations between the teachers union and the Los Angeles Unified School District ended Friday with no deal in sight. All signs point to the first walkout in 30 years in the nations second-largest school system. Union President Alex Caputo-Pearl said that unless district officials send over a significant new proposal, 31,000 teachers, librarians, nurses and counselors will be walking picket lines Monday. He said no district proposal has hit the mark yet, including a new one offered and promptly rejected Friday afternoon. Get ready, Caputo-Pearl said late Friday afternoon at a news conference outside district headquarters. Because on Monday we will go on strike for our students, for our schools and for the future of public education in Los Angeles. Friday marked the weeks third negotiating session, and the district upped its offer based on the expectation of new money from Gov. Gavin Newsoms proposed budget. Advertisement The latest offer would provide a full-time nurse at every elementary school and lower class sizes by about two students at middle schools. It builds on a proposal from Monday, in which the district also offered a small decrease in class sizes. In that first proposal, maximum class sizes in grades four to six would drop from 36 to 35, and in high school from 42 to about 39. Schools with the greatest needs would see larger reductions about four students per class. Also, every secondary school would get a librarian, which some middle schools lack now. And high schools would get an extra academic counselor. Every nickel that were receiving, were investing in our classrooms, Beutner said in a news conference that was called for 2:15 p.m., with about 20 minutes notice. This is not a conversation about values. We want the same sorts of things. Caputo-Pearl disputed both those assertions about what the district can afford and about the shared values. He noted that the districts offers were limited to one year, after which class sizes could balloon upward again and new staff could be cut. He also criticized the proposed class-size reductions as piecemeal and paltry, saying the district could afford to do much better. The union, United Teachers Los Angeles, says its fighting for smaller classes and schools that are fully staffed with nurses, librarian and counselors. Beutner said budget constraints limit the new hiring to one year for now. All told, the new proposals would spend $130 million on about 1,200 positions, he said. The district did not change its salary offer of a 6% raise spread over the first two years of a three-year contract. The teachers are asking for 6.5% that would be retroactive to a year earlier. The superintendent continued to insist that the union has failed to negotiate in earnest. He said meeting all the unions demands would cost $3 billion and plunge the district into bankruptcy, which would prompt a state takeover. Advertisement Show me the money, because were spending all weve got, Beutner said. If UTLA can find more money, well invest it in the classroom. If they want a strike, theyll have a strike, he added. Were doing everything we can to avoid it. Beutner also called on the governor to get involved. When asked what form this intervention could take more money, legal action, legislation, mediation Beutner answered: All of the above. Advertisement He suggested that Newsom put the two sides in a room and lock the door and throw away the key if he has to. A spokesman for the governor suggested that Newsom already has reached out. The governor has been engaged in informal conversation with parties on both sides, Nathan Click said. Having been through strikes like this as a mayor, he is respectful of the process and hopes both sides can come together before Monday. Although Newsom has not pledged specific help to local officials, his first proposed state budget includes increased funding for all California school districts. Advertisement Caputo-Pearl forecast the extra state funding at $140 million for next year. Beutner declined to estimate a figure. The governor also has proposed putting additional money into the states pension funds, which could provide more relief for L.A. Unified and other school districts. The offer for full-time elementary school nurses probably was the biggest potential needle-mover in the districts latest proposal. As it stands, the district pays for one day a week of nursing services at elementary schools. Schools then use discretionary funds if they want additional days. The districts earlier offer, on Monday, had been to pay for two days a week. Advertisement But Fridays offer was all in on nursing, on the promise of proposed funding from Los Angeles County. L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said he and Supervisor Hilda Solis are sponsoring a proposal to provide up to $10 million for mental health and nursing services for L.A. Unified elementary schools. He said the funding, limited for now to one year, could benefit students and help the two sides reach a settlement. The whole theory is kids do better when they are healthy, Ridley-Thomas said. Advertisement The union and district have inched closer in recent negotiations, but they do not appear on the verge of a settlement. If anything, both sides amped up their testiness. Beutner projected exasperation, even anger, as he insisted a strike should be avoided because it harms students and families. Union officials were mad at the superintendent for holding a news conference on his new offer just as they were receiving it in bargaining. Caputo-Pearl also criticized him for not taking part in the Friday negotiating session. Advertisement Beutners last-minute news conference coincided with a pro-teacher rally in Koreatown, drawing media attention away from it another sore spot for union leaders. That rally featured Dolores Huerta, co-founder of United Farm Workers; the Rev. James Lawson, a civil rights leader; Melina Abdullah, a leader of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles; and teachers. About 200 teachers and their supporters took part in a rally in the San Fernando Valley later in the afternoon. Also Friday, Local 99 of Service Employees International Union, which represents about 30,000 non-teaching employees, announced that its members would stay off the job for as long as three days at 10 district schools. Those members include cafeteria workers, teaching aides, campus security aides and custodians. Advertisement That unions executive director, Max Arias, said it would be especially difficult for the district to keep these campuses open. They include the large and well-known Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools complex. Im not sure what the districts contingency plan is, Arias said. We made it clear this would be happening. I just dont know what the district would do. Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report. The scene from the perimeter fence of Tres Hermanos Ranch is a glimpse back in time: longhorn cattle and deer roaming green fields framed by forested hills and watered by streams. Stretching from the 60 Freeway in Los Angeles County south to the western tip of San Bernardino County, the 108-year-old ranch has survived an onslaught of highways, subdivisions and shopping centers around it. Now, legal disputes have put a cloud over the future of the 2,450 acres, which developers see as prime property for more homes and a solar energy facility. The combatants include the cities of Industry, Commerce, Diamond Bar and Chino Hills, and San Gabriel Valley Water & Power, a developer of renewable resources headquartered in Temecula. Advertisement When the dust settles, what will the ranch look like and will there be any room left for wildlife? Today, that question hangs over every square inch of Tres Hermanos Ranch, which has been off-limits to the public since City of Industrys redevelopment agency took control of the property in 1978. Wildlife authorities and biologists have long regarded the ranch as environmentally valuable. Thats because it is a portion of the Tonner Canyon area that connects Chino Hills State Park and the Cleveland National Forest, assuring the viability of wildlife by creating a continuous natural corridor through some of the most intensely developed areas in Southern California. Troy Helling, city manager of the City of Industry, on the 2,450-acre Tres Hermanos Ranch. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Tres Hermanos is the most significant expanse of grassland habitat left in the Los Angeles Basin that much we know for certain, said Dan Cooper, a consulting biologist and expert on the plants and animals in L.A. County. But entry has been restricted for decades, he said, so much of our knowledge of the species that share the ranch comes from the sightings of contract employees and utility workers, or from just peering over the fence along its edges. On a recent weekday, Industry City Manager Troy Helling led a small group of visitors on a rare tour of the ranch located within the boundaries of Diamond Bar and Chino Hills. (Los Angeles Times) Advertisement To hear him tell it, Industry has shifted its views on the best use of the land it originally saw as a reservoir and more recently as a solar farm. Our goal is to resolve our legal issues with Diamond Bar and Chino Hills and then partner with them on a plan that will benefit our communities and the wildlife that lives here, he said. But I wouldnt blame anybody for not believing that. The previous administration in Industry was trying to shove the solar energy project down the throats of Diamond Bar and Chino Hills. Some would call that an understatement. Only two years ago, Industry and San Gabriel Valley Water and Power were secretly working together on a plan to build a 450-megawatt solar facility on the ranch, which is zoned for low-density residential and commercial development, and some open space. That deal fell apart due to a spat between Industry and the proposed solar developer. Advertisement Now its back to the drawing board. Were working with a clean slate, and we want to be good neighbors, said Helling, who became city manager a year ago. Itll take time to persuade the skeptics, he added. But theres a new administration in charge of Industry now, and it doesnt want to see a solar energy facility or Commerce or San Gabriel Valley Water and Power on this property. Over his shoulders, a pair of red-tailed hawks wheeled in the sky above Tres Hermanos grassy slopes and black walnut woodlands, prowling for prey. Nearby, hundreds of Canada geese foraged on fields where the only sounds were the songs of meadowlarks. A coyote trotted stealthily along a creek edged with willows. Advertisement Crew members install a perch for hawks in Tres Hermanos Ranch. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) If the ranch were sealed off by development, wildlife experts warn, some species now in the region would eventually die off. Wildlife common to the state park and the national forest includes mountain lions, mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, rare western pond turtles and red diamondback rattlesnakes. Scientists say it is also along a route used by breeding golden eagles flying between Orange County and the San Gabriel Mountains. But a comprehensive scientific survey of the plants and animals on the ranch will not be conducted until the property is formally targeted for development. That wont happen, officials said, until the resolution of several lawsuits. Advertisement Claire Schlotterbeck, executive director of Hills for Everyone, a Brea-based nonprofit conservation group, has relied on video footage taken from the windows of rented airplanes to better understand the potential threats to Tres Hermanos habitat and wildlife. Ive never stepped foot on Tres Hermanos because it is guarded by fences, locked gates and armed guards on patrol at all hours, she said. But judging from all the video footage weve gathered, its big and broad, Irish green and teeming with an abundance of species. The trouble is, she added, Lord only knows what comes next out there. Industry in 1978 purchased Tres Hermanos from the heirs of former Los Angeles Times Publisher Harry Chandler, who helped establish the ranch. The property was transferred to the citys redevelopment agency with a goal of building reservoirs that would supply water to its factories, foundries and manufacturing businesses, about 11 miles to the west. Advertisement Pictures in the News | Friday Jan. 11, 2019 In 2011, California shut down redevelopment agencies statewide and the property was handed to a successor agency governed by an oversight board composed of Industrys City Council members. A year ago, that board directed the successor agency to sell the property, which has an estimated appraised market value of about $100 million, to Industry for $41.5 million, according to Industry officials and lawsuits filed in Superior Court by Diamond Bar and Chino Hills. The litigation revealed that Industry had earlier partnered with San Gabriel Valley WP to draw up plans for a solar energy project at Tres Hermanos. Advertisement But that partnership was recently tabled, Industry officials said, because San Gabriel Valley Water & Power has refused to allow an audit of $20 million it claimed was spent on engineering preparations related to the solar project. Complicating matters, Industry has yet to buy back the property from the successor agency. Now, City of Commerce has requested that the oversight board sell it the ranch instead, according to a draft agenda accidentally released by the board in November. Meanwhile, the state controllers office is set to release a new review finding a host of suspect transactions and lax oversight by Industry city officials, The Times reported last week. That review is only the latest of such revelations. The city a small municipality of over 12 square miles consisting mostly of industrial businesses and home to fewer than 300 residents has for years contended with reports of financial mismanagement and hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts flowing to companies owned by Industrys former mayor. Advertisement In a letter to the oversight board this month, Diamond Bar City Atty. David A. DeBerry suggested that Commerce aims to lease Tres Hermanos to San Gabriel Valley Water & Power and then cover the ranch with solar panels to rake in millions of dollars all to the detriment of the communities of Diamond Bar and Chino Hills. Tres Hermanos Ranch 2,450 pristine acres owned by City of Industry is in the heart of a raging battle among four cities and a utility company vying for control of the undeveloped wetlands and undulating hills within the boundaries of Diamond Bar and Chino Hills. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Approval of a sale to Commerce, he warned, would force Diamond Bar to dig deeper into the forces that have caused elected and appointed officials to perpetuate a climate of secrecy and unlawful conduct that is frankly an embarrassment. Commerce officials did not comment on their citys plans. Advertisement Darcy Burke, a spokeswoman for San Gabriel Valley Water & Power, said her company is not currently partnered with Commerce. She added, however, that Commerce was one of several communities that have expressed an interest in working with her company at Tres Hermanos. Our intent is to use about 30% of Tres Hermanos for renewable energy, she said, and leave the rest for open space. In the meantime, Industry has hired Alissa Cope, a biological consultant with Sage Environmental Group, to preserve ranching as a way of life while protecting wildlife at least for now. Tres Hermanos is an extraordinary landscape and it could be even better, Cope said, nodding at a crew installing raptor perches near where waterfowl lounged in the murky ripples of an old reservoir. Advertisement The more biodiversity, she added, the healthier the habitat. louis.sahagun@latimes.com Twitter: @LouisSahagun Times staff writer Adam Elmahrek contributed to this report. Cyber trails, like the scattering of digital breadcrumbs, are a fact of modern life. Every click, save, search and share we make on home design websites like Houzz and Pinterest add to creating a real-time picture of our cumulative interests and obsessions which are being used to predict our shopping futures. Not as sexy as a crystal ball but definitely more reliable. Pinterest offers more than 18 billion images of home design alone. The social bookmarking site spots rising trends by tracking the ebb and flow of the most popular photos and user search words on the site. Houzz which showcases the work of more than 2 million design professionals spots trends in much the same way. The influential home design site additionally draws on those pros about what they are seeing with their clients, said Allison Gervis, Houzz trend expert. Pinterests researcher and in-house stylist Larkin Brown said the deep dive into the websites data is always fascinating, as it seeks to tell consumers what they want, perhaps even before they know they want it: These are the ideas we think people around the world will be trying in 2019. Advertisement 1 / 19 Chlorine-free pools are making a splash; this one is by BioNova Natural Pools. (Rin Robyn / BioNova Natural Pool / Rin Robyn / BioNova Natural Pool) 2 / 19 Tile backsplash comes to the forefront in the open living spaces of 2019. (Caroline Sharpnack / Houzz) 3 / 19 Farmhouse chic: board and batten exteriors. Photography: Corynne Pless 2013 / Houzz. (Corynne Pless / Houzz) 4 / 19 Wide-open spaces: Kitchens that easily access the outdoors are a must for modern renovations. (Lucy Call / Houzz) 5 / 19 Glass and steel room dividers create a sense of privacy and place. (Jours & Nuits 2016 / Houzz) 6 / 19 Destination tubs are the place to escape it all. (Chris Snook 2016 / Houzz) 7 / 19 Cactuses and succulents are the new darlings of the houseplant set thanks to their low maintenance and fighting spirit. (Behr) 8 / 19 Deep, dark moody room colors are on trend for 2019. (Alexandra Crafton, 2017 / Houzz) 9 / 19 Vanity piece: Wood that shows off natural knots and grain is the pick for 2019. (Kathryn MacDonald / Kathryn MacDonald) 10 / 19 Black is the new white when it comes to kitchen cabinets. (Fine House Studio 2018 / Houzz / Fine House Studio 2018 / Houzz) 11 / 19 Fabric art goes beyond macrame for 2019. Embroidered Cleo Wall Hanging, $598 at Anthropologie. (Anthropologie) 12 / 19 Geometric wall design provides a bold option to wallpaper. (Valspar) 13 / 19 Benches in the kitchen nook provide seating and style. (Nick Klein 2018 / Houzz) 14 / 19 Wallpaper, and especially temporary wallpaper, is predicted to be big in the year ahead. Ghosted Cactus Removable Wallpaper, $138 at Anthropologie. (Anthropologie) 15 / 19 Tin is in. Tin ceiling distressed wallpaper, $104 for a bolt at Houzz.com. (Houzz) 16 / 19 Dont forget the mustard: Gold is good for home decor accents and accessories. (Pinterest) 17 / 19 Contemporary fireplaces, used inside and out, are hot. Cocoon Aeris black hanging fireplace, $2,450 at Houzz.com. (Houzz) 18 / 19 Transform your floor with DIY tile stenciling. Cordelia tile stencil, $16.95 at Houzz.com. (Houzz) 19 / 19 Using accent color on all four walls, including trim and molding, offers a fresh look for the year ahead. (Jessica Cain 2018 / Houzz) Click on our gallery to see all the trends in photos Check out the following 19 trend directions these design sites predict will click for you in 2019. The rise of backsplash tile Does your kitchen backsplash match the couch? Maybe it should. Floating shelves and open floor plans mean tile backsplashes are on display 24/7. Youre really seeing the full wall now, said Gervis, a couple of years ago you didnt have so many floating shelves and you were seeing the cabinets. Now youre seeing all the way through, and it makes sense to run the tile from the countertop to the ceiling; its really beautiful. Mustard, please Dont forget the mustard. Gold is good for home decor accents and accessories. (Pinterest) Mustard is everywhere and were not talking about hot dogs. Five years ago it was more of a sunshine yellow paired with gray and white, said Brown. This is deeper, warmer, and we are seeing it paired with jewel tones like emerald green or teal. Use it as an accent or go for the gold with upholstery, wallpaper or painted furniture. Advertisement Pantones Color of the Year for 2019 is life-affirming Living Coral String Theory Macrame and crochet have been the darlings of the bohemian set for several seasons, and they are still important, but for 2019 design devotees are venturing beyond fringed wall hangings on dowels. If you have a beautiful rug that you want to hang, or fabric or quilts, said Brown, its about really embracing textiles as a new form of artwork. I will survive: A cactus chorus Advertisement Cactuses and succulents are the new darlings of homes thanks to their low maintenance and fighting spirit. (Behr) Last years houseplant craze revealed a lot of black thumbs, Brown said, Now people are looking for plants they can keep alive. They are learning about plants that are survivalists. Look for succulents with novelty blooms and creative shapes. Were seeing different cacti coming together in really cool arrangements, said Brown. Wallpaper Wallpaper is going mainstream. I think it felt quite novel and brave when someone would choose wallpaper, said Brown, and now with the rise of removable wallpaper, its achievable even for renters. Advertisement Geometry 101 Do the math. Geometric wall design multiplies the cool factor. Its incredibly colorful and bold, said Brown. We are seeing so many fantastical wallpapers; this is a response to that its a way to continue to have that patterned look, but with something less flowery. See-through walls Want to maintain that light and airy open floor plan but create a sense of privacy and place at the same time? Youre not alone. Houzz reports that the popularity of glass and steel doors and windows has inspired a new wave of room dividers. Weve seen them in bathrooms for a while now, said Gervis. These glass and steel room dividers let light through, but you still have that open feeling. So maybe one group is in the dining room, and kids are watching TV in the living room, and you want to block the noise a little bit. Advertisement Living the dream: How to create a 2019 vision board Destination tub Destination tubs are the place to escape it all. (Chris Snook 2016 / Houzz) Need we say more? Although a Houzz survey reported that 1-in-4 remodelers are removing the tub from their master bathrooms, those who keep it are doubling down with sculptural, stand-alone soaking tubs that provide a luxurious focal point. Advertisement Kitchen noir As options for dramatic black appliances, range hoods and kitchen islands continue to grow, Houzz reports users are gravitating to all-black cabinetry. The site predicts 2019 will be the year black cabinetry paired with white walls, backsplashes and countertops gains momentum. The dark side Houzz predicts homeowners will increasingly turn to the dark side in 2019, favoring navy, black and forest green as they tire of minimalist, all-white interiors. Were not just seeing this on walls, said Gervis. Its on cabinets and millwork as well. Advertisement Benched Built-in benches and bench furniture are having a moment in the kitchen nook. Allowing for flexible seating and under-bench storage solutions, Houzz touts the trend as an affordable, convenient alternative to pulling up a chair. Love, actually: Board and batten Farmhouse chic: board and batten exteriors. (Corynne Pless / Houzz) Advertisement Even those of us who have seen barn animals only on YouTube have fallen truly, madly, deeply in love with farmhouse style. It is the trend that just keeps giving, and in the year ahead Houzz predicts we will go public with our infatuation. Look for classic board-and-batten farmhouse-style construction popping up on exteriors in suburban neighborhoods near you. Knotty vanities Bathroom vanities made with reclaimed or light wood and finished with a clear stain are predicted to provide a warm, organic touch in bathrooms for 2019. The look celebrates natural wood grain, knots and all, and can complement styles ranging from rustic to contemporary or modern. Committing to color Advertisement Using accent color on all four walls, including trim and molding offers a fresh look for the year ahead. (Jessica Cain 2018 / Houzz) Gervis said designers who contribute to Houzz have indicated a shift toward boldly painting all four walls, including trim and moldings in an accent color. Were not saying that having one wall [painted] in an accent color is dead, said Gervis, but we are seeing an increase in painting all four walls. Tin is In At Pinterest, style seekers are exploring the use of tin, not just with the old-fashioned application of tin ceiling tiles, but also as decor across an entire wall. Brown credits the trend to something that feels modern but is actually quite retro. Advertisement Natural swimming pools Chlorine-free pools are making a splash for 2019 with Pinterest reporting a 262% increase in user interest in saltwater and pond-inspired swimming pools that bring a whole new meaning to cool. DIY faux floor tile Transform your floor with DIY tile stenciling. Cordelia tile stencil, $16.95 at Houzz.com. (Houzz) Advertisement Cursed with hideous floors? Pinterest users are taking matters into their crafty, thrifty hands with a newfound passion for painted floor tiles. Brown said she had been aware of the trend in statement flooring but was surprised when her research uncovered a 1,276% increase in searches and pin saves on how to paint a faux-tiled floor. The idea: use a large allover 6-, 8- or 12-inch tile stencil and complementary grout line stencil to transform basic and boring into a Spanish, Moroccan or wallpaper-inspired statement floor. The style hack also works on tile backsplashes for the kitchen or bathroom. Gathering places Indoor and outdoor fireplaces in sleek, modern designs are firing up interest in creating focal points and gathering places. Look for designs that elevate the humble wood pile to a style statement and fireplaces that trend toward contemporary. Inside-out kitchens Advertisement First, kitchens were opened up to the homes main living spaces. Now the walls between inside and out are coming down as well. Large sliding glass doors or collapsible, folding doors are increasingly erasing the barrier between workspace and play area. Expect to see more kitchens opening onto large decks or patios in the months ahead. See more home trend photos Bonnie McCarthy contributes to the Los Angeles Times as a home and lifestyle design writer. She enjoys scouting for directional trends and reporting on whats new and next. Follow her on Twitter @ThsAmericanHome ALSO Advertisement How designer Nate Berkus blended old and new in his L.A. kitchen remodel They found a real estate unicorn: A house with great bones, ready for decorating Youve never seen a kitchen island sink like this How online art galleries are serving up talent and sales without the tude When you need an original soundtrack to a reimagined supernatural horror classic haunted by themes of witchcraft, Holocaust guilt and cheating death, set in the Berlin autumn of 1977 and featuring a second-act narrative titled Palaces of Tears, who are you going to call? Thom Yorke, of course. Inevitably, backup alternatives existed in case the Radiohead frontman declined to conjure seances for Luca Guadagninos Suspiria, but its difficult to imagine anyone better suited than the legendarily melancholic British musician. Still, there was the matter of convincing Yorke, who had heretofore left soundtrack work to his Oscar-nominated bandmate Jonny Greenwood, the recipient of numerous accolades for his collaborations with director Paul Thomas Anderson. Ive always balked at the normal Hollywood-speak Ive heard, Yorke says sitting cross-legged on a couch in a rented house in the Los Feliz hills. Hes wearing all black. Light-brown lank hair hangs below his chin; flecks of gray dapple his beard; multicolored beaded and leather bracelets adorn his wrists. His eyes are hyper-focused and intense underneath black box-frame glasses. Theyd pitch me an idea and Id be like, Even if I did like this idea, I wish you wouldnt speak to me like that. Advertisement Over the last two decades, Radioheads cerebral black-rose hymns evoked cinematic pathos in films ranging from Children of Men to Clueless, Romeo + Juliet to A Scanner Darkly, but until the director of 2017s Call Me by Your Name came calling, Yorke rebuffed even the most persistent suitors. I dont normally feel a connection to most people, but I felt one with [Guadagnino], the editor Walter [Foasano] and the producers. Thom Yorke I dont normally feel a connection to most people, but I felt one with [Guadagnino], the editor Walter [Fasano] and the producers. I liked the recklessness with which they were approaching the original. Yorke has cultivated an inscrutable and ethereal presence. As hes notoriously cryptic and press-averse, you almost expect him to appear shrouded in numinous fog, speaking in orphic koans. But in person, he is quick-witted, forthcoming and prone to the body-rattling laughter that you wouldnt expect from the person who wrote Paranoid Android. At 50, he seems to have lightened with age, having survived myriad controversies and personal tragedy (his longtime partner and the mother of his two children, artist Rachel Owen, died in December 2016). The bleak inclinations, however, remain unmistakable on record. Live review: Meet Thom Yorke, uneasy rock star turned potential Oscar nominee I was really drawn to the idea of the feminine collective energy, Yorke explains of his initial attraction to the Suspiria script. I was fascinated by the idea of dance rituals as a way of cheating death. the idea of one thing appearing on the surface and then another behind it. And, obviously, it being set in Berlin in 1977, it felt right, even though I didnt know what I was getting into! He laughs and pauses a beat: Advertisement And then [Guadagnino] started saying things like, I need something for a Sabbath in Germany for a woman who sings like a man. The celestial yawp and elegiac songwriting gifts that suffuse Yorkes solo work and Radiohead collaborations are endemic on Suspiria. So is his irrepressible desire to experiment and tweak convention. An avowed 70s synthesizer nerd, Yorke leaned heavily on vintage equipment to create the eerie instrumentals that are as far away from Goblins soundtrack to the 1977 original as Guadagninos somber and gray-scale tones diverge from Dario Argentos vision. Dakota Johnson, center, plays a dancer named Susie Bannion in Suspiria. (Alessio Bolzoni / Amazon Studios) FULL COVERAGE: Get the latest on awards season from The Envelope Advertisement Its closest thing to a single, Suspirium is a gorgeous death waltz shrouded in Yorkes sepulchral croon and is among the 15 original film songs short-listed for the Oscar nominations. Greenwood advised his partner to avoid writing to a loop of the films scenes, instead relying on memory and internal emotion. For two songs, Yorke enlisted his son to play drums. Theres also a political discontent that factored into the album. I couldnt ignore [the political situation], Yorke says. There was a lyric that Id read in the script that I kept coming back to while watching Trump speak that we wont let this happen again. As far as future soundtrack work, Yorke demurs about whether hell do more. But its clear he enjoyed the inherent creative challenges imposed by the limitations of doing work on commission. Nonetheless, Thom Yorke will always be Thom Yorke. Advertisement I was going through a lot of difficult in my life when recording this, Yorke says. But I feel like the project offered a different opportunity to play music outside of where I normally go. Im proud that I was able to just say to myself, Lets do this and create something so dark. By the end of it, Yorke laughs again, taking a breath and flashing a self-aware smile that almost seems like a wink except Thom Yorke does not wink. Even I was shocked how dark it was. calendar@latimes.com ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese engagement has propelled Ethiopia's development ambitions by boosting the East African country's capacity building efforts, an Ethiopian scholar said on Thursday. Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, who served as an economic advisor to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), told Xinhua on Thursday that "Ethiopia has benefited from China's investments, grants and loans." According to the expert, partnership with China has among other things helped the East African country to build close to 74,000 km of all-weather roads, modern railway lines, hydro-power stations, transmission lines and industrial parks. "This is a great stride towards structural transformation," Costantinos said, adding that "some arenas in particular that merit attention in this regard focusing on excellence and not just quantity and cost," he said. Costantinos, also professor of public policy at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, further stressed the various ways that Ethiopia recently embarked on to benefit from its partnership with China. "It is about engaging more local human endowment in Ethiopia by using the vast number of graduates from universities and vocational schools," he said. "It is about greater capacity building of local competences of those graduates from universities and vocational schools," Costantinos added. The scholar's assertion came days after the two countries recently emphasized their common interest to further strengthen their comprehensive strategic relation, with due emphasis given to a win-win partnership modality. Speaking in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa last week, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China and Ethiopia are close friends and strategic partners. The friendship has withstood the tests of fluctuating international situations and is unbreakable, said Wang. Wang, who met Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President Sahle-Work Zewde and Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu, said that China will firmly remain the most reliable and long-lasting partner of Ethiopia, and strive to provide assistance and support to Ethiopia's development. China supports Ethiopia to pursue a development path that suits its national conditions and wins the support of its people, Wang said. Ethiopian Prime Minister Ahmed stressed that China has made positive contributions to the development of Ethiopia and other African countries. Costantinos also outlined some of the potential areas that Ethiopia in particular, and other Sub-Saharan countries, could implement so as to spur their comprehensive development. Rural reforms in China that helped accelerate economic take-off through the restructuring of property rights and a boost to saving rates and outputs, as well as China's focus on excellence and quality, could further yield more benefits for many Sub-Saharan African countries, Costantinos said. Enditem Whelan family(MOSCOW) -- Russia on Friday said American Paul Whelan, who was arrested last month in Moscow, has been formally charged with espionage. Whelan was charged under Article 276 of Russia's criminal code, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a televised briefing. Whelan, a former United States Marine, was detained Dec. 28 by Russia's domestic intelligence agency, the FSB, which accused him of espionage. His Russian lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, has said Whelan contests the charge and intends to plead not guilty. Russian news agency Interfax reported on Jan. 3 that Whelan had been formally charged, citing anonymous security service sources. But Zakharova's comments on Friday were Russia's first public confirmation of it. Russia has still not provided any details of the charge against Whelan. Announcing his arrest, the FSB said he had been detained while conducting "spying activity" but has not elaborated. The foreign ministry spokeswoman also said Friday that exchanging Whelan for anyone imprisoned outside Russia was not being considered. "I'd like to underline that the exchange of Paul Whelan for anyone incarcerated abroad is currently not on the table," Zakharova said, according to Russian news agency Interfax. "The defendant will stand trial." Some former U.S. intelligence officers have speculated Whelan may have been taken in retaliation over the jailing of Maria Butina, the Russian gun rights activist who last month pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to acting as a foreign agent. She has admitted to trying to infiltrate American conservative political circles. Zherebenkov has suggested that Whelan could later be exchanged for Russians held in U.S. jails, including Butina. He noted, however, that Whelan could only be traded once he has been convicted. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. ABC/Image Group LAEven though Dierks Bentley has lived in Nashville for a quarter-century and has his own Music City honky tonk, Whiskey Row, part of his heart still remains in his native Arizona. That's why he's proud to shine a spotlight on the West with his latest album, The Mountain, which was written and recorded in Telluride, Colorado. "I've got a foot in Nashville and I definitely have more of a foot than ever out West where I'm from," Dierks explains. "You know, I've been here 25 years and I love Nashville, and I love seeing all the changes happening," he says of Music City's exponential growth. "But I'm definitely from the West," he adds, "and I feel like this album more than any other album has been a real recognition of that, that I'm not from here. I'm not from the South." "You know, there was times that I probably would've worried about saying that, because you're trying to make it," he admits. Once he's realized all his country music dreams, Dierks reveals he plans to head back home to Arizona. "Yeah, I love it here," he continues, "but I feel like this album was really a chance to reflect on the mountains where I'm from, and where I will be one day when it's all over." "I'll be hanging out in Gilbert at Whiskey Row," he continues, mentioning his honky tonk's first location. "I'll come back here from time to time." Dierks' latest single from The Mountain, "Burning Man" with Brothers Osborne, is currently in country's top five. Next Thursday, he kicks off the Burning Man Tour in Hamilton, Ontario with Jon Pardi and newcomer Tenille Townes. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.